Sir Nealan - Chapter 4
Title: Sir Nealan, Knight of the Realm - Chapter Four: Void Accounts
Fandom: Tamora Pierce
Pairing: Neal/Yuki, Kel/Dom
Summary: Neal has a brilliant idea
Rating: PG-13
Warning(s): Meathead teasing, fan hitting, raving scholars, extreme paranoia...you get the idea
A/N: The first installment of this epic tale *snort*
~Sir Nealan, Knight of the Realm~
Chapter Four: Void Accounts
When Neal next woke, the sun was high in the sky. Sunlight streamed through his shutters onto his bed, warming him even though it was winter. Stretching lazily, he lay there, just basking in the warm glow washing over him. His eyes closed, he could feel the light on his face and smiled slightly in contentment.
He stayed like that for several moments, just enjoying the peace and solitude. But a grumble of his stomach brought him back from his blankness, and he opened his eyes.
He was ravenous, he realized, not that that surprised him, for he hadn’t eaten anything but the various sweets he kept in his room for two days, and judging from the position of the sun, it was near noon, just about time for lunch. Sitting up with a groan, Neal eyed the stone floor warily. It was bound to be bitter cold at this time of year, and he wasn’t looking forward to allowing the icy surface to come in contact with his tender appendages.
Usually he kept a pair of boots next to his bed for just this purpose, but it appeared he had forgotten to put them there before he had lain down. Carefully, Neal extended a toe down to the floor, barely touching it with the very tip of said appendage. He yanked it back. The floor was freezing! Perhaps he would just stay in bed a bit longer. His stomach rumbled again. Neal sighed. The call of food overrode anything and everything else.
Taking a deep breath, he launched himself out of the bed and onto the icy stone. Swearing profusely, he dashed to the corner where his boots were, stuffing them hurriedly onto his feet. He let out the breath he had been holding as warmth enveloped his extremities. He considered changing and cleaning up, but then his stomach growled for a third time, this one sounding quite angry.
Giving up that idea, he walked to the door. After all, he was just going to the knights’ mess; who would care if he looked at bit untidy?
He set out towards the dining hall, maneuvering automatically through the labyrinth of the palace. As he walked, he considered what to do with the day. He could always work on his project, he supposed. But he felt rather reluctant towards that idea. It was coming along at a good pace, and since he had finished the first part, he was reluctant to push himself into greater depths of writers’ block if he were to overdo it.
His research on Kel’s family was nearly done. He only needed one more source before he could begin to write. And the other side of the project was coming along exceedingly well. No one suspected what it was about, and Kel was safely at New Hope.
He could move much more freely with her not about, because Kel being Kel, would notice his odd habits and probably figure out what he was doing one way or another. And then his project would be ruined and he’d never get the chance to prove Dom wrong.
As he thought of Kel, Neal had the nagging sensation that he was missing something important. Frowning, he tried to think of what he was forgetting.
Rounding a corner, Neal was too deep in thought to notice the person hurrying in the opposite direction, similarly occupied, and ran headlong into him. He pulled back, about to mutter an apology when the man spoke to him.
“Meathead! I didn’t quite expect to run into you, literally or metaphorically!”
Startled, Neal looked up into the face of Dom. “Well, to be honest, neither did I; dear cousin. But what can a poor mortal such as I do to stop the cruel twists of fate?” he retorted with a sigh.
Dom staggered back, hand clasped dramatically over his heart. “You wound me most deeply, Sir Meathead! To think that my most humble personage was just benevolently coming to find you to ensure that you did not perish for want of nourishment!” Dom exclaimed, mimicking the flowery speech of the players.
“Don’t tell me you’ve off and joined the players!” Neal cried in mock horror. “Your court ladies would surely faint at the dreadfulness of such an occupation!”
Dom put on a sorrowful face and replied, “It hurts to think of disappointing such beautiful specimens of femininity, but I must follow the calling of my heart.”
Neal laughed and clasped his cousin’s hand warmly. “I wouldn’t tell that to those ladies I heard you were squiring about that.”
Dom made a face. “More like trying to get rid of. They simply don’t understand ‘Back off’.” Neal raised his eyebrows. “Since when have you ever complained about attention from ladies? Got your eye on someone in particular my dear cousin?”
Dom suddenly tensed. “No! I mean, what makes you say that?” He laughed nervously, running a hand through his thick, dark hair. Neal looked at him questioningly. “The only time you don’t like having girls chase you is when you are enamored with a beauty.”
Dom relaxed some. “No, I’m just tired of the court ladies, always giggling and never able to have an intelligent conversation. But enough of that! How’s your book coming along?” He asked.
Neal shrugged. “Well enough, I suppose. I finished the first part.”
Dom nodded. “Really? I was surprised to see you out of your room. Usually when you’re working on something, you don’t do anything else. ”
“Well, this is a more long term project. And I’m just going to the mess, so you needn’t have been concerned about me earlier.” Neal said with a slightly lofty tone.
Dom grinned impishly. “Forgive me my disbelief, but please allow me to accompany you to make sure you do, in fact, eat. Can’t have Kel after me if something happens to you, can I?”
Neal rolled his eyes but agreed. “Fine, but let’s go. I’m starving.”
“To the mess!” Dom said gallantly, and took off.
Neal followed, frowning. Why was Dom worried that he would think he liked someone? And since when did Dom lose interest in court ladies? This was most distressing.
Dom called over his shoulder, “So Neal, what exactly are you writing about anyway?”
“Oh nothing,” Neal replied vaguely. “Just scholarly stuff.” Dom shrugged and continued on. Neal congratulated himself on his brilliant deflection of Dom’s question.
Once they reached the mess, the two men grabbed their food and sat down together at a table slightly off to one side.
“So,” Dom teased. “Enjoying your last days of freedom before Kel gets here and forces you to eat vegetables?”
“I’m perfectly capable of choosing my own diet! I…” Neal stopped. “Wait. “What about Kel?”
“She’s coming,” Dom said patiently. “You know, for Midwinter? Wasn’t she planning on leaving New Hope yesterday?”
Neal’s brain worked furiously. She was coming! He remembered now that she was planning on it. She had only stayed behind for a little bit to finish up some things having to do with the fort.
“Right.” Neal said aloud. “I must have...forgotten.” Then another thought his him. “My project,” he wailed, causing people in his close vicinity to give him strange looks. But he was too busy bemoaning this development to notice. How would he work on it without her finding out? It was going to be a disaster. His dread grew when he noticed Dom was eyeing him critically. Had he said that out loud?
“What does Kel have to do with your project, Neal?” he asked suspiciously.
“N-n-nothing!” Neal stuttered, trying to retreat from his foolish admission. “How do you know what Kel’s doing anyway?” he asked, trying to distract Dom.
Dom blushed ever so slightly, but replied forcefully, “Nice try at changing the subject. Now, what are you up to Nealan?”
Neal studied Dom for a few moments, trying to come to a decision. Dom was incorrigible. He would find out anyway eventually, so perhaps it was just better to tell him now before he did something stupid that ruined the project. He could keep a secret, and he probably wouldn’t tell Kel. His mind made up, Neal sighed.
“Fine, I’ll tell you. The book’s about Kel.” He admitted. He added harshly, “You can’t tell her, under any circumstances! It’s a surprise!”
Dom let this information sink in for a moment before he started to laugh. “Alright Meathead, I won’t tell her. This sounds too interesting. It’ll be fun to watch her kill you when she does find out.” Neal paled slightly at this. Kel wouldn’t be mad at him. Right? The book was a wonderful idea that she would love… Right?!
“I can help you though,” Dom added. “I’ll distract her and cover for you.”
Neal nodded. It would be good to have an ally in this endeavor.
“So, what have you done so far?” Dom asked. “If I’m helping, I want to be up to date. Kel’s shouldn’t be here for two days at the least, so we have some time to plan.”
“Shhh!” Neal hissed, glancing shiftily about. “Someone could be listening!”
Dom raised a brow skeptically. “They could!” Neal insisted. He glared at a man at the table next to them. “We need to go to a more secure location!”
He stood up and motioned for Dom to follow him. He led him out of the mess and down a small corridor off the main hall. Arriving at a small door, Neal beckoned Dom inside, looked both ways down the hall, and followed him in, stealthily closing the door. It was pitch black in the small room before Neal used his gift to call a light for them to see by.
Dom surveyed his surroundings before looking at Neal strangely and asking “Meathead, why are we in a storage closet?”
“It’s a secure location,” Neal answered as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
Dom started to say something, but then thought better of it. Instead he asked, “Now can we talk?”
“Very well,” Neal replied. “I have finished the introduction and am wrapping up my research on Kel’s family, which will be the first chapter. The book is mostly going to be about my memories of Kel and about her adventures.”
Dom nodded, frowning in thought. “You should interview other people and put their stories and memories in the book too,” he suggested.
Neal thought about this. It was a good idea, but there was just one small problem. “What would I tell people it’s for? I don’t want everyone knowing, because then Kel will find out.”
Dom considered this. “Tell them the truth.” He said at last. “Tell them its part of a present for Kel. Then they’ll keep it secret.”
Neal agreed, “That’s settled then.”
They sat in silence for a bit, thinking their own thoughts. A smile tugged at Dom’s mouth. “I can’t wait to see her face when she finds out,” he said. “I’ll be glad when she gets here. I miss having her around and having someone beat me up in practice.”
Neal looked up at his cousin. He saw a wistful look in Dom’s eyes as he spoke of Kel, and something clicked in his mind. That look, the blush in the mess, the stiffness earlier. A thought was forming in his head.
Oh no, he thought. Oh no no no no no. He just needed to confirm his suspicions. “You are in love with someone!” he accused him. Dom’s face adopted a panicked look. “You’re in love with…”
Dom quickly cut in before Neal could finish. “I, uh, promised I’d practice with Wolset!” He practically ran out the door.
Neal stared after him thinking. So Dom liked Kel. Well he approved. Dom wouldn’t hurt her; he wasn’t that type of man. And Neal could tell he really liked her.
A wicked smile passed across his face as he thought of all the pain he could put Dom through with this new bit of information… But what would Kel think?
He wondered if she liked him back. Yuki would know…
YUKI! He thought. That’s what he should do: visit her! He hadn’t seen her for days and he missed his Yamani blossom. He walked out of the closet and set off towards her rooms.
Neal continued his walk, thinking about all he needed to accomplish before Kel came. He should have at least a few days to get things under control, he supposed.
Walking past a hallway, he paused. It was the way to the libraries. With Kel’s imminent arrival, Neal knew he needed to wrap up his research quickly, for the time being at least. And there was one document in particular that he needed to finish his research of Kel’s family history.
Perhaps he should just stop and pick it up. After all, he had already looked it up in the index of palace documents and he knew which library it was in. It shouldn’t take long to just retrieve it; he could soon be on his way to his beautiful blossom. His mind made up, he turned down the hall and strode quickly to the Hall of Noble Records.
As he entered the room, the thought crossed Neal’s mind that he hadn’t been in this particular library in ages. It was a musty sort of room with a lot of regal-looking books about a lot of important people, normally the sort of thing Neal loved.
He pulled a scrap of paper from his pocket. On it was written the code for the document’s location, which he had previously looked up in a book that contained the listings of all the items in the royally sponsored libraries. It was a useful system, Neal remarked, invented by Amanda of Dewey in 307 H.E. Now that was one smart lady, much better than the current court denizens; using numerals and letters, she had created a system for organizing works by SUBJECT, AUTHOR AND TITLE.
With the code, he was able to quickly locate the document. Moving towards the front desk, he placed the volume on the table.
“May I see your card, sir?” the librarian asked. He was a tall, thin man, with a large nose on which a pair of spectacles was perched rather precariously, and he had the lofty air of a scholar about him.
Neal dug in his belt purse for a moment, before withdrawing a well-worn rectangle of very thin wood. Engraved into it was his name and account number.
The librarian took the card as if the object was distasteful. Referencing the number on it, he consulted an enormously proportioned book.
“I’m sorry sir,” the man said, looking down his long nose disapprovingly, “but this account is void.”
“Void!” Neal cried. “When? Why?”
“Since 435 because of damage to valuable documents,” the librarian replied, aversion evident in his voice.
435…435 Neal thought. 435…I was eight… What happened when I was…no…oh no. Now Neal remembered.
Dom! He thought furiously. Dom had pulled that stupid prank when he had been reading the book. It was ruined, he recalled.
“I’m sorry,” the man cut into his thoughts, “but it says here you’re not to be allowed on library grounds. I’m afraid I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”
He was clearly not sorry, surveying Neal with obvious repugnance.
Neal spun and walked angrily out. Now what was he supposed to do? He needed that book! He should have guessed it would be Dom’s fault. It was always Dom’s fault! And that librarian! Who exactly did he think he was?
Previous plans forgotten, Neal stormed furiously back to his rooms to stew.
Fandom: Tamora Pierce
Pairing: Neal/Yuki, Kel/Dom
Summary: Neal has a brilliant idea
Rating: PG-13
Warning(s): Meathead teasing, fan hitting, raving scholars, extreme paranoia...you get the idea
A/N: The first installment of this epic tale *snort*
~Sir Nealan, Knight of the Realm~
Chapter Four: Void Accounts
When Neal next woke, the sun was high in the sky. Sunlight streamed through his shutters onto his bed, warming him even though it was winter. Stretching lazily, he lay there, just basking in the warm glow washing over him. His eyes closed, he could feel the light on his face and smiled slightly in contentment.
He stayed like that for several moments, just enjoying the peace and solitude. But a grumble of his stomach brought him back from his blankness, and he opened his eyes.
He was ravenous, he realized, not that that surprised him, for he hadn’t eaten anything but the various sweets he kept in his room for two days, and judging from the position of the sun, it was near noon, just about time for lunch. Sitting up with a groan, Neal eyed the stone floor warily. It was bound to be bitter cold at this time of year, and he wasn’t looking forward to allowing the icy surface to come in contact with his tender appendages.
Usually he kept a pair of boots next to his bed for just this purpose, but it appeared he had forgotten to put them there before he had lain down. Carefully, Neal extended a toe down to the floor, barely touching it with the very tip of said appendage. He yanked it back. The floor was freezing! Perhaps he would just stay in bed a bit longer. His stomach rumbled again. Neal sighed. The call of food overrode anything and everything else.
Taking a deep breath, he launched himself out of the bed and onto the icy stone. Swearing profusely, he dashed to the corner where his boots were, stuffing them hurriedly onto his feet. He let out the breath he had been holding as warmth enveloped his extremities. He considered changing and cleaning up, but then his stomach growled for a third time, this one sounding quite angry.
Giving up that idea, he walked to the door. After all, he was just going to the knights’ mess; who would care if he looked at bit untidy?
He set out towards the dining hall, maneuvering automatically through the labyrinth of the palace. As he walked, he considered what to do with the day. He could always work on his project, he supposed. But he felt rather reluctant towards that idea. It was coming along at a good pace, and since he had finished the first part, he was reluctant to push himself into greater depths of writers’ block if he were to overdo it.
His research on Kel’s family was nearly done. He only needed one more source before he could begin to write. And the other side of the project was coming along exceedingly well. No one suspected what it was about, and Kel was safely at New Hope.
He could move much more freely with her not about, because Kel being Kel, would notice his odd habits and probably figure out what he was doing one way or another. And then his project would be ruined and he’d never get the chance to prove Dom wrong.
As he thought of Kel, Neal had the nagging sensation that he was missing something important. Frowning, he tried to think of what he was forgetting.
Rounding a corner, Neal was too deep in thought to notice the person hurrying in the opposite direction, similarly occupied, and ran headlong into him. He pulled back, about to mutter an apology when the man spoke to him.
“Meathead! I didn’t quite expect to run into you, literally or metaphorically!”
Startled, Neal looked up into the face of Dom. “Well, to be honest, neither did I; dear cousin. But what can a poor mortal such as I do to stop the cruel twists of fate?” he retorted with a sigh.
Dom staggered back, hand clasped dramatically over his heart. “You wound me most deeply, Sir Meathead! To think that my most humble personage was just benevolently coming to find you to ensure that you did not perish for want of nourishment!” Dom exclaimed, mimicking the flowery speech of the players.
“Don’t tell me you’ve off and joined the players!” Neal cried in mock horror. “Your court ladies would surely faint at the dreadfulness of such an occupation!”
Dom put on a sorrowful face and replied, “It hurts to think of disappointing such beautiful specimens of femininity, but I must follow the calling of my heart.”
Neal laughed and clasped his cousin’s hand warmly. “I wouldn’t tell that to those ladies I heard you were squiring about that.”
Dom made a face. “More like trying to get rid of. They simply don’t understand ‘Back off’.” Neal raised his eyebrows. “Since when have you ever complained about attention from ladies? Got your eye on someone in particular my dear cousin?”
Dom suddenly tensed. “No! I mean, what makes you say that?” He laughed nervously, running a hand through his thick, dark hair. Neal looked at him questioningly. “The only time you don’t like having girls chase you is when you are enamored with a beauty.”
Dom relaxed some. “No, I’m just tired of the court ladies, always giggling and never able to have an intelligent conversation. But enough of that! How’s your book coming along?” He asked.
Neal shrugged. “Well enough, I suppose. I finished the first part.”
Dom nodded. “Really? I was surprised to see you out of your room. Usually when you’re working on something, you don’t do anything else. ”
“Well, this is a more long term project. And I’m just going to the mess, so you needn’t have been concerned about me earlier.” Neal said with a slightly lofty tone.
Dom grinned impishly. “Forgive me my disbelief, but please allow me to accompany you to make sure you do, in fact, eat. Can’t have Kel after me if something happens to you, can I?”
Neal rolled his eyes but agreed. “Fine, but let’s go. I’m starving.”
“To the mess!” Dom said gallantly, and took off.
Neal followed, frowning. Why was Dom worried that he would think he liked someone? And since when did Dom lose interest in court ladies? This was most distressing.
Dom called over his shoulder, “So Neal, what exactly are you writing about anyway?”
“Oh nothing,” Neal replied vaguely. “Just scholarly stuff.” Dom shrugged and continued on. Neal congratulated himself on his brilliant deflection of Dom’s question.
Once they reached the mess, the two men grabbed their food and sat down together at a table slightly off to one side.
“So,” Dom teased. “Enjoying your last days of freedom before Kel gets here and forces you to eat vegetables?”
“I’m perfectly capable of choosing my own diet! I…” Neal stopped. “Wait. “What about Kel?”
“She’s coming,” Dom said patiently. “You know, for Midwinter? Wasn’t she planning on leaving New Hope yesterday?”
Neal’s brain worked furiously. She was coming! He remembered now that she was planning on it. She had only stayed behind for a little bit to finish up some things having to do with the fort.
“Right.” Neal said aloud. “I must have...forgotten.” Then another thought his him. “My project,” he wailed, causing people in his close vicinity to give him strange looks. But he was too busy bemoaning this development to notice. How would he work on it without her finding out? It was going to be a disaster. His dread grew when he noticed Dom was eyeing him critically. Had he said that out loud?
“What does Kel have to do with your project, Neal?” he asked suspiciously.
“N-n-nothing!” Neal stuttered, trying to retreat from his foolish admission. “How do you know what Kel’s doing anyway?” he asked, trying to distract Dom.
Dom blushed ever so slightly, but replied forcefully, “Nice try at changing the subject. Now, what are you up to Nealan?”
Neal studied Dom for a few moments, trying to come to a decision. Dom was incorrigible. He would find out anyway eventually, so perhaps it was just better to tell him now before he did something stupid that ruined the project. He could keep a secret, and he probably wouldn’t tell Kel. His mind made up, Neal sighed.
“Fine, I’ll tell you. The book’s about Kel.” He admitted. He added harshly, “You can’t tell her, under any circumstances! It’s a surprise!”
Dom let this information sink in for a moment before he started to laugh. “Alright Meathead, I won’t tell her. This sounds too interesting. It’ll be fun to watch her kill you when she does find out.” Neal paled slightly at this. Kel wouldn’t be mad at him. Right? The book was a wonderful idea that she would love… Right?!
“I can help you though,” Dom added. “I’ll distract her and cover for you.”
Neal nodded. It would be good to have an ally in this endeavor.
“So, what have you done so far?” Dom asked. “If I’m helping, I want to be up to date. Kel’s shouldn’t be here for two days at the least, so we have some time to plan.”
“Shhh!” Neal hissed, glancing shiftily about. “Someone could be listening!”
Dom raised a brow skeptically. “They could!” Neal insisted. He glared at a man at the table next to them. “We need to go to a more secure location!”
He stood up and motioned for Dom to follow him. He led him out of the mess and down a small corridor off the main hall. Arriving at a small door, Neal beckoned Dom inside, looked both ways down the hall, and followed him in, stealthily closing the door. It was pitch black in the small room before Neal used his gift to call a light for them to see by.
Dom surveyed his surroundings before looking at Neal strangely and asking “Meathead, why are we in a storage closet?”
“It’s a secure location,” Neal answered as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
Dom started to say something, but then thought better of it. Instead he asked, “Now can we talk?”
“Very well,” Neal replied. “I have finished the introduction and am wrapping up my research on Kel’s family, which will be the first chapter. The book is mostly going to be about my memories of Kel and about her adventures.”
Dom nodded, frowning in thought. “You should interview other people and put their stories and memories in the book too,” he suggested.
Neal thought about this. It was a good idea, but there was just one small problem. “What would I tell people it’s for? I don’t want everyone knowing, because then Kel will find out.”
Dom considered this. “Tell them the truth.” He said at last. “Tell them its part of a present for Kel. Then they’ll keep it secret.”
Neal agreed, “That’s settled then.”
They sat in silence for a bit, thinking their own thoughts. A smile tugged at Dom’s mouth. “I can’t wait to see her face when she finds out,” he said. “I’ll be glad when she gets here. I miss having her around and having someone beat me up in practice.”
Neal looked up at his cousin. He saw a wistful look in Dom’s eyes as he spoke of Kel, and something clicked in his mind. That look, the blush in the mess, the stiffness earlier. A thought was forming in his head.
Oh no, he thought. Oh no no no no no. He just needed to confirm his suspicions. “You are in love with someone!” he accused him. Dom’s face adopted a panicked look. “You’re in love with…”
Dom quickly cut in before Neal could finish. “I, uh, promised I’d practice with Wolset!” He practically ran out the door.
Neal stared after him thinking. So Dom liked Kel. Well he approved. Dom wouldn’t hurt her; he wasn’t that type of man. And Neal could tell he really liked her.
A wicked smile passed across his face as he thought of all the pain he could put Dom through with this new bit of information… But what would Kel think?
He wondered if she liked him back. Yuki would know…
YUKI! He thought. That’s what he should do: visit her! He hadn’t seen her for days and he missed his Yamani blossom. He walked out of the closet and set off towards her rooms.
Neal continued his walk, thinking about all he needed to accomplish before Kel came. He should have at least a few days to get things under control, he supposed.
Walking past a hallway, he paused. It was the way to the libraries. With Kel’s imminent arrival, Neal knew he needed to wrap up his research quickly, for the time being at least. And there was one document in particular that he needed to finish his research of Kel’s family history.
Perhaps he should just stop and pick it up. After all, he had already looked it up in the index of palace documents and he knew which library it was in. It shouldn’t take long to just retrieve it; he could soon be on his way to his beautiful blossom. His mind made up, he turned down the hall and strode quickly to the Hall of Noble Records.
As he entered the room, the thought crossed Neal’s mind that he hadn’t been in this particular library in ages. It was a musty sort of room with a lot of regal-looking books about a lot of important people, normally the sort of thing Neal loved.
He pulled a scrap of paper from his pocket. On it was written the code for the document’s location, which he had previously looked up in a book that contained the listings of all the items in the royally sponsored libraries. It was a useful system, Neal remarked, invented by Amanda of Dewey in 307 H.E. Now that was one smart lady, much better than the current court denizens; using numerals and letters, she had created a system for organizing works by SUBJECT, AUTHOR AND TITLE.
With the code, he was able to quickly locate the document. Moving towards the front desk, he placed the volume on the table.
“May I see your card, sir?” the librarian asked. He was a tall, thin man, with a large nose on which a pair of spectacles was perched rather precariously, and he had the lofty air of a scholar about him.
Neal dug in his belt purse for a moment, before withdrawing a well-worn rectangle of very thin wood. Engraved into it was his name and account number.
The librarian took the card as if the object was distasteful. Referencing the number on it, he consulted an enormously proportioned book.
“I’m sorry sir,” the man said, looking down his long nose disapprovingly, “but this account is void.”
“Void!” Neal cried. “When? Why?”
“Since 435 because of damage to valuable documents,” the librarian replied, aversion evident in his voice.
435…435 Neal thought. 435…I was eight… What happened when I was…no…oh no. Now Neal remembered.
Dom! He thought furiously. Dom had pulled that stupid prank when he had been reading the book. It was ruined, he recalled.
“I’m sorry,” the man cut into his thoughts, “but it says here you’re not to be allowed on library grounds. I’m afraid I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”
He was clearly not sorry, surveying Neal with obvious repugnance.
Neal spun and walked angrily out. Now what was he supposed to do? He needed that book! He should have guessed it would be Dom’s fault. It was always Dom’s fault! And that librarian! Who exactly did he think he was?
Previous plans forgotten, Neal stormed furiously back to his rooms to stew.