Page 21 of His Human Librarian

Taylor is lathering her colorless skin with some sort of lotion.

“What are you doing?”

“I have to apply sunscreen.”

I tilt my head, trying to understand this odd human behavior.

“My skin isn’t like yours, which is probably naturally protected from the sun. I get sunburned easily.” And then she puts a hat on her head. “Now I’m ready.”

We start on the main trail heading northwest to the mountains. I slow down Thunder, my beast, and ride side by side with Taylor, while the trail is wider, before it narrows.

“I haven't shown this cave to anyone yet. You will be the first to see it after me.”

“You haven't told anyone about this?”

“I've told Hugsen and then Erid, who told enough beings, obviously. That's it.”

“No one in your family?”

“No.”

“Didn’t we…didn’t we mention who I was, at least once?”

“I didn’t, did you?”

Her brow furrows. “No, I guess I didn’t. None of the other employees here on the ranch know that I’m the Librarian sent here to assess the artifacts in the cave you found?”

“No.”

“Where did Roda and Tilden and the others think we were going?”

“I told them I was teaching you how to ride.”

“Why do they think I'm here?”

“They think you're another human mail-order bride.”

She gasps. “Didn't they know in the transporter station that I was from the Antiquities Council? I came from Gravian.”

“That was my cover. I didn't want anyone to know that you were a mail-order bride, so I told them to not tell anyone that you weren't a Librarian. I told them to use the cover story that you were a Librarian and not a mail-order bride.”

She looks at me, still confused. “Well, won't they then tell everybody that I'm a Librarian from the Antiquities Council?”

“No,” I laugh. “They will tell everyone that you're a mail-order bride.”

“And you think that this is better than them thinking the truth, that I am, in fact, a Librarian?”

“It'll be embarrassing when you leave immediately, but it's better than them knowing about the cave and spreading that information far and wide, bringing treasure hunters.”

“I’ve dealt with treasure hunters before and they are not pleasant. There shouldn’t be any on this mission though. You didn’t find actual treasure, right? Only scrolls and books?”

“Yes, nothing of real value beyond academics. But I want to make sure we stay safe and so do the Hyrrokin in this county. I don't know how this is going to play out either. And I didn't want anyone to be disappointed when you leave tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow? I will only know when I can leave after I’ve assessed the situation at the cave.”

We are both quiet for a moment, processing this information. And then I see her lips twitch. “Everyone I met thinks I’m here to be your bride?”

“To be my bound. The news spread like wildfire. I have a feeling that my parents and brothers are going to show up here tonight, at the latest, tomorrow, or maybe tomorrow morning, if we're lucky. But by then, I will be returning you to the transporter station.”

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