Naomi blinked tiredly. She and Finn had spent much time at the library. It was exhausting, but she didn't dare leave the woman alone for too long.
Her hostess was like a woman possessed, scanning books with unflappable determination before casting each aside on a separate table with a contained rage.
As if it were each book's fault that it contained no helpful information. And Finn held each personally responsible, it seemed. She wasn't rough with them, but fixed each one with a glare that would bring a person groveling to their knees in repentance.
So far, none of the books had repented for their lack of helpful information, but there still were many more to assess. The library assistants gave them a wide berth, not daring to get too close to the woman who looked like a storm cloud ready to strike at whoever deserved it in the least.
"I'm so frustrated! A lot of these I've looked at before, but I wasn't looking for this kind of information, so it's like starting completely over!" Finn lamented.
Though Naomi knew how to read, she was not nearly so quick at it. Her eyes were beginning to cross, and her head ached terribly. The ladies had taken a break for Finn to go and feed her children at the appointed time, but they had come right back afterward.
Naomi was nearing the end of her energy, but didn't quite know how to tell her friend that they needed to go home. Finn was wearing herself out, clearly. It was not a pleasant thing to watch her be so out of sorts.
She tried out several phrases in her head, trying to put together words that wouldn't offend the other woman. If they stayed too much longer, she would either fall asleep on the table or her head would burst, ruining all the books around them.
Opening her mouth to suggest stopping for dinner and bed, Naomi found herself interrupted instead.
"Did you look through all those fairy tale books yet?" Finn pointed to a stack in front of her. They had been Naomi's assignment for the day.
"Just the first two," Naomi admitted. She was not a quick reader, even by Rhone standards, and had hoped to be of more use in this than she was. It was embarrassing how much more quickly Finn could read than herself. There must be some kind of advanced skill involved that Naomi had never been taught.
Maybe Caspian would know.
"Anything that might be helpful? Giants, goblins, pink sky, sorcerer, anything?" Finn pressed in irritation.
"No, but I'll try this next one," Naomi tried to put on a brave smile, and faltered.
"I'll do it," Finn sighed. "You look dead on your feet. Why don't you go home? Do you know the way?"
Naomi was fairly certain she could find the way, but hesitated.
"I'll wait until you're ready to go. What if we try one or two more books and come back tomorrow?" She asked hopefully. Maybe that would be enough to convince Finn it was nearly time to leave.
"Oh, it is nearly dark, isn't it?" Finn glanced at the window. "I'm sorry, Naomi. I'm working you to the bone."
"I like to be helpful." The Rhone woman replied.
"All right, one more book each. You try this one, I'll look over here." Finn sighed.
Naomi's book was one of old fairy tales collected by a storyteller whose name she couldn't quite make out on the second page. The ink was a bit smudged, unfortunately, due to the book's age. Thankfully, it also had a list of the stories included and page numbers next to it.
The first half dozen stories were silly ones about magic shoes, a cat that could talk, and other such ridiculous tales. Naomi ran her finger down further and suddenly paused.
"Um, Finn?" She said, a little uncertainly.
"Yes?" Came the tired reply.
"Come look here," Naomi pointed at the words on the page. They were a little illegible, but if she were correct…
"The Hunter's Daughter and the Goblins," Finn read. "Oh!"
She snatched the book from Naomi's hands and quickly flipped to the relevant page, then began reading aloud.
"Once, long ago, in the hills, lived a hunter with a beautiful daughter. Every day she grew prettier than the day before. The hunter loved his daughter more than the world and gifted her with dresses the color of water in the sunshine, and a golden chain to wear around her neck. She wore both every day as a testament to her love for her father.
"He warned her often that she must stay inside their cabin at night, and never leave it, especially with her finery on. During the day, she could go out in the sunshine, but never cross the river that ran next to their home. The girl, being obedient and kind, promised her father to listen to his commands.
"They lived happily together for some years, until it came time for the girl to find a husband. The hunter knew that she was lovely enough to attract a fine man, but wanted to give her a fine dowry to match her kindness and beauty.
"He decided to go hunting up the mountain for a grand stag for a wedding gift, admonishing his daughter to remember his commands, and above all to beware of the goblins that lurked about. She hugged and kissed her father, and he went on his way.
"Over a week passed, and the girl became worried. She wanted to wait patiently, but her anxiety for her father began to grow with each day that came and went. By the tenth day, she decided to go and look for him. She packed some food and water and crossed the river on the stepping stones.
"After a short time, she came across a cave. 'Father?' She called into it, and a voice answered. 'Yes, child, come in! Bring your golden necklace!'.
"The girl was frightened, for although the voice did sound like her father, she remembered his warnings about dark places and golden treasure, and fled. Soon after, she came across a hole in the ground, freshly dug. 'Hello?' She called into it.
"'Daughter, I have fallen! Help me!' Came the reply. 'Lower your golden chain that I might grasp it and climb out!' Again, the girl remembered her father's warning and fled. The sun was now low in the sky, and a sound like a hiss came from behind her.
"Fearing that night would soon be upon her, the girl began to run for home. Holes all around began to open up in her path, causing her to trip and stumble. Fearing her father was lost forever, she determined to make it home alone and then go for help in the village when she could.
"She tripped again and spilled water into one of the holes, and a sound like the howl of a wolf echoed out of it. The girl sprung to her feet and ran in earnest, trying to make it across the river. She…"
Finn's voice trailed off. Naomi blinked, having been so caught up in the story that she'd forgotten they were standing in the library together.
"What did she do?" Naomi asked anxiously.
Though it was just a story, it was the first detailed information on goblins they'd come across. Surely there would be something helpful in the tale?
Her hostess was silent, her eyes darting back and forth across the page as her mind worked on the problem. Naomi felt a flash of admiration. She had no capacity to consider such large problems, and was relieved that nothing this important fell on her shoulders.
"We need to go see the General. I think… that is, I might have an idea." Finn inhaled deeply.
"What kind of idea?" Naomi asked.
"Look, right here," Finn pointed as Naomi tried to scan the page, but gave up and had to read each word slowly.
"I'm glad she escaped, and was able to free her father," The Rhone woman sighed in relief. "I was worried for her!"
"Yes, but look how she did it," Finn said a little more slowly. "Don't you understand?"
"I understand a little, but I'm not sure how that helps us," Naomi frowned.
"Come on, let's go see the General, and maybe the Treasurer as well. I'll explain to you on the way."
"And then we can go home?" The Rhone woman asked, perhaps a touch too earnestly to be polite.
"Yes. After that we'll go home and eat and have a wonderful night's rest, for even though the plan is mine, I'm not sure I would be able to help at all in trying to implement it." Finn laughed lightly to herself, but it seemed more the product of exhaustion than genuine amusement.
Naomi hoped they would both be able to sleep well after Finn accomplished whatever it was she had planned.