Bribing the Library Employee

However they were in luck. A gnome was striding away from the locked door (a very substantial one, that did not look like it could be broken down). He was putting a bunch of keys away in his pocket.

Astra considered threatening the gnome. After all, both she and Ardua had swords. But she decided that should be a last resort. She didn't like threatening innocent people.

"Hello," she said. "We, um, urgently need to consult one of your books. I don't suppose that you could bend the rules a little, and let us in?"

If the gnome was startled at encountering two naked women, he hid it very well. "You'd need to make it worth my while," he said. "But unless you have a very inventive hiding place, it doesn't look as though either of you has any money on you. And I'm not interested in taking one of your swords instead."

"Nor would we think of parting with them," Astra said. "How about this in lieu of monetary payment?"

Without warning, ahe swept the gnome - who was about eighteen inches shorter than she was - up in her arms and gave him a long, lingering kiss.

When she put him down again, he seemed dazed for a moment, before saying: "That will do nicely."

He turned round and unlocked the door. "Have fun," he said. "By the way, if you were looking for that knight fellow, I naturally had to turf him out before locking up." With that, he walked away laughing, while Astra fumed at having been outwitted.

1. Astra and Ardua decide that they might as well enter the library anyway.
2. Astra and Ardua go looking for Fred.
3. Ardua calls after the retreating gnome: "I don't suppose that you happen to know where the knight went after leaving here?"

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