Sidastir stormed angrily through the hall. When had Akana managed to escape him? Had he not understood the weight of the event that occurred the day they arrived? Magnus kept pace with Sidastir and generally looked amused. He had in recent days discovered the pleasure of having a best friend who is married.

The entertainment was unlimited.

Sidastir held back a snapping comment as he most likely will need Magnus to locate Akana. He hoped Akana had merely visited the library to fetch his material.

”Behold, I am listening to what are you saying! Occasionally ...”

But if he wasn't there, it would be almost impossible to locate him. Sidastir groaned forlornly and tried desperately to avoid tearing his hair.

"Do not excite yourself! I have not heard for a long time of someone being assaulted by the library's books, " Magnus laughed casually.

"I'm Akana den Rifabeinn. Husband of Sidastir den Rifabeinn, Rial of Eitir, and Rial Caraid of Eitir. Who are you to believe you are my equal?"

Magnus silenced, “ but then again, the books have become a little restless lately.”

Sidastir ignored Magnus's inappropriate remark and began to rush towards Akana’s voice. He could feel the heart in his mouth and felt the panic increase. Sidastir swung off to the right corner and spotted him.

Akana stood without moving a muscle while a man, twice as large as Akana, rushed towards him with a roar.

Sidastir did not know what had triggered the attack and he did not care.

His thoughts vanished and he felt his mana freezing in his veins. He called the ancient powers, and with a gesture with his arm, an enormous blue light flew out of his hand and traveled across the hall towards the attacker.

The light orb gave off a stunning, hissing sound and exploded in a cluster of icy spears which pierced the man. The man was thrown into the wall because of the force of the attack and landed in a puddle of his own blood.

"Gods dawn, Sidastir!" Magnus wailed but Sidastir had no interest in listening. He rushed up to the scene to help Akana, who had not moved or said a word but his eyes darted over Sidastir’s face. The eyes were neither terrified nor helpless, they only asked to be helped for this was an annoyance.

For someone without magic, Akana would have looked peculiar, but Sidastir could see perfectly well. Serpents slithered forth along Akanas body and paralyzed his soul. A hex. A unique ability which only a few noble families in Patricalum possess. He moved towards the woman and grabbed onto her face.

"Let him go, Serpentis!"

The woman did not release him with her gaze. "Atra, my dear, you can always call me Atra, Sidastir!"

Her voice was luscious like honey as she snapped her fingers and Akana stumbled as he was released. Magnus hurried to give him support and Sidastir took off his hand from Atra. He glared with revulsion at his hand as if he had touched something immodest.

"You are never to call me Sidastir, dear! if you do not want to be sent home in pieces," said Sidastir with a nauseating expression and turned towards Akana, who had now regained his posture. He examined, with an indifferent gaze, the man who lay in a pile on the floor.

Sidastir did not even bother to investigate whether the man lived but Magnus sigh of relief after examining him suggested he had survived Sidastir’s attack.

"Are you injured?" Sidastir asked anxiously and inspected Akana but he could not see any injuries. Which was a relief. It could be messy if he had to assassinate all spectators to be sure everyone, who harmed Akana, had been punished.

"Ah, there you are. I need help carrying my books. They were somewhat heavier than I feared they would be," said Akana as if the event which had just occurred did not exist. Sidastir stared for a while and could not find words so Magnus replied instead.

"What happened here?"

"The wild boar... What did she? Oh! Verres and the woman, what did you call her? Atra Serpentis, wondered if they could help me carry the books, " said Akana.

Sidastir and Magnus waited patiently for the rest of the story, but nothing more came.

"So Verres was so eager to help you carry the books he threw himself over them?" asked Magnus with irony in his voice. Akana looked amazed and Sidastir knew he had a hard time understanding jokes.

"Of course not! Atra Serpentis wanted to know what rank I had and I introduced myself which resulted in the her giving the order to slay me. I assumed she did not appreciate my introduction. Perhaps I will learn the right way to introduce myself in Diplomacy or is it in Decorum you are allowed to learn such things?"

Sidastir tried to figure out if Akana was joking but he looked utterly serious.

"You still look like you're prepared to murder something. Help your darling home while I interrogate the spectators to see what they have to say, " said Magnus.

Sidastir lifted up the books without releasing Akana with his gaze. He began to waltz away while Sidastir followed suit.

"Why did I marry him again?"