Words have weight
Watching the group pluck books from the impossibly high shelves, Taek's nerves feel like they're fraying. He can't put his finger on it, but something feels off. Nervously he calls to the group, "Let's not go in further, just grab some books where you are and on our return we can investigate this place further." Everyone quietly nods aside from two.
"Yanig!" He adds louder right after, making everyone look towards Yanig, but they only see a pile of books on the floor.
Ruben peeks out from behind his bookshelf, and Doa raises a brow from behind the book he has open. The rest of the group also turn their heads and follow Taek's gaze up from the pile of books.
All eyes settle on Yanig hanging out from the bookshelf he has climbed to the tenth rung, easily fifteen feet from the ground. Holding on precariously with one hand and barely finding purchase on the narrow ledge provided by the filled rows. "Yes, yes, I didn't go in further." He answers the questioning looks of everyone, then drops another book down to the floor. "Anyway Taek, why are you on my case, look at Saqwe!" Yanig yells, and points with the only hand keeping him attached to the shelf. He recovers quickly and grabs hold of the shelf again in a panic, and pulls himself right up against the bookshelf with both hands, pressing his cheek against the books at his head's level.
Clenching his jaw as though it will assist in keeping him from falling, Yanig mutters, "See, she is a book gremlin that one."
"Who are you calling a gremlin? I will blast you off that thing you illiterate gargoyle!" Saqwe yells back but doesn't take her eyes off the titles she is scanning for anything interesting. A moment passes with everyone else looking at the one or two books they have chosen to take themselves, and comparing that with the piles of both Saqwe and Yanig. The largest is Saqwe's pile, which is on its third row, each row taller than herself.
Doa looks at the single book he has been flipping through and for good measure grabs another, then heads back to the transfer platform they came through. Taek nods at him appreciatively, assuming it is because Doa understands his concern.
"It took me probably five minutes to return to the platform from the second row of shelves, but only a moment to get there from the platform..." Ruben shares his disconcerting experience with the group on the way back to the Oasis.
"I think it took me about half that from the first row," says Doa.
From the back of the group, Yanig and Saqwe's groans interrupt their chatter. "Really, this is how you treat your elders?" Yanig says in a strained voice. Even though he and Saqwe both have made sand sleds to carry the books they looted, the weight is enough to burden most pack animals. Compounding that with the fact that they are walking over a sea of massive dunes, the group almost feel pity for the two.
Almost.
Taek calls back over his shoulder, "We only have a couple hours left before home."
Ruben finally breaking stride, steps back to help Saqwe, but Doa places a hand on Ruben's chest, stopping him. "No, I think our elders might need to learn some self control." With a grin Doa looks back in time to see both elders letting go of their mobile libraries to send him tumbling off the dune’s ridge with a sand cannon each.
Saqwe and Yanig fist bump each other, then look back at their hauls. "Dammit!" They curse in unison and begin to drag the books again.
A few hours later, arriving at the oasis the group is surprised by the lack of fanfare. "Why is no one here to help us?" Yanig asks the nearest guard.
"The runner from earlier said you only got books." He answers flatly and shrugs his shoulders.
"Illiterate mongrels, all of you!" Saqwe yells to the oasis as a whole. Some heads peek out from their new homes but no one dares step out to come help the group.
"Well now they won't help, you gremlin." Yanig says under his breath to Saqwe, earning him a quick slap against the head.
"You two get very aggressive around literature." Doa comments.
"You should see them during research meetings." Ruben adds, shaking his head with a sullen look. "Although I think this is worse."
"Don't you even..." Saqwe says and gives her book sled a hard tug to get it moving again.
After getting cleaned up and feeding themselves everyone meets back at Yanig's tent. which is slowly being transformed into a more permanent home. Many things have changed since the discovery of the ruins, and instead of only a select few staying behind when the tribe moves on it has been decided to establish permanent homes for everyone. If the tribe or a part of them decide to continue, at least they will always have a place to return to.
The news was welcomed by many who have never known anything but the constant migration of their people. Only Yanig still insisted he would not need a permanent home. Now that the group had found the library, it was already known he wouldn't be leaving come hell or high water...or a deadly sandstorm since it is the desert. When the runner returned to gauge their location that afternoon, the workers had already begun construction on Yanig's place, without him having said a word.
"Oh, this is rather nice. I have not lived between walls since the capital." Yanig says, appreciating the meeting room he is sitting in.
Doa quickly seizes the opportunity to question Yanig about the capital because once they discuss the discovery, there will be no drawing his attention away. Yanig has mentioned the capital a few times before, but almost always only to disparage it. "Did you grow up there?" Doa asks, adding just the right amount of awe in his voice to draw Yanig in for a story.
"I sure did, horrible place, amazing..." Yanig trails off as he sits down on his mat. "But horrible." He crosses his legs, and everyone notes that he is now in his comfort position. "You know, even Saqwe comes from the capital, but she was not born there, I think. Were you, Saqwe?"
Saqwe frowns at the attention, then answers flatly, "No."
Yanig pauses, then finds his words. "Yes, no, that is what I thought. Anyway," he pauses to remember his next words. "I was born in the capital, and apprenticed there under an artificer..."
"What is that?" Ruben asks, only having heard the word in fantasy stories himself.
Doa frowns at the interruption. "They make trinkets." He answers matter-of-factly in place of Yanig.
"Sometimes," Yanig continues from Doa's answer, "but artificers make any number of magical items. Like the portals you know from your hometown. You could say they are magical industrialists. I was only ever an apprentice, and I am sure you are thinking that I learned a lot of magic there, Doa." Yanig looks at him knowingly, causing Doa to inhale and swallow his next question.
"That is not the case, and I would like to think I am fortunate in that regard. The Capital realm doesn't tend to allow those who know magic to actually leave." He pauses, and smiles as everyone leans in ever so slightly.