Dreams and Shadows (The Aylosian Chronicles Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

dream gardens had been real, and felt a twinge of disappointment that there would be no gates or trees he could examine; no sword or evidences of a Woodland Star.
    “Come on.” Beth called, “We’re goin’ to be late if we don’t get a move on. And we don’t want Maggie gettin’ cross with us, do we?”  
    Maggie was the senior librarian. Short, in her mid fifties and carrying a perpetual scowl, she could be fierce when she wanted to be. Beth was right: they really didn’t want to get her angry at the start of the shift as it would make the rest of the day miserable for everyone. But as they set off together he tried to reply in a joking way to match Beth’s mood, “At least we’d be late together. Do you think that would confuse her if we were both late? Maybe she wouldn’t know who to get angry with.”
    She laughed at that, “Yes, that would be funny wouldn’t it?” Then a mischievous grin crossed her face, “Can you imagine the gossip if we both arrived late – together ?” She emphasised the last word. “A Monday morning and we’re both late. I know I’m late sometimes, but you never are. So if we both were late together that would get them all talkin’, wouldn’t it?”
    Even three months ago Michael would have wondered whether Beth was flirting with him, but he knew that she was just being her normal playful self. Or at least her flirting wasn’t intended as anything other than some light fun.
    He was sure it had been different when he had first started at the library, though. Michael was slightly taller than average, and with his dark hair and eyes most girls took a second or third glance at him. Not that he noticed, and when well-meaning adults had occasionally referred to his good looks over the years he would outwardly smile, while inwardly believing they were offering unwarranted compliments to boost his self-confidence. But Beth had given him more attention than most girls, and for a while he thought she probably had been attracted to him.
    However, while he couldn’t completely ignore the response of his hormones to her tight-fitting blouses, or to her skirts that were just short enough to draw his eyes, she was far too interested in the gossip surrounding celebrities and the world of fashion for his liking.
    And for her part, while she had thought him very attractive to look at, Beth had soon discovered that while books represented only a way to earn a salary for her, they were Michael’s life. She had unsuccessfully tried to lure him to a few parties using practised head tilts, flicks of her false blonde hair, and fluttering eyelashes. But she eventually gave up. He wasn’t interested and she realised that he really wasn’t her type. They could enjoy each other’s company at work, but they both knew that anything more than that would be a disaster.
    And so they together headed off past the rest of the shops, round the corner and past the Guildhall to the library in companionable chat about their weekends; Michael avoiding all discussion of the dream that occupied his mind.
    As his shift started, however, he found it impossible to ignore the images that kept returning to his mind. There have to be answers in the books here , he told himself; and whenever he had a moment to himself he searched for clues that would tell him what his dream meant.  
    Mid-morning Maggie caught Michael drawing and scolded him.  
    “I’m sorry Maggie,” he pleaded, “I really am. But can you tell me whether you’ve ever seen this?” He held up a sketch he had been attempting of the Woodland Star from his dream. “Maybe it’s in a book about some old pagan symbols or something?”
    Maggie looked annoyed that her rebuke hadn’t led to the level of contrition she expected, but took a quick look at the drawing. “Hmm. No, I haven’t seen anything quite like it. It’s a hexagram of course, but I’ve not seen the interlocking lines or strange things on the points before. Where did you come across