Bookshops & Bonedust

Viv helps Fern unpack her shipment. Gallina comes into the store asking for Viv’s help—she has accepted a bounty to get rid of a spineback nest for a local farmer. At first, Viv says no. She is afraid that Varine will show up, or Rackam will come back for her, while they are gone. Satchel, however, wants to go with Gallina, and Viv eventually agrees.

Fern asks Viv if Maylee would sell baked goods at the bookstore so customers will stay and read—she will miss Viv’s daily presence at the shop. Viv is upset about Fern making plans for after she leaves but reminds herself that it is a good thing. They also discuss an idea that Maylee had—to get Zelia Greatstrider to do a book signing at the store—and Viv decides to make it happen.

Viv visits Iridia to tell her about Varine’s symbol and reminds her that Varine’s book might be helpful when Varine appears. Then she goes to Maylee’s bakery and is content, for the moment.

Fern and Viv go to Zelia Greatstrider’s estate, which is vast and gorgeous. Fern reminds Viv that Zelia is an elf, and her long life has allowed her to amass her fortune. They knock on the door, and a large man answers. He introduces himself as Berk and leads them through the house to Zelia’s office.

Zelia is tall and graceful, like other elves Viv has met. When Fern gives her a basket from Maylee’s bakery, she warms to them. Zelia surprises them by knowing that Fern is the bookstore owner and Viv is the infamous orc who injured Highlark. When they ask her to do the book signing, she agrees.

When Zelia and Berk arrive at the bookstore on the day of the book signing, Fern is so nervous she can barely speak. Zelia’s visit is a great success and as she signs books, Viv talks to Berk. He tells her that although he loves Zelia, the timing has never been right for a relationship.

Viv, Gallina, and Satchel leave early the next morning to hunt spinebacks. Viv worries about leaving Fern and Maylee unprotected but reassures herself that Iridia, who has the book, can protect them. When Gallina comments that Viv has brought both her saber and Blackblood, Viv says it is good to have options. On the way, Gallina admits that she has never really been in a battle. During her first battle, she slid into a nest of poisonous rocktoads and fought her way out. By the time she got back to camp, the crew had left her behind and collected the bounty themselves.

The farmer describes the behavior of the spinebacks that have been tormenting her flock. What she describes doesn’t sound like spinebacks to Viv, but Viv, Gallina, and Satchel hike out to the spineback nest. Viv calls to lure the spinebacks, and when they burst out of the nest, Viv and her team kill them. Afterward, Viv notices that something is wrong—the spinebacks are starving, and there are no signs of the dead sheep in their nest. Viv catches the scent of frozen blood and follows it into the woods. She finds the remnants of the farmer’s missing sheep and Varine’s symbol, “a diamond with two branches like horns” (295).

The team rushes back to Murk, where alarm bells are already ringing. Gallina goes to the bookstore while Viv and Satchel hurry to Maylee’s bakery. When the baker opens the door, Viv kisses her with relief. She tells Maylee to get her mace, a remnant of her mercenary career, and lock her door.

Viv and Satchel fight their way through the wights that have infested the streets of Murk. Although Viv is focused on her goal, to get Varine’s book from Iridia, she still enjoys returning to battle. Iridia gives Viv the book, and she opens it and dogears a page. The sounds of battle immediately cease and Viv realizes that Varine knows she has the book. Viv, Iridia, and Satchel go outside, and the wights in the street speak with one collective voice: Varine’s. She wants to meet with Viv.

Viv goes to the bookshop, where she knows Varine will be. The shop is destroyed and Fern and Gallina are “suspended above the floor, bound in cocoons of bone, as though entrapped by some skeletal spider” (308). However, they are alive. Varine forces Viv to give Satchel’s bag to her, and Viv reluctantly hands over the book as well. Varine notices the dogeared page and opens to it. As she leans closer, Satchel’s hand reaches out of the book and pulls Varine in. Viv pulls Satchel out of the book and slams it shut, trapping Varine. Viv drives Blackblood’s point through the book; the book explodes, and the pages drift to the floor. The bones holding Fern and Gallina fall apart.

After patching up the damage from Varine, Fern and Viv host their first book club meeting at the bookstore. Viv feels guilty, as if she drew Varine into Murk and her friends’ lives. She knows that she will be leaving soon—since Rackam is following Varine, he and the Ravens should be arriving in Murk soon.

Fern welcomes everyone to the meeting. Before she begins the book discussion, she introduces Satchel to the crowd, and he gives a bow. After a moment, conversation begins again, and Satchel is accepted.

Viv is on the bluff above town, finishing the last book Fern recommended. She hears the creak of saddles and harnesses and looks down to see Rackam’s Ravens on the road leading to Murk. Later, she gives Rackam Varine’s book so that they can claim the bounty. She introduces Gallina to him as “the girl that saved my ass in a street fight” (324).

Viv is packing when Maylee arrives at The Perch. She tells Viv she doesn’t regret their relationship, kisses her, and leaves before Viv can say a word. Viv goes to the bookstore, says goodbye to Fern and Satchel, and returns her last book before leaving town.

Viv is cleaning her coffeemaker in Legends & Lattes when Tandri arrives with a letter for Viv from Murk. The letter is from Fern, who tells Viv that she has been happy over these past years and is still at her bookshop. She also writes that Maylee found happiness with someone; Fern thinks that her relationship with Viv helped Maylee discover what she wanted. Fern plans to visit Thune and would like to see Viv. Viv thinks about the empty storefront next to her coffeeshop, and wonders if Fern might like to open a bookshop there.