Lysander did not take my request.
Usually, he read the reference before finding a reason to dislike it. Today he looked at the seal on the corner and left both hands on his desk.
"That access has been suspended."
"I received the notice."
"Then you know why I haven't taken the paper."
I knew. I had still brought it all the way across the academy.
The paper had warmed slightly where I held it against the folder. I had checked the references before leaving my room, although none of them was the reason the request would be refused.
Lysander waited with the same patience he gave people who had brought him the wrong volume number. I would have preferred him to recognize that this was different. For the purpose of accepting the request, it wasn't.
"I also brought the notice," I said.
"Our copy has arrived."
I had no reason to show him mine. I took it out anyway, then put it back before he had to tell me which part he had already read.
