Kim sighed as she put the book down. She hadn't planned on doing so much reading that day, but with Frank showing up, it was important for them to avoid giving him Blot. At least if he was aware of it, which is why when Jonas mentioned 'the book' to her earlier, she understood what he was getting at, as well as what she needed to do about it herself.
So, while Frank was willing to wait, she worked at getting through what chapters seemed to be necessary for her to understand some of what she'd already read, but the problem them occurred when she found that those chapters raised other questions that needed other chapters she hadn't read to answer.
It almost felt like a cycle that wasn't going to end. Yet, she'd just finished the last part that she needed to get through. At least hoped that was the case. While there were parts of the book she hadn't read yet, she was at least confident in what she'd gotten through so far.
While it was good to have finished reading what she felt she needed to have read in that book, she couldn't help but feel tired from having done so. Even though she hadn't moved around much, it still felt tiring. As if she had worn herself out again through just walking all day again.
However, she did finish the book, so she could now get it to Frank and get it so they didn't take Blot with them. Which, even if Blot wasn't likely the book they needed to take to the dungeon, he was at least Elin's friend and Kim was pretty sure that Elin wouldn't be happy if Frank took Blot away for any reason.
Which, for Kim, was enough reason to find a way to keep Frank from getting what he wanted, even if it created an inconvenience for her. An inconvenience that was finally over.
As Kim got up from where she'd been sitting, she wasn't really surprised to see how late in the day it'd gotten. The sunlight through the window looked like it was getting ready to set, but she wasn't worried about that. As long as Jonas had been able to stall Frank long enough, then it should be fine.
Pushing down the feelings of fatigue, Kim took the book and walked towards the door. She didn't see any reason to stall any longer and the sooner she gave Frank 'the book' the sooner Blot would be safe. Assuming they didn't pick up on the subterfuge in the first place. As while Kim doubted that they would, she couldn't be certain that they weren't already aware of the fact that Blot wasn't the only book they'd gotten from the library and might be able to tell that they weren't giving him the book he really wanted.
Not that Kim supposed Frank had been specific about which book he wanted. He was a man after all, so it wasn't like she could expect much from him anyway.
Besides, it was for Jonas to worry about since he's the one that came to her after Frank tried in a very weak way to threaten Jonas' life. Especially since Kim was pretty sure that Jonas had at least an inkling of what he was doing, which was more than she could say for Frank.
As she reached the top of the stairs, she looked out at the common room, noting how empty it was, not that it was surprising given it wasn't quite dinner time just yet for those in this village.
Jonas and Frank were still talking, but even at a glance she could tell that Jonas was struggling. Which she hated to admit, but she was impressed that he'd lasted as long as he had. It wasn't like she'd had high expectations of him, but it was clear that he'd exceeded what little she had expected by far.
Not that she planned on telling him that fact, either.
She kept an eye on them as she descended the stairs, just in case something was about to happen that she didn't expect.
After all, while she didn't expect Frank to attack Jonas out of the blue, she couldn't say that he wouldn't be capable of that. Especially since his earlier performance could have been designed to get them to lower their guard. Which from the looks of it, Jonas had lowered his almost completely.
However, nothing happened, which Kim almost felt disappointed in. Maybe it was because she'd spent the day reading, but she wouldn't mind a little action. Something to get the blood pumping, even if it was something like she'd wondered if Frank would do.
Kim made her way over to the table with Frank and Jonas, where they seemed to either have had a break in their conversation or were merely in-between subjects and neither of them having any idea of what to talk about next. Which if so, Kim figured she might as well give them something to talk about now.
With that in mind, she dropped the book on the table in front of Frank, creating a loud thump that echoed in the inn, a noise that rarely presented itself in this place.
Frank looked at Kim like he didn't know why she'd dropped the book in front of him. Like he'd forgotten what he'd come here for.
"Here's the book," Kim said, doing her best to keep from letting anything show. She didn't want him to have any doubts about this until well after he'd gone away.
"You did say you wanted 'the book,' remember?" Jonas supplied, looking more relieved than anything else at that moment.
Frank turned to look at Jonas, like he was having trouble comprehending what was being said. Which Kim found more annoying than anything else at that time.
While she wouldn't have minded that reaction at the start of the day, right now it felt more like an insult than anything else. Even though she hadn't heard all that had been spoken during his conversation with Jonas, she still couldn't believe that he'd completely forgotten the purpose he'd had when it came to showing up here in the first place.
However, despite of his initial reaction, his eyes focused after a minute, making Kim wonder if he'd maybe just been talking with Jonas for too long and that he'd have been able to recall his purpose fro being here earlier if it hadn't taken so long. Which Kim had to wonder if Frank would have had the patience for this if he'd remembered throughout his conversation with Jonas.
Frank then picked up the book as he stood up. "Next time don't try to take things you know we wanted," Frank said, the arrogance he'd shown from previous encounters they'd with him rearing its head again. "Assuming there is a next time."
"Of course," Jonas replied amicably, as if he fully intended to do just that, which Kim knew better.
Frank took a couple steps away when he stopped, looked at the book in confusion for a minute before turning back to Kim and Jonas. "This book isn't moving. I thought the book I mentioned I wanted could move on its own."
Kim felt a little impressed about Frank's realization. She'd expected that he wouldn't remember that at all, yet here he was actually using that brain of his.
"Actually, in the library, the book seemed rather animated, but the longer we've been away from it, the less it's moved," Jonas said, his voice so serious that Kim almost wanted to believe that they were actually giving Frank Blot. "I'm not sure if that book will move again, even if you take it to the library as I think that the magic in the book is completely gone and the source of it had been the library."
Frank looked at Kim then Jonas, as if he was trying to determine if they were trying to pull one over on him. Which Kim had to admit made him seem more intelligent than he'd shown so far.
After a minute he nodded, apparently accepting Jonas' story. Then he turned and walked away, not turning around again. Which Kim was grateful for.
However, he did pause when he reached the door, but that was more because at that moment Elin, Elmo, Heather, and Sonya entered. Kim wasn't sure where they'd gone, but that hardly mattered. She'd needed to focus on getting what she had needed read out of that book and it wasn't like she'd had any real opportunity to explain to anyone what had been going on.
Then as soon as those four had entered, Frank had left. Kim couldn't help but let out a breath of relief.
"What just happened?" Elmo asked, sounding confused, not that Kim felt very surprised about that. "Weren't Frank and Jonas becoming friends?"
Kim glanced at Jonas. While she was amused at this and knew better, she figured that this was something for Jonas to deal with himself. That she could just enjoy hearing what Elmo thought was going on without having to say or ask anything herself.