As they descend and continue their conversation, Erudisia thanks Bell for the charm upon her garments. She in her turn casts the same magic (in function if not invocation and form) on Little One. 

“I am sure if you had recently read this rhyme or some reference to this ghoulish nursery rhyme figure in the most recent of your audited books, then you’d have noted the connection, but may we see the most recent audited books — and the books next on the docket to be reviewed, for that matter?”

”Ebdar…” Erudisia muses. “Does he audit independently also, and is his daughter often with him at work?”

You reach the next level down the spiral staircase. Little One has had to squeeze through.

“How come always spiral staircase?,” he grumbles. “Oh thank you Air D. I hardly feel cold but you spell is nice.” A wide grin curls as his features relax slightly.

Yet the chill in the air remains.

On the next level, more bookcases filled with books and lit by the Firefly Cellar’s signature light source, many bottles of bioluminescent bugs, surround a study table at its center. A tabaxi paces nervously around the table, singing the song, her eyes rather wild.

“This is K’Tulah,” Varnyr says. “K’Tulah, we have visitors. The Keeper of Tomes’ valor guard, the Scholar’s Shield.” Under her breath, she warns, “K’Tukah is having a hard time with our quarantine.”

“I hear you!,” the tabaxi says, pulling out of the rhyming trance, “and what do you expect? My people roam the plains as nomads, living off the earth, under the open skies. Trapped in a hole in the ground in this stone fortress! This is driving me to distraction! I am hyperventilating! Please, Keeper’s Shielders, can you do something?”