“And why not?” thundered the dragon. “Knowledge is far more powerful and enduring than gold or silver, and of a not insubstantial antiquarian value.”

“Yes, many hoard books.”

“This is not a hoard,” the dragon replied. “It is an organized library, accessible to serious researchers for a modest fee. My assistants have read every book in the collection to me, so I know their contents as one of my less enlightened brethren know the jewels of their bed.”

“Okay, okay. What about the Book of Raj’Leb?”

The dragon-librarian grew thoughtful. “Is that the one in code, with a peacock on the cover? Pah, a useless sphinx taking up space in the collection. If not for its uniqueness I’d have been rid of it long ago.”

“What if I told you I might be able to translate it?”

“Then I’d tell you, morsel, that I might be able to lend it to you. For a price.”