Lirael gasps, soundlessly, and then ducks, momentarily disappearing from his sight. Dana? Making a quick recount of librarians, Lirael can't remember a Dana among them. Maybe he's just calling any other Clayr? But how could that be, when everyone else is dark-skinned and golden-haired? It's impossible to confuse Lirael with any other Clayr, after all. And why is he there, anyway? He's clearly not a Clayr. This is all too confusing.

The noise and the patter makes her gasp again. He's calling the dog back, which means he's not a dog at all. Guard-sending? Is she about to get attacked? Peeking out again, Lirael lifts her hands, apparently defeated; she's the stranger here, right?

"P-please don't attack." She talks very, very softly, and if the library wasn't as silent as it was he would have probably missed it.