Istredd thinks he is right. He won't bank everyone's lives on that, but it also won't stop him from throwing himself at Lucifer if he thinks it's the only option to help him or others. This is just who he is, which is something they both know. He would rather hope and try than be negative and suspicious about it. There are worse ways to die or get hurt than risking it for a loved one. He almost experienced that worse way.

He suspected this store may be of more interest to him than not, which is why he stayed and looked for it, with Lucifer prodding at him in the meantime. In his experience, he's always found more interesting things in unsuspecting locations than the royal or fancy libraries he would have to peruse. That's how he found himself in Codringher and Fenn's store and found the answers about Cirilla. No official library was going to give him that.

"I will." It may be a situation like Thevan, where bookshop owners end up liking bargaining with someone who knows the values of the books they offer. He'll have to introduce himself to the woman when they're closer to leaving. "I need to slowly refill my collection anyway.

I want to go back to Hayle. I want to pitch Ambrose allowing me access to more High Magic books. If all goes well, maybe I can claw my way into Hayle too. It's not immediate plans, it's future plans. Istredd is methodical, he'll find a way to his goal eventually.