Simon looked at the books without taking them. He could see the cover of the top one, and that was enough. The girl needed help with her magic, then.
"I see."
The fairy moved away from the tree he'd been leaning against and approached her, looking her over. Even circling around once to have a complete idea. He wasn't so much looking at her outsides, really. Just contemplating her.
"And why is it I should help you? What's in it for me?" He waved a hand at the books, dismissing them. "I can do it. It's easy enough. But why? Don't say because I've a charitable heart, either, that'll simply make you look foolish."
Simon didn't give her a chance to answer just yet. Kept talking. "Who sent you, anyhow? Phaedra? Is that why she's been keeping tabs on me, then? To direct a poor little urchin my way?"