What felt like hours later, the librarian finally returned with a wide, thin book in hand. “Here you are,” he said. “This should have several maps of the city and the sectors. Each location is labeled in the index.” I opened my mouth to thank him, but he licked his thumb and began flipping through pages of the atlas. “Ah, yes, this is one of my favorite spots. I always recommend it to our guests.” He inclined the book toward me and pointed to the west side. “See here? There are beautiful gardens by the?—”
“Yes, thank you, I’ll make sure to visit those,” I rushed out, reaching to grasp the book. “Is it alright if I take this with me?”
He adjusted his spectacles. “Why, of course, but I must get some information first. You know, procedures and all,” he said with a huff of a laugh as he patted down his sides. “If I can find that pencil…”
I pinched my lips together to hold back a scream. “I actually don’t have much time, if I could just return it tomorrow?” My feet inched backward, my internal clock ticking the minutes away.
The librarian gave me a stern look. “Well, now, palace property must be recorded, and I—wait, where are you going? Young lady, I cannot simply let you?—”
“I promise I’ll bring it back! Thank you!” I called over my shoulder, pivoting and sprinting out the door. His disgruntled cough followed me down the hall.
A dry chuckle left me as I found the nearest staircase and made my way to the north palace entrance. Fates, this tournament was already turning me into a thief. I’d have to find some way to make it up to the kind man.
I eased the atlas open as I walked, taking in the weathered paper and black ink, looking up occasionally to avoid slamming into a column or passing servant. Each page outlined different parts of the city—the five sectors, as our carriage driver had explained on the way to the palace. Rivers, forests, and mountains were labeled; the ports along the coasts; major trading posts and important landmarks.
Fourteen hours left to search an island I’d never seen in my life. I closed my eyes and let out a breath, stress mounting.
When I opened them, I realized I hadn’t been paying attention to where I was going with my nose stuck in the book. I found myself facing a quiet hallway with guards stationed in intervals down its length, their features expressionless and their hands fixed on the pommels of their swords, as if any sudden movement would raise an alarm. I slowly backed away into the adjacent hall, the silence and tension in the air telling me I was somewhere I probably shouldn’t be.
And then a familiar voice caught my attention. I peered around the corner, holding my breath.
Out of one of the guarded rooms walked Emperor Gayl.
17
Rose
All thoughts of the trial fled my mind. I knew I was on a time limit, but how many opportunities would I get to see where the emperor went in his spare time? Lark had stressed to me the importance of this task, of using my freedom and protection in the palace to do what others couldn’t. Ihadto find his Grimoire.
Plus, I was curious.
Tucking the atlas under one arm, I reached into my satchel, grabbed a small amaranth stem and a pinch of hellebore root, and placed them both on the tip of my tongue.
“Vellus,” I muttered.
There was the normal tightening sensation in my lungs as the invisibility spell snapped into place—the same spell my father had used all those years ago to cloak me from his murderers. Slamming my eyes shut against the oncoming tide of memories, I bit down on the amaranth and hellebore and let the potent magic on my tongue ground me.
Slowly opening my eyes, I crept down the hall. Neither the emperor nor the guards so much as looked in my direction as I swept closer. Gayl was accompanied by a short, balding man in black robes. The two of them strode toward the opposite end of thecorridor from me, but I could still hear part of their conversation drifting back.
“Of course, Your Majesty,” the robed man said, his nasally voice grating against my ears. “We will send them out immediately.”
“And have we received word on the Sentinels?” Gayl asked, the quiet power of his tone once again jolting me, like a rolling wave at the height of its crest, readying to crash. I felt myself inching toward them, not wanting to miss a word.
“Not anything more than last time, I’m afraid,” the other man answered. “My sources tell me they’ve spotted them in various locations throughout the city over the past week, but there have been no attempts to mobilize, that we can see.”
Gayl nodded as the two of them reached the end of the hallway. “Good,” he replied, moving his arm in a pattern I couldn’t make out and throwing open a heavy door.
Was that door there a moment ago?I could’ve sworn there had only been a portrait occupying space on the wall.
Hoping the thick rug masked my footsteps, I picked up speed and slipped through the door right before it shut with aclick. It took my eyes a second to adjust to the dim lighting. Hardly any sconces lined the walls, and the hallway was much darker and colder than the previous one.
I tried to keep up with the two men. My eyes took in the numerous doors dotting the hall. Gayl stopped in front of one in the center, his gray cloak swishing as he turned. “Keep an eye on them, Daye. I want to know theinstantthey make a move.”
“As you wish, Your Majesty,” Daye said, then scurried back down the way we entered. I barely had time to push myself against the wall to avoid him brushing me as he passed. I held my breath, adrenaline coursing through my veins.
Gayl reached for the handle of the door, then paused. Slowly, his head twisted in my direction, his mismatched eyes of blue and white trailing across the floor. They swept up the length of the corridor, my skin tingling with anticipation when suddenly—they stopped.
His eyes met mine.
