“Oh, uh, am I interrupting a private moment?”
Tiernan and I looked over to the library's double doors. A Vila stood there, her ghostly hand gripping the edge of one door and her long hair trailing over her sparkling dress. Vila were wind nymphs and were often mistaken for spirits of the dead. They could make themselves solid, but it took concentration. Usually, they floated about in their airy form.
“No, it's fine,” Tiernan said. “We were just leaving.”
“Oh, but, um, Duchess Sorcha sent me. She told me about the blight and asked me to look into the records. I'm the oldest archivist in the castle, so I'm the most familiar with our history.” She lifted the book in her hands, its brown leather bindingturning it into a black hole against her airy self. “I think you should see this.” She looked from Tiernan to me. “Both of you.”
Chapter Ten
“How did you even know to look for this?” I looked up from the book to the Vila.
Lady Mariya, Head Archivist of the Seelie Court, sat across from Tiernan and me at a round library table near the door. Bookshelves partitioned off the huge central space, giving each table a feeling of privacy even though the shelves were only waist high. It didn't matter that our voices would carry throughout the main area. It was empty but for us.
The book Mariya had brought to us predated the last Seelie Queen by over a thousand years. Condensed into solid form now, I could see her stunning features—pointed chin, big eyes, pert nose, and a fall of wild hair that shone as bright as Tiernan's platinum roots.
Lady Mariya's doll-like mouth pursed before she answered. “I am the Head Archivist.”
Tiernan shot me a look.
“Oh,” I said. “Yes, of course.” I looked down at the picture of a garden drawn on the left page. I didn't even try to read what was written on the left.
This was one of those times when I wished I had learned the Fey language. I couldn't read the book. Although knowing how to read Fey may not have helped me in this instance. It was written in an archaic version. Even Tiernan was having trouble with it.
“The Garden of Regret?” Tiernan asked. “Is that a correct translation?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” She glanced at me, and I saw the comprehension that I didn't comprehend hit her. She gave me a patient smile.
Great, now I feel like an idiot. Ask something smart, Seren!“Uh, what is that?”Yeah, way to go. Scholar, you are not.
“Many years ago, there was a tradition when a new monarch took the throne.” Mariya sat back and spread out her hands, the tips of her fingers going nebulous. “It helped them adjust to ruling and focus on what was best for the kingdom.”
“It helped them focus?” I lifted an eyebrow at Tiernan.
But he was busy reading.
“Tiernan.” I elbowed him.
He flinched and looked up, but not at me. “Lady Mariya, am I reading this correctly? Does this say that evil wascutfrom the new king or queen?”
The archivist peered at the passage Tiernan pointed at and then turned the book to face her. “Ah, not exactly, Your Majesty. Shall I translate for you both?”
“Yes, please.” Tiernan slid the book back to her. “This is almost like a foreign language to me.”
Mariya smiled. “The old words can be tricky.” She looked down. “Ah, all right. What it says is that the dark emotions that can cloud judgment were pruned away.Dark, not evil, andpruned, not cut.”
“Pruned?” I whispered. “You said, pruned?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
I shared a horrified look with Tiernan. “Pruning makes a garden grow.”
“Yes, this must be what Rowan meant.” Tiernan smoothed his hair back. “Lady Mariya, are you familiar with this pruning ritual?”
“I witnessed it once, but it was so long ago. I only attended because it was the first time the ritual was performed.” She frowned. “King Solas was ascending the throne. I believe he was the one who Danu spoke to and offered the garden.”
“Danu offered the garden to him?” I asked. “She made it?”
“She made everything, my Queen.”
