She handedMastering Skillsto me, a rather boring name for what I hoped was not a book that would put me to sleep within three pages.
I tucked it under my arm. “Other than that, I came by to collect what the Halendor head librarian left me.”
Her head cocked. “What do you mean?”
“You sent a message with Lord Briscalar that the head librarian had visited and left something for me.”
“Did I?” Her frown remained. “I suppose it could’ve happened. I’ve been a bit scattered since my fall. Forgetting things I should remember.”
“How are you feeling overall?”
She eased around me, heading back to the stairs, and I followed. “Well. Thank you for asking, my queen. I’m nearly better. The healer told me the impact on my mind would resolve soon.”
“I’m glad.” How awful. I was grateful she was alright. She’d had enough tragedy in her life already.
She strode to her desk and opened the top right drawer. “If she left anything for you, I would’ve put it here.” Her hand snapped up to her throat. “Oh.”
“Oh?” I leaned closer, staring into the open drawer but seeing nothing unusual there, only what you’d find inside a normal desk drawer. Pads of paper. A few pens that looked very similar to the one Lord Briscalar had taught me to magic. Clips that might hold papers together.
“I could swear I saw—” She shook her head. “It’s nothing.”
“What did you see?”
“Well, when I opened the drawer, I swear there was something lying on the top of the paper.” She pointed to that area. “But there’s nothing there now.”
“Maybe you placed the gift somewhere else?”
“I may have.” Sitting, she went through each desk drawer, then she tutted while peering around.
“Could it be inside your private quarters, perhaps?”
“I can certainly look there.” She rose and hurried in that direction, returning a short time later, shaking her head. “If she leftsomething for you, I can’t find it. I’ll look around some more and reach out if I locate it. I wish I could remember. I’m sorry.”
“Did she leave a note or a book?”
She shrugged. “I’m afraid I can’t recall.”
“Could you collect those books for me now?” I asked, something occurring to me. “I’ll take them back with me.”
“Oh, certainly.” She smoothed her hands across her gown’s deep blue bodice. “Please wait here. I won’t be long.”
I gave her a bland smile, and she scurried into the room behind her desk.
The moment she was out of sight, I pawed through the drawer. My fingers encountered something that shouldn’t be there. Valera was right. I didn’tseeanything lying on top of the pads of paper.
But I felt it.
Lifting whatever it was, I tucked it into my pocket, grateful most of my gowns had them. I could thank Merrick for that—or Lorant. Both of them, because they knew I hated holding everything in my hands.
Or maybe they’d hoped to avoid seeing me wearing a tunic and pants to the throne room.
Valera bustled back over to me with a small stack of books in her hands, holding them out. “Here you go, my queen.”
“Thank you so much.”
At her polite nod, I left, returning to my suite with my guard in tow.
Inside, I dismissed them and my ladies, urging the latter to take Farris outside. Even Calista didn’t protest this time.
