“Thank you for your hospitality.” I smiled as Hunt skulked toward the door. Seeing him admonished by a woman at least triple his age was my new favorite thing; driving my dagger into his throat would be my next. Hunt stomped out of the room, slamming the door behind him.
“You’re the first of the prince’s many women to come to the library.” The woman arranged the books into a neat pile on her desk. “My name is Vera, I run this place.”
“It looks like you’re doing an impeccable job.” I scanned the large room filled with shadows leaking from alcoves and corners. “I’ve never seen anything quite like this before. The public library is much smaller.”
“Yes, book inventory at the libraries has drastically decreased over the years. I suppose some believe knowledge poses a hazard, but I would assert it isknowledgethat diminishes threat. For if all were given information equally, perhaps people would make different choices.”
The possibility of books being removed deliberately from the shelves hadn’t crossed my mind. I visited on behalf of my father every couple of weeks. Not putting much thought into the dwindling library, I had gone straight to the section of his interest and ignored the rest.
“We have several books about the Great War. However, most are on loan.” Vera pursed her lips.
“Whatever you’re able to provide,” I said, with no intention of actually reading any history books.
“I also have books on the continent of Crofea before it divided into seven kingdoms and existed only as one united land, would you like that?”
The woman walked off before I had the chance to answer. I followed her through the aisles, taking turn after turn. Shemoved with such confidence that I was sure she could find her way with her eyes closed.
“What about the Oras? Do you have texts covering the continent of the witches?” I might as well gather information about those we feared most, rather than believing the tales passed down through generations.
The woman didn’t answer. She stopped for a moment before proceeding down a low-lit aisle. She selected two books from the shelf, both ragged.
“This is a book on Rivale”—she placed the first book in my hand, then the other—“and this is on Kuroden.”
I went to argue that I didn’t need a book about our kingdom, as I was born and raised in Rivale, but accepted it anyhow.
Darkness crept in from the corners of the room as we continued onward. She placed five additional books into my awaiting hands, one for each kingdom.
“You will find each book provides information regarding the magic correlating to the land.” She peeked around the corner of the aisle and then lowered her voice. “I don’t know what you’ve been told. But we should all know the magic others hold, despite being prohibited from wielding our own.”
The tone in her voice had shifted only slightly, barely enough to even notice. But the disdain she had when speaking of the ban was clear.
Vera pulled several books from the shelf and stacked them neatly on top of the bookcase. An old, worn text sat sideways against the back of the shelf, previously hidden by the removed books. She pulled out the text. The leather was flimsy, and the papers practically trickled out of the failed binding.
She leaned in close. “There hasn’t been a direct threat from the witches for decades, but you should know their magic. You must always be prepared, you never know when you may run into one.”
“But the Macabre magic is unknown, is it not?” I asked, lowering my voice to a whisper.
With Rivale's ban in place for nearly my entire life, discussions of one's own magic was limited, let alone the magic of others.
“It is not unknown, but hidden. You must know only where to look.” The corners of the woman’s mouth perked. “I can only supply you with the resources, the rest is up to you.”
“Thank you.” I dipped my head slightly. “I’ll have them back to you as soon as I’m finished.”
She waved a wrinkled hand. “There is no rush, my dear. Hardly anyone knows these books exist.”
I carried the stack with me all the way back to my room, trying to contain my smile. Though I didn’t find the records book, its location had been confirmed. If I could just find the king's study, I’d easily be able to finish my tasks before the prince dismissed me. In the meantime, I’d soak up the information I now had at my fingertips.
13
AUDRYN
My fingers worked quickly to pull the laces up my tall leather boots. Not wanting my movement impeded, I’d chosen the fitted pants I’d worn in the garden countless times without ripping a seam. Even if I lost the match, I’d spare myself the embarrassment of my backside hanging out.
Having to prove my worth was a ridiculous game—one I didn’t want to play, but was forced to. If I wanted access to the king and that book, I’d concede to take part in the challenge, though Maris and Allura wouldn’t stand a chance against me in the ring.
I removed my mother’s pendant and placed it on the bathing room vanity, not wanting to risk it being damaged or ruined. Other than bathing, I could count on a single hand how many times I’d taken it off since collecting it from her unmoving body.
I heard the door to the next room close, prompting me to look at the clock. Still needing to plait my hair and finish dressing, I had minutes before I was late. Running my fingers quickly through my hair, I twisted the strands down into a long messybraid. Small pieces slipped free, but there wasn’t time to make adjustments.
