“How lovely. I’ll join you.”
Amaris’s head jolted, but the woman smiled and fell in step beside her.Sephardi gazed over her shoulder, smirking as the woman hummed beside Amaris.
“Who are you?” Amaris asked, hesitant.
“Oh, how silly of me,” she laughed. “I’m Pricilla.” She stopped and outstretched her hand.
“Amaris.”
Pricilla’s handshake was firm, but not a single callous lined her palm. Her small giggle illuminated her innocent smile.
“You’re the one who’s going to be showing me the ropes?”
“When I’ve finished with my duties around the library, I’ll acquaint you with your workspace and your tools. Well, I presume you’ve already seen the workspace.”
“Was this you?” Amaris asked, holding up her hand.
Pricilla’s eyes widened, and she took Amaris’s hand in hers, dragging her fingers over the scabs. “Incredible,” she muttered. “How are you feeling? Any pain?”
“Only stiff from not moving it. I thought it would’ve taken longer to heal.”
Pricilla was gentle as she went down each finger, assessing their condition. Amaris tapped her foot as Pricilla held her hand for far longer than necessary, but eventually, she pulled back and rubbed at her small chin.
“Do you mind if I jot something down before we eat? I wish to record this.”
“Sure.”
Normally at the sign of strangers, Amaris would’ve turned the opposite direction and shoved her hands into her pockets, but as Pricilla seemed one of the few who didn’t want to kill her, maybe she could be helpful too. At the sound of Amaris’s name, Pricilla hadn’t startled or exclaimed, “Murderer.” With Ms. Borstad’s reaction, and now hers, maybe not everyone knew.
Pricilla hummed while they walked, her feet moving in rhythm with her tune. Sephardi was several paces ahead of them but didn’t turn back to keep a watchful eye.
“You said you have duties in the library. Does that mean you’re a librarian?”
“I am.” Pricilla beamed. “If you should ever have need to escape within the realms of the pages, allow me to be your guide.”
“Librarian and mystique?”
Pricilla smiled, but her enthusiasm faded. “Only a librarian. I’m not formally trained as a mystique. I’ve read a great deal on the subject and offered my services until the duke found a replacement.”
Pricilla pulled them from the labyrinth of bookcases and stepped into a wide mezzanine. People scattered around tables with their noses glued to books. Iron candles sat at each desk, but they weren’t necessary, as Amaris squinted from the frosted-glass ceiling over their heads. Pricilla grinned and turned her face up as they walked into the burning light beginning to pass through the glass.
“I love the morning light,” she sighed, wrapping a strand of her hair behind her ear. Pricilla led Amaris to a messy desk with scrolls littered across it and ink-smudged parchments scattering the floor. She pulled out a quill and began jotting a scribble of cursive down as she muttered to herself. “Any itching?”
“No. I’m also not feeling bad either. No fever, nausea, dizziness. I’m as healthy as I was a few days ago.” Pricilla’s head lifted as Amaris’s stomach protested. “Starving, but healthy.”
Pricilla made a few more notes before tossing her quill aside and shoving the piece of parchment into a drawer.
“What did you do to my hand?” Amaris reclined against the desk, assessing her strength as she pressed her weight against it. The scabs pulled as her skin stretched, but the stiffness was waning.
“Yuxiway leaves.”
“How do they work?” They sounded like a plant. Judging by the limitedequipment in the tower, Amaris didn’t think they had an advanced medical system. However, with results like this, she was intrigued to learn more.
“Mixing the leaves with saliva creates a paste that fights inflammation and festering.” Pricilla grinned at Amaris’s face of disgust. “You can also add them to ude stalk.”
Sephardi offered a laugh that had Amaris smiling.
“Will you be filling the position permanently?” Pricilla asked.
