His gaze goes dreamy. “Isn’t she pretty?”
“She sure is. Oh my Gods, you’re so smitten, big brother.”
“Shut up, brat.”
A young fae woman carrying a bundle of clothes in her arms slows down and gives Eiras a sideways look and a winsome smile as we enter the square.
Eiras doesn’t even notice her and continues on, oblivious. More women eye him as we walk the streets. He’s a handsome fae, but although we share no blood, I can’t see him as a man. He’s my brother, a lovable idiot who gets on my nerves all the time.
Another woman, a human this time, winks at him.
This time he notices and stares after her, then shakes his head, blond hair flying. “What’s wrong with her?”
Snickering at his cluelessness, I adjust the strap of the satchel on my shoulder and brush by a couple carrying baskets filled with fruit. No market today, only people crossing the empty space among the buildings, going about their business. Mules, donkeys, horses and small carts jostle for space with the pedestrians. The stink of manure and urine laces the air.
I’ve only taken ten steps into the square, when a male voice whispers in my ear, “So... your name is Aline, then?”
I gasp, whirling about. “Who’s there?”
“Come on,” the voice goes on. “Talking about cluelessness...”
“Who is this?” I turn again, but nobody is close enough to be whispering in my ear. “Where are you hiding?”
“Aline, what’s wrong?” Eiras has stopped and is scowling at me. “What are you doing?”
“Listen,” the disembodied voice says now, “your magic is of a kind I have never encountered before. Are you fae?”
“No, I… Who are you?” I demand. “Where are you?”
“I’m Olm, have you forgotten already?”
“Olm?”
“Who in the hells is Olm?” Eiras asks. He has gripped my wrist, I realize, and I didn’t even notice. “Aline, come on, people are staring. They’ll think you’ve gone crazy.”
Haven’t I? Why am I hearing voices? It never happened before last night, and the only thing that’s been different since yesterday is…
The satchel.
The book.
No way.
“The book, yes.” The voice sounds pleased and kind of smug. “I told you that last night but you obviously forgot about?—”
“No.” I yank my wrist free and turn my back to my brother. “Gods, I remember now, you told me to take the book?—”
“To the palace, yes. You really hadn’t realized who was speaking to you?” The voice’s smugness increases. “That’s all right, not every book can do that. You obviously have no experience with magical tomes.”
“Aline!” Eiras barks. “Come with me. Now.”
Grabbing my wrist again, he drags me across the square and into a narrow alley. I stumble along, the voice going on and on inside my head about how the royal palace is the perfect place for a book, the royal library being the most beautiful in the world, made of stone and ever-lastingnightgold, and how he doesn’t want to end up among monsters. That there has been a mistake. That he’s harmless.
“Oh shut up, Olm,” I finally tell the voice and throw the satchel to the ground. The thud echoes in the alley. “Just shut up.”
Olm’s voice fades and I draw in a deep breath. That’s it. It’s over. Not picking that book up again. All we have to do now is walk away.
Only, Eiras bows, lifts the satchel and swings it over his shoulder. “Come on, let’s go.” He adjusts the strap again, as if surprised by the unexpected weight of the thing. “What was that about? You’d better start talking, sister. You…”
