I walked between the towering shelves, my fingers brushing along the spines of books that awaited my greedy eyes, but moved on with my heart sinking. I wished I could sit in one of the plush chairs, a stack of books on a table beside me, and get lost for a day or two in the inked worlds.
I knew Bran would be waiting for me at the back of the library, where it was more secluded and quiet. He always knew what I needed, knew me better than perhaps I even knew myself.
He greeted me with a hug when I finally found him, leaning against a table in the far shadows, a book open in his large hands.
War and the Mindby Nicholas Merchei. A book of how strategy and cunning far outweighed the strength of swords in war and battle. How a competent mind could turn the tides of history. For what was a sword without an equally sharp mind to wield it?
His shoulders lifted with nonchalance, noticing what held my attention. “Suggested reading from my battle instructor."
"Wise man," my smile teasing as I tapped the book. “Never thought l'd see the day you read something willingly."
His eyes rolled as he pulled out a chair to sit. “If it helps me improve and rise up in rank after recruitment, who am I to argue?" He glanced over at me carefully then. “What did you want to talk about? Did your first trial go well?”
"I passed," I responded as my restless fingers tapped a rhythm upon the table. “But that's not what l wanted to speak with you about. Before you say anything, just listen, okay?”
I took a deep breath before beginning the absurd recounting. I reminded him of the shady men who had shown up in the shop asking about The Fever before launching into the rest. How Prince Kairen and Roan Delmar had saved me that night in the streets of the Old Quarter, the offer they had proposed, and how I had practically volunteered him for the quest without speaking to him first.
I recited the prophecy they had told me, seeing as I had it committed to memory. It hadn’t even been intentional, mostly just a result of the words plaguing my mind since I had first read them.
He sat back and listened the whole time, his face betraying nothing and when I finished, he still hadn't spoken a word. He merely stared at me as I wrung my hands.
"If you say no, they will obviously find someone else that fits that fifth role," I added, my words a rush of anxiety. "I'm sorry for volunteering you, I wasn't thinking, Bran. I just could not fathom the idea of going on this kind of journey without a single person I trust to have my back—"
He held up a palm to cut off my rambling, a deep sigh leaving his lips as he scrubbed the other hand over his face.
"You're telling me that you’ve somehow managed to attract both aSolerian Princeand theKinslayer’sattention, and now they want you to go on a months-long quest to cure The Fever because they believe you are part of a prophecy?"
The bewilderment in his tone nearly had me smiling, but I held it back as I nodded my head solemnly, hands clasped around the edge of the table. A perfect reflection of a reverent apology.
Another sigh left him as he asked, "When do we leave?"
My eyes widened. “What?"
Bran narrowed his gaze at me, his voice so low no one within the vicinity would be able to hear except us. “If you think I'm letting you go on a quest with a Solerian Prince and a man known for burning his own family at the stake by yourself, then you really don't know me at all, Sy."
"I haven't said yes yet, Bran. I wanted to speak with you first." I had almost been hoping he'd refuse so I too could have an excuse to turn down the offer.
"But you will." He insisted. "Don’t look at me like that, I've known you for over a decade now. If there's a chance for adventure and to help cure whatever this illness is, you won't say no."
“You don’t think it's madness?” I certainly did.
“I mean thereisa prophecy, have any of our oh-so-great Master Healers or Potion Masters ever had one?”
Picking at my nail beds, my head laid upon the wooden table as defeat sung through me, I muttered, “Are we really doing this?”
“Aprincehas asked for you to join, can we really say no?”
It was settled then.
Chapter Ten
It was late when I finally left the library, my eyes aching at all the material I had gone over. After Bran had taken his leave, I took the opportunity to study various potion tomes, from history to the art of mixing and everything in between. Despite having confidence in my abilities and Merle's teaching, I wanted to be as prepared as I could be for whatever laid ahead in the next trial.
The gardens were quiet at this time of night, with only a few straggling apprentices returning to their rooms or out for a late night walk with a friend. There were few people around and I was thankful for the quiet. A cool breeze flirted through the air, a nice reprieve from the bone chilling wind that had been plaguing the city. Spring wasn't near, but it appeared the weather decided to bless Amori City tonight.
I veered from the garden paths, heading towards the palace. Knowing I couldn't enter, wouldn't dare without permission. I still wanted to look more closely at the engravings on the wall, at the myths and stories they told. When I got close enough to the giant structure cast in the light of the moon, I trailed my hand along the carving of a firesprite winding through a vine and into a forest, my gaze travelling further before I froze.
My shadows hissing to life at the—
