After several days of rifling through my mum’s old textbooks and asking everyone who might know at the castle, I decide to look forinformation in Card’s second home—the castle library. If there are hours in a day and no urgent wedding planning taking up his time, Cardamine can be found among the bookshelves and dust.
I heave a pile of books onto the table where Card is sitting, crunched over a large textbook with a forgotten ink-dipped quill in his left hand. When I’d asked for his advice, he’d waved me in the general direction of the botanical books without raising his eyes from the page—not even when I’d clambered up a shelf, cracked it, and accidentally pulled an entire string of books onto my head. Luckily, the librarian forgave me fast enough once she saw who I was with. Card’s presencehadcome in useful then.
“Hey,” I say, slamming the books down. “I found a few.”
His eyes skim the page he’s on, full of characters that have no meaning to me.
“Hmm?”
This is one of those times I wish I could use sarcasm.I said I’ve decided to blow the castle up. I said I’m running away to live in the forest among the fairies.Whatever I say, Card’s not paying attention to me. He’ll snap out of it in a minute or two. It’s futile to fight against his obliviousness when he’s caught up in a book.
I plonk myself down opposite him and open the first book, titledWild and Weird: Flowers Beyond the Garden.The green angelica flower embroidered on the cover represents inspiration and imagination. Based on that alone, I expect the author of this particular book to embellish a few facts, but it’s still worth a flick through.
A few pages in, I come across a beautifully illustrated vine of clematis, each violet-inked flower detailing eight long petals, open like a giant star. I’ve never actually seen one in real life before, but I’ve heard the name and know that if it’s paired with rosemary, it makes a good luck charm. I’d love to have them for the front of the shop. They’d look so pretty growing around the door.
“Check it out,” I say to Card, regardless of if he’s listening or not. “The clematis represents problem-solving and cleverness. That could come in handy. Shame it doesn’t grow in Alrick.”
Card shakes his head. “Sorry, I’m reading in ancient Berian. What did you say?”
“Why are you studying ancient Berian? I thought you only started learning Wyean the other week.”
“Wyean wassoeasy; I’ve pretty much got it down already. Besides, if any ambassadors from those outlying kingdoms come to the wedding, I want them to be able to gossip with someone.”
“That someone being you.”
“Exactly.” Card grins, his blue eyes sharp with success. He finally notices my tower of books. “Oh, nice. Have you found anything useful?”
“Nothing about the Odyssa,” I tell him, and turn the page. “I’m glad they included a map to find the Feiyan last time. This time…”
“Looks like you’ll be spending the day inside with me, then. Quality fun!”
“Can’t we take these outside to read? It’s such a clear day and the field by the lake is still full of daisies.”
Card snorts. “Oh yeah,sure.You ask Librarian Yun if you can take her hundred-year-old books into the sun and see how she reacts.”
She already has her eye on me after the shelf fiasco. I’m not sure she’d forgive me for desecrating these books any further.
“Fine.” But unlike Card, I can’t read anything for too long. His focus far outmatches mine, and in the stuffy silence, I find my mind wandering. I reluctantly wonder if Willoh Vane would know where to find the Odyssa. He knew where the Feiyan was instantly,andhe studied at the Library of Heris, whose collection far surpasses this one’s.
The thought makes me want to test the waters, to see if it’s safe to tell Card about what happened in the forest—something I’d initially decided against.
“Do you know anyone who studied at the Library of Heris?” I ask. Mentioning the Library is an infallible way to crack Card’s concentration. Although I haven’t heard much about his obsession with the place lately because of all the wedding planning.
“I wish!” He sighs. “Occasionally there’s a visiting professor or student to see the king and queen, but I’ve yet to corner one of them, despite my best efforts. Why do you ask?”
His eyes lift from his page long enough to have my face squirming to stay straight. I have to besocareful here.
“Someone like that might recognize the Odyssa. Do you think Bash knows anyone?”
Someone like the sorcerer he frequently argues with?
Card brushes the end of his quill against his chin in thought. “Hmm, maybe. I can ask him later on if you like?”
I decide to go for it.
“What about Willoh Vane?”
Card’s lips pinch together, like he’s seen me sprout wings and wants to clip them before they can grow too big.
