He stiffened, wariness tensing his shoulders.
“Not at you,” I said, “not anymore. But everything I’ve known was a lie.”
The words hung in the air between us, and I realized I was on the verge of saying far more than I intended. While I felt drawn to this man, the truth was, I’d known him for less than twenty-four hours. Nana always said that once you popped the bottle, you couldn’t put the cork back in. And yet, there were so many words Nana had never said. So many things she could have prepared me for, and I had no idea why she hadn’t.
“You’re allowed to be angry. Hell, I’d be worried if you weren’t.”
I cracked a slight smile, and he answered with one of his own, softening his striking features.
“We’ve got time.” He leaned back, legs outstretched, and crossed his ankles. “Take all the time you need to feel.”
His calm acceptance of my anger settled something within me and my shoulders relaxed. For the first time since arriving, I felt like maybe I wasn’t completely alone. His shoulder brushed against mine, that same jolt from yesterday zipping through me.
“I need help,” I said softly but with certainty as I turned to face him.
“I am at your service,” he replied, his eyes bright with sincerity.
“Zachariah told me… he told me a lot of things, but it’s starting to become clear to me that I need training. In magic, in fighting, in… well, I don’t know what else but I’m sure there are other things.”
“I will help you.” His gaze was steady, his words unbending and holding a promise. “Finn is chomping at the bit, wanting to help you get your channels under control. And as for fighting, I have a plan for that.”
“Thank you.”
Something about his calm assurance made me feel steadier. The panic from earlier was still present, but no longer felt insurmountable. After taking a moment more to bolster myself with his strong presence, I stood, ready to face whatever was next.
“Ready to quit hiding?” I could hear the slight tease in his voice.
I scowled at him, my usual spirit returning after being beaten down over the past several hours. “I don’t hide.”
“As you say.” He extended his hand for me to precede him. An expression that might be called a smirk crossed his face. “Princess.”
I stared at him for half a beat before looking him straight in the eye and dipping into the most elaborate curtsy I could manage, then striding off. I heard his chuckle behind me.
As we made our way back into the castle maze, people alternated between giving me side-eyed glances, pretending they weren’t looking, and outright staring. So this was what happened when a long-lost savior finally arrived. I stared back at them, although I’d like to think I was more subtle about it. Their clothes were beautiful—rich colors, lush fabrics, jewels dripping from men and women alike, everyone impeccably groomed. Glancing over at the man clad inblack at my side, I realized that the clothes I had thought fine in my kitchen were simply utilitarian here.
And I had dressed in simple fighting leathers. No wonder they were staring.
Finn caught up with us and suggested we make our way to the library. When we arrived, he flung open the double doors, and I sucked in a breath.
As with everything here, the sheer immensity of the library caught me off guard. There had been a small library at home, but that could have fit in one tiny corner here. The main room was circular, with a domed ceiling reaching to the sky. Massive panes of skylights let in natural light. In the center of the stone floor were tables for studying or reading. Around the walls were books upon books, and ladders for reaching the ones on higher shelves. One section of wall was bare of books but instead held double doors opening out to a balcony. I could just see the snow-topped mountains in the distance. Radiating off of the main room were passageways going back into what I assumed were the stacks.
Griff excused himself, his eyes lingering on me to ensure I was content, as Finn waved him off. I watched Griff walk away, noting the stiff set of his shoulders, before turning back to Finn. His eyes were bright as he excitedly told me he was happy to answer my questions and teach me more about this world that I’d been thrust into.
“So when do I get to read this prophecy that apparently says everything there is to know about what I’m going to do?” I asked.
“How about right now?”
Finn led me through several passageways full of books, to the very back of the library and along a dark hallway. The lights were dim back here, as though too much light would hurt the ancient volumes. “This is where the realm’s ancient treasures and relics are housed,” he explained.
“Where did the prophecy come from?”
“That’s the question, isn’t it? Unfortunately, the answer has been lost to the spoils of time.”
Around a corner, there was a small golden shrine, eight feet or so in height. It was nestled in the stacks, almost as if it had been moved in there fully formed, the shelving adjusted to fit around it. Carved into the columns were decorative scroll work, in a language I couldn’t read. The air grew heavy with age, as though the centuries were weighing it down. Our footsteps, which had echoed through the stacks, were now muffled.
Wards shimmered around the shrine. Undeterred, Finn took my hand and pulled me through. As I passed the entrance, there was a zap of power as the wards drifted over me, judging me, and then blooming in welcoming warmth. I felt like it recognized me as feelings of rejoicing combined with a sense of finality hit me one after another.
In the center of the shrine, on a pedestal, was a book, bound in some ancient material, painted in gold. There was a subtle glow, an inner light coming from the pages themselves.
