I give him small smile. “Listen, the deal is that I have to keep an eye on you guys while you’re in here.” I lower my voice and lean in. “I really don’t care what you look at, and I’m not going to monitor you. I have my own research that needs to be done.”
Rhydra crosses her arms, perplexed. “We told you why we’re really here.”
“And?”
“You’re the elvish princess. You do not care?”
“No.”
“Why not?” Rhydra presses.
“I have my reasons.” That’s all I can offer them. There are two others in on this with me who haven’t told anyone else. I can’t just prance around telling whoever I decide to trust on a whim. Even though part of me wants to tell these two specifically for some reason.
Before they can press further, I walk away and begin to browse. There must be something here. I pull out a book on the construction of this very castle. Seems like a good place to start today. I choose a table close to them, close enough I can hear them talking. But I don’t want to sit directly with them, out of fear they might start grilling me again and I end up spilling more than I should.
After a while, my mind begins to wander, and I start glancing at the door, wondering if any other company will join us today. It’s almost time for dinner now.
After a while, I accept that they’re probably not coming today.
I glance over at Gaethri and Rhydra, who are whispering between each other and looking at their books on and off. I don’t care. Let them work toward breaking the curse too. I don’t care who breaks it. As long as someone does. Just as long as they don’t tell everyone they meet about it.
But if they find something that could help us…
“How’s it going over there?” I ask. “Any luck?”
They shake their heads. I wonder if they would really tell me. “Do you want to take a break for dinner, or do you not care?”
“We’re fine here. Dothronites can go days without eating if we want to.”
Rhydra nods in agreement.
“Okay. Fine by me.” If I leave, they have to leave, according to my father’s silly rules. So I stay in my hard wooden chair, resuming my research.
More time goes by, and I’ve gotten nowhere once again. I’m used to the disappointment, though. I spent years scouring this library before I found the passage about breaking the curse just recently. A couple days of searching with no luck is nothing in comparison.
Then again, it does suddenly feel like time is running short, and it’s more important than ever that we find these things as soon as possible.
A door shuts, and laughter follows. I instantly recognize Raef’s raucous laugh. A strange sense of… anticipation? No, excitement washes over me.
Raef finally turns the corner, grinning from ear to ear, but no one follows.
“Well, don’t look so sad to see me,” he says, pulling out a chair at my table and taking a seat. His back is facing Gaethri and Rhydra, whose presence he somehow hasn’t noticed yet.
Was it painted on my face? Or in my body language?
“I’m not. It was getting a little boring here. I needed a distraction.”
“Well, I’m your guy.” He grins, taking a bite of an apple.
I sense motion and look up, finding Daegan striding in with a frown. His eyes meet mine immediately. A grin tries to escape, but I try to keep my mouth level. Something like confusion flickers in his eyes as he studies my face.
Gaethri clears his throat across the aisle, and Raef jumps out of his seat, spinning around.
“What the… have you been sitting there this whole time?”
“Those dragon instincts are not very good, are they?” Rhydra says dryly.
“Apparently not,” Raef grumbles.
