He lowered his voice.‘Are you safe there?’His honey-brown eyes searched my face.
I knew what he was really asking.‘I’m safe,’ I assured him.
Cillian pulled me back into his arms and peppered me with playful kisses, starting from the corner of my mouth and making his way down the side of my neck, where my pulse fluttered rapidly.‘I hope you can visit occasionally when you aren’t protecting royalty,’ he teased.
Reluctantly, I left Cillian’s warm embrace.He watched over Wolfe and Ania while I went upstairs to collect my things.I no longer had armour, but I now had coins to pay Cillian to make me more.I took most of my clothes but left a few items behind, just like he suggested.
When I returned, he wrapped his massive arms around me again, and I couldn’t resist brushing his warm lips with mine once more.I had struggled with a simple hand touch a few months ago, and now I craved his embrace.The memory of Torgrin’s touch flashed through my mind, but I knew what I felt with Cillian was better.Safer.
‘I’ll come visit,’ I promised.
‘You’d better.’
Then I was out the door, ensuring my new charges obeyed my directions to stay close to me.First, I stopped off at the cobbler and bought myself a fine pair of leather boots, then we spent the rest of the morning browsing the market stalls.I closely watched Lord Warwick’s children as they moved from vendor to vendor.
We came to a familiar honey cake stall.The Murus man I had fought in the tournament stood to the side, watching the crowd go by as his wife and daughter sold their wares.
‘Greetings, Swordmaker.I’m Randal Runewood.’His hand rested easily on the hilt of his sword.‘I’m glad you won.’
He introduced me to his wife, Hilda, and their daughter, Sofie, who was a similar age to Wolfe.I tried to buy more cakes, but they refused to let me pay.There was no mention of what had happened that day outside the forge, but their appreciation was evident.
The rest of our excursion went smoothly, and we soon headed back to the fortress.Wolfe and Ania thanked me for taking them out and headed to their rooms to enjoy their new finds.
Having eaten plenty at the markets, I decided to skip the midday meal and went in search of the library on the first floor.
CHAPTER 14
Ipushed open the library’s heavy wooden doors.Reading tended to be something I did to gain knowledge, not something I did for pleasure.My body and mind demanded movement, while books needed attention and time.I knew myself enough to admit I was better suited to the forge or the training arena, not a room full of dead trees.
The ceilings in this part of the fortress reached astonishing heights, with shelves of books stretching to the top.Those who constructed the fortress built iron staircases into the ancient stone walls so a person could climb up and retrieve whatever hefty volume they wanted.Between the towers of books were lonely tables, with austere chairs that must be tortuous to sit in for any length of time.The library was gloomy, with heavy fabric blocking the sunlight from the windows.As I ventured further into the cavernous space, I discovered less severe chairs tucked away in corners and nooks.
In one of those chairs was a rather stout man in long, black robes.A wispy ring of hair circled his crown, the middle and sides shaved.
Because of his strange appearance and the fact that he was the only other person present, I assumed he was the library curator Tomas had told me about.
Looking at all the books, I knew I wouldn’t find what I needed on my own.I cleared my throat so as not to startle the man, who was dozing in his chair.
He opened one beady eye and then another.The curator yawned and looked around to see who was disturbing his slumber.When his little round eyes landed on me, they widened slightly, giving him an owlish appearance.
‘Sorry for waking you.I was hoping you could help me find some books?’My voice echoed around the space, making me flinch.I moved closer to him so I could lower my voice.‘Are you the curator?’I tried again.
‘Yes, yes!Sorry, I was dreaming, and when I opened my eyes, I thought for a second that perhaps I still was.’He tilted his head and squinted at me.The silence stretched between us while he considered me a little longer.‘What can I get for you today, young lady?’he asked, breaking the awkward silence and heaving his hefty frame slowly out of the chair.
‘I’m here to learn more about the Pedion royal family, and look at some maps of Eritz.’
‘Ah yes, you will need to know where you are going and who you might meet one day!’He gave a little chuckle as if he had made a joke.‘Let’s see … I would suggest a family tree and a bit of history to get you started.I will retrieve some of our most accurate maps.Not all maps are made equal, you know.’He gestured at a dusty table lined with lamps and pulled out a chair for me to sit on.I watched as he shuffled down a row of books, muttering to himself.
‘Yes, that will have the most up-to-date … and yes!This one also has some records …’
He started bringing me book after book, placing them next to me in a well-ordered stack.One book caught my attention.The cover was red, and on it in gold leaf was an emblem that I hadn’t seen forten years.In the centre was a fist holding a sword, and forming a triangle around it was a half-risen sun, a lightning bolt and a tree.
‘What is this?’I asked the curator urgently.
‘This?’His brow wrinkled at my reaction to the book.‘It’s a record of all the families of the royal line, going back centuries.’
‘And the picture on the front?’I asked, running my gloved hand over it.
‘It’s the Pedion royal coat of arms.’
