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Ainsley
Reaching into my pocket, I hesitated slightly before I withdrew the partially sealed note. It was personal after all, and the thought of a stranger reading it, no matter how kind his eyes were, gave me reason to pause. “The content is quite personal,” I said softly as I released the parchment from my pocket. “However, if you could study the seal on the outside—” I paused in my speech, hoping my comment may cause our guide to realize I would prefer privacy for the note.
He held the parchment in his hands, hiding all but the seal, and the man grew on me more in that moment, witnessing as he took my hesitation into consideration.
The gentleman clicked his tongue. “Ah, yes, prominent markings. There may be a few matches. Wait here.” He smiled kindly and shuffled toward the back of the room, taking the tiny slip of paper with him. I wanted to follow, but instead, remained at a distance, giving the attendant space to work.
I wandered toward one side of the room and slowly ran my fingers along the bindings of several old tomes. “Think of all the history here. What sorts of books? All of them? Fantasy? History?” I spoke aloud, although my words were not necessarily meant for Killian.
“I’d imagine any book you could dream of would likely be stored here somewhere. The hall feels like—” He ceased talking, and I turned to face him. He shook his head and shrugged. “Magic.”
A smile tugged at the corner of my lips. He was right. There was a sort of quiet power here, although it was peaceful. Almost enchanting.
“Sir,” the attendant called, and Killian made his way to the back of the room. I could hear their murmured voices, but I knew if Killian found something, he would tell me. Instead, I continued my lazy stroll, meandering around the hall. Who knew if or when I would ever have an opportunity to return here?
I smiled down at the hundreds of books I passed, as if they were old friends. Killian was still with the attendant, speaking of who knew what. I came to a small ornate column. There were a few of these around the hall, in between shelves of books. The design work was exquisite, and I paused to admire it more closely.
Gently tracing my fingers along the designs, I froze. There were all sorts of symbols, slightly elevated from the wooden frame. And one was a lightning bolt. I ran my fingertips along its shape. There was something about it that was so oddly familiar.
The side of the bolt appeared off, and I pressed my thumb against it. A small click sounded, and the lightning bolt design on the wall swung open to reveal a small hole.
A keyhole.
Time seemed to still and I slowly reached into my pocket, drawing forth the key that had been with the belongings the duchess had for me back at Rookhallow Proper. The key that had accompanied the note.
My fingers trembled slightly as I slid the key into the aperture and turned. It fit perfectly. Another small click sounded, and the bookshelf to the right popped out from the wall. Killian still hadn’t returned, likely preoccupied. And this felt personal, anyway. I laced my fingers around the side of the shelf and pulled it toward me. A smaller room stood behind the shelving unit, with a corridor that ran in the same shape of the room I had just exited. There appeared to be many other rooms just like the one this shelf opened up to. I idly wondered how many keys must be in existence for this to be here, sitting hidden away in such a secretive palace as it was.
The magic that I had felt inside the main room was amplified ten-fold within the secret chamber I had discovered. Maps were carefully displayed across a table in the center, but not even a speck of dust seemed to gather upon them. A glow radiated from one side of the room, and I approached the area as though being drawn into a flame.
There was a large tome with golden emblems that adorned the front cover. Lightning, Water, Fire, Wind, and Earth. I stared down at each of the symbols, recognizing many from the outside on the column I had used to open the door.
What was this place?
Were there magic casters for each of the elements? Was I not as unique as Killian had believed?
The book was locked, appearing to need more than one key to open, so the lone one I possessed would not be enough. “What secrets are you hiding?” I whispered to the glowing treasure.
“Ainsley?” Killian’s voice sounded distant as he called me.
“Here!” I answered, wondering what he would think of such a place.
He poked his head around the shelf that led back to the area and furrowed his brow. “Bloody bits of airship, woman, what are you doing in this dusty trove?”
I frowned. “What?”
“There are cobwebs, and a stench that would cause some of my filthiest crew to turn back, love. Come out of there and listen to what the attendant has found.”
I gaped at the pirate as he stood with a wrinkled nose in my direction.
“There is no dust, Killian. Look at these maps—”
I was cut off by the attendant calling Killian’s name once more. Suddenly, I realized Killian was not able to see anything I could. Whatever I was able to view back here was for magical eyes only. But how?
Scurrying to the door, I was acutely aware that if the attendant came looking, he’d be immediately alerted that I’d have found a way in there. I was not quite certain if he knew of the secret passages in his hall or not, but given the danger we may be in, it did not seem like the best of times to find out.
“What did you learn?” I questioned, scooting around the shelf, and closing it behind me. It pained me to leave the recesses of the secret room behind, but I only had time for one adventure at the moment. If I were ever free from danger, I knew the first place I would be heading to explore.
“The old man is gathering a list together and writing out what he found. I’m afraid it’s not much, but hopefully Silverthorne is one of them, and we shall have something of a start.”
My stomach knotted. So, we would be handed something after all? Something I needed to ensure I got my hands on without Killian noticing. Otherwise, if I fled, he would know where to search in order to locate me. “I could wait here for the information if you would like to ensure everything is prepared for our departure.” Heavens! Could I have sounded anymore robotic in my response?
Killian pulled his head back, leaning away from me and studying my face for a moment. “Why would I leave you alone?”
Smiling, I shook my head, but a moment too late. Killian eyed me suspiciously, and I backed away toward the front of the room. If I ran now, I would not retrieve the information I so desperately needed.
I was bloody well trapped.
I had no idea how I could manage to procure what I needed and get away from Captain Killian Flynn.
