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“Why wouldn’t they like you? You’re Graham Brennin.”
“Are you being sarcastic?”
“No. YouareGraham Brennin.”
Graham laughed softly. “I can always depend on you for such astute observations.”
“Yes, you can,” said Patrick. “You can always depend on me, period. So, keep thinking about my idea. I assure you I’d be your most loyal option.”
“My mother won’t allow me much room to make my own choices,” said Graham, “but I am certainly considering the possibility.”
“Wonderful. Well, it’s time for me to clear out of these musty ruins. I’m not the one who vowed to be here, after all.”
“Fair enough,” said Graham. “Goodbye, then. Tell my guards to wait on the steps. I’d rather keep them at a distance and remain anonymous while I’m here.”
“It will be done,” said Patrick. “I’ll come back for you this afternoon.”
“Thank you.”
I moved to the end of the aisle, curious to see the man Graham Brennin had been speaking with.
A young, dark-skinned noble crossed the room, going toward the main doors—the same man who’d entered The Wordsmith with the heir yesterday. He seemed to be a friend, but his last words made me highly suspect that he was yet another player eager to make Graham his pawn.
I turned around, hurrying the opposite way to find the heir. Before leaving the safety of the bookshelves, I paused, standing in the shadows.
He emerged from the aisle beside mine but didn’t look my way. He carried a heavy book and was dressed in nondescript gray clothing that made him look more like a commoner than a noble. Hurrying away, he entered an arched corridor at the back of the library where the private study rooms were.
I followed at a distance, watching as he disappeared into the farthest door on the left.
Once he was out of sight, I swallowed, solidifying my plan. I went to the librarians’ desk, my eye on the stack of books that needed to be returned to their shelves. I reached under the desk where I’d carefully stashed my bag, then took my father’s journal out of it and set it on top of the pile. Its rough pages were bound with leather ties and it had no spine, unlike the other books in this library, so I knew it would catch Graham’s eye and pique his curiosity. Cambrians were forbidden to read anything written by an outlaw, or even those in a class lower than their own, but I suspected—or hoped—that his curiosity would be stronger than his fear.
But first, to pass for a library book, it needed a title. I picked up a quill from the desk and dipped it in a black inkpot before carefully writing a title across the leather cover.An Explorer’s Guide to the Cambrian Islands. I fanned the ink, waiting until it was completely dry before picking up the stack of books and heading down the corridor.
I passed the other study rooms before arriving at the last one on the left with a lump in my throat. This was it, the moment I’d worked toward for so long; fear of failure made my heart pound against my stack of books.
Well, here goes.
My nervous hand slipped on the knob as I twisted it. I shifted the books to one arm and pushed the door open.
The heir sat alone on a sofa inside, his head turned down over a book. The small room was lit by a multi-paned window that was too dirty to see through.
“Oh! Please excuse me, sir,” I said.
He flinched and jumped to his feet. His posture stiffened and surprised blue eyes met mine.
“I’m so sorry,” I said, “I thought this room was unoccupied!” I took a step back and bumped into the doorframe, intentionally releasing my grip on the books. They fell to the floor in a messy heap. I dropped to the ground, hastily grasping at them. I noticed, with satisfaction, that the journal had landed face up.
“Let me help.” The heir knelt and reached for a book.
I stared, taken aback that he’d help someone who he must’ve seen as far beneath him, but I figured it was an act to disguise his identity.
“There’s no need,” I said. “This is my job, not yours.”
“No, milady. I’m the one who surprised you.”
“Milady?” I laughed. “I’m only a library worker.” His voice had taken me off guard again. Quiet and kind—or perhaps just weak. There was a fine line between the two.
He turned his gaze back to the floor, picking up another book, before looking at me with a quizzical raise of his eyebrows. “Have I seen you before?”
