Total pages in book: 169
Estimated words: 156210 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 781(@200wpm)___ 625(@250wpm)___ 521(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 156210 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 781(@200wpm)___ 625(@250wpm)___ 521(@300wpm)
Briefly wondering how long it will take Tristan to move on to another pretty flower once he has his way with Magnus, I grab a lidded cup that fell during the tremor and hand it to Sabine, who rises back to her feet. She’s almost due, and I don’t envy her current state, especially with the encroaching danger.
“Wouldn’t it be safer for you to stay someplace farther from the ocean?”
She blinks, sipping some herbal tincture from the cup. “And miss the sight of Kyranis chasing Heartbreak back where it came from? I wouldn’t do that for the world.”
We both fall silent as we watch Tristan leading Magnus away by putting his hand on the small of the other elf’s back.
“So… I was hoping you could help me find some books about the kind of bats that live under the castle?” I ask, studying the massive (and now crooked) portrait of Kyran’s parents with his brother. I don’t know what it is about the young elf’s expression, but even though he’s Kyran’s twin, I can tell it’s not him. The Kyran I know is determined and doesn’t hesitate to give people orders, but I’d never seen him with the smug half-smile crooking the handsome features of the boy in the portrait.
Sadness floods my heart as I stare at the image, realizing that Kyran’s family didn’t bother to even hint at his existence with some clever metaphor, like perhaps the young prince holding a mirror. It’s as if they forgot about him altogether.
Sabine nods. “Yes, I can think of a few resources, but nothing in life comes free. I have a question first,” she says but winks at me to soften the blow. She pulls out a notebook and reads from it. “Chad. How about that for my baby’s name? Is that a good one? I’ve found out that it’s the name of a saint in one of the human religions, so I presume it’s considered dignified?”
I try to not make a face. “It’s… okay.”
But she clocks my reaction and huffs with exasperation. “Oh, no. You don’t like it. What’s wrong with it?”
“Not wrong, but just… nowadays it can be considered a bit funny. Like… you know how sometimes a name fits a certain type of person? If Tristan was human, living in my world now, he’d be a Chad.”
She squints, giving that some thought. “I think I understand. Okay,” she adds and makes a little note next to the name. She loves to pick up my slang. “So what would make a strong name for a boy? I feel that each name I pick is not good enough, and my husband told me it’s my choice this time, so I need to get it right,” she mumbles, hugging the cup to her chest.
“I’ll think about it and get you some options, but I only have so much time here today, so…”
Sabine rolls her eyes. “Fine, fine, let’s go find out more about this little critter,” she says and pets Flap’s head in passing when she walks out from behind the desk. He makes a happy squeak that convinces me he can be domesticated. Or I’m delusional and he was simply excited about the proximity of very biteable fingers.
She leads the way among fallen books. When I offer to help pick them up, she dismisses me, saying library assistants will put them back where they belong.
“I’m not being pushy, I hope. It’s just been so long since we’ve had a human at court. Over seven years now. Only two Dark Companions survived the battle with Heartbreak.” She glances back at me. “It’s not typical, just a lot of bad luck. Baron Glassdrop and his Companion have been away in the capital for three years now, and only Lady Guinevere and Carol are staying close by. They’re allowed to live on the outskirts of the nearby village but can’t enter the court until you and Kyranis marry, so I can only see the human so often. But she’s been here for years, so her information about your world might be outdated.”
Sabine is always very chatty, so I’m happy to soak up all she has to share, but this bit of information makes my brain whir with excitement. I worried the surviving Companions were out of reach, but there was one nearby this whole time? Wouldn’t talking to her be the best way to find out the truth about the Companion’s role without the rose-tinted glasses Kyran keeps putting on my nose? If another human reassured me that living in this Realm is not actually a nightmare, maybe I could… stay?
My thoughts race as Sabine chatters, bringing me to a small shelf.
“Our late Lordess was actually a keen observer of the natural world. Several of the books here were penned by her, and I’m sure she also researched the bats. I might even have…” Sabine rummages through a stack of smaller books, only to pull out a leather-bound folder. “Her notes. These must stay in the library and cannot be taken to your rooms. While I’m sure the prince could probably force a different decision on me, I insist that you don’t pull those strings.”