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“Sir Arvid, before we go to Saga’s suite, can you take me to the Royal Library? I want to research something.”

“I suppose so,” the Clawsguard said. “It’s a quick detour.”

“Perfect. The princess isn’t expecting me, anyway.”

He changed course, and I allowed myself to be led through the palace. On the way, we passed many fae, some servants, some courtiers. The latter stared at me, though less than they had that day in the solarium. The novelty of my marriage to Vale was somewhat wearing off.

Sir Arvid took a turn, and we found ourselves in an empty hallway. I looked around.

“Quiet in here, isn’t it?”

“The library isn’t a popular destination,” the Clawsguard replied.

“That’s a shame.”

“If you say so.”

I assumed the soldier didn’t read much.

The hallway ended in a set of double doors made of pine. Upon their face, a true artist had carved a white raven and dusted it with some sort of stone that glittered in the light coming in through the window. In this kingdom, the white raven was a symbol of one of the dead gods’ messengers and wisdom. Sir Arvid opened one door for me, and I gasped as I entered the Royal Library.

I would not have known from the outside, but the library had been built in one of the castle’s towers. The circular room spun up at least seven stories, and from the bottom, a viewer could gaze up at all of them.

I inhaled, savoring the scents: parchment, ink, and something unnamable. The weight that had been pressing down on my heart lightened a touch. There were so many books. Tomorrow I’d convince Vale to let me spend the day here. I’d bring a dozen Clawsguards with me if it made him happy.

“May I help you, Princess Neve?” a voice asked.

I twisted to find a female fae. She was short, like a dwarf, but without the bulbous and large facial features of their kind. My eyebrows pinched together until I placed her fae race.

A leprechaun.I’d never seen one before. From what I’d learned, they almost exclusively worked in coinaries and lived around their places of employment. I’d had no reason to go to a coinary.

“Good afternoon,” I said. “I’m looking for a visual reference on rare gems. A phoenix opal, if you have it.”

She nodded. “Come with me.”

The bottom level of the library was chock-full of shelves and books. The librarian wound through them until we reached a shelf across the room. She stopped and peered up at the books.

“This section is on rare gems. I believe this book”—she stood on tiptoe to pull a green one down from the fourth shelf from the bottom, almost out of her reach— “will have the information you’re looking for. If it doesn’t, or it’s not to your liking, I’ll help you find another.”

“Thank you,” I replied, taking the book.

“Can I do anything else for you, Princess Neve?”

“That’ll be all.”

She nodded and gestured through the stacks. “There’s a table by the windows over there. Three stacks over. Sit, if you wish.” Having said what she needed to say, she left.

I did wish to sit, so I went to the table, and Sir Arvid followed, a bored expression on his face. Settling in, I sighed as the wooden chair creaked beneath me.

The first library such as this one that I’d ever had access to was Roar’s. And while House Lisika’s library was nice, the Royal Library put it to shame.

I opened the book and found that the gems and stones featured were alphabetical. Smiling, I went to the proper section and found an image of a phoenix opal.

It looked like the one in the brooch. I leaned back, conflicted. Lord Riis had said that phoenix opals were beyond valuable. Originally, I’d wanted the brooch because it was pretty, though a part of me wondered if it would be a good piece to use as currency.

Now, though, I knew it was my mother’s.

Another moral issue for another day.I shut the book and stood.