Page 73

'Snoop around while I'm with the King,' Fyia said to Edu. 'I'll be safe with him, and we need information if we are to persuade him to show me their egg.'

'You could seduce him,' said Edu. Fyia turned sharply to look at his features, unable to tell from his voice alone if he was joking. Edu laughed.

'It's not funny,' said Fyia, although a smile pulled at her lips. 'I want to know why the relationship between the King and the Queen Mother is so strained. If he hates her so, why is she afforded such respect?'

'I will see what I can find, but it may take a few days. The people have become tight-lipped since your wolves burst into the tavern last night. Let us hope the ale in the tavern today loosens their tongues.'

Fyia nodded as they reached the front of the imposing library building, its doors half a pace below the level of the surrounding snow. Presumably beneath the snow were stone steps that had once led up to the door, but now they’d dug a step down into the snow, allowing the original doors to be used.

Fyia entered and surveyed the large, open space. It was warm, oddly, although she saw no fire or other method of heating.

'He's upstairs,' said Zhura. She appeared seemingly out of nowhere, then strode past them with barely a check.

'Is everything okay?' Fyia said to her retreating form.

'Sure,' Zhura replied, but neither stopped nor turned.

'What's got into her?' said Fyia.

'I'll try to find out,' said Edu, but he didn’t leave. He was still casting his eyes around for threats.

'Go now, before she disappears,' said Fyia. 'I'll be fine in here, and if I'm not, my wolves are close.'

Edu nodded, then reluctantly followed Fyia's order. 'Good luck,' he said, 'oh, and try not to cause a diplomatic incident … or get killed.'

'Funny,' said Fyia.

Edu strode away, and Fyia took a moment to drink in her surroundings. The place was beautiful … the middle of the space big and open, with stacks lining the edges of the enormous oval room. The stacks went up three—and in some places four—levels, each getting narrower as they towered on top of each other. Stairs that were little more than wooden ladders linked the levels, the pillars carved with ornate scenes featuring all manner of creatures: wolves and bears and dragons and pixies.

At the end of the room, a wide staircase led up to a landing, and then split, one half going left, the other right, each section allowing access to the third level of stacks. The wooden railings were also carved with intricate woodland scenes, and Fyia couldn't help but run her hands over them as she slowly climbed the steps.

A clattering caught Fyia's attention, so she took the lefthand path towards the sound, almost running into Cal when she reached the top. He seemed to be descending in a hurry.

'Ah,' he said dryly, taking a step back, 'good of you to finally make it.'

He seemed flustered, and Fyia wondered if that was because she was a few minute-spins late—the result of too much ogling at market stalls—or because he'd had an argument with his cousin.

'Apologies,' she said sweetly, although she made sure her expression told him he was being an ass.

'This way,' he said. He spun on his heel and led the way up a much smaller staircase.

This one too was beautifully carved, and she remarked on it.

'Yes, I suppose so,' Cal replied, then said no more.

Chatty.Fyia kept quiet as she followed him up the long, steep stairs, wondering where he could be taking her … the roof? Maybe he planned to throw her off …

They stepped into a room at the top, and Fyia gasped. It was breathtaking: octagonal, and much smaller than the vast expanse of the library below, with windows set into each of the eight sides, which made it light and airy, yet intimate.

A brightly colored mural adorned the ceiling, depicting a clearing with a host of animals on one side and people on the other. In the middle of the two groups, an enormous golden dragon scale lay on the ground, reflecting the light of the setting sun, basking the scene in rich, golden light.

'The triarchy,' said the King.

'The what?'

'The three types of magical being: magic-touched, fire-touched, and Cruaxee.'

'What about pixie and fairies and fae, and all the others?'