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“Nothing,” she said. “Never mind.”

He beckoned to her. “Come. I have something for you.”

CHAPTER 12

Beset with nerves, Amelie trailed Davron inside.

He took a brown glass bottle from the boxes Oskar had delivered, before leading her through the castle toward the northern wing, where she hadn’t been yet.

He uncorked the bottle and offered it to Amelie. “Would you like to try? Blood Of The Dragon, from Klatos. Finest liquor in all the kingdoms.”

“No, thank you.” She eyed the bottle warily. “Is it actually dragon’s blood?”

“Don’t think so.” He winked at her and took a swig. “Hmm,” he said, checking the label. “Not their best batch.”

“How often does Oskar deliver to the castle?” asked Amelie as they walked, Davron discarding the bottle on a console.

“Once a week, usually.”

“Did you know he has a son?”

“I suppose.” Davron looked down at her quizzically. “Why?”

“The boy’s unwell. Fever, apparently.” She paused. “They lack the proper medicine.”

“Right. Unfortunate. Am I walking too fast for you?”

His stride was indeed long.

“Uh, no, it’s alright.”

Amelie felt rebuffed and confused. She couldn’t have hinted more strongly about Oskar’s son if she tried. Was Davron genuinely heartless, or was he so unused to human contact that it didn’t even occur to him that he might be able to help?

He was used to having everything he needed delivered right to him, she supposed, including exotic liquors from overseas and the fine clothes she’d been provided with. Such ease would make anyone take it for granted—particularly when you had a curse to worry about.

She lapsed into silence, unable to see a way to push the issue without revealing she’d been in the apothecary. Getting medicine to the boy was a problem she’d have to solve by herself.

Preoccupied, it barely occurred to Amelie to wonder where they might be going. She didn’t think twice as Davron opened a door for her without ceremony. Nodding her thanks, she stepped into a cavernous room.

“You have a library?” she exclaimed. “A whole library?”

“You said you missed your books.”

Davron sidled up to Amelie, watching her reaction closely.

Her face broke into an astonished smile, spinning around to take it all in. “This is the best thing I have ever seen!”

“Good. It’s yours.” He touched her between her shoulder blades. “Go ahead, look around.”

The library contained three adjoined light-filled chambers, with colorful frescos painted onto the high ceilings. The walls and fittings were cream and gold baroque, and rolling ladders hung from each row of floor-to-ceiling shelves. An alcove housed a cozy nook, with squashy armchairs and lounges in front of a fireplace. Afternoon sunlight streamed through the enormous windows, casting an amber glow over the library.

She went to the nearest shelf, running her fingers over the volumes written in countless different languages. The collection was remarkably varied. She picked up a tome of ancient fables with bronze filigree detailing on the cover, opened it at a random page, and inhaled deeply with her eyes closed.

Davron chuckled. “My mother read that book to me at bedtime when I was a child. It gave me nightmares, yet it was my favorite.”

“Is that so? Well then, I shall have to read it.”

She promptly took the book of fables to one of the lounges, sinking into the cushions and wriggling to get comfortable.