Page 40 of A Legacy of the Light

His confirmation that I don’t look like Màiri answers one of the questions I was about to go and scour the library for. Some of the tension leaves him, and me.

“Yeah, he definitely was. Reyne was pretty impressive. I didn’t know she had that in her. She said she can kick ass, being a general’s daughter, and all.”

At that, Tavish laughs. “Yes, she can most definitely kick arse. Her father taught her well and she regularly has my men flat on their back in training.”

“Ha, well, I’m glad she was with me. It’s just made me realize the situation I’ve ended up in, I guess. I really know nothing about you or your people and it’s scared me,” I confess.

Tavish looks like he’s fighting the urge to reach out and comfort me, his fists clenched by his sides.

He sighs. “I know this must be daunting for you, Elsie. But you are safe within these walls. I’m here if you need to talk.”

Tavish’s gentle offer eases some of the tension that has sat on my chest for the last couple of hours. I nod in thanks to him and we don’t say anything for a minute, both fussing over Mabel.

“What are you going to do with the rest of the day?” he asks.

“I was going to head to the library and ask Finneus my endless list of questions,” I reply.

“I’m sure he’ll love that. Do you need me to take you there?” he offers, gesturing toward the door to the kitchens, now propped open.

“No, I think I’ve got it from here. Thanks, though.” I smile up at him. I just want to be alone.

I need time to process and figure out a way forward.

He nods his farewell and I stay in the stables another few minutes gently stroking Mabel, waiting to be sure that Tavish has left before heading back into the palace through the kitchens as Reyne instructed.

◆◆◆

I find my way to the library from the courtyard with only needing to ask for directions once. The Seelie who I asked was friendly enough, but quickly bustled off after she pointed me in the right direction.

I sigh in relief when I enter the cavernous space, and Finneus smiles at me from behind his desk.

“Hello again, Elsie,” he greets me warmly.

“Hello Finneus. How are you today?”

“Very well, thank you, my dear. What can I do for you today?”

“I have a lot of questions about Seelie, this kingdom, the barrier, magic, this library, and pretty much anything you can think a human would ask after randomly waking up in a magical world.”

Finneus chuckles softly at my rambling. “I’m more than happy to answer any questions you have, or point you in the direction of a book that might help.” He gestures for me to follow him through the bookshelves and leads me to the seating area where Tavish waited for me yesterday.

“Why don’t you figure out what you would like to know and we can go from there?” He points to a low-lying coffee table in the middle of the space. Atop it sits a few books, a puzzle, some paper and pens.

“Make a note of where you would like to start, and find me when you’re ready.” Finneus doesn’t wait for my reply before leaving me alone.

I flop down into the deep-green sofa and huff out a breath, glad that he’s left me to figure out what’s going on in my head.

There are so many questions bouncing around. Namely, what the fuck is going on? But I doubt any book in this library can help with that.

I stay flopped for a while and absent-mindedly play with the pendant still around my neck. That strange sensation I felt when I first put it on, and in the alley, zips through me again.

I glance down at it and consider what the king told me yesterday: “Only the power of the Craobh Beatha could transport you like that.”

With that thought, I begin writing my questions:

- What is the Craobh Beatha? What magic does it possess?

- How long have the Seelie been alive? Why do some Seelie live in the human world? How does Seelie magic work? How was it corrupted?