Page 48 of A Legacy of the Light

“Good morning to you, too, Elsie. Your books are where you left them. Care for some tea?” he asks.

“No thanks, I prefer coffee in the mornings,” I inform him. I already had a cup in my room, but I suspect I’m going to need more than one to keep me going today.

I go back to the desk I occupied yesterday, and a steaming cup of coffee is already waiting for me. Shaking my head and smiling, I pick up the scroll that Finneus had left on the desk when he came to find me. The smell of parchment wafts in my direction as I carefully unroll the old paper, using two lighter books to hold each end open.

Finneus left me a detailed map of Elfayne. It’s a large island, mostly covered by a massive mountain range, the Jura, which covers most of the north of the island, then bisects it through the middle before spreading down the left side, with flat land interspersed between.

The capital city, Elfayne City, sits in the high north next to the lake, Ederline. Where the Jura cuts its path across the middle of the country, the mountains are smaller.

A few towns and cities are labelled on the map. Caithness, a port city on the very south coast, and Alba, occupying a central position on the south side of the Jura. Claver, the town where Finneus’s daughter lives, sits on the north side of the mountains where they run across the realm. It doesn’t look like it would be four days’ ride, but I guess you move slower without cars and planes. I spend a little longer studying the map before delicately rolling up the scroll again.

The next book I pick up is heavy and bound in dark brown leather that creaks along the spine as I open it. It’s a history on the past rulers of Elfayne. The first few pages show a family tree, extending generation after generation.

Each of the royal family members has a portrait above their names, some so old that you can barely make out their features.

There are a few with their faces burnt out, like the portrait in the gallery. From what I can see, there hasn’t ever been a period in Seelie history when the entire royal line has been wiped out as with Murdoch and his family.

I gently run my finger over the former king’s name and I wonder how they must have felt in that moment, knowing that they were about to die. Murdoch’s surname was Darrow, and that line had ruled Elfayne for three thousand years before it was brutally ended. An unexpected pang of sorrow hits my chest as I stare at those three black burn marks.

Underneath them, starting a new line, reads Raghnall Logan, with his wife, Ailsa Logan, next to him. She was beautiful, with delicate features and soft brown eyes. I see how her son takes after her. Tavish Logan. His portrait is at the very bottom of the royal line, the last heir to the throne. A small smile pulls at my lips. He looks so serious. It’s easy to forget who and what he is when I’m in his company.

I spend the next hour reading through the royal history and I take my time learning about Murdoch, his wife Iona, and Màiri.

Màiri Darrow was well loved and respected by her people and her legions. She had led and won many wars. Though skilled in battle, she strived for peace and prosperity alongside her father. She was three hundred years old when she was murdered in the Dorche attack, although no body was ever found.

Similar things are said about her father and mother. They seemed like kind and fair rulers. The Seelie kingdom thrived under their reign, they embraced the changes brought to them by the human realm, and they welcomed the input from their people on how to rule.

Why would the Dorche murder them when the Seelie were at peace and thriving?

That question drives me to skim through the other books on my desk to find out what I can on the rebels, why they attacked, how they corrupted the magic, and what their goal is.

After another hour or so, my frustration mounts. I write variation after variation of my questions in the Seòlta but come up short each time. The only information I can find is very basic, and details where they have attacked and how many people they killed when they did. I’m about to get up to go and ask Finneus when I see a familiar shock of red hair.

“Hi, Elsie, how are you today, lass?” Reyne asks.

“Feeling much better today, thank you.”

She smiles. “I’m glad. Tavish said you wanted to be alone last night so I figured I would make sure you at least got something to eat.”

“I’m grateful. And the lasagna was delicious,” I tell her. “Reyne . . .” I hesitate, “there’s something I wanted to ask you.”

Reyne looks at me expectantly.

“If you’re not too busy, I would really like it if you could train me? You seemed to know how to handle yourself. After yesterday, I think I could do with knowing some self-defense moves.” I fiddle awkwardly with the pen on my desk, waiting for her to respond.

A huge grin breaks across her face and she practically dances on the spot. “Aye, I’d love to. Why don’t we start today?” Her enthusiasm is infectious and I can’t help but return my own smile.

“That would be great. I’ve got dinner around eight, so what time works for you?” I ask, a satisfying feeling of control spreading through me.

“Give me an hour and meet me in the courtyard,” Reyne instructs. “And be prepared to sweat.” She winks, and I have to fight my grimace.

There’s a reason I refused Rach when she wanted me to come to classes with her. Me and exercise aren’t the best of friends. I actively avoid it where I can. However, it would be smart to learn how to at least get out of a sticky situation if I need to.

“Sounds great?”

The hesitance in my tone makes Reyne laugh as she walks away.

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