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“Up you go,” Ellie said, her singsong voice lancing through Arianna’s pounding head.
“Go away.” Arianna turned over and pulled the blanket tighter around herself, but Ellie ripped the blankets off the bed.
“Not a chance. We have somewhere to be.”
Arianna’s heart jolted. After yesterday, the last thing she wanted was to disappoint the citizens of Levea any further. They’d expected a strong lady, proudly displaying her victory and she’d shown them a broken one instead.
Ellie rummaged through Arianna’s drawers and threw an outfit on her bed. “Don’t get worked up. It’ll just be you and me. I have something I want to show you in the western shopping district.”
In the city? Arianna hadn’t ventured there since she’d arrived. Actually, she hadn’t left the family estate at all.
“So get dressed and meet me there in two hours. I had Myrna draw a bath for you across the hall and breakfast will be ready afterward.”
Arianna sat up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. “How will I know where to find you?”
Her sister winked. “I’ll find you.” She held up two fingers. “Two hours.” Then disappeared into the hall.
Arianna yawned, stretched her body, and couldn’t help the smile that crept to her face. She knew what her sister was doing. Trying to get Arianna away from the reminders of yesterday. To Ellie, every day was a new start, no matter what level of failure preceded it.
Ellie had given Arianna a month to wallow in her grief. She’d listened to her stories and held her when she cried. So despite wanting to remain in bed, Arianna peeked her head out the door, glad to find the hall empty, and padded the short distance to the bath chamber.
TIME CRAWLED. After submerging for a quick scrub, Arianna had stuffed herself full, thankful that Myrna had simply left a tray in her room. She glanced at the clock on her bedside stand and tapped her foot. It’d barely been an hour.
Her mind churned, thoughts invading that she’d rather keep at bay. Arianna glanced at her books and an idea struck her.
After seeing the Fae from Brónach, the Dark Fae, and The Demon who wasn’t quite what others claimed, she had a million questions. And their library had a million answers.
Arianna opened her bedroom door and peered up and down the hall. She could hear the servants walking to and from but she didn’t smell her father. Good. Hopefully he was out for the day.
Arianna ducked back into her room, fastened a heavy cloak around her shoulders, and pulled the hood up to hide her face. The Fae would still be able to scent her presence but with any luck she’d at least avoid conversation and their questioning looks.
Arianna padded through the halls, avoiding any large gatherings and walked down a set of polished stairs that led her below the first floor. Most residences lived on the first floor to enjoy the waterfalls and fresh air, everything else resided beneath.
A servant passed, carrying a load of linens and Arianna ducked out of her way. The female paused, her mouth gaping, but stopped whatever question was about to come from her lips when Arianna didn’t reveal herself. The female kept walking and Arianna did the same.
There would be a time, she told herself. A time when she’d seek out Myrna and thank her for her patience. A time when Arianna would walk the halls with her head held high again. But it’d be after her heart had healed. After she no longer suffered beneath the guilt that haunted her every step.
She turned down another hall, passing fountain after fountain. Some were so large, their basin had been built into the floor while others were tiny, the stone depicting the Fairy Folk’s small stature. Arianna couldn’t help but think of Rion’s carvings and the hole in her chest chaffed. She clutched her heart, trying to breath past the pain as she leaned against the nearest wall.
Would it ever pass or would this heartache last an eternity?
Down another flight of stairs, Arianna found herself in the only space where water didn’t flow. The Fae here ensured moisture stayed out of the air and that nothing above dripped onto their precious archives. She pushed open a large set of heavy oak doors and let them close behind her on near silent hinges.
Arianna stepped toward the edge of the railing, pulled back her hood, and peered down, gazing upon the thousands of books that lined the shelves below. The circular space was trimmed with the same dark oak as the entrance doors, with carvings of fairy folk and waterfalls along the railings. Each of the five floors had row upon row of wooden shelves and old artifacts stood behind glass. A spiral staircase led to lower levels, its steps made in the likeness of interwoven vines and leaves. She breathed in the scent of old books and something in Arianna’s heart lightened a fraction.
She’d spent countless hours here, researching for school, reading for pleasure, and wandering the aisles as if she might memorize every title. She’d likely never have time to read them all, but Arianna had a good idea where she might find the answers to her questions.
The elders who watched over the library resided two floors down, but she didn’t see them at their desks. Perhaps they were shelving books elsewhere or had gotten lost in a good story. She crept down the central staircase on silent feet, moving as fast as she could until she found herself on the bottom floor.
The tomes here were much older than those above, but also well preserved. This was where their histories had been written down and passed from one generation to the next and hopefully where she’d find the answers she sought.
Arianna walked along the circular expanse, running her fingers along the shelves until she found the historical section. Surely there’d be something about the previous Divine. She moved down the aisle slowly, scanning the spines. Arianna pulled one down and ran her fingers over the cover.
Histories of Levea Vol. V
She put it back and pulled down another.
Trade and Policies Vol. III
