“No, of course I would love it. It’s just … I’m sure the king has far more important things to focus on?”
He sighs heavily. “Actually, I could use the distraction. Come.”
I move in his direction, catching his scent—clean sweat and worn leather. Sabrina says he practices in the sparring court every morning. That must be where he earned his injuries. I would love to watch him there, if I could find an excuse to knead dough outside.
We walk alongside each other, our footfalls the only sound in the library. There’s an easy quiet between us, and yet I can’t seem to calm my nerves as my thoughts whirl. What if I hadn’t stopped the king from undressing last night? Surely his offer was in jest, but if it wasn’t …
I can still feel his warm hand against my throat. What if he had decided to take what he wanted from me? Would it be as terrible as every other time I’ve experienced it? Or would he be gentle, as Sabrina claimed him to be?
My pulse hammers in my veins.
The king clears his throat and murmurs, “This way,” slipping a hand against the small of my back to steer me down an aisle three over.
I stiffen instinctively. Lord Danthrin and his guests used to coax me with gentle touches and soft reassurances, and it always led to unpleasant experiences.
“Have you ever been inside a library?”
“Not like this one.”
“It is quite impressive.” He removes his hand.
I instantly feel the loss. “My previous keeper had a collection of books. Mainly from Seacadore. Lord Danthrin has a fascination with those lands. But I was never allowed to touch them, let alone read them.”
“You can read?” He doesn’t hide his surprise, and I can’t blame him. So many mortals can’t.
I nod. “When I was born, our keeper gifted my parents a book. It was about a mortal girl named Hania, who went on a grand adventure to Kier and beyond—”
“There’s a beyond?” Humor laces his voice.
“You tell me. You are the one with the map.” I feel my cheeks flush. “But there was a beyond in this story, a land where—” I falter.
“A land where …？” he pushes.
“Where mortals live free, and immortals live in hiding.”
He harrumphs. “If such a place exists, I should think I will not be visiting.”
“It was only a silly fable, of course. Anyway, our keeper taught me to read it. I wish I still had it.” I hadn’t been allowed back to the house to collect my belongings after Lord Danthrin purchased me. I was barely allowed to hug my parents goodbye.
I feel the king’s gaze on me as we walk. “I’m happy to hear there are good keepers out there.”
“Yes, Cordin was kind and fair.” That’s probably what made where I ended up so much harder to stomach.
As if reading my mind, the king asks, “How did Danthrin acquire you?”
“On Presenting Day in Baymeadow. It is a larger village near—”
“The Plains of Aminadav. Yes, I have men from the area.” His brow furrows. “Freywich is many days’ travel from there, is it not?”
“Yes. Lord Danthrin was there for trade at the time. Selling mead, if I recall.”
“Before this terrible blight that devastated his crops?”
I steal a glance at the king to see his doubtful smirk. He knows my previous keeper lied to the crown to avoid paying tithe. Why didn’t he execute him for it?
“So that is the only book you’ve ever read? This fable of the mortal girl on an adventure?” he asks before I have the chance to ask my question.
“The only one. I could probably recite it line for line.”
The king slips behind an iron circular staircase, crouching down to inspect a small nook in the wall.
I admire his broad shoulders, his powerful thighs.
“No little mortal boys hiding in here.” Sliding back out, he leads us in another direction. “You must feel indebted to Princess Romeria after what she did for you. Rescuing you from a keeper like that.”
I hesitate, afraid the truth will lose me favor with him.
“It’s all right.” He smiles softly. “I just pray that never outweighs your obligations to me as your king.”
“Never, Your Highness.”
He nods, more to himself. “And how are you finding your time here?”
“Wonderful. I am thankful every day for … I’m thankful.” For that traitor.
“Have you made many friends?”
“Uh … a few. Corrin, for one.”