A Sacrifice of Names

Chapter 21

Where there are books, a library is often found somewhere. Back in Aves one of Earie's plans had been to visit the one they had there to gain more knowledge about the Court of Shadows, but according to Keely she would not have found a lot of historical documentation there. The regent kept most of the old scrolls, valuable texts, etcetera in his mansion for but a few to read. Granted, there were one or two bookstores she had walked past a few times, but without any money, the only reading material she had were the dusty books stacked on Keely's shelves. With Innogen's dreadful training schedule there had not been much time left to read, however. That, and most books in Keely's possession weren't exactly about the aforementioned subject either.

She hadn't expected to end up in a library out here in Daleagh. Her question had turned Glenys' head in surprise. Even Keely had looked at her a little dumbfounded, but her own curiosity had gotten the best of her. As a child, she had been taught the Horned King was a malicious man, keen on claiming both courts for himself after the Faerie Queen's disappearance. She also believed that the Court of Shadows was a place of sorrow and darkness, swarming with wicked fae and other vicious creatures. A truth she had now come to know as a disputable lie.

Glenys had decided it was best for them to find out for themselves. Her opinion would possibly be too biased. Keely's cheeks had gained a shameful pink glow to them when Earie had cast her gaze in her direction.

And thus both were taken to Daleagh's library. A place, Earie knew, she would have spend a lot of time at if they had a library of sorts back home. It reminded her of what she had seen on aged photos of the old library at her university before part of that same building had burned down and it was relocated alongside that terrifying old mirror.

"I hope you will find all the answers you need here. Whether you will believe them-" Glenys gave both a soft smile, "I shall leave that up to you. I know you have been brought up with different stories, different truths perhaps. Not everything is what it looks like, but that does not always have to be interpreted in a bad way."

You can not always trust your eyes, Earie, or your ears, but you can trust your heart. Those were the exact words her grandmother had spoken to her the last time she had seen her. She had never given them much thought, but looking down at her glamoured hands Earie finally understood what the old woman had warned her for just before she drew her last breath.

Had she known?

Keely snapped her fingers in front of her face, immediately dragging Earie back from her own thoughts.

"You can at least say your goodbyes before you drown yourself in these books," she huffed, and as Earie turned her head, Glenys had already disappeared.

"Oh-"

"Yes, oh. Pay more attention, will you?" She said, continuing to mutter something under her breath. Earie only caught the word 'mortals'. Pretending she hadn't heard it she turned her head towards the first rows of books, no idea how many would be hidden behind them.

"Okay, so where do we even start?"

Keely shrugged her shoulders. "I thought you had more knowledge about these things."

"Well, yes, but that does not take away the fact that every library is different. Not to mention this is the first library I have entered since I got- well, here," Earie replied, trying to hide the sliver of annoyance in her voice.

"Then pick a few books and read?"

"That is often all you can do, yes.

"It is you who asked her for more information," Keely said. "Be glad Innogen isn't here, because she would have scolded you from head to toe."