Crown and Cloak

Chapter 3

Erik

In my rush to get Aoife's help, I hadn't realized we had never decided on a time to meet. Even so, she could wait a few more minutes while I peeled myself out of bed. It was midday, and I was supposed to be in Damsel in Distress 101, but Professor Grasso would survive one class without me. Most of the assignments were easy since id been sword training since i was able to walk, something my father insisted on even in my early years. All it meant now was I'd sit there for an hour and a half and "give advice" to my classmates who couldn't parry if their life depended on it. It was almost as pathetic as it was draining to watch, and after the three-week struggle Aoife put me through, im not particularly in the mood.

The dorm was quiet, a rare occurrence with a roommate like Ezekiel Knapp, who made it his life's mission to practice his flute whenever it suited him.

Finally, I rise from bed, run a hand through my messy bedhead, and shoot my roomate the dealiest glare i can muster. I cant even enjoy a nap in peace. If father were here, he'd insist I take charge of the situation and demand him to stop blowing air out of that wooden pipe. But if there was one thing I hated more than Zeke's randomly allotted practice time, it was becoming anything like my father. "Do you not have anywhere else on campus you can play that infuriating instrument?" I growl, swinging my legs over the edge of the bed.

"I do my best work in here." Once again, I contemplate murdering him with his own flute. Making way to my wardrobe, i stare at it before settling on a simple ruffled shirt and my best trousers before yanking on boots to match. I cant be bothered to put effort into how i look after being jousted from my nap.

This hunt for the Great Witch was tedious, but doing this one last thing for father would make him see that I was finally ready to take his place someday. It would only be this one last thing and I'd have everything I wanted, and Aoife would help me get there.

She stood at the entrance of the library, tapping her foot impatiently. She had to have been standing there for a while if she was this riled up. I could only see one-half of her face, but the irritated pout on her face made me smile. I smooshed it down before she could see it.

"Something wrong, Green?" I leaned down to be more at her level, relishing in her nose scrunching at how annoyed she was with me. "I thought I told you not to call me that,"

Aoife turned on her heel and pushed open the large double doors that led into the library. "Do you have something better in mind?" I offer, making her scowl from the tone of my voice. "How about my name? You annoyed me three times for it."

She had a point.

I followed her to the front desk, where Aoife whispered a few words to the librarian before continuing deeper into the shelves.

Her eyes scanned the shelves as she withdrew a book resembling the journal I'd returned to her. "The front desk was no help. We're on our own." She stated, scribbling something down in that notebook. I peered over her shoulder, only getting a peek at two words: Mother's secret before she quickly pressed it to her chest and shooed me away. "We should start in the ancient magics section." I nod to the bookshelves on the upper left side of the area, and she pins me with an arched eyebrow. "Most conflicts in this kingdom have magic at the center. There's probably a spell or some history book that can give us something." Aoife looks at me with surprise all over her face.

"Give me some credit, Green. I'm not a total waste."

She fell in step behind me as we began skimming the first shelf. The Great Witch was the greatest evil Patria has ever known. There had to be at least one book on these shelves that pertained to a weakness at least. Or at least something about an object or spell that could weaken her just enough to trap her.