Iron

1*

Aune slammed the book shut. She had already read it too many times. It only made her feel more inexperienced and stupid, telling her of a world she couldn't see, a world she was removed from. The tales of knights, princesses, towns, they meant nothing to her, for she knew no experience of them. She only knew a world of her rooms, where food came three times a day, small meals brought in by her nurse, Anna. Her books were her only escape. Scrolls, novels, and thickly bound books covered every available surface in one room. She'd read them all. Thirteen years of books and isolation left her craving something more.

She leaned back in her chair, looking through the glass on her ceiling. The sun would shine in all day, and at night Anna would bring lanterns to light the room. The large clock in the corner boomed out the hour. On time as always, Anna opened the door. "Miss Aune, here is your lunch." Aune didn't bother moving.

"Please leave it on the table, Anna."

Anna did as she was bade, but refused to leave until Aune thanked the King and Queen for her food. Aune grumbled; out of all things she had to do, this was the one which she disliked the most. After hurriedly thanking them, she finally burst out "Why do I have to thank them?"

Anna sighed, as if she knew she would have to say it eventually. "Their Royal Majesties are kind enough to provide for you."

Aune refused to accept that explanation. "Why do I live here, Anna? Why in the castle, when there is a whole other world outside?"

Anna looked at Aune very sternly. "Your parents wished it to be so."

"Who are my parents?" Aune felt her irritation rising, as it had never done before.

Anna didn't answer. She stood and left, agitation hovering in her wake. The door opened and shut, giving Aune a glimpse of the outside of her room.

She had never questioned Anna before, and the idea that she had left her stomach tingling. Leaving the food on its table, she entered her book-room, searching for a book to calm her nerves.

She shifted a pile of books, trying to get to the back of the room. Dropping it on the floor, she failed to notice that the skirt of her long dress had been caught. Picking up another pile, she took a couple steps and tripped. The books went flying into a corner between two bookcases, and Aune fell. Angrily, she tugged her skirts free and went to pick up the books. Where they had hit the wall, a long crack ran down from the ceiling to the floor.

Aune reached for the crack to try to fix it, when she felt a breath of air from it. Gingerly, she pried it open. Instead of needing force, it slid open easily, nearly causing Aune to fall again.

Behind the section of wall, a stone had been removed, leaving a hole from which Aune could peer out. She could see nothing but houses, so she withdrew her head. Reaching to pull the hidden door shut again, her hand brushed against something. A book. Curious as always, she pulled it out and closed the door. It was a thin book, bound poorly in leather.

She opened it. The first page was written in clumsy letters,

"Nephele Sparks

My Journal"

Aune never knew anyone named Nephele Sparks. She thumbed through the pages, which were written in a curious way that Aune had only seen once before: lines across horizontally in black, then lines vertically in a blue ink. Aune left her book-room to find a cozy spot to read the journal, mesmerized by the hidden book.

. . .

"This simple gift of paper is worth more than anyone can imagine. I still hardly dare to mark its pages. I'm not supposed to know how to read or write. At least, that's what nearly everyone has told me. But Old Russell the Librarian has taught me and encouraged me. This is more than anything I could ever do to repay him. He tells me to not worry, it was what he wanted. I fear the days when he passes on and his apprentice Dirk takes over. Dirk is headstrong and handsome, and cares nothing for the trade he is training in. Old Russell is the only kind person here, besides their Majesties. They are young to be crowned rulers, but it is the wish of His Majesty's parents. The old King and Queen are wise, but there are rumors. Rumors that Queen Natela is with child (To write this down is treason, so I must keep it carefully. Old Russell says to record everything around me). Their Royal Majesties have yet to be married, and I with every day, I fear the rumors are true. The Queen is gaining weight, but eating little. She continues to live with vigor, though sometimes it clearly takes effort to do so. What am I doing writing this? Old Russell would be ashamed at my attention to gossip, even if it were true.