Girl of Dark Flames | DISCONTINUED

Six: Deciphering Shards

"We know what we are, but not what we may be."

- William Shakespeare

―

SIX: DECIPHERING SHARDS

There was something I needed to do today. In particular, ask Professor Morrow about a book. Or a few. Books about what, though? That, I knew for sure. What I would find on Noryn Maeyth was an entirely different story.

"Oh, hello, Cassandra," Professor Morrow said, looking up from a book that he was reading at his desk. Connected to his office was a large library with stained panes of glass window and dusty oak bookshelves carved painstakingly. Rows upon rows of books, of varying lengths and sizes and colors.

"I'm looking for a book, a few, actually," I said, and glanced hopefully at the professor.

"I think I may be able to help. What are their titles?"

"I'm...not sure. What I mean, is that I want to read up on a certain subject but I don't have any idea of which books to read. I was wondering if you could help me with that."

Professor Morrow set aside the book he had in front of him. "Well, what subject are you looking for? I've read nearly all the books in our library, and know most of the content of them."

"I'm looking for something on...something on Noryn Maeyth."

Slowly, cautiously, Professor Morrow looked up at me from where he was sitting. In a painfully silent movement, he slowly got up from his seat. "I assume it was Ezra that told you about Ealyndris and Noryn," he said, softly.

"Yes, it was Ezra. Should I not have ―"

"No, no, there is nothing wrong with you knowing the truth. There are many volumes on the princess, in fact, and many more that mention her throughout the pages. Most of them are biased," he said, walking to the library door and turning towards me to signal to follow. "But there are a few that are better, at least in my opinion."

Along the shelves were books with a fine layer of dust settled atop them. The professor strode down an aisle and, running a hand along titles, stopped to pick a book out of the shelves, examining the first page. "The Maeyth Line, written fairly recently by a fine young gentleman," he said, closing the cover and handing it to me.

Eventually, he found a few more titles, including The Trial (which he said would provide context), A History of Tihrea and its Rulers (Tihrea, according to him, being a kingdom in Ealyndris), and The Dark Flame Princess (which was apparently Noryn). I thanked the professor, and carried the books somewhere where I could read them in peace. Obviously, Helen wouldn't be happy if she found me reading about Noryn Maeyth.

I found a little alcove outside, behind the building, where there was a little bench and a patch of grass. I popped a stick of gum in my mouth and opened up the first book to read.

―

After a few hours I had made it through the first two books, mostly uneventfully. A few things were cleared up ― who Jaethra really was, and who her sister, Eveia, was. Selfish sisters, who, when they discovered magic powers beyond reckoning, fought for power. In the end, it was the younger sister who killed the eldest, taking her power, increasing her own. The infamous Queen Jaethra Maeyth.

All the sources were different. They contradicted each other. But the one thing that they agreed on was that the princess was almost 19 when she died (or "disappeared," as one of them said). They also all agreed that Noryn was a grey-eyed, raven haired girl with her mother's sharp traits.