One Crown & Two Thrones : The Dragons Egg ( Book Two)

Chapter Twenty- Nine - The Stone Circle - Eveline

XXXII

The Stone Circle

Eveline

"Out of all the rooms in this great school, I knew I would find you here," Edward said as he entered the great library and found Eveline in a heap upon the floor, a book in her hand, her auburn hair now loose and flowing down her back. Her back was to him and did not move as he entered, a little concerned for the young woman he had come to adore as a daughter. The sun was setting and the bankers lamps were on, filling the library with a gentle glow. He came to her and, his knees cracking, sat down beside her glancing at the title of the book. "The Prince?"

"Thought it was appropriate," Eveline said quietly, her face pale and swollen indicating to Edward that she had been crying.

"Have you been in here for all these hours, alone?"

"I needed a little space before dinner," Eveline replied as she turned a page, keeping her eyes on the book, afraid that if she were to lift them to her tutor that the days pains would come rolling off her tongue like melted butter.

"Why Machiavelli?"

"I figured that if you want to learn about war, leadership and strategy you have several books to choose from; The Art of War, The Iliad, Marcus Aurelius' Meditations, Caesar's Meditations and The Prince," Eveline placed her index finger within the book and looked up at her tutor. "And not forgetting the Bible."

"And what has frightened you so much that have pertained to read the whole of The Prince before sunrise I wonder?" Edward mused as he picked up a volume of the Iliad and turned it about in his large hands. "Fear? Anxiety? Or the impending war that you shall find yourself in?"

"All of the above," Eveline returned without a smile. "Alsandair gave me some displeasing news and though I cannot speak of it to anyone, it has shaken me to the core and left me feeling alone and unsure of myself."

"You are sure you cannot speak about what you have learned?" Edward pushed gently as he folded his arms and observed the young woman, so rigid and tired looking.

"I wish I could speak of our conversation for I am sure you would be most helpful in helping me to not only figure out what it means but in helping me to come to terms with the knowledge," Eveline said with a sigh, the golden light of the lamps catching her fiery golden eyes and locks of loose curls. "But I am bound to secrecy if I am to keep those I love safe."

"Shall we then speak in hypothetical terms instead?" Edward returned with a slight smile and frown, watching carefully Eveline's troubled eyes.

"Please," she whispered as she closed the book in her hands shut and turned to face her tutor. "Say you were to see into your future and are given two outcomes, one being bad the other good. Now you know that you have two paths before you but then you encounter a certain someone who leads you to believe that the only outcome is bad, in fact worse than you had previously imagined and incredibly complicated..." Eveline looked into her tutors grey eyes and caught herself a moment before ploughing on. "Say there is a bond between my son and another here on this earth, another who is the true face of the murderer within these grounds...Oh it's too complicated even when I try to simplify it!"

"Even if Alsandair has declared your future to be damned and the future of others to also be damned, you are yet to stand before the forked road," Edward said with a raised hand. "Grasp the opportunity that he has given you in giving you such knowledge, for now that you have it you can manipulate its content. When you find yourself before the forked roads of your future, choose wisely."