0 - Dawn Of Silver

5 - An Interest For Plants

13th day of the fir season 2440

Since meeting Fayne, Azena felt much more motivated to learn, explore and discover. She often snuck out of her home during the brief period of time when there was no guard at the entrance. Fortunately for the negligence of Kardun's replacement. The girl was gaining confidence quickly and was adopting habits characteristic to commoners. She spent a lot of time at the White Horn tavern. Despite complaints from customers who did not like to have her around, she was not evicted. Fayne's parents were very warm and did not judge which was very rare in the low-society community as well as the high-society one. Her parents were not pleased with her misadventures. She had been punished multiple times. Eventually, she swore for the first time in their presence and she got herself a firm sentence: to be locked in her room for a few long, painful days. At last she was free, and at that moment she was running along a corridor in the vast castle in which she lived.

"It's impossible!" Bayrne bellowed.

The powerful voice of her adoptive father came from a small conference room near where the little rebel who was preparing for a new escape was. Intrigued, she decided to stop just before the door to avoid being spotted. Oatmeal biscuit in her mouth, she swallowed and slowed her breathing so as not to be heard.

"I'm sorry my lord," said a second man.

He seemed anxious; his voice was trembling almost in fear.

"Are you sure?" the lord asked curtly.

"It's been four years and five losses occurred my lord... Your wife is lucky to be alive."

"S-so..."

"Tria is our last," finished Rivatha sadly for her husband.

Azena finally understood. Her parents were once again trying to expand their family, but her mother could not. So that was it... A few times in the last few years she had suddenly fallen ill. In reality, she was fighting for her life and that of her unborn child. It was not an illness at all.

"Do not worry about your dynasty my lord," reassured the second man that Azena guessed was a doctor. "You have plenty of children."

Dynasty? The young spy did not understand this word. Uncomfortable spying on such a discussion, she turned around and took a longer path to the library where Gendrel was waiting for her.

That room was so huge that there was a rolling staircase every few meters to allow readers to reach the books nestled in the highest rows. It could have literally comfortably accustomed an adult dragon. It was a labyrinth of texts and stories, fictional and realistic.

"We had agreed not to set foot here unless it was absolutely necessary, right?" Gendrel recalled in an inquisitive tone.

He was not stupid; he knew that his sister had an idea brewing in her mind. Both hated reading and during their lessons, they always tried to drive their mentor mad just to escape this torture. Obviously, it worked very rarely because the latter preferred to fight against the imps rather than facing the anger of the ruling lord.

"It is necessary," confirmed Azena with a determined expression.

"Are you preparing the boldest trick of the year?" the boy asked as he rushed into the library.

"Not even," replied the girl, following him closely. "In fact, it is to help a friend."

"So, the plan of action is that I help you find an interesting book which is already almost impossible and smuggle it out of here?"

"Smuggling is a big word, but yes."

"Then let us go!" exclaimed Gendrel energetically.

No questions were asked. It was wonderful. When Azena needed a partner in crime, she could always count on her near-twin. It was necessary to act quickly. It was forbidden to take books out of this room except with special permission, let alone take them outside. The knowledge contained in his books was reserved for the family and their guests. You could learn a lot from their pages, and it was here that Argent spent her time when she was not learning or secretly practicing her combat skills with Demien. Fortunately, she was not there at that moment. She was practicing sewing with Serfie. Another activity that Azena hated.