Chapter 49
While I’m debating whether or not the original King of Kings book is worth dying over, I’m focusing on my assassin problem. I’m starting with suspect number one, and it won’t be pretty. Sorry, not sorry, Kathreen.
Thaddeus opens the door and ushers me toward the desk. I plop the red book down and sigh.
He smiles. “Any theories yet, my pupil?”
“No.” I rub my temples.
My nightmares last night earned me nothing but headaches. Dae’s cool presence brushes across my skin, easing the pressure.
Thaddeus tilts his head and takes the seat opposite me.
“Tell me your findings,” he says, folding his legs and resting his hands on top of his knee.
My eyes wander to the carved figurines of Scientia perched on shelves while I mentally gather my notes.
“This book has typos. Whether or not that’s relevant is debatable.”
The corner of his mouth perks. “Go on.”
I flip the book open to page thirty. “Like here. It jumps from page thirty, to page thirty-nine, then back to page thirty-one.”
“What else?”
“I found a passage,” I say.
He raises an eyebrow that says, “Well, read it, then.”
I flip to where I’ve marked the page and read out loud:
“Rebels rise and food is stone. What was reaped shall be sown. Men of kingdoms turn to monsters of night. Three families fight out of sight. The soil turns red from blood and death. To deliver the king, she’ll give her last breath.”
Thaddeus nods along as I finish the passage. “Thoughts?”
“The words, ‘Deliver the king’ reminds me of childbirth,” I say.
His brown eyes shimmer with silent knowledge. “Any other notable sections?”
I shake my head. “No, but I have a question,” I say. “About gems.”
His brows flatten. “I should’ve known you’d dive into that subject on your own. A mind spread too thin is called mush, you know.”
I wave him off with my hand. “I know. Just tell me about the rarity gems.”
His eyes gleam. “Then you’ll promise to focus on our subject matter?”
“Of course.”
His brows do that thing where they accuse me of lying, but he says, “The rarity gems are an ill-kept secret in the Zem mines.”
I scoot my chair closer.
“There are two primary kinds. Red gems and black. They look exactly like glo gems, but they’re not.”
“They amplify and siphon, right? I get how they work on things, but how do they work on people?”
He shakes his finger. “Come in with a King of Kings theory and I’ll tell you.”
I deflate in my chair. The gem book only mentioned their effect on technology.
“Fine.”
Dae’s cool air churns at my shoulder, sending goosebumps up into my hairline. “You and that lip of yours.”
Heat flushes my system and I stop biting my lip, not realizing I had been.
After forty minutes of studying, Thaddeus nudges The King of Kings book closer to me. “Your father shortened our study sessions to make time for your training. It seems our time is up.”
Thaddeus stands and brushes his white robes. “I look forward to seeing you in the King’s First Duel,” he says with an almost smirk. “Besides Kazem’s victory, your headbutting tie against an infantry soldier is all the buzz.”
If I’m being honest, that, more than lack of sleep, is the culprit of my headache.
My shoulders slump. I’m not in the mood to face Sorren again. I hope Father meant he was taking Sorren today.
Dae slides around me, his cool, dark air soothing.