XLVII | HITTING THE BOOKS
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She knew entering the library as Elas was the smartest move, but the second she entered the restricted area, her disguise would wane, exposing her to the guards.
She'd still asked for Oriel to mask her.
Oriel had also given her an invisibility potion, but she was starting to think they'd only given her a false sense of security.
If the dome around the forbidden knowledge section prevented any type of magic from entering, she doubted she could use any magic in it, either, which included potions and enchanted jewelry.
Still, she'd stuffed the potion into her pocket without complaint and left. She appreciated the gesture, especially from Oriel, and it would have been stupid of her to ask them for help and refuse to take it.
But she was worried the heavy flask would weigh her down. While she had a few daggers and a small bag of runespowder tucked away where the naked eye couldn't see them, she was going in as light as possible. The more to hinder her movement, the riskier this mission was.
She wasn't sure where to search, but if the forbidden knowledge was never touched, she imagined it wasn't moved often. That meant the librarian would keep it organized to the best of their ability, if they loved their job.
She entered the library, glancing up at the ceiling as she walked inside. It stretched to the sky, with stained glass covering the domed ceiling. No moon shone through in the night's sky.
The only light provided was from the lanterns lining the wooden accents and the floating orbs buzzing in the air. Rows and rows of dusty books lined the vast library, with rolling ladders leaning against the ledges. Ahead, Celvene could see who she assumed to be the librarian.
She plastered a grin on her face as she neared, trying to look as inconspicuous as possible.
How would an over-enthusiastic scholar behave in a library?
"Hello," she said, stopping in front of the polished desk.
When the librarian didn't turn her attention to Celvene, she drummed her fingers on the wood in an effort to grab the woman's attention.
Celvene wondered if she ever spent any time outside the library based on the thin layer of dust coating her pale complexion.
"Hello," she tried again, clearing her throat. This got the librarian's attention, and she anchored her brilliant emerald gaze on Celvene, who tensed.
"Elas!" the librarian said, and her voice rattled. Her tone, however, was as sweet as honey. She lifted her arms, and the white sleeves she'd bunched up billowed downwards. "How are you, my dear?"
"I'm doing well, how about yourself?"
"Oh, same old, same old. I ought to get out of this library soon. I've been cooped up in here for too long. I could use a breath of fresh air."
"You said that last time," Celvene said, leaning forward. She hoped that the lie was believable with the easy smile that slipped onto her face, along with the feigned confidence she spoke the words with.
"Did I?" The woman blinked. Then she picked up a pair of glasses with a ridiculous amount of frames and placed them on her large nose. "Well, that does seem like me. Apologies, my dear. The memories are harder and harder to remember as the days pass."
Celvene frowned. "Would more company help?"
The librarian shrugged. "All that would happen is a shared level of stir-craziness. Were you here for a book again, or did you want to chat with an old crone?"
"You are much more than an old crone." Celvene paused, then smiled, rubbing the nape of her neck. "But I'm here for a book or two."
"Oh, you charmer. Old Risis could never forget where a book is placed, mind you. I've combed this library thousands of times to make sure it is all in order."
Risis? Is that her name?
"Is this at the request of Oriel?" Risis continued, scrunching her nose.
"Naturally."
"Tell them to get off their arse and get the books themselves for once," Risis said, and for a moment, Celvene couldn't tell if she was joking or not. But then she laughed. "I miss their company at times. I could do with a visit from them."
"I'll be sure to pass on the message. And I didn't need any help finding the book," she added quickly, to which Risis glanced at her, eyes narrowing. "Oriel wanted old books they'd taken out that they said I returned too fast, disregarding the fact that they were the one to tell me to return them."
If there's one thing I'm enjoying about this, it's being able to get back at Oriel for their sarcasm.
Risis hummed a tune, one Celvene remembered from her childhood—The Song of a Sailor.
A sense of unease ran up her spine, but she shook it off as best she could.
Still, bards had written so many songs, and it wasn't out of the realm of possibility for her thoughts to be read or her memories to be trifled with.
You're being paranoid.
Right?
Regardless, she took a step back from the desk, nerves heightened. She'd have to be extra careful.
"I'll be right here if you need any help, Elas. Don't hesitate to fetch me," Risis said.
"Thank you," Celvene replied, ducking her head in a quick bow before scampering off. She smoothed out her shaggy head of hair before surveying the library. A few guards milled about, and the shelves of books followed the architecture of the room, bending in a circular direction.
Celvene couldn't see any signs pointing to the restricted section, of course. It must have been hidden behind one of the shelves or at the end of a row of books.
She headed down one of the rows, using the sparse light of the hovering orb that followed her as a guide.
The books felt like they stretched on forever, and despite being in one of the smallest towers in the castle, the library felt never-ending.
She could see titles on every subject she could imagine; if she wasn't on a time-sensitive mission, Celvene might have stopped to read some of them.
She felt around for any hidden switches, pulling back books and gliding her hands against the stone wall.
Besides natural bumps, her search came back unfruitful, and she frowned.
If the door to the forbidden section was going to open like a real door, or creak upwards, every guard in the library would hear it.
If that was the case, she was going to have to rethink her strategy.
Exiting the first row, she craned her neck to the ceiling.
The rows on the floors above her were too thin to have a door wide enough to fit through for a normal person.
They were barely thick enough to stand on.
So the door had to be on the first floor somewhere, unless there was an invisible ledge leading to the door.
She inched her way towards the next row, making sure neither Risis nor any guards were watching before she bolted—at a leisurely pace—for the next aisle.
Once inside, she slipped to the back, where she felt around for a switch once again.
When she came up with nothing, she stepped back, placing her hands on her hips and frowning.
Perhaps she had to do some magic to get inside. Magic only Risis would know. But that would make getting guards in and out far more difficult.
She sighed. Maybe it was on a higher floor.
She grabbed the ladder for the aisle and climbed up it as quietly as she could, making her footsteps light and keeping an eye on the world outside of her aisle.
Footsteps echoed and a couple hushed words rippled throughout the vast library.
As a guard passed by, he looked down the aisle, and Celvene pressed herself to the shelf she was leaning against, praying the shadows would be enough to cloak her.
When he continued walking a minute later, she breathed a sigh of relief. But if they were looking for her, she needed to be faster.
She fumbled for a switch along the narrow strip of stone shelf, teetering on the tips of her toes. Not falling was challenging enough as it was, and trying to find a nonexistent lever added to the difficulty.
She could barely see the shelf beneath her, and anything past that was a sea of darkness. As if to prove her point, she lowered her heels, then dipped her foot into the vacant space before her. To her surprise, she hit something.
When Celvene looked up at the wall, there was a faint, shimmering sheen of magic wavering in front of her. She glanced behind her, and when the coast was clear, she thrust her hand at the wall.
Her hand went straight through the wall, and a cold shiver racked her body upon touching the magic. This had to be some forbidden area. And if it was, the door was likely tripped to alert someone to her presence.
So she wasted no time, rushing through the door. She could feel her illusioned form fade, and when she looked down, she was wearing her original outfit.
She swallowed, steeling herself. Better make this worth it. And fast.
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