Chapter 21
MYRA
The precarious stacks of books wobbled on the table. Myra pursed her lips to hide the blooming smile. She flipped to the next page. Through strands of blonde hair, she peered at the captain sitting on the other side of the table. "You’re doing it again."
"Doing what?" Laurince asked.
"The—"
But that was as far as Myra got before the tower of books collapsed.
Someone cleared their throat, and Myra looked over her shoulder at the older man sitting at a nearby table. He glared at them and pushed his thick, round-framed glasses up the bridge of his nose with a shove.
A loud bang sounded, and the table jolted once more, sending a few more books falling.
Myra turned to find the captain rushing out of his seat.
Apologizing to the man, Laurince knelt on the ground and began picking up the texts. "I—I’m sorry. I didn’t even realize I was doing it."
The captain had been bouncing his knee nonstop since he sat down with Myra and Rian. If it wasn’t his knee, he was tapping his finger on one of the leather-bound books. Every thump-thump was a reminder of the time ticking by, the time spent reading books that had thus far proven useless.
Yet, despite the creeping doubt, a small grin poked at the corner of Myra’s mouth at Laurince’s bewildered expression. They might have found nothing particularly useful yet, but Myra could not say she regretted the time spent in the library with the captain and the king.
She joined Laurince on the floor. She ran her hand over one book, the old leather curling at the corners. "It’s all right. These ones were useless anyway." She meant for the words to come out light and playful. But when Laurince’s expression turned solemn, she knew she had failed.
"Myra," Laurince said, drawing out her name, "don’t give up yet. There’s bound to be something." He held up a book and smiled, amused. "Get it, bound?"
Her brows scaled her forward.
"Bound like a book is bound?" He lowered the book, his smile faltering. He swiped a hand through his hair. His recent haircut had gotten rid of the slight wave in his hair. A piece hung in front of his face, and he shoved it away and shrugged. "I suppose it wasn’t that funny."
Myra shook herself out of her stupor. "No, it was. I’m just…"
"Worried?"
Among other things, she thought.
Laurince offered her a sad smile. "I’m sure Graeson has caught up with them by now. They should be back any day now."
"No, Kallie’s too stubborn. Once her mind is made up, there’s no changing it." Her gaze fell on the books still scattered on the ground. Some had landed face-down and open. Several pages were now bent and folded over. She should offer Magnolia her services in the morning to pay for the damages.
A calloused hand landed on hers. "She’s going to be all right," Laurince said.
Myra’s tongue went dry. "I—"
"What happened here?"
Myra ripped her hand from Laurince’s and stood, her hip bumping into the table. "Nothing," she blurted as Laurince said, "I accidentally knocked them over."
Rian glanced at Myra, a question flashing across his features. Before she could explain the lie, Rian turned to Laurince and chuckled. "You really hate reading, don’t you?"
Myra’s shoulders sagged in relief.
"I don’t hate reading."
Both Rian and Myra raised an eyebrow at that. They both had caught the captain falling asleep on numerous occasions when they were supposed to be researching.
The captain rolled his eyes. "I just don’t love reading these texts."
Rian pointed over his shoulder at a series of shelves. "I found some children’s books earlier. Want one of those instead? One had a dragon on it and tons of illustrations. Very few words."
Laurince shoved Rian in the shoulder. "The words aren’t the problem, Your Highness," he said, the title a playful hiss. He bent down and grabbed the rest of the books. He placed them on the table and leaned against it, tapping his fingers on the cover. "I am getting peckish, though," he mumbled.
Myra sighed, a sense of hopelessness replacing the previous embarrassment. "We should probably give this a rest today anyway."
"We can return tomorrow if you want?"
Myra couldn’t tell if the offer was out of pity or sympathy. Either way, she forced a smile on her face and nodded. Although the smile she wore didn’t reach her eyes. Not even a little as the doubt crept in and created a home inside her chest.
Myra never considered herself to be skilled in premonition.
The gods, while often cruel, had spared her by not granting her the ability to see the future.
Yet somehow the doubt that had followed her from the library to the dining hall that night seemed to nag at her.
She struggled to eat the meal in front of her and pushed the roasted potatoes around her plate aimlessly.
The dining hall was full of staff and its inhabitants, but the head table was barer than usual. Both the queen and the princess were absent, along with several others.
Every whisper, every footstep had her looking over her shoulder. Something was wrong. She could feel it twisting around the wide-open space, latching onto the walls, and crawling toward the ceiling like ivy.
"Rian?"
At the sound of Medenia’s voice, Myra snapped her head up from her barely touched plate.
Still in her training leathers, the princess strolled toward them.
Wisps of hair floated around her, and her braid was nearly falling apart.
Ophelia walked beside Medenia and wore a similar set of leathers.
When they reached the end of the table, apprehension dripped from the pair like a leaky roof.
"Hmm?" Rian hummed over a mouthful of veal.
"Can I talk to you, please?" The princess tilted her head toward the hallway.
"Now?"
Medenia nodded, mouth drawn flat.
"Very well," Rian said, standing. Laurince followed suit.
Medenia cocked a brow. "I only asked for the king’s presence."
"If I go, he goes," Rian stated.
Medenia pursed her lips, her gaze flicking between the two men. But as if deciding it wasn’t worth the argument, she conceded. Without another word, the four of them filtered out of the room.
As Myra sat at the table alone, the nausea only worsened. She didn’t know how long she had sat there. With each minute that went by, her mind spiraled further. Had Medenia heard something? Had Kallie already met with Domitius? The possibilities worsened with every passing minute.
Soon, the clatter of dishes stirred her from her thoughts.
Blinking, she looked around her and found the room almost empty.
Nearby, a few staff members were clearing the dishes.
Her gaze turned to the two empty seats across from her, the plates still half-full.
Clearing the stiffness from her throat, Myra stood, grabbing her plate.
She began stacking the other two as well when a staff member stopped her.
"I got it," the man said, offering her a polite smile.
Myra awkwardly set down the stack of plates and left the table.
Exiting the dining hall, she strolled through the hallways, her steps heavy as she made her way toward her room.
She passed several staff members and warriors scurrying across the castle, their heads tilted together and their whispers a hiss in the air.
In their wake, thick anxiety trailed after them.
Myra turned a corner and nearly yelped when she almost ran head-first into the librarian.
Eyes wide, Magnolia reached for the wall to steady herself. "Apologies, Myra. I should have been paying closer attention."
"No, no. I should have," Myra said with a soft smile. The curve of her lips twisted into a frown, though, as Magnolia tried to maneuver past her. She spun around, following her. "Is something going on?"
Magnolia halted. "You haven’t heard?"
"Heard what?"
"A borderland village was attacked."
"Attacked? By whom?" Myra asked, though she had a feeling she already knew the answer.
"Ardentol and Frenzia. The village was burned to the ground. The survivors are on their way here. The entire staff has been asked to pitch in to help prepare the castle for them."
Myra shifted on her feet. The start of a rash began to break out across her neck. "Is there…is there anything I can do?"
Magnolia shook her head. "No, but thank you. The best thing you can do right now is get some rest." She chewed her bottom lip, and fear spread across her countenance. "I…I fear this is only the beginning."