Chapter 14
I pushed open the library’s heavy wooden doors.
Reading tended to be something I did to gain knowledge, not something I did for pleasure.
My body and mind demanded movement, while books needed attention and time.
I knew myself enough to admit I was better suited to the forge or the training arena, not a room full of dead trees.
The ceilings in this part of the fortress reached astonishing heights, with shelves of books stretching to the top.
Those who constructed the fortress built iron staircases into the ancient stone walls so a person could climb up and retrieve whatever hefty volume they wanted.
Between the towers of books were lonely tables, with austere chairs that must be tortuous to sit in for any length of time.
The library was gloomy, with heavy fabric blocking the sunlight from the windows.
As I ventured further into the cavernous space, I discovered less severe chairs tucked away in corners and nooks.
In one of those chairs was a rather stout man in long, black robes. A wispy ring of hair circled his crown, the middle and sides shaved.
Because of his strange appearance and the fact that he was the only other person present, I assumed he was the library curator Tomas had told me about.
Looking at all the books, I knew I wouldn’t find what I needed on my own. I cleared my throat so as not to startle the man, who was dozing in his chair.
He opened one beady eye and then another. The curator yawned and looked around to see who was disturbing his slumber. When his little round eyes landed on me, they widened slightly, giving him an owlish appearance.
‘Sorry for waking you. I was hoping you could help me find some books?’ My voice echoed around the space, making me flinch. I moved closer to him so I could lower my voice. ‘Are you the curator?’ I tried again.
‘Yes, yes! Sorry, I was dreaming, and when I opened my eyes, I thought for a second that perhaps I still was.’ He tilted his head and squinted at me.
The silence stretched between us while he considered me a little longer.
‘What can I get for you today, young lady?’ he asked, breaking the awkward silence and heaving his hefty frame slowly out of the chair.
‘I’m here to learn more about the Pedion royal family, and look at some maps of Eritz.’
‘Ah yes, you will need to know where you are going and who you might meet one day!’ He gave a little chuckle as if he had made a joke.
‘Let’s see … I would suggest a family tree and a bit of history to get you started.
I will retrieve some of our most accurate maps.
Not all maps are made equal, you know.’ He gestured at a dusty table lined with lamps and pulled out a chair for me to sit on.
I watched as he shuffled down a row of books, muttering to himself.
‘Yes, that will have the most up-to-date … and yes! This one also has some records …’
He started bringing me book after book, placing them next to me in a well-ordered stack.
One book caught my attention. The cover was red, and on it in gold leaf was an emblem that I hadn’t seen for ten years.
In the centre was a fist holding a sword, and forming a triangle around it was a half-risen sun, a lightning bolt and a tree.
‘What is this?’ I asked the curator urgently.
‘This?’ His brow wrinkled at my reaction to the book. ‘It’s a record of all the families of the royal line, going back centuries.’
‘And the picture on the front?’ I asked, running my gloved hand over it.
‘It’s the Pedion royal coat of arms.’
‘Who would wear this embroidered on a cape or cloak?’
‘Well …’ He thought for a bit. ‘The king’s knights used to, yes. But it belonged to the old king – Queen Yaris’s father. King Hared had his own coat of arms created almost ten years ago. I can find you a picture of that one if you’d like?’
‘No, that’s okay,’ I assured him. ‘Thank you,’ I mumbled as I drew a lamp closer, so it shone its light on the book’s cover. The last time I had seen this design it was stitched in gold on a piece of red cloak my mother had saved.
The man who abandoned me must have served the old king – he might have been a knight. Was he my father, or was he fulfilling a duty to my parents? Did this mean I had been born in Capita? Do I have some connection to someone working in the castle? Was I an illegitimate child sent away in shame?
The musty smell of old books filled my nostrils as I breathed deeply to tamp down my frustration. I pushed thoughts of the past away, knowing it was no use dwelling on unanswerable questions. Instead, I opened the next book from the pile the curator had assembled for me.
I studied the family tree with Bethel, Ania and Wolfe’s names, which would be the most up-to-date record. It showed their parents, Lord Warwick and Princess Hera. I noted sadly the date of her death. Little more than a year ago.
Then I looked at her sister. The children’s aunt, Queen Yaris. She had married General Hared, a commoner. He had commanded the king’s armies before marrying his daughter.
There was an entry recording the birth of King Hared and Queen Yaris’s twins, but sadly the dates showed they entered and left this world on the same day. Under King Hared’s name was his illegitimate son, Goodwin, though his mother was declared unknown.
How did Queen Yaris feel about her husband’s illegitimate son, Goodwin?
From the dates recorded, he was born before the loss of her twins, but after they were married.
That did seem to indicate they were not a love match.
Had the general somehow manipulated his way into marrying the old king’s daughter so he could be king upon his death?
This man was a commander of armies and an executive of war.
It was not a stretch to think he would be capable of having his sister-in-law killed if she was threatening his position on the throne.
I moved on to the maps and studied the route we would most likely take when Bethel was called to Capita. The terrain was mostly flat, and there was a large forested area called Danu Woods. The journey would take several weeks.
‘Can I get you anything else?’ The curator was hovering nearby, ready to search out more old tomes.
I wanted to know more about the Cursed but felt it would be too risky to ask directly. ‘Do you have anything about the Order of Men?’
‘I can tell you anything you would like to know, as I am a member,’ he informed me.
‘Oh …’ I wasn’t sure how to respond. Lord Warwick had given me the impression the Order were not to be trusted, yet here was a member living in the fortress.
‘Ahh, do not worry, young lady. I know what you must think. I am part of the Order but was unwilling and do not preach or agree with their beliefs. That is why I am here. They banished me to Murus, where I have been forgotten about. Something I do not mind at all! There are worse things than being surrounded by everything one could ever want to know.’ He gestured to the dusty bookshelves.
‘How do you become a member of the Order unwilling?’
‘Well, they took me from my home because I was the youngest son. They did this to many affluent families in Pedion. They castrate us as children and make our parents pay for the honour of service. I suppose I should be thankful that my family paid, as those who refused never saw their sons again.’
Castrating children? I unclenched my teeth to reply. ‘How can they allow this?’
‘Fear. The Order has grown too powerful with the king’s support,’ he said with a shake of his partially shaved head.
‘They forbid us to marry, and they expect us to read from their scripture every day. In Capita, the Order makes us gather for prayer three times a day. Praying for hours to the gods of men only.’
Living on the edge of civili sation, I had an isolated upbringing. My ignorance was beginning to bother me greatly. Iain had taught me many things, but never about politics, religion or history.
‘Why are they accusing women of being Cursed and imprisoning them?’
‘Well, there has always been a strong distrust of women by the Order, but I believe it is mostly because of a prophecy in their scriptures that some believe will come to pass soon. A woman of great power will be born and unite the kingdoms of Pedion and Ephemeros, making Eritz whole again. This is what they are using to convince King Hared to harm innocent women. They have convinced him that a Cursed woman will come and take his throne.’ He squinted at the ceiling as he was trying to remember more.
‘The scripture tells us she will turn day to night and rule Eritz for eternity. There is more about the signs of her coming. I could find you the pages if you’d like?’
‘No need, thank you.’ I had so much to think about that I would rather return another day.
‘It’s all hogwash, you know?’ he said with a furrowed brow. ‘There have been many versions of the same story for centuries. The first was one of the forgotten goddesses, Hecate. The story told us that she created darkness when there was none and gave us the moon and stars.’
Hecate. Why did the name seem familiar? I thanked the curator for his help and rose to return to my room.
‘You’re welcome to come back any time!’
Did I imagine the sadness across his face as he stood among the ancient tomes? It was fleeting, but I was sure I had seen something behind his cheerful facade.
Many emotions and thoughts swirled around as I closed the library doors behind me, so I didn’t hear the soldier at first. He came rushing down the corridor to speak to me.
‘I was to find you and tell you that Lady Bethel wishes to speak to you immediately.’
I wondered if this had to do with not coming into the city today. Perhaps she regretted it and wished to see me about going tomorrow. I wanted to escape to my room and consider everything I had learned that day, but I could hardly ignore the request. ‘Lead the way,’ I sighed.
Bethel’s rooms were on the floor above the library. When we got to her door, the soldier opened it without knocking and shoved me through. He closed the door behind me, and I heard a click of a lock.
An excessively large, canopied bed took up the centre of the room, and on it was a completely naked Bethel.
She was sitting on the edge of the bed with her legs spread wide, and in between them kneeled a shirtless man with thick, inky hair.
Bethel leaned on her elbows with her head thrown back. Her moans filled the room.
I watched, frozen, as the man’s head moved. I knew that head, those strands of hair as black as night.
My thighs clenched with unwanted desire while the erotic act played out in front of me.
I turned, trying to open the door, but the soldier had locked it from the outside.
My head twisted, looking again as Bethel’s moans became more frantic.
Her hips lifted as she grabbed a handful of her lover’s dark hair.
Her hands pressed his head between her thighs as she let out a shuddering cry.
She opened her eyes dreamily and looked straight at me.
Torgrin stood and turned. His eyes narrowed when he saw me standing there watching them.
His hair had been mussed by her hands, and there was a glistening sheen across his lips from where his mouth had been.
My eyes drifted from his face to his scar tracking down his neck and part of his shoulder.
I had seen the patterns crossing his body when he stood naked by the river as a boy.
But his physique was nothing like it was then. His body was that of a soldier.
Torgrin’s well-defined chest expanded as he watched me scrutinise him.
His shoulders were broad, and veins trailed across his biceps and down his sizeable forearms. I followed the cut of his hard stomach to where a trail of dark hair led to his low-slung breeches.
I felt my face flush when I saw that he was straining against the laced leather.
My heart thundered when it looked as if he was going to walk towards me, but he stopped and turned to a nightstand with a jug of water and cups. He wiped his mouth on his forearm before taking a long drink.
Bethel surveyed me as she put on a long, flowing robe. She was slim and petite and had that fragile look about her that men liked. Her smirk made me stay rather than run to the door and kick it down.
‘You asked to see me, Lady Bethel?’ It surprised me how unaffected I sounded.
‘Oh yes, I just wanted to apologise for not attending the city outing you had organised.’ Her saccharine tone made me clench my teeth. ‘As you can see, I was rather occupied.’ She looked over at Torgrin with a sultry smile.
‘No apology necessary, my lady.’ I arched a brow. ‘Will that be all?’
‘Oh yes, that will be all.’ She waved her hand in my direction, dismissing me.
I turned to the door and called out. ‘Open up!’ Nothing. I raised my fist and banged on the door. ‘Open up!’ Bethel began giggling behind me.
A tanned arm reached over my shoulder, and Torgrin banged on the door over my head.
‘Open.’ Just one curt word and the door swung open.
‘Yes, Captain! Sorry, Captain!’ I pushed past the soldier and hurried down the corridor.