The Library of Garren was a most beautiful and exquisite place. Full of gothic architecture and sconces. Each bookshelf was hand-carved mahogany with details of nature and seascapes woven into the shelves themselves. To appoint a library was not necessarily a hard task, but the art of appointing a royal library was a somewhat more delicate task. One that Asteria was taking far more seriously than she probably needed to. She hadn't seen Aderas since that fateful day. She had been dragged across his throne room by his most hateful guard.
That day she imagined the worst care scenario as death. Or at the very least imprisonment. She had not expected a job in the Royal Library. She had been left mostly on her own devices. A maid, Beth saw to most of her needs, checking on her periodically. So she was somewhat surprised to hear someone rustling behind her from where she stood on the ladder to reach one of the higher shelves. She looked down, startled, only to be disappointed by the guard that stood below watching where she was perched curiously.
"Oh, it's you," she drawled.
"Don't you think you're a bit too high up to be taking that tone with me?" Dion asked.
Asteria resisted the urge to show outwardly her annoyance at Dion's presence preferring instead to focus on the pile of texts she was working on shelving. "Tone? There's no tone." Asteria said.
Dion shook his head. "I know we didn't get off to the best start," Dion began.
"The best start? You tried to get me arrested?!" Asteria hissed turning to stare at him.
Dion let out a chuckle. "But you didn't get arrested." He pointed out.
Asteria scowled angrily stepping down. "You think that had anything to do with you?" she snapped.
"Obviously not," Dion remarked. "If it had been my choice I would've thrown you in a dungeon and thrown away the key."
"I didn't steal anything." Asteria snarled. "If the only reason you're here is to antagonize me, you can feel free to leave." she fumed turning with a swish of her tunic.
Dion's eyes glittered with humor even while he admired her in her knee-length skirt, which he had realized as she stepped down was designed as a man's pants, so she could move around with modesty. Her odd clothes didn't end there as she also wore tailored leather boots that went up to her knees as well.
Her odd clothing was what had attracted his notice the first time after all. Now with her hair braided around her head in a twist at the nape of her neck, she looked more the lady than the hellion that had given him so much trouble the first time they had met.
"I didn't actually come here to antagonize you, although that's a perk," Dion said as he approached the grand oak desk where he had gathered the texts she was preparing to shelve. She paused a moment, turning slightly to give a dark look.
"I had some spare time, and wanted to know if I could assist you." Dion inquired rounding the table to look at her.
"I wasn't aware guards were interested in literature." she responded her face guarded.
"I'm surprised you didn't accuse me of being an uncultured brute." Dion stated.
She smiled. "I assume all men this close to the King would've been schooled." she replied.
"You would be correct." Dion acknowledged.
She regarded him thoughtfully. "How are you with heights?"
XXX
Aderas closed the door to the councilroom as quietly as possible. The council had been so busy arguing with each other that they hadn't even noticed when he had moved out of the room.
"Sneaking out of your own meeting?" Thena asked. Aderas straighted turning slightly, trying his best not to look like a guilty schoolboy.
Aderas straightened his jacket fiddling with the cuffs as Thena joined him at his side as he walked out of the council quarters. "I agreed to be the King not arrange political warzones." Aderas muttered.
"I think half of the reason they asked you to be King was to arrange political warzones." Thena pointed out.
Aderas scowled. "I have never disliked you more." he hissed. "Where is my mage? She should've been back ages ago." he inquired.
"About that, my lord." Thena mumbled.
Aderas turned around so quickly Thena had to take a step back. "My Mage is more than capable of handing a random noble away from Pirates." he barked.
Thena crossed her arms. "There was a complication." she said.
Aderas closed his eyes taking a breath. "Would this complication happen to be in the form of a Pirate Lord named Lorcan?" he inquired. Thena bit her lip and Aderas roared.
"THAT CONNIVING PIRATE. IF HE HARMS A SINGLE HAIR ON HER HEAD!" he screeched as he walked furiously toward the mage tower where he planned his more strategic conquests and where Kailani held her more dangerous spells.
Aderas had known about Kailani and Lorcan's tumultuous past. Kailani was a gifted mage he had hoped she'd be able to sneak in and out or at the very least pay her way out of her trouble.
As he came closer to the tower he had to pass the Library and as he did he heard tinkling laughter. He paused moving closer to the open doors.
Asteria stood in front of a large Oak desk arranging books. She was flushed with laughter, half-moon spectacles on her face, her hair falling out of her braided bun she'd twisted it in. She was a far cry from the wild girl he'd stumbled upon in the forest.
She tilted her face up laughing. Aderas looked up surprised to see Dion of all people on a ladder helping Asteria with her work.
"Should we inform her?" Thena asked behind him.
Aderas tensed. He knew as soon as she found out about her brother's disappearance, that smile would disappear. She hadn't smiled in her direction since the forest. Not that he'd given her any reason to.
"Not yet. Let's see if we can figure out some more information." Aderas said walking away from the library. Not noticing as Dion's gaze went towards him or the frown that appeared on Dion's face as he saw Aderas and Thena walk away. Aderas headed to his tower, his mind intent to send a crow to search the seas. Possibly more than one. When a roll of parchment materialized in front of him. He caught it breaking the seal and opening the letter he knew was from Kailani.
My Lord,
There have been some complications with retrieving this boy. He's safe and I will ensure he remains so. He's quite curious (and worried about his sister). The Pirate Lorcan had never intended to take Zathrian to the Americas. Apparently, Zathrian is a gifted mapmaker. Lorcan is after the Isla de Morte treasure. He has all the map pieces. I vow on my life that I will return with the boy as soon as I'm able.-----Kailani