Total pages in book: 210
Estimated words: 200096 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1000(@200wpm)___ 800(@250wpm)___ 667(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 200096 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1000(@200wpm)___ 800(@250wpm)___ 667(@300wpm)
She waves off my words. “I will rest when death greets me, which will not be long now.” Her eyes drift over the four floors of endless books. “You were not exaggerating.”
“You can see now why getting the scribes to Ulysede is so important to me.” There must be valuable information locked up in here. Why else would the nymphs preserve and protect it so?
“When do you leave for Mordain?”
“Today. I have these now.” I hold out my wrists.
Agatha’s gray eyes brighten as I explain their purpose, but by the time I’ve finished, her furrowed brow is back. “It is one thing to battle beasts. It is entirely another to face a guild of experienced casters when you are still learning how to wield. The Prime is not your only obstacle. I do not think you appreciate the dangers here.”
“Maybe not, but I can’t sit by while a hundred scribes are executed because of a prophecy involving me.” I pull up another chair, settling next to her. How do I word this … “Tell me everything I need to know about Mordain.”
Her cheeks puff out with a giant breath. “Where do I begin …”
“How about quickly,” Jarek quips, hovering.
I spare him a glare. “Who can I trust?”
“That is easy,” she says. “No one.”
“Seriously?”
“It is the stance that will keep you safest, Your Highness.” She sinks into her chair. “The new Master Scribe, Zaleria, is a strong proponent for prophecy and shares my views. She has kept many of the same secrets as I, which likely means she has faced the brunt of Lorel’s interrogation. I do not know if she will have the capacity to withstand it.” She pauses, swallowing hard. This Zaleria means something to her. “But you can consider her a strong ally. To an extent, the Second, Allegra, can be counted on. She aided our cause when others would not, though be warned she aspires to be Prime, and she does not shy away from conspiring. I can say that with a degree of certainty. Her role in all this was known by almost no one, though, so I do not know if she has faced the same scrutiny at Lorel’s hands.” Agatha snorts. “Who knows, she may deny it all and turn against us, in which case you cannot trust her.”
“What about the other Second, Solange?”
A smirk appears with that question. “She will serve you frank honesty whether you ask for it or not.”
“I’ve noticed.” I laugh. “It’s a refreshing change.” Especially in this world where everyone spins lies to suit their needs, including Zander.
“Indeed. She respects order and chain of command, which is why she never acted against the Prime. But she also longs for a Mordain free of Ybaris’s boot on her neck, which she has told you herself.”
“I don’t need or want a castle full of elementals.” Dolls on shelves, Annika called them once.
“That is one large piece of it, but it is not the entire puzzle.”
“Can I trust her, though?”
“Can you trust her to serve the Queen of Ybaris over a Prime whose interests serve only herself? For the time being, I believe so. However, if she suspects you are following in worn footsteps, you will find her loyalty wavering quickly.”
I catalogue the scribe’s invaluable words. I am beginning to see why Gesine trusted her implicitly.
“The Shadows command both respect and fear from the various caster factions. Those attempting to act against you will think twice with them at your side.” Agatha holds up a gnarled finger. “But there are still plenty of casters remaining in Mordain who were not sent to the rift. Do not underestimate them because together, they can stifle your plans. There are casters who support Lorel and more who believe in a liberated Mordain. Who knows what lies the Prime has fed them to aid her cause.”
“Got it.” Agatha is making me more nervous by the second. “And where is the nymph door?”
She looks genuinely perplexed.
“Carvings, likely in a wall, that you wouldn’t be able to read. Gesine said there is something like that there.”
Her eyes light up. “A door! Is that what that is? I always knew it was something. Yes, well, it’s in the scribes’ hall beneath the tower, where we keep our scrolls.”
“That’s helpful. Thank you, Agatha.”
“So, what exactly is your plan?”
“I don’t have one yet. I’m hoping it’ll come to me as I go.”
“Because that always works out so well,” Jarek says wryly.
I ignore him. “Zorya will stay with you. Ignore her surliness. You’ll be safe. And I’ve asked the sylx to bring you any books about the fates. It might be helpful.”
“Oh, is she here?” Agatha searches around. “I look forward to meeting her.”
“That might change quickly.” My irritation with Lucretia hasn’t lessened since the meeting with the nymph elders. “Do you think Aminadav and Vin’nyla will punish us for what Aoife and Malachi are doing?”