“Go on,” Morwen replied.
I sucked in a deep breath, then plowed ahead. “Do you have a library? Or even books? I’m hoping to look into the history of Ithenmyr. I’ve recently become aware that my education growing up was… lacking.”
And hopefully, I can find out more about Earth Elves and my magic, I added silently.
She grinned. “Of course! I’m sure your husband would be delighted to show you the library.”
I blew out a long breath as the tension left my shoulders. “Thank you,” I said.
We exchanged a few more pleasantries before Morwen was called away. I watched her go, remaining silent until Xander cleared his throat.
“The library?”
I nodded warily. “Yes. Do you have a problem with that,darling?”
He shook his head, his mouth twitching. “No, I just didn’t know you liked to read, that’s all.”
I raised a brow. “There are a lot of things you don’t know about me.”
“Don’t I know it,” he muttered under his breath.
But there was no bite to his words, and I smiled to myself. Finally, things seemed to be going my way.
Research and Whispers
“Ugh, how can there be nothing here?” I shoved the book back in the stack, crossing my arms over my chest.
Every day this week had been the same. I went to the library early in the morning and stayed there well into the evening. Xander and Daegal had spent the earlier part of the week training with most of the males and many of the females at The Pines, but the Fortune Elf had disappeared three days ago.
When I’d asked Xander about Daegal’s whereabouts on the way to the library that morning, the silver-haired male had simply shrugged. “He does this sometimes. He’ll be back.”
I had narrowed my eyes but hadn’t replied. I had been too preoccupied by my search for anything that might tell me about myself. My people. My magic.
Unfortunately, it was beginning to feel like a lost cause. Over the past week, I had found books that talked about Death Elves, Light Elves, and Fortune Elves, but none of them even mentioned Earth Elves.
It was as though we had never even existed.
I rested my head against the wooden bookshelf, rubbing my temples. “Please, Kydona,” I murmured. “If you care about me at all, will you help me?”
For a long moment, nothing happened.
Of course not.
I was beginning to lose all hope when something caught my eye. Tucked into the back of one of the bottom shelves was a small book bound in worn leather. It was dusty and the yellowed pages spoke to its age. Something about it called to me.
Crouching, I reached out and ran my finger down the spine.
The Females’ Rebellion: What Went Wrong?
Curiosity filled me, and my breath caught in my throat. Grabbing the book, I slid down onto the floor. Crossing my legs, I began to read.
And read.
And read.
I read the book from cover to cover. When I got to the end, I turned back to the beginning and started over.
I’d thought I had known all about High King Edgar. Who he was. I’d thought I’d known why they called him the Crimson King. I had known he was a sadist who found perverse joy in whipping young, helpless elves.