Blearily, Kestrel blinked her eyes open, some of the pages sticking to her cheek. Gently, she peeled the pages from her face and closed the book. Barnabus had sent it up for her, and she had only seen it on her nightstand after Marion had dismissed herself the previous night. Kestrel had tried to read it but apparently had fallen asleep.
Still dazed and groggy, Kestrel watched Marion whiz by the bed, a new stack of clothes slung over one arm and a pastry in the other hand. She tossed the sugary bread to Kestrel before striding across the room where she heaved the clothes onto the armchair by the fire.
“Don’t mind the mess. I’ll swap out the old garments for the new ones while you’re studying with Barnabus.”
The mention of his name was the cold bucket of water Kestrel needed to awaken fully.
Studying with Barnabus meant learning more about the kingdoms. About magic.
Kestrel grabbed the pastry, flung her heavy blankets aside, and nibbled on her breakfast while she waited for her handmaiden to dress her. She was thrilled when Marion grabbed a pair of tan trousers and a slate grey doublet from the pile. She layered the doublet over a long-sleeved, cream-colored tunic, and when Kestrel finally got to look at herself in the mirror, her freckled cheeks hurt from grinning so broadly.
“Oh, you hate it,” Marion jested.
“It’s perfect. Thank you.”
Marion ushered her over to the vanity and grabbed the hairbrush. Yesterday, Kestrel had been happy to accept the woman’s help with everything, if not just to experience the culture of Irongate and better understand the people here. Today, however, Kestrel felt the need to reclaim part of herself.
Setting her pastry down, she gently reached for the brush in Marion’s hand.
“That’s alright. Today, I’ll do my own hair.”
Marion looked reluctant, but stepped aside and waited as Kestrel finished tying her hair into the braids she was accustomed to. Today she had a thick, loose one down the center of her scalp, with a few smaller ones accenting the sides. The rest of her hair, she asked Marion to twist into the tight bun she’d given her the day prior, in an effort to attempt some form of blending in with the customs.
The last thing Kestrel grabbed was her dagger. Marion gave her a questioning glance, the first sign of doubt the woman had ever directed toward her, but it was swiftly appeased by a quick explanation.
“It belonged to my mother.”
Warmth creased the edges of Marion’s eyes. “Very well, my lady.”
When Kestrel was finished getting ready, she and Marion made their way to the library; Kestrel devoured the rest of her pastry along the way. Marion bid her a farewell at the door and told her she’d be back to fetch her around lunch.
It wasn’t until then that Kestrel remembered what awaited her after her time in the library; she would have to face Queen Signe. Maybe even apologize for fleeing from their training so abruptly. The thought made her stomach clench. If anyone owed an apology, it was the queen. Not that Kestrel could tell her as much, especially not with Thom’s life on the line. From this point forward, her sole mission was staying in the queen’s good graces. Even if it meant practicing her gruesome magic…
But that could be fretted about later, she decided, entering the library.
Kestrel greeted Barnabus with a cheerful, “Hello.”
He lifted his nose from the book it had been buried in. “Oh, you’re early.”
“Am I? Marion made it seem like I was keeping you waiting.”
He glanced at the books strewn about the table and seemed to think more on it. “Maybe you were. I get caught up in reading and lose track of time sometimes.” When he looked up, his eyes caught on her hair, making Kestrel touch her braids self-consciously. “I like your hair. It’s different. But a good different. Was the book I sent up for you to your liking?”
Embarrassed by her own rudeness, Kestrel flushed. She had started to read the book, but once she’d laid down for bed, sleep had overcome her.
The last thing she wanted was to disappoint him.
“It was perfect. I’m still only at the beginning though, I was too tired to read much before bed.”
He nodded, and then seeming self-conscious added, “I haven’t read that one, but it seemed like something you’d enjoy.It was actually inspired by some of the Sky-Blessed history—but it’s still fiction, so some of the events aren’t historically accurate.”
“Well now I’m even more excited to read it,” she said, earning her one of those rare Barnabus grins. “Speaking of historically accurate events, what did you have in mind for us today?”
Once again, the hours flew by as Barnabus led her through the daring trials and tribulations of the realm and the various kingdoms within it. They covered everything from the War of Destruction where thousands of Sky-Blessed were slain, to the rise of dragons, to the recent sovereignty of Xira, the largest home of Animali in all the realm.
Kestrel soaked in every word. Every detail.
It seemed like no matter what era in history they covered, there was bloodshed, heartache, and betrayal. But there was also freedom and resilience, and she clung onto that the most. Even though the realm was cursed now, it seemed like there would always be a light at the end of every dark tunnel.
