Page 46 of The Prince's Mage

Aimilia shoved open the doors to the library and the matter was dropped as they focused on what they came for. When he let go of Marcella’s hand, he opened his mouth, but she was already saying, “I know. Arm’s length.”

He snapped his mouth shut and nodded.

Gavril had spent more time in the library than his own quarters in the academy barracks. It was easy to. The academy library was even bigger and more impressive than the palace’s since it was where the academic mages focused their resources. It stretched back for ages and up to a second floor. There were tables spread out periodically throughout both floors for use.

As he moved toward the back of the first floor, he spotted the table he and Aimilia had always sat at when studying for an exam or a practical during their years. It had a nick in the left leg and a tiny scorch mark on the edge from one night when Aimilia knocked over a candle—runes weren’t allowed in the library at all for fear of students messing them up and causing far more damage more quickly than a candle could.

As he and Aimilia wandered through the stacks, searching for the books on rune theory they needed, Marcella trailed behind him, looking around with the same sharp, analytical edge she’d had ever since they’d left the palace. Even though it wasn’t much different than being in the palace library, there was a lightness to the air.

At least Gavril had always felt like he could breathe more easily at the academy.

Marcella’s eyes stayed bright and she didn’t seem at risk of dozing off. Probably because she was trailing around behind him instead of sitting at a table. But still, she seemed to have more energy than usual.

He took that as a good sign. And maybe they should go to the academy library more often.

But, unless Gavril wanted to have to deal with Nikias throwing a fit about them not being back by nightfall, they couldn’t stay forever. He and Aimilia lingered as long as they could, instead of taking all of the books with them, making copies of sections to take instead. They left in the late afternoon, right before the students were let out from their classes, mostly to avoid the crowd that would form and any possible gawking at them.

Unfortunately, they mistimed it as students began to fill the entry hall right as they were headed for the door. And Gavril immediately heard the whispers behind them. He started to usher Marcella forward faster when he spotted the girl from before with her friends rushing down the stairs. Marcella also spotted her as she turned around and caught a glimpse. The girl waved at them with a bright smile.

Gavril almost had Marcella out the door, not wanting to find out if the interaction before had been genuine or mocking, but then one of the teachers called out, “Prince Gavril! Commander Aimilia! Is that really you two here haunting these halls again?”

Gavril held back a sigh as he turned to face his old instructor, letting his hand fall from Marcella’s back. He didn’t even dislike the instructor; he just wanted to get Marcella out of there before something went wrong.

Aimilia had already stepped forward and was saying, “Well, you know we can never stay away from the superior library in Areator for long. And it doesn’t hurt to scope out the next crop of commanders that will be coming up for graduation next year. I need to know who to place my bets on.”

Aimilia was a better friend than Gavril deserved. With her taking charge, he could slip out with—

Where was Marcella?

Gavril’s heart stopped in his chest as he looked at the empty space beside him. He turned slightly, looking for distinct black curls and not finding them amongst the crowd of students, ebbing and flowing through the hall, as well as the crowd forming as he and Aimilia had been recognized.

She was gone. Where had she gone? Had someone taken her? Had Nikias somehow arranged—

The crowd shifted, and he spotted her the second he had his mouth open to shout her name. She was bending down, head tilted toward the girl from before. The girl was gently touching Marcella’s curls, awe filling her gaze. Several other girls had gathered around them and were eyeing Marcella with an equal split of disgust, curiosity, and admiration.

His racing heart started to slow. She was safe. She hadn’t been taken from him.

Still, he called out, “Marcella!”

At the sound of his voice, Marcella looked up, pulling her head away. She pressed her lips together in a sheepish grin. Then she gave the girl an apologetic look and said in their language, “Have to leave.”

The girl nodded and said, “I understand. Thank you, Your Highness!”

Gavril spotted Marcella’s brow furrow at the honorific, but he was already moving through the crowd of students that scurried to make way for him. By the time Marcella turned to head his way he had already reached her, brushing a hand over her shoulder. She blinked up at him, and he sighed and said in her language, “We need to get back.”

She nodded and kept up with him as he hurried her back toward the door while Aimilia wrapped up her conversation with their old teacher. But as he started to usher his wife through the door, she looked over her shoulder and waved at the group of girls right before the door shut.

As Aimilia made her way to their waiting horses, she shot Gavril a look that told him she’d seen the whole thing. While she swung up onto her horse, she shook her head.

Marcella looked up at him and said, “I know you said arm’s length. I—”

“I’m not angry. I just… I worry, that’s all,” Gavril said as he led her to their horse.

She nodded, but then she looked over her shoulder at the academy and said, “That girl called me something. Something no one else has… It was…”

Not something he was ready for her to know about.

“It wasn’t an insult,” Gavril said as they reached his horse. “It was… a term of respect. It… It doesn’t really have a translation.”

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