Page 79 of The Secret Keeper's Daughter

Chapter

Twenty-Seven

Nobody even givesHarek or me a second glance as we walk down the golden streets. For as much as I feel like I stick out, apparently we fit right in. Nearly everyone else has similarly styled hair and clothes.

When we ask someone for directions to the library, he happily points us in the direction and doesn’t question why we’re looking.

Shortly after we enter the education district filled with different colored buildings, the library looms over several smaller buildings. It looks like a mixture between a massive oak tree and a small version of a skyscraper.

I don’t know how any of this is possible, or if I’ll ever get used to any of it. Everyone else seems to walk around like all of this is completely normal. I can’t even imagine feeling that way.

We cross through a park where several groups are gathered and appear in deep discussion.

Harek leans closer. “I think those are academy study groups.”

I stare in disbelief at people in their teens and even older. Some looked to be about my age. My brothers had talked about their brief time in nursery school—Gunnar never allowed any ofus girls to go, and even the boys only went long enough to learn basic skills. They didn’t get any certificates of completion like most of the other schoolchildren.

The group nearest us is discussing an ancient fae battle that destroyed much of the known world at the time, even knocking out an entire mountain.

“We should get going.” Harek pulls on my arm.

“I want to listen.”

“Don’t you want answers toyourquestions?” He gives me a knowing look.

My shoulders slump. “You’re right. I’m sure the library has all the ancient history I want to know.”

“And the current events involving your father are much more useful than something that happened a thousand years ago.”

“True.” I keep my pace slow as we make our way through the rest of the park, trying to listen in on more discussions.

Someone says something about a woman ruler, and I stop in my tracks.

Harek turns to me with a pleading look.

“Did you hear that?” I lean a little closer, trying to hear more. Skoro never had a woman leader. Could this place have one? Or is this group also talking about ancient times?

“Let’s find what we can about your father, and then I promise we can sit and listen to all the discussions you want.”

“Yeah, you’re right. The first thing I’m going to dig into is a woman ruler. Could you imagine the reactions of the older men in Skoro? They might just fall over dead at the thought.” I chuckle.

“I wish that was all it would take. I’d have told Gunnar about that long ago.”

My heart warms. I love how protective of me he is.

“But if your father takes you in, then maybe he’ll be willing to go back and deal with Gunnar. Can you imagine his face if the faehunter came after him?” A slow smile spreads across my friend’s face.

I can easily picture it, and I hope one day it comes to pass. That gives me the resolve to leave behind all these interesting conversations in the park to see what I can find out about my heritage. I grab his hand and drag him toward the library.

We pass tables where more groups are holding discussions. It looks like so much fun, just sitting around talking about things from days long gone. Perhaps one day I can take a class and participate.

Harek skids to a stop.

“What are you doing?”

“Listen.” He nods toward a group of older fae gathered and speaking in low tones. They’re probably the teachers.

I turn slightly away from them, trying not to be obvious in my eavesdropping.

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