Page 30 of Tales of a Monstrous Heart
‘Thank you, William.’ Emrys’s voice was gruffer than before as he strode purposefully towards the door, hand flexing at his side as if with discomfort, leaving me with nothing but confusion at the sudden change in his mood.
Thankfully, William offered a distraction as he struggled with the large stack of ledgers.
‘Here.’ I rushed over, taking the leaning top half of the pile as we both distributed the work on my desk.
‘These are the most recent.’ He sighed, palms flat on top of the mess before he blew an errant red curl off his forehead. ‘Tea?’
‘Yes, please, William.’ With how much reading there was to do, I knew I’d be needing it. Even if my time here would be spent reading and drinking tea, I suppose there were worse fates to endure.
‘At least you’ll have company.’ He grinned, confusing me until I heard a caterwauling of complaints. The feline form of Alma made her way across the room to jump up on the desk and consider it with suspicion, pawing at the mess of dry wax stuck to the priceless mahogany top.
‘Well rested?’ I asked, watching her ears flatten and a low purr leave her as she stretched out her one ginger leg. ‘I should have left you some notes and pages to read.’ If Alma hated anything more than my foolishness, it was my relentless tutoring.
‘You’re teaching her?’ William asked, genuinely curious.
‘I want her to have the same education as me before we leave the Institute.’
‘Most wouldn’t,’ he reasoned softly, troubled by the fact.
No, they wouldn’t. Fey in service weren’t provided with education. Most had no option but to enter into an indenture or try and survive on the streets.
‘Well, as you know, I’m not like most beings.’ I smiled.
‘No. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone willing to wander the Blackthorn alone.’ William practically shuddered.
‘How did you know?’
He gave me an apologetic glance. ‘You look like you tumbled through it backwards.’
I couldn’t help but laugh at my own stupidity and clear dishevelment.
‘I was collecting samples and updating my notes. It’s been a long time since I could wander in a wood like that.’ I made an attempt to smooth my hair only to find an errant leaf tangled in it. ‘Then I came across a valek nest that took up most of my attention.’
‘Valek?’ He asked.
‘Yes, fascinating creatures, they hold so many secrets about healing.’ They had immense healing properties, but many people had hunted them for sport, lowering the numbers and limiting their power.
‘They’re hideous and greedy.’ He frowned, rubbing the back of his neck. ‘They’ve ruined two of my cabbage patches.’
‘Perhaps, but they’re one of our last links to the ancient time and the magic we once used.’ When it was in abundance. Before mortals saw fit to take charge of it and regulate the beings who should possess it freely.
‘Here.’ I pulled my collection jar from my small pouch and held it out to him. The reflectiveness of the scales catching the afternoon light perfectly to show rainbow hues when twisted in a certain direction. ‘Their scales continue to glow even days after they shed. Theorists believe that all the cures for the ailments that plague us were gifted from the earth the same time magic was. We just have to find them.’
‘You make it sound exciting.’
‘Does Lord Blackthorn not?’ I asked cautiously, placing the sample on the desk and stroking Alma as she fussed with my papers.
‘I fear Emrys finds little excitement in anything these days,’ he explained carefully. ‘However, he is glad of your arrival.He was telling me all about your Insidious charm. He said he hasn’t seen one so potent since the wars.’
I wondered if we were talking about the same Lord Blackthorn.
‘My own studies have gotten away from me since we’ve ventured into the older texts.’ He let out a deep sigh of frustration. ‘I don’t know quite how to read them.’
‘If you need any help, let me know,’ I offered. The old texts were my favourite, despite their dense and unforgiving tone.
‘Really?’
‘I assume if you’re Blackthorn’s assistant, that means you can assist me too,’ I reasoned with a smile. ‘Unless of course he comes to his senses.’
