Page 23 of Kingdom of Today
Oookay. I recalled the oddity I’d encountered along the way. “CURED moved a statue of Astan into Bala City.”
“Yes.” Domino started forward, saying nothing more. “They did.”
“His horns are different,” I added, rushing to catch up.
“Yes. And we will discuss it. Later.”
“That’s fine.” Later was better than never. Might as well dive into other matters. “There’s a problem. Cyrus has lost memories of time he spent in Theirland with his grandfather. Also, you told me he was scheduled for execution, but he says it’s someone else.”
“I’m aware of both. The high prince visits us when he can, and we’re working on the first.”
Well, that was something.
“As for the execution, Cyrus was wrong. He wasn’t removed until days later.”
But he was off it, and that was what mattered. “I summoned you a couple times, yet you never showed.”
Domino gave no reaction. “I was there.”
A simple statement, his disappointment in me bubbling inside it. I winced. Had I insulted him? “I wondered if I sensed you. Why didn’t you reveal yourself?”
“You were not in danger, but you were more heavily guarded than before. I weighed the pros and cons of appearing and decided to aid you from the shadows. Among other reasons.”
Well. “I apologize for complaining,” I said with a sigh.
“I take no offense. You are still learning me, Arden. Once I prove myself, you won’t have reason to doubt me.”
The gracious, unexpected show of kindness won me over in ways nothing else could have. As we walked on, I asked, “How did you become a librarian?”
“I bonded to the Rock on a deeper level, becoming part of the doorway itself.”
Interesting. Worthy of further questioning, but I noticed a reader watching me with unabashed curiosity and frowned. “You won’t tell me the identity of the Soalian on my team, yet these people are logging my identity left and right. Any one of them can turn me in.”
Domino shook his head. “These are permanent residents of the library but not librarians. They’re not able to communicate with anyone other than fellow residents.” He stopped and motioned to a full, lush tree, its branches heavy with palm-size fruits of the deepest, richest purple. “Go ahead. Taste and see.”
Don’t mind if I do.I tabled the urge to question him further and plucked a bulb. A new fruit instantly matured in its place, spurring a delighted laugh from me. Amazing.
“This is the first plum tree to grow in Ourland.”
I’d heard of plums. Supposedly sour and mushy, with a hint of fermentation. “Our vegetation came from here?” I asked, giving the soft flesh a light squeeze.
“The Library of Soal birthed all that is good,” he replied, as if that explained everything. “The reports you’ve read about plums are not accurate. Go ahead. Try it.” With eager curiosity, he urged my hand to my mouth.
I sank my teeth into the fruit, unsure, only to groan, my eyelids sinking shut. Sweet and tart. After devouring the rest, even the soft pit, I reached for a second. When I finished it, I licked my fingers, greedy for every drop of juice.
For a moment, I just stood there, basking in the energy now flooding my veins.
“Good, yes?” Domino asked.
“So good.”
“Finally!” another familiar voice called. “You deign to visit.”
I twisted to meet the gaze of Ember Cruz, the powerful glower only a few years my senior. The woman who’d helped Cyrus recruit me. As she strode over, everyone she passed jumped to their feet to salute her. She remained focused on me. “Big things are underfoot, Roosa. Huge. Colossal.”
“As if I don’t know that, Cruz,” I quipped. “I’m currently under investigation for being a Soalian spy who murdered King Tagin and now hopes to lure his son to the enemy’s side.”
“Well, youarea Soalian spy who murdered King Tagin. It doesn’t matter that he attempted to kill you first. To CURED, you are at fault. But no matter. We’re dealing. The good news is, Victors is free.”
