“I’m not sure I’d call it wasted time.”
He stopped in front of another bed. This was longer and wider than some of the others and angled toward the outer wall. Like the golden ulsens, the flowers seemed twisted toward them, angling away from the sun. Deep green petals rolled away from the stem, the ends curled a little as they did, revealing a thick pistil with petite stamens punctuated with white. Streaks of deep blue ran along the length of the petals.
Eris leaned in and inhaled. Less sweet than the ulsens, this had a strong note, one reminiscent of oak and deep woods. She found the scent pleasing.
“Where is this from?”
Terran touched the soil, dipping his fingers into it and pinching. He made a face as he did. Eris couldn’t tell if he was pleased or not.
“These are hyanlilly. They are only found in the south, near Baylan. There are wetlands there. These need to be heavily watered to survive.” He pointed toward a long copper tubing running along the back of the bed. “Most of the flowers only need to be watered a few times each week. Some even less. But these need much more. Master Nels has me water these practically every day.”
Eris hadn’t considered the different needs of the plants before. Of course some would need more water than others, just like some needed more sunlight. “Did Nels hope to find more flowers like this?”
“From Baylan?” Terran shook his head. “Hyanlillies are fairly common there. What he had shipped were much rarer. Some only grow in specific parts of the Baylan.” He shrugged. “A significant loss. Most will be difficult for him to get again this season.”
Eris wondered if Adrick had been responsible for the damaged shipment.
“These don’t impress you either,” Terran said.
“Sorry, Terran. They’re lovely. I shouldn’t take up any more of your time.”
He swept his hat off his head and balled it into a fist, nodding toward Eris in an attempt at bowing. “My lady, it’s my pleasure to walk with you through the gardens—”
Eris waved him off, and he stood. “I should see if I can be useful,” she said. She’d spent too much time simply wandering as it was. Maybe she should stop acting annoyed with her sister and see what she could do to help. Besides, she’d barely spoken to Jasi since learning of the engagement.
“Of course.” Terran sounded disappointed as he said it. He touched the damp soil again before following Eris as she made her way toward the front of the garden. Master Nels caught his attention, and he hurried off, but not before attempting another bow.
Eris bit back a laugh. Doing so would only hurt his feelings, and Terran had only been trying to help find other flowers which might interest her. She reached the palace with the intent to find either her mother or Lira, when she came across Jasi.
“In the garden again, Eris?” Jasi snapped. She wore a long lavender gown. A series of perisals were woven into the neckline, making it seems as if Jasi wore a necklace of flowers.
Eris paused as she glanced up the hall. A single handmaiden followed Jasi but stepped to the side to let them speak, turning her head to look at the floor as if not wanting to get in the middle of the sisters. A few other servants dressed in the palace white hurried down the hall. Some carried stacks of platters and another carried what appeared to be a bundle of fresh cut flowers from the garden.
“I was,” she answered. She didn’t want to argue with her sister. Not today. “Is there anything I can do to help with your planning?”
Jasi opened her mouth and looked like she readied to snap, but closed it again. “Did Mother send you?”
Eris shook her head. Why would Jasi care if mother sent her? “I’ve seen the arrangements and know how much you have going on.”
The truth was she hadn’t seen the arrangements, not many of them anyway, but if she helped Jasi, she might be able to get closer to Lira without having her question her about the flower. Then she might be able to figure out what was going on with the magi. And if there really was more to Lira than how she appeared.
Jasi looked past Eris, her eyes searching down the hall. Eris thought she saw a hint of agitation on her face. “Mother is not as pleased with this arrangement as father. He thinks the union between Errasn and Saffra makes sense. Mother does not.”
Eris hadn’t realized her parents disagreed on the wedding. Should she be surprised? Adrick had her father’s ear while Lira had her mother’s. It made sense they would have differing opinions.
“What does Mother want?”
Jasi took a deep breath. “She’d rather see me wed the Varden prince. Unite the north.”
Eris tensed. How much influence in the decision did Lira have? “What do you want?”
Jasi pursed her lips. For a moment, Eris thought she might make a snide comment as she often did and readied herself for it. She wouldn’t argue with her sister today. Doing so would only risk her getting pushed farther away from the planning. And she did want to help her sister. As much as they disagreed, she still loved her and wanted her to be happy.
“I will do what is needed for the kingdom.” She pulled her back straight as she said it, and her hand briefly gripped the fabric of her gown.
“But is that what you want?” Eris repeated.
Jasi looked over at her, and her voice dropped to a whisper. Her eyes softened, a hint of moisture sweeping over them before she blinked it away. “Does it matter? Father planned to marry me off somewhere. It’s my role. Then Desia and you.” She nodded, as if coming to a decision. “Yes, even you. Better someone like Prince Petra than others I’ve met.” She looked over to where her handmaiden had looked up and shot her a hard glare. The woman looked back to the floor and turned so her back faced them. “Pray to the Sacred Mother you or Desia get to choose.”
Jasi almost said something more but closed her mouth and turned away, heading back down the hall, her handmaiden following after her.
Chapter 9
Eris sat in the library, again searching for anything on the teary star.
A question burned in her. Why this flower? Why now? What did the flower mean to Lira? She almost wished Adrick hadn’t left; then she might have been able to see what he knew.
But she found nothing. If only she could, she might be able to get closer to Lira, to see if what the magi had said was true…but even at this, she couldn’t succeed.
Worse, compared to the sweet fragrance of the garden, the musty odor of the library felt stifling. Eris had taken to carrying one of the flowers Terran showed her the day before with her to the library. Doing so seemed to brighten up even the dreary shadows Master Billiken seemed to prefer.
She grew increasingly frustrated with her inability to learn anything more about the teary star. The books she’d found had little to offer. She’d visited with Terran a few more times and he continued to make a game of trying to show her ever more exotic flowers, but Eris didn’t think he had anything that would be of any use to her in learning more. Pretending not to be impressed by the flowers he chose lost its fun. Eris sighed and glanced at the tarblerod she wore, the leaves a rich orange and red which clashed in just the right way with her dress.
The old Master of Books sat at a small table in the library, a lantern flickering on the table in front of him and a book spread beneath his nose. Grey hair sprouted out from his head wildly, and his spectacles had slipped, dangling dangerously close to falling onto the table. Wire wrapped around part of the frame holding them together; clearly this would not be the first time they had fallen.
Eris approached him slowly. “Master Billiken?” she asked softly.
He sat up with a shake, his eyes blinking in a furious spasm. The master of books looked down at what he read, pale blue eyes quickly scanning the page, before shutting the book and sliding it off to the side.
Eris glanced at the title and saw that it was some sort of insect guide.
“Ah, just a little research for the Conclave,” he said importantly. “They are too busy to sit pouring over books, and I am, of
course, always willing to help the king’s councilors.”
“Of course, Master Billiken.” Eris wondered why the Conclave would want Billiken to study insects, but couldn’t think of any reason to ask him more without offending him. “I was hoping you could help me with my research.”
So far, all the books she’d found came up with nothing more than descriptions of the flower varieties found in the Svanth Forest other than the one she wanted. She had spent days looking, flipping page by page, reading all she could about the native flowers but had come up empty. Eris began to wonder if she had been led astray. What if Terran and Nels were wrong? What if the flower was not from Svanth?
It still bothered her that Lira refused to tell her more about her flower. What did she want to keep her from?
“Of course, my lady,” Billiken said. “You said you research flowers?”
She nodded. “It is called a teary star. I only know it’s found in the Svanth Forest but haven’t been able to find anything more about the flower from the books you pulled down for me.”
Billiken frowned, pushing his spectacles back up his nose and then tapping his chin. “I cannot say I have heard of that particular flower, though with all of the varieties the mistress of flowers brought to the garden, there are many I have never heard about. Still,” he continued, pushing himself up from the table. “If you know the name of the flower and the region, we should be able to find something for you.”
He tottered toward the tall shelf with the books on flowers. The ladder Eris had used to climb and look on her own still leaned along the edge of the upper shelf. Billiken glanced at her, a frown etched on his face, but said nothing as he shifted the ladder.
At the top, he pulled several books out and glanced at the cover. “You have searched these, I take it?”
“I have. How did you know?”
He frowned at her again. “They are out of place, my lady. The library has a certain order, otherwise we would lose track of where anything is located with all the books I have collected.”
“I’m sorry, Master Billiken. I thought it easier to climb up and look on my own. I know how busy you—”
“Nonsense,” he said, but his face softened. “I am always available to help with your search, my lady. I must say that it is quite refreshing having someone else in the library with me. Most of the time—such as with the request from the Conclave—I am simply asked to search for certain books. Often I am asked to read the books as well and provide a report. I could offer the same for you, if you like, my lady.”
She shook her head. As frustrating as it had been searching through the few books about flowers from the Svanth Forest, Eris could not deny the fact that she had learned quite a bit. Already, she recognized several of the varieties of flowers found in the garden, even surprising Terran with their names when he tried to point them out to her.
“I don’t mind searching through the books on my own. It’s finding the right one which has been the challenge. You have quite the talent to be able to know where everything is within the library. Since you had already told me which shelf the books I needed were on, I thought I could find what I needed on my own.”
Billiken nodded, his eyes suddenly vibrant. “Ah, well…I will not fault you for your spirit, my lady, but it is not ladylike for you to be climbing the ladder to these shelves. I can just imagine what your mother might say if she heard I let you do such a thing!”
If only he knew how unladylike she had been. Her mother would turn as scarlet as a magi cloak if she knew.
Billiken turned back to his books, pulling a few from the shelf as he went and glancing at the cover before deciding against it and pushing it back. Finally, he climbed down the ladder, hands as empty as when he first climbed up, and shook his head.
“I am sorry, my lady. It appears you have seen all the books I have from the Svanth region. There is one book I would like to find but cannot. A larger text with drawings so carefully made that I should think you would find any flower you needed there, but it remains out of my collection.”
“Do you know who has borrowed it?” If she could find out, she could possibly ask to borrow the book to see if there is any reference to the teary star.
But Billiken shook his head. “Possibly Master Nels,” he said. “With all the new strains brought into the garden, he has been spent considerable time researching them. I don’t recall lending it to him, though. It would be a shame to have misplaced it, really. That text by Feliran is quite possibly the seminal work on the Svanth region.”
Eris shook her head, remembering that Billiken had mentioned the book the first time she visited the library. “Do you have others by Feliran?”
Billiken’s eyes brightened, and he bobbed his head, pleased that she had taken interest in his collection. “Several,” he said, back straightening. “Feliran was quite prolific. Each is lovingly made with the same attention to detail.”
“Might I see one?” If she knew what the style looked like, she might be able to recognize the book.
The master of books shook his head. “Unfortunately, no. Master Nels has borrowed all of them.”
“How many are there?”
Billiken counted silently to himself, mouthing words that must have been titles as he considered. “No more than ten, my lady.”
Eris’s eyes widened. “That many books by one person?”
Billiken nodded. “Feliran is widely considered to be the foremost botany authority. It is quite fortuitous I managed to secure as many as I did. Most are quite difficult to come by, but as we now have our own mistress of flowers, it seemed prudent to have a reference for her to access. I believe there might be one or two other works by Feliran as well, but I have not managed to acquire copies of them. Still, I must say, having nearly the complete set is quite the accomplishment.” He shook his head. “I had not considered our Master of Gardens would borrow them all.”
It seemed she would have to find Master Nels again.
Eris didn’t know where else she would be able to go to learn about the teary star other than Lira, and the mistress of flowers had made it clear she needed to perform her own research.
Maybe the master gardener had the book she sought. That would be the best solution. Then she could do her own research and satisfy Lira’s requirement without upsetting Nels too much more. Hopefully he was not still frustrated with her and would let her borrow the books by Feliran.
Eris thanked Billiken and hurried out of the library. As she made her way down the wide stairs and into the garden, something seemed off. It took Eris a moment to notice what it was.
The sky was cloudy and grey. Thunder pealed distantly, rolling slowly toward the palace. Fat drops of rain pelted from the sky. Wind whipped at her long dress, and she had to grip it to keep the hem from flapping in the gusts.
Eris couldn’t help but wonder what it meant when storm clouds rolled through in the daytime. How long had it been since they’d had a storm in the daylight?
And how long had it been since Adrick had left the city and headed north?
She hesitated. Why hadn’t she asked Lira if what Adrick said was true? Or at least confronted her about why she refused to help her understand her flower. If Lira was what the magi suspected, Eris wanted to know. Her parents needed to know.
Eris turned away from the garden and swept into the palace, entering the west tower near the library. Tapestries lining both walls were made in the southern style with shapes of muted colors and harsh lines. Lanterns set into the wall gave off a flickering glow as wind blew through open doors down the corridor. Eris could not recall the last time their light was needed in the daylight. Servants flitted about, darting in and out of view, bowing briefly when the saw her but otherwise doing what they could to stay out of her way. Unlike Jasi or even Desia, Eris rarely demanded anything of them.
Reaching the wide central stair, she hurried to the second floor and was outside Lira’s door, ready to knock before she stopped. She didn’t have any idea
what she would tell Lira. How she had overheard a conversation in the garden? How she suspected Lira to be some sort of flower mage? Imaging Lira’s expression was enough to make her think twice.
A gust of wind fluttered her dress and sent her hair into her face. Eris decided she had to know.
She knocked.
She didn’t expect—or really want—Lira to answer the door, fearing her reaction. Still, when the door swung open, a strange sense of relief washed over her.
Until she saw Lira’s face.
Usually strong and stern, now it was drawn and frail. Deep wrinkles worked at the corner of her eyes. Her mouth pursed in a taut expression of concentration. The muscles in her cheeks tensed and contorted. Her dark brown hair hung limp around her shoulders, pushed back with a small leather band rather than twisted and bound atop her head as usual. She wore little more than a thin shift of pale yellow fabric.
Lira frowned at Eris when she saw her. It was a sign of the change that had come over her that she didn’t pull the door to her quarters closed behind her.
“Have you completed your studies then, Eris Taeresin?” she asked. Her tone had not changed, still sharp and stinging.
Eris shook her head, suddenly wondering how to explain why she had come to find her. “Mistress Lira, there is a storm,” she started, realizing how foolish the statement sounded.
Lira’s hazel eyes narrowed, and she tilted her head in the strange way that she had. “We have many storms here in Errasn.” She spoke slowly, almost deliberate about how she formed the words, her accent making them thick.
Eris blinked. “Of course, Lira, only this is…” She trailed off, unsure how to explain her concern.
Lira watched her, head tipped slightly back. “Rain nurtures the flowers, Eris Taeresin. It is the lifeblood for us all. We should welcome the rain in all its forms, not fear it.”
“I understand—”
Lira pursed her lips, pulling her back straighter so that she seemed to loom over Eris. “I believe I can look out a window the same as you.” She frowned. “Do I need to report to your mother this behavior? You know how busy she is with the wedding planning. More than that, I believe she is already displeased by your progress. We both had hoped you would be farther along in your studies. Perhaps the promise we thought we saw in you was misguided.”
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