Book 2 Chapter 1 Part 2

Meryum was not telepathic and could not always sense when her sister was using her gift but when Sephy had shouted at the top of her psychic voice Mery had felt it. Unable to hear any words she remained attentive until she was certain her sister was not trying to contact her, and then she returned to the book that she was reading and, in fact, enjoying. The book, an annotated genealogy of all the major noble houses in the western kingdom, was more interesting than any history lecture she’d ever been forced to sit through. Of course, with the book she was able to skip over the boring parts which her tutors, whether they were from the Church or Craft, seemed to dwell on. Now I see why Sephy always has her nose in a book. Why can’t all history be like this? The whole reason Sephy had purchased the book was to stop Mery from pestering her with questions about Norwood Holding. Sephy’s history lessons hadn’t yet covered the recent history of Norwood so she couldn’t answer the questions herself. The knights they were travelling with refused to talk about it, which only fuelled Mery’s curiosity. Her curiosity had been diverted by the first chapter of the book which detailed the family of Argrider Granalt, the Wingless Angel and First King of Zoedar, the western Human kingdom – the family Mery was descended from. She was too engrossed in the anecdotes and rarely told stories of her family to bother searching out the chapter on Norwood. She was not too engrossed, however, to notice Zaine Fidor, the squire escorting Sephy through Junayd as part of his knight’s quest, come skulking in to the common room alone. Mery’s eyes narrowed. The knights who had accompanied them were out in the yard sparring and talking with several members of Junayd’s city guard. When women sit around talking, men call it gossip. When men sit around talking they call if sharing the news. I’ve never seen any difference, except that sharing the news seems to involve more drinking. I could interrupt them, but I can handle Zaine on my own. “Squire Fidor, please fetch me a drink.” The blonde youth jumped, looking frantically around the common room. When he spotted Mery lounging by the fire he glared. “You demand we treat you like a squire, why the sudden urge to be waited on, Princess?” He spat out her title like it tasted foul in his mouth. Mery shrugged. “It got your attention. You seem a little lonely, Zaine.” His face darkened. “What?” She slammed the book shut. “My sister, Zaine, or were you hoping to simply sneak upstairs without her absence being noted?” “This isn’t my fault.” He pointed a finger at the princess. “Your sister is out to ruin my knight’s quest by running off like this. Twice. And you, you’re as bad as she is. You’re both out to get me.” “She ran off?” Mery sat up, the book sliding onto the seat next to her, momentarily forgotten. “What happened?” Zaine sneered. “I thought you would have already known what she was planning. You two are twins in every sense but appearance.” The fire in the hearth behind her flared. “Not every sense. She’s not likely to take a knife to you in your sleep if you hurt me, but if you hurt her …” She let the threat hang and then her voice lowered to a snarl. “What happened?”