Page 66 of Crown of Ellova: Vol 1

“Ready for wh—” His question dies on his lips as we enter another set of enormous jeweled and white wooden double doors.

Leon has stopped walking, staring up with his mouth slack. It opens and closes a few times before he can get the words out. “I’ve never seen anything like this. How is it organized? How do we get any of the books from the top? Is it open to everyone? Who carved the shelves?”

I laugh at his flurry of questions. “Yes, it’s open to everyone. The ancient fae who started the Ink Court carved the library.” The rest he will need to see for himself, so I take his hand in mine, pulling him along to follow me.

The main library in Bardhana houses millions of books, the shelves built directly into the mountain and extending so far up one can barely see the top. The most rare and fragile are stored up high, away from the constant traffic of hands and the floating lights. Many of the shelves are painted or ornately carved, touches added by countless fae over the centuries.

Nueena comes to a stop in front of one of three large tree desks to the left of the main doors. Reyna, the Scroll Keeper and Guardian of the Ink Court, a petite fae with chin-length dark brown waits for us with two guards. Her shoulders, chest, and thighs are covered in floral and moth tattoos of vivid colors alongside intricate fae markings, including the Ink Court’s crest tattooed just below her neck.

Reyna is in a sleeveless and cropped tunic that shows the tan skin of her midriff and leggings that have been cut off at the tops ofher thighs. Along her arms, on her shoulders, and in her hair are five large glowing light green moon moths lazily flapping their wings. They seem undisturbed as she moves.

Reyna hugs Nueena first before turning to me in greeting. I wrap my arms around her, careful of her moths and their delicate wings. Each moth is thousands of years old.

“Reyna, this is my friend Leon.”My hands move in elegant motions of the Ellovian hand language.”

She smiles warmly at him. “Hello, Leon.”

I show Leon the proper sign and he greets her.

Before we step away, Nueena waves her hands to inquire about Reyna’s own family and work, making signs and symbols in the air in front of her. The tattooed librarian passionately updates Nueena on her latest research.

“Thank you for meeting us on such short notice. I need your assistance with research, but it must stay between us. It is of a delicate nature. So you are the only one I can trust with this request.”Nueena ensures her hand movements are concealed if anyone is watching us.

Reyna’s face shifts into determination as she responds, “I will help in any way possible. Does this have to do with your coronation?”

Nueena shakes her head. “No, this is more of a historical request.We seek knowledge of the mortal elixir that Inara created, her magic, and anything on the stolen crown and the war that followed to try to get it back.” She hands Reyna a small scroll sealed with wax in the High Court’s colors. “My mother has written down a few texts she believes may help us. We can also use anything about the Merawood’s magic.”

“This is Reyna,” I explain as Leon watches the expressive hand movements Reyna gives Nueena with great interest. They both laugh at something Nueena signed. “She’s Head Librarian and in charge of the Ink Court. You will see her again for the coronation ball, when each court Guardian presents a gift to Nueena as a show of good faith in her future leadership of Ellova. She is Deaf; that is why we are communicating with Ellovian hand signs.”

“Is that a language everyone here knows?”

“Of course. All fae are taught as dewlings so everyone cancommunicate with one another. Is that not the case where you are from?”

“No, it would only be used in households and small communities.”

The Scroll Keeper grabs a leather satchel off the wall and hooks it carefully over her shoulder, so as not to disturb the moths, before dipping her hands in a fine white powder and scaling the white stone walls of the library.

We all watch as she ascends row after row, swiftly and with graceful precision, carefully choosing where she puts her hands on the rocky shelves.

The moths take flight, fluttering around to land on a few books, guiding her to the ones she is intent on collecting. After a few minutes, high above us, she removes another book from where a moth has landed and places it in her bag. She does this a few more times, climbing all over the place, following the moths, before making a quick descent to us.

Once she is safely on the ground, she hands us the books. Nueena, Tavien, and I all do the sign of gratitude for her efforts, and the moths fly down and gently rest once again on her.

Reyna looks curiously at Leon, who gives her a small wave before he follows us out.

Tavien walks us up a flight of stairs to his spacious private office. Bookshelves stuffed with ancient tomes line the rocky walls adorned with multiple portraits of Nueena. The oval-shaped desk in the center is covered in notes, scrolls, and sketches of plants.

He hardly works here anymore. His private library and personal collections of the histories he has written moved to the palace, but it still smells faintly of him. Leather-bound books, smoke from a cheery fireplace, and Nueena’s perfume.

Nueena and Tavien look at each other and she gives him a small nod.

Leon peers down at the sketches, but Tavien slaps a hand on his shoulder, steering him out of the room. “Leon, I must show you something.”

Leon gives me one last glance. Nueena and I watch the two ofthem leave, shutting the door behind them. My concern deepens when protective wards flare up around us, locking in any sounds.

She takes a seat at the small table to rub her forehead for a moment and gazes at me, or rather, at what is concealed behind the twisted hair hiding the crown.

“Del, we have a problem.”

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