Page 66 of Kingdom of Locks

Aurelia looked up in alarm. “But won’t they be missed?”

“I’m allowed to take whatever books I like from the library,” Amell assured her. “I’ll just take them back once you’re finished. And there’s no rush,” he added quickly.

Aurelia nodded, her heart seeming to inflate. He was planning to come back, the borrowed books were proof.

“I, uh…I brought you something else,” Amell said, his voice definitely gruff now. Mama Gail had taken their plates back to the sink, but Aurelia saw her glance over. “I’m afraid they got a bit crushed by the ride, but hopefully they’ll still brighten the place up for a while.”

He pulled a final item from his satchel, and Aurelia’s eyes widened at the sight of a delicate bunch of vibrant pink flowers, wrapped carefully in paper.

“What are they?” she asked reverently, running her fingers along the long petals of one of the flowers. There seemed to be two types of blooms in the bundle.

“They’re roses and lilies,” Amell said. “They’re both very popular types of flowers. They caught my eye in the market, and I thought you would both like them. I didn’t know if you had any growing within sight.”

“They’re beautiful,” said Aurelia, drinking them in. “And I’ve never seen either of them before.”

“It’s a long while since I saw a rose,” Mama Gail commented, lowering herself into the seat next to her daughter. “Very thoughtful of you. Although we’ll have to be careful to hide all this when Cyfrin comes.”

Aurelia frowned at her mother, thinking she was showing less enthusiasm than the occasion called for.

“Did you discover anything about the magic that’s keeping us here?” Mama Gail asked, her eyes on Amell.

He sighed. “Nothing terribly helpful, I’m afraid. I spoke with one of the guild’s most senior enchanters. Apparently true restraining enchantments are very strong. He agreed to work on an artifact that might counteract it, but he wasn’t very optimistic, and he told me not to expect results anytime soon.”

“Were you able to tell him about us, then?” Aurelia asked, sitting up straighter.

Amell shook his head regretfully. “I wasn’t. The magic wouldn’t let me. If I could have, I imagine the project might take more priority, even with the prison break. Still, I was able to find other ways to ask for the information I wanted.”

“That was very clever of you,” she encouraged him, but his answering smile was a little strained. She could tell he was disappointed he hadn’t been able to achieve more, and it warmed her to him even further.

“He confirmed what we already knew about keys,” Amell added, his eyes drifting to Mama Gail. “The action could be anything, so not much help there. He also said they’re a bit like counterforces. Do you know about those?”

Mama Gail nodded. “I didn’t before we were locked up here. But Cyfrin has a book about them in his study, so we have a pretty good grasp of the concept.”

“Can I see this study?” Amell asked, standing. “You said the enchantment is limited to those named, so I should be able to go in, right?”

Aurelia stood as well, feeling a little forlorn as she wandered toward the study behind the other two. She was used to the frustration of being kept out while Mama Gail went in, but it was much harder to take when Amell was in there, too. It was a decent sized room, one side of it filled with bookshelves which jutted out into the space. The pair disappeared behind them while searching, and Aurelia walked back to the table, touching the flowers again. She tried to picture Amell walking the markets, seeing the beautiful blooms, and thinking of her. Color flooded her cheeks, but it wasn’t an unpleasant sensation.

Mama Gail and Amell came back out of the study after several minutes, and Aurelia couldn’t help being suspicious at the thoughtful look on the prince’s face. She had no doubt they’d been having a private word, and she couldn’t help feeling a little aggrieved.

“Well,” said the prince, not speaking quite naturally. “I shouldn’t linger too long today. I’ve left poor Furn wandering the woods. Turning gray before his time because of my constant disappearing, no doubt.”

“Who’s Furn?” Aurelia asked, her heart sinking at this prompt departure.

“He’s my personal guard,” Amell explained. “His name is Sir Furnis, but we call him Furn. My sister and I, that is. He’s a good sort, and I don’t usually keep things from him. But thanks to the magic, I can’t even tell the poor fellow what I’m up to.”

“You have a sister?” Aurelia asked, fascinated.

“We know that,” Mama Gail reminded her. “King Bern and Queen Pietra rule Fernedell, and their children are Princess Tora and Crown Prince Amell.”

“Oh yes, of course,” said Aurelia. She smiled at Amell. “Mama Gail has drilled me on the royalty of every kingdom in Solstice, although I’m not sure why I need to know. We have a lot of time up here, you see, so we’re always looking for new things to do. I just forgot about your sister, because it’s hard to comprehend that our Amell, the handsome stranger who appeared magically in our clearing, is actuallyPrinceAmell.”

Amell’s neck turned red, and Mama Gail cleared her throat. Watching in dismay as they exchanged a meaningful look, Aurelia realized she’d erred.

“Did I say something strange?” she asked, inwardly cursing her inexperience when it came to interacting with anyone but her mother. The truth suddenly dawned on her, and she felt her face heat furiously. “I shouldn’t say you’re handsome to your face, should I?”

Amell suddenly laughed, lightening the tension. “I don’t mind,” he assured her, a twinkle in his eye. “But I’m sure my aforementioned sister would tell you not to give me a big head.”

Aurelia smiled, his casual air easing her embarrassment. “She sounds fun. I wish I could meet her.”

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