Page 17 of Sonnets and Serpents
Excitement bubbled to life within her. Even if Henrywasn’there, she could at least find a translator. If any place was likely to have people who spoke other languages, it was a university.
She charged into the largest building and gasped in awe at its massive domed ceilings and sprawling library. Surely they’d lost students in the stacks and had to send out entire search parties. She climbed a ladder and stretched her neck but still couldn’t count the number of shelves.
Focus, she told herself.
But when she tried to approach the front desk, she found the python.
No one else was bothered by its presence. One girl walked by and gave a polite nod to both Elizaandthe snake.
They’re a religious symbol here, Silas’s voice taunted her.
Eliza would never understand this country. But they did have a lovely library, minus allowing a snake to inhabit it.
Slowly, Eliza inched to the side until she reached a bookshelf and could disappear around it. With the python out of sight, shepressed her hands to her chest and breathed. At least until she heard a familiar voice.
“Morning, Tulip. You’ll never believe the conversation I’ve just had with the dean.”
It was so cheerful, she almost didn’t recognize it at first. But when she peeked around the bookshelf, she saw a familiar tall figure, dressed in a brocade jacket with stunning embroidery. Silas could have been headed for a social event in Pravusat’s royal court instead of holding court with a snake.
He smiled at the python stretching its head out of the branches, and he bopped it on the nose with one finger. Fearless as a madman. “Oh, did you? We’ve both had exciting mornings, I see. That’ll teach the rats to stay out of the history stacks.”
Eliza shivered. He was lucky they weren’t in Loegria. Talking to an animal, even jokingly, would have cast suspicion on him for being a shapeshifter.
At least now she understood why hefithere. He was a student at their university. Aria must have chosen him for that reason without understanding that his personality was as rotten as month-old fish.
After leaving her todie, he was skipping around a library, cheery and remorseless.
She clenched her teeth, closing her eyes and fighting the impulse to throw her dagger at his back. Or at least a book at his head.
Ever since her curse, she had to be so very careful about controlling herself. Most days, she felt fine, but sometimes a storm brewed inside, growling with thunder that made it hard to hear logic. Navigating that storm led her to impulsive actions.
Lashing out at others. Running away from home.
She had to stay busy, had to stay focused. That was how she maintained control.
I have to find Henry.
Hopefully the python would swallow Silas, and she would never have to see him again.
Staying carefully out of sight, she crept to the library’s front desk and asked for someone who spoke Loegrian. The librarian’s eyes widened, and she gestured for Eliza to wait. A few minutes later, she returned with a handsome young man in tow. His shoulder-length brown hair reminded Eliza of Henry, and her heart cracked at the edges.
Haltingly, but in blessed Loegrian, the man asked, “You new student?”
“No, I—I’m looking for someone. There was a shipwreck, and I—” Eliza forced herself to take a deep breath and keep things simple. Speaking clearly, she said, “I need a translator.”
The man’s smile froze, and he didn’t speak right away, as if trying to pick her words apart in his mind. She knew the feeling.
At last, he said, “We have ... translation people. None talk Loegrian.” Leaning forward slightly, he gave an apologetic shrug. “Not a popular country.”
Well, she wasn’t fond of Pravusat either. Far too many snakes.
Desperately, she asked if he would translate for her, and he shook his head. His lack of fluency was clear enough, so she wasn’t surprised, only disappointed.
This had been her best lead, and it was a dead end.
Aheavy pressure built inside Eliza, like a storm on the ocean’s horizon. She tried frantically to think of her next step, the next thing to do, while ignoring the billowing clouds.
After the two librarians consulted in Pravish, the young man addressed her again. “For translation, maybe you can buy one Caster in the market.”
