Page 22 of Lady's Steed
“Don’t apologize. Given the recent events, I’m surprised you didn’t spend the night in here.” Grigoire had found Avera more than once tucked in a chair with a book instead of asleep in her bed. She’d found comfort in stories. “Did you need something to distract? I just received a new book from Merisu that has some lovely poetry.”
Tempting, but… “Actually, I was looking to inform myself on my new duties, however, I can’t seem to find King Alfred’s book. I wanted to refresh myself on the Royal Covenants.”
“It’s right…” Grigoire paused and looked puzzled as he crouched in front of the shelf. “It should have been here.” He pointed to the empty spot.
“Someone must have borrowed it.”
“You mean stolen, since they never told me,” Grigoire huffed. He kept track of all the books because, like Avera, he considered knowledge quite priceless.
“I’m sure someone didn’t steal it. More like forgot to mention they took it,” she soothed.
“You are too nice,” Grigoire growled. His expression hardened. “I will find it for you, Your Majesty.”
“Thank you. In the meantime, is there anything else with a comprehensive summary of the Covenants? I’m especiallyinterested in how the succession of the throne is supposed to be handled.”
“The oldest heir inherits,” Grigoire declared.
“I know that. Given circumstances though, I wanted to know what would happen should there be no heir.”
Grigoire’s eyes widened. “Such a thing would be unprecedented.”
“So is the murder of an entire family down to the smallest child. It’s only because of the Grand Rook’s skill I survived.”
The reminder made Grigoire wince. “Luckily they did not succeed, My Queen.”
“Yet,” Avera emphasized. “Hence why I want to know what the covenant stated, should that matter arise. After all, heirs die, couples can be barren. Surely our many times great forefather had the foresight to include something should that scenario ever occur.”
“I don’t know.” Grigoire blushed as he admitted, “I never did read the entire thing.”
But she had the feeling someone had. Most likely the same someone who’d taken the book and arranged the deadly assassinations.
Since Grigoire appeared flustered, she changed the subject. “What can you tell me about Fraegus Spire?”
“Nasty place. I have a few books that mention it,” Grigoire declared as he waddled to shelves, pulling books at seeming random and piling them on a table. “Nothing grows on the spire, too cold and rocky. Also quite dangerous. Few have gone exploring. Even fewer have returned.”
“Is it known why?”
“Hard to ask a dead man,” was his blunt reply. “However, there are theories.”
When she remained quiet, Grigoire expounded. “There are claims that storms can hit suddenly, blizzards that can freeze abody to death almost instantly. There are other hazards. Rock climbing even under ideal circumstances is perilous. Look at those who die attempting the cliffs every year to gather eggs.” The vulconawk, a very large bird, nested on the few ledges and in crevices of the cliffs. Their oversized eggs fetched a hefty sum in the market. “And then there are the rumors of monsters.”
“Monsters?” Gustav scoffed, showing he’d been listening.
“Nonsense of course,” Grigoire agreed. “Most likely it’s simply bears and wolves who’ve adapted to the climate and see those exploring the spire as easy meals.”
“As a child, my nursemaid used to sing a song about the sleeping beast under the spire.” Avera wracked her memories to remember it. “Something about, ‘it sleeps, it waits, until the time of fate.’”
Grigoire snorted. “Ah yes, ‘The Conquering Dragon’. An odd choice to sing a child.”
It did have violent bits, but she’d always enjoyed the verse,Upon its back, sword and tiara shall fly, against the darkness that would arise.
“You don’t think the mountain holds a sleeping dragon?” she asked.
“Dragons are a myth,” Gustav stated with finality.
“Pity,” she murmured. The few fables she’d read depicted them as magnificent beasts.
“Here are the best books for information on the Spire.” Grigoire thumped the stack he’d placed on the table. “I’ll see if I can find others, but like I said, not many have managed to explore much other than the base. None certainly ever reached the peak and returned.”