Anna’s door burst open, and Lyreen rushed into the room.

“Get up!” she said.

“What’s wrong?” Anna asked.

“Nothing. We just need you to come with us today,” Elaine replied.

She stepped into the room behind Lyreen and closed the door.

“Where are we going?” Anna asked.

She got out of bed and went over to her table where her clothes were laid out.

“We got permission to enter the restricted part of the library, so we can research curses, but only for a day, so we need you to come and memorize the books we find,” Lyreen replied.

“Oh, okay,” Anna said.

She finished getting dressed and then went to retrieve Ted.

“You can’t bring your sword to a library,” Lyreen said.

“I can’t?” Anna asked.

“No, you can’t. Now come on!” Lyreen replied.

“Alright, alright,” Anna said.

They left her room, and she locked up behind her.

“So, why only a day?” Anna asked.

“Honestly, they were being generous because Elaine is a member of the necromancer’s guild,” Lyreen replied.

“Wouldn’t that make them less likely to let her in?” Anna asked.

“The necromancer’s guild is a well-respected organization with a vast library of its own which they loan out to other institutions around the world. I’m guessing they were worried the guild would take their books back if they found out one of their members was turned away,” Elaine replied.

“So, they don’t want us there, but they can’t turn us away?” Anna asked.

“You got it,” Elaine replied.

“No wonder you wanted me,” Anna said.

“You were coming with us either way,” Lyreen replied.

“I was?” Anna asked.

“Yes,” Lyreen replied.

“Okay, well, let’s go,” Anna said.

They hurried down the stairs and out of the inn where they kept a rushed pace until they reached the library.

Oh, wow! This place is huge! Just look at all the glass windows! It must have cost a fortune to build it!

She openly gawked at the architecture as they walked to the entrance. The library was several stories tall and constructed using the same stone covered in plaster as the rest of the city with the only real difference being the large number of glass windows built.

They walked up to the main entrance, and Elaine pushed the massive wooden doors open with ease. The interior of the library smelled of old leather and paper with a hint of mildew. Everywhere she looked, there were enormous shelves that were filled to the brim with books and scrolls.

A large round desk sat in the center of the room, and her friends headed toward it. She scurried along after them, sliding between them when they reached the desk. One of the men glanced over at them before walking over to them with a sour look on his face.

“What do you want?” he asked.

“We have a pass for the restricted section,” Elaine replied.

She took out a folded piece of paper and handed it to him. He looked it over, his frown growing deeper.

“Very well, follow me,” he said.

He handed Elaine the paper, stepped out from inside the desk, and walked briskly towards the back of the library. They followed the grumpy man past the many shelves and towards a long hallway.

“Hey, did you know Arthur liked me?” she asked.

“I take it you just figured it out?” Elaine asked.

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“Yeah,” Anna replied.

“You know, it was pretty obvious,” Lyreen added.

“Not to me it wasn’t,” Anna replied.

“That’s cause you’re slow,” Lyreen said.

“I am not!” Anna replied.

“I actually agree with the elf here. You’ve been acting pretty dense lately,” Elaine added.

“What do you mean by that?” she asked.

“Normally when men start sniffing around, you bop them on the nose and send them on their way,” Elaine replied.

“Well, I don’t want to upset him,” Anna said.

“Since when do you care about that? I mean, I remember when you told one man to stretch because the only way he was getting his dick sucked was if he did it himself,” Lyreen replied.

“We’re going to be traveling together for months. I really don’t want to do that. Besides, he’s not being rude about it like that guy was,” Anna said.

“Just tell him you’re not into men,” Lyreen replied.

“Do you think that would work?” Anna asked.

“As long as you don’t tell him you’re not into women either it will,” Elaine replied.

“Why not?” Anna asked.

“He’d probably just think you haven’t met the right person and keep trying,” Elaine replied.

“Oh,” Anna said.

The man stopped at a door and unlocked it, pulling it open and gesturing for them to go inside.

“The index is on the table in the center of the room. Leave any books you read there and just walk out when you’re finished. The door locks itself,” he said.

“Thanks,” Elaine replied.

They walked into the room, and the man closed the door behind them.

“I don’t think he liked us very much,” Anna said.

“I doubt he likes anyone very much,” Elaine replied.

The room was very much like the rest of the library with bookshelves lining the walls and a table in the center of the room that had a large dresser covered in small drawers. They walked to the table, and Elaine pulled out a seat.

“Get comfortable,” she said.

Anna sat down and the mages started to pull the drawers out looking through the little cards they contained. After a few minutes, they walked off in separate directions leaving her alone at the table.

I could probably read every book in this place if I just used my eyes and tentacles, but that’s probably not a good idea.

She sighed.

I’m getting tired of hiding everything about me, and I miss my hair!

Lyreen returned a few moments later and placed a stack of books next to her.

“There are a few in dark elvish. I know you don’t know that language yet, but you can learn it later,” she said.

“Okay,” Anna replied.

She took the first book from the stack and started to read it.

Lyreen looked at the cards again before heading back to the shelves. Elaine placed her armful of books on the table and then went back to the shelves, leaving Anna with a large pile to get through.

She finished the first book in a few minutes and then moved on to the next. The two mages piled the books up next to her so fast that even she couldn’t keep up, and within a few minutes, most of the table was covered.

“Are you going to make me read all of the books?” she asked.

“Just the ones on curses,” Lyreen replied.

She went back to reading, picking up the pace in the hopes of finishing the pile before their time ran out.

Once they finished collecting every book they thought might contain helpful knowledge, they sat down at the table next to her and started to pick through the pile of books she’d already finished.

“You know, it’s a little disturbing to think that there are this many different kinds of curses,” Lyreen said.

“If something exists, people will find a way to make each other miserable with it,” Elaine replied.

“That’s true,” Lyreen said.

“Some of these seem more like bad jokes than actual curses,” Anna replied.

“What makes you say that?” Elaine asked.

“I read about one that makes a person meow like a cat after every sentence,” Anna replied.

“That is kind of funny,” Lyreen said.

“That’s what I thought,” Anna replied.

“I wonder why that book ended up in the forbidden tome section?” Lyreen asked.

“There was one in it that could make someone’s skin fall off,” Anna replied.

“That’ll do it,” Elaine said.

She went back to reading, going through book after book before finally finishing several hours later.

“All done,” she said.

“We still have some time. Want to read about anything else?” Lyreen asked.

“Not even a little bit,” Anna replied.

“Don’t blame you there. How about we go get some food?” Elaine asked.

“That sounds good,” Anna replied.

“Let's get out of here before someone comes to check on us and finds this pile,” Lyreen said.

“Yeah, I doubt they’ll let me back in here when they see this,” Elaine replied.

They left quickly, heading out of the library.

It was early afternoon, so they made their way to one of the many markets scattered throughout the city. Anna sniffed the air and then started off towards one of the many tantalizing smells.

They reached the food stall where the aroma originated. The stall was selling flatbread wraps similar to the ones she’d eaten with Charlie. They each bought one and then walked away.

“So, you think Arthur’s kingdom is still there?” Lyreen asked.

“Nope,” Elaine replied.

“What do you mean? Where would it go?” Anna asked.

“It’s been years since the curse started. If they can’t grow food, people can’t live there, and without people, there is no kingdom,” Lyreen replied.

“If no one’s there, what’s the point of lifting the curse?” Anna asked.

“There isn’t,” Elaine replied.

“Then why does Arthur want to?” she asked.

“I can’t say for sure, but I’m guessing he still hopes they’re holding on somehow,” Lyreen replied.

“So, what’s going to happen if the kingdom is gone?” Anna asked.

“Knowing Arthur, I’m guessing he’s going to want to go after the sorceress to avenge the kingdom,” Elaine replied.

“I don’t mind fighting someone if they’re hurting people, but I don’t really want to go after someone just for revenge,” Anna said.

“Neither do I, and I don’t think the guild lets us take hit contracts anyway, so we won’t be able to help him if that’s what it comes to,” Lyreen replied.

“Well, I hope it doesn’t come to that,” Anna said.

“It probably won’t. I mean, since when has anything gone the way we thought it would?” Lyreen asked.

“That’s true,” Elaine replied.

“Yeah, life has been kind of weird for me so far,” Anna said.

“That’s just because you’re weird,” Lyreen replied.

“I really can’t argue with that,” Anna said.

They all laughed.

“Hey, since we’re out, why don’t we try and find you some boots that match your outfit?” Lyreen asked.

“That would be great!” Anna replied.

“I think I saw a shoemaker on the way here,” Elaine said.

“Well, lead the way,” Lyreen replied.

She gestured towards the crowded market, and Elaine gave her a mocking bow before rushing off.