Witch

Ch. 2: Fragile Bond

Irus appears to be lost in the royal palace at an ungodly hour as she now searches for the royal library – the place probably where she can find the kingdom's records, all of Tanghour's tribes and clan, as well as their customs and traditions, tales, symbols, traditional musical instruments; anything that shall give her knowledge of what is most expected of her to be chosen by the royal council members and even the king himself.

What a strategy, I must say. However, shall she be able to make use of the knowledge she is about to acquire? Or shall she even be able to find the royal library in this large palace?

To my greatest surprise, it appeared she had finally found the doors to the library, as she pushes the right leaf of the door slightly open, smuggling herself into the library.

Her jaw slightly dropped with little of astonishment on her face, though I do not assume that she is astonished about the library. Perhaps she thinks the library is more spacious than the royal library at her home town.

Indeed, the library is quite spacious. It has bookshelves like that of giants, filled with books and tall golden ladders with wheels attached to them.

She climbed one of the ladders and the ladder began to move. She holds on to the bookshelf for it to stop as she began climbed further to the top of the bookshelf. Perhaps the floor is so smooth that if one moves on a ladder, the wheels will move with ease. Though, she appears not to be afraid of heights, unlike most people when they try to climb the ladders. This is probably the reason people do not climb the ladder any further, to reach the top of the bookshelves.

She slides out a book that had a brown cover as she opens the book, only to see that it is as good as useless to her; for all it had were words that had been written in a language that is not familiar to her.

Even I, that have lived in Tanghour for a year now, I still wonder the language that only Tanghourians speaks and are able to understand. I even heard that the most important of all books in the royal library are of the ones written in this language.

Irus lifts up her eyes and turns to the left to have a glance at more of the books on the other bookshelves. I was just by her left, sitting on the ladder next to her when she got a glimpse of me and gasped in fright, letting the book she was holding to slip from her fingers as she still managed to catch it before it almost fell to the floor.

Am I that frightening because I am a black cat, or do people just get naturally frightened when they see a black cat? Besides, my master, Reonor have never been frightened by my presence.

She sighed in relief before turning to have a proper look at what she had noticed. She shook her head with a smile on her face, probably finding it amusing that she thought she had seen a ghost at first.

“Meow!”

“Well, I presume you are as lost in this large palace as I am. Do not worry, we will find a way,” she said to me.

I presume she has a habit of talking to animals and things, which I would call madness. I hope she eventually gets rid of such habit.

“Do you need me to put you down?” She inquired, already stretching her arms to reach for me.

I do not desire to be touched, talk more of being carried. Despite that, she will never understand. Probably because I do not speak and all I have to do is a groan hunger. I hope I do not open my claws and give her a little scratch. I shall now take my leave to my Master's chambers; for I am tired of watching her.

I descended from the ladder, landing on my paws as I found Asthon passing by when he saw the door open, which he probably found suspicious; that someone would be inside, as he smuggled himself into the royal library. He then found me and looked up from where I descended, only to find Irus on a ladder returning the book into the bookshelf.

“Milady, what are you doing up there?” He inquired.

“I... found it difficult to fall into slumber, so I decided to take a tour around the palace since no one could do us the honour, as candidates for the position of queen, of taking a grand tour,” she answered, probably lying to him.

“I apologize for the unwelcoming gesture from the king, and not doing the needful,” he replied.

“Would you mind if I borrow one of the books here?”

“Which of the books would like to borrow, if I ask?”

“Well, I have not made my choice, yet.”

“But it is getting late, Milady. At least, come down from the ladder.”

She slowly descends from the tall ladder as he offers his hand to her, so she could reach the floor gently. They both lock gazes with each other when she finally reaches the floor. Asthon finally looks away and clears his throat.

It is definitely in the eyes that two people build a bond; a fragile bond that can be made strong or be broken by uncertainty.

“So, why go to the top of the bookshelf for a book when we have many other books down here? You could fall from the ladder if you are not careful.”

“The most interesting books are the ones at the top of the bookshelf, right? Besides, if you thought I was afraid of heights, you are wrong.”

With an innocent face, she pretends to be a novice; for she claims not to know that the most important books are the ones hidden in between other books at the top of the bookshelves.

“Perhaps you should head to your chambers; for I am certain you shall fall into deep slumber this time,” he suddenly changes their topic of discussion.

It turns out that Irus certainly has no knowledge of where her chamber could be. She had ran off to the library without making inquiry about her chamber. I wonder what she shall do next.

“May I request that you walk me to... my chambers?” She requested.

“Yes... gladly.”

He leaves her way, so she could walk in front. However, she prefers to walk side by side with him; for she is completely lost in this large palace and needs him to take her to where her chamber is without letting him know.

He led her to the corridors, and to her chamber as she requested from him. She opened the right leaf of the door to go in as she turns back to him instead; to thank him.

“Thank you for granting me this request of mine,” she said.

She received a nod as a response to her appreciation as he finally takes his leave to probably retire to his own chamber.