Dusk's Revenge by A.W. Exley

Author:A.W. Exley [Exley, A.W.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ribbonwood Press

16

Dawn sipped her tea and mustered up the courage to add her own request to their visit. “If it is possible, Your Grace, I would very much like to visit your Ravensblood tree. Jasper tells me it is the original one, and I wish to learn all I can about my unique position to better serve my family.”

It would seem the ocean was in a placid mood today. He beamed at Dawn as though her request pleased him. “When you have had enough of dusty books, ask Figgins to fetch Her Grace. I’m sure Enid would be delighted to show you our tree.”

Once they had finished their tea, which surprisingly was all it took to catch up on forty years of Warder history, they were shown through to a library with vast soaring stacks of books. Narrow catwalks ran around the room to give access to the upper reaches, although ladders weren’t entirely necessary when you had an Elemental at hand who could fly.

“Where do we start?” Dawn asked as her gaze wandered over the thousands of books before them.

Jasper stood in the centre of the room and stared at one wall. “With the one thing we know for certain: the plot against Elizabeth Tudor. We need a full accounting of all the Soarers involved in the conspiracy.”

There appeared to be a chronological order to the books, and it didn’t take long to find those for the late sixteenth century. Jasper selected two large tomes and laid them both on the desk. “These are the testimonies of those involved. Which one do you want?”

Dawn glanced at the two books, so similar with their worn leather covers and gilt lettering. She rested a hand on the closest one. “I’ll start here.”

She dragged the book closer and took a seat. The penmanship was exquisite, but it took some adjustment before her mind could scan the lines of ornate script and old English. It was incredible to her that the monarch who’d reigned so long ago had been saved by the actions of Jasper’s mother and father.

A footman who moved on silent feet brought them another tray of refreshments. No biscuits that might leave crumbs, however, nor scones that might dribble butter over the priceless books.

Dawn read of the group of Soarers who’d plotted to murder Elizabeth and set their own replacement on the throne. What could have been an exciting story worthy of a novel was reduced to dry wherefores and hithertos. Two hours had passed in the peaceful library when one name leapt off the page at her.

“Here.” She looked up to meet Jasper’s curious grey gaze. She kept her finger on the sentence and read it aloud for her mate: “‘Ignatius Hamilton is henceforth sentenced to be executed for high treason. His brother, Francis Hamilton, has been found by this committee to have unclean hands and is banished for a period of two hundred years.’”

Jasper let out a low whistle. “You found it.”

She peered at the words under her fingertip.

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