Chapter 13

Ayla had no idea what angered the King. She only hoped he wouldn't snap at her.

The presence of Milton made her feel safe. He was the only one that Ayla considered a friend. And she wanted the Mage to come to the library because the idea of being alone with the King frightened her.

"Are you coming with us?" Ayla asked Milton, her voice full of hope.

"I am actually here for Kerra. I have a problem that requires her excellent hunting skills," the Mage said.

"If you would clean your tower more often, you won't have rat problems," King Rhobart said.

"It so happens that I like my tower as it is, thank you very much. It's the rats that I don't like."

The King snorted, "I don't know how you find anything in there."

"That's because I know exactly where to look. Well then. I will take Kerra and leave. The sooner I get rid of my problem, the sooner I can get back to my work."

Ayla had to bite the inside of the cheeks to stop herself from asking Milton to come along.

"I only have an hour free. If you still want to see the library, we should get going," the King said after Milton and Kerra left. He still sounded angry.

To Ayla's surprise, King Rhobart turned and left the room.

Even if the idea of being alone with the King didn't sit well with Ayla, she wanted to see the royal library. She loved the smell of old pages. Not to mention all the things she could learn from reading.

"Wait! I am coming!" Ayla said before hurrying after him.

By the time she was out the door, he had already turned left in the hallway. The King walked too fast for Ayla to keep up with him. Her short legs were no match to his long ones. Left with no other choice, she lifted her skirts and started running after him.

'Where's the fire?' Ayla thought.

By the time she finally caught up with the King, she was panting.

Suddenly, the King stopped, looked at her as if he had just realized she was there, and mumbled something under his breath. After that, he resumed walking. But this time, he walked slower, at the same pace as Ayla.

When they entered the library, Ayla stopped breathing. It wasn't her first time in a library. She spent time in the royal library of Myrthana. But this, this was something else.

Shelf after shelf of books and more books, from the floor to the ceiling. Sofas and armchairs, tables and chairs, were close to the shelves. Furs covered the floor, and magic crystals were placed around the library.

People that Ayla did not recognize occupied some sofas and armchairs, reading.

And in the middle of the library stood a round table made from marble. There were no chairs around it.

Her mouth must have dropped to the floor because the King chuckled.

"What do you think?" he asked.

Not taking her eyes from the books, Ayla replied, "It is wonderful!"

"What do you want to see first?"

Ayla looked around, and her eyes fell once again on the round table. Curiosity filled her.

"Can I see that table first?"

King Rhobart laughed, "I bring you here to see books, and the first thing you want to see is a table. Fine."

When they got close to it, Ayla saw a map of the continent on it. It was the first time she had seen one. She was fascinated by it.

"So this is Uhzor," Ayla said, her tone full of wonder.

King Rhobart frowned, "Haven't you seen a map before?"

"I wasn't permitted to enter the Council Room. It was there where the maps were kept. The only day I have entered that room was the day…." she said but stopped speaking when her eyes found the Kingdom of Myrthana on the map. The place that had been her home. A home where she had been more sad than happy. But she missed it. She missed the warm days and her garden, not the castle.

He looked at her for a long time before speaking, "Then permit me to show you Uzhor.

King Rhobart placed his finger on the map, "In the north is Nordmar. Home to the endless winter. And the biggest kingdom. The Jade River, which starts in the East, separates Nordmar from Myrthan and Istiria and finds its end to the West, in the Infinite Ocean." His finger traced the Jade River while he spoke.

"Myrthana is next. The third biggest Kingdom. The best silk is produced here. Also, home to the Water Mages. And countless rivers," he continued.

Ayla wanted to roll her eyes but stopped at the last moment.

"East from Myrthana, we have Davalon, and South from it is Istiria. Davalon has good music while Istiria knows how to make good wine. South of Myrthana is Kummeral, and next to it is Auxaria. Kummeral is famous for its ships. Auxaria has the best horses."

His finger moved above the last Kingdom, "And Drara, the great desert, which the nomad tribes call home. The second biggest Kingdom."

But that was not all the continent; as King Rhobart's finger moved East from Drara, was a forest that started at one point and ended at the other point of the map – from South to North, "The Black Forest. And from there, going all the way East, we have the Uncharted Lands. Home of the Orcs."