Chapter Nine – The Good Souls
He loved the way she laughed. It was so honest and genuine that it brought warmth to the whole of the room although the librarian was not so pleased at the noise. From the shelf he scowled at the back of Emilie's head but quickly glanced away when Thom noticed his disapproving glare.
It was a very rare summer's day when the clouds decided to rain constantly refreshing the ground of lost water and feed the greenery again. Thom had taken the day to do some important study into the history of Galla's future seers. It was slightly tedious and completely boring as Thom was beginning to find out but something intrigued him enough to pursue it.
However by lunchtime it was looking like a lost close as he could not find sufficient information in any of the Royal Palace libraries. Then Emilie had walked in with a beaming smile and sat on the opposite chair and asked what the matter was. As he explained his research, Emilie had a small smug expression on her face as she told him to follow her.
Half an hour later they arrived at a door which was hidden from public view and sheltered by a large tapestry hanging over the opening. Thom was amazed that he had never seen this door in his whole childhood adventures around palace.
"What is it?" asked Thom as he was beckoned with a finger to enter quickly.
"This is an archive of books which the King or ruling person of the time deems unfit for public reading…usually magic related," announced Emilie, "only a few people know that it is here and you need permission from the King as the entrance is bound by his magic to stop unwanted visitors."
The room looked like a small study. On each wall, there were shelves covered with books from the ground to the ceiling and a large table in the middle of the room with writing material and four comfortable chairs. The only light which was issued into the room was a glass window facing south. Thom had never seen something so secretive.
"How did you get consent?" Thom was dumbfounded, then realised that it sounded a tad pompous of him. "Not that I think it's wrong that you should be granted access of course."
Emilie laughed and moved to the chairs and sat upon one before replying, "I haven't been awfully truthful with you Thom."
Thom gave her a quizzing look as he sat across from her, waiting patiently for her to continue. What does she mean by that? I know everything about her! Don't I?
"You see, I'm not just head organiser for the royal events…King Jonathan has also trained me to be his court spy." Emilie glanced at Thom's shocked face. "After my arrival from the convents four years ago, I blended into every circle at court which was noticed by the spy master and it was suggested to the King that it would be wise to have someone loyal being an ear on the ground level. Mostly it's reporting back to King on how others in court feel about the new laws and ideas being implemented."
Thom could not believe what he was hearing but then it made a lot of sense to him. He knew that there were two sides to Emilie's character – the public face and the private.
"However in recent months, it has become serious", Emilie sighed loudly; "there has been a lot of negativity about the up and coming marriage of Roald. Most are happy seeing it strengthening ties with allies yet a few of the conservatives find it is the last straw that they are willing to take from the King. There has been some threats of a attack…," Thom straightening up considerable after hearing that, "and whispering of an act of rebellion…"
"Who, demanded Thom ready at this moment to confront such low lives.
"I'm afraid I can't say." Emilie looked out wistfully and a silence grew between the pair. It was not painful but Thom sensed that it had more to do with permitting him think on Emilie's revelation than the King's life being in danger.
"So my father skilled you in the arts of spying", commented Thom, finally putting pieces together. He always wondered how Emilie knew so many things particularly where he could be found and he should have realised when his father mentioned Emilie with a strange regard.
"Of course, the King sent for the best."
"Who actually knows that you are a spy?"
"Only a hand full," said Emilie softly returning her gaze to his. "The King, your father, yourself and my sister Lessa, due to her ability to read minds. Everyone else sees a frivolous court lady looking for a husband."
"You play the part well."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"It was one."
"I'm sorry that I couldn't tell you sooner."
"I know how it is," Thom replied bitterly, "I grew up with it all my life."
"Are you angry at me for it?" quizzed Emilie who started to fiddle with her fan.
Thom paused. Am I angry for being pulled back into a life that I wanted none of? Did I really hate it that much…not being told what was happening…have people come in and out of our home…never knowing with in Mirtho's name would happen to either father or mother? It took a long time for Thom to figure out what to say to Emilie.
"As long as we make a pact now that you will tell me where you are going…," he could see Emilie about to interrupt, "you don't have to discuss what or why…just where so that if anything happens I know where to find you."
"You'll be my knight in shining armour rescuing me?" Emilie smiled sadly. "I don't think that I would like putting you in such dangers Thom."
"Do you think I'm ecstatic letting you gallivant off?" Thom responded angrily. He was more annoyed at Emilie's calmness than of her flippant remark. "If I find out that you are in trouble and you gave me the wrong information then I will put you into a glacier for the rest of your life!"
Emilie laughed then, finding the whole situation amusing. "I don't like the cold…so I will promise to tell you my destinations."
"Good", Thom walked over to her seat and kissed the top of her head, "because I hate the cold also and would hate having to live in a glacier."
Emilie grinned as she clasped his hand and dragged him to the far corner of the room, next to the window and pointed to the shelf. "These are the books that you might find interesting for your research. I had to ask for the King to permit your usage of the room which if you turn into a nasty mage I will be hold responsible…so no turning to evil mister."
"How can I when I have such a sweet and docile creature like you to occupy my time?" Thom ventured out and receiving a slap from the fan on the back of head. He made a grab for Emilie who tried to escape from his hold but find miserable as he put a shield up stopping her movement.
"That's cheating Thom," she tried to say with a stern face but her eyes gave her away. They were laughing merrily.
"But sometimes being bad is a good thing", he murmured in her ear before pulling her close for a kiss. Although Emilie tensed slightly at the beginning, she soon relaxed against Thom's chest, trailing her hands up to around his neck which brought them nearer.
When they pulled apart to breathe, Emilie started to untangled herself from Thom's hold which, if he was being honest with himself, Thom did not like one bit. He loved it when he had Emilie all to himself. It had been hard trying to remain friendly in front of others when all he wanted to sweep her off her feet and shout from the Balor's Needle that he was in love.
However before any declaration could be made, he wanted Emilie to have some kind of friendly relationship with his mother. He knew that if the Lioness was against something it was like teaching a Stormwing to be a vegetarian.
"We need to have plan for ma to start liking you", Thom blurt out to the empty room.
Emilie stopped her tugging of Thom's arm and winced. "She doesn't like me, does she?"
To hide the fact would be fooling both of them and Thom liked dealing with problems face on. "She doesn't know you because you never socialise together. After a few meetings face to face, I'm sure she'll see the real you."
"And pigs might fly", muttered Emilie as her shoulders slumped in defeat. "What if she never likes me?"
"But she will", Thom declared, "and, if by a very slim chance, she can't see that you make me happier than anything in the world, then I will go ahead without her consent and marry you."
"That would be an awful wedding", Emilie snorted at the picture. "I think I better try my best and please her."
"Me too", Thom nodded seriously, "I wouldn't want to die the same day I get married…I'll miss the best part of the whole procedure…"
"What part?" Emilie asked out of curiosity.
"The wedding night of course", Thom grinned as Emilie went very red in the face, being extremely embarrassed at his remark. "Are you blushing dear Emilie?"
"Shut up you!" Emilie glared at him. "I don't like being teased!"
"Oh but it is so fun", Thom clapped his hands like a spoilt child, "and you look so lovely in red, dear."
"I'm warning you Thom, behave."
Thom shrugged his shoulders yet grinned as Emilie gave him her famous death glare. "I better get to work so I can finish up for supper…" he slapped his hand on his head, "I forgot that I am meeting up with my parents again…and probably Nataila. Help me?"
Thom hoped that his face looked pleading enough to move Emilie to take pity on him however she grinned back at him.
"I warned you that teasing would come back and bite you." She crossed her arms in front of her chest and smiled smugly.
"You would leave a defenceless man", Emilie snorted, "to be groped and proposition by another female! You have a cold heart Emilie of Queenscove. I don't how why I love you…please help me…please."
Thom knew that if his fellow mates could see him, a black mage, begging for a court lady to attended a dinner with him, they would roll around the ground laughing their heads off.
"I hate when you beg," grumbled Emilie, "makes me promise to do anything…What's your plan of attack then?"
"Well, I was think that we should be discuss something in my room at the required time that I am suppose to be at my parents…ma will either appear herself or da around to collect me and if that happens then it would be impolite to not invite you."
"I've taught you too well at court games I see," Emilies sighed in defeat. "I'll leave in a couple of hours to change and be ready for plan – Saving a Black Mage too scared of his ex-lover."
"That's a tad long for a title don't you think?"
"No. It's perfect." Emilie stuck out her tongue before disappearing through the doors.
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I know that this is shorter than the rest of the chapter but I thought it was necessary to fill you in with Emilie. Hope you enjoyed it! Thank you so much for the reviews. They really help in pushing me to continue on to the next chapter!