Previous
Chapter 82: Spill Your Secrets!
Kailani swam quickly but quietly through the halls, turning around when she saw a potential guard that would cross her path. Thankfully, all the swimming around the palace’s halls made her adept to easily avoid others when she wanted to. Eventually, she was facing the entrance to the library and floated there a moment, noting the eerie stillness amongst the shelves.
Suddenly, she saw the slightest bit of movement out of the corner of her eye, and she decided to follow it. The feather tips made her realize that it was the same Skydancer she saw outside the palace with Aalto, and hope leapt in her chest. Rather than have the chance of losing the unknown dragon, she called out in her most regal tone, “You there! Stop where you are.”
The dragon immediately froze, and Kailani was able to catch up to the Skydancer, who seemed to be clutching something tightly against aer chest. In fact, ae seemed to be visibly shaking in fear. Kailani gave a small smile,
Maybe fear will cause this Skydancer to easily spill what ae was doing with Aalto. But then again, fear may seal this one’s lips up completely. Here goes nothing…
“Rather odd to get a snack at this hour and eat it in the library. Isn’t there a rule against bringing food in here?” Kailani started, hoping to break the initial tension. The Skydancer was shocked to see that the dragon that caught aer was Kailani and looked confused at her words. After a moment to process, ae started chuckling nervously, “What? Oh. Yeah! My apologies, Your Highness. Just some late night cravings after sorting through the tomes we have. But you’re right, I shouldn’t be eating here, even though I am the librarian and all. Got standards to uphold, right? So, I’ll just be on my way…”
Kailani blocked the Skydancer’s path, “But then again, I wouldn’t advise eating that scroll you have there. Probably would give you a stomach ache.” The Skydancer’s eyes began to widen, “You saw me?” Kailani nodded and spoke quietly, “I won’t breathe a word of it to anyone…as long as you tell me what you were doing with Aalto. Who are you and who are you writing to?”
The Skydancer gulped and looked around frantically, “My name is Lanuola, but we can’t speak here…there are eyes and ears everywhere. Follow me.” Without a chance for Kailani to respond, Lanuola grabbed Kailani’s hand and dragged her through the library until they reached a special bookcase with a tapestry depicting the first rulers of Nan’nalu. It was hard to follow what Lanuola did, but ae seemed to move a few books around until a click was heard. Ae lifted the corner of the large tapestry to a secret passageway and pulled Kailani inside, shutting the door tightly behind them.
“Woah, I never found this passageway before,” Kailani murmured. “And you
never did find this passageway,” Lanuola replied matter-of-factly, “We’ll be safe here. Dakila doesn’t know of it, and it’s where I hide any tomes from his purging of ancient Nan’nalu history, culture, and legends. Now - ” ae placed the scroll on the sole desk in the room, “let’s talk.”
A slew of questions flooded out of Kailani’s mouth, “What were you doing with Aalto on the palace grounds? Who are you exchanging correspondence with? What is you intent with Nan’nalu, with Dakila? What are you exactly planning?”
Lanuola sighed and rubbed aer temples, “I first saw Aalto ages ago and recognized it being your familiar. It came to the palace grounds during the times Dakila’s sea beast wasn’t around, so eventually I chanced to swim up to it. Tied to its back was a small scroll, written by Murchadh.” Kailani’s breath caught at hearing her mate’s name.
“The scroll’s contents explained that he and Penina were trying to amass a force to overthrow Dakila and save the rest of the royal family – you and Tusitala, but they needed allies inside the palace too. Aalto could discern who followed Dakila and who didn’t, so it allowed me to obtain and read that scroll. But finding other allies in this palace…”
Kailani grimaced, “Dakila made sure he didn’t have any potential problems left in the palace. It’s all his brainwashed guard that’s left. Food quality really suffered here because of it,” she joked, but didn’t laugh. Lanuola simply nodded, missing the humor, “And to be honest, I couldn’t tell if he brainwashed you or not with those magically imbued bracelets. But your mind seems sound. It just keeps you confined in the palace then?”
“Yeah…” Kailani murmered, looking angry and dejected. Lanuola looked carefully at the bracelets, and nodded to aerself, “Hmm, might be something here that we can use to figure out to break them. It looks like some old magic, maybe passed down from the ancients of Nan’nalu even.”
Kailani lifted her head and looked directly into Lanuola’s eyes, “Wait, are you serious?” Lanuola shrugged, “It’s a chance, but yes, theoretically. Just give me time.” Kailani looked antsy at the thought of more time being confined to the palace, but nodded reluctantly, “I suppose all I have is time at this point, so sure.”
But then she looked longingly at the letter, “Umm, if it’s from Murchadh…can I read it?” Lanuola was already starting to peruse the tomes in the room, “Hm? Oh yeah, sure.”
Kailani rushed over and read the letter. It was very formal and concise, and it made her grin.
Murchadh being all serious again…I hope he and the rest of them are safe and sound… Then she turned towards Lanuola, “Do you send letters back?”
“Only if he requests information…Hmm, which I guess is most of the time since they need the information to plan. But only if I actually have answers for him. It’s not like I know everything going on here,” Lanuola commented, “But we won’t be able to get anything out until Aalto has a safe window of opportunity to return.”
But even with those words, Kailani was furiously writing on an empty scroll on the desk, “Then make sure he gets this. I’ll try to get answers or any information they need from my time near Dakila and the guards.”
Lanuola nodded, “It’d be a big help. I can’t stray too far from the library, otherwise it raises suspicion with Dakila…Oh!” Ae looked about nervously, “You need to leave here quickly. If Dakila is trying to find you and can’t, he’ll rip apart the palace, even here, to find you.”
Kailani finished her letter and rolled up the scroll, “Sure, I’ll leave, but make sure Aalto gets this soonest.” Lanuola opened the door and peered about, making sure the room was clear, “Still quiet since it’s night, but dawn is fast approaching. Hurry!”
She swam outside the room, but heard the door shut behind her.
Guess he’ll be focusing on finding the means to get these off me. Kailani gave an immense smile. It was nice to finally have hope to regain her freedom and do something.
Realizing a smile would be out of character for her, she regained her composure and swam out of the library. Might as well get some sleep. The whole event left her more tired than she thought she’d be. Plus, she needed to have as much energy as she could to gather the intel Murchadh and her sister needed.
Emyr was happily humming to himself while writing on scroll. After some final strokes, he picked up the scroll, read it over, and smiled in satisfaction.
“Well, well, writing to someone are we?” Keola said from behind Emyr, which caused him to panic. “Oh, oh! I didn’t see you. Um, yeah, just writing to, to, to Kasada, yep!” Emyr said while trying to roll up the scroll, “Just going to send it out now.” And he reached for his familiar, a Seaweed Nautilus, to hand it the scroll.
“That’s wonderful! I didn’t know you’ve been in correspondence to Kasada! Maybe I can send a letter too, find out what’s going on with xem?”
Thinking quickly, Emyr replied, “The nautilus can only hold so much. I try to keep my letters light so it can swim quickly to avoid that horrid monster if it’s around. And – oh!” the Seaweed Nautilus was already starting to swim away, “Guess it has a mind of its own. Maybe next time it returns, you can send something.”
Keola looked disappointed, but it was quickly replaced with a smile, “Next time it is, but it’s wonderful to see you having such an interest in Kasada’s well-being. Who knew having a sibling leave would cause you two to be closer?” But then Keola thought aloud, “Actually, maybe Cabaletta’s familiar can send a letter to Kasada too. She said it can easily navigate to you or other loved ones if they are not magically hidden. I’ll talk with her so we can send out a letter too!”
Keola swam away, and Emyr released the breath he was holding.
That was too close. Guess I have to write these letters away from here if I don’t want to be caught.
next
@Sunken Dreams pinglist
Finally had energy and time to get to this. I wanted to finish what I started when Kailani spied Lanuola, and now there's context to what's going on! But yet, who is Emyr writing to? Time will tell
Also, I got a fun chapter planned to post tomorrow for the Pirate event! Get ready for another crew to be pulled in. Now that they're all gened, they are ready to sail the rough seas!
