Chapter 8: Blood on A Collar
"Do you need to rest?"
Daylan forced a smile, though it felt strained. "Don't worry, Lady Astara. I'm just finding it hard to read this. I thought I had fully mastered it," he said, scratching the back of his head nervously.
"Don't call me Lady." Her expression darkened.
Daylan smiled. "Sorry..."
At that moment, he decided to take things seriously and figure out exactly what had happened to Daylan. But before he could do that, he had to free his mother. Despite his racing heart and the fear that gnawed at him, he knew he had to see everything through.
"Have you been on a tour yet?"
Daylan shook his head. Astara reached out, taking his hand and pulling him to his feet. "Let me show you around, then," she said, her voice firm but not unkind.
Astara introduced him to the training centers, the cafeteria, and his room. She also pointed out a few other rooms—ones that were strictly off-limits to ordinary people.
After more than an hour of touring, they finally returned to the library.
"You can sleep here if you want. The library is off-limits to most, anyway," Astara said, her voice calm. "I sometimes sleep here."
Daylan was relieved to hear he could sleep over—making the trek from the library to his room was a long journey, and he was far too exhausted for it.