Katherine and Daniel

Katherine waited for Daniel in the garden just outside of the court. In her impatience, she had begun to wonder if the boy would show his face at all. She had left him with the dagger attached to the compass. If he did not show, she would never get the dagger back. Yet, there was no need for impatience, for Daniel indeed did arrive and set his horse in the garden.

With the object in the boy's hands, the light presented where they needed to go. Katherine checked her surroundings to be sure there was not a soul in sight. If there had been a soul, she hoped that none were watching them. Her father did not yet need to meet this Davian nor did he need to know what it was they were doing. Not a word had been uttered whilst they made their journey. Soon before long, the light led these two to the library.

"Of course. I should have known it would be the library," Katherine stated.

Just as she had suspected, the door was locked. Katherine's sharp mind allowed her to use the dagger to unlock the door. Neither of the two anticipated the dust waiting for them once they stepped into the room. Amongst the great dust, the girl searched the room using the light. All was quiet amidst a squeaky floor.

"Ah!" shouted Katherine. Her foot could feel something boney causing her to trip and fall against the one she knew as Davian. The boy was able to stop her from falling to the floor.

"It looks like a skeleton," stated the boy using the light that had been dropped. "Did someone die in the library?

"Very well could be. Perhaps the king was hiding something."

Forgetting about the bones, Katherine quickly spotted a book with the help of the light. Yes, in fact, it was the journal of Luther sitting on one of the tables in plain sight. Her heart sank knowing she had not seen this book since she had been a little girl. Even her arms and hands experienced some shaking. Katherine wasted not another second to open the book only to breathe in more dust. About two or three pages fell out of the aging book that held a weak spine.

"The book feels lighter compared to the last time I held it." Skimming through it, she showed a look of disappointment. "Many of the pages have been torn out. The king is surely hiding something."

"What is that?" asked the boy known as Davian. Katherine ceased skimming through the book. "Is that a picture of a sword?"

It in fact was a picture of a sword. With help from the light, words formed on the following page which allowed Katherine to read it out loud.

"The sword of the worthy. This was the sword that I had given as a gift to the king. It was once mine for I was a warrior and leader deemed worthy. I had once believed the king was worthy of this sword for sharing his land with our people. The king is not worthy as I once thought. At this moment, he is attempting to retrieve every dagger he gave as a gift. Knowing of the presence of these daggers is not one of my responsibilities to bear.

Alas, I fear that I may also no longer be worthy of the sword for I am no longer a leader nor a warrior. My people have fallen into slavery. According to the prophecy that I am still learning, the Ishmorites will be led out of slavery. I suspect the one who is worthy is the one who will lead the people back to freedom."

Once Katherine finished reading what lay on the page, she closed it and held it close to her for safekeeping. One could only hope the king would never notice the entering of the library nor the journal that had been taken from the place it sat.

"This prophecy is but of dog vomit," she stated whilst searching for other books on the shelf that seemed of interest. "The chances of the Asharanites taking this island are far greater than something silly as a chosen one saving a kingdom."

"I do not know. I have always been optimistic about this prophecy. It was one of the last words my papa shared with me before he left." A sudden jolt overtook his heart remembering the final night with his papa. He could not bear to complete his thought and placed his sight toward another bookshelf.

"He left?" she asked whilst finding a novella. "Did he not return?"

It was a most peaceful day with not a cloud in the sky. Daniel sat against a wall laughing. At that moment, there was a sound of a loud trumpet. Several knights made their way with souls gathering to hear what news they had brought. One of the knights stood from his horse and began his announcement.

"Citizens! Hear the words of the king! The Great Plague has officially found its way onto the island. Several hundred souls across our land have already perished overnight. Many more are expected. Those who had traveled to another land shall not return for the seaport has ceased operations."

Daniel's heart pounded at this speech and his throat grew dry. His papa was among those who had traveled. Did he catch this plague? His entire body began to shake. Surely, this was all a terrible dream. Roseline noticed the boy's trembling hand and grabbed onto it.

"By the king's orders, everyone must remain indoors until stated otherwise. Those caught outdoors shall be sent to the undesirable land."

"No, he did not return. He never came home to us," was all the boy could say whilst getting his mind back to reality. "I rather not discuss it for now. Perhaps we have spent enough time in this library. What is the book that you have found?"

Katherine quickly glared at the book and smiled. "Oh, it is just a small book I suppose. A story that my mother read to me as a little girl about a girl who is of age learning about love." A tear found its way out of the eye. "Perhaps I could read it to you one of these days."

"I would love that. And perhaps you could teach me to be a better reader."

They both laughed at the thought and began heading out of the room. Just as they were about to make their way out of the library, Daniel noticed something on the skeleton. On the other hand that had not been stepped on, lay another compass. Was it possible? Surely, it was not. Daniel kneeled down and studied the object.

"One of the five replicas," he stated.

Whilst this was a great moment, a noise not too far off was heard.

"I heard steps coming from this hall," stated a knight's voice. "An intruder perhaps?"

Katherine knew it was time to depart from the spot. They would have to admire the new object later. Without another time to waste, they found their way out and shut the door in hopes that not an eye would notice anything unusual about the door. Getting closer outside, it became apparent that there was a search party full of knights who were likely searching for the princess. It was agreed that they would meet again the following morning near the beach. Whilst Daniel successfully found his found and rode his way off, Katherine was least successful for her father found her outside.

"Katherine, where have you been?" He asked in weariness.

This concludes the thirteenth chapter! A new chapter will return next Saturday! Please remember to comment and vote.

Thoughts on the journal entry?

Is the prophecy dog vomit?

Thoughts on Katherine wanting to read to Daniel?