Page 15 of Oracle's Reign
After the midday meal, Yslie had intended to stay with the court. Axizarplayer was scheduled to perform that afternoon, and she wanted to hear it. But she heard Triese agree to attend with her friends among the court, and Yslie knew she wouldn’t be able to enjoy the music with them nearby. Which left her with nothing to do.
Exiting the dining hall, she spotted Sophenie a few paces ahead of her. She wasn’t heading toward the performance or their rooms. Yslie quickened her pace and reached the otheroracle’s side before she turned the corner. “What are your plans this afternoon, Sophenie?”
She didn’t slow. “I’m going to the city library.”
“Can I come?”
Sophenie’s quick side-eye might have been annoyance or confusion. “The library is open to the public.”
Confusion, Yslie decided. She hoped. “I meant, would you mind if I walked there with you?”
“It hardly makes a difference to me. So long as you don’t plan to chatter at me once we reach the library.”
“I won’t distract you from your books once we get there,” Yslie assured her. “And I’ll make my own way back to the palace.”
She probably wouldn’t stay at the library for long at all. Yslie would explore the city for a few hours before supper. She was happy enough to do that on her own. It was only traversing the halls of the palace by herself that filled her with dread. It didn’t matter that Triese and her friends should be heading in the opposite direction. With Yslie’s luck, she’d walk directly into the group and have to hear Triese gush about Peroen.
She and Sophenie made it out of the palace without passing anyone but servants. A block away from the palace, however, they crossed paths with Odela. She hadn’t been at the midday meal, and though she was near the palace now, she didn’t seem to be in a hurry to return, for she fell into step with them, flanking Sophenie on the opposite side from Yslie.
“Library?” she asked.
“Of course,” Sophenie replied.
The two had clearly made this walk together before. Even without conversation, Yslie felt awkward, like the others had a routine that did not fit her. Then Odela looked around Sophenie and addressed her. “Do you have an interest in the library, too?”
“I have an interest in Kalitalo. I thought I’d accompany Sophenie to the library, then explore from there.”
“The district the library is in isn’t particularly interesting. If you want to explore the city, you should start at the Lotus District.” Odela pointed down a cross street. “It is only two blocks east and one south from here. We’ll go several blocks west to get to the library.”
The dismissal was clear. It was also polite, and Yslie had attached herself to Sophenie unexpectedly. Ignoring the hint would accomplish nothing but annoy two of the only people Yslie knew in the city.
Yslie inclined her head. “Thank you for the advice. I’ll save myself a hike, then.” She smiled at Sophenie. “Perhaps I’ll see the library with you another day.”
Her brow furrowed. “You don’t need me. It is open to the public, remember?”
“Right. Well, enjoy.”
Yslie turned down the street Odela had indicated. And she might have walked a little slower than normal, her footfalls intentionally soft, but she heard nothing from the other women. Her curiosity about why Odela hadn’t wanted her around would have to go unsatisfied.
