I smile, hearing the elated thoughts of the mother fox and the little squeals of her babies.

For a moment, Maeve frowns. “What was that?”

I smile innocently. “I didn’t hear a thing.”

Sebastian looks at me funny, and I shrug. Maeve turns back to the trail.

“It’s getting late. Hopefully, we’ll find the Archives before nightfall,” she says. A hint of worry tinges her words, and I slip into her mind.

And they’ll let us stay with them, she thinks.

I stumble over a root, but catch myself. Why wouldn’t they let us stay? Maeve said she has means and money, and Sebastian and I are willing to earn our keep. I want to ask, but I don’t want her to know I’ve been reading her mind without permission. I bite my curious tongue.

But now worry begins to color every step. The forest seems a little darker and deeper, the animals a little louder. The clouds gathering overhead almost seem to form a frown in the sky.

Sebastian notices, of course. What’s the matter? he thinks at me, but I just shake my head. He’s feeling much less fearful since we found Maeve. There’s no sense in both of us being scared. Hopefully, all will be well and we’ll have no trouble.

Just when I fear I can move no farther and that we must’ve climbed two mountains at least, we reach a break in the trees and catch a glimpse of what lies ahead. I suck my breath in between my teeth sharply enough that it whistles.

Before us is a tall peak, capped by an enormous circular stone building. It is the largest building I’ve ever seen, even from this distance—next to Lady Aisling’s mansion, of course. But this is more imposing. The gray stone is lit up by the setting sun, giving it a dusky purple hue. It’s more of a fortress than what I’d thought a library would be. It must be to protect all that knowledge inside.

Sebastian’s thoughts are as awed as my own.

“Well,” Maeve says, also clearly impressed. “I suppose that must be it.” She grins back at us, her gray eyes sparkling. “Not quite what I expected, but hopefully it holds the answers we all need.”

Her hope is infectious, rolling off her in waves, and it buoys me up too.

“Do you think we’ll get there before nightfall?” Sebastian asks.

“If we hurry. Are you two feeling up to it, or should we stop to rest?” She considers us. I straighten my spine.

“I’m ready,” I say, and Sebastian nods his agreement.

“Then let’s get going.”

We strike out once more, the giant structure now always in sight, getting a little closer with every step. The incline becomes steeper, but our steps don’t flag. There are only a handful of animals this high up, mostly birds. Their thoughts are sleepy and filled with settling into their nests. I wish we were settling into a bed, but I know we still have a little way left to go.