There has been an intrusion....
Ivy looked at me and smiled. She asked me how much did I know about the stones.
I informed her all that I knew, I mentioned Lapis Lazuli, the stone that my Kingdom is primarily associated with. We talked about all kinds of crystals used in different kinds of rituals and spells.
"Did you know that more than half of the stones that are now used in our Kingdoms have been extracted from this World? This ground right here has created these for ages, and still inside its core there are a million more." Ivy now moved closer to me until she almost reached close to my face, "I believe the one you're looking for is also among them. I can almost sense it sometimes during the Winter full Moon," she whispered.
I was taken aback, "I wonder what you mean." I knew I flushed when she suddenly said that. Did she know my purpose? How long had she known? I dared not ask as it would totally give me away. I started turning the pages of the book mindlessly without looking up, trying to relax my face.
"Ahh! I wonder" said she as she walked away to a costumer who's been winding around the shelves for quite a while now. I raised my head, intending to catch a glance of the lady- she had such beautiful liliac hair and ivory skin, her beautiful complimenting purple eyes made me sure at once, it was Violet. She works with me at the Florist's.
She turned around and eyeing the place she saw me. A smile appeared on her face, "Nia!" she exclaimed.
I shut the books that I had been reading and placed other books over them before she reached to my side and pulled out a chair, she sat down and started looking at my face as if she's asking me questions that she cannot voice out. I wonder what's on her mind when she asks me things that are completely different from the expressions on her face.
"What were you reading?"
"Nothing, just a bit of history. How are you here today? Looking for something?" I asked her. She told me that she's come to collect some florilegium that she had ordered a week ago.
"Whoa! I never thought someone like you should need one, you already so much about plants," I confessed.
"Oh of course I would need one. One can never know enough, right?" She replied.
Miss Ivy came holding a packet and gave it to Violet. Violet thanked her and asked if she could stay a bit longer if she is not intruding. She was welcomed to stay however long she likes. Ivy asked me to watch the store as she was about to leave for some work and would be back in a couple of hours.
I would've been happy to have the store to myself but having Violet at a time like this has reduced my chance of finding the information I'm supposed to collect. I got up anyway and started looking around different sections.
The books here were quite limited to the interests of the people of this town and there was a little chance that I could find what I was looking for. But Ivy always manages to get her client the books they order even if it isn't available remotely. I wonder where she gets her books from. Maybe there I could find something useful.
While strolling around, I came across a shelf where there were all kinds of books about plants. I never really looked into her collection this close. In between those Hardcovers I found a book about poisons. I reached out for the book when Violet at once whispered from behind me, "Wish someone dead, eh?"
"All the time." I replied as I picked the book and took it to the table. Violet sat next to me, by now she was constantly staring at my face. For a while I tried to ignore her but then it broke my concentration. I looked up and asked her what was the matter. "You do remember that Miss Ivy had gone rogue after she deliberately risked the safety of my Kingdom because of some man of other Kingdom, right?"
I said I do. She asked, "And the fact that this information is concealed to never leave the bounds of my kingdom but I still told you so you could beware of her, because I really wanted you to be safe. Right?"
"Right, Honey."
"Then why do you recklessly try to give yourself away? Do you know that she is now aware of your quest for the Snow Crystal?"
"I just realized that. I don't know where she got the idea from but I'm certain I couldn't have been more careful. It is not me that had given myself away, I assure you." I sighed as I shut the book and leaned on the backrest.
"You seem to have some leads...."