The Dragon King and His Fallen Star novel Chapter 20

Chapter 20: Of Ink and Parchment

EIRLYS‘ POV

I woke to the sound of birdsong, faint and distant through the high window of my room. The sun had only begun its climb, pale light creeping across the stone walls. For a moment, I simply lay there, listening to the quiet rhythm of my own heartbeat.

At last, I rose and made my way to the bathing chamber, washing quickly while savoring the warmth as it dissolved the final traces of sleep. Once dressed, I let Emma braid my hair, her hands gentle like she’s done it a thousand times before.

My thoughts drifted back to last night, to the brief moment at Kierygan’s door. His actions made no sense to me: the way he looked irritated when he saw me, how he nearly refused the cake, yet pulled me back when I tried to walk away.

He was so confusing. I couldn’t tell if it was him–his shifting moods and silences–or if it was me, my own ignorance and inability to read his cues.

When Emma finished braiding my hair, I made my way down to the dining hall, half hoping–half fearing–that I might see him again. But Kierygan wasn’t there. In his place sat Orryx at the head of

the table.

“Good morning, Eirlys,” Evander greeted me, his tone warm as he looked up from his cup. My name. It still startled me to hear it spoken so easily, so gently.

Mirael’s brow arched. “Eirlys?” she repeated, her lips twisting slightly as if the name did not sit right.

on her tongue.

Callum lifted his eyes to her. “Kier finally gave her a name,” he said, winking at me. “We celebrated her name day yesterday–just us close friends.”

Mirael’s smile was thin, lacking warmth. “How quaint,” she murmured, her tone lilting with

amusement.

I didn’t know what the word meant, so I said nothing. I just took my seat between her and Orryx. Mirael must have seen the confusion in my eyes because she leaned toward me, her smile sly.

“Of course, you didn’t know,” she said, her voice smooth as silk. “It means charming, dear girl. Old–fashioned, like something plucked from another world and dropped into ours.”

I couldn’t tell whether it was meant as kindness or another one of her veiled insults. So I stayed

silent.

Orryx placed his cup back on the table, his eyes flicking between us. “It’s a fitting name,” he said, his tone calm. “Kierygan gave it a lot of thought, you know.”

Chapter 20 of tnk and Parchawent

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Mirael’s smile faltered for a fleeting moment, but it returned just as quickly, sharper than before.” Oh, I’m sure he did,” she said, her voice soft and sing–song.

I caught the faintest roll of Evander’s eyes before he turned his attention back to me, his expression smoothing into something more welcoming. “So, Eirlys,” he said, “Ashteryn is away for a couple of days. Looks like you’re stuck with me in the meantime.”

After breakfast, Evander lingered near me as the others began to drift away, lost in their own conversations or tasks. He leaned back against the edge of the long table, his arms crossed loosely, an amused glint in his bright eyes.

“Have you thought about what you want to do today?” Evander asked, his voice light and encouraging. “Or perhaps somewhere you’d like to see?”

I hesitated, glancing down at my hands. From the corner of my eye, I saw Mirael slipping out through the doorway, her footsteps silent. Her words still echoed in my head–so sweet on the surface, yet carrying a bite I couldn’t ignore. That faint, knowing smirk when she thought I didn’t.

understand.

“Well?” Evander prompted gently, waiting for my answer.

I swallowed, gathering my courage before lifting my gaze to him. “Can you…” I hesitated, then finished softly, “teach me how to read and write?”

I half expected him to laugh. Instead, Evander smiled–bright and sudden, like the breaking of

dawn. “That’s a fine choice,” he said, pushing himself upright. “Then today, that’s exactly what we’ll

do.”

Relief washed over me, and I almost stepped forward to hug him.

He gestured for me to follow, and we began walking. We climbed the staircase, but instead of turning to the familiar halls, he led me to a different wing altogether. It was my first time venturing into this part of the castle. At last, he pushed open a set of tall wooden doors.

Sunlight streamed through high windows, filling the room with a warm, golden glow. My breath caught when I saw it: shelves upon shelves of books, reaching up to the ceiling.

“This is called a library,” Evander said softly, gesturing to the entire grand chamber.

We settled at a broad oak table, the surface smooth beneath my fingertips. Evander hummed softly as he wandered the shelves, eyes scanning the spines until he found what he was searching for. He pulled a scroll from its place and carried it back to me.

“Here we go,” he said, unfurling the parchment. “First things first, I have to introduce you to the alphabet.”

He pointed at the printed letters, each one like a little dance frozen on the page.

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© Chapter 20. Of ink and Patche

He began by pronouncing each letter, then had me repeat the sounds. My voice trembled at first,

but his calm, steady tone made me comfortable. When I stumbled, he corrected me with a gentle

smile and a patient nod.

My lips fumbled over the unfamiliar shapes, but Evander wouldn’t let me move on until I had each one right. Again and again, we practiced, until the jumble of lines began to take shape in my mind.

After what felt like an eternity, I started to yawn. My mind was foggy, my voice raspy from the endless repetition. Evander noticed. He rolled up the scroll and set it aside with a satisfied nod.

“That’s enough for today, Eirlys,” he said softly. “You did well. Tomorrow, we’ll begin reading and writing real words.”

I could only smile and nod at him.

Evander gently set a small stack of parchment and bens in front of me, his smile warm. “You’ll learn faster if you practice,” he said softly, as if sharing a secret.

I ran my fingers over the creamy parchment, the slight rasp of its texture both strange and

comforting.

He reached behind him and pulled a few slim volumes from a shelf. They were smaller than the rest, their covers adorned with delicate illustrations–animals with bright eyes, trees that seemed to sway in an imagined wind.

“These are children’s books,” Evander explained, showing me a page where a fox in a red cloak watched over a moonlit forest. “Sometimes pictures make words easier to learn.”

My mouth parted in awe. I had never seen books like these. My heart fluttered at the thought of stories and secrets waiting inside.

Evander tucked the books under my arm, his smile a little crooked. “I want you to copy the text on the first page to this parchment,” he said, pointing to the supplies he’d given me.

I nodded again. “I will,” I said, but a yawn escaped me, making my cheeks flush.

He let out a gentle laugh. “It’s always tiring at first, but it gets easier from here,” he said. “Maybe you should get some rest. We’ll continue tomorrow

Evander walked me to my door and offered a final nod before leaving. I slipped inside, closing the door behind me and leaning against it. The room was quiet, the only sound the faint crackle of the

fireplace.

I set the books on my small table by the window. I had meant to take a nap, but the prospect of becoming more like a normal person–someone who could read and write–filled me with a quiet excitement. So I opened the book to the first page Evander had shown me, unfurled a blank parchment, and began to copy the letters.

Chapter 20 Of Ink and Parchment

My letters were crooked and wobbly, but I didn’t care. I kept going, as long as they somewhat resembled the shapes on the page. I hadn’t even finished half a page when my hands began to ache and my mind grew foggy.

I set the pen down, nudging the parchment and book away. Then I rested my head on my arms, just for a moment. Just long enough to gather the strength to finish the page.

My eyelids grew heavy, my head nodding lower and lower. Sleep crept in quietly.

But when I woke again, it was morning. I was tucked into my bed, warm and wrapped in soft covers, the books stacked neatly on the table by the window.

Somehow, in the middle of the night, I had walked to my bed. But I didn’t remember how.