Elara fell silent and bit her lower lip. "This…" She smiled softly at Reynand. "I saw a merchant reading a book with this script at the shop I was trying to charm into selling me soap ingredients for less. I thought I might impress him if I knew how to read it."
Reynand's frown deepened. "Was that a shop selling offerings for shamans? It's strange. This Aptheic is an ancient language used by them."
Her breath quickened. "This isn't that kind of shop," she said, blinking in panic. "He… he smiled so fondly while reading that book, and… I wondered if it might be a novel." She hesitated.
Reynand pursed his lips. "Is that so?" he muttered.
Elara took a slow, deep breath to steady her heartbeat.
Then he chuckled. "Well, this language is simple. It's the easiest ancient tongue in history."
Reynand rose from his chair and walked to one of the aisles.
"Is there a guidebook for learning it here?" Elara followed, hope flickering across her face.
