The fae touches every part of the tower long before the reach the top, and retracts his hands to look over the information. [i]'He is right, there are a lot of books up there'[/i] He can feel a faint tickle of excitement at the thought, his only real passion in life being reading, and he wonders what it would take for them to let him read a few. [i]'Many of those tomes feel much older than the ones I own, or have read. If they do not let me read these, I will definitely need to go to the palace library tonight to sate my need right now'[/i] None of these thoughts are expressed on Rei's face, being impassive as ever, however when they reach the top of the stairs his focus shifts from his own wants and needs on to the old man before them.

Rei refrains from coughing, it actually taking quite an effort considering how good his sense of smell is, however he manages without showing any visible change. [i]'Opium, he may not be all there. Over use is a common downfall in the minds of many. The smile is good, for the prince. He does not see many, I am sure'[/i] The obvious look of distaste directed at Alessandro makes him curious however, wondering why he would smile one minute, then change an instant later. [i]'Perhaps it is something about the prince. . .I will ask later. Asking such things now may count against the young royal'[/i] His gaze shifts to the books along the walls and for the first time since meeting the prince he seems to almost light up. It is a dim light, but it does make him look more his age, even if it is only a little bit.

As the youth speaks again he waits until the old man is looking before giving a polite slight bow, keeping his eyes on the elder. However he freezes mid bow at the look in the man's eyes. Without hesitation his magic snakes out to investigate the old man as he finishes standing up and he feels the faintest traces of human magic trickling through him. [i]'He was at least a half way decent magic user at one point in his life. He may be able to sense me. This could be a problem. . .If he were to tell on me, then my job would be over. I am sure the prince would deny knowledge of the fact, as humans often do to save themselves, however I do not relish the thought of having to flee from this place. . .'[/i] 

His thoughts fall silent as the old man seems to dismiss the fae with only that faintly mischievous look, and Rei decides not to do anything for now. [i]'If he becomes suspicious, I will act, until then, I shall leave him be'[/i] And just like that, he is once more completely at ease, his attention on the books and other parchment lining the walls. It is all he can do not to begin perusing the shelves right then and there, so he contents himself with listening to the prince read aloud. He rests against a bare patch of wall by the door, the only real place danger could come from unless a killer was already hanging from the ceiling, which there is not, Rei checked, and he listens, wondering at the inaccuracies. [i]'I know that both sides of a war have their own way of looking at things, but at least the histories I have head in the village do not depict humans as the scourge of the world. Just foolish, misguided, and oft times cruel'[/i]

As the old man drifts to sleep Rei casts him a glance before the sudden silence brings his attention back to the young man. He looks at the prince silently for several seconds before, without a moments hesitation, he slides off the wall and walks quickly over to the books that he'd spotted at a distance that had caught his eyes. He glances back at the prince a few times, the obvious question in his eyes even as he grabs a few tomes, flips them open, reads a few lines, and puts them back exactly as he found them save for maybe a bit of dust. [i]'I have not read most of these. . .I really would love to read a few. . .I wonder if his lesson is over. Maybe I can borrow a few. . .'[/i] He looks once more to Alessandro, a book help open in his arms, the large tome looking far too big to be held so easily by such small arms. His eyes are a little brighter, a bit of the youth he is shining through at being surrounded by the one thing in life that brings him away from the drudge and drab reality that is his existence. He does not lament his life, but reading is way better than it, to be sure.