Grandmaster [Chps 13-15]

Hey peeps!

Exciting stuff.

Shami

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

YEVIN VENROVER

There were a lot of pressing issues on my plate.

I hadn’t forgotten about them, but sometimes they didn’t come to my mind when I was busy dealing with an emergency, like with Vethica and Liet and Luthair.

Technically, we still had Rhys in our custody. He was the right-hand man to the Autarch, and a strange individual with magics I didn’t understand. I had defeated him when I fought Orwyn, and we had him trapped in nullstone. Soon, I would question him, but I needed to rest fight.

It was difficult to sleep, though.

Night had descended over Regal Heights, and I never managed to return to my temporary home. The people of Regal Heights had given me a beautiful fortress-style mansion, but I was too filled with anxious energy to head there.

Instead, I went to Terrakona’s grove.

My massive eldrin had wrapped his serpentine body around the outside of the trees, protecting them from the chill winds. I sat with my back against a trunk, one leg out, the other up. A small dryad clung to my knee. She was child-like—human in shape, but nothing else. Her green skin had the waxy sheen of milkweed, and she kept herself wrapped in an outfit of leaves of vines.

The dryads that Terrakona protected didn’t have normal eyes. They had open flowers where eyes would normally be. The pink petals were beautiful, if a bit disturbing. The dryads had vines for hair that swished back and forth whenever they moved. The sounds they made reminded me of crinkling leaves.

I patted the dryad’s head.

She giggled and continued to cling to my leg as though something exciting would happen at any moment.

Terrakona hadn’t allowed anyone in Regal Heights to take any of the dryads’ Trial of Wroth. When I had asked, he had said he was afraid of being left alone. Yet when I glanced around the grove, I counted a grand total of twenty-five little child-like dryads.

That was an excessive amount.

And when I had asked them where they had come from, none of them had a suitable answer. They had all just spawnedin the nearby area, clawing their ways out of the dirt like people born from seeds.

It was Terrakona’s presence that caused them to form. That much I was now certain of.

God-creatures were magical unlike any other creature. They didn’t need to eat—magic sustained their lives. And they created magic whenever they went. The more god-creatures came into the world, the more they would alter it.

I wondered…

Could the world have too much magic? Normally mystical creatures were rare. What if they one day outnumbered human beings?

The thought captured my imagination.

“If the world had too much water, everyone would drown,” Terrakona telepathically said.

“You think it’s a problem then? Your magic?” I hated the idea that his presence was somehow harmful to the world.

“Magic—just like water—brings all forms of life. Too little, and you dehydrate. Too much, and you sink beneath the waves. As it is with all things.”

“Moderation,” I whispered. “Without it, our vices destroy all else.” With a smile, I glanced up at Terrakona’s body. “That’s the thirty-fourth step of the Pillar.”

“It is a wise Pillar.”

The shadows in the grove shifted. The dryads gasped and scurried away. Most plunged into the dirt, practically melting into the earth. Some hid behind trees, their flower eyes shaking.

From the darkness rose a person. While the sight might scare others, I knew the properties of knightmare magic well.

And I knew Evianna.

The moment she lifted from the shadows, her white hair glittered in the moonlight. She wore black leather armor tailored for her and her alone, her sleek elegance a welcome sight. She kept her hair tied back, so that the long locks wouldn’t get in her eyes. She looked beautiful no matter what she did, but the style suited her more than others.

At least, in my humble opinion.

“Volke?” she said once she was fully out of the darkness. Evianna strode over to me, her bluish-purple eyes unlike anyone else I knew. “Here you are. Is everything okay?”

Evianna stood next to me, her brow furrowed.

I hadn’t spoken with her since I returned to Regal Heights. Guilt flooded me.

“I’m sorry,” I immediately said. “I’ve just been… busy. And that’s not an excuse, just an explanation. I should’ve let you know what was going on once I returned, but I jumped from one task to the other, barely thinking.”

“You’re not hurt?”

I glanced up at her, one eyebrow raised. “No. Why?”

Evianna glared as she placed her hands on her hips. Gone was all her concern. “I was worried about you! Everyone said you ran off to Deadman’s Bluff to find Luthair and Vethica, and I didn’t even hear that from you! Illia told me. And you get back and you say nothing? I heard rumors that Guildmaster Eventide is sick! Do you know how much that made me worry about you?”

Her volume increased with every word until she was shouting. The remaining dryads in the grove hurried into the dirt, vanishing from sight, some even crying.

I stood and rubbed at the back of my neck. “Uh… Right. I’m really sorry.”

To my surprise, Evianna threw her arms around me. She squeezed so tight, and so suddenly, that I lost some of my breath. She was much shorter than me, and smaller, but she always managed to pack some hidden strength away somewhere in her petite frame.

“Evianna?” I asked.

She held me even tighter, her cheek pressed firmly against my chest. “What’s wrong with you?” she angrily whispered. After a short breath, and steadying her voice, she continued. “I was worried.”

“Didn’t everyone tell you I was okay?” I gently wrapped my arms around her. “I spoke with several of them.”

“I shouldn’t have to hear it from them.” Evianna nuzzled against me, her grip loosening. “And you keep things hidden sometimes, you know? What if you hiding from me because you didn’t want to tell me some horrible truth?”

“That’s what you thought I was doing?”

“I. Was. Worried.” She gripped my shirt tight. “My mind played tricks on me… All I could think of was the worst scenarios. Like, what if you were slowly dying and you just didn’t tell anyone, and you left before anyone could stop you—like when you had the plague?”

I chuckled. “I would’ve told you if something like that had happened.”

Evianna huffed and just refused to let me go. “Well, my mind wouldn’t believe anything other than the darkest scenarios.” After gritting her teeth in blatant anger, she managed to calmly say, “And look what you’re doing. Just sitting out here in the middle of nowhere.”

She glowered up at me, her eyes squinted.

Evianna was adorable. I couldn’t stop myself from smiling.

That upset her.

She released me with a shove and then crossed her arms. “Don’t laugh. I was really worried.”

“I’m sorry,” I said, unable to stop my grinning. “I promise I’ll tell you more about my activities in the future.”

“Really? You really promise?”

“Yes. You have my word.”

“You’ll go straight to the abyssal hells if you break it,” Evianna said with a hint of finality.

I nodded once. “Deal.”

Her irritation vanished in that instant. When she grabbed my hand, it was much gentler than before. Evianna pulled me closer, and I noticed the shadows around her feet moving around us as I stepped close.

“Hexa is a really excited that Vethica is back,” Evianna stated.

“I figured.” I leaned down and kissed Evianna on her forehead, the etchings of her arcanist mark felt on my lips.

“Vethica was telling us what they did to her eldrin.” Evianna went still. Her shadow still danced around our feet, but she was as stiff as a statue. “They wanted her to use her magic, so they could test their magical corruption—to see if she could undo it.”

“Is she okay?” I whispered.

The darkness of the grove seemed more menacing as I envisioned the fear Vethica had to have been drowning in. Then again, she had always seemed resilient to me. Sturdy and unbreakable, even when shaken.

“Vethica said there was someone there—a young man by the name of Yevin—that was convinced her magic wouldn’t work. He made her a deal. He wouldn’t kill her or her eldrin if she tested his theory.”

“Yevin?” I felt as though I had heard that name before.

“She said her khepera magic didn’t work.” Evianna sighed. “And then they destroyed Akhet, but Yevin gave her Akhet’s sand. He said her eldrin wasn’t really dead, he just didn’t want her using it.” Evianna frowned. “It’s that despicable?”

The name Yevin lingered in my thoughts. And it disturbed me to learn that khepera magic couldn’t cure this new plague at all. That meant Liet was in real danger. I suppose, perhaps she could prolong her existence with a relickeeper or some other means, but there would be no cure until me and the others developed our aura.

“Was she infected?” I asked.

Evianna shook her head. “Apparently, Yevin was true to his word.”

Who was Yevin?

“My brother,” Adelgis telepathically said to me, his voice familiar and comforting, but ultimately startling. “Yevin Venrover was my father’s favorite. He did everything my father ever wanted.”

I glanced around, though it was foolish. Obviously, Adelgis wasn’t here. He was somewhere in Regal Heights, far from the grove. His telepathy seemed to reach great distances, though. It was both a boon and sadness. Had he just been listening to me and Evianna this entire time? What if…

“I try not to intrude,” Adelgis said, answering my inner thoughts. “But please—let’s not focus on that. I’m becoming better at controlling everything, and filtering through the noise of everyone’s disorganized minds.”

“Do you know what’s going on, Adelgis?” I asked.

Evianna let go of my hand and backed away. Her shadow actually rose from the ground to reveal her eldrin—Layshl. The knightmare was beautiful and sleek, almost as much as Evianna. She was as black as midnight, with an empty cowl and dragon-wing cape. Her scaled leather armor body was hollow, and moved on its own, graceful and silent. When she “looked” at me, it was without a face to display an emotion.

“What’s Adelgis saying?” Evianna asked.

Her knightmare stepped close to her.

“He said that Yevin is his brother.” Of course he was. The whole Venrover family seemed involved in everything, even if unwittingly, like Adelgis.

“I didn’t want to be,” Adelgis said, once again answering my thoughts.

“Sorry,” I muttered. “I didn’t mean it like that.”

“It’s fine. I understand. But what I wanted to say was… You should come back to the city. Everyone is gathered here. Vethica told us everything, but despite the torture and abuse, she has a cheerful disposition and wants to celebrate.”

“Celebrate?” I asked aloud.

Evianna’s eyes lit up. “Oh, right. Yes!Everyone was looking for you. We want to celebrate Vethica’s return. Well, mostly Hexa, but since her whole family is in Regal Heights, they’re all happy for her. They’re the ones preparing everything.”

“That’s kind of them.”

Evianna crossed her arms and leaned her weight back on one foot. “Is it? I feel like that’s what families should be doing. Hexa’s lover has been rescued! Everyone should be happy.”

I didn’t reply. Part of me still thought about Luthair. If they were testing out corrupted magic on Vethica and her eldrin…

Had they used it on Luthair?

“You shouldn’t worry,” Adelgis said, his telepathic voice reassuring, even though I couldn’t hear it. “Please, come spend time with the others arcanists. They’re looking to you for guidance.”

Although it was difficult, I pushed away the dark thoughts. Then I walked beyond the trees of the grove and placed a hand on the scaled body of my eldrin. Terrakona’s muscles rippled with movement as he uncoiled himself to allow me an easy exit.

“Stay here and protect the dryads, okay?” I asked.

“They will remain protected as long as I am here, Warlord.”

He almost sounded happy to do so.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

THE ARCANISTS OF THE FRITH GUILD

Light radiated from every corner of Regal Heights. Torches, glowstones, lamps, and lanterns were scattered around the streets, and some hung from the bridges, giving the canyon an ethereal glow. Most of Regal Heights was constructed without wood. The buildings were stone, the bridges were iron—the only fire risks were the numerous rabbit pelts, and even then, they were minor.

It allowed some of the citizens to be reckless with their flames. A few drunken lads walked up and down the streets with beer mugs in one hand, and blazing torches in the others. I thought it was a terrible idea, but no one stopped them.

The celebrations were too important, apparently.

Evianna and I strode into the city. My shirt remained half-opened, mostly because Evianna said it was proper, but I think most everyone would’ve recognized me regardless of my god-arcanist mark. Whenever someone cheered for me, I smiled and waved. Unfortunately, a few people thought it necessary to grab me for a hug.

Even a few hydras grabbed me.

It made it difficult to get anywhere in a timely manner.

And there were so many hydras. The mystical creatures lived here in the canyon, and the people of Regal Heights kept them safe in their home caves. Hatchling hydras were brought up for the celebrations, their giant eyes and cute scales reminding me of Raisen when I had first met him. He had once been so adorable…

Now Raisen was a massive beast with multiple heads.

Time had a way of changing things.

“Oh, Volke, look at that!” Evianna grabbed my arm and pointed.

Paper hydras were placed over some of the lanterns in town. The colorful paper, which had been dyed with woad plants, changed the lanterns from a bright yellow and orange color to a vibrant purple. The city slowly transformed into an indigo sea of creative paper crafts.

“Isn’t it pretty?” Evianna’s voice was soaked in wonder.

I shared her enthusiasm. When we walked by a lantern, I gently grazed my fingers over the hydra. The little heads were held on the body with string, and yellow eyes had been painted onto each head. Someone had even drawn the fangs onto the mouths. It must’ve taken hours—maybe days—to craft them all.

“Thank you, Warlord!” someone shouted. They added a woo to the end of their sentence as they stumbled by me.

A man nearly crashed into me. He smiled, his hair wild, his arms covered in scars. An arcanist mark on his forehead told me everything I needed to know about his injuries.

“Warlord,” the man said with a hint of surprise as he straightened his posture. He held a mug of beer close. “Oh, it’s so great you’re here.” He hiccupped and tried to swallow it, resulting in an odd noise. Then he narrowed his eyes. “I’m Angus. And, uh, I’m so happy you helped, uh…”

“Hexa?” I asked.

“Yes. Hexa. That’s the one.” He saluted me with his beer, which resulted in half of it sloshing onto the ground. Angus either didn’t care, or didn’t notice—he just moved around me and continued through the city. “I’ll be at the celebration! I have to, uh, get some supplies, though!”

Before I could ask whichcelebration, the man hurried away.

“What was he talking about?” I whispered to Evianna.

“Hexa’s family’s fortress is hosting the main celebration,” she replied matter-of-factly. “They’re all there. Probably drunk. I think most people have been drinking since this afternoon.”

“That long?”

Evianna shrugged. “I suspect none of them thought it strange.”

Regal Heights was… different. That was for certain. I liked it here, just because it seemed the walls between people were more dismantled than in other locations. Nothing was taboo or disgraceful. Well, except for maybe whining or quitting. But I could understand that, at least.

“The d’Tenni fortress is this way.” Evianna guided me through the throngs of people. They parted once they noticed us, but the few who didn’t only acted as stumbling obstacles. “Have you ever wondered why her name has that D in it?”

“A long time ago, in areas to the south and west, families that founded towns and rest points were given that Din front of their last name to denote their status as caretakers or lords.” I had learned about it in books I had read, though I couldn’t remember which.

“My family name doesn’t have that,” Evianna muttered.

“It’s an old custom. And I think the Argo Empire got rid of it long ago. Probably around the time they dictated that sovereign dragon arcanists were the only ones capable of being rulers.”

Evianna wrapped her arms around one of mine. With a tiny smile, she said, “That’s one of the reasons I like you so much. You’re really fascinated by how things came to be.”

I ran a hand through my hair. The celebrations and purple lights were everywhere, threatening to steal my attention. “I really like tales of people who went from something average to something extraordinary. Legendary arcanists, and great empires… Who doesn’t find that fascinating?”

She held me tighter, her smile growing. “You’d be surprised.”

It didn’t take us long to reach the d’Tenni fortress. It wasn’t much bigger than the rest, but it did have a few decorations that made it stand out. Most notable were the statues of hydras and gargoyles. Every perch on the roof, and the beginning of every railing or fence, had a stone statue built into it.

The fortress house—which was at least three stories built into the canyon itself—was already packed full of people. Most of them seemed to be citizens of Regal Heights. They had tanned skin, cinnamon and pale brown hair, and several of them had scars that they prominently displayed. Some of them weren’t even hydra arcanists. People in Regal Heights just loved to show off their battle injuries or childhood mishaps.

Evianna and I made our way inside. No one stopped us. It was the exact opposite, actually. As soon as people saw who I was, they practically shoved me inside.

The foyer and the front sitting room had been converted into bars. Kegs and rum barrels were stacked against the wall. Tin mugs were passed around, each frothing with alcohol. I declined the drinks, and so did Evianna.

When we reached the main hall, I spotted Hexa with her family. Vethica was with her as well, but Vethica didn’t have a boisterous demeanor—not like everyone else. She was easily lost in the crowd.

Except for her bright white dress. It was pristine, and went to her ankles. It flowed like water when she moved. Even I took a moment to admire the craftsmanship. Normally Vethica didn’t seem to care what she wore, so long as it was practical, but tonight, she was a stunning beauty.

Even Hexa seemed dressed for a celebration. She wore a long shirt, and a tight fitted top with no sleeves. Her outfit was black—a nice complement to Vethica. The two looked like they had come up with the outfits together.

“Volke!” Hexa waved me over. “C’mon! Join us.”

Evianna and I made our way into the small group of relatives. We were handed a wooden board of meat, and someone shouted at me to try it. The conversations grew so loud, it was as though everyone was in a competition to be heard. Their booming voices echoed around the room, bouncing off the stone walls.

Evianna and I ate the meat, but it was difficult to taste.

Music played from somewhere in the fortress. I would’ve loved to hear it, but it was impossible while I waited in the main hall.

Once we were close to Vethica and Hexa, the couple waved us over to a couple chairs. They were gigantic—but somehow too small to fit two people comfortably. They were an awkward medium, or perhaps sized for someone over three hundred pounds.

Hexa sat down, and then Vethica curled up on a single chair next to her.

When I took a seat, Evianna decided to just sit on my lap, which I hadn’t been prepared for. She wrapped her arms around my neck before anyone could see my face heating. No one seemed to pay attention to us, not when the party was about Hexa.

Her family came over, and passed around mugs.

“I bet I can drink more than you!” Hexa shouted to me.

I chuckled as I set my mug on the floor next to the chair. I was thankful no one was paying attention. If they were, they would realize this wasn’t my kind of party. Like a duck swimming with fish, I was the odd man out.

“Drinking to excess is tacky,” Evianna replied, but her voice was drowned by all the shouting.

Hexa held a hand to her ear. “What?”

“I said—”

“What?”

A few of Hexa’s relatives shoved their way over and thanked me. They slapped my shoulder, and a couple playfully whacked the side of my head. They all spoke at once, though, so any semblance of a normal conversation flew right out the window.

I just nodded and dodged whenever they went for my head a second time.

That seemed to work. After a few minutes, where someone sloshed some of their drink onto me, they eventually wandered away to find more to eat.

I wanted to speak with Hexa, but she and Vethica devolved into their own personal conversation. They were their own island in a sea of noise, their conversation kept private from the sheer amount of disturbance all around us.

It was probably best to leave them alone.

Vethica didn’t seem as cheery as the rest. And I understood. She had been through a lot—and she wasn’t very social. Sitting next to Hexa, she appeared confident, but I suspected she didn’t want to interact with anyone else.

Evianna leaned onto me and whispered into my ear, “Can we get some air?”

My face heated again as I nodded. She was so soft and warm. I almost wanted to snuggle with her for the rest of the evening like Hexa was with Vethica.

As the shouting and celebration grew louder and louder, I guided Evianna out of the main hall into a large hallway. Once we shut the door behind us, I could finally hear myself think once again.

I leaned against the metal door and sighed. “Have you ever gone somewhere and immediately regretted the decision to go?”

Evianna held a hand over her mouth and giggled. “You weren’t enjoying that?” She held up a small slice of meat she had taken from the room. It was brown and red, with a few markings of white marbling. “Do you even know what this is?”

“No. What is it?”

Evianna popped it into her mouth and slowly chewed. Then she swallowed and shrugged. “I have no idea. But it was flavorful. Like deer, really. But it’s definitely not deer.”

“Well, there’s another ancient custom where wealthy families will snatch children off the streets and serve them to guests,” I said.

Evianna reflexively gagged, her expression one of horror.

I just chortled and shook my head. “I’m messing with you.”

Her disgust shifted to playful anger. With a huff, she crossed her arms. “You can’t do that! You’re the honest and truthful one. It’s unfair to use that kind of reputation to trick me!”

“The look on your face was priceless, though.”

Evianna frowned and pouted at the same time. It was adorable. I wanted to grab her and hug her close, but before I could do any of that, a group of individuals strode down the hallway. I waved to them, and then nodded and offered thanks. Then they continued away.

“This place is huge,” Evianna said with a sigh. “The other Frith Guild arcanists should be here, but where do we even start?”

“I can locate them.”

She lifted an eyebrow. “Oh? Well, then, lead the way.”

My tremor sense was a useful tool, but it was much more difficult to use when there were so many people around. And loud people. They stomped and toppled things over at an alarming rate. I tried to locate people who were in smaller groups, so they would be easier to identify.

Some people had distinct eldrin, after all.

Fain, for instance, always had his wendigo nearby, though Wraith was typically invisible. The wolf-like creature was familiar to me, and I searched the fortress through the tremors, looking for the soft padded steps of the wendigo.

And I found him.

Wraith was in a room not far from us. Two other people were there, and if one of them was Fain, the other had to be Adelgis. And Adelgis’s ethereal whelk was made of light. It was one of the few creatures I couldn’t sense. So, with a half-smile, I led Evianna down the hall and straight to their location.

We reached a large iron door. I knocked, even though it was difficult to do so. When no one answered, I pushed the door open and allowed Evianna in first.

It was a library.

Well, it was a sad library.

There were several bookshelves, and a couple desks, but almost everything was empty. A couple tomes were on each shelf, each one collecting dust. I wandered inside, glancing around, wondering why everything was so barren.

Two people were speaking, their voices the only sounds in the whole room.

I spotted Adelgis and Fain. The pair were on a long lounging couch. Wraith wasn’t visible, even though I felt his paws every time they touched the stone floors.

“I just don’t think it makes sense,” Fain growled, already in the middle of a conversation, his attention squarely on Adelgis. “You don’t have to go. You don’t have to do any of this.”

“Yevin is my brother,” Adelgis said, no anger in his voice. He sat next to Fain on the couch, his hands on his lap, his long black hair tied in a ponytail.

“Volke can handle it.”

“I feel responsible. I think Yevin might be bonded to the abyssal leech that grew—”

“I don’t care.” Fain sat straight. He wore black trousers and a black tunic, but for some reason had a red cap with a circular brim. It reminded me of merchants who wanted to keep the sun out of their eyes. A small white feather was tucked into the leathery folds on the side of the cap, giving it a distinct look.

“I’ll be okay,” Adelgis said.

Fain threw an arm up in frustration. “You just said it would be dangerous. Leave it to the god-arcanists.”

I wanted to interject, but the two seemed too wrapped up in their conversation to interrupt. Adelgis must’ve known we were here, however. He smiled at Fain, and the other man calmed a little.

“I really appreciate that you’re always concerned about my safety,” Adelgis whispered. He leaned forward, and Fain’s face grew as bright as his red cap. When Adelgis pressed his lips to Fain’s, the whole room was quiet.

I was even holding my breath, even though that wasn’t a conscious decision. I suspected Evianna was in the same boat.

With a forceful cough, I declared my presence.

Fain whirled around, his face brightening to the shade of a tomato. With an aggressively neutral expression, he stood. “I thought people around here knocked before entering.”

“I did that,” I said. Then I awkwardly gestured to the door. “Should we go?”

Adelgis also stood. He was thinner than ever, his white robes practically a tent over his body. Despite that, his smile was bright, and his eyes alight with interest. “No. I think you should stay. I can contact everyone else to meet us here. It’s one of the quieter places in the fortress.”

Still pink in the cheeks, Fain lifted his cap and brushed his dark hair back with his fingers. They were black, almost frostbitten, but I knew they worked just fine. His bizarre digits matched his dark clothing. I wondered if he had made that decision on purpose, to avoid people asking about it.

Evianna glanced around, her eyes narrowing. The shadows moved with each subtle gesture. “So, why did you two come to this room? It’s dead. Don’t you want to see Hexa?”

“We saw Hexa,” Fain said, no more anger in his voice. He was cool and collected as he sat back down on the couch. “She’s in the main room with her family. Their celebrations… They remind me of parties we used to have on the Third Abyss. Her cousins drink more than pirates.”

“I think she wanted to drink me under the table,” I muttered.

The door to the sad library burst open.

I turned, but my shock vanished the instant I spotted Zaxis. He had kicked his way inside, and practically sauntered over to us. He, too, wore his shirt mostly open to display the fenris wolf marking etched across his chest and shoulder.

Illia walked in behind him, her attention on Nicholin. Her eldrin was arguing with her.

“It’ll only be a sip,” Nicholin said.

Illia narrowed her eye. “No. Absolutely not. The stuff here is too potent.”

He held up a paw and squished two of his fingers together. “Just a teensy-weensy bit! Please?”

Illia shook her head. “Nope. Not this time.” She motioned to Zaxis. “I already have one person to watch after, I can’t do two.”

“I’m fine,” Zaxis said with a dismissive wave of his hand. He threw himself onto the couch next to Fain. Then he glanced around. “So is this it? Only us?” He glared at Fain. “Why are you wearing that red cap?”

Fain touched the brim with his black fingers. “It looks good.”

The two men stared at each other for a long moment.

“Yeah, I guess so,” Zaxis replied, much to my surprise. “It reminds me of phoenix colors, ya know? Those are good colors.”

Fain nodded once. “Moonbeam said I should be more… vibrant.” His tone was as flat as a board. It almost made me laugh.

When Illia took a seat, it was on the other side of Zaxis. She glanced over at Fain, and without much prompting, said, “I think it looks good, too.”

Which was huge, because she basically never spoke to Fain. I wanted to comment, but I held it to myself. Only Adelgis would know my relief, and he gave me a smile to acknowledge it.

Evianna moved and took a seat on another couch near an empty bookshelf. I went to join her, but Adelgis held up a hand.

“Volke, can you gather everyone else?” he asked.

“I thought you spoke to them telepathically?”

“I did, but some of them don’t want to join. I think it would be best if you spoke to them. They’ll open up to you.”

Adelgis said things in such cryptic terms that I sometimes thought he spoke in nothing but riddles. I didn’t want to argue with him, though. I trusted his judgment. I gave Evianna a quick nod, and kiss, before heading for the door.

“Down the hall and out the front door,” Adelgis said through telepathy. “Most are outside, and Atty is just down the way in the nearest inn.”

I exited without saying anything. The noise within the fortress house bombarded me the moment I entered the hall. While rubbing my ears, I went outside, beyond the foyer and the entrance hall.

Once I made it through the front door, I allowed the evening winds to wash over me. The purple lanterns were still a glorious sight. Dozens of individuals funneled their way into the d’Tenni home, most bringing gifts with them.

They were mostly knives and booze, but I suspected Hexa’s family would appreciate that.

I shoved my hands into my trouser pockets and headed for the path, but I stopped once I spotted someone standing next to the railing that prevented people from falling into Hydra’s Gorge. It was a wrought-iron fence that came up to my waist—tall enough to protect people from stumbling over, but not tall enough to prevent someone from jumping over.

Lynus leaned on the railing, his muscular form hard to miss.

He wore a coat, hiding his mark. Because of that, most people walked right by him without a second glance. His coppery hair fluttered in the night air, and his gaze was on the mists far below, deep in the canyon.

Was he one of the people I had been sent to gather?

After a long sigh, I ambled my way over to his position by the railing. “Lynus?” I said as I approached. “Did you hear Adelgis’s telepathy? The celebrations are inside.”

He placed his elbows on the railing and leaned forward. If he wanted, he could easily leap over the barrier, but I knew he wouldn’t. Lynus was against killing himself—he had made that clear.

He didn’t answer me.

“Calisto?” I said instead.

“Tsk.” Lynus shot me a cold glare. “What do you want? Make it quick.”

I motioned to our surroundings. The pathway to the fortress home was packed full of people, and Lynus was just twenty feet off to the side, alone and staring at the void of mist in Hydra’s Gorge.

“What’re you doing?” I asked, trying not to be sarcastic. “Why aren’t you celebrating with everyone?”

He forced a smirk and then turned away. Still glaring—this time at the mists—he said, “Because I don’t deserve to celebrate. I was one of the arcanists who enabled your chum to get snatched in the first place, or don’t you remember?”

Well…

That logic was airtight. I didn’t really have any counter for it. I completely agreed, actually. It waspartially his fault that Vethica had gotten abducted.

With an awkward chuckle, I nodded once. “Okay. Enjoy the outside, then.”

And Lynus didn’t argue. He continued to stare off into nothing, his thoughts clearly distant and all-consuming. We needed him, because he was one of the god-arcanists, but that didn’t mean I had to be best buddies with the guy.

I stepped a few feet away from him. Then I turned back around. “Lynus,” I muttered.

He glanced over, his eyes narrowed.

“You’re really talented when it comes to learning magic.” It was a statement, not a question.

He just stared at me.

“Can you help everyone learn their god-arcanist aura? We need to do it as quickly as possible.” Liet needed us.

With one eyebrow lifted, Lynus replied, “Me? You’re the one who created an eclipse aura while still a journeyman knightmare arcanist. If anyone here is going to teach auras, it’s gonna be you, lad.”

His statement caught me off-guard.

I had forgotten I had used my eclipse aura in front of him. That had been a long time ago, when I helped fight off another pirate ship—the night he had defeated Redbeard. Lynus remembered that? And he thought I was talented at creating auras?

He returned his attention to the gorge. “I’ll focus on learning it, but many arcanists find it’s the most difficult form of magic to manifest.”

That was true. But we had to do it. We just had to.

Without anything else to say, I left Lynus to his contemplations. I headed to the main pathway, with the gorge to my left, and all the massive stone buildings to my right. It didn’t take long to reach the nearest inn. I knew it because of the many paper hydras hanging from the awning and sign.

The Hydra’s Den.

My favorite name for an inn yet.

I entered through the swinging front door and found myself drowning in a sea of bodies. There was another celebration going on here, and I had to wade my way through people to reach the back area with tables and a bar counter.

I apologized as I went to the back, but stopped once I spotted my brother, Ryker.

He was seated in the darkest corner, his table lit with a single candle. I almost didn’t recognize him, but we shared a lot of the same features. Tall. Black hair. Tanned. Ryker was gaunt, though. Not muscular. And he held himself with a timid disposition.

Tonight, he wore the fanciest outfit I had ever seen him in. A fitted coat, a vest, a frilled and puffy shirt. The collar was so big, and went up to his chin, that I suspected he might be suffocating.

And his hair had been slicked back and held in place.

As I walked over to the table, I noticed he was alone.

Except for the mouse that sat on the table next to him. It was his eldrin—the Mother of Shapeshifters—or MOS for short. She was a bizarre mystical creature born of god-creatures. She had strange properties that didn’t seem to conform to the standard. She could shapeshift into almost anything, which was unique to her.

Tonight, she was a white mouse with glowing red eyes.

I would’ve said it was ominous, but the way she twitched her nose and squeaked as I approached made me relax a bit.

“Ryker?” I asked as I approached.

My brother glanced up, his forehead dappled in sweat, his dark eyes wide. Then he sighed, wiped his brow, and frowned. “Oh, Volke. It’s just you. Welcome.”

The crowds in the inn weren’t as loud as Hexa’s family’s home. In here—the Hydra’s Den—it was easy enough to hear my brother when he spoke. I even heard the slight irritation and trepidation, though I didn’t know why.

“Why are you here?” I asked. “The arcanists of the Frith Guild should be celebrating with Hexa.”

“Ah. Yes. About that.” Ryker tugged at his collar and forced a smile. “You see, tomorrow a lot of people will be leaving for New Norra. Hexa will be one of them. And, uh, I think I’ll be accompanying her.”

That was a surprise. “Why?”

“MOS doesn’t like the Keeper of Corpses.” Ryker patted the little mouse on the table. Then he touched the mark on his forehead. It was a nine-pointed star, unlike other arcanists who had seven points. “MOS and Keeper are siblings, it seems. She said that long ago, they used to travel the world together, but they had a falling out, and went their separate ways.”

“Okay.” I hadn’t spoken with the Keeper of Corpses or the arcanist who had bonded with it. At least, not yet. I would soon. “And MOS wants to stay away from him?”

“At least for now. So, uh, I’ll have plenty of time to speak with Hexa and Vethica as we travel.”

My brother tapped his fingers across the top of the table. He stared at me expectantly.

I just stared back.

Did he want me to do something?

“I’m busy tonight,” Ryker finally stated. He motioned me away from the table. “And I’m waiting for someone.” He genuinely grinned. “A special someone. So, I’d rather this be private.”

A special someone?

My brother was already with someone? It intrigued me—because he was younger. And didn’t like confrontation. Who was he courting?

“Is it Karna?” I asked, even though I knew it was rude.

Ryker placed a finger to his lips and hushed me. Then he glanced around before leaning forward on the table. MOS hopped onto his shoulder, her red eyes never leaving me.

“Yes, it’s Karna. Keep your voice down.”

“Is that why you’re here?”

“Yes, obviously. I thought this place would be romantic. I didn’t realize it was another place for celebrations.”

I half-laughed as I turned my attention to our surroundings. Even if everyone was gone, this was a standard inn built into the stone of the gorge. Why would Ryker think it was special? They had several hydra decorations. That was something.

With a sigh, Ryker sat back in his seat.

“Why do I need to keep quiet about this?” I asked.

“I’m afraid everyone will get jealous.” Ryker lowered his voice to add, “She’s so beautiful and talented. Who wouldn’t be jealous?”

That was… a reason. I supposed.

“Well, as long as you’re happy,” I said.

Ryker vigorously nodded. “Oh, yes. She’s wonderful. She reminds me of our mother.”

That had me raising both my eyebrows.

“Not like that,” he quickly said. He gripped the edge of the table. “I mean, our mother was, uh, a lot like Karna.” Ryker’s face reddened more than Fain’s. He ran a hand from his hair to his chin, clearly flustered. “They don’t look alike. It’s just… personality. They’re confident. And I like that.”

“You like women like our mother?” I asked, messing with him, since he clearly couldn’t get his words out.

“N-No! I mean, yes.Basically.” Ryker shook his head. He hid his face in his hands. “You’re ruining the moment,” he mumbled into his palms.

With a snort, I stepped away from the table. I had already known about my brother and Karna, but I supposed it wasn’t formalized yet. Would Karna stay with him? She was so much older. Not that it was bad—they were both arcanists now—but it made me wonder what she liked about Ryker.

“I’ll leave you two alone.” I stepped away from the table, confused by Karna’s absence. “Stay safe on your travels to New Norra.”

Ryker mumbled something else, but I didn’t hear it. Instead, I headed straight for the rooms. An odd thought crossed my mind.

Several arcanists in the guild, especially those my age, were finding partners in life. But now I was heading to find Atty, and out of everyone in the Frith Guild who I had trained with, she was definitely not with anyone.

I used my tremor sense to locate all the rooms, and then find one occupied by a single person and a bird.

It wasn’t difficult.

There she was. Not far from my location.

All alone, as usual. Trying to achieve a true form with her phoenix.

If anyone needed to be celebrating with everyone, it was Atty.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

A TRUE FORM PHOENIX

I approached her room, far from the citizens of Regal Heights—far from the arcanists of the Frith Guild. I knocked, knowing full well she was inside. The boom of my knuckles echoed in the hallway louder than I had anticipated.

“O-One moment, please.”

Atty rarely sounded flustered. She moved around the room in a panic, stepping quietly from one corner to the next. What was she doing? Her heart rate had increased, and she moved around several objects.

“Who’s there?” she called out, still rearranging the contents of the room. “I’m quite busy.”

“It’s me,” I said. “Volke.”

“Oh!”

Her speed increased. She grabbed things and threw them all around. Her phoenix, Titania, hopped toward the door. She stood on the other side, the light of her body shining through under the door and into the hall.

“One moment, please,” Atty said again, breathless. She hurried to the door and placed her hand on the handle. “Um. Titania will entertain you until I’m ready.”

The door opened just a crack, and Titania hopped out of the room, her talons scratching across the stone floor. Then the door shut, leaving the phoenix in the hallway with me. We were alone, but I was fine with that. If Atty needed a little time, I could give it to her.

The night was still young.

Titania stood in front of me, seemingly bigger than even just a week ago. She had a long tail, with a few feathers that reminded me of a peacock. Her scarlet coloration, as beautiful as the day we first met, practically glistened when she moved.

Soot also fell from her feathers, dirtying the floor.

Titania lifted her head. She had a long heron neck, both graceful and delicate. Her golden eyes locked onto me.

“Volke, how are you?” she asked, her tone formal.

“Good.”

“What brings you to these parts? Shouldn’t you be at Hexa’s side? You helped save Vethica, after all.”

“I’m here to bring Atty to the party,” I stated.

Titania lowered her head. Then she fluffed her feathers out, practically doubling in size. She resembled a beautiful turkey when she was so round. I didn’t voice that, though.

In a whispered voice, Titania said, “Atty is busy.”

I knelt next to Titania. “Doing what?”

“That’s a secret.”

We stared at each other for a moment. Titania never blinked. She met my gaze with unflinching determination. When I said nothing, she puffed out her chest and tucked her wings tight to her side. Embers flared underneath her feathers, as though her inner body was nothing but flames.

“Volke,” Titania said, just as soft as before. “May I ask you a question?”

I nodded.

“You don’t think… it’s myfault Atty hasn’t managed to achieve true form, do you?”

That was an interesting question, but one I ultimately knew the answer to. I shook my head. “It’s not your fault. It’s never the eldrin’s fault. Mystical creatures bond with people to grow—to develop their magic.”

“But my arcanist is trying so hard.” Titania wilted, her wings drooping a bit. “I fear I am somehow the obstacle.”

With a gentle pat on her warm feathers, I said, “No. It’s just not true. But if you want to help her, maybe you should encourage her to—”

The door opened.

I stood and glanced over at Atty.

She was…

Dressed in unusual gear.

Atty wore thick traveling trousers, a vest with many pockets, a long coat that went to her knees, and a brown shirt with a collar that shielded her neck from the weather. Her long blonde hair was tied back in a ponytail, and she wore a tricorn cap that half obscured her phoenix arcanist mark. When she stared up at me, it was from under the brim of the cap, but through her long eyelashes.

“Volke?” She took a step back. “Did you want to come in?”

With a nod, I stepped into her room. Normally, I wouldn’t want anyone getting the wrong idea about our relationship, but I doubted anyone was paying attention—or sober—and I needed to be frank with her, which was best done in private.

Atty closed the door once Titania and I were inside her room.

There wasn’t much here. A bed. A dresser.

And a large backpack stuffed to capacity. It sat at the end of the bed, ready to be picked up and moved at a moment’s notice.

“Atty?” I asked, one eyebrow raised.

She stood between me and the pack. “You came to see me?” She tucked her hands behind her back and forced a smile.

“Uh, yes.” I crossed my arms and faced her fully. “Why aren’t you celebrating with the others? Everyone is waiting for you.”

Atty had the bluest eyes. When she met my gaze this time, the blue had darkened. She was stiffer than before, less open. With her hands still behind her back, she hesitated.

“We had this conversation before,” I said, trying not to sound exasperated. “You shouldn’t separate yourself like this. I know you’re doing great things with magic, but I don’t think it’s really healthy.”

Atty was one of the few people who had mastered her evocation and augmentation to such an extent, she could use them at the same time. Her flames—golden flames—could heal people. She didn’t need to physically touch the person, her fire could do it for her.

That was an incredible feat, one she had achieved just by practicing over and over again in her bedroom. But that hadn’t gotten her a true form phoenix. Now it seemed as though she had abandoned that advancement of magic to focus on something else.

“Well, I hadn’t planned on tell you this just yet, but I have something to say,” Atty muttered.

Reluctantly, I nodded. “Okay?”

She tugged at the collar of her shirt and then lifted up her guild pendant, tugging it over her head and removing it. Then Atty held it with both hands, cradling the object as though it could creak if she breathed too hard on it.

“Well then, you know that a few arcanists are heading to New Norra, yes?”

Again, I nodded, though I didn’t like where this was going.

“I told Guildmaster Eventide that I would secure supplies and then join them once a second airship arrived in Regal Heights.” Frowning, Atty waited a moment. Then she said, “But I don’t intend to do that. I intend to send them the supplies, and then head out on my own.”

Titania perked her head up. She hopped over to her arcanist, her wings half-spread. “I thought you weren’t going to tell anyone!”

Atty shook her head, her blonde ponytail swishing back and forth. “It’s fine. Volke needs to know. He’s… he’s the one in charge, and I should make this more formal. I just… didn’t want to tell the others.”

“What?” I asked. “What’re you talking about? You shouldn’t go out on your own. Why would you do that?”

Atty snapped her eyes to mine. “W-Well, because you did that. When Thronehold was under attack, you just… you just flew off in an airship and left everyone behind.”

“I was infected with the arcane plague. I didn’t want to risk any of you getting it.”

“Yes, but when you returned to us…”

I had a true form knightmare.

Was that why Atty was leaving? Was she trying to replicate my journey so she could achieve a true form with Titania? I ran a hand down my face. This was the third time tonight I felt like people were acting bizarre. What had gotten into everyone?

“It’s not like that.” Atty brought her hands in front of her and laced her fingers together. “I know you think I’m just trying to mimic what you did with Luthair, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.”

“Then why?” I asked.

“I need to be away from the Frith Guild because…” Atty clenched her jaw. She trembled slightly as she said, “Because Calisto the Dread Pirate is correct. Phoenixes are creatures of rebirth. They forge themselves from fire. They… they rise from the ashes when everything seems darkest and bleak.”

“Okay?” I wasn’t sure where she was going with this.

“And if I stay in the Frith Guild, I’ll never have a chance to embody the truest qualities of a phoenix!”

After her statement, we were both quiet. Titania made a slight whistle sound as she ducked her head.

“Why is that?” I finally asked, my voice tense.

Atty motioned to me. “Because you’rehere. Because Guildmaster Eventide is here. Because I’ll never know the fires of life when I have defenders like you two at my side. I’ve been hidingaway from the world, trying to study, but I need to risk everything, and I can’t have Volke the Warlord there to help if something goes wrong.”

I said nothing.

Did she want me to abandon her? Was that what she was saying?

No. That was silly. Atty wasn’t like that.

“You want to forge your own might,” I said in realization.

She nodded twice. “Yes. I do. I want the opportunity to grow. To experience a rebirth.” She grabbed the backpack on the floor and hefted it onto her back. It was a little heavy, and she swayed on her feet for a moment. “And… and I don’t need anyone’s permission to leave the Frith Guild, you know. I can go at any time.”

Atty handed me the pendant. She was leaving the guild.

Which was selfish, given the circumstances. We were in the middle of a war against the Second Ascension. I gave serious thought to rejecting her pendant. Then again, she obviously thought she was weak. Forcing her to fight wouldn’t help us.

“Where do you plan to go?” I asked.

“West of the Amber Dunes, over the Locke Mountains, to the Sunset Desert.”

I shook my head. “The Sunset Desert? They say that place is uninhabitable. It’s filled with pyroclastic dragons and syrocko drakes. The heat could cause diamonds to melt.” That was an exaggeration, but it was a common phrase used by anyone who lived in the area.

“I’m immune to fire,” Atty stated matter-of-factly. She pushed her pendant toward me again. “I’ve made up my mind.”

I took her guild pendant, her name carved on one side with the words phoenix arcanist.

“Atty…”

She fidgeted with the straps of her backpack. “You can’t stop me from leaving anymore. B-But I will be back. Once I’m strong. Once I can do things. You’ll see.”

Why did Atty always want to do things alone? Always. Perhaps I never noticed it when I was younger, because she was so set apart, but this was her. Alone. Contemplative. Doing amazing things but never giving herself enough credit.

Somehow, it was always never enough.

I slowly stepped aside. “Atty,” I whispered. “I hope you find what you’re looking for.”

“R-Really?” The shock in her voice was amusing.

Even Titania glanced up at me, her gold eyes wide. “You aren’t upset?”

“Well, forcing you to fight won’t do us any good.” I shook my head. “And if you think you can make yourself stronger, fine. But keep in mind we need you. And I don’t think this is necessary, though. I don’t think you need to fly away from everyone to experience the fires of life. But it might be easier. You’re right. Liet and I would always try to save you if we could.”

My statements seemed to shake Atty. She just waited in silence, as though my speech would be much longer. I didn’t have much else to say, but I figured I would try to articulate my closing thoughts.

“Atty…” After a deep breath, I settled on what needed to be said. “I know why you want a true form phoenix. I know your mother thinks it’s important—that she wants you to bring your dead family members back to life. But she isn’t you. If you experience anything out there by yourself, maybe just experience life free from your mother’s shackles.”

I suspected my words struck a chord. Atty said nothing.

“Please,” I said in a low voice. “For me. Just let that all go. It’s not worth basing your whole life around.”

Atty’s eyes glazed over.

Then she rubbed at her face and turned away from me, her backpack rattling as she moved. Her phoenix hopped around her feet, dropping soot all across the floor.

“My arcanist?” Titania whispered. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” Atty stopped her rubbing. Then she gulped down a breath. “Volke. Thank you for your time.”

Was she upset?

Atty had always done what her mother wanted. Perhaps my statements had crossed a line.

“If you need anything, just let me know,” I said as I turned for the door.

“Thank you.”

With slow and heavy steps, I made my way out of the simple inn room. I opened and closed the door, no more words between us. What else was I supposed to say? I pocketed her guild pendant.

Hopefully, Atty would find whatever it was she was looking for.