Sooka sat at her normal table in the Library of Illumination reading about some spells that she had never tried before. Many intrigued her, but almost all were out of her range of capabilities; she would need far more experience before she tried those. Still, it was entertaining to imagine their uses, and occasionally she would discern whether she had the verbal capacity to cast them. She was working on one particularly difficult incantation when someone walked up beside her. Looking up, she saw one of the librarians offering a smile. Sooka smiled back, remembering this woman from the other day.
"Good morning, Sooka," greeted the kind woman. "Mr. Cadwell was here earlier. I told him that you were looking for him, and he asked to see you."
"He's" "here now?" asked Sooka.
"Yes, he's right over there."
She pointed to a table across the room, and Sooka followed her gaze and saw a well-groomed human, clearly wealthy, poring over a book. Leaving her books on the table, Sooka hopped over to greet the man, smiling at his monocle and mustache. The top of his head was shiny, reflecting the lights of the library.
"Mr. Cadwell," said Sooka.
He looked up at her, frowned, then glanced over to the librarian.
"I'm sorry, miss," he said as if he had been handed the most boring task. "I must have been mistaken."
Then he stood, and gathered his books, and turned toward the exit.
"Mr. Cadwell," repeated Sooka.
"Yes, that's my name," dismissed Edgar as he continued to walk.
"You're looking" "at books?"
He stopped but did not turn.
"Yes, I'm reading books. We're at a library. What else do you do? I don't have time for this, dear. Goodbye."
"Age of Arcanum?" pushed Sooka.
Finally, he turned and glared at her forcefully.
"I'm sorry, I don't have time for this. If you are looking for things about the Age of Arcanum, then please come to my museum and learn for yourself."
He threw a piece of parchment at her, and it fluttered to the ground as he walked away. With an irritated sigh, Sooka snatched up the parchment and read it. Across the top, in extravagant handwriting, read "Cadwell's Museum of the Age of Arcanum." Below was an address, and Sooka saw that it was in the Carnations district, not too terribly far from the library.
With a frown, she decided that she should update Kazax on this before she ventured somewhere alone. Besides, maybe Kazax would know more about this incredibly rude individual.
Rather than heading straight there, she recalled what Enna had said the other night about decoding a journal in draconic. Perhaps she could strike two birds with one stone.
Having made up her mind, she ran back to the Misfit Manor.
"I haven't seen Kazax in… weeks, I think," said Enna as she and Sooka rounded the last corner in the Dandelions. She remembered that Kazax' Extraordinary Enchantments was just down the street thanks to the appearance of the Nightingale, but Sooka's familiarity with the area was clear in her purposed steps. She had hardly looked for landmarks on their way here; her movement around this part of the city reminded Enna of Bash. It seemed that she really had been working often with Kazax, as she had said at dinner.
A few minutes later, they approached the decorative door once more, and the trim writing bounced around to ask them for a password. A moment later, the letters shifted again and said, "Oh, it's Sooka! Enter, please."
Sooka smiled as they walked into the shop, and she cast a quick spell. Enna felt a familiar tingle in her mind, and a moment later, the eerie mind flayer approached them. Clearly, the shop was not open today, as Kazax was not in disguise but rather floated along, hovering a few inches off the floor while his tentacles twitched slightly now and then.
"Hello, friends," he spoke into their minds. "What mischief can we get into today?"
Sooka ran forward and hugged Kazax tightly before looking far up into his eyes.
"I got the spell!" she said telepathically. "Thank you so much!"
"Ah, it suits you. I like the sound of your voice." Kindness. Pride.
"Thank you!"
"It's beautiful." Sincerity.
Sooka smiled and hugged him tighter, and Enna grinned to see her so happy.
"Enna!" greeted Kazax. "It's nice to see you again. What can I do for you, my dear?"
"I was wondering if you might have a hundred gold worth of diamond dust?" she asked, the intent of a spell dancing in her mind.
"I do indeed!"
"I'd love to buy some," she smiled, reaching for her sack of money.
"Very well."
Kazax drifted into another room, and Sooka and Enna followed. There on the wall were shelves full of tiny chests, each with a different gemstone inlaid on the front. He opened one with a diamond on the lid while he held up a tiny jar, and with a flick of his wrist, the diamond powder lifted into the air and settled into the vial. Then he corked it and held it out to Enna. With a kind nod, she took the diamond dust and handed him the sack of money.
"I appreciate your business," he said graciously, twirling the sack until it disappeared.
"I also heard that you've been studying something in draconic," she added as she pocketed the dust. "I've been studying a journal written in draconic, but I can't decode it well enough to make any sense of it."
"Interesting, interesting… May I see the thing in question?" Intrigue.
Nodding, Enna handed over the journal, and Kazax began to flip through the pages.
"Ah, a journal of a mad mage… I love these! But this will take some time to decipher. He was very clever. Are you going to leave it with me?"
"If you can find anything out, and you'd be willing to share it with me, then sure! I've been unsuccessful so far."
"I will take this—" Kazax pocketed the book "—and you can have this." He waved his hand, and one of his clock-faced teapots lifted over and hovered before her. "This you can set for the proper teatime every day."
"Oh, thank you," smiled Enna as she took the gift and stowed it away.
"And Sooka, would you like to continue today?"
"I wanted to tell you," began Sooka. "I met someone at the library who had been looking at all the books about the Age of Arcanum. He… didn't want to talk to me, but he gave me this flyer."
She handed over a piece of parchment, and Kazax eyed it carefully.
"Another museum," replied Kazax, intrigued. "They're always popping up every now and then. Might be worth your time, but I doubt it. Unless… What was the man's name again?"
"Edgar Cadwell," said Sooka.
"Cadwell, Cadwell… Doesn't ring a bell." Kazax chuckled at his rhyme. "Ah, hold on." His tentacles twitched, and he paced as he thought. "If it's the Cadwell I'm thinking of, then he was one of the higher ranked members of the Miasma, a collector of many items that he kept for himself. Sanctioned, of course, by the Silverspire Mages because of outstanding service. Could be he has something we might need." Kazax crossed his arms and glided over to peer down at Sooka. "Might be worth looking at."
"I will," nodded Sooka.
"What's this?" asked Enna.
"I am looking for artifacts from the Age of Arcanum," explained Kazax. "It will assist with my spellworks. This museum supposedly has a collection of such artifacts."
"If you want to come with me, we could go there and you could help me speak," said Sooka.
"Will they part with these artifacts willingly?" asked Enna.
"Unlikely," admitted Kazax.
"You know who you should be talking to," said Enna. "You should ask Bash for help."
"Bash?" asked Sooka.
"Yeah, he's our master thief. Of all people, he's the one to talk to about trying to steal an artifact from a museum. We could check it out if you want, and then if it's somewhere we need to sneak in, Bash could probably help with it."
"Okay!" agreed Sooka. "Sounds good."
"I will study this, and you can let me know what you find," said Kazax. "Good day and good hunting. Happy, follow me."
Kazax floated toward the stairs in the back, and his friendly automaton suddenly sprang to life and marched along after him. All at once, Enna realized that this automaton was that odd, loud creature that she had seen in her scrying vision so many weeks ago. She chuckled to learn that its name was Happy, and together she and Sooka left the building.
Morning light streamed in Bash's windows as he sat in his armchair drinking in the third book since they'd moved into the manor. He knew that he needed another hobby, but with so many books in the world, he'd decided that he could figure all that out later. As it was, he turned another page, pleased to be in a world not his own.
And then his reverie was interrupted with a ping from his sending stone.
With a sigh, he stood and snatched it off his desk as Rune's voice emanated from it.
"Someone's here for you," he said. "With information. And… tea?"
With a start, Bash realized who it was.
"On my way," he said hurriedly before tucking away the sending stone in his bag, draping it quickly over his shoulder, and rushing downstairs. The front door was open, and Rune stood there between the newcomer and the house.
"Thanks, Rune," rushed Bash as he came up to the door.
Rune nodded and meandered onto the lawn and out of earshot while Bash turned his attention to the person before him. It was not Riddle himself, but a human courier who now offered a scroll that had been sealed with wax.
"As promised," said the woman. "And paid for."
"Thank you," replied Bash, taking the scroll. His hands trembled, and he clasped his wrist behind his back as he nodded to the woman, who turned and walked away as Rune returned to his post by the front door.
"Seems like a fun type," he commented.
"I thought we made it clear," said Bash, raising an eyebrow. "Sending stones are to be used only in emergencies. Each one only sends one message a day. We can't risk their need on something as trivial as a letter."
"Uh, understood, sir," replied Rune as he avoided Bash's gaze. "It won't happen again, sir."
"Thank you. And thank you for doing your job."
Rune nodded, and Bash closed the door before nearly sprinting up the stairs. Slamming his door behind him, he eagerly broke the wax seal and unfurled the scroll.
To Sebastian,
The noblewoman known as Ruby Erim'Rae was wedded to a noble from one of the southern cities of Jebrigar. Research indicates that she was not pleased at this union, but she left Agneward with the man and settled in the southern cities, where she lived until her death. While I suspected that Jewel was related to this Ruby, my suspicions are now confirmed that the connection is more direct. Jewel is Ruby's daughter.
Given Jewel's race and reported time of birth, these events line up well with her mother's exit of the city.
Regards,
Answered Riddle
Bash exhaled, and his arms dropped to his sides. The scroll fell to the floor.
Half the riddle was solved.
But only half.
He ran a hand over his face and plopped onto the ottoman. Was this his fate? To live in a perpetual state of unknowns? Where was Jewel? And what of the names she'd given him for her parents? Had she lied to hide her identity? And yet, she had offered her surname so freely.
It seemed that his answers lay far beyond his reach, far away in the southlands of Jebrigar. Would he ever find his way there? Would he ever find answers?
For several long moments, he watched the half-furled scroll on the floor. Then he slowly pushed off the ottoman, snatched the scroll, rolled it tight, and tucked it into a drawer in his desk.
With sudden irritation, he rushed back downstairs and out the front. Rune bid him farewell, and Bash merely waved a hand as he rushed toward the gate. He strode into the Circle, then out into the Daffodils. He did not stop until he stood facing an old building, nestled up against the wall around the Circle. It was a place that he had not visited in a long time, and now, he stood staring at it, grieving over something that he thought had been put to rest.
Why did I come here?
He couldn't find an answer.
The old school building had long been spiraling into disrepair. The walls seemed to be missing chunks of plaster here and there, several windows had been boarded up, and the grand clock tower appeared to be on the verge of crumbling. The clock itself no longer read the current time, and the once-shiny clock face was now muddled with decades of dust and negligence.
Wiping a tear from his cheek, Bash walked slowly up to the nearest window on the right side of the building only to find that it wasn't even locked. He pushed it open and eased himself over the sill. Most of the classroom's desks were missing, though a few broken ones remained pushed against the right wall. Bash walked past them to the door, which remained ajar as one of the hinges had broken, and turned down the hallway. Then he ascended the winding stairs, up three stories until he stood within the clock tower itself.
The gears were all either rusted or broken, and there was no sign of movement except for a few skittish rats in the corner. Bash walked past them to the window and then pushed himself out the window, standing outside the building on the windowsill. He swung over to a ladder and made the final ascent to the top of the clocktower.
Wind blew across his face as he neared the railing and looked out at the city districts as they cascaded down to meet the Endless Plains.
"'I've never seen the city like this before,'" he quoted even as his lip trembled.
Then he sniffed and shook his head.
The last time he'd stood here, he'd broken someone's heart. The last time he'd stood here, he'd walked away from Ruby.
Had he walked away from Jewel, too? Could he forgive himself if he had?
This new thought crashed on him unexpectedly, and he began to weep. Uncertainty wracked him. As surely as he could not discern whether he had a daughter, he felt that he would never answer a question that had plagued him since his birth.
What am I?
Quietly, he sobbed atop the abandoned clocktower, at last overcome by it all.
After a time, the tears subsided, and Bash found himself gazing numbly down at Agneward. Then he shook his head and quickly descended the clock tower.
Back on the street, he wandered for a several minutes. With no destination in mind, he merely watched as the cobblestones slowly moved past him. All the feelings of his own insufficiency had seemed to resurface, and his mind wandered down darker and darker alleys where the Ghost awaited him. And then all at once, somewhere amid the stream of self-doubt came the voice of a particularly annoying chicken.
I understand that you're having a hard time. And I understand that you're feeling all the guilt in the world. But there's one thing that I will remind you of, and I want you to take it to heart. We are your friends. We are your family.
Emboldened by Aribis's comments, Enna now surfaced in his mind.
Despite all the times you have felt helpless, without you, we would have failed. You may not have been able to control everything, but we all made it out alive, one way or another, because of you.
Bash closed his eyes, and he could see Enna smiling up at him as she sat on the floor of his bedroom.
"Why can't I believe you?" he whispered to the memory.
Then he opened his eyes. Several people streamed about him, each on their own mission, each ignoring him and his inner monologue. The sun was now pushing high into the sky, and here he stood, in the middle of Agneward, facing the crisis of himself as the city moved on without him. Despite the recent events that had nearly brought about its ruin, the city seemed unperturbed. Its problems were few. Its scars were nonexistent. The Ghost was no longer needed, no longer wanted.
With a sigh, Bash ran a hand over his chest, feeling the small ribs of scar tissue underneath his tunic. Then he shook his head and laughed at his own ponderings.
"I could go for a drink," he said, and immediately one of his favorite taverns sprang into his mind: the Sour Apple. With this sudden remembrance came a realization that he had no idea how the tavern was doing a month after it had been nearly destroyed. Grateful for the distraction that he'd conjured for himself, he moved down the street with purposed steps, aiming for the Dandelions.
An hour or two later, he found himself standing before the building. It had been several weeks since the incident with William, and the builders had made marvelous progress. Several members of the Guild of Progress were about the place, affixing beams to support the new roof, and on the left, a foreman shouted over the sounds of hammers at some workers standing atop scaffolding. From what Bash could tell, the roof was all that remained for completion, and it wouldn't be too long before the Sour Apple was once again open for business.
To the side, sitting in a chair with an umbrella to block the overhead sun, was Urgok'nir, contentedly smoking a pipe. Bash grinned to see the smoke vanish in the breeze, and Bash approached, allowing himself to be seen. Urgok'nir grinned and stood rather stiffly to greet him.
"Ah! Bash!" he called, reaching out and shaking Bash's hand. "It's good to see you again, boy."
"I'm glad that you're alright," replied Bash with a warm smile.
"Yes, well, I took out quite an insurance policy on the old place." The half-orc nodded to the tavern. "So, I'm not doing too bad."
"Good for you!"
"Tell that lad of yours, uh… I forget his name. The bald one. Tell him I said thanks for patching me up."
"Of course," nodded Bash.
With a grunt, Urgok'nir sat once again. "Is there anything I can help you with, lad?"
"Not until your establishment reopens, I'm afraid."
"Ah, should be open next week!"
"I'll have to drop by."
"I hope you do! And spend lots of money!" Urgok'nir laughed.
"It just so happens that I have lots of money to spend again!"
"Just like old times, right, Bash?"
"Just like old times."
"This time around, at least it won't have that smell old urine."
"That's true. At least for a couple weeks."
"About that long, yeah."
They shared a chuckle.
"I suppose I'll be seeing you then," said Urgok'nir with a wave. "Oh!" He pointed over to two workers carting along an old piece of furniture. "Be careful with that! That was my great grandmother's!"
With a grin, Bash waved his goodbye and began wandering back toward the Circle. At the very least, some things were going back to normal. Maybe that would be good enough for a while.
Still, he felt unsettled. While the city itself might have been shifting back to its regular state, Bash knew that something inside him had changed. As he meandered along, he drew his dagger and examined it. Andelvar's craftsmanship was legendary, and the blade was still as shiny and polished as the day he'd bought it. The jewel in the hilt needed cleaning, but that could be easily accomplished. He knew that the sharp point would slice through any flesh as easily as through butter. But he also knew that the weapon no longer carried any magical power. Despite everything, it was merely a dagger.
Then he whispered a word he'd never been taught, and the dagger began to glow, its light almost swallowed up by the bright rays of the sun, but distinct nonetheless. Such a simple trick… and yet something that would have been impossible for him only a few weeks ago.
With a sigh, he dismissed the light and sheathed the dagger before looking up to Erathis, who almost seemed to watching him from high above the Bastion's Crest.
Through many years of study and practice, he had finally managed to master the art of summoning a spectral hand when he was only sixty-three, but since then, he'd found no desire or need to master spells. He'd always left that to other, more focused individuals. And here he was, at four hundred thirty-eight, able to cast several spells without expending much effort at all. It seemed as though the words and his ability had been planted in his mind.
A soft wind blew through the streets, and Bash shivered. Snowset was quickly approaching, and he looked up at the cloudless sky with a sudden realization.
With Frostfall over, he'd had another birthday. He was now four hundred thirty-nine.
"But I don't look a day over three hundred fifty," he muttered, recalling something Enna had said before the Ghost. It now seemed like a lifetime ago.
So much had happened since then. He closed his eyes and sighed.
Glancing around, he realized that he had arrived in the Tulips. With sudden determination, he pushed forward until he reached the Carnations, turned right, followed several alleyways, and eventually made his way to the Foxhole. The bar was devoid of patrons at the moment, given the time of day, and he purposefully strode forward and planted himself in a seat. This was the very seat where Aribis had sat the night they'd met the black taffy addict. And Bash hadn't realized it at the time, but this was also the very seat where Ruby had sat the night she had first met Bash.
In frustration, he realized that his memories that had long been put to rest had now been excavated. How many times had he come to this place, sat at this very spot, and simply not noticed? Now, he seemed to be noticing everything.
He swore quietly and put a hand to his forehead. He wanted to go back to the way it was. He wanted to forget everything again. He wanted Ruby to leave him alone.
"Long day already?" asked the barkeep.
"More like a long season," replied Bash sourly. "I'll take an ale, I suppose."
"Good stuff or cheap stuff?"
"Cheap," said Bash, slapping a few copper onto the bar.
A moment later, he was delivered one cheap ale, and it had a taste to match. He grimaced with his first drink and wondered why he'd done this to himself. He had so much money left over from Colosso that he could drink the finest ales in Agneward for three weeks straight and still have plenty stowed away.
He was halfway through his drink when he heard a ping from his sending stone, and he quickly reached into his bag and withdrew it.
"Bash, Sooka and I broke into a secret passageway in Cadwell's Museum of the Age of Arcanum," said Enna. "They're looking for us right now."
Cursing, he slammed a fist on the table before shaking his head. Enna was in danger, and he'd never heard of that museum in his life.
"On my way," he replied. "I'll bring everyone."
Even if I don't know where to take them, he thought dismally.
Sufficiently flustered, he thanked the barkeep, hopped off the barstool, and headed outside. As soon as he was in the alleyway, he spoke into his sending stone and said, "Aribis, Enna just sent me a message. They're in danger at Cadwell's Museum of the Age of Arcanum. Tell William and meet me there."
"Alright," came the bird's reply.
Bash stowed his sending stone and stood for a moment, considering the layout of the city. While to most, it might have seemed chaotic and disorganized, Bash understood the intricacies of the immense districts. Only a select few would have housed a museum, especially of something so grand as the Age of Arcanum. Folks from the Dandelions wouldn't care about such ancient history, and the same could probably be said of the Tulips. The Circle was full of pompous residences, and as far as he knew, no establishments were allowed inside. That left him with the Daffodils and the Carnations to search.
That will only take me six hours, he thought sourly.
But there was nothing for it. He'd have to ask around. If Enna was in danger, he had to find her, and he had to find her quickly. He swore again to realize that his sending stone would be useless until tomorrow, and a hand flew to his forehead as he looked around helplessly. How often had he not known the location of something within Agneward? Why did that moment have to be now?
Then remembering the last time he'd been overcome by emotion, he took several deep breaths, focusing on the world around him. The Carnations was buzzing with activity, even if it wasn't all on this very street. Many people skittered about, and he focused on the sounds of their footsteps on the stones, the tones of laughter ringing out farther down the street, and the light rustle of the fall breeze as it brushed against the rooftops.
"You can do this," he told himself. "Enna said so."
Then after one last calming breath, he charged out of the alley and onto the main street. As he moved west, he asked almost everyone along the way if they'd heard of this museum. After what felt like an eternity, someone managed to give him something; the museum was in the Carnations. The woman also indicated that the owner had been putting up flyers all over the district.
With renewed vigor, Bash began searching every bulletin board that he could find, and at last spotted his quarry. He ripped down the flyer and read off the address.
That's actually close by, he marveled before charging off down the street. He would not stop until he reached the museum.
A few minutes later, he passed by the Library of Illumination, and then in what seemed like no time at all, he stood before a large, two-story building designated as "Cadwell's Museum of the Age of Arcanum." He paused and listened past his panting. There appeared to be no commotion inside, or at least no ongoing battle.
"Bash," said a deep voice, and Bash turned to see William approaching. He wasn't panting, and Bash wondered if he'd been close by.
"Glad you could make it," replied Bash.
"Where's Sooka?"
"I don't know. She just said that they're in some secret passage."
Bash rushed up to the door and pressed his ear against it, listening intently. Low, deep voices were ringing around inside, whispering anxiously, but he couldn't understand them. He sighed, shook his head, and returned to William.
"A couple voices, but I can't make anything out," he explained as his eyes swept the building. There were several windows dotted around, and a couple waited tantalizingly on an upper balcony, but the sun's obtrusive rays were beating down on them from above. It would be all too easy to be seen. But there to the left was a gated patio, offering some cover from the wandering eyes of passersby.
"Think you can get over that gate?" asked Bash, nodding in the direction of the patio.
"Sure," replied William, and the two approached, peering through the iron bars onto the patio. When they saw no one, William deftly ran up the gate, leapt over, and landed silently on the other side. "What am I looking for?" asked the monk.
"What do you see? Is there a way in?"
"It looks like a veranda, maybe a dining area. I do see a way inside."
As William inched his way up some steps onto the veranda, Bash looked up at the tall, metal gate. William had made it look so easy. Bash wasn't sure that he could be so graceful about it.
Still, he grasped onto the bars and somehow managed to lug himself up to the top of the gate. Then he placed his weight on the tops of the bars, swung his legs over, and dropped to the ground. With a small smile, he stood and turned toward William.
Still got it, he thought proudly as he joined William on the veranda.
But as he neared the building, Bash could suddenly make out the sound of footsteps.
"William!" he whispered furiously, and William looked back. "Guards are coming."
Bash sighed. There was no way but forward, but a quick glance to the skies proved that Aribis was not there yet. Tearing a corner of a tablecloth, Bash moved toward the gate and tied the strip to the top of one of the bars so that it dangled onto the street. Hopefully, Aribis would see it and follow them in. Then with nothing left to do, he pulled out his invisibility cloak and slung it around him. As oddly as ever, he watched as his body disappeared, and William ran up the wall and hid above the veranda as the guard's footsteps grew closer.
At long last, three guards appeared through the door and looked around the patio.
"I don't think she's here," said one.
"You ask me, I think he's lost his nut," replied another.
"We did see them come in," reasoned the third. "But we didn't see them leave."
The second waved him off, and they turned back inside, but then one paused and looked straight at Bash. He froze, barely willing to breathe.
"What's that?" muttered the guard, and he stepped forward. It was all Bash could do to keep from moving, but the guard marched down the stairs and over to the gate, passing within two feet of him. "There's a bit of cloth there," he observed, reaching up for the strip that Bash had tied. "Someone tried to get in, I reckon. But you can't climb these gates!" He tapped the metal with a smile before ripping down the cloth and marching back inside with the others.
Bash sighed when the door closed again, and he was about to move toward it when he heard Aribis's voice in his mind.
"They're in a secret passage on the first floor," he said. "Look in the book room for a book called Might in the Arcane."
"Thanks," returned Bash, suddenly relieved. He had a place to look.
With the guards gone, William returned to the patio, and Bash relayed the information in a furious whisper. Then they decided to head inside.
Part of Bash was excited to be sneaking into a place of such importance again. But the rest of him was just nervous to see what he would find within. Maybe he could climb over a ten-foot gate, but could he still sneak his way through a place like this? Since Enna's first message, he'd had no way of knowing if she was okay. But no matter – they would find Enna and Sooka and get them to safety.
Aribis was flying over Agneward, eyes focused on the distant horizon. It was not long before he sailed over the outer wall, and the Endless Plains greeted him, stretching in every direction as far as he could see. Farmland surrounded the city for nearly a half mile, and he could spot many workers harvesting the late grains or sewing winter crops. For a moment, he paused, hovering in the air and searching for any trees. At last, he spotted some in a low area near the river that flowed south out of the Well, and he darted off toward it.
A few minutes later, he discovered a sunken glade, an area where several beech trees had formed a small clearing, and in the middle rested a low pond both fed by and emptying into the river. Rustling the few remaining leaves, Aribis slipped onto a particularly sturdy branch that hung over the small pond and took a moment to take in his surroundings.
The world was calm here. It had been long since he'd left the confines of the city, and this glade brought a calm to him that he hadn't been able to achieve in the bustling metropolis. With a deep sigh, he breathed in the fresh, crisp air, hearing the muttering of the water and the whispering of the trees.
As he calmed his mind, he reached out into the world around him. He knew the feeling he sought – the feeling of his deity. And for several moments, he waited to hear something.
Suddenly his eyes itched, as if tiny bits of leaves had been blown into them, and he reached up to scratch at them.
But when he opened his eyes, before him stood a giant golden eagle perched on a lower branch so that his eyes were level with Aribis's.
Aribis paused. Part of him was surprised that it had finally worked. The other was irritated that it had taken this long.
"Hello, my lord," he said.
"So, we see each other again, Aribis," replied the eagle.
"Aye. I was wondering if you could answer a few questions for me."
"Questions? Questions. Always with the questions…"
"I think this one you might be a little interested in."
"What is it?"
"What is this?" asked Aribis, holding out his hand and offering the embedded ring for observation.
"It is exactly what you think it is," replied the eagle, his voice as cold and flat as ever.
"What does it mean?" insisted Aribis. "Why is it attached?"
"Don't you remember?"
"Remember what?"
"You don't remember?" The eagle appeared slightly confused.
"Apparently not!" said the exasperated Aribis.
The eagle's eyes narrowed, and his head turned slightly to the side.
"I took you to him," he said. "You met him. You don't remember this?"
"I remember traveling in the desert."
"He explained everything to you."
"I don't remember that."
There was a pause, and then the eagle sighed.
"Nothing?" he said.
"I remember traveling across the desert, and that was it," repeated Aribis.
"This is not the way we had planned it," muttered the eagle. Clearly uncomfortable, he glanced at Aribis and then down to the surface of the pond.
"Planned what, exactly?" asked Aribis. He held out his hand once more, his voice rising in his frustration. "What is this? What did you do to me?"
"I did nothing. You followed the thread. Do you remember where you got that?"
"Aye. Some sort of temple. They were doing some sort of—"
"Who sent you to the temple?"
"Mastil, of course."
"I said that he wanted you to inspect it. You didn't have to go in. You made the choice. What was done was done by your own actions."
"They were trying to release something," protested Aribis. "What were we supposed to do? Just let 'em go?"
"Sometimes our choices are still choices, regardless of whether they're the right ones. You had a choice, and you took that stone. And now plans are in motion. Plans that… might have a hiccup or two."
"A hiccup or two for who? Can I be included in these plans, since apparently, I'm one of the main pieces?"
The eagle sighed. "It is not my place to explain this to you. Again. You don't remember…" He sighed again. "Meddling, meddling, meddling…"
"Who's meddling?"
"I have to go talk to him," replied the eagle.
"Take me with you. I can go talk to him myself!"
"Where I go, you cannot go, not as you are."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Think about it."
"I have to die again?"
The eagle turned his head once more before stretching out his wings. He flapped them, rose into the air, and then dived toward the pond. A moment later, he had disappeared, and the pond water remained as still as it had been, untouched by any disturbance.
"Thanks for a lot of nothing!" shouted Aribis.
Several strings of curses floated off his tongue as he stretched out his wings and flapped them twice while punching at the air where the eagle had sat.
"Is there anyone who can answer me?" he screamed into the air, but only silence greeted him.
With a sigh, he flitted down to the ground and sat by the water, watching the pond as water seeped into it and flowed out the other side. The slow-moving edges were crusted over with ice, presumably leftovers from this morning's freeze, and Aribis shivered as a chill wind blew through the trees.
For some time, he sat in silence. Eventually, he flicked his hand to the side, and a fox appeared before sniffing his hand and rubbed up against it.
"At least you're still loyal," he whispered as the fox settled down to rest.
A few minutes later, his sending stone sent out a ping, and he snatched it quickly. Bash's voice came through and said, "Aribis, Enna and Sooka are in danger at Cadwell's Museum of the Age of Arcanum. Tell William and meet me there."
With a hefty sigh, Aribis dismissed the fox, pocketed the sending stone, and pushed off into the air. As he began to swoop toward the city, he cast a spell and spoke.
"William, we have trouble at Cadwell's Museum of something Arcanum. Meet me and Bash there."
"Acknowledged," came the gruff reply.
"I have no idea where this place is," muttered Aribis to himself. All he knew was that he had to get back into the city.
Just as he was crossing the outer wall, another ring came from his sending stone, and this time it was William.
"The Skywatch told me that the museum is in the Carnations, a half mile west of the Library of Illumination."
"Roger that," replied Aribis, relieved that he now had some direction. Then he pulled out his sending stone again and said, "Sooka, what's your situation? Everything okay? Everybody alive?"
There was a brief pause and then Enna's voice came out: "We're alive. We're hiding, and they're looking for us. We're headed into the Well, I think."
For a long time, Aribis flew. The vastness of Agneward was beginning to grate on him as he crossed over the Dandelions and then passed into the Tulips. An eternity later, he finally reached the wall blocking off the Carnations. Then casting a spell, he sent a message to Sooka.
"Where are you? Are you okay?"
Sooka's childlike voice responded: "Okay for now." "Museum," "first level," "secret passage" "in the book room." "Might" "in the" "Arcane."
"Right then," whispered Aribis as he cast the spell once more. To Bash, he said, "They're in a secret passage on the first floor. Look in the book room for a book called Might in the Arcane."
"Thanks," came his reply.
As he came up to the Library of Illumination, he turned left and bolted west while casting a spell and focusing on Sooka's spellbook. An instant later, he felt a tug, and he darted forward until he came to the museum itself. But now the tug came from almost directly below him. His eyes scanned the street, and he saw a sewer grate on the edge of the street. With ease, he swung it open and dropped down.
For several minutes, he flew up and down the sewer lines, following his spell but unable to find a way closer to Sooka. At long last, he gave up and exited the sewers, now setting his sights on the museum. He landed just outside and pushed the doors open. Before him was a large foyer, and two armed guards were talking to each other by a desk.
"Sorry, sir, we're closed," called one of the guards.
"Under the authority of the White Orchid," began Aribis, "I am leading an investigation into the whereabouts of two individuals that were seen in this vicinity."
The guards exchanged a glance.
"Uh…" said the first. "What do they look like?"
"One is a little black bird person, and the other is an elf."
They muttered to each other, and then the second called over, "We don't quite know where they went."
"I do," said Aribis. "Just stay here. I know where I'm going."
"Oh, but I don't—"
But Aribis was already walking past them down the hallway. They mumbled in confusion, but they didn't follow, and Aribis marched on, keeping his eyes peeled for locked doors.
At that moment, a rumble ran beneath him, and he paused to feel the sound of thunder running under his feet as it rattled the museum.
"Oy!" called a guard on the balcony above him. "Did you do that?"
"No, you idiot," spat Aribis. "It wasn't me!"
"What are you doing here? You don't work here."
"I'm White Orchid! Shove off!"
"Geez," muttered the guard as he continued patrolling.
Aribis took a left, following Sooka's direction, and stopped at a door labeled "Book Room." He tested the handle, but it was locked. At that moment, William sauntered up in front of him, and they both paused before the door.
"Any idea where Bash is?" he asked.
"Uh," replied William. "He is… close to our hearts."
"Did he die?"
"No, he's just invisible. But he's probably right in front of us."
"Oh."
The door opened suddenly, creaking inward as it slowly revealed the book room.
"The gods work in mysterious ways," said William with half a smile. "Let's get in there and find them."
"Thank you goes to Bash," said Aribis. "Let's go."
They spilled into the room as Bash became visible, but Aribis focused on the rows of bookshelves. He spied Might in the Arcane rather quickly and tugged on the spine. As the bookshelf began to slide to the side, shouts of panic emanated from the passageway, which slowly revealed itself to be a spiral staircase, and Aribis shared concerned glances with his companions. They prepared to rush down into the depths, but they stopped when someone appeared in the doorway.
Enna and Sooka stood before a large, two-story building in the Carnations that Enna could swear was an old mansion that had been renovated into a museum. Whoever had done the work had done an excellent job, and it was as impressive as Enna would expect a grand museum to be. Across the top was a large sign that read: Cadwell's Museum of the Age of Arcanum.
"Do we need to disguise ourselves or anything?" asked Enna.
"I don't think so," replied Sooka, the effects of her telepathic spell still in place. "I talked with the man at the library."
"We should be careful, in any case," said Enna. "Is there something that you're needing in particular?"
"I don't know what Kazax needs. I think this is just a scouting mission, to see what's in there."
Enna nodded. "Sounds good."
They stepped forward, opened the doors, and entered a large and lavish lobby with stairs to a balcony on the far side of the room. Before the stairs was a desk where sat a man in rich clothing and a monocle, perusing a ledger of some sort.
"Sorry, we're closed today," said the man lazily.
"That's Cadwell," communicated Sooka.
"What do you want to say?" replied Enna in her mind.
Sooka strode forward, Enna on her heels. She extracted a museum pamphlet and set it on the desk before Cadwell. He eyed the paper, frowned, then looked up at Sooka.
"Oh," he said sourly, his face turning dour as he closed the ledger. "Look, dear," he said, as if speaking to a child. "I'll be honest with you. I don't want your kind in my establishment."
"Excuse you!" said Enna indignantly, stepping up to the desk in her sudden anger.
"Excuse you!" replied Cadwell. "This is my establishment!"
"You clearly have very little business, and—"
"You come in here off the street! I can say whatever I want in my own establishment."
Enna slammed her hand on the table and gestured to Sooka.
"You are speaking to the winner of the Colosso Exhibition and a member of the Circle! She lives in the Circle!"
"It matters not, for what she is. Now, you two be gone, please. I have other things to do. I don't deal with street trash." Cadwell attempted to wave them off.
"How… dare you," whispered Enna, her voice low and dangerous.
Then she cast a spell, flicking her hand at Cadwell, and an instant later, his face softened, and he shook his head.
"I'm sorry," he sighed suddenly. "It has been so stressful around here lately. Please forgive me. Sometimes, I say things, and I don't pay attention."
Sooka raised an eyebrow and grinned up at Enna.
"Edgar, you had me worried," said Enna, as friendly as she could muster. "That you would treat one of my friends with such disregard?"
"Look, you have to understand. I've had problems, things I've had to deal with that just weigh on me, and I don't have a hold of time." Cadwell waved an apology. "Dear, what can I do for you?"
"My friend is just really interested in this era. Is it okay if we just take a quick look around to see the artifacts? We won't be here for long, and then we'll get right out of your hair."
"It's not… the exhibits are still being set up! I don't want you to see it if it's not completed!"
"When is it supposed to be completed?"
"Probably in a couple days."
"You know, if you let us see it all now, we could tell people how great it is and persuade more people to come see it!"
Cadwell sighed heavily in resignation. "Alright… I'll tell them that you're allowed back there. But please, don't poke at any of the exhibits. It's all very fragile."
"My hands are at my back," assured Enna, demonstrating.
"Please be quick about it!"
Edgar gestured with his hand, casting a spell that they'd seen Aribis use before, and he sent a message to his guards. Six large and heavily armed guards nodded to Sooka and Enna as Cadwell ushered them down a hallway past the stairs, though they each seemed to regard Sooka with condescension. Still indignant, Enna put her arm around Sooka as they marched down the hallway and began to explore the massive museum, now free to roam about while Edgar remained at his desk and worked on his ledgers.
But they knew that they were limited on how long they could stay; eventually, Enna's spell would wear off, and Edgar would realize their treachery.
As Enna's mental clock ticked down to leaving time, they explored, all the while with Sooka checking for signs of magic. As they wandered around the museum, they saw ornate and detailed paintings and tapestries, pedestals with oddly designed suits of armor, broken pieces of pottery, whole pieces of pottery, stained glass depicting ancient battles, notes from historians and scholars, ancient script carved in stone, eroded busts, and even some gemstones set into what appeared to be scrap metal. Even ancient, dilapidated, crumbling pieces of architecture were on display, though some organization was clearly needed before opening day.
They marveled at the various sights while Enna paid close attention to the layout and locations of doors and exterior windows so that she might tell Bash later. She even felt that she was gleaning some level of understanding of the Age of Arcanum as she took in some of the depictions on display. It was aptly named, as it appeared magic was integral to the entire timeline. She saw paintings of great floating cities in the sky and tapestries of ethereal gardens with floating boulders. Chaotic magical battles were encapsulated in the surfaces of various pieces of clay or stone. The floor of the ballroom held a crystalline display of the gods, each side battling the other as mages in the center cast a powerful spell.
Unfortunately, Enna's curiosity was almost completely overpowered by her sense of urgency. Time was ticking, and the museum was large.
Occasionally, they came across locked doors, and Enna transformed into a mouse so that she might squeeze under them and investigate. However, she was unable to discern anything of importance, finding only personal offices and bedrooms beyond these blocked areas.
It was not until the next-to-last door, labeled as a "Book Room," that they found anything of intrigue. After testing the width of the space with her little finger, Enna determined that even a mouse could not fit underneath the door, and at this proclamation, Sooka whipped out her thieves' tools. Though they were not as high quality as Bash's, Enna was impressed to see Sooka able to provide this service, given that their rogue was off somewhere else in the city. And in no time, Sooka was able to pick the lock, and the door swung open.
The two shuffled inside quickly, aware that Enna's spell on Edgar would wear off at any minute. This room appeared to be some version of storage, with large crates stacked around, half of them open and spilling straw about the floor, the other half still sealed tight. But there were also multiple bookshelves, and they took turns searching them for anything of importance.
With a sigh, Enna moved toward the door, ready and eager to exit the premises before Edgar came looking for them, but then Sooka made a sound and pointed at the far wall.
Enna followed her gaze and was amazed to see small marks scratched horizontally along the wall. Sooka approached and ran her hands over the grooves, clearly the result of a sliding bookcase, before searching the books a bit more carefully. After only a minute or so, Sooka exclaimed and pulled on the spine of a book titled Might in the Arcane. Rather than sliding off the shelf, the book leaned back, clicked, and the bookcase began to slide away.
Beyond the secret passage was a spiral staircase that descended into darkness.
Quickly, Enna closed and locked the door to the book room and turned back toward the stairs. At that moment, the shriek of an angry human rang throughout the museum.
"That bloody pigeon!" screamed Edgar, and Enna turned to Sooka with wide eyes. "Search for her! She's here somewhere, making off with all of my goods!"
As the guards began to clink and stomp around, Enna and Sooka rushed into the stairwell and together pushed the bookcase back in place. All at once, they were surrounded by a quiet darkness.
"Traps," whispered Sooka, and she began to scan the stairs and carefully make her way down.
Enna followed and reached into her bag, withdrawing a sending stone and whispering furiously into it.
"Bash, Sooka and I broke into a secret passageway in Cadwell's Museum of the Age of Arcanum. They're looking for us right now."
The guard's footsteps echoed dully through the walls.
"Look over there! Check the galleries! Make sure nothing has been stolen!" cried Edgar.
"On my way. I'll bring everyone," came Bash's reply, and some level of peace swept over Enna's heart. They swept down the stairs as fast as they dared.
A few minutes later, they could hear Cadwell's voice echoing about the room above.
"You go down that way! I'm going to check in here."
"Hurry," urged Enna, and a moment later, Sooka turned invisible as they rushed forward.
The sound of the book room door echoed around them, muted as it was, and Enna cast a spell, forcing darkness to cling to them as they continued, their steps silenced.
Sooka's sending stone sent out a ping, and they both stopped.
"Sooka, what's your situation?" asked Aribis. "Everything okay? Everybody alive?"
Something nudged Enna's hand, and she wrapped it around an invisible object that Sooka was holding out. As Sooka released it, the sending stone became visible, and Enna quickly whispered, "We're alive. We're hiding, and they're looking for us. We're headed into the Well, I think."
As Enna returned the stone, they continued their descent. After a while, it seemed like the stairs would never end. They had to have been a hundred feet down, and still, they could see no sign of the bottom. All Enna could think is that Edgar Cadwell must have been hiding something, and she wanted to know what it was.
Another hundred feet they descended, and at last they came to the end of the stairs. Enna's calves were just starting to burn as they spilled onto a stone landing and beheld a long hallway lit with softly glowing blue sconces. Very carefully, they eased forward, and as soon as Enna put her weight down, she heard a loud clunk as the tile pushed in.
With a light yelp, she pushed back onto the landing, Sooka's invisible hand in her own. Then in an instant, descending from the ceiling came creatures bound in chains, lizard-like animals that Enna recognized from their qualification round in Colosso. The basilisks turned their bright, beady eyes to them.
"Close your eyes!" shouted Enna.
They both stood with their eyes tightly shut, listening to the hissing of the basilisks. Then a grinding sound rang out, the hissing stopped, and the ceiling tiles snapped shut. Only then did Enna dare open her eyes, and she now saw the empty hallway as it was before.
"Maybe you should go first," whispered Enna. "I'm not very good at finding traps. That was always Bash's thing."
"Two traps," replied the invisible Sooka, and tiny wisps of flame appeared on two tiles at the end of the hallway. The right one was where Enna had placed her foot.
"Thank you."
Sooka's hand began to tug Enna's lightly, and they eased forward over the pressure plates and moved into the hallway. As they walked, Sooka's form began to shimmer, and then she appeared visible once again.
"I'm so curious about this," whispered Enna. "Why is all this protected like that?"
"Good question," returned Sooka.
"Look," urged Enna, pointing to either side at round stone doors that nearly melded into the wall, but it seemed that neither had the strong desire to open them. So, they pressed forward.
Another set of doors appeared, and Enna couldn't contain herself any longer.
"Maybe we should take a look?" she suggested.
"You want to know" "what's behind the door?" asked Sooka.
Enna nodded.
Then Sooka paused, and Enna waited in mild confusion. A few moments later, Sooka explained, "Aribis" "sending." Then in Aribis's voice, she added, "Where are you? Are you okay?"
"What did you tell him?" asked Enna.
"Okay." "Museum." "Location."
"You told him how to find us?"
"Sooka." She nodded.
"Good. Let's check these doors. Left, or right?"
Sooka moved up to the left door and turned an odd round handle, and the door swung open. Within was not another room, but rather an inky, black void. Her own face stared back at her, and Sooka froze as she gazed at her reflection. Beyond it, Enna could make out her own face. Even as she watched it, the face began to change. Her eyes grew red and began to glow, her mouth twisted into a sadistic smile, flashing cat-like fangs, and her skin turned gaunt and dark, like dead moss. A terror swept over Enna, and she forced herself to turn away. A second later, Sooka slammed the door, and both stood for a moment, catching their breath and recovering from the void behind the door.
"Hallway," breathed Sooka, pointing down the passage.
Nodding in agreement, Enna righted herself and fell back in step with Sooka. They continued, passing by two more doors, until they came near the end of the hallway. From this distance, they could see a carving of a gargoyle's face on the back wall with two glowing blue lights for eyes, and Enna thought she could see another hallway leading off to the left. With curiosity pulling them forward, they came up to the gargoyle face, and Enna could see that she was right. There was another hallway.
But then the ground gave way beneath them, and Enna's stomach lurched as she began to fall. They yelped, and in a moment of panic, Enna transformed into an eagle. Flapping her wings wildly, she righted herself and snatched Sooka's clothing, straining to slow her fall as best she could. A second later, they both crashed into a floor, and they took a moment to breathe in the relative calm.
Enna looked around and flitted up to perch on Sooka's shoulders, and blue lights like those in the hallway above began to come to life around them, illuminating a large chamber. Then her keen eagle eyes noticed an odd shimmer on the far side of the room. She cocked her head to the side, and a skeleton became visible. A floating skeleton?
Oh, no, she thought.
She started flapping her wings and tugging on Sooka's cloak, desperate for them to leave. This was not a foe that they needed to face without their companions.
As if confirming her fears, a giant, transparent cube began to slide toward them, carrying bits of bone and metal with it. As Sooka took notice, her eyes grew wide, and she stumbled backward. Then she grabbed onto Enna's clawed foot, and an instant later, they were standing back in the hallway.
"Try again?" asked Sooka.
Enna nodded, scanning the floor for an indication of where the trap door had started. But after several seconds, she couldn't seem to find it. Sooka took a couple tentative steps forward, but the trap triggered again.
A second later, they were once again face to face with a gelatinous cube.
A short spell later, they appeared for the third time in the hallway.
Enna reverted her form and said, "Maybe we should just take a minute."
"Ah, here we are," came a dry voice as it echoed down the hallway.
Sooka and Enna turned slowly to see Edgar Cadwell standing almost a hundred fifty feet away on the landing by the spiral stairs. He had a sick smile on his face, and he stepped to the side, revealing multiple guards.
"Wait! Don't step there or there," he muttered to the guards, pointing out the two trip tiles.
The guards eased over the tiles and began sprinting down the hallway. Just then, Sooka snatched Enna's hand and began running toward the guards, and the bewildered Enna allowed herself to be dragged closer to the danger. As they charged forward, each of the nine guards withdrew crossbows and leveled them at the intruders, firing as they ran. Sooka and Enna ducked as they sprinted, and the bolts passed harmlessly by them.
Enna whispered a spell, and she felt Bash somewhere above her. She couldn't help but smile.
"Bash is here," she called to Sooka as another round fired.
This time, two of the bolts found their marks. Both Misfits gasped as a bolt struck Enna's shoulder and Sooka's forearm, and they were forced to pause and assess. Despite the pain, Enna knew better than to pull out the bolt.
"Sooka?" asked Enna uneasily.
"Almost!" replied Sooka, who took her hand again and continued running.
Two more bolts whizzed past Enna's head as a guard brandished a longsword, anticipating Sooka's arrival.. The two guards in the back of the group fired their crossbows again, and Enna cried out as a bolt hit her thigh. A quick glance showed that the other had landed in Sooka's shoulder.
The two were forced to a standstill again, but this time Sooka stamped her foot, and a crash of thunder resounded throughout the hallway. Enna flinched, and when she opened her eyes, the staircase lay inches from her face. She spun and saw Edgar right behind her, who had jumped and spun around, eyes wide to see them. He muttered something and thrust out his hands, and they both ducked. A blast of cold air shot out where their heads had been moments before, and the temperature of the stairwell plummeted. Frost clung to the metal stairs and formed on the fringes of their cloaks as they tried to shake off the startling freeze.
Still shivering, they left Edgar and bolted up the stairs as fast as they could. They climbed and climbed, and Enna knew that her fear and the knowledge of Bash's presence were the only things pushing her up the stairs. Every other step streamed pain up her body from the bolt in her thigh, and then just as Enna was beginning to despair that they would ever make it out, she heard the grinding of the bookcase and saw a shaft of light. A moment later, they made it to the top, and Enna paused to see three men looking back at her.
"What happened?" asked the astonished Bash on the right, and he rushed over and grabbed Enna's shoulders in his concern.
"Go!" she commanded him, William, and Aribis. "Get out of here!"
Bewildered as they were, they all turned and sprinted as shouts rang out all over the museum. Enna charged into the lead, barely noticing that her leg did not hurt so much anymore, and turned down toward the front doors. The sounds of a dozen guards followed them as they vaulted over and around the desk, toward the front door, and burst out into the streets of the Carnations.
"Over there!" shouted Bash, pointing and rushing in front of her.
He led them into an alleyway, and Enna cast a spell, forcing their footsteps silent as they charged into the safety of the alley. She cast a glance behind to see Edgar screaming and cursing at the guards in his anger.
"Down here," urged Bash, opening a grate, and they all piled into the Well.