In the morning, Lindell went with Bazza to the office of Phoenix to ask about the sundial. The office, a small, two floor building, stood at the end of the market crescent. The main room had a desk to the left of the door. Stairs led up on the right wall. A door to another room stood closed at the end of the back wall.

  Cory was the only one there, sitting behind the desk. He sighed when the two of them walked in. “You’re here about the sundial.”

  “Of course,” Bazza said.

  “Umbrunis, God of Shadows, was using the sundial to gather power to return to Eavris,” Cory said. “Vedrix destroyed the sundial to stop the disturbances.”

  Bazza’s face turned bright red. “He destroyed it?”

  Cory appeared unperturbed by Bazza’s rage. “It had to be done.”

  Wallace came into the office. “Cory and I will be by the museum later to see the ledger and check every artifact for magic.”

  Bazza glared hard at Wallace and Cory, then he turned and left the office of Phoenix. Lindell followed. He thought it was a good thing the sundial was gone if Umbrunis had been using it to try and return. From what Lindell had read, Umbrunis was one of the more unpleasant gods. And Phoenix should look at the museum ledger and the artifacts.

  Bazza appeared to calm down as they walked, but Lindell didn’t quite dare say anything. When they reached the museum, Lindell followed Bazza into his office. Bazza practically sank into the chair behind his desk. Lindell sat across from him.

  “Phoenix has no right to interfere,” Bazza said, the words almost a growl.

  “Dealing with dangerous magic is what they do,” Lindell said. “I think it’s a good idea for them to make sure nothing is dangerous.”

  Bazza frowned, staring hard at Lindell. “Are you having second thoughts about the museum?”

  Lindell hesitated, but only for a moment. “Sometimes I do. Don’t you?”

  “Never,” Bazza said.

  “So many of the artifacts have had magic. Dangerous magic,” Lindell said, unsure how to bring this up.

  Bazza’s expression darkened. “Do you believe I send you after artifacts that have magic?” His brows furrowed. “Do you doubt my motives?”

  “No,” Lindell said quickly, but he couldn’t deny to himself that was exactly what he was doing.

  A heavy silence settled between them, but there was a knock on the office door before either of them could say anything more. Lindell quickly went to get the door.

  Cory was on the other side. “Wallace wants me to look at the rod.”

  “He already looked at it,” Bazza grumbled, but there was little energy in it.

  “I’ll go with him,” Lindell said, but this didn’t seem to reassure Bazza, who didn’t look up from his desk.

  Lindell went upstairs with Cory, to where the rod still lay alone on a table in an otherwise empty room. Cory would have to be a witch to see magic, or a demon, which Lindell was fairly sure he wasn’t. He didn’t know what kind of magic Cory had, and he was never sure if it was a rude question to ask.

  Cory frowned hard at the rod. “The magic could be awoken. It’s asleep for now, but someone could wake it up.”

  “Will it wake up on its own?” Lindell asked.

  Cory shook his head. “Not likely.” He frowned. “What do you know about it?”

  “It was at an antique shop in Skarn,” Lindell said. “It’s from Ivra. I’ve tried to find out more at the library, but so far I haven’t found anything.”

  Cory nodded slowly. “I’ll search as well. I think we should find out more about it if we can.”

  Lindell hesitated when Cory looked at him.

  Cory sighed. “Phoenix doesn’t have enough reason to take the rod. It will stay here for now.”

  Lindell relaxed a little. “I’ll tell Bazza.”

  Cory smiled briefly. “I’m sure he’ll be glad to hear it.” His smile faltered. “Be extra careful with any further objects Bazza sends you to collect.”

  Did he also think Bazza was sending Lindell after magical artifacts on purpose? Lindell nodded, trying not to think about it too hard right then. He went back down to Bazza’s office and told him what Cory had said about the rod.

  “At least they draw the line somewhere in taking our artifacts,” Bazza muttered. He shook his head. “A shop in Skarn is rumored to have Vidgar’s Helm.”

  Not so long ago, Lindell would have been excited. Now he just wondered if the helm was dangerous.

  “Its curse is said to have been broken,” Bazza said.

  “Said to have been,” Lindell said.

  Bazza sighed. “You know the story.”

  “A cursed Ivran helm that almost drove Vidgar Birch insane,” Lindell said. “He was a former Knight Captain of Ivra’s main city. The helm was broken into four pieces. The remains of a rune can be seen on two of the pieces.”

  Bazza smiled. “The rune was broken, so the curse is broken. And the helm is well known.”

  “Alright,” Lindell said. “I will go to Skarn.” He didn’t want to travel again just yet, but at least the helm’s curse was known to be broken. And Phoenix could look at it, would insist on it.

  Lindell left that morning for Skarn, reaching the town at sunset. He stayed at the inn for the night and searched for the shop in the morning. The shop wasn’t in an obscure alleyway like the one in Arkose. It was one of the main shops on the market road. The tables were just as crowded with interesting objects as the shop in Arkose, but the shop felt much older. Lindell wasn’t sure what about it felt old, but it had a strange feel to it. Despite the market road being busy, there was no one else in the shop other than the shopkeeper, an older woman who stood behind a counter at the back.

  “The helm is gone,” the woman said before Lindell could say anything.

  “How did you know I came for the helm?” Lindell asked.

  She smiled. “I was expecting you, Lindell Fairweather. The helm was not in this shop, but neither is it in the shop you sought.”

  Lindell sighed. “So I’m in the wrong place.” How did she know his name?

  “You are in exactly the right place,” she said. She gestured to a table in the left corner of the shop. “Evelyn’s Dark Mirror has something to show you. The mirror is, of course, not for sale, but it wants to show you something.”

  Lindell didn’t know what to say at first. “Evelyn’s Dark Mirror? The mirror written of by Evelyn Grivel?”

  The woman smiled again. “The very same. See for yourself.”

  Lindell approached the table, feeling oddly nervous. Was it really the mirror? It looked just how the stories said it did. Polished black stone, small and round, maybe as far across as his hand. The surface looked like glass. Some stories said it looked like still water, with ripples if you touched it. Lindell touched the mirror gently. No ripples. The stone mirror had no frame. As he stared at the surface, he didn’t see his reflection or a reflection of the shop. A shape appeared in the mirror. Everything else seemed to fade away.

  He saw another mirror, this one made of silvered glass. It was a standing mirror with an ornate wooden frame. The vision changed. He saw a pale antler with runes carved into it, then a light gray eye turning dark purple. He had a feeling he should trust the people these represented. Then the mirror showed him a box. Lindell had heard stories of it, a small wooden box, inlaid with silver, with a strange lock. Rimlek’s Embers. He had a terrible feeling when he saw the box, a feeling the box must not be found.

  He came back to the moment, but he wasn’t in the shop. He was standing at the side of the market road. Lindell looked around him but didn’t see the shop. He couldn’t remember exactly what the woman had looked like either. Just like the stories. He had no doubt he had really seen Evelyn’s Dark Mirror, but what did those visions mean? The box bothered him the most. Only a fool would seek out Rimlek’s Embers.

  Lindell set off back toward Shale, thinking about the other visions from the mirror. He didn’t know what the other mirror had been, but he hoped the antler represented Eireen. He already knew he could trust her. The eye… Cory’s eyes were light gray, but that shade of purple had been like Wallace’s eyes. Wallace had brown eyes, so it wasn’t him. Was Cory a corrupt soul mage as well?

  Lindell was still thinking about all of this when he reached Shale at sunset. He headed for Bazza’s house, knowing Bazza would want to know how it had gone in Skarn. He had already made tea for the two of them when Lindell got there. They sat in the study, in the two chairs before the warmly crackling fire.

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  “The helm?” Bazza asked.

  “It wasn’t there,” Lindell said.

  Bazza tensed. “The shopkeeper told me he wouldn’t sell it before you arrived.”

  Lindell hesitated. “I ended up in another shop. The shopkeeper told me the helm was gone, but that Evelyn’s Dark Mirror had something to show me.”

  Bazza sighed, raising a brow. “Evelyn’s Dark Mirror?”

  “I think it really was the mirror,” Lindell said. “It showed me things. And after, I was no longer in the shop. I couldn’t find the shop, and I couldn’t remember what the shopkeeper looked like. Just like in the stories.”

  Bazza still looked skeptical. “What did it show you?”

  “Things representing people I should trust,” Lindell said. “And Rimlek’s Embers.”

  Bazza sat up straighter. “What about Rimlek’s Embers?”

  “That they must not be found,” Lindell said.

  Bazza frowned. “But you saw the box? Was it how the written records described it?”

  “Yes,” Lindell said, wary of his friend’s excitement. “It must not be found.”

  Bazza hesitated, but Lindell could tell what he was thinking. “Perhaps the box could be better protected if it was found.”

  “Bazza.” Lindell stared at his friend. “We’re not searching for Rimlek’s Embers. That box is dangerous.”

  “Because a mirror told you so…” Bazza muttered.

  Lindell shook his head. “Because common sense tells me so. You’ve read the same things I have! That box is extremely dangerous.”

  “Only if opened,” Bazza said, then he sighed. “The nobles have been extra bothersome today.” He was changing the subject. Lindell wasn’t sure if that was a good sign. “They’ve been digging into my past. They found out my grandfather fought in the Ivran rebellion alongside Onora.”

  “What are they saying?” Lindell asked.

  Bazza glowered at the fire. “They have begun to loudly proclaim that I’m a threat to this country because I’m from Ivra.” He looked at Lindell. “I didn’t want people to know about my grandfather because Oenum is quick to distrust anyone from Ivra. I’m proud of my grandfather for taking down the tyrant, even if Queen Onora did go against Oenum after, but I’m worried what the nobles will do with this information.”

  “They have no proof you’re working against Oenum,” Lindell said. “The court won’t do anything without proof.”

  Queen Onora was long gone, and they were at peace with Ivra for the first time in centuries. Despite that, there were still Ivrans who hated Oenum, who blamed the years of unrest in their country on Oenum, even though it was Ivra who had attacked Oenum so long ago.

  Bazza sighed. “I hope you’re right. I’m worried the nobles will go even further than they have, that Irwin will do anything to shut the museum down.” His eyes narrowed. “And Hector will help them.”

  Lindell wasn’t sure about that, but he said nothing. When Bazza was this upset, it was best not to challenge what he said.

  Bazza’s shoulders relaxed. “I’m sorry. You’ve had a long day of traveling. Go home and rest, and we’ll talk more tomorrow.”

  Lindell left the house, eager to wash and then sleep. The nobles wouldn’t use Bazza’s family history against him, would they? He wouldn’t put it past Irwin, and that scared him even more. What lengths would Irwin go to to get what he wanted? Despite his worries, Lindell slept deeply. Early the next morning, he left for the museum. He was out front when Knight Captain Kath Vine stopped on her way past.

  She was only four years older than Lindell. Her dark brown hair was tied in its usual neat braid. She smiled, but she looked weary. “You didn’t bring anything back with you from Skarn, did you?”

  “No,” Lindell said.

  Kath smiled further now. “Good.” Her brows furrowed suddenly. “Be wary of Irwin. He has made you the talk of the nobles. They don’t approve of your travels, or of the museum.” She hesitated, then lowered her voice. “Irwin is up to something, but I can’t prove it yet. Be careful around him.”

  “I will,” Lindell said, his heart beating fast. “Thank you.”

  Kath walked away.

  What could Irwin be up to? It was one more thing for Lindell to worry about. Bazza was in his office when Lindell got there, sitting behind the desk, looking through the ledger. He smiled when Lindell came in. Lindell sat across from him, wary of that smile. Was there more traveling ahead?

  “We’ve acquired a new artifact,” Bazza said.

  Those had become Lindell’s least favorite words. “Where is this one from?” he asked, trying not to look like he was dreading the answer.

  “Vandis sent it to us,” Bazza said. “It’s a mirror that supposedly belonged to the mad tyrant.” He sighed. “They couldn’t find proof it was actually that mirror, so they gave it to us.” His smile vanished the rest of the way. “Cory will be by soon to look at it, and I think you and I should both be there.”

  Lindell hesitated. “Do you think the mirror is dangerous?”

  “Of course not,” Bazza said. “I just want to be there when Phoenix is looking it over.”

  Phoenix wouldn’t say an artifact had magic if it didn’t, but by Bazza’s expression, pointing that out wouldn’t be a good idea. Something else had come to mind. Could the mirror be the one Evelyn’s Mirror had shown him? He didn’t mention this to Bazza, knowing his friend was still skeptical about the visions. Cory arrived a moment later and went upstairs with them, Bazza leading the way to the room where the mirror was.

  Like the rod, the mirror was the only thing in its room. What must be the mirror stood at the center of the room, but it was covered by a dusty looking cloth that may have been white at some point. The shape looked like a standing mirror, which made Lindell wonder even more if this was the one he’d seen in the vision. Cory removed the cloth slowly, looking behind it first. The mirror wasn’t the least bit tarnished and had an intricate wooden frame. The three of them were blurry in the reflection, along with the room. Lindell smiled. This was the mirror Evelyn’s Dark Mirror had shown him.

  “It’s not tarnished,” Bazza said. “Perhaps it’s badly made?”

  “Supposedly, the mad tyrant had a cursed mirror,” Lindell said. “I don’t know all the details.”

  Cory frowned at the mirror. “Maybe the mad tyrant was bothered by his mirror being blurry.”

  Lindell looked back at the mirror at a quiet sound. “Did you hear something? A voice?”

  Bazza shook his head, his brows furrowing.

  Cory stared at the mirror. “I didn’t hear anything, but something is bound to this mirror with magic. The magic is fading, and whatever is bound is weak. The magic is barely still there.”

  Lindell sighed. “I don’t see it or feel it, but I definitely heard something.” He listened, but the voice didn’t come again.

  Cory covered the mirror with the cloth again. “I don’t think it’s cursed, but the curse could have just faded to the point it’s barely still there. It could still be dangerous.”

  “I know little about the mad tyrant,” Bazza said. “And Vandis couldn’t prove this was his mirror.” He looked at Lindell. “What do you think of it?”

  Lindell knew why he was asking. “It’s the one Evelyn’s Mirror showed me.”

  Bazza groaned. “I still don’t think you should trust those visions. We’ll find out more about it. Don’t trust it to not be dangerous yet.” Usually it was Lindell worrying an artifact was dangerous.

  Lindell believed he really had seen Evelyn’s Dark Mirror. It had shown him this mirror for a reason, but he didn’t yet know why. He didn’t know if it was the mirror itself he was supposed to trust. If it had belonged to the mad tyrant, it could be cursed.

  “You won’t be destroying it?” Bazza asked Cory, scowling at him.

  “Not unless it proves to be dangerous,” Cory said, sounding very much like Wallace.

  Bazza sighed and left the room.

  “We should search the library,” Cory said. “I’m sure there’s something about the mad tyrant there.”

  Lindell left the museum with Cory, the two walking in silence for a while. They stopped when the museum was out of sight.

  “Evelyn’s Dark Mirror?” Cory asked. “Did you really see it? I’ve read stories about it.” He looked almost excited.

  Lindell told Cory about the mirror, the shop in Skarn that had disappeared, and what the mirror had shown him. He hesitated. “I thought maybe it was saying I should trust you. Do you have the same magic as Wallace?”

  Now it was Cory who hesitated.

  “I won’t tell anyone,” Lindell said, then he sighed. “Not even Bazza.”

  Cory looked surprised, but then he nodded. “I am also a corrupt soul mage.” He frowned a little. “From what I’ve read about Evelyn’s Dark Mirror, I think you really did see it. I don’t know much about Rimlek’s Embers. Are they dangerous?”

  It was an odd feeling, Cory believing him, but not Bazza.

  “A witch named Rimlek created something dangerous a long time ago,” Lindell said. “He was always experimenting with magic, but this one went badly wrong. He sealed his creation in a box that only a water witch can open. Once the box is opened, any fire can light the embers, and then there may be no stopping them. They almost destroyed Shale back then, before they were sealed. No one knows how Rimlek sealed the embers in the box, but his notes said the embers were dormant in the box.”

  “How did the embers almost destroy Shale?” Cory asked.

  “By setting it on fire,” Lindell said.

  “And that’s why it’s better if the box is never found,” Cory said. “So no one will be foolish enough to open it.”

  Lindell nodded.

  The two continued to the library and began their search. It didn’t take them long to find a book about Vandis’s history, the mad tyrant in particular.

  Lindell sighed. “It’s not the mad tyrant’s mirror.” He handed the book to Cory.

  “That was a wall mirror…” Cory muttered. He closed the book. “Maybe Wallace should look at the mirror. He’ll want to when I tell him about it. Even more so since it’s not the mad tyrant’s mirror, but some other mirror with magic.”