Arilyn approached the Royal Library of Kathelon with confident steps. The guards nodded to her, not even bothering to check if she had permission or a pass to the depository of knowledge. They had seen her several times before. And even if they hadn’t, she doubted they would have stopped her in the first place.

  As usual, she stopped and took in the antechamber’s wonderful decorations. It was her appetizer of beauty before she feasted her eyes on the grand view of the main library chamber, with its vaulted ceiling and three floors of books. How she loved that sight. The Royal Library wasn’t the only library in the world, but it was one of the most gorgeous.

  Her walk through the shelves and well-placed sitting areas of the main floor was slow and meandering. Checking a title here, thumbing through a rare edition there. When she finally reached the office of the Royal Court Wizard and Researcher, Arilyn was feeling pretty good about things, despite the reason she was there.

  The old court wizard was sitting at a table covered with various books, which he was cross-referencing with clear focus. So engrossed in what he was reading, he didn’t even notice her walking in. She smiled in understanding. After all, seeking knowledge is paramount. There really wasn’t any rush. Important events were happening in the world, things that could change the path of Temberis and its people.

  Eventually, Eric looked up and blinked at her. “Why, Miss Arilyn! I didn’t hear you come in,” he said and stood up. “Please pull up a chair! What can I do for you today?”

  “Wizard Eric, how are you? And your wife, Elana?” she asked, sitting in the proffered seat.

  “Fine, fine! She’s a thrilled grandmother, spoiling our grandkids without mercy. What do you need help with today, young lady?”

  Arilyn frowned, tapping her lip. “I was hoping to talk with you about Mages. Both Mages and demons actually, and the connections between the two.”

  “Now there is a topic! But I’m hardly the best person to talk to. I’m sure there are many, many more qualified individuals out there,” Eric replied awkwardly.

  “It is an interesting topic, considering there is a Mage here on Temberis for the first time in decades. And I’ve checked around. There is no greater authority on the subject than you. In fact, I think you might even know him.”

  “I, uh. Miss Arilyn, what makes you think that?”

  She smiled sweetly. “Oh, come now, Eric. After all these decades of sharing knowledge on various topics, you still haven’t figured out who I am?”

  Eric swallowed loudly and cleared his throat. “I didn’t think it was polite to bring it up. I’m only an old Wizard and my only shield against your kind is courtesy. It seemed impolitic to bring it up,” he replied.

  The young woman’s face lit up with mirth. “Oh, Eric! You, of all people, have nothing to fear from me. Just because I’m the Goddess of Knowledge, I would never require worship from you — or anyone else for that matter. You’ve been such a good colleague and friend over the years. Please, I have so few friends, and you treat me as a person instead of a deity.”

  The old man slouched a little in his seat. “That’s a relief to hear. I do know the young man. He’s a good kid and not someone who would end up like the rest of the Mages.” Eric said.

  “I agree with you on that, but what is the connection between the Mages and the demons? Last I saw of Fi—the young man—he was in the company of a demon. Though they were friendly, I’m pretty sure that he didn’t know his friend wasn’t who he pretended to be,” Arilyn said.

  Eric stood up quicker than his age suggested and moved to a nearby bookshelf. The old Wizard pulled a volume from it and leafed through it. Once he found the page he was looking for he brought it back to the table. “Here are my notes on the young man,” he said. “Finn, as you were going to say. In a comparative analysis of the underlying coding of the Mage class — using the reading I gathered from Finn and in the two other mages — I found an obvious corruption of the very nature of the class. But not in Finn. The corruption itself is clearly demonic, connected to a particular demon. A minor demon, whose name I will not utter without the appropriate protections in place, known for making deals and carrying out certain tasks for the upper echelons of Hell.”

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  “I have heard of this demon and its machinations,” Arilyn mused. “But what prevents Finn from accepting a proffered deal?”

  Eric sat the book down. “He had little interest in power and just wanted to get home. I highly doubt that has changed since I last saw him,” he said confidently.

  “And being blessed by both my mother and me, the demon couldn’t infiltrate his mind to influence him. That explains the demon’s direct actions somewhat. Mind if I look at your notes and findings?” she asked, her voice filling with scholarly interest.

  The old wizard handed over the book. “Feel free. But I have to ask, since we’re laying our cards out on the table. Why the sudden interest in Mages, specifically Finn?”

  Arilyn’s eyes flickered over Eric’s notes as a memory of Finn’s determined gaze played in her mind. “At first, I just thought he was interesting,” she murmured, her voice softening. “But then… I realized I’m not quite myself around him. He carries so much pain, loss, and anger. Yet, deep within him, there is a determination that burns brighter than anything I’ve ever seen.” She frowned. “Why do I feel this way? I can’t get him out of my head.”

  Eric smiled knowingly. “I’ve been around the block a few times and had my share of headaches raising three daughters. That look on your face is very familiar to me,” he said. “You’re falling for him. It’s surprising, you being a Goddess and everything that goes along with that.”

  Arilyn’s head jerked up, her shocked gaze locking on Eric’s affectionate one. “I… what? I can’t be falling in love with a mortal man! He’s not even of this world. I just… like him. That’s all. I may have a fling now and then. And that’s what this is,” she said hurriedly, her face coloring.

  “Like I said, I raised three daughters,” he replied and chuckled at the dawning horror on her face.

  “Oh, no,” she said softly as realization struck. She put her face in her hands. “I am in love…”

  My new horse already had a name, and it made sense. Rocks. How could a horse in a town called Mining Camp not be named after something related to mining? At least they didn’t name it Horse, I thought. He was pretty spirited and was the only horse that didn’t have a problem with Vessa.

  Oddly, he hadn’t taken to me yet, and that was making things just a bit difficult. We were making good time toward the main — and only safe — bridge across the chasm. Manik’s Bridge. Last time, those mercenary bastards guarded it, but it should be clear now. Otherwise, Harper and I would start our little vengeance side-project a touch earlier than planned. It was an ugly thought, but the work was necessary. Part of me welcomed the chance.

  Vessa had spread herself out on the horse in front of the saddle, clutching the mane as she sunned herself with her wings stretched out. Rocks didn’t mind her at all. She looked around with interest at the thinning trees opening up to the expanse of the chasm. We could see the bridge as we crested a small hill, and though it was a couple of miles away, the span looked clear to me.

  As we got closer, it turned out I was right. No one was on the bridge. I looked west along the wide chasm towards the mountains, towards the section that we would need to climb down into. There was no way I’d be able to see that far, but I knew Juan’s body was there. If nothing had gotten it yet. So many things could have, most of which were likely unknown to me. But there are always scavengers.

  Harper had been quiet since leaving the town of Mining Camp, lost in her own thoughts. Despite her introspection, I doubted she was missing anything. But she wasn’t slouching in her saddle, and even had a small smile when looking about. It was a gorgeous day with the sun shining down, reflecting off the shining cables of the bridge. The kind of day where my dark thoughts of Juan’s fall and subsequent death had no place.

  Those thoughts really didn’t fit the day. Yes, it had been hard getting to this point. All the emotional baggage we were carrying was weighing Harper and me down. Even with the victories of escaping our pursuers, finding Vessa, and heck, with all the fights we won along the way, I was having a hard time seeing this as winning.

  But then I looked at Vessa. I had somehow done the impossible in finding her. She filled a hole that I didn’t know was there. Maybe I needed someone to look after, like with my little brother. My mood eased with these thoughts, and though I still had some onerous tasks ahead, they seemed more manageable. It was odd in a way: as much as I loved my brother, I still resented needing to fill my parent’s shoes.

  Yet with Vessa, even though I knew I was taking even more responsibility, I was okay with it. I couldn’t resent her situation or her mother. Instead, I felt a kinship with her. We had both lost everything. Though neither of us had any control over what had befallen us, we had a chance to make a difference.

  Together.