“I can't believe I'm saying this, but seeing the castle again feels so right. It's almost like coming home.” says Ariel. The castle nestles in the same forest it always has, with the same rising walls, the same worn training field, the same courtyard where couples spar. Salaya however feels different. It's something in her step, and she can see it in Ariel's too. In the ten days since they left, they've journeyed like she's never journeyed before. Even Eje, who seemed unflappable in previous missions, now moves with a new efficiency. She doesn't suddenly bound up and down the road, nor does she creep like she's trying to sneak up on someone. She steps alongside the rest of them in an untiring march.
“Well,” says Brant, “it's been an honour, girls. I'd love to stay and chat, but I need to check in and get a shower.” He turns his horse and canters off toward the stables.
“He needs a shower? He's been riding that thing all week while we walk.” grumbles Eje. She watches the rest of Team Four follow after Brant. “Hey, Salaya, I think you waited too long, but you can still catch up with him if you run.”
“Oh shut up.” says Salaya. “I told you I'm not interested.”
“Salaya,” says Eje, putting her arm around Salaya's shoulders, “let me tell you a little story about myself. There was once a boy I had, shall we say, a little crush on back in school. Now he was obsessed with animal husbandry of all things. Raising animals, feeding them, getting them on top of each other, it was all he talked about. I liked him though because I was young and foolish. Instead of just admitting it, I decided to get in on animal husbandry as well. Mind you, I don't like animals. Isn't that right, Ariel?”
“I hadn't noticed.” says Ariel, pushing open the front doors to the castle.
“Well I don't. They're stupid, they're needy, and they smell bad. I like things that don't run away or piss on me. But for this boy, I changed. I ended up taking in a kennel of rabbits and trying to raise them at home in the hopes of impressing him.”
“Did it work?”
“Disaster. Not only did it not work, I ended up gravely insulting him when I lost my temper and called his favourite cockatiel a 'screeching flower-headed shitsack' and he refused to talk to me for a week. Then I found out he was sneaking off with Milda Urenston, and I shut myself in my room for days. We tried to get rid of the rabbits, but there were always more hiding off in the gardens.” Eje pauses “I've despised rabbits ever since, but now I rather miss them. They remind me of home.”
“What does this have to do with me?” asks Salaya.
“Oh, forgive me. I got a little sidetracked there. Pining over someone doesn't help, nor does subtly trying to get someone's attention. You need to be straightforward or you'll be confusing. Especially to someone as easily confused as Brant.”
“Thanks for the advice,” says Salaya, hoping her cheeks are the normal colour, “but I'm just fine. I'm not pining, and nobody needs to show off to get anyone's attention. What do you think, Ariel?”
“I'm sure you're right, Salaya.”
“Hmph. If anyone doesn't need to show off to get attention, it's Ariel.” Eje unlocks the door with Twenty-Four written on it and they file in. Eje flops onto her bed and stares up at the ceiling. “It's good to have a bed again. Just don't show me a mirror. I probably look like a ghast.
Salaya searches through her books. “Oh dear. Did you fall behind on your reading, Salaya?” asks Ariel.
“There's one book in particular I want to check.” says Salaya. “It's been bothering me since we had that argument over the celestials and met Captain Yorn. Here it is.” She takes out her copy of A History of the Mythic by Eigen Hoern and leafs through the pages. “Since nobody could agree on what happened to the celestials, I'm going to see what the authority says.”
“Are you still pondering over that?” scoffs Eje. “I told you, they're all deluded. The celestials never died out, they just lived on disguised as us.”
“Here it is.” announces Salaya. “Hmm.”
“Well? What does this so-called authority say?”
“He's not a 'so-called' authority, Eje. Eigen Hoern was and still is the authority.” Salaya reads on. “He says the celestials did fall from the sky, sorry Yorn, however, a few weren't destroyed. They scattered to the four corners of the earth to escape something or another. Possibly the spread of the desolation. One of them was a prince betrayed by his closest friend. He became a hermit on an empty island far out to sea and was never heard from again. One of them refused to accept defeat and lived among the people of the earth with the intentions of raising an army. He was eventually killed, but his son formed the ancient kingdom that would go to become the Upper Realms. That's nice. One of them, a nameless celestial of royalty and the last to fall, was crippled but not killed. So great were her deformities that even magic could not heal them, and they were passed on to her descendants, never to fade from her bloodline. Less nice.”
“That sounds like mythology, not history” says Eje.
“There's none who know more than Hoern did.” says Salaya. “And to a certain point, mythology is inseperable from history. There's something else though. Ah yes. The orcs were awed by the magic of the celestials and sought to replicate it, but the knowledge backfired and they were eradicated.” She feels a pang of pain but resists the urge to check her arm.
“All of them?”
“That's what it says. All of them.”
“Even Eigen Hoern can be wrong.” says Ariel. “Apparently some orcs survived. I wonder what sort of magic they had though.”
“It was eventually renamed the demonic branch, supposedly because it was beyond the understanding of ancient mages, and they feared what they didn't understand.” says Salaya, still reading. “See? I told you demonic magic is a thing.”
“If Hoern were still alive, he might want to revise his book.” Eje says. “In any event, there's no sense speculating. We may as well finish our report.” They settle in to the task of writing a summary of the mission.
“What about Esthen and Team Eleven?” asks Ariel.
“I imagine they'll do their own writeup, just like Team Four.” says Eje. “How do you spell 'stupendous'?”
“S-T-U-P-E-N-D-O-U-S.” says Salaya. “Wait, what are you using that for?”
“To describe us, of course.” says Eje. “Our performance was widely acknowledged by all witnesses to be the most incredibly stupendous awe-inspiring feat of strength and endurance. Perfect. Captain Loswel will love it.”
“Give me that.” says Salaya, snatching the logbook away. “Ariel and I will write this ourselves. And I don't think Captain Loswel will read this anyway.”
“He won't.” says a familiar low voice. “Though if he did, he would indeed love it.” Octave stands in the doorway looking almost pleased.
“Octave! We'd, erm, forgotten about you.” says Ariel.
“I expect so.” says Octave. “You made it out though, and you made it back. I'm impressed.”
“Why, did you think we would fail?” asks Eje.
“The thought occurred to me. But I pushed it aside, knowing my incredibly stupendous awe-inspiring
teammates would never fail.” Eje curses her, but can't quite hide the smile. “I've got something that might make your report more interesting.” She shuts the door behind her and tosses a faded old bag on their table.
“What's this?” Eje opens it up. “Books? Octave, I didn't know you could read.”
“What are they about?” says Salaya, opening one up. “A building manual?”
“The village tomes.” says Octave. “Signed and stamped by the late village council. Got 'em from the orcs I tracked down. I know how your self-worth corresponds to merit, so I thought this might give us an edge over the other two teams.”
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“This is fantastic.” gushes Eje. “I can't wait to show–” At that moment, a loud knock interrupts them. “Who's that?” demands Eje. “Who dares interrupt me?”
The door opens to reveal an aide. “Captain Loswel requests your presence in the meeting hall.” he says, then walks away nonplussed.
“He must have heard what I was writing and wanted to congratulate me in person.” says Eje.
“Octave, why do you think the orcs were carrying books around?” asks Ariel as they make their way up a flight of stairs.
“No idea.” says Octave. “I'm not the authority on them here.”
“They were casting spells, weren't they?” says Salaya. Her heart sinks into her stomach. It's as though every negative thought she's had since arriving at Lakeview is being made manifest. “Forget the celestial stuff. We don't know how, but a few of them can cast spells. Probably a few of them can read too. What do we say in our report? That even though thousands of documented encounters with orcs have shown that they have no propensity for magical aptitude, our single sleep-deprived battle would suggest otherwise?”
“That's good.” says Eje. “Salaya, your talents are being wasted here. You should write royal reports.”
“Team Four will back us up on this.” says Ariel. She sees Salaya rubbing her arm and quickly adds “Don't worry. It was a single incident and we have nothing special to fear from the orcs. I'm curious about what Esthen and his team found.”
Up another flight of stairs they go. The meeting hall occupies the same space as the dining hall, but shifted a floor up. Officers, officials, and the odd guild representative wander about or sit at small tables with glasses of wine. “I wonder if every floor has this same monstrosity of a room.” says Salaya. Team Four stands at the far end of the room talking to Captain Loswel and a woman. Even at this distance, she stands out as a stranger; if Salaya had ever seen her around the castle, she'd remember.
“Wait.” hisses Octave, throwing her arms in front of them. “Do you see that?”
“What?”
“The woman they're talking to. In the red dress.”
“A friend of yours?”
Octave fixes a cold eye on Eje. “We all have our fun, but listen well. That woman will suck the marrow from your bones if you extend her your arm. Don't look her in the eyes. Don't answer her questions. In fact, say nothing. I'll do the talking.”
Ariel, Salaya, and Eje exchange looks. Octave isn't waiting for a discussion and is already walking away, so they follow. Captain Loswel looks over as they arrive. “Here's Team Twenty-Four, and about time. Is your report ready?”
“We're still writing it, sir.” says Eje.
“Well,” Loswel continues, “Irprinon was just telling us about your little battle with the orcs. Is it true they used fire magic?”
“Yes, sir.”
“What do you make of that?” he asks the woman. “Oh, I forgot. This is Lady Tal, a member of the Mage Guild council. Was the council wrong when it assured us orcs were incapable of magic?”
“That's not my concern.” says Tal. She's staring at Octave, one corner of her mouth twitching in a small smirk. Apart from that, her face doesn't move, even when she speaks. Her long hair is violently crimson, matching her dress. When her gaze breaks away and looks at the two teams before her, her eyes narrow. “I'm here for the village tomes. Did you find them?”
“We didn't.” says Irprinon. “If I may ask, what's so valuable about those tomes, miss?”
“You mayn't, and they have information that may be of value.” Tal turns to Team Twenty-Four. “What about you lot? You had Octave helping, and she's the helpful sort.”
“You wasted a trip to Lakeview.” says Octave. “We found no tomes in the village, and nothing again when we searched the slain orcs.”
“What about your little chase?” asks Irprinon. Octave glares at Irprinon like he's a worm. “You know, those three you went after? Did you get them?”
“I got two of them.” she says. “They didn't have any books.”
“Where's the third?”
“No idea. Most likely face down in the desolation with mushrooms growing out of his ears.”
“So no idea where the tomes might be?” asks Tal.
Salaya flinches under Tal's sweeping gaze. She has no idea why Octave would lie about such a thing, but she can't out her now. It would be unconscionable. She looks to Ariel who seems equally unsure.
“What about Esthen and his team?” asks Brant. He hasn't spoken much, looking somehow diminished after his ordeal.
“They haven't checked in yet.” says Loswel. “When they do, we'll ask them.”
“You could always try the bottom of the village well.” suggests Octave.
“I will.” says Tal. Her voice has a calmness, not like Octave's quiet apathy, but more confident. Distant, almost arrogant. “Octave, a word.” Tal grabs Octave, who tries to take a step back, by the arm and pulls her aside unwillingly. She whispers something in Octave's ear then turns back to them. “I'm finished here. You can leave.”
“What a pleasure the Mage's Guild is.” sighs Loswel.
“What was that about?” asks Irprinon as they descend the stairs back to ground level. “I see why the mission asked about the village tomes, but when have they been worth anything?”
“Do you think the orcs knew?” asks Salaya. “Is that why they went for the tomes?” Too late does Salaya hear Octave's breath hiss and realises she's given away more than she should.
“Orcs don't know a thing.” snorts Irprinon. “They only raid and run. The books probably got burned. Speaking of running, how did your little hunt conclude, Octave?”
“I already told you. I tracked down as many as I could.”
“But how did you get out?”
“I sprouted wings and flew away. Any more insipid questions, or may we leave?” They leave.
“So who was that?” demands Eje as they pile back into the team room. “And why did you lie to her?”
Octave sinks into a chair, the only padded one in the room. “Possibly the most dangerous person you've ever met.” she says. “And I didn't lie. Never lie to Tal.”
“But you did lie to her.” insists Ariel. “You told her you didn't find the tomes, and they're right here.” She looks down at the two books on the table as though they're on fire.
“There were no lies.” says Octave. “I told her we didn't find the tomes when we searched the village, and we didn't find anything when we searched the bodies. Both true statements.”
“Then what about the orc you got them from?”
“I only mentioned the two I killed. Not the third who had the books. I'm experienced with my words. It's why I told you to not to speak.” She looks pointedly at Salaya who looks at the floor.
“I'm not used to lying.” says Salaya. “You can say you spoke no mistruths, but a lie of omission is still a lie.”
“There's no such thing.” says Octave. “Either what you say is true or it isn't. That's why a good interrogator asks only direction questions and accepts only direct answers. Tal is getting sloppy.”
“Come on.” says Eje. “Tell us more about this Tal. Is she really on the Mage Guild council? She looked so young for that.”
“Yeah, come on.” says Ariel. “We kept your secret about the tomes. Now tell us something about yourself. How do you know her?”
Octave exhales slowly at the ceiling. After a long pause she says “I worked with her once.”
“You worked with a member of the Mage Guild council?”
“Well, I worked for her. Before I sought out Bladesbury. Our parting was...strained yet not inamicable.”
Ariel scratches her head. “What does that mean?”
“It means she didn't try to destroy me. That's no exaggeration either. If you think my morality is problematic, it doesn't compare to Tal's. She's a sadist. Not the violent sort you read about in your novels with their needles and knives. No, Tal delights in hurting people mentally and emotionally. If you believe there is good in the world, she will prove you wrong and uncover the selfishness behind every action. If you seek joy, she will show you despair. She understands love only insofar as it juxtaposes with hatred. A person like her seeks power, and to that end, I worked for her.”
“What sort of power? Like in the Mage Guild? The court?”
“Partly, but far more than that. Some people in the world wield extraordinary power. No, not the king. That fool wields symbolic power. Yet just as the kings have their domains and fight with their peers for small footholds, so do people like Tal have their domains they protect. Unlike the kingdoms, they rarely go to war; that would be devastating. They do however have their squabbles. Their skirmishes and their posturings.” Octave sighs. “I thought that at Lakeview I would if nothing else be away from such affairs. Nevermind all that though. Tal is interested in these humble village tomes, and whatever she wants, I'd rather she not have.” She opens a book and flips through it. “No, I still don't understand what the valuable information is. I looked over them, and they seemed ordinary. This one is the standard affair on constructing houses and enchanting foundations. The other one is a gardening manual. There's not even a section, much less a book, on defensive magic.”
“By the way,” says Ariel, “what did Tal whisper to you when she took you aside?”
“A veiled threat I'd rather not repeat.” They spend some time pouring through the books. Salaya reads page upon page of instructions on growing vegetables, how much sunlight a gourd squash wants as opposed to a yellow squash, concoctions for fertilizing poor soil, and spell techniques to keep away aphids.
“This is pointless.” says Eje. “Growing flowers, constructing eaves. I thought this would relate to the orcs using magic, but unless they want to know what sort of roofs repel rain, they were in for disappointment.”
“How do you think people will react to the news?” ventures Salaya. “Tal didn't seem to care, but I remember talking to Dolmion, and he didn't think it was possible either.”
“Who knows? At this point, I don't care anymore. I just want to know why someone on the Mage Guild council is so interested in window frames.”
They're finally interrupted by another knock on the door. “I heard you guys made it back.” exclaims Annya, throwing the door open. She rushes in and gives Salaya and Ariel hugs.
“How's your team, Annya?”
“Great! We dealt with the orcs in Hillside. All two of them. It was a real waste of time. I'll tell you about it at dinner, and you can tell me about your crazy mission. Did you really go into the desolation? Ah, don't tell me now, we need to go. We've had a bit of a food shortage for the last week. Apparently one of the delivery carts has been diverted to Felsdown.” They troop off to the dining hall, Eje making sure to lock the door behind them. Now that they know about the tomes, there's an unspoken understanding that they must be protected. “So what mission are you taking next?” Annya wants to know.
“I'd like to take a day or two off first.” says Salaya. “Rest up a bit, work on my magic.” Eje and Ariel agree.
Later that night, as they lie in their beds, Salaya brings up the village tomes again. “Do we trust Octave that the books need to be hidden?” she asks. “She can explain it away all she likes, but we weren't honest back there, and I'm not comfortable with it.”
“I've never trusted the Mage Guild much.” says Eje. “They're full of useless esoterics. That's what my father says.”
“We've already committed to the lie.” says Ariel. “And that Tal person, she scared me. I could feel it off her. When Octave called her a sadist, I believed it without question.”
“Right.” says Eje. “I've no reason to hide anything from Captain Loswel or Ranim, but Tal is another matter. That being said, if Octave's description of her was true, how trustworthy is Octave?” They ponder this in the dark until one by one they drift off to sleep.