“Just around this corner and up here,” Hope said cheerfully.

Karn followed behind, keeping an eye on the walls of the building. The hallways seemed endless and at times almost alive. As they passed through large wooden doors, they opened automatically like leaves bending in the wind. Even the stairs moved as they ascended, lightening each step as if pushed by something alive below them.

Karn turned to see the rock man keeping up with them and sighed. Alec had been quiet on the topic of his Elementlet friend, frustrating Karn. The whole reason why they’d came here was to get help from the creature.

What’s changed? He wondered.

"Karn!" Farlen called out down the hall. He stood at a veiled doorway with open arms. “Come, come, grab a seat.”

Farlen turned and gestured inside as the veil parted to reveal the room hidden behind. Karn’s eyebrows shot up as he strode through the threshold and basked in the dwindling afternoon sunlight.

The meeting room wasn’t a room at all. Rather, a large gazebo attached to the upper balconies of the colossal building. Under the gilded shade was a massive circular table, ornately polished with what looked like a small tree sprouted in its centre. A dozen curved hard back chairs surrounded the table and just like the rest of the furniture, grew out of the floor.

Hope lowered herself into a seat. “Come sit.”

Karn nodded as chose the seat beside her while Alec sat beside Farlen. As they nestled into comfortable positions, the tree in its centre melted into the woodwork while the table shrunk, and chairs moved closer.

"We need to get right into this. Time is not on our side," Farlen said, ignoring the room’s spectacle.

"Definitely," Alec said.

Karns shifted uncomfortably in his chair and forced a nod.

With an air of foreboding, Farlen presented a blue book placing it on top of the table.

Karn flinched as the man open it half expecting it to explode. Ignoring Karn’s reaction, Farlen placed two fingers on an open page and held out his hand and gestured for Karn to hold on to it.

He hesitated for a moment but when he saw the other two nod encouragement, he leant forward and gently touched the open page.

"Show events," Farlen spoke softly with authority.

A fine black trail of smoke flew up from the pages and circled above. The trail darkened as it rose, turning into a black cloud. Abruptly, the vapour burst as ink cascaded down, splashing across the table.

Karn stared in awe as the ink shifted. Beads of black liquid merged, forming lines and shapes before them. They waited as the Ink revealed a large map with Karn seated at its northern tip. A tiny, fiery orb flickered from Karn’s book and into the air. It landed on a point on the map somewhere to Karn’s right.

Farlen studied the map before them in silence. His eyes darted around the points and lights glowing before them and nodded to himself.

The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

“Karn,” he said, breaking the silence, then pointed at the orb beside Karn.

"This small light is you," he said, then gestured towards two faint blue lines that pointed towards the southeast. "There’s a lingering footprint of an event connecting two other people to you.”

Karn bolted upright and stared at the lines. “Are those my friends?”

Farlen nodded. “Hope has informed me of your companions. If I were to guess. Then yes. That’s them."

Karn gasped. "And, are they alright?"

Farlen nodded. "For now, as long as this line persists, their hearts are still beating."

Karn scanned the map. There were so many tiny towns and forests between them.

"How far is that?"

"Far. However, Karn please - I say this for not just our sake but for you and your friends as well." Farlen placed another hand on the page. The book seemed to vibrate as light burst from beneath his fingers. "Reveal.”

The room dimmed as a thick red line appeared, pointing east. Ending with a cluster of blue dots that all lay within a collection of buildings labelled Branside. Farlen's eyes flashed in panic as he tore his hand away from both Karn and the book. The map instantly vanished.

"Demons have you!" Shouted Farlen as he turned to Alec. "They've already crossed the river.”

Karn watched their grave expressions. "What does that mean?" he asked.

Alec sighed and in his gravelly voice said, "they’re already on their way. He gestured to the table where the blue dots were moments before. "They’ve left the city and have crossed the river. And there’s more than one."

“Who’s coming?” Karn asked.

Farlen fidgeted with the spine of his blue book. “It seems the King is after your book.”

Karn wracked his brain. He didn’t know who the King was but what he did know was that his book was no mere trinket. He clenched his jaw and asked, “is there a chance that they will they help destroy it or?”

Farlen laughed. The sudden burst put Karn on edge but when he looked deep into the man's eyes, he saw no mirth only terror.

“He mustn’t have it.”

Alec nodded.

Karn thought back to the cluster of blue dots. "How many are coming?"

Farlen's eyes grew grim as he watched Karn. "Seven of the King's event casters are on the move."

"We need a plan!" Hope said, fear coating her voice.

Farlen stared down at his fingers and bit his lip.

Suddenly, he stood up with determination set across his features. "I've been thinking ever since your arrival, and I may have come up with an idea."

"Yes?" Alec spoke first.

"Firstly, this is a precarious situation. They’re using the primary recipient of the summoning event to track the book." He pointed at Karn. "There’s a way that you can reverse that tracking event.”

“Yeah, is it easy?” Karn asked.

Farlen shrugged. “Yes and no. All you have to do is get within a certain distance of the one tracking you."

"As in touch it?"

Farlen shook his head. "I would say within a visible distance of the ones holding the blue books. You wouldn't need to see the actual book just the persons holding them. Once you catch a glimpse of the owner of the event that is tracking you, even a single glance, even if they are in a large crowd, the footprints will disappear."

"So that’s one thing I guess," Karn said.

Farlen nodded. "And yet we cannot risk leaving the red book in your possession."

Karn looked confused. "I don't want to sound a little stupid but why not?"

"The men who are after you work for the King. People of his line can command the book. We cannot risk it."

"And if they catch you with it, you might as well be dead," added Alec.

Karn froze in his chair. "Then what do we do?"

Farlen bowed his head as pain danced across his face. "There’s only one way we can assure both your safety and the safety of the book. One amongst us must carry it away from here and I cannot leave this place.”

Karn looked between Alec and Hope.

"No," Karn said with the sudden realisation. "It’s too dangerous for her. Look what it’s done already."

Hope flinched. "Me?"

"Yes, you, Hope. You will lead a small group southwest with the book away from the King. Bolgart will accompany you and once the book is safe, you may return. The journey may take long,” he sighed. “It all depends on Karn."

Just at that moment, the hulking guard Bolgart poked his head through the door and paused at their expressions.

"Who died?" He smirked. When none of them smiled, he coughed. "You sent for me uncle?"

Farlen cracked a smirk. "Yes, Plans have changed. Karn will need to prepare right away. Show him how to use our Heart steel."