Landon entered his office and began sorting through a stack of papers he’d been working on for some days. Some of the notes he’d entered ran the gamut of mundane to absolutely bizarre. They were ideas, rumors, and actual snippets of recent local news he’d started collecting. There was too much happening these days, and little made sense to those who saw it.

A brief movement from the corner of his eye interrupted his concentration. He didn’t need to look up to know who it was. “If you’re wondering, I believe she’ll do just fine. He’s good at what he does.”

“I don’t doubt it, but he’s a scoundrel,” Angela said, setting a small tray of pastries on his desk. “Picked up some new ingredients from the palace this morning.”

Landon took a bite from one, savoring the taste. “Fresh nuts and honey. It’s good. Any worthwhile rumors making the rounds?”

“A rather juicy one,” she said as she picked one out for herself. “There’s some talk that the Red Suns were there that day. Rowan and 2 high ranking monks were all in the room together with that bastard before he was declared innocent of all charges.”

Landon nodded appreciatively, chewing his food. “I’d have liked to have seen that. No love lost between the Red Suns and the Church of Light.”

“There’s more,” she said. “Before they left, a rather large amount of gold and rather expensive looking items came from the cathedral and went with them.”

Landon finished the pastry and chewed on it while he thought. “That makes no sense. The Red Suns actively push people away from worshiping the gods. Another damn mystery to add to the mix.”

He pulled out his pen and began to write it out on a new blank page. They sat in silence for a moment until he had finished the entry, the only sound was scratching of the quill on paper. He finished it and shook his head in frustration.

“I don’t get it Angela,” he said. “We’ve got clues, but we just don’t know to what yet.”

She looked at him with understanding. “You’re going to worry yourself to death, old man.”

He smirked just for the briefest moment. “Maybe, but you’ll be right there with me.”

She turned her nose into the air in an act of mock indignation. “I think not. I will live forever as these kitchens cannot possibly run without me.”

“I believe it.” He started to reach for another pastry and stopped. A serious expression coming over him. “Do you think that witch was telling the truth about Rowan being involved with magic?”

She shook her head somberly. “I didn’t hear anything like that, as you can imagine. If anyone practiced it out in the open they’d be burned for it.”

He nodded in agreement with her. “That’s true. But do you ever ask yourself why? Since the Aganossis family started ruling over Norport they’ve completely driven magic out.”

“I don’t,” she said. “But if I had to guess, I’d say it’s because they enjoy living like barbarians. Most of Terrus probably enjoy luxuries like mage lights on a hot summer day while we have these blasted candles everywhere.”

He looked over at the ones nearby on his desk. “They would be convenient. All those generations of Rowan’s ancestors, and not one of them wanted anything to do with magic, mundane or not. I’ve started to wonder if it was out of fear, and if that’s the case, why has it been that all of them have had the same issue for the last three hundred or so years.”

Angela shrugged. “Perhaps it’s just a deeply rooted family tradition.”

“Perhaps.” He stood and stretched his aching muscles. “Let’s go find out.”

She looked at him curiously. “Are you planning to ask him yourself?”

Landon shook his head. “I suspect he’s still not too keen on talking with me since our last meeting. No. We’re going to the library.”

“We,” she said with a hint of incredulity.

He looked at her and shrugged. “Think of it as providing moral support.”

They made their way to the stables and secured a carriage to take them across town. It was a rickety old thing and unpleasant to use, but it didn’t take long to get prepared.

They made their way across the city to an area commonly referred to as the learning district. A rather grandiose area where the children of the wealthy congregated to study higher learning. Here, schools taught history, art, philosophy, and a myriad of other subjects that common folk wouldn’t ever really need. In a way, it was just another tool to keep people divided.

Soon they pulled up to a massive building made from large stone blocks, with towers reaching high into the air. Reliefs had been painstakingly carved into the massive decorative columns, showing angels fighting demons. At the base, figures cowered in fear from the fighting above them, looking on helplessly and hopelessly. The linework was fantastic, even if the subject matter was questionable.

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Inside the building, they found themselves in a dim entryway where a young man in a blue robe sat behind a desk. He eyed them warily, knowing from the way they were dressed that they didn’t belong there.

“Do you have business here?” His tone was a mix of suspicious and condescending.

Landon strode confidently to the desk and looked down at him. “Perhaps. Fetch whoever’s in charge and tell him that Landon Marshall, Captain of the Norport City Guard is here to see them.”

The man scoffed at him. “And why would the city guard be here?”

Landon fixed him with a serious look. ”Are you in charge?”

His previous bluster seemed to wilt under the bigger man's gaze. “Well… no.”

“Then apparently,” Landon said, “the city guard is here waiting for a man behind a desk to go get the man in charge.” He placed his knuckles on the desk and stared hard, showing visible anger and annoyance at the delay.

The robed man gulped hard and looked around. “I’ll return shortly. Just wait here.” He took off down the hallway and was soon out of sight.

Angela looked to landon and shook her head. “What are you going to do when the tough guy act doesn’t work anymore?”

Landon rubbed his chin and thought about that for a moment. “Don’t really know. I guess, I’ll have to improvise then.”

Moments later, the robed man returned with one of his fellows, dressed also in a blue robe of the scholars. This second man had a thin golden sash across his chest, signifying some difference between the two. Landon suspected it was a symbol of authority, but not of the highest order. He was doughy, pale, and his beard was rather unkempt. Truly, this was a man who spent all his free time indoors behind the books.

“I am Scholar Osgood. I was told the guards are here, but I have no idea why that would be. Would you mind enlightening me?”

Landon nodded to him in acknowledgement. “Of course. May we speak somewhere private? A reading room perhaps.”

Osgood looked momentarily frustrated at the delay, but agreed to the request. “Follow me.”

He led them through a large door into the main library. The smell of ancient paper assailed the senses from the massive amount of books in this room. They were stacked on shelves reaching all the way to the dark ceiling, row after row, filling the room. It was like some legendary maze from mythic fairy tales, made entirely from ancient tomes.

He looked at Angela and saw a look of awe upon her face. He could understand it, knowing her love of books. She had amassed her own small library back at the barracks and was always excited to get a new addition. This must almost be like a dream to her. It was a damn shame that they kept such a repository of knowledge hidden away from everyone, reserving it for the upper society.

Osgood unlocked a side room door and entered it, lighting a couple of candle lanterns on the walls as he passed. It was small and even more cramped with the table in the middle. The air was rank and mildewy, telling signs that this room hadn’t had fresh air for some time. Still it was a place of privacy it seemed, and that was what he had asked for.

He set his lantern upon the table and took a seat. “Now captain, and his lady friend, what is it you need?”

“It stinks in here,” Angela said, wrinkling her nose in disgust.

The scholar just shrugged. “It’s not pleasant, but you’ll get used to it. The nicer rooms are reserved for,” he paused for a moment, “more distinguished guests.”

Landon put his hand on Angela’s shoulder to calm her from whatever response she was about to give to such a snide remark. “We’re looking for the history of the Aganossis family.”

He narrowed his eyes suspiciously at them. “Why? You’re not a researcher or student.”

“I don’t think I need a reason.” Landon stood straight, hooking his thumbs under his belt. “I came here to get some information on a topic, not explain myself.”

Osgood crossed his arms and smirked. “I’m not stupid, captain. You’re up to something, because you could get that information from the palace itself much easier or send some lackey in to get it for you. Perhaps I should send a missive to one of my superiors informing them of suspicious activity.”

Landon looked over at Angela with a raised eyebrow.

She put a hand on his shoulder this time and interjected on his behalf. “You’re actually right. We’ve recently fallen out of Rowan's favor and we’re trying to get back into his good graces so to speak.”

The scholar stroked his unkempt beard, listening to her story. “Intriguing. How exactly do you plan on doing that?”

She looked at Landon for a moment and he nodded for her to continue. “Well, we’d like to present him with a unique gift. We think it would be best if it were something that honors him and his family history.”

Osgood stood and paced around the small room for a moment, thinking of something. Finally he said, “What’s in it for me if I help?”

“We’ll,” she thought for a moment and snapped her fingers. “If it’s well received, we’ll make sure you’re named to Lord Rowan himself. Surely that could help your career advancement. If it isn’t, we’ll say nary a word of your existence.”

Osgood resumed his pacing, thinking of the pros and cons of the deal. “Alright. There’s a copy of a book available that I can loan to you. It hasn’t been updated since his father’s time, but it should be enough.” He looked at them harshly. “Can I trust you to take care of it? They’re expensive to replace.”

They both nodded in unison. “I wouldn’t dream of letting anything happen to a book,” Angela said. “They’re very precious to me. I have some of my own.”

Osgood looked them over again and started out the door. “I’ll wrap it up and take it back to the lobby. You can wait there.”

They watched the man walk off into the distance for a moment. Landon turned to Angela and shook his head.

She looked at him innocently. “What?”

He grabbed one of the lanterns, blowing the others out, and started towards the door. “I sometimes wonder if you can predict the future.”

She gave a small laugh at that. “Do you want me to tell you yours?”

He gave her a side eyed glance. “When did you stop?”