Silvius held one of the maps in front of him, periodically peeking from the side and into the lit map in the blood pool. “Hmm,” he said aloud.

“Find anything interesting?” Kveldulf asked as he entered the room. He watched some of the workers grabbing some of the pikes piled up since they were dislodged from around the pool. He held the flat of the halberd on his right shoulder as he moved down the room to the scholar.

“Just comparing maps,” said Silvius. “Seems there’s been some changes to the ley lines since these were mapped.”

“Anything major?”

“I hope not, but it could mean they land in different spots now. And the starting points for these lines many no longer be available to us for one reason or another.”

“Are they the most recent works down for these?”

“I think so, we’ve checked the archives enough times they have a table reserved just for us.”

“Really?”

“No, but they try to keep it open for us when possible.”

“Well, that’s nice.”

“I know!”

“Any idea what the good doctor is doing upstairs?”

“I think he’s checking to get a better bearing of where the spell came from that brought about the murmeks in the Lower Wards.”

“Hmm,” Kveldulf said, scratching his chin. “I wonder if they’ll try something like that again?”

“It’s always possible. But unfortunately, there’s no real way to know when that’ll happen until after it’s been cast and on its way.”

Kveldulf groaned. “That’s lovely.”

“I know Doc is trying to get that taken care of. Though I don’t know how well of a go he’s having. One of the many wonders, mysteries, and good old headaches of the magical arts,” said Silvius, again studying the markings of the map.

“Is there anything I can do to help?” Kveldulf asked.

“Not that I can think of right now,” said Silvius, “But I would like to reserve the right to change that if something happens.”

“I’ll check on the good doctor and our battle mage.”

“Is that what Jeanne’s title is now?”

“That’s what I always considered her. Though I do we ever went over specifically who’s roles were what.”

Silvius lowered the map, turning to Kveldulf with a perplexed look on his face. “Have we never established any form of hierarchy?”

“I don’t think so, no. Aside from Cid’s in charge, of course.”

“Huh, surprised this hasn’t been an issue since we met.”

“I credit it with a good match of personalities.”

“I have to agree, I know at the university there would probably have to be a committee for the committee to make a committee to decide who’s turn it was to buy lunch.”

“That is a lot of committees.”

“What’s sad is that not a terrible exaggeration sometimes.”

“I sincerely never want to know.”

“To be fair that’s the administrative side of things. The academia is much more thrilling.”

“Hmm, I’ll take your word on that. Can’t say I’m much of a person who’s had time for books.”

“What do mean?” Silvius asked.

“I was usually with an army. Marching, fighting, camping, fighting, and in some other order of those things. So never had too much time to learn much in the academic pursuits and the like.”

Silvius rolled the map in his hands and walked over to Kveldulf. “I don’t mean to pry. But um … oh,” Silvius said, tapping his foot on the stone floor, “what I mean to ask is …”

“Can I read?” Kveldulf asked calmly.

Silvius nodded hesitantly.

“I know enough common tongue to make my way around. I wouldn’t consider myself terribly versed in the written word, though. And I can write a little bit, as well. Mostly to sign contracts and the like.”

“I’ll put this out there, and there’s no obligation to do this if you’re not interested. But if you’d like, I could … you know …”

Kveldulf looked down cocked an eyebrow up. “If we make it through this thing in one piece. I might just take you up on that.”

Silvius nodded. “Good, very good. Well better get back to it.”

“I’ll go check on the good doctor. See what he’s up to.”

“Give him my regards,” said Silvius.

Kveldulf smiled, shaking his head as he moved up the stairs. As he arrived he saw Leonidas moving around the leystone, with several of the stones whirling in short orbit above the stone to create viewing discs. “I don’t even know where to start,” Kveldulf said bluntly.

“Oh,” said Leonidas, startled. “I didn’t know you were here.”

“I just arrived, as a matter of fact,” Kveldulf said, picking up a book, opening it up and leafing through the pages.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

“I’d be careful,” Leonidas said to him. “Some of those might have a protection ward around them.”

“A what?”

“A protection ward,” said Jeanne popping her head out from behind a shelf. “It’s a way to prevent people from reading something you don’t want them to.”

Leonidas pointed his finger towards her direction. “That. Some of them were mostly harmless, usually a loud noise or something.” Leonidas picked up a book nearby and has he opened it the sound of a baby laughing emanated from the pages. “Obviously someone was having a good day.”

“Well I’m going to not touch anything then,” Kveldulf said, putting the book back slowly. “And what are you doing, Jeanne?”

“Oh, I’m checking for protection wards on these books and what new books these freaks had out and about.”

“When did you learn to dispel magic?” Kveldulf asked.

“I knew how to do minor ones a while back, but I’ve been working on higher level ones since we started combing through the library here.”

“Certainly, found some interesting works,” said Leonidas.

“And what about the whirly stones?” Kveldulf asked, pointing to the leystone.

“Oh, those are trying to measure what type of magic the stone has been using.”

“I thought it could use any type?”

“Technically, yes. But you can tell what certain types of magic have been used after a spell’s traveled through a stone. Not unlike being able to tell when a sole ride, a horse drawn cart or an army has marched through a point of the road.”

“Have you had any luck about who sent our last major incantation?”

“As of right now it looks like it was a combination of a few types of magic.”

“Wouldn’t that require more magic than a person could muster?” Jeanne asked emerging from the bookshelf with several tomes in her arms.

“It can, which is one reason why magic users tend to use leylines to offset the strain on their bodies. Plus, if you perform a ritual over a period of time, you can gather enough energy without risking as much of an adverse effect on your end.”

“And I take it just going forward isn’t a prudent idea in finding where this thing started?”

“Not entirely. The potency of the spell when it arrives to its destination can also determine how it was when it was cast.”

“I thought it would stay the same as it traveled down these things,” Kveldulf replied.

“Not entirely, the spell does still wear down, but at an incredibly lower rate. Though it also depends the type of spell, the power behind its incantation and where it’s heading. The hope is whatever residual energy still within the stone, or on the line can be picked up by one of these stones.”

“So, what did these people use?” asked Kveldulf.

Leonidas walked around the stone, looking at the discs methodically. “Well, we can out most some fields; elemental, ritual, natural, divination, tonal, metaphysical, and the like. Though a few of them were a given.”

“Why were you using those then?” Kveldulf asked, pointing to the stones.

“Didn’t want to leave those stones unturned.”

“Was that a pun?” Jeanne asked.

Leonidas looked up from the stones for a moment. “Not intentionally, but I’m standing by that one.”

Jeanne shook her head as Leonidas looked back at the discs.

“There are definitely some residual ethereal energies. That’s probably the biggest component for what was sent into the Lower Wards.”

“I take it that’s a fairly important detail, Doc?”

“For this case, yes that is correct,” Leonidas said, examining a violet discs hovering over the leystone.

“Um,” Kveldulf said hesitantly, “why?”

“Ethereal energies are the basic elements to all magic. Similar to a base alloy in smithing. Or a basic frame and foundation for a sturdy building. If there is no ethereal energy to tap into for a spell, then the spell won’t have any power behind it,” said Jeanne.

“Precisely,” said Leonidas.

“But what about houses without a foundation?” Kveldulf asked.

Leonidas’s head perked up, not even turning to Kveldulf in response. “Jeanne, could you?”

“On it,” she replied, lightly smacking Kveldulf on the back of the head.

“Ow! What was that for?” Kveldulf asked, rubbing where he had been hit.

“Firstly, anyone with a remedial understanding of construction knows the more secure the foundation, the better. Second, even when you use the ground, you still need to sink posts into the ground so the whole damn thing doesn’t blow over. And third, the hell does that have to do with magic?”

“I feel like I hit a nerve,” Kveldulf said, leaning away from Doc.

“I had to deal with this asshole who thought everything he said was a stroke of pure genius. And he couldn’t even use the word ‘butler’ properly.”

“Jeanne, I’m scared,” Kveldulf said to her.

“Run,” she said in a menacing voice, “Run as fast as you little stubby feet can take you.”

“I am not stubby!” Kveldulf challenged.

“You’re right,” Leonidas said to Jeanne, “He really does take offense to that.”

“You told him!” Kveldulf said offendedly.

“What are you complaining about, she told everyone about me and the spider-lady.”

“Oh yeah,” Kveldulf said, calming down, “She does do that.”

“And that’s why I never became a spy. Or did I?” She asked turning back with a sly look on her face.

Kveldulf and Leonidas glanced at each other before turning back to Jeanne. Both men saying adamantly, “No,” repeatedly.

Leonidas dropped his head, saying, “No no, boys, control yourselves, she’s with me.”

“She’s not the worst,” said Kveldulf.

“That’s true,” Leonidas said, looking down at his hands, “There’s far worse to worry about.”

All three turned back to the leystone as the sound of sand shifting began coming out of the dark violet disc. Leonidas raced over, Kveldulf behind and Jeanne moving to a table where Leonidas’s satchel rested. Looking at the violet disc, Leonidas examined the readings and adjusted the view with quick short movements of his fingers.

“Get Silvius up here quick,” Leonidas said to Kveldulf and Jeanne, “and with a map, too.”

Jeanne bolted out of the room to get Silvius as Kveldulf stayed behind.

“Is it bad, Doc?” Kveldulf asked.

“It’s not good,” Leonidas replied. “Definitely not good.”

Jeanne and Silvius returned, map in tow. “What’s happening?” Silvius asked.

“Someone is starting a ritual spell. And it’s a big one, too.”

“All right,” said Silvius, unrolling the map on the table nearby.

“Here you go,” Jeanne said, handing Leonidas his compass.

“Thanks,” he said taking it and holding the instrument under the disc. As the mage needle orientated itself to the source of the spell, Leonidas said, “North-northwest.”

“Right, let me look here,” Silvius said as he traced his finger from their fortress over to a spot on the map making him leaning forward and squinting. “Looks like it’s the ruins of Castle Stonehammer.”

“Stonehammer,” Kveldulf said, “I didn’t think they’d go there.”

“How come?” Jeanne asked.

“It was one of the castles Allianna used to begin her five-year assault on Koulberg,” said Silvius. “If I’m not mistaken, it was where she directed her forces until she participated in the final attack herself.”

“I’d think they place would’ve been used to ward off any similar attacks?” said Leonidas.

“Probably another worldly decision on the Council’s part,” said Silvius. “How poetic.”

“How long do we have before the spell is cast?” Jeanne asked Leonidas.

“Not long,” said Leonidas, “we need to move, now!”