Jade crept through the dark, silent hallway heading towards the map room. She remembered from her visit last night that it had an extensive bookshelf along one wall, so hopefully she could find something to read. As she pushed open the door, she was startled to see a figure there in the darkness, hunched over the map table.

“Advisor?” she whispered. “What are you doing here in the dark?”

“I should be asking you the same question,” K’ivin snapped. “What are you doing back in the palace, Jade? Where is Mikiva?”

He stood and moved forward, deliberately blocking her view of the table.

“They’re here too,” Jade raised her hands. “They are back in the sitting room. They didn’t think you would be awake at this hour, so they were waiting there to ask you for the books.”

“Ah, so Av’ry has filled you both in on his inquiry, then?” K’ivin relaxed, slightly.

“Yes. The basics, anyway.”

“Good, good. The sooner you all get started on this, the better. Time is precious. But why did you come back so early? Why didn’t you wait until morning?”

“Well, there was something of an… incident,” Jade rubbed the back of her neck.

She briefly explained the morning’s events to the advisor.

“So, you are saying that the Queen of Esrasea has hired the Azure Scorpions to find you and bring you back, and that they have orders to kill anyone who gets in their way?” he summarized.

‘Pretty much,” Jade sighed.

“And you still claim to have no idea why you are so important to her?” he regarded Jade suspiciously.

“Look, I know that it makes no sense. But I’ve told you everything. Whether you believe me or not is up to you, I have no proof to offer to change your mind.”

K’ivin hesitated a moment, finally he sighed.

“I suppose this doesn’t really change anything. We knew they were looking for you, just not to what lengths they were willing to go. Still, know that I will be keeping a closer eye on you,” K’ivin warned. “At any rate, it is good that you are staying with Mikiva, she can keep you safe.”

“And she knows the Scorpions pretty well.”

K’ivin hesitated, studying her face,

“She normally doesn’t share that information.”

“Well, it wasn’t exactly her choice,” Jade explained. “One of the assassins was an… acquaintance,”

“Ah. Usually, Scorpions are more discreet. Hopefully the guild doesn’t get wind of his loose lips. I doubt they would be forgiving.”

“I find it hard to worry too much about his wellbeing,” Jade replied dryly.

K’ivin just chuckled,

“Well, since you are all here, anyway, I suppose I should bring the resources I have managed to track down so that you can begin work. No sense wasting time.”

“If you don’t mind my asking, do you ever sleep?”

“Not much, these days,” K’ivin sighed deeply. “There is too much to do.”

K’ivin walked with her out the door and locked the door behind him.

“I will meet you in the sitting room once I retrieve the tomes. Wait there, please. I would prefer that you not wander the palace unattended. I can’t guarantee your safety, outside of my rooms.”

Jade nodded obediently. It was a fair request. He may not like her, or trust her, but she could hardly blame him for that, given the circumstances. She would do what he wanted her to do, politely and efficiently, because at the moment, they had a common goal: keeping her from being returned to Avrinly. Besides, she had to try out a new career sometime, this one seemed as good as any.

When she returned to the room, she found her companions asleep, so Jade sat quietly to avoid disturbing them and waited for K’ivin. After some time, the man burst through the door, carrying an armful of books higher than his head. Jade could hardly believe that the frail-looking old man could lift so many at once. Jumping to her feet Jade took half of the stack from him and helped carry them to the table.

“Thank you,” he placed his own books down.

As he did, however, the book on top slipped and crashed to the floor. Instantly, both Mikiva and Av’ry were on their feet, hands on their weapons. Jade chuckled,

“Stand down. I think the books come in peace.”

She bent to retrieve the fallen volume and return it to the pile. They both relaxed. Av’ry sank back into his chair, face reddening slightly.

“I heard you had an interesting night, Mikiva,” K’ivin said.

“You could say that,” she laughed mirthlessly.

“Based on these new developments, I think that the three of you should remain on the palace grounds, for now. Both of you have been seen with Jade, so you are going to be targets, when they come back for her. If nothing else, you should be safe from the assassin’s guild here. There are free rooms in the servant’s quarters, if nobody minds the somewhat sparse accommodations.”

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“From the looks of this place, I’d bet they are nicer than the inn we just came from,” Jade observed.

“Trust me, they are,” Mikiva replied.

“Well then, it’s settled. You can all work and sleep here. Av’ry, Mikiva, you are free to come and go as you please. Do be careful, though. Jade, I would like to request that, for the time being, you not leave the grounds. If you have to for any reason, make sure Mikiva is with you. For your own safety.”

“I understand,” Jade responded.

“Well, with that taken care of, I will let you get to work. These are all of the books I have managed to locate thus far. Hopefully, you will find what you are looking for in these pages, because I do not hold out much hope for the rest. I am not sure that there are any more copies available.”

“I appreciate you getting even these,” Av’ry said politely. “It must not have been easy, or cheap.”

“The expense will be worth it, if they can help us. I am willing to try anything, at this point. The reports from the scouts have not been encouraging, a large army is massing on our borders. It won’t be much longer now.”

“I suppose we had better hurry, then,” Av’ry lifted a thick, leather-bound volume from the top of the stack.

“Yes,” K’ivin agreed. “I would help you, if I could. But my duties to the emperor require my attention at the moment. I will return and see if you require anything later. I wish you good luck, for all our sakes.”

With that, K’ivin left.

“He seems… distracted,” Jade commented once he was gone.

“To put it mildly,” Mikiva muttered. “He would normally have pressed for more details about the assassins, at the very least. The man is stretching himself too thin.”

“Well, let’s see what we can find to help him, then,” Av’ry refocused them on the task at hand.

Mikiva gingerly lifted a dusty tome,

“Any idea what we are even looking for?” she regarded it like it was a something venomous.

“Not really,” Av’ry admitted. “Hopefully we’ll know it when we see it. At the very least it should be something that all these books have in common, especially the ones Istaria had retrieved most recently.”

Mikiva glanced down at the list again,

“If I am not mistaken, aren’t most of those the books we don’t have?”

“Let’s not give up before even trying,” Jade replied. “Just start reading and see if anything jumps out.”

“Talk about a needle in a haystack,” Mikiva muttered under her breath.

“What’s that?” Av’ry looked over at her.

“Nothing, let’s just get to work,” she flopped down on the couch and opened her book. “If nothing else, I’m sure I’ll learn something fun about dragons. That’ll be a big help to us.”

“Look, if you don’t want to be here,” Av’ry was clearly losing his patience. “Just go. We will get along just fine without you.”

“You think so? Because I somehow doubt that…”

“Alright, that’s enough,” Jade barked. “Sit down, shut up, and read your books. When you finish the book you are holding, then you can talk again. Or bicker. Whatever you feel is more constructive. Understood?”

“Yes,” they both mumbled in unison.

The instant the words were out of her mouth, Jade wondered where they had come from. She took orders, she didn’t give them. Of course, she had never exactly been good at taking orders, maybe giving them would work out better for her. Jade was starting to get used to the fact that she had certain impulses that she didn’t understand, but she had decided to just sort of rolling with them. And it had been kind of fun to see the two of them jump. So, she put it out of her mind and settled in for what promised to be a very long day.

**

Istaria watched disinterestedly as the servant finished setting the table in her private quarters, as quickly and silently as possible. The young woman was almost stealthy in her preparations, darting back and forth, trying to avoid the piercing gaze of her Queen. As the girl laid the final servings of food down and turned to leave, a cough from Istaria brought her up short; quivering, she dropped to her knees and pressed her forehead to the cold stone floor.

“I want you to inform all the servants that they are to go to their respective quarters immediately, shut their doors and remain there until the morning. And, though I am sure they are all aware by now, be sure to remind them that anyone found walking the halls before dawn, for any reason, will be executed on the spot. Understood?”

“Yes, my Queen,” the girl whimpered.

“Well, what are you waiting for? Go!” Istaria snapped.

The servant scrambled to her feet and bolted for the door like a frightened rabbit. Istaria smiled, she did so enjoy the effect she had on her staff. Though she had to admit, the thrill of ordering the meek and obedient wretches around had faded somewhat, over time. Not that it mattered, because now an entire kingdom fell to its knees before her. It was what she had always wanted. Always deserved. And it was all because of Him. To please him, to continue to walk this road with him, by his side, she would do anything. But she had let him down. And now she would suffer the consequences.

Anxious, she rose and began pacing the room, gown brushing the floor as she did. Istaria paused only when she felt the temperature in the room drop abruptly; pulling her fur stole tighter, she bowed her head low.

“Greetings, my Lord.”

“I am very disappointed, Istaria.”

The cloaked figure stepped out of the shadows by the terrace, but the darkness still seemed to cling to him and a bone chilling cold rolled off his body like a fog. As he approached, Istaria prostrated herself in all her finery, on the stone floor at his feet.

“My Lord, I have failed you. Is there nothing I can do to make it right?”

“Have I not given you everything you have asked for?” he asked quietly. “Have I not kept my promises? I have laid an entire kingdom at your feet; I have made you Queen and ruler of the most powerful nation on this continent. Was that not enough, Istaria?”

“No, Master, please…” she begged.

“Silence! You will let me finish,” he commanded. “I have offered you more than this. When the time comes, I offered you a place in my court. A courtesy I have extended to very few. And I asked so little of you in return for my generosity. Just your loyalty to me, and that you take care of a few simple chores. Did I ask too much, Istaria? Was I unreasonable?”

“No, my Lord. Of course not, my Lord,” she whimpered.

“I did not think so, and yet here I am, proven wrong. Now that we are so close, now that the end is finally coming into sight, you fail in one of the few tasks I set before you.”

“I beg you, Master, please. My only mistake was entrusting her to the wrong person. I have taken care of that problem. I can fix this; I can make it right.”

“How? Tell me how!” barely suppressed rage seethed in his voice.

“No harm has been done, yet,” Istaria trembled, her halting breaths sending plumes of steam into the frosty air. “I will find her, I will bring her back. I already have agents searching. They have found her trail. She will be back here within the week.”

The cowled man paused to consider this for a moment,

“Fine, I shall give you another chance, Istaria. I assume I do not need to remind you what the consequences will be if you do not resolve this, quickly.”

“Of course not, Master. I understand.”

“Good,” the man nodded, satisfied. “Now, there are other things we must discuss tonight,” he settled himself at the table. “Sit and eat with me, Istaria. I have new orders for you to pass on to your soldiers in the morning.”

Breathing a sigh of relief, Istaria gathered her robes about her and rose from the floor. Bowing deeply again, she took her place at the table,

“Command me, my Lord.”