Caelus worked with heat. Half a dozen of his apprentices stood in line, fueling the belly of his furnace with the fire bursting from their hands. Whenever they tired, the next group took on the task. The temperature had to be steady while Caelus compressed the glowing, molten metal. A sphere the size of his fist already burned white over the furnace, drops of liquid floating up to join it.

He already knew the ore was impure. The instability inside the sphere would ruin it the moment Caelus released his magic. Still, he completed the procedure for his daughter to see. As he expected, the sphere cracked and lost its lustre the moment he relinquished control.

“Another failure, father?” The mage offered him a towel.

“Nothing but failures, Linde. Nothing but failures...” Caelus wiped the sweat off his face. “You bring me good news I hope.”

“It’s news.” The mage smiled, showing her flawless white teeth. “One of our birds spotted a man that fits your description. He was crossing the Silyran borders with a borash.”

Caelus ran a hand through his beard, untangling it. The details of Leylin he had given were intentionally vague. Dozens of people were flagged by his spy network each week. “Did you get close enough for an image?”

"See for yourself." She handed him a glass cube, where thin layers were pressed together to create a three dimensional image.

The color drained from Caelus' face. It was him! Even after four decades, he instantly recognized Leylin. "When was this captured?" He tried to keep his voice calm.

Linde raised an eyebrow. “Four days ago. Why? Is it him?”

“Possible.” He couldn’t let anyone get close to Leylin. It was too dangerous. He’d deal with the man himself. “The slave boy next to him on the wagon. Is he Oathbound?”

Linde pulled her hands apart. The sheets of glass separated, and she pulled one out for a closer look. “Yes, fairly certain.”

Caelus scanned the forge. Only his apprentices were present, panting and sweating on the ground. He motioned for Linde to get closer and whispered in her ear. "Bring him to me. Preferably alive."

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“I understand.” Linde leaned back, the smile never leaving her face. “Should I contact our agents?”

“No. Nobody else must know.” Caelus placed a hand on her shoulder. “Consult the seer for a location.”

That gave Linde pause. “Are you sending me out on a mission?”

Caelus fidgeted with the piece of cracked metal. “Desperate times…”

“To think I used to beg you to let me out of the city,” Linde said, “and now you’re ordering an abduction. This is rather exciting!”

“This is not a game,” Caelus hissed at her. “You have to be extremely careful. Once you find the boy, use the birds. Make sure he is alone before you make your move. He could be dangerous, so kill him if you have to.”

“As you wish, archmage.” Linde gave a practiced half bow. “Is there anything else?”

“Yes, actually.” He brought her into a hug and stroked her hair. It was a golden brown, just like his own. “Be careful. I can’t afford to lose you.”

“Dad! I’m turning twenty three next month! You can’t treat me like a child any more.” Linde blushed and brushed him away softly. “Besides, I’ll be fine. You focus on being marvellous as always.” She gave him a slight bow and a hug before leaving.

Caelus sighed. He ordered all the apprentices out and shut down the forge for the day. Experimentation could wait for tomorrow. There were more important matters at hand. “You can come out now.”

“Ever vigilant I see.” An ashfen slithered out of the shadows. "You cherish her, don't you?"

"As I do all my descendants. Otherwise I wouldn't be dealing with the likes of you."

"Harsh words, Archmage Caelus." The man handed him an envelope. "And here I thought we were friends."

"Ensure the safety of my family, and we'll be whatever you want." Caelus tore it open. His eyes alternated between the contents and the ashfen. "You want me to kill an Archmage."

"Not just any Archmage. The one that controls the city's defence grid. Seoltrin, I believe."

To even know that name… How many spies and agents did Andre have in the capital? "It's not possible. Not within a year."

"The emperor's condition is deteriorating, so your job is to make it possible." The ashfen retreated back into the shadows. "Otherwise your family will be levelled to the ground, along with the rest of this pathetic country."

Caelus was left alone in his forge, holding the letter with trembling hands. The furnace was still and empty. It was the cold that made him shake, he told himself. Nothing more. He tossed the letter inside and lit it up.

This time he'd work alone.