Although the storm had been raging for a few days, activity continued as usual at the Port Captain's quarters.

The atmosphere was filled with the usual bustle of scribes reviewing manifests, officials processing permits and dispatching merchandise, ship captains waiting impatiently to set sail as soon as weather conditions were favorable, as well as the murmur of conversations of people who had simply sought momentary shelter from the heavy downpour.

Every now and then, a flash of lightning illuminated the interior, followed by the deafening rumble of thunder that rattled both the windows and the implements scattered on the tables.

A couple of apprentices ran here and there carrying rolls of parchment and ink, while the Captain of the Port, a stout man with a grizzled beard and long hair held back by a ponytail, roared orders from his long work table covered with maps and documents dampened by the drops that leaked from the ceiling and through the entrance door where strong gusts of wind blew in, carrying an intense salty aroma from the outside.

A newly arrived young messenger ran forward leaving behind him a trail of water dripping from his boots and sodden cloak.

“What do the watchmen say? What is the state of the docks?” asked the Captain once he saw him.

Shivering with cold and gritting his teeth, the boy answered:

“Sir! The watchmen report that the main breakwater is holding, but the waves are already too high. The docks are partially flooded, and the south berth has lost several mooring posts. The inner caves are receiving boats, but with such a swell, some sailors had trouble maneuvering without crashing into the cliff walls. Right now the wind makes it impossible to stay on the docks for long.”

The Captain pounded a fist on the table.

“At this rate I'll be forced to ask the wizards for help,” he grunted and waving his hand dismissed the boy allowing him to go to the kitchen to warm up and ask for a plate of hot food.

“I see your distrust remains intact,” said a woman's voice. “You are still as hardheaded as ever, Dhabeos Myrkan.”

Dhabeos looked up at the entrance to the captain's quarters to find the gray-haired wizard watching him with a wry gleam in her eye. Despite having come all the way through the storm, her violet attire remained dry and pristine as a day of perfect sunshine.

“Rovenna 'Wind Breaker' Astra.”

She waved her hand as she approached.

“And you still insist on that ridiculous nickname.”

He rose from his chair and gave her a firm handshake.

“There couldn't be a better one for the woman who saved me and my entire crew from being swallowed by the gale.”

Dhabeos was referring to his time as a ship's captain many years before. Back then they were both part of a especial delegation sent by the king with the mission of renewing the peace treaty with the League of Pirates that had been endangered after some clashes with the royal navy.

Halfway through the journey a storm had taken them by surprise and they would have perished that day had it not been for Rovenna, who managed to contain the force of the wind with a protective bubble that enveloped the ship and took it away from danger.

“You could pull off that feat again, you know,” Dhabeus pointed with his head towards one of the windows through which the glare of a sparkle crossed.

She shook her head.

“Your port is indestructible. Besides... I must save the energy...”

Dhabeos nodded.

“I've heard the news. An attack on one of the villages on the eastern fringe.”

Rovenna's shoulders tightened.

“And did you find out who caused it?”

“I would've found out if the wizards weren't keeping information to themselves. All I got was this but no names,” Dhabeos held out to Rovenna a scroll containing the portraits of Olivia and Silas that had been drawn after the interrogations.

As Rovenna had predicted, after her fight with Eldrin, several Council wizards followed the traces of her magic until they came face to face with the Master Arcanist herself walking in the opposite direction of the fugitives.

She ordered the wizards to return to the village along with her to investigate the source of the attack. From there she sent a message to the Conclave notifying about the death of the former Leader of the Order of Shadowrock.

At first, she also considered blaming him for the fire, but there were several witnesses who had seen Olivia herself attack the Town Hall and there was even a wizard who had sensed something about Silas' true nature, although he had not had time to find out what that strange sensation was.

On top of that, Rovenna was met with the unexpected testimony of a family of actors who recounted in detail their journey with the two suspects, whom they had found unconscious on the gulf's eastern shores. Not only that, but the young duo had disclosed to them their plan to travel to Stormbrace!

Until then Rovenna had thought she had time to distract the Council but it had never occurred to her - by the Nymph! - that those two fools would share with unknown people their real names, let alone the destination they were headed for.

For a short while Rovenna had admired their bravery but now she realized it was nothing more than juvenile stupidity. How had Olivia managed to convince her father to let her go off on her own? No one was thinking. Only Rovenna, the only rational person in the whole mess.

But, of course, the Count was perhaps not worried about his daughter because she was in fact the real danger and not the chimera. He had only told her about her escape orchestrated by Eldrin but never about her powers and Rovenna had not been interested in asking her either since according to her informants the Count's daughter was nothing more than an Initiate.

Now the energy fluctuations were beginning to make more sense, as well as the interest of Eldrin and the royal family for that girl, but so much power was not normal in someone so young with a lack of experience that was reflected in the randomness of her decisions.

Every time Rovenna seemed to be getting closer to the answer, she ran into more questions.

Her subordinates were quick to link the Olivia of the attack with the heiress of Shadowrock, whose disappearance until now was known only to the Council and out of caution had not been revealed to the public.

So Rovenna, in her role as Master Arcanist, knowing that the Conclave had eyes and ears everywhere, could not help but head to Stormbrace leading a group of wizards who were to help her capture the perpetrators of the attack.

“I'd prefer to continue this conversation in private,” she whispered to Dhabeos who quickly and without asking any more questions led her down a corridor towards one end of the building where the lodgings he shared with his wife were located.

First they had to cross an inner courtyard where the rain poured down although they did not get wet due to the shield Rovenna created to prevent it.

“That's something at least,” sighed Dhabeos gratefully.

Before heading to his private study, the Captain opened the door to a large room with long tables where his giggling wife was having lunch in the company of a score of children whose thin bodies and tattered clothing evidenced their humble origins. Dhabeos approached the woman to kiss her cheek, a show of affection that elicited jeers and whistles from the children.

The kind but clever woman expressed her delight at meeting the Master Arcanist again and hoped that she could grant her an audience about the possibility of increasing the captain's budget to keep the school open, something the Council had been reluctant to do since its founding. Rovenna promised to take care of the matter herself and to speak with the Leader of the Order of Stormbrace, the one in charge of controlling the use of the taxes imposed on the port.

“I need a record of all the ships that have sailed for the Fellowship of the Island in the last week,” she said to Dhabeos as soon as they closed the door of his study.

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“I don't need to look for any record to tell you that the last ship heading for that destination sailed more than ten days ago. Then began this bloody storm that threatens to tear the harbor apart.”

Rovenna reckoned how many days it had been since she had parted ways with Silas and Olivia. The numbers didn't add up, those damn kids must still be stuck in the port unless they had decided to sail on their own, which was not unlikely due to their high level of recklessness.

If so, she could take them for dead, but for now she preferred to believe that they had found some way to avoid the wizard's surveillance.

“I need to ask you a favor.”

Dhabeos raised his eyebrows and crossed his arms, leaning back.

“Is the Master Arcanist willing to owe me something?”

“I have already promised your wife to take care of her school. I think that's more than enough.”

Not very convinced, Dhabeos nodded silently.

“Any unusual event you detect these days, no matter how small it may seem to you,” Rovenna continued, “you must report it directly to me and not to the Master of the Order. What's more, I don't want any other wizard to know about it.”

Dhabeos narrowed his eyes.

“Do you not trust your own wizards?”

“I can tell you no more, otherwise I would be dragging you into something that does not concern you. My position as Master Arcanist is at risk.”

“Hasn't it always been at risk?” he mocked.

“Now more than ever.”

“And those two?” Dhabeos was referring to the portraits he had shown her.

“If by some miracle you come across them, you must hold them and warn me immediately. But be careful because they are more dangerous than they look.”

“I wonder what they have done to deserve your protection.”

“I'm wondering too...”

Dhabeos fiddled with his beard in thought.

“If they're hiding from the wizards, I've no doubt they must be hiding near the docks. Your mates are not welcome down here.”

“That won't serve them for long because as of tomorrow I'll have to issue the order to search every corner of the port.”

“Curious situation you find yourself in.”

“That's why I need your help. I must fulfill my role to avoid suspicion.”

“Count on me, Wind Breaker.”

As a last favor, at least for the day, Rovenna asked Dhabeos to leave her alone for a little before returning to the City Hall where the Leader of the Order was waiting for her to receive her next instructions.

As soon as the Captain walked away, Rovenna made sure no one else was nearby and as a precaution she raised a shield to prevent anyone passing by from overhearing the couple of conversations she was about to have through the elven mirror.

He first communicated with Theo, who was at that moment in the arduous task of arranging his trip to Shadowrock in the next few days, while at the same time trying to leave everything in order for when Rovenna would return to Nemertya, which would not be soon as her return date was becoming more and more uncertain. Rovenna felt sorry for him as she noticed the dark circles that had formed on his young, tired face.

However, greater responsibilities awaited him in Shadowrock that would deprive him of many sleep hours. He had better get used to it.

Thankfully, everything was proceeding as it should without complications. It was not easy to sort out all the candidates but Theo was satisfied with his decision and did not doubt the loyalty of each one of them.

Not even Zoran had given him any trouble because no sooner had he and his men arrived in the capital and handed over the prisoners than they boarded a ship to carry out their next mission.

Which, to Rovenna's outrage, was nothing less than to deal with the two fugitives who had escaped to Stormbrace. She hadn't even remotely sent for him, but Zoran, as Control Division Leader, saw this as unnecessary.

At least, Rovenna thought, his arrival would be delayed by the storm, though she did not doubt that he would use his powers to manipulate the winds. Perhaps she should do the same but to make the storm worse. That, surely, would make Dhabeos very happy.

But she should not be so reckless. Although her wounds had fully recovered and she felt her strength renewed, like decades younger, she could not depend on that elven seal that who knows what secrets it must contain.

After saying goodbye to Theo, she took a deep breath and prepared for her next most unwanted conversation.

“Narthoss...” she whispered to the mirror that emitted a white glow before gradually revealing the sleeping face of the elf who must be dozing in one of the small islands that pupulated along the Mirror Forest as it was his habit. On some occasion she had also rested with him lying on their backs on the grass watching how the leaves of the trees glinted in the sunlight.

As that memory came to her mind, the elf's violet eyes opened wide like the wings of a butterfly ready to take flight. In spite of herself, Rovenna stopped breathing for a moment. Regardless of the passing years, she still couldn't help but feel uncomfortable every time he looked at her.

“Rovenna...” said Narthoss in a soft tone which despite the distance that separated them she could not help but feel like a caress. “It was about time. Despite my generous gift, you took too long to use it.”

“You and I know that for you waiting is nothing.”

“Love makes me impatient...”

You insolent elf.

Of all the members of his race, she just had to put up with the most eccentric.

“I'd rather talk about your other gift.”

Narthoss' face remained unmoved, waiting for her to continue.

“Don't play innocent, you know what I'm talking about.”

“I've given you many gifts over the years...”

There was no point in waiting for him to admit it. He could keep it up for eternity.

“Explain to me then what that damn seal is doing on my body.”

“Ah... the seal,” the elven Lord let out a long yawn. “Unfortunately, my dear, the seal has already fulfilled its purpose and therefore it has vanished.”

“And what was its purpose?”

“To protect you from extreme danger, of course. I never thought it would take so long to activate... You certainly know how to defend yourself. Now, if you want me to make you another one... you'll have to go back.”

So that's how it is.

“And let you trap me again?”

“I never trapped you, my dear. I offered to be your mentor and look where it's gotten you.”

“You sure it was just one seal?”He wrinkled his lips as if annoyed by the insinuation.

“Humans are very delicate creatures. It took me years to design that seal and I only attached it to your body when I was sure it wouldn't weaken you. I would never risk your life by experimenting.”

“Have you ever done that with another human?”

“Only with you, my dear.”

“Then you did experiment on me!”

“My calculations were never going to be wrong... It was just a gift.”

“That I never asked for.”

“Gifts are not asked for.”

He was impossible.

“I must ask you another question.”

“Ask as many as you want as long as we continue our nice little chat.”

Rovenna took a deep breath.

“What can you tell me about your sister's latest movements?”

Narthoss' smile faded.

“Talking about my sister is rather tedious.”

“I'm forced to do so. Before he died Eldrin confirmed to me that he received help from her.”

“Daephennya helping humans? Unlikely.”

“But not impossible if she felt it might be to her advantage.”

“Exactly. He would only be an object to her. A very different situation from ours. Though I did seem to sense something familiar when the wizard's magic went through your seal.”

“I must ask one more question. What do you know about the Count of Shadowrock's daughter?”

“I have never met her. Alaric did not take her with him on his journeys. To both myself and Phrondyr the girl is a mystery. I expressed to the Count my desire to be introduced to her, but he always gave me the excuse of her fragility. I even offered him my magic to cure her but he refused saying it would not be appropriate. The Shadowrocks have always been very stubborn.”

“I can assure you that girl is far from fragile or at least not as fragile as he led you to believe.”

So she and Eldrin... It couldn't be a coincidence. Daephennya had trained them both and the Count must have been aware of it. It was impossible for him not to know something so important about his own daughter. They might even have come to an agreement and Alaric had refused Narthoss' help because his sister had already intervened. The elf lord would have recognized the traces of his sister's magic in the girl's body. Though knowing the Count, Rovenna could not believe it. But he had been a sickly child. Perhaps to spare his daughter the same suffering he turned to Daephennya and became involved in the elf's conspiracies.

But she could not allow the regard she felt for the Count to prevent her from seeing the truth. She was too old to fall for that kind of deception. One of the first lessons Eldrin had taught her.

But what was the chimera's role in all that? Why had Olivia escaped? Was she opposed to her father's plans or, like Eldrin, was she being manipulated by the elf?

“Interesting...” Narthoss remarked after listening to Rovenna's theory. “Please carry on, my dear.”

“How come you never told me that chimeras could take human form?”

“They don't like to be called 'humans'. They prefer the name 'first form'. We never revealed it to humans because, well, Phrondyr and I did not do it so that the chimeras would have some advantage while Daephennya, of course, hid it for other, less unselfish reasons. Perhaps she didn't want the wizards to see them as equals.”

“Advantage? Are you telling me there might be hidden chimeras in the kingdom?”

“That I don't know... the chimeras didn't want to accept my help no matter how much I offered it. I understood their reasons.”

“It would still be very difficult for them to hide from the wizards.”

Narthoss agreed. If there were chimeras living in hiding, their life would be very restricted, something that those creatures would not be able to endure. Their best option had always been the vast and unexplored Roaring Mountains.

“What I do know for sure is that your sister had something to do with the attack on the Sirenians.”

The elf cocked his head to one side.

“That, Rovenna, is a very serious accusation. As estranged as I am from my sister, such a claim could complicate relations between the races.”

“But if it were true, then you'd tell me, wouldn't you?”

Narthoss sighed.

“I must be careful with you. Sometimes I get lost in your gaze and forget that you are the Master Arcanist... I promise to examine the matter and warn you of any danger that may threaten the peace of the kingdom,” he raised his hand, revealing on his skin a dark scar in the shape of a leaf, identical to Rovenna's. “And I always keep my promises.”

Here we go again.

“My time and yours are not the same. Can you not see this haggard face?”

“Your face is beautiful, delicate, mutable, just like the flowers. But if it bothers you so much... we can always change it... there is some good in being an Architect.”

“I'm fine the way I am.”

“We'll talk about it when you come back... Although we never agreed on when, I know you will, and that's why I let you go.”

“I still have a lot to do before then.”

Rovenna was planning to return someday, yes, though perhaps what would return might be her mortal remains.

“And then you complain that we elves are deceitful. But I will continue to wait, my dear, there is less and less time left. What is it the humans say? 'Wines and lovers, the old ones are the best'.”

Rovenna placed the mirror face down on the table, ending the conversation.

“Pervert elf.”