Pale grey. Not the black of my walls. Almost indistinguishable from the general greyness of the Room. No wonder I’ve never noticed you before.

Where did you come from? Or did you come from anywhere at all? You’ve been here the whole time, haven’t you? I just didn’t notice you. Like the vision of the people in my head. They were there long before I noticed them. For how long? The well? It all goes back to the well, doesn’t it?

Why are you here? Who put you here?

She is powerful indeed if she can detect us in this place.

Who are you? Where are you? No, no. That’s not now, is it? That was then. I saw something then and you won’t let me remember. What are you hiding?

The most beautiful woman.

I can almost see. It’s there, hidden from me, but I know it’s there. I need to remember.

Felitïa.

Yes?

Felitïa.

Who are you? What do you want?

Felitïa.

Stop calling my name if you’re not going to reveal yourself to me.

Felitïa, you must listen to me.

I can see you! Except...I can’t see you. But you’re right in front of me. I know you’re there! Show yourself!

Felitïa, you must listen to me.

No wait. This was then. It’s not now. I saw you then, and I can’t remember now because you won’t let me. Why won’t you let me?

Felitïa, you must listen to me. You will soon forget this, but you must remember.

I’m trying.

Zandrue. Rudiger. Borisin.

Pain.

Meleng. Corvinian.

I’ve dealt with her shoulder, but the ankle’s going to be the difficult part. I’ll need a splint.

Wait, what?

Jorvanultumn.

So much pain.

Quilla. Kindanog.

There wasn’t a single part of her that wasn’t in pain, but some areas hurt more than others. Her shoulder. And her right foot and leg. More pain shot through her ankle right then. It was excruciating. It drew her back towards consciousness.

No! No, not yet! I’m remembering! I’m finally remembering! Don’t do this yet!

Nin-Akna.

Felitïa’s eyes flew open and she gasped for air. Every breath hurt as it passed through her swollen throat.

Strangled.

The memories of what had just happened to her flooded back.

Agranim had tried to strangle her. He had almost succeeded. Almost crushed her throat.

“She is awake.”

Maneshka’s voice.

There was someone bent over her leg, doing something with her foot or her ankle. Someone standing beside that first someone, helping maybe. Her eyes were taking time to focus.

“Good.” Meleng’s voice this time. “Hopefully she doesn’t have concussion. Now hold that there. Keep it straight.”

Pain shot through her ankle again. She cried out, and the cry brought more pain from her throat.

“Are you sure this splint will hold?” Maneshka said. “It is not very strong.”

“I didn’t have much to work with,” Meleng said. “But I think I can take care of that. Keep holding it. If I...Yes...That should do it.” He mumbled his next several words, or maybe she was just feeling too much pain to understand him. “It worked! I did it! You can let go now. I’ve fused the pieces of the splint together and strengthened them. It should hold. I think. I hope.”

The pain had subsided a little. Not much, but it felt a relief. “What...” Felitïa started to say, but her voice came out as little more than a rasp, and the insides of her throat continued to protest.

“Oh no, don’t try to speak,” Meleng said. “Your throat is very swollen.”

Her eyes were starting to focus now, and she could see Meleng and Maneshka more clearly. Quilla and Garet stood a little farther back in the room. All around them were metal shelves of books. Why were they in the library stacks? Why was she laid out on a hard table? Surely there was a better place to take her than here.

“We were so worried about you,” Quilla said, coming closer. The others nodded—even Garet. “Meleng said it could be bad.”

Maneshka moved to the left of Felitïa’s head, placed her hand lightly on Felitïa’s cheek, and smiled down at her.

“To be honest,” Meleng said, “it could still be bad. The ankle should be fine. It’ll take awhile to heal, but it should be fine. You had a dislocated shoulder, but that’s dealt with too. I’m worried about head injuries, and what appears to be a strangulation attempt against you.”

“That was Agranim,” Garet said. “I couldn’t stop him. The others were on top of me and I couldn’t get to her. But she fought him off. I don’t know what she did, but she had him and several other Volgs screaming their heads off. Truth is, I’d probably be dead if it weren’t for her, and I went there supposedly to protect her.”

“How long was she without air?” Meleng asked.

“Hell if I know,” Garet replied. “Seconds, minutes. In the heat of battle, kid, time loses all meaning.”

“Oxygen deprivation can cause serious problems,” Meleng said. “We won’t know for a while yet what they might be.”

“Meleng, you shouldn’t be saying things like that right in front of her,” Quilla said.

“But what else am I supposed to say? She needs to know the truth.”

She wanted to scold them both for talking about her rather than to her, but she decided to heed Meleng’s earlier words and not speak. Her throat hurt too much anyway. And she was so tired.

She had nearly burnt herself out. She was going to need another prolonged period of no spellcasting. And she couldn’t sense any of their emotions. Their presences were in the Room, but she was getting nothing from them. The walls—her own black walls—were not obeying her either.

Rest was what she needed now. Lots of rest.

She smiled at Maneshka, contented herself with the image of Maneshka’s face, closed her eyes, and let herself drift back to sleep.

* * * * *

When she opened her eyes again, Maneshka was gone. Someone had propped her right leg up with a small stack of books. To her side, Meleng was dozing in a chair, his head leaning against the side of one of the book shelves. There was no sign of Garet and Quilla.

She hadn’t spent much time in the stacks. It was mostly Maneshka and Meleng who gathered the books for their research, so she didn’t recognise exactly where she was right now. There was a spiral staircase leading up to the next level just a short distance away though. None of the other staircases she’d seen in the stacks were spiral, so that left her exact location even more uncertain. Once again, she wondered why she was here.

The pain had lessened a lot. She had a headache now, and her throat was still sore, although not as bad. The pain in her ankle was a continuous throbbing now, rather than the sharp stabs of earlier.

She decided to risk speaking.

“Meleng.”

Her voice was still raspy, and it still caused pain to speak, but it seemed better than before.

Meleng opened his eyes and jumped to his feet. “What? Oh, oh, sorry. I just nodded off a little. I was...oh, it’s you! You’re awake!”

“How long was I asleep?” she asked.

“All night and most of this morning. I’m not sure what time it is right now. I fell asleep too. Could be afternoon now, I guess.”

She smiled at him and tried to move, to sit up. Her muscles groaned and protested.

“No, don’t move,” Meleng said. “Not yet. You should keep the ankle elevated as much as possible. Sinitïa’s making you some crutches, but until they’re done, you’ll need assistance to walk.”

“I understand,” Felitïa said.

“Oh, also, if you...uh...that is...” He looked away from her and she could feel embarrassment from him—at least her telepathy had recovered a bit. “If you need to, you know, pee or other bodily functions stuff, you’ll need help too. We’ve got some pans here for that.”

“Yes, I could actually use that help right now,” she said.

He nodded. “I’ll go tell the others you’re awake. Quilla or Maneshka will come help you.”

“That’ll be fine.”

He hurried to the stairs.

“Meleng,” she called after him and he paused. “First, can you tell me why we’re here? I can guess, but I need to hear it. What’s happened?”

“The Volgs want your head,” he said. “Literally. They’ve demanded your head. Chopped off your body, that is. They’ve also declared war on Arnor and the rest of the world. So we’re hiding you down here. I’ll go get the others.” He hurried up the stairs.

She’d been afraid it was something like that. She’d known the risks going into this. It wasn’t just her own potential death. Cerus had made it clear in his request that she not start a war. And what had she done? Exactly that. Maybe she shouldn’t have even tried. It would have been safer. But they’d had so little progress with everything else. There didn’t seem any other alternative.

Gods, what had she done?

A little while later, she was sitting up on the table, her leg propped up by the books again. Maneshka stood beside her, holding her hand. Quilla was pacing the room, almost like she was making up for Garet’s absence.

Meleng came down the stairs, followed by Cerus. Her half-brother came over beside her while Meleng held back a bit. “Good morning,” Cerus said and touched her forehead. “How are you doing?”

“I’ve been better,” Felitïa said. “But I’ll recover.”

She could sense anger from him—anger directed at her—though he wasn’t doing anything to show it. And that made her want to cry.

“I’m so sorry,” she said.

“About what?”

“What I’ve done.”

“And what have you done?”

“Meleng said the Volgs have declared war.”

Cerus nodded. “They have, but don’t go thinking that’s your fault.”

“But I thought they blame me. They want my head, apparently.”

“Oh, they do. They want the head of the Will-Breaker. They actually used that name before identifying specifically you. But you’re just a convenient excuse. You haven’t been there. The Volgs dropped the threat of war right from the start. They claim they want to live in the rest of the world in peace, that they have exhausted the resources of the island they were banished to. They threatened war if they do not get their way.”

“What was the response?” Felitïa asked.

“Mixed,” Cerus said. “Some nations said no outright; others were willing to talk. But it was obvious early on that the Volgs were hoping for war. They just needed an excuse.”

“And I gave them that.”

“Yes, you did, but they would have found another if you hadn’t.”

“At least it wouldn’t have been me.”

“It’s a moot point now.”

“Oh, come on, Cerus. I’m a telepath. I can sense your disappointment and anger. You know I screwed up.”

Cerus leaned on the table. “Yes, I am angry. But I also recognise that my anger isn’t justified. It’s just an emotional response. I knew what you were doing and I didn’t object. I even encouraged it. I have no right to be angry at you.”

“Yes, you do. They used me. They knew I’d want to do something like this, so they set things up so I could. I was so sure I could get in and out undetected.”

“We all did,” Quilla said. “Cerus is right. It’s not your fault.”

“You don’t understand. They played me. All this talk of Will-Breaker. I began to fall for the implications of what that name means. I’ve been discovering more about my abilities recently, learning to use them better. But I’m not as good as I thought I was; I’m not as powerful. They used that against me. Like I said before, I have no control over my life.”

“Okay, now you’re just being stupid, Felitïa,” Quilla snapped. “You don’t know the Volgs used you. You don’t know they set you up. You’re trying to help me. You’re trying to do good.”

Her initial instinct was to insist that no, Quilla was wrong. She had messed up. But if Cerus was right, if the Volgs really had been itching for war the entire time, they would have found something else. They probably would have blamed her anyway.

“Garet said you found something,” Quilla continued.. “A locket or something that might help.”

“Yes, of course, the locket,” Felitïa said. “It’s in my pack. Where’s my pack?”

“Upstairs, I think,” Maneshka said. “To be honest, I did not pay it much attention. You looked so injured. We brought you straight here.”

“It’s all right,” Quilla said. “I put it aside. I’ll go get it.”

Felitïa nodded and Quilla hurried off.

“I’m sorry, everyone,” Felitïa said. At Cerus’s sigh, she qualified, “I mean for my behaviour just now. I always get a little weird when I over-strain myself. Cerus, dare I ask how Mother and Father have responded to my activities?”

Cerus grimaced.

“It’s okay,” Felitïa said. “I can take it.”

“You’ve been banished. You are not allowed back in Arnor City.”

“You’re not even allowed to travel back on the Arnorin ships,” Meleng added. “Neither am I.”

“Your mother said you could rot here for the rest of your life for all she cared,” Cerus continued. “With your...uh...with Maneshka.”

“With my whore?” Felitïa said.

Cerus cleared his throat. “Those were her words, yes.”

Maneshka looked confused. “The translation spell appears to be blocking an offensive term.”

“She called you a slur for a prostitute,” Felitïa said.

“I see. I am beginning to understand why you do not like your mother.”

Felitïa squeezed her hand. “Don’t worry about her.”

“I am not worried,” Maneshka replied.

“What about Garet?” Felitïa asked. “He was with me.”

“No one knows it was him,” Cerus replied. “The Volgs said you had an accomplice, but they did not identify him. Your mother has assumed it was Meleng, though no one else has. So Garet has not been banished. Neither has Quilla. Yet. Though I think your mother is actively looking for an excuse. Oh, Sinitïa sends her best wishes. She would really like to come see you, but Annai is being too attentive. Luckily, Annai hasn’t recognised the crutches Sinitïa’s making for you for what they are. She just thinks they’re another of Sinitïa’s silly art projects. Sinitïa says they should be done soon.”

“Tell her thanks, and tell her that if there’s any way for us to see each other, I’ll find it. And Meleng too.”

Cerus nodded. “I’d better get back before people start wondering where I am. I can’t risk anyone discovering I know where you are.”

“I understand,” Felitïa said. “Thank you.”

Cerus started to leave, but paused again. “One more thing. You should stay down here. I know it’s not the most comfortable place, but I’ll make sure you are supplied with amenities. Whatever you do, don’t try to return to your apartment.”

Felitïa nodded. “I need to spend time recovering anyway. I’m not going to be moving about much for a week or more probably. Can I ask one thing of you?”

“Of course.”

“Check on Marna, please. I suspect Annai will claim her, but she deserves better than that.”

“I’ll do what I can.” Cerus headed up the stairs.

Felitïa leaned her head against Maneshka. “What a situation. I’m glad you’re here.”

Maneshka kissed Felitïa’s forehead. “I am afraid I have bad news, too. The dinner with Kindanog is cancelled.”

“I suspected that,” Felitïa said.

“He was not pleased when he learned who you were. I had to lie and tell him I did not know what you were going to do, and that I have not seen you since the incident. He believes me. He trusts me, and it breaks my heart to break his trust.”

“I’m sorry.”

Maneshka ran her fingers through Felitïa’s hair. “Do not worry. I made my decision as much as you made yours.”

Felitïa leaned over, put her arms around Maneshka, and stayed like that for a while. Meleng looked—and felt, Felitïa could sense—a little uncomfortable. Eventually, Felitïa felt guilty enough that she let go of Maneshka. Quilla returned a few moments after that and handed Felitïa’s bag to her.

Felitïa dumped the contents out beside her on the table. “I grabbed a few papers from what I think was Agranim’s office, but this is the real prize.” She held up the locket.

“It’s so big,” Quilla said.

“Well, Volgs are big,” Meleng said. “I guess it makes sense they’d want big jewellery.”

“What is inside?” Maneshka asked.

Felitïa opened the locket and passed it to Maneshka, who then passed it to Quilla.

Quilla pulled up her nose. “Ugh. Who are all these women who keep posing with Volgs? It’s disgusting.” She snapped the locket closed.

“Unlike the portrait upstairs,” Felitïa said, “this is much more recent. Castroff is still alive, so maybe the woman is too. I’m hoping we can find out who she is.”

Meleng raised his hand. “Can I...uh...can I see?”

“Sorry,” Quilla said, and shoved the locket at him. “It just makes me angry.”

Meleng took the locket and opened it again. “She looks like she could be a Ninifin.”

“Exactly,” Felitïa said. “Meleng, are you okay to move about outside?”

He nodded. “I think so. As long as I stay away from just about anyone from Arnor. The Queen wanted me arrested and executed, but the King wouldn’t allow it without definite proof I was your accomplice. Cerus argued that I didn’t have the strength or skill to have fought and killed a bunch of Volgs. So I’m just banished from Arnor City. But I can walk about here.”

“Good,” Felitïa said. “Because I need you and Quilla to go to the Ninifins. I can’t be seen. Besides, I’m too weak. I can’t even walk. Take the locket. Show it only to Queen Nin-Xoco or Nin-Akna. Find out if the Ninifin in the picture is someone they know and if she’s here. It could explain how Agranim intended to carry out the threat on her.”

Quilla took the locket back from Meleng. “We’ll find her.”

“I don’t necessarily want you to find her,” Felitïa said. “Just find out if she’s here. She’s probably dangerous if Agranim intended to use her as an assassin. Let Nin-Akna’s guards deal with her.”

“We understand,” Quilla said. “Trust me, I won’t be taking any unnecessary risks. I’m a bit of a coward at heart. But if this helps us find Corvinian, I’ll do whatever it takes.”

“Just be careful.”

They both nodded and headed off.

Felitïa turned back to Maneshka and smiled. She wanted desperately to just lie in her arms, but there was work to be done, so she contented herself with one kiss. “How’s the translation of that work about the child of the Volgs coming?”

“As it happens,” Maneshka replied, “I think I have made progress.”

* * * * *

The streets between the apartments were awash with activity. There were soldiers everywhere. No one did anything without soldiers guarding them now. And the non-soldiers busied themselves preparing to leave. Though not everyone was leaving yet. Meleng had heard that some nations were still discussing things in the Nabrinja, hoping to find some sort of solution. Even though the Volgs had pulled out of the discussions, nations like Singea were desperate to avoid war. Most had pulled out of the talks, though, including Arnor. And those who had pulled out were preparing to leave.

Meleng kept worrying people were looking at him. He knew nobody had any reason to. Nobody who wasn’t an Arnorin even knew who he was. But he couldn’t shake the feeling. He’d tried to act brave around Cerus and Felitïa, but truth was, the Queen’s threats to execute him had shaken him a lot. Although, come to think of it, Felitïa had probably sensed that in him.

He wished he could be more help than he was. If he were a better wizard, Felitïa wouldn’t have to tell him to leave things to Nin-Akna. If he were a better wizard, he could just use magic to heal her throat and ankle, and she’d be back to herself in no time.

But he hadn’t really known what to do. He’d looked after her as best he could, but when going back outside to collect supplies, he’d been apprehended by Arnorin soldiers and brought before the King and Queen. He’d begun to have visions of her dying, just like Stavan had died under his care.

“Look, I know this isn’t a good time,” Quilla said to the Ninifin soldier, “but it’s really important we see the Queen. Her Majesty is expecting us.”

“Holiness,” Meleng corrected.

“Sorry, her Holiness is expecting us,” Quilla said.

Meleng wasn’t sure the guard even spoke their language, as all he had done the entire time they’d been there was shake his head at everything they said.

“Can you at least send a message?” Quilla said and the guard shook his head once more. “Argh!” She grabbed Meleng’s arm and pulled him back into the street. “What do we do?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know. We could wait, I guess, until someone goes in or out, and ask them.”

Quilla sighed and dragged him back over in front of the guard, who shook his head once more. “It’s all right,” Quilla said. “We’re just going to wait.”

The guard shook his head again, but didn’t do anything to make them leave. So they stood there for a few minutes until Quilla pulled Meleng aside again.

“Aren’t we waiting?” Meleng said. “It hasn’t been that long.”

“We’re just going to wait here,” Quilla said. “I don’t like the way he’s looking at me. I can see the lust in his eyes.”

“Oh, okay, sure.” Meleng hadn’t noticed anything like that, but then again, he wasn’t any good at noticing those sorts of things.

They waited a few more minutes, Quilla fidgeting the whole time. “Sorry, I’m just nervous. I’m not used to this sort of thing. It’s weird. When Garet’s around, he does all the pacing and I’m perfectly fine. Do you and Felitïa do this sort of thing all the time?”

“I wouldn’t say all the time,” Meleng said. “Not often, really. Felitïa’s a lot better at it though. She always seems to know what to say and do.”

A few minutes later, the door to the Ninifin apartments opened and a girl of about fourteen stepped out. She nodded to the guard and started into the street. Meleng and Quilla rushed over to her.

“Excuse me!” Quilla called. “Can you help us?”

The girl stopped and turned to face them.

“We need to see the Queen,” Quilla said. “It’s very important.”

“The Queen is not seeing anyone,” the girl replied.

“Please,” Meleng said. “Her Holiness knows us. Well, me anyway. Sort of. She’s expecting us. Nin-Akna can vouch for us.”

A look of recognition came across the girl’s face just as a shadow fell over the three of them. The guard from the door had come over and was staring at them, his spear held not quite threateningly, but in a manner to make its presence clear.

“All right, all right, we’re going,” Quilla said. “And stop leering at me!” She stormed off.

Meleng started to follow, but the girl placed her hand on his arm. “You were with her, weren’t you? The one they say started the war. I remember seeing you with her.”

Meleng was unsure what to say. On the way over, he and Quilla had agreed they should avoid using Felitïa’s name, given the possible ramifications. He gave a slow nod.

The girl stepped up closer to him and whispered, “The Queen is not here. Nin-Akna said you would know where to find her.” She stepped away again, said something to the guard in Ninifin, then went on her way.

The guard glared at Meleng some more. “Yeah, going,” Meleng said and rushed off.

Quilla was waiting for him a short way up the street. “Now what do we do?”

“It’s all right,” he said. “The Queen’s not there, but I think I know where she is.”

“Where?”

He couldn’t be sure he was right, but it was the only thing that made sense. There was no other place he might know that Nin-Akna could have been referring to. He led Quilla away from the apartments and the Nabrinja, through the Sanalog village, and along the trail that led around the small lake, all the way to the cave and pool where Sinitïa had tried to paint his picture.

“How can goats be so adorable and so annoying at the same time?” Quilla asked as they approached the cave. They—Quilla mainly—had attracted a group of goats along the way and several were nipping at her skirts. She tried to shoo them away, but that only made them more determined.

Several Ninifin warriors stepped out of the cave, spears raised. “Far enough!” one called.

Quilla and Meleng stopped. One of the goats let out a loud bleat.

The warrior who had spoken came forward. Meleng was pretty certain she was the same one who had suggested holding Sinitïa for ransom. He remembered the snake tattoos on her arms and legs, and the sun on her cheek. She pointed her spear at Meleng. “You, I know.” She called back to the cave. “Tell Nin-Akna her cute one is here.”

Cute? And why had she said it in such a mocking tone?

Then she pointed her spear at Quilla, this time close enough that the tip came just short of touching Quilla’s neck. “But you, I don’t. What is she doing here? And where is the princess?”

“She’s—” Quilla started.

The Ninifin pressed her spear closer. The tip was touching Quilla’s throat now. “Not you. He answers.”

“Felitïa...er...the Will-Breaker is engaged in important business,” Meleng said.

“Hiding from those who want her head?” the Ninifin said.

“No, engaged in important business. She sent us to talk to her Holiness about important matters.” He hoped he sounded authoritative enough. He really wasn’t suited for this kind of thing.

“Hiding it is, then.”

“Ses-Inhuan! Enough!” It was Nin-Akna, who was now crossing the space between the cave and the three of them.

Ses-Inhuan lowered her spear, and Quilla exhaled slowly. “Don’t worry. They are unharmed.” As Nin-Akna reached her, she leaned in closer. “See? Your cute one is intact.”

Nin-Akna froze in place for a moment, then bit her lower lip. “Yes, good. They are both welcome.” She looked at Quilla and tilted her head. “Even if one is not who we thought they would be.”

“I asked them about that,” Ses-Inhuan said. “The princess is engaged in important work, they say.”

“Yes,” Quilla said, straightening her posture. “Princess Felitïa regrets not being able to come at this time. She sent me in her place.”

Nin-Akna nodded. “Very well. Her Holiness awaits.” She motioned for them to head to the cave. “Ses-Inhuan, stay on guard.”

“Thank you,” Meleng said to Nin-Akna as he passed her.

Nin-Akna looked away from him.

“I think someone’s got a fan,” Quilla whispered as she came up beside him.

“Fan? Huh? What?”

Quilla rolled her eyes.

Queen Nin-Xoco was seated on a small pile of cushions to the side of the pool in the cave. The same three robed women who had been present last time stood behind her. Two guards stood to either side. The Queen straightened up as they approached.

Nin-Akna, Meleng, and Quilla bowed.

“Where is the Will-Breaker?” the woman in yellow robes—the one with the eye tattoo on her forehead—said. Meleng wasn’t sure he remembered her name.

“Not here,” Nin-Akna said. She indicated Quilla. “This one comes in her place.”

Quilla gave another bow. “My name is Quilla Steranovist, Holiness. I am a friend to Princess Felitïa. She regrets she cannot be here right now, but sent us with some important information for you.”

The Queen nodded to the guards and Nin-Akna. The two guards bowed and left, heading to the cave mouth. Nin-Akna hesitated a moment.

“Nin-Akna,” the Queen said.

Nin-Akna bowed, then followed the two guards.

“I hoped the Will-Breaker would come herself,” the Queen said when the guards were out of earshot. “I know Agranim is dead and I have her to thank for that, and I am very grateful. However, I still fear for my life. He said it would come from a source I did not expect. Can she assure me that this source, whatever it may be, is also dealt with?”

“No, she can’t, Holiness,” Meleng said and the Queen slumped. “But that’s part of why she sent us. She’s found something that may give a clue and she wants you to see it.”

“Of course,” the Queen said. “Show it to me.”

Quilla reached for the locket in her bag, but Meleng shook his head.

“Is there a problem?” the Queen asked.

Meleng took a deep breath. They weren’t going to like this. “Apologies, Holiness, but Felitïa was precise in her instructions. We can show it only to you or Nin-Akna. No one else.”

“Nin-Akna is not part of this,” the yellow robed woman said.

“Then only with her Holiness. Everyone else must go.”

“Absolutely not,” the woman in green said.

“We are the Queen’s top attendants and advisors,” the woman in white said. “She does not do anything without us.”

Meleng gulped. “I’m sorry, but Fe—the Will-Breaker’s instructions were very specific. The Queen or Nin-Akna. No one else. At all.”

Quilla nodded in support.

“I’m not sure,” the Queen said. She looked back at her advisors.

“It is too risky, Holiness,” the one in green said. “The Will-Breaker is a harbinger of death and destruction. We cannot be sure we can trust her. What if these two are the assassins?”

The Queen shook visibly at that and looked at Meleng and Quilla again.

“I assure you, Holiness,” Quilla said. “We are not assassins. Please, trust us.”

“While I do not think these two are assassins, Holiness,” the woman in yellow said, “I think the Will-Breaker is mistaken to exclude us. We deserve to be part of this.”

“But you would otherwise trust the Will-Breaker, Ses-Tlacotl?” the Queen asked.

Ses-Tlacotl nodded. “Yes, but you should insist—”

“Then go. I will look at what they have to show me.”

“This is intolerable!” the woman in green said.

“I said go, Nin-Zyannya,” the Queen repeated.

“You cannot order us—”

The Queen clapped her hands and pointed to the cave mouth. “Go!”

Nin-Zyannya nodded. “Of course, Holiness.”

“Wait by the cave mouth. And send Nin-Akna to me. If the Will-Breaker wants her included, then I will include her.”

Nin-Zyannya scowled. “You overstep your—” The woman in the white robes placed a hand on her shoulder with a soft hiss, and Nin-Zyannya fell silent.

“It will be done, Holiness,” Ses-Tlacotl said. “We will not be far. Call us if you need us.”

The three women stalked away.

“When Nin-Akna gets here, you will show us what the Will-Breaker wants us to see,” the Queen said. She was sitting tall, but there was a wavering in her voice.

“Of course,” Meleng said.

“I hope it’s not too forward of me, Holiness,” Quilla said, “but your advisors seem very disobedient.”

“They are just not used to being sent away,” the Queen replied.

Quilla shrugged. “I guess I can see them being surprised at first, but that one was outright talking back to you.”

“They are...” The Queen looked away. “They’re new. They just have not learned all the proper decorum yet.”

“Oh.” Quilla looked confused.

Meleng was too. “Didn’t you say Nin-Akna was also new?”

The Queen nodded, but continued not to look either of them in the eye. “Yes, she is also new.”

Nin-Akna arrived at that time. “Is there a problem with that?”

Meleng shook his head. “No, of course not. It’s just a little surprising that there are so many new people in her Holiness’s service.” And young. Apart from those three attendants, they were all so young. He had no idea what that meant, if anything, but it was weird.

Nin-Akna and the Queen glanced at each other.

“It is just coincidence,” the Queen said.

“It does explain why you’re so worried about being assassinated,” Quilla said. “If most of your staff is new, it would be easy for the Volgs to place an assassin in your midst.”

The Queen grimaced. “Perhaps. Now, please show us what the Will-Breaker has found.”

Quilla pulled the locket out of her bag and held it out to the Queen.

“A locket?” Nin-Akna said.

“We should probably fill you in on what’s going on,” Meleng said. “See, the Queen asked Felitïa, that is, the Will-Breaker—”

“It’s all right,” the Queen said, taking the locket. “She already knows.”

“Oh,” Meleng said. “But I thought you sent her away because—”

“I filled her in later,” the Queen said. “I do get some brief moments of privacy to myself, and I filled her in. Nin-Akna, sit beside me so that we can look at this together.”

Nin-Akna lowered herself down beside the Queen. “Chica, maybe we should—”

“Shh!” the Queen hissed and held up the locket. “It is very big.”

“Chica?” Quilla asked. “Is that a Ninifin word?”

The Queen lowered the locket, still unopened. “It is a nickname. From childhood. Now—”

“We should tell them,” Nin-Akna said. “If this Will-Breaker is half as powerful as Fra-Atl says, she’s probably figured it out already, anyway.”

“Tell us what?” Quilla asked.

The Queen sighed. “Later. Maybe. First, I wish to see this locket.” She held it up again, and opened it. Nin-Akna stiffened, and the Queen gasped.

“Do you recognise her?” Meleng asked.

“Ses-Xipil,” the Queen breathed. “I don’t understand. Where did you find this?”

“Felitïa found it in the Volg apartments, amongst the personal belongings of Prince Castroff. He’s the Volg in the picture with her.”

Nin-Akna took the locket and held it close to her face.

“Nin-Akna!” the Queen said.

“Sorry, Chica. Just memorising his face. Why is she pictured with him?”

“Presumably she posed with him,” Quilla said, turning her nose up. “Though gods know why anyone would do that.”

“She would not pose with him!” the Queen snapped. “This must be an artist’s fancy.”

“Someone who knows what they both look like well enough to paint them together?” Quilla said.

“Look,” Meleng said, “we don’t know for sure why she’s pictured with him, but it does point towards an association between the two. Felitïa wanted to know if you recognised the woman, and if she’s here. Because if so, she might be the one you need to be worried about.”

Nin-Akna handed the locket back to the Queen. “She’s not here. She’s still in Ninifin.”

“Who is she?” Quilla asked.

“Ses-Xipil,” the Queen replied. “Master of Wizardry and Voice of Sestin.”

“That means she’s high priest of Sestin,” Nin-Akna said.

“Why didn’t she come to Scovese?” Quilla asked.

“Obviously we couldn’t bring everyone,” the Queen said. “Some people had to stay behind and run things there.”

“It also means she cannot be the assassin,” Nin-Akna said. “Which means the Will-Breaker has found nothing to help us.”

“Yes, it leaves us at a bit of a dead end,” Quilla said. “Do you know why Agranim wanted to kill you, Holiness?”

The Queen shook her head.

“Does it have anything to do with the other thing you might or might not tell us?” Quilla asked.

“No,” the Queen said, but at the same time Nin-Akna said, “Maybe.”

“Maybe,” the Queen amended her answer. “I suppose it is possible, but I really do not know.”

“Maybe you should tell us,” Quilla said.

The Queen looked up and past Quilla, towards the cave mouth. Meleng glanced that way, too. The silhouettes of her advisors stood there with the Queen’s bodyguards, the light dimming behind them.

“They are afraid I will tell you,” the Queen said. “That is why they do not want me alone with you.”

“Tell them, Chica,” Nin-Akna said, placing a hand on the Queen’s shoulder and the other on the Queen’s arm.

“You should not be using that name right now, or treating me so personally.”

“I’m doing it because you have to tell them.”

The Queen closed her eyes and lowered her head. “Very well, tell them.”

Nin-Akna motioned Meleng and Quilla in closer. “This is not Nin-Xoco. She is not the Queen.”

Meleng had realised something odd was going on, but he hadn’t quite expected that.

“Her name is Nin-Chicahua,” Nin-Akna said. “She is one of the Queen’s personal attendants.”

“So, then, who is... Wait, are you the queen?” Quilla said.

Nin-Akna laughed and shook her head. “No, of course not. My name is Nin-Akna. However, I am not the head of the Queen’s bodyguard. I am not even technically part of her bodyguard yet. I am a member of the Youth Guard in training to serve the Queen. All the bodyguards here are.”

“Where’s the real Queen?” Quilla asked.

“Still in Ninifin. It was decided that the Queen’s life could not be risked for this mission, but that Ninifin should still attend. So Chica was chosen to play the role of the Queen and the Youth Guard was chosen to be her bodyguards. I was chosen to be the leader. Ses-Inhuan thinks I only got the position out of favouritism. Chica and I have been close friends our entire lives, though she had nothing to do with making the choice. Her attendants over there are attendants to the real Nin-Xoco, but not the senior attendants. Nevertheless, they are technically the most senior government officials here.”

“And thus, not used to taking orders from you,” Quilla said.

The Queen—no, not the Queen—Nin-Chicahua nodded.

Quilla looked back towards the cave mouth again. “They must be very uncomfortable with you talking to us alone then.”

“That is why we do not have much time,” Nin-Chicahua said. “What will the Will-Breaker do now? She promised to help me.”

Quilla looked to Meleng, who shrugged. “We’ll have to talk to her, I guess,” Meleng said.

“Please do so quickly,” Nin-Chicahua said. “And ask her to come to me, please.”

Nin-Akna grabbed her spear and stood up, her attention towards the cave mouth. The Queen’s attendants were returning.

Nin-Akna moved past Meleng and Quilla to stand between them and the attendants. “We are not finished.”

“This has gone on long enough,” Nin-Zyannya, the woman in green, said.

“Her Holiness has ordered—”

“Her Holiness is young and makes unwise decisions,” Nin-Zyannya said. “It is time we step in to show her the error of her ways. We demand to see what you have shown the Queen.”

Nin-Chicahua stood, clutching the locket to her. “The Will-Breaker was clear in her instructions.”

“The Will-Breaker does not rule here,” Nin-Zyannya said.

“You’re right. I do, and I have decided to follow the Will-Breaker’s instructions.”

“Enough of this nonsense,” Ses-Tlacotl said. “She has already told them the truth of who she is. They know she does not rule. So there is no need for any of us to keep up the act.”

“You told them?” the woman in white gasped. “What has come over you? If the rest of the world finds out we sent a false representative—”

“The Will-Breaker has obviously bewitched her, Fra-Cualli,” Ses-Tlacotl said. “It seems she could not be trusted after all.”

“Nin-Chicahua, you will hand over whatever is in your hands right this instant,” Nin-Zyannya said. She held her hand out, palm up, and waited for the locket to be placed there.

Nin-Akna raised her spear. “No one has bewitched anyone, Nin-Zyannya. They were on the verge of figuring it out anyway. That’s the only reason we told.”

“It does not matter,” Nin-Zyannya replied. “Hand over what you have been shown.”

Nin-Akna did not lower her spear, but she did look back to both Nin-Chicahua and Meleng. Nin-Chicahua just clutched at the locket, but Meleng wasn’t sure what they should do. Maybe they should show them?

Ses-Tlacotl swung a spear and knocked Nin-Akna’s spear from her hands. The startled young bodyguard moved to recover her spear, but Ses-Tlacotl positioned her own spear at Nin-Akna’s throat.

Where did Ses-Tlacotl get a spear? Meleng couldn’t remember seeing her with one.

“What is the meaning of this?” Nin-Zyannya demanded. “Ses-Tlacotl, how dare you bring a weapon against a devoted Youth Guard!”

“We are getting nowhere,” Ses-Tlacotl sneered. “As I said, they are bewitched.”

The woman in white, Fra-Cualli, moved forward and placed a hand on the spear shaft. “Bewitched or not, there is no need for violence. Nin-Chicahua is scared and understandably so. Her life has been threatened and—”

Ses-Tlacotl spun the spear around and thrust it into Fra-Cualli’s chest, then tore it back out just as fast. Fra-Cualli’s eyes widened as the spear ripped open her chest, and she coughed up blood.

Nin-Chicahua gasped and Quilla screamed. Nin-Zyannya’s mouth quivered and her body shook as she stared down at the blood that had sprayed over her green robes. Nin-Akna dived for her spear.

Ses-Tlacotl stabbed one more time at Fra-Cualli, who fell to the ground in a growing pool of blood. Then Ses-Tlacotl was gone.

“Where did she go?” Quilla stammered.

“She’s a mentalist,” Meleng said. “She’s manipulating our perceptions.” She must have had the spear the entire time; she had just hidden it with magic. She may have even been present for the entire discussion, hidden by her spells. It would explain how she’d known what Nin-Akna had told them. Gods, he was an idiot for not considering this!

Nin-Akna yelled something in Ninifin towards the cave mouth and the bodyguards there jumped to attention and began running towards them.

That was it! “Move!” Meleng yelled. “We have to keep moving! The more we force her to move after us, the harder it will be for her maintain her spell.” He motioned to Quilla and Nin-Chicahua, and began running towards the approaching guards. He didn’t look back until he’d reached them, and was glad to see that Quilla was right behind him. Nin-Akna was right beside Nin-Chicahua, ushering her forward. Nin-Zyannya brought up the rear.

Nin-Akna began yelling orders at the guards, and they began to form a tight circle around Nin-Chicahua, Meleng, and Quilla. Nin-Zyannya reached the edge of the circle, gasping for breath. As the guards parted a little to let her past, a spear broke through the front of her neck.

Meleng fought back at the bile forming in his throat at the sight of the blood spraying over the guards and the now partially decapitated body falling to the ground. He tried to focus on the spot right behind where Nin-Zyannya had stood. For a moment, there was something there. Like a flicker. No, more like a shadow. It was moving.

Nin-Akna yelled something that sounded like a curse. Distracted by the sound, Meleng lost sight of the shadow.

“What do we do?” Nin-Akna asked.

It took a moment for Meleng to realise she was asking him. Him? Why would she... Oh gods, right. He knew better what was going on. He really wished Felitïa was here. “Like I said, keep moving!”

“Where?”

“Anywhere. It doesn’t matter. The point is to keep her moving after us.”

At a motion from Nin-Akna, they began moving towards the cave mouth, the guards maintaining their tight circle around the non-warriors. A gargle came from behind him, and something wet hit the back of Meleng’s neck. He took a quick look behind him to see that one of the guards had met the same fate as Nin-Zyannya. Once again, he fought back the urge to vomit.

“How do we fight someone we cannot see?” Ses-Inhuan hissed.

Meleng kept looking all around as he answered. “Look for anything out of place. A stone or plant that looks blurred, or a shadow that doesn’t connect to a source. Or a distortion in the air like mist. Anything that doesn’t look right. Just remember, she’s not really invisible. She’s forcing our minds to ignore what we see, but we can fight that and make it harder for her.”

A hand clutched his arm. It was Quilla. She was shaking. He tried to give her a reassuring smile, but doubted it came off well.

They were outside the cave now. The sun was low on the horizon and the light was getting ever dimmer. That was not going to help at all.

The guard to his front and right gasped as a spear pierced her stomach and she doubled over, her own spear clattering to the ground. She tried to grab at the spear as it ripped back out of her, but she only succeeded in tearing her hands open.

Ses-Inhuan lunged at that moment, her spear scraping across something and drawing blood. Ses-Tlacotl cried out in pain, and for a moment, Meleng could see her as she took two quick steps backwards. She vanished again as Ses-Inhuan lunged forward. This time, the young Ninifin struck only air. Then, something clattered against her spear, knocking it from her grasp. She took several hurried steps backwards, her hands held in front of her, looking each way.

Another of the guards rushed forward. Her spear was held high but it fell from her grasp as Ses-Tlacotl’s spear ran through her throat.

The guard Ses-Tlacotl had stabbed in the stomach collapsed then as well. Meleng rushed to her side, and bent over her, but it was too late. She was already dead. She looked only fifteen or sixteen.

Ses-Inhuan picked up her spear. “She is injured. There is a blood trail.”

Unfortunately, the trail vanished only a short distance farther. “She must have bandaged the wound,” Meleng said.

“This is not working,” Nin-Akna growled. “One injury to her and she’s killed five. She will keep taking us out one by one.”

“We’re moving too slow,” Meleng said. “We have to run. Force her to run after us.”

“If we run, we cannot maintain formation around you.”

“If she kills you all, you won’t be able to maintain formation either. Trust me, we have to run.”

“Perhaps we should make for the village,” Ses-Inhuan suggested. “She may be less willing to attack if there are more people around.”

“All right,” Nin-Akna said. “On my mark, run. We regroup at the edge of the village. Ready? Run!”

The remaining bodyguards spread out and they all began to run along the trail. Goats bleated and screamed in protest at their passing. The chicken-sized vultures that perched on the dragon blood and bottle trees took to the air and flew back in the direction the humans had come from.

The journey around the lake felt like forever. Meleng soon found himself gasping for air and his heart felt about to burst from his chest. He wasn’t in the right kind of shape for this. The guards and Nin-Chicahua had pulled well ahead of him, though Quilla was still close to him, struggling almost as much as he was. She looked back at him. “Come on! Hurry up!”

He nodded and tried to push himself faster. At last, he reached the streets of the village. The others were already there, huddled together. He almost collapsed as he pulled to a stop. “We...we can’t stop.”

“We need the Will-Breaker,” Nin-Chicahua said. “She’s the only one who can help us now.”

“Agreed,” Nin-Akna said. “Take us to her.”

Meleng almost agreed, but something was bothering him.

“Why do you hesitate?” Nin-Chicahua protested. “She is the only one who can face Ses-Tlacotl. You must take us to her.”

“They’re right, Meleng,” Quilla said. “There’s nothing more we can do.”

Meleng wracked his brain. Something was wrong. Ses-Tlacotl had had her spear at Nin-Akna’s throat. She could have killed her right away, yet she had killed the unarmed attendant. It didn’t make any sense. Nin-Akna was the greater threat and she’d been at her mercy. And then Ses-Tlacotl had killed the other unarmed attendant, then other guards.

“No. Don’t you see? The people she’s targeting, the ones she’s killed so far are the people without a reason to run to Felitïa for help. She wants us to go to Felitïa. Nin-Chicahua, you’re not her target. At least, not at the moment. Felitïa is. We need to keep moving. Through the streets. The more people there are around us, the harder it will be for her.”

Nin-Akna sighed and nodded. “Move.”

They moved through the streets towards the Nabrinja. Most of the people they passed paid them little mind. There were enough strangers and warriors moving about that their small group didn’t stand out, and no one looked close enough to see the blood on them. If they started dying, they might, though. Meleng really hoped he was right the added people would make it harder for Ses-Tlacotl.

“How long are we supposed to keep moving like this?” Nin-Chicahua asked after several minutes. “She can just keep picking us off. We will all die! I understand that it might be what she wants, but she has forced the situation. We don’t have any other choice. The Will-Breaker has great powers. Ses-Tlacotl herself said that she couldn’t pierce her defences. The Will-Breaker will defeat her. Please!”

Quilla placed a hand on Meleng’s arm. “I think she’s right, Meleng. We don’t have any other choice. It’ll be night soon. There’ll be less people on the streets, and she can start picking us off again.”

“Felitïa almost burnt herself out,” Meleng whispered at her. “Plus, with her ankle, she’s in no condition to fight right now.”

Quilla frowned. “I was forgetting that.”

“What?” Nin-Chicahua demanded. “What are you whispering about? Why will you not take us to the Will-Breaker?”

Meleng sighed. “Because she’s badly injured. She’s in no condition to face Ses-Tlacotl right now.”

Nin-Chicahua bent over forward, clutching at her stomach, and began to wail. “I’m going to die. She’s going to kill me. She’ll kill all of us!”

People in the street stopped to look at the commotion.

Nin-Akna leant over her. “Chica.” She began speaking to her in Ninifin, Nin-Chicahua giving loud, wailing responses.

Ses-Inhuan lowered her spear in front of Meleng to block his way. “I don’t know who this Will-Breaker is, or why Nin-Chicahua places so much trust in her, but you must take us to her. It does not matter if she is injured. If she has the skills we need, then we must go to her. I give you my word, I will defend her with my life while she does what she needs to do. But there must be no more delay.”

Meleng lowered his head. They were right. He’d let the fact they were turning to him for advice and instruction go to his head. He wasn’t a warrior or a commander. He didn’t have the skills needed to keep them alive. But Felitïa did.

“All right,” he said. “We’ll go to her.”

Nin-Chicahua looked up at him.

Ses-Inhuan removed her spear from his path. “Lead the way.”

“It’s in the same direction we were going anyway,” Meleng said.

They began walking. Meleng continued to look around for signs of Ses-Tlacotl’s presence, but could find none. It was getting too dark.

“What if I go find Garet?” Quilla suggested. “And Cerus.”

“By yourself?” Meleng asked.

“The Ninifins will never be allowed near the Arnorin apartments,” Quilla said.

“It’s too dangerous.”

“But surely the worst she’ll do is follow me. By the time she finds out I’m not going to Felitïa, I’ll have Garet’s protection, and all the Arnorin soldiers. It might even give you enough time to get to Felitïa without her being able to follow you.”

“No, by yourself, she wouldn’t need to kill you. She could do the actual bewitching thing. It would be kind of like hypnotising you into taking her to Felitïa.” Meleng wasn’t actually sure Ses-Tlacotl had spells that could do that, but he didn’t want to take the risk.

Quilla shuddered. “Forget I mentioned it then.”

There were a few people in the entrance hall of the Nabrinja, mostly Sanalog guards, but also a few Volgs passing through. The humans and Volgs were too busy eyeing each other to pay any attention to the group of blood-spattered Ninifins and Arnorins who scurried past.

Once they reached the library, Meleng waited for everyone to get inside, then closed the doors. He placed his hands over the latch and began to trace equations along it.

“What are you doing?” Nin-Akna asked.

“I think I might be able to slow her down a little.” He wasn’t sure this would work, but in principle it ought to. All he needed to do was bend the frame and latch a little to jam the door. He hated to ruin the craftsmanship, but there wasn’t much other option. Ses-Tlacotl would be able to force her way through, but it would take her time.

He spoke the words of the spell and a shock jolted through him. He jumped back in alarm. He should have realised there would be magical protections on the door. But the door and frame still bent—not as much as he’d hoped, but it was something. The shock had left a tingling in his hand, which he proceeded to rub with his other hand. The protective spells must be breaking down like the translation spell and other spells in the Nabrinja. He suspected that jolt was intended to be a lot stronger.

“You are a wizard, too, cute one?” Ses-Inhuan said.

Meleng groaned. “Please don’t call me that.”

“Apologies. You have earned greater respect. I also did not know you spoke our language. You are full of surprises. It seems you have better taste in men than I thought, Nin-Akna.”

Nin-Akna looked away from him and Ses-Inhuan. “The library translates for us.”

“Really?” Nin-Chicahua asked. “Everything?”

Meleng nodded. “Just about.”

“That is fascinating. I guess it means we cannot hold secret conversations about him in front of him, can we, Akna?”

“Chica!” Nin-Akna protested.

Nin-Chicahua patted Nin-Akna’s shoulder. “I am only teasing. To keep my mind off the horrors. Which way?”

“This way,” Quilla said, leading across the room to the dais.

They’d made it about halfway when Nin-Chicahua jerked to a stop as Ses-Tlacotl’s spear rammed up under her chin and into her head. This time, Meleng couldn’t help but be sick.

“Chica!” Nin-Akna caught her body as at it fell when Ses-Tlacotl pulled the spear back out.

Ses-Inhuan pounced, thrusting her spear towards the still visible Ses-Tlacotl, who knocked it aside. One of the other bodyguards lunged as well, but Ses-Tlacotl curled her fingers on one hand, and the guard fell against one of the tables, clutching at her head and screaming.

Ses-Inhuan and the two remaining bodyguards grabbed the edges of one of the tables and shoved it into Ses-Tlacotl, who stumbled into the male statue by the dais. The two bodyguards climbed over the table. One knocked Ses-Tlacotl’s spear aside, while the second wrenched it from her grasp and held it away from her.

Then Ses-Inhuan jumped onto the table and jabbed with her own spear, but Ses-Tlacotl rolled around the statue, pushing it towards her attackers. They stepped aside and it clattered against the table, rolled sideways, and smashed into the ground. As Ses-Tlacotl regained her footing, she tilted her head to the side and vanished again.

Meleng looked back at the entrance. It had not been broken through. She had already been in here by the time he’d jammed it. Now he’d blocked them in with her.

“You said she was not after us!” Nin-Akna screamed at him. She was cradling Nin-Chicahua’s body in her arms, the pretend queen’s blood soaking her. “You said she wanted the Will-Breaker!”

Meleng stumbled against one of the benches and sat down. What was he supposed to do? “We already led her here. She doesn’t need... Oh gods, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” He’d messed everything up.

“Now is not the time to lose our nerve,” Ses-Inhuan yelled. She was helping the guard who had been screaming a moment earlier back to her feet. “We keep going to the Will-Breaker.”

Meleng wiped the sick from his face. “Yes, right. We...ah...Follow Quilla.”

But Quilla wasn’t there.

Meleng looked around the room, but there was no sign of her. “Where did she go?”

“Did she run?” one of the bodyguards asked.

“I did not see,” Ses-Inhuan replied.

“We’ll...we’ll find her,” Meleng said. “I hope. Follow me then.”

He hurried to the dais and went to the right hand door. He waited for the others to catch up. Nin-Akna was still cradling Nin-Chicahua’s body.

“Nin-Akna, we have to go,” Ses-Inhuan said.

“I cannot leave her,” Nin-Akna whimpered.

“And you cannot avenge her if you do not. Now move!” Ses-Inhuan grabbed Nin-Akna and pulled her away from the body. Nin-Akna resisted for only a moment, then grabbed her spear and stood up.

“I’m really sorry,” Meleng said to Nin-Akna as she reached him.

She stopped and stared at him for a moment, her body stiff. “Just give me the chance to kill her.”

“I...I’ll try,” Meleng said.

Then she marched past him through the door.

Meleng usually found the dimmer lighting in the stacks to be calming. Although it sometimes made reading a little trickier, it also made it feel more private, more isolated. Meleng could lose himself in that isolating effect. Now, however, the dim light meant more shadows for Ses-Tlacotl to hide in, more ways for her to fool their minds into thinking she wasn’t there.

The aisles were narrow and they had to proceed single file. Meleng took the lead, but Ses-Inhuan held him back. “You should not be in front.”

“But I know the way.”

“You can tell me when to turn.” Ses-Inhuan took the lead, with Meleng right behind her, then Nin-Akna, and then the remaining three Youth Guards.

“This is a bad place to fight,” Nin-Akna said. “Too close quarters. Daggers.”

Not stopping, Ses-Inhuan held out her spear in one hand to Meleng and drew her dagger with the other. “Take it,” she hissed when Meleng didn’t respond.

“What am I supposed to do with it? I don’t know how to use it.”

“Just hold it. It is too long to use effectively in here.”

“And these,” Nin-Akna said, passing him five more spears. They clacked and rattled as he tried to hold all of them together, and their shafts clanged on the metal floor. The one taken from Ses-Tlacotl was obvious, caked in blood and viscera.

Meleng directed them along the aisles to the far side of the large room and the metal staircase that led down to the floor below. Ses-Inhuan started down and Meleng had stepped onto the first step when a clattering behind him made him pause. He and Nin-Akna looked back.

“Watch where you are going,” the second-to-last guard said to the one at the back.

“I am sorry, Netl.” She was the one that Ses-Tlacotl had caused to scream earlier.

“You are always so clumsy.”

“Enough,” Nin-Akna hissed. “This is no time for petty arguments.”

“I am just very dizzy,” the girl at the back said. “I do not know why.”

Dizzy?

“Fra-Nenetl, take the rear,” Nin-Akna said. “Fra-Chan, come to me. I will support you.”

Something wasn’t right. Meleng stared along the guards as they shuffled their positions. Was that a distortion in the air? “She’s here!” He pointed and the spears he was carrying clattered to the ground, the banging echoing through the stacks.

Fra-Nenetl’s head twisted back as though something had grabbed her chin. Then Meleng could see the eye tattoo on Ses-Tlacotl’s head, her hand on Fra-Nenetl’s chin, her other hand tearing a dagger across the girl’s neck.

Nin-Akna and the other guard whose name Meleng still did not know lunged forward. Fra-Chan tried to spin round, but tripped on the pile of spears and fell face first onto the floor. Meleng bent down to try to help her.

There was a cry from Ses-Tlacotl and Meleng looked up to see her shove Fra-Nenetl’s body into Nin-Akna. A new gash on her arm dripped blood.

He reached out a hand to Fra-Chan just as Ses-Inhuan pushed past him. She did a better job of navigating the spears that were still clattering about.

Fra-Chan took his hand and he helped her back to her feet. Her legs twisted several times as she tried to find her footing, but he held onto her. Finally, she was standing again. And shivering.

“I do not know why I am so clumsy right now,” Fra-Chan said. “I am just so scared.” She had to be one of the youngest members of Nin-Akna’s warriors. No more than fourteen.

“I don’t think it’s you,” Meleng said. “It’s...”

He looked and realised Ses-Tlacotl was gone again. He saw Nin-Akna’s mouth move, her body shake as she kicked at the ground, but the library didn’t let him hear what she said. He suspected he didn’t want to.

“Another dead,” Fra-Chan said.

Nin-Akna clenched her fists.

“They will all be avenged,” Ses-Inhuan said, “but for now, we must keep moving.”

Nin-Akna nodded.

They descended the stairs, Ses-Inhuan in the lead again, skipping every other step. “Down as far as they go,” Meleng said. He tried to keep up, but he wasn’t comfortable skipping steps in the same way.

At each new floor, they rushed around and descended the next flight, down four flights to the second-to-lowest level, where the stairs ended.

Meleng had gotten much more used to the library’s layout during his time here. He could find his way around without problem now. However, there were aspects that still puzzled him. Two separate sections of stacks with no connection between them other than the entrance hall, and the lowest level of this one—but not the other—required crossing the entire floor above to reach the stairs, which did not join the stairs to the other floors. Maneshka had said some scholars theorised it was to give that level an extra degree of privacy, but no one knew for sure why it had been designed that way. It did make it a convenient place to hide Felitïa, though it also made running for your life a lot more inconvenient.

Just before they reached the spiral stairs leading to the lowest level, Ses-Inhuan held up her hand, motioning for them to stop. She knelt down and looked closely at something in front of her. “Blood. It is fresh. She must be nearby.”

“On full alert,” Nin-Akna said. “As Meleng told us, look for shadows or distortions in the air. No more of us are to die today.”

Meleng looked about as they edged forwards. So many books. So many ancient, beautiful books full of knowledge. There could be untold secrets waiting for discovery here: lost disciplines of magic like light and sound; historical accounts from before the Great War; forgotten works of art from plays to stories to music, paintings, and more; scientific and engineering treatises; medicine; and so much more.

Ever since the incident with the books in Mesone, he’d had an idea in his head. Explosions were bizarre things. Dangerous and potentially deadly, but what if they could be controlled? What sort of energies could be tapped into? On the trip to Scovese, he’d spent a lot of time trying to figure out the equations. For the most part, he’d made no progress, but a few things had presented themselves to him.

Some things were easier to break apart, for one. It seemed obvious, but when it came to applying force in the right place and the right way, the specifics became less obvious. Paper tore to shreds easily; metal, less so. But he didn’t need to shred metal right now. He didn’t need a controlled explosion either.

He stopped walking. “I have an idea.”

The others stopped. “Tell us,” Nin-Akna said.

“I’m going to try something that will hopefully catch her. It probably won’t hurt her much, but with a little luck, it will make it impossible for her to hide from us. When I say run, run for the edge of the stacks, but don’t go down the stairs. Turn and face what happens.”

Nin-Akna nodded. Her body tensed, as did the others’.

Meleng ran his fingers along the metal of the shelves on both sides of the aisle, then up along the books as well, tracing equations of disruption. It was just a matter of finding the right frequencies.

The beautiful books.

It was just one floor. And most of the books would survive. Probably. Maybe. Truth was, he couldn’t be sure this would even work. This was way beyond anything he’d ever done. Beyond the small explosion of clothes he’d caused on the trip from Quorge. Hell, even if it worked, Ses-Tlacotl could have been watching and listening, could have gotten herself to a place of safety. Would there even be one?

Stop being stupid, he told himself. Everyone kept saying he needed more confidence. Well, now was the time. He could do this.

“Run.”

The others ran and Meleng traced the final part of the spell. Then he ran after them.

Behind him, the books burst open and the shelves themselves creaked and cracked. A massive cacophony of metal against metal rang through the room.

Nin-Akna and the others had already reached the stairs and were looking back at what was happening. They raised their arms to shield their faces.

Meleng reached them and spun around. The shelves had broken free of their supports and had crashed into the aisles beside them, causing a cascading effect outwards, shelf after shelf crashing into the next. Books and paper flew into the air along with pieces of metal. He too shielded his face as the onslaught pelted over them.

“There!” Nin-Akna cried.

Meleng lowered his arm to see where she was pointing. Stumbling out of the wreckage, paper and book covers still battering down on her, was Ses-Tlacotl.

The four guards ran for her, leaping over the tangled book covers and bits of paper in their way. Meleng couldn’t see her very well, but even though she looked bruised and even seemed to be limping, she still managed to dart aside from their attacks. Fra-Chan fell back, clutching at her head and screaming again. Ses-Inhuan swiped at her, but Ses-Tlacotl grabbed her by the wrist and wrenched her arm back. The dagger in her hand went flying to the floor and Ses-Inhuan cried out as Ses-Tlacotl bent the Youth Guard’s arm backwards at the elbow over her own arm. Meleng was certain he couldn’t actually hear the crack of bone, but he imagined he could.

Then he realised there was someone beside him. It was Felitïa, supporting herself on crutches. Sinitïa must have had them delivered.

“Enough.” Felitïa’s voice was still hoarse, but commanding and assured.

Fra-Chan stopped screaming and stumbled against the wall for support. At the same time Ses-Tlacotl’s body went rigid. Nin-Akna and the other Youth Guard moved in towards her, but then Felitïa gasped and Ses-Tlacotl vanished.

“No!” Nin-Akna yelled.

Felitïa tried to steady herself, but her good leg was shaking as were her arms.

A piece of paper still floating in the air near Nin-Akna bounced off its trajectory. Meleng started to point it out, but Nin-Akna had already seen it. She pounced, looking like a jaguar leaping through the air, and landed on Ses-Tlacotl’s back, sending the mentalist sprawling face first to the ground. She had been running for Felitïa.

Nin-Akna grabbed Ses-Tlacotl’s hair and yanked her head up, then smashed it back down into the floor. “Pain breaks your concentration, does it? Then have pain.” She did it again.

“Nin-Akna, that’s enough,” Felitïa said. “I have control now. She’s not causing any more damage.”

Nin-Akna pulled up on Ses-Tlacotl’s hair again. The mentalist spat out blood and broken teeth. Her face was a mess, nose clearly broken, eyes swollen. “She killed Chica,” Nin-Akna spat. “She killed half of my command. She dies!”

“I understand,” Felitïa said, “but we need information.” She hobbled over to the Ninifins.

Nin-Akna let go of Ses-Tlacotl’s hair. “Why did you do it?”

Ses-Tlacotl said nothing.

“Who else are you working with?” Felitïa asked.

Still, Ses-Tlacotl did not reply.

“I could make you talk,” Felitïa said.

“No, you cannot,” Ses-Tlacotl said. “You are too weak. I pierced the fabled Will-Breaker’s defences. You have no power over me right now.”

Felitïa sighed. “She’ll kill you, you know.”

“I die in the glory of Nyx.”

Nin-Akna recoiled. “You dare use that name? You are no better than a Volg or Isyar.”

“They are both your betters, girl.”

Nin-Akna grabbed Ses-Tlacotl’s hair again and rammed her face into the floor, over and over. Meleng doubled over and vomited.

“Nin-Akna,” Felitïa said. “Nin-Akna, it’s over. She’s dead. You can stop now.”

Nin-Akna slammed what used to be a face into the floor one last time then stumbled to her feet, her body shaking. “I...I...” She fell back against the wall and slid to the floor, hugging her legs.

Felitïa hobbled over to her and struggled to lower herself beside her.

“She killed so many,” Nin-Akna muttered. “She killed Chica. She had to die.”

“I know. It’s all right. Time to sleep for now.” Felitïa half closed her eyes and tilted her head—and Nin-Akna slumped over, fast asleep.

“I’m going to need some help getting back up again,” Felitïa said.

“Oh right.” Meleng hurried towards her, but she shook her head.

“Help that one first.” She motioned to Ses-Inhuan, who was lying on the ground, cradling her broken arm.

As Meleng got to the Ninifin, Felitïa said, “That was a good trick with the stacks. Don’t know what Maneshka will think of it.”

Meleng grimaced as he made a quick check of Ses-Inhuan’s arm, confirming that it was broken. When he looked up, Maneshka was coming up the stairs, and he grimaced again.

“Now I understand the noise,” Maneshka said.

Behind her was Quilla.

Meleng breathed a sigh of relief. “You’re all right!”

“When she attacked upstairs, I rushed down here to warn Felitïa,” Quilla said.

“Unfortunately, it was all I could do to get up the stairs to this level,” Felitïa said. “So I had to wait for you here. You’re lucky I wasn’t hiding in the aisles when you set off that spell.”

Meleng groaned. He hadn’t thought of that. He really wasn’t cut out for this kind of thing.

“Still, you did well, Meleng,” Felitïa said.

“A lot of people died,” he answered.

“And these ones survived.”

“She is right,” Ses-Inhuan said. “You did well. Now, please do something about my arm before I pass out from the pain.”

He nodded. “Quilla, help me find something for a splint.”