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Sneaking up behind the man, she held her blade in a tight grip and muttered the words, “ Reinisi amanir .”

Amongst the several books in her possession, she’d catalogued a handful of useful spells, and she’d often wondered when a charm to ensnare the mind would come in useful. She couldn’t fight the grin forming on her mouth as the man went rigid.

“Don’t say a word,” she whispered into his ear. “You do, and I kill you.”

The man nodded, his hands freezing on his buttons.

“Tell me, quietly , where Filip is.”

“He has men stationed up and down the country. Waiting for us to catch his bitch, ” he sneered, despite the magic forcing him to utter words of truth against his will. “You won’t make it to the palace, girl.”

“You best return to your little friends,” she commanded. “You might want to tell them about our conversation, but this spell won’t allow the words off your tongue.”

The soldier nodded his obedience, buttoned his breeches, then strolled back to camp.

She hurried through the trees, back to her own camp and mount. Untying the reins, she fastened her luggage and mounted.

She rode long and hard through the night and didn’t stop until the first signs of dawn painted the horizon in pink. Exhaustion wracked through her, each of her muscles heavy.

Tumbling off her saddle, she buried her face in her hands. She had to confront the truth—there would be no easy return to the palace if what the soldier had said was true.

She looked at the sun. The mark on her shoulder burned with ferocity, reminding her the dawn always broke after the dark, dark night. Her might must prevail. It must rise.

If she was to rescue her husband, she was going to need a better plan.

She rummaged in her bag for A Practitioner’s Guide to Ancient Magic, Astral Edition, Volume I.

The Sword of Light. But to obtain a weapon forged by gods would take weeks, maybe longer.

She needed to learn more. If she was to stay away from Damir’s side with the intention of becoming strong enough to save him from Filip, then she had to understand what she was up against.

On the last page, she found Published and distributed by the Temauten Congregation Printer and Library . Underneath was a list of other publications produced by them. Her gaze halted on a particular book: A Practitioner’s Guide to Ancient Nether Magic, Volume I.

She puffed a breath through her lips as anticipation bubbled inside her.

There it was. The twin book. If Filip owned a copy for astral magic, he’d more than likely have its partner in his possession.

If she could get her hands on it, she could learn more about his powers.

Then, and only then, could she determine whether the quest for the Sword of Light was needed.

It was either that, or risk charging through the country, right into Filip’s grasp.

Her mind raced. It would be dangerous to spend too much time in public areas of Temauten, and it would be especially dangerous to go to the building of the Temauten Congregation. Where even was it? She vaguely recalled Filip referring to the village of Murtei.

Flipping to the last page of the spell book once again, she found the address scrawled at the bottom: Khasapa House.

Laying the book flat on the ground, she rummaged in her bag for her map, then flattened it next to it.

It’d taken her and Damir almost a month to reach the docks in the south, but they’d stayed in a village for a few days before moving to the next.

If Adelina kept moving, she could be back to Aramoor in half the time.

Arching a brow, she found Khasapa House in Murtei positioned east of her hometown, possibly two or three-days’ ride. From her current location, if she rode hard and fast, stopping for short bouts, she’d reach the Temauten Congregation’s building in under two weeks.

She hoped to the gods Damir could survive long enough for her to get her answers.

∞∞∞

Adelina’s two-week journey to the Temauten Congregation in Murtei dragged by; each day, minute, and second filled with spirally thoughts of Damir’s welfare.

She fought to remind herself what she was doing—she needed to be at her strongest if she stood any chance of freeing her husband and defeating Filip .

Her current dilemma was to find a way into Khasapa House — the Temauten Congregation.

Drawing the hood of her cape over her head, she hopped off her horse, then led it by the reins along the narrow, dusty path into the village.

Keeping her gaze on the ground, she weaved her way through the bustling market streets and thanked the gods the library was situated in a village home to a busy market.

With her horse in tow, she passed stalls where merchants traded fruits and vegetables, spices, flowers and herbs, trinkets, housewares varying from vases to pots and pans, and even jewellery.

The strong scent of cinnamon and star anise filled her nose, and the steady beat of the horse’s hooves soothed her mounting nerves.

If she ran into any more of Filip’s men, her chances of increasing her strength before taking him on would be shot.

Keeping an even pace, she followed the winding path until it widened into a large fork, and beyond a tall, metal gate, stood an almost twin replica of the Embassy building.

A fraction smaller, Khasapa House held all the appeal and lavishness the Embassy building in Toichrist had.

There, she hoped to locate the book about nether magic.

She fastened her horse to a nearby tree, then joined the crowd of civilians filing into the building.

The library section was open to the public, and if she travelled in dense crowds, she’d be able to get inside without concern or question.

All she needed to do was keep her cool and not draw attention to herself.

After climbing white marble stairs, she followed the high-ceiling corridor into the large, dome-shaped library.

Bookcases towered from floor to ceiling— there must’ve been tens of thousands of books covering the many shelves.

People sat about, clustered around tables and armchairs.

A middle-aged woman pushed a cart of books towards an aisle, then stuffed them back into their designated spots.

Adelina held her breath. Where would she even start? It’s not like she knew a spell that would magically draw the book from its shelf. Even if she did, performing it in public probably wouldn’t be the wisest idea. Her time in the library needed to remain inconspicuous.

Making her way down the first aisle of books, she scanned the spines. All fiction novels. At the end of the aisle, she turned a corner in search of non-fiction. She weaved her way between individuals who flittered through the library.

She halted. At the far end of the library, an entire wall of books was locked behind glass doors. Edging nearer, she strained to get a better look at the intricate carving in the metal panels around the glass panes. An unnatural, silvery hue shimmered from the shiny surface. Enchanted.

Her body tingled, and a compulsion to be closer flooded through her.

As if her body was no longer her own to control, she touched the first door.

A bolt of heat shot up her arm. She knew her astral magic shared the same soul as nether magic—perhaps this was the book’s way of telling her she was close.

If the book on nether magic was locked inside a glass bookshelf, she couldn’t perform any counter magic—not with so many people around. Instead, she yanked herself back, and scanned the shelves, one by one, following the warmth flooding through her body .

The pull of magic intensified—her skin blazed.

Standing on her tiptoes, she spotted a black, leather-bound book positioned three quarters up the bookshelf.

Although from her height she couldn’t read the letters on the spine, the tingle in her limbs when she looked at it told her this tome was the one she sought.

“Can I help you, miss?”

Adelina jumped. Peeling her gaze from the shelves, she faced a middle-aged woman, who she assumed was the librarian.

“What time do you close?” Adelina smiled and kept her tone casual.

“Once the sun has set.” The woman pursed her lips. “Meaning our hours vary depending on the season, but the days are getting longer. We’ll likely be open until about 8 p.m.”

“Do you find the library busy all day?” Adelina draped her arms across her chest, manifesting an air of casual interest. “The crowds—they make me anxious. I’d much rather come back when I can read in peace.”

“Ah, yes.” The woman rested a stack of books on the shelf. “We tend to be busy until about 5 p.m.—that’s when folks go home for dinner. You’ll find the library a lot more comfortable after then.”

“Thank you.” Adelina bowed her head, then left.

Once outside, she returned to her horse, unhitched it, then searched for a discreet tavern or inn. Her stomach growled. She was fortunate she hadn’t drawn unwanted attention to herself.

∞∞ ∞

After eating a quick meal in the nearby tavern, Adelina hurried along the cobbled path back towards Khasapa House, leaving her horse in the small stables.

Squashing her nerves, she held Damir at the forefront of her mind—her love for him.

As if he were there with her, he stretched out a hand to her, offering his guidance.

A bolt of confidence shot through her, but she couldn’t tell if it was from genuine faith in her plan, or the desperate need to save her husband.

The image of Damir’s warm, familiar face felt like home, and burned bright in her mind, acting as a north star.

Energy revitalised, she considered her next steps. She’d find another entrance to Khasapa House— any entrance except through the front.

She stayed close to the shadows of cottages, market stalls, and bustling taverns. The crowded cobbled streets allowed her to blend seamlessly into the village.