"So you're telling me that Miles is arranging a marriage for you?" Matias clarified as they walked out to the courtyard. 

"Yes," said Cal. "And I don't know how old any of them are."

Matias wrinkled his nose. "So it could be an old man on his death bed?"

Cal sighed. "Unfortunately."

Matias gagged. "Gross."

"Thankfully it's my decision. Any and all old men are a no-go."

"Do you know who is coming—specifically, I mean." He chanced a glance at Cal, who stood almost eye-level with him. 

He heard her heave a sigh. "Other than Lord Warren's son, Dugu, no."

Matias scowled. He'd met Dugu when he was eight and knew that the lord's son was a pining, people-pleasing pushover. May the gods help the emperor when Dugu the Spineless takes up his father's mantle. "Dugu is a pushover. Eirineftes won't last an hour before their peacekeepers are brought in to maintain order."

"I know. I'm not happy that I have to choose one of these men to be my husband."

"But?"

"But I'll find a way out of it—somehow."

They stood on the dew covered lawn in the early morning light, twenty feet apart. 

"En garde," said Matias, raising his sword.

"Allez!" said Cal, charging towards Matias. 

The sound of metal on metal echoed through the air as they sparred. They parried and feinted, the other blocking the blows. It was almost like a dance to them—a dance of steel. Until Calista disarmed Matias and held the tip of the sword above his heart.

"I win," she said, sweat beading her brow.

"You win," he conceded.

Cal handed him his sword and he sheathed it at his side. 

"Any plans for today?" asked Matias.

"Not really. I might go back to the library."

Matias furrowed his brows. "For what?" 

Cal shrugged. "Something has just been on my mind."

"Like what?"

"A name. I saw it in that room yesterday."

"What was the name?"

"Prince James."

"Never heard of him."

"That's why I'm looking. That was the first time I've seen that name."

"I would join you, but I have some stuff I need to take care of," said Matias. 

Cal waved her hand in dismissal. "It's fine. Take care of your captain business. I can research just fine without you." 

They walked in silence until they reached the doors to Cal's chambers. 

"Let me know if you find anything," said Matias before walking away.

—

Cal walked between the bookshelves in the library. James's name didn't come up in any of the books she had looked in. He wasn't any of the Eirineften emperors, nor was he a king of Apparatori, Lucis, or Tenebrarum. Krigere had their council—never a monarchy. 

She walked over to a blonde scholar who sat at a table flipping through a book. 

"Do you know where I can find any information on a Prince James?" she asked. 

The scholar's eyes widened in horror as she got up and hurried away. Cal cursed under her breath. No information and no help to boot!

The scholar came back, a book in her hands, before she bowed and disappeared. 

Cal looked down at the title, her brows furrowing.

Demons and Demonology.

What did James have to do with demons? He has the title of "prince." Unless...

Cal strode to a section of the library containing books on the gods and demons. She pulled books off the shelves and added them to her growing stack. 

The books she had looked in only covered Zemlja's royal lines. There were rumours of other realms outside of Zemlja, Valhalla, and Helheim.

What if whoever was in that room before them had been able to see or cross over into these other realms?

—

Matias watched his father leave his study, the guards outside following him. He glanced around, making sure that the corridor was deserted. Matias strode towards his father's study and closed the door behind him. 

He strode over to the bureau and began searching. He was looking for something—anything—that could clear Malary's accusations. He flipped through Miles's letters when one caught his eye. 

It was from Maria Magik—daughter of Dalia, the Goddess of Fate. Matias skimmed the contents.

If she wields light and fire like you say, the girl might be the Light-Bringer...

He kept skimming. Another line jumped out at him. 

So long as the Wards around Tenebrarum remain unbreached, her magic will remain dormant. 

Matias blinked rapidly, putting everything back in order, before leaving the study.