The temperature of the air continued to drop. Seiren's sweat-soaked robes clung to her skin, giving her chills. Magus seemed to be able to read the ancient glyphs on the walls at every corner and lead them down winding staircases in high-ceilinged halls and through heavy double doors that groaned on opening, like the joints of old people when they moved. Stone bridges were interspersed with barriers that overlooked floors below — some of them many storeys below, bathed in an ethereal glow from the iridescent stones Magus called Tophalite, a mineral native to Hanna. Stone statues of guardians sat astride their seats, staring down their strong, curved noses at Seiren and Madeleine with ill-suppressed disdain. The entire inner tomb was lit by Tophalite, emanating enough light to move by but not enough to give Seiren reassurance nobody would jump them from the shadows, which moved like assassins at night. The air was musty and thick, reminding Seiren of ancient tomes, caked in dust, that had sat upon bookcases for decades.

Magus held out a hand, pausing Seiren and Madeleine. He touched several apparently unrelated parts of the nearby wall studded with Tophalite, which depicted a battle scene between two great monsters, before one of the glowing stones on it changed colour. He indicated at Seiren and Madeleine and led the way ahead again.

"The place is filled with traps and other dangerous devices," he said in a low voice. "My father said he never intended anyone to enter this place ever again. I'm not sure what his reasoning was — he never explained it — but he said he would have destroyed the body if he had the means to. The elusiveness was what attracted Fautos, I believe. The more you tell my brother he couldn't or shouldn't, the more he will seek it out."

"We heard about it in Karma. He killed your father and your other siblings, didn't he?"

"My father was planning to announce the heir. We were pretty confident it was going to be Lufer. He was the better fighter and strategist, very personable and persuasive, and an excellent critical thinker. I have yet to best him in a game of chess or in a physical fight. I believe that was why Fautos went after him first after Father died. Lufer had more civilian supporters, but Fautos had more land, more money, and more soldiers. Lufer earned his respect through spurring speeches and respect for all, but Fautos gained all his through sheer power. Gerta tried to take Eleia and flee, but he caught her, too. I was... very glad to hear Eleia is alive. Her conditions put her at a disadvantage in battle, but she is a strong and pure soul."

"Strong and pure souls don't make you any hardier to a knife in the stomach," Seiren said bluntly. She'd met too many strong and pure souls who never made it. Loren's kindly smile flashed across her mind's eye.

"That's true. But fighting with fists isn't the only way to win."

"You think Eleia will succeed in rousing the royal daemon," Madeleine murmured. Seiren did a double take.

"Really?"

"Out of all five siblings, I believe Eleia is the one who truly listens and hears," Magus said softly.

"But she's dea—"

"When you are reliant so wholly on what's before you, you miss that which is actually in front of you."

Seiren narrowed his eyes at him. A poetic one. Great.

"Tell us about the Karman woman. You said she wanted Hanna's corpse. Why?"

"I wasn't privy to Fautos's plans, but I wasn't wholly hopeless, even if they did remove my summoner's dust so I couldn't fully summon Durah, my daemon." A wry smile spread beneath his bushy beard and across his dirtied, scratched face. "It all began at the end of last year, not long after Fautos grappled his way to the throne. A voice... I cannot describe it in any other way. Soft, sweet, but ancient. And dangerous. The voice woke me from my sleep when I was in the dungeons beneath the palace at Falnash. I don't believe the guards heard it, though. It called for help. It claimed to be the voice of the royal daemon, but I knew it couldn't be. Whilst Fautos was busy attempting to flaunt his power and wealth like some bird seeking a mate, I spent every summer of my adult years accompanying the senior members of House Solidor to Traquair to reinforce the ancient seal upon the royal daemon — to prevent the likes of Fautos forcing his way into places he had no right to, just as he had no right to even breathe within twenty miles of His Holiness King Feures Tophalis — may his Holiness prosper in the distant lands."

Magus paused and took in a shuddering breath, fists clenched, his eyes squeezed shut. When the anger passed, his eyes opened again, pale and focused, and he continued marching ahead. Their footsteps echoed through the narrow, high-ceilinged corridor. The shadows hovered overhead, watching their every move. A chill stroked its long digits over Seiren's arms, raising goosebumps.

"The royal daemon is spelled into a deep slumber. Although it has the ability to communicate with members of the royal family it deems worthy, it will not be able to, not with the spells House Solidor cast — and certainly not with the likes of Fautos, even if it were awake. I do not know the owner of the voice, but it was not Apollinon."

He led them down more steps in silence, pausing every so often to listen ahead, but he was met with only silence. Wherever Fautos's group was, they weren't close. Seiren's heels scraped across the dusty stone floor. Her eyes jumped to every flicker of shadow and whisper in the air.

"The royal daemon rouses when the family is at risk, but not when the family poses a risk to itself. Fautos was scared, and he should be. When you steal what is not rightfully yours, you only fear someone else doing the same to you. And so, he listened to the voice."

"And what did it say?"

"'Find me the celestial mage.'"

All the air left Seiren's lungs.

"Several days later, the guards talked when they thought I was beaten unconscious, but I heard most of the story. Fautos was displeased. He had ways of ensuring everyone knew when he was displeased. Heads roll. Well, several heads rolled when the Karman celestial mage arrived. A cripple, he called her. Why, I never found out."

Seiren knew. Kristen couldn't do magic. Fautos expected a mage — heck, he probably expected the rune-magic-toting Kristen Harred, not someone primed for execution and unable to even activate a simple yellow rune.

"He wanted to kill her along with those who took her from Karma. But he changed his mind."

"Why?"

"I wish I knew. Maybe the voice spoke to him. Or someone else did. I never heard the voice again after it asked for the celestial mage, but Fautos is not one who thinks through his problems. He's more likely to punch through them."

"He wants to revive Hanna."

Magus paused and glanced at her out of the corner of his eye.

"Hanna is long dead. You cannot revive a dead body."

"Kristen can. She... Pollin Miracle died six years ago. She animated his body for six years before we found out. She has her ways."

"Hanna died thousands of years ago. Mu—Kristen animated Pollin within hours of him being killed," said Madeleine, shaking her head.

"There is nothing to gain from resurrecting Hanna." Magus's tone was damning. "Legends have softened her actions and exaggerated her generosity, but the House Solidor have always been quite clear from looking after the records that Hanna was not one who cared for the people. Fautos knew that well — all the royal members did."

"What else did Fautos want in the world, though, aside from magic? What could Hanna give him?" Seiren pressed.

Magus was quiet as he pondered. The air was still, quiet, almost mystical. The iridescent gems continued to light their way down barely-lit corridors stretching into abysses of darkness. Proud statues monitored their every move. A draught swept around their ankles, whispering secrets of the unknown.

"Twenty years ago — give or take — my brother led an unsanctioned attack on Acrise to take back our city."

"Your—" Seiren began, but Madeleine shushed her.

"Eleia wasn't even born then. Fautos is the oldest and he saw no reason why father would withhold announcement of the heir when it was so evident — as far as he was concerned — he was the only fit candidate. Father was getting older and Lufer, the next oldest, was only ten. Fautos thought he was the only logical choice. Father disagreed. I think he'd seen Lufer's brilliance and compassion from a young age — compassion which Fautos lacked. But Father couldn't disregard Fautos's demands; it was a fair request, after all, to be considered for heir. He kept putting Fautos off, stating he needs to see all of us siblings engaged in combat and tactics before he could decide. Fautos decided to prove himself, then and there. He led a group to attack Acrise."

"You Hannans and your obsession with Acrise," Seiren muttered.

"It's the final place of our pilgrimage as a summoner. We call on our partners at every significant part of the country to learn and grow as one against the different atmospheres and terrains. Our summoners had been severely weakened as a result of your occupation of our holy land. Fautos did what the people have been requesting for years — albeit not for a moral or compassionate reason."

"We lost a king's mage in that battle," said Madeleine, frowning. "That was how war broke out again between Karma and Hanna."

"Well, Karma demanded Father give up Fautos for going behind his back and initiating battle without his permission, but Father loved Fautos. He was his son. Who can blame him? Giving up Fautos would be a death sentence for him. So he refused — and we once again were at war." Magus shrugged and sighed. "But that is the past. The result is Fautos hates Karma. Not the way typical Hannans dislike your people — that was resentment for years of conflict and argument over the ownership of Acrise. But Fautos saw his loss at Acrise as a personal insult. He swore to see the downfall of Karma for the humiliation at Acrise."

"And bringing Hanna back to life will help that?" Seiren arched an eyebrow. "The first twins gave away their powers to the people. If Hanna is uncontrollable as your history says, she won't destroy Karma for Fautos."

"What Fautos thinks Hanna's body will do for him, I don't want to find out."

They finally stopped outside a small opening, many floors below where they first entered. The air was stagnant, heavy, and a quiet ringing stayed in Seiren's ears. Her heart thumped against her ribs. Etched across the double doors was a single creature, long-bodied, with elegant limbs ending in curved claws. Curly whiskers sprouted from its nostrils. Its jaws were wide open in a silent roar. Scarlet Tophalite sat in place of its eyes, gleaming with malevolence.

"Behind this chamber is the path leading to Hanna's sarcophagus. I suspect the Daemonium will be ready for any intruders — although I'm hopeful they aren't aware we are so close. I will enter alone first and try to distract the Daemonium." He gulped. For the first time, the calm, determined demeanour cracked to show his nervousness. "You have your Karman magic. If you're fast, you might be able to do some damage to the summoner — never attack the daemon. The Daemonium's creatures are formidable and very difficult to damage, but the summoners themselves aren't as hardy. Usually, the stronger the creature summoned and the better the control, the weaker the summoner is in battle because keeping the daemon in our realm takes a lot of will. Attack the Daemonium members. Fautos is an excellent fighter and an excellent summoner. I will challenge him. We have to buy time until Eleia comes."

"You're sure she'll come?" Seiren said, doubtful. Even if Eleia could summon Apollinon, there was no guarantee the likes of Kaim and the insurgents wouldn't twist her hand and make her queen there and then, abandoning them and taking the opportunity to force their way into the palace at Falnash.

"She will," Magus said with confidence. "I've left a trail in this place. It's quite a maze if you don't know the path, but Eleia can just follow when she arrives."

"Wait." Seiren dug in her pockets and pulled out the chunk of solidified summoner's dust she'd stolen from the rig, still wrapped in the torn-off sleeve. "Here. This might be helpful. I assume you don't have the good stuff on you any more."

Magus took it with a smile.

"A joint Karman and Hannan force against a tyrant. My father would tear his soul back from the distant lands to be here for this moment."

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