Dedicated to AlexThomas. Your comments are amazing <3

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Chapter 21 - The library

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Unable to resist another look, Tayne pulled the folder off his desk.

The mid-morning sun filtered through the window on to the puzzling report sitting on his lap. Quite simply, he didn’t know what to make of it. It was either a huge security risk, or a stroke of luck for the demons. Knowing Donovan would demand an entire report and expect a conclusion that Tayne probably couldn’t give, he read the words for a fourth time, trying to draw some new insight from them.

Anything to keep the Silverborn from patrol duty. Deities take me if we’re forced to guard walls while that Sentinel ravages the land, Tayne thought fiercely. He clucked his tongue in annoyance. You’d think the Captain of the Guard sits on his arse all day with the amount of work we do. It’s like no one else gives a damn what happens outside the walls until they’re forced to acknowledge it.

Sighing, he skimmed over the report again, trying to single out vital details.

“Breach at Ward 11, four hours before dawn. Six dead, four injured and another two missing. Five imps found within the perimetre, slain by the night watch guard patrol,” he said to himself quietly. Tayne scanned the page a moment longer before dragging his eyes away.  “But how did they get in?” he asked the ceiling.

He decided to try a different angle. He’d always been decent at imagining scenarios, piecing together the information he was given to form an entire picture. He closed his eyes and ran through the facts in his mind.

According to the report, a small group of imps had managed to make it inside Alguarde’s wall. They’d entered two homes, slaying or maiming the occupants before the night watch was alerted and put a stop to their havoc. Tayne knew Ward 11 was in one of the middle districts where a number of trade shops were located. Among them was Karrosh, the blacksmith that repaired the Silverborn armour.

Still, that didn’t make a great deal of sense. How had Ward 11 become weaker than the rest? Why had they struck in that district? Was there something there? More demons were spotted lurking outside the ward, so it hadn’t weakened to the point of failing completely. Minor demons or not however, they still posed a serious threat to unarmed civilians.

Tayne remained like that for several minutes. Head back, one arm behind him supporting his weight and the other on the paper, running the pads of his fingers along the edge. He came up with various ideas and potential scenarios before he realised he’d need additional information to confirm any of them. The report didn’t cover as much as he’d like.

With a sigh, Tayne walked away from the desk and stretched the cramps from his limbs. He was headed for the door when a knock sounded from the other side. 

 “Enter!”

The door swung open with ease. A blonde head appeared in the space. “Uh, hello Sir,” said Jesse.

Tayne raised an eyebrow at him.  Jesse stared back at him with wide eyes, sensing he’d done something wrong. He shifted his gaze around the room before it clicked.

“Oh! I mean, hello Tayne.”

Tayne shook his head and smiled. “Hello, Jesse. Glad you remembered.” Tayne stooped to recover the bracer he’d dropped. Standing up, he fixed it around his wrist securely. “Now, what brings you to my quarters at this early hour?” he asked.

Jesse moved over, holding out a folder. Tayne groaned. “Another one? What’s this one about?” He opened the pages, flicking through the paper without waiting for the knight’s response. Why did politicians think everything could be solved with paper?

“Karrosh wants Andro to help with repairs. It’s mainly just, um, numbers and figures. Time estimates, I think si-- Tayne,” said Jesse. "Also, there's this from the King."

Jesse handed him a sealed piece of parchment. Tayne cracked the wax seal and lifted it open, wondering what was so important that it demanded the an official letter from Darien himself. When he read the words, he smiled. 

At least something went right. 

Tayne nodded, closing the note. “Very well. I need you to do something for me, if you don’t mind?” The young knight nodded enthusiastically in response. “Find Wrain, he’ll be in the Castle discussing matters with the King. Tell them I sent you, they’ll let you in. Don’t look at me like that. Stand your ground. You outrank most of those palace guards, so act like it,” said Tayne, seeing the doubt blossoming across Jesse’s face.

The boy eyed him suspiciously before replying. “Uh, okay. If you say so Tayne. I can do it, I won’t let you down.” Jesse turned to leave before twisting slowly back towards Tayne. “Um. What exactly do I have to do?”

Deities help him, thought Tayne. It’s going to take a miracle to get this one out of his shell.

He saw a lot of potential in Jesse. The boy excelled in combat, where decisions were made in a split second and he had no time to think. He was a good thinker, quick and talented. The problem was, Tayne sensed, Jesse often doubted himself too much to let that side show. However, Tayne refused to give up on him, constantly tasking Jesse with little things in the hopes of increasing his confidence. If he could bring out that, Tayne knew, Jesse would be invaluable.

“Find Wrain. Tell him I’m looking into the incident, and that I’ll report to him later tonight. Also, I’ll need him to ensure everything’s underway with the Silverborn trials organisation. Tell him to make sure that Donovan’s not interfering. We can’t afford to waste any more time screwing around with it,” Tayne said. “Oh, and tell Andro about the blacksmith.”

Jesse nodded. “I can do that.” He turned to leave once more. Tayne stopped him.

“Do you know where I can find Skye?” asked Tayne.

“I walked past her on the way here. She was in the, um, training yard with some others, I think,” said Jesse, his brow creasing. “By the way, how come you can’t tell Wrain yourself? I don’t mind or anything, just wondering.”

Tayne gave him a wry smile. “Because,” he said. “If I go, I’ll be caught up in politics all day and I don't feel like playing their games at the moment. That’s why Wrains there at the moment. I need to be away from that to sort this mess out.”

“Ah. Okay. Sorry. Um, yea I’ll be going now then. If that’s okay?” asked Jesse, already halfway out the door.

“Silverborn, dismissed!” Tayne said playfully as he watched Jesse scamper out into the corridor. Once the blonde knight was gone, he picked up the second report and began reading it thoroughly. His thoughts briefly returned to the blacksmith after he finished.

I really should convince him to move, thought Tayne absentmindedly. For his convenience and ours. Perhaps Karrosh would be more willing after last night’s events. He glanced over the report again, ensuring he hadn’t missed any vital details.

Once sure, Tayne strapped his scabbard to his belt and strode out into the corridor.

*+*+*+*

Clashing steel greeted Tayne as he entered the training grounds.

Several pairs of Silverborn stood facing each other, feet stirring up a dust in the light breeze. Others stood near the edges, dancing around dummies and landing glancing blows on the still forms. Tayne cast his gaze around, seeking his target. It didn’t take him long to realise why a crowd of silver clad knights were gathering around the middle of the area.

In the centre of the dirt ground was Skye. She faced off against two Silverborn that Tayne recognised from Luke’s training group. Sure enough, Luke stood a few metres off to the side, arms folded and watching intently. Tayne moved into the crowd and remained silent, curious to how it would play out.

The first initiate, James, was the first to move. He closed the distance between himself and the elf with three quick steps. The second, Daniel, lurched into action after seeing his partner commence his assault. Luke shook his head. Tayne understood. Daniel hadn’t been prepared when he moved. He was now struggling to recover his rhythm.

James lifted his sword and stepped past Skye, aiming a glancing blow at her arm. Nimbly, she danced out of the sword’s path. Expecting her to parry his strike, James stumbled when he met no resistance. His arms flew out to the side as he tried to retain his balance. Skye didn’t give him the chance. Quickly stepping around, she brought a booted foot under his legs. James crashed into the dirt with a cry of surprise.

The entire sequence took little more than five seconds, during which Daniel edged around, hoping to catch her from behind. He lifted his sword to strike, but hesitated. Skye spun around, aiming a lightning fast hit to his left. Daniel retracted his sword to defend his side. Tayne raised an eyebrow, impressed. The knight was quick.

Before he caught her blow on his sword, Skye reversed her grip and changed her target to his now exposed right side. Completely off guard by her tactic, Daniel fumbled. His sword was knocked to the ground with a loud clatter a few seconds later as she twisted her blade around his and disarmed him.

“End!” called Luke, ensuring they understood before striding between the combatants. James was still on the ground, staring at Skye with a kind of awe written on his face. Daniel glanced between his hand and his sword, trying to figure out exactly how she’d done it. “Now, which of you can tell me the three fatal errors these two just made?” said Luke, addressing a small group of initiates to his left.

Skye stepped back, pulling James to his feet. She remained silent, watching Luke without expression.

An initiate spoke up. “Daniel hesitated before striking.”

Luke nodded. “The most obvious one. In real combat against a demon, if you hesitate, they will kill you. They don’t hesitate. They have no qualm about killing you. Daniel, I’ve told you that before. Even in spars, don’t hesitate. Although I doubt you would have an issue killing a demon, you don’t want to train the habit. Very, very bad idea. If you’re that worried about injuring your partner, soften the blow or glance it to the side.” Daniel accepted the criticism, nodding his head. Luke continued. “Now, what was mistake number two?”

James scowled. “I expected her to do something and she didn’t do it. Threw me off balance. Stupid of me.”

“Good. And the third?”

The initiates looked at each other. A few gave suggestions, all to which Luke shook his head at. After the fourth try, Skye added her voice to the mix.

“They didn’t attack me together.”

“Exactly. Thank you. Silverborn, this is the most basic thing of your training. As an individual, you are strong. But against a tainted? Your chances of survival are greatly increased if...” Tayne tuned out of Luke’s lecture, instead devoting his attention to Skye.

Something was off. Her voice was flat, lacking any kind of real emotion. She seemed withdrawn. Shoulders hunched, she stood staring into the ground with her fingers wrapped tightly around the hilt of her sword. He briefly wondered if there’d been an altercation yesterday while she was out with Jesse.

Be reasonable, he thought. The first thing Jesse would have done is told you about it. Remember how he acted on the return trip when she was in trouble. He’d do anything for her. Vaguely, he realised that she might be the key to drawing him out of his shell. He pushed the notion aside for now, pushing his way through the crowd to the front. Skye noticed him, her emerald eyes flicking up from the ground and peering at him through her fringe of hair. She nodded once in greeting and drew herself up.

That was how he remembered her. “Pardon me, but I need to be taking your star example, Luke,” said Tayne as he approached.

“Gee, I suppose. Although I may have to do the fighting by myself. Is that really what you want Tayne?” teased Luke.

Tayne rolled his eyes. “You’re a big boy. Initiates, you have my permission to hit him really hard. If you can manage it, of course.” Cautious laughter rose up in the group as the initiates glanced at each other nervously.

Tayne beckoned to Skye, and she followed him out of the training grounds.

They walked in silence, heading up from the Silverborn compound to the palace atop the hill via the main road. Tayne observed the elf from the corner of his eye, trying to pin down her mood. Shoulders hunched and arms wrapped around her waist, she lacked the sense of self-assurance. Deciding questions were in order, Tayne chose the one he deemed to be the least nosy. Combat.

 “How long have you been working with them?” he asked.

She shrugged. “About an hour.”

 “Did Luke ask you to join him?” Tayne asked quickly, determined to keep the conversation moving.

“No,” she said, shaking her head. “I heard them in the corridor and decided I’d been inactive with a blade for long enough.”

“And he stuck you in the deep end straight away?”

“I wouldn’t exactly call them the deep end.”

Tayne put a hand on her shoulder to stop her. She looked up to see what the problem was, glancing around as if noticing where she was for the first time. Her reaction reinforced his determination. Even in the short while he’d known her, Skye had never, ever become so detached from the world around her. Something plagued her thoughts, and being direct was the only way to get an answer from her.

 “What’s wrong?”

Her eyes widened with surprise. Skye opened her lips to reply, but Tayne stopped her.

“Don’t tell me you're fine. I know something’s wrong,” he said quietly. She dropped her gaze, staring at the ground once more. He squeezed her shoulder gently. “What happened with you and Jesse yesterday?”

Instead of replying, Skye turned and tried to keep walking. Tayne stepped in her path, grasping her other wrist gently. He turned her back towards him, stooping to try and meet her gaze. She turned her head from him, her hair creating a barrier between their gazes.

“I’m only asking because I’m worried for you, Skye. Really. If someone attacked you, threatened you--“

Skye cut him off. “Nothing happened. Honestly.” She sighed, apparently knowing it wouldn’t be enough for Tayne. “We ate bread. Looked at glass. He took me to see the blacksmith that repairs your armour. Karrosh, I think his name was. He seemed nice.”

“Then what?” asked Tayne. He knew there was something she wasn’t telling him. That sense of detachment was still present in her voice. She was with him, but she wasn’t. Tayne tried to push the sense of frustration down, telling himself how hard it must be for her, being in a strange city filled with people who gave her cautious glances and warded themselves after she passed. They weren’t exactly subtle.

 “I...I just had a rough night. That’s all. I promise. Nothing happened yesterday,” she said quietly. She glanced around. “The people looked at me strangely, as if I’m something to fear, but I’ve been judged before. It’s disconcerting, but I can handle it. Happened in Naisha too, so I'm no stranger to it.”

“Are you sure?” asked Tayne, watching her reactions closely.

Skye turned her head sharply and glared at him. “What are you, my father? I’m sure. Stop asking me.” She shook his hands off her arms angrily, crossing them over her body once more.

Tayne held up his hands for peace. “Okay, okay. I’m sorry. I’m just worried. There was an attack in that area last night, closest to the ward near the blacksmith’s.”

The anger evaporated from her posture. “An attack? By people?”

“Demons broke through the ward, somehow. Only a few imps, but I’m not sure what it means. We could have a huge security issue on our hands, or it could have been complete chance,” said Tayne. "It's part of where we're going now. I'm hoping to do some research."

Skye looked bothered. “Did... did people die last night?” she asked.

Seeing no reason to lie to her, Tayne nodded. “Six, at least. Another two are missing, and more are critically injured.”

"Do you think it's it my fault that those people died?" 

Tayne frowned. He repeated her question in his mind. "How in the Celestial's name did you come to that conclusion?" 

Skye brought her hands to her face, blinking furiously. “Someone... someone told me that the farmers die often working in Alguarde’s fields. But does that mean you shouldn’t put yourself at risk for them? Why do their lives have any less significance? And yet, they die anyway. Does that mean they aren’t significant? That they aren’t worth saving?”

Tayne stared at her, watching her struggle to keep the tears from her face as she spoke. “I really don’t thin--“ he began, but Skye kept talking.

“I have this power, this... magic," she said, staring at her hands in front of her. "But what good is it if I can’t use it to save people? What good am I? I feel like I should be doing more. Those people last night. If I were there, I’d have been able to save them. To stop the demons. But I wasn’t, and I shouldn’t have been anyway because otherwise I’m putting everyone else at risk!" She flung her hands away angrily. "It’s not just me anymore, but I can’t not do anything!”

Skye was almost yelling. Tayne grasped her hands firmly.

“Shh. Calm down. Who have you been listening to? Donovan? Alice? Who? Tell me Skye, who did you meet yesterday that gave you that idea?” When she remained silent, he phrased it another way. “Why do you think you’re putting everyone else at risk?” he asked, not entirely sure where the words spilling out of her causeway of thoughts were coming from.

“Because I’m the only one who can stop the shadow Sentinel." Skye squeezed his fingers. "Tayne, I can’t handle this. I just can’t handle knowing that every person in Alguarde, my village and anyone else who lives under the shadow is relying on me,” she said, tears lurking in the corner of her eyes. “Once, I would have said I could, but I wasn’t thinking. Does that mean I can’t save anyone? That more people will die because of me?”

“Skye, look at me,” said Tayne. She shook her head slightly, and he tried again. “Look at me.”

She lifted her gaze, eventually meeting his eyes. They were crouched by the side of the road now, with curious passerbys watching their exchange. Tayne worked hard to keep his voice level, to keep the confusion out of his words. He didn’t understand her sudden change of heart, nor exactly what had caused it but he’d seen this sort of thing before. Although it’d been with minor cases in his Silverborn, worried about letting down the group, he had a vague idea how to handle it.

“Those deaths were not your fault. In no way, shape or form are you responsible. If you were there, you may have been able to stop them, but you may also have been killed. You can save people. You saved my Silverborn. You saved me. But you need to understand that people will die. This is a war, and you cannot physically be everywhere at once. You’re how old?” he asked.

She blinked. “Nineteen,” she said. “But what does--“

“Exactly,” said Tayne, not giving her a chance to reply. “You have more responsibility than anyone in Alguarde. Even me, and I've got three years up on you. The King’s responsibility is to Alguarde and the other cities, but yours extends to the whole of Lerelia. For now, learn. Become stronger until you can face it. I will help you when the time comes. You will not stand alone.”

Skye took a deep breath. "I think I'm going to need you if we're going to get through this. Thank you, Tayne." She gave him a self-depriciating laugh. "I swear I'm not usually a mess. I think the magic is affecting me more than I'd like it to--you're not the only one that was thrown off by the trees."

Tayne accepted her thanks, inclining his head. “Think nothing of it. You're in this with us now, and we'll handle it together, okay?" 

Skye nodded. "Together, then. Can we visit the injured from last night?"

“Of course." Tayne was eager to encourage any positive use of her magic for the people. "They’re in the castle infirmary with the physicians, near to where we’re headed now. They’re in a fairly stable condition at the moment. Donovan is questioning them. We’ll be able to get to them in an hour I should think."

"What are we doing for an hour, then?" asked Skye.

"It's a surprise," said Tayne mysteriously. "One I think you might find extremely useful for figuring out your magic." 

Together, they headed towards the fortified entrance of Castle Alguarde. 

*+*+*+*

The walls of the castle rose up around them as they passed through the gates.

Instead of turning right, towards the magnificent arches leading to the throne room, Tayne went left into a narrow corridor with Skye close on his heels. Where large, light coloured stone would have made up the tapestry and candle covered walls in any other part of the palace, dark earthen walls stood steady around them. The brackets on the walls to hold torches looked more like branches than anything crafted, and there was no plush carpet beneath their feet. Just a layer of dust that kicked up as they walked. 

"This is different," said Skye, craning her neck around. 

"Wouldn't expect to find this in here, would you?" said Tayne. 

They arrived at a huge, double-panel wooden door with no handles.

It was a deep, rich brown colour, standing at twice Tayne’s height. Reinforced iron strips lined the heavy wood. It looked solid, stable and completely unmovable. Scratch that, it was unmovable. Several people had tried in the past to open them. He only knew what lay inside because of Wrain. The strange marking embedded in the door was the only clue to what was sealed inside, and Tayne finally knew what it was.

Skye’s eyes widened as she approached. “What in the deities is that guarding?” she asked.

“This, my good elf, is an old Sentinel library. The King finally approved permission for you to use it, though the deities only know why it took him that long.”

Skye stared at him in disbelief. “Really? Wasn't the Sentinel library destroyed?” she asked uncertainly.

"The one where the Sentinel academy used to stand, yes," said Tayne. "But they had others scattered around the land that survived, and one is right here in Alguarde." 

Excitement lit Skye's face.  She pressed her palms to the door eagerly. It took her a moment to realise the problem.

“How do we open it?" she said, confused. "There’s no handles.”

“According to Wrain, it has to be opened by a magical touch,” said Tayne. “And I do believe you have one of those.”

Skye drew her hands back from the door, her gaze shifting between her palms and Tayne. A small light flickered on her palm before fading out of existence. She tried again, only to have the light die a second time. She clenched her hand, staring at it with a pained look on her face.

Deciding Skye needed encouragement, Tayne spoke up. “You can do it. I believe in you.”

She turned to face him. “Do I deserve this? The Sentinels of old were guardians, protectors of the innocent... do I even deserve their title?”

“You do. You are their legacy. Hang on--I think there's something the King wanted me to read. " He drew out the note from earlier and cleared his throat dramatically. "Sentinel Skye, guardian of the nature element and defender of Alguarde’s people, on behalf of the King, I present to you Alguarde’s library!."

She raised an eyebrow at him. Tayne just grinned. 

"Hey, I just do what I'm told." 

Skye shook her head. "Even if I don't deserve it, I can't just pass it over to someone who does. I'm stuck with it, and I swear to the deities I'm going to do my best." 

Light burst to life as Skye opened her palm. “But I am the defender of all people. Not just Alguarde’s, not just humans. Anyone who needs me.” With the words, she turned and pressed her palm into the door’s wood.

Fluorescent emerald lines wound their way up the door, carving patterns into the frame and tracing the lines that delicately curved over its surface. All found their way to the symbol etched into the wood. The symbol lit up with a brilliant blaze of green lights, illuminating Skye and casting the corridor in a spectacular array of colour.

Skye closed her eyes. A burst of air pushed her hair back, lighting her streak with golden light. Tayne braced himself against it, shielding his face with his arms.

On her arm, a mark perfectly matching the symbol on the door glowed. The Sentinel mark.

The door opened silently, swinging back into the darkness. 

It revealed a spiral staircase, leading down into the earth. They descended the stairs cautiously, wary of every shadow and crevice.

The only light came from Skye’s palm. It flickered over the stone walls, casting an eerie glow around the ancient library. Every few seconds, the light caught a shiny object apparently not overcome with centuries of dust, and the light would spill into different corners of the room giving them a brief glimpse of the wonders this room held.

Tayne stayed close to her, one hand resting on his sword. As far as he knew, no one had been down here in centuries. There could be anything lurking in the darkness, although he doubted it. The Sentinel libraries were a well guarded thing in previous times. It was a sanctuary of their secrets. From what Wrain had told him, only a few select Silverborn were allowed entry at any time.

The Stone solid beneath his feet, Tayne edged forward. Avoiding the books and objects that lay scattered on the floor was a task in itself. The magic humming in the air rubbed against his nerves, grating against his sense of purpose and will. 

Something doesn't want me here.

Beside him, Skye carefully placed her feet on the carpets, eyeing everything warily. Her steps barely made a noise, as if stalking her prey in the forest. The light emanating from the mark on her arm glowed stronger with each passing second. As her palm-light flickered and a shadow moved, Skye tensed. Her muscles hardened and the mark on her arm shifted in position. 

Tayne took a deep breath to calm his racing heart. There is nothing here that can hurt you while she is beside you, he thought, Wrain’s words ringing through his head. ‘The Sentinel that opens the door, that breaks the threshold guarding the secrets, is the one that controls its guardians. Few things are more powerful than a Sentinel in their library.’

While he admitted he didn’t understand all of Wrain’s teachings, he saw the basic truth in it. Skye opened the library, she was in control.

He hoped.

As if sensing his discomfort, Skye gave him a nervous glance. “We have to go this way,” she said, eyes peering into the darkness once more as she searched for something unknown to him. She indicated between two shelves containing a selection of golden baubles. “There are voices, whispering to me. I think they’re guardians. I can feel them in the air. They don’t know what we are. They’ve forgotten.”

“Will they hurt us?” whispered Tayne.

Skye shook her head, the teal light emanating from her streak shifting. “No. You have their permission to be here. They’re recognising me as the new... master of the library.” 

“Ah.” Wrain’s words confirmed, Tayne relaxed slightly. It only lasted a moment. Skye suddenly straightened up and lifted her head defiantly, staring into to darkness.

 “You shall not refer to me as the master,” she called out, causing Tayne to jump at the unexpected noise. “That title has been tainted. You will abide by my wishes.”

Her declaration was loud, disturbing in the silence. Something in the air shifted, and he swore something brushed against his leg. He shivered involuntarily. The previous confidence once again drained from his being. Deities, he hated feeling like this.

“Are you sure you should be doing that?” whispered Tayne.

In response, she rolled her eyes. “Yes. Follow me.”

Skye increased her pace, her strides confident and assured as she glided across the carpet. She wove her way through shelves, books and cases in what seemed to be no particular order. 

A statuette of a bird resting on a board drew Tayne’s eye. The design was flawless, each feather carved from the metal in intricate detail. Silvery-green in colour, its emerald eyes watched the adjacent shelf where a dagger lay upon white stone flowers.

Caught up with the figures, Tayne stumbled over a book. Skye turned back to him, eyes wide in silent warning. He glanced down at his feet, cursing himself for being so careless. As he gently replaced the book, a curious sensation prickled his back. On impulse, he turned back to the bird. 

It still sat, perched atop the board in frozen serenity. 

But the emerald stare was now focussed completely on Tayne.

Tayne ripped his gaze away from it. Intruders to the sanctum - that’s what they were. The bird knew. They all knew. His imagination ran wild for a moment before he shook himself of the fanciful notion. He’d just seen it wrong, that was all. 

A moment later, he couldn’t help but glance over his shoulder. He told himself it was basic security, although he knew otherwise. The bird still sat, watching as they passed. 

He'd had no idea the library was this enormous size, but then no one had. Wrain had never actually been inside. Glancing up at the carved ceiling, he wondered which part of Alguarde they were under. The room seemed unending. So busy he was, examining the surrounding shadows for threats, Tayne almost ran into Skye when she stopped yet again.

She put a hand on his chest. “Stay here. I don’t know how it’ll react after I activate it,” she said, moving towards something protruding from the ground. Tayne remained where he was when she moved away. His hand crept to the hilt of his sword.

‘It’ turned out to be a pedestal made of a shiny white stone that glinted from Skye’s light. The pillar was round and smooth, flaring out into a cascade of masterfully constructed curves and twists. The peak was a flat surface, upon which rested an open book. Narrowing his eyes, Tayne could see the pages were old and worn, completely contrasted to the thing on which it sat. It looked fragile, as if the lightest touch would crumble the flimsy page. Words which he didn't recognise were printed upon in it a careful handwriting.

Skye twisted her hands through the air, splashing emerald light around the room. The light glimmering around her now swirled in beautifully complicated patterns. Gold flecks that danced like tiny pixies upon the air waves appeared, increasing the brilliance. She exhaled loudly, blinking slowly and raising her hands high.

Bathed in the golden-green light, she looked like a deity. She emanated a power and grace any royal would be jealous of. Nothing Alice could do would ever compare to this. He held his breath, unwilling to break the spell.

In a swift downward stroke, Skye brought her fingers to touch the book. She stroked the surface of the book and leant over, he guessed, to read the words upon its pages. “Ash - the master calls, awaken again,” she said softly.

The effect was instantaneous. A crackling noise echoed throughout the room, bouncing off everything as if discovering freedom for the first time. Orbs of white light bloomed near the ceiling, banishing the shadows and revealing the walls to be covered in vines and other plant life. They twisted over each other, holding back the wall of dirt that threatened to crush this store of knowledge. The light in Skye’s hands extinguished, although her hair and mark remained alight. She turned back to Tayne, who looked on, awestruck.

So quietly that he almost missed it, Skye murmured into her hands. “I think I understand now. I understand why you can call a hundred lives insignificant, but it does not mean I accept it.”

Puzzled by her sudden change in mood once more, Tayne opened his mouth to speak. Seeing the question upon his lips, Skye shook her head gently. “That was not for you to hear, Silverborn. I am sorry.”

Silverborn? he wondered. Why on earth is she calling me Silverborn?

“What?” asked Tayne.

“It matters not. Look at where we stand,” said Skye. Her face shifted back to him. “I have never imagined anything like this to be possible, Tayne. The magic, it’s alive!”

Tayne raised his arm to his face, examining it. His skin no longer crawled. Instead, the magic appeared to be soothing it. Although he couldn’t see it, the occasional spark caressing his skin broadcasted the library’s acceptance of him. Skye picked up a scroll, unrolling it and scanning its contents.

“This all exists beneath Alguarde?” asked Tayne, casting his eyes around the room. It seemed impossible, yet here it was. Turning around, he realised they hadn’t walked as far as he’d thought. The staircase was still visible, planted in the centre of the room. "How'd you know what to do?"

Skye put down the scroll and waved her arms in the air. Light moved around her, swirling around her form leaving sparks in its wake. “They told me,” she said simply. “That pedestal is the focal point of the room. You are welcome here now, along with the rest of the Silverborn. There are more treasures hidden in this room Verdrana might find interesting. Others may enter as well, granted they have my permission at the time.

“And if they don’t?” asked Tayne, slightly nervous.

She turned, a mischievous look upon on her face. “I can show you, if you like.”

“As long as I’m not the victim of the demonstration.”

Skye shook her head, clearly trying to contain her laughter.

“No. Donovan just discovered the door was open.” 

*+*+*+*