Caine stood in the castle library. All the shelves in the room were empty. Their books all laid on the floor, some closed, others opened.

The search for the Book of Dark Magic had begun the day before and Caine had his warriors searching the castle library. Every shelf and drawer were searched, but they had come up empty.

Caine was angry, but it made sense. They wouldn't put a book like that in a library with normal books. But where else could it be? Was it even in the castle?

He wanted to slap himself when the answer to his own question came to him. Would the king even have any business with a book like that? No. But he knew who would.

"Warriors! Search the rest of the castle for the book" he loudly instructed, wanting to make sure he didn't miss anything.

As the warriors walked out of the room he turned to Abdul who was standing next to him.

"Get me some more warriors, we have a few old friends of mine we need to visit"

°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°

Alianor read the black cloth covered book, as she occasionally looked up to see where she was going.

The journey was beginning to become tiring. They were no longer walking on flat ground, but up a hill. Reading while walking caused her to slow down, and Alianor found herself at the back of the pack. As always, Henry tried to take the lead, even though he didn't have the map anymore. He would ask Ryia which way to go and she'd tell him. Right behind him was her best friend. By a number of times she saw Henry shook his head, she was pretty sure Jacquelyn was talking his ears off.

In the middle were the best friends Philip and Ryia. Alianor had dubbed them that. They were always together and vibed with each other well, just like her and Jacquelyn.

For the millionth time that day she looked up to see where she was going and back down at the book. But before she could start reading again, her head shot back up. She squinted her eyes at the pair in front of her. She could have sworn she saw them holding hands.

She was about to look away but then she saw it again! It was subtle and quick. Philip had held onto her fingers with his only holding on for a second before letting go.

She squinted at the pair again...what was going on with them? She smirked to herself as she saw it happen again, this time he held on for a little longer before letting go.

There was a little secret romance going on, and she was the only one who now knew.

Alianor quickly looked back to her book when Philip turned. He was checking to see if she was looking. He then turned back to Ryia, his full attention on her, not knowing that Alianor's eyes were on them again.

She smiled to herself again, there was something powerful about knowing a secret...a good one at least.

The hand holding continued as they walked uphill, but it eventually ceased when the group stopped in front of a steep cliff.

"Why are we stopping?" Alianor asked

"Because there's a mountain in our way" Jacquelyn answered teasingly pointing to the front of them

"It's a cliff actually," Ryia said looking down at the map in front of her " And we have to climb it to get to the table"

"There's no alternate route?" Henry asked

"Not that I can tell. The drawing of the path goes right over this cliff" she answered

"This can't be our only choice right?" he questioned "There has to be asked safer easier way"

"Maybe this is the safer easier way," Philip said

No one responded. This was the forbidden forest, they knew he had a good point.

"So we have to climb...up that?" Jacquelyn eventually asked pointing again

"Yep" Ryia answered

"And how are we supposed to do that?"

"I have no idea"

All of them stared up at the steep cliff, ideas going through their heads on how to get up there. Alianor groaned to herself, why did finding a table involve so much scary physical activity?

°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°

Alistair sat in his study, his best friend with him. They were doing one of their favorite past times, Zoricus talking while he listened. His daughter, son-in-law, and grandson were all in the kitchen, helping his wife with dinner. It seemed like a regular day at the Coastillon household, except it wasn't. Right outside of the door was a few shadow warriors, each given instructions to keep a very close eye on them and the house.

It was difficult for them, being able to do what they wanted in the house, but not being able to leave at all. It felt like a prison. A very nice prison where the food was amazing and the sleeping arrangements were good.

The former guardians were pulled from their one-way conversation by the loud knock on the door. The two looked at each other, who could be knocking at the door? Was it a citizen that needed help? How did they get past the warriors? Maybe it was a warrior itself. The two quickly got up from their seats, left the room, and headed to the front door. The rest of the household soon found themselves in the foyer, they had also heard the knock and came to see who it was.

Alistair approached the door and opened it. He was greeted with the smiling face of Caine.

"Hello brother," Caine said

"You knocked, how polite of you" Alistair answered

"I didn't want to just barge in"

Zoricus scoffed.

"Why are you here?" Alistair asked

"Can't a man just come over to check up on some old friends? See how they're holding up?"

"We all know you don't care about us," Zoricus said

"That's very true" he admitted before getting to his real reason "The book of Dark Magic, I want it"

"Unfortunately, I don't have it" Alistair answered

"Neither do I" Zoricus added

"You're lying!" Caine shouted "I'm sure one of you took it after I was banished"

"We haven't seen that book in decades" Alistair corrected

He didn't believe them. If anyone had the book, it was one of them. The book was still in his possession when the barrier was created, there was no way any of the former guardians on the other side would have it.

"It's in here somewhere, or at your house," he said pointing to Zoricus "I know it"

"You're welcomed to look around if you like" Alistair offered, his best friend nodded

"Very well" Caine smiled "Warriors!"

Instantly, shadow warriors came through the door and filled the foyer

"You.." he pointed to the group on the left "...search the house. The rest of you, find Zoricus' house and search it too"

With that, they went out in every direction. There was now a silence among the people left in the foyer. An intense gaze between the former guardians.

"Why don't we all have a seat and wait," Caine said

Alistair didn't want Caine's behind on his furniture, but he had to let him stay. The quicker his warriors searched the quicker they would be out of there. He sent the rest of his family to the kitchen, and he and Zoricus lead Caine to the sitting room.

And that's all they did there, sit. Glare at each other and sit. The only time the glares softened was when Catherine came in and offered them something to drink.

A small bit of time had passed before they were interrupted by Abdul.

"Master," he said not coming closer but standing next to the door

"You found the book?"

Abdul shook his head, but the look he gave his master showed that he needed to speak with him privately about something important.

Caine got up from his seat and made his way to his trusted warrior. They spoke in hushed tones for a while, then Abdul handed something to him. The two reentered the room and Caine stood in front of Alistair. He pulled a book from behind his back and showed it to him.

Alistair stiffened, looking at the book in front of him, regretting giving the invite to search his house. He dreaded answering the question Caine asked next.

"Who is Alianor?"

°~°~°~°~°~°~°~° 

And there it is, Chapter 14. Don't hesitate to tell me what you think in the comments. And if you like it, be sure to vote!