Walking outside onto a narrow cobblestone path, Edeline stopped for a brief moment to look over the library ahead of them. It did not look particularly special, not in comparison to the temple they had just been in. The other nearby buildings, presumably also owned by the Order, were of a similar look. Plain and ordinary, simply built. She had expected something more...grand.

  Perhaps that was planned, to draw the eyes of passerby to the main temple itself. It was not unlike the compound of the Aetheric Knights in that regard - one main central edifice that stood out, and then other buildings around it that were simple yet functional in design. The same builders may have been responsible for both.

  "Normally, we lock it up when we're not busy in here." Claris reached out and pushed the door open. "But when the knights came with no warning, there was no chance for that."

  Following them in, Edeline beheld a single large room lined with old wooden bookshelves, with a few writing desks among them. A set of four doors, two on each side, led to other rooms. It was not exactly what she would call large, but the sheer number of books tightly packed on nearly every shelf made it clear there was a bounty of knowledge and history contained here.

  She pushed past Claris, silently taking it all in. For so long, Edeline had dreamed idly of someday visiting here, just taking time to read through as much as possible. Endless poems, epic tales, the stories of years long since passed. Such dreams had kept her going, even as she had been forced to take on the responsibilities her father had abandoned as grief and enchantment tore him apart.

  And now she was here - and there would not be enough time. They had a purpose for coming to this library, and once they found the truth behind the Stormsage, they would depart. Edeline could hardly ask Myron, ask Lord Kelshir, ask the kings themselves, to pause all their schemes and efforts to allow her to indulge herself.

  The dream, it seemed, would remain a dream.

  "That's a lot of books," Nela commented from behind them "I don't think we're finding it today."

  "If you can tell me what you're looking for, I might be able to help," Claris answered.

  "We are looking for information about an Elefae thaumaturge," Myron said, "Her name was Brontyla, but she was also apparently known by the title of Stormsage."

  Claris was already shaking her head. "We don't have a lot of books on the Elefae histories or tales. And that's not a name I recognize. I can bring you a few volumes, but...I wouldn't hold much hope."

  A heavy feeling started weighing down on Edeline. All of this, and it could yet be for nothing. Still, there had to be some record, even a passing mention of the Stormsage somewhere in this collection of books. It might take a day or two to find it, but they would find it.

  "Any help is appreciated," Myron told the Aetheric scribe.

  "Curious indeed, that our goals had so much in common," Ugotlas spoke from the doorway, tail waving behind him. "Perhaps the details that I seek will be more easily found. I am looking for records of a group of Hyarchian thaumaturges known as the Elemental Hex."

  "Those...I do recognize. I think, if I'm right, it should be over here." Claris hurried over to one shelf, running a finger along the lined books.

  So Ugotlas would at least be satisfied. Edeline supposed she could live with that outcome.

  "This volume is a set of historical accounts from the early days of Hyarch," Claris said, pulling an aged tome off the shelf. "Back then, thaumaturges were quite common, and many served under the kings of Hyarch. The Elemental Hex were among the very first of those, if I recall."

  Edeline had to remind herself that Claris didn't yet know how many thaumaturges were in the room right now. For Anthyla's sake, the scribe ought to know, but even Edeline had to admit declaring the truth in front of all the assembled priests was not the best idea. Perhaps in a bit.

  Setting the book down on one of the desks carefully, Claris slowing began turning through the pages, looking for the passage. She finally settled on a page about a fourth of the way through, and began to read.

  "We are spell crafters sworn to the kingdom and Aether, in the honorable tradition of the Elemental Hex, who were there at our kingdom's beginning in the service of His High Majesty. First among them was Auriss, called the Zephyr, who even as a youth could command the very spirit of the wind itself. Second..."

  Claris trailed off, all color vanishing from her face.

  "What's wrong?" Anthyla asked, pushing past Ugotlas to stand by the priestess.

  "You...you said you were looking into someone named Brontyla?" Claris looked over at them in disbelief. "This...the account here lists her as one of the Elemental Hex."

  "What?" Edeline all but sprinted over to the desk where the book rested. "Are you serious?"

  The faded script was not easy to read, but she could make it out. "Second among them was Brontyla, called the Stormsage, so skilled in battle spells that not even the...Paleonican armies could fight against the tempests she called forth," she read out loud, disbelief growing with every word.

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  Magic to blow away armies.

  They had found it.

  What was important here though were the names. "Auriss the Zephyr. Brontyla the Stormsage. Cheoni the Snowsinger. Dimaera the Sluice. Elatreon the Sculptor. Flegeth the Searing," she recited for the others.

  "We truly were searching out the same thing." Even Ugotlas was astonished, something that she doubted any of them had expected to see.

  "May I ask what exactly you were looking for?" Myron turned to Ugotlas.

  "Since you have revealed what you were seeking, I suppose I can grant this request." Ugotlas paced towards the back of the room. "Just as you had apparently found a repository of spells that belonged to Brontyla, my fellows had discovered the existence of a powerful spell cast in the domain of Lasfont."

  As Edeline recalled, Lasfont was a town on the border between Hyarch and Remuat, further to the north still. A trade stop between the two kingdoms, and just as removed from the Spellking's war as his former home had been. She had met with merchants from there, charged with leading wagons full of goods from Remuat.

  "They determined the origin of the spell to be old Hyarchian, and with its scope, they concluded that only one could have created it." Ugotlas paused, looking at each of them before speaking again. "Dimaera of the Elemental Hex."

  Myron, who had stepped up beside her, looked down at the open book himself. "Fourth was Dimaera, called the Sluice, who with masterful arts shaped the flows of water and in turn shaped their vessels," he read.

  "I am certain that my fellow Sekhmati would be greatly interested in what you found as well. It is possible that a similar repository is in Lasfont. Perhaps we ought to extend our pact."

  Myron took in a shaky breath. "We'll discuss it among ourselves, and decide tomorrow." For everything to work out so well and line up so perfectly with what Ugotlas sought...Edeline supposed working this into their plans would take some thought.

  "Understandable, especially since I suspect you do not want me present while you share your thoughts." Ugotlas's gaze went back to Edeline. "And I too must consider the possibilities. I will take my leave. We can reach an agreement in the morning. Oh, and my gratitude for the aid of you and your companion, Lady Kelshir."

  Just like he did before, Ugotlas slowly walked out of the library, looking like he didn't have a care in the world. With what just happened, he probably did not.

  "So," Nela spoke up, breaking the thick silence that hung in the room. "Now what?"

  "We keep looking," Hamond said, "Knowing the names of thaumaturges who worked with the Stormsage tells us very little. Does the book record what became of Brontyla and the Elemental Hex?"

  Or in more plain words, how they died. Edeline was not sure if you could consider being trapped in a stone statue for countless years to be death, but she didn't see any way it could be considered life. After all, Edeline had seen a few of the memories of the Stormsage, being exposed to the energies released when Brontyla had been set free from whatever enchantment bound her there. Edeline knew, almost as if she had experienced it herself, just how terrible the long years alone in the dark had been.

  Claris looked down the page, then flipped the next page over. "Here is something," she said, then began to read again. "Perhaps, when the time comes, we shall be called on to sacrifice ourselves as the Elemental Hex did before us. We shall gladly rejoin Aether, fulfilling our oaths to the kingdom. Loyalty repaid in turn, as it always has held true for Hyarch."

  "Whoever wrote this saw the Elemental Hex as honorable," Myron noted.

  "Undo the betrayal," Edeline muttered to herself, recalling the statue's words. That loyalty...it had to be a lie. Something had happened, something this book did not record, that ended with the Stormsage trapped under Hallowscroft.

  "That's it, isn't it?" Claris suddenly asked, eyes widening, "You...you found the Stormsage's tomb."

  "In a sense," Edeline replied. Everything they had said and found did point to that being the only conclusion. It was not entirely correct, but it was probably as close as someone like Claris, who lacked an understanding of thaumaturgy, could get.

  "Wait a moment," Hamond said, motioning for silence. "Teleios horama." He began to look around the room, searching for something. What spell he was looking for, Edeline could not tell, but she would trust in his judgment.

  "Do not worry," Anthyla told Claris, who now looked like she very much was worrying. "They did save the elves and the Episkopiate."

  Wait, they had mentioned they had used spells in battling the knights...hadn't they? No, Edeline remember, that had just been in their discussion with the Episkopiate. The priests had not been told how it happened.

  Curse it all, she hadn't thought about that.

  Hamond finished his search. "Good, no sign of him lurking, so we can speak freely." It was obvious Hamond meant Ugotlas.

  "Go ahead then," Anthyla said.

  "In Hallowscroft, we all saw what people were willing to do to get possession of such spells before," Hamond looked at Edeline, "I am unsure what these sphinxes will try to do in this pursuit."

  If they had known back in Faehaven, Edeline possible would have chosen not to make a pact with Ugotlas. Despite that, it could not be denied that it would have been much more difficult to get to this point without Ugotlas's help. And it was the only real clue they had.

  Unless...

  Reaching over, Edeline gently flipped the page back over to the previous one. "What is it?" Claris asked.

  "Looking at the others," Edeline said, then started to read the remaining descriptions. "Third was Cheoni, called the Snowsinger, owning a command of spells and songs in harmony that could reach out and freeze even the hottest heart."

  "Spells and songs," Myron said softly.

  "Fifth was Elatreon, called the Sculptor, who over a lifetime crafted various servitors of stone that served in war and peace," Edeline continued, "Last was Flegeth, called the Searing, who imbued beast and man alike with the gift of flame."

  "Interesting to know, but these don't help us make a choice about the cat," Nela pointed out.

  "We'll have to discuss it later," Myron told them, "Ugotlas will expect an answer tomorrow."

  "So you plan on seeking any other tombs of the Elemental Hex?" Claris said slowly, "Can I ask why?"

  "As long as you swear to keep what we say secret," Edeline quickly said, "To put it simply, the Stormsage left us a final request."

  "What...what does that mean?" Anthyla blinked, "She's dead, so how could she give you a message? Or do you mean-"

  "Excuse me," a voice came from the door. A younger priest was peering into the library. "Lady Kelshir, Scribe Claris, the Episkopiate has asked to meet with you both privately."

  Anthyla let out a breath, clearly not happy. "Very well, we shall come. We will have to discuss this matter at a later point."

  "Also, it should not be much longer before the food is ready. You may want to return to the main temple soon."

  "I suppose we'd better leave," Myron side, stepping forward, "We did learn quite a bit."

  Indeed, they had. Not exact locations of where to go, but they at least had some details to work with. Wait for us, Edeline silently promised the Elemental Hex, even though there was no way they could know of them. The remaining five would be released from their suffering.

  No matter what it took.