Embers in the Dust

It was useless to make it through the academy and try to disguise oneself, to hide in a classroom all day. Instead, Humboldt waited through the morning until he saw one of them leaving Lyrical Lute. His cloak up and keeping a small distance back, he followed Rhokhishi as she made her way to a library in the Frostgarden Wayside district of the city, only a few minutes away from the inn. He waited outside for half an hour to ensure it wasn’t a quick in-and-out situation, then went inside. It was filled with people of all ages and kinds, so he doubted he would be noticed. Even if he did, finding him here wouldn’t be odd, though it would change some of his plans.

Rhokhishi made her way to one of the librarians and managed to accumulate four large books, old and dusty, that she put in front of her as she started skimming through them. Humboldt grabbed a book off the nearest shelf and opened it, keeping one eye on her and the other he casually read, not to waste his time.

He watched as the half-orc spent her morning and some of the afternoon reading over texts. She got up only once to pour a glass of water out of a pitcher near the main desks but immediately returned to her reading. Humboldt was only halfway through his reading and watching when he saw one of the twins from the carnival walk in and make her way toward Rhokhishi.

“You will not believe the day I’ve had,” she said as she sat opposite Rhokhishi.

“What happened?”

“You have to promise not to get mad,” she laughed a little as she spoke.

“Promise.”

“I went to the church, you know? The Duodenary?”

“Yeah, it’s the Olympian church. What about it?”

“Well, I went in and talked to some of them, and they guided me through a ritual, where I met… I don’t even really know who. When I left, I heard one saying it was a Primordial?”

“You’re not going to believe this either, then,” Rhokhishi said while turning her book to her friend.

Humboldt flipped a page in his book, clearly no longer reading it but wanting to keep up the appearance. He heard the twin gasp.

“Wait. Do you think your change in ability was because of this?”

“It’s possible. What if the ancient being that spoke to me in that vision was one of the Primordials?”

“That’s big, Rho…”

“I don’t really know how to tell, though. I haven’t had any other dreams or visions since the first one.”

“Do you… Do you think The Duodenary could help? They could do what they did for me, and if it is, maybe you’ll at least get a name or something?”

“It’s worth a try.”

Humboldt listened as they both got up and grabbed their things. He turned slightly to see them walking together, returning the books to the front desk. After a few marks of gratitude, they clasped each other’s hands and left.

He moved quickly, leaving his book on the table and entering the street. He wouldn’t have to trail either of them, as he knew where they were going, so he kept a longer distance than he usually would. Humboldt watched as they made their way into the church, and he sat down on a bench near a small glass-cased brazier and waited.

Half an hour passed, and Humboldt watched as people moved in and out of the church or down the street, running their errands and various other tasks that those without power do. He thought of Volundr, heading to Fairhaven, and wondered if Helena was already on her way to him. They had already found the other necromancer and brought him to Miofell, and the child she kept with her constantly seemed to be a key to everything she had planned. Humboldt looked up just in time to see the twin and Rhokhishi walking out of the church with pained expressions on their faces.

“I’m sorry, Rho.”

“It’s okay. I felt something, so that means there is hope.”

He watched as they walked back towards the inn. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small stone. Bringing it up to his lips, he whispered into it.

“Heading back to you. Get ready.”

He wasn’t sure how he would return in time before they arrived, but Humboldt knew he had to try. Under his cloak, he conjured a small owl to appear. Bringing it out in front of him, he looked into its eyes.

“Follow them. Do not let them out of your sight.”

The owl spread its wings and soared into the air. Hastily, Humboldt moved down the street and turned at the first alleyway, hoping to get to the inn first. This was an easy chance, but they would have to be quick.

Stepping into Lyrical Lute, he went up the stairs to the bedrooms. He closed his eyes and focused his magic. When he opened them again, he saw through the owl’s eyes. It was perched on the roof’s edge, just down the street from The Duodenary.

They must have stopped.

Turning the owl’s head and looking through its eyes, he saw the twin running back towards the church. As she made her way to the open doors, she shouted something inside and was followed back into the street by one of the Archbishops. He carried a diamond in his hand.

He watched as they turned back down the street, where vines had bursted out of the ground and were wrapped around a body, Rhokhishi’s body. The owl flew down to one of the benches, only a few feet away. The twin sat near the Archbishop, who was casting a revival spell over Rhokhishi’s body. After a moment, the diamond shattered, the vines peeled back, and Rhokhishi took in a breath of air. She sat up, looking at the twin and the Archbishop.

“Ananke. Their name is Ananke.”

Sir, the Archmage is returning. He heard in his mind.

Humboldt blinked again, his senses returning to him at the inn. He looked over to the three other cloaked figures around him. Nodding to command them, he pushed his arcane essence out, shattering the doors to each bedroom on the second floor. He rushed into the room in front of him and was ecstatic. This was the room he needed. Quickly, he tore the room apart.

“WHERE IS IT?” He shouted angrily as he tried to find the book.

They’re rounding the corner, sir. What do we do?

Head to the rendezvous point. NOW! He commanded.

He could hear the shuffling of his men running down the stairs. Glass shattered as they ran out the door or jumped through the front windows of the building. Angrily, he took a step forward and walked through the doorway. Instead of walking out into the hallway on the second floor of Lyrical Lute, he was inside a large room. The space was filled with empty chairs and tables. It was dark, too early for the tavern to be open. As he stepped forward, he could hear sounds in the kitchen.

You have done well. He spoke to the people in the room as he walked into the kitchen.

“The Guild of the Ravenglades is successful again!” A human man with dark brown hair and green eyes exalted.

The man stepped forward, his skin and hair changing with each step. By the time he reached out and took Humboldt’s hand to shake, he had transformed completely. The changeling was fair-skinned, almost gray, with hazel eyes and slicked-back, long, black hair. He smiled, his teeth dazzling in the dim light of the room. Humboldt did not take his hand, though.

“We were not successful, Rusk. While you may have caused some mayhem, the book I wanted retrieved was not found.”

“Well, I’m sorry to hear that, sir.”

“I have another task for you. Something much larger.”

“You keep funding our cause; we’ll do whatever you need.”