‘You sure this is a good idea? Your ancestor seems nicer than I’d expect, but his notes might be a little out of date.’

Ever since she’d been praised by her ancestor, and given some ancient book of his, Janaxia had spent virtually all her time reading it, deciphering whatever arcane lore it contained.

‘Ashfall Keep disappeared centuries ago, and has never been re-discovered, outside of a few crazed travellers spouting deranged tales of banshees and ghosts. It was considered a jewel of the Elven Empire, before the Black Destroyers came, when it vanished. It was never recorded as destroyed, and travellers in the Greengrave Woods have found some Elven ruins, but the Keep itself has never been found.’

Janaxia turned her head, jewellery tinkling, beret threatening to slide off before a mystical force pushed it back into place. She’d taken the chance to upgrade her wardrobe – currently experimenting with a beret, not big enough to stretch over both horns, while putting it in the middle looked strange, so she had now settled for dangling it off one horn, the other wound about with a silver chain, rubies catching the afternoon sun. The rest of her outfit had also seen some changes; the fancy dresses had been replaced with something that could charitably be called ‘armour’, close-cut black leather that might turn aside an attack, if it was weak, and if if it wasn’t for the holes over her navel, hips and upper chest. She’d also decided to arm herself, now carrying a weapon, a three-foot length of finely blackened and polished wood, inlaid with silver. It seemed impractical as a weapon, but at least if a monster got close, she could try and smack them in the face with it

‘Parth, you got any thoughts on this?’

Parth had also taken the chance to upgrade her gear, the rings of her chainmail moving without sound, some elven enchantment keeping it silent. A group of elders, aged enough to actually show their age, had appeared one evening, dragging Parth out of the library. When she returned, she had the chainmail, and a sword, the blade of enchanted bronze. Apparently the demon she had helped Janaxia to slay was infamous amongst elven-kind, and this was her reward. Although they had been somewhat disapproving of Janaxia herself, refusing to even acknowledge her existence, much to Janaxia’s (vocal) displeasure.

‘Ancient, valuable. Interesting to visit.’

By Parth’s standards, that was almost a speech. ‘Anything useful you know? Ancient Elven curses to worry about, that sort of thing?’

‘Magic.’ Parth paused for a moment, considering. ‘Powerful magic.’

‘Thanks, that’s great. If we get killed by magical curses, I’m holding you responsible, just so you know.’ Stathis turned back to Janaxia. ‘I should have mentioned this earlier, but I’m bringing a specialist in for this as well. While you are very good at blasting things, you are…’ she tried to find the words, as Janaxia gave her a frostily polite smile ‘…not the greatest student of the arcane.’

‘I have been tutored by one of the greatest wizards in history, as you well know. No less than Kinnevar Ultremar, the Black Ice Ravager, Slayer of Seyroon Silverscale, Conqueror of the fallen Desandor, considers me an heir to his power!’

‘Yes, and you are very good at arcane energy blasts and creepy darkness. But you aren’t very good at disarming magical traps, detecting magical items, all the usual wizard sort of stuff.’

‘Pewpew! Pewpew!’ Semari, for once, was riding, or trying to, and was slumped in her saddle, bouncing and jolting with every step. ‘Elven ruins are going to have weird stuff. Not, like, your spooky weird, but elfy weird. Magical traps and cursed trees and stuff!’ Her horse suddenly cantered into a trot, as she tried to stay on.

‘Yes, that. So I asked around, and managed to find a graduate from the Barinian Academy. She’s not had much field experience, but has excellent references. And was willing to work for cheap. We’ll be meeting her at the next town. So from now on, she’ll be helping with backline support, you need to take up more of a combat role. Might actually get to use that new stick of yours.’

‘And what will this, this usurper, be doing, while I am risking my life?’

‘The same as you, most likely – she’s a wizard, not a sage, so she’s going to have some spells of her own. But she has an interest in Elven history, which will probably be helpful when we get to the ancient Elven ruins. And I thought you might be wanting to be more active combat, if you want to be Kinnevar’s heir?’

That made her preen slightly, a faint sheen coming into her red slash. ‘Very well. I suppose I shall do what I can to try and impart some knowledge to this fledgling mage.’

They passed Semari, her horse now contentedly grazing as she tried to urge it into movement, her attempts to wrench it into movement unsuccessful. As they passed, Stathis took the reins, leading the horse away, Semari still bouncing around as the horse moved.

Bluefall was a typical country town, surrounded by farms, everything valuable within the walls. The place was just about big enough to have two inns, at opposite ends of the square, market traders bickering and haggling over prices. Stathis eased herself from the saddle, handing the reins over to the stableboy of the Broken Crown, ignoring the squawks coming from Semari as she tried to disentangle herself from the stirrups.

Inside was busy, filled with farmers and traders relaxing after their day’s work. Janaxia immediately drew attention, her outfit not the sort of thing typically seen in a quiet farming town. As they sat down, a middle-aged woman came over to take their order, looking them up and down, gaze hovering on Janaxia before she turned to Stathis.

‘Ah, you be wanting Hakara? Said some adventurers might be passing through. Although you might want to cover up, young lady, there’s biteme bugs and rashweed if you’re travelling much further, don’t want that getting anywhere tender! Got some sausages and veg, nice and fresh, get you a beer each, or you wanting something fancier?’

‘Some wine, goodwife, if you would.’ Janaxia was not in the mood for beer, although at least she wasn’t demanding fancier food. Stathis ordered food and drink for everyone else.

‘Of course. I’ll send Hakara over when she’s free, she’s been helping out since she got back. The first in the family to go to university!’ She pointed at a certificate, framed and in a place of honour next to the fireplace. Even at this distance, Stathis could see the complicated glowing sigil of the Barinian Academy. ‘So, two beers, a bottle of wine and three servings of food?’

Semari staggered through the doorway, spitting a piece of straw out, face somehow wet, before making her way across the room and slumping into a seat with a groan.

‘Add another beer and some more food, please.’ Stathis amended the order.

‘Horses are sneaky. Think you’ve gotten off, then you’re all twisted up, and it’s licking you!’ That would explain why Semari’s hair was slick and wet. ‘So, where’s our new wizard? She’s a proper wizard, right, not a fake one like Janaxia?’

‘I think that’s her graduation certificate over there. Looks legit to me.’

Janaxia sniffed. ‘Hmph. Do you not think some backwater bumpkin might be something of a drag? We have Semari to contend with already, is it wise to add somebody else of such low background?’

‘We’re going into an ancient Elven ruin. We need someone that can deal with all the magical traps and stuff that’s going to be there. I don’t care that much about her background.’

Janaxia sniffed and went to examine the certificate, no doubt hoping to find it fake in some fashion. It wasn’t long until they were served food, a young woman bringing over the food, a bright blue crystal hanging from her wrist, the length of Stathis’ finger. After putting the food and drinks down, she wiped her hands on her apron. ‘Food’s fresh, made this morning. Sorry, wasn’t expecting you so early, and it felt odd not helping out. You must be Stathis?’

Stathis nodded. ‘Yes. This is Parth, and Semari.’ Semari was already eating, shovelling food into her mouth as fast as she could, washing it down with beer. Janaxia was suddenly behind her, seemingly summoned back across the room, staring at her intently, close enough to make her step back and bump into the table.

‘You would be Hakara? I am Janaxia Seyroon Falmeth Uth…’

Stathis interrupted her. ‘This is Janaxia, she’s got some magical abilities, but we need someone that can deal with magical traps and things like that. She’ll be at the back with you, but will be dealing with more combat. We think we’ve managed to get a lead into Ashfall Keep, so it might be dangerous – are you sure you can handle this?’

The crystal on her wrist glowed blue for a moment, as dirt and grease pulled itself from her clothing, formed into a ball and was flung into the fire. ‘I hope so! Ashfall Keep has been abandoned for centuries, so there shouldn’t be much fighting, should there? I’ve been in some duels, but never truly fought before.’

Janaxia sallied forth, seemingly determined to recapture the social initiative. ‘These ruins will be very dangerous, of course. And we do have a certain reputation to uphold. Myself and Parth were responsible for the destruction of a Lithmara in the recent fracas at Redcastle, while Stathis and Semari aided a servant of the heavens in the slaying of no less than Galondwyn the Heartstealer. We do have standards in this company – do you think yourself capable?’ She slapped away Semari’s hand, now reaching out to steal food off her plate.

‘I’ll do my best. I’m looking forward to seeing what spells an adventurer-mage uses! I know a lot of divination and protection spells, but only a few combat spells. I’m sure the curriculum must have changed a lot since you graduated from an Academy.’

Janaxia’s crimson slash brightened slightly. ‘Quite how old do you think I… Would you stop purloining my food!’ Mystical energy wove itself into being, pushing away Semari’s fork, just as she skewered one of Janaxia’s sausages. To prevent any more of her food vanishing, Janaxia had no choice but to hunch protectively over her plate and eat, some semblance of peace settling over the table as Hakara pulled a chair over.

As Semari looked for an opening, fork probing Janaxia’s defences, Stathis tried to be more friendly. ‘You want a drink? This stuff is pretty good, for a local brew.’

Hakara shook her head. ‘I prefer not to drink. But thank you, I’ll tell Dad, he does the brewing. So, what did happen at Redcastle? There’s been all sorts of crazy rumours coming this way, about demons and all sorts of crazy things.’

Semari answered, swallowing her food and taking a swig of beer before settling back in her seat. ‘Well, you see, Galondwyn was our maid, and I noticed, but no-one believed me. But we met Janaxia’s dead aunt, who was mean, but then the maid, the fake one, poisoned us, but it didn’t do anything. Then I had to fight a load of people, and then I beat Galondwyn around the head with a book. Oh, and there was a magical goat that fought her as well, but it wasn’t evil like most goats. It was a good goat, that Stathis’ sister leant us. And then there was a party.’

Hakara looked a little dazed, trying to process this, as Stathis attempted to clarify. ‘The Casket of Zakran had been cracked, so some demons broke out. One of them was Galondwyn the Heartstealer, who had been, well, stealing hearts. Stathis and Parth dealt with a Lithmara, while an angel appeared, which Semari and myself helped, and was able to kill Galondwyn.’

From the dazed look on Hakara’s face, this probably hadn’t helped much. ‘It sounds rather chaotic, but you managed to win. Congratulations?’

‘Victory.’ Parth raised her tankard in a toast, before drinking it down.

‘So, this is your hometown? Seems a nice place.’ Stathis said.

‘It’s pretty quiet. Going to the Barinian Academy was a real eye-opener, I’d never seen so many people!’

‘And who taught you magecraft? From which magical lineage do you claim descent?’ Janaxia had drawn herself up, still warding off Semari’s attempts at food theft as she stared at Hakara.

‘My main tutor was Flaeness Blueshield, but I also had many lessons with Beruth Shimurtha Orack, and Sadric Sulimaas, both of the Ostrinian school.’

Stathis had no idea what any of that meant, although Janaxia nodded along.

‘So, abjuration and shielding spells? Somewhat dull, but I suppose that Stathis and Semari will be glad of some extra protection. Although I hope you have some means to attack as well, I have far more important things to do than protect you.’

‘Although I haven’t studied as much as some of my colleagues, I am capable of casting over twenty different spells. Plus a number of minor cantrips, of course.’

‘Isn’t that, like, more than twice what you know, Janaxia? Ooo, Stathis, can we swap our fake wizard for a real one? Bet this one’s not all eldritch! And her mom cooks good food.’

Stathis tried to set their newest member at ease. ‘Ignore these two, they always bicker like this. Glad to have you with us. You all ready to leave tomorrow?’

Janaxia and Semari were now sparring, a fork darting out, getting deflected by mystical energy, as a knife came around in an attempted sneak attack, a flick of energy smacking against Semari’s forehead. Hakara at least managed to answer without more than a slight look of puzzlement on her face.

‘Yes, at first light. I’ve prepared all my equipment, and some standard arcane supplies and reagents. Although I’m sure any wizard would have similar, of course.’

Stathis thought of the oils and powders Janaxia usually carried, neatly arrayed pots and jars of cosmetics and scents, without any mystical use. ‘We probably don’t need to set out right at first light. The information we’ve got says the place we’re looking for should be nearby. And after that, well, we’ll have to see.’

A shout came from the other end of the bar, someone calling for Hakara’s attention. ‘Sorry, I need to get that. Your rooms are upstairs, I’ll try and talk later!’

Mercifully, or perhaps due to wanting to make a good impression on their new member, everyone was fairly restrained, staying mostly sober, despite Semari and Janaxia bickering for the rest of the night. Hakara spent the entire evening working, pulled between tables as she tirelessly served up food and drink, without taking a break. As the place started to empty, it seemed time to rest - they’d even been given individual rooms. Stathis sank into the straw mattress, thankful for what would likely be the last actual bed for quite a while.