“This will be all for the today then,” Iago said to everyone and the room filled with sighs of relief. Someone even crashed down to the floor.

Scorpius listened as the soldiers collected themselves and chattering left. They were two weeks in their training. Everyday they practised the same sword moves again and again, yet found it marvellous and exhilarating each time. He could not understand their thought process whatsoever. What was so fun about swinging that piece of wood?

When everyone left, Iago came up the stairs. He glanced at Scorpius sitting with a book in his hand and then dropped by the hearth. “Read anything interesting?”

“This?” Scorpius glanced at the thick-covered book in his hand. It was called ‘The life and death of Duke Nirringer’. A person often called the forefather of all hunters. “No. I’ve just wasted my time. Again. Whoever wrote this told his own story, putting the title only to attract attention.”

“A successful gambit then,” Iago murmured in a faint voice, returning his eyes to the flames.

Scorpius did not argue and stood up to throw the book into the fire. A waste of paper, that book. It was better off not read by anyone else.

“You could have kept it for kindling,” Iago told him in a slightly reprimanding voice. Scorpius didn’t bother to answer. They both knew there were more books when anyone could ever read in this city.

After writing a couple lines about his learnings from the book, Scorpius stood up to leave. “I’ll go look for something else to read.” The collection of the room’s previous owner was exhausted long ago. Now he was forced to leave and look through the ruins for stories to catch his attention.

There were no answer from the person sitting by the fire and Scorpius left. He would have been more surprised had there been anything.

Downstairs he cleaned up the training room. Wooden swords were returned to their rack, the floor swept. He disliked all this mess in his sleeping room. Every day they came and messed it up. Then were surprised the next day to find it cleaned up.

Someone knocked on the doors.

Sighing he went to open them a fraction. As expected Shea stood there with a resolute expression, her eyes narrowed in anger. Both of them knew what he was going to say to her. He wasn’t certain why she even bothered to come every evening.

“Let me in, I need to talk to Iago. In private.”

“He’s resting, come tomorrow,” Scorpius answered without a moment’s hesitation. She did not know what she was asking for. Her talking with Llare was no secret. In such a small community word spread faster than an arrow.

An expectation to have a talk in private after that could only be called conceit. He’d made it obvious to everyone that Iago did not want to talk about that family. They reminded him of his past, what he’d lost and he did not want that. Scorpius made sure to prevent such occurrences as often as he could, restricting those that attempted to talk about it and having them lose out in food for trying. Everyone besides Shea quickly learnt to keep their mouths shut.

Considering it, in that light, he was one of the most powerful people in the camp. Iago held the true power but passed it onto him. After meeting his family, he lost all wish to interact with other people. Scorpius had no idea why he was different, why Iago talked to him as usual, but was thankful for it. If he was dismissed like others, he wouldn’t know what to do.

Now he at least had something. Like keeping a nuisance like Shea away from creating more trouble.

She was glaring at him right now, as if able to see his thoughts written on his face. Though, that was probably unnecessary. He didn’t hide his annoyance in his voice. Two weeks of constant interruptions could put even the most patient of people on edge.

“Stop preventing me from seeing him! I need to talk to him, it’s important!” Her voice was sharp.

She held onto the door as if thinking to prevent him from closing it on her face. That had never stopped him before. “He’s resting,” Scorpius repeated himself and forcefully unwound her fingers from the door’s frame. Childishly, she resisted. He squeezed tighter and, wincing, she released her grip. He slammed the door in her face.

Momentary satisfaction blossomed in his soul. It was a good feeling to see her enraged face. She was so annoying with her righteous attitude, almost the same as Mala. Then again, the cursed woman was on a whole different level. Like master and apprentice. No one could show disdain the same way as the self-professed First Acolyte of Iago. Her vanity, foolishness and hubris were unparalleled.

Around half an hour later Scorpius was certain no one else would come bother Iago and left the tower. It was a waste to walk with his legs, at a leisurely pace, but people were watching. He could not show his true self, not until he was far off from everyone’s sight.

Another half an hour passed and he decided it was enough. Scorpius stretched his muscles and started running. Really running. His speed would pop anyone’s eyes out. Even himself he could hardly believe it. Wind screamed in his ears as he rounded a corner, not caring where he was going. Muscles tensing, he jumped over a crumbled wall.

High. Way too high. Smiling he extended his hands for a heartbeat and then closed them up preparing for a roll. His body might be much stronger than a normal human’s but there was no need to test its limits. He had no wish to accidentally twist his ankle or break a bone.

A large pile of rubble caught his eye. The gigantic building had fallen upon itself without a standing wall remaining. Parts of worked stone were scattered in all directions. Large pieces lay as far as at the far end of the street.

Where the entrance should have been was what caught Scorpius’ attention. He stepped towards it, lifting a cracked half of a bird-man’s head. A round sapphire eye stared at him under a thick brow. He brushed the sculpted cheek, feeling the smoothness of the stone and let the head fall to the ground. It shattered into a dozen pieces, the gem rolling away from his feet.

He walked forward kicking the gem and jumped on top of the rubble. Reaching the very centre he wondered how best to reach what was inside. If he wasn’t mistaken, this was the debris of the Royal Library. If there were any place to have any serious records about his kind, then it would be this place. It was rumoured to contain a copy of every book ever written within the empire.

He doubted the voracity of such claims but there were tens of thousands of books within the library. Of that he was certain. There were too many eye witness reports for it to be a lie. In that amount of written word, there had to be a story talking about the origins of his people.

But the rubble was everywhere. Parts of walls, windows lay heaped in a pile without a sign of anything being underneath. No matter how much he circled the place, he couldn’t find a single larger hole to try squeezing in.

After a moment’s consideration he stretched his fingers, flexing them and made a fist. Then hit a stone before him in full force.

“Owowowow!” he screamed out, bringing his scraped knuckles to his mouth. That hurt like hell! He winced as his lips touched the bruised skin and took the hand away, shaking it. “Stupid, stupid, stupid,” he muttered to himself. “Idiot. Total idiot.”

Once the shock passed, he returned his eyes to the instrument of his suffering. Vein like cracks marred the surface. He touched one of the thicker lines with his left hand and put a little pressure. With a loud sound the stone crumbled under his touch.

Pleased, he jumped into the newly made hole. His pride vanished in an instant. There was nowhere to move from here either! A couple of pages littered the ground, a book was squashed between two stones. It was nowhere near enough. He wanted to see the whole collection!

He sat down on the ground. While thinking he glanced through the torn pages but they held no interest to him. Some heraldry.

The stones could be smashed but he would be risking his own bones for that. His hand still ached after the last attempt. On top of that, a forceful entrance might set off the whole building to crumble within if there was any space remaining.

Not something he was looking forward to. There had to be a better way.

Will he be forced to carry stones like Iago did when helping to clear the temple? He groaned at the thought. It would take forever for this kind of a large building. But he did want those books. This was the best chance he had at finding anything out.

There was no point in procrastinating. He stood up and looked around for a fitting place to start. He knew nothing about architecture, strong and weak points, so chose the steadiest place he found. Then he eyed a piece of a wall close to his size and found a couple good handholds.

He strained under the weight, groaning as the stone slab shifted in its place, held stuck between others. This kind of little challenge wasn’t going to stop him! His eyes bulged as he pulled harder and tore the slab out, breaking pieces of others that were in the way.

His breath came in gasps as he dragged the stone slab from the pile and further out of the way. A bead of sweat formed on his brow and he dropped the stone, sitting on its uneven edge. He was stronger than humans but that did not mean he was omnipotent. Damn, his muscles ached. And this was just the beginning. Catching his breath he slowly walked towards the rubble of the Royal Library.

“You better have what I want,” he threatened it in a chill voice, and chose another stone. One that hopefully wouldn’t bring the whole formation tumbling on his head. It better not. He might be of a mind to smash it all to dust then.

***

“It’s fine, you can stop trying,” Llare said between sweeps, her voice deceptively light. “It’s clear he wants to have nothing to do wish us.”

Shea watched her friend cleaning, saying it was all right, and the disappointment and anger in her heart grew. This was so unfair! It wasn’t right that such a kind and gentle person had to suffer Iago’s disregard. He had to man up and take responsibility for his family! He had sworn to do it!

She did not reply to Llara.

There was nothing to say. She wasn’t giving up. Not now. Especially not after befriending this young family and learning about their lives. It was unbelievable to hear all those stories about Iago. A person with few equal to him. His kindness and caring was unparalleled.

Then what happened? Why did he run from them now? The question was like a constant ache in her mind. She thought and considered a gazillion reasons, but none of them made any sense. She couldn’t imagine a reason to leave your family to care for themselves.

They couldn’t survive without his help! Bur right as it became most needed, he turned away. Shea clenched her hands into fists. She needed to know the answer. What reason could push a person to stray so far from his ideals?

Kali peeked into the room. The four year old girl was very shy and rarely approached when there were strangers in the house. Something must have happened.

“What is it?” Llara asked putting away the broom and squatting by the little girl.

It was now that Shea noticed tears glistening in her eyes. She rushed to her feet, running to the door. “What happened?”

The four year old spared her a terrified look before stammering out, “Vir and the twins… The- they’re fighting again.” Kali hiccuped, tears now running down her cheeks in rivulets. She buried her face in Llara’s skirt. It was hard to decipher her next words through the cloth. “… fight … go brothe… no… shout..”

Llara quickly stood up taking Kali in her hands. “I need to-”

“I’m coming,” Shea told her and rushed out first. Outside the sounds of fighting were obvious. She ran for a moment before reaching an open field cleared for children to play.

Now there was a small group of adults standing by the street, watching with uncertainty written on their faces.

In the middle of the square, Migi was holding Vir down while Yiri pulled her hair telling her to take back her words. Tears filled the girl’s eyes but she struggled with her teeth clenched. Not a sound left her mouth. Unfortunately, her stoic silence and struggles meant nothing against the twins. The two had no qualms about using their number advantage when trying to prove their point.

Shea dashed to the middle of the fight and pulled Yiri and Migi off Vir. She collected the girl in an embrace and glared at the boys. “What were you thinking, hurting your sister! She’s younger than you! And she’s one against you two! Have you no shame?”

The twins paid her no heed. They dusted off their robes and without a glance her way ran off. Llara called after them but to no answer. The boys were off and away as fast as their legs would carry them.

Gritting her teeth in anger, Shea watched their retreat. Then she turned to the girl in her arms. “Are you all right?” she asked in a soft voice.

Vir nodded and winced. Shea could see a bruise already in the making on the side of the girl’s face where she must have been shoved on the ground. Those rascals! They’re supposed to be older brothers! She sent another glare in the direction they left in before standing up.

The girl struggled in her hands. “I can walk myself,” she said in a firm voice, pushing Shea’s hands away.

She could only let her go. Vir wavered a moment before straightening and looking up with confidence. Faked. Shea noticed how quickly she was blinking to keep the tears at bay.

“All right,” she told her, not saying anything about her act. “But let’s better go to my place to clean up your scrapes. I also have a salve that is sure to take off the burn from your bruises.”

“Don’t need! I’m fine!” the girl exclaimed, backing a step.

“No you’re not,” Llara said in a calm tone. Kali in her hands had quieted on the way and was only watching them with round green eyes. “It’s no strength to refuse medication. What if you get an infection and die from fever in your bed?”

The girl’s eyes went wide. “Really..?” she asked in a soft whisper.

Llara answered with a grave nod. “It is. So you better go with Shea and thank her for the help.”

“Yes, yes! Please!” the girl begged, tugging at Shea’s skirt. “Let’s go, let’s go!” Her eyes were wide with terror. “I don’t want to die!”

“Come then,” Shea told her with a smile, taking her hand. “Will you tell me what happened on the way?”

Vir hesitated, looked towards Llara. The woman smiled at her, starting to walk back. Shea followed and after a moment Vir begun talking in a subdued voice. “We were playing when Kali begun crying, saying she missed big brother. I told her to stop, brother is dead to us. Yiri and Migi got angry then. They ordered me to take back my words! But why should I?”

Her voice rose higher and higher as she spoke. Indignation shining in her eyes as she lifted them up to make sure Shea was listening to her story. “He is dead to us! If he wasn’t, he’d be with us! Right? Right?”

She sought affirmation of her thoughts but Shea did not dare to give it. Sorrow welled in her heart and she softly squeezed the girl’s hand, put on a thin smile.

This was all Iago’s fault. These children were suffering because of him. There was no excuse for this.

But he was adamant on not meeting any of them. Nor her. She had a feeling it was for the same exact reason. He knew she was friends with the family and wanted to have nothing to do with her because of that.

Or was it the doing of Scorpius? That stranger came from nowhere and in an instant became the only person Iago ever spoke to. He was his voice and judgement. Whatever he said went. Who would not abuse such a power? Her heartbeat quickened. Was this the crux of the matter?

No. It changed nothing. She did not want to make a scene. If she shouted and screamed, maybe Iago would come to see her but what if not? The humiliation would be impossible to live down. A shudder passed her back at the mere thought of it, her standing and shouting with everyone’s eyes on her while nothing happened. Then slinking away. No. It wasn’t possible. There had to be a different way to catch his attention. Find him without Scorpius around.

Next morning she was practising her shaping when Tyr popped up with a bright smile. He ignored the power swirling around her, blind to it, and grabbed her hands. His face was flush with colour, eyes alight with joy.

“Guess what happened! Guess, guess!”

Shea’s cheeks coloured too, but for a different reason. She tugged to get her hands free. Tyr held them tightly, not noticing her feeble struggles. “What is it?”

“Commander said Mistress is interested in our case! He said she’s thinking of meeting you! Can you imagine it? You’ll get to talk to the Mistress herself! And tell her everything that’s been going on here!” His smile grew wider with every word as Shea’s face went paler and paler. “There will no longer be any need for us to do anything ourselves! Mistress will take care of it all!”

She did not feel his joy. Cold permeated her to the very bone as she remembered seeing the Mistress. That woman was unlike anything she’d seen before. So much power. So much control. She was like a blazing sun standing in a whirlpool of Energy currents. They abandoned their river beds to circle around her. In case she might have the slightest need of them.

It wasn’t natural. She shuddered. Too much power. It wasn’t right for anyone to be this powerful. That woman could shape the whole city to dust before getting exhausted. It just wasn’t right.

And now she was going to have to meet her. Fear spread through her veins. Fear? Pure undiluted terror more like. She couldn’t face Iago when he was ten times less powerful than her, so what could she do against the Mistress?

Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

“You don’t need to be afraid,” Tyr said in a soft voice, catching onto her emotions. He lightly squeezed her hands. “Mistress is a good person. She would never do anything to hurt you.”

Shea wanted to believe him. She really did. But every time she tried, the Energy currents shifting from their constant routes rose in her eyes. It was too unnatural. The world couldn’t sustain such power. Nor did Mistress do anything really good.

Back when they met, she ignored Shea like a bug. Her slight interest was only in the fact that she was a shaper. Normal people did not come into her eyes. How could such a person be called good?

Tyr flicked her forehead. She looked up to see him shaking his head at her. “Have you not heard what I said?” He chuckled lightly. “Commander talked to her and they came to an agreement. She’s going to listen to our problems. That’s it. You have nothing to worry about.”

“Really?” she asked in a hopeful voice. Could it really be this simple? Maybe if the Mistress had already agreed to it… This wasn’t a call out specifically for her. To judge. To evaluate. Her name was called just because she was better at it than Tyr. Older than him. More reliable.

This would also most likely result in her getting to talk to Iago. He would want to know what she discussed with the Mistress. And if not, he would be called out for questioning too. He couldn’t avoid the implications forever. It was him who brought the degenerate killer into their midst.

It might have been a fleeting fancy, a wish to do good on this forsaken land but it did not excuse his actions. Not knowing the consequences did not free you of the burden of them. He brought the leech into this safe haven and so it was his task to admit it and look a way to kill him. Maybe the monster would listen and come out to meet him? His saviour?

Doubtful. But it was a better plan than nothing. Shea had not seen Iago trying anything so far. It was as if it did not concern him whatsoever. And when it was his fault to start with.

Tyr enveloped her in a hug. “Yeah!” he said and then quickly released her. Standing a step away he smiled wide. “She said she’ll call you when the time is right. Soon I reckon. And then you can just simply explain everything that has happened. Present all the events and hints of hidden plots we found.”

Plots? She did not agree with him on this. Iago had done it without thinking. Of that she was certain. But Tyr was right on one thing. Mistress would be able to solve all their problems. No matter how much Shea trained, she could never become as powerful as her. It would take much longer than she had expected even to surpass Iago.

By then, how much more damage would the leech have dealt to the survivors? Would there be anyone still alive? She banished the thought.

“All right,” she said with a hint of a smile on her own face.

The boy’s eyes lit up at her agreement and he took out a small box from a pouch tied at his waist. She puzzled what it held when she recognised the box. “Chocolate!”

“Ye!” Tyr exclaimed also. “This day has to be celebrated! Mistress is going to help us!”

“Mhmhm…” Shea murmured through the heavenly taste of the small sweet. She could eat a dozen of them in one go if there were enough of them. It was good to be a noble. If she had been born one, she could have eaten them everyday…

How unfair.

Laughing they finished the sweets. Shea thought about returning to the main camp but for some reason the idea did not attract her. Tyr suggested they play cards.

“Cards? I don’t know how..”

“No worries, I’ll teach you!” he promised taking out a pack from another pouch.

They sat down on the ground and played. A torch was lit when the night settled and they continued on. Morning found them laughing, pointing at each other and still playing, dealing another set to start a game.