The tunnel ended a little above the city. You could see the entire city from up here. But only a part of it was illuminated. The rest was still hidden in the dark. There was no light from above, but the torches lit by the inhabitants, made enough light so you could see more then 30 feet in this darkness. The city was built with a strange, grey coloured stone. The white carvings in the wall were the same as the carvings we saw in the tunnels. All the buildings and lanterns had beautiful, organic forms. The streets here were paved with magical silver stones. I bet the city must have been as green as the forest, but here with no sunlight, there grew nothing but strange illuminating blue mushrooms on the walls. The blue mushrooms gave a faint, spooky glow. The stranger, whose name I still didn’t know, told me these mushrooms were poisonous. In the northern part of the city stood the biggest building, probably the castle where the noble lord and lady of the city lived. You could see that the earthquake had damaged this beautiful castle. Just like the rest of the city. Walls were cracked, some even lay on the ground, blocking the passage. The ceiling was quite low. Fancy pillars made by elvenkind were elevated and strengthened by our simple stones and cement. Holding up a ceiling of dirty grey, red stone plates, fastened with cement. I thought about what was above here, miles of dirt and then houses of stone. Don’t think about it. These people lived here and they wouldn’t live here if it wasn’t safe. “Beautiful, isn’t it?” the man said when he passed me by and started to walk downhill towards the city. I followed him without a sound, Artemis at my heels. I wonder what the city would have looked like in her old days,I send the thought to Artemis.

I bet it would have been the pearl of the Ancestral Region,he answered me.

The streets were clean, what I didn’t expect. Many people lived here. Mothers with children, young people, old people. They weren’t beggars, but looked healthy and strong. All of them wore dark colours and because of that, were difficult to spot. The houses were inhabited. I could see fires burning inside of them and wondered where all the smoke went to. It was quiet in this city, besides the soft murmuring of human voices in the back. The people we came across all had penetrating looks, even the children looked dangerous. As if they would kill you in your sleep. “There not very fond of newcomers, little fox. I suggest you keep your head low and don’t make eye contact,” the stranger whispered. I kept my eyes on my feet as I continued following the young man. But I needed to see more of this city. I closed my eyes, and started to breath in deeply. Separating my spirit from my body, but pushing my body to keep moving straight on. I breathed out and opened my eyes. Wolfs eyes. My smell became stronger, my sight became more detailed. Artemis had a far better darkvision than I had. His soft paws made more contact with the floor and I could feel a soft vibration of the life above us. I could also smell the rotten meat of dead rats somewhere in the tunnels, mingled with a sweet sense of the mushrooms and the clear summers’ scent of the night saying goodbye to the day. I looked up and saw roosters in the ceiling. I could glimpse the clear sky with her stars. People walked over the rooster and now and then a card rode over it. But that was the place that gave fresh oxygen to this underground city. The ceiling was full of it. I saw the young man walking slower and pulled myself back to my own body. “Don’t people from above smell the smoke from here through those roosters? And what if it’s raining? Where will the water go?” I asked in a whisper. The young man kept looking ahead when he answered. “There are so many smells in that world above, that they will not notice us. For the rain, that’s what the small ditch is for.” And he pointed towards the middle of the city. There was a small river there. Ditches, made by men, ended in that river. The river flew downhill to the tunnels where there are no pavements. “We’re here.” He turned around and grabbed my shoulders. His face closely to mine. “This man knows all. Don’t speak when you are not told to speak, don’t ask questions. Don’t make eye contact. And the most important, keep your head low when you speak unless told otherwise.” He let go of me and opened the huge doors to the castle. Inside was a hall that led to a huge square room with two fireplaces in the middle. Two man where leaning against the wall inside, both dressed almost the same as the young man leading me. “What do you want, Spook.” One of the men sneered. Now I knew his name. Or at least his nickname.

“I come to bring a gift,” Spook said calm. He looked the man straight in the eye. “Beware to whom you speak. The walls have ears, my friend, the doors have eyes. Trees have voices…”

“Beasts tell lies. Beware the rain. Beware the snow. Beware the man. You think you know.” Someone spoke, his voice was soft, like a whisper that raised the hair on your back. A man of middle age stood in the middle of the room, next to one of the fireplaces. He was not very tall, but the way he looked down on you, made you feel very small. He was dressed in black, leather straps covered his tunic. he wore leather knee high, boots and his cloak was torn. His face was covered in the shadows of his hood and a black cloth hid his mouth from view. Two swords were crossed on his back. With his right hand, he removed his hood and the cloth from his lips. He had a firm, clean shaven jaw. You could see his nose had been broken several times. His black, wild hair was almost the same as Spook’s. Except that this man had no warrior’s tale. Strangely enough I expected heavy eyebrows, but his eyebrows were small and gave him an almost female look. He had no scars on his face, or at least none that I could see from this distant. Spook walked towards the man and pulled me with him. “I brought you someone, sir,” he bowed when he said that. The man looked me up and down. His penetrating look made me shiver. Even Artemis hid behind me. “Why do you bother me with such a pitiful price, lad,” the man answered him harshly.

Spook stood up, locked his gaze at me before speaking. Even before he started talking, I knew I would be in big trouble. Look for any escape routes, I commanded Artemis. I, myself, started looking around as well. “This girl has never been inside this city before. When I was on my daily duty, I overheard a conversation from the smith with his wife. They told me that the Silver Soldiers were looking for someone. A girl with pointy ears. It was said that she was very dangerous and had to be eliminated.” That last word struck me. Eliminated? I had to get out of here. I had to. There were three other doors, one behind what used to be the grand table where the lord and the lady used to be seated, and two on the left. Then you had the huge windows between the doors. I could jump out of them, but I had no idea where they would lead, how big the distant was between the window and the ground. I knew I couldn’t go back the way I came, for two man were guarding that entrance. The dark man in front of us spoke. “And you think that this is that girl?”

“Yes, sir, I think she can be very useful to us. She has escaped the Hunters several times and could disappear in a crowd in front of the eyes of the Silver Soldiers. Not only that, she is magical.” I felt that penetrating look from the man again and made eye contact. His eyes were dark. No light was in it. Lot of anger and despair hid behind that glare. I looked at Spook and saw the fear struck his face. “I am just trying to find a way out of this city,” I explained calmly to the man. He laughed, a cold laugh. “Do you know who I am, young lady?” he looked down at me. I shook my head. “No one leaves this city and no one enters it without my consent. I am the shadow of this town, the one that eliminates those that do not deserve to live. I am a servant of death. I am the master assassin of the Ancestral Region. One of the three leaders of the thief’s guild. I am the Basilisk,” With that last name he hissed a little like a snake. I slicked my fear away, straightened my shoulders and looked defiantly at him. “Then, I think we can make a deal. Spook here told me, that he could help me find shelter for the storm, in exchange for something.” He looked a little surprise at my boldness and then turned his eyes to Spook, one eyebrow raised. “I see, my little lad here is learning fast. Well young lady, I would love to grant you your safety. In return for a favour.”

“What may that favour be?” I asked suspiciously.

“Give me the child of the high king Edmund. And I will make sure you will be protected in this city.”

Kidnapping a child. Why would he want that child? To gain power over the high king? To become high king himself? That would be a disaster. The Basilisk as high king. A Tiran is what he would become. Even worse than the Tiran, Talron, who kills all magical beings. The Basilisk would continue this hunt, maybe even worse. He’d terrorize the citizens. No I could not let that happen. I realised I had stayed quiet for too long. The Basilisk narrowed his eyes. “Don’t tell me you talk to that wolf?” he suddenly asked suspiciously. I turned to Artemis. Keep quiet, Wen,he ordered me. “She does!” the Basilisk exclaimed. How did he?I couldn’t finish my sentence for he seized forward with such a speed I couldn’t jump aside anymore. A knife at my throat, his dark eyes searched my face. “What are you?” he hissed.

“I told you she was magical, sir. Look at this,” Spook suddenly said.

He grabbed my wrist and pulled me towards the wall, away from the knife and pushed my hand against the wall. Immediately the walls lit up, and not only the walls. The light spread from my fingertips and danced through the entire city. Through the windows, I saw all the buildings were lit up. People walked outside their house, confused and amazed. This city was far bigger than I could imagine. The underground cave lit up in a pale white light. The name of the city resounded in my head. Together with another sentence. Î suilad, gilthoniel, hína’ Eyela.I understood what was said. Welcome, lady of stars, child of Eyela. This city knows me,I send the thought to Artemis.

It’s the elven magic. They recognise their own kin,Artemis explained.

But why do they call me lady of the stars?I asked.

All elves come from the stars, it’s their way to say you are kin to the elves.

That confused me. As far as I knew, I grew up as a human being. No time to think about that for the Basilisk man crossed the room and seized me by the throat. “Who are you?! Tell me now!” he sneered in my face. I groped for air, clawing at his fierce grip. “Fae…” I couldn’t talk. He dropped me and kicked me in the ribs before he seized my shoulders and pushed me against the wall. “Faelwen, I’m Faelwen and that wolf is my friend. Artemis,” I exclaimed in terror. “Your friend? Your familiar you mean, daughter of the devil! I do not trust pointy eared creatures who talk to animals. I should kill you right now, demon child!”

“I am not a demon! I am an elf!” I yelled at him in fear. “Partly then, I do not quite understand it myself, but this city once belonged to the elves and it recognised me as kin. That’s why…” I muttered, but the man interrupted me. “Elves do not exist, daughter of the fiend.” Artemis growled and attacked. “No!” I screamed at him. Unfortunately, it was already too late. The man kicked Artemis away and groped for his sword. I draw mine and our sword crossed each other, making a high sneering, metal sound as they slid past each other. I rolled aside as his sword landed on the ground.

He snapped his fingers and within seconds three of his man surrounded me. They were swift. Dancing around me with their sharp knives. I tried to block every one of them. Using my knowledge of all those lessons from Thalor. “Look at the body language, Faelwen. Most men already betray which move they are going to make.” He would always say. I watch their every move. I copied their dance, avoided every blow. Blocked, defended my back. As I jumped around. I couldn’t hit them with my sword, they were like flies. They would disappear and suddenly strike you from behind. One man suddenly appeared on my left, stabbed me quick with a knife in my side. I grunted and tried to stab back, but he was already gone. How could they disappear so fast? Becoming one with their surrounding in the middle of a battle. I tried to copy their footwork. It wasn’t as good as theirs, but it was enough to keep me alive. Unfortunately, the odds were against me. The Basilisk joined the combat. He was even faster than his followers. With his strength and speed, he pushed me against the wall. My sword fell out of my hands. I jumped aside and felt his sword pass me by inches. I shook my bow from my shoulder and put an arrow on top. A movement to my right. Within a blink of an eye I changed direction and shot the arrow to my right. I grabbed a new arrow when I heard a man yell in pain. But the Basilisk was faster. He leaped forward, slashing my bow from my hands and with a strength that surprised me, he pushed me on the ground. With one foot, he held me on the ground. It didn’t take long for his men to bind me and take away my weapons.

“Spook! Tell him, were innocent. We’re just trying to find a way out of this city. Please believe me!” I yelled at him in fear and pain as the other thieves pulled me on my knees. He just looked very sorry at me and turned his face away. “This Basilisk, he feels our magic. He is a mage himself. Why don’t you listen to me?! I am not a demon! I am a mage. An elf, human I don’t know. But a mage!” The Basilisk ignored me and so did Spook. Following his master as we were taken to the dungeons. Artemis was thrown in the cell next to me. We were separated.

Locked up in cells. No way out. It was hopeless.

I lay myself down on the empty floor. There was nothing here. No bed, no window. It was dark. No light. Nothing. I am sorry Artemis.

Me too, Wen, me too.

I closed my eyes, tears streaming over my face. Where had it gone wrong? I felt completely lost. And let me feel that way. I didn’t fight when grieve and pain overwhelmed me and I could hardly breath. I let the anger flow out of me. Until I finally fell asleep for my tired body had no energy left for the sadness and fear I felt.

Qîva, nín hína. A whisper in my head. Wake up, my dear child. “Nana?” I whispered back. yes, dear, it’s mommy. Faelwen open your eyes,the voice spoke back.

I opened my eyes. Soft grass tickled my face and bare skin. I lay on my side in the grass, flowers blooming around me. It was summer. The smell of flowers and grass danced through the air. The sun burned my skin and I sat up, rubbing my eyes. I looked around and realised I was in my garden. The big oak tree by the water well was blooming as never, before. The butterflies landed on top of the many flowers blooming all around me. Taking their nectar and flying on in an ever-spiralling dance. My mother sat in her rocking chair, under the apricot tree. Her favourite tree. Surrounded by books as always. Reading. She had the same dark, brown hair as me, looking blueish in the shadows as she rocked back and forth. I knew I had her eyes as well as her ears and face. There was not much I inherited from my dad. Only his smile that gave me small wrinkles at the side of my eyes and nose. My mother looked sad as always. Her dark brown eyes, tinged with a little green, stared dreamily towards a place only she could see. I always wondered where her thoughts were at that moment. Her skin was very pale, even though the warm yellow light of the sun lit it up. She had traces of green colouring the shadows in her face. I knew I had that too. But my father didn’t, that’s why the green traces in my face were vague, barely visible. Only in the pale moonlight would you see it best. My mother always wore a beautiful wooden tiara. Decorated with tiny blue, green jewels woven in the golden branches of the apricot tree. As the wind let the colours in her hair dance, she held her head a little sideways smiling at me. Tears sprang in my eyes. I ran towards her and embraced her. Her skin felt cold as ice, but she smelled the same as I remembered her, the smell of a forest blooming at the beginning of summer. She looked the same, hair braided, tiara on her head and even the green traces in the shadows of her face. Her scarlet lips and dark eyes. “Nana, nana, I missed you so much. Why did you left me? Why didn’t you run away with me! Why…” she hushed me by putting her hand softly on my lips. Hush, my child. Don’t let fear grip your heart. I cannot answer those questions. They were just the decisions I made in that moment. It seemed wisest then.

Her lips didn’t move when she spoke and sadness marked her face. “What is this place, mother?”

She looked past me to the garden. You tell me, little one. Don’t you recognize this place?

I didn’t understand. “Yes, it is our garden,” I answered.

She smiled at me. There is your answer.

“But I mean, how did I come here? How can I see you, when you are with the stars and our ancestors? Why do you speak in my head only? Is this a dream?”

my mother’s smile became brighter. So many questions. I cannot answer them all. But what I can say is that you created this place. It is your world where we are. I cannot speak with my lips, for I am no longer on this plane of existence.

“Your saying, this is all a dream? It is all in my head?”

Of course, it is in your head.

I was still confused. “How can I talk to you, when you are not here, with me?” tears ran down my cheeks.

You must be very powerful to call for me in your dreams. To travel through the past and maybe even the future. In your dreams, you open the portals to relive your past or see possible futures. Your magic allows you to connect with those who passed away. That’s how you were able to connect with me. She said while she wiped away my tears like she used to do.

Then I remembered the moment that light bolt struck the demon. And what he had said. “You need to fully open up your spirit towards the Weave.”

Barnabas voice resounded in my head as well telling me that there was something inside my body that prevented my magical abilities to appear. I looked back at my mom. “There is something blocking my magic and I don’t know what.”

Your magic cannot be blocked, but your ability to draw strength and power from the Weave can. And that is the problem. Your path towards the Weave is blocked. If you use your magic now, it will hurt more. It will be difficult. You have to extract magic from somewhere else. For example, from your own body.

“How will I do that?”

You already did that once. But it’s dangerous. Your body has only a limited amount of magic inside of you, because of your fey ancestry.

“I’m an elf. They called me lady of stars.” She nodded and stroke a hair behind my ear.

Lady of stars. They welcomed you in their circles. Your elf blood is stronger than your human blood. It’s what I’d hoped for. That is good. They will help you.

“Who are they nana?”

They are the memories of our ancestors. I need to go now. She started to fade together with her surroundings. The warmth of the summer sun disappeared and coldness overtook me again.

“No! don’t leave! I need you! They will kill me! Nana!”

Do not fear, my child, help is on the way. Trust those who keep their light close to their hearts.Her voice falling away from me. “Nana!” I cried. She was gone.

Suddenly something awoke me. I lurched to my feet, tear streams on my face. I quickly dried them off. It was dark and it took a while before my eyes adjusted themselves to this darkness. I heard someone by the door of my cell. Someone was trying to break in. He had no key and I heard him struggling with a lock pick to open this rusty elven made lock. I kept quiet, holding in my breath as I heard the lock break. Someone clad in black, sneaked in towards me, his finger to his lips. When he came closer I recognised his face. Spook. He bowed to help me up and his necklace fell in sight from under his shirt. Before he quickly hid it again, I could see a little of this silver necklace. It looked like a small elf, holding her hands above her head. And in her hands, she held a silver jewel, shaped as a star, shining a vague white light. Trust those who keep their light close to their hearts,I heard my mother say to me.

Wen? What do you mean? Artemis asked confused as I had send the thought to him as well.

I mean we have to trust Spook, he holds his light close to his heart.

I heard Artemis softly scratch his door and Spook hurried himself towards his cell. After freeing Artemis, he whispered, barely making any sound: “Follow me.” He led the way up the stairs into a dark hallway. Stealthy, silent. Moving with every bit of shadow. I tried to copy him. This dancing with the shadows was difficult. But a dance could be learned. As we sneaked past corridors and rooms, avoiding the light torches, we reached the main hall. The doors were wide open and inside a fire burned low. The Basilisk was pacing back and forth in the room, lost deep in thought while another man awaited his answer.

“What do you say, sir? Get rid of her? Hand her over?” the Basilisk shook his head. “No,” he breathed the word. “No,” he said louder to the man. “She has potential. As swift as a fox, a quick thinker. She can make herself invisible in a crowd. She is small and fast. And I bet a fast learner as well.” He stopped pacing the room and stood silent. As if he was listening. I held in my breath and heard Spook did the same. The man with whom he was talking with, seemed not to notice and kept on talking.

“So, you mean to keep her? Train her?” the Basilisk shook his head, still looking at our direction. “No, my friend, this girl cannot be tamed. She is a girl that needs her freedom, you cannot lock her up and shape her the way you want to. She knows what she wants and deep in her heart she is strong. Stronger than she can imagine. But with a confused heart you will get lost and you need help.” It felt as if that last message was mend for me. My heart ached. I knew he was right. I was often scared and confused. A lost puppy in a too big of a world. Completely alone with only a wolf as my loyal companion. There was just one thing in life I hang on to. Finishing Barnabas quest. Find the elves. And then what? End the war? Me? No. I couldn’t. Not by myself. Not alone.

The doubt and hurt came above again. I felt completely alone suddenly. I made myself smaller and hid my face. Hoping Spook would soon walk on and I could focus on that. But he seemed as paralysed as I was. Afraid to get caught by the one person he feared most.

It was as if the Basilisk heard my thoughts. “She need not fear to be alone. For she has the greatest friend anyone can have. And I bet she will make many more on her quest.”

“She is young. And broken,” the man said. He finally seemed to grasp to whom the Basilisk was secretly speaking. “But she is strong and determined, Hawkeye. She will not give up,” the Basilisk answered him. This man was Hawkeye. One of the three leaders. I lifted my head and looked at the man. He was also clad in leather, but his leather wasn’t black. It was a soft brown, his grey hair hung lose and a small beard surrounded his thin lips. He had blue eyes, keen as a hawk. A gentle face. Almost familiar. With a shock, I realised his face almost looked the same as Barnabas. It pained me to see such a familiar face. Suddenly I really missed Barnabas. He who raised me, took me in his home when I lost everything. He who hugged me whenever I was sad. We would listen to the music from my mother’s music box before I went to bed. He taught me how to hunt and survive. How to grow food and flowers. He even taught me how to sew my clothes to repair them. Horse riding, singing, writing, reading, speaking. Everything. Tears formed in the corners of my eyes. And now he was gone. Forever gone, wandering among the stars of his ancestors. Just like my parents. My nana. Hawkeye smiled at me. A sad smile.

“If she wants to continue what Barnabas had started, she’d better go now. Before there are no mages left in this world. I believe she will find what we cannot. For she is one of them. She will bring the light back to our world.”

“And if she is smart, she would ask my apprentice for her books,” the Basilisk interrupted him.

“Good luck, sweetheart. Barnabas would’ve been proud of you. Don’t lose fate, we will always be there for you in the shadows,” Hawkeye encouraged me. I nodded and untied one of my bracelets. The one Barnabas had brought me after one of his travels to the west. There was a beautiful shell on it from the ocean. It was my favourite bracelet. But I knew Hawkeye would see this as a promise from me to return to him. I left it on the ground when Spook continued our way. It was not long before we were in the city again. We walked in silence. Nobody spoke. The words of Hawkeye and the Basilisk still rang through my head. They had read the journals. Mine as well. Spook let us to a big house next to a wall, reinforced with stone. The voices told me there used to be a lake there. But that was long gone. The house was the same as all the buildings here. Beautifully decorated with organic forms and silver drawings and ruins. Spook pushed against the door and it went open easily. He looked back at me and walked in. The inside of the building was what you would expect a human home would look like. Carpets on the wall, simple wooden furniture and boxes to keep your possessions in. We walked into the study. A sturdy wooden desk was pushed against the far end of the room. A chair in front of it. The back faced the door. High bookshelves full of books decorated the walls. And a painting of a woman. She was lovely. A bright smile, blond hair and light blue dress. Sitting on a chair surrounded by flowers. Spook rummaged through some stuff and found my old backpack. He gave it to me. It was empty. As I suspected. My maps, journals, weapons everything was gone. I started looking for my stuff. Spook stopped me and opened his back. It was full of notebooks. Barnabas’ notebooks. He gave them to me. “There are a few extra from Hawkeye. Those were his first journals, before he even became…” he stopped talking and pushed the books in my arms. “Before he became what?” I asked.

“You should find out yourself. Now let’s find your weapons,” he answered me. He walked to the door, closed it and pulled one of the bookcases in front of it. It revealed a painting. A painting of the same woman. But this time she held hands with a man. A young man. They were looking to each other, deeply in love. Spook removed the painting and a smaller painting was underneath it. It was more of a sketch than a painting. A sketch of a place. A sad place. The grave yard. My heart skipped a beat. These paintings were a story. This room was a memorial. Suddenly I could see all the small details in the room. Some dried roses hanging upside down behind the desk. Sketches of the woman, laughing, looking melancholic at the horizon. Small empty perfume bottles were standing on one of the shelves. A white glove on the other. I read the names of the books. Lots of female love stories were hidden between the other old books, journals and maps. I heard a click and saw that Spook opened the painting. It was a safe. Inside was my sword, bow and arrows. I took them all. Spook wanted to close the safe but I stopped him. “Wait,” I ordered him. I ripped a piece of paper out of my journal and wrote something on it.

Someday, all the love you’ve given away,

Will find its way back to you

And it will stay.

Don’t forget, death is but another path of life.

Spook closed the safe and put everything back in its place. I left another note for Hawkeye. Something Barnabas always said to me, whenever I was crying. I knew Hawkeye would understand that I knew they were kin.

Someday you won’t remember this pain you thought would last forever.

I hope we meet again. Thank you for making me see him one last time.

I put everything back in my backpack. My heart stopped for a second. Where was my mother’s music box? It used to be in my backpack! Spook saw my distress and softly opened his cloak, revealing my mother’s music box. “I saw you playing with that key around your neck all the time and when I was ordered to empty your backpack, I assumed it belonged to this. So, I kept it safe hidden with me. Even if we can be good hearted, even though we’re still thieves and take anything special. You may find pieces of the notebooks missing. I’m sorry, I couldn’t stop that. You see we too, are searching for something to end this war. It has taken to many lives already. We’re even considering, abducting the young prince in the hope the high king would listen to us instead of listening to his insane father. That’s how low we are. But your findings and your notes together with Barnabas’s notes, gave us new insides,” he explained. I nodded and took the music box from his hands. I stroke it, and investigated it. It was still the same. I put my key in the lock and turned it. The music box opened and the soft lullaby flew around us. Memories of my mother, her laugh. Her sitting by the fireplace reading or working in the garden. Flowers blooming all around her. Her smell. Her warm hugs and wise words. I even missed her kiss on my forehead whenever I had hurt myself. Barnabas, a lump in my throat. His blue eyes and grey hair. His calm, gentle face marked by age. His, trying to look angry, look whenever I had sneaked into his private study room to read his notes. We, sitting by the fire, eating fresh hunted meat or fish. Always coming back with a bracelet for me, from his journey. He always made them himself. Playing games all night at my birthday. The only day I was allowed to stay up for a long time. It all came back. tears stung my eyes. I ignored it, keeping my grieve inside of me. I closed the box before I could lose control. “Than…” the words got stuck in my throat. So, I just nodded. Spook put his hand on my shoulder. Not saying anything. And yet saying so much. I looked up at him. He was taller as me. He wiped away the tears from the corners of my eyes. We left the room and the house behind us. I maintained to control my grieve and we walked on. Artemis brushing against my leg to comfort me. I still clutched my mother’s music box to my chest. We walked to one of the tunnels. Before entering I looked back one last time. This beautiful city. I hoped that I could see such beauty again. I looked towards the castle and saw Hawkeye standing there. He looked so much like Barnabas that it hurt to look at him. He bowed his head to say thank you and I extended a hand towards him, graciously turning my palm up and reaching towards him. Then I closed my hand and touched my heart. As a sign of goodbye I lowered my head as well. Then I turned around and walked off into the darkness. Following the torch light Spook had lit up.