Sheldon waited until the prop master had left for the night before stepping into the storeroom. Closing the door firmly behind him before lighting the lamp he carried in one hand. Then he adjusted both his bag and the water pouch to sit more comfortably over his shoulders.

The lantern cast an eerie glow over the whole room. Throwing fantastic shadows with the objects inside.

When his father first told him about the place he’d never meant to come. Ever.

They’d been talking about the Circus. It was strange to think about it from that context now. Of that time when he’d been a spectator instead of the steward.

Part of the audience. Not the man in charge of making everything run smoothly.

His father had sent the younger children to bed and his mother went as well. She’d had a headache that night and his father helped her in bed before sitting across from Sheldon on the floor rug.

For a long time his father looked off into space. Sucking on a pipe that occasionally went out without his noticing.

“Are we going to practice tonight?”

Sheldon was tired. It had been a long day of breaking ground and planting. An activity that even his father grumbled about when his mother wasn’t listening.

“Uh, yes. Yes.” Shaking his head his father put down his pipe and sighed. “I was just thinking.”

“About what?”

“Your grandfather.”

Grandfather had died when Sheldon was little. He barely remembered the man, who really hadn’t been as old as some of the older folk.

“The demons took him, right?”

“He was so desperate to go home.” His father’s eyes were sad as he said it. “Even though everyone he loved was either old or gone, he was willing to do just about anything to get back to them.”

“And leave grandmother and us?”

His father shrugged. “I don’t know what his whole plan was. It didn’t work either way. He was… foolish.”

“Foolish? What happened?”

“You know what they do to lighters who practice beyond the law. That’s what happened.”

Young Sheldon shuddered. “But isn’t that what we’re doing?”

His father had smiled grimly.

“A little. But we’re not ever going to use it in a way that’ll catch their attention. And we’re not trying to subvert them like your grandfather was trying to do.”

“What are we trying to do, then?”

His father leaned forward and put a hand on Sheldon’s shoulder. His expression solemn. “We’re going to make friends with them, Sheldon. Then, and only then, will there be enough trust to create a better world.”

“But you’re teaching me to use magic in secret. Don't lies create distrust?”

His father winced and looked away. “I’m trying to act as wisely as possible. There’s a chance,” he looked at Sheldon with exasperation, “that we may not be able to get their attention unless we are on more even footing. If that’s the case, magic is our only weapon.”

“But-”

“Listen, Sheldon. If my lifetime isn’t enough to establish good relations with the demons, you’ll have to keep trying. And your children and their children. Magic might have to be your second tool so you’ll need to know how to learn more.”

Sheldon had listened intently at the time. And he remembered the incident now with a mixture of pain and fear.

It had been six days since Lita had disappeared. His impulsive, stubborn, foolish sister.

He couldn’t bear to lose her.

But he didn’t know what was going on. No one did. Whatever it was had caused not only a huge hunt for one small woman but also a large number of raids and arrests in the Capital all week.

The fear had been so bad that if he’d sent the supply mistress shopping just a day later she wouldn’t have been able to get anything.

Fear was something he was done dealing with. Not without actually doing anything about it.

But, to figure out what to do, he needed to know what was going on.

With a deep breath he pushed further into the storeroom. Watching the shadows as though he expected to see someone crouched there.

Waiting to catch him in his secret.

The tunnel was hidden behind a large, wooden shelving rack. It took some time, and probably some extra effort on Taiken’s part, but Taiken had arranged for the wooden racks long ago.

Before my time here. I need to get the Master in here to repair some of these racks.

He sneezed on some residual dust as he walked down the tunnel.

The tunnel wasn’t really a tunnel but a long and windy trail. Most of it natural cave systems with an occasional place that had been hacked by human tools to open the way.

He imagined his grandfather here. Old, because Sheldon couldn’t imagine him any younger. And using tools he’d stolen from the mines when he’d finally been set free.

Determined to create this path.

It had been a few months, almost a year, since Sheldon had dared enter this tunnel. Always alone and always at night. The last time he’d been… unpleasantly surprised and nearly caught.

Halfway through he remembered to put on some no-smell he’d just finished making the day before.

When he reached the end of the tunnel he put out his light and cautiously peeked into the lit room beyond.

A single light had been left on. A lantern from upstairs by its unwavering glow. By it he could see the bedroom he had to pass through before getting to the room he wanted. He was reasonably certain the owner of these rooms wasn’t here, though he’d have to get to the outer room to be sure.

Paranoid, he reapplied his newest batch of no-smell before entering the room and passing through to the next.

It took a moment as he moved around tables before he heard a weak laugh.

“Well, I didn’t think I’d be seeing you again.”

“Good evening, Kellus.”

Sheldon hurried to finish the journey across Aridon’s workroom and crouched in front of the waking prisoner. Without a word he opened a pouch he’d been carrying and withdrew a bundle. Just as silently the man took it, a tired grin crossing his face as he opened it.

“I thought you’d decided never to come back. Did you bring something to drink?”

“Yes and yes.”

Sheldon unhooked a waterskin from his other shoulder and placed it by the man’s leg, since his hands were busy with flatbread, fish and cheese. Then he looked around nervously.

“The demoness came by earlier to feed me but I haven’t seen the devil since he left this morning. I got the impression he was out?”

“Aridon joined the search parties this morning. After scouring my camp yesterday.”

“Ah. I’d heard bits and pieces about a search happening.” The man took a bite of cheese and bread, smiling contentedly as he leaned back his head.

“What do you know about it?”

Kellus cracked open one eye. “Me? I’m locked away from all humanity and you think I might know something?”

“You’re also the only one who’s been close enough to Aridon that you might’ve seen or heard something he’s up to.” Sheldon paused. “Diana told my Master that the whole thing was because of something stolen from Aridon?”

“She was being more honest than was probably wise of her.” Kellus reached for the waterskin. He sipped and paused, shooting Sheldon a pleased grin. “Not as good as aged wine but I’ll take it.”

“Kellus.” Sheldon spoke slowly, trying not to reveal his impatience. “You know something. Please, tell me.”

“What if I have a price this time?”

“Do you? I’ll pay it.”

Kellus paused in getting another sip. Without taking the sip he lowered the skin and fixed Sheldon with a look. “What’s your stake in this?”

Sheldon swallowed before answering hoarsely. “My sister.”

“Ah.” For an instant Kellus’s eyes blanked and drifted somewhere else. “I know about sisters. If I could see mine again… and my niece…” he shook his head. “There’s no price. I was only attempting to tease.”

“What do you know?”

Sheldon listened to what Kellus knew. He didn’t realize it when his mouth fell open or that it stayed open for most of the narrative.

“Voids!”

“Agreed. Do you know how many wizards on the outside would kill for a spell that could destroy a demon?” Kellus shook his head. He was done with his food and continued to sip from the skin.

Sheldon didn’t answer right away. Still wrapping his head around the idea. No wonder Lita had jumped on it! Voids on her but no wonder!

He almost didn’t hear Kellus’ next musing. The company starved man rambling a little in a desire to connect to something else alive and capable of speech.

“It only worked because of that other demon the old devil brought in. I’m not sure,” cough, “not sure a regular wizard could’ve done it. Never thought I’d see a legend with my own eyes. Never thought he’d be a wizard, either.”

“Who?”

“Taiken Vaughn. Aridon’s personal curse word.” Kellus smiled, coughed and took another sip. Then shook his head with a wry smile. “Still can’t believe he can use regular magic.”

“Is that unusual?”

“Have you ever seen any other demon wizards? Er, I think you call them lighters, yes?”

Sheldon hesitated. “Demons use magic. All the time.”

“On their own, their magic is limited.” Kellus waved a hand dismissively. “They’re limited to certain kinds of exchanges and manipulating physical objects. It’s their curse for being beings of the void. If I’d been in a chair when Vaughn did what he’d did, I’d’ve fallen out.”

“I’ve never thought about it.”

Kellus’s expression turned grave. “A demon with that kind of power is probably the most dangerous being in any room.”

Taiken? Dangerous?

Sheldon couldn’t help but think of when Verona had last left Taiken with her children.

It was just two days after the first time Sheldon was tricked into a day with her. Before this whole mess.

Taiken’s face had turned from confident, to bemused, to almost scared as she gave him rapid instructions. What he could and could not do with her children. What to do if he needed to put them to bed. And for voids sakes! NO honey treats after dinner, got it?

“He’s also the least motivated person I know. Most of the time, you have to tell him to do something before he’ll do it.”

Which is why I suspect it was someone else who’d arranged my courting Verona.

Kellus frowned and wiped a hand across his beard. “That’s probably a good thing. Now, what are you going to do with the information I just gave you?”

Sheldon dropped his head and shook it. “I don’t know. There’s not much I can do.” He paused. “I just wanted to know how my sister got into so much trouble. In case there is something I can do.”

He looked up in time to see a light literally flicker into the man’s eyes. It was eerie, like seeing a mountain cat looking down at you from a ledge in the dark.

The man's body stiffened an instant in surprise. When it was over and the light faded away the man thrust the water pouch at him with a harsh whisper. “Hide. Now!”

Sheldon didn’t question the abrupt and frantic instructions. As he leapt to his feet and dove behind a table, he prayed the hiding place was enough. Last time he’d tried to make it to the cave entrance.

His whole body shuddered as he remembered just how close he’d come to being discovered.

He barely had time for two breaths before he heard Kellus’s rasp again. Talking much louder than they’d been whispering. “Welcome, Mistress Diana Veran. Is it breakfast already?”

By the entrance the demoness paused.

Diana sighed to herself. She’d come a few days ago on this errand but had lost her nerve at the last second. Now, a tightened desperation was beginning to suffocate her and she’d come again.

She placed the tray she was carrying near the prisoner’s feet. There was more food than usual piled up on it and the prisoner raised his eyebrows.

“Is this my execution? All the food I can eat?”

“I have to go out for a few days and Aridon won’t be here to feed you. I heard voices-”

She raised an eyebrow and he shrugged.

“Entertaining myself. I don’t have much else to do.”

“Are you always so talkative? Even with Aridon?”

“That one would just hit me.”

The prisoner shrugged and she reluctantly went for a chair, dragging it over to him. He watched. She could feel his eyes on her as she sat down and broodily looked around the cave.

He broke the silence first.

“What can I do for you?”

This was it. Voids! With a deep breath she boldly lifted her chin and looked him in the eye. “I want a prophecy.”

Immediately his eyebrows shot up into his hairline. “Pardon?”

She pointed to the tattoo on his arm, crawling up from his wrist to his elbow. She didn’t understand all the information it conveyed.

But she didn’t have to.

“I know you're a priest. I want a prophecy.”