Sable and Tashna strolled under the vine-covered pergolas of Tashna’s royal rose garden. Much like her ravens that perched on every flower decorated arch, the roses were black like the demon moon that hung in the sky. Each rose curled and coiled around the vines, choking them with their thorny stems. Along the hedges grew white roses, and leading down the path bloomed red roses.

Tashna plucked a black rose as the two passed by it. Careful to not prick herself, she let in a deep whiff and smiled.

“I like the smell of the black ones best. They remind me of a chilled vinter night. Dark and lonely. You need to be strong to survive nights like those and once you do, you can survive many more.” She turned to Sable. “Black roses represent strength in my kingdom.”

“If we may focus on the task at hand, your grace?” said Sable, she couldn’t help but to quiver at the sight and sound of the flock of crows and black roses. A garden of strength for the Div’Rah, a garden of death for everyone else.

“Yes, yes. Vhat have you found in your exploration of my kingdom?”

Sable held up a leather slip case. “The legendary library of Mervious is real. I have found it and within it I believe I discovered evidence of an underground city of elves and angels somewhere near your capital.”

Tashna twirled the rose in her fingers. “Ah yes, my great, great grandfather, Meric the Merciless, once dedicated half his life searching for such a city. It vas a mad obsession for him. He despised all elves and the very thought that his country vas founded by them deeply disgusted him.”

Sable shot Tashna a worried look. “Did he find one?”

Tashna pushed faster down the garden path. “I shall not divulge family secrets. You mentioned you had a request for me?”

Sable tucked the leather case under her arm and caught up to the queen. “I wish to consult Koda about my findings, I believe he may be the key to finding Sik J’Dio Sahde Alanoon.”

“You have my permission to speak to my prisoner, I am sure he vill velcome someone to talk to besides myself.”

“This may turn into multiple visits, he may have vital information and I—”

Tashna raised her hand to stop Sable mid sentence. “Please, do as you must. Without you I vould never have caught the Mage King in the first place.”

Sable bowed. “Thank you, my Div’Rah. You show me too much kindness.”

Tashna laughed. “I do, don’t I?”

***

Sable briskly hurried down the corridor leading to Koda’s room, Calsoon trailed behind.

“Why only show Koda one scroll?” asked Calsoon as he pointed to the single scroll case still tucked beneath Sable’s arm.

Sable halted just before Koda’s door. She lowered her voice so that no guard or Koda’s prying ears could hear their conversation. “I see this as a prime opportunity to mold Koda into one of our allies.”

“Allies?”

Sable nodded. “Do not forget that Wraslyn wishes to take the young king under his wing. If I prepare Koda now and allow him to see us as those that only want best for him, Wraslyn would have an easier time with Koda’s tutelage.”

Calsoon grinned “Excellent, what shall I do?”

“Keep out of sight for now. Is your shadow doll still in your cell?” asked Sable.

“Yes, No one should suspect that I am not there,” answered Calsoon. Wraslyn’s shadow teachings had been an excellent resource for his abilities, and continued to prove themselves useful.

“Good, now go. I shall call upon you when you are needed.”

Calsoon bowed and slowly slipped into his own shadow.

Sable nodded and took in a breath before entering Koda’s door. There she saw Koda on the floor petting his wolf. The animal eyed her suspiciously but did not growl. She was a wolf of the Eclipse and Koda’s familiar. What connection she had with Koda was still unknown to Sable, but the runecarver had to play her game with caution just in case.

Koda rose to his feet and backed away slowly from Sable. He raised his hands to his collar.

“Y-you are the one that captured me. W-what do you want?”

Sable nodded her head slowly and held out the slip case, showing she meant no further harm to the elf. “I serve the Div’Rah, but first and foremost I am a student of history. Please, I require your assistance.”

“Why would I help you when you are the reason why I am a prisoner here?”

Sable lowered the case and bowed to the king. “Sel shen sel’nerv Rueh.”

Koda raised his brow. He hesitantly took the scroll case from Sable and inspected it. “Yes, I suppose you are right. You and I are both students of Ruens, and as much as I do not trust you… something… something tells me I should help you.

His Magi use already influences much of him. With every drink from the Magi, it will alter his mind further. He is far too gone now to resist us, thought Sable.

Koda looked down at the scroll. “This has a Dawnedge crest on it. Slightly altered, we use a half circle not a crescent shape, but it is Dawnedge all the same. I am sure of it.”

“As I suspected,” said Sable. “Go on, open the slip case. It is both written in Salrothian and ancient elven. I can not read it.”

Koda peered curiously at Sable. “Where did you find this?”

Sable smiled gleefully. “Sel Rosh Rueh.”

Koda dropped his jaw. “Sel Rosh Rueh” he whispered. “But that library is only of legend, it doesn’t exist!”

Sable chuckled. “It does exist and I have been there.”

Koda’s eyes sparkled with wonder. He quickly slid out the scroll and unraveled it. “I am familiar with ancient elven. It was taught to me as a child by my grandfather.” He began reading, gobbling up all the knowledge that was laid out before him.

Sable wrung her hands excitedly. “Well, what does it say?” she asked, unable to wait any longer.

Koda continued to read, but explained as he did so. “It speaks of a colony of elves—the Daybreak. They seemed to be immigrants of the… Dawnedge…” He raised his head in disbelief.

“Your people?” asked Sable.

“I have never heard of the Dawnedge forming a colony in Mervious.” Koda read on, seeking more information of the mysterious Daybreak elves.

“The Black Moon and their Skyfallen have caused us much strife. The warrior tribes could no longer hold back their advances on our lands. It was clear that we must flee. Not all of our tribe agreed with our plan to escape the war. Those that stayed remained the Dawnedge, the rest of us ordained ourselves the Daybreak.

“We found an untouched land we called ‘Merivous’ after our tribal chieftain, Mervian Daybreak. Here is where we hid from the rest of the world.”

“Does it speak of the Cele—” Sable caught herself in mid-sentence. Koda didn’t seem to notice the gaff. “Does it speak of their city? Where did they hide?”

Koda put the scroll back in its case and returned it back to Sable. “That is where the scroll ended.”

“Did it say anything else?”

Koda nodded. “It gave a volume where more of the story continued. Did you find any others in Sel Rosh Rueh?”

Sable smiled. “There are two others.”

Koda’s eyes flashed a dim violet light. Only a brief second, but gave enough time for Sable to witness it.

The Magi affects him unconsciously. How much of it has he been using?

She stole a glance from the wolf by his side.

Can she communicate with him yet? Like Tezhok first did?

She quickly looked back to Koda.

“Please, bring more, I wish to learn of my people, the Daybreak,” requested Koda. He knelt down and ruffled the wolf’s fur.

Sable rubbed her chin. “You and I could both learn much from each other.”

Koda looked up from his wolf. “Yes, I believe we could. Please, I would very much like to help you.”

“Very well, I shall talk to the Div’Rah and see if she will allow you to assist me further,” she lied.

I have his trust—no, I have the Magi’s trust. Let the molding begin, thought Sable.