Page 56 of A Vow of Wrath and Ruin

14CAIDEN

“Did Amolie get to Ruska alright?”Caiden asked as he and Roderick walked through the snowy streets. Lights twinkled above their heads, making the snow sparkle like diamonds. He loved the city at night, when everyone was tucked into their beds, fast asleep.

“She did. I had our binding bands enchanted to tell each other if we’re safe or in trouble.”

“Smart.”

“I hope they make it to the Isle of Fate.”

“I’m sure someone still knows a way to get there. The Fates are surely getting supplies,” Caiden said. “And I’m sure there are still some who worship them.”

“Probably,” Roderick said, heaving open the heavy doors of the library.

Only a few candles lit the rows of books, casting eerie glows around the ancient library. They walked on padded feet toward the restricted section, trying to keep their pulses at bay.

“Wish Lucius was here to help,” Roderick whispered. “He’d be in and out of here in no time. Wouldn’t even break a sweat.”

“Yeah, and he’d be smug about it too,” Caiden said.

Ora waited outside the restricted section where two iron gates held the sylph’s most prized possessions. On either side of the gates stood a Stone Soldier, the city’s most fierce warrior. Whatever was behind these bars was precious and dangerous to have such an elite set of warriors guarding it.

The men nodded to Ora, who bowed her head, her hood slipping back to reveal her dark hair. Caiden unfolded the letter his father signed and handed it to the soldier, who nodded.

Tapping his spear on the floor three times, the iron gates creaked open.

Caiden swallowed hard before taking a step forward. The smell of old parchment mixed with sage and myrrh wafted from beyond.

The soldier stopped him before he entered.

“Be careful. There are things inside that don’t want to be disturbed.”

Caiden nodded and proceeded forward. The gates closed behind them with an ominous thud.

“Well, I guess there’s no going back now,” Caiden said, rolling his shoulders in preparation for what awaited them.

“This way.” Ora led them down the torch-lined steps into the library’s depths.

A chill wafted up from the rock below.

“This part of the library was built before the sylph existed. It’s where the founders met long before they built the library above and where many hid during the elven occupation,” Ora said.

Magic rippled through the air, tingling Caiden’s tongue with the metallic taste of copper. Deeper and deeper, they descended into the bowels of the library. Doors marked with a language Caiden did not recognize lined the wall.

“Can you read what these say?” he asked.

“They are markers of life and death,” Roderick chimed in.

“Yes, that’s correct. Each of the original sylph families has a vault. And then others are marked by topic,” Ora said. “We want to be at the very bottom, in the room with the most wards.

“So, we can’t just grab the books and go?” Caiden asked, exchanging knowing glances with Roderick who smirked.

“Of course not. You don’t think they’d let anyone waltz in and take the original family’s books?”

“Well, kind of, yeah.”

They came to a set of doors engraved with the picture of Illya slitting her wrists for the sylph to feed from. Caiden’s stomach turned. Pulling keys from her pocket, Ora undid the lock.

Caiden arched a brow.

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