Page 6 of The Demon's Discovery
Bea leaned into my side and asked softly, “What just happened?”
I let out a long, slow breath, heart still hammering against my ribs. Lara and Henrik were both focused on their guest, so I murmured back, “I have no idea.”
“You’re going to d’Arcan.” Bea gripped my hand tightly in excitement.
It didn’t matter that for the next hour Vassago asked a thousand and one questions of us both, most of which neither of us could answer. He wanted to know where we’d been on certain dates in the past, if we’d seen a necklace or other jewelry in suspicious places or with people they didn’t appear to belong to, if anyone had ever talked about jewels. He drew a sketch out of his pocket, and asked if we’d ever seen the same color or type of gem as the ring he wore on his index and pinkie finger.
It didn’t even matter that the longer the questions went on, the more my employers’ hushed whispers and stares at me made my skin crawl.
No matter the consequences that waited for me on the other side of my visit, I was going to d’Arcan.
Chapter 3
Vassago
“Go away, Rylan,” I implored my brother, walking away from him to further my point. “Collect your lovely bride, get in the carriage I know is downstairs ready to depart at a moment’s notice, and simply goaway.”
We were up in the observatory of the collegium he’d founded, discussing class plans and other mundane administrative items. I’d known that being brought on as a teacher would require me to do such things but had vastly underestimated the sheer volume of mundanity.
Vastly.
How Rylan managed as headmaster with all the extra administrative minutiae was a mystery to me. Just the paperwork involved would drive me mad in short order.
“It’s not that simple, Vago,” he argued, glancing around at the stacks of star charts and his beloved telescopes.
“But it is,Stolas. Use your wings if you must, I don’t care. Just get yourself out of Revalia for a little while. Take a rest. Enjoy some time with your wife that isn’t overshadowed by some kind of impending doom.”
He frowned at me, eyes squinted. Like the bossy big brother I was, I pulled out his old name when it was required, and he hated it.
“And what will you do in my absence?” He crossed his arms, pinning me with a stare.
“Exactly the same as I’d do with you here. Prepare lessons, do experiments. Eat Grace’s food. Argue with Magnus.” When he raised an eyebrow, I continued, “Do you trust me that little? Or perhaps believe me a child that requires constant entertainment? Should I be offended?” I teased. “I’ll prepare a two-way mirror for you to install at the manor so that we can communicate somewhat easily if it will make you feel better.”
Rylan sighed as he shook his head, chin sagging to his chest. I saw it then, the weight he carried around. This school was much more than his pet project, and he took it very seriously—and for good reason, of course. It served a sector of the community that nothing else did, and as an archmage of the realm of Cyntere, he was uniquely qualified and permitted to teach fledgling mages how to access and use their magic.
Besides the school, his life in general had been very eventful both in the several months leading up to my arrival and since then. Which, I thought, was all the more reason for him to take a break and go on a proper honeymoon.
His wife and fated mate, Calla, had been kidnapped by a witch who wanted to exploit her for her magic. Thankfully, we’d arrived in time to help free her, and she was progressing nicely when it came to her ability to control her immense earth magic. Needless to say, the early days of my visit had been quite tense.
There rarely seemed to be a truly quiet moment here, which in some ways left me longing for the monasteries I’d inhabited for decades at a time while training myself in discipline, the mystic arts and hunting down lost relics. In other ways, itreminded me of the constant activity of Hell, and who I’d been before coming earth-side. I was undecided on which I preferred.
“Of course not. I trust you. I know everything is in capable hands with you here. Grace wouldn’t allow anything to happen on her watch, besides.” His mouth twitched at the mention of his iron-willed cook. She ran her ship tight and loved the school at least as much as Rylan did.
“Too right. And that overgrown statue, Magnus, is around constantly, whether I like it or not. I’m surprised he isn’t here right now, if I’m honest.”
My brother smiled. “He’ll be back later tonight, though likely in a foul mood. He had patrol today, and a meeting with the stone kin council. He hates day shifts almost as much as council meetings. Both in one day?” he grimaced and shook his head.
“Lovely,” I said sarcastically. In truth, the gargoyle and I were friendly enough, but we thrived on a certain level of mutual dislike. “But there, see? The students are gone, Rylan. It’s as quiet as it’s going to get around here. I’ll make you a mirror so you can check in. Go on your holiday, spend time with your mate. Everything will be fine in your absence, I promise.”
“What about your other employer?” he asked, referring to Henrik. “Are you not worried your attention will be divided?”
I shook my head. “No. This jewelry he’s trying to find is proving elusive. I don’t see myself traveling beyond the city walls to seek it out for now. I have a couple new leads to follow, but they don’t seem likely to bear any real information, just like the several I’ve chased over the last half a year.” I exhaled my frustration. I’d been a fool to think it was an easy task I’d signed up for. At least I’d had the opportunity to sit with Lilith’s book several times since first agreeing to seek out Henrik’s gem, though I hadn’t yet found the answers I had hoped its pages would provide. “He knows it will take however long it takes. They’ve allegedly been searching for nearly twenty years, so acouple more months isn’t the end of the world.” I cleared my throat, having the perfect opening to suggest my intended guest. “One of the members of his house is a chemist. Alchemist, perhaps, as well.”
Rylan’s head came up, as did one of his sooty eyebrows. “Oh?”
“I thought I could trial her skills here before the students come back. If I’m not mistaken, she’s well into her twenties, possibly more. She could be either a student or a member of staff, depending on her aptitude.” The fact that she’d been anxious to get away from our original conversation had only made me want to prolong it. Her interactions with her employers were odd to say the least, and I didn’t care for it. Getting to the bottom of why I couldn’t seem to ignore anything about her was also at the top of my to-do list.
My brother pinned me with a stare, thoughtful. “Have you spoken with her?”
