17. Sybil

Chapter 17

Sybil

I drag myself by sheer will away from the injured.

After spending the night in the hut with Aramis–he on the floor as I lay on the hay mattress–I had woken up still aching but more energized, well enough to help the infirmary. Aramis had left to lend a hand with the reconstructions, needing to do something practical to help the people instead of sitting around the Council's table.

The morning had been somewhat awkward. Aramis had avoided my gaze and I felt like a fish out of water. After so many weeks of longing, I realize we have both changed, and the uncertain nature of my feelings keeps me stepping away from him rather than running into his arms.

An elemental with brown hair, Evolet, walks me to a newly erected tent at the center of the camp—the new home of the Council of Thorns.

"It's very kind of you to help with the injured. It is dangerous to stay here now that the Queen has found us, but we can't leave them behind," Evolet walks steadfast, and I struggle to keep up with her. Thankfully, Aramis had found some breeches and a tunic for me to wear after my dress had been ruined in battle, and it helps dodging all the rubble and broken tents.

"I may not be a healer in the traditional sense, but I do live by the healer codex. It's my duty to help," I say in between breaths.

All around us, there's silence at the camp, occasionally broken by the screams of those getting treatment. People are digging through the rubble, trying to save whatever remains of their belongings. So many tears are being shed, prayers are whispered at all hours, and rows of white linens cover the bravest of us all. But no one is alone. No matter where I look, shifters and elementals are supporting each other, strengthening that sense of community Tricella will never be able to break.

Evolet holds one of the tent's flaps open and nods for me to enter.

"We have to leave as soon as possible," a woman says. At the sight of her, I nearly fall to my knees. She is the exact copy of Kela.

The inside of the tent is a lot smaller than I expected, but then, there's about fifteen adults sitting around a makeshift table, including Nero and Marcelene. Half burnt maps are on display, everyone has exhausted expressions on their faces.

"According to the healers' reports, the injured need at least two more days before they can be moved. And even then, most will have to be carried on stretchers. It will be a slow and difficult march," the man next to her explains, lovingly covering her hand with his.

"There's no more stalling. We have to plead for refuge in the Kallistar regi?—"

"Sybil Vandaleur," the old man at the head of the table interjects. With some difficulty, he uses the arms of his chair to lift himself, but I see his frail form shaking. Kela's mother on his right extends a helping hand, but the man signals her to stop. "My name is Victor Hawthorne, I am a tiger shifter and head of this council. Please, take a seat."

I sit at the other end of the table, back straight and Victor takes his seat again. Marcelene looks in my direction and smiles imperceptibly. Her usually pristine blond hair is darkened by ash, wrapped tightly into a bun. Even Nero, whose spirit rarely falters, has a lost look in his eyes.

"At present, the Queen's attack has depleted the rebellion to a point of crisis. We are not able to continue our missions until we can take the refugees here to safety. It is still unsure how the Queen found our location. We were assured the wards put in place would help hide us from the Queen's seer but alas, they failed?—"

"Ten mole shifters, six Earth elementals and two owl shifters are currently digging their way to what is surely a death trap," a tall man with broad shoulders, chestnut hair, and a close cropped beard chimes in. "Let me tell you how the Queen found us. That scumbag of a prince has told her. I warned you all about this." He slams his hands on the table, and I jump at the sound and accusation.

"Aries, we have talked about this," a broad man sitting next to Kela's mum says as he shakes his head.

"Oh, so you're just going to let them die, like your daughter, Roger?"

Roger leans over the table, making his chair fall backward, and fists Aris' tunic, pulling him inches from his face.

Nero and three more of the rebels stand, ready to intervene.

"You better shut up," he shouts. Aris grinds his teeth but lifts his hands until Roger drops him and they all sit back around the table.

"Enough," Victor proclaims with his low guttural word. "The last couple of days have tested all of us but we cannot allow her to divide us. We are not going to abandon them, Aries."

A small female with pale skin, dark red hair, and brown eyes enters the tent. Victor gestures to her to come closer. "Phoebe, welcome. Thank you for joining us."

"Of course. I came to officially agree to infiltrate the castle," Phoebe says, squaring her shoulders. Two white ears twitch up from her hair as a white fluffy tail sweeps behind her.

People around the table start looking at each other in confusion.

"Absolutely not, it is too dangerous," Roger says and Aries agrees.

"What a great idea." Nero pinches his nose and I notice Marcelene biting her lip.

Phoebe balls her fists on the table as she stares the men down. "You can all say what you want. I am going. Between my shifter abilities and shadow magic, I'll go undetected. I can warn those in the tunnels and then attempt to go into the castle to gather information about how they found us."

"Shadow magic?" I ask, turning toward her.

Phoebe steps back and the shadows begin to waver until they swallow her completely from sight. My eyes light up and I'm at a loss for words. She shrugs sheepishly.

"My father was an arctic fox shifter, my mother was a shadow elemental. She was a chambermaid for the court of Queen Rose before she passed, Goddess bless her soul. I will use the crypts to access the castle. There'll be eighteen of us sneaking in, but they won't see me."

The room erupts into chaos, but all I can think of is that this could also be a chance for us to get some answers.

"Phoebe," I say. "Would you mind one more mission?"

Silence ensues and everyone focuses their attention back to me.

"Marcelene," Victor adds. "Has informed us about your discoveries at the library, Sybil. And of course, we have all witnessed your powers. But how can Phoebe be of assistance?"

"Well, we believe that Tricella is in possession of one, or potentially two, books about magic penned by the Goddess herself. We have a potential lead that could tell us more about them, but it would not hurt to double check." I turn to Phoebe, who's taking in every word I say with meticulous attention. "I don't know what the books look like, but they are some of the most powerful things ever created in Craeweth. I believe you'll know when you find them."

"I will try my best to find the information you seek, but now, if you don't mind, I will take my leave to prepare for my imminent mission."

She turns to Victor, who nods in agreement, and the young woman leaves the tent.

"What is this lead you're talking about?" Aris asks, arms crossed over his chest.

I meet Marcelene's eyes, trying to understand how much she has told them whilst a plan takes root in my head.

"Before I share the details, there's the matter of Aramis," I say, lifting my chin. "I understand your mistrust in his regards, but from what I have seen, he has proven loyal to the cause. Why continue treating him like the enemy? Would the enemy help you succeed? Kill the monsters he supposedly helped create and help rebuild your homes? Take those cuffs off him, for Goddess' sake."

Aris laughs, and I decide I'll happily slap him at the first occasion.

"You are not mistaken. Aramis has lent a helping hand to us all these last few weeks," Victor answers. "But the magic we have used on his cuffs is ancient, Sybil. We cannot temper with them even if we wished to. The cuffs will open only when Aramis proves his worth in the eyes of the Goddess."

"But he is free to go?" I ask, pointing my finger to the table.

Aries is about to jump out of his chair, and I wonder what the story between him and Aramis is, but before he can interject, Victor exclaims a loud, "Yes."

I notice Nero's shoulders relaxing, eyes closing at this proclamation, and I revel in this little victory.

"Wonderful, in that case, I am looking for a thief."

"There is no way that scumbag down in the cells is the male you're looking for," Roger says as he leads us down the stairs. "We caught him rifling through the storage, pockets full of coins and stolen jewelry–not magical books."

"The magic doesn't lie," Marcelene says.

After the Council meeting ended, I had insisted for Nero to rush and get Aramis to join us on our way to the cells. Aramis' face glistened with sweat, his hair pushed back as he carried an axe he used to cut more firewood to keep everyone warm. He had only smiled at me, leaving some space between us, but inside, I burned.

Real or not real? I keep asking myself and feel like I am losing my mind.

"Didn't think I'd be back here so soon," Aramis jokes but I see his gaze getting lost in old memories.

"Ay, mate. I am sorry I could not get ye out sooner." The draken rests his arm on Aramis' shoulders. "But yer free now. Just windless." He snickers to which Aramis' grins.

I have missed this.

The cells are located outside the northern border, concealed amidst towering trees. The aged building is adorned with lifeless grass that creeps its way up the walls of the simple, white-washed structure. Its exterior is unadorned, save for a substantial door and multiple diminutive barred windows leading to a lower level. Despite its plain exterior, familiar magic radiates off the walls reminiscent of... my eyes are drawn to the cuffs around Aramis' wrist and I shiver.

Roger inserts a big, rusted key in the main door, which creaks and objects.

"Axton," Roger calls as we follow him into the hallway one by one. He stops in front of the last cell and pounds on the iron bars. "Wake up, we have some questions for you."

A dark form in the corner moves, lazily stretching before he turns and centers his gaze on me.His hair is matted, clothes are stained, and the stench of human excrements coming from him is overwhelming, but I don't move.

"Oh, what a treat. Have you come to free me too, beautiful?" he says as he winks. "I told this here prince you'd nee–"

"Watch your tongue before you lose it," Aramis growls, hands clenching at his side as he glares at the male through the bars.

"Axton, I am Sybil," I say, crossing my arms over my chest at his leering stare. "We are told you are a brilliant thief, one of the best in Craeweth, the legends say? What an injustice having you locked up in here."

Roger and Aramis' heads shoot in my direction, confused at my flattering words to Axton.

"Oh what a lovely name for such a beautiful creature." He smiles, eyes twinkling. My stomach twists uneasily. "You are correct, darling. Axton Silverspark of Pruatho. And I can only agree, I should not be here. Can you help?" He winks, and I see Aramis' fists clenching with the corner of my eye.

"Well, I was actually hoping you would help me. I have found this," I say and take the little piece of parchment with the dagger and heart out of my pocket. "At what is probably your masterpiece."

Axton's eyes shine in the light of the torches hanging from the walls, and I know I am pushing the right buttons.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Axton says, flicking at invisible dust on his shoulder.

"I think you do," Aramis growls. I flinch as he slams a fist against the iron bar, the sound reverberating through the room. "Answer them truthfully."

He turns back to me and runs his gaze down my body. "If you could sweet talk my way out of here like you did to blondie over here, I could be persuaded to remember."

"Ye will be respectful of the ladies, else we will have to persuade the information out of you in other ways," Nero says, standing to his full towering height and snapping his wings.

"The council has not passed judgment for his crimes of theft. They will not agree to free him just to give you answers," Roger says.

I turn and face the thief once again. "Come on, Axton. Are you trying to tell me another thief, much more brilliant than you, stole the most powerful magical artifacts ever created?"

"Sybil," Marcelene admonishes, eyebrows raised.

Axton raises up his hands in defense.

"Entering that mountain was a bitch of a job," he admits with a smirk. "Although stealing magical artifacts is behind me. She said she had told me everything she discovered during her studies, only coincidentally, she forgot to mention the gigantic spiders nesting underneath the bloody mountain." Axton shakes his head, but I don't say anything, hoping he'll just keep talking. "The queen tried to double cross me after delivering my end of the bargain. I barely escaped with my life. So, I lied to her." His grin widens; this information will require leverage.

"What do you want, Axton? Apart from your freedom, that is."

"How about we start with better accommodation, although I am certain we won't be staying here for much longer. Awful noise those beasts make. I was almost relieved to be locked down here?—"

"Deal," I say. Roger will not be happy.

"You see, when I reached that dusty chamber, I took both books as instructed by Tricella. Goddess, you should have seen her back then. The woman was nothing, small folk really. Had I known that bloody book would be the key to making her queen, I would have kept it!"

"Axton, focus," Aramis chides.

"Anyway, I get to our meeting point and the woman and her pet, tall, lanky guy, start screaming at me about why it took so long and then only deliver half of the payment. And as you said, sweetheart, I am not just any thief, I am a professional. So, I lied to her, and told her there was only one book."

"How did you prove it to her?" Marcelene asks.

"Secret of the trade, darl—" Nero grabs one of the bars and Axton rolls his eyes.

"Okay, okay. I use an invisibility amulet. Well, used, that's gone too, just like your precious book. I gave Tricella one of the books and decided to keep the other for myself, thinking I could sell it for a higher profit than what she offered." He gestures to me as if it's the most logical thing to do. "You don't hire a thief expecting him to be honest, darling. She was outraged, of course. You should have seen her! Until she saw the book and her eyes lit up and she set off into the sunshine with her pet."

This confirms Tricella's possession of the Book of Darkness.

"Where is the other book now?" I ask, barely containing the excitement in my voice."Do you still have it?"

"Well," he laughs. "Am I free, Sybil?"

"Depends on your answer."

"There is one tiny problem." He crosses his arms over his chest and leans against the wall of the cell. "I don't have the book. It was stolen from me over fifty years ago by a great dragon, along with all my possessions–including my amulet–after I tried to take its golden egg."

"Ye tried to steal a dragon egg? Are ye dolt in the head?" Nero doubles over, laughing. "That's the most ridiculous story I've ever heard. Yer full of shit."

"Are you saying a dragon has the Book of Light?" My stomach plummets as I think of all the fairytales I've read of knights in shining armor fighting dragons who demolished whole villages. "I thought dragons were extinct decades ago."

"Aye, it's because they mostly keep to themselves as their numbers dwindle. Aramis and I used to–"

"Where is this dragon, then? And how did it come into possession of the book?" Marcelene interrupts Nero, and he looks at her like a scolded puppy.

"Well, after parting ways with Tricella, I set on the path Verdigris falls to find a boat to the island of Asthroth. I knew if I wanted a chance at selling something as powerful as the book, I had to go somewhere people don't ask questions but pay their dues. I was crossing through a mountain range when I heard this deafening screech. I looked up and a stream of fire exited this cave right above my head. Do you know how much dragon eggs are worth?"

When no one encourages Axton's dive into details, he rolls his eyes.

"Curiosity took the best of me, and I entered the dragon's den, who promptly tried to murder me but instead ended up taking everything I owned and I ran butt naked."

The thief looks down at his tattered boots and we're all in silence, trying to process the utter idiocy of this man.

"You're coming with us," Aramis breaks the silence and my head snaps to him. "You are going to take us to the dragon and help us get the book back."

Axton lowers himself to the ground, laughing maniacally.

"You all have a death wish. And I already worry about how the hell I am going to convince the Council to let him go."