Chapter 11

Chapter

Eleven

Halizanth awoke with a start, her hand searching for Osric's form before she even fully opened her eyes. Finding his side of the bed empty, she slumped back against the pillows with a wistful smile. It had become a familiar disappointment, though no less disappointing each time. He was likely already hard at work, delving into ancient tomes and histories in search of a way to infiltrate the Obsidian Circle's compound.

She shook her head, her smile softening. It was a dangerous game he was playing, one that she had no business being a part of. But try as she might to push him away, to tell him to leave it to the authorities, a stubborn elf was he, and even more stubborn was the tug of their bond. A bond that had only grown stronger with each passing day, each shared secret, each brush of hands and lips.

With a contented sigh, she stretched and threw back the covers. She had work to do as well, even if it was of a more mundane sort. Her shop was still in disarray from the attack, books and papers scattered everywhere. As much as she longed to linger in the warmth of the bed, wrapped in memories of the night before, there was no rest for the determined.

She set about tidying up, the routine of it all giving her a chance to let her mind wander. To think about the things she shouldn't, like the way Osric had looked at her, with such reverence and longing. The way his calloused hands had trembled as he'd reached for her, as if he couldn't quite believe she was real. The way he'd whispered her name, a prayer on his lips.

Hali tried to dislodge the thoughts, but they only burrowed deeper. She was treading on perilous ground, and she knew it. Her heart was already his, whether she wanted to admit it or not. And if they were to proceed down this path, if they were to confront the Obsidian Circle together, there was no telling what the future might hold.

As she descended the narrow staircase to the shop, the familiar scent of parchment and pipe smoke enveloped her, chasing away the last remnants of sleep. She found Sooty behind the front counter, his satchel already slung over his shoulder, and his bangs brushed low over his eyes.

"Morning, Sooty," Hali said, with a wry smile. "You're early today."

Sooty grunted in response, not looking up.

Hali shook her head, but there was no real annoyance in her voice. She'd long ago learned to appreciate Sooty's no-nonsense attitude, a perfect counterbalance to her own flights of fancy. While she was the face of the shop, spinning tales and weaving dreams for their customers, Sooty was the true backbone of Quintessential Quills, with his encyclopedic knowledge and keen eye for detail.

She moved to the counter and watched as Sooty unlocked the register and began counting out the day's starting till. "Did you finish pricing those new acquisitions from the auction?" she asked.

Sooty nodded. "Yep. All set to go."

"Excellent. You're a lifesaver, you know that, Sooty?"

Another grunt.

Sooty finished with the register and moved on to the daily tasks of opening the shop. He quickly fell into his routine, his movements efficient and practiced. Dusting the shelves, straightening the stacks of books, rearranging the window displays with a critical eye.

"You know, Sooty," Hali said, unable to resist needling him just a little, "if you keep rearranging the histories section, you might actually find a customer who can reach the top shelf."

Sooty's lips twitched, and he glanced back at her. "I like it how it is."

She laughed, and with a final pat on Sooty's shoulder, she glided over to the kettle to set it on for tea. The shop was as it should be, and with Sooty in charge, Hali could focus on the true task at hand.

The kettle whistled, and Hali quickly set about preparing her tea. As the fragrant leaves steeped in the teapot, she took a deep breath, letting the earthy scent wash over her. She carried the teapot and a delicate china cup back to the counter, and with a joyous smile, she settled onto the stool.

"Ah, thank you, Sooty. You're a lifesaver as always."

Sooty grunted, and Hali was about to tease him further when her gaze drifted to the display stand they had used to try to draw the Obsidian Circle out of hiding. The one that should have held the grimoire, bound in its protective wards.

It was empty.

Hali's heart skipped a beat, and she set her tea down, the fragrant steam going ignored. "Sooty," she said, her voice rising in pitch. "Sooty, where's the grimoire?"

Sooty glanced over his shoulder, and then followed her gaze to the display. With a puzzled frown, he hurried over to the counter. "I thought you took it upstairs to clean it."

Hali's heart pounded in her ears. "No. No, I didn't. I was going to, but then I remembered the wards, and I didn't want to risk it. Did you move it for restocking?"

Sooty shook his head, a lock of dark hair falling into his eyes. "No, ma'am. I haven't touched it."

Hali's heart raced as her mind caught up to the implications of the missing grimoire. "Oh, by the stars. This is bad. This is very, very bad."

"And now the Obsidian Circle has the grimoire." Sooty sighed. "Great."

Hali's mind was racing. She had been so focused on catching the man who had broken in, she hadn't even considered the possibility of a second intruder. And now, with the grimoire in the Circle's hands, who knew what other secrets they might uncover.

Sooty nodded, his expression serious. "What do you need me to do?"

"First, we need to secure the shop. I need to check the wards on the doors and windows, make sure they haven't been tampered with. Then we'll need to do a full inventory, make sure nothing else is missing. And then . . ."

Hali's voice trailed off as she thought. "And then we wait. We wait to see if the Circle makes a move. And in the meantime, we'll just have to be ready for anything."

She started pacing back and forth behind the counter, her mind racing with thoughts of traps and alarms and safeguards. She couldn't afford to make the same mistake again. Lives were at stake, not just her own, but Osric's, and Sooty's, and who knew how many others.

"We'll catch them, Hali. I promise."

She stopped her pacing and looked over at Sooty, his dark eyes steady and unwavering. For all his grumbling and grousing, he was always there when she needed him, her rock and her anchor.

"Thank you, Sooty," she said. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

Sooty snorted. "Probably get yourself killed."

Hali laughed, a watery, relieved sound. "Yes, well. Let's try to avoid that, shall we?"

Hali's self-deprecating spiral was interrupted by the tinkling of the shop's bell. She looked up, her vision still swimming with worst-case scenarios, and her heart gave a little leap in her chest at the sight of the one person she knew she could always count on.

"Professor Thornsley," Hali said, her voice a little breathless. "What a pleasant surprise."

The elderly gnome beamed at her, his eyes twinkling behind his thick spectacles. "Hali, my dear, you look like you could use a cup of tea. Or perhaps something a bit stronger?"

Hali managed a wobbly smile. "I think I've had quite enough excitement for one day. But what about you? I thought you were in the Sapphire Isles for that alchemical conference."

"Oh, I was. But then I heard a most intriguing rumor about a possible sighting of the Codex Draconis, and I simply had to investigate. But enough about me. How are things here at the shop? Making any exciting new discoveries?"

Hali's smile faltered, and she cast a quick glance around the shop, as if half-expecting the walls to have ears. "Perhaps we should talk in my office."

The professor's eyes widened, and he nodded gravely, following her into the back room. Hali closed the door behind them, and then cast a quick privacy ward, just to be safe.

"I decoded the message you left with me. It seems to be some kind of instruction left for someone. TOOLS AT DOCKS, LAST LIGHT."

Hali made a noncommital noise. That was hardly the most pressing issue now.

"But you seem . . . distraught. What's going on, dear?" Professor Thornsley asked, his usual jollity tempered with concern.

"The Obsidian Circle," Hali said, the words tasting bitter on her tongue. "They broke in. Stole the grimoire."

Professor Thornsley let out a low whistle. "Stars and stones. That's not good. Not good at all."

"I know. I'm a fool, I should have been more careful, but I was so focused on catching the man who broke in the first time, and I never even stopped to think the first might have just been luring us away, and now who knows what kind of secrets they might uncover?—"

"Hali. Hali, dear. Breathe."

Hali stopped, her lungs burning, and realized she'd been holding her breath. She let it out in a rush, and sank down into her chair.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I'm babbling. I just—I don't know what to do."

The professor took her hand in his, his grip surprisingly strong for one so elderly. "You're doing the right thing, my dear. Being vigilant. And not facing this threat alone."

Hali's eyes stung, and she quickly blinked back the tears. "I'm sorry. I'm sure you didn't come here to listen to me whine."

"Nonsense. You're one of my most promising students. If anyone can outwit the Obsidian Circle, it's you. Now, tell me everything you know about them, and their connection to the primordials. Perhaps we can find a clue in their methods, their history, their goals . . ."

"Wait, wait, slow down, dear. You're not making any sense."

Hali took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. "I think I figured out what the grimoire is. Or rather, what it's for."

"Oh? Do tell."

Hali's heart was still pounding, but she tried to focus on the professor's kind, inquisitive gaze. He was right. She wasn't facing this threat alone. She had a whole network of friends and allies, if she was only brave enough to reach out.

"I think it's a decryption key. For a book cipher, specifically. The kind where you use one book to encode a message, and another to decode it. The markings in the grimoire are the code. But I have no idea what book it's supposed to decrypt."

The professor stroked his chin thoughtfully. "An elegant system. But you're right. Without the book to decode the message, you're at a dead end."

Hali's earlier panic was already resurfacing. "And now the Obsidian Circle has it. They're going to unlock whatever secrets the grimoire was meant to protect, and I don't even know where to begin to stop them?—"

The professor held up a placating hand. "Calm down, dear. We'll figure this out. But you need to breathe. Inhale. Exhale. There you go."

Hali took a few shuddering breaths, and forced her shoulders to relax. She was safe here, in the shelter of her office, with the professor's kind presence to steady her.

"Thank you, Professor," Hali said. "I needed to hear that. I've just been so caught up in my own head, I?—"

"Shush," the professor said, his eyes lighting up with sudden understanding. "You've done more than enough, my dear. In fact, I think you may have just given me the clue I needed."

Hali blinked. "Clue? For what?"

The professor's lips curved into a sly smile. "I believe I know exactly what the grimoire was meant to decipher."