Chapter 4

Chapter

Four

Osric Emberhearth had just begun to relax as he approached the Folio & Fancy with a tray of pastries and coffees for Hali and her assistant, Sooty, whom he'd noticed had a tendency to consume a volume of coffee greater than his entire gnomish body seemed capable of holding. The morning sun was shining, the streets of Luminara already bustling with shoppers, and the savory aroma of the pastries promised a rare treat of a morning. But as he drew closer, he noticed Hali engaged in a heated argument with a city guard officer, and his shoulders tensed reflexively.

"I'm telling you, someone tried to break in," Hali was saying, her voice tight with exasperation. "The lock was damaged, and the wards triggered, but thankfully they didn't get inside."

The guard officer, a young human woman with a no-nonsense expression, raised one eyebrow. "And you're sure it wasn't just a malfunction with the lock? You know these old buildings can be finicky."

"The locks are enchanted," Hali said. "I highly doubt it was a malfunction. Also, the cloaked figure I chased for several city blocks would indicate the lock didn't just malfunction on its own. Now, are you going to investigate, or should I just assume you're all in the pockets of the Crimson Ledger or whatever two-bit goons are running the city these days?"

The guard officer let out an exasperated sigh and tucked her notepad back into her belt. "Look, Ms. Brightminer, I understand you're upset. But we don't have the resources to investigate every little thing that goes bump in the night. If you notice anything else out of the ordinary, then you can report it at the guard post again." She scribbled something on the back of a card and held it out to Hali. "But please try not to come running to us with every shadow that moves, all right?"

Hali's shoulders slumped. "Yeah, yeah, I get it. I just thought you should know." She turned away, then paused, her brow furrowing. "Wait a minute. I said the wards were triggered. Does that happen a lot? Wards going off in shops and whatnot?"

The guard officer's stony expression softened, and she shifted from one foot to the other. "Not usually, no. Most of the shops around here don't bother with that kind of thing. But the wardstones are old, and they can be a bit touchy sometimes. More trouble than they're worth, if you ask me."

Hali nodded, her expression thoughtful. "Thanks for your help. I'll keep an eye out."

The guard officer tipped her hat and headed back down the street, leaving Hali and Osric alone in front of the bookshop. When Hali turned back to him, her eyes were shining with unshed tears, and her lower lip was trembling.

"I'm sorry, Hali," Osric said. "I didn't realize someone had tried to break in."

Hali let out a shuddering breath and swiped at her eyes. "It's all right. I managed to chase them off before they could get inside. But the lock is pretty banged up, and I don't have the tools to fix it. I was going to ask my uncle, but he's been busy with a restoration project out in the Sapphire Isles, and I don't want to wait for him to return in case the intruder comes back before then." She sighed and unlocked the door to the shop. "I'm sure it'll be fine. It's probably nothing."

"I can take a look at it, if you'd like."

Hali's head snapped up, her eyes widening in surprise. "You can fix it? Really?"

Osric shrugged, trying to downplay his abilities. "I'm no master locksmith, but I know my way around a lock well enough."

Hali's face flushed a bright shade of pink. "Oh. Well, in that case, I'd be much obliged."

Osric stepped onto the stoop and waited on the top step, his gaze sweeping over the side street as Hali disappeared back into the shop. The city was already bustling with activity, and the first hints of the autumnal leaves now draped across the stone buildings and twisted up the trellises framing the shop's windows. A cool breeze carried the briny scent of the sea, ruffling the stray locks of Osric's hair, carding through the short waves.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, reaching for the smoldering embers of power that lay dormant within him. He'd spent so long keeping his flames banked, his true self carefully concealed. But here, in Hali's presence, he felt a flicker of something new, something that made his blood race and his heart pound.

As he called the power to the surface, the runes on his arms and chest burst into molten light, the flames running like liquid through the intricate sigils. He felt the heat of them, searing and raw, but it was a heat he welcomed, a part of himself he was no longer afraid to embrace.

When he opened his eyes, the world was washed in shades of gold and red, and the lock in Hali's hands glowed white with the promise of what he could do.

"Here, let me help you with that," he said, and he took the lock from her outstretched hands.

The metal was still warm from where the wards had scorched it, but Osric paid the heat no mind. He focused on the lock, on the shape of it, the feel of it, the song of it that resonated in the core of his being. With a low, rumbling incantation, he called on the metal's true form, and the lock began to shift and flow like lava.

He worked quickly, reshaping the damaged parts, and reinforcing the wards that ran along the edges. When he was finished, the lock glowed with a soft, pulsing light.

"There you go," he said, and handed the lock back to Hali. "Good as new."

Hali stared at him, her mouth hanging open. "By the forge," she whispered. "That was amazing. How did you do that?"

Osric shrugged, the flames on his skin beginning to fade. "It's just a little trick I know."

Hali's eyes widened, and she reached out to grasp his forearm, her fingers warm against his fiery skin. "Don't be so modest, Osric. That was incredible. I've never seen anything like it." She beamed at him, her hazel eyes sparkling. "You must be a master of your craft."

Osric's heart swelled at her words, a rush of warmth that had nothing to do with the flames that danced over his skin. "I'm nowhere near that," he said. "But I do take my work seriously. And your safety is of the utmost importance."

Hali's smile faltered, and she chewed on her lower lip. "I try to be careful, I really do. But I can't help it if someone has their eye on my collection."

Osric's chest tightened at the thought of someone daring to threaten her, to make her feel unsafe in her own shop. "Then I'll do whatever it takes to keep you safe."

Hali's cheeks flushed a rosy pink, and she dropped her gaze. "Thank you, Osric. That means a lot to me."

"It's the least I can do," Osric said. "Perhaps later this afternoon I'll go home and gather my tools. I should be able to add a few more enhancements to the shop's security." He paused, the words sticking in his throat. "If you'll let me, that is."

"Oh, I'd be ever so grateful. But you don't have to go to all that trouble on my account."

"It's no trouble, I promise. I want to help." He offered her a hesitant smile. "Consider it my way of thanking you for helping me in my research."

Hali's smile returned, and she squeezed his arm. "You really are too kind, Osric. I don't know what I did to deserve your help."

As they stepped into the Folio & Fancy, the warmth of the shop washed over them, carrying with it the musty scent of ancient books and the warm scent of fresh paper both all mingling together. Hali's earlier buoyancy seemed to evaporate into the air as she led Osric over to the overstuffed armchairs in the corner, and she waited until he was seated before perching on the edge of the seat like she was about to confide in him.

"So, I have a confession to make," Hali said, her hands twisting in her lap. "All this business with the break-in last night, and that thug who came looking for the book . . . It's not the only strange thing that's happened around here lately."

Osric's muscles tensed, and he leaned forward, his senses sharpening. "What kind of strange things?"

Hali's voice dropped to a hush, though Sooty was already eavesdropping from behind a teetering stack of books. "It's probably nothing, just my overactive imagination. But I keep hearing . . . voices. Whispering, when I'm here in the shop by myself. And the shadows, they move. I catch glimpses of something out of the corner of my eye, but when I turn to look, it's gone."

She gave a self-conscious laugh, but there was no mistaking the troubled look in her eyes. "I know how it sounds. I probably just need more sleep. But then there are the books. They keep getting . . . rearranged. I'll put something back in its proper place, and the next morning, it's back out, like someone's been looking for something."

She reached out and placed a hand on Osric's forearm, her grip surprisingly strong and sure. "It's probably just the shop playing tricks on me, trying to get settled after all the new inventory. But with that man showing up yesterday, and now the attempted break-in . . . I can't help but feel like there's something more at work."

Her eyes searched his, as if she were gauging his reaction.

"The grimoire," she said. "The one the man was so desperate to get his hands on. I think it might be marked up with some kind of coded message. I've been trying to decipher it, but so far, no luck." She gave a wistful sigh. "Maybe you could take a look at it. With your expertise and all." She laughed, a nervous, tinkling sound. "Not that you'd want to get mixed up in my nonsense, of course."

Osric tried to keep his expression calm—no reason to worry her unduly, after all, especially since she was already on edge. He covered her hand with his, and gave her a reassuring squeeze. "I'd be happy to help, however I can. You have but to ask."

Hali's smile was a beacon of light in the encroaching darkness. "Thank you, Osric. You're too kind, you really are." Hali bit her lip, and after a moment's hesitation, she reached into the pocket of her trousers and pulled out a crumpled piece of paper. It was covered in a jumble of letters and symbols, ink so faded that it was almost illegible. "I found this tucked inside another book yesterday, as well. It looks like a cipher, but I can't make heads or tails of it."

Osric's brow furrowed as he studied the paper. The symbols were a mishmash of alphabets, a different code entirely. One that he'd been trained to recognize, to decipher, to use for the order's most secret correspondences.

"It's a Venthian cipher," he said, his voice barely more than a whisper.

Hali's eyes widened, and she leaned in closer. "A what now?"

"A Venthian cipher. It's an ancient code, dating back to the First Age. Each symbol represents a different phoneme, allowing for multiple substitutions within a single word to confound frequency analysis." He cleared his throat, trying to shake off the instinctual recitation that had been drilled into him. "It's a devilishly clever system."

Hali's mouth fell open, and she stared at him, searching his face. "Can you . . . can you help me decipher it, then?"

Osric hesitated, his mind racing. He knew he should tell her the truth, that he could crack the code in a matter of minutes. But the more he thought about it, the more he realized it would be far too dangerous to reveal his true abilities. If someone was trying to get their hands on the grimoire, then they might be after him, as well, once they knew what he was capable of.

"I'm afraid it would take me some time to work it out," he said. "But I can certainly give it a try."

Hali's shoulders slumped, and she let out a disappointed sigh. "Oh. I was hoping you might know something about it right off the bat. But I suppose it's a long shot, isn't it?"

Osric's chest ached at the look of vulnerability in her eyes. He wanted nothing more than to ease her fears, to protect her from whatever shadows were gathering around the shop. But the truth was, he didn't know who was behind the break-in, or the coded message, or what other dangers might be lurking in the city.

"I wish I could help you more," he said. "But I'm afraid my skills lie more in the realm of locks and wards."

Hali looked away, her cheeks tinged with pink. "Of course. Silly me, getting all worked up over nothing."

"It's not nothing," Osric said, and he meant it. "If there's something strange happening in your shop, then it's worth investigating."

Hali's gaze flickered back to him, and there was a glimmer of hope in her eyes. "You really think so?"

Osric nodded, the flames on his skin sputtering and fading. "I do. And I'd like to help in any way I can."

A smile tugged at the corners of Hali's mouth, and she reached out to take his hand. "Thank you, Osric. That means a lot to me."

The touch of her hand sent a jolt of warmth through him, chasing away the last of the flames. He laced his fingers through hers, and was rewarded with a dazzling smile.

Maybe this was fate, he thought. Maybe he was meant to meet Hali, to help her uncover the mysteries that had been lurking in the shop. It was a dangerous game he was playing, and he knew he was taking a risk. But the more he looked into Hali's eyes, the more he heard the laughter in her voice and felt the warmth of her hand in his, the more he knew it was a risk worth taking.

She led him deeper into the shop, the shelves of books towering over them like ancient stone pillars. "I grew up in Luminara, and my uncle ran a rare books acquisition business," Hali said, as they wove their way through the labyrinth of tomes. "He was the one who introduced me to the world of rare books, to the magic that lurks within the written word. I always dreamed of taking over the shop one day, of filling it with all the wondrous tales and secrets I could uncover. It isn't quite the same as what he does, but I think he's proud of me in his own way."

Osric listened, captivated, as Hali spoke. Her love for the written word shone in her eyes, and her voice was a melodic song as she wove her tales. She had a way of making even the most ordinary book sound like a treasure beyond price, and Osric found himself hanging on her every word.

"How about you?" Hali asked, after a moment. She raised an eyebrow, and the corner of her mouth quirked up. "You strike me as the kind of person who's on a quest of his own."

Osric's throat tightened, and he looked away, his gaze fixed on the rows of books. If only she knew how right she was. But his mission was one he couldn't share, not with someone as kind and trusting as Hali. The dangers he faced were his and his alone, and he would do whatever it took to keep her safe from the shadows that were gathering around him.

"I suppose I am on a quest, in a way," he said, after a moment. "A quest for knowledge, you might call it."

Heat rose in his cheeks, and he pressed on, eager to turn the conversation back to Hali. "I've always been fascinated by the ancient primordials and the relics they left behind. It's a passion I've devoted my life to, in the hopes that one day, I might unearth some long-lost secret, some powerful artifact that's been hidden away."

"And have you found anything?" Hali asked, her eyes glinting with curiosity.

"Not yet," Osric said. "But I haven't given up hope. There are still so many books and tomes and ancient texts out there, just waiting to be discovered. You never know what secrets might be lurking in the pages."

Hali's smile was a radiant burst of light. "Well, if anyone can find those secrets, I'm sure it's you, Osric. You have a real gift for this sort of thing."

"Thank you, Hali. That means a lot, coming from you."

But a shadow passed over Osric's heart as he said it, for he knew the dangers that lurked in the ancient texts he sought. Dangers that he had spent his whole life trying to contain, to keep from falling into the wrong hands. If someone was after the grimoire, then it was a threat he couldn't ignore.

"I'll get to the bottom of this," Osric said. He squeezed Hali's hand, and the runes on his arms flickered and glowed. "I promise you that."

Hali gave his hand a final squeeze before letting go. "Thank you, Osric. You're a true friend."

The words struck him like a blow, and for a moment, he was at a loss. He'd only just met Hali, and yet there was something in the way she said it, something in the depths of her hazel eyes, that made him want to be more than just a friend.

"I'll stop by again soon," he said, before he could overthink it. "To see how your investigation is going. And to keep you safe, if need be."

Hali stepped back, her hand brushing against his arm. "I'd like that. I'd like that very much."

They lingered there for a moment, lost in each other's gaze, the world of books and tomes and ancient mysteries falling away around them. The only thing Osric could see, the only thing he cared to see, was Hali, the way her eyes sparkled in the lamplight, the way her auburn hair fell in loose, unruly curls.

But the shadows were calling to him, a dark and urgent summons. With a heavy heart, he forced himself to turn away. "Until then, Hali."

She offered him a parting smile, and then he was turning, the shop's towering shelves of books at his back. The night air was cool against his skin, but it did nothing to quell the heat that was building inside him.

There was a mystery to be unraveled, a threat to be contained. Osric's instincts were screaming at him, but he didn't know why. All he knew was that he couldn't stay away, that he had to protect Hali, no matter the cost.

He set off into the night, the city's darkened streets stretching out before him. The only sound was the steady rhythm of his heart, and the distant howl of the wind.

But in the shadows, something was watching, something hungry and cold.

And Osric knew, with a sinking certainty, that the danger was only just beginning.

Osric made his way up the winding stone steps that led to the Forge of Vulkan, the distant rumble of the magma chamber below echoing in the vast cavern. It was a sound that usually filled him with a sense of peace and purpose, but tonight, his thoughts were too troubled to find solace in the flames.

He found Agnith in the smithy, a massive warhammer of molten iron and rune-etched obsidian taking shape in the coals. "What is it, child?" Agnith asked, his eye glowing like a hot coal in the dim light.

Osric swallowed down the lump that had been building in his throat, and forced the words out. "I . . . I think there may be a threat. Something dark and ancient, stirring in the city. I don't yet know the form it will take, but I fear it means to do us harm."

Agnith set down his tongs, the warhammer's head still glowing a furious red. "Then we must be ready. Gather the others. I want a full watch set up around the city tonight. If there is a threat lurking in the shadows, we will find it, and we will drive it out, with fire and steel."

Osric's heart ached at the thought of what was to come. But he squared his shoulders, and set to work preparing for the long night ahead.