The Torch that Ignites the Stars (Arcane Ascension Book 3)

by Andrew Rowe

  “…Thanks. That helps a bit.” I nodded. “Sorry for making this about me.”

  “Don’t worry, Corin. I’m very used to that by now.” She smiled. “But if you’d help to make it up to me and do something positive, be a good brother and make me some tea? My voice is killing me.”

  “You got it.”

  I made Sera some tea (poorly) and gave her some space. We took a few more hours to rest.

  After that, Sera went and had a discussion with Mara and Emery without me, and then returned with Mara alone.

  “She’s unsummoned,” Mara explained. “We’ll…have time to do things later. For now, the priority is going with you to the Arbiter’s Gate, and it wouldn’t be safe to take her in there or leave her alone here.”

  I nodded in understanding. “You could stay here with her, you know.”

  Mara shook her head. “Too much at stake. Emery and I will have time later.”

  “Shall we get going, then?” Sera asked.

  Throughout it all, I should have noticed that Patrick was uncharacteristically silent.

  ***

  We headed to the gate as a group. The Arbiter’s Gate was ostensibly completely safe, but given the insanity we’d run into in the spire so far, no one was willing to assume that was reliable.

  Beyond that, we didn’t know how long it was going to take to arrange a meeting. If it took more than a day or so, having multiple people to sleep in shifts inside would be a good idea.

  We found the gate easily enough with some directions from the Soaring Wings. We got a couple funny looks for asking, but that wasn’t much of a surprise, given the scarcity of Arbiter attunements.

  The entrance was much smaller than typical tower entrances: it was a single, strangely mundane-looking metal door.

  Next to the door was a waist-height stone pedestal capped with a metal segment covered in runes. The center of that metal segment had an obvious slot on the top. There were no instructions anywhere, but it was clear enough that this was where I was supposed to put the disc.

  Before doing anything else, I retrieved a notebook and wrote the runes down. Some of them appeared typical — detection runes designed to note the passage of an object into a slot in the top of the metal pillar, reinforcement runes to keep the item intact, that sort of thing. Something related to teleportation. Beyond that, I noted a few in a completely different style.

  Divine runes, perhaps, like those used to craft the spire. Or maybe foreign ones, from another country?

  The incongruity bothered me a little, but I couldn’t worry about it too much. I wrote those extra runes down, too.

  “Are you planning to draw pictures of the spire, too?” Sera asked. “Should I get you an easel?”

  “Sorry, sorry.” I tucked my parchment away in the Jaden Box. “Okay, let’s do this.”

  Finally, it’s time to get some answers.

  I slipped the disc out of my bag. Next, I closed my eyes and concentrated, sending a hint of mana into the object. A single rune — identical to the Arbiter attunement on my hand — appeared in the center of the disc. Finally, with the disc activated, I reached forward to insert it into the slot.

  There was a brief musical chime, then I heard a voice in my mind.

  [We’re sorry, the visage Ferras is currently unavailable. Please try again.]

  I blinked.

  Then, I heard the sound of something shifting in the pedestal in front of me. A slot opened, and a disc rolled out, near-identical to the one I’d just used.

  “Um.” I caught the disc as it fell out of the slot, turning it over in my hands. “Did everyone else just hear that?”

  “Hear what?” Sera asked.

  I explained to the group, then turned the disc over in my hands. It was a Petitioner’s Coin, but not the same one I had used — this one was older, scoured and worn. In spite of the coin’s age, the Arbiter symbol still glowed on its surface.

  “So,” Sera’s shoulders slumped, “No Ferras.”

  “No Ferras right at this moment.” I wasn’t great at body language, but even I could tell that she was upset. Meeting Ferras was her best chance of getting herself fully healed, after all. “We can come back later, maybe.”

  “Do you think whatever happened will be resolved by the end of our trip? It seems unlikely to me.”

  I shrugged. “Depends. Could be something huge, like what’s happening to Tenjin. Could mean she’s just super drunk.”

  “Corin!” Patrick gave me a hard look.

  “What? You know her reputation.” I shook my head. “Anyway…I’m sorry, Sera. I know this isn’t what you wanted, but it might not be as bad as it seems.”

  “How so?” She asked.

  “When one door is closed…” I turned the coin. “Another sometimes opens.”

  Her eyes refocused on the coin. “Wait, you mean…”

  “This coin belonged to a previous Arbiter. One who charged it with their own mana…and thus, left a trace of their spirit behind. It might be too old, but…let’s see if this works, shall we?” I held up the coin. “Spirit Tracking Analytical Arrow.”

  Then, without fanfare, a gleaming arrow appeared in my sight.

  I let out a hoot, slipped the coin in my bag, and pointed. “Ladies and gentlemen, we have a trail.”

  ***

  Following the arrow wasn’t difficult — it moved when I moved, and the destination wasn’t far. It led us to a house about a half a mile to the north. I had to wonder if Constantine had been living in close proximity to the spire this whole time, much like Derek had, in order to have easy access to the gate and the spire’s mana supply.

  It was, of course, possible that a different Arbiter had used this coin…but the odds were in Constantine’s favor. He had worked in this area for years, whereas few of the other Arbiters that I’d heard about had spent any significant time in this area.

  I’d find out soon enough…if I could get over the jitters I was feeling as I paused near the door.

  “Whatcha waiting for?” Mara asked.

  “I’m…figuring out what to say,” I said. That was almost true. I’d played this conversation in my head a hundred times. It wasn’t quite as bad as showing up at someone’s door to say something like “I’m your secret child”, but it wasn’t going to be easy, either. “I’m another Arbiter and I’ve been stalking you for weeks” wasn’t exactly a good conversation starter, but I wasn’t good at deciding what would be.

  “I’ll handle any fumbles,” Sera offered, her voice still rough, but slightly better than earlier.

  “Thanks.” I shook my head, then marched forward, knocking on the door.

  A barrier flickered into place the moment my hand touched the surface. The barrier flickered just slightly, then I heard a chime from inside.

  I took a step back, wondering if I should knock again, but a moment later, I heard the sound of tumblers shifting and locks clicking open.

  Then, finally, the house’s door opened.

  A woman stood in the doorway wearing a curious expression and a sword sheathed at her hip. She looked to be in her mid-twenties, with her crimson hair held up in a single neat bun. She wore practical traveling garb and thick glasses. As she stepped forward, I saw leaves rustling in the air around her. “Corin Cadence, I presume? I’ve been looking forward to making your acquaintance for some time now.”

  I blinked. “Yes. That’s me. Uh…is this Warren Constantine’s residence?”

  “Not precisely, but you’ve come to the right place.” She reached up and adjusted her glasses, then gave me a bright smile. “My name is Lydia. I believe we have a great deal to discuss.”

  Chapter XVII – Making Haste

  Sera stepped in, giving the woman a quizzical look. “Lydia Hastings, I presume?”

  The woman gave us a formal bow. “You’re correct. Lydia Hastings it is. Or Scryer, if you prefer.”

  Mara’s eyes widened at that. “Lydia? You’re the Lydia?”

  Lydia gave her a smile.
“I don’t know about that, Miss Callahan. But I am a Lydia, certainly.” She turned back to Sera, giving her a nod. “I see you’ve heard of me. Unusual, but within expectations for an Invoker.”

  Sera gave Lydia a curious look. “How do you know about that?”

  Lydia clasped her hands together in front of her. “I make it my business to know about the people I’m planning to deal with, the people that they’re connected to, and the people that they are connected to. I regret that I did not study you further, Miss Cadence. Your attunement is a fascinating subject, and your possession of a certain sword intriguing.”

  “You can study me later, if you’d like. But for the moment, why are you here?”

  “At my home?” Lydia raised an eyebrow. “What an unusual question.”

  “You’re aware of what I mean.” Sera shook her head. “You’re not a native to this continent, and Ker—”

  Lydia raised a hand. “Let’s not discuss him right now, or anything in regards to my homeland. Not enough security, I’m afraid. Too close to the spire.”

  “Your house is heavily enchanted,” I waved at it. “Can we just come inside?”

  “Forgive me for my lack of decorum. Please, come inside.” She stepped back, gestured to the doorway, and led us inside. She closed the door behind us, relocked it, and whispered something as she traced a symbol on the wall. “I’m afraid I will still have to avoid certain subjects, even here. My protections are significant, but not sufficient. Especially in the presence of an Arbiter.”

  “If you’re aware of my attunement, then you should know why I’m here.” I noted.

  “Yes, quite. You’ve come to the right place, and I’ll be more than happy to assist with a meeting.”

  That was better than I’d expected. “So…what’s the catch?”

  Lydia smiled. “There is always a catch with these things, isn’t there?” She put her hands on the table. “I’m afraid the man you’re seeking is far from here, and I can’t transport all of you.”

  Ah, there it goes.

  “Could you just tell us where he’s located?” I asked.

  Lydia shook her head. “I’m afraid not. Tea?”

  “Yes, please.”

  She poured us tea. Sera, probably assuming everything was poison, didn’t drink any.

  The tea was good. It probably wasn’t poisoned.

  “What’s the complication?” Sera asked. “Or is this just you maintaining your leverage?”

  Lydia sipped her own tea. “A bit of both, Miss Cadence, but mostly the former. The man you’re seeking is in hiding. There’s a high probability we are being observed, even now. I cannot openly state his location, and my means of getting us there cannot bring more than one person.”

  “With respect, that’s entirely too little for us to go on.” Sera shook her head. “You’re going to have to give us more.”

  Lydia paused. “What sort of information would assist in making your decision?”

  I considered. “Well, earlier, you said you were ‘a Lydia’. To start with, which Lydia are you? The original or a copy?” I asked.

  She reached up, adjusting her glasses. “Ah, now that is a fascinating question. If I was her…well, there would be philosophical questions regardless of which Lydia you were speaking to. But based on your phrasing, I’ll presume that a certain masked swordsman is your information source. Is that correct?”

  “Yes.” I nodded. “He told me about the Spirit Gateway—”

  “Not here.” She shook her head. “I believe I understand now, and I can adequately answer your question. I am that Lydia. If it assists you in distinguishing between our versions, you may refer to me as ‘Len’.”

  “Len?”

  “It’s short for ‘Lydia emulation’. I found it appropriate.” She gave a little smile, like she was appreciating a personal joke.

  “Then you…wait, how are you out here?” Patrick asked.

  “A question for another place and another time, I’m afraid.” Len responded. “It’s a bit of a tale.”

  Sera frowned at me. “As nice as it is to know which Lydia we’re talking to, I don’t think it clarifies matters much, Corin.”

  I raised a hand. “No, it does. Well, maybe. Is this matter related to the crystals out in the Unclaimed Lands?”

  Len smiled broadly. “It is, at least in part.”

  My mind swam with possibilities. I knew that the crystals in the Unclaimed Lands were primordial sources of power, far predating the goddess coming to Kaldwyn. The temples that the Prime Crystals resided within were the templates used for the creation of the spires themselves.

  If this was a chance to learn more about them, it wasn’t an opportunity I wanted to miss…but it also wasn’t exactly an ideal time to leave. I still had a specific task to accomplish within the Arbiter’s Gate. “Does this need to be immediate?”

  “Not strictly, but there would be significant benefits to going immediately. As it happens, I’m currently here to look for assistance with a task on behalf of the man you’re seeking. If you choose to be the one to help, there would be advantages. Naturally, I cannot tell you all the details here due to security risks.”

  “Naturally,” Sera spat with a hint of venom. “Can’t anyone just be direct with us?”

  “I’m afraid that directness is a luxury scarcely available to those of us with resourceful enemies, Miss Cadence. For what it’s worth, however, you have my sympathies. Your frustrations echo those I have experienced on numerous occasions myself.”

  “Could we just go a more secure location to talk?” Patrick suggested. “Somewhere further away from the spire?”

  “I’m afraid that the security measures any of us would be capable of implementing anywhere in Caelford would be woefully insufficient. This is, in part, why I wish to travel immediately: I can take Master Cadence to a place where we might speak without prying eyes and ears.”

  Sera’s expression darkened. “What assurances can you give us that Corin would be safe if he agrees to go with you?”

  “Very few, I’m afraid, beyond my word. I hope that your awareness of my identity and nature will be sufficient.” Len seemed to shrink a bit.

  “When you say ‘take Corin’, you mean teleportation?” Sera asked.

  “That’s correct, Miss Cadence.”

  Sera frowned. “Teleportation can be tracked. How is that more secure?”

  “An excellent question.” Len nodded. “Two things. One, tracking a teleportation spell generally requires physically going to the location of origin. This house is better shielded against physical intrusion than it is against scrying, making that more difficult for anyone who wishes to follow us. Second, our destination is considerably more secure. Once we reach that point, tracking us will be tremendously difficult, and we will take precautions to baffle tracking along the way.”

  Sera seemed to consider that, then replied simply, “Acceptable answer.”

  “Thank you.” Len tipped her head.

  Sera turned to me. “That said, this seems like a terrible idea, Corin.”

  “Thank you retracted,” Len noted.

  “I think you should refuse,” Sera concluded. “There are too many unknown elements.”

  I turned back to Len. “What else can you tell me?”

  “I can offer you my personal assurance that this visit will take you to the person you’re seeking and give you an opportunity to get in his good graces. You will likely be safe.” She frowned. “Unless you aggravate him, which I find unlikely, but regrettably plausible.”

  “Why is that?”

  “The man you’re looking for has certain…difficulties in communication at times. It would be unkind to say much more than that. Rest assured that I will do my best to smooth over any difficulties you encounter, however.”

  “That’s woefully insufficient.” I shook my head. “I can’t even verify that you are who you say you are.”

  “Maybe we could go back in the spire and message Keras?” Mara sug
gested. “He could verify her identity, yeah?”

  Len winced at the sound of Keras’ name. “I’d truly prefer not to inconvenience…that man… while he is in the midst of his climb. I already owe him a great deal, and…he doesn’t know I’m here. I’m concerned that if he knew, he would be distracted at best, if not leave the spire entirely.”

  “Why?” I asked.

  “He feels a degree of responsibility toward me, given the reasons for my existence. If you’re familiar with who I am, I believe that explanation may be sufficient?”

  I nodded slowly. Most of you already know this, but I suppose I should provide a brief bit of context for those that don’t.

  Lydia Hastings was Keras’ commanding officer back in his homeland, as well as one of his closest personal friends. When he first came to Kaldwyn, he went through one of the shrines in the Unclaimed Lands. In that shrine, he faced several challenges. One of them involved fighting a copy of Lydia.

  Keras being Keras, he found a way to not only defeat her, but keep the copy alive — apparently indefinitely. When he’d first told the story, I’d imagined she’d be stuck inside the shrine where she’d been created, much like a spire-created summoned monster. If what Len was saying was accurate, she’d somehow gotten out.

  That had some wider implications about what was possible for creatures like her in general, but it wasn’t quite the right time for me to sit around and ponder them. Apparently, Sera had already considered them in greater detail than I had, considering what she’d managed with Emery. Their situations were extremely similar.

  “C’mon, guys. It’s Lydia.” Mara jerked a thumb in the strange woman’s direction. “You heard Keras talk about her. We know she’s not the enemy here.”

  I gave Mara a raised eyebrow. “She tried to kill Keras virtually immediately after they met.”

  Len paled and blushed, raising both hands in a defensive gesture. “In my defense, I was under the impression he had killed everyone I cared about. That was the structure of the test he was given: it was meant to be one of his nightmares.”

  “Fair. But it’s an example of something that could be a problem — you’re mentally compromised.”