“Not at all.” Floriane gestured to the two open stools. “Please, sit. What is it that you need?”

“I’m trying to remove my Beast Mark,” Barclay explained, taking a seat. “It bonded with me by accident, and I don’t want it.”

“You’re not the first Elsie to want your Mark removed,” Floriane said gently.

“But it’s not possible,” Mandeep cut in.

Floriane shot Mandeep an annoyed look. “I know this might be hard for you to believe, but just because you don’t know how to do something doesn’t mean it’s impossible.”

Mandeep pursed his lips and leaned forward. “Do you know the different types of Lore Keepers, Barclay?”

In Dullshire, there was only one type of Lore Keeper: the unwanted kind. After meeting Tadg and then Soren, the only Lore Keeper who had proven a better sort was Viola.

Rather than saying that, Barclay politely shook his head.

“There are Lore Keepers who gather Beasts to brew potions, enchantments, and the like. Apothecaries, we call them. Like Floriane.” Floriane smiled brightly. “There are Surveyors, Lore Keepers who save Beasts from extinction or who search for new Beasts, never seen before. Like Athna.” The older woman gave no indication of hearing her name and only finished her stein of beer. “There are Lore Keepers who study the magic of Lore itself, like me. A Scholar.”

He straightened proudly.

“And as a Scholar, I can tell you, there is no way to remove a Beast Mark that wouldn’t kill you.”

Barclay felt all his dreams wither into dust. He managed to nod like he understood, even though he did not. He didn’t understand how something so unlucky could happen to him. He didn’t understand how the people he grew up with had so easily cast him out. He didn’t understand why the world had to be unfair.

“But I need to go home,” he said, quickly molding his hopelessness into determination. “I traveled all the way here. I ran from a giant worm. A man even attacked me to try to steal my Beast. There has to be a way!”

Mandeep’s eyes widened. “Who attacked you?”

“Soren Reiker.”

The three of them exchanged dark looks.

“I’m sorry, but I’m afraid there isn’t much we can do about it,” Mandeep told him. “Soren is very popular here, and he’s close friends with the High Keeper. He could strip us of our Guild licenses if we tried to stop him. It’s not fair, but that’s how it is here.”

Viola had already told Barclay as much, but he still couldn’t help but feel a mixture of shock and disappointment.

Floriane cleared her throat. “Don’t listen to Mandeep about your Mark. He just likes knowing things, whether or not he’s right.”

“Then who would you suggest to the boy, who would know better than me how to remove it?” Mandeep asked with annoyance.

“Runa Rasgar,” Athna said. Her voice was surprisingly steady for all her beers, though she did let out a loud belch.

“Who is that?” Barclay asked hopefully.