The air felt even cooler in this lower cave than in the cavern with the pool. It had a musty petrichor scent, though I couldn’t detect any excess moisture. It was a relief to finally touch ground again, to take the lamp from my jaw, which had already begun to ache.

I shook out the tension in my shoulders. There were perhaps more books down here, more notes, more puzzle pieces I could lock together. I pivoted, lifting the lamp.

And found its light reflecting from two monstrous eyes.

2

Jovis

Imperial Island

I made a better smuggler than Captain of the Guard. If I’d been smarter, I’d have kept that job and turned down this one. But here I was, determined to save as many poor sods in the Empire as I reasonably could.

Hopefully, I could keep my head while I was at it.

Mephi pawed at my jacket. “Take the cards back out.” He paused, then added reluctantly, “Please.”

I swiveled my head just the slightest bit to where I’d seen Lin peer around the corner. She was gone. She was good, I had to admit that. I wouldn’t have expected it of an Emperor’s daughter. But I’d heard a soft scrape on the tiles above and I’d known she’d climbed to the roof. It could have been any number of things, including my imagination, but I’d fine-tuned my instincts after years on the run. I shouldn’t have expected the Emperor to acquiesce when I’d asked to know where she was at all times.

The Shardless Few were right: she had secrets. And they’d charged me with uncovering them. Following a young lady around in the dark – I supposed this was how I was going to save the Empire. Not exactly worthy of another folk song. “Shh,” I said to Mephi before he could paw at me again. “Lin – she’s not in her room anymore.”

The beast went still, ears pricked.

“Stay here,” I told him. “I’m going after her.” I made it as far as the corner before a horned head appeared at my side. I lifted my hands in silent frustration.

“You said we stay together,” Mephi whispered. He’d fortunately mastered the ability to actually whisper by now.

I had told him that. I’d left him behind once when completing a task for the Shardless Few, and it had ended disastrously for me and, I’d thought back then, for him. I’d nearly died and he’d fallen into what I’d thought was an illness – but turned out to be a hibernation of sorts. I’d never felt so worried before in my life, unsure whether he would live or die. What if it happened again? “Fine,” I said. “But stay quiet, and stay close.”