Hadron spread out some notes on the table. “As most of you know, I’ve been researching evidence for the existence of the Armory of the Gifted Kings,” he said.

“Excuse me,” Han said, wondering whether he should raise his hand. “Armory of the Gifted Kings?”

Fiona straightened, twisting a lock of her hair between her thumb and forefinger. Micah glared up at the ceiling.

“The Gifted Kings of the Fells accumulated a vast collection of magical pieces and weapons,” Hadron said. “It disappeared around the time of the Breaking. The weapons may have been destroyed by the Spirit clans to keep them out of wizard hands. Some say the Demon King hid them away, meaning to retrieve them later. A third theory is that they were confiscated by one of the wizard houses that laid siege to the Demon King’s stronghold on Gray Lady.”

Did Han imagine it, or did Hadron glance at Micah and Fiona when he said that?

“We’ve been searching for the armory since the Nǽming and the restoration of the Gray Wolf line,” Abelard said.

Hmmm, Han thought. If anyone held the keys to the magical storeroom, it’d be the Bayars. They’d owned at least one forbidden amulet—the one Han now wore.

Hadron went on to review the sketchy evidence he had collected. “So I think we can say with confidence that the armory existed at one time,” he concluded. “The question is, does it still exist, and if so, where is it? Here we need to dig deeper.”

As Hadron continued, Han looked up from his note-taking to see Fiona, head down, hand flying across the page. Micah, too, seemed transfixed, his black eyes focused on Hadron, his face pale and intent.

Were they worried that Hadron might uncover its location? Did they plan to report back to Papa? Or was it possible that they didn’t know where it was, either? Maybe they were as eager as anyone to find it.

Maybe Han could beat them to it. He scribbled faster, splattering ink across the page.

“Most of the focus to date has been on libraries and temple records in Fellsmarch,” Hadron said. “But evidence suggests that many records that predated the Breaking were carried here to Oden’s Ford for safekeeping. So there could be materials archived in the Bayar Library that would help us locate the armory.”

“That would be like finding a flea on a dog,” Gryphon said. “Have you seen what’s up there?”

“What would you suggest we do, then?” Abelard asked Hadron, ignoring Gryphon.

“Mordra and I will be here over the summer,” Hadron said. “We could begin a methodical search of the stacks in Bayar Library.”

Mordra wrinkled her nose at that suggestion, but Hadron didn’t see. “Any of you who are staying on are welcome to help,” he said. No one volunteered. He cleared his throat. “Think about it, and let me know.”