The stone slab within the cage moved, shoved aside more lightly than should have been possible. There were stairs beneath, carved from stone. Figures ran up the stairs from the library below. Each wore the robes of the House of Scholars, and each looked as panicked as the others in the city. Greave could understand why: the Northern Kingdom was supposed to be safe, and somewhere this far north, this far from the threat of the Southern Kingdom, should have been the safest place of all.

Aldrin turned, ignoring Greave and Aurelle as he opened the gates to the library, letting the scholars out.

We must flee the city now, he said to them. We can return after the battleif there is anything left to return to.

His men stared back, dumbfounded, in shock.

RUN! Aldrin called to his men, sprinting from the place as his men followed.

Greave watched them go, stunned. Before him, the gates now stood ajar.

Greave, Aurelle said. She pulled at his arm. If someones attacking, we have to go.

Greave shook his head.

You know how important this is.

I know, she said. But

If you want to run, you can, Greave said. Maybe you should. Youll be safer that way, but I cant. I cant, you understand?

I… Aurelle nodded. I understand. I… Ill stay. Wherever you are, Ill be.

Greave was instantly grateful for that.

He could hear the army coming, but the answers he sought lay below. If there was a cure to be found anywhere, it would be here; the notes hed found in the castle library all but promised it.

He knew it was death to remain behind, yet he knew to flee would mean his sisters death.

And so with one bold step, Greave opened the gates, let himself and Aurelle inside, and slammed them behind him.

The answer lay before him. And he would find it, whatever the cost.

CHAPTER THIRTY TWO

Devin carefully packed away the forge on the castles lower level, taking his time about it, not sure what else he should be doing. Above him, the sounds of the castle continued, but insulated from him by layer upon layer of stone, along, perhaps with some of Master Greys enchantments.

Devin studied those, tracing them with his fingers, trying to understand them. When Master Grey had told him that he would need to learn something about magic, he had assumed it would mean learning runes like this, or chanting strange chants. Instead, hed had him forge a sword.

Now it was forged, and Devin wasnt sure where he was supposed to go.