Chapter 23: Chapter 23: Preparations

Oval, serpentine eyes slowly opened. They blinked as they looked up at the ceiling of the living room. The kobold turned her head and looked at the rest of the room. Bodies laid about, snuggled in blankets. Nyana turned on her side and smiled as morning light glowed along the curtained windows.

Qin lay on another couch, curled in a blanket. Cedric sat in a chair across from her couch, his head back and snoring. He was covered in a blanket. Saliva trailed down from the corner of his open mouth.

At Cedric’s feet was Olivia. She was laying on a blanket and covered by another one. Her face was partially covered as she continued to sleep.

The kobold looked down at the floor beside her. She smiled as Symon was laying next to her couch. He was on his back and covered by a blanket. His eyes were open and a small smile bloomed as he looked at the kobold staring back at him.

“Good morning,” Symon whispered.

“Good morning,” Nyana whispered back.

“We thought it would be a good idea to all sleep in the same room, just in case you or Qin had any more difficulties.”

“Thank you,” Nyana said with a small, tired smile.

Symon propped himself up on his elbows. “How are you feeling?”

“Tired, but I should be okay in a few more days. Using my spirit projection spell drains me.”

The young man nodded. “I felt your spirit, even if I couldn’t hear you. It was enough to alert me that something was wrong.”

“I’m very happy you came to our rescue,” Nyana said softly.

“We have to watch out for each other,” Symon whispered.

“We do,” Nyana said with a hushed exhale.

“Some of us are trying to sleep,” Qin growled with his eyes closed.

Symon and Nyana chuckled quietly.

“Glad Qin’s feeling better,” Symon grinned.

Cedric’s head snapped up. He looked around in a daze and grimaced as the slimly feeling along his chin.

“I’m awake!” he said with confusion in his eyes.

Olivia pulled the blanket over her head. “You guys suck! I just want a few more moments!”

Symon curled up and rubbed the side of his head. “We should get up. Serafina is coming for all of us soon.”

Groans rose up along the living room.

Cedric pulled his blanket off of him and slowly stood up. The author weaved as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes.

“Come on, ravens! Early bird gets the coin,” he said and finished with a yawn.

More groans filled the large room.

“You’ve been waiting to say that,” Qin said as he slowly sat up.

“I have many, many more, when the moments present themselves,” Cedric grinned with sleepy eyes.

From the hallway, Serafina stepped into the main room. “Good, you’re all up.”

Everyone turned their heads and looked at the elder raven with confidence in their eyes. Last night’s discussion bloomed once again in their waking thoughts, a plan set into motion to return the guild to its former glory.

“Let’s break our fast before we begin,” the elder raven smiled.

***

The sun shone brightly in the sky. In the back of the Raven House, several old and thick trees stood. Grass and dirt spread out from the trees until they reached a patchwork of cobblestone and the edge of the outer wall of New Town.

In one of the trees, a small, scaly figure swung from branch to branch.

Qin huffed as he grabbed a branch, coiled his small body up and clamped his toe talons on an upper branch. He then bent his scaled legs and launched to another branch. The kobold grabbed onto another branch, swung and stabbed his talons and foot talons on the gnarly trunk. He then began climbing higher, huffing harder until he reached the top. Once there, he jumped and turned. The kobold looked down first to see a tree branch sticking out. He grabbed it and it bent to his small weight. The kobold’s feet touched the ground before he let go of the branch.

Qin huffed hard with burning lungs as the tree branch swung back up into its former position.

Serafina stepped out of the back of the house with a wrapped item in her hand, and walked toward the huffing kobold. She looked at him with proud eyes as he looked up and saw her coming. Qin stood up and tried to better control his breathing as she reached him.

“You’re getting better,” Serafina said.

Qin nodded. “It was hard the first two days, but it seems to be getting easier. I think I will reach the acrobat proficient rank before the job.”

Serafina nodded as she held the wrapped item before her. She presented it to Qin and he looked at it with curious eyes.

“A gift, to help make your part easier,” the elder raven smiled.

Qin took the wrapped item and bowed to Serafina. He then turned it over in his hands before unwrapping it. When the last of the wrapping came off, Qin looked down at a sheathed dagger. It had a black pommel with small, red runes on it. He pulled it a few inches from his sheath and looked at the silver, naked blade.

“My part in the shadow play is a little more dangerous than said,” Qin said as he slid the dagger back into the sheath and held it to his side.

Serafina looked on the brave kobold, the sheathed blade at his side appearing more like a short sword than a dagger.

“It is,” the elder raven agreed. “I do not envy you and your task. I had explored those sections and they are filled with all manner of creatures in the dark. You will need a special weapon to keep them at bay. They don’t like fire and light and the blade will do both.”

Qin bowed again. “I will hope for the best, but be prepared for the worst.”

Serafina eyed the kobold as he stood up again. “You seem to have skills beyond simply joining the mage academies. What’s the draw?”

Qin have a hearty nod. “I made an oath to protect Nyana on whatever travels or adventures may take her. We always had a fascination with magic, but while we practiced mostly in secret, she is the expert. When our family treated me with disdain for the things in my father’s past, she was the only one to stand up for me.

“When we told our families that we were leaving for the academies, despite her goodwill and helpful nature to many, she and I were cast out of our families because, as they put it, our sick fascination with a cursed kind of magic. Nyana was very upset for we tried to explain our position on the matter. They would hear none of it.”

Qin’s serpentine eyes took on a faraway gaze. “When we left, I made an oath to always protect and watch over her. She had no one left except for Aunt Renna and myself. Nyana may never say it out loud, but family has always been important to her. That is why, it didn’t surprise me too much when we joined this one.”

Qin bowed his head. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to carry on like that, but if I don’t live through this shadow play, I felt someone else should know.”

Serafina smiled kindly. “Thank you, Qin, for your honesty. As for living through it, if you can take on a group of angry rogues, you can take on anything. But never forget, we will all help each other when the time comes.”

“Thank you, Lady Black,” Qin bowed again.

“Thank you, Lord Redthorn,” Serafina said with her own bow.

They both stood up with small smiles.

“I’ll get back to training,” Qin said as he turned and walked back to the tree, with his head held high.

***

In the large main room, two tables were set up in the middle. Olivia and Nyana sat at one table. A pile of brass keys was piled in the middle. Cups filled with red and blue paints were to one side, a few paint brushes in an empty jar.

Olivia and Nyana sat opposite from each other, carefully painting a key in hand. Several keys were laid out on a towel to the other side of the table.

Seated at the other table, Symon and Cedric was playing cards. An open book was to Cedric’s right. An inkwell stood by the open book and a feathered quill in it. The pair were shuffling and dealing cards. Hands made small, odd movements as they continued to deal, shuffle, and move cards.

“What are your top three traits,” Cedric said as he was shuffling cards in his hands.

Symon’s brow was hard as he concentrated, shuffling cards in his hands. “I have no idea.”

“You must see something about yourself you want to express for centuries to come?”

Symon shrugged. “I don’t know, dedicated?”

Cedric reached over and pulled the quill from the inkwell. He scribbled onto the blank page.

“Aloof,” he said as he wrote it down.

Symon looked up to the writer. “That’s not what I said.”

Cedric nodded. “Angry,” he said as he scribbled some more.

“I agreed to let you write our story, but I don’t want it to be filled with lies,” Symon said with an edge.

“Very angry,” Cedric said as he wrote without looking up at Symon.

Nyana and Olivia tried to hold in their laughter.

“You know he likes to pull everyone’s chain,” Olivia said with a happy glance to Symon.

Symon’s lip trembled as his anger began to crack.

“For a writer, you’re terrible at reading people,” Symon said with faux anger.

Cedric kept scribbling, “That is where you’re wrong. Anger and sadness are what truly brings out people’s character. The more I push, the more their real selves come out.”

The raven turned his book slightly and pointed his quill at the words he wrote.

Symon looked down to see the words, loyal, honest, bad actor, written on the page.

“These are the words I saw when you spoke them. Dedication means many different things, like dedication to one’s work, or goals. Your dedication means loyalty to family and friends. I saw honesty when you didn’t want a book of lies and false truths.”

A knowing filled Cedric’s eyes as he continued, “Bad actor is for your failure to hide your amusement when you pretended to be angry.”

Cedric placed cards down on the table, face up. “I should add, easily distracted. You didn’t see me palm a few cards.”

Symon looked down at the cards to see four high cards and in their proper order.

Cedric leaned forward like a cat ready to pounce on a mouse. “You were so distracted you didn’t see me change the cards for a proper suit. I will be a master at the sleight of hand skill before the night of the shadow play,” he said with his chin out.

Symon sat back with a flustered gaze. “You got me,” he said before placing down five of the highest cards in the deck and in their proper order.

Cedric’s smug expression vanished. “How?”

“I was palming cards the moment you asked your first question. Serafina always says, look for opportunities before everyone else. I knew you would try and distract me when you placed your book down on the table.”

Cedric let out a loud laugh. “I bow to your masterful prowess.”

“I don’t see any bowing,” Symon grinned.

“It’s a metaphorical bow. They are just as good,” Cedric laughed.

Everyone laughed in the main room.

A door opened and then closed in the kitchen. Everyone turned their heads to see Serafina walk in. She made her way to Olivia and Nyana’s table, looking at the painted keys.

“Excellent work. Once they dry, we’ll weather them down to give them a more authentic look,” The elder raven said before turning her gaze to Nyana. “How are your acting skills progressing?”

“Well, my Lady,” Nyana said with a bow of her head.

“She is taking to it very well and we should be ready for the night of the play,” Olivia said.

Serafina nodded and smiled. Her hands slipped into a large pocket of her black dress. One hand pulled out a small book while the other hand pulled out a small inkwell. She placed them on table, next to Nyana.

The kobold’s eyes grew bigger as she looked down on the items. “Truly?” she gasped.

Serafina nodded. “Yes, truly. This is but a small spellbook so it may be easier to hold and keep on you when the time is right. The inkwell is filled with spell ink. You mentioned you only know a few spells and we all know how dangerous it is to use your own mana. This will help you and all of us to ensure the exit strategy remains.”

Nyana stood up and bowed to the elder raven. “Thank you! This is a most generous gift and I will treasure it always.”

“You’re most welcome,” Serafina said as she bowed to the kobold. She then stood up and turned her attention to Olivia, “And have you learned your part?”

Olivia nodded. “Nyana and I have been rehearsing every chance we have. We will have our parts down before the night of the event.”

“Excellent. The two of you will have to be very convincing. If anyone thinks you might be trying to pull a ruse, they will not hesitate to drag you to a cell. You both must know your parts like a second skin.”

Olivia and Nyana nodded.

Serafina turned and stepped over to Symon and Cedric’s table. She looked down on the card suits laid out. She saw Symon’s cards and looked at him with an approving nod. Symon nodded back.

She then turned to look at Cedric, “Are the documents in order?”

Cedric grinned. “Each and every one is ready for your expert appraisal. I would say, they are my finest work.”

“They must be, or you may be arrested on the spot,” Serafina said truthfully.

Cedric nodded. “I would not dare present work like the scrawls of some pig farmer after he had a spat with his spouse.”

Symon lifted an eyebrow. “What do you have against pig farmers?”

Cedric lifted his chin, “They farm pigs. Need I say more?”

Serafina spoke up as she ignored Cedric’s comment, “There are still many things to prepare for. Once we’re ready, we will go over the plan one more time the night before. For now, I will leave you to your tasks.”

The elder raven turned and left the room.

The small group of ravens turned their heads and looked at each other, the weight of what they were about to do heavy on their minds.

Olivia looked at Symon, “She said something to all of us, but not to you. Why is that?”

“We talk, in private,” Symon said cryptically.

“Secrets within secrets,” Cedric said as he tapped the side of his own chin.

“I’m sure if it was important, Symon would tell us,” Nyana said defensively.

Olivia and Cedric shifted their gazes to the kobold. Symon looked away with a small smile.

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Nyana continued to paint a key, ignoring the looks of her fellow ravens.

“I sense a…” Cedric began before he was cut off.

“Say one more word and there will be dagger in your throat the next time you fall asleep,” Nyana said with a hard edge as she painted her key.

Cedric’s mouth hung open for a moment before he closed it. He went back to picking up cards and shuffling them.

Symon and Olivia attempted to stifle their chuckles. Nyana carried on with painting her key like nothing happened.

The room grew silent except for the shuffling of cards and the faint sounds of birdsong beyond the living room window.

***

Night fell across the city of mages. Cold wind howled through the towers and alleys. Citizens and visitors rushed along, trying to get home or find a place to shelter from the chilly wind with a roaring hearth and warm spirits.

A black house stood in a dilapidated area of New Town. Smoke curled up from the chimney. Curtains were closed across all windows as it stood, blended with the surrounding shadows.

Inside, a group sat in the Stateroom. Everyone waited at a table, as an elder raven moved about to locked cabinets. She unlocked and opened them, pulling out scrolls and notes on parchment.

Symon sat in his chair, glancing around at his fellow ravens. Nyana and Qin sat side by side, talking quietly to each other. Olivia was on the other side of Nyana, looking down at her ledger. Symon turned his gaze to Cedric. The author was leaning back in his chair, his ledger also in his hands. His eyes moved from left to right, absorbing every word and number.

Memories snuck into Symon’s thoughts as he pulled out his own ledger. Before he opened it, moments played out across his mind of the last two weeks. Training sessions and preparations filled his mind’s eye. Each raven at the table worked on their parts of the plan from sun up to well after sun down. It had become their life, staying at the guild house and learning each detail of what they had to do. Everyone present had passed out in exhaustion from grueling repetition of their roles.

Now, it was all coming together, all of them meeting one more time before they began putting the plan into action.

Symon opened his ledger and looked it over.

Symon

Raven Guild Rank: Proficient

 

Copper Rooks: 843

Silver Knights: 591

Gold Queens: 549

Platinum Kings: 0

 

Natural Abilities

Shapeshift: Minor (Fox)

Shapeshift: Vulpine Form

Imprint

 

Skills

Flee: Proficient 

Pickpocket: Proficient

Hide: Proficient

Distraction: Proficient

Ambush: Proficient

Silver Tongue: Proficient

Silent Step: Proficient

 

If we had enough time, I could master one or two of my skills. But with our time running out, the current ranks with my skills will have to be enough.

Serafina unfurled a large scroll and laid it out. She put small stones at the corner to prevent it from rolling back onto itself. She then put out a few times, such as a small box, several rings, and a pair of keys, one blue and the other red.

Everyone at the table put away their ledgers or stopped speaking. They grabbed their chairs to scoot closer to the edge of the table. They leaned over with attentive eyes, drinking in the map and items before them.

Serafina stood at the end of the long table. She glanced at the map before lifting her eyes and looking at everyone gathered.

“Everyone here has done an amazing job with training for their parts in the shadow play. Tonight, we go over the play one more time. At sun up, all of you will depart to your individual tasks, with invitations in hand, and will meet together when the time comes.

“I must say this again, no plan ever works out perfectly. It is our adaptable and fluid nature that will allow us to overcome any obstacles that come before us. You must remember this with every piece of your being, there is no quitting in the middle of a job. You overcome anything in your way. Violence should only be a last resort, ever.”

Heads nodded along the edges of the long table.

Serafina continued, “As you all know, the Auction House is not actually in a house, but below ground in a small section of the catacombs that run underneath Old Town. It is a mostly secret place, giving the rich elite of Gray Gate to meet and have a taste of something unusual, private, and special.”

The elder raven tapped the map to draw everyone’s attention to it.

“The Auction House has been used for many centuries for private auctions. Here, the elite put up items for bid, some legal, most illegal. It is not a place to simply conduct business, but a place that carries a party atmosphere. The elite often drink, talk, and scheme within the auction house due to its private, and mostly secured nature.

“If you see here, here, and here, there are only three ways in and out of the auction house. This bottlenecks any attempts to gain access and better protect everyone inside. The main entrance is where most of the elite enter. There is another entrance for guards and security. There is a third entrance for the servants who cater the event.”

Serafina looked down as memories stabbed into her thoughts. “I spent many years and paid a lot of coin, planning for this moment. It’s still difficult for me that it is happening,” she said with a sad tone.

“We’re going to end this curse and bring back the guild to its former glory or better,” Symon said with encouragement.

Serafina smiled at the young man before returning to the map.

“The catacombs have always been dangerous. Many kinds of creatures lurk in them. There have always been rumors of undead that wander the maze of tunnels, sewers, and murky waters under the city. It adds another layer of protection from any would be rogues attempting to crash the party.”

Everyone chuckled along the sides of the table.

The elder raven continued, “The Auction House has another defense. The entry points are lined with runes that detect mana. Not the amounts of mana within people, but concentrated mana in enchanted items, spellbooks, and scrolls. To prevent fraud, everyone who is invited cannot carry any of those items into the auction house. If someone attempts to do so, they will be permanently banned from the location. This also makes out job a lot more difficult.”

Serafina turned her gaze to Qin. “Qin will be our porter. He has memorized the directions to reach the very edge of the Auction House. He will be carrying the needed spellbook, rings, and a vial of my specially made potion.”

She pointed to the kitchen on the map, “Every entry point is guarded, but in my many attempts to scout out what I could, there is a weakness. The drain grate in the middle of the kitchen is unguarded and does not contain any runes. It is small, but has a bulbous section right underneath the drain. The pipe is as wide as the drain and only a foot deep.”

Serafina put her hand on the thin box on the table. “This box should fit perfectly through the pipe and the grate. The grate will need to be pulled out to gain access to the box.”

“The kitchen will be filled with staff. How is anyone going to be able to open it without being noticed?” Olivia asked.

Serafina smiled. “I will get to that in a moment. But first, we need to continue to set the stage.

“Olivia and Cedric will be our elites on the inside. They will be planted among the rest of the guests who came to bid at the auction. Olivia will be our high society elite, while Cedric will be our more modest, less wealthy elite. Nyana will be Olivia’s private maid, there to assist her lady with anything she may need. I assume all three of you are comfortable with your parts?”

Olivia, Nyana, and Cedric nodded.

“There is a minimum amount of coin that must be entrusted to the auction house before anyone can place a bid on an item. Thankfully, I’ve already set that part of the plan in motion.”

Serafina’s eyes took on a sad, faraway gleam. She glanced to Symon before looking at the rest of the table.

“A dear friend of mine, Countess Isabella Hawthorn, had a sizeable estate.”

Symon’s heart quickened. Countess Bella was the woman his parents entrusted their only son to, and for that act of kindness, she lost her life in her burning mansion.

“She and I were best of friends, for many years. When I left Gray Gate to explore, she was one of the first people I met. She was a kind and giving soul. She helped many, and in turn, many helped her.”

Serafina’s eyes gleamed as she continued, “She was aware of my plans to take back the guild stone and restore it to its former glory. She had many friends within the guild and found it difficult to not strike back, but despite her power and influence, it wasn’t enough to fight everyone in Gray Gate who wronged my family and guild.

“She had set aside six hundred platinum kings for this very play. She had instructed me to never touch it, until the time was right, and I honored her generosity and assistance. The time has indeed come, and we ae going to use those kings to get back what belongs to us.

“Four hundred kings will go to Olivia’s account, and two hundred kings will go to Cedric’s account. Cedric already wrote up fake documents and I put them into play a week ago. They will be moved early tomorrow to the Auction House for safe keeping until the event begins.”

Cedric lifted a hand.

“You don’t have to lift your hand,” Serafina said with tired eyes.

Cedric nodded, put his hand down and spoke up, “After all of this is said and done, will we be able to get those kings back?”

Serafina nodded. “In a way, yes. They are insured against theft or mis-management. The bank will re-imburse the amount should something go awry, but they will be kept in the bank for us to use in future plays. This was Bella’s wish and we will honor it.”

Cedric nodded.

The elder raven continued, “Everyone who enters the Auction House will be searched. Nyana will have the fake keys hidden in her backpack.”

She looked at the kobold, “You and Olivia will have to use your skills to distract and convince the guards to not search the pack too thoroughly.”

“We have a plan,” Nyana smiled.

Olivia nodded.

Serafina smiled before tapping her finger on a large room. “Behind the auction room, down a corridor, is the vault chamber. In there are two vaults, one for the coin accounts, and the other with the artifacts for bidding.

“Each vault can only be opened with two keys. There is no way to pick the lock, or try to open it by any other means. They are hardened against magic and physical force. The only way in, or out, is by using those keys.

“There are four keepers, two for each vault. Their identities are unknown because they change every year. But they are trusted individuals. They will be skilled in fighting and there only purpose is to protect the keys and vaults. From what I gathered during my many inquiries is that each keeper will have a special ring on their index finger to identify themselves to the staff of the auction house.

“Olivia, Nyana, and Cedric, part of your duties when you arrive is to identify the vault keepers. We don’t need all four keys, just the red ones for the artifact vault.”

The trio nodded.

Serafina turned her gaze to Symon and smiled. “Symon will be the glue that brings the play together. He will be part of the serving staff. Credentials and transfer documents will allow him to enter the auction house with the rest of the staff. He will be a server, which will give him anonymity to move about without so much as a second glance. His tasks will be, distract the kitchen staff to get the box from the grate drain, scout the auction house, get the rings to each of you so you all may communicate. The auction house is protected from outside communication, but does not interfere with inside communication.”

Symon tried hard not to swallow nervously.

Serafina’s eyes gleamed with renewed interest. “Once the keepers have been identified, it’s up to Symon and Cedric to palm the red keys and replace them with our fakes. After that, they must make for the vault while Olivia and Nyana begin a distraction.

“The distraction will only give you a few moments at best. The guards in the vault chamber will not leave their posts, and must be convinced or subdued. Once the artifact vault is opened, the guild stone should be in the center of it because of its high value and interest. Most of the elites come to the auction house to bid on the guild stone and keep it in their homes so they may brag about it at functions. It is then returned before the next auction so they may bid again.”

Qin spoke up, “Shouldn’t we wait until someone buys the guild stone and take it from their home?”

Serafina shook her head. “I have thought out that scenario many times, but from everything I gathered over the years, it would be much more difficult. It’s not like when you broke into Lord Chamber’s residence, and he is considered on the low end of the wealthy elite.

“They will provide many more magical protections, guards, and spies to ensure they hold onto it. It would take master, to grandmaster rogues to steal it from one of their homes, and we don’t have the time. The auction house is the only time a weakness is presented, and the only time we will have a chance to succeed.”

The elder raven glanced to everyone in the room. “This will not be easy. Despite every drop of knowledge, I gained over the years for this plan, this is our best shot. But I have faith we can victorious.

“The guards will have sleep wands and daggers. The elite will only have their egos and clothes. Everyone here will have their skills, the plan, and each other.

“All of you must work together to acquire the guild stone before the end of the auction. It will be saved for last to ensure everyone remains interested.

“Once you have it, by then, the befuddlement potion should be taking effect. Symon will have added it to the food during preparation. It is a simple, but effective poison. It will cause small bouts of forgetfulness, adding to the chaos. Even if a small portion of the guests start to forget minor things, it will add to the subtle confusion without alerting the guards or the auctioneer until it’s too late.

“Distractions in place and the guild stone in your hands, all of you must make it to the staff entrance. This will be the basic exit strategy, but, if an alarm is sounded, the entire auction house will lock down. The doors at each exit will magically seal and only open by a pass phrase from the auctioneer, or from guards on the outside.”

Serafina turned her gaze to Nyana, “We have a last resort exit strategy, should this happen. Nyana will use her spell to turn into ghost form. She will pass through the wall and attempt to open it from the outside.”

Everyone turned their attention to the kobold.

“Thanks to Serafina, I was able to inscribe the few spells I know into the spellbook. Ghost Form uses more mana than my Spirit Projection. As long as I have my spellbook, I can use those spells without fear of passing out from the strain,” she explained.

“The guards will be dealt with, should we reach that point,” Serafina explained. “After that, all of you must rush up to the location we agreed upon. A carriage will be waiting. All of you must rush back here before the entire city knows what has happened. Do not slow down or stop, for there will be others who may attempt to take the stone from you.”

The elder raven looked down at the map. “It is maddening that I will be unable to be there with all of you. Every year of the auction, I am watched by many spies. If I leave this house tomorrow, they will attempt to apprehend me just to keep me away from gaining the stone.

“I must stay here until the stone is within our house. Once it is here, there will be nothing anyone can do. It was always agreed upon, the contract binding the Raven Guild will be broken when the stone is back home. It was the last stipulation to prevent an ongoing war between the guilds and the mages.”

Serafina stood to her full height. “Are there any last questions?”

The table was silent.

The elder raven nodded. “Then off to bed with the lot of you. Get some rest, for we start the play shortly before sun up.”

Almost everyone stood up and shuffled out of the stateroom, except for Symon. He stayed in his chair until the group left the room and closed the door behind them. He looked at Serafina and she looked at him. A sorrow formed a webbed between them as they remind silent for a moment.

“She would have wanted to be here for this,” Symon said.

Serafina nodded. “Yes, she would have. Let’s not disappoint her spirit by failing. I know the danger all of you are in, and by the Star Goddess, I wish I could be there to help guide all of you further. All I can hope is that you all have learned enough to make it through and back home in one piece.”

The elder raven looked at Symon with soft eyes. “Your abilities may be just what we need to succeed. I know you’re still discovering what you can do, but it is important you stay as hidden as you can until after the stone is back here. If any of the elite know there is a shapeshifter here in Gray Gate, you will be hunted for all of your days and nights. That is something I do not wish for anyone, especially you.”

Symon nodded and gave Serafina a small smile. “I’ll make sure we succeed. I’ll make sure our guild survives. I’ll make sure our family stays intact.”

“As will I,” Serafina smiled.

Symon stood up. “Sleep well, Serafina.”

The elder raven nodded. “Sleep well, Symon.”

Symon turned and left the stateroom.

Serafina sat down as her mind worked and sadness pulled at her heart.

“Bella, if you can hear me, help guide Symon to victory, for all our sakes,” she whispered as a lantern flickered close by with warm light.

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