Erik was pacing the courtyard restlessly when Ileana and her two companions arrived late that afternoon. He had discarded his cap, hood, and cloak and changed from the Hunter’s coat to a plain, blue tunic. Alwin stood by the door, waiting patiently with his hands clasped behind his back.

Erik’s attention went to Ileana as the three elves rode into the courtyard. She rode a gray courser, and Erik immediately noticed the short bow in a case strapped behind her right hip with a quiver of arrows strapped to it. He noted with approval that she had taken to the Yatsheliarrin practice of covering the arrows when not in use, though he also noticed that the straps were a little loose. She watched Erik as he strode forward and held her reins while she dismounted. “Welcome to my home, your grace,” he greeted her and inclined his head.

Ileana smiled and inclined her head slightly. “Thank you for your hospitality, my lord,” she replied.

“And, your companions are,” Erik asked as he handed her reins off to a groom.

Ileana nodded. “My lady-in-waiting, Dame Cara Seanan,” she introduced a slender, honey-haired woman. “She has been my mentor in the past, as you’ll recall.”

Erik inclined his head to the honey-haired elf. “My lady,” he greeted her.

Cara curtsied. “My lord,” she replied.

“I hope you don’t have any more lessons in battle magic in mind for her grace.”

Cara chuckled. “Don’t worry,” she assured Erik. “I’ve taught her all I can.”

Ileana then motioned to a blonde man who was handing the leader of their packhorse to a stable hand. “My guardian is Sir Kathel,” she introduced him. “He is one of the finest archers Moirah has to offer and has some skill with a blade.”

Erik inclined his head to the archer.

Kathel swept a courtly bow, then extended his hand out to Erik. “Your reputation precedes you, my lord,” he said.

Erik clasped the archer’s hand. He immediately noticed that Kathel’s green eyes were almost identical to Ileana’s and filed that fact away in his mind. “Nothing too terrible, I hope,” he drawled.

Kathel grinned. “Only the best parts,” he replied glibly.

“That’s small comfort.”

Kathel threw his head back and laughed.

Erik motioned Alwin forward. “My steward, Alwin Arendt,” he introduced the man.

Alwin swept an elegant bow. “Welcome, your grace, my lady, sir knight,” he said. “I will have your belongings sent up to your rooms. Would you care for refreshments while we wait?”

Ileana smiled warmly. “Certainly, Master Alwin,” she replied.

Alwin motioned to the door. “This way, please,” he said. “I’ll have wine brought to his lordship’s garden.”

The elves washed their hands and faces, then joined Erik to follow Alwin to the garden. As Alwin left, a servant brought out a tray with wineglasses and a pitcher which he set down on the table by the oak tree. The servant poured the wine, bowed respectfully, and left.

Erik handed glasses to his guests before picking up his own. He leaned casually against the table. “Should I have dinner sent to your rooms,” he asked

Ileana shook her head. “The weather is fair enough,” she replied. “Why not dine here?”

Erik nodded. “I’ll let the servants know,” he told her. “If you need anything at all, don’t hesitate to let either me or Alwin know.”

Ileana nodded. “Thank you,” she told him.

Cara paced the yard. “Do you want to discuss how we are going to deal with tomorrow,” she asked.

Erik stared a moment into the wineglass. “I’ll be escorting Ileana to the university in the morning,” he replied.

Cara nodded. “I think I should go with her,” she stated. “Two sets of eyes are generally better than one in a search.”

“I’ll be bringing two of my men with me. I’d like Kathel to come, too.”

Kathel shrugged. “I don’t mind,” he said lightly.

Erik turned to Ileana. “Have you met Sir Manfred,” he asked her.

Ileana smiled. “Yes, I have,” she replied. “How are his wife and children?”

“They were well, last we heard. He had another one on the way when we left for the Hold.”

“That’s wonderful,” Ileana said excitedly, then shifted before continuing uncomfortably. “I assume you’ll be bringing Sir Siegler along, as well.”

“Is there a problem I should know about?”

Ileana shook her head. “No,” she replied. “I just don’t think he likes me very much.”

“That’s not it at all,” Erik assured Ileana. “Siegler is a very serious man. I couldn’t ask for a better second-in-command.”

Ileana nodded. “I trust your judgment,” she replied.

“When do the gates at the university usually open?”

“Shortly after dawn.”

“We’ll leave at dawn, then.”

Ileana winced.

Erik noted the reaction, but he didn’t get the chance to say anything before Alwin entered the courtyard. “The guest quarters are prepared,” he announced. “I’ll show the duchess and her companions to their rooms.”

The three elves set their glasses on the tray and followed Alwin out. Manfred approached as they were leaving, his face like a storm cloud. “I take it that you’re not bringing any good news,” Erik noted

Manfred shook his head. “The idiot is dead set on a duel,” he growled. “He seems to think God is going to grant him the victory because of your mother.”

Erik snorted and stood. “Don’t bother with them unless he asks for it,” he said flatly.

“I hadn’t planned to.”

“The queen wants this duel to proceed. The Lord of Branheim has offended her majesty. Even if he apologizes to me, he’ll have to apologize to her if he wants to survive.”

Manfred raised an eyebrow.

“The queen needed the Baronial Court to begin discussing succession in case Anna doesn’t recover,” Erik explained. “Thanks to Branheim, we couldn’t even get started.”

Manfred shook his head. “That fool boy’s little outburst may very well tear the kingdom apart,” he grumbled.

Erik sighed. “I know,” he replied. “Hopefully, I can get away with just taking him down a few pegs and I won’t have to kill him.”

Manfred grunted sourly. “I wouldn’t hold much hope out for that,” he sighed.

Erik nodded. “Would you and Siegler mind joining me out here for dinner,” he asked. “My guests and I need to talk with you two.”

Manfred inclined his head. “I’ll let Siegler know,” he replied.

“Thank you, Manfred.”

Manfred saluted and left.

Erik turned and went to one of the side doors that led to the kitchens. A scullery maid’s eyes widened, and she dropped a curtsy when she saw him. “My lord,” she said.

Erik inclined his head. “Would you mind getting a few people together and helping me move a table and six chairs out to the garden,” he asked the girl.

“We can take care of all of that, my lord.”

Erik shrugged. “I need something to occupy my time at the moment,” he told her. “Just have them meet me here.”

The girl curtsied again. “At once, my lord,” she said and walked quickly away.

Erik strode into the kitchen, and the head cook bobbed a brief curtsy. “Beg pardon, my lord, but we’re a bit busy here right now,” she said.

Erik nodded. “I know,” he assured her. “Alwin’s a bit busy, so I came to let you know that my guests and I will be having dinner in the garden. Sirs Siegler and Manfred will be joining us.”

The cook nodded. “Thank you, my lord,” she replied sincerely.

Erik quietly left the kitchen and met the servants who were helping carry the table and chairs out into the garden. He wordlessly picked up a pair of the heavy chairs and carried them out while the others carried out the table and the rest of the chairs. Ileana rolled up her sleeves and joined them as they were setting the places at the table. She rolled her sleeves back down and smiled briefly at Erik when everything was ready. “It’s easy to forget how direct a hand you take in your affairs,” she told him as she removed her utensils from a small case hanging from her belt and set them on the table.

Erik shrugged as he set his own fork and spoon at the head of the table. “Sometimes, it just gives me something to do,” he admitted.

“Cara and Kathel will be down soon.”

Erik nodded and motioned to one of the two chairs in front of the oak tree. Ileana sat down as Erik took the chair across the table from her. At least she didn’t seem to be angry with him anymore, though he could see that she was still displeased. Estrid had very smoothly redirected Ileana’s anger toward herself. He’d have to thank her for that. The two sat quietly, watching a small finch that eyed them curiously. For a moment, the anger that had taken Erik since seeing her abated. “Strange,” Ileana noted. “I thought your mother was Yatsheliarrin.”

Erik nodded. “She was,” he replied.

“I wouldn’t expect her to have wanted to plant an oak tree,” Ileana continued quizzically. “They are usually a people of the plains and grasslands.”

Erik leaned against his fist. “She spent a lot of time in the forest with my father when they were young,” he replied glumly. “Maybe, it reminded her of a happier time.”

Ileana looked at Erik for a moment. “I’m sorry for bringing it up,” she said quietly.

Erik shook his head. “It doesn’t hit me like it used to,” he replied.

Ileana nodded.

Erik turned as Cara and Kathel entered the garden. Siegler and Manfred followed. Erik stood and motioned to the table. Ileana stood and walked beside him. “I take it you don’t want to have to say everything twice,” she said in Elvish.

Erik nodded. “Exactly,” he replied.

Erik pulled Ileana’s chair out for her before seating himself. They waited for dinner to be brought to the table before Erik politely dismissed the servants. “Now that we’re all here, we can get down to business,” he told everyone.

Ileana’s ear twitched.

“Something you wish to add, your grace,” Erik asked.

Ileana shook her head. “Not at the moment,” she sighed.

Erik nodded. “Have you had any time to reconnoiter the main road to the university,” he asked Kathel.

Kathel nodded. “Yes,” he replied. “It’s a clear road. Setting up an ambush would be difficult at best.”

“As I recall, most of the farmers’ houses are further back from the road.”

“That’s still true.”

Erik nodded. “Good,” he said and looked between the three men at the table. “What is the state of your equipment?”

“Everything is in good order, and replacements for our shields arrived while you were out,” Siegler reported. “Kathel’s gear seems to be in good order as well.”

Cara tapped her fingers on the table briefly, then looked at Erik. “A suggestion,” she said politely.

“Feel free,” Siegler and Erik said at the same time.

“There seems to be some bad blood between the Hunters and the university right now,” Cara observed. “It may put some minds at the university at ease if you travel as the Lord of Drassen rather than as Lord-Captain of the Hunters.”

“You think it would be better to avoid looking official?”

Cara nodded. “I do,” she replied.

Erik considered it for a moment. It seemed like a good idea, and he couldn’t see any problems with it. “Thoughts,” he asked the others.

“She’s right,” Siegler said frankly. “It could cause us some trouble getting in the door if you’re seen acting as a Hunter. Have something to identify you and your letters of authorization in case this goes sideways, but nothing overt like the coat.”

Manfred leaned back and laced his fingers behind his head. “I’m with Siegler and Cara on this one,” he told Erik. “I would add wearing the hat as well. It would make it clear that you’re acting in your capacity as a high lord.”

Erik turned to Ileana. “Will the university admit my men under arms,” he asked her.

Ileana grimaced. “I think it would be expected,” she replied.

“It might cause some problems if you’re under arms as well, though,” Cara added. “You’re expected to travel with retainers, but wearing armor yourself could be misconstrued.”

Manfred shook his head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” he told Cara. “Erik may need his armor if anything goes wrong.”

“And, he can simply choose not to wear the Lord-Captain’s garter,” Siegler added. “That should be enough to make it clear that he’s acting privately.”

“Maybe to a knight,” Cara sighed.

Siegler raised an eyebrow.

“Scholars generally don’t pay attention to that kind of thing, Sir Siegler,” Ileana pointed out. “Nobody would dare question a high lord carrying a sword, though.”

Siegler shook his head. “I don’t like it, but it’s not really my say,” he told Erik.

Erik leaned back in his chair. “Siegler, Manfred, and Kathel will wear their armor, then,” he agreed. “I’ll leave my armor behind, but not my sword. What are we looking for when we get there?”

“We’re looking for Heranian imperial records from the turn of the fourth century, assuming that they are still intact,” Ileana supplied. “They’re in the main archive in the vaults below the library.”

Siegler grimaced. “Do you have a backup plan if what you need isn’t there,” he asked.

Ileana nodded. “It’s tentative, but I won’t know until I get there,” she admitted. “I don’t know exactly what records are in the archive. I might be able to look at more modern sources, but I don’t know.”

Siegler nodded.

“Will we have exclusive access to the archives,” Manfred asked.

“I sent a courier this morning,” Ileana replied. “A friend of mine will meet us there with a key.”

Erik raised an eyebrow.

“As far as he’s concerned, I’m digging into the historical archives related to some alchemical research that I’m doing,” Ileana assured Erik. “I’m pretty sure that’s where this road is going to be going. Anyway, he’ll be giving me a copy of the key, so I’ll have free rein of the archives for as long as I need them. I’ll be able to lock the archives from inside, too.”

Siegler shook his head. “That sounds too easy,” he remarked.

Kathel grimaced. “My bow won’t be much use inside the archives or the library,” he observed.

Erik nodded. “I can post you outside the library. You’ll be able to warn us if you see anyone coming our way,” he told Kathel, then turned to Siegler and Manfred. “We’ll need another layer in the library itself. Which one of you wants the post at the archive door?”

“I can stand guard outside the archives,” Siegler volunteered and turned to Ileana. “Pardon me for saying this, your grace, but I know you’ve never been entirely comfortable around me. It’ll be easier on you if you’re comfortable with the people around you.”

Ileana quickly masked her surprise. “Thank you, Sir Siegler,” she told him sincerely.

The old knight inclined his head.

Erik relaxed. “I think we all know what we’re doing now,” he told everyone. “So, the queen has an interest in Ileana’s research at the university here. She has turned the duty of guarding her grace over to me. We are going to be escorting Ileana and Cara. We’ll leave at dawn and take the main road straight to the university. Kathel will stand guard outside the library and let us know if he sees anyone entering the university grounds. Siegler will stand post at the entrance to the archives proper. Manfred and I will be inside the archives with Cara and Ileana. Rolph and the others will follow along shortly after we’ve left and post along the road in case anything goes wrong. We’ll bring a horn to signal them if we need them. Any questions?”

“Manfred and I will let the others know,” Siegler told Erik.

“We’ll meet in the courtyard at dawn,” Erik concluded.

They retired early after dinner.

Erik woke early the next morning, dressed plainly again, and ate a quick breakfast. He grabbed his high lord’s cap and put it on before making his way to the foyer. Manfred and Siegler were waiting for him. The men stood in their armor with their helms tucked under their arms. Manfred held a horn in his hand. “The horses are saddled,” Siegler reported.

Erik nodded.

Kathel came down the stairs leading to the guest quarters. He wore a short-sleeved maille shirt under a white, padded tabard emblazoned on the left breast with a red, heraldic rose. He wore his maille coif thrown back, his helm hung from the hilt of his sword, and his padded cap was tucked into his belt. He was checking his gloves and bracer as he walked. Cara walked next to him wearing a pale blue riding dress. She had her hood and cloak slung over her shoulder. “Ileana will be along shortly,” Kathel said.

Erik nodded.

Kathel pointed to the horn Manfred carried. “Is that to let the others know if we need help,” he asked.

Manfred tossed the horn to Kathel.

Kathel caught it and slung it over his shoulder.

“Help will be close enough to hear it,” Manfred confirmed.

Kathel nodded.

Erik leaned against the wall.

“I almost forgot something,” Ileana explained tiredly as she came down the stairs in a pale green riding dress. Her cloak was a darker shade, and she wore her hood thrown back, its linpipe hanging below her waist. She stopped close to Erik and looked up at him. “Shall we?”

Erik nodded and led the way out the door. “Rolph and the others know their roles,” Erik asked Siegler.

Siegler nodded. “They know,” he assured Erik.

Ileana smiled at Erik as they went outside. “You should wear that more often,” she told him, pointing to the hat. “It suits you.”

Erik helped Ileana into her saddle and then vaulted into his own. He made one last look around at the others before he gathered his reins and led the way out of the courtyard. The sun was barely over the horizon when they rode out of the courtyard, and Ileana rode up next to Erik. “I feel like I’m being inspected when you do that,” she remarked tartly. “It’s almost like you’re going to start barking orders if you see a strap out of place.”

Anfa grunted and shook his head.

Erik shrugged, reached down, and patted the big warhorse’s shoulder. “Not at you,” he replied. “That reminds me, though. You may want to tighten the straps for your bow case and quiver a little better the next time you ride with them. If you don’t, then they’re going to pop off if you have to gallop.”

Ileana gave Erik a withering look and hung back to ride with Cara, leaving Erik to wonder what he said. The guards at the city gate let them through, and they made their way down the road.

Erik motioned Ileana to take the lead as they arrived at the university. The gates had already been opened and the porter who came to help with their horses welcomed them cordially. Erik dismounted and went to help Ileana. “Don’t try to take my horse’s reins,” he warned the porter absently as the man reached for Anfa’s reins.

“My lord?”

“He’s a warhorse, goodman.”

The porter eyed Anfa, and the big warhorse snorted and bared his teeth at the man. The porter nodded, then took the reins of Ileana’s courser.

Once the horses were seen to, they started making their way across the university toward the library at the other side of the campus. The library itself was a large building set against the southern part of the wall surrounding the campus. Its walls were whitewashed, and the windows were plain. Kathel took his post to the side of the door and Erik led the way into the building.

Erik surveyed the inside as Ileana followed him. Both floors were filled with shelves, tables, and bookstands. A large, ornately carved desk faced the door. Ileana started to lead them toward the desk, but she was caught up short. “Ileana Thallion,” a voice boomed.

Everyone within earshot stopped to look over.

Erik groaned inwardly.

A chubby man in his mid-fifties strode over to Ileana.

“Master Evert,” Ileana said happily, then her eyes sharpened, and she continued in a hushed tone. “We are in the library.”

Evert grinned sheepishly. “Aye, that we are,” he said more quietly. “You’ve grown, little rose. I almost didn’t recognize you. How have you been? Keeping up with your studies, I hope.”

“I’ve been well enough,” Ileana replied. “And, as much as I can. Time has been short lately. It’s ‘your grace,’ for now, by the way. How have you been?”

Evert slapped his paunch. “Well enough, myself, just getting old…even for a mage,” he replied, and then what she said seemed to dawn on him. “Your grace? I’m so sorry, little rose. Your parents were kind people.”

Ileana blinked at Evert. “What do you mean,” she laughed. “They’re not gone. A steward is overseeing matters at home until they return from a hiatus. It’s just a peculiar difference in cultures.”

Evert looked relieved. “That’s good to hear,” he said as he scratched at the stubble on his face. “Now, I believe you needed to see the archives for your research.”

Ileana smiled. “Yes, I do,” she replied.

The chubby scholar led them toward the back of the building. “I took the liberty of making sure the lamps were lit and had plenty of oil,” he told them as they walked.

Manfred looked around the room as they walked. “There’s a lot of eyes watching her,” he observed quietly to Erik with a slight edge to his voice. “It’s making me twitchy.”

The chubby scholar smiled back over his shoulder. “Her grace appears to be one of the youngest graduates in the last several generations, sir knight,” he explained. “She still has quite a reputation here.”

Manfred grimaced. “I know, but I was hoping to be less obtrusive,” he grumbled.

“Trust me, Manfred, she stands out,” Erik told the big knight in a resigned tone. “Ileana and ‘unobtrusive’ don’t mix.”

Manfred shook his head.

Ileana shot a dark look at Erik over her shoulder.

A wolfish grin crossed Erik’s face. “Besides, pretty women always attract attention from rooms full of young men barely old enough to be off their mothers’ apron strings,” he remarked.

Ileana blushed and turned away.

The attention gradually died out as they moved deeper into the library. They followed Evert to a door at the south end. “We’re here,” Evert announced. “The archives contain the most ancient documents that our institution has in its collection. I mean no disrespect, my lord, but you should let Ileana handle them. They can be very delicate.”

Erik shrugged. “She’s the one doing the research,” he replied.

Evert nodded and unlocked the door to the archives. Siegler took his post outside the door, and Erik led the way down the spiral staircase. The hair on the back of Erik’s neck stood up as he reached the bottom of the stairs. He felt a rush up his spine, and a mix of unfamiliar scents overwhelmed his senses. He pushed Ileana back and drew his sword.

Ileana sighed. The scent of roses added to the mix and then vanished. “It’s just some wards, Erik,” Ileana explained. “They’re keeping the air dry so that the parchment doesn’t rot.”

Erik looked at Ileana and sheathed his sword. “Warn me next time,” he grunted and continued down.

The archive was a large vault beneath the library. A main corridor ran the length of the vault, with arched entryways leading to side rooms. Each side room had a sign over it indicating a certain range of dates along with a bookstand with a codex in front of it. A line of tables stretched down the length of the main corridor. As Evert had said, the oil lamps had already been lit. Evert eyed Erik. “We could teach him,” he suggested quietly to Ileana.

Erik shook his head. “I served two years of my time as a squire with the Osterian Knights,” he informed the older man. “The first thing they teach is to recognize when magic is being used. Some even manage to learn to detect mages.”

Evert blinked at Erik.

Erik looked over his shoulder at Evert. His eyes caught and reflected the light from the oil lamps. He tapped his ear with a finger. “Half elven,” he explained.

Evert nodded. “I see,” he replied, a hint of curiosity in his voice, then turned to Ileana and handed her the key. “I’ll be in my study most of the week. Send word if you need anything.”

Erik watched the portly scholar leave and waited until he heard the door at the top of the stairs close.

Manfred looked around the vault, shaking his head. “This could take ages,” the big knight grumbled.

“Several days, at least,” Ileana agreed, just a bit too happily. “We have a proper range of dates to be looking at, though. I think.”

“How long has it been since you’ve been down here?”

Ileana grimaced as she paced to familiarize herself with the archive. “To be honest, I’ve never been down here, Sir Manfred,” she admitted. “I’ve never had a reason to delve this far back.”

Manfred stared at Ileana in shock.

“Don’t worry. It’s well organized,” Ileana assured Manfred as she walked down the hallway. “It shouldn’t take long to find what I need.”

Ileana stopped in front of one of the rooms. Erik checked briefly inside to make sure it was empty, then stepped back out. Ileana opened a book that sat on a stand outside and began flipping through it. “What will we be looking for here,” he asked her.

“I’m looking for imperial records,” Ileana replied absently. “I’m looking for official documents from the period around when your ancestor separated the Kingdom of Tyrsiln from the Heranian Empire. They’ll be in cases that are stamped with a seal on one end. I believe that the emperor of the time was one Gaius Vespasius. According to legend, he was an arrogant man who fancied himself a god. His seal contains the phrase imperator et deus. If you see anything like that, just let me know.”

“And, if the records we need are from after my ancestor’s falling out with him,” Erik asked.

Ileana grimaced. “Then I have to delve through legal and military records to find out what his seal was,” she said and muttered: “I hate legal records. Lawyers are always so tedious.”

Manfred shrugged. “That should be easy, shouldn’t it,” he asked. “Erik’s crest is easily recognizable.”

Cara shook her head. “The seal in question would be much older than the white wolf, Sir Manfred,” she explained. “It would be a legion general’s seal. It’s unlikely that you’ve seen it.”

Ileana sighed. “Could I get a moment of quiet,” she asked. “Cara, would you mind starting to go through the listing for the next room?”

Cara nodded and went to a stand on the other side of the room. Erik signaled Manfred to mind the halls. Then, he leaned against the wall by Ileana where he could keep an eye on both of the women. Ileana closed the book. “Cara, some of the documents might be in here,” Ileana called to the honey-haired elf. “Let me know what you find.”

Cara made a vaguely affirmative sound.

Erik whistled to get Manfred’s attention, then signaled for him to watch Cara’s back. Manfred nodded, and Erik joined Ileana in the room. She was searching through the rows of small cubbyholes built into racks that occupied three of the walls. Each cubbyhole contained a cylindrical case. Most of them were sealed on one end, though the seals had long since been broken. He quietly leaned against a wall and watched her as she hummed happily to herself.

As Ileana checked the cubbies, she made a face at one of them. She removed a pair of linen gloves from her satchel and put them on. She stood on the tips of her toes and reached up. Her fingers brushed the case and pushed it deeper into the cubbyhole.

Ileana sighed. Erik pulled a chair over to her. She stepped up onto the chair and retrieved the case. She opened it and carefully removed the scroll it contained. “Thank you,” she whispered to Erik.

Erik inclined his head.

Ileana carefully unrolled the scroll a few inches, then hung her head and sighed. “I was afraid of this,” she muttered.

Erik stepped over to see what Ileana was talking about. The scroll was covered in lettering that Erik had never seen before. “What is that,” he asked her.

“It’s Low Telarian,” Ileana replied angrily.

“Can you read it?”

Ileana nodded. “I can,” she sighed, “but only slowly, and Cara can’t read it at all. That means that I’ll have to translate them all.”

“Do you have enough light,” Erik asked.

Ileana nodded absently. Her attention was completely focused on the scroll as she carefully unrolled it on the table in front of her. Erik stepped out of the room and leaned against the wall by the wide entryway. “We have a problem,” he told Cara.

“That being,” the honey-haired elf asked.

“It seems that the imperial records are written in Low Telarian instead of old Heranian.”

“Figures. Low Telarian was considered to be the language of the educated by the aristocracy of the time, much like old Heranian today,” Cara replied as she closed the book in front of her, shook her head, and rested her hands on her hips with a sigh. “Well, it looks like I won’t be as helpful as we’d hoped.”

Erik heard Ileana roll up the scroll and return it to the case. He stepped back into the room. Ileana briefly nodded to him as she hiked up her skirt to climb the chair. “That was a complete waste of time,” she muttered angrily as she put the scroll away.

Erik tilted his head to the side. “At least you know what language you’re working in, now,” he observed.

Ileana sighed as she briefly returned her linen gloves to her satchel. She went back to the table to write something down in her journal. “I suppose,” she agreed grudgingly. “That doesn’t change the fact that it provided nothing useful.”

“I’ll leave you to it,” Erik replied.

Cara went in to help Ileana find documents. Erik joined Manfred outside the room and the two stood and waited. Ileana grew steadily more peevish as the day progressed. Sometime shortly before noon, by Erik’s best guess, Cara stormed out of the room and stalked toward the stairs leading out of the vault.

Erik glanced into the room. Ileana stood over the table, leaning on one palm and using the fingers of her other hand to guide her eyes across the scroll in front of her with her brow knit in frustration.

Cara returned a short time later, carrying a sizable volume. She handed the codex to Ileana who opened it and shook her head. “One day, I’ll understand why the scholars here translate to Heranian instead of directly to High Echtrede,” she grumbled in Elvish.

“What did she say,” Manfred asked quietly.

Erik glanced back over his shoulder.

Ileana was staring daggers at Manfred. She pointed vaguely off toward the stairs. “Why don’t you go somewhere over there, where you can’t hear me talking to myself,” she told the big knight in an icy tone.

Manfred raised an eyebrow at Erik.

Erik shook his head, and Manfred stayed at his post.

Ileana turned her glare to Erik.

“If you don’t like my methods then take it up with the queen,” Erik said bluntly.

Ileana drummed her fingers on the table.

Erik shook his head. “Glaring won’t work,” he teased Ileana. “You’re too pretty when you’re mad to be intimidating.”

Ileana slipped back into her native Elvish. “Go somewhere else, wolf,” she told Erik.

Erik shrugged. “You asked me to watch your back,” he reminded her. “Well, guards are distracting. Get used to it.”

Ileana shook her head and sighed. “Fine,” she muttered, then returned to her reading.

Manfred raised an eyebrow at Erik.

Erik shrugged.

Manfred rolled his eyes.

Erik made a rude gesture at Manfred.

Manfred struggled to hold back a laugh.

Cara looked between the two men with a puzzled expression on her face, and shook her head.

Ileana continued working into the afternoon. Erik made sure that he, Kathel, and his men alternated off for quick meals, and even Cara managed to eat. Ileana, however, simply stood over her work, making notes on what she read, putting each scroll away and moving onto the next one.

Manfred came back from his own brief excursion for food with a bowl of stew and a towel. He laid out the towel on one of the tables in the hall and set the bowl of stew on it. “You should take a moment to eat something, your grace,” Erik told Ileana.

“I’m not hungry,” Ileana replied.

“Eat,” Manfred ordered Ileana flatly.

Ileana turned to Manfred. “I’m not one of your daughters, Sir Manfred,” she snapped at him.

Manfred shrugged. “And, you should be grateful for that, your grace,” he replied.

Ileana raised an eyebrow.

Erik shrugged. “If you were one of his daughters, he’d have turned you over his knee and paddled your bottom by now,” he explained bluntly.

Ileana stared at Manfred.

“Look, Ileana,” Erik continued calmly. “I understand that you’re frustrated, but it’s not our fault that ancient chroniclers decided to write in a language that was foreign even to them.”

Ileana looked at Erik for a long moment, then sighed. “Have I really been that short with you,” she asked.

Cara nodded. “Yes,” she said simply. “You need to take a break.”

Ileana removed the linen gloves and laid them on the table in front of her before making her way to the stew. “Thank you, Sir Manfred,” she said quietly.

Manfred inclined his head. “You’re welcome, your grace,” he replied.

Ileana sat down and picked at the stew for a little while. “This would be easier if even one of you could read Low Telarian,” she told them.

Erik shook his head. “You really shouldn’t be surprised that this turned out to be difficult, Ileana,” he said.

Ileana glared at Erik.

“Erik and I are used to apparently simple things turning into catastrophes,” Manfred explained. “It’s one of the basic rules of warfare. If it looks easy, then it’s probably a trap.”

Ileana grimaced at that. “When is easy not too easy,” she asked.

Erik shrugged. “When you’re short on everything except the enemy,” he replied.

Ileana shook her head. “I’m sorry for taking this out on all of you,” she apologized.

Manfred shrugged. “I’m used to it,” he remarked.

Erik coughed uncomfortably. “Did you find anything useful yet,” he asked Ileana.

Ileana shook her head. “Not yet, but I think I’m getting closer to the right year,” she replied.

“Isn’t the date pretty well established?”

“Not as well as you might think. Most historians today use a standard dating system. These are records of the imperial houses that broke away from the Empire around the turn of the fourth century. The dates are still given according to the imperial system, but they’re weeks and sometimes months different from anything I remember. It doesn’t help that there seems to be some disagreement on the date among the writers.”

“How can you tell that?”

“Because one chronicler gives the official Heranian date while another gives the day of what they call a new senate.”

“It sounds like there’s more to it than that.”

“How many months are in a year, Erik?”

“Twelve, of course.”

Ileana nodded. “And, that’s one of the problems,” she explained to Erik. “The ancients used a less standard calendar with thirteen months. The conversion can be…somewhat inexact. Furthermore, you standardized your years along with the calendar in the sixth century.”

Erik pinched the bridge of his nose.

“Now you see the source of much of my frustration.”

Erik nodded.

Ileana finished her stew and stood. “Well,” she sighed. “Back to the task at hand.”

Erik didn’t know how much time had passed when he saw Ileana’s ear twitch. She put a last scroll back in its cubby and stood staring at the scrolls. “I’m wasting time here,” she muttered. “There’s got to be a better way to do this.”

Erik nodded and started to lead the way back up the spiral staircase. “What are we missing here,” he asked as they reached the top of the stairs.

“I don’t know,” Ileana replied sourly while she locked the archive door. “It would be nice if more modern sources didn’t treat the Craft with such a degree of skepticism. It was taken for granted by the ancients, and I need that sort of perspective.”

“What changed?”

“The fall of the empire. Talent for the Craft is rare. Of course, it probably didn’t help that the Drisian Church did not treat mages particularly well in its early history.”

Erik grimaced at that. He stopped with Siegler, Cara, and Manfred standing behind him, and crossed his arms.

Ileana shook her head and took an extra step past Erik before she turned to face him. “The Heranian magi brought it on themselves, Erik,” she said bluntly. “They tended to treat others poorly, and they did some things that, frankly, don’t bear repeating in polite company.”

“You’re not exactly in polite company. We’ve all had to do things that are generally considered impolite.”

Ileana looked at Erik gravely. “Not like this, you haven’t,” she sighed. “I won’t discuss it in front of Cara.”

Erik grunted and started to respond. He barely had time to react. Several students scattered, and someone screamed as a man charged at Ileana’s back.

Erik seized Ileana’s arm, flung her back toward Cara, and slapped aside the dagger that would have plunged through her heart with his free hand. The man tried to swing the dagger back at Erik, but not before Erik drew his sword. It slid from its sheath, allowing him to block the strike and drive the man back. He ignored the warm rush up his spine and the smells of roses and mead.

Erik made a quick cut, and the assassin’s arm below the elbow flopped to the ground. The man screamed and fell to his knees, clutching at the stump that remained. Erik rolled the man onto his back with his foot, placing the point of his sword against the man’s sternum. He noticed that the assassin seemed unusually flushed for such a short fight. “The Aos Si’s Gift will never see the light of day,” the assassin spat, then his eyes rolled back in his head.

Erik muttered a curse as the assassin began convulsing and turning red. Cara rushed forward, but Manfred pulled her back. Erik cleaned his sword, sheathed it, and began patting the assassin down.

“You need to restrain his head,” Cara protested.

Erik found what he was looking for and held up an empty vial. It was the only thing that stood out. In every other respect, the assassin could have passed for any of the students in the building that now gathered around, staring at Erik in a mixture of shock and awe. “No, Cara,” he told the honey-haired elf. “This man’s already dead. His body just hasn’t quite caught up with that fact.”

“He poisoned himself,” Cara realized in a disgusted voice. Then, her voice took on a clinical note. “He’ll be like that for a few minutes.”

Erik nodded. “It’s not a common practice, but fanatics still do it…keeps them from being questioned,” he agreed, and then turned to Manfred. “Go get the horses and meet us back here. You know what to be on the look-out for. Make sure Kathel knows, too.”

Manfred nodded and strode from the library.

Erik turned back toward Ileana. She stared at the assassin for a moment and shuddered, then looked around. Erik realized that the smell of mead had faded, but the smell of roses had not. “Are you all right,” he asked Ileana.

Ileana nodded.

The warm rush and smell of roses faded abruptly. Erik eyed Ileana skeptically for a long moment, and then heaved a sigh. “We’ll leave once Manfred gets back with the horses,” he told the two elves.

Ileana grimaced. “Should we bring Kathel inside,” she asked.

Erik shook his head. “No,” he replied. “I need him where he is right now. Are there any other ways out of the library?”

Ileana nodded. “There’s a side door,” she told Erik, “but it leads to a sort of alleyway between the library and the history department. It’s only a few feet across at most.”

“The main door, then,” Erik growled.

Erik led the two elves toward the main entrance while Siegler followed behind them. He felt a warm rush and smelled roses as they crossed the library, and he turned to Ileana with his head tilted.

“Just in case,” Ileana explained.

Erik nodded and walked with his hand on his sword while he cast his eyes around the library. When they reached the main door, Erik checked out the window to see Manfred making his way across the courtyard with the horses. He waited a moment longer before throwing the door open and leading the two elves outside. He helped Ileana and Cara into their saddles before vaulting into his own. After a brief check to make sure everyone was seated, he turned quickly to Kathel. “Blow the horn three times as we reach the gate here,” he told Kathel, and then led the way across the university grounds at a gallop.

Kathel let out three long notes from the horn as they reached the university gate. They slowed to a trot outside the university as Rolph rode up the road with the rest of Erik’s men behind him. “Form up in a loose wedge,” Erik bellowed as soon as Rolph was in earshot.

The younger knight issued a series of crisp commands, and the men formed a loose wedge around Ileana and Cara. Erik picked the pace back up to a canter back into the city. They passed through the Winter Gate unchallenged, and he didn’t slow the pace until they arrived back at his house. “Rolph,” Erik called as soon as they were in the courtyard. “Ride to the palace immediately and tell them I said to send Conrad to the university library!”

Rolph saluted and galloped back out of the courtyard.

“Close that gate,” Erik bellowed at the porter.

Erik swung out of his saddle and strode over to hold the reins of Ileana’s courser while she dismounted. Ileana smiled at him, and briefly squeezed his hand. “Dinner should be ready by now,” Erik told her quietly as they made their way inside. “You should try to get something to eat.”

Ileana hesitated. “I’m not sure I could eat after that,” she admitted. “I’m still a bit tense.”

“My men will be right behind you. Try to get some rest.”

Ileana looked at Erik, seeming almost like she wanted to say something as they entered the main house. She was caught up short, though, when Alwin cleared his throat and bowed smoothly. “My lord,” he began but stopped when he saw the blood on Erik’s face. His face went hard, and he no longer looked like a simple steward. “What happened?”

“Give me a moment,” Erik replied.

Ileana made her way quietly toward the stairs with Kathel by her side, and Erik motioned for Manfred to follow her. Erik watched Ileana leave, his concern plain on his face. Cara looked briefly between Erik and Ileana. Then, she grimaced. “She’ll be all right,” she assured Erik.

Erik grunted.

Cara shook her head and sighed. “I’ll talk to her, my lord,” she told Erik.

“Thank you.”

Cara inclined her head and started toward the stairs.

Erik turned to Alwin. “Someone tried to stick a dagger in Ileana’s back, sergeant,” he told Alwin quietly. “You know what to do when we’re done here. Tell Marie that I need her on standby. I might have work for her to do.”

Alwin’s eyes sharpened. “I trust you gave the poor dumb bastard a splendid send-off,” he replied in a tone like ice.

Erik shook his head. “Just an arm,” he grunted. “The assassin took care of the rest of the work himself. He took poison, likely right before he made the attempt.”

Alwin snorted. “Contemptible,” he growled.

Erik nodded.

Alwin squared his shoulders and disappeared into an alcove. He emerged with a steaming pitcher which he used to refill the kettle and basin by the door. “I’ll see to it that your orders are carried out, then, my lord,” he said. “In the meantime, you have guests in the garden. The Baroness vonEisenheim and Baron Saggau.”

“What do they want,” Erik growled as he washed his face.

Alwin shrugged. “I don’t know, my lord,” he admitted. “Best you not keep them waiting any longer.”

Erik snorted. “I don’t have time for this,” he growled.

“Such is the way of things.”