“What’s wrong?” the older man demanded. “I could hear your mental shouts from a mile out.”
“Moren,” Mind greeted the man. “I need you and your daughter to come with me, right now.”
“Is this about the war?”
Moren turned and called back into the spherical building, shouting his daughter’s name. Above the door, a sign described the location as Requiem. Mind caught a glimpse of shelves of memory orbs, the glass spheres enchanted to contain memories. Well known for his magic, Moren and his daughter plied a thriving trade in Talinor, and used their skills to place memories into the glass balls.
Mind glanced to the sky as Moren exited the structure, wincing as he noticed the light approaching dawn. The battle would begin within the hour, and he was three days ride away from Ilumidora. The wolfsteed had faded significantly, and Light’s magic was already beginning to disintegrate.
Moren pulled his cloak about his shoulders and called again for his daughter. “Stella!” he shouted again.
Mind had met the man a few times, but never his daughter. From what Elenyr had said, he expected to see an accomplished woman. But the woman that stepped into the open was not what he expected.
Dressed in armor with purple accents, Stella carried a beautiful cloak, also purple. Her hair was black, her eyes a striking green. She tightened the strand on her cloak while Moren stared in shock.
“Why are you dressed for combat?”
“Someone called the Unnamed told me I would need to fight.” Her expression turned disapproving. “I did tell you to gather your armor.”
“I thought you spoke in jest,” Moren said, still staring at his armor clad daughter.
“Hurry up, father,” she said. “We don’t have much time.”
Her eyes settled on Mind, and he realized that he too, had been staring. He flushed and looked away, but her beauty remained fixed on his consciousness. And that was before she smiled.
“You must be the fragment of Mind,” she said.
“I am,” Mind said.
“Well?” she asked, striding down the steps. “What’s the plan?”
He wrestled with the surge of attraction. This was not the time or place to find a woman so captivating. He glanced to the horizon, using the approaching sun as a reminder of the importance of his task.
Moren appeared in the doorway again, muttering under his breath as he tied the fastenings on his leather armor. Covered in dust, it was obviously rarely used, and Stella shook her head, her brow furrowing.
“Father, I did tell you to get better armor.”
“I’m a mind mage with a business,” he huffed. “I have no need of armor.”
“Until the day you do,” she said. “And that day is today.”
Mind stifled a laugh. Moren glared at him, and then shut the door. He fumbled for a key and then locked it. He paused, and looked to Mind, his expression pensive. Then he began unlocking the door again.
“Perhaps we should get some supplies.”
“Father,” Stella groaned, at the same time Mind spoke.
“No need.”
Mind motioned them to follow and threaded his way back into the street. He crossed the road, and led the two mind mages deeper into the second ring of the city, to a certain hidden door behind a large estate. Activating the secret entrance, he guided them into the underbelly of the city.
“Where are we going?” Moren asked.
“Up until recently, this led to the Assassin’s Guild,” Mind said.
“Epic,” she breathed.
Moren paled. “Surely they will kill us for entering their sacred hall.”
“Those still living are at Ilumidora,” Mind said. “Besides, the new head of the guild has moved them to a new location.”
As he hurried them down the corridor, he could not help but test the limits of Stella’s magic. The young woman raised an eyebrow as he subtly tested her mental shields. He realized she’d sensed his efforts and was grateful for the darkness to hide his flush.
“If you want to know my ability, you have but to ask.”
“I’ll do that,” Mind said.
They advanced down the winding corridor that made its way deep into the earth. The direction pointed to the great fortress of Talinor, and Mind sensed Stella’s excitement. Despite the situation, he was eager to show her what lay in the Assassins’ guildhall.
After their war council, Mind had decided there was one possible person to recruit, and upon speaking to Elenyr, had asked Light to craft him a wolfsteed and departed. He’d escaped just before the fiend army had closed the gap.
The end of the corridor culminated in a giant cavern. Mind dropped onto the stairs as his companions came to an abrupt halt. Stella sucked in her breath, her eyes sweeping across the footings of the castle, the lake and island, where seven destroyed towers lay in ruins. Then her eyes widened when she spotted the enormous statue leaning half in the lake water where it had fallen.
“What is that?”
Mind pointed to the statue. “That is a Titan.”
Moren cursed, drawing Stella’s gaze. “You know of it?”
