Raven had thrown caution to the wind and held off on trying to sell the repositories. She left them in the care of the library for now as they were likely to add context to whatever records they were in the process of transcribing for the college. The sisters and Jace had agreed to the idea since the money they made from the records, cogs and molds was already enough for their needs. The repository might double or triple that, leading to a windfall down the road.

  Now it was more than a week later, arriving back at Terath. The dry air tickled her nose. The heat of the sun was already beating down on her long head crest causing it to itch. She wasn’t sure how she had lived here this close to the desert. The people were friendly enough. She saw a few Kethi gliding through the air between buildings. The small winged folk couldn’t take rain or moist climates so she hadn’t spotted any during her time in Dacathus. Just like she was unlikely to ever see an orath in a place so dry given how deadly it could be for them.

  She doubted she would miss this place once she left for good. There were no food stands along the street here, just trinket sellers. Passing in the streets toward the guild she didn’t catch sight of any other paracrests, though she knew others lived here. Down in Dacathus she’d always see at least one or two of her fellow people. Every few shops would have one behind a counter. She hadn’t realized just how isolated she’d been from her own species till then.

  It made her thoughts drift to Ramjack. The poor man was alone here. No one had ever seen his people before let alone heard of them. How must he feel to be unique to the city, to the world maybe?

  The thoughts of the librarian left her completely when she stepped into the Adventurer Guild and found it empty. Well, there was a female terrisian clerk behind the desk but not one of the tables was occupied and the clerk seemed, bored. Her antenna perked up, waving as she spotted Raven though.

  ~Ah, welcome back Raven. I haven’t seen you in a long while~ The clicks and chittering sounds translated into words in her head from the gentle telepathy all terrisians possessed.

  “Emby.” The paracrest finally remembered the other woman’s name as she got to the desk. “Why is it so empty? Where is everyone?”

  The antenna drooped slightly. ~No one came back from the mine… your message… they didn’t wait for you to send it~

  Raven felt her whole body go cold. Her sail sagged as her stomach dropped and chest tightened. “By everyone do you mean?”

  ~I did not say everyone went, but much of the guild here did. Ssanic, Trish, Itch and the rest of their team. Samson and Tyler joined them as well. Mazen and Fallos were the only two left behind since Mazen was injured and Fallos was on another job at the time. Then there was you who was out of town. It hasn’t been good here since then. Not enough people for the work and no one taking on adventuring right now it seems~

  A small amount of relief washed through Raven. Mazen was still here, not out in the mine. She breathed that relief for just a moment before guilt hit her. Mazen might be fine but she doubted the others were. Her ex-boyfriend was among the missing. She might have no further interest in dating him but it’s not like he was a bad person and the thought of him dead because she hadn’t gotten the information in time?

  Raven had to remind herself as the sadness crept back in that she did all she could. She moved on the jar as soon as possible. She told them that it was a bad idea to go back without finding out what the scroll said. This was not her fault. In fact, if she hadn’t gotten that message perhaps others would have gone looking after the group failed to come back.

  She was still standing at the desk with Emby staring at her when she heard a voice say

  “Raven?” a voice she had not heard in a while. Spinning she saw her partner standing there in the door to the guild. The chelkren was looking good for just having one arm. His green skin back to its normal tone rather than the graying one she’d seen before she left.

  “Mazen!” She cried, leaving the desk and rushing to hug him. His shell was warm from being out in the sun and she could only wrap her arms about him so much with it there. He stiffened a little but didn’t pull out of the contact, just put his good hand over one of hers from the side hug.

  “Glad to see you again. Wasn’t sure you were coming back to Terath.”

  “I used the last of the money on sending that message, had to take work just to earn the funds back here. No way was I going to spend even longer walking down the roads.” A smile actually pulled onto her face as she released him. “I’m just glad you didn’t go with the others.”

  He dropped his own hand, holding up the bad arm which now had a hook attached. “They were impatient about the whole thing. They’d already been gone two days by the time your message came through. It was too late to do anything.” His eyes dropped to the floor.

  “I wish I could have convinced them not to go. I tried to warn them. Gods, I’m broken up about this but if they were here I’d want to throttle them, you know?” They sat down on benches at a table close to the door, facing each other.

  “Missed you Rav. I knew you were fine once we got the message but I felt a bit helpless. We could have used someone here at the guild, in Terath, who could have dealt with such a delicate scroll, not ignore it.”

  Raven was silent for a minute, just gazing across the table at her partner. He seemed a little tired. Dragged down under a great weight. Reaching across she patted his good hand lightly. “You might not want to hear this but, I’ve made up my mind. I’m moving to Dacathus. The guild here might need serious help but I don’t think I can live here any more, and not just because of what’s happened. But I’m hoping that maybe you’d want to move to Dacathus too. It’s a nice city and you do have river blood in you so it’s not like you need to live in the desert.”

  His head turned up to hers and she could see a light smile forming at the corners of his beak-like face. “If you’d asked me before you left to come with you I might have said no, that this guild felt like home. But what I saw after your message… you’re right Rav. They should have listened to you. Right now there’s no plans to find out what happened even if we had enough people. An advisory went out saying that the mountains to the east, but especially the mines, should be off limits due to unknown infection vectors. That’s it. No plans to address the reason this happened. No calls to hire better researchers. I just don’t have the money to go anywhere.”

  “I have good news then. My last quest, I got enough money for three trips between Dacathus and Terath. One for me to come here. Two for both of us to go to Dacathus. Just need to pack up the last of my belongings from the guild lockers and say goodbye.”

  Mazen nodded, lifting himself up from the table. “Still wanting to partner with an incomplete man like me?”

  Raven laughed, smacking his side lightly with her tail as she passed. “You’re still a better swordsman than most of the people I know. Besides, I know a [Tinker] now and we just made a major sale to the Guild of Engineering. We might be able to get you a mechanical arm sooner than you think.”

  —————————————

  After the bunker trip I fell into a new routine. Much of my day was taken up with transcription. The scrolls and books needed to be carefully copied so scholars could have access to them. There was so much work to be had that the history professor from the college joined us. Remmic Voss, an older human man with a white beard and a serious air about him. He only gave me a quick study before getting down to work. Tick would set out scrolls carefully as to not damage them. I would transcribe them to new heartier pages and Remmic would skim them for a synopsis of their content.

  On my days off I would go hunting no more than an hour from the city. Rabbits for the most part. I didn’t get much of my own writing done but with what I had been paid for the expedition and the bonuses from getting the transcriptions done as quickly as possible helped me build up a nice savings.

  As for the repositories, Jace had elected to wait until Raven came back. Or a month if she didn’t. He’d graciously let the library hold onto them down in the archives though. I felt that he didn’t want the responsibility of keeping them safe without evaluating how much they were worth. Apparently even if there was no information inside them they would be worth quiet a bit for their enchantments alone. The information, if accessible, was worth a great deal to the college and library. A look into the past of the Amber Empire that was more than just from records and reports.

  Just because I transcribed things didn’t mean I read them as well. I didn’t have time for that. So day after day it was a blur of letters to me. Each written quickly but precisely as a pile formed for Remmic. The professor still had his classes so he wasn’t in all day the way Tick and I were.

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  Still, I did find a moment to chat with him when I put the last word on the page of the last scroll from a single shelf. We had broken the pacing into such groups, taking it a recorded shelf at a time so not to mix them up. As I placed the page in order in the stack I asked “So what are most of these about? I find myself so in the zone of copying the letters that I never get any of the content.”

  The man paused his work, turning light blue eyes to me. “Well, so far this shelf has been concerned with inventory records. How much food, how much copper, arrows, that sort of thing.”

  I nodded. Nothing all that interesting on the surface but I pressed on, “On the floor above the records room there was some kind of workshop. Lots of copper cogs.”

  The man looked back down at his own work. “You can tell a lot about the society from the paperwork you know. The copper listed here no doubt forms a picture about how many cogs and their uses. It paints a picture, one that can be discussed in my classes. I intend to write another history book using the materials here.”

  That caught me a little off guard. I’d written fiction so I had no idea the level of research went into the non fiction field. Even inventory lists apparently. “I only know a little of the history. Read a book about the fall of the Amber Empire.”

  “Well, if you intend to learn more taking my class will help. Once we have finished archiving all of these in another month or two you should consider auditing. Classes teach you more than just what is in books.”

  He was beginning to remind me a bit of my landlord, though without the secret friendly streak I’d grown to enjoy. I’d worked with this man for over two weeks and had yet to see him smile. Even now he was so focused on his work. “I’ll do that.”

  ———————————

  I was tired that night. We were working overtime on this project but Marigold insisted both myself and Tick have alternate days off every few days to keep us from burning out. It would likely take at least two months to finish, but that didn’t bother me. The work was good, the extra pay for this kind of job was great, and I did enjoy my day off with fresh air. But it was the nights, walking home so late that my landlord was already at the college that were starting to grate on me. I hadn’t realized how much of a friend he’d become. That that simple evening meal was such a comfort.

  It was times like this that I missed the days when I worked at the warehouse. The end of the week trip to the Clattering Crossroads, the occasional sneaking off with Tyrech. I might have had a hard time with understanding people back then but it was fun. Comforting even. I didn’t have that any more.

  Funny from someone who had once spent their days writing at a desk in their room, who would mostly just hang out in virtual space for entertainment, was now missing being around people. I spent all day with Tick but we didn’t talk. Not in a social way. I needed a friend.

  ————————————

  On that same night a carriage arrived at the north gate of the city. It had traveled all the way from Terath with two passengers and their luggage. Raven got out first, collecting their bags as her reptile companion got to his feet. His beak-like face managed a smile as he looked around.

  “I don’t think I’ve ever been to Dacathus before.” Mazen mused, shuffling a bit.

  Raven pulled the bags over her back and patted him fondly. “I can show you around in the morning when it’s warmer out. Lets get you into an inn for the night and a nice fire to wake you up.”

  “Mmf. It will probably take me a week or two at least to adapt to this weather. Are you sure you’re ok with that Rav?”

  “I wouldn’t have dragged you down here if I wasn’t.” She beamed at him. He was stronger than her but she feared that if she put even his pack onto him right now he’d just collapse into sleep right there on the street. So she shouldered the weight as she moved him off to the Gleaming Crest. She had money again so paying for a two bed room wouldn’t be a problem.

  Raven set the bags down once she was inside at the desk, but didn’t pause her movements until she got the cold chelkren by the fire. The paracrest clerk was studying her with a frown when she returned to the desk. “Sorry about that.”

  The other woman was staring at her like she was something wiped from the bottom of a shoe. “This establishment is not responsible if luggage is stolen while leaving it unattended.” She pinned Raven with a look.

  “Yes yes, I know. I just had to get my friend to the fire. We’ve been traveling from Terath and he is not used to the temperature here yet.”

  “I see.” The clerk continued to stare, “You stayed here before did you not?”

  “I did. I settled my bill at the time.” She had, but she had intended to stay more nights but had to leave when she used the last of her funds to send that message.

  The other woman pulled out a small book from under the desk and started flipping through it, her sail high and tight as she quietly skimmed. It seemed to sag slightly as she closed the book and returned her stare to Raven. “Yes, all in order. One room or two?”

  “One but two beds please. Do you have one with a hearth by chance?”

  “We do, it is a more expensive one though with four beds.”

  Raven sighed. They couldn’t spend too many nights at such a rate she was quoted for it, as they charged for the bed not the person, but Mazen was worth it. She wanted to keep him warm, even as he slept. “Alright. We’ll take it.” Hopefully they would be making that money back from the sale of the magical repositories.

  —————————

  Mazen had fallen right to sleep once they were in the room. Thankfully Raven had helped him to the bed closest to the hearth. She made sure the flu was working before lighting it up and going to sleep herself.

  She awoke next morning to a gentle tapping from her partner, who was simply dressed in a pair of pants. “Is there food at this place?”

  She smiled to see him so lively. “Yes. Herbivore food but I think you’ll like some of it. I’ve heard there some good fish in the city too if you’re still hungry after.”

  She dressed quickly on her side of the room as he pulled a small travel pack together. She had paid for two days and figured she couldn’t ask for more after her quick departure last time. Hopefully the guild could help them find better, more permanent lodging. This place had become a bit too surly for her tastes anyway.

  The two of them ate slowly in the dining hall. She spotted some of the same faces she’d seen the last time she’d stayed here, locals who just enjoyed having their breakfast here. She didn’t know any of them though and none looked her was as she sat there with Mazen. He was still pretty slow but at least he was awake. He had a salad in front of him, a pile of leafy greens which many chelkren were known to enjoy. She had a warm porridge with fruit and honey.

  “I’m going to show you to the guild hall today and let you settle in before I head to the library.” She told him, digging into her breakfast.

  “Abandoning me for the day?” He asked as he picked at his food. He managed a weak smile.

  She matched his energy with a light grin of her own. “Nope, just going to let you meet people without me hovering over you like a mother hen. I know you can take care of yourself Maz, you just need a tiny bit of help right now as you adjust but even in this shape I know your dazzling personality is going to win them over.”

  He laughed, setting his fork down and covering so not to disrupt the dining hall. “Yea, they’re going to love me. A one-armed brash chelkren suffering from the cold.”

  She shook her head but continued to grin. “It’s warm in there, you’ll manage. You won’t be the only cold blood in the place. Not even the only chelkren. The guild hall here has more active members than Terath’s hall and still has more work.”

  “Well, I’m sure the library will keep you occupied. You do enjoy your books.” He took a few bites of his breakfast, but did not look satisfied with it.

  “Aww Maz. Well, if they weren’t so busy with the records we found in that bunker I told you about I’d pay one of them to sit down with you and teach you your letters. Then you wouldn’t have gotten so bored on the carriage ride down here.”

  “I had you and your stories to listen to…”

  “Only for the first few days. It was pretty quiet after that. I had books but felt bad that you had nothing. Hell, I probably should have tried to teach you myself.”

  He shook his head. “I was too cold most of the time. Wouldn’t have worked out and then you would have gotten mad at me for wasting your reading time.” He shoved in a few more leaves, chewing slowly.

  “Still. I mean it Maz, you’d be less bored in situations where you can’t train. Don’t use the cold as an excuse. Hell, maybe someone in the guild can be bribed to teach you. Or I will if you’d let me.”

  “I’m not a great student.” He admitted, swallowing down the leaves before pushing the rest away, “Can we get some fish now?”

  —————————————

  The streets of Dacathus were starting to warm as the two adventurers walked down the road. Mazen stopped as one booth opened and instantly became first in line for a treat that looked disgusting to Raven. Bugs, some reminding her of tiny burrowmaws, held to a stick by honey. Mazen bought several, holding them in his good hand as they walked.

  “I haven’t seen sweet bugs on a stick in ages!” He declared, more energy in his voice than she had heard in a while. For that alone she’d remind herself to get him some.

  “There are a lot of food stalls in the city. There’s even this great bakery I found with wonderful buns. I’ll take you there later since I saw they had some made with non grains. I’d bet you’d enjoy those ones.”

  “No wonder you fell in love with this city. The only food stands I ever remember seeing in Terath were the roasted rat stands. Delicious but not for you.”

  Raven nodded. “I ignored those, and the smell of them. Here you can get all sorts of foods, and not just in the markets or stores. It’s what won me over. I hadn’t known how tired I was of eating mostly dried fruits and nuts for the last few years till I came here.”

  They stopped at another booth where fish was being grilled by two river chelkren. They had a similar skin tone to Mazen but the look of their shells was different, much sleeker and more designed for water than protective from sand. Her partner finished his treat before he got to the front of the line and ordered his breakfast.

  The hot food was doing him good even as the sun seeped into his cool body. He was walking faster by the time they got to the entrance of the guild. He was even a bit wide eyed seeing just how nice the guild ward itself was. Unlike in Terath where the Adventuring Guild was just on a street, all guild buildings in Dacathus had a ward of their own to exist in.

  “Alright.” Raven said brightly as they entered the hall, already assaulted by the noise of other teams inside, “Here we are. Let’s get you registered at the desk and then I will be off to the library.”

  Even as she started to move Mazen hooked her gently with his prosthetic. “Hey Rav, thanks. You’re a good friend for doing this for me.”

  Her sail heated as she patted the hook. “You’d do the same, friend.” She said with all honesty. Then she escorted him to the desk.