And so, Therelin’s strange journey across Gethra brought him back to Noress-That-Was. Though he was continuing to grow in skepticism, since leaving his home a year earlier, a part of Therelin wondered if the spirits of the world had known he would come here. It was hard to believe in the coincidence that Master Nolicrin had teleported him here half a year before he chose to come of his own motives.
Therelin had removed the letter to Var Nordos’ Lord of Information from his pack that morning. Now he carried it tucked under his belt. Selaara of Sheld had written this note for her colleague, Lord Dakhu Lefayo. Dakhu, it seemed, was in charge of the Empire of Noress’ archives and records.
It took Therelin and Kren nearly an hour to walk through the streets of Noress-That-Was to the castles that overlooked the sloping cityscape. They passed the Lowtide Tavern. The harbour workers had directed them to Matriarch Valakono’s stronghold, which was the westernmost one, bustling with the activity of guards, servants, and labourers. It seemed that a new wing was being added to the Keep. Despite the commotion, the entrance was heavily secured with soldiers.
A broad-shouldered woman stopped Therelin and his friend with a raised, gauntleted hand. “Welcome,” she said, dryly. “What’s your business here?”
“I’m looking for the Lord of Information. Do you know where I can find him?” Therelin asked. He let some of the excitement slip into his voice—this Lord Dakhu might shed a great deal of light on their adversary, the mysterious Tarro.
“Oh, the Lord of Information has moved his office closer to the Archives now that there are vacancies,” the sergeant drawled, casually lowering her hands to her sides. Seeing Therelin’s confusion, she added, “The Archives are in Matriarch Haladia’s Castle. That one.”
Therelin followed her nod to the nearest fortress, then thanked her for her time. Kren led the way toward the next castle. Therelin found it hard to consider what she had meant by “now there are vacancies,” when the vantage from this level of the city overlooked the entire sprawling expanse. He could see from the mountainside clear to the sunken towers below Cobblestone Bog; during his first visit to the city, he had never found a perspective like this.
Matriarch Haladia’s Castle had only a third of the forces that protected Valakono’s. Nonetheless, they stopped Therelin and his friend in a similar manner to the previous sergeant. Before the clean-shaven guardsman who stepped up could speak, Therelin showed them the sealed letter from Selaara and declared, “I’m looking for the Lord of Information. Do you know where we can find him?”
The guard tilted his head. “I think he’s away.” He turned back to one of the others. “Lord Lefayo?” he asked.
“Out of the city, I believe,” the other declared.
Therelin grunted as though he had been struck. He looked at Kren; his friend rolled his eyes in disbelief. They took a deep breath in unison. “When will he be back?” Therelin asked, disappointed.
“We’ll fetch someone,” the second guard said, and marched briskly through the courtyard behind the line of defenders. Therelin and Kren waited patiently, discussing that they’d now be stuck in Noress-That-Was. A man in a long red robe soon crossed the courtyard, following the guard. He was a few years older than Therelin, but looked even more studious than the latter magician.
“You’re looking for Master Dakhu?” the scholar asked. “I’m afraid he’s away on a research project.”
“Do you know when he’ll return?” Therelin questioned.
“Sometime next month,” the middle-aged man said. “He’s only gone to Soros.”
Therelin wasn’t sure where Soros was, but the duration of Dakhu’s absence could have been worse, he imagined. “Thank you.” He turned away from the Castle. He and Kren crossed the wide street that ran in front of the ruling strongholds. “I guess we’ll have to idle in Noress for a while. I still need to get that sword, as we discussed, so we should probably find some ways to scrounge up some coins.”
Kren shrugged. “We could get work at a bakery, perhaps?”
“A bakery?” Therelin blinked. Sometimes, Kren makes no sense, he thought. They had passed a few bakeries on the way through the city, but it still seemed peculiar. “Do you have experience with baking?”
His friend grinned sheepishly. “Not since I was a youngster. Those days were before I fell in with the ‘wrong crowd’,” he said, with a wink.
“I see. Well, why not?” Therelin asked. “You can work at a bakery for the month, and I’ll gather some local herbs I know; maybe I can even sell some things to the master baker.”
Kren smiled. Therelin wondered if his choice of employment was again his instinct to search for the safest option. Therelin didn’t want to risk his life, but he saw many less-secure options as affording him more chances to learn. On second thought, Therelin grabbed his slack coin pouch. Some safe money was just fine for now, he decided.