Archduke Emmyth bel Miradan leaned forward in eager anticipation at the arrival of the godlaced adventurer he had so cleverly brought into his fold. His mind ran through the possibilities of what sort of magnificent [Divine Power] he might now have at his beck and call, to say nothing of the humiliation he cast on that traitorous High Emissary before his cowardly flight. Rumors that Venton held a particular hatred for this boy made his victory all the sweeter.

  He glanced to each side to ensure his Spymaster and Chancellor were prepared for the coming audience. To his right, Galathorn wore a deep frown, and while Emmyth knew he was still irritated about the stir caused by that ship, something more was bothering the man.

  Probably related to his disappointment of a son, which is why the Archduke chose never to have any of the nasty things. Hopefully, the Spymaster would keep those problems to himself.

  To his left, the aged Chancellor wore an expression of enduring patience. As though it pained him to be here, but would bear the duty with head held high. If the tiresome man weren’t so incredibly gifted at his job, Emmyth would have been rid of him years ago.

  He lifted a hand and gestured to the servant at the door.

  “They may enter.”

  The team entered, cutting quite the figures in spite of their young age. Emmyth's anticipation rose and he gave them his best friendly smile.

  “Raith, or is it Lord Raith now? So good to see you. Do come in, do come in. I can’t tell you how wonderful it is to count such fine adventurers amongst our ranks, especially in such trying times. Now please, step forward and report to me what news has brought you home with such theatrics.”

  He looked around at his knights and laughed. They paused for a moment before picking up on their cue and joining.

  “You really had everyone in quite a fright with that ship.”

  The Myth Seekers approached his throne and bowed respectfully, even the little faerie creature that accompanied them for some reason. Another detail he was anxious to hear about. Raith opened his mouth to speak but the Archduke raised a hand to stop him.

  “But first! Normally we would do with more pomp and ceremony for such an event, but these are trying times in the kingdom.” He clapped his hands, and the Chancellor stepped forward, presenting Nyhm, Thea, and Raith with their patents of nobility and a deed indicating the location of their estates. He had a fourth set of scrolls in his hand, and he looked hesitantly at Zinny and then back at the Duke.

  The Duke’s brow furrowed. “Am I to understand that this faerie is your additional team member on the Adventurers’ Guild roster?”

  Before Raith could answer, Zinny flitted forward and swept into a dramatic bow.

  “That’s right, Your Wonderfulness. I’m a Myth Seeker.”

  The Duke laughed uncomfortably, throwing a sidelong glare at his supposed ‘Spymaster’. This was the sort of detail he should be informed about, and words would be had over this oversight.

  “Well then, consider me the first Archduke of our age to have a fae noble amongst my court. Give her the deed.”

  Zinny accepted the scrolls, zipping up and spinning in a little circle of delight before tucking them away.

  What a bizarre creature. If it disrupts the court too much, I may need to have it killed.

  “Now then,” said the Archduke offering his best fake smile. “I have one further gift to bestow.”

  As discussed, the Chancellor stepped forward again and dramatically presented each of the Myth Seekers with another deed.

  “What you each hold now is the deed to a modest home in the Noble District. All on the same block, that your team may remain close both to each other and the city you serve.”

  He was especially proud of this one, in no small part because it had been entirely his own idea. His droll Chancellor had argued against gifting such valuable real estate, especially with the possible expense of a war coming. But Emmyth knew how important it would be to have this godlaced ingratiated to him. Even more clever, it was the notorious Lover’s Row. Over a decade ago three of the neighboring families fell into a bloody feud of infidelity and betrayal that left no survivors. The other two families on the block fled to avoid the fallout, and the buildings, rumored to be cursed, have sat vacant ever since. Slowly falling into disrepair, becoming both an eyesore and embarrassment.

  Raith stepped forward and bowed deeply.

  “This is incredibly generous, your grace. We are all very grateful.”

  Emmyth was pleased to see the wide eyed appreciation of these uncultured children. His plan was clearly a success, and he threw a broad, gloating smile towards the Chancellor who closed his eyes and bowed his head almost sadly. The ungracious little shit.

  “So tell me, Raith, what is the [Divine Skill] you have brought to our fold?”

  The Archduke’s eyes narrowed as the young man shifted uncomfortably and explained what [Life in Staccato] does. The longer he spoke the deeper Emmyth’s frown became. By the time the Lordling finished describing the useless [Skill] he was thoroughly regretting giving them the extra gift. He glared at the Chancellor, daring him to give the barest hint of smugness but the old man remained resolutely stoic.

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  “That’s it?”

  Raith gave a helpless shrug.

  “That’s it.” Before Emmyth could figure out the best way to express his displeasure, and more importantly who to take it out on, the boy blurted. “However, Your Highness, please allow me tell you of our [Quest] to thwart the fomorians from freeing the true giants from the godtowers.”

  The Archduke sat up straighter at this and gave a glance to his Spymaster, who pursed his lips and looked at Raith intently.

  Raith hurriedly spun a tale of the Assassin’s Guild, a narrow escape, and how they’d become entangled with the Forgotten Ones. At the mention of the secretive spy empire, Galathorn’s brow furrowed even further. The spymaster peered intently from his son back to Raith, as the boy continued the tale. The story concluded with a quite boring [Quest] of delving the dungeon and avoiding the monsters to steal this artifact, then flee before the formorians could catch them.

  When he was finished, Emmyth’s mood had shifted once again, this time more contemplative.

  “And where is this key now?” he said, arching an eyebrow.

  “The Hollow Earl has entrusted it to our care, and we have it safely hidden, Your Highness.”

  The Duke nodded thoughtfully and looked toward the Spymaster. Galathorn crossed his arms and tapped a finger on his tricep three times then twice. No lies, many omissions. Perhaps this new godlaced was more clever than he looked. Good, he had little use for idiots.

  “Very well. You have done excellent work yet again, Myth Seekers. You are an honor to Beckhaven and to the kingdom itself. You are dismissed. I am sure you are anxious to see your families. Feel free to inspect your estates at your leisure. I will summon you again when I have need.”

  The strange group made an awkward but acceptably respectful exit from the audience chamber. When the door swung shut he sensed the Spymaster’s privacy sphere snap into place around them. Emmyth turned to him.

  “Have you ever heard of a more pathetic [Divine Skill]? Useless children, the lot of them.”

  The Spymaster replied without removing his eyes from the door through which they had departed.

  “These useless children somehow managed to cure the Grins and thwart a formor plot that would have threatened the entire realm, before sailing into port on the ship of a fae pirate queen. To say nothing of their association with the Forgotton Ones. Do not underestimate these children, my liege.”

  “And what are your thoughts on their [Quest] against the formor, Galathorn?”

  “The information fits nicely with my intelligence that the traitor Templars have been working with the giant-kin in hopes of gaining more power by connecting with their godly roots. Were the true giants freed, they could surely bring about such a union.”

  “And what did our newest Lord leave out of that little tale he spun, hmmm?” He drummed his fingers on his chin for a moment. “I want you to find out for me, Galathorn. And I want to know more about this artifact they have secreted away. It may be a worthy addition to our arsenal.”

  The Spymaster gave a bow.

  “It shall be done, your grace.”

  ***

  Raith let out a sigh of relief as they exited the Ducal palace. The group walked quietly from the grounds, collecting their thoughts before stopping some distance from the gate. Thea spoke first.

  “You made a wise choice about which details to leave out. I do not trust that man.”

  Tolliver grimaced.

  “Nor should you. Or my father. But I agree with Thea, you did well back there.”

  “I must have spent hours in and out of [Staccato] agonizing over what to include while I relayed the story. I wish we’d all had time to plan what to say first. Let’s meet up tomorrow morning at the guildhall to figure the next move. Does ten work for everyone?”

  They all agreed, and after a round of hugs the Myth Seekers headed home for the first time in many weeks.

  Raith and Nyhm walked beside each other in comfortable silence, absorbing the sights and sounds of Beckhaven. Lost in nostalgia, it took Raith a while to notice that Zinny was following along behind them on Phineas.

  “Do you need me to get you a hotel or something?”

  “No. I am going with you. I am a Quirric too, remember?”

  Raith groaned, having forgotten all about that absurd and nonsensical adoption of his last name.

  “Fine. Just try to be normal for a little bit. My family is close. We’ve all missed each other very much, so don’t ruin the reunion by being a goof.”

  The little pixie took on an uncharacteristically serious countenance.

  “I can do that.”

  Raith was dubious, but willing to give her a chance. She seemed to sense his skepticism.

  "Tollvier told me that if I want to be a good Myth Seeker then I can't be silly all the time. It's fun to be silly, but I can be serious, too."

  "I appreciate the effort, ZInny."

  "Besides, you'll all be dead in a few centuries and I can go back to being silly all the time."

  That was not exactly the reassurance Raith was looking for, but he'd take it.

  The familiar smells of the Huecrafters District washed over Raith in a sea of memories, making him even more anxious to get home. He could see that Nyhm felt the same way as his brother quickened his pace, and Raith had to hurry to follow.

  They soon arrived at their house, and Nyhm turned to Zinny.

  “I know that you’re a Quirric, but we would like to say hi to our parents in private. So if you don’t mind waiting out here for a little bit, we’d really be grateful.”

  Zinny gave a nod, vanishing from sight with her mount, and the two headed inside.

  Their mother was not at work in her front parlor, so they went on back to find her sitting in the courtyard out back, drinking tea. When she saw them appear, she dropped her cup to the ground and ran, sweeping them both into an embrace.

  “Oh, my boys, oh my sweet precious boys, I’m so happy that you’re alright!”

  “We missed you, Mom,” said Raith, letting her sob and hug them for a while before disentangling himself. Nyhm did not let go. She petted his hair and continued to sob.

  “Where’s everyone else?”

  “Oh, sweetheart, your father and Derry have been on duty non-stop since this business with the Templars. I’ve never been so scared. All my boys were in danger at the same time and I don’t think my heart can take it.”

  “We’re okay now, Mom. We’re home.”

  “Is Leah doing ok?”

  She finally released Nyhm and wiped away some of her tears and snot with the sleeve of her blouse.

  “Oh, she’s doing marvelously. Her shop is such a success. I’m so, so proud of her. And I’m proud of you two as well. Everything’s been so crazy…” she looked as though she was going to burst into tears again. “…I even forgot about you both for a few days. What kind of mother am I to forget about her own children?”

  Nyhm put a comforting hand on her arm.

  “It’s not your fault. We were under the memory geas of the Forgotten Ones.”

  She sobered abruptly and looked at him with her head tilted.

  “You were what?”

  “Only for a minute,” Raith hurriedly clarified. At her concerned look he said, “Maybe we should start from the beginning.”

  “Wait,” she said. “Before you start, come with me to the kitchen and you can tell me all about it while I cook you something to eat.”

  Those words were music to Raith's ears. They adjourned into the kitchen where their mom started busily pulling ingredients out of the cupboards.

  “We also have a new member of our party. Her name is Zinny. She’s a pixie and I want to warn you, and we’ve kind of adopted her.”

  “Accidentally,” Nyhm clarified guiltily. Raith nodded in eager agreement.

  She waved a hand at them without looking back.

  “Any of your friends are always welcome in our home, sweetheart.”

  Raith smiled warmly at his brother and went to invite Zinny inside. He hoped Thea’s reunion was going as well. They had a lot to discuss in the morning.