I know you’ve been fascinated lately on the histories of Oparium. I encountered these maps in the archives and thought of you. Consider it a gift.
Forever yours, T.S.”
“A.L. must be Adela Lagmir,” Taavin said, looking up to her.
“I would assume.” Vi returned the maps and the note to the book. The other ledgers could stay—they contained nothing more than notes and plans Vi already knew about. This book was coming back with her.
“Who do you think T.S. is? He seems fond of her.”
“Isn’t it obvious?” Vi started for the door. “Who else could take a book from the archives? Who else would Adela want to become close to?” A look of clarity overtook Taavin. “T.S. must be Tiberus Solaris.”
“Your grandfather and Adela were… intimate?”
Vi cringed at the word. “I don’t know aboutmygrandfather. Though, it would explain why Adela hates and has always hated my family so profoundly, if he wronged her somehow…” All those years ago, when Vi had infiltrated a meeting of the Knights of Jadar, Twintle had said that Adela had reduced her rate to work against Solaris. The memory of the remark suddenly took on new meaning.
“Then she would want to get back at Solaris whenever possible.”
They emerged back into the storeroom and Vi returned the barrel to where it had been. Hopefully, no one would notice the lack of wood or deep groove in the back corner. But, if they did, these were the sorts of things Adela’s legends were made of. Vi could almost picture some Waterrunner gleefully telling his friends about the discovery.
“We need to get to Oparium and explore these caves.” Vi tapped the book in her hands.
“Not until Aldrik goes to the Caverns with the sword.” Taavin grabbed her shoulder and shook her gently. “We can’t deviate from the stones in the river. A new Champion must be reborn.”
“Taavin, we have the weapons in our grasp. Now is the time to act.” Vi gripped his forearm, staring him in the eyes. “We can seize this opportunity and save our world.”
“And if we fail, we have doomed it.” His hold on her tightened. “You know what’s at stake.”
“Better than anyone.”
“But not better than me.” In his haunted eyes she could see every one of the ninety-three worlds he’d witnessed. “Aldrik must go to the Caverns. Give him your fake sword, if you must. But we will see the stones in the river honored. Yargen cannot just choose a new Champion from the masses and start the world over again. It must be the daughter of Vhalla and Aldrik Solaris, just as it was the first time. It’s the only way to preserve this loop.”
Vi swallowed once, twice; it took three times and a nod for the lump in her throat to finally go away. She knew what he said was true. In some deep and terrible way, she knew it to her core.
“All right,” Vi whispered. “We do what we must here. And then to Oparium.”
Chapter Seven
A flurryof knocks woke Vi with a start.
Adela’s notebook fell from her chest and landed heavily in her lap. The maps were scattered around the bed. More knocking followed.
“Impatient…” she mumbled, cursing under her breath. Dawn was just breaking through the curtains of her room and after being up half the night, she’d planned to sleep in. “Just a moment!” Vi said, louder.
Swinging her legs off the side of the bed, she flung over the duvet to hide the books and parchment in its fold. Standing, Vi crossed to the door and grabbed the black jacket that hung on a peg next to it. She slung it over her shoulders, smoothed out her hair and clothing, and opened the door just as another set of knocks were about to begin.
Vi blinked grumpily at the blond man staring back at her.
“Victor, to what do I owe the pleasure?” Vi glanced around the hall. He appeared to be alone. “I don’t believe we have lessons this morning.”And never this early, she thought bitterly.
“Egmun has demanded to see you.” Victor looked her up and down. Vi had no doubt done a poor job of hiding that she was still in her clothes from the day before—clothes she’d just been sleeping in. “Do you need a moment to put yourself together?”
Vi arched a single eyebrow and, rather than saying anything, strode out of her room like a princess. She locked the door behind her and returned the key to her pocket. Without waiting for him to lead, Vi descended toward Egmun’s office.
“Are you his errand boy now?” Vi asked dryly.
“I’m hismost valuedassistant.”
“I bet you are.”
