“Because someone else found the same information I did.” He met Evander’s gaze, his voice hollow. “I’m not the only one who’s been researching the Codex. Whoever tried to kill me today,”—he stopped and swallowed—“they have access to sources I could only dream of.”
A chill ran down Evander’s spine that had nothing to do with the lingering cold from dark magic.
If “I” had another source of information about the Codex, a better source than a man who’d spent decades researching it, then they were even further behind than they’d realised.
“We need to get him somewhere safe,” Ginny said, her voice cutting coolly through the heavy silence. “They might come back with reinforcements.”
“Agreed.” Evander rose and offered Simek his hand. “Herr Simek, I know you have no reason to trust us. But those men will return and next time we might not arrive in time to stop them. Come with us. Tell us what you know. And in return, we’ll do everything in our power to keep you alive.”
Simek studied Evander’s face guardedly. Whatever he saw there seemed to reassure him.
“Very well,” he said quietly, accepting the offered hand. “But not here. Somewhere safe. Somewhere they can’t find us.”
“Our hotel,” Rufus suggested. “It’s warded.”
Simek nodded.
They helped him to his feet and made their way out of the ruined building, leaving behind the wreckage of the battle and the lingering stench of dark magic.
Prague’s streets were fully dark now, the enchanted orbs and gaslights casting pools of amber light across the cobblestones. They reached the hotel without incident, though Evander kepthis senses extended the entire journey, alert for any trace of dark magic or pursuit.
The proprietor’s eyes widened at the sight of their dishevelled group and Simek’s battered appearance, but he asked no questions as they hurried through the lobby and up to the private dining room they’d commandeered for their stay.
Shaw immediately set to work tending Simek’s injuries, cleaning the cut on his forehead and examining the bruises around his throat.
“Nothing’s broken,” she announced after a thorough examination. “But you’ll have trouble speaking for a few days. Those bruises are deep.”
Simek accepted a cup of tea from Ginny with trembling hands. Though some colour had returned to his face, his eyes remained haunted.
“Herr Simek,” Evander said gently, settling into a chair across from the man. “I know you’ve been through an ordeal. But we need to understand what we’re dealing with. What can you tell us about the Crimson Codex?”
Simek’s gaze remained fixed on the steam rising from his cup for a moment.
“I’ve spent thirty years researching that damned book,” he said finally, his voice rough and strained. “Thirty years chasing rumours and half-truths.” He looked up at Evander. “And the more I learned, the more I wished I’d never started.”
“Why?” Viggo asked bluntly.
Simek’s laugh was devoid of humour. “Because the Codex isn’t what everyone thinks it is.” He set down his cup and leaned forward, his eyes gleaming darkly. “The stories all speak of a single book—a repository of forbidden knowledge written by the First Archmage. But that’s not the truth. Not entirely.”
Evander’s pulse quickened. “What do you mean?”
“The Crimson Codex was never one book.” Simek’s voice dropped. “I mean, it was once, but it hasn’t been for a long time. It’s scattered. Hidden across Europe in fragments, each piece containing only a portion of the whole.”
A stunned silence fell over the room.
“Fragments,” Fairbridge repeated slowly. “You’re saying the Codex was deliberately broken apart?”
“Not broken. Separated. By design.” Simek clenched his hands on the table. “The First Archmage created something extraordinary. A complete record of magical knowledge that had never existed before. Rituals, theories, methods of amplification and transference that could reshape the very nature of magic itself.”
He studied them with a grim expression.
“But he also realised what he’d created. A tool that, in the wrong hands, could bring about unimaginable destruction.” Simek took a shuddering breath. “So he did the only thing he could. He divided the Codex into fragments and scattered them across Europe. Each piece was hidden separately, so that no single person could ever possess the complete knowledge.”
Evander’s heart thundered against his ribs as he processed this shocking revelation. Everything they’d assumed about their search had just been upended.
“How many fragments?” Rufus asked.
“The records I’ve found suggest seven.” Simek sagged in his chair, exhaustion evident in every movement. “Seven fragments, hidden in seven different locations. Some in libraries and archives. Others in private collections. A few, perhaps, lost entirely to time.”
