“These are the books we have in our possession which may or may not contain references to your ancestor, Eximius,” Jude announced. “You are welcome to peruse them here for as long as you wish. You may not, however, remove them from the premises. That is non-negotiable.”
Paxon and I exchanged matching frowns, realizing we were in for a long day of research neither of us signed up for. That was Milo’s forte, but an Heir couldn’t be seen stooping to the lower rings for any reason. Paxon and I were in agreement on that. We would have to investigate on his behalf.
“There is…another matter which may be of interest to you,” Jude said slowly, looking between us. “It’s the reason why I didn’t answer your Heir’s correspondences.”
He pulled a small leather bound journal from within his jacket and set it down in front of me. I watched him for another moment, waiting for an explanation, but he only stared right back. So I reached out and opened the journal, allowing my eyes to drop to the loose page sitting within the interior of the book before me.
To the House of Harlowe,
I’ve entrusted my most loyal acolyte to deliver this journal into your capable hands. No one can ever know it left my House, specifically my family, whom I love but whose ambition I feel may overcome their sense. In these pages are my thoughts, memories, and experiences throughout my twentyseven years as patriarch of House Avus. I am trusting you with the task of entombing them within your library so that none but your own descendants may pass it by on your many shelves. Hopefully, it will fade into obscurity and be forgotten as so many accounts often are.
The fact of the matter is that I’ve become rather paranoid as of late. I’ve begun to hear voices, one in particular, at all hours of the night and day. He professes himself to be some sort of god, though not one I’ve ever heard of, and he attempts to issue me commands which I, of course, never follow. However, I feel that my mental state is slipping. He is more persistent as time goes on and, should I lose myself to the madness, I wouldn’t wish his intrusion upon the minds of any of my kin. But I feel a record must be kept.
Within these pages, you will read about my rise to patriarchy at a young age and the blissful years that followed. But you will also read about the turmoil of the city and that within my own mind as this illness has progressed. He came to me first ten years ago, around the same time the first rumblings of an uprising began. He has plagued me ever since, as have the rebels. Should this city fall, it will crumble under divinity. But I will do my best to hold it together until then.
I trust you to keep my secrets and wish you good health.
Sincerely,
Eximius, Patriarch of House Avus
I looked up at Jude, blinking slowly and remaining perfectly still.
“You had this the whole time?” I asked. “For five hundred years, you’ve had this in your library. You’veknownyou had this in your library.”
“My ancestors were entrusted with the safekeeping of this journal by the patriarch of House Avus,” Jude replied, head held high, confident. “You yourself issued a reminder only momentsago that it was not wise or prudent to ignore a command from the High Houses.”
“Milo requested–”
“And now you have it. Is there anything else I can do for you, honored visitors?”
I frowned at him, fighting the urge to snap right back at this snooty asshole, but Paxon’s arm brushed mine in gentle reminder and I forced a smile through gritted teeth.
“That’ll be all,” I grumbled. “Thank you.”
Jude bowed once before turning and striding right out of the room. I turned to Paxon the moment he was gone.
“Can you believe that asshole?” I asked.
Paxon snorted before grabbing a chair and pulling it up beside me.
“Actually, I can,” he replied, “but right now I’m way more interested in what’s in that journal.”
I looked down at the faded old note, leaned forward, and reached out to turn the page.
“Me too.”
Chapter Thirteen
Milo
I’d read the same passage three times now and could have sworn it didn’t make any sense. Perhaps it was my exhaustion causing the words to swim in a blurry haze in front of me. Then again, I was reading the words of a madman so they very likely were incomprehensible.
I glanced out at the deep night sky beyond the window of my study. Pax and Olympia should have been back by now. I wasn’t sure what to make of the fact that they weren’t. It had been a last minute decision to include Paxon on the knowledge seeking expedition to the House of Harlowe but I was glad I had. If only Olympia had gone, I’d be sitting here right now wondering if she’d done something regrettable or simply forgotten to update me. With Pax at her side, at least I knew she was staying on task. Even if it was a task I hadn’t anticipated would take nearly this long.
I glanced back down at the journal on my desk and yawned. Rising from my chair, I stretched my arms over my head and paced to the window. Without meaning to, I found myself watching the gate, waiting for any sign that Pax and Olympiahad returned. I could feel my anxiety worsening with every hour they were gone.
You're still awake, aren’t you?
