“Yet,” Lucy agreed.
As we walked, Lucy explained her theory. “In ancient times, ‘est Civitas’ was added to city names, literally meaning ’the city.’ Grimora est Civitas. Brumble est Civitas. Orsith est Civitas.”
“So, DeC would be... ?”
“A place. A city starting with D.” She glanced at me. “And if Crimson died trying to tell you about it, and Vitoria had it engraved on her weapons, I’m guessing it’s not just any city.”
The neighborhood changed as we walked, familiar in ways that made my chest ache. The Ruby District. Where Calder, Vitoria, and I had shared that tiny apartment for three years. Where our lives had been simple, even if we hadn’t been honest about them. Where I’d felt safe for the first time since Gran died.
I could see our building from here. I missed it. Missed the simplicity of pretending to be normal. Missed Vitoria making terrible jokes while pestering Silas. Missed Calder stealing food off both our plates with an innocent expression that fooled no one.
I’d never get that back. No matter how this ended.
“Syn?” Pip’s small hand touched my shoulder. “You okay?”
“Yeah.” I forced myself to keep walking. “Just... memories.”
The bookstore loomed ahead, with its painted sign and cloudy windows. Dark, closed, very much not open for business at this horrid hour.
But I knew Mrs. Deliana lived above the shop too. And I knew she’d help if she could. The hunters stayed back, still there, but not close enough to interfere. Not yet. And I couldn’t help but wonder if that mark on my palm, Wickett’s protection, had something to do with it. Still, they were likely eager for something to report, but not willing to make any more mistakes if they got it wrong.
I knocked harder than strictly necessary. A light flickered on upstairs. Shuffling footsteps on creaking stairs. Then the door cracked open, revealing Mrs. Deliana’s weathered face and sharp eyes. The bookseller took one look at us and sighed. “Syneca Black. Should have known when I woke up that trouble was coming.” Her gaze moved to Lucy and Pip. “And you’ve brought friends to my door in the middle of the night. This can’t be good.”
“We need maps. Old ones,” Lucy said quietly. “The oldest you have. And city records as far back as you can find.”
Mrs. Deliana’s eyes sharpened. “That’s dangerous information to seek, girls.”
“We know.”
A flash of orange caught my eye—her strange cat, the one Pip had noticed, winding between Mrs. Deliana’s legs.
The woman studied us for another long moment, then stepped aside. “Make it quick. And if anyone asks, you were never here.”
“There are hunters trailing us,” I told her, pointing over my shoulder. “But we’ve broken no laws. They are only here to report where we’ve been.”
She nodded, her tone shifting into something a bit more fierce as she laid eyes on our trackers. “Let that be my problemfor later, then, if it comes to it. If anyone asks back after you, I’ll tell them the Venatori simply sought Phoenix lore. Something I have nothing of. Not a single note.”
Inside, the bookstore smelled of old paper and dust and home. I pushed away the ache as Mrs. Deliana led us to a back room where maps and records lined the walls in careful organization.
“How old are we talking?” she asked.
“Three hundred years at least,” Lucy said. “Before the current system. Before book banning and restricted knowledge.”
Mrs. Deliana’s eyebrows rose, but she didn’t question it. Just pulled down a massive leather-bound volume from the highest shelf. “City registries from the Age of Scattered Crowns. Before Vestra unified under one government.” She put it on the table with a heavy thud. “This what you need?”
Lucy dove in immediately, flipping through the pages carefully.
Pip perched on a shelf, keeping watch on the street outside. “The hunters are still out there. Just watching.”
“Let them watch,” I said, though my stomach churned with nerves.
“Found it.” Lucy spread open a page showing a comprehensive list of cities. Her finger traced down the entries.
Tarenhul Est Civitas
Envaris Est Civitas
Bitterpeak Est Civitas
