What They Were Looking For

The rest of the story was easy to discern. 

The sorcerer priest successfully hid the Heart and constructed the magical barrier around the city with his runic knowledge. He also set up the temple for the Beast God, which he presided over for the duration of Cron's reign. 

When Kraai finally found his way to Crestfall, he attacked in the dead of night. But as the runes belonged to a sorcerer and were strengthened by the power of the Moon Goddess, the monster had no chance.

He left wounded without a single member of Crestfall being injured. 

"He would not have been corrupted at that point. That seems to have happened later," Noble noted. 

"He also formed an army at some point," Sarai added. The initial battle attack had been by the king alone, but when he returned later, other creatures were with him. 

Noble hoped the thralls had been already defiled beasts that he subjugated and not his former subjects. 

Thinking of the latter possibility made her shiver. 

"The poor informant." Sarai sighed. "He never did recover." 

It was true. After writing down his final message for Cron, the messenger's mind shattered. With all that he had seen, witnessing the power of two gods and a demon, not even the handsome reward provided by King Cron could provide him any peace. 

Even though Mandra worked diligently to nurse him back to physical health, there was nothing to be done to fix his broken spirit. 

He spent his days in silence, eventually making the mural under the palace to rid himself of his nightmares. He remained in the castle until his dying breath. 

Nic grunted. "Yeah, poor miserable dead people who lived long ago..." 

The two ladies looked at him, startled. 

The man held up his hands. "Don't get me wrong. I feel for them, but there is a crucial piece of information missing from these journals. Where did he hide the blasted heart?!"

Noble, too had noticed the lack of information.

Cron had said that no one but the monarch could ever know the information lest it fall into the wrong hands. That was why Noble had only found half-truths and misdirects everywhere else.

The sorcerer had gone to the trouble of sealing up the information in the royal library, so it must have been there at some point. 

"There is a volume missing," Nickel observed. "I just assumed one of you had it before, but now that we are done. It is not here..."

"Oh! Counsel!" Noble rose slightly and moved toward the door. "He borrowed a book when he went to work with Pen. He must still have it!" 

Noble went to summon a servant when she was stopped short by a knock at the door. 

Pen stood in the doorway with a tray in her hand.

"Your Majesty!" she said a little too loudly as she dropped a curtsy without tipping the contents in her arms. 

"Come in, Pen. Is it morning already?" The Queen yawned, answering her own question.

"Did I wake you? I was told Her Grace was still here so I took the liberty of bringing some morning refreshments." 

"Thank you, it was very thoughtful." Noble examined the two plates of food and then the woman holding them. She frowned. "Have you slept?" 

The servant's uniform was crumpled, and her hair did not seem freshly brushed. Small circles were forming under her beautiful eyes. "Me, uh no...I was working with Counsel on his project."

Pen blushed heavily as she searched for a place to put the tray. The most obvious place was the table which held Sarai's golden bracelets. She took a step toward it before Noble caught her attention.

"Pen..." Noble tried to word her question carefully. Something about the woman's bubbling excitement made her concerned. "Where did you work on this project?" 

The servant blanched. "In the library of course. I would never do anything to disgrace him or you!" 

"I am not worried about me. I am just looking out for you, but as long as you are alright..." Noble let out a sigh of relief.

"I am fine. Better than fine, Your Majesty! I came to request an extension of time to work with him. He says I am a valuable asset." Pen's heart fluttered with the words. 

"You may have the morning," the Queen agreed. She would not have need of both of her maids anyway. "But I need the book Counsel by borrowed back immediately." 

"Oh!" Pen selected another place to put the tray and reached into the apron tied around her waist. "I was supposed to return this with the meal. Is that what you are looking for?" 

"It is," Noble accepted the journal. She flipped it open. "But the two pages that were torn out are not here. Please ask him to return them before you continue your work." 

"Yes, Your Majesty." Pen was giddy with excitement mixed with fear. The man might not have tried anything during the night, but the woman seemed hopeful that he might this morning. 

"I will see you at lunch!" she chirped."Before I go, Counsel was wondering if he might borrow…" Pen hesitated, rethinking her request as she glanced toward the door.

"Yes?" Noble narrowed her gaze.

"Uh, could we borrow another book?" Pen fumbled, averting her eyes. 

"That is fine," Noble agreed after a moment. "Just return it more quickly than you did this one." 

Pen rushed to the door and picked up a yellowed cover. In her haste, she bumped the table it was on and hurried to pick up its contents. Bowing her way, out of the room, the elated servant hurried back toward her research partner. 

"That jerk is making that poor girl do his dirty work," Nickel appeared from some hidden corner. He had slipped away as soon as there was a knock at the door like he had never been there. 

"I will have to gauge Counsel's interest when I see him next. Maybe pairing them together was not the best idea." Noble pursed her lips.

She was eager for her protector to find another object for his affection, but Pen was maybe not the best match. 

Nickel picked up two sweet breads from the tray of food. "I have to go. I have stayed too long as it is. I have a...thing to attend to..."

"Another thing?" Sarai looked at him pointedly. "Does this thing have to do with all the other things you have been doing lately?"

Nickel and Noble looked at one another, confirming the redhead's suspicion. 

"Then it is probably better for my emotions that I don't know..." Sarai tucked her hair behind her ear. 

"Good, because I wasn't going to tell you anyway," Nic blustered.

He went to stuff one of the cakes in his mouth when a rustling on the bed caught his attention. Waking from his nap, a golden creature stared at him with innocent eyes and licked his lips. 

Nic sighed and tossed one of his two cakes into the air. "Here you go, mutt." 

Kosi's mouth eagerly accepted the treat. 

"I knew you liked him deep down," Noble smiled.

"Are you kidding, that was just to keep the demon from eating me instead. I've no idea what lengths he would go to get his paws on that cake." Nickel shrugged. 

"Whatever you say." Noble nodded seriously. 

Stuffing the second cake in his mouth, Nickel disappeared into the wall. 

'Later, Noble. Take care of Fire. I'll handle things on the outside.'

Noble allowed a small smile and responded through [The Other's Voice]. 'Take care. If you need us, get in touch.' 

With that, Sarai and Noble gathered around the final journal and opened the yellow cover. 

It was exactly what they had been looking for.