Hierarchy (Book Four of the Torrent Skies Saga)

Chapter Eighteen: Appointments Are Impossible

Katerin and Kieneltra sat in Katerin's office, a plethora of books and scrolls around them. Knowledge coated every available surface, and they had even tacked some scrolls to the walls, by their ribbons, to reference them easier. Neither of them wore more than their sleeping attire, and the only clean space in the office was where a pair of mugs sat, now full of lukewarm tea, as the two stalked around, searching. Surprisingly, there were very few mentions of stone archways. Magical ones, at that.

Kieneltra sighed, pushing a mess of her long blonde hair from her face. "There's nothing in the eighteen volumes of magical wonders. Not one mention."

"None here, either," Katerin said, heaving up a tome that was twice as thick as her arm, titled 'enchants through the ages and their uses'.

Kieneltra's nose scrunched. "The elves, always used soft metals for enchanting, before gems were common."

"So did the gnomes, and the devilkin and the orcs, and it says in here that some angels used flower petals, but I'm not sure I believe that," Katerin said, hearing the hopeless note in Kieneltra's tone, and giving into the feeling of it. It was no easy feat, searching for the origins of the archways with so little information. But they had no other choice. They were running out of time.

"No one used stone." Kieneltra closed another book with a thump and began pacing. "To most, it's a useless material for enchanting. It's not expensive, and who keeps stone around, anyway, if it isn't being used for building?"

Katerin blinked at her statement, and a wide smile crossed her face. "The dwarves! They use it for building, but, my father used to say it was always cheaper, in Lagamar. They had it lying around, after searching for mitral, silver, and all the other metals."

"You're a genius!" Kieneltra shouted, jumping in her slippers.

"You're the one who figured it out," Katerin said, sharing her excitement. Their moment of joy passed rather quickly, though, as both realized that Lagamar had been very silent in recent months. And it was never a simple thing, going to such a city. Not only was it a continent away, but the dwarves had never been fond of visitors without a purpose.

"How do we get there?" Kieneltra picked up her tea and drank it without a pause.

"Typhon might have the symbols. I... I could pull a favor."

Kieneltra blinked. "Isn't that illegal?"

Katerin shrugged. "If it stops Kryrial, or even hinders him, should that matter?"

"The dwarves could be very insulted."

"Well, we can send them some fine wines and cheeses, when you have your kingdom back, and when Kryrial is dead." Katerin spoke with a defiant tone, straightening her shoulders. She and Kieneltra had since talked for a long while, about Hearth-Home, the Tower, and Kryrial, specifically.

"Colin is to be king. Colin," Kieneltra said softly, smiling with a pained look in her eyes.

Katerin touched her shoulder. "He will."

"When do we leave?" Kieneltra looked to the door, a determined look in her eyes.

"We?" Katerin asked.

All of Kieneltra's confidence seemed to fall to the floor. "I... I suppose I shouldn't go, should I?"

Katerin bit her lip. So far, Itrea had experienced no insurgence from Hearth-Homes soldiers. It was safe. A good place to hide. If Kieneltra left, she might not come back. Maybe Kryrial would find her. And Katerin could not see the risk as worth it. "No, its... its something I would try to do." Katerin tried a smile at her grim joke.