'Why am I doing this?' Markus wondered as he approached the old guard in the barrack.
'Right.. For Alexis.'
Lance barely looked up from cleaning his armour. "Something to report, Fero?"
"Actually, sir, I was hoping you could answer a few questions."
"Geez, kid," Lance really didn't want to deal with junior guards, "Ask the captain-"
"About the Arts user down in the dungeons."
That got his attention.
He stood up abruptly, his eyes level with Markus. "Where the hell did you hear that?"
"I saw him," The younger guard met his gaze. "And I know you were there. Can you tell me what happened?"
He sighed, running a hand through his greying hair. "If word gets out.."
"It won't. On my honour."
The statement, as cheesy as it was, was spoken un-ironically and with conviction.
Lance narrowed his eyes but sat down, "Not much to tell. By the time we figured out he was here, he was one foot in the throne room."
"Did he attack anyone?"
"He said some weird spell and just-" he motioned outwards with his hands, "- Like a barrier."
"So.. no one was hurt?" Markus didn't know how he felt about that.
Lance shrugged. "The archivist was dead when we went in. Does that count?"
"Sorry," he winced. "Did anyone see him kill him?"
"Not really," Lance went back to polishing the metal. "He was passed out next to the body. Made it a hell of a lot easier to chain him up."
Markus couldn't believe what he was about to ask. "Is it possible he didn't do it?"
"All I know is, he's an Arts user and he delayed my retirement," he shook his head, clearly upset. "That punk."
Markus didn't want to probe any further. "Thank you for your time."
"Yeah, yeah. Just keep your mouth shut about it."
***********************************
Alexis was sitting at her tiny table, feet up on a chair while Noah sat next to her, hands on his lap. They looked up when Markus entered.
"So, what'd you find out?" She dropped her feet and leaned forward.
Markus recounted what the guard had told him as he took a seat across from her. After he finished he was compelled to add: "It's all circumstantial. We don't know if we can trust him."
"I... I don't think he's lying." Noah muttered, fidgeting in his seat.
"Yeah, but he hasn't spoken to any of us, so.."
"Look, I-" He glanced up briefly to face Markus, "I know when someone is lying to me. This is not it."
"No offence, but you didn't know Alexis was-" he was cut off as Alexis kicked him under the table.
"Watch it." She grumbled.
"Sorry," the guard held up his hands, "I just meant, he might be manipulating you."
Noah turned away slightly. He didn't know how to explain it, or whether he could. He had a gut feeling there was more to the warlock than anyone let on.
"We can't deny that something's going on with Noah," Alexis began, leaning back in her seat. "We may not be in a state of emergency but it's not like we can just kick back and-"
As if on cue, the light drizzle outside turned into something more ferocious, rain beating down on the flimsy windows.
Alexis almost fell out of her chair as a small projectile launched itself through the glass, landing at their feet. Both boys instinctively moved in front of her, staring down at the culprit.
It was a bird, clearly struck by whatever madness overtakes creatures and makes them think : 'Hey, let me hurtle myself through this glass and die.' It fluttered once, then lay still.
"What the hell?" She breathed, poking it softly.
"Uh... Alexis?" Noah choked, eyes wide as he pointed outside the window. Even Markus looked like he was going to pass out as they struggled to comprehend what was happening.
Maybe it was a trick of the light. Maybe they were tired. Maybe it was an illusion.
The sky was raining blood.
Markus held his hand out the window, flinching as it came away dripping red. "What were you saying about it not being an emergency?"
"Screw that. We need to get back to the palace."
Noah snapped out of his trance, reality slapping him across the face in a way puberty never dared to. "Do you think he's gonna talk to us?"
"Yeah well, I'm not giving him a choice." Alexis stated intensely, not even blinking as she threw on a cloak, running out the door without waiting.
Markus and Noah exchanged worried glances before following her.