“Do we have a list of any other safehouses?” Kai asked in a deceptively calm voice. The Sorcerer had arrived quickly, and had reacted just as badly as Verdan had expected. Thankfully, Gwen had come with him, though the tempestuous Witch wasn’t quite the calming influence Verdan had hoped for.

  “We should find another regional headquarters, see if we can identify where they’re making this potion,” Gwen said, folding her arms and frowning in thought. “We might even get a list of customers or involved parties.”

  Kai froze and turned slowly to stare intently at Verdan. “Just tell me, Verdan. Do we have a list?”

  “Not as such.” Verdan held up a hand before either of them could speak. “There’s references to other shipments and places, but nothing actionable.”

  “That will do.” Kai took a deep breath before letting it out in a slow exhale. There was an almost palpable aura of rage around him, but it was tightly controlled and burned cold, not hot. “I know you don’t want to push them further, Verdan, but I’ve hunted these scum for years. This is the most I’ve ever known, and I will not stand idle.”

  Verdan nodded reluctantly. “I’ll put it together for you tomorrow.”

  For a moment, Kai looked as though he would demand for the list to be made right that moment, but instead he turned to Gwen. “This will be dangerous, the Brotherhood will be on guard. It would be best if I went alone.”

  “And have no one to watch your back?” Gwen lifted her chin, meeting Kai’s gaze with a clear challenge. “I’m going with you.”

  “I can’t change your mind, can I?” Kai asked, some of his anger fading as she shook her head. The ghost of a smile tugged at the Sorcerer’s lips as he took in the Witch’s defiant posture. “You’re more than I deserve, Gwen.”

  “I’ll hardly argue with that,” Gwen said, relaxing a little as she reached out to take Kai’s hands in her own. “I’m with you. All the way. We’ll make them burn for what they’ve done, and, Ceravwen willing, stop the production of that filth.”

  “Tomorrow?” Kai asked, looking to Verdan.

  “Tomorrow. The first thing I do.”

  “Then, I have preparations to make.” Kai’s expression hardened once more before cracking as Gwen cleared her throat pointedly. “Sorry. We have preparations to make.”

  “If you need anything, just tell me.” Verdan offered, knowing that he couldn’t go with his friend and hating it. There was just too much for him to do here in the city, and as much as he hated the Brotherhood, he had obligations here that needed to be kept.

  Besides, Verdan’s dream was to work towards something a better future for everyone, and he had the tools to do so. The chances of the Brotherhood letting him do so without a fight were nonexistent, but he wanted to make what progress he could.

  Clasping arms with Kai, Verdan watched with mixed feelings as his friends left. He would pray to any god that would listen to keep them safe.

  “The things people will do to each other,” Dirk said, shaking his head in disbelief. “My Clan was almost slaughtered by monsters, and there are people out there killing children to make their magic more powerful. How did it all come to this?”

  “Questions like that will only eat away at you,” Verdan said, taking his seat once more with a heavy sigh. “The world isn’t perfect, far from it. All we can control is our own actions, and do the best we can to be a force for good in the world.”

  Dirk nodded, but Verdan could see he wasn’t happy with that answer, which was hardly surprising as Verdan felt the same. He’d come to accept it, but he didn’t like it.

  “What was it you asked us here to discuss?” Sinead asked, drawing the conversation away from such dark thoughts.

  Verdan had warded the room once they’d found the link to the Essence potions, anticipating that Kai would react as he had. Everyone with any sense would know exactly what Kai intended to do next, but at least the silencing ward would stop them knowing the specifics.

  For this conversation, though, those wards were vital. Satisfied that they were in place, Verdan withdrew a covered shortsword that he’d placed to one side. It was made of normal steel, and was the very picture of an average weapon in all but one respect.

  Verdan had carved Sigils into it, using what he’d learned to create something in keeping with the Kranjir style. The whole sword would be durable, resistant, and magically sharp. He didn’t know how to restrict areas yet, so the handle was magically sharp as well, which they’d countered by carefully sanding every edge. Magical enhancement could only do so much to make a curved piece of soft leather sharp. Not exactly a ground-breaking application of magic, or the best design, but it worked.

  Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  “What is this?” Sinead asked, her eyes going wide as Dirk reached out to take the sword and turn it over in his hands.

  “You did it, Master!” Dirk’s excitement was a sharp contrast to Sinead’s astonishment. Verdan felt his apprentice feed some Aether into the blade, before simply tapping the blade’s edge against the table and grinning as it sank in. “You’ll have to show me how these work, I don’t recognise most of them.”

  “Actually, Magnus made this,” Verdan said, giving his other apprentice a nod. He was proud of how quickly Magnus was picking up Sigils, and more than happy that the dedication he showed was being rewarded. Dirk was the superior spellcaster, and Verdan had worried that Magnus would feel overshadowed.

  “It isn’t quite right, but this is essentially an ancestral weapon, isn’t it?” Sinead asked, taking the sword from Dirk and staring down at the Sigils which covered it.

  “Essentially, yes,” Verdan said gently, waving for the other two to move away and discuss the Sigils in detail. “Let me run you through the whole process.”

  Step by step, Verdan walked Sinead through everything he knew about Aethite, Glaichsteel, ancestral weapons and how they used Sigils. She already knew about how the weapons required Aether, his lessons with the Chosen had made that much clear, and quickly picked up the rest. Sinead was a smart woman, and would make a fine Keeper in Verdan’s estimations.

  “Some of this is jogging memories I have of my youth,” Sinead said, rubbing her temples as she spoke. “Keepers understand the principles you’ve shared, but only in the most basic way. The designs on the weapons are tradition, not to be changed in any way. The Glaichsteel is made by the Keepers as well, so they must have some source of this Aethite.”

  “That would make sense, especially given that they’ve been making these weapons for a long, long time,” Verdan said, tapping one finger onto the sword. “So, this is where you need to make a decision, a very difficult one.”

  “Of how many and how quickly we make these?”

  “I wish it were that simple,” Verdan said softly. “One option we have here is that I teach you everything I’ve learned so far, and give you a portion of the Aethite we’ve recovered. Under my tutelage, you’d be able to make new ancestral weapons and pick out Chosen from among your people. If we pick those with any real Aether talent, they can learn gathering spirals, and will become a new generation of Chosen with the capability to fight for longer.”

  “Would you be able to recreate the Mhorgain signature?” Sinead asked before he could continue.

  “Yes and no,” Verdan said slowly. “Yes, I can do that Sigil, but no, I can’t add it to a weapon yet. There’s an extra part to it that I need first. I believe it’s on the fragment you shared with me, and we’ve taken drawings of everything there, so we’ll be recreating it in the next day or two if all goes to plan.”

  “But until then, you can’t?” Sinead asked, frowning as Verdan nodded. “I understand, if you need to see the fragment again, let me know and I will have it brought over.”

  “That shouldn’t be necessary, but thank you for the offer.” Verdan nodded slightly before clearing his throat. “Now, all of that is the first option, as I said. The second is the difficult part. With the use of Glaichsteel and Aethite cores, it would be possible to create these weapons in a manner that did not require their wielders to expend Aether. They could do so to enhance or empower the weapon, but it would work all the same.”

  “I’m not sure I understand…” Sinead trailed off, looking confused. “Would this not just be the temporary enchantments you create at the moment?”

  “It would work in a very similar way, but not quite the same. The weapon would gather Aether itself, and would work without needed a Wizard to recharge it. It would also stand up to magical attacks without losing potency.”

  “Ancestral weapons that anyone can use. A dangerous idea, one that many Keepers would contest as being borderline heretical and against our traditions.”

  “Which is why this decision is difficult.” Verdan spread his hands with a shrug. “You know your people best, Sinead. All I can offer is my expertise and opinion. To me, the best way forward is to have the finest weapons in the hands of those with the capability to use them. What if you selected your Chosen based on who they were, not just how much Aether they had?”

  Sinead chuckled and shook her head. “A thought that I’ve had many times since I learned more about how the weapons work. More of this Aether means that they could do more with the weapons, though, yes?”

  “It does.”

  “Then perhaps a middle ground is needed…” Sinead trailed off before focusing back on Verdan. “Dirk has spoken about training those in our Clan who show the right talent, would you object to this?”

  Dirk’s desire was no secret, and Verdan had long since come to terms with it, so he simply nodded. “I once thought to limit Wizardry, but with the world being what it is, that seems pointless. If Dirk wishes to teach more people, I will support him.”

  “Then he and I need to discuss this,” Sinead said, rising to her feet before pausing as Verdan held up a hand.

  “Please, use this room. No one will overhear you here and you can cut to the heart of the matter. I know this is hardly something you’ll be able to hide, but we should at least keep it a secret until we begin. New ancestral weapons, of either design, will be a large change.”

  “More than that,” Sinead said, her eyes widening. “Making them will let me cross the last barrier to becoming a Keeper.”

  “Which not everyone will be happy to hear,” Dirk said as he joined them. “Clan Thrain are our allies, but not all Clans will take so kindly to the Mhorgain rising again. Especially not if we are clearly allied with more southern influences.”

  “In that case, I suggest you both think very carefully about how to proceed,” Verdan said, motioning for Magnus to lead the way out of the room. “Take a few days to think it over, and then come find me.”