"No, that's absurd," Hamond told Myronel, "It doesn't work like that at all."

  It was early in the morning, and both Nela and Edeline were still asleep. Last evening had been a quiet meal, with them all not having any real energy for a conversation. Even so, Hamond had risen early to cook the food left over from last night. He'd tried not to use too much at once, since it wasn't clear if or when the survivors of Lasfont would be getting more.

  Right now, that seemed a minor concern compared to the complete nonsense this Jisry had been saying. There was no known pattern to inheriting an affinity for channeling magical energy. The Spellking had sponsored research into the matter, and Hamond had read some of the results. Of course, that had been a younger Hamond, barely more than a child, one who still foolishly trusted in the Spellking's promises.

  It was painful to admit, but the Hamond of today still would believe in that over the words of a healer who was speaking more from his own hatred than actual knowledge. That was the simplest explanation Hamond could see for everything he'd heard about Jisry. The man made no effort to hide that he carried a deep dislike of women.

  "I'd hoped as much," Myronel said, scratching at his beard. "I'm more than a little uneasy about leaving Nela and Jylania to deal with...that."

  "I should be able to help them if they need it." Not that he was sure what he could do, but Hamond supposed it was better than nothing.

  "Wait, I thought you were going with us," Myronel said, confused.

  That was a significant problem with last night's fatigue, as they really should have talked out their plans then. "Captain Takhat will probably send some men to accompany you, at least until we prove we can be trusted. Since I can only defend myself with spells, me being there would give away too much." Hamond let out a long, low sigh. "We were too carefree in Kelshir about using our spells."

  "Faehaven would've burned if we hadn't," Myronel pointed out.

  "Right, but the Elefae would have no reason to betray us," Hamond answered, "Also, we had the Witch of Wrath there to take the blame for what happened. Neither of those are here in Lasfont. We need to be more careful."

  "I suppose so," Myronel said, "It's not something I'm used to having to worry about. Not on my own behalf, at least." He cleared his throat. "But speaking of worries...with what you said right before we left Faehaven, do you still feel the same way?"

  Hamond had to take a moment to gather his thoughts. "I don't know. Anything I imagine that might sway her, and my mind just wanders in circles." It may have been a mistake, pleading for Myronel's assistance like he had, but after how close they had come to losing each other, to losing everything...desperation had overtaken reason.

  "You know who you should be talking to about this," Myronel advised.

  "If I knew what to say, I would've already." Was Myronel not listening? He'd just said he had trouble thinking of what words would work.

  "I meant Nela," Myronel said with a frown.

  Hamond blinked, suddenly embarassed.

  "Although at least Edeline can be talked to." Myronel's voice grew bitter as he continued. "I remember Nela standing there, begging me to come with her. And I couldn't do it. I didn't want to do it...even though I should."

  "I'm sorry." Hamond hadn't intended to bring up memories of that. Even though he shouldn't, he still felt responsible. Both on account of being the son of the man who created the spell Myronel had fallen victim to, and of once calling the man who cast it a friend.

  "It's behind us now," Myronel said, "So...if you're remaining here, what do you plan to do? Other than talk with Nela, I mean."

  "I was going to-" A grunt interrupted Hamond. He turned to see Jylania shifting slightly, having rolled over in her sleep. A pointed reminder that they needed to keep their voices low.

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  "They'll be up soon," Myronel noted, "Anyway, you were saying?"

  "I was going to ask around for more information about what happened here." Someone had to do it, and he was the only one who would be free. "I'd really like to know where the sphinxes here are...or were."

  "We'll look for signs of them as well," Myronel said, "Oh, and while doing that, there's one other thing you ought to see about. That healer mentioned something about a...goddess of the fountain, or something like that."

  "Goddess of the fountain?" Hamond repeated, thinking quickly. "Wait. Could that be the Sluice?"

  "No idea, but wouldn't that mean someone already found it?"

  "I'd wager someone here did." Figuring out who had, or even if they were still alive, wouldn't be simple. But it gave them something to work with, something that didn't depend on a disappearing sphinx.

  "Something to ask whatever men they send with us. If they do."

  It was tempting to ask why Myronel was still doubtful, but Hamond reminded himself he ought to get to work, Hamond set the pot back in the hearth. An upstairs one wasn't normal, but he wasn't about to complain. So much about this place was new and different.

  One example was the small metal doors built into the wall to his left. It was not like any cabinet he had seen before, and there was also a more standard wooden cabinet in the other room. It left Hamond wondering just what the people who owned this store kept in there. Perhaps a safe for their coin.

  Myronel took notice. "Looking at that? I was wondering what it was, but was too tired to look at it before." He walked over, carefully stepping over Nela, and pulled on the door. "It's stuck fast." Myronel tried again, bracing himself to put his back into it.

  With a loud scrape of metal, it swung open. Hamond winced, knowing that was going to wake them up. Aether, it might even wake the people downstairs.

  Edeline sat upright, looking around the room. "What...what was that?" she said wearily.

  "Sorry," Myronel said.

  Edeline groaned wordlessly and rubbed her eyes. Leaving the cooking aside for the moment, Hamond moved over to her. "You feeling alright?"

  "After that...no," Edeline stated, scowling. "Is it really morning?"

  "Sun is rising," Myronel said with a glance at the narrow windows letting light into the room. "Again, I'm sorry. I didn't know it had started to rust close. I don't think they'd been using...whatever this is." He peered into the opening, gaze lowering downward.

  "What is it then?" Edeline said, slowly climbing to her feet.

  "I can't tell. There's a shaft here that goes down. And there's some rope...it looks like a pulley of some kind, with a crank. Not sure what it's for."

  "It's for making the worst noise ever." Nela had sat up, her loose hair falling into her face. Giving Myronel a foul look, she tried and failed to brush it back with one hand. "Why'd you have to do that?"

  "I'm the one who was looking at it first," Hamond told them. Let them blame his curiosity instead of anything Myronel did.

  "Whoever of you two it is, good work. Might as well go wake up half the town too." Nela glared at each of them, then all but threw herself back down, wrapping the blanket over her body.

  "More food for me then," Edeline said teasingly, as she went over to look beyond the metal doors herself. "It's too small for a person to fit in. Must've been used to lift stuff between here and the ground floor."

  "Why wouldn't they just take the stairs?" Nela said, giving up on her pretense of going back to sleep.

  "Someone who had trouble walking might prefer something like that." Edeline exchanged glances with her brother. Hamond knew, with no doubts whatsoever, that her thoughts were with her father.

  "I guess it's of Remuati design. Surprising that something like this hasn't spread through Hyarch yet," Myronel said, "It would be very useful."

  Hamond could already see why that might not be practical. "I'm not sure this is something you put into a house that already exists. You'd have to build around this shaft being there."

  "Still might be worth it." Myronel shut the metal doors with a thud. "I wonder what other odd things they've developed."

  "Maybe you ought to worry about that after we deal with the rest of this shit," Nela said, "Aether's blood, I've got so many people who need my help."

  "And one who definitely doesn't," Myronel remarked. Jisry, no doubt.

  "Don't remind me," Nela said with a groan, "And I'm guessing you're not going to be around to help me this time."

  "I didn't really do much of anything," Myronel said, "But you're right. Edeline and I will be reporting to the captain, and seeing what she has for us to do."

  "Fine, fine. Just...be careful." Nela turned to Hamond. "And what about you? Going to go volunteer to cook food for everyone?"

  Hamond supposed he should have thought of that possibility before. "If needed, but I'd rather be gathering information. Although if you really do need assistance with Jisry, I could be there, at least for a while."

  "You know, he might listen to you," Nela said, "Probably going to say more shit about how being a firstborn son makes you a king compared to everyone else."

  "If that's the case, perhaps I should be glad I'm not," Hamond replied.

  "I'm in trouble then." Myronel said with a faint smile.

  "Should've said something yesterday then." Nela chuckled, then turned to Hamond. "So, you going to let that pot just sit there, or you going to put something in it?"

  Curse it all, he'd let himself become distracted. "Hydropidax," Hamond said, spraying water into the pot with the spell. If today was going to be as long as he feared...they would need all the pottage he could make.

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