Chapter Twelve

  Horizon's End was quieter than usual at this hour, the mid-afternoon lull between lunch and evening regulars leaving most tables empty. Deirdre sat in her favorite corner, where the light from the stained-glass windows cast muted patterns across the worn wooden table. Her fingers traced the edge of her Mystleaf tea, still steaming in the cool air. Orsafi perched on the table's edge, her gem casting soft, pulsating light that seemed to dance in rhythm with the hum that still resonated in Deirdre's chest.

  "You look terrible," Omylia said bluntly, sliding into the chair across from her. Her green eyes narrowed with concern as she studied Deirdre's face. "And I'm not just saying that to be charming."

  Deirdre smiled weakly. "Thanks for the assessment."

  "What happened in that Domain?" Omylia leaned closer, her voice dropping. "And don't you dare say 'nothing.' Your clothes are singed with frost burns, and you've got that look—the one that says you've seen something that changes everything."

  Deirdre's hand instinctively went to her chest, where the key rested beneath her shirt. Its weight felt different now—more significant somehow, as though using it had awakened something in both the artifact and herself.

  "The Domain was unstable," she said finally, choosing her words with care. "More than anyone realized. It wasn't just dangerous—it was coming apart."

  Omylia's brows rose. "And yet here you are."

  "Here I am," Deirdre agreed, her gaze drifting to the window. "Orsafi helped. She... absorbed some of the wild magic. Stabilized things enough for me to find a way back."

  It wasn't a lie, not exactly. The carbuncle had helped, creating that pocket of calm that allowed her to reach the pillar. But it wasn't the whole truth either, and the omission hung between them like a shadow.

  Omylia studied her silently for a long moment, then sighed. "Well, whatever happened, I'm glad you made it back. And speaking of returns, Milani was asking about you earlier."

  Deirdre tensed. "Milani? What did she want?"

  "Nothing specific. Just asking if you'd been around." Omylia refilled Deirdre's cup from the pot on the table. "My guess is she heard about that mess with Hoch and Needle. It's all over the Exchange—how you dragged both their paralyzed bodies through the Hall of Doors."

  Relief loosened the knot in Deirdre's chest. Of course. The Hoch incident would have spread through the Guild like wildfire. It was exactly the kind of story that kept the Exchange buzzing for days.

  "That makes sense," she said, taking a sip of her tea. The warmth spread through her, steadying her slightly. "I'm surprised she cares."

  "You underestimate how much people talk about you," Omylia said with a small smile. "Bringing back two paralyzed traitors who left you for dead in the Fens? That's not exactly an everyday occurrence."

  Orsafi chirped softly, her gem pulsing as she hopped closer to Deirdre. The carbuncle nuzzled against her hand, seemingly aware of her discomfort.

  Before Deirdre could respond, the tavern door swung open. A Guild messenger stepped inside, his crisp uniform immediately identifying him. His gaze swept the room before landing on Deirdre.

  "Collector Deirdre," he called, striding toward her table. "Guildmaster Varric requests your presence for a formal inquiry regarding the unstable Domain incident. Immediately."

  Deirdre felt Omylia's concerned gaze on her face. She kept her expression neutral as she nodded to the messenger.

  "I'll be right there," she said. The messenger gave a curt nod before turning to leave.

  Omylia leaned forward, her voice dropping to a whisper. "An inquiry? That doesn't sound good."

  "It's just protocol," Deirdre replied, gathering her things. "An unstable Domain is serious business, especially if it's in danger of collapse. They'll want to know everything I saw."

  "And what will you tell them?" Omylia's sharp gaze pierced through her careful composure.

  Deirdre hesitated, the key's weight suddenly heavy against her chest. "The truth," she said finally. "Or most of it."

  Omylia's lips curved into a small, knowing smile. "Some truths are better kept close," she murmured. "Be careful, Dee."

  "I always am," Deirdre replied, though they both knew it wasn't entirely true.

  With Orsafi securely nestled on her shoulder, Deirdre left the warm comfort of Horizon's End and made her way toward the Guild Hall. The corridors of the Exchange felt different now—her heightened sensitivity to Domain magic letting her perceive the currents that flowed through the very walls like veins of light and energy. It was subtle, not the overwhelming surge she'd experienced in the unstable Domain, but undeniably present.

  The Guild Hall loomed ahead, its imposing architecture designed to inspire both respect and a healthy dose of caution. Inside, the usual bustle of activity had a more subdued quality, as though everyone were speaking in hushed tones. Deirdre was directed to a smaller chamber off the main hall—the Inquiry Room, where Varric conducted his most delicate interviews.

  Varric was already there, standing by a large table covered with maps and charts. Beside him were two figures Deirdre recognized as Guild Scholars—specialists in Domain theory and magical anomalies. Their presence made her pulse quicken. This was more than a routine debriefing.

  "Deirdre," Varric said, nodding to her as she entered. "Thank you for coming so promptly."

  "Guildmaster," she replied, keeping her tone respectful but neutral. She noticed how his sharp eyes lingered on Orsafi, the carbuncle's gem pulsing softly in the room's dim light.

  "This is Master Elrin," Varric gestured to the older scholar, a thin man with silver-streaked hair and wire-rimmed spectacles, "and Mistress Seyra." The woman was younger, with dark skin and bright, intelligent eyes that seemed to pierce right through Deirdre.

  "I assume you know why you're here," Varric continued, his voice measured. "The Domain you entered yesterday was on the verge of complete collapse. The last team that ventured in barely escaped with their lives. And yet, not only did you return unharmed, but our monitors indicate the Domain has stabilized. The dangerous fluctuations have ceased entirely."

  Master Elrin leaned forward, his keen gaze fixed on Deirdre. "We need to understand exactly what happened in there. It's unprecedented."

  Deirdre had anticipated this. She'd spent the walk from Horizon's End carefully constructing her story—close enough to the truth to be believable, but obscuring the key's role and her own strange connection to the Domain's magic.

  "I tracked the fluctuations to their source," she began, her voice steady. "There was a ruined tower with an ancient control structure—a pillar with inscriptions. The Domain's magic was leaking from it, growing more unstable with each pulse. I could... feel the resonance patterns."

  Mistress Seyra's eyebrows rose. "You could feel them? Most Collectors rely on instruments for such readings."

  Deirdre nodded toward Orsafi. "My companion helped. Carbuncles are naturally sensitive to magical fluctuations. She led me to the source."

  Orsafi chirped, as if confirming the story. The scholars exchanged intrigued glances.

  "Fascinating," Master Elrin murmured, leaning closer to examine Orsafi. The carbuncle allowed the scrutiny, her gem pulsing steadily. "I've read of their ability to absorb excess magic, but I've never observed it firsthand."

  "That's exactly what she did," Deirdre continued, relieved at the direction of their interest. "When we found the source of the instability, Orsafi was able to absorb enough of the wild magic to create a pocket of stability. That gave me the chance to examine the control structures and find a way to redirect the flow."

  "You redirected the Domain's magical flow?" Seyra asked, her tone skeptical. "That would require intimate knowledge of Domain mechanics and considerable power."

  Deirdre kept her expression open and honest. "Not exactly. The original flow patterns were still visible in the runes on the pillar. The system knew how to heal itself—it just needed the excess chaos cleared away. Once Orsafi absorbed enough of the wild energy, the Domain's natural pathways reasserted themselves."

  Varric's keen gaze hadn't wavered from her face. "And you did all this through observation and intuition? Without specialized training?"

  "I've spent my life observing Domains," Deirdre replied, meeting his eyes steadily. "Maybe not with formal training, but with practical experience. Every Domain has patterns if you know how to look for them."

  There was a long pause as the three of them considered her words. Deirdre could feel her heart pounding, but she kept her breathing even, her posture relaxed. She'd told them just enough truth to satisfy their questions without revealing the key or her newfound abilities.

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  Finally, Master Elrin turned to Orsafi with renewed interest. "May I?" he asked, gesturing toward the carbuncle.

  Deirdre nodded, and Orsafi hopped onto the table. The old scholar produced a small, crystal-tipped instrument from his robes and held it near the carbuncle's gem. The crystal flared briefly, registering readings that made Elrin's eyes widen.

  "Extraordinary," he breathed. "The resonance patterns are unlike anything I've documented. This creature is channeling Domain energy with remarkable efficiency."

  Mistress Seyra leaned in as well, her skepticism fading into scholarly curiosity. "The storage capacity alone is astonishing. No wonder it could stabilize a collapsing Domain long enough for the natural channels to reassert themselves."

  Deirdre felt a peculiar mixture of relief and guilt as the scholars fussed over Orsafi. The carbuncle chirped happily under the attention, seeming to enjoy playing her role in this partial deception. But as the examination continued, Deirdre's attention was drawn elsewhere.

  The hum in her chest had changed subtly, responding to something in the room—or perhaps beyond it. Her heightened sensitivity to Domain magic began to pick up currents that flowed through the very stones of the Guild Hall, pulsing with a familiar rhythm. These weren't the chaotic surges of an unstable Domain but ordered, purposeful streams of energy that converged somewhere beneath them.

  While the scholars continued their fascination with Orsafi, Deirdre's awareness traced these currents through the floor, following their path downward. There was a nexus point below—a concentration of Domain magic that felt ancient and powerful, unlike the fragmented energy she'd encountered in the unstable Domain.

  "Deirdre?" Varric's voice cut through her trance-like state. "Are you well?"

  She blinked, refocusing on the Guildmaster's concerned face. "Yes, sorry. Just tired from yesterday's events."

  Varric nodded, though his sharp gaze suggested he wasn't entirely convinced. "Understandable. I believe we've taken enough of your time for now, though we may have more questions as we analyze the information."

  Deirdre gathered Orsafi, who chirped a farewell to the scholars. As Elrin and Seyra gathered their notes, discussing theories in excited whispers, Varric drew Deirdre aside.

  "What you accomplished in that Domain was remarkable," he said quietly. "Few Collectors could have managed it. But I sense there's more to this story than you're sharing."

  Deirdre met his gaze steadily. "We all have our secrets, Guildmaster. Even the Exchange itself."

  Something flickered in Varric's eyes—a brief moment of surprise quickly masked. "Indeed," he said finally. "Rest well, Collector. You've earned it."

  As Deirdre left the Inquiry Room, the pull of those mysterious energy currents grew stronger. Instead of heading directly back to her quarters, she followed her newfound sensitivity, tracing the flows of Domain magic deeper into the Guild Hall's less frequented corridors.

  The streams led her downward, to a seldom-used staircase in the eastern wing. Unlike the grand staircases in the central hall, this one was narrower, older, its stone steps worn smooth by centuries of feet. The energy currents flowed strongest here, cascading down into the darkness below like a waterfall of invisible light that only she could perceive.

  She descended carefully, one hand brushing the cool stone wall, the other holding Orsafi close. The carbuncle's gem provided just enough light to illuminate the steps. At the bottom, the staircase continued but was blocked by an ancient iron gate. Its bars were thick with age, the metal work intricate despite centuries of corrosion.

  But it wasn't the gate that made Deirdre's breath catch. It was the archway above it. Carved into the stone were runes—complex, flowing symbols that pulsed faintly with a light that matched the resonance in her chest. The Domain magic flowed through these inscriptions, strengthening them, before continuing beyond the gate into the darkness below.

  Deirdre stepped closer, studying the runes with growing wonder. They were unlike anything she'd seen in the Guild's records, yet they felt hauntingly familiar. She reached out, her fingers hovering just above the stone, feeling the energy that radiated from the ancient symbols.

  "What exactly are you doing down here?" a familiar voice called from the stairwell behind her.

  Deirdre turned to see Milani descending the steps, her usual confident swagger somewhat tempered by what looked almost like concern. She wore her signature black outfit, the material gleaming dully in Orsafi's light, and her short, pixie-cut hair framed her face in sharp angles.

  "Milani," Deirdre said, dropping her hand to her side. "Just exploring."

  "In the Guild's restricted areas?" Milani raised an eyebrow, coming to stand beside her. "That's not like you, Dee. Following rules is practically your specialty."

  Deirdre smiled faintly. "Perhaps I'm branching out."

  Milani's gaze shifted to the iron gate, then up to the runes above it. "Strange place to wander, especially after what you've been through. The whole Exchange is talking about how you dragged Hoch and Needle back from the Witchlight Fens."

  "News travels fast," Deirdre said, watching Milani carefully.

  "Fast enough." Milani's usual smirk softened into something more genuine. "They're saying those two stabbed you and left you for dead. Is it true?"

  Deirdre nodded slowly. "More or less."

  "Domains take them," Milani muttered, genuine anger flashing in her eyes. "I warned you about Hoch, you know. The man's reputation was filthy even by my standards."

  "Why, Milani," Deirdre said with a slight smile, "one might almost think you care."

  "Don't get sentimental on me," Milani replied, though there was no real bite to her words. She leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "But seriously, Deirdre. First Hoch and Needle, then an unstable Domain you managed to walk away from. You're either the luckiest Collector alive or there's more going on."

  "Perhaps a bit of both," Deirdre admitted.

  Milani studied her for a long moment, then pushed off from the wall with a sigh. "That's why I'm here, actually. I know we've had this conversation before, but after everything that's happened... I want you on my team. For real this time."

  The offer hung between them, weightier than their previous exchanges on the subject. Deirdre could feel Milani's genuine concern beneath the casual proposal.

  "I work alone," Deirdre said, the response automatic.

  "And look where that's gotten you." Milani gestured vaguely upward, as if to encompass all of Deirdre's recent troubles. "Face it, Dee. The Domains are getting more dangerous, not less. The Exchange is changing. Working alone might have been fine before, but now? You need backup."

  Deirdre thought of the key against her chest, of the strange new sensitivity she'd developed, of the mysteries that seemed to be unfolding around her. Part of her longed to share the burden, to have someone watching her back. But instinct told her that these secrets needed to stay hidden—at least for now.

  "I appreciate the offer," she said finally. "I do. But I'm not sure it would work."

  "You're not sure because you've never tried," Milani countered, her usual sharp tone softening slightly. "Look, I get it. You like doing things your way. But just give it a chance. One mission. That's all I'm asking."

  "One mission?" Deirdre repeated skeptically.

  "A trial run," Milani nodded, seizing on Deirdre's hesitation. "My team's heading to the Shimmerdeep Caverns tomorrow. Easy in, easy out—just some rare fungi and crystal formations for a Keeper who's building an underground labyrinth. Nothing dangerous, nothing complicated. Come with us, see how we work. If you hate it, I'll never bring it up again."

  Deirdre hesitated, weighing her options. A part of her wanted to refuse outright, to maintain the independence that had defined her career as a Collector. But another part—the part that had felt the sharp edge of Needle's blade in her side—recognized the wisdom in Milani's words. Besides, a day away from the Exchange might give her time to process everything she'd discovered.

  "Just one mission?" she clarified.

  Milani's lips curved into a victorious smile, though she kept her tone casual. "Just one. No commitment beyond that."

  Deirdre sighed, recognizing defeat. "Fine. One mission. Where do we meet?"

  "Fifteenth level of the hall, dawn," Milani replied, clearly pleased with herself. "Don't be late. And bring that little sparkly friend of yours." She nodded toward Orsafi. "He's adorable."

  "She," Deirdre corrected automatically.

  "Whatever." Milani glanced at the iron gate again, her curiosity visibly piqued. "Now, are you going to tell me what you're really doing down here, or should I just pretend I never saw you?"

  "The latter would be convenient," Deirdre said with a small smile.

  "Thought so." Milani turned to head back up the stairs, then paused. "Hall of doors, dawn. And Deirdre? Try not to get yourself stabbed before then. It would make the logistics very awkward."

  With a final half-smile, she disappeared up the staircase, leaving Deirdre alone with Orsafi once more. The carbuncle chirped softly, her gem pulsing as she gazed up at the runes above the gate.

  "I know," Deirdre murmured. "We need to find out what this means."

  But that would have to wait. The inquiry and the unexpected encounter with Milani had left her drained, and she needed time to process everything she'd learned. With one last look at the mysterious gate, she turned and ascended the stairs, the hum of Domain magic following her like a whispered promise.

  Back in her quarters, with the door firmly shut behind her, Deirdre finally let her careful composure slip. She slumped onto her bed, the events of the day weighing on her shoulders like a physical burden. Orsafi hopped onto the windowsill, her gem casting soft patterns across the room as twilight deepened outside.

  Deirdre pulled the key from beneath her shirt, letting it rest in her palm. Its twisted black-and-silver form caught the light from Orsafi's gem, the surface seeming to shift and change as she turned it over in her hand. The metal was cool to the touch, but she could feel the power that hummed within it—the same resonance that now lived in her chest.

  She traced the intricate patterns engraved on its surface with her fingertip, following the whorls and lines that had seemed so strange when she first discovered it in the abandoned warehouse. Now, with the memory of the runes above the iron gate fresh in her mind, she suddenly saw the connection.

  The patterns weren't random. They were the same runes that had been carved into the stone archway—the same ancient script that channeled Domain magic down into the depths beneath the Guild Hall.

  "They match," she whispered, her heart racing. Orsafi chirped softly in response, abandoning her perch to hop onto the bed beside Deirdre. The carbuncle's gem pulsed as she nudged the key with her nose, as if confirming Deirdre's realization.

  This key wasn't just a random artifact. It was connected to whatever lay beyond that iron gate—whatever secret the Guild itself was built upon. The unstable Domain she'd restored had contained ruins with similar markings, suggesting a system far older and more extensive than anything mentioned in the Guild's official histories.

  Deirdre closed her fingers around the key, its weight somehow more significant now. Her newfound sensitivity to Domain magic, the hidden gate beneath the Guild Hall, the ancient ruins in the unstable Domain—all of it was connected, forming a pattern she was only beginning to see.

  "What have we stumbled into, Orsafi?" she murmured, stroking the carbuncle's soft fur. Orsafi trilled softly, leaning into her touch. The gem on her forehead pulsed steadily, echoing the rhythm of the key in Deirdre's hand.

  Whatever lay ahead, she knew one thing for certain: she couldn't ignore the path that was unfolding before her. The key had come to her for a reason, and now she had found where it belonged. Beyond that iron gate lay answers—about the key, about the Domains, and perhaps about herself and the strange new sensitivity she had developed.

  But those answers would have to wait. Her agreement to join Milani on tomorrow's expedition meant her investigation of the gate would need to be delayed. Perhaps that was for the best—she needed time to think, to prepare. Whatever secrets lay beyond that iron barrier had remained hidden for centuries. They could wait another day.

  Deirdre sighed, tucking the key back beneath her shirt. She would need rest before tomorrow's journey to the Shimmerdeep Caverns. While part of her chafed at the delay, another part welcomed the distraction. The mission with Milani would give her time to process everything she'd learned, and perhaps even gain some insights that might help her understand the mysteries unfolding around her.

  "Dawn comes early," she murmured to Orsafi, who chirped in sleepy agreement. "We should rest while we can."

  As she prepared for sleep, the hum of Domain magic flowing through the Exchange seemed to whisper secrets just beyond her understanding—promises of discoveries yet to come, and mysteries waiting to be unraveled. But for tonight, at least, those whispers would have to wait.