No longer running on a constant adrenaline high, fatigue finally set in, reducing Raven to severe weakness. With the help of pandora, he slowly recovered from his encounter with the Seal Master, but the devastating injury sapped his energy to the point of exhaustion. Even so, he couldn’t sleep a wink.

  The morning after the revelation in Supenheil, Raven sought out Master Forir, but he was not in his office. Frustrated, he knew he would have to wait until the next day, which was the last day of his schooling period at Nine Star and the final examination for Battle Suna. In the meantime, he sought out Fanny. While frustrated that he gave away her treasures to Marcus, she was able to accept his explanation of dire necessity, and she was happy he finally discovered the secret of her key necklace.

  “I’ll give you the key if you can get the other one from Selim,” she had said over breakfast with him in the cafeteria. “But that’s a big if. I’d rather wait until then. I don’t want him disapproving of me more than he already is. Giant pain in the butt.”

  Secure in her assurance, he returned to his room to attempt sleep once more, but the day and night both passed restless. He prepared for his encounter with Forir early in the morning, dressing his wound and replacing torn linen strips with a fitted black shroud he fashioned. The partial mask covered his eye and held a patch more securely in place over his empty eye socket.

  He waited in front of the door to Tower Eight, enduring the blasting wind and bitter cold with ease thanks to Glass Blower sitting warm against his chest. He ignored weariness. He ignored hunger. All that mattered was the last page of the Star Tome Master Forir held, and he would have it no matter what.

  When finally Master Forir arrived to open the doors to his tower, he stopped and considered Raven carefully, eyes furrowed just above the high lining of his collar. The cardinal sitting on his shoulder matched the look of its owner, suspicious. Raven was sure he even heard the animal growl.

  “I have something important I need to discuss with you,” he said.

  Forir said nothing for a moment, instead folding his arms behind his back. “Will it explain why the paintings of former masters were found broken on the floor last night?”

  “Yes.”

  “Our conversation shall be delayed until after the final exam and all the students have gone.”

  “Very well.”

  Master Forir’s exam proved as tough as expected. While Raven was confident he made no mistakes during the written portion, it was amusing watching Van nearly tear his hair out in frustration as he worked through the complicated questions. He did much better in the practical portion of the exam, which required drawing up a series of successful seals. Raven was given an automatic pass, consistent with Forir’s policy on him.

  The minutes passed like hours as he waited for the final class to be over. Raven drummed his fingers on his desk impatiently as each student took the second portion of the exam one at a time. When finally it was all over, however, Raven felt an unexpected measure of melancholy. His first and only experience of schooling was over, just like that. The other students celebrated with hurrahs and sighs of relief, but he felt none of those things. It was only then that he realized he’d been so busy, focused on his mission, such feelings were impossible. He wished he’d stopped to smell the flowers just a little more.

  The feeling was fleeting, and when Master Forir shut the doors to his classroom, leaving only he and Van in the domed amphitheater, Raven came back to the present. He stood, facing his quarry.

  “Now,” Forir said, folding his arms behind him again. “What is it you wanted to discuss?”

  “I discovered the identity of your brother’s killer.”

  The man’s guarded stare became even more hardened, something Raven did not anticipate. He had been sure the teacher would be eager to finally have the chance to avenge his brother’s killer. Raven’s guard immediately came up, thoughts racing.

  “Have you now?” he said.

  “Yes.”

  “And who is it?”

  “Forgive me, Master Forir. But I went through incredible pains to discover the murderer’s identity.”

  Forir shook his head and sighed. “You want something in exchange.”

  “Is the information you’ve been seeking not worth a price?”

  “And what is your cost?”

  “You carry something on your person. A golden key. I will tell you everything I know about your brother’s death if—”

  “Let me be very clear to you, Raven Whitesong,” Forir cut him off. “You will never have the Star Tome.”

  Raven’s eye widened in shock. A chill ran up his spine.

  “Don’t look so surprised,” Forir continued, slowly approaching his students. “The circumstances are clear. Last night, someone opened the hidden chamber I had once long ago discovered. Someone spoke to Master Diggory in the portrait, who possessed information to give about the Star Tome. And now you’ve come, seeking the page I hold.”

  Raven’s eye narrowed. “You don’t know what you’re doing.”

  “I am quite certain I know exactly what I’m doing.” His cardinal chirped shrilly at Raven. “You are a liar, a manipulator, both a whelp and a menace. Your path of destruction has left a long trail in this city, and because of your stunt with the challenges to the masters, you may have invoked wrath the Titan has never before unleashed upon any city. A boy with reckless disregard for life, for morals, and for the Holy One he profanes with his own actions. Of course you would desire the Star Tome, a volume filled with new deadly mechanisms with which you can further inflict misery upon Fallowreyk’s people. I would never let such a thing occur.”

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  There was a long silence as they stared each other down. When Forir was satisfied with his reaction, he made to leave. But as his hand grasped the door handle, a deadly smirk splayed across Raven’s face.

  “You should know Seliph died a coward.”

  Forir stopped. Van inhaled sharply.

  “Crying for help, sobbing actually,” Raven continued. “I just wanted his contraband, but I couldn’t stand his weakness. So, I cut him down. It was… satisfying to be honest.”

  The Master whirled, eyes alight with fury. His cardinal chirruped angrily.

  “More lies,” he said severely.

  “The amusing part wasn’t how he died, though,” Raven continued. “You should be happy I killed him quickly. No, what fascinated me was how long I had to rummage through his things. No one came running at his scream in terror. No one called for help or ran to get the authorities to assist him. No one. He was completely… alone. No friends to speak of. No other family. Of course, he did say your name. He wanted his big brother to come save him.”

  Forir slowly came back, shaking with rage.

  “That’s the moment I killed him… when he needed you. But where were you?”

  The professor stood over Raven, face burning crimson.

  “You were here in Roespeye,” Raven finished, smiling further. “Disapproving big brother. Aren’t you glad he never knew how much you were disappointed in him? Or wait… did he know…? Ah, that must be it. He did know. The shame he must have died with was probably unbearable, realizing he never received your forgiveness.”

  “Dispense with your deceptions,” Forir nearly spat. “You aren’t my brother’s killer. I won’t hear any more of it.”

  “Very well. We’ll be on our way. I have things to do in town anyway. I need to sell my stock of…” He looked straight into Forir’s eyes. “Vitronite.”

  Murderous rage came over the man. He lifted his arms as if to strangle him.

  Raven stood unflinching, smiling wickedly. “Are you going to attack your student, Master Forir? I can’t imagine Panka would take too kindly to such an act.”

  “You think he would protect you over me?” he said.

  “Of course. I did the world a favor ridding it of your sad-sack brother. I’m sure he approves. Why do you think he keeps protecting me? Seliph deserved to die.”

  Forir lowered his arms, staring menacingly. “You have no one to blame for what I’m going to do to you. The day of our duel draws near, and I will have you begging for mercy. Make no mistake, I will kill you. Now get out of my sight!”

  Raven sniffed in amusement. He folded his hands together and made a leisurely exit, Van following close behind. But when they were back outside, his smile washed away into a glare.

  “What the hell just happened in there?” Van asked. “You didn’t kill his brother! Why did you say you did?”

  “These are tactics of war, Van. We have confirmed the last unknown challenge. Master Forir’s task under the Vark is indeed a duel.”

  “But now he wants to kill you! And I don’t blame him. How on earth will you get his key now?”

  “I’m taking a gamble, but it’s the only shot I’ve got. Now it’s time to prepare. The challenges shall take place in three days. Please go alert Master Czeslaw for me.”

  “Why? Where are you going?”

  “I must make my preparations. The final hour draws near.”

  Van hurried off to his new destination while Raven made for the Sleeping Devil’s Courtyard. Once alone, he placed a hand on the amber cocoon holding Rue’s body.

  “We’re almost there,” Rue said. “Will we make it?”

  Raven nodded. “Three days. Just three more days, and then everything we’ve prepared… all that we waited so many years for, will finally come to fruition. I won’t let anyone come between us and our victory.”

  “You seem nervous. You can’t hide your feelings from me, you know. What is bothering you?”

  He breathed deep. “Master Forir is strong. I have both seen and felt his soul. But there’s something more. Something hidden. When he revealed his challenge would be a duel… it seemed too easy. As if he wanted me to know.”

  “Do you think he lied?”

  He grimaced. “I don’t know. But we have no other options but to prepare for it. That just leaves one thing left to do.”

  Making for the secret passage into Rail Roespeye, he followed the winding tunnels until he once again came upon the entrance to Panka’s sanctuary. Standing before the two paintings, he pointed to the purple banana in one, and the cat running with the dogs in the other.

  The horse riders in the painting galloped down the hill, and the wall separated. He stepped inside as the sound of crashing waters filled his hearing. Descending the staircase of Panka’s sanctuary until about half-way to the dark abyss, Raven took a seat on one of the steps. He folded his legs and placed his hands in Grand Harmony. He would wait all day if he had to.

  But he didn’t have to wait even a minute. Dense rain suddenly poured over him, immediately soaking him to the bone. He looked up to find Panka floating above him, generating a small rain cloud with his trident and looking particularly impish. He cackled, causing his long, gray beard to shudder. He floated down to Raven’s eye level.

  “You look a little wet,” he said, cackling again.

  Raven smirked, shaking his head. “Of all the guardians I’ve met, I am certain you are the strangest.”

  “If you’ve met Darnis Lots, I can’t believe you think that’s true.”

  Raven smiled, continuing to sit under his personal rain cloud. “It would seem my time here is almost up. I hope it’s been entertaining.”

  “To the fullest. What an incredible year! The boisterous escapades you, Van and Valentine got up to were incredibly fun to watch!” The guardian’s smile became a worried look. “Even so… I am quite anxious now.”

  Raven hummed. “Understandable. I’ve done everything I can to lure the Titan here. I made no intimation of any other cause.”

  “The Titan has destroyed Reyks before. He will do it again.”

  “These other Reyks… you’ve mentioned them previously. Tell me, do I hail from one of these lost cities?”

  Panka grinned. “You’ll have to discover that on your own. But you have guides. You just don’t know it yet.”

  With a grunt, Raven stood. The cool water felt good against his aching body, so he remained in the rain. “I don’t believe you have anything to fear. If all goes according to plan, the humiliation I inflict upon the Titan in three days will be your greatest memory. But he should also be distracted from his rage. I’ll see to it.”

  Reospeye’s guardian rubbed his beard thoughtfully. “Selim is still in your way.”

  “That’s why I’m here.”

  “I can’t intervene in your challenges. The Vark Ilias forbids it.”

  “I’m not demanding you interfere. I’m just asking for a little help. When we first met, I asked for two things in exchange for my efforts to save Sheeharu. Now I’m coming to collect.”

  “You haven’t saved her yet!”

  “Let’s dispense with the games. You and I both know what’s at stake, Panka. I can restore Sheeharu’s life. Finally! We both want this. We both need her.” He produced Rue the Day, showing him the pandora. “Sometimes, schemes need partners. And Rue has been my partner for so long. But she deserves her life back, and I am willing to let her go. If the time comes, will you help us?”

  Panka took her pandora, sighing heavily. “Oh, little one… how I have missed you. But we won’t really have her back, will we?”

  Raven closed his eyes as a measure of sadness came over him. “No. All three of us knew the consequences. She is ready, and so am I.”

  He was astonished. “You really are prepared to die for her, aren’t you?”

  “If there’s one thing I’ve come to understand, something that doesn’t come so readily to others, it is knowing my death would mean something. Opportunity. A single chance to finally destroy the Titan.” He stepped out of the rainfall and raised a hand. “Perhaps a long life of experience would have garnered a different solution, but for now, I have only this one scheme. I must be successful. I will be successful. And no one, not even Selim Forir, will stand in my way.”