Faust motioned for Terrence to continue.
“All members must take in anyone from the streets and send them into a practice,” Terrence said. “I do not tolerate those that leave the defenseless to the brothels and workhouses.”
“That is in line with my brother’s laws.”
“I am no exception to this rule. I saved Yoan from the streets when he was a young teen and adopted him as my own. He is my successor and is to be treated as my flesh and blood.”
“He will be recognized as such.”
“That is not all,” Terrence said. “Apprentices may hop from skill to skill, no matter their age. As long as one works hard and shows skills, they are less likely to fail. Wages must be fair and equal for all levels of skill. All guild members are to house and help each other in good faith when traveling as well.”
Faust sat in silent awe. The Guild of Masters was a larger community than the Guild of Artisans.
“I have spent many years building my guild,” Terrence said. “I will not budge when it comes to the treatment of others.”
Faust’s lips twitched upward. “We need that in all three kingdoms, not just in Alios.” He handed Terrence a decree from Lord Arcus. “I am uncertain how long these will last, but it should get anyone across to gather information if it is done quickly. I doubt I will be able to remain among my people much longer.”
Terrence inspected the contract. “Consider it done. We will begin circulating information immediately and gather voices of dissent. My guild will be open to hosting meetings.”
Faust nodded. “There is still something else I need.”
“Information on the past.”
“Not just that,” Faust said. “I need to know where your mysterious knight went. My brother’s plan is dangerous, and we need someone like him by our sides.”
“I’m afraid I cannot tell you,” Terrence said with a shake of his head. “If your ideals hold up, you will meet with him.”
“Was that part of your deal with him?”
“Yes.” Terrence looked Faust in the eyes. “I am convinced, by Alimphis, that you two will meet and change will be had.”
Faust gazed at the drawing behind Terrence’s desk. Deep down he knew they wouldn’t win without that mysterious knight.
“Why do you need to meet with him?” Terrence asked.
“I have a rather strong force attempting to drag me back to Limorous.”
Terrence’s eyes flashed with recognition. “They fear you just as they fear the King of Alios. We must tread carefully with such words. The plot in Akarvine was only the beginning, and I am certain they fear me as well. Four-stone users are rare and are the only ones eligible to become king. I suspect Emoris and Lathil did not expect other four-stone users to appear in a group.”
Faust agreed. The deities had it out for any four-stone users, and all three-stone users were well accounted for and observed. Emoris and Lathil wanted king candidates and potential king candidates under their thumb for some reason.
“The rumor in the wind thus far is that the Kingdom of Windilum has been blamed for the death of many in the Kingdom of Alios, including a Servant of Power.”
Faust could still see Miklos’s dead body when he closed his eyes at night sometimes. This was happening because Ignas had protected him. If he had just done it himself, then war wouldn’t be on their borders.
“Prince Faust,” Terrence called.
Faust brought his attention back.
“The last rumor in the wind is that the King of Alios is missing.”
Faust’s heart thundered in his chest. Surely Konrad had just left to protect himself. His brother was powerful and smart. He wouldn’t let Emoris get a leg up on him.
A loud crack sounded in the room.
“That is quite an interesting way to twist a table, Your Highness.”
Faust blinked hard. He glanced at the mangled mess of a table and winced. “I . . . apologize.” He raised one hand to fix it.
“Leave it,” Terrence said. “Do you do that often?”
“Only recently,” Faust admitted with a flush of embarrassment. “It has worsened since I found those chests.”
“How many have you found?”
“Seven. Well, eight now.”
“What were the other chests like?” Terrence asked.
Faust pondered. “A couple appeared to be regular chests while others contained fire and sky stones. They were strange. The ones with magic stones sent magic away from me as if it were sealed there.”
Terrence mused. “What else was in them?”
“Artifacts mostly. Old journals and historical records.” Faust rummaged in his satchel. He pulled out two journals. “These were more like a daily log for someone who interacted with Linos. It took a bit to translate, but they were far easier than the historical records. I left those to Rene.”
“I am pleased you can read the ancient tongue.” Terrence smiled. “Those accounts will prove useful. You should keep them close.”
Faust grinned with a nod. “When I first opened it, I felt no one else should see it.” He left out the part about the instructions he saw at first, not certain how to explain how it disappeared.
Terrence touched his chin in thought. “Can you explain a bit more about the chests? They sound fascinating.”
Faust put the journals away. “One chest held a blue tunic, much like a few I have seen around Haven. Another held two swords. They flashed sky blue and held some ancient tongue on them.”
Terrence leaned forward. “What did they say?”
“They were too damaged to fully translate, but the words I, power, and can were legible.”
“And what of the chest I had?”
Faust paused. “It contained magic as well.” Faust didn’t want to explain the things he saw. Terrence might call him crazy. “I am uncertain how magic can be sealed like that.”
Terrence smiled. “It is a gift few are given. Do you know how magic originated with the people, Your Highness?”
Faust shook his head. “I only know how the stones are mined.”
“Then I shall give you a brief history. Alimphis is abundant in magic or natural magic as some records have called it. Magic stones form in areas with high concentrations of this magic. For example, the Kingdom of Roltan produces mostly sky and water stones, the Kingdom of Windilum produces fire and earth, sometimes water, and the Kingdom of Alios produces earth stones.” Terrence plucked his sky stone from his belt. “Mining stones became a natural occurrence because of their beauty, but it was soon discovered they weren’t just precious stones—they held a longer past than that.”
Faust sat on the edge of his seat.
“The records state that the stones were created by Alimphis to balance the deities’ power with the people. It was a way for the people to share similarities and balance the natural flow of magic.” Terrence clipped his stone again.
“And thus, certain magic users appear in the same way the stones do—in areas of high concentrations of magic.”
“Correct,” Terrence said. “Magic is all around us, and where someone lives usually dictates their magic unless Alimphis has other plans. Alimphis has quite a mind of its own.”