by Joe Duck
"'Not my problem.’ Go find a locksmith.”
Emily slammed her hand on the long table and leaned over it, baring her teeth. “Key. Now.”
Realizing that she was in trouble, I summoned my halberd, ready to prove to her how smart I was. "Don't worry, Emily."
Emily glanced over her shoulder, her face pale. "Narius, what—"
I struck the flat side of the halberd against the box. Sparks flew off as the metal smashed metal, ripping off the lock and sending splinters flying.
“Do you know how valuable this is?” Emily gaped at my brilliant method and pushed me aside. She hugged the chest against her bosom and then carefully opened the lid. In an instant, dark smoke exploded out, filling the room with a rotting stench and plunging the inn into darkness.
I coughed, unable to breathe in the foul air. To my surprise, the humans acted as if nothing was wrong and carried on drinking. “Emily! Close the box!”
She tilted her head and frowned. “What? Why?” Before I could stop her, she reached inside and pulled out a dark piece of paper that oozed corruption and tainted the very air around it.
"Emily, throw away the page!"
She didn't listen. Instead, she studied the dark runes drawn on it. “Fascinating. How can there be so much magic in a single page…” Emily's mouth stopped moving, and she stared at it, frozen in place.
A page of the Grimoire? Don’t just stand there! Codex yelled at me.
With haste, I stumbled towards Emily and snatched the unholy text from her. The page burned against my hand, but I fought through the pain and channeled all of my power into it.
Bright rays of light engulfed my hand and drove away the darkness around us with the intensity of the sun. All around me, humans screamed and covered their eyes. Ignoring their cries, I overpowered the corruption within the text, purifying the evil within.
The page exploded, sending a shockwave through the air like a ripple on a pond, blowing shutters open and toppling chairs.
Shortly after, the light from my hand dimmed, and with all of my magic drained, I sank to the floor, pieces of purified paper scattering around me.
For some strange reason, Emily looked furious. “You’re an angel of knowledge! Do you know what you just did?” She gathered the scraps of paper and thrust them at me. “Turn it back! Th-that was worth at least a hundred gold pieces!”
I dismissed my halberd, returning the weapon to the armory in heaven, and offered her a smile instead.
She grasped my throat and shook me. “With the right buyer I could have sold it for two, no, four hundred crowns! Especially with some thief stealing all of the other pages from people and driving up the price!”
My head bobbed up and down from her shaking. “Money means nothing. Any piece of a Grimoire has to be destroyed at all costs.”
Emily stopped shaking me. “A what?”
I grabbed my head to steady it, fearing I would vomit if I didn’t. “When an angel from my flock is corrupted, his or her Codex turns into a Grimoire, a concentration of corruption. I am here to make sure that one of the books that escaped the Great Library ten years ago doesn’t fall into the wrong hands to free any corrupted angels, or ‘demons,’ from their prison."
Emily released me and knitted her brows. "Gah. Give me a minute. I need to think. My head hurts just thinking about how much money I lost."
With Emily occupied, I struggled to my feet, and glared down at the innkeeper cowering behind the long wooden desk. “Where are the other pages?”
The man shrank from my gaze. “I-I don’t know!”
I rested my hand on his thick brown hair and lied, “I can make you barren again.”
The color in his face drained. “Wait. Not again! It just fell from the sky ten years ago! I don’t know what this is! I just thought it could be valuable!”
I took my hand off him. He sounded like he was telling the truth, but before I could apologize for pretending to be so mean, the innkeeper clutched his head and scurried away.
Exhausted, I sank into a chair. What should I do?
Hmm, chances are if there is one page missing then the rest of the book is probably scattered as well, Codex whispered. And if someone is stealing them, then we need to steal it back. Anyway, before we can do any of that, we should head to a city and find more information about this thief.
A city? I glanced at Emily, who was frowning at the scraps of paper in her hands and flicking her fingers out as if she was trying to count. “Emily, do you know any cities nearby?"
She stared at me then at her fingers before answering. “Well, Arehan City is only a three-day hike from here.”
“Arehan…. Arehan…” I opened the Codex and flipped to the page with the map, but couldn’t find the city. “Are you sure it is called Arehan?”
Emily peeked over my shoulder. “How old is this map?”
“A few centuries. It was made before the rebellion.”
"Rebellion?" She raised an eyebrow. “I haven’t heard of half of these cities. The forests look bigger than they should, and there are even a few mountains that don’t exist.” She reached down to her pouch, pulled out her map and compared it with mine.
Her map was vastly different. Various parts of it were colored, and regions were divided by black lines with only the ocean being blue.
Still, I found my current location and the city. So, I marked the spot into the Codex and limped outside.
Emily hastily rolled up her map and jogged after me. “Wait! Where are you going? Where’s my gold?”
Once I had enough room to fly, I turned to face her. “This is where we say our farewell. It wasn't a pleasure travelling with you. Goodbye, Emily.” I closed my eyes and spread my wings. I kicked off the ground and took flight, my mind filled with thoughts on how to find the pages.
Immediately, my wings screamed out in pain, and I crashed onto the ground. I opened my eyes.
Emily stared down at me as if I was an idiot. “Narius, you shouldn’t fly. Your wings aren’t healed yet.” Then the pity in her eyes disappeared, replaced by anger. “But, really, we should be talking about the money you owe me, and how you are going to pay me.”
“What? No! I kept my promise. I can do whatever I want.”
The weight of her boot pressed down onto my back, making me taste the bitter ground. “And I can do whatever I want, you con artist. I needed that money to pay our guild’s debt, and just when I got a page easily worth a thousand gold pieces you turned it into confetti.”
“But I had to. It was dangerous.”
Emily tapped her foot against my wing and made me moan.
She pushed her foot deeper into my back and growled. “And on top of that, you were just going to leave me here. No, no, no. This just won’t do at all. I’m coming with you until I can squeeze the gold out of you.”
I snorted, unable to imagine anything of the sort. “I’ll just fly away as soon as my wings are healed.”
Emily’s brows wrinkled. “You’re right. You would just escape.” The pressure on my wings disappeared, and with Emily frowning at the ground before her, I struggled upright.
Though my wings ached, I felt happy for winning the argument, and I triumphantly marched away from the village, but Emily ran around and blocked my path with her arms spread out.
She pushed herself against me, wrapping her arms around my waist.
“What are you doing?”
“Giving you a hug.”
“Why?”
My, my. It appears she is trying to rub herself against you and force you to stay, Codex whispered.
The pleasant scent of mint wafted from Emily as she pressed herself further against me. “This is how friends say goodbye to one another,” she said when a bright light flashed next to my waist.
Surprised by her words, I ignored the light. “I am your friend?”
She didn’t answer.
I closed my eyes, unable to understand her behavior. The hug felt warm and calming, but her words brought
forth uncomfortable guilt. “Emily, I am sorry, but I have to leave you. Maybe we can meet again?”
Emily pulled away from me. “What? You can talk? I thought Narius was just crazy.”
“Huh?” I opened my eyes.
Before me, Emily held the Codex over her staff, the top of which was on fire, waiting eagerly to devour the book. "Quiet, I'm talking to Narius."
I reached down to my side and found the chain that held the Codex broken. Panic gripped my mind, and I held up my trembling hands. “No! Wait! Hold on a second! Think about what you are doing.”
Emily gave me a creepy smile. “Relax, fire beats paper. Besides, I’m sure there are plenty of other books around you can scribble on.”
“No! She’s my companion! I received her as a gift from Lord Halfaya ten years ago!”
Emily tsked and moved the Codex right over the magical torch, only a finger’s length away from a fiery death. “Ten years? Well, that seems like an awfully short time for an angel. I’m sure you can ask him nicely, and he'll give you another companion.”
Fear overwhelmed me, and I blurted out the first thing that came to mind. “You can come with me!”
Emily kept her hand in place, the fire almost licking the book's tender flesh. “I don’t know… why don’t you make that into a promise?”
“I... I promise! Just give her back to me.”
Emily smiled sheepishly and handed me the book. “That wasn’t so hard now, was it?”
Upon touching the book, Codex screamed at me. What were you doing! I almost burned to death, you oversized… She continued to shout, and I grimaced, mumbling my apologizes under the barrage of hurtful words.
Once the cursing and shouting stopped, I linked the Codex back to the chain, my shoulders sagging from the verbal assault. I am sorry.
You better be!
Emily sniggered and tossed back her hair. “Why so gloomy, Narius?”
I glared at the burning orb of her staff.
To my surprise, Emily placed her hand into the flame without so much as flinching. “It’s an illusion. I wasn’t really going to burn your book.”
I couldn’t close my mouth. “Impossible. You… mean… I… I… you… outsmarted me?”
She grinned and patted me on the shoulder. “Look on the bright side. You have all the time in the world to pay me back now. A. Single. Coin. At. A. Time."
Chapter Four
Narius—two weeks ago
Last time I saw her, Mother was leaning against the railings of the grand balcony. She brushed a golden lock of hair out of her blue eyes, the light on her halo brightening and reflecting off the marble floor.
"Remember, Narius, all women are wolves,” she said, studying the clouds floating beneath us.
I tilted my head and scratched it. "They are?"
Her youthful face wrinkled. She pushed herself away from the railings, her green Codex fluttering against the chain around the waist of her armor. “Every one of them. They will all try to spread your legs apart and ravage you.”
Unable to believe her, I asked my own Codex. Really? They would do that to me?
Bah. Don't listen to the Archangel. Listen to me, and together we will be the ones spreading their legs.
Why would I want to do that?
The book laughed. Because it will be a delight. Or you can listen to your mommy and miss out.
Miss out? Wouldn't it be better to avoid them?
She tsked. That's no fun. Imagine all the female humans lining up to "meet" you. It will be legenda—
Mother grasped my shoulders, concern drawn on her face. "And whatever you do, do not listen to your Codex about women." She closed her eyes and sighed. "I heard the bows of Tristina talk in more dignified manners when they discuss how much they can penetrate."
Pfft. Me? Talk dirty? Astreal's just jealous of my wisdom.
Mother pulled me close and hugged me. "We shouldn't be sending someone so young down there. Even if it is just to retrieve a book. But don't worry, Narius. I shall convince Lord Halfaya to assign you a different task. Maybe dusting books for a few decades."
I wrapped my arms around her and returned the hug. “No, I did burn down a section of the library. I am happy to carry out my task, and you've already told me where the corruption could be felt. It won't take me long to find the Grimoire.”
Mother sniffled. She buried her head against my shoulder and tightened her grip. "Be safe. I will try my best to help you. Narius, I will make sure your task is complete before you know it."
Narius—present day
The sound of temple bells pulled me away from the memory of my final moments in heaven. My heart hurt a little at the thought that I wouldn’t be able to see Mother until I finished my quest.
Still, Lord Halfaya had chosen the task for me, and I would not fail him. Taking my mind off the past, I looked around at the mining town of Arehan. The stony road was lined with wooden buildings that had festive banners with drawings of the sun hanging on the walls. From the windows of some of the buildings, trousers, brassieres, and brown underwear in various states of disrepair hung from clotheslines like tattered flags. In others, humans looked out and waved at us.
Everywhere, men and women wearing dust-covered clothing lugged their worn pickaxes through the street whilst a few children played amongst them, shouting and running. My heart raced with excitement. There were so many humans and all of them full of life.
Emily and I headed deeper into the town, and it became evident they were preparing for an event. People shouted to one another while unloading boxes from wagons. All around us, merchants lined their stalls with interesting items. In particular were the jewelry stalls brimming with all sorts of delicate and shiny necklaces, bracelets and rings made of copper, silver and gold. Many of them adorned with a variety of precious stones. Emily gazed at them with gleam in her eyes, but looked away whenever she caught me staring.
“You want one of those things?” I asked after the fifth time.
“Forget it. I am poor enough as it is. Besides, they are marking up the prices for the summer solstice.”
"Is money that important to humans?"
Emily sighed. "It means the world to us. What? Do you have a magical way to make money?"
Unable to offer her any sound advice, I pressed my lips together while more and more humans peered at me. Some of them knelt as I drifted my gaze over them, others whispered, mumbling the names of Lady Tristina, Lord Arudi, and Lord Halfaya.
My wings folded themselves a little as fear crept onto my skin and made me shiver. Why… why are they looking at me like that? They aren’t going to spread my legs, are they?
Forget about them. You have Emily. I’m sure she will be more than happy to jump into your pants.
I glanced at Emily who walked purposely through the crowd, looking for an inn. Then I looked down at my pants. I don’t think she will fit.
You should still try. Even if it is a tight squeeze.
I tapped my hand against the Codex. Why do you keep asking me to do things to her?
Because, you dimwit, if you feel something extremely pleasurable, I can feel it too.
Then can I just eat something? Maybe some tuna or a piece of bread?
The Codex sighed and pulled away from my mind just as a delicious scent of food tickled my nose.
I looked around frantically until I caught sight of a wagon in front of us. Behind the little cart, a rotund man dipped sticks of skewered vegetables into a pot of boiling oil. The sticks sizzled in rhythm, calling me to gobble them up.
Emily poked my wing and smiled. “You want to eat that?”
I bobbed my head and swallowed the pool of saliva, wanting nothing more than to put the stick into my mouth.
“Oh, really? How? You don't have any coin.”
I stopped in my tracks. She was right. Unsure of how I could get around this problem, I placed the tips of my index fingers together and tapped them. "Maybe I can heal him?”
Emily raised an
eyebrow. “No. He looks completely healthy, and he probably has a family depending on him to bring home some coin, so don’t even think about begging from him. That's his livelihood, not an angel-feeding charity.” She shrugged. "Unless you're willing to steal the food and starve his family."
I lowered my head, depressed at the fact that I would have to eat Manna again. “No. No one should go hungry.”
"But don't worry, my dumb angel." Emily headed to a board plastered with papers and ripped one of them off, then thrust it into my hands. “Lucky for you, I can help.”
On the paper, an elf, shrouded in a robe, stared at me with his eyes narrowed to slits. “Wanted: Mafis Slowwind, elf, silver eyes and hair, thief, and a known member of the anti-human terrorist organization, Green Vines. Last spotted in Arehan two days ago, plotting to destabilize the city. Reward of five hundred gold coins by the temple of Arudi for his capture or, preferably, his death.”
Emily tapped her finger against the promised reward and smirked. "With that much gold, you can start paying me back and buy your crispy veggie skewers.” She jabbed at my wing and made me wince. “Two days? Chances are he’s still here. So, we just have to find him."
Rubbing my hand against my chin, I mulled over her words. “But he never harmed me. Why should I do something bad to him?”
She groaned, folded the page and slid it into her pouch. “He's a thief. A criminal.”
“What about you? Aren’t you a criminal who loots and pillages homes for money?”
The thieving human flinched. “That’s different! My guild was given permission by His Majesty to—"
“To loot and pillage?”
“Yes, we have a special license to loot and pillage … huh?"
"Ha! You are finally showing your true nature as an evil adventurer!"
Emily's face turned crimson. She rummaged through her pouch and took out a silver coin, its metallic image of a decapitated head shining brightly in the afternoon sun. “Now, if you have a single coin like this, you could buy some of those delightful deep-fried sticks.” She held the coin before my eyes and grinned. “But I’m sure that a mighty angel like yourself wouldn’t want to eat anything if it means spending the money of an 'evil adventurer.'”