The library was empty; it always was this time of day. I slipped between the towering shelves, my eyes scanning for the moth-eaten red leather that caused this little outing.

“Are you crazy?!” Charlotte whisper-yelled from her perch on the wooden ladder behind me. “We’re going to get caught, and then we’re going to be executed, all because you just had to strike a deal with a mage. We don’t even know if this book actually exists!”

“Relax, Char,” I grinned back, “This isn’t the worst thing I’ve roped us into.” Charlotte huffed. She was the only person crazy enough to be friends with me; then again, I was the only person crazy enough to be friends with her.

“If you actually get us killed, I swear I’ll curse you from the grave.” She muttered. I crouched down to examine a book old enough to be written by King Tut. She certainly could place a nasty curse on someone, and I did not want to spend my death as a zombie frog.

“Then I suppose I’ll have to survive this, then.” I answered, “Come on, this place is huge, and I think I know where to find our magic book.” I stood up and dashed – well, it was more of a speed walk — up the grand staircase of the library and towards the mahogany door positioned inconspicuously in the corner of the second floor. When Charlotte finally caught up with me, she was out of breath and livid.

“One of these days, Theo…” She hissed.

“Shh,” I put a hand over her mouth and pointed toward the door. Her face paled when she noticed that something was guarding it. A loud snore filled our ears, sending us three feet in the air.

“That,” Char whispered, “Is some extremely complicated magic to guard a door.” The clay giant inhaled again, making me flinch. I was no expert on magic, but I did know that life charms were extremely tolling on mages and had to be replenished every few months. I snuck into the royal palace and made off with some pretty pricey crown jewels on that knowledge, so whatever was behind that door had to be important.

“Now would be a pretty good time for a distraction,” I whispered. Charlotte glanced at me, confused. I pointed at the worn brown bag at her side. Recognition dawned on her, and she pinched my ear – hard.

“Ow!” I exclaimed, “What’s the point of knowing a Hedge-mage if she doesn’t want to use magic?”

“That is not the point!” Charlotte argued, “They have magic sensors everywhere; if I use any magic, they’ll catch my signature, and I’ll be put in prison again! And on top of that, our little red friend will wake up and beat the snot out of us!” I roll my eyes. She still wasn’t tracking.

“I don’t need you to use anything big. Just walk up to the guard and use that little village girl charm on the thing. They have personalities, you know.” I snipe back. The guard had woken up, probably from the sound of Charlotte and me arguing, and was now standing still as clay. Charlotte considered the risks and glared.

“Fine.” She hissed, “But never insult my magic knowledge again.”

“Deal.” I grinned. Charlotte stepped out from behind our fortress of bookshelves and ambled up to the guard. Her annoyed expression had turned soft and innocent, and her bag hung crookedly over her shoulder. Just like the day I met her, I shook my head, a smile creeping across my face. If Charlotte was good at anything, it was acting.

“Excuse me, sir.” She mumbled, “I’m afraid I’m a little lost.” The guard looked down, surprise spreading across his crumbly face, or was it a her, you really couldn’t tell with clay giants these days. Charlotte folded her hands and stared at the floor dejectedly. “I really thought I could handle searching for books in the Capitol library, but this place is huge.” The guard’s face softened, cracks appearing in his indifferent facade. I started to make my way through the labyrinth of shelves, looping towards the door.

“What do you need?” The guard’s rumbling voice rattles the dusty shelves surrounding me. Definitely a dude, I thought.

“I’m looking for an old Herbal Spellbook, one of the ones written by Mage Acacia,” Charlotte replied in her soft, feathery voice. Charlotte may look as delicate as a flower, but under that clueless smile, she knew two hundred ways to kill someone with poison alone.

“The herbal section is down the staircase by the door. I can call for someone to assist you if you would like.” The guard suggested.

“That would be wonderful,” Charlotte exclaimed, “Thank you!” She turned away from the guard and started for the staircase. But before she’d made it three steps, she tripped over a book helpfully placed by yours truly, and catapulted to the floor. And that is why you never pinch a Halfling's ear, I chuckled. I was about five feet from the door now, perfectly hidden with the best vantage point to watch her fall. It was hilarious – even though it was part of the plan and she was expecting it. She made a slightly strangled sound like a wounded animal and cradled her ankle with her hands.

“My ankle!” She cried. The guard’s face looked pretty concerned for a man made out of clay. But that’s what happens when you give objects human personalities; this guy was one big softie. He rushed to Charlotte’s side, and while his gaze was fixed on her ankle, one hand slipped inside her bag.

“Are you all right, miss?” He asked. Charlotte whimpered softly in reply. “Here, let me see…” He continued muttering nonsense into Charlotte’s ankle. Just as he was about to help her up, a flurry of green-yellow sparkles exploded in his face. Charlotte grabbed the keys from his belt and tried to support his monstrous frame as the powder knocked him unconscious. The keys, which Charlotte had tossed, landed in my outstretched fingers. Mission accomplished – at least partly. I ran to the door, unlocked it, and slipped through without a sound. After all, stealth was my specialty.

When the door shut behind me, my heart nearly stopped. If I’d thought the guard outside was complicated magic, it was nothing like the stuff in here. I had a feeling that if Charlotte was in here with her staff, magic readings would be off the charts. Books floated lazily around the domed ceiling, pens scrawled incantations across pages, and there were spurts of magic in every color known to man, erupting every few seconds. I took a deep breath and rubbed my hands together; a smirk crept across my face.

“Time to get to work.”

***

“Are you sure we’re in the right place?” Charlotte asked nervously for the tenth time since we’d arrived in Lumens, the sprawling mountain city that was known for its advancements in weapons magic. She was clutching the strap of her bag so tightly her knuckles were the color of the snow a little farther up the peak. I rolled my eyes and patted her shoulder.

“Of course I’m sure. He said to meet his assistant here in some tavern called The Night Creature,” I jumped over a barrel of apples, snatching one in the process. Pickpocketing was one of my favorite hobbies. Charlotte fixed me with her emerald green glare.

“Well, that’s reassuring,” He voice dripped with sarcasm.

“It’ll be fine, I promise. And besides -”

“Coconuts, get your coconuts here!”

“Combs, combs, the perfect gift for your lady!”

“Take an Amulet! They’re cheap, and they ward off more spirits than your grandmother’s breath!” We’d finally reached the market. The place I always get unceremoniously cut off by merchants advertising who-knows-what. And who sells coconuts on a mountain anyway? I huffed. As many easy targets as there were in cities like this, I really hated markets. Charlotte laughed at my annoyance and swiped a caramel apple from a nearby booth.

“For your troubles, good sir,” She snorted, holding it out to me. I took the apple and munched on it begrudgingly. I was just about to throw it away when a dark sign caught my eye. I pulled Charlotte towards it.

“I told you the tavern was real!” I commented smugly. Charlotte just slapped my hand off her wrist.

There was a man already waiting for us as we entered. He wasn’t particularly tall or strong-looking, and there was nothing remarkable about him, but he seemed to grab the attention of everyone in the room. He looked about a few years older than us, but carried himself like he’d been around a million years. His warm brown eyes focused on me.

“Do you have the package my master discussed with you?” He asked. I crossed my arms and lounged on a table.

“Do you have the payment?” I drawled. The man lifted his heavy cloak to reveal a clicking bag of coins, no matter what kind they were, that much would feed Charlotte and me for at least a week. Charlotte examined the bag.

“Payment’s fair,” She shuffled around her bag a moment, “Here’s that book you wanted.” The man smiled.

“My master will be pleased,” He answered, “And if you ever need a favor, m’lady, just ask for Mage Ryle.” He bowed deeply and kissed her hand, then turned to me and gave a respectful nod - and a wink. Charlotte’s face was the color of poppies when he left. I rolled my eyes.

“Seriously?” I asked. Was it weird that I felt a pang of jealousy with that guy? No, definitely not. Charlotte punched me in the shoulder.

“You don’t get to talk.” She said, “Don’t make me bring up the time you tripped over yourself following that princess around like a lost puppy. Not to mention all the other girls you’ve done that for.”

“First of all, I’ve only done that once. And second of all, it was mind control!” I argued. Charlotte shook her head.

“You know, paying for lunch because of that lie, right, Theo?” She laughed. I pretended to consider.

“Deal.” I grinned back.