Aria could not move.The carved bird was in her hands. It felt real.For years she thought it was lost after her father died.She remembered crying about it until Liam gave her another toy he made.After that the memory started to fadeNow she was not sure if it was ever lost.It was taken.Just like her memories.This thought made her feel heavy in her chest.Rowan was the first to speak up."You said your name is Gideon, " he said.The man nodded his head."Yes, " he said."You worked with Elias Voss, " Rowan said."I did, " Gideon replied."For how long?" Rowan asked."Over twelve years, " Gideon said.Nyra crossed her arms."Twelve years is a time to know if someone is alive or not, " she said.Gideon smiled for a second."It is, " he said."Then answer the question we all want to know, " Nyra said.Gideon's face did not show any emotions."I will, " he said.Aria finally spoke up."You knew my father, " she said."I did, " Gideon replied."You knew Liam, " she said.Gideon paused

Stone dust filled the room. Aria covered her face with her arm as rock pieces scattered on the floor. The lantern a guard had dropped rolled slowly. Hit the wall casting shaky light.Three armed men entered first. Then two more joined them. They wore uniforms without royal insignia. Their faces were hidden behind scarves showing only their eyes.The front man smiled. Not because he had won. Because he thought he already had."There you are, " he said calmly. His eyes never left Aria.Rowan stepped between them. "If you take another step you'll regret it."The stranger chuckled. "I've heard that before." He looked at Rowan's sword. "You won't use it.""Why is that?""Because if you kill me... You'll never find your father." The words hit hard.Rowan hesitated, for a moment.. Aria and the man noticed.The stranger spread his hands. "I didn't come here to fight."Nyra whispered, "That's not how it looks."No one acknowledged her. Gideon moved beside Aria. "Don't listen to him."The stran

Aria stopped breathing."Liam?"The name came out before she could stop it.The others froze behind her.The voice came again.Soft and gentle."Aria..."It sounded just like she remembered.. Patient. The voice that had once convinced her climbing the tree in the village was not a big deal. The voice that laughed when she got too serious.Her heart hurt.Nyra reached for her arm."Aria..."She barely heard her.The voice came from beyond the bronze door.Not loud.Almost like an invitation.Lucien stepped in front of her."Don't move."Aria looked at him angry."That's my brother.""No.""It is.""It isn't."She tried to push past him.Lucien caught her wrist not roughly. Firmly enough to stop her."The archive is testing you."Cassian nodded."He's right."Aria stared at both men."For once... They're agreeing."Gideon stepped beside her."The memories here don't just replay the past.""They respond.""To what?" Aria asked."To longing."The answer hit her hard.The voice spoke again

The sound of boots echoed through the archive.It was steady and unhurried.Whoever was coming wasn't searching.They already knew where to go.Rowan quickly put out the lantern.Darkness covered half the room."Everyone stay quiet, " he whispered.The boots kept coming.They were getting closer.Aria quickly put her mothers journal into her bag.She also put the hidden map and the photograph in her bag.She wasn't leaving any of them behind.Lucien noticed."Good, " he said."They came for those, " he said.Cassian looked toward the entrance."No, " he said."They came for her, " he said.No one argued.Everyone knew he was right.The archivist hurried across the room.His hands were shaking."There's another exit, " he said.Rowan turned quickly."You've had another exit this time?" he asked.The old man nodded nervously."It hasn't been used for years, " he said."Show us, " Rowan said.The archivist hurried to the back wall.There was a bookshelf against the stone wall.He reached

The tunnel ended at a stone door with no handle on it.Aria held her lantern up high. The flame. Made long shadows on the carvings on the door.These carvings were different from the ones they saw before with snakes on them.This one was a tree.Its roots went over the stone door and wrapped around lots of little circles that looked like eyes.Nyra looked unhappy."I thought we would see another snake, " she said."So did I, " Rowan said.Aria touched the stone door carefully. It felt cold.In some places it was smooth. In other places it was worn out like many people had touched it before.Her fingers stopped on a hole in the stone.It looked like the shape of the pendant they found.Rowan saw it away."Do not touch it, " he said."You think it is a trap?" Aria asked."I think the people who built this place did not want visitors, " Rowan said.Nyra nodded."I would rather make the old dead people unhappy than die to make them happy, " she said.Aria almost smiled.She took the penda