The entryway fell into stone steps that led farther into the dark. Jiit and Kilek held on to Thunder and Shaynen’s shoulders respectively to keep from stumbling all the way down.

  “Watch your step. It is a long way down.” Ratscratch said from behind.

  “Long way down to what?” Jiit asked, keeping close to Thunder. Her snowy fur itched against his dark scales.

  “To where we speak where walls cannot hear.” Ratscratch said ominously. The stairs ended in a large room. Still pitch black. Ratscratch struck a match and lit the first lantern in the room, creating some light.

  “We are alone, deep underground. Locked in tight and well disguised.” He said, going to the next lantern. “What is it we must speak of?”

  “Have you heard of The Black Antlers?” Mayhem asked. Ratscratch hmm’d as he lit the third and last lantern.

  “I cannot say that I have.” He said. “Thieves? Or pirates?”

  “Neither. Cult.” Mayhem said. “We stumbled into them in the town over with clues leading us here.”

  “Indeed?” Ratscratch said. “May I see?” Mayhem searched her pockets then looked at Jiit. He begrudgingly took out the letter and handed it to the Kenku. Ratscratch read it quickly then nodded.

  “Very concerning.” He agreed. “But if are here to ask what I know then I have nothing for you.”

  “No gossip? Nothing strange or out of the ordinary?” Mayhem asked. “Any little thing.”

  “Wish I could be of use but all my channels have not brought any such news.” Ratscratch said, shaking his head apologetically. “My sources have been chattering only about the wedding.”

  “The cult seems to try and cause some sort of unrest before any destruction.” Shaynen said. Ratscratch clicked his beak a few more times.

  “All I have heard is that there was a blast in the alchemist’s quarter and a full evacuation took place. The whole section of the city is blocked off and guarded. No one in or out as it damaged part of the city walls.” He said.

  “That could be a way in for them…” Jiit said. Thunder looked up at the stone ceiling.

  “It’s funny.” She said. “The cult also operated underground, from an escape route last time, are there many places like this in the city?”

  “Absolutely.” Ratscratch said. “The beggars have a whole underground network. It is one of the ways I receive my news.”

  “Really?” Kilek said raising an eyebrow.

  “They bring me rumors, I give them food and shelter. It is beneficial to us both.” Ratscratch said with a shrug.

  “Were there underground networks in the alchemist’s quarters?” Mayhem asked.

  “There were, but the blast rendered them unsafe. I have forbidden any of my informants to go near until it is repaired.” Ratscratch said.

  “And the repairs won’t happen until after the wedding?” Jiit said, not really asking the question. Ratscratch’s feathers ruffled.

  “There perhaps could be something foul beneath the city.” Ratscratch said. “I shall inform my performers.”

  “Tell them to stay away, the cult comes with an oily tar that can possess and kill.” Mayhem said. “If you hear anything, find us. We’ll investigate from here and hopefully find something the guards will take seriously.”

  “Any help I can provide for you, you will have as soon as I do.” Ratscratch said. “But what I don’t understand is the privacy?”

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  “The cult likes to pretend they’re part of the town and can be trusted so they can cause chaos.” Thunder said. “If they catch up with us and figure out that we’re investigating they could move their plans up and cause more death and destruction than we can stop on our own.”

  “The last town’s mayor had to chase them off because they were causing the town to turn against him and then murdered his family and pretended his house was haunted so more people would come and be possessed.” Shaynen said in a single breath. Ratscratch stared at him while he took in what Shaynen had said.

  “I see.” He said. “Well, discretion is specialty.”

  “Really? But you’re very over the top dramatic with so much comfort and luxury.” Shaynen said.

  “Shaynen Feldspar, you hush!” Mayhem snapped at him. Ratscratch looked between the two then laughed.

  “I see you have taken one as I did you,” He laughed. “Shame you kept your original name. It would have been such a legacy to have mine spread.”

  “You’re the one Mayhem was talking about?” Shaynen said, incredulously. Looking between him and Mayhem.

  “Problem?” Ratscratch asked.

  “Ignore him, he’s been shut up in a temple all his life.” Mayhem said with a long sigh. Covering her face. “He is learning social skills.”

  “I know how to be social,” Shaynen said. He crossed his arms and scowled.

  “On another, and more important, note.” Mayhem said. “You have any leads on an open room in the city?”

  “HA!” Ratscratch started laughing hard. “Of course not, my friend. People are camping in the streets just so they can be in the city for the wedding.”

  “So we thought.” Kilek said. Jiit shook his head in annoyance.

  “But you and your friends are always welcome here with me.” Ratscratch said.

  “Thanks Scratch.” Mayhem said, “we have another person to meet up with, if we don’t find a place to crash we’ll come back here.”

  “I will keep fishing around for more information in the meanwhile.” Ratscratch said. “Who else are you going to see, by the by?”

  “Old friend of his.” Mayhem said, pointing to Kilek.

  “Xuliaga at the university.” Kilek said.

  “The university?” Ratscratch said and whistled. “They haven’t opened up their gates to guests, if you’re close enough to that professor then you might be able to crash in the dorms. They’ve got a few empty right now.”

  “Good to know.” Mayhem said. “Thanks again, Scratch. I’ve missed having you around.” Mayhem gave Ratscratch and hug.

  “Anytime, Mayhem. You know you are always welcome with me.” He said. “I know you’ve got that wandering soul and you’ll never be happy if your feet aren’t on the road. But the offer will always stand.” Ratscratch blew out the lanterns and led the party back up the stairs. Unlocking the door and letting the back out into the empty room. The guards were still waiting exactly where they had been.

  “We’ll talk again soon,” Mayhem called as they headed for the exit.

  “Not soon enough, friend.” Ratscratch said, “But wait!” Mayhem turned. “You didn’t introduce me to your friends.”

  “Oh yeah! Uh, Thunder, Kilek, Jiit, Shaynen.” Mayhem listed as she pointed. Ratscratch nodded.

  “Very important to know.” He said. Mayhem nodded and then led the party back out into the performer’s alley.

  “All right, the university?” Mayhem turned to Kilek.

  “I believe it is this way.” Kilek said and began leading them out of the alley and to the other side of the city. Closer to the palace was another giant palace-like structure with a giant clock tower in the tallest tower. Both structures had giant stone walls with gated entryways.

  “Which one is the castle and which one is the university?” Shaynen asked as they neared the entryways.

  “The one with the clock I believe.” Kilek said.

  “You believe?” Jiit said. “You don’t know?”

  “I came to get Xuliaga into the university as a teacher a long time ago.” Kilek said. “I’ve been a lot of places and seen a lot of people and things in that time.”

  “I guess when the guards stop us we’ll know which one it is.” Thunder said.

  “They probably have come to expect it honestly.” Jiit said. “These two buildings are way too close together to be easily told apart.” Kilek led them to the gates of the massive building with the clock tower. While there was plenty of noise coming from the streets, the opposite building, and everywhere people were, inside the gates of the university were dead silent. A pair of very young adults were standing at the gates, laughing quietly with each other.

  “Ho, friends!” Kilek called as they went to the gate. “We have business within the university.”

  “With who?” One of the kids called.

  “Professor Xuliaga.” Kilek said, coming up to the gate.

  “Oh, cool.” The young adult said and he opened the gate. “The main office is right there and the receptionist can help you.”

  “Thanks much,” Kilek said and the party walked onto the campus. The silence once inside the gates was worse than it had been outside the gates. It was suffocatingly quiet, the scuff of their own footfalls had them surprised.

  They entered the main building where multiple staircases and hallways all branched out from a large desk that had only one woman behind it.