Percy wanted to be shocked, but he had a hunch that there weren't any coincidences. Maybe it was some kind of divine net he was caught in, but he doubted the gods cared that much.

At least he hoped so. The Basker family and Makari Dyrakis being involved in this only made things more complicated.

"Basker?" George frowned. "Those are the people from the house in Carmen. The murderers."

Hugo nodded, dark eyes flashing with danger.

"They haven't changed their ways, in fact they are a lot more dangerous now than before." He saw the confused look on Percy's face. "Barty told me about what happened in that house, and I met one of them in Limia when I was following House Eurides."

"How did you get from Limia to Dema and back here in five days?" Percy asked carefully.

"Trade secret."

He rolled his eyes at Hugo, but it was to be expected. The new info was good though.

"How are they more dangerous?"

"They've done something to their bodies," Hugo explained. "It's like they are sand, or maybe just spirit. They can rapidly change from sand to flesh and are tricky to escape, contain, or even injure."

"Not for you it seems," Percy chuckled. "What were they doing with House Eurides?"

"They are both looking for something called Prosperity in a place. Everyone is very tight-lipped about the location of this place though. But what I know is that they haven't found this object and are being stopped by magical guardians and seals."

It seemed getting into the temple of Gaia wasn't very simple. He guessed that there would be some traps or spells there to protect sacred relics.

"I'm guessing you already know where this place is?" Hugo asked, seeing the look on Percy's face.

"Yes, I was told by a ghost," he said casually, then he saw how everyone was looking at him and explained Philip's spirit visiting him.

At the end, Thalos simply shook his head. It seemed to always be something with Percy.

"I've heard a few instances like that, but a spirit coming to you in the night is something you hear about in a story."

"Well, he wasn't very mystical," Percy explained. "He was actually very rude and ungrateful, but at least we know where the temple is. Will there be a chance that Sion expects us to come there?"

"I don't think so." Hugo shook his head. "I doubt there was any physical evidence of the temple's location in the hideout you destroyed, Lord Thalos?"

"None, they were very thorough," Thalos answered, rubbing the warm cup of tea in his hand. "We still have that Deer guy tied up in my toilet. But he didn't even know there was a temple they were looking for, all he was told was that Dina was being brought to Sonea for protection."

"And this Dina person wasn't in the hideout?" Hugo asked.

"No, she was already on her way to the temple by the time we got here."

It would take a few days to get to the remote location where the temple was hidden. It was surrounded by a forest full of deadly monsters, but He knew a way from Philip's through the forest that would get them there in three days.

If Dina got to the temple first, she would see her kids, then Griffon, the man from the letter in the hideout, would take the children back.

"We'll have to leave soon," Percy announced. "Get there before Dina does and hatch a plan."

"That will be difficult. We'll have to ride nonstop," Hugo said.

"And we don't know who House Eurides has stationed there," Thalos added. "There could be a Spiritmancer or an Arete user at Rank 4. Sion himself could be there with someone that may even be Rank 5."

It was sounding rather unwinnable at this point, but Percy wasn't ready to give up just yet.

"That's why it's good if we get there early and stake things out. We could also split into two teams to try and separate them."

Hugo looked unsure but he nodded slowly.

"Sion can't be there, he's supposed to be in Yarol, so he'll take his Rank 5 protectors in case the Count of Yarol isn't feeling very nice."

"We need to go either way," Percy explained. "We can't let Sion or the Baskers get their hands on the Prosperity, it's linked to Demetria's fertility. We lose it and crops don't grow next year. People go hungry, we lose money."

"Then Sion gets to return to Demetria as Viscount," Thalos said grimly. "And he'll blame us for the loss of fertility. Our arrival will become a bad omen."

"So—" Percy was about to hammer down the point when their food came.

The waiters walked through the shimmering barrier carefully and dropped plates of steaming food down for them. Full trays of buttery chicken, bread, rice, corn, and other things that made his mouth water.

He looked at Thalos and they both held back their laughter. Hugo rolled his eyes at the sudden shift. Once all the food was set down and the waiters were gone he continued speaking.

"We're going tomorrow."

"Do you have to go?" Hugo asked suddenly. "No offense, but you're just a kid. This is going to be a rough fight."

"You need me to get there."

"We can use maps." Hugo took a bite from the food, then turned to Thalos. "I'm not the only one that feels like this?"

Thalos' mouth was stuffed with bread so Percy and Hugo waited for him to speak.

"Why do I have to say something? Anyway, I trust Percy. I actually think we need his help to make this work."

"Of course you need my help," Percy said with a grin. "I'll arm you with enough things to make a Rank 5 Spiritmancer think twice about picking a fight with us. And I have a plan already."

Hugo raised his hands in defeat.

"Sorry for even suggesting it. Let's hear the plan, I'm not talking anymore, I want to eat."

Percy nodded.

"Well for one, I think I know why they haven't looted the temple yet."

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