The tea room was quaint, similar to the one in town back home. With warm wooden walls and comfortable low tables, the chill of morning was easily kept at bay. Isador sat across from him, hands folded on the table’s surface. His eyes were wide as he looked around, seemingly more taken with this than he had been by the presence of the light.

The young boy that approached them could not have been more than fifteen. He smiled with crooked teeth and when he nodded his hair fell into his eyes. “Good morning, sirs. Are you in town for the light?”

Isador grinned. “We are. We’re very curious about it.”

”It is very strange indeed,” the boy said, his voice serious. “May I offer you my suggestion for tea? The lavender cylon is very good.”

”A pot of that,” Simon said, pressing his hands against his thighs. “Thank you.”

The boy hurried off as quickly as he had arrived. There was no use in keeping a child from his work with small talk. Not that it was especially busy here… The people who could afford to travel for some strange phenomenon at such short notice were likely of a higher class than those who would patronize a small and humble place like this.

Isador seemed enamored. His gaze was gentle as he glanced around the room, and his expression was soft when it landed on Simon. Simon would tell himself that the look on his face was only because he was charmed by the location. “Is this the sort of place you go after work?” Isador asked.

Simon almost laughed as he shook his head. “I do my best not to spend money.”

At that, Isador frowned. “Are you not being paid enough? Dorian had mentioned getting your wages increased a while ago. Maybe I could do the same.”

That was all it took for Simon’s stomach to sour. He knew that Dorian had been behind each of his pay increases. They always were timed too suspiciously close after Dorian’s visits. But to know that he had told other people that he had done so made him feel ill. Was it his way of atoning for unwanted attention? Or was it just another way to tie up loose ends and ensure he won should Simon ever challenge him? He could imagine it already. If he ever spoke a word against the man, surely he would claim his affection could not have been that unwanted as he had not denied thanks afterward. Simon grit his teeth. “There is no need. I am more than fairly paid for what I do. My father simply instilled a saving habit.”

Isador nodded, but looked him over carefully. “He was really nice. I didn’t get to meet him many times, but your father was always really encouraging. Even when I wasn’t very good at magic.” He smiled, resting his head in his hand. It wasn’t proper table etiquette by any means. “I remember I went to find you after my father reprimanded me for it, but you were home that day. He found me crying and…” Isador laughed, low and without much humor. “You’re the only other person who doesn’t tease me for not being very good.”

Simon did not doubt that. Isador’s siblings had always been awful about it, though he supposed that was just how siblings went. “He was a really great man, and a great archivist.” He would have figured out what was going on with the light on sight, Simon had little doubt.

”Here you go, sirs.” The boy sat the pot of tea between them, and then two cups. They were small and unadorned. “Are you two from the palace?” he asked as he poured the pot first into Simon’s cup and then into Isador’s.

“We are. But keep a secret, alright?” Isador smiled when he spoke.

The boy nodded. “I understand. Do you know what’s going on?”

Simon shook his head. “We are still investigating, but we will find the source.”

Isador clasped his hands around his cup. “What do you think? You’re a local. Your insight would be helpful.”

The boy pursed his lip for a moment. “My family has lived here for generations. It’s the place where the royal family was given the First Scepter, so we all know it’s magical. But… I’ve never seen anything like this. My granddad hasn’t either.” He pushed his hands into the pockets of his apron. “I don’t really know much more than that.”

Isador hummed, bringing his cup to his lips. “The tea is incredible. We will make sure that this won’t interfere with your business at least. Thank you for your help, and for the drink.”

The boy bowed his head before dipping away.

”I want to talk to the people more,” Isador said. “Not about this, just generally. It’s really nice. People in the kingdom are kind.”

That was something Simon would expect to come from Isador’s mouth. He just nodded, sipping at his tea. It was hot as it ran down his throat, but it was light and floral and pleasant. It had been a long time since he had gone out for this type of thing. With the sof chirping of birds outside and the hush of the scant few other patrons, it was peaceful enough that he could nearly allow himself to forget the reason they were here.

”Do you think Aria really found a way to access magic without a special bloodline?” Isador asked, bringing Simon back.

Simon frowned, staring down into his cup. “That is the only thing I can think of. But if she accessed it, I do not understand how.” He sighed before draining his cup. The tea left his mouth hot and his throat aching. “We ought to hurry along. The sooner we handle this, the better for everyone.”

Isador just stared at him for a moment.

”Isa?”

”Did you get enough rest?”

Ah. He nodded. “I did. I am fine, Isador. If I am not, I will say so.” He rose, watching as Isador finished his drink. As he stepped toward the door, the man was quick to hold it open for him. Simon couldn’t explain why something so simple made him furrow his brows. That wasn’t Isador’s place. He was a prince. He shouldn’t be doting on him like this.

There was to time to reprimand him for it. And… really, was it worth ruining the calm of the morning to remind him that a man of his station shouldn’t be holding doors and catering to some archivist. Simon’s eyes turned skyward, up toward the column he had done his best to avoid looking at thus far this morning. He clenched his jaw.

It was Isador who spoke. “Doesn’t it seem larger than before?”

Simon frowned. “It does.” The light had expanded, stretching closer toward the edge of the treeline. If it was growing, then what were they meant to do to put a stop to i t? How far could it expand? It had seemed an oddity yesterday, but this made Simon’s stomach sink. Were they meant to stop this? He took a breath. He was not in charge of anything like that. He would not allow himself to be dragged into something like that.

Isador moved quickly down the same path they had followed yesterday and Simon hurried behind. A larger crowd had gathered now than before, groups of people whispering and muttering.

”Oh, woah,” Isador murmured, stepping forward. 

It only took a moment for Simon to understand.

Right at the front of the column of shimmering light was a uniquely solid door. It was like any other, made of dark wood with a golden handle. It was ordinary. But something about it, something beyond just the sheer absurdity of its location, was compelling. It made Simon shiver.

Isador reached his hand forward and Simon gripped his wrist firmly. “Isador.”

He looked at Simon like he was surprised both by being stopped and by his own attempt to reach forward. “Sorry, I… I don’t know what came over me.”

Simon shook his head. “This needs to be blocked off. This is above what you and I are capable of handling.”

It was too frequent that Isador looked at him like a lost puppy recently. His eyes were soft and his frown gentle, barely even there. For a moment, he didn’t speak, just looking Simon over slowly. “Alright.”

They would find the lawman. This place shouldn’t be accessible to the general public. Any attempt at entering that door should be done by someone with at least some knowledge of magic, someone who could defend themselves. There was no way to know what was beyond that door. This was— This was entirely unprecedented and only becoming more so by the minute.

Isador was silent as Simon guided him away.

Isador was never silent for long.

”Isa? Are you alright?”

The man halted where he was, eyes falling to the ground. “I know I’m not the smartest or the strongest, but… I thought I would really be able to help this time.”

Simon paused, meeting his eyes, but kept quiet.

”I want to go in, Simon. I want to be useful. Just once. If they’ve sent us out here to solve this and I took Dorian’s place and came back with nothing, they’re never going to see me as another spare.”

Simon let out a soft sigh. “That’s a heavy thought to carry,” he said. For all that he might become frustrated with Isador for not keeping up or following conversations well enough, the man was not stupid. He knew the way people viewed him. He knew his place in the family. Having a rigid expectation of what he was could not be easy.

”I’m not very bright sometimes. And Salvador is a better fighter than I’ll ever be. But if I could just help and go in there and figure out what’s inside…” He took a shaky breath. “You’re right, though. We should go home.”

Simon stared at him. It wasn’t like Isador to talk like that. “We can go.”

Isador nodded, raising his head and taking another step. “Right.”

”No, Isa. We can go inside. But I’m not letting you go alone.”

The man’s eyes lit up. His gaze finally left the ground. “You’re sure?”

He wasn’t. “Yes.”

His smile was as bright as the light that shimmered behind them. “Thank you, Simon.”