Lucien was out in the Elysium Mill, looking for a trader that sold exotic animal bones but showed up only once a month. He hadn't expected to be bumping into someone special.

"Akida!"

The avian who had been frowning at a small pouch of seeds heard his name being called. He looked up to see a redhead who was making his way to the avian by shoving people out of his way.

"You-" the avian searched his memories for the name of the brat. "Lucien!"

"Didn't you tell Syryn you'd come to us in half a year?"

Nua had gone through several turbulent years after the demon attack. A lot had happened and Riaku had become the rightful king of Nua. Akida had even tried to contact Syryn through letters explaining what had happened and why he couldn't return at the decided time, but apparently, they'd failed to reach the boy. No wonder he hadn't received any replies.

"Long story," the avian replied. "How is Syryn?"

"Long story my ass. Come home with me, Akida. Syryn has been busy and we won't see him for a while so forget about my brother."

The avian had come to Elysium looking for new prospects. He'd been hired by a wealthy man to act as his bodyguard.

"I have to buy some clothing first," he replied. The traditional avian style he was wearing attracted a lot of attention out here in Elysium where avians were ultra-rare. He couldn't hide his wings away and that was a bigger problem but Akida had no recourse for it.

"Then I'll help you. What are you looking for?"

______

Alka and Salem returned from the Sanguine HQ just as Lucien and Akida reached the manor.

The plant mage stopped at the kitchen door and looked at the new face inside their home. He was decidedly less panicky than when he had left home because the Sanguine informed him that Artemus couldn't be dead if the ring was still intact.

"Alka, Salem, this is Akida," Lucien introduced the avian to them. "We met him during our trip to Nua. And Akida, that is Artemus' younger brother."

The mention of his brother's name sent a fresh spurt of concern through Alka's heart. "Akida, forgive my impoliteness but there's been an emergency and I need to speak with Lucien for a moment."

___

"Mu-mu is in danger??"

"Yes. The Sanguine knows how to locate him but they're not telling us anything about it. I've asked my mother to get the details of it somehow so that I too can travel to where Artemus is."

Lucien bit his bottom lip in thought. If Alka was going then so was he. How could he wait around at home knowing Artemus was out there risking his life?

"Can I tell Akida?" He asked the plant mage.

"Why?"

"We could use his abilities, Al. Their wings make them great assets for escape and chase. We can even cross rivers and valleys where bridges don't exist. Besides that, Akida has a good sense for sniffing out danger, and I think he should come with us."

"There's no us, Luci. We don't know how dangerous this trip might be!"

"Precisely why I'm chaperoning you, Alka," Lucien responded. "You're a danger to yourself and you've proved it time and again. You'll end up dead not even halfway into the journey if you don't take me along."

"I wanted to ask Magnus," the plant replied. "But I guess you're right." History had shown them that putting Alka and Magnus together on an adventure led to some very questionable decisions being made.

"I'll talk to Akida. You start packing the necessities for all of us."

____

The avian in the kitchen had his seed pouch open and was rolling a black wrinkled seed in his palm. Salem was watching the seed roll back and forth, round and round. The last time he'd had an opportunity to gaze upon a mystical seed was when he'd visited his elven grandparents.

The seed that Akida was playing with may have seemed childish to someone not in the know. But there was a purpose to the random motion. The avian was attempting to mimic the motion of the seeds when they were inside a flat seed pod. Something about the way the pod moved in the wind caused the seeds to sprout and fall out when they got too heavy inside the pod.

"Akida, you better not be employed already," Lucien said as he burst into the kitchen.

"I am."

"Well, your employer can fuck right off. Artemus requires our help."

"What happened to him?"

Akida was grateful to Syryn, Rowan, Artemus, Sebastian, and Lucien for the aid they'd rendered to Nua when she had needed it the most. If it was time for him to pay back the favour he owed them then Akida was willing to leave his duties aside for it.

"We don't know that yet," Salem responded. "Artemus is in trouble and that is all we know. Frustratingly," he added.

"Tell me whatever you know. Maybe I can offer some insight."

Salem mentioned the ring to Akida who immediately knew what it was.

"What you've just mentioned sounds like a sacrificial ring."

Lucien didn't like the sound of it one bit.

"The ring is a very useful item for siblings, best friends, or lovers who share a strong connection with each other. Put simply, it informs one person when the other's life is threatened or when they're on the verge of death."

Akida observed the expressions of distress that his listeners shared. He hated to be the bearer of bad news but this had to be said.

"The ring feeds on the life source of either of the two wearers. In this case, it is probably Artemus who is making the sacrifice."

From what he knew of the man, Akida concluded that he wouldn't let his younger brother make the sacrifice. The thing was as cursed as Riaku's sword had been but in a different manner.

"How much life force?" Lucien asked because Alka was ashen and silent.

"I don't know that. All I can say is that the magic goes into effect only while he's wearing it and actively triggers the bond."

"So my brother just wanted to let me know that he's dead or dying?" Alka asked.

"No, he's asking you to track down his location using the other pair. Who has the ring that he gave you?"

"The Sanguine." So they hadn't lied about it.

"Has anyone told Sebastian about what's happened?" Lucien asked the others.

Alka shook his head. There hadn't been enough time to. But now he would. The mage could pressure them along with his mother and whether the Sanguine liked it or not, Alka was going to go looking for his brother.