They were waiting for him, which was in no way a surprise.

  Even as Isilhorn recounted his story, Higgrion shoved Arz against the wall and cuffed him. Guard after guard checked Arz for hidden potions. They carelessly pulled purple leaves from his pockets and bag and tossed it all over the floor.

  As uncomfortable and inconvenient as another arrest was, it could potentially work in his favor. After all, to take down the Guild, he did need to know them a tad better. Even while working for them in the past, Arz’s only interactions had really been with Jaralath or the whole group.

  As far as he was concerned, they were a bunch of cranky old people. Maybe that wouldn’t change when he got to know them better, but there was only one way to find out.

  He would just need to avoid the whole execution side of it.

  Higgrion pressed his forearm against Arz’s neck, forcing his face harder into the wall. “We should’ve taken his jacket.”

  “A little late for that,” Arz said, jingling the cuffs.

  The captain shoved harder.

  “You’re not getting away again.” Higgrion pulled Arz back by the cuffs and passed him to a group. “Don’t even let him talk.”

  Arz raised his eyebrows. He could feel blood running from his nose, but there was little he could do about it.

  “Don’t say a word,” Higgrion said as he grabbed his musket. “Haul him out.”

  The guards practically dragged Arz through the study and out the broken door. Isilhorn stood aside, watching with worry in his eyes. Arz simply smiled, which seemed to calm Isilhorn.

  Arz glanced back once as he was pushed into the hall to see Isilhorn grabbing some of the leaves and a vial.

  The trek to the Prime Wizard Building was quiet. Tense, even. Higgrion had obviously been thorough in his warnings about Arz. Every eye was on him, and every eye was filled with worry like he was going to combust and kill everyone.

  Which, to be fair, combusting was always a potential hazard in Arz’s line of work. Alchemy was dangerous. Mostly for himself.

  Higgrion marched up the stairs first and disappeared into the oversized building. Arz expected he would be yanked up right behind the captain, but instead, the guards stopped.

  “Is it time for a rest?” Arz flopped onto the first stair. Sitting without the use of his hands was more difficult than he had expected.

  “The captain is checking with the Wizards before bringing you in,” a guard said.

  “The who? Do you mean the Geriatric Society of Obnoxious People?”

  A guard loudly sighed.

  Maybe his whole routine was getting a little old. Not that it really mattered. He would have his vengeance before long, once he figured out what that vengeance was.

  “Bring him in,” Higgrion said from the top of the stairs.

  “Oh, this is exciting.” Arz stood himself up and hurried up the stairs, causing the guards to run after him. “I made this difficult, didn’t I? They already went home for the day.”

  “Get inside,” Higgrion said. His jowls wobbled when he spoke.

  Arz whistled his whole way into the Guild chambers. Inside was just one woman. Her hair was cut short and she wore a poof, lacy black dress. An iridescent scale hung from a thin chain around her neck. Arz rolled his eyes as soon as he saw her.

  “Of anybody?” Arz said.

  “Lady Ennbias,” Higgrion said, bowing his head. “What would you like us to do?”

  Ennbias sat forward, putting her gloved hands on the tabletop. She stared at Arz with fiery eyes. She was likely the smartest on the Guild. She was also the youngest, only a few years older than Arz, so that intelligence was likely tied to not being an old, cranky asshole.

  “Did he come willingly?” she asked, voice soft.

  Higgrion glanced at Arz.

  Arz raised an eyebrow.

  “Yes.”

  Arz tried to sit in one of the empty chairs, but was yanked up by the guards.

  “I am anything but willing. This old mutt nearly broke my nose while cuffing me. Plus they broke my door. What kind of person does that? They could’ve scared Sal.”

  Ennbias looked quizzically to Higgrion.

  “The eel, ma’am.”

  “Ah, yes. Your famed eel.” Ennbias folded her hands. “We never got to know each other well, Arz. I know you’re a smart man, despite how you behave.”

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  “How do I behave?”

  “Like a child.”

  Arz nodded. “Fair. Continue.”

  “You were charged with crimes against nature, and yet you continue to do the same thing repeatedly. What benefit is there to your exploits?”

  Arz waited for some snide remake or . . . something. But she looked genuinely curious. It was a real question. “Who else do you know on Earth that has seen even half of what I’ve seen? I’ve been to other worlds and met creatures of all kinds.”

  “And what evidence do you have?”

  “None.”

  “Ma’am,” Isilhorn stood in the doorway. “I followed Master Kurana through a portal and traveled with him for a short time.”

  Arz stepped aside, but was pushed back into the center by the guards. “It was a few hours.”

  “To another world?” Ennbias asked.

  “Yes, Lady Ennbias. It was a purple, storming world. We were chased by a creature called a Storm Beast, but Arz kept us safe. He kept me safe.” Isilhorn nodded respectfully then stepped back.

  “Here’s the thing, Arz.” Ennbias scooted her chair forward and leaned on the stone table. “You have broken so many laws. I believe Jaralath intending to hang you is a crime in itself, but, despite this, you are a danger to yourself and others. I will get a report from that young guard, I will get a report from you, then I will deliberate with the Wizards until we can all come to an agreement. You will not be a free man, but I don’t see how hanging you will fix anything.”

  “Hm. What are my other options?”

  “What?” Ennbias turned to Higgrion. “What is he asking?”

  The old captain stared at Arz. “I . . . I don’t know.”

  “I’d rather you snap my neck then put me in a meeting with the whole Guild.” Arz cleared his throat. “Let’s get this over with. What do you want me to do? Throw myself down the stairs outside? Make it look like an accident? You could just shoot me here then toss me in an alley somewhere. Or if you really want to—”

  “Stop,” Higgrion commanded.

  “Oh, but that was the best one.”

  Ennbias stared and gestured with a gloved hand. “Continue.”

  “If you really want to make it memorable, you can submerge me in silverwater.”

  She raised one thin eyebrow. “Interesting proposals. Regardless of what I decide, you’ll wait the night out in the dungeon. I need to speak with the others before allowing myself to drown you.”

  “That’s not necessary. I’d prefer my own bed, you know? The warm sheets, the lack of an ominous feeling of death looming over me, and anything else one can think of that they might enjoy about their home.”

  Ennbias stood with a purpose. “I will join the escort. We won’t have another incident.”

  The older, small woman glared at Arz. He had to admit her demeanor was intimidating, but that was where the intimidation ended. If she was truly a wizard, he would have something to fear. Without magic, she was the same as anyone else.

  Higgrion mumbled his commands. The guards immediately yanked on the cuffs and started guiding Arz through the Prime Wizard Building. Ennbias walked behind with footsteps that clicked on the stone.

  “You know, Arz, I have always been impressed by you.” Ennbias let the words hang as they entered the dank stairwell.

  “Was that the end of the thought?” Arz asked playfully.

  “Then you went and mucked it up with all this foolishness. You were a handsome, smart man. I really thought you knew better.”

  Higgrion gave Arz a look.

  Arz winked back.

  It didn’t take long to reach the dungeon, and since Arz seemed to be the only one worth throwing into the dank hole beneath the Guild’s building, he got to be tossed straight into the first cell.

  “You do know you have a prison on the edge of town, right? You don’t have to put me in here. There are many other options.”

  They closed and locked the door without even taking his cuffs off.

  “I just decided something.” Arz leaned on the cell bars and smiled warmly. “You will be the first, Ennbias.”

  “The first what?” She stepped close. Honestly, too close.

  Arz took a step away as the older woman stared at him. “I decided not long ago that I would get revenge by ruining the reputation of each and every member of the Guild. So, Ennbias, you can be the first. I’m sure it won’t be that difficult for me to dig up some dirt on you.”

  Her thin eyebrows furrowed. “Revenge? For what? It’s not our fault you were never home.”

  The playful smile on Arz’s face dropped.

  Even Higgrion seemed to have understood that comment, as he immediately stepped forward and started ushering Ennbias out. The Guild member gave Arz one more look before Higgrion got her walking up the stairs.

  The captain returned. “Arz, I—”

  “I’m getting out of here and taking them all down. I don’t like you, but you’re just doing your job.” Arz leaned on the bars again. “Consider retiring.”

  “I won’t do it, and you’re not getting out. I’m sorry for her comment.”

  Arz turned away from the guard and started pacing around the cell, whistling. Higgrion remained for another minute, then left without a word. Arz rarely appreciated silence, so his whistling helped keep it far, far away.

  His mind worked around possible ways to ruin Ennbias’s life. He didn’t know enough about her to fully formulate a plan, but there were a few key things he could do to learn more about her. She had a husband and a few sons. She probably had friends, though Arz was unsure about that. At least the kids didn’t really have a choice in associating with her.

  There were plenty of avenues to gather more information.

  It took a few hours, heading into the night, before Isilhorn arrived.

  He reached through the cell, unlocked the cuffs, and passed over a return potion and a sparkstone.

  “It won’t be easy,” he said.

  “It never is.”

  “The captain sent a squad to watch for you. He expects you to escape.”

  “Then why is nobody guarding me here?”

  “They are. I knocked them out.” Isilhorn pressed his lips together. “I’m going to regret this.”

  “No, no.” Arz reached through the bars and patted him on the shoulder. “Probably, but at least try to stay positive. I’ll pay you back.”

  “Okay.” Isilhorn scratched his cheek. “I’m going to probably go run and hide so they don’t know it was me.”

  “Just come through the portal with me.” Arz gently pulled on the cell door.

  Isilhorn flipped through his keys, unlocked it, and entered. “They’ll know someone helped you.”

  “They would already know that from the unconscious individual at the top of the stairs.”

  “Oh, right.”

  “Be ready to help defend me briefly. Don’t kill anyone. Also don’t die. I just need to gather some things, feed Sal, then we can be off for a short time while I finish gathering some information.”

  Isilhorn took a deep breath. “I’m ready.”

  Arz threw the sparkstone at his feet. “Time for a second adventure.” He poured the return potion and grinned as the portal ripped through reality. “Off we go!”