“Kavin, listen.”
“I wasn’t seeing it before, because we weren’t arranging them right, and our samples are incomplete and worn by time. But I’ve been able to surmise some of the terms and concepts to which it refers.”
“Kavin, I know what the code means.”
Kavin blinked. “You do?”
“I’ve done some … surveillance. The Izzet are investigating the same mystery that we are.”
Kavin cocked his head an inch. “You were following Izzet guild members?”
“They’ve unlocked something related to the code.”
“Wait. You used magic to invade their minds?”
“I gained some of their knowledge, yes.”
“Jace, interfering in guild business can be very dangerous.”
“A path. They have begun to piece together a particular path.”
Kavin held up his notes. “That’s what I’ve learned, as well. There are repeated mentions in the stonework about a ‘path that winds through civilization,’ a ‘path leading to great promise.’ ”
Jace nodded. “The Izzet think of it as a maze.”
“A maze, yes, that’s a better translation. So, you’ve learned where this maze is?”
“It doesn’t seem to be a maze in the traditional sense. The maze seems to lead from landmark to landmark—it’s built into the very structure of the existing districts. An implicit maze. That’s why we’ve seen the Izzet showing up repeatedly, doing experiments around the Tenth—they’re uncovering the route through this maze. All this time you and I have been finding the breadcrumbs of the same trail they’ve been following.”
Jace watched Kavin absorb these revelations. The vedalken’s face rarely showed emotion the way humans did, but Jace could tell that he was struggling. This mystery was a thrill to his own curious mind, but Jace could tell that his compatriot had grave doubts about whether to pursue it.
“Jace, the Izzet are not just scholarly rivals. Their guildmaster does not take kindly to competition.”
“I know. But it’s not the competition that concerns me. It’s what lies at the end of the maze. I think it’s something that could prove very, very dangerous. It’s something that could alter the balance of the guilds. Something that could impact our entire world.”
“What is it?”
Jace wondered whether even to tell Kavin what he had grasped from Niv-Mizzet’s mind. But this was the end of their research. This was the answer they had sought. “Power. The Izzet believe this maze leads to some form of great power. Perhaps even a weapon. I don’t know exactly what it is yet, and I don’t think Niv-Mizzet does, either.”
Kavin’s eyes widened at the mention of the dragon’s name, but Jace went on.
“But this maze, this code, all of this—it’s old. It’s something that was built into the districts long, long ago. If it’s something that inspires such obsession in a dragon, if it’s something he thinks is worthy of his time, then it’s probably something that shouldn’t fall into his hands. We have to chase this, Kavin. We need to learn what’s at the end of this maze before the dragon does. But there’s an even more pressing problem.”
“Jace, who exactly provided you with this information?”
Jace picked at the seam of his cloak. “That’s the problem.”
“Who was it?”
“The dragon, Niv-Mizzet himself. I saw it, all of this, in his mind. And he may have seen me, too.”
“Jace …” Kavin squeezed his eyes shut. He pressed his fingers to his blue-skinned forehead until purplish blotches formed around his fingertips, and drew several deep breaths. When he opened his eyes again, his words came slow with forced patience. “The answer is no.”
“I know there are risks. But maybe we can stay ahead of him. Maybe we can get to the bottom of this before they do.”
“You misunderstand. I’m not just refusing. I’m telling you no. You can’t proceed with this. Neither of us can. It’s suicide.”
Jace remembered the sensation of the dragon’s eyes, the dragon’s mind, turning toward him, just for that instant. It brought to mind a soul-chilling encounter with the dragon Nicol Bolas. His newfound knowledge about the Izzet’s discovery had come with a troubling cost—the possibility that yet another dragon knew his name.
“Jace, we’re done with this. Do I need to remind you what happens when the guilds want something? They ruin lives. They use people. We get involved, and we expose ourselves to the worst they’re capable of.”
“But doesn’t that mean we should get involved? Don’t you think this is important?”
“Of course it’s important. From what you’re saying, it’s gravely serious. Which is why we’re going to shut down this project, destroy all traces of our research, and leave this district.”
Jace wanted to contradict him. He wanted to rebel, to forge ahead without Kavin’s help. He knew investigating this maze would put him in danger, and had accepted that. But he thought of his time with the Infinite Consortium, and how he had learned that when he went up against powerful men, those he cared about were the ones who were hurt. He thought of his friend Kallist, who even Jace himself had manipulated in the end. He thought of Kavin—a talented man but no match for the ruthlessness of Ravnica’s guildmasters.
And he thought of Emmara, who had brought Jace back from the brink of death time and again, and who asked for nothing in return. She had been nothing but a friend to him, and he had brought nothing but harm to her. She had survived an assassination attempt brought on because of him. The more he chased his curiosity, the more she bore the consequences.
Perhaps all this was nothing. Perhaps this was simply the wild fancy of a capricious dragon—Jace had found nothing in his research to suggest that the maze led to a weapon or something else that would endanger Ravnica.. Perhaps Jace was needlessly endangering himself and his allies by yet again sticking his nose where it didn’t belong. He wished he could immerse himself in the layers of secrets, but he couldn’t see any way around the grave risks.
“So?” Kavin asked.
Mirko Vosk walked briskly, scanning the night for witnesses. When he arrived at the chosen intersection, the streets were abandoned. So he approached a brick wall and walked straight through it.
The wall softened into mist for a moment, allowing his passage, and reverted to solid brick after he was through. The abandoned corridors of the undercity branched out before him. He descended a half-ruined staircase, passed under a series of archways, and wove his way through unmarked side passages. Even in the gloom, his eyes reflected like mirrors.
The corridor widened into a haphazard catacomb. Vosk was surrounded by a ring of crude stone shelves where the skeletal remains of forgotten Ravnicans were interred. He knew he had reached the right meeting place because his fangs descended involuntarily. He could feel his master’s presence like a breath on his neck.
Vosk turned in a slow circle, addressing the air around him. “I have news, Master.”
“Of Beleren … Yes, I see,” came the voice—an omni-directional, croaking rasp that echoed throughout the passages.
“He knows something—something that may be of value to the guild.”
“Yes,” said the voice. “He may prove to be the instrument we require.”
Vosk turned, speaking to the walls all around him. “Shall I drain him for you, Master?”
“Enlighten me on the other one, Vosk. What do your senses tell you about the Selesnya girl?”
“Trostani favors her, as you foresaw, Master. Her import grows. I can smell it on her.”