Chapter 22 · The Fourth Face in the Palace

"Through here," Vex said, yanking me into a side passage so narrow my shoulders scraped both walls.

"Where the hell does this go?"

"Palace archives. Halrik's men won't follow—restricted access, old wards, all that official crap." He was breathing hard, sweat streaking the dust on his face. "You still don't trust me."

"You just proved you knew my brother. That's not the same as trust."

"Fair."

The passage opened into a vaulted hall. Rows of stone shelves stretched into the dark, each one stacked with scrolls, ledgers, and boxes sealed with wax. The air smelled like old parchment and something metallic I couldn't place. Vex pulled a small vial from his coat, shook it, and pale green light bloomed inside the glass.

"Alchemist fire?" I asked.

"Knockoff. Cheaper. Won't explode unless you're stupid."

"Comforting."

He held it up, and the shadows peeled back just enough to see the room. No doors ahead. No windows. Just shelves and dust and the faint hum of warding runes carved into the walls.

"So what's the play?" I asked. "We hide in here until the city stops rewinding?"

"No. We find the proof."

I turned on him.