Tibo told the story, his resentment keeping the tears at bay. It shouldn’t have hit him so hard still, but he was tired and aggravated, especially at Rolly for making snap decisions about these people they knew fuck all about.
He left out specifics, of course, no mention of Meerah or Pearl and he was vague about what was in Shandi’s computer, but he didn’t lie about a single flipping thing. “So, it’s that simple. Shandi died. The authorities didn’t care. I do.”

The satyr was nodding, but the phoenix was staring at him like he had two heads. Tibo barely stifled the urge to flip him off. “What?”

The phoenix’s face went blank, void of expression. Probably came with being a phoenix, that need to clamp down on anything like strong emotion. “Were you two related? You and Shandi?”

“No.” Tibo spat out. He flung himself out of his chair to pace. “No, I never knew anything about her before that night. Never. And fuck you. Like someone needs to be attached to me before I’d care.”

“Hey, sorry.” Ashe held his hands up in the air. “I just meant… it was really hard for me when my father died.”

“Yeah...yeah. I get that.” Tibo blew out a breath and scraped both hands back through his hair. “I lost my folks a...while ago. Guess there’s no way it’s ever easy.”

Something in Ashe’s expression had softened. “When did it happen?”

Don’t you dare pity me, Tibo’s frustration howled inside him. But it was just a question and not a state secret or even asked in a condescending way like the reporters so often did. “I was young. Nine, I think. Stuff from back then’s kinda blurry. Apartment fire.”

“I’m sorry.”

And damn it, he was pretty sure the phoenix meant it.

Rolly gave him a kiss on the top of his head as he went by, phone in hand, and his voice soon came from the next room, obviously on a call. “Yes, I was a student of Dr. Lemnos some years back. I’m hoping I could make an appointment with Dr. Zoss? Yes, McFarland. Rolly. Yes, ma’am. I’ll wait.”

After a long pause during which Tibo resumed his seat and his beer drinking, Rolly finally said, “Thank you, yes. That would be perfect. Good day.”

He strolled back to them with a grin and flopped into the chair beside Tibo’s with a shit-eating grin. “I have dropped names and been excruciatingly charming and got us an appointment for tomorrow morning.”

“For all of us?” Jaxx asked.

“I was a mite vague on how many of us there would be, but yes.”

Tibo nudged Rolly’s boot with his foot. “Don’t look so damn smug.”

“What meager talents I have are at your disposal, oh god of goblin rock.”

“Oh, fuck you, McFarland,” Tibo said with a helpless laugh.

If they’d been alone, he would’ve pounced on Rolly and there would’ve been a short but heartfelt scuffle, most likely with Tibo ending up on his back. Which he wouldn’t have minded at all right then. But, yeah, guests.

“So, um, you’re welcome to stay,” Tibo said, waving his bottle at the house. “I mean, it’s not my house and shit, but we’ve got plenty of room.”

Ashe frowned, maybe he thought it was too much like charity, maybe he liked his privacy, but Jaxx, who wasn’t as closed up and awkward, answered for them. “That would be great. Safety in numbers, right Ashe?”

Rolly’s eyebrows had crept up in surprise, though he didn’t contradict the offer. “Something like. Yes, stay. We’ll get takeaway, play some cards, and you’ll be here in the morning rather than us trying to meet up somewhere.”

While Ashe still looked like he was trying to protest, his satyr friend’s fingers were digging into his knee hard, the signal painfully obvious.

When it was all said and done, it wasn’t a bad evening, really. They weren’t people Tibo would usually choose to hang out with. Jaxx’s taste in music wasn’t terrible, but Ashe’s was stuck in some decade none of them were old enough to remember. Probably. Tibo had never been good at guessing phoenix ages. Or really most Beings ages. They seemed like good people, though. Regular, non-clandestine, normal people who’d probably grown up in nice little houses somewhere outside the big cities.

Not shockingly, when it came to bedtime, they picked the smallest bedroom at the other end of the hall. Still a nice one with its own bathroom, so ha! There was no way they were getting out of having a nice, luxurious night whether they wanted it or not.
There wasn’t much in the house in the way of perishables, so Rolly made waffles the next morning which he served with coffee and cherry preserves. Heaven for Tibo. I could eat Rolly’s waffles every morning. Gods, that sounds dirty.

The three big guys threw on coats and shoes and were ready, waiting for him while he wrapped his scarf around him, pulled a sweater over his head and then his coat, stomped into his boots and finally pulled his gloves on.

“Ti, we’re not hiking through the tundra,” Rolly said in his driest tone.

“It’s winter. The city’s windy. I’m gonna dress like a reasonable person when it’s freaking cold.”

Not that it was a long walk back to the dome of the ETVH, but the pointed tips of his exposed ears still stung by the time they reached the entrance hall. Should’ve worn a hat. This time they went to a departmental reception desk and were ushered to Dr. Zoss’s office by the assistant.

“Dr. Zoss? Your nine o’clock.”

The assistant retreated and Dr. Zoss stared at them while Tibo all but hid behind Rolly just in case she remembered him and was still pissed off about it.

“Jou again.”

“Yes, Frau Professor Doktor,” Rolly said with a little boy smile that managed both charming and abashed somehow. “We’re terribly sorry about yesterday, but we hope that you might be able to help.”

“So. It was a lie about Dr. Lemnos?”

“Oh, no, Frau Professor Doktor. I was his student in college. Wonderful course on magical theory.”
​
“Hmm.” She frowned, but her snakes remained quiescent. “Sit. Tell me what is so urgent that jou resort to such strange tactics.”

God Mal was sick of flying. He never thought he'd say those words, or even think them. But after days in the saddle, dealing with both the heat and the cold he couldn't wait till they made it to their destination.


They'd made it as far as Darwin on the first leg of their journey. They arrived mid-morning and decided to spend the night, allowing Nidhogg to rest before they continued. Darwin, the gateway to Asia was the last point of call in Australia before the crossed the ocean. Both he and Kaden were sweltering in their jackets, gloves, and long pants when they'd landed. Darwin was fucking hot and sticky. Mal didn't know how people could live like that. After only half a day and a night, he and Kaden were ready to get the fuck out of dodge.


They lost the massive jackets for the next leg of the journey, although it was still cool flying through the air, they were traversing the tropics, Mal didn't expect it to get colder again until they crossed the equator and possibly even the Tropic of Cancer.


They were able to stay at Guild hangers on every leg of their journey. The difference in the hangers between countries was incredible to Mal. Some looked like nothing more than an old-fashioned barn. Others were opulent and lavish with all the bells and whistles.


Kaden tapped Mal on the shoulder. Mal turned his head to look over his shoulder at his companion. Kaden grinned at him. "Are we there yet?" he said in the whiniest voice he could.


Mal laughed. Kaden had been a trooper this entire trip. For a man who had never stepped foot near a dragon before, he'd now been on one for nearly a week straight. Mal curbed his laughter as he pulled out his GPS tracker. If it weren't for this thing, he'd have no idea where he was going. Mal had never been to Europe before and couldn't have directed himself to Switzerland if his life had depended on it. Not without landing every hour or so and seeing if he was going in the right direction.


"Another hour or two I believe and we'll be there." Kaden nodded, as a shiver racked his body. The weather here was a darn site different to the weather they had left back home.


Snow capped peaks littered the landscape in the distance. The view of the ground was also massively different from that at home. Crossing Australia you had vast nothingness. Just dirt and the occasional tree, with small towns scattered here and there every few hundred kilometers of so. Here, though, Everything was green and lush, thatched roofed cottages speckled the landscape, with houses and thin winding roads. There were small towns and settlements everywhere. The scene was picturesque, to say the least.


Mal had heard Kaden oohing and ahhing behind him. He took his bearings again on the GPS, corrected Nidhogg slightly and settled into the last leg of their journey. Mal couldn't believe they were almost there. He hadn't let himself think about what would happen once they arrived. To tell the truth, he kept expecting to get a caught and turned around, forced to go back home.


Hank had really come through for him.


The last couple of hours had flown by and before Mal knew it they were descending to land at the largest guild hanger in Zurich.


Nidhogg touched down lightly, furling his wings in against his body once they were safely on the ground again. Mal leaned forward and patted his friend's neck. "Thank you, boy, you've done me proud. Now you can rest up for a bit." Mal reached down and undid the straps on his and Kaden's legs.


Men stood off to the side waiting for Mal and Kaden to climb down. Mal understood their reluctance. Although Diver's weren't the most feared of the dragon breeds, they were well known for their agility and quick-mindedness. They were the chosen dragon of Rangers all over the world for a reason.


Mal climbed down, then helped Kaden. He spent a moment of two petting and reassuring Nidhogg before he finally turned to greet the people waiting for him.


"Good afternoon."


"Hello." The man replied in very heavily accented English. "Name?"


Mal smiled. "My name is Captain Malcolm Demire. From Melbourne, Australia."


The man glanced down at a tablet in front of him, tapped at the surface a few times before he glanced up and smiled. "Yes, yes. Here you are."

Mal was momentarily taken aback by that; he wasn't expecting them to know he was coming. Hank must have made the booking. Mal would have to take his friend back the biggest box of Swiss chocolate to say thanks when this was all over.


"Beast name?" The man asked.

Mal frowned slightly; he didn't like anyone calling Nidhogg a beast, but he had to remember he was in a different country, and things ran differently here.


"Nidhogg." The man obviously liked his answer as he quickly spoke to the younger man beside him in a language Mal couldn't understand.


"We have you in with other Divers. That okay?" Mal took a second to answer, not realising the man was once again talking to him.


"That's great, if you could show me the way, I'd like to get Nidhogg bedded down, it's been a long journey."


Mal had made sure not to push Nidhogg's limits. The last thing he needed was to be stranded in a foreign country with an injured or sick dragon.


The man nodded and motioned for his companion to show Mal the way. The man looked down at his tablet again and then back up at the sky. Mal saw another dragon flying overhead, looking to be coming in to land. A Firedrake if he wasn't mistaken.


"Follow me." the young man said, Mal nodded, took a firm grip on the reins and the three of them followed the young man into the massive Hanger. The scent reminded Mal of home and went a long way to easing the tension in his body.


Their guide remained silent as they made their way to the Divers nesting area, there he spoke with another attendant who nodded and set about opening up the cage to allow Mal, Kaden and Nidhogg inside. Mal didn't like the fact they nesting area's looked like massive cages. Back home they were more stalls, this metal crossbars shit didn't sit well with him. Mal kept his thought to himself.


A couple of the younger Diver's stuck their heads around the corner at the entrance, investigating the new guy, but they didn't give them any trouble. They must have sensed Nidhogg wouldn't stand for it; they were led two more stalls down to a single nest and left to attend to Nidhogg


"Thank you," he said as he and Kaden set about removing their bags and untacking Nidhogg. There were shelves to the left where he could store the saddle and tack. Kaden had become a deft hand at helping him over the last week. He'd only needed to be shown once how to do something, Mal was very grateful for the help, dragon accessories weighed a fucking ton.


Mal had just finished removing the last of the equipment from Nidhogg, who'd settled down on his bed, eyes closing when a commotion caught his attention.


He stepped outside his stall and looked back the way they'd just come. Those same younger Divers that were looking at Nidhogg earlier were now at the cage entrance growling and spitting at the group on the other side. A couple of older Divers quickly joined the younger ones.


Mal could see the attendants in the nest area standing back, looking unsure. He shook his head unable to comprehend them not understanding what they needed to do. Mal glanced back at the group in the corridor. What he saw, made his blood boil. A young man and a young lady cowered behind a fledgling Firedrake. The Firedrake was doing it's best to protect them from the fire the Divers were spitting at them.


Before Mal could even think, he turned to Kaden. "Stay here, whatever you do, don't let Nidhogg out. I'll be back in a minute." Mal heard Kaden close the gate to their stall after he stepped outside.


Just then a loud noise sounded, and the lights flickered off. Mal ran to join the commotion yelling at the attendants standing there, hoping to snap them into action. "Somebody open the bloody cages in back, lure them out!"


"How?" one of the attendants asked him. Mal wanted the hit him. They were dealing with Dragons for fuck's sake, how else did you lure a dragon but with meat? Surely they should know this!


"Use whatever prey you have, you bloody idiots!" Mal wasn't about to sugar-coat his words; he didn't care if he offended someone with the way he spoke to them.


"Nora! Calm down, sweetie," someone said.


The Firedrake banged up against the nest. Hissing and clawing at the Divers on the other side.


"Stay back! I'll get her!" Mal said. He doubted any of the others were actually going to make a move to help the Firedrake, but just to be safe. Mal used the small side entrance for humans and quickly made his way to the dragon. He took hold of the reins and swiftly tugged the animal's head around to meet his.

“Well, what the fuck now?” Tibo stared at the phone. Their contact had offed himself. Supposedly, though it seemed awfully convenient. Now what?

“I suppose we could try to find a colleague? Someone who helped in his research?” Rolly flopped back on the chill grass, hands behind his head.

“Wait...what? You’re being all helpful now and not saying let’s go home?”

“Ti, this is important to you.” Rolly reached over to tangle their fingers together. “And the more I help you, you ungrateful little git, the faster we get home.”

“University?”

“Probably our best chance.” Rolly sat up abruptly. “Let’s grab something for breakfast and ask where the nearest library is.”

Tibo’s stomach agreed and his head definitely needed coffee. “But I thought we needed the university?”

“You think we can just march into any building and yell, Oy! Anyone here doing work with that poor Professor Bach? We need to do some research and no one can trace us on a public computer.” Rolly tapped the end of Tibo’s nose. “You would make a terrible spy.”

“Good thing I have a day job.”

They snagged coffee and some decadent chocolate almond pastries at a corner cafe and Rolly, under the pretense of looking for historical sites, got the waitstaff to direct them to the nearest library. Part of Tibo resented that all things social came to Rolly so smoothly, but he told that part to sit the fuck down and be quiet. It was better this way instead of Tibo fumbling and misstepping through things and the cafe staff found Rolly’s attempts to use his limited German utterly charming.

The Zentralbibliothek was almost close enough to bite them, as it turned out, and wonderfully quiet on a weekday morning. With instructions, in English, thank the gods, for signing into the computers, they found two stations side by side far away from the circulation desk.

Tibo tried to find Emil Bach under the University of Zurich website and was soon grinding his teeth in frustration.

“Ease down over there,” Rolly murmured. “I’ve found him through his research papers. He’s published, ah, a number of them.”

“I couldn’t find a single freaking one at the university’s website,” Tibo huffed.

“It’s a little tricky. Dr. Bach worked at one of the colleges, the Eidgenössische Technische und Verzauberung Hochschule Zürich.”

“English, you overeducated jerk.”

“It’s the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and Magic. Not an exact translation, but close enough. And he’s had a number of collaborators over the years.” Rolly’s auburn eyebrows pulled down as he frowned. “We may need to split these up.”

An hour later, they had eliminated three American doctoral students, a Korean professor in applied magical theory, and several Canadian colleagues who were all currently out of reach. The only regular collaborator still on the list was Dr. Maeva Zoss who specialized in magical molecular and field studies and happened to have her office over at the institute, the ETVH.

“What if she won’t see us?” Tibo whispered.

Rolly shot him a tight smile. “Then we’ll make an appointment. Professors have to see you if it’s during office hours.”

Sure as he was that he wanted to speak to Dr. Zoss, Tibo nearly lost his nerve at the domed ETVH building with its imposing colonnades and looming wings. The inside was worse, all gleaming white and gold, three tiers of columns the styles of which he was certain one was supposed to know the names of before one would be allowed inside. They were going to call security or the centurions or whatever they had in a place like this and toss him out for never going back and finishing school.

Rolly took his hand in a firm grip, murmuring, “You’re with me, Glent. Just be arm candy if you like. We’re here to look at the exhibit on dark energy microbeam cancer detection. And, perhaps, speak to Dr. Zoss about her part in the research if she has a moment.”

“You must be rubbing off, Rolls. I understood all that.”

The crooked grin Rolly shot him wasn’t at all academic. He waggled his eyebrows in comic exaggeration. “You can think about rubbing off all you like later. Just not here.”

Rolly’s playfulness vanished when they reached a huge directory of scrolled framework and brass removable plates. Dr. Zoss’s office was listed as HAD G 4.

“Well, grand then. Off we go. Deep breath, Ti.”

Tibo allowed his Rolly--his lover, by all the gods, that was a wonderful things to say, even to himself--to pull him toward the staircase but as he set his foot on the first step, something caught his eye. A pair of shady characters who looked even more out of place than he felt had stepped up to the directory. The satyr pointed to a name, the phoenix of the pair nodded. They whispered back and forth, eyes darting around the main hall, and Tibo’s goblin ears picked up the word Zoss.

Silently, he motioned Rolly onto the stairs out of their line of sight, pointing to the suspicious pair. Tibo wished he had a knife or at least something heavy and blunt. He unbuttoned his coat, let the pair get past them on the stairs, and grabbed the phoenix from behind, one hand tangled in the feathers atop his head, the other around his throat so the phoenix was bent back and in danger of toppling if he struggled.

In a whisper full of threat and violence, he spat out, “What the fuck do you want with Dr. Zoss?”