CHAPTER 52: CONTINGENCY PLANS

Marcus woke to the sound of his family stirring around him. His head felt heavy from a night spent memorizing chemical ratios and mixing techniques. In the real world, he'd fallen asleep over textbooks and websites about explosive compounds. Here in Valdris, that knowledge felt like a dangerous weight in his mind.

"Morning, Marcus," his father said quietly, trying not to wake the twins. "You were tossing and turning all night. Everything alright?"

Marcus sat up and rubbed his eyes. "Yeah, just... busy mind, I guess."

His mother was folding blankets with efficient movements. She paused and looked at him with concern. "All this business at the Academy. Is it going well? You haven't said much about your work lately."

"It's fine, Ma. Just lots of projects to keep track of."

Grandfather wheezed from his cot. "Projects are good. Keeps the mind sharp. But don't forget to eat, boy. You're looking thin."

Tom was already dressed and pulling on his boots. "I gotta head to class early today." He glanced at Marcus. "You gonna be around later? Feel like I barely see you anymore 'cept when you're rushin' off to meetings."

Marcus felt a pang of guilt. His family had given up everything to come to Drakmoor, and now he was so caught up in Academy business that he barely spent time with them.

"Tonight," he promised. "After my meetings today, we'll have dinner together. All of us."

His mother smiled. "I'd like that. Tim and Tam keep asking when Uncle Marcus is gonna teach them more of that funny writing."

The twins perked up at their names. "The squiggly letters!" Tim announced. "I can write 'cat' now!"

"Me too!" Tam added. "And 'dog' and 'tree'!"

Marcus grinned despite his worries. "That's great, guys. We'll practice more tonight, okay?"

After his family dispersed for their daily tasks, Marcus made his way to the Academy workshops. He needed to check on Sara's progress with the printing projects, but more importantly, he had to make a decision about what to do with his hidden materials.

He found Sara in the basement workshop, carefully inking wooden letter blocks. Her cousins. Two teenagers whose names Marcus still mixed up. Were hanging printed sheets to dry on lines strung across the room.

"Morning, boss," Sara said cheerfully. "We finished another batch of practice sheets with your alphabet. Want to see?"

Marcus examined the papers. Sara's technique was getting better. The letters were cleaner, more consistent. "These look great. How's Aldric handling the increased demand?"

"Oh, he's been in meetings all week with potential buyers. Says some of the merchant families are interested in bulk orders." Sara's expression dimmed slightly. "Though he's also been spending a lot of time with that Lara Brightmore girl."

Before Marcus could respond, footsteps clattered down the stairs. Alice appeared, slightly out of breath.

"Marcus, thank goodness you're here. We have news about the meeting."

Marcus felt his stomach drop. "What kind of news?"

"My contacts confirmed the location. It's definitely the old mining post near the eastern district. But there's been a change. It's happening tonight, not tomorrow."

"Tonight?" Sara looked between them, clearly picking up on the tension.

Alice nodded grimly. "Something's accelerated their timeline. Master Thymon called an emergency meeting for this afternoon to finalize our approach."

Marcus's mind raced. His explosive materials weren't ready. He'd need at least another day to properly prepare them. And now they were moving up the timeline?

"Sara," he said suddenly. "Can I talk to you privately for a minute?"

Alice raised an eyebrow but didn't comment. Sara followed Marcus to a quiet corner of the workshop while her cousins continued their work.

"I need to tell you something," Marcus said quietly. "And I need you to promise me you'll keep it secret unless... unless something happens to me."

Sara's eyes widened. "Marcus, you're scaring me. What's going on?"

Marcus pulled out a small notebook. The one where he'd written down all his research from the night before. "I've been working on something. A backup plan, in case things go wrong tonight."

He opened the notebook to show pages covered in his phonetic alphabet. Chemical formulas and procedures translated into the simple writing system he'd taught her.

"These are instructions for making... well, think of them as powerful fire explosions. Much more powerful than anything people here have seen before."

Sara studied the pages, her brow furrowed. "I can read some of this, but Marcus, what do you mean by 'if something happens to you'? Where are you going?"

He handed her the second notebook. "This has the location and the timetables for mixing everything. But Sara. Don't work at your home, okay? It's quite dangerous. Use the warehouse only."

Sara frowned. "What warehouse?"

"You don't know Owen, the foreman who hired me for night work. He disappeared without paying anyone, but I tracked him down. He gave me access to his old warehouse to settle what he owed me."

Sara looked uncertain. "Are you sure it's safe to use someone else's place?"

"It's better than working here or at home. More private." Marcus kept his voice low. "The location and timetables are all in the second notebook."

"Tonight we're trying to catch Lord Varek meeting with one of Malachar's agents. It could be dangerous." Marcus kept his voice low. "I was planning to make these things as protection, but there's not enough time now. So I need someone I trust to know how, just in case."

Sara looked at the notebook, then back at Marcus. "I'm not sure about dangerous things like this, but... I believe you. If you think it's important..." She flipped through the pages. "Though I have to say, it's gonna take me a while to work through all this new vocabulary. Some of these words I've never seen before."

Despite everything, Marcus smiled. "Sorry. I was writing fast and didn't think about translation."

"That's okay. I've been practicing the alphabet every night anyway." She closed the notebook carefully. "But Marcus? Promise me you'll be careful tonight. Whatever this meeting is about, it's not worth getting yourself killed over."

"I promise I'll be as careful as I can be."

Alice coughed from across the room. "Sorry to interrupt, but we should head to Master Thymon's chambers. The meeting starts soon."

As they climbed the stairs together, Marcus felt the weight of the hidden notebook in Sara's hands. He'd crossed another line. From researching dangerous knowledge to sharing it with someone else.

But looking at Alice walking ahead of them, animated as she discussed intelligence reports and surveillance positions, Marcus couldn't shake the feeling that they were walking into something bigger and more dangerous than any of them realized.

And if the worst happened, at least someone would know there were other options. Even if those options came with a price he wasn't sure he was ready to pay.

"Alice," he called out. "You mentioned Master Thymon can't come tonight. Why not?"

Alice paused at the top of the stairs. "His health is worse today. The healers think the stress is taking a toll. So it'll be up to us to handle the surveillance and action."

Us. Marcus thought about Sara's notebook, about Tom's growing magical strength, about Commander Cain's military experience and Sister Korra's unwavering courage.

Maybe they had more advantages than Lord Varek and his mysterious ally realized.

Or maybe they were about to find out just how outmatched they were.