Will was in no hurry to leave Rookwood Castle. He found a large, secluded Suite on the top floor that had suffered little damage. Its windows faced north, overlooking the distant ridge.
Ranrok soon gave orders to turn the suite into his "private domain." Will reinforced the Silencing Charm there, then made it his temporary residence.
The innermost room of the Suite held a long table and a chair. The fire in the fireplace had gone out long ago, leaving only cold ashes.
He waved his wand, and the flames sprang back to life. Orange-red light filled the room, driving away the damp, musty smell.
Will leaned back in the chair and closed his eyes.
Ranrok had said that his younger brother was searching for Bragbor's journal.
The journal recorded the locations of all the Repositories. If they found it, they could open every Repository within a few months, but Will did not want to wait that long.
He had already spent too much time in this era, and he was growing impatient. All he wanted was to collect the ancient Magic as quickly as possible.
A few days later, Ranrok delivered the first batch of Dark Wizards.
There were three of them, all men between thirty and forty, dressed in ragged robes, with scarred faces and vicious eyes.
They were locked in another room of the Suite, which Will had temporarily converted into a cell. Goblin runic chains bound their hands and feet, leaving them unable to move.
Ranrok stood at the cell door like an obedient servant—the Imperius Curse had turned him into a compliant machine that merely followed orders without asking why.
Will entered the cell, told Ranrok to get on with his duties, then shut the door.
The cell was small, with water seeping through