《Amber Foundation》


 Book I: Amber Foundation

    Joseph Zheng never expected to embark on any grand adventures, but when a sarcophagus left behind by his late grandma strands him across the multiverse, he doesn¡¯t have much choice in the matter.


    This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    He''ll need whatever help he can get if he wants to return to Earth in one piece, even if that means accepting the deal offered by the bizarre and powerful magician Wakeling: Joseph will work for her guild, the Amber Foundation, and in exchange, they''ll help him return home.


    A simple transaction, until Joseph has to race pirates for plunder aboard an abandoned space station, or fight for his life against other guilds, or complete any number of impossible tasks he would never do back home. But if he wants to see Earth again, he''ll have to survive long enough to find his place in the multiverse.

 1. Nai Nais House

    Joseph drove his old, beat-up car in silence. His hands were clamped onto the wheel, and even though it was cold and rainy outside he could feel sweat slicking his palms. He had decided not to turn his usual music on, letting the sounds of rain splattering against the roof and windows of his car be the only sounds in the world, a strange and melancholic dirge as he drove through lonely side-roads and trails slaked with mud. His stomach felt raw and twisted, like a stone had been dropped into it that refused to go away.


    It had been a week since his Nai Nai''s ¨C his grandmother''s ¨C passing. She had gone in her sleep, far away from the three-story house she had built for herself in the mountains of Washington. It had not been a peaceful passing, either, but one full of Nai Nai''s usual bitter poison flung at everyone who came to visit her in the hospital. She had snapped at the doctors who talked to her, the nurses who cared for her, and the family who visited her, her hands crossed and her face taut with that strict air that she always wore when the grandchildren were misbehaving. No, Zheng Chun''s passing was not a peaceful one, with fluffy pillows and a family around her, the light leaving her eyes in some final epilogue. It had been much like Zheng Chun herself ¨C a thunderstorm in a bottle, raging to be free once more, a tinge of sour desperation in its arguments.


    Of course, it had fallen to Joseph to go to her house and look through her things. It was, in Dad¡¯s words, ¡®a quick survey.¡¯ A short trip, though Joseph couldn¡¯t help but feel frustrated that he had been the one sent to scout the house. He had left to get away from it all, hadn¡¯t he? It was only because of Nai Nai that the old man had let him move up here at all...


    Yet something in his father¡¯s voice had prompted Joseph to take the three hour trip up to Nai Nai¡¯s house, to take the rare role of dutiful son, not the wild child he was used to being.


    ¡°Wild child,¡± he said aloud. He had to chuckle at that. He had decided to relent, to give his mourning father a break. He was almost at Nai Nai¡¯s house now - going over the small hill that marked familiar territory from his days visiting her, running through the fields with siblings. He could see the old home now - a tall house situated in a clearing in the middle of the woods. He started to slow down.


    ***


    Joseph was to respect his grandmother. He had been taught to always defer to her wishes, to never raise his voice around her, and to always be available to help when she needed it. She was the head of the family, an elder to be deferred to.


    But Joseph had to be honest with himself. Nai Nai, quite frankly, lived in the ass-end of nowhere. Joseph had been driving uphill for most of the ride to get to her house, far away from Seattle and the sights he had grown familiar with. Despite how close he had lived the past year in the dorms of Seattle University, he hadn''t visited her at all. That fact definitely made him feel a little guilty. But then, Nai Nai had been ferociously independent - according to his father, she had thrown him out in all but name when he had finished college. So rather than living with and being supported by her son, Nai Nai had chosen to live on her own, with her family making visits to her old estate at least once a year. Not the traditional Chinese way, so Joseph could respect that.


    Stepping out of his car, he opened his umbrella to escape the deluge of rain. He squinted, starting at the top of the house, eyes narrowly making their way down to the front door. Nai Nai¡¯s house was an old, decrepit creature, three stories of white, chipped wood that must have looked pristine when first built. Now, though, it was falling into disrepair and rot, despite the fact that Nai Nai had been living here up until a few weeks ago. She had built it herself, apparently, when she had first arrived in Washington. Joseph wondered who her contractor had been.


    A stupid story for another day.


    With a shrug, Joseph walked up to the door, wood creaking under his feet as he went up the stairs. For a moment, habit overtook him as he got ready to ring the doorbell and stand up straight, waiting for the inevitable barrage of admonishments that came with the open door. Then he stopped, realizing that no one was inside anymore, sighed, got the spare key out of his pocket, and opened up.


    Jonathan, his older brother, had called Nai Nai''s house ''The Museum,'' and he was pretty spot-on. Nai Nai''s home was a place out of time, with the first floor being a wide-open living room with a kitchen, with an open roof that led up to the balconies of the second and third floors. There was little privacy here ¨C no matter where you were in the house, the acoustics would carry to the other floors. Artifacts from all over the world decorated the house. Old paintings from Europe lined the walls, fancy noblemen and ladies pouting down at passersby. A set of Japanese armor sat by the refrigerator, the mask of an Oni covering the face. The head of an elk sat over the nice merry fireplace, antlers extending out six feet on each side, taking up the entire wall.


    Joseph had to assume that the last one was fake.


    There were also several golden Chinese sayings on the walls. Joseph had only pretended to understand them as a kid, when Nai Nai had prompted him.


    ¡°Boy,¡± she would say, pointing at one of her sayings, ¡°What does that say?¡±


    ¡°I''m sorry, Nai Nai, I forgot my glasses at home.¡±


    ¡°Useless grandson, always forgetting your glasses! I should speak to that failure of a father of yours, otherwise I will have to buy a pair of glasses and glue them to your face.¡±


    Joseph didn''t wear glasses.


    There were stranger things on the walls, as well. A sword that glowed a neon green, a shield that shifted like a kaleidoscope as Joseph walked across the living room, a bear statue in the corner of the room, right by the staircase, with almost human-like eyes and a forked tongue.


    When Joseph had asked Nai Nai about this as a kid, she had merely scoffed.


    ¡°Mere movie props,¡± she spat, ¡°Don''t pay attention to them, boy. Now eat your cereal and go do whatever it is you children do.¡±


    Still, the way those eyes stared at him made Joseph want to bolt, like at any moment the bear would leap to life and chase him down. But those were just nerves.


    For a moment, Joseph stood there, taking in the sight of the Museum. Then, he blinked and re-oriented himself. Dad, in one of those odd moments of caring, had told Joseph to call him when he¡¯d gotten to the house safely. Joseph took out his phone and dialed his father¡¯s number.


    A few moments passed as the phone rang, the rain splattering against the many windows in the house. All Joseph could see outside was the woods nearby. The phone¡¯s ring echoed through the house, setting him ever so slightly on edge, as though something could hear him. Finally, his dad picked it up.


    ¡°Hello, Joseph,¡± his voice sounded haggard and hollow, ¡°Did you get to her house?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I''m here,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Look, let''s just get this out of the way. Where do you want me to start?¡±


    ¡°Is that any way to talk to your father?¡±


    Joseph rolled his eyes.


    ¡°Right, sorry. Where do you want me to start?¡±


    ¡°Try to get a layout of the place. I''ll be heading there myself in a few days, when we''ve-¡±


    ¡°When you''ve taken care of everything, I know, you told me,¡± Joseph said, tapping his foot impatiently.


    ¡°Joseph, please,¡± his dad said.


    ¡°Sorry, I know, the interrupting thing,¡± Joseph rubbed his temples. He didn''t mean to be so snappy, but his dad was being his usual self - complete and sufficiently informative, though he took the long-winded route to get there. ¡°Sorry, this place just gets to me. Lots of...¡±


    ¡°Movie props,¡± his dad finished.


    ¡°You keep calling them that, Dad, but I''m starting to doubt you. Some of ¡®em look real.¡±


    ¡°¡®Em¡¯?¡±


    ¡°Them. Some of them look real."


    ¡°I know,¡± his dad said, ¡°But that''s always what she said they were.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, obviously, but-¡±


    ¡°Are you calling your grandmother a liar?¡±


    ¡°No! Of course not! Okay, subject change,¡± Joseph took a deep breath, ¡°Look, just tell me what you need me to do.¡±


    ¡°I already told you, get a layout of the place, write down what we''ll need to put into a moving van, and how many people you think we''ll need to move everything out.¡±


    ¡°Sounds good,¡± Joseph tried to keep the hint of bitterness out of his voice. He knew that what his dad was asking him was reasonable, but the whole situation was just¡­ annoying.


    No, that was unfair. Nai Nai was dead. He didn''t have time to wallow in his own misery.


    ¡°Are you holding up okay?¡± Dad asked, ¡°It''s bad enough here, with us preparing her body for the memorial. Your mother is a wreck. You know how close they were...¡±


    Joseph was quiet for a moment, unsure of what to say.


    ¡°Joseph?¡±


    ¡°I''m fine,¡± Joseph said, ¡°It''s just...¡±


    He looked up at the house again to the spiraling staircases that led up to the second and third floors, and the rooms that Nai Nai had decorated with her collection.


    ¡°Just a lot to take in. Haven''t been here in a while. Did she add some new things?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± his dad replied, ¡°At least one new prop a year.. I don''t know where she gets them from.¡±


    ¡°Hollywood or Spirit Halloween, probably,¡± Joseph said. There was a bit of a pause as he walked to the kitchen.


    ¡°Just go through all four floors, okay?¡± his dad said.


    ¡°Wait, four floors?¡± Joseph said, ¡°Dad, there are three.¡±


    ¡°She had a basement.¡±


    Joseph narrowed his eyes, ¡°She never told me about a basement. Neither did you.¡±


    ¡°She didn''t want you to rummage in there as a kid,¡± his dad said, ¡°It''s where she stored all of the collection that she couldn''t put up in the main house. Remember that locked door by the bathroom?¡±


    ¡°She said it was a cleaning closet,¡± Joseph growled. He recalled a time when he had tried to open it, only for Nai Nai to slap his hand away, her eyes alight with a special kind of rage.


    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    ¡°No touch!¡± she had snarled, ¡°Go play somewhere else, now!¡±


    ¡°Your key should open it,¡± his dad pulled him back into reality, ¡°Just take a look in there. Once you''re done and you''ve got a good idea where to start, let me know.¡±


    ¡°Alright, sounds good,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Oh, and Joseph?¡±


    ¡°Yeah?¡±


    ¡°The painting of the lake, with the mother and son standing over it.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I see it.¡±


    ¡°Can you... Can you take it down?¡±


    ¡°...Yeah. I''ll see you, Dad.¡±


    ¡°I love you, my son.¡±


    Joseph paused at that rare statement, his dad hanging up on the other end. He was taking this harder than he was letting on. That made him feel even worse about his flippancy. Joseph fulfilled his father''s odd request, taking the painting down and turning it so it faced the wall. Perhaps it brought up too many memories of Nai Nai. He realized that his father didn''t talk about his childhood very often. Still, there must have been some good mixed in with the bad, if he was so broken about the situation.


    With that done, Joseph took stock of the house. Four floors to go through. Nai Nai had lived alone, and how she kept the whole place was a mystery to him. He decided to start at the top, going up to the third floor and looking around. This was where Nai Nai had slept ¨C the master bedroom was up here, clean and luxurious, Chinese watercolors adorning the walls. It smelled of strong spices that she had used in her baths. Joseph didn''t want to stay in here long ¨C something about the place felt off, like a piece of her soul still resided there, judging him from the corner of the room. So he turned back and went across the hall to the only other room up here.


    It was an observatory. Joseph smiled at that. She had been the one to get him into astronomy. As Joseph walked through the great, circular room. He passed the star charts arrayed messily on the table and towards the balcony to outside, where the telescope had been set up.


    ¡°Oh, Nai Nai,¡± he whispered, ¡°You left it out in the rain.¡±


    The telescope was soaked. Joseph pulled it back into the bedroom, worried that it would be ruined. It wasn''t cheap, with electronic bits and pieces that would be ruined from being out in the storm for so long. He wondered why she had left it out on the balcony. Memories swirled around his head as he adjusted the telescope, checking the various pieces to see if anything had visible damage.


    ¡°Boy,¡± Nai Nai had said to Joseph when he was seven, ¡°What do you think of the stars?¡±


    Joseph had been too young to comprehend what she was talking about.


    ¡°Stars?¡± Joseph had asked, annoyed.


    ¡°Yes, boy. Stars.¡±


    ¡°They''re cool, I guess.¡±


    ¡°Cool?¡± she had raised an eyebrow, towering over him and glowering down at the small child, ¡°Just, cool?¡±


    Joseph blinked. He hadn''t been sure how to respond, ¡°...Yes?¡±


    Then Nai Nai nodded in satisfaction, ¡°Yes, stars are very cool. Come with me.¡±


    Then she brought him up to her observatory. It had been a clear night, and she had used the exact same telescope to show him the stars, how to adjust the focus knob, how to look just the right way so there wasn¡¯t a black ring that obscured your view, how to just get that perfect shot of Saturn. Joseph had marveled, eyes wide, as she told him about the constellations, about the stars and their names, and the history of the universe.


    ¡°There are billions of stars in the galaxy,¡± she said, ¡°And billions of galaxies in the universe. And you''re here. The only you.¡±


    ¡°The... only me,¡± Joseph¡¯s voice was a whisper.


    ¡°Makes you feel small, boy,¡± Nai Nai had said, ¡°That in the end, you don''t matter. I don''t matter. No one matters to the universe. It will still be here when we are gone, boy. It will be here long after us.¡±


    Not the coolest thing to say to a seven-year old. But those words stuck to Joseph now as he stared at the telescope. Nai Nai had her moments of kindness and wonder, despite her exterior shell of being the strict matriarch of the family. She had shown that side more with Joseph. He wasn''t sure why. Maybe because he was the youngest, the most prone to speak out of turn. Nai Nai had been the youngest in her family, too. Maybe she saw in him a kindred spirit.


    One year, when Joseph was eleven, he, Jonathon, and Lily had gotten into a game of hide-and-seek. Joseph had decided to hide in one of the spare bedrooms, beneath the covers of the bed. Nai Nai had been very specific about locking the door to this bedroom, as she said the ¡°covers were too expensive for wild animals.¡± But Joseph had stolen a spare key from downstairs, by the entrance where Nai Nai kept her car keys. A broad smile was on his face as he heard the door open. Jonathon would be so jealous that Joseph had gotten in!


    But it was Nai Nai''s face that greeted Joseph as she pulled the covers away.


    ¡°What are you doing here?!¡± she had snarled.


    Joseph knew that any answer he gave would mean the same punishment. His heart hammered as he stared at Nai Nai''s face, which had gone taut and white as snow, those eyes piercing into his very soul. So Joseph decided to be smart and be honest.


    ¡°I was playing hide-and-seek,¡± he said, putting on an innocent face, ¡°I was wanting to hide. I didn''t want to ruin your bed, Nai Nai. I''m sorry.¡±


    Her lip had twitched just a bit. Then she nodded, and said, ¡°Just be a good boy. If you ruin the covers, I will throw you out into the wilds.¡±


    And she covered him back up, went out of the room, and closed the door.


    Joseph let out a small chuckle at the memory. No, Nai Nai had been kinder to him than she had been to anyone else in the family, even her only son, his father. He looked back at the telescope, heart swelling. Just for one last time, he decided to take a glance into the telescope.


    Despite the fact that most of the equipment was ruined by the rain, despite the fact that the telescope was now fully inside and pointed at the wall, there were stars on the other side.


    ¡°Shit!¡± Joseph jumped back, eyes wide and heart pounding.


    That couldn''t be right. He took a look again. There were stars. Open space. The telescope wasn''t very zoomed in, and it looked like he was just staring at the night sky. He narrowed his eyes, trying to find familiar constellations. He couldn''t find any.


    The entire thing was throwing Joseph off. He peeled himself away from the telescope, trying to take a deep breath to calm himself down. Shaking his head, he got up, and walked out of the observatory.


    Better to let memories lie.


    The second floor was filled with guest rooms, all of them decorated with those strange movie props collected throughout Nai Nai¡¯s life. Some of the rooms had paintings from around the world, others had sculptures that were far too realistic, or so abstract they made his head swirl. The vase in the third bedroom had intricate designs, and he couldn¡¯t recognize any of the plants growing within them - purple flower petals with dark orange thorns that bled droplets of nectar into the soil. Joseph went through them one by one, noting in a small notepad which ones had larger decorations. Then he passed by the room at the end of the balcony. This one he remembered more sharply than the others. Nai Nai had always assigned it to him with each visit, and he spent many nights here trying to sleep. The only decoration in the room was a painting on the wall opposite the bed that Nai Nai called ¡°Saturn Devouring His Son.¡¯ It depicted a giant, bearded man eating his son''s arm, having already cronched on his head. Saturn''s haunted eyes stared down at Joseph, terrifying him, but he hadn''t dared say anything as a kid.


    Joseph decided to avoid that room.


    He came back down to the first floor. He had already surveyed it, so after a quick glance around the living rooms to see if he had missed anything, he walked to the locked door by the bathroom. He took the key out of his pocket and, after a moment''s hesitation, unlocked the door. It opened with a click, revealing a set of wooden stairs that yawned down into darkness. Joseph began stepping down.


    If Nai Nai''s house had been ¡®the Museum,¡¯ her basement was its storage room. Joseph''s eyes widened at the sight of everything in here ¨C statues and abandoned paintings, strange glass orbs caked over with dust, suits of armor from a dozen different cultures set up on stands.


    ¡°My god,¡± he said, ¡°You were a hoarder, Nai Nai.¡±


    He had to lift his legs to walk, as random objects littered the floor. He almost stepped on a few stuffed unicorns that stared up at him with mournful eyes. He accidentally knocked one of the glass orbs, which rolled with a titanic grace like a giant marble across the floor, bumping into a marble pillar with a vase on top. Joseph froze, watching the vase dance on its pedestal. Then he strode forward and grabbed it as it fell.


    He had been holding his breath. Joseph exhaled, hands shaking a bit as he looked at the vase. It depicted a naked man with a spear attacking a many-headed snake. His eyes narrowed as he noticed the man had three eyes on his cheek and a hook instead of a left hand.


    ¡°Picasso,¡± he murmured. He put the vase on the floor and continued on his way.


    He wondered why he hadn¡¯t been told about this room. Certainly enough, he could see why Nai Nai would forbid anyone walking downstairs - four rambunctious children, one of them a demon named Joseph Zheng - but everywhere else in the house she had used intimidation to scare the grandchildren away from her more personal rooms. The fact that she had straight-up lied about this room and kept it under lock and key, never even mentioning its existence even when the grandchildren were all grown up made Joseph vaguely uneasy. He tripped again on a stand with a suit of armor on top of it. He didn¡¯t recognize the armor¡¯s make - it was as though it had been carved out of stone.


    No, wait, he had seen it before.


    It had been knocked over when Nai Nai had gone out for groceries, and his parents were watching the house. Without Nai Nai¡¯s usual, oppressive spying on them, things had gotten a bit out of hand. While his mom cooked dinner downstairs, Jonathan had run into the stand, knocking the armor over, cracking it horribly.


    ¡°What were you thinking?!¡± Nai Nai screeched when she discovered the damage, ¡°Idiot boy! You should be ashamed! Your father should be ashamed of raising such an ignorant child, and I should be ashamed for raising a man who raised an ignorant child!¡±


    She had gingerly picked the pieces of the armor up. Her face was still hawkish and red with anger.


    ¡°An old friend gave this to me,¡± her voice just had the tiniest hint of sorrow, ¡°A friend now long gone.¡±


    She wouldn¡¯t accept any of their apologies - not even his mom¡¯s. She had gathered the pieces of the armor up, and whisked them away. She had been silent the rest of the visit.


    Now he knew where she had taken it. She had painstakingly put the armor back together, it seemed - Joseph could see the barest hints of gold-stained glue holding some of the pieces in place, as though it were terracotta. He had never known Nai Nai to be an artisan, nor had he ever seen the barest hint of her own crafting supplies in the house - not even a pair of scissors. Yet here stood the armor, put back together with a passion Nai Nai had only exhibited screaming at strangers on the road.


    ¡°Let¡¯s not break it again, then,¡± Joseph said. He turned back towards the rest of the room, and began picking through the various props, trying to make sense of everything.


    ***


    After around ten minutes of looking about the place, Joseph had just about given up. He was frozen with indecision, not sure where to start. His mom and sister would have been better suited at this. But no, Joseph was the closest to the house, so he was the one to do it. At least it was just a survey, but he had the feeling that he would be roped into helping clean the house out as time went on.


    ¡°Dammit,¡± he said, ¡°Just in time for finals.¡±


    He walked around the room, again feeling a bit guilty about his anger. He knew it wasn''t fair ¨C none of this situation was fair. Better to be the dutiful son, like Jonathon. He took a deep breath, centering himself.


    And he froze.


    And heard voices.


    At first he thought they were coming from upstairs. Had he locked the door? Were some random mountain men coming in through the front? Joseph felt his stomach tighten.


    But no, they weren''t coming from upstairs. The whispers were indistinct and dark, and Joseph looked around the room, trying to find its source. It was somewhere in the basement, and as Joseph padded through the discarded trophies and old stone tablets, it grew louder, hammering into his head. The light from the small lightbulb in the ceiling didn''t cover the entire room, and it darkened to a sunset glow as he made his way to the corner of the basement. His eyes adjusting, the whispers screaming in his head, Joseph found the voices¡¯ source.


    It was a coffin. No, a sarcophagus. Silver in color and seven feet tall. It stood upright against the wall, and the man carved onto the front of the coffin had the head of... something. It vaguely looked like a jackal, but the way its snout curved down reminded Joseph of an ant-eater. Twin ruby eyes glared down at him. Its arms were crossed. On one hand it held a shepherd''s cane. The other hand held a coiling dragon, fist clenched over the dragon''s throat.


    Joseph took a few steps back, but he could not tear his gaze away from the sarcophagus. It seemed to take up his vision, the darkness swallowed up by silver. The eyes glinted, spoke to him, commanded him. Joseph gulped. He tried to run. To turn around and flee, go back upstairs and back into his car. He shouldn''t have even been here. This was his father''s job. His Nai Nai would be disappointed, for her grandson to be here. He wasn''t allowed down in the basement. She had locked the door for a reason.


    She had locked the door for a reason.


    The sarcophagus opened up. Joseph felt himself walking forward, step by step, into the open maw of the inside. It smelled of sweet spices ¨C more pungent than his grandmother''s room, like the sickening smell of rotting fruit. The inside of the sarcophagus was cold and clammy like a cavern. With a great ka-chunk, the sarcophagus closed behind him. He felt a tug in his stomach, as though he were a fish caught on a line. Then he was pulled back. But instead of slamming into the walls of the sarcophagus, Joseph instead fell into darkness. The voices had turned into chants, a thousand voices deafening his ears as he tumbled in shadow, twisting in open air. That shadow turned to light, a bright miasma of colors assaulting his vision, reflecting and refracting off of his eyes and back out towards the beyond, then back again.


    Then, for a brief moment that seemed to hold for an eternity, he stopped, suspended in the air. Joseph wanted to scream, but found he couldn¡¯t even breathe. The lights faded, the shadow returned, and then he fell once more into inky darkness.


    And then Joseph landed.


    Hard.

 2. First Time Traveling

    The floor beneath his hands was cold and hard. Joseph¡¯s eyes fluttered open. He regretted it immediately as harsh light funneled into his vision, too sharp and too intense. He squeezed them shut again, a groan escaping his lips. It was definitely much brighter here than Nai Nai¡¯s old basement. After a few moments, as he let his eyes adjust to the room, he opened them again. Panic rose up to his throat as he looked around, threatening to overtake him.


    ¡°No, Joseph,¡± he said to himself, ¡°Come on, focus.¡±


    He was in a circular room, all of it made out of metal. The floor was industrial steel, the walls seemed to be made out of bronze. A deep rumble, like a beating heart, permeated the floor, vibrating it ever so slightly. Joseph got up. He could hear voices and shouts coming from outside the room, in other parts of¡­ wherever he was. Two doors led out, simple and rectangular, devoid of decoration.


    How had he even gotten here? Joseph turned to look behind him, wincing as he felt his body shudder and ache. That journey had not been comfortable, to say the least. And his apparent mode of transportation stood above him. It was another sarcophagus, similar in size to the one in Nai Nai¡¯s basement. This one was golden, however, with the head of an eagle - or a hawk? Joseph wasn¡¯t sure. There were no designs on it, either, no decorations or etched runes like the silver one. Now that he wasn¡¯t about to explode from panic, Joseph could now see that there were other artifacts in here - two sculpted marble heads on pedestals stood on either side of the sarcophagus, each fifteen feet away. A few vases were lying on a table, made out of black marble, each the size of Joseph¡¯s head.


    Wherever he was, he wasn¡¯t home.


    And no way was he doing this.


    Joseph walked up to the sarcophagus and, fingers shaking, began to pry it open. It was much more difficult than he thought, and he winced as it initially let out a dry scream as the sarcophagus¡¯s top scraped against the floor. Heart hammering in his chest, Joseph paused. Then, panic of the unknown gripping him once more, he finished pulling it and went inside, twisting his body so that he faced the outside world. The sarcophagus closed with a wrenching  shriek, casting him in darkness. Sweat was dripping down his temples now. Any moment, he¡¯d feel that pull again, right?


    Right?


    Outside, he heard one of the doors open, footsteps clacking against the metal floor.


    ¡°Right,¡± a deep voice said, ¡°Are you all okay?¡±


    ¡°I''m fine as I ever will be, all things considered,¡± a thin and reedy voice replied.


    ¡°Same. I''m alright,¡± the last voice was a woman''s.


    ¡°Alright, good,¡± the deep voice said, ¡°Rosemary, what happened back there?¡±


    ¡°A group of raiders, after the same thing we''re after,¡± the girl, who Joseph guessed was Rosemary, replied, ¡°They came by airship, which means they''re local, right? I guess I counted about a dozen men? One of them was definitely a Steamer.¡±


    ¡°Just what we needed,¡± the deep voice grumbled, ¡°Ichabod, I need you to get a scan of this place. Use that vision of yours ¨C by now, the Steamer''s probably covered this whole place.¡±


    ¡°Easy,¡± the man, Ichabod, said. A few moments passed. Then, Ichabod spoke again as Joseph heard them shuffle around the room, ¡°Broon, I think there''s something you ought to know.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°There''s a man in the sarcophagus.¡±


    Joseph froze up, not daring to breathe. A few moments passed as he heard the footsteps get closer to the sarcophagus. Then it was wrenched open.


    ¡°Hi,¡± Joseph said, ¡°What''s up-¡±


    His eyes landed on a dark green-skinned, large man with tusks protruding from his lower lips.


    ¡°Jesus Christ!¡± Joseph tried to take a few steps back, running up against the back of the sarcophagus. The green-skinned man was wearing scale armor and, he noticed, had only one arm ¨C his right, the hand of which held a large sword with runes etched into the blade, which was pointed directly at Joseph''s chest.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± the man growled.


    ¡°Uh,¡± Joseph said, eyes wide.


    ¡°Answer the question!¡±


    ¡°Okay! My name''s Joseph!¡±


    ¡°How did you get here?¡± the green-skinned man looked him up and down, ¡°You don''t look like you''re from Kelstonda.¡±


    ¡°Pal,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I don''t even know what you just said.¡±


    The green-skinned man looked him over one last time, then sighed. He lowered the sword, ¡°How did you get here, son?¡±


    With the sword out of the way, Joseph got a bit more control over himself, ¡°I got into a sarcophagus in my Nai Nai''s house. It, uh, brought me here.¡±


    ¡°Brought... you... here?¡± the man tilted his head.


    ¡°Yeah, I don''t believe it either. Hey, am I in a dream?¡±


    ¡°More of a nightmare,¡± Ichabod said. Joseph got a better look at him as he approached the sarcophagus. Ichabod was in a dark trench coat, his skin was pale white like decaying ivory, and he wore sunglasses. He looked over the sarcophagus, ignoring Joseph, ¡°I don''t see any signs of this being a Traveling Point.¡±


    ¡°Maybe it''s magical,¡± the green-skinned man said.


    Then the third voice dropped into view. She looked around Joseph''s age, with frizzy blond hair that hung just an inch over her shoulders. She was wearing leather armor and a burgundy cloak. She also held a strange mace, a large rose that looked like it had been dipped in molten glass, gold criss-crossing it like a spider''s web.


    ¡°Broon,¡± the girl, Rosemary, said, ¡°Broon, I think he''s new to all this. First time traveling.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± the green-skinned man, Broon, looked at Joseph, ¡°Oh dear, you''re right. It''s been awhile since I''ve been through this whole spiel. Rosemary, have you ever introduced a new traveler?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Rosemary replied.


    ¡°Ichabod, how about you?¡±


    ¡°Thirteen times, actually,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°I could do it, if you want. Peel back the layers, make him understand how small he truly is.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, no,¡± Broon said, ¡°One, we don''t want to scare him. Two, you''re an asshole.¡±


    ¡°Fair,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°Someone want to tell me what''s going on?¡± Joseph asked, trying to keep the fear out of his voice.


    ¡°Right,¡± Broon said, ¡°You''re on an airship. You''re on the plane of Kelstonda. I''m Broon, this is Ichabod, and that''s Rosemary right there.¡±


    ¡°Hiya!¡± Rosemary gave Joseph a wide smile, ¡°Where are you from?¡±


    ¡°I''m... from...¡± Joseph thought, ¡°California?¡±


    ¡°Never heard of California before,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°It''s a state. From Prime,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Makes sense, with his fashion and whatnot.¡±


    ¡°I''ve... never heard of Prime in my life,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Not from Prime?¡± Ichabod raised an eyebrow. He took off his sunglasses, and Joseph''s spine tingled as he saw Ichabod''s eyes were gone ¨C replaced by cybernetic implants made of glass and bits of metal. He heard whirring as they looked over him, the pupils dilating in an all-too-inhuman manner, ¡°Ah, you poor bastard. You''re from Earth, aren''t you?¡±


    ¡°That''s the name,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Where the hell am I?¡±


    ¡°Are you stupid?¡± Ichabod said, ¡°You imbecile, we already told you. You''re on Kelstonda.¡±


    ¡°That''s enough, Ichabod,¡± Broon nodded at Ichabod, who sighed and took a few steps back. In the distance, they could hear shouting.


    Shouting, and gunshots.


    ¡°Shit,¡± Joseph whispered.


    Broon looked at Joseph, and sighed, ¡°Look, the Steamer''s probably going to cover the entire airship if they can. I''ll give you a deal: Come with us, and we''ll tell you everything when we''ve finished our job.¡±


    Joseph considered the large man''s offer. More gunshots rang out, deeper in the airship. Rosemary cast a worried glance to the door.


    ¡°Broon, they''ll be here soon,¡± she said. Joseph noticed she was wearing a pack beneath her cloak that was glowing faintly. Broon and his gang seemed to be in a hurry.


    ¡°Why should I go with you?¡± Joseph said, ¡°I could just stay here. Try going back into the sarcophagus.¡±


    ¡°I wouldn''t recommend it,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°For starters, that sarcophagus isn''t showing any signs of inter-planar activity. You''d just be sitting in there like an idiot. There''s also the fact that, very soon, this room will be filled with steam that will burn you to death in an agonizing fashion. If you stay here, your last thoughts will be of how much of a moron you were as your flesh boils.¡±


    Ichabod showed no signs of lying as he stared at Joseph.


    ¡°Alright,¡± Joseph gulped, ¡°I''ll go with you.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Broon said, ¡°Come on, let''s go.¡±


    He walked towards one of the doors.


    ¡°I wouldn''t do that,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Steam''s closing in fast there. We''ll want to go through the other side.¡±


    ¡°But that''s the way we came, isn''t it?¡± Rosemary said, ¡°And that''s near where they sliced in. We''ll run into them for sure.¡±


    ¡°Aye, but there are windows there,¡± Broon said, walking towards the other door, ¡°We''ll have to climb.¡±


    He threw the door open, hand reaching to grab hold of his sword once more. He kept the blade in front of him. Taking point, Broon began going down the hallway. Ichabod was close behind, and Rosemary followed.


    ¡°Joseph, right?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°Come on, and I hope you''re a good climber.¡±


    ¡°I''ve climbed a few trees in my day,¡± Joseph said, a bit too nervous for his liking.


    They went down the hallways, which began snaking out in multiple directions. Broon guided them, but at one point they came upon a specific split, and Ichabod stopped the group.


    ¡°The left path''s blocked by steam,¡± he said, ¡°Go right.¡±


    ¡°Steam?¡± Joseph asked as they resumed their journey.


    ¡°The raiders have a Steamer with them,¡± Rosemary replied, ¡°Steam Mage. Controls steam.¡±


    ¡°That name is... not original,¡± Joseph commented.


    ¡°Gets the point across, though,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°But, yeah... not winning any awards in the naming department.¡±


    After about twenty minutes of quick walking and watching for danger, they came to one of the windows. It was wide and long, previewing the outside world. Joseph took a glance and froze. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he had assumed that Broon had been lying somehow, that they were just in a simple building. But they WERE in an airship, one that was flying high above the clouds, which spread out towards the night''s horizon. Joseph couldn''t even see land below them.


    His three guides ignored his existential epiphany, looking out the window and ignoring the fact that airships were real. Though, based on how they were acting, it seemed like they were used to all of this. It was business as usual.


    ¡°Rosemary?¡± Broon asked.


    ¡°Got it!¡± Rosemary slammed her rose mace into the window, shattering it. Shards of glass flew out towards the night below. Joseph hoped no one would get cut when they hit the ground. Broon sheathed his sword. He took a glance outside, then jumped out, his single, muscular arm straining to pull himself out of the airship.


    ¡°I always hate this part,¡± Ichabod groaned. With a morose frown on his face, he walked forward and began climbing as well. Joseph noticed, as the wind whipped around Ichabod''s sleeves, that his arms and hands were cybernetic as well.


    Rosemary gave a worried glance at Joseph, ¡°Sure you''ll be okay?¡±


    Joseph looked out the window. Panic was climbing back into his throat as he looked down at the clouds below. If he slipped, that''d be that.


    ¡°Yeah, I''m fine,¡± he lied. Rosemary gave him a sympathetic smile, before she clambered out the window and began climbing. Joseph took a deep breath, testing his grip. He looked out the window to see where the other three were climbing. Fortunately, a ladder had been built into the sides of the airship, presumably for its crew to climb about for repairs. He could make out Broon''s form hopping towards it, a meaty hand closing over one of the rungs.


    Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    ¡°Not so bad,¡± he said to himself, ¡°It''s just a simple climb, like a tree, Joseph. Just¡­¡±


    He began climbing, stomach falling as he did so. His feet tingled as they went out into open air for a moment, the wind picking him up for a brief moment before he found purchase against the side of the airship.


    ¡°Just a big, metal tree,¡± he gasped.


    The airship they were on was like a zeppelin from his world, with a massive balloon that supported a gondola on the bottom. Of course, this airship was three times the size of the Goodyear balloons that Joseph sometimes saw flying in the air, and he was sure that those didn''t have turrets built into the side. Joseph took a methodical pace, following behind Rosemary as she scrambled up the side of the hull. She was better at climbing than he was ¨C definitely better than Ichabod, who stuttered and swore as he made his way up the side slower than a tortoise. So Joseph mimicked her actions, using the same footholds she used, and soon enough he was on the ladder. Rosemary looked down at him, cloak billowing in the wind, and flashed him a quick smile.


    ¡°Raiders!¡± Broon''s voice was carried by the wind, ¡°Rosemary!¡±


    Joseph looked up. He could see a few raiders now ¨C three men in bomber jackets flying their own personalized flying machines that looked like miniature planes. The men stood atop them, belts connecting them to their fliers as they flitted through the sky, searchlights painting the airship. High above, hidden behind the airship''s balloon, Joseph could make out another, smaller zeppelin, ladders and ropes connecting it to the gondola.


    Rosemary pulled out her mace and pointed it at one of the fliers. The rose''s head on the mace became encased in a bright light ¨C Joseph looked away as it fired out as a beam. It struck one of the fliers, which began tumbling, rider and all, out of the sky.


    The raiders had noticed Rosemary''s attack, and they began wheeling in formation. Joseph squinted, and on either side of the searchlights he could see machine guns.


    ¡°Brace yourselves!¡± Broon called. Joseph felt his stomach pull. Those machine guns would tear them apart. They had no cover. It would be like shooting fish in a barrel...


    Then Rosemary fired off another beam of light. This one stopped between them and the raiders, floating in place for a brief millisecond before expanding out, turning into a wall of light that shielded them as the raiders let out their barrage.


    ¡°Nice job, Rosemary!¡± Broon roared.


    ¡°Look out!¡± Ichabod yelled.


    One of the raiders wheeled away from Rosemary''s shield, flying high above it. The other was not so lucky, slamming into the shield, which cracked and shattered like the window on the airship, shards of light flying towards them. Most of them disappeared. A few of the larger ones gouged themselves into the airship. The raider himself flew like a meteor into the hull far below them. Joseph twisted his arms and legs around the rungs of the ladder as the airship quaked from the impact.


    ¡°The egg!¡± Rosemary screamed. Joseph''s head snapped up as he saw Rosemary''s pack unhinge from her back. Perhaps it was the belt she had used to strap it to her person was weak, or the strap had loosened when she was climbing. Whatever it was, the pack began to fall.


    Joseph reached out behind him, one hand unclenching from his grip on the ladder. He could feel his bones popping a bit as he strained his arm, snagging the pack and pulling it close to his chest. He felt a shiver of fear wash over him as he hugged the ladder once more.


    If he had let go completely...


    ¡°Thanks!¡± Rosemary shouted, ¡°By the gods, thank you!¡±


    A weird thing to say, but Joseph nodded to her. Broon had made it to the top of the airship, going inside through one of the maintenance hatches. Ichabod was close behind. The last raider was wheeling about, ready to make another pass, his searchlight blaring like the sun.


    ¡°Do you got him?!¡± Joseph shouted to Rosemary.


    ¡°Do I got him, he asks!¡± Rosemary laughed. She gave a confident grin, pointing her mace. The light erupted once more from its head, cleaving through the flier. The raider plummeted through the clouds in pieces.


    Broon helped Joseph up as he and Rosemary got to the maintenance hatch. He gave him a clap on the back.


    ¡°Damn straight!¡± he said, ¡°Good work. You have the pack?¡±


    Joseph had almost forgotten the pack was there. He presented it to Broon, who shook his head.


    ¡°I need my arm for fighting. We''re not through with this yet.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps you should check to make sure the egg is still in there?¡± Ichabod hissed.


    ¡°Oh, r-right, egg,¡± Joseph opened up the pack. Inside was an egg. It was like a tadpole¡¯s, jelly-like and squishy. It was golden in color, glowing cheerily in the relative darkness of the maintenance hall they were standing in.


    ¡°Undamaged,¡± Ichabod confirmed, looking it over with his cybernetic eyes, ¡°Thank the gods that it is, otherwise it''d be all our necks.¡±


    ¡°Keep the pack for now,¡± Broon said, ¡°I don''t want a repeat of that happening.¡±


    ¡°Sorry,¡± Rosemary said, a gray look on her face, ¡°I forgot to tighten the pack before we started climbing, and... and-¡±


    ¡°It''s alright,¡± Broon replied.


    ¡°Well, it''s not alright,¡± Ichabod added.


    ¡°It''s alright,¡± Broon cast a warning look at Ichabod, ¡°What matters is we''re okay, and the egg is undamaged. You did a good job out there, Rosemary. Your shields saved us.¡±


    Rosemary brightened up at that.


    ¡°You think?¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Broon gave her a pat on the back. Then he drew out his sword and looked out towards the end of the maintenance hall, ¡°Now let''s get back to it. We''re almost to the hangar.¡±


    ¡°What''s at the hangar?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Our airship, of course,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Context clues, Mr. Joseph. It''s not that difficult.¡±


    Joseph glared at Ichabod, who gave a shrug and followed behind Broon. Rosemary poked Joseph''s arm.


    ¡°Don''t let Ichabod get to you. He''s like that with everybody,¡± she said.


    ¡°Too true!¡± Ichabod called back.


    Rosemary rolled her eyes.


    ¡°Thanks again. For saving the egg, I mean,¡± she said.


    ¡°No problem,¡± Joseph shouldered the pack, adjusting its strap so it hugged his back.


    ¡°Time''s a-wasting, boys and girls!¡± Ichabod yelled.


    ¡°Alright, alright!¡± Rosemary began catching up to him. Joseph gave one last glance to the maintenance hatch, then sighed and tailed behind.


    ***


    ¡°It looks like they''ve set up shop near the hangar,¡± Ichabod said, staring at the walls as they walked. Joseph supposed one of those cybernetic eyes'' functions was x-ray vision, ¡°The Steamer''s with them. The northern hallway is clear, though. Seems they''re going to kill everyone on board with the steam, then move out.¡±


    ¡°Explains why we haven''t had too much resistance,¡± Broon said.


    ¡°What about those gunshots we heard?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°There are defenses against Steamers,¡± Ichabod explained, ¡°Other Steamers, for one. Guards whose sole specialization is killing Steamers, perhaps. They wear full-body suits for protection and rush in. Considering how this raiding group only has one Steamer, taking out any of those was paramount.¡±


    ¡°He''s a damn good Steamer, too,¡± Broon noted, ¡°If he''s got such good output and control that he can flood the entire airship...¡±


    ¡°I wouldn''t call him good, now,¡± Ichabod countered, ¡°I''ve seen good Steamers. Mallory¡¯s a good Steamer. It seems that this Steamer''s mostly got the output, not the control ¨C or we''d all be dead by now.¡±


    ¡°Who''s Mallory?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°One of our Guildmates,¡± Broon replied.


    ¡°Guildmates?¡±


    ¡°In due time,¡± Broon said, ¡°Part of our deal, aye? For now, let''s concentrate on getting out of here. Ichabod, can you route us a path?¡±


    ¡°Of course. Follow me.¡±


    They walked through the hallways, skipping over many rooms that Ichabod said had been filled with steam. He was leading the way now, cybernetic eyes staring at random points as he got a gauge on the raiders'' positions. Some halls were completely covered with a white fog that Joseph thought were clouds at first. As he took a closer look at them, Broon put a hand on his shoulder to pull him back.


    ¡°The steam,¡± he said.


    ¡°From the Steamer?¡±


    ¡°Aye. That''s how they''re eliminating everyone on the ship. Floor by floor, covering the entire place, until no one is left alive.¡±


    Almost on cue, they rounded a corner to find a dead body. It was a woman in a fancy, green military uniform, her flesh burned away and her body slightly steaming. Joseph pulled a face.


    ¡°One of the victims,¡± Broon muttered.


    ¡°How awful,¡± Rosemary knelt down to the body, giving it a look-over.


    ¡°We''ll probably see more as we go on,¡± Ichabod warned, ¡°It looks like the Steamer redirected the steam elsewhere. Probably going for the whole crew.¡±


    ¡°Someone with a grudge?¡± Rosemary wondered.


    ¡°Or they have schematics for this place,¡± Broon reasoned, ¡°They''ve been very surgical with their strikes, so far.¡±


    ¡°What are they after?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°The egg,¡± Broon said, ¡°So keep it close to yourself. Don''t want to lose it, now.¡±


    Joseph let out a gulp. Broon gave him a smile.


    ¡°Relax, kid. We''ve got your back.¡±


    Joseph looked at the dead body, ¡°I really don''t like any of this.¡±


    ¡°Part of the job,¡± Broon stated, ¡°We just decided to steal the egg at the wrong time, is all.¡±


    ¡°A little run-in?¡± Joseph guessed.


    ¡°Aye,¡± Broon''s brow furrowed, ¡°We were assigned this job by a very... special client of ours. That egg is valuable. A lot of folk are after it.¡±


    ¡°And they want it so much, they''re willing to kill for it,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Broon turned back to walk, ¡°So be careful. These raiders won''t hesitate.¡±


    ¡°Oh, just what I needed today,¡± Joseph muttered.


    They wheeled around a few more corners before Ichabod pulled open the door to a dining room. A fancy table had been set up, piled high with fanciful foods and drinks. Seven guests were at the table, all of them in aristocratic clothing ¨C the men in military uniform or tuxedos, the women in luxurious dresses. Soldiers had been posted by the doors on opposite sides of the dining room.


    All of them were dead, with the same grisly details as the officer in the hall - flesh burned over, the food overcooked by the steam. It looked like they had all been screaming when they died. Joseph closed his eyes, taking a deep breath.


    ¡°Hey,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°You okay?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I''m fine,¡± Joseph coughed. He wasn''t telling the truth, of course. But the last thing he needed was for them to pity him. They all wore steeled expressions at the scene, walking through it with measured gaits. Joseph had to be like them. He walked through the dining room, pointedly ignoring the bodies at the table.


    Ichabod had stopped at the door. ¡°Right through here is the Steamer,¡± he said, ¡°Now, they don''t know we''ve come here ¨C it seems the Steamer''s finished up in most of the airship, and raiders have entered into the museum section.¡±


    ¡°Where we were before,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Good job,¡± Ichabod sneered. He turned back to Broon, ¡°We''ve got a good chance of taking out the Steamer and getting to the hangar, all in one swoop. The hangar''s just a few doors down.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Broon adjusted his grip on his sword, ¡°Rosemary, get ready. Joseph, you hang back. This is going to be a bit messy.¡±


    ¡°Got it,¡± Joseph said. He glanced at Rosemary, who gripped her mace, smile disappearing as she got herself ready. Ichabod produced two pistols from his trenchcoat. He gave them a furtive look, then spun one, presenting it to Joseph.


    ¡°Is that a... a gun?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°No,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°It''s an action figure. Of course it''s a gun, you buffoon.¡±


    ¡°Really like to lay it on thick with the insults, don''t you?¡± Joseph grunted, taking the pistol.


    ¡°You make it too easy,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°Well, thanks,¡± Joseph said. He had taken a few shooting lessons in the past. He kept the gun pointed to the ground, finger off the trigger. He couldn''t see if the pistol had a safety or not ¨C it was sleek and pristine, almost like something out of a sci-fi movie.


    ¡°If we all die, get out of here,¡± Broon said, ¡°There should be another hangar a few levels below that they use for cargo. They always keep a few spare parachutes there.¡±


    ¡°Oh geez, alright,¡± Joseph said. Broon took a deep breath, steeling himself. Rosemary gave Joseph a thumbs-up.


    ¡°You seem like a cool guy,¡± she said, ¡°If we all die, I''m just letting you know, it was an honor to meet you.¡±


    ¡°...Yeah.¡± Joseph took a few steps back. Broon, Ichabod, and Rosemary all shared one last look to one another. Then Rosemary, taking point, opened the door, and the three rushed in.


    Silence for a few seconds. Then the electrifying sound of gunfire echoing off walls. Joseph dropped to the ground, hands shaking as he gripped the pistol. A scream. Broon letting out a great roar, then another scream that became a gargled gasp. More silence.


    Then Rosemary poked her head through the door, ¡°Never mind! We''re not dead.¡±


    Joseph stared at her for a second. He realized his whole body was shaking now.


    ¡°Never... mind?¡± he stammered. He was calming down now, now that he saw she was okay, ¡°So... you... aren''t honored that you met me?¡±


    Rosemary thought on that, ¡°Oh! Um, no, I said never mind, because we''re not dead.¡±


    She noticed Joseph''s lopsided grin and shot him a look, ¡°You''re messing with me.¡±


    ¡°Helps with the nerves, I guess,¡± he admitted. He took another hollow breath, ¡°You''re all alright?¡±


    ¡°Oh yeah, they were nothing,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Come on in. Oh, I should warn you, there''s a lot of blood.¡±


    ¡°You''re so casual about it,¡± Joseph noted.


    ¡°I''m... I''m used to it,¡± Rosemary gave him another smile that didn''t quite reach her eyes, ¡°Sort of. I''m just warning you now, so we don''t have another dining room situation.¡±


    ¡°You noticed?¡± Joseph said. He began following Rosemary through the door.


    ¡°Yeah, but I didn''t tell anyone,¡± she replied, ¡°I was like that too, at first.¡±


    ¡°When you joined this... Guild?¡±


    ¡°Before. If you don''t want to see the blood, just keep staring ahead. Or at the ceiling.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Joseph stared straight ahead at the back of Rosemary''s head. Broon had put his sword between his legs, using a cloth to wipe it down. He looked up as Joseph approached.


    ¡°Easy enough,¡± he said, ¡°Come on, the airship''s this way.¡±


    ¡°Any more of those raiders?¡± Joseph asked Ichabod.


    Ichabod smiled in satisfaction, ¡°Ah! You''re learning to ask the right people. Good job. No, there aren''t any nearby. They''ll notice their Steamer''s dead, though. May I have my gun back?¡±


    ¡°Oh, yeah,¡± Joseph handed the pistol back to Ichabod, who slipped it back into his trenchcoat.


    Broon opened up another door, and they went back into the maze of hallways. They weren''t there for very long, however, as Broon swung one last door open to the hangar. A few abandoned biplanes were there, their pilots dead, steam rising from their corpses. Dominating most of the room, however, was an airship. Smaller than the one they were on, obviously, but still impressive. It looked to have been carved out of wood and was shaped like an old galleon sans mast and sails. Green runes had been carved into the ship''s underbelly. Joseph let out a whistle.


    ¡°You came in on this?¡±


    ¡°Aye,¡± Broon said, ¡°The Dreamer''s Lament.¡±


    ¡°Still a stupid name,¡± Ichabod commented.


    ¡°Your name is Ichabod, you don''t get an opinion,¡± Broon replied.


    ¡°There''s no balloon,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°It runs on a different sort of magic than steam,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Steam airships are on Kelstonda, magitek airships are from Melmaen.¡±


    ¡°I have no idea what those words mean,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Rosemary, can you get the hangar door open?¡± Broon asked.


    ¡°Sure thing,¡± Rosemary pulled a lever installed by the door, and the hangar door began opening up, revealing the whipping winds of the outside. Clouds were beginning to disperse now, though Joseph still couldn''t see any land below.


    ¡°My internal GPS tells us we''re somewhere over the Lioran Sea,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°Not over any cities then. Good,¡± Broon said, ¡°Come on aboard, you must be exhausted.¡±


    They went onto the Dreamer''s Lament. It was comfortable compared to the airship they had been winding through for the past few hours. A large living space had been set up, with a couple of couches and (oddly to Joseph) a modern-looking refrigerator. A blue carpet covered the wood floor. The whole thing reminded Joseph less of an airship and more of a glorified bachelor pad. As they walked in, Ichabod and Broon went upstairs. Rosemary went to the fridge and got a drink out.


    ¡°Is that a Sprite?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Rosemary replied, ¡°What? It''s good.¡±


    ¡°I just... didn''t expect it, is all,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°You want one?¡±


    Joseph usually didn''t drink soda. After tonight, he would have preferred something stronger. But he gave a tired shrug.


    ¡°Why not? Pass one.¡±


    Rosemary tossed him a Sprite, plopping herself down on one of the couches. Joseph could hear Broon¡¯s heavy, thudding footsteps above them. It must have been the bridge, as Ichabod was giving status reports to Broon.


    ¡°Right, autopilot engaged, heading to the Traveling Point,¡± Ichabod''s thin voice carried down the staircase, ¡°Cloaking is engaged. They won''t see us leave.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Broon said, ¡°The less scraps we get in, the better.¡±


    ¡°Indeed.¡±


    Joseph sat down on the other couch, taking a few sips of the Sprite before setting it down on the table in front of him. Weariness ate away at his bones, and the adrenaline rush he had been feeling since he fell out of the sarcophagus came crashing down on him. He felt himself begin tipping over onto the couch, sleep taking over, the shadows beckoning him towards his dreams...

 3. The Amber Foundation

    ¡°Hey, wake up.¡±


    Joseph groaned and turned as Rosemary¡¯s voice drifted into his head. For one shining, brilliant moment, he thought everything had been a dream. He had fallen asleep at Nai Nai¡¯s house and had a crazy nightmare about an airship that had been taken over by a band of raiders, one of whom manipulated steam as though it were an extension of themselves¡­


    But as his eyes fluttered open, and he saw Rosemary staring down at him, a bright smile on her face, he felt his heart fall. Of course it hadn¡¯t been a dream. He even pinched himself, just to be sure. No, he was still on this¡­ Dreamer¡¯s Lament. The name of the airship mocked him.


    At least someone ¨C probably Rosemary or Broon ¨C had covered him up. A heavy blanket had been tossed over him. It was surprisingly comfortable, all things considered. Joseph wrapped it around him as he got up. The air was cold, the churning sounds of the Dreamer''s engines below making for oddly comfortable white noise. Rosemary had a cup of coffee in her hands.


    ¡°How long was I asleep?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Around ten hours,¡± Rosemary replied, ¡°It''s about six in the morning. Coffee?¡±


    ¡°Thanks,¡± Joseph accepted it, taking a few sips. He pulled a face, ¡°What did you put in this?¡±


    ¡°Around seven cubes of sugar, and seven pumps of creamer?¡± Rosemary said, considering, ¡°Is that normal?¡±


    ¡°No, it''s really not.¡±


    ¡°Oh, sorry.¡±


    ¡°It''s... it''s fine,¡± Joseph blinked. He still felt exhausted. Despite how cold it was, he noticed he had been sweating in his sleep, ¡°Why did you wake me up?¡±


    ¡°Broon asked me to,¡± Rosemary replied, ¡°He wants you to see this.¡±


    Joseph stood up, and Rosemary guided him upstairs. The bridge of the Dreamer''s Lament was a simple layout, a circular room with consoles lining the walls. An old ship''s steering wheel was laid in the center of the room, looking out towards the observation window that covered half the room. Outside was nothing but open air, the sun rising on the distant horizon and the sea below. Ichabod was steering the ship, while Broon was looking out, a mug of coffee in his hand that read ''World''s Best Half-Orc.''


    ¡°Best half-orc?¡± Joseph said, ¡°You''re... a half-orc?¡±


    ¡°Oh, yeah,¡± Broon turned, gesturing at his teeth with the mug, ¡°My tusks aren''t as pronounced as full-blooded orcs. My mom was a human. Lived with the orc tribes on Londoa for a few years, had me.¡±


    He gave an inquisitive look to Joseph, ¡°Are there any orcs on Earth?¡±


    ¡°No, only in fiction,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Lord of the Rings, stuff like that.¡±


    ¡°Lord of the Rings? I think I''ve read that, actually,¡± Broon said.


    ¡°...Where am I?¡± Joseph asked.


    Broon laughed, ¡°In due time. Our Guildmaster will be able to explain it better.¡±


    Joseph crossed his arms, ¡°You can''t just tell me now?¡±


    ¡°He can''t, because he''d mess up somewhere,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°I could explain it, but it''d probably just make you cry, or go insane, or both. Rosemary could, but she''d get too excited and go off on a tangent. No, let the Guildmaster explain it to you.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Where are we, exactly?¡±


    ¡°Over the Lioran sea, at the Traveling Point,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Still on Kelstonda.¡±


    ¡°We''ll be heading back to the Guildhall, on Londoa,¡± Broon explained, ¡°Planar travel is tricky around these parts, but this Traveling Point is one of the more reliable ones. Should be able to travel to Londoa in a few seconds.¡±


    ¡°Kelstonda, Londoa, planar...¡± Joseph''s mind raced. Things that had been previously impossible now felt¡­ plausible. Pieces were beginning to fall into place. ¡®Planar¡¯ itself sounded familiar - a term pulled from conversations of Joseph''s¡­ ¡®nerdier¡¯ friends, when he had taken the time to actually listen to them when he was supposed to be studying. It was impossible. Improbable.


    And yet here he stood, on the bridge of an airship powered by magic.


    ¡°It''s another dimension, isn''t it?¡± Joseph said, ¡°Londoa is. Kelstonda is. That''s why you asked where I was from.¡±


    ¡°Well, well, the boy has a brain,¡± Ichabod said.


    Broon shot a glare at the cybernetic man, then turned back to Joseph, ¡°Aye. Our Guild is based out of the plane of Londoa. We''ll be heading there to report to the Guildmaster that we succeeded in securing the egg. We''ll also be dropping you off there so that she can talk to you.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Joseph said, his breathing becoming faster, ¡°Okay, give me a moment.¡±


    Broon gave a smile at that, ¡°For now, just enjoy the ride. Tell me, did you see anything when you first came here?¡±


    Joseph struggled to remember, crossing his arms in thought. The image of the sarcophagus dominated his mind¡¯s eye, the way the silver glinted in the half-shadow of the basement, the chants beating into his head.


    ¡°A bit,¡± Joseph said at length, ¡°A lot of darkness, lots of colors, then I felt like I was pulled, then I was on that airship.¡±


    ¡°Irregular, but not unheard of,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Tell me, do you feel any different? Did your hair change color at all?¡±


    ¡°...No,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Still black.¡±


    ¡°Did you lose any... parts of your anatomy?¡± Ichabod prodded.


    Joseph checked himself over, ¡°Everything''s here.¡±


    ¡°Did anything grow on you? Do you find you have, for example, a third eye on your buttocks?¡±


    ¡°Gross, no!¡± Joseph said, ¡°What''s your deal?¡±


    ¡°Improper planeshifting can be very dangerous,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°The method we use is approved by the Federation and has been demonstrated to be rather safe. But I''ve heard stories of people using objects like your sarcophagus as gates to other planes, and they haven''t been pretty.¡±


    ¡°So I got lucky, then,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Stupidly so, which seems to be about right with you,¡± Ichabod replied. Before Joseph could retort, the cybernetic man''s eyes whipped back to the window, ¡°We''re approaching now, Broon.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Broon said, ¡°Brace yourselves, everyone.¡±


    He put down his coffee mug and put a hand over a hold on the side of the wall. Rosemary gestured for Joseph to do so as well. He complied with his stomach only slightly jellying.


    ¡°Planeshifting to Londoa in three... two... one...¡± Ichabod''s voice became distant as the ship rumbled and warped. The sky shimmered like a desert mirage for a moment, before disappearing completely as the Dreamer''s Lament plunged down like a rock into a miasma of colors, a rainbow sea that the airship swam through, swirling colors battering the hull like waves, the entire ship rumbling with sheer effort. Joseph felt his blood turn to jelly and his bones quake, his teeth chattering in his mouth as the Dreamer¡¯s Lament forced its way through the methhead¡¯s nightmare. After what felt like an eternity, the ship lurched and began seizing upwards, breaking through a barrier - Joseph could see the colors dash and reflect as though they had broken through a glass ceiling-


    And they were back in the open air, but the sky was different. Joseph narrowed his eyes. Dark gray storm clouds curled above them. In the distance, a few of them were releasing rain onto some distant landmass.


    A landmass that curved upwards. Joseph walked closer to the window. The landmass below drew up with the sky, breaking into two pieces near where the horizon would be. The resulting ravine showed stars below that intermingled with the morning dawn. In the distance, just at the edge of the ravine, was a great city that poured over its side. Part of it had been built into the walls of the ravine, and long, thin bridges connected the two pieces of land to one another.


    ¡°What am I looking at?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Welcome to Londoa, the Broken World,¡± Broon said.


    ¡°Broken... world?¡±


    ¡°A disaster shattered the planet thousands of years ago,¡± the half-orc explained, ¡°So people live on the remaining landmasses that''s still around, both on the inside and the outside.¡±


    ¡°That''s... that''s not how it works,¡± Joseph stammered, ¡°That''s not scientifically possible.¡±


    ¡°Magic!¡± Rosemary said, a bright smile on her face.


    ¡°I thought the same thing, truth be told,¡± Ichabod sighed, ¡°But it exists. I''ve not figured out why exactly Londoa''s like this.¡±


    ¡°So your guild is here?¡±


    ¡°Aye, in that city in the distance,¡± Broon said, ¡°Scuttleway, it''s called. Damn nice place, too, all things considered.¡±


    The Dreamer''s Lament began dipping down as it headed towards the city. Pristine, gargantuan walls hedged Scuttleway in, guards patrolling along the battlements, their pikes looking like toothpicks from this high above. But as they got closer to the city, Joseph could pick out more details ¨C fluttering, triangular blue flags with orange crabs emblazoned on their surface, great cathedrals lined with stain glass windows depicting figures in armor and wielding swords made of light, and a donut-shaped arena rising out of the marketing district. It was a city, Joseph realized, out of time. A medieval city like he had learned about in school, but alive and bustling.


    The airship descended and landed in a field just by the city''s wall. Beside the field was a castle, just on the edge of the city, edging up just to the walls. It was made of orange sandstone, shades darker than the yellower buildings of Scuttleway so that it stuck out like a sore thumb. Seven spires spiraled up from its top, decked with conical roofs. The windows were apricot-hued, simple and clean. Joseph marveled at the castle as the Dreamer¡¯s Lament¡¯s engines powered down with a subtle whisper. Broon, Ichabod, and Rosemary began filing down out of the airship and into the field, beyond which was a maze of hedges, a fountain at its center.


    ¡°Woah,¡± Joseph murmured.


    ¡°That''s what I said when I first came here,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°Aye. Ichabod too,¡± Broon chuckled.


    ¡°I thought it was... quaint,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°What is this place?¡±


    ¡°This is Castle Belenus,¡± Broon said, ¡°Guildhall of the Amber Foundation.¡±


    They begin walking across the field. Joseph''s steps were shaky as he took in the size of the castle. His neck strained as he stared up at its very peak.


    ¡°When was it built?¡±


    ¡°That''s a good question. Ichabod?¡± Broon looked at the cybernetic man.


    ¡°Well,¡± Ichabod thought for a moment, ¡°It wasn''t so much built as it was grown, apparently. The founder of the Amber Foundation discovered it on a long-forgotten plane as a seed. And from that seed grew a castle.¡±


    ¡°What the actual hell,¡± Joseph said, ¡°You''re messing with me. You gotta be.¡±


    ¡°In a rare instance, no, I am not messing with you,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Look, the explanation felt impossible for me when I first got here. Still does, in fact. Castle Belenus grows ¨C it should assimilate itself into the city walls any day now.¡±


    A lithe calico cat suddenly leaped down from one of the hedges as they approached the maze. It looked at the group curiously, then it opened its mouth.


    ¡°Morning, Ichabod.¡±


    ¡°Ah, Chadwick, good,¡± Ichabod, much to Joseph''s surprise, gave the cat a warm smile, ¡°Good hunting last night?¡±


    Chadwick the cat stretched his shoulders, which Joseph guessed was him shrugging, ¡°It was the best of times, it was the worst. Not that it makes for interesting stories.¡±


    The cat''s deep green eyes fell on Joseph, ¡°Ah! A newcomer. Freshly traveled?¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Broon said, putting a hand on Joseph''s shoulder, ¡°This here''s Joseph. From Earth. Would you let Wakeling know?¡±


    ¡°Will I get something in return?¡± Chadwick cocked his head, a devilish - and all too human - smile crawling onto his face.


    ¡°Aww, Chadwick,¡± Rosemary cooed, ¡°You''d really make us pay you for something so simple?¡±


    ¡°Ah, for you, dear Rosemary,¡± Chadwick thought for a moment, ¡°I''ll give you a discount. Only one bowl of milk.¡±


    Rosemary sighed, turning to the group, ¡°I guess that''ll have to do.¡±


    ¡°Fine, I''m making a run to the Market District anyways,¡± Broon said, ¡°Run along now, cat.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Chadwick gave a nod to Broon. His eyes lingered on Joseph for a few moments, and then he bounded out of the garden and towards the back entrance of the castle.


    ¡°Cats, man,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Even when they can talk, they''re assholes.¡±


    ¡°Not assholes,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Cats have their own language, their own culture. It''d be best if you learn from them, if you want to last here long.¡±


    They passed even more curious sights as they made their way through the garden. A woman with the bottom half of a snake was looking at the fountain, which had a statue of a warrior clad in armor, blade aloft in the air. Broon waved to her as they passed. She gave them a nod in return. A dark-skinned man wearing chainmail and holding a needle-pointed spear gifted them a warm smile as they approached the back entrance.


    ¡°Broon,¡± the man said, ¡°You are well, I hope?¡±


    ¡°As well as I can be, Shetavalk,¡± Broon replied.


    ¡°I heard another set of footsteps. Unfamiliar,¡± the man looked at Joseph, and Joseph saw the man''s eyes were filmed over, though that didn¡¯t seem to concern him.


    ¡°That''s Joseph,¡± Broon said.


    ¡°What''s up?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°The sky, space, many things,¡± Shetavalk said, matter-of-factly, ¡°It is-¡±


    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    ¡°It''s a saying, Sheets,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°He''s from Earth.¡±


    ¡°Earth! A good plane. I should head back there, one of these days, when the forecast permits.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, that''d be... that''d be nice,¡± Joseph sighed as Shetavalk began walking away. Not even a goodbye.


    ¡°He''s like that,¡± Broon said, ¡°He''s a Spioa. Spiritfolk, from Nesona.¡±


    ¡°Is that another plane?¡±


    ¡°Aye. Interesting one too. But let''s get you inside, by now Chadwick must have told Wakeling you''re here.¡±


    They walked inside the castle. The backdoor led them through a few storage rooms, full of barrels and crates. Joseph was pleasantly surprised to find modern lighting in here ¨C where torch sconces would be were industrial lights. They followed the lines of lamps up through the storage rooms before entering into the Great Hall.


    The Great Hall was long and tall ¨C a giant could have probably fit in here. A dark red carpet extended from the double doors of the entrance towards the center of the room, which held a circular garden enclosed by stone bricks. The garden was composed of orange and white flowers, and in its center was a single, massive blade ¨C easily fifteen feet in height at least, formed out of shimmering glass and slivers of light. Joseph froze at that, taking it in. Balconies extended upwards, much like at Nai Nai¡¯s house, so that anyone could look down at the Great Hall below. Light spilled in, refracting on the sword, filtered orange from the windows. Voices echoed across the hall as guild members went through their morning routines.


    They were from different worlds ¨C other planes, Joseph realized. Some looked like they had come from here, with swords and shields and armor. Others seemed to be from more advanced planes ¨C one of them was in a duster, an alien with purple skin and a head like a hammerhead shark''s. Another seemed like Ichabod, with cybernetic arms and legs. They all intermingled, talking to one another about their mornings, acting as though everything here was perfectly normal.


    Which it wasn''t. Joseph needed to remind himself that. This wasn¡¯t normal.


    At least, not by Earth¡¯s standards.


    ¡°I need to take a nap,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°I''d love to say this was a job well done, but it wasn''t.¡±


    ¡°Thanks, Ichabod,¡± Rosemary said.


    Ichabod gave her a curt nod, and walked off.


    ¡°You''d better get some rest too, Rosemary,¡± Broon said, ¡°Go eat some breakfast. Relax. You''ve earned it.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure?¡±


    ¡°Aye. I''ll give the report to Wakeling. I''ll tell her how good you were, fending off those raiders.¡±


    He gave her a warm smile. She seemed to perk up at that, clutching her rose mace in pride.


    ¡°Well, thanks, Broon. It was good meeting you, Joseph. I hope you like it here!¡±


    Before Joseph could respond, she turned and skipped off.


    ¡°She gets a bit excited after a job,¡± Broon said, ¡°She hasn''t had too many assigned to her that are off-plane.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, ''excited'' seems to be a word for her.¡±


    ¡°She''s friendly, though. Keeps the spirits up around here when things get down,¡± Broon stretched his arm out a bit, nodding to a few guild members who waved at him, ¡°Come on, let me introduce you to Wakeling.¡±


    He began heading towards a stone staircase, crossing the Great Hall. Joseph followed behind, keeping an eye out in case...


    Well, he wasn''t sure.


    In case something happened. He was quickly realizing that anything was possible out here.


    They went up the first flight of stairs, dodging past a large, floating jellyfish that glowed in various bio-luminescent colors ¨C red to orange to blue.


    ¡°Morning, Calacious Nine,¡± Broon said.


    The jellyfish''s color shifted to green, then to purple.


    ¡°Aye, new traveler. Bringing him up to Wakeling.¡±


    Purple to pink.


    ¡°Aye. See you.¡±


    And they continued on.


    ¡°Was that a... a jellyfish?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Hmm?¡± Broon gave him a confused look, ¡°Oh, yeah. Calacious Nine is one of our specialists. They work with investigating ancient ruins on dead planes.¡±


    Joseph blinked at that.


    They went up another set of stairs.


    And then another.


    And then a third. Joseph felt himself breathing heavily.


    ¡°We there yet?¡± he asked.


    ¡°About another dozen more?¡± Broon said, ¡°Wakeling usually stays at the top most mornings. She''ll be in her study right about now.¡±


    ¡°Oh great,¡± Joseph panted, ¡°Nothing better than a good exercise to start things off.¡±


    Broon mistook Joseph''s sarcasm, giving him a broad smile, ¡°Aye, that''s the way to do things! Let''s go!¡±


    And the half-orc doubled his pace up the steps, nearly running up the stairs. Joseph cursed to himself.


    ***


    By the time they got to the top, Joseph was dying. His entire body was soaked in sweat, and his legs were calling to be put out of their misery. He nearly crawled up the last flight, his vision bleary with sweat and tears.


    Broon raised an eyebrow, ¡°You alright?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph got up to the top of the stairs, ¡°Yeah, I''m good-¡±


    He felt himself start falling backwards. Broon¡¯s arm shot out, grabbing him and pulling him back onto the landing.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Just... gimme... a minute, alright?¡±


    Broon nodded, ¡°Aye. Wouldn''t do to look like a soaked sponge before Wakeling.¡±


    ¡°A... soaked... sponge?¡±


    The half-orc shrugged, ¡°Yeah. Like a sponge that''s been soaked in water too long.¡±


    ¡°...Yeah, alright.¡±


    Broon laughed. After a few minutes, Joseph felt his breath catching up to him. The half-orc gave him one last look-over to make sure he was alright, and opened up the door to the study. It was a large, circular room, every wall lined with shelves stuffed with books and scrolls. A mahogany desk was set in the middle of the floor, which had been carpeted over with a burgundy cloth that felt vaguely like velvet. Resting on the table was...


    A head.


    A woman''s head, with ivory skin and a shock of white hair fizzing out of the scalp, deep brown eyes staring forward, a smile on its lips. For a moment, Joseph stared at it.


    Then the head opened her mouth.


    ¡°Welcome!¡±


    Joseph screamed and tried to run out the door. Broon stopped him.


    ¡°It''s alright!¡± he said, ¡°It''s alright!¡±


    ¡°Really, all newcomers are like this,¡± the head said, ¡°It''s alright, Mr. Joseph. I''m just a talking head, nothing to be afraid of.¡±


    ¡°Not to be r-rude,¡± Joseph stammered, ¡°But where I come from, heads don''t talk.¡±


    ¡°But your head is talking,¡± the head rolled a bit to the side, giving him an inquisitive look.


    ¡°I mean, heads removed from their BODIES don''t talk!¡±


    ¡°Ah! That''s common in most places. Not here, though. Not on my home plane, either. Really, you look exhausted. Those stairs do quite a number, don''t they?¡±


    Joseph was still trying to get out of the room. Broon gave a sigh.


    ¡°You''re being rude, you know,¡± he said, ¡°That''s the Guildmaster.¡±


    ¡°The... Guild... Master?¡± Joseph stopped struggling, turning to stare at the head on the table, ¡°You''re... the Guildmaster?¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡± the head cracked a wide, toothy smile, ¡°Vyde Wakeling, Guildmaster of the Amber Foundation, at your service! Come, have a seat. Have a cookie. All of this must feel very strange to you.¡±


    ¡°Ma¡¯am,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I''ll have a cookie, and that''s the biggest understatement I''ve ever heard.¡±


    A silver platter suddenly appeared out of thin air. A heap of chocolate chip cookies were piled high on them. Joseph took one, and took a tentative bite. It was gooey and fresh from the oven. He ate a couple more, feeling energy surge into his body.


    ¡°Feeling better?¡± Wakeling asked, ¡°Have a seat, Mr. Joseph...?¡±


    ¡°Zheng. Joseph Zheng.¡±


    A mahogany chair appeared out of thin air, floating in the center of the room before sinking onto the floor in front of the desk. Joseph sat down. He felt a bit awkward right at the desk, though, with the head staring right up at him, so he scooted it back.


    ¡°Oh! Sorry, dear,¡± Wakeling rolled her head a bit to the side, looking behind Joseph, ¡°Broon, your report?¡±


    ¡°We got the egg,¡± Broon replied. He took out the satchel Rosemary and Joseph had been wearing, bringing it over. He opened up the flap to reveal the golden, gelatinous egg within. Wakeling looked at it for a second, before pitching her head forward in a nod.


    ¡°Ah, perfect!,¡± she said, ¡°Well done.¡±


    ¡°Rosemary did good,¡± Broon said, ¡°A couple raiders intercepted us on the Fortune''s Favor. She held them off and even took out their Steamer.¡±


    ¡°A good girl!¡± Wakeling said, ¡°She''s really proving herself out there, eh?¡±


    ¡°Aye,¡± Broon said, ¡°I''ll get the full report to you by lunchtime.¡±


    ¡°Take your time, Broon. The client''s still picking out a rendezvous point to make the trade. I want you on that job too.¡±


    Broon nodded, then gave a salute to Wakeling. He gave a last smile to Joseph, and walked out of the door. The door let out a creak as he closed it behind him.


    There was a bit of silence as Wakeling looked over the pack. Her eyes flashed for a brief moment, changing from brown to silver. The egg floated out of the pack, levitating closer to her as she gave it a once-over.


    ¡°Undamaged. Sounded like it was a bit messy, if a Steamer was involved. Was the egg hit by any steam, by chance?¡± she looked to Joseph.


    ¡°Oh! Uh, no, it wasn''t.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, good,¡± Wakeling''s eyes changed again, and the egg winked out of existence, ¡°Best to keep it safe downstairs. I''ll have Chadwick keep an eye on it. Give him some spiced milk as payment.¡±


    ¡°Chadwick''s a cat,¡± Joseph commented.


    ¡°Aye, lad. Chadwick''s a cat. Do cats talk where you come from?¡±


    ¡°Only in books and movies,¡± Joseph replied.


    Wakeling looked him over, brown eyes searching up and down his body. She had a crooked nose, Joseph noted, as though it had once been a long, hooked thing that had been broken and mashed into her face too many times. Her eyes were piercing, though, as though she were delving into his very soul. They reminded him of Nai Nai''s.


    ¡°You aren¡¯t from Prime,¡± she said, ¡°Nor are you from Neos. You''re from... Earth, aren''t you?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Joseph Zheng, the Earth boy.¡±


    ¡°Strange enough, Earth''s not in the forecast right now. Won''t be, not for a while.¡±


    ¡°The... forecast?¡±


    Wakeling was quiet for a moment, as though unsure of what to say. After a moment, she opened her mouth.


    ¡°Are you aware of the multiverse?¡± Wakeling asked.


    ¡°No, I''m not,¡± Joseph grumbled, ¡°No, I just magically knew everything when I fell out of a sarcophagus and met an orc, some Blade Runner ripoff, and a flower girl.¡±


    ¡°Half-orc, actually,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Broon''s a bit... sensitive about that. I wouldn''t mention it.¡±


    ¡°Sorry,¡± Joseph huffed, ¡°Look, he said that if I helped them, that you''d explain everything to me. So what''s the scoop?¡±


    ¡°The scoop? Ohoho, boy,¡± Wakeling gave a delightful, scratchy laugh, ¡°Oh BOY, you have no idea what you''ve landed yourself in.¡±


    ¡°Just get it over with,¡± Joseph rolled his eyes.


    ¡°Very well! From the top, then!¡±


    Wakeling''s head began spinning, rising up from its place on the desk and floating into the air. She was cackling the whole time. Energy swirled around her ¨C blues and greens and reds and yellows, mixing together into a grand rainbow mosaic that slowly shaped themselves into balls of light.


    ¡°Reality is not what you think, Mr. Zheng,¡± she said, ¡°Your Earth is not the only inhabited world out there.¡±


    ¡°I mean, aliens are probably out there,¡± Joseph reasoned, ¡°I want to believe.¡±


    ¡°More than aliens. What do you think the multiverse is?¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± Joseph thought, ¡°From what I remember from some of my¡­ ¡®friends¡¯ it''s like... multiple dimensions. Parallel to one another. And in one of them, I''m evil and probably have a goatee.¡±


    ¡°Close,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Indeed, the multiverse is composed of multiple dimensions ¨C spaces that do not exist in the same realm of ''space'' as we think it. But they do not lie parallel to one another. Not like that. Also, you would look terrible with a goatee.¡±


    ¡°Gee, thanks.¡±


    ¡°No, the multiverse is...¡± Wakeling thought, her eyes rolling up as she thought, ¡°Well, it''s rather complicated, actually. The multiverse is a network of worlds that are separate from one another.¡±


    The balls of color and light began moving about as Wakeling continued, ¡°The closest approximation that the average mortal mind can comprehend is the multiverse is like a web.¡±


    The balls of color aligned with one another, light connecting them like a spider''s weave.


    ¡°Or, actually, like a box.¡±


    The threads of light disappeared, the balls moving next to one another in a square shape.


    ¡°No, actually, probably more of a network of leylines?¡±


    The colors went into random directions, lines floating between them, as with the web, but the entire structure was irregular.


    ¡°Look,¡± Joseph said, ¡°It''s weird.¡±


    ¡°That''s a good way of putting it, young Zheng,¡± Wakeling said.


    ¡°Ha, that rhymes,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Oh hush, now,¡± Wakeling gave him a crackling smile, ¡°Very good. It''s a weird shape. But each ball here represents a world in the Multiverse, which as far as anyone can tell, is infinite and ever-growing.¡±


    ¡°And... Earth is one of those worlds.¡±


    ¡°Indeed. As is where we are, Londoa,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°You were on Kelstonda. Some are much like your Earth ¨C Prime and Neos, for example. They share similar histories and places. Others are far different ¨C Londoa must have been quite a shock to you.¡±


    ¡°I''ll be honest,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I''m not nearly drunk enough for all this.¡±


    ¡°Have some wine,¡± A pitcher and a glass appeared out of thin air, pouring out some red wine that sloshed around as it was poured out. Joseph accepted it, taking a few tentative sips.


    ¡°Now,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Travel between worlds-¡±


    ¡°Planeshifting?¡±


    ¡°Aye, that''s the word. You''re picking up on this fast. Now, planeshifting between worlds is both relatively difficult, and horrifyingly easy. There are certain points on different planes that are connected to an in-between place, a metaphorical ''sea of goop'' between worlds.¡±


    ¡°So, in our metaphor here, the air around us is the sea of goop between worlds.¡±


    ¡°Correct,¡± Wakeling nodded sagely ¨C her head was still in the air, however, so she nodded a bit too hard and spun for a moment before righting herself, ¡°Most planes have rips in reality, small and almost imperceptible, that open up into this in-between place. From there, people can safely travel to other planes of existence in a here-to-there road.¡±


    ¡°Hold on, now,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I didn''t go through one of these¡­ ¡®in-between¡¯ places, right? I was pulled in through because of a sarcophagus.¡±


    ¡°We''ll get to that, now,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°But we have to go over the ground rules first, so you understand your¡­ particular situation.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Joseph took another sip of wine.


    ¡°These tears ¨C these ''Traveling Points,'' are the safest and most reliable way of traveling the multiverse,¡± Wakeling continued, ¡°And they are what allows guilds like ours to operate.¡±


    The colors began to coalesce into figures. Broon. Rosemary. Ichabod.


    ¡°The Amber Foundation is one of many guilds that operate on an inter-planar scale,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°We come from all planes and all walks of life, and we accept jobs across the multiverse. Some of them are retrieval missions. Others, we act as hired muscle. Others are expeditions into planes forgotten by the greater multiverse, that hide deep secrets of the history of reality.¡±


    ¡°So, Broon''s from... Londoa?¡±


    ¡°Aye. Broon''s a native to Londoa. Ichabod is from Neos, a technologically advanced plane of existence with cybernetics that is ruled by corporations.¡±


    ¡°That gives me a question, then,¡± Joseph said, ¡°It seems that this city ¨C Scuttleway, right? - This city''s pretty low on the technology scale. Aside from your castle, everyone''s wearing medieval armor and has swords and stuff. Meanwhile, Ichabod handed me a pistol.¡±


    ¡°There is heavy regulation in the known multiverse,¡± Wakeling said. The images of Broon, Rosemary, and Ichabod disappeared, the colors turning back into a swirling miasma that began taking the shape of a large galaxy.


    ¡°This is the Silver Eye galaxy, home to a large inter-planar entity known as the High Federation,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°An old civilization. Thousands of years old. And they''ve been regulating and ensuring that the worlds of the Multiverse, for the most part, independently develop from one another.


    ¡°Now, obviously, complete regulation is next to impossible. SOME cross-interactions will happen ¨C an advanced weapon will fall on a plane that''s still using swords and spears, for example. But the Federation, with the aid of the guilds, makes sure that... ''technological contamination'' remains at a minimum. They control the Traveling Points. They regulate them. Without Traveling Points, planeshifting becomes very difficult and very dangerous.¡±


    ¡°So this Federation makes sure the planes are fine and dandy, then.¡±


    ¡°And they''re rather ruthless about it, too,¡± Wakeling''s smile disappeared, and her face went dark, ¡°Rather ruthless.¡±


    ¡°Okay, but Ichabod still has his guns when he''s here on Londoa.¡±


    ¡°Each individual member of a guild is allowed to have their own personal possessions from their home planes with them,¡± Wakeling explained, ¡°But they aren''t allowed to give them to others outside the guild.¡±


    ¡°So what Ichabod did was... oh, I didn''t get him in trouble, did I?¡± Joseph suddenly felt guilty. Then he remembered Ichabod was an asshole, and his guilt lessened somewhat.


    ¡°You gave it back, right?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I did.¡±


    ¡°I''ll let it slide, then,¡± Wakeling chuckled.


    ¡°So, travel between planes is difficult without Traveling Points,¡± Joseph said, ¡°And without it, it''s really difficult and dangerous. So, the sarcophagus I traveled to was dangerous?¡±


    ¡°Most likely,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Tell me a bit about yourself, Joseph. Zheng is a very familiar name.¡±


    So Joseph explained to her about his arrival on Kelstonda. Visiting Nai Nai''s, the sarcophagus, the airship. Wakeling was quiet as he spoke, only interrupting to prod him with questions. The magic she cast still hung in the air, the images of each world disappearing into different colored lights, like a dark night with multi-colored fireflies.


    ¡°Hmm, so Zheng Chun''s passed away, then,¡± Wakeling was somber when Joseph had finished.


    ¡°She... explored the multiverse?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Aye,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Though I didn¡¯t interact with her often. We moved about in the same circles, however. And she was out here quite a bit.¡±


    Joseph was quiet, looking at the ground. Suddenly, many things were making sense. Nai Nai''s eccentricities, the fact that he never saw her except for when the family visited, and only ever at her house. Even the fact that she never mentioned a husband, that she had only a single son, that his father never spoke highly of his mother, could be explained by these revelations.¡¯


    ¡°Who was she?¡± he asked.


    ¡°A Far Traveler,¡± Wakeling replied, ¡°One who explored the farthest reaches of the multiverse.¡±


    Joseph nodded, taking a deep breath. He was quiet for a while longer, the news settling into his bones and soul.


    ¡°They weren¡¯t movie props,¡± he mumbled.


    ¡°Sorry?¡± Wakeling asked.


    He didn¡¯t answer her, shaking himself out of his stupor, leaning into the chair to stare at Wakeling.


    ¡°Right,¡± Joseph sighed, ¡°Is there anything else you can tell me about her?¡±


    ¡°Afraid not,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Though she has quite the legacy, Mr. Zheng. She is-was¡­ rather well known in the communities I frequent.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll have to ask my dad about her when I get back. He has to know about¡­ all of this, right?¡±


    ¡°When you get back?¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Oh dear, you''re in a pickle.¡±


    Joseph narrowed his eyes, ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Zheng, you can''t go back,¡± Wakeling¡¯s words were calculated and pronounced. Joseph felt his stomach clench as he heard the bad news, ¡°At least, not for a very long time.¡±

 4. The Newest Member

    ¡°Typical,¡± Joseph muttered, ¡°Just typical.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Zheng,¡± Wakeling said.


    ¡°No, no, it¡¯s fine,¡± Joseph said, voice drooling with sarcasm, ¡°It¡¯s typical, really, I honestly shouldn¡¯t be surprised.¡±


    He gave a wide smile that did not meet his rage-filled eyes, ¡°Go on, tell me why the hell I can¡¯t go back. I mean, I was just there.¡±


    ¡°Let me explain, please, Mr. Zheng,¡± Wakeling said. The magic disappeared, the light returned to the study, ¡°Mr. Zheng, sit down.¡±


    He wasn''t aware he had stood up. Joseph''s fists were clenched as he glared at the head floating in front of him. Wakeling returned his gaze for a moment, a stern furrow etched on her brow. After a moment, he sighed, lowering himself back into his seat, the edges of his vision swimming a dangerous red. That sense of anxiety that he had felt back on the airship returned to him - a feeling that was becoming his best friend.


    ¡°As I said,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Planeshifting through Traveling Points is the safest way to travel across the multiverse. Certain Traveling Points connect to certain planes, to the point that one can theoretically create a map of the multiverse using Traveling Points alone.¡±


    ¡°So what''s the catch?¡±


    ¡°The catch is that the multiverse is constantly in flux,¡± Wakeling replied, ¡°We can''t truly map out and visualize the multiverse because the planes exist in a space incomprehensible to us. They are not truly next to each other. Rather, Traveling Points are shortcuts across the expanses of reality. And some are only open every so often. Hence, what we call a ''forecast.''¡±


    ¡°Let me guess, you can predict when Traveling Points can open,¡± Joseph grumbled.


    ¡°Correct. And Earth''s Traveling Point is located on a plane that only converges with the greater multiverse once every hundred years or so.¡±


    ¡°So... when will it open up again?¡±


    ¡°I''m sorry, dear,¡± Wakeling gave him a sympathetic look, ¡°Truly, I am.¡±


    ¡°When is it?¡± Joseph demanded.


    ¡°It''s in another forty years.¡±


    ¡°Then how did Nai Nai even get out here? Constantly? I mean, not constantly, but definitely here more often than once every hundred years.¡±


    ¡°I... don''t know,¡± Wakeling admitted, ¡°That sarcophagus you mentioned, it seems like it acted as a gate. Now, there are many ways to planeshift. Traveling Points are the easiest, but there are other ways.¡±


    ¡°Why don''t we just use one of the other ways, then?¡± Joseph said, ¡°Come on, you''ve gotta have something for me.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Zheng, I would not advise it,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°These... other ways, they are dangerous. Horribly so. You would not survive.¡±


    ¡°I''ve got to try.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Tell me, what would you do?¡±


    Joseph glared at the head. His mind raced, trying to find something to retort with.


    ¡°I would... find a way,¡± he said.


    ¡°How?¡± Wakeling challenged.


    ¡°I just would.¡±


    Wakeling closed her eyes, shaking herself back and forth, ¡°You have no plan, Joseph.¡±


    ¡°I...¡± Joseph was out of ideas. He slid down the chair, ¡°I don''t have anything. If what you''re saying is right, I''m as good as dead.¡±


    ¡°Which is why I''ll offer you an alternative,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Stay here.¡±


    ¡°What would I do?¡± Joseph asked, ¡°I mean, I don''t have anything to pay you with. I''m a broke college student.¡±


    ¡°We can train you,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°You can work for the guild. Take jobs, work with us.¡±


    Her eyes flashed silver once more, ¡°I can see Broon writing up the report now. He says that you did a very good job out there, kept your head on your shoulders.¡±


    ¡°Ha,¡± Joseph quipped.


    ¡°Join us, Joseph, and we can house you and train you,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°We''ll even arrange to help you with research on the multiverse, in hopes we can find a way back to Earth.¡±


    ¡°That''s...¡± Joseph thought, ¡°That''s awfully kind of you. Letting me live here for free.¡±


    ¡°Oh, whoever said anything about free?¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Those jobs aren''t just your average, run-of-the-mill jobs. What, do you think you''ll be in an office, doing paperwork? You''ll be in the field, facing danger almost every day. You could very well die out there, since the Amber Foundation takes on some very dangerous work.¡±


    ¡°So I almost kill myself every day, and you give me a bed.¡±


    ¡°And food,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°And training, both in combat and on the nature of the multiverse.¡±


    Joseph mulled the idea over in his head.


    ¡°It''s a good deal,¡± Wakeling continued, ¡°Let me be frank with you, Joseph Zheng: you have no friends out here, aside from us. If you walk out that door, out into Scuttleway, you will have no idea what to do. You don''t know where anything is, you don''t know the politics behind the multiverse, you don''t know where to even begin in your steps to go back home. Stay with us, and I promise you, I will help you any way I can to help you get home.¡±


    ¡°...Alright,¡± Joseph said, ¡°You have a deal.¡±


    Wakeling nodded.


    ¡°So, what, should I shake your hand? Do you even have hands?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°I do,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°They''re just not... on hand at the moment.¡±


    She gave him a conspiratorial wink. Joseph wanted to die.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said, calming down, ¡°Where do I start?¡±


    ¡°We''ll start with settling you in,¡± Wakeling replied, ¡°I''ll have Contort give you a tour of the place, set you up in one of the rooms. You''ll have a roommate. You said you were in college, correct?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°You''ll be used to it, then,¡± Wakeling gave him a more genuine smile, ¡°Welcome to the Amber Foundation, Joseph. I think you''ll like it here, all things considered.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, don''t push your luck,¡± Joseph said. He got up to leave.


    ***


    As Joseph walked out the door, Vyde Wakeling''s head sunk back onto the desk. She sighed, eyes flashing as she sent a mental message to Contort to update him about the situation. With that done, she closed her eyes. A pounding headache washed over the old lady.


    ¡°Damn you, Zheng,¡± she muttered, ¡°Now your grandkid''s out here. Did you think you''d hide this from them forever?¡±


    She felt a profound sense of loss from the news of Zheng Chun''s passing. To be frank, she hadn¡¯t known Zheng Chun very well - perhaps no one did. A conversation here or there, perhaps. No, it was Zheng¡¯s legacy that Wakeling felt. It had always followed the old bitch, a specter that never quite escaped her shadow. Perhaps she should have told that Joseph boy more about her, and what she represented. But no, he would discover that in time. She could feel that same passion emanating from young Joseph. Opening her eyes back up again, she floated over to one of the shelves. A hand made of purple energy manifested next to her, pulling out one of the books. There was still wine, so she would drink that.


    ¡°That''s all witches do, I suppose,¡± Wakeling said wistfully, ¡°Cast spells and day drink.¡±


    ***


    Joseph went down the stairs and back into the great hall. He waited by the massive sword, arms crossed. The anger and panic that had been gripping him was abetting somewhat. He was glad that he could stay here, but the fact that he would be expected to work out in the multiverse wasn''t a comforting thought. Still, it was better than being out here without any idea of what to do, so Joseph waited. This ''Contort'' would be meeting him here soon.


    Members of the guild walked by, a few of them giving him curious glances. Most of them were all absorbed in their own work, however, and paid him no heed. Joseph took a second to get more of a look at the sword in the center of the hall, whistling all the while.


    ¡°There you are! Son of a bitch!¡±


    A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    The voice rang across the hall. Joseph cringed, turning away from the blade to see a man approaching. He had wavy blond hair and a confident smile on his face, looking as though he had just walked out of a fraternity back on Earth. He was wearing a green jacket and torn jeans. He brought out a hand to shake Joseph''s, slapping him on the back afterwards.


    ¡°Arne Contort,¡± he said, ¡°I''m your guide here for the Amber Foundation. You''re Joseph, right?¡±


    ¡°R-right.¡±


    ¡°Excellent. Let me give you a tour of the place. You''ve already been up to Wakeling''s study, so you already know that spire.¡±


    He turned and began walking. As he walked, he talked.


    He talked a lot.


    ¡°Right, so there are around twenty floors that make up Castle Belenus,¡± he said, ¡°Most of them are bedrooms and sitting rooms that we''ve converted into bedrooms. There are also training grounds outside for any form of combat you wish for, a grand library with books from across the multiverse, and a petting zoo.¡±


    They went up a flight of stairs, going across one of the balconies that overlooked the Great Hall.


    ¡°A... petting... zoo?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, for the war goats, and shit,¡± Contort shrugged, ¡°Look, don''t ask me. Becenti loves those goats.¡±


    ¡°Becenti...¡±


    ¡°Yeah, might as well go over the leadership with you. I think that''s Becenti over there now...¡±


    Contort pointed out a man who looked, from Joseph''s perspective, like a Native American man. Becenti was staring down at the Great Hall, hands resting on the balcony. He wore his black hair back in a ponytail, and he was wearing a nice business suit, the sleeves just barely hiding a detailed tattoo.


    ¡°Hey, Becenti!¡± Contort called out.


    ¡°Greetings, Mr. Contort,¡± Becenti''s voice was quiet, and he didn''t turn to look at them, ¡°With the new recruit?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, his name''s Joseph. Introduce yourself, man. Becenti doesn''t bite. Hard.¡±


    ¡°Hey,¡± Joseph waved, ¡°Nice to meet you.¡±


    Becenti turned, his face set in a deep, stony frown. He gave Joseph a curt nod and said, ¡°Excuse me, gentlemen.¡± Then he turned, and walked away.


    ¡°Ah, don''t let him get to you,¡± Contort said, ¡°You saw Wakeling. She gets a bit crazy sometimes, so Becenti has to be the rock that holds the guild together.¡±


    ¡°So he''s, what, the second in command?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Something like that. He runs the day-to-day operations of the guild, overlooks certain missions, assigns members of the guild to different jobs, stuff like that. The minutiae. The paperwork. Becenti''s our man, if he can''t do it, no one can.¡±


    ¡°Er...¡±


    ¡°Actually,¡± Contort said, ¡°Actually, no, someone probably could. Whatever. Unless Wakeling makes a special choice, Becenti''s the man who''ll be assigning you your jobs.¡±


    They went up another staircase. Joseph winced a bit as he climbed. His legs still hurt from earlier, when he had gone all the way up to the study. He didn''t complain, however. Contort led them into the armory. Weapons and armor were laid out on racks ¨C swords and spears for the most part, but Joseph saw other weapons that gave him pause. A rocket launcher was racked next to a short sword, and the armor in the room ranged from the medieval knight''s armor he had seen the guards of Scuttleway wearing to futuristic combat gear.


    ¡°This is the armory, obviously,¡± Contort said, ¡°Now, usually people just wear whatever they brought with them when they joined the guild ¨C comfort, and all that.¡±


    ¡°You don''t just deck everyone out in space marine armor?¡±


    ¡°God, no,¡± Contort replied, ¡°Armor like that is really expensive out here. We save armor like that for special missions that require a lot of firepower. No, metal armor with magical enchantments is a lot cheaper, especially since our guildmaster is such a good sorceress.¡±


    Joseph nodded.


    ¡°Anyways, Lylana is our smithy. She''s downstairs, though, probably arguing with Broon over his sword. They get like that. You''ll see her at some point ¨C small gnome woman. Can''t miss her, with her dunce hat and everything.¡±


    He led them further upstairs. There were more bedrooms here. Most of the doors were closed, though. Rosemary was there, and she waved at them before heading downstairs out of sight.


    ¡°Oh, you''ll want to meet Mekke,¡± Contort said, opening up one of the doors. Inside was a gym, with weight sets and a couple of treadmills in the corner. It formed a strange dichotomy, with the stone floor and torch sconces on the wall, like King Arthur had decided to get a gym membership. A few guild members were here using the equipment.


    ¡°Hey, Mekke!¡± Contort called out.


    A muscular woman finished a deadlift. Joseph''s eyes widened as he realized she had been doing her exercises in a centurion''s uniform, a sword strapped to her side. She strode over to the pair, sizing Joseph up.


    ¡°New guildmate?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Yeah, this here''s Joseph. Joseph, this is Mekke, our combat trainer. From now on, you''re her bitch.¡±


    Joseph quavered a bit. Mekke was a full head taller than him, and she raised an eyebrow as she stared down at him. Then she cracked a smile and slapped his arm.


    ¡°Ah, don''t be so shy, man,¡± she said, ¡°Mekke of the Third Star. That''s me. Tomorrow, come on over here, so I can get a gauge on how good you are in the ring.¡±


    ¡°R-right,¡± Joseph said. Contort was beginning to walk out of the door, ¡°Gotta go.¡±


    Mekke went back to her workout. Joseph walked out the door, feeling like she had just spared his life. Contort gave him a smarmy smile.


    ¡°Bro,¡± he chuckled, ¡°You looked like you were going to die. Total deer in headlights.¡±


    ¡°Whatever,¡± Joseph said, ¡°She''s¡­ muscular.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, she''s a soldier from Londoa. Morenhai, I think her country¡¯s called. She''s nice, though. Really, she''ll point out exactly what you need to do to get better. Want to gain muscle? She''ll help you with that. Want to learn martial arts? Mekke''s been traveling the multiverse for, like, a million years. She knows it all.


    ¡°Oh, here are the showers,¡± Contort said, ¡°They''re communal, so watch out. Hit them whenever you want ¨C folks come in and out of Castle Belenus at odd hours, so you won''t get any odd looks if you clean up at three in the morning or three in the afternoon.¡±


    ¡°That''s something I can get behind,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I keep odd hours anyway.¡±


    Another flight of stairs, ¡°This here''s the library,¡± Contort said. Roughly half of this floor ¨C and the floor above it ¨C were taken up by an army of shelves, ¡°It''s, ah, a library. Don''t break anything, or Barbara over there will skin you alive.¡±


    He pointed out the librarian. Barbara was a large toucan, a pair of glasses nestled on her long, banana-yellow beak. She held a book in one of her talons, claws the size of steak knives gingerly holding it aloft. As Joseph stared at her, her beady blue eyes slid from the book to him.


    And narrowed.


    ¡°Right,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Don''t mess with Barbara.¡±


    ¡°Aaand, right after the library are a few storage rooms,¡± Contort said, ¡°And the stairs to the dorms for the newbies. Well, we''ve been passing bedrooms, but those are for special guests of the guild. Dignitaries, and whatnot.¡±


    He led them up another flight of stairs (¡°There''s no elevator here?¡± Joseph asked) to a line of dorms. Contort suddenly looked up for a second, as though lost in thought, then he nodded.


    ¡°Message from Wakeling,¡± he said, ¡°You''re in room 3-B, with Phineas.¡±


    ¡°Wakeling messaged you?¡±


    ¡°I told you, she''s got quite a handle on magic,¡± Contort said, ¡°Magical messaging is like breathing to her.¡±


    He opened up the door to 3-B. It was a comfortable place, with two beds on either side of a large window. The window itself previewed Scuttleway¡¯s cityscape outside, a plain of buildings and roads below them. Two desks were set up by the foot of the beds, with two closets by the desks. Not exactly roomy, but not a dungeon like Joseph''s old dorm.


    ¡°Hey Phineas, you in here?¡± Contort asked.


    ¡°I am here,¡± a scratched, high-pitched, watery voice said. Joseph started as the voice''s owner crawled out from the bottom of one of the beds. Phineas was a fish man, with webbed hands and fingers. Bulbous, bugged-out eyes stared at Joseph, at once both human and inhuman. Joseph suppressed a shiver.


    ¡°You got a new roommate,¡± Contort said, ¡°After, ah, Moira...¡±


    ¡°I am aware of Moira''s passing,¡± Phineas replied, ¡°Welcome, ah...¡±


    ¡°Joseph.¡±


    ¡°Joseph. Welcome to the Amber Foundation. What plane do you hail from?¡±


    ¡°Earth.¡±


    ¡°Oh!¡± Phineas perked up a bit, eyes widening even further, ¡°Very good! Earth is good. Humans there taste good.¡±


    Joseph was silent. Contort pulled a face. Phineas seemed to realize what he had said, and he brought up his hands in panic.


    ¡°Oh! I will not eat you, however. I have not eaten humans in a long time. I am vegetarian.¡±


    ¡°That''s... good,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Well, that concludes our tour, for the most part,¡± Contort said, ¡°The rest of these are private rooms and studies for the upper members of the guild. Feel free to relax. Dining room''s on the first floor, by the Great Hall.¡±


    ¡°You couldn''t have shown me that before?¡± Joseph asked, ¡°When, y''know, we were on the first floor?¡±


    ¡°Hope you enjoy your time here!¡± Contort gave a smile, then closed the door, leaving Joseph behind with Phineas. Joseph turned to Phineas, giving a shrug and sitting on the bed opposite his new roommate.


    ¡°So,¡± he said, ¡°You''re... a fishman?¡±


    ¡°I am a Deep One,¡± Phineas replied, ¡°From the plane of Amzuth.¡±


    ¡°Amzuth,¡± Joseph nodded, ¡°...Nice, I guess. Never been.¡±


    ¡°It is a plane much like your Earth,¡± Phineas rasped, ¡°A few locations are shared. Massachusetts. Idaho. Human nations, with human names.¡±


    ¡°How long have you been with the guild?¡±


    ¡°I have been with the Amber Foundation for two years now,¡± Phineas replied, ¡°I am a spellcaster. I use a book. I am reliable enough.¡±


    Joseph sighed, lying down on the bed.


    ¡°Does it...¡± he started, ¡°This gets easier, right?¡±


    ¡°When were you introduced to the multiverse?¡± Phineas asked.


    ¡°Like, yesterday.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± the Deep One went quiet, great fish eyes filming over for a second in what seemed to be blinking, ¡°I have known of the Multiverse for a very long time. Since I was spawned.¡±


    ¡°Lucky you.¡±


    Phineas was silent at that. Joseph relaxed a bit, feeling a bit guilty.


    ¡°Sorry,¡± he said, ¡°I didn''t mean to take it out on you, or anything.¡±


    ¡°It is fine,¡± Phineas said, ¡°Many in your situation were like you. Angry. At me, at the Amber Foundation, at their situation.¡±


    ¡°So my... situation. It''s common?¡±


    Phineas dipped his head up and down in a nod, ¡°Yes. Many who are newly introduced to the multiverse join guilds. They often stay, too.¡±


    ¡°Fat chance of me doing that,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I have a life back home.¡±


    ¡°''In exploration, new meanings made.''¡± Phineas recited.


    ¡°What was that?¡±


    ¡°It is the motto of the Amber Foundation,¡± the Deep One explained, ¡°Many find they find who they are out here.¡±


    ¡°So what you''re saying is, give the guild a chance?¡±


    ¡°Yes. The people here are kind. They give me carrots, instead of meat. Because I am-¡±


    ¡°Vegetarian, yeah.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ***


    The day wore on. Joseph went to the communal shower, and found that the guild had provided him a new change of clothes when he got out. A fresh pair of black jeans, with a blue jacket and a white t-shirt that read, in black letters, ¡°Will Work for Lemonade.¡± They fit perfectly. Almost too perfectly. Joseph supposed that whoever had gotten them must have magically resized them for his fit. He took the day to explore Castle Belenus, people-watching. He didn''t see many people who looked like they came from a plane like Earth. Only Contort, perhaps. Everyone else was in armor or robes, or wore clothing from a century ago. Dinner approached, and the guild members went into the dining rooms. Contort said that Joseph didn''t need to be there, however, so Joseph just took a bowl of soup back up to his dorm. Even Phineas was down there, however, so he spent his dinner alone at his desk, watching the sun dip below Scuttleway. The lights of the city began flickering on ¨C guards patrolling the streets began carrying torches, lamps lit up across the city''s expanse. Joseph could hear the sounds of laughter far below, echoing up to his dorm. His entry into the Amber Foundation had come without applause. He had hardly been noticed.


    Joseph felt horribly alone. He finished the soup, and went to bed, the light of day still in the window.

 5. Guild Life Rituals

    Knock knock knock.


    Three sturdy knocks hammered on the door. Joseph awoke with a start. He looked out the window to see the hazy half-light of dawn. A small clock by the bed showed it was six in the morning.


    ¡°All early birds,¡± he muttered, ¡°Makes sense.¡±


    He got out of bed, stretching a bit, before walking to the door. He could hear soft cooing noises coming from underneath Phineas''s bed ¨C Joseph supposed the Deep One was still asleep. He appreciated that he hadn''t woken Joseph up coming in last night. He hadn¡¯t had the best experience with roommates back on Earth. Maybe Phineas wasn''t so bad, after all.


    Joseph opened the door. It was Mekke. The woman was already in armor, sword strapped to her side, her helmet held in the crook of her arm.


    ¡°You slept in, I see,¡± she said.


    ¡°I... it''s six AM,¡± Joseph replied.


    ¡°I''m usually up by four at the latest,¡± Mekke responded, then she shrugged, ¡°I told you that I would be going over your fighting style today, correct?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, but-¡±


    ¡°It is today,¡± Mekke interrupted, ¡°Come, let us go outside.¡±


    ¡°...Right, on it,¡± Joseph pulled the blue jacket on and followed Mekke. He could see Broon and Rosemary in the Great Hall below, talking to one another. Rosemary''s sharp, high laugh pierced through the morning calm. Ichabod was walking out the door, adjusting his sunglasses as he walked out the double doors of Castle Belenus.


    ¡°Wonder where he''s off to,¡± Joseph muttered.


    ¡°Pardon?¡± Mekke asked.


    ¡°Nothing,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Just commenting on the morning, is all.¡±


    ¡°You''ll find many members of the Amber Foundation get up this early,¡± Mekke said, ¡°The early drake gets the gold, after all.¡±


    A few platters were floating in the air on each floor, filled with mugs of steaming coffee. Mekke grabbed two, handing one to Joseph.


    ¡°Coffee before training?¡± he asked.


    ¡°It''s a habit of mine,¡± Mekke said, ¡°Coffee is foreign to Londoa. I didn''t try it until I joined the guild. It''s comforting.¡±


    ¡°So you''ve been in the guild for awhile, then?¡±


    ¡°Twenty years, give or take,¡± the warrior replied, ¡°Wakeling picked me up after I resigned my commission in the Morenhai Empire. Here we are.¡±


    She opened up the door to the backrooms. They went through them out into the garden. Cutting through the hedge maze, Mekke brought them out to the field where the Dreamer''s Lament was moored. The cold morning wind whipped around them, and Joseph was glad he had the coffee. He set it down by Mekke''s on a small, wooden table.


    ¡°So, have you ever been in a fight before?¡±


    ¡°I took boxing,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Boxing?¡± Mekke raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°Yeah, a lot of kids in my class thought I knew kung-fu,¡± Joseph shrugged, ¡°Because I''m Asian, right?¡±


    ¡°...Asian?¡±


    ¡°It''s an Earth term,¡± Joseph mulled over how to explain it, ¡°An ethnicity.¡±


    ¡°Ah, I see,¡± Mekke nodded, ¡°And all Asians know kung-fu?¡±


    ¡°That''s the stereotype,¡± Joseph rolled his eyes, ¡°You don''t know what Asians are, but you know what kung-fu is?¡±


    ¡°I learned kung-fu from a master on the plane of Kelstonda,¡± Mekke said, ¡°An ancient practitioner from the Lu Dynasty.¡±


    ¡°Anyways, I took up boxing to mix things up a bit.¡±


    ¡°Show me your stance, then.¡±


    Joseph nodded, looking around awkwardly for a moment before hunkering down, putting his hands up in front of his face. Mekke brought up her hands, nodding at Joseph. He jabbed at her for a few moments, her hands battering away his fists. She nodded in satisfaction.


    ¡°Your form is good,¡± she said, ¡°Let''s see your dodges.¡±


    She raised up her fists. Joseph''s heart rate spiked as she threw a left hook. He ducked underneath her shot, lifting his head up and stepping back to avoid her proceeding uppercut. Bob and weave. He avoided another jab. And another. Then he countered with a jab of his own. Mekke dodged to the side, bringing up a hand...


    And grabbing Joseph''s forearm.


    ¡°Actual fights aren''t as honorable as sport bouts,¡± she said, ¡°Your form and technique is good, but you were punching as though this were simply boxing and not an actual scrap.¡±


    She let go of Joseph''s arm.


    ¡°I spotted at least four points when you were dodging that, if I were simply fighting you and not gauging your ability, I could have delivered a few crippling blows. You would be dead now.¡±


    Joseph felt anger welling up. Mekke ignored him, walking back to the table and taking a sip of coffee. Why she wasn''t drinking water was beyond him.


    ¡°So, what do I do, then?¡± he grumbled, ¡°Just take it like a man?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Mekke replied, ¡°Of course not. You seem to know enough of boxing that you can reasonably punch-out the average person. However, against someone like me, you are woefully unprepared. Let''s fix up your form a bit. Take a stance.¡±


    Joseph resumed his stance. Mekke walked over and lowered his arms away from his face.


    ¡°There,¡± she said, ¡°Boxing stances emphasize protecting the upper body and the head, as the fists are the only weapon to fear when facing someone in the ring. Out in the field, your opponent will use everything ¨C their arms, their legs, and whatever weapons they may be carrying. By lowering your hands, you protect your lower body and legs a bit more.¡±


    ¡°...Sacrificing some of my upper body for better protection for my lower.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Mekke said, ¡°You''re picking this up quick.¡±


    ¡°Sounds like a bit to re-learn, then,¡± Joseph said. He hated to say it, but Mekke wasn''t admonishing him ¨C she was blunt, but he could tell she was trying to keep him alive. She gave a satisfactory nod.


    ¡°Now, let''s go over some basics. Your footwork could use some improvement.¡±


    ¡°Thought you said my form was good,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°It¡¯s good,¡± Mekke said, ¡°But you shouldn¡¯t take ¡®good¡¯ and settle. There¡¯s always room to improve. Here, let me show you¡­¡±


    The morning went by quickly, as Mekke went over new stances with Joseph, moving away from boxing and going into street-fighting. Real fights, Joseph was quickly learning, were brutal, and forced him to play dirty. The more Mekke taught him, allowed him to throw sand in her face to blind her, or go for cheap blows to her legs or stomach, the more he found he was enjoying himself.


    Finally, lunch rolled around. Mekke stopped practice.


    ¡°Oh, geez,¡± Joseph said, ¡°We skipped breakfast.¡±


    ¡°Technically the first meal we eat is breakfast, as we break our fast,¡± Mekke responded.


    Joseph stared at her for a moment, ¡°...The morning meal. We missed the morning meal.¡±


    The woman shrugged, ¡°I usually only eat one meal a day. So long as you get the calories for the day into your system before sundown, you are fine.¡±


    ¡°Dear god, what do you eat? A whole cow?¡±


    Mekke smiled, ¡°More. I need a lot to keep this body up.¡±


    She flexed, her face chiseled into a deep frown. Joseph was impressed. After a few more pointers on keeping his guard up, Mekke left him to review some paperwork. Joseph went inside, finding the Great Hall bustling with people. The quiet morning was gone, it seemed. Feeling hungry, Joseph went into the dining room, grabbing a sandwich and looking at the tables. He felt like he was in high school again, trying to find an empty seat that wasn''t guarded by social graces. Many of the tables were taken up by the members of the guild. Though, Joseph supposed, these were his people.


    They were now, at least.


    ¡°Hey, Joseph!¡±


    Rosemary raised her hand into the air and waved. Joseph felt a flutter of relief as he walked over, tray in hand. Sitting next to her was a girl with brown skin and curly black hair. She wore a bomber jacket with an emblem on its back that depicted a winged wolf.


    ¡°How are you doing?¡± Rosemary asked as Joseph sat down.


    ¡°Oh, I''m well,¡± Joseph replied. Then he grimaced, ¡°No, actually, never mind. Mekke was training me all morning.¡±


    ¡°So you feel like death warmed over?¡± the girl in the bomber jacket said.


    ¡°Yeah, something like that,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Sorry, we haven''t met. You are...?¡±


    ¡°Name''s Mallory. Mallory Freemason,¡± she replied, ¡°You must be Joe.¡±


    ¡°Joseph, but yeah. Rosemary''s told you about me?¡±


    ¡°I was just telling her about what happened on the Fortune''s Favor,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Joseph, Mallory''s from Kelstonda. She''s a Steamer.¡±


    Joseph looked over to her, ¡°So, you can manipulate steam?¡±


    ¡°I can do a bit more than that,¡± Mallory said. She raised up her hand. The air around it began vibrating, before a cloud of white steam began emanating out from her palm, soon overtaking her entire hand like a glove.


    ¡°That''s... that''s honestly amazing,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Yeah, essentially,¡± Mallory chuckled, ¡°You seem really excited about this. Do they not have Steamers where you''re from?¡±


    ¡°Nothing like that,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°What do you do, then?¡± Rosemary asked.


    Then she looked up behind Joseph. Joseph turned right as a large, mint-green arm began resting on his head. Its owner was a large creature, humanoid with a hooked nose and greasy, long black hair. He was wearing nothing but a pair of black jeans. Beside him was a girl with spiky purple and blue hair. She was Asian ¨C or, Joseph supposed, whatever was equivalent to ''Asian'' in her world. She wore a black t-shirt that read, in an electrifying green font, ''Sadness and the Sorrows.''


    ¡°Aye,¡± the mint-green monster said, ¡°What do ye do?¡±


    ¡°Oh!¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Hi Nole, G-Wiz.¡±


    ¡°''Sup, kid,¡± the girl, G-wiz, said.


    Rosemary seemed to ignore Joseph''s quivering as she smiled up at the monster, ¡°Joseph, that''s Nole. He''s a troll.¡±


    ¡°Nole the troll,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Original.¡±


    ¡°Answer the question, Joseph,¡± Nole said, a devious smile on his face, ¡°What do ye do? Methinks ye look like slim eatings.¡±


    ¡°C-creepy,¡± Joseph said, deflecting the question. He noticed that G-Wiz had a not-altogether-friendly smile on her face, ¡°I, ah, I go to college.¡±


    ¡°Soft in body, by the looks of it,¡± Nole said, ¡°Isn''t that right, G-Wiz?¡±


    ¡°Looks about right,¡± G-Wiz agreed, ¡°Noodle arms, noodle legs. And Mekke was saying he had the build of a boxer.¡±


    ¡°Pretty lousy boxer,¡± Nole noted.


    ¡°Hey, I''m right here,¡± Joseph let out a false laugh, ¡°If you want to talk about me, do it behind my back.¡±


    ¡°Oh, but we would have, had ye not turned around,¡± Nole said.


    ¡°Pretty shit move from you, to be honest,¡± G-Wiz added.


    ¡°Look, what''s your guys¡¯ deal?¡± Joseph¡¯s voice lost its fake cheer.


    ¡°Ugh, just ignore them, Joe,¡± Mallory said, ¡°Nole''s just trying to goad you. He does it with all the newbies. Something about ''warrior''s honor,'' or something.¡±


    ¡°The honor of all warriors!¡± Nole snarled, ¡°All warriors must have honor! So says Nole, of Ketzis!¡±


    ¡°You were kicked out of Ketzis for being too weak,¡± Mallory said. Nole went silent at that, glaring daggers at Mallory. Rosemary looked between the two. Joseph saw discomfort in her eyes as she tried to change the subject.


    ¡°So, Joseph,¡± she said, ¡°What''s... college?¡±


    ¡°What''s college?¡± Joseph asked. Then he realized what she was saying, ¡°Oh, it''s like a school. You choose a specialization ¨C a ''major'' ¨C and then you study it.¡±


    ¡°And what was your major?¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°It was...¡± Joseph tried to find his words, ¡°Undecided. Generalized.¡±


    G-Wiz snorted, ¡°So, a school of specializations, and you¡­ weren¡¯t specialized?.¡±


    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    ¡°Doesn''t sound like a good fit for the school, aye?¡± Nole said.


    ¡°I mean,¡± Joseph said, trying to keep his temper under control, ¡°I hadn''t made my decision yet. That''s all. I was thinking of going into medicine, like my dad. Or engineering, like my brother.¡±


    ¡°Oho, quite the trailblazer!¡± Nole laughed, ¡°Following in yer elders'' footsteps, never making yer own road.¡±


    ¡°Have to admit, pretty weak of you,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°You should''ve picked something else.¡±


    ¡°Did you not-¡± Joseph breathed in deeply, settling his anger, ¡°Did you not just hear me? I''m undecided. Do you know what undecided means? It means I haven''t decided yet.¡±


    ¡°Joe, settle down,¡± Mallory warned, ¡°They''re just trying to get a rise out of you.¡±


    He knew that, somewhere in the back of his mind. Yet the way that Nole''s smirk only widened, the way that G-Wiz¡¯s single, judgmental eyebrow kept playing up and down, up and down, was starting to make him see red.


    ¡°What''s wrong, little one?¡± Nole said, ¡°Ye look a wee bit mad.¡±


    ¡°Just,¡± Joseph sighed, turning back to the table, ¡°Just shut up, will you?¡±


    ¡°Oh, a very good taunt from little ol'' Noodle here,¡± Nole chuckled, ¡°Poor, generalized little Noodle, still looking up to his pappy.¡±


    They didn''t really sound like insults. The way that Nole slurred his own accent made him sound like an uneducated hick. Yet the meaning got through to him. These weren¡¯t like the arrogant slights from Ichabod. No, these were more devious, more pointed and personal.


    Yet he knew that Mallory was right. Joseph closed his eyes, and took a deep breath. He was angry enough, as is.


    ¡°Where is your pappy, anyways?¡± Nole asked, ¡°Did you get his permission to be out here?¡±


    ¡°Where¡¯s your dad?¡± Joseph said, ¡°Don¡¯t see him anywhere. Maybe he¡¯s back on Ketzis, wondering why his son¡¯s such a poser.¡±


    ¡°A¡­ poser?¡± Nole growled, ¡°A POSER!?¡±


    Joseph cracked a smile as the troll snarled, standing up and putting his face in the troll¡¯s, his mind empty of reason and his eyes seeing red.


    ¡°You heard what I said.¡±


    ¡°Want to put your money where your mouth is, boy?¡± Nole growled, ¡°Make your old man proud?¡±


    ¡°You first.¡±


    Mallory rolled her eyes, burying her head in her hands. Rosemary looked nervous. G-Wiz had an almost-astonished, excited look on her face, like she couldn''t believe what she was about to witness.


    Nole, however, began to smile again. He raised up his hands, showing off black, dirty nails that had been filed into points. They weren¡¯t balled into fists like Joseph''s were ¨C instead, they were slightly curled like the claws of a predator, almost as in invitation. Nole wanted this fight.


    No going back now, Joseph was going to-


    ¡°Is there a problem here?¡±


    Becenti strode over to the table, brow furrowed. Rosemary looked away, and Mallory suddenly found a renewed interest in her mashed potatoes. Nole didn''t register Becenti''s presence at first, wheeling on him, before he recognized the second-in-command. The troll''s face fell.


    ¡°Err, just talking to the new kid, boss,¡± he stammered.


    ¡°Looks to me like you were looking for fresh blood, Mr. Nole,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I am disappointed. We do not fight our fellows.¡±


    ¡°We...¡± Nole sighed, ¡°We do not.¡±


    ¡°I''d advise you to go sit somewhere else. Same with you, G-Wiz. I saw you needling him on.¡±


    ¡°Oh, very well,¡± G-Wiz relented. Nole glared at Joseph, then the two walked to the other side of the room. A few of the guild members had turned to look at this scene ¨C something Joseph felt embarrassed by ¨C but soon went back to their meals. Renewed chatter drowned out the scene as Joseph sat down.


    He felt Becenti''s hand rest on his shoulder.


    ¡°Having trouble making friends, Mr. Zheng?¡± he asked.


    ¡°It''s no problem,¡± Joseph scowled.


    ¡°Pull a stunt like that again, and I''m afraid there will be consequences,¡± Becenti said, ¡°What I said to Nole applies to you as well.¡±


    ¡°...Fine,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Keep your nose clean, Mr. Zheng. It would be a shame if our newest member got a reputation for getting into immature spats,¡± Becenti gave a nod to Rosemary and Mallory, then walked away.


    ¡°Wow,¡± Mallory whistled, ¡°You''re lucky Becenti stepped in when he did. Nole would''ve floored you.¡±


    ¡°I would''ve had my pride,¡± Joseph retorted.


    ¡°And a black eye,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°And probably a broken back. And neck. And-¡±


    ¡°Alright, alright,¡± Joseph said, waving her off, ¡°I get it.¡±


    ¡°Seriously, though,¡± Mallory said, ¡°Becenti was right. That was freaking stupid of you.¡±


    Joseph sighed. The adrenaline of the situation was leaving his system, ¡°It was, wasn''t it?¡±


    ¡°Nole got a rise out of you. He''s good at that,¡± Mallory said, ¡°Look, once you go on a few jobs, he¡¯ll probably leave you alone. He''s like that with all of us. Even Rosemary. She broke his nose with that mace of hers.¡±


    ¡°Sceptre,¡± Rosemary corrected, ¡°Sceptre.¡±


    ¡°You... broke his nose?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°I was angry,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°And his nose is just so long and annoying. ''Course, Becenti put me on cleaning duties for a month after.¡±


    Joseph shook his head, ¡°Looks like he¡¯s someone to avoid then.¡±


    ¡°Listen, Joe,¡± Mallory leaned in, ¡°Just watch your back for a little while. Nole''s not liable to forget insults and challenges.¡±


    ¡°Good to know,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Good to know.¡±


    Feeling a bit apprehensive, Joseph excused himself. As he walked out of the dining room, he noticed Nole''s eyes boring into him.


    ***


    The next two weeks went on with a rhythm Joseph was starting to find comfortable. He would get up in the morning, train in the garden with Mekke, eat, and then do whatever chore had been assigned to him that day. Some days, he was helping clean up bedrooms, or cutting the hedges in the garden, or tending to Becenti¡¯s goats. Those were nasty chores, as the goats had a mixed diet of carrots, lettuce, and cow meat, biting at his fingers as he shoveled their meals into feeding troughs.


    His favorite days, however, were when he was with Phineas, helping clean the kitchen after meals. He found this job easy, as the Deep One had a book with him from which he uttered a few spells that automated the sponges and soap dispensers in the kitchen.


    ¡°It is good,¡± Phineas said, ¡°We now have time for our personal interests.¡±


    ¡°What do you do?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Ahh, I prefer card games,¡± Phineas replied.


    ¡°Oh, like poker? Blackjack?¡±


    ¡°Are you aware of... Myth Battle?¡± Phineas asked.


    ¡°No, I''m not.¡±


    And so Phineas got out two decks of cards, and showed Joseph Myth Battle, a trading card game with seven elements, several hundreds different kinds of cards, and gods and monsters from a thousand mythologies that Joseph didn''t recognize. It reminded Joseph of the nerds in university, who kept to themselves in the library after class, shouting about black magicians or white dragons. Still, Joseph stuck to the game, partially for something to do, partially because Phineas seemed very obsessed with it.


    ¡°I have been playing Myth Battle since my spawning,¡± he jabbered, ¡°My elder eggsister used to take me to tournaments when I was young, and always bought me a new starter deck for my Scaling Ceremony.¡±


    ¡°Your... Scaling Ceremony?¡± Joseph asked, flipping down a ''Dakos: Martian God of Desperation'' onto the table.


    ¡°The... equivalent to a birthday. When I shed my scales and grow a new coat.¡±


    ¡°Oh, neat.¡±


    Then they continued playing while the dishes washed themselves.


    When he wasn''t doing chores or training with Mekke, Joseph found himself going into the library. Barbara the toucan was intimidating, but once Joseph got to know her a bit, he found she was very helpful in finding books. She had an encyclopedic knowledge of every volume in the library.


    ¡°Oh, a book on planeshifting?¡± she said, her voice surprisingly deep and smooth, ¡°Yes, yes, you will find everything on the history of planeshifting, as well as its initial trailblazers like the Brothers Shahad, upstairs, in section C.¡±


    ¡°Thanks,¡± Joseph said.


    He would then plop himself at a table with multiple books, and spend time reading, trying to find anything that would help him get home. Planeshifting, he learned, without Traveling Points, used to be easy. However, it had gotten more and more dangerous with time, and planeshifting without a Traveling Point was like spinning a wheel. There was a chance he''d be able to get back home in one piece, but there was also the chance he''d die a horrible death, his soul scattered through the far expanse of reality.


    But that wouldn''t stop him. He just needed a way to avoid that.


    Thus did Joseph spend his first weeks with the Amber Foundation, learning and training, preparing himself. He spent his time with Phineas and Mekke, and he avoided Nole. Sometimes he would see Broon, sometimes Ichabod would give him a snide remark in the hallways, sometimes he would wake up to see Chadwick outside the window, green eyes staring at him.


    ***


    Then, one morning, he heard the familiar knocking on the door. Joseph got up, pulled his jacket on, and went to open it. Mekke was on the other side.


    ¡°Morning,¡± he said, ¡°We training?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± she responded, ¡°Today, sir, you have a job.¡±


    Joseph froze at that. The familiar dread he had been feeling about the Amber Foundation crept back in as Mekke waited for a reply. Things had been getting comfortable. He had been doing his chores. He''d been training well...


    But Wakeling''s words echoed in his head. This was part of their deal. Free food, training, and bed. In exchange, he''d have to do the guild''s work. He was a member, after all. Joseph nodded.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said, ¡°Where do I go?¡±


    ¡°Becenti will be going over the details. Follow me.¡±


    She led him up multiple flights of stairs, to the top of one of the spires. Becenti''s office was sparse compared to Wakeling''s study ¨C a single desk was set up in the middle of the room, a shelf full of paper was pushed to the side, and a diamond-patterned orange and blue blanket hung on the wall. Becenti was in front of his desk. Already waiting inside were Broon, Rosemary, and Contort.


    ¡°Thank you, Mekke,¡± Becenti said, ¡°You''re dismissed.¡±


    Mekke nodded, closing the door. Rosemary gave Joseph an encouraging smile, while Contort gave him a lazy wave. Joseph walked up next to Broon, who was staring forward at Becenti.


    ¡°Ladies and gentleman, you are here because our Guildmaster decided you were good for the job,¡± Becenti started, ¡°Three of you were involved with the skirmish aboard the Fortune''s Favor two weeks before. Contort, you''re here because you''re reliable enough.¡±


    ¡°Thanks, bro,¡± Contort said, giving a finger gun to Becenti.


    Becenti ignored him, pulling out ¨C seemingly from thin air ¨C a pack. Joseph''s eyes widened as he realized it was the same pack Rosemary had been wearing onboard the airship.


    ¡°The egg,¡± Broon commented.


    ¡°Correct. The client has chosen a rendezvous point for the return of their egg to them,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°After two weeks?¡± Joseph said, ¡°I mean, that was a long time ago. I thought we returned that to them already.¡±


    Becenti shook his head, ¡°The client is being very careful about this job, Mr. Zheng. They''ve chosen a place on Londoa to meet them on.¡±


    ¡°Another local mission, then,¡± Rosemary pouted.


    ¡°I chose you because you''ve proven yourself well in a fight,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Plus, you can help get Mr. Zheng up to speed on the politics of Londoa, since you''ve been on so many missions here.¡±


    ¡°Gee, thanks,¡± Rosemary said.


    Becenti furrowed his brow, but ignored her as he continued, ¡°Now, Mr. Zheng is here because he was involved with the airship, and by tradition, the first mission of a new member of our guild takes place here on Londoa.¡±


    ¡°This mission, though?¡± Broon asked, ¡°With all due respect, getting that egg wasn''t easy. A lot of other rival guilds were after it, too. It got rather hairy.¡±


    ¡°It''s the only job we have here on Londoa at the moment,¡± Becenti responded, ¡°Besides, Mekke says Mr. Zheng here''s been making quite a few improvements in his combat capabilities. He''ll be able to take care of himself for a second if he gets separated.¡±


    Broon nodded. Joseph felt a bit small ¨C he didn''t like how he was being completely ignored.


    ¡°Which leaves you, Broon,¡± Becenti said, ¡°You''ll be leading this particular job. The client''s chosen meeting point is Lake Oval, in Salthirn.¡±


    That name registered something in Broon. The half-orc sagged a bit, ¡°Aye,¡± he muttered.


    ¡°Use your connections to ensure you get through Salthirn safely,¡± Becenti ordered, ¡°I understand that there''s been quite a bit of political turmoil there, and I don''t think our status as a guild will help you when you get out there.¡±


    ¡°I know a few people,¡± Broon said, ¡°I''ll call in a few favors. We''ll get that egg to Lake Oval, no need to worry.¡±


    Becenti nodded, ¡°The client will be waiting for around a week. Get yourselves packed up and ready. Good luck. You''re dismissed.¡±


    They began streaming out of the room, one by one. Rosemary stayed behind.


    ¡°Er... sir?¡± she said, ¡°The egg.¡±


    Becenti''s eyes widened. He handed her the pack, then went back to sit at his desk and pretend to be engrossed in paperwork. Rosemary winked at him, then went out the door.


    ¡°Right,¡± Broon said, ¡°You heard him. We''ll meet up in the Great Hall in an hour, got it?¡±


    They nodded. Broon gave Joseph a pat on the shoulder as the group broke up. Joseph walked back up to his dorm, hands shaking a bit from nervousness. He made his way into his room. Phineas was at his desk, spellbook opened, a few Myth Battle cards flipping in his webbed hands. His globular eyes turned to face Joseph as he walked in.


    ¡°You are going out?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph said, taking a ragged breath, ¡°Going to a place called ''Salthirn.''¡±


    Phineas nodded, ¡°On Omasta Landmass. Local place, very nice. Lots of orcs.¡±


    ¡°Which must be why Broon''s leading the mission, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    The Deep One went back to his reading. Joseph looked over and he saw that, covering Phineas''s spellbook was a magazine.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°I am supposed to be studying spellwork for guildmaster Wakeling. I do not want to do that, so instead I am pretending to be studying spellwork while I read a magazine on Myth Battle.¡±


    ¡°Anything... anything good?¡±


    ¡°I am excited for the new set,¡± Phineas explained, ¡°It is called ''Battle for Asgard,'' and features gods from a pantheon from a place known as ''Scandinavia.''¡±


    ¡°Hey, that''s something from Earth!¡± Joseph exclaimed, ¡°Where do they print those cards, anyways?¡±


    ¡°A place known as Prime,¡± Phineas said, ¡°A world far from here. You said that Earth has a Scandinavia?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°What others do they have?¡±


    ¡°Others they have?¡± Joseph was confused by the question, ¡°Oh, like places. I mean, I''ve seen a few familiar faces here. Hermes, for example, in your aggro deck. He''s from Greece.¡±


    ¡°A gift, then,¡± Phineas said, ¡°To remind you of home.¡±


    He slid a card out of his deck, depicting a man with wings on his feet and a staff with twin serpents coiling around it. The name of the card was ''Hermes: God of Messengers.'' Joseph took it, looking at the card''s art. Despite the relative corniness of its art, he felt a pang of home.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± he said, ¡°Really, Phin. Thanks.¡±


    Phineas nodded, ¡°You are welcome. I know what it is like to feel homesick, even if the Amber Foundation is a new home.¡±


    Joseph nodded, then went to look over his stuff. His old clothes were in the closet, but he had found the clothes the guild had given him to be satisfactory. Aside from that, he didn''t have too much. Slipping the Hermes card into his pocket, he gave a wave to Phineas.


    ¡°Be sure to actually study,¡± he said, ¡°Especially if it''s for Wakeling.¡±


    ¡°I will at some point. When I finish my magazine.¡±


    ¡°Aight. See you.¡±


    ¡°Farewell, Joseph.¡±


    ***


    Joseph, by virtue of the fact that he owned absolutely nothing save for the clothes on his back and a trading card, was in the Great Hall first. He waited for the hour. Contort joined up first.


    ¡°You excited?¡± he asked.


    ¡°A bit,¡± Joseph replied, ¡°Nervous, mostly.¡±


    ¡°Ah, you''ll be alright,¡± Contort laughed, ¡°You need some fresh air!¡±


    ¡°I train every day outside with Mekke.¡±


    ¡°Some fresher air, then. You haven''t been outside the castle, right? After this job''s done, I''ll take you to a bakery in town. Finest bread you''ll ever dig your pearly whites into. They mix spiced nuts into ''em.¡±


    Rosemary walked in a bit later.


    ¡°How you doing, Rosie?¡± Contort asked.


    ¡°I''m ready. Got my mace, got my cloak, got my armor on...¡±


    ¡°Do you have the potions?¡± Contort reminded, ¡°It''s your job to look after them, and all...¡±


    ¡°Oh, geez!¡± Rosemary ran back up the stairs. Broon came down the opposite stairway as she left. The half-orc was in full scale armor, a deep green cloth with the emblem of the Amber Foundation ¨C a solid, golden oval with a white sword in the middle ¨C resting on his left shoulder, where the stump of his arm was.


    ¡°Everyone ready?¡± he asked, ¡°I saw Rosemary running to get something. Did she forget the potions again?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Contort replied, ¡°Typical Rosie.¡±


    Broon turned to Joseph, ¡°Are you ready?¡±


    ¡°Just about,¡± Joseph responded. Broon gave him a look-over.


    ¡°You don''t have a weapon,¡± the half-orc said.


    ¡°I, ah,¡± Joseph scratched the back of his head, ¡°I don''t have anything. Mekke was teaching me some hand-to-hand, though.¡±


    ¡°That will help somewhat,¡± Broon said, ¡°But do you not have anything else? Do you know how to wield a blade?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Have you firearms?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Should I go upstairs to grab one from the armory?¡±


    Broon shook his head, ¡°Firearms require a license from the Federation to use out on a low-tech plane like Londoa. It would take too long. Here-¡±


    He pulled out a dagger from the pack he was wearing. It was simple and pointed, the handle''s leather worn from use.


    ¡°You should always have a knife on you anyways. It''s both a weapon and a survival tool. Contort here can teach you how to use it on our journey.¡±


    ¡°Ahh, why me?¡± Contort said, ¡°I''m not that good, trust me.¡±


    ¡°Could''ve fooled me,¡± Rosemary said as she ran back over to join them, ¡°You''re one of the best knife-fighters in the guild.¡±


    Contort pulled a face, but said nothing. Broon ignored his complaint and began walking to the double doors. The rest of the group followed, swinging the doors open and out into Scuttleway.

 6. Out of Scuttleway

    Castle Belenus was located on the edges of Scuttleway, but the group nonetheless made their way towards the center of the city, into the market district. Broon shopped for some last minute supplies. Contort pulled Joseph towards the bakery he had mentioned, a quaint little shop with a gnome woman cheerily baking bread in the back.


    ¡°Be right with you, loves!¡± she shouted.


    ¡°Right,¡± Contort said, ¡°I think I''ll have my usual. Rosemary, what do you want? My treat.¡±


    ¡°Ohhh,¡± Rosemary got a greedy look in her eye, ¡°I''ll have one of those, and one of those, and one of-¡±


    ¡°Let''s just go with the strawberry bread,¡± Contort said.


    ¡°Sounds good!¡±


    ¡°What about you, Joseph? I''d recommend that almond bread.¡±


    ¡°I''ll go for that, then,¡± Joseph answered.


    The gnome finished her work in the kitchen, coming up to the stall, ¡°What''ll it be, Arne?¡±


    ¡°Lemme get a strawberry bread, some almond bread, and the usual rosemary bake for me. Oh, and a candy bread for the half-orc.¡±


    She took the bread out of their warmers, put them in bags, and handed them to Contort. He gave her a few silver coins, and they walked out. Broon had finished his shopping, his pack now seeming to be quite a bit heavier, the way he was hefting it over his shoulder.


    ¡°Alright, we ready?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Yessir,¡± Contort said, ¡°How we getting to Salthirn?¡±


    ¡°I''ve hired a carriage to take us to Kelphaven, from there, we''ll sail to the Rainbow Bridge.¡±


    ¡°Right-on,¡± Contort took out a loaf of bread and put it into Broon¡¯s open mouth. Thick hard candies had been baked into the crust, and without an extra arm to hold onto the bread, Broon was forced to just start chewing. The half-orc shot an annoyed glare at Contort, who was walking towards the gates of the city.


    ¡°We''re not taking the airship?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Another team has it,¡± Broon said through a mouthful of bread, ¡°Lazuli, I think. We''ll be going out in style, though.¡±


    Their carriage was outside, an old, beat-up wagon with a six-legged goat the size of a horse pulling it. Joseph nodded at the goat. In style, indeed.


    ¡°At least I''m getting used to this,¡± he said, ¡°I''m not freaked out by giant goats, at least.¡±


    ¡°Ha! We''ll make you a real guildmate yet,¡± Contort said.


    ¡°That honeymoon feeling''s wearing off, then?¡± Rosemary asked as she clambered onto the wagon.


    ¡°Yeah, I think so,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I think. No promises. You never know, something might come up that''ll freak me out so much I''ll die of a heart attack.¡±


    ¡°Can I have your stuff, then?¡± Rosemary asked.


    ¡°Sure. I have a whole deck of Myth Battle cards that I''m borrowing from Phineas, and a lame t-shirt.¡±


    ¡°Score!¡±


    Joseph had to chuckle at that as Contort helped him onto the wagon. The agitation of leaving Castle Belenus disappeared as they wheeled out of the city. Rosemary was laughing at a stupid joke that Broon had cracked about eggs. Contort was rolling his eyes at the two of them. All three were relaxed. Joseph stretched, feeling the tense knot in his stomach unraveling as Scuttleway became smaller and smaller behind him.


    He felt calm enough to eat, which was a good thing. The loaf of bread Contort had bought him smelled inviting, and he took a bite.


    ¡°Holy shit,¡± he said, ¡°This is some good bread.¡±


    ***


    The journey took up the bulk of the day. They spent the time traveling in relative silence, looking out at the scenery, broken up every so often by Rosemary piping up about something she would see. The region was mountainous, interspersed with the occasional copse of trees or open field. Terrace farms had been built into the sides of a few hills, the farmers tending to them small dots in the distance. The horizon curved upwards.


    ¡°Which would mean we''re on the inside portion of Londoa, right?¡± Joseph asked, ¡°You said the planet was shattered a long time ago, and people live on both sides.¡±


    ¡°Correct,¡± Broon said from his perch, ¡°Scuttleway is a city-state located on the inner parts of Moadma Landmass. We''ll be going over to the other side as part of the journey to Salthirn.¡±


    ¡°Why is there light, then?¡± Joseph asked, looking up, ¡°I mean, if we''re facing away from the sun, shouldn''t there be darkness?¡±


    ¡°An archmage in the past lit up Moadma Landmass with an artificial star,¡± Broon said, ¡°It sets in the distance and winks out while it circles around the outer parts of Moadma Landmass, then flares back up when it rises again.¡±


    ¡°Do other Landmasses have that?¡±


    ¡°Not many,¡± Broon said, ¡°A lot of the inner lands of Londoa are in eternal darkness. Dark elves live in those lands. Deep gnomes. Dwarves.¡±


    ¡°Must be kind of depressing,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°I went there once with Becenti,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°It''s not so bad once you get used to it.¡±


    The road they were taking began veering to the right. Broon followed it, and they began going parallel to the curving horizon.


    ¡°This will be a bit disorienting,¡± the half-orc warned, ¡°The mind doesn''t really register travel like this well. Feel free to close your eyes. We''ll be over the hump in a couple of hours.¡±


    He was right. One moment, Joseph could see the curve. The next, he noticed the horizon disappeared, the land in front of them cutting off as though they were about to go over a cliff. He squeezed his eyes shut as he felt that, at any moment, the wagon would go over the edge. He should''ve warned Broon...


    ¡°Alright,¡± Broon said, ¡°You can open your eyes now.¡±


    Joseph did. The horizon no longer curved up, but now to the side, the nearby twisting to the right in a ¡®C¡¯ shape. Joseph looked out. In the distance, he could make out distant landmasses floating in the sky, obscured by depth like the moon in the morning.


    ¡°Weird,¡± he said, ¡°Like, too weird.¡±


    ¡°Gravity always points down, so a lot of the time it''ll feel like we''re about to fall,¡± Broon said, ¡°We have another jump to make to get to the outer portion of Moadma Landmass. Think you can handle it?¡±


    ¡°I''m fine,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°You don''t look fine,¡± Rosemary commented, ¡°Your face is all gray.¡±


    ¡°I''m fine!¡± Joseph let out a wheezing laugh, ¡°Really. I am.¡±


    A couple hours later, they pitched over the edge again. Joseph squeezed his eyes shut, making another prayer, his hands clutching the wagon''s seat. He kept them closed as he said, ¡°Are we good?¡±


    ¡°Not for a little while,¡± Broon said, ¡°This jump will take awhile. I''ll let you know when you can open your eyes.¡±


    ¡°R-right.¡±


    He kept them closed, feeling his stomach rising and falling. He kept holding onto the seat, willing himself to stay still, trying to convince himself that Broon was right, that it was an optical illusion, that they wouldn''t fall down the edge. This was all too weird...


    About twenty minutes passed. He heard a snrk from Rosemary. Joseph opened his eyes to see that they were on the outer portion of the Landmass, far away from the edge. Rosemary was covering her mouth, and started cackling as Joseph looked around, confused. Contort joined her, and he saw Broon''s shoulders rising and falling.


    ¡°Dude,¡± Contort laughed, ¡°We''ve been ¨C By the gods ¨C we''ve been on the outer portion forever now.¡±


    ¡°Oh my god, did you see his face!¡± Rosemary screamed, ¡°Oh my god, I''m never- ahaha...¡±


    ¡°Thanks,¡± Joseph rolled his eyes. Then he gave a good-natured grin. It had been funny.


    ¡°Sorry,¡± Broon said, ¡°I was going to tell you, but Rosemary paid me off with candy.¡±


    ¡°Here,¡± Rosemary passed him a chocolate bar, ¡°Congratulations, Joseph. You didn''t die going over the edge. We''re very, very proud of you.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, yeah, laugh it up,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I''ll get back at you, count on it.¡±


    Laughing, the day passed peacefully. The wagon pulled up towards the city of Kelphaven. Seagulls flew overhead, galleons were moored on the docks, and a lighthouse shone out towards a sparkling sea that glistened with the setting sun. In the distance, he saw great fins rise out of the sea and bob back down.


    ¡°Crusias,¡± Broon said, ¡°The Leviathan of Kelphaven. They''ve got a special deal with her to protect the city from pirates.¡±


    ¡°Another city-state?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°All of the Landmass is made of city-states,¡± Broon said, ¡°The big empires and kingdoms are on other Landmasses. Makes things pretty quiet, barring the occasional merchant wars.¡±


    They settled into a small inn for the night in the docks district. Broon, Joseph, and Contort went into their rooms to only find two beds.


    ¡°Right,¡± Contort said, ¡°Well, newbie sleeps on the floor.¡±


    ¡°Aye,¡± Broon said, ¡°I agree.¡±


    ¡°Hang on, now, what?¡± Joseph said, ¡°How come I have to sleep on the floor?¡±


    ¡°Because you''re the newbie,¡± Contort said, ¡°Don''t worry about it, once someone else joins the guild, you won''t be the newbie anymore. Newbie emeritus.¡±


    ¡°There''s no way you know what that word means,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°I don''t,¡± Contort''s face broke into a grin, ¡°But my point stands, newbie. Here, I''ll throw you a blanket. You don¡¯t get a pillow, though ¨C Papa Contort needs those for his beauty sleep.¡±


    ¡°And Rosemary gets her own room?¡± Joseph complained.


    ¡°Aye,¡± Broon said, ¡°I had considered putting Contort in the room with her, but she gets in a mood sometimes, insists on sleeping on her own.¡±


    ¡°Like a big girl,¡± Contort chuckled, throwing himself onto his bed.


    ¡°Right, whatever,¡± Joseph wrapped the blanket around himself, lying down on the creaky, wooden floor. It was wet ¨C the wood was sodden and moist, soft to the touch. Although the day had exhausted him, he slept fitfully that night, dreaming of crabs and ants crawling all over his body.


    They had booked a ship for voyage to the edge of the Landmass. They got up at the crack of dawn, ate the last of Contort¡¯s bread, and went down towards a large galleon. The captain was an orc, with dark green skin and leather armor, over which he wore a captain''s long coat. He and Broon exchanged a few words in a language Joseph didn''t recognize. After a few minutes of conversation, Broon turned to the group.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said, ¡°This here is Captain Maul, and this is his ship, the Truespeaker. She''ll get us to the edge of Moadma Landmass.¡±


    ¡°And from there, the Rainbow Bridge,¡± Rosemary confirmed.


    ¡°Correct. Captain Maul says the journey should take three days.¡±


    They climbed aboard, and soon enough, the Truespeaker set off. They were escorted away from Kelphaven by the leviathan, great fins arcing out of the sea beside them. Joseph could see, just beneath the murky waters, shining scales and a serpentine body.


    ¡°Glad he''s on our side,¡± he said aloud.


    ***


    Three figures planeshifted onto a vast, wide field on the Omasta Landmass. One of them stretched out, looking towards the rising sun in the distance.


    ¡°Been awhile since I''ve been home,¡± he said.


    ¡°I always hated Londoa,¡± his companion replied, ¡°Too low-tech for my tastes, like a barbarian tribe in the Outer Reach.¡±


    ¡°I take offense to that.¡±


    ¡°Now, friends,¡± the third voice cut in, ¡°We''re not here for sight-seeing. We''re here for business. Meldorn, you said that the mercenaries you hired have been dispatched?¡±


    ¡°Aye,¡± Meldorn said, hefting a greataxe onto his shoulder, ¡°They''ll intercept them at the Rainbow Bridge.¡±


    ¡°The mercenaries will only slow them down,¡± the companion replied, ¡°Alonso, do you really think a bunch of local thugs will really stop members of the Amber Foundation?¡±


    ¡°Of course not, Jani,¡± Alonso replied, ¡°Spies report that they spotted Broon Wildarm and Arne Contort with the group. This will be a simple matter for them.¡±


    ¡°Wildarm,¡± Meldorn spat, ¡°Been a wee while since we ran into him.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Alonso said, ¡°You may have first blood, of course. Jani, I want you to eliminate Contort.¡±


    ¡°Done.¡±


    Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    ¡°Good,¡± Alonso said, ¡°Very good. Let''s keep our heads in the game on this one, friends. It won''t be easy.¡±


    With that said, the three of them began walking across the open plains, mere dots in the landscape, heading towards Lake Oval.


    ***


    Contort began showing Joseph the basics of knife-fighting while they made the journey to the edge of the Landmass. He was good ¨C the way that he spun the dagger as though it were an extension of his body was unreal, and when Joseph tried to imitate him, he ended up with nicked fingers.


    ¡°No, no,¡± Contort said, ¡°Don''t act all stocky. I thought Mekke was teaching you hand-to-hand?¡±


    ¡°But a stout defense is good,¡± Joseph countered, ¡°Right?¡±


    ¡°When it comes to knife-fighting, it doesn''t matter how strong the punch is, because a sharp knife will cut through skin too easily,¡± Contort replied, ¡°I heard you had a background in boxing, right? Use that ¨C keep yourself agile. Being able to jump back quickly is paramount, and your legs have to be loose and ready to spring.¡±


    Contort didn''t joke during these sessions. His face had gone serious as he showed Joseph what to do.


    ¡°Don''t be a hero when you have a knife,¡± he ordered, ¡°If the other guy has a knife, then it''s too risky to make big, dramatic flourishes and whatnot. Keep yourself mobile, and concentrate on staying alive. Beating the other guy comes second to that.¡±


    ¡°Stay alive,¡± Joseph repeated.


    The journey was, for the most part, easy-going. Occasionally the captain would bark out a few orders after spotting a ship on the horizon, and the Truespeaker would keep their distance from them.


    ¡°Pirates,¡± Rosemary whispered, ¡°They''re common around these parts.¡±


    But an attack never came. Joseph felt comfortable on the deck, the ocean waves plying beneath them, tilting the ship up and down like a rocking chair. He found himself staying up on the deck more and more as time went on.


    ¡°Liking the sea?¡± Rosemary asked him on the last day.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph said, ¡°It reminds me of home.¡±


    ¡°Where did you grow up?¡± she said.


    ¡°Oh, a city called San Francisco,¡± he replied, ¡°Dirty. Loud. It was nice, though. At night, you could hear the sounds of the waves on the beach. I forgot how much I missed that sound.¡±


    ¡°Mm,¡± Rosemary joined him, looking out towards the setting sun, ¡°Londoa''s alright, too.¡±


    ¡°Yeah. You''re from here, too?¡±


    ¡°Me? No,¡± Rosemary gave a sad smile, ¡°I''m from... far away.¡±


    The way she said it, made it sound like she wasn''t ready to talk about it. So Joseph let the point drop. They were silent for a moment.


    ¡°Are there humans on Salthirn, like you and me?¡±


    ¡°A few. Merchants, mostly. Oh, I''m not a human, though,¡± she pushed back her hair a bit, revealing pointed ears, ¡°I''m an elf.¡±


    ¡°Ah,¡± Joseph said, ¡°So that probably means you''re like, what, a thousand years old?¡±


    Rosemary gave him a quizzical look, ¡°I''m... twenty.¡±


    ¡°Oh, yeah,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Sorry, from what I''ve learned, elves can live a long time, right?¡±


    ¡°The... elves where I come from have a ritual known as ''crysallization'' that freezes their aging,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°But very few of us do it. Anyways, I have to hide my ears most of the time. Elves... they aren''t popular on Londoa. I''ve been called some really mean things in my time here. Sharp-ear, child-eater...¡±


    ¡°I know that feeling,¡± Joseph said, crossing his arms, ¡°Really, I do. I''ve been called some really nasty stuff.¡±


    ¡°Let''s be not-nasty together, then. I won''t call you... whatever they call you, and you won''t call me sharp-ear.¡±


    Joseph smiled, ¡°Deal.¡±


    ¡°You know the worst part? The elves of Londoa are a conquering, imperialist people ¨C they got the names because they invaded Londoa a long time ago, and are said to be responsible for the planet''s shattering. Sure, I''m an elf.¡±


    ¡°But you''re from another plane.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, so the whole conquering thing? That''s not me.¡±


    She cast a melancholic glance out towards the sea, ¡°It''s not me.¡±


    ***


    The Truespeaker landed on a small island on the edge of the world. The ocean water sloped down, curving into a great waterfall. It didn''t fly off into space, however, as Joseph dared to look down to see the bottom, where the water at the bottom of the falls looped into the earth in a misty arc.


    ¡°This place is weird,¡± he said. No one was around to hear him, however, so he let the comment drop.


    They had moored to the island, the last piece of rock on the Landmass. Beneath them was an empty sky, stars studding the bottom and mixing with the water. In the distance, Omasta Landmass floated. It was far larger than Moadma Landmass, a dominating mountain of stone suspended in the sky. It rose a bit higher than Moadma, as well.


    ¡°The Rainbow Bridge should be appearing any minute now,¡± Broon said, ¡°Ah, here we are...¡±


    With the coming of the rising sun, a bridge materialized. It was multi-colored, made out of glass like the sword in Castle Belenus, with handrails on each side. It was wide enough that Joseph supposed a bus would have been able to fit on it with room to spare. Parts of the Rainbow Bridge were covered at certain points with flat rooftops, pillars spiking through the handrails to support them.


    ¡°Who made it?¡± Joseph wondered.


    ¡°No one knows. It''s been around since Londoa shattered, though,¡± Broon replied, ¡°Let''s get a move-on. The bridge will disappear when night falls.¡±


    ¡°And I assume we''ll fall to our deaths?¡±


    ¡°You''re picking up quick. And yes.¡±


    After a few tentative steps, Joseph followed them as they walked across the bridge. A few caravans passed them by ¨C wagons full of goods, pulled by six-legged goats and driven by gnomes and humans. They paid the strange, motley band no heed as they passed them by.


    ¡°So, those goats...¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°They''re called krem,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Live on the sides of the Landmasses. Very easy to tame, too.¡±


    ¡°Why not use horses?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Horses don''t exist here,¡± Contort said, ¡°Weird, right? I freaked out when I learned about that.¡±


    ¡°Very weird.¡±


    A few hours passed as they walked. Joseph was starting to realize that traveling on foot was boring ¨C very, very boring. They made some conversation here and there, but most of their time was spent putting one foot in front of the other.


    That is, until Broon stopped them.


    ¡°You hear that?¡± he asked.


    They were underneath one of the covered portions of the bridge. It was quiet ¨C even the sounds of the waterfalls had disappeared. Joseph shot the half-orc a quizzical look. Broon dropped his pack to the ground, pulling out his sword. The party seemed frozen in time, Joseph raising an eyebrow as Rosemary cocked an ear out. Then...


    ¡°Yeah,¡± she said, ¡°Yeah, I hear it.¡±


    ¡°What do you hear?¡± Joseph asked, a bit apprehensive.


    ¡°We''re being watched,¡± Broon said, ¡°People are on top of the roof.¡±


    Rosemary had the satchel with the egg inside. Joseph saw her adjust it, hiding it beneath her cloak.


    ¡°Maybe it''s just muggers,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Right?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Broon''s voice had lowered to a dangerous whisper, ¡°If they wanted to mug us, they''d be at the end of the bridge, where they could retreat if things got too hairy. No, these guys... they''re confid-¡±


    The bridge burst into motion. Joseph saw something dark whip out from the side of the bridge, brandishing a longsword that they swung out at his head. Joseph ducked, hearing a sharp crack as Rosemary slammed her mace into the attacker''s head. More of them dropped down from the roof. Joseph pulled himself back up, drawing out his knife. Broon was facing off against two of the attackers, his blade singing through the air. One of the men pointed at him and shouted.


    ¡°Wildarm! It''s Wildarm!¡±


    Broon shot him a glare, slamming the pommel of his sword into the speaker''s temple. But more attackers dropped down, weapons swinging.


    ¡°On your left!¡± Contort cried out. Joseph turned to see one of the cloaked men bearing down on him, a scimitar in his hand. Joseph panicked as he drew out his knife. His legs bent down into a stance ¨C he''d need to be quick, be ready to spring-


    The scimitar sailed down. Joseph jumped to the side, dagger slashing, underestimating the reach of the scimitar as the assassin twisted it and swung at his side. The blade cut into Joseph''s side, slamming him into the balcony...


    Yet there was no blood. Joseph looked down to see the scimitar in his side, his jacket having absorbed most of the blow. The assassin removed the scimitar, which hadn''t even cut through the cloth...


    ¡°Come on, man!¡± Contort tackled the assassin to the ground. He had lost his daggers, instead twisting his body in impossible directions as though he were made of rubber, avoiding the wild slashes of his enemy''s scimitar as the two wrestled on the ground. Joseph''s eyes widened as he saw the hair rise up on Contort''s arms as he bashed his forearm into the assassin. When he extricated himself from the body, small holes covered the corpse''s chest, as though he had fallen on a porcupine.


    The battle was over in an instant. In total, about seven mercenaries had attacked them ¨C five of them laid on the ground. Rosemary had pushed one off the edge, his scream echoing down and growing distant as the last turned tail and ran, sprinting towards Moadma Landmass. Rosemary pointed her mace, taking aim. Broon put a hand on her shoulder.


    ¡°It''s alright, let ''em go,¡± he said, ¡°When this bridge breaks apart, they won''t be able to get to us. We''ll have lost them by tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± she said.


    Joseph watched as Contort picked up a few of the bodies, checking their pulses. Then he shrugged, and pitched them over the side.


    ¡°G-gross,¡± he said.


    ¡°Part of the job,¡± Contort replied, ¡°It sucks, but it''s them or us.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph said, ¡°What did you do?¡±


    ¡°Oh, this?¡± Contort smiled as he bent his arm back. Joseph blanched as he pushed it to the point that his hand could grip his shoulder, ¡°Easy enough. I''m from a plane where we all can do that. Why do you think I''m called Contort?¡±


    ¡°And the hairs?¡±


    ¡°Well, young grasshopper, we have total control over our bodies,¡± Contort said, ¡°We can sharpen our hair, make them as sharp and pointy as knives. Comes in handy, don''t it?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I guess. Makes for fun parties, I bet.¡±


    ¡°Oh, the best,¡± Contort gave a dazzling smile. Then he tossed another body off the bridge.


    ¡°Hey, Broon, this one''s alive,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°I cracked her in the head, so she''ll be dozed out for awhile.¡±


    ¡°Tie her up,¡± the half-orc said, ¡°Let''s question her when we get off the bridge.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Rosemary produced a rope and began tying the assassin up. She had removed the hood and mask the assassin had been wearing, revealing a woman''s face with short-cropped black hair. Contort picked her up, hefting her over his shoulder and giving Rosemary a thumbs-up.


    ¡°Let''s go,¡± Broon said, ¡°We''re losing daylight.¡±


    They took off again. Joseph felt a dull ache in his ribs as he looked down. He had almost forgotten he''d been slashed.


    ¡°What happened?¡± he asked, ¡°How come I''m not a shishkebab?¡±


    ¡°You think we were just going to throw you into the fire?¡± Contort chuckled, ¡°That coat''s been magically enchanted to protect you from most sharp weapons ¨C swords and stuff. Looks like it''ll leave a bruise, but you should be okay.¡±


    He felt a new appreciation for the coat, giving it a smile. He poked at the wound, wincing as the ache flared. But he didn''t feel anything broken, so he supposed it would be alright.


    ¡°Let me know if it gets worse,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°I''ve got some experience with first aid, should be able to patch you up quick.¡±


    ¡°Sounds good,¡± Joseph grimaced again, but continued walking.


    ***


    They arrived at the end of the Rainbow Bridge a few hours later. The wall of Omasta Landmass greeted them as they jumped off the magical glass. A staircase had been cut into the side, leading up to the top of the Landmass, where Joseph could see tufts of grass peeking down at them. Far below was nothing but the early oranges of evening. Contort dropped the assassin onto a rock away from the edge, nodding at Rosemary, who produced a small bottle of white powder, putting it up to the prisoner''s nose. The prisoner breathed it in, then began coughing and spluttering, her eyes opening up and full of tears.


    ¡°There we are,¡± Broon said, ¡°Have a nice nap?¡±


    ¡°...A bit of a headache,¡± she replied, ¡°I assume the rest of my compatriots...?¡±


    ¡°Dead, unfortunately,¡± Broon said, ¡°I''m sorry.¡±


    ¡°I hardly knew ''em anyway,¡± the woman responded, ¡°We were all hired separately.¡±


    ¡°All of you were hired separately, yet you wore the same style of clothing?¡± Contort said, ¡°You were all in black wrappings.¡±


    ¡°It was something that our employer requested specifically,¡± the woman said.


    ¡°You don''t seem very loyal to them, all things considered,¡± Broon noted.


    The woman shrugged.


    ¡°Money''s more important, then?¡± Broon said.


    ¡°Aye. You could say that, Wildarm.¡±


    ¡°You know that name,¡± Broon said, a bit impressed, ¡°Then you know who we are.¡±


    ¡°Didn''t realize until I was in the thick of it. Amber Foundation, aye?¡±


    ¡°Aye. Which makes things a bit easier for you,¡± the half-orc pulled out a small satchel of coins, ¡°They''re yours if you tell us who hired you. What''s your name?¡±


    ¡°Mercenary name is Shorts,¡± the woman said.


    ¡°Alright, Shorts,¡± Broon said, ¡°I''m going to let you go regardless, but you''ll be fifty gold richer if you tell us who hired you, and what for.¡±


    Shorts looked at the bag of coins in Broon''s hand. The half-orc was holding it by the knot tying the bag together, dangling it in front of her face like a hypnotist''s pendulum. Shorts sighed.


    ¡°It ain''t professional, revealing who hired you,¡± she said.


    ¡°I know,¡± Broon said, ¡°But this is an important mission. If this gold isn''t enough, I can give you more. It will take a bit of time to procure, however.¡±


    ¡°Two hundred gold pieces. That''s how much they gave me to kill you and grab any bags you were carrying.¡±


    ¡°I''ll get you two hundred and fifty.¡±


    Shorts considered that, biting her lip and furrowing her brow in thought.


    ¡°Fine. I''ll talk. I didn''t get a good look on who hired us ¨C a man with a high voice, obviously not from Londoa. Wore one of those... ''suits,'' aye?¡±


    ¡°Mm,¡± Broon said, ¡°Go on.¡±


    ¡°He and his associates said that their guild wanted the packs on a group of people heading towards Salthirn. A half-orc and three humans. Seemed simple enough, especially when I saw how many others he had hired.¡±


    She shot him a look of begrudging respect, ¡°Didn''t expect for the half-orc to be Wildarm.¡±


    ¡°I don''t get out much, these days,¡± Broon said, ¡°Did you get a name?¡±


    ¡°No. I knew it was a guild, though. There were a few others with him, who obviously weren''t from Londoa either.¡±


    ¡°That makes things interesting,¡± Contort muttered.


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Broon said, ¡°You won''t try to kill us?¡±


    ¡°Not if you pay me the fifty you have now, two hundred later. I''ll be making my way to the city of Rymedeep.¡±


    ¡°Right. I''ll ask for a Shorts in Rymedeep as soon as I finish the job here. Agreed?¡±


    ¡°Agreed.¡±


    ¡°Contort, could you untie her?¡±


    ¡°You''re the boss,¡± Contort stepped forward and undid her bindings, pulling at specific knots in quick flourishes until the rope fell to Shorts¡¯s feet like a coiled serpent. She stood up, feeling her wrists and arms. The rope had cut through her clothing and scratched out deep welts.


    ¡°We forgot to grab your weapon,¡± Broon said, ¡°It''s probably falling into the depths of the Landmass by now.¡±


    Shorts shrugged, ¡°It''s whatever. I''ll pick something up later.¡±


    Broon tossed her the bag of coins, ¡°Pleasure doing business with you, mercenary Shorts.¡±


    Shorts nodded, and she began heading up the stone staircase. Broon sat back down, putting his hand up to his chin.


    ¡°So,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Another guild?¡±


    ¡°Aye,¡± Broon said, ¡°That isn''t good.¡±


    ¡°How come?¡±


    ¡°It means another guild knows we have the egg,¡± Contort replied, ¡°And they probably want it for another client.¡±


    ¡°Remember back on the Fortune''s Favor?¡± Rosemary said, ¡°There was a Steamer there, and his team was trying to get that egg. A lot of people probably want it. A lot of people who hired guilds to acquire it.¡±


    ¡°So people can do that?¡± Joseph said, ¡°Hire a guild to attack another guild?¡±


    ¡°Oh, attacking a guildhall like Castle Belenus is a big no-no,¡± Contort said, ¡°But out on the field? This is business ¨C we''re in the way of the prize. So they can attack us to try and get the egg.¡±


    ¡°And if one of us dies, or we kill one of them defending ourselves?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°The guild leadership works it out,¡± Contort said, ¡°We''ll probably pay some compensation to the deceased''s next-of-kin, say we''re sorry, all that jazz. But guild skirmishes like this are relatively common.¡±


    Joseph gulped, ¡°So we''ll be facing another guild.¡±


    ¡°Any ideas who it could be?¡± Rosemary asked, turning to Broon.


    ¡°No idea,¡± the half-orc said, ¡°A man in a business suit with a high voice... that''s not a very good description...¡±


    He rose up from where he had been sitting, re-shouldering his pack, ¡°We can do more investigating once we get our bearings about this place. We''ll be meeting with the Salthirn guard at Whispering Rock to negotiate passage towards Lake Oval.¡±


    ¡°And we can ask them about it then,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°Aye,¡± Broon nodded, ¡°Let''s go.¡±


    They tramped up the stone staircase, coming up to the top of Omasta Landmass. A wide, open field greeted them, stretching as far as the eye could see. Wind blew through the green grasses of the plains, cool and dry and sweet-smelling. Stone pillars stuck out of the ground at certain intervals, carved with runes and images of men and women ¨C many of whom had great tusks jutting from their mouths.


    ¡°Welcome to Salthirn,¡± Broon said, ¡°It covers the entirety of Omasta Landmass, and was formed by three orcish kingdoms and two goblin tribes.¡±


    ¡°You grew up here?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°In the forests in the north,¡± Broon said, ¡°My mother raised me away from much of civilization. I was a hunter before I joined the guild.¡±


    Joseph nodded. Then another question prodded his mind.


    ¡°Shorts called you ''Wildarm.''¡±


    ¡°A nickname. I had a reputation before I joined the guild,¡± Broon said as he began to stride through the grass, ¡°Not many people expect a one-armed half-orc to be of any use out here.¡±


    ¡°How did you lose your arm?¡±


    Broon was quiet for a moment, but then said, ¡°A foolish mistake. Let''s talk about something else, aye?¡±


    ¡°Y-yeah,¡± Joseph followed. He felt bad ¨C Broon had been nothing but kind to him, and all he did was ask rude questions. Broon walked with a sense of purpose in his step, and although he held his head high and his voice was even and commanding, Joseph had a distinct feeling that the half-orc didn''t want to be in Salthirn.

 7. Wildarms Bargain

    Whispering Rock was an ancient outcropping of stone located in the fields. Seven tall pillars of rock ringed around a circular table that looked as though it had been carved by wind and time. In between the standing stones were thick, curved spikes that had been planted in the earth that rose up towards the sky, each one almost twelve feet in height. Mottled white, it took Joseph a moment to realize they were tusks.


    ¡°Hey, uh,¡± he said, poking at one of them, ¡°Do mammoths live out here?¡±


    ¡°Aye,¡± Broon said, ¡°Most of them are solitary creatures nowadays. Not many left.¡±


    Joseph took a look around at each tusk, ¡°I can see why.¡±


    It was night now, the sun having disappeared hours ago. The only source of light came from the runes etched into the standing stones, glowing light painting everyone in a blue tint. A cold wind whipped up as they waited. Joseph zipped his jacket up, Rosemary wrapped her cloak around herself tightly, and Contort cursed to himself.


    ¡°Should''ve brought a coat,¡± he muttered.


    Broon didn''t react. The half-orc stood at the table of Whispering Rock, eyes set forward, waiting. He had grown quiet the deeper they pushed into Salthirn, the dry jokes and prods slowly replaced by a grim silence, his face as set as the stone around him. His companions let him have his privacy. Joseph felt around in his pocket, producing the Hermes card. As he squinted at the small image of the god in the half-light runes, he felt an overwhelming wave of homesickness wash over him.


    Whatever Broon was feeling, he hoped there were at least some good memories here.


    A deep, melancholic horn boomed in the distance, followed by the sound of hooves thundering through the plains. Figures began to appear, silhouettes in the darkness. They were riding krem, and as they arrived at Whispering Rock, they dismounted and began stepping forward into the pale, blue light. All of them were orcs ¨C true orcs. Each was seven feet tall at least and wore plated mail. They had taken off their closed helms, revealing sharp fangs that jutted from their bottom lips and dark green skin that looked gray in the light. Joseph noted that they surrounded Whispering Rock, keeping their distance on the boundaries of the standing stones. Save for one, who stepped forward. Almost nine feet tall, she strode towards the table, laying her great, spiked helm onto its surface. She looked down at Broon for a few moments.


    ¡°I am Lohsa of the kingdom of Neroth, one of the Three Kingdoms of Salthirn,¡± she announced.


    ¡°I am Broon Wildarm, half-son of Uras. My mother was human.¡±


    ¡°And thus is not as despicable as others,¡± Lohsa finished, ¡°I welcome you, halfborn, to this table on this night. State your intentions.¡±


    ¡°I come not as myself, but as a representative of the Amber Foundation,¡± Broon said.


    ¡°So you seek passage, not as a half-human, but as an inter-planar entity that is traditionally not welcome in our lands. Not since the Battle of Evukor.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Broon said, ¡°We are a guild, not a national entity.¡±


    ¡°Your guild faced us at Evukor. I assume to recall the one known as Wakeling devastated an entire battalion.¡±


    ¡°Aye, that she did,¡± Broon said, ¡°But we are not here to attack. We seek passage to Lake Oval to meet with a client.¡±


    ¡°And what will you give us in return?¡± Lohsa asked, ¡°Non-orcs are only allowed on the basis of business and mercantilism.¡±


    ¡°Our travel is for business,¡± Broon stated, ¡°We are to deliver a package to them.¡±


    ¡°A package? What of?¡±


    Broon was quiet for a moment, then said, ¡°We would prefer for the affairs of our client to remain private.¡±


    Lohsa let out a low tut tut, ¡°That will not do, Wildarm. As the representative of Salthirn, it is in our best interests to know what passes through our lands.¡±


    Joseph felt the air tense a bit. Many of the orcs on the outside began grumbling to one another. The makings of a stand-off were approaching ¨C he could feel it. Rosemary sneaked a glance at Contort, who gave a grim nod. The hairs on his arm began to rise up. Broon, to his credit, was quiet and cool. Every movement he made was measured and slow. Lohsa glared at him, a mixture of indifference and disgust painted on her face.


    ¡°It is an egg,¡± Broon said.


    ¡°An egg to what, exactly?¡± Lohsa asked.


    ¡°I...¡± Broon thought, ¡°I do not know.¡±


    ¡°Morn!¡± Lohsa called out. One of the orcs stepped into the light. He held a gnarled, oak staff in his head, ¡°Speak again, Wildarm. Do you speak the truth?¡±


    ¡°I do,¡± Broon said, ¡°I do not know the species of the egg which we carry.¡±


    Morn''s staff crackled a bit, and he brought his hand to it, waving and pushing air into it. The wind whistled to the cracks, becoming high-pitched ringing as it passed through, before Morn nodded.


    ¡°The halfborn speaks true,¡± he said.


    ¡°May we see the egg?¡±


    ¡°...No,¡± Broon said.


    ¡°Then we are, once more, at an impasse,¡± Lohsa said.


    ¡°I promise you, Lohsa of Neroth, we mean you no harm,¡± Broon said, ¡°We are prepared to give anything in payment.¡±


    ¡°Anything, you say?¡± Lohsa raised an eyebrow, ¡°The life of the human behind you. With the blue jacket on.¡±


    Joseph felt his heart drop. Broon turned to look at him, his face impassive, his eyes glazed over.


    ¡°Almost anything,¡± he amended.


    ¡°Ha!¡± Lohsa let out a loud laugh, ¡°Learn to pick your words wisely, Wildarm. You speak well, but not nearly well enough. The human blood in your veins, I suppose.¡±


    ¡°I offer you a deal, then,¡± Broon said, ¡°One of us will stay here, at Whispering Rock.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡±


    ¡°Aye. One of us stays here, the rest of us will move onto Lake Oval.¡±


    Lohsa thought for a moment, ¡°That is agreeable. I choose that you stay here, Broon Wildarm.¡±


    Broon was quiet. Lohsa continued.


    ¡°You are a half-orc. A¡­ curiosity in these parts. And not a fun curiosity, either. To be frank, Broon, I don''t think you should be here. I am aware that you are the Wildarm, infamous for your skill with that blade of yours. Were you pure of blood, your orations among our kind would be legendary, and you would stand as a paragon for orcs across Londoa.¡±


    Her eyes narrowed, ¡°But you are not pure of blood, are you? I do not think you should travel these lands, Wildarm. Not anymore. You have made enough stories here ¨C many of them dark. It was not just Wakeling at Evukor. Were you not here as a member of the Amber Foundation, I would have you arrested right here, and right now.¡±


    ¡°I understand,¡± Broon''s voice was taut as a line.


    ¡°The rest of you are humans. Merchants, under our laws. You may be of the multiverse, but you are still here on business. You have stated your intent ¨C to go to Lake Oval and give an... egg... to a client. You will do this, and then you shall leave Salthirn.¡±


    ¡°That''s agreeable,¡± Contort said, ¡°Broon, you good?¡±


    ¡°Aye, I''ll be fine,¡± Broon whispered. Then raising his voice, ¡°I agree to your terms, Lohsa of Neloth. I will stay here. Under guard, if you wish it.¡±


    ¡°I shall remain here with you. Morn, take the rest of the guard and return to Gremeran. I will personally ensure that Wildarm does not leave Whispering Rock.¡±


    Morn nodded, then began barking out a few orders. The rest of the guard re-mounted and thundered off. Broon waited for the sounds of hooves to disappear, then turned to the rest of the party.


    ¡°This is... not surprising,¡± he said, ¡°Contort, I''m putting you in charge of the rest of this job. Get to Lake Oval.¡±


    ¡°Right on,¡± Contort said, ¡°You''ll be alright here?¡±


    ¡°It is nice out, and I don''t believe Lohsa means me harm. Far from it, in fact. None of you participated in the Battle of Evukor. Don''t reveal yourselves as members of the Amber Foundation. I believe it is because I am the Wildarm that we are able to pass through Salthirn at all.¡±


    Joseph nodded. Then, remembering about the other guild, turned to face Lohsa.


    ¡°Hey,¡± he said.


    Lohsa looked down at him, ¡°Yes, human? You have more to say?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph said, ¡°There''s another guild here, isn''t there?


    Lohsa stared at him. Joseph got the distinct sense he was speaking out of turn ¨C like a child yelling back at their parent. The orc strode forward until she was right in front of Joseph and rose up to her full height, dominating his vision, her eyes hardened and almost angry. He stood his ground, looking up at her, hoping that he was hiding his trembling well enough.


    ¡°You are either very brave or very ignorant, human,¡± the orc said, ¡°But I can forgive ignorance. I can neither confirm nor deny the presence of another guild here.¡±


    Then she gave a nod, and stepped back to the table.


    ¡°Best we be on our way,¡± Contort said, ¡°We''ll set up camp a bit later, yeah?¡±


    He put a hand on Joseph''s shoulder that was a bit too tight. Joseph got the message.


    ¡°Right,¡± he said, ¡°Let''s go.¡±


    They said goodbye to Broon, who nodded morosely. They left Whispering Rock behind.


    ¡°Kind of dumb thing to do back there,¡± Contort said.


    ¡°Yeah, kinda got that impression,¡± Joseph said, ¡°She was surprisingly...¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Contort said, ¡°Eloquent? Orcs usually are. Salthirn''s known for its mercantilism and trade enterprises. That''s why the three orcish nations here unified ¨C better trade opportunities.¡±


    ¡°They sound like business majors,¡± Joseph muttered, ¡°''Can neither confirm nor deny'' my ass.¡±


    ¡°Well, we''ll have to be even more careful, from here on out,¡± Contort said, ¡°Without Broon, we''ve lost quite a bit of our combat effectiveness.¡±


    Joseph turned to look back at Whispering Rock. He could just barely make out Broon''s form in the light of the runes. The half-orc was staring at them, his head hung as he watched them walk away, far from the standing stones and into the dangers of the night.


    ***


    They set up camp soon after leaving Whispering Rock behind. Contort pulled out three tents out of his pocket ¨C something which Joseph accepted after a moment of hyperventilation. He also had brought some firewood, starting a nice blaze with which they cooked some soup over. All three of them were quiet, the only sounds being the cracking of the flames and the wind in their ears.


    ¡°Best to set up a watch,¡± Contort said in an uncharacteristic whisper, ¡°Joseph, you mind taking first watch?¡±


    ¡°Sure thing. I''m not tired, anyway.¡±


    ¡°I''ll take second watch,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°You look exhausted, Contort.¡±


    ¡°Was it that obvious?¡± Contort let out a dry chuckle, ¡°Thanks, Rosie.¡±


    He went into his tent. Rosemary and Joseph remained by the fire for a little while, before Rosemary said her good nights and went to bed. Joseph sat by the fire, legs curled to his chest, alone with his thoughts. The fire died down, bit by bit, until eventually it died out. The night became very cold, and Joseph shivered as the hours dragged on. In the distance, some bird let out a call, though it was alien and deep, not at all like the seagull¡¯s cries in the morning like back home.


    The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    ¡°You''ll catch a cold, not keeping the fire going.¡±


    Contort stepped out of his tent, rubbing his eyes a bit.


    ¡°I, ah,¡± Joseph stammered, ¡°I don''t know how to keep a fire going.¡±


    ¡°What, your old man never taught you?¡±


    ¡°No, he didn''t. I''ve... I''ve never gone camping before, actually.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Contort gave a weary smile, ¡°Well, congratulations. Joseph Zheng, first time camper.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, yeah, give me my merit badge and let me go home.¡±


    Contort tossed a few more pieces of wood into the fire, lighting a match to restart it, and sat down across from Joseph.


    ¡°Shouldn''t you be asleep?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Yeah, I don''t think sleep''s gonna come,¡± Contort scratched the back of his head, ¡°I don''t really like being forced into the ''leader'' role. I don''t know how Broon does it.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph agreed. Contort tossed a few more logs into the fire.


    ¡°You don''t like it,¡± Contort said, ¡°Having to leave Broon behind.¡±


    ¡°That Lohsa... she wasn''t very nice to him, was she?¡± Joseph said, ¡°I mean, what was the Battle of Evukor?¡±


    ¡°Big guy doesn''t like to talk about it. Wakeling took a few members of the guild to Evukor during a big war a few years back. Salthirn was invading a country to the north called Milandra. Evukor was a city there. They helped that city''s defense. Broon even killed one of the princes of Salthirn.¡±


    ¡°Which explains why they don''t like him.¡±


    ¡°They don''t like him for a lot of reasons. He''s half-orc ¨C an aberration to them. He shouldn''t exist. He''s also only got one arm, essentially a cripple in their eyes. Finally, he''s the Wildarm. He''s got stories on his shoulders.¡±


    ¡°Then why did he lead the mission, then?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Because even with all that, he''s still an orc. He''s still going to at least have the time of day given to him,¡± Contort''s face went dark, ¡°Salthirn''s... they''re a mercantile nation. One of the most dominant nations on all of Londoa. They''ve even got an embassy in the High Federation. But that doesn''t mean they have to be nice.¡±


    ¡°They''re allowed to get away with it,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Contort rubbed his eyes, groaning, ¡°Listen, losing Broon is a huge knock on our capabilities as a group. I''m not a leader, Rosemary''s still new, and you just started a couple weeks ago. If we get into a fight with that other guild, I want you to take the egg and make a break for Lake Oval.¡±


    ¡°Got it,¡± Joseph said, ¡°You get some sleep, too.¡±


    ¡°I told you, I can''t-¡±


    ¡°Contort,¡± Joseph shot him a look, ¡°We''re going to need you for this. Can''t have you zonking out halfway through a fight, right?¡±


    ¡°Damn you,¡± Contort chuckled, ¡°Alright, I''m going back to bed. Night-night, sleep tight, newbie.¡±


    He got back up, patted Joseph on the shoulder, then went back into his tent.


    Rosemary came to relieve him a couple hours later. She must have overheard part of the conversation, as she didn''t wake up Contort, instead covering his shift for the night. She was rubbing her eyes as they ate the soup for breakfast and went off.


    ¡°Lake Oval''s not that far away, fortunately,¡± Contort said, ¡°About a day''s walk. Let''s get some spring in our step.¡±


    His voice was devoid of his usual arrogant bounce. They walked, once more without conversation. The day passed without incident ¨C save for Rosemary accidentally tripping a few times from a lack of sleep.


    ¡°Alright,¡± Contort said in the evening, ¡°Rosemary, you take first shift.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± she yawned.


    ¡°Only for a few hours, though,¡± Contort said, ¡°Joseph, you good staying up for six hours?¡±


    ¡°If I can sleep beforehand, I should be fine,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Got any coffee?¡±


    ¡°If only,¡± Contort growled. They ate dinner and went to sleep. Joseph''s dreams were strange and muddled, and he woke up for his shift with a pounding headache that only went away with the rising sun. Contort was quiet as he woke up and put the tents away. Rosemary seemed more awake, now that she had gotten more sleep.


    ¡°You ready?¡± he asked her.


    ¡°You bet,¡± she clutched her mace, a look of determination on her face.


    ¡°Alright,¡± Contort said, ¡°Let''s go, ladies and gentlemen. We have a guild to fight.¡±


    Their destination loomed on the horizon, a forest that crested out to either side like a half-moon, growing larger and larger as they walked. Lake Oval, Contort explained, was deep within the forest. There was no trail that had been marked by orcs into the woods. Quite on the contrary, they almost never went there save for the occasional woodsman.


    ¡°So it''s the perfect place to intercept us,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°They''ll probably attack us while we''re in the forest.¡±


    ¡°An ambush,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Right-on. Keep your wits about you,¡± Contort said. He stretched a bit, his gaze serious.


    ***


    They went up to the forest''s edge and, without much fanfare, picked their way past the treeline. Joseph was shocked at how difficult it was to walk ¨C it seemed there was a root at every footfall, ready to snag and pull him to the ground. More often than not, he found himself tripping over. Contort or Rosemary could grab him as he fell, but sometimes they would be slightly ahead of him, or slightly behind, and he would land face-first in the dirt. This wasn''t the average hiking trail like back home. The trees here seemed almost malevolent, in the way they obstructed the journey.


    ¡°I''m starting to understand why orcs don''t go here,¡± Joseph said as he fell for the hundredth time.


    ¡°It''s not so bad,¡± Rosemary danced from root to root, ¡°You just gotta hear what the forest''s saying.¡±


    ¡°Is that elven stuff?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°A bit. It''s mostly just looking at the ground to see where your feet are going.¡±


    Joseph rolled his eyes at that.


    It was a few hours into the forest when Joseph began feeling... uneasy. It was a sense both familiar and unfamiliar, as though something deep within him that he had pushed down had re-awoken. Contort and Rosemary both stopped, almost at the same time, Rosemary pushing her hair back from her ears, cupping them, Contort grabbed the bottoms of his and pulled, the lobe stretching down until he looked like a human elephant.


    ¡°Trouble,¡± Rosemary whispered, ¡°Big trou-¡±


    She let out a scream of surprise, whirling to the right, mace extended out. She projected a shield of light around them as something slammed into the shield. Green bolts ¨C almost globules ¨C of energy. Coming through the wood was a woman with gray-blue skin, tall and in white combat armor, a futuristic rifle in her hands. She picked her way through the forest.


    ¡°Alright,¡± she shouted, ¡°Hands in the air, Amber Foundation! We have you dead to rights.¡±


    ¡°And you are?¡± Contort shouted.


    A voice from above answered them.


    ¡°We are Exodus Walkers.¡±


    All three of them craned their heads up to see a man in one of the trees. He looked as though he had walked right out of an office ¨C with a nice, white dress shirt a bit scuffed from his woodland journey and black pants with a silver belt holding them up. The only thing that was off was the luchador mask he wore, a red, green, and blue affair that covered his entire head. He had rolled up his sleeves, and the way he held onto the tree branches ¨C the way that they cracked and broke beneath his grip ¨C made Joseph uneasy.


    ¡°I know you,¡± Contort said, ¡°Alonso Moriguchi, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, that''s the name,¡± Moriguchi said, endlessly polite, ¡°No Wildarm, then?¡±


    ¡°Maybe he''s with us, maybe he''s just a bit behind,¡± Contort bluffed, ¡°You don''t know.¡±


    ¡°Except we do!¡± a harsh, large voice said behind them. From the path they had walked came a large bear of a man in hide armor, the skin of a large lion draped over his shoulders. He held a greataxe in one hand, and his large, pug-like face was red with frustration, ¡°The damn half-orc''s back at Whispering Rock! Just when I was going to face him! Gods, dammit!¡±


    ¡°Calm yourself, Meldorn,¡± Moriguchi called from the trees, ¡°Another time, perhaps.¡±


    ¡°DAMMIT!¡± the man, Meldorn, seemed to be on the verge of tears. Then he took a deep breath.


    ¡°Anger exercises, Meldorn,¡± Moriguchi said.


    ¡°Right, anger... exercises...¡± he took a deep breath, ¡°I am one with the world. All is well. I am on an ocean, surrounded by cuttlefish...¡±


    ¡°Now!¡± Contort yelled. Rosemary dropped the shield, the light warping into a beam that she fired at the woman in combat armor. It slammed into her like a fist, sending her through the forest. Moriguchi dropped down. Contort jumped to meet him.


    ¡°Joseph!¡± he screamed, ¡°The egg! Go!¡±


    Rosemary tossed Joseph the satchel. Joseph grabbed it, and, with the rest of the Exodus Walkers distracted, began running away...


    ***


    ¡°Dammit!¡± Meldorn roared. He brought up his greataxe to give chase. Rosemary spun around and fired another beam of light, which caught the man in the chest, carrying him up to the tree tops before dissipating. Meldorn fell to the ground with a harsh crash and a flurry of curses.


    Contort wrestled Moriguchi, the latter wrapping his arms around the former''s torso. Contort grunted, collapsing his ribcage and jumping up, slipping through Moriguchi''s wrestling hold and slamming his knee into his enemy''s stomach. Moriguchi grunted, making a blind grab that snagged around Contort''s throat. Moriguchi spun, regaining momentum and choke-slamming Contort into the ground. The hair on Contort''s arms stood on end, and he slashed wildly at the Exodus Walker, who leaped back, the hairs grazing his shirt and tearing thin lines across his chest.


    The two squared off against one another. Then, Moriguchi noticed that Joseph was gone.


    ¡°Jani!¡± he called out, ¡°Take out Contort!¡±


    He turned, Contort sprang at him, then twisted in midair as he noticed more plasma bolts slide his way. Jani ¨C the blue-skinned alien ¨C rushed towards the scene, eyes alight with fire, bolt after bolt rocketing out of her rifle. Contort grunted and cursed, collapsing more and more of his skeleton, shrinking down like an accordion, the plasma just barely missing him, burning bits of his arms and legs...


    He hit the ground and pivoted, still scrunched down like a spring. Jani had stopped running. Her aim was bad, by the looks of things ¨C then again, it didn''t seem like she had any auto-targeting software in that armor of hers. That was good for him. Jani took cover behind a tree, and from the green gas that emanated from behind it, Contort guessed she was reloading.


    He sprung, letting the energy of re-stitching his body together push him forward, unwinding and snapping his bones back into place. He jumped, twisting his arms around the tree, dislocating his shoulders to give him better reach as he sharpened his hairs once more, ready to wrap his arms around the tree and Jani''s neck.She ducked out from underneath, dropping her half-loaded rifle and producing a sidearm. Contort looked at the design on it ¨C the pistol had a distinctive, curved claw on the bottom of it to act as a knife in close-quarters. A Chtenian weapon. This Jani was from the Silver Eye Galaxy...


    Blue bolts of light flared from the rifle. Contort''s fingers tightened as he threw himself up the tree, running to the top of it as the bolts sailed. One grazed his back, and another fired a hole directly through his left leg. He screamed in pain, almost letting go. He shifted his skin and bones to cover the wound, giving him a bit of stability as he leaped down, crashing into Jani. The two tumbled to the ground.


    ***


    Meldorn got up from the ground. The girl stood a ways away from him, mace clutched in her hands, light dancing around its rose head. Her cloak billowed in the wind. The barbarian stood back up, glaring down at the little one. She stood between him and the egg ¨C that modern-looking fellow had run off with it.


    ¡°Hey, girl!¡± he called out, ¡°You should put that down. You might hurt someone!¡±


    ¡°I already have hurt someone!¡± she shouted back, ¡°You, ya dumb lug!¡±


    He felt anger boil in his veins. Meldorn gripped the handle of his greataxe. He was starting to shake in pure anger.


    ¡°No,¡± he whispered to himself, ¡°Control your anger, old friend. If you get angry, you lose control-¡±


    ¡°Hey, buddy!¡± the girl shouted, ¡°You just gonna sit there all day, or are we gonna do this?! What, are you chicken?¡±


    ¡°THAT''S IT, SHE''S DEAD!¡±


    Meldorn charged, his eyes seeing nothing but red. So red, in fact, that he didn''t register that he was once more sailing into the air. The anger disappeared for a brief moment to see that he had, once more, been hit with one of her beams of light. Meldorn had always hated magic.


    But he couldn''t deny its usefulness. Meldorn twisted his body in midair, landing on his feet in the wood, the runes attached to his boots flaring to absorb the blow. He rose back up to his full height. She had given him a boon, at least ¨C his anger was gone. He had underestimated this girl and her magic. He couldn''t afford to play with anger.


    He needed to play smart. Meldorn took a deep breath, resuming his calming exercises.


    He was in a sea of cuttlefish, and they were his friends.


    Meldorn charged.


    They were around him now, massaging his body with their tentacles, relaxing him.


    He effortlessly dodged another beam of light.


    The sea was calm, nary wave nor wind.


    Another beam flashed, one that he hardly noticed as he sidestepped.


    All was at peace.


    The girl wove a web of light, casting it like a net, only to scream as he cut through it.


    He was at peace.


    Meldorn raised his greataxe and, with a single stroke, brought it down on the girl.


    ***


    Rosemary lifted her mace, a shield of light emanating from it as Meldorn''s axe fell. It crashed into the shield. Her eyes widened as she saw it crack and break through the shield, one curved edge landing just barely at her nose and stopping. Her heart hammered as the lion-covered man wrenched his axe free of the shield, hefting it up again, a most serene expression on his face. The axe sailed down once more, cutting another deep gouge into the shield. Rosemary glanced down at her mace. It was running out of juice ¨C she would need to charge it up in the sun when she got a moment.


    For now, it was better to conserve. Meldorn pulled his axe free, shards of light breaking off with it like glass, and he lifted it up again. Rosemary dropped the shield, spinning to the side as the axe sank deep into the roots where she had been standing. Meldorn looked confused.


    Then he winced as Rosemary snapped the mace into his temple. He took a few steps back, clutching his head, growling in pain, leaving the axe behind. When he turned back to her, his eyes were full of tears.


    ¡°You...¡± he grunted, ¡°You hit like my sister.¡±


    ¡°What''s that supposed to mean?¡± Rosemary snapped, ¡°Not hard enough to get through that rock of a skull?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Meldorn said, ¡°My sister is the strongest person I know. It was a compliment.¡±


    ¡°...Oh.¡±


    He surged forward. Rosemary took a stance. That mace hit hadn''t seemed to really do much damage ¨C save for addling him, perhaps. She reasoned that she had one good beam of light in the mace, just enough to send him up again.


    But to where?


    The anger that Meldorn had exhibited had evaporated away. He was a tactical juggernaut now, powering through the pain and anything Rosemary was throwing at him. Rosemary took a few steps back, mind reeling. Panic began setting in. She needed to be quick. She dodged to the side, putting her back to a tree as Meldorn barreled forward, arms clubbing at the air. He ignored his greataxe ¨C it would take time to get it free, no doubt. Meldorn pivoted, rushing at her. Rosemary launched herself up, using the tree as a springboard. She spun in the air as Meldorn charged underneath her, about to grab onto the tree to stop his momentum-


    And she fired off another web. The net of light sparkled forward, wrapping itself around Meldorn and pinning him to the tree¡¯s trunk.


    ***


    Joseph ran through the forest, hearing the sounds of combat behind him. His mind raced ¨C if any one of those three caught up to him, he wasn''t sure what he''d be able to do. The egg felt like it weighed a ton on his back. He kept glancing back, seeing flashes of green and blue from that terrifying blue woman''s rifle light up the woods behind. He heard screams of rage coming from that one guy ¨C the lion-covered barbarian.


    Then Joseph tripped on a root, falling onto his face. As he spit up dirt, he heard movement behind him. And a voice.


    ¡°Now, comacho, I think that''s far enough.¡±


    Joseph turned to see Moriguchi calmly picking his way through the woods, an almost serene gait to his step.


    ¡°Now, why don''t you hand that egg over, nice and easy?¡±

 8. Clients of the Amber Foundation

    There was no one to help him. Contort and Rosemary were deeper in the forest, in spats of their own, fighting for their lives in battles Joseph didn¡¯t dare to dwell on. Moriguchi took a few more steps forward. Joseph mirrored, stepping back, nearly tripping over a root as he kept his eyes fixed firmly on the Exodus Walker. Moriguchi cracked his knuckles.


    ¡°You¡¯re new to all this, aren¡¯t you, comacho?¡± he said, ¡°It¡¯s alright. We¡¯re all new to the multiverse at some point or another.¡±


    ¡°H-how do you know I''m new?¡± Joseph said, ¡°I could be experienced. Very experienced. A veteran, even. You should be careful.¡±


    ¡°Such bravado will get you nowhere. I like it, though. Makes you look strong. But false machismo only gets you so far,¡± Moriguchi took another step, ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡±


    Joseph stepped back once more.


    ¡°You¡¯re being pretty casual about this,¡± he said.


    ¡°Oh, sorry,¡± Moriguchi adjusted his sleeve for a moment, ¡°When you¡¯ve been at this sort of game as long as I have, you tend to not take things so seriously.¡±


    The Exodus Walker was being professional about this, as though it were any other day at the office, but his movements told a far different story. He slid over the forest floor as though the brambles and roots didn¡¯t exist, a true sort of strength silently speaking with each step. A master of his craft. Joseph dared a brief glance behind him. In the distance, among the tangle of leaves and branches, he could see light. A clearing? He hadn¡¯t seen many of those here in the forest¡­


    Moriguchi had presumably seen the same thing, for he said, ¡°Indeed, that is Lake Oval behind you.¡±


    ¡°So, if I run...¡±


    ¡°I will catch up to you,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°You can¡¯t beat me, amigo. Just put the pack down, and walk away.¡±


    Joseph weighed his options. Moriguchi advanced, now just a mere five feet away from him. The world was quiet as he awaited an answer. His heart pounded.


    And, sighing, Joseph put the pack down behind him, nestling it between roots so that it wouldn''t topple over.


    Then he turned, and raised his fists.


    ¡°So you''re fighting, then?¡± Moriguchi said.


    ¡°Gotta put my money where my mouth is,¡± Joseph¡¯s voice was like a wound spring. He began to weave in place, a nervous, excited energy filling in his stomach.


    ¡°Good,¡± Moriguchi nodded, ¡°Very good. Mucha mierda.¡±


    He loped forward like a wolf, hands opening up to grab at him. Joseph hunkered down, drawing out the dagger. Moriguchi was a wrestler ¨C he wanted to be in close. Joseph jabbed forward, snapping his arm back into place in one fluid motion. Moriguchi jumped back. The two of them stood there, trying to find a tell in the other.


    Moriguchi took the initiative once more, rushing forward again. Joseph was ready, stabbing with his knife. But the Exodus Walker went sideways, hand closing over Joseph''s wrist, twisting it. Joseph grunted in pain as Moriguchi squeezed. He dropped the knife, which tumbled in the air for a brief moment before the wrestler snatched it out of the air, pushing Joseph back in the same motion. Joseph stumbled, trying to steady himself, felt his ankle twist as it fell between two roots.


    He fell, leg crying out at the end, elbow slamming into an errant root, a pain that took a moment to register as a dull throb that pulsed with each heartbeat.


    Moriguchi took the fall in good sport, waiting as Joseph got up, spluttering. His foot objected as he put weight on it, but it wasn¡¯t screaming enough that he felt like it was a bad sprain.


    He could run.


    Moriguchi was flipping the knife over and over in a single hand, waiting for Joseph¡¯s next move. He had relaxed out of any particular stance. No doubt he had over-estimated this young new guildmember.


    ¡°Sorry to disappoint,¡± Joseph said, and he turned and began to run, grabbing the pack as he did so. Moriguchi took off as well, matching his pace. They went deeper into the forest, closer to the clearing.


    Rosemary''s words filtered into Joseph''s head.


    ¡°It''s mostly just looking at the ground to see where your feet are going.¡±


    But he couldn''t afford to look down, could he? He needed to trust where he was going. At any moment, Moriguchi could pounce. He would need to be ready. A desperate idea was needling its way into his head.


    He just needed to be quick about-


    Moriguchi leaped, dagger pointed at Joseph''s chest. Joseph stopped, dead in his tracks, ready to take the shot. The dagger went into his ribcage ¨C or would have, had it not hit his coat. He wrapped the denim jacket around the dagger, and by extension, Moriguchi''s arm. Moriguchi tried to pull free, but Joseph threw off his jacket, folded it over the wrestler''s head and shoved him to the ground.


    A few precious seconds as Moriguchi struggled to free himself. Joseph took advantage of this and took off again, ignoring the shots of pain spidering up his sprained ankle with each footfall.


    And he made it, just to the edge of the clearing. A beautiful lake greeted him, a perfect oval, the water serene and calm. A few dragonflies danced around its smooth surface, occasionally touching down to form ripples on the water. Joseph looked around frantically.


    ¡°Hey!¡± he called out, ¡°I got the egg!¡±


    He lifted the pack into the air. He could hear footsteps behind him. Joseph jumped to the side as Moriguchi tried to tackle him, eating dirt as he tumbled. He stood up, facing off against Joseph once more. He was drawing out the dagger again...


    And then the lake exploded. Joseph''s eyes widened. Moriguchi looked up, as well, and stood transfixed-


    As a Dragon rose out of the water. Long and serpentine, golden scales glittering in the mid-afternoon sun, their body as thick as a tree trunk. The Dragon''s head was gargantuan, fully larger than Joseph''s body, with a long snout and two great, yellow eyes with pupils the size of dinner plates. What seemed to be an old scar ran between them, and antler-like horns adorned their head like a monarch''s crown. Twin whiskers, just below the Dragon''s nose, snaked down and just barely scratched the surface of the water.


    All went quiet ¨C birds that had been chirping stopped, the wind paused its whistling through the trees. Joseph couldn''t even hear his own breathing as he looked up the length of the great, twisting being. The Dragon looked down at Joseph, eyes darting for a moment up at the treeline where Moriguchi waited. They opened their maw and let out a great roar that shattered the sound barrier. Joseph covered his ears, could feel the egg jiggling from the pressure as pure force overtook and flooded through him. His ears were ringing as he looked back to see Moriguchi had disappeared. Then, the Dragon''s gaze fell on Joseph.


    And waited. Joseph gulped, ready to be eaten at any moment, egg and all.


    Then, a thought came to him.


    ¡°So, uh,¡± he gulped, ¡°Y-you''re the client?¡±


    Indeed.


    The voice boomed in his head with the force of a jackhammer, deep and terrible and flecked with exhaustion.


    Joseph gingerly took the egg out of the pack. It was slippery as he held it, and for a moment he was afraid it would slide out and splatter on the ground. He could see now an embryo had grown within the egg ¨C a small, noodly form twisted in a knot, red veins connecting it to the egg¡¯s membrane. He held the gelatinous orb in both hands, presenting it up to the Dragon, kneeling on the ground, trying to keep his body from shuddering from a combination of fear and awe. The Dragon''s sinewy neck unwound out of the water, droplets splashing onto the shores of the lake, splattering the sand and staining it a deep gold. They stared at the egg.


    My child.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I''m s-sorry, it got jostled a bit when I was running here...¡±


    That is alright. My child is safe.


    A claw emerged, arcing down with a slow, tectonic grace. The Dragon plucked the egg out of Joseph''s hands, two talons holding it with an impossible gentleness. The Dragon began rumbling out a deep, cooing noise that shook the earth as they raised the egg up to the light of the sun, which refracted and scattered. Joseph covered his eyes, blinking back tears from the harshness of the light, before the Dragon lowered it down, their eyes looking down at their child, a mixture of love and heartbreak in their eyes.


    ¡°Have you...¡± Joseph said, not wanting to interrupt the moment, but curiosity still getting the better of him, ¡°Have you been separated for a long time?¡±


    Yes. A very, very long time. I have missed all of my children. Stolen from me, in ages long forgotten.


    ¡°Oh,¡± Joseph said. He didn''t need to imagine the Dragon''s sorrow ¨C he could see it painted in their eyes, in the way that they held it, ¡°I''m sorry.¡±


    The Dragon''s eyes slid from the egg, staring at Joseph, gauging his sincerity. For a moment, he saw a bit of the heartbreak fall away.


    You are kind. Kinder than most. What is your name, guild member?


    Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    ¡°Joseph. Joseph Zheng.¡±


    I sense in you power. I sense in you potential. I will awaken it. A reward, for your kindness.


    The Dragon lowered the egg into the water as they brought themself closer to him, so close that Joseph could see his breath collect on the Dragon''s metallic snout. Then, what he thought had been the scar on their forehead split open to reveal a third bright, orange eye, vertical and staring into his mind. The eye''s intensity matched the sun high above, boring into Joseph, who felt something shift. He felt wind inundate his entire body, picking up and whipping around him, a mirage surrounding him that shimmered like a liquid kaleidoscope, before shattering into a million pieces. His vision began going dark, his blood felt like it had been replaced with battery acid, his flesh felt like it was melting away...


    I NAME YOU, AS I NAMED YOU IN ANCIENT TIMES. I REVEAL YOU, AS I REVEALED YOUR ANCESTORS. ARISE, WORLD-MAKER, EXPLORER, ENEMY OF STAGNATION.


    ARISE, METAHUMAN.


    Something that sounded like an explosion echoed in Joseph''s mind and then disappeared. Joseph gently landed back on the ground on his hands and knees, his breathing haggard. He looked up to find that the Dragon had left. The lake had stilled, pristine like a sheet of glass.


    ***


    ¡°Well, that''s it, then,¡± Moriguchi said. He had retreated back into the forest during the Dragon¡¯s arrival, and was now walking back towards the lake¡¯s edge, ¡°Congratulations, Amber Foundation.¡±


    He took out a small, handheld radio, ¡°Meldorn, Jani, we''re done here. Let''s go home.¡±


    ¡°That''s it?¡± Joseph coughed, his head swimming, ¡°You''re just going... you''re just going to leave?¡±


    ¡°No more point in fighting. The Dragon got the egg. And I don''t feel like tussling with a metahuman.¡±


    He turned around and walked back into the forest, whistling absentmindedly to himself. Joseph couldn¡¯t help but glare. He tried to stand up, but exhaustion overtook him, took his breath away and sat him back down. He was drenched in cold, clammy sweat, like he was a bad night¡¯s sleep away from a fever.


    New footsteps behind him - boots crunching on the ground.


    ¡°Oh, thank goodness you''re okay!¡± Rosemary cried out, grabbing him by the shoulders, ¡°You¡­ are okay, right?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± he said, ¡°I''m alright.¡±


    ¡°No obvious injuries,¡± she said, looking him over, ¡°Yeah, you''re really okay!¡±


    ¡°No need to act so surprised,¡± he said, ¡°You¡­ you could¡¯ve told me it was a Dragon¡­¡±


    ¡°It was a Dragon?¡± Contort asked, limping up from behind, ¡°No way, been a long time since I''ve seen one of those...¡±


    ¡°They called me something,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Aww, don''t feel too bad,¡± Contort said, ¡°Dragons call people all kinds of bad names.¡±


    ¡°They called me... ''metahuman.''¡±


    Contort''s smile disappeared. Joseph noted he was scratched up, with multiple burn marks on his body ¨C it looked like the blue alien had shot him directly through the leg. He almost collapsed as he stepped forward, bringing his face close to Joseph''s.


    ¡°You''re sure?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Yeah, I''m sure. Had a whole... ''awakening'' and everything.¡±


    ¡°Holy shit, you''re a metahuman,¡± Contort shook his head, ¡°We need to let Wakeling know ASAP.¡±


    Rosemary nodded, ¡°Right. Let''s get Broon and get out of here.¡±


    ¡°Guys, what gives?¡± Joseph said, ¡°What the hell''s a ''metahuman?''¡±


    Rosemary gave him a sad look, ¡°I... I don''t really know how to explain it.¡±


    ¡°So, lemme guess, I''ll have to wait ''til we get back to the guildhall to find out?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Contort said. He produced a flip phone out of his pocket and began to dial. Joseph would have said something snarky about that if he wasn''t starting to freak out. What had that Dragon done to him?


    ¡°Hey, Slith?¡± Contort said, ¡°Hey, I know I''m not allowed to use this line unless it''s an emergency, but we gotta get back to Castle Belenus like, right now.¡±


    He gave a few nods, a few ''mhms.'' Rosemary sat down neck to Joseph.


    ¡°Did that Alonso Moriguchi hurt you at all?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Joseph replied, ¡°Oh, I left my jacket back there.¡±


    ¡°I got it,¡± Rosemary produced the jacket from her bag, ¡°So the egg belonged to a Dragon, huh?¡±


    ¡°Y-yeah.¡±


    ¡°I''m jealous. I''ve never seen one. Contort and I were fighting the Exodus Walkers when the earth started rumbling. Then Moriguchi came back and told them it was time to go home.¡±


    She was trying to distract him, keep him talking about random stuff in order to get his mind off everything. It didn¡¯t seem to be working. The more that she spoke, the more Joseph''s heartbeat sped up.


    ¡°Hey, uh, Rosemary?¡± he said, ¡°Not helping. Can we just-¡±


    His breath caught itself.


    ¡°Could we just stop talking real quick?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Rosemary said. Then, after a moment, ¡°Sorry.¡±


    ¡°It''s... it''s alright.¡±


    Contort hung up the phone, slipping it back into his pocket, ¡°Right. Airship''ll be here soon. They''ll be picking Broon up, then come and grab us.¡±


    ¡°You sure the orcs will allow us to bring the Dreamer in?¡± Rosemary asked.


    ¡°Broon''s being contacted. He''s going to let Lohsa know. We''ll probably have to pay the Salthirn government to look the other way,¡± Contort said, ¡°Joseph, you good? You need anything to drink?¡±


    ¡°I think I''m alright,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°You don''t look alright,¡± Contort replied.


    ¡°Really, was it that obvious?¡± Joseph let out a mirthless laugh, ¡°What the hell is going on?¡±


    Contort shrugged, ¡°Metahumans are crazy, man. Just, keep calm. Don''t want you going meta, and all that.¡±


    ¡°...Going meta?¡±


    ¡°Freaking out with your powers.¡±


    ¡°I... don''t have powers.¡±


    Contort just gave a weak smile, and wouldn''t answer any more of Joseph''s questions. Rosemary was similarly tight-lipped ¨C not that she refused to answer his questions, but she simply didn''t seem to know. Instead, she prodded him for more information.


    ¡°Do you feel any different?¡± she asked.


    Joseph checked himself. The clamminess was going away.


    ¡°I don''t feel like I''m going to barf anymore,¡± he said, ¡°But my blood... feels different. My chest feels... I don''t know, like I''m on the verge of a panic attack, but at the same time I''m not? Does that make sense?¡±


    ¡°I don''t know,¡± Rosemary replied, ¡°But you don''t seem to be dying of anything, so that''s a plus.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, a real plus,¡± Joseph grumbled. He wasn''t liking not having any answers.


    The Dreamer''s Lament arrived a few hours later, a ladder snaking down to pick them up. Ichabod and Broon greeted them.


    ¡°Got lost in the woods, now?¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°Not now,¡± Joseph snapped, ¡°Just shut up.¡±


    ¡°My, my, aren''t we touchy today?¡±


    ¡°I said shut up, Ichabod.¡±


    ¡°Ichabod, lay off of him,¡± Contort said, ¡°He just got some news.¡±


    Not bad news, Joseph thought. Not necessarily good news, either.


    Ichabod sighed, ¡°Very well. I will go make sure there are no Salthirn griffoneers riding us down.¡±


    He went back up to the bridge. Rosemary walked Joseph over to one of the couches. Broon gave him a pat on the shoulder.


    ¡°You did it, then?¡± he asked, ¡°Delivered the egg to the client?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph muttered, ¡°Client was a goddamn Dragon, but yeah, we did.¡±


    Broon nodded at that, ¡°It looks like you''re the hero of the hour, then.¡±


    ¡°I don''t really feel like it.¡±


    ¡°Have a soda. Or a beer,¡± the half-orc chuckled. Now that they were high above Salthirn and leaving, a bit of the good-natured air had returned to him, ¡°Get some sleep, if you want. We''ll be back in Scuttleway before you know it.¡±


    Joseph settled down, sighing. The churn of the airship was comforting, at least, as they made their way back to Castle Belenus. Broon took out a pen and paper and began writing down his report, periodically asking questions to Rosemary or Contort. They answered, but when it came to the point where Broon had to relay what had happened at the lake, all three of them looked over to Joseph.


    ¡°Joseph,¡± Rosemary asked, a bit tentative, ¡°Do you... wanna talk about it?¡±


    Joseph looked up, his mind in a fog, ¡°Hmm? Oh, yeah. It wasn''t anything special. That Alonso Moriguchi guy wrestled me, tried to stab me. I got to the lake. The Dragon appeared. I said sorry, they said I was a metahuman, then I guess they went home.¡±


    Broon wrote this down, ¡°I suppose that will have to do. Wakeling or Becenti will probably ask you more about it when we get back.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Joseph said absently.


    ***


    He wasn''t aware of when he went to sleep. His rest was, fortunately, dreamless, for when Joseph opened his eyes, all he could think of ¨C all his mind''s eye could see ¨C was the endless, golden scales of the Dragon, the rainbow waves that had emanated from their third eye ¨C something he was only now starting to comprehend. Someone ¨C probably Rosemary ¨C had again thrown a blanket over him. He felt an odd sense of deja vu as he got up. Rosemary was sleeping in the other couch, Contort under the table. Broon was awake, a book in his hand. The cover of the book said ''The Two Towers.'' He was nodding thoughtfully at it.


    ¡°Good book?¡± Joseph asked.


    Broon nodded, closing it up, ¡°How are you feeling?¡±


    ¡°...Like shit. What time is it?¡±


    ¡°Around eleven at night. We''re approaching Scuttleway now.¡±


    The half-orc walked over and gently shook Rosemary awake. He kicked Contort lightly in the head. The two got up, yawning and stretching.


    Ichabod landed the airship in its usual spot. The garden was unlit as they walked off of the Dreamer''s Lament. The only light came from within the castle. They wound their way through the storage rooms and into the Great Hall. A few guild members milled about ¨C Barbara was flying through the air high above, making circles around the glass sword. Becenti was waiting for them, leaning up against one of the tall pillars, his face stern and set.


    ¡°Metahuman?¡± he said.


    The group pointed at Joseph.


    ¡°Right, then,¡± Becenti nodded, ¡°Mr. Zheng, while Broon makes his report to Wakeling, I would ask if you would sleep elsewhere tonight.¡±


    ¡°Elsewhere?¡± Joseph asked, ¡°Not in my dorm room?¡±


    ¡°No. Please, come this way.¡±


    Without so much as an invitation, Becenti began walking off. Joseph gave one last glance at the rest of the party. Broon nodded. Rosemary gave an encouraging smile. Sighing, he followed Becenti. The older man took him to the corner of the Great Hall, opening up a door to reveal a room with a staircase that descended down.


    ¡°I''m not going to a dungeon, am I?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°No,¡± Becenti said, ¡°It is nearby, however.¡±


    ¡°Gee, thanks.¡±


    Becenti, however, gave him a sharp look.


    ¡°This is for the safety of everyone here in the Amber Foundation,¡± he said, ¡°If you go meta, you run the risk of potentially destroying the entire castle, and everyone in it.¡±


    Joseph glared at him, though that slipped away as he felt the full weight of Becenti¡¯s words fall on his shoulders. Becenti watched the realization paint itself on Joseph¡¯s face, giving a nod as what little defiance Joseph held slipped. He went down the stairs, leading Joseph to a small, sparse room with a bed and a standing table with a lamp. A heap of cookies and a pitcher of milk had been set up on the stand, along with a ham sandwich.


    ¡°Sleep here tonight,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I will come retrieve you tomorrow morning to explain the situation.¡±


    ¡°Wait, what''s going on?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Rest, Mr. Zheng,¡± Becenti ordered, ¡°Have some food. This is all very new to you, I know.¡±


    He made for the door, stopping for a moment to give Joseph another appraising, stone-like look.


    ¡°It was to me.¡±


    And he closed the door.


    ¡°What do you mean, it was to you?!¡± Joseph yelled. He heard nothing on the other side, however ¨C not even Becenti''s footsteps going up the stairs. He gave an exhausted, dark look at the door, but his question - more of an accusation - went unanswered.

 9. Metahuman

    Joseph awoke the next morning angry. His energy was back ¨C and he felt electrified, buzzing with frustration. There were no clocks in the room, nor were there any windows for him to watch the outside world. Breakfast had been set up for him ¨C a bowl of scrambled eggs and bacon, which he ate with a quiet sort of frenzy, glaring up at the door, waiting for someone - Becenti, Wakeling, anyone - to come through it. He knew, deep in the back of his mind, that he needed to be patient. They would come for him.


    Right?


    But as the hours dragged on, and no one opened the door, he felt more and more upset. His blood began to boil, and that acidic feeling came back ¨C a fierce heartburn that raged in his chest.


    Finally, the door opened. Becenti stepped through. The man looked around the room for a few brief moments, before his gaze settled on Joseph.


    ¡°Did you sleep well?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Fiiiine, just fine,¡± Joseph drawled, ¡°I''m not pissed off. No, not at all. Trust me.¡±


    ¡°I understand your anger,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Trust me, all too well. But being a metahuman means being patient with yourself and your surroundings. I apologize it took me so long to retrieve you. I needed to get the arena set up.¡±


    A bit of Joseph''s anger fell away into confusion, ¡°...The arena?¡±


    ¡°The local arena, here in Scuttleway,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Usually, mercenaries and adventurers use it to hone their skills with blade and magic. I''ve reserved it for our own purposes.¡±


    ¡°You''re going to fight me?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Becenti stated, ¡°I''m going to help you come to terms with who you are now. Please, come along.¡±


    He began walking out of the room. Joseph got up to join him, running over to walk alongside the older man.


    ¡°Let me be clear,¡± he muttered, ¡°I don¡¯t want to be in that room ever again, got it?¡±


    ¡°If today goes well, you won''t need to,¡± Becenti said, ¡°First, we''ll go to my office. Please, try to keep your temper down.¡±


    Joseph glared at him as they went up the stairs and into the Great Hall. No one Joseph recognized was there, save for Nole, who gave him the old stink-eye as they walked out of the hall and up towards Becenti''s office. Becenti was quiet the whole time - his steps measured, even careful, as though at any moment the floor would explode.


    ¡°Hey,¡± Joseph said, ¡°You got something going on? Why are you so... fidgety?¡±


    Becenti shot Joseph a look. Joseph decided to shut up.


    Finally, Becenti opened the door to his office. He strode in, heading towards his shelf, moving aside a few piles of paperwork and clicking a button on the shelf''s backside, which began opening up to reveal a hidden row of books.


    ¡°Damn,¡± Joseph said, ¡°You''re secretive.¡±


    ¡°Comes with the job,¡± Becenti replied, ¡°One can never be too careful. Please, sit down. I''m afraid I don''t have any cookies or wine like Wakeling, but I trust your breakfast was filling enough.¡±


    He began rifling through a few of the books, opening them and skimming through their pages. Joseph sat down, taking another glance around the room. He took a look at the blanket hanging on the wall, with its diamond patterns and dark orange and blue hues.


    ¡°This is from your home plane?¡± he asked.


    Becenti looked over for a brief moment at the blanket, before turning back to his book, ¡°Yes. Din¨¦.¡±


    ¡°Din¨¦?¡±


    ¡°To you, that would perhaps be ''Navajo,''¡± Becenti answered, ¡°There are still Navajo on your Earth, right?¡±


    ¡°Y-yeah,¡± Joseph said. He struggled to remember his history classes. One of his friends had been Native American, back in High School. Ohlone, he remembered her being. ¡°So... you''re from Earth?¡±


    ¡°I am from a plane very similar to Earth,¡± Becenti said. He seemed satisfied with one of the books, closing it up and carrying it with him to the desk, ¡°A place known as Prime.¡±


    ¡°Cool name.¡±


    ¡°The World of Heroes,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Well, that''s its designation. It shares similar historyies and continents with Earth. A United States of America. A Soviet Union.¡±


    ¡°Hey, buddy,¡± Joseph said, ¡°The Soviet Union collapsed back in the 90s.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Becenti raised an eyebrow, ¡°Interesting.¡±


    ¡°So, what makes Prime so different from Earth?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°There are heroes there. Beings who have special powers, special abilities, with which they fight crime.¡±


    ¡°No way,¡± Joseph laughed, ¡°You got superheroes there? Are you a superhero?¡±


    Becenti shot him a venomous look.


    ¡°Sorry,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Y''know, I''ve always liked¡­¡±


    Becenti continued to glare.


    ¡°...Never mind.¡±


    ¡°Well, Prime is as good a place to start as any,¡± Becenti said, ¡°It has a large amount of metahumans there. More than most planes, in fact.¡±


    Pieces were beginning to form in Joseph''s mind. He looked down at his hands.


    ¡°So what you''re saying...¡±


    ¡°You are metahuman,¡± Becenti said, ¡°And that means, upon your awakening, you have been given special abilities.¡±


    ¡°Given?¡± Joseph laughed, ¡°So, what, can I fly?¡±


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± Becenti admitted, ¡°But calm yourself, Mr. Zheng. This is not a simple congratulations. Far from it.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°We locked you in that room downstairs because of the fact that, at any moment, unless we can reveal your metahuman abilities, you could undergo what is called ''going meta,'' where your abilities overtake your organic body. Your mind breaks from the pressure of the new feelings you''re experiencing, and you go insane. Your power overflows as a result, causing quite a bit of chaos.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Joseph''s excitement drained away, ¡°Explains why you''re so morose about it.¡±


    ¡°I have seen it far too many times,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°So, why am I a metahuman?¡± Joseph asked, ¡°If they come from Prime...¡±


    ¡°Metahumans are not from Prime,¡± Becenti explained, ¡°They are, in fact, an ancient race of beings whose plane of origin has been lost to time.¡±


    He placed the book on the desk, sliding it over to Joseph. Joseph looked down on it. The cover was green, with a small, circular symbol of a Dragon holding its tail in its claws, with a title in gold that was in a language he didn¡¯t recognize. A sticky note translation had been taped on top of the book, reading ''Epochia: Legends and Truths.''


    ¡°Epochia...¡±


    ¡°The legendary nation of metahumanity,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Said to extend far across the multiverse, rival to the High Federation, ancient and ever-enduring.¡±


    He gave a dry smirk, ¡°Well, that last part turned out to be false. Epochia fell a long, long time ago.¡±


    ¡°And, since it was a nation across the multiverse...¡± Joseph reasoned.


    ¡°Then its people were spread across the multiverse,¡± Becenti finished, ¡°The survivors of Epochia''s fall integrated into human societies. Their genes still persist to this day ¨C a ''metagene,'' that connects to the basic, underlying energy of reality. When awakened, the metagene bends reality as we know it, giving rise to abilities for its owner.¡±


    ¡°So, me and my family... we''re all descended from metahumans?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Correct,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Are you a metahuman?¡±


    ¡°I am.¡±


    ¡°What can you do?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ not important, right now,¡± Becenti dodged, ¡°What is important is learning what you can do, how we can control your power, and training you in how to use it.¡±


    ¡°You''re...¡± Joseph mulled over his question, ¡°Real quick, before we do this, you and the guild aren''t going to, like, muzzle me or anything, right?¡±


    Becenti raised an eyebrow, ¡°I''m... sorry?¡±


    ¡°You know, make sure I can''t use my power because it''s too dangerous, or something.¡±


    ¡°Control, and the decision to use one''s metahuman abilities, comes from the self,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I will help you control your power. But you are ultimately the one who decides how you use it.¡±


    ¡°What''s stopping me from going nuts?¡± Joseph mused.


    ¡°Me.¡±


    The tone he used had a hint of finality to it. Joseph¡¯s eyes narrowed


    ¡°You?¡±


    ¡°You can use your power, and all of its freedoms, as you wish,¡± Becenti said, ¡°But that does not mean you shouldn''t expect consequences. You have bodily autonomy ¨C that will not be taken away from you. But if you use your power to do harm to the guild, you will be hearing from me. And not with words, but with action.¡±


    A bit cowed, Joseph nodded, ¡°I was joking, anyways.¡±


    ¡°I assumed. Come, let us get to the arena.¡±


    ***


    ¡°Oh boy, always a good day to see you, Mr. Becenti.¡±


    The excited owner of the arena ¨C a rather portly-looking ogre, had a big, wide smile on his face. He was shirtless, revealing muscular arms and a sizable pot belly. One of his eyes had been replaced by what seemed to be a cork, and half of his teeth were missing. The others were mottled yellow.


    ¡°Good to see you too, Grobak,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I''m here for my reservation.¡±


    ¡°Of course, of course,¡± Grobak patted Becenti on the shoulder. Joseph was sure that the Navajo man was going to throw him to the ground, but Becenti smiled in a good-natured way.


    ¡°You''ll find that everything''s been set up for you,¡± Grobak gruffed, ¡°I had Needle and Beetle clean up the main arena, nice and fresh. Swords are stocked up on the side, if you want.¡±


    ¡°I think we should be alright with just the plain arena,¡± Becenti said, ¡°But I''ll let you know if we need anything.¡±


    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    ¡°Of course, of course,¡± the ogre chuckled. He guided them through the circular halls of the arena. They went underground for a few moments, before taking steps up to the battleground. A large, round sandpit greeted them, with spectator stands encircling them like the Roman Colosseum. Two goblins ¨C Needle and Beetle, by the looks of it ¨C were in the stands, sitting down to watch.


    ¡°An audience,¡± Joseph commented.


    ¡°They''re supposed to be tending to the krem,¡± Grobak growled, ¡°I''ll set them straight, don''t you worry.¡±


    The ogre started roaring at them in a language Joseph didn''t recognize, at which Needle and Beetle jumped and scampered off with a chorus of high-pitched squeals. Becenti ignored their little scene, walking towards the center of the arena. He turned to Joseph when he had reached the middle.


    ¡°Now,¡± Becenti began, ¡°Under normal circumstances, the average metahuman will never awaken their abilities. Had you not joined the guild, there is a very good chance you would have spent your entire life not knowing of your heritage.¡±


    ¡°But the Dragon woke me up to it all, right?¡±


    ¡°Correct,¡± Becenti took a look around the arena, eyes narrowing as he saw the goblins setting back up in the stands again, ¡°Dragons were often used in the symbology of Epochia. They have a... special relationship to metahumanity, for they draw from the same source that we do.¡±


    ¡°That... underlying energy of reality thing?¡±


    Becenti nodded, ¡°It has different names on different planes, but it is pure potential realized into a physical form.¡±


    ¡°So, Dragons have the ability to awaken metahumans?¡±


    ¡°Precisely. Now, let us get into it. Metahumans often describe themselves feeling different after their awakening.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, that tracks, actually,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I feel weird.¡±


    Becenti sighed, ¡°You''ll have to be more specific than ''weird.''¡±


    ¡°I''m trying, I''m trying!¡± Joseph snapped, ¡°Come on, give me a break.¡±


    ¡°Then try, please.¡±


    Joseph glared at Becenti.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said, ¡°My blood feels like battery acid. I feel jumpy, trapped.¡±


    ¡°Good, what else?¡±


    ¡°I feel-¡± Joseph tried to collect his thoughts, but found it difficult to put them into words. Becenti must have realized this, as he took a few steps forward and put a hand on Joseph¡¯s shoulders.


    ¡°Every metahuman''s awakening is different,¡± he said, ¡°Take your time. Try not to put your thoughts into words, but into action. Your emotions help you control your powers. Think of what you''re feeling, and put it into physical form.¡±


    ¡°Into... physical... form.¡±


    Joseph brought out his hands. The feelings he had been holding in for the past few weeks ¨C his homesickness, his resignation of being with the guild, his anger for being stuck here, even that horrifying feeling that he was going to fail his classes on Earth ¨C bubbled over. He felt a brief flash of blue light ¨C bright and far too intense for his eyes, which slammed shut.


    The air in front of him exploded. Joseph sailed back, slamming into the ground, dust kicking up around him. He coughed and cursed. Becenti walked over to his prone form.


    ¡°A good start,¡± he said, a wry smile on his face. He extended a hand down. Joseph took it, grunting as he pulled himself up.


    ¡°Feels like I was just run over by a truck,¡± he muttered.


    ¡°Well, there was at least a good result,¡± Becenti pointed. A cloud of smoke hung where Joseph had been standing, crackling a bit with...


    ¡°Electricity,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Becenti said, ¡°An astute observation.¡±


    Joseph ignored his sarcasm, his heart hammering as he stared at the cloud. It was already dissipating, blown away by a stray, cool wind. It picked up and blew in his direction, tinged with a static that made the hairs on his arms stand on end.


    ¡°...Let me do it again.¡±


    Becenti''s smile became more genuine, ¡°Of course.¡±


    They went back to the same spot. Joseph brought out his hands again, keeping them in front of him as though he were doing a perpendicular push-up. He took a deep breath.


    Then another.


    Becenti waited, and watched.


    ¡°It''s like...¡± Joseph whispered. But he was right - he couldn¡¯t put what he was feeling into words. Only feelings. Reaction. The base instinct of the animal mind, without form and ever-fluid. His heart continued to pound, but he realized it wasn¡¯t like pumping blood. No, he felt like a circuit, always producing energy that zoomed around his body. He could visualize it ¨C hands and arms beneath his skin, a being that collected power from every blood vessel. It was too much-


    He exploded again, flying back. He shouted in frustration, slamming his fist into the ground.


    ¡°Again!¡± he shouted.


    Becenti was silent, simply nodding in answer to Joseph''s determination. Joseph thrust his hands out again.


    There was more of an effect now, as he breathed, as he gave language to a feeling that was not in words. Instead of smoke and explosions, blue lightning curled around his arms. Joseph could see they had begun to form something. Hands.


    No. Claws.


    And then the energy overloaded, causing a third explosion that blew Joseph back like a ragdoll.


    ¡°God DAMMIT!¡± he screamed.


    ¡°Calm yourself,¡± Becenti said, walking forward, ¡°You''re almost there.¡±


    ¡°It''s just-¡± Joseph sat up, ¡°It''s just not enough!¡±


    The emotions he''d been holding in over the last few weeks were back in the forefront of his mind, as real and raw as they had been when he first fell through the sarcophagus. Joseph gritted his teeth, letting them wash over them. Becenti waited, his face impassive, as Joseph curled himself into a ball.


    ¡°It''s just not enough,¡± Joseph repeated, ¡°It''s just... I feel like a thunderstorm, trapped in a bottle.¡±


    ¡°Apt words,¡± Becenti replied, ¡°Try again.¡±


    Joseph scowled at him.


    Becenti¡¯s face relaxed a bit, as he took on a more morose expression. He walked over and kneeled down next to Joseph.


    ¡°How do you feel?¡± he asked.


    ¡°I feel¡­¡± Joseph was quiet for a moment as he eyed Becenti with suspicion. Becenti stared back, waiting for his answer.


    ¡°I feel lost,¡± Joseph continued, letting the mask of sarcasm fall away for a moment, ¡°I feel¡­ different. Weird. I don¡¯t know if I like it.¡±


    ¡°Like it or not, this is who you are now,¡± Becenti responded, ¡°It is a sudden shift, from who you were before into this new being, this thing that is you but is not.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t feel comfortable with myself anymore,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I remember a mentor of mine telling me that it was much like feeling that you were rearranged. Nothing was added, nothing was removed, but things were put into different places where they hadn¡¯t been before.¡±


    ¡°Something like that¡± Joseph said, ¡°I¡¯ve¡­ I¡¯ve always had these feelings, haven¡¯t I? This trapped feeling.¡±


    ¡°Your emotions right now are your strength,¡± Becenti said, ¡°They are what gives you power, what allows you to summon these... claws of electricity.¡±


    ¡°So what gives?¡± Joseph asked, ¡°Why does it keep blowing up on me?¡±


    ¡°It appears you are allowing the thunderstorm to get the better of you,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Control those emotions, let them circulate in your system.¡±


    ¡°My body feels like a circuit,¡± Joseph growled, ¡°I lose control, the circuit breaks. But I don''t feel like I can really keep the circuit going. If I do, I''ll overload and explode.¡±


    ¡°That is a possibility,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Are you just going to let it lie, then?¡±


    ¡°Sorry?¡±


    ¡°We can go back to the guild,¡± Becenti said, ¡°You''ll be put back in that room every time your emotions get the better of you. Training and honing your metahuman abilities is much like when one begins to wear glasses. With glasses on, one can see the world in sharp detail. If one takes them off, however, they will find their vision deteriorated even further.¡±


    It took Joseph a moment to dissect what he was saying.


    ¡°So what you''re saying is, now that I''ve started learning about my powers, every time I get angry, I''ll spark up and explode.¡±


    ¡°Correct.¡±


    Joseph got up. He felt hot ¨C even with the relative cool of the afternoon. Needle and Beetle were laughing at him, high above in the stands, twin sets of white teeth snapping and hollering.


    ¡°Ignore them,¡± Joseph said to himself. He stuck out his hands again, ¡°Flow with your emotions. Control that circuit you feel.¡±


    The feeling in his chest, his heart thumping with frustration and anger, began to speed up once more. Memories mixed in his head ¨C of his childhood, always left behind, talked down to, always the youngest and always catching up; when he was fifteen and hollering at Jonathon for accidentally running over the family dog; now, with the past two weeks on his back, feeling helpless and so, so alone. Becenti was right - nothing was particularly different about these memories. Yet Joseph felt them more sharply, the emotions no longer dull annoyances like they had been in the past. They were raw, as though they had happened yesterday.


    For a moment, they threatened to again overwhelm him.


    Then Joseph clenched his hands into fists, sweat beading off his arms as he concentrated, breathing in time with the waves of memories crashing through his mind. Easier said than done, of course, as each wave felt as powerful and overpowering as the last. It was a rebuilding and re-introduction of the mind, as though each memory was re-asserting itself in Joseph¡¯s head, his life falling back into place like a set of building blocks. Through it all, Becenti observed him. How often had he done this? Watched as a metahuman rebuilt themselves, put the puzzle back together?


    The electricity formed again over his body. It felt strange ¨C not painful, as he had assumed it would be. Blue sparks tingled across his back, a blanket of TV static that poked and prodded at his body. Joseph blinked, suddenly aware that he was seeing through more than just his two eyes. Beetle and Needle screamed, and began to run.


    ¡°My word,¡± Becenti chuckled, ¡°Very impressive.¡±


    Joseph turned around, and saw it. Something gigantic. Electric blue, crackling like a thunderbolt suspended in time, head towering three feet over him, humanoid, hands curved into oversized, wicked talons. The being protruding from Joseph''s back had the head of a bird of prey, with piercing eyes that he could see out of ¨C he saw his own, relatively frail form staring up at it. He could see the electrical bird-man¡¯s glare bore into him. But the electrical being''s sight ¨C it was too much ¨C too much detail and information. Joseph shut his eyes...


    And the form disappeared, dissipated, dissolved. Joseph fell to the ground. The anger was gone, replaced by an exhaustion that came deep from the heart.


    ***


    ¡°What was that?¡± Joseph asked.


    Becenti had given him a few minutes to compose himself. The older man had sat them down in the arena with two collapsible camping chairs. He handed Joseph a bottle of water, which he gratefully accepted.


    ¡°I have theories,¡± Becenti replied, ¡°I was observing the whole thing. Most impressive, Mr. Zheng. You adapt quickly.¡±


    ¡°I feel like shit.¡±


    ¡°No doubt,¡± Becenti nodded, ¡°Take your time. Catch your breath.¡±


    Joseph did so. Sweat had beaded on his brow, which he wiped away. His shirt was soaked. The goblins had run off back to their chores, no doubt shocked at what Joseph had just demonstrated. Overhead, clouds rolled across the sky. With the anger gone and his mind clear, he wondered if they looped around the landmasses of Londoa like everything else seemed to.


    ¡°Are you aware of astral projection, Mr. Zheng?¡± Becenti''s voice cut through his thoughts.


    ¡°Hmm?¡± Joseph looked at the man, ¡°Uh, no.¡±


    ¡°It''s an old magician''s term,¡± Becenti explained, ¡°Astral projection is the act of having one''s soul temporarily leave the body.¡±


    ¡°Weird shit,¡± Joseph said, ¡°So, what, the soul just... hangs there?¡±


    ¡°More than that,¡± Becenti said, ¡°The soul can phase through walls, explore at its leisure, see things the body cannot, before it returns back to its vessel.¡±


    ¡°Odd,¡± Joseph said, ¡°My old man, he always told me that the soul was two parts. One that leaves the body when we die, the other that stays in the body, like an old lady in an old house.¡±


    ¡°A good reasoning,¡± Becenti supposed, ¡°There are many who view the organic body as a shell ¨C a vessel to be inhabited by a soul. It is very much like your concept of hun.¡±


    ¡°You know the name,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°I do my research,¡± Becenti said, ¡°The hun governs the spiritual, knowledgeable aspects of a being. It leaves the body after death. The po is the physical soul. The instinct to survive, the base parts of evolution left over like¡­ dregs at the bottom of a cup of coffee.¡±


    Joseph nodded, ¡°So what''s that got to do with me?¡±


    ¡°The picture of one''s soul is difficult to comprehend,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Souls, as far as we know, do not have corporeal forms.¡±


    ¡°But...¡±


    ¡°But I believe yours does. Or has become corporeal, in some way. The po, made real.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s eyes narrowed, ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°You described the energy roiling in your body as like a circuit, only breaking when you lost control of it. It took emotion to get that energy going.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph said, ¡°When I got angrier, when I felt like I was losing control of myself, the circuit broke. My emotions got the better of me.¡±


    ¡°But when you kept the circuit going, you felt like you were going to explode.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, instead, that big electrical thing popped out of my back,¡± Joseph took another drink, ¡°What was that?¡±


    ¡°I believe that was your soul, Mr. Zheng.¡±


    Joseph spit out his drink.


    ¡°What the hell do you mean? How do you know?¡±


    ¡°I told you, I have done¡­ research, we''ll say, into the nature of the mortal soul,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I believe your soul has taken on a physical form, one that now resides in your body.¡±


    ¡°And when it builds up power, it can leave my body?¡±


    ¡°It was still connected to you,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I would be very careful, now. If your electrical, physical soul is cut off from your body, it may not be able to crawl back in.¡±


    ¡°...Oh,¡± Joseph leaned back in his chair. His chest was hammering again. It felt familiar now.


    ¡°You said you did research into the soul?¡± he asked.


    ¡°You can call it that,¡± Becenti replied, ¡°My eyes have been, shall we say, attuned to specific magical stimuli that activate in order to see the soul. Usually, to the normal eye, the soul is invisible.¡±


    ¡°But your eyes can see souls,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Indeed. And I saw yours, both with my attuned eyes and my non-magical ones.¡±


    ¡°Which is how you know, then.¡±


    ¡°Indeed.¡±


    Again, there was that air of finality. Becenti, despite his stoic nature, was staring at Joseph, his eyes almost pleading with him not to continue that line of thought. Joseph nodded. Obviously, the older man had a past he didn''t want to go into.


    ¡°Shall we try again?¡± Becenti asked.


    Joseph looked up.


    ¡°Are you rested up enough? Ready to summon your soul once more?¡±


    He could feel the circuits start up again, thundering through his body ¨C zipping across his bones as though they were wires. Joseph, despite how tired he felt, smiled.


    ¡°Sure, why not.¡±

 10. Song of Cities

    The next few days passed with a blur. Joseph didn''t even notice the presence of others in the guild. Every morning, he would get up and head to the arena. Fortunately, Grobak said it was a dry season. Not too many matches had been set up.


    ¡°By the gods, though!¡± the ogre laughed cheerfully, ¡°If I could get you into a match, you''d make it to the top, easy as can be! What do you say to that?¡±


    Joseph had strongly considered that, but Becenti had shook his head.


    ¡°Mr. Zheng here is a guildmember, not a prize fighter,¡± he said to Grobak, ¡°Please, drop the subject.¡±


    ¡°Oh, very well,¡± Grobak chuckled, ¡°But, Joseph, my boy, if you change your mind...¡±


    He gave him a conspiratorial wink.


    He wasn''t wrong about Joseph''s abilities, either ¨C he was getting better and better at controlling his powers each day. It had gotten to the point where he didn''t need to dwell on his emotions to start his soul''s circuit throughout his body. It was becoming like flexing a muscle to him ¨C he''d start thinking on it, and his soul would begin its movement up and down his limbs, building up in power until part of it shunted out of his body. Each time he did it left him exhausted, however, as though he had just gone on a five mile run. But as his body built up over the days, that five mile run became four miles, then three, until it was down to one or two, depending on how he was feeling when he performed the full circuit.


    Becenti nodded as Joseph summoned his soul. The great, electrical form crackled in the air, smelling strongly of ozone.


    ¡°Keep holding it,¡± he commanded, ¡°Let''s see how well you can control it.¡±


    ¡°I barely can,¡± Joseph replied, ¡°It''s hard to see out of four eyes.¡±


    ¡°Then shut the eagle''s, then,¡± Becenti said. He had brought with him three soccer balls. Joseph flexed his soul, felt it move as though it were any other part of his body. He could control it with some effort, squeezing the eagle''s eyes shut. Relief washed over his mind as the overload of information was cut off.


    ¡°See if you can''t swat the ball,¡± Becenti said, tossing it into the air. It spun high above them, just at the level of the soul''s head. Joseph concentrated, feeling the arms and claws of the soul move and shift. He felt sluggish ¨C without the soul''s eyes to guide its movements, he felt blind, as though his aim was off. The eagle swiped ¨C missing the ball as it slipped between two of its talons. A moment later, the form collapsed, veering back into Joseph''s body.


    ¡°A fair attempt,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Not... very good,¡± Joseph said, falling to his knees. He coughed a bit, his breath tasting vaguely of battery acid. He wasn''t liking that he was getting used to it, either.


    ¡°You can''t see what you''re doing, by the looks of it,¡± Becenti reasoned.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph pulled himself back up, ¡°I can''t use the eagle eyes, though. The sight, it''s too... it''s too much?¡±


    ¡°That makes sense,¡± Becent nodded, ¡°A bird of prey''s vision is much better than a human''s. Your brain is trying to process the fact that its sight has suddenly improved tremendously.¡±


    ¡°Any way to help it out?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°It will take time. Let us concentrate on fixing your vision. Summon your soul again.¡±


    Joseph complied, letting the circuit run its course. The eagle form flared to life, once more connected to his back, towering and glaring at the world.


    ¡°Close your eyes,¡± Becenti ordered, ¡°No, your other eyes.¡±


    ¡°My... human eyes?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Joseph did so, squeezing his eyes shut. The eagle form''s eyes took over, and Joseph could see the world around him. The dusty yellows of the arena became more intense, more rich and full. He could see every crease on Becenti''s suit, every line on his weathered face. High above, a couple of seagulls flitted about. He could see individual feathers on each gull¡¯s wings blowing in the wind. Joseph''s brain started throbbing.


    ¡°I don''t think-¡±


    ¡°Concentrate on looking at just one thing at a time,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°A-alright.¡±


    He did so, the eagle''s eyes narrowing down at Becenti''s forehead. It was warm out, and Becenti had been wearing his nice suit all day, though it had become dusted and dirty due to being in the arena for hours. He could see droplets of sweat on Becenti''s brow, which he wiped away with the back of a calloused hand. Slowly, the pain in Joseph''s head disappeared.


    ¡°Your mind is getting used to it,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Breathe. Keep the circuit going. Shall I throw a ball?¡±


    Joseph mulled the question over.


    ¡°Yeah, I''m ready.¡±


    Becenti threw the ball into the air, and as it began spinning, Joseph''s mind reeled. The details on it were too much to bear, an explosion of color and motion, writhing in the air like a mirage. He closed the eagle''s eyes, making a backhanded swipe. He felt something hit the eagle''s claws, but before he could react anymore the soul collapsed once more.


    When Joseph opened his eyes again, the ball lay on the ground, cut cleanly in two. Becenti had rolled to the side, getting up and dusting himself off.


    ¡°I didn''t just nearly cut you in half, did I?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°You very nearly did,¡± Becenti replied, ¡°Please, Mr. Zheng, if we are to get anywhere, actually know what you''re aiming at.¡±


    ¡°Sorry, ball distracted me.¡±


    ¡°More practice, then,¡± Becenti picked up another soccer ball. He balanced it on one finger and began spinning it, ¡°Again.¡±


    Joseph complied, closing his human eyes and manifesting his soul, which looked down at the ball. The same, familiar sensation overtook him. The motion was too much...


    ¡°We will do this for ten minutes,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Continue staring at the ball in that time.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Joseph muttered.


    The ball continued spinning. Occasionally Becenti would give it a tap, continuing its rotation. Joseph stared at it, letting the motion burn itself into his mind. He could feel his body adjusting to the new eyes. Out of the corner of the eagle''s ¨C his ¨C vision, he could see the goblins cleaning up a few of the seats with brooms. The seagulls continued their loop around the sky overhead. One of them must have spotted prey; it had begun to dive down towards the world below...


    ¡°I''m throwing it now,¡± Becenti announced, ¡°Now!¡±


    He tossed the ball into the air. Joseph was ready now, his eyes on the whirling object. The talons came up, raking through the air, the palm of the eagle''s hand slapping the ball, which went flying, slamming into the arena wall.


    Joseph smiled at Becenti. Becenti nodded.


    ¡°Not bad,¡± he said, ¡°Take a moment to rest. Then we will try again.¡±


    ***


    It was only after a week had passed that Becenti, at the end of one of their training sessions, talked about something that didn''t have to do with Joseph¡¯s powers.


    ¡°A job has come up,¡± Becenti said, ¡°One I want to oversee personally.¡±


    ¡°What kind of job?¡± Joseph asked, taking a swig from his water bottle.


    ¡°It shouldn''t be anything too exciting,¡± Becenti replied, ¡°I''m going to the High Federation''s capital world to talk to a few contacts of mine. Would you like to come along?¡±


    Joseph spat out his drink, ¡°I''m sorry, what?¡±


    ¡°The... capital of the High Federation,¡± Becenti repeated, ¡°Is there a problem, Mr. Zheng?¡±


    ¡°No, no,¡± Joseph said, ¡°But the High Federation is, like, super advanced, right? They rule over an entire galaxy?¡±


    ¡°Indeed. The Silver Eye Galaxy, one of the oldest planes in existence,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Their capital, Everlasting Truth, has been occupied, in some shape or form, for over ten thousand years.¡±


    ¡°So, what you''re saying is: they have spaceships.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°I''m in.¡±


    Becenti smiled at that, ¡°Very well. We shall be leaving the day after tomorrow. No training tomorrow. Use that time to rest.¡±


    ¡°Gotcha,¡± Joseph stretched, ¡°Anyone coming with us?¡±


    ¡°It will just be us two.¡±


    ¡°Right.¡±


    After a few more practices at swiping the ball, they went back to Castle Belenus.


    ***


    ¡°You are going to the High Federation?¡± Phineas asked.


    Joseph was laying down on his bed, staring at the ceiling. The Deep One was sitting at his desk, flipping through a video game magazine. Outside, the day was slowly turning into night, from blue, to orange, to just the slightest tinge of black.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph replied, ¡°You ever been?¡±


    ¡°I have been to the Silver Eye Galaxy a few times in the past,¡± Phineas gurgled, ¡°Mostly on jobs with the Amber Foundation. A few of the guild are from there.¡±


    ¡°What''s it like?¡±


    Phineas thought for a moment, a webbed finger stroking his chin, ¡°Big. Very big. Everything is big there. Big starships, big planets. The High Federation is the largest nation that I am aware of.¡±


    Joseph nodded, ¡°How many planets do they rule over?¡±


    ¡°The High Federation is home to around two billion member states,¡± Phineas said, ¡°Or at least, somewhere around that number. We must remember, it governs an entire galaxy, and if I remember right, Ichabod estimated there were around 30 billion star systems, and around three billion sapient races, two billion of which were warp capable.¡±


    ¡°That''s... a lot.¡±


    ¡°It is a number,¡± Phineas agreed, ¡°To put this into perspective: a million seconds is around eleven days.¡±


    ¡°Okay, and a billion?¡±


    ¡°Just over 31 years.¡±


    ¡°...Oh.¡±


    Joseph gulped, ¡°That''s... that''s insane. And they govern the multiverse, too?¡±


    ¡°Those planes close to them,¡± Phineas said, ¡°They make sure technology isn''t smuggled from one plane to another. Other items are fair game, however.¡±


    ¡°And what happens if a plane advances on its own? Enough to, say, be on the same level as the Feds?¡±


    ¡°I am...¡± Phineas thought, ¡°I am not sure. But such a thing is impossible. The High Federation has been around for thousands and thousands of years. They have lost and re-discovered technologies a hundred times, over and over again.¡±


    The Deep One flipped another page, losing track of the conversation as his eyes widened at some game that was coming out. Joseph shrugged, then took a book out from underneath his bed (A Loser''s Guide to the Multiverse) and began reading. His whole body ached. He could feel his electrical soul resting in his belly. Still, it was good to lie down and relax, something he realized he hadn''t had the opportunity to do for the last week. Slowly, the evening turned into night. Phineas occasionally let out a gasp of excitement - eyes shining as he stared at the magazine, muttering about his video game characters. Joseph smiled at that. At least nerds existed out here, too.


    ***


    The next day was calm. Most of the guild were out on missions, so Castle Belenus was relatively quiet when Joseph got up in the morning and ate his breakfast. Becenti went out to do business in the town, so there would be no training today. Which was fine ¨C Joseph''s body was still aching, as though he had just exercised every muscle in his body. Still, the temptation to continue practicing his metahuman abilities was there, and at one point Joseph found that he had subconsciously started the process of circuiting his soul throughout his body. He forced himself to stop, letting himself settle down. He sat down on one of the benches laid out in the Great Hall, staring at the sword in its center. He felt annoyed ¨C trapped, even. He had spent too much time cooped up here.


    ¡°Oh!¡± he heard a familiar voice say, ¡°Joseph!¡±


    Rosemary ran over to where he was sitting, cloak fluttering behind her like wings.


    ¡°Hey, Rosemary,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Where''ve you been?¡± his eyes narrowed a bit, ¡°Where''d you get that cut?¡±


    ¡°Oh, this ol'' thing?¡± she poked at her forehead, which had a thin, red line sliced through its middle, ¡°I was off-plane, on a world known as Nesona. Guy in a bar got mad.¡±


    ¡°Should I see the other guy?¡± Joseph joked.


    ¡°Ha! No, not really,¡± she suddenly looked serious, ¡°Those guys, they play for keeps. By the time I was done with him, he was unrecognizable.¡±


    Joseph looked at her, appalled.


    Then she burst out laughing again, ¡°I''m kidding! By God, you''re too gullible. Just a couple o'' hits here and there, and we became best friends after.¡±


    Joseph let out a nervous chuckle, ¡°Ha, good job. Good job...¡±


    ¡°So what are you up to, right now? Did Becenti... help you with that metahuman thing?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Been really helping. I''m getting the hang of it.¡±


    He relayed to her all of his training over the past week. Rosemary''s eyes widened as he spoke, a look of pure awe on her face.


    ¡°I didn''t know,¡± she said, ¡°Wow, that''s some crazy stuff.¡±


    ¡°How much do you know about metahumans?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°I know Becenti''s one. I met another metahuman while on a job in Omatra, she had the ability to store anything in her body. Had pockets all over her skin, it was kinda gross...¡±


    ¡°Yeah, metahumans seem to be weird,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Becenti''s given me a couple of books. One of them had the power to wink with both eyes at the same time.¡±


    ¡°That''s... that''s just blinking.¡±


    ¡°That''s what I said! But he was insistent,¡± Joseph rolled his eyes, ¡°Anyways, it runs the whole gamut. Some metas had the power to just do something simple ¨C the power to re-arrange their fingerprints. Others could lift up whole buildings, but only if they were just using a single finger. Every one was different.¡±


    ¡°Weird,¡± Rosemary agreed, ¡°So, are you training for today?¡±


    ¡°Nah,¡± Joseph stretched, ¡°Gotta rest today. Heading out on a job tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Well, have you explored Scuttleway at all?¡±


    ¡°The city?¡± Joseph shrugged, ¡°Not really. Just been to the arena, and that¡¯s about it.¡±


    ¡°Well, it looks like you''ve been stuck here or there all day,¡± Rosemary smiled, ¡°You haven''t really been out yet, have you? On the town, going to the bars, having a grand old time..¡±


    ¡°No, I haven''t,¡± Joseph said.


    Rosemary gave him a look, ¡°You''re avoiding the offer, aren''t you?¡±


    ¡°Alright, alright, I''m getting up.¡±


    She gave him another smile, then ran towards the double doors. Joseph was secretly glad ¨C he''d felt uncomfortable walking through the city alone, and someone who knew where they were going would definitely be a help in figuring out where everything was. He''d already forgotten where that bakery Contort had brought him to had been...


    ¡°Right,¡± Rosemary explained as they walked outside, ¡°Nothing too crazy about Scuttleway. The city''s divided into six districts: the markets, the governmental buildings, the military center, the noble district, portside, and the residential buildings.¡±


    They passed down the road that snaked from Castle Belenus on the edge of the city, towards the center of the markets. The sounds of the city droned into their heads as they walked ¨C people of various races barking and hollering out their wares, the sounds of dogs barking and children laughing.


    ¡°Scuttleway''s an independent city,¡± Rosemary explained, ¡°A trading city here on the landmass and beyond. They lease out a couple of airships from Melmaen.¡±


    ¡°That''s...¡± Joseph struggled to remember, ¡°That''s where you got the Dreamer''s Lament from, right?¡±


    ¡°Exactly!¡± Rosemary said, ¡°They got it before my time, though. Oh, there''s an airship now!¡±


    She pointed, and Joseph craned his neck up. High in the sky, slowly getting larger as it got closer to the city, was a floating galleon, great wings bolted to its sides. It descended through the clouds, heading down towards the edge of the Scuttleway and the sheer ravine that made up one of its edges.


    ¡°So the ships aren''t native here, then,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Nope. Melmaen in origin,¡± Rosemary replied, ¡°And it''s because of those airships that Scuttleway''s gotten so big.¡±


    ¡°And the Federation... allows it?¡±


    ¡°As far as I''m aware,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°I think I remember reading a few contracts that Wakeling had given me, stuff about political uses, the fact that most of Salthirn is on the cusp of inventing airships anyways. It''s a process.¡±


    She went over to one of the stalls in the market, grabbing a few apples and tossing a couple of coins to the shopkeeper. She took a bite out of one of them, pulling Joseph to the side to avoid a large wagon filled with various pieces of merchandise.


    ¡°Before,¡± she continued, ¡°Merchants had to snake all the way over to Kelphaven in order to get here. Scuttleway was a mining town ¨C still is, actually. Miners come in from all over to get over the edge of the landmass to mine great big caves in the crust.¡±


    ¡°And there aren''t any inhabited cities over the edge?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Not really. It''s mostly rock,¡± Rosemary took another bite of the apple, tossing a fresh one to Joseph, ¡°Only dwarves would want to live there, and most dwarves are on Terna Minor Landmass.¡±


    ¡°You seem to know a lot about the city,¡± Joseph mused, ¡°Are you sure you''re not from here?¡±


    Rosemary blushed a bit, ¡°I just like to do my research, is all. The history of a nation fascinates me, is all. It''s just a hobby. You have hobbies, right?¡±


    ¡°I did,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°What''d you do?¡±


    They dodged past a couple of children running down the street. An ogre roared after them.


    ¡°Stop, you little damn thieves!¡± he snarled.


    They went on their way, going towards the port of the city. As they got closer to the edge of the landmass, they could see miners at work ¨C men and women with pickaxes, a few of them also wearing armor, tying ropes around their waists and jumping down to the mines carved into the edge. The airship was being unloaded now ¨C its wings had tucked into its sides, and heavy chains moored it to the edge so it wouldn''t float off. Crates and barrels were being hauled off of it in carts.


    ¡°I mostly worked on school,¡± Joseph said, resuming their conversation.


    ¡°And when you weren''t doing school?¡± Rosemary asked.


    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    ¡°I guess I was just...¡± Joseph thought for a few moments, ¡°Doing what my friends did. Paul, he''s a cool guy. Likes playing basketball, so I''d help him practice. I hope he''s doing alright, back on Earth.¡±


    There was a moment of awkward silence, as Joseph remembered his life back home. Rosemary seemed to take notice of that, watching him as he became lost in memories for a moment. Then, a thought entered her head.


    ¡°Oh! Here, let me show you something cool.¡±


    ¡°Hey, wait up!¡± Joseph called, as she began running, darting by the workers unloading the airship and heading towards a large lighthouse just on the edge of the city. It spiraled into the sky, painted in swirls of reds and whites. She opened up the door as Joseph caught up to her.


    ¡°Took you long enough!¡± she said.


    ¡°What do you want to show me?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Up here. All the way up top.¡±


    They made their way up the staircase. At the top was the lantern that lit up the lighthouse ¨C a massive, yellow geode that shone with the light of the sun, encased in glass. Beside it, soaking in the geode''s energy, was Rosemary''s mace. She walked over and checked on it, before nodding in satisfaction.


    ¡°The crystal here absorbs the energy of the sun, and magnifies it. It''s more efficient to leave my mace here than out in the sun for a day,¡± she said.


    ¡°How much does it cut down?¡±


    ¡°About four hours, out of eight!¡± Rosemary smiled, ¡°Gives me more time in the day. But that''s not what I wanted to show you.¡±


    She walked to the other side of the lighthouse, where a crate had been stored beside the railing. As Rosemary rummaged through it, Joseph looked out beyond the railing. He could see the entirety of Scuttleway ¨C its curving, ancient walls, the mansions in the noble districts, a few religious temples, and the marketing district in the dead center. In the corner, rising above a few nondescript houses, was Castle Belenus. It looked strange where it was, a blood orange blight that seemed almost alien to the rest of the city¡¯s creams and grays.


    ¡°Nice place,¡± Joseph said, ¡°You come up here often?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, it''s sort''ve my home away from home,¡± Rosemary said, still rummaging through the crate, ¡°I come up here after every mission to recharge my mace. Plus, there are a few things I don''t want anyone in the guild nosing in on.¡±


    Joseph glanced over to the crate. Rosemary noticed what he was doing, and quickly covered part of it with a blanket.


    ¡°Hey! No peeking,¡± she said, ¡°You''ll ruin the surprise.¡±


    ¡°Alright, alright.¡±


    A few moments and an ¡°aha!¡± later, Rosemary produced a black T-Shirt with the logo of AC/DC emblazoned on it.


    ¡°Broon and I found this the other day while we were going through the storage rooms. AC/DC is a music group, Becenti said. From Earth, right?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, it is!¡± Joseph laughed, ¡°No way, even all the way out here...¡±


    ¡°A gift from home, then,¡± Rosemary presented it to Joseph, ¡°Especially since you''ve been wearing nothing but that white shirt this whole time.¡±


    Joseph smiled, ¡°Thanks, Rosemary.¡±


    He didn''t have the heart to tell her that he hated AC/DC. Still, he had to admit he was touched by the gift. Joseph folded it up and held it under the crook of his arm, ¡°So, what else is out here in Scuttleway?¡±


    Rosemary''s smile became even wider, ¡°I''ll show you that bakery that Contort brought us to. There''s also a nice place where you can hear the butterflies sing-¡±


    ¡°Butterflies sing?¡±


    ¡°If you learn to listen to ''em. Hear, lemme show you...¡±


    They spent the day exploring Scuttleway, Joseph slowly becoming more comfortable with the city. By the time they returned to the guild, he felt ready ¨C refreshed, even. That trapped feeling he''d been carrying with him since he had awoken his metahuman abilities had lessened. Not completely disappeared, but as he listened to Rosemary talk about a cricket she had seen ¨C and apparently spoken with, and as they spotted Broon and Phineas in the Great Hall, and ran over to them, he got the feeling that it would one day fade away.


    ***


    Joseph awoke the next morning prepared. He got dressed as the sun was still rising. Phineas''s soft coos could be heard underneath his bed, magazines spread out on messy sheets. Joseph glanced over at one of the covers.


    ¡°Playfish,¡± he read, ¡°Phin, you sly little dog.¡±


    He pulled on his blue jacket and walked out the door, walking down the stairs. No one else was up, it seemed. The Great Hall was eerily silent as he walked past the glass blade in the middle of the indoor garden. Becenti was already waiting, in his usual business suit, his black hair tied back in his usual ponytail. He glanced over as Joseph approached ¨C at first, Joseph had always assumed Becenti glared at everyone in disapproval. But as time went on, he realized it was just how Becenti''s face was set. The poor bastard had a resting bitch face something fierce.


    Today, though, as he looked at the newest member of the guild, his frown broke into a smirk.


    ¡°AC/DC?¡± he asked, nodding at Joseph''s shirt, ¡°Love their music. One of the best bands of their generation.¡±


    ¡°Agree to disagree,¡± Joseph muttered, yawning, ¡°I''m more of a hip-hop guy, myself.¡±


    ¡°Hip-hop?¡± Becenti let out a chuckle, ¡°An odd choice.¡±


    ¡°Ah, shaddup.¡±


    They began walking out towards the garden. The Dreamer''s Lament stood ready for them. Becenti went up the ramp and into the entrance of the airship. Joseph followed, the conversation continuing as they went up the stairs to the bridge.


    ¡°You have to admit, they''ve released some classics,¡± Becenti said, ¡°''Thunderstruck,'' ''Highway to Hell,'' all good stuff.¡±


    ¡°Not my taste,¡± Joseph chuckled.


    ¡°Not even ''The Winner Takes It All''?¡±


    Joseph stared at him, ¡°That''s... that''s ABBA.¡±


    ¡°It... is?¡± Becenti furrowed his brow, ¡°On Prime, one of AC/DC''s greatest songs is ''The Winner Takes It All.''¡±


    ¡°Well, on Earth, that''s an ABBA song.¡±


    ¡°The winner takes it all?¡±


    ¡°The loser standing small,¡± Joseph suppressed a shudder, ¡°I had a teacher back in High School who played them all the time. Worst music I''ve ever heard.¡±


    ¡°Agree to disagree,¡± Becenti echoed. He flipped a few switches on one of the consoles. The Dreamer''s Lament shook, and began to ascend upwards.


    ¡°Funny,¡± Joseph said, leaning against a wall as Becenti took to the wheel, steering the airship away from Scuttleway, ¡°You''re usually pretty no-nonsense about... everything, really.¡±


    ¡°Don''t insult my AC/DC, and we''ll get along just fine,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Back on Prime, during the wartime years, AC/DC is really all I had.¡±


    Joseph nodded. Then blinked.


    ¡°The... wartime years?¡±


    But Becenti ignored him, ¡°We''ll be heading towards the Traveling Point between Londoa and the Silver Eye Galaxy in a couple of hours. We''re lucky ¨C it leads us right towards Everlasting Truth.¡±


    ¡°Capital of the Feds,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Is it as cool as everyone says it is?¡±


    ¡°Depends on who you ask,¡± Becenti said, ¡°It is impressive. But many things are impressive.¡±


    ¡°So you don''t care, then,¡± Joseph reasoned.


    ¡°I never said that. Perhaps it''s because I''ve been there so many times ¨C lived there, for a couple of years, actually,¡± Becenti turned the wheel, the airship lurching to avoid a cloud. Far below, Joseph noticed they had begun moving over another landmass, ¡°I have lived in many places.¡±


    ¡°You really get around, huh?¡±


    ¡°In addition to Prime, I worked and operated in the Silver Eye Galaxy on behalf of a superhero group known as the Silver Knights,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Lived on an old freighter, the Richard''s Machine.¡±


    He gave a wry smile, ¡°We used to call it the ''Dick Machine.'' She got us through quite a bit, all things considered.¡±


    Joseph let out a laugh.


    ¡°There''s some coffee in the pot downstairs, go ahead and get some,¡± Becenti ordered.


    ¡°You want any?¡±


    ¡°No, I weaned myself off such weaknesses years ago.¡±


    Joseph shot an amused look at Becenti, then went downstairs. He wasn''t so bad, once you got to know him.


    ***


    The Dreamer''s Lament landed on a nearby floating continent known as Beritale Landmass. A great desert spread out before them as far as the eye could see. Joseph squinted, and he swore he could see great worms rising and arcing down in the sands, multi-eyed and terrifying.


    ¡°We aren''t going out there, are we?¡± he asked nervously.


    ¡°There? No,¡± Becenti said. He grabbed a pair of backpacks, tossing one to Joseph, ¡°Do you really think I''d land us a few miles from the Traveling Point?¡±


    ¡°That''s... no, that makes sense,¡± Joseph said. They got off of the airship, looking out, ¡°So, where is it?¡±


    ¡°It will be almost invisible to your eyes,¡± Becenti stated, ¡°It''s only with extensive training that I''ve been able to spot Traveling Points easily. Trust me, and take a few steps forward.¡±


    Joseph did so, striding forward, sand gritting into his shoes as he walked. Becenti followed close behind. It was hot out ¨C unbearably so. The air in front of him began to shimmer in a mirage, and he could swear the sky was starting to melt away.


    ¡°One more step, and you''re through,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Go on ahead.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Joseph said, ¡°I mean, it''s just empty air in front of me-¡±


    Becenti rolled his eyes and, with a single hand, shoved Joseph forward. Joseph felt a lurch in his stomach as the scenery disappeared in front of him, replaced with a sudden miasma of rainbows before he landed on a hard metal floor. The air here was mercifully cool and sterile. Becenti dropped down beside him a moment later, helping Joseph to his feet. They were in a room of some sort, a bright orange sky outside a window.


    ¡°Mr. Zheng,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Welcome to Everlasting Truth.¡±


    He gestured towards the window, and Joseph approached it. At first, he wasn''t exactly shocked ¨C the clouds curled a bit more than on Earth or Londoa, tainted a blood orange. Then, as he glanced down, his heart stopped.


    The sky continued down. Far down. There was no land. The only thing Joseph could see that could be stood on were starships. Great behemoths, all of them hanging in the sky, propelled by massive engines that spewed out blue, plasmatic fire. Some were made of metal, shaped like orbs, or missiles, or arrows. Others were organic with great, bat-like wings extending out on either side. A thousand variations existed in the orange void, millions more no doubt plying the stars above. In between them were great cities that floated in the sky, each one of a different architecture and purpose. The only unifying aspect to them was a symbol ¨C sometimes on a flag, other times burned onto the hull of one of the larger starships: four hands interlocked in a square, surrounding a four-pointed star.


    ¡°Holy shit,¡± Joseph gasped, ¡°No way. There''s no way this is real.¡±


    ¡°Quite on the contrary, Mr. Zheng,¡± Becenti said, ¡°This is very real. It''s been real since before our ancestors were born, and it will most likely be real far into the future, when our descendants are dust.¡±


    ¡°Where''s the ground?¡±


    ¡°There is none. Everlasting Truth is a gas giant. Most of it is gas. Well, further below the pressure squeezes it down into a solid. But it''s impossible for the average being to live down there. You''d be crushed by the pressure,¡± Becenti began walking out of the room, ¡°Of course, there are some beings who live there. Maronids, I believe. And G''lambras. A minority, compared to the rest of the galaxy.¡±


    Joseph wasn''t sure what to say. Becenti guided them out of the room. They were in a hangar of some sort ¨C smaller ships were resting in a vast room the size of Castle Belenus. A few creatures were going about their business here ¨C aliens, some with purple skin and four eyes, others made of crystal who spoke with translators slammed into their bodies like ice picks, one of them seemed to be made of a pale green liquid, arguing with (perhaps, weirdly of all) a bored-looking human.


    Becenti approached a large, orange crocodile-like alien. Seven eyes stared down at him, and the alien smiled.


    ¡°Ah, Myron!¡± she snarled out, ¡°Good to see you.¡±


    ¡°Good to see you too, Rax,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Goodness, did you do something with your snout? It looks freshly cleaned.¡±


    ¡°Oh, Myron, you charmer,¡± the crocodile flushed into a deeper state of orange, ¡°Don''t you play games with me now, I''m a married egg-bearer.¡±


    ¡°Of course, of course,¡± Becenti chuckled, ¡°We''re here on business with the Amber Foundation. We''ll be needing the usual.¡±


    ¡°Let me see if the old girl''s ready,¡± Rax said. She picked up a datapad off of one of the crates nearby, ¡°Let me see... the Chloroform''s Delight, the Endeavor... ah, here we are,¡±


    She showed the datapad to Becenti, ¡°The Titania Amber. Yep, she''s ready and primed to head out.¡±


    The ship on the datapad was box-shaped, with four triangular wings on each side. Two cannons were positioned just below the cockpit, and two more rotating machine guns were on the top and bottom of the hull. Rax pointed it out to Becenti ¨C the Titania Amber was smaller compared to the rest of the ships here ¨C around the size of a small apartment.


    ¡°Thank you, Rax,¡± Becenti said, ¡°We''ll be leaving immediately. No time for drinks, unfortunately.¡±


    ¡°Oh, that''s alright,¡± Rax chuckled, ¡°But you owe me. You still need to meet my children.¡±


    ¡°Of course, once we''re done with the job, you can introduce me.¡±


    He gave a warm smile to the alien, who waved again before she turned to help out another client. Joseph leaned to whisper into Becenti''s ear.


    ¡°Drinks with her children?¡± he asked.


    ¡°A traditional past-time for the Moraxians,¡± Becenti replied, ¡°Rax is an old friend.¡±


    ¡°I don''t need to point out that she''s a MoRAXian named ''Rax''?¡±


    ¡°No one ever gave them points for creativity,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Now, let us get to the Titania.¡±


    They shouldered their way past a few of the other airships, towards the Titania Amber. Joseph stared at it. It was obviously used ¨C its hull, while looking freshly cleaned, still had stains on it from battles in the past. The ship creaked as he walked on, and smelled faintly of mold.


    ¡°This is... a beaut, alright,¡± he commented.


    ¡°The Titania Amber is the guild''s premier starship,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Well, only starship. She isn''t pretty, but she''s reliable. And tough. She''s survived some pretty harsh battles.¡±


    ¡°Why the name?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Titania Amber was our founder,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Strap on in.¡±


    He sat down in the cockpit, flipping a few switches on the roof. The Titania Amber began to power on, a deep thrumming sound like a hummingbird''s wings echoing up from the engine below their feet.


    ¡°One hundred years ago, a giant strode out from her homeland on some distant plane to find a cure for her son, who had contracted a little-known disease,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Titania Amber.¡±


    ¡°Correct. She traveled across the multiverse, finding new friends and embarking on many adventures.¡±


    ¡°What happened to the son?¡±


    ¡°He didn¡¯t make it, sadly. Titania Amber never found a cure. But she had found herself with a new-found family ¨C family that needed her. After burying her son, Titania Amber used the wealth she had accrued in her travels to buy a castle seed, setting it down on Londoa, and founded a guild.¡±


    The ship exited the hangar, flying out towards the endless, orange sky.


    ¡°For a hundred years, the Amber Foundation has stood as a testament to her will, of helping those who cannot help themselves, of guiding people along their way.¡±


    ¡°Interesting,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Sounds like she was quite the woman.¡±


    ¡°Wakeling knew her,¡± Becenti said, ¡°She says that Titania Amber was strong and compassionate. A beacon, to those who needed light.¡±


    ¡°And you honor her great memory by naming a run-down, glorified cardboard box after her,¡± Joseph chuckled.


    Becenti gave Joseph a truly disapproving look. Joseph shrank in his seat.


    ¡°Sorry.¡±


    ***


    They soared through the sky towards one of the cities. As they got closer, the ships in the sky began merging into a few lanes of traffic reminiscent of a highway, marked by floating buoys that led them into the city proper. The Titania Amber shuddered a bit as Becenti began descending down away from the lines, towards the city below, passing by skyscrapers and domed, floating buildings. Neon lights lit their path, advertisements shining in a dozen languages that Joseph couldn''t even begin to understand. The city''s streets reminded Joseph of pictures he had seen of Venice ¨C people walked on sidewalks made of a combination of metal and stone, waterways acting as roads.


    In the city''s case, however, the roads were nothing but open air. Becenti went down, clicking a few buttons. The Titania magnetized to the side of one of the sidewalks with a harsh ka-thunk. They stepped out, and Joseph noticed, among all of the starships and floating neon holograms and signs, was a parking meter.


    ¡°Guess some things never change,¡± he said aloud.


    Becenti swiped a card into the meter, giving them two hours.


    ¡°Let''s go,¡± he said, ¡°And, ah, be careful. Zydiac City isn''t exactly the safest place in the Federation.¡±


    He began heading towards a run-down, seedy bar. The bouncer was a heavily scarred, blood-red alien who seemed to be partially made out of rock. He sneered as Becenti walked in. Joseph took a second to stare at the open door.


    ¡°Good to know,¡± Joseph said sarcastically, ¡°Gee, cool job, coming all the way out here for some day drinking.¡±


    The red alien glared down at him, then did a start. Joseph flinched back.


    ¡°Gahahah,¡± the alien chuckled in a harsh, garbled voice, ¡°Humans.¡±


    The patrons inside the bar were, in a few words, strange and vaguely criminal. As Joseph stepped through, he had to move to the side as what looked like an eel with arms and legs slithered past him, hand covering his eye, which had been punched in. A massive, four-armed orange humanoid tended the bar, pouring out drinks to a zoo of different aliens ¨C a three-headed fox was guffawing next to a yellow-skinned humanoid whose hands had been replaced with cybernetic scythes. Hungry eyes followed Joseph as he weaved through the small crowd. One of the patrons whispered to another, who began fingering a crude knife on his belt. Tinny, vaguely punk-ish music played through the dimly-lit bar, which had a strange, almost purple haze over everyone''s heads. Becenti had found one of the few unoccupied tables, a pink-skinned waitress wearing a gossamer-thin dress coming over for the order. Joseph went to sit down by him as he ordered.


    ¡°Water for me. My friend here can order whatever he wants,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Ah,¡± Joseph thought. He wasn''t technically of legal age back in America. But then, that didn¡¯t stop him then. ¡°Surprise me.¡±


    He tried not to stare at the waitress''s chest as she wrote the order down. Becenti shot him a warning look as she walked away.


    ¡°Eyes on the job, Mr. Zheng.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I know.¡±


    ¡°My contact should be here soon, try not to get into any trouble.¡±


    ¡°Trust me, pal, if any trouble comes, it won''t be my fault.¡±


    The waitress returned a few minutes later, putting down a glass of water for Becenti and a strange, twisted glass for Joseph that was filled with a neon green liquid that glowed in the dusk atmosphere of the bar.


    ¡°Bartender gave ya Neridian ale, son,¡± the waitress said.


    ¡°T-thanks.¡±


    She nodded and walked away. Joseph looked down at the drink, feeling apprehensive. The way the liquid shook and bubbled reminded him of soda, or acid...


    ¡°You asked her to surprise you,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Might as well put on a brave face.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, just... getting used to the culture shock,¡± Joseph stammered. He picked the glass of Neridian ale up off the table. It felt oddly heavy, as though rocks had been put on the bottom.


    ¡°The contact will be here soon, so drink up, Mr. Zheng.¡±


    Joseph slammed it down. It was thick ¨C like maple syrup going down his throat, burning his esophagus. He gagged for a second, swallowing down the drink, coughing with tears in his eyes. It felt like his whole body was on fire.


    ¡°Congratulations, Mr. Zheng,¡± Becenti said, wearing a sarcastic grin, ¡°Neridian ale is not something to be underestimated.¡±


    ¡°Whatever,¡± Joseph coughed, ¡°Want the rest?¡±


    ¡°Oh, no,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I don''t drink.¡±


    He stopped paying attention to the conversation, eyes honing in on someone walking through the door, ¡°Alright, get ready.¡±


    Joseph glanced up from his drink. Walking through the crowd was a large, gray-haired alien. It was vaguely humanoid, with six long, branch-like arms jutting out of its sides. Three dark green eyes emerged from the shaggy mop that was its head. The alien wore nothing, its entire body covered in gray hair like thousands of leaves on a tree.


    ¡°Norcanthopus Bulg,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Myron Becenti,¡± the alien had a deep voice, like a wheel being dragged through gravel, ¡°And one other.¡±


    ¡°This is another member of the guild, Joseph Zheng,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Hey,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Greetings,¡± Norcanthopus Bulg lowered his head towards Joseph.


    ¡°So, what do you have for us, Bulg?¡± Becenti asked.


    ¡°Right to business, then?¡± Bulg''s eyes watered, ¡°No question of my husband? Of my father?¡±


    Becenti sighed, ¡°Forgive me, Brethrened One. I forget tradition. How fares your husband? How fares your father?¡±


    ¡°They are well,¡± Norcanthopus Bulg replied, closing his eyes in solemn respect, ¡°My husband works far away in the reaches of space. My father plies through stars unmade. May he fly in peace.¡±


    ¡°Fly he will,¡± Becenti said, nodding his head in respect to the tradition.


    ¡°Now, to business.¡±


    ¡°To business,¡± Becenti repeated, ¡°You said you had found something?¡±


    ¡°Indeed. An old Federation base in the Outer Reach,¡± Norcanthopus Bulg laid down a small disc on the table. A hologram fired up above it, depicting a map of the galaxy. It began zooming in on the northeastern quadrant, small circles highlighting certain clusters of stars, ¡°Back during the Third Expansion period.¡±


    ¡°Old, then,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Very old. Twenty thousand years, old,¡± Bulg rumbled, ¡°But its information should still be good. It was an outpost listing various Traveling Points across the multiverse in that region of space.¡±


    ¡°It''s an abandoned base?¡± Joseph asked, ¡°Why was it abandoned?¡±


    Becenti nodded at him, ¡°Asking the right questions, Mr. Zheng. Bulg, was there anything you found out on why the base was abandoned by the Federation?¡±


    ¡°Hmmm,¡± Bulg thundered, ¡°My sources have theories. One professor supposed it had to do with a treaty Epochia forced on the Federation, making them abandon many outposts connected to the multiverse. Another thought the Federation lacked resources in other parts of the galaxy where the fighting was more intense, and thus abandoned the station in order to strengthen other parts of their campaign. We may never know.¡±


    ¡°But it''s still there,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°If it were not, I would not have told you about it,¡± Bulg leaned a bit closer, ¡°Do be careful. This information was bought by many. If you go there, expect conflict.¡±


    ¡°That''s why I brought Mr. Zheng along,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Can you give us coordinates?¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Bulg slid the disc across the table, ¡°The planet in question was a Listening World by the name of Ermen III.¡±


    ¡°Ermen III,¡± Becenti said, letting the name roll in his mind, ¡°Should make for an interesting journey.¡±


    ¡°The station in question is spaceborne, you hopefully should not need to go to the surface,¡± Bulg said. Two of his eyes flashed for a second, and Joseph could see, for a split-second, that the gray-haired alien''s pupils reflected a computer screen giving him information, ¡°I should leave. I''ve spent enough time here. Fare the stars well, Becenti.¡±


    ¡°Fare the stars well, Bulg,¡± Becenti said. The alien got up and left the bar. Becenti rose up from his seat as Bulg''s shaggy form disappeared through the doorway, ¡°Come, it''s not safe here.¡±


    He pocketed the disc. Joseph followed him out of the bar ¨C a few of the patrons were starting to look at him with an almost predatory intent. The man with the crude knife had been starting to stand up as they left. They got back into the Titania Amber and took off, merging back into the skylanes above.


    ¡°Well, that certainly proved fruitful,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Ermen III.¡±


    ¡°What''s Ermen III?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°A planet in a region of the galaxy known as the Outer Reach,¡± Becenti said, ¡°It houses a space station that tracked and forecasted the movement of planes in the multiverse. Or as close as the Federation could get, anyways.¡±


    ¡°And...¡± Joseph thought for a moment, remembering names from the histories he''d been reading, ¡°Epochia. That was the metahuman nation. They fought against the Federation?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Very often. Epochia and the High Federation were eternal rivals, up until Epochia stopped being eternal.¡±


    ¡°Seems strange, then,¡± Joseph crossed his arms, leaning back in his seat, ¡°I mean, we''re metahumans, right? Descended from Epochia. Feels weird to be in the Feddie space, then.¡±


    ¡°Those wars were thousands of years ago,¡± Becenti said, ¡°But there are still long-lived minds who remember it. Epochia and her wars are our legacy, for good or for ill.¡±


    ¡°What if someone finds out we''re metahumans?¡±


    ¡°As with anything, it depends on where you go,¡± Becenti said, ¡°If you have money, or you work for a guild, then chances are you''ll be allowed to live your life as normal. If you aren''t either of those, then best to keep to the Outer Reach, away from more prying eyes.¡±


    ¡°Good to know,¡± Joseph said. They continued flying, and he noticed Becenti was going ever upwards, out of the atmosphere of Everlasting Truth.


    ¡°So,¡± Joseph resumed, ¡°That Bulg guy said he got his information from a... professor?¡±


    ¡°Higher education in the High Federation, especially here on Everlasting Truth, is a rarity,¡± Becenti said, swerving to avoid a wrong-way pilot, ¡°Knowledge on history, science...¡±


    ¡°The STEM fields.¡±


    ¡°The STEM fields. Anything you would think that would qualify as higher education is prohibitively expensive. In some cases, it''s even forbidden. Norcanthopus Bulg is an assistant professor at Saint Lo''Mel''Na''s University for Gifted Individuals. He supplements his income by selling information from the Federation''s history to people like you and me.¡±


    ¡°Like, a Robin Hood, but for books,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Oh, he doesn''t do it for free,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Far from it. Our client for this job was willing to pay an exorbitant fee to get this information, and to hire us to investigate that space station.¡±


    Joseph narrowed his eyes, ¡°What are we doing on this job, exactly?¡±


    ¡°Well, put the pieces together, Mr. Zheng,¡± Becenti challenged.


    Joseph crossed his arms, furrowing his brow in thought.


    ¡°...Alright,¡± he said, ¡°We''re going to a space station on behalf of our client. That space station... tracked the multiverse, and worked on the forecast for traveling planes?¡±


    ¡°All planes travel, but yes.¡±


    ¡°So, obviously, if I were smart, I would make a record of where the planes traveled. The space station has records, then.¡±


    ¡°Correct.¡±


    ¡°So we go to the space station and we... look through the records?¡±


    ¡°What are we doing, Mr. Zheng?¡±


    It came down on Joseph like a flash of lightning. He looked over to Becenti.


    ¡°We''re finding a lost plane.¡±


    And Becenti smiled.


    ¡°Yes, we are. Not just a lost plane, either. A dead one.¡±

 11. Space Station Jamboree

    They spent the next few hours leaving the atmosphere of Everlasting Truth. The oranges of the planet gave way to the cool, ink black of space, stars littering the sky as far as Joseph could see. The planet itself turned into a great, orange-cream ball, a large storm curling across the northern hemisphere. Starships became mere specks in the darkness, so far away now that they didn''t need to use the skylanes set up to ease traffic planetside.


    ¡°So, how are we getting to Ermen III?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°The usual way,¡± Becenti said. The ship began to shake a bit as Becenti clicked a few buttons. Joseph noticed he had put the disc Bulg had given them into a special slot, the holographic map of the galaxy materializing above it. A red line began tracing from the galactic core, stopping with a ping at a point somewhere in the northeastern quadrant.


    ¡°Strap yourself in,¡± Becenti ordered, ¡°The first few minutes of a warp jump are the shakiest.¡±


    And then the ship jumped. Stretching forward, the stars around them smearing into lines of light, before everything disappeared into a tunnel of alternating whites and grays. It felt like he was going down the loop of a roller coaster, and Joseph gripped the arms of his seat, teeth jittering.. After a couple of minutes, the ship normalized, settling down into a more comfortable tremble. Becenti leaned back.


    ¡°Should take a couple of days,¡± he said.


    Joseph looked at him, ¡°A couple of days?¡±


    ¡°We''re traveling from the center of the galaxy to the Outer Reach. Quite literally trillions of miles away. Space is quite big, and even with the warp it can take some time to reach the destination.¡±


    ¡°So, what''ll we do ''til then?¡±


    ¡°I certainly hope you brought a few books, Mr. Zheng,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I personally brought a few books on the history of indigenous movements, as well as a few writings from the Nesonan philosopher Moiat the Indescribable.¡±


    Joseph thought for a moment, ¡°I... didn''t bring anything.¡±


    ¡°A rookie mistake,¡± Becenti got up, picking through his backpack, ¡°Always have something to do to kill time, Mr. Zheng. Most of your time spent on guild work will require travel.¡±


    He picked up a couple of books, ¡°Luckily, I predicted you would only bring the clothes on your back. Here.¡±


    He gave a book to Joseph. Joseph looked down at it, ¡°...Hamlet.¡±


    ¡°Hamlet is a classic,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Even the Federation respects Shakespeare.¡±


    ¡°You don''t have anything else?¡±


    ¡°It''s either Shakespeare, indigenous uprisings against the United States that often end in despair and genocide, or writings from a philosopher on how nothing matters and we''re all bound to die.¡±


    Joseph sighed, ¡°I''ll take Shakespeare.¡±


    ¡°A good choice.¡±


    ***


    Hours passed. There was no sun or moon to track the time. Joseph felt that same trapped feeling he''d felt back at Castle Belenus, his stomach twisting and un-twisting impatiently. Restless, he got up and paced in the back of the ship. Becenti ignored him, flipping through a thick book. Joseph stopped, staring at the older man for a few moments.


    ¡°So what''s the dead plane we''re going after?¡± he asked.


    Becenti didn¡¯t answer, flipping another page, taking out a highlighter to mark a specific passage.


    ¡°...Hello?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Let me finish my chapter, please,¡± Becenti responded, ¡°Twelve more pages, and then I will answer your questions.¡±


    Joseph sighed, thinking of what to do, tapping his foot on the ground in an annoyed rhythm. He could feel his soul rumble and start going through its circuit throughout his body. He was getting faster at it now ¨C it only took a few seconds to get to the point that his soul would be pushed out of his body. Deciding to practice, he worked on doing the opposite ¨C slowing his soul''s movements in case he needed to cancel it out. This was easier said than done ¨C at first, he was unsure of what exactly to do, as though he was doing a new exercise with unfamiliar equipment (and calming down had never exactly been his forte.) Then, as he worked, he found a way to relax, breathing in deeply and slowly, letting his mind wander to other things outside of his concentration. He thought of Rosemary, and how she had shown him around the city. Of Broon, the half-orc''s head hung in the darkness at Whispering Rock. As the hours passed, he found he could slow his soul''s circuit down to nothing, even without thinking of calm thoughts. He only needed to breathe in and out.


    ¡°Excellent work,¡± Becenti said.


    Joseph looked up. He hadn''t noticed the right hand of the guild standing over him.


    ¡°Took you long enough to finish the chapter,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Oh, I finished that chapter three hours ago,¡± Becenti replied, ¡°But you seemed rather concentrated, so I decided to leave you be.¡±


    ¡°Just working on the soul stuff,¡± Joseph leaned back. His stomach growled, ¡°What time is it?¡±


    ¡°Eight PM, Scuttleway time,¡± Becenti walked over to one of the consoles, clicking a button, ¡°What do you want to eat?¡±


    ¡°What''s available?¡±


    ¡°The Titania Amber has a replicator. We don''t use it often due to the fact that the food''s not exactly good, but it can make pretty much anything.¡±


    Joseph nodded, thinking, ¡°Noodles?¡±


    ¡°What kind?¡±


    ¡°My mom always makes banmian noodles.¡±


    Becenti gave a warm smile at that, ¡°Always the taste of home, eh?¡±


    ¡°All you people have given me are sandwiches, cookies, and wine.¡±


    ¡°Fair enough,¡± Becenti clicked the order in, and a few moments later a fork and a bowl materialized with noodles, minced pork, and slices of mushrooms. Joseph took the meal gratefully, feeling an excited sense of anticipation as he dug in. It wasn''t good ¨C almost fake, like a fast food meal ¨C but it still tasted nostalgic.


    ¡°Are you alright?¡± Becenti asked.


    ¡°Yeah, I''m fine,¡± Joseph laughed, ¡°Just... miss home.¡±


    Becenti gave a nod at that, though he didn¡¯t voice his sympathy.


    ***


    With their meals put away, the two of them relaxed. The anxious feeling was gone now ¨C though Joseph was sure it would return. He needed to distract himself, he realized, so he looked over at Becenti.


    ¡°So, my question.¡±


    ¡°Ah, yes. Your question. We are going to the space station to find a dead, lost plane.¡±


    ¡°Define ''dead plane.''¡±


    ¡°A plane that is no longer inhabited by sentient beings. There are more dead planes than living ones, to be honest.¡±


    ¡°Lots of history.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Becenti looked past Joseph as he spoke, ¡°The history of the multiverse extends far back, even past the dawn of human life on planes such as Earth or Prime. No one knows how long the multiverse has existed. Trillions of years, most likely. Enough time for entire societies to rise and fall a trillion times over.¡±


    ¡°And we''re going to look to find one of those dead societies,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Correct. You''ll be excited ¨C it''s thought that the plane we''re trying to find is a metahuman one,¡± Becenti said, ¡°There are many metahuman planes that connect to the Silver Eye Galaxy. Ancient Epochians ¨C well, some of them, at least ¨C had the ability to create Traveling Points, which they used extensively during their wars with the High Federation.¡±


    ¡°Are all Traveling Points metahuman in origin?¡± Joseph reasoned, ¡°Like, they were all created by metahumans.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Though there are Traveling Points that are known to occur naturally, like the Traveling Point that connects to Earth.¡±


    ¡°But a lot of them could be artificial.¡±


    ¡°No doubt,¡± Becenti said, ¡°The Silver Eye is a major node within the multiverse, home to thousands of Traveling Points across the various planets in the galaxy. It''s become something of a nexus to planes around here, or as ''around here'' as one can fathom with the multiverse.¡±


    ¡°And it''s got so many because of Epochia,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Correct. Many dead planes. A few living ones, as well,¡± Becenti amended, ¡°Prime. Londoa. Kelstonda, even.¡±


    ¡°Which also makes it easier for the Federation to rule over the various planes,¡± Joseph said, tracing a finger in the air absently.


    ¡°Correct, as well. The High Federation rules through words and laws, restricting trade on certain planes to ensure those planes stay in a relatively ''pristine'' state. It''s only when a plane achieves certain technological thresholds that various trade embargoes are lifted.¡±


    ¡°Seems like a smart idea,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I mean, if a ton of knights on Londoa got their hands on things like firearms and planes, they could take over the entire plane pretty quickly.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Becenti nodded, ¡°Which is precisely why the High Federation is so zealous in its laws. If a state on a plane is discovered to have contraband equipment, the Federation treats the crime as though the entire plane committed it.¡±


    Joseph paled a bit, ¡°So, say, if Salthirn were to smuggle in one of these starships, and the Feds found out...¡±


    ¡°Then Scuttleway would be included in the Federation''s retribution,¡± Becenti finished, ¡°Such retribution would be violent and nigh-genocidal. The High Federation is ruthless.¡±


    ¡°They don''t play.¡±


    Becenti¡¯s expression was inscrutable as he said, ¡°That, they do not.¡±


    ***


    The next few days passed with similar conversation. Then, early in the morning of the fifth day, Becenti woke Joseph up.


    ¡°We''re about to arrive.¡±


    Joseph pulled himself up from the bench he''d been using as a makeshift bed, ¡°No time to shower?¡±


    ¡°Go ahead, if you want to smell clean while we no doubt get into firefights.¡±


    ¡°Live clean, die clean,¡± Joseph said with only a smudge of bravado. He walked into the small bathroom onboard the ship, letting sonic energy permeate through his body to clean himself up. That anxious feeling had returned. Different this time, of course, a cold sort of anticipation of what was to come. He was pulling on his jacket as the Titania Amber dropped out of warp.


    A dark planet greeted them below, an orb of black iron clouds and whirling hurricanes. Ermen III was an endless storm, one that looked as though it had been raging since the planet''s formation.


    Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    ¡°Glad we don''t have to go down there,¡± Joseph muttered.


    ¡°There''s the space station. We should reach it in a few hours,¡± Becenti said. He pointed out the window, a screen appearing on its surface zooming in on a small white dot on the sea of dark grays. The space station was ancient and weathered, needle-shaped, a ring running around its top.


    ¡°Right,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Will we need space suits?¡±


    ¡°Most likely,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Although, it looks like we aren''t the first ones here.¡±


    Ships were magnetized to the sides of the space station ¨C two of them. One was beetle-like in appearance, its dark purple hull scabbed with plasma burns. The other one was a flaming wreck of greens, reds, and blues.


    ¡°No life signs onboard, though,¡± Becenti said, looking down at one of the consoles, ¡°It looks like our visitors killed one another when they got inside.¡±


    ¡°You sure those aren''t just ships that were with the station when it was abandoned?¡±


    ¡°No, I recognize the purple one,¡± Becenti said, ¡°A Jolian cruiser. Mercenary make, by the look of it. Jolians export their children and weapons in the wars around the Federation. It should come as no surprise that they were here.¡±


    ¡°Well, no life signs, you said,¡± Joseph noted, ¡°This is our lucky day.¡±


    ¡°Indeed.¡±


    As the Titania Amber meandered her way through space, the two of them began pulling on space suits. They were form-fitting, Joseph''s dark green and Becenti''s a dull blue. Joseph felt exposed wearing it, even as he heard the hiss as his open-view helmet closed over him and closed up. He heard Becenti''s voice crackle over the comms in the helmet.


    ¡°Comfortable?¡±


    ¡°I feel naked.¡±


    ¡°It is an interesting experience at first. To you, the suit looks like it will not survive the coldness of space. It will, however, so the first battle you face will be psychological.¡±


    The ship was now right at the space station, hovering just around its middle section. Becenti landed her, the ship magnetizing to the outside. He walked over to the entrance. A small, plastic hallway had opened out over the door.


    ¡°Keeps the atmosphere inside the ship,¡± he explained, ¡°Like an airlock.¡±


    ¡°You could just call it an airlock,¡± Joseph snarked.


    ¡°Just step through the door,¡± the older man said.


    He did so, Becenti following him. He closed the door to the ship and, after a moment of the air escaping the plastic hallway via small holes that opened on either wall, he stepped out of the door and into space. Joseph, after a moment, followed him out, the tips of his toes tingling as they left solid ground. It was cold ¨C almost uncomfortably so ¨C but the suit was working. He was breathing. Space was deadly silent, as well ¨C so quiet that he could hear his heart hammering in his chest.


    ¡°Now,¡± Becenti said, ¡°You see that backpack on the back of your suit?¡±


    ¡°I can feel it, yeah,¡± Joseph replied.


    ¡°That backpack is full of gas that can propel you where you need to go. It has a built-in sensor, so you use your thoughts to activate it. Use it sparingly ¨C any force you make will continue on until you collide with something.¡±


    ¡°It''s not like swimming, then.¡±


    ¡°Not at all. If you propel yourself forward, you will continue going forward forever, or at least until you run into something that stops your motion.¡±


    ¡°I remember reading about this, I think,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Theoretically, I''d just continue going on and on if I slipped off the space station, yeah?¡±


    ¡°Presumably. You could be pulled into the gravitational field of the planet, in which case you''d burn up in the atmosphere and die. So, be careful with each action you take, at least until we get inside the station.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Joseph could hear the panic in his voice, ¡°Right, don''t fall off. Use the backpack wisely.¡±


    Becenti was lucky ¨C he was already an expert. The older man flipped towards the station, the occasional blast from his backpack re-orienting him. Joseph began stumbling towards him. He pushed a bit too hard, and soon he had lost all direction, tumbling this way and that.


    ¡°Becenti!¡± he cried out, ¡°Becenti!¡±


    He felt Becenti close his hands over his shoulders. Becenti shook his head as he righted Joseph so that the space station was below them.


    ¡°Perhaps we should have trained you for this before we left,¡± he said.


    ¡°There''s no up, there''s no down...¡± Joseph''s head was spinning, ¡°It''s... it''s surprisingly hard.¡±


    Becenti didn''t reply to that. Instead, he held onto Joseph, propelling them down the length of the space station, coming upon a maintenance hatch. The door was square-shaped, with a yellow ''X'' covering it.


    ¡°It looks like the door''s shut tight,¡± he said, ¡°Do you mind opening it up?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, sure thing,¡± Joseph replied. He began his circuit, and a moment later his soul erupted out of his back. He closed his human eyes, letting the eagle do the work as it closed great talons over the outline of the door, pulling up. The door gave way, the solid slab of metal floating out into open space.


    ¡°Good work,¡± Becenti said. He pushed them through the door.


    ¡°Uh, this looks like it was an airlock,¡± Joseph said, ¡°If we open that door too, won''t we be shunted out?¡±


    ¡°You assume life support is turned on,¡± Becenti said. Then, after a moment of consideration, he added, ¡°However, if it is, it will make for quite the problem. Here, one moment...¡±


    He pulled out a strange stone out of his backpack. Holding it in his hand, Joseph watched as it turned bright orange. Becenti raised his hand, clutching it and pushing it to the rent where Joseph had removed the door. The space there began shimmering, reminding Joseph of the air over an open campfire. The vibrations covered the hole like a wall, and Becenti''s stone turned gray again.


    ¡°That switch there,¡± Becenti said, ¡°If there''s life support, then the door should open up. We''ll be safe.¡±


    ¡°And if there''s no life support?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Then the switch will do nothing. It''s an automated protection system, makes sure accidents don''t happen. If there''s no life support, you''ll have to tear this door off as well.¡±


    ¡°You sure?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Yes. You''ll have to trust me.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Joseph floated over to the switch, and clicked it. The inner doors of the airlock shook, and began to open up. Air rushed in, pushing them into the opposite wall.


    ¡°Air, but no gravity,¡± Becenti commented, ¡°Very well. Push off of the walls, Joseph. Make sure to keep yourself oriented up.¡±


    ¡°G-got it.¡±


    Joseph pushed himself off, and the two of them went into the space station proper. Becenti closed the airlock doors behind them.


    ¡°What was that?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°What was what?¡±


    ¡°That... stone, thing. The mirages.¡±


    Becenti simply smirked, ¡°You tell me.¡±


    He pushed off of the floor, propelling himself down the hallway they were in. Joseph rolled his eyes, following him.


    Or attempting to follow him, pushing off of the walls, the floor, the ceiling, at some points upside down, at others his back facing Becenti...


    ¡°You really are bad at this,¡± Becenti said.


    ***


    The space station was composed primarily of hallways and elevators. Becenti checked one of the computers by a door that led into what looked like a classroom. He pressed a few buttons, and the computer turned on, though its monitor was dim to the point that Joseph had to squint to make out the information that began reading across the screen.


    ¡°Very little power here,¡± he said, ¡°It looks like the station entered into a lockdown mode, putting energy output at a bare minimum.¡±


    ¡°It hasn''t run out of energy yet? Isn''t it like a thousand years old?¡±


    ¡°Twenty thousand,¡± Becenti corrected, ¡°It seems either the station has solar panels somewhere, or its energy source is self-sustaining, or the mercenaries here before us powered the station back on. Whatever it was, there''s nothing we can do to change the power level where we are. We''ll need to head up to the control center.¡±


    ¡°Where''s that? In the ring on top?¡±


    ¡°The ring is likely an observation platform,¡± Becenti reasoned, ¡°The control center would be in the center of the station, where it''s more protected. Let¡¯s go along, now.¡±


    They decided against going up using the elevators. The station''s lower power output meant that most of them were offline. Instead, they opted to use the ramps that connected each floor ¨C ramps instead of staircases, Becenti explained, for species that had trouble going up and down stairs.


    The floor immediately above them was home to a large garden room, domed and with multiple trees and plants, many of which Joseph didn''t recognize save for a single large pine tree in the center of the garden.


    ¡°Why a pine tree?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Pine trees are native to many planes,¡± Becenti said, ¡°And if this was an observational station for recording the planes of the multiverse, it would make sense that a recreational plane would have flora from the multiverse.¡±


    ¡°Did pines even exist on Earth or Prime way back when?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°They may have gotten it from another plane,¡± Becenti replied, ¡°Evolution is¡­ a tricky point in the multiverse. Animals can evolve into the same species - a rabbit can evolve independently from other rabbits on other planes of existence. There are theories about it that we can go over, if you wish.¡±


    ¡°Sometimes a pine is just a pine,¡± Joseph decided.


    The next floor had bedrooms, with beds and desks that had been bolted to the floor. Four to a room, most of the beds were rectangular, with sheets and pillows floating around the room. A few of them were circular, filled with what seemed to be water. One of the rooms had a machine that reminded Joseph of a metal cocoon - a sleeping pod for a non-humanoid race, Becenti said.


    ¡°No straps on the beds to keep people from floating away,¡± the older man noted, ¡°There should be artificial gravity here.¡±


    ¡°We might be able to turn it on when we get to the control center,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Your face is green, Mr. Zheng.¡±


    ¡°I''m not liking all of this anti-grav stuff,¡± Joseph queased, ¡°But please, tell me more about how there aren''t any straps on the beds.¡±


    Becenti rolled his eyes at that.


    ***


    They floated up the ramps for seven levels before they arrived at the control center. A hallway led to a circular room with consoles and computers littering about the place. Much of the room was also heavily damaged by recent combat. It seemed that the Jolians had met the other party here, and the interaction between the two had been violent. Bodies floated in the open air, blood streaming from various wounds ¨C blues and greens and reds mixing together as Becenti maneuvered around them. Joseph stayed where he was, watching from the door. He didn''t want to trip into one of the corpses. He felt his stomach quiver a bit as he noticed how a few of them were almost human in appearance, only with green or red skin, their faces contorted in agony.


    ¡°Christ,¡± he said, ¡°It looks like one of them was impaled by shrapnel from that computer.¡±


    ¡°Combat is messy,¡± Becenti said, ignoring the floating cadavers, ¡°Ah, here''s the main computer.¡±


    He took out a small datapad from his pocket, connecting it to the computer with a cable. A few moments passed as he stared down at the handheld device.


    ¡°Oh, this is very old. The OSes are barely compatible, and this device is several thousand years old...¡±


    ¡°That going to be a problem?¡± Joseph glanced over to where Becenti was, trying to keep his eyes off a red-skinned man floating between him and the older man.


    ¡°It''s common for data scavengers to carry multiple devices like this from different eras of the Federation,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I have a slicer that''s slightly older, but this should work. It will take a bit of time.¡±


    The computer he was interfaced with booted up, as did the still-working consoles around it. The ceiling began shifting, cameras replacing the metal panels with images of space outside the station.


    ¡°Time we may not have,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Another ship just dropped out of warp. It''s headed this way.¡±


    He clicked a few buttons on one of the consoles, one the panels magnifying in on their target. Approaching the space station was a beautiful, shimmering vessel. It was silver in color, so polished and pristine that it reflected the stars and planet below. Yet it had on its smooth, curved hull an array of energy cannons. Many of them were powering on, turning to aim at the space station. Becenti clicked a few buttons on his watch, sighing in relief.


    ¡°I cloaked the Titania,¡± he said, ¡°Otherwise that ship would have found her.¡±


    The ship began firing on the sole remaining vessel magnetized to the station''s surface. Green bolts of light flashed across space, slamming into the Jolian vessel until its hull cracked like an egg, a bellow of plasma rushing out of it.


    ¡°Who are they?¡± Joseph felt himself tensing.


    ¡°Visitors, tourists. I don''t know,¡± Becenti said. He clicked a few buttons on the console, ¡°What matters is they are most likely after the same prize.¡±


    ¡°They won''t see the Titania through their cameras?¡±


    ¡°Most modern ships don''t have cameras,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Cameras like the ones we''re using are a thing of the past. No, it''s all sensor arrays now. Something our girl is cloaked against.¡±


    ¡°How long until your datapad finishes downloading?¡±


    ¡°A few minutes, perhaps. Until then, we shall have to defend the control room. No doubt they''ve already scanned the station itself and seen that we''re here.¡±


    ¡°And they aren''t going to just fire on us with that ship?¡±


    ¡°And blow the control room to smithereens? No, they''ll come here on foot.¡±


    The silver ship magnetized to the side, positioning itself next to the remains of the Jolian cruiser. A tube extended from the bottom, connecting to the surface of the ship.


    ¡°They''re cutting their way in,¡± Becenti noted, ¡°Smart.¡±


    ¡°What''re we gonna do?¡±


    ¡°Oh, quit panicking, Mr. Zheng,¡± Becenti clicked a few buttons on the console, and Joseph found himself landing on the ground. The bodies in the room fell around them with a variety of sickening crunches.


    ¡°Artificial gravity''s on,¡± Becenti said, ¡°We''ll hold this floor. There are hallways on either side of this room that lead to the elevators and ramps to the other floors. I''ll take one side. You''ll take the other.¡±


    He strode over to one of the bodies, picking up a rifle. He checked it over, opening up a side port where the ammo must have been stored, before closing it up and nodding in satisfaction.


    ¡°You will likely need to kill, Mr. Zheng,¡± he said without emotion.


    Joseph froze, ¡°Kill?¡±


    ¡°Or they will kill you.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Joseph breathed, ¡°O-okay.¡±


    He didn''t feel okay. He didn''t sound okay, either. This wasn''t like the fight with Moriguchi, where Joseph had been completely outclassed and he had just been thinking on the fly. His soul''s manifestation was strong ¨C so strong that he could easily cut someone down with those wicked claws. Becenti had already gone to the other side of the control center, opening up the door and going into the opposite hallway.


    ¡°They''ll be here any minute now,¡± the older man''s voice said through the comms, ¡°Get that circuit going. Good luck, Mr. Zheng.¡±


    Joseph didn''t reply. He tried to calm himself, using his breathing exercises he had used on the Titania Amber to steady himself. The soul started its circuit, before erupting to life, glowering over him, beak lowering to just over his forehead. He closed his eyes, letting his soul''s sight sharpen his senses.


    ¡°I''ve locked down the lifts, so they''ll be coming up by ramp,¡± Becenti informed, ¡°Use that to your advantage. You have the high ground.¡±


    Joseph''s soul looked down at its claws. He balled them into fists. He wouldn''t be slashing anyone open today. He would punch them, batter them, bruise them. Give them at least a chance at surviving. No one else needed to die on this station.


    Right?


    There was no one to answer that question but himself.


    Joseph walked through the door.

 12. Metafight

    Joseph took a position just next to the opening ramp. The footfalls of the assailants up from the corridors below, drum-like thuds that mirrored his own thundering heartbeat. The ramp led up to a door-less entrance, so he sidled up right by it.


    ¡°Don¡¯t try to hide,¡± Becenti warned, ¡°They most likely have your position already.¡±


    ¡°How?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°The scanners on their ship will be cutting-edge, able to pinpoint exactly where you are,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Got it,¡± Joseph¡¯s voice quaked for a moment. The footsteps rounded the last corner, going up the last ramp. For a moment, time stood still as the first of the pirates stopped and considered what to do. If they knew Joseph¡¯s position, if they knew where he was¡­


    Then Joseph went into action as a man rushed through the corridor and wheeled about, turning to face him, rifle pointed at his chest. Joseph¡¯s soul thrust out a fist, hammering into the man before he could get a shot off. The pirate let out a grunt as he flew back, collapsed against the wall, and was still.


    But Joseph didn¡¯t have time to register that as yet another attacker came, this one a strange, locust-like alien with twin pistols in each hand. The soul swung again, but the locust¡¯s oversized legs pushed off the ground, thrusting it into the air. It spun for a moment, firing round after round of plasma into the soul¡¯s back. Joseph winced at the sudden¡­


    Nothing. The eagle¡¯s back tingled, but seemed none the worse for wear. Joseph twisted, the soul¡¯s claw backhanding the locust into the ground. The soul turned, eyes staring down at its back, but the plasma had just sunk into its makeup without any apparent damage.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Joseph said to himself, ¡°Soul¡¯s plasma, gun shoots plasma¡­¡±


    It was good information to have. The soul hunkered down, great arms covering his body like a wall. That had been a scouting party, by the looks of things. He could hear shouts down below in a language he didn''t recognize. Joseph took a deep breath, ready to spring into action for whoever else came for him. He could hear the distinctive sound of plasma firing ¨C a heavy, deep electronic sound that set his stomach on edge. The plasmafire seemed to be coming from the other room. It seemed Becenti was busy.


    ***


    As it stood, Becenti was busy. He had taken out his two scouts relatively quickly, disarming one and using his attacker¡¯s rifle against him and his friend. It was an impressive bit of weaponry, too, boxy and funneled, like an industrial prototype with a grip welded on. The plasma that erupted from the rifle was bright green and cut through the armor of the scouts like a knife through paper. Heavily modified, by the looks of it. The power behind the rifle was definitely over the legal limit. A shame, all things considered, as another being ¨C a Maltor ¨C rushed out from the ramp. Becenti reacted in a split second, rifle whipping to place and firing in one fluid motion.  The line of plasma erupted from the boxy rifle and bored through the Maltor''s chest. The Maltor collapsed, tentacles splaying around wildly.


    No one else followed, though Becenti had the feeling that more would be coming soon. Taking this chance, he walked over to his victim''s body. Maltors were humanoid, with tentacles growing out of their shoulders, hips, and heads. This one wasn''t wearing a helmet, so it wasn''t hard for him to find the comms ¨C located just where the human throat would be. He pulled it off, listening in. Their assailants were speaking in Draelish.


    ¡°Joseph,¡± he radioed, ¡°It looks like the majority of them are coming your way.¡±


    The boy''s voice crackled on the other side, ¡°Yeah, noticed-¡±


    They were interrupted by plasma fire on his end.


    ¡°Yeah, they''re coming in hot now,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I''ll-¡±


    ¡°Take your time,¡± Becenti said. He heard footsteps coming up his side. Pocketing the Maltor''s comm, he spun and fell to one knee, taking aim as a human ran up the ramp. She didn''t stand a chance as Becenti drilled a hole through her forehead, a half-scream just barely escaping her lips.


    Becenti sighed. Darker memories were beginning to come back to him now. He was starting to remember why he didn''t go on these sorts of jobs anymore.


    ***


    Around four of them were up the ramp at this point, rifles pointed at the electrical soul and firing, the plasma swallowed up by the soul, shots splashing against its arms like rain falling on a lake. Joseph, however, was grimacing, leaned down so that the eagle covered as much of him as possible. He was relying on its vision, and now his own, to see the space pirates. Two of them seemed to be human, one was a plant-like being with a head like a flytrap, and the four had a heavy coat of white fur, almost like a polar bear¡¯s.


    No use just sitting here pinned. It was time to see just how far his soul¡¯s reach was. He twisted his body, allowing his soul¡¯s torso to cover him, tucking his legs up and letting the soul support him as he sprang. The soul carried itself with him, slamming into the four assailants, fists swerving wildly in a mad scramble to bring them down.


    His stomach hurt. His soul was sparking above him more than usual. He hadn''t had it out this long before ¨C it had been around five continuous minutes of combat. Twelve bodies littered the floor ¨C and he hoped they were all still alive. A few of them were groaning a bit, their bodies contorting on the ground in pain, so Joseph supposed that they would be fine. Others were deathly still. Joseph stepped over them as the barest hint of exhaustion broke through his adrenaline high. He knew that his body was ragged and tired ¨C constantly having to move about and actually fight was heavily taxing, he knew, and it had been a while since he had been in the ring. Adding to that, the soul was draining him immensely, a small part of him wondered how long he could keep this up...


    That small part of his brain started sounding a lot more convincing as the next challenge came. A large alien stepped up from the ramp. Easily seven feet tall, a blanket of muscle protected by heavy-duty, tortoise-shell like combat armor, gray skin that was marbled like a rhino''s. His face was human-looking, though with wider jaws and pointed ears like Rosemary''s, and four yellow eyes that narrowed at Joseph like a predator''s. The alien wasn''t carrying any weapons. Instead, he clicked a few buttons on his armor. He lifted his right arm up, and Joseph took a few steps back as he saw it become encased in an orange hard-light projection.


    Joseph knew he should have attacked the alien then, interrupt his preparations and strike forward, maybe even use his claws to cut through the armor.


    Yet exhaustion won over him - instead of being quick and lithe, Joseph locked his knees and stood his ground, ready to meet the alien¡¯s attacks despite the aches in his body.


    He would trust in his soul¡¯s strength.


    The alien surged forward, fist pulled back in a punch. Joseph brought out his soul''s hands out in front of him, blocking the blow. Pain racked his body as he felt the recoil of the exchange echo down the soul''s arms. He gave a swipe which the alien ducked beneath, who delivered another shot which Joseph deflected with his open arm. The alien stepped back, the two considering each other.


    The alien spoke into his comms. A moment later, Joseph heard Becenti speak.


    ¡°He''s saying that he''s identified what might be a metahuman,¡± the older man said, ¡°Careful, now. When you get a chance, retreat back to the control room. We''ll rendezvous and-¡±


    Joseph couldn''t get the last part as the alien made another attack forward. The rest of Becenti''s orders slipped out of his mind as he brought his soul''s arms out to grapple the alien, who used his free arm to knock the arms away, going inside Joseph''s guard and slamming his light-projected fist deep into the eagle''s head.


    Joseph felt the soul collapse, retreating back into his body. Pain followed it, delayed at first, then a full torrent of red-hot agony, as though he had just put his entire body in a furnace. He screamed, aware of Becenti calling out to him. He felt himself topple over, his vision darkening for a moment and his shoulder protesting as it absorbed the brunt of the fall. A small sense of awareness took over, turning him over onto his back, only to see the alien over him, fist raised into the air, ready to bring it down-


    And then the alien cried out as something pierced through his chest. The combat armor crumpled inwards. The air shimmered around the alien''s wound, vaguely shaped like a spear, which radiated an intense heat like a volcano. Joseph turned his head to see Becenti at the door. That strange, red-hot stone was in his hands, the air quaking around him like a desert mirage.


    ¡°I give you the responsibility to single handedly hold down a corridor, and this is what I find?¡± he asked, a hint of sarcasm in his voice, ¡°It''s a bad look for you, Mr. Zheng.¡±


    ¡°What is-¡± he looked at the alien, who began tumbling to the ground. The air-spear disappeared as the alien expired, ¡°What is that?¡±


    ¡°My metahuman ability,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Are you alright?¡±


    ¡°I''m...¡± Joseph felt his body ache, ¡°I''m not good.¡±


    ¡°Well, that''s obvious,¡± Becenti gave a hand out. Joseph took it, pulling himself up, ¡°Come, we''ve almost got the data we need. I believe more of them are coming up soon.¡±


    The two made their way back into the control room. Becenti looked down at the device he¡¯d been using to download the data, frown deepening as it finished the download. Joseph leaned against one of the consoles, catching his breath, sweat beading his brow.


    ¡°You¡­¡± Joseph looked at Becenti, ¡°You control¡­ air?¡±


    Becenti shook his head.


    ¡°Not air. Heat.¡±


    ¡°Heat...?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Becenti''s stone was still activated, and Joseph watched as he gestured towards it. The flickering air engulfed his hand as he lifted it up, ¡°Metahuman abilities very often supersede the laws of physics that we know. My power to control heat means I can make it solid ¨C physical objects that I can use for my own purposes.¡±


    ¡°L-like the door,¡± Joseph coughed, ¡°Back at the airlock. You covered it with heat.¡±


    ¡°Correct. I can also form heat into weapons. Spears, clubs, the like. So long as I have enough, I can make almost anything.¡±


    ¡°Neat,¡± Joseph closed his eyes, ¡°Thanks for the save back there.¡±


    ¡°It was of no matter,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I will probably save your life many times during our time together, and you will no doubt save mine.¡±


    He clicked a few buttons on the device.


    ¡°That¡¯s what it means to be in a guild,¡± he continued, ¡°We look out for each other.¡±


    His device let out a small little ding. Becenti looked at it, then disconnected it from the computer.


    ¡°Well, let''s get out of here, then,¡± he said, ¡°But first, some scorched earth tactics.¡±


    He extended a hand. The heat produced from the orange stone vibrated in his hands, until he forced it forward into the computer, which began to bubble and melt. Sparks flew in the air, smoke wafted out from the machine''s inner workings, before something deep within the computer popped, and it collapsed in on itself.


    ¡°Are you good to walk?¡± Becenti asked.


    ¡°Y-Yeah,¡± Joseph felt shaky as he stood up straight, ¡°I can go another round.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Becenti replied, ¡°Now, let us go.¡±


    ***


    They went down the ramp on Becenti''s side. Joseph noted that Becenti hadn''t been as merciful as him ¨C each shot the man had made had been kill shots. A tentacled alien had its chest burned through, another mercenary¡¯s head had been liquefied. The remains of a scavenged, boxy rifle was tossed in the corner, having been cut in half by an energy blade by a wolf-like alien, whom Becenti had cooked with his heating powers, steam still curling up from its remains.


    Becenti didn''t play.


    They cut across the corners, the mercenaries'' heavy footfalls echoing across the complex, putting Joseph even further on edge. Despite his exhaustion, his heart was hammering, his soul rocketing through his body at a speed he hadn''t thought possible.


    ¡°They''re making a beeline for us,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Get ready, here they come.¡±


    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.


    It was two floors down that things exploded back into combat. The long hallway they were in was suddenly assailed on both sides. Becenti spun, erecting a wall of heat behind them as Joseph''s soul surged to life, great arms blocking plasma bolts as he ran forward. He got into range, and unleashed the eagle, arms arcing out like wrecking balls. The left fist collided with an alien square in the head, cracking him into the wall. The other struck open air as the second gunner dove down, rifle pointed at Joseph¡¯s chest, mere feet away. With a grimace, Joseph dove, soul collapsing absently back into his body as he grabbed the barrel of the rifle and wrestled it up. The gunner roared as he pulled the trigger, the plasma bolt¡¯s drum-like boom shaking Joseph¡¯s teeth as it hammered against the ceiling, molten metal trickling down.


    The gunner slammed his fist into Joseph¡¯s stomach. Then again, then a third time, each time a dull, familiar thud, an old friend that made Joseph, despite the pain, smile. This guy had a good shot, sure, but he was no slugger. He took the last shot, at the last moment pushing the rifle forcefully into the man¡¯s face, hearing a satisfying crack as it smashed through his nose.


    Now for the finishing blow, as Joseph leaped back, soul roaring to life and swinging.


    And perhaps he had miscalculated. Done things too quickly. Maybe the adrenaline had turned him into something else. But the eagle¡¯s hand was uncurled, its talons unfolding outward, five bladed fingers that minced through the gunner¡¯s head in a flash. For a moment, the corpse stood.


    Then it fell to the ground.


    It was done.


    Becenti had finished with the attackers on his side, he glanced over at Joseph, who stood over the dead body, eyes empty and face as gray as a storm.


    ¡°They were human,¡± Joseph whispered.


    Blood had sprayed out for a moment from the mercenary''s neck like an uncorked bottle. Now, it was leaking out and staining the metal floor, as though a bucket of paint had upended onto the ground. Joseph took a few steps back from the sight, his hands shaking.


    ¡°They were human,¡± he repeated.


    ¡°Let''s go, now,¡± Becenti said. Joseph did not respond.


    ¡°Mr. Zheng.¡±


    ¡°I...¡± Joseph looked at the body again. He had done this. He had killed them. He was thankful their face had been sliced completely through, so he couldn''t see it. Yet he could see the cruel cuts he had made, the way his eagle''s talons had cut through the mercenary''s head as though it had been butter.


    ¡°Joseph.¡±


    He whipped up his head at Becenti.


    ¡°It''s over now. More of them are coming,¡± he said.


    ¡°But-¡±


    ¡°If we don''t get out of here, they will kill you.¡±


    The older man turned and walked away. A cruel answer to Joseph''s pleas. Joseph sighed, trying to pull himself back together. The pragmatic part of his brain made him start moving, his walking almost robotic as he stepped over the pools of blood as though they were just puddles of rainwater. His mind was fogged over, lost in a deep hole of guilt and horror.


    Becenti led them back the way they came. A few times they encountered more resistance, but he was faster than Joseph in responding to it. Having scavenged another rifle from the mercenaries, he fired at them, his aim near-perfect as he cut deep holes through their torsos or heads. Every shot he made was a kill shot ¨C never to injure, or to impede.


    Always to end.


    Joseph was disgusted by that.


    ¡°Almost to the airship,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Only one more floor, and we reach the airlock.¡±


    Joseph didn''t answer.


    ***


    They made their way down the station, weaving their way through the long hallways. By now, Becenti reasoned that they had eliminated most of the raiding force from the silver ship.


    ¡°Almost there, Mr. Zheng,¡± he said.


    They were at the door that led into the gardens when they encountered more resistance. There was a man in the room, standing in front of the great pine tree that dominated the center of the garden. He was tall, his arms crossed over his chest. He was notably not wearing any of the futuristic combat armor like the other mercenaries. Instead, he wore combat fatigues, which in the dim light seemed to be murky green and brown like a swamp. A knife was strapped to his boot, and his face looked like it had been mashed and broken multiple times. The way his smirk twisted upwards like a child had scribbled it onto his face shook Joseph out of his stupor ¨C he felt an odd sense of anger when he looked at the man.


    Movement behind them. More mercenaries. Becenti kept himself and Joseph in the hallway, rifle level as five mercenaries took cover behind the door at the end of the hallway, rifles pointed out of the corners of the open doorway.


    ¡°Get into the garden, Mr. Zheng-¡±


    The man in the garden whipped out a strange device out of seemingly nowhere ¨C a grappling hook that rocketed towards Joseph, mechanical hands wrapping over his chest and pulling him into the garden center.


    ¡°Joseph!¡± Becenti turned to go after him, but the door to the garden slammed shut as soon as Joseph went inside. Becenti spun as the mercenaries down the hall began opening fire on him, the darkness of the station lit up once more by the neon greens and reds of plasma.


    ***


    Joseph landed with a thud into the center of the garden. He looked up to see the man toss the grappling hook away, leaning down on one knee to look down at Joseph.


    ¡°What''s up?¡± the man asked.


    Joseph glared at him.


    ¡°Looks like you''ve been cryin'', little man,¡± the man laughed, ¡°What''s your name?¡±


    Joseph scrambled to his feet. The man''s gaze followed him up as Joseph raised his fists up in front of him.


    ¡°Who the hell are you?¡± Joseph snarled.


    ¡°Oh, is that any way to talk to someone?¡± the man sneered, ¡°Kid, were you dropped on your head as a baby, or did your mommy just forget to teach you manners?¡±


    Joseph continued his glaring. He felt his soul begin its circuit, slow and sluggish due to his exhaustion.


    ¡°The name''s Robber Fly,¡± the man said, jabbing a thumb at himself, ¡°And you... you''re...¡± he sniffed the air, ¡°You''re... guildfolk, aren''t you? You smell like Londoa. You smell like a bit more, too.¡±


    Joseph could hear the sounds of combat in the door behind him. Becenti must be pinned down, if he hadn''t been cut down by plasma fire already...


    Robber Fly breathed in deeply, closing his eyes and exhaling as though he were smelling a bouquet of flowers. When he opened his eyes again, they were bloodshot and wild.


    ¡°You''re a metahuman. Like me.¡±


    ¡°Shit,¡± Joseph leaped back. His soul was almost out, he just needed a moment-


    And Robber Fly rose up to his full height. He began to chuckle, a deep and genuine laugh that echoed through the garden.


    And then his head began to bubble and melt away like a lit candle. Joseph, a primal fear running up his spine, dove to the side into one of the bushes, taking cover as Robber Fly''s head began to re-shape itself. It expanded in size, growing to be larger than his own body. Gossamer wings shaped themselves on top, a thick, plump abdomen filled out the bottom. Six legs protruded out from a thorax, and a new head formed in the front ¨C one with red, honeycombed eyes and a sharp proboscis the size of a shortsword The wings of the flyhead began to buzz, a horrid droning sound that shook Joseph''s insides as Robber Fly flew into the air.


    Joseph''s soul flared to life, throwing out wild swipes and punches which Robber Fly avoided with the grace of a dancer as he dove down. Joseph pushed himself out of the bushes as Robber Fly bore down on him, hands reaching out and grabbing Joseph''s shoulders, shoving him into the ground. The eagle arced over him, but Robber Fly was too quick as he jammed his proboscis down. Joseph screamed as it entered his body, just between his head and right shoulder. Before he could react to Robber Fly''s intrusion, the man had already buzzed out of range.


    ¡°That the best you can do?!¡± Robber Fly''s voice echoed out, distorted and strange, ¡°When they told me a metahuman was here, I was expecting a bit more game!¡±


    Joseph gripped his shoulder, standing up and glaring at Robber Fly. The mercenary flew around the room, his human body carried around by the fly''s head like a hanged man.


    ¡°Look,¡± Robber Fly droned, ¡°It''s obvious you''re out of your league here, kid.¡±


    ¡°Shut up,¡± Joseph growled, ¡°Shut up!¡±


    ¡°That''s... the best comeback you got in this situation? First rule o'' combat, kid: always have good zingers.¡±


    He arced down again, spinning in the air before charging towards Joseph like a bull at a matador. Joseph dove to the side, swinging his electrical claws at Robber Fly, who bobbed out of the way, landing on the ground for a millisecond as he slammed his fist into Joseph''s stomach. Joseph wheezed and choked, the air leaving his lungs as Robber Fly took off again.


    ¡°Ain''t that a good ol'' punch in the gut,¡± Robber Fly quipped, ¡°See? It''s that easy! You try it!¡±


    Joseph coughed as he clutched his stomach, unable to speak.


    ¡°Oh, right,¡± Robber Fly chuckled, ¡°Well, kid, I''m going for another pass. You ready?¡±


    He dipped out of the air, roaring down towards him. Joseph''s soul was faster than his body, the eagle''s eyes studying Robber Fly''s movements as the two skirmished again. He acted defensively, blocking Robber Fly''s punches, kicks and jabs from that horrible proboscis. Robber Fly wheeled back into the air again.


    Joseph clutched his arm, noting with horror that it had gone numb and limp. He tried to move it, and panic rose up in his chest when it didn''t respond. Worse, the tingling feeling coming from his shoulder was spreading ¨C down to his legs, through his stomach, even his neck and ears were beginning to tingle. How long did he have until he was paralyzed?


    He glanced around the room, trying to find anything that could help him. Robber Fly was being smart ¨C keeping his distance as he buzzed around the garden. But he was being wasteful - Joseph saw that the grappling gun he had tossed aside was still there, abandoned by the pine tree. That could be useful, right?


    Joseph began running, his soul covering him like a blanket as he fumbled forward, stumbling a bit as he ran. Robber Fly flew down to intercept him, walloping on the soul''s back with a series of sharp kicks. Pain racked Joseph''s body as he arrived at the grappling gun. The souls collapsed in on itself, the eagle form disappearing and retreating back into his body. Joseph grabbed the grappling gun as Robber Fly retreated once more.


    ¡°Man, this is starting to get boring,¡± he cooed, ¡°Seriously, is this the best you got? You''ve got so much potential with that... electric bird thing, and you just sorta run around like a headless chicken?¡±


    Joseph ignored the insults ¨C true as they might have been. Robber Fly was doing his passes around the garden again, like a vulture over a dying animal. Joseph''s legs had gone numb as well. He collapsed onto the ground.


    ¡°Oh, hey,¡± Robber Fly noticed, ¡°Looks like the venom''s taking effect.¡±


    ¡°What... is it?¡± Joseph wheezed. He dragged himself forward towards the pine tree, propping himself up against it, turning himself so he could face Robber Fly. He put the grappling gun behind his back ¨C Robber Fly didn''t seem to notice.


    ¡°My head turns into a robber fly, which has a unique enzyme that paralyzes and digests its prey,¡± Robber Fly said, ¡°Hence, ah, my name.¡±


    ¡°You... couldn''t... think of anything... better?¡±


    ¡°It''s a good name! What''s yours, anyways?¡±


    He was wheeling through the air. Joseph''s soul began going through its circuits, its path marred by the venom running through his veins. Still, it was going. It wouldn''t go fast enough to fully manifest, but maybe it didn''t need to. An idea was forming in his head...


    He just needed to distract Robber Fly long enough to recover his soul''s strength.


    ¡°The name''s Joseph,¡± he said.


    ¡°Joseph? A human name. A bland name. Not metahuman. All good metahumans have their own names.¡±


    ¡°What should I call myself, then?¡±


    Almost there.


    ¡°I think I¡±ll just call you meat.¡±


    Robber Fly dove down, proboscis pointed at Joseph''s chest like a spear. Joseph was ready. He twisted the arm holding the grappling gun. Part of his soul manifested ¨C just the head, the sharp eyes of the eagle taking over his sight as he aimed and fired the grappling hook out of the gun. It slammed into Robber Fly''s head, the mechanical hand closing around his eyes and squeezing down. Robber Fly let out a panicked buzz as he wheeled, trying to pull himself free.


    But Joseph wasn''t done yet. His soul''s circuit was still going. He dropped the grappling gun, letting Robber Fly pull it as he flew around distracted.


    Usually, once Joseph''s soul circuit was completed, he could fully manifest his eagle form. He had begun to learn that he could also simply manifest a bit of it at a time. The eyes were all he needed, for now. The arms and claws of the eagle form were fast ¨C but Robber Fly was faster.


    He needed one last good shot. As his soul ricocheted across his body, he decided to close the circuit ¨C let out an explosion. He aimed it at Robber Fly...


    But Joseph had not accounted for the fact that he was much better at controlling his soul and its circuit. He had intended for there to be an explosion ¨C a great bang that would produce smoke with which he could conceal himself. His eagle eyes aimed at Robber Fly, his hand unconsciously matching the eye''s movements as he closed the circuit.


    Instead of an explosion, however, something else rocketing out of his hands. The world lit up for a brief second, a great boom echoed through the entire space station. A lightning bolt exited out of his body ¨C the excess energy suddenly having nowhere to go but out. It arced forward, guided by his extended hand, which had followed Robber Fly''s movements.


    Robber Fly screamed as the bolt sent him flying back. He crumpled into the opposite wall, smoke curling out of his body as he fell to the ground.


    He did not get up.


    ***


    Becenti ran into the garden, his suit torn and burned from his own encounters. He found Joseph sitting against the pine tree, his eyes filmed over. A hole had been punctured into his suit. Becenti reached into his backpack and pulled out a roll of pitch-black tape, covering the hole so that, when Joseph went into open space, air would not escape out of the suit.


    ¡°Are you alright, Mr. Zheng?¡±


    Joseph''s lips were blue, and he whispered, ¡°No.¡±


    He had been poisoned. Or envenomated. He glanced over to where Joseph was staring, noting the metahuman on the other side of the room, smoke curling out of his prone form. The older man didn''t have time to see if he was alive or dead, however, as he lifted Joseph up and began to run. The comms from the silver ship had gone silent, and he supposed they must have retreated, having lost so much of their number.


    Carrying Joseph over his shoulders, he arrived at the airlock. There wasn''t time to depressurize, so Becenti opened the airlock doors and allowed himself to be sucked into open space. From there, he used his suit''s built-in propulsion gas to guide himself and Joseph over to the Titania Amber. It looked like the silver ship hadn''t detected her, which was a boon. He put Joseph down on a bench, running over to the cockpit and disconnecting the Titania from the station. The silver ship was still there ¨C and took notice as Becenti took off. Bolts of plasma whizzed by the Titania, going awry into open space as Becenti clicked a few more buttons, maneuvering his ship away from the station. The ship lurched for a few moments, moving away as the silver ship fired a few more half-hearted bolts as the Titania Amber entered into warp, and shot out into the night.

 13. Guilt and Guild

    Joseph woke up in a dull agony, his head pounding and his body cold and covered in sweat. He was lying down on one of the beds aboard the Titania Amber. He looked over to see that the wound from Robber Fly''s proboscis had been patched up, wrappings covering his entire chest. Becenti was across from him, reading a book.


    ¡°Awake at last, I see,¡± he said.


    ¡°What...¡± Joseph''s head swam. Memories were beginning to come back to him ¨C of the lightning arcing through the entire garden, striking and immolating Robber Fly. Of the brilliant green plasma bolts lighting up the station.


    Of the man he had killed, his head scraped apart.


    Joseph was silent. Becenti flipped a page in his book.


    ¡°Congratulations, Mr. Zheng,¡± he said, not looking up from his page, ¡°We succeeded in the job.¡±


    ¡°It...¡± Joseph sighed, ¡°It doesn''t feel like we succeeded.¡±


    ¡°You almost died back there,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I had to improvise on the anti-venom. It''s not every day that one faces off against a robber fly the size of a wolf.¡±


    ¡°Did I-¡± Joseph''s breath caught, ¡°Did I kill him?


    ¡°I''m not sure,¡± Becenti said, ¡°But metahumans are tough. I wouldn''t put it past him if he got up and walked it off.¡±


    ¡°I hope to God that he''s alive.¡±


    That statement got Becenti''s attention. He looked up from his book.


    ¡°It was kill or be killed, Mr. Zheng,¡± he said.


    ¡°You say that,¡± Joseph grumbled, ¡°But it still felt wrong. I-I killed someone. Me.¡±


    ¡°And you will likely kill many more,¡± Becenti said bluntly.


    Joseph shot a glare at him, ¡°I don''t kill.¡±


    ¡°That is a lie.¡±


    Joseph rose up. He wanted to grab Becenti, throw him against a wall, make him feel even a modicum of what he was feeling. But weakness overtook his body, and he simmered back down onto the bench, pulling a face as his headache flared up. The full weight of Becenti''s words hit him like a truck, mixed in with memories of his conversation with Wakeling''s offer when he had first joined the guild.


    ¡°What, do you think you''ll be in an office, doing paperwork? You''ll be in the field, facing danger almost every day.¡±


    He understood now what Wakeling had been saying. To train with the Amber Foundation, to work with them, meant going into situations every single time he stepped out to join them on their missions.


    If he wanted to get back home, he''d be forced to go out again and-


    And-.


    ¡°Does it¡­¡± Joseph stared at the ceiling, ¡°Does it get any easier?¡±


    ¡°That''s the worst part about it, Mr. Zheng,¡± Becenti said, ¡°It does.¡±


    He wanted to talk about something else now. Anything. He didn''t want to think about the man he had murdered, the way his blood was pooling on the floor. He wondered if the man had any family. Did they know where he was? Where he was going? Or would they assume he was just missing, or out on a great adventure, never knowing their son or father, brother or uncle, was lying face-down in a pool of his own blood, on some space station on the edge of civilization?


    Joseph didn''t want to answer that question.


    ¡°That man,¡± Joseph murmured, ¡°The... metahuman. He called himself Robber Fly.¡±


    ¡°Yes. Most likely not his original name.¡±


    ¡°Why Robber Fly, though?¡±


    Becenti sighed, closing his book. He seemed to recognize Joseph''s words as a plea to change the subject, to go back to who he was before the space station.


    ¡°Many metahumans have a feeling to change their names after they awaken,¡± he explained, ¡°It''s... a feeling that they get, a final cutting away of their old life and who they were before they obtained their abilities.¡±


    ¡°So, he had a normal name before all of this.¡±


    ¡°Not ''normal,''¡± Becenti corrected, ¡°Different. Robber Fly most likely comes from a plane like Earth or Prime, judging by what he was wearing. He may very well have chosen his new name when he left that plane for the Silver Eye.¡±


    ¡°What''s your metahuman name?¡±


    Becenti just gave a tight smile at that, ¡°A story for another time perhaps.¡±


    ¡°Should I...¡± Joseph thought for a moment, ¡°Should I get a new name?¡±


    ¡°That is entirely up to you,¡± Becenti said, ¡°But I would not think of one right now. You need rest. It''s been a long day.¡±


    ¡°Fine,¡± Joseph said. Becenti got up and went to the backpacks, pulling out a small bottle of pills. He uncapped it and poured one out, handing it to Joseph.


    ¡°For dreamless sleep.¡±


    ¡°Seems pretty odd for you to just have that on you,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°The act of killing gets easier,¡± Becenti said, ¡°The dreams don''t.¡±


    Joseph looked at Becenti, trying to gauge the old man''s intentions. Far from being blunt, Becenti was being kind. Once upon a time, he supposed, Becenti had been much like him. Not a killer, but a normal person. He felt guilty about being angry at him, at how Becenti managed his own demons. He swallowed the pill with a small glass of water. Then he closed his eyes, and went to sleep.


    ***


    He would be alright, Becenti reasoned.


    More than reasoned, he realized. The boy had to be alright. He couldn''t go down the path that Becenti had so long ago. The old man sighed, rubbing his temples to ease an oncoming headache. He was used to those venomous glares that Joseph had shot at him back on the station. Such looks had followed him for most of his life. Even other guild members had judged him for the manner in which he accepted the less scrupulous parts of the job.


    Because it was just a job.


    It had nothing to do with his own moralities.


    It was just a job.


    He went over to the cockpit. The old communication device that he had plundered from the Maltor was still turned on. It was time to find out who those mercenaries were. He inserted the device into the identification suite aboard the Titania Amber. He turned the program on, letting it isolate specific signals within the frequency, trying to find its source. Becenti clicked a few more buttons, and then stared at the viewscreen, waiting for answers.


    The results began reading out. He exhibited no outward reaction as he stared at the screen, at the letters and symbols that scrawled across the monitor, showing the frequency the comms had been set.


    No outward reaction, that is, save for the slight tremble in his hands as he realized what the frequency meant. Perhaps it was just a coincidence ¨C of course, anyone could have used that signal. Yet it was a frequency difficult to replicate ¨C and therefore hack into and listen in on.


    No, it had to be a mere coincidence. There was no other way.


    Yet as the old man stared at the screen, absorbing the information, his heart fell as the realization hit him. It couldn''t be a ''mere coincidence.'' The one problem with experience, Becenti realized, was that there were no coincidences.


    He knew he was not ready. He wanted this to just be a job.


    Just a job.


    He would talk with Wakeling when they returned. He would check the prisons. Check the worlds that had been forcibly erased from all Federation records. Check to see if any of the Sons of Darwin had resurfaced.


    But then, he knew, it would no longer be a job, but a calling he had relinquished long ago.


    Inwardly, Myron Becenti wept.


    ***


    They arrived back to Everlasting Truth a few days later. The Titania Amber set down in her loading bay, and after a hello and goodbye to Rax, they made their way back to the Traveling Point. Joseph had spent the days recuperating and, with the advanced medical technologies of the Federation, the wound had closed up without even a scar. There was still a hole in his jacket and shirt, however, to remind him of Robber Fly''s vicious attack. He shuddered at the thought, that the metahuman had punched through the enchantment so easily.


    The Dreamer''s Lament was still moored by the Traveling Point when they stepped through the strange mirage, the air becoming hot and stale, the wind whipping around them. Becenti walked forward up the entrance.


    ¡°Looks like no one''s been in here,¡± he commented.


    ¡°You just left the ship here?¡± Joseph asked, ¡°Talk about trusting.¡±


    ¡°Not many come around these parts,¡± Becenti said, ¡°This Traveling Point is relatively unknown compared to more popular ones in Salthirn or Koriad.¡±


    They took off, heading back towards Castle Belenus. It was a silent affair, the two of them watching the clouds churn below. It seemed as though a storm was coming to Scuttleway, as the world they found beneath the clouds was overcast and gray. Already showers were falling in the distance.


    ¡°Well,¡± Becenti said as the airship landed, ¡°Best you get yourself washed up, Mr. Zheng. It''s almost time for lunch.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Joseph muttered. He got off the airship without comment, waving a lazy goodbye to Becenti.


    He went inside the Great Hall. Nole and G-Wiz were there. G-Wiz gave a cruel smile to him as Nole stepped forward.


    ¡°If it ain''t my favorite guildmate,¡± the troll snarled, ¡°How are ye doin'', Noodle?¡±


    ¡°Shut up, Nole.¡±


    ¡°Methinks I won''t,¡± Nole walked beside Joseph, clasping a meaty hand over his shoulder, ¡°How was the big job, Noods? Did you manage to get the big job done? Were ye brave and true to yerself?¡±


    ¡°What the hell is that supposed to mean?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Wow, dense as a door,¡± G-Wiz giggled, her high-pitched laugh running through the hall.


    ¡°It means, were ye brave? Did ye face the bad guy, Noodle?¡± Nole let out a hearty chuckle, ¡°Did ye get all of ''em, then? Kill ''em all? Slice them into little bits-¡±


    Joseph snarled, his soul manifesting upwards and outwards. In a swift motion, it picked up Nole and hurled him across the room. The troll slammed into the wall, groaning as Joseph strode forward, looming over him.


    ¡°Shut up!¡± he roared, ¡°Just shut up! For once in your fucking life, shut-¡±


    ¡°Joseph.¡±


    He looked up to see Becenti walking in. He shook his head.


    ¡°Leave it. Go get some rest.¡±


    ¡°I''m feeling pretty rested, thanks.¡±


    ¡°Then just get out of here,¡± Becenti said, ¡°We are Amber Foundation. We don''t hurt our comrades.¡±


    Joseph glowered down at Nole. Far from looking hurt, or surprised, the troll was smiling. He was goading him, trying to make him hurt him more...


    He also remembered Becenti''s words, from what seemed to be long ago, when he had first met Nole:


    ¡°Pull a stunt like that again, and I''m afraid there will be consequences.¡±


    No consequences, but another warning. One Joseph knew Becenti would pursue, if he decided to rip Nole''s head off. He glared down at the troll, and turned away, the eagle dissolving back into his body. The anger flushed out of him, he simply walked up the stairs, the laughter of Nole and G-Wiz vague and distorted as he went into his dorm. Phineas was there, his head poking out beneath the bed.


    ¡°Oh, you have returned,¡± he rasped, ¡°How did it go?¡±


    ¡°Don''t want to talk,¡± Joseph fell onto his bed, ¡°Just... Don''t want to talk.¡±


    ¡°That is understandable. Talking is horrible,¡± the Deep One pulled his head back under the bed.


    Droplets of water began splattering onto the window. Soon, the storm was at full strength, blanketing the city in a sheet of rain.


    ***


    Becenti walked into Wakeling''s study as the first droplets, like tears, began dripping onto the windows around Castle Belenus. Wakeling was looking out one of the windows, towards the city beyond, her brow furrowed in thought.


    ¡°I retrieved the records,¡± he said.


    ¡°Oh! Good,¡± Wakeling turned her head over to face her old friend, ¡°Lady Sunala will be most pleased. I''ll get the records to her as soon as I am able.¡±


    Becenti presented the datapad, which disappeared in a flash of light. Wakeling smiled at him, ¡°How was it out on the job, Myron?¡±


    ¡°It was...¡± Becenti struggled to find his words. A rarity.


    ¡°Ohoho, that intense, eh?¡± Wakeling chuckled, ¡°How did that Joseph do ¨C Zheng''s grandson?¡±


    ¡°He is learning,¡± Becenti replied, ¡°He killed his first being.¡±


    ¡°...Did he take it well?¡± Wakeling asked, her voice careful.


    ¡°As well as can be expected,¡± Becenti shook his head at a platter of cookies floating before him, ¡°He will recover.¡±


    ¡°But that''s not why you''re concerned,¡± the guildmaster said.


    Becenti was quiet. Wakeling raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°Myron?¡±


    ¡°We were attacked while aboard the station by a band of mercenaries in a silver ship,¡± Becenti said, ¡°We fought them off, but two things were off. The first is that we encountered a metahuman who I theorize was not native to the Silver Eye Galaxy.¡±


    ¡°Strange,¡± Wakeling agreed, ¡°But not unheard of.¡±


    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    ¡°The second is that their comms were set to the frequency of Darwin''s Voice.¡±


    He laid the communication device on the table. Wakeling looked down at it, her eyes scanning it, glowing silver for a moment.


    ¡°Ah, I see now,¡± she murmured, ¡°A coincidence, perhaps?¡±


    ¡°I think not,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Do you have proof?¡±


    ¡°Just my gut.¡±


    Wakeling sighed, rolling herself back to a resting position, ¡°You know the Federation won''t accept that answer.¡±


    ¡°Of course not,¡± Becenti said. He sat down at the desk, ¡°But it''s true. I feel it. No one ever uses Darwin''s Voice anymore.¡±


    ¡°You theorize. And you sense,¡± Wakeling countered, ¡°But you don''t know.¡±


    ¡°Which is why I wish to do some independent investigation,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Do some research. Follow up on contacts. If the Sons are making a comeback-¡±


    ¡°I know, Myron,¡± Wakeling''s voice was sharp, ¡°But you may be rustling a hornet''s nest here. You know how the Federation treats these... theories.¡±


    Becenti was quiet. The only sound in the study was the rain striking against the windows, a chorus of a thousand steel drums that, all things considered, were making Becenti''s headache worse.


    ¡°If the Sons of Darwin have begun making movements once more, we''ll know of it,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°If it comes to a point where we should discuss it with the Federation, we will.¡±


    Becenti could not argue with her. Wakeling was right ¨C it was early in the game, far too early for the Federation to make any moves. He would not sit and wait, however.


    He could not.


    ¡°Let me do my investigations,¡± he said, ¡°I''ll make it look like a check-up. Nothing more. We can even make it look like official guild business. I''ll take Broon, or Ichabod, or even Joseph with me.¡±


    ¡°And where will you go, Shimmer?¡± Wakeling challenged.


    ¡°The prisons,¡± Becenti said, ignoring the jab at his once-new name, ¡°All of them.¡±


    ***


    Joseph opened his eyes. He wasn''t aware that he had fallen asleep ¨C thankfully, it seemed Becenti''s pills were still in his system, as he hadn''t had any dreams. The rain had stopped outside, though it was still overcast and gray. Joseph checked the clock by his bed. It was five in the morning. He pulled himself up, throwing off his covers and standing, blearily looking around as he put on his AC/DC shirt and jacket. Then he looked down and saw the holes from Robber Fly''s proboscis.


    The events of the last few days came back to him like a bad high. The images he had seen ¨C of the man in the station he had torn open with his eagle''s claws, the twitching and smoking form of Robber Fly ¨C oozed back into his memory like poison. He steadied himself on the desk, his breathing suddenly very heavy. Wave upon wave of guilt crashed over him, threatening to pull him down.


    Then, little by little, he somehow managed to push it down. Not by much, but just enough that he could feel put his shoes on and walk outside the dorm. The guild''s hustle and bustle had already begun. Rosemary waved to him from downstairs as she and Mallory walked out the door into the city. A few others he had gotten to know said ¡°hello¡± as he stuttered by them. He tried his hardest to put on a brave face ¨C he even said ¡°hi¡± back a couple of times. However, his heart was hammering as he went by. He felt like a fraud ¨C he was no longer the person they knew. He had changed.


    ¡°Joseph.¡±


    Mekke''s voice cut through his inner thoughts. She was already in full armor, arms crossed over her chest.


    ¡°Hey, Mekke,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Good morning.¡±


    ¡°Walk with me.¡±


    Not a question, or an offer. An order. And Joseph knew better than to disobey her. Mekke led him out to the garden.


    ¡°Look, I don''t feel like training today, alright?¡± Joseph began. Mekke shook her head.


    ¡°Here,¡± she went over to the fountain. By it were two drinks. She handed one to Joseph.


    ¡°Did you really set these up, then come find me?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Just drink.¡±


    Joseph looked down at the cup. A maple-colored liquid was inside. It burned his throat as it went down.


    ¡°It is an alcoholic drink from my homeland,¡± Mekke said, ¡°For those who have gone on a dangerous mission and survived.¡±


    ¡°Thanks,¡± Joseph said, ¡°But I don''t feel like I really did much.¡±


    ¡°Becenti says otherwise. You performed admirably out there.¡±


    ¡°If it''s all the same to you, I feel like I was shit.¡±


    ¡°You killed a man.¡±


    Joseph glared at the fountain. Mekke''s accusation ¨C no, more of a statement ¨C hung in the air between them. Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw Chadwick leaping across the bushes. The cat stopped, staring down at him as if waiting for an answer.


    ¡°I... I did.¡±


    ¡°Do you want to talk about it?¡±


    Joseph glanced over at her. Mekke usually wasn''t like this.


    ¡°I didn''t ask for therapy,¡± he said.


    She shrugged, ¡°Whether you want it or not is up to you. I remember when I first killed someone. I think everyone in the guild does. People like Rosemary ¨C she probably remembers the face of every person she''s killed.¡±


    That fact hit Joseph like a train. The fact that even Rosemary, someone like her, was a killer sunk deep into his stomach. His old self might have judged them ¨C might have accused them of being hypocrites. But he was the same as them, now. The guild had brought him to their level. Joseph took another sip of the drink.


    ¡°What was¡­¡± he thought for a moment, ¡°What was¡­¡±


    ¡°My first time?¡± Mekke asked.


    He nodded.


    Mekke ruminated on that, looking out, her gaze a thousand miles away, ¡°I was a soldier from Beritale Landmass. The woman I killed was a rebel in a small village on the edge of the frontier of the Morenhai Empire. She swung at me with an improvised scythe.¡±


    ¡°And then what happened?¡±


    ¡°I swung back. I was wearing armor. She was not.¡±


    She was silent for a moment, looking out towards the city beyond Castle Belenus. Then she snapped her gaze back to the present, ¡°I remember feeling much like you do. Disgusted with myself. Disgusted that I had been tricked. That being a soldier wasn''t a glorious calling. I was helping an empire maintain its control over innocent people.¡±


    ¡°You were the villain.¡±


    ¡°I was. I was a monster. My commanding officer justified it, saying that the woman would have killed me. That I wasn''t responsible for her death, that I was just another hand of Morenhai. But her words did not reach me. They never did.¡±


    She glared at the middle distance.


    ¡°They never will.¡±


    ¡°So why do you keep doing this, then?¡± Joseph said, ¡°I feel like I want to just quit. If I have to kill to get home, then I just won''t go home.¡±


    ¡°That choice is yours to make,¡± Mekke replied, ¡°But I left the Morenhai Empire because of that act. I decided, if I was a killer, I would kill for a more righteous cause.¡±


    ¡°For the guild?¡±


    ¡°For a guild that protects, and guides, and helps,¡± Mekke said, ¡°We get to choose what we fight for here. You fought to keep that Dragon egg, didn''t you?¡±


    ¡°Well, yeah.¡±


    ¡°Why did you fight on the space station?¡± she prodded.


    ¡°I''m-¡± he was surprised by the question. It took him a second to figure out what she was talking about. Joseph sat down on the fountain''s edge. A bird had built a nest in one of the bushes, a nest Chadwick was now looking down on, his patchwork tail weaving back and forth.


    ¡°I fought at the space station because Becenti told me to.¡±


    ¡°You weren''t just following orders,¡± Mekke said, ¡°There''s more to it than that.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I wanted to not die.¡±


    ¡°A fine reason. A fine justification.¡±


    ¡°You say that,¡± Joseph said bitterly, ¡°But it doesn''t feel good. It sounds selfish. I didn''t-¡±


    ¡°Why else did you fight?¡±


    Joseph glared at her.


    ¡°I fought¡­¡± he mulled over, ¡°I fought because Becenti was fighting. This is going to sound really smarmy, but I like him. He''s helped me figure out my powers. He¡¯s¡­ I didn''t want him to go at it alone. He was...¡±


    He looked up at Mekke, his eyes watering a bit.


    ¡°He was relying on me.¡±


    ¡°And you were relying on him,¡± Mekke said, ¡°That''s why you fought. So that he wouldn''t die. Becenti wasn''t just fighting to get the job done. He was fighting so that you wouldn''t get killed, either.¡±


    ¡°He didn''t say anything like that,¡± Joseph muttered, ¡°You should have seen him, he''s-¡±


    ¡°Ruthless. Cold. Like ice covering stone,¡± Mekke nodded, ¡°I''ve seen him. He becomes... something else. Something not altogether kind. But that''s just how he is, it''s how he copes.¡±


    ¡°So, I should fight ¨C and kill ¨C because people need me to fight and kill,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Real nice, to be honest.¡±


    ¡°You fight to protect those around you,¡± Mekke said, ¡°That''s it. That''s the justification. That''s the therapy. You may do whatever you wish with this information.¡±


    ¡°Thanks, Mekke,¡± Joseph said. He felt only a smidge better - her words weren¡¯t exactly reaching him. But the fact that she was trying made him feel better. Enough to eat breakfast, at least.


    ¡°I will speak with Wakeling,¡± Mekke said.


    ¡°No, I''ll talk to her myself,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Talk to her about... about the future.¡±


    Mekke nodded, finishing her drink and walking off. Not even a goodbye, though that was her style. Joseph stretched, and went inside.


    ***


    ¡°Well, Mr. Zheng,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°You''ve had quite the eventful week, haven''t you?¡±


    Joseph was quiet, nursing his glass of wine in both hands, his head bowed down in thought. Wakeling was taking a sip from her own cup, waiting for an answer.


    What could he tell her? That it had gone alright? That everything was fine?


    ¡°I''m quitting the guild,¡± he said.


    The guildmaster choked for a moment (which was an odd sight), setting the glass of wine down and barking out a wheezy cough. She shook herself out of her shock before settling down.


    ¡°Well,¡± she said, ¡°I certainly didn''t expect that.¡±


    Joseph let out a sigh, leaning back on his seat. Wakeling gave him a sympathetic look.


    ¡°That station really did a number, didn''t it?¡± she said.


    ¡°...Yeah,¡± he said. His hands shook as he took a drink of his wine. He felt a breakdown coming, pieces of him threatening to fall away, and he didn''t want to reveal whatever was underneath. Visibly sniffing, Joseph squeezed his eyes shut.


    Pull yourself together.


    His vision was blurry as he opened his eyes again. Wakeling was still there, pretending not to notice his reaction.


    ¡°I can''t-¡± he took a deep breath, settling himself down, forcing whatever was overtaking him down. His soul, burning in his heart, collapsed into his stomach. Wakeling was still looking at him, expecting an answer. Joseph forced out a laugh.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± he said, ¡°That was... a bit.. a bit much.¡±


    ¡°And your response is that you''ll be quitting the guild?¡± Wakeling asked.


    Joseph nodded.


    ¡°I almost died, Wakeling.¡±


    ¡°You almost died before, with the Dragon at Lake Oval.¡±


    ¡°That was...¡± Joseph thought for a moment, ¡°That was different.¡±


    ¡°How?¡±


    He didn''t want to say it out loud. But Wakeling gave a sigh.


    ¡°Myron told me what happened,¡± she said, ¡°What you were forced to do.¡±


    ¡°You must think I''m pretty pathetic, huh?¡±


    ¡°Quite on the contrary, Mr. Zheng,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°It means you still have a heart.¡±


    He was surprised ¨C touched, even ¨C by her answer. But he still shook his head.


    ¡°If this is guild life, then it''s too much.¡±


    ¡°An understandable reason,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°To be in a guild is to live dangerously. To be forced to do things you wouldn''t normally do. It''s not all adventure and hi-jinks. Many guilds are purely mercenary in their work.¡±


    ¡°Glad I''m not with them,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°I am too,¡± Wakeling agreed, ¡°Tell me, Joseph, where will you go?¡±


    ¡°I...¡± Joseph hadn''t quite thought of that, ¡°I''ll find something.¡±


    Wakeling gave him a pity-filled look.


    ¡°Mr. Zheng,¡± she said, ¡°Normally I would agree that such an attitude is a good one. But leaving a guild, especially with no other prospects ahead of you, is not such a good idea.¡±


    Joseph thought.


    ¡°I''ll go to Prime,¡± he said, ¡°Get a job there. It''s like Earth, right? There''s gotta be apartments. Stupid jobs, like at a grocery store. Maybe I can go to school again, until I find a way to get back home.¡±


    Wakeling nodded sagely.


    ¡°Tell me, Joseph, what''s your social security number?¡±


    Joseph blinked.


    ¡°Do you have your birth certificate?¡± she asked.


    ¡°No, but I-¡±


    ¡°Green card, then?¡±


    ¡°Alright, I see your point,¡± Joseph said, ¡°If it''s like Earth, it''s got all of Earth''s bullshit, too.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°You''d be an alien there ¨C and Prime doesn''t always appreciate outlanders, even if they look like the locals.¡±


    ¡°Don''t have to tell me twice,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I mean, what other planes are there?¡±


    Wakeling pursed her lips.


    ¡°Not many, Mr. Zheng,¡± she said, ¡°To be frank, Joseph, you''ve arrived in the multiverse at a difficult time. There''s a recession out there, and not too many people would want a drifter from an isolated plane.¡±


    ¡°I don''t bring too much to the table, you mean,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Save for your metahuman abilities,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Which are powerful, if I might say. Most likely, if you left us, you would wander the multiverse, scrounging at the scraps and living on the edge of society.¡±


    ¡°I''d make do,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°How?¡± Wakeling asked, ¡°Save for perhaps finding work as a temporary farmhand, or something akin to that, you''ll only have a few career options.¡±


    Joseph''s heart sank, though with that sinking came a bitter anger that circuited through his body.


    ¡°The multiverse''s most common job, particularly for outlanders, is mercenary work,¡± Wakeling said.


    ¡°I''d be right back where I started.¡±


    ¡°Exactly.¡±


    ¡°I''m still,¡± Joseph glared up at the guildmaster, ¡°I still have to try. I''m sorry. I can''t- I can''t be like Becenti. I can''t let it become easier.¡±


    Wakeling gave him a sad look. The two were quiet for a long time.


    ¡°Alright,¡± she said, ¡°Well, at least... think on it. I don''t want you to make any hasty decisions.¡±


    Joseph nodded.


    ¡°We have all the resources you need to get you home, Joseph,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°I don''t want them to go to waste. I don''t want you to leave us, if I''m being honest.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Joseph asked.


    But Wakeling was quiet.


    ¡°It''s for my grandma, isn''t it?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°...Aye, Mr. Zheng,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°I''ll... I''ll tell you what. I have a job lined up ¨C a simple one! The Amber Foundation has been hired to escort a being known as the Kimao to a ritual on Nesona.¡±


    Joseph''s eyes narrowed, ¡°What''s the catch?¡±


    ¡°Five of us are set to go,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°I''d like you to fill the fifth slot.¡±


    ¡°Who else is going?¡±


    ¡°Nole, Shetavalk, Archenround, and G-Wiz.¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°In exchange,¡± Wakeling continued, ¡°You get full pay. Six month''s worth of credits, if you do decide to leave us after the job. Should be enough for you to... figure things out. I might be able to even pull in a few favors, get you sponsored in the Silver Eye ¨C as long as you don''t reveal your metahumanity, of course...¡±


    Joseph rolled his eyes. But the offer was a good one. He wasn''t so keen on the ''sponsorship'' part ¨C it sounded to him like indentured servitude of some sort. But the six months of pay...


    ¡°And all I have to do is go on a job.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°You''ve seen guildwork at its lowest, fighting as a mercenary on the edge of the unknown. Now, you should get to see the highest, making the world a better place.¡±


    ¡°Smarmy words,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°True words,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°The Kimao is a powerful figure on Nesona. Only one is chosen every generation. Nesona in its natural state is a wasteland, but the Kimao carries the seed of life within them, and through that power creates ecosystems. Landscapes. Places to live and prosper. Without them, the entire plane would be dead.¡±


    Joseph was quiet at that.


    ¡°Now, the role of Kimao is one of the most important in all of the plane. Without them, nothing lives. As such, there''s very little political turmoil involved in their journey. The dogs only begin snarling at each other after all is said and done. The escort is a ceremonial position, and one traditionally fulfilled by outlanders like ourselves.¡±


    ¡°Ceremonial,¡± Joseph said, ¡°So... no combat.¡±


    ¡°Nothing like that,¡± Wakeling said.


    He mulled it over in his head.


    ¡°...Fine,¡± he said, ¡°I''ll think of what I''ll do after it''s done.¡±


    ¡°Excellent,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°I''d shake on it, but...¡±


    ¡°Yeah, yeah,¡± Joseph said, ¡°When do we leave?¡±


    ¡°In a week,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°I''d suggest you get prepared.¡±


    ***


    Distant and away, the Grim Walker heard the sound.


    The sound of stepping on stone. Footsteps. In dress shoes. A man from the multiverse. His breathing quick, his hands cold and shaking. He was approaching the guildhall''s entrance, that rounded thing, a vault door, to keep out the radiation and to keep in the life. A bygone gate, from a bygone age.


    He was surprised that someone would come here. Especially one in dress shoes. Usually his clients were more secretive. They loved the shadows and their games, and sent messages to him accordingly. A thousand reasons whirred in his mind as the Grim Walker strode forward. Unlatched the gate. Opened inwards with its whining snarl. A pencil-like man stood on the other side. His forehead was caked in sweat ¨C from fear, from the world outside and its dangers.


    ¡°Come in,¡± the Grim Walker said.


    ¡°O-of course,¡± the pencilman stepped in, shivering a bit. The Grim Walker liked his home cool, cave-like.


    ¡°What brings you to my home, Man of Neos?¡± the Grim Walker asked.


    ¡°Oh!¡± the pencilman stammered, ¡°You know where I''m from.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± the Grim Walker said, ¡°Your scent is of rain and bureaucracy. Now, what brings you to my home?¡±


    ¡°Right to business,¡± the pencilman let out a high chuckle that whined at the Grim Walker''s ears. The Grim Walker considered this annoyance for a moment, before letting it leave his system. He led the pencilman deeper into the guildhall, past the circular entrance and into the great caverns of his home. This was designed to make the pencilman feel more comfortable, at ease.


    But it did not work. The poor man seemed to shrink as he glanced around the place, eyes widening at the sight of the Grim Walker''s trophies of war.


    ¡°Oh! I had no idea...¡± he said.


    ¡°You do not need to be afraid of me,¡± the Grim Walker said, ¡°You are not my target.¡±


    ¡°Of course not.¡±


    ¡°But you are here to give me one,¡± the Grim Walker said.


    ¡°I-I am,¡± the pencilman stepped forward. He produced a tablet, handing it to the Grim Walker. The Grim Walker read it over once. Then twice. A third time, to be sure.


    ¡°We don''t know who it is yet, of course,¡± the pencilman said, ¡°But my employer ¨C he needs them gone. Dead. As a doornail.¡±


    ¡°Not alive?¡± the Grim Walker asked.


    ¡°I just-¡± the pencilman said, ¡°No. Dead.¡±


    ¡°Odd, for your corporation to request this from me,¡± the Grim Walker said, ¡°Usually, when Agrippa has hired me, it is to bring them to Neos alive.¡±


    ¡°Dead this time.¡±


    The Grim Walker was quiet at this. He mulled over the news, letting it settle into his head. Then he stood up to his full height.


    ¡°I ask for double the pay,¡± he said, ¡°I do not like killing.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± the pencilman said, ¡°Double it is.¡±


    ¡°I will escort you off of this plane. Then I will begin.¡±


    ¡°No need,¡± the pencilman said, ¡°I can make it home myself.¡±


    The Grim Walker considered those words. Roil was a dangerous plane. A broken one. Near dead and dying.


    Yet the man had come alone and had been fine...


    ¡°Very well,¡± the Grim Walker said, ¡°I will leave at once, then.¡±


    And he did.

 14. The Prince

    The water washed down Luevo''s back. A wellspring of life, it was fermented with herbs and sweet-smelling spices that soaked into his dark skin and buried into his locked hair. Yet the prince thought nothing of it as he stepped out of the deep basin and onto the cool marbled floor. A towel had been set on his stand, as had his night clothes ¨C soft, lilac robes, along with the silver tiara that would adorn his forehead when he went to his chambers. The prince¡¯s movements were mechanical as he dried himself off and donned his robes. They were little comfort for the torment boiling in his head.


    He remembered the ceremony like it was yesterday.


    Because it had been yesterday, actually.


    But that was beside the point.


    The whole of the Ionica had been there ¨C or as close as one could get to as many without completely shutting the country down. Peasants and witches, soldiers and guards, nobles and their servants, all of them were massed in one great crowd in the courtyard of the royal palace, spilling out into the streets, extending to the very gates of the capital. Luevo''s father, the king, was there too. Stately. Wise. His golden blade strapped to his side, the Gemini Crown adorning his head, he was beaming at the crowd as the populace watched the air shimmer and roil above them, coalescing and twisting into a singular form.


    The Lady of the Wind, in robes that, to Luevo''s delight, hid little and revealed much. Her sightless eyes fell on the crowd as she levitated over them. The crowd held still, the atmosphere pregnant as she began considering each and everyone of them, gauging their worthiness.


    Worthiness to be Kimao, Carrier of Life. One who was full of soul and passion. Who would carry the burdens of the entirety of Nesona on their shoulders to create new lands for the plane.


    To be honest, Luevo hadn''t been worried. He was just shallow enough to be none of those things.


    So imagine his surprise when the Lady of the Wind pointed at him.


    ¡°You,¡± her voice was distant and the clouds above seemed to curl at her words.


    ¡°Me?¡± Luevo let out a laugh, ¡°Me?! A funny joke, my Lady! A jest! Go on, choose the real Kimao! Go ahead!¡±


    Yet she was already disappearing, bits and pieces of her blowing away like the leaves on an autumn willow. Luevo kept laughing, though his chuckles became more desperate and forced, then disappeared altogether, as he saw the crowd turn to him. A ripple of faces. Thousands of eyes. Even his Father had a look of shock on his face. Luevo''s heart fell.


    So, suffice to say, yesterday had pretty much been the worst day of his life. Luevo noted his hands had been clenched, his trimmed nails digging bluntly into his palms, creasing deep lines that had begun to bleed. He strode out of the bathing room and into the great halls of the palace. Servants bowed their heads in deference as he walked past them, the royal guards stood straighter and saluted, even the guildmembers that his Father had been using as hired muscle were reverent, giving him deep bows ¨C though he was not sure if that was out of mockery or pity.


    For the prince saw pity in everyone''s eyes as he went past them. How he hated that. They could at least have tried to hide it. Luevo¡¯s clenched fists tightened even more, a whining sort of pain aching through his hands. He made his way to the throne room, a grand, open air place at the very top of the palace. Spiraling, marbled pillars stood tall, holding aloft a pointed, pyramidal roof. Between them, like the bars of a cage, one could behold the entire city below, an urban expanse of stone and light that sprawled out near the horizon, before it was overtaken by the honeycombed farms, then swallowed by the land Luevo''s ancestor had made a thousand years before. The capital was ringed in by a valley of warmth, though beyond the spiked mountains was a whirlwind of snow and ice.


    Luevo leaned against one of the pillars, pointedly ignoring the golden throne behind him, staring out towards the horizon.


    ¡°My son.¡±


    The King''s voice was deep and warm. And so very annoyingly so. Luevo could hear his Father''s footsteps, heavy and strong, and he felt a large, four-fingered hand perch on his shoulder.


    ¡°Father,¡± he said.


    The two of them stood in silence. Spioa began whistling around them, just barely visible in the night air, drifting and poking at the pair. One of them began tugging at the King''s short beard before she realized who it was, giving a bow and cascading back into the wind.


    ¡°You haven''t said a word since you became Kimao,¡± his Father said.


    ¡°Because I am not Kimao. Not yet.¡±


    ¡°Once the Lady has chosen you, you are Kimao, whether you feel so or not,¡± the King removed his hand from Luevo''s shoulder, standing beside him. Luevo stood taller than his father now, a fact that normally amused him. Now, though, it was just a bitter reminder of what he had to live up to. King Soluum was barrel-chested and barrel-bellied, though he carried himself with all of the grace and awe that a monarch demanded. He was still wearing his navy blue royal cloak and robes of his station, still had the glittering, star-studded Gemini Crown atop his head. To the outside, he was every bit a king as could be told in stories.


    To Luevo, however, he was an old man who was now scratching his nose.


    ¡°Well?¡± Father asked, ¡°What do you think? How do you feel?¡±


    ¡°Ha! How do I feel?¡± Luevo chuckled darkly, ¡°Now he asks me.¡±


    Soluum was quiet for a moment, unsure of how to prod Luevo further.


    ¡°My son-¡±


    ¡°Please, don''t patronize me-¡±


    ¡°I know that you are upset.¡±


    ¡°Upset?¡± Luevo shook his head, ¡°No, I am not upset, Father. Angry? Yes. Annoyed? But of course.¡±


    He turned to his father, glaring down at him.


    ¡°I know what you''re trying to do, old man.¡±


    The King, used to such slights, rolled his eyes. He turned away and began walking towards the center of the throne room. Luevo heard him mutter, ¡°Here we go.¡±


    ¡°You roped the Lady of the Wind into this, didn''t you!¡± Luevo strode forward, ¡°You knew I would be chosen, didn''t you?!¡±


    ¡°You know that I did not,¡± Soluum said, ¡°You know as well as I that the Lady of the Wind keeps her own counsel-¡±


    ¡°Her own counsel? Damn coincidence, then, that the crown prince of Ionica is chosen to do this task. A commoner would be better suited ¨C more attuned to the land. Sturdier than a prince, for sure. It''s their role to be the carriers, not me-¡±


    ¡°Luevo, please-¡±


    ¡°None of that, Father!¡± Luevo screamed, ¡°None of it! You¡­ You just want me out of here, don''t you?¡±


    ¡°Of course not, my son-¡±


    ¡°You hate that your eldest didn''t become the backbone of the line, like his Father before him,¡± Luevo said, ¡°You''re disappointed in me, and now you want me out of the way.¡±


    ¡°Not true, Luevo!¡± Soluum said, ¡°I-¡±


    ¡°What are the qualities of the most esteemed Crown Prince?¡± Luevo said, gesturing to himself, ¡°Do you not like my preening? Is that it? The way I walk? Or sleep? Or eat? Maybe it''s the way I clean my teeth, that''s why you''re disappointed. That I don''t know the first thing about using a sword, is that it?¡±


    ¡°Nothing like that, my son.¡±


    ¡°Then what is it?!¡± Luevo¡¯s eyes were wild as he glared at his Father, trying his damned hardest to bore into his soul, ¡°You just want me out of here, don''t you? So that I''ll die on this... fool''s errand! So that Tona can take the throne-¡±


    ¡°None of that, boy!¡± Soluum stomped forward, his normally stone face contorted into a sudden fury. Luevo''s words lost their luster, and he found himself stepping back as the King jammed a finger into his son''s face.


    ¡°Do not ever, ever imply that I would kill my own son. Nothing like that, you inconsiderate boy!¡±


    ¡°F-Father,¡± Luevo said, ¡°P-Please, just-¡±


    ¡°Just what?¡± Soluum said, ¡°Just what?¡±


    He turned away and walked back into the center of the throne room.


    ¡°The Ritual of Chaining is bigger than you and me, Luevo. It''s bigger than the entire kingdom! This isn''t about the petty squabbles of the royal line. Without the Kimao, Nesona does not live. Does not breathe. Without the Kimao, my son, Nesona would be nothing but bones and stories. A dead plane.¡±


    Luevo glared at his father, slinking ever so slightly away as the old man turned his back on him.


    ¡°And the Lady of the Wind chose you to be Kimao,¡± Soluum continued, ¡°No one else. It is a burden, but one that will prepare you, I think. You will one day be King, Luevo...¡±


    He had heard this speech a hundred times before. Back when he was five, the words, familiar as summer, had steadied his gait and heart. Now, they were stabbing and prickling, and Luevo wanted none of it. He was already at the staircase that led back down to the palace...


    ¡°You will rule Ionica, and with it comes a maturity that you are lacking-¡±


    The King turned around to see Luevo walking down the stairs.


    ¡°Luevo!¡±


    The prince turned around.


    ¡°Approach,¡± the King commanded.


    Rolling his eyes, Luevo walked forward, bringing a knee to the ground and lowering his head.


    And found that his father knelt down beside him, bringing a hand to his chin and lifting his head up. Father stared at son.


    ¡°Luevo, this is a role that you cannot ignore. Not like the others. Not like what you''ve done in the past. The Amber Foundation will be here tomorrow, and we will have the Ritual of Chaining in the evening. Are you prepared?¡±


    ¡°As prepared as I ever shall be, old man,¡± Luevo spat, ¡°Now leave me be. I have much to think about.¡±


    Soluum considered his son''s words, staring at him for a long time. Then he nodded.


    ¡°Very well, you may go.¡±


    Luevo got up, shot one last venomous look to his Father as Soluum wearily walked to the throne. Then, with a sigh that was more broken than tired, he went down the stairs.


    ***


    It had not been an enjoyable trip.


    Joseph drew his coat tighter around him, glaring at Nole, who was scratching his armpit as he and G-Wiz sauntered down the path to the Traveling Point. Shetavalk patted Joseph on the shoulder, giving him a sympathetic smile before he moved to take point. Archenround''s thick, serpentine tail cut a deep path through the sand behind them. She cut a distinct figure as she went, her entire bottom half a serpent¡¯s, twin blades strapped to her back, her yellow eyes scanning the distant horizon for any trouble.


    As though it mattered to Joseph right now. All he could feel right now was the ache in his legs from the long journey.


    Two days cramped in the Dreamer''s Lament, passing through various Traveling Points and to worlds Joseph could only have dreamed of. Through the skies of Melmaen, the Dreamer''s home, with her sisters of wood and magic in the sky. Through the broken tunnels of Kwaln, where the sun was a myth. Through the Silver Eye once more, bringing back those dark memories aboard the station over Ermen III. And now to Duma, a dead plane, used as a passage to Nesona. All around them was desert. Old ruins dotted the landscape, a few of them mere feet from the road the Federation had paved across the vast expanse. Crumbling things, Joseph supposed that they had once been temples or castles. A few towers. All of them to waste, now.


    Not that it mattered, because Nole in front of him was laughing at the sight of one of them.


    ¡°It looks like a dick!¡± the troll laughed, ¡°Look, G! Don''t ye think so?¡±


    ¡°It... kinda does, actually,¡± G-Wiz let out a chuckle, ¡°Cut or uncut?¡±


    ¡°Oh, uncut, definitely! Like a great big mushroom! Bahaha!¡±


    Joseph shot Shetavalk a look, trying to will the Spioa to spear him in the throat. Shetavalk just shook his head in a good-natured way and continued walking.


    ¡°At least someone''s enjoying the trip,¡± Joseph muttered.


    ¡°What was that, Noodle?¡± Nole called back.


    ¡°Nothing, big guy,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Nothing.¡±


    Thankfully ¨C and for the first time ¨C Nole left it at that. He had been prodding and needling Joseph since their journey began, and was around seventy percent the reason why it had been such a difficult trip.


    But they were almost at their destination. A slight wavering in the air was the only sign of the Traveling Point to Nesona. Two guards were posted to either side of it ¨C native Nesonans, with dark skin and ivory-white marbled armor. Their spears were like Shetavalk''s ¨C long poles with needle-pointed tips, and square-shaped shields were strapped to their left arms.


    ¡°Greetings!¡± Shetavalk said as they approached, ¡°Good day and ''morrow!¡±


    ¡°Sir,¡± one of the guards said, ¡°I recognize you as Shetavalk, of the Spioa.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Shetavalk grinned, ¡°And I am ready to reunite with my people, if only for a little while. But I forget myself. To business.¡±


    He gestured to the rest of the party, ¡°I come, with my companions, as the Amber Foundation. We''ve business in Nesona and with King Soluum.¡±


    ¡°Very well,¡± the guard said, ¡°If I could see some credentials...¡±


    Shetavalk produced a small card, handing it over. The guard gave it a look-over, before giving a nod and handing it back.


    ¡°Very well,¡± he said, ¡°Standard laws apply, both Federation and Ionican. Leave your wars at the door, you come to Nesona as friends, or not at all.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Shetavalk said. He turned to the rest of the group, ¡°Come along, now. Nole, please don''t pants Joseph.¡±


    Joseph spun around to see the troll directly behind him. The bastard was kneeling down, oar-like hands curling a few inches away from his pants. Joseph glared as Nole began barking out a laugh, shouldering him out of the way as he walked towards the Traveling Point.


    One dizzying, acidic experience later, and Joseph felt his feet on solid ground, which immediately gave way as he sunk ankle-deep into white snow. The dry warmth of the desert was replaced by the shivering cold of Nesona. Joseph blinked at the sudden brightness of the early morning, narrowing his eyes as he trudged forward. They were on the very edge of a valley ringed in by mountains, the peaks of which were caked in white. Rather abruptly, the mountains plunged downwards towards honeycombs of farmland, segmented in various shades of gold that surrounded a capital city. A tower dominated the center, rising above the single-story buildings of the urban expanse. Its top ended in a point, as though it were a pyramid that had been smeared upwards.


    ¡°Shetavalk!¡±


    The voice pierced through the calm morning day. A large boulder of a man stepped forward. He was in royal blue robes that brushed against the snow yet never seemed to trail. His short beard was tightened in a knot on his chin, a knob that swayed as he approached Shetavalk. He patted Shetavalk on the back ¨C and Joseph glimpsed he only had four fingers on his hand, the ring having been cut to the knuckle at some point in the past.


    ¡°My liege,¡± Shetavalk said, only wincing a bit from the pat on the back, ¡°I hope you are well.¡±


    ¡°As well as I can be,¡± the king''s voice was rich and smooth, and his violet eyes fell on the rest of the party, ¡°These I do not recognize, Spioa.¡±


    ¡°Members of my guild,¡± Shetavalk said.


    ¡°A guild!¡± The king''s voice was full of mock surprise as though he hadn''t been the one to hire them. Joseph felt a painful pang of agreement as he saw Nole roll his eyes, ¡°What are your names? Your planes?¡±


    Stolen story; please report.


    He rounded on Joseph, ¡°You! You don''t look like you''re from around here.¡±


    ¡°Because I''m not,¡± Joseph deadpanned.


    ¡°What''s your name, Zwame?¡± the king asked.


    ¡°Uh, Joseph.¡±


    ¡°Joseph,¡± The king nodded, ¡°And your plane?¡±


    ¡°Earth.¡±


    ¡°Never heard of it.¡±


    ¡°My King,¡± Shetavalk piped up, ¡°But we do have business, do we not?¡±


    ¡°Oh, of course, of course,¡± the king said, ¡°Come along, now. The Kimao is waiting for you. We shall have a feast! A celebration for the arrival of the Escorts who will protect the Kimao on his journey.¡±


    He began making his way down into the valley. He had come alone ¨C a strange realization, one that Joseph gave a quizzical eyebrow to Shetavalk too. The Spioa merely let out a chuckle.


    ¡°King Soluum is like that,¡± he said, ¡°''The Man of a Thousand Men,'' they call him.¡±


    ¡°Looks like one, too,¡± G-Wiz commented.


    ¡°Hush, Galatea,¡± Shetavalk said, ¡°Not that he''s sensitive about it, but one should not insult the King.¡±


    ¡°Even when goin'' to the guillotine,¡± Nole said.


    The Spioa gave a disappointed sigh, ¡°Shall we go?¡±


    ***


    He could see them now, through his spyglass so helpfully perched from his bedroom window.


    Outlanders, all of them. Well, save for the Spioa ¨C he was talking with Father like they were old friends. The fact that Soluum carried no weapons always irked Luevo ¨C better to be realistic than eccentric. But he was the King ¨C and his commands could not be interceded.


    Which was why Luevo was locked in his room, like a damsel in an old Kelstondan tale. The thought rankled his stomach. He should be out in the city now, going to his usual haunts. Not that his chambers were bad, necessarily ¨C Luevo had quite a few fond memories here.


    No, he decided as he glared down at the kid in the blue jacket, it was about freedom. The right to choose to be where he wanted to be. And how Luevo hated it.


    Of course, he was locked in here by choice. He had been the one to lock the door, after all. But he was still trapped ¨C not by anything physical, but by the duty that would be required of him. The prince had considered running away ¨C but going out into the wilds was precisely what Father wanted, wasn''t it? Better to stay trapped in the palace then let the old man get his way. He heard a knock on his door.


    ¡°My prince,¡± the servant''s voice was muted through the wood, ¡°The King wishes for your presence.¡±


    ¡°Wishes, requires, demands. All the same word,¡± Luevo muttered, ¡°Tell him his dutiful son will be arriving soon.¡±


    He got up and unlatched the door''s lock, opening it up. The servant made a hasty bow before she began leading him through the palace. Luevo followed her at a leisurely pace, taking his time to inspect each pillar and each artifact his ancestors had collected on their travels. All of them he was used to. He knew the detail on every shield, every sword, even the disguised energy rifle his grandfather had smuggled from the Silver Eye. Yet he stopped at each one, inspecting every piece, procrastinating the day away with a knowing smirk on his face. The servant, wisely, said nothing.


    ***


    ¡°My son, Prince Luevo,¡± Soluum said. They were in the throne room now, having gone up the myriad steps to the very peak of the tower, just beneath the spike roof. It was open air, and the city extended out in every direction around it. The King had an outstretched hand, a broad smile on his face that faded as the prince failed to make an appearance.


    ¡°My son,¡± Soluum said, ¡°Is Kimao.¡±


    ¡°Oh, dear,¡± Shetavalk said, ¡°Quite the burden for one so young.¡±


    ¡°He is twenty years old,¡± Soluum said, ¡°That is Tona you think of, my younger son.¡±


    ¡°And where is Tona now?¡± Shetavalk asked.


    ¡°Studying abroad, like his brother before him,¡± Soluum said, ¡°Tenford University, a fine place.¡±


    The king''s answer was half-hearted, and his smile had been replaced by a somber, dark look as he got up from his throne and paced the room.


    ¡°No call, no show,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Indeed, young Joseph,¡± Soluum said. He stepped over to the edge of the throne room, just before the staircase, glancing out towards the city, ¡°To be frank, Amber Foundation, you have your work cut out for you, with the prince here...¡±


    And Joseph heard him striding forward. He turned to see a tall young man with dark skin, his hair tied back in intricate knots and braids, a silver tiara adorning his forehead and looping around his temples. He was also wearing nothing but a pair of white undergarments, giving a smirk at the king. Soluum went quiet.


    And then gestured to him.


    ¡°My son, Prince Luevo,¡± he said, ¡°The Kimao.¡±


    Shetavalk strode up without missing a beat, extending a hand, ¡°Greetings, my liege-¡±


    Luevo slapped the Spioa''s hand out of the way, ¡°I have made my appearance, father. Must I do anything else?¡±


    ¡°You will be at the feast and the Ritual of Chaining, like we agreed,¡± Soluum muttered, ¡°Now go, leave me to my shame.¡±


    ¡°Nothing shameful here,¡± Luevo said. He looked over at G-Wiz, and Joseph noticed his pecs rising and falling like waves, ¡°Only glory.¡±


    ¡°God, kill me,¡± G-Wiz said.


    A spark died briefly in the prince''s eyes. Still smiling that arrogant smile, he winked at G-Wiz, gave a nod to his father, and began walking down the stairs back into the palace.


    ¡°Quite the problem, indeed,¡± Shetavalk noted.


    ¡°Ye want me to break him, Sheets?¡± Nole said, ¡°Just hurt him a wee bit, set him straight-¡±


    ¡°You''ll do no such thing,¡± Shetavalk admonished. He turned to Soluum, ¡°Forgive me, Nole is-¡±


    ¡°Right, perhaps,¡± the king said, ¡°Luevo is...¡±


    ¡°A right arse,¡± Nole said.


    ¡°Nole!¡± Shetavalk said.


    Soluum offered no counter, however. He merely continued to stare out, eyes scanning for something far past the horizon, his silence creating an awkward tension that did not break even as he began to speak.


    ¡°The Ritual of Chaining will take place after the feast tonight,¡± his announcement came out somber and sad, ¡°Please, you are my guests. Enjoy yourselves. My servants will take you to your quarters.¡±


    No one answered. G-Wiz opened her mouth to say something, but she stopped at a glance from Shetavalk. A pair of servants came up the long stairway to collect them. The Spioa cast one last look at the King, before making his way down. Joseph and the rest followed.


    ***


    ¡°''Easy job,'' my arse,¡± Nole growled.


    They had been given two rooms ¨C one for Archenround and G-Wiz, the other for Joseph, Nole, and Shetavalk. All five of them were crowded in the men''s room musing about their journey ¨C and the future to come. A plate of dark, scented bread had been put on the nightstand by Joseph''s bed ¨C a bed Nole now occupied, the troll scratching in between his toes and putting whatever gunk was there between the sheets. Shetavalk was giving him a stern look as he continued grumbling.


    ¡°Lad''s barely an adult physically, still a wee one mentally,¡± Nole said.


    ¡°Not much different from you, Nole,¡± G-Wiz replied, ¡°Why, I remember when we went on our first job-¡±


    ¡°Shaddup, G,¡± Nole warned, ¡°Not in front of-¡±


    He nodded at Joseph. Joseph shot him a nasty smile.


    ¡°Enough,¡± Shetavalk said. The Spioa sat on the floor, back against the wall and his legs crossed. His spear rested between his head and shoulder, point just barely scratching the gold-painted sandstone wall above him, ¡°Nole, that bed belongs to you now. Joseph, you''ll take his.¡±


    ¡°He''s been in both of them,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I''ll just sleep on the floor. Less maggots that way.¡±


    ¡°Watch it, Noods,¡± Nole said, ¡°Ye ain''t out of the woods yet.¡±


    ¡°People, please,¡± Shetavalk said, ¡°There will be enough stress as is on this journey...¡±


    ¡°So you agree, then?¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°That Luevo''s a bitch.¡±


    Shetavalk went silent, filmed eyes staring hard at the floor. Nole let out a frustrated laugh and flicked a piece of dead skin at Joseph. The place he was scratching was healing fast, Joseph noted.


    ¡°If Shetavalk is feeling annoyed, then we''re all in trouble,¡± the troll said, ¡°What do ye think, Archenround?¡±


    The serpent-woman shrugged.


    ¡°That''s fair,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°We should begin getting ready for the feast,¡± Shetavalk said, ¡°And the... very long journey ahead of us.¡±


    Joseph had to give the Spioa a sympathetic smile at that.


    ***


    Distant and away, far broken rainbow seas.


    The Grim Walker stepped forward out of the gate most ancient. Sniffed the air. Felt the air turn from dead and stale to rich and new. Invigorated. Life-full. Duster swishing with each motion he made, he took to a knee, hard fingers brushing the soft ground. Snow, beyond that dirt that was teeming with life. His eyes glared emerald, scanning microbes that wriggled in the cradle of creation. New, still. As though they had been born yesterday.


    Such was the nature of Nesona, the Grim Walker knew. A cycle of rebirth. He rose up, blinking away the final waves of disorientation that came with planar travel. His quarry was distant ¨C the gate only took him so far into the lands of Nesona. At least it was the same landscape. But the Grim Walker would be walking yet.


    It was not a mystery who the target was. His employer had been specific. The Kimao. Whoever it was, peasant or prince.


    For better or worse, the prince.


    More than simple destabilization. The prince being chosen as Kimao added dimensions to this particular job. But the Grim Walker did not care. He was paid not to.


    It made for the more interesting story.


    So as he strode forward, boots breaking snow, wind he could not feel battering at him, he smiled. A great game was about to begin.


    ***


    The food was good, at least.


    ¡°Roondal, it''s called,¡± Shetavalk said, ¡°Shellfish from deep within the Cradle Mountains, in underground rivers and lakes.¡±


    ¡°It''s saltier than I imagined,¡± Joseph said, picking meat out of a claw, ¡°Crabs where I''m from are sweet. Well, the ones I''ve eaten.¡±


    ¡°Salt collects in pools, wash-offs from the mines above,¡± Shetavalk said, ¡°Adds a bit of variety, doesn''t it?¡±


    ¡°And it''s somethin'' else I can''t eat,¡± Nole said. Most of the food here had salt, and the troll was avoiding most of them with a bitter vehemence. All that was on his plate a salad and...


    ¡°Your favorite bread,¡± Joseph gave the troll a lopsided grin, ¡°Eat up, big guy. We have a big day ahead of us.¡±


    Nole glared at Joseph, ¡°Tough words from a weak mouth, kid.¡±


    Joseph just gave him a hard smirk. Nole continued to glare, taking a bite of the dark bread and pulling a face.


    Shetavalk had taken to pointedly ignoring their conversations. He steered Joseph''s attention away, pointing a fork at the prince. Luevo was now dressed in royal regalia ¨C long, flowing white robes, his hair tied in an impossible crown of knots and braids that ended in a ponytail. He looked gaunt, as though he hadn''t eaten in a long while.


    ¡°He''s barely touching his food,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°I don''t blame him,¡± Shetavalk said, ¡°The weight of being Kimao must be difficult to bear...¡±


    ¡°And the fact that he looks like a giraffe,¡± G-Wiz commented.


    ¡°That...¡± Shetavalk sighed in defeat, ¡°That too.¡±


    King Soluum was keeping a jovial air, a desperate turnaround from his somber attitude earlier. Shetavalk had said he was known as the King of Joy, always with a smile on his face in front of his audience. Laughing, purple wine splashing on his conveniently purple robes, his golden crown slightly askew on his head, the king had an energy about him, a singularity that pulled everyone in. And quite the audience he had, too ¨C a vast array of nobles from across Ionica and beyond were here, all of them in robes (''the style,'' Joseph mused), a rainbow festival of color and excitement. As they finished their meals, Joseph saw many of them were getting up to join the king in his festivities. The night dragged on, and became drunker and drunker ¨C and more wild as a result. Someone began playing music, a soft flute that was soon joined by drums, then a guitar. More and more people got up to dance.


    ¡°Yeah, I''m feeling this,¡± G-Wiz said. She cast a glance over to Shetavalk, ¡°Mind if I...?¡±


    ¡°I don''t see why not,¡± Shetavalk said, ¡°Just don''t break anything, alright?¡±


    ¡°Relax, Sheets,¡± G-Wiz spun her keytar off her back, ¡°This won''t be like Amzuth. Or Prime. Or Talmadia. Or-¡±


    ¡°Alright, alright, go along, now!¡± Shetavalk laughed, ¡°And Joseph, get up! You''ve been sitting down long enough.¡±


    The electronic, popping notes of G-Wiz''s keytar joined in the chorus, adding an electric energy that, although grating, Joseph had to admit combined well.


    ¡°Alright, not bad,¡± Joseph said. He got up, ¡°I can work with this.¡±


    And he joined the party, which soon turned into a whirlwind of dancing and music. And wine. The wine, Joseph noted, tasted good, then began to taste like nothing at all as the feast became more and more... no, not unhinged. Manic, a joyful energy that buzzed in the air, a celebration of life that permeated into his very soul, which dazzled and flashed in his stomach. He was aware of dancing, of laughing with random nobles in the crowd, of crying at some sad story or other. It was a release of the tension from the long road here, an unwinding of his insides as the music played, electric and warped by his drunkenness, yet relieving all the same...


    It was nearing the end of one of G-Wiz''s pieces that Joseph was sitting down, resting an arm on some golden chair ¨C the King''s? He wasn''t sure. A few nobles gawked, then laughed as they merged back into the army of colors below. Joseph wasn''t sure how well he could see...


    ¡°Enjoying the party?¡± a voice caught his ear.


    He turned and saw Luevo. The prince had an easy smile on his face, though it did not quite reach his eyes.


    ¡°Ah, you,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Your prince.¡±


    ¡°I''m ''Merican,¡± Joseph chuckled, ¡°Sure, they hate me, but what can you do?¡±


    ¡°I have heard of your... America,¡± Luevo said, ¡°You''re from Prime, yes?¡±


    ¡°Nope,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Nope, Earth.¡±


    ¡°Ah, so a long ways from home then, aren''t you?¡±


    A cold, constricting sadness began to take hold of him. Joseph slumped a bit, ¡°Yeah. A long way. I hate it here. I want to go home.¡±


    ¡°Don''t we all, you stupid little man,¡± Luevo chuckled, ¡°Don''t worry, if all goes well we''ll all be dead by morning, if the poison in the wine takes hold.¡±


    Joseph''s eyes widened. Luevo let out another false laugh.


    ¡°A joke,¡± the prince said, ¡°They have jokes where you''re from, don''t they?¡±


    ¡°Funny ones,¡± Joseph supposed, ¡°Funnier than you.¡±


    A pained look crossed across Luevo''s face, ¡°Right. I''ll be going, then. And you should know, you''re sitting in the old man''s chair.¡±


    The prince slunk back into the crowd. Joseph looked down, feeling the alcohol drain out of his body as he realized he had moved onto the golden throne that had been set up in the meeting hall for the feast. He felt a heavy hand fall on his shoulder.


    ¡°Enjoying the view?¡± Soluum''s voice soft, his breath peppered with wine. Yet there was no anger.


    ¡°Sorry,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I didn''t mean-¡±


    ¡°No, no, it''s alright,¡± Soluum said, ¡°It''s just a chair.¡±


    ¡°And not a crown,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°No, pray you never wear that. It''s far too...¡± the King''s voice trailed away. The two of them beheld the crowd below, and Joseph knew that Soluum''s eyes were watching the white robes of Luevo in the mosaic sea as he made his way out of the feasting hall.


    ¡°Protect my son,¡± Soluum said, ¡°Please. Even after everything. He''s still... He''s still my son.¡±


    The King sounded very much like his own father, after the long arguments the two would have when Joseph was younger, tired and at his wit¡¯s end, completely unsure of what to do or what to say. Joseph watched as a guard approached Luevo, whispering something in the prince''s ear.


    ¡°I will,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I''ll try.¡±


    Luevo clutched his stomach as he stepped to the side. A large cauldron was being carried into the center of the room.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Soluum said, ¡°Now, you may want to get off the throne...¡±


    ¡°Oh, right.¡±


    He got up off the throne, making his way down the dais as the crowd parted before the cauldron. The music died. The people sobered. G-Wiz hopped down from the table she had been posing on. The wind blew in through the windows, taking on a life of its own ¨C Joseph almost swore he could see small arms pulling themselves through the air. Servants had opened up the roof''s window high above ¨C the full moon''s gaze cast light into the room. It was the only source ¨C all of the torches had been snuffed out. Luevo stepped into the center of the chamber, just before the cauldron. It was an old thing, a bowl of stone that had been carved by nature alone. The prince cast his robes off, leaving his chest bare as he stepped forward. His face was inscrutable, glass-like as he stared up at the moon.


    Soluum''s voice boomed through the hall.


    ¡°Luevo Medrooma,¡± he began, ¡°You find yourself bound as Kimao. What say you?¡±


    Luevo was silent.


    ¡°I say what say you!¡±


    ¡°I am...¡±


    The room became uncomfortable. A few members of the crowd coughed as Luevo simply stood. He took his eyes off the moon and stared at the King. Soluum''s eyebrows furrowed.


    ¡°You say nothing, my son. Let the truth bare. You do not want this, do you?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Luevo''s voice, a quivering whisper, still echoed like thunder through the hall, ¡°I do not.¡±


    Any residual energy from the feast died with those words. Joseph felt the entire host sag, a certain exhaustion overtaking them. Once more, the prince was shirking his duties. Disappointing them.


    ¡°A poor answer,¡± Shetavalk said behind Joseph.


    ¡°A poor prince,¡± Joseph muttered.


    ¡°It matters little what you want, Luevo,¡± Soluum''s voice cut through the stone-solid silence, ¡°This is a duty that extends far past all we know. Without the Kimao, we have nothing. And you know this. You cannot wriggle free, as you have before. It is time to stand tall, my son. Stand tall and proud, and be the symbol you are meant to be.¡±


    An ocean of emotions passed Luevo''s face. He took a step forward ¨C a sure one, at least. He put his right hand into the air.


    ¡°Come, my guardians,¡± he said, ¡°Come, join the Kimao as he summons the creature of the land.¡±


    ¡°That''s us,¡± Shetavalk said. Together, the Amber Foundation stepped out of the crowd, approaching the cauldron and the prince. Now that they were close, Joseph could just barely make out the cauldron''s contents ¨C dust from some dead place, the very sight of it making his stomach go cold. Interlaced with it was something silvery, glittering like the stars above. Luevo turned his nose as the guildmembers approached.


    ¡°A knife,¡± he said, ¡°I need a damn knife, if you''re making me go through with this.¡±


    Archenround produced an old, beaten-up dagger, and handed it over. Luevo took it, curling his hand around its edge, squeezing and pulling. Joseph winced as a thin stream of dark red blood wept out and down into the basin of the cauldron.


    Silence.


    Then the dust began to curl, taking in the silver and swirling into a whirlpool. Something began to grow out, a bulbous form swiveling upwards, slow as an old man on a cold winter''s day. Multiple eyes began opening across its dark mass, semblances of arms, a diamond-shaped head which the eyes traveled to and converged around. Its voice was high and thin.


    ¡°Sensu''ala, ko rein lee.¡±


    ¡°Even in death, I am alive,¡± Shetavalk translated. The creature nodded in recognition at his words. Then one tentacle-like hand wrapped around Luevo''s open wound and crawled in, the entire form twisting into the thin cut. Luevo convulsed, falling to the ground and curling into a fetal position. The crowd winced as he began to scream, high-pitched and filled with agony. Joseph stepped forward, stopping as Shetavalk''s hand shot to his shoulder. The Spioa shook his head.


    ¡°Give him time,¡± he said.


    So he watched. Minutes passed as Luevo wailed, the creature seeming to twist every bone in his body, poke at every muscle, an invasion as it settled into his form. Then the pain seemed to cease, and he stopped moving. He was drenched in sweat, his hair askew as he began to pull himself up, a hand reaching towards the edge of the cauldron to support himself.


    ***


    Luevo glared up at Soluum.


    ¡°What did you do to me!?¡± he screamed.


    ¡°It is the ritual of the Kimao,¡± Soluum said, ¡°You are the Carrier of Life. And thus, you carry Life.¡±


    The prince could feel it wriggling through his body, just under his skin. It whispered those damnable thoughts in High Ehnfeln in the back of mind. It chuckled at his thoughts, reading them like a book.


    ¡°Get it out,¡± he said, ¡°Get it out!¡±


    The king ignored his words, ¡°Thus do you bear Life, Kimao. Now, rest.¡±


    ¡°Get it out, you bastard!¡±


    The old man ignored his words, ignored the wincing of the crowd at the flagrant insult.


    ¡°I don''t want this!¡± Luevo screeched, ¡°I DON''T WANT IT! I CAN FEEL IT BURNING WITHIN ME!¡±


    He turned to the Amber Foundation. The troll had a smirk on his face, the serpent was impassive, and the other three were wearing expressions of pity. Luevo stepped forward ¨C Gods, each step was leaden and awkward ¨C and he grabbed one of them by his blue jacket.


    ¡°Burn it out of me! Get it out! PLEASE!¡±


    ¡°Ah,¡± the guildmember ¨C more of a boy, stammered.


    Luevo tossed him to the side, appealing to the crowd.


    ¡°You''ve deceived me! All of you!¡±


    ¡°It is time now, for you to rest,¡± Soluum''s voice, calm and commanding, ¡°To rest, for the journey ahead of you. Through the lands of Nesona, towards the horizon, and beyond the possible. But for now, Luevo-¡±


    ¡°Damn you! All of you! From the Heavens down to Hell!¡±


    ¡°Rest.¡±


    Guards grabbed him by his arms and began to drag him out.


    ¡°Damn you!¡±


    They were quick, dragging him through the crowd, which broke and parted as they went. Everyone''s expressions were of pity ¨C damnable pity.


    And Luevo could only roar in answer.

 15. A Heavy Burden

    The damn thing spoke in his mind.


    Its speech was garbled at first. Insubstantial. Mutterings and musings in a whispered, scratchy tone, as though worried that it would wake Luevo. For a moment, the prince felt touched that it was so nervous.


    Touched, if the thing''s very presence didn''t prevent his beauty sleep.


    ¡°Ro la la,¡± it whispered, ¡°Ro la la,¡±


    ¡°Shut up,¡± Luevo growled, ¡°Shut up or I''ll throw myself off the balcony.¡±


    ¡°Ro la la,¡± the creature replied, ¡°Ro lay lee.¡±


    Even stuffing his ears with wax didn''t help. The little bastard-


    No, sorry.


    This ''manifestation of life'' was embedded in more than his body. It had drilled into his mind, festered in his very soul. His hatred for it burned, and he knew it could feel that venom.


    He had hidden himself away in his room after the feast ¨C alright, perhaps ''hidden'' wasn''t the right word. ''Locked'' was the better phrase, as he had heard the door''s lock click as soon as he had been thrown in. The guards had also fastened his window into place, preventing him from making an escape out of it like some princess in a folktale.


    So he had done the logical thing, which was to lie down in his bed and cry himself to sleep.


    And the creature had been there for that, too!


    ¡°Ro la la,¡± the thing whispered, ¡°Ro lay lee.¡±


    ¡°Thou art as much a bitch as me,¡± Luevo muttered, his anger turning to sorrow, ¡°Gods, I am pathetic, aren''t I?¡±


    He hated each hour that passed. Felt a harsh dread as he watched the moon sail overhead and the sky lighten into the early morning. Sleep was fleeting. The creature had ceased its mumbling, yet it still felt like a cake of heavy mud in his body. Luevo, while taking a study trip to Prime, had once felt the joys of a weighted blanket, the heavy, sand-filled thing covering his entire form and just constricting him enough to be comfortable. The manifestation of life was much as though the blanket had been stuffed into his body, wrapped around his arms and legs like a python, slowly suffocating the life out of him.


    ¡°Ro la la,¡± it said, ¡°Ro lay lee.¡±


    ¡°Shut up and let me sleep.¡±


    ¡°Ro la la.¡±


    He turned over. An awful thing to do, as he felt the creature, like molasses, slide down his body and settle on his side.


    The knock on the door came far too soon. Two short raps, the signal from the servants that the old man himself was summoning him. Typical. The servant unlocked the door, walking in with a few of her peers. Traveling robes had been procured ¨C shorter than the typical style, the sleeves still overlong to hide the hands, but the material was made so one could easily roll them back when needed. He hadn''t worn such garish clothing since his studies abroad...


    ¡°Well, what are you waiting for?¡± Luevo lifted out his arms ¨C an effort, he noticed ¨C and presented himself to the servants, ¡°Robe me.¡±


    ***


    The king was waiting on his golden throne as Luevo came down the stairs. It had been moved from its place at the top of the palace and down to the reception hall during the party, and the servants had yet to move it back up to its customary place. So there Soluum sat, head resting in a hand, still adorned in his wine-sloshed robes from the night before. His eyes fluttered open as he heard Luevo come downstairs. They were bloodshot, and the way the king positioned himself, Luevo knew he had gotten very little sleep. The thought¡­ made him uncomfortable, to say the least.


    ¡°Hard partying?¡± Luevo asked.


    ¡°Hard worrying,¡± Soluum answered.


    ¡°Well, you won''t need to worry much longer,¡± Luevo said, ¡°Here I am, your proud son, here to go out into the wide world. I''ll be out of your short, penis-shaped beard soon enough.¡±


    Soluum did not answer. He merely stared out towards the opposite side of the hall. Luevo let out a dry chuckle.


    ¡°Will you miss me, father? Miss your shameful boy? Oh, how he screamed and whined last night, bringing shame to his whole line-¡±


    ¡°Of course I will miss you,¡± Soluum said, ¡°You are my son.¡±


    Luevo went quiet. He tried to find a retort, but came up with nothing. Soluum gave a sad smile in the silence.


    ¡°You''re surprised.¡±


    ¡°I didn''t-¡± Luevo stammered. Then he composed himself. One deep breath. Then two. They were difficult words to force out, despite how much he wanted to say them.


    ¡°I don''t want to go, father.¡±


    ¡°Of course you don''t,¡± Soluum said, ¡°I can see it in your eyes. Behind your every scream of defiance, every sly thing you say, there is one emotion pushing forward. You''re afraid, Luevo.¡±


    The words cracked at Luevo like a whip. He doubled over as though he had been punched in the gut. Soluum rose from his throne and walked over to his son.


    ¡°But fear is something we all experience, and it is not something we can run from.¡±


    His heavy hand fell on Luevo''s shoulder, guiding the prince back to his feet.


    ¡°We all must face fears, my son. We cannot run away from them. We cannot ignore them. You have pushed your fear to the side long enough. It is time to go out there now, and confront them on your own two feet.¡±


    ¡°My own two feet...¡±


    ¡°My King,¡± a guard said, ¡°The Amber Foundation, they are here.¡±


    ¡°Are you ready?¡± Soluum asked.


    ¡°No,¡± Luevo said.


    ¡°That matters little. That always matters little,¡± Soluum said, ¡°Very few things wait until you''re ready.¡±


    ***


    Luevo walked down to the outside of the palace alone. Joseph nodded to him as he walked out, getting a sneer in response.


    ¡°Alright,¡± Joseph mumbled, ¡°That''s fair.¡±


    ¡°Prince Luevo,¡± Shetavalk said, ¡°Are you prepared-¡±


    ¡°Spare your questions,¡± Luevo said, ¡°Let''s just go. The sooner the better.¡±


    And he walked past the Spioa without another word. Nole glared daggers at the prince''s retreating back, before the five of them began following him. All of them were wearing warmer clothing now ¨C woolen jackets and pants, along with night-colored cloaks. To better prepare themselves for the whipping winter beyond the valley. Joseph suppressed a shiver ¨C he wasn''t ready for that yet.


    The prince himself was wearing similar clothing ¨C though Joseph could see soft silks poking out of his jacket sleeves. He had bandaged his left hand with similar cloth, curling and un-curling his fingers, prodding the cut he had made during the ritual the night before.


    Joseph also noted the prince had been crying, but he decided not to bring that up.


    ¡°This is going to be a problem, isn''t it?¡± Joseph said, shuffling up to Shetavalk, ¡°If this guy''s like this the whole trip-¡±


    ¡°I know, Joseph,¡± Shetavalk replied, ¡°Best to keep your chin up about it. Nothing we can do.¡±


    ¡°I mean, we could talk to him.¡±


    ¡°We are guardians. Bodyguards. Whatever turmoil is roiling in his soul-¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I get it,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Guy''s having a bad day.¡±


    The Spioa nodded.


    The city was still celebrating as they made their way down the main road. It was a veritable parade ¨C the citizens of the city were throwing handfuls of rice their way, music from a thousand different instruments were blaring, and the strong scents of rich food wafted in the air.


    ¡°Oh yeah,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I could get used to this.¡±


    But Luevo seemed to disagree, slouching more and more with each step forward, as though the music and cheers were physically weighing him down. A man was waiting at the gate, adorned in bright, almost offensively green robes and a large smile on his pudgy face. He held in his hands a platter of cake.


    ¡°My Prince!¡± he called out, ¡°On behalf of the Eastern Trade Guild, I present you-¡±


    Luevo walked past the man without a word. Joseph gave him an apologetic smile.


    ¡°Here, I''ll take it. Maybe he''ll, ah,¡± he glanced over as Luevo stomped through the front gates, ¡°I''ll give it to him later.¡±


    The merchant, looking despondent, sighed, ¡°Indeed.¡±


    Joseph glanced down at the cake, ¡°''Happy Birthday Leonard.''¡±


    ¡°I got the cake personally ordered from Prime,¡± the merchant said, ¡°It''s said that they''re so good at cakes, they have stores that mass produce them, and you can put stock phrases on them.¡±


    ¡°I''ll make sure he gets it,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Noodle, come on!¡± Nole called back, ¡°Yer guardin'' a prince, not a fattie!¡±


    ¡°Right!¡± Joseph ran after them, the platter held carefully in his hands.


    The honeycomb-shaped farmland rolled onward for half the day. The roads were well-kept, stretching all the way to the edge of the valley, climbing towards the mountain and ending in a tunnel through it.


    ¡°Better to go through than over, then?¡± Joseph asked as he helped Shetavalk pitch a tent.


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Shetavalk replied, ¡°This Landscape is known as Sensuhen ¨C ''Shivering Peaks.'' The very tips cut along the bottom of the sky.¡±


    ¡°They go into the atmosphere?¡±


    ¡°In a sense,¡± Shetavalk said, ¡°There is no transition between sky and space here ¨C one moment, you are climbing a mountain. The next, you are in the void, and gravity has no power there.¡±


    ¡°So if we were to climb too high...¡±


    ¡°You can imagine the outcome,¡± Shetavalk finished.


    ***


    The next morning had them going through the tunnel ¨C another day''s worth of travel. No one joined them, though a few merchants were making their way into the valley as they passed by.


    ¡°Pretty big storms out there,¡± one of them said during a break. He had made for them a small fire from a few bright orange rocks in his bag, dashing them against the ground to produce a cheery flame, ¡°Some of the folk I''ve met say it''s the fiercest blizzard we''ve had in a good long while. Say that the Weatherfolk base is reporting record winds.¡±


    ¡°Weatherfolk?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°A guild from Izen''s Rall,¡± Shetavalk said, ¡°They specialize in weather.¡±


    ¡°Hence, the name,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Yeah, regardless, you all be safe out there,¡± the merchant said.


    When they had finished and were on their way, Luevo glared back at the merchant.


    ¡°Didn''t even recognize me,¡± he said, ¡°That man should have given me the boots on his feet and the hair on his head, yet he didn''t even glance my way.¡±


    ¡°Are you recognizable?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Of course I''m recognizable,¡± Luevo huffed, ¡°I am Luevo, crown prince of Ionica. How could I not be recognizable?¡±


    ¡°Prince Luevo, we are moving on,¡± Shetavalk said. Before he could object, the Spioa turned to the rest of the group, ¡°Come. We have much more ground to cover.¡±


    It didn''t help that the torches disappeared halfway down the tunnel, leaving them in a bitter darkness. Shetavalk turned to Joseph.


    ¡°Mind giving a bit of light?¡±


    Joseph nodded, letting his soul circuit through his body. It felt good ¨C though that feeling faded somewhat as he remembered the events at the space station. Perhaps his soul felt his anxiety, as he noted it was dimmer than usual as it molted out of his back.


    ¡°Oh, gods,¡± Luevo said, ¡°It''s like a big blue beetle.¡±


    They at least had light ¨C and drew stares from the last few merchants they passed. The soul hung over Joseph like a lantern, its azure light painting the cavern walls a bright blue as they walked.


    ¡°Didn''t even look at me,¡± Luevo said, ¡°Perhaps you should snuff out that ugly bird of yours.¡±


    ¡°They won''t be able to see us regardless, then,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Yes, but at least my senses won''t be assaulted by that... thing,¡± Luevo said, waving a hand at his soul, ¡°Please, snuff it out. Make it go away.¡±


    The eagle crackled a bit, sparks flying and popping like a firework. Joseph continued walking, hands clenched.


    ¡°Not happening,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Come on, let''s go.¡±


    Fortunately, they were near the end of the tunnel. They set up camp one last time, Shetavalk taking out those same orange stones to create a fire. They were beside the tunnel''s exit, the ferocious howl of wind acting as a chorus to their work of setting up the tents, of cooking the food over the fire, of Nole ''accidentally'' tossing Joseph''s portion into the flames. The roar was disconcerting, and Joseph was not relishing the fact that they would soon be out there the next morning.


    Nor did he relish the hunger as he plotted his revenge on the damn troll.


    ¡°We should sleep in shifts,¡± Shetavalk suggested, ¡°Despite our apparent lack of danger, better safe than with sorrow.¡±


    ¡°Agreed,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°And methinks the prince should join in on that,¡± Nole growled.


    ¡°Agreed,¡± Joseph repeated, groaning, ¡°I can''t believe I''d say it, but agreed.¡±


    Luevo shot glances at Joseph and Nole, then raised up his nose, ¡°I refuse.¡±


    ¡°You''re outvoted, is what you are,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Right, Arc?¡±


    Archenround nodded.


    ¡°I hold the light of the land within me,¡± Luevo said, ¡°Life itself, and life needs his beauty sleep.¡±


    ¡°He raises a point,¡± Shetavalk said, ¡°He does need rest.¡±


    ¡°You''re outvoted, Sheets,¡± Nole said, ¡°Right, Arc?¡±


    Archenround nodded.


    ¡°Please, sir, ah...¡± Luevo looked at Shetavalk.


    ¡°My name is Shetavalk.¡±


    ¡°Shetavalk, yes,¡± Luevo said, ¡°Are you not the leader of this group? You should have the final say.¡±


    The Spioa let out a weary sigh, ¡°Very well. The prince may sleep tonight. We''ll take shifts in pairs. Save Archenround. I trust you''re alright on your own?¡±


    Archenround nodded.


    ¡°Doesn''t talk much, does she?¡± Luevo chuckled.


    ¡°Doesn''t have a tongue,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Got it cut out.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Luevo said, ¡°My, ah, condolences, I suppose. Does it hurt?¡±


    Archenround shrugged.


    ¡°I see,¡± Luevo said, ¡°But I thank you, Shetavoln, for allowing me rest.¡±


    Joseph saw one of the Spioa¡¯s eyes twitch at the misnaming.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Shetavalk murmured, ¡°Of course.¡±


    ¡°And with that,¡± the prince rose, ¡°I retire. I would love to say that this was a riveting conversation, but it really wasn''t.¡±


    ¡°Uh huh,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Whatever.¡±


    The prince went into his tent, leaving the five around the fire. Nole leaned in towards Shetavalk.


    ¡°I tell ye, Sheets. We gotta get some ground rules set here about this damn prince,¡± he said.


    Joseph felt an odd sense of disgust agreeing with Nole, but he nodded, ¡°I don''t want to sound rude, but he''s walking all over you.¡±


    ¡°I am aware,¡± Shetavalk whispered, ¡°But it is to keep the peace. We need the prince to be as affable as possible. He''s already mutinous as is.¡±


    ¡°Oh come on, Sheets, that''s bullshit,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°You''re raggin'' us, here.¡±


    A hand fell on her shoulder. G-Wiz turned to see Archenround''s somber face staring at her. The serpent-woman shook her head. G-Wiz sagged in defeat.


    ¡°Yeah, you''re right,¡± she said, ¡°Come on, Nole, let''s lay off him.¡±


    ¡°Aye,¡± Nole said. He turned to Joseph, ¡°Quit naggin'' the Spioa, lad. He''s had enough as is.¡±


    ¡°I wasn''t-¡± Joseph said, ¡°I didn''t-¡±


    ¡°Ah, just shut up,¡± Nole got up and sauntered into his tent.


    ¡°Joseph,¡± Shetavalk said, ¡°Get some rest. G and I will take first watch.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Joseph said. He shot one last venomous look at G-Wiz, who jabbed her tongue at him, before he got up and went into his tent. Sleep came fleeting for him as he drifted, the sounds of the fire, of the quiet chatter between G-Wiz and Shetavalk, and the strange whispering coming from Luevo''s tent kept him awake.


    ***


    ¡°Ro la la, ro lay lee,¡± the creature said, ¡°I begin to speak as thee.¡±


    ¡°Oh dear lord, please don''t,¡± Luevo groaned, ¡°I have enough thorns in my side as is.¡±


    ¡°Ro la la,¡± the creature whimpered, ¡°I am the life of the land.¡±


    ¡°That''s very nice, but Papa Luevo is trying to get his beauty sleep, and he can''t do it with his beloved son weighing down his stomach like a brick.¡±


    ¡°Ro lay lee, ''tis where food be.¡±


    The prince''s eyes slid open and glared down. The creature was rising up out of his jacket and robes, poking and prodding at his stomach, many eyes glancing around. Most of them were unfocused, glancing this way and that, though a few of them were looking down at his belly, while one stared unnervingly at Luevo''s face.


    ¡°Are you-¡± Luevo stammered, ¡°Are you eating my food?¡±


    ¡°Just a little, just a pinch,¡± the creature answered, ¡°Just enough, just an inch.¡±


    ¡°Well, stop it,¡± Luevo said, ¡°That food is mine, and it''s in my stomach. Digesting and turning into my waste, not yours.¡±


    ¡°Ro la la, ro lay lee, I do excrete as much as thee.¡±


    A cold, realized fear gripped Luevo, ¡°I''m not the one who- I''m not-¡±


    ¡°We are bound, ro la la,¡± the creature said, ¡°My form is yours. Yours is mine. Ro lay lee, be kind.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Luevo said, ¡°No. This is something I refuse. I''ve made concessions to you, but-¡±


    The creature melded back into his body, ¡°Ro la la.¡±


    ¡°Don''t ''ro la la'' me,¡± Luevo''s voice rose, then he noticed the shadows of the Shelvotak and the girl looking at him through the tent''s cloth. He simmered down, ¡°Don''t, alright? This is my body.¡±


    ¡°''Tis the deal, ''tis the stake,¡± the creature said, ¡°I am you, you are me, ro la la, ro lay lee.¡±


    Luevo glared at where the creature had been, feeling it worm its way up and rest in his ribcage.


    ¡°If I do not eat, I hunger. If I do not excrete, I thunder.¡±


    ¡°You... thunder?¡±


    ¡°It is difficult to rhyme on a dime, ro la la.¡±


    ¡°So you''ll die if you don''t eat, and cry if you don''t do... that other thing,¡± Luevo gave a smile, resting his arms behind his head, ¡°Looks like we''re at an impasse, then. I just won''t shit.¡±


    ¡°You... will not...?¡±


    ¡°Your waste isn''t mixing with mine, creature,¡± Luevo said, ¡°I hardly tolerate your presence as is. I never agreed to this whole ritual at all. So best you simmer down, else I may as well throw myself off the mountain.¡±


    Its response was to twist. Curving itself around his body like a serpent, constricting him. Luevo let out a gasp of pain, though that was snuffed as the creature continued to sink into every part of his body, red-hot agony shooting up his spine and down into every bone, every muscle, every ligament that he called his own. Its misshapen head drew out of his throat. All of its eyes bore down on him.


    ¡°Ro la la, ro lay lee, you will not do such a thing to me.¡±


    Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    He couldn''t speak, he couldn''t breathe...


    ¡°I am the vessel of life, ro lay lee, and you carry me. But further, you are precious as me. You will not throw yourself away, ro la la. If you do such a thing, I will ensure you live. But ro la la, it will be a painful way to give.¡±


    He felt one of his shoulders begin to dislocate. The creature, realizing this, began to retreat, ¡°Ro lay lee, ro la la. Remember my words, they are law.¡±


    ¡°Not even a rhyme,¡± the prince gasped, ¡°How did you learn to speak, anyways?¡±


    ¡°Ro la la, your mind is filled with sweet things.¡±


    ***


    Joseph was the first to wake up in the morning. He rose out of his tent, stretching, and realized the time as he saw the mouth of the tunnel was much brighter than before. The storm was still raging outside, a solid wall of white and cold.


    ¡°Awake early, then,¡± Shetavalk said. He was tending to the fire, a pot of white soup boiling over it.


    ¡°You took watch for the whole night?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Archenround let me sleep for a few hours, but yes,¡± Shetavalk said, ¡°The others were right. It is not fair that the prince gets to rest while we have to interrupt our sleep. So I took the best option.¡±


    Joseph wasn''t sure how to feel, ¡°Are you sure...?¡±


    ¡°I got enough rest, Joseph,¡± the Spioa said, ¡°You needn''t worry about me. No one is up yet, and we still have another hour or so. Would you like more rest?¡±


    ¡°I think I''m fine,¡± Joseph replied. Then, at Shetavalk''s eyebrow raising, ¡°Really, it''s alright.¡±


    The Spioa nodded at that, lading out soup for the two of them. They ate in silence, Nole''s snores the only sound that rose over the din of the storm.


    ¡°The Breath of Nesona, they call it,¡± Shetavalk said.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°The wind,¡± Shetavalk put his empty bowl down. He rested his hands on his crossed legs, a serene look on his face as he continued, ¡°It is said that a Spioa''s physical body is born when the winds of the world congregate and debate on who will get a chance to live a new life. They then form, from the bits of dust and sand and glass they''ve picked up blowing over the land, a body. A body in which the chosen Spioa awakens in.¡±


    ¡°That''s what you are,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Spiritfolk, windfolk,¡± Shetavalk said, ¡°My family is the wind.¡±


    ¡°So it''s a comforting sound, then.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Shetavalk nodded. Then he chuckled as he raised a hand. Small figures ¨C pale white, their limbs ending in points, their features marred by the swirling storm, began curving around his fingertips.


    ¡°The wind on other planes does not live like they do here,¡± he said, ¡°The air does not speak. It was... strange, when I first left home. Lonely. It still is. Yet when I am on Nesona, I am here with the world. Parts of my mind reconnected to the greater whole.¡±


    As he said this, the other Spioa whispered away, leaving them alone once more.


    ¡°Why leave Nesona, then?¡± Joseph asked, ¡°It seems like everyone you know is here. You seem more... relaxed. More than usual.¡±


    ¡°Because all Spioa must leave the fold at some point,¡± Shetavalk said, ¡°The urge to move, to wander, to find new lands... That is a Spioa''s dream. Even if I went a bit further than most, even if I am alone, away from all I hold dear, I am still myself. I am still Shetavalk. I am still at peace.¡±


    Joseph thought on his words, unsure of how to answer. He was quiet for the rest of the morning, even as Archenround slithered out of her tent, accepting food. Even as Nole got up, shouldering him aside as he took his bowl ¨C and cursed as Joseph shouldered him back, knocking the soup into the fire.


    ¡°Ye damn little-¡±


    ¡°Kimao,¡± Shetavalk announced, ¡°It is time to move on.¡±


    Luevo dragged himself out of his tent. He was clutching his chest, Joseph noticed.


    ¡°You alright?¡± he asked.


    ¡°I am fine,¡± Luevo said, ¡°Just... bad dreams of ugly things.¡±


    His eyes fell on Nole, ¡°I wonder why.¡±


    ¡°Watch it, lad,¡± Nole said, ¡°Just ''cause I''m bringing ye to the Deadlands don''t mean I got to bring ye in one piece.¡±


    ¡°Oh, just shut up,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Everyone knows you''ve got a big dick, no need to flaunt it.¡±


    ¡°Enough, both of you,¡± Shetavalk said, ¡°Pack up the tents. It is time to depart.¡±


    ***


    To say the storm was bitterly cold was an understatement.


    It was as though Joseph''s coat wasn''t even there. The blizzard was ferocious ¨C constantly battering on them as they tramped forward, snow hilled up to their knees. Any footprints stomping into the white blurred away as the snow piled up. Their cloaks were sodden to the point where they no longer blew haphazardly in the wind, now dragged like heavy tails on top of the snow drifts. Nole took the lead, trudging a rough path forward. His long nose was beet red, and Joseph could see green lines of snot lining his gloves as he wiped his face. Archenround was not far behind. She slithered over the tops of the snowy path, though Joseph could see her suppressing shivers. He hoped she wasn''t cold-blooded. Joseph himself had powered up his soul, the great eagle sweeping aside the snow as he walked, trying to beat down a path for the rest of the party. Shetavalk was beside him, his breath heavy as he trudged forward. In the winds, Joseph could see other Spioa dancing about. G-Wiz was behind them. Occasionally, she would turn back to glare at the prince, who brought up the rear by a considerable margin.


    Prince Luevo was not having a good time. He was wrapped up, having taken all six of the spare cloaks that had been provided, carrying Shetavalk''s spear like a walking stick. He was slow-going, each step taking an eternity as he shivered and cursed and froze.


    ¡°Ro la la,¡± the creature whispered, ¡°You must continue.¡±


    ¡°It isn''t my fault,¡± Luevo whined, ¡°You''re too h-heavy, it''s like carrying a boulder on my- on my back.¡±


    ¡°Ro lay lee, do not accuse me. Thou art weak.¡±


    ¡°I am not weak!¡±


    ¡°Prove it, ro la la.¡±


    He took another step forward, a sniffle escaping his lips.


    ¡°I want to go h-home,¡± he muttered.


    ¡°As do I,¡± the creature said.


    ¡°Let''s turn back, then.¡±


    ¡°My home is out there, ro la la,¡± the creature said. Luevo felt it shift, a hand winnowing its way out of his jacket and emerging out of his cave of cloth, pointing forward, ¡°ro lay lee, beyond the mountain, it be.¡±


    ¡°Great,¡± Luevo said, ¡°So if I''m to be r-rid of you...¡±


    ¡°You must walk forward, yes.¡±


    The prince grimaced, and continued forward. He glanced up to see that the guildmembers had gone far ahead of him, waiting beside a cliff.


    ¡°D-don''t know how they do it,¡± he wheezed, ¡°Even the blue jacket one, he''s much of a r-reed to make it out here...¡±


    ***


    ¡°The storm''s leavin'',¡± Nole noted.


    ¡°Really? Didn''t notice,¡± Joseph huffed. His soul carved away another pile of snow, dipping it over the mountainside, ¡°Still feels strong.¡±


    ¡°Ha!¡± Nole said, ¡°Ye learn to feel things as these. Storms toughen ye, lad. And yer relyin'' too much on your power, there. Yer blue bird''s doin'' all the work for ye.¡±


    ¡°I still feel it,¡± Joseph countered, ¡°So don''t say I''m not doing my part-¡±


    ¡°Sounds like he ain''t doin'' his part,¡± G-Wiz noted. She stood beside Nole, ¡°How much more of this do we gotta get through?¡±


    ¡°Not too much,¡± Shetavalk said, ¡°A few more passes, and we arrive in Koma.¡±


    ¡°Koma?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°The next Landscape,¡± Shetavalk replied, ¡°A vast jungle, one of the larger regions of Nesona.¡±


    ¡°At least I won''t have to wear this cloak anymore,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Complaining about cloaks now, eh?¡± Nole chuckled.


    Joseph glared at the troll, before turning his attention towards the edge of the cliff they were resting on. Perhaps Nole was right ¨C the storm was beginning to die down. Joseph wasn''t really sure of the time ¨C it felt like they had been pushing forward for hours. He was starting to see holes being poked through the storm as it ebbed away ¨C the occasional peaks of mountains in the distance, high and mighty and capped with white.


    ¡°Four valleys, altogether,¡± Shetavalk said, ¡°Within each valley is fertile land, like we saw before. In between...¡±


    ¡°Nothing but blizzards,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Not the most comfortable way to live,¡± the Spioa said, ¡°Travel is difficult ¨C there is never a season without snow. But it is better than the alternatives.¡±


    ¡°The Deadlands, right?¡± Joseph said, ¡°Wakeling told me about it.¡±


    ¡°You''ll see it when we arrive,¡± Shetavalk said, ¡°I do not wish to speak of such things so deep in living land.¡±


    There was something in his voice that gave Joseph pause. He nodded.


    The prince finally caught up with them.


    ¡°You people are ridiculous,¡± he cried, ¡°A break, please ¨C f-find me a place to rest. A cabin, perhaps? I''d s-settle for a cave. Even a hole in the ground-¡±


    ¡°Can it,¡± Nole said, ¡°Ye gotta suffer like the rest of us.¡±


    ¡°Oh!¡± Luevo fell face-first towards the ground, sinking into the snow and laying still. Archenround rolled her eyes and slithered over, hand clenching the back of the prince''s sixth coat and pulling him up.


    ¡°That''s a good way to catch your death out here,¡± G-Wiz admonished, ¡°Snow kills, prince.¡±


    ¡°''Your majesty'' would suffice,¡± Luevo grumbled, ¡°If I''m to suffer out here, at least let me suffer with my station intact.¡±


    ¡°Your ass ain''t that big,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Seriously, quit your whining. Can''t you see we''re all in the same boat?¡±


    The prince went quiet at that, eyes scanning each and every one of the guildmembers. Then with a huff, he sat down.


    ¡°I still want a break.¡±


    ¡°For the love of-¡± Joseph rolled his eyes, ¡°We might as well find somewhere, if he''s gonna keep going on like this.¡±


    ¡°Wanting a break too, Noods?¡± Nole challenged, ¡°Want to let that bird of yers get some nice rest?¡±


    ¡°I''m asking because if we don''t do anything, we''re going to have this lousy shit whine the rest of the way,¡± Joseph countered, ¡°Has nothing to do with me, pal.¡±


    Archenround raised a hand. The group ¨C minus Luevo ¨C turned to her. She began signaling, a form of sign language that Joseph was unfamiliar with ¨C hell, he hardly knew ASL back on Earth.


    ¡°I don''t need a rest,¡± Nole growled, ¡°Let''s just pick up the prince and keep walkin''. If Noods wants to trail behind, let him. He needs to toughen up, anyways.¡±


    Joseph felt his face burning as he turned to Shetavalk, ¡°What did she say?¡±


    ¡°A cave is ahead of us,¡± Shetavalk said, ¡°Archenround can sense it ahead.¡±


    ¡°Sense it...?¡±


    ¡°Part of her nature,¡± Shetavalk said. There was a tone of finality to it, and Joseph noted that Nole was giving him a warning look. He decided to keep his mouth shut about it.


    ¡°G-good,¡± Luevo said, ¡°A cave. I can g-go a bit further.¡±


    ¡°A bit further it is, then,¡± Shetavalk said, ¡°Come, let us be along.¡±


    ***


    The cave ¨C and resulting rest ¨C was a welcome reprieve. Shetavalk struck another fire (¡°Enough crystals to last us the trip,'''' he said) and passed out lunch.


    ¡°What time is it?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°I am not sure,¡± the Spioa said, ¡°Though it feels close enough to lunch time, wouldn''t you agree?¡±


    ¡°Hmph,¡± Nole growled, ¡°We could''ve been over the mountain by now.¡±


    ¡°How much further?¡± Luevo groaned, ¡°My legs hurt.¡±


    ¡°Another day, maybe two,¡± Shetavalk said, ¡°Then we''re in Koma.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Luevo muttered, ¡°The sooner we leave this place, the better.¡±


    He was swaddled in yet more cloaks and robes, looking like a cocoon as he glared at the fire. No one said a word to him as they ate.


    The storm had abated by the time they resumed their journey. It was still overcast outside, though Joseph could now see the tops of the mountains, just barely, scratching through the gloom. All of them were caked in snow, the entire scene a miasma of whites and grays.


    ¡°Not a bad look,¡± Joseph said to himself.


    If it still weren''t so damn cold. At least it was no longer constantly snowing. The party hugged the side of the mountain, making their way uphill. Shetavalk led this time, the occasional Spioa fluttering down and resting on his shoulder. He chuckled as they whispered to him, speaking in his native language to them, a series of light inflections and whistles.


    ¡°Well, if it''s any consolation, it won''t be raining in Koma,¡± he said to the rest of the party, ¡°I''ve just received word that the next storm won''t be rolling through for another few days.¡±


    ¡°Defeats the point of a rainforest,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°Yes, it does,¡± Shetavalk admitted, ¡°But it will make it easier for us to get where we need to go. It''s several weeks worth of travel to get out of Koma, anyways.¡±


    ¡°Weeks without rain?¡± Joseph said, ¡°In a rainforest?¡±


    Luevo snorted, ¡°Koma''s the oldest Landscape on Nesona. I''m surprised it hasn''t died out already. Not surprised it''s not getting rain.¡±


    ¡°It''s old,¡± Shetavalk said, ¡°Old lands... they tend to stop working after a while.¡±


    He glanced over at Luevo, ¡°All the more reason to finish our quest as soon as possible. Nesona is relying on us.¡±


    Luevo did not return Shetavalk''s look, grimacing as he stared out towards past the peaks.


    ***


    Nole raised his nose up into the air, sniffing deeply. Joseph suppressed a dry heave as he saw the troll''s mucus had frozen around his nostrils.


    ¡°Hey, Noods,¡± he said, ¡°Yer soul''s a bird, right?¡±


    ¡°No, it''s an elephant.¡±


    ¡°I''m serious here, lad. Ye got good vision?¡±


    ¡°Good enough.¡±


    ¡°Why don''t ye get it out, eh? See what''s around.¡±


    Joseph stopped, his eyes narrowing.


    ¡°What''s wrong?¡± he said.


    ¡°Are ye gonna do it, or what?¡± Nole grunted, ¡°Come on, I thought Wakeling sent you here for a reason.¡±


    Joseph rolled his eyes. The eagle''s head twisted out and upwards, a line of electricity connecting it to the back of his neck as it went as far as it could upwards like a periscope. He hadn''t attempted this before, and he felt a wave of disorientation roll over him. Joseph clenched his eyes shut, letting his soul do the work as it surveyed the landscape.


    ¡°Not seeing anything,¡± he said, ¡°Sorry, haven¡¯t done this much before.¡±


    ¡°Useless,¡± Nole muttered, ¡°Arc, ye feel anythin''?¡±


    She shook her head.


    ¡°Is something wrong, Nole?¡± Shetavalk asked.


    ¡°Just... somethin''s off,¡± the troll was glancing around, ¡°Are ye sure ye don''t see anythin''?¡±


    ¡°I would''ve told you,¡± Joseph said, ¡°This is... getting a bit much, one sec.¡±


    His soul snapped back into his body, though his circuit still pumped as he glanced up at the top of the mountain, ¡°Yeah, I didn''t see anything.¡±


    ¡°We''re bein'' watched,¡± there was a definite tone to the troll''s voice, ¡°I can feel it. I can almost smell it. I know none of ye can, but that''s ''cause ye ain''t me.¡±


    ¡°How humble,¡± Luevo said.


    ¡°Takes one to know one,¡± G-Wiz retorted.


    Joseph looked around. The trail was in the middle of the mountain pass, having been cut into the mountain long ago. He could just barely make out the peak through the fog, and the snowdrifts continued below them quite a ways to the bottom. Not a steep incline, thankfully.


    Yet something had set him on edge now...


    ¡°If this is your idea of a joke, it isn''t funny,¡± he said to Nole.


    ¡°Ye think I''m jokin'', lad?¡± Nole snarled, ¡°I don''t joke about this-¡±


    ¡°Quiet, both of you,¡± Shetavalk said.


    ¡°Sheets, enough with the ''quiet''-¡±


    ¡°I said quiet!¡± Shetavalk ordered.


    Nole shut his trap. Shetavalk nodded to Archenround, who slithered upwards up the path a bit, hand pressed against the ground, sinking into the white as she closed her eyes. Joseph felt his soul quicken its circuit through his body, an electric tingle running up his spine.


    ¡°I''m hearing something now,¡± G-Wiz said.


    The group turned to her.


    ¡°It sounds,¡± she strained, cocking her head, ¡°It sounds like...


    ¡°Punching.¡±


    ¡°Punching?¡± Luevo asked.


    ¡°Oh dear,¡± Shetavalk said, ¡°G-Wiz, make a wall! Now!¡±


    The sheet of snow on top of the mountain cracked. Joseph made out something dark glower down from the peak''s top, before the layer of snow sloughed off as though the mountain was shedding its clothes. The layer began tumbling down ¨C nice and packed at first, then as it broke up it turned into a roiling cloud of snow and ice.


    ¡°Avalanche,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Avalanche!¡±


    ¡°No shit!¡± Luevo screamed, ¡°What did I do to deserve-¡±


    ¡°G-Wiz, the wall!¡± Shetavalk shouted.


    G-Wiz took out her keytar, fingers frantically playing, the electric sizzle muted by the sounds of the oncoming wave. Joseph watched as a neon-green energy began emanating out of the keytar''s top, which G-Wiz pointed at the ground. The energy began coalescing into a solid wall of green.


    ¡°Archenround!¡±


    The serpent-woman made her way over, great tail ringing them in as they took cover behind the wall. G-Wiz was still playing, adding more to the wall, turning it into a small dome of green energy.


    ¡°Brace yourselves,¡± Shetavalk''s voice echoed off the wall, voice calm and measured. Joseph felt his stomach tighten.


    And they were awash in a sea of snow. A thousand drums battered against the dome, wave after wave tumbling down around them, the world outside the dome billowing into white. For a few moments, they were quiet, watching it roll over them. To Joseph, it was as though they were mere observers, and nothing would hurt them...


    And then the first crack appeared.


    ¡°I-it''s not going to hold,¡± Luevo said, ¡°We''re dead, we''re gone. That''s it-¡±


    ¡°Shut up, it''ll hold,¡± G-Wiz snapped.


    Another crack, this one spreading like a spider''s web. And another, this one larger, reaching from the top of the dome to its bottom.


    ¡°Oh dear,¡± Shetavalk whispered, ¡°It won''t hold.¡±


    And it didn''t hold.


    ***


    ¡°Ro la la,¡± the creature said, ¡°Luevo, thou must survive.¡±


    He wasn''t sure where he was. All he could see was white. Snow weighed him down, and his entire body was aching.


    ¡°I don''t want to do this,¡± Luevo said, ¡°Just leave me here. It''s alright, I''ve made my peace with the world-¡±


    ¡°Luevo, thou must survive.¡±


    The creature was slithering up his spine. Luevo felt it begin pouring out of the pores and onto his shoulders, mud-brown hands reaching out to claw at the snow in front of his face.


    ¡°Breathe deep, and hold thy breath,¡± the creature said.


    He complied, watching as the creature began to claw at the snow in front of him. It was slow going, with how small its hands were. But it was enough to get his arms free. Luevo began to dig, pulling himself into a fetal position, his hands in front of his face, scratching at the snow, making a small hole for himself. The creature joined him, widening the hole into a bare and minuscule tunnel. Luevo felt his legs and back cramping.


    ¡°I don''t know which is up or down,¡± the creature said, ¡°We could be digging deeper into the snow.¡±


    ¡°Great,¡± Luevo mumbled, ¡°You''re going to get us-¡±


    ¡°Silence, Luevo,¡± the creature said, ¡°Thy breath is important. It sustains us. Without it, we are dead.¡±


    ¡°Then how-¡±


    ¡°How come I speak?¡± the creature let out a slight chitter, ¡°Ro la la, air is wasted on me.¡±


    Lucky you.


    ¡°Ro la la, ro lay lee, I hear your thinking be.¡±


    Doesn''t even-


    An ugly green claw carved out the snow above him. Luevo glanced up to see the troll hovering over him. What was his name? Joel? Brole?


    ¡°Nole,¡± the creature provided helpfully.


    ¡°Thought I smelled something rank,¡± Nole growled, ¡°Come on, lad. Grab me hand.¡±


    He extended his mitts down. Gods, they smelled like the swamp. Luevo''s stomach roiled, and he found his nose curling up at the sight of them.


    ¡°I''ll climb up myself, thanks.¡±


    ¡°Suit yerself,¡± Nole turned and began to crawl through the tunnel he had made above. Luevo positioned himself so his feet were now aligned to the floor, and he began pulling himself up.


    You''re making us too heavy, he whined.


    ¡°Ro la la,¡± the creature said, ¡°I be growing.¡±


    Oh, how nice. My little shit''s becoming a big boy. When do you move out?


    ¡°Ro lay lee, thou are not very funny.¡±


    Grunting, Luevo heaved himself into the tunnel Nole had made. It was much more sizable than his own ¨C the troll must have been working on it for a while. Luevo could feel fresh air hitting his face, and saw the guildmember pushing his great green ass up a hole to the surface a few yards away. Luevo made his way over. His breathing was ragged and raw, and his entire body ached from the effort. As he made it to the tunnel, he glanced up to see that it was a four foot climb to the surface. Luevo collapsed.


    ¡°Come on, lad,¡± Nole said from above, ¡°Just a bit more to go. Are ye just goin'' to sit there?¡±


    ¡°I... I think I need... just a moment, please-¡±


    ¡°We don''t got a moment.¡±


    The troll''s hand reached down, his head and shoulder going into the hole as he grabbed the back of Luevo''s cloak and pulled him up towards the surface. He tossed the prince aside, grunting out a mumbled curse. The rest of the guild was there ¨C the girl was polishing that keytar of hers, the Earth kid with his blue bird fully out, scanning the white waste around them. The snake was off to the side, inspecting her gear. Shetavalk stood forlornly away from the rest of the group. The trail was gone ¨C and Luevo noted they were closer to the bottom of the mountain, the snowslide having carried them down.


    ¡°Shetavalk!¡± Nole shouted.


    ¡°A raised voice can trigger another one,¡± Shetavalk said, ¡°Quiet, Nole.¡±


    The troll complied, stomping over to the Spioa.


    ¡°What the hell was that all about?¡± he grumbled.


    ¡°I am... not sure,¡± Shetavalk turned to the earth boy, ¡°You said you saw something, yes?¡±


    ¡°I''m...¡± the boy ¨C Joseph, that was his name, said, ¡°I''m not sure. I thought I saw something up on the mountain top.¡±


    ¡°Do ye see it now?¡± Nole asked.


    ¡°Well, I think I''d mention if I still saw it,¡± Joseph said, a nasty look painting itself on his face, ¡°As of right now-¡±


    The blue eagle turned to survey the horizon. Its bright, neon blue form camouflaged by the blinding white of the snow.


    ¡°I don''t see anything now. Except, you know, the mountains.¡±


    ¡°This isn''t good,¡± Nole said, ¡°Sheets, who was that-?¡±


    ¡°We don''t know if it was anybody,¡± Shetavalk said.


    ¡°If it was someone,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°They were strong enough to punch the mountain and trigger a landslide.¡±


    ¡°Snowslide,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Shut up, Noodle.¡±


    The serpent made a series of hand gestures ¨C High Federation Sign Language, Luevo recalled, though he hadn¡¯t used it in a while and was having a bit of trouble at first translating it.


    ¡°Right,¡± Shetavalk said, agreeing with her, ¡°No other choice. Archenround, Nole, be on your guard. Joseph, how long can you keep that soul going?¡±


    ¡°I don''t know, to be honest,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Another hour, tops. Then I have to-¡±


    ¡°Make it two,¡± Nole said, ¡°And quit yer excuses.¡±


    The troll began making his way back up the mountain, ignoring Joseph''s sharp look, the way that bird of his crackled with annoyance. The rest of them began to follow.


    Luevo piped up, ¡°Is no one going to help me up?¡±


    Joseph shot an irritated glare his way ¨C which was rich coming from him, considering how whiny he was being. G-Wiz just looked over at him, her face inscrutable.


    ¡°We''re lucky to be alive, pal. Just get up and walk like the rest of us. Isn''t hard.¡±


    And she turned away.


    ¡°Some servants these are,¡± Luevo muttered.


    ¡°Ro la la,¡± the creature said, ¡°They are right. We still have two feet.¡±


    ¡°Shut up. And they''re my feet, not ours.¡±


    ***


    The Federation communication device was an old model. Used for Listening Worlds in the early days of interplanar travel, it was older than most planes of existence. Becenti was surprised it still worked. Box-shaped, it was more rust than metal, a thin rod extending from its top. The bottom had the monitor. Tek had replaced the old typing device with a keyboard from the 80s. The large, shaggy mass accompanied him now. Becenti wasn''t sure what plane Tek hailed from ¨C he was from a distant place. But he had a way with technology that made him the envy of other guilds.


    Beritale Landmass extended out before them, but the two of them were here for the Traveling Point. It rippled and shimmered as Becenti approached it, communication device in hand.


    ¡°Right,¡± Tek gruffed, ¡°Put it right there.¡±


    A vague outline of a horn-like finger extended from the mound of fur. Becenti complied, placing it down.


    ¡°It will be alright in the sand, Mr. Tek?¡± he asked.


    ¡°This thing was used in the Ripening Wars, see those plasma scars? It can survive a bit of sand.¡±


    ¡°Very well.¡±


    He had placed it on its side. Tek shambled down, adjusting his glasses ever so slightly as he typed a few word phrases into it, claws ever so gently poking at the keys on the keyboard.


    ¡°Now, what plane?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Methuselah,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Methuselah?¡± Tek said, ¡°Let me guess, Blue Sky Waiting?¡±


    ¡°The very same,¡± Becenti said, ¡°They owe us a favor.¡±


    ¡°And what are you calling it in for?¡± Tek asked.


    Becenti went quiet. Tek continued clicking on the keyboard.


    ¡°Ah,¡± he said, ¡°One of those favors.¡±


    The rod on top of the communication device flashed a light, and then began extending into the Traveling Point. A few moments passed as Tek continued making calculations and typing them into the console.


    ¡°You''re a lucky man, Methuselah is leaving forecast with the Silver Eye very soon,¡± Tek said.


    Becenti nodded at that. The Silver Eye was home to thousands of Traveling Points ¨C and while interplanar communication was next to impossible, putting a communicator inside a Traveling Point and having it talk to a communicator in the Silver Eye was an effective workaround.


    Tek clicked a few more buttons, before huffing in satisfaction.


    ¡°Now it''s a waiting game,¡± he said.


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Becenti replied.


    ¡°Think they''ll pick up?¡±


    ¡°Aldr knows me,¡± Becenti said, ¡°They have an outpost in the Eye. It''ll pick up our signal and relay it to Methuselah.¡±


    He could almost imagine the signal now, reaching out from Everlasting Truth and warping towards the Inner Reach, on a small Listening World that Blue Sky Waiting had an outpost on. The signal hitting them, their communication device dipping into the Traveling Point into Methuselah, making its way towards Stormkeep, their guildhall.


    A few hours passed. Tek took out a bottle of coffee and began sipping at it. Becenti opened up a book and sat down in the sand. Occasionally a line of code would read out on the communication device, Tek would look at it, click in a few corrections, then continue his waiting. No words passed between the two of them ¨C neither of them were much for conversation.


    Then a crackle from the communicator. Tek looked over.


    ¡°What do you know, they picked up,¡± Tek said.


    ¡°I said Aldr knows me,¡± Becenti said.


    They were too far away from the Inner Reach to have an image, but they didn''t need one. Aldr Fatebreaker¡¯s voice was seasoned, calm, and above all memorable, just cracked and dry enough to be witty, just rich enough to be wise. Becenti could imagine the three-eyed old man, spear in hand, a small smile on his bearded face.


    ¡°Is that Myron, or Vyde?¡± Aldr asked.


    ¡°Myron.¡±


    ¡°Ah, Myron. Good to hear from you. How''s the guild?¡±


    ¡°In good spirits,¡± Becenti said, ¡°We picked up another metahuman.¡±


    ¡°Ah, good. Company for the road you walk, hmm?¡±


    Becenti''s eyes narrowed, just barely, at the veiled meaning behind Aldr''s words.


    ¡°Yes,¡± he said at length, ¡°He''s proven himself... sufficient.¡±


    ¡°I hope he''s pulling you out of that crab shell of yours, old friend,¡± Aldr chuckled, ¡°Now, what do you need with an old guildmaster like me?¡±


    ¡°Straight to business, then,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°You were never much of a socialite, Myron. I know you aren''t talking to me for old time''s sake. You would have visited, for that.¡±


    Becenti rubbed his temples.


    ¡°I need,¡± he thought of his words, ¡°I need to call in that favor.¡±


    ¡°Which one?¡± Aldr asked.


    ¡°I didn''t recall we were keeping count,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°I owe you one, you owe me three. Wakeling owes me forty-five.¡±


    ¡°The one, then,¡± Becenti said, ¡°From Naragos.¡±


    ¡°A large favor indeed, and one that Blue Sky Waiting owes your entire guild. Wakeling is alright with this...?¡±


    ¡°I need to get in contact with Captain Kristandi,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°That''s Admiral Kristandi now,¡± Aldr said, ¡°And I thought you still had his number?¡±


    ¡°I...¡± Becenti sighed, ¡°I lost contact with him.¡±


    ¡°''Broke off'' contact, more like,¡± Aldr chided, ¡°Wakeling was right. You can''t outrun your past, Myron.¡±


    More dimensions to those words. Was Aldr aware of the communications? He was more in-tune with the Silver Eye. Perhaps the old man was letting more than he let on.


    No. Best not to think on that now.


    ¡°I need to get in contact with him,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Please. I need to-¡±


    He glanced over at Tek. Tek was listening intently, the great mass stooped down by his shoulder. Becenti''s eyes narrowed into a warning glare. Tek returned it, though Becenti could only see the glasses barely poking out of his hay-like fur.


    ¡°Very well,¡± Tek said, ¡°But you owe me a drink.¡±


    He rose and ambled away from the Traveling Point.


    ¡°Teknogan, I take it?¡± Aldr mused.


    ¡°Forget about him,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Aldr. This is important.¡±


    ¡°It seems like it is,¡± Aldr said, ¡°So, what do you need to get into contact with Kristandi for?¡±


    ¡°I need to get to Avro,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I need to check the prison there.¡±

 16. The Guild of One

    ¡°There it is! There''s the jungle!¡±


    There was an almost hysterical touch in Luevo''s voice as he pointed at the line of green on the near horizon. And Joseph couldn''t blame him. The storm had whipped up once more during their travel, delaying their journey once more. Three days of pushing through snow, or carving it away with his soul to make a path, of non-stop blizzard, of snow hiking up to his waist at some points.


    Three days of Luevo''s whining, of the strange, chittering creature that sometimes rhymed over his complaints, of Nole''s ugly grunts and Shetavalk''s desperate attempts to keep a jovial air.


    And now, it was at an end. The mountain sloped downwards, still caked in snowdrifts, but the white soon melted away.


    It was a sudden change. The snow disappeared completely, overtaken by a wall of jungle. A mud-brown river snaked out of nowhere, right at the dividing line between the two climates, as though they were two pieces from different puzzles that had been jammed together.


    ¡°That''s impossible,¡± Joseph said. He pointed out towards the jungle, ¡°There''s got to be some transition, right?¡±


    ¡°The air here is a tad bit warmer,¡± Shetavalk said, ¡°But not by much. Such is the nature of the lands of Nesona ¨C they stutter and stop and immediately shift to the next landscape.¡±


    ¡°How far does it go?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Several dozen miles,¡± the Spioa answered, ¡°Though, I am not exactly sure about the specifics. Koma is the largest landscape on Nesona. It will take us a while to push through this place ¨C a few weeks, perhaps.¡±


    ¡°A few weeks?¡± Luevo interceded, ¡°Aren''t we close to any of the major roads?¡±


    ¡°Have you never been to Koma before?¡± Shetavalk asked, ¡°There are no roads. It''s all jungle, the roots cover over anything that''s cleared in a few days.¡±


    ¡°But the road''s right here!¡± Luevo cried out, ¡°I can see it! There''s even a road sign that says we''re entering into Koma!¡±


    He pointed at the sign that helpfully said ''Koma Ahead,'' as though that were not obvious enough.


    ¡°And a river begins in Koma, flowing right from the dividing line as though it had always existed. The rules of one land are not the same as another,¡± Shetavalk said.


    ¡°Aren''t you the prince?¡± G-Wiz asked, ¡°Aren''t you supposed to know these things?¡±


    ¡°I-¡± Luevo stammered, ¡°As the crown prince of Ionica, it is my responsibility to, ah, only know things befitting his station.¡±


    ¡°Such as?¡± Joseph prodded.


    ¡°Kingly things,¡± Luevo said, ¡°Such as how to run a nation.¡±


    ¡°For the love-¡± Nole interrupted, ¡°Just leave him be. We have to hear enough of his reedy little voice as is.¡±


    ¡°I beg your pardon, my reedy little voice?¡±


    ¡°He''s kind of right,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°It is pretty reedy.¡±


    The prince was at a loss for words, standing in mute outrage as the party began making their way downhill. After a few moments of silence, he gave out a defeated sigh.


    ¡°Ro la la, it is pretty reedy, ro lay lee.¡±


    ¡°Shut up.¡±


    ***


    The transition was immediate. One moment it was the biting cold of winter that sunk into Joseph''s bones, the next it was sticky, humid, altogether too hot. Joseph, layers of cloaks already drenched from pushing through the snowstorm, felt himself begin to overheat. He began peeling off layers of cloaks off of himself.


    ¡°Leave them on the ground,¡± Shetavalk said, ¡°We won''t need them going through here, and they''ll just weigh you down.¡±


    ¡°My mom always told me not to litter,¡± Joseph joked.


    No one laughed. Not even a chuckle. Nole gave him a vile, bemused smirk. Joseph rolled his eyes and let the joke die, casting it off with his winter gear. The air was all too suffocating here ¨C sweat was already beading down his temples and salting his hair. The loud whoops of apes dominated the treetops, along with the sounds of buzzing insects and the occasional loud croon of a tropical bird. Joseph could see them flapping high above ¨C tomato-colored parrots, birds of paradise with blue and purple crests, toucans with banana beaks chittering to one another, miniature Barbaras with their miniature arguments.


    And the going was, predictably, rough. In a different way from the mountains. Back there, they had to constantly push through the snow, literally digging their way to freedom. Here, it was much like the forest around Lake Oval, back on Londoa ¨C roots tangled the ground into a maze, though this time there was plenty of mud to sink into as well. Rivers occasionally crisscrossed the jungle floor, veering this way and that ¨C the one that led into Koma had soon split off in a dozen streams. Most of them were small, though a few were large enough that they had to ford across.


    ¡°Dolphins live in these ones,¡± Shetavalk said. He pointed down towards the still surface of a particularly large bend as they passed over it, using a downed tree trunk as a makeshift bridge, ¡°Pink ones. Mostly blind.¡±


    ¡°Anything dangerous to look out for?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°The otters,¡± the Spioa said, ¡°They hunt dolphins ¨C and anything else they can get their teeth into. Apex predators, they are.¡±


    Joseph saw a small colony of them as they made their way to the opposite bank. He could just make them out swimming in the water, brown heads just barely skimming the surface. A few were lounging on the shore.


    And each was the size of a saltwater crocodile.


    ¡°I hate this,¡± Luevo muttered, ¡°I hate all of this. Why do we even have this place? It could have been a nice field, or a pretty forest-¡±


    ¡°Ah, shut yer trap,¡± Nole said, ¡°If it makes ye feel any better, it won''t be around much longer.¡±


    Joseph stopped at that, looking towards the trees. He could just make out one of the birds of paradise, scarlet chest in full bloom as it bobbed up and down in a mating display towards a potential mate.


    ¡°What will happen to the creatures here?¡± he asked.


    ¡°They''ll die,¡± Nole grunted, ¡°This place will become like the Deadlands, methinks. The birds''ll go to the mountains, where there won''t be no food. The otters will starve without rivers to hunt in.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Joseph said, ¡°That''s not a good thought.¡±


    ¡°That''s life, lad,¡± Nole said, ¡°Get used to it.¡±


    ***


    A problem arose when they approached the River Anar.


    Luevo had seen it in his history books from a child, a vast river that stretched across the length of Koma. It was certainly wide ¨C the shore on the other side, while they could swim to it, still seemed far too distant ¨C the trees were blotted into brushes of green, the shoreline of rocks a mosaic of grays and whites. The chocolate brown water was almost too calm, and Luevo wasn''t sure he could see the bottom. Worse, just downriver, on the other shore, were the otters. A dozen of them, by Luevo''s count. The adults were resting on rocks while a few pups nestled beside them.


    All of them were staring at the group. Already a few of them were slipping into the water, ripples ringing out, their movement silent compared to the din of the forest.


    ¡°No choice,¡± Shetavalk said, ¡°We''ll need to swim across.¡±


    ¡°We, ah, can''t find a bridge?¡± Luevo said, a bit apprehensive, ¡°Those otters look rather hungry.¡±


    ¡°Closest one I can surmise is several days away,¡± Shetavalk said.


    ¡°So we walk to the bridge, then,¡± Luevo said.


    ¡°And delay us?¡± G-Wiz grumbled, ¡°Fat chance. The sooner we get out of here, the better. I''m sick of hearing you whine and complain.¡±


    ¡°It''s not whining and complaining!¡± Luevo defended, ¡°I just don''t want to die!¡±


    ¡°Yer screamin'' too much,¡± Nole growled, ¡°Yer all too scared. Here, I''ll distract ''em. The rest of yous best be on yer way.¡±


    ¡°Are you...¡± Joseph glanced at the troll, ¡°Are you sure?¡±


    ¡°Aww, gettin'' soft, lad?¡± Nole gave him a lopsided, almost villainous grin.


    ¡°Fat chance, I hope you taste as bad as you smell,¡± Joseph said.


    Nole let out a sharp, pointed chuckle as he began trudging into the water.


    ¡°Don''t worry, Papa Nole will just be a moment.¡±


    Then he submerged completely, though Luevo could see a trail of bubbles begin popping to the surface, moving in the direction of the otters.


    ¡°Best we get a move on,¡± Shetavalk said.


    ¡°He was serious,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Holy shit, he was serious-¡±


    ¡°Get a move on, come on!¡± G-Wiz yelled. She was second into the water, wading until it reached her waist, before diving in and swimming as fast as she could.


    ¡°Shit,¡± Joseph pushed back Luevo, following in G-Wiz''s wake. Shetavalk and the serpent were not far behind.


    ¡°Go,¡± the creature said, ¡°Go, la la.¡±


    ¡°That''s the worst one I''ve heard from you yet,¡± Luevo said, ¡°And I''m not going, because I''m not an idiot-¡±


    ¡°Go!¡±


    Something lurched in his legs, and Luevo felt himself pulled into the water like a marionette on a puppet''s strings. He hadn''t gone swimming in ages, and the fact that he couldn''t feel the bottom as he tumbled deeper into the river terrified him. He could just barely make out the serpent guildmember ahead of him, great snake tail rowing back and forth like an eel''s.


    He turned his head over as he paddled to see Nole''s large bulk break the surface for a moment, a strange mint green in the sea of brown. Then he surged downwards, apparently to intercept their predators.


    ¡°Thou must swim,¡± the creature rumbled.


    ¡°Shut up,¡± Luevo grimaced.


    He had never been a very good swimmer. It was beneath a prince, he felt, to flail about like some sort of drunken octopus. Unless, of course, he was in the privacy of his own bed, and was joined by a lover or three.


    Shetavalk and Archenround were already at the opposite shore, the Spioa turning and offering his spear to Joseph, who grabbed hold to pull himself out of the water. Luevo was still halfway across.


    ¡°Wait for me!¡± he screamed, ¡°Your Kimao demands you wait for him! I''m not as fast as you are!¡±


    And now that damnable G-Wiz was on the shore. The guild watched in mute anticipation as Luevo flopped through the muck, his vision darkening from the effort. He was aware of movement to his left.


    And then he was aware of something sharp grasping around his ankle and pulling him down.


    His mouth and lungs filled with water as he screamed, pain racking up his leg as whatever was grabbing him thrashed about. Luevo could see, through the dark murk of the water, the forms of otters circling around him, though many of them were distracted by a large form pulling at them, clawing at them, diving down to whatever was grabbing the prince.


    The otter biting his foot let go, a rush of water swirling away from him.


    ¡°Ro la la,¡± the creature said, ¡°Swim, Luevo.¡±


    Its voice roiled in his mind, bubbling and insubstantial. He floated, downriver and beneath the water, his mind fuzzing away, exhaustion ¨C absolute exhaustion ¨C seeping away whatever little strength remained in his body.


    ¡°Ro lay lee, must I do everything?¡± the creature muttered.


    Arms surged out of his shoulders, grasping upwards and pushing through water.


    ¡°Thou must swim, Luevo!¡± the creature rasped, ¡°Ro lay lie, thou shalt die!¡±


    Something weak stirred within him. Weak, yet just strong enough to get his body into motion. Luevo''s arms rowed upwards, towards the surface. His chest was beginning to burn from a lack of air -


    A hand shot out, electric blue and steaming the water around it. Luevo grabbed hold of it, tension releasing from his body as it pulled him upwards like a fish on the line. It felt like he was holding a sleeping limb, the way it fuzzed over his body.


    The metahuman pulled him ashore. Luevo coughed and sputtered, eyes burning as he turned towards the river. Nole was still in there, the pack of otters distracted by the troll, although a few of them were already moving away, sporting nasty claw marks that matted red lines in their fur. The party watched as those that remained dove deeper into the water after Nole. All movement on the surface ceased.


    Then, in a burst of panic, the otters erupted out like geysers, squeaks and snarls accompanying them as they retreated downriver, disappearing around the bend. Nole broke the surface of the water a moment after, an ugly, victorious smile on his face as he made his way to the rest of the party. He carried on his back one of the otters, which he unceremoniously tossed to the ground in front of them.


    ¡°Dinner,¡± he said.


    Luevo blanched. Nole had been cut to ribbons, flesh stringing down and torn free from his skin. His right arm had been de-sleeved, red muscle and bone marred by the river¡¯s brackish water. Yet he seemed unperturbed, as did the rest of the party save Joseph.


    ¡°Jesus,¡± Joseph said. Luevo noticed he was clutching his stomach, ¡°Are you... are you alright?¡±


    ¡°What, this?¡± Nole let out a dark chuckle, ¡°Oh, I''ve had worse.¡±


    As if on cue, the wounds began to knit themselves shut. Skin began creeping up the torn arm, the flesh closing up the bites and scrapes. Even Nole''s eye, which had been burst like a jelly donut, began regenerating, re-inflating like a balloon, the pupil sliding back into place.


    Luevo turned and vomited his lunch. Joseph looked like he wanted to join him.


    ¡°Gross, Nole,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°What?¡± Nole said, ¡°Ye can see worse at a movie theater.¡±


    ¡°Grab what you can of the otter,¡± Shetavalk said, ¡°We travel light. My liege, your leg.¡±


    Luevo, his ribs and stomach aching from his heaving, looked down. A nasty bite mark punctured his leg, the wound leaking freely down his leg, staining his traveling robes.


    ¡°Oh,¡± Luevo said. He was aware he was beginning to slip, ¡°O-oh.¡±


    And he lost consciousness.


    ***


    ¡°Oh, quit making fun of him, Nole. This is probably the worst wound he''s ever had,¡± G-Wiz said.


    They had to make camp for the night by the river bank. The prince still hadn''t regained consciousness ¨C though Joseph suspected he was faking it, giving them an excuse for him to rest. Archenround had bound Luevo''s leg with a thick bandage, stuffing it with a few sharp-smelling herbs to prevent infection. The prince rested now in one of the tents.


    ¡°Aw, he can''t even hear us,¡± Nole said, ¡°What he can''t hear won''t hurt ''im. ''Sides, you know I''m right.¡±


    ¡°Maybe,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°But maybe you should, I don''t know, lay off him a little?¡±


    ¡°G, is that a bit of compassion?¡± Nole chuckled, ¡°That''s rich, comin'' from ye.¡±


    G-Wiz shot him a glare, ¡°I''m not goin'' soft, if that''s what you think.¡±


    ¡°Ah, whatever,¡± Nole said, ¡°If he lives, he''ll get tough. Lord knows, I have.¡±


    He flexed a bicep, pointing at a near-imperceptible sliver of slightly lighter flesh, ¡°See this ''ere? Almost my entire arm was damn near torn off by a Dire Tyrannosaur.¡±


    ¡°A dire tyrannosaur...?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Aye. Like a tyrannosaur, but dire.¡±


    ¡°Must''ve been a dire situation,¡± Joseph said. The thought of Nole''s past injury made his stomach turn, ¡°So you, what, regenerate?¡±


    ¡°Aye,¡± Nole said, ¡°The worst shit like this leaves scars. Good scars ¨C though all scars are good.¡±


    ¡°No wonder you went into the river first, then,¡± Joseph said, ¡°You knew the otters were coming. You knew you could take them.¡±


    Nole nodded, ¡°Aye.¡±


    ¡°No wonder you''re such an ass about things, too. Anything that''s thrown at you, you can heal from. There''s no real challenge, no real growth.¡±


    Nole narrowed his eyes at Joseph''s words. He brought a claw over to his flex bicep, digging it into his flesh and pulling downwards. Blood trailed with it, then became subsumed by flesh as it healed away. His bicep was trembling.


    ¡°Still hurts, lad,¡± Nole said, ¡°I felt all o'' that back there. Every single bite. I feel everything. Every time something like that happens, I feel Sister Death beckoning me to her side.¡±


    And Joseph ¨C for the first time ¨C didn''t feel the need to retort. He went quiet, humbled by the troll''s serious tone. Nole turned his hooked nose towards him.


    ¡°So don''t pretend like I don''t know pain, lad. I''ve got more scars than ye have skin.¡±


    Luevo rustled in his tent.


    ¡°The sleeping prince awakens,¡± Shetavalk noted.


    ¡°And we didn''t even need a kiss,¡± G-Wiz said.


    Archenround slithered over to his side, extending out an arm. One which the prince took, groaning as he rose up. For a moment, Luevo rubbed his temples. Then he looked down at his leg.


    And screamed.


    ¡°By the gods, I''m mutilated!¡±


    ¡°Shut up!¡± Nole growled.


    ¡°I''m a monster!¡± the prince fell to his side, tears springing down his cheeks, ¡°My leg! My beautiful leg!¡±


    His watery eyes fell on Shetavalk and contorted into rage.


    ¡°You''ve ruined me!¡± he hissed, ¡°You and your guild! If you had been faster, I wouldn''t be a... a... a monster!¡±


    There was no better term for it. Shetavalk broke down into a fresh fit of sobs again, clutching at his bandaged limb. Even Joseph had to roll his eyes at the sight.


    ¡°Relax,¡± he said, ¡°My... prince, or whatever. It''s only a leg.¡±


    ¡°Only-¡± Luevo''s head shot out from his nested arms, ¡°Only a leg? Maybe to you, you stupid little peasant, but a king cannot be a cripple. A... a...¡±


    ¡°It''s honestly not that bad,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Seriously, that could''ve been a lot worse.¡±


    ¡°It could''ve been a lot better too-¡±


    And Archenround, clutching a large, seven-star leaf, wrapped a hand around Luevo''s face. Luevo let out a wild, muted scream, thrashing this way and that, and then was still.


    ¡°Chloroform?¡± Joseph asked.


    Archenround nodded, shooting Joseph a few hand signals.


    ¡°Something akin to that,¡± G-Wiz translated, ¡°He''ll be out for a while.¡±


    ¡°God, finally,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I thought he''d never shut up.¡±


    ¡°And I thought I''d never agree with the newbie,¡± Nole grunted. He rose to his feet, ¡°Shetavalk, shall we continue?¡±


    ¡°It''s getting late,¡± Shetavalk said. He closed his eyes. Joseph noted the wind pick up for a few moments, clean and clear, certainly cooler than the jungle''s mug. The wind of the Spioa ¨C he could almost see their spiked limbs traveling with the breeze.


    ¡°The jungle, it''s quiet,¡± the Spioa said at last.


    ¡°Somethin''s hunting us,¡± Nole growled.


    ¡°Whatever caused that avalanche?¡± G-Wiz asked. There was a slight tremble in her voice.


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± Shetavalk answered. He turned back towards the river, looking behind them and the path they had forged through the jungle. Much of it was disturbed now, Joseph noted ¨C branches and leaves bent back to push forward. An obvious trail, Joseph was sure even he would have been able to follow them.


    ¡°G-Wiz,¡± Shetavalk''s voice was quiet, ¡°Make a camp above us.¡±


    ¡°You got it,¡± G-Wiz began to pad her keytar, small electric-pink notes wafting upwards, popping like balloons above with a synthetic zap. The pink stuck to the trees, forming a floor.


    ¡°Kind of obvious, don''t you think?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Too obvious,¡± Shetavalk said, ¡°But it makes an effective canopy in the treetops high above. Nole, climb over and set a tent up there.¡±


    Nole complied, grappling onto a tree trunk and zipping upwards. A few minutes passed as he propped a tent up high above.


    ¡°No, we''ll be using less obvious means,¡± the Spioa said, ¡°Up in the treetops, nonetheless. Larger predators stalk the forest at night.¡±


    He walked a bit deeper into the jungle, spear poking at various trunks, before he seemed satisfied with one of them and began to climb. Archenround, who had tied Luevo to her back, followed him up. Joseph craned his neck upwards. There were plenty of large branches, and he could see that Archenround was lashing a few of them together, putting blankets on top of them. With a sigh, Joseph prepared to join them. Electrical arms surged out of his shoulders. Just the arms ¨C he didn¡¯t need to bring out the whole thing. The clawed hands curled around the trees and began to climb up.


    ¡°We''ll need to keep watch,¡± Shetavalk said as he saw Joseph reach their makeshift fort, ¡°Both to make sure none of us fall and to make sure whatever''s hunting us...¡±


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    He went quiet at that, casting a furtive glance towards the ground below. He could see Nole catching up to them now, G-Wiz hanging onto his back, arms wrapped around his neck.


    ¡°What''s chasing us, Shetavalk?¡± Joseph asked, ¡°Seriously, you don''t have to hide it.¡±


    ¡°I have my suspicions,¡± Shetavalk said.


    ¡°Just suspicions?¡± Joseph asked.


    The Spioa sighed, ¡°Well, they need to be able to survive the intense cold, and keep up with us ¨C though, that isn''t difficult, considering how slow the going is.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Joseph said. His electrical arms fizzled out, and he leaned on a tree branch, arms resting behind his head, ¡°What else?¡±


    ¡°I see...¡± Shetavalk went quiet, as though he was unsure of what to say. No, unwilling to speak, as though just saying his theories would bring them into reality. Archenround slithered from her perch, having hung Luevo from a branch, and rested a hand on his shoulder. He looked over at it, seeming to steel himself, before continuing.


    ¡°I see two theories,¡± he began, ¡°The first is that the avalanche was a natural occurrence, and that we lost our pursuer.¡±


    ¡°Makes sense,¡± Joseph said, but something in the way Shetavalk had spoken that rubbed him the wrong way, ¡°What''s the other theory?¡±


    Nole and G-Wiz had finished joining them. Shetavalk turned to the troll.


    ¡°Nole, what did you hear?¡±


    ¡°When?¡±


    ¡°During our trek through the mountains, just before the avalanche,¡± Shetavalk said.


    Nole scratched his chin, making purchase against a stray hair that he plucked out, ¡°Hmm, a wee bit difficult to remember...¡±


    ¡°Please, it is imperative.¡±


    ¡°Shit, Sheets, ye expect me to remember what I heard?¡±


    ¡°You were the most alert of us,¡± Shetavalk said.


    ¡°I smelled shit, but I didn''t hear anythin'',¡± Nole growled. Then he scratched his chin, ¡°No, wait, I do remember hearin''... somethin''.¡±


    The group were staring at him as he pondered at his memory, teeth bared and grinding as he struggled to remember the details just before the snowslide.


    ¡°Lemme be clear,¡± Nole said, ¡°What I remember... it might be wrong. Brain plays tricks on ye, puts in yer mind what''s not there ''cause yer mind''s expectin'' somethin'' to be there.¡±


    ¡°What was it, then?¡± Shetavalk said.


    ¡°Hammerin'', of some sort,¡± Nole said, ¡°Or... punchin''. It was repeated, one, two, lost in the storm.¡±


    ¡°That''s not really much to go off of,¡± Joseph said, crossing his arms, ¡°It''s as you said, you could be misremembering.¡±


    ¡°All the same,¡± Shetavalk said, ¡°One must not be so hasty when it comes to the multiverse. If Nole heard hammering, perhaps he did.¡±


    G-Wiz began to catch onto Shetavalk''s musings. Her forehead knitted in concern as she said, ¡°You''re not saying-¡±


    ¡°That whoever pursued us was strong enough to punch the mountain until they triggered an avalanche,¡± Shetavalk said.


    His words hung in the air. Despite the warmth and humidity of the jungle, Joseph felt his blood run cold as the full meaning of the Spioa''s theory tumbled down on him, as harsh and as intense as the avalanche.


    ¡°That''s-¡± he stammered, ¡°That''s impossible. There''s no way-¡±


    ¡°It''s not unheard of,¡± Shetavalk said, ¡°There are powerful individuals out there. Aldr, the guildmaster of Blue Sky Waiting, is said to be strong as a mountain-¡±


    ¡°We''d know if it was Aldr chasing us,¡± G-Wiz''s voice was higher than normal, ¡°He''d make a big show of it-¡±


    Behind them, Luevo stirred. Joseph spun ¨C perhaps a bit too quickly, as Nole let out a chuckle as he stared at the prince. Luevo got up, shivering a bit as he yawned.


    ¡°What''s going on?¡± he asked, ¡°Something about punching a mountain?¡±


    ¡°Knew he was awake,¡± G-Wiz groaned, ¡°Jesus, dude, you''re the worst.¡±


    ¡°As your prince-¡±


    ¡°Not my prince,¡± G-Wiz spat.


    ¡°As Kimao, then, I take offense,¡± Luevo sat up, ¡°Really, you should all be more polite when speaking to me.¡±


    ¡°We''re talking about important shit,¡± Joseph said, ¡°So unless you have something to say, keep quiet.¡±


    ¡°Excuse me, I am not some child to be coddled!¡± Luevo said, ¡°If something is pursuing me, I''d like to know what.¡±


    Nole turned to Shetavalk, ¡°Then what is pursuing us, Sheets?¡±


    The Spioa was quiet, before simply shaking his head.


    ¡°I don''t know.¡±


    Luevo blinked, ¡°You don''t know? Then why are you even here, then?¡±


    ¡°Hey, watch it,¡± Nole warned.


    ¡°We''ll take watch,¡± Shetavalk interrupted, ¡°Please, friends, enough. We should rest ¨C we don''t know what lies ahead.¡±


    ¡°Or behind,¡± Nole growled.


    ¡°Indeed. Nole, Archenround, you''re on first watch. The rest of you, get some sleep.¡±


    A dark tension hung in the air as Nole glared at the prince. Luevo returned Nole''s look with a foppish smirk, before he settled down.


    ¡°Wake me up in the morning, will you?¡± he said, ¡°Your prince needs his beauty sleep.¡±


    ***


    Joseph was awoken for the second shift. Shaken awake by Archenround, who was already slithering down the tree trunk to where Luevo was situated. Joseph was surprised as she rustled him out of his stupor. He could hear his light curses as he glared up at her. His voice, tightened and annoyed, meandered its way upwards to where Joseph was resting.


    ¡°Ahh, yes, the one who can''t speak.¡±


    Silence.


    ¡°Yes, I can read your sign language. I did have to take a second language at university, you know. We''re not all swamp rats here, contrary to popular belief. Now, what in the hell did you wake me up for? I''m not going to, ah, bed you, if that''s-¡±


    Joseph heard a sharp slap and Luevo cry out.


    ¡°Fine, fine! I''ll shut up. What do you want?¡±


    Another bout of silence ¨C Joseph supposed Archenround was signing to him. He wasn''t sure how the prince could see her in the darkness, but his voice became far quieter, more sullen, before Joseph heard him shimmy up the tree. He could just make out the prince''s eyes, which glowed faintly in the dark, a silver sheen that seemed to capture the light of the crescent moon high above.


    ¡°Apparently,¡± he said, ¡°I am to keep watch with you.¡±


    ¡°Archenround convinced you of that, then,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°It appears not everyone agrees with your leader''s decisions,¡± Luevo said, ¡°Really, you Amber Foundation are quite the unruly lot.¡±


    Joseph simply shrugged in reply. Luevo, the silver light of his eyes lighting the world ever so subtly, gave him a lopsided smirk. It looked eerie, cast in the half darkness, a toothless Cheshire''s smile.


    ¡°You don''t seem to have much of an opinion here, huh,¡± he said.


    ¡°I''m not staying with the guild for much longer,¡± Joseph said, ¡°So all of this is just...¡±


    ¡°Another job. You deal with the bullshit, keep your head down, get paid. I can respect that,¡± Luevo let out a chuckle, ¡°You''re just another mercenary.¡±


    Something about Luevo''s words rankled Joseph. A spark of anger poked in his chest, ¡°Just another mercenary?¡±


    Luevo gave a sinister sort of smile.


    ¡°There''s a difference,¡± he said, ¡°Between guilds and mercenary companies.¡±


    ¡°And what¡¯s that?¡± Joseph¡¯s voice was jagged.


    ¡°Guilds care,¡± Luevo said, ¡°The jobs they choose define them. Some guilds only take specific work.¡±


    ¡°Like Weatherfolk,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Yes, like Weatherfolk,¡± Luevo chuckled, ¡°Whatever the matter is, guilds care about the jobs they choose. They choose meanings for themselves through the work they do. But you?¡±


    His smirk, those glowing eyes, took on a darker sheen.


    ¡°You''re just a mercenary. You don''t have a meaning.¡±


    The words hammered at Joseph like a punch in the gut. He turned to look towards the horizon, shrouded in night as it was, biting down a retort. He had heard those words before, though not quite so flowery and direct. He couldn¡¯t deny the prince¡¯s bullshit, could he?


    Because somewhere, deep down, he was afraid Luevo was right.


    And he didn''t want to face that. Not now.


    ¡°You seem to know a lot about guilds, don''t you?¡± Joseph said, trying to hide the quaver in his voice.


    ¡°Oh, lord, my schooling on Kelstonda was all ''guild this'' and ''Federation that,''¡± Luevo said, ¡°Trust me, Jordan of Earth, be glad you come from an isolated plane. Most places out here, they worship the Federation. Want to be them, emulate them in every action they take, desperately try to pretend to be part of their makeup.¡±


    He let out a high-pitched, forced laugh that whined through the quiet forest. It was still silent out ¨C the world still taut as a fishing line. The prince''s laugh, in light of that, felt like metal scraping on metal.


    ¡°But you, you''re a mercenary, you don''t care about that,¡± Luevo said, ¡°So I''m going to offer you an out.¡±


    ¡°An... out?¡± Joseph, heart still hammering from the sudden outburst, turned to stare at him. Luevo''s eyes were glowing with a cheery air that belied something roiling beneath. Something angry.


    ¡°It''s obvious you don''t like anyone here,¡± Luevo said, ¡°And, to be honest, I''m feeling a bit... charitable. Yes, that''s the word.¡±


    ¡°Charitable.¡±


    ¡°Indeed. This trip has made me see that life is hard and pushes you down,¡± Luevo rolled his eyes, smile still plastered on his face. He fished into the depths of his robes, producing a small, pure white stick.


    ¡°A cigarette. Thanks,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Please, if I had one of those it''d be long gone by now,¡± Luevo chuckled, ¡°But no. This, my friend, is a credstick.¡±


    The words registered in Joseph''s mind. He turned to Luevo, ¡°From the Federation?¡±


    ¡°No, from Edinburgh,¡± Luevo replied, ¡°Of course it''s from the Federation, you stupid man. And it¡¯s not always easy, smuggling these into non-Federation planes.¡±


    There was a glint in his eye.


    ¡°How much is... loaded? On it?¡±


    ¡°Ah, the barbarian and his brain,¡± Luevo mused, ¡°There are three hundred million credits loaded on this baby, my friend. Enough to buy yourself a ship. Or a house. Or whatever it is you want to buy. It''s three hundred million credits.¡±


    ¡°Enough to...¡± Joseph whispered, ¡°Enough to get me out of here.¡±


    ¡°You''re quitting the guild, aren''t you?¡± Luevo said, ¡°You''ll certainly need something to help you once you''re out. Living isn''t free.¡±


    ¡°I could leave the guild now.¡±


    ¡°Yes, and not have to listen to Nole''s ramblings, or that G-Wiz girl''s snorts. She sounds like quite the pig when she laughs, doesn''t she?¡±


    Joseph was quiet, mulling over Luevo''s offer. It was, truth be told, a good one. He could avoid the entire journey. Avoid the dangers. Avoid whatever was hunting them. Avoid Nole.


    His hand snaked out, reaching across towards Luevo, who leaned forward.


    Then retreated back.


    ¡°What''s the catch?¡± he asked.


    ¡°The catch?¡± Luevo said.


    ¡°There''s always a catch,¡± Joseph said, ¡°What do you want from me?¡±


    ¡°My trade is simple, Mr. Jim,¡± Luevo said, ¡°Take the money, get out of here, and I have one less bastard whose face I have to see every fucking minute of this journey.¡±


    ¡°...That''s it?¡±


    ¡°That''s it.¡±


    Words whispered in Joseph¡¯s head. Becenti¡¯s teaching him about metahumanity. Broon, Rosemary, and Contort laughing with him on a wagon, picked up by the wind and carried far behind them. Wakeling¡¯s calm, motherly voice, giving him far more than he deserved.


    The man on the space station, his scream cut short by the loss of his throat.


    And Joseph''s hand closed over the credstick.


    There was a rustle behind him. Movement. A large form towering over him. Joseph turned around, noting that Luevo was melting into the shadows. Nole''s hot breath breathed down, coating his shoulders in warm mist.


    ¡°Shoulda known ye''d be bought off easy,¡± Nole said.


    Joseph looked at the credstick resting in his palm.


    ¡°I never wanted to be here,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Then ye shouldn''t have volunteered for the job,¡± Nole grunted.


    ¡°I meant here, in the multiverse,¡± Joseph said, ¡°In... all of this. In the guild. I want to go home, Nole.¡±


    ¡°That don''t matter now,¡± Nole said, ¡°Not here. We got a job to do, and I''ll be damned if''n I let one of our own turn tail an'' run.¡±


    ¡°Oh, so I''m one of your own now, am I?¡± Joseph objected, ¡°That''s rich, coming from you. You''ve been ragging on me since I got to Castle Belenus.¡±


    ¡°Yer Amber Foundation.¡±


    ¡°I don''t feel like it,¡± Joseph muttered, ¡°And you definitely haven''t helped with that.¡±


    ¡°It don''t matter. Ye came with us. Here, on this job. That means yer part o'' the guild, beholden to the rules. And we don''t just drop jobs like whores at a brothel.¡±


    A meaty hand came down heavy on his shoulder. Nole''s grip was like iron, claws digging into his jacket, would have pierced through if not for the coat''s enchantments.


    ¡°Whatever deals ye got with the prince are yer own business, but ye ain''t leavin''.¡±


    ¡°I am, and you can''t stop me,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Wanna bet?¡±


    Nole''s words came out in a whisper, yet there was challenge to them. Real challenge. Joseph glared up at the silhouette of the troll, the world quiet around them. Something that had been brewing between the two was bubbling over, coming to a head. Shetavalk wouldn''t like it.


    But Shetavalk was asleep...


    Part of Joseph wondered if Luevo had intentionally done this ¨C set him against Nole in this fashion. The prince stood behind them, concealing himself in the shadow of a large branch hanging overhead, silver eyes dancing with cynical amusement at the scene.


    But it didn''t matter. Joseph stared up at Nole. His soul shuddered and manifested, a hand erupting from his shoulder and pushing Nole''s away. The two were caked in the azure glow of the eagle''s claw, played in the reflection of Nole''s beetle-black eyes. The two of them stood there.


    Then Nole tensed. Joseph did too.


    ¡°Put your light out,¡± he growled.


    ¡°No,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°No, lad,¡± the troll''s voice took on a more tense edge, ¡°Put it out, now.¡±


    And then Joseph understood. The fear in Nole''s tone was not because of him. Far from it.


    Their hunter had arrived.


    Luevo began to scream. Something heavy landed behind Joseph, who spun around, soul flaring back to life, only to gasp as a fist the size of a boulder collided with his stomach. It was a backhand, a second thought, almost casual in the way it swept at him. Yet it was enough to knock the wind out of him, enough to send him sailing down to the forest floor, his soul burning to life, shining a tunnel of blue down to the bottom. His electric arms reached down cushioning him as he fell with a thud to the jungle below. Shadows danced in the trees above ¨C Nole screaming and roaring, heavy arms falling on their attacker, though those screams grew distant as he heard the troll get thrown a distance into the jungle.


    ***


    ¡°Luevo!¡± the creature screeched, ¡°Run! Run, Luevo!¡±


    The prince continued to scream as the Grim Walker strode forward, having tossed Nole aside like he was nothing more than a ragdoll. His black duster billowed in the shadow, camouflaged and melding with the night. Almost nine feet tall, he towered high above the prince, staring down at him with soulless, bright green eyes. Somehow the branch supported his weight, creaking and cracking as he stepped forward.


    ¡°Mordenaro!¡± Luevo screamed, ¡°It''s Mordenaro!¡±


    And then Shetavalk was between them, spear flashing forward. It struck Mordenaro, burrowing into his shoulder.


    And the Grim Walker grabbed hold of it and pulled.


    The Spioa was smart enough to let it go, revealing twin knives from his robes as he did so. He danced forward towards the Grim Walker, who let the blades bury themselves into his chest as he grabbed Shetavalk''s shoulder and slammed their heads together. The Spioa went limp, legs dangling over the ground for a brief moment, knives dropping out of his hands, before Mordenaro tossed him away.


    ¡°Run, Luevo!¡± the creature ordered, ¡°Run!¡±


    He felt his body roil, before the creature sprang to life, bursting out of his back and pulling him up, then throwing them to the side. Mordenaro surged forward, trying to grab at him, fingers finding air as Luevo fell down through the trees.


    And then felt himself bounce. He looked down to see himself supported by the same neon pink goo that G-Wiz''s keytar had produced. She herself was in the tree opposite, fingers frantically playing a tune, yellow lines of energy blazing out of the keytar''s handle. She was drawing something on the tree Mordenaro stood on. Words.


    ¡°''Grow''¡± Luevo read.


    And the tree began to grow. Slowly at first, then twisting itself further and further upwards, pushing past its brethren and towering into the night sky. Mordenaro was at its top, staring down.


    Archenround slithered beside him.


    Let''s go, she signed.


    ¡°Right,¡± Luevo stammered, ¡°L-lead the way.¡±


    ***


    Joseph heard a broken crunch next to him.


    ¡°Shetavalk!¡±


    The Spioa groaned as he opened his eyes. A deep purple welt was flowering on the top of his head, and his eyes looked bleary. His leg was twisted at an awkward angle. His breathing was quiet and ragged, as though something sharp was lodged in his chest.


    ¡°Sheets,¡± Joseph crawled over to him, ¡°Holy shit, Sheets.¡±


    The Spioa opened his mouth, gasps escaping from his mouth, then closed. Joseph knelt down to him. Shetavalk was whispering, quiet and stuttered, though his words were too broken and quiet to make out. Yet the wind began to pick up around them.


    Then his eyes locked with Joseph''s.


    Go, he mouthed.


    Joseph stood up, soul swirling around him, rising to its full height, arms spread out like wings, illuminating the world. Yet he could not pull his gaze away. Shetavalk''s chest rose and fell, each breath he took riddled with half-words and broken phrases. His eyes had glazed over now, had taken on an eerie yellow tinge in the light of Joseph''s soul.


    Then the chest rose and fell one last time.


    And the wind continued whipping through the trees.


    In the distance, Joseph heard Nole roar as he continued fighting their assailant.


    ¡°Work to do,¡± he whispered.


    He turned and began to move, but stopped, turning back to Shetavalk''s body. It didn''t feel right, leaving him alone like this.


    ¡°Work to do,¡± he repeated. The words seemed to spur him on, and he began running forward.


    ***


    Mordenaro fell to the earth in silence, the jungle cratering beneath him as he strode forward. Luevo paused to turn, watching the Grim Walker push through the trees towards him.


    ¡°Idiot!¡± G-Wiz yelled, ¡°Let''s go!¡±


    She was right behind him, strumming her keytar. She pointed its handle, generating a bright pink wall between them and Mordenaro, grabbing Luevo¡¯s hand and pulling him away. They stumbled through the trees. Between them, jumping from branch to branch, Luevo could make out Archenround. She had yet to draw out her two massive blades, her ruby eyes staring down at their attacker, who punched through G-Wiz''s wall as though it were nothing, pink light dazzling like broken glass.


    Nole roared behind them, loping down and joining up with them.


    ¡°Where''s Sheets?!¡± he roared.


    ¡°Don''t know!¡± G-Wiz replied, ¡°Joe''s MIA, too!¡±


    ¡°He fell down back there,¡± Nole grunted. He stopped and pivoted, lowering himself down as though he were ready to pounce, ¡°Typical. Now go!¡±


    The prince heard the wind twist as the troll flung himself at Mordenaro, heard the crunch of bones breaking and Nole''s screaming, felt the presence of the troll as he was thrown overhead, landing in front of them. G-Wiz and Luevo stopped as they watched Nole rise back up. His right arm had been obliterated ¨C bent in multiple angles, the hand an ugly purple, though the entire limb began snapping back into place. Nole just shot looks at the two of them.


    ¡°I said GO!¡±


    They moved past him as he threw himself back at Mordenaro once more.


    ***


    Joseph could make out the battle just ahead of him through his eagle''s eyes ¨C the world was sharper, the darkness less foreboding, the silhouettes more detailed.


    Not that he wanted detail as he watched the attacker run his fist through Nole''s chest. The troll simply barked out a roaring laugh in answer, claws slashing at the dark man¡¯s face, before the mountain spun, tossing Mordenaro-


    At Joseph, who dove down, the eagle''s arms spreading out to catch the troll. The force involved pushed the eagle back, pulling Joseph along like a fish on a line, tugging at his back and causing cold pain to echo down his spine. Joseph winced as he put the troll down. Already Nole''s chest was closing up, and his labored, harsh breath relaxed a bit.


    ¡°No time, lad,¡± the troll gasped, ¡°Best ye help me. Show me what that damn bird''s made of.¡±


    ¡°Who the hell is that?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Mordenaro,¡± Nole grunted, ¡°Where''s Sheets?¡±


    Joseph opened his mouth. Then closed it, unable to force the words out. Nole nodded.


    ¡°Right. So it''s us, then. Alright lad, listen up and listen good, ''cause I ain''t about to say it again. Mordenaro''ll kill ye. Don''t make any wrong moves. Hell, even right ones may not be enough. Stay back, lemme take the shots. I can handle ''em.¡±


    And he launched himself forward again. Joseph watched him lope into the shadows.


    ¡°Stay back,¡± he said, ¡°Keep my distance. Right...¡±


    He began chasing after him. Nole was scrapping with Mordenaro again, shadows merging with shadows, as the two danced across the forest floor. At some points, they seemed to meld together, at other points Mordenaro visibly tore Nole away, tossing him into the forest, only for the troll to pounce back in a moment later. In the distance ¨C and getting closer, Joseph noted with a worry ¨C were G-Wiz, Luevo, and Archenround. They had climbed up the trees, G-Wiz perched on one of the branches, her keytar playing a quick ditty.


    Nole sailed overhead once more. Mordenaro, with every move, with every interaction with Nole, grew closer to them.


    ¡°Right,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Time to make the donuts.¡±


    The soul drew back into his body. He pointed a finger, blue lightning crackling at his fingertips. He took aim. A moment. Two.


    And then, his finger pointed at Mordenaro''s back, he let loose the bolt.


    The blow sent Mordenaro forward, the line of electricity carrying him forward, past Luevo and G-Wiz''s tree. The air became rank with ozone as Joseph ran forward.


    ¡°Up the tree, up the tree!¡± Nole roared, ¡°While we still got time!¡±


    Mordenaro was already getting up. Joseph''s soul burst outward, great claws catching onto the knotted trunk and pulling him up. Nole was on the opposite tree, rushing up and meeting with Archenround. The serpent signaled to Nole, who nodded and launched himself down at Mordenaro once more.


    ¡°Joe!¡±


    G-Wiz beckoned him over. Joseph, after a moment''s consideration, threw himself at the tree she was in, electric claws digging into the bark to pull himself upwards. G-Wiz was desperately playing her keytar, a miasma of mismatched notes. She raised her voice over the electronic din.


    ¡°Cooking something up!¡± she said, ¡°Arc needs you to take the prince!¡±


    ¡°Where?¡±


    ¡°Anywhere! Away from here! Nole''s got the ground, Arc''s gonna join him!¡±


    ¡°Right!¡± Joseph said. Then, after a thought, ¡°How do I take him?¡±


    ¡°Carry him, you dolt!¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°You''ve got a big fuckin'' eagle, use it!¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Joseph groaned. He turned to Luevo, ¡°Climb aboard, my prince.¡±


    ¡°Shut up,¡± Luevo was on the verge of tears, ¡°Just shut up and don''t let me die!¡±


    His hand recoiled at the spark of Joseph''s soul, which had fully manifested. Joseph rolled his eyes and scooped up the prince in a great claw, hoisting him up onto the eagle''s back. Luevo looped his arms around the bird''s neck, shivering a bit.


    ¡°So...¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Joseph said, ¡°Weird?¡±


    ¡°Sparky.¡±


    ¡°Real descriptive,¡± Joseph said, ignoring the prince''s further complaints as he concentrated. It was getting easier and easier to use the eagle''s movements ¨C to act as though they were his own. It was like moving his own muscles now, the way its arms caught on branch to branch, traveling forward like some kind of ape. They were getting further away from Mordenaro now...


    ***


    The Grim Walker had ceased attempting to placate Nole, and had instead begun seeking ways to take him out of the battle.


    It had been a game, Nole realized. A damn fun one, too. Painful, perhaps. But all the best ones were.


    Nole always counted the times that he regenerated in a fight. He could do so endlessly ¨C part of the pluses of being a troll, along with good looks and general good cheer. Usually most fights placed one or two regens ¨C enough to heal up after a misplaced knife or burn, here or there.


    Mordenaro had caused him to regenerate forty times already. Almost a record.


    He was aware that Mordenaro was aware that this was a game. That there was almost no way that Nole could actually beat the Guild of One. And he knew that he knew the natural conclusion of their fight. There was almost a question in Mordenaro''s movements, confusion in his action.


    ¡°Because I''ve got a job to do,¡± Nole growled to himself.


    And he rushed at the Grim Walker once more. Mordenaro met his charge, massive hands closing over the troll''s shoulders, his far superior strength lifting Nole up and over his head. Nole scrabbled at him, snarling as he landed behind Mordenaro, who strode forward and, in a fluid motion, carved at a tree, his hand burrowing through it. With a snap, the tree began to fall. Nole roared and went forward again as Mordenaro spun, a hand shooting out, batting Nole''s fists aside, wrapping around his throat and lifting him into the air. For a moment, the two stared at each other ¨C Mordenaro''s eyes were glass-like, cybernetic like Ichabod''s. There was a bright green tinge to them, the obvious sign of night vision.


    Then Mordenaro plunged Nole down into the jagged stump of the tree, burying him down to the stump''s base.


    ***


    ¡°We''re going to die,¡± Luevo cried, ¡°We''re all going to die.¡±


    He could only watch as Nole was taken out of the fight, writhing like a worm on a hook, trying to pull himself upwards from the tree stump he had been impaled on. Jeffrey''s eagle began climbing higher and higher into the treetops, trying to escape Mordenaro''s gaze.


    ¡°We shall not die, ro la la,¡± the creature whispered, ¡°We cannot die, Luevo.¡±


    ¡°Got some bad news, friend,¡± Luevo sniffed.


    Far below, Mordenaro began hefting the fallen tree trunk, putting it on his shoulder as he aimed it like a javelin.


    ¡°Shit,¡± Jose muttered, ¡°Shit-¡±


    He changed directions, trying to make himself smaller, zig-zagging through the trees, the eagle''s arms loping from branch to branch in a frantic fashion. Yet Luevo could tell he was inexperienced ¨C sloppy, even with the way he was moving, as though he weren''t fully used to his own power.


    ¡°My god, man,¡± Luevo groaned, ¡°Did you just get your power?¡±


    ¡°I just joined the guild, cut me some slack!¡± Jordan roared below.


    It would not be enough. The Guild of One was already watching them like a hawk, eyes following each movement the metahuman took. His throw would be true. Luevo knew this. Perhaps Jacob, deep down, knew this...


    And the creature knew this, for it began to rumble and roil in Luevo''s bones. He felt its form shift as it began to do... something.


    ¡°Ro la la, ro lay lee, thou must leap, jump, be free.¡±


    And Luevo let out a scream of pain as it erupted from his back, twisting and wriggling for a few moments, before solidifying into long, thin, insect-like legs. The legs of a locust, which coiled on the branch of a tree and kicked off with Joseph''s leap to the next branch. Mordenaro threw the tree, though his aim was misaligned as the trunk knifed through the air like a javelin, would have hit Luevo head on and broken him from the world.


    It went through Joseph''s eagle instead, which let out a sudden, echoing screech before shattering.


    ¡°Oh,¡± the creature said, ¡°Whoops.¡±


    And the trio began to fall.


    ***


    The wind was whipping around them as they fell. And it was cold.


    Joseph felt cold.


    He had felt his soul break before ¨C back on the station, Robber Fly had broken it pretty well. But not like this ¨C not this...


    Shattering.


    His physical body was fine ¨C though phantom pain spidered its way up his body, up his arms and down his legs. He had curled himself up even as they fell, a dull agony starting to pound with each beat of his heart.


    And then he felt something hard slam into his stomach. For a moment, he thought it was Mordenaro, before he looked up and saw Archenround''s face. She had caught both of them, arm looped around each of their stomachs, carrying them like bags of grain as she coiled through the trees, using her powerful tail to launch her from trunk to trunk. He could not see Mordenaro ¨C with his eagle''s vision gone, the world was dark once more ¨C but he could hear him moving on the jungle''s floor below.


    No, the only light Joseph could make out was the light of the words G-Wiz was writing on one of the trees close to Mordenaro. She was on a larger palm, still playing her keytar, which now was spitting out a line of yellow light, writing in letters.


    Boom, it read.


    Mordenaro was approaching. He hadn''t noticed it yet ¨C or perhaps he could not read it, or perhaps he did not care. Regardless, he rushed at the tree as the word grew brighter and brighter, and then flared like napalm into a cacophony of oranges and reds around him, lighting the world up like a false sun.


    G-Wiz was far away now, resting on a blanket of blue light, which was carried by the increasingly strong winds, looking down below at the explosion. Fire had caught on a few trees, though Joseph watched as the wind, rather than strengthening the flames, began to douse them, choking them down to mere cinders.


    His heart fell as Mordenaro rose out of the remains of the explosion. There was light now from what few sparks remained, and he could make out more of their attacker. Almost nine feet tall, he was wearing a long black duster that seemed unperturbed by the G-Wiz''s detonation. Long, oily black hair hung off of his head, and his eyes pierced green through the artificial dawn. He began to take a step forward.


    Only to find himself pushed back. Joseph felt the wind begin blowing in the opposite direction, swirling around the large man. Mordenaro pushed against the wind, only for it to force him back into the same spot once more. Joseph could see arms in the wind now, thousands of tendrils of air keeping himt rooted nearly in place.


    ¡°Spioa,¡± Luevo coughed, ¡°Lots of them.¡±


    ¡°Thousands of them,¡± Joseph said.


    A hand rested on his shoulder. Joseph looked up to see Archenround. She pointed beyond the jungle.


    ¡°Right,¡± Joseph said. He shivered, feeling a profound emptiness well within him, ¡°L-lead the way.¡±


    Archenround took off once more, bounding from tree to tree, both Joseph and Luevo in tow. They all could feel Mordenaro''s eyes boring into them as they disappeared into the jungle.

 17. The Lands of Nesona

    The ruins of an old temple lay in the middle of the jungle. Once, it had been the standing star of some old civilization that Luevo had studied in his youth. He remembered looking at reconstructions of it in his old textbooks ¨C great statues of heroes and monarchs that doubled as pillars, their arms and shoulders holding aloft a pyramidal roof, the top of which was capped in gold. The Landscape back then had been a savanna, and thus the temple had been built on a sun-hued sea of grass, the stone having been built having been imported from some far away. None of the Landscapes at the time had such unique rock ¨C metamorphic, by the looks of it, though volcanoes were not known to have existed in that time-frame. Thus, it had been presumed the stone had been dragged to Nesona from the multiverse, from some distant place. In them had been carved stories of the civilization''s mythology ¨C their gods and demigods, their demons from hell, ancient travelers with the power to alter reality itself from beyond existence, afterlives studded with jewels and precious metals.


    Now, though, all that remained were ruins, dark-banded quartzite pillars and half-walls standing odd against the greens of the jungle. Day was beginning to peek, just barely, out from the horizon, smeared though it was by the thick layer of clouds above. A dim dawn was returning to Koma.


    Returning, as the survivors hid in the remains of an old storage house, going down its short, nature-scarred stairs, jungle vines creeping around them, attempting to reclaim what remained of the temple. Yet it had survived even the scouring of Koma''s emergence and the ravages of the Landscape¡¯s growth. Perhaps the jungle knew that. Perhaps it did not.


    And Luevo knew he had been having a very bad day indeed that he had started to humanize the trees like a hippie.


    ¡°Ro la la, ro lay lee, we survive another day.¡±


    ¡°Too tired to rhyme?¡± Luevo chuckled.


    ¡°Too tired, ro la la,¡± the creature groaned.


    ¡°Well, I''ve got a name for you, at least,¡± Luevo said, ¡°Rolala.¡±


    ¡°Ro lay lee?¡±


    ¡°That is a pretty dumb name, gee,¡± Luevo said, ¡°Alright, best I could come up with.¡±


    ¡°Rolala,¡± it said, ¡°Ro la la...¡±


    ¡°Do you not like it?¡± Luevo said, ¡°Your prince gives you a name, stupid as it is, and you reject it?¡±


    ¡°I grow, Luevo,¡± Rolala said, ¡°In the naming is the being, and being is the me-ing.¡±


    ¡°Me-ing?¡±


    He felt Rolala shift in his stomach, twisting up until it rode on his shoulder, inking out of his pores. The head now was distinctly locust-like, the multitude of eyes having coalesced into an insect''s.


    ¡°You are ¨C thou art ¨C the Kimao. Carrier of life. In you holds me. I grow only by your hand.¡±


    ¡°So by giving you a name...¡±


    ¡°I grow. Evolve, ro lay lee. And Rolala is a fine name.¡±


    ¡°What, do you want me to teach you how to walk? You already have those legs, and you didn''t even need a name for those.¡±


    ¡°I evolve anyways, but the bonding and the naming ¨C it accelerates it,¡± Rolala said.


    A spark of an idea burst in Luevo''s mind, ¡°So, what, I just have to be your friend, and you''ll get out of my body? I can be myself, again?¡±


    ¡°To be rid of me, ro lay lee.¡±


    An odd twinge of guilt hit Luevo, one he tried to hide from Rolala. Yet the creature was him ¨C it felt all he could.


    ¡°You-thou-¡±


    ¡°Just use ''you,''¡± Luevo muttered.


    ¡°You feel guilt. For using me. Pretending to be a friend, ro la la.¡±


    ¡°I guess, I suppose- Yes, I do,¡± Luevo turned to face the creature''s insect head, ¡°It''s like lying to myself.¡±


    ¡°You do plenty of that, Luevo,¡± Rolala said.


    The prince winced at those words, ¡°Yes. Perhaps I do.¡±


    ¡°In pretending is being,¡± Rolala said, ¡°Until your mask becomes your face.¡±


    He had an inkling of what Rolala was trying to say ¨C but he couldn''t concentrate on that as he heard movement that brought him away from their conversation and back into their predicament. Archenround was keeping watch, her great Sign-Blades drawn, her face drawn in exhausted concentration. The metahuman ¨C Jonathon? Was curled in one of the corners, shaking as though he were cold, despite the relative humidity outside. Their last member, G-Wiz ¨C Luevo could remember that ridiculous name, despite her never really helping him ¨C was half-dozing next to him.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Luevo asked.


    Movement, Archenround signed, Outside. Stay quiet.


    Luevo nodded. He could understand High Federation Sign well enough, but he hadn''t actually used it since he left university. In contrast to Archeround''s swift hand signals, his were sloppy and slow. He could hardly remember how to sign the words.


    Banana, he signed, What movement? M-O-R-D-E-N-A-R-O?


    Perhaps, Archenround replied. He saw her tense, saw her pick up her Sign-Blade.


    Then relax.


    Nole came through the entrance a moment later. He looked none the worse for wear ¨C though judging by his heavy breathing, he had been regenerating constantly through the night.


    ¡°Took me most of the night to get myself unstuck,¡± he growled.


    Is Grim Walker still trapped?


    ¡°Aye, as far as I could tell,¡± the troll said, ¡°Them Spioa were keeping him locked tight.¡±


    ¡°Where''s... where''s Shetavalk?¡± G-Wiz asked, waking up to the conversation.


    ¡°Shetavalk''s dead.¡±


    It was the metahuman who had spoken. He had sat up from his fetal position, though his arms were still wrapped around his legs. The other guildmembers recoiled at his words.


    ¡°There could have been a better way to put that, lad,¡± Nole said.


    ¡°Saying it like you would say it,¡± the metahuman replied.


    ¡°Not like that,¡± Nole snapped, ¡°I may be an old, grizzled asshole, but Shetavalk was a friend. I''d never put his passing out so bluntly.¡±


    The metahuman glared at the troll. The two of them seemed on the verge of another one of their arguments. Then Nole rolled his shoulders.


    ¡°Forget it, ye ain''t worth it,¡± the troll said, ¡°Listen, them Spioa are mad at Mordenaro. But they ain''t goin'' to hold him forever.¡±


    ¡°Mordenaro,¡± G-Wiz murmured. Her face was ashen at the news, too exhausted to grieve, ¡°I''ve heard of that name, haven''t I?¡±


    Guild of One, Archenround signed.


    ¡°Wakeling would''ve mentioned him once or twice,¡± Nole said, ¡°He''s the Grim Walker. A guild in of himself.¡±


    ¡°That''s possible?¡± the metahuman asked.


    ¡°Guilds are legal entities,¡± Luevo said, ¡°If you''re that damn good at your job, you don''t even need anyone.¡±


    ¡°''N'' he''s been around forever,¡± Nole said, ¡°Leastways, as long as I can remember. Some say he''s got secrets not even the Feds know about.¡±


    ¡°And he''s strong enough to start an avalanche by punching a mountain,¡± Joseph said. He shivered a bit and pulled himself tighter together.


    Archenround gave one more glance out the door before turning.


    Are you alright? She signed.


    ¡°Aw, Arc,¡± Nole grimaced, ¡°He ain''t worth the slime on yer tail-¡±


    But Archenround shook her head, We''ll need everyone onboard if we''re to survive this. Especially the metahuman.


    ¡°What''s she saying?¡± the metahuman asked.


    ¡°She''s asking how you''re feeling,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Like shit, I hope.¡±


    ¡°Well, I''ve got some good news then,¡± the metahuman sniped.


    What do you feel?


    ¡°What do you mean by that, Arc?¡± G-Wiz asked.


    What does he feel? Within himself?


    ¡°She''s asking what you''re feeling,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Shit, I hope.¡±


    G-A-L-A-T-E-A.


    G-Wiz sighed, ¡°Sorry, she''s asking you how you feel. Seriously, you good?¡±


    ¡°No, I''m not,¡± the metahuman said, ¡°I feel...¡±


    His hands were shaking as he looked at them.


    ¡°I''ve had my soul broken before, but not like that. It''s... it''s there, I think? Somewhere in my body. But...¡±


    He seemed almost on the verge of tears.


    ¡°I''ve never felt so... empty.¡±


    ¡°Better the soul than me,¡± Luevo said.


    Joseph eyed daggers at him.


    ¡°We should be movin'',¡± Nole said, ¡°Mordenaro ain''t goin'' to be held long.¡±


    ¡°Where are we going?¡± G-Wiz asked.


    ¡°Not sure,¡± Nole said, ¡°Away from here. We might be able to lose ''im in the jungle...¡±


    He trailed off for a moment, as though not believing his own words. Mordenaro had found them easily, the night before.


    Who was to say he couldn¡¯t find them easily again?


    ¡°Our goal remains the same,¡± the troll picked back up, ¡°That alright with you, prince?¡±


    Nole looked at him. Now, Luevo noticed everyone was staring at him ¨C even the metahuman. He felt himself shrink a bit, felt a bit more of that cold fear become crystalline and real as the gravity of the situation weighed him down more and more.


    ¡°Why...¡± he stammered, ¡°Why is he even coming after me?¡±


    ¡°Because someone''s insane enough to hire him,¡± Nole said.


    Because he''s after the Kimao, Archenround reasoned.


    A shiver that was both and yet not his own ran up Luevo''s spine.


    ¡°After me?¡±


    He could feel Rolala quiver a bit, retreating further down and wrapping itself around his spine.


    Yet Archenround offered nothing further. She had already begun signing to Nole as the two of them began discussing plans. G-Wiz walked over to the metahuman.


    ¡°You going to get up?¡± she asked.


    He looked up at her, ¡°Are we... moving?¡±


    ¡°Looks like it,¡± she replied, ¡°Hey Arc, where we headed?¡±


    Deeper into the ruins. The jungle. We will need to be fast. Lose the trail-


    ¡°Does no one care that I''m about to die?¡± Luevo sobbed.


    They all turned to stare at him. The metahuman, despite his shivers, rolled his eyes.


    ¡°Ye ain''t goin'' to die, lad,¡± Nole grunted.


    ¡°That''s Mordenaro, you stupid green-¡±


    ¡°I said ye ain''t goin'' to die!¡± Nole shouted. His voice, calm before, calculated and scratched, exploded out, ringing in Luevo''s ears. The rest of the guild physically winced as the troll stomped over and jabbed a dirty nail into the prince''s chest.


    ¡°Now ye listen here, ye little rat!¡± he said, ¡°We were hired to protect ye, and I''ll be damned if I''m not gonna see it through.¡±


    ¡°You all hate me,¡± Luevo spat.


    ¡°''Course we do! All ye do is whine, complain, ''n'' pretend yer better than all o'' us. Ye think yer so high ''n'' mighty when yer nothin'' more than the prince of some backwater shithole in the ass end of the multiverse,¡± Nole rose up to his full height, glowering down at Luevo''s cowering form, taking up what little left was left in the room, ¡°Yet we were still hired to protect ye. And we guildfolk always do our jobs.¡±


    ¡°You...¡± Luevo was at a loss for words, ¡°You''ll protect me? H-how?¡±


    ¡°What, ye mean against Mordenaro?¡± Nole let out a harsh laugh, ¡°Lad, if it had been regular soldiers guardin'' ye, ye''d be dead by now. We''re Amber Foundation. We don''t die easily.¡±


    Except Shetavalk, Luevo wanted to say, but he wisely kept that to himself.


    We should move, Archenround signed.


    ¡°Right,¡± Nole said, ¡°All of ye, up. Now. Joseph, that includes ye, lad.¡±


    Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    He rumbled over to the metahuman.


    ¡°Are ye gonna get up, or am I gonna have to carry ye like a wee bab?¡±


    ¡°I''m getting up,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Let''s just go.¡±


    ***


    Joseph felt as though the world had closed around him. The sun was not as bright, despite the fact that it now rose high over the jungle trees, burning through the clouds above. The wind was cold and clammy, despite the heat of the morning. All was quiet ¨C nothing had dared to stir after the events of the night before. Shetavalk''s body, contorted, whispering, his head purpled and his legs twisted, were burned into his mind. His walking was unsteady as he trailed behind the rest of the guild.


    He could feel his soul, resting in the pit of his stomach. With each heartbeat, he could feel just a sliver of its strength return ¨C though he did not know how long it would take for him to get back to full form.


    ¡°Dead weight,¡± he muttered.


    ¡°What was that?¡± G-Wiz asked.


    ¡°Nothing,¡± he replied.


    She looked him up and down, then something in her face softened. She said nothing, however, as she turned and pushed on. The ruins continued on for a while ¨C old temples that had been broken and abandoned, shattered like porcelain vases, their stone overgrown with the flora of the jungle. Yet still it stood.


    They did not need to travel long before they found something interesting.


    ¡°A gate,¡± Luevo said.


    ¡°A what?¡± Joseph asked.


    Archenround signed something to the rest of the group. Joseph, despite himself, felt a twinge of frustration ¨C everyone, even the damn prince, could understand what she was signing. He had been the idiot who took Latin in High School, though he wasn''t sure if the sign language Archenround was using was even ASL ¨C he doubted it, anyways.


    ¡°Ye really think that?¡± Nole asked.


    ¡°What''s she saying?¡± Joseph piped up.


    ¡°Says it''s a gate,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°Nice, Einstein,¡± Joseph said, ¡°We all could see that. What''s the big deal? I don''t even see what you''re talking about.¡±


    She looked at Joseph as though he had grown two heads. Nole let out an annoyed sigh.


    ¡°Travelin'' Points ain''t the only way o'' travelin'' through the Multiverse,¡± he said, ¡°Folk back then used to use gates.¡±


    He pointed towards a strange, rectangular stone embedded in a temple wall. Joseph squinted at it as Nole strode forward and began wrenching the vines that had grown over its form. Runes had been carved in, though they had faded and eroded over the years, dim symbols that crisscrossed across its form and down into its firmament.


    ¡°Didn''t Wakeling say that other means of Traveling were risky?¡± Joseph said, ¡°Really risky.¡±


    ¡°Maybe,¡± Nole said, ¡°Maybe not. Archenround thinks it''s our ticket outta here.¡±


    ¡°Out of... here?¡± Luevo said.


    ¡°It leads to another plane, lad,¡± Nole said, ¡°We could skip outta town, give Mordenaro the slip. Find another Traveling Point that brings us back to Nesona.¡±


    ¡°If it works,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°Aye,¡± Nole said, ¡°Arc, yer better at this whole thing than me. What do we need?¡±


    The serpent considered. Then she unholstered one of her blades and slithered over, signing to Nole. After a second, she began to cut at the stone.


    ¡°Makes sense,¡± Nole said, ¡°The metahuman''s out, if that''s the case. G, ye got any juice left in yer Zumbelaphone?¡±


    ¡°What do you need?¡± G-Wiz asked.


    ¡°Energy, and lots of it,¡± Nole said, ¡°If we''re going to get this gate open-¡±


    ¡°Hang on,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Why the hell are we going through?¡±


    ¡°Because it''s either that, or we go back into the jungle,¡± Nole said, ¡°Look, lad, I guarantee ye, we go in there, we ain''t comin'' out. Mordenaro''s a hunter. He''s been stalkin'' us since we left civilization. Ain''t no bones to it, he''ll find us again. And yer outta juice, ''n'' I''m only one troll.¡±


    ¡°So if we go through this gate...¡±


    ¡°We could die, aye,¡± Nole said, ¡°But we''re dead either way, ain''t we?¡±


    Joseph raised a hand to object, but stopped, noting that Nole''s words rang a certain, difficult truth. He closed his mouth, too tired to argue any more, moving to rest his back against a pillar.


    ¡°Alright, you win,¡± he said, ¡°Go on, do your energy shit.¡±


    ¡°Like we need yer approval,¡± Nole nodded to G-Wiz, ¡°Get to work.¡±


    She unslung the keytar and began tapping at it, ¡°It''ll take a moment.¡±


    Archenround gestured. More sign language. Nole nodded.


    No one told Joseph what she signed.


    ***


    G-Wiz was working with the zumbelaphone for a while, pressing its various keys, the keytar''s electric din echoing out into the jungle, strange and lonely against the sounds of the jungle that were beginning to return as the morning went on. There was little food ¨C most of them had abandoned their packs after Mordenaro''s attack. So they sat down and rested, trying to ignore the buzzing insects that had begun to cling to their arms and necks. No one spoke. Nole occasionally let out an annoyed grunt. Archenround at times slithered over to the door, etching another rune into the stone. Luevo held his patched-up leg, the pain returning to him with the absence of adrenaline. Joseph concentrated on getting better, letting his soul rest and re-assemble itself.


    G-Wiz continued her playing. She started off with random notes into the air, before it became more involved as she began playing out actual music. Folk songs from her home, Joseph presumed, done the way of the synthesizer.


    Then it began to become a bit familiar...


    ¡°Nujabes?¡± he said aloud. G-Wiz stopped her playing for a second, then a flash of familiarity dazzled in her eyes.


    ¡°Well, well, a bit of civilization in the Earth boy,¡± she said, before she continued.


    ¡°My brother was obsessed with it when we were teens,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Always Modal Soul when he had the run of the house.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, that''s good,¡± G-Wiz had a serene expression on her face, ¡°I never liked it as much as his other shit. Not exactly my kind of music, though. Prime''s got some good stuff, but it''ll never beat what''s on my home plane.¡±


    ¡°Ah, to each their own,¡± Joseph said, ¡°At least it''s not as bad as Becenti. He says ''Winner Takes It All'' is AC/DC.¡±


    ¡°It... is, though.¡±


    Joseph blinked.


    ¡°Alright, then, what''ve you got from your home plane?¡±


    ¡°Most of Doremi''s shit,¡± G-Wiz said, continuing to key ¨C Joseph noted she had begun the first few notes to ''Thunderstruck,'' before going off into her own thing, ¡°The underground scene ¨C that''s where I''m from ¨C has got all sorts of good shit, though. Mostly pulls from other planes. Prime''s a big one, but Denlat and Neos are big influences.¡±


    ¡°Lots of electronic, I assume,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Hip-hop?¡±


    ¡°Synth,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°The good stuff. Music of the future. None of that violin shit.¡±


    She emphasized this with a brush of her keytar. By now, it was glowing with a bright light, a strange, almost choir-like echo to the electronic stroke of the keys. She looked down at it.


    ¡°We''re all set, Arc.¡±


    Archenround nodded, adding one last etch to the gate. She signed to Joseph.


    ¡°Needs a spark to start,¡± Nole translated, ¡°Ye got that, lad?¡±


    ¡°A... spark?¡± Joseph pulled himself to his feet, shakily making his way to the gate.


    ¡°The zumbelaphone''s going to go off all at once,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°But we need something small to start the whole process. Archenround''s asking if you can do that for us.¡±


    ¡°I...¡± Joseph took a ragged breath, ¡°I might be able to. I''ll try.¡±


    ¡°Ye''d better, or we''re outta luck,¡± Nole said, ¡°Now get to work.¡±


    Joseph shot an annoyed glare at him, before he drew out a single finger, willing his soul to life. It was small ¨C almost like a fledgling, the way it crawled through his body, finally giving a pulse out of his fingertip that sprang to life, blue electricity snaking out of his hand, sparking and crackling like a small fire.


    Archenround pointed at a specific marking ¨C a circular symbol, cut down the middle by her blade. Joseph pointed his finger and popped the lightning into it. Blue light flooded out, moving like a liquid from symbol to symbol. The serpent nodded to G-Wiz, who pointed her Zumbelaphone and cut loose the energy stored within it, a stream of white firing from its handle and into the gate, each rune flooded with power and flaring up like a white star. For a moment, it stood there, the energy shining out. Then, Joseph began making out...


    ¡°A door,¡± he said.


    ¡°Mahogany,¡± Nole noted.


    It was a simple door, though Joseph could see space was warping around its edges, reality being pulled in ever so slightly like a miniature black hole. A carving of a man was etched into the door, around where the peekhole would be. Both hands were raised, and what seemed to be wisps of smoke curled around them.


    No, not smoke...


    ¡°Steam,¡± Joseph said.


    Archenround signed.


    ¡°She says that gates hold hints on what''s on the other side,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°So this gate leads to Kelstonda, then.¡±


    Archenround nodded.


    ¡°Alright, then,¡± Nole said, ¡°Prince! Get yer ass up! We got some planeswalkin'' to do.¡±


    Luevo got up. Joseph noticed his eyes were bloodshot. Had he¡­ had he been crying? But Luevo merely scowled when their eyes met, and both of them looked away.


    ¡°Let''s do this,¡± the prince said, ¡°Kelstonda? Oh, love that place. Beautiful people. Good food. Let''s just get this shit over with.¡±


    Archenround went through first. Then G-Wiz. Joseph took one last glance at the jungle before he stepped through and was awash in light.


    ***


    ¡°Alright, yer next, princey,¡± Nole said.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Luevo said, ¡°A question, my dear troll.¡±


    ¡°Make it quick, we don''t got all day.¡±


    ¡°What''s to think that Mordenaro won''t follow us?¡± Luevo gave him a smirk, a desperate facade of bravado, ¡°I mean, he is the Guild of One.¡±


    It gave the troll pause. Luevo could see the gears roiling in his head. For a moment, Luevo thought he saw Nole falter as the weight of their situation pressed down on him. Then he shook his head.


    ¡°We cross that bridge when it comes, lad,¡± his voice was calm, somber even, ¡°For now, we do what we can. Now go.¡±


    The prince hadn''t expected that. Rather than a rise, he had seen a bit of a fall. He stood, wavering like a willow, as the troll pulled himself back together. Luevo realized what the troll had said before, about protecting him no matter what, rang true. That he cared, perhaps not for Luevo personally, but for what he represented.


    And he resolved that he¡¯d try to be better. For the troll¡¯s sake.


    ¡°I said go, we don''t got all day.¡±


    Nole brought out a great green hand and shoved Luevo through the door.


    ***


    A brilliant, smearing light tinged with rainbow undertones enveloped their worlds, then they landed on the other side. From the muggy, messy heat of the jungle to...


    A muggy, messy heat. That part upset Luevo, who was hoping to have some relief from the humidity and stinky sweat of his compatriots. He couldn''t believe it, yet he was beginning to miss the frigid winds of the mountains as he stepped through the gates and felt the harsh sun beat down on the back of his neck. They were in a savanna, the grass growing long and thin, yellowed by the heat, a couple of stringy trees poking out of the spruce. A dirt road crisscrossed with tire marks was to their right, stretching northwards. A shabby wooden sign was planted in the ground, which G-Wiz approached and squinted at.


    ¡°Chandhala,¡± G-Wiz read, ¡°We''re in Gosterna.¡±


    ¡°Gosterna?¡± the metahuman asked.


    ¡°Province in the Marlish Empire,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°Oh, Chandhala!¡± Luevo cried out, ¡°Good! Went there on a trip once. Lost my virginity-¡±


    ¡°Needed to know that,¡± Job grunted, ¡°Alright, I''ve seen enough. Let''s go.¡±


    Northwards, Archenround signed, Towards Chandhala. Lead the way, G-A-L-A-T-E-A.¡±


    ¡°Right on,¡± G-Wiz said. As a group, the party paced northwards.


    ***


    The journey itself was slow-going. With no water, no food, and running on a distinct lack of sleep, the party dragged on. G-Wiz took point, but as the sweltering heat sapped the strength from her bones, she found herself falling behind with Joseph and Luevo. Nole pushed on, grimacing past the pain as he stomped forward. Archenround seemed hardly affected at all, her serpent''s half lazing a trail of dust behind her as she pressed on.


    ¡°I d-don''t want to do this anymore,¡± Luevo choked. Joseph turned his head to see the prince, who was drenched in sweat, one leg visibly limping, ¡°I don''t want to do this-¡±


    ¡°Ro la la,¡± Joseph heard the barest whisper as the creature the Kimao was carrying twisted its way out of his shoulder. It reminded Joseph of a cricket ¨C no, a locust, though it was only half-formed, ¡°Ro lay lee, you must survive and be, Luevo.¡±


    ¡°He''s right,¡± Joseph coughed, ¡°A bit further, and we''re done.¡±


    ¡°You bastard, we''re in the middle of nowhere,¡± Luevo said, ¡°L-look!¡±


    He gestured towards the empty plain.


    ¡°I try not to,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Come on, man, we''re all dying here.¡±


    ¡°That much is true,¡± Luevo whimpered, ¡°It''s almost poetic. The prince of Ionica, heir to the throne, wasting away far from home, with naught but vagrant guildfolk to accompany him.¡±


    ¡°You know why know one likes you?¡± Joseph said, ¡°It''s because of that.¡±


    Help came an hour later. Joseph stood up and stopped walking as he heard something in the distance. Nole picked up on this and turned.


    ¡°Trouble?¡± he asked.


    ¡°...Maybe,¡± he said, ¡°You hear it?¡±


    ¡°Mmm,¡± the troll nodded, ¡°An engine.¡±


    ¡°Doesn''t sound like one,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Yer too coddled by whatever gas guzzlers they got on Earth,¡± Nole said, ¡°No, this be a steam engine.¡±


    It had a different sort of sound to it, Joseph was realizing, as he heard the steam car get closer and closer to them. It was a strange sort of contraption, an old 1920s beetle with the entire backside replaced by a box made of pipes, gears, and other pieces of nonsense that went down to the car''s underbelly. Steam blew out of it unbidden at certain points, as though it were about to fall apart at any moment, a strange pop uttering out of it at times. A reinforced metal cart was attached to the end of the car, atop which were stacked crates.


    The driver was a brown-skinned man with a handlebar mustache that had drooped in the heat. He looked at them.


    ¡°Travelers?¡± he had a thick, flowing accent.


    ¡°Out of town,¡± Nole replied.


    ¡°That much is obvious,¡± the man said, ¡°Well, it won''t do to have you sweltering and dying out here. I''ve got a seat in the front, and the rest of you can hang out on the back. Climb aboard.¡±


    The party looked at each other.


    ¡°I hope yer not offended, but we''re, ah-¡± Nole started.


    ¡°We''re being hunted,¡± Luevo said, ¡°By a m-most dreadful being.¡±


    ¡°My ex-wife?¡±


    ¡°Worse,¡± Luevo said.


    ¡°Oh dear,¡± the driver thought for a moment, looking behind him, ¡°Well, I''ve been driving for hours now, and I haven''t seen anything more dreadful than that old harpy. So I suppose it''s not all that bad.¡±


    ¡°That''s not-¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°We''ll take it,¡± Luevo replied, ¡°We''ll take your ride, if that''s alright.¡±


    ¡°Good, good,¡± he looked them all over, ¡°Now, who wants to ride in the front with me?¡±


    ***


    They drew straws.


    Joseph won, much to Luevo''s sorrow and G-Wiz''s chagrin. Neither Nole nor Archenround would be able to fit in the passenger''s seat. The driver ¨C whose name was Bali ¨C offered him a mint as Joseph climbed in.


    ¡°Say what you will about the Marlish, but they have quite the sweets selection,¡± Bali said. He cranked a few levers, and Joseph saw a port open up. Bali concentrated, a thick stream of steam emanating from his hand and pushing into the port. The entire car came to life around him as Bali continued his journey.


    ¡°I don''t think I ever got your name,¡± Bali said.


    ¡°Joseph.¡±


    ¡°No last name?¡±


    ¡°Zheng.¡±


    ¡°Joseph Zheng,¡± Bali nodded, ¡°Rolls off the tongue well. Where are you from?¡±


    ¡°Calif-Earth,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Just Earth.¡±


    ¡°Earth,¡± Bali nodded, swerving a bit to miss a rough patch of rocks on the road, ¡°Never heard of it.¡±


    ¡°Lots of people haven''t,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Nice plane?¡±


    ¡°How do you know it''s a plane?¡±


    ¡°Your friends include a serpent-woman and a green giant with a nose like my mother¡¯s,¡± Bali said, ¡°You don''t see those too often, here. Guildfolk, I assume. Travelers always are.¡±


    ¡°Not my friends,¡± Joseph mumbled.


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    ¡°I said they''re not my friends. They''re coworkers. Except for the prince-¡± Joseph caught himself, looking at Bali, unsure of how much he should reveal, ¡°We''re on a job, is all.¡±


    ¡°So am I,¡± Bali said.


    Joseph went quiet at that. He looked out the rearview mirror and back at the rest of the guild. Nole was scratching his back, wincing slightly as he poked at an ugly, off-color scar that ran down his back where Mordenaro had pierced him through the tree. Luevo was gazing out towards the horizon, his eyes devoid of any life, his body breathing by memory alone. Archenround was motionless as she watched the path behind them, one hand on the handle of a blade, ready to pull it out. G-Wiz was absently thumbing at the Zumbelaphone, her face ashen.


    And Joseph? He felt raw. Empty.


    ¡°You don''t like your job much, do you?¡± Bali said.


    ¡°I just want to go home,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Aye, we all do,¡± Bali said, ¡°We all do.¡±


    ***


    Distant and away, the wind, at last, wandered. For the Spioa, the air-dancers, the children of the Lady of the Wind, had been with him near the entire night and most of the morning. Mordenaro had pushed against them, railed against them, attempted to convince them to release him. But they had been angry.


    For the Grim Walker had killed one of their own. The Spioa Who Walked. He had smelled of the wind, of crisp mornings, of autumn and her hues. Mordenaro had not realized.


    And, when they at last released him, when he had finally pushed through their insurmountable sorrow, he was near to tears.


    But the hunt would continue, and the Grim Walker would be walking yet.


    He stalked through the forest, this Koma. Hunted after the scent of Kimao, his systems taking in the world, following the footsteps and aura of the prince. Pride tinged his steps, pride mixed with sorrow and guilt.


    He arrived at the ruins of a place he knew. Khal, the Landscape before the jungle. Nostalgia filled his veins. He had known the Kimao before, who had brought the savannas to life. She had been a friend, dear to his heart.


    Gone, now.


    Mordenaro thought on that. Khal had been long ago. Its corpse moldered around him, bleached white by time and defiance of Koma. For a moment, or for a thousand years, he swayed like the trees around him.


    But this was not the time to be marred by age. Mordenaro blinked.


    Khal had not been like other Landscapes. It had been close to other worlds, to the endless expanse of imagination that was the multiverse. It held a gate. Mordenaro walked towards it...


    ...Noted etchings that had not been there before. He recalled, from the deepest reserves of his database, images of the gate as it had been in Khal¡¯s prime. No, the circles had not been cut down the middle. They had been whole and unmarked.


    The Grim Walker breathed in deeply.


    He smelled the energies of the in-between of reality.


    They had traveled. Used the gate.


    His eyes flashed emerald, scanned past the physical barrier of the plane and to the in-between place. The gate led elsewhere, now. No longer to Irumala, the World of Witchcraft.


    It led to the World of Steam.


    Mordenaro nodded, placing a single finger against the activation rune. Let his system power on, let generators installed into his form long ago surge to life. Power flowed into the rune like the ocean upon the shore.


    Until the door was open.


    And the Grim Walker stepped through.

 18. Towards the Horizon

    Chandhala loomed in the distance, a great city overlooking the sea, built along the edges of a small bay. Yet there were surprisingly very few ships ¨C most of them seemed to be from the locals of Chandhala, small canoes and fishing boats that trawled through the crystal waters. No, instead great airships dominated the skies, metal baskets held aloft by whale-sized balloons. Most of them were armed to the teeth, riddled with cannons and various intimidating spikes. They flew the flags of the Marlish Empire ¨C blue and white, with the symbol of a black, three-headed lion emblazoned on either side.


    Bali drove them into the city, the streets thronged with people. Steamcars seemed to be a rarity, by the looks of it, as Joseph only saw a few as Bali drove through the congested streets, honking at the crowd to get out of his way as he made his way over. His usually calm demeanor began to crack a bit as he made his way towards a small hotel, replaced by a dark anger, a road rage that Joseph was all too familiar with. He stopped at its front and stretched a bit.


    ¡°Here''s your stop,¡± he growled.


    ¡°Thanks for the help,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Bali said, ¡°Tell your... coworkers, good luck.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I will.¡±


    He got out of the car and closed the door, knocking on it as a final goodbye to Bali. The rest of the guild was busy extricating themselves out of the pickup in the back, stretching and groaning.


    ¡°It''s far too hot for my tastes,¡± Luevo complained, ¡°Is there any water anywhere?¡±


    Archenround signed.


    ¡°What''d she say?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°She''s sayin'' we can get food and water in the hotel,¡± Nole said, ¡°You sure that''s wise, Arc? We''re still on the run here.¡±


    She signed again.


    ¡°Says we need to rest,¡± G-Wiz translated to Joseph, ¡°I mean, I agree, but still...¡±


    ¡°No, no, the Kimao needs his beauty sleep,¡± Luevo said, ¡°Come on, all of you. This man is paying for a nice room. For all of us.¡±


    He glanced at the dingy hotel Bali had dropped them off at.


    ¡°And it sure as hell isn''t going to be here. Come along!¡±


    Now that he''d had a moment to rest, the prince''s puffy air was beginning to return, just barely, to his step as he guided the party through the city. More walking, and Joseph hated the prince for it. He could hardly pay attention to the sights around him ¨C in another day, he might have appreciated the smell of spices lingering in the air, the beautiful orange and red sashes covering the market stalls, or the odd, whistling flutes that echoed around the city as Luevo brought them up the main street and towards the colonial quarter. There, the buildings changed from rounded and squat to square and multi-floored, a slice of Marland in Chandhala. Steam-powered machines became more commonplace here ¨C strange, mechanical walkers that men in suits and women in flowing dresses rode atop of, lanky legs rising up like palm trees over the buildings as their passengers swayed back and forth, laughing at the sheer joy of the ride.


    ¡°Marlish,¡± G-Wiz muttered, ¡°The worst.¡±


    ¡°Colonizers?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± G-Wiz replied.


    ¡°The worst,¡± Joseph agreed.


    The hotel that Luevo brought them to was nice, at least, a solid block of white marble that had been carved into the shape of a building that vaguely reminded Joseph of the White House. They were drawing stares as Luevo sauntered into the lobby and up to the front desk. The receptionist looked down at him with a slight look of disgust, and Joseph wasn''t surprised. They were dusty, caked in mud and blood, and looked like they had walked through a literal jungle.


    No, couldn''t be.


    ¡°Sir,¡± the receptionist said, ¡°I''m sorry, but I''m going to ask you to leave.¡±


    ¡°Oh, nonsense,¡± Luevo said, putting on airs, ¡°I understand that we are... temporarily indisposed of looking like proper ladies and gentlemen. We''ve had quite the ride, see.¡±


    ¡°Mmm,¡± the receptionist said.


    ¡°I''d like... let''s see,¡± Luevo turned, ¡°How many rooms do we want?¡±


    ¡°One, preferably,¡± Nole said, ¡°That way we can stick together-¡±


    ¡°Two rooms, for the gals and the guys,¡± Luevo said, ¡°And before you say we can''t pay, I''ve got quite the stick for you.¡±


    He produced the silver credstick he had tried to bribe Joseph with before. His eyebrows wiggled dramatically at the receptionist.


    ¡°Go ahead,¡± he said, ¡°Read it.¡±


    The receptionist heaved a great sigh, taking the credstick and opening a drawer beneath his desk, pulling out a golden scanner, a neon blue light emanating from its top. His eyes widened as the scanner read out the amount on the stick.


    ¡°Ah,¡± he said, ¡°Forgive me, sir, it appears that you are indeed... ah... Are you sure you want just the two rooms?¡±


    ¡°Tell you what,¡± Luevo said, ¡°Give us the best rooms in the house, and I''ll forget you wanting to throw us out, eh?¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir,¡± the receptionist said. He rang a bell, and a bellhop appeared seemingly out of thin air.


    ¡°Can I grab your bags, sir?¡±


    He noticed they didn''t have any ¨C having long been discarded in Koma.


    ¡°Oh!¡± he said, ¡°Right this way, sirs and ma''ams,¡± he turned briskly and began walking down the hall.


    ¡°Bellhops,¡± G-Wiz muttered.


    ¡°The worst,¡± Joseph agreed.


    ***


    The showers had been modernized ¨C or Federation-ized, as Luevo liked to call it. The shower had been imported from the Silver Eye, the stone-pocked flooring having been bought from a paradise world in the Founder¡¯s Apple and the water said to be from a particularly clean freshwater ocean world from the Inner Reach. The Marlish loved the Federation ¨C worshiped them, in some cases ¨C and it was a point of fashion to import from ''the Mysterious Galaxy,'' be it clothing or smuggled technologies or even random animals to be kept as pets. Luevo walked into the shower, turned it to the hottest setting, and sat in the steamy heaven.


    And cried.


    Full-on sobbing, his entire body shaking with each heave, the tears mixing with the dry blood and pouring down into the drain as the full weight of the journey crashed down on him, the stress becoming once more raw and real, no longer dulled by exhaustion. He could feel Rolala stir within him, feelings of confusion playing at his heart ¨C the creature''s, he knew.


    After what felt like hours, he turned off the water and leaned against the wall, his breathing calming down.


    ¡°You are hurt, ro la la.¡±


    ¡°No shit.¡±


    ¡°You are sad.¡±


    ¡°Of course I''m sad,¡± Luevo said, ¡°I''m tired, Rolala. I''m tired, sad, and altogether disappointed with this journey.¡±


    ¡°An understatement.¡±


    ¡°Of the highest order,¡± Luevo said. He stared at the wall, which was pebbled with water droplets. His hand absently cut across it, smearing the water down in a diagonal wave.


    ¡°More than sad?¡± Rolala asked.


    ¡°Yeah, something like that,¡± Luevo said. He got out of the shower and wrapped a towel around his waist, ¡°This journey has been...¡±


    ¡°Ro lay lee, a jour-ney?¡±


    ¡°The¡­ journey''s been a journey?¡± Luevo stood to his full height, ¡°Enough with the understatements, Rolala. I''ve hated every step we''ve taken.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡±


    ¡°Don''t say ''oh,'' you bastard,¡± Luevo said, ¡°You know why I''ve hated this. At first, it was because I didn''t want to be here. I didn''t want to be Kimao. I didn''t want to leave the palace.¡±


    ¡°And now?¡±


    ¡°Now, well,¡± Luevo sighed, ¡°Well, because of all of this.¡±


    ¡°Mordenaro.¡±


    The very name made Luevo¡¯s blood run cold. He wished that he could just keep that shower on forever.


    ¡°Yes,¡± he said.


    ¡°Shetavalk? I feel him in your heart,¡± Rolala said, ¡°Surprising, I thought you do disliked him, ro la-¡±


    ¡°That doesn''t mean that I wanted him to die!¡±


    His voice was louder than he intended ¨C He was almost certain the guild could hear it in the other room, despite how spacious they were. Luevo''s throat burned raw as he struggled to overpower his emotions.


    ¡°I didn''t want that,¡± he sobbed, ¡°I didn''t want him to die ¨C not for me...¡±


    ¡°And yet he has, ro lay lee,¡± Rolala said, ¡°Sit down, Luevo.¡±


    The prince complied, walking out of the bathroom and sitting down on the bed. it was comfortable, at least. In another time, for the Luevo who hadn''t set out on this journey, he would have enjoyed it immensely.


    ¡°No one should die for me,¡± Luevo said, ¡°No one. I''m not-¡±


    The realization hit him, and set him off again as he clutched his falling face with a weak hand.


    ¡°I''m not worth it, Rolala.¡±


    ¡°That is not true, ro la loo.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Because you are Kimao.¡±


    ¡°Aside from that,¡± Luevo said, ¡°Take away the Kimao bit. Take away the fact that I carry you. What am I, Rolala?¡±


    Silence from the creature.


    ¡°A pompous prince who thinks the world is his oyster. Who doesn''t do anything except feed off the fat of the land. Who doesn''t contribute, who doesn''t do anything. At least my brother is bright. All I am is a waste.¡±


    ¡°Lies, Luevo,¡± Rolala said meekly.


    ¡°Then tell me why I''m something else,¡± Luevo said, ¡°Go on. Do it.¡±


    More silence. Outside, a car honked at the still-swelling streets.


    ¡°You can¡¯t,¡± Luevo said.


    ¡°I see potential,¡± Rolala quipped.


    ¡°Potential? You sound like my old teachers.¡±


    ¡°It is true,¡± Rolala said, ¡°You would not be Kimao otherwise.¡±


    ¡°I said who am I without the Kimao shit-¡±


    ¡°To be Kimao is not shit,¡± Rolala chided, ¡°To be Kimao is to be an agent of change. To affect change. To change oneself.¡±


    ¡°Change... oneself?¡± Luevo asked.


    ¡°The Kimao''s journey is one of self-reflection,¡± Rolala said, ¡°To be Kimao is to be... unworthy. Broken, in some way. A half-chiseled block. A pompous prince who thinks the world is his oyster.¡±


    ¡°That''s not...¡± Luevo said, ¡°I''ve heard stories. Of the old Kimao. They were heroes. Demigods. Real bang-up studs.¡±


    ¡°Did they start as that?¡± Rolala prodded.


    Luevo closed his mouth, furrowing his brow.


    ¡°Does anyone start like that? No one real, ro la la.¡±


    ¡°No one... real...¡±


    ¡°I tire,¡± Rolala said, ¡°Ro la lee, to sleep I must be.¡±


    ¡°Very well,¡± Luevo said, ¡°Sweet dreams, friend.¡±


    He felt something poke at his heart ¨C something he wasn''t familiar with. But it felt nice, warm, as he felt Rolala settle down. He wondered if the creature did indeed sleep.


    ***


    The damn bastard has ordered two rooms, and taken one for himself.


    He had stuffed the rest of them in the other room.


    Well, ''room'' was stretching it. The entire top floor was two suites, each with three bedrooms and a main dining area, the floor a nice carpet and the walls bone-white marble. Joseph''s room had a nice view of the sea from where he was ¨C a couple fishing boats were out past the horizon, lonely white triangle sails in a blanket of orange sunset. Joseph had always liked the ocean ¨C it reminded him of home, of lazy days watching the tides rise and fall, rise and fall. He sat on his bed, knees to his chest, as he felt the cool sea breeze drift through into the room, the familiar salty tinge making his heart fall with nostalgia.


    He could hear Nole arguing in hushed tones with Archenround in the other room. Could hear Luevo scream at that creature ¨C Rolala? It seemed the prince wasn''t having the best of times.


    Neither was he, if he was being honest.


    He still felt cold. But less so. His soul was rebuilding ¨C slowly but surely, enough that it was no longer in pieces. Yet he still felt bad ¨C even after the nice shower. Sleep wasn''t coming to him anytime soon, despite the fact that his bones felt like they would break apart at any moment. The thought of Mordenaro catching up to them, somehow and someway, kept him wide awake.


    ¡°Not the healthiest,¡± he said to himself.


    Room service came with dinner ¨C a ball of spices and meats wrapped in rice, with a nice glass of wine. Local cuisine, the server said, from the northern highlands of the subcontinent. It was also delicious ¨C though Joseph hadn''t eaten in awhile, so he wolfed it down without truly tasting the food. The only aftertaste to the meal was a sharp tingling in his mouth.


    After that, he tried to lie down to sleep ¨C despite the fear pounding in his heart. And he found that he could not. His soul wouldn''t let him ¨C perhaps it was so small his body was afraid he''d die if he slept, for every time he drifted off, it would bring him back, sparks and shocks rocketing up and down his body as though he were a faulty battery.


    So after a while, he gave up and got out of bed, rubbing his eyes and yawning. The sun had gone down. The old grandfather clock in the room stated the time was near one in the morning. With nothing better to do, Joseph grabbed his jacket and pulled it on ¨C if Mordenaro attacked, he''d need the protective runes sewed into the coat''s lining. Besides, it was cool now as he walked out of his room and into the dining room.


    He almost turned around when he saw Nole sitting at the table. The troll was alone, a bottle of wine at the table, a shot glass held between the tips of two claws. He was glaring as he poured himself a shot, downing it and grimacing.


    ¡°It''s... fine wine,¡± Joseph muttered.


    The troll heard him, looking up and pulling a face.


    ¡°Don''t matter, it gets ye drunk,¡± Nole said, ¡°Besides, somethin'' ironic ''bout bein'' in a fancy place like this, wastin'' their wine like it''s common rum.¡±


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    ¡°Stickin'' it to the man,¡± Joseph said.


    A tiny, annoyed flicker of a smile played at Nole''s lips, ¡°Aye, somethin'' like that. Sit down, lad, it''s been a long road.¡±


    ¡°You must be pretty damn drunk, if you''re inviting me to sit with you.¡±


    ¡°Ain''t drunk,¡± Nole said, ¡°Trolls regenerate. We live healthy and whole our entire lives. Can''t get drunk ¨C cells in my body won''t let me. Won''t stop me from tryin'', though.¡±


    ¡°Uh huh,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Right.¡±


    He walked forward and sat down. Nole offered him the bottle of wine. Joseph took it, taking a quick sip of it before handing it back. It was good wine ¨C though he was more used to cheap beer and vodka from his time in college. Nole didn''t seem to care about its quality as he took another shot.


    ¡°Dammit,¡± the troll said, ¡°Damn it all to hell. This wasn''t the way I thought things would turn out.¡±


    ¡°Was supposed to be an easy journey,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Get paid, get out.¡±


    ¡°For ye,¡± Nole said, ¡°Ye might as well have taken the princey''s deal.¡±


    Joseph was quiet at that, staring at the faded white tablecloth, a dull pang of guilt welling within his chest. Nole glared at him as he took a shot and muttered another ¡°Dammit.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, well,¡± Joseph countered, ¡°I''m still here, right?¡±


    ¡°Hmm, ye got that goin'' fer ye. Though that seems mostly because the prince spent his bribe money.¡±


    ¡°I still wouldn''t have left,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Not now.¡±


    ¡°Because of Shetavalk?¡± Nole growled.


    ¡°...Something like that,¡± Joseph sighed, crossing his arms, shivering even with his jacket on, ¡°Wouldn''t feel right, him being gone and everything.¡±


    ¡°It didn''t feel right before?¡± Nole said, ¡°And ye wonder why I think yer such a bastard.¡±


    Joseph glared at Nole, ¡°Is that why you don''t like me?¡±


    ¡°Hm?¡±


    ¡°I''m not saying I want your approval, or because I want to be your friend or have all that Kumbaya shit,¡± Joseph¡¯s voice was winter, ¡°I want to know what the fuck your deal is.¡±


    ¡°Well, the lad''s got a spine,¡± Nole said, a savage chuckle escaping his lips, ¡°Ye want to know why I rag on ye.¡±


    ¡°Ever since I joined the guild, you''ve been a bastard,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I want to know why.¡±


    Nole considered his glass for a moment, one eye squinting as he stared at its purple-dyed sheen. Moonlight shone, coloring all of the room in a bright blue light. The gossamer curtains by the window gently floated upwards. For a moment, Joseph thought he could see Spioa dancing through them, before remembering he wasn''t on Nesona anymore.


    ¡°It started as it always do,¡± Nole said, ¡°Every new member of the guild, to me anyways, is spineless.¡±


    ¡°To you.¡±


    ¡°Not everyone''s cut out for guild life, Joe,¡± Nole said, ¡°Least of all folk like yous. Most of ''em shape up. Not all of ''em. A few drift away, or get themselves killed, or disappear one night ''n'' we never see ''em again.¡±


    ¡°Until they prove themselves in your eyes,¡± Joseph said, ¡°What an accomplishment, getting your approval.¡±


    ¡°Most folk shape up,¡± Nole said, ¡°But not you.¡±


    ¡°But.. not... me?¡±


    ¡°Ye''ve gone on a few jobs, and yer already sick o'' the life,¡± Nole said, ¡°Understandable. But instead of just leavin'', explainin'' that yer not cut out for this work, ye cut a deal with Wakeling. Say ye''ll go on a nice and easy job, get a bit of money, maybe settle down. But the multiverse ain''t a place for settlin'' down, lad.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean by that?¡±


    Nole took another shot of wine, ¡°No plane is safe. The multiverse ain''t a cushy place, unlike Earth. Earth seems like a weak place, with weak folk livin'' in it, if yer the standard.¡±


    ¡°I''m not-¡±


    ¡°So ye go and go on this good, easy job,¡± Nole said, ¡°Only when it doesn''t get easy, ye try and take the easy way out. Ye take the prince''s bribe. I wouldn''t blame ye. It''s a good deal. Get some cash, get outta here. Ye spineless bastard.¡±


    ¡°I didn''t-¡±


    ¡°Ye did,¡± Nole gave him a look of absolute disgust, ¡°Sure, ye can fight. Ye tried yer hardest against Mordenaro. We all did. But that don''t matter. Anyone can fight. What matters is when ye had the opportunity to turn away from all this, ye nearly damn did. Tell me, lad, if Mordenaro hadn''t interrupted us, would ye have taken Luevo''s deal?¡±


    And Joseph was silent.


    ¡°This guild''s too good fer ye,¡± Nole said, ¡°Wakeling''s too soft on ye. But if yer goin'' to survive out here, guild or not, yer gonna have to know what the right thing to do is. Abandonin'' yer guildmates ain''t the way to go.¡±


    He poured himself another shot, then sighed and let it sit in the glass. His shoulders were sagged in defeat.


    ¡°At least ye ain''t leavin'' now.¡±


    ¡°I''m not,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I''m- I won''t go. I''m in this now.¡±


    ¡°Because of Shetavalk.¡±


    ¡°He was actually nice to me,¡± Joseph said, ¡°He... He understood me, I think. What I was going through.¡±


    ¡°Don''t got much time to mourn him now,¡± Nole said, ¡°G-Wiz is in survival mode. Arc''s had worse happen to her than another dead friend. So that leaves a spineless Earth boy and a troll who can''t get drunk to cry it out.¡±


    ¡°What a pair,¡± Joseph said, ¡°All for a selfish bastard of a prince.¡±


    Nole smirked, ¡°Aye. I suppose so. Well, then.¡±


    He raised the glass, ¡°To Shetavalk.¡±


    ¡°I don''t have a glass,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Ye don''t get one.¡±


    ¡°Guess I''ll have to do better for that, then,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Ye will, Joe. Now don''t ye go all pity-party on me, ye''ve got a spine to grow.¡±


    He wasn''t sure how to respond to that. Yet Nole''s words had a certain truth to them. He wasn''t really sure how to process them, nor did Nole seem to feel like anything else to be said. After giving one last grimace at the wine, he tossed it aside. The bottle shattered, staining the marble floor a deep purple. The troll got up and stretched, then walked into his room, leaving Joseph alone.


    ***


    G-Wiz and Archenround were alone in their shared room. G-Wiz would have preferred to have slept alone, as she usually did at Castle Belenus, but with Archenround''s fear of being alone, and with no Tek to keep her company, she had decided to stay with the serpent, tuning the Zumbelaphone as she hummed softly to herself. Anything to keep the tension away from the room. Tonight was supposed to be a nice rest. Archenround, at least, seemed relaxed, as she inspected her Sign-Blades for any damage. The demon had never spoken of her home plane, but G-Wiz had her stories. A world, much like Prime (Or, G-Wiz supposed, Noodle''s Earth) that had broken itself, and found faith in the mundane. The Sign-Blades had been made from the abandoned junk of the old world, their meaning and power found in the worship that world''s descendants had assigned to them.


    That same worship that had claimed Archenround''s tongue, though G-Wiz was wise not to ask the serpent of that. The two of them sat in relative silence, the only sound coming from the soft waves of the sea outside, the breeze through the window that made her heart ache for Shetavalk, the occasional electronic whisper from the zumbelaphone, her own humming. Archenround had said to keep watch, in case Mordenaro came. To give Nole and Joseph rest.


    They''re our best bets if he comes after us again, she had signed.


    ¡°But what about you?¡± G-Wiz had asked.


    But Archenround gave a sad smile, and refused to answer. Her face had this way of morphing into a passive mask, her face revealing no emotion and her eyes clouded and enigmatic. It annoyed G-Wiz to no end. She let out a sigh, pushing her hair out of her face. The gel that she usually applied to it had dissolved long ago, leaving it a black and pink mess that was constantly getting in her face. One more annoyance for the road.


    She saw Archenround''s hand slip as she polished her sword. A subtle gesture. Archenround, just like the rest of the gang, was exhausted.


    ¡°You should sleep,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°A couple hours. That''s all.¡±


    No, Archenround signed, I am fine.


    ¡°Bullshit,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Get some sleep. I can keep watch.¡±


    The demon sighed, before she put the Sign-Blades down and coiled into the bed. For a moment, she sat there, her top half swaying a bit. Then she righted herself.


    Sleep comes slow, she signed.


    ¡°Because of Mordenaro,¡± G-Wiz said.


    I feel like... prey. A rabbit.


    ¡°Yeah, no shit,¡± G-Wiz said. She felt her hand shake for a moment, looking down to see it shivering from a non-existent chill, ¡°Do you think... Is this it, Arc?¡±


    If this is it, Divide will flay Grim Walker alive.


    Divide. The name Archenround used for Wakeling. G-Wiz supposed that a clash between the two would be quite the sight to see. It was too bad she hadn''t come along and had sent Noodle instead.


    ¡°I don''t think Mordenaro''ll care too much about that,¡± she said, ¡°You know the stories. He''d probably enjoy it.¡±


    Indeed. Archenround settled now, her top half contorting down to rest in the center of her coils. If this is indeed the end, I am glad that I had a friend like you, G-A-L-A-T-E-A.


    ¡°Stop,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°You''re gonna make me cry, spewing that smarmy bullshit.¡±


    I am truthful.


    ¡°I am too,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°You''re going to make me cry. So shut up.¡±


    ***


    Hours passed. Joseph''s dreams were fitful and light. So light that it didn''t take much to wake him up, as he heard the door creaking open. His eyes shot open as he reared up, his soul pounding ¨C creating a spark, a claw that enveloped his hand that cast the entire room in an eerie blue light as he glared at the open door. Luevo stood in the frame, arms dramatically covering his face, his legs twisting inwards as he let out a pathetic mewl.


    ¡°D-don''t hurt me!¡±


    Joseph sighed, letting the claw dissipate.


    ¡°Your soul... thing,¡± Luevo whispered, ¡°It''s back.¡±


    ¡°Hardly,¡± Joseph said, ¡°That''s about all I can do. So shut up and tell me what you want.¡±


    ¡°It''s not what I want,¡± Luevo said, ¡°Rolala, he-¡±


    ¡°Rolala?¡±


    ¡°The creature,¡± the Kimao''s voice was a whisper, ¡°It''s... feeling something.¡±


    As if on cue, Joseph watched as the creature the prince had been harboring began inking out of his shoulder. Rolala had evolved since Joseph had last seen him, its amorphous body having become insect-like, its muddy bulk becoming a smooth, brown sheen. It reminded Joseph of a grasshopper.


    ¡°Ro lay lee,¡± it whispered, ¡°Stalked, be we.¡±


    Joseph felt his heart drop, ¡°Mordenaro.¡±


    ¡°Indeed.¡±


    ¡°He''s out there,¡± Luevo choked, ¡°In the city. Searching for us.¡±


    ¡°Makes sense,¡± Joseph turned towards the open window. Moments were measured by his beating heart, which had begun speeding up, his soul becoming stronger with each pulse. He wondered if it would be enough.


    ¡°You have eyes, right?¡± Luevo gasped, ¡°Rolala mentioned-¡±


    ¡°My soul, yeah,¡± Joseph said, ¡°It''s like an eagle.¡±


    ¡°So go on, Jordan, look out into the city, see if he''s there!¡±


    Joseph narrowed his eyes. But this was no time to correct his name. Pathetic as the prince was, there was work to do.


    ¡°G-go,¡± he said, ¡°Warn the others. Wake them up.¡±


    The prince ignored the quaver they all heard in his voice, turning and running to the other rooms. Joseph turned towards the window, taking a deep breath. And then another. The eagle awoke on his third breath, head arcing over his own like a helmet, its sight overtaking his as he stared out towards the city. Bleary, silhouetted lights became sharpened in the night, the moon''s luster became more intense, to the point that Joseph had to close the eyes until he was more adapted to its shine.


    Movement behind him. A slithering sound ¨C Archenround was next to him, her blades drawn as she stared out. In his peripherals, he could see her face, while calm and composed, looked worn ¨C there were shadows beneath her eyes that had not been there before. She signed.


    ¡°She says,¡± Luevo said, ¡°She''s asking what you see.¡±


    ¡°Nothing yet,¡± Joseph replied.


    ¡°She says that it was only a matter of t-time,¡± Luevo said, ¡°We need to get out.¡±


    ¡°That from you, or her?¡±


    ¡°Both of us, if I''m being honest.¡±


    A hand rested on his shoulder. Archenround let out a great sigh, looking over to him, studying him for a long moment. Then she signed.


    ¡°She says to stay here and keep watch,¡± Luevo said.


    Joseph nodded, and heard the two of them make for the door.


    ***


    Nole and the girl were waiting in the dining room. The troll was stretching himself, a determined - almost crazed ¨C look in his eyes as he nodded at the serpent.


    ¡°What''s the plan?¡± he asked.


    J-O-S-E-P-H is keeping an eye out.


    ¡°Fat lot that''ll do us,¡± Nole grunted.


    He is more keen than you believe.


    ¡°Are we splitting up?¡± G-Wiz asked.


    No, Archenround replied, Grim Walker will pick us off.


    ¡°Better to travel as a pack, gang up on ''im if he tries anything funny,¡± Nole said.


    ¡°A-agreed,¡± Luevo said, ¡°I think, ah, I know where we can go.¡±


    The guild turned to him. Luevo suddenly felt like a spotlight had washed over him. The prince gulped and cleared his throat, trying his hardest to hide his nervousness as he spoke.


    ¡°The train station,¡± he said, ¡°We get to the trains, we outrun Mordenaro.¡±


    ¡°There''s a train station out here?¡± G-Wiz asked.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Luevo said, ¡°Used to take it all the time when I studied on my trips here-¡±


    ¡°Methinks ye used to be here a lot more than just fer vacation,¡± Nole noted.


    ¡°Okay, sue me, I loved coming here,¡± Luevo said, ¡°The train station leads north.¡±


    ¡°And what''s north?¡±


    Luevo thought for a moment, ¡°The country. Dorandi. Amdra. Lake Imdrahal.¡±


    Archenround perked at that.


    Lake.


    ¡°What about it?¡± Nole asked.


    Traveling Point there. Leads to Murknoir. Leads us back to Nesona.


    Murknoir. The name felt familiar to Luevo, who watched as the guild continued talking to one another.


    ¡°You sure it''s in forecast?¡± G-Wiz asked.


    T-E-K, I-V-A-N would know, Archenround signed, Best chance. We need to return to Nesona.


    ¡°What''s even in Nesona?¡± Luevo whined.


    Archenround looked at him, her face inscrutable, though Luevo suspected she was thinking him very stupid.


    You are K-I-M-A-O. Grim Walker is after you because of that.


    ¡°Yes, and?¡±


    If you complete your journey, do you think he will have a reason to continue his pursuit?


    ¡°My... good... looks?¡± Luevo stammered.


    ¡°Cripes, lad, did ye think we were goin'' to run forever?¡± Nole said.


    The metahuman interrupted them, his voice wavering as he spoke.


    ¡°I see him.¡±


    They turned and went back into the metahuman''s room. His electrical-bird-soul thing was covering the top of his head like a helmet, crackling and sparking, bright white eyes like twin moons staring out towards the city. His mouth was creased in a deep frown.


    ¡°Where?¡± Nole asked.


    ¡°He''s in the distance. Making his way towards the city,¡± the metahuman said, ¡°He''s walking. Christ, I knew you all kept calling him ''Grim Walker,'' but I thought-¡±


    ¡°No time,¡± Nole said, ¡°Let''s get out of here.¡±


    Through the window.


    She began slithering down out the open window and towards the roof of one of the landings. The rest of the group followed sans prince. Luevo stared down as the metahuman, electrical soul sprouting wiry arms, pulled himself down, the arms shuddering a bit from the strain as he landed ¨C and almost slipped on ¨C the roof''s shingles.


    ¡°S-say,¡± Luevo said, ¡°Rolala, I could use a hand.¡±


    ¡°Or a leg, ro la la.¡±


    He could feel the creature begin sprouting spindly legs out of his back, turning him upside down and crawling down towards the landing below. The rest of the guild was already back on the ground, waiting as Rolala winnowed down to the ground, twisting Luevo back onto his feet and disappearing back into his body.


    ¡°Gross,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°You''re one to talk,¡± Luevo spat.


    Archenround glared at the two of them. They both shut up.


    This wasn''t the time.


    Guide us, Archenround signed to Luevo, You know the city best, yes?


    ¡°Right,¡± Luevo said. He took a deep breath, ¡°Follow me.¡±


    Back in his halcyon days of two years ago, Luevo had adored Chandhala. The nights were always wild and free, the markets filled with music from a thousand cultures ¨C many of them not from Kelstonda, but rather smuggled from other parts of the multiverse, a rebellious party scene that Luevo had always appreciated.


    No such music now. The Grim Walker''s presence had silenced the city, swallowing it up in darkness as they ran from street to street. Not even the stray dogs paid them heed as they ran. High above, the moon glistened and shone, full and clear ¨C then, the moon on Kelstonda was always full. It lengthened each shadow, made every silhouette Mordenaro''s, every sound seeming to echo his footsteps. Luevo gritted his teeth, suppressing a sob as he ran. He could feel Rolala well within him, the creature''s fear mixing with his own. Rolala, now developed enough to feel scared. It almost broke Luevo''s heart.


    And the prince couldn''t let Mordenaro kill them.


    The train station was on the edge of Chandhala, a lonely old building with rusted and worn tracks. Most transportation was done via airship nowadays, the trains relegated to the lower classes and the occasional sneaky student. Luevo had always ensured to buy first class to keep away from the riff-raff, though he felt his stomach sink as they approached the teller''s booth.


    ¡°They only take coin,¡± he announced, ¡°And only the local stuff. Mruti.¡±


    The girl with the Zumbelaphone took out a small purse, parsing through it, her brow furrowed.


    ¡°Light, I need a light,¡± she said.


    ¡°Not the best idea, G,¡± Nole said, sniffing the air, ¡°I can smell ''im now. He''s in the city.¡±


    The metahuman tensed, ¡°Do you want me to climb a roof, see if I can see him?¡±


    Not the best idea, Archenround signed, Too much light. N-O-L-E will track him via scent.


    ¡°Aye,¡± the troll said.


    ¡°What''d she say?¡± the metahuman asked.


    ¡°Says Nole''ll smell him out,¡± G replied, ¡°Here we go, I think this is a Mruti?¡±


    She produced a handful of coins. Archenround nodded.


    Those are correct.


    ¡°Where''d you get those from?¡± the metahuman prodded.


    ¡°Always be prepared, lad,¡± Nole said, ¡°Never know when ye''ll need to planeshift.¡±


    ¡°Coins from a dozen planes,¡± G said, ¡°Always make sure you have something.¡±


    ¡°I''ll-¡± Luevo began, ¡°I''ll do the talking. If I''m right, the teller will know me. He''s worked here longer than I can remember.¡±


    He took the money and approached the booth. The teller was impossibly old, the gray wisps of his beard on the verge of disintegration, though his uniform was immaculate and clean ¨C old Gobar had always wanted to make sure he looked as professional as possible, even in a dead-end job like this.


    ¡°Gobar,¡± Luevo whispered.


    The old man stirred awake. For a moment, his eyes cast towards the urban horizon, before lowering down to Luevo.


    ¡°Ah, Luevo,¡± he broke out into a toothless smile, ¡°Long time, hm?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± the prince looked over his shoulder. Nole was sniffing the air, the troll''s entire body tensing, ¡°When''s the next train scheduled to leave?¡±


    ¡°Hmm, train,¡± Gobar took a look at the schedule, ¡°Next one is scheduled for... an hour. We''re getting everything set up now. Overnight run, heading towards Rupa City.¡±


    ¡°Any way we can get it earlier?¡± Luevo asked.


    Gobar stared at him, an inscrutable look in the old man''s eyes.


    ¡°Now, prince,¡± Gobar said, ¡°You know that ain''t the right way. The boys have to get the whole train ready, and we''re still waiting for passengers to board. Now, I know it''s been awhile, but there are still rules here-¡±


    ¡°Gobar, please,¡± Luevo pleaded, ¡°It''s, ah, guild business.¡±


    He gestured to the guildmembers. Gobar looked up at them for a moment. Even with the showers, even with what little rest the hunt afforded them, all of them looked worn-down. The metahuman was swaying. Nole, despite his surly attitude, looked like a caged animal, ready to pounce at any moment.


    ¡°Alright, prince,¡± Gobar said, ¡°Let''s see what the old man can do.¡±


    Luevo felt Rolala emerge out of his shoulder.


    ¡°How many people, ro lay lee?¡±


    Gobar looked at the creature, ¡°Picked up a friend?¡±


    ¡°How many people?¡± Luevo echoed.


    ¡°On the train? A small number, nothing major. Why?¡±


    Luevo put the coins on the counter, counting them out to make sure there was enough money to get the tickets. He could hear Nole muttering to the rest of the group. Mordenaro was halfway through Chandhala, bee-lining towards them.


    ¡°A-ask them, are they sure they want to be onboard?¡±

 19. Beyond the Possible

    They piled into two booths on the train, the dim, lonely lamps affording little light. Joseph, Luevo, and Archenround in one booth, Nole and G-Wiz in the other. There was food, at least ¨C plates of bread, with salt and pepper shakers and a couple of napkins for each table. Yet the train felt threadbare, the hamstrung green carpet running along the floor beckoning its once great history as the Ushet Drahim, what Luevo translated as ''Traveling Dragon.''


    ¡°An old luxury train,¡± he explained, ¡°Most of what made it special''s gone, though ¨C cannibalized for other trains in the yard, or for the airships.¡±


    ¡°A husk,¡± Joseph said.


    The prince nodded, ¡°I''ve only ridden old Drahim a few times. Costs a bit to get on, if I''m being honest. By train standards, anyway.¡±


    ¡°Is that why we''re outta money?¡± G-Wiz accused from across the aisle.


    Luevo shrugged, ¡°We had the dough. Why ride low, when we can ride in style?¡±


    One of the lamps hanging from the ceiling snapped and crashed to the floor, jolting everyone awake.


    ¡°Style!¡± Luevo said.


    There were few others that Joseph saw onboard ¨C which he was thankful for. A couple of businessmen were in the car after theirs. Joseph had seen them on the landing platform, and the two groups gave each other the stink eye. Whatever they were doing, it was supposed to be secretive.


    ¡°Different stories, different worlds, ro la la,¡± Joseph heard Rolala whisper, ¡°Interesting, ro lay lee.¡±


    ¡°Oh boy, corporate espionage, my favorite,¡± Joseph drawled.


    The Ushet Drahim lurched forward, the night outside Joseph''s window smearing, what little light coming from Chandhala stretching into lines as the train took off, the rhythmic, heartbeat-like pump of her wheels grinding beneath them and making for a steady chorus. Silently, Joseph hoped the train would go faster. Faster than Mordenaro. He hoped the Grim Walker really liked his walking.


    ***


    Night turned to day. They slept ¨C keeping watch, as they always did, for signs of trouble. Archenround first ¨C as was becoming tradition. Luevo volunteered for the second shift. Nole had raised an eyebrow at that.


    ¡°Ye want to keep watch?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Y-yes,¡± Luevo said.


    ¡°Are... ye sure?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Luevo said, ¡°Now please, get sleep, you big oaf. Your beloved prince will keep watch through the night, protect us from the Grim-¡±


    ¡°Whatever,¡± Nole simmered down, closing his eyes. The troll was out in a few moments.


    ¡°Strange, ro la la.¡±


    ¡°Shut up,¡± Luevo growled, ¡°It''s the only way I''ll get some peace and quiet here.¡±


    Yet he felt Rolala stir, heard the creature''s quiet chittering chuckle.


    ¡°Shut up,¡± Luevo said, ¡°It''s nothing like that.¡±


    The metahuman took the third shift as dawn began breaking over the rushing horizon. Luevo found sleep difficult, shifting in and out of his own nightmarish dreams. Whenever he awoke, he would look at the metahuman. The boy stared out the window the entire way, watching the savannah go to desert then back into sun-yellowed grassland. It occurred to Luevo that he had never gotten the metahuman''s name.


    No, he had forgotten it. The image of Shetavalk flashed in his mind, and the prince realized that, just like everyone else in the guild, he was fighting to protect Rolala.


    ¡°You,¡± he said to the metahuman, ¡°What is your name?¡±


    The metahuman''s eyes slid over to look at him, a sour look marring his face.


    ¡°Seriously?¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Luevo said, ¡°To be fair, I was not... in... the right, ah, headspace. I am...¡±


    Something caught in his throat as he tried to say ''I''m sorry.''


    Perhaps he wasn''t ready for that.


    He felt Rolala roll their eyes.


    But the metahuman just shook his head, ¡°It''s Joseph, man. Not ''Jordan,'' not ''Jose.'' Joseph.¡±


    ¡°Joseph,¡± Luevo echoed.


    ¡°Joseph.¡±


    Luevo nodded, rolling the name around in his mind, making sure to memorize it this time.


    ¡°T-thank you,¡± he said, ¡°For saving. Me. My life. All of that.¡±


    Joseph gave a small smile at that, ¡°Whatever, it''s fine, man. We''re cool.¡±


    ¡°Cool,¡± Luevo said, ¡°An... Earth term?¡±


    ¡°You don''t have that?¡± Joseph asked, ¡°Not even on Prime?¡±


    The prince shook his head.


    The metahuman shook his head sheepishly, a goofy, tired grin on his face.


    ¡°God,¡± he said, ¡°This place is weird.¡±


    ***


    It was near the end of Joseph''s shift when Archenround stirred. She twisted up, rubbing her eyes, before looking at him and pointing at the window. Joseph nodded.


    ¡°I should probably learn sign language when I''m done with this, huh?¡± he asked.


    The serpent nodded, giving a rare smirk. Joseph slid the window up and pushed his head through, squinting as wind rushed around him and his ears were filled with their chorus. Yet another reminder of Shetavalk. Pushing down those feelings, he let his soul cover his face again, peering into the distance, letting the eagle''s enhanced vision substitute his own.


    And he saw him.


    ¡°Shit,¡± he muttered, ¡°Shit shit shit.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡± Luevo asked, stirring from his seat.


    ¡°The bastard''s running.¡±


    The rest of the group was already up, Archenround unlooping her blades, G-Wiz checking out her Zumbelaphone, Nole cracking his knuckles.


    ¡°Alright, showtime,¡± the troll said, ¡°Archenround and I are the first line of defense. Joe, how''s that bird of yers?¡±


    Joseph searched inside of himself, willing the soul into further existence. Parts of it morphed out of his back, a mass of lightning and claws, before inking back down. Only its rope-like arms remained, ending in wicked claws.


    ¡°Ready, no matter what,¡± he said.


    Nole considered him for a moment, then nodded.


    ¡°Right,¡± he said, ¡°Yer with the prince. G-Wiz, you lay down a trap. Tunnel-style, like on Krenstone.¡±


    ¡°On a train?¡± G-Wiz asked.


    ¡°Aye, best shot we have of taking out the bastard,¡± Nole grunted, ¡°Alright, people, let''s go.¡±


    ***


    Archenround slithered out of the window and to the top of the steam engine. Wind whistled around her as she curled herself down, squinting to see the black dot in the distance. She hoped Shetavalk could see her, somehow, through the wind.


    Even if they weren''t on Nesona.


    Mordenaro was getting closer, sprinting with the grace of an Olympian, his duster billowing around him. He was on the track.


    Getting closer.


    She could hear Nole below as he prepared himself. Out of all of them, he was the one most suited for facing Grim Walker. Able to regenerate. Shrug off anything Mordenaro could throw at him. She almost wished it were him up here.


    But no. She had her own role to play. Her entire body tensed as she saw Mordenaro catch further up to the train. He scrunched himself down to one leg and pushed off, rocketing high into the air, a dot eclipsing the sun, before dropping like a stone.


    He caked her in his shadow. She jumped back, feeling the entire train shake ¨C almost de-rail ¨C as he landed. For a moment, the two stared at one another, a world of silence between them. The Guild of One considered her, his face blank, his jewel-green eyes devoid of emotion. Archenround had heard of his look before. He was single-minded in his quest. More automation than man. Whatever had been Mordenaro had long ago been melded into¡­ this.


    One way or another, he would get to the prince. As was his job. All else was noise. She didn''t need to be here ¨C she could jump off the train. He would ignore her.


    No. She readied her blades. Mordenaro nodded in acknowledgment of her challenge, a small smile crawling onto his face.


    And the two began to dance.


    ***


    Nole could hear them above, the harsh boots of Mordenaro thundering against the roof like a steel drum, the strange, whistling scream of Archenround''s blades whizzing through the air. G-Wiz and the others were already on the next train. A measured defense. The troll wondered if it would be enough. Maybe it wasn¡¯t. Maybe this was it.


    ¡°Enough o'' that,¡± he told himself, ¡°Go time.¡±


    He slapped the sides of his head to psych himself up, his ears ringing as he sniffed. Archenround smelled strongly of brimstone ¨C though he was comfortable with that at this point. Mordenaro stank of nothing ¨C only the dust from his longcoat gave any evidence that he existed. Nole wasn''t sure how he liked that. He coiled himself down, ready to pounce...


    And leaped upwards, fist punching through the roof, grasping, finding purchase and wrapping around the Grim Walker''s ankles. He twisted himself up, laying his stomach flat against the ceiling as he felt Mordenaro try to pull free.


    Enough time for Archenround to get a few shots in. He could hear the wailing of her blades as she cut at the Guild of One. He wasn''t sure if she was finding purchase, but Mordenaro seemed to get the better of her, forcing her back. A fist shot down into the roof, his great hand closing around Nole''s stomach. It pulled.


    Strength vs. strength ¨C something Nole was prepared to lose as he felt his grip strain as Mordenaro tried to pull him up through the roof. He heard something in him scream as his arms began to dislocate, then break entirely as Mordenaro wrenched him upwards. The roof popped upwards, the metal warping before breaking as Mordenaro pulled Nole out and up like a mangy dog, the troll flailing and cursing.


    ***


    Archenround was on Mordenaro in an instant, ducking as Mordenaro threw Nole at her, blunting her advance as she re-adjusted herself. She heard Nole snarl and curse as he scrabbled along the side of the train car, apparently finding purchase and holding on. Mordenaro took a boxer''s stance, a smooth cut, just beneath his enchanted duster, the only evidence of Archenround''s scoring a hit. The wound beneath did not bleed. It was simply a gaping hole, a void that seemed almost out of place on Mordenaro''s form.


    The thought unsettled Archenround. But she would not be denied.


    She surged forward, Sign-Blades pointed forward like fangs as she bore down. Mordenaro battered the first blade aside, though Archenround twisted the second at an angle, a feint that went beneath the Grim Walker''s guard.


    He parried that anyway, hand closing over the edge of the blade, stopping it in its tracks.


    Her heart fell as she let it to, the Grim Walker wrenching it out of her hand in an attempt to throw her off the train. The blade sailed away, landing somewhere in the grass and growing far, far away.


    She still had one sword.


    And Nole was with her.


    The troll launched himself upwards, clawing at Mordenaro as Archenround''s blade swung in a heavy arc, a two-pronged attack. Mordenaro spun, parrying Archenround''s blade with a closed fist, leg kicking out to slam into Nole''s face, moving with the troll''s momentum. Nole skid across the top of the train, slipping off the back.


    Archenround pulled back, slithering, both hands clamped onto her remaining sword. Mordenaro took another few steps forward, the two of them staring at one another.


    Then the Grim Walker knelt down, and jumped once more.


    Archenround''s heart skipped a beat as she prepared for him to land ¨C perhaps on her, perhaps elsewhere ¨C then it sank into her stomach as she watched him land several cars ahead of her, the entirety of the Drahim shaking with his fall. He had landed on the exact car the rest of the group was in-


    ***


    A massive hand wrenched through the top of the roof. Joseph''s head shot as Mordenaro looked down at the train for a split moment. The Grim Walker jumped down, the entirety of the car rattling as he landed, before rising to his full height and towering over Joseph. Joseph stood his ground, though he could hear Luevo sobbing behind him.


    Joseph glared at Mordenaro, ¡°Let''s get this over with.¡±


    He was not at full strength ¨C not yet. The plan didn''t involve him as much as Archenround or Nole. G-Wiz was in the other car, preparing her little trap.


    ¡°Run,¡± Joseph said.


    He pointed at Mordenaro, willing as much of his soul into his fingertip. The prince turned around and began to run as Mordenaro took a few strides forward.


    The lightning bolt flashed, thundering directly into Mordenaro''s chest, pushing him back towards the back of the train car. It was weaker than most of Joseph''s regular fare ¨C at half strength, he noted, a gassed muscle trying its hardest to work at full capacity. Mordenaro was already recovering, resuming his advance as Nole dropped down between them.


    ¡°Run!¡± the troll shouted. Joseph complied ¨C following Luevo to the next car, stepping out into the open air and stepping over the cables that connected the two cars together, opening the door. Luevo and G-Wiz were waiting for him at the end of the next car. G-Wiz''s handiwork was written all over the place ¨C small glowing letters she had scribbled into every wall, every door, every seat and every lamp.


    They all read boom.


    ¡°Come on!¡± G-Wiz yelled, ¡°Come on!¡±


    Joseph made it to the end of the traincar. He heard movement behind him ¨C turning around to see Nole and Archenround making their way down to the end, Mordenaro not far behind.


    ¡°Do it!¡± Nole snarled, ¡°G, now!¡±


    G-Wiz thumbed the Zumbelaphone, electric notes rippling the air as she pressed the keys in a specific pattern.


    ¡°1812 Overture?¡± Joseph said.


    Mordenaro was halfway towards them when the words flashed once more, caking him ¨C and the entire train car ¨C in fire. Nole slammed the door to their car shut as the explosion thundered out, a cacophonous scream that deafened Joseph''s ears, the entire train rocking back and forth, threatening to de-rail, Luevo crying out at the sheer force as the explosion burst through the doorway, a gout of flame spewing out like a Dragon''s breath, Archenround throwing herself between the flames and Luevo as they licked around her, sliding off of her like spent napalm.


    The entire train behind them was blown away. Joseph was surprised parts of it still stood ¨C the roof and walls were gone. G-Wiz hadn''t touched the floor at all, though it was a smoldering waste of ash and burned furniture.


    And Mordenaro still stood in the center, duster billowing in the now open air, smoke curling off of his form. He took a few uneasy steps ¨C the blow having staggered him. He was clutching something close to his chest as he limped forward. His eyes had taken a hardened edge, a subtle realization that this Amber Foundation had the ability to hurt him. His mouth was a thin line as he strode forward.


    And Joseph knew nothing would stop him.


    ¡°Alright,¡± Nole''s voice was soft, ¡°Archenround ''n'' me in the front. Joe and G in the back. Princey behind all of us.¡±


    They complied, retreating back as Mordenaro stepped over the connecting cable and into their car. At this point, whatever in his hand was crushed as his fist tightened. Nole lowered himself down, Archenround bared her sword. The two of them rushed forward as Joseph leaped back, willing his soul to life, the circuit powering up. G-Wiz was beside him, fingers playing at the Zumbelaphone. Energy was spinning out of the top of the keytar as the two of them prepared to support the others.


    Archenround was first, blade sailing to the side as G-Wiz fired a bolt of plasma at Mordenaro. The Grim Walker brought his hand up to grab the blade, twisting to the side to let the plasma rocket by him before smashing the blade''s flat into Archenround''s face. Nole snarled as he approached Mordenaro, who flung whatever he was holding at the troll''s face.


    And Nole began to scream. Joseph''s eyes widened as he saw Nole''s face begin bubbling and steaming as he clutched it, salt mixed with bits of broken glass melting into his skin as he collapsed to the ground in a writhing mess.


    Snapping his head back at Mordenaro, Joseph launched another lightning bolt at the Grim Walker, who ran and punched forward, the electricity swirling and glancing off his closed fist as he bared down on Joseph. G-Wiz was on him in a moment, her own roar echoing Nole''s as she played a light tune, a surge of light hammering into the Guild of One''s chest, pushing him back as Archenround swung her sword like a baseball bat into his back.


    It cut deep, severing through the already weakened enchantments on the duster, and biting down into skin. Mordenaro took in a deep breath as he stumbled back forward, ducking to the side as G-Wiz unleashed another gout of light, weaving past another bolt from Joseph as he charged like a boar at the pair.


    Joseph jumped to the side, G-Wiz stumbled down, avoiding a jab that would have torn her head free, her face a strange mix of concentration and unbridled panic as she keyed her instrument. Mordenaro brought up a single foot and kicked forward directly into G-Wiz''s chest, slamming her into the wall. She let out a soft gasp and collapsed. Archenround let out a silent battlecry and swung at Mordenaro again. Joseph watched as the two waltzed across the train, blade against fist, from one section of the car down to the other, then back again. Luevo pushed himself further and further to the door to the next car as they did so.


    And then Mordenaro got beneath her guard, battering her blade aside. His fist came down like a meteor.


    It connected with her skull.


    Archenround crumpled.


    Joseph let out a scream, realizing that he was¡­


    Alone.


    He took a few more steps back, soul''s arms surging over his shoulders and raising up in a boxer''s stance. Joseph mirrored them, glaring at the Guild of One, his insides turning to jelly as he heard Luevo whimper behind him.


    Behind Mordenaro, Joseph could see Nole getting up. His face was a mess ¨C flesh and muscle melted, revealing a harrowing, bone-white skull beneath. One of his eyes was gone. The other was glaring at Mordenaro, the pupil flickering with concentration. That one good eye slid over to look past Mordenaro and at Joseph. An understanding passed between the two of them.


    This wasn''t the place to die.


    Nole pounced, Joseph''s electric arms shot forward. Mordenaro, expecting an attack, braced himself, was unprepared for the troll to slam into his backside, claws shooting down into the wound Archenround had opened, his skull opening wide, sharp, now-exposed teeth boring down into his shoulder. Joseph''s arms wrapped around G-Wiz and Archenround, dragging them forward.


    ¡°Grab G!¡± he shouted at Luevo. The prince complied, picking her as the two of them opened the door to the next car. It was empty ¨C the only remaining passenger had already been evacuated to the front of the train. Joseph counted to himself ¨C only a couple cars before they made it to the engine proper. They were running out of room. Archenround was still out, a nasty welt not unlike the one Shetavalk had sported swelling on the side of her head. Joseph, already on the verge of breaking down, chose not to dwell on that.


    Nole had managed to place himself between the rest of the party and Mordenaro. They had broken off again, nursing their wounds. The troll¡¯s head was still a mess of bone and melted flesh, though his other wounds seemed to be healing fine. Mordenaro was walking, though Joseph noted his gait was stilted now ¨C something was giving him pause. Perhaps Archenround''s blow had dug just deep enough, or he was getting overwhelmed by Nole''s assaults.


    Whatever the reason, he was still advancing on Nole, ready for a fresh round. Joseph''s heart pounded as he watched the two meet once more, claw parrying fist, Mordenaro overpowering the troll and connecting a clean hit into the side of Nole''s head, the troll''s skull splintering and cracking. A sacrifice Nole was willing to make, as he scythed a hand upwards, raking up Mordenaro''s face, nails wreaking the Guild of One''s left eye.


    For the first time, Mordenaro let out a gasp of pain, retreating back as he clutched his face. Nole did so as well, swaying for a moment before settling back into place. The troll glanced back at Joseph. Almost all of the flesh on his face was gone now, his spider-webbed skull reminding Joseph strongly of those old cow-skull paintings his dad had hung up in the living room.


    Nole uncurled a fist and pointed at him. Then pointed further down.


    At the connectors between the two train cars.


    And Joseph knew what to do. He heard Luevo shout at him as he dropped Archenround and rushed forward, electric claw arcing up and then falling down, swiping at the connectors, which gave way at the blow.


    Leaving Nole alone with the Guild of One. Mordenaro realized what they were doing, was about to jump at them, but Nole tackled him, pulling strength from somewhere ¨C enough to pull the Grim Walker to the ground. Joseph winced as he saw, in the fading distance between the two, Mordenaro rocket a fist through Nole''s stomach, emerging out of his back. But that scene became smaller and smaller as the Drahim sped onwards, leaving its other half behind. He heard G-Wiz screaming after him, Luevo breaking down into a fit of hysterical sobs, the other passengers shouting in shock.


    And the wind, whipping around them.


    Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    ***


    ¡°I just wanted a nice job after the war,¡± the conductor was saying to the soldier, ¡°Nothing major. A steady job running a train ¨C I ran trains all the time when I was younger. And hey, when they offered me the position of running the Drahim, why, that''s a dream come true!¡±


    The conductor had a way of gesticulating wildly, his arms an orchestra in of themselves as he gestured this way and that.


    ¡°The Drahim was my hero growing up! The King''s Train! The Traveling Dragon! Sir, look at what they did to my baby!¡±


    They were at Lake Imdrahal now, the Drahim having made an emergency stop at its first destination. At first, the conductor had called on the military to immediately arrest them as terrorists. Then, after Joseph had explained they were part of a guild, the situation had turned from an immediate arrest into a series of interviews and procedures. The soldier who was doing the interviewing already seemed versed in the multiverse, having been stationed in Imdrahal to guard the Traveling Point that led to Murknoir. A small base was located by the lake, with personnel doing military exercises in the distance. Someone from a guild ¨C a massive man with the head of a goat ¨C was watching the interview from a distance.


    ¡°Alright,¡± the soldier said to the conductor, ¡°You''ve had your fun, mate. Now let''s hear it from the kid.¡±


    The thought of ''kid'' rankled Joseph. But he ignored it. Archenround was being loaded on a stretcher as the soldier made his way to Joseph, flipping his notebook to a new page. The serpent had not awoken since their battle with Mordenaro. G-Wiz was looking over Luevo, making sure he wasn''t injured. Leaving Nole behind had left her despondent, and Joseph wasn''t relishing explaining what had happened to her.


    ¡°Right, then,¡± the soldier said, ¡°What''s your name, mate?¡±


    ¡°Joseph.¡±


    The soldier scribbled a few words into his notebook, taking out a cigarette and absently sticking it into his mouth.


    ¡°And you''re guild?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. We''re from the Amber Foundation.¡±


    ¡°Amber Foundation,¡± the soldier echoed, ¡°Guild business, then?¡±


    ¡°Indeed.¡±


    ¡°And that whole situation, on the train?¡± the soldier sighed, ¡°Guild business?¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±


    ¡°Who were you fighting on the train?¡±


    ¡°Mordenaro, sir.¡±


    ¡°The Guild of One?¡±


    ¡°The very same.¡±


    The soldier let out another heavy sigh, one based more on annoyance than fear. He took out a canteen and took a swig, pulling a face as he did so. Evidently he was drinking something stronger than water.


    ¡°Well,¡± the man said, ¡°Considering the statements that have been brought up by the conductor and that other passenger, as well as the fact that you are on guild business, this matter will have to be brought up to the government. Guild leadership, as well.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°You''ll need to write up an official statement, as well as make a court appearance. If my higher-ups desire it, they will have you pay for the damages incurred during this... guild business.¡±


    ¡°Right, sir,¡± Joseph said. He turned his head towards the horizon from where they had come, ¡°Err, hate to ask this, but are we free to... to go?¡±


    ¡°Go where?¡±


    ¡°Murknoir. Guild business, we''re kind of on the run.¡±


    ¡°From the aforementioned Mordenaro.¡±


    ¡°Y-yes. I don''t think your bosses would really like another fight on their plane. Would they?¡±


    The soldier visibly tensed, ¡°Good God, you''re free to go. Just leave this plane, mate. You''ve given me quite a bit of paperwork already.¡±


    ¡°Nothing else you need?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Well, there''s the matter of your guildmate,¡± the soldier nodded at Archenround, who was being treated by a couple paramedics, ¡°From the looks of it, her injuries are too grievous to treat here. We''ll probably take her to a hospital.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Excuse me, sir,¡± Luevo interrupted, ¡°If Mordenaro does end up arriving here ¨C and he will, mind you, what do you intend to do?¡±


    The soldier shrugged, ¡°Sorry mate, this is guild business. I''m not losing any of my boys to a business transaction.¡±


    He was so casual about this. Removed from it. Just another day on the job for him. Joseph''s fists clenched, and he could feel emotion well up within Luevo.


    ¡°Bit more than a business transaction,¡± Joseph muttered.


    ¡°What was that?¡± the soldier asked.


    ¡°Nothing,¡± Joseph growled.


    ¡°Right, well,¡± the soldier closed his notebook, ¡°As we know where your base of operations are located, expect a letter soon about court dates. You''re free to go. And please, sir, do.¡±


    ***


    They were three now ¨C Archenround was being loaded onto a platform now, one that was connected by chain up to a medical airship. Yet even with the airship''s drone, Lake Imdrahal was quiet ¨C almost painfully so. The surface of the water was shimmering, dancing in the reflection of the sun high above. A few fishing boats lazed about, though aside from them and the military outpost there was no one else here. An ivory-white crane was prowling the reeds near the shore, banded black legs rising and falling in and out of the water.


    Luevo''s stomach turned. It was too calm. Too peaceful. Too unfair. This lake couldn''t exist in the same world as the battle on the train. Yet it was, sharing a space in Luevo''s mind with Nole, his face bubbling and seizing, his one eye alight with desperation and adrenaline. The same world as Archenround crumpling to the ground like a mannequin. Rolala shivered at those thoughts.


    ¡°T-There''s the Traveling Point,¡± G-Wiz said. Her voice was raw. Luevo turned to see her eyes were red from crying.


    It took a lot to not cry himself. He wasn''t sure how Joseph was being so stoic about all this. The metahuman had answered the soldier with an annoyed confidence. Perhaps that was just his way of coping ¨C a quiet sort of panic, as opposed to Luevo''s own dramatics.


    The Traveling Point itself was a simple ring of wood. Runes were inlaid into the top of it, curling down the sides, solid and straight in a way that looked almost alien to the natural curves of the ring. A paradox, one that Luevo supposed was what had allowed the Traveling Point to exist so long and not blink out of existence. Contradictions tended to be the most powerful of batteries. The world was quiet as they walked, the breeze a light song that made the prince''s heart ache for a better time.


    ¡°Hey, Joe,¡± G-Wiz said.


    Joseph, who had taken point, turned back to her.


    ¡°You didn''t...¡± she was struggling to form the sentence, ¡°You didn''t leave him, did you?¡±


    The metahuman winced.


    ¡°He...¡±


    ¡°He told you too,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Typical Nole. The old bastard.¡±


    She walked past them, ¡°M-Murknoir''s just ahead. We''re losing time. It''s only-¡± she caught herself, ¡°It''s only a matter of time before he catches up.¡±


    Joseph nodded, ¡°So it''s just us, now.¡±


    ¡°Best we make it count,¡± she said.


    They stared at each other for a moment, some silent war passing between them. Luevo stepped back.


    ¡°I didn''t want to leave him,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°I know. Not your choice t-to make,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°His own way to go. I just hope he''s still...¡±


    ¡°He is. He has to be,¡± Joseph said.


    G-Wiz was quiet at that. An understanding, silent and quiet as the lake it passed, settled as the responsibility fell on their backs. Joseph turned toward Luevo.


    ¡°Right. If Mordenaro shows up, run,¡± he said.


    ¡°No need to tell me twice,¡± Luevo said, ¡°Now come on, Murknoir awaits.¡±


    ***


    Passing through the portal to Murknoir was odd ¨C none of the rainbow lights of creation that Joseph was used to when planeshifting. Oh, they started out colorful ¨C harsh explosions of color and sound that filled his vision and reminded him of the Dragon. Those colors inked away and became drab and gray as they landed in Murknoir. The entire land was gray ¨C mist permeated the air, making it difficult to see past a few feet in front of him. A bad place to be if Mordenaro caught up to them.


    ¡°Let''s get out of here ASAP,¡± Joseph stated.


    ¡°Agreed,¡± Luevo murmured.


    The journey itself did not take long ¨C Murknoir was a small place. Occasionally Joseph would see ghosts on the horizon, half-shades and half-formed, single eyes staring at him like silent stars. Observing, and no more. Yet they still bore down on Joseph as he walked.


    He was tired. His body was working more on muscle memory than mind. Every step was like climbing a mountain. Every time his foot hit the ground, it sank down ¨C to his knees, at some points. Advancing was exhausting. Excruciating. But going back wasn''t an option.


    So he pressed onward.


    They were out of Murknoir soon enough. A day''s worth of travel. Silence between the three of them. No words exchanged. No words to exchange. What was said ¨C their snipings, their arguments, their hatred of the others (though perhaps that was changing) had simmered down.


    The fact of the matter was that they were being chased by the Devil. And they needed each other if they were going to get Luevo to the end of all this.


    The Traveling Point back to Nesona wasn''t set up with an arcane aplomb like Kelstonda''s. It was a simple ripple in space. Silently, they stepped through.


    Gray to color, silence to sound. And they landed back on the prince''s plane. Far from everything, now ¨C he couldn''t even see the jungle on the horizon.


    All that was around them was death.


    Luevo stumbled forward, spreading out his arms.


    ¡°Welcome to the Deadlands, folks,¡± he said, and then immediately began coughing.


    ¡°Ro la lum, that was dumb,¡± Rolala chittered. They were louder now, their voice rippling across the prince''s skin.


    ¡°Shut up,¡± the prince gasped.


    ¡°Where are we going?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Luevo wheezed, ¡°Just down a couple roads. Towards the ritual site. Shouldn''t take long.¡±


    Joseph surveyed the landscape. All around them, the world was brown and rotted. He had expected the Deadlands to be like a desert ¨C hot and overbearing. But it was cold ¨C bone cold, the dry chill that reminded him of Nai Nai''s hospital room the day before her passing. Mountains rose and fell, jagged and sharp, overbearing in their size, dead monoliths that scraped the graying sky.


    Joseph''s soul surged over him ¨C it felt comfortable. No, more than that. He needed it now. Just breathing in the air was hard, as though the very wind were trying to kill him. The eagle was a protection ¨C an armor, of a sort.


    Or he felt it was, at least. He wasn''t truly sure. But they needed his eyes, didn''t they? To scan the horizon for danger. God forbid ¨C danger aside from Mordenaro.


    And in the distance, he saw something.


    ***


    ¡°Guys,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I see a camp.¡±


    Luevo turned to look at the metahuman. His big, dumb eagle was covering his face, twin-sun eyes staring out towards the horizon. The prince turned his head, straining his eyes.


    ¡°A camp,¡± he said, ¡°I-I think I know who they are.¡±


    ¡°Who?¡± G-Wiz asked.


    ¡°Refugees,¡± Rolala rumbled, ¡°Here to see the new land, to till its soils, to make it grow, ro la la.¡±


    They had spotted them ¨C the glow of Joseph''s bird, a shining landmark on the otherwise dead landscape. God, how Luevo hated this place. He could feel Rolala shudder within him ¨C the Deadlands was not a hospitable place, and the cold winnowed its way into Luevo''s core, settled into Rolala, began freezing him.


    ¡°R-refugees means warmth,¡± Luevo said, ¡°Fire. We need fire.¡±


    Joseph cast him a curious glance. Luevo shook his head.


    ¡°Rolala- the creature. We need to keep him alive, otherwise this was all for nothing.¡±


    ¡°You sure they''re safe?¡± G-Wiz asked. She took out her Zumbelaphone, a couple notes cutting through the stale air.


    ¡°I am the prince of Ionica,¡± Luevo said, ¡°More importantly, I am Kimao. I nurture the thing-¡±


    ¡°Creature,¡± Rolala corrected.


    ¡°Creature that will give this place life. They harm me, they harm their best chance of surviving this place,¡± Luevo turned back to the refugee camp. A few scouts had peeled away from the meager tents and were making their way over. Luevo slid down the hill they were on to meet them.


    The scouts were wielding spears, but aside from that they didn''t look like much. The clothing they wore wrapped around their bodies, the only skin exposed to the Deadlands being their faces. One was bearded and old, one eye having milked over. The other was young ¨C she held her spear at the ready, her hands only slightly shaking at the sight of the guild.


    ¡°Not every day we see outlanders,¡± the older man said.


    ¡°Especially not guildfolk,¡± the younger woman spat, ¡°State your business, we''ve had enough of interlopers today.¡±


    ¡°Relax, citizens,¡± Luevo said, ¡°We come in peace. I am Kimao.¡±


    As if on cue, Rolala twisted out above his shoulders, chittering and twisting. The old man''s spear fell to the ground.


    ¡°The Kimao!¡± he gasped. Luevo noticed tears brimming in his eyes. Luevo had expected this, and began the usual puffing of his chest.


    But the old man''s eyes slid up to Rolala. The creature swayed like a cobra in the air, before the winds of the Deadlands chilled them, and Rolala seized back into his body.


    When they did so, Luevo felt his entire body grow cold. Colder than he had ever felt. He grasped his chest and winced, falling to his knees.


    ¡°Kimao!¡± the older man said.


    ¡°W-we''re fine,¡± the prince wheezed, ¡°B-but the sooner we get to the ritual site, t-the better.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± the scout said. He turned to his comrade, ¡°Ruti, let Manzima know who is here. Tell her to prepare food.¡±


    ¡°Father,¡± Ruti said, ¡°You know the shortages-¡±


    ¡°He is Kimao! When he is finished, there will be no lack of food! Not here! Now go!¡±


    The old man walked forward and helped Luevo up, supporting him as they began to walk to the camp.


    ***


    They were the Denrama, Joseph learned. One of four tribes that lived in the Deadlands, far away from the other landscapes that had been created by Kimao of the past. Manzima was their leader, an elderly woman who was the most emaciated being that Joseph had ever seen ¨C and Joseph had grown up with a skeleton of a grandmother.


    Then again, all of the Denrama were malnourished. They were skin and bones, desperation having carved them into lean survivors of the land. Most of them were wrapped in the same form-fitting robes and rags that Ruti and her father, Renma, wore. All of them had a hollow look in their eyes that Joseph was finding all too familiar. They did not flinch as Luevo related their journey here to Manzima. She simply nodded as they spoke, bowls of bone broth presented to them. A meager meal, but a feast, Joseph supposed, in their eyes. Their herd of goats was small and just as skeletal as their owners.


    ¡°So, Grim Walker is making his way here,¡± Manzima''s voice was harsh and whistling. Luevo nodded.


    ¡°We''ll try our best to keep him occupied,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°And let us stand by?¡± Manzima prodded.


    Joseph was quiet at that. The rest of the camp shifted as the elder stood up. She had a cane, he noticed, two dirty white femurs that had been put together by a brown cloth. It wobbled as she made her way past the open bonfire, staring out towards the horizon.


    ¡°You must understand,¡± she said, ¡°This is the Deadlands. We''re all survivors here. You''re telling me that our one good chance at making this place a paradise is in danger, and you expect us to just sit here and watch?¡±


    ¡°We''ve already lost three of our own to this,¡± Joseph replied.


    ¡°And we''ll lose everyone if the Kimao fails,¡± Manzima said. She turned to him, looked him over. It felt very much like Nai Nai''s glares, the way she studied him, breathed him in, seemed to know his soul just by staring long enough. An odd sense of shame crept along his spine.


    ¡°Rolala''s the key to all this,¡± Luevo said. He hesitated for a moment, then put a hand on Joseph''s shoulder, ¡°We''ll need all the help we can get.¡±


    ¡°People are going to die,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°They will anyway,¡± G-Wiz noted.


    Joseph grimaced at the blunt reasoning. But he had to admit, the two of them were right.


    ¡°Okay,¡± he said, ¡°How many of you can fight?¡±


    ***


    Luevo was never that good at war meetings. He remembered when, as a young boy, he would be permitted by his father to visit the war room when Ionica had been at war with Monecule. He had hated it ¨C the boring talk of troop movements, of the hiring of guilds to act as special forces on the front, of his father''s face growing more ashen and worried with each passing week. That last part had a bit more of a punch to it ¨C boredom mixed with fear, which was never a good combination.


    So he wasn''t enjoying the fact that he felt both right now. Joseph, G-Wiz, Manzima, and a few other members of the Denrama were talking around the bonfire about plans against Mordenaro. The prince tried to stay engaged, to put in his two cents about the situation, but he was starting to realize he was completely out of his depth. The metahuman was, too, as he stopped speaking and started listening. The Denrama knew this region of the Deadlands ¨C most of them were young, and had walked it for most of their lives, outcasts and refugees from Monecule after Ionica''s takeover. They didn''t seem to be angry at Luevo for it ¨C though, perhaps because he was Kimao, they didn''t want to risk harming him until after Rolala was out of his system.


    Luevo wasn''t thrilled about what would happen after this whole journey was over. Yet there was no going back now.


    ¡°We should begin moving out,¡± Manzima said, ¡°We can talk as we walk.¡±


    ¡°No rest for the weary,¡± Joseph sighed. He rose to his feet, ¡°Can you at least get a wagon or something for Luevo?¡±


    ¡°I''m fine,¡± the prince said, ¡°I have two feet, don''t I?¡±


    ¡°You''re also holding the thing that Mordenaro''s after. The more rest you get, the better,¡± Joseph countered, ¡°You''re no use to us half-dead and tired.¡±


    ¡°I assure you,¡± Luevo snapped, ¡°I''m fine.¡±


    ¡°You won''t be. Not when Mordenaro comes knocking.¡±


    Luevo looked at Joseph for a while, aware of the strange reversal that had occurred between the two of them ¨C Luevo wanting to push forward, Joseph wanting him to rest, as opposed to the other way around. Then, the prince relented.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said, ¡°For Rolala''s sake, then.¡±


    The wagon was a meager thing ¨C meant to be pulled by goats much healthier than the ones here. As the Denrama drove the herd on, Joseph took a glance at the wagon''s yoke. His soul surged out of his body ¨C by now, strong enough to take on a more humanoid form, its great arms wrapping around the yoke and pulling forward. The Denrama took down their tents quickly, hoisting them on their bony backs and using their spears as walking sticks, as one moving as a mass across the landscape. Luevo tried to ignore their emaciated forms, the way they stared at Luevo in a desperate sort of reverence. He knew he wasn''t worthy of those glances ¨C and he didn''t want to hide his unworthiness with bluster. Not anymore. Besides, the glances were less because of his being Kimao and more because of the being of life roiling within him.


    The Denrama, after a certain point, began wrapping their faces with ragged masks. They passed a few over to Luevo, Joseph, and G-Wiz, who put them on, reminding Luevo of plague masks he had been forced to wear as a child during a bad plague. He remembered seeing a dark look in the servant¡¯s eyes as he wore them, and they were forced to go unmasked.He noticed them here, too. All around them. Everyone had been wearing them, even people back in Chandhala. How had he been so isolated from them?


    ¡°How many days to the ritual site?¡± he heard Joseph ask one of the Denrama.


    The hunter''s voice came out as a rasp, ¡°Two days, no more than that.¡±


    ¡°And how come it''s so far from here?¡±


    ¡°So there is enough space to create the new land,¡± the hunter replied.


    So the metahuman had taken charge of their meager little crew. Perhaps Nole had talked to him ¨C the two had been sniping at each other during that night in the hotel, Luevo could hear their harsh whispers. Or perhaps Joseph had more of a backbone then he let on.


    ¡°W-we''re at a disadvantage,¡± G-Wiz said to Joseph as they went, ¡°We''ll need to rest after a while. Mordenaro won''t.¡±


    Joseph was quiet at that, then said, ¡°We''ll cross that bridge when it comes. We''ll keep watch, have guards posted that can run with Luevo to the ritual site once Mordenaro catches up with us.¡±


    ¡°You seem remarkably calm about all of this,¡± Luevo said on the wagon.


    The metahuman glanced over at him, then turned back.


    ¡°No choice now,¡± he said, ¡°Can¡¯t run, can I? Something tells me they don''t take credits out here.¡±


    Silence. Then Luevo let out a spluttering laugh. He could tell Joseph was smiling through the mask.


    ¡°Besides, I promised Nole I''d see this through,¡± Joseph said, his voice becoming dour and dark, ¡°Well, not to his face. But I might as well have said it.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Luevo agreed. They were rising over a dune now, the soul''s arms straining to put the yoke in a comfortable position.


    The prince crossed his arms, glancing this way and that. Finally, he let out a guilty sigh.


    ¡°...Thank you,¡± he murmured.


    He saw both of the guild look his way again. G-Wiz''s expression darkened.


    ¡°Nole''s p-probably... he''s probably dead because of you,¡± she muttered, ¡°You''d better be thankful.¡±


    ¡°I am,¡± Luevo said, ¡°And I promise you, I''ll get to the end of this. For Rolala''s sake.¡±


    The creature chittered beneath his skin.


    They continued walking in silence.


    ***


    The next day was a quiet affair. The entire encampment kept turning around, at any moment expecting the Grim Walker on the horizon. Yet nothing came. They made good time, at least ¨C Joseph could no longer feel his bones or the ache in his muscles. He was realizing he couldn''t feel anything, really. The sapping energies of the Deadlands, he supposed. More and more he wasn''t liking this place. At certain points he could see his soul flickering, no doubt weakened by the atmosphere. Yet he felt nothing.


    It would be a painless death, at least. If it came down to it.


    He hated that such a thought was so normalized in his mind now.


    Night came quickly here, the sun dripping down the sky and past the horizon, scarring the sky red for a few minutes before disappearing altogether, as though afraid of setting for too long. They were left in darkness. The only light came from the torches of the Denrama and Joseph''s eagle. Manzima called for them to halt and begin setting up camp.


    ¡°You sure?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Here in the Deadlands, the body can''t properly tell you how tired it is,¡± she replied, ¡°Rest is important. You know this, for you''ve been carrying the Kimao on the wagon this entire time.¡±


    Joseph turned back to Luevo. The Kimao was asleep, chest rising and falling. He looked almost angelic, the wear and tear of the journey leaving his face. Still just a kid in a lot of ways.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said. He lowered the wagon down, soul sapping back into his body, ¡°I''ll take first watch.¡±


    ¡°N-no,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°You rest, Joe. Joseph. You''ve been doing a lot.¡±


    ¡°Doesn''t feel like enough,¡± Joseph muttered.


    G-Wiz looked at him for a moment.


    ¡°You feel guilty.¡±


    ¡°Hell yeah I do,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I let Nole... I abandoned him.¡±


    ¡°Y-you did,¡± G-Wiz said, a hard edge to her voice, ¡°But we both know, that''s what he would''ve wanted.¡±


    She grimaced, letting the truth of it sink in. She was blaming herself, he knew. Blaming her own weaknesses.


    Joseph sighed, ¡°I''m sorry, G-Wiz.¡±


    ¡°I-it''s okay,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°I''m sorry, too. For calling you Noodle. You ain''t one. A-and for bein'' a bitch. And for replacing your shampoo with honey-¡±


    ¡°That was you?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. Me and Nole.¡±


    Joseph glared at her for a few moments. Then he huffed out a chuckle, which dissolved into a fit of exhausted giggles. G-Wiz gave a sad smile as she watched him laugh for a few minutes. Joseph wiped a tear from his eye.


    ¡°Alright,¡± Joseph said, ¡°That wasn''t that funny, but it was still good.¡±


    ¡°You need rest, Joseph,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Go on, get some sleep. Or I''ll do it again.¡±


    ¡°Alright, alright,¡± Joseph said. He stretched and began making his way to the head tent, where Manzima had set aside a place for the guildmembers and prince, ¡°And G-Wiz?¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°You can call me Joe, if you want.¡±


    ¡°Alright, Joe.¡±


    He gave her a smile before heading into the tent.


    ***


    Luevo awoke by the campfire. He had been set inside a sleeping bag made of animal furs, the inside lined with the stomach of some beast. He suppressed a retch. For a moment, he thought that he and Rolala were alone. Then, as he rose up and warmed his hands by the fire, he noticed the old bat sitting across from him.


    No, she wasn''t an old bat. She was Manzima, and she was helping Rolala.


    ¡°You awake,¡± she said.


    ¡°Bad dreams, I guess.¡±


    ¡°Of times past?¡±


    The prince winced, ¡°If by ''times past'' you mean the last few days or so.¡±


    Manzima nodded. Luevo shuffled around awkwardly, unsure of what to say. He had never been good at this.


    ¡°You are unsure,¡± Manzima stated.


    Luevo looked her way, ¡°It''s that obvious, isn''t it?¡±


    ¡°You carry yourself as though you are at a crossroads, yet halfway down one of the paths,¡± Manzima said.


    ¡°Well, if I''m an open book, you might as well read me,¡± Luevo said, ¡°What do you see, soothsayer?¡±


    ¡°I am no soothsayer. No oracle, Kimao. I simply see how you handle yourself. And you are a changed man.¡±


    ¡°That''s the whole thing about the Kimao,¡± Luevo said, ¡°We start off as being... not the best kind of people, from what Rolala tells me.¡±


    ¡°Rolala?¡± Manzima asked.


    ¡°The creature.¡±


    ¡°You gave it a name?¡±


    ¡°Helped them to grow,¡± Luevo said, ¡°But they said that each Kimao starts off as someone able to grow, and by the end of their journey they become... I don''t know. Good? Better?¡±


    ¡°Different,¡± Manzima reasoned.


    ¡°I don''t like it,¡± Luevo said. He laid back down, hand reaching up and grasping the stars ¨C even they looked dead out here, muted and dark, ¡°I don''t like who I''ve become. But I don''t like who I was, either.¡±


    ¡°Halfway down the road,¡± Manzima said.


    ¡°Yes. I don''t feel like I''ve become good, or better. I just feel... sad.¡±


    ¡°Change is difficult,¡± Manzima said, ¡°But the most important thing is that it need not end when the journey does. It''s just the beginning of a new one.¡±


    Luevo winced, ¡°Great. Another journey. Just what I needed.¡±


    ¡°I have heard of you, Prince Luevo. Your father drove us out, long ago. I have heard tales of your arrogance. Of your shallowness.¡±


    ¡°All of them are true,¡± Luevo said, ¡°I''m a right bastard, aren''t I?¡±


    ¡°Not anymore,¡± Manzima said, ¡°You''re out here. You''ve seen the Deadlands. And you haven''t turned back.¡±


    ¡°No choice in the matter, I''ve got a big fucking guildfolk out to kill me.¡±


    ¡°If he were not there, and you saw the Deadlands, would you still continue on?¡±


    And Luevo found he couldn''t answer her question. He was silent for a long time. Manzima waited, cane poking at the fire, sparks flying with her prodding.


    ¡°I wouldn''t-¡± Luevo stammered, ¡°I wouldn''t be here if it weren''t for them. For the guild. For Joseph. G-Wiz. Nole and Archenround. Shetavalk...¡±


    He suppressed a sob, ¡°You don''t know what it''s like, being me. I''m rich. The Crown Prince of Ionica. Yet I feel like such a fraud. I''m not worthy of it. I didn''t earn it. I''m not like you, or the guild. I don''t understand why they all had to die for me. I''m no- it would no great loss if I died. My brother would make a far better king. And everyone I know is better than me. E-everyone.¡±


    Tears were streaming down his face now, ¡°And I know they aren''t protecting me for me. They''re protecting me because of Rolala. The whole reason I''m here now is for them.¡±


    ¡°For Rolala,¡± Manzima said.


    ¡°Yes. Because if I die, they die. Everyone here dies. The Deadlands aren''t- I had no idea it was so bad out here, why Father would even think of forcing you out-¡±


    He took a deep breath.


    ¡°And Rolala is kind to me. I''m not doing this anymore to just go home. Rolala is my friend now. I would die for them.¡±


    He felt Rolala tighten their grip on his heart, a swelling of embarrassed gratitude flooding through from them.


    ¡°So I don''t-¡± he sighed, ¡°I don''t care how I feel anymore. Or who I am. I just need to get Rolala to the end of this, so I can make the Deadlands live.¡±


    His face was set and hard as he looked at Manzima. She did not return his gaze, continuing to poke at the fire. But he didn''t care. It mattered more that he said it out loud.


    One of the Denrama made her way over to the elder.


    ¡°Manzima, he''s out there.¡±


    The old crone looked up, ¡°Ah, it was only a matter of time. All good climaxes happen during the dawn.¡±


    Indeed, the sun was now cresting over the western horizon. Luevo rose up.


    ¡°Awaken the metahuman,¡± Manzima said, ¡°We''ll need his eyes.¡±


    ¡°Already awake,¡± Joseph said. He was walking out of the tent. He didn''t look very rested ¨C dark rings underlined his eyes, ¡°Let''s get this over with.¡±


    The soul surged over his head once more like a helmet. G-Wiz and the Denrama gathered around him as he looked out towards the horizon.


    ¡°Still walking,¡± the metahuman noted, ¡°But he''s going to get here sooner or later. Doesn''t look too beat up. He''s-¡± he went quiet, unsure for a few moments, before murmuring, ¡°He''s carrying a bloody sack.¡±


    G-Wiz made a sound like she''d been sucker-punched. Joseph made a sad glance at her. The Denrama were already getting ready to move.


    ¡°There''s a small mountain valley we can use as an ambush site,¡± Renma stated, ¡°Like we planned.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Joseph took another few moments to look at the approaching form. Luevo could see the Grim Walker now. A blot in the distance, getting closer and closer, seeming to speed up with every step he took, ¡°Let''s go.¡±

 20. Ecstasy of Dawn

    The land sloped downwards into a small ravine, hills to either side of them as they made their way towards the ritual site. The hills were sponged with small caves, perfect for setting up the ambush against Mordenaro. Already as they walked Joseph watched as the Denrama scurried up the slanted hillsides and ducked into the caverns, bows and spears in hand, ready for the Guild of One''s eventual arrival.


    ¡°Alright,¡± Joseph said to Manzima, ¡°You get the prince out of here, run as fast as you can. We''ll hold Mordenaro.¡±


    The elder nodded. A few of the Denrama were joining her and Luevo, to accompany them to the ritual site. A basic formality, for if Mordenaro broke through here, then nothing else would be able to stop him. The rest of the tribe were already prepared to die, even the few children that still remained. Most of them looked angry, indignant that the Kimao had come to harm, that Mordenaro had come to kill him. They would need that anger, Joseph knew.


    He, G-Wiz, and Luevo were at the base of the ravine. They all looked at one another.


    ¡°Guess this is it, then,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Luevo said.


    They stood there awkwardly.


    ¡°Listen,¡± Luevo began, ¡°I just want-¡±


    ¡°It''s alright,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Just get out of here. No time.¡±


    The prince looked at her, a miasma of emotions painting his face, before it settled into grim determination. He turned and began jogging.


    ¡°Hey princey!¡± G-Wiz called out.


    He turned around.


    ¡°If we all die here, but you succeed, you better make sure your life''s a good one. None of that petty crap.¡±


    Luevo nodded, ¡°I-I''ll live the best life I can! You''ll be so jealous at how... at how good it is! You''ll see! I''ll make a difference!¡±


    And he turned and continued his flight.


    Joseph turned to G-Wiz, ¡°You''re staying down here?¡±


    ¡°We need to get him to stop for a second,¡± she replied, ¡°So you can zap him. I''ll¡­ I¡¯ll be fine.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Joseph replied, ¡°Let''s do this.¡±


    And he began making his way up one of the slopes, ducking down into one of the caves.


    ***


    The world was quiet as the Grim Walker made his way to G-Wiz. The wind whipped up for a few moments, though no Spioa sailed its current. The Guild of One''s duster fluttered in the hard, cold breeze. Much of the duster was threadbare ¨C torn to pieces by Nole''s ragged assault back in Kelstonda. Mordenaro was covered in wounds ¨C deep holes that led to nothing but void. He was oblivious to them as he stopped a few yards from G-Wiz, piercing emerald eyes staring at her. The sun rose up behind him, silhouetting him in shadow.


    ¡°You''re a persistent bastard,¡± G-Wiz said. She was thumbing a few keys on her Zumbelaphone.


    Mordenaro nodded, ¡°As are you.¡±


    G-Wiz ignored him, looking down at the sack, ¡°Is that...?¡±


    The Grim Walker nodded. He placed the sack down in front of him, ¡°Your friend fought well. This is all that is left.¡±


    She suppressed a hollow sob as she pointed the Zumbelaphone at him, ¡°That''s far enough.¡±


    Mordenaro nodded, ¡°I had hoped that the death of three-¡±


    ¡°Arc''s alive.¡±


    ¡°Of two of your compatriots would be enough to dissuade you. I have encountered Amber Foundation before. You do good work. I had hoped you would step aside.¡±


    ¡°A job''s a job, but you made this one personal,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°Indeed.¡±


    She pointed her keytar at him. His open hands closed into fists.


    Around them, the Denrama leaped from their hiding places.


    As did Joseph, who aimed, and fired. A bolt of lightning struck the spot where Mordenaro was, lighting him for a split second as an azure sun. Unperturbed, he reached forward at G-Wiz, who unleashed a beam of light that pushed Mordenaro back, nearly picking him up off the ground as he skidded across the dusty ground. The Denrama followed as the light fizzled away, spears drawn. Those with bows took aim and fired, a volley rushing towards the Guild of One, whose hands shot out and began plucking them out of the air, one after another, a couple getting past his defenses and stabbing past his tattered coat.


    And then another bolt sailed down and lit up the world. The Denrama on the ground stabbed forward. Mordenaro parried their shots, reaching down towards one of them, hand closing over their head and squeezing. He became a whirlwind as he leaped forward, parrying and deflecting, bodies falling around him as he made his counter-attacks. Some had their skulls caved in, others had holes in their chests from where Mordenaro had punched through. Their suicidal charge blunted, the remaining Denrama retreated back, keeping their distance, spears pointed at the Guild of One. G-Wiz pointed her Zumbelaphone at the Grim Walker, taking aim-


    He was on her in a flash, a fist surging forward, breaking through the Zumbelaphone and ramming into G-Wiz''s stomach. She doubled over, the wind knocked out of her as Joseph let out a roar and leaped down, running down the hill towards Mordenaro. He pointed out a hand, concentrating his soul there, cutting the circuit, letting the stream of electricity rocket out of his open palm. Mordenaro was ready, though. He ducked to the side, the arrow of lightning thundering past him. In the same movement, his hand closed over the back of G-Wiz¡¯s neck.


    ¡°Stop, Meta-man.¡±


    Meta-man?


    But Joseph did.


    ¡°Another step, and I break her neck. Another guildmember dead,¡± Mordenaro¡¯s voice was smooth and rich, ¡°Is that worth the job?¡±


    ¡°You know it is. You know what''s at stake,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Let her go. Her keytar''s broken. You''ve already killed her best friend.¡±


    Mordenaro''s face was passive, those green eyes betraying nothing as he stared at Joseph for a long time. Beside them, the Denrama were re-organizing, ready to make their next moves, spears pointed and bows drawn.


    ¡°You''ve got guts, Meta-man. Making it this far is no joke,¡± Mordenaro said, ¡°Let me pass, and the girl lives. You live. The remainder of this tribe lives.¡±


    ¡°They won''t if you kill Rolala,¡± Joseph noted.


    ¡°Indeed, they will not. But they will live today, and have another chance at life tomorrow. Step back, and let me do what I was hired to do. No one else needs to be hurt ¨C I have killed enough guildmembers on this journey.¡±


    Joseph glanced down at G-Wiz. She was clutching her stomach, an odd, empty look filming her eyes. He knew that the Grim Walker could have easily killed her, could have kept pushing until his fist had rocketed out of her back.


    But he hadn''t.


    Memories of each of their encounters came to him. To the Grim Walker, it had been a job at first, hadn¡¯t it? Then he had faced Nole in the jungle. On the train. Joseph¡¯s eyes slid down to the bloody bag for a moment.


    Why was he being so merciful now?


    What made the Guild of One go on jobs like these? Who did he give respect to?


    ¡°Put her down, Mordenaro,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Leave the Denrama alone too.¡±


    ¡°You''ll let me pass?¡±


    ¡°You''ll face me. Alone.¡±


    Something sparked in his eyes. And the Grim Walker gave a dark grin. He lowered G-Wiz gently to the ground. Then stepped past her.


    ¡°The rest of you, go!¡± Joseph said, ¡°Get to Luevo!¡±


    ¡°You''ve got guts, Meta-man,¡± Mordenaro said, ¡°Like the troll. It''s for that reason alone why I''m letting this delay slide. But this isn''t a mercy. I''ve killed your kind before.¡±


    The soul surged to full power around Joseph, flexing upwards, large claws closing as Joseph took a stance.


    ¡°You haven''t killed me,¡± he said.


    ¡°You are not an exception,¡± Mordenaro countered. And he rushed forward.


    ***


    They had almost made it out of the ravine. It sloped upwards, back towards stable and flat ground. One more uphill walk, and they were there. Luevo began making his way up. There was no pain, no gasp in his legs like back in the mountains outside his home. The decaying effect on the Deadlands quieted the brain, made it forget the muscles. The younger Denrama were ahead of them, making sure no other nasty surprises awaited them at the top.


    ¡°Rolala, I''m doing alright, right?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Ro la lay, you walk indeed,¡± the creature replied, ¡°Ro la lade, the elder fades.¡±


    The prince turned around and grimaced. They might not have been able to feel the fatigue, but it nonetheless was there. The old crone was wheezing as she crawled up the hill on all fours.


    Luevo let out an annoyed huff, looking up. The other Denrama had already gotten to the top. There was little time.


    But¡­


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said, ¡°Time to be a moron. Come on, Rolala, help me.¡±


    He ran down to Manzima and began foisting her up. He could feel Rolala spread out from his back, spindly insect legs wrapping around her as the two of them began carrying her up the hill.


    ¡°L-leave me,¡± Manzima gasped.


    ¡°No,¡± Luevo said, ¡°I want you to-¡±


    Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.


    Do what?


    ¡°I want you to see this. It would be rather pathetic if you died right as this land begins to breathe, you old witch.¡±


    ¡°Respect... y-your... elders,¡± Manzima wheezed.


    ¡°No,¡± Luevo said, ¡°If I did, I''d have left you behind.¡±


    ¡°Ha!¡± Manzima barked, ¡°Make... a man... out of you yet.¡±


    They made their way to the top of the slope.


    ¡°Almost there, ro la la.¡±


    ¡°About damn time,¡± Luevo growled.


    In the distance, he heard thunder.


    ***


    The bolt lit up the world a fourth time, hitting Mordenaro dead-center in the chest. The recoil was enough to push him back, smoke curling around him. There was no scar, no red, spider-webbed welt that mapped where the lightning had entered his system and escaped to the earth.


    It was all Joseph could do to keep Mordenaro away. He out-ranged the Grim Walker. And Mordenaro had eyes only for him. The two had sparred for a brief moment, but it had quickly become apparent to Joseph that he was completely outclassed ¨C the first block he had made had nearly shattered his soul. It was cracked like a glass statue, rebuilding in his body, crying out with each breaking circuit he made to fire another bolt at the Guild of One.


    Mordenaro was tanking each one ¨C letting it pass through his system, blue sparks dancing around his massive form, each blow pushing him back a few steps, his boots skidding across the ground. It was not enough. Would never be enough. Joseph grimaced as he felt the last bit of energy sap from his body, his soul broken and exhausted.


    There was a moment.


    Then Mordenaro cracked his neck as he resumed his advance, marching up to Joseph, his entire arm pulling back. Joseph crouched, jumping to the side as Mordenaro brought a fist down.


    He was not prepared for the Guild of One¡¯s speed, as Mordenaro spun on a dime, arm reaching out, hand wrapping around Joseph''s ankle. What remained of Joseph''s soul sparked to life, blanketing his back as he felt himself sail upwards in an arc as Mordenaro slammed him into the ground. It took the brunt of the blow, cold pain aching up Joseph''s spine and spreading through his body like winter''s breath. Mordenaro''s smile grew dour, as though he were disappointed. Already Joseph could see him going back into business mode. Gone were the games, the thrill of the hunt, the sport of it all. Joseph was no worthy prey. Not like Nole.


    Not unstoppable. Not throwing his all into each and every fight he got into.


    Already Mordenaro was bringing up a final fist, one to end Joseph¡¯s world.


    He was broken and tired. But Joseph screamed, his soul crawling upwards, claws snarling at Mordenaro, swiping at the Guild of One. One tore across Mordenaro''s face, though he ignored it, and Joseph''s eyes widened as he saw that, much like the other wounds on his body, there was nothing but void on the other side ¨C no skull, no brain, not even blood leaked from the wound.


    Not to be outmatched, Joseph leaped up, jammed a finger into one of the holes ¨C it felt shockingly cold within, colder than anything he had ever felt. He willed his soul, let it have some semblance of a circuit in his body, his vision going dark as Mordenaro curled a hand around his throat.


    And unleashed one last bolt. Weak. Pathetic, even. Nole would have laughed.


    But it was enough to send the Guild of One flying back, sailing overhead before landing in a great, puffing cloud. Joseph rose up, his feet unsteady and his knees shaking as he stood tall.


    Mordenaro rose up as well. The smile had returned.


    ¡°Not bad, Meta-man,¡± he said, ¡°Not bad at all.¡±


    ¡°Were you...¡± Joseph gasped, ¡°Were you this talkative with Nole?¡±


    The Grim Walker didn''t answer.


    Another round now. Joseph''s stomach ached. His soul surged to life once more, crackling and without form, a mass of azure lightning arcing over his head, the barest outline of claws and beak painting the wind. Joseph was aware of the Denrama watching in awe as he took another few steps forward.


    ¡°Let''s do this,¡± he whispered. It was just barely loud enough for Mordenaro to hear.


    The two met again. Joseph''s eagle struck first ¨C a mistake. He should have been more defensive. One shot from Mordenaro would dome his skull, or shatter his ribs and spine. The Grim Walker allowed himself to be raked, letting the pulsing, plasmatic claw tear down his shoulder as an underhanded fist arced for Joseph''s stomach. He twisted to the side, feeling the miniature tornado generated by Mordenaro''s punch whistle past his back. The other fist rocketed downwards. Joseph''s soul contorted into a solid shield of light, the fist colliding from above, a shockwave generating outwards that pushed the air back and reeked it with ozone. The soul cracked as Joseph leaped back, Mordenaro thrusting himself forward, the two of them dancing around the other for a brief moment before the Grim Walker made another punch. Joseph''s soul became more substantial as he willed the eagle''s arms to pull up in front of its face in a defensive motion, meeting the fist head on ¨C the arm''s shattering, icy pain lancing throughout Joseph''s body.


    For a moment, Joseph was grounded, but the blow was strong enough to send him upwards, his stomach dropping as he sailed into the sky. And Mordenaro was fast ¨C fast enough to jump up to meet Joseph''s now-falling form. Joseph''s soul was still out, and he could still see through its eyes as the Guild of One brought a leg down in a dropkick. The eagle took the blow, sending Joseph careening down into the dirt, soul finally breaking and receding back into his body.


    And with it came more agony. Joseph''s mind swam, numb ice overtaking everything that he was. His right arm had been broken by the fall ¨C it had hit the ground, his forearm having snapped awry. Yet he was too tired to even scream.


    ***


    ¡°Here, ro la la.¡±


    Luevo stopped, removing Manzima''s tired arm from his back and letting the other Denrama take over for her as he took a few steps forward. It was much the same spot as the rest of the Deadlands ¨C dust swirling around him as he walked, the browning sky seeming to crack the further he got here, the jagged and harsh mountains like the broken scales of a Dragon in the distance. The world was silent, though in the distance the prince could hear the booming sounds of thunder from Joseph¡¯s power. At least he was still alive. He hoped G-Wiz was, too.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he murmured, ¡°Do your thing, Rolala.¡±


    He felt the creature peel away from his back, rising up over his shoulders, their dark shadow overtaking him. Spindled, ochre-brown legs arched down, ten in all, almost like tree branches, spiked and sharp with needle-like protrusions running up and down and along their form as they gently patted into the dust. Then came the head ¨C that of a locust''s, the eyes having fully melded into a mosaic of beetle-black octagons, patterned together to form twin domes that seemed to hold the universe within them, stars dancing in each and every reflected surface. For the first time, Luevo saw Rolala''s body, whole and new, their carapace patterned like a tiger''s, striped with amber and seeming to mimic the distant sun.


    But above all were the wings. They were fan-like and reflected the rainbow of creation, seeming to shift and change with each subtle movement Rolala made, millions of paintings colluding into a dizzying kaleidoscope ¨C Luevo had to avert his eyes as the creature stalked to the ground.


    ¡°You''re,¡± Luevo sobbed, ¡°It''s-what-¡±


    ¡°I am ready, ro la la.¡±


    ¡°To think, I didn''t know-¡± he gave a wide, watering smile, ¡°I didn''t know something like you could come from me.¡±


    ¡°I am colored by your experiences, by your life. Who you are, becomes me. I am Rolala. I am Luevo. We are Kimao.¡±


    And Luevo understood.


    And he also knew what had to happen next.


    ¡°I''m not-¡± he whispered, ¡°I''m not ready. You''re just so- you just came out, you just became whole-¡±


    ¡°I am not whole, ro la la,¡± Rolala said, ¡°I am not me, ro lay lee.¡±


    Luevo stammered for another few moments, heart pounding with desperation ¨C they could trade, surely. He could become the land, and Rolala could live ¨C it was only fair. Something beautiful for something... broken. Unwhole. Unworthy.


    ¡°I know what you think,¡± Rolala said, ¡°I know what you dream, and I know that not all is as it seems.¡±


    ¡°D-doesn''t rhyme well, you stupid-¡± he choked, ¡°Not fair...¡±


    ¡°I am not not whole, ro la la. I am just a shard of you, ro la loo.¡±


    ¡°But you are!¡± Luevo said. He drew closer, ¡°You have to be. You have to be more than me-¡±


    ¡°I am part of you,¡± Rolala said, ¡°Nothing more. What you see, Luevo ¨C brother, friend, self ¨C you see what you can be, and that already exists in what you are.¡±


    ¡°I don''t know if I can be that,¡± Luevo said, ¡°There''s so much of¡­ of me in my way. I can''t-¡±


    ¡°You can. You did so with me, ro la lee.¡±


    The wind began picking up. For the first time, Luevo could see Spioa dancing and drifting in. Hands and feet, smiling faces, excitement buzzing through the warming breeze.


    ¡°The land beckons,¡± Rolala said, ¡°It is time for me to leave now. To become the land. To make it anew, as Kimao of the past have done, ro la loo. Yet a piece of me is in thee, ro la lee.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Luevo said, ¡°Because you''re me.¡±


    ¡°And you, me,¡± Rolala lifted a great leg up, shuddering for a moment, morphing into a hand. Luevo''s hand, and it felt oh-so-familiar as it interlocked with his own, ¡°This land is you. It carries your spirit. Our soul. My life.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Luevo said, sniffing, ¡°I''ll-I''ll try, then.¡±


    ¡°In trying is doing. The road is long, but does not extend forever,¡± Rolala said.


    There was a shift in their form.


    It was time.


    ¡°Goodbye, my... my friend,¡± Luevo said. The words hung in his throat, almost coughed out, tears now openly streaming down the prince''s face.


    ¡°Sensu''ala, ko rein lee,¡± Rolala said. And then they were gone, their carapace hardening, then dissolving, carried by the wind like leaves from a dying tree, into ash that settled into the earth.


    And then the earth changed.


    ***


    Mordenaro continued his walk past Joseph and G-Wiz''s crumpled forms. Denrama were arrayed around him, spears in hand, archers still posted on either side of the canyon and ready to fire down upon him. Yet the Grim Walker ignored them, boots puffing clouds of dust as he made his way forward. It was obvious to all what he felt.


    This was over. No arrow could dissuade him, no spear could stop him. There was only death now. Be it short and quick by the Guild of One''s hand or slow and harsh from the Deadlands. Already a few of the Denrama seemed to be prepared for the former, as they began advancing on him, their faces stone-like, resolute and resigned.


    ¡°No.¡±


    Joseph''s voice was coughing and broken. His breathing was ragged and came out like the notes of an old, battered flute, staggering and heavy, his entire body racking and seizing with each inhale. Yet he stood, arm hanging limply at his side, blood leaking from a gash on the side of his head, obscuring his right eye. His left''s vision swam, and Mordenaro was more mirage than solid. Joseph''s legs were bent inwards as he began his circuit once more, soul shuddering out of his body, its form cracked like an old crystal.


    ¡°I''m not dead.¡±


    ¡°That you are not, Meta-man.¡±


    ¡°So let''s do this again,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°You are so eager to die?¡± Mordenaro''s thin lips turned upwards, ¡°You are brave, Meta-man. I will give you that. Tell me, what is your name?¡±


    ¡°Joseph.¡±


    ¡°Your real name.¡±


    ¡°Joseph,¡± he repeated.


    A lilt of disappointment played in Mordenaro''s eyes, ¡°Still young. Still new, fresh from the egg. Fresh from rebirth. That I kill you now is a disservice.¡±


    ¡°An understatement,¡± Joseph spat.


    ¡°I read your DNA, Meta-man. I know of your ancestors. I spoke with them. The people of Armagest. You carry the stars on your back.¡±


    A prick of curiosity. Just for a moment.


    But there were more important things now than curiosity.


    ¡°Let''s finish this. Be quick with it, if you actually are going to kill me,¡± he said.


    Mordenaro nodded. His smile twisted into a smirk as he rushed forward. Joseph fell to the ground and curled up, his soul towering over him and slashing wildly at the Guild of One. Mordenaro let the claws rake across his chest as he delivered another crushing shot at the eagle, who twisted and let it collide with its shoulder, claw reaching forward in a counter-attack that collided with Mordenaro''s cheek, tearing and ripping and leaving another open hole. Mordenaro brought out a great boot, intending to stomp down on Joseph''s head on the ground, but the soul pushed forward, grabbing his shoulders and shoving him back. Mordenaro stumbled, found his footing, then clapped his great hands against the eagle''s temples.


    On the ground, Joseph wailed, concentration broken as the eagle shimmered and popped, morphing into a blob of light as Mordenaro delivered yet more crushing shots against it, cracking further and further. His good eye swam up to see Mordenaro pull back and rocket a fist downwards to his skull.


    He rolled out of the way, hearing the sound of the fist ring in his ears like the aftermath of a grenade, his soul not giving Mordenaro a second chance as its great azure arms wrapped around him like rope, holding him fast. Its beak ¨C cracked as it was, its bottom askew to one side, drove down like a hook into his shoulder.


    There they remained locked, snarling and clawing at one another.


    Then the earth softened beneath Joseph. Mordenaro stopped fighting. Yellow, straw-like grass began growing out of the ground, covering it, flooding it in a field of gold. The sides of the canyons disappeared, melting into the ground, replaced by new mountains in the distance ¨C ones that were not jagged, not diseased, but rather looming and magnificent, their peaks garnished with snow. High above, the brown sky washed away, replaced by a kind blue, clouds swirling into existence and then beginning a journey of wheeling overhead, as though they had always and would always exist.


    Mordenaro pushed himself away from Joseph. He looked around, taking in the sights around him. For a long time, he was silent.


    Then¡­


    ¡°Not bad, Meta-man,¡± he said, ¡°You went the distance.¡±


    Joseph let out a groan.


    ¡°Had I a hat, I would tip it to you,¡± the Grim Walker said, ¡°But this job is over. Good-bye. For now, at least.¡±


    And with that, he began walking the way he came, a dark form on the golden sea of the plains. Joseph was aware of G-Wiz, hardly able to move, as she crawled over to the bloody bag that held Nole''s head. She wrapped her arms around it and let out a broken sob.


    But he could only watch, through the vision of his soul, as Mordenaro kept walking, his back to the Denrama and to the battle he had made against them, slowly becoming a blot on the horizon of gold and blue, before disappearing entirely.

 21. Guild Mourning Rituals

    They burned the Denrama''s corpses.


    Seventeen of the forty had been killed. Nole was dead. G-Wiz was near comatose, as she stared at the bloody bag. Now that Mordenaro was gone, the adrenaline was gone from her system. She could only stare at Nole''s remains, her face a tear-streaked mask, her eyes bloodshot and her form crumpled a foot away from the bag. Joseph was glad that she had not yet opened it. He wasn''t sure if she''d be able to stand that.


    Luevo and the rest of the Denrama returned to the spot, pitching up tents and tending to the wounded ¨C Joseph included, as one of their healers applied a special ointment to his broken arm and, their face awash with empathy, mercilessly reset his arm back in place. He let out a scream as pain shot from his shoulder down to his hand.


    They began work on his ribs, before shaking their head.


    ¡°This is beyond my ability,¡± they said, ¡°A healer from the Outer Worlds is what you need. Fedtek. Their magic, not ours.¡±


    ¡°Great,¡± Joseph wheezed.


    At least the Denrama were in good spirits. When they were not tending to the survivors of Mordenaro''s battle, they walked around in awe of the new landscape that had literally grown around them. The field was beautiful, seeming to stretch on forever and ever, the golden grasses swaying in the calm, warm wind. Spioa were drifting here, nomads who had found a new home, a few of them coalescing here and there into fully-formed beings and waving at Luevo.


    The Kimao.


    The prince had returned a couple hours before, his eyes bloodshot and with dried tear streaks running down his face. There was something new to the prince now. Something in the way that he looked out towards the horizon, tall and forlorn, his entire body seeming to be sick with a sort of melancholy.


    ¡°They''re gone,¡± he whispered.


    ¡°Lots of people are,¡± Joseph said. They were waiting for diplomats from Ionica and a dozen other nations to make their way here, to negotiate whose land this would belong to. Waiting for the guild, too.


    ¡°So many people dead,¡± he whimpered.


    ¡°Yeah. For you. And Rolala.¡±


    ¡°More for Rolala,¡± Luevo said, ¡°I was just... the messenger, I suppose. Without them, I wouldn''t even be here.¡±


    ¡°And what do you think of all this, then?¡± Joseph said.


    He winced as he gestured towards the fields. Luevo followed the motion, his eyes moving beyond Joseph''s arm and staring at the distant mountains once more.


    ¡°It''s good,¡± he said after a few moments, ¡°Beautiful, like the one who birthed it.¡±


    He was silent again. Then he turned to Joseph.


    ¡°So, that''s it then.¡±


    ¡°It is,¡± Joseph replied.


    ¡°Only took... what? Three of your folk dead?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, something like that. Nole and Shetavalk. Maybe Archenround,¡± Joseph''s face twisted into a dour look, ¡°Wakeling''s gonna be pissed.¡±


    ¡°Yes...¡± Luevo said.


    An agreement passed between the two of them, to not say the words so casually, what with the weight of them. They were quiet once more.


    The second day brought something new. Just on the horizon, coming closer and closer, looming over them and cloaking them in shadow. G-Wiz looked up at it for a few moments, her face inscrutable as the Dreamer''s Lament descended down, the grass billowing away as she landed. Diplomats from various nations began making their way out, followed by Ichabod, Broon, and a stout dwarf in bejeweled armor. The dwarf made one sweeping look at the place, his eyes falling on Joseph in the tent.


    ¡°By Dorma,¡± he grunted, ¡°It''s always the young ''uns.¡±


    He began making his way over. He looked familiar ¨C Joseph thought he had seen him in Castle Belenus a few times. The dwarf produced an iron rod with a series of jagged runes painstakingly carved into its makeup. He pointed it at Joseph, the runes flashing, and Joseph began wheezing and clutching his side as he felt his ribs begin to re-knit.


    ¡°That¡¯ll do,¡± he said, ¡°We¡¯ll still want Elenry to get a look at you, but that should be enough to get you home.¡±


    Ichabod, meanwhile, gave him a sneer.


    ¡°Had a good time, hm?¡± he said.


    Then the cybernetic man''s eyes fell on G-Wiz and the bag. Joseph could see him put two and two together.


    ¡°Oh, Galatea,¡± his voice was strained, ¡°Oh, my poor, dear G-Wiz...¡±


    She looked up at him, tears running down her face as he ran over to embrace her. The two of them sat as silent sobs racked her body. Joseph looked away. Broon was approaching, a somber look on his face.


    ¡°What the hell happened?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Mordenaro,¡± Joseph replied.


    The half-orc grimaced. The dwarf let out a soft curse.


    ¡°He still here?¡± the dwarf asked.


    ¡°No. He didn''t get the prince. We got the job done.¡±


    Broon nodded, ¡°We received word that Archenround was in a hospital on Truth Everlasting. Had been shifted there from Kelstonda.¡±


    ¡°I''ll...¡± Joseph gasped as a particularly broken rib popped back into place, ¡°I''ll explain on the way back.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Broon nodded. He offered a hand, which Joseph took to pull himself up. He turned to watch Manzima, Luevo, and the diplomats talking among themselves. Joseph made his way over to the group. The prince took notice, peeling himself away from the tense conversation.


    ¡°And the players all align,¡± he spat, ¡°Dignitaries from fourteen different countries and seventeen different landscapes, all begging for a slice of the pie. Utter bastards.¡±


    ¡°Politics as usual, I guess,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Indeed. I''ll smooth their feathers ¨C try to, of course. I''m not the best at this sort of thing,¡± Luevo said. He cast another sad look about the place, ¡°I¡¯ll make sake sure the Denrama get to live here. They sacrificed... a lot. If they can''t stay here, I''ll make them live in the royal palace.¡±


    ¡°Turning over a new leaf?¡± Joseph smiled.


    ¡°Can''t say you taught me that, but someone in your little guild did,¡± Luevo smirked through his exhaustion, ¡°Well, it''s time to stop being a mopey little bastard. That''s for later tonight, when I''m alone with my thoughts.¡±


    ¡°TMI, dude,¡± Joseph said.


    Luevo let out a false bark of laughter, ¡°Right. Well, thank you, Joseph. No, really. I would not be here without you. Anyone else...¡±


    The mask of bravado melted away, ¡°Anyone else would have failed. Nole and Shetavalk, I won''t forget them. Ever.¡±


    ¡°I''ll hold you to that,¡± Joseph said.


    Luevo extended a hand. Joseph shook it.


    ¡°We should head out,¡± Broon said, ¡°Get back to Castle Belenus. Let Wakeling know.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Be seeing you, princey.¡±


    ¡°And you, Joseph,¡± Luevo said.


    Joseph gave him a lopsided grin, then after a few moments turned and headed for the Dreamer''s Lament.


    ***


    Joseph told the tale as the Dreamer''s Lament whirled through the lonely sky, sitting on the old couch he had slept in his first night in the multiverse, his hands wrapped together in a knot ¨C a knot that mirrored the twisting in his stomach as he recalled Mordenaro''s brutal attack and Shetavalk''s death, the battle on the train, Nole''s eternal sacrifices, his body looking more and more ragged as he regenerated fighting the Grim Walker. Broon''s expression went darker and darker with each passing moment. Ichabod had taken G-Wiz upstairs to the bridge.


    ¡°A cup of coffee,¡± Ichabod had said, ¡°With a pinch of sugar. As you like it, my dear.¡±


    ¡°A-alright,¡± G-Wiz''s voice was hollow, ¡°Okay.¡±


    No biting words from Ichabod. So the bastard had a heart.


    Broon was quiet as Joseph related the last leg of the journey. He took a deep breath, and Joseph noticed he seemed to be pulling himself together.


    ¡°Seems you need something a bit stronger than coffee,¡± the dwarf said.


    ¡°Urash, please,¡± Broon said, ¡°Joseph, are you... are you alright?¡±


    ¡°...N-not really,¡± Joseph muttered.


    ¡°What kind of shit question is that?¡± Urash snapped, ¡°Come on, Broon, even a goat knows better.¡±


    Broon grimaced. Joseph gave a smile to try and ease the half-orc''s embarrassment.


    ¡°Was kind of a shit one,¡± he said.


    ¡°Joseph, if we had known that you''d be up against Mordenaro, we''d have never sent you,¡± Broon said, ¡°Please, you have to believe me.¡±


    ¡°You would''ve sent Nole, though?¡±


    ¡°...To be honest,¡± Urash said, ¡°You''re damned lucky Wakeling sent Nole ¨C from what it sounds like, he and Arc are the only reason why you''re still here.¡±


    Joseph nodded, seeing the logic ¨C marred as it was with what had transpired, ¡°And G-Wiz?¡±


    ¡°Would have been taken off,¡± Broon said, ¡°They''d send Urash here, or Wakeling herself would go.¡±


    ¡°Might as well call the job entirely, if Wakeling''s going,¡± Urash said, ¡°Too much at stake. Mordenaro in the game changes the entire landscape.¡±


    ¡°And leave all those people to die?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Maybe,¡± the dwarf shrugged.


    ¡°Urash,¡± Broon said.


    ¡°Alright, alright,¡± Urash said, ¡°I''m just saying, you''re lucky to be alive. You and G.¡±


    ¡°I just want to head back now,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°We''ll be reaching the Traveling Point in another day,¡± Broon said, ¡°We''ll be back in Londoa in a few days or so.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Joseph said, ¡°How''d you know that we''d be out here?¡±


    ¡°We arrived at Ionica''s capital a few days ago,¡± Broon said, ¡°Hired to take all those dignitaries out to the new frontier.¡±


    ¡°Would''ve been quite the downer if you''d failed out there,¡± Urash said.


    The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    Joseph shuddered, ¡°Let''s not... Let''s not talk about that, okay?¡±


    ***


    It was a quiet trip. No one talked much after Joseph related everything. Broon wrote it down, nodding in a grim satisfaction when he finished. He didn''t prod Joseph for any more details. Urash the dwarf kept to himself, tinkering with a few jewels on the table, a small metal hammer in hand, each spark whispering of a dark sort of magic with each chip he made in one of the gems. Ichabod kept to the bridge, guiding the Dreamer as she wheeled through the multiverse. The last day on Nesona brought an interesting sight ¨C one that G-Wiz pointed out. She made her way downstairs.


    ¡°T-the Spioa are out,¡± she said.


    They went up to the bridge. Broon opened a door that led out to an observation platform, a crow''s nest implanted into the side of the ship. The wind was cool and crisp, the clouds a sea beneath them as they all stepped out to watch the open sky. Figures emerged from the air, carried on the currents ¨C Spioa, full and dancing, dipping in and out of the clouds like dolphins. Through the buffeting in his ears, Joseph could hear peals of laughter.


    And then, breaching the surface like a whale, came a great form. A woman ¨C the clouds her robes, translucent as they were. Joseph found himself blushing as she looked at the observation platform, her sightless eyes ¨C eyes like Shetavalk''s ¨C seeming to pierce into his electric soul, a smile playing at her lips.


    ¡°I''ll be damned,¡± Broon said, ¡°The Lady of the Wind. Mother of the Spioa.¡±


    ¡°Shetavalk''s mom,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Quite the looker,¡± Urash said.


    She disappeared beneath the clouds once more, her children whirling around her like autumn leaves. All of them disappeared with her.


    ¡°I¡­ I remember Shetavalk telling me that Spioa don''t truly die,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°That they just turn back into the wind, waiting to be reborn again.¡±


    ¡°Reincarnated,¡± Joseph murmured.


    ¡°He did say he didn''t want a funeral when he went the way of the dinosaur,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°''I wouldn''t be dead, merely whispering.'' Or something like that.¡±


    ¡°Mm...¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Aye,¡± G-Wiz finished. Then, ¡°You think Nole would reincarnate? Come back as something else, maybe?¡±


    ¡°Him?¡± Joseph smiled, ¡°Probably would come back as a toad, or a big ugly tree.¡±


    G-Wiz smirked, ¡°Aye, he probably would.¡±


    ¡°I don''t mean to interrupt this nice little scene,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°But we''re technically still flying towards the Traveling Point ¨C about to hit it. I''d rather not be outside when that happens.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Broon said.


    ¡°Bye, Sheets,¡± G-Wiz said to the open air.


    ¡°...See you, Sheets,¡± Joseph said. He felt awkward saying it out loud, to no one in particular. It felt right, though. Perhaps the Spioa even heard him, as Joseph felt the wind pick up one last time as he made his way back inside.


    ***


    Nole''s funeral happened as soon as they landed back at Castle Belenus.


    It was a quiet affair. A line of guildmates welcomed them as the Dreamer''s Lament landed behind the guildhall, having received word of Nole¡¯s passing hours ago. Joseph recognized quite a few familiar faces ¨C Contort and Mekke standing beside one another, Phineas clutching his magical book, Calacious Nine the Jellyfish floating a bit above the ground. Rosemary stood beside Mallory, Chadwick resting in her hands, the cat''s eyes inscrutable as Joseph got off the ship. He was followed by Broon and Urash, the former resting a hand on Joseph''s shoulder and guiding him to stand beside Barbara, the three of them turning to face the airship. Ichabod got off next, nodding to Wakeling, who was in the middle, carried on a pillow by a large, wooden puppet. The rest of the guild parted around her as she waited for G-Wiz.


    Galatea walked down the steps. Her face was pale, and while she had been crying intermittently in the last few days, tonight her brow was knit in a look of steeled, dark determination. Her boots sunk into the ground as she stepped off of the airship. Hoisted over her shoulder, swaying back and forth like a pendulum, was the bag that held Nole''s head. Joseph hadn''t seen her look into it once. She re-adjusted her grip on the sack before she set off, weaving her way through the hedge maze of the castle. The rest of the guild followed.


    No one said a word.


    No one even coughed.


    It hardly felt like anyone even breathed.


    She led them through the maze, through the leaf-hewn walls, Chadwick running atop them, dancing from hedge to hedge. Then, as they exited the maze, she took an abrupt turn, going towards the side of Castle Belenus. Joseph looked around at the rest of the guild, confused by the sudden change in course. But no one voiced complaint or question. So he followed their lead, walking a bit faster to keep pace with the rest of the guild ¨C already Broon was far ahead of him, for as one the guild broke out into a jog. G-Wiz made her way along the side of the castle, between the guildhall and the city walls, both painted even more brilliant shades of orange from the dimming of the Inner Sun, the shadows of the guildmates running long and high as they exited the small crevice. She kept going until they were well past the boundaries of Castle Belenus, running down the streets of Scuttleway.


    The city was uncharacteristically silent. No one made note of their journey, nor the grim package that G-Wiz held. Joseph supposed that, to the people of the city, this was business as usual for the Amber Foundation. A cacophony of footsteps echoing off of stone roads filled the silence. Banners fluttered in the towers and on the walls of the city, wind breezing past the guildmates as they continued. Quiet winds. They arrived at the northern gate of the city, which opened up towards the plain beyond Scuttleway.


    The gate was open. They ran past it with the usual silence.


    G-Wiz had them running for almost half an hour ¨C Joseph squinted at the winding dirt road opening before them as they got further and further from Scuttleway. At one moment, however, G-Wiz cut off from the road and ran towards the golden fields around them. Like a caterpillar, the rest of the guild followed suit. She made her way through the golden field and far from the road before she finally came to a stop, her forehead slaked with sweat and her bony arms shaking from the effort of keeping her friend''s remains aloft.


    One of the Amber Foundation was already here. A woman encased in ebony black armor, to the point that one could not see her face. She stood over a hole in the middle of the field, a shovel held in her clawed gauntlets, standing at attention at the guild''s arrival. G-Wiz made her way to the hole, everyone else arraying themselves in a half-crescent, watching. Joseph stood near the back, and he poked his head above Mallory''s tip-toeing to watch G-Wiz take a few moments to collect herself. Her face was still set as stone as she pitched Nole''s head into the hole. The armored guildmate began shoveling dirt as soon as she did so, though G-Wiz ignored her. Instead, she turned and began walking back towards Scuttleway. Some of the guild watched as the armored woman finished her work ¨C when she was done, she simply tossed the shovel to the side as though it were trash, and began walking back. One by one, they all began peeling away, a trickle of travelers back to the city.


    Joseph stayed, though. The Inner Sun of Londoa had extinguished for the night, and Joseph looked up to see the other landmasses. It was as though he were in space, looking down on the dark side of the earth, fires lighting the world above him from the other landmasses. Some were orange. Others were blue. A few large green lights flashed, more brilliant than the others, blinking like stars. A neon night sky. The wind had a bitter edge to it now, but still he stood at Nole''s unmarked grave.


    ¡°As he would have wanted it.¡±


    Wakeling was still there, held aloft by the puppet ¨C though, now Joseph noted it seemed more like an artist''s mannequin, with the way the face was feature-less and the arms and legs were held together by bronze balls at the joints. Wakeling''s face, barely visible in the illumination from the other landmasses, was taut.


    ¡°It makes sense,¡± Joseph answered, ¡°Never complain, or bullshit. Always just get the job done.¡±


    ¡°Very utilitarian,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°I would''ve gone all in. Have a statue in my honor. A band to play a sad song, written by some famous composer or other. Not in an unmarked grave, to be forgotten and never visited.¡±


    She was rambling, and they both knew it. The guildmaster went silent as Joseph stood there, watching the world wheel overhead.


    ¡°Each guildmember has a will, you know,¡± she continued, ¡°In case things like this happen. How one wants their funeral to be arranged. That''s a big one ¨C each guildmember is different.¡±


    ¡°Different cultures, different wants,¡± Joseph murmured.


    ¡°Of course, you won''t need to worry about that. You''re leaving us, and all.¡±


    The words, the reminders, traveling up and down Joseph like a current. He considered them. Turned them over in his head.


    Then he sighed.


    ¡°...Maybe I''m not leaving.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡±


    ¡°I don''t know,¡± Joseph put his hands into the pockets of his jacket ¨C they were almost threadbare now, the enchantments having worn away by constant battle, the cloth torn to pieces by nature. He made a note to get it fixed ¨C he''d grown rather attached to it, ¡°It''s all like this, isn''t it?¡±


    ¡°What, the jobs? Or the multiverse in general?¡±


    ¡°The multiverse. Seems to be a violent place,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Oh, life is violent, I''m afraid,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Even your Earth is pretty vile, from what I hear.¡±


    ¡°True,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Now, there are some planes that are better than others,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Prime is good, if you don''t mind the occasional madman trying to destroy the planet. Certain worlds on the Silver Eye are utopias, if you''ve the coin.¡±


    Joseph heard her continue to prattle, though he pushed it to the back of his mind as he remembered the way that G-Wiz cried over Nole''s remains, the way the entire guild seemed to coalesce around her in her mourning. Even that bat Ichabod had become a saint to her.


    It occurred to Joseph that no one had ever treated him quite like that.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said, ¡°You''ve convinced me.¡±


    ¡°To move on?¡± Wakeling said.


    ¡°No. To stay. If it''s all violent out there, I might as well have some people watching my back.¡±


    Her face broke into a bittersweet smile, ¡°Good.¡±


    She didn''t press him for further reasoning or answers. Instead, she said, ¡°Whiskey?¡±


    Joseph thought that she was offering him a drink, but he watched as the mannequin''s head tilted down to the guildmaster.


    ¡°Be a dearie and take me home.¡±


    Whiskey nodded, a strange, shuddering speech echoing up from within his hollow head. He turned with a slow, awkward grace and began walking back towards Scuttleway. Joseph walked over to his side.


    ¡°I had wanted to talk to you before you were heading out, anyhow,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Catch you in case you decided to just walk out after Nole''s funeral.¡±


    ¡°What about?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Not now,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Any talk should be had back at Castle Belenus.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Because it''s more dramatically appropriate, dear Mr. Zheng. Did your grandmother teach you nothing about theater?¡±


    ¡°She didn''t teach me anything,¡± Joseph retorted, ¡°High School and J Dilla taught me all I need to know. Besides, it''s a long walk back to the castle. In silence. Kind of awkward, isn''t it?¡±


    ¡°Oh, very well,¡± Wakeling huffed, ¡°Give me a moment. I''m not sure how to start.¡±


    Joseph allowed her the time, stepping over a small creek he had not noticed before. He reached down absently to brush at the surface of the water, fingertips meeting ice-cold night that shot into his heart. Whiskey swayed as he walked, ignoring the chill winds, his head set forward. The mannequin was a complete mystery to Joseph ¨C there was no expression on his face, just a flat slant of wood in place of eyes, nose, and a mouth.


    ¡°It''s never easy, talking about death,¡± Wakeling said at last. There was an odd edge in her non-existent throat.


    ¡°I know,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I''m... I''m sorry.¡±


    ¡°Look at you, being the comforter,¡± Wakeling chuckled darkly, ¡°Aside from G-Wiz, you were perhaps Nole''s best friend.¡±


    Joseph let out a false laugh, ¡°Is that what it was supposed to be?¡±


    ¡°He had a weird way of showing it,¡± Wakeling admitted, ¡°Careful stepping over that rock, Whiskey. Okay, perhaps ''friend'' isn''t the best word. But he paid special attention to you.¡±


    Joseph wasn''t sure how to answer that assertion. Wakeling, perhaps noticing the lack of response, let it slide.


    ¡°It''s weird,¡± he said instead, ¡°It''s... yeah. He''s dead, and now I have all of these grateful feelings about him. But if he were alive...¡±


    ¡°You wouldn''t have them?¡±


    ¡°Not even a bit,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°It''s not because he''s dead that you feel thankful,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°It''s because he inspired you and showed you what you could be. Who he was.¡±


    ¡°A hero?¡± Joseph asked, remembering Luevo¡¯s near-reverence of the troll.


    ¡°Hero is such a crass term,¡± Wakeling replied, pulling a sour face, ¡°Nole was... a very specific sort of individual. He was always professional. He got the job done, no questions asked.¡±


    ¡°He did say I had to prove myself to him,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Was an ass about it, though.¡±


    ¡°Said you were a whiner, who didn''t know what to make of yourself, and all that noise?¡±


    ¡°Yes, and maybe he was right.¡±


    ¡°You''re still here, aren''t you?¡± Wakeling said.


    Joseph went quiet at that.


    ¡°Maybe,¡± he said after a moment, ¡°Maybe. I don''t know. I still want to get home, sure, but...¡±


    He stopped, staring up at the sky once more. More lights had flickered on, painting an outline of a city high above, a kaleidoscope of life.


    ¡°I''m not sure. I didn''t give up. But I still¡­ I want to go home.¡±


    Wakeling nodded at that, not answering what Joseph would realize later was a quiet plea, ¡°Well, before we do say anything on that matter, I do need you to write a report.¡±


    ¡°About the job?¡± Joseph said, ¡°Alright. Broon already wrote one, though.¡±


    ¡°Broon wasn''t there. Needs to be a first hand source.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    ¡°There is one more thing,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°The Marlish Empire. You''ve rather pissed them off.¡±


    ¡°The Marlish...?¡± Joseph struggled to remember, ¡°Ah, right. The soldier at Kelstonda. We blew up a train.¡±


    ¡°Indeed. Now don''t you worry, ear. We''ll negotiate with them. But the High Federation will most likely host a trial. You''ll be called to witness.¡±


    ¡°To witness?¡±


    ¡°Have you never seen a trial before?¡± Wakeling asked.


    ¡°My mom used to watch Judge Judy all the time,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Her ''happy place,'' she called it.¡±


    ¡°Well, agree to disagree,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Regardless, you''ll be asked to give testimony. Our guild lawyer will argue on our behalf, the Marlish will have someone to argue on their behalf. Fisticuffs will ensue, probably ¨C do they fist-fight in Judge Judy?¡±


    ¡°Only in one episode I remember,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Well, everything on your end will be simple. Let the guild do the talking.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Joseph said. A nervous edge crept up his spine, made his soul shudder in his stomach. The three of them stood in the night for a few moments more.


    ¡°He would have liked this, you know,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°You staying.¡±


    ¡°Who, Nole?¡± Joseph chuckled, ¡°Maybe. He''d have someone to bully.¡±


    ¡°He would have stopped eventually.¡±


    ¡°You keep telling yourself that,¡± Joseph said, ¡°But... yeah.¡±


    Wakeling''s eyes flashed for a moment, ¡°Whiskey?¡±


    Joseph looked to see she hadn''t been talking to the puppet. A bottle of whiskey floated in the air, pouring itself into a phantom shot glass. Wakeling herself had a classical wine glass, like back in her office.


    ¡°Ah, what the hell,¡± he said.


    The guildmaster winked, pouring up to her wine glass¡¯s brim. The glass rose up for a brief moment. Joseph clinked it.


    ¡°To Nole,¡± she said.


    ¡°To Nole,¡± Joseph echoed.


    And they drank.


    Thanks, you damn bastard.

 22. Amber Foundation v. Marlish Empire

    ¡°So, the hearing''s tomorrow.¡±


    Rosemary looked up at Joseph, who was practicing his metapower in the garden. She was lying on her back, a book in one hand and an apple in the other, rose mace standing on top of the fountain collecting sunlight, her burgundy cloak splayed around her like a butterfly¡¯s wings. Joseph stood a bit of a ways away, soul fully manifested, the over-sized claws swiping at small balls of darkness that Phineas was summoning from his book. The Deep One let out a dry chuckle as Rosemary brought the subject up.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph replied, ¡°Nothing too crazy, I hear. Phineas, stop reading Nintendo Power.¡±


    Phineas let out a groan as he folded the magazine ¨C which had been hidden by his spellbook ¨C and put it down. The dark caustic orbs began moving once more, dancing through the air for a few brief moments before firing at Joseph. Joseph''s soul began swiping at them, cutting through each one and battering them to the side. A triumphant feeling began rising in his chest as he worked. He was really getting good at-


    A blur of motion. Something thudded against his back, phasing through the eagle and pouncing at one of the dark orbs. Joseph let out a yelp, collapsing his soul and falling to the ground. He looked up, rubbing his backside as Chadwick jumped at the orbs, a soft purr cooing from the calico cat. Rosemary began laughing, dropping her book on her face.


    ¡°Chadwick,¡± Joseph growled.


    The cat took notice.


    ¡°Ah! Excuse me,¡± he stopped his prancing about and began licking his paw in a dignified manner, ¡°I was just noticing you were having trouble battering a few orbs aside. Your bottom was open, and I thought to help you.¡±


    ¡°My¡­ bottom was open?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Yes, your bottom,¡± Chadwick said, taking a polite tone.


    ¡°He means your butt, Joseph,¡± Rosemary heckled.


    ¡°I meant his legs,¡± Chadwick corrected.


    ¡°Your legs were open, Joseph,¡± Rosemary said, before collapsing again into a series of giggles.


    ¡°Oh dear, so crass,¡± Chadwick shook his head, ¡°Children today, whatever shall we do with them?¡±


    Joseph rolled his eyes, ¡°Whatever. Thanks. I¡¯ll keep what you said in mind, if that gets you out of my hair.¡±


    ¡°I am not in your hair,¡± Chadwick said, ¡°I¡¯m on your chest. But of no concern. Your poor excuse of a mop is far too short for a nest.¡±


    He bounded off. Phineas waddled over and put out a finned hand to help Joseph up. Joseph grasped it, noting his friend''s surprising strength as the Deep One pulled him to his feet.


    ¡°He is right,¡± Phineas rasped, ¡°You are swiping too high.¡±


    ¡°Thanks,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Joseph!¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°Yeah?¡±


    ¡°The hearing?¡±


    That brought Joseph back to the present. It had been a month since he had returned back to the guildhall. He had tried to force the events of the journey through Nesona and Kelstonda to the back of his mind. Occasionally, he would get reminders from then - the wind picking up in just the right way, the way the night sometimes seemed to flutter - but aside from that, life in the guild had gone on as usual.


    Archenround still had not returned. From what Joseph had managed to gather, from asking Becenti and Broon, she had been sent to a medical world in the Silver Eye Galaxy and was currently receiving treatment there.


    ¡°It''s difficult, from what I hear,¡± the half-orc said, ¡°Archenround has... a unique physiology. We needed to contract a specialist from the Exodus Walkers to take a look at her condition.¡±


    ¡°The Exodus Walkers?¡± Joseph said, ¡°Moriguchi, and his guild?¡±


    ¡°Some days we''re enemies, others we''re allies,¡± Broon shrugged, ¡°That''s the guild way.¡±


    G-Wiz had locked herself in her room, only opening the door for a few people. Wakeling. Becenti. Mallory occasionally. The woman in armor who had buried Nole''s head, Heyma, visited her most often, though.


    ¡°It''s just so sad,¡± Heyma had a surprisingly high, noble voice when Joseph had tracked her down, ¡°She''s alright ¨C and she''ll be alright. It''s just riding the storm that''s tough.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Keep me updated though, won''t you?¡±


    ¡°I thought you hated her,¡± Heyma noted.


    ¡°I did,¡± he grimaced a bit, ¡°Listen, just- just let me know if anything changes, alright?¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    ¡°Joseph!¡±


    Rosemary was waving her hand in his face now. Joseph blinked.


    ¡°The hearing,¡± he said, ¡°Right, the hearing.¡±


    ¡°What do you think it''s going to be like?¡± she asked.


    ¡°I don''t know,¡± Joseph responded, ¡°Hopefully nothing too crazy. Like, they won''t have high-powered lawyers cross-examining everything I do and say and pinning a murder on me, right?¡±


    ¡°It is the High Federation. They most likely will,¡± Phineas said.


    ¡°Thanks, Phin,¡± Joseph said, ¡°That really helps the nerves.¡±


    The Deep One blinked, ¡°I am sorry. It was a joke. I doubt that you will get in much trouble. Guild business often has damage such as this.¡±


    ¡°Seriously,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°I remember Mallory and Ezel had to go to the Federation a few months ago to explain why they had helped burn a mansion on Drolaria to the ground. This stuff happens.¡±


    Joseph nodded, ¡°That... makes me feel better, actually.¡±


    ¡°Enough to start practicing again?¡± Rosemary asked.


    ¡°...Yeah,¡± Joseph smiled at them, and then started the circuit back up. His soul roared to life above him, claws uncurling and settling on either side of his head.


    ¡°You must remember,¡± Phineas said, ¡°Aim low.¡±


    ***


    Becenti got him up early the next morning. There was a certain rhythm to the way the older man knocked that always made Joseph realize who was on the other side of the door. He got out of bed, pulled on his jacket and opened the door. The older man was already in a formal suit, his face set in that same stern look he had worn since Joseph''s first day.


    ¡°Is that all you''ll be wearing, Mr. Zheng?¡± Becenti asked, ¡°We''ve got a big day ahead of us, and we have to look our best before the Federation government.¡±


    ¡°Sorry,¡± Joseph said, rolling his eyes and looking down at his usual blue jacket, ¡°I requisitioned more clothes, but nothing on the fancy side.¡±


    ¡°Ah, the casual style,¡± Becenti deadpanned, ¡°Very well. I knew that you would not be a force of fashion, so I went ahead and got you formal wear. It should arrive for you when you''re done in the showers. Now, hurry up. We¡¯ll be leaving soon.¡±


    Joseph ran to the showers and washed up, trying to stay quiet as he changed in his room since Phineas was still asleep. The suit was a three piece, and it fit snugly on him ¨C it was even comfortable. His father had always insisted that he know how to tie a tie, so he picked up the navy blue piece Becenti had provided and knotted it around his neck. A sly, suave feeling was starting to wash over him. He did look cool, like a spy.


    Becenti''s knocks pushed him out of dreamland. Joseph let out an annoyed huff and went out to meet him. After a quick nod, Becenti led them down to the sword in the Great Hall, where they waited.


    ¡°So,¡± Joseph said, crossing his arms, ¡°They''re really calling G-Wiz for this?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Becenti muttered, and an almost-angry expression flashed on his face for a brief moment, ¡°You all are witnesses.¡±


    He said it with only a hint of bitterness, enough for Joseph to catch onto. Becenti was just as angry as the rest of the guild that G-Wiz was coming. Yet when the Federation official had dropped the letter off for court summons, there was nothing they could do.


    ¡°Any little bit of defiance we make against the Federation calls into question our legitimacy as a guild,¡± Becenti had said when Joseph had complained, ¡°If we lose that status¡­¡±


    ¡°You don''t have to explain,¡± Joseph had replied, ¡°Still, it''s not... it''s not a good look.¡±


    G-Wiz walked downstairs. She was wearing a black t-shirt that read ''Punk is Dead. Long Live Punk'' and a pair of shredded jeans. She had dyed her hair again ¨C a steely gray that she had spiked up in a vain attempt to return to normalcy. Heyma stood behind her, a protective hand on her shoulder.


    ¡°Alright, that''s everyone,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Let''s go.¡±


    ¡°Not quite,¡± Becenti said, ¡°We still have a few more members to account for.¡±


    Joseph raised an eyebrow, to which Becenti said, ¡°There''s some more guild business in the Silver Eye I need to look over. Nothing major, but two birds with one stone.¡±


    ¡°Sounds fine,¡± Joseph said. He turned to see Phineas walking over. The Deep One was in pitch-black robes, his book in a bag slung over his shoulder. He kept rubbing his eyes as he waddled over to Joseph''s side.


    ¡°You did not wake me,¡± he rasped.


    ¡°Sorry,¡± Joseph replied, ¡°Didn''t know you were coming.¡±


    ¡°It is alright,¡± Phineas said, ¡°Gives time for my beauty sleep.¡±


    ¡°Ah, and here''s Meleko,¡± Becenti said.


    Meleko was an alien, with long limbs and a head that split to either side like a hammerhead shark. His skin was a mottled red, and he had two sets of eyes ¨C two eyes on either side of the hammerhead, two more set closer to his face, just above an array of sharp teeth. He was wearing a black jumpsuit with bits of armor strapped to the knees, chest, and shoulders. A sleek pistol was hung casually off his belt.


    ¡°Ho, Becenti,¡± his voice came out as a ragged whisper, ¡°Joseph. Phineas. G-Wiz and Heyma.¡±


    ¡°''Sup, Mel,¡± G-Wiz said numbly.


    ¡°Late as always,¡± Phineas mumbled.


    ¡°Had to look pretty,¡± Meleko let out a grumbling which had taken Joseph a few days to realize was his version of a chuckle, ¡°I won''t get a mate looking like a shidari, eh?¡±


    ¡°Eh,¡± Phineas agreed.


    ¡°Now we can go,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Come, let us be off.¡±


    ¡°You''ll be alright?¡± Heyma asked G-Wiz.


    ¡°I''ll be fine,¡± G-Wiz said, breaking from her to join the rest of the party, ¡°Thanks, Heyma.¡±


    They crossed the garden and got onto the Dreamer''s Lament. The journey was, beat for beat, the same as when Joseph had first crossed into the Silver Eye. They landed just on the edge of the desert on Beritale Landmass, all of them exiting out and crossing through the Traveling Point. They piled onto the Titania Amber and took off. The ship felt much more cramped this time because of the number of people inside. G-Wiz sat next to Meleko. Phineas set his great tome on the floor and opened a magazine and began reading, letting out a soft coo at the sight of some new game system or other. The only comfortable seat, then, was in the cockpit with Becenti. Joseph sat down next to him, looking out the window as they passed the vast, floating cities of Everlasting Truth. The sky was a mango-orange color, the various ships passing them by dark silhouettes with a few blinking lights here and there.


    ¡°So, Mr. Zheng,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I see you have been practicing your metahuman abilities.¡±


    ¡°My metapower, yeah,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Phineas has been helping me.¡±


    ¡°Anything to report?¡±


    Joseph shrugged, ¡°Well, I''m better at controlling the soul''s circuit. I can break it easily without it blowing up in my face, or only manifest specific parts of the soul, like its arms.¡±


    ¡°Have you managed to identify any major weaknesses?¡±


    ¡°Weaknesses?¡±


    ¡°Every ability has its weaknesses,¡± Becenti said, ¡°What have you found out so far?¡±


    Joseph crossed his arms and closed his eyes. He recalled every encounter he''d been in where he''d needed his metahuman power to help him. The techniques he had used, the thought process behind each action he had made, the limitations that he''d strained against like an overtaxed muscle.


    ¡°The electric soul is good against energy,¡± he started, ¡°Those plasma bolts, back on the station? Nothing really happened to my soul when they hit the arms or head, or anything.¡±


    ¡°A strength.¡±


    ¡°Yet when Mordenaro threw a tree, my soul shattered like it was nothing.¡±


    ¡°A weakness, then. And the effect causes a reaction in your body?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph said, ¡°It feels like a sonic boom rushing through me. Like when I first awakened, but worse.¡±


    Becenti nodded, ¡°That seems to make sense. I would be careful when you use your power, especially against someone as strong as you.¡±


    Joseph raised an eyebrow, at first rather defensive at what Becenti was saying, the impersonal critique of something that was becoming very personal to him. Then, he continued ruminating on his words.


    ¡°You''re saying that, at some point, the damage to my soul might be so great it actually damages my physical body.¡±


    ¡°You should have seen yourself when you returned from Mordenaro,¡± Becenti said, ¡°You can''t recklessly throw yourself at any situation. From what you''ve said of your fight with Mordenaro, it seems you''re starting to realize that. I''m just telling you now as a verbal confirmation.¡±


    ¡°I¡­¡± Joseph sighed, ¡°It was the only way I could actually get any good licks in, if he got close.¡±


    ¡°He almost killed you, Joseph.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, but that ain¡¯t new,¡± Joseph said. He looked down at his hands, flexing and unflexing them, feeling their dull and familiar aches, ¡°That¡¯s what I do in a fight, y¡¯know? I take the hit, because I know I can take it better than the other guy can take mine.¡±


    ¡°And what will happen,¡± Becenti said, ¡°On the day that the other guy can take it better than you?¡±


    The question rumbled in his brain. Becenti¡¯s words were his coach¡¯s words, from long ago, when he had first begun really getting into the whole boxing scene.


    His answer was the same, too.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t met anyone who can take more punishment than me. The day I do, that¡¯s the day I¡¯ll learn.¡±


    Becenti was quiet at that. For a moment, he seemed like he wanted to say something, but he let the thought pass. The Titania Amber continued her journey across Everlasting Truth. Behind, Joseph could hear Phineas and Meleko talking to one another ¨C Phinea''s voice lowered to that harsh, excited whisper he got when he started talking about Myth Battle.


    ¡°They have just revealed the new Odin card,¡± he said, ¡°It is very powerful. Very strong. I will build a deck around it, I think.¡±


    ¡°That''s nice,¡± Meleko said dismissively, ¡°Yeah, just like how you built a deck around Zeus, or Gargensis, or Silver Arthur.¡±


    He was presenting himself as uninterested, his voice bored and drawling. Yet Joseph felt like something was off.


    ¡°You remember all their names,¡± Joseph cut in, turning around to face the alien.


    Meleko''s face blushed purple, ¡°I, ah, well, that''s true. But-¡±


    ¡°What set was Zeus in?¡± Joseph asked.


    Meleko rolled his eyes, recognizing his defeat, ¡°Gates of Olympus, you bastard.¡±


    He chuckled and visibly relaxed, turning to Phineas to continue their conversation with, ¡°Yes, Odin''s good, but I''m waiting for Loki to be revealed. I''m hoping they''ll be able to do him justice...¡±


    ¡°You''re starting to fit right in,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Good.¡±


    ¡°Myth Battle''s a fun game,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Agree to disagree,¡± the older man said, ¡°Oh, I do want to mention ¨C do you remember that dead plane that we searched for at the station?¡±


    Joseph''s heart sank a bit as darker memories returned, ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°We''ve finally triangulated the position of that plane. It''s in the forecast, so our client has decided to organize a small expedition.¡±


    Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    ¡°And you want to invite me along?¡±


    ¡°It is most likely metahuman in origin,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I thought it might be a good opportunity for you to see physical evidence of our heritage.¡±


    Our heritage. Joseph felt a strange mixture of apprehension and excitement at the old man''s words.


    ¡°Sure,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Who''s all going?¡±


    ¡°This will be a rather large undertaking,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Wakeling and our client, the Lady Sunala, are estimating that the job will require around a good chunk of the guild.¡±


    ¡°A chunk?¡±


    ¡°Around twenty, give or take,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Many of the friends you¡¯ve made here will be there. I know Wakeling is expecting Broon and Rosemary to come along, for example.¡±


    ¡°And Phin?¡±


    Becenti thought on that, maneuvering the Titania around a large, derelict mining vessel, ¡°Yes, I suppose we could use some of his magic. It should come in handy.¡±


    ¡°I''m in, then,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Might bring us something good.¡±


    Becenti cracked a rare smile, ¡°Indeed.¡±


    ***


    The city of Blindness Eternal was, as Becenti explained, the ''Capital of Justice'' for the Federation. It was far more pristine than the other cities Joseph had seen floating in the gas giant. Spires marbled white and blue rose out of the triangular city, rings running along the tops like crowns. Official High Federation ships flew above and between them, the signature four-pointed star hemmed in by four, interlocking hands painted on their hulls. They were far larger than any ships Joseph had seen thus far ¨C warships, with almost predatory looks to them, the wings of the ships splayed out like a hawk''s, the ship''s bow curved downwards like a raptor''s beak.


    The Titania Amber magnetized to the side of Blindness Eternal, and the group stepped out. The ground of the city was dotted with monuments and statues ¨C beings from throughout the Federation''s history immortalized in bronze and gold. A few of them stood atop fountains, leering down at the crowd of lawyers, soldiers, and government officials. Much of the crowd wore pristine, white robes ¨C a tradition, Joseph supposed, like how Brits back on Earth wore powdered wigs in court.


    A green alien was approaching them, bug-like eyes as wide as his smile.


    ¡°Becenti!¡± he called out, bringing a three-fingered hand to shake Becenti''s, ¡°So glad you could come here, and on all days!¡±


    ¡°Glonthek,¡± Becenti put on his persona of amicability, ¡°Glad to be here. You know G-Wiz.¡±


    ¡°Oh, do I know G-Wiz, indeed!¡± Glonthek winked at G-Wiz, ¡°You haven''t hotwired any ships lately, have you?¡±


    ¡°¡®Fraid not,¡± G-Wiz said, trying to muster herself, ¡°But I saw a few that looked like easy targets.¡±


    ¡°As if I didn''t have enough paperwork already!¡± Glonthek laughed, ¡°Phineas! My man! How''s that card collection coming?¡±


    ¡°It is fine,¡± Phineas rasped, ¡°I have collected many cards and built new decks.¡±


    ¡°Good stuff, good stuff,¡± Glonthek said, ¡°My youngest has been looking into Myth Battle lately. Care to give an old etroblek some advice?¡±


    ¡°Perhaps after the trial,¡± Phineas said.


    ¡°And Meleko! Silver Eye REPRESENT!¡± Glonthek brought out a hand to fist-bump Meleko, who rolled all four of his eyes and returned the fist. Glonthek then turned his attention to Joseph, ¡°And oh! The new guild member! Sir,¡± he extended out a hand, ¡°Glonthek gel Glonthek, at your service.¡±


    ¡°Joseph,¡± he shook his hand, which was oddly cold and clammy.


    ¡°Glonthek''s our guild liaison here in Blindness Eternal,¡± Becenti explained, ¡°Any time there''s a legal issue, Glonthek acts as our representative.¡±


    Joseph looked to the alien, ¡°Hopefully we haven''t given you too much trouble, with everything that happened.¡±


    ¡°On Kelstonda, or are you hiding something from me?¡± Glonthek chuckled, ¡°Nonsense, my good outlander. Standard stuff, really. Now come, the court will be waiting for us. Come along! Phineas, we¡¯re moving out now.¡±


    ¡°Oh, yes,¡± Phineas said. The Deep One had been staring at the crowd, a mesmerised look dancing in his eyes.


    Glonthek guided them through the city, white robes swishing as he explained the situation to the rest of the party.


    ¡°Now, obviously, the Marlish Empire is rather upset,¡± he said, ¡°They''ve already had one too many multiversal incursions lately, especially after that terrorist attack on Stowan City-¡±


    ¡°Stowan City?¡± Becenti''s eyes narrowed, ¡°How come I''m only hearing about this now?¡±


    ¡°You didn''t know?¡± Glonthek gave him a quizzical look, ¡°Yeah, a couple of terrorists took a whole crowd of people in the steamport hostage. Killed fifteen of ''em. And that''s after that whole debacle between Blue Sky Waiting and that rogue metahuman in Elice. Whole multiverse is going crazy, let me tell you.¡±


    Becenti''s walk became more measured and deliberate. He didn''t meet Joseph''s eyes as he stared at the old man.


    ¡°Anyways,¡± Glonthek continued, ¡°They''ll probably try to wring out payments for the train ¨C which shouldn''t amount to much, really. The few other passengers onboard declined to pursue any legal prosecution on their own, instead handing it over to the Marlish and subsuming it to the original case. That''s been thrown out at this point, though ¨C I called in a few favors to settle it out of court.¡±


    ¡°Sounds like you''ve done quite a bit of work already,¡± Joseph said, ¡°What do you need us for?¡±


    ¡°Witness testimony,¡± Glonthek said, ¡°Specifically, the court will require you to make a statement for the interaction with the Guild of One. Nothing too major, just sets the story straight to see who needs to pay for damages, and all that. Ah, here we are!¡±


    A line of courthouses greeted them. Each one was dome-shaped, roughly the size of a stadium, with the same marbled white and gold as the rest of the city. The flag of the Federation fluttered at the top of each courthouse, and men and women were walking in and out of them in droves ¨C some of them civil servants, others families arguing with one another over lawsuits and divorces. One of the domes had a military vessel flying overhead, lowering down a chute to connect to a hole in the roof to transport a dangerous criminal.


    The courthouses extended out to each side, one after the other, from one end of the triangular edge of Blindness Eternal to the other. A hundred courthouses. Hundreds of courtrooms within. Lives were upended, changed, and debated here. Thousands of years of law collected in one place. Joseph felt, for perhaps the first time, the sheer size of the Federation, the countless souls who lived in the Silver Eye, each one with their own story, their own reason for being here in the city.


    With an almost casual air, Glonthek walked through one of the open doors, jabbering all the while on the case, ignorant of the other lawyers, attorneys, witnesses, and defendants around him.


    The inside of the courthouse they went into was spacious, though it still felt claustrophobic because of the small army of people inside waiting for their cases. Speech was the music of choice here ¨C the deafening noise of a thousand conversations happening at the same time. One of Meleko''s species was talking to a human. A strange, rock-formed dwarf was arguing with one of the attendants, who was a floating brain in a vat of sickly-blue liquid. A large, four-legged and four-armed purple alien with the shell of a crab was reviewing case notes with a pure white humanoid with five eyes and no mouth.


    Doors leading into the courtrooms lined the walls of the main lobby area. Joseph stopped counting the doors at one hundred as he pushed and jostled his way through the crowd with Glonthek towards the long desk with about fifty workers tending to a large crowd.


    ¡°Yes, the case of Amber Foundation v. Marlish Empire,¡± he said to the pink-skinned attendant with snakes for hair.


    ¡°Yes, sir,¡± the attendant worked at her computer for a few moments, ¡°Right. Case convenes in an hour, Courtroom 126. How would you like the tickets?¡±


    ¡°Paper, please,¡± Glonthek said, ¡°We''ve got some out-of-planers here, if you know what I mean.¡±


    He gave her a wink. The attendant rolled her eyes and clicked a button on her console. The console spat out a line of tickets, which Glonthek then took and passed out to the party.


    ¡°Right,¡± he said, ¡°Just this way- excuse me, pardon me, sorry-¡±


    They pushed their way towards the center of the room, beside a large statue. A few security guards stood by it to make sure no one would climb on as they went over and stood by it, waiting. Standing was uncomfortable, so a lot of the crowd was sitting down. Joseph did the same, sitting down next to G-Wiz.


    ¡°How are you holding up?¡± he asked.


    She gave a shrug. It didn''t look like she was in the mood to really talk, so Joseph let it drop. At first, the group passed the time with idle small talk - Meleko and Phineas pointing out random passerby, Glonthek going on about cases he had defended in the past - though the din of the crowd overrode most of what he was saying, to the point that he needed to shout to get his point across. So Joseph stopped trying to listen, instead looking around the vast room. He craned his head to look at the statue. It was bone-white, depicting a human holding the hand of a large, vaguely humanoid thing, its head a stylized sun that floated a few inches over its neck. The being was twice as tall as the human, its long limbs reaching down to its pillar-like feet.


    ¡°The Alu''eer,¡± Becenti noted, noticing Joseph''s staring, ¡°They who searched and found democracy in the Silver Eye.¡±


    ¡°Weird guys.¡±


    ¡°Careful what you say around here,¡± Becenti warned, ¡°The Alu''eer were the sacred founders of the High Federation, tens of thousands of years ago. The Federation was their opus. Their empire, styled with the trappings of republic. Any Federation official who hears you will be very... upset.¡±


    ¡°Where are they now?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Lost. Ascended. Disappeared,¡± Becenti shrugged, ¡°What matters is they are no longer here now.¡±


    ¡°Archenround!¡± Glonthek interrupted. He pointed into the crowd, where cutting through it was the serpent-woman. Archenround was wearing a simple white shirt ¨C her armor and swords were gone. She had lost weight ¨C her face was gaunt and pale, though her eyes were set and as hardened as they had been when Joseph had first met her. A nurse was attending her, crab-legs scratching across the marble floor.


    ¡°Good to see you, Ms. Archenround,¡± Becenti said.


    She nodded.


    ¡°Standard rules apply,¡± the nurse said, ¡°Archenround''s only here for the trial. After that, it''s back to the hospital for her.¡±


    ¡°But our request to transfer her to Everlasting Truth was approved?¡± Becenti asked.


    ¡°Yes,¡± the nurse chittered, taking a look at her datapad, ¡°St. Galapos''s Hospital for the Demonic.¡±


    ¡°''Demonic''?¡± Joseph said.


    Archenround shot him a glare that quelled any curiosity, however. Becenti gave a curt nod and said, ¡°Very well.¡±


    ¡°I don''t mean to interrupt,¡± Glonthek said, looking down at his watch, ¡°But they¡¯re ready for us. Time to shine, eh?¡±


    He gave a friendly smile, though the rest of the party didn''t return it. Archenround began slithering, though Joseph noticed she was starting to stray to the right a little too much ¨C the nurse steadied her and began to guide her in the right direction.


    ¡°Why is she even out of bed?¡± Joseph whispered to Becenti.


    ¡°Why is G-Wiz here?¡± Becenti replied, ¡°It''s the Federation''s wish. And we can''t supersede it.¡±


    ¡°Neither of them are in any shape to testify,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°I know.¡±


    ¡°Then why don''t we say something?¡±


    ¡°I just answered that.¡±


    ¡°That it''s the Federation''s wish?¡± Joseph was starting to get angry, ¡°But-¡±


    ¡°Joseph,¡± Becenti gave a warning glance, ¡°We are in their house. We respect their rules.¡±


    There was a dangerous edge to Becenti''s voice, though it wasn''t directed at Joseph. There was something more to all of it. Joseph wanted to say something ¨C ask more, prod further, see why Becenti was being so venomously obedient to the Federation''s wishes. The way his brow furrowed, his frown thinning and becoming deeper, wasn''t lost on Joseph.


    Becenti hated being here. And he hated having to bring his injured guildmates along.


    But Joseph decided to let it be. They were in the Federation''s house.


    ***


    Courtroom 126, in contrast to the lobby, was cast in an eerie silence. The room was gunmetal gray, lined with neon blue lights that ran the length of the room. The back wall was taken up entirely by a massive podium, in which, shadowed by the white lights above, sat three figures ¨C Lord Judges of the High Federation. Tables sat on either side of the hall leading into the courtroom, bolted to the floor and cold to the touch as the party settled themselves down. Glonthek produced a datapad and laid it on the table, running a few numbers while glancing over to his opposite number at the other table.


    ¡°Rastonbury,¡± he said.


    ¡°Glonthek.¡±


    Rastonbury was a regular human ¨C the entire other table was. Representatives from the Marlish Empire, they all wore gray and brown suits, one of them had a trilby on the table next to a briefcase, another was polishing his monocle. They seemed entirely out of place here in this futuristic place, half-hidden in the dim lights of the courtroom.


    A thin, reedy voice echoed across the room, its source the middle figure on top of the judges'' podium.


    ¡°Galatea Wiz, approach.¡±


    G-Wiz froze up. Glonthek let out a small curse and a ¡°Right off the bat, then.¡± Becenti patted her on the shoulder, giving her a reassuring nod. She got up from her seat and walked over to a podium that was now rising out of the floor. She took it, gripping both sides of the podium''s flat top.


    ¡°State your name, please,¡± the judge to the right rasped.


    ¡°G-Galatea Wiz.¡±


    ¡°From what plane do you hail from?¡±


    ¡°Doremi, the World of Music.¡±


    The left judge, with her melodic yet commanding voice, ¡°Do you swear to abide by the laws of the Federation and that everything you speak is true, to the best of your ability, on penalty of perjury and excommunication?¡±


    ¡°I, Galatea Wiz, do swear, under p-penalty of perjury and excommunication, that everything I say is true, to the best of my ability, so sworn by my fathers and grandfathers, mothers and grandmothers,¡± G-Wiz recited.


    ¡°Good,¡± the center judge said, ¡°Now, I call upon Glonthek gel Glonthek. The floor is yours.¡±


    Glonthek got up from the table, datapad in hand. He walked over to the podium and positioned himself next to G-Wiz. Reading out of the datapad for a moment, he nodded in satisfaction and said, ¡°G-Wiz, why don''t you tell us what happened when you crossed into Kelstonda?¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± G-Wiz said. She was silent for a moment, taking a deep breath, ¡°We crossed over into Chandhala after Mordenaro attacked...¡±


    ***


    It was grueling. G-Wiz finished her story, voice stuttering and catching at parts. She went silent for a long time when she described when Joseph cut the train line. Her voice tightened, more sad and despondent, as she described leaving Nole behind. Joseph could only watch, trapped and transfixed, as she went on and on, forced into recounting her experience. The room was quiet, save for the occasional question from the judges, as she almost broke down at a few points.


    The judges were dispassionate.


    Mercifully, they stopped her when she recounted leaving Kelstonda. G-Wiz was visibly shaking from her recounting, hands drained white as she gripped the sides of the podium. Then Glonthek''s opposite, Rastonbury, got up. He was the man with the monocle, and there was a sureness to his step that made Joseph uneasy as he strode over to G-Wiz''s podium.


    ¡°Ms. Wiz,¡± he said, ¡°Is it really true that you used your Zumbelaphone to cover an entire part of the train with words representing explosions?¡±


    ¡°...Yes,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°I did.¡±


    ¡°And the train didn''t de-rail?¡±


    ¡°It didn''t.¡±


    ¡°Interesting, though the entire car was lost,¡± Rastonbury said, ¡°But you don''t deny you did it?¡±


    ¡°It was life or d-death,¡± G-Wiz explained shakily, ¡°If I didn''t do something, Mordenaro would be¡­ be after us.¡±


    ¡°Very well, sounds reasonable enough,¡± Rastonbury agreed. There was an enigmatic look on his face as he produced a fountain pen from his jacket pocket and began writing into a small notebook, ¡°That''s all my questions, Viceborne.¡±


    ¡°You are dismissed, Galatea Wiz,¡± the center judge said.


    G-Wiz shakily left the stand, taking a seat down by Joseph. Her face had gone gray. Joseph patted her on the shoulder as the center judge called out, ¡°Archenround of the Whispering Fields.¡±


    Archenround slithered forward, helped along by her nurse. She took the stand.


    ¡°State your name.¡±


    Archenround signed. As she did so, a translator on the podium shouted out her words, robotic and strange in a grating voice that made a chill run up Joseph¡¯s spine.


    ¡°Archenround.¡±


    ¡°From what plane do you hail from?¡±


    ¡°Tsaeyaru, the World of Ruin.¡±


    ¡°Do you swear...¡±


    Archenround''s tale was much the same. She swore her oath to the truth, then explained everything that happened. She seemed to struggle to remember key details and events, however, her brow furrowing when she explained the events on the train, her hands faltering.


    ¡°And then the Grim Walker punched me, and I... I... Forgive me, I do not recall the final details.¡±


    ¡°Very well,¡± the center judge drawled, ¡°Rastonbury?¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Viceborne,¡± Rastonbury once more got out of his seat.


    ¡°Ms. Archenround,¡± he said, ¡°Is it true that, after the death of Shetavalk of the Spioa, you were elected by your compatriots to lead the mission?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Therefore it''s true, then, that you were the one who decided to planeshift to Kelstonda.¡±


    ¡°Correct.¡±


    ¡°Might we have your reasoning?¡±


    Archenround was quiet for a few moments.


    ¡°Ms. Archenround?¡±


    ¡°I have lost much memory from the last few weeks,¡± Archenround said, ¡°On account of my injuries.¡±


    ¡°Of your injuries, of course,¡± Rastonbury said, ¡°But you were the one to suggest leading the party into Kelstonda.¡±


    ¡°By conjecture, yes.¡±


    ¡°No further questions, Viceborne.¡±


    Archenround returned to her seat.


    ¡°Mr. Joseph Zheng.¡±


    ¡°Go time,¡± Joseph murmured.


    He went up to the stand. The three judges, still silhouetted by shadow and light, glowered down at him. He felt rather small indeed as Glonthek walked up to him.


    ¡°State your name.¡±


    ¡°Joseph. Joseph Zheng.¡±


    ¡°What plane do you hail from?¡±


    ¡°Earth, the World of, um, Earth.¡±


    ¡°Do you swear to abide by the laws of the Federation and that everything you speak is true, to the best of your ability, on penalty of perjury and excommunication?¡±


    ¡°Er...¡± Joseph looked down, and noticed that the next lines were read out to him. In English, thankfully, though he saw a few more alien scripts beneath and beside it.


    ¡°I, Joseph Zheng, do swear, under penalty of perjury and excommunication, that everything I say is true, to the best of my ability, so sworn by my fathers and grandfathers, mothers and grandmothers.¡±


    ¡°Right, then,¡± Glonthek said, ¡°Mr. Zheng, as the most sound of mind involved in the mission and its conclusion, could you please explain what happened upon your arrival to Kelstonda, all the way to your exit from the plane?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Like G-Wiz said, we first arrived through the Traveling Point at Chandhala...¡±


    He finished up his story. It seemed Glonthek didn''t feel like he needed any questions, but Rastonbury got up from his seat.


    ¡°Mr. Zheng,¡± he said, ¡°Is it true that you personally did damage to the train?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°How?¡± Rastonbury prodded.


    ¡°I slashed the train during my fight with Mordenaro.¡±


    ¡°With a knife?¡±


    ¡°With, ah, my metapower.¡±


    He knew then he should not have said that. The three judges shifted in their seats. He heard the barest whisper of Becenti cursing under his breath, magnified by the relative silence of the room. The head judge pitched forward. He had a neck and head like a sauropod ¨C a small head, a stripe of blunt spikes running down the top of his vertebrae. His beetle eyes were inscrutable. Yet Joseph realized he had said something out of turn. The left judge began tapping on a datapad, light beeps echoing through the courtroom.


    ¡°When did you realize you were metahuman?¡± The center judge was quiet and rasped.


    ¡°Uh,¡± Joseph thought for a moment, ¡°A couple months?¡±


    ¡°A couple months,¡± the judge echoed, ¡°And what is your metapower?¡±


    ¡°Objection, Viceborne,¡± Glonthek said, ¡°That is private information, under the Metahuman Act of-¡±


    ¡°I am well aware of the Act, Glonthek,¡± the judge said, ¡°Overruled. His metapower may very well have been the primary cause of the destruction of the train.¡±


    ¡°I didn''t do much,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I slashed up the train. I cut the line connecting two cars together.¡±


    God, that sounded weak. The judges did not react.


    ¡°If you would travel in lands controlled by the High Federation, be it in the galaxy or otherwise, you will need to register,¡±the leftmost judge said.


    The center judge nodded, arching his neck back up into the shadows, ¡°An unregistered metahuman, Myron? Most displeasing.¡±


    Becenti''s voice was measured and controlled, ¡°I will need to correct that error, Viceborne.¡±


    ¡°One would think you were trying to help create another Ludaya,¡± the center judge continued, and Joseph saw Becenti''s fists clench, ¡°But no matter. Continue with your questioning, Rastonbury. Forgive this judge''s imprudence.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Viceborne,¡± Rastonbury said, ¡°Mr. Zheng, when you were destroying the train, did it cross your mind that you were costing the Marlish Royal Railway Company a significant amount of money? Destroying an important cultural artifact?¡±


    ¡°Oh no, money didn''t cross my mind,¡± Joseph said, rolling his eyes, ¡°I was, you know, trying to not die. Like a normal person.¡±


    Rastonbury nodded, ¡°No more questions, Viceborne.¡±


    ¡°Very well. Return to your seat, metahuman,¡± the center judge ordered.


    There was something off about the judge''s tone that Joseph couldn''t quite put his finger on. He walked back and sat down, looking over to Becenti. The older man looked positively livid, glaring up at the judges, hands still balled into fists and growing white. And Joseph couldn''t blame him. It had been an uncomfortable interrogation, one that had gone outside the actual arguments being made. The judge''s stoic air had been shattered, and Joseph now noticed that they would occasionally look his way, faces dipping out of the shadow to stare at him ¨C a pink, dolphin-like face for the leftmost judge, a jagged gray mask for the rightmost.


    Rastounbury''s witnesses began getting called forward ¨C the conductor of the train, the soldier who had spoken with Joseph at Lake Imdrahal. Yet each time, their looks and stares interrupted the proceedings. He felt pinned beneath their gazes, now that he was less of a vague curiosity and more...


    A threat?


    Something to be derided?


    Joseph wasn''t sure. He knew, though, that he didn''t like it.


    Through it all, Becenti said nothing. At first, Joseph was frustrated. Why didn''t he say something, if he were so angry? Yet as he thought about it, as the questions and interrogations of the court became a buzzing in the back of his mind, he started to realize his mentor''s words.


    Their house, their rules.


    Above all, the means to enforce them. To paint themselves as the victim, if Becenti argued against them.


    They couldn''t do anything.


    The center judge, who had hardly spoken since Joseph''s witness, interrupted his train of thought with, ¡°One final witness, Rastonbury?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Viceborne.¡±


    He had gotten his papers out of his briefcase. The air had gotten heavy, Joseph noticed, though he did not know why. Yet he could almost see it - The only sound in the room was their ruffling as Rastonbury sorted through them, his eyes squinting in the half-light of the courtroom.


    ¡°I call upon Mordenaro as my last witness.¡±

 23. Stone in the Ice

    How had he not seen him?


    Mordenaro strode forward from the corner of the room. He looked the same as when Joseph had seen him for the first time in Koma. His black duster, freshly re-knit and clean as the night, billowed as he stepped into the light, and he had added to his ensemble a wide-brimmed hat that cast his face in a gloom. He seemed to melt out the shadows, his form was more darkness than human, as though he were a walking shade and not anything truly real.


    His voice echoed through the courtroom as he spoke, calm and steady, almost reasonable.


    ¡°I am Mordenaro.¡±


    ¡°What plane do you hail from?¡±


    ¡°I do not know.¡±


    The judges seemed to accept this as an answer, nodding to one another in the half-light before continuing.


    ¡°Do you swear to abide by the laws of the Federation and that everything you speak is true, to the best of your ability, on penalty of perjury and excommunication?¡±


    ¡°I, Mordenaro, do swear, under penalty of perjury and excommunication, that everything I say is true, to the best of my ability, so sworn by my fathers and grandfathers, mothers and grandmothers.¡±


    It was almost too professional, the way he spoke, the way the judges continued on their way, the way Rastonbury, after a moment of apprehension, began prodding Mordenaro for questions.


    Why couldn''t they see? He wasn''t questioning a man.


    He was questioning a monster.


    G-Wiz had gone completely pale. Her hands were slowly scrunching up as she listened to the Grim Walker relate his story, digging into the metal table. Joseph was afraid her fingertips would start bleeding if she dug any more. Becenti was on the verge of losing it. His eyes were bulging out, and Joseph was sure that, if they were anywhere else, he would have thrown himself at Mordenaro and throttled him.


    ¡°How, exactly, did you arrive at the conclusion that the Amber Foundation had planeshifted to Kelstonda?¡± to his credit, Rastonbury''s voice was even. He didn''t seem intimidated by Mordenaro.


    ¡°I can see planar travel,¡± Mordenaro said, ¡°I can see when possibility is used.¡±


    ¡°And who was your client?¡±


    ¡°As part of the Law of InterGuild, I am not at liberty to say.¡±


    Not at liberty to say?


    Joseph blanched. Mordenaro was under oath. He had to speak the truth-


    And yet the judges, aside from the leftmost jotting down a few notes on the datapad, were silent. Par for the course.


    ¡°And you pursued the Amber Foundation to Kelstonda,¡± Rastonbury continued.


    ¡°Correct.¡±


    ¡°Please, describe to me the battle aboard the train. What happened?¡±


    Mordenaro began to relate the story, his voice a monotone drone. His very speech seemed to vibrate the air and set Joseph even further on edge, to the point that he almost couldn''t make out his individual words ¨C just a melody that pounded into the back of his head.


    ¡°And how, sir, did you happen to kill Nole?¡±


    ¡°Your honor,¡± Glonthek said feebly, ¡°There are v-victims in the room.¡±


    ¡°We have Mordenaro for so little time, Glonthek,¡± the center judge said, ¡°Continue, Grim Walker.¡±


    ¡°Killing a troll is difficult,¡± Mordenaro explained, ¡°Only by certain chemicals are they known to perish - sodium chloride and iridium are two examples. I had to use salt to burn away his body at specific points, specifically the head region and chest. By the time I was finished, he was unrecognizable.¡±


    A sudden cry from G-Wiz pierced the interrogation.


    ¡°The defense will keep silent, lest they be dismissed from the proceedings,¡± the rightmost judge admonished.


    ¡°Continue, Grim Walker,¡± the center judge said.


    ¡°That is all that was required,¡± Mordenaro said, ¡°After that was done, I continued on my way to pursue the Amber Foundation.¡±


    ¡°And you did no more damage to the train?¡± Rastonbury asked.


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Did you intentionally damage the train, in any way?¡±


    ¡°Yes. As I have stated, I tore through the ceiling in order to get inside,¡± Mordenaro said.


    ¡°Mr. Mordenaro, have you ever heard of a door?¡±


    ¡°Once or twice.¡±


    Rastonbury looked over to the judges, ¡°No more questions, Viceborne.¡±


    ¡°Very well,¡± the judge said, ¡°Unfortunately, Glonthek, it appears we are out of time.¡±


    Glonthek let out an annoyed huff, ¡°Very well, Viceborne.¡±


    ¡°This court will adjourn,¡± the center judge announced, ¡°Let us see... we will continue in four years, three days, seven hours, fifty-five minutes.¡±


    Four years?


    Mordenaro left without a word, brushing past Joseph. For a moment, he thought the Grim Walker would stop to say something, but he continued on his way. The three judges began to rise, though a veil of light began covering the tops of the podium, obscuring them from view. Rastonbury and his associates murmured to one another as they packed papers back into briefcases. The one with the trilby shook hands with Rastonbury. Glonthek clicked a few buttons on his datapad as he returned to the Amber Foundation''s table.


    ¡°Bullshit,¡± Becenti snarled, ¡°Absolute bullshit.¡±


    ¡°Agreed,¡± Glonthek said, ¡°By Nork, I''m going to have a lot of paperwork.¡±


    ¡°Four years?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Oh, that''s normal,¡± Glonthek said. He was suddenly interrupted as Rastonbury approached.


    ¡°The usual place?¡± he asked.


    Glonthek sighed, ¡°Yes, the usual place. Rizhal and Johns should be there, too. Let''s just get this over with.¡±


    ¡°Agreed,¡± Rastonbury gave a polite nod to Joseph and Becenti before walking away.


    ¡°Sorry about that,¡± Glonthek said, ¡°But yes, four years is normal.¡±


    ¡°How is that normal?¡± Joseph said, ¡°What, am I going to have to come back here in four years to listen to more of that fucking bullshit?¡±


    ¡°Woah, woah,¡± Glonthek said, ¡°Calm down, kid. Relax. We''ll just settle this out of court with the Marlish, nothing too major. Crops up all the time. Rastonbury and I go way back.¡±


    ¡°Come on, let''s go,¡± Becenti snapped. He began striding out of the room. Joseph began to follow, before he realized G-Wiz still hadn''t got up. He turned to her.


    ¡°Hey, you alright?¡±


    G-Wiz was quiet. Joseph sighed and put a hand on her shoulder.


    ¡°Let''s get out of here,¡± he said, ¡°Back to Castle Belenus.¡±


    ¡°Why did he come here?¡± she whispered, ¡°Why, of all people, did they have to call him?¡±


    ¡°Beats me,¡± Glonthek said, ¡°Probably to get more out of us, utter bastards. G, I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m so sorry.¡±


    She didn''t respond. But she did get up. Meleko walked over and rested a hand on her shoulder, guiding her out of the courtroom.


    The crowd was still there as they entered back into the lobby. It was downright cacophonous compared to the court, and the army of voices hurt Joseph''s head ¨C he already felt a migraine developing from those proceedings. They pushed through the crowd and back outside. They said their goodbyes to Glonthek and Archenround - the latter who had to return to the hospital - and returned back to the Titania Amber.


    ¡°We''ll take you back to the hangar,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Go through the Traveling Point there back to Londoa, and we''ll meet up with you later.¡±


    ¡°How will you get back to Moadma Landmass?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°We''re taking the Titania Amber for the expedition,¡± Becenti replied, ¡°We''ll return to Castle Belenus onboard.¡±


    ¡°For the mission, right?¡± Joseph said.


    Becenti didn''t respond to that, ignoring Joseph as he powered up the Titania Amber''s engines, his fingers nearly smashing through each button on the console. Soon they were back in the sky of Everlasting Truth, heading back towards the hangar she was usually stored in. G-Wiz was quiet, and she laid her head on Meleko¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°You need anything, G?¡± Meleko asked.


    ¡°I can conjure up some delicious fruit, perhaps,¡± Phineas said, ¡°An apple? A blarfruit?¡±


    ¡°I d-don''t need anything,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Just...¡±


    ¡°Just rest,¡± Meleko said.


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°That was outright horrendous, what they pulled back there,¡± Becenti muttered to Joseph as they crested over a cargo ship.


    ¡°Why was Mordenaro even there?¡± Joseph wondered.


    ¡°As a witness,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Mordenaro swears to the Law of InterGuild. Despite his power and his isolationist tendencies, he''s still beholden to the authority of the Federation.¡±


    There was a bitter note to Becenti''s words. Joseph looked over.


    ¡°That wasn''t cool back there, either,¡± Joseph said, ¡°What the judges said to you.¡±


    ¡°I am used to such hostility,¡± Becenti replied, ¡°I don¡¯t even need to be a metahuman for that. Still...¡±


    There was a distant look in Becenti''s eyes.


    ¡°It still isn''t a good feeling, Mr. Zheng. And as time goes on, you will feel the Federation''s... opinions of metahumans more fully.¡±


    ¡°Am I going to have to register?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°No choice in the matter. Their house, their rules.¡±


    ¡°Seems like their ''house'' extends a lot further than their walls.¡±


    ¡°That entire trial was a sham,¡± Becenti said, ¡°But they always are. We were always going to settle out of court. That''s why we hired Glonthek. He''s not a good lawyer, but by God, he''s a social butterfly. He''s friends with everyone we need him to be friends with. He''ll get us a good deal, minimize any payments we''ll have to make.¡±


    ¡°Then why even go through the horse and pony show?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°A formality,¡± Becenti said, ¡°By law, the Federation always hosts multiversal trials for at least a few sessions. But crime in a galaxy full of literal billions of inhabited star systems and an incomprehensibly large population means the bureaucracy is equally incomprehensible and labyrinthian. Our trial is on a priority list, and we still need to wait four years.¡±


    ¡°That''s...¡± the reality of it all was sinking in, ¡°That''s insane. There''s no way a society like this can function.¡±


    ¡°In a lot of cases, it doesn''t,¡± Becenti said, ¡°And yet people continue living their lives as though it does. Oh, there are many good things the Federation is good at.¡±


    A line was forming ahead of them, one that snaked into the hangar bay doors. Becenti positioned the Titania Amber at the back, flipping a few buttons so her thrusters shot downward, keeping her suspended in the air.


    ¡°Unapproved cross-technological contamination, for one. Military threats, such as warlords who get too big for their britches. They were admirable during the war...¡±


    A ship cut in front of them. Becenti, in a rare moment of rage, slammed his fist into the console. Everyone in the ship jumped at the sound, looking over in shock. Joseph felt a thrill of fear at the look on the older man''s face.


    ¡°Yes, it seems whenever there''s a military matter, the Federation is quite good at their jobs. In everything else? Well, they''re not used to dealing with that. Oh no, if it''s not something they need to blow up, then there''s too much red tape. Too much legal precedent. Too much bullshit.¡±


    Joseph was aware Becenti was rambling now. After a moment''s hesitation, he laid a hand on his mentor''s arm. Becenti glanced over at him, his expression dissolving from anger to something inscrutable. Exhausted. He melted into a sigh.


    ¡°Yes, well,¡± he said, ¡°Nothing we can do about it now, Mr. Zheng. I''ll have you sign the paperwork necessary to register you into their Metahuman Database. It shouldn''t be any major matter. Most likely, there won''t be anything to it.¡±


    He was trying to convince himself, Joseph realized. He let Becenti be.


    The ship cast in an awkward silence, they waited for their turn to enter into the hangar. The Titania Amber landed, and the doors opened for Joseph and G-Wiz to get out. Joseph turned to Becenti to say something ¨C anything ¨C as Phineas opened up a small table and put two decks on it for him and Meleko to play.


    ¡°Go, Mr. Zheng,¡± Becenti''s voice was just a bit louder than a murmur, ¡°I will see you when we return.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Joseph said.


    No words, then. Becenti didn''t want any comfort. Whether he needed it was another question.


    But Joseph ignored that gut feeling, and walked out the door.


    The two of them were quiet as they stepped off of the ship. Joseph felt an uncomfortable edge as they walked back to the Traveling Point. The entire trial and Becenti''s ranting had shaken him more than he had realized. It seemed that the hangar was... dirtier. More lived-in, something that was now real and tangible. Privately, Joseph had hoped that his encounter onboard the space station had been an outlier. An aberration in a somewhere that was otherwise magnificent and beautiful.


    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    But the wonder was gone.


    And the Federation, for all of its starships and history, was just another place.


    They crossed back onto Londoa and piled into the Dreamer''s Lament. Whiskey was aboard, piloting the ship, and had been waiting for their return. Joseph and G-Wiz sat across from one another on the couches.


    Per her wishes, Joseph didn''t say anything to her. The Dreamer''s Lament floated high above the clouds, and began to make her way home.


    ***


    Far away, two days after the Titania Amber had exited Everlasting Truth''s atmosphere and gone into warp, Phineas and Meleko were playing cards. Their voices, as well as the hum of the Titania Amber''s engines, formed the only ambiance. Becenti was quiet, a book in his hand, his legs stretched onto the console.


    ¡°So I play Kastrophob the Mighty, right?¡± Meleko said.


    ¡°Correct,¡± Phineas replied, ¡°It is a very strong card, and you have the faith to play it.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Meleko flipped the card onto the table, ¡°And that puts me in a good state, now...¡±


    ¡°The best,¡± Phineas agreed, ¡°I have no choice but to surrender.¡±


    ¡°Aww, at least let me attack you,¡± Meleko''s face broke into a grin, an excited and predatory look on his face, ¡°You''ve folded these past two games.¡±


    The Deep One considered the request, ¡°Very well.¡±


    ¡°Haha!¡± Meleko said, ¡°Alright, my Kastrophob attacks directly for... 1300 damage. That''s game, Phineas.¡±


    ¡°I have lost.¡±


    Meleko began collecting the cards from his side of the table, shuffling his deck, ¡°Y''know, I never actually played Myth Battle before. Only saw the sets coming out.¡±


    ¡°You did not play before?¡±


    ¡°Naw, just read up on the lore of each god, and all that,¡± Meleko finished shuffling, putting his deck back onto the table.


    ¡°You could have played with me,¡± Phineas said, ¡°It would have been simple.¡±


    ¡°You never went outside your room,¡± Meleko said.


    ¡°I do go outside of my room,¡± Phineas objected, ¡°For meals, and to walk around the garden.¡±


    ¡°You didn''t start walking in the gardens ''til that Joseph guy showed up,¡± Meleko reminded.


    Phineas''s glass orb eyes shifted down to stare at the table, ¡°That... that is true.¡±


    ¡°Quite so, Mr. Phineas,¡± Becenti said from the front of the ship, ¡°Mr. Zheng has had quite the effect on you.¡±


    The Deep One didn''t answer, though Meleko saw a strange look in Phineas''s eye.


    ¡°Another game?¡± he rasped.


    ¡°Sure,¡± Meleko said, ¡°Another game.¡±


    ¡°Good. I will not go easy on you this time. I have lost enough.¡±


    ¡°Sounds good,¡± Meleko said, ¡°Wait, you were going easy on me?¡±


    The next few days passed as the Titania Amber continued on her way through warp. They all played out the same ¨C Meleko and Phineas played a few games of Myth Battle, Becenti read through a veritable library of books, the ship''s hum ambled on.


    Finally, on the third day, Meleko looked up at the pilot''s seat, where Becenti had situated himself, ¡°So, uh, where we headed?¡±


    ¡°Should be there in another day or so,¡± Becenti answered.


    ¡°Yes, but where?¡±


    Becenti put his book down, turning to face Meleko and Phineas, ¡°Well, I suppose this is as good a time as any. We are heading towards an uncharted world.¡±


    ¡°I was not informed this was an exploration mission,¡± Phineas rasped.


    ¡°Because it''s not,¡± Becenti said, ¡°The planet that is our destination has been removed from any and all Federation databases. By all accounts, it does not exist.¡±


    ¡°Why are we heading there, then?¡± Meleko asked, ¡°Because it doesn''t sound like we''re stopping for drinks.¡±


    ¡°It''s a prison,¡± Becenti said bluntly, ¡°And I''m going to have to ask you to not mention anything about this place to anyone, ever.¡±


    Phineas and Meleko looked at one another.


    ¡°Rrright,¡± Meleko said, ¡°Super secret prison. Definitely not what I signed up for. But alright, I''m game. Phin?¡±


    ¡°I have no objections. I dislike exploration jobs anyways.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Phineas,¡± Becenti said, ¡°You''re part of the expedition to the dead plane.¡±


    ¡°Yes, but I did not say I would enjoy it.¡±


    ¡°Then why are you even going?¡± Meleko asked.


    ¡°''In exploration, new meanings made,''¡± Phineas quoted, ¡°Perhaps I will like exploration after this expedition.¡±


    ¡°A healthy reasoning, Mr. Phineas,¡± Becenti said.


    ***


    The planet below, as they warped into view, was a cold world. A ball of snow and ice, it shone as a bright blight in the endless void of space. Hurricane-sized blizzards roiled across its surface, twists of gray and white that could be seen from space as the Titania Amber began descending down towards the planet.


    ¡°I did not bring a coat,¡± Phineas said.


    ¡°Apologies, Mr. Phineas,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I should have warned you where we were going.¡±


    ¡°It is quite alright,¡± Phineas said, ¡°I will shiver in silence.¡±


    Meleko had gotten into the seat beside Becenti''s, and he took a look through the scanners, ¡°Hey boss, another ship''s just warped into view.¡±


    His four eyes squinted at the console''s readings, ¡°Suzerain-class,¡± he added with some concern.


    ¡°That would be our escort,¡± Becenti said.


    Meleko looked over at Becenti, ¡°Our escort?¡±


    Notification for a hail appeared onscreen. Becenti clicked it, and two faces appeared. The first was a Lobidian ¨C human-like, with a ridge of scales lining his forehead and strapping down around his pale face and to his chin, a pitch-black ponytail riding above a bald head, eyes like those of a tiger''s and a beak-like nose. He was wearing a formal military uniform ¨C white robes and a kaledosteel breastplate.


    ¡°Kris Kristandi,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Been awhile.¡±


    ¡°Same with you, Myron,¡± Kristandi said.


    Beside Kristandi was a figure fully enraptured in combat armor, a mech unit miniaturized to fit around the body like a second skin. Her helmet''s large visor was opaque, but Becenti recognized its signature blocky design.


    She was what he had once been.


    A superhero, from Prime.


    ¡°Hello, Acero,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Shimmer,¡± she responded.


    ¡°Just Becenti is fine. Myron, actually.¡±


    ¡°Very well,¡± Acero''s voice was ever so slightly accented, ¡°I''m glad to finally meet you.¡±


    Meleko glanced down at the console. More readings were showing up ¨C signatures of other Suzerain-class vessels that had been obscured by something in the blizzards far below. Yet more and more were now showing up...


    ¡°You''ll want to come onboard the De''aza,¡± Kristandi said, ¡°Your little mom ''n'' pop isn''t going to be able to withstand the storms on Avro.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Becenti said.


    Avro? Meleko¡¯s four brows furrowed.


    Where had Becenti taken them?


    But neither Meleko nor Phineas asked their questions aloud. Becenti piloted the Titania Amber towards the Suzerain. She was a true warbird ¨C not like the small defense vessels back on Everlasting Truth. Two miles in length, her hull had a slight arch, with twin wings stretching out to either side like a crescent moon. Her bow notably curved upwards like a rhino''s horn, and she was pure white, the symbol of the High Federation painted on her side along with the words, in High Speech, HFS De''aza¡¯s Glory in the Umber-Hued Dawn. Small lines carved through her hull, and she was bristling with anti-ship cannons and glassmakers.


    They landed in Hangar 56, which was filled with a legion of fighters, settling down and wheezing to a standstill. Acero and Kristandi were waiting for them. Acero stood stoic and polite, while the Lobidian strode forward to shake Becenti''s hand.


    ¡°Thanks for coming out here,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Anything for an old friend,¡± Kristandi said, ¡°Besides, it''s always good to show Prime the might of the Federation.¡±


    ¡°Yes...¡± Becenti ignored the obvious jab, looking over at Acero, gauging her. She was tall ¨C though perhaps that was because of her armor. It rippled occasionally, making small adjustments to itself. The tell-tale sign of nanomachines, most likely. That meant this Acero was using advanced technology and-


    ¡°And quite a bit of weaponry beside that,¡± she said.


    ¡°You were in my mind,¡± Becenti noted.


    ¡°Sorry. A force of habit.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Becenti shrugged. He decided to ignore her obvious intrusion, ¡°Now, let''s get to the surface.¡±


    ¡°You have two more with you,¡± Kristandi said, ¡°They with you?¡±


    ¡°The Deep One is for opening up part of the prison,¡± Becenti said, ¡°The Jugdran is for my own safety.¡±


    ¡°Smart,¡± Kristandi said. He began guiding them towards the hallway. Acero turned to look down at Becenti.


    ¡°Safety?¡± she said, a hint of amusement in her voice, ¡°From me?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Becenti said, pointing at the Federation guards posted by the Titania, ¡°From them.¡±


    ¡°Ah. Smart, indeed.¡±


    The De''aza began her descent into the blizzard of Avro as they made their way to an observation platform. She went from the cold of space to the burning fire of the upper atmosphere, the world painted a bright orange, and then back into the cold as the sky became blue and the earth became diamond-white. A stormwall of snow blotted out the horizon. Spires and mountains of ice jutted from the earth.


    ¡°We''ll be taking a few shuttles down,¡± Kristandi explained, ¡°Nothing too major. Next major storm is scheduled to arrive sometime tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°We''ll be long gone by then,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Indeed, just a quick check, right?¡± Kristandi said.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Do you think he could actually have gotten out?¡± Acero asked, ¡°I understand this was a bit before my time, but this prison seems... rather secure.¡±


    ¡°It''s not a matter of if than when,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Why not just kill him?¡± Acero said.


    ¡°We couldn''t,¡± Becenti answered bluntly.


    He turned to Phineas, ¡°Right, you have your book, Mr. Phineas?¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±


    ¡°Good. I want you to open it up to page 723, if you will. There is a binding spell there ¨C one that has already been inlaid in the valley below. You should be able to piggyback off of it and open the front door of the prison.¡±


    ¡°Very well,¡± Phineas unslung the great book from his bag, laying it on the ground and opening it up to the page. He blinked for a few moments, his raspy voice muttering the dark language engraved in the paper. The room darkened for a few moments as he read.


    ¡°This magic,¡± he said, ¡°It feels familiar.¡±


    ¡°Familiar?¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Those who speak the Tongue of Kwe''z''en,¡± Phineas said, ¡°They¡­ have specific signatures, a... recognition. Like how each person has their own unique voice.¡±


    ¡°Kwe''z''en,¡± Acero said, ¡°The Bitch of Chains.¡±


    ¡°The very same,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Tell me, Mr. Phineas. Do you recognize who spoke forth this prison?¡±


    Phineas stopped chanting. A shiver ran up the Deep One''s spine.


    ¡°Arcadia,¡± he whispered, ¡°Arcadia is the one who made this place.¡±


    ¡°That''s...¡± Acero said, ¡°He was lost on the Round Table, during the Fifth Battle for Prime, yes?¡±


    ¡°He disappeared. That''s all we know,¡± Becenti answered.


    ¡°I will need to finish this spell on the ground,¡± Phineas said.


    ¡°That''s our cue, then,¡± Kristandi said, ¡°To the shuttle.¡±


    They donned atmospheric suits and exited. The suits were gel-like at first, then hardened around the body. A versatile technology for any shape a sapient being might take. Acero needed none of that as she flew beside the shuttle, escorting it down to the surface of Avro. Meleko glanced out at one of the observation cameras to see a great, purple symbol made of light had appeared down in the valley below. It covered a vast place, stretching outwards towards the imagined horizon, the top of the circle disappearing into the storm beyond. The symbol itself was... watery. Difficult to make out.


    ¡°Do not stare at it, Meleko,¡± Phineas warned, ¡°It cannot be comprehended by eyes like yours.¡±


    ¡°Right on, Phin,¡± a new thrill of fear shuddered in Meleko''s throat, ¡°Remind me not to piss you off.¡±


    The shuttle landed, opening up into the bitter cold, the atmospheric suits protecting them well enough from the worst parts of the harsh chills. Phineas waddled out, putting his book onto the ground, chanting a few more words in the dark tongue.


    ¡°Careful,¡± Acero said, ¡°Kwe''z''en is starting to take notice.¡±


    Becenti glanced over at her. Acero was looking upwards, and though he couldn''t see her face he could feel her presence in his mind ¨C actively searching for any activity in the realms beyond the Silver Eye.


    ¡°You''re the new Seer, aren''t you?¡± he said.


    ¡°Correct,¡± Acero responded, ¡°To protect Prime. But my duties as a superhero extend far from my home.¡±


    The ground shook. Ice began to break apart, cracking and shattering. The symbol wavered for a brief moment, then began to intensify, blinding them as it rivaled the distant sun. Then, the ice began re-assembling itself, crystal spikes arraying themselves into a rough stairway that yawned into the darkness below.


    ¡°Mr. Phineas, Mr. Kron, stay up here,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Same with you,¡± Kristandi said to his guards, ¡°It''s sensitive material down there.¡±


    The soldiers saluted. Meleko looked at Becenti.


    ¡°You''re sure you''ll be alright?¡± he asked.


    ¡°I assure you, Mr. Kron, I am safe enough.¡±


    And without another word, he was first to start walking down the stairs, ignoring the inherent slipperiness as he walked. Kristandi himself slipped for a brief moment, caught by Acero.


    ¡°Smooth,¡± she said.


    The journey downwards took several hours as they went. The spell wrought from the spine of Kwe''z''en continued ahead of them, assembling earth and ice into a latticework of walls and stairways that spiraled deeper and deeper into Avro. Eventually, it opened up into a large cavern. It was natural, with pillars of ice supporting a roof with sharpened icicles hanging above. Becenti stopped them here, raising up a hand. He removed his helmet, laying it down on the ground beside him.


    ¡°Breathable air,¡± Acero noted.


    ¡°From the jinn imprisoned here,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Isn''t that right, Windwalker?¡±


    Silence. And then the air began swirling. It took on a physical nature to it, curving and coiling into a physical form that began filling in with color. Bland cream robes, a turban atop the jinn''s head, a sharp face with a sharp mustache and a sharp beard jutting from the chin. Windwalker floated down gently, feet never quite touching the ground.


    ¡°Shimmer,¡± his voice was deep and rich, ¡°You come at an unexpected time.¡±


    ¡°I do,¡± Becenti agreed, ¡°Please, call me Becenti.¡±


    ¡°Very well, Shimmer,¡± Windwalker said, ¡°What can I help you with?¡±


    ¡°I wish for you to be our protector here,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Act on our behalf with the other guardians.¡±


    ¡°And the payment?¡±


    Becenti took out a small, golden ring. Windwalker''s expression dimmed.


    ¡°I will not be imprisoned again, Shimmer.¡±


    ¡°You misunderstand. I am giving it to you for your own uses.¡±


    Becenti did not mention that Windwalker was imprisoned anyways, far below the earth, but he chose not to bring that up. A curious eyebrow twinge from Windwalker was enough. The jinn took hold of the ring, considering it for a brief moment, then he tucked it beneath his robes.


    ¡°Very well,¡± he said, ¡°So that you are not accosted by the other denizens and guardians of this place, I will act on your behalf.¡± His physical form disappeared as he blew away like a summer breeze.


    ¡°Nice guy,¡± Acero said.


    Becenti ignored her comment. They continued going further into the prison, crossing the natural cavern, the magic of Kwe''z''en paving the way. What had been earth and ice carved itself into something vaguely civilized ¨C or as much civilization as a prison brought. The way became darker and darker, whatever natural illumination shining from the walls of ice disappearing. Lights from Acero''s suit clicked on, twin beams cutting through the half-shadows and lighting the way for the rest of the group.


    ¡°Almost there, now,¡± Kristandi said. He, too, had taken off his helmet, and his breath came out as a cloud in front of him, ¡°Now, if you''ll all stand back.¡±


    Acero''s light guiding his hand, the Lobidian stepped forward, taking off a glove and pressing his bare, scaled hand against a flat part of the ice. A hand-scanner appeared around it, green lines waving across the palm.


    ¡°I am Kris Kristandi,¡± he announced, ¡°Right hand of Olendris Valm. I have his writ of passage here.¡±


    He produced a small, golden ball from his robes. The ball opened up, and the too-calm voice of Valm began speaking in High Speech. Becenti suppressed a shudder. It had been a long time since he had heard the Prime Voice. Valm''s cadence didn''t seem to have changed a bit ¨C still painfully sincere, yet with all the barbed venom of a politician with a career spanning over two centuries.


    The ice before them cracked and rearranged itself, opening up into one final cavern. The light had returned here ¨C but it was not from the natural lights from the ice. That had been blue ¨C glow-worms that festered by the billions, eating their way through the cold.


    No, this light was a deep, glorious orange, produced by the massive pillar of amber in the center of the vast, coliseum-sized cavern. It had been a natural thing, taken from some distant plane, jagged and broken by nature, a tower of sap harvested from an apparent world tree.


    Yet it did not glow by its nature alone, but by its prisoner. He floated there, suspended in the amber. His eyes still shone like twin stars, glaring down at the cavern below.


    ¡°Is he awake?¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°We''re not sure,¡± Kristandi replied.


    ¡°I''m putting some feelers out,¡± Acero said.


    ¡°Be careful,¡± Becenti said, ¡°He''s broken psychics before.¡±


    ¡°I read the file,¡± Acero dismissed, ¡°Though, it''s like trying to push back against a wall... I''m not making any purchase.¡±


    ¡°Best you get out, then,¡± Becenti said. He looked up at the figure, ¡°I''m just glad he''s here.¡±


    ¡°If he got out, we''d know,¡± Kristandi said, ¡°The entirety of the 700th is guarding him.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Becenti said, ¡°But you''ve heard whispers, haven''t you?¡±


    Kristandi was quiet. He looked up at the prisoner, then turned to leave.


    ¡°We don''t know if he can hear us,¡± he warned, ¡°Best we talk elsewhere.¡±


    ¡°Aye.¡±


    They walked back through the door. Kwe''z''en''s magic began to recede, the door converting back to natural ice, the passage swallowed up by earth as they ascended up to the surface. They talked as they walked.


    ¡°Nothing too major,¡± Kristandi said, then, after a moment, he added, ¡°Yet, of course. Sensors on a hundred Listening Worlds picked up a few palpitations. A couple pirate groups are starting to coalesce. Nothing out of the ordinary.¡±


    ¡°Except?¡± Becenti prodded.


    Kristandi heaved a great sigh, cold breath welling around him, ¡°Well, there have been rumors that someone''s been supplying them. Someone off-plane.¡±


    ¡°Agrippa?¡±


    ¡°I wouldn''t put it past him,¡± Kristandi muttered, ¡°Like father, like son.¡±


    ¡°There is another thing,¡± Acero said, ¡°I don''t think you''ll like it.¡±


    Becenti stopped, looking up at her.


    ¡°The Irregulars and I, we had an encounter in Seattle about a month ago,¡± Acero said, ¡°We think it was Dakos.¡±


    The color drained from Becenti''s face. His hands shook slightly as he took a deep breath, ¡°Then it''s begun again?¡±


    ¡°We''re still not sure if it was him,¡± Acero said, ¡°But we''re-¡±


    ¡°Reasonably sure,¡± Becenti began walking forward. He slipped his helmet back on, the light whine of the suit''s atmosphere crying through the cavern, ¡°I''ve fought gods on ''reasonably sure.''¡±


    ***


    Far above, on the surface of Avro, Phineas''s spell blinked, his eyes clouded over by the magic of Kwe''z''en, the Bitch of Chains. He had piggy-backed off of Arcadia''s spell, part of his conscious circuiting along the leylines and oaths that had been uttered long ago. Becenti''s outburst a few days before had unsettled the Deep One. That, as well as the fact that Arcadia had even been here meant that there was something down there, something bigger than Becenti was letting on.


    So Phineas had worked his magic. His ears were the cavern''s ears, his eyes were the cavern''s eyes. He was shaking, and not from the cold.


    ¡°What do ya hear, Phin?¡± Meleko asked.


    ¡°Dark things,¡± Phineas rasped, ¡°Very dark things.¡±

 24. Fetch Quest

    The month leading up to the expedition was a time of preparation and research. The entirety of Castle Belenus kicked itself into high gear preparing gear, working on spellwork, repairing and re-repairing equipment, and generally keeping busy. With a full contingent of 20 members of the guild going into the dead plane, combined with the fact that the client of the expedition herself would be attending ¨C as well as staying in Castle Belenus for the few days leading up to the planeshift ¨C this meant that the entire guild was at work.


    Becenti announced the 20 guildmates early in the morning. Almost the entire guild crowded the Great Hall as he walked in, escorted by Whiskey, the great puppet holding a crate that he put on the ground for the older man to stand on. What had been a busy morning ¨C or, as busy as placing bets on an arm-wrestling match between Heyma and Broon could be ¨C became tense and quiet, a few hushed whispers emanating from the crowd here and there. Becenti was in his usual dress ¨C business suit and all ¨C and he had in his hand a small scroll that he began unraveling, looking very much like a salesman who had taken the town crier''s job.


    ¡°Alright, settle down, now,¡± his voice was calm and assertive. He did not so much shout as his voice carried in the hall, ¡°Wakeling and I have been hard at work deciding each and every member of the guild-¡±


    ¡°I hope it''s me!¡± someone called out from the crowd.


    ¡°Silence, Lazuli,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Yeah, Lazuli,¡± a high-pitched voice yelled, ¡°Shut the f-¡±


    ¡°Ms. Rosemary,¡± Becenti commanded.


    Rosemary, who was next to Joseph, blushed a bit and quieted down, playing with the hem of her cloak.


    ¡°Now,¡± Becenti said, ¡°It has been quite a while since the Amber Foundation was hired for an expedition job. Our choices were based on the abilities represented, the knowledge pool of the guildmember in general, and generally how Wakeling was feeling at the time.¡±


    ¡°As is the norm,¡± Ichabod whispered to Contort.


    ¡°However,¡± Becenti said, shooting an annoyed glance at Ichabod, ¡°Just because you are chosen does not mean we think less of you. The number of members of the expedition was chosen by the client. I''m not about to say that 80% of our guild is useless.¡±


    ¡°Despite how true that may be,¡± Mallory said.


    Becenti rolled his eyes, ¡°I would be careful what you say, Ms. Freemason. That''s 80% of the guild you just pissed off.¡±


    ¡°I can take ''em,¡± Mallory said with a shrug.


    ¡°Moving along,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Just because you''re not chosen for the expedition does not mean you''ll be getting vacations.¡±


    An evil glint was in the older man''s eyes.


    ¡°Oh no,¡± he continued, ¡°We have quite a few chores set up that will need multiple members. Krem to feed, stalls to clean, pipes to plumb. Now, both Wakeling and I will be on the expedition, so we''re leaving the general day-to-day operations of the guild to Mekke."


    He nodded to the warrior, who shouted, ¡°You hear that?! That means we''re going to whip ourselves into shape! When I''m done with you, we''ll be the most efficient guild in the multiverse.¡±


    ¡°I pray I can go on the expedition,¡± Phineas rasped to Joseph.


    ¡°I thought Becenti said you were already in,¡± Joseph chuckled.


    ¡°Yes, but what if he was joking, or meant another Phineas?¡± the Deep One scratched at his arm nervously, ¡°These thoughts, they keep me up at night¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh, get on with it!¡± Meleko shouted, ¡°Come on, we wanna know whose on the job and who has to mop the floors for a month.¡±


    A chorus of shouts agreed with the Jugdran. Becenti let out a deep sigh from the fourth interruption of the day. Joseph crossed his arms.


    ¡°Admit it, Becenti, we''re why you day drink,¡± he said.


    ¡°One shot for each member of the guild, Mr. Zheng,¡± Becenti said, prompting a ripple of laughter in the hall. The older man hid his smile as he said, ¡°Alright, the will of the people is laid bare. Who am I to deny them?¡±


    ¡°We have the guillotine and everything!¡±


    ¡°That was supposed to have been destroyed, Ms. Rosemary,¡± Becenti said. The laughter continued, ceasing only when Becenti unfurled the scroll in his hand. He began to read from it.


    ¡°The leading members of the expedition,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Vyde Wakeling, myself, Broon Wildarm, Nash Rhide.¡±


    ¡°Knew you''d make it, Broon,¡± Rosemary slapped the half-orc''s arm. Broon gave a satisfied smile in return.


    ¡°Who¡¯s Nash?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°One of our Far Travelers,¡± Broon replied, ¡°They''re out right now.¡±


    ¡°Very kind. Very smart,¡± Phineas said, ¡°They also are vegetarian.¡±


    ¡°Now,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Our initial explorations will be broken up into teams, each led by one of the four I have just presented. Wakeling''s team will be composed of Whiskey, Barbara, Meleko, and Heyma.¡±


    ¡°Oh, how exciting!¡± Heyma said.


    ¡°Broon''s team,¡± Becenti continued, ¡°Will be composed of Calacious Nine, Dama Runebreaker, Nova, and Contort.¡±


    ¡°Hell yeah,¡± Contort said, ¡°No mops for a month.¡±


    Dama Runebreaker let out a shout of victory, pumping her fist in the air. Joseph had only seen the dwarf a few times before, crossing the hallways in-between chores. Next to her was Nova, what Rosemary had described as Neon Elemental. Cyan painted, Nova was a large lump of light that floated like a cloud, with four beetle-black eyes floating in the mass of plasma.


    He was also the resident master poet, though Joseph hadn''t gotten a chance to read his work yet.


    ¡°My own team will be composed of Archenround, Mallory, Ichabod, and Ezel.¡±


    Joseph raised an eyebrow at the older man. Becenti met his gaze, though his face was inscrutable. Hadn''t he wanted Joseph to be on the expedition? Joseph had assumed that, had he been chosen, he would have been in Becenti''s group. Was he not¡­


    Was he not in the running?


    ¡°The last team, led by Nash, will be composed of Rosemary, Joseph, Phineas, and Gluh.¡±


    ¡°YES!¡± Rosemary screamed. The entire crowd turned inwards to stare at her. Rosemary''s face became the same shade of her cloak, and she wrapped herself in it and said, ¡°Uh, I mean, cool.¡±


    ¡°I made it in,¡± Phineas said.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Congrats.¡±


    He looked down at the Deep One and said, ¡°You''re... happy, right?¡±


    ¡°I am...¡± Phineas''s webbed hand went up to scratch the side of his neck, a few small scales glittering to the floor, ¡°Ambivalent? I dislike adventuring.¡±


    ¡°But you want to go anyway.¡±


    ¡°I have never been to a dead plane.¡±


    ¡°Alright!¡± Becenti said, ¡°That''s the list. Return to your jobs, as usual, though everyone in the guild will be pitching in the for the expedition ¨C going to gather supplies, meet with a few contractors here and there, the usual. Ichabod, Contort, Ezel, please stay here. The rest of you are dismissed.¡±


    A few rumbling complaints echoed from the hall as the rest of the guild began seeing their way out. Joseph looked over at Becenti, giving him a quizzical look. Becenti simply shook his head.


    Later, that meant. Joseph nodded. If Becenti wanted to talk to him about it, now was not a good time. Already he could see Contort crossing his arms and talking to the right hand about logistics.


    ¡°Hey, Joseph,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Mallory and I are heading into town to pick up some supplies. You in?¡±


    ¡°Nah,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I have research I need to get done.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Well, tell us what you want from the bakery.¡±


    ¡°The strawberry loaf, I guess.¡±


    ¡°Alright!¡± Rosemary gave him a smile, before she and Mallory began heading out the door. A few other guild members passed him by as he walked up towards the library, offering their congratulations. Joseph felt good as he walked into the library, making his way to the ''History of the Multiverse'' section and taking out a few books.


    ***


    More and more would Joseph find himself spending his time at the library as the month went on. No jobs had been assigned to him ¨C save for the occasional accompaniment to pick up supplies for the expedition. As such, he decided that, if he was going to get back to Earth, he''d need to actually do the research necessary to find a way home.


    Not that he didn''t enjoy the Amber Foundation, he thought one day. No, he was beginning to like all of them. Phineas helped him with his research occasionally ¨C as did Becenti when he wasn''t busy. Broon would regale him with stories on the history of Londoa late at night, the half-orc himself working on studies of his own.


    ¡°The history of half-orcs on Londoa,¡± he said one night to Joseph''s question.


    ¡°A history of half-orcs?¡±


    ¡°We''re everywhere,¡± Broon said, ¡°An entire subpopulation built up from orcs.... ah...¡±


    ¡°Doing it,¡± Joseph suggested.


    ¡°Aye, ''doing it,'' with humans, or elves, I''ve heard of a few gnome-orcs out there. Most of us stay in Salthirn nowadays, but there''s quite a few on Darkheld Landmass, for example.¡±


    ¡°I don''t really see many humans out here,¡± Joseph noted, ¡°At least, not here in Scuttleway.¡±


    ¡°They''re recent arrivals,¡± Broon said, ¡°Humans aren''t native to Londoa. They only started coming here when Londoa was opened to the multiverse.¡±


    ¡°And how long ago was that?¡±


    ¡°Oh...¡± Broon put his book down, scratching his chin, ¡°Three years ago? Two hundred? Not long, compared to other planes.¡±


    ¡°And they''re already getting their game on,¡± Joseph chuckled.


    Broon let out a gruff laugh, ¡°Rule number one of humans, lad. They''ll get it on with just about anything. Half-human hybrids are everywhere nowadays. Half-elves, Half-Eln, half-gnomes, satyrs...¡±


    ¡°Sounds about right,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Wait, satyrs?¡±


    ***


    He started his research on the history of the multiverse, but on suggestion of Becenti, began shifting gears towards the history of Epochia.


    ¡°Metahuman history often coincides and runs parallel to the history of the multiverse,¡± Becenti said, ¡°And it''s good to know your roots. Perhaps you''ll find something there.¡±


    He was pushing him more and more into the direction of metahumanity, Joseph noticed. He wasn''t sure how to react to it. Then again, he wasn''t sure how he''d react to anything if he got home.


    When he got home. He had to keep reminding himself of that. That was the goal. That was why he was still with the guild. Yet when Joseph cast his glance out towards the open door of the library to hear the laughing voices of the guild, when late at night when Phineas, or Rosemary, or Broon would visit him and help him with his studies, he felt an odd pang, a feeling he couldn''t identify. It made him feel uncomfortable. Trapped, even.


    And yet he could not help but feel a sense of shocked sorrow when he opened up one of the books one day and his eyes fell on the coffin.


    It was the same design, down to the very eyes of the dragon clenched in the sarcophagus''s arm, painstakingly sketched in sharp detail. Notes in a language Joseph didn''t recognize pointed out specific parts of the coffin, and the other page was covered in notes and observations. Joseph turned the cover over. It was an old book Becenti had lent him ¨C a diary from some explorer or other. Parts of it had been translated into English by Becenti, yet much of it was still in the fevered, scratched language of the diary''s original owner.


    Joseph closed up the book. He would need to ask Becenti about the author ¨C and the sarcophagus. It couldn''t be a coincidence that the same sarcophagus was in Nai Nai''s basement. A trophy from her time as a Far Traveler. He intercepted Whiskey as the great puppet carried a crate downstairs from a dock on the top of Castle Belenus.


    ¡°You seen Becenti at all?¡± he asked.


    Whiskey gave a shrug, before pointing up. In his office, then, or Wakeling''s. Joseph continued his way upstairs. He was getting used to the endless climbing ¨C some of his chores entailed cleaning the upper levels of the guildhall ¨C and soon found himself at the closed door of Becenti''s office. Becenti, however, had put up a sign on the door.


    ¡°Off-plane,¡± Joseph read, ¡°Not expected for another three days.¡±


    With a frustrated sigh, he turned to start going up the next flight of stairs towards Wakeling''s study. Then he noticed someone lying at his feet.


    Chadwick. A shiver ran up Joseph''s spine. More and more, he was starting to not like the cat as Chadwick stretched, claws opening up and lightly grazing his shoes as he gave Joseph an amused look. For all intents and purposes, he seemed like a regular cat. Who could talk. Who was an asshole (but what cat wasn¡¯t?) Whose shadow was far larger than his frame and, Joseph noticed, sometimes winged.


    ¡°Something I can help you out with, Chad?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Chadwick, please,¡± the cat said, ¡°If I am to have such a ridiculous name, you might as well say it in full.¡±


    Joseph began stepping over the calico, who let out a lazy paw, a single claw extending out of a toe and catching onto the back of Joseph''s pant leg. He allowed himself to be dragged for a few moments before Joseph turned and glared at him.


    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.


    ¡°Something I can help you with, Chadwick?¡±


    ¡°That diary,¡± Chadwick said, ¡°It belonged to Lord Iresine.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s eyes narrowed, looking at the journal before turning his gaze back to Chadwick.


    ¡°Yes, indeed,¡± Chadwick said, ¡°A metahuman of some renown, back on his adopted plane. An explorer, too, you see...¡±


    The amusement dancing in his emerald eyes grew merrier, but he didn''t say anything more. Joseph relented.


    ¡°What do you want?¡± he asked, rolling his eyes.


    ¡°Yes, as it so happens, I have recently been in competition with dear Barbara over our shipment of spiced milk from Cherryfair,¡± Chadwick said.


    ¡°Barbara?¡± Joseph felt uneasy. The great toucan wasn''t one to be trifled with. Even Becenti avoided her rage at times, ¡°Spiced milk?¡±


    ¡°Yes, she recently found a taste for it. Great minds think alike, after all,¡± the cat winked and licked his paw, ¡°However, that also means she found my supply.¡±


    ¡°The great Chadwick, robbed?¡± Joseph snarked.


    ¡°Robbed, bamboozled, mugged like a peasant on the street,¡± Chadwick mewled, ¡°It''s a rather pathetic image, isn''t it?¡±


    The sight of the cat as he lifted himself up to lick his stomach and crotch, paw still desperately latched onto Joseph''s pants to support himself, was burned into the metahuman''s mind.


    ¡°So if I get you your damn milk back, you''ll tell me more of this... Lord Iresine?¡±


    ¡°And what that silly little sarcophagus is all about,¡± Chadwick purred, ¡°Is that a fair deal?¡±


    Joseph thought about it. Three days, he reasoned, wasn''t actually as bad as he realized. He could easily wait for Becenti to return and ask him about Lord Iresine then. However, as Joseph glanced down to the floor of the main hall, where a small company of trolls were helping Broon, Heyma, and a few other guildmates carry barrels of dried meats into the storage room, he realized there was a good chance that Becenti would be too busy. More and more, the right hand of the guild was off-plane, or on some other landmass.


    ¡°Alright,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I''ll get your milk. Then you spill the details. All of them.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Chadwick said. In a flash, he had clambered up to Joseph and pushed himself off, using his chest as a springboard, landing on the cross-guard of the glass blade in the center of the Great Hall. He bounded down it and towards the front entrance, weaving through the trolls'' legs.


    ¡°Great,¡± Joseph said, ¡°What have I got myself into?¡±


    ***


    He spent most of the afternoon thinking about what to do, going into the library to maintain the illusion of his research, his eyes scanning each shelf almost absentmindedly. Barbara took attention.


    ¡°Trouble finding a book?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Ah,¡± Joseph searched for an excuse, ¡°Yeah, actually, I was wondering if you knew what this was.¡±


    He walked over to where she had perched herself on the desk, opening up Lord Iresine''s journal and flipping it to the page with the golden sarcophagus. Her blue-bead eyes narrowed at the sight of the book, which Joseph had learned wasn''t so much a sign of aggression as it was the fact that, even with her glasses on, her eyesight was poor. A twinge of guilt stabbed at him. He didn''t want to compromise what little friendship he had made with the toucan.


    ¡°Mmm,¡± she said, ¡°I''m afraid I do not recognize it. Have you talked to Myron?¡±


    ¡°Becenti''s out,¡± Joseph replied, ¡°And Wakeling''s too busy these days.¡±


    ¡°Mmhmm,¡± she brought up a claw and adjusted the glasses on her beak. Joseph''s eyes searched around to see if there was any store of milk anywhere. Would it be in a crate? A jug?


    ¡°Well now, if you''re just going to stand there, you might as well help me,¡± Barbara said.


    ¡°Help you?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Yes, help me,¡± Barbara rolled her eyes, ¡°As you know, I have a reputation to keep up here in the guild as aloof and unapproachable.¡±


    Joseph cracked a small smile, ¡°Despite evidence of the contrary.¡±


    She slapped him with her wing playfully, ¡°Oh, hush now. However, I have a rather... awkward situation with which I need your assistance.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±


    ¡°A book of mine was borrowed by Mekke,¡± Barbara said, ¡°Combat Theory in a Post-Multiverse World.¡±


    ¡°And you want it back?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Yes, now be a dear and get it for me. It''s been several months since she''s returned it, and Mekke has always returned books on time.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± an idea began forming in Joseph''s head. Perhaps he didn''t have to dance with guilt, ¡°Tell you what: I''ll give you a deal.¡±


    Barbara turned her beak towards him, a signal equivalent to a raised eyebrow, ¡°Oh?¡±


    ¡°You really want that book back?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Indeed. I need to lend it to a colleague of mine in Angelus.¡±


    ¡°How important is this¡­ book of yours?¡± Joseph leaned down on the desk.


    ¡°Joseph, dear,¡± Barbara''s voice had an amused, if dangerous tone, ¡°Are you suggesting... a trade?¡±


    ¡°Well, you said it yourself,¡± Joseph reasoned, ¡°You have your reputation to keep up as aloof. And it''s not very aloof of you to fly all over the guildhall to find Mekke about an overdue library book.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Barbara said.


    ¡°And I actually need something from you,¡± Joseph said, ¡°That shipment of spiced milk.¡±


    ¡°Why do you need it?¡± Barbara said, ¡°Is it for that rat-like cat, Chadwick?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± the lie slipped easily off of his tongue, ¡°It''s for Rosemary. She likes spiced milk.¡±


    ¡°Rosemary.¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°Ms. Rosemary is lactose intolerant,¡± Barbara said.


    Internally, Joseph winced. Mind racing, he changed the story, weaving another fib.


    ¡°Alright, I was lying,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Broon, you know him?¡±


    ¡°Everyone in the guild knows Broon, you fop,¡± Barbara said.


    ¡°Yeah, turns out he''s... actually got a taste for spiced milk,¡± Joseph leaned further in, ¡°Don''t tell anyone.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡± Barbara looked surprised, ¡°I don''t remember him mentioning that to me.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, he''s, uh, keeping it on the down-low,¡± Joseph gave a conspiratorial (and a bit over-exaggerated) wink, ¡°So, I get you the book, you give me the milk. For Broon.¡±


    The great toucan thought it over for a few moments. Her beak began clacking quickly, a chittering clap that set Joseph on edge.


    ¡°Very well,¡± she decided, ¡°Get me that book back, and the spiced milk is yours.¡±


    ¡°Deal,¡± Joseph extended out a hand. Barbara shook it with a claw. As her long claws dug into the back of his hand, he suppressed a wince. He was playing a dangerous game, hiding the truth from her. Still, it was better than stealing.


    Journal in hand, Joseph began searching for Mekke. He started with the weapons room, looking inside to see Meleko and Phineas playing cards at the table. An unpolished sword stood unattended by a modern-looking assault rifle on the floor.


    ¡°Hey guys,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°''Ey, Joseph!¡± Meleko gave a smile, ¡°What can we help you with?¡±


    ¡°Looking for Mekke,¡± Joseph narrowed his eyes at the discarded weapons, ¡°What are you guys doing?¡±


    ¡°Upkeep on weaponry held by the guild,¡± Phineas answered, flipping a Faith card onto the table, ¡°But we are bored, so we are taking a break to play Myth Battle. I am winning because Meleko is bad at the game.¡±


    ¡°I take offense to that,¡± Meleko muttered, ¡°Sweet Glor, I win a few times against this guy, and he switches to his main deck and starts wiping the floor with me.¡±


    ¡°I have wiped the floors with you many times,¡± Phineas said, ¡°It was our chore last night, do you not remember?¡±


    The Jugdran rolled his eyes before turning back to Joseph, ¡°Mekke''s outside in the garden, I think. Talking with G-Wiz about something or other.¡±


    ¡°Got it,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Promise you won''t tell Mekke we''re slacking off?¡± Meleko asked.


    ¡°I didn''t see anything,¡± Joseph said. He closed the door and began making his way downstairs.


    Mekke, true to Meleko''s work, was outside in the garden. In her usual training spot by the fountain. G-Wiz was beside her ¨C she had changed her hair color again to a bright bubblegum pink, though the spiked tips were a solid ebony. It was a good look, all things considered.


    ¡°Ah, Joseph,¡± Mekke said, ¡°We were just talking about you.¡±


    Joseph crossed his arms as he approached, ¡°And?¡±


    ¡°We were talking about how your stance is off all the time, Noodle,¡± G-Wiz said.


    Back to the old nickname. Despite the jab, Joseph felt happy that G-Wiz was starting to recover, ¡°And?¡±


    Mekke Mekke glared at Joseph for a moment, before rolling her eyes, ¡°You''re becoming too reliant on that metapower of yours.¡±


    ¡°I''ve just been practicing it more,¡± Joseph countered, ¡°Look, actually, not what I''m here for. Mekke, Barbara needs her book back.¡±


    she turned and walked over to her bag that sat by the fountain''s base.


    ¡°Which one?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Ah,¡± Joseph thought back, ¡°Combat Theory in a Post-Multiverse World.¡±


    ¡°Light studying?¡± G-Wiz snickered.


    Mekke ignored that, ¡°Interesting times are afoot, I thought I¡¯d keep myself busy in case they come here.¡±


    She began to hand the book to Joseph, before thinking otherwise and pulling away. There was a dangerous idea glinting in her eyes.


    ¡°Oh no,¡± Joseph groaned.


    ¡°It comes to my thought that you rather need this book, Joseph,¡± Mekke said.


    ¡°Jesus, here we go,¡± Joseph rolled his eyes, ¡°What do you need?¡±


    ¡°Oh, on one of those errands, then,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°What do you mean, ''one of those''?¡±


    ¡°Happens sometimes,¡± G-Wiz replied, ¡°Errand for errand, trade for trade. You''re probably after something actually useful, but you have to trade up to get to it.¡±


    ¡°Well, yeah,¡± Joseph said, ¡°The book for milk, milk for, ah, secrets.¡±


    ¡°Secrets, indeed,¡± Mekke said, ¡°Well, you don''t seem very busy today if that''s all you''re done. And you didn''t exactly take my advice just now.¡±


    ¡°Petty,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Petty,¡± G-Wiz agreed.


    ¡°Joseph, if I''m going to give this book back to you, I need you to retrieve something for me,¡± Mekke said, ¡°Dama Runebreaker recently borrowed a weapon of some import to me. A sword. Vlaynian style. I need you to get it back.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Joseph said, ¡°And... where is she?¡±


    ¡°Should be in town,¡± Mekke said, ¡°G-Wiz, why don''t you guide him to her usual haunts. Make sure he doesn''t get mugged.¡±


    ¡°Right, boss,¡± G-Wiz looked at Joseph, ¡°Come on, Noodle. Don''t get your pants twisted.¡±


    She guided Joseph around the guildhall, going out onto the busy streets of Scuttleway. At this point, the Inner Sun was beginning to dim. This deterred no one, however, as the people of Scuttleway went about their daily lives, invigorated by the onset of dusk. With a turn, G-Wiz led Joseph down a side road, moving away from the markets and residential addresses and into a network of back alleys old, run-down buildings.


    ¡°Uh,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Where are we going?¡±


    ¡°Dama Runebreaker usually hangs out at a bar in the Slums district,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°The Horrid Welt, it''s called.¡±


    Based on how easily she moved from street to street, Joseph theorized that she and Nole had been frequent patrons of the bar as well. The city became quieter as they went down the sidestreets. A more dangerous air edged its way into the atmosphere. The people became poorer ¨C homeless men and women rested beside pockmarked, run-down buildings, staring at him with listless eyes. The usual Scuttleway Militia patrols disappeared entirely. Instead, they were taken over by the guards of the underworld ¨C shrouded in black cloaks, eyes that rested on Joseph for far longer than was necessary, the glint of steel just barely hidden beneath their tunics. A few were human. But the rest ¨C like much of Scuttleway ¨C were hobgoblins, or ogres, or elves, one of them was even a gnome.


    ¡°Not the nicest part of town,¡± Joseph commented.


    ¡°What, you thought the Slums district was going to be all sunshine and rainbows?¡± G-Wiz retorted, ¡°Please, Noodle. You''re too naive for your own good.¡±


    ¡°There were places like these in my hometown growing up,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I was told never to go there.¡±


    ¡°Well, did you?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Then be glad you''re with me, then,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°The folks down here know I''m from the guild. They don''t mess with us Amber Foundation.¡±


    ¡°Good to know.¡±


    The Horrid Welt was a mid-sized rectangular building, a bit cleaner than the rest of the Slums ¨C though that still wasn''t saying much, what with part of the wall having been recently repaired with dirty brown bricks that clashed with the dead gray of the rest of the structure. A tall gnome stood at the entrance of the Welt, glowering down at Joseph and G-Wiz. He wore a trenchcoat and swayed like a scarecrow in the wind. Joseph¡¯s eyes narrowed. He could make out eyes poking out the holes in the coat, though G-Wiz slapped him.


    ¡°Don''t mention that,¡± she said, before turning to the bouncer, ¡°Ho, Clytus.¡±


    ¡°G-Wiz,¡± Clytus''s voice sounded was a high-pitched whine, ¡°What brings you to our humble establishment?¡±


    ¡°Ah, cut the shit, Clytus,¡± G-Wiz laughed, ¡°Is Dama in there?¡±


    ¡°I might know, I might know,¡± Clytus piped.


    ¡°Not today, Clytus.¡±


    ¡°Oh, very well,¡± the gnome tipped forward a bit, before the gnomes that were obviously not beneath the trenchcoat righted him back up, ¡°Yes, she''s inside.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± G-Wiz gestured, ¡°Come on, Noodle.¡±


    The Horrid Welt was, true to its name, a blemish on society. The first thing, aside from the mass of bodies thronging the place to the point that the walls looked as though they were sagging forward, was the smell. Sweat and a lack of good hygiene mixed into a pervasive gas that Joseph could almost see over the heads of the Welt''s patrons. A bar stood at the back of the building, a calm foxfolk passing out frothing mugs of mude and ale to patrons. The center of the Welt was where most of the heads were turned towards. It was a boxing ring ¨C one that had been obviously salvaged from another plane, as it looked almost too modern compared to the rest of the city, the words ''World Boxing Federation'' written on each side in large letters. The entire crowd was riled up, cheering as two boxers squared off against one another. One was a hobgoblin ¨C cousins to the goblins, but larger and orange-scaled, this one was muscular and, Joseph noted, had a good stance. He was nursing a purpled eye, which was clenched shut after a tactical strike from his opponent, someone in modern combat gear with a helmet covering their face.


    ¡°WHERE''S DAMA?¡± Joseph shouted.


    ¡°THIS WAY!¡± G-Wiz''s voice was nearly lost in the chants of the crowd as the two boxers got into another altercation. A tornado of fists, and the hobgoblin broke away, a grimace on his face as he clutched his bare rib cage. G-Wiz pushed through the mess of bodies towards the bar. There sat Dama Runebreaker, laughing as she watched the match.


    ¡°DAMA!¡± G-Wiz roared.


    ¡°G!¡± Dama Runebreaker clapped her on the back. Joseph was surprised that G-Wiz wasn''t knocked off her feet. The dwarf was in full armor ¨C Joseph had never seen her out of it ¨C though she had taken off her scale gauntlets to hold her mug better. Her auburn hair was tied back in a ponytail, and there was a determined edge to her face that intimidated him. Her eyes settled on him.


    ¡°SO YOU''RE NOODLE!¡± she said, ¡°NICE TO PUT A FACE TO THE STORIES!¡±


    ¡°ALL BAD, I HOPE!¡± Joseph yelled.


    ¡°IN A BAD WAY, AYE!¡± Dama laughed, ¡°G, WHAT''S UP?¡±


    ¡°JOSEPH NEEDS A FAVOR!¡±


    ¡°HE NEEDS A NEIGHBOR? HE''S GOT PHIN-¡±


    ¡°NO, A FAVOR!¡±


    The dwarf cursed under her breath, though that was lost in the din as the hobgoblin collapsed to the ground. She gestured to Joseph and G-Wiz over, guiding them to the back room, giving a nod to the bartender. A maze of barrels took up most of the place, a couple of rats darting among them. Dama closed the door, though the cacophony of the rest of the Welt lessened only somewhat. Still, it was enough that they could talk without raising their voices too much.


    ¡°Right,¡± Dama Runebreaker said, ¡°What do you want?¡±


    ¡°I''m here because Mekke said you have a sword,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Vlaynian style, right?¡±


    ¡°I might,¡± Dama replied, ¡°What of it?¡±


    ¡°She wants it back,¡± Joseph said bluntly.


    ¡°Mm,¡± Dama shook her head, ¡°No can do, Joe.¡±


    ¡°What do you need the sword for?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Vlayn is one of the most powerful nations on Londoa,¡± Dama explained, ¡°Have been for over a hundred years. No one messes with ¡®em, not even Salthirn. And it all comes down to their steel. Vlaynian weapons are said to be the most durable weapons around ¨C reliable, too. Now, Mekke recently acquired such a weapon from an associate back in Morenhai.¡±


    ¡°And you wanted to take a look at it,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Before that bitch Lylana could get her grubby hands on it,¡± Dama spat, ¡°You know her, always wanting to melt things down. Probably would turn it into a rifle and a dinner plate, if Mekke would let her.¡±


    ¡°That''s nice and all,¡± Joseph said, ¡°But I still need the sword.¡±


    ¡°Sword for book, book for milk, milk for information,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°Shut up, G,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Well,¡± Dama''s face broke into a dark smile, ¡°I have just the thing for trade, then, Joe.¡±


    An uncomfortable feeling began to well up in Joseph''s chest.


    ¡°What do you want?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°As it so happens, I''m lined up for a match here in the Welt,¡± Dama said, ¡°However, I didn''t realize my opponent would be...¡±


    She nodded her head towards the door. Joseph opened it back up, wincing as the crowd let out a sudden roar. The boxer in combat armor was delivering blow after savage blow into the face of an ogre, who was on the ground curled up in a fetal position.


    ¡°And you want me to...¡± Joseph turned to Dama, ¡°Take your place?¡±


    ¡°Mekke was saying how good of a boxer you were,¡± Dama supposed, ¡°And I don''t want to break anything before the expedition starts ¨C dwarves, we don''t heal as good as metahumans do.¡±


    A bell dinged, and the armored boxer rose up, raising their fists into the air in triumph. The symphony of the crowd made Joseph''s ears ring. There was an excited nostalgia to that, though he still didn''t want to get into that ring. He wasn¡¯t liking that they allowed armor in there, because it meant that things could get dangerous.


    ¡°We''ll get you armored up,¡± Dama said, ¡°I have a few extra pieces lying about. You can''t take hits like an ogre, and I don''t want to, y''know, accidentally get you killed.¡±


    ¡°That would be awkward,¡± Joseph muttered. He had studied the boxer''s stance for a few moments as they had been walking in. Not enough to get a good idea of their style, but enough to get a general feel. Joseph hadn''t actually boxed in awhile ¨C he had partially dropped it for his studies back on Earth. But he didn''t need to win.


    He just needed to play.


    ¡°Alright,¡± Joseph gave a determined smile, ¡°I box for you. I get the sword. Deal?¡±


    ¡°Haha!¡± the dwarf laughed, ¡°You got yourself a deal.¡±


    And Joseph, for all his bravado, felt like he had just signed his death warrant.

 25. The Knight and the Dragon

    Dama Runebreaker began putting armor on Joseph, having him take off his shirt and jacket, replacing it with a blanket of padded wool tied around his stomach, covered with leather and iron armor.


    ¡°Why armor?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Most boxers are strong,¡± Dama said, adjusting a steel kneepad, ¡°Well, here they''re strong. Stronger than whatever boxers you have back on... Earth, was it?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, Earth.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, from what I''ve seen, there are only humans on Earth,¡± Dama picked up a helmet in the shape of a dragon''s head, ¡°Well, first off, the majority of the boxers down here are ogres and hobgoblins, and they hit a wee bit harder than your average human or dwarf.¡±


    ¡°Hence the armor,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Aye. That boxer in the arena seems to be human, but they''ve also been at it all day against those aforementioned ogres and hobgoblins. Means they can take a hit ¨C and deliver a good one, too.¡±


    She set the helmet on Joseph''s head. It felt superfluous and heavy ¨C his face sat in the open dragon''s maw, obscuring top and bottom of his vision. Not good for looking for an uppercut. Dama began tying his gloves on as G-Wiz slapped him on the back.


    ¡°This feels ridiculous,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I feel ridiculous.¡±


    ¡°Armor is the inside of the heart brought outward,¡± Dama said, ¡°What''s my old pa always used to say.¡±


    ¡°That''s very reassuring,¡± Joseph drawled, ¡°So what''s the second reason I''m wearing this, anyways?¡±


    ¡°Well, boxing''s a sport not native to Londoa,¡± Dama Runebreaker said, ¡°Some Far Traveler... Ali, I think his name was, he brought it here. You know Londoans. Like to make things even more of a spectacle, ''specially here in Scuttleway.¡±


    ¡°So I''m dressed like a clown-¡±


    ¡°A Dragon,¡± G-Wiz corrected.


    ¡°A Dragon,¡± Joseph put the term in air-quotes ¨C or the best air-quotes he could manage with boxing gloves on, ¡°Because you guys think it looks cool.¡±


    ¡°Look, either I box, or I fight to the death in the Colosseum,¡± Dama said, ¡°Which do you prefer?¡±


    Joseph heard the sharp crack of bone come from outside. A hobgoblin began to scream like a baby.


    ¡°There''s a difference?¡± he asked.


    ***


    All things considered, the armor was comfortable. Joseph only lost a bit of speed ¨C a loss, but one he could get used to. As he strode out the door, the crowd in the Welt began to scream and chant.


    ¡°Dragon!¡± they shouted, ¡°Dragon! Dragon! DRAGON!¡±


    He supposed that was his title. The patrons had moved to either side, giving him a straight-shot towards the ring. He took a few uncertain steps, then, with a resigned shrug, walked with a brisker pace. His opponent was already in the ring ¨C they were standing in its center, staring at him, wearing armor similar to his, only the helmet was that of a knight''s. The fairy tale of the knight slaying the Dragon, repeated in the holy place that was the boxing arena. Joseph tried to shake that comparison ¨C and the story''s usual end ¨C and tried to remember half-formed memories of his time back on Earth.


    His boxing instructor had been an old African-American man, a former champion ¨C or at least, someone who had been at the top of the game. He had retired after a good, long career and founded his own gym. Joseph had started taking classes there at the beginning of High School. He had never been the best ¨C far from it, as a matter of fact. Yet Coach Tristan had always paid attention to him. His progress.


    ¡°You ain''t the best boxer here, son,¡± he said one day, pulling Joseph aside, ¡°Your style''s developing pretty well. Your technique ain''t too shabby. But you can''t punch with the best of ''em. You don¡¯t got the strength or the speed.¡±


    Yeah, Coach Tristan was often too blunt for his own good.


    ¡°What do I do, then?¡± Joseph had asked.


    ¡°You''re a counterpuncher. Your brain''s bigger than any muscle in your body,¡± Coach Tristan said, ¡°Use it. Know when the other guy''s gonna punch. Dodge it, and hit back where he''s vulnerable. Or don¡¯t dodge it, and hit him back anyways. Lord knows you can take a shot or five and still keep standing, my God.¡±


    So Joseph had developed himself into a counterpuncher ¨C predict the opponent''s moves, block them and put him in a tight spot. He needed to have sharp reflexes if this was going to work. But as he stepped into the ring, as he sized his opponent up, he wasn''t sure if he was up to the challenge. He had seen the knight''s movements prior to the match, and they had been blurs of motion.


    Joseph had the feeling he was in for a very long day.


    There was, shockingly, a referee in the ring. A short goblin with a comb-like mustache, he put himself between Joseph and the knight.


    ¡°Alright, rules are rules: No powers, no magic, just straight ol'' fisticuffs. No hitting below the belt. That means you, son,¡± he shot a glare at Joseph.


    ¡°Me?¡± Joseph raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°Broken bones means an automatic loss,¡± the goblin continued, ¡°As does dislocated bones, shattered bones, bone jutting out of the skin-¡±


    ¡°Alright, enough with that,¡± Joseph said. He looked at the knight, though he couldn''t make out their face beneath their helmet. Part of him wanted to say ¡°Please don''t kill me.¡± Instead, he said, ¡°Good luck.¡±


    An amused huff, distorted by the metallic echo of the helmet, emanated from the knight. They took a few steps back and took a stance. Peek-a-boo, Joseph noticed, their gloves up right by their face. It was pioneered by some famous boxer back on Earth ¨C or Prime, or some other Earth-like plane. Good for protecting the head, and pound on the opponent¡¯s face when it came down to it. Joseph took his own stance, curling around his opponent, though as the two of them dancing around one another, he realized weren¡¯t raised quite high enough-


    And the knight flashed forward with a quick jab. Joseph''s helmet took the blow, the punch clipping the bottom of the dragon''s jaw, swinging his head back. Joseph stumbled into the ropes, eyes darting to see any sign of the knight''s next attack.


    Yet none came. The crowd roared from the exchange, jeered at Joseph''s clumsiness. He glared as a gnome in the front roars was jeering at him, spittle covering his face. With a frustrated huff, he got back up, turning back to face the knight. He raised up his fists, nodding to the referee that he was ready.


    He was prepared for the next exchange. The knight gave another jab ¨C the exact same one that they had used before. Joseph spun, blocking it with his left arm, at the same moment delivering a blow into the knight''s side. They broke apart.


    A test, on the knight''s part. To see if Joseph was stupid. They had learned he was not. The knight lowered their guard from their face to a more neutral stance, one to better protect their whole body. If there had been any sign that Joseph had dealt real damage with his punch, the knight did not show it.


    Yet still, Joseph was finding it hard to move about in the armor. He could feel light enchantments on it ¨C probably Dama Runebreaker''s work ¨C that made it lighter and more resistant to damage, but it still felt unnaturally bulky. He needed fancy footwork if was going to win this fight.


    He was too much in his head. The knight was far faster than him, faster than he had even anticipated watching them fight before. It was like trying to dodge a tornado, blow after blow hammering towards Joseph, his feet tangling back like a drunk ballroom dancer. The knight was pushing him towards the ropes-


    There. He made an errant block aimed at his ribs, hooking a right towards his opponent. It hit, dashing against the side of their helmet. Joseph threw a few more punches out ¨C one connecting, the other two missing ¨C before pulling back. Better not to over-extend himself. He and the knight were about the same height. Roughly. They probably had the same reach, too.


    Roughly.


    The knight was relying on getting in close and overwhelming him with a hurricane of punches, designed to exhaust and overpower. They began an assault once more, and Joseph began weaving his way from the punches ¨C though with less success, as a few precise jabs landed on his side. Pain wincing up his side, Joseph curled himself in a bit-


    Right as a swing collided with the side of his head. The helmet took the brunt of the blow, but it had an effect Joseph was not used to in boxing ¨C a metallic ring, like a grenade had just gone off beside his head. Joseph stumbled back. He had to recover. Get himself ready for what-


    The knight delivered an uppercut. It slammed firmly in the bottom jaw of the dragon helmet, whipping Joseph''s head up. The back of his neck flared red hot from the pain. Blinking tears from his eyes, he looked at the knight, getting ready for the next altercation. He gritted his teeth and-


    The bell rang. For a moment, Joseph was unsure of what to do, standing stupidly in the center of the ring while the knight walked to their corner.


    ¡°Get over here, Joe!¡± Dama Runebreaker¡¯s voice sang dull in his ears, like out of some other life. Nonetheless, he followed her voice to its source, nearly collapsing against the ropes. Sweat had lined his entire body, had leaked into the cotton guard beneath the armor. Exhaustion had sunk deep into his bones. He was aware ¨C faintly ¨C that Dama Runebreaker was removing his helmet, brushing his hair away from his eyes, putting a towel on his face.


    ¡°You''re doing great,¡± she said. She had put her face beside his, and her breath stank of ale.


    ¡°I''m not,¡± Joseph said, pulling his mouth-guard out, ¡°I can barely land a hit on the guy.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, well, I got bad news,¡± Dama pulled a face, ¡°This one''s a southpaw.


    ¡°They''ve been punching with their right the whole time!¡± Joseph exclaimed.


    ¡°Alright, they''re ambidextrous. They usually switch it up between rounds.¡±


    Joseph shot her a quick glare, before turning his attention towards the knight. They hadn''t taken their helmet off, instead shuffling their legs and going for a few practice jabs.


    ¡°They''ve been at it all day,¡± Joseph said, ¡°How are they not tired?¡±


    ¡°Some folks are weird like that,¡± Dama said, ¡°Listen, they''re getting in under your guard too much.¡±


    ¡°It''s the helmet,¡± Joseph said, ¡°It blocks my vision too much.¡±


    He made to remove the head entirely, but Dama grabbed him by the shoulders and pulled him back down.


    ¡°Woah there, tough guy,¡± she said, ¡°That helmet''s there for a reason. That bastard''ll knock your head clean off.¡±


    But Joseph was already standing up again, ¡°Yeah, but they''ll break my neck if they get another hit like the one back there. I can feel the whiplash already.¡±


    Dama didn''t stop him this time, instead giving him a tragic look as he peeled the helmet off and tossed it aside, slipped the mouthguard back in, and slammed his gloves together. He nodded to the referee. The bell dinged again as he approached the knight in the center of the ring.


    ¡°Glad to see you dumped the mask,¡± the knight said.


    Joseph didn''t respond. Dama was right ¨C the knight shifted stance, a mirror of their original upright position. They had resumed the peekaboo, stalking forward, ready to pop at Joseph''s now-unprotected head. But Joseph knew this.


    The knight threw an experimental jab. Joseph blocked it. The two of them danced for a few moments, before the knight threw another punch, then immediately threw themselves at Joseph, punching forward. Joseph ducked and bobbed, avoiding the punches as best he could, noting that many were aimed at his head. It was an obvious target ¨C and he found his in as the knight swung with their right. He crossed it, tilting his head to the left, feeling the fist blow by the side of his head like a stray bullet. His own right slammed into the knight''s face ¨C or, helmet, the metallic ring shaking up his arm. It was enough to let the knight stagger back. Joseph relented, letting them pull back instead of keeping up his attack.


    ¡°You''re an idiot,¡± the knight said, ¡°You should''ve gone for the kill, there.¡±


    ¡°Not my style,¡± Joseph replied through the mouth-guard, ¡°Come on, ready for round two?¡±


    ¡°We...¡± the knight got up, ¡°We are in round two.¡±


    It was the most words that Joseph had ever heard from his opponent. And they were right.


    ¡°Whatever,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I don¡¯t really need to go all in, you¡¯re not worth the trouble.¡±


    It was a lame insult. And he shouldn¡¯t have said it, as something changed in the way the knight carried themself.


    ¡°Got some bad news, kid,¡± the knight said, ¡°I''ve been holding back all day.¡±


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Joseph felt a thrill shudder up his spine, ¡°Oh.¡±


    What happened next was something that Joseph was glad no one was around to record. It was a beating, savage and precise, simultaneously professional yet disgustingly personal. The knight surged forward, fists flying near the speed of light. They mercifully aimed at Joseph''s torso, his armored denting from the force of the blows, though the knight did deliver a few to his head that saw him seeing stars and Nai Nai''s face.


    ¡°Get up, grandson!¡± she spat at him.


    ¡°I''m dying, Nai Nai,¡± Joseph whispered back.


    ¡°Bah, dying! Useless grandchild!¡±


    The knight finished the match with a whirlwind of punches, three to his right, four hammering his left shoulder, one clipping his chin. Joseph, whose face had begun puckering into a mosaic of blues and purples, made a vague attempt to counter the last blow, an uppercut, but the knight, deciding enough was enough, zipped past his guard. The hit connected, and Joseph felt himself float up into the air, before crashing down onto the ring''s floor.


    The bell screeched for a final time, sounding darkly like a funeral dirge. The crowd roared. Joseph turned his broken body, laying on his side. One purpled eye had glued itself shut. The other was watery, though he could make out just enough as the knight, whose gloves were raised up in victory, took off their gloves and helmet.


    ¡°Nash!¡± Dama Runebreaker''s voice cut through the Welt, ¡°Nash, you bastard!¡±


    Nash flashed a smile, one that was more friendly than arrogant - or rather, as friendly as it could have been after the beat-down they had just delivered. Their long, brown hair matted wetly against their sharp face.


    ¡°Nash, you idiot!¡± G-Wiz shouted, ¡°That''s Joseph! Your guildmate!¡±


    ¡°Guildmate?¡± Nash mouthed, voice lost in the crowd. Then their attention snapped to Joseph''s crumpled form. He saw them mouth ¡°Oh shit,¡± before making their way over to them. Joseph''s vision dimmed, though he felt them pick him up and start carrying him somewhere¡­


    ***


    ¡°Well, Joseph, I pray it was good exercise?¡±


    Nurse Elenry''s voice woke Joseph up, cutting through the inky blackness of unconsciousness. Joseph opened his eyes, noting that both of them were working again. Elenry stood by his bedside, staring down at him from the rim of her glasses, a look of stern disappointment written on her face. She was a Gloivel, with the top half of a human and the bottom half of a wolf. A pair of folded wings were tucked to either side of the wolf''s body, flapping a bit occasionally in an indignant fashion. Standing at the doorway was Nash, who had changed out of their armor and was wearing a guilty look on their face.


    ¡°As¡­ As good as it could have been,¡± Joseph coughed. He looked down to see bandages mummifying his body, ¡°How bad is it, Doc?¡±


    ¡°Fourteen fractured ribs, a concussion, a bad case of whiplash, quite a bit of internal bleeding...¡± Elenry''s voice was taut and annoyed, ¡°Be lucky that magic is real, Joseph, else you would be dead right now.¡±


    ¡°Sorry,¡± Nash said weakly.


    ¡°And you!¡± Elenry wheeled towards them at the door, ¡°What in the Sky''s name were you thinking?¡±


    ¡°I wasn''t,¡± Nash admitted.


    ¡°That much is true,¡± Elenry said, ¡°You''re lucky that Dama Runebreaker owed me a favor, otherwise Becenti would be hearing of this.¡±


    Nash pulled a face in response.


    ¡°And Nash! The first thing you do upon getting into town isn''t to go to Castle Belenus, it''s to box in the Welt!?¡±


    ¡°It sounded fun,¡± Nash reasoned, ¡°And I wasn''t expected for another day.¡±


    They quivered beneath Elenry''s glare.


    ¡°Well, then,¡± Elenry said, ¡°I believe you owe me for this, Nash Rhide.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, yeah, I do,¡± Nash admitted, ¡°What''ll it be?¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± Elenry thought for a few moments, ¡°Dinner at eight?¡±


    Nash gave a small, relieved smile, ¡°The usual place?¡±


    ¡°You''re buying,¡± Elenry''s sharp glare melted into a friendlier smile, ¡°Good to see you, Nash. If I hear of you boxing at the Welt again, I''ll tear out your heart.¡±


    ¡°But it¡¯s already yours,¡± Nash gave a wink.


    ¡°Stop it!¡± Elenry blushed, then, noticing Joseph in the room, ¡°Sorry, Joseph.¡±


    ¡°Dinner and a show,¡± Joseph coughed.


    Elenry re-adjusted her glasses, ¡°I have a few other patients to attend to at the moment. You remain here.¡±


    ¡°How long will that be?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Another few days, just to make sure you don''t re-open anything,¡± Elenry said.


    ¡°Alright,¡± Joseph nodded as the Gloivel began walking out of the room, ¡°Wait, re-open?¡±


    But she had already gone out the door. The infirmary of Castle Belenus was on the second floor, and was composed of dozens of rooms lining one side of the guildhall down to the other. Joseph''s room was relatively sparse ¨C he was lying in a bed, an IV stand towering beside him, a table in the corner of the room. On the wall, someone - probably G-Wiz - had given him a ¡®Get well soon¡¯ card, depicting a cat holding onto a tree. Nash walked over to the bedside, pulling over a chair and sitting down.


    ¡°Hey,¡± they said.


    ¡°So you''re Nash,¡± Joseph let out a wry chuckle, ¡°I guess I should be upset.¡±


    ¡°You have every right to be.¡±


    ¡°I am, but I''m also not,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Where''d you learn to box like that?¡±


    ¡°I know a lot of martial arts,¡± Nash said, ¡°I learn where I wander. Learned boxing while on Prime. Coach was a real killer.¡±


    ¡°You can... say that again,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Joseph, was it?¡± Nash said, ¡°Really, I''m sorry.¡±


    Joseph waved a hand lazily, ¡°Whatever. I¡¯ll get you back sometime. Where''s Dama Runebreaker?¡±


    ¡°Avoiding you,¡± Nash replied, ¡°Though she did leave that.¡±


    They nodded at the corner of the room. Resting on the wall was a blade that glinted like silver. The Vlaynian sword, slightly curved, the hilt covered by a bell-shaped basket and the pommel a sharp spike.


    ¡°Good,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I need that to give to Mekke.¡±


    ¡°Mekke?¡± Nash said, ¡°What for?¡±


    ¡°To get the book, to get milk, to get information.¡±


    ¡°Ah, one of those days, eh?¡±


    ¡°Eh,¡± Joseph agreed, ¡°So you''re Nash, then.¡±


    ¡°Finally, onto yours truly,¡± Nash stood up. They wore simple traveling garments ¨C a brown coat and brown pants, a white undershirt underneath, a red scarf wrapped around their neck. Their hair was tied up in a knot. Nash extended out a hand, ¡°Nash Rhide, from the Runway, Plane of Speed.¡±


    Joseph shook their hand, ¡°You mention that to everyone?¡±


    ¡°Gets the awkward conversations out of the way,¡± Nash said, ¡°The Runway¡¯s a distant plane, not a lot of people know about it. We have one entire Federation embassy there, and it''s disheveled as shit.¡±


    ¡°Neat. Joseph Zheng, from Earth.¡±


    ¡°The Plane of...?¡± Nash cocked their head.


    ¡°...Earth?¡± Joseph guessed.


    ¡°Earth, the Plane of Earth,¡± Nash let out a chuckle, ¡°I''m beginning to like you already, Joseph Zheng.¡±


    ¡°Just Joseph.¡±


    ¡°I didn''t think you to be a righteous guy,¡± Nash said.


    ¡°No, I meant, I''m just called-¡± Joseph narrowed his eyes, ¡°Very funny.¡±


    ¡°So, sword for book, book for milk-¡± Nash smiled, ¡°Chadwick, I assume?¡±


    ¡°Little bastard,¡± Joseph said, ¡°But he knows things.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, that sounds like Chadwick,¡± Nash said, ¡°It''s weird; I trust him, and yet I don''t.¡±


    ¡°I had a cat like that once,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°What happened to him?¡±


    ¡°Turns out, he had three other owners,¡± Joseph laughed, ¡°Saw him in the window of a neighbor down the block lapping up a bowl of milk. Our eyes locked, and he ran out the open door back to our house.¡±


    ¡°Ha, sounds like Chadwick,¡± Nash said, ¡°He''s got owners a-plenty.¡±


    They slapped their knees, rising up.


    ¡°Now,¡± they said, ¡°You have the sword. Shall we get you up?¡±


    ¡°I''m... supposed to stay here,¡± Joseph said. He tilted his head at his bandaged body, ¡°You almost killed me, you know.¡±


    ¡°Again, sorry,¡± Nash said, ¡°But time''s a-wasting, and you won''t do anything lying there.¡±


    ¡°I can''t move my legs.¡±


    ¡°Sure you can,¡± Nash chuckled, ¡°Don''t play stupid.¡±


    Joseph rolled his eyes and began moving to get up, ¡°Let me be pampered for once in my life, alright?¡±


    ¡°Ahh, I''ll get you a chocolate bar and a juice box, or something,¡± Nash said, ¡°Come on.¡±


    They helped Joseph up to his feet. A shock of pain winced up Joseph''s back and neck. He was used to such pain at this point, however, from working on his metapower and Phineas and Rosemary throwing rocks at his soul. He followed Nash out the door. A thought came into his mind. He turned to the small lock, pushing his finger against it. He started the eagle''s cycle, feeling one of its hands come to life, only giving it a bit of energy. The hand was proportionally smaller, reaching inside the lock''s hole and reaching into the inside of the room, twisting the lock shut.


    ¡°There,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Assuming Elenry doesn''t see us, we should be in the clear.¡±


    ¡°Smooth,¡± Nash said, ¡°So, who are we getting the sword to?¡±


    ***


    They returned the sword to Mekke easily ¨C she was glad to have the blade back.


    ¡°And it looks like you went through quite a bit to get it,¡± she said, impressed.


    ¡°You know,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Boxed Nash. Got my ribs broken. Nothing too major.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± she reached back into her pack and retrieved the book, ¡°One copy of Combat Theory in a Post-Multiverse World.¡±


    Joseph retrieved the book. It was thick, and he had to hold it in both hands. The cover depicted a knight in shining armor wielding a futuristic rifle. Nash looked over his shoulder.


    ¡°Haven''t seen a copy of this in a while,¡± they said, turning up to look at Mekke, ¡°Doing some research?¡±


    ¡°Some,¡± Mekke replied, ¡°A passing interest, I hope.¡±


    ¡°Post-Multiverse World?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Aye,¡± Mekke responded, ¡°Planes like Londoa, who are technologically inferior to other planes, often find themselves scrambling to change wartime tactics due to cross-planar intervention.¡±


    ¡°I thought cross-planar stuff was forbidden by the Federation?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Ah, what is written law is not always reality on the ground,¡± Nash said, ¡°Some things always slip through the cracks. Besides, nations always need mercenaries, and guilds can fulfill that role.¡±


    ¡°Guilds can be hired for war?¡±


    ¡°Aye,¡± Mekke said, ¡°The Amber Foundation actually participated in the Salthirn War, ten years back.¡±


    Joseph scratched his head for a moment, wracking his brain, ¡°That was... what Evukor was all about, right?¡±


    Nash pulled a face, ¡°Hated Evukor. Never want to go back.¡±


    ¡°Evukor hired five guilds to bolster its defenses against the Salthirn invasion,¡± Mekke said, ¡°Amber Foundation, Blue Sky Waiting, Exodus Walkers, Disciples of Aether, and the Bloodrunners.¡±


    ¡°So if it comes to it, the guild''ll just...?¡± Joseph started to get a bad feeling. Nash, perhaps recognizing his unspoken thought, placed their hand on his shoulder.


    ¡°The folks who took the Evukor job were volunteers,¡± they said, ¡°Wakeling herself joined them. Led them, actually. We aren''t going to throw you into a big bloodbath without at least giving you the chance to say no.¡±


    ¡°What about the other guilds?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Well, the Bloodrunners are primarily mercenary,¡± Nash said, ¡°Blue Sky Waiting, they''re so big that everything''s automated, so there wasn''t a choice. Mekke, what about the Exodus Walkers and the Disciples, you remember?¡±


    Mekke shrugged, ¡°No idea about the Disciples. A strange bunch, that guild. The Walkers, if I recall, had to pick names out to not go on the job. Too many volunteers.¡±


    Joseph remembered the way that Alonso Moriguchi and the too-professional manner in which he had fought. Beneath that had been a dark savagery, now that he could look back on it without as much fear as before. So that made sense.


    ¡°Alright, best we get going,¡± Nash said, looking out the window, ¡°Getting dark, and Phineas and Meleko have their chores to finish.¡±


    They gestured to the two of them at Mekke''s feet. Phineas was curled in a ball, trying to look small. Mekke''s boot had forced Meleko''s face into the cobblestone floor, and she kept the boot on the back of his head, admiring the Vlaynian sword with a grim smile on her face. The entire armory was littered with loose Myth Battle cards.


    ¡°Right,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Let''s get to Barbara.¡±


    ***


    Barbara took the book in one great claw, raising it up to her eyes, squinting at it.


    ¡°Ah, so it seems that Mekke bent a few pages,¡± she murmured, ¡°I will need to speak to Becenti about this.¡±


    She lowered the book, ¡°But through no fault of your own. Thank you for retrieving my book, Joseph. It''s good to see you too, Nash.¡±


    ¡°Barb,¡± Nash nodded.


    ¡°Wakeling heard you''d arrived,¡± the toucan said, ¡°She wants to speak with you.¡±


    ¡°Funny, didn''t hear her voice in my head,¡± Nash said. Then, they looked up for a moment, ¡°No, wait, there it is.¡±


    They patted Joseph on the back, ¡°Talk later?¡±


    Joseph winced from the pat, ¡°Yeah, sure.¡±


    ¡°I''ll try to distract Elenry, make sure she doesn''t notice you''ve really gone, or anything.¡±


    ¡°Thanks.¡±


    They walked out of the library, leaving Barbara and Joseph alone.


    ¡°So,¡± Joseph said, ¡°The milk?¡±


    Barbara let out a deep sigh, then a chittering of her beak.


    ¡°Very well,¡± she said, ¡°I''m a bird of my word.¡±


    She extended out her wings and took off. It was always a marvelous sight, Joseph was realizing, to watch her flit about the library ceiling. Shelves were arrayed at the top that only a few guildmates could get hold of. It was her domain, of course ¨C Barbara forbade flight in the library save for her own. She curved along with the ceiling, landing at one of the shelves, claw grasping at a rope which connected to a crate. With a heave, she flew down and dropped the crate by her desk. Joseph heard a slosh from within.


    ¡°Your milk,¡± she said.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± Joseph walked over and tried to lift it, ¡°Jesus, what''s in here? Bricks?¡±


    ¡°Milk.¡±


    ¡°It was...¡± he rolled his eyes, ¡°It was a joke.¡±


    The soul burst out of his back, lifting the crate with relative ease. Joseph began carrying it out into the Great Hall.


    ***


    Chadwick had a room all to himself. Joseph hadn''t found it until Rosemary had pointed it out to him one day.


    ¡°It''s right over there,¡± she jabbed a finger at a door in the corner of the fifth floor, ¡°Never go in there unless you''re invited.¡±


    ¡°Invited?¡±


    ¡°It''s like a reverse vampire situation,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°If you go inside and Chadwick hasn''t invited you, you''re turned into a mouse.¡±


    ¡°Haha.¡±


    ¡°No, really!¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Broon¡¯s had to pry a few of us out of Chadwick''s mouth a few before,¡± Rosemary said. She visibly shivered, ¡°It''s not a fun experience, getting eaten by a cat.¡±


    With that in mind, he waited, knocking on the door with his regular hand, soul still surging up, its electrical form rippling like a waterfall. The eagle re-adjusted the crate in its hands, hoisting it up on its right shoulder.


    ¡°Come in,¡± Chadwick''s voice was muffled behind the door. Taking a deep breath, Joseph opened it up, the door creaking with an unholy whine.


    It was not so much of a room as it was a lair. There was very little in terms of furniture in here, save for a few cat posts in the corners. The entire place was dark, illuminated for perhaps the first time in years by Joseph''s soul, blue light dancing off the scarred, black walls that had scratched-off runes in a strange, swirling script. Chadwick himself lay in the center of the room, in a great nest of discarded blankets, pillows, and furs from various large predators ¨C Joseph recognized bear skins, lion''s manes, even the peeled headskin of a tyrannosaur. The calico was licking his front paw, mirth-filled eyes regarding Joseph as the metahuman stepped inside, a king staring down at his peasant.


    Despite the fact that the king was the size of a football, but that was beside the point.


    ¡°Good,¡± he said, ¡°Put the milk there, in the corner, by the skeleton.¡±


    ¡°No one I know?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°An interloper from a few years ago,¡± Chadwick said, ¡°Not part of the guild, I assure you.¡±


    ¡°Not exactly reassuring,¡± Joseph put the crate into the corner, soul dissipating as he stretched and squinted his eyes as the room became shrouded in darkness. Chadwick''s green eyes pierced through, however, twin emerald orbs that seemed to float in the air like will-o-wisps.


    ¡°Alright,¡± Joseph said. He winced a bit as he walked over to the cat, sitting down in front of him, ¡°Lord Iresine.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Chadwick said. There was an amused sort of ambiguity to his voice, ¡°Where to begin?¡±

 26. Iresines Travels

    ¡°Iresine,¡± Chadwick said, ¡°Was a metahuman. Much like you.¡±


    ¡°You said as much,¡± Joseph replied.


    ¡°He was from one of the last great kingdoms that made up Epochia,¡± Chadwick continued, ignoring Joseph, ¡°Chliofrond, I believe it was called. A nomadic nation, its people living in great, floating cities that traveled the skies of the multiverse. You see, in those days, the war with the High Federation was at its height; being able to move from plane to plane was an absolute necessity.¡±


    ¡°Makes sense,¡± Joseph said, ¡°How come his name was ¡®Iresine¡¯?¡±


    ¡°The ability to manipulate and grow any plant, so long as his blood was the fuel,¡± Chadwick said, ¡°A powerful ability, when used correctly. Lord Iresine was an explorer of the multiverse, constantly poring over the planes for new discoveries to be used to strengthen Chliofrond. The past was a weapon, the tombs of dead civilizations potential for new, more destructive means of war. To Iresine, to explore was to survive.¡±


    ¡°Sounds like an intense guy,¡± Joseph muttered. He took out the diary, letting his soul''s hand spark to life, drenching the old journal in cyan light, ¡°And this was his journal?¡±


    ¡°Written in a dozen languages, no doubt,¡± Chadwick said, ¡°Go ahead, I''m a cat of my word. Lay the page in front of me, and I may know its contents.¡±


    ¡°May?¡± Joseph narrowed his eyes.


    ¡°May,¡± Chadwick reiterated. In the light of Joseph''s soul, the cat''s shadow was splayed on the wall, dancing and surging like waves, and Joseph could make out wings hiding in his form, ¡°Languages are difficult, especially dead ones. Iresine lived a long, long time ago. It''s difficult to bridge and remember knowledge, you see.¡±


    Feeling as though there was no other choice, Joseph put the diary down, flipping to the page with the sarcophagus. Chadwick took a look at it, his eyes glowering down, their light fading a bit as he concentrated.


    ¡°Ah,¡± he said, ¡°Indeed, this is Iresine''s script...¡±


    ¡°You seemed to have known the guy,¡± Joseph said, ¡°An old owner?¡±


    ¡°A cat has no owner,¡± Chadwick said, ¡°But he owns many mortals. Few understand that, Ichabod among them.¡±


    ¡°But you knew him,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Ah, perhaps,¡± Chadwick''s eyes became soft and sad, ¡°Once. I shouldn''t have asked for that milk, I think. Just Iresine''s writing was enough...¡±


    He went silent. A soft paw went up to the page, turning it to see the next as the calico became lost in his own head. Joseph wasn''t sure how to respond, letting him have his moment. Chadwick took his time, turning page after page. After a little while, he looked up.


    ¡°I recognize the language that Iresine was using with those... sarcophagi, correct?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Anut¨¦ and Inweth,¡± Chadwick said, ¡°''Question'' and ''Answer.'' They came from an ancient civilization that used to rule all of Melmaen.¡±


    ¡°Melmaen,¡± Joseph said, ¡°That''s where the guild got the Dreamer''s Lament from, right?¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Chadwick said, ¡°Melmaen, the Plane of Rebirth, it is called. Always destroying itself and rebuilding. Well, all planes do that. Melmaen''s the one people pay attention to, because who wants to know one¡¯s own grisly history of destruction and rebuilding? Better to just assign it to someone else and call it a day.¡±


    ¡°So what do they do?¡±


    ¡°Hmm? The sarcophagi?¡± Chadwick said, ¡°Ah, yes. They allow passage in the multiverse. Anut¨¦ and Inweth function much like doors ¨C one opens, the other closes. They possess magic and enchantments that haven''t been seen in the multiverse for a very long time.¡±


    ¡°And one''s on Earth,¡± Joseph murmured.


    ¡°And the other one is somewhere,¡± Chadwick said, ¡°What makes you so interested in them?¡±


    ¡°You don''t know?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°A cat only knows things that are important,¡± Chadwick responded.


    ¡°Ha ha,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I came here through this coffin. Through... Anut¨¦.¡±


    He looked down at the upside-down journal, flipping over to the page with the sarcophagus. Iresine''s sketch was both frantic and measured, detailed yet still having a quick edge to its movements. Uncomfortable memories swam in his head, of being trapped within it, pulled forward towards apparent oblivion, unable to forge the waves of the multiverse as he traveled towards the other side.


    ¡°Where is it?¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡± Chadwick said, ¡°You must provide context, otherwise I won''t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡±


    ¡°The other sarcophagus. Inweth. It was left behind on Kelstonda. Do you know where it is?¡±


    ¡°Oh you poor fool, of course I don''t.¡±


    ¡°Know someone who would?¡±


    ¡°Of course not,¡± Chadwick stretched himself out, purring in content, ¡°Of course, I might have my memory rattled if I got some milk...¡±


    Joseph let out a weary sigh, ¡°Where''s the saucer?¡±


    ¡°Over there, by the rat.¡±


    Joseph stepped over, making a face as he moved the half-eaten rat corpse off of the milk saucer. His electrical hand shot over to the crate on the other side of the room, opening it up and pulling out a container of spiced milk. He returned to Chadwick, pouring out a cup of it into the dish, the strong scent of maple and cinnamon drifting through the relative dead air.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Chadwick began lapping gently at the milk. Joseph crossed his arms.


    ¡°Well?¡± he said.


    ¡°I said I might have my memory rattled,¡± Chadwick said, ¡°Unfortunately, it was not. Have a nice day.¡±


    ***


    ¡°Well,¡± Elenry growled, ¡°It won''t scar, if that makes you feel better.¡±


    Joseph was silent, wincing as the Gloivel scraped the blood off of his face with a washcloth. She murmured a few magic words, the surprisingly deep scratches left by Chadwick knitting themselves shut. Nash was in a nice suit, arms crossed and waiting at the door. They gave a wave to Joseph, a sympathetic ¨C and proud ¨C smile playing on their face.


    ¡°Did you get what you needed?¡± Elenry said, ¡°Everything?¡±


    ¡°I need to talk to Broon,¡± Joseph said.


    That was the wrong thing to say. Elenry glared at Joseph. Joseph quailed beneath her gaze, which had the force of a hundred tons.


    ¡°Yeah, sorry,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°What, by the Sky, drove you to leave your room?¡± Elenry asked.


    ¡°I needed to get some info,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Info?¡± Elenry''s voice had a new edge of exasperation.


    ¡°To... get home,¡± Joseph said.


    Elenry was quiet at that. She considered him for a few moments, and Joseph noticed the way her magic-infused fist hovering over his face wasn''t quite as clenched.


    ¡°Every day, I hope that this guild doesn''t get into some sort of shenanigans,¡± Elenry said, ¡°And every day, I''m disappointed. Well, I suppose no matter what I do, you''ll try to talk to Broon, yes?¡±


    ¡°Sorry,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°You know he won''t quit, El,¡± Nash said.


    ¡°Not a word from you,¡± Elenry growled, shooting them a glare. They turned back to Joseph, ¡°Very well. I suppose I must once more throw away all of my medical training and say: If you open up your stitches talking to Broon, I''ll be very upset indeed.¡±


    ¡°How would I open up my stitches talking to Broon?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Please, Joseph, this is the Amber Foundation,¡± Elenry made for the door, extending an arm for Nash to loop through, ¡°Things like this tend to happen.¡±


    ***


    ¡°Ah, Joseph!¡± Broon called out, ¡°Just the guy I wanted to see. Here, help me out with this, will you?¡±


    The half-orc was lifting one of the last few crates into the storage room, positioned precariously on his shoulder. Joseph nodded, wincing a bit as his soul surged outwards, expanding to its full form to pick up the other crate. The two of them began moving out of the hall. The trolls who had been hired to help carry everything in had finished up and gone home for the day, leaving the two of them alone to work on the task. A few other guildmates were in the Great Hall, maneuvering out of their way as they went. The bustle of the day had retreated somewhat as the members of the Amber Foundation began their nightly rituals ¨C retreating to their rooms for studies, or going to the bars in town.


    ¡°Funny how we don''t have a bar here,¡± Joseph commented.


    ¡°Becenti wouldn''t allow it,¡± Broon said, ¡°Even after Ichabod cried.¡±


    ¡°Cried?¡± Joseph gave a sly smile.


    ¡°Don''t tell him I said that,¡± Broon said, ¡°Anyways, he''s pretty strict on that. No bars. Sure, you can bring in drinks from outside, but he very much disapproves of all of that anyways.¡±


    ¡°Understandable,¡± Joseph said. His soul reached out with a free arm to open up the door. Broon murmured his thanks as the two of them went into the storage rooms. They had been filled by this point by crates and barrels of supplies ¨C after Joseph put down his crate, he opened it up to see old computer ware inside.


    ¡°Geez,¡± he said, ¡°This looks like it''s from the 80s.¡±


    ¡°Looks pretty high-tech to me,¡± Broon said, ¡°But different planes, right?¡±


    ¡°That''s true,¡± Joseph said. He went quiet for a moment, unsure of how to broach the topic. Then, taking a deep breath, he said, ¡°Broon?¡±


    ¡°Aye, Joseph.¡±


    ¡°Do you... You don''t remember what happened to the airship, right?¡±


    ¡°Joseph, there are a lot of airships out there.¡±


    ¡°The one you found me on,¡± Joseph detailed.


    ¡°Ah,¡± Broon scratched his chin, rising to his full height. Even in the half-light of the room, Joseph was still shocked at how truly massive the half-orc was, ¡°The... Fortune''s Favor, I believe she was called. Why?¡±


    The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°I''m doing some research, is all,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Trying to find out what happened to that sarcophagus.¡±


    ¡°Mm,¡± Broon nodded, ¡°Still trying to get home?¡±


    There was nothing to those words. Broon was being his usual, conversational self. Yet for some reason they stung at Joseph and stabbed at him like accusations.


    ¡°Something like that,¡± he evaded, ¡°Do you know what happened to the Favor?¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± Broon thought for a few moments more, ¡°I¡¯d suppose she would have crashed.¡±


    ¡°Crashed?¡± Joseph was incredulous.


    ¡°That Steamer probably killed everyone onboard,¡± Broon said, ¡°He was a damn good one, too ¨C almost got me and Rosemary during our little spat, if I remember right. With no one to steer the ship or to keep the engines hot...¡±


    He didn''t finish the question. Joseph felt a hollow pang in his chest.


    ¡°So the sarcophagus...¡±


    ¡°Might be in the sea,¡± Broon finished, ¡°I''m sorry, Joseph.¡±


    ¡°You''re sure?¡± Joseph prodded.


    ¡°No, I''m not,¡± Broon said, ¡°All I¡¯ve got is conjecture, along with what little news I received after the job was done ¨C a little side project of mine, is all. I just wanted to know what happened.¡±


    Joseph let out a defeated sigh, sitting down on one of the crates. Broon gave him a sympathetic look, then sat down, patting him on the shoulder with his one arm.


    ¡°You really want to go home, don''t you?¡±


    ¡°I do,¡± Joseph said. He looked up at Broon, ¡°I...¡±


    ¡°I know that feeling,¡± Broon said, ¡°You don''t have to say anything.¡±


    The half-orc looked away, focusing on the wall. Joseph followed his gaze, staring at the outline of the orange sandstone bricks in the darkness. The two of them were silent for a time. Broon produced a small bottle from his pocket, uncapping it with one of his tusks and taking a quick swig. He passed it to Joseph, who drank the bitter beer within.


    ¡°You''re lucky,¡± he said, ¡°Most folk in the guild, we don''t have a home to go back to.¡±


    ¡°''In Exploration, New Meanings Made,''¡± Joseph quoted.


    ¡°The guild motto,¡± Broon smiled.


    ¡°Phineas repeats it at least once a week. Will it be on the test?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll need to write an essay,¡± Broon chuckled.


    ¡°...That motto,¡± Joseph said, ¡°It goes beyond just simple exploration, right?¡±


    ¡°Of course, otherwise it wouldn''t be a very good slogan,¡± Broon said, ¡°Guilds are in place for a variety of reasons. Becenti says they''re there for control. Someone like Mordenaro would see them as a challenge, I suppose. But guilds are also there for people like me, or Rosemary, or even Chadwick.¡±


    He took another swig, apparently finishing it off, as he gave it a sour look before returning it to his side.


    ¡°Guilds are there for the disenfranchised, the lost, the lonely. People with nowhere else to go. In guild, one finds home and tribe.¡±


    ¡°So that''s why I''m lucky, then,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°My parents were killed when I was seven,¡± Broon said, ¡°I had no other kin. I wandered the woods for most of my childhood until I left it when I was around twenty. I''m also a half-orc ¨C reviled by most of my parent country, more spawn than child. That... ridicule, it led me to do dark things.¡±


    He glowered down at the ground.


    ¡°And then the Amber Foundation found you,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°A bit later,¡± Broon said, ¡°Almost too late. But aye, they found me. Wakeling herself picked me up in both arms-¡±


    ¡°She has arms?¡±


    ¡°Don''t interrupt,¡± Broon chided, ¡°She picked me up and helped me to my feet. I''ve been with them ever since.¡±


    ¡°She gave you a new outlook on life.¡±


    ¡°Aye,¡± Broon said, ¡°Through the guild, I''ve learned to... how should I say it... I''ve learned that the past is the past. I can''t change who I was, only who I am.¡±


    ¡°And a lot of the guild feels like you do,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°G-Wiz is an exile. Ichabod has his own dark past. Rosemary just showed up here out of the blue one day ¨C we don''t even know what plane she''s from, and she doesn¡¯t like to talk about it. Even folk like Elenry have darker aspects to their life.¡±


    ¡°So I am one of the lucky ones, then,¡± Joseph murmured.


    ¡°Aye, and some folk here might be jealous of that,¡± Broon said.


    ¡°Why... why are you telling me all this?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°I''m...¡± Broon struggled, ¡°I''m actually not sure. From what it sounds like, I feel like a parent admonishing their mewling child, telling them that other people have it worse.¡±


    ¡°My mom always was like that,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°But what I''m trying to say is, even if you can''t get home, you always have us, Joseph,¡± Broon''s smile returned, ¡°No matter what, Castle Belenus is your home just as much as Earth is.¡±


    He was unsure how to react to that. Instead, Joseph merely nodded.


    ¡°Thanks, Broon.¡±


    ***


    Broon did point out one last thing before the two of them returned back to the Great Hall. The guild kept records ¨C including records of every mission they had gone on.


    ¡°Paperwork and bureaucracy go hand in hand, like bananas and milk,¡± the half-orc said.


    ¡°That''s disgusting, but I get the analogy,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Try it, and I''ll have you singing a different tune,¡± Broon said, ¡°Good luck, Joseph.¡±


    So he ascended up the stairs, climbing flight after flight, the Great Hall becoming dizzyingly small below him ¨C he saw Rosemary''s burgundy cloak fluttering below as she ran, a red triangle in the sea of orange stone. He finished his journey at the step in front of Wakeling''s study. He knew that he probably shouldn''t disturb her ¨C she was most likely exhausted after a long day of paperwork and preparations¡­


    But he needed to know. Joseph brought up a hand to rap at the door when he felt her voice in his mind.


    ¡°Ah, Joseph. Come in, dear.¡±


    He found he had been looking up as he heard the voice, as though she had been speaking from the sky. Joseph looked back at the door and heard a small click as the lock unlatched. He opened the door and went inside.


    Wakeling''s office was different at night. Quieter, if that were possible. Older. The already ancient books seemed to glow in the darkness of her study, light runes glowing blue on their spines. The roof disappeared, the spire ceiling seeming to morph into glass, showing the night sky high above. Yet it wasn''t the night sky of Londoa, with its many-colored lights from distant cities on the other side of the plane. Joseph felt a pang as he saw it was his night sky. The Big Dipper and the Little Dipper. Eridanus. He also recognized constellations Nai Nai had taught him from China ¨C Crooked Running Water and Firebird were out tonight, glittering like old friends. Wakeling''s head rested on the desk, a calm smile on her face.


    ¡°Do you like it?¡± she asked, ¡°A difficult spell to weave. It always shows the night sky of your home plane ¨C I see Delexus and Noonian on my end.¡±


    ¡°It''s beautiful,¡± Joseph said.


    A small sparkle twinkled in Wakeling''s eye. Her face broke into a lopsided smile.


    ¡°What brings you here tonight, Mr. Zheng?¡± Wakeling asked.


    Joseph stepped forward. The only sources of light in the room were the runes of the books and the brighter stars of the night above. Wakeling''s face was cast in a dull blue glow as he sat himself down.


    ¡°I need a record,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Of what job?¡± Wakeling asked.


    ¡°Of the mission involving the Dragon''s egg and the Fortune''s Favor.¡±


    ¡°Ah, feeling nostalgic, are we?¡± Wakeling chuckled, ¡°It''s only been a few months, Mr. Zheng.¡±


    ¡°I wanted to know what happened to the sarcophagus,¡± Joseph said, ¡°See if it crashed into the sea.¡±


    An inscrutable expression sketched itself onto Wakeling''s face. Her smile disappeared as her eyes flashed silver, lighting up the room like two miniature moons, before the record Broon had written appeared in front of her. Invisible hands took hold of it, floating it down in front of her as she read it.


    ¡°...Well?¡± Joseph''s voice was taut with apprehension.


    ¡°Well, you''re going in the wrong direction, if you think that looking through guild records will get what you''re looking for. I presume you spoke to Broon?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I did.¡±


    ¡°Then you already know what he knows,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Broon isn''t like Ichabod or Chadwick. He''s an open book about what he does. He wrote the record, and it''s probably got the same thing he said to you. Down to the letter, in fact.¡±


    Joseph''s heart sank at those words.


    ¡°No,¡± Wakeling continued, ¡°You''ll have to do research on what happened after. And that includes getting information from Kelstonda.¡±


    A newspaper appeared in front of her, levitating towards Joseph''s hand. He took it, looking at the front page.


    ¡°King of Marlish Empire found choking on enormous-¡± Joseph read.


    ¡°No, not that one,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°It wouldn''t be front page news. Airships are lost all the time. Turn to page... ah... five, we''ll say.¡±


    Joseph turned the pages, settling down on a small article that read ''Famous Ship Lost With All Hands, Artifact Recovered By Pantheon.''


    ¡°Pantheon?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Oh yes, another guild,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Owned by that snake, Agrippa. Regardless, I decided to do a bit of research of my own after everything was settled, especially once I heard how you came here...¡±


    ¡°And you didn''t tell me?¡± Joseph said.


    Wakeling was quiet, then said, ¡°I didn''t want to get your hopes up. Especially when you know who retrieved the sarcophagus.¡±


    ¡°Pantheon,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Who the hell is Agrippa?¡±


    ¡°A businessman on Neos,¡± Wakeling said, a tad dismissively, ¡°Don''t go near him, Joseph. He outright owns Pantheon, and he uses them as... ''messengers,'' of a sort. Pantheon only takes jobs related to Agrippa''s public dealings, a message to others that the artifacts they pursue belong to him.¡±


    ¡°So it''s on Neos?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°No,¡± Wakeling answered, ¡°Agrippa doesn''t work like that. He plays the hero, he brought it to its original destination. That newspaper you hold there was released a day after that debacle on the Fortune''s Favor.¡±


    Another newspaper appeared. The headlines read ''Famous Neos Businessman Saves Artifact, Delivers to Melmaen.''


    ¡°Ah, I see,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Currently, the sarcophagus is held at the Museum of Unnatural History, on Melmaen,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°The fact that Pantheon  brought it there means that Agrippa wants to keep it there.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Joseph said, ¡°After the expedition, let me go to Melmaen.¡±


    ¡°Now, now, Mr. Zheng,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°What are you going to do with it?¡±


    ¡°I-¡±


    ¡°Look at it? Admire it in the light?¡± Wakeling let out a chuckle, ¡°If you''re thinking of investigating it, of poking and prodding, I''m afraid you''re out of luck. It''s a museum, Joseph.¡±


    ¡°And?¡±


    ¡°And it''s an artifact claimed by Agrippa,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°I''m warning you, Mr. Zheng. You won''t find what you''re looking for in Melmaen. And you''ll only get yourself killed doing it¡±


    Joseph glared at her, ¡°How do you know it''s not what I''m looking for?¡±


    ¡°Because I know, Mr. Zheng,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°If the sarcophagus went the other way, you would''ve gone back to Earth as soon as you tried hiding from Broon.¡±


    ¡°''The other way''?¡± Joseph said. He went silent as a few things fell in place, ¡°You knew about them, didn''t you?¡±


    ¡°Correct, Mr. Zheng,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°You''re not the only one who talks to Chadwick about this sort of thing, you know. Anut¨¦ and Inweth are doors, but one is an entrance and the other is the exit. You can''t go through Inweth to Anut¨¦. Your grandmother was very specific on that.¡±


    ¡°My... grandmother?¡± Joseph said.


    There was a pause. Wakeling pursed his lips, and Joseph had a dawning feeling that she had slipped up.


    ¡°...Yes,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°She used Anut¨¦ often to cross back into the multiverse from Earth.¡±


    ¡°And what plane did she wind up on?¡±


    Wakeling was quiet. Joseph narrowed his eyes.


    ¡°You knew her better than you''ve let on,¡± Joseph said.


    The statement ¨C more of an accusation ¨C hung in the air. Wakeling was quiet, letting it fester as Joseph pretended the look he gave her wasn''t a glare. He couldn''t hide the fact that his hands were gripping the arms of the chair, or that his soul was beginning to spark around his body.


    ¡°You''re not going to give me an answer,¡± he said, ¡°Are you?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s something I¡¯m not at liberty to give,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Mr. Zheng, your grandmother was involved in some nasty business. If people knew about your relation to her-¡±


    ¡°The High Federation already knows my name is Joseph Zheng,¡± his voice was quiet and harsh, ¡°How many Zhengs do you think are out there in the multiverse?¡±


    ¡°Joseph, please-¡±


    ¡°It doesn''t take much to put two and two together,¡± Joseph snapped, ¡°So you might as well tell me what-¡±


    ¡°All this anger as soon as I mentioned your grandmother, Mr. Zheng,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Is there something you would like to talk about?¡±


    Her words slapped Joseph in the face. He was aware he had stood up, but the admonishment spiraled him back into his seat. He gripped the arms again, his face burning as he glared daggers at Wakeling. The guildmaster returned his glare, her face sour.


    ¡°What your grandmother did is not the topic of our conversation, Mr. Zheng,¡± Wakeling''s voice was more authoritative now, ¡°It was about where Inweth went. And you have your answer. And you also know I do not want you going to Melmaen to see it. Doing so ¨C disrupting Inweth in any way ¨C will paint a rather large target on your back, with one of the most powerful men in the multiverse pointing at it.¡±


    ¡°Why didn''t you tell me about Nai Nai?¡± he asked, ¡°You could''ve just said that you knew her.¡±


    ¡°I did. I knew of Zheng Chun.¡±


    ¡°But you two seemed to be pretty dandy pals. ''A lie of omission is still a lie,''¡± Joseph spat, ¡°She said that all the time, when I tried to hide something from her.¡±


    ¡°Then she was quite the liar, wasn''t she?¡± Wakeling said.


    The words hung in the air for a second, before the full realization tumbled down onto Joseph''s back. His stomach began to hurt from the mixture of emotions. Without another word, he stood up and made his way to the door, opening it up, the creak of its hinges sounding inhuman and distant, orange light cascading through from the other side. He gave Wakeling one final, mutinous look. Then he closed the door behind him.


    Wakeling gave a sigh as he closed the door behind him, leaving her alone in the darkness once more. That conversation hadn''t been a deal-breaker, she knew ¨C Joseph still needed the guild. But something had broken there. Regret hammered at Wakeling, muted due to her heart being floors below her head. High above, Delexus twinkled, five of his arms moving to reload five bows.


    ¡°Oh dear,¡± Wakeling said to the constellation, ¡°I''m not very good at this, am I?¡±


    And Delexus gave no answer.

 27. The Patrons Arrival

    Kelphaven was known as the Geode by the Sea, a great trading port for all of Moadma Landmass, central to the politics and games played by the major powers ¨C a city-state whose influence snaked out across Londoa, a multi-headed hydra of commerce, ships of a thousand varieties and builds swarming its docks ¨C elven skimmers, orcish galleons, human junks, even the strange, patchwork vessels of the eln meia which seemed more and more numerous and battle-damaged by the day, evidence of their wars of unification across both sea and sky on distant Darkheld.


    But that war was far from here, as Rosemary and Urash arrived into town via wagon. The old merchant prince was grumbling, thumbing the iron magic rod he had carried since his youth. Over the heavy plate mail he seemed to live in ¨C Rosemary had never seen him without it ¨C he was wearing purple robes, a symbol to the people of Kelphaven that he was a dwarf here for trade, not for work in the mines to the city¡¯s east. The symbols adorning these robes, however, were not from Londoa, but rather the eye-and-diamond symbol of Clan Belgone of Krenstone, the World of Towers.


    ¡°Not sure if they''re going to recognize it,¡± Rosemary had pointed out as they had left Scuttleway.


    ¡°Bah, recognition comes from the skill of the merchant,¡± Urash had growled, ¡°Doesn''t matter if they don''t know who the Belgones are. They will.¡±


    ¡°By you?¡± Rosemary smirked.


    ¡°Aye,¡± Urash said, ¡°Wakeling said we needed Nora Lanterns, and I said I''d get them.¡±


    He had told her a bit about their sellers as they made their way to Kelphaven, curving over the Landmass. A couple travelers walked with them ¨C a caravan by convenience, to dissuade the more obvious dangers of the road. Although Rosemary had traded conversation with them ¨C they were a young couple headed to Kelphaven for a couple of tonics for the village alchemist ¨C up until that moment they had traveled in relative silence.


    ¡°The seller''s a merchant from Methuselah. Has a deal with an upper businessman on Neos to supply Nora Lanterns to them ¨C just around the same tech level that''s the Federation''s fine with it.¡±


    ¡°And Nora Lanterns are...?¡±


    ¡°Biotech,¡± Urash answered, ¡°A mass of bacteria that glows in the dark when fed the right chemicals ¨C calcium carbonate-¡±


    ¡°Calcium carbonate?¡± Rosemary interrupted, ¡°Like egg shells?¡±


    ¡°Or chalk,¡± Urash said, ¡°Really, anything of that nature will do, and we''ve got plenty of eggs-¡±


    ¡°Nerd.¡±


    The dwarf rolled his eyes, ¡°I''m bringing you to Kelphaven because you said that you were bored cooped up at the guildhall. Don''t make me change my mind.¡±


    ¡°Sorry, it''s just exciting!¡± Rosemary laughed, ¡°An exchange all the way out in Kelphaven, with a merchant prince from Krenstone doing the driving!¡±


    ¡°Bah,¡± Urash said, ¡°Don''t try to flatter me. Just shut up and make sure we''re going in the right direction.¡±


    Snickering to herself, Rosemary took the reins once more.


    ***


    The gates were open into the city, and Rosemary felt the familiar scent of the sea as they made their way down the main street of the city. Market stalls ran up and down the cobblestone road ¨C mostly fare from the sea, though a couple of them had goods from inland, such as the hobgoblin selling trinkets to passing tourists and sailors, crowing about their protective qualities. Urash ignored all of them, muttering ''tourist trap'' under his breath as he took over the reins from Rosemary and guided the krem away from the hustle and bustle and down one of the side streets. Seagulls squawked overhead, four wings flapping as they ascended on a cold gust of wind. One of them landed in the wagon by Rosemary, looking at her and poking at the bags littered around the wagon. She let out a laugh and extended a hand, the seagull pecking at it for a moment before jumping onto her lap.


    ¡°You can''t keep it, Rosemary,¡± Urash warned.


    ¡°I don''t keep anything, Urash,¡± Rosemary replied, ¡°Besides, he''s just a friend. Nothing serious.¡±


    ¡°Hmph.¡±


    He ignored her as she took out a slice of cheese and presented it to the bird. The seagull took it and scarfed it down as she stroked his feathers. The wagon rumbled and jumbled across Kelphaven as Urash made his way to the meeting place.


    ¡°The... palace?¡± Rosemary asked.


    ¡°Aye,¡± Urash said, ¡°The local prince likes hosting guild business whenever he can. Hopes to add to his allure, and all that.¡±


    Castle Dundrilhan, a place of multiversal trade, a solid keep of stone and seaglass, stood tall on the edge of Kelphaven, its placement in the city one of honor, as it looked out towards the open ocean, her north side watching the waves ¨C and it was a fortress well-used, as the northern battlements were pockmarked with scars from magic and cannon fire. Part of the wall was notably a shade darker than the rest, a healed wound from when the multiversal pirate Galapagos One-Eye had assaulted the city during the war. The old oaken door into Dundrilhan was thronged on either side by statues hewn from coral, swords crossing over the top of the archway. Urash jumped out of the wagon with a rough thud, tossing a coin to the servant coming to greet them.


    ¡°We know where we''re going,¡± the dwarf said, ¡°Just watch the wagon and krem, hmm?¡±


    ¡°Of course, sir,¡± the servant piped, ¡°Will you require assistance unloading?¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Urash stroked his beard, giving his signature stink eye to the wagon, a deliberating and almost obtuse glare as he considered his answer, ¡°Best to keep everything there for now. Rosemary, time to say goodbye.¡±


    ¡°Seeya,¡± Rosemary said, giving the seagull one last pat before setting him free. The seagull took off, joining the rest of his flock as they glided beside the keep.


    ¡°Don''t want to unload everything now?¡± Rosemary asked.


    ¡°It''ll help us with the negotiations,¡± Urash said, ¡°If we unload everything now, we''re showing our hand ¨C we didn''t bring much. Just a couple example pieces here and there. If we unload everything, and all the seller sees are a couple of bags and an overactive elf...¡±


    ¡°Fair point,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°What do you want me to do during all of this?¡±


    ¡°Not really sure,¡± Urash said, ¡°Look pretty, and keep your mouth shut. You''re good at the former, not so much the latter.¡±


    ¡°Why, Urash!¡± Rosemary said, ¡°I''ll pretend I didn''t hear that last part, and take back all the mean things Ichabod said about you.¡±


    The dwarf let out a growling huff, ¡°Just make sure you don''t mess anything up, got it? I don''t think Wakeling would be very happy if you managed to wriggle your way into this and then blew it all up.¡±


    ¡°Fair point,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Lips are sealed.¡±


    The meeting hall was certainly quieter than the rest of the city ¨C a couple of far travelers hawking their wares, or meeting with clients from other planes. Rosemary saw a businesswoman talking with a heaving mass of tentacles over the trade of seaglass to Prime, as well as a couple of mercenaries from the guild Thrumming Beats negotiating with a ship''s captain over the proper rate of pay for their services.


    ¡°There''s our man,¡± Urash said, ¡°Licaius! Over here!¡±


    Oh, he was a man of Methuselah, alright. Licaius (Rosemary supposed his full name was like other Methuselah names, like ''Licaius Solasius Morterius Longnamium'') was wearing a nice suit, a dark blue velvet cape draped over his shoulders. His hair was impeccably combed and sat in place as though it had been sculpted from wood, not a single hair bobbing as he approached and shook Urash''s hand energetically.


    ¡°Urash! Good man, good man,¡± his voice was posh and smooth and altogether like a rat''s.


    Not that Rosemary said that last part aloud, of course.


    ¡°This here''s Rosemary,¡± Urash said, ¡°Also of the guild.¡±


    ¡°Hello,¡± she said, perhaps a bit too politely, as she caught a slight eyebrow raise on Licaius''s part.


    ¡°Good lady,¡± he said, then he turned his attention back down to Urash, ¡°Shall we walk while we talk?¡±


    ¡°Of course, of course. Dundrilhan''s always a bit stuffy for my tastes.¡±


    They split off from the main entryway and down one of the hallways. The center of Dundrilhan was a garden ¨C a beautiful one, Rosemary noted, with flowers and trees from a dozen planes ¨C mundane trees like oaks and elms ¨C which were utterly alien to Londoa, along with trees from Murknoir, their roots levitating a foot off the ground, the entire affair a floating, drab ghost that made Rosemary feel sorry for the old thing. Not that Urash and Licaius seemed to care about the nature in this place ¨C it was right to business for the old fogies, as soon as they exchanged pleasantries ¨C they couldn''t even make small talk and ask the other about, say, their kids, as Urash was married to the art of mercantilism and Licaius''s name was too long for anyone to love.


    ¡°Right, the Nora Lanterns, then,¡± the Methuselah man produced from his sleeve a tube filled with what seemed to be water, ¡°Now, obviously the ones I sell are cubes, roughly a foot tall and a foot wide. I use the tubes as an example.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Urash said.


    Licaius reached into his robes once more, ¡°I use pearl as my example, but any instance of calcium carbonate will do.¡±


    Nerd, Rosemary thought.


    He opened up the tube and dropped it in. The tube was filled with water, and as the pearl fell in it began fizzling and dissolving, a distinct hiss emanating from within as the bacteria broke it down and began to glow in a white light. Urash squinted his eyes as he watched.


    ¡°Not bad, not bad at all,¡± the dwarf murmured, ¡°And you can sell how many of these?¡±


    ¡°In a perfect world, as many as you want,¡± Licaius said, ¡°Anything for a guild! But this is not a perfect world.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Urash said.


    ¡°I can offer around twenty of them ¨C I can''t provide the calcium, of course.¡±


    ¡°We can provide that on our own ¨C plenty of eggs back home.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Licaius agreed.


    ¡°And payment?¡± Urash prodded.


    ¡°Federation credits are the go-to,¡± Licaius said, ¡°But I''m open to more interesting options. You are a guild, after all. Certainly you have something apart from the ordinary.¡±


    The dwarf stroked his beard, ¡°Oh, I''m not too sure...¡±


    False modesty, Rosemary noted. It certainly got Licaius''s attention, as he leaned in closer.


    ¡°Come now, I''m from one of the most technologically advanced planes in the multiverse. No cross-contamination here.¡±


    ¡°We''ve got a bit of this, and a bit of that,¡± Urash said, ¡°But no, I don''t think you''d like it. Just old computers from Prime, a Knowstone from Methuselah ¨C which you no doubt possess, of course.¡±


    ¡°All standard items,¡± Licaius said, a bit disappointed.


    ¡°A tablet from Tsaeyaru...¡± Urash said in an off-handed manner.


    That got Licaius''s attention.


    ¡°A tablet from... Tsaeyaru? I thought their Church had a stranglehold on their lost technologies.¡±


    ¡°Bah,¡± Urash said, ¡°The Silver Chain''s grip is only so strong. Of course, there might not be anything on there...¡±


    ¡°You mean you haven''t had a chance to turn it on?¡± Licaius asked.


    ¡°Perhaps. There''s a bit of information of the old world on there but... No, perhaps I shouldn''t say.¡±


    ¡°I know what you''re doing, my friend,¡± Licaius smirked.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Urash said.


    ¡°And it''s working, you sly dog. Very well, a trade. Twenty Nora Lanterns for the tablet from Tsaeyaru.¡±


    ¡°Make it twenty-five,¡± Urash said, ¡°It''s a damn good tablet.¡±


    ¡°Twenty-three, and I''ll put it in good word to the merchants of Methuselah about the... generosity, shall we say, of the Amber Foundation.¡±


    ¡°And of Clan Belgone?¡± Urash said.


    ¡°Bastard, of course!¡± Licaius laughed, ¡°Good word about the Amber Foundation and Clan Belgone of Krenstone.¡±


    They shook hands, and that was that.


    ¡°Pleasure doing business with you,¡± Urash said.


    ¡°And with you. I''ll arrange for the delivery of the Nora Lanterns to your guildhall. Should be arriving within the week.¡±


    ¡°When we get all twenty-three, I''ll send the tablet,¡± Urash said. He poked his nose, ¡°And I''d better get that good rumor on our behalf, or this deal is a waste.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    Licaius gave a nod and a bow to the dwarf before sweeping away.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Rosemary mocked.


    ¡°Bah, you miss all the subtleties of the phrase,¡± Urash growled.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Rosemary said, beaming him a smarmy smile.


    The dwarf rolled his eyes and muttered a defeated curse underneath his breath.


    ¡°Right,¡± he said, changing the subject, ¡°I''ve already arranged for lodgings in the city. We''ll be staying the night here.¡±


    ¡°What inn?¡±


    ¡°Not an inn, we''ll be staying in the castle itself,¡± Urash said, ¡°Courtesy of the prince himself.¡±


    Rosemary wrinkled her nose at that.


    ¡°Something the matter?¡± Urash asked.


    ¡°Don''t like royalty, is all,¡± she said.


    ¡°Bah, if it gets us a warm bed and hot food, then it doesn''t matter who it''s from,¡± Urash said.


    Rosemary supposed he was right. A servant came over after noticing that the dwarf had finished with his negotiations with Licaius, and guided them to their rooms. But Rosemary didn''t stay for long ¨C it was just a boring room, after all, with a bed and a table and absolutely nothing of interest. Not even the potted plant on the nightstand was of any note ¨C sad and wilting. This prince needed to work on his hospitality. Instead, rose in hand and cloak billowing around her, a nice bag strapped to her side, she swept out of the room. She went over to Urash''s door and knocked on the door.


    ¡°Mmm,¡± Urash grunted. He opened the door, glowering up at her, ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°I''m going out on the town, alright?¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Want to come?¡±


    ¡°Bah. No time ¨C I''ve got to make my report to Becenti that the sale went through.¡±


    ¡°Oh, come on, Urash! Don''t you want to play the part of the tourist? Grab a couple souvenirs? Get ripped off by local peddlers?¡±


    ¡°Rosemary, we''re only a day''s journey from Kelphaven. We''re practically next-door neighbors.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, but Scuttleway doesn''t have an ocean-side view, does it? I''m going out.¡±


    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    ¡°Right,¡± Urash said, ¡°Just be back in time for dinner, in case Becenti needs anything from us.¡±


    ¡°Sounds good!¡±


    So she spent the remainder of the day wandering the city. No particular goal in mind, as her goal was not about the city itself. She went through the markets, stopping by the occasional stall to peruse its wares, never stopping for more than a few minutes, her eyes continually glancing upwards as the sky warmed from blue to orange.


    ¡°Right,¡± she said after a while, ¡°Showtime.¡±


    She made her way to her usual spot ¨C an inn just shy of the harbor district known as the Old Gallivan. A precarious four stories tall, it rose as one of the higher buildings in the area, and Rosemary had long ago struck a deal with the owner of the place when she had lived in Kelphaven in the six months before she joined the Amber Foundation. She began clambering up.


    ¡°Oh, hullo, Rosie.¡±


    The voice came from a balcony on the second floor. It belonged to Muliro, the innkeeper, as she leaned out the window. The ogre¡¯s hook, a reward from her days as a pirate, looked newly polished, the way it glinted in the darkening day. Inside, Rosemary could hear the sounds of music ¨C a lyre and flute, accompanied by the rough chorus of sailors coming inside to drink the day''s work away.


    ¡°Muliro!¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Pleasure to see you about.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I heard you climbin'' up the side, reckoned you were in town,¡± Muliro chuckled, ¡°Heard you guildfolk were here a few weeks before?¡±


    ¡°Aye,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°No time to stop by, though. Business in Salthirn, and you know how Broon gets.¡±


    ¡°Punctual for punctuality''s sake,¡± Muliro agreed, ¡°Well, I won''t keep you ¨C sounds like a fight''s brewing downstairs.¡±


    ¡°This early?¡± Rosemary laughed, ¡°Alright. Say hi to Petron for me. And Roibald. And Anders, and-¡±


    ¡°I''ll say hi to all of ''em for you,¡± Muliro interrupted, ¡°You get on up to the roof, now. Sun''s already startin'' to dip.¡±


    ¡°Thanks!¡±


    She waved goodbye to the ogre, giving Muliro a wink before continuing her ascent. The roof was shingled ¨C freshly so, she noticed. Muliro must have gotten it redone recently. That meant plenty of purchase, as she sat herself down to watch the setting sun plant itself into the ocean''s horizon. She didn''t need to wait long. As Muliro had mentioned, it was already starting to set, honeying the sea and dazzling its surface in glass-like glitter. It was a sight she never got sick of. Her home plane didn''t have a sea, so she had always enjoyed coming here, watching the ships curl through the choppy waters, listening to the waves crash on the shore and the call of gulls echoing from above. Most people didn''t realize this, but every seagull''s song was unique, belonging solely to its singer, as unique as a snowflake on a cold winter''s day. Already a few were gathering around her, joining her to watch the heralding of night.


    ¡°Oh, right!¡± she said to herself, ¡°Dinner.¡±


    Like she was going to let old Urash dictate a curfew. Rosemary was an adult ¨C she could do whatever she wanted. She took her meal out of the bag ¨C a simple tomato sandwich, with a bottle of nectar from the Gorion''s Flower growing in the gardens outside Castle Belenus to wash it down. A satisfactory meal, and one that pinged her with the painful and bittersweet nostalgia of home.


    ***


    She returned late that night to the castle. Urash was waiting for her at the entrance, his arms crossed and his expression dour.


    ¡°Late for dinner, I know,¡± she said.


    ¡°Bah, who cares about dinner,¡± Urash said, ¡°You pay too much attention to the first part of what I said. Not the second.¡±


    ¡°What the heck could Becenti want from us? We already bought the darn lanterns-¡±


    ¡°Lady Sunala is coming here to Kelphaven,¡± Urash said, ¡°We''re to escort her back home to Scuttleway.¡±


    Rosemary paled, ¡°I thought she was already in Scuttleway!¡±


    ¡°So did Becenti, but apparently she''s been on Darkheld Landmass and is returning tonight. She wants to return back to the city now.¡±


    ¡°She doesn¡¯t want to stay the night?


    ¡°No,¡± Urash said, ¡°When I mean now, I mean, now.¡±


    The full weight of his words fell on Rosemary¡¯s head like a sack of bricks.


    ¡°Shit,¡± she said, ¡°Shitshitshit, I haven''t made us late, have I?¡±


    ¡°Very nearly have,¡± Urash grunted.


    Already the two of them were leaving, jogging towards the docks. Rosemary squinted, trying to discern dark shapes on the water, lit only by the pale moonlight. She could make out a ship, larger than the others, a full luxury liner that was just now coming to shore.


    Urash was falling behind. He muttered a curse and pulled the metal rod out of his robes.


    ¡°Dammit!¡± he snarled, ¡°Good thing I prepared this today-¡±


    The rod glowed before Rosemary felt the wind pick up beneath her feet. Steeling herself, she jumped as the gust carried her upwards as the levitation spell took full effect.


    ¡°Better to fly than run!¡± Urash shouted.


    ¡°Gives us more style, too!¡± Rosemary laughed, ¡°Got to impress the lady somehow!¡±


    Her heart was fluttering with excitement now, the sudden panic receding as the two of them landed at the dock right as the ship arrived. Rosemary had heard of the Lady Sunala, had read stories of her exploits across Londoa and beyond. She was wringing her cloak as the flight spell withered away.


    ¡°Rosemary, your ears,¡± Urash warned.


    ¡°Right,¡± she reset her hair, letting the curly locks fall over her pointed ears, taking a deep breath, ¡°Do I look alright?¡±


    ¡°Bah, you look fine,¡± Urash said, ¡°Like a proper member of the guild. I''m sure Lady Sunala won''t notice the bit of tomato stuck in your teeth.¡±


    She felt around her mouth for a moment, tongue darting from tooth to tooth, the panic returning to her. Then, upon finding nothing, she glared at the dwarf. He had a right shit-eating grin on his face that melted to grim respect as the plank of the ship dropped down and the Lady Sunala arrived.


    Three people came down. One was thin and reed-like, his cloak and clothing sticking to him form rather nicely as he stepped onto the pier. His hair was tied back in a ponytail, and he considered Rosemary and Urash with an upturned nose. The other was solid and large, also wearing an ermine cloak, a full beard covering his face. Neither of the two were armed.


    ¡°Amber Foundation, I presume?¡± the thin one asked.


    ¡°Aye,¡± Urash said, ¡°Urash of Clan Belgone. This here''s Rosemary.¡±


    ¡°Hey,¡± she said, a bit meekly.


    The thin man took a deep breath, before piping, ¡°May I present the Lady Lily-Ann Doriama Sunala, head of House Sunala, Keeper of the Third Crown.¡±


    The Lady Sunala was almost as tall as her large escort. Her dress was a dark blue ¨C seeming to melt into the night as she stepped between her two guards, one that seemed to shimmer and change and reflect the starry sky high above. Perhaps detrimental to this whole upkeep of nobility, she also wore a mundane and tattered tricorn hat, one that she was now slipping off and stowing to the side. Yet nonetheless, she carried herself with a poised, graceful air, as though a goddess was stepping off the ship and not a-


    An elf. Rosemary could see the pointed ears, even in the half-light of the dock''s lanterns.


    ¡°Greetings, Urash and Rosemary,¡± she said, ¡°Clan Belgone, hmm? A long way from Krenstone, my friend.¡±


    ¡°We Belgones have a saying, Milady,¡± Urash said, ¡°See far and walk there.¡±


    ¡°And what you see, sell,¡± Sunala finished. The dwarf gave a nod and a smile at that.


    ¡°And Rosemary,¡± she continued, ¡°An elf, I see.¡±


    ¡°Is it... is it that obvious?¡± Rosemary asked.


    ¡°Kind recognizes kind,¡± Sunala said, ¡°You should not be afraid of what you are.¡±


    She turned back to Urash, ¡°The two with me are my personal escorts. Nelthel and Spinlock. Say hello, you two.¡±


    ¡°Hello,¡± the thin man, Nelthel, said.


    Spinlock simply nodded.


    ¡°Spin,¡± Sunala warned.


    ¡°Greetings,¡± his voice was deep and broad, ¡°I am Spinlock.¡±


    ¡°As they already know,¡± Sunala said, ending the statement with a light chuckle.


    Spinlock blushed a bit, ¡°R-right.¡±


    ¡°Come, then, let''s be off,¡± Sunala said, ¡°I wish to get to Castle Belenus before dawn. Wakeling and I have much to discuss.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Urash said.


    He, Sunala, and her attendants went off at once. Rosemary gawked as she saw they were walking in the opposite direction of Dundrilhan.


    ¡°Ah,¡± she ran over to catch up to them, ¡°We''re not resting? No overnight trip? We''re not leaving in the morning?¡±


    ¡°Rest is for the weary,¡± Sunala said, matching the brisk pace of her attendants, ¡°And it is a mere day''s trip back to Scuttleway. Besides,¡±


    She turned to smile at Rosemary.


    ¡°It''s a beautiful night for a walk, isn''t it?¡±


    ***


    The Lady Sunala was unstoppable. Unconquerable. Inconceivable. And judging by the fact that she seemed just as hale and hearty as she had been when she stepped off the ship while Rosemary''s feet were blistered beyond recognition and Urash was wheezing and falling behind, indestructible. They didn''t rest once on the journey back to Scuttleway. Spinlock and Nelthel carried torches to light the way, and even they began lagging behind as Sunala forged forward, one foot in front of the other, her dress becoming dusted and dirtied by the rigors of the road. Yet she didn''t seem to mind, a calm smile on her face as she walked. Occasionally she would turn and remark upon something on the road ¨C to which Rosemary, the only one able to really keep pace with her (though not without cost!) was privy to.


    ¡°Odd,¡± Sunala said at around three in the morning, ¡°Sandlethorn is unusually dark tonight.¡±


    Rosemary glanced up towards the urban patchwork high above, squinting to make out what Sunala was looking at, ¡°I''m sorry, Milady, I don''t quite follow.¡±


    ¡°There,¡± Sunala pointed, still walking, ¡°Sandlethorn, capital of Dwenmari.¡±


    ¡°The Kingdom of the Gnomes?¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Usually it''s lit up as bright as the moon. But not now. I wonder why that is...¡±


    ¡°Maybe they all got tired,¡± Rosemary said.


    Sunala was quiet. ¡°Perhaps,¡± she said.


    They were small observations. The temperature of the night. The cities above them, and the people who lived within. Lines of campfires on other Landmasses that had not been there before.


    ¡°Armies on the move,¡± she said, ¡°We live in interesting times, Rosemary.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± she said.


    Something always distracted Sunala as they went. She was as curious as a cat, and even the grasslands around them, boring as they were to Rosemary, gave her something to observe. Yet the only time she ever stopped was when the Inner Sun lit Moadma once more. She stopped, turning to observe the mirror-like disc dip into existence, flaring to life and shining, a single bright eye. Rosemary, who had fallen a hair back ,jogged to catch up to her, each step creating aches that thundered up her legs. Sunala turned to her.


    ¡°Almost there, love,¡± she said, ¡°Where are... Urash and the others?¡±


    ¡°Still back there,¡± Rosemary said, catching her breath, ¡°Urash fainted a bit of a ways back, I think. I think Spinlock and Nelthel are a bit behind us, too.¡±


    She could see in the distance Spinlock holding the dwarf on his mountainous back.


    ¡°There they are,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°Good,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Apologies about your friend there.¡±


    ¡°He''s a mage and a merchant,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°He doesn''t get out much, unless it''s by wagon.¡±


    ¡°I''m surprised you didn''t bring one,¡± Sunala said.


    ¡°We, ah,¡± Rosemary laughed a bit, ¡°We did.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Sunala blushed a bit, ¡°And you left it behind at Kelphaven?¡±


    ¡°Along with our krem, Juicebox,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°You went off just like that, and Urash followed, and so I thought you knew!¡±


    ¡°I didn''t!¡± Sunala said, becoming redder, ¡°I didn''t know! Oh dear, I¡¯m terribly sorry.¡±


    ¡°It''s okay!¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Just worried about Juicebox, is all.¡±


    ¡°I''ll arrange for your krem and wagon to be brought back to Castle Belenus,¡± Sunala said.


    ¡°Right, yeah,¡± Rosemary turned to watch the Inner Sun crest over the sky. She suppressed a yawn. Now that she''d gotten a moment to rest, the adrenaline was seeping out of her system...


    ¡°Shall we move on?¡± Sunala asked.


    Gods! This woman couldn''t be real! ¡°We''d better.¡±


    ***


    As it stood, Joseph had been up most of the night as well ¨C requisitioned by Becenti to do more research on the dead plane. Books were piled around him, journals and secondary research on the various metahuman kingdoms of the multiverse.


    ¡°Most of them are contraband, Mr. Zheng,¡± Becenti had said, ¡°They are not to leave the library.¡±


    ¡°Which means I can''t leave the library,¡± Joseph replied.


    ¡°Indeed. You will need to know as much of the history of metahumanity as you can before we go to the dead plane. I''ll have someone check up on you periodically, perhaps give you enough food and water to survive.¡±


    A light smirk played on his face. Joseph rolled his eyes at the bad joke.


    But his words had been true. Barbara ¨C perhaps in revenge for the twisting of her wing to get the spiced milk for Chadwick, wouldn''t let him leave if he held a book in his hands. Perhaps she didn''t hear Becenti correctly ¨C or perhaps she was interpreting his words forward another step, as whenever Joseph rose up to take a break, a journal in hand, she stopped him at the door.


    ¡°No books outside the library,¡± she hissed.


    ¡°Just going for a quick coffee break,¡± Joseph said, ¡°That''s all.¡±


    ¡°Not with the book, you''re not.¡±


    So Joseph had to leave the book behind. But as he poured himself a cup in the dining hall, Becenti intercepted him.


    ¡°How goes the reading, Mr. Zheng?¡±


    ¡°Well enough, I guess,¡± Joseph said.


    Becenti nodded, ¡°Tell me: who was the first queen of Malduvia?¡±


    ¡°Malduvia?¡±


    Becenti shook his head, ¡°An amateur question, Mr. Zheng. Something a third-grader would answer, like knowing who the first president of the United States was.¡±


    ¡°...George Washington?¡±


    ¡°Martha Washington, Mr. Zheng,¡± Becenti countered, ¡°Best you get back to reading, eh?¡±


    ¡°Why are you having me do all this?¡± Joseph asked, ¡°Do you even know the dead plane''s a metahuman one?¡±


    ¡°Reasonably,¡± Becenti said, ¡°What, you don''t want to learn about your history? Your culture?¡±


    Something about Becenti''s words unsettled Joseph, but he ignored it, looking at his cup of coffee.


    ¡°It''s a lot to take in, to be honest,¡± he said.


    Becenti relaxed a bit, ¡°I know. And it''s... Well, I suppose it''s alright to say it doesn''t feel like this whole life is yours. But it is, no matter how you look at it, and no matter what you do. You can''t turn your back on that.¡±


    ¡°Then why are you having me read all this now?¡± Joseph asked, ¡°I mean, I''d be better off helping the rest of the guild prepare, gathering supplies and all that.¡±


    ¡°Well, the fact of the matter is,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Wakeling and I decided that the team you''re with needs a metahuman expert. You''re assigned to the team who will be scouting ahead the farthest during the expedition.¡±


    ¡°And Nash doesn''t know enough?¡±


    ¡°That, and we need someone who is an expert and is a metahuman,¡± Becenti said, ¡°There are certain places in these old ruins that only react to the metagene. Doors will only open when they react to your DNA. Certain databases will be offline unless you''re there, with no easy way to turn them on. That¡¯s why we¡¯re in separate groups.¡±


    ¡°And you want me to know what I''m doing while I''m out there, and not relying on Nash the whole time.¡±


    ¡°Precisely,¡± Becenti smiled, ¡°Now, get to reading, Mr. Zheng. I expect you to know at least the basics before we leave for the expedition.¡±


    So Joseph returned to the library, coffee in hand, sipping it periodically as he read into the night. He read of Epochia, and the kingdoms within its makeup. Of the wars with the Federation and with each other, of the Seven Hundred Leaders of Metahumanity, of the kingdoms that rose to prominence and held vast swathes of the multiverse in their hands ¨C hands there were claws, were made of stone, that glowed neon in the darkness.


    By the time he was drifting, he at least knew who the first queen of Malduvia was.


    ***


    ¡°Joseph!¡± Phineas rasped, ¡°Joseph! Awaken!¡±


    ¡°Mm,¡± Joseph groaned, ¡°Naw.¡±


    ¡°If you do not, I will cast a spell on you!¡±


    ¡°Sure, man,¡± Joseph murmured.


    He shouted in shock as the Deep One''s heavy book slammed against his head like a paper sledgehammer.


    ¡°Ow! Phineas! Stop!¡±


    ¡°I am sorry,¡± Phineas tucked the book back beneath his arm, ¡°But Becenti, he said to awaken you. And I did not want to cast a spell and make you go insane.¡±


    ¡°S''alright,¡± Joseph said.


    He blinked, his vision bleary and wet. He had fallen asleep in the library, his cheek pressed against an open book on the Third War of Reconciliation. Light shone in from the outside, filtered orange by the stained glass. The guild was alive around him, the hustle and bustle of the early morning a bit busier than normal. There was an energetic energy to everyone that was out of place. Joseph noted Broon coming through, wearing a royal purple cape that draped over his missing arm.


    ¡°What''s going on?¡± he asked Phineas, and noted the Deep One seemed to have been polishing his scales.


    ¡°The Lady,¡± Phineas said, ¡°She''s here.¡±


    ¡°The... Lady?¡± Joseph thought.


    Then it hit him.


    The Lady Sunala.


    ¡°Shit,¡± he said. He scrambled to his feet, patting himself down, ¡°How do I look?¡±


    ¡°Like a human.¡±


    ¡°Barbara!¡± Joseph called to the great toucan, who was preening her feathers by a mirror on the second floor, ¡°Barbara, how do I look?¡±


    ¡°Fine enough,¡± Barbara said, ¡°Though perhaps I''m not the best judge...?¡±


    ¡°I''ll assume I look awful, then,¡± Joseph said. People in the main hall were already crowding around someone. Joseph watched as Wakeling floated down from the top floor in style towards someone in the center of the mass that Joseph couldn''t see.


    ¡°The Lady Sunala has arrived,¡± Phineas said.


    ¡°Right,¡± Joseph began organizing the table in front of him, compiling the various scattered papers and journals he had haphazardly spread around the place, ¡°Right, not sure what to do-¡±


    He heard movement. He glanced up.


    ¡°And this is the Library,¡± Wakeling was telling Sunala, ¡°Where you will be spending a good time amount of time-¡±


    The entire guild was there. As was Lady Sunala ¨C an elven woman in a tattered dress, as though she had been hiking here since the night before. Yet she hardly looked weary. Instead, the light of curiosity dazzled in her eyes. Wakeling glanced over at Joseph.


    ¡°Ah, and these are Mr. Zheng and Mr. Phineas, who will be joining us on the expedition,¡± she said.


    ¡°Greetings,¡± Phineas said.


    Joseph felt the entire room''s eyes on him. He gulped and said, ¡°Hey.¡±


    ¡°Doing a bit of light reading, Mr. Zheng?¡± the Lady Sunala asked.


    ¡°A... A bit,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Nothing major. Just metahuman shi- things.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Sunala nodded, glancing down at the book, ¡°The Wars of Reconciliation?¡±


    Joseph nodded.


    ¡°Milady,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Perhaps we should be moving on? You must be exhausted after your journey.¡±


    ¡°Not really,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Though I would fancy some privacy, if you will. Though please, bring a few of the books the young Zheng is reading for me. I''d like to take a look at them.¡±


    ¡°Of course, of course,¡± Wakeling chuckled, ¡°Right this way.¡±


    Her head spun to address the rest of the guild, ¡°The rest of you: Back to work.¡±


    They began dispersing, going back to their regular duties, though a few of them stuck around in the Main Hall, talking among themselves. Rosemary was among them, trudging over to Joseph''s table, deep rings set under her eyes. She wilted as she sat down, forehead dipping down to rest on the oaken tabletop.


    ¡°Long night?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°You''ve no idea,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°She had us going all night ''til we got to the city. I think Urash is still out there, left behind like a leaf on the wind.¡±


    ¡°Christ,¡± Joseph murmured.


    She turned her head to the side, eyes glancing up at him, ¡°You?¡±


    ¡°Becenti''s got me reading all about metahumanity.¡±


    ¡°Bleh, reading.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph leaned back, rubbing his eyes, ¡°Guess I fell asleep somewhere around four. Phin, what time is it?¡±


    Phineas had seated himself beside Joseph, thinking for a moment, ¡°The Inner Sun shines, so it is day.¡±


    ¡°Thanks, Phin.¡±


    ¡°A joke. It is seven in the morning,¡± Phineas amended.


    ¡°Great,¡± Joseph blinked, ¡°I''d love to take more of a nap, but Becenti said I''d need to be at least halfway decent at this metahuman shit before we leave, so I can''t really sleep, can I?¡±


    ¡°No, perhaps not,¡± Phineas said, ¡°Perhaps I will get some coffee.¡±


    ¡°Good idea,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Get me some, will you?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Phineas turned, ¡°Rosemary...?¡±


    But she was already asleep.


    ¡°Maybe just coffee for the two of us,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Yes, perhaps that is best,¡± Phineas replied.


    He waddled off out of the library. Joseph gave another yawn, and opened his book back up.


    Another day in paradise.

 28. The Last Week; or, Three Tales of the Amber Foundation

    The plane was known as Entheos, the World of Death, and it was a name well earned. All here had died long ago ¨C the people, the trees, in some parts the very land itself. Revived in a sort of half-life, the denizens of Entheos were all manner of undead beings ¨C vampires, zombies, liches, and more. The sky was forever in an overcast gray, the sun having been smeared out of existence long ago. Naturally, this made it cold. All the world was rendered in an eternal winter, great mummified mammoths trudging the icy steppes, Dracoliches flying across frost-covered sky. The mountains were capped to the point where they were nearly painted white, black rock poking out here and there the only evidence that there was stone beneath. Legends spoke of a mythical Summer King who would one day come and bring life back to the land. Would return the sun, would break the clouded sky.


    But it was just that.


    A legend.


    One that was fading into the same place as folk tale and myth.


    Entheos was Heyma''s home plane, though she had left it several years ago. She had only returned to Entheos a few times ¨C once for her grandfather''s Second Funeral. Another time to celebrate the marriage of her sister to the Vampire Queen. A third time to help her sister through her divorce with the Vampire Queen.


    That had gotten messy. She had not wanted to return here again. Castle Belenus, with its cheery warm orange and its proximity to the Inner Sun, was home now.


    But duty called, and Lady Sunala wanted passage through Entheos. It was a roadblock between them and the dead plane, though Heyma doubted there was not a plane as dead as here


    As she stepped through the Traveling Point, she shivered. As much as one such as she could shiver ¨C there wasn''t much of a body in the mail. But no matter what, Entheos did that to you, the way it worked its way into the soul. Made you realize that everything cold was just cool compared to its ice age.


    At least she was in good company. G-Wiz stepped through behind her, wearing a heavy coat that covered most of her form. Her Zumbelaphone had been repaired ¨C rather haphazardly ¨C by Ichabod and Lylana. Duct tape criss-crossed the neck, and Lylana had used a blowtorch to literally weld the broken halves back together, giving it a cool lightning-bolt design on the back. Heyma thought it gave the thing personality. G-Wiz''s face shriveled into disgust when she looked at it.


    ¡°God, I hate this,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°Same,¡± Heyma said, ¡°No place like home, right?¡±


    G-Wiz glanced around the landscape. They appeared to have emerged on a hill overlooking a grayscale landscape of winter. Ash from the nearby volcano mixed with the snow, peppering it like an old man¡¯s beard. In the distance, perhaps to remain in proximity to any warmth in this blasted place, was a city ¨C the capital, G-Wiz remembered, of Murdok, the Realm of the Dragon.


    ¡°Why''d you bring me to a place like this?¡± G-Wiz muttered.


    ¡°Because Becenti said you needed to get out more,¡± Heyma said, ¡°You haven''t left the castle since...¡±


    Dark memories rankled G-Wiz''s mind. Heyma, realizing this, trailed off.


    ¡°Whatever,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Damn nice place to take me, you know. Nice and sunny. I feel better already.¡±


    ¡°Hey, poor form,¡± Heyma said, ¡°I don''t want to be here, either. But it''s nice to bring a friend.¡±


    The honesty in her voice always got to G-Wiz. She gave her a small smile.


    ¡°Alright, fine. You damn guilt-tripper.¡±


    Heyma gave her a thumbs-up.


    ¡°So where are we headed?¡± G-Wiz asked.


    ¡°I don''t know how Wakeling did it, but we''re going to a meeting with Skarnorex.¡±


    ¡°The... Dracolich?¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°Yup. Ruler of Murdok. In that city, right over there.¡±


    ¡°Wicked,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°A Dracolich. Not bad.¡±


    The two of them made their way down the hill, half-sliding at the end and trudging towards the city. There was no road.


    ¡°Don''t need one,¡± Heyma said, ¡°There''s too much snowfall, so it covers any markers you make. Besides, most of the people around here are zombies, like Gluh.¡±


    ¡°So they just wander around and moan?¡± G-Wiz smirked.


    ¡°Yeah, something like that,¡± Heyma said, ¡°Means that people don''t really care if you''re on time or not.¡±


    ¡°Except the Dracolich.¡±


    ¡°You''re right, there. Let''s hurry the pace, yeah?¡±


    Heyma began jogging. G-Wiz let out a curse and followed after her, tripping halfway through her second sprint. Heyma turned around.


    ¡°Climb on!¡± she said


    G-Wiz scrambled up onto Heyma''s back, the armored woman re-doubling her pace, clomping through the snow towards the city. Since Heyma was just a suit of armor, she didn''t tire as she ran forward, making it to the city''s entrance without much of a hassle. She let G-Wiz down, the two of them laughing as she almost fell over before approaching the guard. He was a vampire, by the looks of it ¨C pale white skin covered in an inky black armor with a draconic motif to it ¨C his helmet was a Dragon''s maw, and the spear''s point was styled as a drake''s tooth.


    ¡°''Sup,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°Hello!¡± Heyma said, ¡°We''re here to see Skarnorex.¡±


    ¡°Guildfolk?¡± the guard said, ¡°Very well. Ye may pass.¡±


    The city was, for the most part, abandoned ¨C neither Heyma nor G-Wiz saw much around here. Why there was a guard posted right at the gate was anyone''s guess ¨C he was guarding a ghost town.


    ¡°Oh, duh,¡± Heyma said, ¡°Ghosts. I''m an idiot.¡±


    ¡°Why can''t I see them?¡± G-Wiz asked.


    ¡°''Cause they don''t want to be seen,¡± Heyma replied, ¡°I can feel them, though. Cousins, and all that.¡±


    That meant, since most of the citizenry was composed of the spiritual kind, that the regular amenities of the city were missing. No inns or taverns ¨C ghosts didn''t need to sleep and most were of a religion that forbade drinking. They practiced this even in death.


    That, and they physically couldn''t drink, but it was the thought that counted.


    ¡°Damn, pretty busy out here,¡± Heyma said.


    ¡°It''s really quiet for me,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°You can''t sense them, but they''re all hustling and bustling about,¡± Heyma said, ¡°Sorry, ''scuse me, pardon-¡±


    They made their way to the great keep built into the side of the volcano. It was a square-shaped construct, built from dark stone, the windows carved from the obsidian that dotted the volcano''s outside. There were few torches here ¨C evidently Skarnorex preferred the darkness ¨C and what sconces that did exist were lit with a pale blue fire that seemed to cast more shadow than light. G-Wiz had to respect the vibe the Dracolich was going for.


    The attendant guiding them down a skeleton in a business suit. She led them down dark staircases, past empty rooms and lonely dining halls, further and further spiraling into the keep and beneath it.


    Most Dragons had hoards. A physical manifestation of their brilliance and of the possibilities of the multiverse. Natural Far Travelers, Dragons did not need Traveling Points to shift across the breadth of reality. As such, their hoards were often diverse, reflecting their many expeditions and ventures.


    Dracoliches were no exception. Skarnorex had been caught in the wave that had twisted Entheos into the World of Death, but that did not mean they were going to change their nature. Their great, cavernous lair was flooded with jewels and golden weapons from hundreds of different medieval worlds. Technology from the Silver Eye and beyond was littered between them ¨C bits of starships, plasma weaponry, and discarded replicators hung among the sea of gold. Crystallized spells and incantations floated in the air around the great Dracolich, their breath having suspended them in time ¨C for magic, too, could be collected. Balls of fire hung like will-o''-the-wisps, neon green acid spells floated in orbs of glass, a healing spell cast by Aldr Fatebreaker floated overhead like a miniature star, light perforating and flowing in slow motion.


    Skarnorex themself was sitting on their hoard. Long ago, they were known to be scaled in dark crimson, with four horns adorning their head, a graying beard snaking down their chin and to the floor. Now, however, the power of Ontheos had rotted away the scales. Skarnorex had lost one of their horns to a rival, leaving them with two curling on one side, a single cracked horn on the other. The beard was gone, having decayed off of their skeletal head. They were a complete skeleton now, their ribs acting as a cage for their soul, a dark red thing that pulsed like a beating heart, spreading power over their form, magic having taken over the basic functions of the body such as movement and speech.


    ¡°Welcome,¡± their voice was a miasma of whispers that rang in their heads, ¡°Amber Foundation! I hope the journey here was amicable.¡±


    ¡°Hello, Skarnorex,¡± Heyma said, her voice tinny and small in the vastness of the lair, ¡°My name''s Heyma, this here''s G-Wiz.¡±


    Skarnorex drew themself closer to the pair of them, who were on an outcropping of stone just at the entrance of the cavern. Skarnorex''s head was a sightless skull, yet they stared as though they had eyes, considering the two of them.


    ¡°What brings you to my land?¡± Skarnorex asked, ¡°You are a guild. There must be something. People like you don''t travel for free.¡±


    ¡°We''re needing to purchase passage through your lands,¡± Heyma stated, ¡°We know that your kingdom''s roads are dangerous this time of year, the skies more so.¡±


    ¡°And you''d like my guarantee that you''ll be protected,¡± Skarnorex purred.


    ¡°Correct,¡± Heyma said.


    ¡°Why?¡±


    There was a dangerous, greedy edge to that question, but Heyma was prepared, ¡°We''ve recently discovered that a job we''ve taken requires passage to Redenia, the World of Monsters. We''re going to be using one of the lesser known Traveling Points to reach its eastern continent.¡±


    ¡°And where will you go from there?¡± Skarnorex asked.


    ¡°To the plane that our job is required on,¡± Heyma answered.


    A half-truth. They both knew it. But the Dracolich was polite. They reared upwards, considering their words.


    ¡°The eastern continent?¡± Skarnorex asked, ¡°The more dangerous of the two.¡±


    ¡°We''ve got... other insurances for Redenia,¡± Heyma said, ¡°We''d like to make sure that we get to our destination safe and sound, with as few delays as possible. I''m sure you understand.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Skarnorex said.


    The Dracolich considered their request. Heyma stood stock-still, waiting for Skarnorex''s answer. There was no sound. The only movement came from G-Wiz¡¯s nervous shuffling and the spells cast overhead, eternally undulating in their spheres.


    Skarnorex pointed a great, skeletal claw at G-Wiz.


    ¡°You.¡±


    G-Wiz straightened her back, felt a thrill of fear run up her spine as the Dracolich''s sight fell on her.


    ¡°You are from Doremi, are you not?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I am,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°You don''t carry yourself like one of them. You aren''t dressed like one of them. Yet you bear that plane''s scent.¡±


    ¡°I''m an Electron,¡± G-Wiz replied.


    ¡°Ah, a rebel, then,¡± Skarnorex said, ¡°Good. The multiverse could use more like you.¡±


    They let out a low humming noise, and then said, ¡°Very well. I will allow you to pass my lands. But the payment need not be anything long-term. No money is required. All I would like from you is a song.¡±


    ¡°A... song?¡±


    ¡°With that Zumbelaphone of yours,¡± Skarnorex said, ¡°I hear you can produce energy with it, convert music to power.¡±


    G-Wiz gulped, looking over to Heyma with a worried expression knit on her face.


    ¡°A moment, please,¡± Heyma said.


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    The armored woman took G-Wiz back, the two of them halfway up the staircase that led to Skarnorex''s cavern.


    ¡°You good?¡± she asked.


    ¡°I don''t know,¡± G-Wiz whispered, ¡°I don''t know at all, I...¡±


    She unslung her keytar, looking it over.


    ¡°It got repaired, and everything, yeah, but no matter how much I tune and re-tune it, it doesn''t sound the same...¡±


    ¡°It''ll still be music from Doremi, though,¡± Heyma noted.


    ¡°Yeah, but it won''t be good,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°You think that¡¯s what Skarnorex is expecting? What if it¡¯s not¡­ good enough?


    What if I''m not good enough was the unspoken question, and it hung in the air between the two of them. It was a vulnerability she had not really conveyed in the guild before, except for perhaps to Nole.


    ¡°I can¡¯t do this, Heyma.¡±


    ¡°Hey,¡± Heyma put a hand on G-Wiz''s shoulder, ¡°You said you''re an Electron, right? I don''t remember you ever mentioning that to anyone.¡±


    ¡°...Nole knew.¡±


    ¡°He knew a lot about you, didn''t he?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°What are the Electrons like?¡± Heyma prodded.


    ¡°We''re... exiles. Doremi''s got a certain...¡± G-Wiz struggled to find the words, ¡°Cadence to it. A genre. Electrons, we don''t like it. Too classical. Too flowing, too much emphasis on what''s been made then what can be made.¡±


    ¡°And that''s why you wanted Ichabod and Lylana to repair it, rather than going back,¡± Heyma said.


    ¡°I can''t go back,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Doremi''s... not a good scene. Not many Electrons are there now. Most of us left, dig? The road''s our home now.¡±


    She fingered the Zumbelaphone, ¡°Now... I don''t know. I don''t feel right anymore.¡±


    Heyma was quiet for a moment, glancing back down the staircase. Perhaps they could find another payment for Skarnorex. Find another way. But Dragons were fickle creatures. They wanted what they wanted.


    And Skarnorex was among the more stubborn of them, so stubborn they had clung to life even after death.


    ¡°...There''s really no other way, is there?¡± G-Wiz asked.


    Heyma shook her head. G-Wiz wilted.


    ¡°You''re saying that it doesn''t feel right anymore, right?¡± Heyma said.


    ¡°Yeah, somethin'' like that.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure it''s not just different?¡±


    ¡°It ain''t just different,¡± G-Wiz spat, ¡°It''s wrong. Weird. I can''t vibe with it. Trust me, Heyma, I''ve tried.¡±


    ¡°You sure?¡±


    ¡°I''m sure!¡±


    Her voice echoed through the hallway, ringing through the hollow joints of Heyma''s armor. They both heard Skarnorex rustle below them. G-Wiz took a deep breath.


    ¡°I''m sorry,¡± she said, ¡°It''s just ¨C Ever since Nole died, nothing feels right.¡±


    ¡°He was your friend,¡± Heyma said.


    ¡°It was more than that,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°He understood me. Knew what I was like. How to help me... cope with shit, y''know?¡±


    She sighed, pressing a few keys on the keytar. Heyma couldn''t hear any difference ¨C it sounded exactly the same as it had the first day G-Wiz had first arrived at Castle Belenus. The Electron glared at the instrument, pressing a few keys before thumbing a couple of buttons on the top, trying to tune it to her liking. Small bolts of blue light sparked around her as she did so.


    ¡°It won''t sound good,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°It''ll sound different.¡±


    ¡°But not good.¡±


    ¡°Not yet,¡± Heyma reasoned.


    G-Wiz snorted, ¡°Maybe.¡±


    A silence settled between them.


    ¡°They''re waiting,¡± Heyma said, ¡°G, we can find another way.¡±


    ¡°...I''ll do it,¡± G-Wiz said.


    She gripped the keytar, ¡°Fuck it. It''s what Nole would do. No belly-achin'' from me.¡±


    ¡°Alright, then,¡± Heyma said, ¡°You got this.¡±


    ¡°''Course I do,¡± G-Wiz''s voice trembled with false bravado, ¡°Time to kick ass.¡±


    She turned and began going down the stairs.


    ¡°G-Wiz!¡± Heyma called.


    The Electron turned around to face her.


    ¡°I''ve got your back. You can do it.¡±


    Something crossed across G-Wiz''s face, but she broke into a more genuine smile as she turned down and entered back into the great cavern. Skarnorex was waiting expectantly, their great form rising high above, their neck craning upwards and their skull silhouetting against the cavern''s roof.


    ¡°Took you long enough,¡± they said.


    ¡°Sorry,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°What are you in the mood for?¡±


    ¡°Anything, really,¡± Skarnorex said, ¡°It''s the power behind it that counts.¡±


    ¡°Right, I''m gonna free-style, then,¡± G-Wiz said. Without another word, she pressed the first few keys of the keytar, a deep, thrumming sound emanating from the lower keys as she started to play.


    ***


    Heyma wasn''t sure what G-Wiz had been worried about. She was a muse, real and true to herself. The instrument was just a vessel as G-Wiz played, sparks and light dancing around her, swirling in electrical zig-zags with each note. Skarnorex chuckled to themself as she continued on ¨C the music didn''t have any particular melody to it at first, but soon took on different melodies and pieces as she went on, transitioning from one to the other. Occasionally, she''d slip up ¨C her finger would slip, land on the wrong key that would almost cause her groove to snap.


    But Heyma noticed something. When slip-ups happened, G-Wiz always glanced back at her. Her face was set as stone, but her eyes betrayed all of her emotions ¨C the anxiety, the fear, the nervousness. But they dissipated when her eyes fell on the spirit in armor.


    She had her back.


    Energy streamed from the Zumbelaphone, electric blue and neon greens, swirling together into a multicolored ball. Imagination, the lifestuff of the multiverse, pure possibility that the mortal mind could only partially comprehend. It collected itself, spun on Skarnorex''s outraised claw, before they breathed into it, forming a cocoon of air and magic around it, holding it fast, the sphere floating up to join the rest of the spells floating in the cavern.


    ¡°Not bad, not bad at all, Amber Foundation,¡± Skarnorex chuckled.


    G-Wiz took a few steps back, exhausted from the effort, her brow slicked with sweat. Heyma rushed over to support her.


    ¡°You sure you don''t want to stay here, kid?¡± Skarnorex mused, ¡°I need a new bard, most of the ones I used to have can''t play anymore ¨C don''t have the lungs.¡±


    ¡°I think I''m good,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°I''ve got...¡±


    She looked at Heyma, a triumphant smile on her face, ¡°I''ve got people back home who need me.¡±


    ¡°Ah, well, your loss,¡± Skarnorex said, ¡°Very well, guildfolk. My land is yours to traverse. My skies are your skies.¡±


    They extended out a claw.


    G-Wiz shook it, an exhausted but triumphant smile on her face.


    Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    ***


    Mallory awoke early in the morning with a fire burning in her heart. She got out of bed, careful not to wake up Rosemary, and pulled on the same ratty overalls she''d owned since she''d joined the guild. A couple of her experiments were on her desk ¨C a couple of mechanicals from back home that she''d been tinkering with, as well as an alembic that she''d been pumping steam into every morning as a favor for Rathia. Her thermos was always filled with water, so she took a few gulps and poured some steam into the alchemical device before she went downstairs. It was early in the morning ¨C the Inner Sun had not yet appeared. Out of everyone in the guild ¨C save for those who didn''t sleep, like Nova or Whiskey ¨C Mallory was the among the first to get out of bed in the morning. Most of the time, she was doing her daily chores, working on the upkeep of the technological devices strewn around Castle Belenus, such as the lights and the indoor heating (which broke down more often than you''d think, but it kept her busy.)


    Once in a blue moon, she''d be joined by Tek, but he often slept in until well into the afternoon, and he only went with her on those rare days where he was still awake and still puttering around the halls of the castle like an oversized teddy bear. But she was alone this morning.


    Of no concern, as she went down the stairs leading into the great hall. She wasn''t working on the usual machinery today. Oh no, her heart was thundering.


    Today she was helping with a starship.


    ***


    It was the entire reason why Mallory had left Rensville so long ago. Why she had snuck through the Traveling Point that connected Kelstonda to Iria, had led her to journey from plane to plane until she made it to the Silver Eye.


    It was why she had joined the Amber Foundation, since they were a guild with a starship.


    Sure, the Titania Amber wasn''t anything too grand. She was a beat-up, dumpy box with more plasma burns than Tek had fur, but she could still fly with the best of them, could still curve across the night and light up the sky.


    Becenti was waiting outside as well, a cup of coffee in hand. He was wearing a white t-shirt, though already there were several neon blue stains that bloomed down the front and painted his arms and fingers.


    ¡°Starting without me?¡± Mallory said, ¡°Not fair, Becenti.¡±


    ¡°Nothing much,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Just checking the engine, making sure everything''s burning bright. Meleko not up?¡±


    ¡°That old shark? Not a chance,¡± Mallory replied.


    ¡°Then I guess it''s just us for now, Ms. Freemason,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Well, I suppose some people need their beauty sleep. Shall we get started, then?¡±


    ¡°Don''t need to ask me twice,¡± Mallory said, a smile blooming on her face, ¡°What do we start with first?¡±


    They got to work. Becenti had already pried open the lid to the ship''s engine, which was located beneath the flooring. It was just big enough for one of them to fit inside the small opening, which Becenti did, cramming himself down, sweat beading down his forehead as he became drenched in the hot orange light of the engine.


    ¡°She''s running to some degree at almost all times,¡± he said, ¡°Nothing dangerous, but we''ll want to make sure the lid''s closed nice and tight when we''re all finished. Too much ambient radiation can cause serious problems for most of us here, down the line.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Mallory said, lying down beside the opening, ¡°What do you need?¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± Becenti thought for a moment, ¡°I was just checking the engine, making sure she was running, had enough fuel, the whole nine yards.¡±


    ¡°Fuel?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I believe Broon should have dropped some off yesterday.¡±


    ¡°Is it in the storage room? I could grab it,¡± Mallory said.


    ¡°No, she¡¯s fine for now,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Best to fill up just before you head out, old pilot¡¯s trick. Ah, hand me the alicorder. That box-shaped sensor. Perfect.¡±


    He took the alicorder from her and pressed it against the engine.


    ¡°As I suspected, a couple of the gauges are off. We''ll need to re-align them.¡±


    ¡°Just tell me what to do.¡±


    Becenti looked at the engine for a few more moments. A sense of anticipation rose up in Mallory''s chest as he looked it over. The engine was a bizarre thing to her ¨C cube-shaped, with red neon lines running all along it in intricate swirling designs. Each line served a specific purpose, and each one pulsed in a rhythmic heartbeat. It were as though the entire thing were alive, complex and strange, so far beyond what Mallory was used to that-


    ¡°Get me a wrench,¡± Becenti said.


    She blinked. ¡°What.¡±


    ¡°A wrench, Ms. Freemason,¡± Becenti said, ¡°So I can unscrew the front.¡±


    ¡°R-right,¡± she said, reaching over to grab one, ¡°Here.¡±


    Becenti nodded as he took it, giving her a light smirk as he did so.


    ¡°What, expected something more... futuristic? The reliable is the mundane, Ms. Freemason.¡±


    There were screws that had been hidden in the corners of the engine''s front. Becenti began unscrewing each one, bit by bit, until he could take the entire face off. He did so, hefting it up and lifting it for Mallory to grab and put out of the way. The interior of the engine was dominated by a blood red core of stone encased in glass, tubes connecting it to various parts of the inside of the cube and to the rest of the ship. Becenti huffed in satisfaction.


    ¡°This here''s a Rigellian Geode,¡± he said, ¡°From Kwellian, a planet in the Inner Reach known for producing some of the most stable engines in the Silver Eye.¡±


    ¡°Isn''t this a bit...¡± Mallory glanced at it, tapping her finger on the floor nervously, ¡°Isn''t this dangerous?¡±


    ¡°Afraid of the radiation?¡± Becenti said, ¡°No, even with it out like that we¡¯re in no immediate danger. The radiation is a byproduct of the chemical process used to convert the Geode into energy for the ship. That''s still occurring, mind you, just not in any lethal amount.¡±


    ¡°I''ll take your word for it,¡± Mallory said, ¡°And the fuel?¡±


    ¡°Also necessary for the chemical process,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Now, as we''re a multiverse-faring guild, we need to be versatile. Most things we normally associate with combustion can be used ¨C coal, oil, the like. The Geode adds that extra kick that allows for greater energy output.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Mallory said, ¡°So it''s like a steroid.¡±


    ¡°A good analogy,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Now, our Geode looks good here ¨C we''ll just realign a few of the gauges so they read out correctly. We can use a hammer for that, followed by a reset on the dial.¡±


    ¡°A... hammer?¡±


    Becenti nodded, ¡°If you''d please.¡±


    It was certainly an eye-opening experience for Mallory. She acted as Becenti''s assistant, giving him tools as he hammered at the engine. Working on a starship, she realized, was like working on any other machine ¨C though the technology was exaggerated and far too advanced for her current mindset, the methods of their upkeep and repair involved the same commonplace tools that she had grown up with. Inwardly, she wondered if these were modifications Becenti had made, or if other starships used more esoteric tools.


    ¡°Right,¡± Becenti finished closing up the engine, ¡°That''s done.¡±


    It was close to lunch time now. Mallory helped the older man out of the opening. He gave a light gasp as he clutched his back.


    ¡°Dammit,¡± he muttered, ¡°Getting too old for this.¡±


    ¡°Looks like you''re having fun, though,¡± Mallory smiled.


    ¡°Worked with cars all the time with my old man,¡± Becenti said, ¡°He was a mechanic on the Rez. Guess some of his know-how rubbed off on me.¡±


    He glanced at the Titania Amber, massaging his back.


    ¡°I''m working on a bit more than old Chevys and Jeeps now, though.¡±


    Mallory nodded at that, ¡°Same hat. Used to work on steamcars with my Da back in Organia.¡±


    ¡°Organia?¡± Becenti said, ¡°Didn''t know you grew up there.¡±


    Mallory shrugged, ¡°Nice place. Lots of new bits and bobs there, with plenty of rich folk with money to spend it on. They didn''t know a firebox from a boiler, though, so my Da had lots of work.¡±


    ¡°I''m sure it was a bit easier on him, what with your abilities and everything,¡± Becenti said.


    Mallory tapped the side of her head, ¡°It''s in here that matters more. Steam''s just a tool. But like Da said, anything can be a tool if you try hard enough, even a rock tied to a stick.¡±


    ¡°A wise man,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°You could say that,¡± Mallory said, ¡°Miss him lots. Still get letters from him sometimes.¡±


    ¡°Mm,¡± Becenti hummed, ¡°Let''s move on, shall we? I want to take a look at the warp coils.¡±


    ***


    The warp coils were on the back of the Titania Amber ¨C the entire back wall having to be torn away in order to reach it. They spent most of their supposed lunch break working with a power drill to unscrew pieces of the wall from where they had been screwed in, laborious work that left them both exhausted lifting and putting down large sheets of metal. Mallory was realizing more and more that the Titania Amber was a room that flew ¨C past the seats and fold-out beds and the console, it was a metal cube with the means of flight almost taped onto it. All of it could be taken apart ¨C and easily, at that.


    ¡°How did she survive so much?¡± Mallory asked Becenti, ¡°I mean, come on. You''re flying an apartment with wings.¡±


    ¡°Luck, mostly,¡± Becenti said, ¡°But the outside is tough as nails ¨C real military-grade metal there. That''s why we''re opening it up in here. You can¡¯t get to any of the vital areas from outside, since the Titania Amber needs to be able to tank a glassmaker.¡±


    With a grunt, he peeled away another part of the wall, ¡°We¡¯ll get to the ceiling next.¡±


    ¡°Right.¡±


    Meleko joined them after lunch, a guilty expression on his face. Becenti and Mallory were waiting outside, taking a break after peeling the last of the back wall away. Becenti was sitting on the pile of metal sheets, Mallory next to him, both of them breathing heavily and sharing her thermos.


    ¡°Sorry ''bout that,¡± Meleko said.


    ¡°Took you long enough,¡± Mallory muttered.


    ¡°I''m sorry!¡± Meleko said, putting his hands up in surrender, ¡°Broon and Urash needed help unloading a couple of the Nora Lanterns, then Phineas needed help with a spell he was working on, then Joseph needed help tracking down a book on the Silver Eye, then-¡±


    ¡°Quite alright, Mr. Kron,¡± Becenti said, ¡°What matters is you''re here now.¡±


    He rose up, ¡°In fact, neither Ms. Freemason nor I are tall enough to comfortably reach the ceiling.¡±


    Meleko, eager to get to work, nodded.


    ¡°Right,¡± he said, ¡°Get me a drill. Let''s do this, then.¡±


    The Jugdran got to work, pulling off pieces of the ceiling by the warp coils. True enough, they were coils ¨C thousands of them, each the size of Mallory''s fist, neon blue and sitting next to each other, all of them slotted into the wall, from the top to the bottom, a few of them lining the ceiling. Meleko looked at them, four eyes squinting as he considered them. A low growl rumbled from his throat.


    ¡°Damn, Becenti, look at this. This color ain''t healthy at all.¡±


    Becenti nodded, ¡°It''s been a couple years. Haven''t had a chance to get them replaced.¡±


    ¡°What color are they supposed to be?¡± Mallory asked.


    ¡°Your eyes can''t see it,¡± Meleko said. He tapped the center of his hammerhead, ¡°I''ve got a fifth eye here. Sees a bit more than you all can. Nova and Calacious Nine can see it, too, but they''re no good with Silver Eye tech.¡±


    ¡°So it''s still neon blue,¡± Mallory said.


    ¡°Yeah, though it''s a shade too fruundl,¡± Meleko said, ¡°Becenti, might be a good idea for Rathia to brew something up for this.¡±


    The older man nodded, ¡°Alright. We''ll get to that once the expedition is over. We shouldn''t need to use the warp drive anyways.¡±


    ¡°Mmm, true,¡± Meleko said, ¡°It''d take her awhile to get the brew made, anyways.¡±


    ¡°I want to take a look at the actual core, if that''s alright,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Make sure that doesn''t need to be replaced.¡±


    Meleko winced, ¡°Your funeral. I''ll get the gloves.¡±


    He went to the pilot''s seat, reaching down underneath it and pulled the gloves out, snapping them onto his fingers. A grimace painted his face as he made his way back.


    ¡°Never liked this part,¡± he said.


    ¡°You''re the only one the gloves fit,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°The things I do for job security,¡± Meleko reached back, pushing a few of the coils to the side, which brushed back like leaves on a branch as his entire arm sank into the mass of neon. He felt around for a moment.


    ¡°Alright, I got it,¡± Meleko said.


    Becenti averted his eyes, ¡°Pull it out. Don''t look, Ms. Freemason.¡±


    Mallory did so, staring at the wall as Meleko grunted, pulling the core out. He cursed to himself as he did so.


    ¡°Hand it to me, Mr. Kron,¡± she heard Becenti say, ¡°Gently now.¡±


    A wave washed over the ship. Warm, almost acidic. Emotions ran through Mallory, emotions that were not her own ¨C anger, happiness, misery.


    Above all, curiosity, as she made a quick glance over. Becenti was using his metapower ¨C a rare occurrence, a solid block of mirage-like heat emanating in his hand. Atop it was the core, both a three-dimensional cube and a two-dimensional square. It was dark blue, though it rippled with energy and emanated both rainbow light and dark shadow. Her mind watered.


    ¡°Seriously,¡± Meleko snapped, ¡°Don''t look at it!¡±


    Mallory cast her gaze away once more.


    ¡°Interesting,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Still as old as the day I got it.¡±


    ¡°It still works, though,¡± Meleko said.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Becenti replied.


    ¡°How come you can see it?¡± Mallory asked Becenti, ¡°I look at it and my mind starts crying.¡±


    ¡°Every core is just a small slice of what the Federation calls the Warp,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Pieces of underlying reality. Pure possibility. Imagination given physical form. The same source metahumans pull our abilities from. Through the Warp, it''s possible to bend the rules. Let ships slip into angled places and fold space in half.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Meleko said, ¡°Gonna have to ask you to give it back to me so I can put it back. Damn thing always gives me the creeps.¡±


    ¡°Apologies, Mr. Kron. Our warp core is in stable condition.¡±


    The old metahuman handed it over to Meleko, who returned it to its place in the reef of coils.


    ¡°And that''s that,¡± Becenti said.


    Mallory''s head was still spinning. She put her back to the wall and let out a groan.


    ¡°Want your water, Mal?¡± Meleko asked.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± she said. Meleko went outside to grab her thermos, ¡°Wild stuff, there.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I wouldn''t mind too much about the Warp core. They''re stable. Some of the most stable items in the multiverse. It''s what''s around them that needs upkeep.¡±


    Meleko returned, handing Mallory the thermos. She took a greedy swig of it, the room settling down again around her. Meleko and Becenti looked at her.


    ¡°You good?¡± Meleko asked.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Mallory said, ¡°Just needed a quick drink, is all. Gotta keep moving. What''s next?¡±


    That prompted a smile from Becenti.


    ¡°We''ve got more work to do,¡± he said, ¡°I don''t like how the thrusters have been off. I could feel them, the last we were flying. A few of them aren''t getting juice the way they should.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Mallory said, ¡°Let me guess, we''re unscrewing a few more panels?¡±


    ¡°By the end of this, the Titania Amber will be more panel than ship,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Come, let''s get to it.¡±


    ***


    Rosemary slept through the entire day after she and Urash had returned from Kelphaven. Napping on the desk at first, until Joseph and Broon carried her up to her quarters, where she had been laid down. She had been aware of Mallory getting up in the early morning to go about her daily chores ¨C she had never been sure how the Steamer could get up before the crack of dawn with no alarm clock. Rosemary eased in and out of consciousness throughout the day, the sounds of guild life distant and warped by her dreaming mind.


    Someone knocked on her door. Rosemary, her head pounding and smeary, rose up like a zombie from the grave. It was dark outside ¨C Mallory''s gear-themed clock read out 6:23, around the time that the Inner Sun began fading.


    ¡°Comin'',¡± she groaned.


    The door opened up ¨C the electric-blue hand of Joseph''s soul curled around the knob. The claw itself was coming out of Joseph''s elbow as a second forearm, his human (metahuman? Fleshy?) hands holding a tray, atop which was a bowl of soup and bread.


    ¡°Evening,¡± he said, ¡°Becenti noticed you didn''t come down to eat, so he said to bring you some food.¡±


    ¡°Thanks,¡± Rosemary said, yawning and rubbing her eyes, ¡°You can... leave it on the table.¡±


    Joseph nodded, putting it down. He gave her a sympathetic glance as she let out another moan.


    ¡°My head feels like a boiled egg,¡± she said.


    ¡°Join the club,¡± he said, ¡°Sorry, mind if I sit down?¡±


    ¡°Be my guest.¡±


    He did so, collapsing down on the chair beside her table. There were deep rings under his bloodshot eyes.


    ¡°Geez, Joseph, what are they havin'' you do?¡±


    ¡°Becenti''s making me do research on metahumans,¡± Joseph''s voice was haggard, ¡°I''m no stranger to cramming, but... yeesh, doesn''t mean it''s fun.¡±


    ¡°The sacrifices we make, right?¡± Rosemary let out a miserable chuckle, ¡°I know they''re going to get me back to work as soon as morning comes.¡±


    ¡°Oh, yeah,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Becenti was going on and on about it. He told me you''re going to be working on the toilets of the castle for the week since you''ve slept in so much.¡±


    ¡°Hardy har har,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Seriously, what''s the news?¡±


    ¡°Not sure, ask Phineas,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Joseph!¡±


    ¡°Alright, alright,¡± the metahuman laughed, ¡°From what I''ve heard, we''re almost done with everything. Becenti, Mallory, and Meleko are doing upkeep on the Titania Amber, and we''ve sent out feelers to the planes we''ll be crossing so we can get there safely. Broon just announced that the last shipment of supplies rolled in.¡±


    ¡°What''s Sunala been up to?¡±


    Joseph shrugged, ¡°I only see her now and again. Mostly it''s just those two attendants of hers that we see, requesting books from the library to take up to her quarters.¡±


    ¡°Girl likes her privacy,¡± Rosemary supposed.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Look, I got to get back down there. Becenti is paying Barbara to make sure I stay in the library to get research done, and she''ll snitch if I''m not back down there soon.¡±


    ¡°Go on then, you slave of knowledge,¡± Rosemary said.


    He rolled his eyes, then returned her smile as he wearily rose up and went out the door.


    ***


    She was right. Mallory shook Rosemary awake the next morning.


    ¡°¡®Sup,¡± she said.


    ¡°¡®Sup,¡± Rosemary replied, ¡°What time is it?¡±


    ¡°6 in the morn.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I''m gettin'' up.¡±


    Mallory huffed as Rosemary got up. She wiped her face and looked at the Steamer.


    ¡°How do I look?¡±


    Mallory winced, ¡°Might want to clean yourself up a bit.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, probably a good idea,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°The showers, they''re...?¡±


    ¡°No one''s in there, you''re fine,¡± Mallory said.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± she beamed at her friend before getting up and running over. She got ready for the day, taking a quick shower before putting on her usual leather armor and burgundy cloak. Someone ¨C Broon, maybe ¨C had put the cloak through the wash, and it smelled faintly of lilac now. She''d need to find out whoever did so, and thank them.


    But for now, work was the priority. Rosemary stepped out and made her way down to the Great Hall, laughing to herself as she glanced at the library to see Joseph still trapped there, a pile of books surrounding him. The poor guy looked to be on the verge of tears. Tek was talking to Nova and Whiskey, a tablet in his hands, while Chadwick lazed atop Titania''s blade, the Glass Slipper, his eyes dancing with lazy amusement.


    ¡°Ah, Rosemary!¡± Contort called out.


    She turned around to see him coming down the stairs behind her.


    ¡°Glad to see you up and about, Rose,¡± he said, ¡°Those toilets won''t clean themselves.¡±


    Rosemary blinked, ¡°Wait, Joseph was right?¡±


    ¡°Ha! He told me to say that to you,¡± Contort laughed, ¡°Please don''t hurt me. No, Wakeling asked me to tell you to grab a few books that Lady Sunala wants.¡±


    ¡°Why me?¡±


    ¡°You''re an elf, she''s an elf, guess Wakeling thought it was appropriate,¡± Contort said.


    Rosemary huffed and rolled her eyes, ¡°If she wants to think that, sure. What books?¡±


    ¡°Here''s a list.¡±


    She read over it. Most of it went over her head ¨C metahuman this, metahuman that. A couple of pieces that should have been foisted onto Joseph''s workload.


    ¡°Alright, I''ll grab ''em,¡± she said.


    She ran back up to the library. Becenti was in the library now, sitting across Joseph. The old man was in his mechanic''s clothes ¨C jeans and a ratty white t-shirt that was stained blue and brown. The two of them glanced at Rosemary.


    ¡°Ah, Ms. Rosemary,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Relaxing day off?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± she said, ¡°Grabbing a coupla books for Lady Sunala, now.¡±


    ¡°Mm,¡± he turned back to Joseph, ¡°As I was saying, the first kings of Hyzodriad came from the Ten Dynasty, and were all wielders of fire of some sort...¡±


    Not wanting to be pulled into some boring conversation, Rosemary quickly went to work, gathering the books and scrolls for the noblewoman, waving at Barbara, the great toucan dipping her beak in acknowledgment. She took a few of them from Joseph''s table, the metahuman giving her an exasperated glare, then rolling his eyes as she gave him a guilty smile as she stole them away and ran back to the stairwell.


    The Lady Sunala''s room was located near the top of Castle Belenus, personal quarters for well-to-do guests in the eastern tower of the guildhall. Rosemary never really went up here, save for the occasional dusting or when Chadwick needed to be found. Not to say she hadn''t explored it ¨C there were very few nooks and crannies that Rosemary was not privy to ¨C but there was just nothing interesting here. It was nice in its own way. The stairways wheeled upwards to rooms of varying upper-class quality, with nice beds and nice tables and nice whatevers. No charm. No substance. Wakeling kept things pristine up here, to here''s detriment.


    She knew which room belonged to Lady Sunala by the fact that her attendants were standing outside it. Thin Nelthel and barge-like Spinlock, the two of them standing on either side of her door, looking thoroughly bored out of their minds. Both of them wore the uniform of their station ¨C military wear, blue leather armor that bore the orange crab of Scuttleway, batons at their sides.


    ¡°Heya,¡± she said, ¡°Got those books for Lady Sunala.¡±


    The two glanced at one another, as though unsure of how to respond. Finally, Nelthel cleared his throat.


    ¡°Er, right,¡± he said. He opened the door without another word.


    ¡°Rudeness,¡± Sunala said, ¡°At least knock, Nelthel.¡±


    ¡°Right, sorry,¡± Nelthel said.


    ¡°Sorry,¡± Spinlock echoed, ¡°The elf girl''s here. Got your books.¡±


    ¡°Ah! Of course, let her in.¡±


    Rosemary stepped into the room. The Lady Sunala had taken over the place completely ¨C dresses hung on the curtain rod, rich red and blue and purple affairs that covered the sheer green curtains completely. Books were piled on the table, on the windowsill, a few of them resting on the bed, a couple sitting atop a dresser. Letters mixed with these books, communications between the Lady Sunala and her colleagues, written in a couple of languages Rosemary recognized and a dozen more she did not. The Lady herself was sitting at the table, a cup of tea in hand (and a small pile of used dishes next to her) and yet another book in the other. Her eyes flickered up to Rosemary as she walked in.


    ¡°Ah, Rosemary, was it? Welcome in.¡±


    ¡°Good day, Milady,¡± Rosemary glanced around, ¡°Where do you want the books...?¡±


    ¡°In that pile, there,¡± Sunala said, ¡°No, not that one. Sorry, the one next to it. That''s the pile of books that I haven''t got to yet.¡±


    The two piles were of comparable sizes, and Rosemary wasn''t sure which one the Lady was pointing at. She did her best guess ¨C which seemed to be sufficient, as Sunala didn''t reprimand her.


    ¡°Thank you, Rosemary,¡± Sunala said.


    ¡°Of course, Milady,¡± Rosemary replied, ¡°Do you, um, need anything else?¡±


    The elven noblewoman considered her for a moment. Rosemary felt a small twinge of nervousness as Sunala''s eyes seemed to pierce through her soul. For a brief moment, the two stood there. Then, Sunala looked down at her book.


    ¡°Tell me, Ms... what''s your family name?¡±


    ¡°It''s just Rosemary. I don''t have a surname.¡±


    ¡°Odd, for one of our kind,¡± Sunala said.


    ¡°Decided to cast it off, is all,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°You know how family names go. They''ve got their own weight to them.¡±


    ¡°Their own life,¡± Sunala agreed, ¡°Still, it''s odd.¡±


    Rosemary shrugged, ¡°It''s what I decided to do when I joined the guild.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Sunala said. She flipped another page in her book, ¡°Tell me. I need your opinion on this.¡±


    ¡°Ohh, I''m not the best person for this,¡± Rosemary said, absently twisting at her cloak, ¡°I''m not much one for history books.¡±


    ¡°It''s one on our people,¡± Sunala said, ¡°The elves of Owenfel.¡±


    ¡°Owenfel!¡± Rosemary laughed, ¡°Of... of course. What''s your question?¡±


    ¡°It''s pertaining to the relationship between the high elves who lived there and the sea elves who traveled there from Murn. In it, it speaks of the union between Prince Glander of the high elves and Prince Zornadayne of the sea elves.¡±


    ¡°Good for them,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Was it... loving?¡±


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± Sunala said, ¡°If both were not found dead in their sleep the day after their wedding.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°And I suppose you''re going to ask me what would have happened if the two had lived.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps.¡±


    ¡°It would''ve been joyous, I guess,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°I don''t know half as much as I should about Owenfel, if I''m being honest. It would have united the two people into one, and Owenfel would''ve been a nice place to live, all things considered.¡±


    ¡°It is,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Owenfel has always been a peaceable plane. The high elves and the dark elves had been allies long before their alliance, and the two princes'' union was nothing new. The assassination was part of a dark ritual the two royal families practiced for the sake of worship of Owenfel''s god.¡±


    ¡°...Oh,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°All elves know of this,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Owenfel is one of our major homelands.¡±


    Rosemary scrunched her cloak even more, desperately wishing to run out of the room.


    ¡°Rosemary,¡± Sunala pressed, ¡°What plane are you from?¡±


    ¡°I''m... um... from a plane with elves on it?¡±


    The Lady Sunala gave her a look. Rosemary wilted.


    ¡°Fine, you got me.¡±


    ¡°You''re not truly an elf, are you?¡±


    ¡°...It''s a bit complicated,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Sunala gave her that soul-searching look again, ¡°A cousin to us, perhaps?¡±


    ¡°Something like that.¡±


    ¡°Well, if you chose a race to impersonate, you could not have chosen one better. The elves are a proud and ancient race.¡±


    ¡°Don''t have the best track record here,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°That is... unfortunately correct,¡± Sunala said, ¡°The elves of Londoa... we''ve made quite a few mistakes, haven''t we?¡±


    The two of them were quiet at that. Rosemary, defeated, sat down on a pile of books.


    ¡°You aren''t...¡± Rosemary said, ¡°You aren''t going to rat me out, are you?¡±


    ¡°Dear Rosemary,¡± Sunala said, ¡°I''m not a narc.¡±


    Rosemary let out an exhausted giggle at that, ¡°Okay, good. I don''t want anyone- I mean, it''d just be complicated, sort''ve-¡±


    ¡°It''s from another life,¡± Sunala said.


    ¡°...Yeah,¡± Rosemary agreed. She gave a sigh, ¡°I didn''t go out of my way to pretend to be an elf. It was just the easiest to imitate ¨C physically, I mean. I''m sorry if I''ve offended you.¡±


    ¡°It''s quite alright,¡± Sunala said, ¡°As I said, you chose quite the race to live up to.¡±


    ¡°Bit more history than I expected,¡± she laughed.


    Sunala thought on that for a moment, then stood up. She swept through the room ¨C or tried to, at least, stepping over the piles of books she had set all over the floor, cursing to herself for a moment as she nearly tripped, before she picked up a book on her bed. She presented it to Rosemary.


    ¡°Here.¡±


    Rosemary glanced down at it, ¡°The History of Elves.¡±


    ¡°Exactly what it says on the tin,¡± Sunala said, ¡°If you''re going to pretend to be one of us, you might as well be able to walk the walk.¡±


    Rosemary opened it up. It was an ancient book ¨C well-read and loved, the spine having been broken and the pages marred with tea stains and dried candle wax.


    ¡°Are you... are you sure?¡± she asked.


    ¡°I read this book backwards and forwards as a young lady,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Trust me, my dear. I''ve got it memorized.¡±


    Rosemary gave her a sincere smile, ¡°Well, thanks.¡±


    ¡°Think nothing of it. And please, don''t be afraid if you have any questions.¡±


    The lady returned to her seat, opening her book back up once more. She gave no indication of dismissing Rosemary, who decided to read it then and there. Chores and work be damned, Rosemary had homework to do.


    They read through the day and long into the night.

 29. The Expedition Begins

    Joseph awoke early in the morning. The Inner Sun was just cresting through the open window, inking the orange sky and smearing away the star-like lights of the other Landmasses. He was not sure what had woken him up ¨C but then, he had slept lightly. Phineas''s soft coos mumbled from underneath the bed. Not wanting to wake up the Deep One, Joseph was quiet as he pulled on his jacket and walked out of the room.


    Much of Castle Belenus was quiet, pregnant with an air of excitement and nervousness. The week had been frantic, with movement just on Joseph''s peripheral vision of guildmembers loading supplies, repairing the Titania Amber and the Dreamer''s Lament, and preparing final spells and weaponry. He wished he could have done more to help, but Becenti had made him sit in the library for almost the entire week, only letting him free the day before. The experience roiled Joseph''s belly ¨C he would not forgive the older man anytime soon. Nonetheless, his brain (foggy as it was from the endless cramming) was filled with metahuman facts and histories, enough to write an essay if this were a college course. He supposed that would be enough.


    Trays floated around the castle, mugs and coffee pots atop them with creamers and sugars. Joseph took his usual mix and gave it a sip as he wandered around the Castle. There were few of his guildmates around ¨C Whiskey wandered by him for a little while, though the puppet made for awkward company, and eventually he lumbered downstairs while Joseph went up.


    There was no real aim to his walk ¨C it was just to kill time as he sipped his drink. To be honest, it was mostly there to give physical motion to his own emotions. He was ready, sure, but Joseph could feel a nervous, foreboding sort of anxiety that held in his gut, mixing with his soul. There was a fear of the unknown.


    And there was, shockingly, a greater fear that he was excited about the expedition. He could not deny that.


    ¡°Maybe,¡± he whispered aloud.


    And he kept walking.


    He opened up a door that led outside, onto a large balcony. He had seen it a couple times before, looking at it from the garden below. Joseph was glad he had finally found the door that led out to it ¨C slowly but surely, he was memorizing Castle Belenus''s layout.


    He was not alone on the balcony, either. Nash was there. They wore a bomber jacket and jeans, a lit cigarette in one hand as they looked out past the walls of Scuttleway and the land beyond.


    ¡°Morning,¡± they said, not turning to face Joseph.


    ¡°Mornin'',¡± Joseph replied.


    ¡°Chilly one.¡±


    ¡°Mm,¡± Joseph agreed, ¡°Mind if I stay?¡±


    ¡°Two¡¯s better than one,¡± Nash said.


    Joseph nodded, walking over and standing beside the Far Traveler, resting a hand on the balcony.


    ¡°So,¡± Nash started, ¡°You ready?¡±


    ¡°I...¡± Joseph considered, ¡°I think so.¡±


    ¡°Lots of preparation, and it''s finally here,¡± Nash said, ¡°Feels weird, doesn''t it?¡±


    ¡°Like a field trip,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°That''s a good way of putting it, save we don''t know what the dead plane will be like,¡± Nash said, ¡°Good chance it''s just empty space, or filled with radiation that kills us, or it''s just a big old desert.¡±


    Joseph rolled his eyes, ¡°Thanks. Got me real excited now.¡±


    Nash gave him a lopsided grin, ¡°Sorry, Joe. Bad joke. But really, you should be prepared for whatever we find.¡±


    ¡°Becenti''s sure that it''s a metahuman plane,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Myron always thinks it''s metahuman,¡± Nash said, ¡°He might be right with this one. Fits the calculations and forecast.¡±


    They took a drag of the cigarette, ¡°I don''t want him to be wrong. He''s been wrong too many times.¡±


    ¡°Gotta get a win once in a while, right?¡±


    Nash gave him a sad smile, ¡°You''ve no idea.¡±


    ***


    The rest of the guild came to life as the morning waned on ¨C loading up their personal bags and carry-ons like they were passengers on a plane. Joseph, who owned very little, had only the clothes on his back.


    ¡°Ah, good,¡± Barbara said, ¡°You can help me carry my bags.¡±


    And she loaded him down with two large sacks full of books. Joseph groaned as they weighed down on him.


    ¡°And don''t you dare use that eagle of yours to do any heavy lifting,¡± the toucan snapped, ¡°It could damage the books, and some of them are older than Wakeling.¡±


    ¡°Ha!¡± Wakeling cackled, ¡°Barbara, you know I¡¯m only forty.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°I¡¯m serious, Joseph,¡± Barbara said. She leaned in, so close that her banana beak nearly pressed against Joseph¡¯s nose, ¡°If I find even one scratch, stain, or scrape on any of these, I will make sure you return to Earth in pieces.¡±


    Joseph blinked. He hefted up the bags.


    ¡°Right,¡± he said, ¡°Pieces. Books. Don¡¯t break ¡®em. Right.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Barbara said.


    ¡°Oh, lay off him, Barbara,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Follow us, Joseph, I¡¯ll show you where to put them down.¡±


    The guildmaster and the toucan chattered to one another, laughing and chuckling like a pair of old bats as they went aboard the Dreamer¡¯s Lament. Joseph groaned on behind them, feeling the bag¡¯s straps dig into his shoulders.


    Twenty of the Amber Foundation had been chosen for the mission. Twenty, plus Sunala and her two attendants. The noblewoman had her own personal airship for the trip, to which Rosemary and Wakeling were a few of the only members allowed onboard. The rest of them crammed themselves onboard the Dreamer and the Titania Amber. Joseph sat down on the couch, squeezing in between Broon and Contort. Contort had a gaming device, Broon had a book.


    Joseph had nothing.


    This was going to be a long trip.


    ***


    Fortunately, they were not on Londoa for long. The three ships rose up to the sky, curving around to the outer shell of the planet, levitating higher still, leaving the world far behind as they flew upwards. The Traveling Point to Yuradal, the next stepping stone on the journey, was high in the sky and only recently discovered.


    ¡°By us, of course,¡± Dama Runebreaker laughed, ¡°Me and Urash, we were testing out one of Tek''s new flying contraptions. Couple moments later, we''re in a swamp in the middle of nowhere!¡±


    And indeed, Yuradal was a swamp. The World of Swamp, it was called. Traveling the rainbow waves, the distant sky melted into a land of mud and myth. They went above the twisted treelines of that place, watching the red sky for God-Mosquitoes and the old flying mountains with great eyes that always looked downwards, hunting for something.


    ¡°Never liked this place much,¡± Contort commented, ¡°I wonder why?¡±


    They flew over Yuradal, never touching the ground, for two days. Nothing changed much as they went ¨C the empty sky stayed empty, the dense swampland stayed dense. The days were spent playing cards, trading stories, and complaining about the claustrophobia. Joseph would sometimes look out the window to see the two sister ships of the expedition. Meleko and Becenti, as well as a few of the others, were in the old Titania Amber. Joseph could tell she could far outstrip the Dreamer and Sunala''s flying galleon, but the starship kept pace. It was better to stick as a group, after all. He could also see Sunala''s ship sometimes, a gleaming ivory beauty, and became jealous of the room the Lady no doubt had to spare.


    ***


    As it happened, there was little room inside the Lady Sunala''s ship, the Gil-Galad. Rosemary, Wakeling, the titular Lady, and her two attendants were the only inhabitants aboard. They also hung primarily around the top deck of the ship, watching the world sail below them, reading books and commenting about their journey. Most of the hold below-deck was taken by crates full of either supplies for the expedition or ¨C near the back, where the Gil-Galad¡¯s bay doors, meat.


    Bags and bags of meat.


    Rosemary glanced towards the Titania Amber. And she desperately wished she could switch with someone there. The Lady Sunala was a force of nature, a beacon that drew all light around her. But Nelthel and Spinlock were boring. They whispered to each other, or looked tall and stiff and stuffy, reminding Rosemary of servants back home. The days aboard were spent studying, research, and debating. Most of the time it was Wakeling and the Lady Sunala doing the talking. But occasionally, Rosemary would see the noblewoman¡¯s eyes slide over to her, a silent request for her opinion. And she would give it, naive as it was, but satisfactory enough for the Lady to give a nod of approval.


    The Lady Sunala favored her. Had vouched for her, had promised not to throw Rosemary under the bus. And for that, Rosemary could tolerate a bit of loneliness and boring conversation.


    Besides, Sunala knew a lot about her kind. If Rosemary was going to walk the walk, she needed to learn to talk the talk.


    ***


    Entheos, the World of Death, was the next plane they traveled to. The rainbow miasma between planes engulfed the flying caravan, and the steaming swamp became an ice-cold wasteland. Heyma took charge here, taking the wheel as they entered the plane. Joseph stayed up on the bridge with her, watching as Phineas, Nova, and Contort play a board-game in the corner (the table downstairs having been taken over by Barbara''s books.)


    ¡°You had a deal with the... ruler of this place, right?¡± Joseph asked the knight.


    ¡°Yeah, G and I came out here,¡± Heyma replied, ¡°Nothing too fancy ¨C almost easy, even. Safe passage for a song.¡±


    The ships wandered through ice-colored clouds, staying high above and away from the ground, where Joseph could see armies of the dead on the march.


    ¡°Entheos is always at war with itself,¡± Heyma said, ¡°Not the nicest place to grow up.¡±


    Joseph nodded, ¡°Hence the need for safety.¡±


    ¡°The ruler of this place themself is escorting us,¡± Heyma said, ¡°Their personal guarantee that nothing will harm us here. Look, you can see them if you look hard enough.¡±


    Joseph walked over to the window, soul''s eagle eyes washing over his own, his vision sharpening. Far below them, but flying parallel, was a skeletal Dragon, waves of blood-red magic blanketing their wings to keep them aloft. Joseph considered it, remembered the Dragon he had met back at Lake Oval, and felt an odd, nostalgic feeling run over him. He wondered if Becenti felt the same.


    ***


    ¡°There they are, on the scanners,¡± Mallory stated, ¡°Skarnorex, the Dracolich of the North.¡±


    ¡°The Dragon of Omperstellicad,¡± Becenti said, ¡°That''s what they used to be called, long ago. A friend to metahumanity.¡±


    The Steamer glanced at the older man.


    ¡°You ever met ''em?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I wish I could have, though. Heyma and Galatea got the better job.¡±


    ¡°Hey, we were repairing a starship,¡± Mallory objected, ¡°Nothing wrong with that.¡±


    Becenti turned to her, a smile playing on his lips.


    ¡°Indeed. And with fine company. And with Mr. Kron, too, I suppose.¡±


    ¡°I take offense to that,¡± Meleko said in the back, ¡°I''m great company.¡±


    ¡°Sure, sure,¡± Mallory said, ¡°Whatever you say, pal.¡±


    The two began sniping at each other. Becenti ignored them, taking another look at the viewscreens to watch Skarnorex soar through the sky on fell wings. Very much diminished from what they once were ¨C Becenti had heard stories of the golden dragon''s glory. A flying, decrepit thing, picked clean like a corpse in the desert, bones having moldered to gray.


    Diminished, yet still beautiful.


    ***


    From Entheos to Redenia. Rosemary, the Lady Sunala, and her attendants went below-decks for the transition, feeling the ship nearly shake itself to pieces while planeshifting. They emerged to a clear blue sky, the clouds having been left behind, the land below them an open field that led out to the sea.


    ¡°Have you ever been to Redenia?¡± Sunala asked Rosemary.


    ¡°No, but I''ve heard of it,¡± she replied, ¡°The World of Monsters, yeah?¡±


    ¡°Precisely. Hence why we''re up here,¡± Sunala said.


    Far below, Rosemary watched as Ezel walked outside onto the observation platform of the Dreamer, climbing up a couple ropes until she was on top of the airship. She held a pike in hand, and began scanning the horizon for trouble. The Titania Amber''s weapons powered on.


    ¡°Ah, one of those planes,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°World of Monsters, indeed,¡± Sunala said, ¡°But the biggest trouble, at least, is avoided.¡±


    ¡°The meat in the hold?¡±


    ¡°Smart girl. But Nelthel and Spin will be taking care of that. For now, let''s enjoy our time in the cool air. Dangerous as it is, Redenia is a beautiful place.¡±


    ¡°Definitely warmer than Entheos,¡± Rosemary sat herself down at the table, plucking a book from the unread pile and opening it up. The Lady Sunala smiled.


    ¡°Indeed.¡±


    ***


    They left the eastern continent far behind, cruising over the dark sapphire sea for the next day or so. Nothing accosted them, though Joseph noted that Ezel and Contort took trips watching for trouble. Phineas''s dark tome was open, and Joseph would watch him whispering to himself over the open pages, the words making his mind water. Occasionally the Deep One would snap out of his trance, and give instructions to Ichabod.


    ¡°To the east, there are monsters.¡±


    ¡°What kind?¡± Ichabod would ask.


    ¡°Big ones,¡± Phineas would reply, followed by a visible shiver.


    ¡°You''ve been saying that for every creature you''ve detected,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°They are all big.¡±


    Ichabod sneered, but he followed Phineas''s directions, and they were left for the most part alone.


    Early in the morning on the second day, Joseph was shaken awake by Broon.


    ¡°You''re not going to want to miss this,¡± the half-orc said.


    ¡°Mm?¡± Joseph groaned, ¡°Miss what?¡±


    ¡°Tek and Aristo came out here already to negotiate passage to the Traveling Point,¡± Broon said, ¡°You''re about to see our payment.¡±


    He extended out his hand. Joseph took it, pulling himself up. The two of them made their way up the stairs and onto the bridge. Already a few other guildmembers were awake and watching.


    ¡°Hey, Broon,¡± Contort said, ¡°Morning.¡±


    ¡°Morning,¡± the half-orc replied. He turned to the helm, ¡°Joe and I are heading outside.¡±


    Ichabod, who was flying the ship, nodded.


    Broon smiled, and opened the door to the observation deck. Joseph followed him out, the cool, sea-scented wind blowing through his hair. He momentarily squinted, eyes adjusting to the bright morning sun.


    ¡°Surprised no one is out here,¡± he said.


    ¡°Ezel''s already watching for trouble,¡± Broon said, ¡°The rest of us played cards for the chance to be out here while we made the payment. Figured, as the new guy, you''d get a look, too.¡±


    Joseph gave a smirk, ¡°Free of charge?¡±


    ¡°Ha! Hell no, you''re sleeping under the table tonight.¡±


    Joseph rolled his eyes, his smile dropping.


    ¡°Great. My favorite.¡±


    ¡°Ah, it''s just for one night,¡± Broon said, slapping him on the back, ¡°Oh! There! The Gil-Galad!¡±


    He pointed. In the distance, hovering high over the sea, was Sunala''s galleon. Joseph still couldn''t figure out how the Gil-Galad stayed afloat ¨C there were none of the magical runes carved into her underside like the Dreamer, nor were there great wings like a few other airships he had seen on Londoa. No, the Gil-Galad seemed to float of her own accord, rebel to nature, a ship floating in the air as though it were nothing, her sails unfurled and the orange-and-blue flag of Scuttleway fluttering in the morning wind. Together, Joseph and Broon watched as the bottom of the ship peeled open, expelling her storage on the bottom decks.


    Piles and piles of food. Salted meats. An entire herd of cows by the looks of it, butchered, salted, and prepared for this one specific moment. Enough food, seemingly, to fill a castle. Feed a city. A field''s worth of cattle. Faded red, the hunks of flesh dropped into the briny water below, bubbles fizzing up from each splash as though the sea was a caffeinated drink. Seabirds wheeled around the feast, strange bat-like creatures with fins instead of legs, screeching and snarling at one another. A few of the more fearless ones dropped down to land atop the marbled castaways, teeth digging into the tough flesh.


    And then the water bubbled more. Joseph saw a dark shape silhouette against the surface, easily large enough to swallow the Gil-Galad whole. His spine tingled and his soul sparked as a great serpentine being twisted upwards, cleaving the surface, mouth opening wide, spire-sized teeth shining like pearls in the morning sun, its maw taking in seawater, the dried meats, and anything unlucky to get caught between the two. It reminded Joseph of nature documentaries, the way that the largest whales fed, simply rising out of the water, mouth open wide, closing on the sea and all held within.


    Only this creature was several times larger than a whale. Far larger ¨C so large that Joseph couldn''t believe it could fit in the ocean. An impossibility that swam.


    Its mouth snapping shut, the sound like the crack of a whip, the monster fell back into the sea. Only its arrow-shaped head and long, tower-like neck had risen out of the water. It soon disappeared beneath the waves, and the silhouette faded away as it swam into the darker depths of Redenia.


    ¡°Elzan Chi,¡± Broon said, ¡°The Queen of the Monsters.¡±


    ¡°Holy shit.¡±


    The half-orc smiled. Joseph''s hands were gripped on the balcony, his knuckles white. Blue sparks danced around him.


    The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°There''s no way,¡± he said, ¡°There''s no fucking way.¡±


    ¡°Without that payment, she would have gone for the ships instead,¡± Broon said, ¡°She''s... territorial. Keeps to herself, unless you cross her sea.¡±


    ¡°What kind of territory does something like that have?¡± Joseph said.


    Broon''s brow furrowed, ¡°If I remember right, Ichabod and Wakeling said her current territory comprises the entire ocean between the two continents. Something in the realm of... fifteen thousand miles across?¡±


    Joseph gave Broon a haggard look.


    ¡°It''s the multiverse, Joe,¡± the half-orc chuckled, ¡°The impossible is normal. Come on, let''s get some coffee.¡±


    ***


    They sailed the winds of Redenia until far into the evening, eating a breakfast of coffee and cereal and a lunch of dried fruits and vegetables. The sun was casting below the shimmering sea as they approached the Traveling Point.


    ¡°There,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Right there. That spot. See how the wind seems to ripple against it like clothing on a drying rack?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Yeah I can see it.¡±


    The three ships stopped, floating in the air as they prepared to make the jump. Contort came back inside, closing the door and barring it. Phineas whispered a spell, and the glass surrounding the bridge became covered in purple runes. The Titania Amber''s shields powered up. The Gil-Galad became engulfed in a sphere of light.


    Ichabod took out a small radio, clicking a few buttons on one of the consoles as he did so. Wakeling''s voice crackled to life.


    ¡°Alright, people, this is it,¡± she said, ¡°Make sure the hatches are properly battened and you''re all holding onto something. No telling what''ll be on the other side, so let''s be prepared.¡±


    ¡°Are we sure that''s a good idea?¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Perhaps we should send out a scout, or something.¡±


    ¡°Coward,¡± Dama Runebeaker replied.


    The cyborg curled his lips into a sneer.


    ¡°The Titania Amber will go first,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°She''s the toughest of us. Ichabod, you follow on through afterwards. Lady Sunala and I will push through last. Everyone got it?¡±


    Of course, it was a one-way radio, so there was no way to tell.


    ¡°Alright!¡± the guildmaster said, ¡°Let''s do this. Myron, you''re up!¡±


    The Titania Amber roared to life, thrusters pointing back as she rushed forward, speeding into a blur of gunmetal as she rushed through the Traveling Point, disappearing into thin air, the sky rippling as she tore through.


    ¡°By God, those spells of yours better hold, Phineas,¡± Ichabod took out a handkerchief to wipe his brow, ¡°If they don''t, I''ll kill you.¡±


    ¡°We will already be dead, though,¡± Phineas replied.


    ¡°Figure of speech, Phin,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°No, it isn''t,¡± Ichabod prodded the Dreamer forward, the ship meandering towards the break in reality. One moment, there was the evening sky.


    The next, a surge of rainbow. Intense, more intense than Joseph had seen before in his previous travels. Rather than coasting them like waves, the energy pushed them forward without regard to control or grace. Joseph''s stomach leaped into his throat as he felt the entire ship tip to the side, the wall becoming the floor, Ichabod letting out a high-pitched scream that was lost in the electrifying warp through imagination itself. Reality smeared around them, tossing the Dreamer this way and that, until she tumbled out, righting herself as she slammed into the water, white waves exploding around her.


    A few heartbeats passed. Joseph groaned, suddenly aware that Calacious Nine was on top of him, their bell-shaped body inverted and covering him like a jelly blanket. Colors swirled around him ¨C blues and greens, which Joseph had learned were signals of an apology.


    ¡°S''okay,¡± Joseph said, ¡°S''okay. Can you... just... get off of me?¡±


    They extricated themselves from the other, rising to their feet (or tentacles, in Calacious''s case). The other guildmembers got up around them, rubbing backs and moaning in muted pain. Phineas was peeling himself off of the glass wall, rasping and coughing.


    Ichabod, silver hair askew and sunglasses cracked, cursed to himself as he ran back to the ship''s wheel, spinning it.


    ¡°The Gil-Galad!¡± he said, ¡°She''s right behind us! Everyone, get ready!¡±


    He spun the wheel, lurching the Dreamer forward and to the side, just as the Traveling Point opened again. The Gil-Galad sang forth, crashing into the water, her hull just inches from the Dreamer. She took to the surface like a swan, cutting into it for a moment before pitching back into place, rocking back and forth a bit as the ship recovered from the journey.


    The radio crackled again. Becenti''s voice came through.


    ¡°Well, we''re here,¡± he said, ¡°I believe you owe me a drink, Nash. It''s a metahuman plane.


    ¡°It''s Chliofrond.¡±


    ***


    Of Joseph''s studies, he had read on Chliofrond the most. It was one of the most well-traveled metahuman kingdoms in the multiverse. Oh, he had heard tales of its most famous ruler from Chadwick ¨C the cat had been waxing poetic about Iresine since he had confided in Joseph. But Chliofrond after Iresine¡¯s passing was one of the major players in the multiverse, in the war with the Federation, a rebel kingdom that denied all authority. Even Epochia¡¯s.


    The kingdom''s famous floating cities had fallen down, great circular masses of stone and vine that had crashed into this plane of water, the tall granite towers overtaken by the lush vegetation that Chliofrond had been known for. There were several still bobbing on the surface, ruins of castles and keeps, temples and shrines, houses and manors. The great statues of prominent figures in metahuman history rose high above the ruined urban forest, decorated with vines and wildflowers that bloomed through the cracks in their makeup. Rather than degrading them, the vegetation seemed to add to the statues'' beauty, as though they had always worn them as crowns and sashes.


    The rest of the plane was water. As far as the eye could see. Calm water, as still as a lake''s, for there was no moon overhead. The sun pitched over the sky, and there was nary a cloud to be seen.


    The three ships converged together at the closest floating city, the Titania Amber landing just past the docks. Broon, as well as Sunala''s attendants, moored their respective vessels to a sturdy-looking statue. The Dreamer''s entrance was opened up, and the guild poured out. There was hardly any wind here, Joseph noted, and the air was still and sweet.


    Ichabod dipped a finger down into the water and licked it. His face veered into a look of interested surprise.


    ¡°Freshwater,¡± he said, ¡°Not salt. Unexpected. Almost illogical.¡±


    Phineas dipped his head into the water, peering down into it. Those who weren''t unloading turned to watch him as he pulled himself up.


    ¡°Water is deep, but not deep enough that I cannot see,¡± he rasped, ¡°Cities beneath.¡±


    ¡°Sunken cities? Oh god,¡± Ichabod groaned, ¡°I hate swimming.¡±


    ¡°Luckily there''s enough up here for you to take a look at,¡± Broon said. He was carrying a crate on his shoulder, ¡°Now quit whining and help us unload.¡±


    ***


    They made camp just past the docks, pitching up tents and setting up scanners and supplies. The Gil-Galad held the bulk of the electronics ¨C an entire sensor array, easily four table''s worth of electronics, with a box-like mobile generator.


    ¡°Now, normally we need to connect it to the Titania to jumpstart it,¡± Tek said as he connected the wires to the computer, ¡°But, for the sake of experimentation... Joseph, was it? Yes, can you, ah, zap it?¡±


    Joseph smirked at that, feeling his soul pulse for a moment as he pointed. A stream of lightning flew from his fingertip and fizzled into the generator, which then began shaking and groaning, the gears on its side beginning to turn like a watermill''s wheel.


    ¡°Ah, good!¡± Tek said, ¡°Good, we can use that in the future. Now, Joseph, was it?¡±


    ¡°...Yes, that''s my name.¡±


    ¡°Good! Right, now, Joseph, I may need you to turn this on...¡±


    He helped them get the array set up, listening to the sounds of the plane as they did so. Save for the sound of the guild, the world was almost supernaturally quiet. There were times, in-between Tek and Calacious Nine arguing about which wire went where and helping Broon''s posse unload the crates from the ship, that Joseph would stop and stand, listening, trying to get a feel for the place.


    More and more, he felt unsettled. The plane was too quiet. Too calm. Like they were in a museum late at night, and they only had the silent exhibits for company.


    Becenti was standing off to the side, facing the waters while the guild worked behind him. Joseph, taking a moment to break away from the hustle and bustle, made his way over.


    ¡°So...¡± he said, ¡°What do you think?¡±


    The older man turned, an inscrutable expression written on his face. Becenti looked up and around, taking the plane in once more.


    ¡°Like the stories told,¡± he said, ¡°Right down to the detail on the cobblestones. All overgrown, of course.¡±


    ¡°Adds to the appeal, I think,¡± Joseph said, ¡°You recognize any of the statues?¡±


    And Becenti''s eyes glittered.


    ¡°All of them, Joseph,¡± his voice was quiet, ¡°All of them.¡±


    ***


    ¡°Right, that''s all of them set up, then,¡± Tek said, ¡°Scanners are online and running.¡±


    ¡°Meleko''s up above, now,¡± Wakeling said.


    The two of them were standing at the completed sensor array ¨C four tables topped with boxy computers and scanners from a dozen technological eras, all powered by the generator Joseph had set up before. Wakeling was floating in the air over Tek''s shoulder, looking down as he typed on the console and powered on the radio.


    ¡°Alright, can you hear us, Meleko?¡± Tek asked.


    ¡°Loud and clear,¡± Meleko responded, ¡°Everyone ready?¡±


    Wakeling turned to everyone, ¡°Everyone! Come on over, we''re ready to start our first sensor sweep of the plane.¡±


    The rest of the expedition dropped what they were doing and gathered around. An air of excitement bubbled around them as they whispered and murmured. Tek clicked a few more buttons as several monitors powered to life, reading out lines of information. The great, shaggy mound read them all, whispering to himself as he did so.


    ¡°Almost ready, Tek?¡± Wakeling asked.


    ¡°Of course, of course, just a few more... Ah, there we go. Alright, Meleko. You can start the sensor sweep.¡±


    High above, the Jugdran piloted the Titania Amber. He glanced at the viewscreen to the outside as he prepared the scanners aboard the starship. The ruins of Chliofrond were gray and green specks, small and lonely against the overwhelming blanket of blue around them. There were no other landmarks around them. Nothing rose on the horizon. There weren''t even waves ¨C the water was still, and Meleko wasn''t sure why.


    ¡°Well, time to find out,¡± he muttered to himself, flipping the last switch. A small whine escaped from the console as the scanning program installed in the ship''s OS began chugging along, using the sensor array far below to boost the scanner''s range and depth.


    The Jugdran leaned back, taking out a candy bar as he did so.


    ¡°Alright, Tek, you should be good to go,¡± Meleko took a bite as he spoke.


    Tek nodded, clicking a few more buttons. The information reading out on the monitors doubled as he hummed to himself. Then, after a moment of typing and reading, he spoke again.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he began, ¡°Preliminary information''s coming through.¡±


    The crowd got a bit closer to him. A few of them who could read the monitors started doing so, though the lines of code and readings sped up as the scanning continued, to the point that it soon became a blur only Tek could read.


    ¡°It''s an eternal plane,¡± Tek reported, ¡°Extends out in every direction for¡­ well, for forever. All of it is freshwater, with no organic life signs detected save for our own and the vegetation here.¡±


    Joseph glanced at Becenti at that. The older man was standing next to him, and his breathing had tripped at Tek''s news. But Becenti said nothing as Tek continued.


    ¡°The water''s all freshwater. Goes down two hundred feet ¨C three hundred at some points ¨C beneath the surface. Bottom''s rock. Marble.¡±


    ¡°And no salt,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Wonder why that is.¡±


    Tek shrugged, ¡°Not enough movement. No weather. It''s just water, but none of its reactions.¡±


    A murmur came from the expedition team as he said this. Wakeling cleared her non-existent throat.


    ¡°What about the sun above us?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Stationary,¡± Tek replied, ¡°Must be artificial.¡±


    ¡°Myron, any star-makers in Chliofrond that you can remember?¡± Wakeling asked.


    Becenti thought for a moment, ¡°A few. One near the end of recorded Chliofrond history ¨C Starchild, she was called. Could make points of light. But to this degree...¡±


    He glanced up, squinting his eyes to stare at the sun for a few moments, his face contorted in thought.


    ¡°It''d require a lot of juice.¡±


    ¡°We''ll need to investigate it further,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Phineas, Nova, I want you to take whatever readings you find on the sun and work on seeing if there''s anything magical to it. I''ll be there to assist you.¡±


    The Deep One nodded, the elemental sparked in answer.


    ¡°As for the water ¨C are you sure there''s nothing below us, Tek?¡±


    ¡°Sunken cities, and that''s it,¡± Tek responded, ¡°No fish. No amphibians. Not even seaweed.¡±


    ¡°And the cities beneath?¡± Sunala interrupted, ¡°Anything coming from them?¡±


    ¡°It''s a bit difficult, getting anything concrete from them,¡± Tek said, ¡°Though they''re mostly made of concrete, heh...¡±


    ¡°Metahuman tech, presumably,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Mr. Zheng and I can take a look at it.¡±


    ¡°Ezel, anything off about the water, aside from that it''s freshwater?¡± Wakeling asked.


    Ezel walked over to the edge of the docks, thrusting a hand downwards. Water welled up around her, snaking up her arm and holding shape as it rose up into a great whip.


    ¡°Nothing,¡± she said, ¡°It''s just water. No god rules it. It follows my command mindlessly.¡±


    ¡°So we''re not pissing anything off, then,¡± Broon said.


    ¡°Not in the water,¡± Ezel said, ¡°Would you... call this a sea, maybe?¡±


    ¡°If it looks like a duck...¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°My power over it is certainly reduced,¡± Ezel commented.


    ¡°We''ll talk about semantics later,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Tek, Meleko, keep scanning for anything. Everything. Whatever you see, scan it. The rest of you, I want a perimeter scouted ¨C let''s see if we can''t get a good hold on the architecture of this particular city. Myron, you''ll lead it. Phineas, Nova, we stay here. We''ll start with the ritual to find out what the deal is with the sun.¡±


    Nova pulsed. Phineas nodded, gripping his book nervously. He gave a thumbs up to Joseph as he walked over to the floating head.


    ***


    Joseph fell in with Nash, Rosemary, and Gluh as the rest of the expedition filed out. They left Phineas behind ¨C the Deep One had opened his tome, dark purple magic towering out of its pages as he spoke with Nova and Wakeling. Nash led the way, splitting off from the rest of the guild as going down while they went up.


    ¡°I reckon they''ll want to get a lay of the land, even now,¡± they said, going down a few steps. Beside them was a flooded street, the sidewalk just raised enough to keep them above water. Ezel, Broon, and their group were on the other side of the makeshift waterway.


    ¡°Makes sense,¡± Joseph said. He glanced as he saw Ezel lead her group down a flooded tunnel, the water reaching up to their ankles, ¡°What''s Ezel''s deal, again?¡±


    ¡°Demigod from Prime,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Her dad''s some god or other from there.¡±


    ¡°Huh, neat.¡±


    ¡°Eyes on the prize, people,¡± Nash said, ¡°Come on, they went down that tunnel, so we''ll go down this one.¡±


    They gestured to another passage, one that yawned downwards. Much like the other group''s, this tunnel dipped down into the water, soaking up to their ankles. Rosemary''s mace glowed, lighting the way, a cheery yellow will-o''-the-wisp that cut through the dim darkness. The tunnel itself was a terracotta ensemble ¨C a blue and green mosaic that depicted the cities as they were, great floating sentinels of stone and glory. Old metahuman figures stared down at them, wrapped in azure and emerald robes. Much of it had faded with age, but there was a quality to their eyes that, even now, made them feel alive. Observers, trapped in time, watching these new interlopers.


    ¡°This entire city''s an art museum,¡± Nash said, ¡°Statues. Mosaics. These Chliofrond folk liked their art.¡±


    ¡°Like,¡± Joseph supposed, ¡°There could still be a few around.¡±


    The Far Traveler gave him a sad smirk at the possibility, their face half-hidden in the dancing light of Rosemary''s scepter, ¡°Myron''s gotten you hoping too, hmm?¡±


    ¡°It''d be neat,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Becenti''s...¡±


    ¡°Hopeful,¡± Rosemary filled.


    ¡°That, yeah,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I''d say let him.¡±


    A low grumbling came from Gluh. The zombie shambled last behind them, his single eye staring ahead. Joseph wasn''t sure what he was saying, but Nash nodded at that.


    ¡°Well put,¡± they said.


    The tunnel spat them out back into the light of the city ten minutes later. A garden greeted them ¨C or, it had used to be a garden. Joseph supposed this place was once nice and tidy, a relaxing place like the parks back in San Fran. Four ponds of water, each shaped like a crescent moon, had rounded the place. The path, still made of blue terracotta, had continued on, splitting into a cross in the center, the circle filled in with patches of green.


    Now, however, the water had claimed the floor, now up to their knees. Reeds swamped the garden, chutes of green that tickled at their waists. A couple trees rose out on either side of the garden, their roots spreading outwards, parts of their network climbing against the stone walls, driving deep cracks into their firmament. A couple park benches still stood there, just barely able to be seen, completely claimed by nature, fuzzed with moss and algae. Joseph was surprised they were still standing.


    ¡°Beautiful,¡± Rosemary whispered.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Nash replied. Their voice was quiet, too, ¡°Let''s keep pushing on. Careful of the reeds. That means you, Gluh.¡±


    The zombie groaned.


    They picked their way through the overgrown garden, forging on.


    ***


    ¡°So,¡± Contort said, ¡°You wanna tell me why we''re going up?¡±


    ¡°We''re going to an observation platform,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Correct?¡±


    ¡°Precisely, Ichabod,¡± Becenti said. He had discarded his coat, leaving him in a dress shirt and pants, the sleeves rolled up to his shoulders. They exposed the menagerie tattoos lining his forearms ¨C flowing water, the AC/DC logo just beneath his wrist. Tick marks, counting up to fifteen. But Ichabod wasn''t dumb enough to ask what those were about.


    ¡°And you couldn''t have had us go downhill like the rest of us?¡± Dama Runebreaker wheezed, ¡°Becenti, my guy, we''ve been doing nothing but going up staircase after staircase.¡±


    ¡°What, afraid of a little exercise, Ms. Runebreaker?¡± Becenti chuckled.


    ¡°You don''t have stubby legs like mine,¡± the dwarf countered.


    ¡°You skipped leg day, is what you mean,¡± Ichabod sneered.


    ¡°And they aren''t robotic! You''re cheating, Ichabod!¡±


    ¡°She''s got you there,¡± Contort chuckled.


    ¡°Enough,¡± Becenti said, ¡°We''re wasting daylight.¡±


    They rounded a corner, one that climbed upwards to another staircase. A statue supported it, her arms held over her head, and they had to step over her fingers, which curled over the individual steps.


    ¡°If the sun even sets,¡± Contort said.


    ¡°Or goes out,¡± Dama Runebreaker coughed, ¡°Could be like the Inner Sun back on Londoa. Just out like a light.¡±


    ¡°If this plane is just eternally bright, I already hate it,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Not good for my skin.¡±


    They crested up another staircase, reaching the top of the city. The observation tower had crumbled, leaving only a shock of white rock cascaded with vines. It had been set on a square at the highest point of the city, and this particular spot was much higher than the other floating ruins on the plane.


    ¡°A good vantage point,¡± Becenti observed. He put his hands on his waist as he considered it.


    ¡°We already had that, though,¡± Dama Runebreaker said, ¡°I mean, Meleko''s on the Titania, he''s got a bird''s eye view of the whole place.¡±


    Contort placed a hand on the dwarf''s shoulder, shaking his head. Ichabod had gone silent as well. They watched as Becenti walked over to the edge, taking the entire plane in. He stared out, his breath slow and steady, as he drank in the entire place. When he turned around, a broad smile was on his face, and his hands shook with emotion.


    ¡°Well, come on, then,¡± he said, ¡°Let''s see what''s up here, hmm?¡±


    ***


    Back at the base camp, the Lady Sunala stood a ways from the ritualistic proceedings of the guild¡¯s spellcasters. She was flanked by her two attendants, the three of them observing the spellwork ¨C the elf with marked interest, the thin man with passing boredom, and the large oaf with glazed eyes. The rest of the research team were watching Tek''s sensor array, taking notes as he read out the information to them.


    Phineas, Wakeling, and Nova were arrayed in a triangle, the Deep One''s tome in the center, a pillar of purple light seizing upwards. It crackled with arcane energy, and dark voices whispered in the backs of their minds.


    ¡°Right,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°So this sun is definitely not natural.¡±


    ¡°I-indeed,¡± Phineas stuttered, ¡°M-magical. Very much so.¡±


    The guildmaster turned to Phineas, cocking an eyebrow.


    ¡°Is something the matter, dearie?¡±


    Nervous, Nova pulsed.


    ¡°I am not!¡± Phineas snarled, before he retreated into himself once more, ¡°I am sorry. I did not mean to snap.¡±


    ¡°What makes you nervous, Phineas?¡± Wakeling asked.


    ¡°It is embarrassing, and I would much rather move on.¡±


    Dangerous, Nova spasmed.


    ¡°Nova''s right, dear,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Your anxiety could interrupt our spellwork here.¡±


    Phineas fidgeted a bit. For the first time, he was wringing his webbed hands together. The guildmaster hadn''t seen him do that for quite awhile now ¨C not since Zheng''s boy had joined the guild.


    ¡°I am nervous working with you,¡± he admitted, ¡°You are a powerful magician. I just read a book very well.¡±


    ¡°Oh nonsense,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°You are an admirable spellcaster, Phineas. You''ve got real potential.¡±


    ¡°I doubt it.¡±


    ¡°Why do you think I let you join the guild?¡± Wakeling asked.


    ¡°I do not know,¡± Phineas said, ¡°Pity?¡±


    ¡°Ha! Pity. Well, anyone who''s able to fight and mop floors can join us, but I was especially intent on getting you to stay,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°You showed me that book of yours, and I knew you had something in you.¡±


    ¡°I am...¡±


    ¡°A damn good spellcaster, Mr. Phineas,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°And I''m glad to have you as part of my guild. As part of this little ritual here ¨C I don''t think we''d be able to do this without you.¡±


    ¡°Without... me?¡± Phineas asked.


    The guildmaster turned back to the ritual, ¡°All stars are connected to the eldritch. To the darker annals of Imagination. Concepts and energies that can''t be comprehended by the average mind. Nova''s got the physical aspects of the sun up there down ¨C they''re similar in energy. I have other parts of the ritual taken care of ¨C I''ve dabbled here and there, enough to get a semblance of metahuman witchcraft started up. But the unknowable parts, the parts of the star that are alive, that are beating like a heart...¡±


    She winked at Phineas.


    ¡°That''s all you, my friend.¡±


    ¡°All me...¡± Phineas rasped. He stared at the pillar of magic for a few moments, great globe eyes shining and reflecting like two polished mirrors.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said, ¡°I will not be nervous. For the spell''s sake.¡±


    Wakeling smiled at that. She felt the Deep One throw himself into the spellwork, forcing his will upon the latticework of whispers and roars, melding it to his will. There were things in the pillar only he could see ¨C whenever Wakeling stared at those parts too long, she felt the voices threaten to overtake her. The same could be said for Nova ¨C the neon elemental occasionally cracked and popped like a bonfire, recoiling if they spent too long sensing the places where Phineas''s magic fell into place like a jigsaw puzzle. But the Deep One ignored these, plunging deeper and deeper in the spell, making it whole, filling in the spots that needed to be filled.


    It took them most of the day to finish the ritual.


    ***


    ¡°Surprised there isn''t more out here,¡± Broon noted.


    They had gone in the opposite direction of Nash''s gang, down a few tunnels and to the bottom levels of the city. These parts were completely flooded, the surface tinged green and colonized by floating masses of algae. The rest of the city lay beneath, parks and shops and homes completely drowned by the ocean. Ezel, ever the show-off, had created a bubble around them, a great sphere that acted as a mobile air pocket, and they had pressed on, going deeper to parts of the city that the others couldn''t. Ever the show-off, the child of Enbilulu didn''t seem to be breaking a sweat, talking and theorizing with the rest of the group as she held the literal weight of the freshwater sea at bay by will alone.


    ¡°Indeed,¡± she agreed, ¡°The fact that there is water, but no life...¡±


    ¡°There''s life upstairs,¡± Mallory noted.


    ¡°Yes, on the surface, on the ocean floor,¡± Ezel said, ¡°But the vegetation was brought here. There isn''t... natural life. Native life.¡±


    The Steamer stopped at that, considering Ezel''s words.


    ¡°None here at all,¡± the demigod continued, ¡°I''ve dipped my hands into the water here enough to know that there''s not much out there. Any life came with the metahumans. Even the microscopic ones. Without this... Chliofrond, Myron called it?¡±


    ¡°Aye,¡± Broon said.


    ¡°Without Chliofrond, there would be nothing here.¡±


    ¡°Odd to call it a dead plane, then,¡± Heyma said, ¡°''Dead'' implies something was alive.¡±


    ¡°There is death here,¡± Broon said, ¡°Joseph said he felt like he was walking through a museum, but I disagree.¡±


    He pointed out. They were on the edges of the city. Beyond the final stone terrace yawned a drop-off, a sharp decline towards the bottom of the plane. Bioluminescent algae lit the world below ¨C those cities that had not been so lucky, that had sunk to the bottom, taking all hands with them. The sea floor was covered with old ruins and broken towers, urban carcasses that had been picked, bit by bit, by the vegetation around them.


    ¡°This place is a tomb,¡± Broon said, ¡°Chliofrond came here to die.¡±

 30. Revelations on a Moonless Night

    The sun indeed did begin to darken as the hours wore on. Wakeling surmised they had arrived on the plane on its equivalent to mid-afternoon, the sun shining high above darkening, bit by bit, as the day reached its finale. It finally dimmed, its light extinguishing completely like a cupped torch sconce, near dinner time, right as the guild was streaming back to the base camp. The resulting darkness caked the entire plane ¨C the only light coming from the Nora Lanterns that they hung around the place, miniature moons that shone bright white light. It gave Joseph a strange, lonely feeling as he watched Nash take pieces of chalk and toss them into each lantern. The light they gave off felt industrial, and almost LED-like in a way that he couldn''t quite place his finger on. They were far too overbearing, as they easily drowned out the only other source of light on the plane.


    Joseph could see them if he went to the edge of the camp, stared down at the dark water, and squinted until he could just make them out. It helped when he used his soul, the eagle''s head covering his own, its superior vision taking over as his regular eyes shut. Bioluminescent algae, neon blue in coloration, fuzzing the dead cities below.


    ¡°Beautiful, isn''t it?¡± he heard a voice behind him. Joseph turned. On the pier was Lady Sunala, a book in hand, flanked on either side by Spinlock and Nelthel.


    ¡°Yeah, if you look hard enough,¡± Joseph replied, ¡°Becenti and all the others, they keep saying that this is a dead plane. But it''s not.¡±


    ¡°Indeed, it is not,¡± Sunala agreed. She drew closer, standing beside him. She was easily a head taller than he was, imperious and tower-like, and the way she stared down towards the world below, unmoving and unblinking, made the hairs on the back of his neck raise.


    ¡°What do you think?¡± she asked him.


    ¡°Of what?¡±


    ¡°Of all of this,¡± she gestured out, ¡°Of this plane.¡±


    ¡°It''s neat,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Pretty. I like the buildings.¡±


    ¡°Just the buildings, then?¡± Sunala prodded.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph stuck his hands into his jacket pockets, ¡°It''s... interesting. I dunno, I''m not good at this sort of thing.¡±


    He glanced over to her, desperately trying to move the conversation away from himself, ¡°What are you reading?¡±


    One eyebrow cocked up. Sunala looked down at the book she was holding, a faded old tome with yellowing paper. She opened it up, squinting her eyes to make out the writing. Joseph''s soul sparked to life, covering his hand like a glove. He lifted it up to cast light on the writings.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Sunala said, ¡°It''s a book on the relationship Chliofrond had with various Elven nations.¡±


    ¡°Makes sense,¡± Joseph said, ¡°That tracks. You being an elf. Being on a metahuman plane.¡±


    He gulped, unsure of where to go from there. Sunala turned away from her book, a light smile playing on her face.


    ¡°You don''t know much about the multiverse, do you?¡±


    ¡°I did my reading,¡± Joseph said, ¡°But, ah...¡±


    ¡°Reading only gets you so far,¡± Sunala said, ¡°I remember you sitting in that library for quite a long time.¡±


    ¡°I can do cramming,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I must''ve read a thousand books for this.¡±


    ¡°Can you remember much of it?¡±


    Joseph sighed, then shook his head in defeat.


    ¡°A metahuman, who knows nothing of his people?¡± Sunala said.


    ¡°Ah, cut me some slack,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I''m new here.¡±


    ¡°How new?¡±


    ¡°Only been out here for a few months,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I''m from Earth.¡±


    ¡°An isolated plane,¡± Sunala said.


    ¡°Yeah, exactly,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I didn''t find out all of this... existed, until one day I tumbled out of a coffin on Kelstonda.¡±


    ¡°I am from an isolated plane too,¡± Sunala said.


    Joseph''s eyes widened.


    ¡°Vilthanduil,¡± Sunala said, ¡°The Third Birthplace. A bastion of elvenkind. It''s only in the forecast once every thousand years.¡±


    ¡°Jesus,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°It''s at this point,¡± Sunala said, casting a wry smile at Joseph, ¡°That people ask my age.¡±


    ¡°I''m new, not dumb.¡±


    ¡°A smart answer. It''s been over two hundred and twenty-seven years since I left Vilthanduil. I was a hundred years old, back then.¡±


    Joseph did the math, nodding as he put it all together.


    ¡°Do you ever miss it?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Sometimes,¡± Sunala said, ¡°My father is still there. My mother. I haven''t spoken to them since I left.¡±


    Her gaze fell on the water.


    ¡°We did not part on the... nicest of terms.¡±


    ¡°I know that feeling,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I''m the youngest of my family. The one people forgot about¡­¡±


    He took a deep breath. Then another, forcing down unwanted emotions.


    ¡°Or tried to, at least,¡± he finished.


    ¡°It''s only been a few months,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Though I know for your people, that must be a lifetime.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph felt something get caught in his throat, ¡°I-it is.¡±


    ¡°Do you miss them?¡±


    ¡°I think I do.¡±


    ¡°Do you think they miss you?¡± Sunala said.


    ¡°...God, I hope so.¡±


    ***


    ¡°The star lives,¡± Phineas said. Not liking the artificial light of the Nora Lanterns, he had cast from his spellbook a false fire, one that was shining cheerily from its pages, though the flames gave off no heat. He, Mallory, Rosemary, and Nash were all arrayed around it. The sizzling smell of dinner was wafting through the camp ¨C eggs and hash, courtesy of chef Gluh. No one was sure how the zombie had learned to cook. Nor how he had won awards for his cooking before he joined the guild. But they had learned not to question how God gave his gifts.


    ¡°It... lives?¡± Mallory asked.


    ¡°Yes,¡± the Deep One said, wringing his webbed hands, ¡°Not in a way one can know. Can comprehend.¡±


    ¡°Like a plant,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°Similar,¡± Phineas rasped, ¡°I do not know how to explain it. It is alive in the way I am alive.¡±


    ¡°So it can... talk?¡± Mallory asked.


    ¡°No, but it has...¡± the Deep One rubbed his face, ¡°I cannot explain it. You cannot comprehend.¡±


    ¡°It''s alright, Phin,¡± Nash said, ¡°What matters is it''s alive. What else did you find out?¡±


    ¡°Wakeling believes it was created by a metahuman,¡± Phineas said.


    ¡°Shocker,¡± Mallory said.


    ¡°One who had a power connecting to beings such as the Eternal Engine and It of the Infinite Mind,¡± the Deep One said.


    ¡°So, those dark places,¡± Nash said, leaning in.


    ¡°Indeed.¡±


    ¡°You ever see stuff like that on your travels, Nash?¡± Rosemary asked.


    Nash nodded, ¡°You see it occasionally. Sometimes some planes have a... personal connection to the outer places.¡±


    ¡°Amzuth,¡± Phineas said.


    ¡°Amzuth,¡± Nash agreed, ¡°Tsaeyaru has a bit of that, too. Prime does ¨C they have a Seer, who combats those forces whenever they come up.¡±


    Their gaze turned to the false fire, their expression going dark and dramatic. Rosemary, fully absorbed in the Far Traveler''s words, leaned in.


    ¡°Sometimes, though, you see cults. Dark ones. The kind that worship more than money and fame,¡± Nash continued, their voice oozing with theatrics, ¡°I''ve seen a few of ''em, in my time. You can pick out their members easily enough ¨C they''re of the robed affair, blood red ones that ripple in the cold winds of the night.¡±


    Rosemary''s eyes were starting to widen as she stared slack-jawed.


    ¡°I remember one of them, on a distant plane. The world was Pohanda, and it was distant. Far in the forecast,¡± Nash''s voice was a dramatic whisper, ¡°They had taken a young boy, the cult. But this one was different. More insidious. The villagers, they hired me to save the kid. So I went out. For three days and three nights, I tracked the cult as they moved across the Glass-Like Wastes, picking past the corpses of those clergymen who had been too weak to continue, left behind by their brethren.¡±


    ¡°Laying it on a bit thick, aren''t you?¡± Mallory chuckled.


    ¡°Hush, it is a story,¡± Phineas said.


    ¡°They had hidden in a cave,¡± Nash said, ¡°And as I went down, they had already begun the ritual. A dark one. They spoke in an... evil tongue.¡±


    ¡°I am vaguely insulted,¡± Phineas said.


    ¡°Sorry, Phin,¡± Nash said.


    ¡°It is alright. It is only vaguely.¡±


    ¡°Nash, what happened after?¡± Rosemary asked.


    ¡°I went down there, and they had sacrificed the poor kid. The cult''s leader, knife slicked in the boy''s blood, lifted it high into the air, where it disappeared into shadow. And they spoke the creature''s name, the Outer God that they were trying to summon.¡±


    ¡°...Who was it?¡± Rosemary asked.


    But Nash was quiet.


    ¡°...Nash?¡±


    ¡°BL''NDAGA!¡± they roared, jumping up. Rosemary let out a scream of shock, jumping back and knocking Mallory over. The scream dissolved into laughter as she pulled herself back up.


    ¡°Sorry, Mal,¡± she said.


    ¡°S''alright,¡± the Steamer said, ¡°You''re too easy, Rose.¡±


    ¡°I am! I have to stop.¡±


    ¡°Makes it fun, though,¡± Nash said, ¡°The day you grow a spine is the day I cry, Rosemary.¡±


    ¡°I have a spine!¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Just not a good one for... y''know...¡±


    ¡°Scary stories,¡± Phineas said.


    ¡°Yeah, that.¡±


    ¡°What''d you think, Phin?¡± Nash asked, ¡°Did I do good?¡±


    The Deep One rubbed his chin.


    ¡°It was alright. Bl''ndaga prefers the old for his sacrifices, though.¡±


    Nash blinked.


    ¡°I... I made the name up.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps you did, perhaps he put it in your mind,¡± Phineas gave a devious grin, ¡°He does that. I can feel his presence now, hanging over this plane. He''s looking at you. Many eyes, many mouths. All of them, hungry.¡±


    There was silence. Rosemary gave a nervous laugh.


    ¡°That was a joke, right?¡± Mallory said, ¡°Come on, Phin.¡±


    ¡°Oh! The dinner bell!¡± Phineas rose up, ¡°I hope there are vegetarian options. I do not eat meat.¡±


    And he waddled off. The remaining three looked at each other.


    This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    ¡°We never heard that?¡± Nash suggested.


    ¡°Never did,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°Nope,¡± Mallory said.


    ¡°Agreed,¡± Nash said, ¡°Come on, let''s eat.¡±


    ***


    Dinner was a busy affair, the guild rising up as one, clambering and shouting and making their way to Gluh, the zombie moaning out groans in response ¨C then, he only made groans in response. Plates were passed around, meals were plopped atop them, affairs of eggs, meat, and potatoes (though, in Phineas and Ezel''s cases, the eggs and meat were substituted for rice and tofu). They then, as a single creature, spread out, many limbs making their way to folding tables and chairs, for campfires created through magic, or sitting by the Nora Lanterns that now floated of their own accord over the camp, courtesy of Wakeling''s spellwork.


    The guildmaster herself was with the head of each expedition party as each of them gave their reports. They were joined by Sunala and Tek, the group of them sitting as one by the landed Titania Amber.


    ¡°Right,¡± Broon said, ¡°Guess I''ll start. We went beneath this particular city. Much of it''s underwater ¨C Ezel thinks as much as two-thirds of it is sunken down.¡±


    ¡°Any sign of it sinking further?¡± Wakeling asked.


    ¡°Not that she could tell,¡± Broon replied, ¡°Though she''s not really sure what''s keeping it afloat, either.¡±


    ¡°By all accounts, it should be on the bottom with the rest of them,¡± Tek noted.


    ¡°There must be something holding them here,¡± Sunala said, ¡°In my notes, I did read that Chliofrond was held aloft by the plating underlining the city.¡±


    She turned to Becenti.


    ¡°Is that correct?¡± she asked.


    The old metahuman nodded, ¡°You are. Stories tell of special technologies that wind and flight-based metahumans could channel their abilities through. These technologies magnified their powers and spread them across a network.¡±


    ¡°If such a network still existed, do you think it could hold these islands in place?¡± Sunala asked.


    Becenti thought on that, crossing his arms, his brow furrowed in thought.


    ¡°Such technologies would need to have constant upkeep to them,¡± he said, ¡°A constant flow of energy, if you will.¡±


    ¡°So that''s out, then,¡± Broon said.


    ¡°Perhaps not,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Either there are still metahumans living here, and they''re doing the smart thing and hiding, watching us from a distance. Or...¡±


    He glanced over to Sunala. The elf said nothing, returning his gaze. Something silent passed between them. Becenti didn''t react as he took in the realization.


    ¡°Or there''s something here that''s capturing metahuman abilities and keeping them in stasis,¡± he said, ¡°But the only thing that could do that...¡±


    ¡°Would be a Shard of Imagination,¡± Sunala finished, ¡°You''re rather perceptive, Mr. Becenti.¡±


    ¡°...Shit,¡± Nash said darkly.


    ¡°Explains why the sun is still there, and hasn''t burned out,¡± Tek said.


    ¡°Also explains why we''re here,¡± Nash said, ¡°Man, of all the fucking guilds you could''ve chosen...¡±


    ¡°That''s enough, Nash,¡± Wakeling said. She turned to Sunala, ¡°Though I must agree with them, the subject of this expedition is...¡±


    ¡°Quite the subject, indeed,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Are you still up for the challenge?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°It''s why we''re here.¡±


    ¡°You knew,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°One of the requirements written in the contract was that I wasn''t supposed to tell anyone,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°I''m sorry, Myron.¡±


    ¡°It''s... understandable,¡± Becenti said, ¡°On a need-to-know basis. Just business.¡±


    ¡°Correct,¡± Sunala said, ¡°A... Shard of Imagination, acquiring one is difficult. Keeping it, moreso.¡±


    ¡°The less people know, the better,¡± Broon reasoned.


    ¡°Which is why this conversation doesn''t leave this group,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°I hope that''s alright with all of you.¡±


    A tense silence followed. Broon gave a shrug and a nod, though a dark shadow had crossed over his brow. Nash glared at Sunala, looking mutinous as they rose up and walked away. Tek simply nodded. Becenti''s arms were still crossed as he leaned against the airship. His jaw was set and his voice was quiet and controlled as he spoke.


    ¡°Quite the goal, milady,¡± he said.


    ¡°It is,¡± Sunala said.


    ¡°A bad goal, too,¡± he said, ¡°If I''m being honest.¡±


    ¡°I am... aware of the superstitions,¡± the noblewoman said.


    ¡°They''re not superstitions,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I''ve seen a Shard of Imagination only twice in my life. The first time, it corrupted its user. Killed them before they could properly use its power.¡±


    ¡°And the second time?¡± Sunala prodded.


    ¡°Silver Arthur. The Manticore. California.¡±


    The elf nodded at that. She chose her next words carefully.


    ¡°I understand your concerns, Mr. Becenti,¡± Sunala said, ¡°But this is still something I''m willing to pursue. You''re not the first one to question my mission, here. There are many in the Scuttleway government who reacted in the same way.¡±


    ¡°But they still complied with the expedition,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°They helped fund it,¡± Sunala said, ¡°These are dark times, Mr. Becenti. A power source such as a Shard cannot simply be put to waste, can it? This plane is dead, after all.¡±


    Becenti didn''t reply. He shook his head, gave a disappointed glance to Wakeling, and walked away, heading over to sit down by Joseph, Phineas, and Rosemary.


    ¡°That went as well as I expected,¡± Wakeling said.


    ¡°You know how he is,¡± Broon said.


    ¡°And you''re... alright with this? Broon? Tek?¡± Wakeling asked.


    The half-orc shook his head, ¡°I think... I think you''re risking a lot here. But you agreed to this, Vyde. I''ll follow your judgment.¡±


    ¡°Tek?¡±


    The great mound shrugged, ¡°This expedition certainly became a lot more interesting. I won''t breathe a word, though.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Wakeling turned to Sunala, ¡°We''ll move out tomorrow morning, fan out from this city to the others. I''ll talk to Nash, see what they think. Make sure they don''t go blabbing their mouth off to everyone.¡±


    ¡°I will accompany them tomorrow,¡± Sunala said.


    ¡°Are you sure about that?¡± the guildmaster said, ¡°They aren''t the happiest with you.¡±


    ¡°They''re also leading the team that''s going the farthest out,¡± Sunala said, ¡°To be frank, Wakeling, I am tired of reading and waiting. It''s high time I went out myself.¡±


    ¡°Right, then,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°I''ll see what they have to say.¡±


    ***


    Joseph was content to listen to Phineas and Rosemary jabber among themselves as he saw with them in the small, false fire that the Deep One had created. The three of them sat around it, the conversations of the rest of the guild drifting in and out, rising and falling like dozens of waves, an orchestral din of voice and laughter. He ate his food silently, ignoring the ache in his legs and the exhaustion seeping into his body. Their team had scoured the entire perimeter of this specific city, walking through the myriad gardens and overgrown buildings in order to get a scope of the place. The entire time, the Far Traveler had been taking notes in a journal, sketching out a rough map, their brow furrowed in thought and the spark of adventure dancing in their eyes.


    That spark had smoldered as they returned back to the base camp. Some conversation they had with the rest of the expedition''s leadership had stamped it out completely as they made their way back into the camp, a dark look on their face, their fists clenched as they went to the edge of the tents and lights. The only sign that they were out there was the small, bright flame of their lighter as they lit a cigarette, though that cooled down to a mere orange dot that Joseph needed to use his eagle''s vision to see.


    ¡°Wonder what''s got them in a mood,¡± he wondered to himself.


    ¡°They were discussing the future,¡± Phineas said, ¡°Disagreements happen. Who goes where, why go there, all of that.¡±


    ¡°Must''ve been some intense disagreements, then,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Should''ve been watchin'' them,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Dinner and a show.¡±


    ¡°Quite the show, indeed,¡± Becenti said.


    The old metahuman had made his way over to them, sitting down by Joseph and letting out a tired, almost angry sigh.


    ¡°That bad, huh?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Certain... revelations, shall we say, just came out,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Are you at liberty to reveal them?¡± Phineas said.


    ¡°No, Mr. Phineas, I am not,¡± Becenti said, ¡°It''s need-to-know.¡±


    ¡°Aww, come on, Becenti,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°You can''t hold out on us like that.¡±


    ¡°I can, Ms. Rosemary,¡± Becenti said, ¡°And I will. Please, let''s leave it there.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°But when you''re allowed to tell us, you will, right?¡±


    ¡°I assure you, Ms. Rosemary, you will be the first to know.¡±


    She beamed at that, ¡°Right, boss.¡±


    She and Phineas returned back to idle conversation. Joseph pulled away from them, taking a moment to study Becenti. The old metahuman was pretending to listen to his guildmates, nodding as Phineas explained the nature of the artificial sun that had extinguished above them. His gaze was pulled away as he noticed Wakeling float away from the group towards Nash, disappearing into the shadow outside the lanterns'' perimeter. He couldn''t hear them ¨C not at first, anyways.


    Then Nash roared out, ¡°It''s BULLSHIT, Vyde! You¡¯re playing with fire, is what you¡¯re doing!¡±


    This drew the attention of the entire camp, who turned like a many-headed hydra to watch as Nash returned into the light, still shaking and shuddering in a vile sort of anger. They made their way to their tent.


    ¡°Must''ve been some conversation,¡± Joseph said, ¡°That ''certain revelation'' had some oomph to it, eh?¡±


    He was trying to keep the mood light, while still prodding at Becenti. The older metahuman shook his head.


    ¡°Let''s talk about something else, Mr. Zheng,¡± Becenti¡¯s voice was quiet and warning.


    ¡°...Alright,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Okay.¡±


    It was long into the night, as the guild went to bed, that Becenti began to speak again. He and Joseph were alone, Phineas having gone to bed and Rosemary having wandered to chatter with Mallory. The Deep One had mercifully let some of his fire spell remain, though it had begun to die out, petering into an ember that lit very little. The night itself was cool in its summer twilight, reminding Joseph of back home, of nights on the beach or on the town, when the world was open and there were no worries in his head. Becenti lifted up his head, a physical acknowledgement of his forcing his own anxieties away. He looked intently at Joseph.


    ¡°So,¡± he said, ¡°Did you recognize anyone, Joseph?¡±


    ¡°A few,¡± Joseph said, ¡°What about you?¡±


    ¡°Plenty,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Multiple statues of Iresine.¡±


    ¡°He''s shorter than I thought he''d be.¡±


    ¡°Did you happen to see a statue of a man with the head of a vulture?¡± Becenti asked.


    ¡°...Yeah, actually,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Supporting the staircase in the northern parts of the city? Where that market was located. Nash said it was a market, anyways.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Telran, the King of Gold. A famous metahuman, who was known throughout Epochia in his time. Had the power to manipulate coinage of any variety.¡±


    ¡°A patron saint of cash,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Indeed. Though he visited Chliofrond often, he never lived here.¡±


    ¡°I recognized Archaic Mosaic,¡± Joseph said, ¡°He was High King Coral''s... brother?¡±


    ¡°Indeed. Did you find Seeks-New-Roads?¡±


    ¡°Coral''s husband,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Right? I didn''t.¡±


    ¡°In the southern parts of the city, where the temples used to be housed,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Trivia question, Mr. Zheng, but what were the three called?¡±


    Joseph racked his brain, groaning, ¡°Alright, Coral. Seeks-New-Roads. Archaic Mosaic. The... Brothers and Lover.¡±


    ¡°Good, Mr. Zheng.¡±


    The older metahuman gave a proud smile to Joseph, devoid of its usual bitterness and bile.


    ¡°There are a few other local metahumans I recognized,¡± he said, ¡°Eminence, the First Alchemist. Kydrion, the All-Beast. She was quite the figure, now ¨C defended Chliofrond against the entirety of the Federation''s Thirty-Third Fleet, during the height of their wars.¡±


    ¡°There was a statue of a serpent with the head of... a lion?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Ruthmandeer,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Speaker in the Fog.¡±


    ¡°They were... metahuman?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Not all of us look human.¡±


    ¡°Makes... sense, I suppose,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Weird, though.¡±


    ¡°How so?¡± Becenti prodded, ¡°Baseline humans share ninety-six percent of the same DNA with the chimpanzee. Ninety percent with the domestic cat. Sixty, with a banana.¡±


    ¡°Alright, alright, you''ve made your point,¡± Joseph waved Becenti off, ¡°Metahumans can look weird, I already knew that.¡±


    ¡°Indeed, Mr. Zheng. Your mirror would tell you that much.¡±


    Joseph rolled his eyes, letting Becenti have his jab. Becenti let out a good-natured chuckle, though that quickly died away as he turned to look out into the darkness. Joseph followed that gaze, the two of them sitting in relative silence. Most of the guild was going to their tents, now. The only others who were still up was Wakeling, who pored over a few books by the Titania Amber, and Sunala''s attendants ¨C Spinlock and Nelthel, Joseph remembered, the thin and the large.


    ¡°You wanted metahumans to be here, didn''t you?¡± Joseph said.


    He wasn''t sure why he said it. But it felt right ¨C like he was putting something to the forefront the two of them had been pushing back. Becenti blinked.


    ¡°Of course I wanted metahumans to be here,¡± Becenti said, ¡°That would have been amazing. A still-living Chliofrond. Still beautiful, still great, still a metahuman kingdom, a slice of Epochia that escaped the Federation''s grasp. Oh, I would have cried, Joseph.¡±


    Joseph smiled at the image of that.


    ¡°But...¡± Becenti shook his head, ¡°It''s just a dream. And I knew it was, too. I just...¡±


    He looked down at the ground, at his worn, scarred hands. His smile, bright as the moon, fell away.


    ¡°I dream too much, Mr. Zheng. You see what we''re capable of, of what we can do when we''re together, and you hope that maybe things will be different.¡±


    ¡°But they never are,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Never. Every space is invaded. Every plane dies.¡±


    He left it there, letting his words linger in the night, ugly and bitter and full of truth. Joseph felt his insides shift as he brought up a hand, laying it on his mentor''s shoulder. Becenti didn''t react ¨C didn''t touch the hand, or give any indication that it was there. Then, he didn''t pull away from it, either. After a moment, he turned to Joseph, and Joseph watched in real time as the sorrowful, empty eyes of Becenti re-hardened, the old metahuman once more putting on a mask of stone.


    Becenti stood up.


    ¡°But enough musings. There is still much to explore. You should go to bed, Mr. Zheng. The early drake gets the gold, after all.¡±


    ¡°...Right,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Good night, Myron.¡±


    Becenti forced a false smile.


    ¡°Good night, Mr. Zheng.¡±


    ***


    They gave the last of their reports in the morning.


    Becenti''s group had explored the upper towers and buildings of the city, old mansions and castles built for the defense of Chliofrond. Much of it had been overrun by the plantlife there, so thick and so overtaken that it was difficult to make much headway. The royal palace had been completely outgrown by a great oak, the trunk literally the size of the building, twisted branches snaking out, thick trunk blocking most of what was left.


    Broon reported more of the same ¨C much of the city was underwater, many of its brothers and sisters having sunk beneath the still surface of the freshwater sea. They were preparing a couple boats now to head towards the still-floating city directly to the east.


    Nash didn''t have much to say about yesterday. They, with arms crossed, glared at Sunala for a few moments, before looking to Wakeling as they gave their report.


    ¡°Scouted the perimeter,¡± they said. And that was that.


    The jobs for today, meanwhile, were passed out to each of the expedition parties. Exploration of a few of the other cities, and Sunala would be joining them. She pointed out one of the larger cities in the distance.


    ¡°That one,¡± she said, ¡°I will join Nash¡¯s group for that.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Nash muttered.


    Becenti squinted, trying to make out the mass of stone and green in the distance.


    ¡°Agreed,¡± he said, ¡°If any of them had it...¡±


    ¡°What''s so special about that one?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°The statue at the top of the city,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Can you see it?¡±


    Joseph''s eagle overtook his vision, covering the top of his head.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± he said, ¡°That''s a statue of... Corinthian, right?¡±


    ¡°First King of Chliofrond,¡± Becenti said, ¡°That place must have been one of the Royal Monoliths.¡±


    Nash spat into the water.


    ¡°Right, guess we''ll go there, then,¡± they said. They made their way to one of the Gil-Galad¡¯s two rowboats. Sunala followed, Nelthel and Spinlock flanking her. Their boat sagged visibly under Spinlock¡¯s weight.


    ¡°Right,¡± Nash said, ¡°We''ll take the other one. Phineas, get a spell ready to propel us out there.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± the Deep One clambered onto the other boat, opening his tome.


    ¡°Be careful, Phineas,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Watch your spellwork, it might disrupt the sun.¡±


    ¡°If it goes dark, you will know,¡± Phineas said, ¡°Because it will be, ehh, dark.¡±


    Rosemary snorted as she and Joseph climbed in. Nash and Gluh were the last two on.


    ¡°Just fucking go,¡± they said.


    Phineas nodded, whispering a few dark words. The boats took off, skimming across the silent waters of its own accord, ripples following them like great, ringing tails.


    Towards the Royal Monolith, and all that it could hold.

 31. Mysteries and Oddities

    They spent the first three hours waiting.


    It was boring. Nash''s sour mood made any light conversation dissipate as they carved through the ocean''s glassy surface, disrupting it in a way that made Rosemary feel odd, like they were disturbing something that preferred to remain fast asleep.


    She made small talk, once or twice. Just simple, silly observations. The weather. The water and how it liked to sleep. Joseph''s windswept, bedhead hair since she and Phineas had stolen his only comb. But Nash glared at them, then twisted that glare over to the Lady Sunala and her two attendants, and then returned to staring out at the Royal Monolith that was approaching.


    Quite the old thing, too. It rose as a spire out of the waters, a full half of it submerged, algae covering its bottom half, an army of trees, weeds, and vines throttling those parts exposed to the open air. Statues ¨C metahumans and their statues! ¨C were arrayed in a circle around it, a few of them having sunk to their hips, a few more on upraised platforms so that they could watch the world around them, like that Statue of Liberty on Prime.


    There weren''t any docks here ¨C those were underwater by now. So Gluh and Phineas hopped into the water and guided the boats to the base of one of the statues. The statue was tall ¨C almost eight stories, by the looks of it, her face cast in a kind, dead expression only statues could have, her pupil-less eyes staring out towards the horizon, three arms reaching out in greeting.


    ¡°You know the name of that one, Joe?¡± Rosemary asked.


    ¡°No,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Probably did, at one point.¡±


    ¡°But...?¡±


    ¡°Cramming,¡± Joseph gave a sheepish smile, ¡°You learn half the shit you read, you forget the rest.¡±


    ¡°More like a quarter,¡± Nash said, the first words they had spoken during their ride out, ¡°Make sure that rope''s tight, Phin. I don''t want the boat drifting away.¡±


    ¡°Is silent, the water,¡± Phineas said, ¡°The boat will not drift.¡±


    ¡°I don''t give a shit, just make sure it''s tied up alright.¡±


    ¡°...Very well,¡± Phineas added another knot to the rope, securing it to the small outcropping of rock. Joseph and Rosemary exchanged a glance at one another. But they said nothing. Nash was in a bad mood, and they didn''t need a missing comb for that.


    The Lady Sunala rose up from the boat, then alighted with a serene grace onto the old, worn stones of the Monolith. Spinlock and Nelthel were behind her. They weren''t like regular attendants, Rosemary noted ¨C Spinlock wasn''t doing the polite thing and getting off before her, proffering a hand to the noblewoman to guide her to shore. Nelthel sneered as he glanced up at the statue.


    More like glorified bodyguards, if anything.


    ¡°Right, then,¡± Nash said, ¡°Gluh, you take point. Keep your eyes peeled.¡±


    ¡°Ughhh?¡± Gluh asked.


    ¡°For anything,¡± they replied to the zombie, ¡°Anything looks out of the ordinary, got it?¡±


    ¡°Tek said there wasn''t anything out here,¡± Joseph said, ¡°What''s there to watch out for?¡±


    ¡°Scanners lie,¡± Nash said, ¡°This isn''t my first metahuman rodeo, Joe. Your people are good at hiding things from Fedtek.¡±


    Joseph had a way of crinkling his nose whenever metahumans were mentioned, but he nodded. His soul''s head thundered out, replacing his own and making him look like a bird-man.


    ¡°Better vision,¡± he said.


    ¡°Good, keep those peepers out,¡± Nash said, ¡°Alright, let''s go.¡±


    ***


    They first went upwards. Up the still-usable stairways that ringed up and around the central tower, latching onto vines and using them as handholds to climb across broken chasms that had once been roads and bridges. Passages that, had the city not been dead, they would have casually walked across with nary a thought.


    Not here, not with the entire city crashed ¨C and this particular city was not as much of a museum piece as the base camp''s urban slice. The camp had been overgrown, yes, but it was still in relatively pristine condition. The Royal Monolith had seen battle, and wore scars from tens of thousands of years of combat. Entire portions of the tower had been hewn off, cracks ran along the walls and deep into the firmament. Faded blue plasma marks pockmarked the northern portion of the tower, plasma that had long ago shorn off lookout balconies and the built-in defenses of the monolith.


    ¡°Here,¡± Nash said. They pointed into one of the larger holes carved into the monolith, ¡°Let''s get inside.¡±


    They clambered in, stepping over cracks in the great, spiraling ramp that mirrored the stairway outside. It was patterned in blue and green squares, most of the stone beads making up the mosaic having become victims to time and wear. As with the stairway, parts of the ramp had broken off sometime in the past. It was a wonder, Joseph thought to himself, that the ramp even supported their weight at all, what with bonsai roots having taken over parts of the stone, cutting deep, their trunks, leaves, and branches stretching towards the center of the tower. The ceiling was gone ¨C light shone down from above, shining down on the trees, gilding their leaves and providing light for the entirety of the interior. The monolith extended down underground, where it had sunk to the point that water had flooded the lower levels.


    ¡°Shit,¡± Joseph said. He looked up and down the length of the tower, ¡°It''s just... hollow?¡±


    ¡°A decoy, most likely,¡± Sunala said, ¡°A glorified observation platform. Most of the weapons are gone, by the looks of it.¡±


    She gestured to the holes in the wall.


    ¡°Most of these should have been weapon emplacements. They''re gone now. Taken by survivors of the kingdom before they left, or destroyed by the Federation.¡±


    ¡°And we''re sure it was the Feds who did this?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°It''s the logical conclusion,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Metahuman plane. A dead one, with plasma scarring?¡±


    ¡°No Federation ships, though,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°Gluhhh,¡± Gluh said.


    ¡°A fair point,¡± Nash replied.


    Joseph looked at the zombie, then to Nash, then back to the zombie. He felt as he did with Archenround, how everyone but him was able to understand her sign language.


    ¡°What did he say?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Oh, sorry, Joe,¡± Nash said, ¡°Gluh mentioned that whatever caused Chliofrond to crash might have happened on another plane.¡±


    ¡°And they came here to hide?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°A fair assessment,¡± Sunala said, ¡°We should try and see if there are any Federation records of the forecast from that time period. It bears further investigation.¡±


    ¡°Let''s concentrate on...¡± Nash glanced at Sunala, ¡°Finding more info here.¡±


    They had obviously thought on their words, veiling their true meaning. It was so on the nose Joseph raised an eyebrow, though no one could see it due to his soul''s head. Nonetheless, he glanced at Rosemary and Phineas.


    ¡°Water looks clean,¡± Phineas said, ¡°And much more of the complex lies within it.¡±


    Nash nodded, ¡°Wish Ezel were here.¡±


    ¡°Should we split our party?¡± Sunala said, ¡°Mr. Phineas and Sir Gluh can breathe underwater, yes?¡±


    Nash grimaced, ¡°I don''t like the thought of that.¡±


    ¡°I can handle myself,¡± Phineas stated.


    ¡°I know you can. So can Gluh,¡± Nash said, ¡°But... It rubs me the wrong way. We should stick together, at least until we can get our bearings.¡±


    ¡°I still think-¡± Sunala started, but Nash was glaring at the noblewoman, as though daring her to disagree. Finally, she nodded.


    ¡°Very well,¡± she said, ¡°It is... a fair assessment.¡±


    ¡°Should we get to the top of the tower?¡± Joseph said. He glanced upwards, his eagle''s vision giving him a sharp, pristine look at what awaited them, ¡°It looks more unstable as we get to the top.¡±


    Nash joined him, taking out a pair of binoculars and looking up.


    ¡°Yeah, looks like the top of the Monolith took the most damage,¡± they said, ¡°The ramp straight up disappears right as you get to the roof. It''s quite a jump.¡±


    ¡°I could make it,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°If you don''t, it''s a long fall,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°And water is not soft,¡± Phineas added.


    They looked at one another.


    ¡°We''ll have one of the ships take a look at the roof,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Let''s go down towards the water.¡±


    ¡°...Fine,¡± Nash relented, ¡°Together, though. We''ll figure out what to do then.¡±


    The course decided, they began making their way down. The ramp was slick with moss and vine as they went down, and Joseph felt his stomach invariably crawl up to his throat as they walked downhill, jumping across the gaps in the path. He felt soft chills in the tips of his toes as Phineas, at one point, missed a jump. He hit the other side of the ramp, lost his footing, then began scrabbling as he slipped off the stone.


    And then Spinlock was there, leaping to the other side, twisting his bulk around, arm the size of a full-grown man reaching and grabbing the Deep One. In one fluid motion, Sunala''s attendant hefted Phineas''s small frame up onto the ramp, patting his head before turning to join the noblewoman.


    He was silent as he did so, even as Phineas rasped out a ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°You alright, Phin?¡± Nash said.


    ¡°I am fine,¡± the Deep One said, ¡°Let us keep moving.¡±


    ***


    They reached the bottom of the tower in short time. Joseph reached down to poke at the water, watching the still surface ripple at his touch, the water cool on his fingertips. Not uncomfortably so, though. Joseph glanced over at Phineas.


    ¡°Well, it''ll be a nice swim, at least,¡± he said.


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Phineas said. He turned to Nash, ¡°Shall Gluh and I begin?¡±


    ¡°...Alright,¡± Nash said, ¡°I don''t like it, though. Keep close. Keep in touch.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Phineas said, ¡°I will keep a spell available. Keep a spot in your head for me.¡±


    The Far Traveler nodded. Phineas dove into the water, barely causing a splash as he cut through it like a knife. The water was so clear, Joseph could see his friend''s form dart from rock to rock, scouting out the bottom floor of the tower. Three hallways were arrayed, two across from each other, the last on the southern wall. Phineas swam over to that one, and was about to pass through its threshold when Nash spoke.


    ¡°Keep close to Gluh, Phin. Got it?¡±


    The Deep One let loose a stream of bubbles in reply. Nash nodded at Gluh.


    ¡°You be careful, too,¡± they said.


    ¡°Gluhhh.¡±


    ¡°Good luck, Gluh,¡± Rosemary said.


    The zombie continued moaning as he stepped forward. Rather than diving in like Phineas, Gluh made his way down the ramp, tromping downward, ignoring the water as he went, sinking down until he was walking on the pool''s floor. It was as though the freshwater sea did not exist, save for the way that the loose parts of his nice, pinstripe suit picked up around him as though he were in deep space.


    ¡°Where''s he from?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Dunno,¡± Rosemary replied, ¡°Some dead plane, I think. Was a businessman, ''fore he went all dead like that.¡±


    ¡°Rare to see an undead like him with such... sapience,¡± Sunala noted.


    ¡°Yeah, we Amber Foundation are full of surprises,¡± Nash''s voice was deadpan and distant, ¡°Hopefully they don''t run into trouble.¡±


    ***


    Gluh and Phineas went through the southern hallway first. Phineas, at ease in his natural environment, danced and twirled as he went, rocketing from room to room, waiting for Gluh to catch up. Gluh, ever patient (and also dragging a leg behind him), took his time. Most of the rooms were bare save for the usual greenery that had sunken into this place. The marble lining the walls, floor, and ceiling had begun to show signs of obvious wear, roots growing through their cracks and moss covering the floor. The water here took on a chlorophyll-tinged green. Tasted green, too, as Phineas took in a gulp.


    Many of the hallways and rooms were empty. There was little here, the stone tables in the rooms having been mossed over, the wooden chairs having moldered and rotted long ago.


    ¡°Living quarters,¡± Phineas bubbled, ¡°All of them. This was where people slept.¡±


    Gluh moaned in response.


    ¡°Indeed, there would be a master bedroom,¡± Phineas said, ¡°Perhaps not here. What king sleeps next to a servant?¡±


    ***


    They returned back to the tower''s base, relaying their discovery to the team.


    ¡°Right, nothing there, then,¡± Nash said.


    ¡°Disappointing,¡± Sunala said, ¡°And you looked everywhere?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Phineas said, ¡°Every room.¡±


    ¡°You were awfully quick about it,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Are you sure?¡±


    ¡°I am quick,¡± Joseph detected a hint of agitation in Phineas''s voice, ¡°I swim fast. See fast. I saw nothing.¡±


    ¡°If he says it, he means it,¡± Joseph said.


    Sunala nodded, ¡°Very well. Excellent work then, Mr. Phineas. Forgive my... underestimation.¡±


    ¡°It is alright,¡± Phineas said, ¡°Shall we continue our scouting?¡±


    Nash nodded. Phineas dove back into the water, he and Gluh moving towards the western hallway.


    ¡°Not much for us to do,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°Not unless you can swim underwater,¡± Nash replied.


    They stood there for a few moments.


    ¡°Anyone got any cards?¡± Joseph asked.


    ***


    Phineas was right. The second hallway had more bedrooms, though these were obviously guest quarters and rooms for the richer folk of Chliofrond. The beds here had been made of (what else?) plant matter. Old oaks, melded by plant-controlling metahumans, curved into circular beds, though whatever had been the cushions had been lost to time, and the oaks had grown since Chliofrond''s fall, trunks growing upwards through into the roof, roots knitting across the floor. Leaves, of all things, had grown here, swaying ever so slightly, just barely disturbed by Phineas and Gluh''s movements.


    Yet these rooms, too, were relatively bare. More decorated, sure. The walls had more mosaics tiled onto them, though they had faded and pieces had broken off here and there, more often than not giving incomplete images of the figures they represented. Statues had been worn by the water, and had been crushed by the wildlife. The trees high above did not care that their roots were submerged, for they were just as common here as they were above ground, twisting and snarling across the floors.


    ¡°Disappointing,¡± Phineas said, ¡°Ms. Sunala will not like that we find nothing.


    Gluh gluh''d in agreement.


    ¡°Perhaps we should turn back?¡±


    ¡°Gluhhh.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± Phineas agreed, and rather than turn back, they pressed on. A staircase went further down towards the city''s bottom, though it had been almost completely covered in moss and slime.


    Gluh stopped. Sniffed.


    ¡°Gluhh.¡±


    Phineas blinked.


    ¡°Fresh air?¡± he asked.


    The zombie made a vague nod. They swam down the stairs, the hallway snaking to the right in a smooth curve. At the end of this crescent moon path was, shockingly, a door. A wooden one, undeterred by the water, as fresh and shiny as the day it was carved. Phineas could even smell a whiff of mahogany.


    ¡°Odd,¡± Phineas said.


    ¡°Gluhhh.¡±


    ¡°Indeed. Perhaps we should return to Nash? Tell them what we''ve found?¡±


    Gluh made for the door. Cold, clammy hands closed around its knob, and the zombie twisted it, flinging the door open with a surprising grace. Phineas looked inside and found...


    ***


    ¡°A body.¡±


    That got their attention. They all looked at Phineas as he announced his discovery, even Spinlock and Nelthel, the latter of whom dropped their hand of cards into the drink below. Three aces and a jack floated atop the pool as they crowded around Phineas, whose head was poking above the water. Gluh was below him, still on the bottom, moaning incoherently, bubbles swirling over him like a tail.


    ¡°A body,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Is that right?¡±


    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Phineas said, ¡°In a room with a door ¨C and all the other doors have rotted away.¡±


    ¡°But not this one,¡± Nash said.


    ¡°No, not this one. It is pristine. Smells like mahogany. Looks like it, too.¡±


    ¡°A mahogany door, and a body,¡± Sunala said, ¡°At the bottom of a half-sunk city. And it''s not decayed, in any way?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Phineas said, ¡°Though Gluh took a look at it, got the cause of death.¡±


    ¡°Get him up here,¡± Nash said.


    Phineas nodded, diving into the water, his voice distorted and bubbly as he rasped Nash''s orders to the zombie. Gluh began tramping back up the ramp, water trailing off of his clothes like a waterfall as he rejoined the group. He smelled like what Joseph could only describe as green ¨C the smell of plantlife, of rotting leaves, of swamp water and that nasty tea his mom always used to make him drink. Gluh let out a moan. Nash nodded.


    ¡°Translation?¡± Sunala asked.


    ¡°The perp''s dead,¡± Nash said, ¡°Three gunshot wounds, two through the chest and one through the neck. Plasma-burned. Federation gunfire, by the looks of it.¡±


    ¡°Which means he died during a fight with the Feds,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Feds...?¡± Sunala said.


    ¡°...Federation,¡± Joseph said. He made a note to be more careful of what to say around her.


    ¡°Any distinguishable features on him?¡± Sunala asked, turning back to Phineas.


    Gluh groaned.


    ¡°Had a cloak on him, leaf designs and a bronze pauldron over his left shoulder, etched into which was a symbol ¨C a three-pronged leaf, its stem producing a sort of liquid.¡±


    ¡°You got all of that from a moan?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Gluh''s an eloquent guy,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°Joe, you got anything on that symbol?¡± Nash asked.


    Joseph racked his brains.


    ¡°Yeah, that one''s easy. It''s the official symbol of Chliofrond, the icon they used to announce their presence to the other kingdoms of Epochia. Like a coat of arms.¡±


    ¡°Which means this guy was... important?¡± Nash said.


    ¡°Maybe. Becenti said the kingdoms only used these symbols among themselves, never when they interacted with outsiders ¨C they used the Epochian flag for that. So this guy was probably an inter-kingdom diplomat.¡±


    ¡°Any specific word for that?¡± Nash said.


    Joseph shook his head, ¡°It was some metahuman phrase. It''s... not coming to me, but I remember what those guys did. They... they basically were the middlemen whenever two kingdoms interacted.¡±


    Rosemary''s brow furrowed, ¡°So if two kingdoms needed to talk...¡±


    ¡°Exactly, Chliofrond would send their guy, the other kingdom would send theirs. They''d talk, debate, come to an agreement.¡±


    ¡°I want to get a better look at him,¡± Sunala announced.


    ¡°Hope you like the swim,¡± Nash said.


    ¡°Indeed, I would,¡± Sunala turned to Phineas, ¡°How long would it take for someone like me to swim down there?¡±


    ¡°Gluh and I were underwater for around an hour before we found the room,¡± Phineas said, ¡°Though that was with idle wandering. In a straight shot, half that time.¡±


    ¡°How are your lungs?¡± Nash asked.


    ¡°...Not quite as robust as I''d like,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Very well.¡±


    ¡°...I did not say that you needed to hold your breath,¡± Phineas said.


    ¡°You got an idea, Phin?¡± Nash said.


    Phineas took out his tome, slapped it onto the ramp, and opened a few pages. It was, thankfully, waterproof. It was also a rare moment Joseph got to take a look inside. Dark, esoteric writings were scribbled to the margins of every page, each letter seeming to belong to a different alphabet. Worse, they seemed to move if Joseph stared too long at them, peeling off the pages and swimming into different sentences. The drawings were grotesque and faded red, as though they had been inked with blood, depicting screaming mothers sacrificing their children, men torn in half by demons, and other dark things Joseph pushed to the back of his mind.


    He had only held the book a few times, in those rare moments where he had to pass the book over to Phineas. The cover and binding felt like leather, the pages like dried skin.


    The Deep One landed on a page. He pointed a webbed finger at a passage.


    ¡°I have been doing reading and homework, and discovered a spell of water-breathing,¡± he said.


    ¡°And you didn''t mention this earlier?¡± Nash said.


    ¡°It is a difficult spell, and I forgot about it,¡± Phineas said, ¡°I was busy studying a sun.¡±


    ¡°...Fair, actually,¡± Nash said.


    ¡°And it will allow us to breathe underwater?¡± Sunala said.


    ¡°It usually allows water-breathers to breathe air,¡± Phineas said, ¡°But I believe, with a bit of experimentation, I can invert it.¡±


    ¡°Do so,¡± Sunala said, ¡°And thank you.¡±


    Phineas nodded, ¡°I will need time.¡±


    ¡°We got plenty of that,¡± Nash said. They leaned against the wall, looking at their hand of cards, ¡°Spinlock dropped his cards, so he''s out of the game.¡±


    ¡°Agreed,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Apologies, Spin.¡±


    The large attendant simply nodded, clasping his hands together and sitting down politely next to Sunala. He didn''t look very upset. Nelthel''s snide, reedy voice rang out.


    ¡°Got any threes?¡±


    ¡°This is poker, Nelthel,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°...Oh.¡±


    ***


    They spent the first hour waiting.


    It was a relatively quiet affair, Broon occasionally pointing out details in the city, Ezel commenting on the plant life below the water, the algae that dotted the seafloor, the occasional tree growing defiant of reason on the bottom, leaves swaying in the water as their boat passed over them.


    ¡°Should''ve brought some cards,¡± Meleko said.


    ¡°Had some,¡± Mallory said, ¡°I''m pretty sure Rosemary stole ''em for her group, though.¡±


    ¡°How come, out of the entire guild, we''ve only got three decks?¡± Meleko said.


    ¡°No money,¡± Mallory said, ¡°I donate anything back to my Pa.¡±


    ¡°No money,¡± Heyma repeated, ¡°I send my share back home to my family.¡±


    Ezel shook her head, ¡°I see no use for cards.¡±


    ¡°What about you, Broon?¡± Heyma asked.


    Broon shrugged, ¡°Same deal. No need for cards, I guess. To be honest, the thought never crossed my mind. What about you, Mel? Come on, you gotta have something.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve got a drinking problem,¡± Meleko said, ¡°Yeah, that''s it.¡±


    ¡°Mel,¡± Ezel said.


    ¡°Fine, fine,¡± Meleko said, ¡°I... spend it. On important glep. Like, ah, cards.¡±


    ¡°But not playing cards,¡± Mallory said.


    ¡°Not the kind you''d like, anyways,¡± Meleko''s face went purple with embarrassment, ¡°Look, I don''t got the dough, alright?¡±


    The group chuckled to themselves as Ezel steered the boat forward. All five of them fit on it with relative ease ¨C it was certainly bigger than those little rowboats that Nash and their group had to take with Lady Sunala. Ezel''s own design, actually, able to be tugged in the right direction with her power over water, with no other visible means of propulsion.


    They landed at the city, which was a half-sunk mess. The entirety of the city was fully on its side, having nearly capsized at some point in its long history of abandonment. Once, it had risen high above the clouds, a crown of spires and towers, Iresine''s traditional trees and gardens growing up and around the city''s base and streets. Those trees had overgrown and gone wild, growing on the sides of the broken buildings, reaching towards the sun, a forest with roots built into the walls of the city.


    They moored the boat at one of the sunken towers, tying it fast. Mallory glanced down to one of the broken windows of the tower. An old stone table had fallen down to the other side, the entire room a dizzying sideways affair that weirded her out.


    ¡°Odd, isn''t it?¡± Broon said, ¡°Careful, Mal, don''t slip.¡±


    ¡°You should talk, Broon,¡± Mallory said, ¡°I''ve seen goats that are more graceful.¡±


    ¡°Ha!¡± Broon leaped onto the tower. Then slipped, lost his footing, and fell. He was caught by Heyma, who pulled him to his feet. Mallory smirked at him. The half-orc gave a wry chuckle in defeat. The five of them took their bearings on the place, Meleko taking out a small scanner and giving it a glance.


    ¡°Yep, it''s a city alright,¡± he said.


    ¡°Meleko!¡± Heyma said.


    ¡°Sorry, yeah,¡± Meleko looked at the scanner again, ¡°Right, most of the city''s underwater ¨C obviously ¨C and the bits that are above aren''t the best looking. Lots of overgrown plant life ¨C that''s new, isn''t it?¡±


    ¡°Meleko,¡± Broon warned.


    ¡°Alright, alright,¡± Meleko let out a dry laugh, ¡°Sorry. I''ll stop. I''m not picking anything up. Only life forms are us and a bunch of veggies.¡±


    ¡°As expected,¡± Ezel said.


    ¡°Damn, was hoping for something interesting,¡± Heyma said.


    ¡°I mean, it''s a dead plane,¡± Broon said, ¡°What did you expect?¡±


    ¡°Where I come from, dead means interesting,¡± Heyma replied, ¡°So far, all we''ve seen is a bunch of broken buildings and plants. Where''s the cool artifacts? The ancient secrets, held prisoner by time and memory?¡±


    Broon was silent. Ezel noted he was grinding his teeth together, a sign of stress.


    ¡°Let''s just see what we''ve got here. Worst comes to worst, it''s just another half-sunken city. Nothing to be worried about, aye?¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Ezel said, ¡°Meleko, let''s get you and Mallory into that tower, see if we can find anything.¡±


    ¡°Heyma,¡± Broon said, ¡°You, Ezel, and I are going to go into the tower next door.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Heyma said.


    ¡°What should we be looking for?¡± Meleko asked.


    ¡°Anything interesting,¡± Broon said, ¡°Your scanners say there''s nothing here, but metahumans are a pretty paranoid lot.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Ezel said, ¡°They could be hiding something that sophisticated Federation technology can''t pick up.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just Fedtek, Ezel,¡± Mallory said.


    ¡°If you''re vulgar about it.¡±


    ¡°Let''s go, folks,¡± Broon said, ¡°We''re wasting good daytime.¡±


    ***


    They split off into the two groups, Meleko and Mallory leaping down into the first tower, Broon, Ezel, and Heyma moving towards the second. The water rippled, then hardened as Ezel formed a bridge linking the two together.


    ¡°It''s a good feeling, being around it all,¡± Ezel said, ¡°I don''t get nearly as much of this back at the castle.¡±


    ¡°A lot to work with,¡± Broon said.


    Ezel gave that smile to the half-orc, like she was hiding an entire conversation in her head. But it was enough. Broon knew what she meant.


    The second tower was taller than the first, a solid spike of marble that had once risen as one of the tallest buildings in the city ¨C perhaps in all of Chliofrond. Walking on it was like walking on the corpse of a god. It reminded Broon of a mission he and Urash had gone on once, to investigate the body of a Skywhale of Doriad. It had beached itself on an island of ruby, inflating like a balloon from the gas of decay. The Amber Foundation had been the first guild to arrive, and Urash had already taken the samples their client had needed. So it had become a social affair, as Vilthuril arrived from the Exodus Walkers and Tye, Shopid, and XI had come from Blue Sky Waiting, Danny from the Possibilinauts. They spoke, ate lunch after taking various parts from the Skywhale, Urash trading a couple of spells with Tye, Broon sparring a bit with Danny. Shopid got into a debate with Vilthuril, and the resulting conversation had pulled the guilds in like a black hole.


    Save for Broon, of course. He wasn''t much for conversation on the nature of mortality. He pretended to listen, nodding along with Urash''s statement on philosopher kings, humming in thought along with everyone else at Shopid''s assertions on this-and-that and whatever-the-hell. But the entire time, his attention was on the whale.


    How it seemed to expand as they spoke, a sense of anticipation buzzing around its corpse. Carrion had come down and had begun to pick at the whale, sharp beaks driving into flesh and blubber. There was a tension that Broon couldn''t put his finger on, a building-up of some great event.


    That event had come when a vulture drove its beak in too deep, and the whale exploded.


    Gods, the smell.


    But that same knot was twisting in the half-orc''s stomach, as they stepped over root and smooth marble, trying to find a way inside.


    And he didn''t like it.


    ***


    They found a window into the ancient tower by making one. Broon''s blade flashed upwards, then downwards, a thrust that broke through the marble like a pick on ice. Then, his single, muscular arm bulging and the runes etched into his blade flaring, he cut a gash into the otherwise-seamless tower, which before then had never been touched ¨C the trees around here grew around, not from, the tower''s face, a spiderweb of roots that danced on the marble before reaching down around it to the water below like elephant trunks. It was the first time in thousands of years that it had been marred like this, as Broon carefully cut another gash, and then another, then a fourth, making a haphazard square window. The marble fell as he made the last cut, unlatching from the rest of the wall and falling below, where it plunged into dark water.


    Evidently not even this faceless, unbroken tower was invincible.


    ¡°How did the water get in?¡± Heyma wondered.


    ¡°Must be a break somewhere,¡± Broon said, ¡°No plants, though. Odd.¡±


    ¡°No light,¡± Ezel said, ¡°Broon?¡±


    The half-orc nodded, his sword shining like a blue star as he lit the way. All three of them jumped, diving into the water, which enveloped them, then pushed them back up, Ezel forming a platform beneath them that rose up. The waterfall-like sounds echoed around them as they looked around, the only light coming from the hole above and Broon''s sword.


    ¡°Empty,¡± Broon said.


    ¡°Hidden,¡± Ezel said, ¡°The water... it''s different here.¡±


    ¡°Different how?¡± Heyma asked.


    The demigod reached down, plucking a couple drops from the platform and dabbing them on her tongue.


    ¡°Salt,¡± she spat.


    ¡°A metahuman, maybe,¡± Broon said, ¡°With power over saltwater. Maybe there isn''t a gash here. Maybe we''re the first things to actually get in here after thousands of years.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Ezel said, ¡°I... this place must be highly magical, if it''s been able to keep water out for so long.¡±


    ¡°What changed, then?¡± Heyma asked, ¡°How come we could get in, but thousands of years of plantlife couldn''t?¡±


    ¡°Maybe I''m a badass,¡± Broon said.


    ¡°It''s more your sword, my dear,¡± Ezel said, ¡°It''s magical, this place is magical. Like dissolves like.¡±


    ¡°...That too,¡± Broon said. He glanced at his sword, squinting in the blue light to make out the runes, ¡°Never did really understand what these mean, now...¡±


    ¡°It''s a find, that''s for sure,¡± Heyma said, ¡°Let me get Meleko and Mallory. Maybe they''ve got something for us.¡±


    ***


    ¡°We haven''t found shit,¡± Meleko growled, ¡°Nothing. Just a bunch of plants and rocks.¡±


    ¡°It was pretty boring,¡± Mallory said, ¡°Our building was pretty much completely flooded. Nothing cool. Not like this.¡±


    All five of them were now in the inside of the marble spire, supported only by Ezel''s platform of water. The bottom half of the tower was submerged in saltwater, and though the room they were in was rather large ¨C easily thirty feet high, easy, there was obvious evidence of conflict. Holes peppered through the roof and floor, large gashes that had not been made by time. The floor itself was the same marble material as the rest of the tower, white and silver in color, pale in the light of Broon''s blade.


    ¡°Ezel, how well are you at controlling this water, here?¡± Broon asked.


    ¡°It''s salt, so a bit more difficult,¡± Ezel said, ¡°But a little saline never hurt anyone. I''m fine.¡±


    ¡°Good, because I don''t like the idea of bringing the boat down here, and I''d rather not swim for long,¡± Broon said, ¡°Can you guide us through the tower?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Ezel said.


    The platform shuddered, losing form for a brief moment, before pulling back together and pushing forward. They drifted towards the top of the tower in silence. Meleko clicked on his flashlight, a beam of bright yellow light cutting through the darkness.


    ¡°Pictures,¡± the Jugdran said.


    Etchings, not mosaics. Carved painstakingly into the wall, the images were each the size of a great room ¨C a man in a great longcoat, his beard long, coral growing from his shoulders. A man with a bronze disc covering half of his face, ink running down his fingers. A third man, wearing a billowing cloak, fractals covering his hands and a wry, sad grin on his face. All three of them stared down at the guild as they made their way forward, past the great room.


    ¡°Recognize ''em?¡± Heyma said.


    ¡°...No,¡± Broon replied, ¡°Becenti will want to get a good look, though.¡±


    The floor above ¨C or to the right, in this case ¨C was full of honeycomb rooms. The furniture had all fallen with the city''s sinking however. They had been wood, presumably, lost to time as they had rotted to nothing. The tables were built into the keep however, also marble, and had various symbols carved into their faces.


    ¡°Metahuman magic,¡± Ezel said.


    ¡°Always gives me the creeps,¡± Meleko said.


    ¡°I don''t recognize the runes,¡± Ezel said.


    ¡°It''s thousands of years old,¡± Broon said, ¡°Not sure if anyone does at this point.¡±


    They chose not to dwell on this floor, instead moving to the next, drifting up the tower towards its now-fallen peak. The third floor was much the same as the second, honeycombed rooms with circular tables. Dozens of them.


    More, with the fourth floor. The same designs. The same rooms, almost to the letter.


    Though the fifth room had something interesting.


    They were drifting by, looking at the self-same rooms, the same halls, the same angular walls, when Mallory glanced over, by chance, upon one of them.


    ¡°Wait,¡± she said.


    The platform came to a halt. The Steamer pointed.


    ¡°There''s something in there,¡± she said.


    ¡°Yeah, a table,¡± Meleko said, ¡°With a big ol'' metahuman word on it that probably means ''death'' or something-¡±


    ¡°No, there''s something there,¡± Mallory said, ¡°Under the water.¡±


    ¡°Ezel,¡± Broon said.


    ¡°On it,¡± the demigod reached out, closing her eyes and concentrating, ¡°Yes, Mallory is right. It''s... It''s a hand.¡±


    The water seized and surged, pulling the object towards the platform, reaching up like a ropy arm, holding the hand aloft. It was pale, clenched in a fist, the skin still covering the bone. It had even raisin''d in the water.


    ¡°Never the mind the fact it''s been here for thousands of years,¡± Broon said, ¡°Doesn''t look rotted at all.¡±


    He took the hand, flopping it experimentally, before handing it to Heyma.


    ¡°How long has it been missing from its owner?¡± he asked.


    Heyma took it, giving it a lookover.


    ¡°Can''t really say,¡± she said, ¡°But if I''m being honest, it seems to have been... No, that''s not right.¡±


    ¡°How long?¡± Ezel asked.


    ¡°Only a few minutes.¡±


    ***


    Joseph didn''t like Phineas''s spell.


    First off, he felt like an idiot. It was a globe of air that domed around his head like an astronaut''s helmet. He felt ridiculous wearing it, especially as Phineas had formed it by pantomiming at nothing, holding it in his webbed hands like a mime. He didn''t feel anything as the Deep One motioned it onto his head.


    ¡°I don''t think it worked, Phin,¡± Joseph had said.


    ¡°It worked,¡± Phineas had replied.


    Then he had pushed him into the water.


    No one told Joseph that the air took on the smell of the ocean, either. And it wasn''t the salty, fresh smell that he was used to back on Earth. The air was tinged with the faint scent of rotting vegetables, and he swore he could feel the smell stain his clothes, infusing their essence into him and becoming a part of his very being.


    Plus, Phineas''s magic whispered dark things into his mind, so that sucked too.


    They swam through the dark, lonely hallways in silence. The sounds of swimming, of paddling arms and oaring legs, was distorted and odd. There was little light down here, the only source coming from Rosemary, whose mace glowed its cheery, sun-like shine through the cavern, though even that was muted in the dark green murk. She and Phineas led the way, twisting to the right and to the left, light cutting through darkness the best it could.


    They came upon the door. It was indeed a mahogany thing, seven feet tall, its knob a polished bronze. Nash looked over at Sunala, the two exchanging a couple watery words. Then, without hesitation, they reached over and twisted it.


    It led into the royal bedchambers. The first thing Joseph noticed when he walked in was that they were in open air ¨C the water stopped right at the frames of the door. It also stopped at the gash in the wall in the corner of the room, where something had shorn this part of the city away. The open ocean was below them, Chliofrond''s sunken legacy dotting the seafloor below. The room itself was posh and extravagant, three towering tree trunks holding it aloft, one to each corner, the fourth having been lost in whatever had blasted through this place. Leaves made up the ceiling, and the bed of the ruler of Chliofrond was a great, circular stump, atop which was piled enough blankets and pillows for an army. Paintings covered the walls ¨C a hyper-realistic painting of ancient Epochia, of a city floating on a blanket of stars, and more abstract paintings of Chliofrond''s history, inked in honey-colored paint, swirling and depicting the floating cities of old. Chliofrond as it was. Chliofrond as it should have been.


    Last of all, the body. The Diplomat. Pale-faced, green-robed with the bronze pauldron on his left shoulder. Very much dead. Sunala drifted over to the body and knelt down by it. Rosemary looked over her shoulder.


    ¡°Plasma burns,¡± she said, ¡°Like Gluh said.¡±


    ¡°He missed a detail, though,¡± Sunala said, ¡°I''m surprised, Sir Gluh.¡±


    She brushed aside an emerald sleeve. Where the Diplomat''s right hand should have been was a stump.


    ¡°Gluhh.¡±


    ¡°He says he only cares for what kills you,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°He has plenty of friends with no hands.¡±


    ¡°The right hand,¡± Sunala said, ¡°A clean cut. Fresh, even...¡±


    ¡°Why isn''t this place flooded?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°You tell me,¡± Nash replied, ¡°We should get Becenti down here.¡±


    ¡°He''s off doing his own thing,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Don''t you have a radio, Nash?¡±


    ¡°Communicator, Rosemary,¡± Nash said, ¡°From the Silver Eye. Give me a moment here...¡±


    They patted around their jacket, hmming and hawing to themself, before pulling out a small, silver-hued communicator from their pocket. They clicked a few buttons on it.


    ¡°Reception''s shit, here,¡± they said, ¡°Becenti. Come in, Becenti? Myron, it''s Nash.¡±


    No answer.


    ¡°Your Titania Amber or the Gil-Galad have a larger range,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Try patching through to them.¡±


    ¡°On it,¡± Nash said. They fiddled around with the communicator for another moment, ¡°This is Nash, come in Titania Amber.¡±


    ¡°This is Tek,¡± the shaggy mound''s slow, ponderous voice crackled, ¡°Hey, Nash. What''s up?¡±


    ¡°Hey, Tek,¡± Nash said, ¡°Any chance you could patch us through to Becenti?¡±


    ¡°I thought I had left my days as a receptionist behind,¡± Tek mused, ¡°One moment.¡±


    A few minutes passed as Tek worked in the background. Joseph drew up beside Rosemary, the two of them staring up at one of the paintings. Phineas coughed. Gluh stared at a wall. Sunala waited beside Nash patiently, hands folded in her lap. Joseph noticed her foot tapping on the floor. Nelthel and Spinlock flanked the doorway, impassive and almost bored.


    Then Becenti''s voice came through.


    ¡°Ah, Nash,¡± they said, ¡°What can I do for you?¡±


    ¡°Hey, Myron,¡± Nash said, ¡°Got a bit of a weird one for you. We''ve found a body.¡±


    ¡°Metahuman?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. Freshly dead, too, by the looks of it,¡± the Far Traveler stared down at the Diplomat''s sightless eyes, ¡°Wearing green robes. Chliofrond symbol, three-leafed with ink running down it.¡±


    ¡°That''d be sap, actually,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Any noticeable features?¡±


    ¡°Green robes. Chliofrond symbol... the perp''s bald, I guess,¡± Nash said.


    ¡°...Humor me, Nash,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    ¡°Are his eyes open?¡±


    ¡°Clear as crystal. One green, the other''s blue,¡± Nash said.


    ¡°I don''t believe it,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Well, now we know where the bastard disappeared off to.¡±


    ¡°Who is it?¡± Nash asked.


    Becenti let out a chuckle that could be heard even through the tinny communicator, ¡°Good God, that''s Rend! Haha, my goodness. That tracks, actually. He disappeared right around the time that Chliofrond did.¡±


    ¡°Who was Rend?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Who was that?¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Joe,¡± Nash said.


    ¡°Ah, Mr. Zheng. Good,¡± Becenti cleared his throat, ¡°Rend, Mr. Zheng, was a master thief. A metahuman thief. He came here to steal something. And he died, presumably, before he could take it.¡±

 32. A Matter of Time

    The southern city had been a religious district of some sort. Temples with strange, spiraling pillars holding them aloft were scattered across a mountain of stairways and ramps, most of which had been beaded with blue and green stones, mosaics on the floor that spun and twisted in intricate, flowing designs on the road. Metahuman religion was as myriad as the metahumans themselves. A thousand pantheons, scriptures, and prophecies had been written and worshiped throughout Epochia''s history, and thus there were multiple temples dotting this specific city, statues of metahuman saints and deities lining the pathways and fountains, heroes from a bygone age that Becenti was sketching into his notebook as he spoke to Nash. He sat on an overgrown park bench, resting an arm on a root that had grown over it like a great, draping tentacle.


    ¡°Rend was a metahuman thief known as being quite the scoundrel throughout Epochia,¡± he said, ¡°A metahuman equivalent to ''gentleman thief,'' if you will.¡±


    ¡°Ooh,¡± Rosemary''s voice was distant and tinny through the communicator. Becenti reasoned she was most likely on the other side of the room.


    ¡°Indeed, Ms. Rosemary,¡± Becenti said, ¡°He was infamous, wanted by both Epochia and the Federation alike. And his metahuman ability certainly helped him attain such a status ¨C the power to tear open a gate from one place to another, so long as they were on the same plane.¡±


    ¡°Useful,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Brilliant,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Mr. Becenti, what about the rest of this... place?¡±


    ¡°Where are you?¡± Becenti asked.


    ¡°We''re in the royal bedchambers,¡± Nash said, ¡°It''s untouched, like it''s... frozen in time, almost. Rend looks like he''s been dead only for a couple of hours. There''s a giant gash in the floor and wall, but no water''s coming in ¨C neither is there any coming through the door we came through, and we''re in the sunken parts of the city.¡±


    ¡°Odd,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Metahuman abilities, most likely.¡±


    ¡°For this long?¡± Joseph asked, ¡°I can usually only keep my eagle active for a couple hours.¡±


    ¡°And my heat constructs only stay for as long as I concentrate on them,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Nash, Milady, would it be possible to speak alone?¡±


    ¡°Alone...¡± Nash''s tone became guarded, before they said, ¡°Yeah, alright. Phineas, Joseph, Rosemary, I need you guys to wait outside.¡±


    ¡°...It''s flooded,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°I know. Phin, your spell''s still up, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± the Deep One rasped, ¡°It is.¡±


    ¡°Then get out.¡±


    There was some grumbling that came through the communicator, Joseph saying a few choice words to Nash, before the Far Traveler said, ¡°Alright, they''re out.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I''m patching the other teams through. Tek, would you get Wakeling for us? And Broon.¡±


    ¡°On it, boss,¡± Tek said.


    Becenti looked around. The rest of his team were wandering around the park, taking note of the statues aligned around one of the fountains, Ichabod taking a couple notes on the architecture of one of the temples. Far away from him. He would shoo them away, if needed.


    Or perhaps they''d be able to overhear him. Privately, Myron wished for that.


    ***


    Deep in the silver spire, Broon''s communicator ¨C which he had lazily kept dangling from his belt ¨C began to pulse and vibrate. The half-orc didn''t notice until Ezel snapped it off and showed it to him.


    ¡°Pay attention, dear,¡± she said.


    ¡°Aye,¡± Broon said, ¡°Right.¡±


    His voice echoed off of the silver-hued walls as he spoke.


    ¡°This is Broon.¡±


    ¡°Ah, good,¡± Becenti''s voice said, ¡°Broon, I''m calling in this meeting based on something Nash has found. Could you step away from the rest of your group?¡±


    Ah. One of those conversations. The half-orc glanced over at his team.


    ¡°Set me down somewhere, Ezel,¡± he said.


    ¡°Secrets are unhealthy, Broon,¡± Heyma said.


    ¡°Don''t have to tell me twice,¡± Broon said, ¡°But the client insists.¡±


    ¡°You can stop off here,¡± Ezel''s voice was withdrawn and cool. She wasn''t liking this, either. Neither did Mallory, whose arms were crossed, a fire burning in her eyes. At least Meleko didn''t care ¨C the Jugdran was yawning loudly, pointedly ignoring the conversation.


    They were still in the honeycombed labs, and the top set of rooms was just shallow enough that Broon could step off the platform and have the water go up to his knees. The table in this room was bolted to the floor, which was now a wall, so Broon stepped over to it and rested his back up against it. He gave a sigh.


    ¡°Alright, what''s up?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Nash has found something of note,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Nash said, ¡°Room frozen in time, body here that looks freshly dead ¨C plasma burns in all the right places, missing a hand.¡±


    Broon''s eyes widened at that.


    ¡°A pale hand?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Indeed,¡± the Lady Sunala''s voice crackled in, ¡°A metahuman criminal known as Rend. Disguised himself as a diplomat, by the looks of it.¡±


    ¡°Well, I got the hand right here,¡± Broon said, ¡°Mallory found it in the water.¡±


    There was silence on all lines as his words sunk in.


    ¡°Well, the mystery deepens,¡± Sunala said.


    ¡°Where are you, Broon?¡± Wakeling asked.


    ¡°In one of the towers of our city,¡± Broon replied, ¡°A silver spire, seems to have been a laboratory of some sort.¡±


    ¡°Can you describe the hand?¡± Wakeling said.


    ¡°Give me a moment,¡± Broon put the communicator on his shoulder, using his cheek to hold it in place as he unlooped the hand from his belt, having fastened it there with a bit of rope, ¡°Yeah. It''s white. Pale. It''s got skin on it, and the skin hasn''t even wrinkled from the water.¡±


    ¡°Odd,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°I may have a theory. May I?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Anything helps.¡±


    ¡°Go for it,¡± Nash said.


    ¡°Rend was a metahuman gentleman thief, wasn''t he? Myron, what did he go after the most?¡±


    ¡°He was in it for the thrill,¡± Becenti said, ¡°The more protected something was, the more he wanted to get it. He was said to have stolen the tears off of the queen of Darha''s cheeks, the shadow from the Prime Voice of the Federation, that sort of thing.¡±


    ¡°An ignoble end, then,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Laid out by three plasma bolts and a missing hand.¡±


    ¡°Do you think he was perhaps targeting the Shard?¡± Wakeling suggested.


    ¡°Makes sense,¡± Becenti said, ¡°It''s a valuable target, for sure.¡±


    ¡°He must have come in during Chliofrond''s fall,¡± Nash said, ¡°Maybe have been responsible for it, even. I''m not sure, but he doesn''t seem to have the shard with him.¡±


    ¡°We would know if he did,¡± Sunala said, ¡°So the question is, what happened to it?¡±


    ¡°A lot of basic necessities here are missing,¡± Broon said, ¡°There are just empty tables and plants. Nothing else. The water here is salt water, though that might just be from a metahuman.¡±


    ¡°Same with what we''ve been scanning for,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°It seems that the survivors of Chliofrond really cleaned house when they left.¡±


    ¡°Maybe they took the Shard,¡± Broon said.


    ¡°I don''t believe they did,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Think: the cities, which should have sunk deep into the sea, are still floating. The sun itself hasn''t burned out and seems to be self-regulating, as does the power in this room.¡±


    ¡°The metahuman powers used here are still intact,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Sunala said, ¡°For some reason, the metahumans of Chliofrond left this plane ¨C but without the Shard.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps the Shard is still in its chamber,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Rend failed. I think he was killed. And I think the Shard''s in the same tower as Broon''s team.¡±


    ***


    They all heard him talking into the communicator. Mallory''s eyes widened. Meleko grimaced. Ezel was silent, continuing to listen as intently as she could. Heyma, however, looked confused.


    ¡°What''s a-¡±


    ¡°Ssh!¡± Mallory hissed.


    Broon was quiet. Perhaps he heard them. Perhaps he didn''t, and was letting the information sink in. Finally, he cleared his throat.


    ¡°You''re sure,¡± his voice was quiet and careful.


    ¡°...Reasonably,¡± Becenti said, ¡°There are... records, of metahuman guardians sworn to protect Shards of Imagination. They were scattered throughout Epochia''s history, titles that were gained and passed from master to student.¡±


    ¡°And there was a guardian for this Shard,¡± Nash said.


    ¡°Precisely,¡± Becenti said, ¡°One who got into a fight with Rend.¡±


    ¡°And won?¡± Broon said.


    ¡°Well, Rend doesn''t have the Shard.¡±


    ¡°That doesn''t amount to much,¡± Sunala said, ¡°It could very well be that the Shard was lost in the fighting.¡±


    ¡°Rend was a teleporter,¡± Becenti said, ¡°And his hand is in one place, his corpse in another. I think his fight went south with whoever was guarding the Shard, and he expired in the bedchambers.¡±


    ¡°Kinky,¡± Nash muttered.


    ¡°Nash,¡± Wakeling admonished, ¡°We''re with a client.¡±


    ¡°Right, sorry,¡± Nash said, ¡°Alright, but how does that explain how this room''s still around? And how Rend isn''t decomposing?¡±


    ¡°There was a guardian,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°And?¡±


    ¡°What do you think their power was?¡± Becenti prodded.


    Nash sighed.


    ¡°Time,¡± they said, ¡°They could stop time.¡±


    ¡°Precisely,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°That gives us two potential locations for the Shard, then,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Either it''s somewhere in the bedchambers, or it''s in the silver laboratory with Broon''s group.¡±


    ¡°Narrows it down a bit,¡± Broon said, ¡°We''ll keep looking. What should I tell my team if we find it?¡±


    ¡°If you find it, leave it there,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Don''t touch it.¡±


    ¡°''Tis bad luck,¡± Nash said.


    ¡°We''ll be careful,¡± Broon said, ¡°We''ll leave it be.¡±


    ¡°...I assume you have a means of transporting it,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Sunala said, ¡°It''s... en route, if you will.¡±


    ¡°Already?¡± Nash growled.


    ¡°Indeed. Time is of the essence here,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Come, let us be off. If the Shard of Imagination is here, we''ll want to make sure to turn this place upside-down to find it.¡±


    ¡°Keep moving, Broon,¡± Wakeling ordered, ¡°And be careful.¡±


    ¡°Will do,¡± Broon said. He turned off the communicator, and went to rejoin the others. As he stepped back onto the platform, he turned to look at each of them.


    ¡°You heard,¡± he said.


    ¡°We did,¡± Mallory said.


    ¡°...Let''s move on,¡± the half-orc''s voice was but a whisper. For a moment, the rest of the team looked at him ¨C glared at him, in Mallory''s case. Then Ezel nodded, and the platform began to skim across the water once more.


    ***


    Becenti put the communicator down, rubbing his temples. A rare light breeze picked up, whistling through the trees and adding a relaxing symphony around him. He looked down at the sketch he had been making. It depicted Archaic Mosaic, his bronze helm covering his face, a coy smile playing on his lips. Like the great idol guarding the entrance to the temple across the garden, Archaic Mosaic''s arms were folded across his bare chest, ink running down his shoulders and hips. A lurid, sensual image. Then, the metahuman himself was lurid and sensual.


    A voice rang behind him.


    ¡°I knew it wasn''t a simple expedition.¡±


    Ichabod drew forth. Even in the relative warmth of the day, under the full cast of the metahuman sun, he still wore his dark raincoat, drawing it close around himself as though the light breeze was a gale on a stormy day. He stood beside the bench, awkwardly shifting. Becenti could just barely make out the glass-glow of his mechanical eyes beneath his shades.


    ¡°It... it should have been,¡± Becenti said. He closed up his sketchbook, ¡°An archaeologist''s dream. A romp through history. Oh, it would have been lovely.¡±


    ¡°So you call picking a corpse''s bones clean and putting the scraps in a museum,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°Not a museum, nothing so crass,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I''ve had enough of my life put on display, both before and after my metahumanity.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Then why come here, if you know what¡¯s going to happen?¡±


    ¡°To learn,¡± Becenti said, ¡°To observe. To see the legacy of my ancestors. And they are my ancestors.¡±


    ¡°How can you be sure?¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Can you trace your line directly to one of the people of Chliofrond?¡±


    Becenti went quiet at that.


    ¡°No,¡± he said, ¡°But I share their heroes.¡±


    Ichabod gave a sneer. But then, Ichabod always sneered.


    ¡°And now, what I had thought to be an intellectual exercise turns out to be a farce,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Another play for some world-ending artifact on some dead plane. Really, I''ve lived such stories plenty of times.¡±


    ¡°The past is power,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°The Lady Sunala certainly thinks that to be literal.¡±


    Ichabod sneered again.


    Below them, Contort and Dama Runebreaker had finished surveying a temple. They began climbing up a few stairs, chattering to each other, returning to Becenti and Ichabod.


    ¡°I would ask,¡± Becenti said, ¡°That you don''t tell them about our... real mission, here.¡±


    ¡°Going to step aside on this one?¡± Ichabod said, ¡°A typical move.¡±


    ¡°The guild comes first,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Let them have their fun. Let them explore. Let me still show them that I love this place for what I want it to represent.¡±


    ¡°A callback to better times,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°As opposed to some bitch''s power grab.¡±


    ¡°Precisely,¡± Becenti said.


    ***


    The floor after the honeycombed labs was arrayed with ritual and shrines, open-air spaces which held tipped-over fountains and ninety degree idols.


    ¡°Say what you will about Chliofrond,¡± Broon said, ¡°But they really liked their statues.¡±


    Indeed, the first room alone held four of them ¨C each one arrayed in a cardinal point, staring at one another in the diamond-shaped room. The northern statue, depicting a man with the head of a rat, had been cleaved in half. The southern statue had toppled completely, her features marred by the brine of the saltwater flood.


    The next held much of the same, though the figures were different, and the statues were considerably less damaged than their compatriots.


    The third floor was almost completely destroyed. A battle had taken place here. All four statues had been destroyed, broken and shattered by some force, the walls sporting blue and red plasma burns. The discarded remains of an archaic energy cannon had been bolted to the center of the room, some sort of sap keeping it welded to the floor. Smoke rose from its barrel crushed-in barrel.


    ¡°Recent,¡± Ezel said.


    ¡°I didn''t hear anything, though,¡± Heyma said.


    ¡°No, you didn''t,¡± Broon said, ¡°We''re in the rooms influenced by that chronal metahuman. Looks like a good chunk of this area is frozen in time.¡±


    ¡°How much, though?¡± Ezel asked.


    ¡°Nash was in a zone like this, and they seemed fine,¡± Broon said, ¡°Same with the rest of their group. I think we''re alright, here.¡±


    ¡°It''s metahuman,¡± Meleko said, ¡°Can never be too careful.¡±


    ¡°Agreed,¡± Ezel said, ¡°We''ll take it slow.¡±


    The circle of water supporting them visibly shrunk, wilting inwards until they were squeezed in together. Mallory''s hands began to produce steam, which she then began fogging through the room, thick clouds streaming through the air, wafting this way and that under her control.


    Some of them stopped in mid-air.


    ¡°Can''t move ''em,¡± she said.


    ¡°We keep away from those, then,¡± Broon said.


    ¡°And as we get closer to the Shard?¡± Meleko asked, ¡°And the whole room''s locked down?¡±


    ¡°...We figure it out,¡± Broon said, ¡°Every metapower has a weakness.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, well my steam''s not going anywhere anytime soon,¡± Mallory said, ¡°I''ll just leave it be, I suppose.¡±


    ¡°If this room''s locked down, it means we''re close,¡± Broon said, ¡°That''s good. I don''t want to be in here any longer than we have to be.¡±


    ***


    Joseph''s soul roared to life as he manifested the full eagle. It rose over his back, glaring down at the world, cobalt light flooding the bedroom and painting it a cool blue. Sunala''s eyebrows rose at the sight, before settling down.


    Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    ¡°Metahuman, indeed,¡± she said, ¡°Is that... lightning?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph said, ¡°It is.¡±


    ¡°A bit random, wouldn''t you agree?¡± Sunala said, ¡°An eagle... man... made of electricity.¡±


    ¡°It''s abstract,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°It is,¡± Nash agreed, ¡°Real Picasso-like.¡±


    ¡°Ah, shaddup.¡±


    ¡°Where should we start?¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°Not sure,¡± Nash said, ¡°But let''s be careful about all of this. Joseph, come over here.¡±


    Joseph made to move, walking to join Nash at one of the desks shunted over to the side.


    Then he stopped.


    ¡°...I can''t,¡± he said.


    ¡°Sure you can,¡± Nash said, ¡°What''s-¡±


    The Far Traveler turned to face him. Then looked up.


    ¡°Oh,¡± they said, ¡°Yeah, that''ll do it.¡±


    The eagle''s head was caught fully in place, its body being dragged around on Joseph''s back like a leash held fast to a tree branch. Joseph gave an experimental tug, forging forward, wincing as cold pain ran up and down his back.


    ¡°Never gonna get used to that,¡± he groaned.


    ¡°It''s only the head,¡± Sunala said, ¡°It''s... suspended, as though it were caught on something.¡±


    ¡°How do you feel, Joseph?¡± Rosemary asked.


    ¡°This is... weird,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I don''t...¡±


    The feedback from the eagle was starting to lapse into his human form. Joseph''s mind began to swim as he let out a gasp of surprise. His friends were around him, moving and looking concerned. Yet from his eagle''s vision, they hadn''t moved from their spots, frozen in place as though they were sculptures.


    ¡°Yeah, hate this,¡± Joseph wheezed, ¡°This isn''t-¡±


    ¡°Phineas, get rid of it,¡± Nash ordered.


    ¡°Agreed, we want our metahuman in the right mind, please,¡± Sunala said.


    ¡°I am looking through the book,¡± Phineas said, ¡°One moment.¡±


    The Deep One was flipping through the pages of his tome with an uncharacteristic panic. His eyes were glancing this way and that, Rosemary noted his hands to be shaking.


    ¡°Phin, deep breaths,¡± she said, ¡°You got this.¡±


    ¡°I got this, I got this, I got this,¡± Phineas said. A small mantra, repeated three times, as he flipped to a page, ¡°I do not got this.¡±


    ¡°Bullshit,¡± Nash said, ¡°Take your time, Phineas.¡±


    ¡°Is that really the best thing to do?¡± Joseph said, ¡°Your head isn''t stuck in time-¡±


    Nash glared at Joseph.


    ¡°You want out or not?¡± they snapped.


    ¡°Right,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Just get the damn spell, Phin.¡±


    He could feel himself heating up, bit by bit, like a fever was starting to take hold over him. His mind was not having a good time, comprehending two paces of time at once. Joseph gritted his teeth as he waited for Phineas to bring out a spell.


    ¡°I have it,¡± he said, ¡°It is a reversion spell. But...¡±


    ¡°But what?!¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°It reverses...¡± Phineas thought for a moment, ¡°How do I describe it...?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Phineas, our friend''s face is going red,¡± Sunala pointed out, ¡°And not from anger.¡±


    ¡°I run the risk of flooding the room,¡± Phineas said.


    ¡°We can swim,¡± Nash said, ¡°Do it, Phin.¡±


    The Deep One clapped his hands, letting out a rasping snarl, his voice overlayed with a deeper being''s. There was a distinct pop, and Joseph''s soul freed itself from the stop in time, teetering over him, cold pain rushing down his body.


    ¡°T-thanks,¡± he said, ¡°What was that¡­?¡±


    Nash glanced at Sunala, then up at the spot where the eagle¡¯s head had been.


    ¡°Metapower,¡± the Sunala said, ¡°Of a powerful variety.¡±


    ¡°Great,¡± Joseph said, ¡°What''s... keeping it here?¡±


    Nash didn''t answer.


    ¡°There aren''t metahumans here, are there?¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Aside from Joe and Becenti, I mean.¡±


    ¡°Let''s start searching,¡± Nash said, ¡°Phineas, start identifying cold points like that, will you?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Phineas said.


    The Far Traveler looked at Joseph.


    ¡°Are you good?¡±


    ¡°...Yeah,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Yeah, I''m good. Let''s be careful, though.¡±


    ¡°Interesting abilities,¡± Sunala said. She was glancing around the room, eyes darting from point to point, as though trying to see the fixed points in time, ¡°Not only does this place not age, it has specific pockets where time completely stands still.¡±


    ¡°It is layered,¡± Phineas said, ¡°Not magic. Metapower. Hnzz, difficult to explain.¡±


    Joseph sat down by the Deep One, rubbing his head. A nasty, warm headache was stabbing at his skull.


    ¡°Sorry for snapping at you,¡± he said.


    ¡°It is alright,¡± Phineas said, ¡°Your mind was cooking. If I was not quick, I-¡±


    His voice caught.


    ¡°I would have lost you.¡±


    ¡°Takes more than a cooking mind to get me down,¡± Joseph chuckled, trying to alleviate Phineas''s anxiety. He''d never seen the Deep One sound so lost and forlorn.


    ¡°Your mind would have cooked, warmed up to the point of insanity. You would have babbled dark secrets. Odd words. Then you would have died,¡± Phineas said, ¡°I was... I was almost not fast enough.¡±


    ¡°But I didn''t,¡± Joseph said, ¡°You were fast enough. You saved my life, Phin.¡±


    He put a hand on the Deep One''s shoulder.


    ¡°Thanks.¡±


    Phineas gave a watery smile.


    ¡°Alright, smarm time''s over,¡± Nash said, ¡°Let''s get looking.¡±


    ¡°What are we looking for, Nash?¡± Rosemary asked.


    ¡°...You''ll know it when you see it,¡± Nash said, ¡°Let''s go.¡±


    ***


    The final room in the tower was the very top. An observatory, though there had been no openings in the top of the tower. No, instead, in those far off days of metahuman glory and knowledge, they had built the ceiling to be clear and see-through. Metahuman magic, or a metahuman ability that still held due to the power of the Shard of Imagination. Whatever the case, it showed the sky, blue and clear, a great telescope taking up the center of the room, a bronze and glass chute, attended by a small, simple chair and nightstand. There was no water here.


    Oddest of all, it was not tipped to the side like the rest of the tower.


    ¡°...Close the door,¡± Ezel said.


    ¡°What?¡± Meleko said.


    ¡°Close it!¡± Broon barked, realizing what Ezel was saying. He spun, closing his eyes as he did so, slamming the door behind them. The platform of water sunk beneath their feet, spinning into a ball in Ezel''s palm.


    ¡°It''s...¡±


    ¡°Right-side up,¡± Ezel said, ¡°While the rest of the tower isn''t.¡±


    Mallory took a few tentative steps into the room. Steam swirled ahead of her like arms, snaking this way and that, feeling for null places in time. The room was covered in a lush, dark red carpet that reminded her of Wakeling''s office. The walls did, too ¨C shelves were lined up with books in dozens of languages, with three desks arrayed beside them with various scrolls and scribbles. A mannequin was set to the side, specific points marking where the heart would be, the brain, pressure points that were dotted by black marker.


    ¡°It reminds me of the Warp,¡± the Steamer said.


    ¡°On a grander scale,¡± Meleko replied, ¡°Yeah. It''s like that. Don''t go looking too hard at what''s inconsistent.¡±


    ¡°But we''re here now,¡± Broon said, ¡°The top of the tower. And it''s right-side up. No water, either.¡±


    ¡°Hasn''t aged a day,¡± Ezel said, ¡°Like the hand. Like the thief.¡±


    ¡°Like Nash''s room,¡± Broon said, ¡°Wonder how that works, exactly.¡±


    ¡°Specific zones of timestop,¡± Ezel said, ¡°If it seals a room, it keeps it intact.¡±


    ¡°And the hand?¡± Meleko said, ¡°It was just in the water.¡±


    Ezel was quiet. She had no answer.


    ¡°Well, if the room''s like this, then it means that something''s off,¡± Heyma said, ¡°That sounds like a place for a Shard to me, right?¡±


    ¡°Aye,¡± Broon agreed, ¡°Let''s get moving, folks. Mal, keep your steam going around this place. If it freezes somewhere, let us know.¡±


    ¡°On it,¡± Mallory began pouring more steam from her hands, moving it this way and that as the team split off to different parts of the room.


    ¡°Are you thirsty, Mallory?¡± Ezel asked.


    ¡°No, still got a bit in me,¡± Mallory replied, ¡°Going to need something soon, though.¡±


    The demigod nodded. She walked over to the telescope, sitting down at the chair. Atop the nightstand was a small notebook, which an astronomer had scrabbled notes on in a language she didn''t recognize. The constellations and stars she did, however.


    ¡°...Prime,¡± she said.


    ¡°What was that?¡± Broon said.


    ¡°These are constellations from Prime,¡± Ezel used the ball of water in her hand to pass over the notebook, ensuring that there wasn''t a void space that had been placed over it. Then, she turned a few pages.


    ¡°Orion,¡± she said, ¡°There''s Orion there. I recognize his belt. The Big Dipper, the Little Dipper...¡±


    ¡°You saying these guys came from Prime?¡± Meleko said, ¡°That''s home turf for you.¡±


    ¡°They may have traveled there. Or it was the plane they were on before Traveling to here,¡± Ezel said, ¡°Could be any variety of reasons. But Prime''s... far from here...


    ¡°Not finding anything on these shelves,¡± Heyma said, ¡°Becenti''s going to have a heart attack when he sees all these books, though.¡±


    ¡°Nothing on this desk here, either,¡± Mallory said, ¡°A sketch of a human body ¨C no engine, though...¡±


    ¡°Not all humans have engines,¡± Ezel said, ¡°Only Steamers.¡±


    ¡°Ah, right,¡± Mallory said, ¡°Well, it''s not a Shard. Just a stupid drawing.¡±


    They searched around for another twenty or so minutes, poring through the place, trying to find any sign of the Shard. Finally, defeated, they all stopped. Mallory''s stomach rumbled.


    ¡°I''m starving,¡± she said.


    ¡°Agreed,¡± Broon said, ¡°...Lunch?¡±


    They sat down, pulling out a few of the chairs and sitting down. Lunch was a quiet affair, ham sandwiches that had been packed lovingly by Gluh, put in paper bags with an apple and a bottle of water. Ezel chuckled at that.


    ¡°We really are on a school trip, aren''t we?¡± she said.


    A couple light conversations here and there, a welcome reprieve from the hours of traveling through the tower.


    ¡°Hey Broon,¡± Meleko said, ¡°Who wins in a swordfight: You, or Mekke?¡±


    ¡°Depends on the sword,¡± Broon said, ¡°And the day. The weather, even-¡±


    ¡°Aw, don''t be a shitter,¡± Mallory said, ¡°Come on, who wins?¡±


    ¡°You''re wielding Kilnrev,¡± Heyma pitched, ¡°Mekke''s wielding that gladius of hers. She''s got the shield, too ¨C but not the spear or the pistol.¡±


    Broon blinked.


    ¡°I, ah,¡± he stammered, ¡°Well, I''ve got the better reach, but Mekke knows that, I suppose.¡±


    ¡°Who wins, Broon?¡± Heyma said, ¡°Come on, be honest.¡±


    ¡°Fine,¡± Broon said, ¡°Fine. Mekke would. In a heartbeat.¡±


    ¡°Bullshit,¡± Meleko said, ¡°You''re the Wildarm! The Butcher of Evukor-¡±


    ¡°Meleko,¡± Ezel warned, ¡°You how he hates that name.¡±


    ¡°Right, sorry,¡± Meleko said, ¡°But seriously, you''re selling yourself short.¡±


    ¡°I''m not,¡± Broon said, ¡°I''m good. One of the best. But Mekke is better.¡±


    They continued to eat after that, the conversation dying out with Broon''s assertion. Ezel was half-chewing the last of her sandwich when a thought came to her.


    ¡°...It''s in the telescope,¡± Ezel said.


    They turned to her. The demigod was staring out, towards the great telescope, realization pooling in her eyes.


    ¡°It''s...¡± Meleko said, ¡°In the telescope?¡±


    ¡°The rest of this place is just superfluous research,¡± Ezel said, ¡°The constellations are in Prime. But we''re nowhere near Prime, are we? Forecast puts it on the other side of the multiverse, even from thousands of years ago. If it was close to Prime, we''d know...¡±


    She rose to her feet.


    ¡°Prime''s like a magnet,¡± she continued, ¡°A black hole that attracts nearby planes to it. We''d know if this plane was near Prime.¡±


    She stepped towards the telescope.


    And looked into it.


    Despite the fact that the sky was clear, and nothing but the sun existed above, there were stars through the looking glass.


    ***


    They discovered four other null-points during their search.


    That''s what Sunala defined them as.


    ¡°Null-points,¡± she said, ¡°Fixed points in time. Frozen time, as though it were ice, and flowing time water.¡±


    ¡°Neat,¡± Joseph said, ¡°And if you pass into it...¡±


    ¡°You stop. Everything goes to a stand-still around you, and your perception of time slows to a crawl,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Now, based on my calculations, I presume...¡±


    She picked up a small piece of rubble and tossed it towards the side of the bed, where one of the null-points was located. The rock stopped in midair. Sunala took a glance at it before pulling out a small notebook, scribbling into it quickly. Rosemary recognized her handwriting as being in Elvish ¨C though, she could only recognize half the words as she marveled at the noblewoman''s quick, flowing handwriting.


    ¡°It''s still moving,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Ever so slightly. So slight, it can''t be comprehended by most minds.¡±


    Joseph''s headache still had not abated.


    ¡°I noticed,¡± he said.


    ¡°How are... How are you seeing it?¡± Rosemary asked.


    ¡°We''re long-lived,¡± Sunala said, ¡°It''s... difficult, I''ll admit. But we are used to time being glacial around us. It''s all in how one views the world.¡±


    She gave a meaningful glance to Rosemary. Rosemary looked away, blushing a bit.


    ¡°Regardless,¡± Sunala continued, ¡°It''s still quite slow. So slow I thought it was frozen, at first.¡±


    ¡°How long until it hits the ground?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°...A while,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Can''t be too sure. And I don''t have the equipment to run proper calculations.¡±


    ¡°Doesn''t matter,¡± Nash said, ¡°They''re in the way. Phineas, has your spell revealed any more?¡±


    ¡°None,¡± the Deep One said. He was in the center of the room, resting against the side of the bed, tome on the floor and sprawled out like a comic book, ¡°I detect nothing.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Nash said, ¡°We don''t want anyone pulling a Joe.¡±


    ¡°Please don''t call it that,¡± Joseph said, ¡°My self-esteem is in tatters as is.¡±


    Rosemary smirked as she continued to look over Sunala''s shoulder, the noblewoman continuing to scribe notes into her journal. Nash, Gluh, and Joseph walked around the room, peeking through the dressers and drawers for... Whatever Nash was looking for.


    Joseph wasn''t sure what.


    And he was also sure they hadn''t found it, because Nash hadn''t reacted to the odd things they found in the dresser, such as the two, curved blades hidden behind a back panel or the esoteric notes tucked in the journals on the desk that Phineas said summoned the Eternal Engine into existence.


    That last part ¨C whatever dark magics Phineas was involved with ¨C pricked at Joseph''s mind.


    They decided to take a break, pulling out lunch bags that Gluh provided and digging in, chewing ham sandwiches quietly (Phineas, of course, substituting the sandwich for a salad.)


    ¡°Before,¡± he said, ¡°When you were trying to free me. You said it was... difficult?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Phineas said, ¡°Difficult.¡±


    ¡°How so?¡±


    The Deep One chewed on a leaf of lettuce, deep in thought.


    ¡°Difficult to describe. The word my people use jellies the brain.¡±


    ¡°Already did that once today,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Try me.¡±


    ¡°...It is... roughly translated as-¡±


    He said a word that made Joseph''s head fuzz as though it were raked over with TV static. The headache intensified, went cold, like a spike of ice being driven through his skull. He felt his face fall into his hands. The rest of the party seemed to be reacting similarly ¨C Rosemary groaned, Nash was wincing. Sunala hardly reacted, though her left eyelid was twitching. Even Spinlock and Nelthel, still flanking either side of the door, wavered for a few moments.


    ¡°Don''t say that ever again, Phin,¡± Nash said.


    ¡°Gluhhh.¡±


    ¡°I am sorry,¡± Phineas said, ¡°But it is... in-between. An in-between place. Between dimensions. Between minds. Between dreams. This place, the power here, the metahuman power... It pulls from the same source.¡±


    He scratched at a loose scale.


    ¡°All metapower does. It is... difficult to describe.¡±


    Joseph let the words sink in. He leaned back.


    ¡°So... even my power...¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Phineas looked over, ¡°And it is beautiful.¡±


    Joseph was quiet.


    ¡°The spell to reverse the null-points,¡± Phineas continued, ¡°It is... like an axe. Not fine, like a pen. A broad stroke of a brush, not a straight line. I am sorry, I am not good at describing this...¡±


    ¡°Quite alright, dear Phineas,¡± Sunala said, ¡°I believe I understand. The spell to reverse the null-points, to break Joseph free, could have removed all of the frozen time around us.¡±


    Phineas nodded.


    ¡°Yes,¡± he rasped.


    ¡°Then we best be careful not to get trapped in any more,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Come, let us continue our search. I am hungry for answers.¡±


    ***


    It was after another hour of searching and re-searching that they determined that whatever Nash was looking for wasn''t here. A groan of defeat rumbled from Sunala''s throat, and Joseph saw a rare hint of frustration in her voice as she rose imperiously over them.


    ¡°Disappointing,¡± she said. She clenched a hand on the back of the desk''s chair, ¡°But... expected. This is a rather large place, after all.¡±


    ¡°What now?¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°Let''s move on,¡± Nash said, ¡°I think we''re done here.¡±


    Sunala gave a final glance at the room. For a moment, Joseph saw her eye twitch again in frustration. Then, she gave a defeated sigh.


    ¡°...Yes, let''s.¡±


    ¡°Phin, get that spell ready,¡± Nash ordered, ¡°The rest of you, hope you''re ready for a swim.¡±


    ¡°Great,¡± Joseph said, ¡°My clothes just finished drying, too.¡±


    ¡°Try swimming around with a great ol'' cloak like mine,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Feels like I''m carrying a raincloud everywhere I walk.¡±


    Gluh, meanwhile, said nothing. The zombie stood apart from the rest of the group, staring out through the gash in the wall and the open sea.


    ¡°Gluh?¡± Nash said, ¡°You coming?¡±


    ¡°...Gluh.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Nash said.


    ¡°What did he say?¡± Sunala asked.


    ¡°He says there''s a body out there,¡± Nash said, ¡°He sees it. And by the way he''s describing it, it''s still fresh.¡±


    Sunala blinked.


    ¡°What does it look like?¡± she said.


    ¡°It''s... relatively intact,¡± Nash translated, ¡°Joseph, I think I need your eyesight for this.¡±


    They took out their communicator, waiting for a few moments for it to patch through.


    ¡°Becenti,¡± they said, ¡°We have another body.¡±


    ***


    The call rang through right as they were about to enter one of the temples. The group stopped, looking at Becenti as he fumbled the communicator out of his pocket.


    ¡°Go on without me,¡± he said, ¡°Nash is giving a report.¡±


    ¡°You sure?¡± Contort asked.


    ¡°Of course he''s sure,¡± Ichabod said, giving Becenti a meaningful look, ¡°Stupid questions are usually reserved for people like Joseph or Meleko. I''m surprised at you, Arne.¡±


    ¡°Ha, shut up,¡± Contort said. But it had the intended effect. He nodded at Becenti and said, ¡°We''ll be waiting inside.¡±


    The rest of his team now drawing inside the temple, Becenti stepped away, sitting down at the edge of the steps leading up to the great old ruin. He took a deep breath, before opening the communicator up to his mouth.


    ¡°Becenti here,¡± he said, ¡°Another one?¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± the Lady Sunala''s voice crackled through the other end, ¡°Young Mr. Zheng is looking at it now with that... eagle of his.¡±


    ¡°Joseph,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph''s voice was distant and concentrated, ¡°Yeah, it''s definitely a body. A woman''s.¡±


    ¡°Phineas, Gluh,¡± Nash said, ¡°Can you get it?¡±


    ¡°I am on it,¡± Phineas rasped.


    ¡°What does it look like, Mr. Zheng?¡± Becenti said


    ¡°It''s... a woman''s,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Dark-skinned. She''s wearing...an odd assortment of combat armor and robes. Green colored, just floating in the water. A silver helmet''s covering most of her head except for her mouth.¡±


    ¡°Does that ring a bell, Becenti?¡± Sunala asked.


    ¡°...Vaguely,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Any idea what killed her, Mr. Zheng?¡±


    ¡°I''m guessing it''s the several plasma shots in her chest,¡± Joseph said, ¡°She''s got around... I''m counting around fifteen?¡±


    ¡°Damn,¡± Becenti whispered, ¡°She went down fighting.¡±


    ¡°Her body''s floating just above one of the cities,¡± Joseph said, ¡°How the hell did Gluh see it?¡±


    ¡°Not sure,¡± Nash said.


    ¡°Probably smelled her brains,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°That''s what zombies eat, right?¡±


    Stereotypes, Ms. Rosemary,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Right, sorry,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°But it''s still weird.¡±


    ¡°Death senses death,¡± Nash said, ¡°Regardless, he and Phineas are heading out there now.¡±


    ¡°How long will it take?¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°...Ten minutes, maybe,¡± Nash said, ¡°Right?¡±


    ¡°By my calculations, a bit more,¡± Sunala said, ¡°It''s two hundred feet down, remember.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Becenti said.


    ***


    ¡°Right, then,¡± Broon said, ¡°I''m going to let the other teams know.¡±


    They were arrayed around the telescope, staring at it intently, Ezel still looking through the eyepiece and taking a few notes in a notebook of her own.


    ¡°Should we...?¡± Heyma said.


    ¡°Try to get it out?¡± Ezel said, ¡°I wouldn''t recommend it. It''s stuck in there tight, if it''s able to view this part of Prime so effectively.¡±


    Broon took out his communicator.


    ¡°Tek?¡± he said, ¡°Patch me through to the other teams, will you?¡±


    A few moments passed. Broon breathed in, then out.


    That familiar dread feeling in his gut had returned.


    ***


    ¡°Sorry to interrupt,¡± Tek said, ¡°But Broon''s entered the chat.¡±


    Broon, good. Joseph gave a small smile as he looked down at the small forms of Phineas and Gluh swimming towards the body below.


    ¡°Broon, good to hear you,¡± Nash said.


    ¡°Hi Broon!¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°Hey, Rosemary,¡± Broon''s voice was oddly quiet and polite. That gave Joseph pause.


    ¡°We''re not alone,¡± Nash said, ¡°Joseph and Rosemary are in the room here.¡±


    ¡°Ah,¡± Broon said. He was quiet for a moment.


    The world, Joseph realized, suddenly seemed at a standstill. A crossroads. An odd feeling in his stomach was growing in his stomach, crawling up his chest. He could feel the hairs on his neck stand up on end.


    Something wasn''t right.


    Far below, Phineas and Gluh were just getting to the body. Something had caught her fast to the crashed city below, and he watched as Gluh began pawing at her robe, trying to tear it free from between two crashed pieces of stone.


    ¡°We...¡± Broon was very obviously mulling over his words. Nash and Sunala stared at the communicator intently. Spinlock and Nelthel too, Joseph noted.


    ¡°We found it,¡± Broon said.


    There was a very pronounced emphasis on ''it.'' Broon''s statement was curled around that word. Whatever it was, ''it'' was big.


    ¡°It''s trapped in a telescope,¡± Broon said.


    Out of the corner of his eye, Joseph saw Spinlock and Nelthel exchange glances.


    ¡°A... telescope?¡± Sunala said, ¡°That''s odd. Is it possible to get it out?¡±


    ¡°...Not sure,¡± Broon said.


    Spinlock nodded to Nelthel.


    ¡°We''re in a place full of dead zones of time,¡± Broon said, ¡°Not sure if the telescope is a trap or not.¡±


    It was happening in slow motion. Joseph felt himself begin spinning, begin to generate an eagle''s claw as Nelthel brought up a hand.


    ¡°Sorry, mate,¡± the attendant said.


    And then pain. Shooting all over his body. Joseph heard Rosemary and Nash scream ¨C could hear himself scream, too, as he felt his bones slide out of place, his ribcage pull itself inwards, and he heard several horribly sickening cracks chorus throughout his form. He collapsed to the ground, eyes wide, unable to move.


    ¡°Always hate it when you have to do that,¡± Spinlock said.


    Nelthel''s thin, reedy face was contorted in disgust.


    ¡°Agreed,¡± he said, ¡°But it gets the job done.¡±


    Joseph heard Nelthel step over Rosemary''s prone body.


    ¡°Sorry, Lady Sunala,¡± Nelthel said, ¡°Consider this our resignation. Thanks for your patronage.¡±


    ¡°We would''ve given our two weeks,¡± Spinlock gruffed, ¡°But, uh, might''ve blown our cover.¡±


    More movement as the two attendants opened up the mahogany door.


    ¡°What about the other two, brother?¡± Spinlock asked.


    ¡°We have twenty minutes,¡± Nelthel replied, ¡°You can carry us through all of this, yes?¡±


    ¡°It''ll be a swim to get back up to the surface,¡± Spinlock said, ¡°Got your rebreather?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Brain, I do,¡± Nelthel said, ¡°Now, what''s say we get ourselves our birthright, eh?¡±


    The two chuckled ¨C Nelthel''s something between a whine and a whinny, Spinlock''s low, deep, and rumbling like a volcano. They stepped through the door and closed it with a creaking slam.


    ***


    Becenti''s hands shook as he heard the last of the exchange. He took a deep breath. Then two. For the first time in a while, he wished he had a smoke.


    ¡°You heard that, Broon?¡± he said.


    ¡°Every word,¡± Broon''s voice was dark, ¡°They''re coming here.¡±


    Becenti looked out. Towards the city, far to the north of them. Where now two were traveling. And by the looks of it, by how quickly they had taken out Nash''s team, they were formidable.


    ¡°Shit,¡± he whispered.

 33. Pure Possibility

    They returned back to the boat at a run, clambering aboard in a state of tense panic. Becenti didn¡¯t bother untying it from the small shrine they had moored it to - instead, forming a knife out of heat, he swiped at the rope, cutting it clean, cauterizing it with a single stroke. The rope snapped, trailing like a tail as Ichabod turned on the boat¡¯s motor. Soon, they were cutting across the once-calm waters, the dark noise of adrenaline pumping in their hearts.


    ¡°Right,¡± Becenti said into the communicator, ¡°We know where they are. We know where we''re going. We''ll cut them off.¡±


    ¡°You''re not the most combat-heavy team, Myron,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Be careful.¡±


    Becenti glanced at his team. Ichabod was already loading his two pistols, his sneer and what was left of his good cheer gone, replaced by a somber glare. Contort was stretching himself as Dama Runebreaker cracked her knuckles. Nova trailed behind them like a neon cloud, sparkling and crackling.


    ¡°We''ll be enough,¡± Contort said, ¡°You aren''t joining the show, Wakeling?¡±


    ¡°I''m only a head right now, Arne,¡± Wakeling''s voice was bitter, ¡°I left the rest at home.¡±


    ¡°It''s fine, Vyde,¡± Becenti said, ¡°We''ll take care of this.¡±


    ¡°Do so,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°We''ve already lost our client and five of our finest. I''m not about to lose more.¡±


    Contort winced at the reminder.


    ¡°They can''t be dead,¡± Contort said, ¡°Didn''t hear Phin back there, and Rosemary''s tough.¡±


    ¡°Assume the worst,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°Joseph''s a damn metahuman,¡± Contort said.


    ¡°You heard him scream,¡± Ichabod countered.


    ¡°They can''t be dead!¡± Contort snarled.


    ¡°That''s enough!¡± Becenti snapped. Contort stopped, his eyes mutinous and bloodshot.


    All of them were looking at him now. Inwardly, Becenti squirmed. He had never liked this, being the center of attention, the one everyone looked up to in these times. He had played the hero enough, hadn''t he? Been the soldier, played the game.


    Nonetheless.


    ¡°We can''t think about such things now,¡± he stated, ¡°Keep your heads up, your eyes forward. Good chance we''re about to see Sunala''s attendants now. We''re friends. Guildmates. We need to be in this together.¡±


    He gave a glance to Ichabod and Contort.


    ¡°Right?¡±


    ¡°...Right,¡± Contort said.


    ¡°Fine,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°Good,¡± Becenti turned back to survey what was around them, ¡°Now, by my calculations, we''ll be meeting their boat in the middle of the water.¡±


    ¡°Any idea what we''re up against?¡± Ichabod said, ¡°They took Nash''s team out pretty damn quick.¡±


    ¡°They said this was their birthright,¡± Dama Runebreaker said.


    ¡°Metahumans,¡± Becenti said, ¡°We''re facing metahumans, ladies and gentlemen. That could mean anything.¡±


    He felt his insides shrivel. They had been taken completely by surprise. What had been an easy-going trek through a dead place had suddenly become a game of strategy and maneuvering. The kind with few pieces, too. Every move they made counted.


    They were going to make or break here.


    ¡°Broon,¡± Becenti said into his communicator, ¡°I''m keeping our comms up when we meet the attendants.¡±


    ¡°What even were their names...?¡± Broon said.


    ¡°Spinlock, I believe. Nelthel''s the thin one,¡± Becenti replied, ¡°They''re metahumans, Broon. And we don''t know their abilities.¡±


    ¡°In the dark,¡± Broon said.


    ¡°Remember back on Kaleidos?¡± Becenti said, ¡°Grindstone.¡±


    ¡°That rock-throwing guy,¡± Broon said, ¡°We spent almost a week studying his abilities.¡±


    ¡°Every metapower has a limitation,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Something that can be used against it. With no heat, my power is useless, for example.¡±


    ¡°Once we got Grindstone into the air, he was easy pickings,¡± Broon said.


    ¡°Precisely,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°We don''t have a week, Myron,¡± Ichabod interrupted.


    ¡°I know,¡± Becenti said, ¡°But Broon, I''m keeping this thing on. Listen to our fight. Try to pick anything up.¡±


    ¡°...Right,¡± Broon said, ¡°Alright. We''re getting things together over here. In case you go down.¡±


    ¡°Good luck, Myron,¡± Ezel said, her voice a bit far away.


    ¡°And you, Ms. Atalar,¡± Becenti said. He turned to the rest of the group, ¡°Suggestions?¡±


    ¡°We''re on the water,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Most of this fight''s going to be long-range.¡±


    ¡°Nova''s a good shot,¡± Dama Runebreaker said, ¡°Ichabod, give me a pistol.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°Ms. Runebreaker,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Guide the boat as close to theirs as you can. When we close enough, jump on.¡±


    ¡°Got it,¡± Dama Runebreaker said.


    ¡°Easy,¡± Contort said.


    ¡°The rest of us provide long-range support,¡± Becenti said. He took out his heatstone, switching it on. Warmth spread through his hand. Uncomfortable warmth ¨C Becenti was never quite used to the feeling. Yet he began shaping it into a series of javelins that he laid beside him, willed to physical form through his power alone, shapeshifted mirages that shimmered and wavered in vague, spear-shaped outlines.


    ¡°And if we lose?¡± Contort said.


    ¡°The communicator''s on,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Broon''ll hear us. Hopefully he''ll get enough info that he can find out the attendants'' abilities.¡±


    ¡°We''re the sacrificial lambs,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°In a worst case scenario, yes,¡± Becenti replied.


    Ichabod finished polishing one of his pistols, flipping the safety off with a lazy click.


    ¡°Always assume the worst.¡±


    ***


    It took them a while to pull the corpse free.


    Past the fact that she had multiple plasma burns riddling her body, the metahuman had drowned. A large portion of her robe had been caught between two rocks, presumably during the city''s sinking thousands of years before. Too weakened by the rather large holes in her body, she had struggled for who knows how long before losing consciousness, the ocean doing the rest.


    A horrible way to go. Phineas couldn''t imagine it. Once again, he marveled at the absurdity of humanoids and their inability to breathe underwater. Gluh was good company, at least, the zombie taking out a knife and cutting at the robe. He wasn''t the most dexterous of individuals, and his cut through the robe to pull the body free was jagged and clumsy, but it got the job done. He finished up, tearing cloth free, the metahuman now free-floating as Gluh gingerly lifted her upwards. His thin legs reminded Phineas of stickbugs as he kicked them up, making his way through the dark waters back to the bedchambers. Phineas followed.


    Neither said a word.


    ***


    ¡°You heard him,¡± Broon said, ¡°All of you, I want options.¡±


    ¡°This room''s small,¡± Meleko said, ¡°Especially with this big telescope in the way.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps the room outside?¡± Heyma said.


    ¡°...Aye, that should work,¡± Broon said, ¡°Let''s go.¡±


    ¡°Standard practice,¡± Ezel said as she strode forward to open the door, ¡°Don''t look.¡±


    The world tipped back over, from upright to sideways, dizzying and odd in the transition, gravity shifting from the floor to the wall as they stepped through. The floor before the observatory had been tall, its weight almost entirely supported by a statue of none other than Iresine, hands grasping the ceiling and holding it as though it were the sky, blood flowing free from his palms and running down his arms, lovingly, painstakingly carved to be as realistic as possible, all in a shining marble relief. Once, small islands representing each of the cities of Chliofrond had floated around him, this great idol of history standing tall as an opus of the kingdom.


    But with the fall of the city also held the fall of much of the figure''s splendor. The islands had crashed into the water and now floated, domes of cracked marble partially engulfed by the shallow salt water pool. The landing leading to the observatory was tucked away to the side, an almost-hidden alcove with but a single ladder to climb for potential stargazers. As such, it was now underwater, an oddity to their feet as they waded into the drink. The water went up to their waists, and was oddly warm.


    ¡°Lots to work with,¡± Mallory said.


    ¡°It''s still difficult to control,¡± Ezel said, ¡°We''ll need to be quick if we want to use it ¨C I''m already exhausted as it is.¡±


    ¡°Rest, then,¡± Broon said. He stepped onto one of the small marble islands, extending out a hand to her. The demigod took it and rose out of the water, sitting down and taking a deep breath. Broon just noticed a slight twitch to her hand. The tension was getting to her.


    ¡°This is a good a place as any,¡± Meleko said, ¡°Plenty of good points for an ambush. Lots of room.¡±


    ¡°We won''t know for sure until...¡± Broon didn''t finish that sentence. He turned back to the group.


    ¡°Mallory,¡± he said, ¡°Keep yourself near the back. If they get through us, you lock yourself in the observatory, fill it to the top with steam.¡±


    ¡°Going to need water for that,¡± Mallory said, ¡°And salt isn''t good.¡±


    Broon grimaced, ¡°Right then, everyone. Time to share.¡±


    The half-orc unleashed his water skin. Meleko his thermos, Ezel her sticker-covered bottle. Mallory took out all three.


    ¡°I''m not going to drink for a second,¡± she said, ¡°It makes me want to pee.¡±


    ¡°Let''s see what happens with Becenti''s group,¡± Broon said, ¡°Hopefully Myron pulls a win from the hat.¡±


    They looked at one another, none of them daring to speak the alternative.


    In the darkness, the statue of Iresine stared at them from above. Unmoving. Uncaring.


    ***


    ¡°They''ll be at each other at any moment now,¡± Tek reported.


    Wakeling grimaced, ¡°And the others...?¡±


    ¡°We don''t know,¡± Tek said, ¡°But the metahuman magic around that area might be disrupting the scanners.¡±


    Wakeling was quiet.


    ¡°I should have realized,¡± she said.


    ¡°Nonsense,¡± Barbara said, ¡°No way we could have known.¡±


    ¡°I should have run background checks on those attendants,¡± the guildmaster said, ¡°I should have been prepared for something like this. Brought an arm. A leg. Anything.¡±


    ¡°Becenti will take care of it,¡± Tek said, wool-covered eyes never straying from the scanner array, ¡°He''s tough. Ichabod is, too. Nova''s a war veteran. And if they don''t have it, Broon''s team will.¡±


    ¡°Tek, you''re sure you heard Lady Sunala among them?¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Her... screaming?¡±


    ¡°It''s recorded and everything,¡± Tek said, ¡°I can... No, I don''t think you want to hear that.¡±


    ¡°I don''t,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°But you heard them?¡±


    The mound nodded.


    ¡°Then we have to assume these attendants are working on their own,¡± Wakeling stated, ¡°It doesn''t make sense for Sunala to betray us ¨C not like this.¡±


    ¡°Tactically, makes no sense,¡± Tek agreed, ¡°Not logical. Hrm...¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡± Wakeling asked.


    Tek brought a horn-like claw up to his face, adjusting his spectacles.


    ¡°Nothing much, just a thought came to me. Our scanners are... disrupted, shall we say, by the metahuman magic that permeates the city Nash and the others were in.¡±


    ¡°Tek, we''re a bit busy here,¡± Barbara said.


    ¡°I know, but it''s interesting,¡± Tek said, ¡°If our scanners can''t get through to Nash, then what''s to say they can''t get through elsewhere?¡±


    ¡°An interesting thought,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Keep it in mind. We''ve work to do, people. Record every bit of what''s about to happen. Get it to Broon. Prepare ourselves, if somehow those attendants get through them.¡±


    She chewed the inside of her mouth. Silently, Wakeling hoped ¨C prayed, even, which she hadn''t done in quite a long time ¨C that Tek was right. That Nash''s team was alright. That they were somehow alive. And that Becenti would flay those attendants alive.


    ***


    Joseph awoke in agony.


    He was unsure when he had slipped into unconsciousness. But as he looked down the length of his body, as his eyes widened with realization and shock, he wasn''t surprised.


    His body was contorted. Twisted like a rag, his legs askew and bent like noodles, his ribcage jutting upwards at the top, then downward. His arms had been wrapped around his body and were held firm by... something within him. Rosemary, Nash, and Sunala were much the same ¨C and from the twisted looks on their faces, he assumed they felt much like he did.


    Joseph''s soul was thundering through his body, but it was a disjointed circuit. It was used to a regular human form, not this twisted abomination he had been forced into. Somewhere it had broken, and all it could do was line from his stomach to his legs, stopping somewhere in his chest.


    He let out a low, whistling moan, his whine sounding oddly like a flute as he breathed in, breathed out. He wasn''t sure how he was still alive, but he was. Just barely, though, and he could feel a darkness overtaking his vision that wasn''t exactly comforting. A deep sleep, a great blanket that hung just over his body, waiting for him to slip away before smothering him completely.


    The flopping sounds of Phineas''s feet slapping on the ground brought him to. The Deep One and Gluh had returned from their journey. Phineas let out a horrid, swallowing gasp before running over to Joseph.


    ¡°Joseph!¡± he yelped, ¡°Joseph! Oh no, oh no no no-¡±


    He began hyperventilating, sucking in deep breaths and almost vomiting them out, a rapid percussion that stank of raw fish. Gluh shambled over and flopped a hand on the Deep One''s shoulder. Phineas looked over to it, grabbing it for comfort, as he brought out his great tome and laid it out beside Joseph''s prone form.


    ¡°I am sorry, Joseph. Rosemary. Nash,¡± Phineas said, ¡°L-Lady Sunala. I am so sorry. I should have been here. Where are Spinlock and Nelthel?¡±


    ¡°Gluhh.¡±


    Phineas took in the zombie''s words. Then nodded, a grim air overtaking his panic. He flipped through the tome, eyes darting from page to page, before he paused at a chapter.


    ¡°I can reverse it,¡± he said, ¡°But-¡±


    ¡°Gluhh.¡±


    ¡°I know!¡± Phineas rasped, ¡°First, though, we need to be able to breathe. One moment.¡±


    He scratched off a few of his scales, wincing as he did so as some of them were still firmly coated to his skin, drips of black, inky blood splattering on the ground. He whispered a few words of power.


    Then his voice was once more layered by something deeper in reality, like a dark voice was rising from the depths of a bottomless sea. Joseph''s skin crawled.


    And then, with a series of small pops, his body began sliding back into place, his bones cracking, pain firing up and down his body with each bone''s resettling. The rest of the party began recovering as well ¨C Sunala stood upright as her spine shifted back from where it had been jutting out, Rosemary''s arms snapped into place. They all began to breathe again, the pain dulling, relief flooding through their bodies.


    And then the water began rushing in. The entire city shook.


    Nash, rubbing their wrists (which had only recently been turned in the other direction) winced and wheezed out, ¡°Phin, what did you do?¡±


    ¡°Reversed the metapower,¡± Phineas said, ¡°But it is like an axe. Not a blade. Not precise.¡±


    The water seized around them, bubbles appearing over their heads. But they could not stop the force as the deluge engulfed the entire bedchamber. Joseph found himself thrown against the wall, feeling the force of the ocean all around him. For a moment, he thought that he would break, that something would slam into him and wipe away his world. Those pieces of furniture not bolted to the ground swirled around the room like a whirlpool.


    And then things settled ¨C a bit, at least, as Joseph found himself pressed against the ceiling. The rest of the party was, too.


    ¡°Phin!¡± Nash''s voice was distorted from the bubble around their head, ¡°Phin, what did you do?¡±


    ¡°Like an axe!¡± Phineas said, ¡°I could not control the spell! Had to revert all of you! Reverted all metapower in the room, in this city!¡±


    ¡°Which means whatever was keeping this city afloat expired!¡± Sunala said, ¡°We''re sinking!¡±


    ***


    ¡°Vyde,¡± Tek said, ¡°You''re going to want to see this.¡±


    ¡°What''s going on?¡± Wakeling asked.


    ¡°The city,¡± Tek said, ¡°It''s sinking.¡±


    Wakeling went pale.


    ¡°Which one?¡±


    ¡°Nash''s,¡± Tek reported.


    ¡°No, no, no!¡± Wakeling snarled, ¡°Barbara! Get me out there!¡±


    The toucan alighted, claws reaching down to snatch the guildmaster up, the two of them sailing high on deadened winds. Far below, the northern city that Nash had gone to was slowly sinking into the water, statues and buildings breaking and splintering from the force, the water churning milk white.


    ¡°Scan it!¡± Wakeling roared, ¡°Scan it!¡±


    ¡°Nothing!¡± Tek said, ¡°There''s-¡±


    His voice caught.


    ¡°I see them! They''re still there! They''re-¡±


    The city continued its slow plummet into the depths. Wakeling''s eyes were wild as she scanned it, willing any magic in her body, any at all, to find them. Find her guildmates, her family-


    ¡°They''re gone,¡± Tek said, ¡°Either they''ve hit another zone of metahuman magic, or-¡±


    ¡°Don''t,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Don''t, Teknogan.¡±


    The mound was quiet. Far below, the last point of the city, the very top of the tallest tower, a spiraling, shell-like observatory, sunk into the silence.


    If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    ¡°Keep scanning for them,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°If Phineas does any more dispelling, then we should be able to detect them.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Tek said.


    ¡°Vyde.¡±


    Becenti''s voice crackled to life in her mind.


    ¡°Myron,¡± Wakeling said.


    ¡°We''re about to meet the attendants.¡±


    It was all going to hell. Wakeling bit down her panic and hysteria.


    ¡°Good luck, Myron. If it gets too hairy, pull out. That''s an order.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Will keep that in mind.¡±


    ***


    Far below, the boat containing the attendants cut through the calm waters. It was entirely controlled by the larger of the two, who was now applying patches to his bare arms, letting the chemicals stored in them to suffuse through his body. Artificial steroids to increase his strength. He had discarded the royal orange robes of the Scuttleway servant, as had his brother. The two were wearing tactical gear underneath. Not their usual style, but the job today was more important than their usual theatrics.


    ¡°Brain,¡± the attendant masquerading as Nelthel said, ¡°It appears we have interceptors.¡±


    ¡°Not surprised,¡± Brain said. The mountain of a man squinted his small, beady eyes, ¡°Looks like... Shimmer''s with ''em, Bone.¡±


    ¡°Good, two birds, I suppose,¡± Bone said, ¡°Remember, like we practiced.¡±


    They had brought with them quite a few large boulders from the city where they had left the twisted forms of Rhyde''s team. Pieces of temple, a statue''s head, a couple of broken pillars. They trailed in the water behind them, held in place only by Brain''s vast telekinetic power.


    ¡°Fire ''em, Brain,¡± Bone said.


    ¡°Right.¡±


    The head shot out of the water, arcing upwards, her calm face belying the fact that she was the opening shot in a more dangerous game.


    ***


    ¡°Above!¡± Ichabod said.


    The boat swerved to the side, ripples trailing behind as it arced, a great sploosh signaling the attendants'' play. Nova curved to the other side, the cloud of plasma sparking and powering up. The attendants were pushing past the horizon, a small dot that was growing closer and closer. Spinlock and Nelthel had discarded their robes and were wearing modern body armor.


    ¡°Prime,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Perhaps.¡±


    ¡°Like it matters,¡± Ichabod said.


    Nova fired off. Arrows of plasma lanced through the sky, rocketing towards the small boat. Spinlock brought out a hand. A broken, jagged mass of pillar breached the water like a white whale, shielding the attendants, plasma splashing against its side. The pillar cracked, pieces sloughing off and firing off individually at the elemental, who bobbed and weaved to avoid the storm of stone.


    ¡°Keep away!¡± Becenti ordered, ¡°One of them''s a psychic!¡±


    Contort nodded, jackknifing their boat and jetting away from the attendants. Ichabod took aim, firing potshots from his twin pistols, harsh pops ringing over the din of the motorboat''s engine. Becenti took a deep breath, concentrating as he took one of his heat-created javelins, resting one foot on the lip motorboat''s gunwale. He launched the javelin with the skill and poise of an Olympian, the spear flying towards the attendants, spurned on by his own power over heat.


    ***


    ¡°Brother!¡± Bone called out, ¡°Shimmer fires!¡±


    Brain brought a hand, swiping it in front of him. The heat javelin sparked off to the side, sizzling into the water, a gout of steam erupting where it fell.


    ¡°I can lift it!¡± Brain said, ¡°The game is in our favor!¡±


    He sloped his arm down, bringing it upwards in an underhanded arc, as though he were tossing a softball. Slicing through the water came the other broken pillar, which launched itself as a much larger answer to Becenti''s javelin.


    ***


    ¡°Hold on!¡± Contort said. He cranked the motorboat''s handle all the way to the side, gritting his teeth as the rest of the team gripped the boat¡¯s side. The wind sailed around them, whipping into a frenzy before going ice-cold as the pillar plunged into the depths behind them, freshwater spray spewing out, a false rainfall that chilled the world. For a moment, the resulting bulging sea threatened to capsize them before the motorboat righted itself, continuing its cut through the ocean.


    Still dancing in the wind, Nova crackled up another volley, letting it loose as a wave of light, a midday aurora borealis that whispered towards Spinlock and Nelthel. Once more, Spinlock gestured, bringing up a large hunk of ruin to bear to shield them from the blow-


    Only to find as Nova thundered downwards, skimming across the water towards them.


    ¡°Bone!¡± Spinlock roared.


    Nelthel ¨C Bone, nodded, extending out a hand. He grimaced as his skin peeled back ¨C he always hated that feeling ¨C and loose cuttings of his finger bones shredded and fired off. They sponged Nova, who reeled as they cut through him like hundreds of small knives.


    ¡°Nova!¡± Contort screamed, ¡°No!¡±


    The elemental hung in the air, thankfully, spasming and popping as he levitated himself upwards and away from the battle. The attendants let him be.


    ¡°Stay down, Nova,¡± Becenti said.


    Nova pulsed red, then blue. Affirmation of his retreat.


    ¡°Keep pace with them,¡± Becenti ordered, ¡°We appear to be at an impasse.¡±


    Contort nodded, throttling the handle, the engine roaring as he sped up to match the attendants'' speed. Bone was staring at them from across the water, nursing his hand, which was slicked with red. A dour expression was painted on his face, sharp enough that Becenti could just make it out in the distance.


    ***


    The city hit the deep. A great rumble echoed out as it did so, cracking up the firmament and shaking the tallest tower. Had they still been in the royal chambers, they would have been crushed as the bottom layer of the city buckled beneath itself, plumes of stone and silt and marble pumping outwards in brown clouds that covered the algae light of the plane¡¯s bottom.


    No, instead Phineas had used his magic to help maneuver them out of the city¡¯s base, back up to the central tower, towards the crossroads at the tower''s base. He had expanded their air bubbles, combining them together, the group of them moving as one through the maze of hallways and rooms that patchworked through the city''s underground.


    ¡°Right on through,¡± Nash said, ¡°We''ll make it up to the tower and get back to the surface. Then we can warn Wakeling and the others.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Rosemary said.


    The going was slow ¨C partially because they had to stick close together, mostly because the spell was having a dark effect on Phineas. He plopped along behind them, gasping and wheezing, the air bubble expanding and retracting in time with his breath. Eventually, Joseph''s eagle pulled itself out of his back and scooped the Deep One into its arms.


    ¡°MVP here, Phin,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Keep at it.¡±


    They all felt the collision between the city and the base of the plane as it rattled the world, muted and dim and far too close for their liking. Joseph gritted his teeth.


    ¡°Glad we''re not down there,¡± Rosemary commented.


    ¡°All the more reason to get out,¡± Nash said, ¡°Let''s just be ready for a long swim. Phineas, especially.¡±


    ¡°I... will... be... fine...¡± Phineas said.


    The Far Traveler cast a concerned glance back at the Deep One, but said nothing. Sunala stood apart from the group ¨C or as apart as one could be, pressed up against one another. She had hardly spoken after their leaving of the bedchambers, the full weight of the attendants'' betrayal sinking in.


    ¡°How long were they working for you?¡± Joseph said as they made their way up a small stairwell.


    ¡°Six months,¡± Sunala said.


    ¡°And they hadn''t given any indication of anything?¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°No, they hadn''t,¡± Sunala said, ¡°I could call them friends, even. Nelthel liked poetry. Orcish arts. Opera. Spinlock... he was an odd one. But he was kind.¡±


    ¡°They must''ve been planning this for months,¡± Nash said.


    ¡°Evidently,¡± Sunala said, ¡°This expedition has been formulating for over a year, now. Either they caught wind, or someone in my court slipped up.¡±


    ¡°Any idea who they''re working for?¡± Rosemary asked.


    ¡°A guild?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Guilds usually go for the quick work,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Unless it''s a long-term defensive contract to guard something, the jobs they do are fleeting.¡±


    ¡°Something that''s gone on this long, must be some third party,¡± Nash said, ¡°They exist. Multi-planar entities. Feds don''t like ''em, but if they''re recognized as an advanced plane...¡±


    ¡°Then they can meddle like the big boys,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Precisely,¡± Sunala said, ¡°This... It hurts, though. They were kind...¡±


    ¡°They were quiet,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Didn''t say a word.¡±


    ¡°Maybe they felt guilty,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°...They turned us inside out, Rosemary,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°I mean, yeah,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°But they didn¡¯t kill us. We¡¯re all alive, right? What Spinlock did, he could''ve gone for the throat there.¡±


    Nash was quiet for a moment, then admitted, ¡°Yeah, that''s true.¡±


    ¡°Whatever the case, they''re gone now,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Let us hope that the others are at least aware of these... turn of events.¡±


    ¡°Hopefully they caught the last of our screams just as the communicator went out,¡± Nash said, ¡°That''d be warning enough.¡±


    ¡°Charming,¡± Joseph said.


    ***


    Their predicament became more dire as they made their way through the final hallway. The open doorway into the base of the tower was completely blocked off by stone and ruin.


    ¡°I could dig us out,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I''ve got the claws.¡±


    ¡°Do so,¡± Nash said.


    Joseph laid Phineas down and made his way to the edge of the bubble. He brought out a tentative, electrical hand, the entire eagle shuddering with a nervous anticipation. He removed a bit of rubble, shoveling it out of the way with the soul''s great claws.


    As he did so, a claw brushed outside of the spell''s range. Joseph winced as the entire soul lost its form for a brief moment.


    ¡°Concentrate,¡± he told himself, ¡°Come on.¡±


    He willed his bird back into being.


    ¡°Are you alright?¡± Rosemary asked.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Learn something new, I guess. Soul doesn''t like water.¡±


    ¡°It is made out of electricity,¡± Sunala said, ¡°I''ve observed lightning elementals have the same weaknesses.¡±


    ¡°You''re saying my soul''s some kind of elemental, now?¡± Joseph said, scooping away a bit more rubble.


    ¡°I am curious,¡± Sunala said, ¡°If someone else possessed the same power as you, would it be an eagle? One made of electricity?¡±


    Joseph stopped, turning to the elf.


    ¡°Maybe. I don''t know. I haven''t given it much thought.¡±


    He resumed shoveling.


    ¡°Wonder what mine would be,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°I''d like a great big rose, maybe. To match my scepter.¡±


    ¡°Why the eagle, Joseph?¡± Nash asked.


    ¡°Dunno.¡±


    ¡°The electricity?¡±


    ¡°Dunno,¡± Joseph repeated, ¡°Though, people always said my Nai Nai was like a thunderstorm. I can see that...¡±


    The soul continued its shoveling, but more and more as Phineas''s breath became shallower, the air bubble became smaller. Joseph''s soul broke back into his body as he manifested only its arms, continuing the work.


    ¡°We don''t have much time,¡± he said.


    ¡°Agreed,¡± Sunala said, ¡°The sooner we get to the surface, the better.¡±


    But after another ten minutes of tense waiting and movement, Joseph found he wasn''t making as much headway as he thought.


    ¡°I... I think we''re buried,¡± he said, ¡°The bottom of the tower''s completely buried.¡±


    ¡°Shit,¡± Nash said, ¡°Shit, I had hoped not. Alright, Joe, stop digging.¡±


    They thought for a moment.


    ¡°We''re completely swamped in, then,¡± they said.


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Or perhaps there are other exits.¡±


    ¡°Phineas, you can stop the spell you''re using,¡± Nash said, ¡°Just the bubbles around our heads, now.¡±


    ¡°Right...¡± Phineas said. He gestured, and the air pocket receded, ending as small whispers around each of their heads. Nash nodded to the rest of the group and began swimming back. The rest of the team followed them, weaving back through the dark hallways and abandoned bedrooms.


    And then they went down another staircase. It curled downwards, spiraling deeper into the complex and leading into the final rooms. These were the quarters of the royal guard, their weapons long discarded, the only evidence of these rooms'' roles being the harsh, jagged symbols carved into the stonework of the place.


    Nash glanced around while they looked inside. Then, they gave a sigh.


    ¡°Alright,¡± they said, ¡°Anyone have any idea of what to do?¡±


    ¡°Gluhh.¡±


    ¡°Not helping, Gluh,¡± Rosemary chided.


    ¡°There''s got to be an exit we missed,¡± Nash said, ¡°A hallway. A room. Something.¡±


    Nash glanced at Phineas, who was breathing slowly now, his eyes closed in utter concentration. Sunala floated gently behind him as she looked at Nash expectantly. For a moment, Nash glared at her. Wanted to throttle her for getting them into this mess. But the last thing they needed was one of their number going off the handle, and it couldn¡¯t be them. Not one everyone was looking at them for answers.


    ¡°Come on, guys,¡± Nash said, ¡°Anything? Anything at all? Rosemary?¡±


    Joseph and Rosemary were looking at one another, complete loss written on their faces. Rosemary twisted the hem of her cloak. Joseph¡¯s hands were shoved in his pockets to hide the fact that they were shaking.


    ¡°...I have my scepter,¡± Rosemary said after a second, ¡°It''s got enough charge to do... something, I don''t know.¡±


    ¡°Keep it in mind, we''re not desperate just yet,¡± Sunala said, ¡°A tool to be used.¡±


    She drifted over to where Gluh was. The zombie had been requisitioned with dragging the two bodies behind him, having saved them during the escape from the royal bedroom. He let out a groan at the noblewoman''s approach, lumbering away as she took stock of the second corpse, that of the woman.


    ¡°Mr. Phineas,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Can you tell me what exactly was happening to the body when you found her?¡±


    The Deep One rattled himself out of his exhausted stupor.


    ¡°She was,¡± he rasped, ¡°She was caught between two stones.¡±


    ¡°Had she been swimming out there?¡± Sunala prodded.


    ¡°I assume so,¡± Phineas said, ¡°Or, as much as one could swim. She was full of holes.¡±


    ¡°Plasma bolts,¡± Nash said, ¡°Either from Rend, or during whatever caused Chliofrond to crash.¡±


    ¡°And she was still alive?¡± Rosemary asked, ¡°Damn.¡±


    ¡°Metahumans are tough,¡± Nash said, ¡°They don''t go down easy.¡±


    ¡°Flattering,¡± Joseph said, ¡°But she was definitely out there? She didn''t die from her wounds, and drifted out of the bedroom?¡±


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± Phineas said.


    ¡°I doubt it,¡± Sunala said. The elf was reached into the woman''s robes, ¡°This wasn''t your average metahuman. I recognize her from a couple portraits that I requisitioned from the Silver Eye.¡±


    ¡°Portraits?¡± Rosemary asked.


    ¡°Wanted posters, actually,¡± Sunala said, ¡°From one of the Archive Worlds in the Inner Core. Images and holograms from thousands of years ago.¡±


    ¡°And you''re just mentioning this now?¡± Nash growled.


    ¡°We''ve been rather busy,¡± Sunala said.


    She found what she was looking for, apparently, drawing from the corpse a small box.


    ¡°Damaged,¡± she said, ¡°But not enough to ruin its contents. Her powers would have dispersed with Mr. Phineas''s spell.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°It''s a journal, of a sort,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Waterproof, fortunately.¡±


    She clicked a button on the side of the box, and a hologram lit up the world, neon green that made Joseph''s eyes whine in the sudden bright light. Language floated above the journal, which Sunala squinted at, translating in her head. It was metahuman ¨C that, Joseph was sure of. But he wasn''t sure what variation. Or what it said.


    Didn''t know anything about it, really.


    ¡°Interesting,¡± she said.


    ¡°So...¡± Rosemary glanced at the body, ¡°Who was this?¡±


    ¡°Her name was...¡± Sunala was lost in reading.


    ¡°...Milady?¡± Rosemary said. Their voices were still echoing and distant from Phineas''s airbubbles.


    ¡°Oh,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Yes! Forgive me. This woman here was Chronilock. She was a guardian.¡±


    ¡°Of what?¡± Rosemary asked.


    ¡°Of...¡± Sunala sighed.


    Something wasn''t quite right. Joseph


    Joseph''s eyes narrowed. Something turned in his stomach.


    ¡°Yeah, of what?¡± he asked.


    ¡°She was a guardian,¡± Sunala finished.


    Joseph bit the inside of his lip. A familiar, stormy feeling was brewing in his chest. In his stomach. His soul was beginning to spark through his system ¨C which was dangerous, being underwater. He knew this.


    And yet.


    ¡°I''m sorry, but I''m not buying that,¡± Joseph stated.


    ¡°You must,¡± Sunala said.


    ¡°No, I''m not,¡± Joseph replied, ¡°Sorry. But no deal. Chronilock was a guardian, sure. I can buy that. But of what?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Zheng,¡± Sunala said.


    ¡°Watch it, Joe,¡± Nash''s voice was half-hearted.


    ¡°We just nearly died out there,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Spinlock just twisted us into pretzels like it was no big deal, then said something about getting their birthright.¡±


    He took a deep breath. His soul was truly pumping now. He didn''t want to get ahead of himself and lose his cool. He needed to be articulate. Forcing down the fear in chest, he continued.


    ¡°We''re down here because of that, aren''t we?¡± his voice was taut, ¡°Whatever they''re after, you''re after. And it''s big enough that you want to hide it, even from us.¡±


    ¡°They almost died for you,¡± Nash said, ¡°Sunala, they deserve the truth.¡±


    The Lady Sunala was quiet. Her eyes, which had been burning with a dark sort of fire at Joseph''s words, cooled to ice. Her mouth was a thin line.


    ¡°Alright,¡± she said, ¡°Okay. Very well.¡±


    ***


    The motorboat ran parallel to the attendants, a tense calm fogging over the ocean''s surface. The twin boats made their way across silent waters, Broon''s city looming in the distance, tilted on its side like the corpse of a giant.


    ¡°Better make our play soon,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°This fight''s about to go on land.¡±


    ¡°They''ll have more ammunition,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°We''ll be closer to them,¡± Contort said, ¡°Dama Runebreaker and I can get in easier.¡±


    ¡°Maybe,¡± Becenti said.


    He glanced towards the city. They were getting close.


    The last engagement was about to start.


    ***


    ¡°It is called a Shard of Imagination,¡± Sunala started.


    Phineas let out a gasp that made the air bubbles ripple. Rosemary''s eyes widened. Nash gave a dark grimace and looked away.


    ¡°A what now?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°A slice of creation,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Just a bit. A sliver. A piece of reality, coalesced into a form we are comfortable with seeing.¡±


    ¡°A dark thing,¡± Phineas said.


    ¡°A powerful thing,¡± Sunala said, ¡°A Shard of Imagination is pure energy. Pure possibility. Actual, crystallized potential. An abstract thought made into a physical object.¡±


    ***


    ¡°Brother,¡± Brain said, ¡°I tire of this Mexican Standoff.¡±


    ¡°As do I,¡± Bone said.


    ¡°Your hand, is it alright?¡±


    Bone glanced down at his hand. He had staunched the bleeding well enough, and he could regenerate the bones rather easily. Skin and blood was another matter ¨C that would take time to heal. As such, he had improvised. Bone now capped his fingertips, ivory white covering pale skin. In his more emo, teenaged years, Bone knew he would have thought that to be rather fucking metal.


    ¡°Let''s end this game,¡± Bone said, ¡°We''ve enough challenges as is.¡±


    ¡°Agreed,¡± Brain said.


    With but a pulse of his mind, the boat began running closer to the Amber Foundation.


    ***


    ¡°And your attendants are after it,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Former attendants,¡± Sunala said.


    ¡°I''d hope so,¡± Nash said.


    ¡°Regardless, yes,¡± Sunala said. She turned away from Joseph, choosing to study the writings in Chronilock''s journal. For a few moments, she said nothing, as though she were preparing a speech in her head. A justification. Joseph wasn''t sure.


    ¡°This entire plane...¡± the noblewoman said, ¡°The floating cities. The artificial sun. The frozen rooms. They all come from metahuman power and metahuman technology.¡±


    ¡°I kind of assumed that,¡± Joseph replied.


    ¡°You misunderstand,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Chliofrond disappeared thousands of years ago. Twenty-five thousand, to be exact. Do you realize how long that has to be, for the cities to continue on like this? For time to remain as slow as molasses?¡±


    ***


    ¡°Shit,¡± Contort said, ¡°They''re getting closer!¡±


    Ichabod pointed his twin pistols and opened fire, a chorus of bangs ringing out harsh and true across the expanse. Spinlock brought up a hand, another wall of stone rising from the sea, water deluging down in a false waterfall.


    ¡°To the side!¡± Becenti ordered.


    The motorboat snapped sideways, ringing around the attendants'' boats, Contort grimacing as they got closer and closer to their enemies. The stone wall traveled with them, keeping them at bay as they traveled.


    ¡°Right,¡± Becenti whispered, ¡°Alright, then.¡±


    He stood up, once more taking out a javelin and taking aim. The boat drew closer and closer...


    ***


    ¡°You''re saying the Shard has something to do with it,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Shards empower metahumans,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Allows them to use their powers on a much larger and deeper scale. Apply it on a level that builds civilizations, Mr. Zheng. All of this, everything you see around you, should have ended long ago. The cities should have sunk. Time should have started moving again, in those rooms. The sun should have blinked out.¡±


    ¡°But they didn''t,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°No, Mr. Zheng, they did not.¡±


    ***


    Becenti''s arm twisted to the side in a series of horrifying cracks. He screamed in agony.


    ¡°That''s our cue!¡± Dama Runebreaker roared, ¡°Contort, come on!¡±


    Contort twisted the tiller, the motorboat''s engine guzzling into a stirring frenzy as they sped closer and closer to the attendants. Spinlock and Nelthel, surprised at the sudden burst, were slow on the uptake as the motorboat sped by their own canoe. Dama Runebreaker and Contort leaped, landing onboard as Ichabod fell back, holstering his pistols and grabbing the motorboat''s tiller, speeding towards the perimeter of Spinlock''s estimated perimeter.


    ***


    ¡°There were guardians of this Shard, of course,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Chliofrond was known to have a line of them. All of them, from the same family line. A tradition in blood, not the meritocratic policies of the other metahuman kingdoms.¡±


    ¡°And Chronilock was one of them?¡± Rosemary asked.


    ¡°The last. Perhaps the greatest,¡± Sunala said. She spent a few more moments poring through the journal, ¡°She was more than just some guardian hermit. She did more for her kingdom than her ancestors ever did. Did more than previous rulers of Chliofrond, if you can believe that.¡±


    A sad glance to the corpse, then back to reading.


    ¡°And she gave it her all by the end of it.¡±


    ***


    ¡°Brother!¡± Brain called out.


    Bone spun, letting out a gasp as Dama Runebreaker''s fist slammed directly into his stomach. The hairs on Contort''s arms stood up on end like the quills of a porcupine, one that he swung at Brain. Brain took the shot, squeezing his eyes shut as deep red lines opened across his side.


    ¡°B-brother!¡± he roared.


    Bone shot out a hand. Dama Runebreaker collapsed in on herself, letting out a scream as Bone gestured sideways. His power carried her upwards, where she sailed for a few moments before arcing down into the water, landing below in a great splash.


    Contort, meanwhile, was going with the flow. His bones snapped and twisted, but a grim, hard smile painted his face.


    ¡°This is just Tuesday, pal!¡± he snarled.


    Only for Brain''s power to kick in as he telekinetically lifted Contort and sent him sailing after Dama Runebreaker.


    ***


    ¡°Now,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Ah, here we are. Chronilock herself had multiple projects throughout Chliofrond.¡±


    She stopped the journal''s scrolling, the words hanging suspended in the air.


    ¡°She describes here using her powers to preserve certain parts of the floating cities,¡± the noblewoman read, ¡°Her power was that of time.¡±


    ¡°Obviously,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°She could stop it in localized places,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Freeze people. Rooms. It was vague, just vague enough for her to twist time for her own means.¡±


    She glanced up at the party.


    ¡°Water cannot pass through the door, yet we can, for example.¡±


    ¡°Explains the rooms,¡± Joseph said, ¡°The bedchamber.¡±


    ¡°The observatory,¡± Nash said, ¡°Where Broon found the Shard.¡±


    Rosemary paled.


    ¡°Broon,¡± she said, ¡°His team found it...?¡±


    ¡°He''ll be fine, Rosemary,¡± Nash said, ¡°He''s fought more than just a couple of loony, glorified butlers.¡±


    ¡°Let us hope so,¡± Sunala said.


    ¡°He''s the goddamn Butcher of Evukor,¡± Nash said.


    ¡°I know,¡± Sunala said, ¡°I was there, too.¡±


    ***


    With another gesture, the motorboat snarled back as though caught on a line. Ichabod and Becenti braced themselves against the ship''s deck, teeth gritting as they felt all forward momentum disappear.


    Instead, the boat began swishing back towards Spinlock and Nelthel. The larger of the two''s right arm was extended outwards, willing the boat back to him. Ichabod stood back up, aiming his pistols-


    And let out a gargled gasp as he clutched his chest. He fell to the ground writhing, a series of small snaps echoing up and down his form. Becenti gritted his teeth, good arm grabbing hold of another heat javelin, only for Nelthel to flick a single finger, and that arm too twisted itself into oblivion, pain shooting up the metahuman''s entire body.


    ¡°Sorry about that,¡± Nelthel said, ¡°Seriously, Shimmer. We mean no offense, here.¡±


    ¡°Just a job to do,¡± Spinlock said. He gestured again, flipping Ichabod out of the boat and far away, the cybernetic man still twisting around his crumpled chest. He splashed into the water in the distance, somewhere Becenti hoped was near Contort.


    ***


    ¡°Chronilock''s mission,¡± Sunala read, ¡°Was to preserve parts of Chliofrond in the event that it would crash and be abandoned.¡±


    She gave a wry smirk at that.


    ¡°As museum pieces?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°So that metahumans could find them again, re-inhabit them. Allow the cities to be used once more, undamaged by the wearings of time,¡± Sunala said, ¡°She was a guardian, yes, but let us remember where we found her: Underwater.¡±


    ¡°Drowned,¡± Phineas said.


    ¡°With fifteen bolts through her body,¡± Sunala said, ¡°I believe she was down there for a reason. She didn''t simply fall into the water. She killed Rend, then realized that the rooms below needed to be preserved.¡±


    ¡°And not other parts of the city?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°She had fifteen holes in her chest,¡± Sunala said, ¡°I doubt she was thinking straight. What it does mean is she must have succeeded, as it seems like she was on the way out when the city crashed into the water and caught her in its snarls.¡±


    ¡°You''re saying...¡± Nash''s gears began to spin in their head, ¡°You''re saying that there are other frozen rooms in the city below us?¡±


    ¡°Directly below us, since the crash,¡± Sunala said, ¡°And with enough force, we might be able to get to them. And to breathable air.¡±

 34. Autumn in the Depths

    The attendants took over the motorboat, clambering in without fanfare and twisting the tiller''s handle, the engine revving in answer. Nelthel lifted Becenti into the air, depositing him onto their conquered craft, and they were soon buzzing towards Broon''s team and the city. Far too soon, they arrived on the half-turned sprawl, the island''s towers sunken on their sides, sideways teeth that had once jutted towards the sky, the night, the void, anywhere between the now and the forever. Metahumans had lived here ¨C true members of Epochia, one part of a greater whole that had spider-webbed communities and kingdoms across the multiverse.


    The fact left Becenti bitter. Spinlock and Nelthel had left him alive, though he was trapped in his own body, his bones refusing to act, his arms still twisted into uselessness. He wondered how he was alive, in this somehow state, pain running up and down his arms, throbbing and pulsing with each heartbeat. The attendants were quiet as they arrived, docking the motorboat by the same outcropping of stone Broon''s team had left their own boat at.


    ¡°Right,¡± Spinlock said. He got off the boat. Nelthel turned and gestured with a finger, and Becenti felt his legs jolt to life, one foot plopping in front of the other as though he were a marionette, bone crying out against flesh as the man forced Becenti to lift himself onto one of the downed towers.


    ¡°Sorry, Shimmer,¡± Nelthel said, ¡°Truly, sorry.¡±


    ¡°I have nothing to say to you,¡± Becenti said. A wave of thoughts stabbed at his mind at the use of his old name. Suspicion, panic, regret, anger, more. All of them rolled into a ball that thundered through his body with his heartbeat.


    They were familiar.


    Somehow.


    He knew his communicator was on. Knew that Broon could probably still hear him. Becenti had tucked it into his shirt pocket, and thus far the attendants hadn''t noticed it.


    Make or break time.


    It helped that they knew his old name. Old name, from an old time. And they now looked familiar.


    They just weren''t wearing their Sunday best, were they?


    Becenti racked his brains.


    ¡°You''re supervillains,¡± he said, ¡°From Prime.¡±


    ¡°Right on, mate,¡± Spinlock said.


    ¡°The Brothers Corpo,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Yes... the Italian villains.¡±


    ¡°Glad you know of us!¡± Nelhel said, an excited glint in his eye, ¡°Even all the way out here. Then again, you''re Shimmer. You know all of us supervillains.¡±


    ¡°Especially the metahuman ones,¡± Spinlock said.


    ¡°You''re Brother Brain,¡± Becenti pointed at Spinlock, ¡°Your power is you can telekinetically lift whatever you can lift with your body. And you. You''re Brother Bone. The name speaks for itself, if I recall.¡±


    ¡°Not priests, mind you,¡± Brother Bone, once Nelthel, said, ¡°We just have a strong, brotherly bond.¡±


    ¡°Still Catholic, though,¡± Brother Brain said, ¡°I am, at least.¡±


    ¡°I converted to Mormonism when I was in college,¡± Bone said.


    ¡°You''d surprise me,¡± Becenti said, ¡°You''re described as wearing priest''s garments with gas masks during your crimes.¡±


    ¡°It''s called fashion, mate,¡± Brother Brain retorted.


    ¡°It''s called you''re a long way from home,¡± Becenti growled.


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± Brother Bone said, ¡°Or perhaps not.¡±


    The thin man looked around him, taking a deep breath in, then out, a calm and serene expression on his face as beheld the silent waters around them.


    ¡°This is our legacy, mate. We''re metahumans, and this is a metahuman kingdom. Chliofrond. Got a nice ring to it. It''s not every day you encounter something like this, it''s like...¡±


    He took another deep breath in, as though he were trying to snort the entire world.


    ¡°It''s like coming home, dig?¡±


    ¡°While I understand that feeling,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I don''t see how that has anything to do with killing my guildmates and jeopardizing this entire expedition.¡±


    ¡°Because it''s our heritage, mate,¡± Brother Brain said, ¡°It''s metahuman, we''re metahuman.¡±


    ¡°Come on, Shim,¡± Bone said, ¡°Can I call you Shim?¡±


    ¡°Becenti is fine.¡±


    ¡°Not your old name,¡± Bone said, ¡°Brain and I, we heard you''d abandoned it. After the war, and all that.¡±


    ¡°The war was thirty years ago,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I''ve spent more time as Myron Becenti than as Shimmer.¡±


    ¡°A human name for a human man,¡± Brain said, ¡°It''s... disappointing. We grew up hearing stories about you.¡±


    ¡°I''m sure you did. All awful, I assure you,¡± Becenti said, ¡°And besides that, you''re still murderers. For all of your talk of metahumanity, did it not occur to you that you killed your fellow? The Zheng boy was a metahuman.¡±


    ¡°We didn''t kill him,¡± Brother Brain said, ¡°Bone just twisted his body so he couldn''t disturb us.¡±


    ¡°We''re supervillains, not supermurderers,¡± Brother Bone said.


    ¡°Irregardless,¡± Becenti said, and he felt a pang as he continued, ¡°The city they were in has sunk. I just received word while my team was en-route to intercept you.¡±


    The Brothers turned to face one another, a wave of guilt washing over their faces. They grimaced to one another.


    ¡°Well, that''s just-¡± Brother Bone sighed, ¡°Sunala was kind. She was nice. She paid us well and treated us with respect.¡±


    ¡°No 401k, though,¡± Brother Brain said.


    ¡°401ks don''t exist out here, Brain,¡± Bone said. Becenti could watch as Bone took the feelings of shame, of the realization of murder, and stuffed them deep within himself. They were already too far in, too close to their goal, ¡°But Shards do. Come on, let''s go.¡±


    ***


    ¡°You heard him,¡± Broon said, ¡°Brother Brain. Brother Bone.¡±


    He kept the communicator on, but the voices on the other side had gone silent. There was only the vague static of the communicator to accompany their silence. Ezel began experimenting with the water, waving a hand at it. The pool responded in a sluggish manner, a lazy whirlpool spurning to life by her feet.


    ¡°Nasty customers,¡± she said.


    ¡°But not unbeatable, right?¡± Heyma said, ¡°I mean, we got this.¡±


    ¡°They''re... rather infamous,¡± Ezel said, ¡°Not many heroes back home have been able to stand up to them. Acero could wipe them from a distance, but they learn. They learn quick.¡±


    ¡°And together, they seem unstoppable,¡± Meleko said.


    ¡°They have weaknesses,¡± Broon said, ¡°Every metahuman does. Let''s quit the defeatist talk, and start discussing options. Ezel, you said Acero beat them before? How?¡±


    ¡°Struck from a distance,¡± Ezel replied, ¡°They were in Venice, she was in a small town outside the city. Warped their minds. They were out of commission for months.¡±


    ¡°Wish she were here,¡± Mallory said.


    ¡°A bit out of the question,¡± Broon said, ¡°But we do know they have a range, at least.¡±


    ¡°We''ll need to separate ''em,¡± Meleko said, ¡°Together, we don''t stand a chance. But apart, we can pick at their weaknesses.¡±


    ¡°...Alright,¡± Broon said, ¡°Okay. Let''s go over our options...¡±


    ***


    It was Gluh who went to scout. The rest of the party stayed in the barracks, only able to breathe thanks to Phineas''s spellwork, the Deep One whispering and rasping to himself, his tome floating a few feet in front of his face, his voice bubbly and distant in the water. With his work tied up, it fell to Gluh to find a good place where they might be able to break through to the other city.


    ¡°It''s a long shot,¡± Nash said, ¡°But a long shot''s better than nothing.¡±


    None of them voiced the alternative. So they waited, watching as Phineas maintained his spell, as his voice, once harsh and loud in his incantations, began to draw into a whisper. The air bubbles, linked to his own strength, began to wane as well, growing smaller and smaller.


    ¡°Can we talk?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Nash said, ¡°Should be, anyways.¡±


    ¡°It is fine,¡± Phineas said between chants.


    ¡°Right,¡± Joseph tried to keep the panic out of his voice, ¡°Yeah, cool. Thanks.¡±


    Nash gave him a sympathetic look.


    ¡°Not wanting to die alone, eh?¡±


    ¡°Look,¡± Joseph said, ¡°If I''m going to die, it''d be peacefully in my sleep.¡±


    ¡°Not like your passengers screaming beside you,¡± Rosemary said, her joke tinged a bit with sadness.


    ¡°Like my Nai Nai,¡± Joseph said, ignoring Rosemary''s poor humor, ¡°Sleeping. Barring that... I dunno.¡±


    He glanced over at Phineas. The Deep One had returned to fully concentrating on the spell, his great, globular eyes squeezed shut.


    ¡°I don''t want to die in silence like this,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Sleep''s one thing. This... this is another.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re not going to die, Joe,¡± Nash said.


    ¡°One shouldn¡¯t lie,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Not when it comes to this.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s called optimism, Sunala,¡± Nash said, ¡°Simple and strange as it is.¡±


    ¡°All the same,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Just in case, I don¡¯t¡­ I don¡¯t want to die in silence.¡±


    Nash gave Joseph a hard, calculating look, and Joseph saw for a moment the weight of holding the team together in their eyes. For a split-second, he could see a bit of despair break through on their face, before Nash pulled themself together.


    ¡°Alright, then,¡± they said. They crossed their arms and rested their back against the wall, ¡°What do you want to talk about?¡±


    ¡°...I don''t know,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Where ya from?¡± Nash asked.


    ¡°Earth, but you knew that,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°What part of Earth?¡± Rosemary asked.


    ¡°Err, San Francisco,¡± Joseph said, ¡°California.¡±


    ¡°California,¡± Nash said, ¡°Nice place. Love the beaches.¡±


    ¡°I''ve never been,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°How about you, Milady?¡±


    ¡°Once or twice,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Nothing major, a couple business trips with some holdings with the Silver Knights.¡±


    ¡°Is that a sports team?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Superhero team,¡± Sunala said, ¡°On Prime. The largest superhero team on the plane, actually.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Joseph blinked, lost in thought at the difference, ¡°They... they don''t have that. On Earth, I mean.¡±


    ¡°But you still have a California,¡± Nash said.


    ¡°Yeah. Far as I can tell, geography''s the same. There are differences, though, I think,¡± Joseph racked his brain, ¡°Soviet Union fell in the 90s, for example.¡±


    ¡°Is there a Red Iron, where you''re from?¡± Sunala asked.


    ¡°Nnnnoo,¡± Joseph said, ¡°We don''t have superheroes on Earth, remember?¡±


    ¡°Explains things, then,¡± Sunala said.


    Joseph squirmed for a moment, before turning to Nash, ¡°What about you? Where are you from?¡±


    ¡°The Runway,¡± Nash said, ¡°The World of Speed.¡±


    ¡°No way,¡± Joseph let out a chuckle, despite his anxiety.


    ¡°It''s a giant road, Joe,¡± Nash said, ¡°Seriously. No one knows how far it goes, and all around it is a great desert. I was raised on Ralvandarius, City on Wheels.¡±


    ¡°What made you want to leave?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Fell through a Traveling Point going ninety on the track,¡± Nash chuckled, ¡°Crashed my car right into a solid cloud somewhere over Nendoria. Haven''t been back since. The multiverse is more than just a big road, you know?¡±


    ¡°True,¡± Joseph murmured.


    ¡°Well,¡± Sunala said, ¡°I think it''s quite an interesting plane.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, if you''re a tourist,¡± Nash said, ¡°Visitors come every year to see our races. And it''s good stuff! The Grand Prix of Betelgusia, the Godspeed Festival, the Wheeler''s Moot. Living there, though...¡±


    A dark look passed over their face.


    ¡°It''s not the nicest place to be.¡±


    ¡°It gave us you, though,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°Ah, you''re just sayin'' that,¡± Nash chuckled, ¡°You know, Rosemary, you never told us where you''re from.¡±


    She flushed red unexpectedly, and Joseph noted she chose her words with a careful measure.


    ¡°You know,¡± she said, ¡°From here and there. It¡¯s not really important, you know?¡±


    Nash rolled their eyes, though left it at that.


    ***


    Gluh returned almost an hour later. Nash grimaced as the zombie moaned out a response.


    ¡°He says it''s tough to find a good spot, but he thinks he''s found something,¡± they said, ¡°Nearer to the bottom, around where the royal chambers were.¡±


    ¡°Any way to push through?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°I''m hoping we can dig,¡± Nash said, ¡°Barring that, a miracle. Alright, Gluh, lead the way.¡±


    Gluh guided them out of the barracks, once more into the halls and passages that, to Joseph at least, felt more cramped and closed-in, ceilings too close to the floors, with the walls narrowing in on either side. It didn''t help that Rosemary extinguished her light during the journey, an odd spark dancing in her eyes. The water was murky and dark, and more often than not Joseph had to reach out to feel for Phineas in front of him. Occasionally he would feel Sunala prod at his shoulder, indicating she was having the same problem.


    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    Through the swamp-like murk they swam. The only sounds being the disturbed water and Phineas''s dark, rasping words. Those became quieter and quieter, and Joseph found that his bubble was now more a sheath of air, just barely keeping the deluge out. The water itself became colder, more constricting, as though at any point Phineas''s words would fail, his spell would snap, and they would all be killed. Never mind by drowning, but by the sheer water pressure, their lungs collapsing, oxygen blockading important arteries, a slow and drawn-out series of deaths that Phineas would have to watch, exhausted and broken, before the natural deluge of the sea wiped away the world.


    The thought of such a death terrified Joseph, wrapped around his heart like a hand of ice and held fast. They were going far too slow ¨C Gluh''s movements, already slow, were exaggerated and sluggish underwater. This wasn''t like the quick-paced riptides Joseph had been pulled under while at the beach as a child, where the world was frantic and he was shoved this way and that. This ocean was stagnant and still, uncaring in a silent way to those who swam beneath its surface.


    At last, they came to the spot Gluh had pointed it. It was as near to the edge of the city as they could get, yet near the bottom of the city, where the layer below them had impacted into rubble during the city''s descent and crash. Cracked had splintered up and down the marble walls, and loose roots, broken by the final chaotic fall, floated freely in the water. Gluh ignored these as he pointed at one of the walls.


    ¡°This one, then?¡± Sunala asked, ¡°How do you know?¡±


    ¡°Gluhh.¡±


    ¡°Says he smells fresh air,¡± Nash said.


    ¡°Through all of this?¡± Sunala said.


    ¡°Gluhh.¡±


    ¡°Says he''s confident,¡± Nash said, ¡°Alright, Joseph. Let''s get digging.¡±


    Joseph nodded, staring at the wall for a few moments. He brushed his hand against the wall, running his fingertips across its cool, almost slimy surface. For a moment, he concentrated, feeling his soul well up within him, before the eagle''s claw mirrored out from his, cold pain running up his forearm due to the talon''s submersion.


    His inside was squirming from the discomfort. He gave an experimental scrape against the wall. Perhaps it was the fact that he was underwater, his movements awkward and bleary, the ice resistance of the world pushing down on his very soul.


    He reeled back the claw, curling it into a fist. Know your mark. Know where to punch. Even pulling his punch was exhausting, though.


    ¡°Joseph?¡± Rosemary asked.


    His fist thundered forward ¨C rushing forward like a freight train in slow-motion, slamming with a dull thud into the marble.


    No dent.


    Nothing.


    ¡°I don''t-¡± Joseph felt his head swim, ¡°I don''t think I can do this.¡±


    ¡°Alright, put your soul back, Joseph,¡± Nash said, ¡°You look like you just ran a marathon.¡±


    ¡°Feel like it, too,¡± Joseph collapsed the claw back into his body. He felt clammy and warm, despite the relative coolness of the water.


    ¡°Phineas, how much time do we have left?¡± Nash asked.


    ¡°...Little,¡± Phineas said, ¡°Minutes.¡±


    A few minutes.


    Then it would be over.


    ¡°No,¡± Nash said, ¡°No, there''s gotta be a way.¡±


    ¡°I...¡± Rosemary piped up.


    The group turned to her. Rosemary was looking at her mace, that same odd expression still on her face, her brow knitted in thought.


    ¡°I might...¡± she took a deep breath, centering herself, ¡°I have something.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡± Nash asked.


    She presented up her mace.


    ¡°There''s still a lot of light left,¡± she said, ¡°And I''ve been thinking of designs to work with it. A drill. One strong enough to punch through into the other city.¡±


    ¡°Lady Rosemary,¡± Sunala said, a spark dancing in her eyes, ¡°You are brilliant, my dear.¡±


    Rosemary visibly reddened, before she said, ¡°D-don''t thank me yet, give me a moment.¡±


    ¡°The floor''s yours, Rose,¡± Nash said.


    They stood back. Rosemary turned to face the wall.


    She pointed the mace.


    ***


    Rosemary had first learned to use her scepter as a child.


    It was a rite of passage on her home plane, to capture the sun in a flower, a small rose, miniature idols to the great towers of the north of her home plane. The sun specifically, for it gave life to everything back home. Without it, the trees did not drink and grow, the insects did not eat their leaves, and the world would be dark and barren. It was a powerful source of energy, a pool to be drawn from like any honeypot or hive.


    It was almost arrogant, the way her master had described the process. The feelings. The techniques, as though the sun was theirs, and theirs alone. That it lived to serve them, to protect them, that it was a tool, just like anything else.


    Rosemary was glad when she left that not all people thought the same way.


    For one treated the sun with respect, for it could always choose to not light the world, and where would they be, then?


    Yet she always felt that same sense of pigheaded pride, that same selfishness, whenever she drew out the energy from her rose. Perhaps it was just a part of the process, as she pointed the scepter directly at the wall as though it were a magic wand. Took a deep breath from the remainder of the stale air.


    Every beam of light was molded by her imagination. By her mind. And she had been taught to memorize different objects, different tools that she could use. On a lower-tech plane like hers, those had been nets, spears, axes, even bow and arrows.


    But the possibilities had expanded after she left her old home behind. She had seen wonders in her wanders. Starships that sailed in voids devoid of suns, ancient canoe-cities that traveled across oceans of diamond, and now, metahuman cities full of darker secrets and mysteries she could hardly describe.


    She had also seen the tools of the multiverse, far past acorn shields and hornet rapiers. Technology so far ahead it was mind-boggling. Becenti had described how a starship worked to her once, and it had given her a headache that lasted until the next afternoon.


    She had also learned about the drill.


    They didn''t have those back home.


    But it was in her mind, as accurate as the day she had first seen one in Krenstone, two great metal fins undulating around a metal tower, carving into the earth, carrying stone and rock away from the endless spin.


    Light erupted from the scepter''s head in a twisting snarl, a line that mirrored the cuttlefish motions of the drill''s screw. It met resistance from the wall at first, before blowing far past it and deep into the rubble of the city, carving further and further.


    ¡°Not much time!¡± Sunala said, ¡°Rosemary, run ahead!¡±


    Rosemary did so, leading the way, her beacon roaring and tearing through more of the city''s broken firmament. She heard the rest of the group behind her, as well as the sound of rushing water as the sea deluged into the tunneling gap. It was also far faster than them. Rosemary felt a wall of sea push her forward, carry her and threaten to topple her over.


    But she couldn''t be dissuaded. She gritted her teeth and kept pointing the rose forward. If she lost her balance, and the beam was still on...


    Then she felt a jolt run from the rose''s head up her shoulder. The beam had hit marble once more. The other side.


    The other city.


    She extinguished the light and yelled out, ¡°Hang on!¡±


    And the ocean swept them up and carried them through the tunnel.


    The water stopped at a certain point, cascading against thin air.


    And in that moment, Rosemary knew they had made it.


    Of course, the force flung them out of the tunnel she had made, down about fifteen feet, and cracking against the wooden floor.


    There was silence. Then groans as they all came to. Joseph opened his eyes to see he had landed squarely on Gluh, the zombie moaning in pain. And, wincing, Joseph couldn''t blame him. Both of Gluh''s legs had snapped in awkward directions, and his head flopped like a ragdoll''s as the zombie sat up.


    ¡°Jesus,¡± Joseph said, ¡°You... are you alright?¡±


    ¡°Gluhh,¡± the zombie''s moans were a tad more strained.


    ¡°He''ll be fine,¡± Nash said, ¡°Come on, Gluh, I got you...¡±


    They walked over and hoisted Gluh onto their back, before turning to the rest of the party, ¡°Everyone alright?¡±


    ¡°I''m fine,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Thanks, Gluh.¡±


    ¡°I am... relatively unharmed,¡± Sunala said.


    Phineas gave a thumbs up. The Deep One was pale scaled, and his eyes had begun to film over. But he stood up nonetheless. Joseph walked over and lent a shoulder to his friend.


    ¡°Rosemary?¡± Nash said.


    Rosemary sat a bit apart from the rest of the group, studying her scepter. The light within had faded ¨C it would need almost a full day to recharge, she knew.


    A day fully in the sun, immersed in its rays. Something that wouldn¡¯t be down here, in a sunken city. Yet that was not what concerned Rosemary. What concerned her, as she looked at the scepter''s make, peering an eye at the glasswork, was a small, hairline fracture that had not been there before.


    Her jaw set.


    ¡°I''m fine,¡± she lied.


    ¡°That was some nice stuff there, Rosie,¡± Nash laughed, ¡°You got us out okay.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± she tried to inject some cheer into her voice, but she could tell it fell flat. Nash''s eyes slid from her to the scepter. Perhaps they understood, as they nodded and began taking stock of where they had wound up.


    It was another frozen room. This one was natural ¨C a great tower in the room''s center, an ancient and beautiful thing that reminded Nash of the Saplings of Yggdrasil on Nohen. Branches formed the roof, crisscrossing and interlaced with leaves in the shades of Autumn ¨C reds and yellows and oranges, coalescing into a collage of fire that felt oddly comforting. Rather than burrow into the earth, the tree''s roots spread out, flattened, patterned themselves into an even, almost smooth floor.


    ¡°Neat,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I guess Chronilock was here, too?¡±


    ¡°Guess so,¡± Nash said, ¡°Do we still have her body...?¡±


    ¡°We do,¡± Sunala said. She gestured towards the corpses of Rend and Chronilock, which had flopped almost comically behind them. Chronilock''s back must have broken from the fall, Rend''s shoulder had dislocated.


    ¡°That''s not...¡± Joseph said, ¡°That''s not right.¡±


    Sunala stared at the corpses for a few moments. Nash''s expression darkened as they saw a visible war wage in the noblewoman''s mind.


    ¡°We can''t, Sunala,¡± they said.


    ¡°Of... Of course not,¡± Sunala said, ¡°We''ll leave them here. We got what we needed from them, regardless.¡±


    ¡°Yes, we did,¡± Nash said, ¡°Gluh, alright if I put you down for a sec?¡±


    ¡°Gluh.¡±


    The Far Traveler gently knelt, laying their friend on the ground. Then they went over to Rend and Chronilock''s bodies. They set them on their backs, heads looking up towards the Autumn above. A fitting sight, all things considered. Rosemary just gave a soft smile, before her eyes flicker to the tree.


    ***


    ¡°Joseph,¡± Rosemary whispered, ¡°Look.¡±


    She pointed towards the tree. A hole had been bored through it, one he had not noticed before. It was also fresh, almost seeming to cleave the top of the trunk near in two.


    ¡°Did I-¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°Yeah, I¡­ I guess you did,¡± Joseph said.


    The elf looked supremely uncomfortable at that, a guilty look creeping on her face as she wrung at her mace.


    ¡°S-Sorry, Joe,¡± she said.


    ¡°No need to apologize, I guess,¡± Joseph said, ¡°It wasn¡¯t your fault.¡±


    ¡°It was, though.¡±


    ¡°No, it wasn¡¯t.¡±


    He gave a harsh, venomous look to Sunala. For a moment, he wanted to say something at her, before he swallowed it down like a bitter pill. Nash, to their credit, noticed the sparks in his eyes, and shook their head.


    ¡°Joe,¡± they said, ¡°Here, let¡¯s lay Phin and Gluh down, take a look at ¡®em, alright?¡±


    And the Far Traveler made an effort to walk over and clap a hand on Joseph¡¯s shoulder, guiding him to the wall. They laid Phineas down together, Nash pulling out a small first aid kit from their pocket, a small tile that expanded in size to reveal a set of bandages and tonics. Then, they got up and grabbed Gluh, bringing him up beside Phineas.


    Rosemary did nothing but stare at the hole in the tree as the two of them went to work. Sunala walked over and hung beside her, resting a hand on her shoulder. Joseph could not help but feel a rising anger well up within him.


    ¡°She¡¯s killing us, Nash,¡± he muttered.


    ¡°I know,¡± Nash whispered back.


    ¡°We¡¯re damaging this city more and more,¡± Joseph continued, ¡°This feels wrong. I feel wrong. Everything about us being here feels wrong.¡±


    ¡°I know.¡±


    ¡°Over a stupid fucking gemstone-¡±


    ¡°Joseph.¡±


    Nash¡¯s voice trembled with a dark, barely concealed anger. They looked at Joseph.


    ¡°I. Know.¡±


    Joseph was about to give the Far Traveler a mutinous response, when Phineas interrupted them.


    ¡°Joseph,¡± he said, ¡°I am tired.¡±


    And Joseph deflated at that. He pulled out a small potion Nash had provided him, and opened the Deep One¡¯s mouth to pour it in.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he sighed, ¡°What do we do, then?¡±


    ¡°We get out of here,¡± Nash said, ¡°Come on, let''s see where else we can go in this city.¡±j


    They stood up, turning to face the rest of the group.


    ¡°We¡¯re moving out.¡±


    Without another word, they stooped to pick Gluh up. Joseph held out a hand, pulling Phineas to his feet and supporting him as the two of them waddled together behind the Far Traveler. Sunala drifted, following them without a word. Rosemary gave one last look at the tree, put a hand against its bark, and then went with the rest of the group, trailing behind them by a large margin.


    ***


    The entire city here had been frozen by Chronilock''s abilities. It was an effort that had taken time, energy, and not a bit of effort. This floating island must have been an arthouse of some sort, Joseph supposed, or some maniac''s leafy dream. A temple to Iresine, perhaps, for all of it was natural. Trees flourished here, their growth stunted by Chronilock''s power to never grow and overtake like they did outside. Instead, they stood as silent sentinels throughout the complex, their roots forming the floors and walls, their tops forming the roofs. Some were great, stout oaks. Others were thin and wiry. Some were small, others rose up far past the height of the others, their trunks extending upwards for several floors, ending in hand-shaped palms that swept from side to side, idols with all the same gravitas as the metahuman statues that dotted the world above.


    It was not long before exhaustion overtook adrenaline. All of them were running on fumes, as the stress seeped away and replaced by a tiredness that bit deep into their bones. Nash called for a halt.


    ¡°We should keep a watch,¡± they said.


    ¡°I''ll go first,¡± Joseph volunteered.


    No argument from the Far Traveler, who simply nodded and sat down, putting their back against the wall. They closed their eyes and were out in seconds. The rest of the group followed suit, laying down on the hardwood floor. Phineas fidgeted. Gluh sat there and moaned in a vague agony (but then, he always did). Of them all, only Rosemary seemed halfway comfortable as she sidled up against the trunk of a tree, curling into a ball, though her eyes were still wide open. Joseph leaned against the trunk on the other side.


    He glanced over to see Sunala staring at him. She still stood, imperious as always, her once stunning dress frayed and torn from the day¡¯s events, sodden down so that it did not so much poof out like a cloud then wilt like a dried rose.


    ¡°Something to say, your highness?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°I''m not royalty, Mr. Zheng,¡± Sunala said.


    ¡°You sure do act like it.¡±


    A sad smile crept on Sunala''s face, ¡°Of that, that is true.¡±


    He didn''t like it when people did that. When they admitted their faults. Joseph was so used to his parents never admitting anything that he wasn''t quite sure how to react.


    ¡°Well, whatever,¡± he said, ¡°Get some sleep.¡±


    ¡°Of course, Mr. Zheng.¡±


    She sat down by the tree. Gave a last glance over to Joseph, then one to Rosemary, before finally closing her eyes.


    ***


    Joseph woke Nash up first.


    ¡°Alright, leader,¡± he said, ¡°Lead us.¡±


    ¡°Har har,¡± Nash replied, ¡°How long have I been asleep?¡±


    ¡°A couple hours,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°What, you stinging out on me?¡±


    ¡°We might want to get a move on soon,¡± Joseph said, and Nash could only smile at his attempt at pragmatism, ¡°I reasoned only a bit of time for everyone to sleep, and all that.¡±


    ¡°I''ll take the rest of the watch, then,¡± Nash said, ¡°Another hour, at least. Thanks, Joe.¡±


    The metahuman nodded, sitting down by the wall and closing his eyes. Nash stared at him for a few moments, making sure he actually began to doze, before they stood up and began pacing the room. It was a good room, all told ¨C these Chliofrond folk had good taste. Trees and plants, a natural wonderland that stood in stark contrast to Federation metals and artificial fire. They walked over to a patch of bloom, taking an experimental sniff out of one of the bright pink flowers.


    It smelled like a flower.


    ¡°Typical,¡± they chuckled.


    They turned around to see Sunala looking wearily at them.


    ¡°Not the smartest idea, hm?¡± she said, ¡°Could be poisonous.¡±


    ¡°True,¡± Nash said, ¡°Poisoned by a flower.¡±


    They considered it for a moment, crossing their arms.


    ¡°Beats the alternative, doesn''t it?¡±


    Sunala was quiet at that. The two of them strayed in silence. Nash continued their pacing, walking over to Gluh to make sure the zombie was alright. He would need healing magic ¨C maybe Wakeling''s, assuming they got out. The color had not yet returned to Phineas''s scales, a fact that worried Nash. Magic took a lot out of you, especially the kind that Phineas performed...


    ¡°I''m sorry, Nash.¡±


    ¡°You bet your ass, you are,¡± Nash replied.


    The silence became awkward. Nash sighed.


    ¡°Look,¡± they said, ¡°I can''t blame you for wanting to hide the truth from us. It''s a Shard of Imagination.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Sunala said.


    ¡°Us having only a bit of info to go off of? That''s Wakeling''s thing. That''s most guildmasters'' thing. They always think they''re so much higher and mightier than the rest of us. I''m used to it. It''s why I became a Far Traveler, so I wouldn''t have to deal with it as often.¡±


    Sunala was quiet, waiting for the rest of the lecture like a child who had fallen into a mud puddle.


    ¡°When I joined up with this expedition, I hadn''t been back at Castle Belenus for almost a year. But Wakeling reached out to me, specifically. For my expertise in dead empires. Ancient civilizations. I mean, I''ve got a goddamn PHD in Dead Planes. From Prime, and everything. That''s what I''m good at.¡±


    They jammed a thumb at the ceiling.


    ¡°But this? Going to a dead plane to find a Shard of Imagination?¡±


    ¡°It''s... it''s needed, Nash,¡± Sunala said.


    ¡°For what?¡±


    ¡°Research,¡± Sunala said.


    ¡°What research?¡±


    The same tone of voice. Nash did not lower it. Did not raise it. They kept cool, giving a stern, stone-like look to Sunala.


    ¡°Shards of Imagination are bad luck, Sunala,¡± they said, ¡°We''re already seeing it here. They''re powerful, yeah. But they''ve got a way about them. They demand payment. Karma. Compensation.¡±


    ¡°I am aware of that,¡± Sunala said.


    ¡°The last time I heard of a Shard being used, it was during the war,¡± Nash said, ¡°You know your history. Prime. Silver Arthur. The Manticore?¡±


    ¡°The entire east coast of the United States, yes,¡± Sunala said.


    ¡°That kind of compensation.¡±


    ¡°I am fully prepared to pay,¡± Sunala stated.


    ¡°With what, money?¡± Nash chuckled.


    ¡°Of course not. Hand for hand, blood for blood.¡±


    Nash went quiet at that as the full weight of the noblewoman''s words hit them.


    ¡°On yourself, then?¡±


    ¡°A foolish payment,¡± Sunala said, ¡°But yes.¡±


    ¡°Arthur said that, too,¡± Nash said, ¡°Did you know that? You''ve read his final words. He meant it to just be a sacrifice of himself, not a sacrifice of millions.¡±


    Sunala said nothing.


    Nash could do nothing but give a huff at that.


    ¡°You people are all the same,¡± they said, ¡°What makes you different? What makes you think that things will go better this time, huh?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve¡­ I¡¯ve read about the Shards,¡± Sunala said.


    ¡°Reading and understanding are two different things, Sunala,¡± Nash said, ¡°You¡¯ve read the right books, sure, but you haven¡¯t gotten the right lessons from them. Now, tell me: What makes you think that things will be different this time? Because you sure as hell can¡¯t say because you¡¯ve read the right books, can you?¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Sunala''s voice broke, ¡°I... I know.¡±


    She curled into a ball.


    ¡°Let me tell you, Nash, you''re only telling me things I''ve been telling myself. Even before Spin and Nel betrayed me. I know, by God, I know.¡±


    She closed her eyes, making a conscious effort to push the guilt down, to tell herself she was not a murderer by proxy, that the payment of the Shard was not the lives of a guild. She fell back to sleep while doing so.


    Nash glared at her, but with a defeated sigh, let her rest.

 35. The Brothers Reckoning

    ¡°They''re on their way,¡± Meleko reported.


    The group tensed. They could all hear the sounds of movement from Becenti''s communicator, the sound of running water, of the occasional murmur of one of the two brothers. Becenti himself made little noise, and though the Brothers Corpo had stated they preferred not to kill, Broon was still unnerved.


    ¡°We have our plan,¡± he stated, ¡°We know what to do. We just have to trust each other.¡±


    He turned towards the group, giving them a smile.


    ¡°I couldn''t have a better team for this.¡±


    It was a false ovation, and they all knew it, filled with the grim bravado that dead men sometimes swagger, an attempt at normalcy in the face of abnormal circumstances. Still, the fact that Broon said it, that he was taking on such a role, still raised their spirits. Just a bit.


    ¡°Alright, get to your places,¡± Broon said, ¡°I''ll see you on the other side.¡±


    They scattered, going to their designated positions. Only Ezel and Broon were left.


    ¡°You too, Ezel,¡± Broon said.


    ¡°You''re sure you want to be out in the open?¡± Ezel asked.


    ¡°I''m the distraction,¡± Broon stated.


    ¡°We could''ve chosen someone more useful for such a thing,¡± Ezel said, ¡°Meleko, for example.¡±


    The half-orc let out a laugh. He drew Kilnriv.


    ¡°It''s fine, Ezel. Now get out of here, I think they''re almost here.¡±


    Ezel gave a sigh, before the water rippled around her and lifted her into the air. Her eyes were set on Broon as she rose up to the fallen statue of Iresine.


    ¡°Be careful, Wildarm.¡±


    ¡°Same with you, Atalar,¡± Broon replied.


    And he waited.


    One way or another, things were ending here.


    ***


    The Brothers Corpo were twins, despite the fact that one was quite thin and one was quite large. They had been raised in Venice, a city on the water located on Prime, born the day after the war''s end. Both of them went meta at the age of fifteen, and were among the first supervillains to arise after the Dark Age of Heroes that came after the death of Silver Arthur.


    Brother Bone was thin, and could control bone ¨C his own, and others. Brother Brain was a telekinetic, though he could only move whatever he could theoretically lift. This drove him into the incredible world of bodybuilding, growing in muscle, to the point that he began using illegal steroids to drive his strength far past the normal human limit.


    For he was a metahuman, and not consigned to such barriers.


    For the last fifteen years, they had been supervillains, operating in Venice in their early years before emigrating to the Mecca of Supervillainy: Horizon City, New York State. There, they had cut their teeth on the new generation of superheroes, facing off against the likes of Acero, Durandal, and Seismic while robbing banks, playing bodyguard to the underworld, and stealing candy from babies.


    As such, they were experienced. They knew the limits of their powers.


    They would be tough customers.


    And right now, Shimmer was trailing behind them. His arms still pulsed with a ruthless sort of heat, and he could feel Brother Bone''s power pulling his legs forward despite their protests of exhaustion. They had spent the last few hours pushing forward, searching the first few towers of the lopsided island before finding the Silver Tower and the hole that had been carved into it.


    On any other day, Becenti would have loved being here. The Silver Tower was a powerful icon in Epochian history, having stood tall against all who opposed the metahuman nation. Chliofrond was a traveling kingdom, one that had seen some of the most terrible battles in the distant wars of history, and yet the Silver Tower stood unblemished, the wounds of time having been cleaned from its surface.


    Evidently whatever power the Tower had possessed was gone now, as the hole that had been cut into its surface still shown jagged on its side. Even with all the Shard of the Imagination¡¯s influence, the Tower could still be wounded. Shimmer supposed that Broon must have been the one to do this. Not that he could blame him. The half-orc probably didn¡¯t realize the Tower¡¯s significance, its place as an idol of history.


    ¡°After you, sir,¡± Brother Brain said to Bone.


    ¡°Why, thank you,¡± Bone gave a mock bow to his brother, before jumping down through the hole. They heard a splash below.


    ¡°Brother!¡± Bone''s voice was distant and tinny, ¡°There is water down here! Salt water! We''ll need a raft!¡±


    Brain gave a single nod. He turned to Shimmer.


    ¡°Sorry about this,¡± he said.


    Shimmer felt a tug in his back as Brain lifted him in the air with his mind. The large man lifted himself as well, floating down into the hole like a feather.


    ¡°I appreciate that you can bench your bodyweight, at least,¡± Shimmer said.


    ¡°Same here,¡± Brain said, ¡°I love doing this.¡±


    They were engulfed in darkness. Bone was below them, treading water. Evidently he had not expected to drop into the drink, as his weasel-like face was scrunched into a pinched look of annoyance.


    ¡°Hurry, brother,¡± Bone said.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Brain said. He gestured towards one of the statues. Shimmer''s heart fell as the statue wrenched itself free of its base, dipping into the water and skimming along it. Brother Bone climbed on.


    ¡°Better,¡± Bone said, ¡°Well done.¡±


    ¡°Shameful,¡± Shimmer said.


    ¡°Probably,¡± Brother Brain said. He said nothing else as he gestured forward, and the statue began sailing the dark waters. They spent the next few hours going through the tower, past the various shrines and ritual rooms of the Silver Tower, past the laboratories that had housed the greatest minds of Chliofronds and their works. Most of it had been picked clean ¨C the Chliofronds seemed to have had quite a bit of time on their hands, able to take whatever wasn''t nailed down and leave their floating cities forever.


    ¡°Where do you think they went?¡± Brother Brain asked, turning to Shimmer.


    Shimmer glared at Brain.


    ¡°Come on,¡± Brother Bone said, ¡°You''ve got to be curious. You don''t have to keep secrets from us. We''re kin.¡±


    ¡°They left,¡± Shimmer growled, ¡°Went every which way. Let the wind pull them across the multiverse, though this time without cities. Without targets.¡±


    ¡°Why leave ''em?¡± Brother Brain noted, ¡°They seem cool.¡±


    ¡°You''ve watched Bruce Lee, haven''t you?¡± Shimmer said.


    ¡°Yeah, martial arts guy,¡± Bone said.


    ¡°''Be like water,''¡± Shimmer quoted, ¡°That''s what the Chliofrond did. That''s what all metahuman kingdoms did. The Federation had designs of genocide on metahumanity. They had already annihilated several metahuman kingdoms throughout Epochia''s old territories.¡±


    ¡°So they spread out,¡± Brother Brain said, ¡°Absorbed themselves. Hid themselves.¡±


    ¡°What better way to survive?¡± Becenti said, ¡°Without any population centers, metahumanities could survive. Thrive, in some places.¡±


    ¡°Thrive¡­¡± Bone whispered. The Brothers were both quiet at the thought, the statue pushing through the tower in darkness and silence.


    Neither of them, despite their excitement and work, had ever felt like they were thriving.


    ***


    There was only a bit of light as they approached the room before Chronilock¡¯s domain. It was a tall room, now long with the Tower''s fall. The water here dribbled down so that it only reached to one''s knees, so Brother Brain jumped off of the statue and released it from his control, the statue plunging fully into the water with a great splash that sprayed the back of Shimmer''s neck with warmth. Iresine looked down from above, his face serene, his blood, carved in rich detail, running from his cut palms down his arms and drinking into the potted bonsai that had been set at his base. The cities that had floated around him in Chliofrond''s past had crashed into the water, makeshift stone islands that one could use to stand above the shallow salt pool.


    It was Broon who was the main source of light in the room. He stood on one of the islands, Kilnriv fully drawn, blue runes shining like the moon in the darkness. The half-orc''s face was set.


    ¡°I wish to speak, before we get this started,¡± Broon said.


    For a moment, Shimmer''s gut set, and he was sure that Brother Bone would point at Broon and wipe away his world. But then he took a breath. The Brothers Corpo were supervillains. The interpersonal relationship they built with the other side was just as important as the act of combat.


    ¡°You have the right,¡± Brother Bone said.


    ¡°Myron, are you alright?¡± Broon said.


    ¡°As well as I can be,¡± Shimmer said, ¡°I''m afraid they''ve nearly disarmed me.¡±


    The half-orc gave a smirk at that.


    ¡°This doesn''t have to be violent,¡± Brother Bone said, ¡°We''ve already dealt with one group in the expedition, and they went down quick.¡±


    ¡°Are they alive?¡± Broon said.


    Brother Bone was quiet.


    ¡°They''re not,¡± Shimmer said, ¡°At least, their city sunk.¡±


    ¡°We don''t... We don''t kill,¡± Brother Bone said, ¡°It''s just business.¡±


    ¡°And yet you broke that code, here,¡± Broon''s voice was dark.


    ¡°We did,¡± Brother Brain said, ¡°But that doesn''t mean we have to do it again. Don''t make us fight you, Broon.¡±


    ¡°We''d win, and you''d be twisted as a pretzel,¡± Brother Bone pointed a finger, ¡°One twitch of my finger, and I break your spine and close your ribcage up like a bear trap.¡±


    Broon considered their words. His hand trembled slightly, and Shimmer could see fire in his eyes, a flame that glowed brighter than the runes on his blade.


    ¡°No,¡± he said, ¡°You crossed a line. You killed my friends. Besides, I''m Amber Foundation. I''m never alone.¡±


    And the water burst beneath their feet. It seized upwards in a wave, pushing the two brothers away. Broon dropped down behind the island, wincing in sudden pain as he felt Bone take hold of his spine, though that iron grip dissipated as the water crashed over the Brothers Corpo, pulling them under, rolling them across the shallow deep in a riptide. Broon grimaced. Ezel wouldn''t hold this for long. Freshwater was one thing, saltwater was another...


    Indeed, Brother Brain, through strength alone, pushed himself upwards, roaring in shock and rage, his eyes bloodshot from the sudden deluge of saline drink. He was glaring this way and that-


    Broon struck, distantly aware that, far on the other side of the room, Brother Bone was pulling himself up from the water as well, spluttering and snarling. He had just a moment, a split second of time before Bone¡¯s brother shook himself from his stupor.


    Kilnriv swung. It dug deep into the supervillain''s chest, slicing clean and through, red spraying out in response. But Broon knew it was not a fatal stroke ¨C Brain was too smart for that, having pushed himself ever so slightly back with his telekinetic power. He also had enough mental fortitude to push through the pain, shoving a hand out at Broon. It was far from the half-orc, but the mental blowout was enough to send him flying upwards and backwards, careening through the air, tumbling towards the water.


    ***


    Bone spluttered out of the brine, snarling and glaring this way and that. In the distance, he could hear a yell of pain from Brain. The half-orc must have moved in, though it would be over for him soon. He was but a man with a blade, and his sibling was...


    Movement to his left. Bone''s head turned sharply. He needed sight to be able to use his powers ¨C and the being standing far on the other side of the oblong chamber was outside his range. Bone snapped to the side as the creature ¨C who resembled a humanoid hammerhead, raised up a rifle. The chamber rang with rapid zak zak zak as plasma, bright green and hot as a sun, hammered towards the metahuman. They whizzed over his head, splattering and sizzling against the island behind him, welting deep holes into its surface...


    He was out of range. Grimacing, Bone pointed his fingers, unstopping the bone caps he had covered and firing them as bullets towards the guildmember ¨C Meleko, if Bone recalled, a name in a sea of names. Yes, now Bone remembered him.


    Meleko dropped down, rolling to the side as the bone scraps shot overhead. The water parted with every movement. Somewhere, there was a hydromancer. Brother Bone pulled a face.


    ¡°Brother!¡± he snarled.


    ¡°Here!¡± came the grunt. But Brain knew better than to float into the air. Meleko was still at large, as was the rest of the group. Bone''s mind raced as he tried to remember who had come here. Broon. Meleko. The demigod, yes. The daughter of the river. No wonder the water was their domain. Bone began to clamber onto the island with an almost frantic frenzy.


    Then, if she had full control over the water, he supposed that he and Brain would be dead by now. No, she was in hiding. Support for the rest of the group.


    Nearby, he watched as Brain thrusted an arm. One of the islands began to levitate.


    ¡°Brain, the alien!¡± Bone snarled.


    Brain nodded, with a flick of his wrist cracking the island in half. Part of it protected him as Meleko unleashed another barrage from his rifle. The other sailed towards Broon.


    ***


    Broon leaped to the side, hearing the world explode behind him and leaving his ears ringing as stone thundered against stone, marble against marble, as the islands broke against one another. The water receded with each step he took ¨C high above, Ezel concentrated, her brow furrowed and her hair, little by little, graying with the effort of keeping her guild mobile. Already the Brothers Corpo were realizing the advantage the guild had over them ¨C aside from this being a numbers game, the battlefield was theirs. Brain levitated over the water. Bone had jumped onto one of the floating stone cities, peering around for danger.


    But the half-orc could do nothing. He was someone who preferred melee fighting ¨C sword crossed against sword. Up close, he truly (and unfortunately) was the Butcher of Evukor, a whirlwind of steel and will, his single arm appearing as a blur with blade in hand.


    But if he got close, he was dead. He had gotten lucky before ¨C Brother Brain had been disoriented, toppled with surprise. But now the supervillain was standing at full attention. He floated towards Broon over the waters. Broon retreated back, step by step, gauging where the telekinetic field ended.


    He could barely see it ¨C light rippling on the water. Not enough to control, Broon realized. If Brain could, he would have.


    And the weakness of Brain''s power came to light. Broon gave a smile. Anything solid, anything that Brain could hold in hand, was his to control, so long as he could lift it.


    Anything else was a different matter.


    ***


    Pain, aching and dull, crept up and down Brother Brain''s chest. The cut was deep, but not enough that it would be fatal ¨C especially not for one of Brain''s size. He had toughed out worse before. The half-orc was keeping his distance, well aware of his power. Brain resolved to crush him flat as soon as he was cornered and in range. The two of them played their slow game of cat and mouse, Brain advancing, Broon retreating back¡­


    This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Towards the top of the tower, in which there was a final room. Brain''s brow furrowed. There had been no sign of the Shard thus far. Yet there was still a room left. The guild had not gathered around any particular object, presenting themselves as physical barriers to a physical goal, but rather had scattered and separated into an ambush, one that was in a large room. Broon did not glance this way or that. Did not seem to be pulling himself from any particular part of the chamber.


    So either the Shard was in that final room, or it was not here at all.


    Brain couldn''t stomach the latter. If he and Bone had just murdered six people, just to find that the half-orc had been lying...


    No, it had to be in that final room.


    Then why was Broon guiding him there?


    Brain stopped. Broon gave no indication or reaction, keeping his stance, blade held in front of him, legs spread apart, a look of utmost concentration painting his face.


    ¡°You''re a good actor,¡± Brain said.


    The facade broke for just a moment. Broon grimaced.


    ¡°So are you.¡±


    ¡°We were theater kids,¡± Brain said.


    Bone was off dealing with the alien. Brain squeezed a fist. The other half of the island split into pieces. With an overhand throw, he sent them flying towards Broon, an aerial avalanche of stone. Broon leaped to the side-


    ***


    And Brain did as well. Broon''s heart sank as Brain rushed forward, a muscular specter. The broken island roared past them both as Broon brought up his sword to slash, but he knew the game was up. Brain punched down, the telekinetic power forcing Broon down into the water, keeping him down there. The weight was immense, a thousand tons pressing down on the half-orc all at once. Water rushed into his nose and mouth. The distant, detached part of Broon''s brain wondered where Ezel was, why she hadn''t made the water recede back. Perhaps she was losing control of the pool, or something had happened...


    And then there was movement just above the brine, and the weight released. Broon floated for a brief moment before his mind snapped back into place. He sat back up, head breaching the surface like an exceptionally handsome green whale. He turned to see Brother Brain wrestling against a wall of water, an amorphous blob of salt and sea that was tumbling and pushing him back, over and over again. With a snarl, Brain twisted an arm, a gaggle of marble heeding his command, slamming into the wall, which dispersed in a spray before reforming.


    Of course Brain was too smart to be led so astray. He was far from the dumb lug he espoused himself to be. Indeed, he had placed himself on one of the larger pieces of debris, just big enough to hold his weight as he levitated it upwards ¨C perhaps to save energy instead of lifting himself into the air. Away from the water, which rose up in an attempt to grab at him. But Ezel was fading fast, and the ropy arms dissolved as they reached towards the roof.


    They were losing their advantages.


    ***


    On the other side of the room, Meleko took a deep breath. He had noticed, on the faraway planet of Galern''s Blue, that he always held his breath during firefights. It was an unhealthy habit, one that he had tried to break many times. Protracted battles like this were rare for him ¨C but like Galern''s Blue, this one was starting to run a bit long for his taste. Shoot first, shoot fast, and by the gods, shoot true. That''s what Meleko had been taught.


    But he hadn''t shot first, shot fast, and he had missed every shot, so truth be told the Jugdran was starting to get pissed.


    He had been forced into cover by the endless barrage of bone shards from the metahuman. The marble islands were perfect for that, only chipping slightly from the hailstorm of bullets. Meleko wondered how soon Brother Bone would run out of ammo ¨C after all, he was using himself as the clip. He gave a glance upwards, wincing as a shard of finger glanced off of the stone right by his good leftmost eye. Brother Bone had positioned himself on top of one of the islands. This particular city was somehow still standing upright, miniature towers rising and pointing towards the roof. It was remarkably similar to the island they were in now, actually. Brother Bone was taking cover behind these towers, arm sticking out between the cracks to fire on Meleko''s position.


    Well then, time for a change of pace. Meleko took out a communicator.


    ¡°Ezel,¡± he whispered into it, ¡°I need a wall.¡±


    ¡°A-alright,¡± Ezel''s voice was hoarse and whispering. Meleko almost winced at how weak she sounded.


    ¡°Never mind,¡± he said, ¡°Just clear the pool for me.¡±


    ¡°You wanted a wall,¡± Ezel said, ¡°I will give you a wall.¡±


    The water rose upwards around him. Meleko didn''t say no twice, running out from his island, the bone shards flinging themselves at him, stopped in midair by the mass of seawater that rose around him in a protective shield. Brother Bone stopped firing, aware of how useless it was as Meleko ran towards another island. He watched as Brother Bone scrambled to a new position on his own marble sphere. Meleko could see the thin man grimace as the water receded and the Jugran pointed his rifle at the now-open metahuman.


    Plasma rained forward, dancing and dazzling and oh-so-beautiful, bright green neon flying and flashing against stone, white-hot, one of the shots splashing onto Brother Bone''s shoulder as he let out a shocked howl and dropped all pretense of offense. With a pained look, his left forearm exploded, bone rushing outwards and forming into a marbled, jagged shield. It was strong enough to block the remainder of Meleko''s barrage, despite how brittle it looked.


    And then the bone cracked and fired forward.


    Meleko let out a whoop of shock and ducked back into cover, two hearts pounding in unison as Brother Bone renewed his assault.


    ¡°Come on, Heyma,¡± he growled, ¡°Where the hell are you?¡±


    ***


    ¡°I want him in the water,¡± Heyma said.


    ¡°Easier said than done,¡± Ezel whispered, ¡°He''s got himself locked down tight on his island.¡±


    ¡°The more advantages, the better,¡± Heyma said, ¡°I''m the one going in. And this Brother Bone fellow has quite the abilities.¡±


    ¡°Most of which don''t affect you,¡± Ezel said.


    ¡°Doesn''t matter,¡± Heyma said, ¡°He''s still got his own bones to pick.¡±


    The two of them were positioned above the battlefield, perched upon the statue of Iresine high above. The battle seemed distant up here, mere flashes of light and the electrifying, hair-raising bangs of plasma fire. Ezel looked worn-down, deep rings creasing beneath her brown eyes, her hands shaking with effort. She had expended much of her energy to protect Broon from Brother Brain''s approach.


    ¡°The trap is failing,¡± she said.


    ¡°We knew it probably would,¡± Heyma said, ¡°He just needs to get him inside.¡±


    Ezel stared at Broon for a long time. Heyma put a hand on her shoulder.


    ¡°He''s Broon. He''ll find a way. Let''s concentrate on taking out Brother Bone.¡±


    Ezel nodded, turning back to observe the firefight between Meleko and the metahuman. They were in a stalemate, launching wave after wave of bone and plasma at the other.


    ¡°I can overturn the island he''s on,¡± Ezel gasped, ¡°After that, you''re on your own.¡±


    ¡°You''ve done enough, Ezel,¡± Heyma said. She made to rise, only for Ezel to shoot out a hand and stop her.


    ¡°If they see you before I''m ready, it''s over,¡± she said.


    ¡°When will you be ready?¡±


    Ezel was quiet however. She pointed with a single hand, the veins popping from her arm, her eyes momentarily flashing a wild, cyan blue that almost seemed to glow. Below, the water beneath Bone''s island rippled.


    And here Heyma needed no prompt. She positioned herself, armor creaking slightly as she moved. No breath, for she had none. No pounding heart, for she had lost such a thing long ago.


    The island tilted and rolled, the water churning beneath it. Heyma heard Ezel let out a small whimper from the effort. Below, Brother Bone let out a yelp of surprise as he lost his footing, the entire island tilting into the pool.


    And Heyma dropped like a stone.


    ***


    She slammed into the water and hit the ground running. Brother Bone could hardly register her before she was upon him, gauntleted hand tightened into a fist that rushed into his stomach, the second thundering into his chin, an uppercut that sent Brother Bone flying upwards from the sheer force. Bone ragdolled for a moment, shock and panic overtaking his entire form, before his mind kicked back into place. He willed himself, pulling at every bone in his body. He did this rarely, for the controlling of his own skeleton was painful ¨C already he knew his left arm would be aching for weeks after pulling and manipulating his radius into a shield.


    He stopped in midair, forcing himself around as though he were floating in space until the water was beneath him and the statue of Iresine above. The woman in armor stood below, stalking closer and closer to the metahuman. Brother Bone floated back into the water, nose curling as the warm sea surged around his knees. Any other day, he would be at a disadvantage.


    But this armored woman, this... Heyma, was in his range.


    A smirk curling to his lips, Brother Bone reached out to the world, searching for her endoskeleton.


    And he found nothing.


    His heart fell. The woman charged. She brought her fist downwards, connecting with Bone''s shield in a blow that had shocks running up and down his spine. She let loose a savage kick, one that Bone ducked. He let out a wince as he began molding the ulna and radius on his right arm, sharpening them and thinning them into a blade that shot just above his hand in a splatter of blood. He gave a swing. Heyma parried with a flick of her wrist, though the shot was enough to make her retreat.


    She had no skeleton! The thought horrified Brother Bone. She had nothing, nothing to hold her together and upright, nothing human, anyways, and she sounded plenty human.


    The two circled for a brief moment.


    How?


    Heyma closed the gap once more, the two of them whirling in a dance of metal and bone. She was good ¨C all guildfolk were good, he had been warned, though Heyma had obviously been trained in hand-to-hand combat. She knew how to position herself, bobbing and weaving. She knew the weak points in her armor ¨C when to block Bone''s blade, when to let it slide across the metal plates and chainmail weave.


    She was also far too fast for Bone''s taste. Almost as though she were completely unhindered by the bulky platemail she wore.


    And she had no skeleton! No bones! No vertebrae to snap, no ribcage to close into a jail. Not even a stapes...


    Heyma whirled beneath Bone''s guard and landed another shot into his side. Bone split away, spluttering and snarling, feeling like a lame cow as he splashed this way and that in the dark water. He turned back and resumed his fencing stance. Heyma raised her fists again.


    For the first time in a long while, Bone felt a thrill of fear. He could hear, far on the other side of the chamber, his brother still facing Wildarm. He should have been finished by now. Should have crushed the half-orc into a smudge.


    Why was this still going on?


    He needed to end this quickly. Bone gritted his teeth.


    This last exchange would end it.


    He ran forward. Heyma braced herself for a moment, parrying his first light swing. Then his next. A third. He wouldn''t give her a chance to counter. He was smaller than her, and only by his blade could he match her reach, the two twirling around the other like awkward swans across the shallow pool.


    And he released his trick. He collapsed the ulna of his left arm into a thin blade that matched his right arm''s, surging forward and past Heyma''s guard. She was not ready.


    The blade sank deep into her chest, rending through metal and running her all the way through, skewering her like a pig.


    The two stood there in mute silence for a moment. Bone''s triumphant smile melted. That had been far too easy. He felt no flesh beneath the iron. The blade had punched through metal, then punched through metal.


    Heyma was hollow.


    And, at last, Brother Bone knew what his opponent was.


    ¡°You''re a Dullahan,¡± he said.


    ¡°Ghost in armor, spirit in a shell. That''s me,¡± Heyma wrapped an arm around Bone''s still outstretched arm, ¡°Took you long enough.¡±


    She reared back, before slamming her helmeted faceplate against Brother Bone''s forehead, and his world became one of red pain and dazzling light.


    ***


    Brother Brain caught up with Broon soon enough. It was a gamble, Broon realized ¨C he heard a sudden, high-pitched scream echo from the cavern, and the water rushed back in around his knees. Ezel had made a choice. Inwardly, he felt himself wilt. No doubt something had happened that had made her force an advantage for Meleko and Heyma. They all knew the cards, if Heyma could bring down Brother Bone, then they were in a good spot. It was a logical move, one devoid of the emotions of sacrificing a guildmate.


    He would have felt proud, but instead he felt cold dread as Brother Brain levitated a full foot over the water. The watery blob had receded, and now there was nothing standing in the way as Brain advanced. Without the advantage of Ezel''s manipulation of the water, Broon was at a loss.


    The game was up. And both of them knew it. Brain was smirking, despite the fact that his chest and robes were fully drenched in red from his chest wound. How he was even still standing was anyone''s guess, and yet he still smiled, still swayed like a marionette in the air, still bore down on Broon.


    And the half-orc came into range of his power. Psychic energy was like a heat permeation, rippling in the air as Broon felt an invisible hand close over his neck and jerk him into the air. Broon, to his credit, simply gritted his teeth as he felt his windpipe close up.


    Brain let him hang limp in the air for a few moments. There was a relative silence as the metahuman''s smirk fell away as Broon began to struggle and kick, feet just barely scraping the pool''s surface, kicking him light splashes like a child at play. Perhaps it was the act of killing that got to Brain, or perhaps he knew Broon was better alive and as a hostage than dead, for he dropped Broon, who collapsed into the water, coughing and wheezing. He had dropped Kilnriv, and with his one hand caressed his throat, tears stinging at the corner of his eyes.


    ¡°You fought well, Wildarm,¡± Brain said, ¡°Now rest. It is over.¡±


    Broon glared up at the large metahuman.


    ¡°All is silent,¡± Brain said, ¡°My brother has no doubt seen to your companions-¡±


    ¡°Wrong on that account, pal.¡±


    The voice was Heyma''s. Broon and Brain looked over to where her voice came from. Heyma stood a ways away, Meleko perched on an island apart from her. She held Brother Bone in one gauntleted claw, hand wrapped around the back of his neck.


    ¡°Make a move, and pop goes the weasel,¡± she said.


    Broon realized just what role he would play in this moment. He leaped back, trying to scramble out of Brain''s range, water sloughing around him as he splashed lamely away, almost crawling away. Brain reached out and plucked him upwards once more, pulling him back. The muscular man wrapped one tree-trunk sized arm around his waist, the other under his arm, sausage fingers resting on the top of his head.


    ¡°Same with you,¡± he said, ¡°Looks like we''re at an impasse.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± Meleko said. He was pointing his rifle at Brain. It was much larger than the one he usually used, ¡°Or I shoot through Broon.¡±


    ¡°You can do that?¡± Brain said.


    ¡°This is a Fortian''s Arrow 39th class, used predominantly by colonists in the Untamed Reach,¡± Meleko said, ¡°It''s predominantly a militiaman¡¯s weapon, can¡¯t damage the homestead too much, but it cuts through flesh just fine.¡±


    ¡°Drop Broon, or we drop you through him,¡± Heyma growled, ¡°And I break your brother''s neck.¡±


    ¡°You would do this?¡± Brother Brain chuckled, ¡°Willingly kill one of your own?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Meleko stated.


    Brother Brain sneered, ¡°Your guild could survive without Broon Wildarm?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Heyma''s voice was cold as the middle of winter.


    Brother Brain''s heart fell.


    ¡°You''re bluffing,¡± he growled, ¡°You have to be.¡±


    ¡°Release Broon,¡± Heyma said, ¡°Let him go. Or I kill you brother, then Meleko kills you.¡±


    ¡°Last warning, mate,¡± Meleko said, ¡°This shot goes through your heart.¡±


    ¡°B-brother...¡± Bone gasped.


    Brain''s eyes fell on Bone. A deep, purpled welt bloomed on his forehead, though he otherwise looked alright, aside from the usual wounds of battle that cropped up with his abilities. Blood flowed freely down both of his arms, testament to his willingness to destroy himself so utterly when it came down to the money.


    Brain had always hated that.


    He turned his attention back to the guild. Would they go through with it?


    Could they?


    He saw Heyma''s hand squeeze. Meleko licked his lips. Bone, however, was staring at Brain.


    Finish this, he was saying.


    Brain gave a nod.


    Life was a gamble, especially a supervillain''s.


    He lunged forward, dropping Broon to the ground. Meleko, for all of his front as a cold-hearted mercenary, hesitated with pulling the trigger. The shot rang out, but the split second of time was enough for Brain to move out of the red line''s path. He slammed a boot into the ground. Beneath the water was metal ¨C reflexive and strong, the very building blocks of this silver tower. The floor warped as it pulled itself into a barrier.


    Where to get to?


    Meleko¡¯s shots rang out, a series of zolting gangs that hammered against the wall and made Brain¡¯s head spin. It was also starting to burn through the metal. Evidently whatever enchantments protected the Tower¡¯s exterior did not extend to its insides.


    Where to get to?


    And then Brother Brain knew there was only one option.


    The last room, which was no doubt a trap.


    Yet he was already trapped here.


    He had to take his chances. Brain scooped Broon up, dashing him against the metal wall for good measure, before running. His telekinetic power was in a frenzy, pulling up the floor to protect himself as Meleko''s barrage traveled with him.


    ¡°This is for Phin, you bastard!¡± the alien''s voice was harsh and shrill, tinged with an angry sort of grief that made Brain''s heart pound even harder ¨C the feelings of guilt were beginning to return.


    But he couldn''t think of such things now. He forced the emotions down, and ran towards the last room, levitating himself upwards and launching towards the door.


    ***


    The observatory had been untouched by the battle. It was also upright and tall, standing to observe the world high above. The fact that the rest of the tower was laying on its side while it stood upright made Brother Brain''s head spin, but he ignored it as he slammed the door shut behind him. Brain glanced around, taking the place in, Broon still wrapped in his muscular arms. Were his heart not pounding and panic not gripping his throat, he would have loved it. Shelves of books, a beautiful telescope that dominated the center, maps pinned to the walls of distant planes.


    But he had little time for that now. He threw Broon into the air, catching him mid-fall with a telekinetic snatch.


    ¡°The Shard,¡± he said, ¡°Where.¡±


    But the half-orc let out a hoarse, exhausted chuckle.


    ¡°Like... I would.... tell you.¡±


    Brother Brain glared at the half-orc, adrenaline and fear turning into an unbridled anger as he let out a roar of frustration, throwing the Wildarm against the wall. Broon cracked against it, let out a groan as he slid down and onto one of the desks, crumpling and scattering papers and quills as he slumped back.


    ¡°A... trap,¡± Broon grunted.


    ¡°I know!¡± Brother Brain snarled, ¡°That won''t stop me! Nothing can! Nothing-¡±


    The image of Bone flashed in his mind. Something in Brain snapped.


    ¡°If you hurt Angelo, it''ll be hell to pay, Wildarm!¡± he roared, ¡°The Shard! Tell me where it is! Or I''ll kill every single one of you!¡±


    But the half-orc just began to laugh his tired laugh, one born of exhaustion, pain, and the triumphant realization that the game was up.


    Because steam was beginning to pour down the walls. Slow at first, like the tumbling mist after a day of rain on the mountain. Cloud-like in appearance, great and puffy and moving with a tectonic grace. Brain took a few steps back.


    Where?


    It was filling the room now. He couldn''t see who it was who was making it. Couldn''t sense her ¨C was she out of range? In the room?


    There. He felt her presence. Just in the back of the room, crawling out from behind the shelves. Yet as Brain''s mind rushed towards her, attempting to grab her, the steam closed in like a vise around his extended arm. The metahuman let out a scream as it curled around it like a python, burning like the inside of a volcano. It didn''t dissipate as he leaped back, instead seeming to latch onto him more, more tendrils of white-hot mist pouring in and surrounding him.


    And he couldn''t lift steam.


    He was being forced back, a cloud covering his right arm, which had been burned so thoroughly he could hardly feel it. The room was filled with the stuff, a thick blanket that he couldn''t see past. Nor could he think of finding the girl.


    Through it all, Broon laughed. It had taken on a more jovial air, echoing through the small room and sounding more and more discordant in Brother Brain''s head.


    ¡°Stop!¡± the metahuman screamed, ¡°Stop!¡±


    His left arm had caught on something. He turned to look. Nothing was holding him fast but empty air, yet he couldn''t tear his arm away.


    A null-point!


    ¡°Checkmate, idiot,¡± the girl''s voice curled through the steam. Brain heard her footsteps as she ran forward and launched herself at him, a kick landing squarely on his chest, forcing Brother Brain further into the null-point, so far that his head collapsed into it, became stuck and frozen.


    And Brother Brain''s mind became no mind at all.

 36. The Door That Held Back the Sea

    Nash was not aware of when they had drifted to sleep. Yet they had, laying against the wall, their determination to keep awake having dissipated with exhaustion. Not that they were surprised ¨C the entire journey had sapped whatever reserves they had left.


    Seeming hours had passed, when at last they stirred, opening a single eye. Joseph, Rosemary, and Phineas were still asleep, curled against one another against the base of the tree. Gluh, being a zombie, needed no rest ¨C but considered his current predicament of having snapped legs and a broken spine, he wasn''t going anywhere.


    And Sunala was nowhere to be seen.


    Nash blinked.


    Then the realization hit them like a freight train.


    She was gone. Nash scrambled to their feet, heart pounding as they frantically looked around.


    ¡°Gluh,¡± they said, ¡°Where did she go?¡±


    The zombie moaned. Away. Out of the room they were in, towards a room to the north, one of the great auditoriums.


    ¡°Great,¡± they growled, ¡°Gluh, stay here.¡±


    They winced as they remembered the zombie''s state.


    ¡°Sorry. If the others wake up, tell them that I''m going after Sunala.¡±


    ¡°Gluh?¡±


    ¡°I''ll be fine,¡± Nash said, ¡°I have a bad feeling about this, is all.¡±


    And I¡¯ll need to be fast, though they didn¡¯t say that part aloud.


    Gluh gave a glum nod, settling back into place. Nash drew out of the room and towards one of the balconies, one that led out towards the central parts of the city. Towards the highest point around, a great palm tree that rose like a tower, swaying in the center.


    Swaying, despite no wind. The thought had always disturbed Nash. But then, this entire kingdom was one out of touch with reality. Trees grew where there they shouldn¡¯t. The ocean was freshwater. Parts of the city had been frozen in time.


    Oddest of all was that Chliofrond had survived. Forget the diaspora who had left to spread across the multiverse, Becenti''s dream of a people alive. The actual city, the series of floating islands that Nash had only read tales about, what still around. Nash had come here expecting to see nothing but dirt and decay. Perhaps the moldering corpse of a metropolis, half-hidden in the sands of a dead plane. The archaeologist''s wet dream, an eternity of patience, as they dug through the ruins to find broken pottery and strange, clay idols from a lifetime alien to the modern mind.


    Yet the legacy of Chliofrond survived, as Nash went through the empty halls and pushed away branches of trees, dragged their boots through grass, and ventured into an artificial jungle of pines, oaks, and gigantic bluebells near the base of the city. Iresine''s descendants were not simply metahumans. Their power was one of growth, and their blood was both metahuman and tinged with chlorophyll.


    No, Iresine''s people were the flora across the islands ¨C both the controlled, frozen forests here underground and the overgrowth that mossed over the islands outside, choked every crevice, claimed every stone, blanketed the bottom of the freshwater sea.


    This was not a dead plane.


    It was teeming with life.


    ¡°Dammit,¡± they said aloud. They had lost the bet with Becenti.


    Tracking Sunala was simple enough. She had made no secret of where she was going, her boots having sunk a trail into the loam on the ground floor. It stopped right at the palm tree. Nash looked up. Despite their exhaustion, they knew where the elf had gone.


    She always had been implacable.


    ¡°Alright,¡± they said, ¡°No body. So she didn''t jump.¡±


    Not yet.


    Their talk last night had been a darker one, as Nash had laid everything out on her all at once. They had a problem of doing that.


    Once again, the great Nash Rhyde''s greatest weakness was they didn''t know when to shut up.


    They wrapped their hands against the palm tree, feeling the trunk''s bulk, its bark made up of a multitude of growths. Distant memories of their first time exploring the multiverse came flooding through their mind. There had had been no trees on the Runway. Nash remembered the first time, when they were young and green and venturing beyond their home plane, of finding a forest.


    They grabbed at the trunk, fingers knotting and holding fast to the rough surface, kicking off and planting a left against the tree''s base.


    It had been on Tethys, a primal world. One with long-necked reptiles the size of houses, wisdom running through every scale. The trees there were ancient fare, extinct in most of the multiverse, broad-leafed and stout.


    After a moment, Nash found their rhythm. One hand up, together with a leg. Trust in the strength of the tree, that it will support you, so long as you can hold fast. The palm''s texture was a good one. Finding handholds and footholds was easy.


    Tethys was alien to the Far Traveler. Too large, too verdant. It overloaded their senses, the entire world being a green place.


    How could any place be so beautiful, and they had been born on the Runway?


    A world of beauty and nature, versus a world of asphalt and gasoline.


    They certainly had gotten the short straw, hadn''t they?


    For a moment, they slipped, their foot running loose and scraping free from the tree. Nash glanced down as their hands hooked into the bark, their arms bulging and bracing to regain their balance. They were high above now, almost halfway up the palm''s body, the city extending around them.


    After taking a deep breath to calm themself down, a mental reminder that they were okay, they began to climb again. Back into the rhythm.


    In truth, their experience in climbing had come from the Swirling Sea and their stint for a few years as a corsair. A powder monkey aboard the Dread Elizabeth. A pirate named Old Stoat had shown them how to wrap around the netting and sails of the galleon, how to scramble up the mast in a moment, how to think of every finger as a miniature hook to claw into the wood and hold oneself fast.


    Climbing the palm tree had much of the same logic. But they couldn''t afford to be quick. For one, it had been a long time since those days of piracy, gold, and fire. They were rusty at this. For two, they were still exhausted ¨C the sleep had afforded them very little actual rest. Already they could feel their muscles straining, their fingers crying.


    Push through it. Keep to the rhythm. Get to the top.


    You''re a Far Traveler, dammit. This is what you do.


    ***


    The palm''s stem got narrower as they reached the top, before it bloomed out into five house-sized fronds that roofed the rest of the forest. Nash did not so much climb vertically than they did horizontally as they climbed over the bulb that ballooned at the stem''s top, grabbing onto the fronts, and pulling themself over the fronds.


    Sunala was there. The elven noblewoman stood alone, staring above. A great crack had permeated the top of the city long ago, during Chliofrond''s fall. The gash had expanded into a solid opening that would have caused the freshwater sea to flood the entire building, had not Chronilock¡¯s power locked the ocean away. It rippled above them now, a ceiling of deep blue that, were the circumstances different, Nash would have found calming. The sun was above, filtering through the sea and drenching the palm fronds with light. The ocean was so calm, so flat, that Nash could see every disturbance on the surface high above, the light rippling for a brief moment throughout the city below.


    ¡°I''m not going to jump, if that''s what you''re thinking,¡± Sunala said.


    ¡°You just enjoying the sights?¡± Nash asked.


    ¡°...Yes,¡± Sunala said, ¡°I am.¡±


    She returned to staring up at the water.


    ¡°I didn''t notice how beautiful this place was. Is.¡±


    Nash nodded at that.


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± they asked.


    ¡°I decided to do a bit of exploration on my own,¡± Sunala replied, ¡°Clear my thoughts. Ask myself why I was here. Use that brain I''ve been so gifted with, for once.¡±


    Nash smirked, ¡°And what''d you find?¡±


    ¡°Exactly what I was expecting,¡± Sunala said, ¡°The Shard of Imagination. The life it still breathes into a dead plane. I expected treachery, but not from Spinlock and Nelthel.¡±


    ¡°From us, then?¡± Nash said.


    ¡°You are a guild,¡± Sunala replied, ¡°Your work is mercenary. Impersonal. I have worked with guilds before, Nash. Most are not as... honorable, shall we say, as yours.¡±


    ¡°Don''t have to tell me twice,¡± Nash said, ¡°Also why you had such a stick up your ass about hiding your real intention for coming here.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Sunala said, ¡°I am sorry. Especially for getting all you into danger.¡±


    ¡°It''s alright by me,¡± Nash said, ¡°This is just a Tuesday to me, y''know? It''s Rosemary and the others that you have to answer to.¡±


    ¡°And I will,¡± Sunala said, ¡°So long as I can get you out of here.¡±


    Nash blinked.


    ¡°And how do you intend for that to happen?¡±


    She gave a soft, sad smile.


    ¡°A hope,¡± she said, ¡°A dream. An analysis of what we¡¯ve seen. A theory on the powers of metahumanity.¡±


    ¡°Well, let¡¯s hear it,¡± Nash said.


    But Sunala was quiet. She was mulling whatever she had in mind over, wilting as she looked at the Far Traveler.


    ¡°Did you know another part of the expedition is coming here soon, Nash?¡± she said.


    ¡°I¡¯m not surprised,¡± Nash said, ¡°Now that this place is confirmed dead, you can claim it for whoever you want, right?¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Sunala said, ¡°I would do so for Scuttleway, with patronage by the Elven Committee of Exploration.¡±


    ¡°A patron, then,¡± Nash said, ¡°Explains a lot of where the money¡¯s coming from, then.¡±


    ¡°The second part of the expedition is on its way here,¡± Sunala said, ¡°It should be here within a few days.¡±


    ¡°A few days?¡± Nash said, ¡°But we haven¡¯t been in communication with anyone off-world, no one to send a report to the High Federation of our findings here.¡±


    ¡°I am aware,¡± Sunala said.


    It took a few moments for Nash to comprehend what Sunala was saying. They paled and grit their teeth.


    ¡°So the second expedition,¡± they said, ¡°They aren¡¯t briefed on what¡¯s out here.¡±


    ¡°They are not, no,¡± Sunala said.


    ¡°So if this place was inhabited...¡±


    ¡°The Federation would have found out,¡± Sunala said, ¡°The second group coming is quite a bit larger than a single guild. It is primarily explorers from Scuttleway, as well as a few independent archaeologists with no home plane.¡±


    ¡°Far Travelers,¡± Nash said.


    ¡°Indeed.¡±


    ¡°People who can¡¯t have their home planes traced back, if this place was inhabited, and the Federation was forced to take action.¡±


    ¡°It would be a political nightmare,¡± Sunala said, ¡°A cross-contamination between an uncontacted, low-tech world and a non-Mercantile plane. Someone would have to pay the price.¡±


    ¡°Quite the gamble,¡± Sunala said, ¡°One I''m glad paid off. You have no idea the stress I felt while Meleko and Tek were performing the scans on this place, Nash.¡±


    ¡°And if it didn¡¯t work, the destruction would only extend to Londoa,¡± Nash said, ¡°That¡¯s why you hired local, isn¡¯t it? So the Committee of Exploration could cut you loose if things became too controversial.¡±


    They felt that familiar anger bubbling up again. One that they couldn''t afford to indulge, as they bit back their insults and lectures, instead crossing their arms.


    ¡°...But that didn¡¯t happen, did it? And now, with the sponsorship of the elves, you''ll be able to claim these ruins and the surrounding area on behalf of Scuttleway. All in record time, with no chance of competitors barging in. All of Chliofrond and her treasures, just for you.¡±


    ¡°Never mind the fact that there''s a Shard of Imagination here,¡± Sunala said, ¡°The freshwater alone...¡±


    She gave a glance at Nash, noted their hardened eyes, and wilted slightly.


    ¡°Right,¡± she said, ¡°Well, I did say I would get you out alive, didn''t I? Which brings us to why I''m here.¡±


    She had made a decision, as she produced the journal, powering it on. The small hologram fluttered to life, writings in a dozen languages reading out. Nash noted that Sunala had added to it, smatterings and notes in Elvish juxtaposed against Chronilock¡¯s flowing style.


    After a moment, the Elven writings overtook the metahuman ones, filling out a few pages worth.


    ¡°Adding some apocrypha, eh?¡± Nash said.


    ¡°Preparing a message,¡± Sunala said.


    ¡°In case we die?¡±


    ¡°So we can get out,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Tell me, Nash, what were Chronilock''s powers?¡±


    ¡°Time. She could freeze it. Lock rooms in place, create null-points.¡±


    ¡°A vague power,¡± Sunala said.


    ¡°Metahuman powers are usually vague,¡± Nash said, ¡°From what I''ve seen, anyways.¡±


    ¡°But they still have rules,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Joseph''s soul has a circuit that he must ramp up before it springs into being. Becenti can only control heat, not actual fire.¡±


    ¡°And you''re saying Chronilock¡¯s had rules, too?¡±


    ¡°Precisely. She can lock a room in place. Nothing grows here, Nash. Nothing dies, either. Bodies are put in stasis. Rocks do not erode. Water stops at the point that she decides, a domed room of trapped time. That is what we are in.¡±


    ¡°And she can apply that to bodies,¡± Nash said.


    ¡°To Rend, who I suspect had that happen to him as a side-effect of his battle with her. And when she passed, she did not decompose, both due to the lingering effects of her power and the Shard of Imagination still on the plane. That Shard is why time here is still stopped. Without it, water would rush through. The cities would sink. We''d best be on the boats if that were to happen.¡±


    ¡°So what''s your master plan, then?¡± Nash asked.


    ¡°Simple,¡± the elf said. She felt around her tattered robes, before producing from it a small pen.


    ¡°Nothing passes through the barrier easily,¡± she said, ¡°This place has felt the weight of an entire ocean pressing down on it for thousands of years, yet it has held strong and fast.¡±


    She tossed the pen up towards the azure ceiling. It plinked off of it, hitting against air and dropping down. Sunala caught it with a quick swipe of the palm.


    ¡°Then how did we get through?¡± she said.


    ¡°Through a door,¡± Nash said.


    ¡°A door that held back the sea,¡± Sunala said.


    ¡°...So there''s a rule, then,¡± Nash said, ¡°What do you suppose it is?¡±


    Sunala thought on this.


    ¡°I have an idea,¡± she said, ¡°But you won''t like it.¡±


    ¡°Shoot,¡± Nash said.


    ¡°At first, I thought that only the living could pass through,¡± Sunala said, ¡°But that wouldn''t work, would it?¡±


    ¡°Gluh''s a zombie. He''s technically not alive,¡± Nash said.


    ¡°Precisely. And we are two elves, a metahuman, a human, and a zombie. So it''s not bound by species.¡±


    ¡°...So what is it, then?¡± Nash said.


    ¡°A hand passes through the door. Water does not. Stone cannot. Pens cannot.¡±


    She wrinkled her nose down at her ballpoint at that.


    ¡°...Skin?¡± Nash said.


    ¡°Flesh. Bone. Blood. And all that owns it,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Else the plantlife would have crept in. And we aren''t naked, so that means that, so long as it''s touching us, non-flesh can travel with us.¡±


    ¡°So one of us can swim, then,¡± Nash said, ¡°Get to the surface.¡±


    ¡°We''re two hundred feet down, Nash,¡± Sunala said.


    ¡°I can make it,¡± Nash said, ¡°Or Phineas.¡±


    ¡°Our friend the Deep One is exhausted, and simple rest will not suffice,¡± Sunala said, ¡°He used up quite a few of his pacts with the Old Ones, and he''ll need to replenish them. Gluh is broken. Joseph and Rosemary aren''t strong enough to make the journey. Nor are you.¡±


    Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    ¡°Says you,¡± Nash said.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Sunala smiled, ¡°But I have a solution.¡±


    There was something in her voice that Nash did not like. Their eyes narrowed. Sunala was smiling again, a resigned, coy grin that did not reach her eyes.


    ¡°What... what did you have in mind?¡± Nash said.


    ¡°I have here the journal, in which is written what transpired, just buoyant enough that it will float to the surface, given time.¡±


    With a wave, she tossed it towards the roof. The journal bounced off, falling back to the palm, once more caught in the noblewoman''s hand.


    ¡°You see the problem,¡± she said.


    Something was dawning on Nash. They took a reflexive step back. Sunala had curled her fingers around the journal, making sure to hold it fast. Almost squeezing it, the way she gripped the small cube.


    ¡°And you see the solution,¡± she finished.


    ¡°I can''t let you do that, Sunala,¡± Nash said, ¡°There''s another way. I''ll swim. Maybe Joseph can, the kid''s tough-¡±


    ¡°You have already sacrificed enough, as has Mr. Zheng. All of you have, save for me.¡±


    Nash had gone pale. They considered Sunala''s words, then gave a nod. They knelt down by Sunala.


    ¡°The hems of my robe will suffice to bind the stump,¡± Sunala said, ¡°I need only a knife.¡±


    The Far Traveler nodded, pulling out their own. A gift from long ago. From Old Stoat.


    ¡°It''ll take a second to saw through the bone,¡± Nash said, ¡°And we don''t have any...¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Sunala''s voice was as calm as the sea above. She presented her hand out, ¡°Make it quick, Nash. I quite liked this hand.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Nash strode forward. They looked at her for a moment, ¡°Sorry about this.¡±


    ¡°Desperate times,¡± Sunala said, ¡°We are paying for a Shard, after all.¡±


    ¡°Don''t remind me,¡± Nash said. They raised up the knife, and brought it down.


    ***


    They bound Sunala''s wound quickly and expertly. Sunala took the wound in relative good cheer, that coy smile still masked on her face as Nash worked quickly so she would not immediately bleed to death.


    The hand, now free from its owner, still gripped the journal.


    ¡°And you''re sure it''ll float?¡± Nash said.


    ¡°Elves are light,¡± Sunala said, ¡°As is the journal. It will float.¡±


    ¡°And if it doesn''t?¡±


    ¡°That would be very humorous, wouldn''t it?¡± Sunala said.


    The Far Traveler just gave a sneer at that, before they finished tying off the wound with a final tug.


    ¡°Right,¡± they said, ¡°Now for the hard part.¡±


    They looked to the hand.


    ¡°Toss it, Nash,¡± Sunala said, ¡°No ceremony.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Nash knelt down and picked it up. The hand was still warm, the skin still smooth, as they gauged its weight. Sunala was right ¨C elves were light. It was practically a feather, as they gave a couple experimental throws, tossing it up and catching it.


    ¡°Maybe not so... casual?¡± Sunala said.


    ¡°Right, sorry,¡± Nash said, ¡°Alright, here we go.¡±


    They threw it upwards. The hand sailed up and, rather than bouncing off of the barrier, splashed into the water above. For a moment, it hung suspended in the sea, before it began drifting away.


    Away, and upwards.


    ***


    Wakeling had not left the site of the city''s sinking. Barbara hadn''t, either, the toucan wheeling about the sky in slow, calculated way. The toucans of Menzonarada relied on strong, warm currents to keep them aloft, else they needed to use a vast amount of energy to flap their wings and sail through the sky. There was no wind here, yet that did not stop the toucan. Her eyes were narrowed on the ocean''s surface, searching for any movement, any at all, that Nash''s team had made it out. Somehow.


    To be honest, she was running low on both stamina and hope. Yet she could feel Wakeling''s aura permeate the air around them. The guildmaster was not working off of hope, as her now-bloodshot eyes glared down at the water. There was no optimism in the witch. Only the the inability to accept the inevitable, a cold sort of guilt that she wore often whenever these situations arose.


    Barbara had known her long enough, which was why she flew so.


    It was not for her guildmates, whom the toucan was already mourning.


    It was for her.


    The communicator crackled to life. Broon''s haggard, tired voice rang through.


    ¡°Wakeling,¡± he said, ¡°We did it.¡±


    ¡°Both of them...?¡± Wakeling said.


    ¡°Aye,¡± Broon said, ¡°We''re injured, but nothing fatal. Becenti''s arms are twisted like a pretzel, though. We''ll need your magic for that.¡±


    ¡°Magic of some sort, at least,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Are the brothers...?¡±


    ¡°Heyma has Brother Bone locked down. He can''t harm her. Brother Brain fell into a null-point. He''s frozen in a pocket of time.¡±


    ¡°And no threat at all,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°I''m surprised you showed restraint, Broon.¡±


    Broon was quiet for a long time.


    ¡°Someone had to,¡± he said at length, ¡°Besides, it was Heyma and Mallory that finished the job.¡±


    ¡°Good girls,¡± Barbara said.


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Alright. Get yourselves patched up. Stay there.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Broon said, ¡°We''ll let you know when we''re ready to head out.¡±


    ¡°...Very well,¡± Wakeling said. With a blink, she winked off the communicator.


    ¡°You don''t want to leave,¡± Barbara said.


    ¡°Of course I don''t want to leave,¡± Wakeling spat, ¡°I''ve just lost a rather influential client, as well as five of our best.¡±


    Her voice caught for a moment. Barbara felt her old friend take a deep breath to steady herself.


    ¡°I can''t do keep doing this, Barb,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°We just lost Nole. I can''t lose so many so soon.¡±


    ¡°You said it yourself,¡± Barbara said, ¡°It''s part of the job.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°But the faces in the mirror are starting to crowd ''round. Getting in the way when I apply my mascara.¡±


    The toucan snorted at the poor attempt at humor.


    ¡°I.. the Zheng boy, his grandmother''s in that mirror, Barbara. I can''t tell F¨¥ngb¨¤o her grandson died on my watch.¡±


    Barbara made another pass, her wings having gone numb from exhaustion. She would need to land, and soon.


    ¡°Then don''t,¡± Barbara said, ¡°She''s dead.¡±


    ¡°Pretty soon I will be, too,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°I''m an old crone, Barb. I''ll be going to that great Circus in the Sky one of these days, and the great Zheng Chun, the F¨¥ngb¨¤o, will be glaring at me with that poison in her belly and that venom on her tongue.¡±


    She was rambling again. And she realized it, too, for Wakeling stopped talking.


    They made another wheel.


    ¡°I''m sorry, Barb,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°I''ve been using you again. You must be right tuckered out.¡±


    ¡°Quit apologizing,¡± Barbara said, ¡°I''m exhausted, but that''s because I want to be. I''m out here to find our friends.¡±


    ¡°But-¡±


    ¡°I''m overstepping my boundaries a bit, Vyde,¡± Barbara interrupted, ¡°And telling you to shut up.¡±


    ¡°Ha!¡± Wakeling said, ¡°You old bat.¡±


    ¡°Bird.¡±


    ¡°Same difference,¡± Wakeling said. Her good cheer died down once more, and she began to scan the ocean again.


    Barbara made a last flap of her wings. She hadn''t gone the distance in quite a long time. She was getting too old, she supposed. Better to be a librarian than some swashbuckling adventurer like Nash. The toucan knew she wouldn''t be able to fly for a few days after this, and that meant that she would need to use a godforsaken ladder to reach the top shelves of the library. Damn Vyde and her guilt. Why couldn''t she accept the truth, painful as it was?


    Nash and their team were gone.


    ¡°...There,¡± Wakeling said.


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    ¡°There!¡± the guildmaster repeated, ¡°Down below! I see it!¡±


    ¡°What do you see?¡±


    ¡°A hand!¡± Wakeling said, ¡°It floated up from the bottom! Dive down, you old bat! Go!¡±


    Barbara rolled her eyes, and swooped towards the surface.


    ***


    There were five who had been left behind on the island city, while the rest of the guild had spread out to the surrounding waterlogged sprawl that was Chliofrond. They were the researchers of the guild, the librarians and scientists who were here for their technical expertise. Save Wakeling, none of them were as experienced in the more rigorous aspects of exploration.


    Yet the five of them crowded around as Wakeling read the journal floating in front of her, the metahuman languages giving way to Elven, written quickly yet concisely. Lady Sunala recounted the entire experience she and Nash''s group had upon the city''s sinking. Their current predicament. Her theories on Chliofrond''s existence, as well as the nature of Chronilock''s power.


    After she was finished, the guildmaster passed it off to Tek, who shared it with Barbara, the two of them reading it over. Calacious Nine floated over them, the jellyfish pulsing reds and violets in thought.


    ¡°Alright, people,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°We''ve got some trapped guildmembers deep in the sea. Any ideas?¡±


    She looked over at each of them, waiting for an answer. Being the actually intelligent members of the guild, they were already ready with input.


    ¡°The obvious solution is we use Calacious Nine,¡± Tek said, ¡°They go down to the bottom, and retrieve them.¡±


    ¡°And the deep sea environment?¡± Wakeling said, ¡°That''s two hundred, maybe three hundred feet between them and the surface. Calacious Nine can handle it, but I¡¯m not sure the others can. It would be a gnarly ride.¡±


    Tek scratched his fur-covered chin. Barbara clacked her beak in thought. It was Calacious Nine who answered, flashing to greens and yellows. Wakeling watched their display, her brow furrowing with each new change in color.


    ¡°I should have brought more for this,¡± Wakeling said.


    ¡°Do you think you could do it with what you have?¡± Barbara asked.


    ¡°I believe so,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Besides, there''s still some residual energy from Mr. Phineas''s spellwork when we were identifying the sun that I could work with. It would take a few hours.¡±


    ¡°Do they have a few hours?¡± Barbara said.


    ¡°They''ve got food, air, and water. Plenty of that,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°They''ll hold out just fine until we get down there. Now shut up, all of you, I need to get to work.¡±


    ***


    They passed the hours in relative quiet. Wakeling went off on her own, to the same spot she and Phineas had been at the day before, her eyes squeezed shut in concentration. Words escaped her lips, darker phrases that aped the Deep One''s, mixed in with her own specialized magic. Communing with the Old Ones was not an easy task, especially not when their primary contact with the guild was MIA. But she worked all the same, sweat beading down her weathered, aged face. The rest of the team left her to her devices. Whiskey wandered to the edge of the island, watching the horizon forlornly. Barbara, in a state of quiet anxiety, began picking through her collection of books for something to read. Something new. Something she had not read before.


    ¡°Dammit,¡± she said, tossing each book aside, ¡°Dammit, dammit, dammit.¡±


    Tek and Calacious Nine, meanwhile, were making calculations on the computer array, their conversation quiet and intense as calculations ran on-screen. To Calacious Nine''s dismay, Tek had set up a handy visual aid for them to watch as the jellyfish went into the freshwater sea, drifting deeper and deeper until they hit the bottom. After hitting a hundred feet in the simulation, Tek noticed that Calacious Nine would flush from red to a pale, quiet blue. It took the mound a few go-arounds before he realized that Calacious Nine was scared.


    Scared of the deeps. Scared of what might be below, despite both of them knowing there was only dead stone and algae. But Calacious Nine had sought the surface world for a reason.


    Quietly, Tek turned the visual component of the calculations off, and rested a sympathetic hand on Calacious Nine.


    ¡°You''re much braver than I, old friend,¡± the mound said.


    Calacious Nine flashed red in response.


    ***


    ¡°We''ve got a problem,¡± Tek said.


    Wakeling did not respond. Whiskey, however, turned and shuffled back to the computer array. Barbara, a new book in claw (An Analysis on the Forms of Magic in Avenbrook), flew over to them. Tek went over the calculations on the computer one more time, before nodding in defeated acknowledgment.


    ¡°Right,¡± he said, ¡°We''ve gone over everything multiple times. Calacious Nine isn''t strong enough to pull them out.¡±


    He let the news settle in.


    ¡°Of us, they''re the one who can best withstand the pressure of the sea. They can also drift through it with their zen-fins well enough, better than, say, Whiskey.¡±


    ¡°Would Whiskey work for this?¡± Barbara said.


    ¡°Not that we can see,¡± Tek said, ¡°He''s too heavy, he''d sink like a stone. And we need to be able to pull Nash''s group up after we retrieve them.¡±


    Calacious Nine flashed green.


    ¡°There''s also that,¡± Tek said, ¡°That''s fifteen feet of open air between the sea and the tree that Nash is stationing their group at. Now, Calacious Nine can handle themself fine enough in the water, but they aren''t strong enough to pull each of them to the sea. Nor are their tentacles long enough to snake down.¡±


    ¡°Rope, then?¡± Barbara said.


    ¡°Maybe,¡± Tek said, ¡°But we would need something heavy to tie it to. Calacious Nine isn''t... ah...¡±


    The jellyfish pulsed purple in apology. They had tentacles, and while that worked just fine for interfaces and consoles, they weren''t fingers. They couldn''t tie the rope, nor were they strong enough to make sure the knot was tight enough.


    ¡°So by and large, that means one of us has to come along,¡± Tek said.


    They were quiet. The only sounds came from Wakeling, whose shuddering mutters were beginning to become loud enough for them to hear. Dark and morose, purple energy was beginning to flow around her in stripes and scabs.


    ¡°I''m too heavy,¡± Tek admitted.


    ¡°What about Whiskey?¡± Barbara said.


    ¡°No can do,¡± Tek produced the journal, ¡°Lady Sunala says that only things touching flesh and bone can pass through Chronilock''s shield. Whiskey''s made of wood. We''re not even sure if Calacious Nine would be able to get through. Is it flesh and blood, or just organic material? I''m betting on the former, as sensors are indicating no plantlife grows between the cracks of Chronilock''s power and the rest of the plane.¡±


    The group turned, as one, to look at Barbara.


    ¡°Wakeling, then?¡± the toucan said.


    ¡°...She''s a head,¡± Tek said.


    ¡°She''s a powerful witch, I''m sure she can think of something.¡±


    Calacious Nine displayed blue at first, as though afraid to challenge Barbara, before they shifted to a purple display.


    ¡°Calacious Nine is right,¡± Tek said, ¡°She''s our most powerful asset when she''s at Castle Belenus, but she''s just a talking head here.¡±


    ¡°The bitch,¡± Barbara said, ¡°The arrogance in that little, pea-sized brain of hers, the audacity to think that she could bring the bare minimum, while we''re all bringing our A-game. The sheer ignorance-¡±


    Calacious Nine went purple again. Barbara gave a huff.


    ¡°Very well,¡± she said, ¡°You''re scared, I''m scared. We shall be scared in this together.¡±


    ***


    Wakeling''s spell was finished, a quiet, vaguely violet bubble floating just on the surface of the sea. Deep rings lined beneath her eyes as Whiskey approached and scooped her up into his arms, turning her so she could face the group.


    ¡°It''s done,¡± she said, ¡°Enough to fit two people.¡±


    ¡°We''ll need to do it one at a time,¡± Tek said, ¡°Barbara''s going down with Calacious Nine.¡±


    ¡°Very well,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Barbara, you''re alright with that?¡±


    The toucan glared at her, but dipped her beak in acknowledgment.


    ¡°And Calacious Nine,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°I know that you hate deep-sea excursions like that, but are you prepared?¡±


    The jellyfish dimmed red in response.


    ¡°Very well,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Let''s save our guildmates.¡±


    She watched as Calacious Nine dipped into the water, hardly stirring up a ripple as their tentacles wrapped around the bubble, holding it fast just beneath their bell. Barbara dipped a claw in, her eyes narrowing as the claw sank in, easing herself into the pocket of magic air slowly, making sure not even a single feather touched the water. She floated in the bubble for a few moments, then clacked her beak. The sound came muffled through the bubble''s briny surface.


    ¡°Alright,¡± she warbled, ¡°Let''s do this.¡±


    Without another display, Calacious Nine dipped into the water, zen-fins rippling along their tentacles to propel them deeper and deeper into the sea. Light from the sun followed their descent, shining behind them like a bride¡¯s wake.


    They were alone, the only lights being from the algae below and the pulsing lights of Calacious Nine. Both toucan and jellyfish felt a thrill of quiet fear as they went down.


    But they were both afraid, and in that came a strange sort of kinship.


    They were together.


    Not alone.


    With naught but the sea around them.


    ***


    ¡°Hey, everyone, wake up.¡±


    Nash''s voice was calm, if a bit strained, as Joseph cast off his half-sleep with a weary, exhausted groan. Rosemary and Phineas were resting beside him, the three having drawn together sometime during the sleep. The thought made him feel both panicked yet happy for a moment, before he settled down as he looked up as Nash. The Far Traveler had a soft smile on their face.


    ¡°Morning,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Good chance we''re getting out of here, Joe,¡± Nash said.


    ¡°...What?¡±


    On the other side of the room, Gluh groaned. Whatever he said was enough for Rosemary to sit up suddenly.


    ¡°What''d he say?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Nash and Sunala wandered away,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°They''ve been doing some adventuring of their own, I see.¡±


    ¡°Something like that,¡± Nash said, ¡°Gluh, you''re a snitch and I hate you.¡±


    The zombie moaned in response. Rosemary gave a grin at... whatever he said. Joseph made a note to learn moanese if he got home.


    ¡°What''d you do?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°I didn''t do anything,¡± Nash said, ¡°Sunala''s the one who did most of the work. She''s up on the palm tree in the main tower outside.¡±


    ¡°She climbed up there?¡± Rosemary asked.


    ¡°Sure did. And she''s getting us out,¡± Nash said, ¡°We made a couple sacrifices, and the rest of the guild found us.¡±


    Joseph blinked.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Nash said, ¡°They¡¯re already here. Come on, let''s go.¡±


    They got up as one, stretching and groaning as they did so. Joseph''s back and joints were aching from sleeping on the wooden floor, but his mind, at least, was relatively sharpened now that he had gotten a moment of rest. Nash walked over and lifted up Gluh, wrapping the zombie''s arms over their back until he was a Gluh backpack.


    ¡°Get ready to do some climbing, folks,¡± Nash said.


    ¡°I... am unsure if I can do that,¡± Phineas said. The Deep One''s color had still not returned to his scales, and his waddling gait was unsteady and awkward as he followed along.


    ¡°I''ll carry you,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Thank you, Joseph.¡±


    ***


    They made their way through the dark forest at the base of the tower. Then, as a group, they ascended the great palm at the center. Joseph''s soul sprang to life, a cold sort of comfort washing over him as the eagle scooped Phineas up and put the Deep One on its back. Rosemary began scrambling up first, taking to the palm''s stem like a squirrel up an oak. Joseph followed up, soul''s great, hook-like claws burrowing deep and holding fast. His going was much slower, and he found that Nash, who was behind him, seemed to grow impatient and scurried up past him.


    ¡°Early drake gets the gold, Joe!¡± they said.


    ¡°Ah, shuddup,¡± Joseph said.


    The Far Traveler was grinning at him, though Joseph could tell it was a bit forced. There were deep rings under Nash''s eyes, and they were practically slipping as they hurried their climb up the stem, obviously in a rush.


    Something had happened.


    And they found out the dark truth of their rescue as they made their way to the top. Sunala, in the center of the palm, clutching her right arm, her hand replaced by a stump wrapped in her torn robes. Nash had hurried over to her side, and was quickly unbinding and replacing the tattered pieces of cloth with gauze.


    ¡°Oh my god!¡± Rosemary yelled. She ran over to the noblewoman, ¡°Oh my god!¡±


    ¡°It''s not as bad as it seems,¡± Sunala lied.


    ¡°Your hand''s gone,¡± Joseph had gone pale.


    ¡°Really, I had no idea,¡± Sunala said, and she wavered a bit.


    ¡°That''s enough talk, now,¡± Nash said, ¡°They¡¯re just above us.¡±


    They appointed up. Through a rent in the city was the ocean above, the sun just barely pushing through silent murk, eclipsed by the dark silhouette of a familiar, neon-pulsing jellyfish. Their lights flared briefly, bright green like verdant stars, cutting through the darkness as they made their way towards the gash in the city¡¯s roof.


    ¡°Calacious Nine,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Can they get through?¡±


    ¡°Perhaps, perhaps not,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Only things touching skin can pass through. I wonder if Calacious Nine¡¯s tentacles count as flesh?¡±


    ¡°Maybe,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°I¡¯m sure they¡¯ll figure something out, if not.¡±


    Almost as though on cue, a great mound of black feathers rushed through the rent. Barbara flew down, flapping her great wings to slow her descent as she landed on the palm tree in front of them.


    ¡°Barbara!¡± Rosemary threw herself at the toucan, pushing the bird back a bit. Barbara was taken aback, but nonetheless covered the elf with a single, great wing.


    ¡°Rosemary,¡± she said, ¡°Are you all alright?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Sunala said, ¡°The rest of us¡­¡±


    She glanced back. Barbara took stock of the situation, narrow eyes moving to analyze each member of the group.


    ¡°There¡¯s room for myself and one other,¡± she said, ¡°This is going to require multiple trips.¡±


    ¡°Phineas first,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°No,¡± Nash cut in. Joseph turned to the Far Traveler. They had a stern look on their face as they said, ¡°Sunala¡¯s our client, and she¡¯s the one who needs immediate medical attention. Phineas next, then Gluh, then Joe, and finally Rosemary.¡±


    ¡°Then you, right?¡± Rosemary said.


    The Far Traveler nodded.


    Barbara clacked her beak a few times, then nodded. She extended her wings, flapping them a few times, taking to the air for a brief moment. Though there was little wind to help her on her way, the toucan nevertheless had a determined glare in her eyes, as her claws wrapped around Sunala¡¯s shoulders and she took off. She flapped, bobbing upwards until she hit the rent once more, going into the bubble that Calacious Nine held in their tentacles.


    There was silence as they watched the trio disappear.


    A few hours later, Barbara came down again.


    ¡°Right,¡± she said, ¡°That was the worst thing I¡¯ve ever done. You all owe me drinks after this.¡±


    ¡°We owe you our lives, Barb,¡± Nash said.


    ¡°Oh please,¡± Barbara said, ¡°I prefer my scotch whiskey aged at least twenty years, nothing younger. Now, Phineas next.¡±


    She gingerly picked the Deep One up, her claws oddly gentle as she lifted him into the air, disappearing through the rent, her feathers hardly wettened by the entry into the bubble. Calacious Nine disappeared.


    ¡°...Where the hell are we going to get scotch whiskey?¡± Rosemary said, ¡°All they have in Scuttleway is ale and wine.¡±


    ***


    As was promised, Gluh went next. The zombie moaned as Barbara lifted him into the air, becoming murky and bubbly, and then disappeared entirely, as Calacious Nine lifted themself back up towards the surface world.


    Joseph, Rosemary, and Nash waited in silence. None of them spoke, each too exhausted to really bring up any conversation.


    Then, Barbara came down for Joseph. The toucan looked tired, worn out from the constant journeying into the depths of the sea. But she didn¡¯t make a fuss as she lifted Joseph up, delivering him into the bubble, wrapping her wings around him as Calacious Nine ascended.


    The journey to the surface was silent, the only sounds being the strange, pulsing ripples of Calacious Nine¡¯s tentacles, small, hair-like fins rowing them through the sea. The world became lighter and lighter as they went, the natural light of the sun beginning to filter through the murk.


    Until finally, they breached the surface. The bubble roiled as Calacious Nine made their way back to the base camp. Joseph squinted in the harsh, full light of the surface world as the bubble opened up. A great, fuzzy hand reached down, one which Joseph took.


    Tek pulled him up, adjusting his glasses.


    ¡°Hullo, Joe,¡± the mound said, ¡°Looks like you made it.¡±

 37. Expeditions End

    The Anar Isilye was the fourth ship to crest out of the rent in reality and splash into the silent surface of the dead plane. She was a vessel of Scuttleway, bought directly from the Greater Elven Committee of Exploration. She had been refashioned by the nobles of Scuttleway into one of their largest trading vessels, a carrier able to weather anything the multiverse threw at her.


    But she had started as a warship.


    Three hundred years had she served as one, fashioned for the skirmishes and battles of Younger Leuthra, between the Entethia and the Silune. As such, the Anar Isilye was a hodge-poge of new wood and old planking, parts of the ship¡¯s hull having been replaced completely in some places. Even then, she was pockmarked with scars, dark criss-crosses that had faded with age as though she were alive.


    Wakeling could not help but glare at the ship as she swanned across the lake-like sea, off-white and marbled like the statues of Chliofrond, Scuttleway sailors worked to moor beside the Gil-Galad. In between their work, they gawked at the sight of the floating cities, the overgrown forests of flora and stone, stared at the calm waters, a few of them even rappelling down to cup their hands into the water and drink its green-tinted taste. No doubt this journey was the first time they had truly left Londoa behind, for it wasn''t often that Scuttleway ventured out into the multiverse like this.


    Such things were looked down upon by the High Federation.


    Tek was holding Chronilock''s journal between two of his claws. Sunala herself was being attended to by Calacious Nine, the jellyfish looking over the noblewoman¡¯s stump of a hand in a small tent.


    The bitch had paid for her secrecy, at least.


    After lashing ropes to the floating city, the sailors brought down the gangplank, and the captain stepped off. He was an elf bedecked in a deep blue waistcoat, a tricorn hat atop his head from which the pure white feather of an arctic moa sprang towards the sky. He walked with a swaggering, almost excitable demeanor as he approached Wakeling and Whiskey. The great marionette had returned to his usual place of holding the guildmaster on a pillow, and he creaked slightly as he adjusted his grip so that Wakeling could stare eye-to-eye with the troll.


    ¡°Captain Rulthuril,¡± the elf said.


    ¡°Guildmaster Vyde Wakeling.¡±


    ¡°The pleasure''s mine,¡± Captain Rulthuril said, ¡°I''ve heard quite a bit about you.¡±


    ¡°I''m sure you have,¡± Wakeling said, giving a false, strained smile, ¡°Glad that you''ve arrived safely.¡±


    ¡°Had a bit of trouble on the way over,¡± the captain said, adjusting his hat, ¡°Nothing major! A few eln meia pirates back home, a bad storm on Redenia that gave us a bit of pause.¡±


    ¡°It is a dangerous plane,¡± Wakeling said.


    ¡°Agreed, on that,¡± Rulthuril said, ¡°Now, where is Lady Sunala...?¡±


    ¡°In a bit of a bind,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°We¡¯ve injured with us, including our good lady, the client.¡±


    ¡°Ah, dear,¡± the captain said, ¡°Sounds like you¡¯ve had the run of it. No need to worry, guildmaster Wakeling, we¡¯ve plenty of medical mages aboard.¡±


    ¡°Good. I presume you can work on the rest of us? Over half of us are exhausted or injured in some way.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Rulthuril said, ¡°Point me in the direction I need to go.¡±


    ¡°Whiskey,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Be a dear and guide our good captain to where Lady Sunala is.¡±


    The great puppet gave a shuddering nod, letting Wakeling alight back to the air as he ambled away. Rulthuril tipped his hat to Wakeling, following the puppet to the small tent that held the noblewoman. Wakeling gave a false smile at the captain¡¯s back.


    A second part of the expedition, one that had come so soon. No doubt the Scuttleway government had set up an outpost on Redenia as soon as the guild had given them the map to the dead plane. Stationed ships there, hidden from the Silver Eye. A risky gamble, one that had paid off.


    If it hadn¡¯t, if the plane had been inhabited¡­


    Wakeling decided not to dwell on that for very long. A cursory glance at the worst case scenarios, at the could-have-beens and the what-ifs, before she shook her head with a defeated smirk.


    All of this was risky.


    And all of it, Wakeling knew, came from Sunala.


    Would Wakeling say anything? Of course not. Scuttleway was paying well, and they had been more than gracious hosts, allowing Castle Belenus to stand as the guildhall and attracting visitors from across the multiverse. It was simple business, what was going on here. Skirting the law, bending it somewhat, but still within reasonable expectations.


    Besides, Vyde Wakeling was many things, but she wasn''t a narc.


    ***


    A few more days passed as the medical mages who had come from the Anar Isilye tended to the guild''s wounds. They were efficient, hired from Darkheld Landmass, eln meia all, blue-skinned and veterans of the recent unification wars that had been raging there. As such, they were prepared for the mangled limbs and the collapsed ribcages of Brother Bone''s victims, as well as the various gashes Broon''s team had experienced during their battle with the Brothers Corpo. It wasn''t enough ¨C they would need more specialized magic for Dama Runebreaker and Ichabod, but they managed to untangle Becenti, at least, as well as treat Sunala''s missing hand so that it stopped bleeding, the wound closing up with flesh.


    ¡°Missing hands is regular business, for us,¡± one of the eln meia said, ¡°Happens every week, it seems.¡±


    ¡°You want a hook?¡± the other eln meia asked Sunala.


    ¡°That will be quite alright,¡± Sunala said, ¡°But thank you.¡±


    But nonetheless, Rosemary could see her feeling at the end of her arm, where her hand was, ghost senses obviously peppering her wrist. She was taking the loss of the hand in stride, acting much like the great palm in the city below, impassive and tall. She noticed Rosemary''s staring.


    ¡°Well?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Sorry,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°It''s just...¡±


    ¡°I am fine, my dear,¡± Sunala said, ¡°A missing hand is a small price to pay for our lives. Yours, especially.¡±


    Rosemary found herself blushing at that.


    ¡°I-I suppose,¡± she said.


    Sunala, however, had turned away from her. She was staring out past the base camp and towards the small boat, where sat Heyma with her boot on Brother Bone''s neck.


    ¡°I suppose I should speak to him,¡± she said.


    ¡°You want me to come with?¡± Rosemary asked.


    Sunala smiled, ¡°I would like that. I do need a new bodyguard, after all.¡±


    Captain Rulthuril joined them, taking oars in hand and steering them towards Heyma. He was obviously a close friend to Sunala, the two of them exchanging casual pleasantries as he rowed them across the silent waters. But his bravado became a bit strained as they drew closer to the metahuman prisoner.


    ¡°You sure this is smart?¡± he asked.


    ¡°If Nelthel tries anything funny, dear Heyma will snap his neck.¡±


    ¡°Brother Bone, milady,¡± Rulthuril said.


    ¡°...Yes,¡± Sunala said, ¡°I suppose I should use his proper name, shouldn''t I?¡±


    Rulthuril gave a sad nod.


    ¡°Messed up, what happened,¡± he said, ¡°He and Spin- Brain, were good blokes.¡±


    Heyma waved to them as Rulthuril guided the rowboat next to hers. Brother Bone was on the boat''s bottom, twisted like a pretzel to accommodate the Dullahan''s boot on his neck, his arms forced into awkward angles and his legs scrunched together. It reminded Rosemary of pictures she had seen of babies in the womb, all fetal-like and awkward.


    ¡°Brother Bone,¡± Sunala said.


    ¡°Milady,¡± Bone''s voice was polite.


    ¡°You want me to stand him up?¡± Heyma asked.


    ¡°Please, I want to talk face-to-face,¡± Sunala said.


    Heyma nodded, removing her boot and picking up Brother Bone by the scruff of his coat. The metahuman looked to be in a bad way, multiple cuts and bruises pocking his face, including a rather large, purple welt on his forehead, the final shot that had done him in. Sunala pursed her lips.


    ¡°My goodness, Bone. You picked a bad time to turn in your two weeks.¡±


    ¡°Is Brain alright?¡± Bone asked.


    ¡°Still in the null-point,¡± Sunala said, ¡°It will take time to retrieve him. Then, you and your brother are to stand trial in Scuttleway, on the charges of treason and attempted murder.¡±


    ¡°I''m glad you''re alive, at least,¡± Bone said, ¡°It really messed Brain up, when we learned you had sunk.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Sunala deadpanned.


    ¡°Honest, milady,¡± Bone said, ¡°You were a good boss.¡±


    ¡°But not good enough for you to betray me. Betray us.¡±


    ¡°We had our own reasons,¡± Bone said, ¡°I assure you, Milady Sunala, there was nothing personal in what we did.¡±


    ¡°It felt personal, Nelthel. Incredibly so. You''ve done quite a number on both the Amber Foundation and your own compatriots back home.¡±


    Bone winced.


    ¡°You can say there was nothing personal,¡± Sunala continued, ¡°But that does not ignore the fact that you spent six months as my personal assistant. Lived in my house. Worked alongside me. Gave me your opinions. You were...¡±


    She took a deep breath.


    ¡°You were my friend, Nelthel.¡±


    Nelthel was quiet. His face fell, shame welling in his eyes as he looked down to the water.


    ¡°I''m not going to attend the trial. I will give my testimony by scroll, as is my right as a noble of Scuttleway. I do not want to see you again, Nelthel. Brother Bone. If you or your brother somehow escape the grasp of the law, know that if I see your face again, you will not face the city''s justice.¡±


    Her eyes hardened. Her remaining hand twisted into a fist.


    ¡°You will face mine.¡±


    She turned to Rulthuril.


    ¡°I''ve said my piece, Captain. Let''s head back to camp.¡±


    ¡°Right-on, milady,¡± Rulthuril said. He gave a last, pitying glance at Bone, then cast off back towards the city once more.


    ***


    Brother Brain had not moved from his spot after Mallory had kicked him into the null-point. Indeed, the battle''s damage had done a number on the small room. Many of the tables and desks had been upended during the battle, and steam curled around the observatory''s edges.


    ¡°Whoops, sorry,¡± Mallory said, ¡°Let me get that for you, ma''am.¡±


    She brought out a hand, and the steam swirled to it, forming a small ball that hovered over her open palm for a brief moment, before it suffused down and drank into the pores on her fingers. For a Steamer, it was better to recycle than to disperse. Already she could tell she''d messed up the room, perhaps more so than the oaf trapped in time. The papers and scrolls in the observatory had gotten wet, a few inky patches already smearing. The great telescope''s eyepiece was fogged over, and Mallory hoped that she hadn''t damaged the contraption much.


    ¡°Excellent work, Ms. Freemason,¡± Wakeling said. She had, notably, left Whiskey at the door, and was now floating around the room, peering at the wrecked wonders. The old bat had a way of sniffing when she was in places like these, her nostrils expanding out so much Mallory could almost see her nose hairs.


    This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Nash came in third, followed by Sunala. The noblewoman gave a sad, disappointed lilt at Brother Brain, before she went back to business, her eyes sliding over to the telescope.


    ¡°So the Shard''s in there, then,¡± she said.


    ¡°Yup,¡± Mallory said, ¡°Ezel''s the one who realized it.¡±


    The elven woman nodded, taking a few strides over. She had changed out of her damp, torn robes and into something more befitting her station ¨C a flowing, almost flowery get-up that was out of place in the relative wear and tear of the expedition. Perhaps she had decided to put on a front to the crew aboard the Anar Isilye, the imperious noblewoman guiding the entire expedition by sheer will and strength alone.


    Or, perhaps, with the way she kept rubbing the sudden end of her wrist, she was putting on a front for herself, proving she was still the Lady Sunala.


    ¡°Well, Sunala?¡± Wakeling said, ¡°What''s the plan?¡±


    Sunala stared at it for a long while, her face inscrutable. Behind her, Mallory noticed Nash cross their arms, their eyes smoldering as they glowered at the noblewoman''s back.


    ¡°It''s not worth removing it for now,¡± Sunala said, ¡°We''ll keep it here, but I want to keep tabs on this place. Make sure that it''s guarded.¡±


    ¡°I can arrange that,¡± Wakeling said.


    ¡°That won''t be necessary,¡± Sunala said, ¡°But thank you. You''ve done...¡±


    She made another glance at Brother Brain. One that she held for a moment, before turning back to the guildmaster.


    ¡°You''ve gone above and beyond what was expected, milady,¡± she said, ¡°The crew of the Anar Isilye will take it from here.¡±


    ***


    Joseph found Becenti at the edge of the camp, away from the commotion of the base camp. Everything had become so much livelier now that the Anar Isilye had arrived. The adrenaline of triumph was permeating throughout the guild, and the camp had, as a result, turned into one of drinking and music. The crew of the Anar Isilye had brought out instruments, and were playing a cacophonous chorus of sea shanties that kept getting interrupted with the desperate, excited laughter of the inebriated. Already a few of the guild were getting drunk, Contort coughing chuckles out with a hobgoblin, Broon ¨C who had just returned from the medical bay, bandages and patches covering parts of his body ¨C draining an entire mug of rum as a combination of sailors and guildmates gawked.


    At any other time of the day, Joseph would have joined them. A good party was a good party, after all. Any excuse to get drunk, especially after the bullshit he had just been through.


    But Becenti was at the edge of the camp. The older man had ghosted his way past the reverie and was now staring out at the city once more. His face was a forlorn sketch, one that creased away slightly as he noticed Joseph''s approach.


    ¡°Ah, Mr. Zheng,¡± he said, ¡°I''m glad to see you''re safe.¡±


    ¡°Same with you,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Heard you were those Brothers'' hostage.¡±


    ¡°I am fine, now,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I got out alright, compared to a few of our guildmates.¡±


    Joseph winced at that. Meleko had already sped off on the Titania Amber, the most grievously wounded of the guild ¨C Phineas, Ezel, Dama Runebreaker, and Ichabod ¨C aboard.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± he said, ¡°At least no one''s dead.¡±


    ¡°Of that, I am thankful,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Wakeling is, too. But she won''t show it.¡±


    ¡°Sure,¡± Joseph said, ¡°She¡¯s the guildmaster, after all. She hardly cares, or pretends to hardly care.¡±


    There was an ocean of emotion behind that, one Becenti could just feel beneath Joseph¡¯s words, but he decided not to prod further.


    ¡°Still, she''s glad,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I''m glad.¡±


    He stared down at his hands, opening them and closing them, as though they weren''t quite there.


    ¡°I didn''t expect the game to go quite like that. It''s not everyday you get Reclaimationists like the Brothers Corpo.¡±


    ¡°They''re supervillains, right?¡± Joseph found it odd to say ¡®supervillains¡¯ so casually. They were for the movies, right? But then, he''d already seen far crazier...


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Becenti interrupted his train of thought, ¡°Which is why I didn''t recognize them at first. Supervillains on Prime are usually more... flamboyant.¡±


    ¡°And you used to be a superhero,¡± Joseph''s smile became devillish, ¡°Dude, what was your superhero name?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Mirage Man? Super Fighting Heatwave Lad!¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Heatsink.¡±


    ¡°...That is good, actually,¡± Becenti conceded, ¡°But enough, Joseph. We should prepare ourselves for the return home.¡±


    Joseph''s grin dropped.


    ¡°We aren''t staying?¡±


    ¡°A few of us are,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Tek and Calacious Nine will be tracking to see if anything happens to the cities. Nash, too, to make sure Sunala doesn''t try anything funny.¡±


    ¡°...Do you think she will?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°She was after the Shard, here,¡± Becenti said, ¡°And though she''s promised not to move it...¡±


    He sighed. An angry look passed over him, one that was subsumed by whatever made Becenti get through the day. Joseph could almost see it, a ripple in his stony complexion. A lifetime of anger, smoothed over and forced calm.


    Joseph could sympathize, and said nothing as Becenti turned to once more stare out at the dead plane. At its calm waters, the cities floating gently in the silent drift. Overgrown with life, teeming with flora, trees and grasses and vines and flowers that overtook the statues and deeds of Chliofrond.


    ¡°I don''t care, Mr. Zheng,¡± Becenti said.


    And they both knew that he lied.


    ***


    The night''s festivities continued unabated, despite the Lady Sunala''s somber mood. Rosemary noticed that something had left the elf''s eyes. That manic spirit had abated somewhat, the way she interacted with the guild and her crew wooden and artificial. Not stilted ¨C she was far too good of a speaker for that. But a mask had washed over her.


    ¡°Will you follow me, Rosemary?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Yeah, of course,¡± Rosemary replied, ¡°Where to?¡±


    ¡°Just to the Gil-Galad,¡± Sunala said.


    They took one of the smaller rowboats to the moon-colored galleon. In comparison to the party blaring in the distance, the flashing lights of the Nora Lanterns and the bonfires of the crew, the Gil-Galad was quiet. Isolated. Lonely, even.


    Sunala made her way to her personal quarters. They were made up much like the room she had lodged in back at Castle Belenus, books stacked to the ceiling, random bits of parchment with random bits of inky scribbles, writings and sketches of statues of the rulers of Chliofrond. The whole place was cast in the dark glow of a single candle, Sunala''s work as the elf rummaged around her desk for a few moments. She brought out a silver cube.


    ¡°A Silverfish,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°One of the latest models,¡± the Lady Sunala said, ¡°A recent gift from a cousin. She''s an ambassador to the High Federation.¡±


    ¡°An Elven one?¡± Rosemary asked.


    ¡°Naturally,¡± Sunala said, ¡°All elves are unified, Rosemary. Or rather, we try our best to be...¡±


    She clicked a small button on the cube, and it unfurled like the pages of a tome. The Silverfish began pinging for nearby Traveling Points and, finding the one they had reached through, glowed white.


    ¡°It''s a combination of Federation technology and Elven ingenuity,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Opens a portion of a Traveling Point and sends out a communication signal.¡±


    ¡°Like that old communicator Tek has,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°Newer by a couple thousand years,¡± Sunala smiled, ¡°And it doesn''t need to be touching the Traveling Point to activate. Very new. Cutting edge, something the Silver Eye sees very little of nowadays.¡±


    The glow turned green.


    ¡°Ah, a ping,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Fortunately, Londoa is in the forecast.¡±


    A few moments passed, before an old, gruff voice tinned through the Silverfish.


    ¡°Lily-Ann.¡±


    ¡°Busciver,¡± Sunala said. This made Rosemary lean forward a bit. It wasn''t every day that you heard the Doge of Scuttleway''s voice. Rosemary had seen paintings of him ¨C an old gnome, bent with age, his bushy white eyebrows covering his eyes, a spear-shaped nose drill out of the center of his potato-shaped head. Yet Doge Busciver had been leading Scuttleway for almost fifty years. His voice was the city''s voice.


    Besides, she knew looks could be deceiving.


    ¡°I trust the expedition went swimmingly?¡± he chuckled.


    ¡°...Hardly,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Spinlock and Nelthel were metahumans. They betrayed us. We barely got out with our lives.¡±


    ¡°Oh, dear,¡± Busciver said, ¡°I told you they were trouble.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Sunala said, ¡°But what matters is that the Shard is secure.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Busciver replied, ¡°And... are you alright?¡±


    Even though the old gnome could not see her, Sunala hid her left wrist behind her right.


    ¡°The Shard demands much,¡± she said, ¡°But I have given payment.¡±


    ¡°...Right,¡± Busciver said, ¡°But don''t give too much to it, Lily-Ann. It''s not the Shard that I''m interested in, anyhow. What''s the plane like?¡±


    ¡°It''s... gorgeous, Busciver,¡± Sunala said, ¡°A metahuman city floats on its surface.¡±


    ¡°It has a sea, then?¡±


    ¡°A freshwater one,¡± Sunala replied.


    The Doge gave an excited, childish, and all too out-of-character squeal.


    ¡°Fascinating! Utterly so!¡± he said, ¡°Oh, very good!¡±


    Sunala gave a sad smile at that.


    ¡°Well, with that stage down, I''ve got some good news for you,¡± Busciver said, ¡°The papers just went through this morning. Your gamble paid off, Lily-Ann. The High Federation has accepted the lack of sapient life as reason to grant the plane to Scuttleway.¡±


    Sunala nodded, ¡°As suspected.¡±


    ¡°Quite the gamble, yes...¡± Busciver said, ¡°Now, Admiral Roan is on his way now to finish the chronicling of the plane. He''s taking the Third Fleet. A Federation advisor will be accompanying him, to make sure that there isn''t anything dangerous about the metahuman city.¡±


    ¡°It''s... half-sunk,¡± Sunala said.


    ¡°You can never be too careful, with these kinds of people,¡± Busciver said, ¡°Metahumans can be sneaky and sly when they want to be. But you¡¯ve seen that already, haven¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Sunala said.


    There was a small stretch of silence. Busciver seemed reluctant as he spoke again.


    ¡°Lily-Ann, I want you to return to Scuttleway.¡±


    Sunala blinked.


    ¡°I would prefer to stay here-¡±


    ¡°You''ve done quite a bit of work already, my dear,¡± Busciver said, ¡°The good Admiral will take things from here. Besides, I want you close. Darker things are coming up at the gala.¡±


    ¡°I must insist,¡± Sunala started.


    ¡°Lady Sunala,¡± Busciver chided, ¡°The city funds this venture, not you.¡±


    ¡°And did I not volunteer my fortune for this venture?¡± Sunala said, ¡°Those are elven craft that are in the waters, Busciver.¡±


    ¡°Elven by origin, Scuttleway by trade,¡± Busciver said, ¡°Lily-Ann, please. There are... whispers and rumors about. I need my friends close. Especially now.¡±


    Sunala sighed.


    ¡°Very well, then,¡± she said.


    ¡°Good. Thank you,¡± Busciver said, ¡°Now, you caught me at an inopportune time! It''s near three in the morning! I should get back to sleep.¡±


    ¡°Of course, Busciver,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Good night.¡±


    ¡°Sleep tight,¡± Busciver said, ¡°Don''t let the bedbugs-¡±


    Sunala clicked the Silverfish off. Her look was a dark, glowering one that stuck to the silver cube for a few moments, before exhaustion forced her to drop it. She rubbed her face, though that seemed to remind her, once more, of her missing hand. She stared at the stump.


    ¡°There should be magic that can regrow it, right?¡± Rosemary asked.


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± Sunala said.


    ¡°Or maybe you can get permission from the Feds to get a robot hand. Or a wooden one, those are all the rage on Kelstonda-¡±


    ¡°It is alright, Rosemary,¡± Sunala said, ¡°If I need it, I will get it regrown. But that is merely for appearances'' sake, if it harms my political career.¡±


    She rested her arm on the desk.


    ¡°One must keep up facades, after all. If this is not the case, then it is a small price to pay. One must live with the decisions they make.¡±


    ¡°...Oh,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Yeah, I guess so. You live with what happens in your life.¡±


    Even if they¡¯re not your fault, but she kept mum on saying that.


    ¡°I''m more angry that, once more, my ventures are pulled back by petty politics,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Busciver is a kind man. He thinks of me as his daughter, but that means he treats me like one, too.¡±


    ¡°Likes yankin'' you back to his side?¡± Rosemary guessed.


    ¡°He doesn''t seem to realize that I have dreams outside of being a merchant in Scuttleway,¡± Sunala said.


    She leaned back in her chair. Light from the city filtered in through the window, muted as it was, the only other source being the candle on the edge of Sunala''s desk.


    ¡°That''s why I came here,¡± Sunala said, ¡°As part of my dream.¡±


    ¡°To better Scuttleway,¡± Rosemary said.


    But the elven woman smiled.


    ¡°My dreams go beyond Scuttleway, dear Rosemary. My dream is for all elves. Even you, pretender that you are.¡±


    Rosemary blushed again.


    ¡°Thanks for not telling anyone,¡± she said.


    ¡°Your secret is safe with me, Rosemary,¡± Sunala said, ¡°I''ve grown to quite like you. You performed admirably in the city below.¡±


    ¡°...You think?¡±


    ¡°I know.¡±


    And Rosemary just about melted into a puddle. Sunala''s mood improved as the two talked into the night, working on a couple pieces of Elven history, discussed what to do with an entire plane''s worth of drinking water, about the guild, about the night, about how fireflies lit up the void between stars, about how cold it got in winter, and about all things mundane and yet not.


    ***


    Another Scuttleway ship planeshifted onto the freshwater plane the next day. With approval from the Federation, more and more ships would come to lay claim upon the dead plane.


    Not dead anymore, Joseph supposed. But then, it had always been alive, in some shape or form.


    With the emphasis on Scuttleway colonization, the role of the guild was fading. Already most of them were packing up, taking their belongings and storing them aboard the Dreamer''s Lament.


    To be frank, Joseph was glad. The entire journey had been interesting, but he was ready to get on back to Castle Belenus. There was still more research to be done, after all. A pang of guilt hit him as he realized, while helping Broon lift a couple boxes onto a dolly, that he had been hoping to find some hint of a way home. Carvings of Anut¨¦ and Inweth, maybe. A map of the multiverse that tracked the various forecasts in a way that made sense. A giant door that read ''THIS WAY TO EARTH.''


    But nothing. A hollow opportunity. Another false lead-


    One of the crates slipped off the dolly. Broon gave a warning shout, but Joseph sprouted an electrical arm, which caught the crate and set it back into place.


    ¡°Thanks, Joe,¡± Broon said, ¡°You''ve gotten pretty good at that metahuman thing, haven''t you?¡±


    Inwardly, Joseph cringed at the corniness of Broon''s good cheer. Yet he knew the half-orc was completely genuine.


    ¡°Well,¡± Broon said, ¡°I hope you had a ¡®crate¡¯ time, after everything.¡±


    The half-orc laughed at his dumb joke, despite the bandage around his head and the subtle limp in his step. Joseph could not help but smile.


    Maybe the expedition hadn''t been a complete waste.


    Most of the supplies was being left behind, a donation to the Scuttleway Militia, though Rosemary had notably picked up a Nora Lantern as a souvenir. Becenti cast one final, lasting look at the place. He was back in his polite business suit, once more the gentleman right hand of the guild. It was as though he had never come here, his wounds dressed and hidden beneath those heavy sleeves.


    ¡°Did you want to stay?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°I...¡± Becenti whispered. Then, he turned to Joseph and the Dreamer, ¡°No. I wish. Dearly, I do. But there is work to be done, Mr. Zheng.¡±


    Joseph nodded, ¡°Alright, then. Bye, Chliofrond.¡±


    ¡°...Indeed,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Goodbye... Chliofrond.¡±


    The Dreamer cast off. She ran through the silent waters and into the stale sky, breaching into the Traveling Point and warping away. Away from Chliofrond and her temples, from the overgrown ruins of Epochia, from the memories and histories held there, and from the Shard that bound the legacy together.

 38. Spirit of the Hunt

    Dawn was just breaking through as Becenti stepped out of Castle Belenus. It was a quiet journey as he made his way down the road and through the city gates, the dew still clinging to the grass plains, the Inner Sun just beginning to flare into existence. He had, at first, found the interior of Londoa strange ¨C the sun burning suddenly, then winking out as it crested towards the east, a mirror that never really quite went past the horizon.


    Yet it was now home, of a sorts. There was still a cold nip in the air, like those bygone days of desert winter, not cold enough to snow but certainly cold enough to make one want to curl up in bed and sleep ''til noon. There was still that odd paradox of tiredness mixed with anticipation of the new day, still that sonder feeling of the world waking up alongside you, feeling the same feelings, a thousand worlds opening their eyes.


    He felt that now, as Scuttleway awoke behind him.


    Unfortunate, then, that he was not going to the bakery like others, or to the arena for practice, or to the library with its armies of books to read.


    The starship was waiting for him just down the road, a silvery, bulbous creature that reminded Becenti of a shiny dung beetle. Green lights pulsed on its hull, with four insectile legs holding its bottom off the ground. Its name, proudly displayed on her side in High Federation Basic, was Little Geezer (Property of Pagan Chorus)


    Pagan Chorus. The guild he would be working with on this outing. The guild of the Silver Eye. High Federation military, dressed up in the rags of mercenaries and the legality of nomads. Valm''s lapdogs, if he were being honest. But he wouldn''t say that to their faces.


    The enemy of my enemy, and all that.


    One of the guildmembers stepped off of the Little Geezer, bedecked in ivory-white combat armor, a riff on the Federation Peacekeeper''s riot gear, scarred and flaked by many years of combat, wear, and repair, clashing with the fact that the armor''s wearer had the head of a doe, innocent yet wild, the totality of nature within those dark, orbular eyes.


    ¡°Rhunea,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Ho, Shimmer,¡± Rhunea said.


    ¡°Just... Becenti, please.¡±


    ¡°Discarded your name, then?¡±


    ¡°Picked up my old one,¡± Becenti said, ¡°My days of Shimmer are long behind me.¡±


    But Shimmer''s actions are not, Becenti knew. That''s why he was here, after all.


    ¡°Climb aboard, should only be a few hours,¡± Rhunea said. She beckoned him inside. The Little Geezer was comfortable and sparse, with the only seats being the pilot and passenger¡¯s at the front.


    ¡°It''s a modified troop transport,¡± Rhunea explained, ¡°A prototype that the guildmaster bought off of the Federation military. Nothing too fancy, but she''s pretty.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Becenti said.


    The Little Geezer''s engines were a drone-like buzz as it took off, the plains below becoming a blur as it whizzed towards the Traveling Point, jumping higher and higher into the air in spurts of energy, a distinct plasma trail burning behind it.


    ¡°I hope you''ve been well, Becenti,¡± Rhunea said.


    ¡°Well enough,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Must be worried, if you''re seeking out the prisons after this long.¡±


    ¡°...A project of mine, shall we say,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Something to ease my anxieties.¡±


    ¡°Because of Dakos, eh?¡± Rhunea said.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Becenti chose his words carefully, ¡°Indeed.¡±


    ¡°Don''t worry about him,¡± Rhunea said, ¡°He''s been sighted on Tresta, the Runway, and Caoshao. Nowhere near Prime.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Becenti said, ¡°But if he goes after the rest of the Sons...¡±


    ¡°He won''t,¡± Rhunea said, ¡°He knows he''s too weak right now. And when he''s strong, Pagan Chorus will be ready.¡±


    Becenti kept his mouth shut on that. There was a hint of overconfidence in Rhunea''s voice. But then, Pagan Chorus was a powerful guild, and their track record against the Sons of Darwin had more victories than defeats.


    The Traveling Point was on Darkheld Landmass, on the other side of the inner lands of Londoa. Eln meia galleons treaded the dark waters, as there was no Inner Sun here. The Traveling Point itself was over the sea. One moment there was the dark world of Londoa, the next they were cutting through imagination itself, carving through the desert, making their way through open sky, until they finally reached their destination.


    They traded hardly a word with the other as they went. Memories swam in Becenti''s mind of his time with Rhunea, on the outpost worlds of the Outer Reach, fighting back against the Manticore''s empire. Back then, there had been the United Guilds. The Silver Knights. Dreams in the night ¨C dashed by the war''s end, of course. But still, they were dreams.


    But thirty years staled camaraderie, tucked it into the back of the mind, where nostalgia festered and made the past rose-hued. He had been Shimmer then, but he was Becenti now. A name changing meant the person changed. He was a different man. And Rhunea was different, too. She still possessed that willow-like grace, a general aura of kindness, but war and the missions of Pagan Chorus had hardened her. She had worn robes and a threadbare witch''s hat back then, taken from her grandmother¡¯s shack when she had started her wanderings so long ago. Now, she was all Fedtek and starships. Becenti wondered if she even remembered her plane of birth, or if her place had always been on Everlasting Truth.


    Home, of a sort.


    ¡°Final hop, then we''re through,¡± Rhunea said.


    ¡°Broken Equinox, was the plane?¡± Becenti asked.


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Rhunea said, ¡°A place of eternal Autumn. You''ll like it. A fine prison for him.¡±


    Becenti nodded. The Little Geezer lurched as it fell through the last Traveling Point, the drone smearing into the rainbow place between planes. Then they were on Broken Equinox.


    ***


    It was, indeed, an Autumn plane. The forest below was an ocean of orange, a false wildfire that extended out as far as the eye could see. They had arrived in early morning, the moon still visible high in the sky, paired with the sun that was rising from the north. Night had left behind a couple stars as well, which glittered, just barely, through the dawn''s veil of dark blue.


    ¡°False stars, of course,¡± Rhunea said, ¡°The planet that we''re on is the only one on the plane, encased in a glass bauble, with points of light mimicking stars on the bauble''s inside.¡±


    ¡°Very Ptolemaic,¡± Becenti noted, ¡°And the entire planet...?¡±


    ¡°Locked into one season,¡± Rhunea said, ¡°Hence the name ''Broken Equinox.'' Tailfen came up with the name, I believe. This world refuses to move on.¡±


    ¡°And, considering our prisoner, I presume it''s hunting season?¡±


    Rhunea nodded, ¡°Always.¡±


    Between the maples, oaks, and aspens that made up the bulk of the forest, there were several tower-sized trees of a sort that Becenti was not familiar with, with twisted, multi-armed trunks with branches that arced upwards, encapsulating the leaves into a sphere. It was one of these trees that Rhunea flew the Little Geezer towards.


    ¡°He has multiple bases, from what we can gather,¡± Rhunea said.


    ¡°You haven''t kept a guard on him?¡±


    ¡°The Traveling Point is high in the air,¡± Rhunea said, ¡°In a place he cannot get to. We check in on him once a week. Besides: the curse placed on him means he can''t leave.¡±


    ¡°How so?¡± Becenti asked.


    ¡°It''s a paradox,¡± Rhunea said, ¡°So long as he hunts, he cannot leave.¡±


    The comprehension of the prison dawned on Becenti. He gave a dark smirk.


    ¡°That''s... rather brilliant.¡±


    ¡°You should have been with us, when we planned out the prisons,¡± Rhunea said, ¡°We used the strengths of the Sons as their weaknesses. August is an ilderwen ¨C he has to hunt.¡±


    ¡°And you''re sure he won''t see us as prey?¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Of course not,¡± Rhunea said, ¡°I hope, at least. He knows that attacking guildfolk gets him in trouble, and a prison that will be more... restrictive. He''s been rather content here.¡±


    The Little Geezer landed at the base of the tower tree. Rhunea stepped out into the cool morning air, sniffing it for a brief moment, ears perking this way and that. Yet they both knew that August was as silent as the void, especially when he was hunting.


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    It was early morning, the perfect time.


    ¡°We''ll wait, then,¡± Rhunea said, ¡°He must be out.¡±


    ¡°And you''re sure he''ll come here?¡± Becenti asked.


    ¡°He was spotted in this region last week,¡± Rhunea said, ¡°He usually stays in an area for a couple months, then leaves to let the ecosystem recover from his hunting.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Becenti said.


    And so they waited. Becenti''s stomach growled, and he wished he had brought breakfast with him.


    ¡°Need anything?¡± Rhunea asked.


    ¡°I''m fine,¡± Becenti replied.


    But he knew she wouldn''t take that as an answer. The deer went back inside the Little Geezer for a few moments, before coming out with two bowls. Oatmeal, with almonds and raisins stewing within. He took it with a muted nod.


    They ate. There was, he noted, no sound save for the whispering dance of leaves on the wind. No birds sang in the trees, the most immediate indication of life. He had always loved the ambience of the forest, and the lack of song made him feel uneasy.


    There was a hunter about, he knew, and the wildlife had learned that a predator now stalked the world. They had adapted to his presence, keeping quiet as he made his paths through Broken Equinox. No doubt they would not sing until he had left he left the area entirely, for another part of the plane.


    ¡°So, the Amber Foundation, then,¡± Rhunea interrupted Becenti''s train of thought.


    ¡°Oh!¡± Becenti said, ¡°Yes. A fine guild.¡±


    ¡°No longer Shimmer, but still in the game.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I joined up with the war''s end. Had nowhere else to go.¡±


    ¡°You could have gone with us,¡± Rhunea said.


    She had thrown that statement out absently, pretending to be digging at a particularly ornery piece of almond in her oatmeal. But there was meaning in her words, an invitation for a heavier conversation.


    ¡°...I could have,¡± Becenti said, ¡°But... No. Too many memories. I did not want to stay in the Silver Eye.¡±


    ¡°Better some other place,¡± Rhunea said.


    ¡°Precisely.¡±


    ¡°Even though you had people on the Silver Eye who cared about you?¡±


    He gritted his teeth as regret washed over him.


    ¡°Even then, Rhunea. I... I did not like myself, then. I was self-destructive. You would not have cared for me for long.¡±


    ¡°I would have,¡± Rhunea said, ¡°And you know it.¡±


    What felt like a thousand years passed between them. Moments shared, then discarded. Becenti gave her an earnest look. What could he say that she would accept? That he did not want to be Valm''s puppet? That Pagan Chorus was a mercenary company? That he did not want to play the role of soldier anymore?


    That, deep in his heart, Myron Becenti despised the High Federation, and he wanted nothing to do with them?


    Dark words, and potentially to the wrong person. He was already a metahuman. Already marked by the Federation as a suspicious individual. He could not afford to slip now.


    He gave a smile, though it did not reach his eyes.


    ¡°I¡­ I know, Rhunea. But you know me. Always¡­ Always the adventuring type.¡±


    ¡°...Indeed,¡± Rhunea¡¯s voice ached with the pain that came with a lifetime of bittersweet sorrow. But she did not prod further.


    ***


    Midday brought the prisoner. August stepped out of the treeline, three rabbits swaying from his belt, a wolf carried atop his shoulders. Thirty years had not changed him ¨C but then, he was a spirit. A concept. Those tended to age gracefully. A full six feet, built slender and quick, he wore a simple gray tunic, with gray pants that dug into a pair of black boots. A dark green cloak blanketed his shoulders, clasped by a silver brooch. August''s face was sharp and angular, his eyes filmed like a Spioa''s. His hair was hidden by a bycocket, a pure white feather springing out of the hat''s side. The hunter did not acknowledge the guild, pitching the wolf to the ground, unslinging the rabbits and tossing them on top of the predator''s carcass. Only then did he turn to face Rhunea and Becenti.


    ¡°I know you,¡± he said, ¡°You are not the usual overseers of this place, but I know you.¡±


    ¡°August,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Shimmer,¡± the ilderwen replied.


    ¡°Just Becenti, now.¡±


    ¡°Ah, so that phase is over,¡± a small smile played on August''s face, one that dropped as he turned his attention to the Pagan Chorus, ¡°Witch Rhunea.¡±


    ¡°Simply Rhunea, please.¡±


    ¡°So much changes,¡± August said, ¡°Not surprising. Please, give me a moment. I wish to dress my kills now.¡±


    He knelt down, producing a simple hunting knife that he jammed into the wolf''s stomach, tearing it open with a precise, professional cut. Becenti and Rhunea stepped back, leaving the Son of Darwin to his work as he removed the wolf''s intestines, then got to work on skinning the predator.


    ¡°The wolves here are cunning,¡± the ilderwen said as he worked, ¡°They have to be, with me around. Most of the packs have left this territory since my arrival, but some are stubborn.¡±


    He finished peeling the hide away from the meat, the small smile returning to his face.


    ¡°Some are game.¡±


    ¡°We have some questions for you, August,¡± Rhunea said.


    ¡°I believed you would,¡± August said, ¡°Two of the heroes of the Silver Eye, to see one such as myself, thirty years after the war¡¯s end? By coming here, you show that the wheel has begun to turn once more.¡±


    He walked over to a nearby tree, tossing the hide over a branch.


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± Rhunea said.


    ¡°To live is to be in a world of instability,¡± August said, ¡°You cannot be sedentary for long. You are either just getting into a crisis, in the middle of one, or just getting out of one. There is no such thing as stationary.¡±


    Becenti and Rhunea were quiet, waiting for August''s further explanation. But he gave none, instead walking over and kneeling down to the rabbits. His knife began its work once more.


    ¡°What do you know?¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°About what?¡±


    ¡°Don''t play coy, August,¡± Rhunea said.


    ¡°Hmm,¡± August stared at the knife for a moment, pausing in his work, the rabbit''s entrails hanging down from an open cut, ¡°If you''re wondering about the rest of us, I''m not the one to ask. I''ve been here, with my hunt.¡±


    ¡°No news,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°You come to the wrong place for that,¡± August said, ¡°And you know who you would need to ask.¡±


    Names flashed in both Becenti and Rhunea''s heads. But they said nothing.


    ¡°Will you be staying for lunch? Dinner?¡± August asked, ¡°Most of the food I bring in goes to the scavengers of this place.¡±


    They both shook their heads. August nodded.


    ¡°I will leave, then,¡± he said, ¡°The sound of others offends me, words or otherwise.¡±


    Without another word, he walked away, leaving his prizes behind.


    ¡°Wasteful,¡± Rhunea said.


    ¡°He can afford to be,¡± Becenti replied, ¡°You''ve unleashed a monster on this place.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Rhunea said, ¡°At least he knows to be conservative, and allows the ecosystem to heal. Shall we be off?¡±


    Becenti stared at August''s back. The hunter was already melting into the Autumn gloom, his clothes changing shape and color. August would return to his work, to his hunt, to the pursuit of prey for the sole purpose of pursuing prey. He was glad the ilderwen was still here.


    ¡°I am,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Valm knows that you''ve been doing this, by the way,¡± Rhunea said, ¡°Checking the old prisons.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡± Becenti said, ¡°Does he, now?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Rhunea said, ¡°Very little escapes his ears.¡±


    ¡°And what does the Prime Voice have to say about all this?¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°He''s indifferent,¡± Rhunea said, ¡°But at the same time, he''s keeping tabs. In fact, he''s looking to hire you for a job coming up.¡±


    Becenti went quiet at that.


    ¡°And Pagan Chorus can''t take care of it?¡± he said.


    ¡°Pagan Chorus doesn''t have metahumans,¡± the doe stated, ¡°None who are willing to do more than dream. But the Amber Foundation does.¡±


    ¡°What does my being metahuman have to do-¡± Becenti stopped, ¡°Earthmute''s in the forecast, isn''t he?¡±


    ¡°With his prisoner. Part of your project. A convergence is coming, Becenti,¡± Rhunea said, ¡°You know how your people get when Earthmute surfaces.¡±


    ¡°My people? You say, my-¡± Becenti took a deep breath. Emotions were coursing through his veins, throbbing with every heartbeat. Control, he told himself, ¡°Where?¡±


    ¡°You''ll get the details when we send the offer,¡± Rhunea said, ¡°But the only people we''ll accept from your guild are-¡±


    ¡°Other metahumans.¡±


    ¡°Precisely.¡±


    The wind blew through the trees once more.


    ¡°Very well, then,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Come, let''s get out of here. This place disturbs me.¡±


    ***


    The Little Geezer soon left Broken Equinox far behind, planeshifting from world to world. Soon, they were back on Londoa, cutting over the dark waters of Darkheld Landmass. That had taken less time than Becenti expected, a fact that was both surprising and relieving.


    ¡°Well, there''s your answer, I suppose,¡± Rhunea said, ¡°He''s still there.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°We might have revealed too much, visiting,¡± Rhunea said, ¡°Talking to him. We could have assured you that he was still there. But then, you only trust your eyes, don''t you?¡±


    ¡°They haven''t failed me yet,¡± Becenti mused, ¡°August would have found out eventually. They always do.¡±


    ¡°Mmm,¡± Rhunea said, ¡°Perhaps.¡±


    ¡°I know Valm is aware of what I''m doing,¡± Becenti said, ¡°But Rhunea, be careful. Don''t underestimate the Sons.¡±


    ¡°We aren''t,¡± Rhunea said.


    ¡°It looks like you are,¡± Becenti said, ¡°How many resources are you committing to hunting down Dakos?¡±


    ¡°We''ve assembled a taskforce,¡± Rhunea said, ¡°Some of the best magicians in Pagan Chorus. A couple other guilds. We''re in talks of bringing Aldr himself in.¡±


    ¡°Blue Sky Waiting did face off against Dakos''s forces during the war,¡± Becenti considered.


    ¡°...It was Arthur who was the one to stop him, though,¡± Rhunea said, ¡°We''ll need to find an alternative.¡±


    ¡°Still,¡± Becenti said, ¡°If Dakos frees anyone, we''re... we''re in trouble.¡±


    The world became light again as they crossed to Moadma Landmass, the Inner Sun bathing them once more.


    ¡°He was right, you know,¡± Becenti said, ¡°The wheel''s turning. Things are changing.¡±


    ¡°We''ll stop them, Becenti,¡± Rhunea said, ¡°We''re Pagan Chorus.¡±


    ¡°It''s an inevitability,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Something will come out. Wipe away the status quo. Wash the multiverse in fire again.¡±


    ¡°Becenti, listen,¡± Rhunea said, ¡°I know your... opinions, on the High Federation. They aren''t the best. But they''re the most stable nation in the multiverse. They''ve existed for thousands of years. Tens of thousands. They''ve adapted and overcome worse than an escaped god.¡±


    ¡°We''ve killed them before,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Precisely,¡± Rhunea said, ¡°Just... look, take the job Valm''s offered you. Help us in this fight. We''ll get through alright.¡±


    The Little Geezer landed precisely in the same spot as before, just outside Scuttleway. Rhunea turned and rested a hand on Becenti''s leg.


    ¡°We miss you, you know,¡± she said, ¡°Oliander and I.¡±


    Becenti¡¯s heart fell, and he felt the beginning of tears swim in his eyes.


    ¡°I know, Rhunie,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I... I miss you, too.¡±


    He stepped off of the starship. Rhunie gave a final nod to him and a wave goodbye. Then the Little Geezer took off, disappearing towards the curving horizon once more. Becenti watched it for a long time, before it was but a blip in the sky, one that disappeared against the mosaic of Inner Londoa.


    But Becenti, once Shimmer, continued to stand there, letting the wind blow against his face, ripple through his hair, the sea of grass billowing around him. He became lost in bittersweet memories and dreams of what could have been.


    He stood for a long time.

 39. Phineas鈥檚 Day Out

    Amzuth was a lonely, cold, bitter plane. It was a place that, according to magicians and scientists, had long ago sunk a bit deeper than normal into the void between worlds, where Outer Gods drew breath and where ancient things slumbered. As such, it had a dark reputation known for its cults, its summoning of eldritch horrors, where even the everyday and mundane was, at times, incomprehensible. Government officials were said to be descendants of dark gods. Cities were powered on the corpses of star-spawned abominations. Even the very name ¨C Amzuth ¨C was culled from some old being that had wandered through the plane, forever warping its landscape, dividing the continents, poisoning the waters and painting the sky a harsh, ugly green.


    To say that Urash adored the plane was an understatement. He had taken up Phineas''s offer to accompany him with his usual gruff and annoyed huff, but inwardly he was jumping up and down like an over-excited rock squirrel. He had prepared his spellstones carefully for the trip ¨C four warping spells to take him and Phineas to the proper Traveling Point and back, four spells to combat the influence of Outer Gods, and a couple specialized hexes for research of his own purpose.


    If he could just get eldritch blood, he could make a killing...


    ¡°You are drooling again,¡± Phineas said as they walked out of Castle Belenus.


    ¡°Watch yourself, lad,¡± Urash said, ¡°I''m your transportation, remember?¡±


    Phineas nodded. He was still bone-white, the deep, murky colors still having not returned to his scales. His waddle was uncertain and stilted as the two of them walked down the steps leading from the guildhall to the streets.


    Urash didn''t ask questions for why the Deep One needed to return. Frankly, he didn''t care. Something about pacts, perhaps. Deep Ones, and others of Phineas¡¯s ilk, didn''t wander away from Amzuth often. When they did, they always had tomes and always had deals with the gods back home.


    ¡°Alright, lad,¡± Urash said, ¡°Stick close. First charge going off.¡±


    He used up one of the spellstones, space warping around them as they teleported to the first Traveling Point on Darkheld Landmass. They walked through, into the urban sprawl of the City, the Concrete Jungle.


    ¡°Next charge, coming up,¡± Urash said.


    He concentrated again, his iron rod shimmering with energy. Urash''s magic rod was an heirloom, once wielded by Seshuandis Belgone IV in the Days of Shattering, some four thousand years ago. As such, it was used to wielding and holding spellstones within its form, one such gem now losing its luster as Urash tapped into the power within. They went from one Traveling Point in the City to another, walking through without a word. Urash liked Phineas, primarily because he didn''t talk much, unlike others in the guild like Rosemary. No, the Deep One only became annoying when he began talking about those damn cards of his, that''s when he became a motor.


    But no cards here, fortunately. Phineas only carried his tome. To be honest, Urash liked Phineas with the white scales more, but Wakeling had yelled at him when he had mentioned that.


    They finished their planeshifting on the island of Massachusetts, just outside the city limits of Boston. The sky overhead was overcast, tinged with the green of godhood. Dead, brown grass tufted out of either side of the old, asphalt road. The air stank a bit of rotting sea life and moss.


    A taxi was waiting for them. The driver was in a nice, crisp uniform. He was wearing gloves, and a brass monocle was politely positioned over one eye as he gave a stiff nod to the two arrivals.


    ¡°Not every day we see guildfolk here,¡± he said.


    ¡°And I''m paying you to drive, not jabber,¡± Urash said. He walked over to the driver, who took the rude stab with aplomb, opening the door for the dwarf and the Deep One to clamber in.


    ¡°Where to?¡± the driver asked.


    ¡°Lad?¡± Urash asked.


    ¡°Edge of the island, please,¡± Phineas rasped, ¡°Allerton Bay.¡±


    ¡°You got it,¡± the driver took off. The road was clear of any other drivers, though it was a bumpy ride, the asphalt being in obvious disrepair with cracks spider-webbing outwards, bumps and jitters cropping up here and there, enough to bounce and rattle the taxi as they went. Phineas looked sick, each bump making whatever was ailing him worse. Urash just let out an annoyed growl.


    Not many people went to Allerton Bay nowadays. Perhaps for good reason. Never mind the dark whispers that came from its beach. The trip to get there was abysmal.


    The dock was almost laughably pathetic, a simple half-plank of wood that reached out half-hardheartedly towards the open ocean, black waves, cracked through with white, pounding against the gravel beaches. The road itself came to an abrupt stop, as though it was supposed to have continued paving to the very waterfront itself, but the working crew had stopped, turned, and fled.


    Or just went home, lazy arses.


    Phineas and Urash stepped out of the taxi. Their driver came out with them. He was quite the professional, giving a rehearsed cough and an expectant hand to Urash. The dwarf rolled his eyes and reached into one of the inner pockets sewed into his robes, pulling out a small diamond and tapping it into the driver''s palm.


    ¡°For your trouble,¡± he growled.


    ¡°Of course,¡± the driver said. He gave a nod in thanks, before driving off. The taxi was soon far away, a yellow blip on the green and gray horizon, a trail of dust billow behind it.


    ¡°I leave you here,¡± Phineas said.


    ¡°What?¡± Urash said.


    ¡°I must swim,¡± Phineas began waddling into the beach, the waters reaching up to his ankles, ¡°Glub glub, I go.¡±


    ¡°Hang on, lad,¡± Urash followed, wincing at the sheer cold of the waves, as though a thousand icicles were stabbing through him at once, shivering up his legs, up his spine, into his perfectly sculpted beard and icing its tips.


    ¡°You cannot swim,¡± Phineas said.


    ¡°I''ve got magic,¡± Urash said.


    ¡°There are dark things down there.¡±


    ¡°I can handle them,¡± Urash said.


    The Deep One cast a great, globe-like eye at the dwarf.


    ¡°Can you?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Urash said.


    ¡°You cannot. I have seen stronger than you drown in the depths, and not from water.¡±


    ¡°I''m a merchant prince, lad,¡± Urash said, ¡°You need a deal made, down there. I can help-¡±


    ¡°They do not care for money, or land, or material things,¡± Phineas said, ¡°Please, I do not wish to lose you.¡±


    Urash clenched his teeth. Another wave washed through, caking his boots in water and freezing his toes to ice.


    ¡°Fine,¡± he said, ¡°But I''m here for a goal, lad. Get me eldritch blood.¡±


    ¡°We had a deal,¡± Phineas said, ¡°You bring me here, I get you eldritch... blood, yes.¡±


    He gave a smile to Urash, and Urash had a feeling he was the butt of a joke he did not quite understand. Nonetheless, he gave a huff, a nod in defeat, and stepped back. Phineas took a deep breath to calm his nerves, and walked into the water to his waist, after which he dove down and began to swim into the deep.


    ***


    The reefs had been blasted white long ago, contrasting with the sunless darkness as Phineas went deeper and deeper down. He was glad with how weak he had become ¨C with his scales bleached like the reef, he was camouflaged from above from the larger predators in the water. Those that swam here were paradoxical apexes. Sapient yet not, just barely on the verge of mortal intelligence yet far exceeding it. There were few, here and there, smaller fish. But most of them had left for the rivers long ago, and the only schools that swam here were not long for this world, their fate sealed as prey, victims of the hunting of the flesh.


    For the hunting of the mind, the god-sharks of Amzuth hunted for things like Phineas. A Deep One caught in the open was an unexpected prize.


    Intelligence was food here.


    So Phineas kept quiet. Silent. Thought as little as possible, pretended to be like the fish here, acting more on instinct than thought, his physical form hidden by the ivory, dead coral. The reef''s corpse extended outwards towards the drop-off.


    Memory for Phineas ¨C especially on Amzuth ¨C was warped. Different from how others in the guild remembered. Part of his mind was always on the Outside. Part of himself was always on the Outside. As such, it was hard to concentrate on individual memories the farther back he got ¨C they peeled away from his physical form after a while, and he could only visit them when he left the mortal worlds entirely.


    Even then, eventually those memories faded into the aether. He could not understand why that made some of his guildmates sad.


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    That was who he was, wasn''t it? Everything was food. Those memories fueled the multiverse, food for thought.


    As such, the edge of the reef had only the barest hint of familiarity to it. He knew he had been an egg, once, looking through red jelly to the darkness beyond. He had been a fish, once, jaw-less, sucking in the barest remains of dead castaways floating in the dark waters, both their flesh and what little knowledge remained. The only true, concrete memories of that time were of Mother, for she forced herself to stay in his mind. Always.


    Always, until recently.


    The expedition had stripped away most of his memory of her. And with it, her power. Their deals. Deals that would need to be re-made. Re-written, re-oathed in the depths.


    Deeper into the deep, where the water became even colder. There was no light here, but Phineas was adapted to this, reaching out with his other senses to detect the world around him. His physical form only did so much.


    This required the part of him on the Outside, and he used that part liberally. He was relatively safer here, in the realm of his Mother. Indeed, as he went further down towards the ocean''s bottom, towards the trench far below, he passed through the veil of mortality altogether, becoming more conceptual and abstract.


    He was no longer Phineas, the Deep One of the Amber Foundation. He was now a series of ideas and definitions, without form and almost without thought.


    And it was here that he beheld his Mother''s palace. Built from Imagination, a foundation of creation, with pillars of knowledge and forbearance, a roof carved from emotion. So he was told, so he could detect, but he knew his Mother''s temple had far more ancient meanings, from before the mind had formed intelligence and the multiverse was young and egg-like.


    No other Deep Ones greeted him. His people were nearer to the shore, in cities that drifted near human settlements. Deals had been made between the Deep Ones and the humans, a respect between the two. Deep Ones herded fish into human trawlers. Humans tossed their dead into the sea. Food for thought, quite literally. As such, the palace was empty as the bundle of ideas that formed Phineas drifted into the throne room.


    Mother sat roiling, a mosaic of scales and meaning, seventeen jaws opening and closing, teeth like diamonds dripping acid, even in the conceptual goo of reality. It was rare for her to leave her home nowadays, fully breaching into physicality, a giant to rival Elzan Chi on Redenia, and Phineas was glad she had chosen to remain on the Outside. For when she chose to appear, when her great, sinewy forms rose out into the surface of the dark waters of Amzuth, the weather changed, the clouds swirling around her bloated, shimmering form, a barge of godhood that drove all minds mad just by being in her presence.


    ¡°Hello, Mom,¡± Phineas said.


    There was a festering of communication, for Mother did not speak with words as Phineas did. His was an odd habit, picked up by the mortal realm.


    ¡°I know,¡± Phineas said, and it was true. He didn''t write home all too often.


    Mother was able to convey something resembling love. Not parental, nor familial, but Phineas had learned to accept that was all she could bring forth. She saw his weakness, the hampering of his oaths to the Outside. Admonishment replaced love.


    ¡°I know,¡± Phineas said.


    There would be a cost to renew them, to make Phineas whole again.


    ¡°I know,¡± Phineas said.


    Why?


    ¡°Because I had to protect my friends.¡±


    And Mother was confused. Was not sure how to respond, how to reply, how to admonish, how to comprehend. There was nothing in whatever she was that held friends. Only self and spawn. All else was prey or rival.


    Why, then?


    ¡°Because they are my friends,¡± Phineas said, ¡°Joseph and Rosemary.¡±


    They appeared before him, apparitions that Mother pulled from memory. Rosemary''s was older, Joseph''s younger.


    ¡°They are my friends,¡± Phineas said, but he knew that Mother would not understand. COULD not understand. So he thought for a moment...


    ¡°They are myself,¡± he said, ¡°They are me.¡±


    He had only known Joseph for a few months, and had hardly spoken to Rosemary before Joseph''s arrival to the guild. But to Phineas, with a full half of his lifetime sealed in the Outside, that was everything.


    His mother only barely acknowledged the statement. Accepted it halfway. But it was enough. The admonishment abated.


    The way opened below, deeper into the trench. Phineas began to swim, his Mother not far behind him. Indeed, she enveloped him, questioned him.


    ¡°I know what to do,¡± Phineas said, and he meant it. He had only come down to the deepest parts once before, when he had first sworn his pacts. His first had been to Mother, his second to the Eternal Engine, his third to Gron Themul, the Flesh-Bound Bible. He rarely used the Eternal Engine''s voice, which was why he had held out on Chliofrond and not dissolved completely. Yet he had exhausted Mother''s power. He could sense her disapproval from that.


    To be a Deep One in the multiverse was a message that one was self-sufficient. And Phineas had relied on his Mother''s strength, and not his own.


    But still, there was that thing of love in her. She would renew her pact. Gron Themul would, too, for IT was always hungry for new covenants.


    ***


    What was at the bottom of the sea could not be described by words or emotions. All he knew was that it was dark, so very dark. Very few beings dwelt here, none of them mortal, all of them with minds fully bathed in the Outside and on the layers below even that. Godhood was an enigma to them, for they were beyond such things. The nature of the place nearly blasted Phineas to pieces, yet Mother was holding him in an embrace, like a mother bringing her child to the altar.


    A second baptism. The mortal ¨C screaming ¨C portions of Phineas''s mind chuckled at the blasphemous thought.


    Gron Themul rose upwards. As did the Eternal Engine. Phineas had to avert his eyes as communication passed between them and Mother.


    Speak, they said.


    Not to Mother.


    To her spawn.


    And the grasping fins of Mother released Phineas. He stood (Sat? Swam? Knelt?) before his patrons.


    Words passed through him, suffusing him. The Eternal Engine was disappointed at the lack of power Phineas had used from them.


    ¡°I will-¡± Phineas was surprised he could speak, even here, ¡°I will use them more.¡±


    Recognition of the act of trying. That was enough for the Engine. It sank away.


    Gron Themul was more pressing of Phineas. IT asked what he had used ITS power on.


    ¡°To protect,¡± Phineas said, ¡°To detect.¡±


    That was not the proper way to use ITS power! ITS strength!


    ¡°But it is what I used,¡± Phineas said, ¡°What would you have me use it for?¡±


    And Gron Themul flashed images in the concept that was Phineas. Of the mortal planes, the multiverse, the full might of Gron Themul unleashed. An avatar, if one could call it that, the barest extension of the being that was Gron Themul able to walk and speak in the multiverse, for IT cared about such things.


    And such things frightened Phineas. He felt himself quake a bit. To this, Gron Themul questioned.


    ¡°I don''t...¡± he said, ¡°That is harsh.¡±


    The Deep One thought on this.


    ¡°But you want to exist,¡± he said, ¡°Like me.¡±


    This delighted the Flesh-Bound Bible.


    ¡°It does not need to be a place populated,¡± Phineas supposed, ¡°You just want to exist. Be like me. Leave this place entirely.¡±


    If but for a moment.


    ¡°Very well,¡± Phineas said, ¡°I will... try.¡±


    Recognition of the act of trying. It was enough for IT. Gron Themul receded.


    This left only Mother.


    ¡°I am sorry,¡± Phineas said, ¡°I will write more.¡±


    Why hadn''t he visited?


    ¡°I do not like it here,¡± Phineas said, a bit bluntly, ¡°It is too cold.¡±


    Mother was quiet. She considered the array of ideas that was her spawn for what felt like both an eternity and a microsecond. There was a frankness to Phineas¡¯s answer. A truth, that he was removed from her by choice and action, and not by circumstance and coercion.


    He was not like other Deep Ones, and that fact was plain to see in the mesh of concepts that made up Mother¡¯s opinion of him. She was not sure whether to be insulted (if that were possible) or proud (an alien emotion, to her.)


    But whatever the case, she was satisfied with the answer.


    Thus, were the pacts made. The power in the deeps was quiet at first, a mere ripple in the water.


    And then, in a dark embrace, they began to swirl around Phineas. Words made power, contracts breaking into that old thing known as magic, carrying Phineas with it, suffusing into his scales. Memories of the three began breaking into his mind, cracking it like an eggshell, pouring into the yolk all of their experiences, their abilities, their influences, their wants. Their needs. All of them, into one being.


    If he were not Phineas, he would have broken from the sheer pressure, as though a thousand oceans had washed over him and dragged them to their myriad bottoms.


    But he was Phineas, and made of sterner, more stubborn ideas. Another oddity. He blinked after it was over. Mother towered over him, watching to see if he would break. But he had not, and felt her wash over him and begin taking him back up to the surface. Already, he could feel the ice-cold water around him more sharply than he had before. His scales were returning back to their usual color and mode. He could hear things that he could not before ¨C the chirps and whispers of the Outside.


    Mother carried him, nonetheless. As she had carried him when he had first come down here, coddling him as though he were still just a small, jawless fish. A child.


    But then, mothers always saw their children in such ways. They could not help it. And so they went, riding the currents back to the palace. And from there, the surface. Back towards the greater multiverse once more, in all of its smallness.


    ¡°Oh, Mama?¡± Phineas asked.


    Question?


    ¡°I need some eldritch blood, for a friend.¡±


    Humor was rare in the trenches, but Mother laughed with Phineas.


    Urash truly was a fool!


    ***


    A bench was just by the pier, thank the lord, for Urash hated standing. So he sat, wishing he had brought a book, grumbling and shivering from the cold. His boots had soaked through from standing in the water, and his feet were near numb. He had to use a spellstone to warm himself up again ¨C thank the ancestors he had brought a fire charm! He praised his forward thinking.


    Phineas was gone for several hours, but Urash was not surprised. The Deep One was probably still swimming, deeper and deeper into the waters, where all light left and darkness reigned. It made him oddly nostalgic for the towers of Krenstone.


    He knew Phineas was right, that he wasn''t a swimmer. But the damn Deep One needed to get him the blood, dammit!


    And right on cue, Phineas emerged out of the sea, stumbling to land. His book was held under his arm, and the dark jade hue of his scales had returned.


    ¡°Phineas!¡± Urash leaped off of the bench, running over to his companion, ¡°Good show, lad! Good show.¡±


    ¡°I am not acting in anything, though,¡± Phineas rasped.


    ¡°Whatever,¡± Urash said, ¡°The blood, Phineas, the blood! Did you get it?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Phineas said, ¡°Eldritch blood.¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    Phineas began to laugh, a harsh, annoying little chuckle that set Urash on edge. He reached down and pulled out a vial, handing it to Urash. The merchant prince took it in hand, studying it closely.


    ¡°Phin,¡± he said, ¡°This is seawater.¡±


    ¡°It is,¡± Phineas said, ¡°We do not have blood.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Urash said.


    ¡°We have oils. Flesh, scales, and eyes. But not blood. That is what is funny.¡±


    ¡°You should have-¡± a vein popped on Urash''s temple, ¡°You coulda told me!¡±


    ¡°You did not ask,¡± Phineas said, ¡°Come, let us go home. I will treat you to food, as payment.¡±


    Urash glared at Phineas as the Deep One stepped out of the brine.


    ¡°That was a rude trick, Phineas,¡± he said.


    ¡°I did not trick,¡± Phineas said, ¡°You were merely misinformed. Get better contacts next time, hmm?¡±


    The dwarf gritted his teeth. He would take Phineas up on his deal, and make the Deep One take him to the most expensive restaurant in Scuttleway. He took a moment to re-compose himself, then followed Phineas back to the road and the way home.

 40. A Gala, Mr. Zheng

    ¡°It''s a gala, Mr. Zheng.¡±


    Becenti''s legs were kicked onto his desk, jacket draped over his chair. He had an air of dignified relaxation, one that reminded Joseph of the professors at university, with that vibe of calm tenure. But Joseph wasn''t feeling very courteous today.


    ¡°It''s a fucking ball, dude,¡± he said, ¡°I can''t go to a ball.¡±


    ¡°Not dressed in that, no,¡± Becenti said, ¡°You''ll need a suit. A nice one. Nicer than the one you wore during the trial.¡±


    ¡°I''m not wearing a suit,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°You looked rather snappy, though.¡±


    ¡°I-¡± Joseph blinked, ¡°Okay, I did. Fair. But come on, Becenti. It''s a big, fancy dance and ball, like something out of a fairy tale.¡±


    He gestured to himself.


    ¡°I''m not a fairy tale kinda guy.¡±


    ¡°It''s not only on behalf of the guild,¡± Becenti said, ¡°But it''s also to be the bodyguard to the Lady Sunala.¡±


    ¡°And?¡±


    ¡°She was quite impressed with you during the expedition, Mr. Zheng,¡± Becenti stated, ¡°She wanted to poach you and Rosemary off of the guild, but Wakeling refused. So she did the next best thing and blackmailed us.¡±


    He gave a smirk, reaching over and grabbing a paper off of his desk. He gave it another read-over.


    ¡°It says here that she''ll only accept the two of you, out of everyone in the guild, to be her attendants during the gala.¡±


    ¡°Alright, and-¡±


    ¡°And if we don''t show up, the local guild of Scuttleway, why, that would make us look rather bad, wouldn¡¯t it?¡± Becenti said, ¡°Our reputation would be in shambles. We''d get less offers, Mr. Zheng. We may even have to leave the city altogether.¡±


    He leaned in.


    ¡°You wouldn''t want that, would you?¡±


    ¡°Damn, you''re good,¡± Joseph growled.


    ¡°It isn''t me,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I''m just reading between the lines. Sunala insisted on getting you and Rosemary for this particular job. And she wields some rather biting influence in Scuttleway.¡±


    ¡°You really think she''d do that?¡± Joseph crossed his arms, ¡°Just... throw us under the bus if we don''t do things her way?¡±


    Becenti''s smile grew nasty.


    ¡°Never trust a politician, Mr. Zheng.¡±


    ***


    Rosemary herself was already at Sunala''s estate, a beautiful manor that overlooked the canyon between landmasses. It was built in the Elven style during the colonial period, swan white pillars curving to hold a dome aloft, images of Elven history painted in rich detail on the ceiling, stag kings and ancient queens, the myriad heroes of times before that Rosemary was just beginning to remember the names of. She could even recognize a few faces, a fact which made the Lady Sunala smile when the noblewoman had quizzed her.


    Indeed, Rosemary had been spending the last month visiting Sunala, often at the Lady''s request. She had been slow to replace her attendants, though Rosemary had seen more servants as of late, elves all, and she herself found she was doing basic work once expected of Spinlock and Nelthel.


    Err, Brother Brain and Brother Bone.


    Those guys.


    ¡°It''s a celebratory gala,¡± Sunala said, ¡°One to celebrate the arrival of House Busciver to Scuttleway, two hundred years ago.¡±


    ¡°Wow, the Doge must be pretty humble about it,¡± Rosemary said.


    Sunala smiled at that.


    ¡°Busciver''s a kind man, but he does like to lay it on rather thick. Especially now, with his term almost through. He''s hoping to gather enough favor with the Minor Tribunal to be reaffirmed.¡±


    ¡°And things are different now...?¡±


    ¡°The role of Doge is always a precarious one,¡± Sunala said, ¡°You have to balance your own personal ambitions with the greed of the rest of the aristocracy. Compromise too much, and you''re seen as weak. Compromise too little, and you''re considered overly autocratic. A rubbish system, to be honest, but Busciver''s been doing this for years.¡±


    ¡°He seemed pretty freaked out during your call with him back on Chliofrond...¡± Rosemary mused.


    ¡°He''s always been like that,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Always fearing a political attack, or an assassination, or this or that. Really where does he get such ideas?¡±


    ***


    ¡°If you''re going to a gala, you''re going to have to learn how to dance,¡± Becenti said.


    He and Joseph were walking down the halls of Castle Belenus, away from his office and down a few flights of stairs, dodging to the side as Urash roared after Lazuli, the android holding the dwarf''s spell rod aloft like a trophy.


    ¡°Walk, Mr. Lazuli!¡± Becenti barked, though he and Joseph knew that the little asshole would ignore his order.


    ¡°I thought this was a protection gig,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°And it is,¡± Becenti said, ¡°But the gala is to be held at Doge Busciver''s mansion, and he has his own guards. It''s a matter of reputation.¡±


    They went down another set of stairs. Becenti, Joseph noted, was walking with purpose, guiding him to a specific room. Becenti was quiet, giving him a look that meant that Joseph was supposed to draw his own conclusions. Joseph stopped, crossing his arms and rolling his eyes.


    ¡°He needs to look like he can protect his own,¡± he said, ¡°While everyone else''s bodyguards are dressed as guests.¡±


    ¡°Precisely,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Formally, the Amber Foundation is attending the gala as an official guild, an invitation extended out by House Busciver.¡±


    ¡°But really, we''re there to make sure Sunala''s safe.¡±


    ¡°Exactly,¡± Becenti said. He found the room he was looking for, and opened the door, beckoning for Joseph to go in first. Joseph complied, walking inside. The room was relatively bare, a mirror painting the back wall so that he could see his own reflection as he stepped inside (and wow, he needed a shave.)


    The only other occupant in the room, already waiting for him with a radio in hand, was G-Wiz. She wore a black shirt and black jeans like some sort of modern dancer, her hair poking up in silver spikes.


    ¡°Sup, Joe,¡± she said.


    ¡°Sup, G,¡± Joseph said, ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    ¡°I told you,¡± Becenti said, ¡°If you''re going to go to a gala, you need to learn how to dance.¡±


    ¡°I know how to dance,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Joseph,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°I saw you at the dinner before Luevo became the Kimao. You don''t know how to dance.¡±


    ¡°I-¡± Joseph''s eye twitched, ¡°I was drunk.¡±


    ¡°Alright then,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°You''re sober now. Show me what you can do.¡±


    She walked over and put the radio on a small crate in the corner of the room, clicking it on. Baroque music began to play ¨C Vivaldi, Joseph noted. She crossed her arms.


    ¡°I''m waiting.¡±


    Joseph glared at her, then noticed out of the corner of his eye Becenti taking out a cellphone.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± he snapped at the older man.


    ¡°Nothing, Mr. Zheng,¡± Becenti said, as he very obviously began to film, ¡°Just do your thing.¡±


    And Joseph, realizing he was trapped ¨C and realizing he truly didn''t know how to dance to Vivaldi''s Four Seasons, began to flop around like he was at a rave.


    And he died from embarrassment as G-Wiz and Becenti broke out into hysterical laughter.


    ***


    Thankfully, after what felt like hours of G-Wiz rolling on the floor and Becenti wiping tears from his eyes, they got to work. G-Wiz, thankfully, shooed Becenti out, closing the door behind him.


    ¡°Alright,¡± she said, ¡°Okay, so whatever you just did there works at a rave, when everyone assumes you''re high out of your mind and you''re not trying to get laid.¡±


    Joseph was beet red, and only could utter out an angry, ¡°Thanks.¡±


    ¡°But we all have to start somewhere,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°And it''s not like I''m working with unsculpted clay, here. You''ve got fancy footwork, and footwork is, like, the most important part of dancing.¡±


    She walked over to the radio and began to rewind the tape.


    ¡°Scuttleway''s snooty, they prefer music roughly similar to the music from Prime''s Baroque period.¡±


    ¡°Snooty, but good,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Agree to disagree,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Regardless, music like this is what we''ll be using to learn about the traditional dances here in Scuttleway. Waltzes, and the like.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Joseph said, ¡°And you, the punk rock wannabe, are going to teach me to waltz.¡±


    ¡°Look, if I have to use my classical education, it might as well be for something funny,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°I can''t teach Rosemary, ''cause she already knows. I tried teaching Nole-¡±


    Her voice caught for a moment.


    ¡°But the oaf couldn''t put one foot in front of the other,¡± she managed to finish.


    Joseph nodded at that, wisely not bringing up the troll to G-Wiz.


    ¡°So you''re going to teach me,¡± he said.


    ¡°Pretty much,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°We''ve got two weeks before the big gala. I''ve got to teach you enough to be competent and not step on some lord or lady''s feet. Not that it wouldn''t be funny.¡±


    ¡°Gotta stick it to the Man somehow,¡± Joseph mused.


    ¡°Alright,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Quit sulking like a baby, and let me show you the basic steps.¡±


    ***


    Joseph and Rosemary visited Doge Busciver''s mansion a few days later. It was known as Moonstone on the Len, so named, Rosemary explained to Joseph, because it was just grappling to the edge of the Len, a particular cliffside named for its mirror-like gemstones found deep in the rock. The building was pure white, a holdover, Rosemary continued to explain to Joseph, from its days as a colonial holding by the Elven nation of Tlantoia on the outer portion of the Landmass.


    ¡°Once Scuttleway won its freedom, House Busciver moved in,¡± she said, ¡°The Doge''s great-grandfather, Busciver, did some renovations, but the basic outline of the structure''s still there.¡±


    ¡°And his name was just Busciver?¡± Joseph asked as they made their way up the winding streets to the Nobleman''s District.


    ¡°Just Busciver,¡± Rosemary replied.


    ¡°And Doge Busciver''s name is...¡±


    ¡°Just Busciver.¡±


    ¡°No first name? Last name?¡±


    ¡°They''re gnomes, Joseph,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°They don''t have first or last names. They just have names.¡±


    ¡°Must make family reunions confusing,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Oh yeah,¡± Rosemary said, and her voice went down a pitch and became snob-tinged, ¡°''Hullo, Lord Busciver. Why, good day, Lord Busciver. How is Lord Busciver? Lord Busciver is well, and Lady Busciver? Oh, as Busciver as can be.''¡±


    Joseph began to laugh at that, weaving past a wagon as he did so.


    Moonstone on the Len was a shock of white compared to the sandstone buildings of the rest of Scuttleway. A tall pillar of marble, a full half of it holding fast to the side of the Len, the flags of both Scuttleway and House Busciver fluttering on top of the parapets. This, Joseph thought, was perhaps a bit too gaudy, as the orange and blue crab of the city clashed horribly with the green and yellow hummingbird of House Busciver. Guards were stationed outside the main gate and patrolled the battlements, and they didn''t say a word as one of them beckoned Joseph and Rosemary inside.


    ¡°Right,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°We''re just going to get a good idea of the place before the big show, nothing too crazy.¡±


    ¡°No searching for hidden rooms, or anything,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Ohh, you think they have those?¡± Rosemary said, ¡°It makes sense, given the place. Maybe here?¡±


    ¡°That''s a table, Rosemary.¡±


    ¡°You can hide underneath it, though,¡± she pointed out.


    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ¡°Fair,¡± Joseph stretched, looking around. The main hall was also home to the gala''s main attraction, a wide-open dance floor with a floor so polished he could see the glass chandelier above. Statues of Doges of the past were arrayed in alcoves by the door, which were currently being wiped down by a couple goblins. A magician was arraying the tables, levitating them over the heads of the other servants and setting them down by the walls, a white tablecloth blanketing over them. A stage was in the far end of the room, a lone cello standing unattended by the stands.


    ¡°Neat,¡± Joseph said, but Rosemary''s eyes had gone wide as she took a few tentative steps, marveling at the sight, nearly walking into a troll carrying a barrel of cider to one of the tables.


    ¡°It''s beautiful,¡± she murmured.


    Joseph had to give her a smile at that.


    ¡°And the gala will just be on this floor?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Officially,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Unofficially-¡±


    ¡°People won''t,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°It''s a cool place, Joe,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°We''ll want to check out the other floors, just to be safe. You never know, right?¡±


    He knew full well she was trying to find an excuse to explore.


    ¡°Alright,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Lead the way.¡±


    They went up a staircase to the second floor, which overlooked the first. More tables were being set up here, as well as a few chairs by the balcony so onlookers would be able to watch the dancing below.


    ¡°The Lady Sunala says that the more filling foodstuffs will be up here,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°She''ll also be up here, too. Same with Doge Busciver.¡±


    ¡°So we''ll want to be up here, then,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Well, we''ll want to look natural,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°But yeah, one of us should stay up here.¡±


    ¡°We''ll switch off, then,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Dibs on first shift,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°Nose goes.¡±


    ¡°I already said dibs,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°G-Wiz tells me your dancing is awful, and I have to see it.¡±


    She smirked at Joseph. Joseph felt himself shrivel up and die inside.


    ***


    Indeed, G-Wiz was a ruthless teacher. Joseph had another reason why she had become such good friends with Nole, why he held her in such high esteem, and that was because she was an absolutely merciless, exhausting monster. Every morning, at five sharp, she would knock incessantly at Joseph''s door, to the point that Phineas, after the third day, began sleeping in the mess hall. Then, she would drag him, half-asleep and dying, to a room that was now blooming, like a lotus, into a dance studio. First the mirror in the back of the room had been polished, then the stone floor had been replaced with smooth wood (Joseph wasn''t sure how G-Wiz had done that), then a small speaker had been set up so the baroque music that tinned out of the radio and into his nightmares had a better quality.


    They would spend the first few hours reviewing the steps from the day before, then spend a couple more hours learning dance theory. It was on the fifth day that G-Wiz decided to forgo bringing him down to the library to draw on one of the chalkboards located down there. Instead, she had bribed Barbara into bringing one into the dance studio, and during lunch she would draw out the steps in increasingly elaborate diagrams.


    Left foot forward, right foot to the right, then it went sideways and to the right, the left foot following, step back, bring the two together. Even the basic waltz had Joseph on edge, but he had to admit that he was growing used to the movements.


    It was almost like boxing.


    ¡°How come you know so much about dancing?¡± he asked G-Wiz one day.


    She gave him a look like he had spat in her lemonade.


    ¡°I''m from Doremi, the World of Music, dumbass. Dance is life.¡±


    ¡°Ah,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Explains Vivaldi.¡±


    ¡°Pshh, Vivaldi,¡± G-Wiz rolled her eyes, ¡°I hate this, you know. Doremi lies on what''s known as the Great Musical Freeway, music from other planes literally sings forth from our rivers for us to collect like fish. And the fucking rulers of the place choose classical pieces.¡±


    ¡°Vivaldi''s Baroque,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Baroque, classical, whatever,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°That''s all they get hard for.¡±


    ¡°No Nujabes?¡±


    ¡°Fuck Nujabes, that''s so obscure they let it wash down the stream,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°''Course, means more for me. But let me tell you, Noodle, my schooling was the worst.¡±


    She had taken to calling him ''Noodle'' after the second day and he had stepped on her foot for the seventh time in the hour. Yet he wasn''t angry at the nickname ¨C not after everything that had happened. He had stopped correcting her after a while, content for that to be his payment for the lessons. G-Wiz became more spiteful as Baroque overtook their worlds, more caustic and acidic in her teaching and admonishments.


    ¡°You don''t have to do this, you know,¡± Joseph said on the eleventh day, ¡°We can listen to something else.¡±


    ¡°Bullshit,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°I-¡±


    ¡°I know enough of the footwork,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I''ll get by, G. Come on, I''m sick of Bach.¡±


    ¡°...Alright, then,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°What''ve you got in mind?¡±


    ¡°J Dilla?¡±


    ¡°Naw,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°MF DOOM?¡±


    G-Wiz thought on that, pursing her lips.


    ¡°Fine,¡± she said. She walked over to the radio and clicked a few buttons. Doomsday began blaring through the speakers.


    ¡°You didn''t even change the tape,¡± Joseph chuckled.


    ¡°I''m from Doremi, Noods,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°We have our ways.¡±


    And they chilled for the rest of the day, ignoring anything and everything related to Baroque, waltzing, or the gala. It would be their last day of dance, something they both were glad for. It was as though a weight removed itself off of G-Wiz''s shoulder as they walked out of the door. She gave him a final, silent nod.


    She didn''t need to say thanks. Probably wouldn''t. But that nod was enough for Joseph.


    ***


    Unlike the trial, where Joseph''s business suit had been presented to him ready-made, Becenti decided his gala outfit needed a more... personal touch.


    ¡°Any old magician can resize clothes,¡± he said, ¡°It takes a true master''s touch to size a suit perfectly.¡±


    To that end, he took Joseph on the town one fine afternoon, winding through Scuttleway''s curving streets and towards the edge of the Market District, where more well-to-do buildings were beginning to bleed in. The world of the upper-class, better off than the rest of the city, but not quite as meteorically wealthy as the landed nobility. Most of the shops here catered to them ¨C dedicated bakeries to one or two specific types of pastry, clothing stores-


    ¡°A Starbucks,¡± Joseph blinked.


    ¡°Friendbucks,¡± Becenti corrected, ¡°Damn Prime business bought a chain out here. I''ve heard they have three in Kelphaven.¡±


    The workers were dressed up in Star- No, Friendbucks uniforms, only they were goblins, or gnomes, or a particularly snooty looking elf who handed Joseph a pumpkin spice latte sample.


    ¡°And the Feds don''t care?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Everything is locally sourced,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Locally made, too. They don''t care much about the face that does the selling, so long as they aren''t smuggling tech in.¡±


    He stopped and pointed.


    ¡°Ah, here we are. After you, Mr. Zheng.¡±


    It was a clothing store, with dresses and suits standing tall and proud in the window display, though beyond the pedestaled mannequins was a messy world of fabric and cloth, half-sewn clothes draped over old chairs like quilts, and full-body sketches of elegant gowns hanging as posters on the wall, each one more elaborate than the last. The shop''s bell let out a cheery ding as Becenti opened the door, beckoning for Joseph to walk inside. As he did so, he watched something scurry over to greet him. It was a gnome, a young girl who stared up at him with dinner-plate sized eyes.


    ¡°Hullo, sir,¡± she said.


    ¡°Hi,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Domino!¡± Becenti said, ¡°Is your mother about?¡±


    Domino nodded, but apparently her mother had heard Becenti''s voice.


    ¡°Myron, you old dog!¡± a sharp, harsh cry rang. The sharp, harsh cry''s owner came wobbling out, an old, green-skinned witch who seemed more in place in a child''s fairy tale than as the owner of a clothing boutique. Her nose was floppily long, with a wart on its tip like a unicorn''s horn, and she nearly tripped over her overly-long black robes as she limped over to the front door. A young goblin girl accompanied her, holding the witch''s hand to support her as she walked.


    ¡°Witch Rogga,¡± Becenti said, ¡°You''re looking well.¡±


    ¡°I''m looking like shit is what I look like, you liar,¡± the Witch Rogga said, ¡°Gained three pounds since I last saw you, and I lost another tooth last week. Enough about me, though.¡±


    She cast a yellow, bloodshot eye Joseph''s way.


    ¡°My, my, aren''t you a handsome boy.¡±


    ¡°This is Joseph, Rogga,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Ah, that new guildmember of yours,¡± the Witch Rogga said, ¡°Whose membership you wagered during cards the other night.¡±


    ¡°I''m sorry?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°A joke,¡± Becenti said hastily, ¡°Rogga, Joseph''s going to the gala on the guild''s behalf.¡±


    ¡°And you need one of my pieces,¡± the Witch Rogga said.


    ¡°Standard guild rates?¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°...Fine, but tell Rathia that I need more of that ointment of hers. Helps with the leg, and all that,¡± Rogga snapped her fingers, ¡°Domino, get Lucinda and Dearie to help me with this, this young man''s a tall fellow, and I don''t have the reach like I did in my eighties.¡±


    ¡°Yes, mum,¡± the gnome girl scampered off. The Witch Rogga took Joseph''s arm, guiding him through the shop.


    ¡°So, tell me, Young Zheng, where are you from?¡±


    ¡°E-Earth.¡±


    ¡°Earth! Fine place, haven''t been there in awhile,¡± Rogga said, ¡°Not in the forecast.¡±


    Joseph''s heart fell.


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°Has fashion changed much?¡±


    ¡°When were you there last?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Ohh... about three hundred years ago?¡± Rogga scratched her chin.


    ¡°...Sorta,¡± Joseph said.


    She brought him over to a mirror, and two more of her daughters came over, a hobgoblin and a human who both seemed about Joseph¡¯s age. One of them lifted up his arm.


    ¡°Just to the shoulder, Luci,¡± Rogga said.


    ¡°Yes, mum.¡±


    ¡°Dearie, the measuring tape.¡±


    ¡°Yes, mother.¡±


    Joseph had only gotten his measurements done once, during his cousin''s wedding, his mom dragging him to some outlet store where the receptionist had measured for about a minute and then presented a bill. It had been awkward, but quick.


    This was nothing like that. Rogga and her attendants poked and prodded, measuring every square foot of the statue that was Joseph Zheng, looking at him like a slab of meat, or a particularly tough block of marble just begging to be chiseled into a work of art.


    ¡°Blue, that''s a good color for you,¡± Rogga said.


    ¡°Makes sense,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Brings out his eyes, mother,¡± Dearie said, fluttering her eyebrows at him. Joseph blushed a bit.


    ¡°Aye, blue, like a thunderstorm,¡± Rogga murmured, ¡°Let''s add some color to it, though. Something warm.¡±


    ¡°Orange?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°What, and should I stamp a big crab on your back?¡± Rogga growled, ¡°You''re a person, not a flag.¡±


    Then she considered.


    ¡°Although....¡±


    Rogga shook her head.


    ¡°No. Too tacky. Too patriotic. I get enough of that from Federation bucketheads trying to come here on the cheap.¡±


    She wobbled over to a shelf full of cloth, picking it over like a vulture before pulling out a few sashes of color.


    ¡°No, yellow should do,¡± she said, ¡°You like yellow, right?¡±


    ¡°I haven''t thought too much about it,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Yellow and blue, then,¡± the Witch Rogga said, ¡°I''ll make you look snappy, and fanciful, but nothing too over the top. Lords want to look regal, nowadays. Leave the industry-pushing to the ladies, hmm?¡±


    ***


    The Lady Sunala''s room was one of the largest rooms Rosemary had ever seen, taking up the full top floor of her manor, a full circle with a marble floor and acoustics that made her voice echo and bounce in a lonely sort of way. The ceiling was see-through, magically enchanted to show the sky above, so that Sunala''s schedule followed the day''s, with will-o-the-wisps glowing to life as the Inner Sun crested towards the horizon and burned out. They hung here now, the sky painted orange, the cities on the other landmasses twinkling like stars as Sunala looked through the various trunks and closets for a dress.


    ¡°To be an elf is to look back to the past,¡± she explained, ¡°If you''re going to the gala as my guest, it only goes that you borrow one of my old gowns.¡±


    ¡°T-thank you,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°I feel bad, though-¡±


    ¡°Nonsense, Rosemary,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Elven culture values the idea of passing one''s glory to the next generation. Think of it as an heirloom.¡±


    ¡°Alright, then,¡± Rosemary took a deep breath, trying to will the butterflies flying around in her stomach, ¡°But, thank you.¡±


    ¡°Of course, Rosemary,¡± Sunala said. She continued looking for something fitting, while Rosemary glanced around the place. Much of the walls were bare, Sunala letting the natural etchings and carvings act as decoration. Her bed was luxurious, though it was covered in the usual pile of books and scrolls. In such a large room, though, it was only an island ¨C not taking up the entire place like back at Castle Belenus.


    There was a rather prominent painting over the bed''s mantle as well. It depicted an elf (obviously!) wearing moonsilver armor, a single, curved blade resting in one hand, tip digging into the ground like a walking stick. The elf''s face was pensive, almost curious, and the artist had captured an almost greedy, intoxicating charisma that dazzled in his eyes.


    ¡°Who''s that?¡± Rosemary asked, pointing.


    Sunala glanced up for a moment, arms full of dress, ¡°Ah, Montaine. One of the founders of Scuttleway, actually. A personal hero of mine.¡±


    A founder of Scuttleway. There had been three, hadn''t there? A gnome, a hobgoblin, and an elf. Rosemary knew more about the gnome and the hobgoblin ¨C Iron and Zautaro, folk heroes who settled down after a lifetime of adventure. She knew little about Montaine, though.


    It''d be best if she learned...


    ¡°Ah, here we are,¡± Sunala pulled out a final dress. Rosemary gasped at the sight of it ¨C it were as though someone had taken a field of roses and plucked every individual flower as far as the eye could see, and painfully threaded them into an ensemble that was more flora than cloth. Some were roses in full bloom, fold upon fold of red staring up and reaching towards Rosemary. Others were small, tiny things the size of buds, filling in the seams of the dress.


    ¡°Roses for Rosemary,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Fitting.¡±


    ¡°R-Rosemary''s a herb,¡± she stammered, ¡°It''s-¡±


    ¡°You don''t like it?¡± Sunala asked.


    ¡°No! Yes, I do!¡± Rosemary took a deep breath, ¡°I do. It''s gorgeous. I just-¡±


    ¡°Try it on,¡± Sunala said.


    Rosemary nodded. She stepped over and took hold of it, hands shaking slightly. It had been a very long time since she''d held something this rich...


    ***


    Sunala read a book as Rosemary went behind the dressing screen, a soft smile on her face as the guildfolk changed. The last vestige of the Inner Sun died with a whimper, casting the night above fully into darkness, only the dim glow of will-o-the-wisps lighting the room. It felt nostalgic to the elf, of a childhood hundreds of years in the past, of nights in the woods chasing after fireflies that lazed through in the dusk like dreams. A different time, a calmer time.


    But she had different dreams now, didn''t she?


    Rosemary walked slowly out, and even without makeup, even without holding her sceptre (which would rather complete the look, wouldn''t it?), she looked stunning, a painting brought to life, the sun and moon brought together. Sunala had to look away.


    ¡°It''s...¡± Rosemary stammered.


    ¡°You look beautiful,¡± Sunala said.


    ¡°It''s alright,¡± Rosemary said.


    She was looking at the floor, hands tying themselves into knots.


    ¡°Are you alright?¡± Sunala asked.


    ¡°It''s fine. I''m fine,¡± but they both knew she was lying. Rosemary sighed, ¡°It''s gorgeous, it really is. And thank you for letting me wear it, but...¡±


    ¡°You can''t,¡± Sunala said.


    ¡°I can''t.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    Rosemary was quiet for a while, standing in place as though she were frozen. Sunala did not press the matter, waiting for her to answer, almost returning to her book with a final ''very well.''


    ¡°Promise you don''t tell anyone?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Of course not,¡± Sunala said.


    Rosemary turned. The dress''s back was open, revealing two thin, faded scars just below her shoulder blades. Old scars, but just visible enough against her pale skin to be noticeable.


    ¡°Wakeling knows,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Elenry does, too. I don''t think anyone else does, though.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Sunala said.


    ¡°So I can''t wear the dress,¡± Rosemary said.


    Her hands trembled.


    ¡°Oh, Rosemary,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Scars are part of us.¡±


    ¡°Not... these are-¡±


    ¡°Part of you. I don''t know how you got them, but you received those wounds when you were young, didn''t you?¡±


    Rosemary, still looking away, nodded.


    Sunala stood up, walking over to Rosemary. She towered over the guildfolk, who stared up at her, squinting a bit as though Sunala were a star.


    ¡°Throughout our life, we gain injuries. We get hurt, both in body and soul. No one leaves this world unblemished, or free of pain. We carry baggage, Rosemary. All of us.¡±


    She raised her stump of a hand. She still hadn''t gotten a replacement. She doubted she would.


    ¡°To be scarred is to be beautiful, Rosemary. To show our wounds with pride, we shout to the world that our past does not own us. We are not defined by who we were, only by who we are and what we want to do.¡±


    ¡°I feel...¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Sunala said, ¡°It''s a dark place, and those scars tell a dark tale. But you shouldn''t let dark tales stop you from doing what you desire.¡±


    Rosemary didn''t answer. She gave a sniff, and wiped her eyes.


    ¡°Fuck,¡± she said, ¡°S-sorry, that was good.¡±


    ¡°Do you want to wear the dress to the gala, Rosemary?¡±


    ¡°Y-yes, I do,¡± Rosemary''s voice quavered, ¡°It''s really nice, and it''s red, and I love red-¡±


    ¡°Then wear it. And damn anyone who says otherwise.¡±


    Rosemary nodded, a watery smile crawling up her face.


    ¡°I... I will.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Sunala said, ¡°And if anyone comments, or says anything untoward, I will kill them.¡±


    ¡°I''ll help.¡±


    ¡°Then it''s settled, then,¡± Sunala said, ¡°I do dearly hope you have a good time at the gala, Rosemary. Our friend the Doge knows how to throw a good one.¡±

 41. An Accounting of Our Dancers

    Early in the morning, Joseph woke up and did his regular exercises, practicing his footwork with Mekke while drinking a morning coffee, before going on a daily run along the boundaries of Castle Belenus. Exercise was one of those things that always cleared his mind, and he had long ago learned that running calmed him down, after heated arguments with his parents or after a particularly bad day at school. Nothing had changed in that regard.


    Only the route had, from the beaches of San Francisco to the cobblestone streets of Scuttleway.


    It was the night of the gala, but he wasn''t to arrive at Sunala''s estate until later in the day. Most of his day was open.


    Which was odd.


    No chores were assigned to him ¨C no feeding Becenti''s krem, or cleaning the kitchen, or even going out for groceries. The job came first, and thus he was exempt from the daily rigors of guild life.


    Which was especially odd. Why did he feel like it was the last day before his execution? For the first time, as Joseph ate his bowl of oatmeal, he came face to face with an awful truth. No longer was he distracted by learning to dance, or finding just the right outfit for the gala.


    Joseph Zheng was nervous as shit.


    He took a deep breath.


    He could do this.


    He had faced down Mordenaro. Survived being trapped in an underwater city. Survived Phineas''s watery snoring. He was a fighter, someone with incredible powers and the ability to throw thunderbolts like Asian Thor.


    Contort passed him by, slapping him on the shoulder.


    ¡°Good luck, man,¡± he said, ¡°You¡¯re going to need it!¡±


    ***


    Early in the morning, Rosemary woke up with a familiar tingle of excitement. It had been a very long time since she had been to a gala this rich. Sunala''s dress hung by her bed almost like a curtain, greeting her as she rose up and rubbed her eyes. She then did her morning routine on those days where she didn''t have anything to do, and went back to sleep.


    Mallory shook her head as she walked in for her lunch break, her hands stained purple and green from working with Meleko on the Titania Amber.


    ¡°Rosemary, get up.¡±


    ¡°Hmmm...?¡±


    ¡°It''s almost eleven,¡± Mallory said, ¡°Don''t you have a gala to get ready for?¡±


    ¡°Gala''s not ''til five,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°I got plenty of time.¡±


    ¡°To shower?¡±


    ¡°No one''s in the shower at three, so I got time.¡±


    ¡°Aren''t you hungry?¡±


    ¡°Sure,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°I could use a bite.¡±


    She opened a single eye and stared at the tray of food Mallory had brought into the room. The Steamer glared.


    ¡°No way, Rosie. If you want food, you gotta get up.¡±


    ¡°Fiiiine,¡± Rosemary rolled out, stretching and yawning, ¡°Spoilsport.¡±


    Mallory rolled her eyes.


    ***


    Early in the morning, Sunala awoke with dour cheer. Her usual look, of course, as she rose out of bed and went to her shower. It was the day of the gala. An important occasion. Doge Busciver was already writing letters to her now, passenger pigeons chirping up the staircase to her room with notes tied to their legs. A few of them also carried additional notes in their beaks. One had a note tied to her leg, a note in her beak, and a scroll tied to her back.


    Busciver was a nervous man, indeed. He had come to rely on Sunala greatly these past few months, a fact that was not lost on her.


    If Busciver could retain his position as Doge, House Sunala would be in a good position indeed.


    Getting dressed, she read the letters on each pigeon. Much of it was Busciver''s usual anxious drivel, fear of assassination and the like. A few were about the age of the wine House Rithmound had provided. It wasn''t every day that Busciver bought product from a political rival, but Rithmound''s winery was among the highest quality in all of Londoa. They wouldn''t skimp or try to throw Busciver under the wagon wheel ¨C especially after Sunala had insisted on having Rithmound''s house crest emblazoned on every barrel.


    There was much to do before the gala. In truth, the ball had started long before this night. It was much like the expedition in that regard ¨C a dance of mercantilism, of buying the right product, of putting whispers in the right ears, of who to stick to during the entire affair, something that seemed to change by the day ¨C even the hour.


    Young ladies would be attempting to court the available young men in the aristocracy. They had their own game to take into account. Doge Busciver had no biological children, but he did have a niece, who was a voracious predator on nights like these.


    If Sunala could steer her towards young Lord Symin...


    A dance, indeed.


    ***


    Early in the morning, the assassin rolled into Scuttleway. The Inner Sun blazed high above, a fact that pained him, for he had always hated light. Damn Scuttlers and their obsession with shining as bright as the outer landmasses. The assassin hadn''t been back on Londoa for a long time, and their hypocrisy was one of the big reasons.


    His mission was clear. It would be fancy. Perhaps, even, a bit fun. A part of him was glad the guildmaster had chosen him for this specific job.


    A death at the gala. It sounded like the name of a murder mystery. The assassin smiled.


    He would make a killing tonight.


    ***


    At four in the afternoon, Joseph finished staring at his bowl of oatmeal and made his ways to the showers. He shared it with Calacious Nine today, the jellyfish floating in the air like a specter while water umbrella''d down their bell. It was a quiet affair ¨C he hadn''t quite caught onto Calacious Nine''s language (he already was learning half a dozen already), and Calacious Nine was embarrassed having to share a shower.


    Never mind the fact that they never wore anything anyways.


    Joseph had learned not to question most things in the guild.


    He put on his suit afterwards. The Witch Rogga had done a magnificent job outfitting him, with long dress pants and a yellow sash around his waist. The undershirt was gray, with a dark blue waistcoat bedecked with gold buttons, a black dress jacket over that. Three layers ¨C and he still felt cold, nervous, and clammy about the night ahead. To complete the ensemble was a simple yellow tie ¨C like his father''s, he noted, when he went to work. Joseph''s best friend growing up had an old man who wore a new tie every day to work, plaids and stripes and funny cotton candy-colored affairs, as though he were trying to stand out.


    Not Henry Zheng. Always yellow, or red, for diversity''s sake. Joseph bit the inside of his lip. He remembered those ties just as much as he remembered his father¡¯s face.


    He wished he could have convinced Rogga to get him something with a bit more pizzazz to it. A bit more spark. Still, as he looked in the mirror, he couldn''t help but notice he looked rather nice.


    He slipped on his yellow dress shoes, feeling a bit unsteady in them as he walked. Nice shoes were reserved for job interviews at the grocery store, or those rare days where his mom took the family to church. This was a completely different world to him.


    He should have danced in the new digs earlier, to get used to their feel and break them in.


    But no, he had stared at his oatmeal all day.


    Rosemary was waiting in the lobby. She looked nervous, bedecked in her namesake flower.


    Wait, no, rosemary was an herb.


    She was flooded with roses, at least. Thousands upon thousands of them, it felt like, an entire garden plucked and weaved. She had added a golden choker, one threaded with small vines, to better match her mace, which even now she held in both hands. She had left her hair well enough alone, but had added a small, green circlet made of ivy.


    Joseph tried his hardest not to stare.


    ¡°You look nice,¡± he said.


    ¡°I look awful,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°I slept in and was late getting ready.¡±


    ¡°Don''t lie,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Really, you''re rocking it.¡±


    She smiled. A genuine one, her anxiety melting a bit.


    ¡°Thanks, Joe.¡±


    ¡°So the plan is for Sunala to pick us up, right?¡±


    ¡°Yep,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°I guess we better wait outside.¡±


    They began walking out. A few other guildmembers were about, watching as they made their way through the double doors of Castle Belenus.


    ¡°Looking good, you two,¡± Mekke nodded.


    ¡°Not half bad,¡± Contort said.


    ¡°A beautiful dress, Ms. Rosemary,¡± Becenti said.


    Meleko and Ichabod were placing bets as they made their way down the road.


    ¡°Trying to see if I''ll step on anyone''s toes?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°No,¡± Meleko said.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Ichabod sneered, ¡°If you stomp on Sunala''s, I''ll give you half the pool.¡±


    Joseph blinked.


    ¡°The pool?¡±


    ¡°Me, Urash, Chadwick, Lazuli, Meleko, and Slop,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Whiskey, too. You in?¡±


    Joseph considered.


    For a while, he stood there, hands shaking with temptation.


    ¡°Joseph,¡± Rosemary chided, ¡°If you step on Sunala''s toes, I''ll break you in half.¡±


    ¡°...Nnnnoooo,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I can''t.¡±


    ¡°Bah, typical,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°I''m biased!¡±


    ¡°As if that stopped anyone.¡±


    ¡°The carriage!¡± Rosemary poked Joseph''s shoulder, helpfully steering him away from the lust of the gamble. Sunala''s personal carriage was an elaborate, square box that reminded Joseph of a dollhouse, pulled by two krem in silver armor. The crest of House Sunala emblazoned the carriage''s side. The goblin driver was the most fanciful creature Joseph had seen ¨C a full tuxedo, a monocle, even a top hat. He stepped down from her perch and opened the door for them. The two guildmembers climbed in, sitting down across from Sunala.


    ¡°All ready, Rosemary?¡± the noblewoman asked.


    ¡°Yes, Milady,¡± Rosemary took a deep breath, ¡°Nervous. Excited.¡±


    ¡°The natural feelings,¡± Sunala gave her a smile, ¡°And you, Mr. Zheng?¡±


    ¡°I''m alright,¡± Joseph said.


    She stared at him for a moment longer than was necessary, taking a gauge on him. She was matching Rosemary''s theme, wearing a sunset-orange gown with chrysanthemums bloomed on each shoulder, small balls of curving florets that formed the straps of the dress. More of the flora was braided into her hair, and she had sprayed her face with gold glitter. She was much like the harvest moon, the shocking brightness of her attire smoothed by her quiet, almost melancholic air.


    Music was playing in the streets as they wove their way through the city. With the Doge''s gala, the rest of the city came to life, the sheer energy of the ball setting them off in a fiery pageant that only became more intense, more frantic and excited as they drew closer to Moonstone on the Len. Lights lit the night ¨C many more than usual, magical will-o-the-wisps that flared and sparked like the bursts of bottle rockets, taking on a life of their own as they whizzed over the heads of party-goers and market stalls.


    ¡°Was the whole city invited to this?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Not entirely,¡± Sunala said, ¡°But this is one of the most important events of the year. It''s the only gala that Doge Busciver personally hosts, and he makes it an entire festival in order to drum up excitement.¡±


    ¡°So the common people can have their cake, too,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°The middle class supports the nobility,¡± Sunala said, ¡°They speak in their lords'' ear. And the nobility supports the Doge ¨C without them, he is nothing.¡±


    ¡°Feels kind of...¡± Joseph glanced through the window, watching as one of the sparks exploded, ¡°Weird? Artificial?¡±


    ¡°Of course it isn''t genuine,¡± Sunala said, ¡°It''s calculated. Much of the festivities are placed strategically in the markets and upper-middle class areas. But very little is genuine, especially when it comes to politics.¡±


    Joseph wasn''t sure what to say to that. The carriage continued its wheeling towards the gala proper.


    ***


    The front of Moonstone on the Len reminded Joseph of red carpet movie premieres. Townsfolk from the city were cordoned off from the line of carriages that snaked from the main road all the way up to the mansion''s entrance, each wagon more extravagant than the last. They would only expel their noble contents when they had made their way to the entrance, each lord or lady throwing the door open like a diva and striding inside. Guards were stationed at the doors, unblinking and silent, as one of the servants greeted each guest and guided them inside. Orchestral music sang through the open doors, muted from distance, beautiful and cacophonous.


    Sunala''s carriage made its arrival. The driver flung the door open, extending a hand to guide them down. A few other nobles were outside, whispering to one another as Sunala alighted to the ground, Joseph and Rosemary following close behind.


    ¡°Appearances, dears,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Act like you belong.¡±


    Rosemary nodded, slipping a hand around Joseph''s arm. Joseph stood a bit taller.


    And they began to walk, trying to keep a level head around the complete sensory overload that roared around them, of people talking and laughing and jeering and drinking. Someone in the orchestra seemed to have brought a cannon, because in the middle of the cellos, violins, and flutes there was a great boom that everyone reacted to with wild applause.


    ¡°Oh, didn''t know they hired Rinsovksy,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°Famous composer?¡± Joseph asked, leaning in to hear his guildmate over the explosions.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Likes incorporating weapons from other planes into her work.¡±


    ¡°No shit,¡± Joseph said.


    They ascended up the stairs, arm in arm, when Joseph spotted someone out of the corner of his eye.


    He stopped. Glaring. Rosemary tripped as he did so.


    ¡°Joseph, what the hell-?¡±


    ¡°You.¡±


    Alonso Moriguchi was here. He was in a black charro, as though he had just joined a mariachi band, embroidered and laced with flowing orange, though he still wore his signature luchador mask, a look that clashed brilliantly with his ensemble. He, too, was linked up with a guildmate, this one being a pure black, humanoid rabbit in a tuxedo. Joseph had always disliked rabbits. Cute, sure, but the wild ones had an energy that buzzed in their eyes, the purest sense of wild nature, something untamed and cunning.


    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    And this rabbit had that vibe multiplied.


    ¡°Amber Foundation!¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°Hola.¡±


    ¡°Don''t ''hola'' me,¡± Joseph said, ¡°What the hell are you doing here?¡±


    ¡°On a job,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°You?¡±


    ¡°On a job,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Bodyguards.¡±


    Joseph glared at Moriguchi and the rabbit. The Exodus Walkers looked at him for a moment, before Moriguchi''s eyes widened in understanding.


    ¡°Oh! Where are my manners? This is my guildmate, Ket.¡±


    ¡°Hello,¡± Ket¡¯s voice was deep and scratching.


    ¡°Don''t just act like that!¡± Joseph said, ¡°Come on, man!¡±


    ¡°I''m... sorry?¡± Moriguchi said.


    ¡°You tried to kill me!¡±


    ¡°Yes! But it was nothing personal,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°I was on a job. Like I am, now.¡±


    ¡°And what job is that?¡± Joseph said through gritted teeth.


    ¡°Bodyguarding,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°Lord Rithmound hired the Exodus Walkers to look after him tonight, make sure nothing... unfortunate, happens.¡±


    ¡°Like I''d believe that,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Who says you aren''t here to just finish us off?¡±


    ¡°Really, it was nothing personal,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°Unless you want to kill Lord Rithmound, I have no desire to throw down.¡±


    Joseph opened his mouth to make another retort, but Rosemary interrupted him.


    ¡°Joseph, cut it out. We''re on a job, remember?¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Joseph said. He continued to glare at the Exodus Walkers, ¡°I''m watching you.¡±


    ¡°I''d expect so,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°You should be watching everybody. You''re a bodyguard.¡±


    ¡°I...¡± Joseph''s eye twitched, ¡°I resent you greatly.¡±


    Moriguchi nodded.


    ***


    The two Amber Foundation swept off, the girl nearly dragging Joseph away and into Moonstone on the Len. Moriguchi chuckled to himself. Ket continued to stare at the two retreating guildfolk.


    ¡°I like him,¡± Moriguchi said.


    ¡°I can see,¡± Ket replied.


    ¡°He''s new to the job,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°But he''s got a different air about him...¡±


    ¡°He was the one who faced Mordenaro,¡± Ket said.


    ¡°Ah, I see you''ve read the reports,¡± Moriguchi said.


    ¡°Metahuman. A dangerous one.¡±


    ¡°Who woulda thunk¡± Moriguchi chuckled, ¡°Think you can handle him?¡±


    Ket considered. Joseph and Rosemary were talking to Sunala now, introducing them to some pish-posh or other. Rosemary was being as gracious as could be. Joseph seemed a bit awkward as he extended out a hand, a fake smile plastered on his face, though he was still glaring at them from inside the keep.


    ¡°Yes,¡± the rabbit said.


    Moriguchi nodded.


    ¡°I need a drink,¡± he said, ¡°I''ll leave you to... socialize.¡±


    The rabbit nodded.


    ¡°Good luck, I guess,¡± Moriguchi said.


    The rabbit nodded.


    Moriguchi rolled his eyes as he stepped inside. Already he could see Ket making his way over to Lord Rithmound''s side. All fun and no play, and Rithmound had told them to act like any other guest at the gala.


    ¡°Should''ve brought Meldorn,¡± Moriguchi said.


    ***


    ¡°I don''t know what they''re playing at,¡± Joseph said as they extricated themselves from Sunala and the Duke of Morgania (¡°the Third!¡±)


    ¡°Joseph, he''s right,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°They tried to kill us, we tried to kill them. It was months ago.¡±


    ¡°That doesn''t-¡±


    ¡°Joseph, cut it out,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°We''re here to protect Sunala, and have a good time.¡±


    ¡°And if they want to hurt Sunala?¡± Joseph growled.


    ¡°Then we deal with it,¡± Rosemary said. She guided them to one of the tables, sitting down. A servant appeared out of thin air and began pouring her a glass of wine. She nodded in thanks, giving a dazzling smile that glowered down as she gave a hard look at Joseph.


    ¡°Guilds do jobs, that''s it,¡± she said, ¡°Nothing personal between us and the Exodus Walkers.¡±


    ¡°¡®Some days we''re friends, some days we''re enemies,¡¯¡± Joseph sighed. He joined her, downing his glass as soon as the servant finished pouring. The servant immediately began to refill the glass.


    ¡°Exactly. It''s the Law of InterGuild,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°I don''t always have to like it, but it''s there. Moriguchi''s a pro, he''s not going to be mad because you got the egg to the Dragon.¡±


    ¡°And if he''s hired to kill Sunala?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Why are you so hung up on that?¡±


    Joseph''s face was stone as he looked at the room. They were on the first floor, young nobles already dancing on the ballroom floor, stepping in tune to the music in two long lines. The orchestra¡¯s piece was growing nightmarish and frantic.


    ¡°This feels weird,¡± Joseph said, ¡°There''s something under the surface.¡±


    ¡°It''s the gala before an election,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Scuttleway''s politics can get fierce. We should assume everyone has an agenda.¡±


    ¡°Including the Exodus Walkers.¡±


    ¡°Sure,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°I''ll grant you that. But you shouldn''t just concentrate on the Exodus Walkers here, Joe. For all we know, they could be our friends.¡±


    ¡°''Friends'' is really carrying a lot, there,¡± Joseph said.


    Rosemary rolled her eyes.


    ¡°Whatever you want to call it, then. Look: Don''t be an idiot and just assume Moriguchi''s out for Sunala. He could be! And if he is, we''ll kill him, or whatever. But you should expect danger on all sides. You never know what might pop up.¡±


    ¡°...Right,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Look, I''m going to re-join Sunala,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°You start dancing.¡±


    Joseph blinked, before giving a begrudging smile.


    ¡°You''re still on that?¡± he asked.


    And Rosemary broke into a grin.


    ¡°Duh, doofus. Go on, make G-Wiz proud.¡±


    ***


    Rosemary stepped away from Joseph, who was swilling his wine, his face contorted in a dark anger. He needed to relax ¨C this was supposed to be a fun, entertaining gala.


    The anger, bitterness, and intrigue ¨C that was hidden by the dancing and music, like a mask over the entire ballroom floor. And Joseph''s was slipping, which would be improper. One was not rude when everyone else was happy. That wasn''t the Scuttle way.


    Ha!


    She drifted up the stairs to the second floor, watching the dancers wheel and turn on the ballroom. The more personal, one-on-one dances would come later in the night, but this graceful moshpit, known as the Gentlegob''s Bow, was the first dance that was performed at every gala, no matter the occasion. It was the nobles'' way of saying ''hello.¡¯ Already Joseph was getting up and attempting to join in. Rosemary smirked as she saw him stumble into the line, thrusting a leg out with the other lords as they carouseled in time with the ladies. He was turning beet red.


    Sunala was overlooking the balcony. Beside her was Doge Busicver. He looked much like the paintings Rosemary had seen of him ¨C old, bent with age, his white suit matching his white eyebrows to the exact shade. He seemed to have shined his nose for this occasion, for it almost glowed in the light as he turned, creaking like a rocking chair as he noted Rosemary''s approach.


    ¡°Ah! You must be one of the two from the Amber Foundation,¡± he said.


    ¡°Yes, Milord,¡± Rosemary gave a curtsy, ¡°My name''s Rosemary.¡±


    ¡°Lily-Ann was just telling me about you,¡± Busciver said, ¡°Telling me all about that sunken city on Chliofrond! Such adventure! Tell me, do you have that mace of yours?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Rosemary presented her rose, ¡°It''s, ah, it''s a sceptre.¡±


    ¡°Oh!¡± Busciver clapped his forehead, ¡°Of course. Forgive me.¡±


    And Rosemary found she liked him a bit more than before, as she handed the Doge the sceptre. He considered it for a few moments, turning it this way and that, eyebrows raising just enough for her to see his bright, moon-like eyes.


    ¡°Impressive,¡± he said, ¡°Very impressive. Where did you get it?¡±


    ¡°From home,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°Ah, multiversal, then?¡± Busciver said, ¡°Makes sense, but I hear the Amber Foundation has a few locals, yes?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Broon and Mekke are from here.¡±


    ¡°Ahhh, yes,¡± Busciver nodded, ¡°You don''t look like any elf from these parts. Carry yourself too kindly.¡±


    ¡°Busciver!¡± Sunala said.


    The Doge''s laugh was a barking whisper.


    ¡°I meant nothing by it, Lily-Ann! Nothing at all.¡±


    He noticed someone out of the corner of his eye.


    ¡°Ah, I should go. Lady Imran is waiting. I''m hoping to finalize that trade deal, and all that.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Sunala nodded.


    ¡°If you will excuse me,¡± Busciver gave Rosemary another smile, ¡°Pleased to meet you at last, Lady Rosemary. You are a shining example of your guild.¡±


    Rosemary beamed at that as the gnome waddled away. Sunala, however, had turned her attention back to the dream-like waltzes below. The dancers had begun to separate from the Gentlegob''s Bow, moving off into threes and fours, quickly filling what was left of the ballroom floor and moving like a great, multi-armed being to and fro, up and down.


    ¡°Mr. Zheng seems to be having a good time,¡± Sunala said.


    ¡°He''s surviving,¡± Rosemary laughed, ¡°Look, he almost just stepped on that lady''s foot.¡±


    ¡°That''s Lady Antrila,¡± Sunala said, ¡°A prominent political rival. He could break her toes for all I care.¡±


    ¡°Harsh,¡± Rosemary said.


    Sunala gave a demure smile.


    ¡°Notice anything yet, Ms. Rosemary?¡± she asked.


    Rosemary turned her attention back to the floor below, squinting a bit to make out individual faces on the dancers.


    ¡°Nothing yet, Milady,¡± she reported, ¡°No assassin here.¡±


    ¡°Looks can be deceiving,¡± Sunala warned.


    ¡°I know,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°They''re not going to be all dressed in black. They''d probably be a party-goer. Do you have someone testing your wine?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Sunala said.


    ¡°How about someone watching the Doge?¡±


    ¡°Busciver has his own resources,¡± Sunala said.


    ¡°Still, swill the wine before swallowing,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Joseph''s an idiot, he just swallowed it down like a fish.¡±


    Sunala raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°Personal experience, Ms. Rosemary?¡±


    Rosemary said nothing. Her brow had furrowed as she stared down. Sunala nodded.


    ¡°Very well, then,¡± she said, ¡°I''ll keep your advice in mind.¡±


    ***


    Joseph had broken off with a lord and a lady, and he was obviously a third wheel.


    The lady was an unusually tall gnome in a white dress, her hair tied up in a long, conical bun with gold lacing her locks, and she was completely smitten with the hobgoblin lord in a crisp tuxedo, a large gardenia tucked into the lapel.


    ¡°Oh, Isaac,¡± the gnome said, ¡°A gardenia! You do care.¡±


    ¡°I know it''s your favorite,¡± Isaac said, giving a nervous smile. The three of them wheeled about in time to a single flute solo that sang over the entire hall, a piping that had Joseph''s ears ringing. The entire time, the gnome and the hobgoblin had eyes only for each other.


    Which Joseph didn''t mind, he had already stepped on the gnome''s feet a couple times, but she was so enamored she didn''t even notice.


    The flute drew to a close, a signal for the dancers to split up once more. The gnome began to step away, but the hobgoblin stopped her. He pulled the gardenia free and presented it to her.


    ¡°Isaac!¡± she squealed, ¡°Don''t be embarrassing.¡±


    ¡°Anything for my Lady Busciver,¡± Isaac said.


    ¡°Isaac Rithmound, you dog,¡± but Lady Busciver took the flower anyway, her eyes watery, before she forced herself back into the dance.


    This was a dance in pairs. A waltz. Isaac Rithmound turned, presenting a hand to Joseph. Then, the hobgoblin noticed Joseph staring at the gnome''s back.


    ¡°Lady Busciver...¡± he whispered.


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Rithmound said, ¡°I''m sorry, I didn''t get your name. May I have this dance?¡±


    Joseph snapped back to attention, looking at the white gloved hand of the nobleman.


    Couldn''t afford to be rude now. Joseph took it, allowing himself to be guided by Isaac across the dance floor.


    ¡°Joseph,¡± he said.


    ¡°Ah! From the Amber Foundation, yes?¡± Isaac asked.


    ¡°That''s the one,¡± Joseph said. Left to the right, pull the left leg to the right. He was good at this part, at least.


    ¡°Must be a life of adventure,¡± Isaac said.


    ¡°It can be,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Going to be honest, it''s mostly just day drinking for a few weeks and then a couple days of almost dying.¡±


    ¡°Ah, the life!¡± Isaac chuckled.


    ¡°And you''re... Isaac Rithmound.¡±


    ¡°Yes, first son of House Rithmound,¡± the hobgoblin preened.


    The wheel that was Joseph''s brain turned. House Rithmound. He had needed to do a bit of research for this, hadn''t he? What had Rosemary told him?


    ¡°Rivals to the Doge?¡± he said, but felt stupid as Isaac gave him a soft, pitying smile, as though he were watching a dog run into a wall.


    ¡°That''s a good way to put it,¡± he said, ¡°''Rivals'' is certainly a nicer word than what some of our comrades across the table have called us.¡±


    ¡°All is fair in love and war,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Ah, that much is true,¡± Isaac guided them through another grand, swaying arc across the ballroom floor, ¡°There are those who always fear change, and the agents who bring it.¡±


    ¡°What would your House do, if your old man was the Doge?¡± Joseph asked.


    Isaac''s smile lessened a bit. He suddenly seemed tired.


    ¡°I''m sorry, Joseph. You seem rather interested in all this, but all I wanted was a nice, quiet night of dancing until my ankles break.¡±


    ¡°Sorry,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Just trying to make conversation.¡±


    ¡°Nothing to apologize for,¡± Isaac said, ¡°I talk shop more often than I wish.¡±


    Great, Joseph thought, This is where he asks me all about the guild.


    ¡°What do you like to do for fun?¡± Isaac asked.


    Joseph nearly tripped.


    ¡°Uh,¡± he said, ¡°R-reading?¡±


    ¡°For the guild?¡±


    ¡°Exercising,¡± Joseph continued, ¡°Hanging with my friends?¡±


    God, he was boring.


    Indeed, Isaac seemed to agree, for the song was drawing to a close and one of his servants ¨C a pudgy little goblin - was walking over to him.


    ¡°Milord,¡± the servant said, ¡°She''s ready.¡±


    Isaac''s eyes flashed for a moment in that same, tired look he had given Joseph a moment before.


    ¡°Right, then,¡± he said, ¡°Let''s get this over with. Excuse me, Joseph. Thank you for the dance.¡±


    ¡°No problem,¡± Joseph said.


    Isaac began weaving his way across the dance floor, servant bobbing beside him. He was making his way to one of the side doors that led into the myriad halls of the mansion. Looking for a moment at the crowd and the gala, not realizing Joseph was still watching, he and the servant opened the door and went inside.


    Joseph''s eyes narrowed.


    They didn''t... live here, right?


    ***


    ¡°Lord Rithmound,¡± Sunala gave a bow, gesturing for Rosemary to do the same.


    She did, and as she looked up she could behold the political enemy that Doge Busciver was so afraid of. Lord Bryce Rithmound was a hobgoblin, orange-skinned, with a whispering salt and pepper mustache that, despite its frailty, was expertly groomed. In opposition to the colors and styles from across Londoa, the sashes and dresses and tuxedos, Lord Rithmound was in military dress, a fine blue silken shirt covered by silver armor, upon which was painstakingly etched the Lion of Rithmound. He gave a bow in return, though as he stared at Sunala, Rosemary felt a shiver crawl up her spine.


    His eyes were dead and empty, beetle-black and devoid of... everything.


    ¡°Lady Sunala,¡± Rithmound said, ¡°A pleasure to see you on this night of nights.¡±


    ¡°The pleasure is mine, Milord,¡± Sunala said, ¡°May I introduce one of my two guests for the night, Ms. Rosemary.¡±


    ¡°Milord,¡± Rosemary said.


    Rithmound nodded.


    ¡°And the other?¡±


    ¡°That would be Mr. Zheng,¡± Sunala nodded to the dance floor, ¡°The one in the nice yellow.¡±


    ¡°The one who looks like a lost quail,¡± Rithmound said.


    ¡°...Yep, that''s Joseph,¡± Rosemary admitted. Joseph had lost all of his dance partners, and was now walking across the ballroom floor, getting in the way of the other dancers and generally making a mess of himself.


    ¡°Seems to be... a fellow,¡± Rithmound said.


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Sunala said, ¡°And you are having a good time, Milord?¡±


    ¡°It is a gala,¡± Rithmound said, ¡°I am searching for my son. He has a few social calls to make, and I''m hoping he''s not wasting his time with the Doge''s niece.¡±


    ¡°Lady Busciver is down there,¡± Rosemary said, pointing.


    Rithmound turned, then nodded at the sight below.


    ¡°Good,¡± he said, ¡°Tell me, where is the Doge?¡±


    ¡°I just saw him...¡± Sunala glanced around, ¡°No doubt looking for Lady Doria. He''s been meaning to talk to her about renewing their contract...¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Rithmound said, ¡°If you will excuse me.¡±


    He slinked back into the crowd. Rosemary stared at him for a moment more, before turning her attention to Sunala.


    ¡°Nice guy,¡± she said.


    ¡°He bankrolls much of the militia,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Many of the soldiers are hired by his house.¡±


    ¡°And he wants to be the Doge?¡± Rosemary asked.


    ¡°Everyone wants to be the Doge,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Anyone in power, that is. Scuttleway is a major city on the plane. A lot of trade comes to our ports, and we export quite a bit. New ships, crystals and gemstones...


    ¡°Fresh water,¡± she finished with a smirk.


    ***


    Joseph made his way over to the door Isaac Rithmound had just gone through. After a moment''s hesitation, he opened it and took a peek inside. It led into a hallway, lit by orbs that glowed on torch sconces, balls of light that replaced flame. A couple of servants were smoking in the hallway, all dressed up in white and already with exhausted looks on their faces. One of them was absently eating from her tray of hors d''oeuvres.


    One of them glanced up at Joseph.


    ¡°Hi,¡± he said.


    ¡°Can I help you, sir?¡± the servant asked.


    ¡°I was...¡± Joseph''s mind raced, ¡°Bathroom?¡±


    ¡°You were... bathroom,¡± the servant said.


    ¡°No, I was wondering where the bathroom was,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Down the hall,¡± the servant said, ¡°Take a right, then a left. They''re communal, so watch out.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Err, thanks.¡±


    ¡°You won''t tell the boss we''re here?¡± the servant said.


    ¡°I ain''t a narc,¡± Joseph said.


    The servant nodded, ¡°Hell yeah. Have an hors d''oeuvre.¡±


    Joseph took it, tossing it into his mouth as he walked. It was good, at least ¨C Doge Busciver hadn''t skimped on the food. He went down the hall, making note to keep quiet as he went, hunkering down and taking his steps slowly. He could hear footsteps going down the hallway to the left. Multiple people, or a giant spider. One couldn''t be too sure out in the multiverse.


    He followed the sound, cutting to the left hallway. He was just turning another corner when he saw Isaac Rithmound and his servant. They were in front of a door, one which was evidently locked, as Isaac was fumbling with a key in his pocket.


    ¡°Almost fell out when I was giving the flower to Buscie,¡± he noted.


    ¡°That''d be awkward,¡± the servant said.


    ¡°Yeah, it would be,¡± he smiled for a moment, lost in a memory of some kind, ¡°Worth it, though. Here we are.¡±


    He clicked the key into the lock, turning it, giving a glance to the left and the to the right.


    ¡°Come on,¡± he said, ¡°Lady Doria''s waiting.¡±


    The servant gave a grim nod.


    ¡°Do or die,¡± he said.


    ¡°Don''t be like that,¡± Isaac said, ¡°I''m already nervous.¡±


    He gave one more glance at the hallway, almost catching Joseph, who leaned back out of sight, before he gestured the servant inside, following him in and closing the door.


    The door closed with a distinct click.


    And Joseph felt a strong, gnarled hand rest on his shoulder. He turned his head.


    ¡°Amber Foundation,¡± Ket said, ¡°Shouldn''t you be dancing?¡±

 42. Waltz in the Shadows

    ¡°My name is Joseph,¡± he growled.


    ¡°Your name is irrelevant,¡± the rabbit said, his voice low and dangerous, ¡°Shouldn''t you be dancing?¡±


    ¡°Lay off me, pal,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I was just trying to find the bathroom.¡±


    ¡°How convenient,¡± Ket drawled, ¡°So was I. Shall we go together?¡±


    ¡°That''s just awkward,¡± Joseph said.


    But Ket''s grip tightened on his shoulder. The rabbit''s expression had hardly changed, as he stared dourly down at Joseph.


    ¡°Fine,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Let''s go. Lead the way.¡±


    Ket nodded, releasing Joseph''s grip. Despite Joseph''s offer, however, he kept behind Joseph at all times as the two of them walked, never letting him out of sight. The only sound came from their footsteps clacking against the marble floor. Even the orchestra was muted here, hardly able to be heard through the walls of stone.


    Joseph stopped.


    ¡°Is something wrong?¡± Ket asked.


    ¡°I... I actually forget where the bathroom is,¡± he said.


    Ket blinked. There was a frank confession to Joseph''s statement. He was well and truly lost.


    ¡°We take another right, here,¡± the Exodus Walker said, a bit nonplussed.


    ¡°Right,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Well, let''s go. To, uh, piss together.¡±


    They continued walking.


    They went into the bathroom. It was, shockingly, much like a public restroom back on Earth. There were toilets in stalls, and a deep basin that had water running down its sides in an ever-gushing drip. A mirror had been set into the wall. Joseph made his way to a stall, turning to look at Ket.


    ¡°Don''t you... have to go?¡± he asked.


    ¡°No,¡± Ket replied.


    ¡°Then... why are you here?¡±


    The rabbit gave no response. He crossed his arms and waited.


    Joseph went into the stall.


    He didn''t even need to go.


    ***


    Rosemary and Sunala had stationed themselves at a table near the rails, to better see the dancing below.


    And it was pretty soon that Rosemary, isolated from the wheeling and the waltzing and the glory, became bored. Sunala had her own battles ¨C the constant introductions and re-introductions to just about every single aristocrat, lord, lady, duke, duchess, knight, and esquire in all of Scuttleway, maybe even all of Londoa. She took it all in stride, of course, laughing and joking with the best of them, standing tall compared to the rest of the gala. It helped that she was taller than almost everyone here, of course.


    ¡°Dancing is for the young,¡± she said, in a rare moment where they could sit in silence, ¡°I''m much too busy for it, now.¡±


    ¡°I can see,¡± Rosemary said. She stifled a yawn.


    ¡°Is something the matter, Rosemary?¡± Sunala asked.


    ¡°Wondering where Joseph got to,¡± Rosemary responded, ¡°He was supposed to be dancing, but I think I''ve lost sight of him. Maybe he got trampled.¡±


    Sunala snorted.


    ¡°Or not,¡± she said. Almost as if on cue, Joseph walked up to the table and sat down.


    ¡°God, I need a drink,¡± he said.


    ¡°Was wondering what happened to you, Mr. Zheng,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Having fun?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Joseph said bluntly. Rosemary pushed a glass of wine over to him, which he took and drained, ¡°I saw Isaac Rithmound sneaking around with that servant of his.¡±


    ¡°Scandalous,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°Not like that,¡± Joseph said, rolling his eyes, ¡°They went into a locked room, where apparently Lady Doria was waiting.¡±


    That got Sunala''s attention.


    ¡°Lady Doria?¡± she said.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph said, ¡°And get this, Isaac had a key.¡±


    Sunala nodded.


    ¡°Lady Doria is one of the closest allies to House Busciver, to the point that she practically lives here.¡±


    ¡°Scandalous,¡± Rosemary repeated.


    ¡°She would have keys to the place,¡± Sunala said, ¡°This isn''t... hmm...¡±


    She was quiet for a moment, before she rose.


    ¡°I want you two to investigate this,¡± she ordered, ¡°I''ll throw in a bonus to the contract.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Rosemary said, without hesitation.


    ¡°Did anything else seem odd to you, Joseph?¡± Sunala asked.


    ¡°Ket intercepted me,¡± Joseph said, ¡°He seemed very intent that I didn''t disturb whatever Isaac was doing.¡±


    ¡°So they''re doing a bit more than bodyguard work, then,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°Presumably,¡± Sunala said, ¡°I need to find Busciver.¡±


    ¡°He''s over there,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°With Lord Rithmound.¡±


    She pointed, and indeed, Busciver and Lord Rithmound were laughing together, each with a glass of wine, trying to hide the looks of hatred they shot at one another. Rithmound''s servants were flanking him, almost like guards, and were, Rosemary noted, surreptitiously tasting the wine before pouring it out for their master.


    Sunala nodded, stepping away and approaching Lord Busciver. Rosemary and Joseph watched her as she whispered into his ear and began to pull him away.


    ¡°Should we follow her?¡± Rosemary asked.


    ¡°...I just had to pretend to be pooping for twenty minutes while a giant rabbitman stood outside my stall,¡± Joseph said, downing another glass, ¡°I need a break.¡±


    ***


    It was, Alonso decided, surprisingly exciting to stalk the side hallways that laced around the ballroom floor. He was like a phantom in the night. There was a strange sort of melancholy that came with listening to the orchestra from the sidelines, the waltzing fervor dulled by stone and silence. Many of the hallways were lit for the servants, who bustled about with bottles of wine or trays of fancy foodstuffs.


    A few, though, were unlit and dark, with the intent of steering potential wanderers back towards the dance and the gala. But Alonso did not fear the dark, and he reveled in stepping into places where he wasn''t allowed.


    Most of the doors, of course, were locked, and the Exodus Walker did not prod further. A few rooms, however, had been left unattended, and he would open the door to find a quiet place. One of the rooms was a study, with a couple old books left lying half-read on a desk. Another was a dining room ¨C one of many, Alonso supposed. The true mark of wealth.


    Ket was staying by Lord Rithmound''s son. Isaac was his name, a good kid, all things considered, with his own little Raul and Himiko story with Doge Busciver''s niece. He was in a meeting now with one of Rithmound''s rivals. A betrayal had begun to stink in the air.


    Not his concern, of course. He was to make sure Raulito was safe in all of this. Elections were dangerous times, after all.


    And he had seen Joseph Zheng in the halls twice already.


    The first time Ket had found him, and guided him firmly to the bathroom and then back to the gala. The second time, he had gotten close to the hallway before Alonso had caught up to him.


    ¡°Something wrong, amigo?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Err, no,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Sorry to bother you. Have a nice day.¡±


    And he had turned around and walked back towards the ballroom floor. Alonso had watched the metahuman as he went down the hall leading to the gala. He felt Ket''s presence materialize beside him.


    ¡°Odd,¡± Alonso said.


    ¡°He has already attempted this once,¡± Ket said.


    ¡°I know,¡± Alonso said, ¡°And he sounded almost polite when he talked to me, a far cry from earlier.¡±


    ¡°Suspicious,¡± Ket growled.


    ¡°Indeed. Keep guarding Raulito, Ket. I''m going to do a bit of searching.¡±


    Which brought Alonso here, to this unlit dining room, staring at the silverware, plates, and handkerchiefs that had been painstakingly set up at each seat. This Doge was an odd one, setting a table with no one to dine. But then, Doges often were.


    Alonso shook himself from his thoughts, and closed the door to the room. There would be time later to chuckle at a gnome''s eccentricities. He had work to do.


    He went down another few hallways, out of darkness and into light, before he found his quarry. Joseph had re-positioned himself fully on the other side of the tower, staring through a half-opened door at the gala and the dance, music pouring through at full blast through the crack. Alonso began to step over. The metahuman turned at the Exodus Walker''s approach, eyes going wide as he closed the door and began to briskly walk away. Alonso went after him, lengthening his stride to catch up as Joseph rounded a corner. Alonso wheeled to follow-


    Only to find Joseph gone. A servant was staring at him, a cigarette in his hands that he began to tuck into his coat pocket.


    ¡°Trouble, sir?¡± the servant asked.


    ¡°...No,¡± Alonso said, ¡°No, not at all. Did you happen to see one of the party-goers pass through here?¡±


    ¡°No, sir,¡± the servant said, ¡°You won''t tell anyone I''m taking a smoke break?¡±


    ¡°...Of course not,¡± Alonso said, ¡°I''m not a narc.¡±


    The servant nodded.


    ¡°Hell yeah,¡± he said, ¡°Have an hors d''oeuvre.¡±


    ***


    Doge Busciver took the news of his impending betrayal with good cheer, giving a hearty laugh as Sunala whispered in his ear and cracking a joke to Lord Rithmound.


    But Joseph could see his trembling hands and the way that he quieted down, leaving Sunala and Lord Rithmound to their idle chatter, the noblewoman very obviously trying to keep the hobgoblin looped into the conversation and by Busciver''s side.


    ¡°Makes sense,¡± Joseph said, ¡°She doesn''t want him leaving to cause more trouble.¡±


    ¡°Even though Isaac already is,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°Better than nothing,¡± Joseph said.


    It was then that he noted a servant approaching out of the corner of his eye. She was walking with a confident stride, with all the measured confidence of a fighter, snaking her away around the guests like a cobra as she went to the Doge.


    ¡°The Master of Arms,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°She''s dressed up like any ol'' servant.¡±


    ¡°To alleviate the guests'' concerns?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Something like that,¡± Rosemary said.


    The Master of Arms tapped the Doge on the shoulder. The gnome excused himself, his voice overly joyful and strained over the gala''s din, as they walked over to a side table.


    ¡°It''s rude to stare, Joseph,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°Yeah, but this is getting interesting,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Something''s happened.¡±


    Indeed, Doge Busciver nodded as the Master of Arms spoke with him, eyes betraying nothing as he murmured a few words to her, obviously trying to keep his voice down. His hands trembled even more as he got out of his seat and walked over to Sunala, speaking with her for a moment, before the noblewoman made her way back to Joseph and Rosemary.


    ¡°Come, dears,¡± she said.


    ¡°Did something happen?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Sunala said, ¡°A murder.¡±


    ***


    One of the maids had found him in a room that was supposed to be kept locked, though obviously the killer had taken a key. They had strangled him, and then had unceremoniously tossed him into the room like a used rag. His eyes were still open, still frozen in a look of shock and fear that turned Joseph''s insides, bruises purpling his neck where the murderer''s fingers had dug in deep while squeezing the life out of him.


    They had brought his body out into the hall and sat it down by the wall. The small group, composed of the Master of Arms, the Doge, Sunala, Joseph, and Rosemary, stared down.


    ¡°You took him out of the room?¡± Sunala said, ¡°Busciver, that''s tampering with a crime scene.¡±


    ¡°Captain Ramsey will be furious,¡± the Master of Arms said.


    ¡°Captain Ramsey isn''t going to know,¡± the Doge growled, ¡°This was a murder on Busciver stone, so it is a Busciver matter. The Militia need not factor into this.¡±


    He was wringing his hands nervously, his good cheer facade having melted as soon as he laid his eyes on the body.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    ¡°God dammit,¡± he said, ¡°Not tonight, of all nights...¡±


    ¡°We''ll find out who did this,¡± Sunala said, ¡°You should get back to the gala.¡±


    The Doge glared at Sunala.


    ¡°We must keep up appearances, Busciver. If no one is to know, save for us, then you must act as though nothing''s happened.¡±


    Busciver sighed.


    ¡°Yes, of course, of course. You''re right, as always, Lily-Ann.¡±


    He gave a look to Joseph and Rosemary.


    ¡°The guild can be trusted?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°Good,¡± Busciver said, ¡°Driona, with me.¡±


    The Master of Arms nodded, accompanying the Doge back out into the gala, where he once more put on a mask and started laughing as a noblewoman accosted him with drunken congratulations.


    Joseph knelt down, grimacing as he got closer to the corpse. The victim was all too familiar...


    ¡°I...¡± he racked his brain, ¡°I met this guy. He was in the hallway, having a smoke break.¡±


    ¡°And you didn''t tell anyone?¡± Sunala asked.


    Joseph shook his head.


    ¡°I ain''t a narc.¡±


    Sunala leaned down next to Joseph, sharp eyes looking at the servant''s face. She brought out her single, slender hand and pinched the chin, tilting the head side to side.


    ¡°When did you see him?¡± she asked.


    ¡°...About forty-five minutes ago, give or take,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Odd. I would surmise this servant''s been dead for two or three hours.¡±


    Joseph blinked.


    ¡°How?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Can I tell how long he''s been dead?¡± Sunala said, ¡°His temperature''s gone down a few degrees since his becoming a corpse.¡±


    ¡°No, how can it be that he''s been dead for a few hours, when I just saw him?¡±


    Sunala nodded, ¡°Asking the important questions. Good. It can be for any number of reasons, but we''ll need to narrow them down.¡±


    ¡°Evil twin?¡± Rosemary asked.


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± Sunala said.


    ¡°Seems a bit soap opera-y,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°What''s a soap opera?¡± Rosemary asked.


    ¡°TV shows your mom makes you watch while folding laundry,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Other options?¡± Sunala asked, ¡°Focus, people.¡±


    Joseph nodded, staring down at the body. The servant stared back at him, causing his insides to writhe once more. That primal gut feeling of running away began to overtake him, something he pushed down.


    Firmly.


    They were on a job.


    ¡°You could be wrong,¡± Joseph said, ¡°He could''ve just died.¡±


    The noblewoman gave a shrug, ¡°That is indeed a possibility. Placing a time of death... it isn''t an exact process.¡±


    ¡°...There was something Ichabod told me about,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°About a job he went on.¡±


    ¡°What happened?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°He and Vicenorn were traveling to Henderin''s Glow,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°But they weren''t on the Dreamer. They had to charter an airship from Melmaen to get there. You know Melmaen-¡±


    ¡°I don''t,¡± Joseph said.


    Rosemary rolled her eyes.


    ¡°It''s weird, alright? Magic''s crazy out there. The ship they were on, it was known for getting into all sorts of interesting situations. One of which was that things kept disappearing from their bags. They would see the other go into one room, and come out of another at the same time, on the other side of the ship.¡±


    ¡°What was it?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Turns out the captain''s daughter was a shapeshifter,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°A changeling. She liked playing pranks and practical jokes on the crew and their guests.¡±


    Joseph continued to stare at the servant''s body. At the servant''s face, still filled with fear.


    ¡°Pretty shitty prank, if you ask me,¡± he said.


    ¡°Was there anyone else with the servant when you met him?¡± Sunala asked.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph said, ¡°He was with a buddy. Should we... should we assume that he''s dead, too?¡±


    Sunala shook her head.


    ¡°Not until we find a body,¡± she said, ¡°Now, listen, you two.¡±


    She stood back up, glancing around to make sure they were well and truly alone. Joseph and Rosemary drew closer to her, and her voice was scarcely a whisper as she spoke.


    ¡°If it is a shapeshifter, then we need to assume that anyone in the gala is the killer. Anyone.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°We need to be smart about this,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Because we''ll need to separate if we''re going to find out who did this. Establish code words. Never travel alone without telling the others where we''re going. Got it?¡±


    The two guildmembers nodded.


    ¡°Now, we need to keep up appearances,¡± Sunala said, ¡°All three of us are to act as though nothing''s happened. We''re still at a gala, dancing the night away. But I need you two to find the other servant. Keep an eye on myself and the Doge, as well.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°We got your back,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°Good,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Now, let''s go.¡±


    ***


    They went back out into the gala proper, the fiery song of instruments and voices washing over them once more. It cloaked them like a heavy blanket as they moved into the crowd. The Lady Sunala walked away from them, back up to Doge Busciver, no doubt to keep an eye on him, to assure him that everything would be okay.


    ¡°Right,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I''m going to take a look around the halls again, since if I can''t find that other servant.¡±


    ¡°Probably not the best idea,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Moriguchi and Ket are already keeping an eye on you.¡±


    ¡°I''m the one who knows what the servant looked like,¡± he objected.


    ¡°Describe him to me,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°I''ll look around the hallways. You keep to the ballroom floor, see if he''s here. Keep an eye on Lady Sunala.¡±


    ¡°...Okay,¡± Joseph said. He shut his eyes, struggling to remember the other servant, ¡°He''s human. Tall and lean. Brown hair slicked back to the point of looking like a Ken doll.¡±


    ¡°Ken doll?¡± Rosemary asked.


    Joseph shrugged, ¡°It looks really fake, like he''s wearing a wig made of plastic.¡±


    ¡°Wig made of plastic, got it.¡±


    ¡°He''s in that same suit that all the other servants are in,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°I supposed.¡±


    They took another few steps, maneuvering around a couple of lords who were enjoying their wine perhaps a bit too much.


    ¡°Be careful,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°You too,¡± Rosemary replied. And she split off from him, striding across the room, eyes darting this way and that. Her heart fell as every face was now the face of a killer.


    This was Scuttleway, wasn''t it?


    She couldn''t do anything about the knot now blooming in her stomach, one that had not been there before. Looking at the servant''s body had shaken Rosemary back to reality. She had told Joseph that Scuttleway''s elections were dangerous, but it was one thing to say that and another to experience it.


    She had stood apart from all of the politicking, emotionally removing herself from her conversations with Sunala about the players, both major and minor, in the upcoming election. The Houses of Scuttleway had been almost like...


    Like characters in a book to her. There was a romance to their games, of the debates about the future of the city, with the phantom-like tension between Rithmound and Busciver, the games the two played. Assassination was a buzzword, wasn''t it? No one would actually kill for the chance at becoming Doge. No one was that greedy, that selfish, that prideful...


    And yet there was a dead servant in the hallway. A shapeshifter on the loose.


    She bobbed her way away from the ballroom floor. The music, once majestic and pure in her ears, now sounded artificial. The laughter around her felt forced, and there was a weariness behind everyone''s eyes.


    Masks. All of them were wearing masks.


    This entire gala was a farce, wasn''t it? People weren''t here for the dancing and the romance. They were here for the deals made behind locked doors, for the re-affirmations of loyalty to the cause, to the game itself, to the election of the next Doge.


    They were here to kill.


    She opened up a side door, eyes widening in surprise as a couple stepped through from out of the hallway, glancing this way and that to make sure they hadn''t been spotted, giving curt nods to Rosemary, not even noticing her hands shaking as she closed the door after them. She was alone in the hall, now. A cold relief washed over her, now that she was away from...


    From...


    The false passion. The lies. The deceit of it all.


    This place was just like home.


    For a moment, Rosemary stood, back against the door. She breathed in. Then out. She picked up her sceptre and held it, feeling the sureness of its grip, an old friend from her life before the guild.


    She couldn''t break down. She was on a job.


    And Rosemary strode out to find a killer.


    ***


    Joseph caught up with Sunala as she made her way across the ballroom floor. The dancers closed in around them, though the imperious glare the noblewoman threw their way made them part around her, as though she were an outcropping of stone against the sea. Joseph stuck close, not wanting to get pulled into the reverie. They were approaching the Doge, who was talking in an animated way to Lord Rithmound, a jovial expression on his face that seemed almost forced. Then, Joseph realized, it had always looked forced. He just hadn''t noticed until now. Both of them were near the entrance, the doors open wide to the night, the city burning bright towards the horizon.


    ¡°I''m just saying, Lord Rithmound, one must be careful in this day and age,¡± Busciver said, ¡°You never know what tomorrow will bring.¡±


    ¡°Of course, of course,¡± Rithmound nodded, ¡°Yesterday is history, tomorrow''s a mystery...¡±


    ¡°But today''s the gift,¡± Sunala said.


    ¡°Ah,¡± Rithmound raised an eyebrow, ¡°Lady Sunala.¡±


    ¡°Lord Rithmound,¡± Sunala said.


    ¡°Ah! Lily-Ann,¡± Busciver said, ¡°Rithmound was just telling me about the recent happenings in the Silver Eye, that terrorist incident that wiped out a city.¡±


    ¡°A city, now?¡± Sunala said.


    Joseph let that particular conversation buzz into the background, crossing his arms and leaning against a pillar, looking towards the gala. This far from the gala proper, he was finding it difficult to pick out individual faces ¨C he wouldn''t be able to see Ken doll from this far back, if he was on the floor. For a moment, Joseph was tempted to use his soul''s vision, let the eagle''s head helmet over his, let the sharper eyes take hold...


    But no, that would draw too much suspicion, right?


    ¡°Mr. Zheng here is a metahuman,¡± Sunala said.


    ¡°A metahuman, then?¡± Rithmound said, ¡°How interesting. How fare your people?¡±


    Joseph blinked.


    ¡°Err, people-y.¡±


    ¡°I met quite a few metahumans during the war,¡± Rithmound said, ¡°Not too many come to Scuttleway, though. Becenti is the only one I''ve met. How is Myron?¡±


    ¡°You know him?¡± Joseph''s curiosity was piqued now.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Rithmound said, ¡°I make it a point to know any veterans of the Darwin Campaigns in the city. We''ve had a couple drinks, and all that.¡±


    ¡°Interesting,¡± Joseph said.


    Lord Rithmound looked Joseph up and down.


    ¡°Tell me, Mr. Zheng, have you a metahuman name?¡±


    ¡°...No?¡±


    ¡°He''s only recently gone meta,¡± Sunala said.


    How did she know that?


    ¡°Interesting,¡± Rithmound said, ¡°Come, demonstrate your powers, please.¡±


    They both were looking at him as though he were some sort of zoo animal, now. Busciver too, his annoyingly fake smile plastered on his face. He felt a strong need to flip them all off.


    Still, if it allowed him to get a good look at the gala...


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said, ¡°Check it.¡±


    His circuit thundered and rocketed. The eagle sprung from his back, fully formed. For effect, the bird flexed. Busciver gave a delighted laugh, Rithmound nodded in approval, and Sunala was giving a smirk.


    And through it all, the eagle''s eyes darted towards the gala, searching for the servant...


    There.


    ***


    The servants gave Rosemary curious looks as she passed them by. But that was it, as she stalked through the halls like a red wraith, sceptre clutched in her hands like a mace. Moonstone on the Len was dark and creepy outside of the ballroom floor. The walls, the floor, the ceiling, all of it marble, polished and pristine. She could see her reflection when she stared anywhere, and it made her stomach turn. She never really liked the way she looked, and the multitude of reflections staring back at her kept sending chills up her spine.


    Most of the servants were goblins and gnomes, nary a human in sight. Then, humans were rare out here, weren''t they? You''d think a human servant ¨C with that colorful description that Joseph gave ¨C would be easy to spot.


    But no!


    The only human she could see was Moriguchi. The Exodus Walker was tailing her as she walked. He didn''t even make a good show of it ¨C she could hear his footsteps behind her at almost all times now. She wasn''t too concerned, though. Her sceptre was at full charge, and Moriguchi seemed to be keeping an eye on her. No doubt the Exodus Walkers were playing their own game.


    Did they know about the shapeshifter?


    Perhaps. Maybe they were in league, maybe not. The real clincher was that the shapeshifter could be Moriguchi himself.


    That set Rosemary on edge, as she glanced behind her. Moriguchi was at the end of the hall, walking in time with her, matching her every step. If he was the shapeshifter...


    Biting her lip, Rosemary continued forward. Down one hall, then the next. Moriguchi seemed to lose interest after a while, breaking off, leading Rosemary to wonder if that was the area that Isaac Rithmound was having his meeting in.


    Rosemary stopped, listening. There was no one around, and she had left the lit areas of the manor behind. She was well and completely in the shadows, now. She tried for one of the doors, and she found that most of them were unlocked. That gave her pause. Why would Doge Busciver keep all of his doors unlocked, when he had hundreds of guests attending the gala, any number of which could be snooping through his things?


    The Lady Sunala would tell her it was him sending a message to them. That his house was their house, and anything they took could be replaced.


    So the entire manor was open, the ballroom an extravagant, beating heart of music and fire. The hallways were the arteries leading in, pumping and bustling with motion to keep everything alive. Food for the guests, water for the orchestra, who would continue playing long into the night, their own marathon.


    The rest? A ghost house, where deals could be made.


    Which was why Rosemary found it surprising when she found a locked door.


    She twisted the knob again. Oh yeah, this girl was locked up tight. A solid mahogany number, with a shining bronze handle. Rosemary glanced over her shoulder. No one was here with her, in the darkness.


    If she weren''t looking for a murderous shapeshifter, she''d ignore the locked door. No doubt the message the Doge sent only went so far. There was probably a study or two he couldn''t afford to lose, some skeletons in the closet that he didn''t want random passerby discovering...


    But then, she was on a job, and she could have some fun, right? And the shapeshifter had a key.


    Smiling, Rosemary pointed her sceptre at the crack between the door and the wall. The lock would be solid metal. And the light of her rose could cut through metal, right?


    A flash like the rising sun. The smell of melting iron. And the door opened with an eerie, dark sort of creaking sound. Inside was a small library.


    Inside was Joseph''s servant, dead as a doornail.


    ***


    And there was his servant, handing a martini over to one of the guests, a plastic smile plastered on his plastic face. Joseph collapsed his soul back into his body, ignoring the near-mocking applause of the Doge and the impressed ¨C almost greedy ¨C look that Rithmound was giving him.


    ¡°Excuse me,¡± he said.


    ¡°Of course, Mr. Zheng,¡± Sunala said, ¡°You have my leave.¡±


    He tried not to feel a bit irked at the dismissive tone Sunala was speaking at him with, choosing instead to bite down a poorly-thought-out retort and weave his way back towards the gala. The servant was chuckling at one of the jokes a rather inebriated noblewoman was making. Joseph made his way slowly to him, trying to keep out of his field of vision. He meandered to a nearby wine casket, letting its bulk hide his form, keeping out of sight while pouring himself a glass, noting that he was starting to get a bit drunk.


    He felt someone tap him on the shoulder. Rosemary was back beside him, now.


    ¡°May I have this dance?¡± she asked.


    ¡°We can''t... talk here?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°I want to dance,¡± Rosemary said, she gave him a smile and pulled him towards the floor. The two of them began wheeling in time with the music, joining a circle of waltzers as something similar to Strauss thundered through the ballroom, the orchestra long having left Baroque behind for the Classical period.


    ¡°I found the other servant,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°He''s dead.¡±


    Joseph''s blood ran cold. He glanced over. Ken doll was still pouring out wine, though his bottle seemed to be getting lighter and lighter in his hands.


    ¡°He''s not,¡± he said.


    ¡°I found him dead in a study,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Did you find him?¡±


    They wheeled about. Joseph lowered Rosemary into a dip.


    ¡°Yeah, he''s pouring out wine over there,¡± he said, lifting her back up, ¡°Don''t stare too close. He''s getting pretty antsy.¡±


    ¡°Shit,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°That''s him, then-¡±


    The servant''s eyes were darting to and fro. They landed on the entrance, where Rithmound, Sunala, and the Doge were still talking. With an amicable bow, he drew back from his inebriated guest and began walking over to them.


    ¡°Go time,¡± Joseph said. He broke apart from Rosemary and began to stride forward, heart hammering as the servant picked up his pace. Ken doll was still holding his bottle of wine, though he was holding its neck like it was the handle of a baseball bat.


    Or a knife...


    Rosemary was beside him now, matching his pace, the grip on her mace making her hands go white.


    ¡°If he gets to the Doge, he can just run out into the city-¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Run!¡±


    And they both rushed the servant.


    Who turned around, and noticed the two guild members bearing down on him. The servant''s eyes went wild for a moment, before he leaped to the side and broke into a dead sprint, pushing a couple of party-goers out of the way. Joseph pivoted, chasing after him. Rosemary pointed her mace for a brief moment, before uttering another ¡°shit¡± as noblemen and women began getting in the way of her line of sight. She ran after Joseph, heart falling as the servant made it to one of the side doors, opening it up and slamming it behind him. Joseph got to the door a moment later, wrenching it open, eagle''s head overtaking his own, overtaking the soft orange lights of the hallway with a burning blue.


    The servant wasn''t there. With a dark look, Joseph stepped into the hallway, taking a look around, eagle rising further out of his back.


    ¡°He''ll be gone, Joe,¡± Rosemary said behind him.


    ¡°No shit,¡± Joseph said, ¡°This isn''t good.¡±


    ¡°Let''s tell Sunala to keep an eye out,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°You don''t understand,¡± Joseph said, ¡°We had him, right there. If we hadn''t just run at him-¡±


    ¡°He was going after the Doge, Joseph,¡± Rosemary said.


    Joseph sighed.


    ¡°Yeah. But we had him figured out. Now he''ll know we know he killed the other servant. He''ll disappear.¡±


    The eagle dissolved, small sparks flitting in the air as it disappeared like azure fireflies. Joseph''s look was hard and guilt-ridden.


    ¡°He''ll kill other servants and take their place. We could''ve stopped him here and now. All we did was get more people killed.¡±

 43. ?Bailamos!

    ¡°That''s five times now that the metahuman''s gone through the halls,¡± Moriguchi recounted.


    He and Ket were just outside the door where Isaac Rithmound was finishing his meeting with Lady Doria. They were almost finished, with Isaac''s voice coming thin through the closed door, he seemed to be wrapping up the extensive trade deal that would seal the fate of the Busciver administration. Familial goodwill only went so far, after all. It was money that made the multiverse spin.


    ¡°And the elf?¡± Ket asked.


    ¡°Who, Rosemary?¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°I''ve seen her a couple times. Stalking about the place, but I relented soon enough. She''s looking for someone, I can tell.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps the dead servant.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± Moriguchi said, cracking a knuckle absently, ¡°Once Raulito finishes his meeting, let''s keep an eye on our Amber Foundation friends. They''re acting rather suspicious.¡±


    Ket nodded. The two Exodus Walkers waited for another ten minutes before the lock behind them clicked, and Isaac Rithmound emerged from the dark room.


    ¡°The Lady Doria will be coming out soon enough,¡± the young noble said, ¡°My thanks for keeping watch.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°Come, let''s get to the ball. I could use a drink.¡±


    Isaac smirked.


    ¡°Very well, then,¡± he said, ¡°A drink for the bodyguards. Hopefully it won''t dull your senses too much.¡±


    They stepped out of the shadows and into the half-lit hall, moving from the progressive darkness and into the light, until the world became a full blare of music and festivity. Isaac once more painted on a face of good cheer, almost as though he were an actor as they re-entered the gala. Moriguchi noticed Ket''s snout twitch and wrinkle as he stared out the door.


    ¡°The things we must endure,¡± Moriguchi said.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Ket replied. Without another word he stepped out into the party proper, standing up straighter and hands balling into fists. Moriguchi sauntered out behind him, taking a glass of wine from a tray.


    And realized he was still wearing his mask, and thus could not drink. With a sigh, Moriguchi returned it to the servant.


    ¡°The things we must endure,¡± he repeated.


    ***


    Sunala nodded as Joseph recounted everything that had gone down. She had retreated to the top second floor, keeping an eye out on the gala. Joseph was surreptitiously glancing down on the first floor, tracking to see if Ken doll appeared. But the fact that the shapeshifter knew they were onto him meant he had retreated into the darkness of the hallways once more.


    ¡°And the Doge doesn''t want to call off the gala at all?¡± Joseph said, ¡°People are dead, Sunala.¡±


    ¡°He''s aware,¡± Sunala said.


    Joseph crossed his arms, a hint of anger edging into his voice.


    ¡°So he cares more about some damn party than the lives of his servants.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Sunala said, ¡°He does.¡±


    ¡°And you don''t care, either?¡± Joseph accused.


    ¡°I do care,¡± Sunala said, ¡°That''s why I''m having you and Rosemary look into this for me, and leave me unprotected.¡±


    ¡°Why would the assassin be after you?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°He could be either after me or the Doge,¡± Sunala said, ¡°We''ve similar influences and have two of the most important roles in the administration. My ties to the Elvish communities across the multiverse keeps Scuttleway on the map, after all.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Joseph said, ¡°So you don''t care.¡±


    Sunala raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°There is much riding on this gala, Mr. Zheng. Dimensions and ramifications that are just beneath the surface. The deals that are being made here, behind locked doors and in the subtle language of the nobility could make or break the election.¡±


    ¡°And that''s why you''re just going to let that deal Lady Doria''s making with Rithmound just lie,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°You think we''re not already making counterplay?¡± Sunala said, ¡°It''s not only assassins and servants that stalk the halls tonight.¡±


    ¡°Whatever,¡± Joseph said, ¡°If you''re not going to call the whole thing off, that''s your prerogative. But it just means...¡±


    He trailed off.


    ¡°Yes, Mr. Zheng?¡± Sunala said.


    ¡°It means that the deaths here are on your head,¡± he finished.


    ¡°I...¡± that flustered the noblewoman for just the briefest of moments. But unlike back at Chliofrond, she was in her element here. This was her home turf. She could not afford weakness, especially here.


    ¡°I know,¡± she said, ¡°So find that shapeshifter, before you let him kill anyone else.¡±


    ***


    Rosemary was down below on the first floor, having long ago forgone the offers of dance by nervous lords and ladies, instead sitting by a wine casket and listening to an idle conversation between two noblemen.


    ¡°Of course, Busciver''s trade deals are tricky,¡± the first one, a large walrus of an ogre, was saying, ¡°Far too complex for my tastes.¡±


    ¡°That''s how he gets you,¡± the second, a needle-nosed gnome, stated, ¡°By making them long and complicated, he can sneak whatever he wants into there. He learned it from his days working on Kelstonda, or some such. Always reads what he says...¡±


    ¡°At least Rithmound''s honest,¡± the ogre said.


    ¡°Still on that, eh?¡± the gnome said, ¡°Rithmound''s as honest as a serpent, and a wardog to boot. Not a merchant. And the Doge needs to be a merchant. Listen, come over to my place tomorrow night, a couple other in the Tailor''s Association have been talking about a few tariffs the the Doge is talking about lifting. If he wins the election, of course...¡±


    She rolled her eyes as she took a sip of her wine. Better to be out here at the ball, close to the Doge, in case the shapeshifter tried anything. She kept positioning herself near to him as he and Lord Rithmound strutted across the ballroom floor, laughing and making idle conversation, refusing to let the other out of his sight.


    Her grip on her sceptre tightened whenever someone drew too close. And she always made sure that she had a clean shot.


    There, the Doge was moving away again, waddling his way over to a wine casket. A servant drew up beside him ¨C something that made Rosemary''s spine tingle. But no, the servant was just there to taste the wine. He was soon on his way. She made her way over, maneuvering around a couple gala-goers-


    Felt a hand on her shoulder, warm and strong.


    Too strong.


    ¡°Hola, Rosemary.¡±


    ¡°Moriguchi,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°May I have this dance?¡± the Exodus Walker asked.


    She glared at him for a few moments. Moriguchi carried himself casually, yet there was a dangerous edge to his voice that she couldn''t ignore.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Rosemary offered a hand. Moriguchi took it, the two of them waltzing off. They danced in silence for a few moments, getting into the swing of the ball, the music becoming slow and romantic.


    It was only after the end of a particularly long sequence that Moriguchi spoke.


    ¡°So,¡± he said, ¡°What are you doing in the halls?¡±


    ¡°Looking for servants,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°Why? Surely there are many out here,¡± Moriguchi replied.


    ¡°Why were you following me?¡± Rosemary countered, ¡°Not a good look, stalking a girl like me through dark halls.¡±


    ¡°True, that,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°My apologies. Security, and all that.¡±


    ¡°Same,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°Odd that you''re doing all that searching in the halls, when your client has been in the gala the whole time.¡±


    ¡°Same can be said for you,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Weren''t you supposed to guard Lord Rithmound?¡±


    That caught Moriguchi off guard. He was quiet for the rest of the piece, his conversation simmering down to nothing as he kept in pace with Rosemary. Finally, at the end of the crescendo, he broke away, giving a tip of his sombrero.


    ¡°My thanks for the dance, Rosemary,¡± Moriguchi said.


    And then he was gone. Melted back into the crowd. Rosemary glared at the sea of bodies that he had sunk into. Then she turned to her vigil.


    She had wasted enough time on dance and pomp.


    ***


    ¡°They''re definitely up to something,¡± Moriguchi said, getting back over to Ket.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Ket said, ¡°Amber Foundation is not a guild of bodyguards.¡±


    ¡°True, that,¡± Moriguchi said. He cast a sad look down at the chute of white wine in Ket''s hand. The rabbit, noticing, sipped.


    ¡°You can take off the mask,¡± he said.


    ¡°No,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°The mask stays on. It is my honor. My life-¡±


    He deflated a bit when he noticed Ket visibly stop caring, instead viewing the gala floor, keeping a razor-edge eye on Isaac Rithmound as he made his way back to Lady Busciver. He struck up conversation with her once more, the young gnome instantly becoming far more animated than she had been before at the hobgoblin''s approach.


    ¡°I suspect the Amber Foundation realizes we''re guarding Raulito, and not Lord Rithmound,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°Rosemary seemed just as suspicious at my tailing her in the halls.¡±


    ¡°You''re too obvious,¡± Ket said.


    ¡°You literally escorted Joseph to the bathrooms like he was some sort of prison inmate,¡± Moriguchi said.


    Ket was quiet at that, glaring down at his guildmate.


    ¡°Regardless,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°I''m glad Isaac seems to be having a good time now. Apparently that was the last deal that needed to be made.¡±


    ¡°A single stroke,¡± Ket said, ¡°A House falls.¡±


    ¡°One of many,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°But this was the most important, I''d suppose. Not really our business, is it?¡±


    ¡°True.¡±


    Moriguchi felt nature call.


    ¡°Right,¡± he said, ¡°I''m going back. Think you can handle watching Isaac alone?¡±


    ¡°Where are you going?¡± Ket asked.


    ¡°I have to go to the bathroom,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°For real. Honest! Don''t look at me like that, I have to piss.¡±


    ***


    In truth, Moriguchi was speaking to the truth. With Isaac back in the ball falling hopelessly in love with Lady Busciver ¨C a story that could only end in tragedy, he knew ¨C the hallways seemed less foreboding now, less threatening. He looked this way and that...


    ¡°Can I help you, sir?¡± a servant asked.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°I seem to have lost my way to the restroom.¡±


    ¡°Take a right, then another right,¡± the servant said, ¡°Hors d''oeuvre?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°But thank you.¡±


    The servant looked familiar. Moriguchi remembered him as a servant who he had run into before, back when he was stalking after Joseph in the halls. Keeping that in mind, just in case, Moriguchi made his way to the bathroom. Here, the orchestra''s din drew to a mere whisper, walled by the many marble hallways that bridged between here and there. Moriguchi made his way to a stall, whistling an old tune from back home as he unzipped and relieved himself.


    He heard the door open behind him just as he was finishing up. Footsteps echoed over the muted roar of the orchestra, sharp and direct. Moriguchi zipped back up. There was something off. The air had changed ¨C from stale and bathroom-like to stuffy, almost electrified.


    Something was wrong.


    The newcomer was behind him.


    ¡°Look,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°I know you-¡±


    Movement. Fast, the Exodus Walker twisted to the side. Not fast enough, a steak knife cutting clean through his side. But Moriguchi was a roshador. He was used to pain and freshly-spilled blood as he shot out a hand, snatching the extended arm of his attacker, squeezing and crushing his wrist as he raised his right arm and brought it down like a hammer.


    He was quite surprised to see his attacker to be Joseph, penguin suit and all, who took the blow directly in the forehead. With a snarl, Joseph struck back, free hand ringing a shot into Moriguchi''s gut, a surprisingly hard hit that knocked the wind out of him. Moriguchi released his hold, coughing and gasping, heart hammering as Joseph swung the knife again. Moriguchi was ready this time, however, twisting to the side and grappling Joseph again. The two of them wrestled for a brief moment, the Exodus Walker bashing Joseph''s knife hand against the wall, making the Amber Foundation release his grip, before bodily picking him up and piledriving him into the ground. The tile beneath cracked as Joseph broke against the floor. For a moment, he lay still, Moriguchi breathing heavily and clutching his side, a full torrent of red now staining his nice charro.


    Then, Joseph scrambled up quickly, scrabbling away like an injured dog, shoving the door open and running away. Moriguchi, exhausted from the sudden skirmish, stood there, leaning against the wall, painting it crimson.


    ¡°D-don''t keep up,¡± he muttered.


    ***


    ¡°A problem,¡± Ket said.


    He had found Moriguchi after he noted that the roshador had still not returned from his break. Taking a moment to glare at Isaac Rithmound for a moment, torn between his guard and the safety of his friend (these were dark circumstances, after all), Ket gave a sigh and went into the hallways, taking a right, then a right towards the restrooms. He had found Moriguchi bleeding out, using the wall to support himself.


    That''s where the two were now, as Ket gingerly wrapped a bandage around Moriguchi''s stomach. The entire restroom was a mess, with blood marring the walls and floor, the tile cracked and spider-webbed as though a bomb had gone off in the room''s dead center.


    ¡°Really,¡± Ket said, ¡°Did you have to make a scene?¡±If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    ¡°He stabbed me,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°Of course I had to.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Ket growled.


    ¡°We''ll need to lock up this restroom,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°Make it so that no one comes in-¡±


    They heard movement behind them. Both of them watched as Isaac Rithmound burst inside, hand in hand with the Lady Busciver. For a moment, the two groups stared at each other. Lady Busciver went pale.


    ¡°Hola, Raulito,¡± Moriguchi said.


    ¡°...Hi,¡± Isaac said.


    ¡°Don''t mind us,¡± Moriguchi made to stand up straight, letting out a sudden gasp of pain as he did so, ¡°Just... business.¡±


    ¡°I... can see that,¡± Isaac said.


    ¡°We''re going to lock up the bathroom,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°You two might want to find somewhere else.¡±


    ¡°Don''t gotta tell me twice,¡± Isaac said, ¡°Let''s go, Buscie.¡±


    ¡°A-alright,¡± the gnome said. Rithmound guided her out of the restroom.


    ¡°Can we trust the girl?¡± Ket asked.


    ¡°Reasonably, they''re in love,¡± Moriguchi said.


    ¡°She could be lying,¡± Ket said.


    ¡°Ah, no, no,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°The look she was giving him, Ket. That''s love, right there.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Ket rumbled.


    ¡°They''ll lock themselves up somewhere, nice and safe from the Amber Foundation,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°Odd that Joseph didn''t use his powers over here.¡±


    ¡°You''ve heard the stories,¡± Ket said, ¡°They''re rather obvious. Maybe he didn''t want to make a scene.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± Moriguchi took a shaky step forward.


    ¡°You should not move,¡± Ket said, ¡°I bandaged you up, but we should get you some proper medical attention.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°I shouldn''t be here, I should be-¡±


    Ket glared at Moriguchi. The roshador sighed.


    ¡°Very well,¡± he said, ¡°Shall we make this bathroom our home base, then?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Ket said, ¡°Joseph will know we''re here. If he means to finish you off...¡±


    ¡°I don''t think he did,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°Otherwise I''d be dead. That knife was fast, Ket. Faster than I anticipated. He knew how quick I am. If he had just gone a bit more to the left...¡±


    ¡°Questions for him, then,¡± Ket said.


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°Shall we?¡±


    ¡°You''re good to walk?¡±


    Moriguchi nodded.


    ¡°As fine as I''ll ever be,¡± he said, ¡°Lead the way, my brave friend.¡±


    Ket rolled his eyes.


    ***


    Joseph had been on the second floor the entire time, keeping an eye with Sunala at the dance below. He didn''t much feel like joining in the reverie, that little inkling that maybe this would be a fun evening having trickled away with the dead servant. So he simply stood at the balcony and glowered down like a vulture, keeping an eye out for anything, anything at all.


    Rosemary was below, watching for danger on the first floor. It was a more dangerous game, now, one where they had to watch for when the shapeshifter made the first move.


    They had lost the initiative.


    So Joseph was being especially attentive, a dark sort of anger taking hold over him, familiar and annoyed.


    ¡°Well, Mr. Zheng?¡± Sunala said.


    ¡°Don''t talk to me,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Very well,¡± Sunala said, ¡°I have a few more people to chat with, then I''ll be finished. Care to accompany me?¡±


    ¡°Fine,¡± Joseph said.


    Sunala ignored his terse reply, and the way his movements were stocky and slow as she moved from the balcony and towards one of the guests. The old crone that she approached walked with a cane, an old hobgoblin so bent over with age Joseph was pretty sure she had broken her back long ago, and had just healed funny. Nonetheless, she was wearing her finest, a dark blue dress with peacock feathers trailing the floor behind her, a serene smile on her face.


    ¡°Ah, Lady Doria,¡± Sunala said.


    ¡°Lily-Ann,¡± Lady Doria brightened, ¡°How good to see you. Have you been hiding?¡±


    ¡°Of course not,¡± Sunala said, ¡°But I haven''t seen hide nor hair of you since I came here.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Doria gave a wave, ¡°I''ve been here, I''ve been there. I''m short, Lily-Ann, us short folk tend to disappear into the crowd.¡±


    Sunala, to her credit, was a fine actress indeed, as she gave a polite smile to Doria''s bald-faced lie. Joseph, despite himself, was impressed.


    ¡°Come,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Have a drink with me.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Doria said, ¡°I haven''t had a drop all night.¡±


    Joseph followed a bit behind as the two of them made for one of the wine caskets. Sunala did the pouring, keeping her amicable smile, a mask to hide her true feelings from Doria, who accepted it with good grace, mirroring Sunala, a polite and cheerful grin painted on that old bag that was her face.


    ¡°I trust you''ve been having a pleasant evening,¡± Sunala said.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Doria replied, ¡°It''s been wonderful.¡±


    ¡°Even though you haven''t had a drop of wine,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Lady Doria, your reputation must be in tatters.¡±


    ¡°Ah, yes,¡± Doria chuckled, ¡°''The Thirsty Lady,'' that''s what they called me, eh?¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Changing your ways?¡±


    There was a dangerous edge to Sunala''s statement. Doria just smiled, not daring to take the bait. She took a sip of her wine, pursing her lips.


    ¡°This wine''s not too bad,¡± she said, ¡°Not as aged as I prefer, though.¡±


    ¡°Imported from Ellonwen,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Clear on the other side of Londoa.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Doria said.


    The two were quiet for a moment.


    ¡°There goes Busciver,¡± Sunala said, ¡°He''s been with Lord Rithmound all night.¡±


    ¡°They''ll be announcing their engagement any day, now,¡± Doria said.


    ¡°Oh, you know what they say,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Keep your friends close...¡±


    ¡°And your enemies closer,¡± Doria raised her glass, ¡°To friends and enemies, then.¡±


    Sunala clinked.


    And smiled her amicable smile.


    And Joseph saw, behind her, as she took another sip of wine, the servant.


    Ken doll.


    The shapeshifter. He was holding a plate of hors d''oeuvres, and when he took notice of Joseph he stopped, before shoving the entire plate into the hands of one of the guests before turning around and power-walking.


    ¡°Excuse me,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I see him.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Good hunting, Mr. Zheng.¡±


    Joseph matched the shapeshifter''s speed, shoving servants and guests aside with impunity as he pursued the servant across the second floor and to the door.


    ¡°Oh no,¡± he said, ¡°Not this time.¡±


    He quickened his pace, breaking into a full sprint just as the servant began to close the door. Joseph reached out, summoning his soul, a claw arcing out, the longer reach stopping the door before it could be fully closed. The servant let out a gasp as Joseph rushed into the hall, tackling him to the ground. For a moment, he let his soul roar to life, neon claws clutching the servant''s arm and neck, keeping him pinned-


    ¡°Sorry, dude,¡± the shapeshifter said, ¡°Not bad, though.¡±


    And then he began to melt. His form began to smear as though he were a lit candle, before he turned into a gray goo that oozed out of Joseph''s grip. Then, he bolted, slipping across the ground like it were ice, far faster than Joseph could have imagined.


    ***


    Ket stalked after Joseph, a dark rumble boiling in his stomach. The metahuman was running down the hall, obviously in a panic of some sort. Perhaps he had seen Ket, and the source of his flight. Perhaps he had not, and was running after another target in the gala.


    It mattered little to Ket. He had to put the Amber Foundation down.


    He traced a claw as he went. Shadows pulled free from the dancing of flames and light, no longer bound to them. They dragged behind Ket as he went.


    There was work to be done.


    ***


    ¡°Hey!¡± Joseph yelled. He ran after the shapeshifter, who turned a corner. Joseph ran after him-


    He could see the shapeshifter change form halfway down the hall, morphing into the servant once more. He turned and gave a wave to Joseph mid-gait, an absolutely arrogant smile on his face.


    Joseph saw red. He picked up his speed, bearing down on the shapeshifter, who opened up another door and ran through. Joseph followed.


    It was a dance room, like the one at Castle Belenus, though this one was much larger. There was a broad mat striping down the middle of the floor, and, squinting in the half-light coming from the open door, Joseph could see fencing equipment tucked away in the corner ¨C two sabers and a meshed helmet.


    Then the door closed behind him. Joseph spun, glaring at it for a moment. He was cast completely in shadow. No matter. Joseph''s circuit took hold, erupting the eagle out of his back.


    Then the panic returned as he noted that the eagle''s light only cast a few feet out in front of him, as opposed to swallowing the whole room. His soul was like a blue sun, its light magnificent and powerful. He sometimes used it at night so Phineas could have light to read his magazines.


    Something was snuffing it out.


    Someone was snuffing it out.


    ¡°Mr. Zheng,¡± he heard a deep, familiar voice behind him, ¡°I would like to have a word.¡±


    And Ket was upon him, bearing down on him, his hands splayed, the points at the end sharpening into claws as he swung. His soul''s arm blocked the blow, a cold cut splashing down its arm as Joseph leaped back.


    And Ket was gone once more, sinking into the shadows, swimming through them like water. Joseph gritted his teeth as the recoil from Ket''s shot entered through his spine. His soul took a boxer''s stance, arms front and center, eyes glaring around the room. Joseph mirrored it, closing his own to minimize the disorientation that came from looking out of four eyes.


    ¡°What the hell are you doing?¡± Joseph said, ¡°I''ve got enough on my plate as is, pal.¡±


    Ket struck again. This time, Joseph was ready, pivoting while his soul made for a haymaker. Its fist collided with the rabbit, smacking him across the room and back into the darkness.


    Only for him to erupt beneath Joseph''s feet, claws slashing. Joseph brought up an arm defensively, letting the claws cut through his nice suit''s sleeve and into flesh, his other arm going for a jab to the stomach. Ket jumped back, the shadows taking him once more.


    ¡°Counter-punching,¡± Joseph said, looking at his tattered sleeve, ¡°Still got it.¡±


    They were back at an impasse once more. Joseph glaring around the place, eyes still clenched shut, letting the eagle''s vision sharpen the room. He could occasionally make out Ket in the darkness, which roiled like waves on an obsidian sea, the rabbit''s head just poking over the surface.


    ¡°What the hell do you want, Ket?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Still playing the fool,¡± Ket said.


    ¡°What''s that supposed to mean?¡± Joseph growled.


    Ket rushed him once more. Joseph was ready, however, twisting around, his soul''s claws meeting the rabbits, the two dancing in a quick skirmish of talon and nail, but the soul was a hair faster than Ket, getting beneath the rabbit''s guard, swinging downwards at his legs to knock him off balance. Ket scrunched, then jumped high into the air-


    Just for Joseph to collapse his soul and point a finger at the rabbit. Lightning sparked across his arm, so bright in spite of the suffocating black, and he let out a bolt that speared through the rabbit, causing a great boom that deafened his ears and made his hair stand on end...


    ***


    The thunder clapped through Moonstone on the Len, a deep, creaking roar that made the glass chandelier high above sway for a moment, before settling down. Conversation ceased. Noblemen and women looked at one another, a few whispers were exchanged here and there. The music faltered, the conductor, Rinovsky, not noticing that her orchestra had stopped their playing as she made a few more waves of her baton, though she dropped that with a glare.


    ¡°No one said anything about a storm...¡± one of the lords next to Rosemary murmured, ¡°And the sky seemed so clear this morning.¡±


    ¡°Bah, can never trust the weather nowadays,¡± another said, ¡°Damn eln meia and their wars, those storm mages are messing up Londoa''s entire weather system.¡±


    But Rosemary knew it wasn''t a thunderstorm outside. She glanced over to the Doge, who cleared his throat and gestured to the gala, his voice sharp and commanding over the quiet commotion.


    ¡°It''s just a bit of thunder!¡± Busciver said, ¡°A little rain never hurt us! Now, come on, then!¡±


    He nodded to Rinovsky, who shrugged and turned. The orchestra started up once more. It was as though time became unfrozen as people returned to their reverie once more. Rosemary broke off from her vigil over the Doge, making her way up the stairs to the second floor. She met Lady Sunala halfway, the two of them exchanging a look.


    ¡°The shapeshifter?¡± Rosemary asked.


    Sunala nodded.


    ¡°The door by the statue of the crab,¡± Sunala said, ¡°He went through there. Happy hunting, Rosemary.¡±


    Rosemary gritted her teeth and began rushing, sceptre glowing in her hand.


    ***


    For a moment, all was silent. Joseph breathed in and out, lightning crackling the air, which now smelled strongly of ozone. Ket was steaming and crumpled on the ground, the shadows having lost their overbearing aura. For a moment, Joseph thought he had killed the rabbit, an odd sense of guilt coming to him-


    And then the shadows became suffocating once more. They wrapped themselves around Ket, who rose. A star-shaped burn had blasted through his chest and annihilated his nice suit, though that was patching up and healing, the suit re-sewing itself back into place. Ket was leaning forward like an animal, despite his wear, that wild look returning to his eye.


    ¡°A fair shot,¡± his voice was hoarse and ragged, ¡°My turn.¡±


    And he rocketed forward. Joseph''s soul manifested, making a swipe that caught nothing but air as Ket disappeared, re-appearing behind the eagle, his claws inked with darkness as he threw a wicked cut that tore the eagle through, cold rushing down Joseph''s spine as plasma spilled like blood onto the ground, which steamed and dissipated. He took a step forward, but found his movement swamped ¨C Joseph looked down to see that ropes of darkness had wrapped around his legs, holding him fast as Ket pounced once more, this time landing on top of the soul, claws wrapping around its neck and cutting deep. Joseph gritted his teeth, falling to a knee.


    The soul reverbed back into his body, Ket falling with it, the rabbits grabbing the back of Joseph''s hand and slamming his face into the ground. He heard a deep crack and felt red-hot agony bloom from his nose. His vision was blurry as he felt Ket yank his head upwards by his hair, kneeling over him, his other claw ready to gouge his throat-


    Joseph''s hand shot out, lightning crackling around it as he pushed it against Ket''s chest.


    The two stopped, breathing heavily, not daring to make a move.


    ¡°Y-you...¡± Joseph''s mind swam through the pain, ¡°You know how to really make an e-evening, d-don''t you.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Ket growled.


    ¡°Don''t lie,¡± Joseph said, ¡°You could''ve killed me, there. W-what do you want?¡±


    ¡°A good question,¡± a third voice entered the conversation. Moriguchi''s. The Exodus Walker had opened the door into the gym, light flooding in from the hallway. And he had been in a scrap, his coat and undershirt abandoned, replaced by a thick wrap of bandages stained red.


    ¡°Hola, Joseph.¡±


    ¡°...Hola,¡± Joseph replied.


    ¡°You''re in quite the stalemate, there,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°Good. You can''t move.¡±


    He entered into the proper.


    ¡°Let''s talk.¡±


    ¡°Yes, let''s,¡± Rosemary said behind him.


    She was pointing her mace at his back, which gleamed with the force of the Inner Sun, a ferocious look on her face, her blood-red dress nearly shining from her glow.


    ¡°One step, Moriguchi, and I drill a hole through your back,¡± she said, ¡°One to pair with the limp you didn¡¯t have before. You''ve been busy.¡±


    ¡°As has your guildmate,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°I''ve got him to thank for the loss of my favorite charro.¡±


    Rosemary, despite herself, quirked an eyebrow.


    ¡°I-I did?¡± Joseph said, ¡°It was a good look.¡±


    ¡°It was, my pap¨¢ gave it to me,¡± Moriguchi said.


    ¡°...Moriguchi,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Can you trust me on something?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Moriguchi said.


    ¡°Fair,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°But hear me out for a second, alright?¡±


    ¡°The elf speaks naught but lies,¡± Ket warned.


    ¡°I-in a bind anyways, pal,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Might as well listen.¡±


    The rabbit glared at Joseph.


    ¡°Very well,¡± he said, ¡°Speak, Amber Foundation.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Joseph and I have reason to believe a shapeshifter''s infiltrated the gala. He''s been killing servants and impersonating them.¡±


    ¡°Neat,¡± Moriguchi said.


    ¡°You said Joseph... ruined your charo?¡±


    ¡°Charro, Rosemary,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°Have to roll the ''r.''¡±


    ¡°Did he attack you?¡±


    ¡°Of course he did,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°Came at me with a knife-¡±


    He caught onto her meaning.


    ¡°Ahhh, so that''s the alibi, then,¡± he said, ¡°A likely story.¡±


    ¡°Far too convenient,¡± Ket said.


    ¡°I agree,¡± Moriguchi said.


    ¡°It''s the truth,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°And you expect me to believe that?¡± Moriguchi said.


    ¡°There are bodies,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Two servants, dead-¡±


    ¡°Another one?¡± Moriguchi supposed, ¡°Thought there was only one.¡±


    Rosemary blinked.


    ¡°You knew one of them was dead?!¡± she yelled, ¡°Which one?¡±


    ¡°The one in the study,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°Found him, while I was tailing Joseph. Thought it was just regular old political intrigue, so I let it be.¡±


    ¡°Then you know s-something''s up,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Moriguchi agreed, ¡°But that''s not sufficient evidence for me to think that there''s a shapeshifter here.¡±


    ¡°...What did he do to you?¡± Rosemary asked.


    ¡°Stabbed me,¡± Moriguchi said.


    ¡°And what did you do to him?¡±


    ¡°Gave him a good wallop to the head, piledrived him into the bathroom floor,¡± Moriguchi said.


    ¡°And Joseph would have a bruise from that,¡± Rosemary said.


    That stopped the Exodus Walker. He stood there for a moment in silence.


    ¡°...Yes, I suppose he would,¡± Moriguchi said.


    ¡°And does he, Ket?¡± Rosemary asked.


    The rabbit glared at Joseph''s mashed-up face.


    ¡°No,¡± he said, ¡°Nor does he sport any injuries from having been driven into the ground. He only sports the wounds I have given him.¡±


    ¡°Could have been healing magic,¡± Moriguchi said.


    ¡°I''m not much for that,¡± Rosemary said.


    Moriguchi went quiet. Below, they could all hear the sounds of the gala, of the music and fanfare, and the darker revelations of the night made the Exodus Walker sway slightly.


    ¡°Can you t-trust us?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°No,¡± Ket said.


    ¡°Not really,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°But...¡±


    ¡°A s-shapeshifter came in here,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Where did it go?¡±


    Rosemary began looking around the room.


    ¡°Think he''s still here?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Ket said, ¡°If a being was in here, I would know. The shadows in this room are mine.¡±


    ¡°T-then he l-left,¡±


    ¡°He could be after the Doge now,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°...True,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°But he''s not after Isaac Rithmound.¡±


    ¡°He could be,¡± Rosemary said.


    Another bout of silence.


    ¡°He could be after anyone,¡± Rosemary ventured, ¡°We don''t know, only that he went after the Doge, Lady Sunala, and Lord Rithmound with the intention to kill one or all of them. He''s been disguising himself as Joseph and attacked you to draw away any other guilds from the ballroom floor.¡±


    The music took on a more discordant movement.


    ¡°The longer we''re in here, fighting each other,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°The more opportunities the shapeshifter has to kill his target.¡±


    ¡°And we don''t know who it is,¡± Moriguchi said.


    ¡°It could be anyone,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°So for the sake of it, we need to make a truce, protect our own clients. Or, at the very least, stop trying to kill each other.¡±


    ¡°...Deal,¡± Ket said.


    Moriguchi looked at the rabbit.


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± he said.


    ¡°The metahuman fought well,¡± Ket said, ¡°And what they''ve said holds true.¡±


    He turned back to Joseph.


    ¡°I don''t trust you,¡± he said, ¡°I will keep my eyes on you at all times this night. Are we clear?¡±


    ¡°Same goes for you,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Now lemme go.¡±


    Ket released Joseph''s hair, and he fell to the floor. Rosemary rushed over to Joseph''s side, helping him up. At once the shadows ceased their claustrophobic aura, and the room brightened considerably. Moriguchi walked over and offered a hand to the both of them.


    ¡°Let''s just get this over with, eh, amigo?¡±

 44. Take to the Floor

    ¡°So he was in here, then,¡± Moriguchi said.


    Rosemary had lit the torches in the fencing room, a series of cheery, bright yellow orbs lighting the entire area. It was only after the sconces were filled that the full scene of Joseph and Ket''s duel became evident, the floor broken and scrabbled, the stone on the walls warped and twisted by the rabbit''s shadows, a burn mark lanced through the ceiling from Joseph''s thunderbolt.


    ¡°Geez, Joseph,¡± Rosemary said to that last part, ¡°You couldn''t have just walked out of the room?¡±


    ¡°Not really,¡± Joseph said. He was sitting down as she looked over his broken nose.


    ¡°Right,¡± she said, ¡°This is gonna hurt.¡±


    She gently rested a hand on his nose.


    ¡°Ready?¡±


    ¡°...Ready,¡± Joseph said.


    With a twist, she set it back in place, a bass-lined crack that almost echoed through the room, overshadowed by Joseph''s sudden scream of pain. He fell back, his teeth gritting so hard that he swore they were breaking against one another.


    ¡°That should be fine for the night,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°But we''ll want to have Elenry get a look at you when we get home.¡±


    She looked over at Moriguchi. He and Ket were standing by the door.


    ¡°You''re alright, too?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Moriguchi said. Ket simply nodded.


    ¡°You don''t look alright,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°I''m not,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°But finding that shapeshifter is more important than my personal grooming.¡±


    ¡°I meant that injury of yours-¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°Trust me, friend, I''ll be fine.¡±


    Joseph blinked back a few last tears, the pain receding somewhat as he stockily stood up. He looked over at Moriguchi.


    ¡°You said the shapeshifter attacked you with a knife, right?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°Ket, if you will.¡±


    The rabbit nodded, kneeling down and plunging a hand into his cast shadow, sinking into the black as though it were a pool of water, before pulling out the weapon. He considered it for a moment, before showing it to Joseph.


    ¡°Look familiar?¡± he asked, a hint of lingering accusation in his voice.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph drawled, ¡°I just casually keep kitchen knives in my pockets all the time.¡±


    ¡°Then it''s not familiar,¡± Ket said.


    ¡°Of course it''s not, I''ve never seen it in my life.¡±


    ¡°It looks like a butcher''s knife from the kitchen,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°The shapeshifter probably got it from there.¡±


    ¡°Disguised as a servant, no doubt,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°And he didn''t mean to kill me, either. He just wanted to turn us against each other¡±


    ¡°Which means we should get outside,¡± Joseph said, ¡°All four of us. Now.¡±


    There was a moment where the other three stared at him for a moment, before the full weight of his words sunk in.


    If they were all in here-


    And the shapeshifter was out there-


    Rosemary was the first out the door. Joseph second, wiping his nose and hiding his sleeve, then Moriguchi. Ket stopped him as they went out the door, pulling his shadow free.


    ¡°Here,¡± the rabbit said.


    He began fashioning a new suit for his guildmate, a tuxedo much like Joseph''s, only black as the night itself. Moriguchi looked at it, for a few moments, before pulling it on.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± he said, ¡°I''m still upset about my charro.¡±


    ¡°I don''t care,¡± Ket said, ¡°Walk.¡±


    They almost sprinted to the door and back into the gala. Rosemary took the lead, running into the crowd. Joseph followed close behind ¨C only for a hand to close over his shoulder and pull him back into the hallway.


    ¡°Careful, chamaco,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°Best be careful.¡±


    ¡°Rosemary''s going alone,¡± Joseph growled, ¡°Let me go-¡±


    ¡°Let me explain,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°She''ll be fine. But if we want to make this a game of action over reaction, we must tread carefully...¡±


    He began to explain as Rosemary entered back into the gala.


    ***


    Rosemary beelined for the Doge and Rithmound, pushing people out of her way, her heart hammering, in opposition to the orchestra¡¯s slow drawl. The entire gala swooned and swam as she kept her. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Sunala take notice and begin walking parallel to her for a few moments, looking for a gap between the dancing and merry-going, before she slipped through and drew in close.


    ¡°What news?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Shapeshifter lured us into a room,¡± Rosemary said. Then she stopped, glaring at Sunala for a moment suspiciously, ¡°Tell me something only you would know about me,¡± she said.


    ¡°You''re not an elf,¡± Sunala whispered.


    ¡°...Alright, it''s you,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°You prefer The Elfking''s Return over Parable of Elinantir.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Where''s Mr. Zheng?¡±


    For a second, Rosemary glanced back. Joseph was nowhere near her. No- she could see him now, hiding by the door, glaring behind him. Moriguchi''s hand was on his shoulder.


    ¡°Indisposed,¡± she said, ¡°I''ll catch you up when we''re done.¡±


    ¡°Very well,¡± Sunala said, ¡°The shapeshifter-?¡±


    ¡°Slipped us by, think he''s going for the Doge.¡±


    ¡°Well, no one''s gone near the Doge for a while, just his Master of Arms,¡± Sunala said. They were nearing Busciver now, he and Rithmound laughing it up by a table full of empty wine glasses, their eyes bloodshot and their laughs far too exaggerated to be sober. Strange drinking buddies, indeed.


    ¡°Good,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Okay, good. The shapeshifter knows about the bodies he¡¯s disguising himself as.¡±


    ¡°But we mustn''t discount that he may be able to take on other forms,¡± Sunala said.


    The Master of Arms was keeping a lookout, and Rosemary noticed that she was very surreptitiously guiding the Doge¡¯s onlookers, who hung around him like a gaggle of geese, away from him, keeping him and Rithmound separate from the rest of the gala.


    ¡°The Master of Arms?¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°You¡¯re a shapeshifter, Rosemary,¡± Sunala said.


    ¡°Which means¡­ You can take on more than a humanoid form.¡±


    It made sense. The shapeshifter had, thus far, attempted his attacks on the Doge by disguising himself as the servants of the gala. A good play, but at this point Rosemary and Joseph had caught onto that, as had the Master of Arms.


    What the hell was taking Joseph so long?


    She drew closer to the Doge and Lord Rithmound, gripping her sceptre. She noted the Master of Arms was looking at her with some suspicion, but Rosemary ignored that. Her mind was racing.


    What other forms could a shapeshifter take? She knew of werefolk, people who shifted to animalistic forms. Changelings could change their shape, but were locked into a humanoid form. But to escape the room Ket and Joseph had been fighting in, while the room was completely covered in shadows, one couldn¡¯t be humanoid ¨C or at least, couldn¡¯t be human-sized. Ket would have caught them, if he wasn¡¯t bullshitting on his abilities.


    Then he couldn¡¯t be¨C


    Then she saw the ground shift by the Doge''s feet.


    ¡°The floor!¡± she cried out, ¡°The floor!¡±


    The stone beneath the two drunken politicians began to seethe and bubble, and she noticed a hand form out of marble, reaching up towards them. Slowly at first. Carefully. But as no one save for Rosemary seemed to notice, the shapeshifter became bolder, the hand snaking up-


    Rosemary pounced, letting out a snarl as her sceptre smashed the hand into the ground, pinning it beneath the sceptre''s head. The hand squirmed beneath for a moment, before it began to melt into a strange, grayish goo.


    ¡°Burn,¡± Rosemary growled.


    She fired up the ground beneath her, something that caused the Doge and Lord Rithmound to cry out suddenly as they averted their eyes. The world lit for a brief moment, the shapeshifter dispersing, the smell of burning plastic filling the air.


    She felt the shapeshifter twist beneath her feet and retreat. She could just make him out, now that she knew what to look for. Evidently she had only gotten part of the assassin, scorched him so thoroughly that part of the shapeshifter''s makeup had melted into the floor. He was disguising himself well, almost a perfectly flat sheet that slithered across the floor, so thin he could slip beneath the feet of the gala''s patrons, a slight shimmering of stone the only testament to his existence. He had even hidden the burn.


    ¡°I say!¡± Doge Busciver wheezed behind her, ¡°Ms. Rosemary, the nerve!¡±


    ¡°Oh!¡± Rosemary blinked, looking around her. The greater gala hadn''t noticed her little light show, though the nobles who had been hanging around the Doge like vultures were staring at her now. Rosemary felt herself go red as she said, ¡°Oh! Sorry about that, Mr. Doge, sir, just a bit too much drinking, and all that-¡±


    ¡°I can''t say I''m surprised,¡± Doge Busciver said, ¡°It''s late in the night, and we''ve all been having a bit too much, haven''t we, Bryce?¡±


    ¡°Not I,¡± Lord Rithmound said, though he swayed a bit, ¡°I haven''t had a sip all night, Busciver.¡±


    ¡°Of course, of course,¡± Doge Busciver said, ¡°Shall we partake in that Alevian Brandy?¡±


    ¡°Yes, let''s,¡± Lord Rithmound said, ¡°I shan''t drink any, though. Just you...¡±


    The two began stumbling towards another wine casket. The vultures resumed following them.


    ¡°Excellent work,¡± Sunala said, catching up to Rosemary, ¡°A bit obvious, I think.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, but I had to be,¡± Rosemary said, gritting her teeth, ¡°That was close.¡±


    She looked ¡®round.


    ¡°Way too close,¡± she said, ¡°I don''t see the shapeshifter anymore.¡±


    ¡°He''ll be back in the shadows, now,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Keep an eye on him. Tell Mr. Zheng to become disposed, hmm?¡±


    ¡°Of course, Milady,¡± Rosemary said.


    Indeed, she would have words with Mr. Disappearing Act.


    ***


    She found Joseph by the staircase that led to the second floor, a glass of wine in his hand that he was swilling. He was leaning against the wall, a dour expression on his face that was accentuated by his off-kilter nose.


    ¡°Well?¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°Moriguchi stopped me,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°I could''ve used backup there,¡± she said. She walked to his side and crossed her arms, ¡°I only got part of him.¡±


    ¡°He would''ve gotten away regardless,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Bull,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°We had him. If you had been there-¡±


    ¡°Listen, Moriguchi and I talked for a second,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°And what''d he say?¡±


    ¡°He said,¡± Joseph took an angry sip of his wine, ¡°I hate it when he''s right.¡±


    ¡°Joseph, what did he say?¡±


    ¡°He wants us to keep our alliance a secret,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Not make it obvious. I told him that was bullshit, he said that we can''t give the shapeshifter any hint that we''ve banded together. The fact that we''re aware of the shapeshifter''s little game means that we can get the jump on him, when the time comes.¡±


    ¡°You think he''ll try to push us into another spat again?¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph said. He glanced down for a moment at his ruined sleeve, pulling a face, ¡°Dammit, I liked this suit a lot.¡±


    ¡°No one''s said anything?¡± Rosemary asked.


    ¡°No one,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I don''t think anyone cares right now. Look, they''re all drunk.¡±


    Indeed, the gala had taken on a slower, more sauntering air to it, molasses-like and tinged with an almost hysterical edge, like someone on the verge of a breakdown and a giggling fit. The music aped the vibe, becoming swooning and romantic.


    ¡°I still think we could''ve taken him,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°Same,¡± Joseph said, ¡°But Moriguchi said anything we''d do would just cause more of a stir.¡±


    ¡°And you believe him?¡± Rosemary asked.


    ¡°...Sort''ve,¡± Joseph said. He put the glass down on the tray of a passing servant, nodding in thanks as the servant took it away, ¡°Look, if we had failed, if all four of us had gone after him, then the shapeshifter would''ve known that we were all together, and he''d go back into hiding again.¡±


    ¡°And if it had just been the two of us?¡± Rosemary prodded.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°Then he would still have been suspicious,¡± Joseph said, ¡°The last time he saw me, I was fighting Ket. The shapeshifter runs out, then a few moments later I run out with you? The timeline doesn''t add up.¡±


    ¡°So you hid behind a corner and watched me embarrass myself in front of the Doge,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°...Okay, when you put it like that, that makes it sound really bad,¡± Joseph said. He gave a wince as she shot a glare at him, ¡°Sorry.¡±


    ¡°It''s... it''s fine,¡± Rosemary said. She stared back at the gala, ¡°Really, it is.¡±


    There was something in her voice. Joseph gave her a sympathetic look.


    ¡°You alright?¡±


    ¡°I''m fine, Joe,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°Are you?¡±


    And she was silent. Joseph watched as she wilted slightly, staring at the floor.


    ¡°I just wanted... I just wanted a fun night, alright? None of this knife in the shadows bullshit. None of the suspicions.¡±


    ¡°Just a night of looking pretty, dancing, all that stuff,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Like out of a fairy tale.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°Well, the night''s still young,¡± Joseph said, ¡°There''s still time, right?¡±


    ¡°Sure,¡± Rosemary said, though what little optimism there was was forced, ¡°Let''s just... let''s just do our jobs, yeah?¡±


    ¡°...Yeah,¡± Joseph echoed. He followed her as she made her way back into the thick of things.


    ***


    ¡°It''s a clever plan, Ket,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°He turns us against each other, and he goes after his target.¡±


    The two of them were on the second floor, each with a flute of wine, though Ket was not drinking his. Moriguchi was looking over towards the dancers below, noting as their newfound allies made their way across the ballroom floor. The stench of wine was in the air ¨C it dribbled on coats and dresses now, staining them purple and red, though the dancers didn''t seem to care much, instead laughing at their own misfortune.


    Moriguchi predicted a lot of hangovers.


    ¡°And he''ll do it again?¡± Ket asked.


    ¡°Presumably,¡± Ket said, ¡°He didn''t account for Rosemary, is all. Probably underestimated her. But you can''t underestimate other guilds, eh?¡±


    ¡°You think he''s one of us,¡± Ket said.


    ¡°What, part of a guild?¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°Not ours, no. Ultan would have told us.¡±


    ¡°But a guild,¡± Ket said.


    ¡°He''d better be, or he''s in big trouble when we catch him,¡± the roshador said, ¡°If the Scuttleway Militia doesn''t get him, the Federation will.¡±


    ¡°If we catch him,¡± Ket said.


    ¡°Ahh, don''t be so cynical, hermano,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°We will catch him. We just need to think he''s trapping us again.¡±


    ¡°He''s not going to make the same play again,¡± Ket said.


    ¡°He may not,¡± Moriguchi said. He looked at his flute of wine.


    ¡°I should drink,¡± he said, ¡°Go somewhere private, remove the mask, calm the nerves.¡±


    ¡°You shouldn''t drink,¡± Ket said, ¡°You''ve lost too much blood.¡±


    His guildmate frowned, staring at the glass for a moment before setting aside.


    ¡°I hate it when you''re right,¡± he said.


    ¡°If you think he''s going to pit us against the Amber Foundation again, you''re wrong,¡± Ket said, ¡°He doesn''t need to. With our little spat over with, he will assume that we''re watching the other.¡±


    ¡°True,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°We''ll watch the other party, like we are now. We won''t let our respective clients out of our sights.¡±


    ¡°So he needs to get us into the hallways once more,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°Back into the shadows. Away from his target.¡±


    ¡°...Is he targeting Rithmound?¡± Ket asked.


    ¡°Not sure,¡± Moriguchi replied, ¡°When we get him, maybe you can ask.¡±


    ¡°If we catch him.¡±


    Moriguchi looked at Ket with a pitying look in his eyes. He patted the rabbit on the shoulder.


    ¡°Get into the hallways again,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°Make it look like we''re searching around for Raulito to ensure his safety. By separating ourselves, it might embolden the shapeshifter, enough for him to make another move.¡±


    ¡°One we''ll be ready for,¡± Ket said.


    ¡°The shapeshifter doesn''t realize that we know he exists,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°When it comes down to it, we''ll use the Amber Foundation to trap the trapper.¡±


    Ket nodded. Without another word he cast off, leaving Moriguchi alone. The roshador waited a few moments, just to be sure that the rabbit was indeed gone. Then, he went off into a corner with his glass of wine, removed part of his mask, and downed the drink.


    Blood loss be damned, this was thirsty work.


    ***


    Isaac Rithmound was just putting his coat jacket back on, giving a small smile to the Lady Busciver, when the door knocked. The two of them looked at one another, their good moods marred a bit with suspicion. Their coupling had been a rather rebellious act, both against the spirit of their respective families, and the spirit of the night.


    For it had been a night of blood, hadn''t it? Not that such a thing would get in the way of their nightly tryst. They had been going on about this secret relationship, behind the backs of the elder Rithmound and Busciver, for coming on three months now, never mind the secret conversations they had shared since childhood, the stolen glances, the heartache that came with knowing that, while you were in the same city, under the same sky, the world contorted itself in such a way that you could never be together.


    Well, damn the world. They were in love, no matter the price.


    The door rapped again, pulling Busciver and Isaac from their musings.


    ¡°Isaac,¡± Busciver said, her voice quivering a bit, ¡°Who is it?¡±


    ¡°It''s alright,¡± Isaac said. He looked around the room for a moment. Father had prepared him for these situations, given him a sidearm in case things went south at the gala. He had removed it during...


    Ah, there it was. A dagger, silver in the moonlight that shined through the nearby window. They had chosen not to go to Buscie''s room, instead going to one of the guest quarters, a quaint little place that looked out to the city. In hindsight, perhaps that wasn''t the greatest of decisions. Isaac flipped the dagger in hand. He nodded to Buscie.


    ¡°Get under the bed,¡± he whispered, ¡°I''ll see who it is.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Buscie said. She dove under the bed, crawling under as Isaac took a few careful steps to the door. He unlatched the lock. Nothing immediately happened, so with some trepidation he opened the door.


    Moriguchi was on the other side. Isaac felt a wave of relief hit him as the Exodus Walker gave a nod to him.


    ¡°Hola, amigo,¡± Moriguchi said.


    ¡°Hola, Alonso,¡± Isaac said, ¡°Everything alright?¡±


    ¡°I''ve been told to retrieve you, from your father,¡± Moriguchi said.


    ¡°Good,¡± Isaac said, ¡°How is it?¡±


    ¡°A bit more intense,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°Not so much, though, amigo. But Lord Rithmound believes that having everyone on the floor and in public will dissuade anyone from attacking us.¡±


    Isaac nodded, noting Moriguchi was once more in his charro.


    ¡°You managed to get the blood off of that rather quickly,¡± he said.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°Ket''s hiding most of it with his shadow magic. Us guildfolk have to keep up appearances, si?¡±


    ¡°I suppose,¡± Isaac said, ¡°One moment.¡±


    He turned to the room.


    ¡°Buscie, it''s all good. It''s Alonso, that guild member I was telling you about.¡±


    ¡°Oh!¡± Busciver came out from under the bed, ¡°Greetings, Alonso.¡±


    ¡°Hola,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°Come, let''s be off, you two.¡±


    They exited the room, taking down another few halls. Moriguchi looked around.


    ¡°Ah,¡± he said, ¡°I''m afraid I''ve lost my way.¡±


    ¡°That''s alright,¡± Isaac said, ¡°Lady Busciver lives here. She can guide us back.¡±


    He gave a grin to his love. She grinned back, taking his hand as the two of them took point, walking with purpose to the gala, though she released her grip as they got closer and began to see servants here and there.


    ¡°Busy night, eh?¡± Moriguchi said.


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Isaac said, ¡°Much to do, little time.¡±


    He gave a wink to Buscie, who giggled.


    ¡°A busy night indeed, Mr. Rithmound,¡± Moriguchi said.


    ¡°What, no ''Raulito''?¡± Isaac asked.


    And he felt Moriguchi''s hand curl around the back of his neck. He glanced to his right and saw the Exodus Walker had done the same to Busciver.


    The grip tightened.


    ¡°I''m afraid not, Mr. Rithmound,¡± Moriguchi said. His features began to shimmer and wane, melting and reforming like clay in a master''s hand, before he took on the form of another party-goer, that Joseph fellow from the local guild. His hands had become overlarge, near twisting, able to break their necks if need be.


    ¡°Walk,¡± the chameleon said, ¡°Now.¡±


    ***


    Joseph blinked a bit, cursing himself as he and Rosemary took their places by a nearby pillar to watch Sunala, the Doge, and Lord Rithmound talk to one another. He had drunk perhaps a bit too much ¨C his head was starting to swim.


    Across the room, one the second floor, he saw Moriguchi, the two locking eyes before Moriguchi glared at him and went back to swilling his drink.


    ¡°I hate that guy,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Joseph, none of that,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°I''m drunk, and I don''t care,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I hate that guy a lot.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Here, let me get another look at your nose.¡±


    He complied, bending down a bit as she inspected it, staring past her and to the Doge. Sunala was keeping them occupied with another casket of wine, and he noted she had ordered a servant to bring out another, a burly troll in a tuxedo hefting it out. The Master of Arms was near the trio, as well, and Joseph noted a few other guards dressed up in gala dresses and suits were edging ever closer to the Doge''s party.


    ¡°Yeah, we''ll definitely want Elenry to take a look at this,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Ket really did a number on you.¡±


    ¡°You should see the other guy,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°That boom I heard?¡±


    ¡°I threw a lightning bolt at him,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°I thought we were at a gala, not a warzone,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°He was the one making the room all shadow-y,¡± Joseph objected. He let out a sniff and a grunt of pain, ¡°I hate that guy.¡±


    ¡°You told me.¡±


    She gave one last glance.


    ¡°Well, it could be worse,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°He could have shattered it completely. Just looks bent.¡±


    ¡°It''s not going to be permanent, is it?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Hopefully not,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Let''s see what Elenry has to say.¡±


    ¡°I hope not,¡± Joseph said, ¡°The handsome one of the family, that''s what my Nai Nai always used to say. Said it was the only good thing about me, that I was too handsome to be smart.¡±


    ¡°That''s nice, Joe,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°The wine''s getting to you, isn''t it?¡±


    ¡°...Yeah,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Sorry. It''s been a long night. I hate it here.¡±


    ¡°I do too, Joseph,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°I do too.¡±


    He straightened back up, looking around for a moment for his glass of wine. His eyes slid upwards as he was looking around.


    And he saw himself on the second floor.


    ¡°Shit,¡± he said. The drunkenness drained out of his system as he began stepping forward. Rosemary looked at him with a confused expression, before she followed his gaze. The shapeshifter was looking down on them, a smirk on his face, his hands around the back of Isaac Rithmound and Lady Busciver''s necks.


    Joseph looked to the Master of Arms as she glared up at the assassin. A few guards were already making their way over.


    ¡°Don''t,¡± Joseph whispered. He nodded in the direction of Moriguchi, who had taken notice of his client''s son in the hands of the shapeshifter. The Exodus Walker was already making his way over. The shapeshifter, taking notice, was already edging back towards the hallways.


    ¡°That is the niece of the Doge in your-¡± the Master of Arms looked at him.


    ¡°Shapeshifter,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°In the shapeshifter''s hands,¡± the Master of Arms said, ¡°It''s my duty-¡±


    ¡°To keep watch over the Doge, not his wards,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°We''ll handle it.¡±


    ¡°Better this way,¡± Joseph said, ¡°The more people there are, the more confusing it might be. He can transform into any one of us, yeah?¡±


    The Master of Arms did not look convinced.


    ¡°We''ve got a trap for the guy,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Trust us.¡±


    ¡°I make it my business not to trust,¡± the Master of Arms said.


    The shapeshifter ¨C with his hostages ¨C disappeared behind a door. Moriguchi followed.


    ¡°No time, Joe,¡± Rosemary said. She turned to the Master of Arms, ¡°Just keep a guard posted, we''ll let you know when we get him!¡±


    They ran off before the Master of Arms could say another word, near sprinting to one of the staircases, running up it. Nobles shouted in drunken, slow distress as they pushed them to the side. Joseph shoved aside a pair of lords mid-smooch, one of them tumbling down a few steps. His head was hurting too much to apologize.


    ¡°Right,¡± Joseph said as they rounded towards one of the doors into the hall, ¡°Together, right?¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°You take point. I''ll stay behind.¡±


    ¡°That''s... not together,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Wherever the shapeshifter''s taking us, he no doubt wants it to be a trap,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°I''ll wait outside in case he tries anything funny. He slipped away before.¡±


    She gripped her mace and a dark, vile smile crept on her face as they wheeled another corner.


    ¡°He won''t again.¡±


    ***


    Isaac and Busciver were nearly dragged along by the shapeshifter as he guided them here and there through the halls of the tower, desperately keeping up with his quickened pace as he went down halls randomly, without reason, an increasing sort of panic to his step.


    ¡°No, no, no,¡± he murmured, ¡°No good. Moriguchi''s ahead of them-¡±


    He dragged them up to the second floor. By now, his form was beginning to slip and waver, his arms stretching out to keep his hold on the two of them, growing sinewy and trunk-like as they lifted to hold Busciver aloft when she failed to keep up.


    ¡°You,¡± he said to her, ¡°I need a room. A weapons room. A gallery, an armory, it does not matter.¡±


    ¡°I-¡±


    ¡°Tell me!¡±


    ¡°Okay!¡± she cried out, in a voice that set Isaac''s blood to ice, ¡°Okay, it''s on the fourth floor, just listen-¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± the shapeshifter cast a suspicious eye over Isaac''s shoulder. His face had become wax-like, losing their features and becoming a pale white, ¡°Good. Come now, Mr. Rithmound. We''ve quite a bit of running to do yet.¡±


    ***


    It was an old weapons gallery that Lady Busciver led them to. Set up by the Doge upon his arrival to the city ¨C perhaps a testament to his own days of adventuring throughout the multiverse ¨C it held weapons from across Londoa and beyond. Most of them were medieval, cutlasses taken from eln meia pirates, axes from the orc lands, even a five-meter spear from the Zodian Domin on Terna Minor Landmass. They were arranged on weapon racks, neatly polished every day by the Master of Arms'' retinue. Others were set in glass cases, ornamental, glittering things that were more for show than for war. Those were the true trophies of the Doge''s collections, prizes won from the kings and queens of Londoa. One of them was even from the High Federation itself, a beam saber, though its focusing crystal had been removed, leaving a pristine shell of a golden hilt, beautiful and empty and somber as a crab''s molt.


    The room was dark as the shapeshifter threw Busciver and Isaac inside. He lumbered into the center of the room now, having warped and twisted into a larger form, his hand stretching out and feeling the ground for vibrations from below. For a moment, he was quiet.


    Then:


    ¡°Good, the Amber Foundation got ahead,¡± he turned to the two of them, ¡°Right, you two. Don''t move.¡±


    Isaac glared at him. He walked over and put a protective arm over Buscie. She was letting out racking sobs, clutching her forehead, having bashed it against the floor when the shapeshifter had tossed them down.


    The shapeshifter lumbered forward.


    ¡°Move, and you die,¡± he said, ¡°Speak, and I break you. Deal?¡±


    ¡°I''m not afraid of you,¡± Isaac said.


    ¡°The girl, then,¡± the shapeshifter said, ¡°Do anything, and it falls on her head. Deal?¡±


    There was a dangerous tone to his voice. Isaac had dealt with assassins before. He knew when they bluffed and when they had skin in the game.


    And this one was as genuine as a knife. He nodded and kept quiet.


    ¡°Good,¡± he said, ¡°Now, then.¡±


    They could hear footsteps approaching the door. The shapeshifter began transforming again, melting into the floor like snow in the summer, taking on the floor''s texture and color. Soon, he was unrecognizable. Isaac couldn''t even make him out as he started to move across the floor, slipping beneath the door right as Joseph ran in.


    He was followed just a moment later by Moriguchi, who pushed him inside.


    ***


    Joseph felt Moriguchi''s arm dig into the back of his neck. The roshador''s breath was wine-scented as he spoke.


    ¡°Now, hermano,¡± he said, ¡°Tell me something only you and I would know.¡±


    ¡°The egg was a Dragon''s egg,¡± Joseph grunted.


    Moriguchi nodded, standing up and looking at the Lord Rithmound son and the Lady Busciver.


    ¡°Are you alright, Raulito?¡± he asked.


    ¡°I-I''m fine,¡± Isaac Rithmound said, ¡°There''s a shapeshifter-¡±


    ¡°We''re aware,¡± Moriguchi said, turning to Joseph, ¡°I presume Rosemary is...?¡±


    ¡°Outside,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Get ready.¡±


    ***


    Rosemary waited just down the hall to the room, her sceptre pointed at the floor, its glow the only source of light in the darkened hallway, an orb that shone like the approaching burn of the Inner Sun.


    What time was it now? Certainly late into the night. Morning dawned at 4am most days, and it was fast approaching that time, she felt. How time flew by when you were trying to not get your client killed.


    He could hear Joseph and Moriguchi inside. A quick scream from the Lady Busciver. Rosemary tensed.


    And there, through the door, a subtle apparition scuttling across the floor. She had spotted it before, and even in the half-light of the hall she could spot it now. Rosemary aimed.


    And fired.


    The beam of light scoured the floor, a deep hiss erupting from the ground. The air became tinged with the smell of burning plastic as she saw the shapeshifter recoil, losing his form and reverting into a pile of goo. It began rearing up, the shock of the sudden burn causing it to spasm and warp. Rosemary pressed the advantage, rushing forward, her sceptre ablaze, as she clubbed the shapeshifter, who buckled from the shot for a moment, before his semi-liquid form began oozing over the sceptre''s head.


    Rosemary, gritting her teeth, jammed the sceptre further into the shapeshifter''s mass. Then fired.


    There was a burst of light, the smell of plastic intensifying as the blast rocketed the shapeshifter away. The shapeshifter slam¡­med against the door, which buckled, sending him splattering across the floor and into the weapons gallery. Joseph and Moriguchi leered down at him.


    ¡°Hola,¡± Moriguchi said.


    Joseph pointed a finger, which crackled with electricity.


    ¡°...No,¡± the shapeshifter said, his voice coughing and quiet, ¡°No, not doing this.¡±


    And then he erupted into motion.

 45. One Last Dance

    ¡°It''s a difficult position we''re in,¡± Sunala said.


    She was taking a sip of wine as she and the Doge had a rare moment alone. Lord Rithmound was talking to a few other guests, though he was swaying a bit from sheer intoxication. Busciver himself was red-faced, though his exaggerated cheer deflated a bit as he went over the ramifications of Doria''s betrayal.


    ¡°The loss of contract is a major blow to our finances,¡± the Doge said, ¡°We won''t be able to host the Golden Round this year. Not without help from the other Houses.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps we could use that help,¡± Sunala said, ¡°It would make you look generous. Would strengthen our bonds with our allies.¡±


    ¡°No, Lily-Ann,¡± Busciver said, ¡°We cannot do such a thing. House Busciver has single handedly hosted the Golden Round for seven years. We shall do so for seven more. We just need...¡±


    He looked at his wine through bloodshot eyes. A servant had recently filled it to the brim, and he had only taken a few sips. He was nearing his limit, Sunala knew, and would soon pass out. She wondered if he would even remember the events of tonight.


    ¡°We need another deal,¡± Sunala said, ¡°One outside the usual Houses.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Busciver said.


    And a thought formed in Sunala''s mind. An opportunity.


    ¡°My contacts off-plane might be able to help,¡± she said.


    Busciver looked at her. A glint of hope began shining in his drunken eyes.


    ¡°Your... contacts?¡±


    ¡°My friends, Busciver,¡± Sunala said, ¡°My partners in the Verdant Reclamation would no doubt be happy to sign an exclusive contract with you.¡±


    ¡°An... exclusive contract,¡± Busciver said, ¡°Yes, yes. That would do very well, actually. We''ve got that entire dead plane that you recently acquisitioned, yes?¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Sunala said, ¡°They''re always looking for fresh water. Fresh water, and old ruins.¡±


    ¡°And the Shard!¡± Busciver chuckled, ¡°Oh, that will make them giddy indeed. Yes, Lily-Ann. Contact these friends of yours. It''s high time Scuttleway joined the greater multiverse. Let our deals offworld pave over the local, barbaric trade.¡±


    ¡°I''m glad you approve,¡± Sunala said, smiling.


    There was a distant boom high above. Another thunderbolt. The gala, as one, looked up. Glasses shook, the wine rippling in their chutes. The music faltered for just a moment.


    ¡°The guild you hired?¡± Busciver asked.


    ¡°They''re handling it,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Trust me. All will be well by the morning.¡±


    ***


    The shapeshifter had turned himself into a lightning rod just as the bolt soared through him. He pinned to the ground, a solid metal spike, the lightning crackling around him for just a moment before it thundered into the ground. A millisecond later, he transformed into a great, heaping mass of gray ooze, tentacles erupting out of his body and whipping out in all directions.


    It was an impossibility. The shapeshifter did not care for the laws of physics, warping and reshaping without reason, taking on mass and shrinking down to avoid each attack that came to him. Rosemary, Joseph realized, had just been lucky before. She had gotten the jump on their assassin.


    Now?


    A whip sailed over Joseph''s head, carving through the wall over him.


    Now, they were fighting a cornered animal.


    Moriguchi bobbed and weaved in time to the shapeshifter attacks, getting closer and closer with each pass of the assassin¡¯s strikes ¨C sometimes tentacles, sometimes blades, sometimes off-white maces that cracked through the ground. Rosemary was taking cover behind a couple of weapon racks near Joseph. Isaac and the Lady Busciver had wisely crawled into a corner, both of their eyes wide at the multifarious being, who was seizing inwards into a vaguely humanoid creature. His tentacles morphed into arms, which shot out at the various weapons racks, plucking off blades, axes, spears, even a beautiful, silver crossbow.


    ¡°This is ridiculous,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Ideas?¡± Rosemary asked.


    ¡°Shoot him. I''ll go in.¡±


    Rosemary nodded, standing up from her cover and aiming her mace. Joseph rushed, soul surging to life, eagle fully forming. The shapeshifter turned, dozens of weapons pointed at him.


    God, why did he get the shit end of the stick?


    The crossbow fired. Joseph ducked, the bolt just barely whizzing by the eagle''s head. He needed to keep his distance, let the soul''s reach do the work-


    Blade clashed against claw. Joseph''s soul was a whirlwind of motion, struggling to keep up with the shapeshifter''s movements, the myriad strokes, stabs, and slashes of the weapons in his arms digging into the eagle''s claws and arms. He was used to the cold pain, however, pushing through, the claws getting licks in occasionally, deep rents that cut through the assassin like clay, sloughing off hunks of goo and slime.


    Rosemary fired off another beam, a yellow, glowing line of light that slammed into the shapeshifter, not so much burning him as it did push him back, the shapeshifter growing tough, shell-like armor that protected him from the harmful burst, though it did force him away, his feet scraping against the floor.


    Moriguchi rushed forward, ducking under any last weapons, his arms wrapping against the shapeshifter''s torso. With an immense strength Joseph did not think possible in his thin, lean frame, Moriguchi lifted the shapeshifter up, before falling backwards in a suplex, the marble floor of the weapons gallery cracking like ice under the sheer weight of the shapeshifter.


    The shapeshifter melted back into a goo again. Moriguchi stepped back, making sure to dance out of the way of any of the off-white gray as Joseph took point. His soul receded back into his stomach, a grim expression on his face as lightning leaped through his body. The air smelled of plastic and ozone as he took aim.


    ¡°Cover your ears, folks,¡± he said, ¡°This is gonna be a big one.¡±


    A bolt of pure plasma erupted from his extended arm, causing his hairs to stand up on end, finding no place to go but forward, it wracked through the shapeshifter, who seized up at the sudden influx of energy, sparks flying around his form. A great bang followed a microsecond later, so loud that it shook the walls and caused the light to flicker from pure force. Rosemary and Moriguchi gritted their teeth, clutching the sides of their heads. Isaac held Busciver close, his own ears ringing.


    And the shapeshifter went inert.


    There was silence. The three of them stood, breathing heavily, catching their breaths from the spat. Joseph dropped his outstretched arm, wincing as he felt it ache in a heavy, leaden way. Moriguchi stretched his back, hearing it crack slightly. That wasn''t good, he didn''t like getting old. Rosemary looked at her sceptre. Almost out of light. She would need to keep it out in the sun for a good, long time after this.


    ¡°Well,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°That was... something.¡±


    ¡°You sure he''s dead?¡± Joseph gasped.


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± Moriguchi said.


    The three of them looked at one another. Joseph and Rosemary, as one, stared at the Exodus Walker. Moriguchi sighed.


    ¡°I wish Ket were here. He''d back me up, I''m sure of it.¡±


    The roshador took a few steps forward.


    ¡°Be ready with that mace of yours, Rosemary,¡± Moriguchi said.


    ¡°It''s a sceptre,¡± Rosemary replied.


    ¡°I''m sure it is,¡± Moriguchi knelt down, prodding the shapeshifter. The ooze felt non-Newtonian to his touch. If he jabbed at it, it was solid, a slight ripple pulsing up and down its form like jelly. If he went in slow, however, his finger sank into it as though it were a puddle.


    ¡°Odd,¡± he said, ¡°Very odd. I believe I''ve heard of this type of shapeshifter before. Not too many left in the multiverse nowadays.¡±


    ¡°Not many left?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Hunted by the Federation, if I recall,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°A sad fate-¡±


    He was interrupted as the shapeshifter leaped forward, covering him like a wave, crashing down upon the roshador and covering him with his mass. Rosemary fired a beam of light, wincing as the shapeshifter rolled up and wheeled to the side, the beam going awry. Joseph''s soul manifested once more, rising to his full height.


    As he did so, the shapeshifter began to grow to match the eagle eye to eye, a mass of marble slime, shapeless and all-encompassing. Just at the assassin''s base, Joseph could make out one of Moriguchi''s hands, which was clenched and wriggling. The entire bottom of the shapeshifter writhed with the roshadore''s movements like a mouse caught in a sticky trap. The thought made Joseph''s stomach turn.


    ¡°Ideas?¡± Rosemary asked.


    ¡°Unsure,¡± Joseph said.


    The shapeshifter began roiling, and Joseph saw other items start leaking out of his form. The weapons ¨C the swords, the axes, the spears ¨C began to jut out from the mass.


    The shapeshifter contorted inwards.


    ¡°Joseph, duck!¡± Rosemary cried out.


    The two hit the deck as the gallery pieces were expelled out, launching at high speeds, sailing just over their heads, a blade just barely nicking by Joseph''s ear.


    His soul was not so lucky as multiple blades pierced through its chest and stomach. With a cry, the eagle burst, the backlash causing Joseph to stay on the ground in a fetal position. A blizzard rushed through his bones.


    Rosemary leaped forward, sceptre burning bright as she stabbed it forward into the shapeshifter''s mass. There was a second as she concentrated as the shapeshifter twisted around her.


    Then, the rose''s head began to heat up and burn like the Inner Sun. For a moment, the fire and light grew within the shapeshifter, bubbling up and expanding, before it burst out in a miniature supernova, multiple arcs of light shooting out of the shapeshifter''s back. Rosemary could see Moriguchi in the cavity left behind. The Exodus Walker, noticing he was no longer covered in sludge, leaped forward and out of the shapeshifter''s mass. He crumpled to the ground immediately afterwards, coughing, as Rosemary placed herself between him and the shapeshifter.


    ***


    There was silence as Rosemary and the shapeshifter stood off against one another. Both Joseph and Moriguchi were on the ground, though Joseph was beginning to stir, shaking the last vestiges of cold away from himself. The shapeshifter paused, perhaps fearful of Rosemary''s sceptre, which glowed a warm, dangerous light. Yet she herself knew there wasn''t much left in it. Another blast, perhaps.


    After that, though?


    ¡°Get up, Joe,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°W-working on it,¡± Joseph said. He pushed himself to his feet, though he was unsteady as his soul began to jut out of his back. There was no eagle yet. Just a bulbous lump of plasma.


    Behind them, she could hear the barest hints of a sob escaping from the Lady Busciver. Lord Isaac Rithmound was hovering over her, a blade in his hands, scavenged from the shapeshifter''s expulsion of the weapons in the gallery. The entire room was wrecked. Rosemary hoped they wouldn''t need to pay for repairs. They were saving the Doge''s life, after all.


    Joseph began circling the shapeshifter, putting himself between him and the door. Good ol'' Joe, no matter how bad he looked, wasn''t going to let the shapeshifter out. Rosemary wondered how the shapeshifter was faring ¨C it must have taken a lot of energy to keep morphing like he had been throughout their little fight. He should have punched through for the door immediately, turned on Joseph as soon as he got up, done anything at all. But he hadn''t. He was being careful, when the situation called for speed.


    And thus, Rosemary concluded he was exhausted.


    ¡°Right,¡± Joseph said. No doubt he had drawn the same conclusion. The eagle sharpened, taking on a more substantial form, feathers and claws and all. It mirrored his boxer¡¯s stance, arms held up in front of its face. The smile on Joseph¡¯s face was exhausted, but filled with the realization that he could win this.


    For a moment, the shapeshifter considered him.


    Then, he rushed forward once more, form rippling like a waterfall. Rosemary leaped back out of any potential danger, pointing her sceptre.


    One last shot.


    She had to make it count, as the soul''s fist collided with the shapeshifter.


    A last beam of light erupted from the rose, which went dark as the last vestiges of the sun left it completely. It bored a hole through the shapeshifter, a full half of the being contorting around the wound as Joseph slammed him into the ground. The shapeshifter writhed for a moment like a caught octopus, before it inked around the soul''s fist.


    Then something silvery appeared from the shapeshifter''s mass.


    The crossbow.


    ¡°Joseph!¡± Rosemary shouted, ¡°Watch-¡±


    He had noticed it. Too late, of course, as the crossbow fired. Joseph twisted to the side, the bolt grazing him, tearing across his chest, ripping cloth and skin free. Distracted, Joseph winced as the shapeshifter morphed into a humanoid form, pushing the metahuman to the side and making for the door.


    The soul turned, making one last errant swipe at the shapeshifter. But its owner was already falling to the ground, clutching his chest. Rosemary rushed over to catch him, easing him to the ground. The shapeshifter opened the door and ran out, leaving the three bodyguards behind.


    ***


    The shapeshifter ran down one hallway, then another, his mind racing as he morphed into a new form. That fight had taken up too much of his time and energy. It had been a very long time since he had been in direct confrontation like that, and he had been messy. Rusty. He passed by one of the maids, who gave a scream as he snarled past.


    He hadn''t had time to take something proper on! Thinking quickly, he melded into Moriguchi, too exhausted to think clearly or to put effort into creating an entirely new persona.


    He made his way downstairs, entering back into the gala proper. He dragged the silver crossbow with him, a trophy from his time in the weapons gallery. It was a good one, too, just enough heft to do some real damage, just light enough for jobs like these. He was on the second floor, overlooking the entire gala. His target was on the first floor, punch-drunk and talking to his client. The music was slow and romantic, though the conductor looked wiped from being on the stand for so long.


    The perfect theme for what was to be done.


    After so long, he was ready. Multiple attempts throughout the night, and it finally boiled down to a final moment. The shapeshifter glanced to his left. There was a window he''d be able to break through. He could envision it now ¨C fire off the shot, make the kill, break through the glass as a living anvil, then transform into a bird for the getaway.


    The plan in his head, he took aim, using the balcony''s guardrail to position the crossbow just right, peeling a piece of himself off and morphing it into a bolt-


    And he felt a hand rest on his right shoulder.


    ¡°Moriguchi,¡± the rabbit said.


    ¡°...Hola,¡± the shapeshifter said.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°Picked this up here,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°It''s a nice crossbow, isn''t it? I think the assassin is getting close, so I''m keeping an eye out.¡±


    ¡°You presume much,¡± the rabbit said, ¡°And it puts you in a compromised position.¡±


    The shapeshifter knew that this Moriguchi was an idiot (who else wore a mask like that to a party?) and so decided to play dumb.


    ¡°Oh!¡± he said, ¡°I didn''t realize that. Thank you.¡±


    The rabbit narrowed his eyes.


    ¡°Moriguchi,¡± he said, ¡°I do not believe you are who you say you are.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡±


    Panic set into the shapeshifter. No, he had to keep cool.


    ¡°Alonso, tell me something about myself that I would know.¡±


    No, he didn''t have anything for that. He did not know anything about this rabbit. It was time to be emotional. His voice caught as he said:


    ¡°You are my friend.¡±


    The rabbit''s eyes narrowed.


    ¡°Wrong answer. Alonso and I are not friends.¡±


    The rabbit''s claw shot out quickly, stabbing deep into the shapeshifter''s back, lifting him into the air. For a moment, the gala froze, a few noblemen and women screaming at the sight, before the rabbit threw the shapeshifter into the chandelier.


    The music stopped as the assassin slammed into the glass, the entire chandelier swaying dangerously for a moment. Ket glared at the line suspending it from the ceiling, letting out a sigh as a shadow played into his hand. He tossed it like a boomerang, cutting the rope, sending the chandelier careening to the floor. Nobles and servants shrieked as they ran out of the way, but Ket did not care.


    Better to make a scene and get the fools out of the way. Also ensure that Lord Rithmound knew there was danger. Already he could see his client running away, his guards surrounding him and escorting him out of the gala.


    It was time to finish this, as the shapeshifter extricated himself out of the chandelier, his form smearing into an off-white humanoid. Ket rolled his eyes. This one had no imagination. He had seen better shapeshifters do better things.


    No matter. He pulled the shadows in the room towards himself, forming a staircase that he began to step down on, his footsteps oddly loud against the black. The music had stopped, leaving only the screams of the gala as a chorus.


    Fitting, Ket realized, for what was about to be done.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.


    The shadow-born staircase folded in behind Ket as he stepped down, balling up in an orb of pure shadow, a black hole that hung over the Inl¨¦an''s head. The shapeshifter, to his credit, stood tall. Perhaps he knew that the game was up. Perhaps he still had a plan.


    It did not matter to Ket.


    This assassin was not leaving this place alive.


    Ket struck first, the shadow seething over his hand as he punched forward, the dark spearing off into an arrow. The shapeshifter molded to the side, becoming rubber-like as he snapped around the shot. He was still holding the crossbow, a piece of off-white slime forming into a bolt and loading itself in.


    A useless play.


    The bolt fired. Ket merely turned to the side, letting it fly past him as he strode forward. The dark orb spilled to the floor, flooding the entire ballroom in darkness. The shapeshifter, realizing what this sea of shadow represented, climbed atop the remains of the chandelier and leaped upwards, his form folding inwards until he was sailing through the air as a seagull. The gull wheeled around the room, followed by Ket''s gaze, the shadows now peeling up the walls and covering the ballroom completely. They were in a brick of darkness, now.


    ***


    ¡°Joseph,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Can you walk?¡±


    Joseph nodded as he took an unsteady step forward. Blood poured down from the wicked gash that had etched itself on his chest. But there was pain, a stinging sort that made him think that maybe it just looked bad. Rosemary already was tearing off parts of her dress and wrapping it around his body, gauzing the wound shut.


    ¡°Y-you sure Sunala would like that?¡± Joseph asked, ¡°It¡¯s her dress.¡±


    His guildmate gritted her teeth, a guilty look painting itself on her face.


    ¡°I don''t know,¡± she said, ¡°She''d better, it''s making sure you don''t bleed out.¡±


    A weak groan came from behind them. Moriguchi still lay crumpled on the ground, curled into a ball, and his mask failed to hide the anguish contorting his face. The suit that Ket had formed out of shadow for him was gone, leaving him shirtless, the white binding keeping his own injuries shut having snapped during the fight. He was starting to bleed out again.


    ¡°I''ll take a look at him,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°You go after the shapeshifter. I''m useless anyways.¡±


    She gestured to her mace.


    ¡°Out of light,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Yep. And what am I without that?¡± Rosemary chuckled, though there was an edge to her voice as she said that.


    ¡°You...¡± Joseph said, a bit stupidly, ¡°You did great out there.¡±


    ¡°''Thanks, champ,''¡± Rosemary mimed, ¡°''Good job out there, sport. You''ll get ''em next time.¡¯ Just shut up and go save the client.¡±


    ¡°Right, s-sorry,¡± Joseph said. But Rosemary was already walking over to Moriguchi, picking up the red-scarred wrappings and getting to work re-tying them to the Exodus Walker.


    ¡°You''ll be alright?¡± she asked, dropping the sarcasm.


    Joseph nodded.


    ¡°I should be,¡± he said, ¡°Ket''s probably dealing with him now. He took Moriguchi''s nice shirt, which tells me he''s using everything but the kitchen sink.¡±


    ¡°Kitchen... sink?¡± Rosemary asked, then she shook her head, ¡°Never mind. Dumb expression.¡±


    Joseph turned, taking an aching step forward.


    ¡°Joe.¡±


    Rosemary stared at him.


    ¡°Be careful, okay?¡±


    ¡°...I will,¡± Joseph said.


    And he turned, wincing, and walked through the door.


    ***


    And from the walls now came hands. Grasping, seething, twisting from boneless arms like whips, reaching out towards the shapeshifter as one being. The shapeshifter spun through them, avoiding the jungle of limbs, careening and navigating, always with Ket''s gaze still firmly planted on him.


    The Inl¨¦an pounced, his suit dissipating and moving to his back, sprouting great wings of night as he flew to intercept the gull, claw striking out. It connected with the bird, splattering it away, the shapeshifter melting back into goo, pieces of him falling into the void sea below, the rest forming back into a dove, flapping desperately to keep himself aloft, much smaller now.


    Much weaker.


    Ket landed back to the ground, with graying slime in his hand that, now disconnected from its owner, was beginning to dissolve into ash. The shapeshifter stopped, landing on the last bit of the room that had not been devoured by Ket''s magic, alighting onto the very tip of the crashed chandelier.


    For a moment, the dove stared at the rabbit, the world around them seething. Ket narrowed his eyes. This was the moment that the shapeshifter would realize that he was well and truly trapped. The moment that he would realize he needed to use everything in his power to get free.


    The Exodus Walker crouched, ready to pounce.


    He would need to be ready for that moment.


    And it came. A realization in the dove''s eye. Eyes were always windows to the soul, Ket knew. Even shapeshifters who used them could not hide the spirit within the body, as the dove flew up into the air, into the center of the ballroom, his form burning with a mad, wild energy that burst outwards, the shapeshifter exploding out into a wave of being, of flesh, of metal, of wood, of everything in creation that could be seen. Ket leaped forward towards the surge of motion, the shadows of the room grasping at the being before him, his claw reaching out towards the shapeshifter''s core.


    Only for the shapeshifter to slam him into the ground with a pillar-sized tentacle, crushing him near flat.


    Ket sank into the shadows, swimming into the world of darkness, watching the shapeshifter grow in size to take up even more of the room. The assassin had to be drawing out far more of his reserves than what was normal, Ket knew.


    The shapeshifter had only one option now.


    Escape.


    Parts of the great orb of flesh bubbled and formed into a series of off-white drills. With a great, heaving rush the shapeshifter threw his immense bulk into the wall, drills spinning, churning away shadow as though it were mud, before hitting the marble build of Moonstone on the Len.


    Ket struck, pouncing out of the shadows, darkness billowing around him like an arrow as he speared through the shapeshifter, who rippled and popped like a torn balloon. Ket pivoted, ready to make another pass. He leaped once more.


    And through it, he saw something silver gleam in the shapeshifter''s form.


    The crossbow.


    How?


    The bolt fired. Ket was already in midair, grimacing as he attempted to twist himself to the side, pulling darkness to him like a shield as the bolt sailed towards him, burying deep into the Inl¨¦an''s arm-


    And then he felt another great whomp as the shapeshifter slammed him across the room with a newly-formed fist.


    Through it all, he drilled. Drilled, until the wall caved in. The shapeshifter shrunk down into a human frame, though he could not hide the deep rings of exhaustion that formed unbidden beneath his eyes, nor of the awkward gait he carried himself with as he ran through the newly-formed hole in the wall.


    Ket, body broken by the sudden strike, took a moment to let the shadows knit himself up. He rose, took a step, stumbled, then ran forward to continue the pursuit.


    ***


    The ballroom floor had been obliterated by the battle between Ket and the shapeshifter. Joseph limped through the room, noting the destroyed instruments on the stage, the cut chandelier which now lay tilted on its side like a corpse. How no one had actually been hurt in all this was beyond him. He stumbled forward, soul slowly rising out of his back, eyes glaring this way and that. No one was in here now. The entire gala must have moved outside.


    No use making any more of a scene already. Joseph collapsed his soul back within himself and walked out of the front door. Everyone had moved outside, whispering and talking to one another, crowded together in groups of fives and sixes, accompanied by the City Militia, who were walking through the mass and keeping watch. One of the noblemen was arguing with one of the soldiers.


    ¡°It was a terrorist attack, I tell you!¡± he was roaring, ¡°An assassination attempt! I almost died in there!¡±


    ¡°I understand, sir,¡± the soldier said, ¡°Now please, calm down-¡±


    ¡°Calm down!¡± the noble roared, ¡°You''re not letting me leave, when the killer is still out there!¡±


    ¡°We haven''t seen any evidence that there''s been any murder,¡± the guard said, ¡°Not yet-¡±


    ¡°You will,¡± Joseph muttered. He turned away from the conversation and walked into the crowd. Ket must be around somewhere, right?


    So where was he?


    And he felt a cold hand close over his shoulder. Ket''s voice was ragged and hollow.


    ¡°Tell me something that only we two would know.¡±


    ¡°...We went to the bathroom together,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I didn''t actually go.¡±


    They paused.


    ¡°We don''t actually know each other too well,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Sorry.¡±


    ¡°True,¡± Ket growled, ¡°But it is sufficient. For now.¡±


    ¡°You alright?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°I have used up much of my magic tonight,¡± Ket said, ¡°How is Alonso?¡±


    ¡°Fine. Rosemary''s looking after him,¡± Joseph looked through the crowd. A few of the Doge''s magicians were pulling in the fireflies that had fluttered around the gala together, forming balls of light to illuminate the night.


    ¡°Why aren''t they looking for the shapeshifter?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Unsure,¡± Ket said, ¡°Perhaps they are incompetent.¡±


    ¡°Or they just don''t know,¡± Joseph glanced over, spotting Sunala. The noblewoman was with the Doge and his retinue, his own personal guard surrounding him and keeping him separate from the rest of the crowd. She nodded as she saw him limp over.


    ¡°Everything is alright, I take it?¡± Sunala asked.


    ¡°Well, we all nearly died,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Moriguchi''s wiped.¡±


    ¡°Did you find the shapeshifter?¡± Sunala asked.


    ¡°...No,¡± Joseph said, ¡°We lost him in the crowd.¡±


    Sunala''s eyes slid from him to the crowd, watching it ripple with nervous tension. The shapeshifter could be anywhere. Could be anyone. Joseph''s stomach turned.


    ¡°I did quite a bit of damage,¡± Ket said, ¡°That shapeshifter used up much of his own power to escape. And escape was all he was thinking of, in the end.¡±


    ¡°We''ll need tighter security,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Have guards we can trust.¡±


    She glanced at Joseph.


    ¡°Perhaps hire your guild to look after Moonstone on the Len.¡±


    ¡°Lily-Ann,¡± Doge Busciver''s voice was small, almost child-like as he said, ¡°I''m scared.¡±


    Sunala turned to him, her face inscrutable. Already a few of the nobility were dispersing away, ignoring the shouts and warnings of the Militia. The perfect time for the shapeshifter to get away.


    ¡°It''s over, Busciver,¡± she said, ¡°He''s gone.¡±


    More of the gala was peeling away, emboldened by their peers'' leavings. No doubt to return to their own homes, to go over the events of the night, the results of the dark deals in Moonstone on the Len. The Militia''s shouting became near desperate as their authority on the situation eroded, and they stood awkwardly as they let the nobles leave.


    Sunala sighed.


    ¡°That''s that, then.¡±


    ***


    Most of the Doge''s guests had cleared just as the clock hit two in the morning. Already drunk and upset by the events of the night, they reacted with an indignant sort of annoyance at the efforts of the City Militia to keep them for questioning. Eventually, the Captain of the Guard himself showed up, a thin, dour pencil of a man in a trenchcoat, a cigarette clenched in his teeth that he almost began chewing on as he dismissed more and more of the nobility.


    ¡°Never mind them,¡± he said, ¡°Just get to the people involved, alright? We''ll follow up with them later.¡±


    He turned his attention to those who were remaining. He was taking out another cigarette out of a crummy old pack as he approached Lady Sunala and her retinue.


    ¡°Captain Ramsey,¡± Sunala said.


    ¡°Lady Sunala,¡± Ramsey said, ¡°Hell of a night, eh?¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Sunala said.


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Ramsey took a lighter out of his coat pocket, taking a drag from his smoke and blowing it out before continuing, ¡°Going to be honest, Milady, I''ve made fifty-three arrests tonight involving drunken revelers in the streets because of your man the Doge''s wild little shindig. I expected to be called out in the markets and slums.¡±


    He glanced up at Moonstone on the Len.


    ¡°Not here.¡±


    ¡°I assure you, Captain,¡± Sunala said, ¡°We have everything under control, here.¡±


    ¡°I''m sure you do, this being the Doge and all,¡± Ramsey said, ¡°But as Captain of the Guard, it''s my responsibility to investigate this matter on behalf of the city.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Sunala said.


    ¡°I''ll be taking statements, doing a bit of work inside the manor-¡±


    ¡°Going inside will not be necessary, Captain,¡± Sunala said, ¡°We can take our statements out here.¡±


    Ramsey raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°Judging by the looks of some of the people who got out, it doesn''t look like this was just a fun little party, Milady,¡± Ramsey said.


    ¡°It was not,¡± Sunala said.


    ¡°And you won''t let me in,¡± the Captain said.


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Despite the fact that the Doge''s life is in danger-¡±


    ¡°The Doge''s life is always in danger,¡± Sunala said, ¡°He''s the Doge. Any investigation into those matters are in the capable hands of the Doge''s Master of Arms and House Busciver. Not to some outlander playing at sheriff.¡±


    Ramsey took a breath, then let it out.


    ¡°Right, then,¡± he said, ¡°Let me make my statements.¡±


    ¡°As is your right,¡± Sunala said, ¡°But statements. Records. Nothing more.¡±


    Ramsey nodded.


    ¡°Not how I wanted to spend my night, Milady,¡± he said, ¡°But alright, let''s get to it.¡±


    ***


    The Captain of the Guard began pulling aside those left and taking their statements. Joseph was left by himself as the man ¨C a gumshoe out of some sort of detective novel ¨C took Rosemary over to a truthmage and began taking her side of the story. With nothing better to do, he sat down by the stairs leading to the manor''s entrance watching as Isaac Rithmound and Lady Busciver stepped outside and into the waiting arms of Busciver''s guards. The Master of Arms strode forward, a look of fury painted on her face as she began roaring at Isaac.


    ¡°Nonora, it''s okay!¡± Lady Busciver said, ¡°It''s fine! He was looking after me, he''s not involved in- in any of this!¡±


    ¡°Best you let him go, Nonora,¡± the Doge said, ¡°He''s Rithmound. He wouldn''t be so crass as to try anything with my niece.¡±


    He gave a pointed look to the young noble.


    ¡°Right?¡±


    ¡°Of course not,¡± Isaac said, ¡°We got caught up in this whole mess, it would be uncivilized to let any harm come to her.¡±


    He gave a sincere smile. The Doge deflated at that.


    ¡°Come along, Busciver,¡± he said, ¡°We''ll be staying with Lady Sunala tonight. Dear Lily-Ann, yes?¡±


    ¡°You won''t separate us?¡± Lady Busciver asked, ¡°Like last year, after the assassin at the Golden Round?¡±


    ¡°I want you by my side, Busciver,¡± the Doge said, ¡°Buscivers are strong together! United by blood, and by name.¡±


    He gave a false laugh as he took the Lady Busciver with him. They got into a carriage, which the Militia let pass without a word. House Busciver''s guards accompanied them, two soldiers flanking each side of the carriage aboard armored krem, the Master of Arms straight up sitting on the roof with her arms crossed. Joseph watched them go, becoming smaller and smaller as they went down the streets and into the darkness of the morning. Medical mages had already attended to him, patched up enough that he could get home without opening up like a crabshell and spilling out, so all he did was stare out towards the city.


    ¡°Not bad, eh, amigo?¡±


    Joseph glanced over his shoulder. Alonso Moriguchi was stumbling out, supported by Ket, the two awkwardly shuffling outside.


    ¡°Hell of a party,¡± Joseph said, ¡°The last one I went too, all I did was get drunk and depressed.¡±


    ¡°And you aren''t now?¡± Moriguchi chuckled.


    ¡°Drunk? Hell yeah,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Depressed?¡±


    He shrugged.


    ¡°Not really. We got the job done, I guess. I''m just glad it''s over.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Ket said.


    ¡°You handle yourself well, chamaco,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°Before, you were nervous and ready to spring like a rabbit-¡±


    Ket glared at his guildmate.


    ¡°But now, that raw potential''s pushing through.¡±


    ¡°Thanks,¡± Joseph said, ¡°You... you were alright, too.¡±


    ¡°Ha! I did nothing,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°Just got stabbed and thrown around. I thought I left that all behind in the ring.¡±


    The three of them watched as Lord Rithmound approached his son.


    ¡°Having a bit of fun with the Lady Busciver, I see,¡± Lord Rithmound said.


    ¡°It''s nothing, father,¡± Isaac said, ¡°Just a tryst, nothing more.¡±


    ¡°I would hope so,¡± Lord Rithmound said, ¡°You have that lunch with the Lady Andira Suella tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Of course, father.¡±


    ¡°I hope you do get along swimmingly with her,¡± Lord Rithmound said, ¡°The Suellas only make permanent deals with family. Do you understand?¡±


    Joseph saw Isaac''s fist clench.


    ¡°I do, father.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Lord Rithmound cast a dark glare at Moonstone on the Len, ¡°We came very close to achieving our goals tonight, Isaac. This isn''t a time to let up. I want you to be your best tomorrow. Come, let us go home.¡±


    He gave a nod to the Exodus Walkers.


    ¡°Well, that''s us, then,¡± Moriguchi said.


    ¡°Guildmaster Ultan will probably ask for additional pay,¡± Ket said.


    ¡°Ultan always asks for additional pay,¡± Moriguchi chuckled, ¡°I tell you, Joseph, you wouldn''t think that a skeleton would be greedy, but-¡±


    ¡°Moriguchi,¡± Ket said, ¡°They are leaving.¡±


    ¡°Right. Goodbye for now, Joseph. Keep being you, and all that.¡±


    Joseph let out a weak wave as Moriguchi was all but dragged towards the Rithmounds'' carriage. That last statement was odd, but there was a sincerity to it that made him feel good. So he accepted it.


    Just this once, of course.


    Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the Captain of the Guard approach him.


    ¡°Mr... Zang, right?¡±


    ¡°It''s pronounced ''Chuhng,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Zheng, right,¡± the Captain produced a cigarette, ¡°You smoke?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Joseph said, ¡°You here for my statement?¡±


    ¡°Correct,¡± the Captain took a drag of his smoke, ¡°Damn nobles, always with their secrets. You''re with the guild, right?¡±


    ¡°Amber Foundation, yeah.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± the Captain gave Joseph a pointed look, ¡°What the hell happened in there?¡±


    ***


    Captain Ramsey had kept Joseph for half an hour, as Joseph relayed his tale. He nodded grimly when Joseph explained the two dead servants in the mansion, as well as the shapeshifter''s goals, and the battle the Exodus Walkers and Amber Foundation had with the assassin.


    Killer, now.


    Murderer.


    But there was neither hide nor hair of him. The shapeshifter had disappeared into the ether.


    ¡°Of course he did,¡± Ramsey said, ¡°He failed his little task, so he''ll have slunk away. It takes a lot of energy to shapeshift, from what I hear. Dealt with one or two back home.¡±


    ¡°Back home...?¡± Joseph asked.


    But the Captain shook his head.


    ¡°We''ll be following up with your guild later,¡± he said, ¡°Get some rest tonight, Mr. Zheng. Good job, keeping the Doge alive.¡±


    ¡°Will do,¡± Joseph said. He looked around. The Captain followed his gaze.


    ¡°Looks like your client took off,¡± Ramsey said, ¡°She was escorting the Doge to her place, I think. Sorry that she left you out to dry like that.¡±


    ¡°It''s fine,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I''ve walked through worse neighborhoods before to get home.¡±


    ¡°I''ll arrange for one of my boys to take you home,¡± Ramsey said, ¡°That carriage, over there. Just say the word, he''ll take you to your guildhall. Have a good night, Mr. Zheng.¡±


    ¡°Same with you, Captain,¡± Joseph said.


    Ramsey tipped his hat, and walked away. Evidently Joseph was the last interview of the night. That, or it was getting late enough that Ramsey wanted to turn in, witnesses be damned. Not that he could blame him, as Joseph stifled a yawn and rubbed his temple. He got up, turning around to view Moonstone on the Len. A couple of guards were posted at the entrance, but they paid him no mind as he walked inside to get one last look at the place.


    The ballroom was trashed. The chandelier had splintered into the floor, and servants were already working at sweeping up pieces of glass and candle wax as he walked in. Like the fencing room, Ket''s shadow magic had warped the walls, twisting them into great swirls like thousands of thumbprints melded together. The magical orbs of light had begun to dim ever so slightly, whatever power they held slowly extinguishing.


    Rosemary was sitting at the small staircase that led up to the stage. Instruments had been abandoned as the orchestra had run out with the rest of the party, pieces of broken cello, violins, even a horribly warped trombone littering the stage.


    ¡°Hey,¡± Joseph said.


    She looked up, deep rings underneath her eyes.


    ¡°Hey,¡± she said.


    ¡°...Mind if I sit with you?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Sure, why not.¡±


    He walked over and sat down next to her, elbows on his knees, hands cupping his head. They sat there for a few minutes, watching the servants tiredly work to sweep away all evidence of the night''s festivities.


    ¡°God, I''m going to have a headache tomorrow,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Don''t drink too much, next time,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°I won''t. I also won''t pick a fight with a rabbit, either,¡± Joseph said.


    Rosemary smirked at that.


    ¡°Joseph Zheng picks a fight with a bunny, and loses.¡±


    ¡°Don''t you dare frame it like that to everyone,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I have a reputation to keep.¡±


    ¡°Damn bun broke his nose,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Ruined his nice suit, all that good stuff.¡±


    The two of them laughed at that, an exhausted, hoarse chuckle that died out almost as soon as it started. Rosemary went back to staring mutely at the chandelier. A magician was called in, a spell of air beginning to lift the glass corpse into the air. Joseph gave her a sympathetic look.


    ¡°Look,¡± he said, ¡°I''m... I''m sorry it wasn''t what you were expecting.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°This is the Amber Foundation. Things... they aren''t easy.¡±


    ¡°Still,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I know you wanted to really have a good time, and instead we get this.¡±


    He gestured to the ballroom.


    ¡°It was really funny watching you dance, at least,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°I guess,¡± Joseph said, ¡°The next time Becenti tells me to do something like this, I''m going to hide in my room.¡±


    Rosemary snorted.


    ¡°I''m glad it was you who went with me, though,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°If it had been someone like Ichabod, I would''ve just about died.¡±


    ¡°Too stuffy?¡±


    ¡°God, if you think he''s snide sober, imagine him drunk. You, at least, just get depressed.¡±


    ¡°Ha, true,¡± Joseph said, ¡°And get beat up by rabbits.¡±


    That got another laugh out of her. But that one, too, died out after a few moments. Joseph sighed. They stared out for another few minutes as the chandelier was maneuvered out the front door. A few of the servants began picking up the instruments, holding them gingerly like children as they started bringing them upstairs. No more music, save for that of footsteps and tired whisperings.


    A thought came to Joseph. He turned to Rosemary.


    ¡°You wanna dance?¡± he asked.


    Rosemary blinked.


    ¡°Well, you said I was funny doing it,¡± Joseph said, ¡°And we are at a ballroom.¡±


    ¡°There''s no music.¡±


    ¡°True,¡± Joseph said, ¡°And my nose is broken, and there''s glass everywhere. Your dress is torn up, and I don''t know what Becenti''s going to say about my suit.¡±


    ¡°Nothing good,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°So I suppose, why not?¡± Joseph said, ¡°It''s been a bad night, might as well try to make a good last impression of it.¡±


    Rosemary smiled at that. Recognized what Joseph was trying to do. She got up, and extended a hand.


    ¡°Alright, Joe. A waltz, none of that flopping around like in that video of you Becenti showed me.¡±


    ¡°God,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I''m going to get back at that old man somehow.¡±


    He took her hand, and she guided him to the center of the ballroom, putting her other hand on his shoulder. It was a waltz, slow and awkward at first, though they soon picked up some semblance of a rhythm. Joseph occasionally missed a step, Rosemary sometimes tripped on the edges of her torn dress. There was little grace to the dance, no orchestra to accompany them, no audience save for the few servants who looked up from their work to watch them.


    But it was enough.

 46. A Taste of the Rain

    Richard Ramsey was an outlander to Scuttleway. He was from Amdusias, an ashen place, with cities built on the backs of downtrodden workers and diesel-powered machinery, where hobos lived as nomads, using the trains that crisscrossed the world as transportation, avoiding the dustbowl that was growing by the year at the plane''s center.


    It was also known as the World of Rain, for in every storm was a demon, whose dark deals made and broke civilization, who were responsible both for the incredible growth of the plane, as well as its economic downfall that had left it a stagnant mire of acid-tinged rain and dust, physical manifestations of corporate greed.


    That said, he could not help but feel a bitter nostalgia for the place, like a bad cup of coffee in the early hours of the morning. Amdusias was only in forecast to the rest of the multiverse for a couple of months every three years, and during that time he would arrange for newspapers from there to be delivered to his office in Scuttleway.


    The news was never good.


    He was out, now. He had escaped. But Amdusias was still home, still where he had cut his teeth as a crimebuster, first as a copper, then as a gumshoe. And even out here, a bit of his home plane''s culture still brayed in his bones. His office was a window into another world. Taped against the stone wall was a pinup of the famous singer Ella Armstrong. A baseball signed by every player of the Outer Chicago Bears sat on his desk, which itself was an imported piece carved from Lyndroot, a tree-like plant native only to Amdusias. Next to the baseball was an ashtray, upon which were three cigarettes ¨C a low number, all told, but Ramsey bought them from Prime, and thus had to smoke them sparingly.


    Even his clothes were from Amdusias. He wore his trenchcoat over light leather armor, coupled with a fedora, though that right now was on the coat rack in the corner of the room, by a poster of the boxer Ben Canzoneri.


    Ramsey was already lighting another cigarette, taking a look at the papyrus scroll laid out on his desk. His report of gala''s events, which he had just finished scribbling down in his hurried script. He grimaced as he noticed his ink-stained hands ¨C he had never quite taken to the ink and quill style here on Londoa, and for the thousandth time he wished he had ordered a collection of pens. Maybe on his next paycheck.


    There was a knock at the door. They came through hard and steady, not like the odd, paper-thin tinnings of his old office back in Outer Chicago.


    ¡°Come in,¡± he said.


    The door opened. It was Lieutenant Antsy, a gnome who barely reached Ramsey''s waist, but he had seen her take down an ogre four times her size during one of those illegal boxing matches in the slums. She had a way of lifting her nose up in just a way to look snotty, though Ramsey had learned that it was just her looking up.


    ¡°''Ey, Cap,¡± she said, ¡°Amber Foundation''s here to see ya.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Ramsey said, ¡°Who?¡±


    ¡°Metal fella. Metals eyes. Long, silver hair. Smells like a real prick. An'' a dwarf, toos.¡±


    ¡°Ah, Ichabod,¡± Ramsey said. This meeting was already going sour, ¡°Bring him in.¡±


    ***


    Ichabod and Urash entered into the stuffy old office with upraised noses.


    Well, Ichabod did. Urash rolled his eyes at the sight of his guildmate, who was looking about the place, a sneer slowly crawling up his pasty facsimile of a face.


    ¡°Posters,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°From home?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Captain Ramsey said.


    ¡°Tacky,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°None of that, now,¡± Urash growled, ¡°Mind your manners, or I''ll make you wait outside.¡±


    ¡°Hrnn,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Very well.¡±


    ¡°Sorry about that,¡± Urash said, ¡°Captain Ramsey. Hope you''re well.¡±


    ¡°As well as I can be,¡± Ramsey said, ¡°Cigarette?¡±


    Ichabod took one, lighting the tip of his cybernetic finger with a neon light, which set the end of the cigarette up. Urash, however, declined with a simple shake of his head.


    ¡°I don''t smoke, sorry,¡± he said.


    ¡°Understandable,¡± Ramsey said, ¡°Gentlemen, have a seat.¡±


    They sat down at the table as the Captain of the Guard gave one last look over at the scroll on his desk, before turning it over and sliding it over to them. Ichabod, who was leaning back, simply stared down at it, glass eyes piercing an odd green. Urash leaned in close, so close his beard began to dab at the still-drying ink.


    ¡°Hmm,¡± the dwarf said, ¡°Two dead, then.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Ramsey said.


    ¡°The Doge targeted,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°He''s a politician, I thought that was normal for out here.¡±


    ¡°It is,¡± Ramsey admitted.


    ¡°You don''t honestly think we''re responsible?¡± Urash said.


    ¡°Of course not,¡± Ramsey said, ¡°You wouldn''t have sent two greenhorns to kill a Doge. You''d have sent the Wildarm.¡±


    ¡°I''d hardly say that Rosemary and Joseph were greenhorns-¡± Urash said.


    ¡°I''ve done a bit of homework,¡± Ramsey said, ¡°Rosemary''s been with you for only a year. Mr. Zheng, less so. Only a few months, yes?¡±


    ¡°True,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Rosemary and Joseph are pathetic, we know that. My question to you is this: Why are we here?¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Urash said, ¡°I was about to ask the same thing myself.¡±


    He picked up the report, giving it a final read-over, his brow furrowing.


    ¡°We guildfolk were just defending the Doge, here. Open and shut.¡±


    Ramsey took a drag of his smoke. He let it out slowly, watching it curl through the air like the whiskers of a Dragon. Ichabod grinned as he noticed the Captain of the Guard''s jaw was clenched.


    ¡°You poor fool,¡± he said, ¡°You want to hire us.¡±


    ¡°I...¡± Ramsey sighed.


    ¡°Rare for you, Captain,¡± Urash said, ¡°Since you''ve taken office, you''ve seemed content to leave us be.¡±


    ¡°You''re guildfolk,¡± Ramsey said, ¡°That means you take jobs out in the multiverse. We''re only hosting you, if I''m being honest. It''s not every day that you actually do work here.¡±


    Urash nodded at that. He could not disagree.


    ¡°Still makes you feel awkward, though,¡± Ichabod said. Now he was leaning in, that awful smile still on his face, ¡°Because you want us to investigate that shapeshifter, don''t you?¡±


    The Captain of the Guard was quiet.


    ¡°Well, standard guild rates, I suppose,¡± Urash said, ¡°But from what this report implies, your man''s still in Scuttleway, aye? Still in your jurisdiction. You''ve got the Militia for this, right?¡±


    ¡°Are you turning down a job opportunity?¡± Ramsey asked.


    ¡°Just wondering why you''d turn to us at all, lad,¡± Urash said.


    ¡°Because that shapeshifter''s of the multiverse,¡± Ramsey said.


    ¡°So because he was an outlander, you''re all scared,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°It''s more than that,¡± Ramsey said, ¡°This isn''t just your average everyday murder. Two people are dead, but to be a bit blunt, that''s something to be expected on nights like this. Elections are dicey affairs.¡±


    ¡°It''s because it happened at the Doge''s house,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°And he''s not letting you in.¡±


    ¡°That''s the first reason,¡± Ramsey said, ¡°The Militia and the nobility... our relationship is tense, so to speak. On paper, the Militia protects Scuttleway and is involved whenever something disturbs the status quo.¡±


    ¡°Cops,¡± Ichabod sneered.


    ¡°In reality, the Great Houses have gotten to the point where their influence is greater than any other in the city''s,¡± Ramsey said, ¡°The Militia can''t do anything if they choose to not play ball. The Doge is a role traditionally taken by one of the aristocracy.¡±


    ¡°And by hiring us...¡±


    ¡°Two reasons. The first is that you are outsiders. You were tangentially involved with the affairs at the gala, but for the most part you''re underneath the Doge''s radar. If he sees me actively doing investigation work on this, he''ll shut me down.¡±


    ¡°Surely, you''d think he''d want to have people investigating his assassination attempt,¡± Urash growled.


    ¡°He does, but it''s in-house,¡± Ramsey said, ¡°That''s all the nobles want to do, keep it between themselves. I wouldn''t be surprised if he already knows who it is, and is planning a counterplay.¡±


    ¡°The second reason is that the shapeshifter''s from the multiverse,¡± Urash said.


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Ramsey said, ¡°Usually, a hit like this comes from local muscle. An assassin from Darkheld Landmass. A triggerman from Salthirn. This is the first time they''ve hired from out in the multiverse, whoever this is. And I like to know who goes in and out of my city.¡±


    ¡°So we find this shapeshifter-¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°Who might be off-plane at this point,¡± Ramsey said, ¡°Though I doubt it.¡±


    ¡°We get who hired him, and you start breathing down the neck of the client,¡± Ichabod considered his own cigarette for a moment, ¡°A lot of work, for a simple job like this, at a time when jobs like these are common.¡±


    Ramsey nodded.


    ¡°Call it a gut feeling,¡± he said, ¡°Whatever this is, isn''t over. If the client starts bringing in people off-plane for their dirty work, other Houses will, as well.¡±


    ¡°An escalation,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°It certainly pulls in business,¡± Urash said, ¡°You think they''d appreciate that.¡±


    ¡°It also invites competition to you,¡± Ramsey noted, ¡°Guilds other than the Amber Foundation setting up shop in Scuttleway.¡±


    That got the dwarf interested. He gave a sour frown.


    ¡°Not bad, son,¡± he said, ¡°Before this, I was going to bring this up to Guildmaster Wakeling. See if this was something in our forte. We''re a generalist guild, but we don''t often play gumshoe.¡±


    ¡°Of course not,¡± Ramsey said.


    ¡°But you''ve removed the wool from my eyes, so to say,¡± Urash said, ¡°Ichabod''s on the case.¡±


    Ichabod''s smile dropped, ¡°What.¡±


    ¡°Standard guild rates,¡± Urash said, ¡°We''ll expect payment up front.¡±


    ¡°I''ll start getting the funds together,¡± Ramsey said, ¡°Do you prefer Scuttleway Claws, or Federation Credits?¡±


    ¡°Now, hang on,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°Credits, if you please,¡± Urash said.


    ¡°It will take more time, then,¡± Ramsey said.


    ¡°I didn''t-¡± Ichabod started


    ¡°Shut it, lad¡± Urash snapped, ¡°Just use Claws, then. The more expedited, the better. Wakeling likes it when the gold''s in front of her.¡±


    ¡°Right, then,¡± Ramsey said.


    ¡°I didn''t agree to this!¡± Ichabod snarled, standing up,¡°I thought I was just here to look pretty. Why, you... you...¡±


    He glared down at Urash. The dwarf was taking out a contract from his bag.


    ¡°You already knew what the Captain was wanting, didn''t you?¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°I had a feeling,¡± Urash said, ¡°That''s why I brought you along.¡±


    He pushed the contract forward.


    ¡°Ready made,¡± Urash said.


    ¡°You seem rather prepared for this,¡± Ramsey said.


    ¡°Never be caught with your pants down when a deal presents itself,¡± Urash said, ¡°I''m a merchant prince from Krenstone, I always have paperwork on hand.¡±


    ¡°Right, then,¡± Ramsey took the contract, reading it over, taking a smoke, ¡°It will take me a second to read through all of it.¡±


    ¡°We can wait outside,¡± Urash said, ¡°Ichabod, come on. Don''t whine in front of the client.¡±


    Ichabod rolled his eyes, walking out with his guildmate. They were out in the hallway, the door closed behind them, before he wheeled around and opened his mouth. Urash just put a single finger up.


    ¡°Hush, lad,¡± Urash said, ¡°And hear me out.¡±


    ¡°Why me, then?¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°Because you''re the best damn investigator in the guild, that''s why,¡± Urash said.


    ¡°Becenti''s better,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°Becenti''s better than you in a lot of ways,¡± Urash said, ¡°But not here. He''s a soldier. You''re an investigator.¡±


    ¡°It''s not-¡± Ichabod grimaced, and the dwarf noticed he absently scratched his left arm, ¡°It''s not a good past, Urash.¡±


    ¡°Your past is your past,¡± Urash said, ¡°No prying from me. But I know you. I''ve seen some of the jobs you''ve done. Remember Dilondia?¡±


    ¡°Please, it was a simple frame-up,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Nothing major.¡±


    ¡°Well, you saved Lazuli from a heap of trouble,¡± Urash said, ¡°Come on, Ichabod. You know this is fishy, don''t you?¡±


    Ichabod was quiet. His snarling indignation had relaxed into his usual sneer.


    ¡°It does ring odd,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Call it a gut feeling.¡±


    ¡°You''ll get first pick of a partner in this,¡± Urash said, ¡°You''ll lead the way.¡±


    ¡°...Fine, then,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Fine. I''ll be your guy, for this.¡±


    He leaned in close to Urash, seeing him eye to eye, removing his sunglasses as he did so. Urash, to his credit, did not flinch as the cybernetic man''s eyes flashed a harsh emerald.


    ¡°But you tell Wakeling,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°When you''re convincing her that this was a job that we had to take, for the good of keeping the competition out of Scuttleway, that I deserve an extra share. I want double my usual slice of the pie. Deal?¡±


    ¡°Done,¡± Urash said.


    ¡°Good,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Go finish up your negotiations with the Captain. I''m getting to work.¡±


    He turned around with a swish of his longcoat. Urash blinked.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    ¡°The Captain probably has evidence! Information!¡± he called at Ichabod''s back.


    ¡°You heard it from the man himself,¡± Ichabod said back, raising his voice as he walked away, ¡°The Doge gave him nothing! He''s a blind man, scrabbling for clues!¡±


    ¡°And where are you going?¡± Urash said.


    ¡°To the guildhall!¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Right to the source!¡±


    ***


    It was storming as Ichabod walked through Scuttleway. He did not enjoy it, for it brought back darker memories of a time before the guild, an in-between, transitional period between happinesses, when the rain came down hard on his broken form, a stitched-together crosspatch of flesh and metal cast out in the mud, homeless and bereft of a soul.


    As such, his already bad mood soured as he strode through town, taking side-roads and alleyways to avoid the brunt of the market. Noise was the last thing he needed today, and even the distant clamor of instruments and voices was setting him on edge.


    Most of the darker elements of Scuttleway left him be. They had learned long ago that the cybernetic man carried weapons foreign to Londoa, twin pistols, sleek as the moon of the Outer World, with enough firepower to punch through armor.


    Worse, he was allowed to keep them, and not have them torn away from his person by High Federation officials. He could have become a king in the slums, if he so wished. A god of worms.


    The dark thought amused Ichabod, who let out a dry smirk as he rounded one last corner and entered back onto the main road that snaked up to Castle Belenus. His chosen partner was already out there, on the steps leading up to the guildhall''s entrance, experimenting with her keytar. G-Wiz almost always had it keyed to a synth-heavy setting, the electric beats filling the late morning with a far too energetic cheer.


    A cheer that was not on her face as she glanced up to Ichabod.


    ¡°Sup,¡± she said.


    ¡°Good morning to you,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Fancy some guild work?¡±


    ¡°Depends,¡± she said, ¡°Does it involve breaking some heads?¡±


    ¡°It might,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°It''s investigation work. I need a Watson to my Sherlock.¡±


    ¡°I don''t know what that means,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°They didn''t teach you good literature back on your plane?¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°Nah,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Just music. The bad shit, I mean.¡±


    ¡°Ah, yes, the classical pieces,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Not bad at all.¡±


    ¡°God, you sound like Noodle,¡± G-Wiz sighed, ¡°Alright, what''re we doing?¡±


    ¡°Finding out who tried to kill the Doge last night,¡± Ichabod said.


    G-Wiz narrowed her eyes.


    ¡°And why would I be interested?¡± she said, ¡°I hope the old gnome burns.¡±


    ¡°My, my, testy today, aren''t we?¡± Ichabod said.


    G-Wiz sighed. When she looked back up at Ichabod, he noticed her gaze went through him and towards the horizon beyond. To the fields.


    To Nole.


    ¡°Right,¡± he said, ¡°Today was an important day for him, then.¡±


    ¡°Three years ago, today, he took me out on my first job. I hated it,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°The... Arranyar job, right?¡± Ichabod said, ¡°With the gargoyle?¡±


    ¡°The same,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Sorry, I''m getting in my head about all of this.¡±


    ¡°Urash said I''d have first pick of partners on this one,¡± Ichabod said, leaning up against the stone railing, ¡°And I figured, why not the person who hates life just as much as I do?¡±


    G-Wiz smirked.


    ¡°Alright, then,¡± she said, ¡°Let''s do this shit.¡±


    ***


    They found their witness in the back gardens, sitting at the fountain, sipping a cup of coffee while watching the Dreamer''s Lament ascend higher and higher into the sky. He had a dour expression on his face ¨C but then, Joseph Zheng always did. His nose had been freshly healed a few days ago by Elenry and he still looked like a sour grape. He was wearing his customary digs of a blue jacket over a shirt donated to him by the guild. In this case, it was a green one that clashed something awful with his coat, which read ''Mountain Spew.''¡± Somehow he wore it with a mixture of pride and shame.


    ¡°Nice morning?¡± Ichabod asked.


    ¡°Just seeing Phineas off,¡± he said, ¡°He''s going to Chliofrond to help Lady Sunala with some magical research.¡±


    ¡°Must be nice to have the room to yourself, eh?¡± G-Wiz said.


    Joseph shrugged.


    ¡°Doesn''t matter to me too much,¡± he said, ¡°What do you want? You don''t think we''re still doing dancing lessons, right?¡±


    ¡°Of course not,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Rosemary told me all about your time at the gala, and I''d rather not see your... footwork.¡±


    Joseph reddened.


    ¡°Sh-she didn''t say anything too bad, right? Come on, just drop all that shit already-¡±


    ¡°He''s joking, Noods,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°We all know you''re bad; we don''t need videos or hearsay for that.¡±


    The metahuman rolled his eyes.


    ¡°Where is she, anyways?¡± G-Wiz asked.


    ¡°At Sunala''s,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Where do you think? What do you even want with me?¡±


    ¡°Questioning,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°The Captain of the Guard hired us to do a bit of investigation on that shapeshifter.¡±


    ¡°Ah,¡± Joseph said, ¡°That.¡±


    ¡°Tell us what you know,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°Yeah, or else,¡± G-Wiz growled. She rested a single foot on the fountain by Joseph, plucking the cup of coffee out of his hand and taking a sip.


    Then she pulled a face.


    ¡°God, what do you put in this?¡± she said.


    ¡°Cream,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Joe, this is all cream,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Want some coffee with it?¡±


    ¡°Ah, shaddup,¡± he said.


    ¡°The gala, Joseph,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°What was our shapeshifter like?¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± Joseph said, ¡°He could shift his shape.¡±


    ¡°Very funny, Mr. Zheng,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°What am I supposed to tell you?¡± Joseph said, an exasperated tinge in his voice, ¡°He was a shapeshifter. He was a lot of people that night.¡±


    ¡°Shapeshifters come in all shapes and sizes,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°That''s... kind of the point?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°He means that there''s different types of shapeshifters, Noods,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Get with the program.¡±


    Joseph rolled his eyes.


    ¡°Right, then,¡± he said, ¡°He was a shapeshifter. When he wasn''t transforming, he was a mass of off-white goo. Really sticky. Like oobleck.¡±


    ¡°Oobleck?¡± G-Wiz asked.


    ¡°Like, it acts like a solid when you poke it really fast, but a liquid when you poke it slowly,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I learned about it in science in junior high, didn''t you?¡±


    ¡°I learned nothing but music,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°I''m jealous, to be honest,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Right, non-Newtonian, then,¡± Ichabod noted, ¡°Interesting. What else?¡±


    Joseph scrunched up his face, trying to remember.


    ¡°He was... he liked going humanoid, most of the time,¡± he said.


    ¡°Ah, no imagination, then,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°But when he went all in, the entire room was trashed, and he could stand against Ket,¡± Joseph said, ¡°That''s the Exodus Walker who was with Moriguchi.¡±


    ¡°Who the hell is Moriguchi?¡± G-Wiz asked.


    ¡°Another Exodus Walker,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Read the reports, Galatea. Maybe you''ll learn something aside from showtunes.¡±


    G-Wiz stuck her tongue out at him as Joseph took his coffee back, using his soul''s claw to neatly nip it out of her hand. He took a sip.


    ¡°Like, Ket''s no joke,¡± he said, ¡°Has all that shadow magic, and shit.¡±


    ¡°Very descriptive,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°What I''m saying is that be careful, if you''re going after this guy,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Rosemary and I could barely handle him.¡±


    ¡°Noted,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°If we were to face him, what would you recommend?¡±


    ¡°You can wear him down, but he''s got a lot of endurance,¡± Joseph said, ¡°He took everything Moriguchi, Rosemary, and I threw at him. And then he took Ket. And he got away.¡±


    ¡°And he prefers humanoid forms,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°Yeah, though he can go full goo if he wants,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Almost suffocated Moriguchi that way.¡±


    ¡°We''ll keep our distance, then,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Anything else to add?¡±


    ¡°I hate you,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°The feeling''s mutual,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Have a good day, Joseph. Try not to get your feet tangled up.¡±


    ***


    They left him to his coffee, G-Wiz raising an eyebrow at Ichabod as they walked back into the Main Hall, pushing by Lazuli and Mallory as they carried a table-sized piece of machinery with them out the door.


    ¡°That''s all?¡± she asked, ¡°Nothing on what he was doing, or what went down?¡±


    ¡°I read his report this morning,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Before I was roped into this.¡±


    ¡°You... read those for fun?¡± G-Wiz had a sick look on her face, ¡°That''s gross, dude.¡±


    ¡°I read most reports that we submit to the Federation,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°You always misspell ''immediately.''¡±


    ¡°Whatever,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°My point is: Noodle had an entire statement he made to the Captain of the Guard. Why didn''t you press him for the whole story?¡±


    ¡°Because he''s already told it twice,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°I got the cursory information from those. I needed to drill down into what kind of shapeshifter we''re dealing with.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°We might want to do that soon. What are the chances he''s still in the city?¡±


    ¡°...It depends,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°I''ve got a few ideas on what our shapeshifter could be.¡±


    He was going upstairs to the library.


    ¡°Think Barb''s got a book?¡± G-Wiz asked.


    ¡°Dear Barbara always has a book,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Our catalog is more extensive than you think. Much of it was collected by Titania Amber herself.¡±


    He walked into the library, giving a nod to Barbara. The great toucan nodded back, a book perched in her claw titled, ''A History of Elfkind.''¡±


    ¡°Light reading, then?¡± Ichabod said.


    Barbara clapped her beak in response. Her eyes narrowed at the cybernetic man.


    ¡°Right, bad joke,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°Morning, Barb,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°Good morning, Galatea,¡± Barbara said, ¡°Have you at last come to peruse something other than the music collection?¡±


    ¡°Oh, reading''s not much for me,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°And I''m not much for reading. Ignore Ichabod ¨C he''s in a mood.¡±


    ¡°Ichabod''s always in a mood,¡± Barbara said.


    ¡°True,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°I need a book that you retrieved from the High Federation a few years ago. Converted from a datarod from one of the Library Worlds.¡±


    ¡°Which one?¡± Barbara asked.


    ¡°That one that covered the different species in the Elch-Dieran Paradigm,¡± Ichabod said.


    Barbara rolled her eyes. She put her own book down and took off, flying to the ceiling, turning and gliding alongside the shelves before she deftly grabbed one from its place, flitting back down to her desk and presenting it to Ichabod.


    ¡°It''s a High Federation record, Ichabod,¡± Barbara said, ¡°You know the rules.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°We''ll keep it in here.¡±


    He drifted over to one of the tables, book in hand. It was a larger tome, with a plain blue cover upon which read ''Elch-Dieran Paradigm: Record of Species and Races.'' It had a nasty, plastic-y smell that made G-Wiz''s nose crinkle. Federation records were usually stored in crystals, rows and rows of them, in cavern-like Library Worlds in the Iris and Inner Reach regions of the Silver Eye. The process that converted them into paper was artificial, esoteric, and lost to time ¨C only the machines worked, somehow, in ways that even High Federation officials couldn''t truly understand past the most basic of maintenance. What was known was that it gave off an awful stench. The paper probably wasn''t even paper ¨C just some weird replacement instead.


    Ichabod flipped a couple of pages.


    ¡°Elch-Dieran Paradigm,¡± he said, ¡°Region of the multiverse that''s only in forecast every so often. A cluster of planes explored by Epochians almost thirty thousand years ago.¡±


    ¡°Neat,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°If I wanted metahuman history, I''d ask Becenti. I''d also be drunk as a loon.¡±


    ¡°Bah,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°It''s not the metahumans I''m interested in. Let me see here...¡±


    He flipped through a couple pages. Then gave a grimace.


    ¡°Barbara!¡± he said, ¡°Where the hell is Vicenorn?¡±


    ¡°Vicenorn?¡± Barbara said, ¡°He was going to be helping Mallory and Lazuli out with some repairs to that gaudy machine they found.¡±


    ¡°Galatea, be a dear,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Get him.¡±


    G-Wiz''s eye twitched.


    ¡°Please,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°Better,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°You owe me big for this, Ichabod.¡±


    ¡°Mmhmm,¡± Ichabod said, flipping another page. G-Wiz stood up and walked out.


    ***


    She found Vicenorn outside with Mallory and Lazuli, the three of them staring at a blocky excuse of an engine that they had just tried to power on. It obviously hadn''t worked, as an ugly black smoke was guzzling out of its side, and the air around them smelled strongly of spent coal.


    Vicenorn was a cybernetic man like Ichabod, though he hailed from Izos, the World of False Stars. He overall reminded G-Wiz of a crab in human form, his left arm replaced by a red-hued robotic chunk of cybernetics that was twice the size of his other arm. He carried himself like a crab, too, always swaggering about and taking up as much space as possible, as though he were trying to pull the world into him. He was scratching his red pepper beard as he looked at the smoking wreck.


    ¡°Told you, Laz,¡± he gruffed, ¡°Shouldn''t have brought it outside. Rain ruined the thing.¡±


    Lazuli''s head was a monitor, upon which was a digital rendition of a face. A face that was now rolling its eyes.


    ¡°If it gets busted by rain, then it was junk in the first place,¡± he said, ¡°I mean, come on, I can stay out in the rain all day and not short-circuit!¡±


    ¡°Unfortunately,¡± Mallory grumbled.


    ¡°''Sup, dipshits,¡± G-Wiz said.


    All three of them turned to her. G-Wiz felt a dark sense of delight at the dour look Mallory gave her.


    ¡°Hey, G,¡± Lazuli said, ¡°What''s up?¡±


    ¡°Not much,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Hey, Vice, Ichabod wants you.¡±


    Vicenorn nodded.


    ¡°Is that leg of his giving him trouble again?¡± he asked.


    ¡°What? No,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°We''ve got a couple o'' questions for you, is all. Come on, he''s in the library.¡±


    Vicenorn nodded, turning around to look at the engine.


    ¡°I''d say strip it for parts, at this point. Mallory, a lot of this could probably be used for the Titania Amber. You said Becenti and Meleko were showing you how she worked?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Mallory said, ¡°I''ll take a look at it.¡±


    ¡°Lazuli, next time convince Mal that you need to do a rain-test. Those don''t exist,¡± Vicenorn ordered.


    Mallory shot a dark look at the android, who let out a beeping chuckle before the two of them got to work looking over the thing. Vicenorn turned back to G-Wiz.


    ¡°Right, then,¡± he said.


    ***


    Ichabod turned as Vicenorn swaggered into the room. He gave a curt nod as the large, beet-faced man broke into a smile.


    ¡°You look a bit lost today, friend,¡± he said.


    ¡°Nothing, nothing,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°It''s nothing.¡±


    ¡°G-Wiz said you needed me. It''s not the leg, is it?¡±


    ¡°It''s not,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°I assure you. Your work is flawless.¡±


    He gave a smile, and G-Wiz was surprised to see that it was genuine.


    ¡°Bah, no such thing as flawless work,¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°If it starts doing that squeaking sound again, you let me know.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Ichabod said. He let a nervous pause settle before continuing, ¡°Now. To business.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°What have you got for me today?¡±


    ¡°You happen to read through the report that Joseph and Rosemary made about the gala?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°You read through the reports in your spare time?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Ichabod lied, and he shot G-Wiz a warning look, ¡°Not often. Only for when I''m on a job. And G-Wiz and I are on a job.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°I know something went down, since Joseph''s nose was all broken and his suit was in tatters. Rosie''s dress was, too.¡±


    ¡°Joseph told me that a shapeshifter attacked them was non-Newtonian when not morphing,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Sound familiar?¡±


    The old buccaneer scratched his beard for a few moments.


    ¡°Non-newtonian, aye?¡± he said, ¡°Reminds me of something from my travels in the Elch-Dieran Paradigm.¡±


    ¡°Exactly!¡± Ichabod said, ¡°I remember you telling me a bit about it. During that job in Enroi, with the moot and the story-telling challenge.¡±


    ¡°You hated it,¡± Vicenorn chuckled, ¡°Should have seen the look on your face. As sour as a grape, you were.¡±


    Ichabod''s face became a very subtle tinge of red, though not enough for Vicenorn to notice, but G-Wiz could pick it out nonetheless. She tried not to burst into laughter.


    ¡°Regardless,¡± he said, keeping his voice steady, ¡°I''m curious as to what your thoughts are.¡±


    ¡°I see you''ve got a book already,¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°Non-Newtonian, aye? Like oobleck. Nasty stuff, when it rains...¡±


    He swept forward, taking a look down at the book for a few moments. He flipped a couple of pages over.


    ¡°Aye, here we are,¡± he said, ¡°Non-Newtonian shapeshifter. Maizimorphs, that''s their name.¡±


    ¡°Maizimorphs?¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°Shapeshifters from Gadrad Zoon,¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°But they were found on a couple of other planes, too. Nasty little bastards. I''m surprised there was one here. And Joseph was sure?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°He seemed pretty dead set on it.¡±


    Vicenorn nodded, a somber look in his eyes.


    ¡°What''s the story with these Maizimorphs, then?¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°Well, they''re outlawed by the High Federation,¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°Not many left as a result. Feds had a big extermination campaign against them, a few years back.¡±


    G-Wiz paled. Ichabod, however, nodded.


    ¡°So our man''s an endangered species, then.¡±


    ¡°Completely,¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°Most keep a low profile. I remember hearing stories of them in colonies built on their old honeycombs, back on Gadrad Zoon. They''re like cryptids, at this point.¡±


    ¡°So our guy''s a ghost,¡± Ichabod said.


    Vicenorn nodded.


    ¡°Any idea who he could be working for?¡±


    ¡°A guild, most likely,¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°One of those ones whose membership list is locked up tight, and whose membership is fluid.¡±


    ¡°Why a guild?¡± G-Wiz asked.


    ¡°If you got a license, and you look the part, you get no questions,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°All the shapeshifter has to do is look pretty and have a license.¡±


    ¡°There''s, like, a million guilds out there,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°Then it''s a question we''ll have to ask him,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Let''s keep that in mind. We at least have an idea of what to look for, aside from Mr. Zheng''s rather generous description of ''he''s a shapeshifter.''¡±


    He closed up the book.


    ¡°Thank you for your help, Vice,¡± he said.


    ¡°Any time,¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°If you need any more help with your investigation, I''m always here.¡±


    ¡°I''ve got enough muscle with Galatea, here,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°Besides, he''s got to be able to concentrate,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°Enough with that, now,¡± Ichabod said, his tone waspish, ¡°Barbara! I''m making a copy of your book in my database.¡±


    ¡°Fine,¡± the toucan said. G-Wiz watched as Ichabod flipped through the pages detailing the Maizimorph, his eyes glowing neon green as he took in the records.


    ¡°Ah. Perfect,¡± he said.


    And he closed up the book.


    ¡°I''ll be heading out, then,¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°Good hunting.¡±


    ¡°And with you,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°I''m... not hunting anything.¡±


    Ichabod went a deeper shade of red.


    ¡°Oh, off with you,¡± he said.


    Vicenorn chuckled, giving them a wave as he walked out of the library.


    ¡°What now?¡± G-Wiz asked.


    ¡°We know what to look for,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Now we just have to ask around the city, see if there''s anyone ¨C or anything ¨C that matches what we''re looking for.¡±


    ¡°Ichabod, he''s a shapeshifter,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Who can turn into anything if he wants to.¡±


    ¡°Not so,¡± Ichabod said, a smile creeping onto his face, ¡°Come. Let''s get to the Horrid Welt. I''ll expect that Clytus has seen someone matching who we''ll be looking for.¡±


    ¡°How?¡± G-Wiz said.


    Ichabod was already walking out the door, trenchcoat swishing behind him.


    ¡°I''ll explain on the way,¡± he said.

 47. Calling the Man Out

    ¡°Knowledge,¡± Ichabod said as he and G-Wiz walked down the street, ¡°Is power. It is what wins the day. No matter what you do, or where you go, or whom you face, knowledge is the key to it all.¡±


    The rain had let up a bit, a reprieve in a quiet afternoon. Much of the city was inside to weather the storm ¨C it wasn''t the Scuttle Way to be out in the elements. Save that for nomads or overly ambitious merchants. As such, the two guildmates were unaccosted as they walked down the cobblestone streets, the cracks in the road filled with rainwater, deep puddles overtaking any dip in the earth. The strong smell of rain tinged the air, a heavy scent that mixed with the rest of the city''s odors.


    ¡°I mean, sure,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Not really sure why you''re pointing that out now.¡±


    ¡°Theatrics, dear Galatea,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Please, let me finish.¡±


    She rolled her eyes as Ichabod flashed a vile grin.


    ¡°When the state does not allow you to keep knowledge,¡± he said, ¡°When it hoards it, you must do everything in your power to give it to the common individual.¡±


    He flipped a hand dramatically. In his hand was the book from Barbara''s library. G-Wiz rolled her eyes.


    ¡°Barb''s not the state,¡± she said.


    ¡°Barbara represents the state, in this circumstance,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°''It''s not supposed to leave the library,'' my arse.¡±


    He presented the book to G-Wiz.


    ¡°Turn to page three-hundred and five. That''s the chapter on the Maizimorph.¡±


    G-Wiz took the book, flipping through it to the page in question, grimacing as she struggled to keep the book in two hands, the entire tome threatening to spill out of its plastic bindings like water from a bucket. She finally steadied herself, knee raised up to hold the book aloft, hands gripping each side.


    Ichabod kept walking.


    ¡°Faster, Galatea!¡± he called back, ¡°The shapeshifter might still be in the city!¡±


    ¡°Don''t announce it, dipshit!¡± G-Wiz yelled back, ¡°And wait up!¡±


    She read as she half-hopped after the cybernetic man, Zumbelaphone rattling and swaying with each hop. She furrowed her brow.


    ¡°Alright,¡± she said, ¡°He''s a shapeshifter.¡±


    ¡°Paragraph five, line eight,¡± Ichabod said.


    G-Wiz closed the book and caught up to him, slamming it into his chest.


    ¡°No way,¡± she said, ¡°If you want me to read the book, you gotta slow down.¡±


    Ichabod shook his head.


    ¡°Tut tut, Galatea. Read faster.¡±


    ¡°I barely know how to read in the first place, ya jerk,¡± she snapped, ¡°You''re doing that thing where you act all high and mighty and pretend you''re better than anyone else.¡±


    ¡°Everyone else,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°Exactly! Exactly that!¡± G-Wiz''s eye flared for a moment. Then, she turned. ¡°Walk, dipshit.¡±


    Ichabod stopped as she stomped off, his grin wiped off his face. He gave a morose frown as he stepped after her. The two walked down a few blocks and into the slums in silence. Occasionally G-Wiz would glare back at Ichabod. Ichabod kept in step with her, book in hand.


    The rain thundered overhead.


    ***


    Clytius was at his usual place in front of the Horrid Welt. The three gnomes were leaning up against the wall by the door, trenchcoat covering them like a cloak. The second one was smoking, a cigar sticking out from just below the bouncer''s chest. The top one''s eyes were closed, and he appeared to be asleep. The third one''s legs were shaking from supporting his brothers.


    Of course, Ichabod said nothing. The fun was ruined by pointing out the obvious, and G-Wiz was already in a mood.


    ¡°Clytius,¡± he said, ¡°Let us in.¡±


    The top gnome, spokesperson of the Brothers Clytius, snored.


    The second gnome rustled beneath the trenchcoat, punching his brother''s leg.


    The top Clytius awoke with a start, looking back and forth for a moment, before his eyes fell on Ichabod and G-Wiz.


    ¡°Ahhh,¡± he said, ¡°Guildfolk. We''re closed.¡±


    ¡°Bullshit,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Let us in, Clytius.¡±


    ¡°We''re here to talk to Halt,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Tell him it''s Ichabod and G.¡±


    ¡°What''s in it for me?¡± Clytius asked.


    ¡°We don''t let Mekke come down here to pester you about security,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°Deal,¡± the gnome said, a bit too hastily, but he gestured to the door, ¡°It''s already unlocked. My arms are too short to reach the doorknob to unlock it.¡±


    ***


    Halt Kohranthi was a kitsune from distant Terna Minor Landmass. He often took the form of a humanoid fox, something to get new customers talking when they first walked into the Welt, which he had won from a friend in a game of bloodstones some ten years before.


    He was also the primary bartender for the Welt, a position he took with pride. It was the morning after a particularly hectic night, and the entire place was trashed, servers scrubbing ale, mud, and blood off of the walls, sweeping the floor for broken shards of glass, and wiping down tables clean for the evening''s festivities. A couple of them were also inspecting the boxing ring in the center of the tavern, making sure there was no lasting damage to its ropes after a rather brutal match between twin ogres the night before. The two monsters were still sleeping in the corner of the room, having reconciled their differences during their match, tear streaks staining their faces, mixing with the ale that they had downed like water after their climactic duel.


    Halt himself was cleaning shot glasses and wooden mugs at the counter, deep rings purpling his eyes. He almost always wore a white dress shirt, a sleeveless black vest over it, ever the businessman ¨C even when his business was an old, run-down tavern in the slums. He glanced up as Ichabod and G-Wiz walked in.


    ¡°We''re closed, G,¡± his voice was husky and harsh, ¡°Come back tonight. Bring Nash, if you can.¡±


    ¡°Nash''s out of town again,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°This dipshit wanted to talk to you.¡±


    Ichabod nodded, drawing close to the counter.


    ¡°Morning, Halt,¡± he said.


    ¡°Ichabod,¡± the kitsune nodded, ¡°Usually you like the fancier places, right? What''s someone like you doing in a dump like this?¡±


    ¡°Investigation,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°We''re doing a couple of follow ups for a guild assignment.¡±


    ¡°Ah, that would explain it,¡± Halt said, ¡°You wouldn''t be down here otherwise.¡±


    ¡°Of course not,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°I can hardly stand the smell.¡±


    ¡°Ichabod,¡± G-Wiz growled, ¡°Can the ''tude.¡±


    ¡°Right, right,¡± Ichabod said, waving a hand, ¡°We''re looking for someone. He... could be wearing a specific amount of faces.¡±


    ¡°Any number of faces, eh?¡± Halt said.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°He could be either a servant, all dressed up in white as though he were from a gala, or a luchador.¡±


    Halt shrugged.


    ¡°Lot of folk pass through here. A few outlanders. A few not. All of them, colorful.¡±


    He cast a tired eye on Ichabod.


    ¡°This is Scuttleway, pal. You''re liable to see a few sights.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Ichabod pulled a barstool out, sitting down.


    ¡°I''m not going to offer you anything to drink, if that''s what you''re thinking,¡± Halt said, ¡°We''re closed. Not sure why Clytius let you in, in the first place.¡±


    ¡°We bribed him,¡± Ichabod lied, ¡°Every tongue is loosened by coin, yes?¡±


    Halt gave a sigh. He stopped wiping the glass in his hand and put it on the counter. He had, Ichabod noticed, only four fingers on each hand, the pinkies having been cut down to the bone like trees in the winter.


    ¡°The only reason why the Welt''s still here is because I don''t take bribes,¡± the kitsune growled, ¡°If you''re going to be coming in here, flapping around a bag of gold like it''s your ballsack, you can leave the way you came.¡±


    ¡°Fucking hell, Ichabod,¡± G-Wiz said. She elbowed the cybernetic man out of the way, ¡°Halt, we''re here because there was a shapeshifter who hurt our friends.¡±


    ¡°In the guild?¡± Halt said, ¡°Bah, you guildfolk get hurt all the time. It''s your job, to be the bruisers and the bruised.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, true,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°But that doesn''t mean we''re just going to take it lying down, yeah?¡±


    ¡°True,¡± Halt said.


    ¡°Halt, please,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°It was Rosemary and Joseph. You remember Joseph, right?¡±


    ¡°Boxed your Far Traveler a while back, yeah,¡± Halt said, ¡°Got slaughtered, too.¡±


    ¡°He and Rosemary almost died, Halt,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°We''re just trying to nail the guy who did it. They''re our guildmates.¡±


    Something in the bartender wilted. Halt picked his glass up and inspected it for a few moments, giving it a bit more of a shine with his dirty rag. One the servers was walking over to the ogre brothers, poking at one of them with a broom to rustle him awake. Rain had begun to fall again, plinking against the roof of the Welt, a dull chorus of splash against stone.


    ¡°Right,¡± Halt said, ¡°A couple days back, night of the gala, I was here in my usual spot. Most of the regulars were coming in, aye? Had a big match lined up. An out of towner, some eln meia or other.¡±


    ¡°The night of the gala,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°Precisely,¡± Halt began drying another glass, ¡°It was a grand slam. Best match we''ve had in months. Blood everywhere.¡±


    ¡°That''s some good shit,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Sorry I missed it. Dama Runebreaker got too drunk, too early. I was taking care of her the whole night.¡±


    ¡°A guy came in, late in the night, when most of the party had wound down,¡± Halt said, ¡°A guy with a mask. Nice suit, almost like it was made out of shadow. He was stumbling in, as though he had too much to drink and wound up on the wrong side of town.¡±


    ¡°Which, he did,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°You bet your ass,¡± Halt said, ¡°Was spluttering about getting out of town. Needed the quickest way to get to Mantis Shrimp.¡±


    ¡°North, then,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°What did you say?¡±


    ¡°At first, I told him to get bent,¡± Halt said, ¡°But he was desperate. Had that look in his eye, you know?¡±


    ¡°So you¡­ told him where to go?¡± Ichabod said.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ¡°Aye, I did,¡± Halt replied, ¡°I told him about Road Rigel. ¡®Course, that was before everything went down. When I see someone who needs help, who needs to get out of town¡­¡±


    He stopped, tufty ear flickering at Ichabod¡¯s glare.


    ¡°Well,¡± Halt said, ¡°That was before the news came out about the gala. ¡®Fore I heard Rosie and Joseph was tied up in all of it.¡±


    ¡°Road Rigel, then,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°And he was heading to Mantis Shrimp,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°That''s... a long ways away.¡±


    ¡°A few days, at least,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°He''s either still on the road, or just getting into the city.¡±


    Halt nodded.


    ¡°And nothing else, then,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°Nothing,¡± Halt replied.


    ¡°...Then we''re done here,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Come along, Galatea.¡±


    Without another word he swept away from the counter and began walking out of the Welt. G-Wiz glared at his back.


    ¡°Thanks, Halt,¡± she said, ¡°Really. I mean it.¡±


    ¡°I know you''re good, G,¡± Halt said, ¡°You surround yourself with shit company, though.¡±


    ¡°You don''t know the half of it.¡±


    She gave a final nod to the kitsune before catching up with Ichabod. The storm had returned, almost to full force, covering him like a sheet.


    ¡°Yo, dipshit!¡± G-Wiz snarled.


    Ichabod stopped, turning around. His hands were in his pockets, the wind whipping his hair and trenchcoat every which way.


    ¡°Get over here!¡± she said, ¡°Get inside, we''ll leave once the rain stops.¡±


    ¡°No need,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°We''ll need to be fast, if we''re going to get to Mantis Shrimp.¡±


    His voice was a whisper compared to the din of the rain. G-Wiz crossed her arms and hung at the frame of the door.


    ¡°I''m not leaving until the rain stops!¡± she yelled.


    ¡°Have fun being alone, then!¡± Ichabod called.


    ¡°You said, you wanted a partner!¡± G-Wiz replied, ¡°If you want one, you''re going to have to stay!¡±


    She could see the cybernetic man roll his eyes, even though they were hidden by his shades. There was a way that he stood when he did it, a bit taller than normal, as though he were an annoyed tower of black and white. Ichabod walked back over to the door. G-Wiz turned back.


    ¡°Halt, is it alright if we can stay in here ''til it dies down a bit?¡±


    ¡°Fine by me,¡± the kitsune said, ¡°Ichabod has to pay, though.¡±


    ¡°Deal,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°You and me, Ichabod, we''re going to have a talk before we get any further, got it?¡±


    Ichabod opened his mouth to object.


    And closed it as G-Wiz shot daggers at him.


    ***


    The rain didn''t let up. It continued, pouring down on the city as an intense drizzle, sheets upon sheets of water unleashed on Scuttleway. It had been a few months since there had been a good rain like this, and G-Wiz was grateful for it. It hardly rained on Doremi, so any opportunity for stormy weather was a cause for a good day.


    So she watched it pour down, having taken a table right by a grimy window. Ichabod was quiet as he produced the book from his trenchcoat. Somehow, he had kept it dry, despite the deluge. He flipped a few pages over until he got to the chapter on the Maizimorph.


    ¡°Right, then,¡± he said, ¡°Shall we...?¡±


    But he faltered as G-Wiz continued to ignore him.


    ¡°...Right,¡± he said, ¡°Galatea. G-Wiz. I''m...¡±


    He went quiet again, unable to quite say the words.


    The rain fell hard.


    ¡°I''m...¡± Ichabod attempted again, ¡°I''m... You know me, G-Wiz. I''m not... I can be facetious, sometimes.¡±


    ¡°No shit,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°I... promise. Not to be, I mean,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°During this job. I usually am, to most people. I will... try not to be, to you.¡±


    ¡°Not good enough,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°If you want me to be your partner on this, you actually give me information. You know I can''t read very good, Ichabod. That was really embarrassing, what you did to me back there.¡±


    ¡°There was-¡±


    ¡°No one around?¡± G-Wiz finished, ¡°Bullshit. I was there. I was the one feeling that way. You''ve got no excuse.¡±


    She leaned in.


    ¡°Apologize, dipshit.¡±


    ¡°I''m... I''m sorry,¡± Ichabod said, though it looked like it took all of his might to force the words out of his throat, as they were half-garbled, ¡°I''m sorry.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°So. The Maizimorph. You wanted to get to Mantis Shrimp because he''s going there.¡±


    ¡°Y-yes,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°I, ah, snatched the book here because it gives quite a few hints on where our man might be heading.¡±


    ¡°Spill the tea,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°Maizimorphs are a type of shapeshifter,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Non-newtonian. Unique in that, should they have sufficient energy, they can transform into literally anything.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°Hence, why the Federation hated them,¡± the cybernetic man continued, ¡°Anything, G-Wiz. Anything at all. You know what that entails, yes? The possibility behind it, it''s staggering.¡±


    ¡°So... why was he transformed as the luchador guy?¡± G-Wiz asked.


    ¡°Because Maizimorphs'' creativity is limited by how much energy they have,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°They don''t store and use energy like we do. You and I are warm-blooded, yes?¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°We use energy every single day. Every heartbeat requires some use of energy.¡±


    ¡°And... Maizimorphs don''t use energy like that.¡±


    ¡°Somehow,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°It breaks the laws of physics. Again, why the Federation didn''t like them. They couldn''t truly understand them. But, Maizimorphs only use energy when they transform, and the act of taking on a completely new form exerts more energy than transforming into something they''ve been before.¡±


    A light turned on in G-Wiz''s head.


    ¡°Which is why he''s still dressed up as someone from before.¡±


    ¡°Precisely,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°You begin to understand.¡±


    ¡°There''s another part to this, then,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Why he''s heading to Mantis Shrimp.¡±


    ¡°North of Scuttleway,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Not often a direction one takes when trying to leave the plane.¡±


    ¡°There''s that Traveling Point in the Dwelk Mountains,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Only a day''s wagon ride from Mantis Shrimp.¡±


    ¡°True,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°And my second point that I found in the reading: What Maizimorphs eat.¡±


    ¡°Shit, I hope,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°I wish,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°But, no. They feed off of a special gas found in only a few atmospheres.¡±


    ¡°Right, so you think our guy''s heading to one of those places from the Traveling Point in the Dwelk Mountains.¡±


    ¡°And why I insist we leave now,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Despite the rain. If we can catch up to him before he reaches there, we''ll have the advantage. He''s out of gas, Galatea. If we get to him when he''s had a chance to recuperate, we''ll need a lot more than the two of us to bring him down.¡±


    ¡°...Alright, then,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Any idea what plane he''d be going to?¡±


    ¡°We can talk while we walk,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Let''s go.¡±


    ***


    Road Rigel was so named because it was a method of travel formally outlawed by the High Federation''s technology ban. A basic ship with a magically empowered engine using mathematics and machinery a generation too advanced for Londoa, it produced a powerful gust of wind more powerful and longer-lasting than a seasoned magician''s. It was installed just below the ship''s deck, the wind lifting the ship a few feet into the air, before being caught by a tall, triangular sail. An open secret, an unmentioned aspect of Scuttleway that had contributed to its recent successes compared to its economic rivals. If one had the coin, they could get a ride nearly anywhere north of Scuttleway, a network that looped across Moadma Landmass, beginning and ending at the Great Orange Crab.


    This Rigel''s captain was a tall, willowy hobgoblin. Her skin was mottled green, with ears sharping out to either side, two silver rings looping on each end. She was wearing an admiral''s coat, pilfered from a Kelphaven merchant prince, and a long strand of hay snaked out of her mouth. She gave it a chew as G-Wiz and Ichabod bought passage.


    ¡°Right, then,¡± she said, ¡°To Mantis Shrimp, aye?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°With all due haste.¡±


    ¡°Got a few other passengers coming this way,¡± the captain said.


    ¡°How many?¡± Ichabod asked.


    ¡°Three more.¡±


    ¡°We''ll pay for you to leave now,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°No,¡± the captain replied, ¡°Leaving paying folks is bad for business. You get repeat customers by being reliable, yeah?¡±


    ¡°She''s got a point, Ichabod,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°Hnng,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Fine, then. Have it your way.¡±


    He strode aboard. G-Wiz followed.


    They waited a few more hours before the Rigel cast off. The whole time, Ichabod stared out at the opposite horizon, finger tapping against the ship''s rail, his jaw clenching more and more. G-Wiz had sat down on a barrel beside him, unslinging her Zumbelaphone and tuning it, before playing a couple pieces as a warm-up. The Rigel''s crew watched them with some curiosity.


    But Halt had been right.


    Strange folks passed through Scuttleway, and they had seen stranger.


    The Rigel, at last, took off at around two in the afternoon. The captain went below deck, giving a sly wink to G-Wiz and Ichabod, and the entire ship lurched, wind whipping up and lifting it into the air. For a few moments, the ship floated in the air.


    Then, the sail picked up. The ship began pushing forward, the wind whipping past their ears as it moved out of the shed on the outside of town. It dipped for a moment as it went out of the city''s northern gates.


    Then, it picked up speed. Bit by bit, the engine below whirring and coughing as it generated more and more magic. Magic like this had a scent to it, a strange sort of ice-like smell, like sleet mixed with rain, and the temperature dropped as it flew more and more.


    The other passengers had been smart. They carried cloaks with them, pulling them out of bags and wrapping themselves tight. G-Wiz huddled, shivering, desperately wishing she was wearing more than a t-shirt.


    Ichabod glanced down at her, his trenchcoat whipping around him. With a sigh, he removed it and handed it to her.


    It was the first time she had seen him without it in a while, and she could see why he kept it on all the time. All four of Ichabod''s limbs were cybernetic ¨C metal and glass interlocking together into an artificial semblance of arms and legs. But these weren''t like Vicenorn''s arm, with its blocky make and Swiss army-knife uses. They were an artisan''s work, a skinless reproduction, down to the last blood vessel so painstakingly sculpted on. Ichabod wore an undershirt underneath, but he could not hide his arms'' sheen. The other passengers stared as he sat down, a dour expression on his face. G-Wiz, without a word, pulled the trenchcoat on. It smelled of rain and stale sweat.


    But it was warm.


    ***


    The Rigel carried them onward for the next few days. Before the technology required to pilot one had been smuggled to Londoa, a journey from Scuttleway to Mantis Shrimp could take a few weeks, barring any raiders or accidents. But come rain or snow, the Rigel cut that journey down to no more than a few days. It was difficult to talk during the ride, both due to the whipping wind and the other passengers, who were a bit too keen on what two guildfolk were doing out in the boonies.


    Nonetheless, the majority of them stopped off at Heislander Waystation, traveling workers who sought out employment on the multitude of farms that dotted this part of the Landmass. The food here fed the rest of Moadma, including Scuttleway itself. G-Wiz and Ichabod found themselves a bit less cramped on the third day of the journey.


    They found a place below decks to talk without having to yell over the whipping winds. It was still loud, however, with the engine roaring and spewing out magic. G-Wiz thumbed her Zumbelaphone, keying a command in. Each word had a melody to it, this one a quiet, electric piece. She wrote the word ''QUIET'' on the engine, and its choking ceased.


    ¡°A bit better,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°Think the captain will mind?¡± she asked.


    As if on cue, the captain poked her head down below.


    ¡°Everything alright?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Just shut the engine up a bit,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°It''s still running fine.¡±


    ¡°Thank the gods, I hate the sound,¡± the captain said, ¡°Don''t suppose that''d be permanent?¡±


    ¡°Naw, an hour at best,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°Well, it''ll be a good hour, then,¡± the captain went back up above.


    Ichabod grimaced as he sat down. The room was cramped ¨C the roof was a head too short, and he had to bend down in order to really move about. Most of the place was taken up by the engine itself. G-Wiz rested her back on it as she sat across from her guildmate, raising an eyebrow as he produced the book once more.


    ¡°Right,¡± he said, ¡°It''s a day''s ride to the Dwelk. Let''s talk options.¡±


    G-Wiz nodded.


    ¡°What''s in the forecast right now?¡± she asked, ¡°Half the year it''s Ochiro, the other half it''s...¡±


    ¡°Krenstone,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°Right, Urash''s plane.¡±


    ¡°The Traveling Point specifically takes you to the city of Dominatria,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°A bit of a nexus for the local ''verse, has at least five Traveling Points open at any given time.¡±


    ¡°Neat shit,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°So if we''re not careful, we''ll be gallivanting across the multiverse on a wild goose chase.¡±


    ¡°Precisely,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°But we can narrow it down. The plane in question needs to have an atmosphere rich with their food source.¡±


    ¡°Which is...?¡±


    Ichabod sneered.


    ¡°Quarzium-2.¡±


    ¡°Shit,¡± G-Wiz stretched, ¡°So, no matter where we go, then, it''ll be a cesspool of drug runners.¡±


    ¡°Exactly,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°Does... Dominatria lead to any of those planes?¡± G-Wiz asked.


    Ichabod scratched his chin for a moment, before he clicked a few buttons on his wrist. A small, blue hologram projected, depicting multiple math equations and symbols ¨C a map of the multiverse. G-Wiz grimaced as she stared at the thing.


    It was rare, indeed, for one to be able to map the multiverse. Near impossible, and requiring equations to be made on the fly.


    ¡°Dailori or the Blood Hallows would be our best bet,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Dailori''s about to leave forecast, so if you were trying to hide, that''d be a good place to start.¡±


    ¡°Blood Hallows is more entertaining, though,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°True,¡± the cybernetic man said, ¡°But I don''t believe that our shapeshifter wants to draw attention to himself. And the Blood Hallows is an arena world, and currently in their Season of Conscription.¡±


    G-Wiz shuddered.


    ¡°Right, don''t want to be drawn into that bullshit. Dailori it is, then.¡±


    ¡°Theoretically, we could split up,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°One of us to Dailori, the other to the Blood Hallows.¡±


    ¡°No way,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°We do this together, Ichabod.¡±


    ¡°Just a suggestion,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°A stupid one, but I wanted to make sure you were on your toes.¡±


    ***


    Mantis Shrimp crested on the horizon on the fifth day. A circular city built from sandstone stained red from some magic long ago, it was an orange-crimson blot upon the green, a river snaking through its center. Statues to the heroes of the city were aligned along the city''s walls, said to be able to become animate to come to the people''s defense in times of invasion and siege. The tall Iconstren Tower rose from the city''s center, where Mantis Shrimp''s Doge played politics with the noble houses, a mirror to Scuttleway.


    They weren''t in the city for very long, just long enough to rent a wagon and take off towards the Dwelk. Their driver was an older kobold who was missing a leg, and he was silent as he took them towards their destination.


    The mountains loomed in the distance. G-Wiz was glad that they wouldn''t have to climb them for very long. The Traveling Point had a small outpost attached to it, bone-white and able to be seen even from here, a small little white box on a vertical sea of stone.


    They arrived as the Inner Sun burned out, the sky above becoming filled with the lights of the other Landmasses. Ichabod spoke with the guards of the outpost quickly, flashing a couple of cards and IDs. They let him pass without too much trouble.


    G-Wiz was staring out towards Mantis Shrimp, Zumbelaphone slung over her shoulder. She felt Ichabod''s cold, mechanical hand rest on her shoulder.


    ¡°Ready, Galatea?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Sure,¡± she said, ¡°Let''s do this.¡±


    The Traveling Point shimmered. Without another word, they stepped through.

 48. No True Revolutionary

    They were not on Krenstone for long.


    Urash didn''t talk about his home plane very often. When he did, he dismissed it with a rude wave of his hand and a spittle-filled ¡°Bah!¡±


    Which he did with almost everything, so that wasn''t a very good metric of judgment. The entire world was domed in, a massive cave system with no outside, so vast that one could not see the cavern''s roof. Towers littered the cave floor. Some were small, only a few stories high. Others were like Dominatria, city-sized, with thousands of people living within them, monoliths of hand-carved stone that went all the way up to the roof.


    They spent much of their time in Dominatria ascending up the hundreds of staircases dotted around the city to the Traveling Point at its top. They could have used one of the Gemwalkers, had they the funds ¨C those massive, jewel-encrusted spiders that the dwarves rode up and down the sides of the towers to ease traffic, shining like miniature suns, sometimes the only source of light in the area as G-Wiz and Ichabod walked. There weren''t many lanterns lighting Dominatria''s streets, and those that hung from dingy posts were half-lit, like evening.


    So it fell to Ichabod to guide the pair through the streets, nearly holding G-Wiz''s hand as he guided her through the congested side-roads and stairways, dodging past merchants with bags full of coin, stout guards with warhammers in hand, even a couple other outlanders ¨C two tall Chirians, from the Silver Eye, their three noses upraised in disgust at the atmosphere of this backwater plane.


    G-Wiz flipped them off as they turned their backs to her.


    The Traveling Point was at the very highest point of Dominatria, on its roof. Not too many merchants were here today ¨C it was early for them, it seemed, or perhaps not many people wanted to go to Dailori this time of year.


    And who could blame them? Dailori was a shithole.


    But still, the Traveling Point was positioned at a place of honor. Dominatria had been built to get to it, hundreds of years ago, when the dwarves of this land realized their greed could be sated on the teat of the multiverse. The tower was one of many built in that time of insane, gluttonous want and need, and though it led to two of the more violent planes, it was still a place where one''s future could be made or broken in a stroke of business acumen.


    The guards were High Federation. For half the year, when the Traveling Point led to the Blood Hallows, the Silver Eye allowed Dominatrian guards to be posted at the Traveling Point. When it led to Dailori, however, High Federation military officials took over. There were three of them, standing in the circular room that housed the Traveling Point, apart from the rest of the city due to their pristine white combat armor and futuristic looking rifles. All three were different species from the Eye, one reptilian, one fish-like, the other humanoid with bright green skin who smelled faintly of chlorophyll. It was this third one who approached them.


    ¡°State your purpose, outlander,¡± she spat.


    ¡°Traveling to Dailori,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°On a job. We''re with the Amber Foundation.¡±


    He produced a card, his guild ID. The soldier took a glance at it, and G-Wiz knew that her helmet was scanning the card for authenticity.


    ¡°Right, then,¡± she said, ¡°We''ll need to search you for any illicit or contraband materials or technology.¡±


    ¡°Ah, yes,¡± Ichabod said.


    They searched the two of them, the green alien''s frown deepening at the sight of G-Wiz''s Zumbelaphone.


    ¡°Doremi,¡± she said, practically spat.


    ¡°Yep,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°What about it?¡±


    The soldier nearly threw it back to her and continued to look over Ichabod. As she did so, patting down his metallic legs, the reptilian soldier sniffed Ichabod''s face.


    ¡°What''s the nature of your job on Dailori?¡± he growled.


    ¡°Hunting,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°A shapeshifter.¡±


    ¡°What kind?¡± the soldier said.


    ¡°The kind that transforms,¡± Ichabod drawled.


    ¡°Shapeshifters come in all shapes and sizes,¡± the soldier said.


    ¡°Yes, that''s kind of the point,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°By God, what do you want me to say? We''re still doing guesswork. Dailori''s probably going to be a dead-end anyway. Are you nearly done?¡±


    ¡°These pistols,¡± the fish-like alien was holding one of Ichabod''s pristine guns, ¡°These are near military grade.¡±


    ¡°Yes, most guns are,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°Not true,¡± the fish said, ¡°Some are for hunting. Others are for execution-¡±


    ¡°If it kills, it''s military-grade,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°Cut the shit, Ichabod,¡± G-Wiz said.


    She noticed her guildmate''s smirk.


    ¡°Right, do note that Dailori is currently in a state of civil unrest,¡± the green alien said, ¡°If you are caught supplying terrorist organizations, your guild will face consequences.¡±


    ¡°And if I''m supplying anything to the Dailori Juret Order, instead?¡± Ichabod asked.


    The soldier did not answer.


    ¡°I see nothing on you that is contraband,¡± the reptile said, ¡°Nor do I smell anything. You two are free to go. Keep your noses clean, eh?¡±


    They let the two of them go after that, Ichabod glaring at them, though they did not see that through his shades. The Traveling Point stood in the center of the room, shimmering like one of Becenti''s mirages.


    ¡°Ready?¡± G-Wiz asked.


    Ichabod nodded, his mouth a tight line, his fists clenched in the pockets of his trenchcoat. Without another word, he stepped through.


    ***


    They arrived in a wasteland. The sky was scarred blood red, and it was not a natural color. The air stank strongly of an almost pepper-like smell. The scent of Quarzium-2, better known as Haze. A powerful hallucinogen, it tinged the atmosphere of Dailori ever so slightly, making the dreams of its inhabitants just a bit sharper, just a bit more real.


    And in a world where dreams could shape reality, Haze was king indeed. It was found on scarce few other planes and only a few worlds in the Silver Eye, but it was one of the most popular drugs in the underbelly of the multiverse. It was Haze that became the unofficial currency of the Outer Reach for several thousand years. It was Haze that had burned the minds of the top officials in the Second Deal Party in the Eye, and led to the Reclamationist Party''s consolidation over the Federation''s senate.


    It was Haze that had built the Manticore''s Empire.


    The other side of the Traveling Point led to a military installation.


    High Federation soldiers, in full, shining combat armor, glared at them as they walked through the Traveling Point, which was in a sparse room with a turret pointed directly at the rippling portal. One of the soldiers approached them.


    ¡°Right, then,¡± he said, ¡°What the hell are you two doing out here?¡±


    And they went through the entire horse and pony show again. The same questions. The same answers.


    ¡°Yes, it''s a weapon of war,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°All guns are weapons of war.¡±


    ¡°Some are not,¡± one of the soldiers said, ¡°Some weapons are for defending the home. Others, for hunting.¡±


    ¡°If it kills, it''s for war,¡± Ichabod groaned.


    The same eye roll at G-Wiz''s Zumbelaphone. The same awkward glances at the intricate, realistic make of Ichabod''s metal limbs. The same warnings.


    ¡°If you are seen aiding and abetting terrorist organizations on the plane, your guild will face consequences,¡± the soldier warned.


    ¡°I don''t see anything contraband on them,¡± another noted.


    ¡°We went through this back on Krenstone, literally minutes ago,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°A check-over before you go in, a check-over after,¡± the first soldier said.


    ¡°...Within seconds of each other?¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Did you really expect to find anything the second time?¡±


    ¡°I''m just doing my job, ma''am,¡± the soldier said, ¡°Now, off you go. Watch your back. If you thought Krenstone was a backwater...¡±


    He gave a dark chuckle. G-Wiz glared at him, but Ichabod was already sweeping away. Resisting the urge to flip the base off, she ran after him, getting a good look around her. The base itself was pristine. Spotless, with white walls and a white roof and a floor that reflected the ceiling. Outside the window, G-Wiz could see dome-shaped barracks, permanent fixtures of the red rock landscape. A couple of warbirds were parked by the domes, their pilots trading jokes while they refueled.


    The air was warm. Dust-colored clouds swirled overhead. The world smelled of pepper and death. In the distance, the remains of a vast city lay like a corpse on the horizon, picked clean by scavengers and time.


    ¡°Nice place,¡± Ichabod said.


    G-Wiz was quiet, her jaw clenched.


    ¡°Not a good feeling, is it?¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°This place has got bad vibes,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°Of course. It was already a dark place, full of dark magics and dark gods,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Then the Manticore made it one of his main bastions in the multiverse. Now, it''s under constant occupation by our... esteemed hosts.¡±


    He nodded at the base, and gave a wan smile.


    ¡°Let''s go find our man, the shapeshifter, eh?¡±


    ***


    There was, shockingly, still life in the city.


    Not much, but it was there. Sapient life, not like the many-eyed vultures that wheeled the skies, looking for anyone unlucky to be killed by a stray mine or errant wildspell. As G-Wiz and Ichabod stepped past the shattered wall that had once ringed the outer markets of the city, they saw a man leaning against the emptied shell of an weaponsmith''s shop. They were wrapped completely in dirtied scarves and rags and cloaks, a wicked-looking blade strapped to their side. They looked up at the guildmembers with goggle-covered eyes.


    ¡°Outlanders,¡± they rasped.


    Ichabod stopped, putting a hand into his trenchcoat, hand closing over his pistol.


    ¡°Greetings,¡± he said, ¡°Nice weather we''re having, hm?¡±


    The figure coughed.


    ¡°Right,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°What is this place?¡±


    ¡°Was once the city of D''Rendeir,¡± the figure said, ¡°Now just dust. Not too many folk live out here, nowadayen.¡±


    ¡°A good place for our man,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°...Perhaps,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°You''re looking for a marken, I take it,¡± the figure said, ¡°Or you''re here for the Haze.¡±


    ¡°Not Haze,¡± Ichabod sneered, ¡°You can have all of that shit for yourself.¡±


    The figure let out a soft hiss.


    ¡°Haze is the dreamer''s tool. Haze is the lifeblood of the land-¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes, whatever,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°We''re looking for a being that lives off of it, and not in moderation.¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡± the figure coughed, ¡°I see. One who has supped of it too much.¡±


    ¡°One who has no choice but to feed off of it,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Have you seen a traveler come this way?¡±


    ¡°Many,¡± the figure said.


    ¡°He would have been an outlander,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Maybe wearing a mask.¡±


    ¡°Many wear masks.¡±


    ¡°This one would have been distinct,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Blue, green, and red. Perhaps studded and glittering.¡±


    ¡°Or a man in a white suit,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Like a servant.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± the figure mulled it over, ¡°Yes. What do you have to pay?¡±


    ¡°What do you want?¡± Ichabod asked.


    The figure pointed at G-Wiz.


    ¡°Music. A tune. Has been longen since I heard a nice one.¡±


    G-Wiz gave a smile, unslinging the Zumbelaphone.


    ¡°What''ll it be, guy?¡±


    ***


    The figure did not want money, for they breathed all that they wished for with the Haze. They lived a meager life, in the remains of D''Reindeir, picking at rats and vermin, occasionally coming across bigger game. G-Wiz and Ichabod joined them in their place by the old smith''s shop, Ichabod standing, G-Wiz sitting down by the figure as she adjusted the Zumbelaphone''s keys. When she played, it came out as a soft piano. The music soothed into the dark as the figure relaxed.


    ¡°Traveled the multiverse, once,¡± they said, ¡°In olden days. Went all over the Silver Eye. Went beyond. Saw the sights. The Runway. Prime, even, though they did not like me there.¡±


    ¡°They like believing they''re civilized,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Bastards don''t even know that such a thing doesn''t exist.¡±


    ¡°Heh. Good food, though,¡± the figure said, ¡°Came home. The Haze called and beckoned.¡±


    They gestured.


    ¡°Home was liken this. Family gone, even the olden man. He was a smithy, see.¡±


    ¡°An entire city?¡± G-Wiz asked.


    ¡°Feddies caught wind of someone selling Haze, here,¡± the figure said, ¡°Stealing it from the sky, sending it to the multiverse.¡±


    Ichabod glanced over at one of the broken walls of the smithy. He noted that there were burns pocking its old, mud-brick face.


    Plasma burns.


    ¡°Now I find myself here. Don''t want to go nowheren else. Not yet. Give another year, then I move on.¡±


    ¡°I''m sorry,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°It is life, friend,¡± the figure said.


    Her music continued to play, soft and melodic, a bittersweet tune from some distant place, a movement that Ichabod did not recognize. It was so unlike G-Wiz''s usual fare, not bombastic and loud, electrifying and harsh. Ichabod sneered.


    This place was getting to her.


    ¡°Day ago, now, a figure camen through,¡± the figure said, ¡°Walked with a limp. Had a mask like you said, green, blue, and red. They were dramatic.¡±


    ¡°Where did they go?¡± Ichabod asked.


    ¡°North,¡± the figure said, ¡°There''s a small outpost, there. An old shrine, to V''Talir.¡±


    ¡°Our next place to go, then,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Shall we, G-Wiz?¡±


    ¡°Give me a sec,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Let me finish this piece.¡±


    Ichabod opened his mouth to object, then closed it when he glanced at their friend, the figure. They had visibly relaxed, having removed their goggles to stare, entranced, at G-Wiz''s playing. Their eyes were a brilliant yellow, burning like the brightest star.


    The first time they had heard music in a while, then. Ichabod closed his mouth and leaned against the wall.


    Overhead, the sky curled and spun. The wind blew. The music played.


    And, for a moment, everything was alright.


    ***


    They left when their friend had drifted to sleep, guiding them to the sole cot that rested in the corner of their old home. The two of them wondered, for a moment, at the marvel of the city, what it had been like once upon a day. As they drew away from the skeleton of D''Reindeir, walking across the old trade road that snaked northwards, G-Wiz took a second to turn back and look at the city. Ichabod stopped, watching her, the warm wind picking up his trenchcoat like a tattered old flag.


    ¡°Wonder what caused them to come here on foot,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Usually they just glass places from orbit, right?¡±


    ¡°Would taint the Haze, probably,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°It''s unstable stuff, at least when it''s raw like this. Enough plasma in the atmosphere, and it burns itself away.¡±


    ¡°Isn''t this stuff illegal?¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°Not if you''re rich,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°I wouldn''t be surprised if there are a few Federation officials who don''t have secret processing factories here, for their own supply. The Prime Voice probably looks the other way.¡±


    He glanced at the city one more time.


    ¡°Come on, then,¡± he said, ¡°You''ve seen one city, you''ve seen them all.¡±Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    ¡°R-right,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Coming.¡±


    They walked through the day, heading north towards the Shrine of V''Talir. The landscape was like a cracked desert, though it wasn''t overbearingly hot, just a vague sort of warmness that they hardly noticed. Half-rotted signs pointed them on their way, though the writing was illegible and sloppy.


    Nothing accosted them. Occasionally they would see figures in the distance, swathed in rags like their friend back in D''Reindeir, atop strange camels with two heads, though these nomads paid them no heed. Perhaps they recognized outlanders. Perhaps they were too wary of the Federation.


    Or, perhaps, they were just simple travelers.


    Regardless, they moved on without approaching Ichabod and G-Wiz.


    Neither of them spoke as they walked. The arrival to Dailori had brought on a silence upon the two of them, as though they were walking through a cathedral, or a graveyard. It felt wrong to speak, to interrupt the sound of nature, the Hazestorms that curled overhead, the occasional horn-like call of some great beast in the distance.


    The sun was setting as they arrived at the Shrine of V''Talir, a great, half-broken statue. V''Talir was a god of some sort, born from the Haze-dreams of the people in this region, a multi-headed, multi-legged creature, like something between a hydra and a spider, disturbing in its appearance, sadistic in its purview, for V''Talir had been a god of blood and war.


    It had its fill of it, when a hundred years before, a Federation Warbird had fired upon the god and glassed it into oblivion. One could still see its cooled, melted corpse in the far north, in the Pleiniads.


    But this shrine, this cast of V''Talir, still stood. Beside it, for the god to look down upon, was a small inn. A two-headed camel was hitched to a fence nearby, twin heads turning to watch as Ichabod and G-Wiz walked to the tavern. A guard was posted outside, a burly brute of a man with a bone-carved sword strapped to his back. He looked up with his good eye at them.


    ¡°Outlanders,¡± he said, ¡°You stink of it.¡±


    ¡°Better the multiverse than the muck,¡± Ichabod sneered.


    ¡°Bah,¡± the man said, ¡°What do you wanten?¡±


    ¡°Just a drink,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Ignore my friend here, he''s an asshole.¡±


    The brute nodded, giving Ichabod the stink eye as he let the two of them pass. The inn itself was a worn-down mess, quiet in a deadened way, the innkeeper looking up at them with bloodshot eyes. A blade was on the counter, curved and barbed, and Ichabod watched as the innkeeper''s fingers curled over the hilt. The cybernetic man raised up a hand.


    ¡°Not bandits, my good man,¡± he said, ¡°Just travelers.¡±


    ¡°You got past my guard, which isn''t hard,¡± the innkeeper said, ¡°What do you wanten?¡±


    Ichabod looked around. No shapeshifter, unless the innkeeper was him. But no, there wouldn''t be enough time to properly transform, he was probably still recuperating...


    ¡°Just a place to rest,¡± Ichabod said. He nodded at G-Wiz, ¡°The girl and I, we''ve freshly traveled from off-plane.¡±


    ¡°Addicts, then,¡± the innkeeper said, ¡°We be seein'' your lot occasionally. Afraid to say I don''t have any Haze. If you want some, go outside and breathe.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps we will,¡± Ichabod walked to the counter, sitting down by it, ¡°Nice place you have here. What''s the name of your, ah, humble establishment?¡±


    ¡°The Inn of Dark Spider,¡± the innkeeper said.


    ¡°Because of the statue outside?¡± Ichabod asked.


    ¡°No, my name is Dark Spider.¡±


    ¡°Ha! A funny joke.¡±


    The innkeeper glared.


    ¡°Uh, Ichabod,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°That''s actually his name.¡±


    ¡°...Ah,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°I see. Well, then, a pleasure meeting you, Mister, ah, Spider.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Dark Spider removed his grip from his blade, ¡°How many rooms for the night?¡±


    ¡°Just the one,¡± Ichabod said.


    The innkeeper nodded.


    ¡°Three Dratni,¡± he spat.


    G-Wiz took out her small purse, fishing around for a few coins, her brow furrowing.


    ¡°What''s a... ''Dratni''?¡± she asked.


    Dark Spider rolled his eyes.


    ¡°Bah, very well, then. Federation Credits, if you''re truly outlanders. No respecten for the proper coin.¡±


    G-Wiz rolled her eyes, fishing out a small credstick from the purse and slapping it on the table. Dark Spider took it, gave it a lookover, then put it away.


    ¡°Hey!¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°There''s two hundred on that thing!¡±


    ¡°I don''t caren,¡± Dark Spider said, ¡°No scanner, so I''m taking it all. Price goes up, if you''re going around lumbering foreign cash.¡±


    ¡°I-¡± G-Wiz snarled.


    Ichabod glared at her, and she shut up.


    ¡°Think of it,¡± he said, ¡°As payment, not only for our rooms, but for answers to our questions.¡±


    Dark Spider¡¯s eyes narrowed. It was here that Ichabod noticed one was milked over, the other one a deep yellow.


    ¡°We''re looking for a man,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°A shapeshifter, but this one is taking the form of a foreigner. Wears a mask of blue, red, and green. Wearing a suit, like on Prime.¡±


    ¡°I don''t know your planes,¡± Dark Spider said, ¡°Only that you come from them.¡±


    ¡°He would''ve been distinct anyways,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°The guy he''s copying looks out of place, even where we''re from.¡±


    ¡°...You''re out of luck, friend,¡± Dark Spider said, ¡°A man camen through with that mask, but he wasn''t be stayin'' long. Headed north, along Old Fishing Road.¡±


    There was something in the innkeeper''s voice that gave Ichabod pause, even as he heard G-Wiz groan beside him. The cybernetic man chewed the inside of his lip for a moment, his face impassive.


    ¡°Galatea,¡± he said after a moment, ¡°Give him another credstick.¡±


    G-Wiz blinked, looking at her guildmate. Then, she caught on, and took out the purse and brought out the second credstick, laying it on the counter.


    ¡°There''s a Federation military outpost just a ways away, you know,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Beyond there is a world known as Krenstone. Still in forecast, and they love Silver Eye credits. It would be easy to convert into Dratni, if need be.¡±


    He smiled.


    ¡°Or, you could just spend it all there.¡±


    Dark Spider glared at Ichabod. His hand closed over the credstick, and he put it underneath the counter.


    ¡°How much is on there?¡±


    ¡°Another two hundred,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°How much did our man the shapeshifter pay you? In what currency? Credits? Dratni? Perhaps he threatened you. If that''s the case, I assure you, my guildmate and I are perfectly equipped to remove him from your care.¡±


    Dark Spider gave a sigh, glaring down at the counter.


    When he looked back up, there was an exhaustion on his face that was not there before.


    ¡°He came in here a day or so back. Gave me enough money to stay here for a month.¡±


    ¡°Where is he now?¡± Ichabod asked.


    ¡°He''s upstairs, in his room,¡± Dark Spider said, ¡°He comes down occasionally for a drink or two, then goes back upstairs. He''s got a limp.¡±


    ¡°Still recovering,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°Look, he payin'' me well,¡± Dark Spider said, ¡°I don''t like this business.¡±


    ¡°He''s killed innocent people,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Tried to kill the ruler of a city.¡±


    ¡°I don''t care about the kings of distant places,¡± Dark Spider said, ¡°And I learned long ago that no one is innocent. No one.¡±


    Including yourself, though Ichabod did not voice that.


    ¡°Right, then,¡± the cybernetic man said, turning to G-Wiz, ¡°Galatea, how do you want to do this?¡±


    ¡°Now, wait here,¡± Dark Spider said, ¡°If you''re going to take him down, you do that work outside.¡±


    ¡°He''s right, Ichabod,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°We''re not really going to trash this place like a bunch of thugs, are we?¡±


    Ichabod stroked his chin for a moment, brow furrowing in thought.


    ¡°If we get the drop on him, and assure you that no harm will come to your establishment, will you let us ambush him upstairs?¡± he asked.


    Dark Spider shook his head.


    ¡°It''s either outside, or not at all.¡±


    ¡°We''ll figure it out,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Dark Spider, is there any time our guy goes outside?¡±


    Dark Spider rubbed his eyes.


    ¡°The sooner we get answers from him, the sooner we''re out of your hair,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°Fine,¡± the innkeeper said, ¡°He''s gone out a couple of times. Mostly for a few minutes, nothing major.¡±


    ¡°Doing what?¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°That''s what I was curious about,¡± Dark Spider said, ¡°So I asked Vok out there what he''s been doing.¡±


    ¡°Right, and?¡±


    ¡°He''s just... breathing. In and out. Deeply.¡±


    ¡°No great mystery, there,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°He''s probably trying to expedite his recovery. Damn stupid way to do so, if you ask me.¡±


    ¡°Right, then,¡± G-Wiz said. She slapped her last credstick on the table, ¡°Thanks for the info.¡±


    Dark Spider took it. The dark look did not leave his eyes.


    ¡°We''ll... be waiting outside, then,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Galatea, get ready.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± G-Wiz said. Without a word, the two of them walked out of the inn. Vok, the brute, glared at them as they walked over by the two-headed camel. G-Wiz started playing a light tune on her Zumbelaphone. Ichabod started playing with a small device on his wrist.


    ¡°No doubt our friend is going to warn the shapeshifter,¡± he said.


    ¡°Who, Dark Spider?¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Yeah, he didn''t like that little shakedown. A little cash isn''t going to make him a total narc.¡±


    ¡°An admirable quality,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°I almost feel bad, making him rat our mark out.¡±


    He smiled as something on his wrist dinged.


    ¡°Almost.¡±


    G-Wiz narrowed her eyes.


    ¡°You put a bug on one of the credsticks, didn''t you?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°And... here we are.¡±


    Sound came from his wrist ¨C the sound of movement, of Dark Spider''s occasional cough, or his moving around the inn. G-Wiz sighed.


    ¡°This ain''t good, Ichabod,¡± she said, ¡°Spying''s a new low.¡±


    ¡°Please, it''s not like he has anything to hide that we probably don''t know about,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Besides, it''s just a precaution.¡±


    ¡°In case he warns the shapeshifter.¡±


    ¡°Precisely,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Now prepare your wordplay. Play a couple tunes. It might be a moment yet before our man comes out.¡±


    ***


    It was another couple of hours yet before they heard movement aside from Dark Spider''s usual ambiance. After a moment, they heard his hoarse voice crackle to life on Ichabod''s transceiver.


    ¡°Afternoon.¡±


    ¡°Hola.¡±


    The shapeshifter''s voice, though the two of them only knew that because he was the only other person staying at the inn. G-Wiz tensed, fingers on the keys of her Zumbelaphone. Ichabod reached down into the inner parts of his trenchcoat, ready to pull his pistol free.


    ¡°You be havin'' visitors,¡± Dark Spider said.


    ¡°...Oh?¡± the shapeshifter said.


    ¡°Vok! Come on inside.¡±


    They could hear the innkeeper''s voice both blaring through the transceiver and from the inn a ways away. Vok nodded, the brute walking inside.


    ¡°You be takin'' your business outside,¡± Dark Spider said, ¡°Don''t want my bouncer in this mix-up.¡±


    ¡°Of course not,¡± the shapeshifter said, ¡°Did they say who they were?¡±


    ¡°Guildfolk,¡± Dark Spider''s voice was quiet, now, ¡°Saids they were lookin'' for you.¡±


    ¡°Not surprised,¡± the shapeshifter said, ¡°Very well, then. I''ll be right back.¡±


    Ichabod closed up the transceiver on his wrist.


    ¡°He''s good,¡± he said, ¡°Confident.¡±


    He began stepping out into the open. G-Wiz stayed behind the camel, gripping her Zumbelaphone like a rifle.


    ¡°Careful, Ichabod,¡± she whispered.


    He didn''t respond as he stepped towards the inn. At the same moment, the shapeshifter walked out. He looked rather worse for wear, a distinct limp to his step as he all but stumbled out past the entrance of the inn. G-Wiz was glad that they had described him by his mask, for that was all that the shapeshifter had kept from his disguise as Moriguchi. The rest of him was a humanoid mass of gray, liquid spilling onto the ground and pooling around him, before moving and inking towards his feet and re-absorbing into the rest of his mass. He was a shapeshifter in recovery, somehow still able to keep up a vague form outside of his half-fluid self.


    ¡°Sorry to bother you,¡± Ichabod said.


    The shapeshifter was quiet. G-Wiz watched as he glanced around, trying to see if Ichabod was alone.


    His eyes rested on her for the briefest of instances, just a hair longer than usual, before he snapped his attention back to her guildmate.


    ¡°This doesn''t have to be difficult,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°We just have a few questions, is all.¡±


    ¡°I''m afraid I can''t say much,¡± the shapeshifter said, ¡°I still haven''t finished my job, see.¡±


    ¡°Still after your target, then,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Rather odd, coming all the way out here. You could have recovered back in Scuttleway.¡±


    ¡°You know the city''s name,¡± the shapeshifter said, ¡°So you''ve done your research. Or, you¡¯re the local guild there, hired by the city''s authorities to hunt me down on their behalf. The High Federation does so prefer that guilds do all the work for the backwater planes.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°But something tells me you''re no revolutionary. Just a being trying to make by.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± the shapeshifter said.


    He did not move. Did not offer any more words. The wind blew, warm and tense. It was the only sound in the world.


    Ichabod sighed.


    ¡°You''re going to make it difficult, aren''t you?¡±


    The shapeshifter nodded.


    ¡°''Fraid so.¡±


    And with a motion he threw out his arm, which grew long and whip-like. It snapped down at Ichabod, who dove to the side, wincing as the air beside him cracked. Pulling out his pistol, he took aim, letting out a few shots that felt like explosions in the silence. They sank deep into the shapeshifter, who took the shots with relative aplomb, his other arm warping into a large shield as G-Wiz took aim and fired a thin, neon blue light from her keytar.


    It slammed into the makeshift shield, not even enough damage to really even burn through it.


    But that wasn''t what G-Wiz was aiming for, as she began to whip the Zumbelaphone, writing out a word on the shield.


    Stop.


    To his credit, the shapeshifter resisted well, pulling against the shield as it froze in place. With a grunt, he tore himself free from his creation, stumbling away as it fell to the ground with a hard, solid thunk. Ichabod took him, firing out a few more shots that bored through the shapeshifter''s leg, which burst like jelly. The shapeshifter collapsed. G-Wiz ran forward, replaying Sound of Silence at a speedy tempo. It was the song she had chosen when she had first learned of Stop. Words, memorized by song, given power by her Zumbelaphone as she pointed it once more at the shapeshifter and fired the line of light again, carving the word into his mutating chest.


    He froze up, grimacing as the word overtook him. For a moment, he struggled.


    Then, like a molting crab, he sloughed the part of his body where the word had been written, peeling away from it. He leaped back, taking aim at G-Wiz, his right arm morphing from a whip into a crossbow, firing off a bolt that, at high speeds, lost its form and turned into offwhite goo that slammed into her chest, knocking her off her feet.


    Ichabod fired off another few shots. One went wild, the other two hit the shapeshifter, who wheeled about, taking aim again with his crossbow.


    For a moment, the two took aim, both grimacing.


    Then Ichabod fired first, the shot flying and splattering the shapeshifter''s head. The assassin''s own shot went awry, sludging into empty air, before landing with a puff on the ground nearby and dissolving. Ichabod drew out his second pistol.


    The shapeshifter swayed for a moment, headless, before the off-white clay began to form a new head.


    It was Joseph''s.


    ¡°Poor choice,¡± Ichabod said. And he opened fire with both pistols, a cacophony of gunshots echoing through the landscape, sponging the shapeshifter.


    G-Wiz stood back up and fired another line, writing a last Stop at the shapeshifter, etching it as the shapeshifter shuddered. For a moment, all was quiet.


    Then, with a herculean effort, the shapeshifter reverted back into a humanoid form, keeping Moriguchi''s head, leaving the rest of his body as a gray mass of vaguely standing goo. He did not move again.


    ¡°As I was saying,¡± Ichabod said, stepping up to look down at the shapeshifter, ¡°We have a few questions.¡±


    ***


    They tied him up, though there was little reason for it. Never mind the commands carved into the shapeshifter''s chest. A night''s worth of combat and stress, followed by several days worth of travel, had left their assassin exhausted. He hung his head as they sat him down by the fence, pointedly ignoring Dark Spider leering at them through the dust-smeared window.


    ¡°Let''s start with the most obvious question,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Who hired you?¡±


    The shapeshifter glared at the two of them.


    ¡°Did you take the job for money, or for your morals?¡± Ichabod prodded.


    The shapeshifter stayed silent.


    ¡°Look, you said it yourself, you''re no true revolutionary,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°That just makes you a hired gun. A weapon, at the end of the day.¡±


    ¡°True,¡± the shapeshifter said, ¡°But it''s bad for business, revealing your clients'' identities.¡±


    ¡°We''ll tell you ours if you tell us yours,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°It''s someone on the nobility in Scuttleway,¡± the shapeshifter said, ¡°Or the city guard. One of the two.¡±


    ¡°Damn,¡± G-Wiz grimaced. Ichabod, however, nodded.


    ¡°You''re damn slippery. Good at your job, too, if you had our guildmates on the ropes all night. What''s an expert like you doing all the way out here? A job killing the Doge of some random city on a backwater plane?¡±


    ¡°I''d live in the Silver Eye, but the Feds don''t like me,¡± the shapeshifter said, ¡°I''d need to be near a planet full of Haze, you know they watch those worlds like hawks.¡±


    ¡°Better the wasteland, then,¡± Ichabod said, gesturing to the outside.


    ¡°Precisely.¡±


    ¡°My condolences,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°Rich, coming from you,¡± the shapeshifter said, ¡°I''m going to be out here for weeks, you know. Months, maybe, with the damage you just did.¡±


    ¡°Honestly, if you had just talked, we wouldn''t be in this position,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Really, we''re just trying to do our jobs.¡±


    ¡°I''m very sympathetic that you were forced to beat me down,¡± the shapeshifter said, ¡°Up yours, amigo.¡±


    Ichabod rolled his eyes.


    ***


    Another few hours passed. G-Wiz played her keytar. Ichabod stretched and looked around, occasionally sniffing from the Haze in the air. The shapeshifter was quiet. Dark Spider had closed up shop, the a noticeable click coming from the door as he locked himself in for the night.


    Indeed, dusk was fast approaching. The air became chillier, and overhead the clouds became gray. A thundering in the distance warned that a storm was coming.


    ¡°We''ll be out here all night,¡± G-Wiz muttered.


    The shapeshifter glared at her.


    ¡°And you aren''t, what, going to dissolve on us or anything?¡± G-Wiz asked him, ¡°You aren''t going to wash away?¡±


    ¡°I''m a Maizimorph, not a fucking Ooze,¡± the shapeshifter said.


    ¡°...I don''t know what that means,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°It means he keeps his form humanoid for greatest stability,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°It''s David Rex''s Third Law of Transformation.¡±


    ¡°So your main form is humanoid, then,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°I''m not a damn science project,¡± the shapeshifter said, ¡°Get off my back.¡±


    ¡°Sorry,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Just, y''know, wanted to make sure you weren''t going out on us.¡±


    The shapeshifter rolled his eyes.


    G-Wiz mirrored him, continuing to play her keytar. She was playing a soft piano, having still kept it set to the classical setting after leaving their friend, the figure, back in D''Reindeir. Ichabod, despite himself, found himself swaying slightly to the calming tune.


    ¡°You from Doremi?¡± the shapeshifter asked.


    ¡°Yea,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°But before you ask, I''m not Baroquemen. I''m an Electron, through and through.¡±


    ¡°Uh-huh,¡± the shapeshifter said, ¡°Of course.¡±


    ¡°Hey, I''ve got the Zumbelaphone and everything, dipshit,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°That why you''re out here?¡± the shapeshifter said, ¡°If you were a Baroquemen, would you still be back home?¡±


    G-Wiz didn''t reply to that.


    ¡°And you! Cyber-eyes!¡± the shapeshifter called, ¡°You''re a Man of Neos, if I''ve ever seen one. What corporation did you piss off to wind up here in the boonies?¡±


    Ichabod turned.


    ¡°You''d be correct,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°And you''re out here because you''re a Maizimorph, right?¡±


    The shapeshifter nodded.


    ¡°And you know what happens when a bunch of fuck-ups band together, right?¡± Ichabod said, ¡°They form a guild. Are you part of one?¡±


    The shapeshifter looked away.


    ¡°You are, aren''t you?¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Well, well, that''s interesting. Interesting indeed. One of the assassination guilds, I''d presume. Not exactly the most friendly of sorts.¡±


    ¡°Brotherhood is brotherhood,¡± the shapeshifter said, ¡°When you''re good at something, you make a career out of it.¡±


    ¡°And family,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°I can see why you''re so hesitant, now. It''s not about who hired you, it¡¯s about making sure your guild doesn¡¯t get any repercussions. You probably don''t even know your client is, do you?¡±


    ¡°But assassination guilds are legal, right?¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Nothin'' to hide from us, pal. This whole horse and pony show is guild business now.¡±


    ¡°It''s the Law of InterGuild,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°If you tell us who your guild is, we''ll navigate who their client was through official channels. None of this cloak and dagger bullshit. You can stay here, recover, maybe get another shot at your target.¡±


    ¡°Ichabod!¡±


    ¡°He was after a government official!¡± Ichabod said to her, ¡°I don''t give a shit.¡±


    The Maizimorph sighed.


    ¡°I don''t like being tied up,¡± he said.


    ¡°Galatea, untie him,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°Please,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°Untie him, please,¡± Ichabod said.


    She nodded at that, walking over and loosening the bindings wrapping up the shapeshifter''s hands. The shapeshifter sighed.


    Then gasped, as a beam of plasma bored straight through his chest.


    Ichabod and G-Wiz stared at the hole, a perfect, ring-shaped burn that refused to heal or re-form. Ichabod glanced back. In the distance was a man, a being, something in dark combat armor, an advanced rifle in hand, his head completely covered with a High Federation spacer¡¯s helmet.


    Ichabod took chase, pulling out his twin pistols and firing as the being leaped into the air, bat-like wings pulling themselves out of his back. With a flap, he alighted on one of the harsh winds, sailing away. Ichabod took aim, letting off a few potshots. Then grimaced, as their killer became a small speck on the darkening sky.


    Nearby, the shapeshifter choked on his own flesh. His eyes were wide, and his head had melted from Moriguchi into a clay-like mass. But G-Wiz could still see his eyes, and though they were misshapen they were still filled with fear and shock.


    ¡°Shit,¡± she said, ¡°I''m sorry.¡±


    The shapeshifter stared at her. It reminded her of when her dad had looked at her, all those years ago, when she was still on Doremi and he was not long for the world. That same fear of the end.


    He mouthed something, his voice a whisper through the garbled mess that was his throat.


    G-Wiz leaned in to hear him better, so close her ear was next to his mouth. The air still rang with the echo of the plasma rifle''s burn, the ringing of Ichabod''s gunshots. The storm in the distance thundered.


    Yet she could still hear the shapeshifter''s whisper, ragged and broken, as he uttered his last words.


    ¡°Like Shadow.¡±

 49. Gilded Cage

    They returned to Castle Belenus with the naught but the two words - Like Shadow - between them. Both of them were quiet as they went back to Londoa, skirting around the edges of D''Reindeir, answering the questions of the High Federation with muted nods and terse, short sentences. The soldiers at the military base glared at them as they walked through the Traveling Point, but let them be.


    Two less to worry about, after all.


    Krenstone was busy, but it didn''t feel like any of the dark, mercantile atmosphere really got through to them as they mindlessly pushed back merchants, tourists, and street urchins. G-Wiz didn''t even notice when one of them snatched her coin purse.


    But she didn''t care, not when she reached down after they had arrived back on Londoa and found it missing.


    Mantis Shrimp loomed in the distance upon their arrival back to their home plane. Their ride had left them on the mountaintop, having made his way back to the city long ago. G-Wiz and Ichabod looked at one another. Both of them sighed.


    Both of them walked.


    And through it all, the words Like Shadow permeated in their heads. For G-Wiz, they were words of guilt. The last message of a dying being. She had always disliked death. It followed her wherever she went. First with her old man. Then with Drenia, her first love. Nole. No matter where she went, death seemed to wind up a few steps behind her.


    To Ichabod, however, the words were a hint. The next step.


    A clue.


    ***


    ¡°So that''s that, really,¡± Ichabod said.


    He was in Wakeling''s office, which was uncharacteristically bright this afternoon. She even had the windows open, sunlight and the sound of the city wafting in from on high. She had muted the enchantments on the ceiling, the stars disappearing and replaced with mundane stone. The guildmaster herself was at her desk, lying on a pillow, absently reading through a couple of reports while Ichabod spoke. G-Wiz was sitting next to her, looking over the old witch''s shoulder. In the corner of the room, his arms crossed, was Captain Ramsey.


    ¡°Huh,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°I do misspell ''immediately'' a lot, don''t I?¡±


    ¡°We all have those words, Ms. Wiz,¡± Wakeling said.


    ¡°Ahem,¡± Ichabod said.


    Wakeling looked up at him, eyes peering over the report.


    ¡°Can we get back to the matter at hand, please?¡± Ichabod said, ¡°I might ask what you''re reading.¡±


    ¡°You might,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Will you?¡±


    The cybernetic man rolled his eyes. Captain Ramsey took out a cigarette and began to light it.


    ¡°Ah ah!¡± Wakeling said, ¡°No smoking in here, Captain. Guildmaster''s house, guildmaster''s rules.¡±


    Ramsey froze mid-light, then nodded and put the cigarette back into its carton.


    ¡°And there''s not more to the story then, Ichabod?¡± he asked.


    ¡°That''s it,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°A man in combat armor sniped our lead from a distance, grew giant wings, and flew away. It''s like a goddamn fairy tale.¡±


    ¡°Pretty fuckin'' metal one, too,¡± G-Wiz commented.


    ¡°And you didn''t get any distinguishing features off of him,¡± Ramsey said.


    ¡°Not a one,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°His armor was pretty standard, nothing too distinct about it. His entire head was covered by his helmet.¡±


    ¡°Couldn''t even see his face,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Whoever he was, he had only one job to do.¡±


    ¡°...And he did it well,¡± Ramsey finished.


    The four of them went silent. Outside, there was a loud bang as the engine that Mallory had miraculously managed to bring back to life after being drenched in the rain exploded. Only Ramsey jumped at that.


    ¡°Like Shadow...¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°It''s a saying, maybe,¡± Ramsey supposed, ¡°Certain goblin tribes have last words that they say on their deathbeds, in hopes that they will act as keys to certain parts of the afterlife.¡±


    ¡°Weird shit,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Maybe.¡±


    ¡°He was part of a guild,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Wakeling, have you ever heard of a guild known as Like Shadow?¡±


    Wakeling considered, chewing the inside of her mouth in thought.


    ¡°Once or twice, maybe,¡± she said, ¡°Ohh... Give me a moment, dearies.¡±


    With a soft scent of magic, she alighted, levitating into the air like a body-less marionette, floating over to one of the many shelves that lined the room. Her eyes flashing silver, she began removing books and scrolls, opening them and closing them in her search.


    ¡°Usually this would be easy to find,¡± she said, ¡°I''ve got most of our reports memorized, after all. Pretty simple, when half your mind''s elsewhere.¡±


    ¡°Elsewhere...?¡± Ramsey said.


    ¡°But this one''s proving elusive,¡± Wakeling muttered, ¡°Ah, here we are. Ichabod, be a dear and help an old lady take this one down.¡±


    Ichabod complied, walking over and grabbing the book. It was an ancient thing, an old tome that was easily the size of his chest. Wincing, the cybernetic man teetered with it over to the desk, slamming it down a grunt.


    ¡°You need to exercise more,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°You need to fuck off,¡± Ichabod growled.


    ¡°Enough, you two,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°We''ve a client.¡±


    Ramsey approached the desk, narrowing his eyes as the tome opened on its own. Inside were writings written in a feverish script, words scrabbled on page to page. He looked down at them.


    ¡°This is all gibberish,¡± he said.


    ¡°It''s the Big Book of Nonsense,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Technically a spellbook, more of a curiosity. What matters is I''ve seen Like Shadow in here before.¡±


    ¡°In... the Big Book of Nonsense,¡± Ramsey said.


    ¡°Precisely, Captain,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°We''re getting a bit into the weeds on this, but words have power. They carry weight. But what you might not know is that words can be given power, too. And Like Shadow has an interesting enchantment on it, if I recall right...¡±


    She stared at the book for a moment, eyes glowing.


    ¡°Ah, there we go. Ichabod, turn to page five hundred and three.¡±


    Ichabod turned the pages, one after the other. Ramsey grimaced at the sight of so many words, so many his head was starting to spin...


    ¡°And people wonder why I prefer comic books,¡± G-Wiz said.


    Ichabod stabbed a finger at the page.


    ¡°There it is,¡± he said, ¡°It''s... squiggly. Odd.¡±


    ¡°It''s been given a powerful enchantment,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°One moment, please, I''m weaving some spells together...¡±


    A report appeared out of thin air beside her. Wakeling chuckled as the words Like Shadow began to peel off of the Big Book of Nonsense, floating in the air for a moment, before traveling and inking themselves onto the report. Wakeling presented it to Ramsey. The Captain of the Guard took it.


    ¡°''Report by Tychius Brandicus,''¡± he read, ¡°''Of the Amber Foundation.''¡±


    ¡°Bless his soul,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°This was written about forty-five years ago.¡±


    ¡°''Concerning the event that took place on Elyandrica, the World of Feathers, wherein I faced a member of guild Like Shadow in combat defending King Vergnar''s daughter...''¡±


    ¡°Odd,¡± Ichabod said, drawing close and reading over the Captain''s shoulder, ¡°Like Shadow slipped off of the report, didn''t it?¡±


    ¡°That''s the spell,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°It''s designed to hide, and doesn¡¯t like being found. I''ve seen it a couple of times, when I''ve read the Big Book of Nonsense.¡±


    ¡°Why''d you want to read that?¡± G-Wiz asked.


    ¡°Why do you read comic books?¡± Wakeling replied.


    ¡°...Fair.¡±


    ¡°So Like Shadow''s a guild,¡± Ramsey said, ¡°Which means this isn''t over.¡±


    ¡°Well, you can assure the Doge, his assassin''s dead,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Saw it ourselves.¡±


    ¡°But if he was from a guild, then he was just a tool,¡± Ramsey said, ¡°Ah, no offense.¡±


    ¡°Fully taken, but ignored,¡± Wakeling chuckled, ¡°But yes, that''s correct. They were hired, which means your would-be murderer was no true revolutionary. Whoever ordered the hit is still out there.¡±


    ¡°Which means we''re still nowhere near the end of this,¡± Ramsey said.


    ¡°You''re not seriously expecting us-¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°I want to know who ordered the hit,¡± Ramsey said, ¡°The House who made contact with the multiverse. The very member, if possible.¡±


    ¡°That''s...¡± Ichabod sighed, sitting down and rubbing his temples, ¡°That''s going to be quite a journey.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Ramsey said, ¡°I''m asking a lot-¡±


    ¡°You are,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°But not...¡± Ichabod started. He grimaced, then finished, ¡°Not impossible.¡±


    The group looked at him. Wakeling had a proud smirk on her face.


    ¡°If Like Shadow is a guild,¡± he said, ¡°Then they have reports that they submit to the High Federation. They have a guildhall. They''re a business, much like we are.¡±


    ¡°Only... they kill people,¡± Ramsey said.


    ¡°They''re assassins,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Something that people will always be in need of. You want to control illegal activity? Regulate it. Make it official. Introduce rules that people follow. Permit its existence. It''s simple, really.¡±


    ¡°And since they''re a guild...¡±


    ¡°Then they have guild records,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Technically open to the public, if you know the Library Worlds they''re stored on.¡±


    With that, he gave a knowing look to Wakeling. The guildmaster nodded.


    ¡°Aye,¡± she said, ¡°I''ll call in a few favors. Get the location. Give me a couple of days, and we''ll get the Library World.¡±


    Ichabod nodded, glancing over to Ramsey.


    ¡°You''ll be alright with that?¡±


    ¡°No choice,¡± Ramsey said, ¡°I''ll leave you to your work.¡±


    ***


    Ichabod and G-Wiz didn''t see each other very much in the following days. Ichabod retreated to his quarters, working on his own projects and stewing as he always did. G-Wiz herself was considered ''on a job,'' and therefore exempt from the regular duties of looking after the guildhall like everyone else, and thus found she had very little to do. As such, she tailed after Heyma, the Dullahan carrying out her usual work of feeding Becenti''s goats and tending to the gardens out back. Heyma''s job here was the near-daily upkeep on the great hedge bushes that formed the maze behind Castle Belenus, taking a pair of shears and dutifully working on pruning them and making them as perfect as could be.


    ¡°I don''t get why you do this one all the time,¡± G-Wiz said one day.


    ¡°I dunno,¡± Heyma said, ¡°It''s relaxing. It reminds me of helping my mom back home with her chiseling.¡±


    She snapped at an errant branch, which tumbled to the ground. G-Wiz walked over and put it into a bag.


    ¡°Still, this is shit,¡± the Electron said, ¡°I mean, you do this every day.¡±


    ¡°True, I do,¡± Heyma said, ¡°But no one else likes doing it, right? I mean, before I realized I liked this chore more than any of the others, apparently Becenti made everyone draw straws.¡±


    ¡°I guess,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°Can you take a look at the flower patch over this next bend?¡± Heyma asked, ¡°Rosemary usually does it, but she''s been spending more and more time with the Lady Sunala, she hasn''t had time to really tend to them.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, for sure,¡± G-Wiz said. She approached the small square of flowers, kneeling down to take a look at each one, ¡°What am I looking for, now?¡±


    ¡°Just gotta make sure they''re not wilting, or anything,¡± Heyma said as she tended to the hedge walls around them, ¡°Rosemary would go into more detail, of course, but she becomes a motormouth when she starts talking about them.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Well, most of ''em look alright. Don''t see any of them wilting except for that blue one-¡±


    ¡°Oh!¡± Heyma said, ¡°That''s a Weeping Luna. It''s supposed to be wilting like that, means it''s healthy.¡±


    ¡°What about this one?¡± G-Wiz said, pointing at another blue flower, ¡°That''s a Weeping Luna, right?¡±


    ¡°No, that''s a Sober Moon,¡± Heyma said, ¡°Rosemary told me about them. It''s supposed to be flowering like that.¡±


    ¡°...Heyma,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°They look the fucking same.¡±


    ¡°I said that, too!¡± Heyma said. She walked over, kneeling down beside G-Wiz. G-Wiz felt a warm, tingly chill run up her spine as the Dullahan rested a hand on her shoulder, ¡°It''s the leaves. This one is shovel-shaped, this one is shaped like a boat.¡±


    ¡°...They''re the same shape.¡±


    ¡°All the same, Rosemary laughed at me when I questioned her,¡± Heyma said.


    ¡°Heyma?¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°Yeah?¡±


    ¡°Fuck Rosemary.¡±


    ***


    Ichabod emerged from the room that was his lair only upon receiving from the location of the Library World from Wakeling. She had given it to him mentally, a message projected into his mind in the early hours of the morning. It was both a blessing and a curse -a blessing, because it meant he didn''t need to walk all the way up to her office. A curse, because she intentionally did it when he was only half-awake and groggy, her voice practically a scream in her head.


    The guildmaster truly had a way with getting under his skin, that was for sure.


    He showered, a dry grimace painted on his face as he walked out and down to the Great Hall. G-Wiz was already packed, bag and Zumbelaphone strung over her shoulder, her hair done up in neon green spikes, a brown jacket over her Jem and the Holograms t-shirt.


    ¡°Jem?¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Oh god, please don''t tell me...¡±


    ¡°Nole showed it to me a while back,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Changed my life, man.¡±


    ¡°It''s awful, maaan,¡± Ichabod drawled, ¡°But whatever. Let''s go.¡±


    ¡°Right on,¡± G-Wiz said. The two of them started to walk to the back, ¡°So, we taking the Titania Amber?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Becenti took it for a job with Joseph out to Prime a few days ago.¡±


    G-Wiz blinked.


    ¡°Then... how are we getting off of Everlasting Truth, then?¡± she asked.


    Ichabod sneered.


    ¡°We''re taking a taxi,¡± he said.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    ***


    It wasn''t exactly a taxi, per say. More of a bus, or one of the Tempolines back home on Doremi. No, what Ichabod ordered was basically public transport between worlds. It made sense, G-Wiz realized, that they would have something like this. But the public transport shipyard was tucked away on some Muse-forsaken part of the planet. They spent the first few hours on Everlasting Truth taking a shuttle from city to city, contending with the internal infrastructure of the High Federation''s capital. Shoulder-to-shoulder with aliens and androids from run-down gas-guzzler to run-down gas-guzzler.


    And they literally ran on gas, Ichabod said, pulling energy directly from Everlasting Truth''s atmosphere as a fuel source. They were so old, he said, that you literally had to apply a sparker to the engine to power it on.


    G-Wiz pretended to know what a sparker was, reacting appropriately as she said, ¡°No way, that''s crazy.¡±


    Finally, they came to their destination. It was a mere outcropping of metal, a junkpile strapped to a thruster and engines to keep it aloft in the planet¡¯s endless sky. A few other people were already waiting, tickets in hand. A small bench was situated in the island''s middle, though that was taken up by a family of squabbling Direllians. So Ichabod and G-Wiz stood.


    Waiting.


    For another hour.


    ¡°It''s late,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°It''s public transit,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Of course it''s late.¡±


    Then, finally, their ride came. A dark blot on the orange sky, it drew closer and closer, revealing itself to be a bulbous mass of dark steel, neon gas billowing out of random points on its hull, its thrusters burning an unhealthy blood red that made G-Wiz''s eyes burn just by looking at it. The paint on its side had eroded long ago, instead framing its title of ''FEDERATION TRANSPORT 42060'' in lines of white. Someone had sprayed graffiti on it, adding a tail to that last zero and making it a nine. Others had painted crude stick figures and curse words in a hundred languages on its hull. The entire thing lurched as its ramp magnetized to the island.


    ¡°Brand spankin'' new, isn''t it,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°Quite,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Well, let''s go.¡±


    There was no one to take Ichabod''s tickets, only an automated machine that scanned and accepted anything. The two of them watched as the father of the Direllian family pulled out a blank slate out of his pouch, presenting it to the scanner, which blipped a cheery green with no complaint and let them in.


    ¡°Damn,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Wish I''d have done that.¡±


    They sat down in their cramped seats, squinting in the dim half-light of the ship''s interiors. There weren''t even windows as the ship lurched and took off, only gunmetal walls mossed over with grime.


    The entire ship shuddered for a moment, threatening to practically break apart as it began the arduous process of lumbering out of Everlasting Truth''s atmosphere. Ichabod took out a small book. G-Wiz pulled out a magazine.


    It was going to be a long journey.


    ***


    They arrived on their first layover on Cadmium Primus. Then took another ship to Zalatan. Then another to Quentius. Getting closer and closer to their destination, towards the Iris of the Silver Eye, a region with thousands of Administrative Worlds dotted throughout. This included Library Worlds, entire planets hollowed out for the sole purpose of storing information. Entire cultures, chronicled on a single planet.


    And with millions of cultures across the galaxy and beyond...


    ¡°Like finding a single snowflake in a blizzard,¡± Ichabod muttered. He was surprised that Wakeling''s favor was so accurate.


    But they were here, now, having gone from various giant transports to a sleek, three-person skimmer that only had enough fuel in its warp engines for one jump. Gilded Cage appeared on the ship''s sensors.


    Once upon a time, it had been a mining world, cracked open and dissected like an oyster''s shell. What resources had been pulled from within had been exported long ago to other parts of the galaxy, leaving it a barren shell.


    That is, until it was selected to be a Library World. Even from orbit, one could see the azure blue auras of millions upon millions of data centers festooning the surface. Ancient ships plied the skies overhead. Not ancient like the transit system, but ancient in a timeless way, like the cascading of a waterfall, or the waves on the shore. They were orbular, floating sentinels that their taxi affixed itself to for refueling, with the barest hint of thrusters for movement.


    A lost technology, from the Second Age of Introspection. The knowledge of how to make these beings move had been lost to time and war. Only these ships, now. Automated by AI, ruins that sang through the sky.


    The ship descended down into one of the deeper ravines. Guildfolk walked on bridges and walkways cut along the ravine''s sides, talking with High Federation attendants and librarians, and while the guildfolk were the usual lot ¨C scrappy, with pieces of scrabbled-together technologies and histories ¨C the Federation officials here were wearing all white. Many of them had never left Gilded Cage. Entire families, raised for the sole purpose of sorting books.


    G-Wiz found that disheartening.


    The ship magnetized halfway down. G-Wiz and Ichabod stepped out, the latter sniffing the air and pulling a face. It was dusty, here. Far too dusty for his liking.


    One of the librarians made his way over. He was a Gul, long-faced with a beak, one three-fingered hand waving them down.


    ¡°Greetings, sir and ma''am,¡± he said, ¡°What guild?¡±


    ¡°Amber Foundation,¡± Ichabod said.


    The librarian nodded, ¡°I see, I see. No Amber Foundation records, here.¡±


    ¡°Because we aren''t looking for that,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°We''re here to look at the official records for a guild known as Like Shadow.¡±


    The Gul nodded. G-Wiz watched as his third eye slid upwards, milking it blue, ¡°Ah, yes. Like Shadow. Guild of assassins. Guildmaster is Orem Nom. This way, please.¡±


    He began guiding G-Wiz and Ichabod, walking briskly past the rows upon rows of shelves, each one glowing azure from the hundreds of datarods within.


    ¡°That easy, huh?¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°The difficulty is navigating the system,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°That''s why it took us a few days. No doubt Wakeling called in a few favors to get everything together.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°And... Gilded Cage?¡±


    ¡°Is a Library World for guilds,¡± Ichabod said. Almost as if on cue, they passed by an outlander, a cyclops with four arms, the insignia of the guild Ariadne''s on his starplate armor.


    ¡°How many of those do you reckon there are?¡± G-Wiz asked.


    ¡°Oh, hundreds,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Thousands, maybe. But Like Shadow''s records are here. We''ll find our shapeshifter yet.¡±


    At that, G-Wiz went quiet. The librarian took them a few ramps to the lower floors. The light of the sun above dimmed a bit here, and most of the place was lit by the datarods like bioluminescent moss.


    ¡°Had a name,¡± G-Wiz muttered.


    ¡°Sorry?¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°I said the shapeshifter had a name,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°So do I. So do you. You have two, actually,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°That doesn''t-¡± G-Wiz sighed, ¡°I just... it sucks, is all. That he was done in like that.¡±


    ¡°True,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°He said he was...¡± G-Wiz looked at the librarian''s back. He was humming to himself quietly, apparently ignoring their conversation.


    But how much of that was a ruse?


    ¡°He was unique,¡± Ichabod said, giving a nod, ¡°Like us. Guildfolk.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± G-Wiz said.


    More silence. The librarian looked at them.


    ¡°If I recall right, there should just be another few bends. Thank you for being patient.¡±


    ¡°You''ve memorized all of this?¡± G-Wiz said, gesturing, ¡°There''s... thousands of books here.¡±


    ¡°Datarods, miss,¡± the librarian said, ¡°And yes. Thousands of datarods. And I''ve memorized the locations of almost all of them on this continent. At night, I study the records and infrastructure, like my father before me.¡±


    ¡°And that''s...¡± G-Wiz stammered for a moment, ¡°That''s all you do?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± the Gul tilted his head, ¡°What else would I do?¡±


    ¡°He''s got a point,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°Whatever,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Lead on, my guy.¡±


    He went deeper still. By now, they were so deep into the canyon that the only light was blue. G-Wiz could see Ichabod''s eyes flash for a moment against the black of his shades, turning on his low-light vision. Those eyes rested on her. Stayed there, for a split-second. Then, they returned back to watching the librarian''s back.


    ¡°Something on your mind?¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°I suppose I shouldn¡¯t be surprised that you''re so sympathetic about our friend, the shapeshifter,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°After all, you were friends with Nole.¡±


    G-Wiz looked away. Ichabod sneered.


    ¡°Dear god,¡± he said, ¡°You weren''t friends with Nole because you felt bad for him?¡±


    ¡°Shut up,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°I was in a bad spot. And he was chill. And...¡±


    She sighed.


    ¡°You know how he was,¡± she continued, ¡°I just couldn''t leave him out to dry, right?¡±


    ¡°No, of course not,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°You''re to be commended, dealing with the second worst person in the guild.¡±


    G-Wiz smirked.


    ¡°And who''s the first?¡±


    ¡°Contort.¡±


    The Electron snorted, a sudden laugh that echoed through the blue dusk. The librarian visibly started at that.


    ¡°Quiet down, please,¡± he said, ¡°You''re disturbing the datarods.¡±


    He cast a frightful glance at them. G-Wiz blinked.


    ¡°R-right,¡± she said, ¡°Sorry, or whatever.¡±


    Ichabod had that annoying smile, like he had just watched a puppy get hit by a car. Once the librarian had turned back around, G-Wiz flipped him off.


    ***


    ¡°Here we are!¡± the librarian said, ¡°The records of Like Shadow. They take up a good chunk of this wing.¡±


    ¡°This whole wing?¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°An old guild, yes,¡± the librarian said, ¡°Very old, by the looks of it. Guilds with wings like these are hundreds of years old. Hundreds and hundreds.¡±


    ¡°So we''ve got hundreds of years to go through?¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°That''s bullshit-¡±


    ¡°It will do,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Mr. Librarian, could you direct us to the most recent pieces?¡±


    ¡°Oh, hmm,¡± the librarian stumbled at that, ¡°Oh, dear. I''m afraid we don''t... have any recent releases for this section.¡±


    Ichabod''s frown deepened.


    ¡°It''s alphabetical, isn''t it?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± the librarian said, ¡°Alphabetical in several languages, with a schema that places High Speech first, then Trentian, Prime English...¡±


    ¡°I understand a smattering of Trentian,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Prime English, who doesn''t? But...¡±


    He took a datarod down from one of the shelves, inserting it into a port on his arm. The rod began reading out above it, holographic letters forming into sentences that sparked to life and read out the rod''s contents.


    ¡°I don''t understand any of this,¡± he said, ¡°And no translators?¡±


    ¡°I will arrange for a translation probe to come down here,¡± the librarian said, ¡°I myself know only half the languages in this particular center.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    He turned to G-Wiz.


    ¡°Well? Let''s get reading.¡±


    ***


    G-Wiz was shit at reading, so Ichabod took point. He began removing datarods, scanning them, first by jabbing them into his arm, then moving over to one of the tables nearby and setting them up, side-by-side, to read at once. G-Wiz helped with collecting them, pulling them from their places and setting them as a pile next to her guildmate. Her expression soured as she saw him move at a quickening pace, skimming through each datarod before setting it aside, each time faster than the next.


    ¡°You''re not going to read deeply into it?¡± she said.


    ¡°Don''t need to,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Most of these are simple wetworks, nothing like what Joseph described. Besides, I''m not looking for a report.¡±


    He scowled at one of the datarods.


    ¡°This one''s in High Speech. I wish Becenti were here ¨C he''s practically fluent.¡±


    He set it in a small pile, one to denote the ones he couldn''t translate on the fly.


    ¡°So what are you looking for, then?¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°A contract,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°I reason the shapeshifter didn''t have time to really write back to his guildmaster, considering he made a beeline for Dailori right after the gala.¡±


    ¡°He coulda dropped a message on the way, he was in Krenstone,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°True,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°But what''s he going to say? He said it himself. The job wasn''t done yet.¡±


    He continued working, G-Wiz pulling a face as she went back to grab more datarods. The translation probe floated down a few moments later, a ball with multiple ports peppered over its surface. Ichabod took his small pile and started jamming them in, watching as the probe worked.


    ¡°Right,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°That should work. Let''s give it a moment, eh? Did you bring anything for lunch?¡±


    ¡°...Shit,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Thought that was your job.¡±


    ¡°It was,¡± Ichabod said, pulling out a few sandwiches from his bag.


    ¡°Asshole.¡±


    They ate in silence as the translation probe did its work, sitting down against the shelves. G-Wiz stared at it as it spectre''d in the air, a couple beeps the only evidence of it working. She found herself tapping a beat on her knee as she chewed her sandwich in time with the probe''s tone.


    ¡°Sure is takin'' a sec,¡± she said.


    ¡°It''s cataloging thousands of languages,¡± Ichabod replied, ¡°And trying to grab any instances of ¡®Like Shadow¡¯ that might be hiding, due to the enchantment. Give it a moment, old machines work slow.¡±


    ¡°Speaking from experience?¡± G-Wiz said.


    He sneered at her. Took another bite of his sandwich. Stood up from his seat, stepping back over to the table, pulling out a datarod he had not yet read and clicking it in. It began displaying information, reading out a short summary of events in some distant place.


    ¡°This is how they track us, you know,¡± he said.


    ¡°Hmm?¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°The High Federation. This is how they get a general idea of where we are, and what we''re doing. Everything Is chronicled here. All the jobs we''ve run, the people we''ve gained, the people we''ve lost.¡±


    ¡°Everything, huh.¡±


    ¡°Your report to Galapaga, when we lost Charney,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Your first job. Mine, too. Wakeling''s, even, somewhere on one of these Library Worlds.¡±


    He glanced around, a grim smile on his face. One that G-Wiz knew did not reach his eyes.


    ¡°Nole''s death,¡± she said.


    ¡°Aye, that too,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°That''s... It ain''t fair,¡± she said.


    ¡°Oh?¡±


    ¡°Nole... his people, they believed that when you die, you should only live on in the memories of others,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°That''s why we buried him in the middle of nowhere. Why we didn''t leave a marker.¡±


    She tapped the side of her head.


    ¡°We remember him only in here.¡±


    ¡°Ah,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°But we can''t have that, if the report of his death is recorded.¡±


    ¡°Recorded here,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Recorded when we gave testimony in court, too. Fucking sucks ass, doesn''t it?¡±


    ¡°That''s...¡± Ichabod said, ¡°An odd way of putting it. But yes, it does.¡±


    The translation probe dinged. The two of them glanced over at it, their conversation broken. Ichabod strode over and began removing datarods, clicking them into the table. Now translated, they began reading out in Galactic Common. The first few were duds, as he gave a sigh and put them aside.


    Then, he stopped at one of them. Read it out. Read it a second time.


    ¡°The assassination of a noble of Scuttleway,¡± he read.


    ¡°Is that it?¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°It''s a contract,¡± Ichabod continued to read, ¡°The target''s name is blotted out, as is the member of the guild who was taking the job. Odd, but not unusual.¡±


    ¡°Who was the client?¡± G-Wiz asked.


    But Ichabod had frozen. He almost did a double-take. Then, he sighed, removing his sunglasses, laying them on the table. It was the first time in a while that G-Wiz had seen the man without them, and he hid them for good reason. They were clear, like glass marbles had been forcibly jammed into his sockets. Occasionally they would pierce green. Glow blue, or red. But aside from that, they were always clear, adding to his aura...


    Of a ghost, she realized. Something that had died a long time ago, and was only pretending to be alive. He was rubbing his temple, and she realized that the darkness of the shades had been an illusory effect to make him seem darker. More dour. Without them, Ichabod was bone-white, pale as the moon.


    ¡°The client was Oztech,¡± he said.


    ***


    They made their way out of the library, practically running up the stairs, flagging down another one of those orbular ships, clambering in and beelining towards a communications tower. It dominated the landscape, a spire connected to a long-range communication device that read Traveling Points throughout this region of the galaxy. Close enough, fortunately, to Londoa. The spire only worked if the plane was in forecast, meaning they were doubly lucky. Just another few months, and they would have needed to hightail it back to talk to Wakeling.


    Ichabod was grimacing as he paid to get in, draining what little cash remained on his credstick. His hands were shaking, G-Wiz realized, a fact that set her on edge as he made his way to the elevator.


    ¡°The very top,¡± he said, ¡°We need to get to the very, very top of this damn thing if we''ve got any chance of getting to her.¡±


    He paced back and forth as the elevator took them up. The elevator car was clear, as was the chute surrounding it, giving them a bird''s eye view of the land below. Ravines in blue, a light far too harsh for Ichabod, who returned the shades back to their place. His usual frown deepened. Became more real.


    The elevator door opened.


    ¡°G-god dammit,¡± he whispered. G-Wiz heard him let out a quiet...


    A quiet sniffle. His walking was unsteady as he strode, practically ran, almost flopped across the room, a wide open space with alcoves containing communications arrays. He stumbled to one, the datarod clenched in his hand, which would have whitened were it not mechanical. He clicked the coordinates of Londoa, selected its Traveling Point on Everlasting Truth. Waited, as the array did its work.


    ¡°Who''s to say she''ll even pick up?¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°Shut up,¡± Ichabod snarled.


    G-Wiz blinked.


    ¡°A-alright, man,¡± she said.


    A few minutes passed. Ichabod took a moment to try and compose himself, standing up tall and proper, putting on his mask of ice. Which broke, melted back into a grimace as he muttered another ¡°God damn it¡± as he waited for Wakeling to respond.


    After what felt like an eternity, the signal connected to that old, beat-up communicator back at Castle Belenus. They could not see Wakeling''s face, only her crone''s voice, crackled and garbled, as it inked through the array.


    ¡°Ichabod,¡± she said.


    ¡°W-Wakeling,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°W-we... we found the damn contract.¡±


    ¡°Oh, good,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Our good captain will be glad to hear that, won''t he?¡±


    ¡°Vyde,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°The client ran their job through Oztech.¡±


    There was silence on the line.


    ¡°Vyde?¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°Then this changes things,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°I think it''s time we settled this business. I''ll make arrangements to refund Ramsey-¡±


    ¡°Wait,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Oztech''s involved now, G-Wiz,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°I don''t like dealing with Agrippa, even with an investigation like this.¡±


    ¡°But we''re so close,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Seriously, we''ve been going all over creation to get this information, Wakeling. This is it, I know it-¡±


    ¡°No, G-Wiz,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Marcus Agrippa was a monster who played both sides during the war, a man who silenced anyone who looked at him the wrong way. Julius Agrippa, if rumor is to be believed, is even worse.¡±


    ¡°...Like father, like son,¡± Ichabod murmured.


    He pondered the datarod as he stood up tall once more, the aura of ice returning to him. His voice was clear as he spoke.


    ¡°We can do it.¡±


    ¡°I''m sorry?¡± Wakeling said.


    ¡°I said, we can do it,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°I know Oztech. It''s home territory.¡±


    ¡°Ichabod, we both know-¡±


    ¡°Becenti dealt with Oztech,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°So have I.¡±


    ¡°Myron dealt with Agrippa with a ten-foot pole,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Not a... what would you even do?¡±


    ¡°Gather a team,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Slice into their data network. A heist. I can take Becenti. A few others, too. The best of us at this sort of thing.¡±


    ¡°Becenti''s on a mission right now,¡± Wakeling said.


    ¡°...That''s fine,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°I''d still want him. I can wait.¡±


    ¡°I still haven''t said yes,¡± Wakeling said.


    ¡°Vyde, please,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°If we do this, I can get you our man. See who the hell ordered the hit on the Doge, or whoever was targeted at the gala. Because whoever did this won''t stop. They''ll keep hiring people. Still keep using Oztech as the go-between.¡±


    ¡°And you''re not doing this as some sort of... crusade?¡± Wakeling said.


    The words hung in the air. G-Wiz felt like a bystander of an impending accident, in the moments when one realizes that two trains are about to collide. Ichabod took a deep breath. Then another. Cleared his thoughts. Prepared his speech.


    ¡°All this time,¡± he said, ¡°I''ve worked for you. Never complained, always was the consummate professional. I''ve asked for little in return. Save for this job, of course.¡±


    ¡°And...¡± Wakeling said.


    ¡°If I do this, I owe you a favor. A debt. To you. To the guild. I need to do this job, Vyde. That''s all there is to it. You know what they did to me.¡±


    Their guildmaster was quiet for a long time. Ichabod''s jaw was set, his hands gripping the sides of the communication array.


    ¡°Alright,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°But there... there would be terms.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°Myron leads the mission,¡± she said, ¡°Not you.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    ¡°If he sniffs out that something''s wrong, he pulls you all out.¡±


    ¡°Naturally,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°I-We, would be careful.¡±


    ¡°And I decide who goes,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°None of this ''first pick'' bull that Urash pulled.¡±


    ¡°Deal,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°Now, get back here,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°I want you back home. I need time to think. To plan. I need... I need a damn drink.¡±


    She cut off communication then, the array powering down, darkening as Ichabod stepped back, hanging his head. The look on his face was almost one of relief.


    Almost.


    ¡°So you''re not moving out until Becenti gets back,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°He''s off-plane.¡±


    ¡°That''s good,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°It gives me time to think, and plan, and see what Agrippa''s been doing since I left Neos.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure about all of this?¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Wakeling really didn''t want to agree to this.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°I''ve made quite the deal with the devil, saying I owe her. But this is the sort of job I''ve been wanting for a long time. I''m doing something I''ve been... planning, shall we say, for a while now.


    ¡°I''m going home.¡±

 50. Second of the Round

    Just before Ichabod and G-Wiz left for Gilded Cage, Joseph and Becenti went on a mission. They stole away in the dead of night, taking the Titania Amber and flying south, curving over the edge of Londoa and planeshifting through a Traveling Point that rippled in the Telltale Mountains.


    For Becenti had a job to do. Another one of the prisons to visit. A traveling one, mentioned by Pagan Chorus. He had only received the details of the job that very night, from a coded message from Rhunea.


    But he had left at once.


    Now, days later, they emerged onto a plane Joseph had been yearning to go to for a long time.


    Prime.


    For the job.


    Unbeknownst to him, for a convergence.


    ***


    His civilian name was Antoine Martin. French-American, his father had emigrated to the United States after the war. His homeland had been devastated during those dark years, during the Manticore''s European Scourges, and thus while America was a scarred land, it still represented better opportunities than the hollowed-out Third French Empire.


    It was also home to Silver Arthur, leader of the Silver Knights, First of the Round. A beacon to young Antoine. An icon. More than just a superhero, he had been a symbol for all to rally around. A reminder that, though the days were bleak and long, that there was a future past the sword.


    ¡®Past the sword.¡¯ Antoine had remembered the speech that Arthur had given. He had been just a boy then, not seven years old. But he had experienced far more darkness than a child his age should have, hadn''t he? Paris in flames. His mother''s arms sticking out from the ruins of their collapsed apartment. The sirens screaming in his ears.


    Oh God, the sirens. Antoine still flinched at the sound of them.


    Yet Arthur''s speech had stuck with him. He found a recording of it when he was older, and he recorded it onto his phone and listened to it. On his off days. When he was down. After his father''s funeral. After the rejection letters. The lost opportunities. When he had joined the military, long after the war''s end, when all that was left were memories.


    The recording pounding into his head like a song when he first beheld Durandal, the Blade of Roland. Glittering through the rust, which he wiped away as though it were mere grime, deep in the ruins of Rocamadour. It had been implanted in a cliff wall in the old commune, revealed only now by the Manticore''s scourges, and the first return to life in the region in years.


    It was, holding Durandal, that answer to Arthur''s Excalibur, that Antoine Martin swore an oath. The days were still bleak and long, and the future past the sword would not come until the sword itself had carved the path.


    He would be a superhero.


    Thus, his other name was Oliphant, after Sir Roland''s horn. And despite the bleak days, despite the darkness in his heart, despite the desperation of the world, he was the leader of the Silver Knights, Second of the Round. A beacon, dim as it was.


    He wore the responsibility with a dour heart.


    ***


    The Round Table was a space station. A bone-white needle that pointed directly at Prime below, always in geosynchronous orbit with Horizon City. It was an experimental piece, part of it Fedtek, part of it Prime technology, part of it machinery from the Milky Way, a space unknown to even the High Federation save for a few outposts here or there. As such, the interior of the space station was a hodge-podge mess of mismatched walls, marked with monitors from all ages, and red and green wires that crossed with organic data-veins.


    To Oliphant, it was home, as the blinking alarm woke him up at 05:00 hours. He rose from his bed, blinking back bleariness, felt a few old cramps here and there. His quarters were some of the best in the house, with a view of Prime far below. North America was beginning to wake up, the smoldering remains of the East Coast casting into view of the sun, though everything west of Horizon City was still blanketed in darkness.


    The alarm again. A calm sound, a few light clicks that nonetheless woke him up. He had always been a light sleeper. Oliphant switched the alarm off, pausing as he looked at it again. For a moment, his dour mood returned to him, that empty feeling that made him want to curl up and call it a day, even this early.


    Then, with a sigh, with more effort than usual, he pulled himself out of bed and walked to the shower.


    He did his routine as though he were an automaton. Had to. To even think of it made him question its purpose. Turn the water on. Step inside. Wash self. Step out. Brush teeth. Comb hair. Put on armor, a set of chainmail and plate that was magically enchanted to tank anti-materiel rounds. Swallow the self in the blue cloak of Charlemagne, said to be from the old Frankish king himself. Oliphant always made sure to wear it with pride, and repair it after each mission.


    The last part. The sword. Durandal was at his bedside, and though he treated the armor as though it were trash, tossing it aside after each mission and picking it back up to put on in the morning, he always treated the blade gently. He walked over to its case, opening the glass cover and removing the sword. He drew it, considering it in the light of the sun that was beginning to blare through the window, far more intense than on Prime and casting him in a silhouette. One swing. Then another. A daily exercise that pushed away darker thoughts. He would do a more intensive routine later, when he had finished the initial scans.


    Sheathing Durandal, Oliphant made his way out of his quarters. Down the hallways and up the stairs, to the observation platform. It was at the very top of the Round Table, an open-air room with clear walls that showed the breadth of space all around them. A ring of computers dominated the platform''s center, scanning the world below for potential threats using police scanners, Fedtek bioreceivers, and good old fashioned hacked cameras. Oliphant pretended to ignore that last bit, which was a personal project of Datalode. He also ignored Ever-True as she napped by one of the consoles.


    ¡°Oh, morning, Oli.¡±


    The voice came from the console besides Ever-True''s. Seismic rose up to his full height, an impressive five feet, a coffee from Friendbucks in his hand. He was in his usual red and orange getup, goggles covering his eyes, and a smarmy sort of smile on his face.


    ¡°Morning, Mick,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°Just starting your shift?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, just got in a few minutes ago,¡± Seismic said, ¡°Forgot to get you coffee, sorry ''bout that.¡±


    ¡°I don''t drink the stuff,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°Besides, I think our Sleeping Beauty could use it more.¡±


    He nodded at Ever-True, who was starting to drool on the keyboard. Seismic grimaced.


    ¡°Her brother''s power is he never sleeps, and all she does is nap,¡± he said, ¡°You''d think she''d take after him, but...¡±


    ¡°Ignore it,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°Any reports yet?¡±


    ¡°Nothing too substantial,¡± Seismic said, ¡°A couple outlanders came from the Traveling Point at New Vegas, but they were guildfolk. Amber Foundation, I think.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± he said, ¡°Last thing we needed today. What''s Acero''s report in Greenland?¡±


    ¡°She located Spiritman''s base last night,¡± Seismic said, ¡°Last I heard, she had engaged him.¡±


    ¡°Pyroknack''s team in Gran Colombia?¡±


    ¡°Still searching for that running god,¡± Seismic said, ¡°He checked in a couple hours ago, if Xuduo''s shift report reads right.¡±


    Oliphant gave a grunt of thanks, walking over to Ever-True.


    ¡°Wake up,¡± he said.


    Ever-True groaned.


    ¡°Ever-True, you''re on duty,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°Come on, get up.¡±


    He prodded her shoulder. Ever-True stirred.


    ¡°W-wha...?¡± she said. Then her eyes fluttered open and slid over to Oliphant''s face. Ever-True went red as she practically flung herself to her feet, giving him a mock salute.


    ¡°E-Ever-True, reporting for duty, sir!¡± she said.


    ¡°Knock it off with the ''sirs'' and all that,¡± Oliphant said.


    ¡°Y-yes. Right,¡± Ever-True wilted a bit, ¡°Sorry. Was just resting my eyes. It won''t happen again.¡±


    ¡°I know you mentioned pulling a double shift today,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°You''re fine. I can get Mick to get you some coffee.¡±


    ¡°Wait, why me?¡± Seismic said.


    ¡°That won''t be necessary, sir-Oliphant,¡± Ever-True said, ¡°I''m ready.¡±


    Her jaw was clenched up, Oliphant noticed.


    ¡°You''re not Ever-Vigilant,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°So quit trying to be.¡±


    The wrong thing to say. Internally, Oliphant winced as he saw something falter in Ever-True''s eyes.


    ¡°He means don''t think you can stay up, just because your big bro can,¡± Seismic said, ¡°Nothing crazy, Eve.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Ever-True said, ¡°Well, I''ll... get to work.¡±


    ¡°Get to scanning the Oceania region,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°Maui was spotted a few days ago off the coast of New Zealand, I want to make sure he''s not getting into trouble.¡±


    ¡°On it,¡± Ever-True said.


    The two of them stood awkwardly for a second. Then, Ever-True walked off and got to work. Seismic gave Oliphant a lopsided grin.


    ¡°Smooth, boss,¡± he said.


    ¡°Can it,¡± Olipphant growled. God, he hated working with the younger heroes.


    ***


    It was a quiet morning, at least. They took to scanning Oceania, detecting Maui''s presence in the middle of the Pacific. But he wasn''t causing trouble ¨C and besides, he had been more helpful than hindering in the last few months, so Oliphant let him be. Acero reported in on the third hour via viewscreen, just after 08:00. The base behind her was nothing but smithereens and smoldering ruin, but her voice was calm as always as she spoke.


    ¡°Spiritman is out of commission,¡± she said, ¡°He went through the Traveling Point up here, probably somewhere in the Outer Phantoms.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°That could lead anywhere. Is everything good?¡±


    ¡°Aside from a destroyed base and a couple of spooked reindeer, we''re fine,¡± Acero said, ¡°You might want to hire a guild to take care of Spiritman. We''re short-handed as is.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°Our villain, our responsibility.¡±


    ¡°...Right,¡± Acero said. They had both heard, far away in the multiverse, how the Brothers Corpo had slipped from Prime and been captured on a distant backwater.


    That wouldn''t happen again.


    ¡°Guess I''ll be shifting over, then,¡± Acero said, ¡°But that does mean I won''t be with you for that meeting with the President of the US. I might be out for a few days.¡±


    ¡°That''s alright,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°I''ll manage. Good luck, Acero.¡±


    ¡°And you, ''Toine.¡±


    She disconnected. Oliphant blinked for a few moments, absorbing the information, then went back to scanning Gran Colombia. Seismic yawned, stretched, took a sip of his coffee. The engines hummed below them, a calm ambiance that made Oliphant relax for the first time in a few weeks. It had been a busy month. Ever-True was staring at her screen, her face glassed over and distant. Seismic took notice of this, leaning back from his chair and looking at her.


    ¡°You good, Eve?¡± he said.


    ¡°W-what?¡± Ever-True blinked, taken out of her stupor, ¡°Yeah. I''m fine.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Oliphant said, ¡°I have noticed you seem more... exhausted, lately.¡±


    ¡°It''s nothing,¡± Ever-True said.


    A few more minutes passed. A few more scans. A storm was developing over the Soviet Union. Probably nothing, but Oliphant made sure to take at least a cursory look at it, just to be safe.


    Yeah, nothing. He breathed a sigh of relief.


    ¡°Hey, Oliphant?¡± Ever-True said.


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    ¡°What do you... what do you know of dreams?¡±


    ¡°Dreams,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°What kind of dreams?¡±


    ¡°When you''re asleep,¡± Ever-True said.


    ¡°What''s prompting this line of questioning?¡± Oliphant asked.


    ¡°Nothing,¡± Ever-True said, ¡°Just... been having a weird one, is all. Recurring.¡±


    ¡°Probably nothing,¡± Seismic said, ¡°Lay off the weed, maybe.¡±


    ¡°I don''t smoke, Mick¡± Ever-True said.


    ¡°Oh.¡±


    ¡°Dreams...¡± Oliphant said. He became lost in thought for a moment, then said, ¡°Dreams are tricky, to be honest. But I wouldn''t discount them. Sometimes they''re just the mind playing tricks on you. Often they''re nothing. But I know they can also be messages.¡±


    ¡°Messages?¡± Ever-True asked.


    ¡°Yes. When I first discovered Durandal, I saw it first in my dreams,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°It was... unsettling, at first. Strange. But I listened to what the dream had to say. I like to think it was fate talking to me. Or the blade. Or something. Sometimes messages take the form of dreams.¡±


    ¡°Mine''s just been... a tunnel,¡± Ever-True said, ¡°A labyrinth in the earth. And someone''s calling.¡±


    ¡°I had a dream last night I was being eaten by a hamburger,¡± Seismic said, ¡°Is there anything to that?¡±


    ¡°Shut up, Mick,¡± Ever-True growled.


    ¡°It could be something,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°Especially if it''s recurring. I''d pay attention to it, at least-¡±


    He stopped as he noted an alert coming from New Vegas. Near the Traveling Point. He zeroed in on it, eyes darting from readout to readout.


    ¡°Mick, Eve, you seeing this?¡±


    ¡°Seeing what?¡± Seismic said, but Ever-True was already back at her monitor.


    ¡°Yeah, I see it,¡± she said, ¡°Along with a lot of police activity on local scanners.¡±


    ¡°Something''s come through,¡± Seismic said.


    ¡°Get me a visual,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°Now!¡±


    There were a few frantic moments of clicking, until Seismic pulled onto the main viewscreen an image taken from a nearby security camera on the New Vegas Strip. People were screaming as a black liquid oozed out of the sky, pouring down onto the ground in a molasses-like waterfall, inking down the street, speeding up to get out of the city.


    ¡°Jesus,¡± Seismic said, ¡°What is that?¡±Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.


    ¡°...It''s a metahuman,¡± Oliphant said.


    ¡°What?¡± Seismic said.


    ¡°It''s Endralus, the Ocean of Oil,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°He''s an outlander, though. Mostly keeps to the less populated planes...¡±


    The camera cut out as Endralus smothered over it.


    ¡°Whatever reason he''s here for, it''s not to gamble,¡± Seismic said, ¡°He''s already heading out of the city.¡±


    ¡°We need to get someone down there,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°Ever-True, is anyone available?¡±


    ¡°Let me see...¡± Ever-True gave a glance at the roster, pulling a face as she said, ¡°I don''t... I''m not seeing anyone, Oliphant.¡±


    Oliphant grimaced, regretting his decision to have Acero planeshift away. He ran a few numbers in his head, trying to piece together what missions each member of the Silver Knights was up to. How far away they were.


    How far away he was, up here in space...


    ¡°Ever-True, you''re with me,¡± he said, ¡°Seismic, you run control from up here. We''re heading to the surface.¡±


    ¡°Wait, boss, you sure about that?¡± Seismic said, ¡°I mean, you''d need to use the Songbird to even get close to-¡±


    ¡°It''s a couple of hours to get Primeside,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°Keep a bead on Endralus, keep us apprised of where he''s going at all times, understand?¡±


    ¡°Right, boss,¡± Seismic said, ¡°Good luck out there.¡±


    ¡°Come on, Eve,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°Let''s get to the hangar.¡±


    ***


    Becenti was, as he called it, ''in uniform.''


    It was a ridiculous outfit, Joseph thought. The older man was wearing what seemed to be a white onesie, red combat armor over his arms, shoulders, knees, and chest. Red streamers snaked down from his elbows, shoulders, and wrists, and he was wearing a mask that more framed his eyes like glasses than actually hid his face.


    ¡°You remind me of Evel Kneval,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°You''re not the first one to tell me that,¡± Becenti replied.


    They were flying high over Prime, having zoomed out of the Traveling Point over Las-


    No, sorry.


    New Vegas. Joseph had been to Earth''s Vegas before. Literally the first summer after moving away from California, he and a couple of friends had road-tripped out to Nevada. One of them ¨C Joseph wasn¡¯t sure who ¨C had managed to forge a couple of their IDs, and they had started going down the Las Vegas Strip checking out the casinos and bars.


    The next few days after that were fuzzy.


    Prime''s New Vegas, on the other hand, was a lot different. Joseph had stared at the viewscreen onboard the Titania Amber, watching the city roll beneath them. Many of the buildings were different ¨C newer, with no sign of an old Vegas anywhere. All of the casinos were different.


    Also, there was a giant metal wall that ringed the inner parts of the city, an artifact from the war, Becenti said. They passed over the city without another word after he had mentioned that. Joseph could see why it was New Vegas, now.


    Now all that was around them was open sky and the Mojave Desert below. Joseph stretched, putting down a magazine he was reading. Glanced at the viewscreen, watched the clouds roil overhead.


    ¡°So,¡± he said, ¡°This is Prime.¡±


    ¡°Good eye, Mr. Zheng,¡± Becenti replied.


    ¡°Your home plane, right?¡±


    ¡°...Yes, Mr. Zheng,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Sorry, just curious, is all,¡± Joseph replied.


    The older man had been quiet and reserved for most of the way here, shifting from plane to plane, Traveling Point to Traveling Point. He had put on the outfit roughly a day ago, and the way he wore it was... familiar. Comfortable yet uncomfortable. There were memories in that suit, and Joseph was wise enough not to pry too deeply.


    ¡°So,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Why are we here?¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°On Prime. Why are we here on Prime?¡±


    ¡°We''re on a job, Mr. Zheng.¡±


    ¡°Naww, I just thought you wanted to show me around,¡± Joseph said, ¡°What kind of job?¡±


    Becenti faltered a bit, a first for him. He was quiet for a few minutes.


    ¡°Look,¡± Joseph said, ¡°If it''s some sort of secret mission that I''m not supposed to know about, or you''ll kill me if I find out, you don''t have to-¡±


    ¡°No, no,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Nothing like that.¡±


    They flew over some ruins. An old ghost town, a carcass in the wastes.


    Many of the buildings, Joseph noted, had plasma burns scarring them.


    ¡°Brings back memories, coming here,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°We... visiting family?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°...None of that here,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Not anymore.¡±


    A somber, dark look crossed over his face for a moment.


    But only a moment.


    ¡°No, what we''re here for is tracking down an old enemy of the Federation. And of mine, if we''re being honest.¡±


    ¡°Ah,¡± Joseph said, ¡°N-neat.¡±


    ¡°You''ve had the dreams, surely,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°...Maybe?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°A tunnel. A labyrinth, deep in the earth. A voice, calling you?¡±


    ¡°I don''t remember my dreams,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°I envy you then,¡± Becenti said, ¡°This one comes to me every so often. Cuts through the usual pills I take. The usual... Well, I aim for dreamless sleep, Mr. Zheng, so I remember these dreams, every time they happen.¡±


    ¡°And what does it mean, exactly?¡±


    Becenti smirked.


    ¡°It is the prison of the Visionary.¡±


    ***


    ¡°The Visionary?¡± Oliphant said, ¡°No, Mick, tell me that''s not true.¡±


    ¡°It''s true, boss,¡± Seismic said, ¡°It matches up with other reports.¡±


    ¡°Other... reports?¡± Ever-True said.


    ¡°Yeah, see, Ever-True''s dream got me thinking. I thought I''d heard of it somewhere before.¡±


    Oliphant grimaced as he clambered into the Songbird''s cockpit. The hangar bay doors opened, the ship powering up and flying out and into the open night between the Round Table and Prime. He could hear the entire ship shudder around him as he gunned it towards the surface.


    ¡°Of all times¡± he muttered, ¡°Right when our hands are tied. And nothing from Pyroknack?¡±


    ¡°He''s not answering his comms,¡± Seismic said, ¡°Think he had the dream?¡±


    ¡°Maybe,¡± Oliphant said.


    The entirety of the Songbird became awash in flame as they entered Prime''s atmosphere. The ship shook as though caught in an earthquake. Oliphant watched Ever-True grit her teeth.


    And then they were back in open air. Ever-True sighed, then glanced at Oliphant.


    ¡°So, metahumans... we have this dream?¡±


    ***


    ¡°Most metahumans, Mr. Zheng,¡± Becenti said, ¡°But not all.¡±


    ¡°Obviously,¡± Joseph said, ¡°This is the first I''m hearing of it.¡±


    ¡°It''s a calling, of a sorts,¡± Becenti said, ¡°A message. A beacon, to metahumans in the surrounding area.¡±


    His smirk became more jaded, more forced.


    ¡°A calling to have the future told, for that is Visionary''s power.¡±


    ***


    ¡°No shit,¡± Ever-True said, ¡°That''s badass.¡±


    ¡°Not so badass, when you consider that the Visionary was one of the Sons of Darwin,¡± Oliphant said.


    ¡°...Slightly less badass,¡± Ever-True said.


    ¡°Endralus is still heading through the Mojave, Oliphant,¡± Seismic said, ¡°Getting faster, too.¡±


    ¡°Any idea on where he''s headed?¡± Oliphant said.


    ¡°Computer''s drawing up a projection now,¡± Seismic said, ¡°I''m not Datalode, boss. I can''t get it to run much faster than this.¡±


    ¡°It''s alright,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°So long as it''s working.¡±


    ¡°So,¡± Ever-True said, ¡°She served the Manticore.¡±


    ***


    ¡°During the war, yes,¡± Becenti said.


    Joseph nodded. He had avoided topics of...


    ''The war.''


    For whenever it was brought up, the older members of the guild winced. Looked away. Changed the subject. So Joseph never pressed for details.


    ¡°She was one of the inner circle of the Sons of Darwin,¡± Becenti said. His eyes became distant, ¡°And so, when the war was over, when we were closing in on her, she trapped herself in... Well, a being. A metahuman, we thought he was. Like myself. Yet so warped by the power of Imagination, by the metagene, that he wasn''t even flesh and bone anymore.¡±


    ***


    ¡°He was earth,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°So the story goes. This was all before my time, you see.¡±


    ¡°Uh-huh,¡± Ever-True said.


    ¡°But he was known as the Earthmute. A living, shifting manifestation of stone and rock. He could manifest in any patch of dirt. Anywhere.¡±


    He gave Ever-True a hard look.


    ¡°Anywhere.¡±


    ***


    ¡°...You''re telling me that this... Earthmute guy, he can planeshift without a Traveling Point?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Becenti said, ¡°And he does. Constantly.¡±


    ¡°So that way the Visionary avoids the Federation,¡± Joseph said, ¡°She''s inside Earthmute, and Earthmute travels all over the multiverse.¡±


    ¡°And the whole time, she calls for our kind,¡± Becenti said, ¡°A traveling fortune teller.¡±


    ***


    The two of them rode in silence. The interior of the Songbird was cold, and Ever-True felt herself shiver a bit. She pulled her knees up, wrapping her arms around them.


    ¡°You brought your javelins, right?¡± Oliphant said.


    ¡°Yeah, of course,¡± Ever-True said.


    ¡°Good,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°Because it''s going to be hairy. Metahumans from all over the multiverse are going to be heading there. Some of them will be benign. Others will be violent.¡±


    ¡°Boss,¡± Seismic said, ¡°I''m getting readings of another ship in your vicinity.¡±


    ¡°What make?¡± Oliphant said.


    ¡°It''s something... ah,¡± Oliphant could imagine Mick biting the inside of his lip, ¡°It looks like it''s from the High Federation. Like a flying box with wings? But it''s got all this... sci-fi shit on it, yeah?¡±


    ¡°The guild,¡± Oliphant said. He clicked on the comms, sending out a hailing frequency to the guildfolk.


    ***


    ¡°This is Oliphant of the Silver Knights, identify yourselves.¡±


    The voice crackled through the communicator on Joseph''s right. Becenti''s head snapped to where the speaker was, his eyes narrowing at the sound of Oliphant''s tired voice. For a moment, the older man hesitated, his hand hovering over the button to open comms.


    ¡°I repeat, this is Oliphant of the Silver Knights of Prime. Identify yourselves, outlanders.¡±


    ¡°Outlanders,¡± Joseph chuckled, ¡°Makes us sound like-¡±


    ¡°I know, Mr. Zheng,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Keep quiet. Let me do the talking.¡±


    Joseph blinked. There was a danger here, he realized, an understanding that they were the...


    Invaders. He remembered the ruins he had seen flying over the Mojave, the twisted, garishly recent landscape of New Vegas. How much of Prime''s interactions with the multiverse been civil? He could see through the onboard scanners the outline of the other ship above them. It was keeping pace with them, a fast, sleek silhouette that could match them if need be, an escalation that he had not seen as much on other planes like Kelstonda or Londoa.


    ¡°I repeat,¡± the voice said again, ¡°This is-¡±


    Becenti clicked in.


    ¡°This is Shimmer,¡± his voice was quiet, and he almost choked the name ''Shimmer'' out, ¡°Shimmer. Myron Becenti.¡±


    Silence on the other line.


    ¡°The old superhero?¡± a woman''s voice crackled through, muted as though she were farther from the microphone.


    ¡°Shimmer,¡± Oliphant said.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Becenti said, ¡°In my old colors and everything. I can give you Silver Knight identification codes, if you want.¡±


    ¡°...No,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°Identify your aircraft and guild.¡±


    ¡°Right, then,¡± Becenti muttered, ¡°We''re aboard the Titania Amber, our guild is the Amber Foundation, on a job on behalf of the Prime Voice of the High Federation.¡±


    ¡°The Federation never cleared this with the Silver Knights,¡± Oliphant said.


    ¡°The Federation doesn''t clear a lot of their decisions with local planes,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°You''ll need to send me identification,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°Your guild ID. The contract. We''ve got enough visitors right now.¡±


    ¡°I can see,¡± Becenti said. He nodded to Joseph, gesturing at the camera. Slinking across the ground, far below in the desert, was a line of black. Joseph squinted as it seemed to catch up with the Titania Amber, keep pace with it, outstrip it, ¡°This might take a moment.¡±


    ***


    There was a few minutes of silence as Becenti sent the files over, as Ever-True watched the smear of ebony on the red cream of the desert, as Oliphant grimaced at the full contract that was sent over, along with his own guild ID. Eve couldn''t read the language of the Silver Eye, which was what the contract was written in, and by the way that Oliphant cursed and rubbed his forehead, he was having trouble with his own translations. But she could see Shimmer''s face on his ID. A Native American man with a pronounced frown on his face, though Ever-True had seen pictures of him smiling before, of him in full regalia, as Shimmer, the Magician of the Red Wind.


    But that had been thirty years ago, hadn''t it? She felt like she was interacting with a museum piece come to life. Certainly the Titania Amber was an antique, as she turned attention from the photo of the old man to the viewscreen. Beat-up, plasma scarred, like an old Star Commando toy had been thrown through a bonfire. She stared at it for a long time.


    After a few more minutes, Oliphant sighed.


    ¡°Right,¡± he said, ¡°So you''re here for the same reason that Endralus is.¡±


    ¡°If you''re talking about Visionary, yes,¡± Shimmer''s voice was calm through the speaker, though Ever-True could tell it was wound up and defensive.


    ¡°And you''re going to apprehend her,¡± Oliphant said.


    ¡°Pull her free from her shell,¡± Shimmer said, ¡°The Federation has been wanting her behind bars for quite a while, if you couldn''t tell.¡±


    ¡°And they''re not sending their own out here,¡± Oliphant said, his voice dripping with accusation.


    ¡°Well, the last time they sent a Warbird out here, it glassed the coast of Florida,¡± Shimmer said, ¡°Wouldn''t want that happening again, would we?¡±


    Ever-True remembered learning about that in school. Her teacher had gotten one of the survivors to come in to tell them about it, give his own testimony of that horrifying final battle between Silver Arthur and the Manticore.


    ¡°No,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°But I know they''ve got other guilds. Like that one their... ''Prime Voice,'' has.¡±


    ¡°Pagan Chorus,¡± Shimmer said, ¡°But no, they wouldn''t do. Pagan Chorus doesn''t have any metahumans in their ranks, Oliphant. Not a one.¡±


    ¡°What does being metahuman have to do with this?¡± Oliphant said.


    ¡°Visionary''s a metahuman. She comes to us in our dreams, talking of tunnels and labyrinths in the earth.¡± Becenti said.


    Ever-True''s blood froze. Oliphant glanced at her.


    ¡°And?¡±


    ¡°And thus, we travel there,¡± Shimmer continued, ¡°To the place she calls us to. We both can see Endralus below, don''t we?¡±


    ¡°Another of your kind,¡± Oliphant said.


    ¡°Why don''t you extend your scanners about a bit more, hmm?¡± Shimmer said, ¡°No doubt you''ve upgraded the Round Table''s surveillance system into your own personal Big Brother. Why don''t you tell whoever your controller is to scan the Mojave for lifeforms.¡±


    Oliphant glared at the speaker. He muted Shimmer.


    ¡°Mick,¡± he said, ¡°Scan the Mojave.¡±


    ***


    Joseph, too, looked at the lifesign readings as Becenti ran a sensor sweep through the region. Squinted at the small blips that dotted the expanse of the Mojave, interspersed throughout the desert. More and more of them, as the sweep continued.


    ¡°That''s...¡± he blinked, ¡°People live out here. Drive out here, right?¡±


    ¡°Drive, yes,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Live? No. Not anymore. Too much scars this place, Mr. Zheng. Anything you see here that is sapient is nomadic.¡±


    He gave a dry grin.


    ¡°Most of those readings are metahuman.¡±


    Joseph glanced down, the full weight of the situation crashed down on him. There were dozens of lifesigns at first. Then a hundred. More and more dots, more blips that pinged out in the Mojave, all of them moving in a single general direction, as if pulled in by a whirlpool towards...


    ¡°Death Valley,¡± Joseph said, ¡°They''re all heading for Death Valley.¡±


    ¡°That''s right,¡± Becenti said, ¡°An interesting place for a convergence. A meeting of metahumanity, in the hottest place on Prime.¡±


    Oliphant''s voice came through on the radio once more.


    ¡°How many metahumans are going to be coming here?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Oh, I don''t know,¡± Becenti said, ¡°A couple hundred, at least. Anyone who has been having the dreams, with both the will and the means to get here. I presume you''ve been monitoring planeshifting activity these past few weeks?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Oliphant growled.


    ¡°And it didn''t occur to you that there would have been an increase in traffic?¡± Becenti asked.


    ¡°I don''t know,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°Multiverse is a large economic opportunity. Maybe we were just-¡±


    ¡°Hey, um, Oliphant?¡± the woman''s voice came through once more, a worried edge to her voice, ¡°That... oil guy, he''s meeting up with someone.¡±


    Becenti looked down on one of the cameras. Sure enough, Endralus had a rendezvous, a large meathead of a man with a bald head, and even from high above Joseph could see a ragged scar that ran down and colored half of his face. For a moment, he spoke a couple of words to Endralus.


    ¡°Who is that?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°I don''t know,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Whatever he''s doing, he''s up to something,¡± Oliphant said.


    His ship began dipping down, cutting past the Titania Amber. It was a sleek thing, a modified stealth bomber with thrusters that burned blue against the sea of sand below. Becenti''s brow furrowed as Oliphant began closing the distance between them and the metahumans below.


    ¡°Careful, now,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°I know,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°I''m just making it clear to them that we''re here.¡±


    ¡°That''ll go over nicely,¡± Joseph said.


    Below, the large, scarred metahuman glanced up at Oliphant''s ship. Without a word, he thrust his arm into the goop that was Endralus''s makeup, his other arm pointing upwards at it. Pointing, the arm disassembling like a piece of machinery, the fingers splaying back into a muzzle, the bones in the forearm emerging from the skin and forming into a scope-


    ¡°Watch out!¡± Becenti roared, but Oliphant was already taking evasive action as a beam of plasma streamed from the metahuman''s arm, the ship rolling to the side-


    Becenti grimaced as the Titania Amber ambled, taking a hard twist to the right as the beam rang past her, clipping their left wing, surging over it, burning it away as pieces of charred metal ripped free. Joseph felt the ship dip to the side, his guildmate frantically clicking a few buttons to compensate for the loss.


    ¡°No shield?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Didn''t-¡± Becenti grimaced, ¡°A-a rookie mistake.¡±


    With a click, he began the process of powering the ship''s shield on. A heartbeat. Two heartbeats-


    And then the world exploded.


    ***


    There was a moment of time where Shimmer''s ship glittered in the sky, a gaping hole through her hull, a clean shot from the metahuman below. Shimmer was a veteran, who had fought for years and years across the multiverse, a war hero of the highest regard.


    But he was not a pilot. Not when it came down to the wire. He had always had others for that. Luminary, for example, back during the war. Presumably other guildmates handled the fancy flying now.


    The Titania Amber tumbled, falling out of control.


    ¡°Oliphant-¡± Ever-True said.


    ¡°I know, I know!¡± Oliphant said. He veered to the side, the Songbird twisting-


    But it was not enough. The two ships collided in midair, the brick-like starship breaking away the spy plane''s wing. One fell like a stone. The other fluttered to the ground, wheeling through the air and tumbling into a crash landing.


    All was silent from the two crafts, now apparently lifeless. Yet the rest of the Mojave was not, as metahumans from across the multiverse moved towards Death Valley, traveling individually, or in pairs. Each one had experienced the dream-message of Visionary, felt it echo through the multiverse, across the strands of Imagination, beckoning back towards an age where metahumanity was under one banner, one people, one kingdom.


    Yet each one''s journey to Visionary was a selfish one, for only one individual would receive her vision, her sight into the future, and what it might bring.


    The convergence had begun, and far more blood would be spilled before it was over.

 51. THE AGE OF POSSIBILITY

    The desert was quiet as the metahuman known as Civu-Dari walked its dunes. Mountains loomed in the distance, burned an iridescent red, hemming in this appropriately named ''Death Valley.'' It was near unbearably hot, even in the middle of the morning, and Civu-Dari was glad she had thought to purchase a couple of cooling spells from that market in Tanlehem. She took one out of her jacket pocket, popping the small geode the spell was encrusted into, feeling her entire body cool down to a comfortable chill. Then, she glanced over and took note of the dunes around her. They dominated the landscape around her, some bare and drab, others detailed with brown-green shrubs that looked to be on the verge of death. But then, they had lasted this long, hadn''t they?


    And so could she.


    This journey to the Earthmute was nothing more than a light trip into the desert. Just a couple hours'' walk. A hike, if one could call it that. Civu-Dari began stepping forward. One foot in front of the other.


    She grimaced, already feeling the sun¡¯s heat bearing down at her, already feeling it eat through her cooling spell like a starving man at a banquet. Why the hell did the Earthmute have to deposit the Visionary all the way out here?


    ¡°To hell with this,¡± she muttered. She could feel the nation in her body stir at the sound of her voice. Civu-Dari reached into her jacket pocket once more, pulling out a group of ruby geode spells. She could cast this herself, of course, but she preferred to store magic for convenience''s sake.


    Your goddess needs you, she thought. The message reverberated out of her brain, carried down electrical passages to the core of her nation''s palace, placed where her heart would be. The king below heard it, understood its message. Ordered for a litter to be brought up to her. She felt it, a slight tingling sensation, as four of the Dari ran up the length of her body and climbed up onto her tongue. She opened her mouth, exposing them to the dry desert heat, feeling them swelter and burn and nash their teeth. All of this sacrifice, for their goddess and home. Without another thought, she plucked them off of her tongue and applied the spell to them, laying them and their carrier on the ground as they grew in size.


    Four Dari, gray-skinned, with six fingers to each hand and three eyes to each head. These were warriors ¨C perhaps the king had realized the battles that were to come, for all of them were dressed in kwent-amoeba skin armor, the toughest substance in her body. Two wore spears, two others held crossbows. All four had shields and twin blades.


    ¡°My Civu-Dari,¡± the foremost of them approached, bowing to her, ¡°Four of us have been chosen, to spend our lives in the service of our home.¡±


    ¡°Rise, my child,¡± Civu-Dari said. A dreadful smile was creeping on her face, for she had long ago learned to adore the worship the Dari gave her, ¡°Your goddess has need of you. Before you lies Death Valley, the hottest place on this world. I have need of an oracle at this valley''s center. You will carry me. You will protect me.¡±


    Her smile went hard and dark.


    ¡°You will kill for me.¡±


    ¡°As you wish, Civu-Dari,¡± the four said, as one. The foremost took his goddess by the hand, guiding her with a gentleman''s grace to the litter. As she sat down, he propped up a gorgeous, multi-hued quilt to shield her from the worst of the sun¡¯s light. With a heave, the four Dari lifted the litter, and began to carry her as though she were some sort of ancient Demi-Pharoah across the landscape.


    ***


    ¡°It''s really simple, Pock,¡± Analyza said, ¡°Fair is fair. We drew straws, even.¡±


    ¡°There were two straws, Ana,¡± Pocket said.


    ¡°Yeah, and?¡± Analyza chuckled, ¡°You still drew the short one.¡±


    Pocket rolled her eyes, smiling in spite of her partner''s tricks. In truth, she didn''t care much about the Visionary''s call. She and Analzya were Far Travelers, at home with wandering the multiverse, not chasing after old prophecies and hollow promises.


    But Analyza had heard of Pocket''s dreams. And, like moths to a flame, she had drawn them to Prime. To this¡­ Death Valley.


    It was an apt name. The place seemed to boil the sand. The air around them rippled. What was living here was small and brown. What was not ¨C the human habitations they had seen, such as the old street signs and sun-cracked concrete roads ¨C was rotted, hollowed-out. Mummified by sand and time.


    And of course, Analyza¡¯s eyes were shining in just that way that made Pocket¡¯s heart melt, those square-shaped pupils dilating as she drank in the world around her. They had passed through one of the entrances without much fanfare, the tourist shack having been abandoned to the elements, a brick shell that Analyza had insisted on picking over for any interesting scraps, which she had then made Pocket store in the countless folds of her skin.


    They had, together, noted the warning sign telling of the dangers of the desert. To beware, would-be wanderers, of the possibility of heatstroke if one was not careful. It was an attempt to ward the foolish away.


    The foolish, say, like a woman with pockets all over her body and her hyperactive girlfriend.


    They stuck to the main road that snaked through Death Valley, occasionally trading words now and then, a passing comment on the weather, on the dunes in the distance, of how dry and cracked the ground was at certain parts.


    ¡°Not much out here that''s living,¡± Analyza commented.


    ¡°Of course not,¡± Pocket said, ¡°This is Prime, Ana, remember? Not too much¡¯s alive in these parts.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, but you''d think I''d see at least a centipede, or something,¡± Analyza said. Her eyes glanced at the ground. Her pupils expanded in size, red overtaking white, ¡°So far all I see is sand, around eighty percent of it silica, four percent of it metamorphic rock, two percent of it various igneous makes, and the rest of it is broken down glass.¡±


    She narrowed her eyes, ¡°Odd, the glass is moving.¡±


    Pocket stopped at that, turning around.


    ¡°You said moving?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Analyza said, ¡°Just a bit. On a molecular level, like they''re being pulled by a magnet.¡±


    She glanced up, scanning the horizon.


    She gave a wide, maniacal smile that made her partner''s heart sink.


    ¡°It''s Silicon!¡± Analyza cried out, ¡°Brace yerself, Pock! The game just got interesting!¡±


    ***


    Far in the distance was a flock ¨C not of birds, but of shards of glass. Multi-colored panes, some as clear as clean water, some dark purple, volcanic obsidian scavenged from the edges of still-spewing volcanoes. Still others had been torn away from old, abandoned churches that dotted the Mojave, corpses from the Second Exodus, oranges and blues and reds and greens, reflecting the power of Imagination itself. They flew together as though they were of one mind, a migration of sentience that began coalescing, like pieces of a puzzle, shard melding with shard, into the form of a man on one of the tallest dunes.


    Silicon. Tall and dark, glass forming around him like armor. Still more of it swirled overhead, for he had collected much on his journey here. For he knew what today was, and who it brought to Prime.


    Convergence. A coming together of metahumanity.


    And it would not be an amicable meeting. Talk of the future never was.


    He could see, in the distance, now running to take cover behind a battered road sign, two of his brethren. But they were of no consequence. They hadn''t made action against him, expecting him to make the first move.


    ¡°Typical,¡± he grunted. He stretched his shoulders as he took note of the landscape around him. Already, combat had started, a civil war among his people. Explosions in the north, the scent blowing downwind tinged with a hint of cyanide. To the east, a pair of ships had crashed ¨C he had seen them fall, like clipped birds, to the earth.


    One of them was High Federation in origin. This made Silicon happy indeed.


    But time enough was spent in his organic body. With a breath, he alighted to the wind once more, letting his form break apart and scatter to the wind, traveling towards the center of Death Valley.


    ***


    ¡°Can we remove him from the board?¡± Pocket asked.


    Analyza continued to stare at the flock that was Silicon, biting her knuckles as she considered the glass swirled through the air like a fell storm.


    ¡°He''s moving rather quickly,¡± Pocket said, ¡°He might get to the Visionary before we''re even halfway there.¡±


    ¡°...Nnnooo,¡± Analyza said, ¡°Best we keep our distance.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡± Pocket said, ¡°The great Analyza, afraid of a little spat?¡±


    ¡°N-No! I¡¯ve just got to think things through, dumbass!¡± Analyza countered, ¡°If we''re going to take on Silicon, I need you to make me a cannon made from metals and plastics. I''ve already got the makeup in my head, but the fewer scrapes we get into, the better.¡±


    ¡°Let some other poor sap face him, then,¡± Pocket said.


    ¡°Precisamundo, my pocket-pocked friend,¡± Analyza grinned, ¡°Besides, look in the distance. Seems like another top dog''s spotted our knight in shining armor.¡±


    Pocket squinted.


    ¡°I can''t see that far, Ana.¡±


    ¡°Explosions, Pock. I see explosions. Well, not explosions. More like gouts of lava, eighty percent of it melted metamorphic rock, twenty percent of it ash. A couple miscellaneous percentages that don''t-¡±


    ¡°Who is it?¡± Pocket asked.


    ¡°I don''t know,¡± Analyza said, and she flashed a wild, wide grin, ¡°Isn''t that exciting?¡±


    ***


    They were three. One was a man of Prime, a former mercenary who had recently turned to darker aspirations. He was dressed in military fatigues, the cloth a miasma of browns to mimic the desert, though he left the front open to reveal his chest, upon which was a spider-webbed scar that he wore with a mixture of pride and anger. Robber Fly''s smile was curved like the crescent moon, without mirth as he turned to look at his two compatriots. One, he had worked with before, the taller one who wore the futuristic combat armor, his head hidden by a black-glassed globular helmet. He carried a plasma rifle in hand, and he looked plenty scrappy. There was an air to him that set Robber Fly on edge. This one who had been sent with him stood too still, too silent, as though he were a machine waiting for some sort of outside stimuli to get him going. Wasn''t much of a talker, either.


    Neither was the third of the gang. A woman, one who stood tall and wore flowing golden robes, upon which were sketched silvery Dragons that snaked up and down from one arm to the other, meeting at the chest, swirling and biting the other''s tail. A real crowd pleaser, this Talrash, with a beauty that practically forced Robber Fly to pause and stare at her.


    But she was known as the Breath of Midas for a reason, as she caught him staring at her and returned it with an icy glare.


    ¡°R-Right,¡± Robber Fly said, ¡°So, we''re here!¡±


    He gestured towards Death Valley.


    ¡°...Now what?¡± he said.


    ¡°Now,¡± Talrash said, ¡°We walk.¡±


    No for small talk. No time to go over any sort of plan. Robber Fly felt his insides shrink at the sight of this woman, at the way she glared at him with draconic eyes, her golden sand hair whipping around with the bitter almond wind. Cyanide was in the air.


    Things were already getting started.


    ¡°Right on,¡± Robber Fly said, ¡°Lead on, lady.¡±


    They had climbed mountains to get there. Crossed raging rivers. Lived off of the land, these three, staying off the radar. Avoiding civilization ¨C for every phone was a camera and speaker, every car a potential witness. Robber Fly was a wanted man. Talrash was known to the Silver Knights. Tall and Helmeted Handsome was carrying a high-grade military rifle.


    No, better to sneak across the plane silent-like. They didn''t even have a car, lest that ping on the Round Table''s sensors.


    Their employer wanted no chances, not one.


    But now, here in Death Valley, where no doubt at least one Silver Knight would be happening by, Robber Fly felt himself relax. They were going to be getting into scraps anyways, right? Might as well drop the stealth and secrecy.


    ¡°So,¡± he said to Talrash, ¡°You''ve been here before?¡±


    ¡°To Prime? Yes,¡± Talrash replied.


    ¡°Nah, nah,¡± Robber Fly said, ¡°Here. Death Valley. California.¡±


    ¡°...No,¡± Talrash said, ¡°I have not.¡±


    ¡°You Far Travelers, always the same,¡± Robber Fly had to chuckle, ¡°No, I don''t mean if you''ve been to Prime, what does that even mean? What part of Prime? Where? Who did you hang with? What cities did you go to?¡±


    ¡°You bore me,¡± Talrash said.


    Robber Fly ignored that.


    ¡°Me,¡± he said, ¡°I used to hear stories about this place from my old man. He fought here, you know.¡±


    Talrash and the other continued to walk, ignoring him. Talrash even quickened her step, outpacing them and taking point.


    ¡°I mean it!¡± Robber Fly said, jogging a bit to catch up to her, ¡°Said the Manticore himself was out here!¡±


    ¡°Don''t speak of him so lightly,¡± Talrash growled.


    ¡°Oh, don''t tell me you''re one of those reverent types-¡±


    She turned around, her fist arcing and slamming into Robber Fly''s stomach. With a gasp, he collapsed to the ground. When he looked up, her face was next to his, her eyes glowing like the sun high above, her breath like flames.


    ¡°You will not speak of the Manticore in such light terms,¡± she said, ¡°As though he were some... some hollow celebrity. You will not speak of him at all on this trip, are we clear?¡±


    The flames dripped down her maw as though they were lines of saliva. Parts of them dropped to the ground below, staining the sand, transforming it, making it more...


    Golden.


    ¡°Yes, M-Ma''am,¡± Robber Fly said.


    The Breath of Midas rose back to her full height, head eclipsing the sun above and forcing Robber Fly to squint as she looked up at her. Gold still dribbled down her silhouetted face.


    ¡°Walk, Robber Fly,¡± she said, ¡°As we walk a sacred path to free one of the Sons.¡±


    But Visionary''s a girl, Robber Fly wanted to say.


    But his two companions were already leaving once more. The conversation was over. With a huff, Robber Fly stood up, rubbed the spot where Talrash had punched him, and followed them into the valley.


    ***


    Meloche heaved a great sigh as he took in the sights of Death Valley. A beautiful place, all things considered, a vast bowl of sand. An arena, if one thought on it long enough, a gladiator''s ring waiting for its combatants, its audience the wind and the dirt. But Death Valley had been a battlefield before, hadn''t it?


    The sand had drunk blood before.


    ¡°You''re in one of your moods, Mel,¡± Eco''s voice interrupted the great mass of sap from his stupor. He turned around to consider his guildmate.


    ¡°Behold,¡± Meloche said, ¡°Metahumans. We once were kings. Rulers. Gods of the multiverse, as numerous as the stars in every sky. Now look at us, snarling for scraps like vultures.¡±Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    ¡°True,¡± Eco said. He was laying down, a calm smile on his face. He had already aligned to this ecosystem, having choked down a pocket full of gravel earlier, and his entire body now had the composition of sand. He almost looked like one of the dunes below, his body seeming to meld with the earth.


    ¡°When we took this job,¡± Meloche said, ¡°I was expecting to feel elated. To see other metahumans! This should have been a celebration, Eco, a coming-together, to catch up on what others have been doing, how our people have been thriving.¡±


    ¡°I highly doubt you could call what we do ''thriving,''¡± Eco said.


    ¡°You get what I mean, though,¡± Meloche said, ¡°We should have been...¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Eco said.


    ¡°Why are we fighting like this, Eco?¡± Meloche said, ¡°We all know, we''re all we''ve got.¡±


    ¡°Because we know what happens when metahumans come together in peace, and not war,¡± Eco said, ¡°Remember Ludaya?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Meloche said, ¡°I suppose I do.¡±


    They both remembered Ludaya, and the dark memories there.


    ¡°Well,¡± Eco said, ¡°We''re here now, and that''s what matters.¡±


    He stood up, drawing up beside his old friend, and put a hand on his sticky shoulder.


    ¡°We''ve work to do, Meloche,¡± Eco said, ¡°Are you ready?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Meloche''s voice was heavy and sad, ¡°I suppose I am.¡±


    ***


    The man that the Dari approached was tall and willowy, swaying in the desert area. Three corpses were around him, the blood flowing around his great, rooted feet. Old Man Oak was his name, a warrior of great renown, a Far Traveler, an enemy of the High Federation. As he turned to Civu-Dari, the wind picked up his leaf-hewn beard and hair like a cloak in autumn, revealing a carved wooden chest. His eyes were somber as he considered her.


    ¡°The Witch Goddess,¡± Old Man Oak''s voice was gravelly and slow.


    ¡°Greetings to you,¡± Civu-Dari said from her perch, ¡°I''ve heard of you.¡±


    ¡°And I, of you.¡±


    ¡°Nothing good, I hope,¡± Civu-Dari chuckled.


    ¡°No, not at all,¡± Old Man Oak rumbled, ¡°Keep your distance, witch. I wish for no allies such as you.¡±


    Your Goddess needs you, Civu-Dari thought. Her children below began calling for more warriors. She considered the corpses at Old Man Oak''s feet. Two human-like, one with the head of a wolf, one with long, scythe-like claws. He had never even used them, however, what with a branch-made spear in his gut.


    ¡°I''m merely traveling,¡± Civu-Dari said, feigning ignorance.


    ¡°Through this Valley,¡± Old Man Oak said.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Civu-Dari said, ¡°Wonderful weather for it, isn''t it?¡±


    He gave a dark chuckle.


    ¡°An aptly named place,¡± he said, ¡°For one such as you.¡±


    ¡°Well, ouch,¡± Civu-Dari said.


    She was aware of Old Man Oak stepping forward, his legs growing in size as he rose, stilt-like, above the dust and decay of the earth. So, too, did his arms, more of those sharp, branching javelins growing from them like thorns from a bougainvillea.


    Shit, Civu-Dari thought.


    ¡°We both walk this valley for a purpose,¡± Old Man Oak said.


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Civu-Dari, to her credit, sat tall. With but a nod, her Dari guards lowered her carrier to the ground and put hands to their weapons. The foremost among them put himself between her and the ancient metahuman, ¡°And what, pray tell, do you intend to see from the Visionary?¡±


    ¡°The same thing we all seek,¡± Old Man Oak said.


    ¡°You''re an old man, friend,¡± Civu-Dari said, ¡°The only future for you is in the dirt.¡±


    ¡°Not a future for myself,¡± Old Man Oak said, ¡°That''s been wasted, already. No, I seek a future for our people.¡±


    ¡°You see ''your people'' before you,¡± Civu-Dari said.


    More of her warriors were ready. A ballista, upon which they were loading one of her spells that she had imbibed yesterday.


    ¡°I give you a chance to step aside, honored elder,¡± Civu-Dari said, ¡°Let the new generation take charge.¡±


    ¡°''New generation,''¡± Old Man Oak mused, ¡°I see none of that here. Just a witch, pining for her own path, her own greed. You are metahuman in name only.¡±


    ¡°And that is the future,¡± Civu-Dari said, ¡°I''ve only my own back to watch.¡±


    With that, she opened her mouth fully, pulling free more of her growth spells from her jacket. At the same moment, the Dari charged forward. Old Man Oak looked downcast for a moment, before he met their assault, spinning with a grace and speed that belied his towering bulk. Already, one of her children was down and out, speared through and tossed aside.


    Shit. They were still loading the ballista, deep at the back of her throat. With a cough, she expelled those Dari at the front, her spell washing over them as they grew to full size, drew weapons, and charged.


    Old Man Oak lunged and fought, twisting this way and that, his arms goring and pinning the Dari as they rushed him. More and more met their ends, some of them hanging from the branches, others spiked so hard they went flying.


    An entire army, Civu-Dari thought, NOW.


    She fully opened her mouth, breathing out more of her children. More and more and more, dozens of them who all drew weapons and began swinging at Old Man Oak. Some with axes, others with blades, some stabbing at him with spears.


    One of the Dari, a particularly bulky fellow with a two-handed axe, stepped forward, waited for an opening, as patient as the sea. Then, right when Old Man Oak revealed an opening, he struck, axe sailing into the back of the metahuman''s knee, which folded in from the blow. Old Man Oak let out a cough of pain as the Dari, as one, leaped onto him, stabbed into his body, pulled him to the ground, piled over him like ants.


    For a moment, there was writhing, as they cast over the metahuman like a shell.


    And then, with a heave, with a roar of anguish and desperation, Old Man Oak burst upwards, vines and leaves and thorns jutting out of his body as he rose back to his feet, throwing Dari back as though he were an explosion.


    And Civu-Dari opened her mouth. The ballista fired off, expanded in size from the growth spell. It flew through the air for a moment, slower than one would expect, with a weight as though it were a falling stone. It collided with Old Man Oak, just between his ribcage and hips.


    The magic within the ballista took hold, took shape, warped the space around the metahuman, shifted a hunk of flesh and wood and sap away, off... somewhere.


    A quarter of Old Man Oak was gone. He swayed for a moment, coughing up sap.


    And collapsed, breaking apart as he did so, an ancient, moldering tower. Still, Civu-Dari didn''t dare approach. Old Man Oak coughed and spluttered, and when he heaved and spat, blood, real blood, past all of the wood and sap, inked through.


    ¡°S-so be it,¡± his voice was hardly a whisper, ¡°Our future, y-your choice..¡±


    The foremost of the Dari stepped forward, blade drawn. He was bleeding from a gash in his head, dark blue trickling down the side of his temple. He looked at his goddess. For permission. For approval.


    Civu-Dari nodded.


    The foremost turned. Locked eyes with Old Man Oak. The metahuman''s eyes were filled with an exhausted sort of sorrow, one that realized that this was how it ended. How it always ended.


    The blade spun downwards. It was a fine thing, stripped clean from his goddess''s spine, sharpened to near-perfection. And it cut through Old Man Oak''s head like butter.


    ¡°Well,¡± Civu-Dari said, ¡°That was something, hmm?¡±


    The Dari nodded at her.


    ¡°Leave the bodies,¡± she said, ¡°We''ve already been delayed enough.¡±


    Those remaining Dari sheathed weapons, the foremost taking the lead as four of them hoisted the carrier into the air. Civu-Dari had not moved. Had not stood. She had sat on this makeshift throne for the entire skirmish.


    And now, more bodies littered the earth of Death Valley. Corpses, of metahumans and their progeny. It was calm once more as Civu-Dari was carried across the desert. But in the distance, she could hear explosions. Combat. A scream, high-pitched and steeped in pain.


    ***


    Smoke choked out of the crashed remains of the two craft. Endralus slithered around the man with the morphed arm, his expression set and dark. He disliked combat, despite his metapower. He disliked the way it made him feel, that adrenaline that made his stomach hurt after it was all over. He wished he had bought some Tums at the gas station before coming here. But still, he waited for someone to come out. Metahumans had survived worse, hadn''t they? He had to make sure. They were flying in High Federation craft. Traitors, perhaps.


    The smoke continued to billow.


    Then lightning flashed, parting it like an arrow, slamming into the man and sending him flying back.


    Joseph stepped out of the wreckage, the left side of his face marred with red, his teeth gritted so hard he could almost feel his molars cracking. His entire soul pulsed with an angry fire as he stepped out. He could see writhing mass of oil rise up like a coiled serpent.


    ¡°''Sup, Slick,¡± he said.


    He fired off another bolt, burning the morning with the stench of ozone. It wasn''t even fair. Endralus didn''t even move as the bolt scorched through them, fire sparking wherever plasma landed. For a moment, the Ocean of Oil stood stock still as the flames overtook their molasses form. Joseph watched, angry expression still knit on his face, as Endralus writhed and twisted. The air was acrid now, like when Nai Nai''s car was on the verge of breaking down and she refused to have it fixed.


    Then Endralus surged forward, a wave of fire, like something from the Book of Revelation. Joseph''s heart skipped a beat.


    ¡°SHIIIT-¡± He leaped back, soul fully surging around him as he took cover.


    But he didn''t need to, as the air in front of him began to waver and shimmer. The sea of flame collided with a wall of heat, Becenti''s creation as he stepped out of the wreckage, seemingly none the worse for wear, his face set as stone as he watched Endralus roil against his construct, battering against it, wave after wave of oil and flame.


    ¡°Another one, Mr. Zheng,¡± he said to Joseph, ¡°We''ll need to burn them all out.¡±


    ¡°R-right,¡± Joseph stood back up, eagle returning to his stomach, his body sparking as he took aim.


    ¡°I''m lowering the barrier on the right side,¡± Becenti said.


    He flickered his wrist, and Joseph''s sharp eye caught part of the barrier disappear. He glanced at Becenti.


    They would need to be quick, lest the force of the explosion send them flying.


    ¡°Just a spark,¡± Joseph willed his soul to being, a single azure claw gloving over his hand. He stepped forward, and thrust it through the hole just as Endralus was finding it, oil slipping through like the tentacles of an octopus.


    The effect was near-instantaneous, as fire began licking upwards wherever claw met sea. Endralus pulled back, the mass of oil slinking away, rolling backwards from Becenti''s barrier. Joseph watched it for a few moments.


    ¡°Finish it up, Mr. Zheng,¡± Becenti''s voice was ice.


    Joseph looked back. The older man''s face was still a mask, but he had a look in his eye that made a shiver run up his spine.


    ¡°I-Are you sure?¡±


    ¡°If you''re thinking you''ll kill them, you''re mistaken,¡± Becenti said, ¡°But it will cow Endralus, perhaps enough to abandon this venture altogether.¡±


    So casual, the way he spoke. Professional. Detached and distant. Becenti was going into full work mode. Joseph was starting to hate when that happened. Nonetheless, he turned back.


    ¡°Drop the shield.¡±


    Becenti did so, the walled mirage dissipating, and Joseph fired off another bolt. This one cleaved through Endralus, sparks racing up against their black mass, parting it from side to side, an inferno following behind. A low, deep whine escaped from the metahuman, one that rumbled the very earth and made Joseph grimace.


    But then, Endralus was gone, inking away, soon becoming a line on the horizon.


    ¡°They''ll transform back once they feel they''re safe,¡± Becenti said, ¡°No real harm done.¡±


    ¡°Feels like it,¡± Joseph said, a bit shaken.


    ¡°We''ll be facing more of our fellows as we go,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I had hoped to avoid this, but-¡±


    His eyes bulged almost comically as he leaped forward, tackling Joseph to the ground as a beam of plasma sang over them. The man with the morphed arm had gotten up, smoke curling around him, still in the fight-


    As a javelin, bronze and shining in the sun, pierced through his arm. He let out a coughing gasp. From the wreckage of the Silver Knights'' ship came a woman, stepping forward. She was wearing a purple uniform, her face silhouetted by a mask that... really didn''t do a good job of actually hiding her face, just cloth strips accented in white and ending with a stylized flair on either side. She was wearing a violet tapered hat with a feather pointing out of its top, as though she were some sort of Robin Hood.


    She pulled out another javelin, took aim, and threw it with surprising strength at the man with the morphed arm, cape fluttering in the wind. The man took note of the second projectile, however, and rolled to the side to avoid it.


    Only for the javelin to stop in mid-air, spin, and fire off at him once more. It pierced the man¡¯s shoulder, pinning him to the ground. The top of the javelin opened up, expelling a net that blanketed over him.


    ¡°A bit overkill,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°It''s the Silver Knights,¡± Becenti said, ¡°We had a member literally named Overkill.¡±


    The second of the Knights came coughing out of the wreckage after his teammate, clutching his side. This one ¨C Oliphant, Joseph presumed ¨C was every bit a ''Silver Knight,'' perhaps taking it a bit too literally, what with his scaled armor, his cloak, and the glittering sword at his waist.


    ¡°Ever-True!¡± he said.


    ¡°They''re down,¡± the woman, Ever-True, said. She was young, maybe Joseph''s age, though she carried herself with a sort of confidence that came with the fact that she just speared a man like it was nothing.


    ¡°G-Good,¡± Oliphant said. He noticed Joseph and Becenti staring at him, and he stood up straight, wincing a bit.


    ¡°You''re injured,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°As are you,¡± Oliphant nodded at Joseph.


    There was an awkward silence as the two parties faced off against one another. Ever-True was already pulling free a third javelin. Joseph''s soul began pumping through its circuit once more.


    ¡°We''re at an impasse,¡± Oliphant said.


    ¡°We don''t have to be,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°You''re trespassers-¡±


    ¡°I assure you, this is my home plane,¡± Becenti said, ¡°The only one trespassing here is Mr. Zheng.¡±


    ¡°Gee,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Thanks for throwing me under the bus, I guess.¡±


    ¡°And we are here on behalf of the High Federation,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°The Federation,¡± Oliphant spat, ¡°Well, I''ve read your contract, and I still don''t like this.¡±


    ¡°Trust me,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Neither do I.¡±


    ¡°And I''m not going to rest until this is through,¡± Oliphant said. Nonetheless, he lowered his guard. Didn''t have much of a choice, as he gave a wince and nearly collapsed again, held up by Ever-True.


    ¡°You shouldn''t be here,¡± Joseph said, ¡°You''re injured-¡±


    ¡°There are... monsters on Prime today,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°More than the usual fare. No, I''m staying.¡±


    ¡°...There are some metahumans who would disagree,¡± Becenti said, ¡°You. Both of you, you shouldn''t be here.¡±


    ¡°This is our plane,¡± Oliphant said.


    ¡°They don¡¯t care about that,¡± Becenti said, ¡°This coming together is based on metahumanity, by common culture and blood. It doesn¡¯t matter what plane this is, or where you come from, so long as you share the metagene.¡±


    He gave Oliphant a dark look.


    ¡°You Silver Knights would not be welcome here.¡±


    ¡°Doesn''t matter,¡± Oliphant grunted. He rose back up with Ever-True''s assistance, though at the last moment pushed her gently away so he could stand unaided, ¡°They''re on Prime, it''s a Prime matter. It''s a Silver Knights matter. Besides, Eve here''s a metahuman.¡±


    Becenti glanced over. Ever-True went a shade of red for a second as she saw him narrow his eyes, then give a reluctant nod.


    ¡°They still won¡¯t like someone here who they see as an outsider,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°How many are there?¡± Oliphant said.


    ¡°A few hundred, I would presume,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°...And after we either apprehend Visionary, or she leaves, they''ll leave?¡±


    ¡°Most of them will have no further reason to be on Prime,¡± Becenti said. His words were measured, Joseph noted. Careful.


    ¡°Then we go to Visionary, then,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°Ever-True, see if you can''t scrounge some first aid from the Songbird.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Ever-True asked.


    ¡°I am,¡± Oliphant said. He turned to Becenti, ¡°If we have the same goal, we might as well call for a truce, then.¡±


    ¡°A truce,¡± Becenti murmured.


    ¡°Aye. You so far haven¡¯t tried to kill us, not like Arms over there,¡± Oliphant nodded at the still-netted-up man, ¡°And you¡¯re on a job for the High Federation, whom the Knights have an amicable enough relationship with.¡±


    ¡°That is¡­ true,¡± Becenti admitted.


    ¡®You will accompany us to wherever this Visionary is,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°We both want her apprehended. We both want this to end.¡±


    ¡°And if we meet our fellows? Those metahumans who do not wish to fight us?¡±


    ¡°Are there any?¡± Oliphant said.


    ¡°There might be,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Then I''ll hang back, and let you talk to your people.¡±


    ¡°Very well, then,¡± Becenti said. He presented a hand, one which Oliphant shook.


    ***


    ¡°Jesus,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Look at what they did to her.¡±


    He and Becenti were scavenging through the crash site. Miraculously, the Titania Amber was still in one piece ¨C unlike the Silver Knights'' Songbird, which had come apart and was responsible for most of the wreckage. A perfect hole had been drilled through the Titania Amber''s hull, one that had severed through the back wall and engines. Becenti''s face was pinched up as he surveyed the damage.


    ¡°Nothing major,¡± he said, ¡°Nothing we can''t fix, at least. Was a rookie mistake on my part, though.¡±


    He looked a bit guilty at the broken mess of the back.


    ¡°Nothing we can do about it now,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Right?¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Joseph, help me, here.¡±


    He removed a panel just behind the pilot''s seat, pulling out a rather large tarp.


    ¡°We''ll cover her, so people won''t be able to see her.¡±


    ¡°You really think that''s necessary?¡± Joseph asked, taking one half of the tarp. Becenti began unraveling.


    And unraveling.


    And unraveling...


    ¡°Yes,¡± the older man said at length. He stepped outside of the starship, the tarp unfurling like a snake''s shed, ¡°It''s advanced enough to camouflage the Titania Amber. She''s not pretty, but the tech inside of her is a few generations'' ahead of what''s here on Prime.¡±


    ¡°Don''t want any of that cross-contamination, right?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°We''ve already had enough of that, here,¡± Becenti said, ¡°The Federation only looked the other way because of Prime''s efforts during the war.¡±


    There it was again. The war.


    The completed covering was massive, but Becenti threw it over the ship as though it were nothing. It cloaked over the Titania Amber, and after a few moments the ship seemed to fade out of existence, an illusion that was only betrayed by the barest hint of shimmering when Joseph looked at it funny.


    ¡°Like a mirage,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Like any mirage,¡± Becenti replied, ¡°We''re in the desert, Mr. Zheng. People won''t think twice.¡±


    ¡°Besides,¡± Joseph said, ¡°They''re trying to get to the center of this place, not the edges of it.¡±


    Becenti nodded, ¡°Precisely.¡±


    Oliphant and Ever-True stood apart from them, having picked over the remains of their own ship. Joseph eyed them suspiciously.


    ¡°Sure we can trust them?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Not as far as I can throw them,¡± Becenti said, ¡°They¡¯re Silver Knights. Superheroes.¡±


    ¡°Thought that was a good thing,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Once, it was a respectable position,¡± Becenti said, ¡°But I¡¯ve heard of what these Silver Knights do now. How they lord over Prime, watching through every camera, listening through every speaker. There¡¯s no privacy, with them.¡±


    He hoisted a bag over his shoulder.


    ¡°There¡¯s no freedom.¡±


    Ever-True was just finishing patching up a nasty gash in Oliphant¡¯s side as Joseph and Becenti approached. He stood tall, ignoring his injury as he re-donned his armor.


    ¡°I hope you all brought water,¡± he said, ¡°This isn''t going to be a simple hike.¡±


    Joseph wanted to ask if the Silver Knight would be alright. But Oliphant''s glare was like the sun''s, enough to quell any argument or worry. Without another word, they were off, shouldering packs and following an old dirt road that snaked towards an abandoned highway. In the distance, they could see explosions. Bright, neon green ones, so large that, even from here, they polluted the air with a faint hint of cyanide. Something glittered in the sky high above, like thousands of noontime stars. Screams could be heard, magnified by distance and their own suspicions.


    It was a coming-together of metahumanity.


    It would not be an amiable one.

 52. ENEMIES OF STAGNATION

    ¡°It is Civu-Dari,¡± Eco noted.


    He and Meloche could see her in the distance. The witch cut a dark image as she made her way across the Valley. Civu-Dari was on a litter of some sort, her strange, three-eyed servants holding her aloft, still more trailing behind her. All of them bore weapons, blades and spears and axes made from her bone and body, and a few of them were limping from injuries no doubt sustained during the journey. One visibly dripped behind, slower and slower...


    ¡°Barbaric,¡± Meloche growled.


    ¡°It is her way,¡± Eco said.


    ¡°That does not mean it is right.¡±


    ¡°I never said it was,¡± Eco said.


    They were on a dune nearby, watching her from above. She had given no indication that she had spotted them. The sun roiled overhead, marking the day as three hours past noon. Neither of them could really feel the heat''s effects ¨C Meloche was covered in too much sap, and Eco''s power worked with the extreme weather, not against or in spite of it.


    ¡°Thoughts?¡± Eco asked.


    ¡°On what?¡±


    ¡°On our friend, there,¡± Eco said.


    ¡°She''s dangerous,¡± Meloche rumbled, ¡°Arrogant. She thinks herself a god.¡±


    ¡°You''d usually be proud of that,¡± Eco said, ¡°Was it not you who said we used to be rulers of the multiverse?¡±


    ¡°Yes, and it was a dark time,¡± Meloche said, ¡°Epochia was a myriad nation. It had myriad ideologies. Including ones shared by Civu-Dari, down there.¡±


    He stared at her. The lagging Dari fell to the ground with a final, weak cough. His goddess ignored him. Abandoned him, left him in the dust trails, the rest of her army snaking away from the body like a great centipede.


    ¡°Perhaps it is better we were scattered,¡± Meloche said, ¡°At least we have learned some measure of humility, and look upon those like Civu-Dari with scorn, and not worship.¡±


    ¡°Only took thousands of years of war,¡± Eco said.


    ¡°Indeed.¡±


    ¡°She''ll be getting away from us, if we don''t do anything,¡± Eco said.


    ¡°She would use Visionary''s sight for her own use,¡± Meloche said.


    ¡°The same as us,¡± Eco said.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Meloche rolled his shoulders, ¡°Only difference is hers would be a selfish vision. A glory to herself, and herself alone.¡±


    Eco smiled, ¡°And we can''t abide by that, can we?¡±


    ¡°A battle with her is a battle against her Dari slaves,¡± Meloche said, ¡°To defeat her, we must go through them. A pitiful battle, they know not what they do.¡±


    ¡°Look at the blood on their blades, Meloche,¡± Eco said, ¡°They know exactly what they''re doing. They''re brainwashed, not infantilized.¡±


    ¡°All the same,¡± Meloche said, ¡°Let me deal with them. My body is built to withstand sword thrusts.¡±


    ¡°And her magic?¡± Eco asked.


    ¡°You have smatterings of the void within you, yes?¡±


    Eco nodded, ¡°Hate doing it. But yes. Let me get close as a sandstorm. Then, we shall see how she reacts.¡±


    ¡°Let us be careful,¡± Meloche said.


    ¡°Aye.¡±


    ***


    They were two who approached her little army. She recognized one as the philosopher Meloche, a being of sap and sadness who lumbered forward. His feet were covered in sand, stuck to his honey-like body. There was the barest hint of the metahuman beneath the weight of maple, a dull, dark humanoid outline that the sap covered like a sheath of armor. Beside him was a being completely made out of sand save for a satchel that crossed his desert-formed chest. He ambled in great footfalls, gaining in size as more and more of the earth gathered through him.


    Your goddess needs you, she thought. She prepared another warping spell, to be fired by a ballista. She beaded another spell from beneath her cloak, one to freeze liquid ¨C a trump card, against Meloche.


    ¡°Greetings, philosopher,¡± she said.


    ¡°Greetings,¡± Meloche''s voice was deep and rich. Civu-Dari had to give a genuine smile at that. He was known for his speeches on his home plane, drawing in crowds to listen to his sermons. An oral storyteller, this Meloche was.


    Probably preferred speaking to writing, since every quill, pen, or pencil stuck to his fingers.


    ¡°I assume you are here for the same reason I am,¡± she gave a small gesture, and the servants lowered her throne to the ground.


    ¡°We are,¡± Meloche said.


    ¡°And instead of ambushing me from a distance,¡± Civu-Dari said, ¡°You instead chose to meet me down here.¡±


    ¡°Thought it was more sporting,¡± Meloche said.


    ¡°You''d need it,¡± Eco said.


    Ah, so they were arrogant, then. Civu-Dari smiled. They were like Old Man Oak, so sure in their age and experience and so above it all that they thought themselves to be invincible. The foremost drew his weapon, and as one the other Dari followed his example.


    ¡°Die fair, then,¡± she said. And her servants charged.


    ***


    Becenti had formed an orb of heat around them.


    It served two purposes, Joseph realized. The first is it kept the worst of Death Valley''s weather away from them ¨C as opposed to sweltering, triple-digit temperatures, it was nice and cool, enough that someone like Oliphant could get away with wearing a full suit of armor and not die of heatstroke an hour into the journey.


    The second was that Becenti was forming a shield around them. It wasn''t a very large one ¨C only enough to dome them in a ten-foot circumference ¨C but the way the air shimmered and shook meant it was a powerful wall indeed. Becenti''s arms were raised up in the air, hands shaking slightly from effort, the red streamers on his arms caught by the wind and reminding Joseph of a robin''s wings.


    ¡°You''re sure you''ll be able to keep that up?¡± Oliphant asked.


    ¡°I assure you,¡± Becenti replied, ¡°I am fine. This is nothing to me.¡±


    ¡°Very well, Shimmer,¡± Oliphant said.


    There it was, that name again. Shimmer. Joseph felt it odd to roll that name in his head, apply it to the man in front of him. It felt like a name out of time, a name of someone far different from Myron Becenti. Younger, perhaps? Definitely more naive, for Becenti simply sneered at the mention of that old name. His name was Shimmer before he met Joseph. Before he joined the guild.


    During the war.


    ¡°Trouble,¡± Ever-True said. Joseph snapped to attention at that. The superhero''s eyes were glancing towards the distance, and she nodded, ¡°From the north.¡±


    ¡°Who?¡±


    She was taking out a javelin, squinting towards the horizon.


    ¡°Three,¡± she said, ¡°One of them... Oh my god, Shimmer!¡±


    ¡°On it,¡± Becenti pointed a hand. The bubble of heat coalesced in front of them, facing north in the direction Ever-True was pointing.


    A heartbeat.


    Two.


    Three.


    And then something collided with Becenti''s shield, a bright, golden beam that made his entire body shudder, his stance suddenly strong and tower-like as he redoubled his efforts to hold the shield together. Whatever had smashed against the shield now dribbled down, a golden gel that splattered to the sand like spent napalm. Becenti''s eyes widened at that.


    ¡°Shit,¡± he said, ¡°It''s Talrash.¡±


    Oliphant, too, bit back a curse. He motioned for Ever-True, who took aim with her javelin and threw it towards the distance. It thundered away like a rocket, heading towards their targets in the distance.


    ¡°Mr. Zheng,¡± Becenti said, ¡°You''ve the best vision here, I need to know who we''re dealing with.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Joseph said. His heart was pounding like a war drum as his soul circuited to full strength, the eagle''s vision covering his own as he looked out, ¡°I see a woman, in golden robes. Something''s dripping from her mouth.¡±


    ¡°That''ll be Talrash,¡± Becenti said, ¡°The Breath of Midas. Anything her flames touch turns to gold.¡±


    He nodded towards his heat wall, much of which had turned aurous, the struggling shield of warmth cast in a cool, gilded statue. Ever-True took aim again, throwing her second javelin. Joseph watched it rocket towards the second figure, a man in High Federation combat gear, a dome-like helmet covering his head. He watched the javelin arc towards him, the bronze spear twisting midair to hammer home. He spun as it made a final dive towards him, hand reaching out to swipe it out of the air. He considered it for a moment, before tossing it to the side and leveling his rifle.


    ¡°More heat,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Second one''s taking aim.¡±


    Becenti nodded, the air intensifying in front of the group. There was a distant bang as the bullet rang against the shield, cracking it like glass for a moment before more heat rushed in to fill in the cracks.


    ¡°Second one''s... a guy, I guess,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Domed helmet.¡±


    ¡°Odd, but not unusual,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°That''s a sentence,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°The third?¡±


    Joseph glanced over at the third. His fists clenched and his voice was low when he spoke.


    ¡°It''s Robber Fly.¡±


    ¡°Who?¡±


    ¡°That guy I fought on the space station.¡±


    ¡°Over Ermen III?¡±


    ¡°The very same,¡± Joseph growled.


    ¡°Ah, good,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I told you he''d still be alive.¡±


    He glanced over to see Joseph dropping his soul back into his body, letting it circuit through him once more. He raised an arm, palm raised up to point towards the three in the distance.


    ¡°We''ll need your eyes for this, Joseph,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°I just want to let them know we''re giving them more than a couple of toothpicks,¡± Joseph spat, ¡°I want to let that bastard know I''m right here.¡±


    Lightning flashed, and the world lit up with a deep, guttural bang that shook his insides like jelly. Joseph watched as the three scattered, Talrash to one side, Domehead to the other, Robber Fly leaping into the air over the bolt, his head warping and twisting into his namesake. For a moment his body hung as though decapitated, held in the air by the robber fly, before everything seemed to click together, and he began zooming down.


    Far faster than Joseph could have anticipated. He closed the distance quickly.


    You, Robber Fly¡¯s voice was loud and droning, YOU!


    He was intercepted midair by Oliphant who jumped upwards and drew his blade, the flat of which cracked against Robber Fly''s proboscis. The two of them plummeted to the ground, squaring off against one another.


    ¡°I''m on it!¡± Oliphant called back.


    Joseph watched as Robber Fly took to the air again. He felt a thrill of fear at the sight of him, the droning sound from his nightmares made real, as he zipped through the air-


    ¡°Mr. Zheng,¡± Becenti put a hand on Joseph''s shoulder, ¡°I need you here.¡±


    ¡°...He''s mine.¡±


    ¡°Joseph.¡±


    His mentor''s voice was firm. Joseph glared back at him.


    ¡°I need Robber Fly to know I''m still here,¡± he said, ¡°I need...¡±


    ¡°I need your eyes, Mr. Zheng. If Talrash hits any one of us, we''re out of the game.¡±


    ¡°I don''t care,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Robber Fly''s right there-¡±


    ¡°And being handled, Joseph,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Get your head in the game, and be a team player. That''s an order.¡±


    An order! Joseph wanted to laugh at that. Since when did Becenti have to say he was giving an order? Like he was some sort of military bigwig...


    He shook Becenti''s hand off of his shoulder, eagle coming to life over him once more.


    ¡°Fine,¡± he said, ¡°Let''s get this over with.¡±


    ***


    ¡°It''s simple, Pock,¡± Analyza said as she skipped alongside her partner, ¡°It''s not so much the future I want to see. It''s Earthmute.¡±


    ¡°Uh-huh,¡± Pocket said.


    ¡°His makeup, Pock! What makes the Earthmute tick? How does he think? What does he dream? What does he sound like?¡±


    ¡°Probably doesn''t sound like anything, hence the ''mute'' part of his name,¡± Pocket said.


    ¡°I suppose,¡± Analyza said, ¡°Still, he''s a treasure trove of that good shit, y''know?¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Pocket said. She glanced upwards towards the sky. They had been walking for hours now, water bottles replenished by an endless spring they had pilfered from Melmaen and hidden in Pocket''s third pouch. So far they had not seen hide nor hair of anyone, but it was only a matter of time before-


    ¡°Hey, Pocket,¡± Analyza said, ¡°Don''t look now, but a guy''s falling from the sky.¡±


    ¡°How far away?¡±


    ¡°Nearly on top of us,¡± Analyza said, ¡°Hey, I''m going to sit here, and you can push me to the side dramatically when he''s about to pulverize me.¡±


    ¡°Oh, for God''s sake,¡± Pocket grabbed Analyza, pulling her away as something slammed into the ground where she had been standing a few moments before. Two figures emerged from the crater. One was Silicon, glass forming his organic form, a look of utmost concentration on his face. The sight of him was enough to make Pocket put herself between him and Ana, though Analyza immediately disregarded him as she saw the one whom Silicon was dragging from the newly-formed crater. A being of stone and magma, gargoyle-like in his appearance, as though he had walked off of the roof of a cathedral that was by an active volcano. But he was one hundred percent metahuman, Analyza could tell. The power of metahumanity warped the form, indeed.


    This magmatic being, this Pyroclast, had multiple stab wounds peppering his body, molten blood trickling down from dozens of wounds, glass blades floating in the air around him and Silicon. The knight let go of his foe, taking a deep breath before turning and fixing him with a solid glare that edged almost on regret.


    ¡°N-no,¡± Pyroclast growled, ¡°Damn you, Sil...¡±


    ¡°You didn''t have to come here,¡± Silicon said, ¡°I warned you to stay away.¡±


    ¡°Ha... like that... like that would stop me.¡±


    ¡°Leave, Pyroclast,¡± Silicon said, ¡°Accost me no more.¡±


    There was a moment of silence, Pocket and Analyza watching with bated breath, as Pyroclast lay there, Silicon standing over him.


    Then the gargoyle twisted up and snarled, leaping at the knight¡­


    ¡­Who grabbed a blade from the air and brought it down, cutting through rock both solid and molten, cleaving through Pyroclast''s neck. The beast''s head flew awry from the body, landing with a puff a few meters away. More lava spooled from the headless neck, steaming and sizzling as it pattered and pooled on the sand.


    ¡°Sleep well, friend,¡± Silicon said. His voice was morose.


    The glass broke back into its mosaic of shards, glittering around Silicon as he caught his breath.


    And then his eyes fell on Pocket and Analyza. At his stare, the slivers all over Pocket''s body opened up, firearms poking out of them as she became a veritable armory.


    ¡°One move, and I blow you to kingdom come,¡± she warned.


    ¡°Good day to you, too,¡± Silicon said.


    ¡°I mean it!¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Silicon said. He didn''t move from his spot, ¡°You are... Pocket and Analyza, yes?¡±


    ¡°Oh ho!¡± Analyza said, ¡°You know of us.¡±


    ¡°Far Travelers. Your reputation precedes you.¡±


    ¡°All good, I hope,¡± Analyza said.


    ¡°Don''t talk to him, Ana,¡± Pocket said.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    ¡°But he''s talking to me?¡±


    ¡°I don''t care,¡± Pocket said.


    ¡°You''re afraid of me,¡± Silicon said.


    ¡°We just watched you behead your old pal there,¡± Pocket said, ¡°And this is a game with only one winner, right?¡±


    ¡°And yet you two are together.¡±


    Pocket''s eye twitched.


    ¡°We drew straws.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Silicon stretched, ¡°Unless you attack me, I''ve no quarrel with you.¡±


    ¡°Like Pyroclast.¡±


    ¡°He started it. I ended it,¡± the knight''s face moped into a frown, ¡°I... He should have never come here.¡±


    ¡°Oh dearie,¡± Analyza said, ¡°I''m sorry.¡±


    There was a light that glinted in Silicon''s eye.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± he said, ¡°Tell me, what kingdoms do you hail from?¡±


    ¡°I''ve done the research,¡± Analyza said, ¡°I trace my lineage back to Omperstellicad, Pock here''s from Chliofrond.¡±


    Silicon¡¯s demeanor changed. Pocket noted that he relaxed ever so slightly. He even smiled a sad smile.


    ¡°Ah, good,¡± Silicon said, ¡°It is good when we know our history.¡±


    ¡°That''s well and good,¡± Pocket said, ¡°But that still doesn''t-¡±


    ¡°Oh, come off it, Pocky,¡± Analyza said, ¡°He isn''t going to kill us. He would¡¯ve tried already.¡±


    She stepped out from her partner''s shadow, approaching Silicon. The knight stood tall as he stared down at her, and she squinted up at him.


    ¡°This is a game where there''s only one winner,¡± she said, ¡°But that doesn''t mean it''s every woman for herself all the way through, right?¡±


    ¡°I wish to see my future,¡± Silicon said.


    ¡°Same,¡± Analyza said, ¡°Pocket wants to see my future, too. We drew straws.¡±


    Amusement danced in Silicon¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°So when we get to the Visionary...¡± he began.


    ¡°We draw straws?¡± Analyza asked.


    ¡°It will be considerably more violent,¡± Silicon said, though there was an odd pang to his voice that made his statement ring hollow.


    ¡°Agree to disagree,¡± Analyza said, ¡°Besides, I don''t think you''ve traveled with others for a while, right?¡±


    ¡°I have been traveling the multiverse alone for a long time,¡± Silicon said, ¡°I could... I could use the company.¡±


    ¡°Well, welcome to the team!¡±


    ¡°Ana!¡±


    Analyza turned. Pocket was glaring at her.


    ¡°I assure you,¡± Silicon said, ¡°Until we get to the Visionary, I will not harm you.¡±


    ¡°And when we get to her?¡± Pocket said, ¡°What then, Silicon?¡±


    ¡°We cross that bridge when it comes,¡± Analyza said, ¡°Come on, love, we''re going to get into a few scraps before we get to the end of this, might as well make friends before all that, right?¡±


    Pocket gave Analyza a mutinous look. Then, the rifles, pistols, and cannons slowly retreated back into her body.


    ¡°One wrong move,¡± she warned, ¡°And I blow you to hell.¡±


    ¡°Accost me, betray me, attack me, and I will kill you both,¡± Silicon said.


    ¡°See? We''re all in the same boat!¡± Analyza said, ¡°Now let''s go, daylight''s a-wasting.¡±


    She set off once more. Silicon glared at Pocket. Pocket glared at Silicon. Then they followed her. Pocket put herself between the knight and Ana. Silicon walked, and did not break into glass, instead keeping a wary distance.


    Thus was this strange trio formed, as they walked across the valley.


    ***


    There was a moment, as Meloche''s mass swallowed a Dari whole, where he wondered the meaning of all of this.


    A chance to see the future. Your future. Visionary''s metapower was no joke, no lie, no falsehood. She could see your future, could see what was to pass, the next chapters in the story, if one''s life was a novel.


    But what kind of future? Could this future change? Was it a prediction of things that would happen, or a window to one''s life ten, fifteen, twenty years from now? And, by knowing this future, could one change it? Or was the act of attempting to change the future merely locking it into place? Was this future one where one had acted to change the vision, and thus fulfilled the Visionary''s prophecy? If one did nothing, would that avert the future?


    Or, by doing nothing, was one acting, and thus securing the vision?


    And what of the death involved in all of this? The Dari squirmed beneath Meloche''s mass as he rose up, throwing a globule of sap at another of Civu-Dari''s slaves, covering his head in molasses like a helmet. It was a bitter death, as the Dari fell to his knees and pulled at the sap, hands catching in its sticky mass, the whole time unable to breathe due to his entire head being covered.


    Was the future worth so much death? Yes, death was a normal part of life. It was a cycle. Inevitable. Some things live, everything dies. But to take a life, to kill, that was a sin in many cultures. And killing scarred the soul. It harmed the self, turned one into a hollow rendition of who they once were.


    And yet, here Meloche was, killing.


    The shock of how simple it was, and the numbness he felt at that fact, had faded away years ago. It was just an action, like breathing or eating. He moved in response to the Dari around him, avoiding harsh ax strokes, absorbed sword strikes as they sliced through his mass. Pain was almost alien to Meloche. His core, the nerves that governed agony, were far from the sap that armored his body like a second skin. The feeling he felt when the maple was harmed was a mere tingling sensation.


    Perhaps that was it, as he danced and weaved with a few of the Dari. There was no pain to his actions. He did not feel the life bleed from their bodies, the pain that came with delivering a punch, or the way the fingers cried out when they squeezed hard against a neck. They simply... died.


    There was no conflict. All of the difficulty of killing came from the soul.


    And the soul was scarred, to the point that he felt nothing.


    Meloche wondered if Eco felt the same. He was moving closer to Civu-Dari, sand weaving through his body. He swiped Dari away, pushed them back, twisted out of the way of the witch''s  spells of warping and transformation. She was going for the kill, Meloche knew. She needed to end this quickly.


    Eco reached into his satchel, producing a small piece of purple. A slice of Endrocia, which he popped into his mouth and swallowed like a pill. The effect was immediate, as a lake of shadow pooled around his throat and spread out, overtaking his form as he took on the nature of Endrocia''s unique ecosystem. Civu-Dari snarled, opening up her mouth, releasing out a bolt from her tongue. It struck true, sinking deep into Eco, his chest rippling as though it were a surface of water. There should have been magic ¨C a warping of space, a transportation of half of Eco''s form to elsewhere in Death Valley.


    But Endrocia was a unique plane. Much of it was formed of anti-magic made physical. The air choked magic and broke down spellwork. The atmosphere denied witchcraft.


    And thus, nothing happened, as Eco''s left hand molded itself into one of the native dark crystals, swinging it at Civu-Dari, aiming for her head-


    As her foremost leaped in between, blades brought up in an ''X'' to clash against the metahuman''s mace. The two began to skirmish, blade clashing against crystal. Meloche grunted as still more soldiers emerged from Civu-Dari''s maw. They were wielding spears and shields. Half of them charged towards Eco. The others went for Meloche, who rushed forward to meet their charge head on. Spears drilled into his chest, though not deep enough to reach his core as he swallowed them down.


    ***


    To his credit, Robber Fly was able to avoid the slashes and swipes of Oliphant with relative ease. He swung back up into the air, spinning around, producing a machine pistol and opening fire on the leader of the Silver Knights. Oliphant hunkered down, blade covering his head, bullets plinking off of his form, the scale armor sparking as it deflected each shot, and then he was back upright again, leaping into the air at Robber Fly, gritting his teeth through the phantom pain in his ribs, slashing downwards at the metahuman...


    Joseph tried to ignore the skirmish as he and Becenti zero''d in on their other two assailants. Talrash and Domehead had separated from one another, both of them keeping their distance and firing from two different positions. Joseph noted Becenti sweating as he concentrated, keeping the beams of gold and bursts of gunfire at bay with his heat shields, the air rippling and un-rippling.


    It fell to Joseph to provide recon. The distance between them and their rivals was so vast, that Becenti would have trouble pinpointing when one took aim. Especially Talrash, as she merely opened her mouth to unleash her metapower.


    Thus, Joseph''s soul covered over his eyes. The fact that the eagle was out meant he could not return fire ¨C lest they fire at the same time, and Becenti was unprepared, and...


    He didn''t want to think about that. Not with the way the gold froze the heat walls Becenti created, or how they just barely seemed to hold from the Domehead''s potshots.


    ¡°Ms. Ever-True,¡± Becenti said, ¡°How many javelins do you have?¡±


    ¡°I''ve got three more,¡± Ever-True said, ¡°Don''t know how much good they''ll do, though.¡±


    ¡°You only use javelins?¡± Joseph asked, ¡°Not, like, a gun? Or something?¡±


    Ever-True shot him a glare.


    ¡°No,¡± she said, ¡°I don''t use them.¡±


    ¡°She''s a superhero, Mr. Zheng,¡± Becenti said, ¡°They tend to be more... colorful, with their methods.¡±


    ¡°I''m in a guild with a fish and a guy with a TV for a head,¡± Joseph said, ¡°You don¡¯t have to tell me.¡±


    ¡°You can''t fire off a bolt of lightning?¡± Ever-True said.


    ¡°Not when my soul''s out,¡± Joseph replied, ¡°Not when- On your left, Talrash.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Becenti began forming a wall.


    ¡°On your right, too! The Domehead!¡±


    ¡°Hell,¡± the older man raised up his arms, his entire body shaking as twin lines cut across the desert and slammed into his defenses. Each one caused a physical shiver to ripple up and down his body.


    ¡°We can''t-¡± he took a deep breath, ¡°We can''t hold out like this.¡±


    Robber Fly, in apparent communication with his peers, was retreating. He was sporting a ghastly wound on his side, drips of red peppering the desert sand as he made his way to Talrash''s side. Oliphant''s blade glinted scarlet in the midday sun as he rejoined the group.


    ¡°We need to get in close, Shimmer,¡± he said.


    ¡°They''re separated,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Domehead on the right, Talrash and Robber Fly on our left.¡±


    ¡°Domehead...?¡± Oliphant said.


    ¡°Mr. Zheng''s name,¡± Becenti said, ¡°He''s alone. We can make a break for him, if we''re careful.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Oliphant considered the situation, ¡°Right. Okay. Joseph, right?¡±


    ¡°That''s my name.¡±


    ¡°Your... bird. Can you have it out and also fire off those bolts of yours?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Joseph grumbled, ¡°It''s one or the other.¡±


    ¡°I''ll take the other,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°Lay down covering fire. Don''t let Talrash or Robber Fly breathe. Shimmer, place a shield in front of us in case Domehead over there gets any ideas. Ever-True, when he reacts, pin him with a javelin.¡±


    ¡°He''ll catch them,¡± Ever-True warned.


    ¡°Can he catch all three? At once?¡± Oliphant nodded, ¡°I''ll be tip of the spear, get in close. We move now.¡±


    There was no debate. Despite himself, despite these orders coming from a veritable stranger, Joseph found himself moving. Becenti, too, seemed to agree with the orders, jogging just behind Oliphant, a heat wall shimmering in front of him.


    ¡°Fire, Mr. Zheng!¡± he called back.


    Right. His job. Joseph spun, dropping the soul back into his body, his mind reeling a bit at the sudden loss of such sharp vision. But he still could make out Robber Fly and Talrash, two blips on the sea of sand. Pointing his palm out, he began firing off bolts of lightning. They lashed out weaker than he expected, without the usual build-up he was used to, lancing off in jagged lines. They sparked up smoke in the distance, mere puffs of blackened sand. But it was enough to make Talrash and Robber Fly take evasive actions.


    ¡°Concentrate on Talrash!¡± Oliphant called out, ¡°She''s the more dangerous of the two!¡±


    Joseph nodded, taking aim and firing. Talrash spun in the distance, flipping away from each bolt. For a moment she seemed to be overwhelmed by his assault. Dark satisfaction pooled in his stomach as one of his bolts struck her head-on, pushing her back, the world thundering with a ravenous echo like a war drum.


    But she was still on her feet, taking the shot-


    ¡°Duck!¡± he yelled out.


    The beam of gold knifed through the air, a globule of gilded flame that made the group scatter. Ever-True leaped out of the way just in time, bits of ember floating out from the beam. Flecks of her uniformed burnished gold. Becenti dropped down, gritting his teeth and crawling on his stomach, the shield still up. The Domehead was taking advantage of this, firing off more shots that railed against Becenti''s shield. The shield continued rippling forward as Becenti struggled to keep up with Oliphant, who was running just behind it, ignoring the chaos behind him. He held his blade in both hands.


    Almost there...


    ¡°Eve, now!¡± he yelled out.


    ¡°Mr. Zheng!¡± Becenti snarled.


    The two moved at the same moment, Joseph building up and launching another spear of lightning towards Talrash, Ever-True throwing her javelins, one after the other, at the Domehead. Joseph''s bolt struck true, sending the Breath of Midas wheeling back, another gout of flame erupting from her maw, though this was sent upwards as her face jolted towards the sky, cutting off as she landed on the ground in a heap.


    The Domehead tossed his rifle to the ground, hand reaching out, grabbing one javelin. Two. The third he deflected, swiping it away with one of its captured brethren, right as Oliphant reached him. Blade clashed against spearhead as the two danced, the mercenary on the defensive, blocking and parrying each of Oliphant''s wide, sweeping blows. With one stroke, he cut through one of Ever-True''s javelins, the two pieces of it knifing through the air and landing in the dust.


    Becenti caught up to the pair, dropping his shield, heat forming into a hammer that fell towards the Domehead-


    Who leaped to the side, wings molting out of his back. Big, leathery ones like a bat''s, or a Dragon''s. He was quick, this mercenary, as he flew like an arrow towards Becenti. Joseph''s eyes widened as Becenti pulled in heat around him, trying to intercept the Domehead, who stuck out a hand and-


    And tapped Becenti''s chest. A moment later, like twin waves, heat came crashing down on him on either side. Becenti jumped back, stumbling for a bit, twisting his leg as he landed. With a grunt, he fell to the ground, glaring at the Domehead.


    But, as opposed to being crushed between two walls of heat, being burned as though invisible lava flows had swallowed him whole, the Domehead remained standing, his arms shaking as he held them out to either side. The heat, Becenti noticed, was not shimmering through him.


    It was shimmering around him. And, at the Domehead''s order, began forming and withering away.


    ¡°Oh God,¡± Becenti muttered.


    The mercenary, now in control of the greatest of Death Valley''s dangers, sent a surge of Becenti''s own power at him.


    ***


    There was a certain sort of dance to combats like these. The magician and the anti-magician. Meloche had seen such duels many times in his life, on worlds where magic was common. For every thesis, an antithesis. An opposite reaction. A dance partner, different from the other in every way. As above, so below.


    Such was the battle between magic and anti-magic. In many cases, the magician could do little to affect her enemy, who swallowed her witchcraft like candy. Intense gouts of flames, freezing bolts of ice and lightning, death made manifest in clouds of green, all was devoured by the anti-magic of her oppressor. It was all-encompassing. It warped the rules magic had twisted. And, most unfairly, it fell to the magician to adapt to the situation. Some, Meloche had seen, were used to anti-magic. They wielded blades, becoming more like battlemages in their technique, able to move flawlessly between spell and sword like the flowing of a river. Others had friends, great oafs with axes or clubs or some other blunt object, slamming them against the anti-magician until they stopped moving.


    Some, too, had bazookas, and shot their enemy to kingdom come.


    Civu-Dari was the second of those three. Small cuts now laced across her arms, near-misses from Eco¡¯s crystallized mace. And from these wounds were streaming more of her slaves. Dari leaped out of the blood pooling on the sand, far enough away from Eco that the growth spell allowed them to leap into action.


    There were enough of them to keep Meloche back, to keep him blocking spears and axes. They were adapting, more and more of them now wielding axes that easily cut through sap, arcing through it like jelly. Eco was alone, now.


    A duel, between magic and anti-magic.


    He was winning, too, as Civu-Dari became more and more frantic. Spellwork failed. Dari leaped from her body, only to be cut down by Eco''s maces, battered aside as though they were nothing. He was a soldier, Meloche knew. A veteran of some war or other. A survivor.


    What metahuman wasn''t?


    Civu-Dari was not finished. Not by a long shot, as she opened up her mouth once more.


    There must have been a catapult within her, loaded by Dari and set ablaze. Not magic, but bone covered in oil. There was a moment where she found the opportunity to fire it, Meloche''s eyes widening, Eco trying to twist out of the way as Civu-Dari extended a bloody arm, a flaming pebble bursting from her skin, growing in size into a fireball that collided with Eco''s chest, holding fast to his chest and setting the shadows aflame, reminding Meloche of a beating heart.


    Eco collapsed as Meloche threw himself past the Dari, ignoring the wounds as a few of them intercepted him, stabbing deep past his outer skin and into the core of his being. Pain lanced through Meloche.


    And now, with fear for his friend gripping his soul, Meloche remembered what it felt like to be alive. He was on Civu-Dari in an instant, bringing up a great arm and hammering it down. It did not so much slam into her head as it did cover it. With a grunt that bordered on a roar, the great mass of sap forced her to the ground. He was aware of Dari screaming at him, screaming for their goddess, spears and axes falling down on him, a mob that could do nothing as he drowned Civu-Dari, who was struggling beneath him, writhing like a fish out of water, fingernails clawing hopelessly against his arm...


    No.


    He had to be better. But he did not know why.


    But what he was doing was wrong.


    He removed his grip from her, rising up and stepping back. The Dari stopped hacking at him, instead swarming around their goddess, checking her over. She was moaning softly, an agonized drone that just barely eked over the sobs and cries of the Dari. That, too, went silent after a while, as she faded into unconsciousness. Meloche hung back as they lifted her, as one, towards the sky, her body crumpled and broken. The foremost glared at him, daring Meloche to make any move at all.


    Then, as a group, they moved off. Away from the center of Death Valley. Away from this game of metahumanity. Meloche watched them for a moment, before walking over to attend to Eco. His friend was bent over, clutching his chest, the boulder having fallen away ¨C and taken a good chunk of shadow with it, the wound now bleeding darkness.


    ¡°N-Not bad,¡± Eco wheezed, ¡°By the gods, one of the worst parts of Endrocia. ''Tis a brittle place...¡±


    ¡°Can you walk?¡± Meloche asked.


    ¡°I... Yes,¡± Eco replied. He was gasping as he rose to his full height, ¡°Sand. I need sand.¡±


    Meloche scrambled, mitten-like hands gathering a pocketful of dirt and gravel. With a shrug, he stuffed it into Eco''s mouth. Eco choked for a second, chewed, swallowed, pinking tears of light brimming in his eyes, though that was replaced by shards of salt as he aligned with Death Valley''s ecosystem. Sand overtook shade, and he seemed a bit steadier as he walked.


    ¡°Gods,¡± Eco said again, ¡°Gods, she was something.¡±


    ¡°She nearly killed you,¡± Meloche said.


    ¡°She had the upper hand,¡± Eco coughed, ¡°See? Just a flesh wound.¡±


    He took an unsteady step, one that could not support his weight as his leg broke into a pile of sand. Meloche reached to support his friend as he stumbled, pulling him back up, Eco''s leg reforming.


    ¡°I''m glad I have you, Mel,¡± Eco said.


    ¡°We should turn back,¡± Meloche said, ¡°You''re hurt. Injured-¡±


    ¡°''If we turned back at every wall in our way, we would only find ourselves standing still,¡¯¡± Eco said.


    Meloche glared.


    ¡°Don''t quote me.¡±


    ¡°Don''t make me quote you,¡± Eco said, ¡°Come on, I''ll be fine. We can afford a few injuries.¡±


    Together, the two walked, Meloche supporting Eco, back into the wastes.


    ***


    With a twist of his arm, Becenti brought a wave of heat between him and the mercenary. The Domehead did the same, the two roils crashing against one another in a miasma of heat and motion. Becenti felt himself slide back, bit by bit, as the Domehead¡¯s intensified his attack. Gritting his teeth, Becenti pushed back, moving the cacophony of ripples away from the rest of his team. Oliphant, at that moment, took the opportunity to swing his blade at the Domehead. Blade clashed against javelin once more, and heat began to rumble in the mercenary''s fist as he began drawing it in around him-


    Only for Becenti to reach out, forming a barrier between the Silver Knight and the Domehead at the last moment as the mercenary unleashed a full torrent. Oliphant could only watch as the Domehead took to the sky, the only indication of his using Shimmer''s power the slight rippling in the air, followed by a deluge hotter than a volcano.


    ¡°Get back!¡± Shimmer snarled, ¡°All of you!¡±


    It was all he could do to keep the mercenary at bay, torrents of heat pouring out around him. Becenti was unused to this. Not used to having his own powers turned against him. He had heard of mimics like these before. Power copiers, strands of ancient technologies from the Federation to ape metahuman abilities.


    Or perhaps this one was a metahuman. A power-copying wanderer. Becenti, in a rare moment, doubted this to be true. Something about this particular combatant rang differently. The mercenary was¡­ artificial, in a way. Good at his job, too, for he was adapting Becenti¡¯s powers quickly. Becenti¡¯s mind raced as he struggled to keep the Domehead at bay. Theirs was an invisible duel, one where the temperature rose and dropped, where the air shimmered like a mirage, heat crashed against heat, pure force that was without form or thought. It was all Becenti could do to keep from collapsing.


    Joseph, at least, was keeping Talrash occupied, his bolts sailing towards the middle distance. The Breath of Midas was retreating, pulling back from the combat, slowly becoming more and more of a blip on the horizon. Robber Fly was joining her...


    Until, at last, right as Becenti was about to give in, when his arms were crying out and his body ached all over from effort, the Domehead, too, broke away. With an alighting of his wings, he took after his compatriots, wearing heat like a cloak as he rippled away. Becenti sank to his knees, his breathing heavy. Joseph ran over and knelt down by him.


    ¡°You... you alright?¡± he asked.


    A good man, Joseph was. He was quick on the upkeep, his eyes continually darting to the horizon for any danger, then back to Becenti for an answer.


    ¡°F-fine, Mr. Zheng,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Give me a moment...¡±


    Oliphant ran to catch up to the two.


    ¡°Couldn''t even get close to all of that,¡± he said, ¡°What the hell was happening?¡±


    ¡°Heat,¡± Becenti said. He took a deep breath, a final exhale to right himself with the world, ¡°He copied my powers. He could control heat.¡±


    A silence. Oliphant watched them retreating.


    ¡°That''s probably all they were after,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Eliminating any one of us was just gravy.¡±


    ¡°Who were they?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Talrash, the Breath of Midas,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°No,¡± Ever-True said, ¡°Don''t say...¡±


    ¡°It''s true,¡± Becenti said, ¡°A former Son of Darwin.¡±


    Joseph blinked.


    ¡°She''s a girl, though.¡±


    ¡°Not the point, Mr. Zheng,¡± Becenti said. He stood up, ¡°This game is no mere game.¡±


    ¡°No, I''d suppose not,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°Acero told me you were about, Shimmer. That you were... going to the other prisons.¡±


    ¡°Checking them,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Making sure everything was alright.¡±


    ¡°And this is one of those check-ups,¡± Oliphant said.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Becenti replied, ¡°And if a Son of Darwin is after them...¡±


    ¡°Then we''d best hurry,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°That Domehead has your powers. He''s become much more dangerous out here. The sooner we get to either them, or Visionary, the sooner we can nip this whole thing in the bud.¡±


    He began stalking off.


    ¡°Come on,¡± he ordered, ¡°We don''t have time.¡±


    ¡°We just went through the ringer,¡± Joseph said, ¡°You really think-¡±


    ¡°I said, go!¡± Oliphant yelled, ¡°We don''t have time!¡±


    Joseph glared at Oliphant. Becenti put a hand on his guildmate¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°He''s right, Mr. Zheng,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I''ll be fine.¡±


    Joseph gave Becenti a look, one the older man couldn''t quite place. A storm was roiling in the young metahuman, one that, for a moment, seemed about to unleash itself. But Joseph was used to keeping his mouth shut, despite the indignation within him. He stood up, offering a hand to Becenti, who gladly took it. They went off after the two Silver Knights.


    ¡°The Sons of Darwin?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°A guild,¡± Becenti said, ¡°But later, Mr. Zheng.¡±


    Exhaustion now replaced adrenaline. Despite the heat of the day, Becenti felt cold. It had been long since he had seen Talrash. Since he had shielded himself from her power. She was supposed to be in hiding. She was supposed to have joined some other guild, far away from the known multiverse, a self-imposed exile.


    But she was here now. Serving her old master.


    None of this felt right. None of it at all.


    ¡°I''m tired, Mr. Zheng,¡± Becenti whispered.


    ¡°No shit,¡± Joseph said, ¡°You... you really take me on the worst jobs.¡±

 53. A GUILD TURNED EMPIRE

    If one did not look carefully, one would not have realized that Talrash was injured.


    She carried herself well, only swaying slightly as she led her trio across Death Valley. Her golden robes had been smoking in the minutes immediately following their retreat. Though that had disappeared, and they seemed none the worse for wear. Robber Fly wondered if Talrash would have a scar like his, a tree-like lesion that would branch from the bolt¡¯s point on her chest down to her foot, where electricity had rooted into the ground.


    He felt a bit jealous of her, to be honest. He had been out for hours after his encounter with that Joseph character.


    The kid had grown. He didn''t hesitate. He had kept his head on his shoulders.


    And it made Robber Fly incredibly excited for when they would meet again.


    He jogged over to catch up with Talrash.


    ¡°So,¡± he said, ¡°That was something.¡±


    ¡°We got what we wanted,¡± Talrash said, ¡°Our suspicions were confirmed. Shimmer''s in the desert, and we got his metapower.¡±


    ¡°True,¡± Robber Fly said, glancing back.


    The air around the third of their number rippled as he walked. Occasionally, the mercenary would wave his arm out in front of him, the heat following along with him like a school of minnows. He would stop at this, considering his newfound power like a curious child. He closed his hands around the heat, which squelched between his fingers like mud.


    Heat made solid. Heat given form. No wonder Shimmer had been so powerful. He was king of these lands.


    Now if only their mercenary would quit stopping every five minutes to experiment with his powers. Eventually Talrash turned.


    ¡°Walk, or we leave,¡± she said.


    The mercenary stopped after that, his head dipped down a bit.


    ¡°Weird guy,¡± Robber Fly said, ¡°Where''d you get him?¡±


    ¡°Of no concern to you,¡± Talrash said, ¡°He''s already been on a couple of missions. Nothing fancy yet. A product of the labs, from what I hear.¡±


    ¡°Ah, one of them Little Stones,¡± Robber Fly said, ¡°So he''s not one of us, then?¡±


    ¡°Not metahuman, not truly,¡± Talrash said, ¡°But he''s one for our cause.¡±


    ¡°Sure, yeah, whatever,¡± Robber Fly said, rolling his eyes, ¡°Did you see Oliphant over there?¡±


    ¡°From a distance, yes,¡± Talrash said.


    ¡°Not much I could do to him,¡± Robber Fly said, ¡°I think he''s injured, yet he still tossed my ass. He''s going to be a problem.¡±


    ¡°He''s a man with a magic sword, and not much else,¡± Talrash gave a smirk, ¡°I''m not worried.¡±


    ¡°You underestimate what a man with a magic sword can do,¡± Robber Fly said, ¡°A man with a magic sword was the one who stopped the Mantic-¡±


    Again, Talrash whirled, delivering a slam into Robber Fly''s gut. He was ready for this, however, tightening the muscles in his core and moving to the side a tiny bit. It still hurt like a bitch, but he didn''t double over this time.


    ¡°Do not speak of him,¡± Talrash snarled, ¡°Ever. Understood?¡±


    ¡°S-sure,¡± Robber Fly said, ¡°Ixnay on the Arthuryay.¡±


    Back to her regular bad mood, Talrash swished off again. Robber Fly rolled his eyes, glanced back to make sure the mercenary was following them, and continued on.


    ***


    Becenti didn''t speak for the rest of the day. Neither did anyone else, for that matter, as the most intense heat of Death Valley overtook them. The worst of it was dulled, just a bit, by Becenti''s power, though the battle earlier had defanged the older man, and Joseph felt himself sweating as they walked. Water was passed out among the group, each of them taking sips and making sure to stay hydrated through the day, but it was still a rough going. Joseph was used to taking hikes, of course. He enjoyed them, a nice weekend hiking up some mountain or other, his friends at his side, the woods of Washington all around him.


    But this wasn''t like that. It was flat, and hot, and miserable. There was nothing around them for miles save for desert. To drive the point further, every time he looked out on the horizon he hoped he didn''t see anything. For every spot in the distance, every figure he could sometimes make out, was a metahuman. A rival, to their getting to the Visionary. A potential skirmish, with all of the energy and fear that came with that. Fighting was exhausting. Fighting in the desert, even more so. Joseph wondered if they all wouldn''t just collapse and die after another spat.


    There was nothing to do but to suck it up, scan the horizon, and walk.


    They walked for a long time.


    ***


    Night fell over Death Valley, and with it came a sliver of relief from the unrelenting heat. The sun dimmed, dipped into sunset, scarred the sky orange, then disappeared altogether. Joseph found it strange that it did not wink out completely, before realizing, with a jolt and a shiver down his spine, how used he had become to the Inner Sun of Londoa. In the sun¡¯s place was a sea of stars, so many that it made Joseph''s heart skip a beat. It was a rare sight, especially on Earth. Thousands of white dots in the sky. Millions, each one a world of its own. Becenti stopped and turned to see Joseph just staring upwards.


    ¡°A good sight, Mr. Zheng?¡± he asked.


    ¡°It''s one I haven''t seen in... in a long time,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Notice any constellations?¡± Becenti asked.


    ¡°Yeah. A few,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Ursa Major, and Ursa Minor. I think I can make out Virgo? Ha, there''s so many, it''s hard to pick them out...¡±


    The older man walked back to Joseph, staring up with him.


    ¡°Recognize anything?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°I think a few that my old man told me about,¡± Becenti said, ¡°But... I can only really make out the Squatting Man, I think.¡±


    He furrowed his brow and he continued to try to make out old stories from his childhood. After a few moments, however, he gave in with a sigh.


    ¡°We should turn in for the night,¡± he said.


    Oliphant and Ever-True had stopped, turning to the two guildfolk. Oliphant nodded.


    ¡°Right,¡± he said, ¡°We''ve walked long enough.¡±


    ¡°Should we chance a fire?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Not a good idea,¡± Ever-True said, ¡°This place is crawling with metahumans.¡±


    ¡°Seems lonely,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Oh dear, Mr. Zheng,¡± Becenti said, ¡°You have the stars and the moon, what more could you want?¡±


    ¡°A bit of warmth would be nice,¡± Joseph said.


    Becenti smirked.


    ¡°Mr. Zheng,¡± he said, ¡°I was Shimmer, the Magician of the Red Wind. What do you think my powers are?¡±


    Joseph felt himself redden a bit.


    ¡°R-Right,¡± he said.


    The ball of heat sat in the center of their little circle. They sat in silence, a few bangs ringing in the distance, so sudden they made the hairs on Joseph''s arms stand on edge. He gritted his teeth through the screaming that came after, which was cut abruptly into silence.


    ¡°So,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Are we just going to sit here, in the dark?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°It''s a dangerous place-¡±


    ¡°Oh, come off it,¡± Ever-True said, ¡°This place gives me the creeps.¡±


    ¡°It is filled with metahumans,¡± Becenti said. He was beside Joseph, and he could barely make out the older man''s silhouette, just a bit lighter than the darkness, shuffling a bit, ¡°Nomads. Opportunists. Predators.¡±


    ¡°No shit,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I mean, with people like Talrash out there...¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Shimmer, what''s going on?¡± Oliphant said.


    ¡°I told you,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I''m checking the prisons.¡±


    ¡°I find it convenient that you''re only checking this one now,¡± Oliphant said.


    ¡°A coincidence,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Valm''s no fool. He knows that the people around here will only accept a metahuman in this region, if it comes to it.¡±


    ¡°Not a Federation team.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Becenti said, ¡°And it aligns with my goals. I''ve already checked the Manticore and August.¡±


    ¡°And that''s it?¡±


    ¡°For now,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I already know that Dakos has escaped, no thanks to you.¡±


    ¡°That wasn''t us,¡± Oliphant''s voice became dark and defensive, ¡°That wasn''t us at all. We don''t even know where your people stowed him away.¡±


    ¡°Neither do I,¡± Becenti said, ¡°A plane near Prime, I think. But I''m not sure.¡±


    ¡°Dakos?¡± Joseph said, ¡°Who the hell is Dakos?¡±


    ¡°A Martian god,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°The last Martian god. Served the Manticore. Was one of the inner circle in the Sons of Darwin.¡±


    ¡°Let me guess,¡± Joseph said, ¡°He fought in the war.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Oliphant said.


    ¡°What the hell''s the war?¡±


    There was an awkward, bitter silence. Joseph got the feeling that he had said the wrong thing, but he found that he did not care.


    ¡°Look,¡± he said, ¡°You keep going on about it. And you told me you''d tell me once we got to rest.¡±


    ¡°He doesn''t know?¡± Ever-True said.


    ¡°...No,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°You didn''t read... anything at all?¡± Oliphant said, ¡°It''s common history.¡±


    Joseph blinked.


    ¡°No,¡± he said, ¡°I''ve been reading... other... things. Stuff to get me home.¡±


    ¡°I''m surprised,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°You''re working with a veteran of it, here.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Joseph said, ¡°And he''s been mum on it. Which, fair, it sounds like it was a bad time. But now he''s dragged me out here to the middle of nowhere, and he still hasn''t told me why.¡±


    He gave a glare to Becenti.


    ¡°I know we''re here to see the Visionary,¡± Joseph said, ¡°To... ''apprehend'' her. But you still haven''t told me why. Or why she''s important. Or why you''re visiting the prisons, or why anything.¡±


    ¡°Hey,¡± Ever-True said, ¡°Maybe lay off him a bit, yeah?¡±


    Through the darkness, Joseph shot her an angry look. He could see the silhouette that was Becenti sag.


    ¡°No, it''s quite alright,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I''m surprised you''re just asking me now, though.¡±


    ¡°I...¡± Joseph sighed, leaning back, ¡°It''s been a busy few months. And it''s...¡±


    ¡°A sore point.¡±


    ¡°Yeah. And the way you act around it, made me not want to ask anyone else.¡±


    ¡°Well, might as well get into it,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Talrash. Dakos. The Visionary. August.¡±


    ¡°I don''t know who that last guy is,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°They were members of a guild,¡± Becenti said, ¡°A guild known as the Sons of Darwin.¡±


    ***


    The three of them sat together in the darkness, Robber Fly striking up a small fire using the mercenary''s holdout plasma pistol as a lighter, producing a small package of gel as fuel. It was an invention from Glorica, the World of Ingenuity, used in the event there was no wood around. Without fire, Robber Fly mused, what was the point of the night?


    His brother would have beaten the shit out of him for that one.


    Talrash was still standing, glaring imperiously down at him.


    ¡°You''ll attract all sorts of dangers, setting something like that,¡± she said.


    ¡°With us three?¡± Robber Fly said, ¡°Who''d attack us?¡±


    ¡°You mean us two,¡± Talrash said, nodding to the mercenary, ¡°You''re superfluous.¡±


    ¡°Gotta have someone with good looks,¡± Robber Fly chuckled. He took out his machine pistol and began polishing it, checking it for any damage it might have sustained earlier, ¡°Besides, you need bait out here.¡±


    ¡°Hmph,¡± Talrash said.


    ¡°Ah, come on,¡± Robber Fly said, ¡°You got hit by a bolt of lightning and had to dance like a ballerina because of that Joseph kid, but you¡¯re fine. Sit down, relax. If we run into anyone, we''ll kill ''em.¡±


    Talrash''s eye twitched. But she relented, simmering down as she sat down on the other side of the fire. The mercenary joined them. Without a word, he clicked a button on the side of his helmet, which let out a small hiss as it decompressed, before he removed it from his head. It revealed a young man, dark-skinned, with empty eyes that stared at the fire for far too long, the hair on his temple cut to a buzz, the top a series of small curls.


    ¡°What''s up,¡± Robber Fly said.


    But the mercenary ignored him.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    ¡°...Right,¡± Robber Fly said, ¡°Want something to eat?¡±


    The mercenary looked up at him. Gave a single nod. Robber Fly grinned, reaching into his pack.


    ¡°I only got granola bars and bottles of water,¡± he said, ¡°Jesus, I feel like a soccer mom at a state fair.¡±


    But nonetheless, he handed them out to the mercenary. He offered one to Talrash, who glowered at him.


    ¡°Come on,¡± he said, ¡°You must be hungry.¡±


    She took one. The sight of the god-like Talrash, the Breath of Midas, dressed like a regal queen, opening up her granola bar with bits of marshmallow and chocolate chips, was a sight Robber Fly would remember for a long time.


    ***


    ¡°They began,¡± Becenti said, ¡°On Prime. A small organization, from what I hear, a circle of like-minded professors, philosophers, and politicians. Sons of Darwin, they called themselves. Social Darwinists. Eugenicists. Fascists, many of them holding party affiliations with the various¡­ movements, spread across Europe.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°They were the earliest supervillains,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Mad scientists. Nazi champions. They were in the cabinets of the Axis Powers during World War II.¡±


    Joseph scratched his arm, feeling a creeping sense of anxiety crawl up his spine. Nai Nai had only told him stories of family back in China, her father and mother, and what they had witnessed there...


    ¡°But they lost, right?¡± Joseph asked, feeling all the stupider as Oliphant groaned in the darkness.


    ¡°They lost that war, if that''s what you''re saying,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Silver Arthur, the founder of the Silver Knights, was the tip of the spear into Europe. Most of the original Sons of Darwin were either killed or captured. A few escaped. A few turned coat. A few... disappeared.¡±


    ¡°So what happened?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°They went to the shadows,¡± Oliphant replied, ¡°Went underground. Most supervillains did, during the fifties. The sixties, though...¡±


    He glanced to Becenti.


    ¡°Do you want to do this part, or should I?¡±


    ¡°I will,¡± Becenti said, ¡°You were just a kid during the war, weren''t you?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I was,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°Just a kid...¡±


    ¡°A figure emerged from the shadows,¡± Becenti said, ¡°A being known as the Manticore.¡±


    ¡°A being.¡±


    ¡°Not a man. Not a monster, despite evidence to the contrary,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I... I don''t know how to describe him. He had many names. The Manticore. Okuta Stone-and-Sky. The Ruler of Allworlds.¡±


    ¡°Humble guy,¡± Joseph murmured.


    ¡°He certainly was pretentious,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°So¡­ He started doing supervillain shit?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Becenti said, ¡°No, he did not. He took the Sons of Darwin, and formed from them a guild.¡±


    ¡°If you could call it that,¡± Oliphant muttered.


    ¡°A guild''s just a legal term, right?¡± Ever-True said, ¡°Any organization can be a guild, is what I''ve heard. The Silver Knights are technically one, right?¡±


    ¡°Technically,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°But we don''t deal with guild bullshit. We don''t care about the Law of InterGuild.¡±


    ¡°Which is your prerogative,¡± Becenti said, ¡°But Ever-True is right. A guild is simply an organization approved by the High Federation to do work in the multiverse. That can mean anything. Anything at all.¡±


    The old man''s silhouette leaned in.


    ¡°And the Law of Interguild legitimized the Sons of Darwin. Gave them a voice. Gave them work. Gave them influence. And they started taking jobs across the multiverse.¡±


    Joseph wasn''t sure what to say to that. That anxious feeling was only growing larger now, moving from his spine to the pit of his stomach, tying his soul into knots. Oliphant gave a low whisper of ¡°Shit,¡± as Becenti continued.


    ¡°They grew so influential, they began taking over planets in the Silver Eye in all but name,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Same with planes of existence. Vyshya became a stronghold. Dailori became a factory plane. Their guildhall was on Prime, of course. Most nations of Prime were held under their sway. They bribed politicians, assassinated rivals. It was...¡±


    His voice became quiet. Strained.


    ¡°It was a dark time.¡±


    ***


    ¡°So,¡± Robber Fly said to the mercenary, ¡°What''s your deal?¡±


    The mercenary said nothing.


    ¡°You like cards?¡± Robber Fly said, ¡°Video games? All the kids like video games nowadays.¡±


    The mercenary was silent, wringing his hands and staring at the fire.


    ¡°Oh, come on,¡± Robber Fly said, ¡°You can''t give us the strong and silent type forever, pal. I know you''re one of them Little Stones, right? A vat baby?¡±


    ¡°He won''t listen,¡± Talrash said, ¡°Now shut up, you''re annoying me.¡±


    ¡°Please,¡± Robber Fly said, ¡°The quiet all around us is givin'' me the jeebies. Let me talk, alright? It''ll scare the ugly metahumans away.¡±


    Talrash gave an annoyed huff. She stood up and walked out of the light of their campfire, standing stock-still and watching the stars wheel overhead.


    ¡°Right,¡± Robber Fly said, ¡°You''ve gotta give me something, kid.¡±


    The mercenary continued his usual silence.


    ¡°You''re, what, twenty? Are you even legally able to drink out here?¡±


    ¡°That doesn''t matter.¡±


    It was the first time Robber Fly had heard him speak. The mercenary''s voice was quiet and calm, like a river in winter. Without a word, Robber Fly took out a flask, a smile breaking out on his lopsided face. He presented the flask to the mercenary.


    ¡°A drink. For surviving the day.¡±


    The mercenary considered him suspiciously, those dark eyes flitting from Robber Fly''s face to the flask in hand. He took it, holding it in careful hands, uncapping the stopper and giving a sniff. His face wrinkled in disgust.


    ¡°What''s in it?¡±


    ¡°A little brand of whiskey I call Liver Killer,¡± Robber Fly said, ¡°It''s got a bit of everything in it. Whiskey, rum, a bit of wine, a bit of Kilurian brandy, a pinch of rotmoth''s venom...¡±


    ¡°I don''t want to drink it.¡±


    ¡°What are you, chicken?¡± Robber Fly chuckled.


    This caused the mercenary to truly glare at him. With a defiant jerk, he took in a mouthful, swallowing it down for a brief second before spluttering it back up in a coughing fit that stung the fire, causing it to flare. Robber Fly let out barks of laughter as he watched the mercenary double over and wheeze.


    ¡°Dear God!¡± he said, ¡°Jesus, you''re a lightweight! You''re dressed like a goddamn space marine and you''re a lightweight!¡±


    He continued laughing, chuckles turning into great, ridiculous guffaws. The mercenary did nothing but glare at him.


    ***


    ¡°No one was sure when the battles first started,¡± Becenti said, ¡°By the time the Manticore gave the orders to start attacking Federation worlds, the entirety of the Outer Reach was under his sway. He had influence over much of the known multiverse ¨C there were very few planes where the Sons of Darwin did not at least have an outpost.¡±


    ¡°And he started playing for keeps,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Becenti whispered, ¡°For keeps.¡±


    ¡°The war,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°The High Federation has an official name for it, I think.¡±


    ¡°The Darwinist Rebellion,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Here, we just call it the Manticore''s War,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°I like that name better. Makes it more personal.¡±


    Joseph could feel the Silver Knight''s stone glare even in the darkness, aimed at no one, past Joseph''s shoulder and towards the veiled horizon.


    ¡°I was just a kid,¡± Oliphant said.


    ¡°I was, too,¡± Becenti replied, ¡°They still sent me out.¡±


    ¡°I thought you volunteered,¡± Oliphant asked.


    ¡°When Silver Arthur himself asks you to go, what else can you do?¡± Becenti said, ¡°You can''t say no. Not to him. I was Shimmer, back then. Still a Native boy from the rez who thought he could be a superhero because he had superpowers, because that''s what everyone with superpowers did. The funny mask. The streamers. The garish cosplay that you wore like a uniform.¡±


    His voice had grown trembling and stuttered.


    ¡°But we won?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°We beat the Manticore, if that''s what you mean,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°The final battle with him obliterated the east coast and killed over a million people, but yeah. We beat the bad guys.¡±


    ¡°And now,¡± Joseph said, his voice measured, ¡°Now there are people who want to bring him back.¡±


    ¡°Nothing could kill him,¡± Ever-True said, ¡°So the Federation and the Silver Knights, they imprisoned him. Somewhere.¡±


    ¡°And Shimmer''s checking the prisons,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°All of them.¡±


    ¡°And it''s not a job anymore,¡± Becenti said.


    He didn''t elaborate on that. No one prodded him further.


    Above, the stars twinkled.


    ***


    They heard movement. The mercenary looked up, putting his helmet back on. Robber Fly clicked the ammo clip of the machine pistol back in place, an easy smile on his face. Talrash turned, half-lit by the fire and cast in dusk, as she stared into the darkness. They all heard the footsteps. Two of them, by the looks of it. Staggering together, they lumbered into view. One was like the desert around them, though he was cracked and a deep welt scarred over his chest. The other looked like a mound of goo. Talrash''s eyes widened in recognition.


    ¡°Meloche,¡± she said, ¡°I didn''t know you were out here.¡±


    The great mound looked up. There were no eyes on this being of sap, but nonetheless Robber Fly felt like he was being watched.


    ¡°...Talrash,¡± he said, ¡°Been a long time.¡±


    ¡°Come to steal a vision, philosopher?¡± Talrash said, ¡°Come to see the future of your metahumanity? Your future Ludaya?¡±


    The sandy being beside Meloche let out a coughing gasp.


    ¡°I don''t recognize your pal,¡± Talrash said, ¡°Another apprentice, Meloche? Another boy toy?¡±


    ¡°Nothing like that,¡± Meloche growled, ¡°Nothing like that at all.¡±


    He was putting himself between them and his companion. Robber Fly rolled his eyes.


    ¡°Tal,¡± he said, ¡°Who the hell are these posers?¡±


    ¡°They are Meloche and friend,¡± the Breath of Midas said, ¡°Look carefully, Robber Fly, you see before you a true patriot.¡±


    ¡°Oh ho!¡± Robber Fly said, ¡°He was at that... Ludaya place, yeah?¡±


    ¡°Aye,¡± Meloche said, ¡°We came upon this fire, and thought to rest...¡±


    ¡°Meloche, my poor friend,¡± Talrash said, ¡°Did you really think you would find friends out here?¡±


    ¡°S-seemed,¡± the sandman said, ¡°Seemed sporting...¡±


    The philosopher, however, was quiet. Robber Fly switched the machine pistol''s safety off.


    ¡°Please,¡± Meloche said, ¡°Eco, he''s injured. We need...¡±


    ¡°You truly are a fool,¡± Talrash cooed. Golden fire began dripping from her mouth, and Robber Fly found that she looked demonic in the gold¡¯s harsh light, ¡°A poor, idealistic foo-¡±


    With a sudden speed that belied his mass, Meloche swung his arm, sap tearing off in a fluid motion and lobbing through the air. It landed squarely on Talrash''s head, covering it completely. She let out a silent scream as her flames snuffed out. The mercenary was at her side in a moment, trying to tear the sap off of her head. Robber Fly took aim, and fired off, a storm of loud bangs echoing through the night. Meloche shielded Eco from the barrage, the bullets sinking into his form.


    The mercenary glanced up, his hands covered in goo. Talrash writhed beneath him, trying to pull the sap free. With a sweeping gesture, he swooped his arm forward, heat carrying from the fire and rippling through the air like a wave, striking against Meloche, who let out a gasp of pain as the heat began steaming at his form, evaporating part of his mass.


    And then the mercenary charged, right as Robber Fly finished up with his clip. He gave Meloche a single tap, before leaping back, his arm now generating tree sap.


    Sap that he then applied to Talrash, combining it with the mass already suffocating her, peeling it away. She began coughing and spluttering, catching her breath.


    Meloche was pulling back, his backpedaling unsteady. Eco glared at the three Sons, desert sand swirling around him as he let out a storm of gravel at the group. With a twist, the mercenary took in what little ambient heat was still in the air, forming a shield between them, the sand pelting against it as though it were a stone wall.


    And Eco was already running. Meloche followed him close behind.


    ¡°Get him!¡± Robber Fly roared, ¡°Get him, Domey!¡±


    The mercenary glanced around for a moment, before spotting his discarded pistol and snatching it up. He took aim, tracking the forms of Meloche and Eco as they spirited away, Eco stumbling a bit behind them.


    No doubt the mercenary had night vision. He had an aiming module in his helmet that was targeting them now. All he had to do was point the trigger. Robber Fly watched closely.


    But the mercenary did not fire. Quite on the contrary, he was hesitating.


    ¡°All balls, no guts,¡± Robber Fly said, ¡°Just a lightweight, aren''t you?¡±


    Talrash, however, had revenge on her mind. She watched the forms as they inked into the shadows. She took a deep breath.


    The beam of gold lit up the night, carving a horizontal pillar across the desert. Metahumans throughout Death Valley saw it. A beacon to some. A warning to others. It burned through its victim, winked out almost as soon as it blazed, and the world was dark once more.


    ***


    The four of them stared out at the line of light in the distance. Joseph felt his insides curl. Ever-True shifted uncomfortably and murmured, ¡°Should we even be sleeping?¡± Oliphant and Becenti, however, said nothing. Oliphant stood up a bit, and Joseph watched as he drew forth his blade. Even in the darkness, it seemed to glimmer, taking in the starlight and reflecting it, smooth as a quiet lake, as though it were newly polished.


    But nothing came for them. It was just another skirmish out in the wasteland. Still, Oliphant did not lower his guard.


    ¡°We''ll keep watch,¡± he said, ¡°I''ll go first.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I will.¡±


    Oliphant was quiet.


    ¡°Fine, then,¡± he said, ¡°Wake me after a couple of hours.¡±


    It was difficult to fiddle around with the sleeping bags in the dark. Joseph squinted, using more touch than sight as he felt around for the zipper, hearing its rip as he peeled it. His dad had once compared it to peeling a banana, and he felt a bitter pang at the memory as he clambered in and curled up.


    There was no fire. There was only the moon, and the stars, and Myron Becenti''s silhouette as he sat by the rippling ball of heat. After a moment, the man removed his heating stone from a pocket, activating it, the orange glow faint. It deepened the lines on his face, somehow made him seem older, despite the fact that he was only in his sixties.


    Oliphant and Ever-True had positioned themselves a bit of a ways from them. He could hear Oliphant whispering to his teammate, so low that Joseph couldn''t make out anything, but just raspy enough that it made his stomach tingle. He wondered if the Silver Knight would get any sleep, any at all.


    ¡°Go to sleep, Mr. Zheng,¡± Becenti said, ¡°It''s been a busy day.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I... I don''t know.¡±


    ¡°You did well today,¡± Becenti said, ¡°It''s not every day that one can stand against someone like Talrash.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph murmured. Then, ¡°It''s going to get worse as we go, isn''t it?¡±


    ¡°Only the most powerful, the most ruthless, the most lucky of us will get to the Visionary,¡± Becenti said, ¡°That''s it.¡±


    Joseph didn''t answer that. In the distance, they heard screams. What sounded like popping sounds. Then more silence.


    ¡°So, this is your home plane,¡± Joseph said at length, ¡°Prime, the World of Heroes. Right?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I lived in the Navajo Nation in northern Arizona. My father was a mechanic. He would make my brother and I help him in his shop.¡±


    ¡°What was your brother like?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°His name was Quincy,¡± Becenti said, ¡°He''s... not around anymore.¡±


    A sore point. Joseph didn''t push further.


    ¡°What about you, Mr. Zheng?¡± Becenti said, ¡°This is Prime, the plane most like your Earth, right? Down to a lot of the locations. What''s your impression of it so far?¡±


    ¡°I mean, aside from the fact that everyone here is trying to kill me, it''s not so bad,¡± Joseph said, ¡°A bit hot, mostly because you chose to take me to the fucking hottest place on the planet.¡±


    ¡°True,¡± Becenti said.


    Joseph shifted.


    ¡°Still,¡± he said, ¡°It''s nice. It''s got the same vibe as back home.¡±


    ¡°Mmm,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Mr. Zheng, can I ask you a question?¡±


    ¡°Shoot,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°What''s your family like?¡±


    ¡°...They''re a family.¡±


    ¡°Just a family?¡± Becenti said, ¡°You seem rather set on getting back to Earth, if they''re ''just a family.''¡±


    ¡°Lay off me, alright?¡± Joseph said, temper flaring, ¡°I... Look, I want to get home because... it''s home, you know?¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Becenti said, ¡°It''s familiar.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph said, ¡°It''s Seattle. It¡¯s San Francisco, too. It''s the sounds of the beach. It''s knowing where you are, and not getting cast out every which way.¡±


    ¡°Some would find that exhilarating,¡± Becenti said, ¡°There''s a reason Nash isn''t at Castle Belenus for long.¡±


    ¡°And it is,¡± Joseph said, ¡°It''s... this has been the craziest few months of my life. I''ve seen shit no one on Earth ever will. But... I want a home, somewhere I can go back to after a long day.¡±


    Becenti didn''t say anything to that. Joseph rolled a bit.


    ¡°Look, I was the youngest,¡± Joseph said, ¡°And not by a few years. I was the surprise baby. The one they weren''t planning on. So either they were telling me to become a doctor, or they weren''t giving me the time of day.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡±


    ¡°But still, I was the one doing all the work for them. Dad¡¯s a doctor, Mom¡¯s always out. So it was me getting the groceries for them. Getting the car done for them. Joseph, do this, Joseph, do that. Joseph, go to Nai Nai''s house because she''s dead and get sucked into another dimension.¡±


    ¡°And¡­ That¡¯s why you want to go home,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°I mean, I guess?¡± Joseph said, ¡°They''re my family. I love them, and they love me.¡±


    He sounded like he was trying to convince himself. There was a distance in Joseph''s voice, something raw that he had never truly shown Becenti, even in the darkest moments aboard the space station, or on Chliofrond. Perhaps Joseph realized this, as he gave a harsh chuckle.


    ¡°What''s that phrase?¡± he said, ¡°You can choose your friends, but you can''t choose your family.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I don''t know,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I''ve found, through my years, that kinship can go far past simple biology.¡±


    ¡°''Blood is thicker than water,'' my dad used to say,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°That''s actually a misinterpretation,¡± Becenti said, ¡°People get that phrase completely wrong.¡±


    ¡°Well, what is it then?¡±


    He could feel Becenti''s eyes on him. Old. Stone-like. Calm, and surprisingly kind.


    ¡°''The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb,''¡± he said, ¡°The bonds we make in life, the friends we make on the road, that''s what''s important.¡±


    ¡°To the point of family,¡± Joseph mumbled.


    ¡°Do you have any of those kind of people back on Earth?¡± Becenti said.


    Joseph mulled it over, rolling the question around in his head. No one came to mind, not really. When he thought of home, he thought of the city. The sea. Running down the beaches of San Fran. He thought of the never-ending present of Seattle, with everyone living their own lives, the acquaintances he made, the passing relationships in the rain.


    But no one person came to mind.


    ¡°What about you?¡± he said, ¡°How many friends have been family to you?¡±


    ¡°Many,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I''ve had many families, Mr. Zheng. My biological family. My family in the Silver Knights. My family during the war. My family with the guild.¡±


    Joseph was quiet at that. The two of them rested there, Becenti staring at the stars, Joseph curled up, his eyes glancing at the ground, a frown now painted on his face. His heart hammered with realizations, ones he was not ready to face.


    Not now.


    Not with everything going on out here.


    So, like his anger, like his frustration, he forced it down deep into the pit of his stomach. It came like bitter food to his soul, a nasty bit of poison that it snapped at and circuited through his veins and settled in his bones. Oliphant and Ever-True had fallen silent, and he felt a bit embarrassed at the thought that these veritable strangers had listened in on their conversation.


    ¡°It''s getting late, Mr. Zheng,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I suspect that one of us will wake you when it''s your turn to keep watch.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Good night, Becenti.¡±


    ¡°Good night, Mr. Zheng.¡±

 54. METAHUMAN MOURNING RITUALS

    Dawn came jagged between the distant mountains. The sky was burnished red, reminding Meloche, as he wearily rose to face the sun, of old sailor''s tales from back home. Red skies warned of coming storms. It meant that he needed to make sure the rope attached to Father''s boat was knotted extra tight, lest it be pulled from the pier and lost. Father had always looked on those old days with a certain resigned trepidation. He would still go out on that old fishing boat and cast off, leaving his family behind. The storm would come. And, every time, Meloche would wait by the pier, the storm having passed, hoping it had not taken his Father.


    One day, Father did not return.


    But Meloche was in Death Valley now. Land of heat and sand, the nearest ocean seeming realities away. He faced the sun for a second, entire body aching from the night''s skirmish. It had not been good-


    Eco.


    The philosopher turned. He had fallen alongside his companion and lost consciousness. He was aware of having woken up at some point in the night, the earth a shadow and the sky seasoned with stars, only for exhaustion to take him once more, marring every thought. Now, though, he was sharpened and ready.


    And with that came sorrow.


    He looked down upon the gold-plated body of Eco.


    Talrash''s breath was true to its name. Eco had been cast as gold, and with gold came the stealing of the soul, the slowing down of the bodily processes, the conversion of life-giving organs to solid metal. It worked even on one with a unique a physiology as Eco''s, who, while ever-changing, still had his metapower to support himself through each transformation.


    A process. Stopped now. Meloche took a few unsteady steps towards his friend. He fell to his knees, head cast down. It was as though Eco had been dipped in molten metal and cooled, for his face captured every detail, down to the grimace of pain on his face, painted in golden, sharp detail.


    Meloche''s mourning was silent. Tears, he was aware, streamed down his face, caught in the sap that covered his body, his entire form shaking and bubbling with grief. But, like most metahumans, he was used to this. Used to death, used to it clinging to him like the sand on his knees.


    For not the first time, for not the last, he despised how he was used to grief.


    Then, after all of his tears had been spent, Meloche stood back on his feet.


    Eco would have wanted to be left here, he knew. He wanted to die in an ecosystem he was aligned to, to truly become one with nature.


    ¡°We''re all going to die one day,¡± he had told Meloche one day, ¡°And no matter what happens, we rot away. Even if a corpse is put into stasis, one day the machinery holding it together will break, and it will become part of the life cycle once more.¡±


    But he wouldn''t do that out here, would he? Perhaps he would. Perhaps no one would find him, and take him away, and put him on display, like a common art piece.


    Meloche could handle it no more. He turned, and began walking. And left yet another friend''s corpse behind and unburied. At least this one wanted that.


    There was work to be had, he knew. A vision to see. But Meloche was not sure if he wanted it. Not anymore. But Eco had wanted to come here, had prodded him. Perhaps, in the mosaic futures the Visionary beheld, there was the continuation of their dream. Another Luminary, another Shimmer.


    With that, the mound of sap stopped. He turned back to the corpse of his friend. The wind picked up, blowing into a small whisper of a sandstorm.


    There was one thing he could do to mourn. He stepped forward, lowering himself to one knee over Eco, a great finger pressing against his companion''s forehead.


    ¡°Sleep well, and long, and deep,¡± he said, ¡°I will see you when we dream again.¡±


    It was a saying, one Shimmer had pulled from some Library World or other, the barest hint of the culture of Epochia. It sounded foreign to Meloche. Much of Epochia did, if he was honest, a stolen place that was not his own. His dreams were of the future, and the visions they brought.


    But still, it was better than leaving Eco in the dust. At least there was some ritual, some physical act to signify his grief. It was enough.


    When Meloche walked away from Eco once more, it was with a heavy heart, and a dark determination to get to the center of Death Valley.


    ***


    A heavy hand fell on Joseph''s shoulder, lightly prodding him awake. He let out a soft moan, blearily looking up. Oliphant stood over him, and Joseph''s eyes widened when he realized the Silver Knight''s blade was drawn, a hard look on his face.


    ¡°Holy shi-¡±


    ¡°Hush,¡± Oliphant growled, ¡°Don''t say a word. Don''t even move.¡±


    His eyes were darting this way and that, scanning the horizon for danger. When he moved, he moved slowly, as though he were a cornered lion realizing that the wind had changed, that something was downwind. Ever-True stood a way back from him, one of her javelins drawn. But she was near stock-still, a wound spring waiting to pounce.


    ¡°Get up,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°But do it slowly.¡±


    ¡°What''s going on?¡± Joseph whispered.


    ¡°We''re being hunted. Something''s in the earth.¡±


    He stalked his way over to Becenti, but the older man was already awake, pulling himself out of his sleeping bag, his face contorted into a look of concentration. Oliphant gave him a look, a silent order in his eye, one which Becenti followed as he lowered himself to the earth, one ear pressed against the earth.


    Becenti nodded. Oliphant grimaced. He pointed a finger at Ever-True, signaling her to step back. She did so, far away from them. As did Becenti, who rose up and began walking away from the camp, bringing up a hand to pull heat in around himself. Oliphant turned to Joseph, making a shooing noise. For a moment, his mind still fogged from sleep, Joseph just gave him a quizzical look. The Silver Knight mouthed ''Go.''


    And Joseph understood. He got up, a vague trepidation beginning to gnaw at his stomach as he walked away from the sleeping bag. All four of them separated, four lines of footprints moving from the campsite. It was already hot out, Joseph noted bitterly, though it was an exterior heat that did not even begin to penetrate the cold sense of dread within him-


    An elephantine thing burst out of the sand, a full-on worm composed of shadow, its very presence darkening the middle dawn. It had come for Becenti, and Joseph let out a scream as the older man erected a barrier of heat between himself and the worm''s maw, his feet landing on the platform of ripples, which was carried up with the worm''s arc through the air. Atop the worm was a man, shirtless and muscular, his skin gleaming in the sun as though it were freshly oiled. He carried an assault rifle in one hand, the other clutching a bit of the worm''s skin that he had torn free to act as makeshift reins. A gleaming smile was on his face.


    ¡°I CAN CONTROL MONSTERS!¡± he screamed, ¡°YEAHHHHHH!¡±


    His voice was carried as the worm thundered back into the air. Becenti jumped away at the last moment, landing hard on the ground, tucking into a roll as the worm burrowed itself back into the earth.


    Joseph began running towards Becenti. He was aware, dimly, of Oliphant screaming at him to stay back. Indeed, Becenti put up a hand to stop him as he ran to catch up with his mentor.


    ¡°I''m fine, Joseph!¡± he said, ¡°Stay back, stay-¡±


    Joseph felt the earth shake beneath him, the sand giving way like a sinkhole. Mind racing, lightning coursing through his veins, he pointed an arm down as the mouth of the worm opened beneath him, revealing rows upon rows of obsidian-black teeth.


    The bolt thundered down the length of the worm, lightning curling around it. It was enough to get the beast to close its mouth, swallowing the teeth up in flaps of shadow and flesh, crashing into Joseph like a veritable freight train as it launched him up. Joseph held on tight as the worm launched upwards, its rider letting out a whooping howl, hair flying every which way-


    And he felt someone scoop him up and pull him free, his blade sailing once, twice, an impossible third time against the worm, blood spraying from each wound. Oliphant landed, Joseph curled around him, as the worm dove back into the earth.


    ¡°You stupid fuck,¡± Oliphant grunted, ¡°The thing is detecting us by vibration.¡±


    ¡°Becenti was hurt.¡±


    ¡°Bastard, we all get hurt!,¡± Oliphant snarled, ¡°Just don''t move.¡±


    Indeed, Becenti and Ever-True had become still as statues once more. Joseph followed suit, staying low as Oliphant inspected his blade, noting with some satisfaction at how stained with ink-like blood it had become.


    ¡°You did a number on it, at least,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°Are you alright?¡±


    ¡°''M fine,¡± Joseph murmured, feeling his stomach wince a bit from the shot, ¡°What is that thing?¡±


    ¡°Don''t know,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°Something from out in your multiverse.¡±


    ¡°Great,¡± Joseph said, ¡°So, what''ll we do?¡±


    Oliphant gave a dark smile.


    ¡°If it bleeds, we can kill it.¡±


    Joseph blinked.


    ¡°...Predator?¡±


    ¡°Hell yeah,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°Stay low. Don''t move unless I say to move. We''ll draw it out, nice and slow. Eve''ll have to pin down the rider. The rest of us will go for the worm.¡±


    ¡°And the others know this how?¡±


    ¡°Eve knows what to do,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°I suspect Shimmer will, as well. You''ve got the least experience out of all of us.¡±


    ¡°Thanks.¡±


    ¡°It means,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°That I need to catch you up on what to do.¡±


    ¡°I''m not a spring chicken,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I''ve been in scraps before.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°But you sure aren''t acting like you''ve been in one with other people before.¡±


    ¡°...Boxing was a solo affair.¡±


    ¡°Do you think you''re fucking boxing?¡±


    Becenti stood up. Joseph noticed he didn''t seem the worse for wear, but there was an awkwardness to him as he took a few careful steps. He was limping. With a sigh, he shook his head.


    ¡°Right,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°Guess we''re bait.¡±


    ¡°Oh, great,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I always wanted to be worm chow.¡±


    He stood up.


    ¡°Together, or separate?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Together,¡± Oliphant replied, ¡°Once the worm comes up, split. Shoot a bolt.¡±


    ¡°Right.¡±


    ¡°On three,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°One.¡±


    ¡°Two.¡±


    ¡°Three!¡±


    They took off, keeping pace with one another, jogging side by side. The earth rumbled once more, the shaking getting closer.


    Closer.


    Closer-


    And the world cracked beneath them. Joseph banked to the right, Oliphant jumped to the left, blade pointed out as the worm erupted like a geyser. Oliphant watched it rise up, a dark tree trunk, a genuinely vile grin on his face. He positioned his blade, and thrust in. The worm let out a high-pitched scream as the blade cut through its form, its own momentum causing the sword to carve through it for a few painful seconds before catching onto a bone of some sort, carrying Oliphant up.


    ¡°NOT COOL, MAN!¡± the rider screamed, ¡°NOT FUCKING-¡±


    Ever-True''s javelin lanced into his side. The rider went silent, ragdolling off his steed, landing with a crunching puff in the sand.


    The worm writhed in the air for a moment, tossing Oliphant off of its back, blade shimmering in the day. Becenti pointed, a miasma of heat roaring towards the beast, colliding with it, the smell of cooked flesh flooding the world. The worm continued to screech, twisting in a desperate attempt to escape Becenti''s waves.


    Then, quite suddenly, it went silent, its top half dancing in the air.


    There was something off. Joseph took a few steps back from the mass of flesh and shadow. The heat continued to ripple around the monster, continued its work of burning it alive.


    And yet-


    ¡°Down!¡± Oliphant roared, ¡°Get out of the way! NOW!¡±


    Joseph sprung back as the worm erupted, a waterfall of pure darkness belching out of its maw, crashing upon the sand like a tsunami. Becenti and Ever-True, far enough away, could run ahead of the mass as it fizzled towards them, foaming into something akin to seaspray, dissipated into nothing.


    Joseph, however, was not so lucky, it rolled towards him, a solid wall of black. Oliphant ran over to him, put himself between Joseph and the shadows, blade shining...


    And they were both washed away.


    ***


    ¡°Joseph!¡± Becenti roared, ¡°JOSEPH!¡±


    He ran forward, stumbling a bit in the sand, eyes widening at the sight of the worm as it finished its writhing. With a last, horrifying scream, it collapsed to the ground, melting into pools of shadow. That, too, began to dissipate as though it were nothing but sea brine. Becenti only watched, half-hardheartedly hoping Joseph would rise from the shadows that were now frothing away...


    But nothing.


    Not even bones.


    Ever-True merely stared, her face gone slack with mute shock. After a few moments, she took a few steps forward, standing by Becenti, who had sunk to his knees. The two of them stood there for what seemed to be hours.


    Hours and hours. And no sign of Joseph or Oliphant.


    ¡°W-What do we do?¡± Ever-True asked, her voice hollow.


    Becenti did not answer.


    ¡°Sh-Shimmer,¡± Ever-True said, ¡°What do we do?¡±


    ¡°I''m not Shimmer,¡± Becenti whispered.


    ¡°What?¡±If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    He turned towards her, his face contorted into a snarl.


    ¡°I''m not Shimmer!¡±


    His yell was enough to make her step back, the grief replaced by shock and fear. Becenti''s heart fell at the sight of that.


    ¡°I''m... I''m sorry,¡± he murmured, ¡°I...¡±


    ¡°It''s-¡±


    ¡°Not alright,¡± Becenti said. He rubbed his eyes, ¡°It''s not alright.¡±


    For a moment, he seemed about to break down. Tears edged his eyes, grief clawed at his heart. But Myron Becenti stitched himself together, pulling himself up with a deep breath. Then another. Then a third, this one final, as though he were climbing the last foothold over a mountain''s top.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said, ¡°Okay.¡±


    ¡°What do we do?¡± Ever-True asked.


    I don''t know, Becenti wanted to say. He considered the landscape around them. Holes pockmarked the ground now, sponging the desert and revealing the only evidence that a battle had taken place here. The lichworm''s blood had disintegrated in the sand. There was nothing here.


    Nothing at all...


    Becenti had heard of lichworms before. Had even seen one, on display during an InterGuild Conference a few years back. But never one that large, or aggressive. Highly magical creatures, with the ability to send their predators to...


    To another place. Perhaps Joseph wasn''t gone. He turned to Ever-True, considering her. She was keeping it together pretty well, giving a few sniffs here and there. Her grip on her javelin was making her hand bone-white, the way she clutched it. It would be better not to get her hopes up, lest they truly were gone. Not while she could keep moving.


    ¡°We''ve still got a job to do,¡± his voice was hoarse, ¡°Can you walk?¡±


    She nodded.


    ¡°Good,¡± he said, ¡°We can''t let this slow us down. Understand?¡±


    ¡°I do,¡± she said, ¡°Lead on, Becenti.¡±


    They began walking, their number having dwindled, the world seeming a bit darker now.


    ***


    The knight had stuck with them through the night, which was surprising. Silicon had bedded down with them, lying on the cool sand, silent as he gazed up towards the stars. Not like Pock and Ana, who set up a tent, got into their sleeping bags and sidled up against one another. They didn''t speak, which was rare for Ana and normal for Pock. Pocket would occasionally wake up, just to make sure Silicon was not standing over them, blade in hand. But he was true to his word.


    They did not attack him, so he did not attack them.


    ¡°Plus, we know where we''re from,¡± Analyza said that next morning as they walked a bit behind him.


    ¡°He can hear you,¡± Pocket warned.


    ¡°I can,¡± Silicon said.


    ¡°Nice!¡± Analyza said, ¡°So, I''ve got a question, Mr. Silicon, sir. What made you learn about Hyzodriad?¡±


    ¡°Hyzodriad?¡± Silicon said, ¡°My father passed down its knowledge to me, and his father to him, all the way down the line.¡±


    ¡°Must be nice,¡± Pocket muttered.


    ¡°What was that?¡±


    ¡°Pock''s jealous,¡± Analyza chuckled, ¡°Jealous that you knew about your heritage and kingdom. We had to look ourselves up, accidentally blew up a record center on Chained Inheritance.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Silicon said, ¡°The less I hear about that planet, the better.¡±


    He stopped, turning towards the pair.


    ¡°Well?¡± he said, ¡°How much did you learn?¡±


    ¡°About our kingdoms?¡± Pocket asked.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± Pocket said, ¡°Chliofrond was a traveling kingdom. Fought with the Federation a lot. Crashed, somewhere. But I got a locket from my Nan, she says it was passed down from Iresine himself.¡±


    She produced the small locket, which was beaded around a necklace she wore, along with her ring from Analyza, and a key to her childhood home.


    ¡°Iresine,¡± Silicon said, ¡°A good name. My father would tell me tales of him, of his exploits and adventures. My favorite was his moot with High King Coral.¡±


    ¡°Oh, that king of Armagest, right?¡±


    ¡°The same.¡±


    ¡°Seems neat,¡± Analyza said, ¡°I''m just from Omperstellicad, which is lame. All we did was get stomped by the Federation and scattered.¡±


    ¡°Be glad that you are not from one of the traitor kingdoms,¡± Silicon said, ¡°Like Froisen. If you were, I would have killed you.¡±


    There was a cold frankness to his voice that gave Pocket pause. She once more found herself stepping in front of Analzya.


    ¡°You''d kill someone, just because they were part of Froisen?¡±


    ¡°They betrayed us,¡± Silicon said, ¡°Them and their damn half-breed king.¡±


    ¡°That was thousands of years ago,¡± Analyza''s voice was a whisper.


    Silicon gave a mirthless smile.


    ¡°When all you have is the past, what else can you do?¡± he said, ¡°You remember Ludaya?¡±


    ¡°A bit before our time,¡± Pocket said.


    ¡°Ah. Be glad, then,¡± Silicon said, ¡°Ludaya was a mistake. Every new nation we make is a mistake. A happy one, a bright one, but always look to the sky, for that mistake''s end comes from above. We''ve only the past, and that is that.¡±


    He turned and continued walking. Analyza and Pocket looked at one another.


    Psychopath, Analyza mouthed ¨C and, wisely, did not say aloud. Her partner nodded.


    ***


    Joseph opened his eyes to a grayscape.


    It was as though he were still in Death Valley, but the drab, yellow sand was replaced by drab, gray sand. Not much of an improvement, of course, but it was enough to set him on edge. The sky was drained of its color, the clouds taking on a darker glint. Oliphant was still standing over him, and Joseph found they were the only two sources of color in the landscape.


    ¡°Are you alright?¡± Oliphant asked.


    ¡°I think so,¡± Joseph replied. The Silver Knight extended a hand, one that Joseph took as Oliphant pulled him to his feet. The two of them took a look around.


    ¡°No one around,¡± Oliphant said.


    ¡°Are we dead?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°I''m imagine Hell to be a bit warmer,¡± Oliphant said. His eyes landed on something, ¡°Come on.¡±


    He began walking forward. Joseph took a second to blink and shiver a bit from the dry cold, before following along. The two of them walked over to the prone form of the shirtless metahuman, Ever-True''s javelin jutting from his gut, blood coloring the gray sand.


    ¡°A killshot,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°She probably didn''t intend it,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°She throws, she never misses, but sometimes where she hits can prove a problem.¡±


    Without another word he slammed a boot into the corpse, using it as leverage to wrench the javelin free. He removed a cloth from somewhere within his armor, and began wiping it down.


    ¡°Don''t mention the fact that she killed him,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°She doesn''t need to know.¡±


    Joseph remembered how he had felt after killing the mercenary on the space station. He felt a familiar pang of guilt as he gave a nod. Oliphant finished cleaning the javelin, resting it on his shoulder as he gave another sweep of the landscape. There was no one around. The wave from the worm had taken no one else.


    ¡°Ever been here before?¡± Oliphant asked.


    ¡°Somewhere similar,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Murknoir, I think it was called. Gives me the same vibes.¡±


    ¡°I don''t think we''re that far off,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°Murknoir''s far away, right?¡±


    ¡°I guess?¡± Joseph said, ¡°It''s not so much ''far'' as it is ''out of forecast.''¡±


    ¡°Damn multiverse,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°Just say if it''s far away or not, I don''t care.¡±


    Joseph rolled his eyes.


    ¡°Regardless,¡± he said, ¡°It''s not exactly like Murknoir.¡±


    ¡°It''s like a mirror,¡± Oliphant said.


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°Then we walk until the mirror ends.¡±


    With that order given, he began walking. Joseph followed behind, feeling a bit needled at the Silver Knight. Sure, if they were in a scrap, Joseph would listen to him. But out of one? Oliphant was just another stranger. He held no authority, despite his blustering attitude.


    Yet Joseph walked all the same.


    They were quiet for the first hour of travel, settling into the new status quo, both of them feeling a deepening sense of panic as the mirror world gave no sign of ending. Joseph became jittery, glancing this way and that. Oliphant became like a stone, his jaw set, his look almost angry as he glared towards the sky.


    ¡°So,¡± Joseph said, ¡°You''re a superhero?¡±


    ¡°No, I''m a kangaroo.¡±


    Joseph winced as Oliphant continued stalking ahead.


    ¡°They don''t have those, where you''re from?¡± the Silver Knight asked.


    ¡°No,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I''m from Earth.¡±


    ¡°Earth?¡± Oliphant said, ¡°Never heard of it.¡±


    ¡°It''s like Prime,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Only without superheroes.¡±


    ¡°Without the war.¡±


    ¡°Without that, yeah,¡± Joseph scratched at his arm.


    Oliphant turned, considering him for a few moments.


    ¡°You''re new to all this, right?¡±


    ¡°A few months in, yeah,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°And you''re metahuman.¡±


    ¡°No, I''m a kangaroo.¡±


    A rare smile cracked on Oliphant''s face. He muttered a good-natured ¡°Bastard,¡± as he turned and resumed his walk.


    ¡°You haven''t picked a name yet?¡±


    ¡°Not really,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I like Joseph. It''s my name, you know?¡±


    ¡°I can get that,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°Most metahumans I''ve met, they''ve got some weird ones. Want those names to be treated like it''s their actual ones, too. Ever-True, Ever-Vigilant, so on.¡±


    ¡°Becenti was Shimmer for a while.¡±


    ¡°That was the name I grew up on,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°Shimmer, the superhero who fought in the war. I mean, all of the old guard did. Every Silver Knight. But most of them were stationed on Prime. Only Arthur, Shimmer, and a few others went out into the multiverse.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Well, you seem to be doing alright,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°You''ve got a good grip on your powers, at least. Your bird, it only comes out of your back?¡±


    ¡°Pretty much,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I can manifest parts of it on other parts of my body. Its head over mine, its claws over my hands. If I strain, I can even connect it to a line of sparks.¡±


    ¡°Show me,¡± Oliphant ordered.


    He had stopped walking again, looking at Joseph with a look of patient expectation. Joseph blinked.


    ¡°Now?¡± he said.


    ¡°I''m curious,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°You can connect your eagle to a line of sparks, like a rope?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°Including its eyes?¡±


    ¡°I''ve done it before.¡±


    ¡°Then do it now,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°I want to get a lay of the land, see if it truly goes out very far.¡±


    Joseph nodded, closing his eyes. The soul''s helmet sizzled to life, then a moment later extended upwards like a periscope, going higher and higher. Joseph grit his teeth from the strain, squeezing his eyes shut.


    ¡°You close your eyes every time you use that thing?¡±


    ¡°Helps,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Besides, the soul''s vision is better.¡±


    ¡°Not in this situation,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°Open your eyes.¡±


    Joseph complied, his vision going blurry and warped as he saw both through the eagle''s eyes and his own. Oliphant''s gauntleted fist was in front of his face.


    ¡°Oh,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Your vision''s good with your bird, but don''t just rely on it,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°You''ve gotta rely on yourself sometimes. Powers alone don''t make the warrior.¡±


    ¡°I can see the logic,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Now,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°What do you see?¡±


    Joseph sighed, closing his eyes again, felt Oliphant''s disapproving glare.


    ¡°I see...¡±


    The eagle cast the world in a blue light as it glanced here and there. Joseph''s heart fell as it did so, seeing the graying dunes that seemed to extend far past the horizon. There were no mountains in the distance, no hills to bowl the valley in.


    ¡°I don''t see anything,¡± Joseph said, ¡°We''re trapped.¡±


    ***


    Becenti and Ever-True walked through Death Valley along an old road that snaked down south towards Badwater Basin. Where, if their dreams the night before were correct, Earthmute and Visionary¡¯s prison was located. But they had a bit of walking to go before then, and it was one foot in front of the other.


    Both were used to loss, and the grief they both felt for their companions cloaked them like old leather. But neither of them voiced their sorrow. Instead, when they did speak, it was about other things. A desperate attempt to keep things civil and normal, to ignore the fact that, just that morning, two of their number had wasted away.


    Indeed, they saw more evidence of the war fought around them as they went. Corpses littered the road. Some had been impaled by iron spikes, or glass, or crystals that now gleamed in the midday sun. Others had been melted, or bludgeoned, or torn in half. Metahumanity possessed all matters of abilities, many of them deadly, and their owners were using them with wild abandon.


    Not to mention the perils of the journey itself. There were not a few bodies lying in the sand that had expired from simple heat stroke and exhaustion. The two of them were lucky, with Becenti''s power keeping the worst of the heat away from them. But they still rationed their water. Still could feel, on some level, the intense and overbearing heat of Death Valley. This was not a place that any rational being would hike.


    But what metahuman was rational?


    They rested for what constituted as lunch by a giant sign, one that read out ''FURNACE CREEK RANCH.'' Beyond it was a small, abandoned ranch with a visitor''s center nearby. Someone had fought inside recently, as a full half of the building had been blown to smithereens, the smoke even now still curling towards the pale blue sky.


    They didn''t stray much further than the sign. Instead, they sat, pulled out their supplies, and ate.


    Becenti was chewing his food, lost in thought, when he noted Ever-True staring at him.


    ¡°So your metahuman name is Ever-True,¡± Becenti said. He saw her blush a bit when she realized he had caught her.


    ¡°Er, yes,¡± Ever-True said, ¡°Well, it''s my superhero name.¡±


    ¡°For many of us, it''s one and the same.¡±


    ¡°Maybe,¡± Ever-True said, ¡°But I like going by Eve too, sometimes.¡±


    ¡°I can understand that,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Your name. I''ve kept tabs on the Knights, seen what they''re up to. Is Ever-Vigilant, is he your...?¡±


    ¡°Brother,¡± Ever-True said.


    ¡°I see. The names fit.¡±


    ¡°He says his is a stretch,¡± Ever-True said, ¡°But you can''t go by something stupid like ''No-Sleep Man,'' can you?¡±


    ¡°There''s a certain feeling to your names,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Excellent work on choosing them. I hope you''re carrying them well.¡±


    ¡°I try,¡± Ever-True said. She took another bite of her beef jerky, chewing it thoughtfully for a few moments before she said, ¡°Mind if I ask you a question?¡±


    ¡°Depends on the question.¡±


    ¡°Why did you leave? The Silver Knights, I mean.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I''ve asked myself that a lot, personally.¡±


    He stopped eating, and instead stared out. Ever-True knew he was looking at nothing, just the sky and the mountains and the jagged line between them. He was quiet for a long time, before he started up again.


    ¡°I suppose it was the time for it,¡± Becenti said, ¡°The end of the war was an ending to a story I had been telling myself for a long time. I couldn''t just go back to stopping crooks on the street. Not after what I''d seen.¡±


    He turned to her, giving her a wry grin that was devoid of mirth.


    ¡°I had some of the multiverse in me.¡±


    ¡°That''s what people say,¡± Ever-True said, ¡°But that''s... that''s not the whole story, is it?¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡±


    ¡°I''ve... studied you,¡± Ever-True said, ¡°In an academic sense.¡±


    ¡°Oh dear,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I''m truly that old?¡±


    ¡°Sorry,¡± Ever-True said, ¡°But, yes. You''re in history books.¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± Becenti chuckled, ¡°I''ll be damned.¡±


    ¡°They say you left because of...¡± Ever-True trailed off. Becenti knew that last word hanging off of her tongue. He gave her a nod.


    ¡°It''s fine,¡± he said, ¡°Well, it''s not fine. But yes, it was because of Ludaya, too.¡±


    He leaned against the sign''s post.


    ¡°You have to understand,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I bled for the Federation. Killed for them. Yes, it was against the Manticore, but I was defending them. I was in the Silver Eye, saving Silver Eye planets and Silver Eye people.¡±


    ¡°And you also fought for Ludaya.¡±


    ¡°And when the war was over, and the Federation found out about that little experiment?¡± Becenti''s heart turned to lead, ¡°Well, you can''t have another metahuman nation, can you? Not after all the other ones that caused problems.¡±


    Ever-True was quiet at that.


    ¡°Still, that''s not the Silver Knights, is it?¡± she said at length, ¡°Arthur was angry at them.¡±


    ¡°Arthur hated the Federation,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I mean, everyone in the Silver Knights did. A necessary evil, Neringa called it. But I just... I couldn''t go back, not after what I''d seen out there.¡±


    ¡°I... I get that,¡± Ever-True said.


    ¡°Mind if I ask you a question?¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°I mean, you told me all about yourself. Might as well say the same.¡±


    ¡°What made you want to become a Silver Knight?¡±


    Ever-True blinked at that. She was surprised when it took her a moment to find the answer. True, she had given responses to that question. But they were the usual fare, the ''To protect the world,'' and ''Because it''s my duty.''


    ¡°Because my brother''s in it,¡± she said.


    The frankness hung in the air, and she found her heart hammering as Becenti didn''t respond. Not at first. Instead, he took another bite of his jerky, chewing the tough, leather-like meat in thought.


    ¡°Ever-Vigilant,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Yeah, that''s him,¡± Ever-True said, ¡°He joined up with the Knights as soon as he turned sixteen.¡±


    ¡°They''re still doing that?¡± Becenti said, ¡°Sixteen?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Ever-True said, ¡°They are.¡±


    ¡°That''s how old I was when I joined,¡± Becenti murmured, ¡°I didn''t know they still did that.¡±


    He glanced over to her.


    ¡°And you''re...¡±


    ¡°Eighteen,¡± Ever-True said, ¡°I decided to wait. Seemed too young.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°But yeah, that''s why,¡± Ever-True said, ¡°He was there. And I wanted to be there. I had powers, I knew how to use them.¡±


    ¡°And you''ve been here, how long?¡±


    ¡°A few months, now.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°So,¡± Ever-True said, ¡°Any advice on a new spark like myself?¡±


    ¡°Find a reason,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°I... I have a reason.¡±


    Becenti rose to his feet. He stepped over and offered Ever-True a hand, which she took as she pulled herself up. The two of them gave one last look at the ranch, before heading off along the road once more. Becenti continued as they walked.


    ¡°More than just your brother,¡± Becenti said, ¡°More than just following someone''s shadow. Being a superhero is a calling. It''s a recognition that, no matter what, you must do good.¡±


    ¡°That''s what Arthur said,¡± Ever-True said.


    ¡°Indeed, he said it a lot,¡± Becenti replied, ¡°And he meant it. But being a superhero, being a Silver Knight? It means doing the right thing, no matter what.¡±


    ¡°No matter what...¡±


    ¡°Some people, people who are in the career for the money, or for the fame, or for whatever other reason, don''t realize this,¡± Becenti said, ¡°To become a superhero means acting, body and soul, in the name of the moral good. They don''t realize that, and when it comes down to the wire, they falter.¡±


    He turned to Eve.


    ¡°That''s why I say you need a reason. Something more than just following your brother on his own trail. A reason that''s yours. A reason that''s selfish. A reason that is all that you are. Only then, will you flourish as Ever-True.¡±


    He let the words hang there like, letting Eve absorb them, pick at them, let them roll in her brain. There was truth to the older man''s words, she noted, a rawness to them that he had not revealed to Oliphant. Shimmer ¨C no, Becenti ¨C walked with a sure step, the winds picking up the streamers tailing behind his arms, flapping red waves to evoke his metapower. There was a calm sureness to his step, but one that was marred, just a bit, by weariness of body and mind. When he turned to her, his wry smirk was gone. Replaced by a mask of stone to hide himself once more.


    They walked for a long time.

 55. BONDS FROM DESOLATION

    The very heart of Death Valley was known as Badwater Basin, and it was very much unlike the rest of the valley. It was a final dip down a few mountains, towards the lowest point in all of North America, nearly three hundred feet below sea level. And it was one of the most distinct parts of the former national park, its entire makeup a plain of salt. The look of the place always reminded Robber Fly of interlocking cells, amorphous lines of salt walling in dirtied gravel, sand, and (wouldn''t you have it!) more salt. This quilt of white knit itself together into the salt flats, extending out as a solid sheet towards the horizon. In the distance, they could see dark mountains loom. A bowl, within a bowl.


    Of course, Talrash cared little for this. She guided the trio down the beaten old trail and into the basin proper. There once had been a road here, Robber Fly supposed, that had been created by the stomping of hiker''s boots, of tourists coming to the very pit of Hell itself to take pictures and die of heat stroke. But none of that now, and Badwater Basin had returned to nature, once more a pristine, suffering place.


    ¡°Quite the place for Earthmute to shift to,¡± Robber Fly said, ¡°Don''t you think?¡±


    Talrash let out a dismissive huff in response. Of course, she wouldn''t care much for such semantics. Robber Fly turned towards the domehead.


    ¡°What about you?¡± he said, ¡°Ever been to a place like this?¡±


    Domehead was quiet for a few moments. Then, he shook his head.


    ¡°Same,¡± Robber Fly said, ¡°Been to a couple of hot places, but not like this.¡±


    ¡°If you''ve got time to talk, you''ve got time to work,¡± Talrash said, ¡°Fly up, scout for danger.¡±


    ¡°That''s dumb,¡± Robber Fly said, ¡°I''ll just be a sitting duck for anyone who''s got a good eye.¡±


    ¡°Sitting fly.¡±


    Robber Fly and Talrash looked at the mercenary.


    ¡°You''d be a sitting fly,¡± the domehead repeated.


    Robber Fly blinked.


    ¡°Anyways,¡± Robber Fly said, ¡°I''ll go up there, but you''d better be prepared to take out whoever I see, dig?¡±


    ¡°Very well, then,¡± Talrash said, ¡°Shout down if you see anything.¡±


    It was an odd feeling, using his power. Robber Fly remembered the day he had gone meta. He was nine. He had been complaining about a headache for most of the day, the worst one he would ever have, like his brain was being cooked inside his skull like a hard-boiled egg.


    Then, his head had split open. He felt himself bleed out, could feel himself die. Could feel his soul leave his body as he transformed and became something new. His mother had screamed. His father had called him a child of the Devil.


    Each time he transformed, he remembered that pain. Those screams. The judgment. It came to him anew, as real and as hot and as blinding as when he was a child. He had tried, many times, to ignore those memories. To forget them.


    But they still came. Each and every time he transformed.


    Unholstering his machine pistol, Robber Fly took off, buzzing up into the sky, surveying the landscape around him. Of course, being a fly, his vision was a blurred smear of color and movement. Nothing concrete and nothing detailed. He knew why he was up here.


    He was bait.


    So why had he listened to Talrash?


    Well, for one, she was smokin'' hot. But the other reason was because he found he just didn''t care.


    ***


    ¡°There''s a guy up there.¡±


    Ever-True pointed. Becenti glanced up. Indeed, as he squinted he could make out a figure lazily figuring through the sky.


    ¡°Robber Fly,¡± he said, ¡°Must be Talrash''s group.¡±


    ¡°That''s a trap, if I''ve ever seen one,¡± Ever-True said.


    ¡°Agreed,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I had hoped that Talrash''s group would have been eliminated. But...¡±


    He shook his head.


    ¡°No,¡± he said, ¡°We meet them up close and personal, if we have to.¡±


    ¡°Sure we''ll be able to match them?¡± Ever-True said, ¡°We''re down two.¡±


    ¡°...I''m not,¡± Becenti admitted, ¡°So let''s hope someone else takes them out.¡±


    Indeed, Robber Fly was struck by something, and began spiraling back towards the earth...


    ***


    There was a dome-headed poser who was flying up to catch the falling fly, intercepting him and carrying him back towards the ground, draconic wings flapping to stay aloft for a brief moment before he landed, the fly in his arms like a princess.


    Analyza had to snicker at that. Silicon was pointing at the fly, who let out a scream as the glass shrapnel he had sent out dug into the tendons in the man''s arm. His scream, warped by his transformed state, echoed across the plains.


    Ana''s blood ran cold, but she didn''t say that out loud. Pocket was pulling free bits and pieces of a sniper rifle, clicking everything into place. Silicon stared out, a blank expression on his face as he observed the other group''s reactions.


    ¡°They''re pulling back,¡± Analyza whispered, binoculars in hand, ¡°The mercenary is taking out a medical kit. The golden one is breathing in-¡±


    Her heart skipped a beat.


    ¡°Oh fuck,¡± she said, ¡°It''s Talrash.¡±


    ¡°A child of Drengar,¡± Silicon smiled, ¡°A challenge.¡±


    ¡°She''s breathing in,¡± Analyza said, ¡°Should we...?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Silicon said.


    Glass was forming in front of them, a solid wall between them and her. There was no sound to Talrash''s breath. No warning, as a line of gold thundered across the salt flats, crashing against the glass shield, parts of the wall falling away as it turned to metal, now no longer under Silicon''s influence. Already she and the others were falling back.


    Pock finished getting the rifle put together. She took aim. Analyza grimaced.


    The shot had a  deafening sort of ka-chunk that Ana had always hated. Her stomach rolled as she saw smoke rise from the rifle''s barrel. Pocket''s face lined into a frown as she stared down the sights.


    ¡°No good,¡± she said, ¡°They''ve erected a... a wall, of some sorts.¡±


    ¡°A wall?¡± Silicon said, ¡°Of what?¡±


    ¡°I don''t know. It''s rippling, like a mirage.¡±


    Silicon''s brow furrowed.


    ¡°No, it can''t be,¡± he said, ¡°Shimmer wouldn''t... not with Talrash...¡±


    ¡°Shimmer?¡± Pocket said.


    ¡°An old associate of mine,¡± Silicon said, ¡°An idealist, shall we say. To see him consorting with the Manticore''s own stock is... Well, I know desperate times calls for desperate allies, but this is a new low.¡±


    Pocket nodded at that, lowering her rifle.


    ¡°Odd, if he''s in armor like that.¡±


    ¡°With wings,¡± Silicon said, ¡°But the multiverse is vast. It could be him. It could be someone like him. It matters little.¡±


    He glanced down at Analyza.


    ¡°Attend to your love,¡± he said.


    Pocket looked at Ana. She was shaking, her teeth gritted. Laying the rifle down, she knelt down by her partner, resting a hand on her shoulder.


    ¡°Love,¡± she said, ¡°Ana, are you...?¡±


    ¡°Fine,¡± Analyza said, ¡°You know how it is. I''m fine.¡±


    ¡°I won''t use something like that again,¡± Pocket said.


    ¡°Kinda have to, Pock,¡± Analyza said. She took a deep breath, ¡°I don''t want you going out on me because you didn''t you throw everything you''ve got at some fink.¡±


    ¡°We could turn back,¡± Pocket said, ¡°This is getting a bit much.¡±


    ¡°We drew straws,¡± Analyza said, ¡°I want to see the future.¡±


    Pocket studied Ana''s face for a few moments. But she nodded.


    ¡°Alright, then,¡± she said, ¡°We go forward.¡±


    ¡°Talrash''s group is retreating,¡± Silicon said, ¡°A mere prod, a few injuries. Nothing more.¡±


    ¡°We''ll keep them at arm''s length,¡± Pocket said, ¡°At least until we get to Visionary.¡±


    Silicon nodded.


    ¡°Agreed.¡±


    ***


    Joseph found he did not grow tired in this shadowed mirror world. He walked, step after step, without feeling even an ounce of fatigue. Sometimes he would draw ahead of Oliphant, sometimes he would fall back. But his body felt exactly the same.


    And they had been walking for what seemed to be an eternity.


    And they were alone.


    That part was what started getting to Joseph. Any conversation he and Oliphant shared died as the Silver Knight eyed the landscape with a dark air of suspicion, hand always hovering at his sword''s hilt like a drifter at high noon. Joseph wondered how the man found the energy to remain at high alert at all times. How exhausting that would be. How exhausted he must be.


    Yet Oliphant did not waver. Did not stop. Perhaps this shadow world fit him nicely, gave him the energy to be a hawk 24/7, always watching the horizon for danger.


    For anything. Anything at all, that''s what Joseph wanted.


    And, after what felt like the third day of walking, Oliphant stopped.


    ¡°A shade,¡± he said, ¡°On the horizon.¡±


    He pointed downwards. The desert slanted into another bowl, though this one was cracked and patterned like one of Nai Nai''s old quilts. Joseph''s soul thundered to life, glancing down to where Oliphant was pointing. His head swam as he kept his human eyes open, smirking as the Silver Knight''s mailed hand came into view.


    ¡°I can see that,¡± he said.


    Oliphant smiled back as he lowered his arm, fingers curling around his sword.


    ¡°What is it?¡± he asked.


    ¡°You''re right,¡± Joseph said, ¡°It''s a shade. Looks like... a walking shadow?¡±


    ¡°Dangerous.¡±


    ¡°Maybe.¡±


    ¡°Probably,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°Best we keep clear.¡±


    He blinked as Joseph began stepping down, measuring each step as he began picking a careful path into the basin.


    ¡°Joseph!¡± Oliphant said.


    But Joseph ignored him, his foot giving way for a moment, letting him slid down a bit before he caught his footing and continued his descent. Cursing to himself, Oliphant followed him down.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    ¡°You''re an idiot,¡± Oliphant said.


    ¡°I know,¡± Joseph said, ¡°But it''s the first thing we''ve seen that isn''t rock and gravel.¡±


    ¡°...I suppose,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°But we''ve got no idea-¡±


    ¡°That it could be something good?¡±


    ¡°That it could be something that wants to kill us!¡±


    ¡°So it''s a fifty/fifty,¡± Joseph said, ¡°You''ve got a point. But it could be-¡±


    He found himself sliding again. With a huff, he slid down to near the bottom of the hill and jumped off, landing in the grit.


    ¡°It could be a ticket out of here.¡±


    ¡°I don''t agree,¡± Oliphant said.


    ¡°Look,¡± Joseph said, ¡°If it turns out to be bad, we''ll kill it. If it''s not, it''s not.¡±


    Oliphant rolled his eyes.


    ¡°You guildfolk are too reckless for your own good.¡±


    ¡°I''ve learned you have to be,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Come on.¡±


    ***


    The shade, Joseph noted, seemed both real and yet not, a strange paradox somewhere between solid and gaseous. It carried itself like it had mass ¨C and indeed, it was a large being, easily a head taller than Oliphant, round and bulbous like a walking mound of glue. The shade''s head was cast down, staring at the ground, as though in shame. It plodded across the basin slowly, each stepping seeming to take a monumental effort, the world on its shoulders.


    If if had noticed Joseph or Oliphant, it made no indication.


    ¡°Congratulations,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°It''s a big, sad shadow.¡±


    ¡°Sure,¡± Joseph said, ¡°It... Yeah, it is.¡±


    ¡°Any idea what it is?¡± Oliphant said.


    ¡°...No,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I don''t.¡±


    ¡°Some Far Traveler you are.¡±


    ¡°I''m not a Far Traveler!¡± Joseph said, ¡°Brand new to the big multi-U, remember?¡±


    ¡°Fair,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°But you''re the one who wanted to get close to it.¡±


    The shade made another plod forward. Stopped. Continued to stare at the ground.


    ¡°Now what?¡± Oliphant said.


    Joseph continued to study the being. With a (slightly trembling) finger, he poked the shade. His finger went right through, as though it were nothing more than a mirage.


    ¡°Well, that didn''t work,¡± he said.


    ¡°Great,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°Got any other ideas?¡±


    ¡°Do you?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°We keep walking.¡±


    ¡°We''ve kept walking for the last few days, it feels,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Or years. Or hours. I don''t know, I don''t give a shit.¡±


    ¡°We''ll find the end eventually.¡±


    ¡°Will we?¡±


    ¡°We will,¡± Oliphant said, a finality to his tone, ¡°Come on.¡±


    Joseph, bristling at the demand, continued to study the shade.


    ¡°Joseph, we''re wasting time. Let''s go.¡±


    ¡°Hang on,¡± Joseph replied, ¡°I have an idea.¡±


    He had studied with Becenti on the origins of metahumanity quite a bit, especially during the final lead-up to the expedition to Chliofrond. Metahumanity''s abilities were pulled from the metagene, attuned to the place between worlds and realities, where, it was said, possibility flowed like blood through the vein, like a soul through an electrical circuit.


    His hand became wrapped in soul, a glowing cobalt claw that washed the gray to blue. Some of the only color in this blasted landscape. He could hear Oliphant grunt behind him and put his hand once more to the hilt of his blade.


    ¡°It''s fine,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I got this.¡±


    With soul in hand, he made a scratch at the shade.


    ***


    Meloche looked up from where he had been staring at the ground. He felt something prodding him, something...


    Scratching at him. He glanced to the right, but could see nothing. Yet the itching continued, just on his right arm, where the elbow could be, so deep it seemed to dig into his arm beneath all of the sap. For a moment, he felt a moment of apprehension. But mortal vision could see very little, in the long run.


    Part of traveling was the opening of one''s eyes to all possibilities.


    This one would require ritual. Kneeling down, he began to drag a finger into the salt, etching out the barest outline of a rune. It was an old magic, from Covenrand. He was no Aldr Fatebreaker, but he was still at least somewhat passable in the art. This rune was a flowing thing, very unlike the usual make. Circles within circles, drawn almost lazily on the ground. Covenrand rune-making was an active geometry equation. Each stroke needed to be precise, the closest reproduction one could get to the ancient World Runes that adorned the Elder Rise. It was no coincidence that the greatest runemakers were also mathematicians.


    But Meloche was a philosopher, so his rune was a poor imitation of the real thing. But it was sufficient, as he breathed life into the symbol, which flared blue for a second, then purple.


    Ah, now he could see them. Shades. Two of them. Victims of a lichworm, or something equivalent. Trapped in some dusk-hued mirror. Meloche heaved a sigh at the sight of them. Communication would be difficult, but not impossible.


    Well, then, better to get them out.


    ***


    The figure had drawn into the ground. Oliphant and Joseph looked at one another, and stepped back as the shade breathed into the symbol, letting it flare purple, then blue.


    ¡°A rune,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°I wish Maker were here.¡±


    ¡°A rune guy?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Aye. Studies runes from around the world,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°He''d be better at this than me.¡±


    He knelt down and considered the etching. It was what seemed to be dozens of circles that looped and curved into one another, forming something that made Joseph''s head spin.


    The shade pointed at them, then at the ground.


    ¡°Well, it''s not a destructive rune,¡± Oliphant concluded, ¡°Not yet.¡±


    ¡°Think he wants us to do something with it?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°...Perhaps,¡± the Silver Knight drew out his blade, a solid beam of light in the darkness. He lightly tapped the rune with its tip, causing it to burn blue for a moment.


    The shade responded to that with a tapping of the rune, his own touch smearing a bit of it. A full half of it became purple.


    ¡°Odd,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°Try going for it now.¡±


    Joseph nodded, pressing a claw against the barest edge of the rune. It sparked at his hand, a surprising jolt that made him recoil back. An odd feeling playing at his hands.


    He had just been shocked.


    ¡°Been a while since that happened,¡± he commented.


    ¡°Look , above the rune,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°It''s rippling.¡±


    Indeed, the air over the rune wavered as though under Becenti''s influence. The two of them stared at it. The shade gave a thumbs-up.


    ¡°Right,¡± Joseph said, shaking his hand to numb it back to life, ¡°Well, we did something right.¡±


    The shade put their hands together. Pointed at Joseph, then at Oliphant.


    ¡°We don''t have to hug, do we?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°No,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°At least, I hope not.¡±


    ¡°Thanks.¡±


    There was a moment where they continued watching the shade, who perhaps realized what they were trying to convey wasn''t getting across to them. They stood back up to their full height, pointed at Joseph, then made a motion, as though they were holding a sword. Oliphant''s brow furrowed at that.


    ¡°Alright, then,¡± he said.


    He patted Joseph on the shoulder, presenting the sword to him. Joseph blinked.


    ¡°I''m sorry?¡± he said.


    ¡°Take the sword,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°Touch the rune with it. Make sure your soul''s the one doing the holding, alright?¡±


    ¡°Are you... are you sure?¡±


    ¡°If it gets us out of here, then it''s our best shot.¡±


    Joseph, swallowing down his nervousness, wrapped an electrical claw around the sword''s hilt. It was heavier than he would have imagined, dipping a bit as Oliphant removed his hold over it.


    ¡°This is Durandal,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°The blade of Roland. It can cut through solid rock as though it were butter.¡±


    ¡°I''ll be careful around rocks, then,¡± Joseph murmured, ¡°S-sorry, it''s just...¡±


    ¡°A lot, I know,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°It feels like the weight of the world, doesn''t it? Hold it tight, don''t let it slip, and do what needs to be done.¡±


    Joseph nodded, setting his jaw as he lowered the blade towards the rune. His hand began sparking up again as sword touched symbol, his soul revolting against him as he spasmed and splashed against his skin. The air above the rune continued to pulse and undulate, faster and faster as Joseph held Durandal fast against the rune.


    And then...


    ¡°Joseph,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°Move the sword up.¡±


    And he did so. Slowly at first, the blade of Roland cutting through the air, tearing a hole between realities. Heat assaulted them all at once, hot and blistering and real. A massive being made out of dark sap stood on the other side. They reached out a hand.


    One that Oliphant took. With a heave, the sap-being pulled him back into Prime. The two of them looked at Joseph.


    ¡°You''ll need to be quick!¡± the sap-being said, ¡°Quickly now, jump!¡±


    And Joseph jumped, the rent closing behind him, the stale cold of that dark-lit realm swallowed completely by the unending heat of Death Valley. Oliphant stopped him before he tumbled to the ground, standing him up and slapping him on the back.


    ¡°Excellent!¡± he said, ¡°My God, man, you''re a natural.¡±


    ¡°Th-Thanks,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Here, your sword...¡±


    He presented Durandal back to Oliphant, who took it.


    Who did not sheath it, as he considered their rescuer.


    ¡°Right then,¡± he said, ¡°You are?¡±


    ¡°I am Meloche,¡± the sap-being said, ¡°And you would be Oliphant, head of the Silver Knights.¡±


    ¡°Aye,¡± Oliphant said.


    ¡°I suppose you''re here to arrest me.¡±


    ¡°I...¡± Oliphant gave Meloche a look, ¡°Perhaps.¡±


    ¡°Jesus, you can''t be serious,¡± Joseph said, ¡°He just saved our lives!¡±


    ¡°He''s also a metahuman in Death Valley, presumably after the same thing we are,¡± Oliphant said.


    ¡°The Visionary?¡± Meloche said, ¡°You''d be correct.¡±


    Oliphant glared at him.


    ¡°All of this, for a damn criminal,¡± he muttered, ¡°What even is she, to you?¡±


    ¡°An opportunity,¡± Meloche said.


    ¡°Oliphant, don''t,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°There''s a chance we''ll come to blows later on, isn''t there?¡± Oliphant said.


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± Meloche said, ¡°What even is she, to you?¡±


    ¡°A war criminal,¡± Oliphant said.


    ¡°And you don''t want your future seen, yes?¡±


    That made Oliphant stop for a moment. Joseph could have blanched, his eyes widening, at the realization that the thought of asking for the future had never, ever crossed the Silver Knight¡¯s mind. Oliphant stood for an uncomfortable few seconds, staring at the ground, as he processed it.


    Then...


    ¡°No,¡± he said, ¡°I suppose I don''t.¡±


    His voice sounded hollow, as though he were trying to convince himself.


    ¡°But I do,¡± Meloche said, ¡°Surely, we can come to an agreement. You want to apprehend her, I want to see the future. Our two goals need not misalign.¡±


    ¡°You see her, after I arrest her.¡±


    ¡°Or, you arrest her, and I see her in prison. One of the two.¡±


    Oliphant chewed on those words.


    ¡°...Fine,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°Deal. We go to Earthmute together.¡±


    He began stomping off again. Joseph fell in line, keeping pace with him.


    The Silver Knight did not sheathe his sword.


    ***


    There was a sign in the distance that, just barely, read ''Sea Level.'' It was high up on one of the nearby mountains, battered and abandoned to time, the white paint having scratched away long ago. Ever-True found herself stopping to stare at it, a thin frown on her face. It was the first sign of civilization they had seen in several days, having been doing nothing but hiking up and down the basin, Furnace Creek Ranch seeming like a dull memory in comparison to the barren nothing that was Death Valley.


    It reminded her that, long ago, people had lived out here.


    ¡°I remember visiting here, you know,¡± Becenti said, ¡°When I was younger. It was just after the United States had taken this part of the country from the Manticore.¡±


    ¡°So you never saw it before the war.¡±


    ¡°No, I hadn''t,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I was on leave, visiting Prime, catching up with a few of my old friends. One of them was stationed out here. Eduardo, I think. We hiked down here, too. Saw that same sign.¡±


    ¡°...And what happened to Eduardo?¡±


    ¡°What do you think?¡± Becenti''s voice was cold and grim, ¡°Come on. We''re wasting time.¡±


    They were aware, dimly, of some battle on the peripheral horizon. One seemed to be a metahuman of flame by the looks of it, great gouts belching out from the salt plains like ash from a volcano. The other seemed to have no obvious power, but the flames warped in response to them, guided by their owners to strike at the small figure who ducked and weaved.


    Eventually, the flames consumed them, and went out. Becenti''s frown deepened.


    ¡°Be ready,¡± he said, ¡°Be ready for anything. At any moment.¡±


    ¡°Got it,¡± Ever-True said. She had already unholstered her javelin.


    But nothing accosted them as they went across the salt flats. They walked, occasionally trading warnings to the other, for the most part keeping quiet as they went. There was very little wind, if any, here. All was silence, the world itself pregnant with a tension that buzzed in both of their stomachs and made the hair on their necks stand on end.


    It was Becenti and Ever-True who were among the first to find an opening into the Earthmute. A door made of sandstone that lay on the ground as though abandoned. Etchings were carved into it, images of the distant past, of Epochians of all kingdoms walking towards a table. Some had wings. Others had fangs. Some walked on many legs, some were made of the stars themselves. Becenti studied it for a moment.


    ¡°It''s...¡± Ever-True said, ¡°God, that''s some...¡±


    ¡°Like looking at a museum piece,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Without ceremony, Becenti got to work, stooping down to grab one side of it. After a second''s hesitation, Ever-True followed suit, grabbing the other side. As one, they pried the top of the door off, tossing the art piece aside. The other side was a hole, one that yawned down into the earth. Ever-True took out a match, struck it alight, and dropped it down.


    ¡°Only a few feet,¡± she said, ¡°A jump.¡±


    ¡°An invitation, not a death trap,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Earthmute was a place of meeting, after all.¡±


    He jumped down, landing with a huff on cool stone. He glanced up.


    ¡°Come on,¡± he said, ¡°We''ve a seer to catch.¡±


    Ever-True nodded, leaping down. The sun shone from the open door above, revealing their immediate surroundings, a small clearing that smelled faintly of dust and age. More paintings lined the walls, so old that Ever-True was afraid to touch them, for fear the paint would disintegrate.


    Beyond that was nothing but claustrophobic darkness. A tunnel, one that slanted downwards into the earth. Becenti felt around his pack for a moment, producing a small flashlight that he clicked on. It didn''t feel like enough as he stepped out of the clearing and into the darkness.


    Ever-True stood stock still, watching him.


    ¡°...Are you alright?¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°I''m just,¡± Ever-True took a deep breath, ¡°Scared.¡±


    Becenti gave a smirk, though it was oddly devoid of mockery.


    ¡°Of the dark?¡± he prodded.


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°Well, we all have to be afraid of something,¡± Becenti said, ¡°It''s alright, Eve. But we can''t let our fears rule over us.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Ever-True said, ¡°I''ll be fine.¡±


    Becenti nodded.


    And offered a hand.


    ¡°It''s dark,¡± he said, ¡°And this place could easily become maze-like. Best we stick together.¡±


    She took the hand, and he began guiding her into the tunnel. She felt her heart leap into her throat as she became fully swallowed by the darkness, the thin beam of the flashlight just barely cutting through the murk. It was cold ¨C far colder than she imagined. It were as though Death Valley above did not exist.


    As though they had left Prime entirely, and come to someplace far older.


    ¡°Careful, now,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Can you hear that?¡±


    They stopped. Ever-True craned a nervous ear. There were the sounds of dripping water, of what seemed to be a river of some sort rushing underneath them, on some lower level.


    And there were also screams.


    ¡°We''re not alone,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Of course we''re not. Keep a steady eye. And be ready.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Ever-True said, ¡°I''m with you.¡±


    The pitch-black seemed to laugh at her.


    But she stayed her course.


    There was work to be done.

 56. DARKNESS BECKONS

    ¡°Ah, so you are Shimmer''s prodigy,¡± Meloche said.


    ¡°I...¡± Joseph''s mind stumbled at those words, ¡°I wouldn''t call it quite like that.¡±


    ¡°It''s good to see he''s still alive,¡± Meloche said, ¡°We lost contact after Ludaya.¡±


    ¡°He changed his name back,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Could that be why?¡±


    ¡°Back to...¡± Meloche thought for a moment, ¡°Back to what he used to be? Well, names come, and names go. It''s fluid, with our communities.¡±


    They walked across the salt flats, Joseph and Oliphant rationing their water supply. Meloche, due to his unique power, did not need anything to keep going. He was, by and large, a man completely covered in something akin to tree sap. He got all of his energy from it, and as a byproduct of his power, so long as he was completely armored in the molasses-like gunk, he did not need to eat or drink. But still, he carried a few canteens of water, though the way he handed them out, just hesitating a bit, clued them in that he did not enter Death Valley with them. As though they were mementos to someone lost.


    ¡°Still, it''s good to see that he''s doing well for himself,¡± Meloche said.


    ¡°He never mentioned you,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Ah,¡± Meloche said, ¡°I am... Not surprised, to be honest.¡±


    ¡°Because of Ludaya?¡± Joseph prodded.


    ¡°...Yes,¡± Meloche said, ¡°Because of that.¡±


    Overhead, vultures circled. They were evidently late arrivals to Death Valley, having finally caught the scent of rot in the air. Joseph could see almost a dozen of them, each of them wheeling through the sky in their own circuits. A few of them were flapping down to one of the ridges that overlooked the basin, and he felt a cold, guilt-ridden relief that he could not see what they were feasting on. When he turned back to his two other traveling companions, he noticed that Oliphant had followed his gaze. The Silver Knight''s face was grim, the grip on Durandal tight as a vise.


    ¡°Ludaya,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°I remember hearing about it.¡±


    ¡°Oh, then perhaps the Federation wasn''t quite as censor-happy as it normally is,¡± Meloche said, ¡°You''re a Silver Knight, yes?¡±


    ¡°Aye. It means that a few metahumans came back to us from the multiverse,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°Ignition. But she wasn''t around for long.¡±


    ¡°I remember her,¡± Meloche said, ¡°She was a good friend of mine. I''m not shocked that she survived. And she left?¡±


    ¡°From what records say, about a year after the war ended,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°No one knows where she went.¡±


    ¡°...I see,¡± Meloche said.


    ¡°What was Ludaya?¡± Joseph asked.


    He knew the weight behind that question. But he voiced it anyway, crossing his arms and giving Meloche a look.


    ¡°You keep using these words that I''m supposed to know,¡± he said, ¡°Becenti had me do a metric shitload of research on metahuman history, on Epochia, all that good stuff. But he''s never, ever, mentioned Ludaya.¡±


    ¡°Because Ludaya was his nation,¡± Meloche said, ¡°Our nation.¡±


    The realization swept over Joseph. He blinked a few times as the pieces fell into place.


    ¡°Ludaya was a metahuman nation,¡± he said, ¡°One he...¡±


    ¡°One that we formed,¡± Meloche said, ¡°During the war. When the Federation was dealing with the Manticore. They allowed it, as it meant less metahumans joined the other side.¡±


    ¡°And when all was said and done,¡± Joseph felt a prick of anxiety that bloomed into a hollow understanding, ¡°No, they didn''t.¡±


    ¡°They did,¡± Meloche said.


    ¡°They say that Ludaya collapsed in on itself,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°That it fell to infighting.¡±


    ¡°Typical Federation propaganda,¡± Meloche said, ¡°We cannot have a state, for we are too barbaric to keep a society together. No, they destroyed Ludaya, and most of the leadership with it. The plane it was on was glassed out of existence.¡±


    He let the words hang in the air, turning and continuing his walk in silence. Joseph stopped, digesting the news.


    ¡°I...¡± he stammered, ¡°That''s just...¡±


    Oliphant rested a hand on his shoulder.


    ¡°It was a long time ago,¡± the Silver Knight said.


    ¡°Like that makes it fine,¡± Joseph muttered.


    ¡°It doesn''t,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°But it means that we need to keep our eye on the prize here.¡±


    ¡°Is that why everyone''s here?¡± Joseph said, ¡°They''re all trying to see their futures, right? You think some of them are seeing if metahumans get another shot?¡±


    ¡°Hey,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°We''re here to apprehend Visionary. Nothing else. Come on, we''ve got a job to do.¡±


    ¡°...A door,¡± Meloche said.


    He pointed at the ground. There was a sandstone door on the ground, runes and all. Joseph recognized High King Coral on the front, carved in sharp relief, his blue cloak and crown of stars faded by the endless planeshifting and the sheer reach of time.


    Without a word, Joseph''s soul came to life, and he walked over and pried the door off, setting it to the side with a gentle touch. He glanced down at the hole beneath the door. The entire affair felt like he was desecrating a tomb, as though he were crawling into a coffin and into some other world.


    Which he had done before. He did not relish doing it a second time. Oliphant jumped into the hole. Meloche followed.


    After a few moments, Joseph dove into the black.


    ***


    Much like Becenti and Ever-True, they found themselves in a small clearing that led to a tunnel that stretched downwards. Unlike the other team''s hesitation, however, Joseph''s soul immediately covered his hand, casting them in its azure glow, and the three of them began to descend. Nothing accosted them.


    They walked in silence, listening to the sound of rushing water beneath their feet, a potential warning that not all of Earthmute was man-made. Paintings lined the wall ¨C histories of metahumanity, famous warriors and leaders walking beside them, rendered in ancient dye. Joseph found that he could recognize quite a few of the figures traveling with them. Once more, he could see High King Coral. His partner, Seeks-New-Roads. His sibling, Archaic Mosaic.


    ¡°The Brothers and Lover,¡± he murmured.


    ¡°Ah, you know of them,¡± Meloche said.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Kings of... Armagest, I believe.¡±


    ¡°Ah, a metahuman who knows his history,¡± Meloche said, ¡°A rarity, these days.¡±


    ¡°The fact that there are so many out here says otherwise,¡± Oliphant commented.


    ¡°They''re out here because they had the dreams,¡± Meloche said, ¡°And they remember a fable or two from their childhoods. Not something as academic as ''Brother and Lover.'' Only scholars use that term.¡±


    ¡°Becenti made me read a ton of books on metahumanity,¡± Joseph said, ¡°For an expedition.¡±


    ¡°Oh!¡± Meloche said, ¡°A dead plane?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, pretty much.¡±


    ¡°And was it a metahuman one?¡± Meloche asked, a hint of giddiness in his slow voice. The sheer excitement made Joseph, despite the tension in his gut, smile.


    ¡°You bet,¡± he said, ¡°It was Chliofrond.¡±


    ¡°Chliofrond! By all the gods in all of the skies!¡± Meloche said, ¡°By stars, Eco would have-¡±


    His voice caught in his throat, and he went silent, the joy suffocated and smothered. Oliphant gave him a sad look.


    ¡°You lost someone out here, didn''t you?¡± he said.


    ¡°I...¡± Meloche said, ¡°I did.¡±


    ¡°Eco,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°The name''s familiar. He was the one with the nature powers, right?¡±


    ¡°He ingested an ecosystem, and he took on its form,¡± Meloche said, ¡°He was... a friend.¡±


    He did not say more than that.


    ¡°You have my condolences,¡± Oliphant said.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph said, ¡°We''ve lost people too. Well, they''ve lost us.¡±


    ¡°I hope you can find them again,¡± Meloche said.


    ¡°What was... What was he like?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Hmm?¡± Meloche said, ¡°Eco?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°I... Well, he was an apprentice of mine, at first. A student in philosophy, who planeshifted from Zarabadroom to attend my lectures. But he soon surpassed me in many ways...¡±


    The maple man''s soft, deep voice echoed and rumbled as they went on, as he told them of Eco. Their friendship. Their adventures with their guild, the Disciples of Aether. The way that Eco would laugh at Meloche''s cynicism, the way they fought side by side in the endless wars of the multiverse, for the Disciples were often used for that purpose. The way they would, together, look at the stars twinkling high above. The way Eco would, no matter what, get up at the crack of dawn to watch the sunrise.


    Joseph hung on every word.


    ***


    Removing the shard of glass had proven difficult.


    It moved of its own accord as they retreated, slowly slicing down Robber Fly''s arm as he let out a haggard scream, to the point that Talrash had torn off a scrap of cloth from her robes and tied it around his mouth to muffle him. He was no longer in Robber Fly form, the cloth clenched in his teeth, sweat beading his brow, his left arm sporting a wicked gash that kept growing.


    They ran, and after a while left the range of their assailant, the glass ceasing its painful wriggling and losing its unnatural autonomy. The Domehead laid Robber Fly down gently on the ground, taking out a knife and cutting away the camouflaged sleeves of Robber Fly''s uniform. He pulled out a medical kit from one of his packs, and got to work on removing the foreign material from his arm.


    ¡°We''re wasting time,¡± Talrash said, ¡°Leave him.¡±


    The Domehead stopped, turning his head slightly towards her. Considered her order for a moment.


    Then turned back, and continued treating Robber Fly.


    ¡°I said, leave him!¡± Talrash snarled.


    ¡°...No,¡± the Domehead said.


    That made her see red, as she stomped over, her breath filling with gold. The Domehead turned to face her.


    ¡°He''s useless to us,¡± Talrash said, ¡°That arm''s good as gone.¡±


    ¡°I... I''ve got another arm,¡± Robber Fly grimaced.


    ¡°Move aside,¡± Talrash said to the Domehead.


    ¡°No,¡± the Domehead said, ¡°He is injured.¡±


    ¡°That means he''s a liability,¡± Talrash said, ¡°We don''t have time for pointless debates.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± the Domehead said, ¡°So let me treat him. Or you lose me on this, too.¡±


    Talrash blinked.


    ¡°You... I''ll tell the higher-ups about your insubordination, here, you damn fool.¡±This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    ¡°My orders come from Doctor Matergabia,¡± the Domehead said, ¡°I don''t care about who you''re working with. So either you let me treat this man, or you''re on your own.¡±


    ¡°I''ll kill you,¡± Talrash threatened.


    ¡°Then you''re still on your own.¡±


    The statement cowed Talrash, who simply glared at the Domehead. With the argument finished, the mercenary turned back and continued working on Robber Fly''s arm.


    ¡°Heh,¡± Robber Fly chuckled, ¡°You aren''t bad, kid.¡±


    The Domehead did not respond. He applied a few gel-like salves to Robber Fly''s arm, closing the wound and stemming the bleeding. He wrapped the entire affair in bandages, then helped him up. Robber Fly hid his pain behind a smarmy smile, but kept his arm to his side.


    ¡°Right,¡± Talrash said, ¡°Now, the door into Earthmute should be around here. Let''s go.¡±


    She swished off. Robber Fly slapped the Domehead on the back, giving him another pained, but winning smile, and moved off after her. The Domehead, after a few moments, followed them.


    He wondered if he''d done the right thing.


    ***


    Pocket, Silicon, and Analyza went down the dark halls, all of them feeling just the right amount of tension mixed with excitement. There was real history here, what with the authentic carvings and paintings and runes that decorated the place. Practically every wall, floor, and ceiling had some piece of art attached to it. It were as though the people who had lived within Earthmute had wanted to chronicle every single day of their lives in stone, record everything they did and all that they saw.


    All of it, in stone that no one cared for. Art that they watched with, at best, fleeting interest. For Visionary was at the pit of this place, waiting for them.


    And that was all that mattered.


    They opened a door to the side, which led to a large chamber. A round table was in the chamber''s center, old stone chairs docked around it. There was a man sitting at the table, his brow slicked with dried red. His head shot up as he saw the three of them rush in. Blades began growing out of his back like quills, and he grabbed them and flung them at the group. One. Then two.


    He did not get a third, as a wave of glass overtook him and shredded him to bits. His aim was nearly true, however, as both Pocket and Ana had hit the deck, the blades sticking cleanly out of the wall where Pocket¡¯s head had been a moment before. Silicon stepped forward, glass storming around him, checking every nook and cranny for any other interlopers. But the man had been alone. Resting.


    ¡°Unprepared,¡± Silicon said.


    Pocket wrinkled her nose at the sight of the gore.


    ¡°That''s the third one already,¡± she said, ¡°We came to a busy part of the place.¡±


    ¡°More metahumans than I would have anticipated,¡± Silicon said.


    ¡°Well, shit,¡± Pocket said. She took the opportunity to begin pulling out rifle parts out of her pockets, laying them on the table, getting a feeling for the menagerie of weaponry stored within her, ¡°Ana, what do you want?¡±


    ¡°I''m not sure,¡± Analyza said. She was staring at the wall, getting a gauge, ¡°Wow, they actually used anthithium for the blue here, that stuff''s pretty damn rare nowadays...¡±


    ¡°Ana.¡±


    Analyza turned to face her partner.


    ¡°I know that you don''t like using these,¡± Pocket said, ¡°But it would make me feel better if you had something.¡±


    ¡°Don''t give me one of those,¡± Analyza said, ¡°Get me... Get me a hammer. You know I can''t shoot for shit, and we''ll be close quarters most of the time anyways.¡±


    Pocket nodded, pulling out an etnosteel hammerhead and clicking it onto a handle. She presented it to Analyza, who took it and tested its weight.


    ¡°We should move on,¡± Silicon said.


    ¡°Right,¡± Pocket said. She clicked together a heavy-duty assault rifle, clicking a last underbarrel into place. Lines carved along the rifle''s barrel began beating with a harsh, red light. A heavy rifle from Kaleidos, one with enough power to punch through an elephant''s skull. Analyza pretended to be fine at the sight of it.


    ***


    ¡°Here we are,¡± Robber Fly said, ¡°Behold! A door on the ground.¡±


    This particular door did not have as many decorations and runes marring its surface. Rather, the only thing on its front was a stylized depiction of a woman with pale skin and golden eyes, her moon-colored hair splashing around her like a lion''s mane, a serene expression on her face. She was wearing sheer robes, and in her cupped hands was a single symbol, that of a Vitruvian Man, his head replaced by a riverstone.


    The symbol of the Sons of Darwin.


    ¡°Visionary,¡± Talrash whispered, ¡°Interesting, interesting indeed.¡±


    ¡°What, did the Earthmute folk see the future?¡± Robber Fly said.


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± Talrash said, ¡°But Earthmute is alive, remember. He''s a metahuman, like us. A good chance he drew this himself.¡±


    ¡°Aww, he''s got a crush,¡± Robber Fly said.


    ¡°You, Domehead,¡± Talrash said, and she found herself a bit surprised she was calling the mercenary this, as well, ¡°Open the door.¡±


    The Domehead walked forward, wrenching it off with one hand, tossing it away. It splintered on the ground as he did so. Talrash glanced down into the pit below.


    ¡°You, Robber Fly,¡± the Breath of Midas said, ¡°Check below.¡±


    ¡°Right on,¡± Robber Fly''s molted into an insect once more, and with a buzz he slipped down.


    ¡°Only a few feet down,¡± he said, ¡°Come on!¡±


    Talrash leaped down into the tunnel. The Domehead followed her, the air rippling behind him as he pulled in heat from the outside air in with him. For a moment, the entire tunnel was filled with the overbearing, ambient temperature of the basin above, before he pulled into a ball that floated in his hand.


    ¡°You''re getting better at that,¡± Robber Fly said.


    The Domehead nodded.


    ¡°How long until the power wears off?¡± Talrash said.


    ¡°Another day,¡± the Domehead said.


    ¡°Good, plenty of time then,¡± Talrash said, ¡°If we encounter Shimmer again, go right for him. I''ll be right behind you.¡±


    ¡°What about the others?¡± Robber Fly said, ¡°There''s still Oliphant to deal with, as well as good ol'' Joseph. And that other girl.¡±


    ¡°I''m concerned more about Shimmer than any of them,¡± Talrash said.


    ¡°I wouldn''t be too concerned,¡± Robber Fly said, ¡°It''s cold down here. And dank. Hehe, dank.¡±


    Talrash glared at him. Robber Fly shut up, clutching his bad arm.


    ***


    ¡°...So you pull in heat and use it,¡± Ever-True said.


    ¡°Correct,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Any amount of heat is mine to control. At first, I could only push and pull it. Then, as time went on, I learned to intensify it. Form it into objects.¡±


    ¡°Which seems impossible,¡± Ever-True said.


    In answer, Becenti pulled out his heatstone, clicking it on and pulling out a string of ripples, which he formed into a ball. He gave it a few experimental bounces, before tossing it to Ever-True. It was warm in her hands, as though she were holding a cup of coffee.


    ¡°The impossible is what the multiverse thrives on,¡± Becenti said, ¡°If you expand your horizons a bit, you''ll find that things are much more magnificent than you could have imagined. Besides, we¡¯re metahumans. Who are we to decide what is impossible?¡±


    He released his influence on the ball, which dissipated into a patch of warm air, one that dissolved entirely in the relative coolness of the tunnel. Becenti had let go of her hand long ago, and even though the darkness crept around them, he kept her talking, kept pushing conversation, perhaps to set her mind at ease. Occasionally they would stop, listening for sounds of danger. Then, they would move on.


    She appreciated how casual he was trying to make things, even after everything that happened.


    ¡°Can I...¡± she cleared her throat, ¡°Your heat. It can come from anywhere.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Even the body?¡±


    He gave a nod, though she noticed a hint of reluctance as he said, ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Ever-True said.


    ¡°I don''t like to do it,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I used the body against itself, during the war. It''s a line I don''t like crossing.¡±


    He turned to regard her with an empty smile.


    ¡°You can make any object fly true, yes?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Ever-True said.


    ¡°Why javelins?¡±


    ¡°Because they''re cool,¡± Ever-True said.


    ¡°What''s to stop you from taking a machine gun and making it so every shot drives home?¡±


    She had heard this question before. She always had the same answer.


    ¡°Because it''s not right. Same with your powers, there are lines I don''t cross. I''m a superhero, not a mercenary.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Becenti nodded in apparent satisfaction, turning to walk, ¡°You''ll learn that being a superhero and being a mercenary are sometimes one and the same. You¡¯re just in spandex when you''re on the job.¡±


    Eve was quiet at that. She gave no answer as she followed behind.


    ***


    Inevitably, the rushing water that hinted at Earthmute''s more natural origins became louder and louder. One final door, and they found themselves in a dark cave, the water rushing in a river across ancient stone. Stalagmites rose from the cave''s floor, miniature towers of tapered rock. Stalactites grew down like an old man''s beard, dripping water to the ground. The entire cave''s ceiling was studded with lights, like miniature stars, glowing geodes from a distant place, each one a different color, each one a unique hue. Ever-True stepped out in front of Becenti, her eyes wide as she stared up. Becenti could only smile-


    Then shoved Eve to the ground, as an acid arrow sailed overhead. Bits of the arrow dripped down, steaming against the stone as it splashed. A metahuman was stepping out of the shadows, another arrow streaming out of her hand, a sickly green liquid that barely held together as she strung it to her bow. Becenti''s heatstone clicked on, and he pointed it, ripples traveling from the stone to directly in front of them, not enough to form a full wall, only just barely holding together as the arrow slammed against the small barrier, acid splashing over the top and staining the ground directly in front of them.


    Becenti and Ever-True scrambled back to their feet, Ever-True taking aim, getting into a stance, her last javelin gleaming in the cavern¡¯s rainbow dusk.


    She pivoted, at the last moment, as a second assailant melted into view, a massive man with six arms, his skin like a crocodile''s hide. She let loose the javelin, which sailed into a chink in the man''s natural armor, between two scutes on the leg. He let out a growling gasp as he fell to the ground.


    Becenti, meanwhile, was pulling more heat out of the stone, forming more and more of a barrier between him and the acid archer. She nocked a few more arrows, letting them loose, testing Becenti''s shield. Already, however, the older man was giving answer, heat forming into a few arrows of his own, which he launched at his assailant, who dove to the side.


    There was a moment of tense preparation, as one prepared more acid, the other more heat. An odd elemental duel, one that was splitting away from Ever-True and the six-armed man. Eve was taking a few steps back, reaching into a hidden pouch located on the small of her back, retrieving a few iron balls that she flung as hard as she could at the large man. Each one thundered at his skull, a series of five harsh cracks that made him stumble backwards, javelin still awkwardly jutting from his leg. It would have been enough to kill a lesser man, one whose skin was not tough and knotted and green. As it was, the six-armed metahuman could only fall on his back, clutching his skull, a dull moan escaping his lips.


    Movement to her left. Ever-True spun, right as Becenti and the acidic metahuman lobbed another series of volleys at each other, as a figure came out of the door. This one was wrapped in silks and purple sashes, their entire body covered in cloth, all of it beautiful. All of it, embroidered. They took a moment to consider the battle before them.


    Then, their eyes began to burn red.


    ¡°Duck!¡± Ever-True shouted. She hit the deck, practically slipping on herself as twin beams of light erupted from the silkhewn metahuman''s eyes. She watched as Becenti leaped out of the way, just in time, the acidic metahuman grimacing as she, too, dove, the beams just grazing her side.


    Becenti scrambled to his feet, heat bracing around his hand as a club. He rushed towards the acid-bearing metahuman, who rose and streamed another arrow, the only shape she seemed to be able to craft. He spun out of the way as she fired it off, bringing the club down. Once. Twice-


    And then he felt arms wrap around him, pulling him back, lifting him up completely, the crocodile-skinned, six-armed metahuman roaring as he slammed Becenti into the ground.  Becenti gasped, feeling the air rush out of his system. He brought up a hand, a ball of heat fashioning into a stake. The six-armed man knocked the hand away, two of his own curling into wrecking-ball like fists, two of them thundering into Becenti''s stomach. Becenti choked, gasping as he doubled over in agony. The crocodile brought up his six arms again-


    And the world behind them exploded in a BANG that deafened them all. Becenti was aware of a flash of blue, of the stink of ozone in the air, the crocodile man flying past him and into the opposite wall, laying still with a horrid, burning welt on his back that webbed to the floor. The acidic metahuman, her eyes wide, began scrambling back.


    Through ringing ears, Becenti could hear his voice.


    ¡°''Sup, dipshit,¡± Joseph said.


    Behind them, Oliphant had burst out of seemingly nowhere, his blade dancing alongside Ever-True against the sash-covered metahuman. Eve was throwing more iron balls, a few of them skipping and bouncing off stone to strike at her target, connecting with their vague form, causing them to collapse. Beams of hard, red light scattered across stone, burning through the floor and walls as Oliphant deflected them with his blade. He stepped closer and closer. Until he was right on the metahuman.


    One slash. Two.


    The metahuman crumpled.


    The last metahuman, the acid archer, was already running. Joseph gave her a hard look as he saw her leave, opening up a door that led to the outside world, slamming it behind her. He extended out a hand to Becenti.


    Who took it.


    Who then, trembling, wrapped Joseph in an embrace, one so hard Joseph was sure his back would snap.


    Releasing him, Becenti looked him over, then patted him on the shoulder.


    ¡°If you,¡± Becenti''s voice was cracked and quiet, ¡°If you call me ''dipshit'' again, I''ll have you feeding the goats for a month.¡±


    ¡°Good to see you too, man,¡± Joseph said.


    Ever-True approached Oliphant, who was standing over the body of the silk-hidden metahuman. He turned, giving her a sad smile as he rested a hand on her shoulder.


    ¡°Glad you''re alright,¡± he said.


    She nodded, ¡°Glad you are too.¡±


    She cast a dour look at the corpse.


    ¡°You killed them.¡±


    ¡°No choice,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°It was one of those situations. Besides, we don''t have time to lug a prisoner out of here, not when we''re close to the real target.¡±


    The casual disregard of the act made Ever-True''s face tighten. But Oliphant did not notice as he went to inspect the other metahuman, the one with the six arms and the reptilian skin. Joseph, meanwhile, was talking to Becenti.


    ¡°Yeah, we were trapped in some weird limbo world,¡± he said, ¡°Oliphant and I. It was crazy, like a dark mirror. Thought we''d be trapped forever, until Meloche came along.¡±


    ¡°Meloche...?¡± Becenti said, and then stopped in his tracks as the great, sapformed philosopher stepped out into the cavern. The two of them stared at each other, both unsure of what to say to the other.


    ¡°...Shimmer,¡± Meloche started.


    ¡°It''s Becenti, now.¡±


    ¡°Becenti, then,¡± Meloche said, ¡°You look well.¡±


    ¡°Carrying on as well as can be,¡± Becenti said, ¡°And you?¡±


    ¡°The same,¡± Meloche said.


    Behind them, Oliphant nodded in satisfaction as he finished checking over the six-armed metahuman.


    ¡°Big guy''s going to be out for a while,¡± he said, ¡°Good job with that, Joseph.¡±


    ¡°Been charging up for a while,¡± Joseph replied, ¡°Thought I''d need to, you know?¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°We should keep moving. Eyes on the prize, people.¡±


    He turned, considering the cavern for a few moments. Then, he turned to Becenti.


    ¡°Shimmer,¡± he said, ¡°Where to?¡±


    ¡°Where else?¡± Becenti said, ¡°None of the doors here seem to lead downwards. We should follow the river, I think, down into the more natural parts of Earthmute.¡±


    ¡°Right, then,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°We''re in an active combat zone, people. Eyes set, and be ready for anything. Joseph, you and I take point. Eve, get your javelin out of Crocs over there, you''ll need it. Shim, you and Meloche take up the rear.¡±


    They took up positions, and moved as a unit down the river. All but Ever-True, who lagged for a few moments to stare at the bodies.


    ¡°Eve!¡± Oliphant called, ¡°Come on!¡±


    She turned, bit down her emotions, swallowed them, tried to settle them in her stomach. Becenti''s words came back to her as she rejoined the squad.


    ¡°You''ll learn that being a superhero and being a mercenary are sometimes one and the same.¡±


    But there was work to be done, and neither darkness nor this subtle, quiet disillusionment would stay her step. Above, the mosaic geodes glittered, thousands of eyes watching their passage through the corridors of stone.


    Watching.


    And waiting.

 57. THE LANGUAGE OF THE BROKEN

    The cavern that Talrash, Robber Fly, and the Domehead found themselves in was small and cramped. It was newer, Talrash supposed, for all the records and research indicated that Earthmute''s structures were made by Earthmute himself. She remembered poring over old records, back when the Sons controlled multiple Library Worlds, of the history of Earthmute. He meant to mimic himself after the Cycle of Civilization, of the leaving of caves to the fields, from the fields to cities, building until the towers pierced through the skies, their lights shining in space in an aping of the stars.


    As such, this cavern itself was lined with cave paintings, but they depicted Earthmute''s memories. His time used as a meeting point of Epochia, a host to the rulers of Imagination. His wanderings across the multiverse inked into sandstone and lime, figures cast in black as they rushed for ancient, extinct mammals. Still others, while showcasing the same style and art, depicted space stations, wars among the stars, more recent histories that she herself could remember. The Battle of Handorica was on full display in one of the larger rooms, the planet cast as a purple orb lined with violet geodes that danced in the darkness, ships arrayed around it.


    Indeed, it seemed like Earthmute''s allegiances were clear. He still bowed to the Manticore, that was certain, because it seemed he was guiding them deeper and deeper into the pit of his soul. To Visionary. Paths opened up where they had not been before, and each one led further into the self. The caverns were comfortable and direct. Their way was well lit by the ocean of stones above, each of them glittering, physical acts of worship to Imagination, that lifeblood of metahumanity.


    She smiled. The journey through Death Valley seemed like a distant dream, compared to the coolness and relief she felt being here. In the distance, they could hear the sounds of combat. But they were above them, not below.


    First in line, first to arrive.


    And the room they found themselves in was one of glass.


    ***


    ¡°Where did you go, Shimmer?¡± Meloche asked, ¡°After Ludaya.¡±


    Becenti gave him a mournful look as they walked, trudging beside one another. Despite Oliphant''s orders, they were lagging behind the rest of the group. Joseph kept casting a glance back at them, but wisely said nothing. They were survivors, Meloche and Becenti, of the same scourging. There was talk to be had between them, a walking moot that trailed into the earth.


    ¡°I left,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Left the Silver Knights. Left the small dregs of Pagan Chorus behind.¡±


    His brow furrowed.


    ¡°Did you know,¡± he said, ¡°They tried to invite me? After everything they did? Valm sent me an official invitation, in High Speech and everything.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Meloche said, ¡°Shimmer, I''m so sorry.¡±


    ¡°I''m Becenti now. Please, call me that.¡±


    The great, sap-born mound considered those words, giving him a sad look.


    ¡°So you''ve cast off that name.¡±


    ¡°I have.¡±


    ¡°Very well. It is your choice, Becenti.¡±


    There was a thousand meanings to those words. A thousand memories. Both could hear the thrumming of Federation ships over the forests of Ludaya, of the distinct ''kelthunk'' of the warbirds'' glassmakers, the pulse of plasma rifles, the screams of mothers over children. They remembered Ludaya, as a crowd, fleeing towards the Traveling Points, only to find Federation soldiers already there, the entire populace guided by flame and glass like sheep to a slaughter.


    ¡°...And where did you go?¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Oh,¡± Meloche said, ¡°I wandered for a while, did my own far traveling, shall we say. Returned back to En-Lemnos to lecture for a small while. Joined the Disciples of Aether. Didn''t do much with them, to be honest. It was something... Something to do.¡±


    Becenti nodded at that.


    ¡°Is that all we''re doing now, you think?¡± he said, ¡°Just finding something to do?¡±


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± Meloche said, ¡°Treading water. Until the next go-around. Until the next attempt.¡±


    ¡°And...¡± Becenti said, ¡°Is that all we can do?¡±


    ¡°Oh, some of us find new places, of course,¡± Meloche said, ¡°Home is, at the end of the day, what you decide it to be.¡±


    Joseph glanced back at those words. Becenti was looking down at his feet, Meloche with one hand on his shoulder, the philosopher guiding his steps.


    ¡°But there is a reason we keep trying to make Ludayas,¡± Meloche continued, ¡°New Epochias. You know what the Federation thinks of us. What their people have done. We create because there is no choice, because there is safety in numbers, because if we do not, we are consigned to the outside of society. To guilds.¡±


    He gestured.


    ¡°To the bloodshed that follows.¡±


    ¡°But there is home in that,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Meloche said, ¡°There is. I have learned that. I have...¡±


    He was quiet. They walked carefully, and the next room they came upon was one of glass.


    ***


    Silicon''s going was slow.


    He would stop to consider the paintings on the walls, and of the many groups plunging into the depths of Earthmute, he was the only one to reach out a hand and touch the art, caressing the dried paints and dyes like a lover, brushing fingers across stone, and though his face revealed little, Ana could see his hands shook slightly, trembling with an emotion as he beheld old culture and histories.


    She didn''t know why she stopped for him. This was a race. A desperate one. They passed corpses on the way in here, fools who had gone down the wrong roads, had faced the wrong foes. Blood stained the sandstone now.


    Pocket was the one who took point, rifle in hand as she stalked carefully down the maze-like caverns, through the caves, the sound of rushing water pounding in her ears. She would give an annoyed huff when she noticed Silicon and Ana lagging behind, stopping to wait for them. Never ceasing her vigilance, never letting her guard down.


    ¡°Do you recognize this?¡± Analyza asked.


    She and Silicon were staring at an image of a man who looked much like Silicon, dusk-skinned and tall, armor made from flowing snow enrapturing him. In one hand the man held a blade of jagged ice, the other a floating green eye, whose gaze seemed to follow Ana wherever she walked.


    ¡°An ancestor,¡± Silicon said.


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Analyza said.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Silicon said, ¡°He holds the symbol of Hyzodriad. He wears armor of ice. That is enough.¡±


    ¡°Come on, you two,¡± Pocket called, ¡°Eyes on the prize.¡±


    Analyza went to join her lover, the two of them descending down one of the paths, their way lit by gemstone. After a moment, Silicon tore his gaze away and made his way as well. But he could not stop stealing gazes at the walls. For the art in this place was memory given form. Folktales stained on the rocks. He could remember each and every one of them, told to him by his grandmother, and each and every painting held something from his childhood, those old cherished stories. They were real to him, now, and he felt a swelling sort of pride.


    This was what Epochia had been. Beyond the wars that had scarred his people, beyond the desolations and the genocides. There were lessons here. Lessons for the future, lessons for childhood, lessons from those who had come before.


    Lessons, he had begun to realize, were all that he needed.


    And, at last, the room they came upon was one of glass.


    ***


    It was a room of glass and smooth, almost wet-looking black stone. Joseph and Oliphant took a few careful steps through. Clear walls flanked them on either side, one hallway to their left, two more to their right, see-through so they could see the other groups staring at them. Joseph''s heart skipped a beat as he noted that one of the groups was Robber Fly''s. He held his arm at his side in a stiff manner, but he gave a smirk as his eyes fell on Joseph. The air around him suddenly became tinged with the smell of ozone, to the point that Oliphant put a hand on Joseph''s shoulder to steady him.


    ¡°Meloche, Shimmer,¡± he said, ¡°Where are we?¡±


    ¡°A hallway,¡± Meloche said, ¡°One to see the other delegates as they arrived.¡±


    ¡°Other delegates?¡± Oliphant said.


    They watched as Talrash considered the glass wall, glaring at them. After a few moments, she let out a globule of spit, golden and glinting, against the glass.


    It smeared downwards, impervious to her power. Talrash considered that, before turning a nose and continuing walking. The dome-headed mercenary followed her like a hunting dog. Robber Fly gave a smirk as he brought up the rear. As he walked, his head began to bubble and warp. He floated upwards and flew a foot above the ground as the line of the three former Sons made their way down the hallway.


    ¡°Look,¡± Ever-True pointed. Clear on the other side of the four hallways was a third group. Two of them were unfamiliar to the group, a dark-skinned woman who stared at them as though they were exhibits in a zoo, wearing a drab poncho that was dusted by the desert and salt plains above. Beside her was a woman with lines creasing all over her body, her jaw set and her look stern. She carried a powerful-looking rifle in hand, one that she kept level as she eyed Joseph''s group suspiciously. The third, trailing behind them...


    ¡°Silicon,¡± Becenti murmured.


    ¡°Who?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Silicon. The Last Knight of Hyzodriad.¡±


    ¡°Not surprised he''s here,¡± Meloche said, ¡°He always tends to come to places like this.¡±


    ¡°What''s his power?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°He can control glass,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Control and become it.¡±


    Joseph noted the walls, ¡°Should we be worried?¡±


    Almost on cue, the tall man rested a gauntleted hand against the glass. The wall rippled, but did nothing more. Silicon''s brow furrowed, a disturbed look painting his face. Then, the dark-skinned woman patted him on the shoulder, beckoning him onwards.


    ¡°Anyone else?¡± Oliphant asked.


    ¡°...None that I can see,¡± Becenti said, ¡°So. Three groups.¡±


    ¡°All headed to the same place,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°Heads up, folks. This is going to get messy.¡±


    He kept glancing at the other two groups as they walked. As he did so, he raised Durandal, dragging its point against the glass, though the blade did little to pierce a line through the wall.


    ¡°Epochia was one nation, but many kingdoms,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Disagreements happened. This place must have been to see the other parties, but they would not be able to interact with each other. Not until the next chamber, or the one after that.¡±


    Oliphant grimaced. Joseph could see the gears turning in his head as he considered his options.


    ¡°Shit,¡± the Silver Knight said, ¡°They''re right between us. Shimmer, how dangerous is Silicon?¡±


    ¡°Incredibly so,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Look at how the air''s glittering around him. That''s glass, so many slivers that he can form into whatever he needs. He must have brought a lot with him for this.¡±


    ¡°Alright, here¡¯s what we do,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°Joseph, I need you on his group. Shimmer, does that helmeted mercenary still possess your powers?¡±


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I don''t know.¡±


    ¡°Keep on them, then,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°Take out that little heater of yours and get cracking. Eve, you too. Let''s hang back for a moment when we get to the next room. Maybe we can avoid the opening shots, give us a chance to breathe before we act.¡±


    They were all going faster now, power-walking towards the end of the hallway. Each one ended in a solid wooden door, so out of place in this natural cavern it made Joseph pause as his hand closed around the brass knob.


    ¡°Joseph, go,¡± Oliphant said.


    Joseph complied, pulling the door open. Robber Fly was beckoning Talrash and the domeheaded mercenary like some sort of insectoid gentleman. The dark-skinned woman opened the door up, her slit-covered companion going through, pointing her rifle up. As Silicon went through the door, he fractured and splintered in a mass of shards.


    Oliphant took point. His face was set and grim as he held Durandal in both hands. Without a word, he stepped through his door.


    ***


    It was a series of four stone brides, linking from one end of a vast chamber to the other. Columns of stone supported each of them, three to a bridge, funneling down into the darkness below. The busy cadence of rushing water was the only indication of what was at the bottom of the pit, uncaring to the tension above, eternal in its streaming and dancing. Joseph wondered if it traveled with Earthmute, or if it was some sort of cave, lost to time, deep down beneath Death Valley, an ancient place with a quiet, lonely history.


    Above were more geodes. But they were not like the mismatched, natural splatterings of the rest of the caves in Earthmute''s complex. No, these were patterned like the river below, flowing in four points above each bridge, converging towards the end of the cavern, where all four bridges ended in one outcropping of stone, four paths leading to one door.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    For a moment, all three groups considered this new scene. Took in the sights, gauged where the others were. The bridges were farther apart than where the hallways had been, a chasm of around fifteen feet between each one. Perhaps the hallways had been an optical illusion. Or, more likely, it was due to the odd nature of Earthmute itself.


    There was silence as eleven minds took stock of the situation.


    Then, like the multiple heads of a hydra, they took off as one towards the other side of the bridge. Oliphant let out a shout, and his group stopped as Silicon leaped forward, a flock of glass surging towards the door, far faster than any one group. Joseph''s heart fell. This was not even a race, there was not even a chance, the metahuman was right there at the door already-


    Talrash opened her mouth, and a stream of burning gold spewed forth, a beam that collided with the bulk of the glass knight''s makeup, forging much of it to burnished metal. What remained of the flock seized up and shuddered, individual pieces of falling away into the chasm below. The rest fell to the ground just at the door, and lay still.


    Ever-True took her chance, chucking her javelin at the Breath of Midas. At the same moment, Joseph''s circuit rocketed, breaking as he pointed out, a bolt of lightning thundering from his open palm. The entire cavern shook with a BANG, a false sunrise lighting the half-dark. But when the white smear of light cleared away, neither it nor the javelin had struck true, a solid wall of heat blocking the two bridges.


    A wall of heat that was starting to ripple closer to them...


    ¡°Shimmer!¡± Oliphant said, ¡°Now!¡±


    Becenti took over, pushing against the domeheaded mercenary''s stolen power. The space between the two bridges became a miasma of shimmering mirages as the two warred, the air between them as hot as a volcano.


    Oliphant was suddenly beside Joseph, shielding him as a rain of gunfire came down on him. The slit-covered metahuman had opened fire, a drum-like rhythm piercing through the chamber. But each shot plinked off of Oliphant''s armor, his blade up to cover his bare head, his jaw set as the barrage died down, the slit-covered metahuman''s head cracking back as Ever-True nailed her with an iron ball.


    ¡°POCKET!¡± the dark-skinned woman screamed, her voice raw and broken. She ran over to Pocket''s side, the slit-covered woman clutching her skull. But Pocket was a tough sort, and she was already getting up, pulling something out from one of the creases in her skin.


    ¡°A healing spell,¡± Oliphant noted, ¡°Eve, keep on them. Joseph, fire on Talrash, now!¡±


    Joseph spun, building up a bolt as Talrash took a deep breath. For a moment, there was silence as each group prepared their volleys. Then, there was once more a cacophonous orchestra of bangs and shudders, of light and gold, as they fired, holes opening up in the ripples of heat to allow the projectiles to push through. Joseph and Oliphant hit the deck as the beam of gold rushed overhead, droplets staining the bridge, before they, as one, stood back up and continued running. Ever-True continued exchanging potshots with Pocket and her companion, making sure that Pocket could not unleash another spray at them. Distance, for now, was their friend, as each of Ever-True''s shots flew true, colliding with Pocket''s legs, arms, and rifle. Whatever Pocket was carrying in her hand, however, repaired each wound on her person ¨C bones reset as soon as they broke, purpled bruises turned back to tanned skin, and the rare cut re-stitched itself as quickly as it opened.


    The rifle, however, was soon reduced to a useless state, taking blow after blow, dented to the point that, after a few clicks, it jammed and would not fire. With a frustrated growl, Pocket tossed it aside, reaching down into another one of her pockets and pulling out a pistol, taking a few potshots at Joseph''s group as she and her companion kept pace.


    Becenti stumbled, clutching his shoulder. Joseph stopped, panic gripping his stomach as he saw his mentor fall to the ground, a red flower blooming out of his white uniform.


    ¡°No!¡± Joseph yelled. He ran back to Becenti, ignoring Oliphant''s warning roar. But Becenti was already getting up, sweat beading his brow as he looked up at Joseph.


    ¡°Joseph, down!¡± the older man yelled.


    Out of the corner of his eye, Joseph could see Talrash preparing another beam, the dome-headed mercenary''s arm raising, the air shaking around it with pure heat. Joseph raised up his own arm in response, only for Becenti to rush over and push him to the ground.


    ¡°I said, DOWN!¡± the older man snarled, wincing as Talrash''s beam of light roared overhead. Becenti was completely over Joseph, covering him, stains of gold splashing down on his suit, flecked onto his hair and skin. When he rose, he was unsteady.


    And then the dome-headed mercenary unleashed his shot. Becenti brought up a hand-


    But the mercenary was not aiming at them. With a swipe, he let out a scythe of heat downwards, towards the bridge''s supporting pillars, cutting clean through, the entire stone bridge lurching as it began to tumble.


    ¡°Jump!¡± Becenti snarled, ¡°Jump!¡±


    Joseph was aware of the bridge tipping over. Soul roaring to life, its great arms hoisting him up, he threw himself as hard as he could to the next bridge over. Becenti followed, heat swirling around him, shredded red tatters fluttering around him as he used what heat he had to carry himself over. Oliphant merely leaped, as did Ever-True. The knight landed alongside Joseph and Becenti, now sharing a bridge with the Sons of Darwin.


    Behind them, Joseph could see Meloche struggle to jump, making a great bound for one of the bridges. But he was no Ever-True, who leaped as though she were an Olympian to the opposite bridge, landing and firing off another round of iron balls at Pocket and her companion. In the split-second Joseph could see him, the philosopher jumped...


    And disappeared down into the pit.


    But Joseph could not afford to be distracted now, as he glanced over. Robber Fly was pulling out a machine pistol, pointing it down.


    No.


    His soul''s knuckles pushed down on the ground, then released like a spring, rocketing Joseph upwards at the mercenary, who dodged to the side, dipping between an errant claw strike. The entire chamber drummed with a high-pitched ratatatata as Robber Fly opened fire. Joseph''s soul curled over him, taking each shot, Joseph himself grimacing as icey fire washed over him in waves.


    But he was used to pain, and as Robber Fly emptied out the entire clip, he went back into action, rising up and watching his arc through the cavern. To the pair''s right, Oliphant danced with Talrash, the Breath of Midas always just out of reach of the Silver Knight''s blade. To their left, Becenti warred with the dome-headed mercenary once more, theirs a private, quiet battle of movement and shimmering air.


    Robber Fly landed, well away from Joseph, and considered him. He was keeping his left arm close to his side, and it looked like he was having trouble using it, as he unclipped the machine pistol.


    ¡°Well, well,¡± he said, ¡°Long time no see, Joseph Zheng.¡±


    ¡°You''re doing well,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°No thanks to you,¡± Robber Fly said, ¡°Took me three weeks to get up and running again, after what you did to me.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Joseph said, ¡°No jokes? No taunts? Come on, man. I wasn''t ready for you before.¡±


    His soul bearing over him, he brought up his fists. The soul matched his movements, two azure claws curled into wrecking balls.


    ¡°I''m ready for you now.¡±


    The mercenary, if he could glare, would have. Instead he rose up to his height, a hand pulling back the collar of his uniform, revealing the barest hint of a lightning-carved scar, a deep, veined welt of red.


    ¡°You owe me blood, kid,¡± the metahuman said, ¡°I don''t joke with dead men.¡±


    He was almost finished loading the machine pistol. Joseph wouldn''t give him that chance, as he lunged forward. Robber Fly took to the air once more as Joseph closed the gap between them in an instant, swiping a claw, one that clipped at the mercenary''s pistol, knocking it out of his hand. The pistol tumbled towards the pit as Joseph swung another claw, missing Robber Fly by mere centimeters as he zipped just out of range. For a moment, Robber Fly buzzed around, trying to find a chink in Joseph''s defenses.


    He gave a few prodding jabs, getting in close, just staying out of reach as Joseph made half-hearted jabs, reading that Robber Fly was merely testing him. The rest of the cavern, the screams, the roars, seemed to dim as they squared off against one another.


    Then, Robber Fly dived towards Joseph, spinning past a quick left jab, twisting as Joseph''s closer right nearly tore him in two. The proboscis jabbed at Joseph, who spun with the shot, wincing as the knife-like stem cut through his jacket. He brought up his soul''s fists, thundering them down on Robber Fly''s back. The mercenary let out a gasp of pain as he felt the wind get knocked out of him, stumbling away from Joseph, who returned back to his boxer''s stance. A bright smirk glittered on Joseph''s face as he watched Robber Fly ooze his way back to his feet.


    ¡°You missed,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Think I fried a bit more than you thought last time, pal.¡±


    ¡°Fuck off.¡±


    He rushed forward again, dipping back as Joseph swiped at him, just enough to get him away, not enough to open a gap in his defenses. Joseph could scarce afford it ¨C he was used to taking the shots, used to powering through the pain. But a familiar, creeping feeling was crawling up his spine. He remembered the paralyzing effect of Robber Fly''s saliva, how it froze the body, taking it over and shutting it down, bit by bit. He could hardly afford a cut. Even that last interaction had been far too close for his liking.


    Behind them, Becenti and the dome-headed mercenary played with heat, both of them pushing against the other, neither really able to overcome his rival. Talrash was still avoiding Oliphant''s slashes, unable to land a shot herself. But she was getting closer and closer to the end of the bridge...


    ¡°Pay attention to your own dance, partner!¡± Robber Fly snarled. He made for another pass, going for a couple of quick kicks that cracked against the eagle''s beak and head, burying a boot into its eye. Joseph winced in pain at that cheap shot, enough that his response was weak, an errant swipe that Robber Fly took advantage of.


    An opening.


    And he took it, diving towards Joseph once more.


    But Joseph''s human eyes were still open. His mind swam, but he kept them on Robber Fly, watched his movements, once more twisted to take the shot. He opened his jacket up just a bit to let the mercenary''s proboscis strike once more.


    Robber Fly had made a mistake.


    He had made the same move twice.


    And Joseph would not let him get away with it. He let the momentum pull the jacket free, wrapping it around Robber Fly''s head.


    And then the eagle''s fists came down again, hammering into Robber Fly''s back. But Joseph did not let him stumble away like before. He brought them up once more, then down. Then up, then down. This wasn''t his usual style of fighting, he realized, not the careful picking-apart of his opponent, the trading of blows that he could take and they couldn¡¯t. No, he had picked this up from Nash. A constant barrage, the sailing of azure fists into flesh, never giving Robber Fly a chance to breathe, to think, to react, to do anything but feel each shot take him more and more out of the game.


    And, to Joseph''s pleasure, it felt good.


    By the time he was done, Robber Fly was unconscious on the floor. Unmoving.


    Maybe even dead, but Joseph didn''t let himself think that far. There was more to be done. So he turned, and went to join Becenti.


    ***


    There was, as Ever-True dodged past as Pocket threw a javelin at her, a creeping realization that she was alone. Oliphant was not by her side, nor was Becenti. She was alone, against this... Pocket. Covered in literal pockets, from which she would pull out weapons over all varieties. Most often, now that her heavy rifle was gone and her revolver was out and dry, were javelins and spears, the occasional hand crossbow that she would pull out, fire, then discard. But Ever-True was quick on the draw, despite the fact that she herself was running out of good projectiles. Each shot was landing true, rattling Pocket more with each blow. But Pocket was tough, tougher than Ever-True had given her credit for. She was gritting her teeth, her body covered in welts and bruises. Enough to have taken out a full-grown man, and Eve knew that.


    But still, she stood. And kept pulling everything but the kitchen sink out of the many slits on her skin.


    There was a moment of quiet as they both stopped, staring at each other from across the chasm, the battle between the rest of Ever-True''s compatriots and the Sons of Darwin raging behind them. She felt the barest hint of heat playing at her back, the vestiges of a vicious attack from either Becenti or the dome-headed mercenary. Pocket was pulling something out, a long staff of some sort, her brow furrowing. Ever-True felt around for the container hidden in a back pocket. Two iron balls left. One for Pocket, the other for her companion. The dark-skinned woman''s eyes were wide, darting between the two combatants. She clutched a hammer, no good in a long-range battle like this. Not a threat, yet. Not something to be taken down. Not yet, right?


    Yet Oliphant''s words buzzed in her head. They were playing for keeps, right?


    A distraction. Bean the small one in the head, let Pocket react, hit her when she wasn''t ready, when she wasn''t prepared.


    It was an old-fashioned stand-off, as Pocket and Ever-True glared at each other, trying to gauge the other''s intentions. The world slowed down...


    A beam of gold zipped at Ever-True''s right, painting the cavern wall. It was at that moment that they moved. Ever-True''s iron balls whipped out, two fingers snapping one forward, the other held in her hand. Pocket''s companion let out a scream, one that made Pocket shift at the last moment, twisting to put herself between Ever-True''s shot and her friend.


    The blow caught her in the stomach. Pocket crumpled, curling around the shot and letting out a low groan. Her companion''s eyes went wild as, hands shaking, she checked Pocket over. When she turned back to Ever-True, the companion was glaring.


    No.


    Not companion.


    Lover, as the dark-skinned woman took hold of the iron ball that had laid Pocket low. She rose to her feet, hammer discarded, rage boiling in her eyes. She took a step, Ever-True took one back. That look on her face, on Pocket''s lover''s face. It was enough to make Ever-True regret coming here. Regret trying to even hurt her, as though she had shattered something within that woman across the chasm.


    She knew she could not miss this shot. She had to strike hard, strike true. Live up to the name she had given herself.


    But she could feel nothing but regret, even shame, as the woman stood before her. Eve wondered what had brought her here. She looked... out of place, among the killers she had seen throughout Death Valley. A civilian. Someone caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.


    ***


    And, to her detriment, she did not realize the entire time she had these thoughts, half in her head and half in the game, that Analyza had been taking stock of the entire battleground, the geometries of the cave, triangulating positions, running math in her head, aided by her metapower.


    Analyza threw the iron ball. Down, with a surprising amount of strength. It bounced, rocketing up towards the ceiling, ricocheting to the opposite bridge directly behind Eve, then giving a third rebound that cracked hard against the back of her skull.


    Ever-True collapsed. Was still. Analyza turned her attention back to Pocket.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± she said.


    ¡°...I''m fine,¡± Pocket said. She pushed herself up, wincing in pain as she stood up. The battle still raged on behind them, as Analyza walked over to retrieve her hammer.


    ¡°Let''s go,¡± she said.


    Pocket nodded, and the two of them took off once more.


    ***


    There was a realization among the two parties that the third was making a run for it. Joseph and Becenti stopped, electricity and heat sparking and whispering in the air, Domehead took a step back, hand hovering over a pistol holster. Talrash and Oliphant watched as Pocket and Analyza made for the door. Oliphant''s eyes ¨C and heart ¨C fell as he noticed Eve''s prone form. The only sound came from the footsteps echoing through the cavern as Pocket and Analyza opened up the door and went into the next room.


    Talrash turned back to Oliphant, opening her mouth, a gilded flame erupting out. He leaped to the side, grimacing as golden embers flaked his chainmail and held. Joseph ducked, and Becenti sidestepped the beam, watching as the Domehead flew upwards on wings of leather, beelining for the door.


    ¡°After them!¡± Oliphant roared. Talrash was already way ahead of him, rushing for the door, her robes flowing around her. The Amber Foundation and the Silver Knight ran after her.


    Oliphant made it through, throwing the door open wide right as the Domehead slammed it shut. His blade cut through the hasty wall of heat that the mercenary had put up, ignoring the searing agony as he pressed on, then stopped.


    It was another room, just as large as the cavern ¨C it''s twin, even. But instead of a deep pit, instead of bridges, instead of gemstones and crystals on the ceiling above, this room was one filled with statues.


    Hundreds and hundreds of statues. All of them circling around, all of them holding a green flame in hand that still burned bright, even after so long. Shadows danced as the various combatants pushed through the statues as though they were mere obstacles, and already the Domehead was firing on Pocket and Analyza, causing them to take cover as plasma bolts lapped against a statue of a knight with the head of a bull.


    Oliphant took a deep breath, and pressed on.


    ***


    Becenti and Joseph ran together, Becenti catching up to Joseph halfway down the bridge so they were running side by side.


    ¡°Keeping up, old man?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°I could outrun you any day,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Keep your head in the game, Joseph.¡±


    They reached the landing on the other side, Oliphant swinging open the door and cutting through.


    ¡°Right,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Whatever you say-¡±


    Something flashed in the corner of his eye. At the last moment, Joseph stopped, throwing out an arm and gripping Becenti''s shoulder, throwing him back as the air in front of them seemed to slice open, dozens of shards of glass flying from off the ground, coalescing back into the full form of Silicon, a blade of glass appearing in one hand and arcing downwards. Joseph and Becenti split, Joseph''s soul slashing at Silicon, who parried each blow and stepped back a bit, pointing a fleet of shards at the eagle, which dug into the bird''s back. Joseph''s eyes glistened and watered, but he kept his cool as he swung out once more.


    ¡°Go!¡± he roared to Becenti, ¡°I got this.¡±


    ¡°Joseph-¡±


    ¡°GO!¡±


    Becenti nodded, rushing through the door, turning and erecting a shimmering wall behind him. Joseph wondered how much heat the older man had left. Did the stone give it off forever? Or was it like a battery, and it would run out?


    Questions for later, as he turned back to Silicon. The man was staring at him, considering him. He was dressed in armor that, even in the half-dark of the cavern, seemed to shine, panes of green and blue, a smooth, flowing affair. All of it glass, of course, all of it able to break and reform as Silicon could see fit. Joseph took his boxing stance once more.


    It was time to see if this glass knight had a glass jaw.

 58. THE EARTH IS SCREAMING

    Silicon considered the young man before him. He was of the next generation, freshly awakened, a fire burning in his eyes and a song in his heart. Whatever his power was, it was magnificent, an eagle-headed monster floating over him, crackling with lightning and shining like a blue sun in the dark caverns, outshining the Kena Stones that lined the ceiling above. The being''s claws were curled into fists, mirroring the young man''s, and the way he held himself was in a boxer''s stance. From a more modern plane, perhaps. Maybe even Prime itself. Quite a few metahumans found their way here.


    More evidence to this fact lay in the young man''s clothing. Ripped jeans, a blue jacket, and a black t-shirt that had the AC/DC logo. Silicon supposed there was no accounting for taste.


    ¡°You, young man,¡± Silicon said, ¡°What is your name?¡±


    The metahuman flickered.


    ¡°J-Joseph.¡±


    Silicon''s heart sank.


    ¡°Before you go running your mouth about it,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I haven''t... I haven''t picked a new one.¡±


    ¡°A real one,¡± Silicon spat.


    ¡°A new one. Maybe I like Joseph.¡±


    Glass shimmered around them, and Joseph took a step back, his eyes darting to and fro, as he saw the shards and panes moving to surround them in a makeshift arena. Perhaps he was newly awakened, but he was already having a grasp on this eagle above him ¨C they moved as one, as though the cobalt god were an extension of himself, a muscle to be flexed, four eyes glancing this way and that, though Joseph''s metahuman eyes, those not connected to the azure deity, seemed to swim and scrunch with the effort.


    ¡°What kingdom do you hail from?¡± Silicon asked.


    All four eyes flashed back to Silicon.


    ¡°I...¡±


    Disappointment welled in Silicon''s chest. He took a step forward, giving his sword a few experimental swings.


    ¡°You don''t know.¡±


    ¡°I don''t need to.¡±


    Silicon all but glared at him, anger mixing with shame. When he spoke, his voice trembled like thunder.


    ¡°I know the nation I descend from,¡± he said, ¡°Hyzodriad, the Kingdom of a Thousand Eyes. I''m descended from the royal guard ¨C an entire family, devoted to the protection of their King. Protectors against interlopers and pretenders, threats both external and internal. You, who do not know your legacy, are as a common thief.¡±


    Joseph seemed shocked at that, gritting his teeth. Perhaps there was something, deep within him, that was insulted by this. By the assertion of heritage, by Silicon''s having what he did not.


    Perhaps there was hope for him yet.


    Silicon smiled.


    ¡°Let us dance, young Joseph.¡±


    ***


    They were statues. Hundreds of them, so many that Becenti stopped to marvel at them, just for a brief moment, before the one next to him was peppered with plasma bolts. He dove, using the statues as cover, following the outermost ring of carved stone, the teeth-chattering sounds of the plasma pistol''s spakspakspak erupting in the dark hall. The Domehead was flying above, a dark wraith with wings of Draconic night. Why he was using his pistol was beyond Becenti, until he turned to sense the green flames in the room. They gave off no heat, only light. A magician''s parlor trick, powered by Earthmute himself. Grimacing, the older man stopped at one of the statues, that of Gorias, the Bull of Andlehoth. The old king''s frame was more than ample cover, as Becenti took a moment to gauge his surroundings. He could hear the sounds of others in the room with him, the plasma pistol firing off again, though this time at someone else in the room ¨C the slit-covered metahuman and her companion, perhaps. But aside from the Domehead''s Fedtek, there was only the sound of metal and leather boots on stone, of footsteps both hurried and careful through the statues'' latticework.


    After a few moments, the Domehead spun, and made for the end of the room. Becenti took a deep breath. Then another.


    And then noticed golden eyes open in the pale light.


    Talrash.


    With an agility he had only known as a man thirty years ago, Becenti flipped, grabbing the sides of the statue of Gorias and flipping over. The back of the bull ¨Cwhere he had just been ¨C erupted in gold, a harsh light like the sun, flecked with metal and caking the man-bull¡¯s back completely. Becenti landed hard at Gorias¡¯s feet, scrambling up and pulling out his heatstone, heat wafting into a wall as Talrash stepped out from behind.


    ¡°Shimmer,¡± she said, smiling.


    ¡°Talrash,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Magician of the Red Wind,¡± she spat, ¡°I can see your belly poking out of your suit.¡±


    ¡°Times change,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I''m allowed to as well, aren''t I?¡±


    ¡°For the worse, perhaps,¡± Talrash said, ¡°In your prime, I would have relished the chance to end you. Now, all I kill is a sad old man pining for the past.¡±


    A flash of anger welled in Becenti''s stone-like face. The heat wall began changing form, ripples of spikes added to it.


    ¡°Well come on, then,¡± he said, ¡°Old dogs bite the hardest.¡±


    He flung the wall of heat at her, which she dodged, leaping sideways, maw welling with gold. There was just enough in the heatstone for Becenti to shield, just enough to get the hell out of the way, as he moved towards another statue as the beam ate at the shimmers, a solid plate of gold clattering on the ground like a restaurant tray.


    Becenti could hear Talrash moving parallel to him, matching his movements through the circles. His heart pounded, blood pumping through in veins in time with the pulses of the heatstone, a rhythm that he knew by muscle memory. Four pulses for anything good to work with. The green flames stared at him like eyes, following his every move.


    Green eyes that were joined by twin orbs of gold as Talrash pounced, her mouth glowing gold as she vomited, less a solid beam and more a stream, a sudden convulsion that coughed out like a waterfall. Becenti sprang back, pushing out the heat in front of him, grimacing as his will over it was lost as it turned into cold metal, a wall between him and Talrash. But no time to reflect on that, with her sight on him lost he went deeper into the army of statues.


    Talrash tossed the wall of burnished heat aside, and continued stalking after him.


    ***


    There was a moment, when Pocket and Analyza broke through the fifth line of statues, staring through like the barest remains of a treeline at the final door, that they had done it. They had worn their wounds, and made it to the end.


    And then Analyza felt a sharp, burning pain rend through her side. She let out a gasp of pain and collapsed. Pocket spun around, eyes narrowing at the Domehead stepped forward, his plasma pistol''s muzzle still smoking a putrid pink. Analyza curled around her wound, her face contorted.


    ¡°You,¡± Pocket said, ¡°I''ll kill you.¡±


    The Domehead nodded in acknowledgment. And pulled the trigger.


    There was something about Fedtek that just made it slower. It was plasma-based weaponry, each shot lobbed out like a catapult, and unlike the firearms of other planes one could see the glob of goo sing through the air. Pocket could not dodge bullets.


    But she could dodge this, as she ducked to the side, pulling out a knife and flinging it at the Domehead. The bolt of plasma swept just past her, singing off the hairs on her arm, an uncomfortable heat that made her heart skip at the near-miss. The Domehead reacted, twisting out of the way of the dagger, bracing himself as Pocket charged, one hand closing over the mercenary''s wrist, pulling it up, three spaks drumming awry as he fired in blind panic before he lost his grip. Pocket kicked the weapon aside, and heard it clatter somewhere into the darkness as she wrestled against the mercenary, the two of them pushing against the other in a few agonizing heartbeats, before the Domehead brought up a knee and rammed it into Pocket''s stomach, followed by a crack as he slammed his helmet against her forehead. She stumbled back, collapsing against one of the statues, her world swimming with stars.


    The Domehead began approaching her, rubbing his hands together, ripples playing in the air.


    Heat, Pocket realized, He can control heat.


    And then the Domehead turned to the left, heat spinning into a shield that he brought up as the Silver Knight''s blade slashed down. The shield held, barely, as the blade dug dangerously close at the Domehead''s arm, the two of them holding for a few moments before the mercenary, with a surprising shock of strength, threw him off. Oliphant stumbled back, but did not fall, using a statue as leverage to stop his momentum. He and the mercenary stared at one another for a few moments, before Oliphant raised up his blade, a grim expression on his face.


    One that was betrayed by a fire in his eyes.


    ***


    There was a moment of silence as Silicon and Joseph made final predictions of the other''s move.


    Then, in a rare moment of panic, it was Joseph who struck first, leaping forward and stopping just at the edge of his soul''s range, hunkering down and letting the eagle surge out, a great claw making for Silicon''s head. Silicon turned to glass, the claw shattering through it, shards and pricks digging into azure, plasma-like flesh. Joseph winced, as pieces of Silicon flew out as though he were a shattered vase.


    Then, the shards and pricks of glass began to move around, digging further into the eagle''s hand, cutting upwards. Joseph gritted his teeth to stop his screaming, eagle''s vision watching the rest of the glass cloud together into a ball.


    One that broke, a stream of glass flying towards the bird, peppering it, each dagger of glass embedding deep into the blue skin, then pulling itself across it. Joseph let out a yelp.


    But the soul did not break. Not like Mordenaro. Taking a deep breath, his entire body feeling like ice, he rose to his feet. The glass reformed back into Silicon''s human form, the knight floating like a specter, blade in hand. Without a word, he plunged the sword downwards.


    On his left, Joseph saw the clear-purple blade cut down, sawing through his soul like it were an oak.


    And then, more ice-hot pain. Joseph let out a howl, and swiped backwards to get Silicon away. The knight retreated, a calculated expression on his face, Joseph more a math problem than an opponent. One to strategically cut away, he supposed. The glass embedded in the eagle tore away, coming back to Silicon like attack dogs, floating around him and already pointing back at Joseph for another pass. The knight stepped back. Joseph spluttered, tears in his eyes as he coughed, seeking to overpower his agony, his entire body throbbing.


    With a titanic effort, he forced himself back up to his feet, feeling lesser than he was before. To his shock, parts of his soul were splattered on the cold stone floor, and he could feel something akin to blood leaking down the soul''s wounds.


    ¡°So you can take pain,¡± Silicon said, ¡°Far more than the average man.¡±


    Joseph didn''t answer, his head pounding as he gulped. He had taken worse, he told himself.


    He had taken worse...


    ¡°Does it always do that?¡± Silicon said, ¡°Your beast, your god, it bleeds like an animal.¡±


    It hadn''t before. But then, this was the longest he''d held it after taking so much punishment. This wasn''t like Mordenaro, which had been a sudden shock that had shattered his soul to pieces. This was pain he could handle, a slow burn that wasn''t quite as dramatic.


    Yet the soul bled. That couldn''t be good.


    ¡°I can see it in your eyes,¡± Silicon continued, ¡°The discovery. The realizations. He who does not know his own power, does not know his own soul. You do realize that is what you use, yes?¡±


    ¡°Y-Yes, you bastard,¡± Joseph coughed, ¡°I do.¡±


    ¡°You realize what you toy with, yes?¡± Silicon said, ¡°To bear your soul like this, to let it be injured in such a way, it''s...¡±


    A rare look crossed on his face. Pity. Joseph wanted to strangle him.


    ¡°I don''t fucking care,¡± Joseph said, ¡°L-Let''s just get this over with.¡±


    ¡°The soul is an abstract thing,¡± Silicon said, ¡°It is a spiritual concept, and thus is subject to the spiritual realm. The realm of emotions. It is affected by the mental battles one plays in the day-to-day. It changes and adapts, based on those experiences. But yours... yours is physical. Who''s to say it''s not affected by those experiences, as well?¡±


    Joseph stopped. Silicon glared at him.


    ¡°You misuse your power. Let us dance. Again.¡±


    ***


    Becenti glanced down at his heatstone. Four pulses. Five. The air in front of him rippled, and he thrust a hand into it and began to meld the heat together into a shield. Never mind using a javelin ¨C the forest of statues made it nearly impossible for him to maneuver for a good throw. No, this was a close-quarters battle, as terrifying as that was. The red streamers weighed him down, the ones connecting to his elbows leaden with gold, the tips turned to metal by Talrash''s breath. Forming the heat into a knife, he took hold of it and cut the ribbons off, watching them flutter to the ground. Holding the dagger felt good. Despite its searing temperature, his body had long ago grown used to its warmth. It was an oven in the form of a weapon, a freshly forged blade that still rang orange from the furnace. Nearly invisible, the only indication of its existence being a slight shaking of the air and his holding it like a mime.


    He heard Talrash stalking through the stone jungle like a tiger. Taking a deep breath, he went over his trap for the final time. He had torn off one of his ribbons, laying it beside a statue of Megon the Silt, tantalizingly curving a corner like a red snake. His uniform was gaudy and conspicuous. It was a mistake to wear it, and Talrash knew that. She wouldn''t think twice, yes?


    Hiding behind the statue opposite, he glared as Talrash prowled into view. The Breath of Midas glanced around, squinting in the green twilight, before her golden eyes landed on the ribbon. For a brief moment, she considered it.


    But a moment was all that Becenti needed. Moving like a shadow, he rushed behind her, arm wrapping around her neck. It was a tried-and-true technique, one where the victim would raise up their arms up to peel Becenti off of their neck, inviting their ribcage to the knife.


    But Talrash, instead, spat at Becenti''s arm. He winced as he felt part of it grow cold, enough to make him lose momentum and concentration. Talrash spun, nails slashing wildly at Becenti, who ducked down and made an errant swipe of the knife, cutting through robe and flesh. The two broke off, both of them leaping back into the shadows, stalking after the other. Becenti grimaced as he stared down at his arm, tearing away parts of his uniform that had been transmuted, noting with concern that some of his skin had been caught as well, golden bumps that he prodded at for a second, keeping panic down as he glanced back up and around the room of statues.


    His transformed flesh was nothing worrying. He hoped.


    His dagger had bit flesh, too. He had injured Talrash, though he knew the wound would have cauterized almost immediately. Nor was it a killing blow, since he could hear her, stalking through the cavern, her footsteps like heartbeats. Becenti considered his options. He couldn''t pull a trick like back there with his streamers again, Talrash would be too smart for that. But it was the only way he could think at the time to pin her down.


    Unless.


    His heatstone pulsed, the heat wafting into the air. Becenti began dispersing it, his stomach tightening as he pushed it out and around, past his usual limits and through his immediate surroundings.


    Feeling. Searching.


    ***


    Talrash considered the wound she had received, a nasty, burning slash across her left arm. Shimmer''s dagger had cut through the fabric of her robes and deep into flesh. But it was a knife of heat, and her wound was already scorched and staunched, though she smelled the uncomfortable scent of burning flesh as she returned back to surveying the cavern and its statues.


    That had been stupid. That entire trick had been amateurish and weak, the desperate ploys of an old man. But it had worked. Shimmer had almost gotten her, if she hadn''t resisted her natural reactions and if he had been quicker or aimed at her back as opposed to her ribs. She would need to be more careful.


    They were close now. So close. She couldn''t afford any mistakes now.


    As she went forward, bending down, claws at the ready and gold boiling up from her throat, she could see it. Ripples in the air. Shimmer was sending heat out, the air wrinkling ever so slightly. But only in specific places, mirage linking with mirage into tendrils that snaked down the path in front of Talrash, between the statues of Izo and T''Kali. She went behind T''Kali, noting that more of the air rippled behind the Serpentine''s tail.


    So Shimmer was smartening up, too. She watched as the tendrils leaked forward, taking a few steps back to get out of their way. Only the gods and the old man knew how hot these were ¨C she suppressed a wince as the slash on her arm acted up. Both a weapon and a warning system. He was searching for her, hiding in a position away from her. His power was more versatile than hers, able to move deftly through the caverns, whereas she could only fire in a straight line.


    But it was blind. The tendrils stopped at a point, the quaking air shuddering and twisting around. He was already reaching the outer limits of his power, the maximum range that he could keep the heat flowing without losing its form.


    And that meant that she could, logically, find him. Follow the tendrils back. Avoid them. She would need to be quick, as she crept past and went deeper into the ring of statues. The longer this went on, the more Shimmer would be able to pump out more heat to fill out his region of the cavern.


    She stepped over a few tendrils, careful not to trip them, and weaved towards their source.


    ***


    The Domehead, to his credit, was well-trained. He dodged and avoided the sword strokes of Oliphant, keeping his distance to a near-mathematical degree, silent as night. Slight tremors twisted in the air, pulling towards the mercenary, forming into a ball behind him. Oliphant wasn''t about to let him form anything funny, keeping on his attack, his strokes methodical and measured. He couldn''t afford to wear himself out here. His opponent was, above all, an intelligent sort, keeping himself out of harm''s way, preparing for an over-extension, a lazy swipe. Oliphant couldn''t go all-in and lose his composure. One wrong move, and it would be over.


    So his own assault was just as controlled as the Domehead''s defense. Strike when he could, use the empty space between them to suggest attack, use his footwork to play at slashing down, when he instead would go for the side. It reminded Oliphant of his times learning the sword with the ghost of Sir Isabel de Montfort, in those days at Castle Ranahad, the back-and-forth of practice, of footwork and how one''s stance was among the most important parts of swordplay.


    He was just in practice. Just dancing with a ghost, sword in hand. The Domehead was practically an automaton in his responses. A computer. No passion behind his movements, no desperation. Just action and reaction.


    It was after their dance had seemed to last an eternity that the Domehead changed tactics. He raised up an arm, leaping back, and tossed the ball of heat at Oliphant. But Oliphant ducked, at the last moment realizing that the Domehead was not aiming for him.


    The other one. The slit-covered metahuman. The... Pocket. Oliphant dared to glance behind him, for the briefest of moments, as the woman, who had been sneaking around them, dove to the side, the statue behind her blasted to goo. Pocket spun around, gritting her teeth.


    ***


    ¡°Ana!¡± she said, ¡°Get! Go!¡±


    ¡°We drew straws!¡± Analyza yelled back.


    ¡°Fucking go!¡± Pocket stalked forward, watching as the Silver Knight turned back to the Domehead, only for the mercenary to leap upwards over the statues'' heads, beating his wings and flinging down towards Ana as she ran.


    Hell no. Pocket rushed forward, reaching into a pocket and pulling out a knife. With a titanic effort, she jumped, foot slamming against the head of a statue, pushing herself off and grabbing the mercenary''s legs, pulling him down. She could see, just before the two of them crashed into the ground, Analyza weaving through the statues, forcing her way forward. The mercenary was trying to scramble to his feet, kicking at Pocket, who bore down on the Domehead, knife in hand, plunging it downward.


    The Domehead twisted, a hand pounding at Pocket''s chest. As the knife stabbed down, he moved, letting it plunge down to the hilt.


    But it did not burrow into flesh. Pocket blinked as she saw that it had instead broken through the mercenary''s combat armor and into...


    Into a pocket. Like hers. A slit that opened to another place.


    The mercenary grabbed Pocket''s shoulder, using it as a brace as he slammed his head into hers again. She wheeled back, feeling around as he got up and surged after Ana. There was movement to her side, the pounding of boots, of Oliphant charging forward after him.


    She got back up, chasing after them, her heart skipping a beat as the Domehead got up to Ana, pounced at her, and missed. Ana went to the side, hiding behind a statue as Oliphant caught up to the pair, blade flashing, scoring a solid strike against the Domehead. Pocket was there a moment later, tackling Oliphant from behind, shoving him to the ground. She scrabbled against him, ramming an elbow into his jaw, dagger slipping forward and into his arm. The Silver Knight let out a gasp of shocked pain as Pocket rushed and grabbed hold of his sword. Flipping back up, she stopped the Domehead from advancing, blade pointed at his chest.


    ¡°Ana, stay down,¡± Pocket ordered. She wasn''t sure if she was listening, but this wasn''t a time to sneak out. Not with the Domehead still up and running. Pocket wondered if he had a hundred eyes beneath that helmet. He was willing to risk his own life to prevent Ana from slinking away.


    No, better to keep her close. Eliminate what she could. Pocket tested the sword''s weight in hand, one boot pressed firmly on Oliphant''s chest. The Domehead watched her, pulling in the ambient heat from their exertions, forming another knife that he flipped in his hand. That was... That was Shimmer''s power, wasn''t it?


    ¡°You''re a mimic,¡± Pocket spat, ¡°A thief.¡±


    The Domehead did not respond.


    ¡°Takes one to know one,¡± Oliphant grunted, ¡°Give me... Give me back my sword.¡±


    Pocket stomped on his chest. Oliphant gritted his teeth. His eyes went hard. Beastial.


    ¡°I said, give me back my fucking sword.¡±


    Two hands closed over Pocket''s ankle, and with a prodigious strength he twisted and pushed. Pocket went with the movement swinging her foot round into a fencer''s stance as the Domehead slashed forward. She didn''t have time for a swing, however, no time to keep the Domehead at bay. All she could do was raise the blade up to lock it with the mercenary''s knife. The two of them remained that way, pushing against the other, the Domehead pushing her back, both of them stepping over Oliphant.


    Who rose to his feet.


    ¡°Give me back my sword!¡± he screamed. He grabbed the Domehead by the back and threw him off, swinging a fist at Pocket, who blocked it with the flat of the sword, pushing him away. The Domehead caught him, heat knife tearing at his side, finding a chink in the scales and burrowing it deep. Oliphant, roaring, turned around, bringing up a mailed fist that slammed against the mercenary''s helmet.


    Then another. This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    Then a shot to the side.


    His roar turned into something higher. More manic. Pocket could only watch as he shoved the Domehead into a statue. As he brought another blow down on the helmet. The mercenary scrambled to his feet, tried for another stance-


    And Oliphant rammed a fist into his throat. The Domehead made an uncharacteristic gagging noise, sliding to the ground.


    But Oliphant was not done. With a drunken kick, he rammed a knee into the mercenary¡¯s stomach. Then stomped his head. All the while, screaming.


    He stomped again. And again. And again.


    The mercenary¡¯s helmet cracked like an egg, revealing a dazed, dark-skinned young man. Far too young. He lay still.


    Oliphant turned to Pocket, who took a step back.


    There was a wild look in the man''s eye, a madness that followed his every step, a primal savagery that he had not possessed before. His gaze kept flickering from Pocket to the sword, and his hands shook through his gauntlets. Like a junkie pining for a high.


    ¡°Give me back my sword,¡± his voice was hoarse and hollow, ¡°It''s mine.¡±


    ***


    Joseph''s world was one of pain and mockery.


    It was all he could do to keep standing, as Silicon came upon him like a storm, waves of shard and blade cutting deep into his soul, trying as it could to break the eagle. He would get a few swipes in here and there, errant, wild clubs that Silicon avoided, his blade flashing down in response each and every time.


    The way the knight looked at Joseph made him want to vomit. Silicon glared at him like he was an animal, a thing to be picked apart. The methodical way he cut into the soul, prodding it and cutting it, letting plasma winnow like blood down Joseph and splatter on the floor, edged on the scientific.


    But still, Joseph stood.


    After what seemed to be the hundredth assault, Silicon stood back. Joseph breathed in. Breathed out. The sounds of combat, of vague, hoarse screaming from the room over, was muted and dim. They were alone, the rush of water below their only companion.


    ¡°Is that it?¡± Joseph coughed, ¡°Come on, bitch. I can still go.¡±


    Silicon did not answer. Not at first. He took a few slow steps, circling Joseph, his glass sword prodding the eagle.


    ¡°And still you have not broken,¡± he said, ¡°Impressive. Tell me, what is your kingdom?¡±


    Joseph swayed. Nearly tripped.


    After a moment, the eagle surged, swiping at Silicon, who ducked out of the way, giving an answering cut in return. Joseph winced through the cold pain. They were not deep wounds, these cuts of Silicon. Not enough to break the soul, to shatter it. He realized that now. These were the wounds designed to bleed out over time.


    Further testing, to see if Joseph''s soul would bleed to nothing, and leave him a barren shell.


    ¡°Your kingdom, Joseph.¡±


    ¡°I t-told you, I don''t know.¡±


    Silicon snarled in answer, raising up his blade. Joseph reacted, his eyes wide, the soul''s claws clashing with Silicon''s sword, before the man''s left arm broke into pieces of glass, which sang forth and burrowed into cobalt flesh.


    They broke apart again. A quiet gesture, as Joseph brushed the glance off.


    Deep breath. In. Out. Flow with the pain. Direct it as anger, anger at the man in front of him, for delivering him this pain. That''s how he did it back home. That''s how he''d do it now.


    Silicon advanced once more, making for a swing. Joseph twisted his body, the eagle bringing up its arms to take the blow. Then, at the last moment, he let go, and the eagle rushed into his body. Silicon''s eyes widened, watching as the glass blade cut across Joseph''s chest. At the same moment, Joseph''s fist rocketed and cracked against the knight''s face.


    Silicon¡¯s cut was skin-deep, as Joseph stepped back. The knight looked in complete shock as he stumbled away, rubbing his jaw.


    It was an advantage, as Joseph coiled up as much lightning as he could, and threw it at Silicon. The entire cavern shook as the bolt, weak as it was, ignited the knight of Hyzodriad, sending him careening against the wall.


    When he got up, he was smoking. Laughing.


    ¡°Good! You use your soul, not as just a physical thing, but as energy! It is made of lightning, and you use it so. Good! Your kingdom, Joseph!¡±


    ¡°I don''t care,¡± Joseph said. The air around him sparked as he brought up a hand.


    ¡°You do,¡± Silicon said, ¡°I see it. In your eyes.¡±


    Another bolt, but this one Silicon avoided, breaking into a flock of glass and flying out of harm''s way. Joseph watched it fly around the cavern.


    He could...


    He was remembering things now, now that his brain had a moment to rest, as Silicon was breaking off from his constant attack. There was a reason why Silicon had not finished him. He had been given the opportunity multiple times, as he cut at Joseph like a birthday cake. Why wasn''t he...?


    Did he really care about his kingdom that much?


    And as Joseph thought on this, as he tracked Silicon''s movements through the cavern, as Silicon began bundling together, the shards melding into a great spear, he remembered words. Mordenaro''s words, when he and Joseph had fought on Nesona in the ashen wastes of the Deadlands.


    ¡°I read your DNA, Meta-man. I know of your ancestors. I spoke with them.¡±


    What had he said? They were in Becenti¡¯s writings.


    The arrow flung itself at Joseph.


    ¡°The people of Armagest. You carry the stars on your back.¡±


    ¡°Armagest,¡± he said.


    And the arrow stopped. He could feel Silicon''s question, now unvoiced, as the arrow floated, waiting.


    ¡°I''m from Armagest.¡±


    And the arrow broke apart once more, re-puzzling back into Silicon''s form, his face breaking into a bright, wild grin.


    ¡°Good,¡± he said, ¡°Armagest! The star-stung! No wonder you can take the pain. Yours is a kingdom of war.¡±


    The glass coalesced back into his nasty sword.


    ¡°To be metahuman is to live in conflict. Armagest was one of the kingdoms closest to the Federation. They had colonies directly within the Silver Eye.¡±


    ¡°And...?¡±


    ¡°You fight well,¡± Silicon said, ¡°But not well enough. I can see that you barely have scratched the surface of what you can do.¡±


    He pointed the sword at Joseph.


    ¡°What will scratch it a bit more?¡±


    ***


    So far, nothing had pricked Becenti''s tendrils of heat.


    It was difficult, using his powers like this. The heat connected to his fingertips, inking out of them like water, spilling to the ground and wafting about the floor. If he concentrated, really concentrated, he could feel when something disturbed them. Nothing concrete ¨C nothing like the sense of touch the normal human body possessed. But it had the same logic to it, heat molded in such a way as to mimic hair on skin, able to detect light vibrations and tremors, changes in the air. This system connected to his fingertips, mixed with the heat of his own body, wrapped around the hair follicles on his forearm.


    Incredibly difficult. It had taken him years of study and practice to even get to the point where he was now, and even then, it was difficult to keep hold. Becenti used simple projections and shapings because they were easy to maintain. All he needed was a visual image of the object in his mind, and he could shape heat to the needed specifications. But mimicking more complex mechanisms proved to be a more daunting task. He had pored over diagrams of the metahuman''s various receptors, how they interlinked and interacted, which ones would be the most useful for his own purpose. He had always liked it, this deep study of how far he could take his power.


    It was a utility, more for the sake of finding and detecting than killing.


    He had enough ways to do that.


    Even then, even after all this study, this heat construct was just a bare whisper of what Becenti intended. And it was difficult to keep up. But it was also preventing Talrash from closing in on him. Gave him a chance to think.


    He knew that he was bait. That Oliphant had already gone on. They only needed one of them to get to Visionary. He could remember recognizing her, during the days of the war, an old crone with pale skin and a thin, severe frown. Her hair was white as the moon, done up in a series of interlocking curls and a ponytail that arced up, then down like a mortar round. No fighter, with her frail, skeleton-like appearance. The Manticore had made sure she was a soothsayer, and nothing more.


    So only one needed to arrive to apprehend her. He needed to trust that the Silver Knight would get the job done. Talrash was on his tail, presumably serving the same purpose.


    And Becenti''s tendrils still had not detected her.


    Something was off.


    He was relying too much on these, to the detriment of his other senses. He should have realized-


    Above.


    Becenti spun, eyes widening as he saw Talrash above, the woman having climbed on the statues, perched on the statue of Smallman the Giant, the boy towering over his stone companions, whose heads reached up his waist. Her eyes were like a vulture''s as she locked them with Becenti''s.


    The heat. The tendrils. They did not rise above the floor.


    His heart sank. Talrash opened her mouth.


    At the same moment, Becenti ceased his tendril''s receptor mimicry, swinging the heat out as a great whip that cut across the top of Smallman the Giant''s head. Talrash jumped as the head began falling, dust whipping around the room, light bursting from her jaws. Becenti rushed to the side, gold coating the floor and obliterating the statue behind him. Talrash landed, running towards him, spitting balls of fire at the older man. Becenti ducked and weaved, making his way deeper into the cavern, passing ring after ring of history cast in stone.


    Talrash was behind him, all pretense of stalking gone. Her breath was wildfire, gold splaying out in all directions, an eruption of light and death that splattered like rain and as Becenti went, entire globules splashing down around him.


    And then, a lucky strike. An improbability, but life was built on improbabilities. A molten glow arced up, then down, slamming into Becenti''s left hand, the hand holding the heatstone. He felt it burn, an agonizing, searing heat that he had not felt since before he had awakened. Then, the hand went ice-cold and became leaden in his hand. Becenti dared to glance down at it, and nearly fell over at the sight of his hand, now a solid gold, the heatstone still curled up in his fingers, all of it immovable.


    But still, he kept running. Now was not the time for panic.


    At last, he came to the center of the room, and he stopped, eyes widening. All of the statues of the room were in a circle, almost ritual-like in their setup, all of them staring at one sculpture in the room.


    Okuta Stone-and-Sky. The Metamorphic God. The Shapechanger Dragon.


    The Manticore.


    Carved out in detailed relief by Earthmute, an idol of the guildmaster of the Sons of Darwin. He was depicted wearing the Armor of Harad, his hands crossed over his chest like a pharaoh, one holding a shepherd''s cane, the other a Dragon, the serpentine creature coiled around his fist. It was not like other depictions Becenti had seen, with the Dragon looking upwards towards the sky. No, the Manticore was squeezing the life out of it. Blood dripped from the cane. The manticore''s pupil-less eyes stared at Becenti, almost alive in the half-green, more shadows than flame painting his hardened face.


    And then Talrash slammed into him, nails like claws burning into his back, tearing cloth and flesh away. Gold splattered against him, parts of his body turning cold and barren. Becenti turned and swung back, using the newfound weight of his left hand to clobber Talrash in the side of the head, causing her to stumble back.


    His every bone aching with exhaustion, his breathing heavy, Becenti began pulling more heat, feeling his body grow cold. There wasn''t enough ambient heat in the air for him to really form anything of note.


    There was only one other choice. He breathed out, forcing heat out of his body, taking hold of it.


    Only for Talrash to wheel and spit gold, casting it against the club Becenti had made, turning it cold and gold. She battered it aside as she tackled Becenti, pushing him to the ground. She was over him, her eyes like a rabid animal''s, golden, foaming saliva dribbling down and staining Becenti''s face.


    ¡°Old dogs do bite hard,¡± she said, ¡°But not hard enough.¡±


    Panic gripped Becenti. The prospect of death was close at hand. Memories were flashing before him. Of the war. Of his friends. Of his dreams of Ludaya. Of the guild.


    Of Joseph.


    The boy would be alone. He would have the guild, yes, but he was already suspicious of Wakeling, wasn''t he? There was a way he looked at her now. Anger defined every step he took. And it would not abate, not unless he had someone to guide him.


    He would be alone.


    And that could not happen.


    Becenti grimaced, and put a hand against Talrash''s temple.


    And he began to pull heat.


    All of it. From all over her body.


    All of it, concentrated on her head.


    It took a few moments, as the heat built up and began intensifying. Talrash''s snarling, triumphant grin suddenly grew slack, and she made to snap her head away. But Becenti¡¯s hand held firm, pulling her close. Her eyes grew wide. Liquidic.  Something began bubbling up from her skin, swelling up on her forehead and cheeks. Clear liquid began oozing from her nose. She continued her vague struggling, letting out a desperate, clumsy moan, hands pawing at Becenti.


    The golden flame stopped, replaced by regular spit. Becenti''s hand still clutched the side of her head, holding it in place, his face contorted in concentration and a shameful sort of fury. He watched as her eyes began to bleed out their contents. The smell of cooked flesh filled the air.


    Talrash went slack. Her corpse fell on Becenti, who shoved her off, rolling her to the side.


    All had gone quiet.


    With an exhausted grunt, he pulled himself up to a sitting position, one arm keeping him from falling down, and even that shook like a pillar in an earthquake.


    All he could do was stare at her. Stare at the corpse he had created. Stare at a line that he had crossed. There was no victory or relief in Becenti''s mind.


    Only tired guilt.


    ***


    The Silver Knight advanced on Pocket. Pocket simply glared, and swung the blade. If the man wanted to die, so be it.


    The blade smacked against Oliphant. But it did not cut through armor. Indeed, he walked as though he felt nothing as he shot a fist at Pocket''s face. It connected cleanly, cracking against her nose. Her head shot back as she fell back against the statue. Oliphant stood over her, his face caked in shadow.


    Feeling her heart pounding, Pocket stabbed at Oliphant, but the point grazed off of his chest. He let her slip out from the statue, and she scrambled away, turning around to face him once more, holding the blade in both hands, re-setting her stance.


    ¡°The blade belongs to me,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°It''s mine. Give it back.¡±


    Pocket didn''t respond, her face set as she prepared for her next attack. Perhaps his armor was enchanted. Perhaps there was an enchantment to it that prevented it from cutting its owner. But she could still use it as a blunt-force instrument, a club to beat him over the head with.


    She aimed for his head, and swung.


    With one hand, Oliphant caught the blade, stopped it in its tracks entirely, all motion lost.


    ¡°It belongs to me, and it knows this,¡± he growled, ¡°The blade is mine. It obeys me.¡±


    Both hands closed over the blade now, and he folded Pocket''s swing against her, twisting the blade so that it was nearly perpendicular to her chest, the tip pointing diagonal to the ceiling. He shoved against her, forcing her against another statue. He pressed a forearm against the blade, and began to push it forward. Pocket forced back, struggling against his enormous strength, the edge of the blade getting closer and closer to her chest.


    It dug in, little by little, a thin wail of pain needling from the wound, one that opened further and further. Pocket began to cough and wince, her arms shaking to hold the blade back, but the cold steel pushed further and further in...


    Analyza popped up behind Oliphant, her square eyes alight with fury. She swung her hammer, which connected with the side of Oliphant''s head, a crack that made him stumble back. Pocket let out a gasp of pained relief as the freezing iron peeled off of her skin.


    Ana advanced on the floundering knight, hammer in hand. There was murder in her step, in the way that she grasped the hammer. She raised it up.


    Only for Oliphant to spin, a fist connecting with her jaw, another to her stomach. As she stumbled, he grabbed her to hold her steady, then with a single boot, he stomped at her knee.


    There was a crack and a scream. Ana fell to the ground, clutching her leg, which bent at an awkward angle. Every hair on Pocket''s body raised at that sound, and she struggled to rise again as Oliphant advanced towards her once more. She brought the blade to bear again, slashing at him. Oliphant, once more, caught the blade in both hands, slid them across the metal so that he was right on top of her, and cracked his elbow against her face. His other hand shot out to the hilt of the blade.


    There was a moment of awkward shuffling as wrestling as Oliphant pried the blade free from her closed fists. He propped one foot against her, using it as leverage to push her away, her hands shaking as he pulled.


    Then, at last, fear clutching her heart, he wrenched the blade free. She stumbled, the back of her head slamming against a statue. She let out a groan as Oliphant simply stood, his breathing heavy. His entire body shook as he clutched the blade, holding it close to him like a lover.


    Then his eyes fell on Pocket. Blade now in hand, the entire thing shimmering in the darkness like the moon, he stepped forward.


    Pocket looked up at him with purpled, bruised eyes, her world a mixture of darkness and stares, Oliphant''s face cast more in shadow than light.


    And she knew, right then, with a calm resignation, that she was going to die.


    She could hear Ana screaming, though it seemed to come from across the world.


    ¡°Stop it!¡± she was yelling, ¡°Stop it!¡±


    He was over her now, eclipsing her. His hands were steady as he pointed the blade down. Behind them, Ana crawled on the ground, fingers digging into the stone, her face contorted in agony, tears running down her face.


    ¡°Don''t! Please, God, don''t!¡± she begged, ¡°She''s all I have! All I''ll ever have!¡±


    Oliphant was quiet. His blade hovered, a mere foot from Pocket. It wavered for a moment.


    Time stood still.


    Then, his face still set, his eyes still haunted and empty, Oliphant stepped back. Sheathed his sword.


    Like an automaton, he walked. Past Pocket and Ana, who had collapsed into a puddle of coughing sobs, her entire body racked with pain. Past the statues, using one to support himself, briefly, as emotion threatened to overtake him. Pocket watched as he pulled himself together as best he could, then walked to the last door, blade dragging against the ground, cutting a line against the stone.


    Without a word, he opened up the door to Visionary''s room, and stepped through.


    ***


    There was a moment where Silicon and Joseph stared each other down. Lightning welled in Joseph''s stomach, ran its circuit through his body. Silicon smiled as he sniffed the air.


    ¡°Ozone,¡± he said, ¡°Like I''m in the atmosphere. Your use of your powers are obvious. Flashy, like a ringmaster''s theatrics.¡±


    ¡°You calling me a clown?¡±


    ¡°I''m saying you''re loud,¡± Silicon said, ¡°And one-note.¡±


    ¡°One-note.¡±


    ¡°A ringmaster''s job on stage is to announce the performers. Wow the audience, pull them into a world of motion and exhilaration. But that is all he does. He does nothing else.¡±


    ¡°He does more than that,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°What? He oversees the books? Directs the performers? He is a mere master of ceremonies. An accountant and a trumpet together can do his job. The other performers have multiple acts, with many tricks up their sleeves. Theirs is an art they have perfected, and they are able to adapt their talents to new situations.¡±


    His smile dropped.


    ¡°But all the ringmaster does is yell. He is one-note.¡±


    ¡°Get to the point,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Around you, you have seen metahumans with a variety of fantastical abilities and talents,¡± Silicon said, ¡°Many of whom surpass your own. An example stands before you.¡±


    The glass glittered like stars around them.


    ¡°Your ability is powerful. It is loud, and draws the world in around it. But you have only used it for two things: as a glorified bouncer, and a bolt of lightning. Is that all you have? Is that all you can do?¡±


    The words stopped Joseph. He blinked.


    ¡°I''ve been practicing,¡± he mumbled.


    ¡°With what?¡±


    ¡°I know what I can do.¡±


    ¡°I think you don''t,¡± Silicon said, ¡°Your soul, it comes from your back, yes?¡±


    Joseph didn''t answer.


    ¡°Did you ever ask why?¡±


    ¡°I can...¡± Joseph said, ¡°I can do more than that.¡±


    ¡°I believe you can,¡± Silicon said, ¡°But have not. Not yet. You are gifted with an incredible ability. Truly. But what separates the best of us from the average is that the greatest are not afraid to flex the muscle that is the metagene. Those who do not are destined to flounder.¡±


    He nodded to behind Joseph, to Robber Fly''s still-prone form.


    ¡°So what can you do, metahuman? What is your power? What is your soul?¡±


    Joseph''s hands became claws, cobalt light shining around him. He raised them up and took a stance.


    ¡°Let me show you, asshole.¡±


    ¡°A young man''s fury! Good,¡± Silicon said, ¡°Come at me, then.¡±


    And Joseph leaped, claws snarling and swinging. All of his planning and posturing was gone as he rushed at Silicon like an animal. Silicon dodged, bobbing and weaving. He didn''t raise a finger, nor react in pain as Joseph got under his guard, raking across the chest. All he did was smile.


    ¡°Not bad,¡± he said, ¡°But I''m sure you''ve done that before, haven''t you?¡±


    Joseph''s eye twitched. Then, settling in again, he made another assault at Silicon.


    Who, this time, formed a wall of glass between them. One that Joseph ran into, his shoulder crashing against it, claws reaching out and cutting against its surface. But to no avail, as the glass re-grew with each cut, the entire construct repairing with each cut. Silicon stared at him from the other side.


    ¡°Learn, Joseph of Armagest,¡± he said, ¡°Learn.¡±


    The glass shoved forward, smacking against Joseph, part of it coming out and forming into a hand that closed around his face, pushing down. The rest followed, shoving Joseph to the floor, pressing him against the stone. Joseph gasped as the weight of the glass forced down. His soul began rocketing through his body, began spluttering out of his back-


    Only for Silicon to lower a hand down. With it, the pressure and strength of the glass wall doubled, forcing the soul back into Joseph''s body, plasma leaking out his back like leaking oil.


    ¡°What will you do?¡± Silicon said, ¡°What will you do, Soul of Armagest?¡±


    Joseph''s mind raced as the glass pressed down. He could feel it begin cracking his rib cage. He gritted his teeth. What could he do? What was there to do?


    Was this it?


    Pressure, unrelenting pressure, on his chest. On his legs. On his cheek as the wall forced him to look to the side, at his outstretched arm.


    He was going to die now, wasn''t he?


    Images in his head. His parents. Nai Nai. But they only lasted a second, replaced like an ocean by his time in the guild. Of Rosemary. Broon. Phineas with his book. Nash and their disarming smile. Wakeling, damn her, with her secrets. Becenti, with his tough exterior, one that hid a kind and hurt heart.


    ...Who said his entire soul had to come from his back?


    His left foot was the only part of his body not being pressed down by the glass. He concentrated on it, letting his soul circuit down there.


    Why did his soul come from his back?


    It wasn''t like there were any access points. He could overlap part of his soul with the corresponding body part well enough ¨C head over head. Claw over hand. Shoulder and arm over shoulder and arm.


    The soul didn''t have feet, but Joseph supposed that he would, theoretically, be able to overlay that as well.


    But why the back?


    Because it was a protector. Because it was like it had always been for him. The soul protecting the body. But it was not another being. It was Joseph Zheng, protecting Joseph Zheng.


    He didn''t need anyone else.


    With an agonizing effort, he forced the soul to well at the base of his ankle. It cried out in protest, a caw that echoed up and down his spine. It was already on the verge of shattering again, he knew, a thousand cuts scarring its form, wounds that had not yet scabbed over. His entire foot began to steam.


    And then, with a final shove, Joseph manifested the eagle. It erupted, fully formed, head and claws and all, from his big toe, tearing the shoe to bits as it snarled at Silicon, just within reach with curved talons. Silicon''s eyes widened, and his pace seemed glacial to the eagle''s speed as it raked down across his chest and face. The glass''s pressure stopped, and Joseph recalled the eagle.


    A moment later, it erupted again, this time from his chest, rising up and out, great arms hefting the glass wall up and throwing it away.


    It went back into Joseph again, and for a third time, his entire body screaming with the circuits and re-circuits, of the soul making its way across Joseph''s body at what felt like the speed of light to get enough power to manifest again, it oiled out of his back once more, pushing him up to his feet.


    Silicon was stumbling back, blood covering his armor. When he looked up, three deep red lines marred his face and burst his lip.


    But he was still smiling.


    ¡°Good, Joseph of Armagest. Good. Continue to learn, child. Continue to be what you must be, if you are to survive.¡±


    He stood up.


    ¡°I do not need a soothsayer¡¯s vision,¡± he said, ¡°I see the future before me.¡±


    And then he was gone, breaking up into pieces of glass, shards of blues and reds and greens, all the colors of the rainbow that peeled away and flew past Joseph like leaves in Autumn. Back up. Out of Earthmute. Towards the sky. Once more a flock of glass, and nothing else.


    Joseph watched with muted exhaustion. The soul slowly swayed its way back into his body, curling down to the nest in his stomach and curling up, utterly spent.


    And he was alone.


    ***


    The room the Visionary had placed herself in was small, compared to the vastness of the caverns before. It was Spartan, the only furniture being a round, stone table and an array of chairs. Visionary herself was sitting at the table, hands in her lap, her back straight. The crone looked expectantly at the Silver Knight as he made his way over to her in a daze. Torch sconces lined the wall, their flames orange, casting the place in a humid, uncomfortable glow.


    Visionary herself seemed not to have aged a day down here. She was wearing black robes that merely emphasized how pale her skin was, so pale it was bone-white. Her white hair was tied up, the thin string that was her mouth wilting into a disapproving frown as Oliphant stopped at the table. Like a marble statue.


    ¡°So you have come at last,¡± she said.


    Oliphant glared at her.


    ¡°You''re... You''re under arrest,¡± he said.


    ¡°You don''t look to be in any shape to be arresting anyone, Antoine Martin.¡±


    His head snapped up to her.


    ¡°How did you-¡±


    ¡°I am a fortune teller. A seer of the future,¡± Visionary said, ¡°Your false name is but a mere veil to be parted.¡±


    Antoine took a breath, re-settling himself. When he opened his eyes, they were hardened.


    ¡°You''re under arrest, Visionary,¡± he said, ¡°You''re a war criminal. Responsible for too many crimes to count. I understand that you may...¡±


    His assertions trailed off as he noted Visionary was not listening to him. She was instead considering the room around him.


    ¡°This place,¡± she said, ¡°What do you call him?¡±


    ¡°...What?¡±


    ¡°This structure. The metahuman whose spirit inhabits this place. What is his name?¡±


    ¡°...Earthmute.¡±


    ¡°Ah, a misnomer,¡± she said, ¡°Too many use that name. It''s an... evolution of a sort. A name that-¡±


    ¡°That doesn''t matter, ma''am.¡±


    ¡°That has been warped from its original meaning. The earth is not silent. Quite on the contrary, it is like a chorus, ever rumbling and shifting. If one had the ears for it, one would find that the earth is screaming.¡±


    Antoine gave a frustrated sigh.


    ¡°Then what is it called, then?¡± he said.


    ¡°This place was a place for negotiation,¡± Visionary said, ¡°A coming-together of metahumanity. A place to bury the hatchet. To make peace with old enemies.¡±


    She gave a knowing look at Antoine.


    ¡°It was known as Earthmoot.¡±


    There was a silence that rang between them. Antoine swayed. He swallowed as though he were eating a stone, and then looked at Visionary once more. So old. So disarming. The old crone had a sharp look, but one that had been blunted by time and isolation.


    ¡°I see your face,¡± she said, ¡°I know you, Antoine Martin. The fear in your heart, the anger you display, the frustration in your every step.¡±


    ¡°That has nothing to do with-¡±


    ¡°The way you get up in the morning, and consider the point of your life. The way you move about your day, as though working on muscle memory alone. The way you wake up and consider not getting up ever again. The way you question the why¡¯s, privately, when you think no one is watching. The way your heart shrivels as you speak, for you know you are merely faking passion. Faking goodness. Faking all of yourself.¡±


    He gripped the back of one of the chairs, leaning in.


    ¡°You''re under arrest, Visionary.¡±


    ¡°Arrest me now, arrest me later,¡± she said, ¡°Earthmoot does not leave until I say he leaves. He is a servant just as much as I am.¡±


    From out of nowhere, she flipped out a deck of cards, thin hands beginning to shuffle.


    ¡°...The coming days and months are to be filled with fire and loss. This I have seen. There will be suffering. Death.¡±


    ¡°I''ll be here for it,¡± Antoine said, ¡°Ready to face whatever your kind throws at Prime.¡±


    ¡°Such a superhero,¡± Visionary said, ¡°Such an icon. Truly, you are a beacon.¡±


    Antoine flinched at the subtle venom.


    ¡°Are you truly prepared?¡± Visionary said, ¡°Dark days forge the strong, and break the lesser. What kind of man will you be, Antoine Martin? One who proves himself worthy of being the next Arthur, or one who fails, the world collapsing, your name a curse as it dies?¡±


    He looked down. Comfortable darkness, darkness he was used to, clouded his world. For they were questions he asked himself, constantly. Every day. Every hour. Every minute.


    Every second.


    Visionary laid three cards on the table, face-down.


    ¡°Do you want to know?¡± she asked.


    For a moment, Antoine considered throwing the deck away. Grabbing the crone by the neck and yanking her out of Earthmoot by force, a snake from the pit. But he looked at her.


    And all he could see was the bloodied face of Pocket, her lover screaming and begging behind her, screams that still echoed in his mind.


    Antoine sat down.


    ¡°Tell me my future,¡± he whispered.


    Visionary smiled. She pushed a card forward, so that it was exactly between knight and seer.


    She flipped it over.

 59. And Silence, Once More...

    ¡°Becenti.¡±


    Meloche''s voice cut through the green-hued shadow. Through the guilt.. Becenti glanced up to see the old philosopher supporting Ever-True. The young superhero was clutching her head, her face cast down in tired, groggy pain. The old sap-man himself looked exhausted, presumably from having to heave his bulk up the length of one of the stone bridges, pulling himself up and back onto the bridge Ever-True had leaped to during the battle.


    Joseph ¨C Thank God, still alive ¨C stood behind them. He looked just as torn up as the other two, his shirt and jacket reduced to shreds, cuts lining his arms and knuckles. There was a hollow look to him, as though he had lost some of his fire.


    He kept glancing down at the corpse of Talrash at Becenti''s feet. The boy was smart, and he was putting two and two together. But he said nothing. Becenti himself sighed, rubbing his temple.


    ¡°Right,¡± he said, ¡°The game is still on, isn''t it?¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Meloche said, ¡°We have to hurry, now.¡±


    Joseph walked over, stepping over the golden carcass, and extended out a hand.


    ¡°Let''s go,¡± his voice was a broken whisper, ¡°Come on, don''t leave me with the losers of the group.¡±


    ¡°Meloche is no loser,¡± Becenti murmured, ¡°It would do you well to respect your elders, Mr. Zheng.¡±


    ¡°God, you sound like my dad,¡± Joseph said, ¡°You''re really going to do that to me?¡±


    He gave a sad smile to the older man, a recognition of what had transpired. His hand was still out, still offered to Becenti.


    A murderer didn''t deserve a man like Joseph. But Becenti took it nonetheless, the younger pulling up the older to his feet.


    ¡°Where''s Oliphant?¡± he asked.


    ¡°I don''t know,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Thought he was with you.¡±


    The earth began to shake. The group looked, as one, to see the ceiling above opening up, a rent in the ground towards the night, with its starry sky that looked far too similar to the jewel-peppered ceiling of Earthmute''s caverns. The room of statues began falling away, stone histories sinking into the sand, and they all felt a rising as the world simultaneously drew up towards the surface and fell away to a dark, lonely pit.


    And they were, once more, alone. In the desert, away from the salt plains. The moon watched them overhead, just bright enough to illuminate the world, for them to see a couple of lonely cacti and the interstate.


    ¡°Far outside Death Valley, then,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Must have moved quickly to build up energy. A planeshift.¡±


    ¡°I thought...¡±


    ¡°Traveling Points are safe,¡± Becenti said, ¡°But not the only way to move across the multiverse.¡±


    ¡°Looks like we''re not alone,¡± Meloche said. He nodded, and just a bit north of them was Pocket and her lover. The dark-skinned woman cradled Pocket''s head in her hands, one stick-like leg bent horribly, tears streaming down her face as she silently wept. Meloche began approaching them, and as he did she picked up her hammer and raised it.


    ¡°S-Stay back,¡± she snarled, ¡°Stay back!¡±


    ¡°I''m not here to hurt you, elline,¡± Meloche said, ¡°It''s over. It''s done. No more fighting.¡±


    ¡°No... more?¡±


    ¡°No more,¡± Meloche said, ¡°May I take a look at your friend?¡±


    ¡°More than a friend,¡± the dark-skinned woman said, and a fresh breakdown overtook her, ¡°More than a friend. W-we drew s-straws, goddammit...¡±


    But she let Meloche look Pocket over, the old mound taking stock of her wounds, taking out a few bandages from his bag, applying them here and there.


    ¡°She''ll live, I believe,¡± Meloche said, and he was surprised at how much relief he felt at the news, ¡°What is your name, elline?¡±


    ¡°A-Analyza.¡±


    ¡°Well, Analyza, if you will, I''d like to take a look at your leg there...¡±


    She complied, and as the philosopher did his best with what rudimentary skill he had, Ever-True glanced past and saw Oliphant. She pointed him out to Becenti, and they made their way over. Joseph took one last look at the body of Talrash before he trailed after them.


    Oliphant looked forlorn. Lost. An empty look in his eyes as he simply stared off towards the distant mountains. Noticeably bereft of a Visionary. Ever-True took charge, approaching, blinking the pain out of her head as best she could as he tapped him on the shoulder.


    ¡°Sir.¡±


    Oliphant stared.


    ¡°Sir!¡±


    He started, before he turned towards Ever-True.


    ¡°D-Don''t call me ''sir,''¡± he said.


    ¡°Oliphant.¡±


    He swallowed, and gave a nod, the void still hanging on his face.


    ¡°Visionary, Oliphant. What happened?¡± Ever-True asked.


    ¡°I...¡± Oliphant blinked, ¡°She got away. Right as I got to her.¡±


    There was such obvious loss in his voice, such a blatant hiding of the truth, that it all but slapped Eve in the face. But as she thought of a way to voice her concern, the radio communicator clicked back on.


    ¡°Oliphant? Eve?¡± Seismic''s voice crackled to life, ¡°Come in, Oli and Eve. Come in.¡±


    Oliphant pulled himself together, clicking the communicator.


    ¡°Yeah, Mick. It''s us.¡±


    ¡°Jesus Christ, you guys are the worst,¡± Seismic sighed, ¡°Where the hell have you been? You broke contact as soon as you entered Death Valley.¡±


    Oliphant nodded.


    ¡°It''ll be in my report,¡± he said.


    ¡°Are you-¡±


    ¡°Yes. Arrange for a pickup for...¡±


    He looked over at the ragtag group of metahumans. No doubt more in the desert, stragglers still warring against one another. A part of him wondered if they''d stop, now that Earthmoot and Visionary were gone.


    Visionary.


    Oliphant went silent again.


    ¡°Boss?¡±


    ¡°Oliphant,¡± Ever-True said, ¡°Look.¡±


    She nodded, and the Silver Knight looked over. In the distance was Robber Fly and the Domehead. The Domehead was lifting the other mercenary over his shoulder. His other hand held the discarded plasma pistol, which he pointed at the group as he took a few steps back. Even with the vast desert between them, Eve could make out the white of his eyes, the haggard, tired look on his young face.


    ¡°...Let them go,¡± Oliphant said.


    ¡°Oliphant?¡±


    ¡°We''re in no shape for a pursuit,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°We''ll track where they go.¡±


    They watched as the Domehead moved further and further away from him, pistol still pointed, until he was a dark spot on an even darker sky.


    ¡°Boss,¡± Seismic said, ¡°I''m detecting a ship. It''s nearby, moving closer. Should I...?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°No. Keep your sensors on it if it tries anything funny, but I don''t think it''s here for a scrap. I need a transport for seven people. All of us are injured, so make sure there are doctors onboard.¡±


    ¡°...Sir,¡± Seismic said, ¡°Respectfully, I''d like to point out that-¡±


    ¡°Don''t call me ''sir,'' and do as I say.¡±


    There was silence on the other line for a few brief seconds. The Domehead''s ship filtered into view, only able to be made out by a few lights that lined neon against the night, a strange, orbular vessel that floated over the mercenaries, a light shining down and caking them like a solar flare.


    Then, they were gone. Brought inside the ship, like a UFO taking cows in a pasture. The ship veered away from the Silver Knights and metahumans. With a great bang that echoed through the desert, it took off towards the atmosphere and into space.


    ¡°Right,¡± Seismic said, ¡°One transport. It''s on its way.¡±


    Oliphant nodded. He clicked off the line.


    They waited in muted silence, the only sounds being that of the wind and Meloche''s whispers to Ana as he applied salves to her leg.


    ***


    The Domehead peeled his helmet off while onboard the ship, taking a deep breath and leaning back in his chair. Robber Fly was on the bed next to him, an IV port in his arm and his entire body covered in bandages. The paramedics aboard the vessel had seen to his wounds as quickly as they could, weaving spellwork and modern medicine to re-set and re-puzzle broken and shattered bones. Internal wounds were sutured back together, gels were applied to the bruises, and a dark ritual was invoked to bind his spine together with a dark, jellyfish-like creature, its individual tendrils snaking out and holding bits and pieces together.


    It was as much they could do to pull him back together. Further healing would be done when they returned to base. But it was enough for him to wake up, albeit unable to move much save for his mouth, a painful wriggling at the base of his back as the thing they had inserted into his body pulsated and drank minute drips of his bloodstream.


    ¡°...We didn''t win, did we?¡± he moaned.


    The Domehead didn''t answer. But that was answer enough. Robber Fly grimaced, but even that movement was enough to cause needles of pain to lance down his neck.


    ¡°Christ,¡± he growled, ¡°Feels like I was hit by a truck.¡±


    ¡°...You have been hit by a truck before?¡± the Domehead asked.


    ¡°Twice, kid.¡±


    The young mercenary nodded. He held his plasma pistol gingerly, taking a small wipe and cleaning its barrel of grime and dust. His face gave no emotion, no reaction to what they had just gone through.


    Just cleaning, the gentle sound of brushing cloth mixing with the somber hum of the ship''s engine and the distant scream of the Warp.


    ¡°Talrash didn''t make it, did she?¡± Robber Fly said.


    ¡°No. Shimmer.¡±


    ¡°Shimmer?¡± Robber Fly said, ¡°Damn. Messed up. She was...¡±


    ¡°Not kind.¡±


    ¡°Hot,¡± Robber Fly chuckled, though that caused him to wince, ¡°Surprised you picked me up, kid. I was a goner.¡±


    The Domehead did not respond. Robber Fly supposed he couldn''t really call him that anymore. Domehead. Mercenary. He was just a kid, truly. Barely eighteen, maybe, just following the orders given to him. Robber Fly had seen dozens of his kind before in this kind of job. Messed-up kids, mere experiments by those insane dregs of the Sons of Darwin, forced into a life of combat and warfare, withdrawing into themselves and becoming like stone. Simple reaction, and nothing more.


    Yet he had saved Robber Fly''s life. He could have left him in the dirt, in Earthmute, wherever. His superiors would even have encouraged that.


    Robber Fly gave another pained chuckle.


    ¡°You''re not bad, kid,¡± he said.


    ***


    The Songbird arrived a few hours later, just when the sun was starting to rise. By then, Meloche ¨C now joined by Becenti ¨C had gone through the painful process of re-setting Ana''s leg and attending to her wounds.


    A being in armor stepped out of the ship, an apparent battleship with arms and legs, her entire surface rippling slightly. Joseph felt a whisper in the back of his head as they took stock of the situation, similar to when he was with Phineas at times.


    ¡°Acero,¡± Oliphant said.


    ¡°You look like you''ve had quite an interesting time,¡± a woman''s voice came out of the suit of steel, ¡°Come on, we''ve got paramedics onboard.¡±


    She guided them onto the Songbird, where a full team of medical practitioners got to work going over their injuries, their voices quick and clipped as they quickly patched up the more egregious wounds. They loaded Pocket onto a stretcher, connecting IV ports and applying gauze to her head, watching her carefully.


    Ana kept her eyes on Oliphant the entire time, even as the paramedics took a look at her leg. In her square eyes was a mixture of fear and desperation. Oliphant avoided locking with her gaze,  guilt eating away at him as the paramedics wrapped his arm up in gauze, peeling away his armor like a lobster''s shell.


    Joseph was attended to next, though they found that most of the cuts running up and down his body, arms, and face were surface-level.


    Most of the deeper cuts had been on the soul.


    ¡°They sting, though,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°That''s good,¡± the paramedic looking him over said, ¡°If it stings, it means it''s not too deep. Do you need a shirt?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. I feel alright. Seriously, go check on someone else.¡±


    The paramedic nodded, wrapping a blanket around Joseph and moving off to help with Becenti, three of his coworkers puzzling over the older man''s golden hand and skin.


    ¡°We''ll need a spell for this,¡± one of them was muttering, ¡°Goddamn wizards, I hate working with them...¡±


    Joseph chuckled at that, leaning back. Meloche walked over and sat across from him, a similar blanket draped over his shoulders like a cloak, a cup of hot chocolate in his hands.


    ¡°My paramedic didn''t give me any hot chocolate,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Your paramedic wasn''t Lucinda,¡± Meloche said, ¡°A very kind woman.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Joseph said, leaning back against his chair. His look was hard as he stared at the ceiling.


    ¡°You¡¯re alright, then?¡± Meloche asked.


    ¡°As much as I can be.¡±


    Meloche shrugged at that.


    ¡°...Joseph,¡± Meloche said, ¡°What do you want in life?¡±


    ¡°Who, me?¡± Joseph said, ¡°I''m not sure. I want to go home, I guess.¡±


    ¡°Your home?¡±


    ¡°Earth. I''m from Earth.¡±


    There was a low rumbling as Meloche processed those words. He took a sip of his hot chocolate, the liquid pouring into the molasses and, as though in slow motion, traveling to the silhouetted skeleton that was the philosopher''s true form.


    ¡°Earth. Not in forecast. Not for a while. How did you get here?¡±


    ¡°...Where to begin?,¡± Joseph said.


    He told Meloche of his arrival into the greater multiverse, of Anut¨¦ and Inweth, of his time in the guild. Throughout his talks, his quiet conversations in whispers and mutters, the Songbird lurched onward and upwards, heading towards the Round Table, base of the Silver Knights. Becenti leaned back, listening to the conversation, though he began dozing off halfway through the flight. Oliphant merely stared forward, iron grip still on Durandal, the blade etching lines into the floor. Ever-True rested beside him, pulling out a pillow and laying down across the expanse of three of the seats. Analyza kept to herself, always by Pocket''s side, her face a haunted visage as she still, even now, stared at Oliphant.


    ¡°I see,¡± Meloche said, as Joseph finished up, ¡°So you''re a long way from home then.¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°...And you''re Zheng Chun''s grandson.¡±


    Joseph blinked.


    ¡°...You knew my Nai Nai, didn''t you?¡±


    ¡°I suppose it makes sense,¡± Meloche said, more to himself than to Joseph, ¡°She was from Earth, but didn''t talk about it. You share the same family name.¡±


    ¡°You knew her, though.¡±


    ¡°She was a colleague of mine,¡± Meloche said.


    ¡°Was she at Ludaya?¡±


    ¡°No, she wasn''t,¡± Meloche said, ¡°Your grandmother, she was a free spirit. Refused to be tied down to any one place.¡±


    Joseph thought of her last years, back on Earth, alone in her old, three-story house. Practically trapped there, in the last months. The thought made him uncomfortable.


    ¡°Why are you just telling me now?¡± he said.


    ¡°Because I''ve only just put two and two together,¡± Meloche rumbled, ¡°Zheng Chun was not a name your grandmother used often, not out here. I only learned her old name after several years of working with her.¡±


    ¡°...She had a metahuman name.¡±This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Meloche said, ¡°Yes, she did.¡±


    ¡°What was it?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°F¨¥ngb¨¤o,¡± Meloche said, ¡°It was F¨¥ngb¨¤o.¡±


    Joseph nodded, digesting the news. Nai Nai was a metahuman, he had pieced together that much. But the realization that people knew her, that she worked with people, that she had a life out here, gave him pause.


    His old man took them out to visit her at least once a year. Often, this had been in the summer. Joseph thought this was because everyone was out of school, and they could afford the time to make the trip up north.


    But now?


    Theories etched themselves into his mind. Meloche, evidently noting Joseph''s concentrated look, leaned in.


    ¡°You want to get home.¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°I may be able to help you,¡± the philosopher said, ¡°I have colleagues. Friends. Favors I can call in.¡±


    Joseph wasn''t sure how to respond. A pinprick of something like excitement began fluttering in his chest.


    ¡°Give me a few weeks. You''ll be staying at your guildhall, yes?¡±


    ¡°Y-Yeah,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Castle Belenus, on Londoa. City called Scuttleway.¡±


    ¡°Good, good,¡± Meloche said.


    ¡°...Why are you doing this?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Because you listened to me,¡± Meloche said, ¡°Because you let me talk about Eco. Because you''re F¨¥ngb¨¤o¡¯s grandson, and a bright one, at that. Because you want to go home. And-¡±


    He glanced over to the sleeping form of Becenti, making sure the older man was still asleep before continuing.


    ¡°...And because you''ve obviously had little help in that regard with your guild.¡±


    Those last words stung, and Joseph felt his stomach shrivel. They had given him books. Time to research. But more often than not, he had been shuffled from mission to mission, with very little in between.


    His conversation ¨C more of a subtle argument ¨C with Wakeling came back to his mind, an unbidden and unpleasant memory. The one chance to research Anut¨¦ and Inweth, gone. Because she forbade it. A chance to get home, washed away.


    She had known F¨¥ngb¨¤o ¨C Nai Nai ¨C hadn¡¯t she? She had been aware of her. Knew more of her than she let on. And yet she had done little to help.


    On some level, he could not deny Meloche''s words.


    With a sigh, Joseph nodded. Clasped his hands together, tried to stop thinking about the aching in his body, the emptiness of his soul.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± he said.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Meloche said, ¡°Castle Belenus. Londoa. Scuttleway.¡±


    ¡°I''ll look for the letter.¡±


    He gave the philosopher a tired smile.


    The ship lurched on, higher and higher, to the realm of moon and stars.


    ***


    Gaiusaia was a dark world, among the few planets explored and settled in the Milky Way. Despite the Federation''s insistence on absolute authority of the multiverse, the galaxy that Prime resided in was still a blind spot to their eyes. They had outposts and bases, of course, warships that trawled the Sol System on patrols through the multiverse, but the Alu''eer had arrived on Prime, saw the Milky Way, saw the countless galaxies that peppered the plane, the millions of discs and trillions of stars and the endless possibility...


    The pure possibility...


    And they had shut the door back up. Ignored Prime. Let it develop on its own. They had their own galaxy to worry about, and the resources to settle and colonize an entire plane that was larger than the Silver Eye by several million degrees was a project that would cost far too much. For the First Men, for all of their god-like science, for all of the whispers spoken about their grandeur, were a quiet, almost isolated people, who viewed the multiverse more as trouble than opportunity.


    Or so it was said.


    The result was that Gaiusaia had escaped the notice of the Federation''s war against the Manticore. It was one of the few places to do so, a planet of near-constant rain, of swamps that glowed red in the muck.


    It was Manny''s home, as he stepped off of the ship, casting a glance as attendants wheeled out Robber Fly to the medical wing. The young man watched them snake along the path, the rain falling heavy around them, a red streak of lightning flashing across the world for a brief moment, followed by a cacophonous boom.


    Manny stared down at the plasma pistol in his hand, giving it one last once-over, and then holstered it. He began following the attendants down the road to the bulbous base of the Sons.


    Scientists ruled Gaiusaia. They had ruled the Manticore''s empire, just as much as the Manticore himself. Their forbidden experiments, their delving into the sinful and the profane, had brought forth monstrosities and technologies that had formed the backbone of the guild''s military might. Those that had avoided the Federation''s gaze, who had hidden while the Federation either arrested or recruited their compatriots, were here. Manny stepped past men and women in white lab coats, talking to themselves, a pair of whom were pushing a cart with a hand in a vat. He dodged past a couple of military officers, their uniforms emblazoned with dozens of medals, as they glared at the young mercenary.


    And made his way to the lab of Doctor Matergabia. A dark place, for she said that the harsh, artificial light of the base interfered with her work. She kept her lab dark, the only sources of light being vials of bright neon liquids that bubbled and frothed. Manny stepped inside without ceremony, standing up straight as he waited for her to turn around.


    She did not as she said, ¡°So it''s done, then.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Yes, ma''am,¡± Matergabia said.


    ¡°Yes, ma''am,¡± Manny amended.


    ¡°Good,¡± Matergabia said, ¡°But I don''t see a Visionary.¡±


    ¡°No, ma''am,¡± Manny said, ¡°We failed.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± the doctor went over to one of her experiments, a clear liquid being suffused through an alembic, adjusting the small fire beneath the instrument, ¡°And Talrash?¡±


    ¡°Dead.¡±


    ¡°Poor dear, but she always had a way of getting in over her head with these sorts of operations. She should have brought you and Jericho. You''ll be pleased, Jericho''s returned from his mission as well.¡±


    Manny hid his smile, keeping his face resolute as he said, ¡°Good.¡±


    Matergabia turned around, a wrinkled mess of age and ingenuity, bent with time, her hands needle-like as she clasped them together, approaching Manny and looking up at him with storming, sharp gray eyes.


    ¡°Well? Any interesting abilities?¡±


    ¡°Not many,¡± Manny said, ¡°A lot of the combat faced was long-distance. I only obtained one of note. It''s fading.¡±


    ¡°Fading?¡± Matergabia nodded, ¡°Well, not surprising. Show me.¡±


    Manny brought out a hand, concentrating, trying to will the heat from the fire into his hand. It was harder than it was before, and he found himself breaking into a sweat as he wrenched the heat free from the flame, balling into a ripple. Matergabia nodded, then walked over to her alembic and passed a hand through the flame.


    ¡°That was an important experiment, there.¡±


    ¡°Sorry, ma''am.¡±


    ¡°No matter. How long did the power hold?¡±


    ¡°Several days.¡±


    ¡°I can increase that,¡± Matergabia said, ¡°Come by later. I have tests. But eat first. Rest. I don''t work with tired projects.¡±


    Manny nodded.


    ¡°Right, ma''am,¡± he said.


    He turned to leave.


    ¡°Manny?¡±


    He stopped.


    ¡°Welcome back.¡±


    ¡°...Thanks, ma''am.¡±


    And he walked out.


    ***


    The Round Table was a needle in space, one with a robust medical bay, put to good use nearly 24/7. Its official purpose was to be a place for superheroes to seek medical attention, away from the prying eyes of hospitals Primeside, and considering that there were now hundreds of operatives spread across the planet, seemingly always getting into spats with various supervillains, mad scientists, and the like, it often housed at least three patients.


    Three patients, now ten, as the doctors and nurses got to work patching up the survivors on the Songbird. Joseph soon found himself on a hospital bed, his cuts getting looked over, though he only needed a few bandages, and was good to go.


    Becenti waved off most of them.


    ¡°I''ve got a guy back home,¡± he said, ¡°He''ll take a look at the damage that''s been done.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± one of the doctors said, ¡°We''ve got a witch, could bring her out here.¡±


    ¡°I assure you, the magician I have back on Londoa is excellent.¡±


    He smiled, and patted them, then stood up and walked over to Joseph, sitting down at the foot of his bed.


    ¡°You mean Phineas, don''t you?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°He has the spellwork, he demonstrated it on Chliofrond well enough,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I see you''re getting comfortable.¡±


    ¡°I,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Have been sleeping in the dirt for the last few days, fighting for my life against everything but the kitchen sink. I deserve a nice bed.¡±


    ¡°I suppose that''s true,¡± Becenti said, ¡°But seriously, Joseph. Are you...¡±


    He was quiet for a moment, staring at the wall. On the other side of the room, a few doctors were unwrapping the bindings around Analyza''s leg, getting her ready for an X-ray.


    ¡°Are you alright?¡±


    Joseph blinked.


    ¡°...I''m fine,¡± he said.


    Becenti nodded, but both could feel the lie. Joseph sighed, leaning his head against the pillow.


    ¡°Okay, maybe I''m not,¡± he said.


    ¡°Of course you wouldn''t be,¡± Becenti said, ¡°This was... I''m sorry, Joseph. I was in over my head with this one.¡±


    ¡°You think?¡±


    Joseph''s tone held real anger, but he bit it down, swallowed it like a poison, just as he had before. Becenti, to his credit, didn''t react.


    ¡°I thought this would be simpler,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I thought...¡±


    ¡°I know, man,¡± Joseph said, ¡°You don''t have to say it.¡±


    Becenti nodded.


    ¡°It''s alright,¡± Joseph said, ¡°That''s what being part of a guild is, right? Take on dangerous jobs, free room and board, and maybe they¡¯ll help you somewhere along the way.¡±


    ¡°Indeed.¡±


    Joseph resisted the urge to roll his eyes. He pushed down another angry outburst, staring hard at the ceiling. A single lamp hung above, blaring above like an ugly white sun. It looked almost mundane, in comparison to everything else aboard the space station.


    Mundane.


    That¡¯s what he needed. What he wanted.


    ¡°...They have a San Fran here, right?¡±


    ¡°A... San Fran, Mr. Zheng?¡±


    ¡°San Francisco,¡± Joseph said, ¡°There was... There was this Mexican place that me and my friends always used to go to. I''m wondering if it''s here. On Prime.¡±


    Becenti nodded.


    ¡°They have a San Francisco here, yes.¡±


    ¡°...Can we check it out?¡±


    ¡°Of course, Joseph,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Come, let''s get out of here.¡±


    ***


    The Amber Foundation left the Round Table after getting Joseph''s wounds treated. Becenti, of course, refused their medical officials, brushing them off, only lingering to arrange for a pickup for their ship.


    ¡°I want her in one piece,¡± he said, ¡°There was a hole through her hull, but she landed like a rock. If there''s anything out of place, we''ll bill you.¡±


    And with that, Seismic took them Primeside, loading them into a Songbird and flying back towards the world below. Ever-True watched them through a viewscreen, as the sleek ship became smaller and smaller against the planet''s blue glow.


    The doctor had told her to get plenty of rest. A concussion was normal, in her line of work. Superheroes sustained more concussions than football players, which is why so many of them went coo-coo by the end of their careers. The doctor had said that with a smile on his face, but it was enough to make Eve take the injury seriously. So she would rest, preferably in a dark room, to give her brain time to recover. No field work, no observation duty, nothing but rest.


    But first, she had to talk to Oliphant. The doctor had given her an ice pack to hold against the back of her head to reduce the swelling, but she found she liked holding it against her temple as she walked, it helped numb the pain pulsing through it, just a bit for her to be able to think clearly. She held it even now as she stepped into the lift, then down the hallway to Oliphant''s quarters.


    His room was once Silver Arthur''s room, and Arthur himself had been quite the show-off. The entire place was hued in brass, circular in nature, a ramp curving up along the walls and leading to the bedroom proper. Shelves lined these walls, atop which were books taken as trophies from supervillain''s walls, artifacts from the Golden Age, skulls of Dragons and shattered blades, the fragmented remains of the Time''s Arrow, a vial of green goo which seemed to speak whispers in her ear. All of them from Silver Arthur''s age.


    Oliphant''s belongings, of which he kept few, were scattered on the floor. His armor, peeled off like a crab''s molt, worn by Death Valley, still caked in sand and grit. Durandal itself was lying on the ramp, a deep cut in the floor indicating where Oliphant had dragged its tip before releasing it from his hold altogether.


    The man himself sat at his bed, in civilian wear, sweatpants and a white shirt. He had not even shaved after returning, and his face was cast in the shadow of his beard. His arm had been bound, but he had refused the doctors, much like Becenti had. They would get to him later. So instead, he sat at his bed, staring at the wall, a bowl of Stuffy''Os in hand.


    He scooped a spoonful into his mouth, and chewed. Slowly, up and down, side to side, like a cow chewing cud.


    ¡°...Oliphant?¡± Eve asked.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± he said, chewing.


    ¡°It''s me, Oliphant.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°Everything alright?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, everything''s fine,¡± Ever-True said, ¡°Um... Is everything alright with you?¡±


    Oliphant swallowed, then shoveled another bite into his mouth.


    ¡°...Sir?¡±


    ¡°Don''t call me ''sir'', Eve.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Because we''re not a military organization,¡± Oliphant said robotically, ¡°We''re peacekeepers. Heroes. Everyday folk who dress up in spandex and fight crime.¡±


    Eve looked around the place once more, at the gadgets and trophies, at the shelves, at the window that coated the back wall of Oliphant''s room, the world shimmering below.


    ¡°I''m tired, Eve.¡±


    ¡°I am, too.¡±


    ¡°No, not just that,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°Tired of this life. Tired of all the pain it brings.¡±


    Ever-True nodded, leaning against the wall in front of Oliphant, crossing her arms and looking down at him.


    ¡°Oliphant?¡±


    He replied by taking another bite.


    ¡°...Sir.¡±


    ¡°Call me ''sir'' again, and I''ll throw you in the brig.¡±


    ¡°Oliphant, what happened down there?¡±


    ¡°That''s for the mission logs, Eve. You can read them when I write it up.¡±


    ¡°Oliphant.¡±


    He looked up at her, and his hard, hollow look relaxed.


    ¡°You''re a lot like your brother,¡± he said, ¡°You''re a stubborn ass.¡±


    ¡°You... You didn''t get Visionary, did you?¡± Eve said, ¡°You had the chance, but you didn''t.¡±


    ¡°She showed me things. She showed me what was to come. The coming months and years, how... how bleak, how long they''ll be.¡±


    He put the bowl on the nightstand. Perhaps that was why he had the cereal in the first place, to give his hands something to do, because they shook now, looked weak and skeleton-like without the gauntlets covering them. Eve realized she had never seen them before, seen Oliphant out of his uniform.


    ¡°...But that''s why we''re superheroes, right?¡± she prodded, ¡°That''s why we''re here.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± Oliphant said.


    Eve nodded, thinking about what to say.


    ¡°That girl...¡± she said, ¡°Analyza, you broke her leg.¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°She''s going to be fine, the doctors said. It was a clean break.¡±


    ¡°And her partner?¡±


    ¡°She''ll be fine, too. They''re going to need to have an extended stay, might need to take them Primeside to a hospital.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Oliphant said.


    ¡°...So we did good, then.¡±


    ¡°Maybe,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°But don''t forget, it was us who hurt them in the first place.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, we... we did,¡± Eve said, ¡°But we ended it. We got Earthmute to leave. Now we just have to pick up anyone who''s stranded down there.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, that''s true.¡±


    ¡°You think we saved lives?¡±


    ¡°...I think we kept Prime safe,¡± Oliphant said, ¡°And that''s what we''re here for, right? To make sure that Prime is safe. No matter the cost.¡±


    He looked up at her, determination of a sort in his eyes, and Eve had the feeling he had been having a conversation with himself the entire time he''d been talking with her.


    ¡°Get some rest, Eve. You''ve more than earned it.¡±


    Eve nodded, stepping away. She went down the ramp, then noticed that Durandal was still on the floor. Giving a quick glance back at Oliphant, she picked the sword up and propped it against the railing at the bottom, then walked out of the room.


    Oliphant did nothing but stare at the wall.


    ***


    Jericho was wearing similar armor to Manny, though he was certainly less worse for wear than his friend. While Manny was caked in dust, blood, and grime, Jericho merely had his stained with a neon yellow spray of blood. His helmet was under the crook of his arm, and he was rubbing his buzzed head, a change in hairstyle mandated by guild leadership last week for all operatives on the field. Manny knew that his friend missed his long, waving hair, as Jericho let his hand fall with a sigh, before he got a look at Manny''s beat-up look.


    ¡°Dude,¡± Jericho said, ¡°Why do you get the worst assignments?¡±


    ¡°Beats me,¡± Manny said, ¡°Maybe because I''m better than you, and they know to assign me the crazy stuff.¡±


    Jericho rolled his eyes, slapping Manny on the back as they headed into the cafeteria together. As always, the place was half-full, a shell of its former self, which once would have held thousands of people. Scientists were hastily eating their meals before they returned to work, a couple of mercenaries who were off duty were lounging and smoking cigarettes, and a nervous-looking, thin businessman eating with one of the guild leadership in the corner.


    ¡°Who''s that?¡± Manny asked.


    ¡°Oh, him?¡± Jericho nodded, ¡°Pencilman, is what we call him. Looks like a pencil, yeah?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°He''s with OzTech, nothing crazy,¡± Jericho said, ¡°Weird that he''s out here, though. Usually Agrippa just sends us memos.¡±


    The Pencilman was giving a shaky, tittering little laugh, evidently in the middle of a joke. Koban Drol, the guild leader hosting him, simply kept his hands clasped together, his elkhorn rod on the table in front of him, his bearded face passive and unamused. His eyes watched, not the Pencilman''s face, but his hands, as the Pencilman scooped a bowl of soup into his mouth with a shiver.


    ¡°Looks like a loser, right?¡± Jericho chuckled.


    ¡°...Sure.¡±


    ¡°Come on, let''s get some food.¡±


    They did so, grabbing the meal of the day, sitting down at one of the many empty tables across from one another. Jericho stared at Manny as his friend took a spoon and dipped it into the drink, ladling some and swallowing.


    ¡°Soup''s cold,¡± Manny said.


    ¡°Think it''s supposed to be?¡±


    ¡°It''s advertised as ''hot and steaming mushroom.'' So, no.¡±


    Jericho laughed, and Manny liked his laugh. It was light as a cloud. Casual and free. Above all, genuine.


    Something that was rare on Gaiusaia.


    ¡°You''re the salt of the earth, Manny,¡± he said.


    ¡°I try,¡± Manny said, ¡°Was it a good mission?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, nothing too crazy,¡± Jericho said, ¡°Wetwork. Some politician on the Eye was getting too uppity, so they sent me out.¡±


    Manny nodded at that, sipping at his soup.


    ¡°You?¡± Jericho asked.


    Manny blinked. He remembered it all. The battles that took place, the skirmishes and conflicts. Robber Fly''s screaming, hoarse and primal. The Silver Knight''s wild eyes in the last room before the Visionary. Talrash''s corpse, lying in the sand, her head still steaming and fresh, bubbles still growing out of her skin like warts, her eyes like molasses...


    ¡°Um, nothing major,¡± he said, ¡°An assignment to Dailori, then sent Primeside.¡±


    ¡°Nothing major?¡± Jericho said, ¡°That''s it? You get the more exciting assignment, and ''nothing major'' happens?¡±


    ¡°We went, we fought, we failed,¡± Manny said, ¡°Nothing more.¡±


    Jericho gave Manny a look. Manny tried to hide the shaking in his hand as he put the spoon down, steepling his hands together and laying them on the table. Perhaps that was why he had gotten to eating his soup so quickly, to give his hands something to do. Jericho pursed his lips, recognizing what Manny was trying to convey.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said, ¡°Alright. One of those ones, then. Let''s just eat, is that cool?¡±


    ¡°Cool,¡± Manny said. He waited for Jericho to start dipping his spoon into his soup before he continued eating.


    ***


    On Earth, the restaurant was known as Mendoza''s, a seafood Mexican grill. Founded in 1982 by Marco Mendoza, who passed ownership of it to his son, who was always the manager on duty whenever Joseph went. And Joseph had gone to Mendoza''s a lot, especially after school with his friends, laughing and joking and groaning about homework, the sounds of the sea cascading on the shore. He went there a lot in the summer, too. After his shift at the grocery store was over. After his morning runs. After his dad got home from work. He would sit at one of the outside tables, watching the sun dip lower and lower until it was swallowed by the sea entirely, and fires had been lit on the beaches.


    Anything to avoid being at home. At least there was love here.


    But on Prime, the restaurant was known as El Capit¨¢n, a seafood Mexican grill. Founded in 1987 by a man known only as El Capit¨¢n, a survivor of the war who had taken a raft from Salina Cruz all the way to San Francisco. A much different story than Mr. Mendoza, who always greeted Joseph and friends with a warm smile and free churros. El Capit¨¢n was played up as some mythical figure, according to the mural on the restaurant''s wall, a man of the sea who had given the restaurant its place in San Francisco, before casting out onto the ocean once more, never to be seen again.


    ¡°What a load of horseshit,¡± Joseph said as he got to the mural''s end.


    ¡°Indeed, Mr. Zheng,¡± Becenti said.


    They sat down at one of the tables outside, ordered their food, and waited. Joseph leaned back in his chair, listening to the sound of the ocean, of the cars driving by, of the distant sound of a bell on the pier. He felt his lip quiver a bit, but bit down and stared at Becenti. The older man was keeping his golden hand covered up, having stripped off his superhero outfit and replaced it with a ratty set of jeans and a T-shirt from the Songbird. He was quiet too, staring out at the sea, lost in thought.


    Joseph was too tired to bring any conversation up. All he could do was sit there, listening to the ocean, trying not to remember the last few days, feeling as though they were a bad fever dream. He could feel the adrenaline start simmering, now that they were far away from Death Valley. Yet he still felt like he was being watched, like there was danger in the distance and conflict just around the corner. With an aching sigh, he turned his gaze up at the sky, which was just barely beginning to pepper with stars.


    Millions of them, Nai Nai had told him. Billions, all of them out there. All of them, uncaring.


    Joseph felt very small indeed. Very small, and very, very alone. His heart ached with homesickness. All of it was familiar, this sea. This city. All of it almost was like Earth, with its bustling, with the chorus of people getting on with their lives. He hadn''t heard the sound of a car''s horn in the distance in what felt like an eternity, hadn''t felt the conversation of millions upon millions of people just¡­ existing. Not like Scuttleway, with its charm that now felt quaint. Not like the Silver Eye, which felt alien and inhospitable.


    Prime was almost like Earth.


    Almost.


    The food came out to them, a plate of simple mahi mahi tacos that Joseph had ordered a thousand times from Mendoza''s. Becenti took one in his one good hand.


    ¡°Your health, Mr. Zheng,¡± he said, and he took a bite, chewing slowly and thoughtfully. Joseph put one onto his plate and considered it for a second. Then, without another thought, he took a bite. Chewed. Swallowed. He took another one.


    ¡°Do you like it, Mr. Zheng?¡± Becenti asked.


    Joseph was quiet, swallowing and staring down at his plate.


    ¡°...Joseph?¡±


    ¡°''S not the same.¡±


    ¡°I''m sorry?¡±


    Tears were welling in Joseph''s eyes now. He took a deep breath, struggling to overcome them, forcing his emotions down. This was not the time.


    This was not the place-


    ¡°It''s not the fucking same,¡± he said, and then, he broke down, his shoulders heaving as he buried his hands in his face as he lost control of his entire body, which shuddered and gasped of its own accord.


    Becenti said nothing, turning to watch the sunset as Joseph sobbed.


    They continued sitting there long into the night.

 60. Introspection

    They returned at dawn.


    It was quiet. Scuttleway had not yet flourished to life, as the rain had assailed the city in the night, driving the usual nightlife indoors with whispered prayers of a safe passage to morning. The golden fields that led to the city were tinged with the aftermath of the storm, deep pools that welled here and there within the knee-high grasses. Settlefish, which came into existence only after a harsh storm, swam within the puddles, living their short lives before the inevitable drying up of their homes, their bodies to dissolve into the ground. The sky was still overcast.


    Joseph glanced upwards, wrinkling a nose at the sound of distant thunder. More rain would be coming yet. It was the season for it, he supposed.


    His mind wheeled back to the journey of the last two weeks. He and Becenti had cast off from Prime, moving from Traveling Point to Traveling Point, plane to plane, by boat and by train and even by hitchhiking across the Runway, clambering onto a caravan and driving down the great highway that made up the entirety of the plane. Joseph could see why Nash had chosen to leave such a place, for it was nothing but endless travel, the desert on either side, the only talk being of finding enough fuel to continue on.


    They had hardly spoken on the way home, if only to comment on the next route to take, or the next plane they were heading to. Becenti kept to himself, occasionally scratching at his golden hand, which was still closed over the heatstone. Trouble came whenever a stranger noticed, and they had been forced to stave off not a few interested scavengers, hoping for an easy meal of two exhausted metahumans.


    Joseph might have been beaten down and hollowed-out, but he wasn''t going to take shit lying down. He had sent them packing, each and every time.


    And he was sick of it, as he leaned back on the wagon they were in, his entire body shuddering. His soul had come back by now, bit by bit, and now was curled up in his stomach, resting. But perhaps Silicon had been right. Joseph felt different, and in a way he couldn''t describe, in a way he couldn''t comprehend.


    All he could do was sit, and wait, and wonder what would become of him.


    Scuttleway grew larger. The Inner Sun flared to life, cresting over the horizon. Becenti breathed out a sigh of relief.


    ¡°Home at last,¡± he said.


    ***


    Elenry immediately took them into the infirmary, a cross look on her face as she took a look at Joseph''s wounds.


    ¡°Cuts all over you,¡± she snapped, ¡°What did you get in a fight with, a room full of kitchen knives?¡±


    ¡°Something like that,¡± Joseph murmured.


    ¡°Well, let''s get clean bindings on these, and I think I''ve got a potion or two to help with the bigger cuts, but most of these smaller ones have already scabbed over.¡±


    ¡°Neat.¡±


    ¡°I''m half-tempted to have you stay the night here, just in case something odd comes up.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    The gloivel stopped, looking at him over her glasses,  her forehead crinkling in concern.


    ¡°Are you alright?¡± she said.


    ¡°I''m fine,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I''m-¡±


    ¡°Don''t lie to me, Joseph,¡± Elenry said, ¡°You''ve been through quite the wringer on this one, haven''t you?¡±


    Joseph bit his lip for a second, and then nodded. Elenry gave a sigh.


    ¡°We all have those missions,¡± she said, ¡°Come by later tonight, if you want to talk about it. Come by anyways, actually, so I can take a closer look at those cuts, make sure they''re clean. I''ll have Rathia brew up an ointment, to help it heal faster.¡±


    Joseph nodded.


    ¡°Thanks, Elenry.¡±


    ¡°Think nothing of it,¡± she said, ¡°Well, I think I''m done with you for now. Go get some rest. I''ve got to make sure Phineas doesn''t turn Myron into a slug.¡±


    Her eyes snaked over to Becenti''s bed. Phineas sat on a stool next to him, the Deep One''s tome open as he flipped through page after page, whispering dark words under his breath.


    ¡°I''m afraid our guild''s right hand took quite the beating,¡± Elenry said, ¡°Didn''t he?¡±


    Joseph thought back on the events at Death Valley. His mind flashed to Talrash''s corpse, lying at Becenti''s feet. He had tried hard to forget how puffed-up her face had been, how her eyes had broken like egg yolks.


    ¡°You should see the other guy,¡± he muttered.


    ***


    Joseph returned to his and Phineas''s room and lay down in bed, but sleep didn''t come. Rain began peddling against the window as he stared at the ceiling, his mind in a fuzz. He could hear, vaguely through the stone walls, the sounds of the rest of the guild as they went about their day, an excited argument erupting somewhere upstairs between Broon and Calacious Nine, the half-orc''s roars breaking way to laughter at some point that Calacious Nine was making. Joseph, on any other day, would have groaned and put his pillow over his head to try and drown out the noise.


    But he didn''t.


    He simply stared.


    After what seemed an eternity of sitting there, of listening to the rain, someone knocked on the door.


    ¡°Come in,¡± Joseph said.


    The door opened slowly, creaking in just the right way to set Joseph on edge. His eyes flickered over to see Rosemary peering in.


    ¡°Joseph?¡± she said, ¡°Mind if I come in?¡±


    ¡°...What did I just say?¡±


    ¡°Right, right,¡± Rosemary said. She stepped inside, looking around the place, before she turned to face Joseph, ¡°You got a new shirt, I see.¡±


    Joseph nodded. He had gotten a new shirt on the Songbird, but this one was plain white, though it was stained with dirt and mud from his travelings.


    ¡°Sorry about the old one,¡± Joseph said, ¡°It, uh, got shredded.¡±


    ¡°Looks like it,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Mind if I...?¡±


    She nodded at the chair by Joseph''s desk. Joseph nodded, and the elf walked over and pulled it beside his bed, sitting down on it, draping her red cloak over the chair''s edge. She was wearing something new, a leaf-woven dress, greens mixed with reds, shimmering down to the oranges of Autumn at the hem.


    ¡°From Sunala?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°What, this?¡± Rosemary said. She reddened a bit as she said, ¡°Yeah, you could call it... Yeah.¡±


    Joseph nodded, closing his eyes.


    ¡°Joseph, are you alright?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I''m really not.¡±


    ¡°Becenti looked like he''d been hit by a truck,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°He''s still in the infirmary, Wakeling-¡±


    She noticed Joseph scowl when she said the guildmaster''s name.


    ¡°Wakeling wants to get a good look at him herself, she''s even talking about pulling out an arm to help her with her spellcasting.¡±


    ¡°Great,¡± Joseph said.


    They sat in silence for a few moments. Outside, the storm began to intensify, and thunder wardrummed in the distance. Rosemary sighed, then leaned in.


    ¡°What''s up?¡± she said.


    ¡°The ceiling,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°No, like, what''s up? What''s eatin'' ya?¡±


    ¡°I don''t want to talk about it,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°I mean, sure you don''t,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°But it might help. Gets it all out in the open, as opposed to just bottling it up. And you''re a stewer, not a spewer.¡±


    ¡°What''s that supposed to mean?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°I mean you keep it all in,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°You''re pissed off, but it takes a lot to get you actually going. But when you do, it''s...¡±


    Lightning flashed outside, followed a second later by a triumphant boom that rattled the windows.


    ¡°...I don''t want to talk about it,¡± Joseph said.


    Rosemary wilted a bit, letting out a sigh and looking around the room. Joseph watched her as she noted the various trinkets Phineas had decorated the place with, small baubles that hung on his side of the room, a couple of glow-in-the-dark stars above his bed, which was immaculately made, for the Deep One never actually slept in it.


    ¡°Looks like Phineas has done quite the decoration on this place,¡± she said.


    ¡°He added the stars recently, I think,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Got them from a used salesman who sold shit from Prime.¡±


    ¡°Neat,¡± Rosemary said. Her eyes darted to something on Phineas''s desk, ¡°No way, is that...?¡±


    She stood up, walking over and looking at a small marble figurine.


    ¡°That''s... Chronilock, isn''t it?¡± she said.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Phin carved it as soon as he returned from his trip back to Amzuth. To test out his spellwork, he said. Used magic to replicate her features, exactly as we saw them.¡±


    ¡°That''s so cool,¡± Rosemary said. She flipped the figurine in her hands for a moment, ¡°Brings back memories, doesn''t it?¡±


    ¡°Sure,¡± Joseph said, ¡°If you like having your skeleton turned inside out. That was fun.¡±


    ¡°I mean, sure,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°But it wasn''t all bad, right? Chliofrond was gorgeous. Beautiful. Dream-like, you know?¡±


    Joseph stared hard at the ceiling.


    ¡°Sure, Rosemary,¡± he said.


    ¡°I mean, at the end of the day, it''s just a souvenir, is all,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Something to remember the trip by.¡±


    Joseph nodded at that.


    ¡°I... You haven''t decorated much here, have you?¡± Rosemary said, ¡°This is all Phin''s stuff.¡±


    ¡°Never saw much point to it,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°How come?¡± Rosemary asked.


    ¡°Well, this is all supposed to be temporary, right? Just a layover, until I get back to Earth,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°I mean, sure,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°But that''s what decorations are for, right? To make the place feel more comfortable, more like home-¡±


    ¡°This isn''t my home, Rosemary!¡± Joseph snapped.


    The thunder cracked outside once more. Rosemary looked taken aback at the sudden outburst. Joseph immediately felt guilty, simmering down.


    ¡°I''m sorry,¡± he said, ¡°I''m sorry, really, I didn''t mean to-¡±


    ¡°No, no, it''s fine,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Really, I get it.¡±


    An awkward pause bloomed between them.


    ¡°Look,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°If you want to talk, just... let me know, alright?¡±


    ¡°I will,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Well, alright, then.¡±


    She gave another glance around the room, biting her lip as though considering saying one last thing, before she thought better of it. Without another word, she opened the door back up and left. Joseph leaned his head against the pillow, feeling in his soul a well of guilt being poured into the usual anger.


    ¡°Shut it, you,¡± he muttered to his gut.


    ***


    ¡°It''s nothing major,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Just a quick hop and skip over to Neos, is all.¡±


    ¡°I wouldn''t call a raid into OzTech''s physical database a ''quick trip,''¡± Becenti replied.


    As Elenry had promised, Becenti was staying the night in the infirmary, cooped up in a bed that, he noted with a bit of surprise, was far more comfortable than his own. Ichabod and G-Wiz stood on either side, looking down at him. Becenti tried to push down the feeling that they were looking at him with a mix of sympathy and pity. His hand had been returned back to its usual fleshy glint, but the heatstone was a bust, no longer able to pump out heat. Phineas had given him a guilty look when they realized that.


    ¡°The reversion spell,¡± he rasped, ¡°It is like an axe. I did not know that your stone was of metahuman origin.¡±


    ¡°It''s... quite alright, Mr. Phineas,¡± Becenti said, ¡°It''s of no concern.¡±


    ¡°It was from a friend?¡±


    ¡°Yes, an old and dear one,¡± Becenti said, ¡°But it''s still here. I still have it, to remember her by.¡±


    ¡°Like a souvenir,¡± Phineas said.


    Becenti''s mouth had flickered upwards for just a moment at that.


    ¡°Yes,¡± he said, ¡°Something like that.¡±


    Ichabod pulled him back to the present, interrupted his train of thought.


    ¡°Alright, so it''s not just a visit,¡± the cybernetic man said, ¡°You know OzTech. You know what they''re like. The shady business they''re in.¡±


    ¡°They''re a corporation, Ichabod,¡± Becenti said, ¡°It''s always shady business with them.¡±


    ¡°What Ichabod''s trying to say,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Is that it''s a big enough job that we need you for this.¡±


    Becenti nodded, letting his guildmates¡¯ words ruminate in his head.


    ¡°And we''re sure it was Agrippa,¡± he said.


    ¡°Sure enough,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°Enough to risk something like this,¡± Ichabod said.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    ¡°Usually, when we''ve run up against a wall like this, we''ve called the job off,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Haven''t we?¡±


    Ichabod nodded.


    ¡°True,¡± he said, ¡°Agrippa''s usually a no-go. But I managed to convince Wakeling for us to pursue this.¡±


    Becenti waited for the other shoe to drop.


    ¡°...Provided you take lead, of course,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°We''ve got a highly specialized team for this. I''m going, because of my knowledge on Neos and its technologies. G-Wiz is going for general versatility and muscle.¡±


    ¡°Who is our mission control?¡± Becenti said.


    Ichabod grimaced.


    ¡°Vicenorn.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Becenti said, and he could tell that Ichabod did not want him on the job, ¡°So, four of us?¡±


    ¡°A few more,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°I¡¯m still working on our options, but not too many of us would go. Wakeling wants this as small as possible.¡±


    ¡°You''re losing all plausible deniability by having me involved,¡± Becenti said, ¡°If we''re caught, the guild will be right on OzTech''s radar.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°I know. I¡¯ve got a few ideas, but they¡¯re bad ones. But you''re the best person for this. I feel it in my gut.¡±


    Becenti sighed.


    ¡°Give me time,¡± he said, ¡°I need to recover, Ichabod. Then we can go to Neos. Besides, I''ve got InterGuild to look forward to first.¡±


    Ichabod''s frown deepened. For a moment, he opened his mouth to protest, then closed it.


    ¡°Of course,¡± he choked out.


    ¡°Besides, if you''re going after Agrippa, you''ll need schematics of the place.¡±


    ¡°I''ve got schematics,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Provided they haven''t updated the downstairs, which I know they haven''t.¡±


    ¡°Oh, have you?¡± Becenti said, ¡°And where did you get those, I wonder?¡±


    ¡°Does it matter?¡± Ichabod said, ¡°It doesn''t. Just know that I have them.¡±


    He broke into an ugly sneer.


    ¡°InterGuild. That''s a good month from now. But fine. I need to get some tech from there anyways. Where are they hosting it this year?¡±


    ¡°The Flyleaf Forest,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Flyleaf. Right. Might find a good book there, too.¡±


    Without another word, he swept off. Opened the door and nearly slammed it. G-Wiz gave Becenti a shrug.


    ¡°...Perhaps he''s too involved in this,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Too personal.¡±


    ¡°You went on a big metahuman scrap, right?¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°That''s what the rumor is.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I did.¡±


    ¡°And that''s not personal for you?¡±


    The older man gave G-Wiz a look. Then, he nodded in reluctant agreement.


    ¡°Fair,¡± he said, ¡°You''ve got a point there.¡±


    ***


    Wakeling visited Becenti a couple of hours later, and in a rare moment was not being carried on a pillow, or calling for Whiskey to carry her throughout the guildhall. No, instead she floated like a specter, a cross look on her face as she levitated over Becenti''s bed. Elenry and Phineas, who had been attending to the old metahuman, looked at one another for just the briefest of milliseconds, before they both shuffled out of the room.


    ¡°Myron Becenti,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°What the hell did you do to my ship?¡±


    ¡°Crashed it,¡± Becenti said, and in a moment of weakness, his hands began wringing his bedsheets, ¡°I didn''t mean to, of course.¡±


    ¡°What happened out there? What could possibly have shot down my old girl? What made you decide to take her out like that?¡±


    ¡°It was a metahuman. He took us by surprise,¡± Becenti said, ¡°It will all be in the report-¡±


    ¡°Don''t play that card with me, Myron!¡± Wakeling snapped, ¡°I want to hear it from you. Where is the Titania Amber now, how bad is the damage, is she salvageable?¡±


    ¡°She''s fine,¡± Becenti said, ¡°The Silver Knights have her. There''s a hole through her-¡±


    ¡°By the Gods,¡± Wakeling said.


    ¡°But nothing that Meleko and I can''t fix,¡± Becenti finished.


    ¡°Myron, we can''t-¡± Wakeling took a deep breath, ¡°Who do you think is going to pay for all this, hmm?¡±


    ¡°We would, of course,¡± Becenti said, ¡°It''s our ship, after all.¡±


    He knew then that he had said the wrong thing, as Wakeling''s eye twitched.


    ¡°Myron, do you recall the last time the Titania Amber needed to be repaired?¡±


    ¡°...That was five years ago, wasn''t it?¡± Becenti said, ¡°The... The Persepheron job.¡±


    ¡°Yes. We needed to replace her engine, poor girl,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°We were eating on a budget for months.¡±


    Becenti was quiet at that. Wakeling simply gave him a look that was a mixture of anger and disappointment.


    ¡°I''m sorry, Vyde,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I didn''t expect to lose the Titania Amber like that. We were in over my head. The situation was a lot worse than I was expecting.¡±


    ¡°Your people were a lot more violent than you anticipated,¡± Wakeling said.


    The metahuman gave a sad nod.


    ¡°All of us were after the same thing,¡± he said, ¡°And still, we tore each other apart.¡±


    ¡°Desperation breeds conflict,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°It always does.¡±


    ¡°Yes, but that conflict should have been aimed elsewhere,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I fought against my fellows, out there. Joseph did, too.¡±


    ¡°You''re laying too much on the Zheng boy,¡± Wakeling said.


    ¡°...Perhaps I am,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Listen, about the ship. I''ll personally use my own money to pay for repairs. I''ve got a few favors I can call-¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°It''s fine. We''ve got a string of good jobs coming along, and Sunala is still paying us out for the expedition and gala. She''s talking about hiring us for security for the Golden Round. Assuming, of course, that Doge Busciver wins the election.¡±


    ¡°...All the same,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I''ve got a few favors I can call in. I''ll meet with them at InterGuild.¡±


    ¡°Very well,¡± Wakeling said. She gave an exhausted sigh, and Becenti noticed deep rings purpling beneath her eyes.


    ¡°Long days?¡± he said.


    ¡°I don''t know how you do half the work I assign you,¡± she said, ¡°Tek''s out sick, so I''ve been forced to do much of it on my own. Dear gods, I always forget just how much of it is signing papers and contracts.¡±


    ¡°You get used to it, I suppose,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Though that''s not the only reason why I''m concerned.¡±


    Becenti shifted in his bed. He could feel Wakeling¡¯s intense concentration shift from the loss of the ship to¡­


    To something else. There was an edge her voice took on when she was serious. A subtle cut to it, as though she were gossiping about something she shouldn¡¯t.


    ¡°Oh?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Sunala.¡±


    ¡°She''s certainly been quite a high-paying client,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°It''s more than that,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°I''m just worried, is all. She''s been hiring Rosemary on a regular basis, giving her basic day-to-day jobs.¡±


    ¡°You think she''s trying to poach her off of us,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Sunala said.


    ¡°Well, if Rosemary gets a better offer, it''s within her rights to leave,¡± Becenti said, ¡°We''re a business, after all.¡±


    Wakeling curled her lip in disgust at that. Becenti leaned in, wincing a bit at a few phantom pains that racketed down his back.


    ¡°I know what you''re thinking,¡± he said, ¡°You don''t just leave people that you''ve been fighting beside, eating with, sharing stories with, just for some inane opportunity. But sometimes that happens.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Things change. Events change. Only the very stupid stay in guildwork as a career.¡±


    She gave a small smirk at the self-deprecation.


    ¡°But it''s not that which I''m worried about,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°It''s... It''s one specific thing she told me about. A painting, over Sunala''s bed. One of Montaine.¡±


    Becenti''s features darkened.


    ¡°I see,¡± he said.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Wakeling said.


    The two of them were silent.


    ¡°She was rather kind, too,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Sunala, I mean. She''s been nothing but amiable to all of us.¡±


    ¡°Because we''ve been getting the jobs done,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°But recall that we were merely the tip of the spear. I took a chance to ask Mr. Phineas about his experiences of returning to Chliofrond with Sunala.¡±


    ¡°And?¡±


    ¡°It''s been completely overtaken by elves,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°He was the only non-elf there.¡±


    Becenti breathed in sharply.


    ¡°I see,¡± he said, again.


    ¡°I''m just saying we should be careful,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°And I worry, is all.¡±


    ¡°You should worry, I think,¡± Becenti said, ¡°One does casually have a painting of a butcher over their bedroom.¡±


    He gave a sigh, and his heart sank when he realized how exhausted it sounded. How empty.


    ¡°Things are getting worse,¡± he murmured, ¡°Again. Vyde, Talrash was there. She had mercenaries with her.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Wakeling said.


    ¡°...I killed her, Vyde,¡± Becenti said, and the guildmaster was surprised to see her friend''s hands shaking, ¡°I... I did that thing I do, where I give myself a line, just so I can cross it.¡±


    ¡°Oh, Myron,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°You shouldn''t-¡±


    ¡°I always do this, I suppose,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I tell myself... I tell myself things. Truths that I want to believe. And because I want to believe them, they must be true. Metahumans are coming together, so surely it must be in peace. I have power, and with power comes realization that I can do incredible things to the average body. So I tell myself that I have principles, that I won''t use my powers to... to...¡±


    His hands clenched into fists.


    ¡°I''m still just that boy from way back when, Vyde. From when you found me in the ruins of the Golden Delta. I still feel like just a kid.¡±


    He slumped, defeated. Wakeling floated over the bed, her face morose. Outside, the sound of thunder thumped against the world, flashes lighting up the grayscale of Scuttleway.


    ¡°Well,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°You''ll be happy to know you''re not alone.¡±


    ¡°I... I know,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°In feeling like a child, I mean,¡± Wakeling said.


    Becenti looked up.


    ¡°Myron, I still feel like I''m some fifteen year old apprentice mage leaving her home plane for the first time,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°I wake up and look in the mirror, and I can''t believe I''m this old.¡±


    Becenti said nothing.


    ¡°Look,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°What I''m trying to say is, just because you''re old, doesn''t mean you automatically are supposed to be wise, or know everything. It''s alright to falter, and it''s alright to set those standards for yourself. It''s okay to dream, too. It''s okay to believe in your own hopes.¡±


    ¡°Even if they''re lies?¡±


    ¡°All hope is based on lies,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°We tell ourselves things will be okay, even if everything around us tells us they won''t be.¡±


    He had heard the same saying throughout his life. Silver Arthur had given the same speech to him, time and time again. But he needed the words. Held them to his heart. Tried to make them replace his heart, though he knew that to be impossible.


    ¡°...Thank you, Vyde,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I think... I think I needed to hear that.¡±


    ¡°I try,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Look, get some rest, Myron. You''ve been pushing yourself too hard, lately.¡±


    ¡°I will.¡±


    ¡°Will you?¡± Wakeling said, ¡°I want your word, Myron.¡±


    Becenti smiled.


    ¡°You have my word,¡± he said, ¡°I''ll get some rest. A day, maybe.¡±


    ¡°A few days.¡±


    ¡°Two days.¡±


    ¡°Done, you bat,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Now, I must get back to work. I''ll tell Elenry it''s safe to come back inside now.¡±


    Becenti nodded. Wakeling gave him one last smile, before she drifted back outside.


    The rain continued to lash.


    ***


    Joseph eventually went downstairs, pulling himself up with a pained wince and opening the door. Clocks, both affixed to the wall and floating here and there throughout the castle, noted the time as around two in the afternoon. He had skipped lunch, though he ignored rumbling complaints of his belly as he walked downstairs. The guildhall was quiet as he went, the only sounds being that of the rain and the occasional muted conversation heard through the walls. Most of the guild was relaxing, the rain having driven them inside as they worked on reports, essays, and side-projects in the comfort of their own rooms. The only person Joseph saw as he went down to the infirmary was Whiskey, the odd marionette shuffling robotically up and down the stairs, as though he were on patrol.


    He knocked on the infirmary''s door. There was a pause as he heard Elenry get up, accompanied with the sounds of shuffling paper as she closed a few drawers, before she opened the door.


    ¡°Ah, Joseph,¡± she said, ¡°Come on in.¡±


    She brought him to her office, passing by the various patients'' rooms, though the only occupants were Becenti and Lazuli, the latter of whom had a cracked monitor. He was laid up in bed, various pieces of machinery laying around his room, a new screen at the foot of his bed.


    Elenry''s office was relatively barren, with a desk in the corner of the room and a pair of chairs tucked away in the corner. There wasn''t a chair at the desk, replaced instead by a soft pillow, on which Elenry could lie the wolf half of her body on, her human top easily able to reach the desk''s surface. The only decorations were a small cactus on the desk, and a photo framed on the wall, depicting Elenry and Nash at an amusement park. Nash was smiling their usual charming smile, wearing sunglasses and Ricky the Rat ears. Elenry''s grin was awkward, almost embarrassed. Yet the gloivel had the guts to hang it up on the wall for all to see, so Joseph had to respect that.


    The wolf-woman walked over and picked up a potion off of the desk, a wine-red concoction that was stoppered shut.


    ¡°Here we are,¡± she said. She padded over to the potion and presented it to Joseph, ¡°Do you want anything to go down with it?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Straight, no chaser.¡±


    He uncapped the potion and drank deep. Elenry raised a single eyebrow as she watched him down it, the potion slowly sloshing down to nothing. Joseph let out a cough as he finished, wincing a bit.


    ¡°God, that''s nasty,¡± he said.


    ¡°Usually one would have something to go with it,¡± Elenry said, ¡°Chocolate, or the like.¡±


    ¡°Might as well get it out of the way, yeah?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°It looks like you wanted something stronger,¡± Elenry said. She went back to her desk, opening the bottom and foraging around for a second. Joseph looked with a sense of curious anticipation, before the gloivel took out a kettle and a package of hot chocolate.


    ¡°Oh,¡± he said.


    ¡°Sit, Joseph.¡±


    ¡°I''d rather leave,¡± he said.


    ¡°Sit.¡±


    Joseph sat down at one of the chairs. Elenry whispered a few words, and a bottle of milk appeared out of thin air, pouring itself into the kettle, which began to heat of its own accord.


    ¡°Funny,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Usually I see wine with that.¡±


    ¡°Wakeling''s a day drinker, which is bad for her health,¡± Elenry said, ¡°I choose the slightly more healthy option of hot chocolate.¡±


    ¡°More power to you,¡± Joseph muttered.


    They waited in silence for the milk to heat. It did, far faster than Joseph was expecting, as Elenry took out two cups and poured the milk out, mixing the hot chocolate in.


    ¡°Marshmallows?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Sure, I guess,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Two.¡±


    Two marshmallows popped out of thin air, then plopped into one of the steaming mugs, which Elenry gingerly handed to Joseph. She added three to her own as Joseph swished his own drink around, watching the marshmallows float like little rafts.


    ¡°How do you do that?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Do what?¡±


    ¡°The... magic thing. Making food just appear.¡±


    ¡°Wakeling''s got a magical network threaded all throughout the place,¡± Elenry said, ¡°It''s connected to the storeroom. If you know how to access it, you can get whatever you want from there.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Joseph said. He took an experimental sip, feeling the heat sting his upper lip. It felt nice, though, and the warm chocolate was already washing the acidic taste of the healing potion.


    ¡°I can teach you, if you''ve got the time,¡± Elenry said, ¡°It requires research and a bit of time, but even novice magicians can do it. I''m surprised more of us don''t use it.¡±


    ¡°Maybe,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I''ll get back to you on that.¡±


    The gloivel nodded, sipping at her drink. Joseph leaned back in his chair.


    ¡°There are always missions like these,¡± Elenry said.


    ¡°I know,¡± Joseph said, ¡°The big ones. The dangerous ones. That''s guildwork, right?¡±


    ¡°Do you have someone to talk to about them?¡± Elenry said.


    ¡°Why would I talk about them?¡± Joseph said, ¡°Who wants to talk about the fact that they almost died?¡±


    ¡°No one does,¡± Elenry said, ¡°But we have to let people in, Joseph. It''s the only way we can really push through when these sorts of jobs crop up.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, well,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I don''t feel like someone playing therapy with me.¡±


    ¡°It doesn''t have to be me, Joseph,¡± Elenry said, ¡°But it has to be someone.¡±


    Joseph looked hard at his drink, felt its warmth flood through his hands.


    ¡°...You want to get home, right?¡± Elenry said.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I do.¡±


    ¡°Then you need to ask yourself: What kind of person will you be when you get there? Because you certainly aren''t the same person who first walked through these doors with Broon and the others.¡±


    She put her mug down at her desk, standing up tall and towering over Joseph. It was a rare moment where she was not hunched over, and Joseph could see the doctor¡¯s strength, the muscle sliding beneath fur as she looked down at him, the bat-like wings at her side stretching out fully, filling the room wingtip to wingtip.


    ¡°Are you going to be someone who was scarred by what he saw out here? Or are you going to be someone who grew from their experiences here, who saw horrors no one should have to see, but managed to get through to the other side?¡±


    Joseph''s jaw clenched. He felt himself cower a bit.


    ¡°You can''t do it alone,¡± Elenry said, ¡°And it starts by talking to someone.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t-¡± Joseph said, ¡°Don¡¯t want to be¡­¡±


    ¡°What? A burden?¡± Elenry said.


    Joseph nodded. Tried not to tear up, emotions once more threatening to overpower him.


    ¡°The more facetious members of the guild would say that you are,¡± Elenry said, ¡°That all you have to offer us is your power, and little else.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d¡­ I¡¯d agree with them,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°I do not,¡± Elenry said, ¡°You are strong. Kind. You have potential in you, Joseph. And not just because of your species. I look at you, and I see the makings of¡­ of something great.¡±


    It was the most earnest compliment he had ever received. Joseph blinked. He opened his mouth to say something, but found himself unable to respond. He didn¡¯t know what to say. Didn¡¯t even know how to say.


    ¡°Regardless of if you stay here or not,¡± Elenry said, ¡°If you return to Earth, you¡¯re going to need to ask yourself some questions. Hard ones, too.¡±


    She fixed him with a level gaze.


    ¡°Who will you be when you get back, Joseph?¡±


    Joseph sighed.


    ¡°And¡­ And it starts by talking to someone.¡±


    ¡°To share. To vent. To rant. To cry, even,¡± Elenry said, ¡°It starts with talking to someone.¡±


    ¡°Doctor''s orders?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°...No,¡± Elenry said, ¡°Just some friendly advice. Feel free to take the hot chocolate with you. It''ll help you get some sleep.¡±


    Joseph nodded, taking a sip of his hot chocolate as he rose. He could feel the healing potion at work even as he made his way to the door, the multitude of scrapes and cuts he had collected on Prime beginning to heal and stitch shut, replaced by smooth skin, with only Silicon''s larger cuts leaving behind faint scars. Without another word he left Elenry''s office, and walked back into the Great Hall.


    At first, he walked up the stairs to head back to his room.


    Then, on the flight of stairs, he stopped. Turned around.


    Elenry was¡­


    Shit, she was right, wasn¡¯t she?


    He started walking in the other direction, looking out for Rosemary.


    He had a friend to find.

 61. Cobalt Exertions of the Soul

    Lylana was a gnome from Nova Ithaca, the World of Forgings. It was a young world, settled by gnome refugees hundreds of years before, a single planet in a Ptolemaic solar system with a single sun that orbited around it with two other planets and a moon. The entire surface was pockmarked with volcanoes and rivered with lava streams, the interior a series of cave systems and caverns. The gnomes shared this world with three other races, including humans, Kelvians, and the enigmatic and strange Joppa-Joppa.


    But the gnomish portion of Nova Ithaca was among the richest, for they had thrown themselves into using the planet as a forge, retrieving the rarest metals across the multiverse and dipping them into the infant magma of Nova Ithaca, so hot it could melt even the metals of the High Federation''s warbirds. They were weapons makers, jewelers, craftsfolk of a thousand kind. From their exile here, Lylana''s ancestors had formed a culture of creation, adapting to new circumstances and new means of survival.


    It could come as no surprise that she herself was a master craftswoman. It was why she had joined the Amber Foundation, to fill a role as the guild''s Maker, dedicated to making new devices and weapons and ensuring their upkeep. Hers was a position of envy back home, for her hands had worked on cobbling together Fedtek communicators and weaponry, enchanted runes into weapons and armor; she had even blown a glass casing for one of Wakeling''s spells.


    She was in her workshop, which doubled as the small gym in the guildhall, racks of weapons from all planes lined up against the wall, a suit of power armor in the corner that she had been working on, replacing the nuclear core with a magical geode from Krenstone. She was taking a break from this as she inspected Rosemary''s mace.


    ¡°S-Sceptre,¡± Rosemary corrected


    ¡°Sceptre, eh?¡± Lylana said, ¡°The way you wield it about? That''s a mace you''ve got, sweetie.¡±


    Rosemary simply nodded in response, an uncharacteristically nervous expression etching her face.


    ¡°You see the... the hairline, right?¡±


    ¡°Hairline?¡± Lylana peered down on it with her monocle for a few moments, ¡°Oh, aye, I see it now. What happened here?¡±


    ¡°It was back on Chliofrond,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°I overdid it, a tiny bit.¡±


    ¡°Chliofrond?¡± Lylana said, ¡°That was quite a little while ago, wasn''t it?¡±


    ¡°Y-Yeah, it was,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°And you''re just now getting this to me?¡± Lylana asked.


    Rosemary bit her lip, then nodded.


    ¡°...You came to the guild with this old girl, didn''t you?¡± the gnome said, ¡°I''m surprised you haven''t replaced it, or added anything to it. Uses light for its power source, doesn''t it?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± Lylana said, ¡°If you want, I can definitely replace it with something a bit better, a bit more versatile. How¡¯s a suncane sound? Draws from the sun, but also can create its own light. Becomes self sufficient after a while.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d rather keep the sceptre,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Can¡­ Can you fix it?¡±


    ¡°Can I fix it?¡± Lylana said, and she let out a chuckle before looking at the sceptre a bit more closely, ¡°Maybe. What''s the glass made of?¡±


    Rosemary was silent. Lylana took off her monocle and began polishing it with a small handkerchief. She put it back on, giving the scepter another look-over.


    ¡°Rosemary?¡± the gnome prodded.


    ¡°...I don''t know,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°It''s from my home plane.¡±


    ¡°What''s your home plane, then?¡± Lylana said, ¡°I might be able to procure more from there.¡±


    ¡°I...¡± Rosemary took a deep breath, before continuing, ¡°I don''t want to say.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Lylana said, ¡°Well, it looks like the rose held within is alright. I presume that''s the main way the mace absorbs and holds power, right? And the glass around it is...¡±


    She took another look at it with her monocle.


    ¡°Mmm, I see. Very smart, very smart indeed. The glass is cut in such a way as to refract the light of the rose when it fires.¡±


    Rosemary blinked, a look of confusion on her face. Lylana smiled at that.


    ¡°This is your primary weapon, and you don''t know how it works?¡± she said, ¡°Shame on you, Rosemary. I thought you were one of the smart ones.¡±


    ¡°I know how it works!¡± Rosemary said, ¡°You charge it, it''s based on thought and imagination. You can form objects out of light, and the more you work with it, the more complex they are-¡±


    ¡°How are they built?¡± Lylana asked.


    Rosemary shut up.


    ¡°What rose is this?¡± Lylana said, ¡°What is the glassblowing method? How do they get the rose inside to be perfectly preserved within the glass? What mine does the gold lacing the mace come from?¡±


    Rosemary''s hands scrunched at the hem of her cloak.


    ¡°These are the questions you need to find out, before you go asking me to repair this,¡± Lylana said, ¡°It''s an Elven weapon, right?¡±


    ¡°...It''s not Elven.¡±


    ¡°Whatever it is then, find out for me. I can put in substitutes. Find replacements. Use magic to repair the crack. But the act of repairing is also the act of destruction and creation. The object, be it weapon or tool or jewelry, is different. I can tell that you want your mace to be exactly the same as it was before.¡±


    She picked the rose off of the table, handing it to Rosemary.


    ¡°But it won''t be,¡± she finished.


    Rosemary looked down at the gnome''s outstretched hand. With a bit of reluctance, she took the sceptre, clutching it close to herself as she gave Lylana a pleading look.


    ¡°And there''s nothing you can do?¡±


    ¡°No, Rosemary,¡± Lylana said, ¡°Not until I know. This is one of the more complicated pieces I¡¯ve seen in a while. Complicated, and fragile. Any replacement parts could alter the mace irrevocably. It''s more complicated than you realize.¡±


    Slowly, Rosemary nodded.


    ¡°Alright,¡± she said, ¡°Thanks, Lylana.¡±


    ¡°Any time, Rosemary,¡± the gnome said, ¡°Any time.¡±


    ***


    Rosemary stepped outside the workshop, still holding her scepter close. For a moment, she gave it a glance, her stomach shriveling as her eyes, as though by instinct, darted to the fracture on the scepter''s surface. She stared at it for a second, before turning at the sound of footsteps.


    It was Joseph. Rosemary turned to begin walking away, knowing that he wanted to be left alone.


    ¡°Rosemary, wait.¡±


    She stopped, turning to regard him with a raised eyebrow.


    ¡°''Sup, Joe?¡± she said.


    The metahuman scratched the back of his head, struggling to find his words. Finally, he sighed.


    ¡°Look,¡± he said, ¡°I''m sorry about my outburst earlier.¡±


    ¡°You already apologized, Joseph,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°You don''t need to again.¡±


    ¡°I feel like I have to,¡± Joseph said, ¡°So, uhm, sorry.¡±


    ¡°That''s three times,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°First time''s the charm, you know?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    They stood awkwardly in the hallway. Whiskey passed them by, the old marionette clicking and clacking down to the nearby stairwell and going up. Rosemary rolled her eyes, since Joseph wasn''t leaving.


    ¡°Alright,¡± she said, ¡°Let''s talk.¡±


    ***


    ¡°Damn,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I mean, that''s a lot.¡±


    He stared down at Rosemary''s mace, which she had laid out on the table in front of him, her slim finger pointing at the small, hairline crack on the rose''s stem. They had eaten a few minutes before, plates clean and set aside, a pair of floating hands drifting over to take them back to the kitchens. Gluh could be seen inside, cleaning a few of the pots and pans he had used for the day''s lunch rush, a moaning sort of hum rumbling from his throat. The only other person in here was Nova, the neon elemental tucked away in the corner with a cup of some strange, green liquid, a pile of paperwork in front of him. Tendrils of plasma wrapped around a quill, dipping it into an inkwell and putting words to paper as Joseph and Rosemary talked.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Happened back on Chliofrond.¡±


    ¡°I mean, it''s not so bad, right?¡± Joseph said, ¡°It''s just a hairline.¡±


    Rosemary took a deep breath, and Joseph could see the gears turning in her head as she mulled over what to say.


    ¡°It''s more than that,¡± she said, ¡°These sceptres... They aren''t supposed to break.¡±


    ¡°I suppose that''s what the guys who made it would say,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°But they''re right!¡± Rosemary said, ¡°I''ve never heard of the sceptres of my homeland breaking. They''re... They''re tough.¡±


    ¡°You were pushing it a lot on Chliofrond, though,¡± Joseph pointed out, ¡°When you lived... Wherever you lived, did you ever have to repair it?¡±


    Rosemary reddened a bit, and took the hem of her cloak in hand. Joseph smirked.


    ¡°...You stole it, didn''t you?¡±


    ¡°I did not!¡± Rosemary said, a bit too loudly. Gluh and Nova looked up at her. Joseph just let out a light laugh.


    ¡°You totally did, huh?¡± he said.


    ¡°I.. I might have,¡± Rosemary admitted, ¡°But I still know how it works. I was trained in using one, too. I just...¡±


    She looked down, staring hard at the table, almost as though she were trying to bore through it with sight alone.


    ¡°I was never allowed to have one, y''know?¡±


    Joseph¡¯s forced smile disappeared at the sight of her wilting. He rested a chin on a hand, leaning in.


    ¡°Rosemary,¡± he said, ¡°Where are you from?¡±


    ¡°...I''m from far away,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Like you.¡±


    ¡°Trapped?¡±


    ¡°Not by distance, not by forecast,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°I... I don''t want to talk about it, alright?¡±


    ¡°You haven''t told anyone here?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Not even Sunala?¡±


    ¡°Not even her.¡±


    Joseph continued his own stare at his friend, before sighing.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said, ¡°I won''t pry, then.¡±


    Outside, the storm gave no indication of abetting. It fell hard, a constant cacophony of rivets and splatters, drumming a beat as Joseph passed the mace ¨C no, Joseph told himself, the sceptre ¨C back to the elf. She took it, hugging it close like an old friend, before setting it aside.


    ¡°Okay,¡± she said, ¡°Your turn. What''s up?¡±


    Alright, time to do this. Joseph rolled his eyes. He stood up straight as he considered what to say.


    ¡°I... I don''t know,¡± he said, ¡°I just... I feel like I''m not getting anywhere.¡±


    ¡°In what way?¡±


    ¡°In all the ways,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Deep, bro,¡± Rosemary snickered.


    But she knew she had hit deep as Joseph''s face twisted into a look of dark anger, one that he swallowed like a cyanide pill. It was just for a moment, as he returned back to his usual stoic look, resting a hand on the table to steady himself.


    ¡°We... I didn''t talk about this, growing up,¡± he said, ¡°Not like... Not like this, alright? Cut me some slack.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Sorry. Slack''s been cut.¡±


    ¡°Sorry, too,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I''m...¡±


    He clasped his hands on the table. Chewed the inside of his mouth.


    ¡°I feel different. Ever since I went meta, I''ve felt different.¡±


    ¡°You''re weathering a big storm,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Aren''t you?¡±


    ¡°You could say that.¡±


    He looked up, staring at Rosemary. Staring past her, at the wall, lost in a world of his own.


    ¡°I don''t feel like I''m ever going to get home,¡± he said, ¡°Not with the direction I''m going in. It feels like I don''t know what''s going on, or what I''m doing, you know?¡±


    ¡°You''ve got the guild,¡± Rosemary said.


    Joseph''s attention shifted back to her, and she was surprised at how cold his gaze was.


    ¡°...The guild hasn''t helped me,¡± he said, ¡°Not really.¡±


    ¡°Have you given us a chance?¡±


    ¡°I''ve given Wakeling a chance,¡± Joseph said, ¡°The one time I felt like I was getting anywhere, she shut me out.¡±


    ¡°She must''ve had a good reason,¡± she said.


    ¡°She said it was because it involved someone named Agrippa.¡±


    Rosemary nodded.


    ¡°Do you know who that is?¡±


    ¡°A bit,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Some bigwig on one of the more advanced planes. Really dangerous.¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I''ve handled ''really dangerous.'' I''ve had my fair fucking share of ''really dangerous.''¡±


    It was his turn to be louder than normal. He was aware of it, too, aware of how loud he was getting. Back home, his father would have stared him down, glowering in the way he glowered, taunting Joseph, daring him to say something else. And Joseph would quiet down.


    Now, he quieted down out of habit. Forced back the anger. Swallow it down. Stew in his gut.


    ¡°That''s true,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°It''s been a rough few months, hasn''t it?¡±


    ¡°...Sure,¡± Joseph said, ¡°That''s an understatement.¡±


    In the corner, Nova finished up the last of his paperwork. Using tentacles of light, he scooped up the stack of papers and levitated out of the room. Rosemary watched him go, giving a small wave to the elemental as he flew out of the dining hall and up towards the higher floors.


    ¡°I don''t know,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Ever since I went meta, I''ve felt different.¡±


    ¡°You''ve acted different, too,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°Thanks, Rose.¡±


    ¡°I''m serious,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Ever since you got that big ol'' eagle of yours, you''ve been... I don''t know.¡±


    ¡°Angrier?¡±


    ¡°Sure,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°I mean, yeah. But you''ve become... I don''t know, more confident?¡±


    ¡°Then I''m a better actor than I thought,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Well, there''s a career.¡±


    The two settled back into silence. A tray drifted by, bearing a kettle of coffee and a few empty mugs. Rosemary flagged it down, pouring herself a cup, adding a few blocks of sugar to hers, along with a generous helping of cream to Joseph''s. She had a smile at that. When he had first joined the guild, he drank it straight black, only adding sugar at her insistence.


    Joseph took a few sips, fingers drumming the mug. He opened his mouth as though to say something, then closed it.


    ¡°Trying to figure out what to say?¡± Rosemary said.


    He nodded.


    ¡°Well, I won''t pry any more than I have to,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°...There''s one more thing,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°What''s up?¡±


    ¡°There was a metahuman I fought. On Prime. His name was Silicon.¡±


    ¡°Cool name,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°...It was cool, wasn''t it?¡± Joseph admitted.


    ¡°What was up with him?¡±


    ¡°He... He told me things,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Stuff about myself that I didn''t even realize.¡±


    ¡°Like what?¡±


    ¡°Like... I''ve got a soul, right?¡±


    ¡°I''d hope so,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Otherwise your power''s just awkward.¡±


    ¡°He said,¡± Joseph mulled it over, as though embarrassed to say it, ¡°It''s hard to explain. It''s weird.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s alright, if it¡¯s weird,¡± Rosemary said.


    There was a breaking in Joseph. As though he were accepting that for the first time. He took a deep breath. In. Then out. Then he spoke again. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°He said that usually, as we grow, as we live our lives, that our souls change. We change. But... My soul''s physical, right? It can... the shit it goes through, it changes it. Changes me.¡±


    Rosemary nodded at that.


    ¡°So¡­¡± she said, ¡°As it gets injured, it can change you. Make you different.¡±


    He nodded.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± and his voice was small.


    ¡°Alright,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Neat. So it''s just like any other body part?¡±


    ¡°...What?¡±


    ¡°You think you''d change, if you lost an arm? A leg?¡±


    ¡°I mean, sure.¡±


    ¡°So if your soul''s hurt, you change.¡±


    Joseph blinked.


    ¡°I- Yeah, sure.¡±


    ¡°Then it''s just another thing to watch out for,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°It means that you''ll change, if it''s hurt too much.¡±


    ¡°I... I don''t know,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°You don''t know a lot,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°But here''s something I know.¡±


    She gave an uncharacteristically stony glare at Joseph. A hard, determined expression on her face.


    ¡°When you''re hurt, even if it happens when you''re young, it changes you. It can define you, if you''re not careful. So your soul''s physical, and it can affect your mood, change who you are. It''s doing the same thing that it''s always done. It''s just... more involved?¡±


    ¡°More¡­ involved,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Yeah. It was always going to change, right?¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Injuries, they change you. Scars are forever, and all of that. But your body can heal, can¡¯t it? Eventually, almost all of the worst scars fall away.¡±


    ¡°Right, but-¡±


    ¡°You feel your soul healing, don¡¯t you?¡± she asked, ¡°It can heal, right?¡±


    Joseph nodded.


    ¡°It can,¡± he said, and there was something new in his voice. Something lighter.


    ¡°Well, look at it this way,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Scars, they¡¯re there to let us know that we survived something. That we can look down at them and say, ¡®hey, I turned out alright.¡¯ Right?¡±


    ¡°...Right,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°So, you think you¡¯re going to be alright?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°But your soul¡¯s healing, after everything that¡¯s happened,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°So¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll get through it,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I¡¯ll¡­ I have to get through it.¡±


    He gave a soft smile.


    ¡°That... That helps, actually.¡±


    The dark look on the elf''s face fell away.


    ¡°What do you mean, ''actually''?¡± she said, her tone one of mock anger.


    ¡°Wait, I didn''t mean it like that-¡±


    ¡°I''m heartbroken, Joe, really! I give you great advice, from my heart, and you say ''oh, yeah, sure, that helps.''¡±


    ¡°Okay, okay,¡± Joseph rolled his eyes, a rare, genuine smile breaking out, ¡°Alright. You helped me, Rose. Thanks.¡±


    ¡°No problem,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Now, your soul, how''s the big guy doing?¡±


    ¡°Still recovering,¡± Joseph said, ¡°It''s... It''s going to take a while.¡±


    ¡°But it''s subject to the physical world now, right?¡±


    ¡°...Sure...?¡±


    The elf''s face broke out into a devilish, vile grin.


    ¡°How far are you willing to test that theory?¡±


    ***


    G-Wiz was taking a break from Ichabod''s investigation, the sour man retreating to his room to draw up a few plans. He was also retreating into himself, a hermit once more, muttering under his breath as he closed the door behind him. The last thing she saw of the man of Neos was him removing his gorgeously framed paintings from the wall, to cover it instead with blueprints and notes.


    She sat alone in her room, legs crossed on her bed, zumbelaphone in hand, going through her daily warm-up. Nothing crazy, an improvisation of her own mix, a chill melody mixed with a light beat that someone like Joseph would have appreciated. The rain splattered against the window, something that G-Wiz added to her music, the natural beat drumming alongside the soft, melodic electronica.


    Music had always been a comfort to her. Obviously, of course, considering her plane of origin. She remembered getting her first instrument, a piano, one that her mothers had spent six months saving up for, scrounging every ti and ta they could afford. She remembered first playing it, shivering fingers pressing against the surprisingly resistant keys. The note that thrummed from the muted strings had been soft and deep, something relaxing yet grand, a god formed of wood and stringwork.


    Perhaps that''s why she preferred the keytar. It had a keyboard, just like that first piano. She had even made a point to make it look like her old pal, notching a few grooves into the A key, from an accident where her long nails had scraped too hard against the wood.


    She gave a soft, sad smile as memories floated within her, dancing and playing in time to the music, when a knock came at her door. At once G-Wiz stopped, a defense mechanism from her days in the underground scene, when a knock came with the potential of the Classicist Guard making an appearance.


    ¡°Come in,¡± she said.


    Heyma had a way of opening the door, so gentle she didn''t even disturb the wind. The Dullahan peeked her head in.


    ¡°''Sup,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°Hello,¡± Heyma said.


    She glanced around the room awkwardly. G-Wiz rolled her eyes, smiling in spite of herself.


    ¡°Come on in, Heyma. You don''t have to ask.¡±


    ¡°Sorry,¡± Heyma said.


    ¡°You don''t have to apologize, either,¡± G-Wiz said.


    Heyma walked in, pulling up a chair and sitting down across from G-Wiz, folding her clawed hands into her lap. She was quiet, as she glanced this way and that through the room. At the paintings G-Wiz had inked of notes on the wall, at the small photo of her and Nole on the windowsill


    ¡°...''Sup, Heyma?¡±


    ¡°Nothing, just thought I''d visit,¡± Heyma said, ¡°How''s the investigation with Ichabod going?¡±


    ¡°It''s alright,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°We''ve hit a bit of a snag, but it''ll work itself out.¡±


    ¡°That''s good,¡± Heyma said, ¡°And... Ichabod''s behaving himself?¡±


    ¡°We had a few things to go over,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°But he''s fine, Heyma. Really. I''m one of the people in the guild he actually likes, so it''s been alright.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Heyma said, ¡°But just say the word. I''ll straighten him out.¡±


    ¡°It''s fine, Heyma.¡±


    ¡°Snap him like a twig, G, it''d be badass.¡±


    ¡°It''d be pretty messed up,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°It''d also be very funny.¡±


    G-Wiz snorted at that.


    ¡°Alright,¡± she said, ¡°If I need you to give him a swirly, I''ll let you know.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Heyma said, ¡°That''s what friends are for, right?¡±


    G-Wiz gave Heyma a grin, reddening a bit in spite of herself, before she decided to change the subject.


    Just in case.


    ¡°...You should see him,¡± she said, ¡°He''s obsessed.¡±


    ¡°Ichabod?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. Got wind that OzTech''s involved with all of the business at the gala. You know, with the shapeshifter?¡±


    Heyma nodded. Word of the attempted assassination ¨C and Joseph and Rosemary''s fight against the shapeshifter ¨C had spread through the guild like wildfire.


    ¡°Well,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Apparently he''s got history with Agrippa. Convinced Wakeling to let us go, and everything.¡±


    ¡°I thought Agrippa was a major no-go for us,¡± Heyma said.


    ¡°He is.¡±


    The two words hung in the air between them. G-Wiz looked down, pressing a few keys to her keytar, turning it down as she continued her warm up. It was a slow cadence now, a quiet rumble of synthesized notes that, though now crawling, still went in time with the rain.


    ¡°Still, he''ll get through it,¡± Heyma said, ¡°It would just be another job, right?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. We''re getting a few things at InterGuild, calling in a few favors. Becenti''s going with us.¡±


    ¡°...You''re going?¡± Heyma said.


    ¡°I am,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°...Then I''m going, too.¡±


    G-Wiz glanced up, stopping her playing.


    ¡°Heyma, no.¡±


    ¡°It''s dangerous,¡± the Dullahan said.


    ¡°Hell yeah, it''s dangerous,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°That''s why you''re not going. Plus, Wakeling insisted on choosing the team. You weren''t chosen.¡±


    ¡°I don''t care,¡± Heyma said, ¡°You''re going to Neos. You''re going to OzTech. I''ve heard... I''ve heard stories of that place, G. The Tower of Eden, is what folks call it. People who sneak in, they don''t come out.¡±


    ¡°Heyma, they say that about any place that''s sketch.¡±


    ¡°But they''re serious about this one!¡± Heyma said, ¡°This is the real deal, alright? And I know you''re going, so I''m going.¡±


    ¡°Heyma,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°It''s out of the question. I won''t let you-¡±


    They were interrupted by the door bursting open. Heyma jumped, G-Wiz glared as Lazuli barged in, the android''s monitor glowing bright red, a vile grin on his semblance of a face. His screen was still cracked, and they could see Elenry flying upwards to their floor to catch up to him.


    ¡°Guys,¡± he said, ¡°Guys.¡±


    ¡°...What, Laz?¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°It''s Joseph!¡± Lazuli said, ¡°He''s climbing up Castle Belenus! He''s going to die!¡±


    That got G-Wiz on her feet. Heyma, too, as they both looked at the android.


    ¡°He''s going to die!¡± Lazuli said, ¡°And it''s going to be great!¡±


    ***


    In all actuality, it was Rosemary who had clambered up Castle Belenus first. She sat down on the first rooftop, just above one of the landings, uncoiling a rope and snaking it down to Joseph. The storm gave no signs of easing up ¨C quite on the contrary, it seemed to have intensified, rain lashing against them like thousands of bee stings. Both of them ignored this, as Joseph took hold of the rope and climbed up, joining Rosemary on the roof.


    ¡°Right!¡± Rosemary said, practically screaming over the gale, ¡°So, your soul''s made of electricity, right?!¡±


    ¡°Sure!¡± Joseph roared back.


    ¡°Ever wonder why that is?!¡±


    ¡°Must be my electrifying personality!¡±


    She snorted, a bright grin on her face, one that took on a sinister edge as she pointed up. The main tower of the guildhall spiraled above them, dizzyingly high, ending in a tipped point.


    A lightning rod.


    ¡°I''m thinking, your soul could use some food!¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Soul food, get it?¡±


    ¡°I hope you fall, Rosemary!¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Climb up, and get hit by lightning!¡± Rosemary said, ¡°See if that does the trick.¡±


    Joseph blinked. He opened his mouth to protest, then closed it.


    ¡°Look, it''s a crazy thought!¡± Rosemary said, ¡°But if it works, it''ll heal you up! Your soul, I mean! Jumpstart your powers! I don''t know, something!¡±


    ¡°That''s it?!¡± Joseph said, ¡°Rosemary, you''re insane!¡±


    ¡°It got you up here, didn''t it?¡± Rosemary said, ¡°You would''ve just gone back to sulking in your room, I bet!¡±


    Joseph grimaced, and found he couldn''t refute that. He glanced up, squinting through the rain. The lightning rod was rather high up. If he slipped, if he fell...


    He stood up, putting his hand out in front of him, concentrating as the circuit in his body completed its rounds. His soul unfolded, fully, out of his open palm, a towering mass of azure feathers and claws.


    ¡°What!¡± Rosemary said, ¡°You couldn''t do that before!¡±


    He gave a dark smirk in answer, before turning his attention back to just how the hell he was going to get up there. He could tell that the eagle still wasn''t at full strength, Silicon''s vicious slashes still showing near-raw on its body. Rosemary¡¯s smile faltered for a second at the sight of it, at its wounds. But it had claws to hold onto the tower''s bricks and shillings. And it was still strong, far stronger than he could ever be.


    But it was him, wasn''t it?


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said, his whisper stolen by the harsh winds, ¡°Let''s do this.¡±


    The soul re-centered itself on his back as he walked to the tower, one claw picking against the wall. The tower would hold.


    He gave one last glance towards Rosemary, who gave him two thumbs up.


    And he began his ascent.


    ***


    ¡°Wakeling!¡±


    Lazuli burst into Wakeling''s office. A second later, Elenry caught up to him, the gloivel slamming him into the ground and pinning him beneath her heavy paws. The android struggled beneath her for a second, before stopping with a defeated sigh. They both looked up at Wakeling.


    Who was sitting on the pillow on her desk, a novel on her book-stand titled ''Seventy and Frisky,'' depicting a muscular, shirtless man holding an old witch in his arms, a giant rose in the hot-pink background. Wakeling gave a fearful glance at the two of them, before her eyes flashed, and the book was replaced with a heavy magical tome.


    ¡°Ahem!¡± she said, ¡°Right. Elenry, please get off Lazuli. You''re going to break him even more.¡±


    ¡°He almost deserves it,¡± Elenry said amiably, ¡°But very well.¡±


    She got off the android, who pulled himself to his feet, digitized face pulled in a look of annoyed pain.


    ¡°Motherboard,¡± he cursed, ¡°I thought you were a healer.¡±


    Elenry rolled her eyes.


    ¡°Lazuli,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Care to explain why you''re in such a hurry?¡±


    ¡°Right! Right,¡± the android said, ¡°Joseph and Rosemary are on the roof.¡±


    Wakeling¡¯s eye twitched.


    ¡°On the... roof?¡± she said, ¡°In this storm? Who put them up to this?¡±


    ¡°You?¡± Elenry asked.


    ¡°No, not me!¡± Lazuli said, ¡°And no one did! I just saw them climbing up. I think they''re aiming to climb up one of the towers.¡±


    Wakeling blinked.


    ¡°A crowd''s already outside,¡± Lazuli said.


    ¡°And no one''s¡­ no one¡¯s stopping them?¡± Wakeling''s voice had the barest trace of panic, ¡°Are they insane?¡±


    ¡°They''re part of a guild, Vyde,¡± Elenry said, ¡°Of course they''re insane.¡±


    ¡°Oh, fuck off!¡± the guildmaster spat, before she rose into the air. Her eyes flashed, and she blinked out of the room.


    Elenry glared at Lazuli. The android, despite being completely mechanical, gulped.


    ¡°Back to your room,¡± the gloivel said, ¡°Now.¡±


    ***


    Broon was among the very few intelligent guildmembers to have donned a raincoat before heading outside.


    It was a storm to write home about, the sort of tempest that would define the season. Signs of flooding were evident on the streets outside Castle Belenus, rivers of rainwater and mud and the refuse of the city running down the cobblestones, heading towards the canyon that yawned in Scuttleway''s center. Miniature lakes pooled in the gardens out back, Settlefish eggs beginning to spawn from seeming thin air. Guildmembers were coming outside on Lazuli''s insistence, squinting up at the guild''s main tower, trying to shield their eyes from the endless rain.


    There was a flash of light, and Wakeling appeared by Broon''s side, a harsh look sketched onto her face. Broon knew that look all too well.


    ¡°What''s the situation?¡± she said.


    The half-orc merely pointed. High above, glowing like a blue moon, was Joseph. He was scaling the main tower, his claws digging into brick and holding fast as he pulled himself upwards.


    ¡°Are you fucking-¡±


    The guildmaster let out a huff.


    ¡°Was it a bet?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Not as far as I can tell,¡± Broon replied.


    ¡°A dare?¡±


    ¡°Look, I know as much as you do,¡± Broon said, ¡°You might want to ask him yourself.¡±


    Wakeling set her jaw, then gave a curt nod.


    With the crowd looking up, the floating head began levitating upwards, ignoring the gales and rain as she went up to Joseph. She shot Rosemary a hard look, the elf giving a guilty shrug. But she wasn''t the idiot scaling the tower, so Wakeling let her be.


    For now. Words would be had with young Rosemary.


    Rain lashed against Wakeling¡¯s head as she went. She could feel the gales threaten to carry her away. But she plowed on.


    ***


    Joseph was in a state he hadn''t been in for a long time, one of pure mental concentration, where the fatigue in his muscles and the cry of the environment faded into black and he was left with his own emotions, his own memories, his own self. The rain disappeared. The soul became subtle, its claws mere motion in his mind''s eye. He was alone as he climbed the tower.


    It was comforting. He often retreated into himself in this way on his daily runs back home. When his parents were getting on his case again about which school to go to, or his brother had sat him down to go over his career options, the only times they seemed to pay attention to him. When things just got too much, he would run. The hot weather of San Francisco would disappear. The sounds of the waves as he jogged by the beach would become quiet and soothing, the attendant screams of the beach-goers drifting away entirely.


    It was in these moments that Joseph could find peace. Could find quiet. Could process the emotions of the day, of the week. Of the month, sometimes, when things were especially bad.


    Simple running, simple exercise. Even with his daily runs at Castle Belenus, he could not quite capture what he had on Earth.


    Until now.


    There was nothing but the climb, of the cobalt exertions of the soul.


    He was -


    ¡°JOSEPH!¡±


    Wakeling''s caw broke his concentration. Joseph flailed about for a moment, the soul¡¯s grip on the tower cutting loose, the entire eagle sliding up his arm as it reached out, snagging against the tower, bouncing Joseph for a moment as he held onto the eagle with a single hand, his feet slamming hard against the tower''s wall.


    Wakeling glared at him. He could not help but glare back.


    ¡°What are you doing?!¡± Wakeling snarled.


    ¡°Climbing,¡± Joseph''s voice, despite the storm, was clear and hard.


    ¡°I can clearly see that,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Rosemary said my soul''s physical, right? So it''s just another part of my body that can be scarred, and it''s also affected by the physical world, and-¡±


    ¡°Joseph, get to the point!¡±


    ¡°We thought, if I''m hit by lightning, maybe that''ll help with my soul''s healing,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I mean, look at it!¡±


    Wakeling''s twitching eyes slid upwards at the soul, noting the visible damage it had taken in Death Valley. She didn¡¯t need to say anything on that. At the way Joseph looked at it, at her, with a mixture of fear, worry, and tense anger.


    ¡°...You could''ve just asked me to hit you with lightning, Mr. Zheng,¡± she said.


    ¡°I''m already up here,¡± Joseph said, ¡°And it... It feels right. Doing it like this.¡±


    ¡°That''s idiotic talk. Are you hearing yourself?¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Joseph, it''s-¡±


    ¡°Just let me do it!¡±


    He didn''t mean to yell so loudly, so loud he swore the rest of the guild could hear him far below. Wakeling looked taken aback as he shot venom at her.


    ¡°Just let me do it,¡± he repeated, ¡°I''ll do whatever chores you need me to, alright? But it''s got to be real lightning, not the magical stuff. I just... I just know.¡±


    ¡°Very well, Mr. Zheng,¡± Wakeling said, her voice still traced with disapproval, ¡°But you''re on latrine duties for the rest of the month.¡±


    ¡°Fucking deal,¡± he said, ¡°Now leave me alone.¡±


    Without another word, she drifted back towards the ground. Joseph watched her become smaller and smaller, until she was just a very tiny speck in the mist. He pulled himself up, letting his soul move back into place over his back. The act of moving it across his body like that was new. He would need to practice...


    He continued his ascent.


    ***


    ¡°Come on down, Rosemary,¡± Wakeling said. She floated by Rosemary, who was still on the roof, holding onto one of the flagpoles, squinting to see Joseph''s climb.


    ¡°Sure thing,¡± Rosemary said.


    The guildmaster worked her magic, eyes glowing as the winds picked up around Rosemary, billowing her back down to the ground. The guildmaster gave her a disapproving look.


    ¡°What?¡± Rosemary said, ¡°You''re here now, right? If things go wrong, you''re right there.¡±


    ¡°I''m a magician, Rosemary, not a miracle worker,¡± Wakeling replied.


    ¡°There''s a difference?¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Look, you''ve seen him, right? Talked to him?¡±


    ¡°Not since he''s gotten back, no,¡± Wakeling said.


    ¡°He''s in a rut,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°I thought, maybe something this crazy would get him to stop thinking about what happened on Prime. Just for a little while. Besides, it could help with his powers, right?¡±


    Wakeling rolled her eyes.


    ¡°I''m putting you on latrine duties for the rest of the month, Rosemary,¡± she said, ¡°Got it?¡±


    ¡°Sure,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°I''ll take that.¡±


    ¡°And we''ll be serving Korendian stuffed peppers for dinner most nights, I think. A shipment of them just came in.¡±


    Rosemary winced.


    ¡°A-Alright,¡± she said, though she did not relish that.


    ¡°Now, turn around, please,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Let''s see if Mr. Zheng actually reaches the top.¡±


    ***


    Wakeling had shaken him from his state. Joseph would not forgive her any time soon.


    No, it was more than that. Joseph had thought he was climbing the tower alone, with the only person aware of where he was being Rosemary. But watching Wakeling spiral back down to the land below, he noticed that he had drawn quite a crowd.


    ¡°Great,¡± he grunted, ¡°Just what I needed.¡±


    The rain continued lashing around him, more noticeable now. He was aware that he could not feel his hands, the cold sinking in and seeding into his very bones. He had taken a warm coat, but that was now soaked through. His hair felt like a mop on his head, and though it was sodden down it still seemed to catch the wind and carry itself with it, letting it hedge through the black locks and deliver ice onto his scalp.


    Yet he continued on. His soul worked to climb, the usual cold pain dulled, for everything was cold. The world was cold. His world was cold. He had left something behind, on the warm sands of Death Valley, on the faux-Earth that was Prime. He had gained something, too. A trade-off, one that he wasn''t sure was worth it.


    With a triumphant, shaking, gasping smile, he reached the very top of Castle Belenus. The soul wrapped itself around the lightning rod, pulling him onto it, mirroring behind him like a cloak, a claw curled around the needle.


    He dared to let go, bit by bit, until the claw and his feet were the only thing tethering him to the world. He hung, staring out, at the waterlogged Scuttleway. The mists obscured the horizon, the clouds blocked the Inner Sun. There was only a graying world.


    He felt subconscious now. The guild, the Amber Foundation, were all staring up at him, a small crowd of multi-colored figures huddled around the guildhall''s entrance. They were probably making bets, too.


    That was how it worked, right? Ichabod would probably bet that he would fall, and break his head open like a melon on the pavement below. G-Wiz would bet on his legs hitting the ground first, bending around him, twisting and snapping like stale pretzels. Lazuli would predict that he would splatter on the ground like a crimson water balloon. Broon would look at them with a hint of disapproval, before silently adding into the pool on G-Wiz''s ticket.


    That was the way of the guild. To laugh, to joke, to be so casual about the things they experienced. It was normalized to them. It was how they reacted.


    It was, Joseph was realizing, how they coped.


    It was a subtle realization, a culmination of his interactions with them. The friendships he had made here. The stories they had told, the memories they had shared. The battles they had fought.


    Everyone below had their own lives before the guild. Their own families, broken and not broken. Their own dreams. Their own aspirations. They had chosen to walk this path together, to support one another in a multiverse that was not kind, that held both beauty and violence, that was a lived-in place with flaws that permeated all of their realities.


    Joseph saw the rainbow entourage below, and he saw himself in them.


    And then the lightning struck.


    It was intense, a thousand volts running through his system, red-hot for just the briefest of moments, so brief that his brain barely could rationalize it. By all accounts, it should have been painful. Had Joseph not had his power, had he not had a soul made of plasma and light, it would have been agony.


    But it was not.


    It was exhilarating. Refreshing. Like taking a hot bath after a long day. Like folding oneself into a bed full of pillows. Like...


    Like...


    There we no more words. There was nothing.


    Joseph was aware he was falling, the tower becoming smaller, the sky becoming wider and less detailed. For a moment, panic overtook bliss-


    And then the wind scooped him up. Wakeling''s magic, caressing him and holding him like a child, the winds guiding him back towards the ground below. He landed on his feet, the guild crowded around him, dozens of eyes staring at him.


    ¡°Joseph,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Are you alright?¡±


    The question, while given voice by Wakeling, was asked by everyone around him. Even Chadwick looked down at him from atop his perch on Archenround''s head, eyes glowing in the mist with the bare minimum of concern.


    Joseph felt within himself. His soul was fine. Better than fine. It had healed, the wounds closed shut. It was strong again. Whole.


    Well, almost whole. He could feel scars running along its makeup, the deepest wounds that Silicon had delivered. They would, he realized, always be there. Faded scars upon himself, trauma and experience made physical.


    But he looked up at Wakeling''s worried face. Rosemary was behind her. So was Broon. And G-Wiz, surprisingly.


    He smiled.


    ¡°I''m fine,¡± he said.


    ¡°You just climbed all the way up Castle Belenus,¡± Broon said, ¡°In a storm. After getting back from a major conflict. And you''re just fine?¡±


    Joseph''s smile broadened.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± he said, ¡°I''m fine. Sorry to be a bit crazy, but I had to...¡±


    He looked over to Rosemary, who was beaming.


    ¡°I had to test a few theories.¡±

 62. Sovereign Melody

    The escort came in the dusk.


    It was a quiet ship, but one that demanded a more dramatic response than the simple guild vessel of Pagan Chorus. A Shrikeling, it was called in layman''s terms, a High Federation multi-purpose exploration ship, one specifically designed to fly through the myriad atmospheres and environments of the multiverse. Orbular in appearance, with twin crescent wings that pointed diagonally towards the land below, the Shrikeling floated over Scuttleway, a dominant god that dwarfed the airships around it, easily twice as large as the largest of trade galleons that flew over the Great Orange Crab. On its hull, written in High Speech, was the ship''s name: Intrepid Revelation.


    Becenti looked up at the Shrikeling from one of Castle Belenus''s balconies. He was back in his usual suit-and-tie affair, his graying hair tied back in a ponytail, revealing his worn, aged face. Joseph leaned against the balcony''s stone rail next to him, his arms crossed. Below, the citizens of Scuttleway pointed and awed, for it was not every day that the High Federation much such an obvious, flagrant display of power. The everyday folk talked in quiet hushes, the Scuttleway Militia watched with not a bit of trepidation.


    Far away, in Sunala¡¯s keep, Rosemary watched the noblewoman gaze out the window at the ship, her eyes narrowing at the sight.


    Joseph, for his part, just watched, gauging Becenti''s reaction.


    ¡°You sure you''re up for this?¡± he said.


    ¡°It was a personal request from the Prime Voice himself,¡± Becenti said, ¡°One simply does not ignore his summons.¡±


    ¡°I thought he was like a president, not a king.¡±


    Becenti gave him a dry smirk in response.


    ¡°Once, the Prime Voice was very much like a president,¡± Becenti said, ¡°But that was before my time.¡±


    Something unlatched from the Intrepid Revelation. A small ship, an escort that willowed its way down to the balcony. Its bay doors opened, bright light enveloping the darkness. The silhouette of a Federation soldier eclipsed the glow.


    ¡°Designation: Shimmer,¡± the soldier said.


    ¡°Just ''Becenti,'' is fine.¡±


    ¡°You will accompany me, metahuman,¡± the soldier said.


    The soldier was wearing a helmet and was in full combat gear, a plasma rifle held in one hand. His jaw was set, and Joseph realized, through the visor, that he wasn''t taking his gaze off of Becenti as the older man stepped onto the railing.


    ¡°Sure you don''t want me to come?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Of course not, Mr. Zheng,¡± Becenti said, ¡°This is a business between he and I. Besides, you''ve got latrine duties.¡±


    ¡°...It''s eight at night.¡±


    ¡°And I expect every toilet and urinal to be sparkling when I return,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I will be inspecting yours and Ms. Rosemary''s work very carefully.¡±


    He saw the younger man''s jaw set, and simply smiled in reply. Without another word, Becenti stopped onto the escort, which sealed itself off and began moving back towards the Shrikeling. The soldier pointed at one of the seats.


    ¡°You will sit here,¡± he ordered.


    Becenti complied, sitting down. Compared to the humid night of Scuttleway, the ship''s interior was cold and dry. The soldier sat across from him, a wary frown lining his face. Becenti could only give a cool smile in response.


    Without another word, the escort lurched onto the Shrikeling, opening up to a pristine, if relatively small, hangar. More Federation soldiers were waiting for Becenti as he stepped out, all of them fully decked out in the most advanced combat armor the Federation could field, all of them pointing weapons at him as he stepped out. Becenti could only keep his cool smile, his eyes set forward as they escorted him to his quarters. The room was bare and gray, with the only furniture being a circular bed. Becenti sat down on it.


    One of the soldiers stayed in the room with him, back towards the door.


    The Intrepid Revelation shuddered as she took off. Hers was a darker purr, one more guttural than the usual Fedtek ships Becenti had been on. Even the Titania Amber (bless the old girl''s heart) sounded fine on her good days, clean and cheerful. But this ship''s engines were almost beast-like in their utterances.


    It was no surprise, of course. The Shrikelings had often been used during the war, the entire vessel designed as an intimidation tactic. The shimmering, orb-like design of the ship''s hull was a farce. In a moment, the entire ship could open like an egg, revealing heavy weaponry designed to scourge the face of a plane, plasma embankments and turrets and even, in some cases, a heavily modified glassmaker. Shrikelings were there to show the multiverse just how much more advanced, how much more superior, the Silver Eye was to the rest of reality.


    The fact that the Prime Voice had called for one to escort Becenti was a message, one that he read clearly. The soldier all but glared at him as they made the journey off-plane.


    ***


    Becenti realized something was wrong when he looked down at his watch and realized several hours had passed. His brow furrowed as he looked up at the soldier.


    ¡°Is everything alright?¡± he said.


    The soldier was quiet. Becenti could see the frown deepen, and the man''s grip on his rifle tightened. A small amount of fear fluttered in his belly, but Becenti had felt that before. Defied it, even, as he continued.


    ¡°We would have planeshifted to the Silver Eye by now,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Are we not going to Valm''s office on Everlasting Truth?¡±


    ¡°You will refer to him as the Prime Voice, metahuman,¡± the soldier gruffed.


    Becenti rolled his eyes.


    ¡°Very well,¡± he said, ¡°Am I to meet the Prime Voice on Everlasting Truth?¡±


    ¡°That knowledge is classified,¡± the soldier said, ¡°As such, I am not willing nor able to provide that information.¡±


    ¡°Come now,¡± Becenti said, ¡°You don''t have to tell me the exact coordinates. But it''s odd, isn''t it?¡±


    The soldier sneered.


    ¡°The place we are going is not on Everlasting Truth, metahuman,¡± he said, ¡°It is far from there. Another few days, at least.¡±


    ¡°Oh dear,¡± Becenti said, ¡°That places it somewhere in the Apple, doesn''t it?¡±


    ¡°You are free to guess where it is, metahuman, but it will do you no good,¡± the soldier said, ¡°Now, I suggest you take to bed. It is a long journey.¡±


    Becenti looked around the room. Doubtless, they were going to keep him here for the entire journey''s duration. The soldier''s sneer returned back to his suspicious frown. He continued to stare forward as Becenti lay down on the bed.


    ¡°Well,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Perhaps I should have brought a book.¡±


    ***


    The Intrepid Revelation, at last, began to shake and shudder, the tell-tale signs that it was entering the atmosphere of a planet. Becenti, who had on the very first day tossed aside his overcoat, looked up from where he was on the bed. Two days of interstellar travel, the only indication of any movement aboard the ship being the changing of the guard and the bringing of meals. He felt very much like a prisoner, something he hadn''t experienced for a very long time.


    Darker memories threatened to surface, but Becenti pushed them down. This is what Valm wanted to do. To torture him in a near-civilized way, to make him feel small. To break him down, just a bit, so he would lower his guard. Though for what purpose, Becenti wasn''t sure.


    But it was not the first time Valm had done this. It would not be the last, either, as the doors opened and another line of soldiers came to escort him. They took him through the dark, half-lit corridors of the ship, down a few ramps, and back out towards the hangar bay.


    They had landed on a planet, a beautiful one, with green trees and a blue sky. Becenti could hear, far in the distance, the call of some sort of bird, its cry long and sorrow-filled. He stepped off of the ship and onto freshly cut grass, squinting as he looked up. The sun high above was a ruby red, and the planet had a ring system cutting across the azure expanse, orange-cream in coloration. A road snaked by Becenti''s left, a well-worn dirt trail that curved alongside a lake, ending at a gleaming white mansion.


    One of Valm''s estates.


    The soldiers began taking him down the road, moving in time with him, practically on a forced march. They followed him, crowded around him, nearly jostled him, right until he came up to the estate''s steps.


    Of course, more soldiers were inside, flanking either side of the double-doors. They were in more ornate armor, ceremonial wear of shining, sun-burnished gold, smooth and polished and far too gaudy for actual combat. Even their rifles were decorated, coated in gold, the muzzles possessing two ceremonial horns that represented Garish Anack, the Hero of the Third War of Invigoration. A being who had personally slain four hundred metahumans by his own hand, and millions more with his voice. A being who had led the High Federation into the 40th Age of Reconquest.


    Another message. One Becenti read clearly, as the two soldiers took point. One was Jugdran, which did not surprise him. The other was human ¨C disturbingly so. Whatever his world''s equivalent was to Native American. Practically a boy from the Rez, the soldier''s face was hardened and scowled.


    ¡°You will bathe, metahuman,¡± he said, ¡°You will abandon the clothes you wear, and don something more presentable to our Prime Voice.¡±


    Becenti gave a curt, short nod in response. He allowed them to escort him to the showers, where, at last, he was left alone. It was the first time they had let him out of their sight. But as he stripped down, tossing his sweat-stained suit, he could not help but glance to the ceiling.


    There. In the corner. A security camera. There would be no privacy here. He pulled a face as he showered, before pulling on the silken robes laid out for him. Once more, he tied his hair back into a ponytail, the band replaced with a ivory-white string, a unique cloth from Keteria III, where the High Federation had, long ago, enslaved the metahumans of Emular to harvest the silkworms growing in its many-hued trees.


    A third message.


    The soldiers took Becenti once more, bringing him to a long table. It was laid out in a meal, plates of fine glass carrying various gourmet dishes from across the galaxy. Vinian berries piled high in a bowl, the boiled and salted legs of a Geshfrog lay in two lines on a plate, even a rare Progastian Geode was there, presented on a stand in the table''s center, already cracked like an egg, the edible blue crystals glittering within.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    Becenti took a seat. The soldiers stood on either side of him.


    And the three of them waited.


    ***


    He was Olendris Valm. The Prime Voice of the High Federation, a position he had held for some one hundred and fifty years. A lifetime to the average being. But then, Valm was no average being. He was a Voskian, long-necked and gray-skinned, his head a skull-like orb, with wrinkles that stretched across his face, signs of advanced age. And with age, came wisdom, which seemed to pool into his bright blue eyes that stared at Becenti, through Becenti, into Becenti''s very soul. Twin fins, manta ray-like, billowed out of his back, folding neatly around him like a great cloak. He was wearing pure white robes, the four interlocking hands of the Federation clutching around his stomach, the robe''s hems undulating like the fins of a cuttlefish. Slowly, with the grace of an angel, Valm drifted to the other side of the table. With a single, long-fingered hand, he waved the soldiers away. Becenti''s escorts saluted, before making their way out of the room, leaving the two of them alone.


    Without a word, Valm brought a dish forward, the Geshfrog legs, picking up a small, metal spear and jabbing it through. He brought up one of the legs to his mouth, letting it sit there a moment, before taking a bite. He chewed slowly, quietly.


    And his eyes, those azure blue eyes that pierced through all, never left Becenti, as though expecting him to be the first to speak.


    ¡°Well,¡± Becenti said, ¡°You''ve certainly beefed up security around here, haven''t you?¡±


    Valm swallowed, and Becenti could see the food go down his throat, bulging against the Prime Voice''s neck as it made its journey to his stomach.


    ¡°Soldiers in armor, at all times. Practically treating me as though I were a danger to them.¡±


    ¡°Ah,¡± Valm''s voice was deep, horn-like, like the harshest winds of a gas giant, ¡°I would not be so naive. They treat you truthfully. They treat you as you are.¡±


    He spoke in a casual manner, but the venom was there, just beneath the surface. A viper''s remark. Becenti took it with grace, hiding his disdain by looking over the various beverages. All of them were alcoholic in some way, mulled wines and light ales.


    ¡°Have you any... water?¡± Becenti asked.


    Valm shook his head.


    ¡°Unfortunate,¡± Becenti said. He didn''t touch any of the stuff, despite momentary temptations. Instead, he set his gaze forward, at Valm, who watched the metahuman''s internal struggle with that same impassive look.


    ¡°Regardless of how you arrived here,¡± the Prime Voice said, ¡°You are here now. I welcome you to my house, Shimmer.¡±


    ¡°....And where might ''this'' be?¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°My guards ¨C your escort ¨C would rather you not know the exact coordinates of this place. No metahuman has walked on this soil-¡±


    Inwardly, Becenti rolled his eyes.


    ¡°But there is a time for firsts. This is Stellarune, a paradise world that has been in my family for several generations.¡±


    ¡°It''s pretty,¡± Becenti said.


    Valm gave a smile, and Becenti despised how genuine it looked.


    ¡°Your report, Shimmer,¡± Valm said, ¡°Tell me, what were your people doing? How did they fare?¡±


    ¡°Usually, I would give this to you via datarod,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Is that not sufficient?¡±


    ¡°There was a concentrated population of metahumans on Prime,¡± Valm said, ¡°A potentially dangerous situation, considering your peoples'' history. I make it a point to ensure that the multiverse is safe when such convergences occur.¡±


    Becenti''s eyes narrowed. He considered his words carefully as he relayed the events of the convergence, what metahumans were there, as well as what they did.


    He made special mention of the Earthmute. Of Visionary. Their common enemy, the news of which Valm took with his usual stoic aplomb. The Prime Voice did not interrupt Becenti, not even for questions, his long fingers pressed together, his mouth creased into a frown.


    Eyes always, always unblinking.


    ¡°And there you have it,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°So she got away,¡± Valm said.


    ¡°She did,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Another failure of the Silver Knights, I suppose,¡± Valm said, ¡°I am surprised, Shimmer. I would have expected you to be more proactive. You should not have let one such as Oliphant lead the charge.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡±


    Valm poured himself a glass of wine, the red liquid deluging down into a crystal glass.


    ¡°He is nothing more than a pale echo of a greater man,¡± Valm said, ¡°Silver Arthur was a paragon, in every sense of the word. A being that only comes into existence once in an age. He was one of the few humans I came to respect.¡±


    He let that statement sink in.


    ¡°To emulate him,¡± he continued, ¡°To ape his demeanor and leadership, is to sully his legacy.¡±


    ¡°The greatest form of flattery is imitation,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°A theoretical,¡± Valm said, ¡°If one must imitate, and succeed in imitating, one must do so well. Oliphant is a poor substitute, and we are all the worse for it.¡±


    He drank deep, draining his glass, after which he put his drink down and to the side.


    ¡°Now,¡± he said, ¡°As much as I wish to talk about the flailing tribulations of a broken man, I would much rather get to the heart of the matter.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Becenti said, ¡°You''re a busy man.¡±


    ¡°A schedule to keep,¡± Valm intoned, ¡°The first is that I want your assurance that this was just a singular event. I would not wish for a repeat of Death Valley.¡±


    Becenti frowned.


    ¡°Earthmute can planeshift anywhere,¡± he said, ¡°The multiverse is a big place. I can''t assure you of anything with him.¡±


    ¡°Ah,¡± Valm said, ¡°But usually, when Earthmute rises somewhere, it is a quiet affair. We keep it in our records, attempt to, once more, find rhyme or reason to his travelings, and move on. But this was a different case, what happened on Prime. I want to ensure it will not happen again.¡±


    ¡°Prime is home to many metahumans,¡± Becenti said, ¡°And the planes around it have short forecast seasons. I would presume so many metahumans went to Prime because it was close by.¡±


    ¡°Ah, and once again, Prime proves a problem,¡± Valm said.


    Becenti''s brow furrowed. He could hear the unspoken threat in Valm''s voice.


    ¡°I have contacts,¡± Becenti said, ¡°If Earthmute arises again, they will let me know.¡±


    ¡°And you will let me know,¡± Valm said, ¡°I think it was a mistake to have an indigenous voice to act on my behalf. I used a scalpel when I should have used the iron rod. As my forebears did.¡±


    They both pretended to ignore Becenti''s hands clench into fists.


    ¡°The second matter I wish to speak to you about,¡± Valm said, ¡°Is your visits. To the prisons. You aren''t trying to¡­ turn coat on us, are you, Shimmer?¡±


    ¡°Of course not,¡± Becenti''s voice held but the barest hint of his restrained anger, ¡°The Manticore was a monster. He savaged Prime. I would not align with him.¡±


    ¡°But he gave your people hope, did he not?¡± Valm said, ¡°Gave them a nation again, a dream worth striving for.¡±


    ¡°I would not call what he stood for a ''dream'',¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Then what are your reasons for visiting these prisons?¡± Valm prodded.


    ¡°...Call it a gut feeling,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°A gut feeling,¡± Valm drawled, ¡°An illogical premonition, then. Investigation without sufficient cause.¡±


    ¡°I''ve heard rumors. I''ve tuned into the news. You''ve already lost one prisoner, haven''t you?¡±


    ¡°We did not lose anyone,¡± Valm''s said, and for once he dropped the pretension of civility, his voice dangerously edged, ¡°Dakos is a creature of habit. He left his prison, but we know his general whereabouts and travelings. He is still beholden to the authority of the High Federation.¡±


    ¡°You can assure that?¡± Becenti challenged.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Valm said, ¡°He will be re-captured. Brought back to his prison. We can do so at any moment.¡±


    ¡°And you won''t do so now?¡±


    The Prime Voice did not answer at first. He, instead, turned his attention to his food, taking another bite, chewing slowly and with not a bit of restrained frustration. But he was controlled, his voice like winter, as he looked back up at Becenti.


    ¡°Other, more important matters have demanded my attention,¡± he said, ¡°We will capture Dakos when our other priorities have been seen to. I care very little for a pagan god from a lesser culture.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Becenti said amicably, ¡°As is your prerogative.¡±


    The words hung in the air, a gap of silence between the metahuman and the Voskian. Valm took the opportunity to pour himself another glass of wine, sipping now, instead of draining.


    ¡°I presume, of course, that you wish to visit the rest of the prisons,¡± Valm said.


    ¡°Yes. Stellar Queen''s was next on my list,¡± Becenti said, ¡°And in that, I come to you with a bargain.¡±


    ¡°Ah, ever the sneaky one,¡± Valm said, ¡°Go on, then.¡±


    ¡°In lieu of payment for services rendered for the Prime job, I wish to charter a ship to take me to the Nordanian Nebula, in hopes that we might observe Stellar Queen''s prison.¡±


    Valm nodded, considering the offer.


    ¡°The deal I was giving your little guild was rather sizable, considering its relatively minor influence.¡±


    ¡°It was certainly generous,¡± Becenti said, ¡°But what I am doing is more important than mere money.¡±


    ¡°That,¡± Valm said, ¡°And I hear you have been taking jobs for the elves.¡±


    Becenti flickered a smile.


    ¡°It has certainly helped our bank account,¡± he said.


    The Prime Voice took a moment to consider Becenti''s words, turning them over in his head. For the first time in their entire conversation, his eyes moved away from the metahuman, instead looking up as he became lost in thought, running numbers and calculations, benefits and drawbacks. Such a simple offer, but one considered as though it were the most important deal in the galaxy.


    ¡°Very well,¡± he said, ¡°I will let you take Kristandi''s vessel once more. The date and time, however, are up to me. He is currently on a personal assignment.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Mmm,¡± Valm said. He paused for a moment, before saying, ¡°You don''t seem to be hungry today, do you?¡±


    ¡°I ate before I got here, unfortunately,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I certainly hope the gruel your servants gave me onboard the Shrikeling isn''t their usual rations.¡±


    ¡°Of course not,¡± Valm said, ¡°Perhaps it was an oversight. And you don''t even want any wine?¡±


    ¡°I don''t drink.¡±


    ¡°Ah, yes,¡± Valm said, ¡°I had forgotten.¡±


    A lie, one they both knew.


    ¡°Are we done here?¡± Becenti asked, ¡°I have an InterGuild to prepare for.¡±


    ¡°Yes, we are finished,¡± Valm said, ¡°I will let you know when you can go to Stellar Queen''s prison. Expect a message from me at InterGuild.¡±


    ¡°You are going?¡±


    ¡°Pagan Chorus is,¡± Valm said, ¡°They, as usual, will represent my interests in the guild world. You will meet Oliander again. He will provide you with everything you need.¡±


    Becenti nodded, trying his best to hide the stab of anxiety his old once-friend''s name produced. He rose from his seat.


    ¡°Thank you for the meal,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Of course, Shimmer,¡± Valm said, ¡°Know that you always have my ear. And I always have your eyes.¡±


    Becenti nodded.


    ¡°Keep your people in line, Shimmer,¡± Valm said, ¡°And I will let you visit the vanquished.¡±


    The Prime Voice gestured, and the doors opened. The two soldiers walked in, their eyes set forward, the human''s flickering to Becenti''s face for just a microsecond.


    ¡°Our guest will be leaving now,¡± Valm said, ¡°Deliver him to Londoa. Give him heartier food this time, he has no stomach for mere nutrition.¡±


    The soldiers saluted. They followed Becenti as he walked out of the room, out of the estate, and back into the sunshine of Stellarune.


    ***


    The return journey to Londoa was scarcely more comfortable than before. Becenti was still put into a room, a soldier watching him at all times. He was given no privacy as he slept, as he waited, as he was given his meals ¨C the same sort of soupy gray as before, only this time dusted with the barest hints of cinnamon.


    Becenti hardly spoke as the Intrepid Revelation returned to Scuttleway. Instead, he took the time to think over his conversation, picking it apart in his head as the ship rumbled on. Valm had been his usual false self, a being that Becenti was used to dealing with. He could take the casual hatreds, the prejudices, the veiled metaphors that the Prime Voice presented. He had endured far worse and far more obvious.


    There had been idle threats to Prime, but they both knew that they were hollow. The High Federation was far too busy with its various other matters, and it would take the greasing of several palms for Valm to mobilize the military for an engagement with a major planar nexus. Prime would find allies in the multiverse, and a small war would be had. Something that Valm would not approve of at this time.


    There was also the conversation about Dakos, and Valm''s disregard for the Martian god''s escape. He was underestimating the Manticore''s followers. He was humoring Becenti, allowing him to go to the prisons, but that was the extent of his actions.


    If the Sons of Darwin returned...


    No, when the Sons of Darwin returned, and made good on their original goals, Becenti was not sure how soon the High Federation would be able to respond.


    These thoughts, and more, went through Becenti''s head as the Intrepid Revelation planeshifted. The ship rumbled on, finally landing outside of Scuttleway. The soldiers, without a word, retrieved Becenti from his temporary quarters, taking him outside. The city loomed in the distance, still cloudy from the endless storms.


    The soldiers left him, the Shrikeling taking to the air once more, its beast-like growl thundering as it flew away, back towards the Traveling Point on Beritale Landmass. The hum slowly disappeared as it became a blip against the sea of gray.


    Becenti began walking back.

 63. Weather the Weather

    An alarm went off in Joseph''s head. It was not so much of a sound as it was a feeling, an urging to awaken, a subtle yet forceful push to leave the dreaming behind. He opened his eyes with a start, gasping in sudden surprise, before his brain reminded his body where he was, and settled.


    It was a spell Phineas had given him, this alarm clock. Partially out of the Deep One''s usual kindness, partially because he had gotten sick of Joseph''s wind-up alarm clock he had borrowed from Mallory. The components of the spell were on Joseph''s desk, a small piece of paper and a dark rock, in which Joseph merely had to whisper dark words into, holding it so close he was practically kissing it. The words only came to him when he was actually using the spell, a sort of paradox that Phineas claimed powered the spell.


    ¡°You are piggy-backing off of what is already there,¡± Phineas had said, ¡°There''s already got a current of magic throughout Castle Belenus. You''re just using it to kickstart the spell.¡±


    ¡°Similar to Wakeling''s teleportation magic throughout the place, right?¡±


    ¡°And the floating hands,¡± Phineas said, ¡°And the invisible monsters that stalk the halls at night.¡±


    Joseph gave him a look.


    ¡°That was a joke,¡± Phineas said.


    ¡°It... Sorry, man, it wasn''t very funny.¡±


    ¡°No, it was not.¡±


    Joseph simply smiled as he remembered their little conversation, before he pulled himself up and out of bed. Rain pelted their windows ¨C the storm had returned after a mere few days'' worth of respite, and now gave no sign of easing up. It had gotten to the point that the Weatherfolk, that guild who chronicled weather patterns and other atmospheric phenomena, had sent a few of their members out. If Joseph squinted, he could make just make them out on Moonstone on the Len, two dots on the very top of Doge Busciver''s mansion, setting up an elaborate network of magical rods and dishes, to both capture lightning and to track the movement of the storm as it curled across the interior of Londoa.


    Not good weather, for what Joseph was about to do. But he didn''t mind, not really.


    Not after the climb. After that, after tasting lightning and drinking it in, he found he quite enjoyed the rain.


    That, and his newest clothing requests had just come in the night before. A pair of solid boots and a heavy, dark blue cloak. He put these on, along with a heavy coat and a solid-colored shirt, though this one was devoid of any logo.


    He had meant to apologize to Rosemary about his AC/DC shirt getting torn to bits on Prime. He had developed a taste for the band, and he had learned to quite like that shirt.


    But that was a conversation for later. Joseph took a deep breath, and walked out the door, making sure to close it quietly so as to not wake Phineas.


    Only a few guildmembers were up and about. Joseph passed by Whiskey and his usual wanderings up and down the stairs, the silent puppet ignoring Joseph as he trudged along. Archenround, too, was up, having (at last!) made a full recovery. She was in one of the offices, getting a bit of paperwork done. The serpent gave Joseph a wave through the open door as he passed by. Lazuli was awake, too. Much like Whiskey, he didn''t need sleep. Most of the time, Becenti kept him busy doing one chore or another throughout the day, giving him something to do. But on rare occasions, the old man would forget, or run out of chores to assign.


    On those nights, boredom and the most annoying member of the guild mixed to create a dark combination.


    Joseph caught Lazuli on what was probably the tail end of his night''s work, the android grabbing one of the floating platters of coffee and pouring the contents of a salt shaker into one of the kettles. He glanced over and locked eyes with Joseph.


    A manic heart-dropping smile crept on his facsimile of a face. Lazuli slunk over to Joseph''s side, stepping in time with him as he went down the stairs towards the Great Hall.


    ¡°What''s the show, Joe?¡±


    ¡°Morning, Laz,¡± Joseph replied.


    ¡°You''re not going to tell anyone about what I was just doing back there, right?¡±


    ¡°Only if you tell me which ones you''ve sabotaged,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°I could,¡± Lazuli said, ¡°But you''re like Rosemary. You already poison your coffee as is with the amounts of sugar and cream you put in. I''d be doing you a favor.¡±


    ¡°Uh-huh,¡± Joseph said.


    He could not help but give Lazuli a sardonic smile. Lazuli returned it with a mischievous grin, and despite the fact that his face was just a projection of blue dots on a blank screen, his eyes held a truly devious mind for making everyone''s life worse, as was the job of a younger brother.


    And Joseph filled that same role, back on Earth. He could not help but respect the android.


    ¡°Alright,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Fine. Don''t tell anyone this, but you know Broon, right?¡±


    ¡°No, I don''t.¡±


    ¡°Har,¡± Joseph said, ¡°He keeps his polishing oil in his room.¡±


    ¡°No shit,¡± Lazuli said, ¡°Where?¡±


    ¡°Beneath his bed.¡±


    ¡°Ha! He''s a heavier sleeper than he might think,¡± Lazuli said, ¡°I''ve looked under there before, and all I could find was dirty underwear and scraps of armor.¡±


    ¡°It''s under the floorboards,¡± Joseph said.


    A light went off in Lazuli''s head ¨C literally, a bulb popping up between his eyes.


    ¡°Oho,¡± he said, ¡°Why, thank you, Joseph. Look for the plate with an ''X'' on the bottom. That''s the one I''ve kept special, just for you.¡±


    He patted Joseph''s shoulder, giving him a thumbs up, before scampering upstairs. Joseph rolled his eyes and made his way to the Great Hall''s entrance.


    ***


    The wind whipped Joseph''s cloak as he stepped out of the relative warmth of Castle Belenus, a cold gale that was already eating its way into his bones as he walked. Rivers were running down the street, and the flooding had gotten so bad in parts of the city that there had been discussions of setting up sandbags on certain streets to maneuver the overflow towards the edges of the ravine. Nothing actionable yet, though.


    Presumably because it was election season, and no one could be bothered to actually pay attention to the city while they were throwing money at gala-this and fundraiser-that. And the ever-looming Golden Round, some big festival or whatever. Joseph rolled his eyes as he stomped into a large puddle, splashing up a deluge that blew up to his knee.


    There was no one around as he made his journey through the city, his cloak pulled close and his fingers going numb. Scuttleway already didn''t go out in the rain, and even the most industrious merchants had battened down the hatches and closed up shop.


    He was alone.


    He stomped through the storm in silence, gritting his teeth and weathering the weather.


    ***


    The Scuttleway Post Office was a large building on the edge of the city, located near the docks. It was a spiraling sandstone tower that reminded Joseph of a corkscrewed sea shell. Oftentimes, mail was delivered by individual birds, who carried them strapped to their legs as they made their way across the breadth of Londoa. Mailmen would then deliver them throughout the city ¨C Castle Belenus even had its own mailbox, right by the Great Hall''s entrance.


    But the mail hadn''t been getting delivered the last few weeks, and the deluge was the reason why. It was as though all of Scuttleway had ground to a halt. As Joseph opened up the door, he was greeted by an orchestra of squawking, caws, and hoots. Birds of all stripes and colors, unable to be sent back out to their homes due to the storm, were in cages that filled the entire room. Pigeons danced and ruffled beside one another. Crows cawed and screeched, flapping around their cages, a few of them with sticks in their beaks that they were trying to use to unlatch their doors. Owls glared imperiously at Joseph as he swept inside, eyes following him no matter where he went. There was even a phoenix, the great red bird trying her damned hardest to look regal in the face of all of the feathery chaos around her, a golden missive tied to her leg.


    Joseph tried his best to ignore the chorus of caws as he went deeper inside. The post office''s lobby and main mailroom had been completely overtaken by birds, but the back office was relatively clear. The only inhabitant was the head mailman.


    ¡°Morning, Nigel,¡± Joseph said.


    The hobgoblin looked up. Joseph had met him on his first run here, when Becenti had sent him to collect the guild''s mail after the first round of rain. Nigel was older, portly, with one eye smaller than the other after a rather nasty accident, the left closed slightly more than the right. He had been working in the post office for the better part of twenty years, and he always fastidiously put on his nice, faded blue uniform, even though no one would be coming in. He always went into the office, even when the storm roiled outside.


    ¡°Morning, Joseph,¡± he said, ¡°Becenti''s got you doing this again, aye?¡±


    ¡°I volunteered,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Gives me something to do.¡±


    ¡°You''ve been volunteering every day for the past week, lad.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, well,¡± Joseph shrugged, ¡°Maybe I like the rain.¡±


    ¡°Or you''re waiting for a letter,¡± Nigel smiled, ¡°Come on, lad, you don''t have to pretend.¡±


    Joseph rolled his eyes, but smiled nonetheless.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said, ¡°I''m looking for a letter from... A friend, let''s say.¡±


    ¡°Mmm,¡± Nigel said, ¡°Well, I''m sorry to say that there''s no mail for the Amber Foundation today.¡±


    Joseph''s face fell.


    ¡°Aye, sorry, lad,¡± Nigel said, ¡°Not many people want to send mail out due to the storm, and I wouldn''t be surprised if what''s being sent out here is being delayed. Whatever bird your friend sent out, it''s probably seeking shelter, or was blown off course.¡±


    ¡°...I see,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Still, I''ll come by tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Didn''t you hear me?¡± Nigel said, ¡°It''s probably better to come by once the storm''s over.¡±


    ¡°I''ll still come tomorrow,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Lad,¡± Nigel leaned in, ¡°I''m sayin'' is that nothing''s really going to come in. Storm''s too strong.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph said, ¡°But I''ve got nothing better to do.¡±


    Nigel let out a low chuckle.


    ¡°Nothing better to do than entertain an old hob and his birds?¡±


    Joseph shrugged.


    ¡°I like birds,¡± he said, ¡°I like the rain. I''ll take the hob, I guess.¡±


    The hobgoblin smiled at that, a greasy, old sort of grin.


    ¡°Ha! You bastard,¡± he said, ¡°Alright, grab a seat. Make yourself useful, and help me sort through what I''ve got.¡±


    ***


    They spent the next day or so working, Nigel finally building up the motivation to untie each and every letter tied to each and every bird, putting them into small cubbies in the mail room.


    ¡°Each city''s got a different system,¡± the hobgoblin explained, ¡°Because each city has a different mailman. Here, we sort based on parts of the city.¡±


    He gestured at the wall, letting Joseph take stock of it. There were symbols written on the wall, all of it closed in by a giant circle. A gash lined through the circle''s center, and each cubby had a certain rune written into it.


    ¡°...It''s Scuttleway, isn''t it?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Ha! So you metahumans can learn,¡± Nigel said, ¡°Aye, I was something of an artist in my younger years, decided to do a mural of the city.¡±


    ¡°I notice you only got halfway,¡± Joseph said, smirking.


    ¡°There''s a reason I quit,¡± Nigel said, ¡°Because I realized I wasn''t actually any good at it.¡±


    ¡°Hey, you never know,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Anyways, I basically put the letters into the cubbies from the part of the city you''re in.¡±


    ¡°You just concentrate on the birds,¡± Nigel said, ¡°Most of ''em are friendly enough. I know this city like the back of my hand, so I''ll work on actually sorting them out.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Uhm, I don''t really know how to work with them, though. The birds, I mean.¡±


    Nigel gave him a look.


    ¡°One of your guildmates is a toucan, and apparently you''ve got an electric soul that''s a bird. How do you not know how to work with them?¡±


    ¡°The bird is symbolic,¡± Joseph said, ¡°For... I don''t know.¡±


    ¡°It''s symbolic for you need to learn how to work with birds,¡± Nigel said, ¡°Let''s get to work.¡±


    ***


    The rain continued on for the next few days, the deluge stretching onto the week as a watery companion to Joseph''s work. His mornings, instead of his run (which would be more of a swim, the way things were going) was spent helping Nigel wrestle the aviary''s inhabitants, taking the letters and putting them into their places. With all of the mailmen staying at home, however, there was little to do save for storing them, and as the days wore on the letters simply sat there, unread and near-dusty. True to his word, only a single letter came in that time, held by an air elemental that dissipated as soon as it arrived. Nigel glanced down at it, face wrinkling.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    ¡°Hmm,¡± he said, ¡°A letter to the Lady Sunala.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Joseph said, ¡°My friend Rosemary''s been working with her.¡±


    ¡°Usually, letters go straight to the nobility,¡± Nigel said, pulling at an errant chin hair, ¡°Rather odd that the elemental would come here.¡±


    ¡°Maybe it got lost, or blown off-course,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Maybe,¡± Nigel grunted, ¡°Be a good lad, and deliver this to her, will you?¡±


    ¡°...Me?¡± Joseph said, ¡°Why me?¡±


    ¡°Because I don''t have anyone else right now, and you like the rain.¡±


    ¡°Why can''t it be you?¡± Joseph said.


    Nigel shook his head, looking down at the bundled scroll the elemental had given him.


    ¡°It would be a shame if I got that letter from your friend before you got here, Joe. I might lose it, what with how busy it is in here.¡±


    Joseph smirked.


    ¡°You''re a dick, Nigel. And you owe me.¡±


    ¡°Don''t get wet out there,¡± Nigel said, ¡°Wear your cloak.¡±


    ***


    The road up to Sunala''s estate was slick, the manor itself veiled by fog, an elephant tusk-colored, domed tower in the mist. Rain slaked across its surface, adding a new dimension of textures as Joseph approached, entire waterfalls undulating down outcroppings and landings, rivering through the grooves in the tower''s makeup. Twin guards, both Elven, both wearing faded green armor that folded together like the leaves in Spring, flanked the double-doors that led into the estate.


    ¡°Hey!¡± Joseph said, raising his voice over the gale, ¡°I''m here to deliver a letter!¡±


    ¡°State your business!¡± the guard on the right yelled.


    ¡°I said, I''m here to deliver a letter!¡±


    Joseph presented the letter, now safely encapsulated in a sheath of wood to protect it from the downpour. The guards looked at one another, before one of them knocked at the door. Joseph cocked an eyebrow as he watched the guard communicate with someone inside, before the door closed.


    A few minutes later, Rosemary stepped out, hugging her red cloak close to her as she walked carefully down the steps.


    ¡°''Sup, Joe!¡± she said.


    ¡°Hey, Rosemary!¡± Joseph replied. The elf moved in closer so they didn''t have to yell, gritting her teeth as the rain assaulted her head. By the time she made it to Joseph, she was already drenched.


    ¡°Letter,¡± Joseph said, handing it to her, ¡°Came to the post office, instead of her estate.¡±


    ¡°Weird,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°I mean, it''s right here.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, the elemental must''ve been lost.¡±


    ¡°Must''ve gotten blown off course,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Poor thing. I''ll get this to the Lady, sound good?¡±


    ¡°For sure,¡± Joseph said, ¡°We''re still on for cards tonight, right? With Broon and Mekke.¡±


    ¡°Oh, geez, Mekke''s joining?¡± Rosemary grimaced, ¡°Yeah, I''m still in. But be prepared to lose, Joe.¡±


    ¡°She''s that good?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°There''s a reason why not many of us play nowadays,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Anyways, I''ll let you go back to skipping and hollering in the rain. I''m going back indoors.¡±


    ¡°Fair,¡± Joseph said. He squinted at the guards, ¡°Seems like they''re being pretty paranoid, you think?¡±


    ¡°It''s election season,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°And the Doge already suffered an assassination attempt, remember?¡±


    ¡°Mmm,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Still, they did all of the horse and pony show, instead of just taking it themselves.¡±


    ¡°They can''t really abandon their posts, I guess,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Then they wouldn''t be very good guards, would they?¡±


    ¡°I guess not.¡±


    ¡°Anyways, it''s cold,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°And there''s coffee. Want to come inside?¡±


    ¡°Nah, I''m good,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I''ve got to get back to the post office, help Nigel wrestle the letter off of the phoenix there. He''s been putting it off.¡±


    He shivered, not particularly relishing the thought of the burns that would no doubt pepper his skin when they were through.


    ¡°Well, alright,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Good luck! Take a picture for me, or something.¡±


    ¡°Will do,¡± Joseph said. He returned her bright smile, before turning back and walking down the street. Rosemary watched him go, the storm swirling around him, before she went back inside.


    ***


    The doors closed behind Rosemary with a grating, lonely boom, leaving her alone and soaked to the bone. She had only been outside for a few minutes, but already she could tell that she''d need to discard her cloak and let it dry for several days ¨C a thought that made her shiver, and not from the cold. She couldn''t understand how Joseph seemed to be just fine as he stood in the rain, seemingly oblivious that it was even there. Then, his soul was made of lightning ¨C rooms he walked in had begun to become tinged with the smell of ozone, if you were sniffing.


    She took a chance to wring water out of her once-curly hair before heading back up the stairs to Sunala''s office, stepping up the clean marble steps. Sunala''s estate had a way of being eerily silent, with the torch sconces always being half-lit, or extinguished entirely. Even the footsteps of the servants were muted and quiet. They did their best to remain out of sight, only appearing before Sunala at her beckoning.


    All of them were elves. Everyone in here, especially after the Brothers Corpo fiasco, was an elf in some shape or form (saving Rosemary herself, of course). The majority she had identified as wood elves from the myriad wooden realms that dotted the multiverse. The cook was a sea elf, only able to be identified by the scales covering her forearms and the subtle way that her pointed ears ended in thin, trailing spines. The Master of Arms for House Sunala was a dark elf, his eyes a rich violet and his skin as black as the night, and he always wore a longsword by his side. He was guarding the door to Sunala''s office as Rosemary made her way to the fifth floor.


    ¡°Hey, Braxin, I''m back,¡± Rosemary said.


    The dark elf gave a nod, opening the door and beckoning her to go inside. Sunala had hardly moved from her desk, the only thing being different was that she had picked up another book, having tossed the one she had been poring over through the morning (A Treatise on Elven Influence) into her customary pile of read books. Rain painted the window behind her, casting her in its dark gray shadow. The only light in the room, barring what little of the Inner Sun could punch through the cloud layer, was a thin candle at her desk.


    ¡°Who was it, Rosemary?¡± Sunala asked.


    ¡°Just Joseph,¡± Rosemary replied, ¡°He got a letter from the post office for you.¡±


    ¡°Ah, I had no idea your guild was expanding to a mail service,¡± Sunala gave a soft smile, gingerly plucking the sheath of wood from Rosemary''s hand, ¡°He even went through the trouble of protecting it from the rain, though that was a bit of an ignorant gesture. I presume that it came by air elemental?¡±


    ¡°Yes, milady,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°Ah, one of my contacts in Tlantoia,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Must''ve come all the way from the outer parts of the landmass. The paper''s designed to not get wet, you see.¡±


    To demonstrate, she walked over to the window, opening one of the panes and holding the unrolled scroll out in the open rain. She came back, presenting it to Rosemary, who took it in hand.


    Sure enough, there wasn''t a droplet inked into the letter.


    ¡°Wow,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°That''s pretty nifty.¡±


    She took a chance to take a gander at the letter. Much of it was in Elven, though Rosemary had picked up on enough to understand most of it.


    ¡°InterGuild?¡± she said, ¡°Your contact will be at InterGuild?¡±


    ¡°Rude, Rosemary,¡± Sunala said, taking the letter once more, ¡°But yes. His name is Adonal Adaya, and he is a member of... a small collective, shall we say, of like-minded individuals.¡±


    ¡°I thought InterGuild only allowed guilds in,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Hence, er, the name.¡±


    ¡°Another one of our gatherings is a member of the White Feathers,¡± Sunala explained, ¡°She''s invited the rest of us, and we''re using it as a business opportunity.¡±


    ¡°To help with the election, right?¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°That, and other topics,¡± Sunala said.


    She glanced down at the letter for a moment, giving it a read-over. A sudden and uncharacteristic wave of reluctance washed over the noblewoman as she read the letter a second time, putting it down and scratching at the stump of her left hand.


    ¡°Rosemary,¡± she said, ¡°I know this is rather out of the blue, but would you like to accompany me to InterGuild?¡±


    ¡°You''re going?¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°The letter is an invitation,¡± Sunala said, ¡°And I''m curious to see what you make of... of our organization. I''m interested in what you''ll think.¡±


    ¡°I don''t know if I could,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°I don''t think I''m in the running for InterGuild this year, pretty sure all the slots were claimed a while ago.¡±


    ¡°...I see,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Well, I can take a look into perhaps seeing if I can''t get a second invitation, or inviting you along.¡±


    ¡°Oh, geez,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°You don''t have to do that! I know InterGuild is insular as is. I''ll...¡±


    She shrugged.


    ¡°I''ll figure something out.¡±


    ¡°All the same, I want you to be there,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Besides, it''s InterGuild. You''d like the party.¡±


    Rosemary returned the noblewoman''s smile.


    ¡°I''d bet.¡±


    ***


    ¡°InterGuild,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Is quite the occasion. And one we''ll need.¡±


    He and G-Wiz were in his room, various paintings having been removed in favor of a conspiracy theorist''s average workday, with a diagram of the Tower of Eden covering the wall, and red string looped together, creating lines that connected parts of the Tower together. Entries and exits, major offices, and a singular, crimson circle near the Tower''s base, with writing beneath it reading ''HERE THERE BE DRAGONS'' in Ichabod''s hurried script.


    G-Wiz wanted to call him a nerd, but they had more serious discussions to go over.


    ¡°Is there something we''ll need there?¡± she said.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°A modification. To my arm.¡±


    ¡°A... modification,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Vicenorn told me of a contact he has in the Mechanics Association, that guild on Clockwork?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I know the one.¡±


    ¡°Well, apparently one of their members has a handy little device that we''ll need, one that I can slot into my arm with a bit of jury-rigging.¡±


    ¡°Neat,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°And it''ll get us... where, exactly?¡±


    To answer her question, Ichabod stepped over (nearly stomping on one of his art pieces) and pointed at the blood-red circle.


    ¡°Here,¡± he said, ¡°This door leads to an elevator that will take us down to the Tower of Eden''s lower levels. That''s where we''re going to get the information we need.¡±


    ¡°And it''s protected, then,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°Well, no,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°The average elevator¡¯s pretty easy for me to get into, then.¡±


    ¡°So, what, then?¡± G-Wiz asked.


    ¡°The door to the records is what¡¯s protected,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°So what I¡¯m to do is negotiate to obtain a rare implement, a Shardeen Cutter. It''ll be able to hack into the console they have set up for the records room.¡±


    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that door be connected to the rest of their systems?¡± G-Wiz asked, ¡°You could hack it from there.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°It''s a closed system, connected to... well, whatever they have down there. It''s not part of the main tower.¡±


    ¡°And you know this, how?¡±


    ¡°We found that out, last time,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Took us months to realize it. Made us feel like idiots, to be honest.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°And how do you know this... Shardeen Cutter, will work?¡±


    ¡°Because I used an Alloween Cutter last time,¡± Ichabod explained, ¡°Think of Cutters as a... Swiss army knife of hacking. We used an Alloween last time, and it worked¡­ to a point. A Shardeen has more options, more implements, more tools. So if for some reason they''ve changed how their system works, the Shardeen will be able to account for that.¡±


    ¡°''We,''¡± G-Wiz repeated. She poked at her keytar, before saying, ¡°You''ve done this before, haven''t you?¡±


    ¡°Yes, actually,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Before I joined the guild. What, you think I just found a diagram of the Tower of Eden lying around?¡±


    ¡°Who was the other guy?¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t just¡­ one guy,¡± Ichabod said, his voice quiet, ¡°Besides, not important.¡±


    ¡°Ichabod,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Come on, don''t be a stickler.¡±


    Ichabod turned to her, lips tightened into a cool frown.


    ¡°I wonder if we should talk about Nole?¡± he said, ¡°He loved the rain, didn''t he? Always yammering about it-¡±


    The words stung. G-Wiz blinked at the sudden reminders of her friend.


    ¡°Alright, shut the fuck up,¡± she said, ¡°You''ve made your point.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Now, InterGuild allows one to bring a plus one. And considering that I was already selected, I was wondering if you''d like to come along.¡±


    ¡°...Sure,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Now, I''ve got some shit to get done.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Ichabod said amicably.


    G-Wiz rose to leave the room. Just as her hand reached towards the knob, she turned around.


    ¡°Ichabod,¡± she said.


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    ¡°You didn''t need to say that,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°You don''t barb at me, I don''t barb at you,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Makes things simple, doesn''t it?¡±


    ¡°Like I know what does and doesn''t set you off,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°Does it matter?¡± Ichabod said, ¡°I told you what I wanted to share. I''ve been to the Tower of Eden before. That''s it. Have a good rest of your day, Galatea.¡±


    ¡°...Fine,¡± G-Wiz spat. She opened the door, and left without another word.


    ***


    The end of the week brought ¨C as was the norm ¨C more rain. Lighter this time, the Weatherfolk predicted. It seemed that whatever had created this storm, natural or otherwise, was dissipating. One of the members of the Weatherfolk insisted that the storm system had been a natural phenomena, just of a more intense sort than the usual seasonal monsoons. Her companion, a twitching, talking rat, gave the theory that the storm was a result of the eln meia on Darkheld Landmass, a result of their weather magics that their fleets often employed to boost their ships'' speed.


    Whatever the case, while the Inner Sun did not quite break through the clouds, the rain had lessened, mere pinpricks on the back and head instead of stone-like drops. A few Scuttlers had even begun walking the streets again, tentatively picking up their errands from where they left off. Joseph walked into the post office to find many of the birds gone, having been sent back out to return to their owners. A couple of Nigel''s mailmen were here as well, dressed up and removing scrolls from the cubbies and stuffing them into bags.


    ¡°Morning, Joe!¡± Nigel called from his office, ¡°Come on in. Don''t mind the racket.¡±


    Joseph smiled as he weaved his way past the birds and mailman, walking into the hobgoblin''s office and taking a seat.


    ¡°Thought that, with the rain letting up a bit, I''d clear out some of the aviary,¡± Nigel said, ¡°Coffee?¡±


    ¡°Please,¡± Joseph said, ¡°You don''t need help with anything?¡±


    ¡°No, not today,¡± Nigel said, ¡°Most of my workers actually decided to come in, which is nice. They''ll be taking their usual rounds, even bought them some umbrellas.¡±


    ¡°On the city''s coin, of course,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Of course,¡± the hobgoblin chuckled. He poured Joseph a cup, his nose wrinkling as Joseph added in far too many sugar cubes for his liking.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°I''ll never understand it,¡± Nigel said, ¡°You''re basically drinking candy.¡±


    ¡°It''s good,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I used to drink it straight black. Still do, sometimes.¡±


    ¡°So I''ve been wasting my money buying these damn creamers and cubes for you, when you could''ve just had regular coffee this entire time.¡±


    Joseph simply smiled in response, taking a sip.


    ¡°...You know what else I can''t believe?¡± Nigel said.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°You haven''t asked me if you got any mail today.¡±


    Joseph spluttered as coffee went down the wrong tube. He put his mug down, coughing it out, tears straining in the corner of his eyes.


    ¡°Right!¡± he said, ¡°Did I get anything?¡±


    ¡°...As a matter of fact,¡± Nigel said, ¡°You did.¡±


    He presented a faded, beat-up old scroll, laying it down on the desk between them.


    ¡°Came in from that bird in the corner there,¡± he said, ¡°The one with two heads.¡±


    Joseph picked the scroll up, unreeling it and giving it a read.


    Dear Joseph,


    I hope this letter finds you well.


    I''m writing this letter after following up with you on matters pertaining to what occurred a little while back.


    ¡°Probably doesn''t want to get too specific,¡± Joseph muttered to himself.


    I have found my contact I told you about before, and I am taking him as my plus one to InterGuild. Please ensure that you arrive at InterGuild within the first three days of its commencement, and go to the bar known as the Bookish Wyrm within the hours of four and six in the evening. My contact is not willing to meet at any other time, and when I tried to convince him of using a venue besides InterGuild, he declined. He sees the business opportunities there that he would not enjoy otherwise.


    This is your best chance, Joseph. Make use of it. I will see you when we dream again.


    -M


    Joseph nodded, putting the letter down, his eyes hard as he took another sip of his coffee.


    He wished it were black.


    ¡°Well, there''s that, then,¡± he said.


    ¡°Bad news?¡± Nigel said, ¡°Did they break up with you?¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Joseph blinked, ¡°Oh, no, nothing like that.¡±


    ¡°Ah, good,¡± Nigel said, ¡°Wouldn¡¯t want to see your heart broken, lad.¡±


    He let out a chuckle, though it fell away as he noticed Joseph glaring at the wall.


    ¡°...Everything alright?¡± he asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s¡­ I just hoped I wouldn''t have to find some way to get to InterGuild,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Ah,¡± Nigel said, ¡°That''s that big guild thing, right?¡±


    ¡°Big meeting point of guilds,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I didn''t know this when I was talking to the guy who wrote me this letter, but the Amber Foundation only lets a few of its members go each year.¡±


    ¡°And,¡± Nigel said, ¡°Let me guess. You''re not on the list.¡±


    ¡°I wasn''t even here when they made the list,¡± Joseph said, ¡°So now...¡±


    He leaned back in his chair.


    ¡°Now, I''m going to have to figure out some way to get there.¡±

 64. Alliances Made

    Rosemary returned back to Castle Belenus late at night, when the Inner Sun had extinguished and the world was hued night. The only source of light came from her sceptre, which glowed merrily in the darkness as she walked down rain-choked streets. It was, thankfully, no longer raining, though clouds still covered the sky above and drowned out the usual rainbow miasma of the other landmasses.


    She was alone as she walked, skipping over deep puddles, all of Scuttleway eerily quiet as she went down the main roads and up the steps to the guildhall''s entrance. Warmth greeted her as soon as she opened the door, a burst of heat that felt heavenly as she stepped into the faded orange of the Great Hall. Most of the guild had already gone to bed ¨C it was well past midnight at this point, by her account. No one to say hello to poor, tired Rosemary as she began making her way to the nearest staircase up to her room.


    Only for something to catch her eye.


    Someone was in the library, the usually dark room lit by a blue light. Rosemary broke into a smile as she made her way over.


    There was Joseph, in his customary spot at one of the tables, deep rings underscoring his eyes, his hands shaking with exhaustion as he turned the pages of a book. His soul hovered over his shoulder, its claws curled over a mug of coffee, the entire kettle situated by a small pile of books. The soul''s eyes flickered as Rosemary went inside.


    ¡°''Sup, Joe,¡± she said.


    ¡°Hey, Rosemary,¡± Joseph said. He stifled a yawn as he gave her his full attention, ¡°Top of the morning, and all that shit.¡±


    ¡°Ha,¡± she said, ¡°Whatcha up to?¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡± Joseph blinked, and then he gave a start as he woke himself up, ¡°Oh, yeah. Um... I''m doing research.¡±


    ¡°I can see that,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Mind if I sit down?¡±


    ¡°Sure,¡± Joseph said.


    She took a seat as Joseph turned another page over, giving it a quick glance before spinning the book around to show her. She peered down, squinting in the harsh azure light to read the individual paragraphs.


    ¡°InterGuild...¡± she said, ¡°This is a history of guilds, right?¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Joseph said, ¡°The Law of InterGuild. The First Establishment. The Treaty of Midnight. All of that good stuff. Mostly, I''m looking up any ways I can possibly go.¡±


    ¡°So you want to go too, huh?¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph said, ¡°You too?¡±


    ¡°Yup.¡±


    He was quiet as he poured out a cup of coffee to Rosemary, offering it to her. Despite the quiet, nagging voice in the back of her head telling her to go to bed, Rosemary took it, grabbing a couple of sugar cubes by the kettle and dropping them in. She took a sip, savoring its warmth.


    ¡°I''ll tell you why I want to go if you tell me why you want to,¡± she said.


    ¡°...Deal,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I''ve... I found a contact while I was on Prime.¡±


    ¡°A metahuman one?¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph said, ¡°He said... He said he knew a guy, and they''d be at InterGuild.¡±


    ¡°Oh, geez,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°And he can tell you how to get home?¡±


    ¡°He knows more about the sarcophagi that stranded me out here,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Which is...¡±


    He went quiet.


    ¡°It''s the furthest I''ve gotten,¡± he said.


    ¡°Damn,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°And Wakeling hasn''t been much help?¡±


    She knew then she had said the wrong thing, as Joseph all but glared at her. No, through her. His was a general vision of anger, not directed at any one specific thing, for the object of his frustration was above them, in the castle''s tallest tower.


    ¡°No,¡± he said, ¡°She hasn''t.¡±


    ¡°I mean, she''s busy,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°Sure, whatever,¡± Joseph said, taking a deep breath, ¡°Anyways, what do you want to do there?¡±


    ¡°Lady Sunala,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Joseph said, ¡°What''s she want you to do this time?¡±


    ¡°She wants me to meet a few people,¡± she said, ¡°Some people from her organization.¡±


    ¡°Like, from Busciver''s crowd?¡±


    ¡°No, I think from the Elven Committee of Exploration,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Or, something like that.¡±


    ¡°More elves, then,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Yup,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°It''s... It''s been nice, you know? The Lady Sunala''s smart. She''s been teaching me a lot.¡±


    Joseph gave her a smile.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said, ¡°So it''s pretty stupid that Wakeling''s only taking a few of us to InterGuild.¡±


    ¡°I mean, it''s a big opportunity,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°A real treat. You get to meet other guilds, learn about new technologies and spells, make connections, all that good stuff.¡±


    ¡°Then how come they don''t let you choose if you want to go or not?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Because there wouldn''t be enough people left here to actually do guildwork,¡± Rosemary replied.


    ¡°That''s... Okay, that''s stupid, but it''s an understandable stupid,¡± Joseph said. He pulled the book back over to his side of the table, flipping it around and turning a few pages, ¡°I think I''ve got a deal for you.¡±


    ¡°Shoot.¡±


    ¡°We both want to go to InterGuild, right?¡±


    ¡°Right.¡±


    Evidently, he found the page he was looking for, pointing a finger at a specific paragraph.


    ¡°Says here, we get a plus one,¡± he said.


    Rosemary returned his grin.


    ¡°So, we go up and we ask Wakeling if one of us can go, and we take the other.¡±


    ¡°Exactly,¡± Joseph said, ¡°And if not...¡±


    ¡°We kill someone who was supposed to go and take their place!¡±


    Joseph blinked.


    ¡°No, sorry,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Bad joke. We, uh, strike a deal with them? Bribe them?¡±


    ¡°Figure out something,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Alright, Mr. Zheng,¡± Rosemary extended a hand, ¡°You got yerself a pardner.¡±


    ¡°Looks lak it,¡± Joseph drawled, ¡°Howdy, and all that.¡±


    They shook. And that was that.


    ***


    ¡°Well,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°This is certainly a... Well, I wouldn''t say a surprise, but something unexpected.¡±


    Joseph and Rosemary stood at her desk, having made their way to her office the next morning. Wakeling was in her customary spot at her desk, a grand tome of magic unveiled in front of her. The enchanted roof above wasn''t stormy and rain-conquered like outside, but rather a deep blue, nary a cloud in the sky. Joseph wondered what kind of plane Wakeling had come from. Perhaps it was always sunny, and this monsoon season made her melancholic.


    Or, perhaps, she just didn''t like rain.


    Whatever the case, he wasn''t here to think about some old bat''s weather preferences.


    ¡°I mean, it sounds interesting, right?¡± Joseph said, ¡°It''s like a convention. And there''ll be vendors.¡±


    ¡°We can go shopping!¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°Yeah, and, I dunno, dress up nice and all that.¡±


    The magic tome closed up with a dry slap. Wakeling took her eyes off of the book and floated upwards off of her pillow so that she could see eye-to-eye with the both of them, floating a hair higher than Rosemary to meet Joseph''s face.


    ¡°What are you both after?¡±


    ¡°...The Lady Sunala''s invited me to meet some of her associates,¡± Rosemary said.


    Joseph saw the guildmaster''s eyes flicker to the wall, as though she were looking out past Castle Belenus and towards the noblewoman''s manor. Rosemary didn''t seem to notice, but there was an almost imperceptible glint in Wakeling''s eye at the mention of Sunala.


    ¡°I''m glad that you''ve ingratiated yourself so well with her, Ms. Rosemary,¡± she said, ¡°Tell me, did she mention another guild?¡±


    ¡°Umm,¡± Rosemary bit her lip, ¡°Yes. One of her associates, he works for the White Feathers.¡±


    ¡°The White Feathers,¡± she said, ¡°Interesting enough.¡±


    ¡°What''s their deal?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Nothing major,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°They''re a primarily Elven guild, operating out of the Re-Founded Kingdoms. Their guildmaster is known to be... rather opinionated, shall we say.¡±


    But she turned her attention back to Joseph.


    ¡°And you, Mr. Zheng?¡± she said, ¡°Is our library getting a bit small for you?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I... I met someone while on Prime. He said he''d hook me up with some knowledge. On the sarcophagi.¡±


    Rosemary noted that Joseph had to take a breath before revealing that last part. Wakeling nodded, closing her eyes.


    ¡°Well,¡± she said, ¡°I can''t fault you for wanting to find out more about Anut¨¦ and Inweth. They are mysteries, for sure.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°But I feel like I must reiterate my warning to you, Mr. Zheng. Stay away from them. They''ve been claimed by Agrippa, and I don''t want you getting anywhere near him.¡±


    ¡°Alright, sure,¡± Joseph said, ¡°But I still want to go.¡±


    The guildmaster nodded, apparently accepting their arguments. She sized both of them up. For a moment, Joseph felt a thrill of something akin to hope. Rosemary''s heart began drumming up in anticipation.


    But then...


    ¡°I''ll tell you two the same thing I''ve told everyone who has come up here,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°If you want to be included in the party going to this year''s InterGuild, you must negotiate with a guildmember who is already going, and get their express permission, in writing, that you will be taking their place.¡±


    They both blinked.


    ¡°Now, if that''s all you two have for me today, I''ve got quite a bit of paperwork to get done,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Mallory and Broon botched the Arkosis job, so now we''ve got a lawsuit on our hands.¡±


    ¡°Y-Yikes,¡± Rosemary said, still reeling a bit from Wakeling''s blunt rejection, ¡°Tell Glonthek we said hi.¡±


    ***


    ¡°Okay,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Okay, okay, okay.¡±


    She took a deep breath. They had made their way down to the library, where Joseph had left his small piles of books the night before. He and Barbara had made an agreement: he got to leave his books at night, and she didn''t have to fly down to see him still in the library at four in the morning. As such, even the kettles of coffee were still there waiting for them, though because of Lazuli''s recent exploits, Joseph set them aside, grabbing a new, steaming hot kettle from the kitchen. He set it down as Rosemary tapped her finger against the table.


    ¡°Okay!¡± she said.


    ¡°Okay?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Not what I was expecting,¡± she said, ¡°I mean, she was pretty sour when she gave us our answer.¡±


    ¡°Probably because everyone else in the guild''s asked her,¡± Joseph said, ¡°She''s probably had it with InterGuild already.¡±


    ¡°Imagine being the guildmaster, having to deal with all that bureaucracy,¡± Rosemary began pouring pure creamer into an empty mug, before adding a bit of coffee on top, ¡°I couldn''t handle it.¡±


    ¡°Must be why she drinks so much,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°I hear that her species subsists almost entirely on wine,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°It''s the only thing they can drink, anything else is like poison.¡±


    ¡°That,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Sounds like bullshit.¡±


    The elf snorted.


    ¡°Anyways,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Our first strategy failed. We asked, as though that did anything. Time for Plan B.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°I asked around, and I got a list of everyone who''s going to InterGuild this year.¡±


    She looked around for a second, before walking over and grabbing one of the mobile chalkboards, dragging it over to their table. She began writing a list of names, the white chalk scraping against the black slate, making Joseph''s hair stand on edge:


    WAKELING


    BECENTI


    BROON


    EZEL


    MEKKE


    SHAMBLING


    TEK


    ICHABOD


    ¡°Who the hell is Shambling?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Not surprised you haven''t met her,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°She''s a bit of a recluse. An alien, from Aetum Hisemtu.¡±


    ¡°Neat,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°But can you believe it?¡± Rosemary said, ¡°A hundred guildmembers, and they choose eight?¡±


    ¡°That''s pretty arbitrary,¡± Joseph said, ¡°But it''s technically sixteen, if those guildmembers chosen each take a plus one.¡±Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°Do you know if anyone''s undecided on that front?¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°Not sure,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Maybe Broon? He was talking about maybe taking Moogi, or Lazuli, but I bet you we can convince him to take one of us.¡±


    ¡°Or let us take his place,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°True,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°Let me talk to Becenti,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I''ll see if I can''t get him to take me along. Let''s talk to Broon together. Same with Ezel, she seems to like both of us.¡±


    ¡°Sounds good,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Alright, let''s get to it.¡±


    ***


    ¡°I''m sorry, Mr. Zheng,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Oh, come on,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I haven''t said anything.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Becenti said, ¡°But you''re the third person to ask me about the InterGuild job this week.¡±


    They were out in the stables, a bit of a ways from Castle Belenus, sharing the back gardens with the guildhall. The only animals that made their homes here, however, were Becenti''s krem, the horse-sized, six-legged goats taking up two stalls each.


    They liked their space, you see. Becenti had four of the animals, a mated pair he had bought when he had first joined the guild, as well as two sisters that he had saved while on a job on Sucondra Landmass.


    Elenry had, the week before, given Becenti a final look-over, before declaring him fit for duty. Or at least, fit to return to his regular chores and paperwork. She had warned him, very pointedly, that if he got into another scrap, she would confine him to the infirmary for the rest of his life. So he was being careful with the jobs he chose.


    Still...


    ¡°The Titania Amber is still heavily damaged,¡± Becenti said, as he filled one of the feeding buckets with a combination of corn and hay. He gave the krem ¨C one of the sisters ¨C a pat around the horns before moving on.


    ¡°Yeah, and?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°And I need to take Urash along to help me with negotiations,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I was thinking of inviting you, actually, but...¡±


    He paused, evidently thinking of words to say.


    ¡°I thought it better to give you a break, after everything I''ve been putting you through.¡±


    There was a quiet guilt in his voice. Joseph''s glare lessened.


    ¡°Hey,¡± he said, ¡°You''re good. You know that, right? You''re not forcing me to do anything I wouldn''t agree to.¡±


    ¡°Still,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Perhaps the experiences I''ve been taking you on are a bit too harsh.¡±


    Tell me about it, but Joseph didn''t say that out loud.


    ¡°Besides,¡± the older man continued, ¡°This is a case where I need to put the needs of the guild ahead of my personal wants. Urash has connections.¡±


    ¡°And you can''t just... open up another slot for him?¡± Joseph said, ¡°Come on, Becenti, eight people, plus a friend? That''s pretty strict. Can''t you convince Wakeling to, I don''t know, just let him go by himself?¡±


    ¡°Oh, it''s not Vyde''s rule,¡± Becenti said, shoveling in another bucketful of food, ¡°It''s mine.¡±


    Joseph blinked.


    ¡°Yours.¡±


    ¡°InterGuild is one of the most important events of the year,¡± Becenti said, ¡°It''s both a convention, as well as a meeting of the minds in multiple different fields of industry and science. It has over two thousand individual guilds there at any one time.¡±


    ¡°So, a lot of people,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Indeed. It¡¯s quite the opportunity¡± Becenti said, ¡°Including, unfortunately, to join another guild.¡±


    The thought hadn''t occurred to Joseph. He chewed the inside of his cheek in thought.


    ¡°So by limiting the number of people who can go, you reduce the chance of another guild poaching away your members.¡±


    ¡°Precisely, Mr. Zheng,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Wakeling says that we''ve lost around forty members throughout our history to InterGuild, and we''re hoping that number rises very slowly.¡±


    ¡°Putting the guild ahead of personal wants,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Correct,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I implemented the rule around fifteen years ago, and so far people have been fine with it. Besides, it breeds a healthy sort of competition, wouldn''t you say? Keeps people on their toes, and doing their best.¡±


    ¡°So only the best get to go,¡± Joseph said, ¡°No special treatments.¡±


    ¡°I never give special treatment, Mr. Zheng,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Even to me?¡±


    The older man stopped his chores, turning and fixing Joseph with a stony look.


    ¡°I have never given you special treatment, Mr. Zheng. I have taken you on the various jobs with me because of your competence and reliability.¡±


    ¡°Really, now,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Even the one on Prime?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Our client for that one insisted on only taking metahumans, making us the only two options. But had you proven yourself to be irregular or unprepared for the tasks at hand, I would have left you here. I would have gone alone.¡±


    He turned back to his work, and the way he continued shoveling slop into the buckets was a hair forceful.


    ¡°Had you proven that you could not control your metahuman abilities,¡± he continued, ¡°I would not have taken you to the station on Ermen III. Or to Chliofrond. I might have even recommended to Wakeling you leave the guild entirely, no matter the deals you had with her.¡±


    Joseph was quiet at that. Becenti, finished with his work in the stable, gave a satisfied nod and scratched his billy krem''s ears.


    ¡°You have been chosen for those jobs because of your own competence, Mr. Zheng,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I share metahuman history with you because that is your birthright. But the actual jobs you''re assigned, the planes you visit on behalf of the Amber Foundation, are because you''ve shown yourself to be powerful, reliable, and quick-witted.¡±


    The billy krem let out a deep, baritone bleat. Becenti, in answer, put another scoopful of food into his bucket.


    ¡°But I cannot take you as my secondary to InterGuild,¡± he said, ¡°I''m sorry, Mr. Zheng.¡±


    ¡°It''s... It''s fine,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Thanks for, ah, being cool.¡±


    He wasn''t sure what to say aside from that. A bit red-faced from the blunt compliments, Joseph walked out of the stable.


    ***


    ¡°So no deal, then,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°You should be glad,¡± Joseph said, ¡°If Becenti let me go, I''d probably throw you under the bus and be on my way.¡±


    ¡°You wouldn''t!¡± Rosemary gave him a smirk, ¡°You dick!¡±


    ¡°Alright, I wouldn''t,¡± Joseph said.


    They had rendezvoused back at the Great Hall, walking together towards the infirmary together. Where Broon was, after the Arkosis job. They stopped at the closed door, both of them preparing for the next conversation.


    ¡°Right,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Let me take the lead. You back me up, got it?¡±


    ¡°How should I back you up?¡± Joseph said, ¡°How are we doing this? Good cop, bad cop?¡±


    ¡°God, no,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Look, when he looks like he''s going to say no, just start crying.¡±


    ¡°I''m not going to cry,¡± Joseph objected, ¡°I''ll, I don''t know, make some good points.¡±


    ¡°God, alright, nerd,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Let''s go.¡±


    She knocked on the door. A moment later, Elenry opened up.


    ¡°Hey, El,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Can we see Broon?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Elenry said. The gloivel opened the door up fully, letting the two inside. Broon was in one of the beds, a puke-yellow gel covering the right side of his face that, as they approached, gave off a stench of something awful. Elenry had, mercifully, given the half-orc a pin to squeeze his nostrils shut, as he turned to them.


    ¡°Hey!¡± he said.


    ¡°''Sup, Broon,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°What happened to your face?¡± Rosemary asked, worried.


    ¡°The Arkosis job happened,¡± Broon said. He waved his hand as Rosemary opened her mouth again, ¡°It''s nothing. It''s fine. Just a little spat with another guild that went south.¡±


    ¡°Dude,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Did they get you with the yellow stuff?¡±


    ¡°What? No,¡± Broon said, ¡°The yellow goo''s here to help with the burns. The other guild''s known as the Firedrakes, Joseph.¡±


    ¡°Ah,¡± Joseph said, ¡°That tracks.¡±


    He gave a pointed look to Rosemary, who was frowning, genuine concern in her eyes. She glanced back at him, was reminded of why they were here, and turned back to Broon.


    ¡°Uhm, Broon?¡± she said, ¡°I know this isn''t the best time, but... Do you think you could take Joseph or me as your plus one to InterGuild?¡±


    The half-orc''s single good eye slid between the two of them.


    ¡°Ah, hell,¡± he said, ¡°I''m sorry, guys, but I already selected my secondary for the trip. I was going to leave it open in case anyone asked, but...¡±


    ¡°Who?¡± Rosemary asked.


    ¡°Glonthek,¡± Broon said, ¡°He''s going to be talking with the Firedrakes'' lawyers to hash out a deal. He''s coming to the guildhall itself sometime tomorrow to talk with Wakeling and Becenti.¡±


    ¡°...You''re telling me that, out of everyone in the guild, you''re taking our lawyer?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Hey, usually he''d be nowhere near InterGuild,¡± Broon said, ¡°We don''t want vultures taking our vulture, and all that, but this is a special case. The fight with the Firedrakes, it got a bit nasty.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Joseph said.


    Broon sighed.


    ¡°Look, I''m sorry, guys. You''re not the first person to ask me ¨C I think Lazuli, Phineas, Gluh mentioned wanting to go this year, too. And my answer to them is the one I would''ve given to you: I usually choose my secondary a few days before we leave.¡±


    ¡°But not this year,¡± Rosemary murmured.


    ¡°No,¡± Broon said, ¡°Now, Ezel still hasn''t picked anyone ¨C we like to coordinate, see ¨C so she might-¡±


    ¡°Ezel still hasn''t?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°I-¡± Broon said, ¡°No, she-¡±


    ¡°Go, Joseph!¡± Rosemary shouted, ¡°Go!¡±


    As one, they rushed out of the infirmary, leaving Broon hanging. The half-orc settled down, giving a defeated huff. Elenry came over to his bed, laying a tray with a healing potion down on the nightstand.


    ¡°InterGuild,¡± she spat, ¡°What a rude affair.¡±


    ¡°You''re telling me,¡± Broon said.


    She didn''t leave as he took the potion in hand, using one of his stubby tusks to pop it open. Broon gave her a look.


    ¡°The answer''s the same to you, too,¡± he said, ¡°Glonthek''s my plus one. Sorry, El.¡±


    ¡°Damn,¡± the gloivel said, ¡°It was worth a shot, I suppose.¡±


    ***


    Ezel had a room to herself, located on the fifth floor of the east tower. Joseph and Rosemary all but ran across the guildhall, making their way up to the spiraling staircase, dodging past guildmembers as they went, Joseph jostling a tray that Rorshin was carrying, ignoring the druid¡¯s angry roars as he went. Rosemary was taking the stairs two at a time, practically leaping to each step, jumping over railings to gain more ground like a professional parkour artist. It was all Joseph could do to keep up with her.


    The demigod''s room was up on the fifth floor, down a couple of halls. Right before her door was a circular common room, one that she shared with Tiger and Lylana, a small table in the room''s center and a couple of beanbags off to the side, a painting of a tree on the leftmost wall.


    The only other occupant of the room was Lazuli. The android seemed to be steeling himself up, taking a deep, electronic breath and leaning against the table. He glanced up to Joseph and Rosemary, and Joseph could swear he seemed to freeze in place at the sight of them. They did too, eyeing him suspiciously.


    ¡°...What''s up, guys?¡± Lazuli said.


    ¡°Hey, Laz,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°Up to your usual pranks, are you?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°No, no,¡± Lazuli said, ¡°Just... taking a breather.¡±


    ¡°Taking a breather?¡± Joseph repeated.


    ¡°Yep.¡±


    The elf and the metahuman shared a look. They both remembered Broon''s words ¨C that Lazuli was one of the people who wanted to go to InterGuild. Rosemary''s eyes squinted as they slid over to consider the android. Lazuli was giving them his usual, slightly mischievous, intentionally disarming smile. But despite the fact that he was a robot with a monitor for a face, he could not hide his emotions, the way his glass and metal fingers clacked nervously on the table, the way his body was twisting away from them.


    As though ready to-


    To bolt.


    ¡°Joe, grab him!¡± Rosemary shouted.


    Both metahuman and android moved at once, Lazuli turning to rush toward Ezel''s door, Joseph extending out an arm. His soul burst free from his pointed finger, the entire eagle erupting like a genie from the lamp as its claws snarled at Lazuli, the barest end of a talon scoring against the back of the android''s chassis.


    It was enough to dig in, the soul pulling its arm back, sling-shotting Lazuli to Joseph, who grabbed at him with arms both organic and electric. The two wrestled to the ground as Lazuli kicked and screamed, jabbing an elbow into Joseph''s stomach, knocking the wind out of him.


    But not the soul, who continued to wrap its arms around the android like twin pythons.


    ¡°Go, Rosemary!¡± Joseph snarled, ¡°Go!¡±


    The elf didn''t need any more encouragement, as she leaped over the tangle of metal and plasma and ran towards Ezel''s door, swinging it open and running inside.


    Ezel was sitting cross-legged in the center of the room, the entire place unnaturally quiet, the sounds of Lazuli and Joseph''s struggles dimming, then going out completely. A pool was in the room''s center, from which a great tendril of water rose to keep Ezel aloft, a wave frozen mid-deluge. Her eyes opened to consider Rosemary, and a thin hand came up to brush dark hairs out of her eyes.


    ¡°Hello, Rosemary,¡± she said.


    ¡°Hey, Ezel,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°I... I think you know why I''m here?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Ezel said, ¡°I have no secondary.¡±


    ¡°Sweet,¡± Rosemary said. She cleared her throat and stood up straight, ¡°So, let''s talk, then. Let me tell you the reasons why I think either me or Joseph should be plus one.¡±


    A smile crept onto the demigod''s face.


    ¡°You or Joseph?¡± she said.


    ¡°We''ve got a deal,¡± Rosemary replied, ¡°We''re helping each other out. Either we replace someone going, or team up to secure two secondary positions for InterGuild.¡±


    ¡°Well, it''s not every day you think of an alliance,¡± Ezel said.


    ¡°Y-Yeah,¡± Rosemary admitted, ¡°But, uh, two heads are better than one, yeah?¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Ezel said, ¡°Very well, present your arguments.¡±


    Rosemary took a deep breath, and began her little speech.


    ¡°Right,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°So I want to go because of Sunala, she invited me to a little meeting with other elves, and I want to go, right? And Joseph, he''s got a metahuman thing, which seems to be all he ever does, but there''s a chance he''ll get the means to go back to Earth if he can meet with his contact there, and-¡±


    ¡°Rosemary,¡± Ezel said, ¡°Why are you helping Joseph?¡±


    Rosemary blinked.


    ¡°You could easily just tell me that you''re alone, and I would consider you as my secondary,¡± Ezel said, ¡°You''re at a crossroads right now, in this very room. You could, for want of a better term, throw Joseph under the bus, and you''d be good for InterGuild.¡±


    The elf was quiet at that. Her blustering was gone, as she grabbed the hem of her cloak and began wrapping it between her fingers.


    ¡°Well,¡± she said, ¡°He''s my friend.¡±


    ¡°That much is obvious,¡± Ezel said, ¡°But all is fair, when it comes to InterGuild. You have your own career to think about.¡±


    ¡°First off, that''s kind of toxic,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°I¡¯d be nowhere without the people around me. And that includes Joe. But second, I want to go, but I also want Joe to go, you know? He''s trapped out here. He didn''t join the guild by choice.¡±


    ¡°Some of us don''t have the luxury of choosing,¡± Ezel said, with a hint of sadness.


    Rosemary was quiet for a moment. She turned to the door, to make sure that Joseph wasn¡¯t somehow listening in.


    ¡°Is it¡­ Is it alright if I¡¯m honest with you?¡± she asked Ezel.


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    ¡°...I look in Joseph¡¯s eyes,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°And I see... I see a real anger in them. Like he''s just barely holding himself back. Like he¡¯s biting down everything, and one day it¡¯s all going to come out, and he¡¯s going to do something drastic.¡±


    ¡°And you think that him returning to Earth will help with that?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Maybe. I don''t know,¡± Rosemary wilted, ¡°But it''s the only way I can think of that could help him.¡±


    ¡°Rosemary,¡± Ezel said, ¡°You were there when Joseph first planeshifted, weren''t you?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I was.¡±


    ¡°That anger, in his eyes. Was it there then?¡±


    Rosemary blinked.


    For it had been, even back then.


    ¡°Your willingness to help your friend is admirable, Rosemary,¡± Ezel said, ¡°Be ready for that day, hm? But for now, this is what I will do for you.¡±


    She smiled, and gave her offer.


    ***


    ¡°Let me go, Joe!¡± Lazuli coughed.


    ¡°I don''t think-¡± Joseph''s soul curled out, wrapping around the android''s left arm and pinning it down, ¡°I don''t think I will.¡±


    ¡°Come on, man, don''t be an asshole,¡± Lazuli said, his legs kicking, ¡°You''re going to kill me!¡±


    ¡°Believe me,¡± Joseph grunted, gritting his teeth as Lazuli slipped an arm free once more and wailed it into his side, ¡°B-Believe me! The entire guild would be better off.¡±


    ¡°Low blow, Joe,¡± Lazuli said, mock hurt in his voice, ¡°I have poor self-esteem and also trust issues.¡±


    ¡°You''re also a psychopath,¡± Joseph said. With an effort, he extricated his human form from the wrestling match, one that had knocked the table in the middle of the room over. The link between himself and his soul trailed down to his foot, reminding him vaguely of an extension cord. Lazuli floundered and flailed as the soul lifted him up in two arms, ignoring the cold pain that the android''s struggles produced with each kick and punch.


    ¡°Come on, man,¡± Lazuli said, ¡°This is unfair. You ambushed me.¡±


    ¡°Sorry, Lazuli,¡± Joseph said, ¡°All is fair in love and war.¡±


    ¡°Is this war?¡± Lazuli said.


    ¡°Not really,¡± Joseph admitted, ¡°Only if you make it.¡±


    ¡°...Is this love?¡± Lazuli''s monitor gave a blushing emoji.


    Joseph was quiet, considering those words. Then he shrugged.


    ¡°All I know is that I want to get to InterGuild, and Rosemary and I are teaming up for it.¡±


    ¡°I want a cut in,¡± Lazuli said, going limp, ¡°Let me go, and I''ll help get us all to InterGuild. Deal?¡±


    Joseph grit his teeth. Was the deal worth it? Was Lazuli legit? Or did he just want to get free so he could run into Ezel''s room? He couldn''t imagine the android wrestling Rosemary right in front of Ezel ¨C that could easily get them both into trouble, as well as removed from Ezel''s consideration.


    But then, Lazuli was just petty enough to go for a scorched earth tactic like that.


    ¡°Sorry, Laz,¡± Joseph said, ¡°No deal. Sorry, man.¡±


    Lazuli let out a stream of curses, right as Rosemary walked out. There was a knit, thoughtful expression on her face.


    ¡°Is it done?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°You can let Lazuli go, now.¡±


    Joseph complied, lowering the android to the ground. Lazuli immediately broke free and rushed towards Ezel''s door as Joseph and Rosemary made their way back downstairs. They were halfway down the first flight when they heard the android''s angry ¡°FUCK!¡± from Ezel''s room.


    ¡°So?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°She said she''d let one of us be secondary, but only if we get the other to InterGuild, too.¡±


    ¡°So we both go, or neither of us,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°That''s right,¡± Rosemary said.


    They were both a bit quiet as they went down the next flight of stairs.


    ¡°Let''s wait a second,¡± Joseph said, dodging down a hallway, ¡°I don''t want to run into Rorshin again.¡±


    ¡°There''s a landing down this hall here,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°It''s got vines on the outside of the guildhall, we can use them to climb down.¡±


    ¡°I have to ask myself, am I that desperate?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°You want to be a frog for the next week?¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Rorshin¡¯s in a mood.¡±


    ¡°...No,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Alright, lead the way.¡±


    They went out towards the landing, Rosemary leering at the cloud cover above, they stepped onto the stone railing and wrapped hands around the thick vines spider-webbing the eastern tower''s surface. Joseph was careful as he went, at some point manifesting his soul to help him with additional holds. Rosemary, who had done this nigh-on a hundred times, squirreled down like it was nothing. The vines networked down to the gardens below, and the two of them made their way down, landing solidly on the earth.


    ¡°Jesus,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Never suggest that again.¡±


    ¡°What, were you scared?¡± Rosemary smirked, ¡°Alright, so we''ve got potentially one down. Who''s up next?¡±


    ¡°We''ve got...¡± Joseph thought, ¡°Mekke. Shambling. Wakeling ¨C although she''d probably say ''no'' ¨C Ichabod, and Tek.¡±


    ¡°Let''s tackle them separately,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°You talk to Mekke. I''ll talk to Shambling.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Good luck.¡±


    ¡°You too.¡±


    They split off from one another. Joseph could see Mekke in the garden. Rosemary knew Shambling always remained in her room at all times, so she began making her way towards the southern tower. Overhead, the tail end of the storm curled, and though no rain had fallen today, the thunder warned of another deluge.


    It was proving to be an interesting day.

 65. Deals Struck

    The southern tower of Castle Belenus should have been given a proper name.


    The Southern Tower.


    There.


    The Southern Tower was perhaps the most interesting of the seven towers that made up Castle Belenus. All of the six surrounding spires of the castle were there to account for the castle''s defense in times of war ¨C places from which one would fire arrows and hurl stones down at the enemy below (or, in a guild''s case, spells and plasma grenades).


    But the Southern Tower was squatter than the others, as though stunted. Not enough milk, by Rosemary''s estimate. Those such as Urash had always despised this eccentric part of the guildhall. Whenever the dwarf looked up at the Southern Tower (which was often, as his rooms were located there) his brow furrowed and his nose crinkled up, pulling his beard along with it.


    ¡°It''s like the seed that grew the castle was off,¡± he would say, ¡°Don''t like it. Titania Amber should''ve just built the damn thing by hand.¡±


    The Belgone merchant prince had gone as far as petitioning Wakeling multiple times to add new additions to the Southern Tower. But he was always rebuffed. The guildhall was like a tree, growing in accordance to its wishes and wants. It would not be added to, not unless it gave express permission.


    Rosemary smiled at that. Few would admit it, but Castle Belenus was alive, living and creaking like an ancient tree, sandstone instead of bark, a foundation of concrete instead of roots, roof shingles instead of leaves. And thus, the Southern Tower stayed, a small enigma, with far more hidden passages than the other parts of the guildhall, far more secret rooms, even an entire floor hidden beneath the floorboards that few knew of. Rosemary had considered using it to her advantage, but she didn''t quite like being underground ¨C or underwater, after Chliofrond ¨C and thus left it be.


    For now.


    No one knew what the future would bring, after all.


    She entered the Southern Tower via its main doors in the Great Hall, opening it up and beginning to go up the spiral staircase. The dimming day filtered orange through the apricot windows as she climbed. It was always a nostalgic feeling, climbing through Castle Belenus. It often reminded one of walking through their childhood, and though Rosemary''s own had been... fraught, it still brought back memories of better times. Of eating honey fresh from the hive, of warm summer days, of watching knights-in-training flit about the skies on gossamer wings, dreaming that one day she could join them on the winds.


    Or snag one of them as a husband, she had been too much of a romantic as a kid.


    Another aspect of the Southern Tower''s unique nature was the inhabitants, and their own (sometimes selfish) needs. The second floor was a wing entirely dedicated to Urash, rooms upon rooms of books and contracts that the dwarf had collected over the years, floating hands sorting them and keeping them in their places. Even a multiversal guild like the Amber Foundation had to pay taxes, and Urash was in charge of making sure the filings and deposits went out to both Scuttleway and the High Federation on time. He had tried explaining how it all worked to Rosemary once, and she had spent the rest of the day with a migraine.


    Along those were Urash''s spellbooks and theorems. Magic, to the Belgones, was a hobby. A means to defend oneself, a side piece compared to the greater world of economics. But it was there, and he even had a few halfhearted experiments set up, as Rosemary went down one of the halls to the next set of stairs. A small ruby suspended in air, from which two other rubies circled around like atoms. She didn''t know the reasoning behind it, but it looked interesting enough.


    Shrugging, Rosemary went up the stairs.


    The third floor was, as of right now, unoccupied. It had belonged, once upon a day, to one of Titania Amber''s techno-mages, a being that Wakeling had described as ''parasitic, an asshole, and a good friend.'' As such, nearly the entire wing was mossed over with a technological spread of some sort, black, with neon yellow lines scored through. It was as though she were walking out of a medieval castle and into a world more in line with Ichabod''s sensibilities.


    And it did not escape her of just how thorough this techno-mage''s job had been done, and how much of Castle Belenus he had altered, without Wakeling''s ¨C nor the guildhall''s ¨C permission.


    The fifth floor was what Rosemary was after. The door here, unlike all of the others, was sealed shut. There was a chest by the door, inside which were a pile of gas masks, one which Rosemary took and snapped on. She clicked a button on the side, breathing in deep, squinting a bit as her vision became blurred by the mask''s smeary eyepieces.


    She unlatched the door and went inside. The temperature immediately increased ¨C from cool to muggy, almost humid. Plants funneled up and down the walls, slipping between the cracks between sandstone brick, reminding Rosemary of Chliofrond. She went up the spiraling staircase, being careful not to slip on the oddly slick steps.


    All of the fifth floor of the Southern Tower had been terraformed. Through careful spellwork, a weather machine bought from Blue Sky Waiting on faraway Methuselah, and a lot of sweat and tears, they had successfully cordoned off Shambling''s part of the castle and turned it into something more akin to her old homeworld.


    So much work, so much money sunk into the venture, because Shambling was among the most important members of the Amber Foundation, despite her isolationist tendencies.


    She was the guild''s Forecaster. Her people were a strange one, from Aetum Hisemtu, the World of Setting Stars. An ancient plane, with very little left in it, composed of a bowl of darkness with a couple of lonely planets. Shambling was one of the last of her species, a mass of vines and roots, with twin stalks rising out from the mass of green. Each stalk ended in a head, drooped down and sculpted like a vulture''s. There were no eyes ¨C only proto-eyes, as those had served Shambling''s species well enough. No legs, though she could move by undulating the vines that made up the bottom of her body like a snake''s. Her brain was split between her two heads, working in tandem, a strange, psionic power rippling with her every thought.


    It had taken the Federation two hundred years to realize that Shambling and her people were sapient.


    By then, they had terraformed nearly her entire planet into something more their speed, something that they had kept doing even after their revelations.


    ¡°Hey, Shambling,¡± Rosemary said.


    Good day, Rosemary, Shambling had taken on a woman''s cantor when communicating in other''s heads, deep and kind, How fare you?


    ¡°Just fine,¡± Rosemary said.


    She found talking through the mask difficult, her voice blocked and muttered as though she were speaking through a wall. Yet Shambling understood her, all the same. For a moment, Rosemary considered peeling the mask away ¨C it was uncomfortable to breathe in here without it, not impossible ¨C but Shambling knew what she was thinking.


    No, Rosemary, she thought, I wouldn¡¯t recommend that.


    ¡°Oh, sorry,¡± Rosemary said.


    She took awkwardly, trying to think of a way to broach her request. Shambling, meanwhile, returned to her work. A few vines were wrapped around a small, glowing ball, one that she held close. The orb pulsed with light, occasional reds, or greens, then blues, and so on.


    No, Rosemary!


    She had to put her eyes on the prize. She could not be distracted. Taking a deep breath, Rosemary began her question.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    Dammit!


    Calculating.


    That was Shambling''s only response. Rosemary sighed, watching the great mass of vines do her work.


    ¡°Calculating?¡±


    The multiverse is a place of calculation and prediction, Shambling explained, It exists on levels that the average mind cannot comprehend. It took me years of practice to master conceptualizing the multiverse, and thus applying geometric equations to its makeup.


    ¡°Oh,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°You can do that?¡±


    What did you think forecasting was?


    ¡°Uhm, not quite that?¡± Rosemary said, ¡°I thought there would be machines and equipment, something more akin to what those Weatherfolk guys are doing up on Moonstone on the Len.¡±


    Amusement danced in Rosemary''s mind, and she knew it was not her own.


    Look around, Rosemary, Shambling thought, Past the vines that are my being.


    She glanced around the room. There were, indeed, other machinery that was there. Metal discs implanted in the stone walls. But there was nothing connecting them ¨C no wires or cables. Which meant...


    ¡°Your vines, they''re forming connections, aren''t they?¡±


    Astute, young Rosemary, Shambling cooed, Yes. The discs on the walls are known as Ecnodromes. They are there to help store information that is brought in by the dish on top of the Southern Tower.


    ¡°Aha, so you named the tower that, too!¡±


    Indeed.


    ¡°Great minds think alike, you know?¡± Rosemary said, smiling.


    Yes.


    ¡°So your vines, they''re the cables, right? The connectors?¡±


    The dish collects information, which runs to the Ecndromes, which run directly to me. I use the orb here to help me formulate the multiverse.


    Rosemary stared at the orb, considering it.


    ¡°It helps you visualize things?¡±


    The multiverse has many shapes, yet is no shape at all. The place between worlds, they are difficult to shape. But this machine has a bit of the Outside in it. As much as can be rendered here in our paltry reality.


    ¡°And from there, you do the math.¡±


    Correct.


    ¡°A lot of it.¡±


    At all times.


    ¡°I can''t imagine,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°That''s... Wow, that''s a lot.¡±


    Shambling gave off a sense of pride at those words, a fuzzy, warm feeling that swaddled Rosemary like a blanket. It receded as Shambling changed the subject.


    Why are you here?


    ¡°Who me?¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Oh, right! Joseph and I, we want you to name one of us as secondary.¡±


    Oh?


    ¡°I mean, I know, you''ve probably chosen someone-¡±


    I have.


    Rosemary''s heart fell.


    ¡°But... We''ve got a deal, see? With Ezel, if we can get one more person-¡±


    I have already chosen.


    ¡°Oh,¡± Rosemary said, feeling the wind leave her sails, ¡°I-I see. Yeah, sure. Uhm, who did you choose?¡±


    ¡°This one.¡±


    The voice, watery and dripping, ran down the wall. It was XLS, who was quickly forming into a vaguely humanoid form as he slithered over to Rosemary. The sapient mound of goo was purple today ¨C then, he was purple most days (except Fridays, where he chose orange) and he gave a wave to Rosemary.


    ¡°Sup, XLS.¡±


    ¡°Sup, Rosie,¡± XLS said, ¡°Deepest of apologies, from this one. Shambling said she''d take me to a seminar on Keren Paradigm Biologies.¡±


    First come, first serve.


    ¡°Oh,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Well, sorry to bother you.


    It is never a bother.


    ¡°I know,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Just... No, it''s fine.¡±


    You really want to go?


    ¡°Yeah, I do.¡±


    Then I bid you good luck.


    ***


    Joseph found Mekke outside.


    The former soldier was holding a sword in hand, giving it a few experimental swings. The blade sang an iron melody as it went, a satisfying swish that seemed to hang in the air, ringing. It was, Joseph realized, the Vlaynian sword she had obtained a few months back. Evidently she had saved it from Lylana''s greedy mitts. Beside her was Tiger.


    No one could pronounce his full name, what with it being an unpronounceable series of growls and roars. He preferred it when one called him Tiger, however, for he claimed it meant he truly had no real name. Only a moniker. The big cat stood on two legs, a full six foot three, a katana always held at his side, sheathed in painted blue wood. He stood now, watching as Mekke tested the Vlaynian sword, his emerald eyes sliding over to consider Joseph as he walked over to them.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ¡°Mr. Zheng,¡± he said.


    ¡°Tiger,¡± Joseph nodded, ¡°Mekke.¡±


    ¡°Ah, Joseph,¡± Mekke stabbed the blade into the dirt, leaning against it, ¡°Good afternoon. Hopefully a good one?¡±


    ¡°A busy one,¡± he said, ¡°I''ll cut to the chase-¡±


    She raised her hand.


    ¡°...You already found someone, didn''t you,¡± Joseph said.


    Mekke nodded.


    ¡°It''s Tiger, isn''t it?¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Tiger said, ¡°Many apologies, Mr. Zheng.¡±


    Joseph sighed, stretching his back a bit as he absorbed the news. It wasn''t too surprising, was it? Mekke considered him as he stretched, a smile curling on her face as she noted the way he carried himself now. She pulled the blade free, noting how Joseph stopped stretching at the sight of the blade.


    She flicked it at him, and he stepped back. There was no shout of surprise at that, no whining cry.


    ¡°Good,¡± she said, ¡°You''ve really learned a thing or two out here, haven''t you?¡±


    ¡°Har,¡± Joseph drawled, ¡°Look, if you''re going to kill me, at least make it quick, alright?¡±


    ¡°You''ve become quite sardonic in the face of death,¡± Mekke said.


    ¡°I cope how I cope,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°He has quick reflexes,¡± Tiger said to Mekke, ¡°He''d make a good fencer, had he begun learning fifteen years ago.¡±


    ¡°You started that early?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Earlier, when I was a cub. Not even a year. Then, I was already standing by then. You humans and metahumans are still mewling at that age.¡±


    ¡°Neat, man,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Alright, so what are you two going there for?¡±


    Mekke presented the blade to Joseph, who took it in hand, giving her a suspicious look before giving it a few swishes.


    ¡°Well?¡± she said.


    ¡°It''s a sword,¡± Joseph said, ¡°It''s, uhm, Vlaynian. Got a cool hilt design. I like how whoever forged it made the basket look like a leaping antelope. Cool stuff.¡±


    ¡°And that''s why I''m taking Tiger, and not you,¡± Mekke said, ¡°We''re taking the sword to get it appraised. I''ve a contact in the Weaponeers, looking to trade it for a scimitar from Ashen Garuun.¡±


    Joseph held the sword on high, feeling all the world like some sort of Asian Zorro. He handed it back to Mekke, who still wore a smile.


    ¡°Maybe it''s an opportunity to learn,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Sorry, Tiger, I''m going to make my case.¡±


    ¡°Good luck,¡± Tiger said, huffing out a chuckle.


    ¡°It''s a good opportunity to learn weapons, and whatnot,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I get to see you interact with the Weaponeers, learn a bit about how swords are examined and graded, and whatnot. It''s an opportunity to make for yourself a new apprentice, right?¡±


    Mekke shook her head, still smirking, as she sheathed the Vlaynian sword. She walked over to the fountain, where a customary cup of coffee lay. Planting a foot on the fountain like some sort of Captain Morgan, she took a swig from it as though it were a mug of ale.


    ¡°You could be a politician, with a tongue like that,¡± Mekke said.


    ¡°I... I practiced, on the way over,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Joseph, we both know you''re too busy with your metahuman business to ever take the time to learn swordplay,¡± Mekke said, ¡°You only have so much time in the world, right? Gotta learn to find what you''re good at, and from there go all-in.¡±


    ¡°What if I want to be good at a little bit of everything?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Knowledge that''s broad, but not deep?¡± Mekke shook her head, ¡°That doesn''t help anyone, especially in a guild. We''ve ninety-nine experts here at Castle Belenus, each with our specializations, experts in their chosen fields. For the most part, at least.¡±


    ¡°You really think someone like Lazuli''s an expert at anything?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Lazuli''s a master at working with artificial intelligence,¡± Mekke pointed out, ¡°He is one, first off, but he''s also created multiple AIs in his time. He was raised by a man who discovered them on his home plane. So yes, he''s an expert, and worth more than his burden.¡±


    Joseph took her words in, leading them over to the logical conclusion.


    ¡°Right,¡± he said, ¡°So I''ve got to find something, don''t I?¡±


    ¡°Indeed, Joseph,¡± Mekke said, ¡°You''ve shown that you can take a punch, and deliver it in turn. But I don''t have any use for someone who can do that, not this time. It''s time you asked yourself: What are you an expert in, out here in the multiverse?¡±


    She let the words hang in the air between them. Tiger was standing back, listening to the conversation. It occurred to Joseph that he hadn''t spoken to the big cat very often. Then, Tiger was stand-offish. Sighing in defeat, he gave a nod.


    ¡°Right, then,¡± he said, ¡°I''ll figure it out.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Mekke said, ¡°When you stop drifting in the waves and start riding them, then we''ll talk about you being my secondary.¡±


    She gave him a light punch in the shoulder.


    ¡°Next year.¡±


    ***


    ¡°So no deal, then,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Nope, nada.¡±


    The two of them had returned back to the library, Rosemary resting her arms on the table, Joseph leaning back. Both wore looks of defeat. Someone, perhaps Barbara, perhaps Lazuli (which was worrying), had set up a new coffee kettle down for them, along with two bottles of creamer and a couple of fresh mugs. But neither of them touched it as they both ruminated in silence. The rain had returned again, earlier than expected. A few of their fellow guildmembers could be heard screaming and shouting in surprise as they ran back inside.


    ¡°It''s almost not even worth it, at this point,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Hey, knock it off with that attitude,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°We''ll figure it out. We''ve still got a couple of people on the list.¡±


    ¡°Oh, come on, Rosemary,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Ichabod? Wakeling?¡±


    ¡°Okay, I know,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Ichabod''s an ass, but I''m sure, if we talk to him...¡±


    But she faltered, for they both knew that the mechanical man disliked Joseph, and merely tolerated Rosemary.


    Their respective goals hung in silence. Joseph poured out a cup of coffee, not even bothering with creamer, drinking it black, letting the bitter taste overtake all of his senses and pull him into a dark deluge. Rosemary simply stared at him, still leaning on the table, using her arms as pillows, her eyes glazing over.


    ¡°Well, well,¡± a voice said, ¡°Looks like you two got the short end of the stick.¡±


    It was Contort. He was walking into the library, whistling as he went, a book tucked beneath an arm, one that he put on Barbara''s desk. He made his way over to their table, giving a light smirk at the list of names written on the chalkboard, before turning to look at them.


    ¡°Sup, guys?¡± he said.


    ¡°Hey, Contort,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°Why the long faces?¡±


    ¡°Why do you think?¡± Joseph snapped.


    ¡°Woah, hey, alright,¡± Contort said, ¡°Just making conversation.¡±


    He sat down by Rosemary stretching himself as he did so, his arms dislocating from his shoulders and twisting around his torso.


    ¡°Are you looking to be in the running for this year''s InterGuild?¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°What?¡± Contort said, ¡°Oh, yeah. I''m already going.¡±


    Joseph and Rosemary looked at him. Contort''s smirk returned.


    ¡°You two have been going back and forth all day, haven''t you?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Rosemary groaned, ¡°We''ve begged anyone who¡¯s not a dick to take us.¡±


    ¡°Who''s left?¡±


    ¡°Tek, Ichabod, and Wakeling.¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± Contort said, ¡°I''m afraid that Wakeling''s no deal. I''m her plus one this year.¡±


    They both blinked.


    ¡°What have you guys been doing? What have you been saying?¡± Contort said, ¡°Have you just been... asking nicely?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°I mean, it worked with Ezel,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°Ezel cries at cat videos,¡± Contort said, ¡°Come on, guys, don''t be morons.¡±


    ¡°What the hell do you mean by that?¡± Joseph said.


    Contort''s grin only broadened. He leaned in, giving them both a conspiratorial look.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said, ¡°You want to know how I got Wakeling to name me as her secondary?¡±


    ¡°How?¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°She''s going to InterGuild for two reasons. The first is because she''s the guildmaster, and it''s rare for them to not go.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Joseph said, ¡°What else?¡±


    ¡°The second reason is because I know a guy from our home plane,¡± Contort said, ¡°He''s an old buddy of mine, I''m going with Wakeling to introduce her to him. My mate''s an apprentice wizard at Ringorio''s Traveling Circus-¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Ringorio''s Traveling Circus!¡± Contort said, ¡°All great wizards come from the circus. At least, back home, they do. Don''t interrupt. Anyways, he''s been doing some research on a few spells from our home plane that she''s been interested in, and if things go well he''ll introduce her to his mentor at the circus, who''s got more knowledge on how those spells work.¡±


    ¡°So...¡± Joseph said, ¡°You''re introducing her to a guy, who knows a guy, who knows the spell.¡±


    ¡°I''m introducing her to an in,¡± Contort said, ¡°Listen, Wakeling hasn''t been back to our home plane in years, Joe. Like, I think she left when she was barely in her twenties, and look at her now. She''s been wanting an opportunity like this for years. Why do you think she let a sop like me into the guild?¡±


    But a light was going off in Rosemary''s head. She sat up straight.


    ¡°It''s a business opportunity,¡± she said.


    ¡°One she wouldn''t get from anyone else here,¡± Contort said, ¡°Only I know the guy. That''s what you''ve got to offer these people. InterGuild''s a business opportunity, so treat it like one. Convince them that you''re the only person for what they need. It''ll all go on from there.¡±


    He poured himself a cup of coffee, adding a bit of creamer.


    ¡°So,¡± he said, taking a sip, ¡°What''ll it be, then?¡±


    ¡°What can we offer Ichabod?¡± Rosemary asked.


    ¡°What''s he even going for at InterGuild?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Some investigation or other,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°And I''ve already heard, he''s taking G-Wiz.¡±


    ¡°What about Tek?¡± Joseph said.


    Contort''s smile, which was beginning to annoy Joseph in how it smarmed, grew broader.


    ¡°Something,¡± he said, ¡°That I think you could do, Joe.¡±


    ***


    ¡°It''s a simple process,¡± Tek said, ¡°But an interesting one. An engine, Joseph, one that uses a sparkeater as a battery.¡±


    They were in the mound''s laboratory, which was also his personal quarters. The only evidence that he slept here at all was a pile of hay nested in the corner, impossibly small for Tek''s great size, but that was the only place Joseph could think of that looked comfortable enough to rest in. The rest of the room was taken up by equipment, particularly a large computer that took up the entire back wall, along with three desks pushed together to form one super-desk, atop which were diagrams, graphs, calculators, books, monitors, and an army of misplaced pens and quills and inkwells. It was any wonder that Tek could fit in here at all, his head brushing up against the ceiling and his bulk squelching between pieces of furniture as though he were made of jelly. His hoof-like fingers were opening a diagram, one hand unveiling it across a table, the other brushing the random pieces of machinery and inkwells and junk to the floor.


    The diagram showed an engine with various measurements and mathematical equations covering the actual drawing of the engine, which was square and hulking. The diagram named it as being a full eight feet tall, and in the center, almost glowing even on the page, was a sparkeater, a small orb of light.


    ¡°It eats electricity,¡± Tek said, ¡°Or plasma. Or something of the like.¡±


    ¡°I kind of figured, from the name,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Ah... yes,¡± Tek said, ¡°I prefer its scientific name, astrator hoffmani. Makes it sound like more than just a ball of light, and all that.¡±


    ¡°Is it a spirit of some sort?¡± Joseph asked, ¡°An elemental?¡±


    ¡°One of the two. Either/or,¡± Tek said, ¡°The astrator hoffmani  is the converter between the electricity that is delivered into the system and the energy that the engine uses, which is, we believe, something related to the Warp. It was primarily used by the ancient Galshonans in the Mellow-Diriad Paradigm to planeshift, some three thousand years ago.¡±


    ¡°Neat,¡± Joseph said, ¡°And that''s what you''re going to InterGuild for.¡±


    ¡°Correct,¡± Tek said, ¡°A colleague of mine from the Academy of the Unreal recently came into possession of one.¡±


    ¡°The Academy of the Unreal,¡± Joseph said, ¡°That''s a guild?¡±


    ¡°One that uses its students and faculty as its guildmembers,¡± Tek said, ¡°A unique setup, one with a rich education-¡±


    ¡°And a high turnover rate, I bet,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Tek said, ¡°''To Knowledge, the Stubborn'', is their guild motto. But enough of that. My colleague has recently acquired one of these engines, though it is rundown.¡±


    He glanced around the room for a moment, before shuffling over to the computer, brushing away a few errant papers to reveal a small, glass jar. Inside of which was a glowing orb of festering blue light.


    ¡°And I''ve got the sparkeater,¡± Tek said, ¡°A rare find. It took me months to convince the Weatherfolk to let me buy one from them.¡±


    ¡°So those guys are here for more than just surveying the storm,¡± Joseph said, smirking.


    ¡°Never turn down an opportunity, especially when it comes waltzing into your city,¡± Tek said, ¡°You''ll go far with that thinking, Mr. Zheng.¡±


    ¡°Which brings me to my offer,¡± Joseph said, ¡°That engine needs electricity, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Tek rumbled, ¡°And you produce electricity.¡±


    ¡°It takes me a second to get up and running,¡± Joseph said, ¡°But yeah, I can be your battery for this.¡±


    Tek regarded him for a moment.


    ¡°I was planning on perhaps recruiting Rorshin for this,¡± Tek said, ¡°Or Metrizan. What makes you think I would pick you?¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I''m glad you asked. For one, the reason why I edge out over Rorshin is I''m not an asshole.¡±


    ¡°Agree to disagree,¡± Tek said.


    ¡°Not as much of an asshole,¡± Joseph amended, ¡°Plus, Rorshin''s spellwork is based off of animals, right? He replicates using an electric eel to produce electricity.¡±


    ¡°Correct,¡± Tek said.


    ¡°But he isn''t as strong as I am,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I''ve heard his shocks aren''t that powerful when he does it, just a quick bite, and that''s it.¡±


    He pointed at the sparkeater.


    ¡°Which means your little guy really isn''t getting much to go off of. Not much bang for your buck. I, meanwhile, can produce a full-on lightning bolt. A quick flash, and I have your sparkeater powering the guildhall.¡±


    Tek shifted his head a bit, which Joseph took for a nod.


    ¡°As for Metrizan, she converts her body heat to other forms of energy. But she needs to run in place for that to happen. And needs to rest for a long time after. I''m guessing you''re going to need to be running quite a few tests, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Tek said.


    ¡°Those could last hours. I hate to sound like a Viagra commercial, but I can last that long.¡±


    The mound did not respond to his poor humor. Instead, he simply stared at Joseph as though he were a particularly interesting lab rat. For the first time, Joseph saw Tek''s eyes as they peeked beneath his hay-like fur, beetle black and stone-like.


    ¡°Extend your arm,¡± Tek ordered.


    Joseph did so.


    ¡°Your other arm. Your soul''s arm,¡± Tek said, ¡°It''s part of you, isn''t it?¡±


    Joseph blinked, but after a moment, he produced the eagle''s arm, which climbed up his palm and rose in a tower. Tek took out an orb-shaped device and began scanning it, hovering it just a few inches over the plasma surface.


    ¡°Hmm,¡± he said, ¡°It''s electricity, alright. There are a few things about it that doesn''t make sense, but...¡±


    He trailed off, staring at the cobalt limb for a moment. Then, he uncapped the sparkeater''s jar, presenting it to Joseph.


    Who, after a moment, stuck his soul''s finger in.


    It was much like watching a black hole, pieces of talon stripping away as though caught in the sparkeater''s gravity well, peeling into lines of blue light that swirled around the ball before subsuming into the whole. The air around the sparkeater in the jar began to ripple and twist...


    ¡°Maybe a bit too much?¡± Tek said, ¡°Hmm, yes¡­.¡±


    He was writing in a notebook. When had he gotten a notebook? It had just appeared in his hand¡­


    The sparkeater continued to consume him.


    ¡°Oh, dear,¡± Tek said, ¡°Joseph, get the finger out! Now!¡±


    Joseph complied, but Tek''s warning came a bit late, as the jar exploded, pieces of glass flying out. Joseph winced as his electric arm swirled up to cover him against the small, jagged shards. It felt a bit too much like Silicon, and he found his heart hammering far more quickly than was normal as Tek brushed glass off of his fur, seemingly unconcerned as to what happened as he stooped to scoop the sparkeater into a claw.


    ¡°Excellent,¡± Tek said, and with his other hand he re-adjusted his glasses, ¡°Most excellent! Very well, Joseph. You, sir, are my secondary. Congratulations, and don''t let me down, and all that.¡±


    He extended a claw. Smiling, biting down his sudden panic, Joseph took his hand.


    ***


    He left Tek''s lab, heart still slamming against his chest as Rosemary punched his shoulder outside.


    ¡°So, what''d he say?¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Joseph blinked, remembering where he was, that he was at Castle Belenus and not deep in the earth, ¡°R-right.¡±


    ¡°You good?¡± Rosemary asked.


    ¡°I''m good,¡± Joseph said, and he smiled, ¡°Better than good.¡±


    Her eyes widened as she realized what he was saying.


    ¡°Pack your bags, Rosemary,¡± Joseph said, ¡°We''re going to fucking InterGuild.¡±

 66. Kathen Aru

    Prison ships had no names, merely designations. Kathen had clocked this one as the 178748-A. It had been emblazoned on her hull for all to see as he and the few other inmates from the local jail were lined up, one after the other, outside. It had been a chilly morning on Galvorin III, the dew still sticking to the grasses, the clouds overhead promising a light rain. Colonists had watched from windows and half-opened doors, for it wasn''t every day that so many inmates needed to be expelled and sent to a prison world.


    A prison world, to await trial.


    A trial, that would maybe come in a hundred years.


    If he was lucky.


    Kathen''s stomach roiled at the thought. His jaw was set as he merely stared at the ray-shielded walls, hunkered in a corner, waiting for a more cynical fate. The 178748-A was a silent bird, the din of her engines hardly ringing over the sobs of a fellow prisoner the next cell over, the stomping metallic boots of Federation soldiers as they patrolled down the ship¡¯s halls. Kathen had to strain to even hear them rippling beneath the floor.


    And so, he waited.


    He''d already spent two days in Galvorin III''s jail. It was a small colony, a single town of around two hundred people, and like many outposts in the Outer Reach, they only held their prisoners for so long. Unless there was an official trial by the sheriff, justice and punishment was done off-world. Prison ships trawled the Outer Reach, and it seemed there were almost as many here as there were mercantile vessels and seed ships.


    The bottom line was, Kathen had already spent two days in jail.


    He could wait for a few more.


    After that, though, he was going to need to get crafty. He didn''t exactly desire spending the rest of his life on some blasted rock mining for gods know what.


    He was on that line of thinking ¨C wondering how to escape, how to subdue the guard without causing too much of an alarm ¨C when the ship abruptly halted. It was a subtle shift, due to the artificial gravity in place. The ship began to lurch again, signs that it was beginning to fire its thrusters backwards to halt its forward momentum.


    Then that, too, died. They were floating in open space. Out of Warp.


    ¡°The hell...?¡± he murmured aloud.


    There was the sound of metal doors barking open. Soldiers talking to one another.


    Whispering, in almost reverent tones.


    And Kathen soon realized why, as walking through the final door was the Prime Voice. Olendris Valm stood in full ceremonial gear, with his dark blue robes the color of Alden II''s sunset and the Golden Horns of Makra adorning his shoulders. His over-large eyes slid over to Kathen''s cell, and he strode forward.


    ¡°Kathen Aru,¡± he drawled.


    ¡°Prime Voice,¡± Kathen said.


    The soldiers were whispering to themselves, looking upon the Prime Voice with something akin to awe in their eyes.


    ¡°How did you end up here?¡± Valm asked.


    ¡°...A bar fight,¡± Kathen said, ¡°Some local thug was getting a bit too loud for everyone, and a bit too frisky with the barmaids.¡±


    ¡°And you intervened.¡±


    ¡°I just told him to stuff it up his arse, is all,¡± Kathen said.


    ¡°And then you proceeded to break his nose, his arms, and his legs.¡±


    ¡°...He was getting very frisky.¡±


    ¡°He was the mayor''s son,¡± Valm said, ¡°I''ve done my research on your little... incident, Mr. Aru.¡±


    Kathen gave the Prime Voice a rebellious, dark look. Valm simply stared at him, his face inscrutable, his stance pillar-like. Damn, was he good at hiding his thoughts.


    ¡°You are to be released,¡± Valm said, ¡°Your charges, dismissed. But know this, Mr. Aru. Your guildmaster had to spend quite a bit of time securing your freedom. He owes quite a few favors, now.¡±


    He nodded. One of the soldiers clicked a button on his forearm, and the ray-shields dissipated. Kathen stood up, a smirk slowly smearing up his face.


    ¡°But sir,¡± he said, ¡°You are the guildmaster.¡±


    There was a quiet moment as Valm and Aru stared at one another.


    It was Valm who broke first, the solid, practically ghost-like facade falling away as he let out a low, rumbling chuckle that dissolved into a full laugh. Kathen laughed as well, slow at first, and then into a full-on larking. The two sounds of the mentor and mentee rang up and down the hallways of the ship.


    And Valm walked over, embracing Kathen, before pulling him back and slapping him on the shoulder.


    ¡°Kathen!¡± he said, ¡°You should have broken his spine.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I should have,¡± Kathen said, ¡°But I wanted him to keep a little bit of his dignity, you know?¡±


    ¡°Dignity?¡± Valm said, ¡°There was no dignity in that man. Walk with me.¡±


    He swept away. Kathen followed closely behind. There were, he realized, escorts waiting just out in the hall. Rhunea and Oliander, he recognized, the doe-headed magician giving him a nod in recognition. Oliander, as always, was quiet, though the golem put a hand on Kathen¡¯s head in an awkward, clubbing pat.


    ¡°Hey, easy,¡± Kathen said, ¡°It took me days to get my ''do like this.¡±


    Rhunea let out a snort, and from seemingly out of nowhere she drew out a comb and began attacking his long, sunny hair. They awkwardly stumbled after Valm, Oliander bringing up the rear, as they made their way down the prison ships. Valm took a left, then two rights, and though this was his first time onboard the 178748-A, he walked as though he had lived within her for years.


    He had designed her line of ships, after all.


    ¡°Now,¡± Valm said, ¡°Your little business on Galvorin III is finished, correct?¡±


    ¡°Aye, sir,¡± Kathen said, pushing away from Rhunea for a second, ¡°The colony''s piracy problems are at an end.¡±


    ¡°And you decided to stay awhile for the drinks?¡± Rhunea chuckled.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Kathen said, turning to face her as he walked, ¡°They were good. The weather there''s perfect for Saltorin brandy.¡±


    ¡°Indeed, Mr. Aru,¡± Valm said, ¡°But perhaps you could try thinking with your head, and not with your fists for once.¡±


    ¡°All due respect, sir,¡± Kathen said, ¡°My head and my fists were in agreement. I really took my time thinking this one through, you know.¡±


    ¡°All two seconds,¡± Oliander said, in his grating, gravely voice. Rhunea snickered.


    ¡°Well,¡± Valm said, approaching an airlock, ¡°Be lucky we found you in time, Kathen. I would rather not have to pick through every prison world for your name.¡±


    He clicked a few commands into a side-panel, and the airlock opened. The connection between the prison ship and the Sovereign Melody held, and Kathen could see the familiar gray tunnel that was the Melody''s transit bridge. Specifically designed to dock with other ships, transit bridges were among the most common means of transporting goods between two vessels. Long ago, he had read that teleportation technology had existed that made these interactions a breeze ¨C a click of a button, and you were on the other ship. But knowledge of how to make such devices had faded with time, and only a couple ships in the galaxy still possessed them, more oddity than luxury. The Melody''s transit bridge was a ropy one, overtly long to accommodate the old warbird''s great size, snaking out from beneath her hull like entrails. They walked across, trading a few words, the lights dimming down to a cyan glow. Rhunea continued combing at Kathen''s hair, and they were halfway through the bridge when she deemed her work done, and left him be.


    It was still a tangled mess.


    Soon enough, they were within the Sovereign Melody herself. She was an ancient warship, one of the first that Valm had designed during his years as a shipbuilder, and he had commanded her for so long it was second nature to the Prime Voice. He had, upon the Melody''s retirement, saved her from the scrapyards, turning her into the premier flagship of Pagan Chorus. Where Valm went, she went, like an overly large puppy.


    Valm had looked disappointed indeed when Kathen had brought that up.


    They walked up to the bridge, dodging past their fellow guildmembers, permanent fixtures of the Melody who were guildfolk in name only, in actuality former military veterans whom Valm had attached to Pagan Chorus as his crew for the fleet. They very rarely actually planeshifted and went out into the multiverse, only doing so when Valm commanded a mission personally.


    Which, considering his position as head of the Federation government, was rare indeed.


    They saluted Valm as they walked, giving nods to Kathen, Rhunea, and Oliander as the four of them made their way through the ship. But it was when they approached the lift that the group separated.


    ¡°Well,¡± Kathen said, stretching, ¡°I''m going to my quarters. For a shower, some actual hot food, and to find something to wear that''s not prison clothes.¡±


    ¡°I don''t know,¡± Rhunea said, ¡°I think orange suits you.¡±


    ¡°Har,¡± Kathen said, ¡°Permission to leave your side, sir.¡±


    ¡°Of course, Mr. Aru,¡± Valm said, ¡°Get some rest. Rhunea, Oliander, with me. I want to go over a few reports you had about that activity on Methuselah.¡±


    ¡°Mrm,¡± Oliander rumbled.


    ¡°Sleep well, Kathen,¡± Rhunea said.


    ¡°Will do,¡± Kathen said. He stepped back, giving them a wave as they stepped into the lift. He made for his quarters, rounding a few corners, heading up a couple of ramps, until he was on the ship''s fifteenth deck, which was primarily taken up by living spaces. His own room was on the left, past Old Scar''s (when the grizzled piece of jerky was actually traveling). Password protected, after a little debacle with Jelethen, and he changed the password every week. Kathen keyed it in, walking into the relatively sparse space. Valm allowed for very little decoration aboard his ship, and the only bit of liveliness Kathen had managed to sneak on was a small flower sticker he had placed on his shipboard''s computer monitor. Aside from that, there was a bed, a desk, and a bathroom with a shower.


    Home was the guildhall on Milky Dawn, not here. The message was clear for everyone.


    The Sovereign Melody was not so much an overly large puppy as she was an attack hound, a wolf for Valm to use against his enemies. All of the ship''s setup was built for that singular will. There was little time for commodity.


    But there was enough of it, as Kathen cast off the orange prison uniform and stepped into the bathroom. He took a nice, long, hot shower, feeling as though he was sloughing off the rigors of the past few days with each brush of lathered soap, dirt and grime and dried blood funneling into the drain, to be filtered by the ship''s water system and expelled into open space.


    There was an extra change of clothes. He pulled them on, feeling the warm fleece cover him like a blanket as he sat down on the bed. With showering came relaxation, at last a chance for his bones to begin aching and his muscles to un-tense. There was a knot in his stomach, one that had been there ever since the bar fight, and now that he was somewhere safe he could feel it unravel, leaving a sore spot behind.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± a voice said, ¡°It could have been worse than an upset tummy.¡±


    ¡°Merry,¡± Kathen said, ¡°Reading my surface thoughts again?¡±


    The air over the computer''s desk fluctuated as Merry Curiosity surged into being. Green, taking the form of a praying mantis that hovered a few inches over the table, she glanced over at Kathen with holographic eyes. It was a new form for her, one which she had been experimenting with for the last few weeks.


    ¡°Really, Kathen,¡± she said, ¡°I''m surprised you didn''t come out looking worse. That guy at the bar was twice your size.¡±


    ¡°And fell twice as hard,¡± Kathen replied, ¡°Really, it''s not that hard. You just got to learn where to knock.¡±


    He gave her a smirking glare.


    ¡°Could have used your help, when the militia came,¡± he said, ¡°I was almost sorted into some prison world or other.¡±


    ¡°I would have found you,¡± Merry said. She pounced from the table, leaping towards the bed, melding mid-air into a new form, a butterfly that flitted through the air for a few moments, before lighting onto Kathen''s shoulder, ¡°Really, I would just have to go through a couple of records-¡±


    ¡°Hack a couple of records, you mean,¡± Kathen said.


    ¡°Look through,¡± Merry said, ¡°Would you want me to save you, or not?¡±


    Kathen let out a light laugh at that.


    ¡°I''ve been learning from Truthspeaker, you know,¡± Merry said, ¡°I could do it. It wouldn''t even take me that long.¡±


    ¡°A few years, maybe,¡± Kathen said.


    ¡°It''s either five years while I go through everything, or a hundred before your trial,¡± Merry said, ¡°Pick your poison, pal.¡±


    ¡°I''ll pick the five, ma''am,¡± Kathen said, ¡°But seriously, you couldn''t have even warned Valm?¡±


    ¡°I was!¡± Merry said, ¡°Do you realize how long it takes me to send myself to another planet? Across the galaxy?¡±


    ¡°...It could''ve been a holonet message.¡±


    There was a moment of silence. Merry had not realized this.


    ¡°You know,¡± Kathen continued, ¡°For an all-knowing AI, you really don''t think these parts through.¡±


    ¡°Y-Yeah,¡± Merry said, ¡°Well, you could have, should have-¡±


    She let out a huff.


    ¡°Sorry,¡± she growled.


    She fluttered off of his shoulder, melding into a form that Kathen was more familiar with, the standard Delluran Avatar that she had taken on when she had first signed on with the guild. Humanoid, with four thin, whispery arms, though the lilac skin of her creators was painted over by the green of her holographic light. The long hair emanated out as she lay down on Kathen''s pillow.


    ¡°Well, that''s one dipshit who¡¯ll think twice before he goes flaunting around,¡± she said, ¡°You really broke his legs?¡±


    ¡°Well, yeah,¡± Kathen said, ¡°As I said, if they''re taller than you, you gotta knock them down to your size. It was pretty easy after that.¡±


    Merry chuckled at that.


    ¡°I missed you, Kate,¡± she said, ¡°I''m glad you''re back.¡±


    ¡°Glad to be back,¡± Kathen said. He moved back, shimmying so that he could rest his back on the wall, feeling a wave of relief thunder through his body, ¡°Work like that is nice, but it''s definitely rough.¡±


    ¡°Doesn''t help that the beds they provided weren''t comfortable,¡± Merry said.


    ¡°I bet they are, when you''re not locked up,¡± Kathen chuckled, ¡°Hope I didn''t freak anyone out?¡±


    ¡°Nah,¡± Merry said, ¡°They started placing bets on whether we''d ever find you again. Bluebell suggested putting up lost pet posters.¡±


    ¡°Is that all I am to him?¡± Kathen said, ¡°A lost puppy?¡±


    ¡°You''ve got the energy,¡± Merry offered, ¡°There''s a look in your eye, like you''re lost in a market.¡±


    ¡°I...¡± Kathen blinked, ¡°I don''t know if I believe you.¡±


    ¡°It''s there! Look!¡±


    She hopped up, alighting into a butterfly once more, one that began fluttering to Kathen''s face, before expanding in size into a viewscreen. Kathen saw his own face mirrored on the other side.


    ¡°It''s your eyes,¡± Merry said, ¡°See how big and gooey they look?¡±


    Kathen merely smiled, giving a sigh and shrug.


    And then, with one hand, he flicked at the hologram. Merry Curiosity lost her entire composure, scattering into a thousand green dots that flung out like a stale cough, before reforming back into her Delluran Avatar form, all eight eyes glaring at him. Kathen leaned back, closing his eyes, that same satisfied grin still on his face.


    ¡°Anyways,¡± Merry said, ¡°Valm''s talking to Rhunea and Oli now. He''s saying that he''s glad you''re back.¡±


    ¡°Merry,¡± Kathen warned, ¡°We''ve talked about this. Don''t eavesdrop.¡±


    ¡°I know, I know,¡± Merry said, ¡°But he''s saying you''re going to InterGuild along with his retinue.¡±


    Kathen''s eyes shot open at that.


    ¡°Oh?¡± he said, ¡°InterGuild?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Merry said, ¡°Said that you were in the running to accompany the team there-¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I knew that,¡± Kathen said.


    ¡°I know,¡± Merry said, ¡°Anyways, he said he was impressed with your mission on Galvorin III, bar fight notwithstanding.¡±


    ¡°Me,¡± Kathen said, and he found himself sitting in disbelief.


    ¡°Oh, one more thing,¡± Merry wore a smirk, ¡°He says he''ll tell you in the morning, once you''ve gotten some rest.¡±


    Kathen let out a low chuckle, one that grew into a full laugh. Merry drew back a bit to give him some space.


    ¡°You''re thinking of Antular, aren''t you?¡± she said.


    ¡°I am,¡± Kathen said, ¡°First thing we do when we get back to Milky Dawn, we''re talking to him.¡±


    ***


    It took the Sovereign Melody three days to reach Milky Dawn, tracing a passage through the Warp from the Outer Reach to the Post-Colonial. Valm delivered the news about Kathen''s selection as part of the delegation going to InterGuild as they ate breakfast together.


    ¡°It''s a small group,¡± he had said, ¡°Oliander¡¯s going, as is Almogra on my behalf. Bluebell, as well, since he expressed wanting to meet with a colleague from Scenia. That leaves you as my fourth choice.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, sir,¡± Kathen had said, ¡°I won''t let you down.¡±Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    ¡°I know you won''t,¡± Valm said, ¡°But see to it that you don''t, nonetheless.¡±


    Excitement grew, like a leech, on Kathen as the ship drew closer and closer to Milky Dawn. He had a habit, seeded when he was young and had just joined the guild as a junior associate, of running to the bridge and powering on a small observation panel as the Sovereign Melody dropped out of warp. Squinting at the small viewscreen as his adopted homeworld came into view.


    Milky Dawn. An apt name, because it was almost always covered in a dense, creamy layer of clouds. Landmasses could be seen far below, five continents, the southern two mossed over with forests, the largest one with a desert that spanned half of its surface, the northernmost landmass caked with ice. It was as pristine as one could get in the Post-Colonial, not choked by factories or recovering from the countless glassings the Federation had performed in this part of the Silver Eye.


    No, Milky Dawn was sparsely populated by Pagan Chorus, who mostly stuck to their guildhall on the northernmost continent. A few small towns dotted nearby, farms where food was grown for the guild''s benefit, as well as a shipyard up north. A couple of small outposts were stationed on the other continents, staffed by one or two of Valm''s soldiers.


    But besides that, Milky Dawn was a quiet place, home to nature and her ecosystems and little else. No sapient life save for what had been brought by the stars. Untarnished by wars. A paradise.


    Kathen''s homeworld, and he was proud to admit it. His heart swelled just seeing that gray little ball on the viewscreen.


    A few hours later, and they were breaching the atmosphere, making their way down to Mausoleum. The old cathedral stood, both comforting and foreboding in the way old buildings were, with its myriad towers standing tall and sharp and scraping the sky. Mausoleum was alive, growing and shifting and changing as the years wore on, expanding its rooms to account for new guildmembers, moving hallways and stairs for those looking to make their travel through the guildhall quickly. Other times, the walls would close in, trapping would-be invaders and sending them through a maze with no exit. Mausoleum had been planted on a cliff that overlooked the sea.


    The ocean today was black, marbled waves crashing against the cliff-side below, a natural orchestra that filled Kathen''s memories and were the first thing that came to mind when he thought of the guildhall.


    The Little Geezer landed just outside Mausoleum''s entrance. Kathen, Rhunea, and Oliander stepped out. Already the Sovereign Melody had gone back into the cold expanse of space, shooting off towards Everlasting Truth.


    It was mid-morning. The deep, horn-like bellows of kwyzir echoed down below. They were crawling on the jagged rocks at the bottom of the cliff, claws hooked into stone as their long beaks searched around for shellsquid and barnacles. Edercaws sang through the air, their harsh, reptilian screeches snarling in open air as they wheeled about, looking for food in the seas down below.


    ¡°Kathen.¡±


    He turned, a smile on his face, salty, cold wind blowing through his hair. Rhunea was facing him, Oliander already lumbering over to the guildhall.


    ¡°Breakfast is probably laid out,¡± Rhunea continued, ¡°Come inside when you get a chance, alright?¡±


    ¡°Aye,¡± Kathen said, ¡°I''m going to see Antular. Don''t wait for me, alright?¡±


    ¡°Make sure to eat something today, at least,¡± Rhunea said, ¡°That''s an order.¡±


    ¡°Fiiine,¡± Kathen said, ¡°I will. Promise.¡±


    ¡°An order, Mr. Aru,¡± Rhunea said. She returned his smile, before she turned and began walking towards Mausoleum.


    ¡°Put it in as a reminder, Merry,¡± Kathen said, turning to walk along the cliff''s edge, ¡°I need to eat something. And send a reminder to Runie, too. Send her a hundred.¡±


    ¡°Will do,¡± the AI''s voice rang in his head, courtesy of an implant in his brain he had gotten as a birthday gift long ago. He could almost feel Merry''s coding away as she put the reminders into place, a sort of phantom vibration in the back of his mind.


    He walked along the cliff''s edge, dew and mud and grass caking his boots with each step.


    ¡°Scanners indicate a light rain later today,¡± Merry said, ¡°He might be inside. You know, for that leg of his.¡±


    ¡°Nah,¡± Kathen said, ¡°When has he ever not taken a morning walk? That leg''ll slow him down, make it easier for us to catch up to him.¡±


    He broke into a brisk jog, his lungs filling with the icy air, a familiar exhilaration that did nothing but spurn him onward. Merry peppered updates in his ear as he ran, news on the weather, on recent missions, who was in the guildhall and who was offworld, and what the meal plan was for the next week.


    ¡°Well, tomorrow¡¯s going to be a sunnier day, so that¡¯s good. That hurricane down south is breaking down into a storm, should be washing over us in about a week.¡±


    ¡°Neat,¡± Kathen said.


    ¡°Oh! Machi came back from her mission to Teleros. Maybe you could find her, we could get that rifle she borrowed from you back.¡±


    ¡°Probably a good idea,¡± Kathen said, ¡°Valm gave me that gun, remember?¡±


    ¡°I do,¡± Merry noted, ¡°Ah¡­ Shipments from Irdinia. Which means Kyn will be eating well, I would think. Isn''t around half the guild allergic to Irdinian red pepper? You too, right?¡±


    ¡°Merry, do me a solid and shut it for a sec.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Merry said, ¡°What, you mad that you''re allergic? Well, I''ll have you know there are supplements that-¡±


    ¡°Eyes forward, dumbass,¡± Kathen said.


    Merry complied, concentrating through the implant to see through Kathen''s eyes. There was Antular, the old man sitting on a particularly well-worn outcropping of stone. He was a Impellian, an ancient race, one whose lifespan was tracked in centuries and who had been among the first to leave their homeworld for the stars. He was feathered, though age had stolen their luster and glow and molted them gray. A long, thick neck ended in a bare head and a short, toothed beak. His tail billowed behind him, and had always reminded Kathen of a feather duster, the way it was splayed and mottled. Between his overly-long claws, Antular held a walking stick, knobby and ugly-looking, long enough to reach from his head to the ground. He held it between two blade-like claws now, a serene expression on his face as he looked out towards the sea.


    Kathen approached, sitting down beside the old reptile. Merry leaped out, realizing herself into being as her Delluran Avatar, standing on his shoulder like a four-armed fairy.


    Together, the three watched the sea. Its waves. The churning of black and white, the mixing of brine and cold.


    ¡°So you''re back,¡± Antular said, and Kathen''s heart sank. Once, he remembered his old friend''s voice being hale and hearty, despite his great age. Now, it was weak. Whistling. As though his voice box had simply given up and called it a day.


    ¡°I am,¡± Kathen said, ¡°Nothing crazy. Just a couple days in a cell, almost got shipped out to a prison world.¡±


    ¡°You know,¡± Merry said, ¡°The usual.¡±


    Antular turned with the speed of a continent, creaking down to look at Kathen. His yellowing eyes moved to the AI dancing on his shoulder.


    ¡°Ah!¡± he said, ¡°Merry Curiosity. Good morning, my friend. I did not see you there.¡±


    ¡°All good,¡± Merry lied, ¡°How''s the weather up there, old man?¡±


    ¡°Fine, actually,¡± Antular said, and a dopey smile drew up his face. Kathen snorted at the Impellian''s sarcasm.


    Those ancient eyes slid back to Kathen.


    ¡°I spent thirty years on a prison world, I''ll have you know,¡± he said, ¡°I wouldn''t recommend it. They keep you there for as long as they can, and not even a trial on Everlasting Truth can save you.¡±


    His tower-like neck rose back up.


    ¡°They''re meant to keep you there, lad, so don''t you ever get mixed up in anything illicit. Keep your beak clean.¡±


    ¡°Kate doesn''t have a beak,¡± Merry said.


    ¡°Your nose, then,¡± Antular said, ¡°Goodness, you humans and your lack of beaks. What has the galaxy come to?¡±


    He let out a low, huffing chuckle at that. Kathen simply rolled his eyes, turning to lean against Antular''s rock. He could feel the old man''s breathing, deep and scarred, through the rock.


    ¡°I''ve got some good news, Antular,¡± he said.


    ¡°Take it from an elder, lad, there is no such thing as good news.¡±


    ¡°I''m going to InterGuild.¡±


    ¡°Why, that is good news!¡±


    ¡°I''ve been doing my research,¡± Kathen said, ¡°It''s being held in the Flyleaf Forest. Big library plane, just as large as any library world here in the galaxy.¡±


    ¡°I''m sure there''s quite a bit of reading to do there,¡± Antular said.


    ¡°There''s a specific one I''m looking for, though,¡± Kathen said, ¡°It''s called the Dyriptium of Karn, talks about a region of the multiverse called the Frauds-Echten Squall.¡±


    ¡°Ah, a rare set of planes, then,¡± Antular said, ¡°I''ve heard of the place. Done a bit of research on it.¡±


    ¡°One of the planes there,¡± Kathen said, ¡°It''s known for its medicinal herbs and plants. Seems to be made out of them, if you can believe it.¡±


    ¡°I didn''t take you for a doctor, lad,¡± Antular said.


    ¡°I''m going to find a plant for your heart,¡± Kathen said.


    The old man froze. Kathen looked up to see that Antular had gone rigid, his great, glassy eyes staring out towards the sea. He was frowning. The only sound came from the waves below and the edercaw''s calls.


    ¡°You...¡± Antular''s voice trembled, ¡°You don''t have to do that, lad.¡±


    ¡°I do, though,¡± Kathen said.


    ¡°You should be thinking of your own career, when you go to InterGuild,¡± Antular said, ¡°Contacts you can make out in the multiverse. People you can meet. New comrades. Allies. Future prospects for joining the guild.¡±


    ¡°I could do that,¡± Kathen said, ¡°Or I could be helping you.¡±


    ¡°I don''t deserve it,¡± Antular said, and he turned to Kathen, ¡°I am an old man, and old men have the weight of the world on their shoulders. I''ve done too much to deserve something like this.¡±


    ¡°And I don''t care,¡± Kathen said, ¡°You''re sick. You''re... I don''t want you to be like this, alright? Not if I can find some way to... to... to stop it.¡±


    His jaw was set. Antular stared at the young man for a long time. Merry, feeling awkward, had disassembled, flitting back into Kathen''s implant. The wind blew, rippling Antular''s feathers, ashen waves upon his scaled form.


    ¡°Lad,¡± Antular said, ¡°What''s happening to me, it''s just life.¡±


    ¡°I... I know that,¡± Kathen said.


    Memories played in Kathen''s head. Of his first days in the guild. Of being a child, laughter shrieking through the guildhall as he ran, Antular swaggering after him, scooping him up in those great claws and carrying him as though he was nothing but a sack of air. He had been old, even then.


    But nothing like this.


    ¡°We all have to go down the river at some point,¡± Antular said, ¡°All of us. No matter how mighty you are, no matter how powerful, at the end of the day, there''s an end of the day.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Kathen repeated, though his voice was strained.


    ¡°Don''t think of me when you get to InterGuild, lad,¡± Antular said, ¡°You''ve got the future ahead of you, and the chance to really shine. Brighter than any star, Kathen. You shouldn''t let an old mop like me keep you down.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Kathen said, ¡°But I don''t care.¡±


    Antular sighed, and a small, grateful smile crept onto his face.


    ¡°There''s no stopping you, is there?¡± he said.


    ¡°I''ve lied to you before, old man,¡± Kathen said, ¡°And I''d do it again. Especially for something like this.¡±


    ¡°...Very well,¡± Antular said, ¡°Refuse the future, then.¡±


    ¡°I think I will,¡± Kathen said, ¡°Anything for a friend.¡±


    ***


    Old Scar was the chief security officer for Pagan Chorus. A military term, for a military man. He was well named, for he was in his fifties, ancient for a human, with a patchwork quilt of scars that ran from his back to his face, dried pink lacework on sun-tanned skin. Some of them were ritualistic, from the brutal homeworld he had come from, somewhere in the Outer Reach. Others were from combat.


    Most of them were from combat.


    He kept his hair down, revealing a bald, lumpy head. Old Scar was a full foot shorter than Kathen, but he was far broader than the younger man, corded with muscle, veins bulging out of arms, his hands welted over from a lifetime of holding plasma rifles and rayswords. He glared up at Kathen as he entered the training room. It was a simple stone box, with training dummies in each corner and a single mat in the center. Two windows were on the eastern wall, placed nearly up to the ceiling, cool air from outside drifting in, the barest hint of clouded sky shining through.


    ¡°You have your weapon?¡± Old Scar asked.


    Kathen nodded. He unlooped the raysword from his belt, clicking it on. A clear, glass-like blade protruded from the metal handle, leaf-shaped and broad. A bit shorter than most other blades, it was more designed as a ceremonial tool. But he used it all the same, for it was a gift from Valm. Old Scar''s gray eyes darted to the sword, then back to Kathen. His frown deepened.


    ¡°You''re late,¡± he said.


    ¡°Sorry,¡± Kathen said.


    ¡°No time for warm-ups, then,¡± Old Scar drew close, drawing his own blade. Kathen''s jaw set as the two began circling one another. Due to his height, his reach was greater than the old man''s. They both knew this, as Old Scar deliberately began trying to close the distance, hunkering down like a leopard, his eyes hardened and set.


    Under usual circumstances, Kathen would be the first to attack.


    But he decided against that.


    He noted a slight step in Old Scar''s gait, overly wide. A feint, perhaps, a trap to invite Kathen''s opening strike. Their usual dance would then play out, as it always had, a series of slashes and grunts, of the scream of ray-shields singing against one another.


    But Kathen did not take the bait. Not this time. Old Scar''s frown flickered for a moment.


    And then, faster than anything Kathen had ever seen, he struck. Kathen leaped back, bringing his blade up to block the first strike, the second, a third. All in rapid succession, as Old Scar pressed his offensive. He was like an anchored whirlwind, his legs sure and steady, only moving when he was repositioning himself, his arms flying every which way, pure power behind each and every strike. His was not a duelist''s style, with its tricks and its ripostes. He wielded his blade as though it were a club, trying to smack Kathen''s sword out of his hands.


    There was a moment of this, of the offensive Kathen could not hope to counteract, and then it was over. Old Scar''s blade sailed sideways, the flat of the rayshield crashing against the back of Kathen''s hand. He let out a grunt of pain, his raysword clattering to the ground as Old Scar''s fist shot out, delivering a shot into Kathen''s stomach. He fell, twisting ¡®round the bruise.


    Old Scar was already walking back to his original position.


    ¡°You''re late,¡± he said.


    ¡°I said,¡± Kathen coughed, ¡°I was sorry.¡±


    ¡°You''re not taking this seriously,¡± Old Scar said.


    ¡°I am now,¡± Kathen said. He stumbled up his feet, forcing down the dull pain.


    ¡°You gave up the advantage,¡± Old Scar said, ¡°You had the opportunity to attack, but you didn''t.¡±


    ¡°I could see the trap,¡± Kathen said.


    ¡°But you weren''t ready for my attack,¡± Old Scar said, ¡°You were ready to pounce. To take the initiative. But when you could, you didn''t. Again.¡±


    And they were circling each other once more, trying to find a chink in the other''s stance. Kathen made the first strike, a low shot that took advantage of his greater reach. Old Scar ducked the shot, surging forward, wrapping his arms around Kathen and pushing him back. Kathen stumbled, grimacing as Old Scar''s blade snaked out, battering Kathen''s aside once more.


    Another shot to the stomach, a final message from the old man that the spat was over. Kathen wheezed to the ground. Old Scar simply walked back to the center of the room.


    ¡°Mausoleum,¡± he barked, ¡°Table.¡±


    The guildhall shuddered, and a stone table rose from the floor. Old Scar unlooped his canteen, resting a hand on the table as he took a long drink. When he finished, he glared at Kathen''s crumpled form.


    ¡°So how''d you fuck up that time?¡± he asked.


    ¡°You didn''t tell me it was that kind of combat practice,¡± Kathen said, ¡°I thought we were just using swords.¡±


    ¡°Bullshit,¡± Old Scar said, ¡°I''m not teaching you to prance and duel like some nobleman''s son. I''m teaching you how to kill, and how to do it well. No matter where you are, no matter what you have. This is combat practice, Aru. Again.¡±


    Kathen roared, rushing forward, blade surging to life as he tackled Old Scar. Who was ready for the shot. Who, Kathen realized, had been positioning himself to catch the charge, a hand closing over Kathen''s wrist and squeezing to try and force the blade away. Kathen rose up, using his superior height to wind back his head. He slammed it into Old Scar''s, feeling stars dance for a moment as the security officer let out a gasp of surprise, releasing Kathen and stumbling against the table.


    Kathen kept up the attack, blade flashing, swinging at Old Scar, who grunted as he parried each shot, back against the table.


    There.


    Kathen swept, wrapping a leg against Old Scar''s, hand snaking out between the singing blades and slamming into Old Scar''s chest, causing the old man to lose his footing, cracking his back into the table''s edge.


    Old Scar coughed as he collapsed to the ground. Kathen brought his sword to the man''s throat.


    The two froze, twin hearts hammering. Old Scar glared up at the young man. Then he gave a nod.


    ¡°Better,¡± he said, ¡°You took the initiative.¡±


    ¡°Caught you off-guard.¡±


    ¡°That''s how it works,¡± Old Scar said.


    Kathen extended a hand, one which Old Scar took as he pulled himself to his feet. He clicked his raysword off, re-strapping it to his side as he took another drink of the canteen.


    He made sure to put the table between them.


    ¡°You have to be ready for anything, Aru,¡± Old Scar said, ¡°There isn''t anything formal about combat.¡±


    ¡°I knew that,¡± Kathen said, ¡°You''re treating me like I''m some sort of pup.¡±


    ¡°Because you''re acting like one,¡± Old Scar said, ¡°You were late.¡±


    ¡°I was talking with Antular,¡± Kathen said.


    ¡°Antular,¡± Old Scar spat, ¡°As if that''s any excuse. You had a commitment to this. First thing you should have done when you got planetside, you should have gone straight to me.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Kathen said, ¡°But I don''t care.¡±


    That earned him a truly icy glare from Old Scar. The veteran chewed on the side of his mouth for a second as he digested those words, then he dug out his old combat knife, flipping it in his hands absently.


    ¡°Here''s the thing, Aru,¡± he said, ¡°You and me, we''re all alone in this sort of job. We don''t have any special abilities. No powers. No magic. We''re baseline, and human baselines at that.¡±


    ¡°I think I handle myself alright out there,¡± Kathen said.


    ¡°Bah,¡± Kathen said, ¡°We''re in guildwork, son. No such thing as alright. We''re here to help keep order in the galaxy. Face off against pirates, or rogue metahumans. Beings with powers and abilities that far outstrip ours. So people like us, we can''t afford to slip up, or rest on our laurels. We have to be at our best, our most ruthless, our most tenacious, at all times. If you slip even once, you''re finished. That''s it. The galaxy''s a dangerous place, the multiverse even more so.¡±


    With a hand, he whipped the knife downwards, burying its point into the stone table. It flickered in place, back and forth like a pendulum.


    ¡°And with everything going on, things are just going to get worse.¡±


    ¡°Worse?¡±


    ¡°You''ve heard of the uptick in pirate raids,¡± he said, ¡°The riots in the Inner Reach. The deadlocks. The corrupt politicians bankrolling their own PMCs. Things are starting to fall apart.¡±


    He wrenched the knife free.


    ¡°And when that time comes, when everything changes and all that''s left is you and yours, you have to be ready. That''s what I''m training you for, Aru. That''s what Valm wants to drill into your head. Because it''s going to be a lot worse before it gets better.¡±


    Kathen was quiet, thinking on Old Scar''s words. The veteran still held his knife as he walked away from the table, pulling out his raysword once more.


    ¡°You were late,¡± Old Scar said, ¡°Start caring about what''s outside your window.. Because we''re reaching a point where it''s going to matter.¡±


    He lowered into a stance.


    ¡°Again.¡±


    ***


    He spent his dinner with Valm, as was standard.


    Of course, Valm was currently aboard the Sovereign Melody, heading to Everlasting Truth. But when these situations arose where mentor and mentee were on different worlds, he called in via video, and the two of them shared their meal, making conversation.


    Light-years away, yet it felt like the Prime Voice was right in front of him. Kathen had chosen to eat his meal in his room today, his entire body aching from bruises and cuts he had sustained with his sparring with Old Scar. He sat at his desk, three monitors arrayed in front of him, one with Valm''s video, the other two reading out news from across the galaxy. He could see Merry dancing from screen to screen, at times a butterfly, at others a mantis, others as a Delluran Avatar.


    ¡°It''s a controversial bill,¡± Valm was saying, ¡°It''s certainly not every day that the senate sees something like this actually make it to the floor.¡±


    ¡°But it will pass, you think?¡± Kathen asked.


    ¡°I''ll need to twist a few arms in the Birdwatcher''s Party,¡± Valm said, ¡°But that shouldn''t be too difficult. A dinner here, a gift there. Nothing major. Archkhan Emret''s daughter is having her Third Fletching in a few weeks. I might help him with the funds for that, maybe provide one of my family''s vacation worlds as a host.¡±


    ¡°Ever the businessman,¡± Kathen said, ¡°One of your precious paradises? This must mean a lot to you.¡±


    ¡°The creation of a taskforce to curb the illegal selling of educational materials and findings,¡± Valm mused, ¡°The practice has been going on for thousands of years. I mean to squash it, or at least make it far too expensive to be practical. Education should belong to those with the will and the funds to obtain it.¡±


    ¡°And you think that will help with the education problem?¡± Kathen said, ¡°I''ve heard a lot of people rely on those sales to help their own schooling, especially in the Outer Reach.¡±


    ¡°It''s a multi-pronged problem,¡± Valm said, ¡°A status quo based on criminality, which has always been unacceptable. It will require a transition, one that I''m preparing the Federation for. After this bill passes, I''m hoping to force through a series of scholarships and opportunities to those without the funds for a proper education, perhaps through volunteer work or military service. It will take time. Perhaps decades, by my calculations. But we''ll be in a better spot than where we are now.¡±


    The Prime Voice cut into his food, a rare mollusk from one of his fishing worlds. He put a bite into his mouth, chewing slowly.


    ¡°You really think that''s right?¡± Kathen said, ¡°I mean, what about the people in the interim?¡±


    ¡°Those already relying on this¡­ trade?¡± Valm said, ¡°They should never have bought stolen goods in the first place.¡±


    ¡°Maybe they don''t have a choice,¡± Kathen said.


    ¡°Ah, Mr. Aru,¡± Valm said, ¡°There is always a choice. We all have to start from somewhere, but we shouldn''t rely on skirting the law to build ourselves up.¡±


    ¡°It still feels...¡± Kathen shook his head, ¡°I don''t know. Wrong.¡±


    Valm took a moment to answer, putting another bite of food in his mouth, chewing thoughtfully.


    ¡°It is wrong,¡± he said, at length, ¡°Everything about the system is wrong. Making it right is a painful, long process. We''re up against thousands of years of deadlock, here. It''s a wonder there''s been much of a headway at all.¡±


    ¡°But you''ve got to do something,¡± Kathen said, ¡°A taskforce will be good, but you''ve got to make people aware of the change. Introduce alternatives now, as opposed to later.¡±


    The Prime Voice stopped eating his food, giving Kathen a look through the computer monitor. There was a way that Valm hid his emotions, his judgments, his thoughts, a mask that he wore when he was considering another opinion. Veil-like, as though he were a statue. His face slackened, his large eyes drifting away to stare into nothingness.


    Then, he gave a nod.


    ¡°I will need to look into that,¡± Valm said, ¡°The last thing we should do is cause undue suffering. Thank you, Mr. Aru. If you have any suggestions...¡±


    ¡°I''ll let you know,¡± Kathen said, ¡°But I''m not very good at thinking of those.¡±


    ¡°Quite on the contrary,¡± Valm said, ¡°I''ve come to respect your opinion, when it comes to the common individual. It was your idea to go to Galvorin III, wasn''t it?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°Because you heard of the food shortage they had been experiencing.¡±


    ¡°It was a bad harvest,¡± Kathen said, ¡°No one should have to go hungry. No one should have their work taken by others.¡±


    ¡°There were quite a few people within the guild that were concerned you went out there, all on your own,¡± Valm said, ¡°Old Scar included.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Kathen said, ¡°But I don''t care.¡±


    Valm smirked.


    ¡°Precisely what I like about you, Kathen,¡± he said, ¡°You see something wrong, you don''t hesitate to try and change it.¡±


    ¡°Th-Thank you, sir.¡±


    ¡°How is Old Scar, anyways?¡± Valm said, ¡°I haven''t had a chance to sit down with him for a few weeks.¡±


    ¡°As surly as ever,¡± Kathen said, ¡°He''s going on about everything breaking down again.¡±


    ¡°Of course he would be,¡± Valm said, ¡°I can''t blame him. Things are getting a bit... intense.¡±


    ¡°So you''re thinking it, too,¡± Kathen said.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Valm said, ¡°But I have something that Old Scar doesn''t have.¡±


    ¡°And what''s that, sir?¡±


    ¡°The benefit of a long life,¡± Valm said. He put down his fork and knife once more, ¡°I am five hundred years old, Mr. Aru. I have seen hard times. I have seen good times, and everything in between. Things are bad now, but they will get better.¡±


    ¡°How can you be sure?¡±


    ¡°Because I''m the Prime Voice,¡± Valm said, ¡°I''ve led our galaxy through countless wars, including the Manticore''s. I''ve seen economic downturn. This isn''t my first time dealing with the re-emergence of rebellions and labor strikes. You''ll see, Mr. Aru. Things might be bad now.¡±


    He took a sip of wine, from his own personal stock, from his own gardens.


    ¡°But they''ll get better,¡± he finished, ¡°You''ll see.¡±


    There was something in his eyes, a glimmer that was not there before. As though he knew something Kathen did not.


    ¡°You''ll see.¡±

 67. A Procession of the Weird and Wonderful

    Joseph awoke early in the morning. Went on his morning run. Practiced his footwork in front of a mirror in G-Wiz''s dance studio, shadowboxing against himself. Old words hung in his head, Coach Tristan''s barks of encouragement and admonishment piercing through time and distance, an old friend from way back when.


    ¡°There you go, son,¡± he said, ¡°Left, right, that''s it. Like before, left, right. He''s clipping you, son. Faster. Faster! Like a bullet, son, your fist is a bullet!¡±


    He was remembering Coach Tristan more, these days. A quiet homesickness that hung in his soul, though he didn''t dare tell anyone. Not even Becenti, or Rosemary. Private little memories, away from the stresses of guildlife and nightmares that were beginning to fester and bloom more and more.


    Just him, in the early mornings at the gym, practicing shadow boxing as his coach watched on.


    Perhaps it was there was a real chance to learn more about getting him home that he had begun to have these quiet yearnings again. He had, for a time, set aside the idea of getting back to Earth in a timely manner. There were other stresses. The expedition. The gala. Death Valley. But now that things had calmed down a bit, and a new lead was in front of him, Joseph realized something.


    He was beginning to hope again.


    He gave a smirk at that. And continued his work.


    A knock came at the door, causing him to spin and lose his composure. His heart hammered a bit too quickly for his liking as he took a breath.


    ¡°Yeah, come in,¡± he said.


    The door opened. Phineas was there, tome in hand, a nervous look in his eye as he waddled in.


    ¡°Good morning, Joseph,¡± he rasped.


    ¡°Hey, Phin,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°You are practicing your dancing?¡± Phineas asked.


    Joseph snorted.


    ¡°Nah,¡± he said, ¡°My, uh, boxing. I never want to dance again.¡±


    ¡°Is not boxing just dancing, only with extra fisticuffs?¡±


    ¡°...Okay, you got a point there,¡± Joseph admitted, ¡°I''ll grant you that one.¡±


    ¡°I have a gift for you,¡± Phineas said.


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    The Deep One looked around for a second, before looking at Joseph.


    ¡°I have forgotten it.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡±


    ¡°I will go get it,¡± Phineas said, ¡°Wait here.¡±


    And without another word, he was off again, making his way back through Castle Belenus to their quarters. Joseph smiled, stretching a bit as he waited, wondering what the hell the Deep One could be hiding. They slept in the same room, after all, which meant he would have needed to hide... whatever he was giving him, somewhere in the guildhall.


    Phineas came back a few minutes later, panting heavily, a new blue jacket in hand.


    ¡°Oh shit,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Phin-¡±


    ¡°I have-¡± Phineas gasped, ¡°Running is difficult. I do... I do not know how you do it.¡±


    Shaking himself, he presented Joseph the jacket. It was much like the one he had now, one that Phineas had also replaced, though perhaps a shade darker.


    The Deep One had been hard at work with the improvements.


    ¡°More pockets on the inside, too,¡± Phineas said, ¡°So you can hold stuff in there, like food. Or grenades.¡±


    ¡°I''ll take the food,¡± Joseph said, smiling.


    ¡°Try it on,¡± Phineas said, and he handed it to Joseph.


    Who complied, feeling a familiar warmth as he slipped it on. Like it was late at night, and he was studying the multiverse, someone ¨C Rosemary, Phineas, even G-Wiz, across the table from him, coffee in hand. Becenti''s proud, sad smile. Broon''s guffaws during dinner.


    It felt like...


    Like home.


    ¡°I have knitted stronger magic into it,¡± Phineas said, ¡°Watch.¡±


    He had also brought a steak knife, and before Joseph could react he swung it. The Deep One was fast, but it didn''t even cut through the jacket''s fiber, instead stopping and scoring as though it had struck solid stone.


    ¡°The enchantments on your old jacket were standard,¡± Phineas said, ¡°Urash''s work. Which is mediocre compared to mine.¡±


    Joseph inspected the spot where Phineas had slashed at him, smiling in spite of himself. He gave his friend a hard smirk.


    ¡°Your head''s getting big again, Phin.¡±


    ¡°On the contrary,¡± Phineas said, ¡°My head is normal-sized. But I am very proud of my work.¡±


    ¡°Thanks, man.¡±


    ¡°I am not a man, I am a Deep One,¡± Phineas said, ¡°Oh! You meant ¨C you''re welcome, Joseph.¡±


    He gave Joseph a watery smile.


    ¡°Come one,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Let''s get some food.¡±


    ***


    A few hours later, he was ready for the trip. The Dreamer''s Lament was casting off at around noon, and barring the storm clouds that still roiled over Scuttleway, it was predicted to be a relatively uneventful trip. Per guild tradition, Joseph had no chores assigned to him for the day, so he spent the last few hours at Castle Belenus getting ready. A few books on metahumanity and the multiverse for the trip there, as well as a duffel bag¡¯s worth of ratty t-shirts after raiding the guild''s community closet. He was wearing a bright banana yellow one today, which read ¡®MY OTHER RIDE¡¯S POTASSIUM.''


    He missed his AC/DC shirt.


    ¡°Where did we even get all of these, anyways?¡± Joseph asked as he helped load a crate.


    ¡°Oh, those?¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°We used to have a guildmate, name was Terrence McGallory, they liked collecting ''em.¡±


    ¡°From all over?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Yeah, some shit like that,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°You look good, Noodle. You''re a true fashionista, you are.¡±


    ¡°And that''s where you get your shirts from, I bet?¡±


    ¡°What, this?¡± G-Wiz gestured to her shirt, which read ''DIE IN A FIRE CONCERT YEAR 3321,'' ¡°Naw, it''s a statement.¡±


    Joseph rolled his eyes, and continued working.


    ***


    Finally, as the golden hour rolled around, they loaded the last of their gear onto the Dreamer''s Lament. Most of the guild gathered around as the airship began her castoff, a sea of the unmundane as Joseph glanced out the window at them. Chadwick sat atop Archenround''s head, his emerald eyes flashing in the midday light. Meleko was waving at them, Mallory beside him. Barbara was flying beside the ship as it slowly levitated into the air, giving one last flyover. Lazuli, far below, flipped them off. Phineas gave them a thumbs up.


    And the entire crowd became smaller and smaller as the Dreamer lifted to the sky. Rain began pattering at the windows, a sign that even more of a deluge was coming.


    ¡°Glad we''re avoiding most of that,¡± Broon said, beside Joseph.


    ¡°We''re going over the clouds, right?¡±


    ¡°For this Traveling Point?¡± Broon cast him a smile, ¡°Aye.¡±


    They rattled through the initial storm, the entire world outside becoming nothing but gray fog. This only lasted for a few minutes, however, before they rose out of the murk. A sea of clouds greeted them, fluffy white and a far cry from the boiling storm beneath them. The other parts of Londoa could be seen, high above, the peppered lights of the other landmasses just barely twinkling past the blue sky and the light of the Inner Sun.


    ¡°Towards the center of the world,¡± Broon said, ¡°There''s a Traveling Point there, one that was only discovered recently.¡±


    He cast a grin at Joseph.


    ¡°By us, of course. Needs must, and all that.¡±


    The Titania Amber lurched upwards, as though using every bit of magic within the runes cast in her hull to propel herself upwards, higher and higher into the air, the landmasses becoming smaller and smaller on all sides.


    Becenti was on the bridge, looking out the window as Ichabod guided the ship ever closer. He was wearing his customary business suit, his hair let down, hands behind his back. All around him was nothing open air and oceans of clouds.


    ¡°Magnificent, isn''t it?¡± he whispered.


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°I''ve seen better, I think.¡±


    ¡°Always the dour one, Mr. Ichabod?¡± Becenti said, ¡°Truly, you are a visionary.¡±


    ¡°A realist, Becenti,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°You''ve seen one cloud, you''ve seen them all.¡±


    ¡°Agree to disagree,¡± Becenti said. He turned and made his way down the stairs, ¡°Vyde. It''s time.¡±


    ¡°Ah, good,¡± Wakeling said. She was resting on a table, a pillow beneath her, as Contort was making small talk with her, ¡°Arne, be a dear?¡±


    ¡°Yes, ma''am,¡± he said. He stood, grabbing for a briefcase beneath the table, and laid it on his lap. The guild watched as he unlatched the clasps and opened it up, revealing...


    An arm. Old, weathered, almost stick-like. Paler than snow, so translucent that the blue and red veins were visible, as though they had been marked along the forearm.


    The fingers twitched, and Wakeling had a serene expression on her face.


    ¡°Ah,¡± she said, ¡°Been too long since I''ve used this number, hasn''t it?¡±


    ¡°Are you sure just the arm, ma''am?¡± Contort asked, ¡°Not the whole body?¡±


    ¡°Just the arm. I''ve got to leave something to defend the guild, don''t I?¡± Vyde let out a low, almost vile chuckle, as the fingers continued their splaying. Joseph took a step back, and was glad when he noticed a few others did as well. Wakeling''s eyes caught Joseph''s, and she gave him a wink.


    And with that wink, the arm began to levitate into the air, before taking on a full life, flexing and moving about, stretching itself. Wakeling gave a satisfied smile as it did so, before it floated over beside her.


    ¡°That''s better. Much better,¡± she said, ¡°Alright, people. Listen up!¡±


    All at once, the guild''s attention was on her. Ichabod poked his head down from upstairs.


    ¡°Here''s the deal,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°The Traveling Point up here''s a bit of a doozy. Pop quiz: What''s at the center of Londoa?¡±


    Mekke raised up a hand.Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.


    ¡°Nothing but gravity,¡± she said, raising her voice so everyone could hear, ¡°It''s nothing but a ball of gravitational force, placed by... something, to keep Londoa from drifting apart.¡±


    ¡°That''s right!¡± Wakeling said, ¡°It''s either a natural phenomenon unique to this plane, or some wizard or other decided to keep the Broken World together so we could all have this conversation together.¡±


    ¡°A ball of gravity,¡± Joseph said, ¡°That''s pretty intense, right?¡±


    ¡°Joseph''s right,¡± Broon said, ¡°No one''s been able to get through that field of gravity. Airships get torn apart. People get string-beaned.¡±


    ¡°Almost like a black hole, actually,¡± Tek said, ¡°Only without any event horizon, just the sheer, crushing power.¡±


    ¡°Nobody, until us,¡± Wakeling''s smile widened, ¡°It requires quite a bit of magic, a bit of will, and a whole lot of love. Which is partially while I''m along.¡±


    The ship shuddered for a second. They all looked at each other, worried.


    ¡°Perhaps you should stop flexing, Vyde,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°And get to work?¡±


    ¡°Oh, Ichabod,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°I always flex.¡±


    She made her way up to the cockpit. Everyone else looked at each other. The shuddering continued. Began to intensify. The very air seemed to start to vibrate. Joseph felt his stomach clench up.


    Then, they all heard Ichabod shouting.


    ¡°HIT THE DECK!¡±


    The entire ship lurched to the side, now shaking in earnest, a deep rumbling coughing out from the engine. Joseph''s soul roared to life, claws hooking into the floor. He could see Rosemary tumbling, scrabbling against the floor like a panicked squirrel. Broon crunching against the wall, grunting in surprise. The vines of Shambling reaching out to anchor her in place.


    He felt someone grab hold of his back as he fell. Joseph turned to see Ezel, her eyes wide.


    ¡°Oh,¡± she murmured.


    And the ship turned upside down.


    ***


    Wakeling, Ichabod realized, was cackling.


    He had been tossed aside, arms wrapped around one of the hooks on the wall, letting her take full control of the ship. The guildmaster did not use the steering wheel, not even with her floating arm. Instead, she simply floated above it, laughing maniacally, as the ship tossed and turned and made aileron rolls, her arm extended in front of her like an iron rod, held in place by will and magic. There were tattoos on it, Ichabod realized, circular engravings that had not been there before but now burned and glowed with a hot orange light, as though she had plucked the sun and burned it into her skin. It acted as the center to this pinwheel of wood and magic, the entirety of the Titania Amber orbiting ¡®round as Wakeling''s magic did its work.


    ¡°Almost through!¡± the guildmaster snarled, ¡°Hang on tight, Ichabod!¡±


    ¡°I WANT TO DIE!¡± Ichabod roared.


    ¡°I KNOW!¡± Wakeling screeched, ¡°Isn''t it fun?!¡±


    And slowly, the ship righted itself. Wakeling''s magic tamed the forces pulling everything apart, a glass-like bubble surrounding the vessel as she tipped back into place. The engine below wheezed on, though it was hoarse and weak-sounding. Ichabod slowly stood up.


    And stumbled.


    Wakeling turned to look down on him.


    ¡°Enough of a flex, you think?¡±


    ***


    They slowly recovered, groaning and coughing as they whimpered back to their feet, some offering hands, or vines, or claws to their guildmates. Joseph''s soul released, the eagle crackling back into his body, and he grimaced as he saw the deep rents he had cut into the floor. Ezel stared down at it, before looking over to him.


    ¡°I didn''t see anything,¡± she said.


    ¡°Maybe we can get Urash to magic it back in place,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°I''ll vouch,¡± Ezel said.


    ¡°Thanks, Ezel,¡± Joseph said.


    Becenti was pulling himself to his feet, brushing off his suit, his stony eyes sliding over to wounds Joseph had made.


    ¡°Excellent, Mr. Zheng,¡± he said, ¡°We''re already down one ship, might as well take out the other.¡±


    Joseph rolled his eyes.


    ¡°It wouldn''t be there if Wakeling wasn''t an insane b-¡±


    He noticed not a few guildmembers were staring at him.


    ¡°B-Boisterous genius.¡±


    ¡°Good save,¡± Ezel said.


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Acceptable. I expect you to have some of your share from this job go towards the repairs.¡±


    Joseph slumped.


    ¡°Deal.¡±


    ***


    Almogra of the Gray-Dusk Skies was the right hand of Pagan Chorus. A Coribaldi from Orrentine, a world located in the galaxy''s Iris. Gray-skinned and a full seven feet tall, she towered over Kathen as she considered him. She was in full combat gear, a suit of powered armor that left her arms bare. One of them was mechanical, beautiful and pristine, shining as though freshly polished, with what looked like torcs banding ¡®round the bicep. The other arm was covered in runes, triangular ones from some distant plane from her days as a Far Traveler.


    ¡°So,¡± she said, ¡°I am to be your babysitter for this one, eh?¡±


    ¡°No need to look after me,¡± Kathen said, ¡°I''ve got my own business. Feel free to do whatever business Valm''s sticking on you.¡±


    He made to move, but Almogra put herself between him and the door.


    ¡°I am to be your guardian, Kate.¡±


    ¡°Oh, come on,¡± Kathen said, ¡°I''m not nine anymore.¡±


    ¡°That is true,¡± Almogra said, ¡°But nonetheless, the Prime Voice-¡±


    ¡°You can just call him Valm.¡±


    ¡°The Prime Voice told me to look after you on this trip. I know you, Kate. Whatever you are getting up to, it is trouble.¡±


    ¡°Alright, you got a point there,¡± Kathen said, ¡°But really? You''re going to be chaperoning me the whole time?¡±


    ¡°You will be by my side,¡± Almogra said.


    ¡°No, I won''t,¡± Kathen said, ¡°I''ve got business of my own.¡±


    ¡°You will be by my side,¡± Amogra repeated, ¡°Or we will have words.¡±


    She glowered down at him. Kathen sighed.


    ¡°Fine,¡± he said.


    He heard Merry''s voice whispering in his head.


    ¡°Already on it,¡± she said, ¡°Getting up a list of places we can duck out of sight once we get there.¡±


    ¡°I am sorry the Prime Voice chooses to treat you as a child,¡± Almogra said, ¡°But such is guild life, Kate. Trust me, it will be alright. He wants you to see what a meeting of InterGuild looks like, between guildmasters and their right hands. The politics of it all.¡±


    Kathen blinked.


    ¡°Why would he want me to do that?¡±


    ¡°Is it not obvious?¡± Almogra put a hand on Kathen''s shoulder, gently guiding him towards the ship moored outside, ¡°He is grooming you for a higher position within the guild.¡±


    ¡°He talks about going higher than that,¡± Merry murmured.


    ¡°I guess,¡± Kathen said. He could feel a fuzz in the back of his head, the sign that Merry was hard at work finding solutions once they got to InterGuild. Better to play dumb and obedient, ¡°Alright. I''m in.¡±


    Almogra smiled.


    ¡°Good,¡± she said, ¡°Come, let us be off.¡±


    Together, they walked out of Mausoleum, leaving the ancient stone behind. Rain, cold and needle-like, pelted them as they walked outside, the sky above a swirl of creamy gray. A transport ship was moored outside, a triangular, spear-like vessel known as the Point of No Return.


    Kathen had always disliked the name.


    There were only a couple of other guildmembers on board. Valm had chosen few to represent Pagan Chorus''s interests. Once, he had unveiled nearly the entire guild as a symbol of Silver Eye might, as much of the guild was native to the galaxy. But this number had dwindled with each year, partially because guildmembers would be poached by others, partially because Valm''s interests had turned further and further inwards to his home plane. There was Bluebell, the dragonfolk enraptured in his usual red cloak, a serene expression on his face. Dicaeopolis sat across from him, flute in hand as he tried for a few notes, hooves tapping to the beat. Oliander was sitting in the corner, the golem''s face buried in a book that seemed almost comically small in his mountain-like hands.


    All of them, members from outside the galaxy. A minority, compared to the rest of the guild.


    ¡°Kate,¡± Almogra said, ¡°I would have you in the cockpit, with our driver.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Kathen said. He strode forward, giving a fist-bump to Dicaeopolis as he passed. Oliander''s great hand rested on his head for a moment as Kathen went up the ramp towards the cockpit. The pilot was a Grantelliad, the dark purple rings on her long neck a sign of her advanced age. Reptilian eyes regarded him as he sat down.


    ¡°''Sup,¡± he said.


    ¡°I greet you, Sairad Ghedir.¡±


    Kathen blinked. He had never heard that term used before.


    ¡°Huh,¡± Merry said, as she translated, ¡°Weird.¡±


    The ship lumbered upwards, shaking and shuddering as it took off. Kathen checked a few scanners, making sure that the takeoff was smooth.


    ¡°What''s up, Merry?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Sairad Ghedir,¡± she said, ¡°Lord of the Past. Not a Grantelliad word.¡±


    ¡°Weird,¡± Kathen said, ¡°Hey, go ahead and interface with the Point. I want to have finer control in case things get a bit scratchy.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Merry blipped. She exited his system, a flash of green light, before she began going through the scanners, fine-tuning them to her personal specifications.


    Kathen leaned back, and thought of what the Grantelliad had said.


    Then shrugged, and let the thought leave his mind.


    ***


    The Flyleaf Forest was a plane that consisted of a great, ocean-like wood. It theoretically had continents, if one could call them that, great rises of uphill earth, vast and comparable to the landmasses of other planes. But there were no seas here, no vast bodies of water. No lakes, hardly any rivers, all of it instead taken up by trees of various kind. There were the usual make, pines and oaks and the like. But by far the most common species was known as the shelf tree. So named because they were shaped like, well, shelves, and because of their contents.


    Books.


    Thousands of books.


    Millions.


    Books from across the multiverse. It, much like Doremi, collected knowledge from the other planes, absorbing ideas, concepts, dreams, histories, and emotions. They interpreted them as books, sometimes written by authors of the myriad worlds, though often they simply... were.


    Far Travelers had discovered the Flyleaf Forest thousands of years ago, and the nomads of the multiverse were known to come here, to squirrel away their own tomes. Memoirs, confessions, stolen goods, to be returned to later. Others took books from here, taking them for their own use in the wider multiverse. It was as though it were a Library World from the Silver Eye writ large, with knowledge being exchanged at an exhausting rate, and yet the Forest could always provide.


    And this year, the five largest guilds of the multiverse had decided for the Flyleaf Forest to be this year''s host for InterGuild. Most guilds already had bases of operation here, so it was a natural choice. Parts of the forest were felled, the books moved away, clearing a wide open space for the countless guilds to set up shop. Market stands were erected. A great meeting place was noted, a circular building of stone (courtesy of the Stoneworker''s Society) that was imported from Krenstone and Vaya Duri, a place for guildmasters to meet and discuss the newest updates from across the multiverse.


    Already, people were arriving from across the multiverse. The Flyleaf Forest had several Traveling Points, all of them in close proximity to the other, all of them artificially placed by travelers of the ancient past.


    And from those Traveling Points came hundreds of ships. Great, plasma-scarred behemoths from the Silver Eye. Rickety galleons that rode the air. A modified jumbo jet, the steel wings replaced by bat-like extensions. The great nihilship of the Exodus Walkers, some ancient mammoth fish''s skeleton enchanted with dark magic to fly. The Greater Medusae of the Levia Observation Association, great tentacles slithering down to moor on the larger trees of the wood. The annex building of the Academy of the Unreal, an entire building floating through the Traveling Point via magic, a purple aura undulating from the annex''s base as it descended to root itself into the earth once more.


    And, through it all, the Dreamer¡¯s Lament. She slid alongside a much larger ship from the Chloroplasts, a small airship against a sea of green as the Chloroplasts'' ship vined down towards the meeting grounds. Joseph looked out the window. The Flyleaf Forest possessed no stars, not even a sun. Instead, the guildfolk around the place had begun lighting lanterns, igniting fires, willing balls of light into existence. Between all of the forestry was a peppering of firefly-like lights.


    ¡°Becenti,¡± Ichabod called down, ¡°A representative from the Big Five is outside. They want to talk.¡±


    ¡°Very well,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Mr. Zheng, with me.¡±


    Joseph looked back. Becenti was getting ready to climb up to the bridge and to the observation platform outside. Some of the other members of the guild were looking outside, though a few like Mekke and Wakeling had yet to rise, instead concentrating on a card game on the coffee table.


    ¡°Joseph?¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Right,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Coming.¡±


    They climbed up to the bridge, where Ichabod was glaring out the window. Outside was a human-sized swan in a business suit, their wings inked with two swirling symbols that ended with a diamond in the center.


    ¡°Ah,¡± Becenti said, ¡°That''s the symbol of Eldest Ark.¡±


    ¡°Another guild?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°One of the largest,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Come, let''s make our introductions.¡±


    They swung out onto the observation platform, and Becenti gestured for the swan to land. They did so, and Joseph noted that their webbed feet had been replaced with clockwork prosthetics, clawed and deadly-looking.


    ¡°I am Envo Cheevus of Eldest Ark,¡± the swan said, ¡°Here to greet you at InterGuild, and log your guild in.¡±


    ¡°Myron Becenti, with Joseph Zheng at my side.¡±


    ¡°Your guild, sir?¡±


    ¡°Amber Foundation.¡±


    Envo Cheevuz nodded, and pulled out from beneath a wing a small notebook, opening it up. Their prosthetic legs, Joseph realized, have opposable toes, and they wrote down the names.


    ¡°Yes, you''re here and registered,¡± the swan said, ¡°Lot 57A, sir. Good tidings.¡±


    They gave a bow, and were off.


    ¡°You dragged me all the way out here for that?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°I dragged you all the way out here to feel the air,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Look, Mr. Zheng. Your first time at InterGuild.¡±


    Joseph stepped forward, and took in the sights of the entire plane. A few other ships were coming out of the Traveling Points now, one pouring out as a deluge, before coalescing together into a great ball of water, fish and merfolk and a massive crocodile floating within. The other was a massive turtle, who splayed out of the Traveling Point and drifted in the air, holes in its shell opening up for its guildmembers to watch the processions below.


    ¡°I wanted you to see this first,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Before you do... whatever it is you do down there. Before you get caught up in something potentially serious, for all guilds are serious in their own ways.¡±


    ¡°You want me to remember all of this,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°I remember when you got back from the gala,¡± Becenti said, ¡°The exhaustion in your eyes. Your broken nose. It was... A disenchantment, I think.¡±


    ¡°It was more Rosemary''s,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Becenti said, ¡°But I could see it in you, too. Which is why I wanted you to come out here, first.¡±


    Below, a flock of strange, two-headed birds flew in a ''V'' formation, their riders wearing armor made out of shining emeralds.


    ¡°This is a procession of the weird and wonderful, Mr. Zheng,¡± Becenti said, ¡°The outcasts. The dispossessed. The trailblazers. That is what you see around you, Joseph. People like us. All of them, with their own reasons for coming to InterGuild. All of them, with their own dreams.¡±


    Joseph smiled, turning to Becenti.


    ¡°It''s not bad,¡± he said.


    ¡°No, Mr. Zheng,¡± Becenti returned Joseph''s grin, ¡°It is not.¡±

 68. A Marching Song

    The Dreamer''s Lament landed in a part of the clearing noted, in five different picket signs and in seventeen different languages, ''Amber Foundation.'' One by one, the guildmembers walked out, carrying out crates and bags of goods, setting up a small storefront right at the edge of their lot. Becenti laid down a small bag, opening it up.


    ¡°Vyde,¡± he said, ¡°Need a bit of spark, here.¡±


    The guildmaster drifted out of the airship, arm trailing behind. There was a different energy  to her now, Joseph thought. She was, on the surface, the same Wakeling who had recruited him to the guild, the same bat-like, wizened old woman, with her eccentricities and her sharp voice. But there was power to her now, true power that almost rippled in the air like one of Becenti''s heat mirages. She simply snapped a finger, and the bag began shaking, before a green tent blossomed out, growing larger and larger in size, until it took up a full quarter of their allotted ground. Joseph squinted inside, noting the hammocks that were blooming into existence, wrapping themselves around metal poles and swaying as though a wind were running through the place.


    ¡°Not bad,¡± he said, ¡°Really going all in with this one, aren''t you?¡±


    ¡°It''s InterGuild, Mr. Zheng,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Might as well have a bit of luxury, wouldn''t you say?¡±


    She let out a cackle, and then began barking out orders. Joseph moved to help unload the heavier crates, soul bursting to life, claws latching onto the hooks on each crate as it lifted each one to its shoulder. Lights were beginning to shine around the once-dark grounds, as Urash spoke words of power, his spellrod glowing, balls of light burning to life and drifting out. But Joseph still had to squint a bit in the half-light of what had become a camping ground, watching his step as they unloaded.


    ¡°Careful with this one, Joseph,¡± Tek said, ¡°I''ve got a few fragile pieces for the engine in here.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Joseph picked up the crate, slowly stepping off the ramp, ¡°Where do you need this one?¡±


    ¡°Over here,¡± Tek said, ¡°Yes, here we are.¡±


    He shuffled over to where the rest of Tek¡¯s equipment was, a little hoard of bits and bobs and other miscellaneous equipment.  The mound was shaking in what Joseph took to be excitement as he put the crate down by a small monitor and scanner.


    ¡°Oh good, very good,¡± he said, ¡°Excellent, Joseph. Most excellent.¡±


    He adjusted his glasses, patted Joseph on the head, and then made his way over to where Becenti was standing. The guild''s right hand was murmuring to Wakeling, and the two of them were watching, through the treelines, a dark shape fly overhead, detailed with a few lights.


    ¡°There they are,¡± Becenti was saying, ¡°Outsource Solutions. I''m surprised they''re going all in for this.¡±


    ¡°They''ve recently had a spat with Blue Sky Waiting,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°They lost a ship, all hands. They''re looking to show the rest of us that they''re still one of the top dogs.¡±


    ¡°Outsource Solutions?¡± Joseph asked, drawing close. Becenti''s mouth flickered upwards for a second, before returning to his usual somber glare as he nodded.


    ¡°Indeed, Mr. Zheng,¡± Becenti said, ¡°One of the largest guilds in the multiverse. They dwarf us by several dimensions.¡±


    ¡°And that''s one of their ships?¡±


    ¡°The Warlord''s Choice, if I''m remembering the design,¡± Becenti said, ¡°An old Federation warbird they bought some years ago.¡±


    ¡°So they''re really flaunting it this time,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Indeed, Mr. Zheng,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I don''t envy you, Vyde. Looks like it''s going to be a caustic Guildmasters'' Moot.¡±


    ¡°Please, the Great Palaver''s always caustic,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Take the most arrogant, spiteful, and powerful sons of bitches in the multiverse, and tell them to get along. I''m glad they decided to serve drinks at this one.¡±


    She rolled her eyes, giving a smirk at Joseph.


    ¡°I do believe there''s a few more crates to unload, Mr. Zheng. Don''t get distracted by the conversation between two old farts, you hear?¡±


    ¡°Oh, right,¡± Joseph went off, running back towards the Titania Amber, helping Broon with a large box full of machinery.


    ¡°He''s really gotten the hang of all this, hasn''t he?¡± Wakeling said.


    ¡°He''s taken the initiative on this one,¡± Becenti said, ¡°You should have seen him. He and Rosemary were running all over the guild trying to secure a spot.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Wakeling nodded, before turning back up to survey the sky, ¡°Oh! The Weaponeers! Looks like Dairos decided to get the trireme after all!¡±


    ***


    Pagan Chorus was among the five largest guilds in the multiverse, despite sticking primarily to the Silver Eye. As such, they were assigned one of the largest lots, a massive grassy knoll from which they could land their ships and spread out.


    But Pagan Chorus wasn''t like Eldest Ark, or Outsource Solutions. Valm had only sent the Point of No Return, the small, arrow-like ship sitting alone in a dark field as Almogra opened the door and beckoned for everyone to disembark. They were alone, on a windless plain, stepping out into darkness. Oliander''s runes began to glow, a comfortable orange, as though fire had been etched onto his stony body. Almogra drew out a flashlight.


    ¡°I believe the Prime Voice is sending a dark message to the other guilds,¡± Almogra said, ¡°We should have sent more.¡±


    ¡°He cares little for this,¡± Bluebell said, ¡°Very little indeed.¡±


    ¡°It could be seen as an insult,¡± Almogra said, ¡°An affront. A sign that he cares more about being Prime Voice than he does about being guildmaster.¡±


    ¡°Which is true,¡± Kathen said, ¡°Right?¡±


    He watched as three sets of eyes fell on him.


    ¡°What?¡± Kathen said, ¡°Like, we all know it. He''s busy. He''s got a galaxy to run.¡±


    ¡°It''s the thought that matters, Kate,¡± Bluebell said, ¡°Everything is political.¡±


    ¡°And Valm''s a politician, he gets that,¡± Kathen said, ¡°Which means...¡±


    Oh, he wasn''t liking where this was going. He could see Bluebell sigh, and Almogra grimace.


    ¡°A bitter message, indeed,¡± Almogra said, ¡°I will have to speak with the Prime Voice when this is over. Let him know that I want a raise.¡±


    She gave a ferocious grin.


    ¡°Now, let us set up camp. I don''t want to sleep on that ship another night.¡±


    ***


    The first twelve hours of InterGuild were dedicated to preparation. Tents were pulled up. Ships landed, and became bases of operation. Houses were erected, magicked out of thin air, or built at rapid speeds using the massive pile of logs squirreled away when Eldest Ark had begun clearing a space for the camping grounds. The Academy of the Unreal''s annex building landed with a shuddering thump, and after a few moments teachers and students began streaming out, setting up market stalls on their grounds.


    Many guilds did. For InterGuild was not just a meeting of the minds. It was also a market bazaar, one that blinked into existence for five days, selling wares and goods and weapons and magics from across reality. Stalls were set up, as guildmembers unloaded product from their home planes and beyond. Weapons were among the most valued commodities, due to the very nature of guildwork, swords and axes and spears, assault rifles, plasma pistols from the Eye, grenades that showered star-shaped shrapnel when they exploded, spellrods that gleamed in the half-dusk, gemstones from a hundred worlds etched into their make. Artifacts were spread out, bone and lapis lazuli necklaces from long-dead civilizations, remembered only in archives and in cultural memory, statues of beings both familiar and strange, carved in marble, or flint, or glass, or unmelting ice, or metamorphic rock.


    Pieces of equipment littered the stalls here and there, too. Starship parts. Airship engines, the runes carved into the belching steel faded by use and time. Old, non-functioning ansibles from planes that just barely scraped the stars, before falling into oblivion. Silverfish from all times, the oldest ones large, blocky beings that took up a room, the newest simple, hand-held devices that were worth more than a moon.


    This, and more, was laid out as people prepared for the selling, the bartering, the negotiating, and the roughhousing that would come tomorrow. The Flyleaf Forest was a place of eternal night, but the guilds had come together and defined a cycle of days and nights. Eldest Ark''s guildmaster, Ornoah, had even had a clocktower built here, which rose above the tumult of the forest, its great face staring at the hundreds of ships plying the skies as though they were clouds.


    Joseph glanced up at it. Eight at night, by the way the bells high above tolled, the way that a third arm, independent of the hour and minute hands, pointed towards the moon symbol in the top-right corner. Dinner was already being brought out, as they set up cook fires and ate a thick soup that warmed Joseph''s soul.


    Literally, in his case.


    ¡°Looks like people are bringing out some big guns this year,¡± Contort said. He, Rosemary, Joseph, Broon, and Ezel were around a fire, listening to the general atmosphere of the place. Even now, late at night, people were shouting to and at their guildmates, ships were still landing, work was still being done.


    ¡°You saw that big serpent up above, right?¡± Broon said.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Contort said, ¡°That''s the Scaled Commandos, aren''t they? Mercenaries.¡±


    ¡°Had a little skirmish with one of their higher ups, a few years back,¡± Broon chuckled, ¡°Gave me a nasty little scar.¡±


    ¡°Oh really?¡± Ezel said, ¡°Where is it?¡±


    ¡°Can''t say.¡±


    ¡°Can''t say, or won''t?¡±


    Broon blushed a bit.


    ¡°It''s a bit further down than I''d care to show.¡±


    They all let out chuckles at that, watching as another ship roared high above.


    ¡°That''s the Kaleidoscope Queen,¡± Broon noted, ¡°Another ship from Outsource Solutions.¡±


    ¡°I recognize the other beside it,¡± Ezel said, ¡°That''s the Raindropper, from the Gentlemen and Ladies. I wonder how Duchess Irma is doing.¡±


    Joseph had taken out Meloche''s letter, reading it and re-reading it in the gloomy firelight. Rosemary drew up beside him, looking over his shoulder.


    ¡°The letter again?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph said, ¡°The Bookish Wyrm...¡±


    He looked up, Contort and Broon were laughing, and somehow both of them had gotten ahold of bottles of beer, the half-orc downing and all but slamming it into the ground.


    ¡°Broon,¡± Ezel said, ¡°Don''t litter.¡±


    ¡°Right!¡± Broon said, before he coughed a bit and simmered, ¡°Right. Sorry.¡±


    ¡°Hey, Contort,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°No,¡± Contort pointed a finger, ¡°Sorry, Joe, but only the cool kids get the good stuff.¡±


    ¡°God, what are you, five?¡± Joseph rolled his eyes, ¡°You know of a place called the Bookish Wyrm?¡±


    ¡°Bookish Wyrm,¡± Contort scratched his chin, ¡°Sounds like a ship. Or a bar. Maybe both.¡±


    ¡°The guy I''m supposed to meet says to talk to him there,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Probably a bar, then,¡± Broon said, ¡°It''s around here somewhere, might want to take a look at getting a map. I think Becenti got one from someone in Eldest Ark.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Joseph said. He stood up, and without another word disappeared from the fire''s light to find the guild''s right hand.


    ¡°He''s dedicated to this one, isn''t he?¡± Broon said.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°He barely talks about it, though.¡±


    ¡°Who''s the boyfriend, at least?¡± Contort asked.


    ¡°Some guy named Meloche, is what I think he mentioned,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°A metahuman, or other.¡±


    ¡°It''s metahumans all the way down with those guys,¡± Contort said, and he took a sip of his beer, ¡°Leave it to Joe to come out of a giant old slobberknocker of a job with a friend.¡±


    ¡°Not out of the ordinary,¡± Ezel murmured.


    ¡°Ha!¡± Contort said, ¡°Remember him and G? Used to hate each other, and all that. Then the Mordenaro job hits, and they''re chums.¡±


    He turned and smiled, raising a beer to G-Wiz. She and Ichabod were leaning against the Titania Amber nearby. G-Wiz flipped him off.


    ¡°See?¡± Contort said, turning back, ¡°She does that to Joe, too. But lovingly.¡±


    ***


    G-Wiz rolled her eyes as Contort turned back. There was a way that he did it, his spine popping back into place, as though turning his entire torso a hundred and eighty degrees was no big deal.


    ¡°Absolutely disgusting, how he does that,¡± Ichabod said. He had taken out a small, bone-white cigarette, and was still holding his case in one silvery, glass-hewn hand. He offered a cigarette to G-Wiz, who shrugged and took one.


    ¡°Got a light?¡± she asked.


    The top of the cybernetic man''s index finger uncapped, revealing a little neon light that singed the cigarette. G-Wiz took a drag.


    And then began to cough, a wretched, horrid wheeze that caused heads to turn to look at them. She turned beet red as Ichabod sighed.This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    ¡°Half the fun of smoking is you look mysterious, Galatea,¡± he said, ¡°You''re not doing a good job of it.¡±


    ¡°Piss off,¡± G-Wiz said. Blinking tears out of her eyes, she looked at the cigarette, before pulling a face and giving it back to Ichabod.


    ¡°Poor form, Galatea,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°I said piss off.¡±


    ¡°Hmph,¡± Ichabod gave his sardonic, ice-cold smile, before he extinguished the cigarette and returned it to the case.


    ¡°Hey,¡± Broon said, ¡°Now we''re getting somewhere. Hear that music?¡±


    There was, indeed, music, a riotous menagerie of panpipes, fiddles, and what sounded like a hurdy-gurdy. G-Wiz''s head snapped in the direction of the melody as though she were a submarine''s periscope. Her eyes closed as she listened.


    ¡°That''s a folk song from Lanshrochulainn,¡± she said, ¡°Not bad, didn''t know there were many Elven guilds coming here.¡±


    Indeed, a few other instruments were playing in the forest, their players picking up the tune and carrying along with it, an orchestra measured in acres.


    Rosemary listened to it, rising slowly to her feet, fingers finding the hem of her cloak as she listened. She gave a nervous look at G-Wiz.


    ¡°Erm, what''s it called?¡± she asked.


    ¡°You don''t know it?¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°No, I don''t,¡± Rosemary said, then added, ¡°Sh-Should I?¡±


    ¡°Dude, I don¡¯t know. Maybe,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°It''s called the Enil-galdrim Marching Song. Old war tune, I think, during the Third Elven Expansion.¡±


    Rosemary nodded, remembering her conversations on that time period with Sunala.


    ¡°It was a glorious time,¡± Sunala had said, ¡°The Elven nations had unified under one banner, the first time in four thousand years. And with their unification came a beating back of the Federation, of metahumans, and others. It was a make-way time.¡±


    ¡°A... make-way time?¡± Rosemary had asked.


    ¡°When elves need places to live, there is a make-way time,¡± Sunala said, ¡°A series of expansions across the multiverse. Some violent, some not. But each time, it came about when we needed more living spaces for our people and culture. One should be coming soon, I think.¡±


    She had given that serene smile to Rosemary, who, back in the present, was now sitting back down, the Marching Song crowing all around her. She wondered if Sunala had arrived yet, and if she or her servants were participating in the music ''round.


    The thoughts played in her head as she stared at the fire, which seemed to dance and take on a life of its own as music continued to play.


    After a while, she rose, and walked off.


    ¡°Rosemary?¡± Ezel said, though only the darkness replied.


    ***


    Becenti and Wakeling were on top of the observation platform, one of Wakeling''s spells giving them a bit of light, a cheery little blue flame that sparked and spat as the night wore on. Wakeling had a glass of wine, which was magically refilling itself as the two of them watched the festivities around and above. Becenti had taken off his jacket, which now hung on the rail.


    ¡°Getting chilly,¡± he noted.


    ¡°I''ve heard a few of the Weatherfolk are going to be casting some heating spells,¡± Wakeling said.


    ¡°I''m surprised there''s a forest here at all,¡± Becenti noted, ¡°No sun for light. No moon.¡±


    He cast a glance upwards, his brow furrowing and his frown deepening.


    ¡°No stars,¡± he said.


    ¡°It''s bizarre, isn''t it?¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Such is the multiverse, however.¡±


    ¡°It''s lonely,¡± he said.


    ¡°Only if you let it be,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Imagine: This entire place used to just be nothing but knowledge and flora. Not a sapient soul to be found for who knows how long?¡±


    ¡°It''s got a certain... feeling, to it,¡± Becenti admitted, ¡°It''s the stars, I suppose.¡±


    ¡°There''s nothing to guide you,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Nothing to watch you as you go.¡±


    ¡°Exactly,¡± Becenti said.


    Wakeling matched her friend''s gaze, looking up towards the stars.


    ¡°There''s something... comforting, about them, I suppose,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Not just that they''re there to watch and observe. But it''s a nice feeling to know that, out there, there are millions of worlds, trillions of lives just going by.¡±


    ¡°One could call it soul-crushing,¡± Wakeling said.


    ¡°Oh?¡±


    ¡°Trillions of lives out there,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°And millions of worlds, and all of it, all of those people, all of those stories, just tells you that you''re just a drop in the ocean. As insignificant as every other.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± Becenti said, ¡°But there''s a comfort in anonymity. To know that what you do doesn''t really matter.¡±


    He turned a sad smile to the guildmaster.


    ¡°Makes it a bit easier to digest when we mess up, doesn''t it? That in the grand scheme of things, it doesn''t truly matter.¡±


    Wakeling gave a chuckle at that.


    ¡°Means I can have another glass of wine, then,¡± she said, and she began taking a sip.


    They heard movement from below. Joseph was climbing up to the platform, squinting his eyes a bit to adjust to the bright flames.


    ¡°Good evening, Mr. Zheng,¡± Wakeling said.


    ¡°Is something the matter, Joseph?¡± Becenti asked.


    ¡°What? No,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I was, just...¡±


    He quavered a bit as he realized both of them were staring at him. It felt like his parents were glowering down at him.


    ¡°Uhm, map?¡± he said.


    ¡°Map?¡± Wakeling asked.


    ¡°A map. Do you have a map of this place?¡± Joseph coughed, ¡°I''m looking for a place called the Bookish Wyrm?¡±


    ¡°Oh!¡± Wakeling chuckled, ¡°The Bookish Wyrm! I didn''t know Aktakal was still in business around these parts.¡±


    ¡°I''ve never been,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°He''s got quite the selection,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Though I''m sure we can find something non-alcoholic for you, Myron. He''s got this fine collection of different coffee creamers from across the multi-¡±


    ¡°I hate to interrupt,¡± Joseph said, ¡°But, uh, where is it?¡±


    Wakeling jumped a bit.


    ¡°Apologies, Mr. Zheng,¡± she said, ¡°Here.¡±


    Her arm slithered over to Joseph, and he suppressed a shiver as he felt cold, nearly-dead fingers close over his head. Wakeling''s eyes flashed, and Joseph suddenly had a bird''s eye view of the Flyleaf Forest. He could see the hundreds of guilds arrayed out in the great clearing, and on the clearing''s edge was a bar, a large yurt that looked as though it had been pulled onto the plane via wagon, a large, reptilian creature sleeping beside it.


    ¡°There you have it,¡± Wakeling said, and Joseph flashed back into his body. He blinked, finding the location of the Bookish Wyrm burned into his mind.


    ¡°Th-thanks,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Maybe warn me next time?¡±


    ¡°Ha!¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Got to roll with the punches, Joseph. Now, good luck.¡±


    He awkwardly shuffled back down, stumbling a bit as his wits returned to him. Becenti and Wakeling watched as he went.


    ¡°Something tells me he''s looking for more than a drink,¡± Wakeling said.


    ¡°He''s on a mission,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Of course he is,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°He''s at InterGuild. I heard how he managed to get Tek to name him his secondary.¡±


    She sighed, sipping at her wine.


    ¡°I just hope he doesn''t bungle things for Tek. Our good friend the mound has been wanting to look at a sparkeater engine for ages now.¡±


    ***


    Rosemary walked in the shadows, the only light being the campfires of other guilds and the will-o-the-wisps that meandered quietly in the air, lazy and drooping like fireflies after a feast. There were a few other guilds of similar size to the Amber Foundation here, strangers all, some wearing scaled armors, other in robes, one in cargo shorts and a t-shirt as she whispered spells into the night.


    It occurred to her that she didn''t really have many contacts outside the guild. Broon and Ezel had been talking about the ships that flew overhead, and they recognized quite a few, talking sometimes with fondness, sometimes with tense respect, at each new arrival. There was history with them, a story of the patchwork life of guilds, that dancing between friend and foe, professionals who had no choice but to shake hands at the end of it all.


    Such was the Law of InterGuild. It was never personal, the work they did. She hoped to one day be like them, talking with more fondness than hatred at the other guildfolk flying in. Not like Joseph, who took everything personally.


    She followed the music, this Enil-galdrim Marching Song. It was an upbeat tune, played endlessly in the wood, and she found that she was walking in step with the underlying beat of the folk song, feeling like some sort of Elven knight on the way to war. She spotted a few elves, here and there, dark elves whispering in the night, one riding a tarantula the size of a house, each of the arachnid''s great footfalls in tune with the marching song. A couple of winged elves flew overhead, circling the air, wings glowing like crescent moons over the treetops.


    But Rosemary wasn''t looking for any old elves. Sunala was to be at InterGuild, right? And the Marching Song played, almost beckoning her forward, ever forward, along a set path.


    Many of the Elven guilds, she realized, were clustered together, and the disparate instruments, those individual bands of folk playing hurdy-gurdies and flutes and drums and mandolins and electric guitars, were now more of an orchestra.


    A calling.


    And she saw it, faded and silhouetted by shadow and light. The swan-white hull of the Gil-Galad.


    ***


    ¡°That''s a sound I don''t like hearing,¡± Becenti muttered. The marching song was moving as though it were a great serpent through the forest, slithering towards a single point. A place where the Elven guilds attending InterGuild were congregating.


    ¡°It''s just a song,¡± Wakeling said.


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± Becenti said, ¡°But it stirs up dark memories.¡±


    ¡°...Ilandriel,¡± Wakeling said.


    ¡°He was one of the Manticore''s greatest supporters,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I remember when I was ordered to infiltrate one of the planets that his forces had occupied during the war. The marching song played throughout the night, throughout the day. There''s a cadence to it, one that drills into your soul.¡±


    ¡°Ilandriel''s dead, Myron,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Remember?¡±


    ¡°I do,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I remember hearing the news, about how Aldr killed him.¡±


    ¡°I was there,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Let me tell you, that''s a planet I''m not going back to in a hurry. The entire place was scorched. We didn''t even find a corporeal body, it took necromancers weeks to actually find the vestiges of his soul.¡±


    ¡°A movement is far more than its leader,¡± Becenti said, ¡°We didn''t get them all. Not with the elves. They claimed to see to their own.¡±


    ¡°You think they lied.¡±


    The marching song droned, becoming quieter as the Elven guilds set up shop somewhere far away. Becenti turned to look at Wakeling. The look in his eye made the guildmaster sigh.


    ¡°Myron,¡± she said, ¡°I know what you''re thinking. But it''s just a song.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Perhaps.¡±


    ***


    Sunala was wearing a garden of lilies as a dress. Pure white, as though she were a bride, each lily bloomed in the light of the will-o-the-wisps floating around the field that housed the Gil-Galad. Her right arm had a sleeve that went down to her wrist, also of lily, though her left arm was bare, showing all of the world the stump of her hand, as though she were calling attention to it. In her hair was a circlet of nasturtiums, orange like flames against her dark hair. She stood as tall and as still as a statue, all beauty and power held within her.


    Rosemary blushed a bit as she approached. As those imperious eyes fell on her, and that marble-like face broke into a smile.


    ¡°Ah, Rosemary,¡± she said, ¡°It is good to see you, my dear.¡±


    She drifted down, wrapping Rosemary in a hug. The marching song became a storm around them as Sunala guided her towards the Gil-Galad, stepping onto the deck.


    ¡°Let''s get somewhere quieter,¡± Sunala said into Rosemary''s ear.


    ¡°They certainly like that song,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°It''s a symbol, my dear,¡± Sunala said, ¡°A call to unity.¡±


    Atop the deck were guildmembers, not Sunala''s usual menagerie of Elven servants. They were still elves, of course, but there was an edge to them, each one carrying a weapon and sporting scars from their adventures in the multiverse. One had a plasma burn that marred half of her face, a faded blue scar, as though she were a permanent attendant to a masquerade.


    ¡°Rosemary,¡± Sunala said, ¡°May I introduce Urya Orna, right hand of the White Feathers.¡±


    ¡°Hullo,¡± Rosemary said. She extended a hand, though she blinked as Urya Orna did not take it, instead opting for a bow. Rosemary returned the bow in kind.


    ¡°And you''re her secondary?¡± Rosemary asked Sunala.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Sunala said, ¡°A few other colleagues of mine are secondaries to others in the White Feathers. Our little group''s ruffled quite a few feathers with them.¡±


    ¡°A poor joke,¡± Urya''s voice was quiet and raspy, like the sea at low tide.


    ¡°Apologies,¡± Sunala said, ¡°I must get them in when I can.¡±


    She gave Rosemary another grin.


    ¡°Now,¡± Sunala said, ¡°I expect you''ll want to stay with your guild for the night, but we''ll be having a few meetings I''m hoping you''ll be attending. Panels on language, history, culture, the like. I''m hoping you''ll recognize a bit of what you''ve been learning under my employ.¡±


    ¡°Yes, milady,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°I''ll be by tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Sunala said. The two of them went into Sunala''s study aboard the Gil-Galad, with its customary pile of books and used dishes and cramped air. Waiting within, just by Sunala''s desk, was another elf, this one with hair the color of burnished silver, his face sharp and gaunt, his figure skeletal beneath the light gray robes that he wore. He gave Rosemary a look that she could not quite discern, and Rosemary noted that he was wearing a crown of nasturtiums as well, far too passionate and loud against his otherwise drab appearance.


    ¡°Ah, good,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Adonal Adaya, milord. I see that you''ve already invited your way in.¡±


    Adonal Adaya considered Rosemary and Sunala, one at a time, his eyes flickering between the two. There was a look to him that set Rosemary on edge.


    ¡°Forgive me,¡± he said, ¡°The door was open, so I let myself in.¡±


    ¡°Of no concern,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Rosemary''s the one I''ve been telling you about.¡±


    ¡°The local girl,¡± Adaya said.


    ¡°A-actually, sir,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°I''m not from Londoa.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Adaya leaned in, ¡°No, you haven''t the look of a Tlantoian about you. Your nose is too soft, skull is too narrow.¡±


    ¡°Skull''s too...?¡±


    ¡°Lord Adaya is a master of finding your lineage by the shape of your skull,¡± Sunala said, ¡°It is a lost art, among our kind.¡±


    ¡°What is your home plane?¡± Adaya asked.


    ¡°Err...¡±


    ¡°Eleria,¡± Sunala said.


    Adaya gave Rosemary another anatomical look, before nodding. His fox-like eyes left her face as he turned to Sunala.


    ¡°Roughly seventeen guilds here,¡± he said, ¡°Elven guilds. We could have used them to get more of our people in.¡±


    ¡°It''s a small opportunity,¡± Sunala said, ¡°But we mustn''t draw attention to ourselves, not fully.¡±


    ¡°I suppose,¡± Adaya said, ¡°I grow weary of working in the shadows like this, what with...¡±


    He grew quiet. Sunala suddenly was on edge.


    ¡°The Elerian girl,¡± Adaya said, ¡°Is she...?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Sunala said, and she turned to Rosemary, ¡°I will see you tomorrow, Rosemary. But I''ve got work that needs to be done.¡±


    Part of Rosemary was curious on what she and Adaya were going to be talking about. But the way the grayscale elf looked at her made her stomach churn, just a bit. She gave a bow.


    ¡°Right,¡± she said, ¡°I''ll see you tomorrow, then.¡±


    Sunala smiled once more, and Rosemary walked back onto the deck. The marching song was drawing down now, reduced to a few campfires here and there. But there was a sea of Elven kind now, as each guild planeshifted to the Flyleaf Forest and settled down. Guild symbols were beginning to fly now, some on banners, others floating in the air as runes.


    And Rosemary felt an odd sense of loneliness, as she didn''t recognize a single one.


    ***


    The flag of Pagan Chorus rose in the night, lonely against the sea of dark grass. No other guilds came around them as Almogra and Oliander finished pulling up the flag up, a solid blue rectangle of four hands facing away from each other, each hand from a different species ¨C the sturdy hand of a human, the seven-fingered Coribaldi''s wrapped in a fist, the weathered hand of a Jugdran, and the tentacled, clawed appendage of a Skelionsis. It was intentionally set up as an echo of the High Federation''s iconography, a message that they were one of the limbs of the High Federation, an arm that snaked from the Silver Eye into the multiverse. A message to the multiverse that the High Federation, too, had a guild, that Valm himself cared for the needs of the other planes of existence.


    The flag flew alone.


    Kathen had set up his tent, and was sitting in it now, a handheld computer in the tent''s corner that he was reading out of. The monitor''s face held a catalogue, one which read out the multitude of books that had been organized and defined in the Flyleaf Forest.


    The catalogue had an entire network attached to it. Blue Sky Waiting, one of the guilds here, had long ago set up a node similar to a Library World¡¯s. It named the books, displayed their covers, and could search for titles by name, author, or year. Not a bad system, all told. Simpler than something on, say, Gilded Cage, but it got the work done.


    ¡°Here we are,¡± Merry said. She brought up the book Kathen had been looking for, a solid tome with a cover made out of what seemed to be wood, with a strange, swirling symbol on its front.


    ¡°Yep, that''s it,¡± Kathen said, smiling, ¡°The Dyriptium of Karn.¡±


    He stared at the book for a long time, memorizing its features. He could almost imagine holding it in his hands.


    ¡°And where is it located?¡± he asked.


    ¡°In a section that''s been pretty pilfered,¡± Merry admitted, ¡°In the same area as maps and encyclopedias, as well as almanacs of about a billion different subjects. It''s describing a squall of planes, Kate. More informational than anything.¡±


    ¡°Which means it''s valuable,¡± Kathen said.


    ¡°Wouldn''t be surprised if it''s in one of the book stores here,¡± Merry said, ¡°That section is constantly being pored over for new material and sold off to the highest bidder.¡±


    Kathen winced.


    ¡°I''ve got a bit of a nest egg,¡± he said, ¡°How much does something like the Dyriptium run for?¡±


    ¡°About a thousand credits, give or take.¡±


    ¡°We might need to steal it, then,¡± Kathen said, ¡°Alright.¡±


    He took a deep breath.


    ¡°First thing tomorrow, let''s head out there. Get me a map of the plane, as well as bookstores that could be selling it. They don''t keep online inventory, do they?¡±


    ¡°I can definitely check,¡± Merry said, ¡°I''ll give you an update in the morning.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Kathen said.


    Music was playing, deep in the distance. Kathen listened to it, its cadence, the way the multitude of instruments, many of which did not work well together, bowed to a single melody. It was an Elven folk song of some sort.


    It was getting late. He slipped into bed, the song ringing in his ears as he went to sleep.

 69. Academic Boredom

    InterGuild sprang to life as the bell tower rang five in the morn. The campfires crackled back to life, the floating lights and runes and artificial lanterns roared in a magnificent attempt to ape the sun, to turn darkness to day. It was, for the most part, a fair shot. One could see where they were going, without the aid of a flashlight or a torch. Yet still, guildmembers carried them, or light spells, or other means of illumination. Just in case their meetings went into the shadows beyond the fairgrounds. Beyond the light''s edge was the rest of the Flyleaf Forest, and any good, off-kilter guildfolk knew what the shadows meant.


    Opportunity. Adventure.


    In exploration, new meanings made.


    Joseph got up with the bell tower''s bellows, blinking the night out of his eyes and yawning. He stepped out of his tent blearily, watching with a muted interest as the rest of the guild awoke with him. Broon emerged out of his tent with a yawn, the large half-orc stretching and groaning. Ichabod stepped out of the Dreamer''s Lament, having claimed the airship''s bridge as his room, with a sharp glare at the others around him. He must have slept in his trenchcoat, the way he was unruffling it. Wakeling floated out of the ship a moment later, giving everyone a smile as she drifted out. Her arm followed a moment later.


    ¡°Right!¡± she said, and Joseph winced at the glass-sharp cry of her voice, ¡°They''ve got showers nearby, if you need them. They''re communal, so watch out. Myron? Myron!¡±


    ¡°Here,¡± Becenti appeared out of seemingly nowhere, in a set of drab red pajamas and (Joseph tried hard not to laugh, and saw Rosemary and Contort fail) a night cap, complete with a little fuzzball at the end.


    ¡°Right, Myron,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Who''s on breakfast duty today?¡±


    ¡°That would be Ezel and Contort,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Good!¡± she turned. Ezel and Contort drew out from the small gathering, ¡°There should be some eggs and hash in the storage aboard the Dreamer. Some vegetables, too. Wine, if it''s one of those mornings, and it''s always one of those mornings.¡±


    With that, the guild sprang to life. Some, like Ichabod, immediately got to work. The cybernetic man pulled out a small notebook and sat down by the campfire Contort was setting up, sneering at him as he got to work on reviewing his notes for the day.


    Joseph joined a few of the others and went to the communal showers. It was a large, marble domed building, and other guilds, other beings, were already there. Joseph showered, trying to ignore the fact that the shower next to him was inhabited by a massive pile of green goo, the slime mixing with the water and drifting into his stall. He tried to ignore, too, the way that his socks stuck to his legs as he pulled them on.


    The walk back to the camp was a quiet affair. It was warm out, and the combined simmering of the various lights, along with the artificial heat from the Weatherfolk, reminded Joseph of warm summer days when his family would drive down to LA. His heart fell a bit as he remembered long runs on the beach, the sun climbing overhead, the song of waves on the shore.


    None of this falsehood business, this desperate attempt to make this place like other planes. He could appreciate the night for what it was, and the treeline beckoning towards him, with its rows and shelves of books, was like something out of a strange dream. But everything else, the way the guilds tried to make this artificial dawn...


    It didn''t sit right.


    Ah, well, the sooner he met with Meloche and his contact, the sooner he could get a lead for home.


    Breakfast was a quiet affair, as they sat around a series of tables and campfires. They mostly paired off into individual groups, talking about their plans for the day.


    ¡°Right, Joseph,¡± Tek said, ¡°We''re going to be going right into it today. Professor Adesanya, my contact, is going to be hosting a small lecture, which we''ll be attending, and then we''ll be taking a look at the engine.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Joseph said, ¡°How long do you think you''ll need me?¡±


    ¡°That depends,¡± Tek said, ¡°I''m hoping to spend as much of the day as I can with him, you see. The lecture is at nine in the morning, so you''ll have the next few hours to do what you need to do.¡±


    ¡°I''m mostly just seeing if I''ll be free at four,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Tek said, ¡°Perhaps.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps?¡±


    ¡°Yes, perhaps,¡± Tek said, ¡°It depends.¡±


    Joseph, despite himself, gritted his teeth.


    ¡°Depends on what?¡± he said.


    ¡°On how long it goes,¡± Tek said, ¡°This is my first time looking at the engine, so it could be awhile.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Alright, okay.¡±


    ¡°Is everything alright, Joseph?¡± Tek asked.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph lied.


    He remembered the timeframe that Meloche had laid out for him. Only two hours for the opportunity, and only for the first four days.


    Tek could see Joseph''s inner cringing, and leaned in.


    ¡°Please, Joseph,¡± he said, ¡°I understand that you''ve your own business. I really do.¡±


    ¡°I know, Tek,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°But this is a huge opportunity,¡± Tek said, ¡°This isn''t an idle hobby I''m looking at here. I needed to call in quite a few favors to even get a look at this thing. If this goes well, if the astrator hoffmani is sufficiently powerful, and if my modifications to the engine work correctly, it could revolutionize planar travel for thousands of years.¡±


    There was an earnestness in the mound''s voice. He was here for a reason, just as much as Joseph was. Joseph sighed.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said, ¡°But, please, I need to get to my guy from four to six in the afternoon.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Tek said, ¡°I assure you, I will make all the effort possible to wrap things up in that time. And thank you, Joseph.¡±


    ***


    ¡°Right,¡± Ichabod said. He scraped the rest of his meal into the fire ¨C having only eaten half of the eggs, and none of the hash ¨C and stood up. He and G-Wiz were sitting at the fire with Broon, who raised an eyebrow as the cybernetic man rose.


    ¡°Are you ready to go?¡± he asked G-Wiz.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± she said, ¡°Yeah, I''m ready.¡±


    She finished shoveling down the last of her meal, getting up. Ichabod was already casting off, walking out of the camp. G-Wiz followed a few steps behind.


    Broon looked at the great clock tower. Six in the morning, now. A good time to be up, if he was honest. Back home, before he joined the guild, this would have been an agreeable time to hunt.


    But, alas. His meeting with Glonthek wasn''t going to happen until nine.


    Ezel sat down across from him, taking up G-Wiz and Ichabod''s seats. The half-orc looked at her. She was still yawning, nursing a cup of coffee, though she was ready for the day, in her usual affair of jeans and Fort Hope t-shirt, as well as a light jacket.


    ¡°So,¡± he said, ¡°What''s the plan for you?¡±


    ¡°I''m not sure,¡± Ezel said, ¡°I was going to start by watching a fire dance being hosted by the Flaming Guerillas.¡±


    ¡°Didn''t know they were still around,¡± Broon said.


    ¡°I didn''t either,¡± Ezel said, ¡°But I saw their false drake in the sky, had a banner advertising it.¡±


    ¡°At six in the morning?¡± Broon said.


    ¡°Seven, actually,¡± Ezel said, ¡°The early drake gets the gold, right?¡±


    ¡°Right.¡±


    Ezel looked at the half-orc, and could not help but smile at the way he was looking at her, a bit nervously, like a stray pup.


    ¡°Would you like to come along?¡± she asked.


    ¡°If it''s not too much trouble!¡± Broon said, ¡°I''ve got a meeting with Glonthek at nine, so I don''t want to hurry you along.¡±


    ¡°Today''s a leisurely one,¡± Ezel said, ¡°I wouldn''t mind a bit of a hurry.¡±


    Broon smiled, and the two of them rose to leave the camp.


    ***


    Rosemary watched as Shambling winced to life, the great mass of vine and flora pulling herself out of the ship. It was almost painful, the way she moved, in how she dragged herself forward. A breathing mask was tied over her two heads, and Rosemary felt the intense, wild aura of Wakeling''s magic shudder around her like a mirage as she went, to hold as much of her home atmosphere as possible. XLS followed a bit behind, absently reading a few scientific papers.


    There was a quiet sense of loneliness to her, as the rest of the guild got to work. And at only six in the morning! Already, they were leaving for their own little affairs. The only others who were still in the camp were Joseph and Tek, the former looking absolutely bored as Tek droned on and on about asses and a guy named Hoffman. Rosemary decided it was time for her to head out, as Joseph gave her a pleading look. But she knew how Tek was, and how she would probably miss her rendezvous with Sunala. She gave him an apologetic look, and skipped out.


    Leaving Joseph alone, as Tek was unrolling one of the schematics for the engine.


    ***


    ¡°Dear God,¡± Becenti muttered, ¡°Who do they think they are, the Romans?¡±


    He and Wakeling stood just at the edge of the grand building that was to house the Guildmasters'' Moot. It was a loud structure, extravagant in the myriad designs that lined its walls, the images of the multiverse''s history carved into the pillars, the way that the entire thing was shaded in hues of whites and grays and blacks, like a monochrome rainbow. It reminded Becenti vaguely of a Greco-Roman temple if a modern artist had been allowed to pick through each and every strip of stone and add a bit of flair.


    ¡°It''s rather...¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Fetching isn''t exactly the right word, is it?¡±


    ¡°It''s a lot,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°It''s always a lot,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Remember last year? With the hollowed out Goddess Hive?¡±


    ¡°God,¡± Becenti suppressed a shudder, ¡°Don''t remind me.¡±


    Other guildmasters were arriving as well, giving similar conversations at the sight of the building, the way it curved and spiraled yet still held a vaguely square shape. Each individual guildmaster was as magnificent as the last. The biggest names in guildwork were coming here, the most insane, the most triumphant, the most powerful.


    He found himself wringing his hands, something he hadn''t done in a long time. Not since last year''s InterGuild. Then, he noted, he had only begun this habit when he first attended the Guildmasters'' Moot some twenty years before.


    Some habits only sprang up when InterGuild began, and only ended with InterGuild''s sunset.


    ***


    Joseph and Tek left their camp at around eight, trailing along the paths, dodging past wagons of goods and other guildfolk. The mound went at a surprisingly brisk pace, to the point that Joseph sometimes had to jog to keep up. The seminar''s location was in the Academy of the Unreal''s annex building, a tall, square brickwork that looked like it had been carved straight from Oxford. A few random professors mulled about, some in business suits, one in an elaborate wizard''s robe and hat. The Academy of the Unreal, Joseph learned, was just that: a school for the gifted, for students of the multiverse.


    ¡°Kids who have no place to go,¡± Tek said. He opened the door to let Joseph inside, and they walked on wood-creaking floors, darting down the halls, trying to find the lecture room the seminar would be held in.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    ¡°Kids in the multiverse, you mean?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Hmm?¡± Tek turned, ¡°Yes! Of course. Those without a family, who become nomads in the countless realities. Most of them are picked up by traveling professors, I hear. It gives them new opportunities, and the like.¡±


    He rounded a corner.


    ¡°Ah! Here we are.¡±


    And they went into the lecture room, a larger, circular space with rows upon rows of chairs that swirled upwards, all of them turned to face the speaker at the room''s bottom. Joseph felt like he was in college again, as he and Tek went up the steps to take their seats.


    Felt like college, save that Tek''s chair magically grew in size and girth to support his larger form.


    The speaker walked in right as the majority of the attendees took their seats. He was tall, dark-skinned, with swaying black robes and a calm demeanor. His voice was like silk as he spoke. Joseph settled in, and found that the professor''s voice, along with the absolutely dull subject matter, was starting to put him to sleep...


    ***


    Kathen was made to wear a uniform


    It was an ugly, garish thing, a sheath of gray folded over him as though he were a Zaterran crepe, the symbol of Pagan Chorus badged to his chest in golden relief, a set of uncomfortable military dress boots wrapped around his feet and legs like twin snakes. Bluebell produced a brush, and got to work on taming his wild mane of hair, giving a low, quiet whistle in frustration as he pulled at bedraggled curls and painful knots.


    ¡°Should shave it,¡± he said, ¡°Might do you good. Look like a real military man.¡±


    ¡°I''m not a soldier,¡± Kathen growled, wincing as a knot was pulled loose, ¡°I keep my hair how I like it.¡±


    ¡°You look like a lion in a dress uniform,¡± Bluebell said.


    ¡°What''s a lion?¡±


    The dragonfolk stopped for a second, giving a quiet hiss. Then, he continued.


    ¡°Big cat. Big mane. You look like one, only with a stubby snout and a worse attitude.¡±


    Kathen had to chuckle at that, before wincing again.


    ¡°That''s enough, Bluebell,¡± Almogra said, ¡°You tried your hardest.¡±


    Bluebell drew back a snorting huff, slapping Kathen on the shoulder and stepping away.


    ¡°I don''t envy you,¡± the dragonfolk said, ¡°Hair like that, I feel as though I would suffocate in my sleep wrapped up in it.¡±


    ¡°Trust me, when it''s good, it''s good,¡± Kathen said. He turned his attention to Almogra. The Coribaldi was in similar uniform, her brown hair tied back, the runes on her arm flaring a bit for effect, a little magical trick she used when she wanted to look intimidating. It worked, and even after all these years the way she looked down at Kathen made his spine quiver a bit.


    ¡°Some day, we will find a brush that works,¡± she said, ¡°I do not know how Runie does it.¡±


    ¡°Magic, maybe,¡± Kathen said.


    ¡°Are you ready?¡±


    ¡°I am,¡± Kathen said.


    ¡°Good,¡± Almogra said, and the glare softened a bit, ¡°Despite that mane of yours, you look nice.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, ma''am,¡± Kathen said, ¡°Let''s just get this over with.¡±


    They moved off, walking across the bare field that had been allotted to Pagan Chorus. The rest of InterGuild was waking up around them, movement on the barest edges of the horizon, the bizarre and the disturbing blooming to life to sell goods, barter, argue, cast spells, celebrate their very existence. It was to be admired, Kathen noted, even if Pagan Chorus stood apart from most of the festivities. Almogra power-walked towards the edge of Pagan Chorus''s camp, past the line that denoted their space, and onward past all of the other guildfolk. Kathen pushed and prodded others out of the way in an effort to keep up with her.


    They made their way towards the building that Eldest Ark had created for the Guildmasters'' Moot, a dizzying, yet impressive, temple-like place that reminded Kathen vaguely of the Towers of Artheron on Diad Prime. The way they swirled, the way each brick was its own hue of gray, the way that the entire place seemed designed to make one off-kilter. It was an artist''s dream, and Kathen could not help but be impressed.


    The inside of the building was a large, circular room, guildmasters and their right hands taking their places. Light shone from above, a false sun that floated at the roof''s center, bright white and curling in place. Kathen stared up at it for a while.


    ¡°Reminds me of the Inner Sun on Londoa,¡± a ratchety voice said behind him.


    Kathen turned to see an interesting sight. The voice''s owner belonged to a floating head, as old as time itself, a smile on a web of wrinkles, her nose, once hooked, bent downwards by multiple breakages in the past. A single arm, pale and just as wrinkled as the head, floated beside her. Standing next to her was a man in a business suit, his graying black hair tied in a ponytail, the barest hint of tattoos hidden just beneath his sleeves. Sharp, hawk-like eyes stared at Kathen, slid down to the badge on his breast.


    ¡°Pagan Chorus,¡± he said, ¡°I don''t recognize you, however.¡±


    ¡°Ah, Shimmer,¡± Almogra drew up beside Kathen.


    ¡°I go by Becenti, nowadays,¡± the older man said.


    ¡°Almogra of the Gray-Dusk Skies!¡± the floating head sang, ¡°By all my days remembered!¡±


    ¡°Vyde,¡± Almogra smiled, ¡°I hope you''re well.¡±


    ¡°As well as I can be,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Ignore Myron, here, he''s a bit unimpressed with our host''s choice of architecture.¡±


    Unimpressed? Kathen gave Becenti an odd look. The older man returned it, narrowing his eyes.


    ¡°I see Valm has a new pet,¡± his voice was low.


    Kathen glared at him. His hands balled into fists.


    ¡°Myron!¡± Wakeling said.


    ¡°Better a pup than an old dog,¡± Kathen spat.


    ¡°Kathen, sit down,¡± Almogra said, and her voice brooked no argument. Kathen glared at Becenti, moving to take a seat. He could still hear her talk to the two old bats, even over the din of the guildmasters.


    ¡°Forgive him,¡± Almogra said, ¡°He is one of Valm''s proteges.¡±


    ¡°A new model every decade,¡± Becenti drawled.


    ¡°Myron, sit down,¡± Wakeling said.


    What did he mean by that? Kathen wondered. He could feel Merry pull around in his head, trying to get information on the older man.


    ¡°Ah,¡± she said, ¡°Found him in the guild database. Myron Becenti. Shimmer. Metahuman, from the Amber Foundation.¡±


    ¡°One of those people, then,¡± Kathen said, ¡°I think I''ve heard of him. Any idea why he''s an ass?¡±


    ¡°Not sure,¡± Merry said, ¡°But he''s got to be a veteran of the Great War, considering how old he is.¡±


    ¡°And he''s a metahuman,¡± Kathen said, ¡°They''ve always got a chip on their shoulders, don''t they?¡±


    ¡°You''d think they''d just take a chill,¡± Merry said, ¡°Anyways, Amber Foundation''s a mid-sized guild. Their guildmaster''s got influence, though.¡±


    ¡°Really, we must sit down at some point and have a good, long talk,¡± Wakeling said to Almogra, ¡°It''s been ages!¡±


    ¡°I will see if there''s time in our schedule,¡± Almogra said, ¡°I am afraid it''s all politics for me this InterGuild.¡±


    ¡°Of course, of course,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Well, I suppose we should sit down. I''ll see you after today''s meeting?¡±


    ¡°If I have the time,¡± Almogra said, ¡°I will see you soon, Vyde.¡±


    ¡°And you, Almogra.¡±


    The two Amber Foundation drew off. Almogra sat down beside Kathen.


    ¡°Guy''s an ass,¡± Kathen said.


    ¡°He and the Prime Voice have history,¡± Almogra said.


    ¡°What? Valm spit in his eye?¡±


    But Almogra did not give answer. She simply waited, taking a deep breath, and stared ahead.


    ***


    ¡°A new model every year?¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Really, Myron?¡±


    ¡°It''s true,¡± Becenti said. He was simmering down as he took a seat. Wakeling floated over hers, giving him a sideways look, ¡°He gets one every so often, builds them up. Puts them into various high positions in the Federation government, or in the military, or some other place where he can pull strings. It happened with Kristandi, it''s happened with others.¡±


    ¡°He''s just a boy,¡± Wakeling said.


    ¡°He starts them off young,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I wouldn''t be surprised if he raised the boy himself.¡±


    ¡°It''s an opportunity for the younger generations,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°We should all be so lucky. Now, enough.¡±


    Becenti crossed his arms, taking a deep breath. He stared ahead as the rest of the guildmasters streamed in.


    ¡°Fine,¡± he said, ¡°Very well. Let''s get on with it.¡±


    Wakeling gave him another look, then let him be.


    ***


    ¡°Joseph,¡± Tek said, ¡°Joseph, wake up.¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    ¡°The lecture''s over now.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Right.¡±


    He smeared away the last of his bleariness with a wipe of his hand, leaning back onto his chair. Tek had let him drift off, and there was something akin to amusement dancing in the mound''s voice as he spoke.


    ¡°I know that this isn''t really your forte, Joseph,¡± Tek said, ¡°But thank you for coming, nonetheless.¡±


    ¡°You need me for your engine, I''m here for your engine,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°I know,¡± Tek said, ¡°Nonetheless, you''ve let me drag you to this lecture. It was highly invigorating! If you knew what Professor Adesanya was talking about. So, thank you.¡±


    Joseph wasn''t sure what to say. But he didn''t have to say anything, as a moment later Tek rose up.


    ¡°Now,¡± he said, ¡°Let''s go down to meet the good professor.¡±


    He made his ways down the steps, Joseph following a bit behind. Most of the other guildfolk were leaving now, streaming out the doors on either side of the lecture hall. A few ¨C a businessman with a single eye set in his forehead, a woman in drab blue robes with a wooden arm, and a human-sized snail with a translucent, iridescent shell ¨C lingered, speaking to Professor Adesanya. The lecturer turned a bit as his eyes slid to Tek, the robes rippling like waves as he strode to take the mound''s hand.


    ¡°Good to see you, Teknogan,¡± he said. He had the equivalent of a Xhosa accent.


    ¡°And you, Professor,¡± Tek said.


    ¡°Please, just call me Adesanya,¡± the magician smiled, ¡°And this is our energy man, hm?¡±


    ¡°''Sup,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°This is Joseph,¡± Tek said, ¡°The metahuman.¡±


    ¡°Good, good,¡± Adesanya said, ¡°Now, the engine is in my lab.¡±


    He turned to the people he had just been speaking to.


    ¡°We''ll need to pick this up at another time,¡± he said, ¡°I''ve got an engine to pick at.¡±


    The others nodded, giving quick goodbyes and heading out the door. Adesanya clapped his hands together.


    ¡°Right,¡± he said, ¡°If you''ll follow me, please.¡±


    He guided them upstairs, down a few hallways, and into his personal laboratory. The entire time, he kept up a stream of conversation with Tek, the two of them going on and on about the engine and its inner sciences.


    ¡°My theory,¡± Professor Adesanya said, ¡°Is that the astrator hoffmani is a bit of the multiverse given sentience, life from the in-between place, if you will, and that''s what allows it to mimic the same energies observed when one enters an Inter-Dimensional Point of Entry.¡±


    ¡°A what?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°A Traveling Point, in layman''s terms,¡± Adesanya said, ¡°Tek, you¡¯ve seen the creature more than me. What are your thoughts on it?¡±


    Tek cleared his throat. Adjusted his glasses. He seemed nervous as he produced the Aparkeater from a pack. It glowed faintly in his jar like a cobalt will-o-the-wisp.


    ¡°From what I''ve observed,¡± he said, ¡° the astrator hoffmani exhibits biological functions in line with most elementals of its categorizations and species. The proto-atoms are something interesting, however. Here, let me show you...¡±


    The laboratory was long, with various magical and mundane devices on tables that lined the wall. Adesanya strode forward and picked up goggles for the three of them, and Joseph strapped his on. Tek laid the Sparkeater¡¯s jar on the table as Adesanya grabbed a microscope.


    ¡°There''s the engine, Joseph,¡± Tek said, giving a quick point at the back wall.


    As the mound and Adesanya got to work coaxing the Sparkeater out of the jar, Joseph turned. The engine was near-exactly to Tek''s schematics, a bronze and metal box with pipes running along it like bulging veins. He stepped forward to consider it while Tek and Adesanya excitedly poked and prodded at the Sparkeater.


    ¡°...Neat,¡± he said.


    He had no idea what to make of it. It was just a crate of pipes, to him.


    ***


    The day wore on. The morning melted away, bringing a much faster-paced afternoon. Tek and Adesanya had Joseph waiting for much of the day as they studied the Sparkeater, going over its exact specifications, putting it under the microscope. The professor magicked a whiteboard out of thin air, drawing out a diagram of the Sparkeater''s anatomy. It was only after lunch that they got to work with putting the damn thing in the engine.


    ¡°Now, Joseph,¡± Tek said, ¡°Now the preliminary parts of the real work begins.¡±


    Joseph let out a relieved huff, pulling himself to his feet after lying on a table. At Tek¡¯s urging, he began streaming out a line of electricity, arcing it into the Sparkeater. The elemental drank it, the  entire engine block glowing to life in sharp, azure blues. Adesanya and Tek looked at it, both of them visibly unimpressed save for Adesanya murmuring ¡°Interesting.¡±


    They scribbled down their observations. Adesanya made a couple adjustments to the whiteboard¡¯s diagram.


    He was told to do it again.


    And again.


    Tek and Adesanya took notes, talked about the engine, made adjustments to the design, bantered about subjects that were so far above Joseph''s head they were birds in the sky.


    He was made to do it again.


    Lightning arced. The air smelled of ozone. More notes were taken. The Professor and the mound argued a bit about the exact mathematics required to power the engine.


    ¡°Once more, Joseph,¡± Tek said.


    He did so, leading to another series of measurements and grunts of either approval or displeasure, a bit more debate. Adesanya, with a flick of his finger, magically turned one of the pipes around.


    ¡°Again, Joseph.¡±


    Joseph, after another gout of electricity, looked at the clock.


    Four in the afternoon.


    ¡°Hey, guys,¡± he said, ¡°Are we almost good?¡±


    ¡°Not quite,¡± Tek said.


    ¡°Tek, it''s four.¡±


    The mound stopped, and glanced at the clock. He adjusted his glasses as he stared at it.


    ¡°Oh! Oh, dear. Oh...¡±


    He glanced at the engine. Then back to Joseph.


    ¡°Please,¡± he said, ¡°Joseph, we''re in the middle of a breakthrough.¡±


    Joseph felt his insides wince. Felt his soul rumble in protest.


    ¡°I really gotta...¡±


    ¡°Tek,¡± Adesanya said, ¡°I think I got it.¡±


    Tek turned.


    ¡°We weren''t taking into account the variables for how much the astrator hoffmani was ingesting each second. The amount is different each time. Which means the pulses are variable, which means we have to adjust the converters.¡±


    ¡°You''ve done the math...?¡±


    ¡°Doing it now,¡± Adesanya said. He looked at Joseph, ¡°Please, sir. If we get this breakthrough...¡±


    They looked at him, Tek almost pleading. Joseph sighed.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said, ¡°I''ll... I''ll go tomorrow, then.¡±


    The first day of InterGuild drew to a close. Joseph and Tek returned back to camp well after dinner, sitting down at the campfire. Joseph felt exhausted, his soul now resting in his stomach and already asleep after being called forth, again and again, for hours.


    ¡°Tek,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I only have a few days to get this done.¡±


    ¡°I know, Joseph,¡± Tek said, a bit dismissively. He had become fully absorbed in his work.


    He''d better, Joseph thought. And then, from the more angry part of him, the part that still needled and snarled and overtook his normal thoughts: Tomorrow, no matter what.

 70. Making a Sale, Starting a Wild Ride

    Pormello was a bookseller. His father had been guildfolk, a former Far Traveler who had laid down roots with the Kai Ochoa. His son¡¯s childhood was spent hunting Skywhales on Doriad, watching racers on the Runway, and helping hunt space pirates in the Silver Eye.


    But when he hit adulthood, he decided not to follow in the footsteps of his parents. He found a nice, little patch in the Flyleaf Forest, and opened a bookshop.


    It was a quaint little place, known as the Flyleaf Fellowship, with a coffee shop inside and hundreds of books within. Pormello sampled everything, from the smuttiest of romance novels to the most boring, most inane encyclopedias on the various leaves of the multiverse, so drab and mundane that he often used such books to fall asleep.


    Under usual circumstances, the Flyleaf Forest was a relatively quiet plane. Its vast size and lack of true civilization here meant that business came in waves. Word of a newly-contacted plane would bring in explorers in droves, to buy up any book or tome that had somehow found itself in the Forest. Guilds racing for some artifact or another would scour the plane in storms, before pulling back with either success or failure. During the hunting seasons of legendary animals such as the Skywhales or the Glittering Migrations, Far Travelers would come to browse through his little shop, to find books on anatomy, or migration routes through the planes they traveled, one even was looking for a book for how to properly cook Skywhale tongue.


    But InterGuild? InterGuild was another matter entirely. Pormello had sold more books in its first day than he had for the entire season.


    He had already put in an order for another ring. He liked collecting them, wearing them on his pudgy fingers, on his fat little toes, one was even pierced through his nose. He had three on now, two ruby-encrusted pieces and one made completely of amethyst, as he walked down the steps. It was the early morning ¨C though one only told the time based on the timers downstairs, or nowadays the great clocktower the guildfolk had created for the event. Koris was already at the window, and Rancy and Trell were busy sorting through the non-fiction section.


    ¡°Good morning, everyone,¡± Pormello said.


    Rancy was too concentrated, her many hands reaching up and sorting an entire shelf. Trell and Koris, however, waved and piped up a ¡°Morning, boss!¡±


    Pormello took his usual spot at the counter, noting how his chair creaked under his weight a bit. He had been eating well lately, and he assumed he would be eating well for several seasons to come.


    ¡°Koris,¡± he said, ¡°Please, remind me to toss the scale out after we close.¡±


    Koris looked at him, three tired eyes turning to look at his boss, a tentacle wrapped around a fresh mug of coffee.


    ¡°Right, boss,¡± they warbled.


    ¡°Alright, everyone!¡± Pormello called out to the shop, ¡°We''ve got another big day ahead of us! Let''s get to it!¡±


    Trell let out a triumphant cry (always excited, that one), while Rancy simply continued to sort, moving towards the almanacs like an automaton. Koris merely sighed, and took another sip of their coffee.


    ¡°Well,¡± Pormello said, leaning back, ¡°At least some of us are excited.¡±


    ***


    The day wore on. Joseph and Tek returned back to the annex building, and once more got to work with Professor Adesanya to work on the engine.


    And, like before, Tek held Joseph for the entire time. Once more lightning arced, the air smelled of fresh ozone, and Joseph felt his soul crying in his stomach as he forced it, again and again, to circuit. It was good practice, at least, a lesson in stamina. His belly was roiling though, as though he had eaten something sour or spicy.


    Tek, meanwhile, ignored his discomforts. Always with the notes with Adesanya, the two giggling to one another as they made further gains in their work.


    Time passed. Joseph kept glancing at the clock. The morning disappeared quickly, with nary a wave goodbye. Lunch was a meager affair of badly burned sandwiches courtesy of Adesanya''s awful cooking.


    And the afternoon came. Joseph looked up at the clock, wincing a bit as he noticed the time.


    ¡°Hey,¡± he said, ¡°Tek. Almost four.¡±


    ¡°A bit more time, Joseph,¡± Tek said.


    ¡°You said that yesterday, you know?¡±


    ¡°I know, Joseph,¡± Tek said.


    But he continued staring down at the diagram with Adesanya. They had made another breakthrough, and Joseph could tell they were getting very close to... doing whatever it was they were trying to do. The air was starting to warp with each run of the engine, shimmering like the rippling promise of a Traveling Point.


    But Joseph''s stomach was still turning in frustration. All that Tek cared about was the engine. How close they were to its completion, always with that same tired excuse.


    The mound and the Professor were leaning over the schematics once more, whispering like lovers and making small modifications. They were ignoring him. He was like a tool, Joseph realized, just another piece that they used. He was no different than one of the alembics. A nice pair of electric tweezers.


    Well, Joseph wasn¡¯t a tool.


    And he had places to be. He only had today and tomorrow to meet with Meloche and his contact, and it would take at least a couple hours to walk to the Bookish Wyrm.


    ¡°Fuck this,¡± he whispered.


    And he walked out the door. Dodged past a few curious students, and power-walked out of the annex building, into the warm ever-night of the Forest.


    ***


    Tek and Adesanya had finished another set of calculations. They quadruple-checked the math, made a couple last minute adjustments to the bronzefish''s antennae, and turned.


    ¡°Alright, Joseph,¡± Tek said, ¡°Last time, and we should be done.¡±


    The mound looked around the room, noting that they were alone.


    ¡°...Joseph?¡± Tek said, ¡°J-Joseph?¡±


    And silence answered.


    ***


    ¡°And furthermore,¡± guildmaster Antrovan said, ¡°I do not agree with the fact that the Law of InterGuild has increasingly been used to justify these specific incursions!¡±


    There was a chorus of murmurs and whispers to the guildmaster''s assertions, some of them agreeing, others venomously contrary. Kathen rolled his eyes, groaning as Almogra muttered under her breath. She rose up and stepped forward.


    ¡°The Law of InterGuild,¡± she shouted, ¡°States that guilds may be used in the use of warfare. It has been the case for thousands of years.¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡± Antrovan roared, and the mandrill''s teeth were bared, ¡°But that is using the Law of InterGuild as it is written, not the spirit of its purpose!¡±


    All heads were turned as the guildmaster of the Weaponeers opened a small booklet, the Law of InterGuild made manifest, and Kathen was surprised at how small it was, how thin the actual documentation was.


    All of the Law of InterGuild, condensed into a wafer-thin notebook.


    ¡°''The use of technologies and ideas not native to a client''s plane shall not be prohibited, save if the technologies and ideas are shared by the guild in question to the client or any other inhabitant of the plane,''¡± Antrovan looked up, ¡°That is all it says! All that governs us! The next three pages are punishments, judgments on the result of technological intermixing. They say nothing of the ramifications of these uses.¡±


    He slammed a fist into the table in front of him.


    ¡°My point! Guilds, and their advanced technologies, are being used to destabilize the local governments around the multiverse. Remember Ornistan? It was the Suits who were the ones to turn the tide in the Royal Participants¡¯ Party¡¯s favor, there!¡±


    The guildmaster of the Suits, Godmother Vilena, sneered.


    ¡°Tiermen, and the Silver Hall¡¯s takeover of the central government there?¡± Antrovan said, ¡°The authoritarian dictatorship, that is now being investigated by the interplanar community for crimes against mortality? They were put into power because they hired the Seventh Imperial to assassinate their rivals¡¯ leadership!¡±


    ¡°If not us, then someone else!¡± Ambrosius Superbus, guildmaster of the Seventh Imperial, rose from his seat. The ex-general leered down at Antrovan, ¡°Watch your tongue, ape, before I tear it out myself!¡±


    ¡°I told you,¡± Antrovan snarled, ¡°I¡¯m a monkey, not an ape!¡±


    Kathen sighed, feeling the entirety of the Guildmasters'' Moot stir at Antrovan''s accusations. Political talk ¨C even when being spouted out by a talking monkey ¨C could only be so interesting. Merry Curiosity was already typing out a transcript of the debate, one he could review later if Valm or Almogra prodded him.


    The entire place was beginning to erupt, as guildmasters stood and began barking out their thoughts. So many powerful personalities in one room meant there was a dangerous aura about the place, as though everyone were on edge. Violence had erupted at the Guildmasters'' Moot before, and the way that Ambrosius was glaring at Antrovan made Kathen afraid that the man would leap from his seat and begin tearing the monkey to pieces.


    But all of this chaos did have another advantage¡­


    ¡°Soon,¡± Merry said, ¡°Look at Almogra. She''s about to get into another argument. When I say go, you go.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Kathen said.


    More arguments were beginning to start up, not just in response to Antrovan''s wildfire words, but about other parts of the Law of InterGuild. Or other parts of the guild life in general ¨C Kathen could hear two guildmasters start snarling at one another about some personal issue, a skirmish gone deadly, or something to that effect. Almogra turned right as another guildmaster approached. It was Ultan, the guildmaster of the Exodus Walkers. The great skeleton was wrapped in his usual peacock-colored robes, and he was raising a single, bony finger at Almogra.


    ¡°I won''t have any more of my Exodus Walkers fight in a war!¡± he snarled, ¡°We got pulled into that spat between the Entian Houses on Gallios, and we lost a full quarter of our lineup!¡±


    ¡°I fail to see why you''re bringing this up to me,¡± Almogra''s voice was low and deadly.


    ¡°Because you''re one of the big ones!¡± Ultan said, ¡°You''ve a responsibility to make sure the Laws of InterGuild aren''t being used against the spirit of which they were intended! Like him!¡±


    He pointed down. Aldr, of Blue Sky Waiting, was slowly standing to his feet. His spear was in hand, and his ancient, rune-etched armor shined in the light of the false sun above. Two of his eyes were closed. The third, which grew out of his forehead, was staring straight ahead.


    Beginning to glow.


    ¡°Time to go,¡± Merry said, ¡°When he shuts everyone up.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Kathen said.


    ¡°SILENCE!¡±


    There was a flash of light. Guildmasters groaned and winced, averting their eyes away, clenching them tight.


    Including Almogra.


    Kathen grit his teeth, getting out of his seat and taking off. He stumbled a bit as he opened his eyes, deep purple spots in his vision from Aldr''s burst.


    ¡°Take a right as soon as we''re out of the hallway,¡± Merry said, ¡°Almogra''s pinned, I think. She''ll know you''ve disappeared, but the other guilds will be looking to her to help mediate.¡±


    Indeed, he could hear Almogra''s voice booming, even in the hall. She lived up to her title of right hand, the way she could command a room.


    ¡°The Law of InterGuild is porous, not tight,¡± she said, ¡°The spirit of the law is what is required, for it allows us to make our own judgments, our own calls. Some of us will go to war, Antrovan, will be used as tools, for tools we are¡­¡±


    And her voice disappeared as Kathen ran out the building. He was jogging now, giving a wave and a disarming smile to the two guildsfolk posted outside. The one with the fins for hands gave a halfhearted, confused wave back.


    ¡°Right,¡± Merry said, ¡°Let''s go find ourselves a book.¡±


    ***


    The Bookish Wyrm was a bar on wheels. It was a circular, multi-floor tent, as though someone had combined a yurt with a wild west saloon, complete with swinging doors that Joseph pushed open. The bar''s patrons were on the floor, sitting or lying on mats made of goat skins and fur, though there was a counter where a tender was mixing drinks. The ceiling rumbled with footsteps and movement. Another floor, presumably to account for the increased number of patrons that came with InterGuild. Joseph walked in, clenching his teeth at the sound of the piano playing in the corner. A badger was hammering out something akin to ''Ghost Riders in the Sky,'' but they were missing every other note. Joseph tried to ignore that as he went up to the counter.


    The bartender looked at him with seven insect-like eyes, an antenna twitching with something akin to irritation as Joseph sat down.


    ¡°I''m looking for a guy,¡± he said.


    ¡°You order, I talk,¡± the bartender said.Stolen story; please report.


    ¡°Deal,¡± Joseph said. He reached into his jacket. He had been saving up, saving his shares from the last few jobs for InterGuild. He produced a credstick from his jacket and laid it on the counter. The bartender''s snout shriveled up.


    ¡°I don''t take Fed cash,¡± he said.


    ¡°Then I don''t have money.¡±


    ¡°Then I don''t talk.¡±


    ¡°Fine,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I''ll find him myself.¡±


    He made his way to the stairs, muttering ¡°Asshole,¡± under his breath as he went.


    Fortunately, Meloche was not hard to find. The second floor had a couple of tables tucked away by the walls, and the philosopher was at one of them, nursing a mug of what appeared to be alcoholic goat''s milk. Beside him was a figure Joseph...


    Joseph had met before.


    ¡°Norcanthopus Bulg?¡±


    ¡°Ah,¡± Meloche said, waving Joseph over, ¡°So you''ve met.¡±


    The large, gray-haired alien turned to consider Joseph with his three dark green eyes. They flashed a brighter green for a second as Bulg scanned through his memory banks to place Joseph''s face.


    ¡°A metahuman who works with Myron Becenti,¡± he said, ¡°How fares your significant other? How fares your father?¡±


    ¡°I, uh, I''m single,¡± Joseph said, ¡°And I haven''t spoken to my dad in a few months.¡±


    ¡°A pity,¡± Bulg said, ¡°No Becenti?¡±


    ¡°I''m on my own for this one,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°A mission, outside of the guild,¡± Bulg nodded, ¡°Very well. I usually don''t work with such folk, not when it comes to the multiverse.¡±


    ¡°Bulg,¡± Meloche said, ¡°Joseph''s as good as they come.¡±


    The great, shaggy alien looked Joseph up and down again. Three eyes narrowed.


    ¡°Very well,¡± he said, ¡°I suppose he will do. But I am very busy, Meloche. If he cannot get what I need, I will be very... displeased.¡±


    Joseph nodded, feeling butterflies in his stomach. He had worked with Bulg once before, on one of his first jobs with the Amber Foundation. He was a dealer, Joseph remembered. An information broker who had given Becenti information on a space station in the Outer Reach.


    It seemed like his information extended well past the Silver Eye, too.


    The meeting Becenti had with the alien had been completely transactional. A couple of greetings in an old, seedy little bar tucked away on Everlasting Truth. But there was an edge to Norcanthopus Bulg''s words, now. They were clipped, hesitant. Even suspicious.


    ¡°Have a seat, Joseph,¡± Meloche said.


    Joseph sat down across the table from the two of them, looking between them.


    ¡°Right,¡± Joseph said, ¡°So, how is this going to go down?¡±


    ¡°Directly to the point,¡± Bulg said, ¡°After introductions, at least. This is agreeable.¡±


    ¡°I want to get home,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Back to Earth. To see my family again, including my father.¡±


    He added that last bit to get on Bulg''s good side, and it seemed to work. The alien relaxed a bit as he laid four of his hands on the table.


    ¡°It goes like this, Joseph Zheng,¡± Bulg said, ¡°My colleague here tells me that you are seeking out knowledge on twin sarcophagi once used by Iresine.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Anut¨¦ and Inweth.¡±


    ¡°I have information on them,¡± Bulg said, ¡°Or, at least, I have the means of getting that information. Those sarcophagi ¨C and others like it ¨C were used by metahumans throughout their wars with the High Federation. I believe, if I were to grease a few palms, I could get you information on them. More than you presumably have.¡±


    ¡°Like what?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°How they were built,¡± Bulg said, ¡°How they avoid the forecasts of the multiverse and the wandering of the planes. How to use them. How to circumvent them.¡±


    ¡°Circumvent?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°When I had a spare moment,¡± Bulg said, ¡°I took a look at how they worked. The sarcophagi were used in pairs, and when one pair was destroyed, it meant that the other was rendered useless.¡±


    Joseph leaned back, letting the alien finish.


    ¡°There are rumors,¡± Bulg said, ¡°Of metahuman research being done, of circumventing the paired system that was created. Of making more sarcophagi, and adding them to the network.¡±


    Joseph''s heart hammered.


    ¡°And if I get that...¡± he said, ¡°I can make another sarcophagi.¡±


    ¡°Or find one that has lost its pair, and add it to Anut¨¦ and Inweth''s network.¡±


    ¡°What do you want?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Simple,¡± Bulg said, ¡°I desire a book.¡±


    He laid a disc on the table. A hologram sprang to life above it, depicting a solid-looking tome, upon which were words in a language Joseph didn''t recognize, the letters etched and jagged and flowing together as one long symbol.


    ¡°The Dyriptium of Karn,¡± Bulg said, ¡°A book that details the Frauds-Echten Squall.¡±


    ¡°The... what?¡±


    ¡°Planes often travel in groups, Joseph,¡± Meloche explained, ¡°The big ones are known as paradigms. Smaller ones are known as squalls.¡±


    ¡°I thought the multiverse didn''t have a shape,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Your understanding of the multiverse is rudimentary and irrelevant,¡± Bulg said, ¡°I desire the Dyriptium of Karn for my own studies and research. Alas, I haven''t the time to track it down. InterGuild is... a busy time, for me.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Joseph said. He wasn''t going to complain, not when the job to be undertaken seemed so simple, ¡°So I get this book from you, on a plane of nothing but books, and you get me the info I need?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Bulg said, ¡°Have we a deal, Joseph Zheng?¡±


    Joseph took a deep breath. His eyes were hard as he extended a hand.


    ¡°Ah, a human custom,¡± Bulg said, ¡°You people and your obsession with hands.¡±


    He extended one of his six, and shook.


    ¡°I must be off now,¡± Bulg said, ¡°I will come at the usual time to this place. I am a busy being, Joseph Zheng. If I do not have the book by the end of InterGuild, then our deal is off.¡±


    ¡°I''ll get it,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Meloche,¡± Bulg said. The metahuman nodded.


    Bulg made his exit, leaving Joseph and Meloche alone. The sap-covered philosopher took a sip of his alcoholic milk.


    ¡°So, a book, then,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Meloche said, ¡°I''m glad, usually Norcanthopus Bulg asks for information that is hard to come by. But it appears that the Frauds-Ecthen Squall is not his direct priority right now, just something he would rather have now as opposed to later.¡±


    ¡°How am I supposed to find it?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Simple,¡± Meloche said. He reached into his pack, producing a laptop, ¡°Many of the works in this immediate area have been logged into a local network. If the Dyriptium of Karn is in the network, we should be able to find it.¡±


    ¡°And if we don''t?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°...I hope you like dark forests, Joseph,¡± Meloche said, ¡°And lots of reading.¡±


    ***


    ¡°Right,¡± Merry said, ¡°Remember the place. The Flyleaf Fellowship.¡±


    ¡°It''s on the other side of InterGuild,¡± Kathen growled, ¡°Great.¡±


    ¡°That''s alright,¡± Merry said, ¡°Just keep jogging. I''ve got a map of the place in your head. We should be able to get pretty quick. We''ll need to be fast, too. As soon as today''s Guildmasters'' Moot gets out-¡±


    ¡°Almogra will be on my ass, I know,¡± Kathen said. He danced by a crowd of musicians who were playing a light tune. It was a part of InterGuild that he hadn''t seen before ¨C the people here, the sheer number of the strange, the odd, and the beautiful. He was used to seeing multiple alien species in his time working with Pagan Chorus. But it was¡­


    Different here.


    The people of InterGuild didn''t have that odd, downtrodden look that most aliens gave. There was hardly any talk about raising taxes as he dodged past vendors, or the economic downturn in the Inner Reach, or even of the Harvest Worlds providing less and less food each year. Every time, Kathen realized, every time he left the confines of Milky Dawn, that was the conversation on everyone''s mind.


    Not here, though. Spells were traded like candy. Stories were swapped. Laughter was genuine, deep and infectious.


    That is what Kathen felt as he jogged through the fields, through the forested copse that were left here and there, people from countless guilds picking at the shelves for books here and there, some returning them to their places, others stowing whatever they could find away.


    The greatest of the strange, these people were. Promises of what the multiverse offered.


    Kathen had to smile at that. Valm would have disapproved of all of this nonsense.


    ***


    ¡°Here it is,¡± Meloche said, ¡°The Flyleaf Fellowship.¡±


    Joseph had been holding his breath, he realized, and he let it out in a relieved sigh.


    ¡°Right,¡± he said, ¡°And it''s just a few blocks down. Do they take Federation credits?¡±


    ¡°I believe so,¡± Meloche said, ¡°It makes logical sense. Bad business, not accepting Federation coin.¡±


    ¡°You can tell that to the asshole downstairs,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Ah, a true revolutionary,¡± Meloche chuckled, ¡°Now, get going! The sooner you have that book...¡±


    ¡°You''re not coming?¡± Joseph asked, standing up.


    ¡°I cannot,¡± Meloche said, ¡°I''ve a couple other obligations of my own. Bulg''s not the only one with a tight schedule.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Joseph said. He smiled, ¡°Thanks, Mel.¡±


    ¡°Of course, Joseph,¡± Meloche said, ¡°Good hunting. I will see you when we dream again.¡±


    And Joseph was off, heading down the stairs, resisting the temptation to flip off the bartender (he had to come back here, after all) and stepping out into InterGuild proper. The Flyleaf Fellowship was nearby, past what was becoming a blooming market that smelled strongly of paper, as guilds traded various books and tomes from their travels, as well as their pickings from across the forest. But these were temporary structures, stalls that had been set up the day before. These guilds would move on after InterGuild was over.


    No, what Joseph was after was the more permanent structures. The Flyleaf Fellowship was one of them, a brick and mortar building, its green banner depicting the book shop''s name in a dozen languages, the image of a coffee cup in the corner. There was a walk-up counter, in which sat a rather portly man in a loud, yellow number and a very bored-looking three-eyed squid. The squid was talking to a pair of red-skinned, horned twins and handing them a couple books.


    Joseph ran forward towards the counter-


    And bumped into someone, who arrived at precisely the same time as him. They both stumbled, and Joseph caught the other man as he fell. The man was roughly his own age, with hair like a lion''s mane atop his head. He was wearing long, chute-like gray robes, a gold badge depicting hands reaching away from each other emblazoned on his chest, almost like the High Federation''s flag in reverse.


    ¡°Sorry,¡± the lion-haired man said, ¡°Couldn''t slow down.¡±


    ¡°All good,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Sorry, too. Should have looked where I was going.¡±


    They both, as one, turned to the shopkeeper.


    ¡°Good day, sirs!¡± the shopkeeper said, ¡°You both came here at the same time, but I''ll start with the fellow with the black hair and confused look.¡±


    Joseph rolled his eyes.


    ¡°Right,¡± he said, ¡°I''m looking for a book.¡±


    ¡°Well!¡± the shopkeeper said, ¡°Anything specific? Or are you just a general reader?¡±


    ¡°Uhm,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I''m looking for something specific. The Dyriptium of Karn.¡±


    The lion-haired man gave him a curious look. The shopkeeper nodded, turning around.


    ¡°Rancy!¡± he called, ¡°Rancy!¡±


    A many-armed, short-looking woman with mousy hair popped up from between the shelves.


    ¡°The Dyriptium of Karn!¡± the shopkeeper said, ¡°You know, the one that came to us from the Outer Banks. A customer needs it!¡±


    ¡°Excuse me,¡± the lion-haired man interrupted, ¡°Ah... there aren''t multiple copies of that book, are there?¡±


    ¡°I''ll have to check the records,¡± the shopkeeper turned, ¡°Koris, stop flirting for a second, and pull up the inventory.¡±


    The squid nodded, taking out a small tablet, flicking through screen after screen. Two eyes watched the screen, the third went between Joseph and the lion-haired man.


    ¡°Ah... sorry, sirs,¡± the squid chirped, ¡°I only see the one.¡±


    Rancy came up to the counter, laying down the book between Joseph and the lion-haired man.


    ¡°Thank you, Rancy,¡± the shopkeeper said, ¡°You can get back to work, now.¡±


    The mousy woman nodded, and she skittered back to her place.


    ¡°Well, this is awkward,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°It is,¡± the lion-haired man said, ¡°And my AI''s telling me this is the only... only copy found so far.¡±


    ¡°Probably the only copy on the plane,¡± the shopkeeper said. He opened the book, flipping a few pages, ¡°The Dyriptium of Karn''s a rare book, most of them were burned during the Reorganization of Toleration, fifty-odd years ago.¡±


    ¡°Well, damn,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Hell,¡± the lion-haired man said. There was a moment¡¯s pause, before he wheeled on Joseph, ¡°Listen, I really need this book.¡±


    ¡°I do, too,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°There''s no way you can... skim through it, or something?¡± the lion-haired man asked.


    ¡°I need to give it to a contact of mine,¡± Joseph said, ¡°He''ll give me info.¡±


    ¡°A trade, then,¡± the lion-haired man said.


    ¡°Exactly,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I''m...¡±


    He stared down at the book. They both had arrived at the same moment, so he couldn''t really say it was first-come, first-serve. He doubted the shopkeeper would really buy that, either. Joseph looked over. A few other shoppers were coming up to the window.


    ¡°I can give you whatever you want,¡± the lion-haired man said, ¡°Trust me, I¡¯ve got plenty of connections. Surely, whatever your other party¡¯s giving you, I can give better.¡±


    ¡°...Know of a way to get to Earth?¡± Joseph asked.


    The man blinked.


    ¡°What¡¯s Earth?¡±


    Joseph shook his head.


    ¡°Finish this up, gentlemen,¡± the shopkeeper said, ¡°It''s a busy day.¡±


    ¡°Listen,¡± the lion-haired man said, ¡°Please. I need this to save a friend,¡±


    Shit. But he had gotten this far.


    ¡°I''m sure there''s other copies out there,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Book burnings or not. Come on, I need this. It''s my one shot to get out of here.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± the lion-haired man said, ¡°But I don''t care.¡±


    Joseph''s temper flared. He saw red for a brief moment.


    ¡°My friend is more important than whatever you''ve got going on,¡± the lion-haired man said, his eyes narrowing. There was an air of authority to his voice, like he was trying to command Joseph.


    Joseph gritted his teeth. He placed a hand on the book.


    ¡°Well,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯re friend¡¯s a nice guy, but-¡±


    ¡°Gentlemen,¡± the shopkeeper said. They both turned to the portly man, who was rummaging beneath the counter, ¡°We''ll make this easy. I don''t have all day, and it looks like you two need to figure out your differences. Away from the counter. You''re holding up the line.¡±


    Indeed, more customers were lining up.


    ¡°We''ll do it the ol'' InterGuild way,¡± the shopkeeper said, ¡°Or the ol'' Pormello way. I forget which.¡±


    He had evidently found whatever he was looking for, as he produced a pair of wings from beneath the counter. They were adhesive, and he slapped them onto the book''s spine. A dash of magical sparkles emanated from the Dyriptium of Karn, and it began flapping the wings, though before it could take off the shopkeeper grabbed hold of it as though it were a stray balloon.


    ¡°Each of you pay half,¡± he said, ¡°Right there. We accept Federation credit, Methuselah ra''at, Kelstondan international currant, ah...¡±


    He paused as both Joseph and the lion-haired man paid out half. Twenty credits, each, two credsticks jamming into the small scanning device on the counter.


    ¡°Good,¡± the shopkeeper said, ¡°Now, one of you is going to get this book. The other pays the loser the other half of the pay.¡±


    ¡°Winner pays full price,¡± the lion-haired man said.


    ¡°Winner pays for the book,¡± the shopkeeper said, ¡°You seem like trustworthy lads. Work it out between yourselves. Use violence, if you have to.¡±


    He gave a smile, and let the book go.


    There was a moment where both Joseph and the lion-haired man both blanched, watching the book flutter away and above the market like a loosed pigeon.


    Then, they were off. Both of them rushing forward, pushing people out of the way, the Dyriptium of Karn becoming a white speck in the darkness above.


    ***


    ¡°Did you really have to set them off like that?¡± Koris rumbled, ¡°They''re like two dogs snarling over a piece of meat.¡±


    ¡°It got them out of the way,¡± Pormello said, ¡°And we made a sale.¡±


    ¡°Still,¡± Koris said, as they counted up a few coins, ¡°Is that really the InterGuild way?¡±


    ¡°It''s my way,¡± Pormello said, ¡°Which is in the spirit of InterGuild, isn''t it?¡±


    He handed a book to a rainbow-scaled cobra, suppressing a cold shiver as the cobra sank its fangs into the spine as it slithered away.


    ¡°When one guild wants one thing, and another guild wants another, what is the result?¡± Pormello asked.


    ¡°I was a paperman''s child,¡± Koris said, ¡°Not a guildfolk.¡±


    Pormello rolled his eyes.


    ¡°What happens,¡± the portly shopkeeper said, ¡°Is that there is conflict, and one of the guilds win. Wounds are licked, hands are shaken, and it''s settled. Those boys were from two different guilds, probably on two different jobs. But their goals are the same.¡±


    Pormello turned to the back.


    ¡°Rancy!¡± he said, ¡°A copy of ''To Kill a Mockingbird''!¡±


    Rancy ran over with the copy. A good girl, she was, fabulously organized and efficient. She was going places, if she stuck to the book business. Koris was still giving him an odd look.


    ¡°They''ll work it out, I''m sure,¡± Pormello said, ¡°Or one will kill the other. I don''t care. I made the sale.¡±

 71. When Two Guilds Meet

    The market Ichabod guided G-Wiz to was near the edge of the campsites, and certainly no Renfaire. Ships were parked in their rows ¨C a few of them starships, a few others run-down looking shuttles taken from Neos and other technologically advanced planes. The air felt greasier as they went deeper in, as the folksy, fiddle and flute affairs disappeared into grungy, tin-hued electronica, or garbled heavy metal, or Z-Pop (which G-Wiz found herself nodding her head to, despite her hatred of the genre.) The merchandise, too, became more advanced. Advanced plasma pistols, dirtied by age and use, were laid out on tables by hawkish-looking, wily aliens. Computer parts were strewn about, chips and modems and drivers all laid out, some expertly polished, others nearing a state of disintegration. There was even a parlor for cybernetic limbs, inside which G-Wiz could see the silhouette of a large, bear-like man getting fitted with a new arm. Ichabod simply glanced at that with a sneer.


    ¡°Poor fellow,¡± he said, ¡°Probably had them cut off his real one, just so he could go Pinocchio.¡±


    ¡°Pinocchio?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a biting term,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°You know the tale of Pinocchio?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s an old story,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°And it changes depending on the plane you¡¯re on. In some places, it¡¯s the story of a young wooden puppet who yearns to become real. On Neos, it¡¯s the opposite ¨C a young boy wishes to become an android, and replaces himself with pieces of metal until he has no soul.¡±


    The man grimaced as the arm finished its installation. Lines in the limb grew red hot, and the man¡¯s grimaces turned into roars that echoed across InterGuild.


    ¡°Do me a favor, Galatea,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Never go cybernetic unless you absolutely have to. It''s a revolting existence.¡±


    He twiddled his glass-and-metal fingers, giving a dry smirk.


    ¡°Now,¡± he said, ¡°Let''s get ourselves a new Cutter, hm?¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± G-Wiz said. They walked down the small, makeshift path until they found the shop Ichabod was looking for, a modified double-decker bus that had gotten its wheels replaced by what looked to be hover-pads. The entire thing was painted, its once-red glare completely overtaken by spray paint in all the colors of the rainbow, as though the owner had turned it into one mosaic, then changed their mind partway through and got to work on something else. A small table had been set up in front of the bus, at which sat a wiry looking elf with a mechanical arm and, disturbingly, a cybernetic jaw ¨C the entire bottom part of her face had been replaced with steel and glass, and the elf made no effort to hide this.


    G-Wiz could respect that. The girl was cute, besides.


    ¡°Ichabod,¡± the elf said, ¡°Yer a sight for sore eyes.¡±


    ¡°Or poor eyes,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°I''m surprised you aren''t throwing things at me, Hepidiria.¡±


    ¡°I would,¡± Hepidiria said, ¡°Normally. But this is InterGuild, and I got money to make for me folks, and all that.¡±


    ¡°And which guild are you part of now?¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Still with the Androidic Angels?¡±


    ¡°Naw,¡± Hepidiria said, ¡°Too much cyber, not enough soul.¡±


    ¡°Funny, coming from you,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°Look, mate, you want me to sell you shit, or not?¡±


    ¡°Fair,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Sorry.¡±


    ¡°Maybe I should throw things at you,¡± Hepidiria said, ¡°You''d deserve it.¡±


    ¡°And worse,¡± G-Wiz said.


    Hepidiria nodded.


    ¡°Who''s the kid?¡± she said.


    ¡°This is Galatea,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°You can call me G-Wiz.¡±


    ¡°Neat. Nice. I don''t think you''re the one I''m installing this thing in?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°That will be me, Hepidiria.¡±


    He rolled up his right sleeve, revealing the sleek, far too realistic cybernetic arm. Hepidiria grimaced, her expression knit somewhere between awestruck and apprehension.


    ¡°Ah, hell, Ichabod,¡± she said, ¡°This is... this is a work of art. I can''t just input any old Cutter in here.¡±


    ¡°You aren''t,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Shardeen''s one of the best out there.¡±


    ¡°There are better.¡±


    ¡°Yes, but I only have so much money,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Please, Hepidiria. You''ve worked on my arms before. I trust very few with my cybernetics.¡±


    G-Wiz remembered that only Vicenorn back home was really allowed to tend to Ichabod''s prosthetics. She had to smile at that, despite herself.


    ¡°...Alright, then,¡± Hepidiria said, ¡°Let''s get inside. G-Wiz, right? Keep an eye on the table, make sure no one takes anything.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± G-Wiz said. Ichabod gave her a nod as he and Hepidiria walked inside the bus. They sat down on the bottom floor, and through the grime-tinted windows, she watched as Hepidiria pulled out a couple strange, scalpel-like devices and begin to pry off the outer shell of Ichabod''s arm.


    She had to turn away, feeling as though she were intruding on something that was supposed to be private. She instead watched the people walk by, resisting the urge to flip a few off as they went.


    ***


    Joseph ran side-by-side with the lion-haired man, who was throwing off his constricting gray robes to reveal a black jumpsuit underneath. He noted the man had a plasma pistol strapped to his belt, a simple, sleek-looking thing, and he kept that in his head.


    Just in case.


    The Dyriptium of Karn flew overhead, a white dot in the sea of black high above. Joseph grimaced. He could shoot it down, perhaps, let a bolt loose. But occasionally he could see fliers above, birds or mechanical androids with hoverboards or guildfolk flying by will alone. Besides, there was the chance that if he struck the book, he would just annihilate it. Bulg presumably wanted the Dyriptium of Karn in the best condition it could be.


    So lightning was out.


    As these thoughts rattled in his head, he noted that the book began to dip. Presumably whatever magic had let it go aloft was beginning to fade. Grimacing, Joseph watched its descent...


    ***


    Kathen ran in time with the other guy. The one with the blue jacket and the ugly pink shirt that read ''Eat at Porky''s.'' He was good, keeping in time with Kathen, almost pacing himself to keep side-by-side...


    Why?


    The man in blue had, almost imperceptibly, glanced down to see Kathen''s sidearm. Yes, that was it. He didn''t want to get ahead, and get a shot in the back for his trouble. But it wasn''t at that point, right?


    It wouldn''t get to that point, right?


    Merry''s voice rang in his head.


    ¡°The magic spell''s starting to go out,¡± she said, ¡°Look, it''s starting to dip. I''m triangulating the position of where it''s going to land.¡±


    A map began reading internally in his head, positioning where the book would land. Right in the center of one of the many markets.


    Beside him, the man in blue''s head was overtaken by an eagle''s, an electrical blue bird of prey, one whose eye''s narrowed to better watch the Dyriptium of Karn''s descent. He saw the man grimace as he watched it fall.


    ¡°Kathen,¡± Merry warned, ¡°The guy beside us is a metahuman.¡±


    ¡°Shit,¡± Kathen said. They were almost at the book''s projected landing point, getting closer and closer.


    Time to act.


    Kathen twisted, ramming an elbow into the metahuman''s side. The metahuman let out a grunt, but kept going, breaking away from Kathen. Beneath the eagle''s gaze he could see the man''s real eyes glare at him in a dark sort of rage that made his stomach drop.


    This wasn''t going to be easy, was it?


    Then again, it never was with these kinds of people.


    There, they were arriving now, running a bit separated from the other, the metahuman always keeping pace. The book landed neatly on a stone outcropping in the center of the market square. A band was playing music nearby, speakers projecting out a power ballad, the lead singer warbling out an opera accompanied by electric guitars and a full set of drums.


    And the metahuman was on him, tackling Kathen and tracking him off course. Kathen stumbled, fell, then rolled with the blow, ending back on his feet. The metahuman stood apart from him, raising up his fists.


    ¡°Boxer''s stance,¡± Merry noted, ¡°Careful, now.¡±


    ¡°Means the legs are weak,¡± Kathen said.


    He was already at a disadvantage. All fights with metahumans were deadly mysteries, as one had to find out what their enemy''s abilities were. Some were overtly dangerous, such as the ability to will fire into existence, while others merely could, for example, float a centimeter over the ground.


    This one seemed dangerous. There was an angry way he carried himself, and the air began to smell of ozone.


    ¡°Merry,¡± Kathen said, ¡°Check the databases installed in the chip. See if we can''t identify this guy.¡±


    ¡°On it,¡± Merry said.


    ¡°I told you,¡± the metahuman said, ¡°Stay out of this. I need the book.¡±


    ¡°I do too,¡± Kathen said, ¡°Out of the way, metahuman. My bite''s more than my bark.¡±


    ¡°Tough talk,¡± the metahuman said, and he closed in.


    He wasn''t using his power. Kathen hadn''t drawn his pistol. A swipe of the hand, and he could have drawn it and plugged two burning holes into the man''s chest. But he didn''t, not yet. Not unless things got dangerous. As it was the two closed on each other, seeking a chink in the other''s armor.


    Kathen believed he found his first, throwing an errant swipe. The metahuman took the jab in the jaw, swinging an uppercut into Kathen, one which he avoided.


    No Merry to tell him what that had been, what style or tradition. She was busy logging through metahuman records.


    Kathen whipped a leg out, one that connected cleanly in the metahuman''s side. He made followed with a few quick jabs, which the metahuman wisely blocked with his face-


    And the metahuman''s fist rocketed into the side of Kathen''s head like a hammer. Kathen staggered back, pain blooming through his skull as the metahuman just gave a wild grin. He continued standing...


    And his legs were open.


    Kathen dove forward, leaping into the metahuman, legs kicking out like crab''s claws, wrapping around the metahuman''s lower torso. With a twist, the metahuman fell to the ground, coughing as Kathen rammed an elbow into his stomach as he went down.


    With this, Kathen took off, rushing towards the book on the stone.


    ***


    Mekke''s thousand warnings played in Joseph''s head as he fell to the ground.


    ¡°Your legs are open,¡± she said, ¡°Stop raising your fists in front of your face, it¡¯s keeping you exposed. Keep your eyes on every part of your opponent''s body, not just his fists. Anything goes, so start thinking of that mentality.¡±


    And he had been hit by a scissor kick, the lion-haired man running towards the book. Groaning, Joseph got to his feet, running forward. Of the two, he was faster, as he powered through the pain rumbling in his stomach and tackled the lion-haired man to the ground.


    The two of them wrestled for a moment, other people moving out of the way as they bit, kneed, and elbowed each other, finally breaking apart.


    The lion-haired man staggered to his feet and drew out a pistol. Joseph, on his knees, froze.


    Yet, felt his soul about to burst forth, its circuit long ago finished.


    ¡°Sorry, pal,¡± the lion-haired man said, ¡°You got a mean right hook, but-¡±


    His eyes went wild and he dove out of the way as Joseph pointed, unleashing a bolt of lightning. Joseph was aware, distantly, of it striking a stall nearby, causing it to burst into flames. He didn''t have time for that, as his full soul roared to life overhead, before moving to his arm as pointed, bearing down on the lion-haired man like a leashed tiger.


    ***


    Kathen fell to the ground, and a moment later the entire bird of prey was over him, an entire bolt of lightning held fast in the form of an eagle. Replacing its wings were two arms, ones that ended in clawed hands. The metahuman stood apart from his chained pet, a bolt of lightning suspended in time linking him to the eagle.


    ¡°I got it,¡± Merry said, ¡°That''s... Joseph Zheng. Metahuman. That''s his soul.¡±


    Kathen noted the scars on the eagle''s chest, its arms. This thing had seen plenty of combat and injuries, hadn''t it?


    ¡°He''s only been around for half a year or so,¡± Merry said.


    All of those injuries, in six months?Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.


    Either this guy was always on the front-line, or he was using his powers far too recklessly. It didn¡¯t matter.


    Joseph Zheng was slowly moving towards the stone, organic hand reaching out towards the book.


    ¡°Ahem.¡±


    Joseph Zheng looked up. But the voice had not been Kathen''s.


    No, the voice came from a very angry-looking ogre, one of the merchants, whose market stall was a smoldering ruin just behind him. Other sellers were crowding around him, all of them looking at Joseph and Kathen with murder in their eyes. Music had stopped. All was quiet. Tension burned in the air like a heatwave.


    Kathen felt Joseph''s soul dissolve, like a tide pull back into his body.


    ¡°Uh, sorry,¡± he said.


    ¡°Get ''em!¡± the ogre roared. Joseph immediately began skipping back. Kathen pulled himself to his feet, turning to run as what was a few bystanders suddenly became a crowd chasing after them, on wheels, on wings, on hooves, wearing military boots, even on twin peg-legs.


    But Kathen first ran to the stone, hand whipping out, snatching the Dyriptium of Karn. He then thundered off, running as fast as he could, feeling like the wind incarnate. The crowd surged and roared behind.


    ***


    With a hint of cruel irony, Joseph found himself in step with the lion-haired man again. The mob behind them screamed and jeered, each wordless screech a promise for blood.


    ¡°Was just a market stall,¡± he muttered under his breath.


    He was used to running, however, his soul building up its circuit with each step. Together, he and the lion-haired man ran through the makeshift markets that had been set up, pushing over carts, knocking people out of the way, and generally causing more chaos. The tumultuous roar continued on behind them, and at one point Joseph chanced a glance back.


    The crowd was still there.


    No, it had grown. They were just causing more chaos, the more they ran, the more they shoved folks out of the way for the simple crime of being in the way.


    ¡°Shit,¡± Joseph said.


    They had to split. He had to slink away from all of this. Find the book-


    His eyes slid over to the lion-haired man.


    Who held the book.


    ¡°Asshole!¡± Joseph snarled. He shouldered the lion-haired man, who grunted as staggered as they ran, tripping for a half-second before finding his footing once more. The two heard a growling behind them, followed by a deep, rhythmic huffing.


    A wolf. He could see it just behind them. Gaining on them fast, its snout reaching up to their shoulders.


    The lion-haired man turned to Joseph. They kept running, in tune with one another, unwilling twin wheels that turned in time with the other. Their eyes locked for a moment, his one of pure concentration, Joseph''s of indignant rage.


    And then he was gone, splitting off, peeling away. Joseph continued running straight ahead.


    And the wolf followed.


    ***


    Kathen tore away from the mob, heart hammering faster than an engine at warp. The mob split off with his and Joseph Zheng''s separation, a greater whole peeling away and rushing after him. But he could outlast them, and by and large his stamina won out, as the mob lost its energy, petering out bit by bit like an exhausted plasma trail, until only the ogre was left. He was panting heavily, his green skin beaded with sweat as he stopped, resting his sausage hands on his knees.


    ¡°H-Hell of a r-runner,¡± the ogre said.


    Kathen stopped, turning back to the ogre. He painted a weary grin on his face.


    ¡°Not sure why you went after me,¡± he said, ¡°It was the metahuman that obliterated your stall.¡±


    Realization lit in the ogre''s eyes, and he let out a frustrated ¡°Fuck!¡±


    Kathen''s heart fell a bit at the sight. The poor creature looked to be on the verge of tears, as the ogre sat down on a nearby stump and looked dejected at the ground. With a sigh, he walked over, pulling out a credstick.


    ¡°Here,¡± he said, ¡°For your trouble.¡±


    The ogre glared at the credstick. Then up at Kathen.


    ¡°Never meant it to be violent, is all,¡± Kathen said.


    ¡°Your little spat''s cost me InterGuild,¡± the ogre said.


    ¡°Look, if you want, I can have my guild talk to yours. Work it out...¡±


    ¡°No, no,¡± the ogre said, his tune changed, ¡°It''s fine.¡±


    He took the credstick.


    ¡°Thanks, I suppose.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Kathen said, ¡°Well, see you around.¡±


    He gave a friendly smile to the ogre, before turning and walking off. He took the chance to catch his breath and check on the Dyriptium of Karn. The book appeared undamaged, its shell bound in wood. Kathen opened a random page, making note of the language within.


    ¡°Selhorn,¡± Merry said, ¡°Hasn''t been used in a couple hundred years, died out with the Kelpherians after their attacks on the Silver Eye.¡±


    The name sounded familiar.


    ¡°Kelpherians,¡± Kathen said, ¡°They were glassed, weren''t they?¡±


    ¡°They were found to be smuggling technology from the Silver Eye and using them to conquer their neighbors. Prime Voice Enzo commanded that they be eliminated.¡±


    Kathen suppressed a shiver. He had only been on a glassed plane once. Never again.


    ¡°Well, we''ve got the book, at least,¡± he said.


    ¡°And Joseph Zheng is out of the picture,¡± Merry said, ¡°That dire wolf looked... nasty.¡±


    ¡°He''s metahuman,¡± Kathen said, ¡°They''re like cockroaches.¡±


    He closed the book, and stuck it into a bag.


    ¡°They stick around.¡±


    ***


    The crowd dispersed as Joseph ran towards the edge of the clearing. The forest swallowed around him, a deep scoring of tall oak trunks and the strange, rectangular shelf trees.


    Still, the wolf followed. It was nearly on him, having kept up no matter where he bobbed and weaved, hardly slowed by the jumping over market stalls and swift turns into other rows of the market.


    ¡°No time like the present,¡± Joseph said.


    He stopped, pivoting on his heel and spinning around to face the beast. With a crack, his soul erupted from his back, towering over him and casting the dark shadows of the wood with its signature cobalt glow. The wolf halted, hackles raised, its snout contorted into a snarl.


    ¡°Child of Imagined Will,¡± a deep, husky voice coughed out of its maw, ¡°You have caused me great ill.¡±


    ¡°Sorry, pal,¡± Joseph said, ¡°What''d I do?¡±


    He said the wrong thing, as the red in the wolf''s bloodshot eyes deepened.


    ¡°You have knocked over my ward, Red of the Island Fair,¡± the wolf said, ¡°Pay me in blood, or best you beware!¡±


    ¡°Bring it,¡± Joseph''s soul raised up its claws, and he mirrored its boxer''s stance. The wolf let out a deep grumble.


    ¡°I will tear you limb from limb,¡± it said, ¡°You will fall to my dark whim.¡±


    ¡°You even take another step closer, and I''ll tear off your snout,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I''ve got the reach. I''ve got the strength. Don''t think I won''t do it.¡±


    The two stood off against one another for another few moments, heartbeats that, to Joseph, stretched into eternity. The wolf gauged Joseph''s words, weighing how much was bark and how much was bite.


    Then, the fur on its back relaxed. It stood tall, all but glaring at Joseph.


    ¡°The Beasts of Dol will remember, we take offense,¡± it warned, ¡°You will be our enemy hence.¡±


    And, without another word, it padded away. Joseph''s heart thundered in his chest as he watched the beast go, his soul shivering back to his stomach. His jaw was set.


    No time to think of these ''Beasts of Dol'' now. With a nervous step, he walked.


    He had to find that book.


    ***


    He emerged from the wood, the music, hustle, and bustle of InterGuild washing over him once more. That wild-haired bastard had split off from him quite a ways away, and he didn''t dare try to go back to retrace his steps. The mob had dispersed, but the air felt a bit more tense now, a bit more charged, after his little sprint.


    With nothing else to do, Joseph picked a direction, and started to walk. He went through the market stalls, idly glancing at them here or there to maintain some sort of illusion that he was a shopper, though he kept a lookout for his rival. Just in case.


    As he did so, his argument came to the service.


    ¡°I need this to save a friend,¡± the lion-haired man had said.


    What sort of friend was this? What plane did the Dyriptium of Karn chronicle that could hold that information? For a moment, Joseph stopped. Someone was dying, unless the lion-haired man could get that book. Was it...


    Was it really worth it?


    ¡°Well, well,¡± a voice said behind him, ¡°Finished your job up with Tek, eh?¡±


    Joseph turned. It was Urash, the dwarf wearing his usual sour face as he trundled through the crowd, wearing the crest and robes of the Belgones. In one hand he held his spellrod, the other held a sack of coins.


    ¡°Urash,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Um, yeah. I did.¡±


    Urash considered Joseph for a second, as though gauging the sincerity in his statement.


    ¡°Right,¡± he said, ¡°Well, either way, I care little.¡±


    ¡°Good to know,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Well, now...¡±


    He stopped, unsure of what to say. He and Urash spoke rarely, only interacting when Joseph was delivering something to the merchant prince''s laboratory, or when they gave each other halfhearted ''hellos'' in the morning. Urash was one of the guild''s most vital assets, part accountant, part magician, part businessman, surly and with all the grace of a barracuda.


    ¡°Looks like you''re lost, lad,¡± Urash said.


    ¡°You could say that,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Urash gave Joseph another look-over.


    ¡°Well, you''ve ditched Tek, probably on some fool''s errand of some kind, eh?¡±


    Joseph winced at how easily the dwarf had carved through his bullshit.


    ¡°Aye, painted on your face, it is. I can''t blame you. In fact, takes some iron in the belly, acting like you are.¡±


    ¡°R-Right,¡± Joseph said, unsure of how to take that, ¡°Well-¡±


    ¡°Walk with me.¡±


    Joseph found himself magnetically drawn to Urash as the dwarf waddled on, at one point stopping to peruse one of the stalls, which had several rare-looking geodes arrayed on top.


    ¡°Bah,¡± he said, ¡°Nothing worth my time there.¡±


    He went on. Joseph followed.


    ¡°Well, now, managed to get the Titania Amber all well and ready for her repairs. There''s a guild out on the Outmost Savanna that does repair jobs for run-down birds from the Silver Eye. Just below the Federation''s radar. Expensive, but they get the job done.¡±


    ¡°That''s good,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Aye, our girl will be up and running in no time at all,¡± Urash said, ¡°She''s taken heavier hits, from what I hear. But enough of that. Why are you at InterGuild, lad?¡±


    ¡°You really want to know?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°I do,¡± Urash said, ¡°I want to know why you''re acting so slippery-¡±


    ¡°So you can report me to Wakeling.¡±


    ¡°Bah!¡± Urash said, ¡°First rule of business, lad: No one likes a snitch.¡±


    There was a small shop selling hot cider. Urash pulled out a few coins and laid them on the counter. The shopkeeper, a man with an apple for a head, took the gold and slammed down two mugs of the stuff. Urash grabbed both and took a sip, not even offering any to Joseph.


    ¡°Now, then,¡± Urash said, ¡°Talk.¡±


    And Joseph did. He told Urash about Meloche and Norcanthopus Bulg. The Dyriptium of Karn. The other guildfolk he had gotten into a scrap with to claim the book. Urash nodded.


    ¡°I''ve worked with Bulg before,¡± Urash said, ¡°Though he''s more Myron''s contact. He''s a snake, lad, and don''t you forget it. A busy one, too.¡±


    ¡°I was thinking,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Maybe I can, I don''t know, copy the book down, give it to the other guy.¡±


    ¡°And you''ve got time for that?¡± Urash said.


    ¡°I...¡±


    ¡°How big was that book?¡± Urash asked.


    ¡°Pretty big.¡±


    ¡°What language?¡±


    Joseph shrugged.


    ¡°Exactly,¡± Urash said, ¡°Bulg''s got you on a tight schedule, doesn''t he? Not much time for you to do much of anything. A job to copy an entire book of that caliber out here takes weeks, not days.¡±


    ¡°You''d think the people here would be doing that already,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Digitizing it. Making copies. Distributing them out.¡±


    ¡°You''re thinking like an idealist,¡± Urash said, ¡°The folks out here, they aren''t here to better the multiverse. They''re here to make a quick buck, drive up the price of normally unattainable information. Only a few people get the honor of education, lad. It pays to make things rare.¡±


    He finished draining one of the mugs of cider, tossing it aside with a careless shrug. Joseph sighed.


    ¡°I was hoping to, I don''t know, share it.¡±


    ¡°With your rival?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. His friend''s dying.¡±


    ¡°And how do you know the information in that book would help him?¡± Urash said, ¡°You''ve got the reason for why you having the book would help you. It gets you information you need, and you know that Bulg will give it to you. Sounds like your other guy''s chasing after a dream.¡±


    ¡°A good one, though,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°But just a dream,¡± Urash said, ¡°Look, lad, you want to get home, right?¡±


    ¡°...Right.¡±


    ¡°No one said it was going to be easy. You''re going to need to make some hard decisions. You need the book, so does your rival. When there''s no agreement, you get down to using strength over all else to muscle your way to what you want.¡±


    ¡°Strength?¡±


    ¡°Above all else,¡± Urash said, ¡°And that''s the Law of InterGuild.¡±


    Joseph was quiet. He felt conflicted about that. Urash let out a harsh chuckle at his guildmate''s obvious discomfort.


    ¡°How many people did you have to beat out to get here, back home?¡± he asked, ¡°I remember hearing a very vivid story of you wrestling Lazuli to the ground before he could get to Ezel.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I''ve gotten...¡±


    ¡°Did you know, he was wanting to go to InterGuild to find some word on his creator¡¯s murder?¡± Urash said.


    Joseph looked at the dwarf.


    ¡°Aye. Lazuli¡¯s one of the most advanced AI in the multiverse. His creator ¨C his father ¨C was killed by someone from the Federation. He¡¯s been looking ever since.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know,¡± Joseph said, ¡°If I had¡­¡±


    ¡°What I¡¯m saying, lad, is you¡¯ve already gone and put yourself first already. What¡¯s to say you shouldn¡¯t again?¡±


    And Joseph knew Urash was right. He sighed. Steeled his heart. Closed it to the lion-haired man''s plight.


    Because he needed to get home.


    And he would do whatever he needed to do to accomplish that.


    ¡°I''ve gotten this far,¡± he said, ¡°So, now what?¡±


    ¡°You aren''t giving up. Good.¡± Urash said, ¡°Follow me.¡±


    ***


    Urash guided Joseph away from the markets, towards an open field where ships of a thousand kind were moored. However, these weren''t ships that the guilds of the multiverse had arrived in on. Rather, they were ships made for entertainment. To fly over the Flyleaf Forest and glance down at it from above. Ticket-sellers were exchanging various forms of currency to give people a chance to ride in more unknown vessels, like massive winged crabs, or ancient artifact ships from the Silver Eye. Joseph even saw one of the rides here was a pegasus the size of an elephant, a nervous-looking troll getting strapped into the saddle by the pegasus''s owner.


    ¡°We''ll want something where we can see,¡± Urash said, ¡°Ah, here we go.¡±


    He pointed out a hot air balloon with swirling cloud patterns. He and Joseph walked over to the attendant, Urash flipping him a gold coin.


    ¡°Our lad''s going to be jumping out,¡± the dwarf said.


    The attendant nodded, nonchalant as they began stoking the hot air balloon''s fire. Joseph stared at Urash.


    ¡°Sorry?¡± he said, ¡°I''m going to jump?¡±


    ¡°You got any idea on how to find your man?¡± Urash said.


    ¡°I... No.¡±


    ¡°You''ve got a good pair of eyes ¨C like a hawk''s, because of your metahuman abilities,¡± Urash said, ¡°I''ve prepared a spell today that will make you fall like a feather.¡±


    It clicked in Joseph''s head. He gave a nod.


    ¡°Right. I find him, you cast the spell on me, I float down to where he is and break his knees.¡±


    ¡°That''s the spirit,¡± Urash said, ¡°Now, let''s go.¡±


    They clambered onto the hot air balloon, which began to ascend towards the blank night. A couple ships and winged guildfolk lazed about in the sky, and Joseph could see that the hot air balloon rose to the same level as the top of the clock tower in the distance. All the world below was awash in the glows of InterGuild, thousands of lights greeting him from the surface. The sounds of the communities became quiet, indistinct murmurs, and the wind became cold and biting.


    ¡°Oddly lonely,¡± Joseph commented.


    ¡°You see the world as the mighty do,¡± Urash said, ¡°Grow used to it, lad. Always a chance you could wind up making something of yourself.¡±


    Joseph found he didn''t really like it. But he could admit it was pretty, the sea of stars below. The hot air balloon chugged along for a few moments as he gripped the sides of the basket, taking a breath.


    Then, his soul covered his head like a helmet, the eagle''s sharp eyes looking out. InterGuild became sharper. More detailed. He could pick out individual people ¨C in the far distance, he could make out the ogre whose market stall he had destroyed arguing with a flamingo in a business suit. He could see the Guildmasters'' Moot, a strange, swirling Greek temple that made his head spin.


    And there, just coming out of the markets, was his rival. The lion-haired man.


    ¡°I see him,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Alright, Urash. Let her rip. And... thank you.¡±


    ¡°Don''t thank me,¡± Urash said, ¡°I want a cut of your share for the next job you take, alright?¡±


    ¡°Deal,¡± Joseph said, and he found himself smiling. Urash''s spellrod flashed light, and he found himself oddly... floaty. As though gravity had loosened its hold on him. He swung a leg over the basket''s side.


    ¡°Push off, now,¡± Urash said, ¡°The spell works almost like you''re in open space.¡±


    Memories of his time on the space station made Joseph shudder a bit. He still wasn''t quite used to it.


    Nonetheless...


    ¡°Right,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Alright.¡±


    He climbed over the basket completely, feet resting against the basket''s outside, arm snarled over its railing. With a deep breath, he shoved off, floating between the hot air balloon and the world below, adrift in the black.


    The world got louder as he returned back to InterGuild. Back to the lion-haired man. Back to the conflict.

 72. The Challenge of Beasts

    Red of the Island Fair rode atop Gandu''s back as they made their way back to the Beast of Dol''s camp. There were few, if any, tents in the guild''s allotted space. No, the Beasts of Dol were composed of animals of the multiverse, speaking or otherwise. There were few humanoids here, few of the ''civilized folk'' that had cut down their forests, polluted their seas, and poisoned their skies. A few heads turned to watch as they went deeper into the camp. But none challenged Gandu or Red.


    They knew where they stood in relation to that pair.


    The right hand of the guild was a tall, solid paraceratherium. Mother Lone stood tall and mighty, her trunk-like head rising to watch as Gandu drew close. She already was tensing, powerful muscles cording beneath cracked, gray skin, in case Gandu decided to attack her, to cement a new position within the guild. As was his right.


    But no attack came, and so Mother Lone stood high like a tower over the wolf. Gandu gave a bow, and Red of the Island Fair slipped off of his back, also bowing.


    ¡°Speak,¡± Mother Lone said.


    ¡°Right hand, I ask of our guildmaster,¡± Gandu said, ¡°We have enemies to go after.¡±


    ¡°Our guildmaster is out currently,¡± Mother Lone said, ¡°The meeting is drawing to a close. But he will return soon.¡±


    ¡°He will return now.¡±


    The voice came from behind them. Their guildmates scurried out of the way on paws and hooves as guildmaster Krosa drew forth. The great grizzly bear, roughly the size of a humanoid''s house, glowered down at Gandu and Red with his scarred face, his one good eye shining like a fire in the night.


    ¡°Speak, Gandu,¡± the Lord of Animals said, ¡°Speak true, and speak quickly. It has been a blunting day.¡±


    ¡°My king, we have taken insult,¡± Gandu said, ¡°Two beings, the likes of which I ask for consult.¡±


    ¡°Hnng,¡± Krosa grunted. He made his way to the center of the campsite, trailed by Mother Lone and Gandu. Red grimaced as she noted how Krosa''s shoulders seemed to sag with each step, as though the mental games of the Guildmasters'' Moot had been a physical battle.


    ¡°Name the guilds,¡± Krosa said.


    ¡°I do not know, I did not see,¡± Gandu said, ¡°One was a metahuman, if that is key.¡±


    ¡°A metahuman,¡± Krosa said, ¡°A Child of Imagined Will. They are many and more, in these lands.¡±


    ¡°He knocked Red to the side,¡± Gandu said, ¡°His lack of shame, he did not hide.¡±


    ¡°And you want me to find him,¡± Krosa growled.


    ¡°Because he has hurt Red of the Island Fair,¡± Gandu said, ¡°Your favored one, to clear the air.¡±


    ¡°Red is strong, she can take care of herself,¡± Krosa said, ¡°She is not so weak as to be hurt by a simple fall. It is why she is favored.¡±


    Gandu was quiet as he padded beside the bear, his tail suddenly tucking between his legs. Krosa merely plodded forward, sniffing the air. He turned to Mother Lone.


    ¡°How I miss the days of old,¡± he said, ¡°When we spake with war, not with words.¡±


    ¡°It is their way,¡± Mother Lone said.


    ¡°Hmph,¡± Krosa said, ¡°It is not. They pretend that speaking, not doing, is their way, or that they have risen over the challenge of beasts. But they have not. They spoke today, debated conflict, spoke of war as though it were separate from all else.¡±


    ¡°A lie,¡± Mother Lone said.


    ¡°Humanoids always lie,¡± Krosa said, ¡°The Law of InterGuild is strength, and nothing else. Who is strongest decides the law. They would do well to remember that.¡±


    ¡°Guildmaster!¡± Gandu yapped.


    He cowered as Krosa''s dented head turned, the bear''s snout contorted into a snarl. For a moment, all was still as Krosa glowered over Gandu''s comparatively small, gray-furred form.


    Then, he relaxed, the shoulders drooping once more. He found his sleeping spot, falling down with an earth quaking thud that turned heads.


    ¡°Remember what our saying is,¡± Krosa said, ¡°If thou hast the strength, thou hast the freedom. Do what you will. Recruit who you can cow. Do not turn to me for your petty skirmishes, wolf. You do ill, looking so weak in front of so many.¡±


    Gandu felt Red tugging at his ear. The wolf turned. Indeed, many of the Beasts of Dol were looking his way. Ekrazu the leopard had her fangs bared. A challenge. Gandu felt anger bubble at his admonishment. Krosa''s words spake true. He should not rely on his superiors.


    Not for something like this.


    Very well.


    Ekrazu would be the first to join him on this hunt. The Child of Imagined Will had insulted him. As had the lion-maned mockery who was his rival. Two prey items.


    Without another molded word, Gandu pounced. For there were no words to be shared, not for the hunt. All of what was to come would be natural.


    ***


    Kathen held the Dyriptium Karn, rifling through the pages as he walked. Merry buzzed in the back of his head, keeping an eye out for Almogra. They were on the edge of the campgrounds, the forest yawning beside them, dark and foreboding, but with just enough mystery to make it enticing.


    ¡°I think we''ve avoided her,¡± Merry said, ¡°But you might want to steer clear of the camp for a little while. She''s going to be pissed.¡±


    ¡°Probably a good idea,¡± Kathen said, and he felt a rumble of guilt in his chest, ¡°Man, I''m not going to hear the end of it, am I?¡±


    ¡°Totally,¡± Merry said, ¡°Just imagine, the latrines you''re going to have to clean.¡±


    ¡°You''ll be with me, right?¡±


    ¡°Me?¡± Merry said, ¡°Nah, I''ve got better things to do.¡±


    ¡°Asshole,¡± Kathen said, and he found himself chuckling. He didn''t care about the consequences. Or that Almogra would be lecturing him for hours when she at least caught him. Or that he would have to endure Valm''s disappointed ¨C if proud ¨C glances.


    He tried not to remember Antular''s words. About going down the river at some point. That things came to an end. That all things die, and that was that.


    ¡°Well, maybe that''s true,¡± Kathen said, ¡°But that doesn''t mean you can''t go down fighting.¡±


    ¡°What was that?¡± Merry asked.


    ¡°Nothing,¡± Kathen said, ¡°Just talking to myself.¡±


    ¡°Like a weirdo,¡± Merry said, ¡°Or a... Kate! On your right!¡±


    Kathen spun. No one in front of him, his eyes glanced up--


    The metahuman.


    Joseph Zheng slammed into Kathen, snarling and biting like a rabid wolf, the two of them tumbling into the ground. Kathen''s world was one of pain as he kicked and punched, trying to push the metahuman off of him, finally managing to shove the animal off of him, rolling to his feet. He had scored a good hit on Joseph Zheng''s face, a red welt blossoming on the metahuman¡¯s face that would evolve into a black eye in a couple days.


    Somehow, Kathen had held onto the book. He grimaced as he glanced down at it.


    ¡°You almost broke the book, asshole!¡± he snarled.


    ¡°Then fucking let go!¡± Joseph Zheng roared. That soul of his roared and sprang forward, a chained beast that Kathen ducked beneath, rushing towards Joseph Zheng proper. The metahuman glared as Kathen made his attack, a solid right to the jaw that left him stumbling back, the soul collapsing away-


    No, it was Joseph Zheng''s way of returning the eagle back to him, as he raised up his fists and gave a dark smile. Kathen danced around him for a moment, always making sure to keep himself between Joseph Zheng and the book, which he tossed behind him. The Dyriptium of Karn thumped into the grass as Kathen took a deep breath.


    Joseph Zheng''s soul manifested, hovering over him as though it were an exorcised demon. Its claws crackled, curved like scythes, but then they closed into fists that it raised up in a semblance of a boxer''s dance. Clubs, then, cinder blocks affixed to arms like chlorosteel rope. Kathen would need to be slippery.


    For a moment, the two squared off against one another, gauging the other''s defenses.


    Then, Joseph Zheng made the first move, the soul''s fists arcing to either side. Kathen rushed into the bird''s grasp, feeling the wind whip past his back as the closed talons flew behind him. The eagle''s beak struck down, biting and snapping. Kathen spun in time with its movements, noting how the eyes seemed to glare at him, fully open and aware of everything.


    Actual eyes.


    Kathen closed on Joseph Zheng''s organic form, still spinning as he punched at Joseph, who deflected each shot with his upraised arms. He had learned, however, as he raised up a leg to block Kathen''s low kick, returning it with a solid left hook in return. Kathen¡¯s vision danced as the fist connected with the side of his head, and he stumbled back.


    No more going for the legs. This boxer wasn''t stupid-


    Joseph Zheng¡¯s next shot was from the eagle, which backhanded Kathen, fist colliding with his stomach and bodily throwing him through the air. Kathen landed, hard, wheezing and sputtering. He grimaced as he pulled himself to his feet.


    But no, he couldn''t let that be the deciding hit. Kathen blinked as he re-centered himself. He couldn''t win in a straight-up brawl, not like this. Joseph Zheng''s eagle was already making for another strike, a fist rocketing towards him. It didn''t need sharpened claws to break him.


    But Kathen waltzed with the blow, moving in time with the shot as it rocketed past him. With a flip, he was running along the soul''s arm, climbing it, using it as nothing more than a foothold as he jumped to the level of the eagle''s eye.


    His kick was strong. His kick was true. It slammed directly into the soul''s oculars, and Joseph Zheng let out a sudden roar of pain, all momentum lost, one of the eagle''s great, taloned hands coming up to clutch its wounded eye.


    Kathen hit the ground running, grabbing the Dyriptium of Karn and taking off.


    ***


    There was, Joseph realized, levels of iced pain that reverberated back from his soul. Many strikes to his soul were delayed, the longest thundering back to his body a few seconds after the actual blow had struck the eagle.


    But not the eye. That had been instant. Overwhelming. Like a brain freeze intensified into a blizzard, his entire body shook and numbed from the agony. He was aware, distantly, that the lion-haired man was running off, the Dyriptium of Karn in hand. He was disappearing into the forest, leaving InterGuild behind entirely.


    There wasn''t any time to think. Joseph stumbled forward after him.


    The forest swallowed him completely. Joseph found himself panicking a bit, the way that all of the light disappeared completely, leaving him in utter, stark-raving darkness. He went a few steps forward, before murmuring a ¡°Fuck this,¡± and lighting his hand up, caking it in an azure claw. Cobalt light danced around him as he walked, striping the trees and painting them blue. Many of them were oaks, but in between he could see bookshelves, the contents having long ago been scavenged away, leaving lonely, empty racks. This place hardly felt natural. But according to anyone and everyone, it was.


    The multiverse was weird.


    The pain receding to a more manageable level, Joseph began to jog. He could see the lion-haired man''s footprints stamping into the soft, muddy dirt. They snaked deeper and deeper into the wood. Perhaps he had a ship that would take him off-plane. Maybe he was just panicking, unsure of what direction to go. But Joseph could track him, no matter where he went.


    He needed that book.


    So he went on.


    ***


    The place became darker as Kathen went, and he cursed himself for not bringing any night vision contacts with him. Merry was his guide as he ventured into the wood, and the AI made sure to keep him in the areas that had been mapped out by past explorers. Nonetheless, his footsteps became more uncertain, and he found himself stumbling on occasion, tripping over the roots of the trees ''round.


    ¡°Merry,¡± Kathen said, ¡°I think that''s far enough.¡±


    ¡°I think so, too,¡± Merry said, ¡°Okay, let''s take a moment to stop.¡±


    He relaxed, reaching out and feeling for an oak, which he then slumped against, his heart still hammering. Exhaustion settled into his bones as the adrenaline''s rush turned into a quiet pump, a warning in the back of his mind of any danger. Metahumans were tricky bastards. Relentless, too. There was no doubt that Joseph Zheng would be coming after him.


    ¡°Merry,¡± he said, ¡°Keep up a sensor sweep around me, yeah?¡±


    ¡°Duh,¡± Merry said, ¡°No one''s around you. No one here but us.¡±


    ¡°God, that''s what I like to hear,¡± he found himself slumping down, ¡°That was... a lot.¡±


    ¡°Reminds me of that metahuman terrorist you fought on Randaya III, remember that?¡±If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    ¡°The one who could re-direct plasma?¡±


    ¡°That you ended up just running him down with a shuttle, yeah.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I remember,¡± Kathen said. He closed his eyes, ¡°I try not to. Please don''t bring stuff like that up.¡±


    ¡°Oh. Sorry, Kate.¡±


    ¡°It''s fine, just...¡± he took a shaky breath, ¡°I don''t like fighting metahumans, you know?¡±


    Old Scar''s words played in his head.


    ¡°So people like us, we can''t afford to slip up, or rest on our laurels. We have to be at our best, our most ruthless, our most tenacious, at all times. If you slip even once, you''re finished. That''s it. The galaxy''s a dangerous place, the multiverse even more so.¡±


    He remembered every word. Hung onto them, as he hung onto every piece of wisdom Old Scar extolled. He liked to think he had given it his best, back there. He had hung on, and given Joseph Zheng a fair shot to the eye that he wouldn''t soon forget.


    But he could not forget the dull pain in his stomach from that eagle¡¯s attack.


    ¡°So, um,¡± Merry said, ¡°Are we just going to sit out here?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I think so,¡± Kathen said. He squinted, trying to make out the Dyriptium of Karn in the darkness. It felt heavy. Solid. As sure as life itself.


    ¡°Because we could always head back,¡± Merry said.


    ¡°No, the sooner we head back, the sooner Almogra finds me, and tears me a new one,¡± Kathen said, ¡°Look, I did everything I needed to do here. I don''t mind waiting out the rest of InterGuild in the woods. I''ll be like a hermit.¡±


    ¡°I mean, it''s InterGuild, Kate,¡± Merry said, ¡°You don''t have to go to it for just one thing. You can make new contacts. Learn new things. Maybe buy yourself a cool plasma rifle, or something.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Kathen said.


    ¡°Almogra probably isn''t going to put you in time out for the rest of the event,¡± Merry said, ¡°She''ll yell at you, sure, and then go on about duty and responsibility, and then tomorrow you can go out and do whatever.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Kathen said, ¡°But I don''t-¡±


    ¡°If you say ''I don''t care,'' I''m going to shut down your cerebrum.¡±


    Kathen snorted.


    ¡°So that''s that, then,¡± Kathen said, ¡°I have the book. That''s all I need.¡±


    ¡°And you''re sure what''s in there will save Antular?¡±


    Kathen sighed. Felt his heart fall for a few moments at the what-ifs and worst case scenarios and the nightmares of a grayer future.


    ¡°God,¡± he said, ¡°I hope so.¡±


    ***


    The footprints became more unsteady as Joseph went, as though the lion-haired man had begun to stumble here and there. At some parts, he would loop around, creating a muddy patchwork that Joseph had to puzzle out, though he would inevitably pick up the trail once more, and continue forth.


    As he got closer, he realized just how obvious it was he was following his rival. Even if only his soul''s hand was manifested, its light was still enough that he shone like an azure sun, a bright spot in the otherwise dark glare of the forest.


    He let the light cease, extinguishing it as he took a deep breath and closed his eyes. It was much harder to see now. His eyes were accustomed to the bright blue of the soul, not the absolute night of the forest. He couldn''t even see his hand in front of his face.


    He would need to be careful, now. Pursue his target using as little light as possible, so as to not reveal his position.


    He waited for his eyes to adjust, but even with that, it was still far too dark out.


    So Joseph did something he had practiced a bit recently. He gritted his teeth as he slowly choked out the circuit as it ran, feeling it become tighter and more constrained as it grew smaller and smaller, a metaphorical squeezing of the tube that his soul racketed around when it was charging up power. For larger parts of the soul, like the claws or the head, it had become simple. As easy as relaxing or clenching a muscle.


    This specific, though, this direct? This small little sliver? Joseph''s entire body shook with the effort, every muscle tensing and burning cold as he unleashed the eyes, which clouded over his own like a pair of contact lenses. The light was so intense that he needed to shut his human eyes, for it was like staring at the sun. But he could see through the soul''s, and his vision sharpened the darkness, cast it in a more subtle glow.


    The lion-haired man would still be able to see him coming. But perhaps not as soon. A fair trade-off, he supposed.


    He crept in the shadows, a flightless hawk chasing its prey in the thickets.


    ***


    ¡°Kathen,¡± Merry said, ¡°Wake up.¡±


    He had dozed. But he could afford to. Kathen blearily opened his eyes, his head pounding a bit.


    ¡°Trouble?¡± he said.


    ¡°Not yet,¡± Merry said, ¡°But we''re not alone.¡±


    Indeed, fireflies had begun to meander around him, balls of soft light that glowed in the night like miniature stars. Kathen slowly drew to his feet, watching them curl and float in the air lazily, as though they were drunk. He reached out a nervous hand, drawing one in, its thin legs tickling his palm, its abdomen glowing and flashing.


    ¡°I be careful, I were you,¡± a voice said beside him.


    Kathen turned. The voice''s owner came from another firefly, this one the size of a large dog, keeping his own light extinguished as he slowly drew closed, his carapace shiny in the dim light that his brethren created around him. In his front legs he held a walking stick, from which hung a sack full of books, two large and heavy-looking tomes together with a bundle of magazines.


    ¡°The children, they like new folk,¡± the large firefly said, ¡°You let one of ''em poke at you...¡±


    More fireflies began drawing close to Kathen, landing on his shirt, his neck, a few in his hair, where they nestled.


    ¡°I see,¡± Kathen said, ¡°Sorry to bother you.¡±


    ¡°Ah, it be no bother,¡± the large firefly said, ¡°That''s just how it be, an'' all. Just glad to have company, an'' all.


    Kathen chuckled a bit at that. He stretched a bit.


    ¡°I see you have a book,¡± the firefly said, ¡°Which one?¡±


    ¡°Oh, ah,¡± Kathen looked down at it, ¡°Just an encyclopedia of a squall.¡±


    ¡°Ah, good, ah good,¡± the firefly said, ¡°Good to have the information. Hope you didn''t get it from here.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Kathen said, ¡°I bought it at a bookstore,¡±


    ¡°Ah, bad, ah bad,¡± the firefly said, ¡°Books, they be knowledge. No point sellin'' it, an'' all. No, more folk ought to be like ol'' Haorando, look for the books themselves, search an'' sniff an'' dream.¡±


    ¡°That''s what you do?¡± Kathen said.


    ¡°Ol'' Haorando, I be,¡± the firefly said, ¡°I been searchin'' and scourin'' this wood for a while now, an'' all.¡±


    ¡°That''s... Wow,¡± Kathen said, ¡°You and all your children?¡±


    ¡°Oh, I just call ''em that,¡± Haorando said, ¡°Brought ''em with me for company, while I go an'' hunt for books and sort through the shelves. They like to eat the leaves of the trees, or hunt after aphids.¡±


    ¡°Aphids?¡± Kathen said.


    ¡°Whole lot of ''em,¡± Haorando said, ¡°They be brought in from off-plane, an'' all. By travelin'' folk. Guilds, an'' all.¡±


    The firefly tilted his head a bit.


    ¡°Yous a guild?¡±


    ¡°I am,¡± Kathen said, ¡°Pagan Chorus, have you heard of them?¡±


    ¡°I hear a lot of guilds,¡± Haorando said, ¡°In the books. I bet I look, I bet I find you.¡±


    ¡°I would bet,¡± Kathen said, ¡°Nothing good, I hope.¡±


    ¡°Ah, you seem like a fine sort,¡± Haorando said, ¡°Some guilds, now, they be bad, act like animals, an'' all...¡±


    ¡°Kathen,¡± Merry whispered, ¡°Behind us.¡±


    Kathen turned.


    And there he was, stalking towards him. His eyes glowed blue in the darkness, piercing through the veil of night, looking for all the world like a wolf. Like a demon.


    ¡°Best you leave, friend,¡± Kathen said, ¡°You and yours.¡±


    Haorando turned, looking out towards the approaching Joseph Zheng.


    ¡°I hide, I do,¡± he said, ¡°Be careful with the shelves, I just sorted.¡±


    ¡°Will do,¡± Kathen said. He drew out his pistol, feeling his heart both fall and become solid at that weight in his hand. If the metahuman meant Haorando harm...


    Well, he wouldn''t do anything like that. Kathen stepped forward.


    ***


    There was another by the lion-haired man''s side. A massive firefly, by the looks of it, clutching a cane in hand and channeling the energy of an old man. Already the firefly was leaving, slowly weaving his way into the darkness. Joseph grimaced. He had wanted this to be an ambush, a sudden assault like when he had tackled the lion-haired man from above. But the firefly had stopped that ¨C he couldn''t risk harming him, if he wasn''t involved. Or maybe he was one of the guildmates of the lion-haired, and was now tottering away with the Dyriptium of Karn while Joseph was occupied with the coming fight.


    But no, the Dyriptium of Karn was still in the lion-haired man''s hand. He was walking to the side, surreptitiously placing the book on a shelf behind him, plasma pistol in hand. It was a shiny thing, gleaming in the blue light, freshly polished.


    There would be no quarter, then.


    Joseph nodded at that. Something danced in the lion-haired man''s eyes, as they exchanged quiet communication.


    And then Joseph winked out the light. Let the world plunge into black once more. He could see the lion-haired man raise the pistol..


    And gasp, as Joseph''s soul plunged out of his back, whole and ready, the entire forest flashing in a brilliant blaze of blue. The lion-haired man averted his eyes, the plasma bolt going awry as Joseph charged forward, using the momentary blindness to his advantage. The soul''s fist sailed  at the lion-haired man, who ducked at the last moment. Cold feedback reverbed from the fist, rushing into Joseph''s body as the shelf behind the lion-haired man cracked and fell. The roots of a shelf tree were not deep, not used to the rigors of wear and weather.


    The book was there. Joseph took note of that as he slid the soul along his arm, the eagle continuing to batter and swing at the lion-haired man. Joseph, meanwhile, ran to grab the book.


    The lion-haired man was bobbing and weaving, acting like a river against a stone, flowing around each blow, his entire body a wave of motion that reminded Joseph of Contort. But he wasn''t collapsing his body like Contort was, wasn''t cheating his way out of a shot. He knew of a boxer''s primary punches, knew how to bend around them, how to anticipate them. He was well-trained.


    Joseph''s hand brushed against the Dyriptium of Karn.


    And the lion-haired man pounced, ducking under a swipe and rushing towards Joseph proper, practically leaping as he rammed a knee into Joseph''s ribs. Joseph gasped, arms flailing out to block the next few strikes, pain racking up and down his side. The two of them stumbled for a moment as they tripped over the fallen remains of the bookshelf, falling to the ground once more.


    Joseph''s soul hung over them as they tussled, a phantom. Its great arms reached down and grabbed hold of the lion-haired man, tossing him away. The lion-haired man hit the ground hard, though he rolled and jumped back up to his feet.


    Joseph stood up, book in hand. It had been damaged a bit by the fall, by their wrestling, a few pages bent backwards, the back cover revealing an awful crack. He grimaced as he looked down at it, before looking back up at the lion-haired man.


    Who remained standing, dancing in place, his legs like whips as they shifted back and forth. His face was set in a determined glare, one that Joseph returned. His side hurt ¨C that knee had done a lot of damage, probably a broken rib. Bruised, at the very least. But his breathing was fine, if painful. He could work through that.


    The man still had his gun. He hadn''t had a chance to use it in their fight, but it was still a factor. If it hit the soul, Joseph would be fine. His soul had withstood plasma fire before. Even now, he shifted the way he carried himself, letting the soul engulf him, its great arms moving in front of him in a shield wall.


    ***


    Kathen had broken Joseph Zheng''s ribs. Or bruised them, at the very least. Whatever the case, the metahuman was carrying himself differently. Breathing slower and deeper to help alleviate the potential symptoms, if it came to that. This metahuman was smart.


    And he wasn''t giving in. Kathen grimaced. Usually most people would tap out after a shot like that. But no, Joseph Zheng''s soul was putting its great arms around him, protecting him. Probably could deflect plasma bolts, the way the soul blanketed him with complete confidence.


    No plasma, then. No pistols, unless he got in really close, practically point-blank. And at that point, this fight would be a fatal one.


    But then, with metahumans, it was always fatal. They went for the throat, because that was all they knew.


    Kathen whipped forward, dancing a bit as the soul rose up to meet him. He dodged past the first swipe, noting how calculated it was, how precise, for as soon as it was extended the arm pulled back as though on a leash. Joseph was lucky ¨C he only had to use the soul''s arms, if he felt anything at all using them. Kathen tumbled, twisted, leaped, and jumped. All of his classes as a gymnast, all of those lessons with Ivandorav, came rushing back to him at once as he dodged each shot, getting closer and closer to Joseph Zheng with each pass.


    Until he was in range. At this point, Joseph was moving back, his steps careful and controlled, his entire face contorted in pain from his broken rib. He could only move his organic form so much, though, his soul doing the most of the work. But its arms were long, and as Kathen closed Joseph Zheng was finding that he wouldn''t have time to adapt to the shorter range.


    Kathen pointed his pistol.


    The soul collapsed as Joseph charged forward suddenly. The false, azure day disappeared. Kathen''s world was black, only lighting for a second with the heavy dun of his plasma pistol''s muzzle flash, the searing ball of green trailing off into the wood.


    A trap.


    For a moment, all was dark, as realization of what Joseph Zheng had just done hit Kathen like a hammer.


    He had control of the light.


    He had control of it, and could snuff it out-


    And Joseph Zheng tackled him, a full on bear hug that sent Kathen slamming into the ground. Before Kathen could react, before he could begin biting, and kicking, and kneeing, the world lit up once more. He saw Joseph Zheng''s face in the blue glow of the eagle''s fist, a defiant look on his face.


    And then the fist came rocketing down. Once. Twice.


    Kathen blacked out after the third strike.


    ***


    The lion-haired man had a chin, that was for sure. The soul was easily stronger than Joseph, its fists like wrecking balls. Joseph stopped after the third strike, seeing the lights dim in the lion-haired man''s eyes.


    With a wheeze, Joseph rolled over, breathing heavily. Weariness ate into his bones, and he took the chance to simply lie there, feeling the cool grass against the back of his head, the palms of his hands, pricking the nape of his neck. His breathing came out ragged and hollow, but it was good at least.


    ¡°K-Kathen?¡±


    There was a light voice beside him. Joseph turned his head. Materializing out of the lion-haired man''s head was a hologram ¨C or at least, Joseph thought it was a hologram. A multi-armed,, spider-like creature. Bright green. She skittered over the lion-haired man''s form, a worried look on her face.


    ¡°K-Kate?¡±


    There was panic in her voice. Joseph¡¯s heart dropped.


    ¡°Is...¡± Joseph''s voice was a whisper, ¡°Is he alright?¡±


    The hologram turned to him, a dark look on her face.


    ¡°No, he''s not alright, you izat. You''ve broken his nose! He''s got welts all over his face, oh dear...¡±


    ¡°Is he,¡± Joseph found himself panicking a bit, ¡°Is he alive?¡±


    The hologram blinked, then looked down at the lion-haired man''s form.


    ¡°Yes, he''s alive,¡± she said, ¡°He''ll be... okay. I think.¡±


    ¡°I''ve got,¡± Joseph sat up, wincing a bit at his rib, ¡°Medical attention, does he need that?¡±


    ¡°Do you have any first aid?¡± the hologram asked.


    ¡°I don''t, but I can get help,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°...No,¡± the hologram said, ¡°I''ll send up an emergency beacon. Our guildmates will be able to attend to him.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Okay.¡±


    He looked at the lion-haired man''s ¨C Kathen''s ¨C face.


    ¡°Sorry,¡± he said.


    ¡°You''d better be.¡±


    ¡°Really, I am.¡±


    The hologram stopped, glancing up to him. She studied his face for a long time.


    ¡°What''s your deal?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Sorry?¡±


    ¡°Your deal,¡± the hologram said, ¡°You just broke another man''s face in, all over a book, and the first thing you do when you come to is ask if he needs help. Ask if you killed him.¡±


    ¡°I''m not a monster,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I need the book to get home. That''s it. I...¡±


    He sighed as he rose to his feet, rubbing his hand against his ribs. Yes, definitely broken.


    ¡°The first time I went meta,¡± he said to the hologram, ¡°The first time I went on a job as a full metahuman, I killed someone. My soul has claws, and they... They sliced right through, you know?¡±


    He saw the hologram wince.


    ¡°Ever since then, I prefer to use fists,¡± Joseph said, ¡°So I don''t cut. I don''t tear. Keep it all internal, if that could help.¡±


    ¡°So what you''re saying is, Kate should be lucky you didn''t slice him to bits.¡±


    ¡°I''m saying,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Is... I don''t like to do shit like that, alright? Killing people, I mean. It gives me bad dreams.¡±


    He sighed.


    ¡°Look,¡± he said, ¡°Tell this... Kathen, that I''m sorry. That it had to go down like that. If he wants, he can contact my guild for his medical bill, or something. Amber Foundation.¡±


    The hologram gave a hesitant nod.


    ¡°That''s... noble, of you,¡± she said, ¡°Others would have left.¡±


    ¡°Well, I''m not ''others,''¡± Joseph replied.


    ¡°He was going to kill you.¡±


    Joseph felt a shiver go up his spine at that.


    ¡°I know,¡± he said, ¡°You don''t just take out a pistol like that. There''s...¡±


    Urash''s words came back to him. About the Law of InterGuild. Strength vs. Strength, where only the strong ruled.


    ¡°There''s skin in the game for you guys, isn''t there? And that means if I want the book, there''s skin in it for me, too.¡±


    He looked at the Dyriptium of Karn. There was a bit more damage to it, after that tackle. Hopefully Bulg would accept that.


    ¡°I''ll be seeing you,¡± Joseph said, ¡°...Stay safe, alright?¡±


    The hologram was quiet. After another awkward, pained moment, Joseph turned and began stumbling out of the forest, his soul arcing over him to light the way.

 73. To Rage Against the Night

    Rosemary had spent the last few days with Sunala.


    She had spent the first night aboard the Gil-Galad. Talking with Sunala about Elven history and culture. Listened to the music sing on and on. The Enil-galdrim Marching Song came to a close, as a full twenty-one guilds gathered together in one place. Or, at least, parts of guilds, standards still raised on high, but some of the flags only had one or two tents by their flags. Only the elves of those guilds, who had come together to this place, wooed by the marching song as though they were moths to a flame. It had called them, she realized, a common song for all elves to gather under.


    But only elves.


    As time went on, the talks became less about elves of before and more about the elves of today. Sunala and Rosemary spent the second day of InterGuild watching them, observing them from the deck of the Gil-Galad.


    ¡°Look, Rosemary,¡± Sunala said, ¡°All of us, a scattered people.¡±


    ¡°There''s so many,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°But not under one banner,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Not anymore.¡±


    ¡°From what we''ve been talking about, it seems like they never have been,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Not like the metahumans. Elves have always had their separate nations, apart from each other.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Perhaps. But still, we are... lesser, now. The elves used to rule the multiverse, Rosemary. Long before the Silver Eye ventured out into the multiverse, the elves were the monarchs of reality. Entire planes of existence, ruled by elves, with nothing but elves within.¡±


    There was something in her voice. Something... strange. As though she were about to reveal a closely held secret.


    ¡°We were a great people, once,¡± Sunala said, ¡°But not anymore.¡±


    She gestured towards the gathering. Of elves in tents, repairing weapons, laughing and jeering at jokes while babbling in Elven languages, sculpting magic pioneered by Elven magicians.


    ¡°This is but a microcosm of what we can be, again,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Imagine the scenes before you, spread across the multiverse. This scene on every world. On every plane, our kind.¡±


    ¡°A place for elves,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Even for someone... someone who isn''t?¡±


    Sunala gave her that kind smile, her hand reaching for Rosemary¡¯s cheek. Caressing it. Rosemary felt herself become warm.


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Some of us are... suspicious, of outsiders such as you.¡±


    ¡°Like Adonal Adaya,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°He is a purist,¡± Sunala said, ¡°To be an elf, one must have Elven blood within their veins, the more the better. The purest of blood are the most divine.¡±


    Rosemary''s heart fell.


    ¡°...And you?¡±


    ¡°I am not quite so... strict,¡± Sunala said, ¡°As long as you follow our ways, speak our language, and live our culture, you are Elven. You recognize that we are a higher race, and attempt to ape our greatness. Some like Adaya would hate you for this. But I¡­ I admire you, Rosemary. You have worked very hard, Rosemary. Very hard indeed. I cannot help but love your tenacity.¡±


    Love.


    That was what Rosemary heard. The middle of the sentence. Something no one had told her before. That they loved part of her. Not with such sincerity. Not with such gentleness.


    ¡°What do I...¡± she whispered, ¡°What happens now?¡±


    ¡°Now,¡± Sunala said, ¡°We wait for the clock to strike midnight. For when it does, we shall gather, and the song of Enil-galdrim will play in our hearts as a thundering war.¡±


    ***


    The first thing Kathen felt was the liquid, smelling and tasting of honey, or tree sap, deluging over his face.


    The second was the pain, a dull, throbbing in his nose that warned of far worse agony if he thought on it for too long. The honey being poured over him was blunting his senses, stealing the pain away, suffocating it beneath its viscous mass. He opened his eyes.


    Haorando stood over him, the firefly''s antennae twitching a bit in the dusk of his children''s light. Beside him was Merry, who was looking worriedly down at Kathen. She was in her Delluran Avatar form, her four arms frittering nervously.


    ¡°K-Kate?¡± her voice was a whisper, ¡°Are you alright?¡±


    ¡°Ah, girl of light,¡± Haorando said, ¡°Give ''im time, catch his breath, catch his wits, an'' all.¡±


    She looked completely lost as she nodded, all eight of her holographic eyes slit with worry. Kathen, despite himself, had to smile at that. He opened his mouth, which was caked with honey and dried blood.


    ¡°You... You do care.¡±


    ¡°Sh-shut it!¡± Merry snapped, ¡°Just shut up! You stupid, egotistical oaf!¡±


    Kate''s smile fell as he noted how her voice, synthetic as it was, was breaking.


    ¡°That bad, huh?¡± he said.


    ¡°I seen worse, I have,¡± Haorando said.


    ¡°You should have seen the look in that metahuman''s eyes,¡± Merry said.


    ¡°I did,¡± Kathen said, ¡°Right before, you know, all that.¡±


    ¡°Like an animal''s,¡± Merry said, ¡°So vicious, so victorious.¡±


    ¡°I can''t blame him,¡± Kathen said, ¡°Fighting''s primal. We''re like... beasts.¡±


    The pain was receding. Kathen made to rise, but Haorando''s front legs pushed him down.


    ¡°Ah, you be lyin'' down,¡± the firefly said, ¡°Rest for another moment, now. My magic potion, it be workin'' your way into your body, an'' all. Doesn''t take a few seconds.¡±


    The book. Kathen''s heart fell.


    ¡°Fine,¡± he said. He rested his head against the damp earth, grass tickling at his ears, ¡°Merry, the metahuman, he took the book?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Merry said, ¡°Look, Kate, maybe it''s not worth it.¡±


    ¡°Not worth it?¡± Kathen''s voice was quiet. He could feel anger welling in his chest.


    ¡°Joseph Zheng did a number on you,¡± Merry said, ¡°I don''t want you to die. Antular wouldn''t want you to go hurting yourself either-¡±


    ¡°Damn Antular!¡±


    The AI flinched. Kathen stood up, knocking Haorando''s legs away.


    ¡°I''m here because of Antular!¡± Kathen snarled, ¡°To save him! I''m not just... just going to lie down and let him go! He means too much to me for that! If he goes, he goes raging against the night!¡±


    ¡°But Antular-¡±


    ¡°I don''t care!¡±


    And Kathen rose to his feet, his hands balled into fists, feeling his entire body shaking. The pain was coming back, a ferocious roaring in his nose, which was definitely broken. Maybe a bit more than that. But he was glad. The pain meant he was alive, that there were things worth fighting for.


    Merry was retreating back, trying to make herself feel small, seemingly pinned beneath Kathen''s glare. He hated it when she did that.


    Hated, a bit, that he was taking his anger out on her. Kathen''s shoulders sagged.


    There were things worth fighting for, but it wasn''t worth hurting her. Not when it was outside of her control.


    ¡°I just don''t want to lose him,¡± Kathen whispered, ¡°I''m sorry, Merry. I shouldn''t have yelled.¡±


    He reached down, offering the AI a hand. After a moment, Merry took it, dissolving into his palm, re-entering his implant.


    ¡°Sorry to you, too,¡± Kathen said to Haorando, ¡°You didn''t have to do that, with the potion. You could have just left me there.¡±


    ¡°Ah, you bein'' hurt, an'' all,¡± Haorando said, ¡°Can''t abide by that. That Joseph Zheng, he be a cruel one. Ruined my shelf, he did.¡±


    The firefly pointed with his stick at the knocked-down shelf, which the metahuman had smashed during the battle. Books had flown every which way, and now they lay scattered on the ground. Kathen nodded.


    ¡°My fault, too,¡± he said, ¡°I should have walked away as soon as I saw you. Shouldn''t have involved you in all that. You... You were using it, weren''t you?¡±


    ¡°To store a few of my books, yes,¡± Haorando said, ¡°But never you mind, never you think. Can find a new shelf...¡±


    Kathen moved over to the shelf, considered the damage.


    ¡°I can push it back up,¡± he said.


    ¡°Kate, no,¡± Merry said, ¡°Your injuries-¡±


    ¡°Joseph Zheng broke my face, not my arms,¡± Kathen said, ¡°Not my legs.¡±


    He surveyed the broken shelf for a few moments, taking it in, running through his head the best position to take. Then, he knelt down, fingers wrapping up against the shelf''s edge. The muscles in his arm bulged as he began to lift.


    ¡°Don''t have to be doin'' that,¡± the firefly said, ¡°Haorando, he can go findin'' another shelf.¡±


    But Kathen didn''t answer, his jaw set and a vein popping in his head as he lifted the shelf back up. God, it was heavier than it looked. But he managed to get the shelf propped up enough that he could put his body against it, twisting ¡®round so he had his back against it, his shoulder blades stabbing into the shelf as he pushed. The shelf, once more, stood upright. Its middle shelves had been smashed by Joseph Zheng''s fist, and many of the roots had snapped as it had fallen.


    But it could be used. Could have books on it, once more.


    Kathen looked around.


    ¡°Okay,¡± he said, ¡°Let''s gather the books.¡±


    ¡°You don''t be needin''-¡±


    ¡°I don''t care,¡± Kathen said, ¡°Sorry, that came out wrong. I mean, I''m going to help you put this back together, best I can. We can salvage what''s left. It''s the least I can do.¡±


    The firefly was quiet at that, an antenna twitching. Kathen began gathering up the books scattered on the forest floor and handed them to the firefly. Haorando, after a few moments, began taking them in hand, re-sorting them back onto the shelf.


    It was a job that took a few minutes. Time that could have been spent recovering. Licking wounds. Beginning the hunt once more, what was quickly becoming more than a game for the Dyriptium of Karn.


    But Kathen instead worked to retrieve all of the books. Helped Haorando sort them, reached up to the higher shelves for the firefly, where he stored a few of the books he didn''t like.


    ¡°I don''t like them, but some folk do,¡± Haorando explained, ¡°So I keep them, in case folks be wantin'' them.¡±


    ¡°But you have them high up so you don''t have to see them,¡± Kathen said, smiling.


    ¡°Exactly. Great minds, they be thinkin'' alike,¡± Haorando let out a chittering laugh, ¡°You get it, Kate.¡±


    The entire time, Merry took stock of Kathen''s physical condition. He ignored her, working to put the books back, because none of what she was saying was good. His nose was busted. His body was exhausted. He hadn''t eaten in hours. Hadn''t had any water. He was, as she put it, on fumes.


    ¡°Kate,¡± Merry said, ¡°I... I want to say it again, alright? Please don''t get mad.¡±


    ¡°I won''t,¡± Kathen said.


    ¡°You''re in no shape to fight Joseph Zheng again.¡±


    ¡°I know.¡±


    He and Haorando finished putting the last book up on the shelf. Then, Kathen turned and walked over to pick up one last item off the ground.


    His plasma pistol.


    ¡°You''re still going through with this,¡± Merry said.


    ¡°I am.¡±


    ¡°Even though he could have killed you.¡±


    ¡°But he didn''t,¡± Kathen said, ¡°Did he?¡±


    He smiled.


    ¡°He didn''t,¡± Merry admitted, ¡°I talked to him. He sounded... civilized.¡±


    ¡°I''m sure he did,¡± Kathen said, ¡°Many of his kind are.¡±


    ¡°He said that he was... sorry. That we could talk to his guild about medical costs. The Amber Foundation, he said.¡±


    Amber Foundation. That guild with the talking head. The one with the rude metahuman ¨C Shimmer, Kathen remembered. Well, that explained a lot.


    He was quiet, as he holstered the pistol.


    ¡°So that''s it, then,¡± Haorando said, ¡°You''re goin'' for that book again.¡±


    ¡°I am,¡± Kathen said.


    ¡°Plenty of books around you.¡±


    ¡°But not the right one,¡± Kathen said.


    The firefly nodded sagely.


    ¡°You huntin'' for that there Joseph Zheng, eh?¡±


    ¡°I am,¡± Kathen said.


    ¡°You done me a good turn,¡± Haorando said, ¡°I be doin'' one for you, now.¡±


    ¡°You already did,¡± Kathen said.


    ¡°I saw a stranger on the road, decided to be the Good Samaritan,¡± Haorando said, ¡°There be no charge, healin'' someone. But I owe you, me an'' mine.¡±


    He gestured, and the smaller fireflies began to scatter.


    ¡°My children, they be knowin'' the wood,¡± Haorando said, ¡°They will guide you. Follow them, and they will see you true.¡±This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    ¡°I-¡± Kathen stammered, ¡°I- Thank you. I don''t know what to say.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Kate,¡± Haorando said, ¡°You did not have to do that. You could have left. Left ol'' Haorando an'' his books. But you didn''t. You did more than most folk do for me in a lifetime.¡±


    The fireflies began glimmering in the distance. Star-shaped guides in the dark night.


    ¡°You be followin'' them,¡± Haorando said, ¡°And quickly! Joseph Zheng is a hawk, swift and cunning. Best be watchin'' your step.¡±


    ¡°I will,¡± Kathen said, ¡°And thank you. Again.¡±


    He smiled, before moving off, following the trail of fireflies. Back to Joseph Zheng.


    ***


    Joseph''s walk was slow. Exhausted. His entire body ached from the effort of facing off against Kathen. His side throbbed, the broken rib still crying out for some sort of relief. But it would not come, as he stumbled out of the dark forest and into InterGuild. A few curious eyes looked his way, but for the most part people ignored him. Fights happened in the forest. Sometimes you went in with beef, sometimes you didn''t come out.


    He could hear music in the distance. Flutes and pipes and guitars and drums of all shapes, playing out a familiar tune. It was that marching song from when they first arrived at InterGuild, the Elven one. He wondered if Rosemary was around.


    He began walking closer to the sound of music. The source of the songs came from a campsite, a big one. Dozens of flags flying high, each one different, a miasma of color and symbol, indicating the various guilds that made up that gathering. He could see crowds of elves, moving in time to the music, bobbing and weaving. Fires had been lit, hot orange that blazed independent of wood or tinder. They merely floated in place, like specters.


    Joseph glanced an eye up. He could just barely make out the clock tower rising in the distance, though his vision sharpened as he let his soul''s eyes take a look. It was almost midnight, the two hands warned. Ten minutes to the hour.


    God, where had the time gone?


    It didn''t matter, he told himself. Time didn''t matter here. The guilds imposed time here as best they could, tried to force the Flyleaf Forest into something resembling what they called normalcy. But such a thing was impossible. The night was still dark. There were still no stars.


    Joseph found himself slumping up against a nearby wagon. His eyes shut as fresh pain washed over him.


    ¡°And what have we here?¡±


    He opened his eyes.


    Two elves, one in shining, silvery mail, impossibly thin and impossibly tall. The other was wearing plain leather armor and a dark blue cloak, a plasma scar marking her face, twin revolvers holstered at her hips. Both of them glared down at him.


    ¡°''Sup,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Indeed,¡± the elf with the revolvers said, ¡°I think you should leave, pal.¡±


    ¡°I''m...¡± Joseph grimaced, ¡°Give me a second, alright?¡±


    ¡°It''s approaching midnight,¡± the silver-mailed elf said, ¡°I wouldn''t want to be here when that happens.¡±


    The music in the campsite was becoming more wild. Delirious. Joseph noted the dark looks on the elves'' faces.


    ¡°You shouldn''t be here, outlander,¡± the elf with the revolvers drawled, and Joseph noted that she was brushing a lithe hand against one of the handles, ¡°Best you humans leave. There are events transpiring that are beyond your understanding.¡±


    Joseph glanced back at the campsite.


    ¡°Looks like a rave,¡± he said.


    The silver-mailed elf¡¯s eyelid twitched.


    ¡°Time for you to go,¡± the one with the revolvers said, ¡°Now.¡±


    ¡°Hey!¡±


    Rosemary hurried out of the campsite, her red cloak flowing behind her. She was wearing a new dress, a woven myriad of roses and lilacs, and her face was painted with a coat of blue. Joseph blinked at her.


    ¡°Hey, Rosemary,¡± he said.


    ¡°''Sup, Joe,¡± she said, before turning to the elves, ¡°Urya, let him be. He''s a friend.¡±


    ¡°He is not of our kind,¡± Urya said.


    ¡°I...¡± Rosemary''s eyes flickered between Joseph and the elves, ¡°Alright. Let me talk to him. I''ll make sure he doesn''t, um, get in.¡±


    Urya, the elf with the scar and the revolvers, glared at Rosemary. Then, she nodded.


    ¡°Very well,¡± she said. She and her companion walked back inside.


    Rosemary strode over to Joseph, hands snatching his cheeks as she looked him over.


    ¡°God, Joseph,¡± she said, ¡°Have you been in a fight?¡±


    ¡°Should see the other guy,¡± Joseph wheezed, ¡°Careful, ribs.¡±


    ¡°God!¡±


    She guided him over to a stump, easing him down carefully, hand searching for the broken rib.


    ¡°What''s going on in there?¡± Joseph asked, wincing a bit as she found the break.


    ¡°A... ritual,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Never mind that.¡±


    ¡°What''s with the paint on your face?¡±


    ¡°It''s a ritual, Joseph.¡±


    ¡°Ah, that would make sense.¡±


    ¡°Stay here,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°I''m going to see if I can''t get something for your rib. Give me a second.¡±


    She ran off for a second, heading back into the camp proper. Joseph watched the fires dance. The music continue. Some of the elves were howling, loud and unbridled, and he did not need his eagle''s vision to see their bestial eyes, the whites piercing through fire and shadow. Lady Sunala''s ship, the Gil-Galad, was moored at the edge of the encampment, its ivory hull painted orange by the sheer number of flames. It was almost as though the elves were trying to make their own version of the Inner Sun, imitating a star, trying to banish the dusk.


    Rosemary ran out of the campsite, stumbling over a few drunken revelers as she made her way back to Joseph. She clutched a pack in her hand, which she opened to reveal some leaves, which she began to mash into her hand.


    ¡°They almost didn''t let me take these,¡± she said, ¡°Said that it was for elves, and elves only.¡±


    ¡°Christ, did you see the way those two back there looked at me?¡± Joseph said, ¡°You¡¯ve been hanging around some assholes.¡±


    She was quiet for a moment. She bit her lip, casting a glance back at the campground. Then, she turned back ¡®round.


    ¡°Take your shirt off, Joe,¡± Rosemary said.


    He complied, his face going a bit red as he shrugged off his jacket and his shirt, wincing at the purple bruise around his ribs. Rosemary rubbed the crushed leaves on his wound, and a stinging overtook the throbbing. Joseph grit his teeth.


    ¡°The leaves trick the brain,¡± she said, ¡°They''ll slowly deal with most of the damage. But you should go back to the camp. Have Wakeling look at it.¡±


    ¡°Not yet,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Got to...¡±


    ¡°Got to what?¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Joe, I know that look. You want to avoid Wakeling, right?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°But Elenry isn''t here, so she''s the best shot for you to walk away without any lasting damage.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Joseph said, ¡°But...¡±


    He sighed. Rosemary rolled her eyes, standing back up. The din of the elves was only increasing, the marching song devolving into mere screaming instruments.


    ¡°What happened, Joseph?¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Who''d you get into a spat with?¡±


    Joseph, in reply, held up the Dyriptium of Karn.


    ¡°I met my contact,¡± he said, ¡°And, ah, well...¡±


    And he explained everything that had happened. Tek. Bulg. The bookstore. Kathen, and his own reasons for getting the book. Rosemary merely nodded as he went, and when he finished sighed, and looked away.


    ¡°Joseph,¡± she said, ¡°What you did to Tek? Not... Not cool.¡±


    ¡°He probably found someone else,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°And if he didn''t?¡±


    Joseph let out a huff.


    ¡°Yeah, no,¡± he said, ¡°But...¡±


    He sagged.


    ¡°Well, what''s up with you?¡± he asked, ¡°With Sunala.¡±


    ¡°She''s, um,¡± Rosemary turned to him, ¡°Well, I''m here.¡±


    She gestured towards the camp.


    ¡°Among the elves.¡±


    ¡°Your people, right?¡± Joseph said.


    He noted her eyes darted away from his face for a second.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± she said, her voice hollow, ¡°Yeah. I am. Sunala''s been teaching me about their- our history. She''s going on about all of these great Elven figures. How we lived in a golden age.¡±


    ¡°Sounds like Becenti, with Epochia,¡± Joseph said, smiling.


    ¡°It does, doesn''t it?¡± Rosemary said, ¡°You should hear her, Joseph. About the empires the elves built. The planes they conquered. How they-we, lost it all.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°How we''re going to get it back, one day.¡±


    Joseph looked up at her at that.


    ¡°How so?¡± she said.


    She gets that, sometimes. When she talks about the future.¡±


    The dancing continued. The cawings. The roars. It was a zoo, over there.


    ¡°How the elves will reclaim what''s theirs, and all will be well. It''s a paradise, Joseph.¡±


    There was a tremor in her voice. As though she were admitting something she shouldn¡¯t be saying. There was¡­


    ¡°I don''t know,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°But she sounded determined. Had a look in her eye, you know?¡±


    There was a fear to her.


    ¡°...And what happens to everyone else?¡± Joseph asked.


    Rosemary looked over.


    ¡°That''s what I was saying,¡± she said, ¡°I''m... I asked, what about people who... You know, aren''t elves. And she said that, so long as you look the part, you''re fine. Some of them use science to see if you''re an elf ¨C they measure your skull, and the like-¡±


    ¡°Sorry?¡±


    ¡°But as long as you speak their language, and wear their clothes, it would be fine-¡±


    Joseph was quiet at that. Rosemary realized she was rambling, trying to justify something to him. Her hands wringed at her cloak.


    ¡°Anyways, Joseph, you should go and apologize to Tek.¡±


    ¡°I...¡± Joseph sighed, ¡°Rosemary, are you even hearing yourself?¡±


    The wringing froze.


    ¡°Rosemary,¡± Joseph said, ¡°What has Sunala been telling you?¡±


    ¡°History,¡± she said, ¡°Elven history.¡±


    ¡°Reclaiming what''s theirs,¡± Joseph said, ¡°That you just have to act like an elf, and you''re fine.¡±


    He sighed, rubbing his ribs.


    ¡°What used to be theirs?¡± he asked.


    ¡°A lot,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°Other planes?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°And when did they conquer those planes?¡±


    ¡°They didn¡¯t conquer them,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°They colonized them. Settled there.¡±


    ¡°Like that changes things,¡± Joseph said. He had heard of that before.


    ¡°It was a long time ago,¡± Rosemary said. She looked like she was losing her patience, ¡°All of it, Joseph. It used to be theirs.¡±


    ¡°But it wasn''t, once upon a time, right?¡± Joseph said, ¡°Like Londoa.¡±


    ¡°I-¡± Rosemary said, ¡°You don''t understand, Joseph!¡±


    ¡°I wouldn''t want to live like an elf,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°And why not!¡± Rosemary snapped, ¡°It''s great! I''ve learned so much, about their- our history, our culture, the music we play, the clothes we wear, and-¡±


    ¡°And what happens to everything else?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°It doesn''t-¡± Rosemary grit her teeth, ¡°They''re there for me, Joseph! Sunala''s there for me! She said that she can''t help but love me, Joseph! No one''s ever told me that! No one''s been as kind as her, not to me!¡±


    ¡°Not even anyone in the guild?¡± Joseph shot back.


    Rosemary glared at him.


    ¡°Speak for yourself, Joe,¡± she said, ¡°You practically hate us.¡±


    ¡°Not true,¡± now Joseph was rising, ¡°Not true.¡±


    ¡°You lied to Tek. To his face. You didn''t even care about whatever he was doing.¡±


    ¡°I did care,¡± Joseph said, ¡°This isn''t about-¡±


    ¡°Then why''d you leave him, huh?¡± Rosemary said, ¡°And that other guy! He''s trying to save his friend! Trying to save a life! You''re killing someone, over a damn book!¡±


    Joseph felt like he had been sucker-punched. He took a step back, nearly tripped over the stump.


    ¡°That''s the...¡± Joseph said, ¡°That''s the Law of InterGuild. You know it. Nothing personal, right?¡±


    Rosemary was quiet.


    ¡°It''s all business,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Right?¡±


    ¡°Not like that,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Not like...¡±


    ¡°What''s the difference?¡± Joseph said, ¡°It''s like Urash said. When two guilds collide, the stronger one wins out.¡±


    ¡°Urash said that?¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°Yeah, he did.¡±


    ¡°Would you call him happy?¡± Rosemary said.


    The music quieted a bit. In the distance, a thin, gray-cloaked elf was leaning against the rail of the Gil-Galad. He was looking down upon the crowd, as though about to make a speech.


    ¡°Joseph,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Urash came to the guild a long time ago. Broon told me. He had a bad business venture, and his family... ''put him away,'' they called it. Out into the multiverse. He''ll never be able to go back.¡±


    She turned to Joseph.


    ¡°I''ve never seen him smile. Not really. Not one of the genuine ones.¡±


    Joseph sighed. He sat back down on the stump. Held the book in weary hands. Guilt mixed in his heart.


    ¡°I just want to go home, man,¡± he said.


    Rosemary didn''t answer.


    ¡°I just don''t feel like anyone''s really... I don''t know,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Like, everyone''s going on with their lives. They have their own goals. Their own dreams. We''re all just banded together because it''s convenient.¡±


    ¡°Joseph, that''s not true,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°After all of that spiel about Sunala, that''s all you can say?¡± Joseph said, ¡°Rosemary. Listen to yourself. Listen to what Sunala says. What''s she been telling you?¡±


    A spell of silence washed over the campfire, ending just at Joseph and Rosemary''s stump.


    ¡°Because if they want to reclaim what''s theirs,¡± Joseph said, ¡°And they know that people won''t take that lying down, what''s the logical conclusion?¡±


    She was silent.


    ¡°And if they conquer those places again, and people don¡¯t look like elves, what are they going to do? To the non-elves?¡±


    Rosemary did not answer. Joseph rose, wincing.


    ¡°I''m...¡± Joseph said, ¡°Maybe you''re right. About the book. Maybe I am killing someone. I don''t know. Urash said that whatever that Kathen guy was after was a long shot. But I''d do the same thing, in his place. Wouldn''t I?¡±


    ¡°Joseph,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°I''m sorry. For snapping at you like that.¡±


    ¡°You called me out,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I... Just, be careful, alright? Don''t fall in with the wrong crowd.¡±


    God, he sounded like his mom.


    He could walk. The pain stung, as opposed to pulse.


    ¡°I''m going back to camp,¡± Joseph said, ¡°To apologize to Tek. I''ll see you back there.¡±


    ¡°Right, Joe,¡± Rosemary said.


    She watched him go away. He was practically limping from pain and exhaustion. But she didn''t follow him. Instead, Rosemary turned back to the elves.


    And when she walked into the crowd, she heard Adonal Adaya''s speech. The spell of silence blocked out the screams and jeers of the elves from the rest of InterGuild. She couldn''t fully understand everything that Adaya roared ¨C her Elven still wasn''t up to par. But she understood a bit of it.


    It was a speech about the Verdant Reclamation. Of re-taking the old homelands. The state of the elves of today.


    How they were weak, but could be strong. How the other races, they were pollutions. Humans, goblins, all of them.


    With each spittled word, she saw her guildmate¡¯s faces. Joseph. Becenti. Nash. Broon. Mallory. Phineas.


    What did a world for the elves, and only the elves, have in store for them?


    Through it all, the elves around her cheered. Snarled at certain parts, cursed and spat at others. Ended in a triumphant cheer at Adonal Adaya''s conclusion. It felt violent. Dark. A tension buzzed in the air. Swords were raised. Urya, caught up in the moment, pulled out her twin revolvers and fired them off into the air, her scarring looking ugly and fresh in the light of the fire.


    And above, Rosemary could see Sunala. Looking down at the crowd, a look of pride on her face.


    The noblewoman''s eyes blazed.


    ***


    The fireflies glittered in the dark. Kathen followed them. He was exhausted, his entire body aching, every one of his muscles crying out for relief. Fighting like this wasn''t good on the body. Wasn''t good for the soul, either, but that was the cost of doing guildwork, wasn''t it? Haorando''s potion was doing its work, repairing the worst of the damage, but once he got the book, Kathen would be returning back to camp.


    Damn the lectures. Damn Almogra''s cross look. He needed medical attention.


    It would all be worth it, he told himself.


    Despite the fact that he was facing off against a metahuman, had no support, and was following a trail of fireflies, Kathen could not help but hold onto hope. He had no other choice. Haorando''s children danced as Kathen went, reaching far beyond his sight, flashing in time to one another in a strange code. How intelligent were they? Did they merely follow Haorando''s orders, using a rudimentary language? Or were they as smart as he, and simply smaller?


    These questions buzzed in his mind as the fireflies guided him out of the forest. In the distance, he could see Joseph Zheng. He was talking to a woman ¨C his guildmate, probably. An elf, and she was already heading back towards a camp that her kind had made. Multiple guild banners rose out of the campsite, and it looked as though someone were speaking. But a zone of silence had been erected, most likely some spellwork.


    That happened, at times. When guilds did not want their affairs to be overheard. Kathen supposed it was nothing, as he turned back to watch Joseph Zheng. The metahuman was walking, and though he limped slightly, his guildmate seemed to have given him something for the injured rib. No matter.


    Kathen pulled out his pistol. Switched off the safety. Took a deep breath, hunkered down and behind a trunk. No chance of Joseph Zheng seeing him now.


    One shot, ringing out of the dark. He could make the shot. He had a good enough eye.


    One shot, and it would be over. Another metahuman dead. Valm would say it would be no great loss. That dying was a metahuman''s lot in life. For sins their ancestors had made.


    One shot.


    But Joseph had let him live.


    That gave him pause. Kathen blinked.


    He had said he was sorry it had come down to this.


    Others in Pagan Chorus would have taken the shot. He knew that. But he couldn''t help but think of the look on Antular''s face. How could he explain that, to save his old friend, he had killed another?


    Was he killing someone over a damn book?


    Kathen sighed. He began to put the pistol away-


    Only for a slimy something to wrap around it and pull it from his grip. Kathen spun, watching as a man-sized octopus threw the pistol into the forest, rectangular pupils glaring darts at him.


    The last thing Kathen felt before he blacked out was a fist cracking the back of his head.


    ***


    Joseph''s rib ached, even after Rosemary''s healing salve. To be expected, of course. There was only so much a plant like that could do for him ¨C even a magic one. He winced as he walked, each step bringing up a stabbing sort of pain. But he was used to pain. Used to powering through it. Coach Tristan had always said that, if you could power through pain, you could power through anything. And Joseph had taken that to heart.


    He had powered through a lot these past few months, hadn''t he?


    He smiled at that. Took a second to glance down at the Dyriptium of Karn. After everything, he had done it. Guilt mixed with the triumph, but the triumph remained. Memories swam in his mind, of Anut¨¦ and Inweth, and finding a third link to them. He could almost smell the-


    Something heavy slammed into his side, throwing him to the ground. He looked up for a brief second at a massive orangutan standing over him. It raised a long, rope-like arm into the air.


    And then it came cracking down. Directly onto Joseph''s forehead. For a moment, he saw stars. Gritted his teeth, felt like the ape hit just as hard as Mordenaro. He struggled, his entire body pulsing with pain ¨C the orangutan''s hit seemed to have broken any effect that Rosemary''s plant had done to him. Joseph''s circuit began pounding as he glared through the red. Ready to tear this monkey apart.


    If he could power through the pain...


    ¡°Hmm,¡± the ape said, with a thick, Cockney accent, ¡°Quite the chin, this one.¡±


    And then the fist came down hard again, wiping away Joseph''s world.

 74. Hate Without Words

    Adonal Adaya''s speech lasted for two hours. Two hours of spittle writhing out of his mouth, of his words washing over the crowd like red-hot waves, of an energy, tense and electric, holding in the air and shimmering like one of Becenti''s mirages. Through it all, he kept his composure, never smiling, never moving more than his arms, as though he were a poet presenting his opus. His eyes burned with a dark fire as the crowd reacted, snarling and jeering at his words.


    Words meant to ignite.


    Words meant to call to action.


    Rosemary simply stood there, watching the proceedings, feeling walled in on all sides by the elves around her. Watched as Adonal Adaya finished his speech, the roaring applause so loud that she had to cover her ears, wincing. The various Elven guilds stayed around after the main speech, the music starting up once again, lurid figures dancing in the firelight, abstract shadows that weaved around each other to the tune of the music, which became fast-paced and heart-pounding and all-too-much.


    She stepped away, inching her way out of the encampment, smiling a shy smile at the merry-goers around her, who were laughing and guffawing with one another, stripping off clothing, discarding armor and leaving weapons at their tents. Hatred seemed to melt away with the onset of drunken revelry.


    But no, she realized, it was still there. Simmering beneath the surface, beneath the proud looks she saw some elves wearing as they looked at the Gil-Galad, where Adonal Adaya had been orating. Something had been stirred within their hearts, something that, now unlodged, gave no sign of becoming stuck again.


    She wasn''t sure how to feel about that. Something had shifted.


    The wind was warm as she stepped out of the encampment. The music, while still chaotic and upbeat, drifted away as she wandered. She found herself moving in a single direction, her mind blank and an odd, unhealthy tiredness sitting on her shoulders.


    She found herself back at the stump where she and Joseph had their argument. Guilt pierced through the fog in her mind as she looked down at it.


    He had been right.


    Hadn''t he.


    Joseph Zheng, the right guy, who warned her of the hatred without words that Sunala held. Parts of Rosemary still denied what she had just seen as real. A collective hallucination. Sunala wasn''t like this, was she?


    No, she couldn''t be.


    But Rosemary could feel nothing but wariness as she turned for a moment to look at the encampment.


    Then, as she stared, her eyes caught something. There, in the grass. A small light. Glowing, a miniature sun.


    A firefly.


    She walked over to it, kneeling down to look at it. The firefly was on top of something, a wooden square that had landed in the grass.


    It was the Dyriptium of Karn.


    Rosemary blinked.


    If the book was here, where was Joseph?


    Worry burned away the fog. She blinked, as though seeing for the first time, at the Dyriptium of Karn. Gently brushed a finger against it, feeling the firefly tickle the back of her hand as it scurried to rest on warm skin.


    ¡°Hey, bud,¡± she said to it, ¡°Quite the night, huh?¡±


    She picked up the Dyriptium of Karn, looking around. No sign of Joseph. He shouldn''t have collapsed, even with a busted up rib.


    The firefly continued resting on her hand. She looked down at it, before glancing around, made sure no one could see her. Then, she brought her face close to the firefly.


    ¡°Hey,¡± she whispered, ¡°What happened?¡±


    And the firefly told her. Of the ape. Of the wolf. The strange, hooded creature that accompanied them. The Beasts of Dol, she surmised. They were known for taking things too personally, taking things too far. Joseph must have said one of them smelled, or something.


    But it was enough for them to attack him.


    ¡°Did you see where they went?¡± she asked.


    The firefly spoke to her in the language of insects, shared by their kind throughout the multiverse. Rosemary had learned it long ago, on her home plane. She had been drilled by her tutors the cadence, the chittering, the flushing of wings. To speak the language of insects, she was told, was the difference between life and death.


    Of course, they were much bigger back home.


    The firefly told her of where the animals had taken Joseph. How they had loaded him and one other onto a cart. She nodded.


    ¡°Can you guide me to them?¡± she asked.


    The firefly responded that it could. Rosemary nodded.


    Then her heart fell.


    Her sceptre was back on the Gil-Galad. Feeling happy, elated at talking with Sunala, she had absently left it behind in her study. She would need to retrieve it.


    Back to the camp.


    Back to... whatever it was, that was there. The stuff that made her mind blank, that made her question herself.


    Back to the fog.


    Rosemary started back, her eyes firmly on the Gil-Galad.


    ***


    The Beasts of Dol walked in silence. The forest watched them through the eyes of fireflies, through stolen glances from the leaves, through the warm evening wind. Warmth was not common to the Flyleaf Forest. It was an imported thing, generated by the machines of the Weatherfolk, another commodity for the two-legged beings of InterGuild.


    In total, there were six of them. Gandu had roped them in, bullied them into submission, dragged them out to do this job. The dire wolf led his makeshift pack, his leg smarting a bit from an errant swipe from the leopard, Ekrazu. She herself was sporting a nasty ring of bite marks ''round her neck, courtesy of Gandu, and she padded away from the rest of the group with a wary eye. Riding the wagon was Ongorn, the orangutan, far too intelligent for his own good, an impish smile on his simian face. He bore no marks from Gandu, having chosen this little escapade for his own amusement.


    Pulling the wagon was Midnight Express, a jet-black horse who seemed to ink into the night. He had no true mind of his own, his eyes devoid of any sort of intelligence, more automaton than beast. He merely followed the whims of those around him, guided by others'' wills. Rilha, the octopus, was draped over Midnight Express''s back like a blanket. Standing over the unconscious two-legs was Red of the Island Fair, her four arms tucked beneath her cloak like a beetle''s wings, two of her three bird-like legs raised up to her stomach. She simply stared at the two-legs, wondering why they were here. At InterGuild. In the multiverse. She wondered at their existence.


    Ongorn interrupted the silence, the ape reaching into his satchel and pulling out an orange. He bit into it, rind and all, chewing loudly and letting out a low, pleasured moan.


    ¡°I wonder,¡± he said, ¡°Why you seem so intent on these two.¡±


    Gandu did not reply. The dire wolf continued padding forward. By this point, they were deep in the forest, having left InterGuild behind. No fireflies here. No other lights.


    Save for the one that Ongorn was now lighting, retrieving a lighter from his satchel, as well as a lantern. The lantern was far too large to fit in the satchel, yet it came out, all the same, the bag magically enchanted to be larger on the inside. It was of no concern for the others. Ongorn was far too civilized for many of them. He only hung around because they needed his knowledge, animals as they were, and he had killed all challengers.


    Gandu bristled at the sudden onset of light, turning around to the cart.


    ¡°Silence the flame, what is your game?¡±


    ¡°I can''t see,¡± Ongorn said, ¡°And I wanted a light.¡±


    ¡°Snuff it out,¡± Gandu said, ¡°There be danger about.¡±


    ¡°I prefer the light,¡± Ongorn said, ¡°Don''t you, Rilha? Red?¡±


    The octopus did not reply, a tentacle slithering up to caress Midnight Express. Red of the Island Fair, however, nodded. At her approval, Gandu relaxed.


    ¡°Very well,¡± he said, ¡°On this, I will not dwell.¡±


    ¡°Thaaaat''s swell,¡± Ongorn drawled.


    They continued on. Gandu perked up his head, noting that Ekrazu had left them. No, there she was, away from them, flitting through the square-shaped trees. Fire disturbed her, and she much preferred the night, for darkness to cloak her in a veil. But Gandu could smell her. If she tried for another challenge, he would know. He would tear out her throat, show the others that he meant to follow through.


    Krosa''s words had rankled him greatly.


    ¡°They''re just a pair of two-legs, Gandu,¡± Ongorn said after a while, ¡°Why go through all this trouble? Stealing a cart, bringing this motley crew together?¡±


    ¡°They knocked over Red of the Island Fair,¡± Gandu snarled, turning back to the ape, ¡°And for that, we must clear the air.¡±


    ¡°By killing them,¡± Ongorn said.


    ¡°Into the darkness, into the wood,¡± Gandu said, ¡°In this, I forge brotherhood.¡±


    The wagon meandered on. Ongorn took out another orange, offering it to Red of the Island Fair. The sinder took it, proboscis unfurling, jabbing into the orange¡¯s skin.


    ¡°And,¡± the orangutan said, ¡°This has nothing to do with how Krosa brushed you off?¡±


    At once, the air became still. The other beasts stopped as Gandu spun around, teeth bared.


    ¡°I beg your pardon, I beg your word,¡± Gandu said, ¡°Care to repeat that? A second time, a third?¡±


    ¡°All I''m saying,¡± Ongorn said, ¡°Is that you''re doing quite a bit, aren''t you?¡±


    ¡°I am doing what is needed, what had been seeded,¡± Gandu said, ¡°They brought offense, I give answer hence.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Ongorn said, ¡°Doing it like a two-legs, too, aren''t you? Moving away from everything, making the only witnesses ourselves, and the night?¡±


    The ape leaned forward, ¡°Krosa would have torn them to pieces, right then and there.¡±


    Gandu snarled, only just stopping at leaping at Ongorn and tearing him apart. He was aware that the others were staring at him now, waiting for him to reveal any weakness. Any shame. He backed down a bit at the sight of Red as she watched him with those great eyes of hers.The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    ¡°We are beasts, but we live as men,¡± the dire wolf said, ¡°We must follow their law, then.¡±


    ¡°Until it is time,¡± Ongorn said.


    ¡°Until our time,¡± Gandu said, ¡°Let us go. To them, what we do is a crime.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Ongorn said. He would not give any more proddings. Gandu had given a satisfactory answer.


    Yet all of the dire wolf¡¯s posturings, all the snarls and the raised hackles, stemmed from his own interaction with Krosa. And Ongorn knew this, because he had been there. So what if Red had been bumped? She was tough. She could afford a few scrapes. Nothing short of plasma fire, and heavy shots at that, could bring her down.


    But Gandu''s appeal to Krosa had shamed him. Had revealed an opportunity for the others. The reaction against these two-legs was going farther than a Beast of Dol usually went.


    Ongorn shrugged, realizing he did not care.


    Killing was killing, and that was that.


    ****


    The revelers, thankfully, ignored Rosemary as she dodged past, stepping over drunken, unconscious forms and bobbing away from the rings of dancers carouseling around the campfires. The Gil-Galad''s ramp was up. So she, after a split-second, began scrabbling up the ship¡¯s side, jamming her fingers into the larger slits between the wood planks, using the windows as footholds, climbing to the top railing and leaping over it.


    The deck of the Gil-Galad was quiet. No one was onboard ¨C the ship''s crew were down in the encampments, getting drunk and high and crowing to the sky. Rosemary hunkered down as she slunk across the ship, the trapdoor that led below decks creaking far too loudly for her liking, an old crone cawing in her sleep.


    She had left her sceptre in Sunala''s study. She could kick herself, cursing how careless she had been. She tried her best to carry it with her no matter where she went. It, and her red cloak, were the only things she still had from her home plane. She couldn''t afford to part with it.


    Especially since Joseph, the idiot, was in trouble.


    She opened the door to the study.


    Adonal Adaya was inside, sitting at Sunala''s desk, the sceptre in hand.


    Rosemary''s heart fell.


    ¡°H-Hi,¡± she said.


    The gray-cloaked elf looked up at her. His eyes, once more, narrowed as he seemed to scrutinize her.


    ¡°Greetings, friend,¡± he said. She noted his voice seemed ragged and hollowed-out, probably from all of his shouting during the speech, ¡°May I help you with something?¡±


    ¡°M-My sceptre,¡± she said, ¡°It''s, ah, I need it back, please.¡±


    ¡°Your sceptre?¡± Adonal Adaya said, ¡°Interesting.¡±


    He rose to his feet, and Rosemary shuddered at just how tall he was. Taller than Sunala. Broon''s height, with none of the mass. A pole on legs. She could practically see his thin, bony frame squeaking beneath his robes as he walked around the desk and faced Rosemary directly.


    ¡°This is your sceptre, then?¡± Adonal Adaya repeated, ¡°This one, from Silvere?¡±


    Shit. Rosemary did her best to swallow down the sudden panic bubbling in her throat.


    ¡°Y-Yes,¡± she said, ¡°It was a gift. I''m studying it, you see.¡±


    ¡°Ah, good,¡± Adonal Adaya said, ¡°And what have you found out about this... sceptre?¡±


    ¡°It''s, um,¡± Rosemary''s mind raced. How much should she give him?


    ¡°It''s a sceptre used by the... nobility of Silvere,¡± she said, ¡°A symbol of their office. Used to control and redirect light, which it absorbs from the sun.¡±


    ¡°And it takes several years to learn how to use one effectively,¡± Adonal Adaya said, ¡°I went to Silvere, once, to see if they were an offshoot of our race. I had hoped to bring them into the fold of our Verdant Reclamation. But they are not elves, not truly. As similar to us as an ape is to a man.¡±


    He stared down at her for a few tense, quiet moments.


    "Like animals, all told,¡± he finished.


    Adaya presented the sceptre to Rosemary.


    ¡°This is more like a mace, truth be told. It has none of the beauty of a true sceptre. I would be careful in your studies with it. It is shoddy work, compared to true Elven workmanship.¡±


    ¡°I understand,¡± Rosemary said, and once more she felt the fog of the truth cloud over her mind. She worked on autopilot as she took the sceptre, resisting the urge to hug it to her chest.


    She felt a hand rest on her shoulder. Sunala''s.


    ¡°Good evening, Adonal Adaya,¡± Sunala said, ¡°I trust you''re well.¡±


    ¡°I need a warm cup of tea,¡± Adonal Adaya said, ¡°Especially after all of that shouting. I haven''t done something like that since the rally on Kordmund.¡±


    ¡°Well, be prepared to do more of it yet,¡± Sunala said, ¡°You''ll be heading to Tlantoia yet, correct?¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Adonal Adaya said, ¡°Which is why I request you send as much tea as you are able to when I depart.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Sunala said.


    ¡°I prefer licorice tea,¡± the gray-cloaked elf said, ¡°To coat the throat. Helps it heal.¡±


    ¡°Like a salve,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Very well. Have a good night, Adonal Adaya.¡±


    ¡°And you, Lady Sunala,¡± Adonala Adaya gave her and Rosemary a nod, and then departed out of the study. Sunala closed the door behind him, turning to Rosemary.


    ¡°He was in the study again,¡± the noblewoman said, ¡°Not surprising, he comes and goes as he will...¡±


    She stopped, turning to Rosemary. Noting that she had gone quiet.


    ¡°Is everything alright, Rosemary?¡± she asked.


    ¡°This is... your Verdant Reclamation,¡± Rosemary said.


    Sunala sighed.


    ¡°It is,¡± she said.


    ¡°Your dream.¡±


    ¡°Part of it,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Part of it.¡±


    She moved past Rosemary, walking over to her desk and sitting down. She covered the stump of her left hand with her right.


    ¡°My family is old. Ancient. For thousands of years, we have been mainstays in the Elven political sphere, negotiating between the various Houses and jockeying for power. To speak of House Sunala is to speak of an... Elven status quo. My family was once spread across the multiverse, using our own talents for the betterment of a whole. Much like your guild.¡±


    She gave a small smile at that.


    ¡°And House Sunala is... with the Verdant Reclamation?¡± Rosemary asked.


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Sunala said, ¡°We may be mainstays, we may have our influences, but in comparison to... other powers, in the multiverse, House Sunala is disturbingly frail. We are not as we once were. Our name does not carry the respect it deserves. By aligning with the Verdant Reclamation, I hope to propel my family into a position of power, one that once more is felt across the myriad realities.¡±


    Rosemary wasn''t sure how to respond to that, not at first. She simply stood there, looking out the window towards the reverie below.


    ¡°I didn''t hear...¡± she started, ¡°I didn''t understand much of what Adonal Adaya was saying. But it was so... intense. Hateful.¡±


    ¡°There are those in the Verdant Reclamation who are more passionate about the cause than others,¡± Sunala said, ¡°But my dream, and his, can co-exist.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Even if... If I''m not an elf?¡±


    The question lingered. Sunala seemed unsure of how to answer.


    Then, she rose from her seat and walked over to Rosemary, resting a hand against her cheek.


    ¡°I am for my House, and my family,¡± Sunala said, ¡°You are my family, Rosemary. No doubt about it.¡±


    ¡°But I''m not-¡±


    ¡°As I said, Rosemary,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Adonal Adaya is a passionate man. But I am not so crass as he, as to throw someone like you out. I care for my House above all else, and Verdant Reclamation is a tool. Nothing more.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°I, um, have to go.¡±


    The noblewoman''s eyebrow quirked.


    ¡°Where?¡± she said.


    ¡°Joseph,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°I think he''s in trouble.¡±


    ¡°Ah, Mr. Zheng,¡± Sunala nodded, ¡°Go, then, Rosemary. Be safe.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Rosemary said.


    She turned away, running out the door. Her mind raced.


    Sunala had said her piece. As had Adonal Adaya, with his speech burning in her mind. She still wasn''t sure how to react. How to respond.


    She pushed the conversation with Sunala out of her mind. Sceptre in hand, she leaped off of the Gil-Galad, landing lightly on her feet, before rushing off. Fireflies glittered in the night, guiding her towards Joseph.


    There was work to be done.


    ***


    Joseph opened his eyes slowly, pain blossoming from his head, dull and throbbing.


    The first thing he noted was that he was tied up, a thick rope binding his arms and hands behind his back. He felt something heavy around his neck, and as he looked down his chin brushed against cold iron. A chain.


    He let out a low groan, gritting his teeth and opening an eye. His vision was blurry for a second, before it sharpened and became used to the half-light. He was in a cart of some sort, the orangutan its driver. Beside Joseph was Kathen, who was silent and still. Standing above them was...


    A creature. A strange one, with three bird-like legs and four arms tucked behind her back, beneath her red cloak. Three eyes stared down at him from a gray, box-shaped head. The creature had a proboscis, which was furling and unfurling as it stared down at Joseph.


    Well, Joseph was awake now. He could feel his soul rouse from its slumber, begin its circuit through his system.


    ¡°I wouldn''t do that.¡±


    Joseph stopped. It came from Kathen, the lion-haired man''s voice a bare whisper, hardly able to be heard over the sounds of the cart and the occasional growling conversations of the orangutan and an animal Joseph couldn''t see.


    ¡°That chain, around your neck,¡± Kathen said, ¡°Has a needle in it. The sinder there, see her?¡±


    The creature standing over Joseph gave no indication that she could hear Kathen.


    ¡°Four arms. Three legs. Sinder. She''s holding a small device in one of her hands. You move, you do something she doesn''t like, that needle goes into your neck. Poisoned.¡±


    Joseph simmered, glaring at the sinder as her proboscis uncurled and prodded the air for a second, as though she were smelling something. It reminded him of Robber Fly.


    ¡°Keep quiet,¡± Kathen said, ¡°Merry''s sending out a distress beacon for me. We can get out of this. Just keep your head down, alright?¡±


    ***


    There was a moment of silence as Merry did her work, the back of Kathen''s mind buzzing with activity. Finally, he heard her breathe out a sigh of relief.


    ¡°Alright, it''s been sent out,¡± she said, ¡°Looks like Joseph Zheng''s being smart about it, too.¡±


    Kathen gave a subtle jerk of the head in acknowledgment. The Beasts of Dol didn''t seem to realize he and Joseph Zheng were awake. The sinder did, maybe, but sinders were odd creatures, not willing to share their observations. They merely watched. Waited.


    And ate, when the dead began to pile up. Kathen suppressed a shudder.


    ***


    Rosemary ran through the forest, the fireflies glittering and guiding her path. More had joined her, though she wasn''t sure why they were so intent on helping her. But they were, all the same, as she weaved deeper and deeper into the wood. She moved more on instinct than by sight as the only sources of light became the little lightning bugs, her hands reaching out to brush against tree trunks and her entire body buzzing with anticipation. Her feet moved of their own accord as she stepped over brambles and leaped over roots.


    It was when she went even deeper that Rosemary realized that someone was following her. Another figure, just a bit behind her, keeping pace with her as she ran through the wood. Clutching her sceptre in hand, Rosemary took a deep breath. She stopped in a clearing of the forest, the fireflies glittering around her, as she pointed her sceptre at where she thought the stranger would be hiding.


    ¡°Alright,¡± she said, ¡°C-Come out!¡±


    There was a moment of tense silence, before a figure drew out of the shadows. A gray-skinned woman in combat armor, with a mechanical arm replacing her right, her left studded in tattoos. She was carrying a heavy combat rifle as she glared down at Rosemary.


    ¡°Elf,¡± she said, ¡°What is your guild?¡±


    ¡°You first, stalker,¡± Rosemary said.


    The woman rolled her eyes.


    ¡°Pagan Chorus, elf,¡± she said, ¡°Now speak: What is your guild?¡±


    ¡°Amber Foundation,¡± Rosemary replied, ¡°What do you want?¡±


    ¡°One of my guildmates released a distress call, deeper in the wood. I fear he has been captured.¡±


    ¡°...Is his name Kathen?¡±


    The Pagan Chorus''s eyes narrowed with suspicion.


    ¡°One of my guildmates was fighting him over a book,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Just a little spat, nothing major. But I found the book in the grass, and one of the fireflies told me my guildmate had been ambushed.¡±


    She raised up the Dyriptium of Karn.


    ¡°Maybe your guildmate was ambushed, too.¡±


    The woman raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°...A firefly told you.¡±


    ¡°I can talk to them, you see,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°They speak to me, in the language of insects.¡±


    ¡°What evidence do you have?¡± the woman said, ¡°You spoke to an insect in a language I do not understand. Who is to say that your guild did not ambush mine, and you are leading me further into a trap?¡±


    ¡°I...¡± Rosemary blinked, ¡°You just have to trust me, alright?¡±


    The gray-skinned woman glared at her.


    ¡°Trust is a heavy word, Amber Foundation,¡± she said, ¡°It carries much weight.¡±


    ¡°I know it does,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°I... I don''t have any evidence for you. Not really. But I want to save my guildmate, and I bet you do, too. You heavily outgun me, here. If we got in a fight, I''m pretty sure you''d win, right?¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± the woman said, ¡°You have a mace-¡±


    ¡°Sceptre.¡±


    ¡°A sceptre, and mere fireflies. I am armed with the foremost of the High Federation. I am fully prepared to burn down this forest to save my guildmate.¡±


    Rosemary gave the woman a soft smile.


    ¡°You care for him that much, don''t you?¡±


    ¡°My guildmaster cares for him greatly,¡± the woman said, ¡°And I care for my guildmaster.¡±


    She gave herself a second to think.


    ¡°Very well,¡± she said, ¡°You are Amber Foundation. That means you are under Vyde Wakeling, who is... trustworthy enough. I will go with you. Any funny business, however...¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Rosemary replied, ¡°Alright. Let''s go. I''m Rosemary, by the way.¡±


    ¡°I am Almogra of the Gray-Dusk Skies.¡±


    ¡°Nice to meet you. Let''s go save our idiots.¡±

 75. The Slaughter of Animals

    Joseph and Kathen exchanged no words as the wagon continued rumbling through the forest. It was becoming a more uncomfortable ride, as the natural roads of the forest, stamped into being by the endless comings and goings of guildfolk and nomads, drew to an end. Now, the cart was bumping over brambles, rocking over roots, and generally jostling them to and fro. Occasionally, through the dim lantern''s light, Joseph could see the ape sniff the air for a moment, eyes like beetle shells darting into the darkness. Something was following them, perhaps. Or perhaps the ape was in an inquisitive mood. He seemed the type to pretend at exaggeration, riling up the others. Like Lazuli, or Chadwick.


    No matter what it was, the cart continued on without pause. The animals occasionally exchanged words with one another ¨C thankfully only the wolf seemed to speak in rhyme ¨C in low voices that Joseph could barely make out.


    Then, at last, the cart rattled to a stop. Joseph''s heart began to hammer faster as he heard the ape slip off the driver''s seat. The sinder stared down at Joseph and Kathen, its three eyes swiveling upwards for a split-second as the wolf''s great muzzle pushed into view.


    ¡°Here,¡± the wolf said, ¡°In the clear.¡±


    ***


    Rosemary and Almogra picked up on the wagon as it pushed past the deep wood and into a clearing. Shelf trees lined the clearing on all sides, ringing the clearing in. The wagon ambled into the center of the clearing, before its driver, an orangutan, leaped down from its perch and began undoing the bindings of a midnight black horse, atop of which was a large octopus. Padding around the wagon, ears perking for any sounds, its nose sniffing the air, was a dire wolf, large and daunting. But the air was still in the Flyleaf Forest, and what little wind stirred was downwind. Atop the wagon itself was a sinder, with a red cloak like Rosemary¡¯s.


    ¡°Don''t see those every day,¡± Rosemary whispered.


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Almogra said. The two of them watched as the wolf padded to the back of the cart and leered over the prone forms of Joseph and a man with a lion''s hair. Kathen, probably.


    ¡°That''s Joe,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Is that your guy, there?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Almogra said, ¡°The damn fool. Caught by animals, like a common Kolovan squirrel.¡±


    ¡°Let''s be quick about this,¡± Rosemary whispered. She pointed her scepter forward, only for Almogra to gently push it down.


    ¡°Careful,¡± the gray-hued woman said, ¡°Look at what the sinder''s carrying.¡±


    Rosemary squinted, but she couldn''t make anything out. The sinder was standing on top of the cart, her hands tucked beneath her red cloak.


    ¡°How can you see it?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Sharp eyes,¡± Almogra said, ¡°Telescopic vision, courtesy of an implant. The sinder is carrying a Negotiator.¡±


    ¡°A what?¡±


    ¡°A type of chain the High Federation uses with rogue metahumans,¡± Almogra said, ¡°Click the button, a poisoned needle inside the chain jabs into the wearer''s throat. Death comes within moments.¡±


    ¡°That''s...¡± Rosemary faltered, ¡°Barbaric.¡±


    ¡°Barbaric answers, to barbaric peoples,¡± Almogra said, ¡°It is often the only way to make a metahuman cooperate. This Joseph of yours, is he one?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Rosemary lied, ¡°He''s magically powered.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Almogra said, ¡°Regardless, one wrong move and we kill both of our fools. We must target the sinder first. Our first shot must kill her.¡±


    Rosemary nodded, feeling a slight chill in the back of her spine at the sound of that. Oh boy, more killing. She glanced around, before she stood up.


    ¡°Going to climb a tree,¡± she said, ¡°Hit from above. They''ll come for you as soon as you open fire.¡±


    ¡°Good luck,¡± Almogra said.


    Rosemary leaped up, grabbing onto a shelf tree and squirreling up. This particular shelf tree extended high into the night, lined with dictionaries in a hundred languages, thick and heavy bricks of paper and ink that Rosemary wouldn''t dare to even try to read. The wolf was snarling something at the orangutan, his snapping, rhyming voice garbled by distance and his own inhuman throat. Rosemary was glad ¨C whatever their argument was, it was delaying them killing Joseph.


    She reached a good perch on the tree, and took aim.


    ***


    For a moment, the wolf glared down at Joseph. He stared back, a hard look in his eye as he bit the inside of his cheek. The sinder stood over him, its three eyes blinking in unison. Its top left arm, which held the device, was twitching, probably in anticipation of Joseph trying something stupid, still holding the device that would kill him. A simple switch, and that was that.


    The world was quiet.


    ¡°Go on,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I''m all trussed up, ready for the knife.¡±


    The wolf let out a low, rumbling growl from somewhere deep in its throat.


    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re so scary,¡± Joseph drawled, ¡°What a predator, killing a guy while he¡¯s tied down and a chain around his neck.¡±


    Something in the wolf''s eyes changed. Rage, barely held down, bloomed anew as its jaws opened wide-


    There was the sound of light scraping against shadow, of the gut-wrenching gunchung of a heavy plasma rifle being fired. The wolf spun, snarling, at the sudden sound.


    The sinder was blown away, slamming into one of the trees and crumpling. It did not get up.


    ¡°Now!¡± Kathen roared.


    Joseph''s soul screamed to life, breaking out of his back as though he were a cocoon, arms slashing and writhing. With a great burst of strength, it grabbed hold of the chain around his neck, muscles bulging and spasming, and wrenched it free. Joseph reached up to gingerly rub his neck, relief flooding through him like a hot drink. The orangutan let out an unholy screech and leaped away as more plasma fire erupted from the forest. The wolf made to leap towards Joseph, only to be shoved away by a beam of light.


    Rosemary.


    Joseph''s soul spun, arms reaching out to pry off Kathen''s chain. With this done, the lion-haired man stumbled out of the cart and grimaced. He stood up to his feet and stretched, a plasma bolt whizzing by his head.


    ¡°Ah, well,¡± he said, ¡°Not every day you see that.¡±


    ***


    Almogra had emptied her clip giving this¡­ Joseph, cover to do what he needed to do. Now the man was up, his magic in full bloom, an impressive conjuration now riding his back. The creature was swaying this way and that, considering who to target next, and it seemed to be fully under Joseph''s control, the way it moved with him.


    As though they are one, Almogra thought. Kathen looked worse for wear as he climbed out of the wagon, his face a full mess of purpling, blotched bruises. Medical attention would be needed, but she knew he had faced worse.


    More than just a few errant Beasts of Dol. The wolf was dancing away, as was the horse. The Dillian''s octopus was scurrying over, rope-like arms reaching up towards the tree Rosemary was in. Almogra swung her rifle up, in the same motion dropping the empty clip and jamming in a new one-


    There. Movement to her right. No time to swing her rifle ''round. Almogra dropped it, unsheathing a dagger as the leopard pounced on her, claws digging into her arms as forcing her to the ground. The cat''s fangs dripped with spittle as it snapped at her face-


    ***


    Rosemary took aim at the horse, who was currently wheeling around the dark clearing in a panic. The ape had managed to leap onto its back, and was now riding it, shouting out orders in a whooping yell, trying to slow its midnight steed and calm it down. Joseph, meanwhile, was slowly approaching the wolf, the electrical eagle shining and covering the clearing in its signature blue. There was a dark smirk on his face. Rosemary could not help but smile at that. Out of the frying pan, Joseph was immediately ready for the fire.


    Then she felt something curl around her leg. Rosemary''s eyes bulged as it tugged her down. She lost her grip on her perch and flipped as the octopus flung her with a shocking strength, tumbling her through the air. She grabbed onto the first shelf she could feel, her hands crying out in pain as they gripped on, her fingernails digging into the wood. She watched her beautiful scepter tumble into the darkness, landing with a soft huff on the forest floor below.


    In the dim light of the lantern and Joseph''s soul, Rosemary watched as the octopus began making its way down to her, all eight tentacles writhing as it inked across the expanse of the shelf tree, its rectangle pupils seeming to stare into her soul. Rosemary danced down, scrambling away from the octopus. It was a long way down, and the way the octopus had climbed, it was definitely faster than her.


    Then how come it hadn''t made another attack yet?


    She gritted her teeth as the octopus climbed.


    ***


    ¡°Alright,¡± Joseph said, ¡°You wanted a fight, good boy, you''re getting a fight.¡±


    The wolf was stepping back, tail between its legs, but its teeth bared as Joseph walked towards it. He smirked at the mutt, eyes darting and considering its posture. Mekke had been teaching him about dealing with non-humanoid threats in fights like these. How to look for tells in their forms, how to know when an enemy was cowed.


    This doggy looked ready to bolt. Joseph smiled at that.


    ¡°What''s up, pup?¡± he said, ¡°Thought you wanted to go a few rounds. For Red, right?¡±


    He chanced a look at the fallen sinder. The one who he supposed to be Red of the Island Fair was not moving, a large, purple-tinged hole through its chest. Dead. Despite himself, Joseph¡¯s heart fell.


    Even the strange were loved, as the wolf''s hackles were raised. There was something approaching grief in that growl. Joseph turned back.


    ¡°Right,¡± he said, dropping the act, ¡°Let''s get this over with.¡±


    He danced forward, soul sliding along his arm and slashing at the wolf, who jogged out of the way, looking for an opening. Joseph moved with the eagle, however, always keeping himself within his soul''s grasp, making sure he wasn''t exposing himself to the wolf''s nipping jaws.


    The wolf itself was keeping pace with him, not getting too close. It knew that Joseph would tear it to pieces if it got too close.


    But also, Joseph couldn''t close the loop, fire a bolt of lightning, end this all in a flash of light. He would need his soul inside his body for that, not to mention time to build up a charge. And his soul was all that was keeping him from getting his throat torn out.


    So it was a dance, then. Joseph was used to that.


    All he would need to do is be patient, and-


    The horse thundered towards him. With a snarl, the ape hit the horse''s neck, causing the horse to spin, back legs kicking out. Joseph raised an arm, shielding himself from the twin hooves which shot out like bullets, ice rushing through his body. The wolf took that chance to seize forward, snarling and leaping onto the soul''s back, jaws crushing the back of its neck.


    Kathen stepped onto the wagon, using it as a base to leap off of. He twisted through the air for a moment with all the grace of a gymnast, before a long leg shot out, connecting with the wolf''s head. The wolf let out a sudden yip of pain and released its hold, falling to the ground, plasma spilling out of its jaws.


    Joseph''s soul spun around, claw surging out. No longer closed, it swept at the wolf, scooping it, talons raking across its side and down its leg, hooking into fur and flesh and carrying the wolf into the air. The wolf landed with a hard huff, though it immediately got back up on its feet, limping and panting.


    Behind them, the horse continued its whinnying and stamping the ground.


    ***


    Kathen stood tall, glaring at the horse and the orangutan. The horse was rearing up onto its back legs, the ape clutching ¨C no, pulling ¨C the horse''s mane, a horrible screech belting out from deep within his throat.


    Kathen could not help but sigh. Why did the metahuman get the easy one?


    The orangutan, Kathen knew, was several times stronger than he. The horse would be able to outpace him, if the ape could get control of the thing. Evidently the horse was not as intelligent as the other Beasts of Dol, nor was the ape its master. The orangutan was shrieking in the poor animal''s ear, practically trying to force it to stop bucking and braying.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    ¡°Don''t approach, Kate,¡± Merry said in his head, ¡°One bad kick, and it''s lights out.¡±


    ¡°Don''t have to tell me twice,¡± Kathen said. He kept an eye on the pair of animals as he strode over to the sinder. He checked her pulse, noting that she was far and away dead. A tragedy ¨C there were very few of her kind left. Then, without another word, he pried the Negotiator out of her hand, before he jogged back to the carriage. Joseph Zheng had been clumsy with his tearing off of the collars, but Kathen''s was still in relatively good shape. Or, at least, the needle mechanism was.


    The orangutan was snarling as he swung ''round the horse''s neck, using his weight to force the horse to remain on all fours, his feet clutching the horse''s sides as though they were the trunks of a tree. Kathen watched them for a moment. It was almost time for his part of this little spat.


    ¡°Alright, Merry,¡± he said, ¡°What''s the one thing we did wrong fighting Joseph Zheng?¡±


    ¡°You always faced him head on,¡± Merry said, ¡°Come on, Kate, it''s textbook.¡±


    ¡°Agreed,¡± Kathen said, ¡°Never play to an opponent''s strength.¡±


    He had been disarmed after getting clobbered and tossed on the cart like a bag of grain. No pistol, no knife, the Beasts had not left him even a paperclip to use. This was going to be tricky.


    ¡°They''re stronger, and they''re faster,¡± Kathen said, more to himself than to Merry, ¡°But you''re smarter.¡±


    ¡°Debatable,¡± Merry said.


    ¡°I''m trickier,¡± Kathen said, ¡°And more...¡±


    The orangutan didn''t notice him, far too concentrated on the horse to really pay attention to anything else. Kathen clambered back into the cart, hunkering down. Negotiator in one hand, collar in the other. He was smiling.


    ¡°I''m not the biggest fish in the game.¡±


    ***


    The octopus was drawing closer to Rosemary, who was dropping down shelf by shelf now. Eight tentacles shot every which way, some wrapping around branches, others suckling to the flat tops of shelves, the front two reaching towards Rosemary as she clambered down. If it got to her, if it managed to wrap even a single tentacle around her wrist, it would be over. The octopus was much stronger than her, and it would be able to suffocate her without too much trouble.


    She chanced a look to the ground, which was getting closer. Her sceptre lay glittering in the dirt.


    ¡°Almost there, baby,¡± she cooed. She dropped down another few shelves. The octopus followed.


    Now. She was close enough. Bracing her legs against a shelf, she pushed off, twirling in the air for a moment before falling to the earth. She landed like a cat, legs and arms splayed out, the impact running up her limbs and shuddering her spine. She was used to such shocks, however, as she rushed over and snatched up her sceptre.


    No time to think of anything special. Rosemary pointed it up towards the octopus, and opened fire. Motes of light shot out of the rose''s head. The octopus rushed out of the way with each shot, far faster than when it had been pursuing Rosemary. It no longer had the advantage, and thus could not afford to take this fight so leisurely. It practically flopped down the shelf tree, dodging beams of light, and then sprung, all eight limbs splayed out as though it were an organic star.


    Rosemary fired off a light, letting it float in front of her for a moment, before it expanded into a bubble around her. The octopus grappled against the dome, and Rosemary could see individual suckers puckering against the hard light, small spikes in their middles. An awful way to kill someone, Rosemary supposed.


    She pointed her sceptre directly at the octopus''s beak. It realized, far too late, what position it was now in. What she was about to do.


    ¡°Sucker,¡± she said, and she winced at her lame pun.


    The beam of light was twisted into a drill, bursting out of the dome of light like a needle through the inside of a balloon, light splattering like water. The drill ate through the octopus''s mouth, up through its head and out the other side. The octopus''s eight tentacles splayed and writhed as its body wilted off of the broken bubble. Rosemary danced back, a dark look on her face.


    ***


    The orangutan finally got the horse under control, beating a fist against its neck and letting out one last, guttural scream in its ear. Joseph supposed the poor animal must be half-deaf, the way the ape''s last roar echoed through the night. The wolf was cowed, broken, whimpering its way over to the fallen form of the sinder, dragging its back leg behind it. Joseph had to turn away from that, instead bringing his attention to the ape and horse.


    He could see Kathen in the cart, and made sure not to look at him too closely. Evidently the lion-haired man had his own ideas. Joseph''s soul turned, ready to take the stallion''s charge. The orangutan whipped a fist into the horse''s side, causing it to start galloping forward. It surged across the clearing. Joseph took a deep breath. Concentrated. Found himself sliding into his boxer¡¯s stance.


    The eagle''s fist came down upon the horse, cracking against its back. The horse continued plowing forward against the soul''s blue mass, pushing against it, teeth biting into plasmatic flesh. Joseph dug the eagle''s claws into the horse''s body, blood spurting out of its ebony hide.


    And then he saw a flash of matted orange.


    The ape.


    The orangutan had used the horse to distract the soul-


    The fist cracked against Joseph''s face. He felt his head whip back, his feet leave the ground. He felt the soul move to react, saw through its all-too-sharp eyes as the horse plowed on barreling over it, a wave of black that now trampled on the soul. Hooves slamming into its chest, its back, its head.


    Its eyes.


    Joseph''s soul receded back into his body, and he felt cold pain overwhelm him.


    Cold pain, turned red hot as the ape cracked him in the head again.


    ¡°Again, we do this,¡± the orangutan panted, ¡°Again!¡±


    Another hammer-like fist rang down. Joseph saw stars. He was aware, dimly, of the horse galloping away, of the fact that there was nothing but night once more, his soul no longer shining as a star.


    The ape''s fist came up again.


    This was it. He heard Rosemary let out a shout.


    And then the ape stopped.


    Joseph opened a purpling eye.


    Kathen stood over the orangutan, the remains of his collar wrapped around the ape''s neck. He had a ferocious grin on his face in what little light remained in the clearing, a result of Rosemary''s sceptre and the eagle''s blood.


    Without another word, he clicked something in his hand. The ape''s eyes widened as the needle in the collar clicked. Foam bubbled out of the animal''s mouth as Kathen pushed it aside. The orangutan landed with a clump in the grass.


    ¡°Nice,¡± Joseph coughed, ¡°Nice...¡±


    His vision was blurring. The lion-haired man had a sudden stricken look on his face as he knelt down to Joseph, cradling his head in his arms.


    There was an explosion of movement just beyond the clearing''s rim.


    ***


    Kathen glanced up as the edge of the clearing erupted into movement. He squinted in the darkness of the Flyleaf as a massive, shaggy form emerged from the wood, great paws pushing down shelf trees, its bulk brushing up against the tallest oaks and rustling their leaves.


    It was a monster of some sort.


    A creature, from out of his nightmares.


    Easily the size of a building, it moved with the grace of a continent into the clearing.


    ¡°A... A bear,¡± Merry''s voice was quiet in his ear, as though any sound, any sound at all, would alert the moving mountain to their presence. Yet Kathen knew the bear already knew of them. Already smelled them. Heard them. Saw them. The bear padded into the clearing''s center, each movement shaking the earth, swaying the trees.


    With an almost unnatural silence, it made its way to the crumpled form of the sinder. Sniffed it. Let a groan escape its maw.


    The wolf, who had moved away from the bear, now limped its way towards it, tail between its legs and its head low to the ground. Even in the dusk of the wood, Kathen could see the canine''s glass-like eyes widened in something between fear and whining supplication.


    ¡°My lord, I pray for help,¡± the wolf wheezed, ¡°These fools make me for a whelp-¡±


    The bear swiped. The wolf went flying in a spray of gore, its upper half annihilated. What remained sailed through the night, crashed into the trees. For a heartbeat, the world rained red. The bear turned to face Kathen and the others.


    Kathen''s chest was burning, the way his heart thumped. He began to rise, the fight or flight response rushing through his system. He was like a rabbit, caught in the open, with no chance of escape. The bear braced.


    ¡°Krosa!¡±


    Almogra walked out of the brush, her mechanical hand lighting up to stave away the dark. A dark scratch bled across her ashen face as she strode out, her rune-etched arm dragging a dead leopard by its tail. Blood stained the grass as she walked, a testament to the grisly rents in the cat''s stomach and neck.


    ¡°Krosa!¡± Almogra spat again, ¡°You face Pagan Chorus, if you choose to stand here!¡±


    The bear ceased its tensing. Kathen''s eyes widened as the mountain began to move, its front legs lifting off the ground, its back arching, the entire behemoth standing on two legs, and the bear became a tower, a seeming symbol of all things powerful and primal.


    Its head stood over the treeline. It stared down at Krosa.


    ¡°Almogra,¡± the bear''s voice rumbled and shook the earth and the air, ¡°Of the Gray-Dusk Skies.¡±


    ¡°I am she,¡± Kathen could not help but wonder how she could talk, staring up at the beast like that, not even a shiver in her voice.


    ¡°You are of Pagan Chorus.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Almogra said, ¡°The one with the wild hair is of my guild as well.¡±


    She glanced at the last figure in the clearing, an elf that Kathen had not seen before. Her red cloak reminded Kathen of the sinder''s, and she clutched a rose encased in glass in hand. A sceptre, if he thought on it.


    ¡°The elf, as well as her companion, are under Pagan Chorus''s protection, as well,¡± Almgora said, ¡°You will not harm them.¡±


    The bear let out a low growl.


    ¡°You have slain many of my compatriots, Pagan Chorus,¡± the bear said, ¡°Including a favored one of mine, the sinder known as Red of the Island Fair.¡±


    ¡°And your guild has harmed mine,¡± Almogra said, ¡°I am sure without good reason, is that true?¡±


    She looked at Kathen, who gave a nod. He took a deep breath to soothe his shaking hands, and looked up to Krosa, craning his head to look the bear dead in the eyes.


    ¡°It''s true,¡± he said, ¡°Your guild ambushed me. Ambushed Joseph Zheng, too.¡±


    ¡°Zheng?¡± the bear growled.


    With a deep thud, Krosa returned to all fours. His boulder-like head moved close, so close his wet nose glistened in Joseph Zheng¡¯s face. Out of the corner of his eye, Kathen could see Almogra start, her mechanical arm melding into a rifle.


    ¡°Zheng,¡± the bear said, and he breathed in deep, whipping Joseph Zheng''s hair forward, sucking in the cold of the world, before exhaling it into a warm, humid fog, ¡°He has her scent. He is her kin.¡±


    Almogra stepped forward.


    ¡°Back away from him, Krosa,¡± she warned, ¡°Let us hold palaver. Reparation can be made for your fallen guildmates.¡±


    ¡°For the leopard, the sinder, the ape, and the octopus,¡± Krosa grunted, and his voice was harsh so close to Kathen''s ears, ¡°The wolf was a fool, and thus had no worth. Very well.¡±


    He moved back.


    ¡°You and I will hold palaver. Our own moot. Much must be paid for this...¡±


    He glanced at Kathen, though he saw the bear''s eyes slide down to Joseph Zheng.


    ¡°For this slaughter.¡±


    ***


    Krosa and Almogra walked off to the side, the bear lying on his stomach and glowering at the Coribaldi, Almogra sitting cross-legged and returning his glare. They began exchanging words as the elf ran over to Joseph. She was reaching into a pack, pulling out a few leaves. Elven medicine, Kathen supposed. The stuff of witches.


    ¡°Here,¡± she said, ¡°Keep his head up. Let me take a look at him.¡±


    Kathen did so, resting Joseph Zheng''s head on his knees, cradling the sides with his hands. The elf began applying the leaves to Joseph''s face, reducing the swelling that was now blooming out of his skull. She then unwound a package of gauze, and wrapped it around his head.


    Joseph Zheng continued staring at Kathen. There was a glint in the metahuman''s eye, that even after taking multiple shots to the head, even though he must surely be drifting in and out of consciousness, stayed gleaming. Joseph Zheng was still there.


    ¡°Hey,¡± he said. His voice was sure.


    ¡°...Greetings, metahuman,¡± Kathen said.


    ¡°Quit looking at me like that,¡± Joseph Zheng said, ¡°Like I''m... I''m an animal.¡±


    Kathen grimaced to himself, and looked away.


    ¡°Keep him talking,¡± the elf said, ¡°Keep him conscious. He''s taken some good licks before, but...¡±


    She glanced down at Joseph Zheng, and Kathen saw something dance in her eyes. Like how the others in Pagan Chorus looked at him. This metahuman was loved. Kathen sighed.


    ¡°Right,¡± he said, ¡°Uh, what about?¡±


    ¡°Your guildmate, maybe,¡± the elf said, ¡°The one you were getting the book for. Fighting Joe over it.¡±


    ¡°Joe,¡± Kathen said, and he rolled the nickname on his tongue, ¡°Ah, right. His name is Antular.¡±


    The name stirred memories for him, and he could not help but smile.


    ***


    And Kathen spoke of this¡­ Antular, to Joseph, as Rosemary bound his head and rubbed crushed leaves into his skin. He remained awake, his world fuzzy and dark, though he supposed that was because of the lack of light in the clearing. Distantly, he heard the words of the bear and the Pagan Chorus guildmember, their voices low and groaning.


    But he listened more to Kathen. The lion-haired man told of him Antular, of first meeting him when he was a child, when Kathen was nothing more than a wild-eyed orphan on a city-bloated world. It had been Antular who had picked up the young Kathen, bringing him aboard a ship, watching his progress over the years, as he was one of the many children Pagan Chorus took in. It was Antular who had pushed Kathen for a more proactive role within the guild. Without Antular, Kathen would never have met their guildmaster.


    But he spoke more than of just that. He spoke of the kindness in Antular. His voice was so warm it staved off the cold winds of Milky Dawn. He walked with a cane, its rapping against the stone floor of Mausoleum a constant comfort in Kathen''s childhood. Antular¡¯s eyes lit up whenever one mentioned antique starships, and he could list every single type, every single class, every single variation, from throughout the High Federation''s history. Model ships lined his office, and Kathen chuckled at the memory of building his first one with him, piece by ever-tiny piece, the glue sticking to his fingers, getting under his nails. He spoke of the first time Antular went on a mission with him, an awful misadventure on a world in the Outer Reach, where they spent three weeks lost in a purple-leafed jungle.


    Kathen''s voice took on a new cadence as he spoke. Gone were the rough edges, the thinly-veiled drawl, the rebellion. He spoke of Antular as if the alien were an angel. There was good in the multiverse, and it came in the form of a feathered, scaled creature with a potbelly and too-long nails.


    Joseph could not help but feel jealous, at the obvious warmth Kathen had for his family.


    He could not help but feel guilty, too. And he held onto this guilt as Rosemary finished wrapping him up.


    ¡°I think we''re good,¡± she said, ¡°Joe, can you stand?¡±


    ¡°I think so,¡± Joseph murmured. He noted how Rosemary had to strain to hear him. Both she and Kathen rose. Kathen offered him a hand. Joseph took it, his world whirling as he was pulled to his feet. He felt Rosemary supporting him, throwing his arm over her shoulder.


    But he could walk.


    Whatever Kathen''s guildmate had said, it seemed to satisfy the bear. The massive, shaggy form began moving away, the midnight horse tagging along, making sure to stay well outside of the bear''s wake. The two of them disappeared into the wood.


    Kathen''s guildmate stepped over to them.


    ¡°Well,¡± she said, ¡°You have certainly made a mess of things, Kate.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± he said, ¡°Sorry.¡±


    But the woman rolled her shoulders in a shrug.


    ¡°It happens,¡± she said, ¡°I am disappointed in you, Kathen. But that is alright. You have disappointed me before.¡±


    Joseph thought that was an odd thing to say, but Kathen nevertheless smiled. The woman ruffled his hair.


    ¡°I hope they didn''t hurt you too badly.¡±


    ¡°I''ve been licked before,¡± Kathen said, ¡°It wasn''t too bad.¡±


    ¡°Come, let us go,¡± the woman said. She turned to Rosemary and Joseph, ¡°I hope we will have no other trouble.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°We''ll follow you.¡±


    ¡°No funny business,¡± the woman said.


    ¡°If Joe tries anything, I''ll brain him myself,¡± Rosemary smiled.


    The woman grinned, and together the four of them started off back to InterGuild.

 76. Good Night Interguild, Farewell My Savior

    The journey back to InterGuild was a quiet and slow affair. Rosemary kept an eye on Joseph as he walked, her sceptre lighting the way as they made up the rear behind Almogra and Kathen. Kathen stumbled every so often, and eventually he began limping as his legs began to give out from utter exhaustion, prompting Almogra to start supporting him, laying his arm over her shoulder and acting as his cane as they stepped over gnarled roots and fallen trees. Fireflies danced in the air around them, and Rosemary swore she could see their father in the shadows trailing them, an old insect the size of a large dog, a lantern on his crooked cane that glowed like sunset. Almogra clocked him, she knew, but a whisper from Kathen made her relax.


    The large firefly did not speak to them the entire time.


    They came to the edge of InterGuild to find that not much had changed. It continued bustling on, in market stalls and temporary buildings, as though nothing had happened. Guildmembers traded their wares, swapped stories and drinks, and the flags of the various guilds whipped in the Weatherfolk winds as though a bunch of people had not just been killed. As though a supremacist rally had not just taken place.


    She found it disconcerting, to say the least. But she pushed those thoughts away.


    She had killed people before. Killing was a part of guild life, no matter how much she wished otherwise.


    And the Verdant Reclamation¡­


    She couldn¡¯t see Sunala in the same light. The noblewoman had shown Rosemary her true colors, and they were vile.


    Joseph glanced at her, and she could tell he was thinking the same thing.


    ¡°Rosemary,¡± he said, ¡°You have the book?¡±


    ¡°The book?¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Oh, I do.¡±


    She produced the Dyriptium of Karn from her pack. With a hesitant hand, she offered it to Joseph. He took it, staring at it for a long time. Rosemary''s heart fell at how exhausted he looked. Not just physically, but the weariness in his eyes, the way he frowned, revealed an utter emptiness he hadn''t worn before, not even on his worst days.


    ¡°I got close,¡± he said, ¡°Really close.¡±


    ¡°Joseph, you have the book,¡± Rosemary said.


    But he shook his head. He walked over to Kathen and Almogra. The gray-skinned woman eyed him suspiciously. The lion-haired man looked at Joseph with dazed eyes.


    ¡°Here,¡± Joseph said. He presented the book to Kathen.


    The dazed eyes widened.


    ¡°Go on,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Take the book.¡±


    ¡°But you won,¡± Kathen said, ¡°You...¡±


    ¡°Take the damn book,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I don''t want it.¡±


    Kathen was quiet.


    ¡°I don''t need it,¡± Joseph lied, ¡°Just take it.¡±


    Kathen sighed, and took the book. Tucked it under his arm, gave a nod to Joseph. Joseph turned away.


    ¡°Our business is finished,¡± Almogra said, ¡°My guild will contact yours to discuss any potential damages we did to you.¡±


    ¡°Vice versa,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Sorry this happened.¡±


    ¡°It is alright,¡± Almogra said, ¡°These spats, they happen. It is why we talk afterwards, after the dust is settled. It is the Law of InterGuild.¡±


    She considered her own words, then nodded, giving Rosemary a smile.


    ¡°You seem alright. You look after your own, even the very stupid.¡±


    ¡°I try,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Well, see you.¡±


    ¡°Storms guide you,¡± Almogra said, and she and Kathen made their leave, weaving through the market stalls and towards the direction of the campsites. Rosemary turned to Joseph.


    ¡°Alright, Joe,¡± she said, ¡°You good to go?¡±


    ¡°Give me a second,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Just want to sit.¡±


    ¡°Sure that''s a good idea?¡± Rosemary said, ¡°You''ve probably got a concussion, or worse. We should get you to Wakeling as soon as-¡±


    ¡°I''ll be fine, Rose,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Just... Let me sit. Please.¡±


    There was a hollowness to his voice. Without waiting for Rosemary to reply, he sat down on a tree stump.


    ¡°I was so close, Rosemary,¡± he said, ¡°So damn close. For a moment, when I held that book in my hand, I could almost... I almost thought...¡±


    ¡°I know, Joe.¡±


    ¡°Like I could get to where I wanted to be. That I was on the right path for myself. That I was going to make things right.¡±


    Rosemary thought back on the rally. Sunala''s burning eyes. The utter arrogance on Adonal Adaya''s face, his voice hoarse with raw hatred.


    ¡°I know, Joe,¡± she said, ¡°Trust me, I know.¡±


    ***


    They returned back to camp. Wakeling and Becenti were the only ones there, the rest of the guild still out enjoying themselves at InterGuild. They were sharing drinks over an open fire, Wakeling a nice glass of wine, Becenti a bottle of soda water. Both of them stared as Rosemary and Joseph walked towards them.


    ¡°By the gods, Mr. Zheng,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°I thought you were with Tek!¡±


    Joseph gave a shrug. He saw something glimmer in Wakeling''s eye as she put two and two together.


    ¡°I see,¡± she said, ¡°Well, I''m sure he''ll be rather upset with you, Joseph.¡±


    ¡°Sure,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Whatever.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯d better get a look at him,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Make sure everything¡¯s in the right place.¡±


    ¡°Agreed,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°I''ll make sure he''s in at least somewhat of a stable condition for Elenry.¡±


    She rolled her eyes, floating over to Joseph. Her arm snaked out and guided him over to the campfire. With a flash of silver, Joseph''s face began cracking back together, and his world felt lighter. Airier. Some of the pain he''d been carrying began to melt away as Wakeling''s healing magic took hold.


    ¡°That should hold you together long enough for Elenry to have a look at you,¡± Wakeling said.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Really, Mr. Zheng,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°You always find some new way to break yourself. It''s like you do all of your fighting with your head, and not with your brain.¡±


    ¡°I can take it,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I''m not dead yet, am I?¡±


    ¡°There''s only so much that magic can do for you, Joseph,¡± Wakeling said, her voice bitter with disapproval, ¡°One day, there''ll be something that hits you so hard, you can''t get it healed. And where will you be then?¡±


    Her finger flicked his forehead. Most of the damage had been healed away, but it still left him spinning for a second.


    ¡°Brain damage is dangerous, Joseph. Stop pretending you''re invincible.¡±


    ¡°I''m not,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Then stop treating yourself like you deserve the beatings you get,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°I want you at your best for the jobs you do.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Jobs. Whatever.¡±


    Wakeling gave him a stern look. Joseph returned it with a defiant glare. Nearby, Tek was lumbering back into camp, his face cast to the ground.


    ¡°Hey, Tek,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°How''d it go?¡±


    The mound glanced up to look at Rosemary for a second. Joseph looked over at him.


    ¡°Ah,¡± he said, ¡°It was... It went alright. Had to make a few improvisations, of course, but...¡±


    Tek noticed Joseph was in the clearing.


    ¡°Ah, Joseph, hello.¡±


    ¡°...Hey, Tek,¡± Joseph said.


    Tek would not meet his eyes. The mound shuffled awkwardly, before he went over to the Dreamer''s Lament, walking inside and closing the door behind him.


    ¡°You abandoned him, Joseph,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Damn stupid of you.¡±


    ¡°I... I did,¡± Joseph said, ¡°But I needed to get something. To get what I came here for.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡± Wakeling said, ¡°And did you get it?¡±


    Joseph didn''t reply. He didn''t need to. Wakeling gave out an angry huff.


    ¡°Well, you went out on your own, and how did that work out for you?¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I came back bruised, broken, and empty-handed. Just like with all the other jobs I do for you people. So, about the same.¡±


    Wakeling''s eye twitched.


    ¡°We don''t abandon our fellows, Joseph,¡± she said, ¡°Tek is your guildmate. Your comrade.¡±


    Guilt welled in Joseph, despite his anger at the guildmaster. For he could not say she was wrong.


    ¡°I think you should talk to him, when he''s had a moment to calm down,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Tek''s like you. He stews by himself for a while, until his anger turns venomous.¡±


    ¡°Vyde,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Broon and Glonthek are back.¡±


    ¡°I''ll be with them in just a moment,¡± Wakeling said.


    Becenti nodded. He didn''t meet Joseph''s eyes, either, as he turned to talk with Rosemary.


    ¡°Just...¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Just remember that we stick together, alright? I know you haven''t been seeing the successes you''ve wanted-¡±


    ¡°No thanks to you,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°All the same,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°You''re angry, I get that. You''re upset because you haven''t made any progress. But don''t you dare use that as an excuse to use your fellows, Joseph. That''s the worst thing you can do in a guild.¡±


    Joseph wanted to snap out a, ''Like you?'' to Wakeling, but (perhaps wisely) kept his mouth shut. He found his fingers trembled as he did so, swallowing down what bile he had into his stomach. Food for the soul, once more.


    ¡°Okay,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I won''t do something like that again, alright?¡±


    Part of that statement was a lie, but there was enough truth in it for Wakeling to leave him be. She opened her mouth again to give a final statement, when Becenti called to her again.


    ¡°Vyde!¡± he said, ¡°They''re back! Glonthek says he needs to talk to you now!¡±


    Wakeling let out a sigh, gave Joseph one last warning look, and moved off. Her hand patted his shoulder, before slithering after her.


    ***


    ¡°You''re back early,¡± Becenti said to Rosemary.


    The two of them were sitting at one of the tables, the din of InterGuild playing quietly in the distance. Rosemary was lying down, head resting in her hands, a tired look on her face. Now that things had quieted, what little adrenaline keeping her going was melting into her feet.


    ¡°Water?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    ¡°It''s carbonated,¡± he warned.


    ¡°I''ll take whatever,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°God, I hate how exhausting fighting is.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Becenti said.


    He poured her a glass, handing it to her. Rosemary took a few sips, before setting it down. Becenti gave her a level look.


    ¡°Is everything alright?¡± he asked, ¡°You aren''t hurt?¡±


    ¡°Not as much as Joe,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°I, uh, kept my distance.¡±


    ¡°Who was the other guild?¡± Becenti asked.


    ¡°The Beasts of Dol.¡±


    The old man''s brow furrowed.


    ¡°Krosa and his ilk,¡± he said.


    ¡°Yeah. We met him, actually. A bear, right?¡±


    ¡°One of the last of his kind,¡± Becenti said, ¡°He''s... dangerous. I''m surprised you''re alive, if I''m being honest.¡±


    ¡°Well, we had help,¡± Rosemary said.


    She told him of their truce with Pagan Chorus. At the very mention of that name, along with her telling him of Almogra, Becenti''s disposition grew dour. He poured himself a quiet glass of water when she finished, downing it like it was a shot. Rosemary wondered if he wished it was, despite swearing off drinking.


    ¡°Is... Did we do alright?¡± Rosemary asked, ¡°I mean, Almogra didn''t seem too upset that her guildmate and Joseph got into a fight, and she didn''t immediately seem to want to talk to Wakeling, or anything.¡±


    She gestured at Wakeling, who was talking quickly to Glonthek and Broon. The guildmaster was nodding and signing a few papers that Glonthek was presenting. Their attorney looked exhausted, as he took a proffered glass of wine and drained it like it was nothing.


    ¡°Be glad she didn''t,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Pagan Chorus has an entire legal team backing it up. They could destroy us with a signature.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°I didn''t know that.¡±


    ¡°But it''s good that you kept Joseph''s head on straight,¡± Becenti said, ¡°He... He''s been through quite the wringer, these last few months. Seen more than I wished he had.¡±A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    ¡°Don''t have to tell me twice,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°I pop your little dream pills nightly.¡±


    She took another sip of the soda water. Nearby, Wakeling was arguing with Glonthek, who was frantically showing her paper after paper.


    ¡°Broon decapitated the guy!¡± the lawyer was shouting, ¡°His head rolled off the cliff! Of course they want to have us pay in full!¡±


    The half-orc looked sheepish and guilty. Becenti gave a (disturbingly humorous) huff at their antics.


    The rally came into Rosemary¡¯s mind.


    ¡°Becenti?¡± she said, ¡°Can I ask you a question?¡±


    ¡°No, I''ve never decapitated anyone, Rosemary.¡±


    ¡°Not that,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°But...¡±


    She sighed. Glonthek started pulling out a few more papers out of his briefcase. He was walking over to the table.


    ¡°I''d make myself scarce, Rosemary,¡± Becenti said, ¡°We''ll talk later.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Rosemary said. She got up and scurried away, just as Glonthek slammed the briefcase down and started ranting to Wakeling.


    ***


    ¡°I hope you''re happy, Kathen,¡± Almogra said.


    Dicaeopolis was checking him, magic whispering on his lips, sparks flying from the satyr''s fingers as he worked. The way that they spat, the way the air smelled of ozone while Dicaeopolis worked, reminded Kathen far too much of Joseph''s abilities. He suppressed a shiver.


    ¡°Was never quite good at magical healing,¡± Dicaeopolis admitted, ¡°But, well, we''re just here to make sure you don''t have a concussion, yeah?¡±


    He tapped Kathen in the head, and a jolt shuddered through his body. Kathen winced, the healing magic knitting parts of his body back together. He could almost feel the purpling bruise on his head start to recede.


    ¡°Alright, boss,¡± Dicaeopolis said, ¡°That''s about all I can do here. Might as well let the old Fedtek get to work.¡±


    He gave a mock salute to Almogra, who rolled her eyes. She approached Kathen, kneeling down with a scanner in hand. They were back onboard the Point of No Return, the ship''s engines humming deep in Kathen''s belly. InterGuild had two more days until its conclusion, but already Pagan Chorus was leaving. Bluebell was sitting next to a pile of books he had obtained during his time here. Dicaeopolis had a new, glowing tattoo swirling his middle finger. The primary mission they had here ¨C the politics and the negotiations ¨C had been completed.It was time to leave. Only Oliander was staying, for a few miscellaneous tasks set upon him by Valm. The Guildmasters'' Moot had come to a close. It had been a loud affair, Almogra told Kathen.


    ¡°And,¡± she added, ¡°It would have been good for you to be there.¡±


    ¡°I know, I know,¡± Kathen said, ¡°Sorry to ditch you.¡±


    ¡°It is alright,¡± Almogra said, ¡°Though the Prime Voice will be disappointed.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Kathen said, ¡°I just-¡±


    ¡°Do not care,¡± Almogra said, ¡°So, did you get what you wanted?¡±


    Kathen nodded, a smile creeping onto his weary face. He held up the Dyriptium of Karn. Almogra looked at the cracked cover for a few moments.


    ¡°I see,¡± she said, ¡°For Antular, yes? You told me about the book.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Kathen said, ¡°For him.¡±


    ¡°I hope it was worth it,¡± Almogra said.


    ¡°It is,¡± Kathen said. He looked down at the book, and opened it up. Each page was scribbled in a language he couldn''t even begin to understand, lines and dots melding together into long lines of script, the occasional illustration being drawn of a plant here, a native there. He would need to run the book through a translator, see if anything matched up. Almogra seemed satisfied with his scan, and she rose and went to the cockpit. The ship began lurching upwards.


    Kathen turned a page, fingers tracing along an illustration of a gorgeous snapdragon.


    ¡°That Joseph,¡± Almogra said, ¡°He was a metahuman, was he not?¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡± Kathen said, looking up, ¡°Yeah, he was.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps we should check him on the database,¡± Almogra said, ¡°Make sure that, should we face him in the future, we are prepared.¡±


    ¡°Probably a good idea,¡± Kathen said, ¡°Guy''s scary when he wants to be.¡±


    ***


    The next day, Joseph walked to the Bookish Wyrm. He went down the makeshift roads, past the temporary buildings, slid out of the way of approaching wagons heaped to the brim with wares. The clocktower high above rang four in the afternoon. The lack of a sun, however, set Joseph on edge. There was no light here. No true light. All of the light in the Flyleaf Forest was brought here, most of it artificial. Light was the invader to this plane. He wondered, if the plane were alive, if it would have preferred to have slept in darkness.


    He was in a sullen, defeated mood as he stepped inside the tavern. Most of the Wyrm''s clientele were busy with InterGuild, so the place was relatively empty. Bulg and Meloche, however, were at the same table on the second floor. The philosopher waved over to Joseph, and though his face was hidden by mounds of sap, Joseph felt an aura of hopefulness about him.


    ¡°Joseph, of the Amber Foundation,¡± Bulg said, ¡°I see you have sailed harsh stars indeed.¡±


    Joseph was quiet as he sat down. He didn''t say anything, instead staring down, trying to piece together every individual grain on the table''s wooden surface.


    Meloche and Bulg exchanged glances, before the philosopher leaned in, resting his hands on the table.


    ¡°The book, Joseph,¡± he said, ¡°Did you get it?¡±


    ¡°...No, I didn''t,¡± Joseph said. He looked up. Bulg''s face betrayed no emotion.


    ¡°I''m sorry, Mr. Bulg,¡± Joseph continued, ¡°I didn''t get the book.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Bulg said, ¡°Very well. My time has been wasted, Meloche. I am disappointed, but not surprised. He carries little ruthlessness, for this sort of job.¡±


    The alien rose up, his head brushing the ceiling as he extricated himself from the table.


    ¡°Maybe I can look,¡± Joseph said, ¡°It''s a big plane. I can look around some more.¡±


    ¡°If you have not found the book already, you are not going to find the book in the time I am on this plane of existence,¡± Bulg said, ¡°You had your chance, Joseph of the Amber Foundation. I am a busy man. I have little time for second chances.¡±


    And with those words said, he swept out of the bar, the entire building shaking dully with his footsteps as he went downstairs. Meloche let out a bubbling sigh, before standing up and heading to the bar. He returned with two drinks. Joseph took his and sipped, his throat burning as the whiskey went down.


    ¡°Whiskey for sadness, beer for gladness,¡± Meloche said, ¡°Wine for when you have a stick up your ass.¡±


    ¡°Ha,¡± Joseph said, though he felt no mirth, ¡°Well, that''s it, then.¡±


    ¡°What happened, Joseph?¡± Meloche said.


    ¡°I found the book,¡± Joseph said, ¡°But I fought a guy for it.¡±


    ¡°And you lost?¡± Meloche wondered, ¡°Goodness, you must have fought a monster indeed.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I... I ended up giving it to him. It was... His reasons were better than mine.¡±


    He took another sip, wincing as it went down. He felt out of practice, drinking whiskey like this.


    ¡°What better reason than to go home?¡± Meloche said.


    ¡°His... Yeah, his dad was dying,¡± Joseph said, ¡°He needed the book to help him with that.¡±


    Meloche''s sticky fingers rapped on the table in wet thumps. He looked away for a second, staring out the window, as though considering what to say.


    ¡°Joseph,¡± Meloche said, ¡°Everyone has a sob story.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°What matters, out here in the multiverse, is that you have to put your sob story first,¡± Meloche said, ¡°That''s the way it goes. You only have yourself out here, in the end.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Joseph said. But I don''t care, he wanted to say.


    Perhaps Meloche was psychic. Or perhaps he properly got the meaning of Joseph''s words. The philosopher let out a watery sigh and rose to his feet. With a quick jerk, he drained his glass, laying it on the table facedown.


    ¡°Well,¡± Meloche said, ¡°I have business to attend to, as well.¡±


    ¡°You don''t have anything else for me?¡± Joseph asked, ¡°No other contacts? No places I could visit?¡±


    ¡°I''m afraid not, Joseph,¡± Meloche said, ¡°Not when it comes to the sarcophagi. Bulg was my only contact for those. Call me if you need a favor for something else. But for this, you are on your own.¡±


    He rested a hand on Joseph''s shoulder.


    ¡°Be safe. Be well. I will see you when we dream again.¡±


    And the mountain of sap walked away, going downstairs. Joseph swilled his glass, watching Meloche through the window, as the metahuman disappeared into the myriad crowd below.


    He stared hard at his drink for several hours after.


    ***


    The golem approached the camp of the Amber Foundation in the early morning. Very few were awake at this time, all of them exhausted or demoralized from their time on the Flyleaf Forest. Contort and Becenti were sitting at the fire as Oliander stood at the edges of the campsite, waiting to be allowed in.


    Contort glanced up from his morning coffee and nudged Becenti.


    ¡°Looks like we got a guest,¡± he said.


    The old metahuman looked up, and something in his stony face changed, almost imperceptibly. He rose to his feet.


    ¡°Stay here,¡± he said to Contort, ¡°This won¡¯t be long.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Contort said. He leaned back as Becenti walked across the grass to the golem. There was a new limp in his step, one that had not been there before. No, it had always been there. Becenti had just been very good at hiding it. But whoever this visitor was, he was someone from the metahuman¡¯s past.


    Shimmer¡¯s past.


    Oliander gave a polite nod to Becenti. Becenti returned it. Memories swam in both their heads of past times, of warbound family and dark days of comradery. Shimmer had told Oliander his greatest dreams, his most secret regrets. Like a treasure chest, Oliander had held them to his bosom, never speaking, never revealing. The golem¡¯s eyes were soft as he beheld his old friend.


    Yet it was not Shimmer who stood before him, but Becenti.


    ¡°The paperwork,¡± he said. Curtly.


    Oliander became downcast, but nonetheless reached into his bag and produced a datarod. He presented it to Becenti, who took it.


    Stellar Queen¡¯s prison. Wherever it was. The location was right here, in the datarod. It could be easily lost. Easily fall into the wrong hands. Valm was arrogant, indeed.


    ¡°It will take me time to get there,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I have a few other matters to attend to.¡±


    Oliander gave a nod.


    ¡°Valm understands?¡±


    Oliander shrugged. It mattered little if Valm understood. By this point, all Becenti had to do was send a message to Kristandi. The Prime Voice was hardly involved, now.


    He had used his scalpel, and let it feed.


    ¡°Very well,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Thank you for delivering this to me.¡±


    Oliander nodded. His eyes had hardened, become professional and distant. Part of Shimmer broke at that.


    But Becenti pushed it away. He had a hundred things to say to his old friend. He had nothing to say, too. He chose the latter, giving one last awkward, off-putting nod and heading back to the campfire. He slipped the datarod into his pocket.


    ¡°Someone you know?¡± Contort asked.


    ¡°Once upon a time, yes,¡± Becenti said. Oliander began to move away, rumbling across the knoll and back into InterGuild.


    Contort knew better than to prod. He sipped his coffee.


    It was a quiet, somber morning.


    ***


    Becenti became busy with his guildwork, so the opportunity for him and Rosemary to sit down and talk did not come. Glonthek''s negotiations with the Firedrakes'' legal team had gone sour, and Becenti was called to help put together arguments with them. Whispers of a duel were percolating in the air. Rosemary saw him steal occasional glances to the Dreamer''s Lament, as though he were considering commandeering the airship and getting the heck out of dodge, but he stayed, his mouth a thin line as he left camp to help with negotiations.


    Which left Rosemary relatively alone. Unlike the others, she stopped going out of the camp. She stayed behind, watching her guildmates weave in and out of the camp like waking dreams. Even Joseph, still sporting a crooked nose and a grimace in his smile, made his leave, probably to go and talk to whoever he made a deal with, and let them know he screwed up. The thought made Rosemary sad.


    Tek did not emerge from the Dreamer''s Lament for the rest of the trip. He remained inside, and when Rosemary chanced to tiptoe inside, she saw him sitting down, his great bulk sagging the couch, as he fiddled with a couple of electronics. His comfort knick-knacks, she knew. Whatever Joseph had done, it had been enough for the mound''s trip to be ruined. Something had gone wrong with the professor he had been meeting, and Joseph''s act of leaving had caused it.


    Rosemary stopped feeling bad for the metahuman. She couldn''t help it, the way that Tek looked so down.


    ¡°Hey, Tek,¡± she said, ¡°Do you want something to drink?


    ¡°I am fine, Rosemary,¡± the mound said, ¡°I''ve already had a meal today.¡±


    Rosemary knew for a fact that was a lie. She walked over to the fridge, pulling out a bag of bread and a few slices of ham and lettuce. She put together a rather poor excuse for a sandwich, and handed it to him.


    ¡°Come on,¡± she said, ¡°You must be starving.¡±


    ¡°Have you eaten today, Rosemary?¡± Tek asked.


    ¡°...No,¡± she admitted, ¡°But you know us elves, we can live off of sunlight alone, you know?¡±


    She let out a hollow chuckle, settling in next to him.


    A few moments later, her stomach rumbled.


    ¡°Don''t lie, Rosemary,¡± Tek murmured, ¡°I''m... I''m rather sick of that.¡±


    She gave him a sympathetic look, before she leaned back up and started making a sandwich for herself. The lettuce was wilted, and the ham smelled funny. But she ate nonetheless, if only to give herself something to do. It would probably give her a stomach ache.


    But the way Tek relaxed, now that someone was with him, made it worth it.


    They simply ate in silence, the occasional noise coming from outside, dulled by the Dreamer''s wooden walls. Tek soon finished his meal, leaning against the couch''s back, which let out a thin scream in protest.


    ¡°Tek,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°What happened with the engine?¡±


    ¡°It didn''t work,¡± Tek said, ¡°Joseph... He left me. We couldn''t find a suitable replacement in time, and the astrator hoffmani, during a point where we were looking, disappeared into the ether. Months of work, lost.¡±


    ¡°Oh no,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°I''m so sorry, Tek.¡±


    ¡°It is alright,¡± Tek said.


    ¡°No, it''s not,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°That was really messed up, what Joseph did. It doesn''t sound like him at all.¡±


    ¡°He had his own reasons,¡± Tek said, ¡°A pity that they overruled his oaths.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Yeah...¡±


    The clashing of blades began screaming outside. Rosemary perked up, heading to the window. Evidently an agreement had been made, as Broon was fencing with a member of the Firedrakes, an imposing woman wreathed in green flame, her blade a solid extension of herself. The half-orc''s blade rang against hers in burning sparks.


    Business as usual. She hoped Broon won.


    ¡°Rosemary,¡± Tek said, ¡°May I ask you a question?¡±


    ¡°Sure, Tek.¡±


    ¡°Did something happen to you while you were away?¡±


    ¡°Who, me?¡± Rosemary said, giving a smile, ¡°Naw, not me.¡±


    ¡°You''ve been down since you got back from the elves,¡± Tek said, ¡°I can see it in your eyes.¡±


    Rosemary''s smile turned sad and hollow, then fell away.


    Broon and the woman continued to duel. Blade upon flame. She watched them for what felt like an eternity before speaking again.


    ¡°You... You try and do everything right, you know?¡± she said, ¡°You make yourself loved, and fill your world with pretty things and good people. And still things just end up turning out to be... nothing.¡±


    ¡°Rosemary, you shouldn''t talk like that,¡± Tek said, ¡°Listen to yourself. It''s not like you.¡±


    She was quiet.


    ¡°You have us,¡± Tek said, ¡°You have the guild.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°And you guys... You all have given me so much. But Tek,¡±


    She turned to face the mound.


    ¡°Is it still wrong that I feel like I don''t belong? Even here. Even with... Even with the elves. Maybe I don''t belong anywhere. Maybe I don''t deserve to.¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± Tek said, ¡°I''m afraid I don''t have anything to tell you about, with that.¡±


    ¡°I know, Tek,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°And you don''t have to say anything. I''m just venting a bit, I guess. Just giving myself someone to talk to.¡±


    She sat back down with him.


    ¡°I am sorry about Joseph. I''ll call him out on it, next time I see him.¡±


    ¡°No need,¡± Tek said, ¡°The selfish tend to self-destruct.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Rosemary said, and her heart fell, ¡°Yeah, I know.¡±


    ***


    Ichabod and G-Wiz returned to camp to see a woman of flame on the ground. Medical mages from the Firedrakes were attending to her, their voices heavy with heat as they applied grafts of flame to an open wound on her stomach. Wakeling, Glonthek, Becenti, and Broon stood apart from them. The half-orc had a shamed look on his face, and his blade was coated in neon green blood.


    ¡°Well, that''s that matter taken care of,¡± Ichabod muttered to G-Wiz, ¡°The rate Broon''s going at, he''ll have wiped the Firedrakes out within the week.¡±


    ¡°Rude,¡± G-Wiz said.


    They went around the scene between the Firedrakes and the others, waiting just by the Dreamer''s Lament. Wakeling floated over to a miniature sun, and she exchanged a few words with the ball of plasma. Evidently the representative of the Firedrakes agreed, and they began pulling back, giving a few last dour looks at Broon as they walked away.


    The grass where they had stood was scorched black. Ichabod stepped over the patches and gave a wave to Becenti. The old metahuman gave a nod.


    ¡°I trust you''ve got some time?¡± Ichabod asked.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Becenti said, ¡°You got the necessary materials?¡±


    ¡°I did,¡± Ichabod said. He presented his arm, the forearm opening up to reveal his new Cutter, an array of small needles, knives, drills, and other assorted tools. The Shardeen logo was etched painstakingly into the Cutter''s side, though Becenti knew the serial numbers had been filed off.


    ¡°Good,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Well, then. Give me a second to get something to eat, and we''ll talk shop. We''ve a difficult heist ahead of us.¡±


    Ichabod nodded. His smile was grim and devoid of mirth.


    ***


    The next few days of InterGuild rolled by. Deals were struck, negotiations were made, adventures and misadventures were had. Tiger and Mekke returned with a new weapon in hand, a glittering scimitar encrusted with emeralds. The cat samurai was purring as he held the weapon close to his chest, running a claw along the blade''s edge. Shambling and XLS returned a day later, and though they carried no physical treasures, they evidently had gone to many successful seminars, talking to one another about concepts and sciences that went over most of their guildmates'' heads. Ezel drifted into camp a little while later, placing a calm hand on Broon''s shoulder and joining him by the campfire. The half-orc had gone quiet, after his duel with the Firedrake. Finally, Urash rolled in with a cart filled with sacks of coin and goods, his ventures far more successful than the others. He and Wakeling had an argument of where everything would go, and how much of his haul could actually be loaded onto the Dreamer, which was starting to reach its maximum capacity. Joseph saw glittering jewels in the bags, as well as electronics and devices from a dozen worlds. He had also collected books, a library''s worth, and for a moment Joseph was tempted to search through them to find another copy of the Dyriptium of Karn.


    But it was too late for that.


    Urash glared at his haul, as though it were not enough for the merchant prince. With a spiteful air he clambered onto the airship, and sulked in the corner as his prizes were loaded onto the Dreamer.


    And with that final day finished, the Dreamer''s Lament took off. It flew high into the starless sky, climbing until it was above the clock tower, thousands of other ships from across the multiverse joining it in a great exodus out of the Flyleaf Forest. The remains of the convention littered the ground below, the cleared away forest a wreck of burned grass, abandoned stalls, and broken buildings.


    Without another word, a collective exhaustion laying across the entirety of the Amber Foundation, the Dreamer''s Lament hit the Traveling Point, and planeshifted away.


    All was silent in the Forest once more.

 77. Gathering the Team

    Autumn came cold and bitter to Scuttleway. The wind took on a biting edge, and the trees around the city started changing hue, as though putting on old orange cloaks. Already a few of them were shedding away, revealing thin, brown skeletons, the leaves scattered across the cobblestone walkways and markets. They made a satisfying crunch under one''s boot.


    The storms had, at last, disappeared. But it was only a matter of time before they would return, and instead of rain they would bring snow, and winter would be upon them in the blink of an eye. To Ichabod, Autumn always felt like a calm before the storm, a mere preparation for the harshest season of life. He disliked Autumn immensely. He despised Winter more so.


    They brought on bad memories.


    He merely glowered at the city through his window, the wind whistling muted and ghost-like through the glass. Part of Castle Belenus''s shingling was loose, and Ichabod could hear pick up with the gale, slapping bluntly against the roof. He suppressed a shiver, even though the room itself was rather warm.


    In the time since he had started his investigation, in the time since he had learned that the employer of the gala''s assassin had used OzTech as a middle man, his room had become a cluttered mess of notes, diagrams, and documents, haphazardly pinned to the wall, or scattered on the floor, or even stapled to the ceiling. The cybernetic man''s hands shook and twitched as he considered everything, his mouth moving wordlessly as he went over plans in his head, over and over, from point A to point B to point C. Who he was to bring.


    They didn''t have a qualified magician. Ezel was out on a job. Urash refused to get involved, lest he tarnish the good Belgone name (Ichabod sneered at that.) This left, out of the competent magic users, Phineas, Aldreia, and Rorshin. Phineas was too much of a fool, though his magic was esoteric and powerful. But no, he was on another job on Methuselah. Aldreia had no subtlety. She was all fire and light. Ichabod grimaced.


    That left Rorshin.


    There came a knock at his door. The cybernetic man sneered.


    ¡°Come!¡± he spat.


    Becenti walked in, the older man''s eyes tracking the room, taking stock of how the usual stone walls were completely covered by paper and red yarn. They finally settled on Ichabod. But Becenti was, despite his dour moods, a good man. There was no judgment in his eyes, only a sort of exhaustion that he wore at all times.


    ¡°I see you''ve been gaming out the path,¡± he said.


    ¡°I have a few ideas, depending on how things go,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°And you''re sure Phineas isn''t up for the job?¡±


    ¡°Phineas isn''t even here,¡± Becenti said, ¡°He''s out in Methuselah with Tiger and Orion.¡±


    ¡°We can wait, perhaps,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°I''d prefer Phineas over Rorshin.¡±


    ¡°Rorshin?¡± Becenti said, ¡°When was Rorshin brought into the conversation?¡±


    ¡°Rorshin''s not as good a mage as the others,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°If I had a choice, I''d choose Phineas. Wakeling''s obviously unavailable, and Urash is far too-stuck up, and his prepared spells are no-go for improvising on the fly.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Phineas will not be joining us for this mission,¡± Becenti said, ¡°He is away.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps we could wait.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Becenti said, his voice firm, ¡°We leave in the next few days, Ichabod. Phineas has earned an easier job, has he not?¡±


    Ichabod glared at Becenti. He remembered his deal with Wakeling, however, that the old metahuman would be the one to choose who went on the job. He had already gone over Ichabod''s head for most of his decisions.


    ¡°We need a mage,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°I agree,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°If you want this plan to succeed, we''ll need someone who can improvise. Who is versatile. I had thought Rorshin, but I''d rather not-¡±


    ¡°It will have to be Rorshin,¡± Becenti said, ¡°If we need someone good at magic, he''s the only one who fits the bill.¡±


    ¡°Damned druid,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°I wanted someone with some illusions in them, not a damn treehugger.¡±


    ¡°That ''treehugger,''¡± Becenti warned, ¡°Is one of the finest magicians we have. You weren''t with us then, but he was at the Battle of Evukor, and his magic saved thousands of lives.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I''m aware,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°But you''re dragging him into a plane where there''s not much nature left. You sure he''s up for it?¡±


    ¡°Let me handle that,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Trust me, any chance he has to snipe at a corporation is one he''ll take.¡±


    ***


    Rorshin was a man who kept to himself. He lived in Castle Belenus, but most days he was out wandering, either listening to the birds, rodents, and bugs in the city, or walking across the golden plains outside of Scuttleway. Occasionally, miners would see him underground, or walking the cliffside trails that edged between the two halves of the city. When prodded for why he was there, he would simply smile grimly, and speak of the moles that lived underground. The big ones.


    But Rorshin himself was not a serene man. His smile was one for the animals of the myriad realities. To others, even his own guildmates, he wore a dour frown. He wore simple clothes, a tunic of roughly spun yarn, a gnarled staff in hand. What hair was on his body was concentrated on his face, a pronounced gray beard that was unkempt and snarled, the top of his head bald, with liver spots pockmarking his brown skin.


    He was outside the city at the moment, the plains grasses reaching up to his hips. He stood simply, the wind billowing around and through him. His eyes were closed, and he seemed almost at peace as Becenti walked towards him.


    ¡°Myron,¡± the druid said, ¡°You are far too loud on this day.¡±


    ¡°It''s a day for loud thoughts,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°A bad day, then,¡± Rorshin said. Becenti was never able to place the druid''s accent, though it was almost sing-songy in nature, ¡°I assume you''re going to ask me about going on a mission.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Becenti said, ¡°A quiet one. Not many in the guild can know where exactly we''re going.¡±


    ¡°One of your prisons?¡± Rorshin asked.


    ¡°No,¡± Becenti said, ¡°As I said, I''ve got instructions only to give you details if you agree to go on it. And if you agree to go on it, there''s no backing out.¡±


    Rorshin opened his eyes. They were eternally bloodshot. A sorrow''s lifetime, Becenti supposed.


    ¡°I see,¡± the druid said, ¡°And this job, vaguely, is...?¡±


    ¡°A heist,¡± Becenti said, ¡°An infiltration. Theoretically illegal, or we could be using illegal practices not cleared by the Law of InterGuild.¡±


    ¡°Against whom?¡±


    ¡°A corporation,¡± Becenti said, ¡°One on Neos.¡±


    And Becenti saw Rorshin''s eyes narrow. Become slit-like and hate-filled. He had no love for the companies of Neos. They had caused him great anguish, in the past.


    ¡°Are you game?¡± Becenti asked.


    ¡°...What is my share?¡±


    ¡°Standard guild rate, I suppose,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Plus satisfaction with what is to come. We''ve got a few others already.¡±


    ¡°Ichabod is going?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Then I will not go.¡±


    ¡°I will go along as well,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I''ll keep him in line, Rorshin. Ichabod is a judgmental, spiteful man. But he is no fool.¡±


    ¡°Hmph,¡± Rorshin said, ¡°He scars himself with those false limbs, and then has the audacity to say I''m the barbaric one.¡±


    The wind picked up once more. Becent waited for Rorshin to give him an answer.


    ¡°But we are striking at a hateful institution,¡± the druid cooed, ¡°And it is the season for retribution. Very well, I will tolerate the mechanical man''s barbs. Understand, Myron, that I will barb him back if he goes too far. And mine won''t be from the tongue.¡±


    He gave a dark smile. Becenti simply nodded.


    ¡°Right, then,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Welcome to the team.¡±


    ***


    G-Wiz was busy adjusting her keytar in her room, remembering the conversation she had with Ichabod before. He and she were onboard the Dreamer''s Lament as it crested towards Scuttleway, both of them on the observation platform, wind whipping through Ichabod''s silver-moon hair, brushing and breaking against G-Wiz''s gelled up, spiky ''do.


    ¡°We''ll need a thief,¡± Ichabod had said, ¡°A good one.¡±


    ¡°A thief?¡± G-Wiz asked.


    ¡°Someone who can do the sneaking around part of the job,¡± the cybernetic man''s gaze was held on the horizon, and he seemed to be speaking more to himself than to G-Wiz, ¡°Someone who can get in. Get out. Who''s flexible...¡±


    He snapped a glass and metal finger.


    ¡°Contort is my first choice. Theoretically we can use someone else, but he''s got the skills for it. The sticky fingers, too.¡±


    ¡°Gross,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°You going to bring that up to Becenti?¡±


    But Ichabod was already turning around, walking off of the platform and back into the Dreamer proper, moving beside Becenti on the bridge. The old metahuman was steering the Dreamer with a single hand. The other held a cup of coffee.


    ¡°I want Arne,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°Contort''s got the Ikalho job,¡± Becenti said, ¡°He''s got some research to do with Vespa.¡±


    ¡°That hivemind?¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Please, she¡¯lll get more work done on that without him. No, I think we need him.¡±


    Becenti gave Ichabod a hard look. His eyes flickered over to the corner, where Joseph, Rosemary, and Ezel were nodding off. A blanket covered the three of them, and Joseph''s cup of coffee was starting to slip from his tired hand and spill on the floor.


    The meaning was clear.


    ¡°Alright,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°I''ll talk to you about it later. But we need the best we''ve got, Myron. Alright?¡±


    Becenti nodded.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said.


    ***


    Indeed, Becenti had agreed later on to recruit Contort. So it fell to Ichabod to convince him.


    The rubbery man had returned to Castle Belenus in relative good cheer. He and Wakeling had finished their personal missions at InterGuild with easy success, and he was reaping the benefits of the guildmaster''s good graces. A bottle of wine, aged a thousand years, was in his hand as he sat in the room, pouring a bit of it into a glass. Contort''s room was a relatively cluttered place, not quite to the degree of Ichabod''s recent obsessions, but he was one who preferred to live with his belongings spread out on the ground. Articles of clothing littered the floor, and a pile of dirty dishes took up half of his desk. A poster of some jester or clown from his home plane had been taped on the wall, but the top corner of it was hanging loose, pulling the rest of the page down. Just above his bed was a pair of large rings held aloft by red ribbons, mementos from back home. He glanced up as Ichabod walked inside.


    ¡°You know there''s a perfectly fine door to knock, Ichabod,¡± Contort said, smiling.


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°I suppose.¡±


    He stepped inside, his nose rankling at the smell of stale sweat and body odor.


    ¡°Something I can help you with?¡± Contort said.


    ¡°Yes, actually,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°I''m gathering a team.¡±


    ¡°For a job, right?¡± Contort said, ¡°Sorry, man, but my schedule''s filled up.¡±


    ¡°What, the job with Vespa?¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Are you really going to be spending hours of time doing random research with a hornet hive?¡±


    ¡°Hey,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Vespa''s chill. You learn a lot, speaking to her.¡±


    ¡°I need you for this, Arne,¡± Ichabod said. He looked around for a moment, then said, ¡°Alright if I close the door?¡±


    ¡°Sure,¡± Contort said.


    Ichabod rose, and closed the door.


    ¡°Theoretically, I''m only supposed to tell you the bare minimum,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Part of a little deal with Wakeling on this.¡±


    At that, Contort''s eyes narrowed.


    ¡°What kind of job is this?¡± he asked.


    ¡°We''re going to the Tower of Eden,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°We''re dealing with Agrippa.¡±


    ¡°...Thought we had a rule here,¡± Contort said, ¡°We don''t deal with OzTech whatsoever.¡±


    ¡°That''s why we''re keeping it on the down low,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°It''s... It''s related to the gala.¡±


    ¡°Didn''t know we were messing with politics now,¡± Contort said, ¡°Like, we take a job or two for them, but sticking out our neck for some random Doge? Come on, man. What''s really going on?¡±


    ¡°It''s related to the Doge''s job,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°That''s... They went after Joseph and Rosemary, alright?¡±


    Contort blinked.


    ¡°Ichabod, come the fuck on,¡± he said, ¡°When have you ever cared about Joseph?¡±Stolen novel; please report.


    And the cybernetic man sighed. He took off his sunglasses, revealing his glass eyes. Despite their artificial nature, they held a world within them as he stared at Contort.


    ¡°It''s for me, alright?¡± Ichabod said, ¡°That''s it. It''s personal, for me.¡±


    ¡°And that''s why we don''t go on those sort of jobs,¡± Contort said, ¡°Personal shit and something like OzTech? That''s a disaster waiting to happen, Ichabod.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°I know, Arne. But please.¡±


    Contort sighed, rubbing his temples. He put the glass of wine down, and stared out the window.


    ¡°...Alright,¡± he said, ¡°I will.¡±


    And that was that.


    They had their thief.


    ***


    G-Wiz was their heavy. Ichabod caught her just as she was sitting down after feeding Becenti''s krem. The cybernetic man''s nose wrinkled at the smell of billy goat and hay.


    ¡°G-Wiz, good,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°You''re our heavy hitter.¡±


    G-Wiz blinked.


    ¡°Me?¡±


    ¡°Every team needs a heavy,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Some extra muscle who can take out security teams, errant patrolmen, the like. When we need something physically assaulted, it''s the heavy''s job to take them out.¡±


    G-Wiz, a full five feet tall, stared at him. She plucked at her keytar.


    ¡°Right,¡± she said, ¡°And you want me to do it.¡±


    ¡°My first choice was Joseph, actually,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°But Wakeling said he''s not allowed on this job. My second choice was Tiger, but he¡¯s currently on another job. Third was Broon, but he''s too much of a lug to actually sneak, but-¡±


    ¡°I''m your fourth choice?¡± G-Wiz asked, a venomous edge in her voice.


    ¡°...Yes,¡± Ichabod lied, ¡°Correct. Joseph''s indisposed, as is Tiger. Broon''s too much of a liability. You lack physical muscle, but you have three things. One, your zumbelaphone.¡±


    ¡°It''ll be loud.¡±


    ¡°Can you be quiet with it?¡± Ichabod asked.


    ¡°...It''s got a silent feature,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Halves the effectiveness on it.¡±


    ¡°That''s alright,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°So long as you can take people out with it still.¡±


    ¡°I can.¡±


    ¡°Good. The second reason is because you''re more versatile than Joseph or Broon. Not as versatile as Phineas-¡±


    ¡°Ichabod, stop treating me like I''m a tool, you tool.¡±


    Ichabod caught himself, gulping down an insufferable comment.


    ¡°Right,¡± he said, ¡°You''re versatile. You don''t just hit people with your zumbelaphone. You can form objects with it. Manipulate people. Freeze them in place.¡±


    ¡°I can make things blow up, too,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°At the point we''re doing that, the game''s already up, and we''re probably going to die,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°So if it comes to that, make it count.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± G-Wiz said. She stretched a bit, ¡°So what''s the third reason?¡±


    ¡°The third reason,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Is that you''re already aware that we''re even doing this in the first place.¡±


    ¡°Ah, yeah, that''ll do it,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°So we''re really going in on something like this.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°I have to warn you, Galatea, it will be dangerous.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    ¡°We''re dealing with one of the most powerful entities in the known multiverse,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°A megacorporation whose tentacles writhe across realities. If we''re caught, there could very easily be retribution. Agrippa is never one to play by the rules. He cares little for the Law of InterGuild.¡±


    ¡°But he did something to you, didn''t he?¡± G-Wiz asked.


    Ichabod was quiet. He stepped away, and stared at the wall.


    ¡°He''s the one that gave you those limbs, isn''t he?¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°I like my replacements,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°They''re more useful to me.¡±


    ¡°Ichabod,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Don''t bullshit me. I know the way you look at them. How uncomfortable you are, showing them off to everyone.¡±


    Ichabod was caught. He sighed, sitting down on a nearby stool, grimacing as one of the krem reared an ugly head out and tried for his long hair. He pulled away, leaning in so he was out of the range of the goat''s questing tongue.


    ¡°You are correct,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°I... I tried to do it before.¡±


    G-Wiz was quiet, letting him process his thoughts.


    ¡°I took a team there, you see,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°We had our roles. I hand-picked everyone. I even mulled over taking... taking him with me. I did, in the end. He was a heavy, like you.¡±


    He gave her a smile, one that was genuine with a bittersweet warmth.


    ¡°But it went south, and here I am now.¡±


    ¡°And what makes our heist today different from before?¡± G-Wiz asked, ¡°What makes it so that we won''t get in over our head?¡±


    Ichabod stood up, brushing past the krem and moving to stand in front of G-Wiz. His smile had disappeared, his mouth settling into its usual thin frown.


    ¡°I''ve gamed that entire plan in my head, over and over, every day, for years,¡± he said, ¡°I know what went wrong. I can see the mistakes we made, the errors in our judgment, crystal clear. It''s like they''re in front of me. I close my eyes, and I see them. It''s practically a comedy, how badly we messed up.¡±


    He sighed. The wind picked up outside for a moment, as though it were beholden to him.


    ¡°I won''t mess up again, Galatea. I won''t. The Tower of Eden was my opus. It will be again.¡±


    ¡°Even when you don''t have your first choices,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°I...¡± Ichabod hesitated, ¡°I try to analyze everything, Galatea. Look at things from a logical perspective, bereft of emotion. I''ve learned that emotion is often a liability.¡±


    ¡°It has its uses.¡±


    ¡°...Agree to disagree,¡± Ichabod said. He stiffened up, ¡°Will you join me?¡±


    G-Wiz nodded, though her eyes were hard.


    ¡°I will,¡± she said, ¡°But... Just remember what I said, about taking other people into consideration, Ichabod. You''re not infallible. And you don''t know when to quit with the barbs. Watch yourself, alright? You watch yourself, and I''ll watch you.¡±


    Ichabod smiled, and she knew it did not reach his artificial eyes.


    ¡°Deal.¡±


    ***


    The last of the team was one Ichabod did not want joining them.


    Vicenorn was outside, working on the repairs of the Titania Amber with Meleko, Mallory, and Lazuli. Ichabod watched the large, lobster-like man work, Vicenorn''s mechanical arm twisting and transforming into various implements and tools to apply to the starship. His face was red from exertion, despite the relative cool of the day. Ichabod pretended not to look at him, at his large body, his strong legs and his still-human, muscular arm. Tried not to think of Vicenorn drawing close, so close his breath was on Ichabod''s neck...


    He suppressed an excitable shiver. He did not want Vicenorn, this magnificent beast of a man, anywhere near the Tower of Eden. He stood stock still, wind scored through with orange leaves billowing his cloak, bright flares of light against the drabness of the day.


    ¡°You''re staring hard, Ichabod,¡± Becenti said behind him.


    Ichabod turned. Becenti was also helping with the Titania Amber''s repairs, wearing a white shirt stained with plasma tears, his tattoos on full display.


    ¡°I want to bring up Vicenorn again,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°You may,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°I don''t want him on this mission.¡±


    ¡°Vicenorn,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Is knowledgeable about the region of the multiverse that Neos is in. His mechanical arm is a match to yours, so if something happens he can take any role you''re taking.¡±


    ¡°We don''t need a back-up,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°If I''m taken out, then it''s over. We pull out. I''m the only one with the right tools to get into the database we''re looking for.¡±


    ¡°He''s also muscle, if needs be,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°We already have a heavy,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Galatea.¡±


    Becenti quirked an eyebrow, and Ichabod could see the gears whirling in his head. He seemed to come to the same conclusions as the cybernetic man, however, and nodded.


    ¡°All the same,¡± he said, ¡°I spoke with Wakeling about it, and she wants him on the job.¡±


    I see, Ichabod thought, To make sure I don''t go too far.


    He surreptitiously glanced over where Vicenorn was working. His heart skipped a beat even at the very sight of him.


    Damn you, Wakeling. You know us all too well.


    ¡°Is that a problem, Ichabod?¡± Becenti asked.


    ¡°For the record, it is,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°He''s...¡±


    He didn''t want to say ''liability,'' what if Vicenorn heard him?


    ¡°He''ll be mission control,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°We''re going to need one anyway. He''ll stay outside the tower, let us know what''s going on via hacked security cameras, and the like. Deal?¡±


    ¡°That is agreeable,¡± Becenti said.


    Ichabod let out a huff.


    ¡°Good, then,¡± he said. He started walking towards Vicenorn. Vicenorn looked up to Ichabod as he approached. There was this way that he smiled, a large grin breaking out on his face that filled Ichabod''s world. Heart hammering, Ichabod cleared his throat.


    ¡°You''re going on a job with me,¡± he said, ¡°Becenti just cleared it.¡±


    ¡°Well hello to you too, Ichabod,¡± Vicenorn chuckled, ¡°Fair weather we''re having.¡±


    ¡°The weather is fine. Nice, even. No chance of rain,¡± Ichabod snipped, ¡°Ah, you look nice, today.¡±


    Vicenorn rolled his eyes. He was wearing a white A-Shirt and a pair of ripped, plasma-stained jeans.


    ¡°Thank you, Ichabod,¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°Now, what sort of mission is this?¡±


    ¡°Nothing major,¡± Ichabod lied, ¡°A quick heist. Get in, get out.¡±


    Gods, all of his usual maskings and subtlety disappeared. Vicenorn was a dangerous man. A beautiful, dangerous man. Ichabod found his eyes slide over to Meleko, Mallory, and Lazuli, who were casually listening in.


    ¡°I-I''ll explain the details later,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°We''re a team, you see. Not just you and I, obviously, but G-Wiz is with us. Becenti, too, as well as-¡±


    ¡°Ichabod, relax,¡± Vicenorn laughed, ¡°Just tell me the time and the place.¡±


    He laid a hand on Ichabod''s shoulder. Ichabod felt his body tingle as he returned a watery smile.


    ¡°Now, I have to get back to work,¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°Just let me know when we''re meeting and leaving for the job, sound good?¡±


    ¡°Sounds brilliant,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°See you then.¡±


    He could have sworn he saw Lazuli and Mallory stifling laughter as Ichabod walked away. God, he lost all of his defenses when he was around Vicenorn. Becenti had a smirk on his face.


    ¡°Shut up, Myron.¡±


    ¡°I didn''t say anything,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°So that''s it, then,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°That''s our team.¡±


    The metahuman nodded, the smirk dissolving.


    ¡°That''s our team.¡±


    ***


    One by one, they gathered in a small common room tucked away in the western tower. Few of the guild knew of this little room, a dusty old study that belonged to one of Wakeling''s late associates. They gathered inside, sitting down on ancient stools, G-Wiz on the desk that had once held documents and inkwells, Vicenorn leaning against the wall beside the door.


    And, one by one, they had their reactions to the job. What they were doing. Contort was already partially aware, and he feigned shock as Ichabod explained where they were going. Becenti and G-Wiz already knew, and they just stared grimly at Ichabod as he went on.


    Rorshin and Vicenorn had separate reactions. Vicenorn gave a simple jerk of the head, though there was something swimming in his eyes that set Ichabod on edge, as though he were upset about something. Rorshin simply smiled, however, a dark, vile grin that only the vengeful wear.


    ¡°It''s Neos, people,¡± Ichabod explained, ¡°The entire plane is a patchwork of urban sprawl and wasteland. They get all of their food from off-plane. They get all their water off-plane, too, because the rainwater''s not safe to drink. Too many chemicals in it, at this point.¡±


    ¡°Sounds like a shithole,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°It is,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°But it''s also one of the most influential planes in the multiverse. The various megacorporations there run many enterprises across the multiverse, from magical research to funding guilds.¡±


    ¡°Not us, though, right?¡± G-Wiz asked.


    ¡°Of course not, Ms. Wiz,¡± Becenti said, ¡°We''re called the Amber Foundation because the wealth of Titania Amber directly sustains our work.¡±


    ¡°She was blooming rich,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Not rich enough that we don''t have to do guildwork, but rich enough that we''re able to keep them off our backs. Not every guild is lucky like that, however.¡±


    ¡°How are we getting there?¡± Vicenorn asked, ¡°The starship''s out of commission, and Metrizan has the Dreamer for the Methuselah job.¡±


    ¡°We need more ships,¡± G-Wiz muttered.


    ¡°Hardly,¡± Rorshin said, ¡°We''ve two legs each, don''t we? Well, most of us do.¡±


    The druid slid Ichabod a sly look. Ichabod resisted the urge to punch him in the mouth.


    ¡°Rorshin,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Like we talked about.¡±


    Rorshin rolled his eyes, though the smile did not leave his face.


    ¡°Travel,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Has been arranged. We''re to travel out to Kelphaven, and from there we''re heading to the Traveling Point above the Faraway Mountains.¡±


    ¡°The Traveling Point on Beritale Landmass is closer,¡± Vicenorn pointed out.


    ¡°Yes, but it''s also more obvious,¡± Becenti said, ¡°We don''t want to cause much of a hassle. Not yet, anyways.¡±


    ¡°This is a heist, remember,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°If we need to make ourselves obvious, we will. But for now, we''re sneaking onto Neos.¡±


    They all nodded.


    ¡°We leave in a couple days,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Get your things together. It''s going to be a long trip.¡±


    ***


    ¡°I still wish you''d tell me where you''re going,¡± Joseph said.


    He and Becenti were on a balcony overlooking the gardens below. Far below, they could see Vicenorn loaded up a bag of supplies onto a wagon, his mechanical arm reaching up to pet the top of the krem pulling the cart.


    ¡°I know, Mr. Zheng,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Though I suppose that''s par for the course,¡± Joseph said, ¡°You''re visiting one of the prisons again, right?¡±


    Not exactly, Becenti wanted to say. But it would make Joseph feel better if he at least had an inkling of an idea of where they were going.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Becenti lied, ¡°One of the prisons.¡±


    He hoped he sounded convincing enough, but Joseph gave no indication of suspecting Becenti or not. The young man rolled his shoulders, wincing a bit. His time at InterGuild had been a violent one, and he was still healing from his wounds.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said, ¡°Which one, this time?¡±


    ¡°A secret, unfortunately,¡± Becenti said, then, changing the subject, ¡°You should concentrate your time here, Mr. Zheng. You should apologize properly to Tek.¡±


    ¡°Tek doesn''t talk to me,¡± Joseph said, ¡°A lot of the others aren''t, either.¡±


    ¡°I don''t blame them,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Tek was relying on you, and your guildmates don''t like it when you''re unreliable.¡±


    ¡°...Fair,¡± Joseph said, ¡°No, you''re right. I''ll... I''ll try.¡±


    ¡°Do so,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I understand your reasons, Mr. Zheng, but all the same. When someone is relying on you, you don''t just leave them behind. It defeats the entire point of why we''re here.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Joseph said, ¡°We¡¯re supposed to help each other.¡±


    ¡°Indeed, Mr. Zheng,¡± Becenti said.


    He made to leave.


    ¡°Becenti.¡±


    He stopped. Joseph turned to look at him.


    ¡°If¡­ If I asked Wakeling for help, she would, right?¡±


    ¡°If she had the ability to, yes,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°But there are limits to that.¡±


    ¡°As guildmaster, yes,¡± Becenti said, ¡°There are certain areas where she would be of no use. Certain topics she cannot, as guildmaster, share with us.¡±


    ¡°Like Agrippa,¡± Joseph said, ¡°The sarcophagi.¡±


    He was still on that. With the absence of¡­ whatever he had fought for, and lost, at Interguild, Joseph had once more latched onto the idea of the sarcophagi. Becenti gave a curt nod.


    ¡°Indeed,¡± he said.


    ¡°Because we don¡¯t deal with Agrippa.¡±


    ¡°Correct, Mr. Zheng,¡± Becenti said, and he suppressed a wince.


    ¡°...I know,¡± Joseph said. He continued staring out, ¡°Good luck with the prisons, Becenti.¡±


    ¡°Good luck yourself, Joseph,¡± Becenti said.


    He turned away. Walked downstairs.


    They left Scuttleway not long after.


    ***


    The journey was a long one. The day''s walk to Kelphaven was quiet and somber, as the team, once more, got used to the rigors of travel. The wagon wheels spun. The road stretched onwards as they went around Moadma''s Landmass''s edges and towards Kelphaven. From there, they took a ship, a ratchety old sloop, cresting across the sea towards Omasta Landmass. Instead of continuing on towards the Orcish nation of Salthirn, they instead crested back to the interior of Londoa, towards the Faraway Mountains. There was no Rainbow Bridge for this crossing. Instead, airships plied between Moadma and Omasta, ferrying travelers between the two sheets of earth.


    From there were the Faraway Mountains, so named not because of their distance but because the entirety of the interior parts of Omasa Landmass was covered in mountains. Major settlements in this part of Londoa were sparse and scattered, the largest of which were centered around the Landmass''s two Traveling Points. It was the one in the south that the party was heading towards for this trip, hiring another airship, the Illman''s Burden, to bring them there.


    A city stretched below them, though they were now there for long, instead beelining for the Traveling Point. With a couple of huffs, they stepped through, shifting through the swamp-like, multi-colored ocean that was the space between realities.


    They journeyed across planes of existence, each one stepping closer and closer to Neos. They were careful not to draw attention to themselves as they traveled. They wore drab clothing, camouflaged in the mundane. Each flashing of a guild ID was a calculated one, just enough to get the guard to let them pass, let them planeshift towards the next plane.


    Until, finally, after passing through a dozen different worlds, crossing through jungle, or desert, or voidplace, they came upon Neos.


    The Traveling Point was a hidden one, not used too often by the common Far Travelers and nomads of the multiverse. It was still recorded, and they still needed to show the proper documentations, but the eye of the megacorps, the eye of OzTech, was not as centered on them.


    ***


    Neos was a place of rain. Dark storm clouds thundered high above, occasional rumblings giving evidence of thunder. The air stank of chemicals.Towers rose in the distance, black monoliths peppered with white windows and bright neon ads for sodas, for food, for strippers, for entertainment devices, for legal drugs.


    Even from where they were, with a wasteland and a dirty highway between them and the city, they could see the advertisements. Buy, buy, buy.


    Ichabod sneered as he turned to his guildmates. His silver hair rippled in the chem-ranked wind.


    ¡°Shall we be off, then?¡±

 78. Settling In

    They were quiet as they loaded into the taxi. Vicenorn glared out the window as the vehicle started off across the wasteland expanse between Traveling Point and city. It was a self-driven black bar with wheels, all six of the Amber Foundation squeezed together as the taxi rumbled across the cracked, broken highway. It had evidently not seen much repair in a long time, as the six of them winced with each jostle, the wheels running over holes in the asphalt and jumbling past the rusted, washed-out shells of other vehicles on the road.


    The city loomed in the distance, all dark spires and artificial neon light, the rainbows of a thousand advertisements dancing through the sheet of rain.


    ¡°New Shan,¡± Ichabod muttered, ¡°See it hasn''t changed much.¡±


    Other vehicles began to join the taxi as they got closer to New Shan. Most of them were uniform black boxes, the wheels lit up by dull lights so one could see them in the rain. One could also see the logo emblazoned on each vehicle''s side.


    Outer Zebediah Technologies, it read. OzTech. In stark white against the black sheen of the car, almost electric in the way it was written, in the way it aped nature''s wrath. G-Wiz saw Ichabod''s nose curl at the sight of it.


    The taxi veered off the highway and into the choked undercurrent of New Shan. People began filling the roads, all of them in raincoats and holding umbrellas that dazzled in the myriad lights of the ads high above, each one twinkling like stars in the rain. The taxi parked.


    ¡°Let''s go,¡± Ichabod said.


    Each of them got out. They each only had a briefcase in hand, and all six of them had donned raincoats, pulling hoods over their heads. To blend in here, in New Shan, was to bundle up in dark nylon, the hood up. No one wanted to be caught standing out here.


    Besides, it wasn''t good to have rain pelt bare skin. There were enough toxins in it for the water here to be dangerous.


    All of the water that people drank here was imported, and stalls were set up as Ichabod and the others walked down the sidewalks. Each one held the logo of OzTech, and G-Wiz noticed that the crowd became thicker around the stands, as lines turned into mobs, as people waited for their daily allotments, using credsticks to pay out for a day''s supply, a meal''s supply, a single mouthful.


    Imported water, when the entire plane was drenched in a near-endless storm.


    There were enough of them, as they plunged into the poorer quarters of New Shan, that they were not accosted by anyone. People glowered from between buildings, some of them wearing raincoats, others with old grocery bags or blankets, all of them with a desperate edge in the eye. Vicenorn''s heart fell at the sight of children watching him, bellies bulging with the visible signs of malnourishment. One of them was missing an eye, her brother had a rudimentary cybernetic leg, worn from use, far too large for his body as he hobbled over to watch them pass.


    ¡°Heads up,¡± Becenti murmured, ¡°We''re being followed.¡±


    ¡°That will be Benjamin,¡± Becenti said, ¡°One of my contacts.¡±


    He turned around. A figure was stepping out of the rain and into the light of a dim streetlamp. He was an older man, with wispy gray hair and an artificial, metal nose. He tapped a cane against the ground as he strode forward.


    ¡°Ichabod,¡± he said, ¡°Been a long time.¡±


    ¡°Benjamin,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°It has.¡±


    The two of them stood stark. Rain poured around them. Contort, grimacing, pulled out his umbrella. G-Wiz stepped underneath.


    ¡°Well, I got your place lined up,¡± Benjamin said, ¡°How long will you be staying?¡±


    ¡°Not long, I hope,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°A couple of weeks.¡±


    ¡°Alright, then,¡± Benjamin said, ¡°Follow me.¡±


    The old man guided them down a few alleyways. They dodged past, stepping over the fallen forms of junkies, a few of whom were unmoving and still despite the deluge of the rain. They arrived at an old, hollowed-out building, a stairway outside leading to a second floor.


    ¡°Used to be a smoke shop, from what I hear,¡± Benjamin said, ¡°Owner moved out to Fireside some years back, we''ve kept it in relative repair since.¡±


    ¡°For jobs like these,¡± Becenti said.


    The metahuman was aware he had, somehow, spoken out of turn, the way Benjamin turned to give him a dour look. Ichabod shot Becenti a warning glare.


    ¡°Perish the thought,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Sometimes you just need a good smoke.¡±


    Stupid, Becenti thought, I''ve been stupid.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Lead on, then.¡±


    Benjamin and Ichabod exchanged a look, before they went inside, heading up the stairs and opening the door to the second floor. It was an old loft, parts of the wall stripped bare, though the roof was solid enough that one could hear the rain thud dully against it. A couple of bed mats were spread on the floor, and a small kitchen was tucked away in the back.


    ¡°Home, sweet home,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°At least, for now it is.¡±


    ¡°This place is gross,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Not bad.¡±


    They piled in. Contort walked over to the kitchen and leaned against the counter. Vicenorn set himself on one of the bed mats and stretched. Rorshin merely stayed at the door. The wizard fixed a glare at the outside world.


    ¡°There''s a shop on Fifth where you can get food, supplies,¡± Benjamin said, ¡°They take Federation credits, but don''t draw too much attention to it. You might want to get it converted.¡±


    ¡°Probably a good idea,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°The Cazadores own this block,¡± Benjamin said, ¡°They come down once a week for their cut of... whatever you do here.¡±


    ¡°And they''re aware we''re here?¡± Ichabod asked.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Benjamin said, ¡°Only way I could get you in. They want a hundred credits for each week you''re here, coming in on Friday.¡±


    ¡°We''ve the money,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°Tri-Gun Police does a sweep through here every Thursday,¡± Benjamin said, ¡°They look for illicit goods, drugs, anything they can use to get you. Make sure you have your guild IDs with you at all times. Make sure you hide the fact that you''ve got a metahuman. Make sure you don''t look threatening.¡±


    ¡°And make sure to grease their palms,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°Usually a hundred is enough to get them off your backs,¡± Benjamin said.


    ¡°Very well,¡± Ichabod said. He turned to Becenti, ¡°We have enough to fund that?¡±


    The old metahuman nodded.


    ¡°Good,¡± he turned back to Benjamin, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°Don''t thank me,¡± Benjamin said, ¡°I''m not doing this for free, even for an old shade like you.¡±


    Ichabod smirked, pulled out a credstick and presented it to the old man. Benjamin took it in hand, revealing cybernetics that ran from his fingernails to his wrist, scanning the credstick and the money stored on it. He nodded in satisfaction.


    ¡°Good hunting, Ichabod,¡± Benjamin said.


    With that, he swept out, the door closing behind him in a wet creak.


    Becenti stepped inside, glancing around the dark room. He went to join Vicenorn on the bed mat, sitting down beside him.


    ¡°...Quaint,¡± he said.


    ¡°It''s not the best,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°But it''s hidden away. Not as many cameras out here. Drones out here are usually shot down for parts.¡±


    ¡°But there''s still the matter of the police element,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°There were better places, for that,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°But they weren''t as efficient. We''ve got the money to keep Tri-Gun off of our backs, and the taxis around here will take us directly into downtown New Shan, where the Tower of Eden''s located.¡±


    Becenti nodded. Ichabod rolled his shoulders.


    ¡°We should get to work.¡±


    ¡°You sure?¡± Contort said, ¡°We just got here.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, Ichabod,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°I''m exhausted.¡±


    ¡°Exhaustion is temporary,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°We can sleep when we at least cover the baseline of why we''re here.¡±


    Everyone looked away at that. Becenti let out a cough.


    ¡°Look, we don''t have much time,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°The longer we''re here, the better the chance that someone finds out what we''re doing. Guildfolk don''t just waltz onto Neos. They''re either here to talk to OzTech, or are on a job.¡±


    ¡°I understand your concerns,¡± Becenti said, ¡°But Ms. Wiz speaks the truth. We won''t get any work done while we''re gassed out.¡±


    ¡°But-¡±


    ¡°I know, Ichabod,¡± Becenti said, ¡°But we can risk a day. A night. That''s it. I can''t tell because of the rain, but what time is it?¡±


    ¡°...Ten at night,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°Are the stores still open?¡±


    ¡°Should be,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°Contort,¡± Becenti said, ¡°How much food do we have left?¡±


    ¡°From the journey?¡± Contort shrugged, ¡°Not much.¡±


    ¡°Right, then,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Ichabod, you and Vicenorn go shopping. Get us some supplies, food. The like. The rest of you, get comfortable.¡±


    Ichabod opened his mouth as though he wanted to make one last denial, but whatever sharp thing he was going to say died as Vicenorn rose to his feet. The large man''s shoulders sagged from the constant travel.


    ¡°Very well,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°This way, Vice. Just down the street.¡±


    ¡°Careful out there,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°We will be,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Shouldn''t be any trouble.¡±


    The two cybernetic men walked out the door. Contort leaned against the counter, pulling out a cigarette. He offered one to G-Wiz, who took it and lit it with a flick of her keytar. The guild let the wound-up energy of travel ooze out of their systems, each body sagging down and letting their minds feel their bones ache.


    ¡°He''s wound up,¡± Contort said.


    ¡°He''s back home,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Doing something he only dreamed about. It''s only natural that he''d want to get a move on with it. But I''m here because of that.¡±


    ¡°You mean you''re here so he doesn''t get too rash,¡± Contort said.


    ¡°Precisely,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Ichabod is usually a patient man, but-¡±


    ¡°Something''s in his eyes,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Sorry, interrupted.¡±


    Becenti, however, merely nodded.


    ¡°We''ve got to put the job first,¡± the metahuman said, ¡°We can''t let our own emotions cloud our vision.¡±


    ¡°You''re one to talk,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°You''ve visited how many of those Darwin prisons, again?¡±


    She realized she had said the wrong thing, as Becenti fixed her with a hard stare.


    ¡°I''m doing that for the good of the guild, either on my own time, or as part of a contract with the High Federation,¡± he said, ¡°If Wakeling wanted, she could pull me out of going out there. If I go too far, she merely says a word, and I''m back at the guildhall.¡±


    He began taking off his jacket, hanging it up on the door handle.


    ¡°We are allowed our personal goals,¡± he said, ¡°But they shouldn''t get in the way of the jobs we''re on. Understood?¡±


    G-Wiz nodded.


    ¡°Good,¡± Becenti said.


    ***


    Ichabod took the lead as he and Vicenorn went down the streets towards the store. He guided Vicenorn down abandoned alleyways, crossed through small shortcuts here and there, noted where certain dangers were.


    ¡°See that street corner, there?¡± he said, ¡°Cazadores thugs use that place for their shakedowns.¡±


    ¡°You sure?¡± Vicenorn said.


    ¡°Well, it''s been a few years,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°But my contacts assured me that the Cazadores were still around, and they''ve only expanded lately. I don''t see why they wouldn''t keep using their old turf.¡±


    ¡°Maybe because they''ve expanded so much, they don''t need it anymore?¡± Vicenorn said.


    Ichabod fixed the corner a look. Considered Vicenorn¡¯s words. Then nodded.


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± he said, ¡°All the same, best not to chance it.¡±


    ¡°Agreed,¡± Vicenorn said.


    They crossed the road, avoiding the street corner entirely.


    The store that Benjamin mentioned was a small outlet known as Homegrown, a subsidiary of OzTech, and as such didn''t have much to offer in terms of variety. Food on Neos was primarily bean or corn-based, mushed together into meals that could be eaten quickly, without the need to be cooked.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ¡°They''re just squares of matter, really,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°But if you sprinkle a bit of salt on them, it''s easier to get down. Sometimes you can get a condiment, or something to that effect.¡±


    Vicenorn was looking down at one of the packages, a bag of bean chips. Dried beans, mashed together into a semblance of a corn chip.


    ¡°Oh, those are no good,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°No nutritional value to it. It fills the belly, though.¡±


    He looked over Vicenorn¡¯s shoulder to look at the price.


    ¡°Cheap, too.¡±


    ¡°I suppose,¡± Vicenorn put the bag back on its stand with a shrug, ¡°Look, Ichabod, you alright?¡±


    ¡°Alright?¡± Ichabod asked, and there was a nervous tremor in his voice, ¡°I-I suppose I''m...¡±


    He looked out the window. Rain was falling outside in an iridescent sheet. Vicenorn walked over to him, placed a hand on his shoulder. He pretended not to notice the shiver that ran up Ichabod''s spine, the way the pencil-thin man stood up straight at his touch.


    ¡°Look,¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°This is a dangerous job, alright? Alright to not feel alright about it.¡±


    ¡°I-It''s not that,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°I suppose it''s r-rather...¡±


    He gave a sideways glance to Vicenorn, not daring to meet the large man''s eyes.


    ¡°It''s nothing,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°I''m fine. You''re fine. We''ll be fine, or as fine as we can be. Now shut up and help me pick out dinner.¡±


    He swept off. Vicenorn gave a dour smile, shaking his head and following his friend.


    ***


    They returned with food. Dinner was a somber affair, as Becenti and Contort took over the kitchen, the smell of sizzling corn filling the room. There was a rank edge to it, as though it were from the bitter edge of a harvest. But still, they made do with what was provided, which ended up being meager bowls of off-color corn and noodles. G-Wiz wrinkled her nose at the sight of it as they dug in.


    ¡°Everything alright, Ms. Wiz?¡± Becenti asked.


    ¡°Not a noodle person,¡± she said.


    ¡°You eat spaghetti just fine,¡± Contort said.


    ¡°When I''ve got something with it, I can choke it down,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°And only the spaghetti that Elenry cooks when she''s on kitchen duty.¡±


    ¡°Weird,¡± Contort said. He rolled his noodles ''round a fork and bit down.


    ¡°Just don''t like chewing it, is all,¡± G-Wiz said. She moved her meal around, picking at a few kernels of corn that she popped into her mouth like a bird.


    ¡°Don''t get used to this feast, folks,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°This was the only bag of corn we could find in the place, and it was prohibitively expensive. It''s soybars and instant ramen for the next few weeks.¡±


    G-Wiz suppressed a shudder. She ate the corn gratefully, pretending each pop of false sweetness was real and genuine.


    They ate in silence. They went to bed in silence.


    Sirens roared in the distance, along with the sounds of the city.


    ***


    G-Wiz was the second to wake in the morning, as she blearily opened up her eyes, feeling an uncomfortable humidity in the room. She rose up, her sleeping bag still cocooning her like a pupae, to see that Rorshin had opened the door. The druid was sitting in front of it, cross-legged and calm, his gnarled cane laying in front of him. He simply watched the rain and the city.


    ¡°Morning, Rorshin,¡± G-Wiz whispered. But the magician did not reply. He merely stared out. Thunder warned in the distance. Lightning spidered across the choking black clouds.


    G-Wiz shuddered a bit, noting how sickly cold the air was with the door ajar. Still in her sleeping bag, she inchwormed her way over to Rorshin, slumping against the wall beside him. The druid''s eyes, which had been closed, opened into slits to consider her. Then, they went back to staring out at the rain.


    ¡°I did research, you know,¡± he said, ¡°On this plane.¡±


    ¡°For the job?¡± G-Wiz asked.


    ¡°Oh no, long before,¡± Rorshin replied, ¡°Before I gave up on... many dreams, and joined the guild. The sun of Neos could be traveled to, did you know that? Some metahuman or other placed it high in the sky, long ago.¡±


    G-Wiz shrugged.


    ¡°The people of this land used to worship it, before the corporations took over. Said it was a gift from God. Then, when the corporations made contact with the multiverse again, they pulled it down. With chains, I think it was said. Used it all up.¡±


    He gestured towards the city.


    ¡°Now any light here is neon. Holographic. Artificial.¡±


    ¡°You could say the metahuman light was artificial, too,¡± G-Wiz said.


    The druid fixed her with a dark look.


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± he said, ¡°But it was made a part of nature, hung in the sky to give life to the plane. The lights you see out there are there to sell. To trick. To scam. It has lost the purpose of being light.¡±


    He turned back towards the open door.


    ¡°I hate this plane,¡± he said.


    ¡°Hate to say it, but I gotta agree,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°It''s making my stomach turn. I don''t know how Ichabod grew up here.¡±


    ¡°And yet, I did,¡± the thin man''s cold voice rang behind them. G-Wiz turned around to see Ichabod get up. He had taken off his longcoat in the night, revealed a black shirt underneath, his cybernetic limbs strange and uncanny in the light of New Shan bleeding from the door. Ichabod walked over and picked up his longcoat, pulling it on as he gave them a flat look.


    ¡°Morning, Ichabod,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°Not a ''good'' morning, then?¡±


    ¡°It''s not a good morning,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Ichabod said, then sneered, ¡°Already thinking like a true Neosite. Not bad, not bad at all.¡±


    He walked over to the bag of groceries, pulling out a couple of soybars. He threw one to G-Wiz, ignoring Rorshin entirely.


    ¡°The others will be waking up soon,¡± the cybernetic man said, ¡°We should get ready.¡±


    ***


    Once they had all woken up, Ichabod started. He glanced around the room for a second as people shifted and sat down.


    ¡°We should have a table, I think,¡± he said, ¡°G-Wiz...?¡±


    G-Wiz rolled her eyes, keying a few notes on her keytar, and she painted a hardlight table in front of Ichabod. Ichabod smirked at her for a second, before approaching the table and slamming a hand onto its surface.


    ¡°Right,¡± he said, ¡°Let''s get started with the basics, shall we?¡±


    He clicked a button on his wrist. A projection of the Tower of Eden bloomed onto the table. G-Wiz realized she had seen the building as they had been driving in, but it was nothing like the hyper-detailed schematics that Ichabod was presenting. Last night, it had been a solid block of black against the night, a dark silhouette against an even darker sky, the logo of OzTech blazing like starlight on the top.


    Here, however, G-Wiz could see the individual details of the Tower. How it was built to not look like a brick, but rather a series of woven-together strands, as though it were composed of iron wicker. Gargoyles perched on specific branches of the Tower, glowering at the earth below. G-Wiz could imagine the rain pecking at them, slowly eroding away their solid forms. Eventually, the wicker designs disappeared, replaced with the semblance of great palm leaves that scaled the top of the Tower like a Dragon''s hide. The logo of OzTech nestled among them, bright even on the hologram, as though Agrippa had set it up to be the new sun of Neos.


    ¡°The Tower of Eden,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Is among the tallest buildings in New Shan. On Neos, if we''re being honest. It is a behemoth at three thousand feet tall, with a hundred and eighty floors, dedicated to the various industries that Oztech holds sway over, from technological research to food production to industrial engineering. Hundreds of people go in and out each day, from employees to salesmen to...¡±


    He smirked.


    ¡°To guildfolk.¡±


    There was awkward shifting. At the sight of Ichabod''s sickly grin. At the sight of the Tower, rising tall, as though each leaf were an eye, staring down at them.


    ¡°Our mission, of course, is to infiltrate this building,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°And that''s why we''re all here. Our target, is here.¡±


    He flickered a wrist, and the Tower began levitating upwards, revealing its underbelly.


    ¡°While a hundred and seventy floors of the Tower are above ground,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Ten of them are below. The first five are storage spaces, places to keep various machinery and equipment. The other five are data nodes, most connected to New Shan¡¯s network. Some of them aren¡¯t, however. They¡¯re set up as data storage.¡±


    ¡°And it''s what''s down there that we''re after,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Precisely,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Since they were the middle man between Like Shadow and their employer, it will be there.¡±


    ¡°You really think they''d track that?¡± Rorshin asked, ¡°One would think that they like to burn their secrets.¡±


    ¡°As above, so below,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°The Tower of Eden is an inversion. Just as it rises towards the sky...¡±


    ¡°It burrows into the earth,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°And the earth holds secrets,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Dark secrets. The nastier inner workings of OzTech. Blood money funneled to compromised guilds, weapons smuggled to terrorists in the Inner Reach. The less... moral, acts of Oztech are stored down there.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Rorshin asked.


    ¡°Because they can,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Because to them, violence is business. Because even the darker acts of a corporation need to be quantified and measured, compared and reported. The High Federation has given them leave to do as they will within the confines of the law, so long as it''s recorded and reported. You can get away with a lot, so long as it''s legal.¡±


    He shrugged.


    ¡°I don''t expect a wildman like you to understand.¡±


    Rorshin''s eyes narrowed. Becenti rose.


    ¡°Ichabod, enough of that,¡± the metahuman said, ¡°Continue.¡±


    ¡°...Right,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Regardless, past the storage units, the security of the storage room runs on different systems than the rest of the building. I''ve got a good Cutter to get through it, of course, so that shouldn''t be difficult.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°So what''s the initial plan?¡±


    ¡°Well, it''s simple, really,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°We need to do an initial casing of the place. Get a good idea of where we need to go.¡±


    ¡°Thought you had schematics for that,¡± Contort said, ¡°They''re floating right in front of me.¡±


    ¡°Schematics only take you so far,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Infiltration is an art form, Arne. You''ve got to get a feel for the place before you go breaking in. Each building has its own quirks, its own personality that a simple schematic doesn''t possess.¡±


    ¡°There''s more to it, I hope,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I''m rather hesitant to risk going on a casing with the only justification being ''because we can.''¡±


    ¡°Please, there''s more to it,¡± Ichabod said. Vicenorn, can you present your arm, please?¡±


    The large man rose to his feet, lumbering over to the table. He laid his massive arm on the table, and like a puzzle it began to open up, revealing a network of cables and wires, along with a few spinning gears from his own modifications. A small, metal spider crawled out.


    ¡°Eww,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Gross, Vice.¡±


    Vicenorn rolled his eyes. Ichabod sneered.


    ¡°It''s our ticket to getting inside when we do the actual infiltration,¡± he said, ¡°The security cameras around the place all run on independent circuits. This spider''s our link to connecting all of them. Well, spiders, actually.¡±


    As he said that, two more of the bugs pulled themselves free of Vicenorn''s arm.


    ¡°They''ll link up each of the different circuits, and allow them to be operated from a single location,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Our master control here.¡±


    He smiled at Vicenorn, who blushed a bit.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± the large man said, ¡°Made ''em myself.¡±


    ¡°And you can''t use these... spiders, for the door to the underground?¡± Rorshin asked.


    ¡°Only works on cameras,¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°Anything more than that, and we risk drawing attention to them.¡±


    ¡°It''s vital that we don''t lose access to them, either,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°If we don''t have eyes and ears on the most important parts of the Tower, we''re dead in the water. You don''t go into a building blind, not even with the floorplan of the place.¡±


    Rorshin nodded at that, accepting the answer.


    ¡°Once we get a look at the place, we''ll go in the night of,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°The sooner we can get in, the better.¡±


    ¡°Ah,¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°We might want to wait a few days, let the spiders calibrate to their security systems.¡±


    Ichabod stopped at that. A finger twitched.


    ¡°If they''re found within that time, they''ll be destroyed. We could be found out.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°But it''s been a while since I''ve had to make these sorts of devices. I need time to calibrate the equipment to the Tower''s network. That could take me a second.¡±


    Ichabod opened his mouth to say something, then closed it, gritting his teeth.


    ¡°How long, Vicenorn?¡± Becenti asked.


    ¡°A day,¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°A few days, depending.¡±


    ¡°Is that agreeable to you, Ichabod?¡± Becenti asked.


    Ichabod gave a curt nod.


    ¡°I''ll help,¡± he said, ¡°Cut the time in half.¡±


    ¡°So we give it the time for the spiders to calibrate,¡± Contort said, ¡°Then what?¡±


    ¡°From there, we split up,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°G-Wiz, Rorshin, Contort, and I are all going inside via a teleportation spell. Can''t use the front doors, now. Shouldn¡¯t use any doors, if I¡¯m being honest. Becenti and Vicenorn, you two are staying outside and acting as our mission control.¡±


    Becenti nodded. Vicenorn looked uncomfortable.


    ¡°You sure...?¡± Vicenorn asked, ¡°You''ve got a druid with you. You sure he''s right for this?¡±


    ¡°You''re asking now?¡± Ichabod said, ¡°His magic is sufficient.¡±


    ¡°Right, but...¡± Vicenorn hesitated, ¡°Rorshin, no offense to you intended, but...¡±


    ¡°You''re concerned that I wouldn''t have the technological know-how in case things go wrong,¡± the druid said.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Vicenorn said.


    ¡°I assure you, I don''t,¡± Rorshin said, ¡°I take what you said as a compliment.¡±


    He glared at Ichabod.


    ¡°I know that if we lose the half-man here, we''re done for anyways. I intend to topple this building, if it comes to that.¡±


    There was a stark silence at Rorshin''s assertion. G-Wiz let out an awkward cough.


    ¡°Nobody''s doing any of that,¡± Becenti said, ¡°At least, not yet. I respect your drive, Rorshin. But do remember, anything you do could easily be tied back to the guild. I highly doubt that OzTech will look favorably on us if you do destroy the Tower.¡±


    Rorshin shrugged. He did not offer a rebuttal.


    Nor did he offer acquiescence.


    ¡°But the druid''s right,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°We lose me, you''re out of the game. At that point, leave me behind-¡±


    ¡°Ichabod,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°Look, we''re already taking a major risk, here,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°There is a... a chance we aren''t going to be able to pull this off. In that case, damage control will be needed.¡±


    He looked directly at Becenti.


    ¡°You know what to do, in that case. Cut me loose. I quit the Amber Foundation three weeks ago to plan this whole charade, hiring local muscle to help me. That''s it.¡±


    More awkward shifting in the room. Rorshin was giving Ichabod a nasty smile.


    ¡°Very well,¡± Becenti said, ¡°If it comes to it, we''ll falsify the records.¡±


    ¡°But it won''t come to it,¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°We''ll pull this off, Ichabod. You chose us for this job for a reason. We''re guildfolk. Made of sterner stuff.¡±


    G-Wiz noted that Ichabod went a bit red.


    ¡°I... I appreciate that,¡± the cybernetic man said, ¡°Really, I do. I hope to God we can do this.¡±


    His gaze swept over to the Tower of Eden. Ichabod took off his sunglasses, revealing his artificial eyes, all glass and clear and all-too-unnerving. He stared at the Tower for a few moments, his brow furrowing in thought.


    ¡°We''ve got a better plan than... than before,¡± he said, ¡°And, I hate to say it, but we''re a more versatile team this time.¡±


    He stewed within himself for a few more moments. Contort cleared his throat.


    ¡°You still haven''t mentioned something,¡± he said.


    ¡°And what''s that?¡± Ichabod asked.


    ¡°How are we getting into the Tower for the casing?¡±


    Ichabod sneered.


    ¡°Remember what I said before?¡± Ichabod said, ¡°The Tower sees all sorts of people come in. Guildfolk included.¡±


    ¡°Ichabod...¡± Becenti said, as realization dawned on him, ¡°What was the point of all that sneaking around, if you''re just going to tell them that we''re here?¡±


    ¡°Oh, we''re not here,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°You are, though, Myron.¡±


    Becenti blinked.


    ¡°I don''t follow.¡±


    ¡°It''s simple, really,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Guildfolk come to OzTech all the time. Sometimes it''s to take a job, sometimes it''s to ask for funding. Other times it''s to speak to OzTech''s guild, Pantheon. Any business that guilds do with the company all get funneled to the Tower.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Our excuse for us getting into the Tower is that you, as the right hand of the Amber Foundation, are here on business.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Becenti said, ¡°What sort of business?¡±


    ¡°The business that gets us into the Tower, but doesn''t look too suspicious or has too many eyes on us,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°You''re putting out feelers for a potential partnering with Pantheon for a theoretical expedition into a previously uncontacted plane.¡±


    ¡°And we would partner with Pantheon because...?¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°You''re a smart man, Myron. You''ll figure it out,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Look, it''s just to get you inside. Pantheon''s busy as it is, so you''ll naturally be stonewalled. But you''re also a guild, a potential future partner, so they''ll want to go through the motions of giving you an audience with some middle manager or other.¡±


    ¡°So I just... waltz in?¡± Becenti asked.


    ¡°Oh, God, no!¡± Ichabod laughed, ¡°You sent in an offer a week ago.¡±


    He clicked a button on his wrist, revealing a holonet letter with the details. Becenti''s eyes narrowed as he read it. It even had his signature.


    ¡°In the future, Ichabod,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I would appreciate it if you cleared this with me first.¡±


    ¡°Ask for forgiveness, not permission,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Would you have let me if I brought up the idea with you first?¡±


    ¡°That doesn''t matter, Ichabod,¡± Becenti said, ¡°It''s the principle of the matter.¡±


    Ichabod rolled his eyes.


    ¡°Yo, dipshit,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°You''re not wearing your glasses. We saw that.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Ichabod said, ignoring her, ¡°Very well, Becenti. The next time I come up with a plan to get us inside a building, I''ll clear it with you.¡±


    ¡°Ichabod,¡± Vicenorn said.


    He was giving Ichabod a stern look. Ichabod returned it for a few moments, before breaking. The thin man let out a sigh.


    ¡°I''ll... I''ll let you know if anything else questionable comes up,¡± he said, ¡°I''m... s-sorry, Becenti. I''ll...¡±


    ¡°Be more open,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Yes, that.¡±


    There was a third awkward pause. Contort looked away from the rest of the team, humming to himself. G-Wiz pretended to play with her keytar.


    ¡°It will get us an in though, right?¡± Becenti said, ¡°You''re sure we won''t look suspicious?¡±


    ¡°Reasonably,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°It''s the best chance we''ve got, I think. There are some risks we''re going to need to take. This is the one with the lowest chance of us being found out.¡±


    ¡°Alright, then,¡± Becenti said, ¡°But I''ll want a buddy for this.¡±


    ¡°I can''t go,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Remember, if we need a fall guy...¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Becenti said. He turned to Vicenorn, and Ichabod''s stomach shriveled.


    ¡°Want to be my plus one?¡± Becenti asked.

 79. When Elijah Was There

    Becenti had, fortunately, brought himself a spare suit and tie. He walked downstairs and into the small bathroom located in the smokeshop''s back, changing and making himself presentable, shaving a bit with a knife made of heat, tying his hair back into a sharp ponytail. Vicenorn did much the same, putting on a gray suit and brushing out his red pepper beard. Ichabod shook his head as the massive man emerged.


    ¡°No tie,¡± he said.


    ¡°Don''t need one,¡± Vicenorn said.


    ¡°You need a tie,¡± Ichabod snapped, ¡°Myron, have you got a spare?¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Becenti produced one from his suitcase, and G-Wiz noted that, aside from a couple odd amenities, the metahuman had only packed suits and ties for the trip. She stifled a laugh.


    Ichabod, rolling his eyes beneath his sunglasses, strode over to Vicenorn, pulling him down and wrapping the tie ''round his neck. He muttered to himself as he tied it.


    ¡°Over the top, through the loop, there,¡± he grimaced up at Vicenorn.


    Who was looking directly at him.


    The two were face to face.


    ¡°Ahem!¡± Ichabod said, ¡°There, now you''re p-presentable.¡±


    He stepped back. Vicenorn glowered down at the tie, pulling at it a bit.


    ¡°D-Don''t pull,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Please.¡±


    ¡°Never liked these things,¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°I feel confined. Suffocated.¡±


    ¡°The sacrifices we make, Oris,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Yeah, you''d think,¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°Sooner we''re done with this little charade, the better.¡±


    ¡°Go down to Third Avenue,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°There''s a taxi there that will take you directly to the Tower. Your cybernetics will be scanned as you walk in.¡±


    ¡°Won''t the spiders be detected?¡± Becenti asked.


    ¡°Naw,¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°We''ve got a resident wizard here with us.¡±


    He gestured to Rorshin, who rolled his eyes. The druid stepped over.


    ¡°A blind spot,¡± Becenti said, ¡°One would think that they''d be prepared for that.¡±


    ¡°The higher floors are,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°As are the lower ones. But the scanners at the front doors are formal, to keep out the riff-raff and the more obvious interlopers. Rorshin, if you please.¡±


    The druid narrowed his eyes, but nonetheless approached. Vicenorn presented his arm, which slid open, revealing the spiders as they skittered around in a lackadaisical way inside.


    ¡°I will need a... region, shall we say, to do this,¡± Rorshin said, ¡°Inside your arm.¡±


    ¡°Here should work,¡± Vicenorn said. The spiders began to skitter near a pocket on the inside of his forearm. Rorshin whispered a few words, and they all felt a warm wind brush through the room, coalescing around a small acorn that the druid pulled from his bag. He placed it inside.


    ¡°A spell of hiding, like a soul within a seed,¡± Rorshin said, ¡°Make it last.¡±


    ¡°That will do,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Well then, let''s be off.¡±


    Vicenorn nodded. The two of them made for the door.


    ¡°Wait.¡±


    Ichabod stood tall as he looked at the two of them. He stared at Vicenorn for a bit longer than Becenti.


    ¡°Be careful.¡±


    Becenti nodded. Vicenorn chuckled.


    ¡°We will be, Ichabod,¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°I promise.¡±


    And they walked out the door.


    G-Wiz looked over at Ichabod. The thin man''s hands were steepled together, frittering nervously.


    ***


    True to Ichabod''s word, their taxi was on Third Ave, parked just underneath a street lamp by an old drug store. They stepped over the prone form of a junkie as they clambered in, feeling quite out of place wearing their business suits among the worn-down, poorer parts of New Shan. The car shielded them from all of that, though, with its tinted windows and dry interior. Music played automatically from the driver''s seat, an electronic rock piece that sang tinny from the speakers. G-Wiz would have appreciated it.


    The car drove around the poorer districts of the city, but as it went Becenti realized that all of the city was poor. The disenfranchised, the broken, the addicted, they all held sway here at ground level. He had heard of places like New Shan, where the rich lived in the high rises of the city, shuttling in on flying vehicles. Their children knew little of the earth below, only that it was a long way down. The workers of the towers lived in the middle, bridges linking the great buildings together, cars flying between them, nightclubs droning even in the morning. Neon signs pointed to bars, strip clubs, VR rooms, anything to keep the public entertained. To keep them from thinking about the world, and their place in it.


    New Shan was a city built on layers, and they were at the bottom of it all.


    As above, not so below.


    Rain began plinking against the taxi as it approached a solid wall of concrete that separated the rabble of New Shan from the business district. Armed drones flew overhead, and a couple of guards patrolled the top. Almost like the walls of Scuttleway, Becenti noted. The taxi stopped at the wall.


    The music dimmed. A woman''s voice, crisp and clear and business-like, sparked to life.


    ¡°Please scan your credstick.¡±


    Becenti and Vicenorn exchanged a look. Then, Vicenorn''s arm rippled as it produced a credstick from his finger. He scanned it in front of the red light by the driver''s seat, which blinked for a moment as it processed the money.


    ¡°Thank you for your patronage,¡± the woman''s voice said, ¡°We hope you have a wonderful visit.¡±


    With that, the wall began pulling itself open, parting like stone waves. The guards on top looked down at them as the taxi started up again, pushing through towards the business district.


    Neither Becenti nor Vicenorn commented as the gate shut once more. Becenti straightened his tie.


    ¡°Almost there,¡± he said, ¡°Let me do all the talking, alright?¡±


    ¡°Sounds agreeable,¡± Vicenorn said, his face going red with anxiety. He was pulling at his tie again, ¡°God, why''d you have to choose me for this, Myron?¡±


    ¡°Because we''re the two controllers of the job,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Got to be more to it than that,¡± Vicenorn said.


    Becenti was quiet.


    ¡°Come on, Myron,¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°I''ll be real, you probably had better options for mission control. Lazuli, for example. Meleko''s not bad at scanners. Not an old warhorse like me.¡±


    ¡°You sell yourself too short,¡± Becenti murmured.


    ¡°But there were better options,¡± Vicenorn said.


    ¡°...Yes,¡± Becenti said, ¡°There were.¡±


    ¡°Then why me?¡±


    The old metahuman stared ahead. The car made a right, dodging past a few other identical taxis. The ads were less egregious here, not the big blow-up holograms like in the poorer districts. This place was pure corporation, and thus had the dreary, artificial edge of a company-dominated downtown.


    ¡°...What do you think of Ichabod?¡± Becenti asked.


    ¡°Hmm?¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°Of... Ichabod?¡±


    Becenti nodded.


    Vicenorn grunted. He went a bit more red.


    ¡°He''s... He''s fine, I suppose. Handsome, in his way. He''s intelligent. Kind when he wants to be. And he cares about... Well...¡±


    He scratched behind his head.


    ¡°You have to ask this now, Myron?¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°Been a while, talking about¡­ this. About, ah, a crush.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Becenti said.


    The taxi stopped. The Tower loomed. Rain splattered against the stone steps that led up to the entrance.


    ¡°Myron,¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°I''m going to ask you a question.¡±


    There was realization in his voice. A sort of nervous indignation. Becenti turned.


    ¡°What is it?¡± the metahuman asked, his tone careful.


    ¡°I''m here because Wakeling told me to come,¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°I''m not here to... I couldn''t be here to keep Ichabod in line, am I?¡±


    Becenti'' silence was answer enough. Vicenorn''s eyes narrowed.


    ¡°Don''t you play lapdog again, Myron. Wakeling''s doing that thing again, isn''t she? Where''s she treating us all like... like...¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Game pieces, Myron.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Becenti repeated, ¡°But we''ve got a job to do, Oris.¡±


    He opened the door, umbrella blooming like a flower as he stepped out into the rain. Vicenorn, after a few moments, followed suit.


    ***


    Ichabod could not stay still. He paced the room, hands shaking with anticipation, his mouth moving wordlessly as he muttered silently to himself. Rorshin continued his meditations, facing the door, his face serene, his eyes closed. G-Wiz was on her sleeping bag, tuning her zumbelaphone, quiet electric beats buzzing the air. Contort was reading a book, propping himself up against a wall, though he kept getting distracted by Ichabod''s rounds, looking up to watch the cybernetic man fret.


    ¡°Give it a rest, Ichabod,¡± Contort said.


    Ichabod didn''t reply. He brushed past G-Wiz, an errant boot stubbing into her knee. G-Wiz flipped him off.


    ¡°Ichabod,¡± Contort repeated.


    ¡°Hmm?¡± Ichabod said, ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Dude,¡± Contort said, ¡°Take a chill pill. Relax. You''re getting worked up over...¡±


    ¡°What? Over nothing?¡± Ichabod said.


    Contort went quiet.


    ¡°Right. Use your brain for once in your life, Arne,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°You''ll find you can come to some obvious conclusions with it.¡±


    He started up his pacing again, continued with his silent mutterings. They became a bit louder now as he swore under his breath, his voice tight and harsh. G-Wiz stopped playing her keytar, ending her improvisation with an off-key as let out an annoyed sigh.


    ¡°Yo, dipshit.¡±


    Three heads turned to her.


    ¡°I meant Ichabod,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°What is it, Galatea?¡± Ichabod said, ¡°I''m rather busy.¡±


    ¡°I want a smoke,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°You got any?¡±


    Ichabod simmered a bit, fumbling in his coat pocket for a moment. Rorshin let out a low growl.


    ¡°If you smoke, you don''t do it here,¡± the druid said.


    ¡°Fair,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Ichabod, there a roof to this place?¡±


    ¡°Probably not a good idea right now,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°It''s raining out.¡±


    ¡°Then we''ll do it downstairs,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°We?¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°You need to relax, dude,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Come on.¡±


    It was a statement. An order. Ichabod rolled his eyes, and followed. The two of them went down the stairs to the first floor. Once, this had been a quaint little smoke shop, though the shelves had been cleared out and the glass behind the counter had been shattered long ago. G-Wiz nonetheless walked over to it, resting her hands on the countertop as Ichabod fumbled out a cigarette case. He handed a smoke to G-Wiz, lighting it and his own with a flick of the finger. The two of them stood there, leaning against the counter, watching the rain pour down outside.


    They stood for what felt to Ichabod like an eternity.


    Finally, G-Wiz looked over to him.


    ¡°What''s up, dude?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Don''t you ask me, ''what''s up,''¡± Ichabod muttered, ¡°Two of our own are out there, casing the place now. And I can''t be there to help them.¡±


    ¡°Sure,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°That''s a bit much.¡±


    ¡°Of course, it was my choice,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°I should have gone, though. I should be there with them. They don''t know the Tower like I do. They don''t...¡±


    He took another drag of the cigarette. He sighed out smoke.


    ¡°They just don''t understand.¡±


    ¡°Dude,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Alright if I''m real with you?¡±


    ¡°You''ve always been ''real'' with me, Galatea,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°It''s an unfortunate vice.¡±


    ¡°I don''t think you care that Becenti''s in there,¡± G-Wiz said.


    Ichabod''s voice caught. He glared at her.


    ¡°He''s our guildmate,¡± he said, ¡°Of course I care that-¡±


    ¡°He''s been on wild rides before, dude,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°He¡¯s been in worse situations, and you know it.¡±


    ¡°...I suppose,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°So if you''re not worried about Becenti being there, then you gotta be worried about the other guy,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°...About Vicenorn,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Are you... Are you good, man?¡±


    Ichabod turned to her. Considered her for a few moments. Then, with a defeated sigh, he simpered down.


    ¡°No,¡± he said, ¡°I suppose not.¡±


    G-Wiz nodded, before looking around for a moment, rummaging beneath the counter and producing an ashtray. She stifled her smoke, her mouth a thin line.


    ¡°Want to talk about it?¡± she asked.


    ¡°I... I suppose I''d...¡± Ichabod sighed, ¡°I''m not really sure, Galatea.¡±


    ¡°S''alright,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°You don''t have to. I''m not going to rag on you because of it.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Galatea.¡±


    ¡°But I think you should talk to Vicenorn, one of these days,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°You know, tell him how you feel.¡±


    ¡°Pah!¡± Ichabod wheezed, ¡°It''s not so serious, G-Wiz. Just a little crush, is all.¡±


    G-Wiz gave him a frank look. Ichabod felt himself become uncomfortably warm.


    ¡°It''s more than that,¡± he said, ¡°He makes me feel...¡±Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.


    He hugged himself, sliding down until he was sitting, back to the counter.


    ¡°He makes me feel good about myself. He reminds me of when Elijah was here.¡±


    G-Wiz blinked.


    ¡°Elijah?¡±


    ***


    Becenti and Vicenorn stepped through the doors, feeling the uncomfortable buzz of red scanners pulse over them as they stepped into the lobby. The entire place was white, with waterfalls flanking either side, a mist settled over the area like a greenhouse. It felt cold on the skin, clammy like a broken fever. Trees flourished in this place, ivy and vines wrapped ''round their trunks like serpents. Some bore fruit, some familiar, some unfamiliar, all of them colorful. All of them, vibrant. As though they were painted renditions. Flowers festooned the ground around the trees, poked out of their roots, conquered the grass, orchids and roses and bluebells and great big sunflowers that stared at them like eyes as they walked in. All of the garden was hedged in, just barely, by marble walkways that led to the front desk, to elevators, to a staircase that was sculpted from dark wood.


    But all of it felt... off. Artificial. The trees could not have been grown here. They had been placed. Like furniture. There was nothing real here, despite the obvious attempt at it.


    Of course, this was what Becenti felt. Vicenorn just gave out an awkward cough and said ¡°Not bad.¡±


    An attendant walked over to them, a woman in a curt, black dress, her hair tied up in a bun that spiraled up like a conch shell. Lines etched her face, evidence of much more advanced cybernetics beneath the surface of her skin. Becenti thought that she must have had her entire face replaced, the way she smiled robotically at them.


    ¡°Good morning, sirs,¡± she said, ¡°Can I help you today?¡±


    ¡°Ah, yes,¡± Becenti said, adjusting his tie, ¡°I''m Myron Becenti, of the Amber Foundation? We had a meeting with one of your representatives about a potential contract.¡±


    ¡°Amber Foundation...¡± the woman''s eyes shone blue for a moment, and something beneath her forehead rippled, ¡°Yes, your nine o''clock. If you will follow me, please.¡±


    She gave them a false smile, and began to guide them across the lobby. Becenti and Vicenorn exchanged looks, before following her.


    Vicenorn brushed a hand through the leaves, the entire side of the tree swaying at his touch.


    He released the first of the spiders as he did so.


    ***


    High above, at the top of the Tower, Julius Agrippa sat at his desk. Felt the brush of the G''Rash Haro on his shoulders, the sickly sweet scent of its breath, as it watched the door. Its head was just over his shoulder.


    His thin, reed-like finger pressed a button on the desk''s surface. A camera appeared, a bird''s eye view of his garden below. The trees and the flowers, all of them beautiful.


    And there, he saw them. The Amber Foundation.


    The air reeked with possibility.


    The desk gave him notification of a voice call. Agrippa pressed it.


    ¡°Sir,¡± it was one of his secretaries, ¡°The Amber Foundation are here for their morning appointment.¡±


    ¡°Excellent,¡± Agrippa said, ¡°I''ll be down in a moment.¡±


    ***


    ¡°I was raised out here, you know,¡± Ichabod said.


    G-Wiz moved around the corner, slumping down beside her friend.


    ¡°On Neos,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°It''s the home plane. Of course, I wasn''t Ichabod back then. I was...¡±


    He looked down at the cracked tile floor.


    ¡°I was named Saul. And I had Elijah.¡±


    ¡°Saul,¡± G-Wiz rolled the name on her tongue, looking over at him. Ichabod''s expression was blank, his arms resting on his knees. He was a broken man, she realized.


    ¡°Saul,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°And Elijah. I... I met him when I was... an activist.¡±


    ¡°An activist?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Ichabod said. He took off his sunglasses, revealing his glass eyes. Despite their artificial nature, there was a depth to them as he turned to look at G-Wiz. There was, she realized, still a window into his soul.


    ¡°It wasn''t always like this, you know,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°The corporations. The wastelands. Neos was once a thriving plane, from what my grandmother told me. Her mother told her stories of a Neos that was verdant and green. A place where the oceans were alive and thriving, where the storms did not carry death. I was... young, then. I still thought that the system could be changed. And so I started, as a young man, to protest. I joined hands with others.¡±


    He gave a smile. A warm smile, foreign on his cold face.


    ¡°I met Elijah there.¡±


    ***


    The spokesman for Oztech was a rat-like man, pencil-thin with a practically drawn-on mustache. His scalp was artificial, the same thin lines as the lobby attendant etched just above his forehead. Glass eyes slid up to look at Becenti and Vicenorn as they walked in.


    The office itself was made of glass, water sloshing just beneath their feet, green light shining through to bathe the entire room in a chlorophyll glow. The pencil-thin man rose from his desk, offering a mechanical hand to Becenti.


    ¡°Amber Foundation,¡± he said, a nervous edge to his voice, ¡°Welcome. I am Mr. Aloysius.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Aloysius,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Pleasure. I''m Myron Becenti, this is Oris Vicenorn.¡±


    The glass eyes glowed for a moment as Mr. Aloysius recorded their names. For a moment, the rat-like man''s face sagged into a neutral expression, before breaking back into a false smile.


    ¡°Of course,¡± he said, ¡°How wonderful to make your acquaintance. Please, have a seat.¡±


    They sat down. Aloysius clicked a few buttons on his desk, and it began reading out a series of contracts that he looked over.


    ¡°It appears the last time you were involved with us was five years ago,¡± he said, ¡°An altercation between one ''Nole'' and a member of Pantheon.¡±


    ¡°Correct,¡± Becenti said, racking his brain, ¡°The Tirus Affair, if I recall correctly.¡±


    ¡°Over Gastron Prime,¡± Mr. Aloysius said, ¡°I hope that Nole is in good health?¡±


    ¡°He...¡± Becenti said, ¡°He passed away, a few months ago.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Aloysius said, not a hint of regret in his voice, ¡°My... condolences.¡±


    ¡°Quite alright,¡± Becenti said, ignoring Vicenorn''s subtle look, ¡°It''s the business.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Aloysius said.


    ***


    ¡°He was...¡± Ichabod stammered, ¡°He was everything. Kind. Handsome. Dark. There was a way he smiled at you, like you were the only thing in the world. Endlessly charismatic. People flocked to him as though he were a shepherd at night.¡±


    ¡°Damn,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°And... Out of everyone, he chose me. He saw something in me, a stick of a man. I am not easy to get along with, Galatea, even back then.¡±


    ¡°That''s true,¡± G-Wiz said.


    Ichabod sneered.


    ¡°And yet he chose me,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°We started going on actions at first. Nothing major, just hit and runs on various corporations. That''s when we chose our nicknames. Ichabod for me, Goliath for him. I did the infiltration, and when things got hot, Goliath started hitting things until they stopped moving.¡±


    ¡°Your heavy.¡±


    ¡°My heavy,¡± Ichabod said, with a wistful edge, ¡°My beautiful heavy. We were quite the item. Made many friends, in those days. Most of them, moral. All of us, illegal in our own ways.¡±


    He turned to her, once wearing that true smile.


    ¡°You should have seen the wedding.¡±


    G-Wiz had to grin at that.


    ¡°I would have liked to,¡± she said, ¡°Knowing you, it would''ve been a good time.¡±


    ¡°It was...¡± Ichabod said, ¡°It was.¡±


    He was quiet for a long moment.


    ¡°A year after our marriage, we went on a major job. It was to crack an egg that had never been broken. Not truly. A Tower rose from the dirt of the world.¡±


    ¡°The Tower of Eden.¡±


    ¡°The same,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°It was a routine job. Just to let Agrippa know that we were here, that even atop his high rise, he was not safe. I picked out the best of us. I chose our heavy.¡±


    His hands shook. His voice was hollow as he spoke.


    ¡°Agrippa found us, of course. Found all of us. I''m not sure how ¨C someone must have let something slip, by accident.¡±


    ***


    ¡°Excuse me,¡± a voice said behind them.


    Mr. Aloysius''s eyes slid up, widened at the sight of the voice''s owner. Becenti and Vicenorn turned their chairs around to see the newcomer. Both tried to hide their shock as Julius Agrippa stepped into the room. He was a tall man, but thin, an iron rod wearing a suit, clammy blond hair hanging off his head in curtains, a thin mustache and beard creeping down his sharp face. Agrippa''s almost-filmed eyes flitted between the two as he walked, a slow smile on thin lips. He walked like a marionette, as though something had possessed him, and only knew a bit of how the human body walked.


    Even more unsettling was the creature that accompanied him, that floated like a dull spectre over his shoulders. It resembled a raptor of some sort, though it was just as large as Vicenorn, with feathered arms that ended in hooked, scythe-like claws, a thick, serpentine neck writhing over its mass and ending in a lion''s head, though the eyes were hollow and empty like Agrippa''s.


    A G''Rash Haro, Becenti knew. A Spirit of Man. Tamed and molded from a darker part of the multiverse, some distant place, its form hewn in the shape of its owner''s soul.


    ¡°Mr. Agrippa,¡± Aloysius said, ¡°I did not expect you to come in today.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I drift in, depending,¡± Agrippa said, and his eyes slid over to the representative for a moment, ¡°I wish to speak with this guild, if you please.¡±


    ¡°O-Of course,¡± Aloysius said. He stood up, and stepped away from the desk.


    ¡°Mr. Agrippa,¡± Becenti said, ¡°You make for an unexpected surprise.¡±


    ¡°I drop in, now and again,¡± Agrippa said, ¡°I wasn''t going to come in today, until I heard that a few guilds had scheduled appointments with OzTech. I just had to see who they were. And well,¡±


    He gestured.


    ¡°It''s not every day that we see someone like Shimmer walk through the door.¡±


    ¡°It''s just Becenti, now.¡±


    ¡°Becenti, then,¡± Agrippa said, ¡°Forgive me, but you were looking at a contract, yes?¡±


    ¡°A potential partnering of the Amber Foundation and Pantheon,¡± Becenti said, ¡°For an expedition.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Agrippa said. He drew forward, taking Aloysius''s place at the desk, looking down to review the information, eyes flickering to read each line.


    Then...


    ¡°Have you thought about pursuing a more... permanent relationship, shall we say, with OzTech?¡±


    ¡°Permanent in what way?¡± Becenti asked.


    ¡°Oh, OzTech offers many luxuries that the High Federation lacks,¡± Agrippa said, ¡°We''re known to be middle men for several exclusive contracts across the multiverse. We also house several records of various contracts within the Tower of Eden itself, as opposed to some Library World or other in the Silver Eye.¡±


    He gave a wan smile.


    ¡°It would be an enormous opportunity for you. The clients we deal with are most influential. It would give you the opportunity to catapult your guild to new heights. You''ve already the skill, do you not? This would give you the leverage you need to showcase them.¡±


    Becenti exchanged a glance with Vicenorn. Both of them were quiet. Agrippa, still with that odd smile, still with those empty eyes, began to shuffle towards the door.


    ¡°Perhaps a demonstration is in order?¡± he said, ¡°A tour, perhaps.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± Becenti said, playing his cards close to his chest, ¡°Although, rather odd, that the CEO of OzTech himself comes to visit a mid-level guild.¡±


    ¡°The Federation may think so,¡± Agrippa said, ¡°But you are not. You have members within the Amber Foundation that are on-par with the greatest. Wakeling, yourself, the Wildarm...¡±


    ¡°Trying to do a bit of poaching, then?¡± Vicenorn asked, ¡°See if any of us want to join Pantheon?¡±


    ¡°Nonsense,¡± Agrippa said, ¡°I see a guild with several influential individuals, and I want to work with them.¡±


    ¡°That sounds logical,¡± Becenti said. Feigning hesitation, he turned to Vicenorn, ¡°Perhaps a tour is in order.¡±


    ¡°I suppose,¡± Vicenorn said, following along. He stroked his beard, ¡°If things don''t work out, we still have the expedition on the table.¡±


    They both looked at Agrippa.


    ¡°Lead the way, then,¡± Becenti said.


    ***


    ¡°Now, in those days,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°When you were caught, it usually wasn''t anything major. The jobs we ran, oftentimes there was a degree of corporate shadowplay at work. One corporation striking out at another. As was tradition. Elijah and I, we never accepted that kind of work. But it was common practice to merely throw the infiltrators in jail. Slap them on the wrist. That usual sort of business.¡±


    ¡°Today''s enemies are tomorrow''s tools,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°Precisely,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Unless something awful happens, it''s usually not too much fuss.¡±


    He went quiet.


    ¡°Ichabod?¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Ichabod, what did Agrippa do?¡±


    ¡°H-He...¡± Ichabod sobbed, ¡°He butchered them.¡±


    ***


    Agrippa led them down the halls, towards the elevator. He stepped in, a full half of the small elevator taken up by the G''Rash Haro. The lion-headed serpent fixed its gaze on Becenti, its empty, emerald eyes trying to pierce through his soul, never once straying from Becenti''s face. Becenti returned its stare.


    The elevator dinged on the fifth floor. The door opened, revealing a small figure.


    ¡°Ah, Charnak,¡± Agrippa said, ¡°Please, join us.¡±


    Charnak walked in. He was small, fox-like in appearance, wearing a faded gray cloak, his vulpine eyes narrowing at the sight of Becenti and Vicenorn. A mechanical paw reached down beneath his cloak to grip a badly concealed wand.


    ¡°Amber Foundation,¡± he rasped, ¡°Top of the morning.¡±


    ¡°And you, Charnak,¡± Becenti said. He had heard of this one. A wily magician of flame. A butcher.


    Charnak joined the G''Rash Haro in staring at the two of them. Unlike the spirit¡¯s empty stare, however, the magician''s glare was that of full-blown suspicion. As though he knew that they were here for less legitimate reasons.


    ¡°Ho, Charnak,¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°Were you at Interguild this year?¡±


    The fox did not reply.


    ¡°He''s not...¡± Agrippa chuckled, ¡°He doesn''t get out much, does he? Mostly sticks to the Tower. And it''s not even Pantheon''s guildhall.¡±


    ¡°It''s a nice place,¡± Vicenorn admitted.


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Agrippa said.


    The elevator continued descending, light cascading around them from the other floors, the verdant greens turning to dusk as they went underground.


    Then, with a final ding, the door opened wide into a long hallway that was carved from stone. The floor was, once more, glass, water filtering harsh sunset light. Agrippa''s footsteps echoed down the hall as he walked towards a metal door. Two guards flanked either side.


    ¡°This leads down to our records,¡± he said, ¡°Among the most important parts of the Tower. We store them underground, for security reasons.¡±


    ¡°Makes sense,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Agrippa said. He sauntered over to the door, giving Becenti a mirthless smile before turning. For a moment, he pressed a finger against the console, which opened up into a keyboard that he began typing into, his fingers a blur. He pressed a hand against a heated pad, which took his fingerprints. Finally, he spoke into a small microphone that bloomed out of the console''s side with the press of a button.


    ¡°Julius Agrippa. Et in Arcadia Ego.¡±


    A light by the door turned green. It slid open. Becenti quirked an eyebrow.


    ¡°Saying your password out loud?¡± he asked.


    ¡°The password changes every week,¡± Agrippa explained, ¡°And it''s not so much the password, as it is the voice.¡±


    Becenti nodded. Ichabod had not mentioned that part. Nor had he heard of a Cutter that could mimic one''s voice.


    Agrippa stepped inside. The others followed, Charnak bringing up the rear. They were on a raised, metal walkway. Below were several long, black blocks. Data nodes, all of them. Supercomputers, with all of the aesthetics stripped away. Pure computational power.


    ¡°Looped right back to ENIAC,¡± Vicenorn commented.


    ¡°Here we have the information center,¡± Agrippa said, ¡°As of right now, some four hundred guilds use our systems for their own uses. We store their information, and remit the proper follow-up to the High Federation on their behalf.¡±


    ¡°Interesting,¡± Becenti said, ¡°And what do these... follow-ups, entail?¡±


    ¡°It''s rather straightforward, really,¡± Agrippa said, ¡°Here, follow me.¡±


    At the end of the walkway was a simple set of stairs. Agrippa walked down them, his long legs skipping steps. He walked over to one of the computers, raising up a hand. His right finger split, the skin peeling away to reveal a long, thin needle that he inserted into the computer. His dull eyes glowed green, looking, for the first time, alive.


    A hologram appeared in his other hand. He showed it to Becenti, who stared at it in the emerald light.


    ¡°A contract,¡± he said, ¡°A job that Pantheon performed.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Agrippa said, ¡°Pantheon is one of the guilds that stores all of its records here on Neos. Other guilds still store their information here, while also sending them out to the Library Worlds. Others simply have us as the middle man entirely, writing up reports to the High Federation and sending them out.¡±


    ¡°A lot of different options, then,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Agrippa said. Then, looking up at the computer, he frowned, ¡°This place is pure information. Nothing beautiful about it, not truly. Shall we head back upstairs?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Lead the way.¡±


    ***


    ¡°Pantheon stalks the halls,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°A few of them, at least. Magicians foreign to these shores. They found us. Wiped out half the team in the first go. We weren''t prepared. How could we be?¡±


    He looked at G-Wiz.


    ¡°Who can be prepared for the multiverse?¡±


    ¡°Shit, man,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°I''m...¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°He... Elijah was there. Somehow he survived that first assault. The fire and the flames. Pantheon took us. Brought us up to the very top floor, where Agrippa''s office is located. He... He took one look at us. And... And...¡±


    He was sobbing now, harsh, wretched coughs that shook his frail frame. He hugged himself, knees drawn to his chest, his entire body shuddering.


    ¡°He said, only one of us was to see sunrise.¡±


    ***


    Agrippa''s office was a dark, circular room. Moody orange light played off of the ceiling, once more filtered through water, dream-like reflections dancing on the floor. Bronze statues guarded the four cardinal points, angels in robes and wielding blades that blazed in cast metal flame. There was no window to the outside world. There were simply the walls to stare at. The angels to be judged by.


    Agrippa sat down at his desk.


    ¡°Now,¡± he said, ¡°Using OzTech is a two-way street. In many cases, clients come to us to schedule jobs with the guilds associated with the OzTech brand. We hide their identities under the Oztech name.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Becenti asked, taking a seat.


    ¡°Oh, you must understand,¡± Agrippa said, ¡°Many of our clients, they don''t like having their names out in the world of Interguild. It''s unconscionable to them. Their reputations for using a guild would be tarnished.¡±


    ¡°One can''t be seen using common mercenaries,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Indeed, though they have use for your fire, they have use for your blood,¡± Agrippa said, ¡°Before, my father kept away from using guilds. He didn''t see the point in them.¡±


    The businessman leaned in.


    ¡°But I do. I see that you are much like any business, trying to make ends meet in a dark and harsh world. Angels in the filth, truly. The greatest beings I have met in my life came from the guilds.¡±


    ¡°Then why us, then?¡± Vicenorn asked.


    ¡°Another feather in your cap, I presume,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Nonsense,¡± Agrippa said, ¡°The name ''Amber Foundation'' carries more weight than you realize. My father spoke of you, Becenti. He spoke of Wakeling. To work with you is not just a business decision. I wish to work with you out of a genuine desire to surround myself with great men and women. To see how they stand. Only then, can I learn how to be like them.¡±


    He gave his smile again. Something in the G''Rash Haro''s eyes glimmered.


    ¡°I... see,¡± Becenti said. He paused, perhaps dramatically, perhaps to give himself time to think of an answer, ¡°Give us time, I think.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Agrippa said, ¡°These decisions, they do not come lightly. I am a patient man, Myron Becenti. Just come up to the Tower when you are ready to work with OzTech. Our doors are always open.¡±


    He rose.


    ¡°Melody, please show them the way out.¡±


    ***


    ¡°We didn''t get to choose,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°He chose for us. Those empty eyes slid to each of us. He pondered our souls. Looked at us like... like playthings. He...¡±


    He began to break down, before he composed himself once more.


    ¡°He chose me.¡±


    Whatever memories Ichabod was living in, they overpowered him. He broke down completely, letting out an ugly cry and falling onto G-Wiz''s shoulder. G-Wiz could only sit there, a single hand wrapped over his shoulder, pulling him close as Ichabod lost control. For the next few minutes, the cybernetic man cried, coughed, shuddered with the sheer effort of grief.


    Then, he quieted down. The harsh cries turned whispering. He still held himself close to G-Wiz, however.


    ¡°W-When it was... over,¡± his voice was forced through a wall of emotion, ¡°When it was... done. A-Agrippa cast me out. Th-threw me into the mud. Removed my... my arms. My legs. Said I could get them r-replaced. But he also said that I would not forget their loss.¡±


    Outside, the rain poured down in a deluge. G-Wiz stared at the window, watching the neon lights reflected in the storm. She did not dare turn to look at Ichabod. To see his state. To spare him his dignity.


    ¡°He was... right,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°I close my eyes, and I see th-that day. I let my thoughts stray, and they''re back at the T-Tower. What went wrong. Elijah''s... face. Him on the... on the ground, Galatea.¡±


    He let out a final, coughing sigh, and pushed himself away from her, rising to his feet. He was unsteady for a moment, before he pulled out another cigarette, lighting it up. He took a drag, letting himself calm down, reclaiming the parts of himself that G-Wiz knew were an outer shell, a defense against the world. He was back to the mask when he looked at her again.


    ¡°That''s why I''m worried, Galatea,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°That''s why I''m afraid. I have the guild, this time. But there''s also a chance that this could go wrong. That I lose you all, too.¡±


    He took another drag. He exhaled it in an exhausted groan.


    ¡°I see Vicenorn, and I feel like I did when I saw Elijah,¡± he said, ¡°I see love. I just don''t want to lose it again. I don''t think I can take it. I can hardly take waking up, some days.¡±


    G-Wiz wasn''t sure what to say. She just looked at Ichabod.


    Eventually, he wiped his mechanical eyes, though no tears had broken from them. It was impossible for them to. His breakdown had no mark on his face, no tear stains. G-Wiz had always been told by her parents that tears were emotions made manifest, a release of the stress that one held in the soul. That''s why you felt better, after a good long cry.


    But Ichabod had bled no tears.


    He put his sunglasses back on.


    ¡°Well,¡± he said, ¡°There''s no use being down here, I suppose. We wait. We watch. We hope. And that''s all we can do.¡±


    He opened his mouth to say one last thing, then thought better of it.


    ¡°I will... I''ll be around, if you need me,¡± Ichabod said.


    And he walked away, back up the stairs. Leaving G-Wiz alone in the smoke shop.

 80. Voice of the Natural World

    ¡°Can you repeat that?¡± Ichabod asked, ¡°Please.¡±


    ¡°The room to the guild records is both voice and password protected,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Agrippa spoke this week''s password-¡±


    ¡°That''s not a concern,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°It''s not?¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°No, but he used his voice, yes?¡± Ichabod asked.


    Becenti nodded.


    They were, once more, surrounding the table of light, the holographic diagram of the Tower floating in front of them. Becenti and Vicenorn had returned back to their hideout a few hours before, dodging through back streets, moving taxis, and trying to make sure they lost any hunters that Agrippa might have sent out.


    Even then, Ichabod had told Rorshin to start using his magic to make sure they weren''t followed. The druid, after a moment of unspoken defiance, had gotten to work, weaving words into the wind.


    ¡°Other spellcasters are here,¡± Rorshin said, ¡°They''ve been at work.¡±


    ¡°How can you tell?¡± G-Wiz asked.


    ¡°Hnn, there''s a scent in the air,¡± Rorshin replied, his large nostrils opening and closing, ¡°Past all the decay, the chemicals, there''s the scent of magic.¡±


    ¡°Charnak,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Hnn,¡± Rorshin agreed, ¡°My spells hold, I believe. The other spellcaster has not found us. They search, though.¡±


    ¡°They''re suspicious,¡± Contort said, ¡°We''re not here a day, and they''re already sniffing us out.¡±


    ¡°Which is why time is of the essence,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Ichabod, are things going according to plan?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Ichabod hissed, ¡°The password, it''s fine. The Cutter avoids that easily, and if it''s a weekly password, not hard to force the system to reload an old backup. Nothing major, nothing I haven''t done before. But...¡±


    He scratched his chin, grimacing.


    ¡°It''s the voice,¡± he said, ¡°The damn door didn''t have voice recognition before.¡±


    There was an unsettling quiet in the room. Ichabod started to pace.


    ¡°I mean, come on,¡± Contort said, ¡°We can probably grab a synthesizer, right? They sell those here.¡±


    He looked around.


    ¡°I mean, we''ve done it before.¡±


    ¡°Not here,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Not with this. The Tower isn''t your average, run-of-the-mill shop. If it''s got a voice recognition software, it''s going to be top of the line, able to detect deepfakes and artificial synthesizers. Tough to crack.¡±


    ¡°But we can do it,¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°We can modify the Cutter. Grab new gear. Set up a station to synthesize his voice.¡±


    Ichabod glanced over to him. G-Wiz thought back to earlier in the day, during his breakdown. But Ichabod had not brought that up to her. It was as though it had never happened. So she pretended that was true.


    ¡°We could,¡± the cybernetic man admitted, after a few awkward moments, ¡°Theoretically. Given time. But it requires effort. Patience. A lot of sitting around.¡±


    He nodded to Rorshin.


    ¡°And if Pantheon''s already suspicious of... something in the air, then we don''t have much time. Rorshin''s good, but Charnak is...¡±


    The druid let out a low hiss.


    ¡°I have tricks,¡± Rorshin said, ¡°Don''t underestimate me, you half-thing.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps we don¡¯t use that language,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Rorshin. How well are your spells holding?¡±


    Rorshin shook his head.


    ¡°They aren''t holding well,¡± he said, ¡°Much of the life in this place is broken. Decrepit. Very little grows here. The wind holds few whispers. This is a dead place. It is no wonder why you left.¡±


    ¡°Answer the damn question,¡± Ichabod said, his voice venomous, ¡°Are your spells holding, or not?¡±


    ¡°They are,¡± Rorshin said, ¡°But not for long. The other spellcaster''s prodding, and if they decide to plunge any deeper...¡±


    The druid shrugged.


    ¡°Well, we may need to pull out, if that''s the case. They are Charnak, yes?¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°That name''s familiar,¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°I''ve heard of it somewhere...¡±


    ¡°Try the Sons of Darwin,¡± Becenti said, ¡°He was among their number. Pantheon scooped him up after the war.¡±


    ¡°A shitter, then,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°Suspicious, paranoid, wily,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I didn''t relish seeing him on that elevator.¡±


    ¡°Think anyone else from Pantheon''s here?¡± Contort asked.


    ¡°Presumably,¡± Becenti said, ¡°If I recall correctly, there are a couple of them stationed around the city. A few more are probably in the Tower. But most of them are off-plane, doing public work on behalf of OzTech.¡±


    ¡°Then we need to keep that in mind,¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°If there are agents in the city...¡±


    ¡°Precisely why I need the damn wildman''s spells to hold,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°We need to be hidden. I''d rather not be found out before we even get into the Tower.¡±


    ¡°They will hold, half-thing,¡± Rorshin growled, ¡°Mark those words.¡±


    ¡°It''d better,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°So far, your showing''s been poor, druid. I was expecting you to adapt to this plane, not wilt with it.¡±


    ¡°I do my best with bitter earth,¡± Rorshin said, ¡°My magic will do far more than your plastic tongue, half-thing.¡±


    ¡°No, I mean it,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Empty promises only go so far. If you end up compromising-¡±


    ¡°Ichabod, enough,¡± Becenti snapped.


    Ichabod went quiet. But he glared at Rorshin, whose jaw was set in a quiet rage.


    ¡°We cross that bridge when it comes,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Rorshin, keep me apprised. If you detect anything, anything at all, you let me know.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Rorshin said, barely forcing the words out, ¡°I will.¡±


    ¡°Ichabod, you and I chose Rorshin for this job, not just because of his abilities, but because of his passion,¡± Becenti said, ¡°We''re in this together, aren''t we?¡±


    ¡°I''m sure we are,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Differences aside, and all that, yes?¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Now, let''s get back to the matter at hand. Agrippa''s got the voice recognition. Vicenorn, Ichabod, how long until you can get some sort of software running?¡±


    ¡°...Too long,¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°That sort of work, from scratch? At least a month to get something rudimentary. Something that their system would probably catch.¡±


    ¡°We''d need to get a good, long look at their setup,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Which would mean another scouting into the Tower.¡±


    ¡°What, the spiders can''t take a look for us?¡± Contort asked.


    Vicenorn shook his head.


    ¡°I wouldn''t recommend it,¡± he said, ¡°The spiders need to be in hiding right now. We should only be using them on the night of. If someone finds them out in the open before the job...¡±


    ¡°Then we''re done here,¡± Becenti said, ¡°We need other options then. G-Wiz?¡±


    G-Wiz shrugged.


    ¡°I can tune my zumbelaphone, maybe,¡± she said, ¡°But it''d probably be better to just smash through the door, yeah?¡±


    ¡°The point is to not attract attention,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°We need a scalpel, not a hammer.¡±


    ¡°Weird surgery,¡± G-Wiz commented.


    ¡°I can slip in, maybe,¡± Contort said, ¡°If you can cut a hole big enough, I can collapse in and sneak.¡±


    ¡°...Perhaps,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°That would take hours,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Did you see the door? It''s blacksteel. Hours of work, far more than hacking it.¡±


    ¡°...There might be a way,¡± Rorshin said.


    They turned to the druid. Rorshin was stroking his ratty beard, his usual somber frown deepening in thought. His eyes glazed over as he sunk into the natural places of the world.


    ¡°Hmm,¡± he said, ¡°Yes, it may be possible. But it will be difficult.¡±


    ¡°Whatever it is, it''d better be good,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°There''s already plenty of mimicry in nature,¡± Rorshin said, ¡°If we find the right animal, I can mimic his voice perfectly. It will simply take me a few hours to attune to the animal we find.¡±


    ¡°And then what?¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°Then,¡± Rorshin said, ¡°We send one of our number to speak with Agrippa. Doesn''t have to be long. Enough time for me to listen in, using my own magics. It''s part of the spell. Once I am properly attuned, I will be able to use his voice as though it were mine.¡±


    ¡°I''m not sure,¡± Becenti said, ¡°How accurate is the spellwork? Can it hold up against scrutiny? If it''s off even by a little bit, the door won''t open.¡±


    ¡°I''d agree,¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°It needs to be more accurate than an artificial synthesizer. More accurate than any of the tech here on Neos.¡±


    ¡°You half-things and your machines,¡± Rorshin said, ¡°It will be more accurate, for it will be genuine. A voice from the machine is not alive, it holds no soul. If one is to ape a man, one does not use a machine.¡±


    He fixed Ichabod with a level look.


    ¡°Something artificial can never be real.¡±


    And Ichabod was quiet at that. G-Wiz saw his jaw was clenched.


    But the cybernetic man could not deny Rorshin''s point.


    ¡°It is... faster,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°What do we need?¡±


    ¡°A rarity, in this land,¡± Rorshin said, and his frown turned into a dark, disturbing smile, ¡°I need a parrot.¡±


    ***


    ¡°Right,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Are we all ready?¡±


    He, Contort, and G-Wiz had donned their raincoats, for another deluge warred outside the walls. G-Wiz nodded as she tucked her zumbelaphone behind her back, beneath her coat. Ichabod had warned her not to bring it, but she felt empty without it. Vulnerable. And she didn''t want to feel like that, where they were going.


    ¡°Where we headed, Ichabod?¡± Contort asked.


    ¡°To the higher levels,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°We''ll take a lift to get there. Follow me, I know the way.¡±


    He stepped out into the rain, pulling out his umbrella. He turned back towards the open door.


    ¡°Come along, now.¡±


    They followed Ichabod as he stepped down the staircase, taking to the alleyways like a spider to its web, weaving across the streets with a grim sneer on his face. Like he knew something the others didn''t.


    It was a defense mechanism, G-Wiz knew. An attempt to regain control of himself after something harrowing.


    She said nothing as he walked.


    ¡°No taxi today?¡± Contort asked.


    ¡°No,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°The taxis down here can''t fly up to the upper districts. You see those cars up there?¡±


    Contort followed Ichabod''s finger as he pointed up. Squinting through his see-through umbrella, he could see smeared lights above. Oranges, mostly, though there were a few hot pinks and neon greens from the holo-ads playing in their endless loops. He could see dark shapes floating among them.


    ¡°The cars above us fly,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Some people down here only ever see their bottoms. It''s an entirely different world, up there. Like you''re on a different plane entirely.¡±


    ¡°And that''s where we''re going,¡± Contort said, ¡°Neat.¡±


    ¡°If we''re going to get an animal,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°We''re going to need to go where they''re sold.¡±


    ¡°There a shop for animals?¡± Contort asked.


    ¡°Better,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°A black market.¡±


    With that, he approached one final tower. It was a solid black monolith, devoid of any distinguishing features. No ads, no signs, nothing. It was as though it were a pillar, holding up some part of the world. The outline of a door was carved at its base, a simple rectangle that was a shade lighter than the tower itself. Ichabod pulled out a credstick, pressing it against the door.


    Which let out a low, rumbling ding. The stone within the door''s silhouette began pushing away, revealing a hall that ended with an elevator.


    ¡°In we go,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Galatea, mind that we''re not being followed.¡±


    G-Wiz turned. A couple of onlookers were watching them, men and women in makeshift raincoats staring at them with haunted eyes. But they were just bystanders, unhoused people with nothing to do but watch.


    ¡°...We''re good,¡± she said.


    ¡°Good,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Let''s get on.¡±


    They walked to the elevator. The door closed behind with a whispering hush. The floor lurched as the elevator began to climb.


    ¡°One needs to have money, to move between the bottom levels of the city to the top,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Down here, the illusion''s worn out. The price to freedom is shown at its most bare.¡±


    There was an interplay of shadow and light as the elevator went past slatted windows, revealing a cityscape above and below.


    ¡°To go up in this world, one needs money,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Cold and simple. None of the bullshit.¡±


    The elevator door opened. And they were greeted with a miasma of sound. Of light. The holo-ads here, once faraway stars, bludgeoned their senses. The sounds of a woman droning over a speaker pitched sharp in their ears as they stepped off and onto a bridge connecting two of the high-rises. People, all of them in raincoats, all of them holding umbrellas, crowded around them, pushing and jostling and talking to each other. One of the ads was playing music, a cheery jingle that boomed on the same decibel as an explosion.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    ¡°Gods,¡± Contort said.


    ¡°None of those here,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Come on. Stick close.¡±


    He pushed his way through the crowd. He had no choice, the way everyone packed in together. There was no space here, on the bridges between towers. It was hardly afternoon, and clubs were already playing at full bore, loud music desperately trying to overpower the even louder holo-ads above. Cars flitted between the bridges, some of them dark and indistinct, others chromed up and shiny, or as shiny one could get in the neverending storm of New Shan.


    G-Wiz grimaced as she was jostled and elbowed. People looked down at her as she passed them by. Some had glass eyes like Ichabod. Others were more cyberized, their entire faces replaced by skull-like metal visages.


    ¡°Keep going,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Keep going...¡±


    He shoved past a massive, bulk of a man, muttering a ¡°Sorry¡± as he went. Finally, he and G-Wiz made it to the corner of one of the buildings, right by a bar.


    ¡°Where''s Arne?¡± Ichabod asked.


    ¡°There,¡± G-Wiz said.


    Contort was slipping around the mob, using his natural abilities to squeeze through cracks between raincoats and dislocating parts of his body to eel around errant arms, legs, a man who had stopped in the middle of the crowd to call someone through an earpiece. His shoulders twisted back into place as he approached them.


    ¡°Way to get yourself noticed,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°Ah, no one''s going to care,¡± Contort said, ¡°They''ll think I''ve got modifications of some sort. But I''m all natural, baby.¡±


    ¡°Oh, shut up,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Like anyone cares.¡±


    Contort noted the bitterness in his voice. He nodded.


    ¡°Right, sorry,¡± he said.


    ¡°It''s fine,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Let''s just go.¡±


    He moved off, once more sinking into the crowd. G-Wiz and Contort exchanged looks, before plunging in after him.


    ***


    With G-Wiz gone, the table of light had disappeared. This returned the smokeshop, which had been burning like a bonfire, back to a state of dusk, the meager lamps on the ceiling doing little to light the place. They flickered, occasionally, dancing the room in darkness at times.


    They kept to themselves. Vicenorn set up a small laptop, clicking it on, the screen''s white light illuminating his red face.


    ¡°Mind if I turn on some music?¡± he asked.


    ¡°So long as it''s good,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°ABBA,¡± Vicenorn said.


    ¡°Agreeable enough,¡± Becenti said.


    Vicenorn nodded, clicking the play button. Music began to play, drums and guitars and screeching, hoarse voices that sent Becenti back to the days of his youth. He found himself rapping a finger against his knee in time to the beat as he leaned back, pulling out a book to read.


    Rorshin once more stared at the door, his legs crossed and his staff between his shoulder and head. Occasionally he would twitch, a sign that he was casting a spell of some sort, keeping their defenses up against Charnak''s proddings.


    ¡°Spiders are well and good,¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°They''re hiding all over the place. They''ll be ready to pop when it''s time to go.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Becenti said, turning a page.


    ¡°I''m thinking it might be a good idea to find some way to connect me to the Tower directly,¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°As it stands, I don''t like the idea of just sitting here with this small computer.¡±


    ¡°We might be able to get something mobile,¡± Becenti said, ¡°But if that doesn''t work, you''ll need to be here.¡±


    ¡°We could rent someplace closer,¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°Somewhere higher up.¡±


    ¡°I''ll talk with Ichabod about it,¡± Becenti said, ¡°But our job is to lay low, remember.¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    He tapped a few more buttons. Gave a furtive glance Rorshin''s way.


    ¡°You going to talk to him?¡± he whispered.


    Becenti nodded. Mouthed ''in a moment.''


    Vicenorn rolled his eyes. His typing became a bit more frenetic, a bit more intense, as he poured his emotions into his work. Becenti skimmed another few pages of his book, before closing it and taking a deep breath.


    He disliked these conversations immensely.


    ¡°Rorshin,¡± he said.


    Thunder boomed outside, skittering through the clouds like a mallet over a drum.


    Rorshin did not turn. But Becenti knew he had heard him.


    ¡°Half-things, eh?¡± Becenti said, ¡°That''s what you call it now?¡±


    The druid remained silent. He stared at the open door, the rain falling in sheets outside.


    ¡°Rorshin,¡± Becenti said, ¡°When you came on this job, we had a deal.¡±


    ¡°You''d keep Ichabod off my back,¡± Rorshin murmured, ¡°And you have been doing quite a fine job at that.¡±


    ¡°I''m beginning to fear that I''ll have to say the same to you,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Ah, the words I use,¡± Rorshin said.


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I know what your views are on... cybernetics, and the like.¡±


    ¡°They are much like pills,¡± Rorshin said, ¡°Artificial enhancements on an inherently natural life.¡±


    Vicenorn stopped typing. Becenti looked over at him. The large man''s face was red, and not with anxiety, or embarrassment. It was out of a dark sort of rage. He rose to his feet.


    ¡°''M going downstairs,¡± he muttered.


    His footsteps creaked against the floor as he walked. The building shook a bit with each step, mimicking the thunder outside. Becenti watched him lurch downstairs.


    ¡°Artificial enhancements,¡± Rorshin said, ¡°Manmade extensions to a natural lifespan.¡±


    ¡°Is that your problem with them?¡± Becenti asked.


    ¡°Oh, I have many problems with this world,¡± Rorshin said, ¡°And those such as Vicenorn and Ichabod are examples of what I despise.¡±


    ¡°Because of their cybernetics,¡± Becenti said.


    Rorshin turned, at last, to consider Becenti. His eyes were devoid of empathy.


    ¡°Yes,¡± he said, ¡°You should not see me as some sort of... pacifist, Becenti. I strive to be the voice of the natural world. To become its agent, its avatar. In my perfect world, men such as we are no more than beasts, with our own position in the ecosystem, one where the advantages of tools and higher learning are non-existent.¡±


    ¡°Some would argue,¡± Becenti said, ¡°That the very fact that we have tools and higher learning is natural.¡±


    ¡°Some would argue otherwise,¡± Rorshin said, ¡°There are beasts who are known to dominate a land. Apex predators, who are known as the kings of their domain. But they do not spread, like viruses, across their world. They do not devour all else in a mad lust for dominance. They cannot, for there are checks in nature.¡±


    ¡°And sapient beings have no checks,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Correct,¡± Rorshin said, ¡°They have nothing to drive them back, nothing to keep their population culled. They overpower every other predator, even themselves. They use magic and technology to eradicate disease and illness. They use cybernetics to replace lost limbs. Why, I sniff at Vicenorn, and he''s more cybernetic than Ichabod. Like there''s nothing more to him than a brain.¡±


    Becenti was quiet.


    ¡°Now you see why I despise them so,¡± Rorshin said, ¡°In my world, those such as Ichabod would have perished, long ago.¡±


    ¡°You sound like a Son of Darwin,¡± Becenti muttered.


    ¡°Ah, but I am not,¡± Rorshin said, ¡°The Sons, the Manticore, they parroted what I say to you now. They wished for a might makes right world, where the strong survive and the strongest thrive. But it was just that: Mimicry. Like what we are about to do now, a falsehood to open a new world. All the Sons cared about was power. Do not compare me to the likes of the Manticore. He was naught but a river stone.¡±


    The thunder roiled once more, as though in response to Rorshin''s world. Becenti shook his head.


    ¡°...I don''t care if you like or dislike Ichabod,¡± Becenti said, his voice firm, ¡°Or Vicenorn. Your views are your own. But these are your guildmates.¡±


    ¡°For now.¡±


    ¡°For now, yes,¡± Becenti said, ¡°There will come a time where we will probably move in our separate ways. I know you have not always liked the Amber Foundation. But you are still a guildmember. You are still with us. You will stop being so... judgmental, to Ichabod and Vicenorn. And any other whom you deem... ¡®inferior.¡¯ You''re on a job, and I expect you to be the professional we thought you were when you joined.¡±


    Rorshin let out a low groan.


    ¡°If it makes the child feel better, I will stop,¡± he drawled, ¡°I will only communicate when spoken to. Only provide that information that is needed. Now, enough of speaking with emotions. I must return to my work.¡±


    He turned back ''round. Becenti stared at him for another few moments, noting how robotically the druid returned back to his spellwork, back to simply staring out at the rain with glazed-over eyes. Then, he opened back his book, and resumed reading.


    ***


    They walked, carefully, into a nightclub. Electronic music droned loud around and through them, the lead singer wailing out the lyrics, her voice scarred with voice modulation that let her hit highs that were too high, practically mouse squeaks. The lights above changed color in a chameleon nightmare, reds and purples and yellows that were far too bright, like staring at the sun, only the sun was a sea of people moving to the beat of the music. Throngs upon throngs of them, just like outside. Ichabod pushed past them, grimacing as he did so. G-Wiz and Contort followed.


    There were, in the corners of the large dance floor, small alcoves where people watched the dancers from tables, smoking hookah pipes or downing drinks. All of them, to some degree or another, were cyberized. Mechanicals arms. Legs. Eyes. One had gotten their jaw replaced, a steel visage with metal teeth that smiled at G-Wiz as she passed him by.


    Ichabod evidently had somewhere to be, as he beelined for one of the corner booths. There was already an occupant, a large, dark-skinned man wearing sunglasses. His open vest revealed a mechanical chest, a gleaming, golden thing that reflected the harsh lights of the club as though it were newly polished. A silver-toothed smile bloomed on his face as Ichabod sat down.


    ¡°Ichabod, as I live and breathe,¡± he said, ¡°Like a ghost out of the rain.¡±


    ¡°And I''d prefer it that way,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Ahab, I hope you''re well.¡±


    ¡°I am, I am,¡± Ahab said, ¡°Anyone else know you''re back in town?¡±


    ¡°Been working with Benjamin,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°Ah, keeping it on the down-low. Alright, alright,¡± Ahab nodded, ¡°These two, they''re...?¡±


    ¡°Associates of mine,¡± Ichabod said.


    The man considered them, then gave another nod.


    G-Wiz noted that, behind his sunglasses, his eyes glowed green for a second.


    ¡°Listen, man, you can''t be here,¡± Ahab said, ¡°Pantheon''s got this city locked down tight. Got their guild freaks out and about. I know a magic man, says New Shan''s reeking with witchcraft.¡±


    ¡°Of no concern,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°I mean it,¡± Ahab said, ¡°You''re runnin'' a huge risk. City''s changed, since you left.¡±


    ¡°I am aware,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°It is of no concern.¡±


    ¡°...You got that look on your face,¡± Ahab noted, ¡°You haven''t changed a bit, have you?¡±


    ¡°I''ve changed, Ahab,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Someone who goes through life without changing at least a bit, isn''t truly alive.¡±


    ¡°More machine than man,¡± Ahab said.


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Ichabod said.


    Ahab nodded for a third time. His fingers rapped against the table.


    ¡°Right,¡± he said, ¡°What''ll it be, Ichabod?¡±


    ¡°I need to get downstairs,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°They still do that, right?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, we do,¡± Ahab said, ¡°How far down?¡±


    ¡°Fifth level.¡±


    ¡°You never went down there before,¡± Ahab said, ¡°Place smells like a rat''s nest.¡±


    But Ichabod fixed Ahab with a level look. The golden-chested man sighed.


    ¡°Fine, fine. Fifth level. Don''t yell at me when you have to waste water on a shower.¡±


    He clicked something on the inside of his ear.


    ¡°Fifth floor. Group o'' three.¡±


    Ichabod gave him an empty smile, before rising up.


    ¡°Come on, let''s go,¡± he said.


    The elevator was on the other side of the club. Ichabod started pushing past people once more. G-Wiz went after him, making sure to keep his back in her line of sight as they weaved and shoved through the mob of dancers.


    She felt someone tap her shoulders. Slapped the hand away.


    ¡°Hey,¡± Contort said, ¡°Rude.¡±


    ¡°Sorry,¡± she said, ¡°Don''t want any feelers, y''know?¡±


    ¡°Fair,¡± Contort replied, ¡°Look. Just walking in. Be sneaky about it.¡±


    G-Wiz gave a quick glance over. A new figure had walked into the club, very evidently an outlander, in the way she was dressed, with a silver mask that covered the top half of her face and a cloak made from black feathers. A raven was perched on her shoulder, one that let out an indignant caw as she strode inside.


    The crowd, on noticing her, parted like waves.


    ¡°I saw her at Interguild, I think,¡± Contort said, ¡°Tell Ichabod.¡±


    G-Wiz prodded Ichabod, who simply nodded.


    ¡°Keep walking,¡± he said.


    They passed through to the other side. There was an attendant at the elevator, who pressed a button as they approached. Moments passed.


    The cloaked woman kept walking.


    ¡°Keep your heads down,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Keep it cool.¡±


    The elevator door opened. They walked inside, keeping their backs to the outside.


    Except for a split moment, where G-Wiz turned around.


    The woman was staring at them, her eyes seeming to glow and outshine the club lights.


    The elevator closed.


    ¡°Shit,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°She was looking right at us.¡±


    Her voice echoed through the dim elevator. Everything was far too quiet, now. Like the elevator knew it was bugged.


    ¡°Pantheon''s closing around this place,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Not surprising, all things considered.¡±


    ¡°It''s a black market, you said?¡± Contort asked.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Five floors. An open secret, to be honest. It''s not the place you go blabbing to the security corps too.¡±


    ¡°Who was the outlander?¡± Contort asked.


    ¡°One of Pantheon,¡± Ichabod replied.


    ¡°Yeah, but who?¡± G-Wiz asked.


    But Ichabod was quiet. He kept looking ahead.


    ¡°Gods, you don''t know who she is, do you?¡± Contort said, ¡°I thought you had a lock on everyone in Pantheon!¡±


    ¡°I do!¡± Ichabod snapped, ¡°I do! It''s just...¡±


    He sighed.


    ¡°Her name, if I recall,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Is Macabre. That''s it. That''s the problem. I looked through her file, but there really isn''t much on her. She''s part of Pantheon. She''s a metahuman.¡±


    ¡°And you didn''t check their records?¡± Contort asked.


    ¡°Metahumans falsify those all the time,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°If they can get away with it, at least. Not all of them are as goody two-shoes as Becenti. For all we know, she could say she can only make the air a degree colder, when really she can do far, far more.¡±


    He cursed under his breath.


    ¡°I knew I should have done more research. I knew it.¡±


    ¡°It''s alright,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°We''ll do more of it.¡±


    ¡°It''s more time wasted,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Time we don''t have. We should have been more prepared, more-¡±


    His panic fell away as the elevator dinged. He was business once more.


    And he walked inside the complex. The fifth floor was a market for animals. Most of them were in cages, dogs and cats, mostly. A few turtles crawling here and there, a large variety of birds that stared down at them with somber eyes, their wings clipped. There was an indoor pool, a great glass box that was the centerpiece of the room, and in the murky water they could see the hints of a large crocodile, bits and pieces of other animals thrown in for its food. It floated dully in the grime. The lights here, in stark contrast to the nightclub above, were dim, almost as though they were trying to ape the sky outside.


    ¡°Gross,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Gods, Ichabod.¡±


    ¡°I never liked this place,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°But it has what we need. Just don''t tell Rorshin, hmm?¡±


    ¡°Or else he''ll come here?¡± Contort said, ¡°Is that such a bad thing?¡±


    ¡°There''s a time and a place,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Come on, people. We''re on the clock.¡±


    It wasn''t difficult to find what they were looking for. There was a stall in the corner of the room, a table, upon which a shopkeeper had arranged stands for various birds, each of them with a rope tied around their ankles. Two parrots, a raven. An eagle.


    Ichabod approached. He spoke quickly with the shopkeeper, bartering quickly with them. He pulled out his credstick. Scanned it. Talked to the shopkeeper some more.


    There was a way that the raven was looking at her, right at her, that made G-Wiz. But Ichabod ignored that, as he finished his negotiation. It was quick. The shopkeeper seemed satisfied, as they ran the credstick past a mechanical arm, scanning the funds into their system.


    Ichabod lifted the parrot gingerly. Kindly. The bird sidled along his arm like a perch as Ichabod took hold of its leash.


    ¡°Right,¡± he said, turning to the others, ¡°Let''s get out of here.¡±


    The raven lost interest in G-Wiz, and returned to picking at the birdseed in its cage.


    ***


    There were a few tense minutes of waiting, as Ichabod sent a few messages to Ahab. They stayed on the fifth floor, keeping to the corners and the shadows, Ichabod tucking the parrot beneath his raincoat, holding it close to his chest. The bird nestled in, closing its eyes, its claws poking into his shirt and tickling his stomach.


    ¡°Alright,¡± Ahab''s voice rang through his communicator, ¡°She''s gone. Watch your back, though.¡±


    ¡°She wasn''t suspicious?¡±


    ¡°She asked a few questions. Wondered what was below, like she doesn''t already know,¡± Ahab chuckled, ¡°Listen, though. Don''t come back, not for a while. They''re looking for someone, and they''ll probably be back.¡±


    ¡°Very well,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Thank you, Ahab.¡±


    ¡°Pleasure doing business, Ichabod,¡± Ahab said.


    He clicked off the communicator. Looked at G-Wiz and Contort. They were watching him with concerned eyes. Like rabbits, really, caught out in an open field, a hawk circling overhead.


    ¡°She''s gone,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°But let''s be quick. We exit at once, but separate into the crowd.¡±


    He pulled open a slider on his forearm, searching his database. He found a makeshift map of this part of the city, pulling it up as a hologram.


    ¡°We''ll separate into three. Spread out. Rendezvous at Tower 17. From there, we walk back to the smokeshop.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Contort said, ¡°See you on the other side.¡±


    ***


    They split, moving through the crowded bridges of the city towards Tower 17. Police cars soared overhead at some points. Contort had to tuck himself away between two buildings for a moment as he felt the hint of a spell whisper through an open market. G-Wiz found herself being tailed, and only broke off her pursuers by dodging through another nightclub. Ichabod kept the parrot under his coat, his umbrella raised as he went through the crowd, grimacing with each jostle, each errant shove. The parrot felt fragile in his arms, like any false move would break it. The parrot, perhaps recognizing what was happening, kept quiet.


    Finally, they all arrived at Tower 17. Ichabod clicked the button to call for the elevator. They waited for an agonizing amount of time.


    ¡°Hey,¡± Contort said, nodding towards the sky, ¡°Look at that.¡±


    They turned. The cars were not alone amongst the floating neon holo-ads.


    ¡°Birds,¡± G-Wiz whispered, ¡°Weird.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Or perhaps not. I see them as ill omen. Come on, we''re wasting time.¡±


    He went into the elevator. The other two followed.


    ***


    ¡°Ahhh,¡± Rorshin sighed, ¡°Very good. Very good, indeed.¡±


    He took the parrot from Ichabod, untying the rope around its ankle. Now freed, the parrot fluttered down to the floor, rubbing its beak on the ground. Its eyes dilated with curiosity.


    ¡°What else do you need for the spell, Rorshin?¡± Becenti asked.


    ¡°Time, and a quiet space,¡± Rorshin said, ¡°I can do this downstairs.¡±


    ¡°Very well,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Get to it, then.¡±


    Rorshin nodded. He whistled to the parrot, whispering to it softly. The parrot waddled its way over. In the dour light of the room, its red plumage screamed at him. The parrot hopped onto his crossed legs, and Rorshin gave it a rare smile, stroking its head.


    Then, with a quick motion, he snapped its neck.


    G-Wiz started. Contort swore. Ichabod grimaced. Vicenorn and Becenti simply looked somber.


    ¡°You didn''t have to-¡± Ichabod said, ¡°That''s surely not-¡±


    ¡°A small blessing, for this parrot,¡± Rorshin said, ¡°A small sacrifice, for the buildings we will bring down. A new world is not simply built on peace. It is built on change, and all change is violent.¡±


    His smile had twisted. Had become dark, ruthless. The druid rose to his feet, and he held the parrot gingerly in his arms.


    ¡°I will be downstairs, if you need me,¡± he said.


    And he drifted away from them, walking down the steps. His footsteps sounded like thunder.

 81. A Study in Black

    ¡°So, a metahuman, then,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Aye. Cloak of feathers,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Mask of silver, covered the top half of her face.¡±


    He shrugged.


    ¡°Ring any bells?¡±


    ¡°Not immediately,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Doesn''t sound like anyone in the rings I ran with.¡±


    ¡°Guild records show her name as Macabre,¡± Vicenorn said, having pulled up Ichabod''s files, ¡°Part of Pantheon, usually sticks to the city, but sometimes goes on more private jobs for specific clients. No plane of origin, or anything like that.¡±


    ¡°And no records of her that we can immediately get access to?¡± Becenti asked, ¡°Nothing official that Pantheon submitted?¡±


    ¡°Details like that are probably either in the Tower itself, or stored away on some obscure Library World,¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°Myron, I know you don''t like it, but I want to look through her file in the Fed''s metahuman database.¡±


    A look of pain crossed Becenti''s face for a split-second, before he returned back to a neutral expression. He gave a curt nod.


    ¡°Do so.¡±


    Vicenorn began typing away on his laptop. G-Wiz sat by the door, taking a drag from a sad, limp cigarette. She tried not to show just how much Rorshin''s killing of the parrot got to her. The druid was still downstairs, and though he was quiet, the air had become charged and tense. Magic hung ''round the smokeshop now, more intense than it had been before.


    Hopefully that didn''t alert Pantheon.


    Contort was cooking up some dinner, the smell of ramen broth wafting through the room. It was a quick affair, though he added a couple slices of tofu and the last of the corn to each of the bowls, passing them out to each of the group. He sat down by G-Wiz at the door.


    None of them had bothered to close it. Rain deluged outside on the overhang. It gave them sound, to cut through the awkward silence after Rorshin''s killing, through Vicenorn grumbling under his breath as he tried to access data, any data, on this locked-up plane.


    They ate in an equal silence as well. Despite Contort''s best efforts, the ramen felt soggy, and did hardly anything to absorb the broth. The corn, at least, was passable. Once more, G-Wiz ate that, and left fully half of her bowl unfinished. Becenti crossed over to her, picking up the remains of her meal and pouring into his own bowl.


    ¡°Waste not, want not, Ms. Wiz,¡± he said.


    ¡°I don''t want it,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°I''d rather starve.¡±


    ¡°Be careful what you wish for,¡± Becenti replied.


    ¡°Here we are,¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°Found her.¡±


    He turned the laptop over. Becenti walked over to it, ramen bowl in hand, half-heartedly stabbing some noodles on his fork. He twirled them around the tines as he looked at the screen, which depicted a picture of a woman with pale skin and ebony hair, her eyes glowing silver.


    ¡°Macabre,¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°Home plane is Amzuth. She''s purported to be thirty-seven years of age, by Federation standards.¡±


    Becenti glanced through her bio, a small smirk climbing his face.


    ¡°She''s smart. Good on her. Listed ability is ''eyes glow silver.'' And that''s it.¡±


    ¡°You think Pantheon''s got more on her?¡± Ichabod asked.


    ¡°Oh, no doubt,¡± Becenti said, ¡°But it''s not good business to compromise one of your agents with the High Federation. Especially a metahuman one.¡±


    He stood back up, scooping up another mouthful of ramen. Chewed in thought for a moment.


    ¡°We''ve got another problem, then,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Figuring out what her powers are.¡±


    Vicenorn grimaced as he leaned back.


    ¡°Yeah, that''s part of it,¡± he said, ¡°I''m worried about something.¡±


    ¡°All ears,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Ichabod, you said she was in the same building as you, right?¡±


    ¡°Correct,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°Did she get a good look at any of you?¡± Vicenorn asked.


    ¡°...Not a good one,¡± G-Wiz admitted. They turned to her, ¡°I turned around while we were in the elevator. She was staring at us. Might have just been because of the elevator, might have realized who we were, I dunno.¡±


    ¡°I doubt she knows who we are,¡± Contort said, ¡°I mean, only Becenti and Vicenorn went to the Tower. If they knew who we were, they''d be more on the lookout, right?¡±


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°But there''s also that her power might have been able to, I don''t know, detect you in some way.¡±


    He let that statement settle. Becenti nodded, accepting the fact. Seemed about to say something. Ichabod, however grimaced.


    ¡°Well, let''s not play with Schr?dinger''s Cat, here. Just open the damn box, see what''s inside.¡±


    ¡°The hell does that mean, Ichabod?¡± G-Wiz asked.


    ¡°It means,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Let''s not waste our time thinking on the what-ifs here, if we don''t know what the damn meta can do. Let''s do research with what we''ve got. There''s got to be something we can find. Old records! Something on the plane!¡±


    He was aware that he was babbling to them, as he looked around for support. They were all fixing him with odd looks.


    ¡°You did the research yourself, Ichabod,¡± Becenti said, ¡°And you couldn''t find anything on her.¡±


    ¡°I... I wasn''t looking hard enough,¡± Ichabod replied, adjusting his glasses, regaining his composure, ¡°Trust me, Myron. Pantheon has two hundred members to its name. Finding the little details for each and every one of them, on a backwater plane like Londoa, proved difficult.¡±


    The old metahuman fixed Ichabod with a hard stare. Then he nodded.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said, ¡°Oris, see if you can''t find anything. Ichabod, help him with the search. If Macabre is part of Pantheon''s security detail for the Tower, then we need to find out what she can do.¡±


    ¡°And if we can''t?¡± Vicenorn asked.


    Becenti looked at him.


    ¡°I''m not about to risk this team on an unknown like this,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Macabre''s abilities could be situational, or they could be incredibly powerful. She''s hidden herself well. If we don''t find out what she can do, we''re done here.¡±


    Ichabod made to speak up, but Becenti turned.


    ¡°And that''s final.¡±


    ***


    And so their research began. It did not require any sort of moving about the city, however. Instead, it was simple computer work, Vicenorn tapping away at his small laptop, Ichabod through a console on his arm. They occasionally exchanged words with one another as they looked through various databases.


    Over time, as the atmosphere lightened from awkwardness to comfortable silence, Ichabod began to draw closer to Vicenorn, until the two were right next to each other as they worked.


    Rorshin came upstairs an hour later. His fingers were caked in dried blood, as were his robes from absentmindedly wiping his fingers as he worked. He presented Becenti with two small, wooden cubes.


    ¡°One for me, one for you,¡± Rorshin said.


    ¡°And how does the spell work?¡± Becenti asked.


    ¡°When you get into the building, pop it into your mouth,¡± Rorshin said, ¡°It sits in the gut for three days. In that time, it''s linked to this one.¡±


    The druid rattled his cube.


    ¡°And I can use it to listen in. It will then copy and use Agrippa''s voice, another helpful part of the spell. I will speak, and the serpent''s voice will rise from me.¡±


    Becenti gave him a grim smirk, pocketing the cube.


    ¡°Excellent work, Rorshin,¡± he said.


    ¡°I will...¡± the druid glanced around for a moment, ¡°I will be... meditating. I am tired. This spellwork is not easy. And I must ensure that Pantheon has not breached my defenses.¡±


    He drifted over to the corner opposite the door, sitting down and closing his eyes.


    Before long, however, he was lightly snoring.


    ¡°That''s not good for the defenses,¡± Contort said.


    ¡°I''d let him sleep,¡± Becenti said, ¡°A couple of hours, at least.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Contort said, ¡°You''re the boss.¡±


    ***


    The hours passed. Vicenorn and Ichabod continued to work, accepting cups of coffee from Becenti, who warmed them up with his metapower. There was no creamer, no sugar. Only black coffee, bland and bitter, but they drank anyway to keep themselves awake. Ichabod started muttering to himself. Vicenorn opened up his pack, pulling out another laptop, connecting the two together. The two screens were far brighter than G-Wiz had expected, the red man''s face awash in light.


    It also meant that, along with the dimmed lights that Ichabod refused to turn off completely, there wasn''t enough darkness for her to sleep comfortably. She always preferred pitch-black night to sleep. No light, with sounds being the natural cadence of the wind, or the electronic beats she put on her headphones back at Castle Belenus. Not these mutterings of Ichabod''s, Vicenorn''s oafish grunts. The two chuckling to one another under their breaths.


    She walked downstairs, dragging her bed mat behind her, lying it down just by the counter.


    A few moments later, Contort followed, bed mat and all.


    ¡°Long night,¡± he said, ¡°Coffee?¡±


    G-Wiz shook her head.


    ¡°Well, I''m having some.¡±


    ¡°I''m trying to get some sleep, Contort,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Leave me alone.¡±


    ¡°Sorry, right,¡± Contort said.


    ¡°You''re trying to sleep, and you''re drinking coffee?¡±


    ¡°I make bad choices, sometimes,¡± Contort said.


    ¡°''Some times,''¡± G-Wiz deadpanned.


    ¡°Fine,¡± Contort said, ¡°Maybe I won''t have coffee. Maybe I''ll just put my bed mat down and sulk, like you.¡±


    Which he did, laying his mat down across from G-Wiz and sitting down on it. G-Wiz glared at him for a few moments as he preened and made a show of getting comfortable.


    Then she snorted.


    ¡°You''re an asshole, you know that?¡± she said.


    ¡°Yeah, I think so,¡± Contort said.


    They settled in. G-Wiz took out a pair of earbuds, put them on and connected them to her zumbelaphone. She slowly nodded her head to the beat as she laid down. Contort stretched, his torso twisting completely around, letting out a dull crack as he did so.


    A crack loud enough to be heard over G-Wiz''s music. She glanced over at him as he twisted his shoulders, another series of cracks and pops reverberating through his body. He let out a far too satisfied sigh of relief, like a boulder had been lifted off of his head.


    G-Wiz turned her music up.


    ***


    Becenti came down a few hours later, rubbing his temples and dragging his bed mat behind him. Contort, who was still awake, smiled at him.


    ¡°They''re keeping you up, to?¡± he said.


    ¡°They''re still at it,¡± Becenti replied, yawning, ¡°Doing research. Talking to one another. We''ll be out of coffee, I think.¡±


    ¡°Damn, like I''d miss the stuff,¡± Contort said.


    The thunder roiled outside. A reprieve in the storm.


    ¡°Can''t sleep?¡± Becenti asked.


    ¡°Insomnia again,¡± Contort said, ¡°You?¡±


    ¡°I don''t have any of the usual meds,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I''d rather not dream, if you know what I mean.¡±


    But nonetheless, he laid out his bed mat, sitting down on it. Made to stretch, before something in his body resisted. The old man winced, letting himself settle back down into its uncomfortable stoniness.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    ¡°Never get old, Arne,¡± Becenti said, ¡°All it brings you is bad memories and a worse body.¡±


    ¡°You''re in reasonably good shape,¡± Contort said.


    ¡°Hmm, perhaps not,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Only so much that one can take, at the end of the day.¡±


    ¡°Fair,¡± Contort said.


    He thought for a few moments, laying down, feeling an annoyed twinge at the fact that he wasn''t getting tired. He rolled for a few moments, before sighing and sitting back up.


    ¡°Hey,¡± he said to Becenti, ¡°Mind if I ask you a question?¡±


    Becenti nodded. The old man was starting to sway a bit.


    ¡°This Macabre, she''s definitely dangerous, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Becenti replied.


    ¡°How dangerous, you think?¡±


    Becenti shrugged.


    ¡°She''s an unknown,¡± he replied, ¡°That means that we need to be prepared for the worst. The fact that we don''t know anything about her is a major blow to our ability to pull this off effectively.¡±


    He looked down at the ground.


    ¡°...We''re already the underdog already,¡± he continued, ¡°Ichabod''s done his research. And he''s done it well. But there''s only so much research one can do. So many theoreticals one can map. Eventually, you need to face the music. And we can''t do that if we don''t know what she can do.¡±


    ¡°A plan never survives first contact with the enemy, and all that,¡± Contort said.


    ¡°Precisely.¡±


    ¡°Still,¡± Contort said, ¡°You''re not seriously thinking about pulling out if they can''t find it, can you?¡±


    Becenti looked up at him.


    ¡°I just think you''re overestimating her, is all,¡± Contort said.


    ¡°I am not,¡± Becenti''s voice was flat and icy, ¡°I have seen far too many missions where we didn''t have all the facts of a metahuman working for the other side. And we suffered for it.¡±


    He took a shaky breath.


    ¡°We suffered for it,¡± he repeated.


    Contort was quiet at that.


    ¡°Knowledge is what lets one kill a metahuman,¡± Becenti said, ¡°To study them. Observe them. See how they react to stimuli. Remove the emotional aspects of what it means to be alive, look at one of us as one sees an amoeba in a petri dish. Only then, will you learn how to kill one.¡±


    ¡°...I think you''re tired, Myron,¡± Contort said, ¡°You should get some sleep.¡±


    ¡°The dreams, Arne.¡±


    ¡°Sleep''s more important.¡±


    The old metahuman nodded. He made an attempt at taking off his coat as he eased himself onto the bed mat. His fingers went limp as sleep overtook him.


    Contort rolled his eyes, still feeling as awake as when he was in the night club.


    ¡°If only it were so easy.¡±


    ***


    G-Wiz opened up her eyes. Her music was still playing through her earbuds, but the classical rock had been replaced by just plain classical. Stomach churning at the sound of it, she clawed out the earbuds and tossed them away.


    ¡°Morning,¡± Contort said.


    He was smiling at her, though there was an awkward tiredness in his eyes.


    ¡°You didn''t sleep, did you?¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°I''m telling you, insomnia''s a bitch,¡± Contort chuckled, ¡°I''m fine, G. S''all good.¡±


    ¡°Uh-huh,¡± G-Wiz said. She sat up, looking around. Becenti had gone to sleep at some point, the old man curled up on his bed mat, though despite this he did not look comfortable.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Contort said, ¡°He''s been tossing and turning all night. Forgot his pills.¡±


    G-Wiz nodded at that.


    ¡°You didn''t go upstairs?¡± she asked, ¡°I bet your ass that Vicenorn and Ichabod are still up.¡±


    ¡°Nah,¡± Contort said, giving her a knowing smile, ¡°Thought I''d give them some space.¡±


    ¡°Straight up,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Nice.¡±


    ¡°Well, no use sitting here, I guess,¡± Contort rose to his feet, ¡°Coffee? I think there''s a bit left.¡±


    ¡°Sure,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Let''s go.¡±


    They went up the stairs, their footsteps becoming lighter and quieter as they went up, realizing that the ceaseless typing had ceased, the endless murmurs had ended. Rorshin was once more at his place in front of the door, keeping up his defensive spells. Vicenorn, however, had dozed off, laying his great head on Ichabod''s shoulder. The thin man was still working, his entire left arm converted into a makeshift console. He had taken off his sunglasses, his glass eyes glowing a soft green as Contort and G-Wiz walked upstairs.


    The cybernetic man''s head turned.


    ¡°Quiet, now,¡± he whispered, ¡°If you wake up Oris, I''ll kill you.¡±


    Contort smirked at that, gently sneaking over to the kitchen counter. There was little coffee left, only enough for two cups. He poured them out, taking them over to the stairs and handing one to G-Wiz. They made their way back downstairs, wincing as the staircase let out a creak on the third step.


    They drank their coffee at the counter. The rain had started back up outside, though it was calmer than it had been. The coffee was bland and terrible, and G-Wiz was sure there wasn''t any caffeine in it. But it was something to do while they waited.


    Becenti continued sleeping. He let out a light snore at times.


    ¡°Hey,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Mind if I vent to you for a sec?¡±


    ¡°What''s up?¡± Contort asked.


    ¡°Are you fucking terrified, or what?¡±


    ¡°Who, me?¡± Contort said, ¡°Terrified? Of the Tower?¡±


    ¡°Of... All of this,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°I''m used to getting into hairy situations. But I''m still...¡±


    ¡°What? Is G-Wiz being a scaredy cat?¡± Contort needled.


    ¡°Oh, fuck off,¡± G-Wiz said, and she punched his shoulder. Playfully. Or, at least, a good mix between playful and painful, she hoped. Contort chuckled, taking another sip of his coffee.


    ¡°...I mean it, dude,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°This whole plane''s vibes are off. Like it knows it''s dead, you know?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I do,¡± Contort said, ¡°Doesn''t help that we''re dealing with Agrippa, and all that.¡±


    ¡°Yea,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°That, too. You ever done something like this before?¡±


    ¡°Once, before I joined the guild,¡± Contort said.


    ¡°And what happened?¡±


    ¡°Got messed up. Got bailed out by Wakeling. Joined up not long after,¡± Contort said, ¡°I wouldn''t be too worried, though. Be the right amount of worried, the amount that keeps you alive. But don''t let it eat you up.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I guess that''s the way to go about it,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Nole always used to say, everything worth anything has a little bit of fear attached to it.¡±


    ¡°He was a sharp guy,¡± Contort said, ¡°Smelly, but sharp.¡±


    G-Wiz snorted at that. It had been a long time since she had talked about her old friend like this. She drained her coffee like it was something stronger.


    ¡°Still,¡± she said, ¡°Seems like Ichabod''s intent on pushing this through.¡±


    ¡°No matter what,¡± Contort said, ¡°We''re just along for his wild ride.¡±


    ¡°You think they''ll find out about what that metahuman can do?¡± G-Wiz asked.


    ¡°Probably,¡± Contort said, ¡°Maybe. I don''t know. Vicenorn''s pulled plenty out of his ass before. Ichabod''s determined, too.¡±


    ¡°So determined that, even if he doesn''t find anything, he''ll still go through with it?¡± G-Wiz asked.


    Contort took a moment to register that. He sipped his coffee. He frowned at G-Wiz.


    ¡°...Just what are you implying?¡±


    ¡°I''m just sayin'', dude,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°I just think Becenti''s being a bit of an ass about all of this pulling out business.¡±


    ¡°Gross, dude,¡± Contort said.


    ¡°What are you, twelve?¡± G-Wiz said, glaring at him, ¡°Try and be serious here.¡±


    ¡°I am,¡± Contort said, ¡°Listen: we''re a guild, alright? We''re here under some pretty big stipulations, and one of them is that Becenti''s the boss. I mean, he usually is, but especially here.¡±


    ¡°I know, but-¡±


    ¡°Drop it, G,¡± Contort said, his voice flat, ¡°You don''t know what Agrippa''s capable of.¡±


    G-Wiz narrowed her eyes.


    ¡°From what Ichabod told me, I know he''s done a lot.¡±


    ¡°You heard a bit of it?¡± Contort said, ¡°He doesn''t really go into it much. He hardly told me anything, only that Agrippa goes for the throat. You should see the way that Wakeling talks about him. She doesn''t want us, any of us, here.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°But you should hear Ichabod, is what I''m saying. He''s been building up for this.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Contort said, ¡°I know, G. But if Myron says we''re out, then we''re out.¡±


    G-Wiz rolled her eyes, irritation roiling in her belly.


    ¡°And that''s that,¡± she spat.


    ¡°That''s that.¡±


    She sighed. Took another sip of her coffee. And said nothing else.


    ***


    Vicenorn had once remembered reading a study that, no matter what, everyone dreamed. It was when the brain was most active, rebuilding tissue and digesting knowledge from the day. Dreams, certain magicians said, were a necessary part of the life cycle, manifestations of the soul made real. No matter what, you dreamed. You just didn''t remember them.


    Vicenorn used to remember every dream he had. But he had begun to forget after he had gotten his cybernetic implants. After the war, and the massive machine had been rooted into the spot his left arm had used to be, his heart replaced by a facsimile of metal and bronze. They disappeared completely as they took more and more of him away. Leaving him...


    Well.


    He sometimes, deep down, feared that he had lost his soul somewhere along the way. That the inability to dream was a sign that one was no longer human. No longer truly alive.


    And yet, this morning he remembered his dreams. Murky things, true, but for a moment, just before they sunk back into his subconscious, he saw them. It had been a great plain, like the one surrounding Scuttleway, only this one had been green and young. The sky was blue, and there was not a cloud in the sky. A lone tree rose from a hill.


    The image hung in Vicenorn''s brain for a moment, before fading. And he was back on Neos. Back on this rain-drenched, foreboding world that had been Ichabod''s home. He realized, with a start, that he had been resting his head on Ichabod''s shoulder. Ichabod, however, did not seem to have minded, continuing his typing through the night.


    Ichabod grew tense as he realized that Vicenorn was awake. Vicenorn, growing red, sat back up.


    ¡°G-Good morning, Oris,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°Morning, Ichabod,¡± Vicenorn said, his metal heart hammering.


    He glanced down at Ichabod, who was typing away.


    ¡°You didn''t...¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°You went to sleep last night, right?¡±


    ¡°No, I didn''t,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°It''s alright though. Plenty of coffee and a bright screen. I''ve pulled all-nighters before.¡±


    He stifled a yawn.


    ¡°B-Besides,¡± he said, ¡°I think I have it.¡±


    ***


    They gathered together in the morning, Contort quickly throwing together a breakfast of more noodles. G-Wiz grimaced as he presented her bowl, and she quietly put it to the side. Ichabod clicked a button on his arm, presenting a few readouts to the group via hologram.


    ¡°First off,¡± he said, ¡°There''s not much on Macabre on this plane. Any obvious records are stored away in the Tower.¡±


    ¡°Naturally,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Vicenorn and I had to go off-plane to get the information,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°He managed to get us connected to a Silverfish located in the city. We piggy-backed the signal to connect to a couple of networks on Ritosis. There was a bit of information here and there, nothing major.¡±


    ¡°Could you get the signal past Ritosis?¡± Becenti asked.


    ¡°A bit,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°But Ritosis and a couple of the other surrounding planes were the only places we could look. We didn''t get any exact read-outs, per se. A lot of what Vicenorn and I have found are news articles. Videos. Conjecture and observations.¡±


    His hologram wavered, melding into an image of Macabre atop a great, mechanical being festooned in forests and plantlife. It was a clipping from a news article.


    ¡°Next to Ritosis,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Is Great Rana, the Solar World. Neos is involved with that plane, as it''s one of the primary planes that they import food from. Macabre was recently involved in a skirmish there, and it was all over the news.¡±


    ¡°And Agrippa didn''t try to censor it?¡± Contort said.


    ¡°The article was published by Great Rana''s state-run newspaper,¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°OzTech couldn''t contest it, not without major political implications.¡±


    ¡°Besides,¡± Becenti said, ¡°It''s just another guild spat. Nothing worth working up about.¡±


    ¡°Just business,¡± Vicenorn said. He and Ichabod were both wearing the same arrogant smirk. It looked strange on the large man, ¡°That is, until you realize what the article is saying.¡±


    Contort leaned in, reading the article.


    ¡°''Macabre, a member of guild Pantheon, was among those present during what people are now calling the Battle of the Nyame,''¡± he quoted, ¡°''Using her flock, she was able to successfully remove guild Blue Sky Waiting from the Nyame''s head, throwing them to the city below.''¡±


    ¡°...So she has a flock,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°The article only describes ''flock.'' But take a look at the photo.¡±


    Becenti did so. Macabre was in her full regalia, standing atop the Nyame''s ear, her face impassive. A forested city opened up around her, flocks of birds wheeling about a blue sky.


    ¡°Those birds,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°They''re ravens.¡±


    ¡°All of them?¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°All of them.¡±


    ¡°And it doesn''t stop there!¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°We went and did a bit more digging, hacked a couple of security cameras in the upper tiers of New Shan.¡±


    He clicked a button on his own laptop, turning it over and presenting it to the rest of the team. It depicted a video of dark shapes on an even darker night, birds flitting about the city, silhouetted against the fuzzy neon lights of the holo-ads.


    ¡°Those are ravens, too,¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°At least, we think they are. It tracks. If she can control ravens, it stands to reason she has them out here, patrolling the city for any movement.¡±


    ¡°That makes sense,¡± Becenti said, ¡°So, our Macabre can control ravens, then.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°She¡¯s rather¡­ unkind, about it, isn¡¯t she?¡±


    There was silence at his poor joke. Vicenorn shuffled uncomfortably.


    ¡°I don''t get it,¡± Contort said.


    ¡°I do,¡± Becenti said, ¡°It''s... Well done, Ichabod.¡±


    But G-Wiz was staring at the ground. A series of realizations was hitting her, all at once.


    ¡°There was a raven there,¡± she said.


    They turned to look at her.


    ¡°Down in the black market,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°It was staring right at me.¡±


    ¡°...Shit, you''re right,¡± Contort said, ¡°There was. Probably a few more, too.¡±


    ¡°How closely did they see you, G-Wiz?¡± Becenti asked.


    ¡°It was right in front of me.¡±


    ¡°Which means it got a good look at your face,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°It probably did.¡±


    There was another bout of silence. Ichabod''s face was slack.


    ¡°...She can probably look through the ravens, too,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Right?¡±


    ¡°That doesn''t mean anything,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°So they got a good look at G-Wiz. They already know that the Amber Foundation is here on Neos, it stands to reason that you''d have brought back-up.¡±


    ¡°But if we go through with this,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Then there''s a chance that they could investigate.¡±


    ¡°You''re already visiting them again,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°We know that. We need to have you talk to Agrippa again in order to get a reading of his voice for Rorshin''s spell. It stands to reason that, perhaps G-Wiz decided to take a look at a couple of birds with the rest of us.¡±


    ¡°But you were there, too,¡± Becenti said, ¡°So if we get caught on this, we can''t cut you loose like intended.¡±


    Ichabod grimaced.


    ¡°I... I suppose,¡± he said.


    ¡°We can save face on this,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I have to talk to Agrippa anyways. After that, we can leave the plane.¡±


    ¡°She doesn''t know our identities, does she?¡± Contort said, ¡°I mean, we were blending in with the crowd pretty well. Ichabod kept his head down, made sure to have a hood on and everything. How many pale weirdos are on Neos? Quite a lot, I''d reckon.¡±


    ¡°...Perhaps,¡± Becenti said.


    The old metahuman turned to G-Wiz.


    ¡°Galatea,¡± he said, ¡°How intent was that raven looking at you?¡±


    ¡°It was eyeballing me the whole time,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°It... It didn''t look at anyone else, Becenti. I swear it didn''t.¡±


    ¡°Did it have any recording equipment on it?¡± Becenti said, ¡°Any at all?¡±


    She had remembered...


    No, she hadn''t.


    Her memories felt too murky. She glanced over to Ichabod. The man had a pleading look on his face. So, she shook her head.


    ¡°I don''t think so,¡± she said, ¡°But I do know, that raven was staring right at me. It didn''t even turn to consider Ichabod or Contort at all.¡±


    ¡°There''s an easy solution to all of this,¡± Rorshin said from the corner. They turned to him. The druid was standing up, rapping his staff against his knuckle, ¡°You find Macabre, and you kill her.¡±


    Ichabod watched as Becenti''s frown deepened and his hands balled into fists. But the metahuman nodded.


    ¡°A possibility, if there''s time,¡± he said.


    ¡°If the raven only saw G-Wiz,¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°Then we may still be able to do this.¡±


    ¡°Explain,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Take G-Wiz with you,¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°Contort, Ichabod, and Rorshin should be enough to take out any security, right?¡±


    ¡°It''s risky,¡± Contort said, ¡°I''d rather have G with us, when she''s up and running she''s one of the most powerful of our little team.¡±


    G-Wiz went red. But Becenti nodded.


    ¡°It significantly reduces her role in the plan,¡± he said.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°But either we do that, and maintain the illusion that the Amber Foundation is here for business, or we risk G-Wiz being identified once we''re out.¡±


    Becenti steepled his fingers together, his eyes hard as he mulled it over.


    ¡°I don''t mind it,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°I really think we''ve still got a shot at this, Becenti. They''re looking for potential threats, not the Amber Foundation itself.¡±


    ¡°It''s just business,¡± Ichabod said.


    For a long moment, Becenti was quiet. He steepled his hands together, and sat down, laying them across a crossed knee.


    Then¡­


    ¡°Very well,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Galatea, you''re with me as we talk to Agrippa. The rest of you, the plan continues as normal.¡±


    He took a shaky breath.


    ¡°God help us all.¡±

 82. The Tower Looms

    It was just after lunch, two days after they had made their final decisions, when Ichabod, Rorshin, and Contort left their safehouse and clambered into a taxi. All three of them were clad in black trenchcoats, Contort wearing a biker''s helmet, Ichabod wearing a silver jester''s mask that covered his entire face, and Rorshin stuffing his beard in a ski-mask. They were quiet on their way, the world rumbling overhead, their journey marked by shadow intermixed with myriad lights, false dawns that blazed pinks and greens and blues.


    They took the taxi past the gate, once more swiping a credstick to get into the business district. It was a cloudy day, but not a rainy one. That boded ill, in Ichabod''s mind. Heists were always done best in the rain, both to conceal the runner as they disappeared into the night, and for good luck.


    But there was no rain above. Not even the rumble of thunder. An oddity, in this part of Neos.


    They stepped out of the taxi near one of the smaller office buildings, still a skyscraper in its own right, but a dwarf compared to the others. The Tower of Eden loomed tall a mere block away, tree-like and godly, it seemed to stare at Ichabod as Rorshin and Contort started making their way down the street.


    For a moment, Ichabod continued to stare.


    Then, he stepped away, following after his guildmates.


    ***


    They set up shop on the mid-level of New Shan. In the business district, the bars up here advertised themselves as higher class, more professional in their services. The music was a mix of classical pieces, though Neos had never known a period of woodwinds and orchestras, instead importing them from Doremi. They sat down at a bar overlooking the Tower, making sure to remain inconspicuous. After ordering their drinks (to calm the nerves), Rorshin whispered a few words of power, plucking a feather from his beard and crushing it in one weathered hand. An illusion spell, plucked from an owl, to better camouflage them, put them beneath others'' notice.


    Music continued to play through the tinny speakers of the bar. Contort smiled.


    ¡°Got to admit, at least G won''t have to listen to this shit,¡± he said.


    ¡°And we won''t have to listen to her snark about it all day,¡± Ichabod added, smirking.


    ¡°Right,¡± Contort said. He rolled his shoulders for a moment.


    It was only one in the afternoon. G-Wiz and Becenti''s meeting with Agrippa was not until seven. Yet it was either waiting at the safehouse, or waiting here. Here, at least, allowed them to physically watch the Tower for any sign of danger, for any sign of change.


    ¡°Look,¡± Contort said, ¡°See, there?¡±


    He pointed vaguely. Ichabod took off his sunglasses, glass eyes squinting.


    ¡°I dunno if you can see them or not,¡± Contort said, ¡°But there are a couple of ravens wheeling around.¡±


    ¡°Macabre''s power,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Well, not unexpected.¡±


    He glanced to Rorshin.


    ¡°How''s the spellwork coming?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Well enough,¡± Rorshin said, ¡°I am identifying to see what defenses Charnak has erected.¡±


    He was merely staring at the Tower. Ichabod supposed that was enough. He was not a witchman.


    ***


    ¡°I look ridiculous,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°You look fine, Galatea,¡± Becenti said.


    Of course, he was wearing one of his custom-made suits. Myron Becenti was either wearing a white, stained A-Shirt, or a three piece. Nothing in between. G-Wiz had seen his closet exactly once, and, after being disappointed at a distinct lack of actual skeletons in there, found that he was nothing but business professional. As such, he looked comfortable in his suit, adjusting one of his cuff-links, which was in the shape of a stylized man holding a flute in his hands.


    He stood in stark contrast to G-Wiz, whom they had quickly cobbled together a suit from the various shops around the city. It was uncomfortable. Restricting. The jacket felt too large on her, like she had stolen her dad''s work clothes. She felt her dress pants whine as she stretched.


    ¡°I don''t like it,¡± she said.


    ¡°It''s only for a few hours,¡± Becenti replied, ¡°Just enough time for us to get in, talk to Agrippa, get out.¡±


    ¡°I don''t like that we''re not taking my zumbelaphone,¡± she said.


    ¡°You know the rules with these people,¡± Becenti said, ¡°No weapons. No sudden movements. I don''t suspect there will be much danger.¡±


    ¡°And if there is?¡± G-Wiz asked.


    ¡°Well, I''ve seen you give people a run for their money with and without your keytar,¡± Becenti said, ¡°It will be rough, but we''ve been in rougher patches before.¡±


    It was so obviously a lie, by the way that Becenti''s smile seemed plastered on. It was disturbing to see him without his usual bitter stoicism.


    ¡°It''s going to be that bad if we mess up, huh,¡± she said.


    The smile dropped.


    ¡°Agrippa''s a dangerous man,¡± he said, ¡°If we mess up, stay behind me. I''ll protect you. And you leave me behind, if it comes to it.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°If we go down, we''re going down together.¡±


    Becenti didn''t respond to that, instead looking out the window for a moment. He produced a small wooden cube - the spell that Rorshin had given him, one half of the magic required for their part of the heist. He popped it into his mouth, swallowing it whole.


    ¡°Well,¡± he said, ¡°It''s only if it comes down to it. We talk smooth, we talk business. We''re just there for one thing, and one thing only.


    ¡°Agrippa''s voice.¡±


    ***


    Vicenorn was there with them as they sat down in the taxi. They had made a few modifications to the entire affair, putting in a table for the back seat so that Vicenorn could set up an array of computers and monitors. He sat there, looking a bit uncomfortable, as the taxi rumbled through the city. He had spent the last day or so hacking into it, overtaking its usual mechanisms and automatic driving programs and replacing it with his own. It wasn''t pretty work. He would have liked more time for it. But Charnak, Rorshin stated, was close to finding them. It was now or never.


    He took a deep breath as he analyzed one of the Spiders. It was already connected to the security system, drilling into it. All five monitors showed cameras in the Tower. Agrippa was certainly a paranoid bastard, with cameras practically down every hall, above every door. He would need to be careful, when the time came.


    ¡°Right,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Remember, Oris. Drive around the place. Try not to look conspicuous.¡±


    ¡°I know, Myron,¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°You be careful, too. Don''t let Agrippa run ''round you, now.¡±


    ¡°If his father couldn''t, he won''t be able to,¡± Becenti said, ¡°But nonetheless, I will be cautious.¡±


    They went through the gates. Becenti''s hand shook slightly. G-Wiz was breathing deeper, trying to calm her nerves. The car rumbled slow, endlessly slow, as it meandered down the street and through traffic.


    Finally, it arrived at the entrance, once more, to the Tower of Eden. Becenti and G-Wiz stepped out. It was a rainless evening, though nonetheless they took their umbrellas, G-Wiz holding hers close to her chest as though it were her keytar.


    Without a word, the two of them walked up the steps to the entrance. After a few moments, Vicenorn drove off, letting the taxi go on auto-drive as he looked through the cameras of the Tower. There they were, now, walking into the garden in the lobby. Once more, the attendant approached them. Once more, she guided them towards the elevator.


    ***


    ¡°A problem,¡± Rorshin said.


    Contort and Ichabod looked over at him. Rorshin''s teeth were clenched, his fingers twirling and writhing like the legs of a dying spider.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Did they find them out?¡±


    ¡°No, not yet,¡± Rorshin said, ¡°I don''t believe so, anyways. Not through magic. No, I''ve finished analyzing the spellwork that Charnak''s put on this Tower. Becenti must have activated something. Or Galatea. Probably her, considering-¡±


    ¡°So what''s up with it?¡± Ichabod asked.


    ¡°A general magical detection spell just billowed through the Tower,¡± Rorshin said, ¡°If we go in as planned, from the bottom floor and beelining towards the elevator, we will be caught. If I use spellwork, anyways.¡±


    ¡°And that place is locked up tight,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Never mind the security cameras, there''s ravens there. Security teams, too. Random employees getting off of work, or just walking in for a night shift.¡±


    He grimaced.


    ¡°We need that magic,¡± he said.


    An uncomfortable silence settled on them. Contort awkwardly sipped his drink. Rorshin was rapping his fingers against the table. His eyes kept glancing over to the Tower, just as much as Ichabod''s. The cybernetic man was taking a deep breath, rubbing his forehead.


    ¡°Call it off?¡± Contort asked.


    Ichabod ignored him. He downed the last of his drink with an ugly sneer. Adjusted his sunglasses. He could imagine Becenti and G-Wiz going to meet Agrippa, making the motions of signing a deal with him. Perhaps hinting towards the game they were playing here by complete accident, Agrippa listening to them, picking apart their reasonings and drawing his own conclusions.


    ¡°...How much of the place is covered by the spell?¡± he asked.


    Rorshin glanced back over at the Tower, his eyes eyeing it up and down.


    ¡°The first fifty floors, I would say.¡±


    ¡°Is it weaker at the top?¡±


    ¡°I would suppose so, yes.¡±


    ¡°...And you have your teleport spell, yes?¡±


    Rorshin nodded.


    ¡°I do,¡± he said.


    ¡°...Get us to the top floors,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°We''ll go from there.¡±


    ¡°What, no plan?¡± Contort asked, ¡°No idea of where we''re going to wind up?¡±


    ¡°We''ll discuss it when we get inside,¡± Ichabod said. He clicked on his communicator.


    ¡°Wait, why there?¡± Contort asked, ¡°Why-¡±


    Rorshin tugged at a sleeve, pointing. There were ravens in the sky, though they were getting close to the bar. One of them was poking around just outside the entrance, hopping by the glass door, beady eyes glancing this way and that.


    ¡°Spellwork won''t hold forever,¡± the druid said, ¡°Especially to animals. Best we hide in the bathroom.¡±


    They got up as one, and headed towards the restrooms. There was already an occupant in there, slouched against one of the urinals, which reeked of vomit, a spilled glass of blue vodka in a limp hand.


    Ichabod, after a moment, locked the restroom door. He put a hand to his wrist.


    ¡°A Team, to C Team,¡± he said.


    A few heartbeats passed before Vicenorn spoke up.


    ¡°C Team to A Team, over.¡±


    ¡°C Team, spell''s in most of the place,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°We''re going higher up.¡±


    Another pause on the line. Ichabod grimaced as he heard Vicenorn sigh.


    ¡°How high up?¡± he asked.


    Ichabod looked at Rorshin.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    ¡°Floor fifty-seven,¡± the druid said.


    ¡°C Team, starting at fifty-seventh. Going down.¡±


    ¡°...Alright,¡± Vicenorn replied. Then, after a few moments, ¡°You''re good. Place is secure.¡±


    Ichabod looked at Rorshin. Rorshin nodded.


    ¡°In five,¡± the druid said, ¡°Five...¡±


    Contort stretched.


    ¡°Four.¡±


    Ichabod''s fingers flexed for a moment. He took a deep breath.


    ¡°Three.¡±


    Rorshin was counting down, his eyes closed and rolled to the back of his head as he willed what little nature there was in the area into himself.


    ¡°Two.¡±


    The drunk man at the urinal let out a dazed cough.


    ¡°One.¡±


    For just a moment, the wind picked up. The thunder roiled across the surface of the cloud layer. The ravens, for a split second that stretched an eternity, forgot of Macabre''s existence, forgot of the sapient forces that had bent this plane into one of steel and greed. The world breathed a green sigh.


    For just a moment.


    And then, the three of them were gone. The drunk was alone in the restroom once more.


    ***


    The elevator that took them up to Agrippa was quiet. The attendant had her fake smile plastered on her face, staring at the both of them, her eyes only able to be described as vacant. Becenti considered her for a few moments, his mouth lined in his usual frown. G-Wiz was scratching at her hand, her fingernail digging at the skin of her palm. Her heart hammered as the elevator went higher and higher, a subtle shift in her stomach the only sign of their ascent.


    It was like teleportation, with transportation like these. She remembered the first time she had heard of an elevator. On Doremi, all towers had staircases, and a note played on each step, a light piano that had set G-Wiz on edge as a child. Partially why she eschewed towers entirely and became an Electron.


    Partially why she left her home entirely, and joined the Amber Foundation.


    The attendant continued to smile at them. Continued to stare at them with those dull eyes, as though she had lost her soul somewhere long ago, or it had been replaced with an artificial facsimile. The thought disturbed G-Wiz, and she pushed it out of her head.


    There was enough to be disturbed about right now.


    Finally, after what felt like hours, an eternity, the elevator slowed down. Dinged. Opened up to reveal a dark hallway, which the attendant guided them through to Agrippa''s office. She opened up the door to the man¡¯s lair. G-Wiz had never been, walking into a dark umber room with light, filtered through water, rippling on the floor. Statues flanked the four corners.


    The hair on the back of G-Wiz''s neck stood on edge. Every cell in her body told her, screamed at her, begged her, to GET OUT. For a half second, she forgot the etiquette of society, some primal part of her brain taking over, and she made to turn around.


    Becenti steadied her with a firm hand on her shoulder, a firmer shake of the head. G-Wiz relaxed.


    ¡°Myron Becenti,¡± an oily voice came from the desk at the end of the room, ¡°Welcome back to my garden.¡±


    Julius Agrippa was half-shrouded in shadow. Becenti had told her what to expect, but she still felt an odd sense of revulsion at the sight of the man. He was wearing a dark red suit today, his hair hanging on either side of his head in blond sheets. His eyes were sunken, as though he had not slept in a very long time. One long, thin hand, like a milk-colored stick bug, traced lazily on the desk.


    Hanging above him was the G''Rash Haro. Raptor-like, it floated of its own accord over Agrippa, its lion''s head staring at them. The eyes, they weren''t cat-like. They were...


    Almost like a serpent''s. Unblinking. Uncaring. Ice made flesh.


    ¡°Agrippa,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Thank you for meeting with us on such short notice.¡±


    ¡°Anything for a guild such as yours,¡± Agrippa gestured, ¡°Sit, please. Would you like anything to drink?¡±


    ¡°Water, thank you,¡± Becenti said.


    Agrippa''s filmy eyes slid to G-Wiz. She felt a shiver run up her spine as he stared at her.


    For the first time, something glinted within him.


    ¡°Just water,¡± she said.


    ¡°Very well,¡± Agrippa said, ¡°Excuse me if I indulge myself.¡±


    He clicked a button on his desk, leaning in.


    ¡°Abigail? Water for our guests. A bourbon for myself, if you please.¡±


    The eyes shifted back to Becenti.


    ¡°Mr. Becenti,¡± Agrippa said, ¡°If I knew you were bringing such a pretty young thing, I would have dressed up a bit more professionally.¡±


    ¡°This is G-Wiz,¡± Becenti said, ¡°My guildmate.¡±


    ¡°''Sup,¡± G-Wiz said, trying to put on a strong front.


    ¡°The pleasure is mine,¡± Agrippa said, and he looked her up and down, ¡°All mine...¡±


    A low hiss rumbled from the G''Rash Haro. Agrippa shook himself, as though out of a stupor, turning his attention back to Becenti.


    ¡°Yes, to business, then,¡± he said, ¡°Like I said, the deal is simple enough. You begin storing your records, your guild archives, on Neos. Within this very Tower.¡±


    ¡°And what do we get in exchange?¡± Becenti asked.


    ¡°Safety,¡± Agrippa said, ¡°As I told you before, we intentionally put ourselves in as the name of the client when we submit your records to the High Federation on your behalf. This makes any clientele anonymous. It also means you can accept... well, any sort of job, without repercussions.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Many guilds use us,¡± Agrippa said, ¡°The Weatherfolk, for one. The White Feathers. The Exodus Walkers.¡±


    ¡°That''s all a bird''s eye view of your company''s setup,¡± Becenti said. He leaned in, ¡°But I want to get into the nitty-gritty.¡±


    ¡°You?¡± Agrippa asked.


    ¡°...Well, not me,¡± Becenti replied, ¡°But we''ve been in contact with our guildmaster.¡±


    ¡°Wakeling.¡±


    ¡°Precisely. She wants more details,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°More details?¡± Agrippa said, ¡°Odd, all things considered. I was under the impression you had come here on her behalf to finalize a deal with my organization. That you were her voice, both crystal and clear.¡±


    Becenti nodded at that.


    ¡°I am her voice, yes,¡± Becenti said, ¡°As am I her right hand. If what you say to me is agreeable, I am prepared to sign a contract with you. I have the authority. But I am not a simple man, Agrippa. I want to know every detail, every dotted I, every crossed T.¡±


    G-Wiz, despite herself, felt impressed by Becenti. They needed to delay Agrippa as long as possible, get as much of his voice as they could. By delaying him, by making him drone on, they were achieving just that.


    Becenti was good.


    Agrippa gave the old man a whimpering smile.


    ¡°Very well,¡± he said, ¡°The details, then. The guts and soul of what we here at OzTech do. From the top, then.¡±


    He leaned in.


    ¡°Shall we get started?¡±


    ***


    There was silence. Far below, Vicenorn was clicking buttons on the computer, on his arm, his mind rushing as he turned the cameras around the fifty-seventh floor off, replacing them on the security screens with recordings from earlier in the day. Anything to not immediately tip off the Tower''s defenses that the team had gotten inside. He was biting the inside of his cheek as he worked, sweat beading his brow. His artificial heart was hammering like a mallet to an anvil. He clicked on one of the cameras. It showed nothing ¨C all of the office workers had gone home a couple hours before. No one was pulling a late-nighter, so far. He sighed.


    The Spiders had worked.


    ***


    The spell did not go off with a flash of light. There was little, if any sound, and only then the subtle sounds of brushing leaves, the undergrowth shifting ever so slightly. One moment there was nothing, the next they were, as though a predator who had been camouflaging revealed itself from seemingly nowhere.


    There was none of the pomp of the Tower here. None of the gardens, the false natural world that Agrippa had set up in the lobby. Cubicles lined them on either side, with computer monitors at each desk. Each was decorated with posters, photos of family, a couple of figurines. OzTech''s mundane side, the red blood cells of the corporation, the busywork that kept it alive, the online spreadsheets and accountings and calls to the various departments.


    Ichabod kept low to the ground, gesturing for the others to do the same. All three of them sneaked through a line of cubicles. Ichabod held up a hand as they got to the end of the row. He stuck his head out, looked left. Looked right.


    Nodded. He guided them, a three-man snake, to the end of the room. A couple doors were there. One read ''Conference Room 45-C. The other simply read ''Janitor.''


    Ichabod chose the former. He took a deep breath.


    Then made a break for the door. As though it were difficult, but his heart was pounding nonetheless. He opened the door up, sneaking inside. He heard the other two pile in after him. Ichabod caught his wits, easing the door shut, making sure to keep the knob turned as he did so. Like a surgeon, he produced the Cutter from his left arm, cycling through its implements before settling for a long, thin wire that he inserted into the lock.


    With a red blip of light, the door locked itself up.


    ¡°Make sure the blinds are still up,¡± he said.


    Contort nodded. He crossed over to the table, looking it over for a moment before clicking a button on its surface. The room dimmed, just a bit.


    ¡°Good,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Most of the places should be closed up anyways. Only a few office workers here. A few janitors, though cleaning bots do most of the work nowadays.¡±


    ¡°No one to listen in, then,¡± Contort said.


    ¡°Precisely,¡± Ichabod replied. He took another deep breath, steadying his nerves, ¡°Right. Wanted to have us be together for a second to go over our next steps.¡±


    ¡°We find the nearest elevator, and go down,¡± Rorshin said, ¡°Do not over-complicate the simple.¡±


    ¡°If I could go for the simple, I would have,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°But it''s not, hence why we''re in a conference room.¡±


    He turned on the hologram of the Tower''s schematics, hovering it an inch over the glass table.


    ¡°This is us, here,¡± he said, and as he pointed a blip of light appeared in the Tower''s middle, ¡°Not exactly what I had in mind. But we can make it work.¡±


    ¡°The nearest elevator is...?¡±


    ¡°Not here,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°We can''t take an elevator here. The only elevators that reach into the lower levels are on the ground level, or close to it. They start on floor twenty.¡±


    ¡°Geez,¡± Contort said, ¡°So we take an elevator to the twentieth floor, and then we make our way down.¡±


    ¡°Not an option, either,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Remember, there are still a few people here. A couple of security drones, as well, that use the elevators to go up and down. Even using the one to get to the bottom level is risky enough.¡±


    ¡°And you can''t hack it?¡± Contort asked.


    ¡°That''s what I''m going to do when we get to the right elevator,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°But there are a couple of problems. The first is that doing the prep work takes time, almost half an hour. That''s half an hour where I have to be in one place. We''ll need to be mobile for most of this, to avoid any security patrols. And they do pass the elevators in that time.¡±


    ¡°What''s the other reason?¡± Contort asked.


    ¡°The system here is self-learning,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Once it realizes there''s a hole, it''ll patch it up. I won''t be able to hack into the elevators a second time. Or rather, I would be able to, but it would take me longer, and I would be a sitting duck, and-¡±


    ¡°Alright, I get it,¡± Contort said, ¡°So we, what, go down the stairs?¡±


    ¡°Precisely,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°It will take longer, but we''ll be mobile. I''ve memorized most of the security drone''s movements about the place.¡±


    He tapped his head.


    ¡°More than just gray matter up here. We should be able to sneak past them. Avoid them. Do everything in our power to not be caught. We can''t hide from them. I know that.¡±


    A second deep breath. His hands fell to the table as he steadied himself.


    ¡°God willing, I know that.¡±


    ***


    Contort was the first of them to check, opening the door ever so slightly, looking this way and that. No one around.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said, ¡°Let''s do this.¡±


    They moved out as a unit, rushing down the hall. Taking a left. A right. Ending at a door that led to the stairwells. Peering down, they could see that the stairwell went all the way down to the first floor, a vertical, rectangular tunnel that made their heads spin staring down at it.


    ¡°Careful, now,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°We go down the first few flights. On the forty-ninth floor, we go inside the door. Avoid the security team making its sweep. Go.¡±


    They tried to keep quiet as they went, but none of them could deny the sounds of their footsteps against the faux-stone of the staircase. They felt, after going down the stairs, the temperature rise up, the damp coolness of the Tower replaced with something warmer and drier.


    ¡°The spellwork of Charnak,¡± Rorshin whispered.


    ¡°How far does it go?¡± Ichabod asked.


    ¡°Down to the Tower''s base,¡± Rorshin said, peering down for a moment. Ichabod resisted the urge to shove him over the railing, ¡°A few floors below that.¡±


    ¡°But not to the data storage room proper,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°No, not there.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Ichabod said.


    On the forty-ninth floor, Ichabod turned to the door. He unlatched it for a second, taking a deep breath, and opened it up. There was another line of cubicles, the same mundane backbone of empire. They took a few steps in, keeping quiet-


    And froze as an office worker rose from one of the cubicles. He yawned, rubbing his eyes and checking his watch for the time. The three of them stole away into the row next to him, waiting. The man walked over and removed his computer from his desk, putting it into a bag, whistling all the while. After a moment, he stepped away, moving towards the stairwell. He opened the door.


    ¡°Whoops,¡± he said, ¡°Pardon.¡±


    ¡°At ease, employee,¡± a metallic voice rang.


    Ichabod''s blood went cold. A security drone churned into the room, a deep hum emanating through the room, a floating black ball with a single red, glowing light in the center. Ichabod knew that, below that red eye, there were two perfectly round holes, from which it would launch plasma darts at would-be assailants. It was designed to kill, a war machine dressed up as office security.


    It went past the desks where they were hiding.


    Stopped. Turned around.


    Ichabod signaled at them. He was pulling out his pistol, his face tightened up.


    Contort went to the back of the row right as the drone came upon their line of cubicles. There was only a slight crack between the cubicle and the wall, which he squeezed himself into, shimmying into the next row.


    The drone continued prodding forward into Ichabod and Rorshin''s row. Ichabod took a deep breath...


    Contort went down his row until he was behind the drone. With a shocking speed, he leaped at it, landing on top of it, eye facing the ground.


    Ichabod went to work, rushing towards it, his left arm erupting into a series of tools that began peeling away the drone''s top, connecting wires in his arm with the drone''s.


    One heartbeat.


    The drone continued to struggle like a drowning man.


    Two heartbeats.


    The drone stopped thrashing.


    Three heartbeats.


    The red light went out.


    ¡°There,¡± Ichabod whispered, ¡°Let out a dummy signal to the others, so they won''t come over.¡±


    ¡°Sheesh,¡± Contort said, ¡°Will it work?¡±


    ¡°For now,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°But they''re going to realize that one of the drones is offline. That it didn''t let out a signal that it was under attack. They''re going to want to look into it, and realize someone brought it down.¡±


    Contort nodded, leaning back against an office chair, steadying himself.


    ¡°We need to be more careful,¡± he said.


    ¡°I thought you had memorized the drones here,¡± Rorshin said, ¡°Their patterns. Their movements.¡±


    ¡°I did,¡± Ichabod hissed, ¡°I did. The office worker, it must have prompted the drone to do a sweep of the place. To check to see if there was anyone else in the room.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Rorshin asked.


    ¡°I...¡± Ichabod stammered, ¡°I don''t know. Either the info''s out of date, or the drones are more autonomous than I realized. One of the two.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Rorshin said.


    ¡°We should be lucky, at least,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Drones like these usually set off SOS signals as soon as they realize they''re down. But we were fast enough to stop it before it could send it out. But we can''t let luck run this job.¡±


    He re-holstered his pistol. His arm collapsed back into its usual, realistic sheen.


    ¡°We''ll need to be more careful.¡±

 83. A Wasted World

    ¡°For a guild of your size,¡± Agrippa said, ¡°It''s a yearly rate of eight thousand credits, Federation-standard. Nothing major, not for the work you do.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Becenti said, ¡°But it¡¯s sizable enough that we would need to factor it into the budget. How often would we pay?¡±


    ¡°Per quarter, usually,¡± Agrippa said, ¡°But you can also do it on a monthly basis, or even annually. It doesn''t matter, so much as it''s all paid in full by the end of the fiscal.¡±


    Becenti nodded at that.


    ¡°And,¡± Agrippa said, ¡°The actual, final price can be negotiated. This isn''t a hard number, mind you. We can adjust it based on your guild''s needs. We''re willing to go lower, but that''s more a conversation with a sales representative.¡±


    ¡°I thought you were the sales representative, in this case,¡± Becenti said.


    Agrippa smiled his watery smile.


    ¡°I''m... here to get OzTech''s foot in the door,¡± he said, ¡°To describe to you our entire package. It''s not every day that I do this, but your guild is...¡±


    ¡°A prize,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Well, it wouldn''t be professional for me to call it that,¡± Agrippa said, ¡°But the Amber Foundation is a storied guild. Founded by Titania Amber. My grandfather met her, you know.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°She was... Magnificent,¡± he said, and for another moment, Agrippa''s filmed-over eyes flashed with something similar to life, ¡°I grew up on tales of Titania Amber. Of her travels across the multiverse. Of her duel with the great Dragon Kronduil. Her blade, the Glass Slipper, is it still at Castle Belenus?¡±


    ¡°It is,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Perhaps if our deal goes through, I can visit it,¡± Agrippa said.


    ¡°Perhaps.¡±


    Agrippa nodded at that, and the light in his eyes faded, returning back to their pale candor. He looked from Becenti to G-Wiz.


    ¡°You looked bored, Ms. G-Wiz,¡± he said, ¡°Is something... the matter?¡±


    G-Wiz shook herself to attention. When talks of business had become more heavy, more involved, she had found herself drifting away. She sat up straight as she looked at Becenti. The old metahuman was looking at her, his face inscrutable. She looked back at Agrippa. At those eyes that stared at her like a slothful hunter.


    ¡°Just... listening, is all,¡± she said.


    ¡°Ah,¡± Agrippa said, ¡°You are not a user of words, are you? You much prefer action. I like that, in a woman.¡±


    She felt what seemed like a spider crawl down her spine.


    ¡°Whatever,¡± she said.


    ¡°Very well,¡± Agrippa said, ¡°The talk of business bores you.¡±


    ¡°...I''ll be real,¡± she said, ¡°I''m just here as backup.¡±


    ¡°As backup...?¡± Agrippa asked.


    ¡°We usually travel on jobs like these in twos,¡± Becenti said. For a moment, his eyes narrowed at G-Wiz, as though warning her, before turning his attention back to Agrippa.


    ¡°Ah, but you have Vicenorn on this plane as well, don¡¯t you?¡± Agrippa asked.


    Becenti gave a false smile, ¡°As I said, usually. Vicenorn¡¯s doing a bit of work on the side with us, is all. He gives his condolences that he cannot attend.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure,¡± Agrippa said, ¡°So, never alone, then?¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Usually twos, sometimes threes. It¡¯s rare for a guildmember of ours to go to a plane alone,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Reduces temptations.¡±


    ¡°Safety in numbers,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Agrippa nodded at that. The G''Rash Haro let out a great yawn.


    Behind them, the door opened, light pouring in from outside. A robed figure silhouetted against the door''s frame, with a fox''s head and a beautiful staff that seemed carved out of midnight. The fox took a few tentative steps inside, sniffing the air.


    ¡°Ah, Charnak,¡± Agrippa said, ¡°Forgive me, Becenti.¡±


    ¡°It is of no concern,¡± Becenti said, his voice cool, ¡°We''ve met.¡±


    The fox locked eyes with the metahuman, before moving off to stand by one of the statues.


    ¡°Charnak here is ever paranoid,¡± Agrippa said, ¡°Isn''t that right?¡±


    ¡°Just doin'' the usual sweeps,¡± Charnak rasped, ¡°Apologies for intruding.¡±


    ¡°No apology required,¡± Agrippa said. He gave a slow, conspiratorial wink, ¡°Charnak here thinks there''s someone in the city who''s after me. Well, more than just the usual. Someone with actual power. He''s had spells going off around the Tower of Eden and beyond for the last few days.¡±


    ¡°Oh, dear,¡± Becenti feigned, ¡°Hopefully nothing too major.¡±


    ¡°Charnak is a war veteran,¡± Agrippa said, ¡°You would know the caution that one takes.¡±


    Becenti nodded at that.


    ¡°Perhaps...¡± Agrippa looked back at G-Wiz, ¡°Perhaps that is what is called for. Lighter conversation, hmm? The talk of business can be wearisome.¡±


    ¡°Doubtless you want to know more about us,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°More than just the rumors and accolades you possess,¡± Agrippa said, ¡°The strongest business relationships are built on the personal, no?¡±


    ¡°I suppose,¡± Becenti said.


    In the corner, Charnak''s star-speckled staff began to glow. As did his eyes, a hunter''s in the night.


    ¡°But,¡± Agrippa said, ¡°I¡¯d be rude to not offer myself to you, after you¡¯ve come all the way to my Tower on my request. So, ask away. I know much about you, but you seem to know little of me.¡±


    He spread his arms wide in offering, smile returning to his face. The G''Rash Haro continued to merely stare.


    ***


    There was, at one point, between moving from staircase to staircase, dodging past security drones, a moment where they needed to shift from one end of the Tower to the other.


    There were multiple stairwells in the Tower, one for each cardinal direction. They moved from one to another, criss-crossing on their way down to the tenth floor. They passed through the various departments and offices that made up OzTech, cubicle by cubicle, office by office.


    Until, at one point, they opened the door into a vast, indoor garden. The room itself was globe-like. It was a jungle, with artificial mist settled on the place like a blanket. The temperature of the room went up, warm and muggy, and dragonflies zipped to and from from great trees that rose towards the indoor forest''s roof. What light was there was cut off, only peeking through from the curtains of fronds high above.


    ¡°...I recognize this place,¡± Rorshin said, smelling the air, ¡°The trees here, they are of Zanhelm.¡±


    ¡°A little slice of the place,¡± Contort said, ¡°I''ve been there, once. Never want to go there again.¡±


    There were no paths that cut through the dense forestry. Ichabod took a few careful, tentative steps inside, feeling the uncomfortable squelching of mud beneath his boots.


    ¡°There''ll be footprints,¡± he said.


    ¡°Of no concern,¡± Rorshin replied. He reached up to one of the lower branches, pulling loose a great frond. With a heave he placed it behind him, dragging it on the ground like the tail of a beaver, ¡°I''ll take up the rear.¡±


    ¡°Smart,¡± Contort said.


    They picked through the brambles and roots underfoot, stepping through the slice of Zanhelm, looking this way and that for any sign of danger.


    ¡°Not too many people walk through here,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Naturally, of course.¡±


    ¡°Too wild a place for them,¡± Rorshin said, ¡°Despite it being stolen nature.¡±


    ¡°More like, you don''t exactly count this as part of the walk to your desk,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°But security drones are known to pass by on occasion.¡±


    ¡°Any other places like this?¡± Contort asked.


    ¡°Yes, actually,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Nineteen more. Twenty biomes, in all. Slices of various parts of the multiverse, parts that aren''t blasted wastelands. Warm places. There''s artificial rain here, you know. Pure, clean water. Cleaner than anywhere else.¡±


    He licked his lips, thinking on that.


    ¡°It''s a lucky thing, living on a plane where that''s commonplace.¡±


    ¡°At least your plane had water,¡± Contort murmured.


    ¡°Movement,¡± Rorshin said.


    They ducked down, hiding in the underbrush. There were a few quiet, tense moments. The sound of a door opening echoed on the other side of the room.


    And then, she was there. Macabre. Ravens fluttered around her, cawing to one another as they wheeled over the jungle''s roof. She was wearing dark robes today, hemmed with silver, half-mask still cloaking her face like a crescent moon. One of her ravens was perched on her shoulder, pecking at an ear.


    ¡°Where''s she going?¡± Contort asked, but he felt Rorshin''s hand, gnarled and surprisingly strong, close over his shoulder to hush him.


    At the sound of Contort''s voice, the raven on Macabre''s shoulder stood to attention, scanning the place. They went even lower to the ground, stomachs to the muddy floor, as the raven looked around for a moment. Macabre stood as still as a statue, waiting for the bird to finish.


    Her eyes glowed the entire time. Silvery-white.


    A signal of her power.


    Then, without another word, with an apparent satisfaction that she was alone, she walked off again. Her robes dragged against the mud, though they remained supernaturally unblemished.


    Ichabod signaled. They followed her, slowly, quietly, as she made her way across the room.


    In stark contrast to the rest of the indoor jungle, the walls of the room were made of glass. Heavy sheathes of steel unfolded outside, the scaled parts of the Tower, protecting the window from rain and any hopeful spies. Macabre walked over, pushing part of the window open. It gave way, opening up a rectangular hole to the outside world. The sounds of the city, the smell of rotted rain, drifted through from the other side.


    The ravens went through, one after another, fluttering down from the treetops and diving below the scales, out towards the city. To continue their patrol, to find the interlopers they did not realize were already in their home.


    Macabre closed the window up. Her own raven was still perched on its shoulder. With a swish of the robes, she walked away, through the dark jungle. They heard the door open, then close once more.


    Ichabod breathed a sigh.


    ¡°Her eyes were still glowing,¡± Rorshin hissed.


    Ichabod froze.


    He turned back, eyes scanning above. Rorshin and Contort''s gazes followed.


    There.


    In the treetops.


    A raven, left behind, gliding from branch to branch, its eyes scanning the forest floor.


    ***


    ¡°Well, alright,¡± G-Wiz said. She found her fingernails digging into her pants, ¡°If you insist.¡±


    A question to ask Agrippa. A tall order, if she was honest. She hardly cared for him. Hated him, really. Hated the way he looked at her with something approaching lust. That''s all he could do, really, approach real emotion. As though it were a closed door to him, and something was stopping him from opening it. His smile, polite and dragging, did not quite reach his eyes.


    ¡°What''s your...¡± she wanted to say ''damage,'' but felt as though that would just get her in trouble, ¡°What''s your reason for the Tower?¡±


    ¡°It''s a place of business,¡± Agrippa said, not a hint of sarcasm in his voice.


    ¡°No, like, why a giant plant?¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°A garden. All of that.¡±


    ¡°Because there is very little like that, here,¡± Agrippa said.


    He rose to his feet. Stepped away from the desk. The G''Rash Haro floated over him for a moment, before its legs settled on his back, its front claws draping over his neck like some bestial necklace. The serpentine head rose over him, like a cobra from a basket. He walked over to one of the walls, and pressed a button that had not been there before.Stolen novel; please report.


    The skyline melted into view. Cameras set up outside the Tower ¨C they would not risk their CEO''s life with such brazen arrogance as glass ¨C portrayed New Shan, a metropolis of neon and shadow. Buildings rose, smoke wafting like clouds between them.


    No...


    Not smoke.


    Smog. Smog that choked the holographic women dancing on repeat. That choked out the unnatural light of the city. A deep, dark haze settling on New Shan''s neck like a murderous hand.


    Beyond was not much better. There were jagged mountains that loomed in the distance, as well as the dim sparkle of another city, another false spectacle. Between them was nothing but wasteland. It reminded G-Wiz of Nesona, before Rolala''s conversion of the Deadlands into something new. Beautiful. Full of life.


    None of that, here.


    ¡°Neos is a wasted world,¡± Agrippa said, ¡°Used up long before my time. My grandmother, she told me stories of finding the last natural, green thing on the planet. When she was a young woman, she found it, growing while she and a hired guild were on an expedition to the far reaches of the plane. They drove out far, very far.¡±


    The smog continued to fester. Stormlight thrashed in the clouds high above. But no lightning flashed. No bolt struck.


    ¡°Neos is a flat plane,¡± Agrippa said, ¡°A disc, if you will. Past it, there is nothing but darkness. Corporate drones have gone far into the black, and found nothing. The great explorer F¨¥ngb¨¤o traveled past the edge as a storm, and found nothing.¡±


    ¡°But your grandma, she still traveled the edge,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°Yes. Yes, she did,¡± Agrippa said, and his voice became distant, ¡°She traveled the edge, and made many marvelous discoveries. She was an explorer. Truly. Had she not been tied to the family, to the company, who knows what she would have done with her Far Traveling...¡±


    He paused for a moment, before shaking himself from his stupor. He turned back to G-Wiz and Becenti.


    ¡°She found it, you see. Hiding in the cracked stone on the cliffs before the black. A tuft of green. The last green thing on Neos, that came of Neos. A whispered remnant of a time when this place had plains, and forests, and rivers.¡±


    ¡°And what did she do with it?¡± Becenti asked.


    ¡°Why, she plucked it, of course,¡± Agrippa said.


    He pressed another button on the wall, and his desk opened up, a small hole drilling from its middle. Rising up was a mound of dirt, atop of which was a bare sprig, a sapling. Green as could be.


    ¡°It''s been years, of course,¡± Agrippa said, ¡°We have to artificially inject it with chlorophyll. Nanobots to keep it so that it stays up in just the right way, but here it is. The last green thing of Neos.¡±


    He chuckled.


    ¡°Usually we charge for people to see it.¡±


    There was a bitter silence as Becenti and G-Wiz stared at it. Both of them with veiled looks of disgust.


    ¡°That is what the Tower is,¡± Agrippa said, ¡°A slice of what Neos used to be. That is what it''s modeled after. My grandmother, she''s the one who designed this place. She created a monument to what Neos was, the foundation of OzTech.¡±


    ¡°Sounds like she was quite the woman,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°She was,¡± Agrippa said, and a hint of wistfulness found itself in his flat voice, ¡°And my father, he was a...¡±


    Beside her, G-Wiz saw Becenti''s hands curl into fists.


    ¡°He was a man of the moment,¡± Agrippa said, ¡°He took advantage of the situations before him, and propelled OzTech into a power that stirs, not simply on Neos, but the rest of the multiverse as well. He was a great man.¡±


    He sighed.


    ¡°I miss him dearly,¡± he said, though G-Wiz could tell that was a lie. There''s a way someone speaks of their parents, when they do not care for them. Joseph spoke like that, at times, when he mentioned his family. A sort of resigned lilt in the voice, as though speaking the words was carrying out a duty, a responsibility to pay lip service to one''s kin.


    ¡°He was... certainly a figure,¡± Becenti said.


    Agrippa nodded at that, the sly smile returning to his face.


    ¡°...Tell me, Becenti,¡± he said, ¡°What do you think of the future? Where do you see yourself, five, ten, fifteen years from now?¡±


    ***


    The raven flew through the room, circling high above like a hawk, or a vulture.


    None of the three dared to move. All of them were lying on their stomachs, eyes cast upwards at the bird as it wheeled about. Landed in a tree. Pecked at the bark.


    ¡°Her eyes were glowing,¡± Rorshin murmured, ¡°When she was leaving.¡±


    ¡°Which means she''s onto us,¡± Ichabod whispered back.


    The raven continued flitting about. While its head was turned, Rorshin moved. There was a grace to his movements, a certain sort of tectonic luridness, as though he were of the earth. He turned until he was on his back, his eyes watching the raven flit from place to place.


    Ichabod gritted his teeth. Resisted the urge to pull out his pistol, and dispose of the damn thing, here and now. But he knew the look in Contort''s eye, as his mechanical hand reached into the inside of his coat. Contort gave a subtle shake of the head.


    If they killed the raven, if it suddenly went out, Macabre would know. Would know something happened. They were already on thin ice as it was.


    All they could do was wait for the raven to stop. Or for Macabre to return, and then they could ambush her, or something. Ichabod''s mind wheeled on and on as he considered what to do.


    If they truly were waiting for Macabre to return to the room, then they were probably in for a long night. Assuming the security drones did not find their fallen sibling, they could sit here for quite a while. Or a security drone would come in here, and they would be found either way. In which case, they would need to be fast, leave another metal corpse in the room.


    The raven would find them, then. There was no way to avoid that. Then they would need to eliminate the bird. It would alert Macabre to their presence. They would be had.


    Their fate seemed to hang on a simple patrol path. Ichabod could not be sure if his schedule for the security drones was still accurate, or not.


    If Macabre came in, then it would be a matter of ambushing her. They would need to kill her, and fast. Even if they had control of the cameras in this room, even one raven might be able to get word of what was happening¡­


    But if there were more than ravens, if there was an aspect of Macabre''s power that they did not grasp...


    ¡°The raven,¡± Rorshin noted, ¡°It does not move like a hunter.¡±


    Ichabod turned his head, very slowly, to the druid. Rorshin was still staring at the bird. By now, the bird was on one of the branches above, head turning this way and that. It hopped along the branch''s length, before looking at a leaf.


    ¡°It''s curious, this one,¡± Rorshin whispered, ¡°All of them are, of course...¡±


    ¡°Curious?¡± Ichabod hissed.


    ¡°If the raven is under Macabre''s control, she is not doing a very good job of it,¡± Rorshin said, ¡°One cannot tame animals, not truly...¡±


    ¡°You''re saying,¡± Contort said, ¡°That-¡±


    He shut up as the raven looked his way for a moment. It flew overhead for a moment, as though surveying the area, before returning back to its perch.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Rorshin said, ¡°She has its eyes, but not its heart.¡±


    The raven.


    It was not under Macabre''s control.


    Ichabod gave a dark smile.


    ¡°And what do ravens like?¡±


    He flipped out a credstick. A commonplace item. Shiny. There were probably thousands of them here in the Tower. The raven would have reasonably stolen it from anywhere.


    ...Right?


    It was their best option. Better than nothing.


    Ichabod tossed it away. Watched as it arced through the air in a silvery glitter, landing in the mud.


    It took the raven a moment to find it. It continued its little explorations, random hoppings and its flutterings. Eventually, though, it spotted it in the muck, flying down to it, beady eyes considering the credstick.


    ¡°Go,¡± Ichabod said.


    They rose, mud caking their coats, as they began moving away. They did so carefully, making sure not to grab the raven''s attention. But there was little need. The raven plucked the credstick, pecked at it, threw it into the air.


    It was in a different world.


    ***


    ¡°The future,¡± Becenti said, and G-Wiz thought the word sounded foreign to him.


    ¡°The future,¡± Agrippa said, ¡°You are a metahuman, yes?¡±


    ¡°I am,¡± Becenti said, carefully.


    ¡°I have heard of Ludaya,¡± Agrippa said, ¡°A metahuman nation, whole and real again. That is what many of your people dream of, is it not?¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°But you do not?¡± the CEO tilted his head.


    ¡°I do not,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Not anymore.¡±


    ¡°Ah. Because of Ludaya.¡±


    ¡°Because of Ludaya. Because of the war.¡±


    ¡°I remember hearing stories, as a child,¡± Agrippa said, ¡°Of the war. Of the glories there.¡±


    ¡°There is little glory in war,¡± Becenti said, ¡°And what is there, is cruel.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Agrippa said, ¡°Perhaps. You would not consider yourself a hero? You dressed yourself as one.¡±


    ¡°Dressing and being are two different things,¡± Becenti said, ¡°But you were speaking of the future, yes?¡±


    ¡°Ah, yes,¡± Agrippa said, ¡°The future. Where do you see yourself, if you do not dream of nation, of empire?¡±


    ¡°I...¡± Becenti looked down, ¡°I do not. Not anymore.¡±


    ¡°Then what do you dream of?¡± Agrippa said, ¡°What is your future?¡±


    He was still standing, New Shan poured out behind him. He seemed to glow like a star against the dim backlight of the city. Becenti was quiet at first, and Agrippa allowed him time to think, the young man''s hands in his pockets, standing tall. His smile seemed to only widen at Becenti''s reluctance.


    ¡°The future of an old man is a bitter thing,¡± Becenti said, at last, ¡°Only cruel men look back at their lives and see happiness.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡± Agrippa said.


    ¡°There must be regret,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Sadness. Fondness for those lost. Hatred for injustices in the world. There must be negative, for it accentuates the positive.¡±


    ¡°I''m speaking of the future, Becenti,¡± Agrippa said.


    ¡°My future, I feel, is much the same,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I don''t see much else to it. There are few opportunities, now. I am not a young man, and I don''t have his ambition anymore.¡±


    He was thinking, now, placing his head on his chin, scratching it.


    ¡°My future,¡± he said, ¡°I see my future is remembering my past.¡±


    ¡°To look back at what you had,¡± Agrippa said, ¡°And wonder where it all slipped away.¡±


    Becenti did not reply. G-Wiz thought he should have retorted something. In anger. In defiance.


    Anything.


    But the old metahuman merely accepted the statement. He leaned back, taking a deep breath, and though his face betrayed nothing his eyes were swimming.


    ¡°And what of you?¡± Agrippa asked, turning to G-Wiz, ¡°You are young. You don''t have an old man''s regrets. Where do you see yourself?¡±


    ¡°I...¡± G-Wiz thought about it, ¡°Well. I like guildwork just fine.¡±


    ¡°Is that a permanent career for you, then?¡± Agrippa asked, ¡°With the Amber Foundation?¡±


    ¡°Sure,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°I''ll be real, dude, I never gave it much thought.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Agrippa said.


    ¡°What about you?¡± G-Wiz asked, trying to get him to keep talking, ¡°What are your dreams? Where do you see yourself in the future?¡±


    And Agrippa smiled. As though the entire conversation, all of his questions, were mere performance. A lip service, so he could speak of himself.


    ¡°Ah, my dream,¡± he said, ¡°I want to be like my father. Like my grandmother.¡±


    He gestured out, weakly, towards the city.


    ¡°New Shan. The Tower. OzTech. All of this was built by my ancestors. My forebears. Men and women who came before me and lifted Neos into a position of power. I stand on the precipice, a supposed zenith of the Agrippa name.¡±


    He turned back.


    ¡°My grandmother''s name will be remembered for generations. Juliet Agrippa. My father will, as well. For grabbing life by the reins. By the throat. By the balls, pardon my crass language.¡±


    His eyes flashed.


    ¡°And I... I want to be like them. I want my name to be remembered. I want to be great on my own virtue, not simply because of my privileged station. That is what I work for. That is what I dream for.¡±


    In the corner, whatever spellwork Charnak had been doing finished up. The fox bowed his head to Agrippa for a second, muttered a ¡°Good evenin'',¡± to Becenti and G-Wiz, and made his exit. All three of them watched him leave.


    ***


    They went to the nearest bathroom after clearing the indoor jungle to clean up. Whoever had designed the Tower had good foresight, for they had set up the bathroom right beside the artificial ecosystem, with a water hose near the floor to wash their boots.


    Never mind the fact that their coats were drenched in mud. Ichabod considered the one of his dirty sleeves for a moment, before running it under the sink. Rorshin, despite his biases against technology, nonetheless used one of the hoses, grimacing as the water cleaned his boots dry.


    ¡°Careful, now,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Make sure it''s dry.¡±


    ¡°I am aware,¡± Rorshin said, and Ichabod noted the druid seemed to bite down a more scathing retort.


    ¡°How many more floors?¡± Contort asked.


    ¡°About ten,¡± Ichabod said. He took a deep breath, looking at his compatriots, ¡°We''re doing alright?¡±


    Contort nodded, though there was a weariness in his eyes. Rorshin was frowning slightly, and though he seemed calm as could be, his hands were shaking. One could only put up so much of a stone facade. It was human to feel fear, and the druid was, once more, realizing he was not as stoic as he presented himself to be.


    ¡°Right,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Another few staircases. Then we''re at the elevator. That''s all. One step of the plan down.¡±


    He opened up the restroom door slightly, looking out. One of the office workers who was working this late into the night was getting up from her cubicle, stretching. He waited for her to pack up her things, and soon enough she was stepping out towards the elevator.


    He heard it ding. Heard her walk inside.


    Security drones were on the other side of the building right now. Three on this floor. They would be in this section of the office in about ten minutes.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said, ¡°Time to go.¡±


    They swept off once more, keeping low to the ground as they went. They went down the staircase for another three floors, before switching over.


    Security drones covered the east stairwell at this time. They used it to cross up to the next floor, a changing of the guard. The drones cycled upwards, making their way up the Tower, before moving over to the west stairwell and descending downwards.


    There were gaps in their patrols, of course. One could only buy so many. Most of OzTech''s were deployed elsewhere, stifling riots and unions in the factories across Neos.


    No, the Tower of Eden''s strength was in its robust camera system.


    And, so far, their usurpation of the camera network was holding. Nothing had alerted them yet.


    But it was only a matter of time.


    They dodged past one last patrol, and made it to the final floor. It was a laboratory.


    A children''s laboratory. Set up for classes in the upper tiers of the city and for off-planar field trips. All of the lights were off, casting the entire room in darkness. Each lab was cordoned off with glass, and inside the tables had been cleared off by cleaning robots. One of them was evidently prepared for a class in the morning, because each place at its table had a beaker, tweezers, and a microscope, the databoard on the wall reading out ''Single-Cellular Life'' and a diagram of a paramecium.


    The last class had ended hours ago. The last of the cleaning drones had finished up soon after. Aside from a scheduled patrol in about forty minutes, they were alone.


    They cleared another hall. The elevator was there, a pristine slab of silverish steel.


    ¡°Watch the doors,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Make sure we don''t get any unwanted attention.¡±


    Contort and Rorshin went over, watching the labs from down the hall. Ichabod''s left arm warped into the Cutter''s myriad implements, which began peeling off the elevator''s call tablet and melding into the wiring.


    It was a rush job. Twenty minutes, and he should have given himself more time. But Ichabod''s heart was racing as he worked, and he began sweating for the first time on this job as his work took on a fevered edge. Patching into the elevator, calling it down, and making sure that other elevators in the system would take priority for the other floors was commonplace work. He had done it a thousand times before. Muscle memory took over that part.


    But all he could think of was the security drone that was off of its patrol schedule.


    All he could think of was that, sooner rather than later, it would be discovered.


    He could imagine it now. Security teams would be deployed to each floor. A strike force. Pantheon would rustle up anyone in the building to search. Macabre would spread out her ravens. Charnak''s spellwork would take on a more dangerous edge. Others throughout New Shan would be recalled to the Tower.


    They would be trapped.


    They would be trapped, and would have to go out in a blaze. Becenti and G-Wiz, if they were smart (which Becenti was) could talk themselves out of the situation. There would be suspicion. But they had their cover story. It was a weak one, but it would hold up against scrutiny.


    ...Right?


    He felt guilty about Contort. Rorshin was much like him: if it came down to the wire, the druid would not mind becoming a martyr. But Contort, he was different. He wasn''t in this for any sort of passion. It was a job for him. He was doing it because he was their guildmate.


    A sacrifice for that, and nothing else.


    Ichabod took a deep breath. He could not afford to be jittery now.


    With a final twist, the elevator door opened up. There was a mundane sort of mediocrity to it, as though it was expecting simple office workers to step inside.


    ¡°Come on,¡± Ichabod said. Contort and Rorshin followed him in.


    The elevator closed. They all felt the familiar lurch as it began moving down.


    Further and further down.


    Into the roots of the Tower.


    As above, so below.

 84. The Wind Shifts

    The elevator door continued crawling down the Tower. Due to Ichabod''s machinations, it was slower than usual, like a snail slowly sliming its way down a post.


    It was a time of preparation. Two guards stood flanking the data storage center at all times. They changed shifts every eight hours. Cybernetically enhanced to keep awake in those eight hours, without need of a break or a meal. Like statues, natural decorations below.


    Not tonight, however. Ichabod took a deep breath as he pulled out his pistols. The intention for this heist was for it to be as cold as possible, a surgical maneuvering in and out. Very little gunplay needed. If things heated up, it was over. Their advantage was in the shadows, the element of surprise, the fact that Agrippa did not know they had infiltrated the place.


    Yet here they were, about to throw caution to the wind.


    For there was no way around this part of the plan.


    Here, they would need to take out the guards. As quickly as possible. Partly why he had wanted G-Wiz as their heavy. Or anyone, really, with the mind for combat and who was used to doing heavy damage. Even Joseph would have done, even if he would have tripped on his shoelaces on the way here.


    Beside him, Contort rolled his shoulders. He was pulling out a pair of knives, flipping one of them in his rubbery hands. But there was little he would be able to do.


    No, the one doing the heavy lifting here would be Rorshin. The druid was looking upwards as the elevator shifted downwards. After a moment, as the elevator lights dimmed, he walked over and placed a hand on the cold metal wall.


    ¡°Hmm,¡± he said, ¡°Almost out of the spellcaster''s range.¡±


    ¡°It only goes down so much?¡± Contort asked.


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Rorshin said, ¡°I would suspect that his magic works best above ground, and is weaker in the depths below.¡±


    ¡°And you couldn''t... teleport us straight here?¡± Contort asked, ¡°Could''ve spared us the heartache.¡±


    ¡°What, are you weak?¡± Rorshin spat, ¡°The magic I used requires the wind. A pact with the whispering parts of the world. Nothing whispers down here. Not anymore.¡±


    He turned an icy glare to the metal wall, and his hand slid down the wall''s side.


    ¡°The only sound down here is droning. Metal, soulless droning.¡±


    ***


    They were making Vicenorn work for his meal, that was for sure.


    Never mind that Ichabod and the others were sneaking down floor by floor, instead of being sensible and just taking the elevator.


    He had been hard at work splicing images together, tricking the cameras as Ichabod, Rorshin, and Contort ran through the halls of the Tower, making sure each successive one was offline as the team weaved their way through the building.


    With a shivering hand, he took out a towel and wiped his sweating brow. All of him stank of sweat. He felt like he had just walked through a storm. He had always found it an odd feeling - his old body had never sweated like this. His artificial heart rang hollow in his chest.


    The Spiders weren''t designed to be working this intensely for this long. The automatic camera systems were fighting back against them, and Vicenorn found at some points that he was beginning to lose control. Some of the cameras went blank for him, mostly on the top floors. Some of the security system was realizing there was an intruder in the network, and he was working frantically to keep himself concealed.


    The only saving grace to this entire debacle was that none of the Spiders had gone offline.


    Yet.


    Ichabod and the others were starting to head down into the depths of the Tower. Into the information storage room. This next part would be the nastiest. A quick firefight. A deadly one. A flip of the coin, if he was being honest with himself. He remembered the looks of those guards down there. Not Pantheon. Not guild. But with heavy rifles and combat gear, a fully militarized security force.


    Vicenorn switched off their cameras. They did not realize it. He wired into the cameras in the room and began running a reel from earlier in the day in their stead. Any security officer in the observation room would simply see the mundane day-to-day of below the Tower. Not what was about to come.


    Not Ichabod risking his life.


    Vicenorn wasn''t sure if he liked that or not. He wished for a strong drink right about now.


    ***


    High above Vicenorn, looking down from the Tower, on the fifth floor, was Charnak. The fox was looking out towards the cityscape, his eyes watching the various vehicles as they crawled on the ground like ants.


    His eyes slid down to one in particular, which had an etheric line that linked itself to Shimmer and his companion.


    It had also been wheeling around close to the Tower for their entire visit. Not out of the ordinary, of course. Perhaps it was just waiting for them to finish, and had nothing better to do.


    But Charnak had been burned by happy coincidences before.


    He phased through the window, a light paw stepping out into open air.


    The air solidified as he descended downwards, as though he were walking down a staircase.


    If the taxi was just simply waiting, it would not mind one of the guild snooping around, would it?


    But if it was here for illicit reasons...


    This would be enjoyable, indeed.


    ***


    There was a moment of quiet as the elevator door dinged. The two guards at their posts looked up. Noted that no one stepped out of the elevator. One exchanged looks with the other, and both of them switched their rifles¡¯ safeties off.


    The one on the left put a hand to his helmet, trying to get in contact with the rest of security above. What he did not realize is that his signals were being shorted out by a small charge on Ichabod''s arm. A simple pulse, nothing major, to disrupt communications going in and out of the room. It would not last long.


    But he didn''t need it to last long. He nodded to Rorshin.


    Who took a deep breath, held it for a second. His exhale was like a northern gale, strong and cold and bitter, grabbed hold of the two guards, lifting them off their feet and slamming them into the walls. Ichabod pointed up his pistols, and began firing on the one on the left.


    It was not pretty. His shots sunk into the guard''s armor for the most part. Aiming for the center of mass only did so much when the center of mass was covered up. But Ichabod was no ordinary sharpshooter. He was aided by his mechanical eyes, his mechanical arms. The parts of his brain that were cybernetic took over, guiding his arms upwards using automatic calculations. They guided him to a killshot, a bullet to the throat. The guard fumbled to the ground.


    Rorshin was not so clean. Wind whipped around him as he dove forward, propelled by his own indoor tornado, until he was right on the guard. He slammed a hand onto the guard''s helmet, whispering a word of power. The world groaned. Ancient things stirred.


    The guard began to scream as he shrunk down, his skin becoming slimy and green. Rorshin reached out a hand and grabbed the guard''s head, pulling, bit by bit, as the guard turned into a frog. It looked at Rorshin, the druid laying it on the ground.


    A moment later, his boot slammed into it, crushing it beneath his heel in a spray of pink and green gore.


    ¡°Gross,¡± Contort said.


    ¡°It is nature,¡± Rorshin said.


    ¡°Get the camouflage back up,¡± Ichabod ordered, ¡°Quickly now.¡±


    Rorshin whispered, and the air shifted, pulling in around them. Ichabod walked over and clicked a button on the elevator.


    ¡°Now,¡± he said, ¡°This elevator can''t be used by anyone else.¡±


    ¡°And this is the only one that leads down here?¡± Contort asked.


    ¡°Correct,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°...And what if Agrippa decides he wants to use it to come down here?¡±


    ¡°Then we hide,¡± Ichabod said. He stepped over to the door that led into the records room, the Cutter splitting open. He began applying it to the door, knives and needles splicing into the door''s console, peeling it open. He knelt down.


    ¡°That means there''s a window,¡± Contort said, ¡°How long for you to cut into the door?¡±


    ¡°About twenty minutes,¡± Ichabod said, and he grimaced as part of the console sparked.


    Contort looked back at the elevator. Twenty minutes of them being stuck here, in this narrow hall. If someone with the right security clearances tried coming down here, they would realize the elevator wouldn''t work. That would get security called in. There would be curiosity, at first. And then a deeper realization that they were in the middle of an active infiltration.


    Then guards like the ones on the ground would be coming in. Contort knelt down to consider them. It was a very lucky skirmish, if he was honest. Both of his guildmates had been professional and efficient with their work. Anything less, and the guards would have opened fire. A spray of bullets that could have taken out all three of them.


    Both of the guards were in heavy combat gear, with cybernetic arms holding state-of-the-line rifles. Kinetic projectiles, by the looks of them.


    ¡°Wanzel 83s,¡± Ichabod said, nodding at the firearms, ¡°Just were rolled out last year.¡±


    ¡°They look nasty,¡± Contort said. He picked up the rifle of the man who Rorshin had turned into a frog, noting with some stomach-churning that the artificial arms were still there. He jammed his fingers between the grip and the handle of the gun, collapsing his fingers in, prying the weapon loose. He held it in hand for a second.


    ¡°Feels solid,¡± he said.


    ¡°They are,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°The Wanzel line hosts some of the most reliable firearms in this region of the multiverse. They come out with a new one every few years, and corporations cast off their old models.¡±


    ¡°And, let me guess,¡± Contort said, ¡°They go right to the black market?¡±


    ¡°My first rifle was a Wanzel 45,¡± Ichabod said, smirking, ¡°Worked like a charm for a long time.¡±


    Rorshin, in response, let out a growl and a roll of the eyes.


    Ichabod continued working.


    ***


    ¡°Just this way, sir,¡± the attendant said. She guided Becenti and G-Wiz down the hall from Agrippa''s office, turning left. Potted plants lined either side of them like soldiers, bushy things with no branches and thin, white trunks. Pure water poured down in waterfalls between them, pooling into a communal, rectangular outcropping on the floor.


    The attendant brought them to one of four elevators that were lined up, side by side. She clicked one, smiling cheerily ¨C and falsely ¨C at them.


    The elevator dinged.


    ***


    Far below, the elevator let out a shrill ding. Contort glanced up, pointing a rifle.


    ¡°Someone''s trying to use it,¡± he said.


    ¡°We have ears, you know,¡± Ichabod sneered.


    ¡°Should we be worried?¡± Contort asked.


    ¡°...If it''s someone actually trying to get down here, yes,¡± Ichabod said. He was quiet as the Cutter continued to work like a mechanical octopus, unbidden and freed from its owner, ¡°But if it''s just an employee going home for the night, they''ll get bored. Perhaps put it in a report. Go on with their day. It''s just a malfunctioning elevator.¡±


    Contort nodded.


    ¡°But still keep that rifle up,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Hope for the mundane, prepare for the supernatural.¡±


    And Contort nodded again.


    They waited for a few minutes. The attendant continued smiling that fake, patronizing smile. But something shifted in her glass eyes, and they kept darting from their faces to the elevator.


    ¡°Oh, dear,¡± she said, ¡°I''m so sorry. It looks like this one is...¡±


    She couldn''t well say ''out of order,'' could she? This was the Tower of Eden. Nothing could be out of order here. Not even the elevator.


    ¡°It''s taking a bit longer than expected,¡± the attendant said, ¡°I''ll call another, just in case.¡±


    She walked over and clicked the button again. Becenti and G-Wiz exchanged looks while her back was turned. They both knew why the elevator wasn''t working. Becenti scratched at his hand. G-Wiz steadied her breathing, trying not to tap her fingers against her thigh while she waited.


    Finally, the second elevator let out a cheery ring. The attendant visibly relaxed as it opened up.


    ¡°Come along, now,¡± she said, ¡°Won''t be too long.¡±


    They stepped inside. Waited a thousand years for the elevator to go down the length of the Tower.


    At one point, it stopped. Opened up. Their blood froze as a security drone ¨C black, spherical, a deep red light set in its middle like a bloody eye ¨C floated inside.


    ¡°Oh, dear,¡± the attendant said, and Becenti noted that her voice was just a smudge higher than normal, ¡°I''m sorry, it''s not every day that our security drones use the elevators like this.¡±


    ¡°Of no concern,¡± Becenti said. G-Wiz wondered how he could keep his tone so casual, so level, ¡°Any particular reason why it would be traveling?¡±This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    ¡°They usually follow a set schedule,¡± the attendant said, ¡°And only veer off of it when they detect something out of the ordinary. Mostly it''s just our employees who take some overtime to finish their projects, but occasionally something goes off in the network, and they take the fastest route.¡±


    The door closed. The elevator continued to descend. The drone simply floated like a planet, bobbing in the air slightly.


    After another few floors, the elevator dinged again, to a floor festooned in gray cubicles. There was no light here, and a few other drones were already there, lights below their red eyes flashed on. The elevator''s drone exited.


    The door shut once more. And they continued to go down.


    ***


    It took Vicenorn a few turns to realize he was being followed.


    Not by any cars, as he looked out his rear view mirror. But from above. One of the taxi''s cameras flushed upwards, towards the cityscape high above, the neon advertisements, the Tower.


    A dot in the Tower''s center, gently walking on the air.


    Vicenorn grimaced as he clicked a few buttons, feeling trapped with his immense bulk in such a small space. He twisted his entire body as he reached across the desk towards the small keyboard that controlled the taxi''s cameras. He pressed a few buttons, trying to control the shaking in his hands, as the image sharpened.


    Charnak. The fox magician was taking his time. Vulpine eyes, yellow and primal, watched the taxi as Vicenorn rounded a corner.


    The taxi was out of view of the Tower. On another street entirely. Buildings flanked either side of the road, skyscrapers that rose out of the black and into the clouds. Vicenorn let out an exhale. His head pounded as he tried to calm himself down, repeating falsehoods he wished were true.


    Charnak was just patrolling.


    Just looking around.


    He had mere paranoia, and nothing more.


    He was not hunting for any one thing.


    He was part of Pantheon, and that meant patrolling around the Tower for any signs of trouble.


    He did not suspect anything.


    He had no clue that another guild was in his Tower now¡­


    Charnak stepped out onto the street, floating in the air, letting the wind carry him as though he were standing on a platform. He continued to follow the taxi, ignoring all of the other cars in the area. Those eyes continued to bore holes into Vicenorn''s soul.


    Vicenorn cursed to himself.


    ***


    The words that Ichabod did not want to hear blared in his communicator.


    ¡°C team to A team, over.¡±


    Vicenorn.


    Ichabod pressed a hand against his wrist, talking into it.


    ¡°A team to C team. Make it quick.¡±


    ¡°They''re onto me,¡± Vicenorn said. His breath was hurried, and panic was starting to overtake his voice, ¡°Their spellcaster is stalking me.¡±


    ¡°Keep casual,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Don''t make any rash decisions.¡±


    ¡°I think we''ve been made,¡± Vicenorn said.


    ¡°This line is secure, but won''t be much longer,¡± Ichabod said, and his voice was cold. Professional. Devoid of the usual charm he tried to slide in when speaking to Oris, ¡°You''re jeopardizing everyone by using it.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°By my calculations, we have another few minutes before they catch wind of a stray signal.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°You''ve got this. B team should be finished up at any moment. Just drive up to the front, act professional. You''re here for legitimate reasons. You''re not breaking any law.¡±


    ¡°He''s starting to get closer, Icha-¡±


    ¡°It''s just his paranoia,¡± Ichabod hissed, ¡°Remember where we are, C team. Line is secure, but it also is not.¡±


    ¡°...R-Right,¡± Vicenorn coughed, ¡°God, he''s practically over the taxi now.¡±


    ¡°He''s looking for a reason,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Don''t give him one. Drive up to the front of the Tower.¡±


    He could hear Vicenorn''s labored breathing. Could hear the clatter of keyboards as he typed commands to the taxi to take him to the Tower''s entrance. He could imagine him now, Charnak floating over him, glaring holes into the taxi''s roof.


    It would be no contest, if things went wrong. Vicenorn was no fighter, not truly. Charnak was a magician in his element.


    Ichabod didn''t want to think about that.


    ¡°I''m not doing well, A team,¡± Vicenorn wheezed.


    ¡°C team,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°If you didn''t want to wind up in dangerous situations, why did you join a guild?¡±


    ¡°For the medical benefits,¡± Vicenorn hissed.


    Ichabod was caught off guard. He let out a snort and hid his smile. He felt himself go red a bit.


    ¡°Keep calm, C team,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°I will,¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°I''ll try. See you, A team. Good luck.¡±


    ¡°You too,¡± Ichabod said.


    He yearned to add a ''Love you'' to the end of that. His heart hammered at the thought of it. But no, not when they were on a job. Not when so much could go wrong. He didn''t want those words, more like weights, to carry on Vicenorn''s mind.


    The line went dead.


    Ichabod took a deep breath. His Cutter was still at work.


    ¡°...Alright,¡± he said, ¡°Almost there.¡±


    ***


    Rain had begun to, once more, trickle outside as Becenti and G-Wiz stepped out into the garden-covered lobby. It spattered, drip by drip, against the vast glass wall that was the Tower''s entrance. They each took out their umbrellas as they walked.


    ¡°Thank you for your visit,¡± the attendant said, ¡°When you think of the good work, think of OzTech.¡±


    She gave them that awful smile again. Becenti nodded at her. G-Wiz tried to hide a grimace.


    They stepped out into the rain. Out of the Tower entirely. Once more in the city. Both of them felt a wave of relief overtake them.


    One that quickly washed away, at the sight of Charnak floating over their taxi out front. G-Wiz froze midstep. Becenti exhaled quickly, before moving forward. He went down the steps, the rain splattering against his umbrella. Charnak was staring at him as he strode forward. The fox had no umbrella. The rain matted down his fur, stray winds picking up his cloak, revealing that galaxy-studded staff of his. He floated like a spectre.


    ¡°Good evening, Charnak,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Top of the evenin'' to ye, Myron Becenti,¡± Charnak rasped.


    ¡°Is there... anything I can help you with?¡± Becenti asked, feigning ignorance.


    The fox let out a huff.


    ¡°I am patrolling about, something ill is in the air,¡± he sniffed, ¡°I was wondering who this taxi was for. Has been going around the Tower several times.¡±


    ¡°That would be our ride, actually,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°A taxi?¡±


    Charnak nodded, as if accepting that answer. He looked around for a moment, noting the other cars in the area. High above, thunder roiled.


    ¡°I find it odd coincidence, Myron Becenti,¡± Charnak said, ¡°This taxi, this one that is picking you up, it is the same taxi that you arrived in.¡±


    Becenti nodded.


    ¡°Indeed,¡± he said, ¡°I asked the onboard computer to have it stick around.¡±


    ¡°The... system?¡± Charnak asked, ¡°The system does not take allowances such as that, Myron Becenti. I am surprised.¡±


    G-Wiz bit the inside of her lip. They couldn''t out and tell Charnak that Vicenorn was in there, could they? A man, sitting in an automatic taxi, for hours? Perhaps Becenti could have spun it that Vicenorn was waiting in the taxi for them, ready to pick them up. But then, why? They could have easily called another ride. Should have, really. But Becenti had already spoken, already gone down a path. He was caught in a lie.


    ¡°Odd, it did for me,¡± he said, keeping himself casual.


    ¡°You''re quite sure?¡±


    ¡°I am,¡± Becenti said, ¡°We asked the computer to stick around, and it gave us an affirmative that it would. Must be a new feature, I suppose.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Charnak said.


    ¡°Really, I''m surprised it took OzTech this long to introduce such a program,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°One would think they would go for efficiency,¡± Charnak agreed.


    He sniffed the air again. His eyes, mottled yellow and sickly, slid from Becenti to G-Wiz, then back again.


    ¡°You Amber Foundation...¡± he said, ¡°You had one more with you, yes?¡±


    ¡°Ah, yes,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Vicenorn.¡±


    ¡°He is not with you now?¡±


    ¡°I don''t think he is,¡± Becenti said, ¡°He''s on a few other minor errands.¡±


    ¡°And he will meet up with you.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°And you are staying... where?¡±


    Becenti narrowed his eyes. G-Wiz had to admit, he was good at this.


    ¡°Elsewhere in the city,¡± he said, feigning suspicion, ¡°Nowhere important, now. A simple lodging, for our time here. Now, Mr. Charnak. I am afraid that my guildmate and I are running a bit low on time, and we must be off.¡±


    ¡°Ah, of course,¡± Charnak said, ¡°I have kept you for far too long.¡±


    ¡°Quite alright,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Come, G-Wiz.¡±


    He stepped over to the driver''s side. Nodded at G-Wiz, who opened the passenger door. She went inside quickly, closing it up, all too aware that Charnak was staring at her, trying to stare through her, into the inside of the vehicle.


    In case he could see Vicenorn.


    Becenti closed the door, looking at her for a second. There was a tension in his eyes that had not been there before. He turned back to Vicenorn. The large, cybernetic man was sweating profusely, dabbing a towel against a reddened brow. His hands were shaking, and his glasses were fogged up.


    ¡°He''s been following me for a few blocks now,¡± Vicenorn said.


    ¡°Keep your cool,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Make the taxi drive us out, now. Make it slow. Robotic. Like it''s an automatic program making sure it doesn''t run into anything as it pulls out.¡±


    Vicenorn nodded, clicking a button on one of his computers. The taxi began to reverse, then go forward. Through the rear view mirror, Becenti could see Charnak, still watching them, still standing tall.


    As they drove off, he started floating up. Higher and higher.


    ¡°Watch him,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Charnak.¡±


    Vicenorn complied, a camera on the taxi tracking the fox''s movements as he levitated upwards. Smaller shapes began crowding around him. Ravens.


    As a host, they began to move once more. Towards the taxi. Above it.


    ¡°They''re following us again,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Hell,¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°Are they...?¡±


    ¡°He''s suspicious of something,¡± Becenti said, ¡°And I''m a fool.¡±


    ¡°You played up quite the cover story,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°I should have just made it simple,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Played dumb. But Charnak would have seen through that.¡±


    ¡°Looks like he saw through us anyways,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°I don''t understand,¡± Vicenorn said.


    Becenti looked back at him.


    ¡°He''s going to follow us all the way back to the smoke shop, I suspect,¡± he said, ¡°Once there, he''s going to make sure we follow our story. We ¨C I ¨C told him that you were running a few minor errands, Vicenorn. He thinks that you''re not in the taxi.¡±


    ¡°And if I get out, then he''s going to know you lied,¡± Vicenorn said.


    ¡°He''s already suspicious. If things go well inside the Tower, that will be it,¡± Becenti said, ¡°If they catch Ichabod and the others, however, there''s the possibility that Charnak will put two and two together. Not enough for any legal action, of course. But Charnak was never one who carried for the legality of his violence.¡±


    He let that frank admission hang in the air. Vicenorn squeezed his eyes shut.


    ¡°Right,¡± he said, ¡°He''ll kill us.¡±


    ¡°Or try to,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Don''t count us out, Oris. Ms. Wiz and I have been in tougher situations before.¡±


    ¡°Hell yeah,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Don''t worry about it, Vicenorn. If it comes down to it, we got this.¡±


    Becenti stared at the camera. At Charnak, floating high above.


    ¡°Let''s hope it doesn''t come to that,¡± he said, ¡°We just have to hope that Ichabod and his team don''t alert Agrippa that we''re in there. If he does, it means that everyone here could be compromised.¡±


    ***


    The security team found the fallen drone on the forty-ninth floor.


    A technician was called, accompanied by techno-organic security, that melding of steel and flesh, two guards who each carried heavy rifles. Walking armories that looked out of place in the darkly lit office space. They should have been on the front line somewhere, deployed to put down rebellions or break down the feeble unions that sometimes cropped up in Neos''s factory cities. But here they were, accompanying the technician as he stepped over to the fallen corpse of the drone. Its brothers floated in the air above it, watching the technician as he knelt down, his left hand''s fingers splitting open, revealing thin, proboscis-like needles that uncurled out and searched around for the drone''s open ports, wiring into them.


    The technician''s eyes went green as his brain jacked into the drone''s memory banks. It had been quick, the camera''s movement had been blurry. Whoever was doing this had been smart. Had known what to turn off, and where to find it. Images showed people in dark clothing taking out this drone.


    It was not a mere accident. Not a coincidence.


    The technician took out his communicator.


    ¡°Tech to security. We''ve got a few infiltrators in the building tonight.¡±


    ***


    ¡°And it''s been trying to call up here ever since, sir,¡± the attendant said.


    She was a good girl. Had been working for the company for almost a year now. Agrippa knew all of his attendants, by name, by history. He tracked them all, in his spare time.


    This one was an especially pretty thing.


    There had been whispers and movement about the Tower. A technician was taking a look at the elevator door, having prised free the console''s interface and jacking into the system manually. Her eyes glowed green as she worked.


    Macabre stood next to them, a raven on her shoulder. Most of them, Agrippa knew, were swarming through the city now. A few of them had joined Charnak on that wild goose chase of his. Her eyes were silver-hued as she watched through her animals'' eyes.


    ¡°Any luck?¡± Agrippa asked her.


    She shook her head.


    Agrippa nodded at that. Perhaps Charnak''s suspicions were just that ¨C suspicions. He had been on edge ever since...


    Ever since Myron Becenti had shown up for his meeting. At his front door. At first, Agrippa had supposed it was old war paranoia. They had been on opposite sides, after all, hadn''t they? In those dream-like years of glory.


    A communication request clicked in his ear. Agrippa pressed his communicator.


    ¡°Yes?¡± he said.


    ¡°Sir,¡± it was the head of security, ¡°Begging your pardon on this late night. But we''ve got a situation.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡±


    ¡°Infiltrators, sir. They''ve taken out one of the drones on floor forty-nine.¡±


    Agrippa''s heart began to race. He could sense what felt like electricity surge through his bloodstream, cold and beautiful, running up his spine and into his brain. For a moment, his dull eyes cleared.


    ¡°I see,¡± he said, and he felt himself begin to smile, ¡°It appears they''ve disabled Elevator Alpha, as well.¡±


    ¡°...Understood,¡± the head of security said, ¡°I''m deploying a security team now to deal with them. I would recommend implementing the usual protocols sir, and get yourself into your saferoom.¡±


    ¡°There''s no need,¡± Agrippa said, ¡°They''re below. I can feel it.¡±


    ¡°Below, sir?¡±


    ¡°If they wanted me dead, and have gotten in this deep, we would have seen something,¡± Agrippa said, his breath felt warm and hot and heavy, ¡°But we haven''t, and Elevator Alpha is down. Send the team to the underground levels. They''ll find the infiltrators there.¡±


    ¡°Sir, I understand, but I must insist-¡±


    ¡°I will be joining you there.¡±


    ¡°Sir!¡±


    ¡°Do not worry about me,¡± Agrippa said. Above him, the G''Rash Haro let out a deep, rumbling purr. There was something layered underneath it, something darker still, and he was appreciative of the shivers that ran through his attendant, ¡°I am well protected.¡±


    He pointed a finger at the technician.


    ¡°You. Get the elevator working again. Make it quick, now.¡±


    ***


    The elevator gave out another ring. Someone else was trying to use it. Contort grimaced as he pointed the rifle at the lift''s front, kneeling down. His breathing was steady as he took aim.


    ¡°Any day now, Ichabod,¡± he said.


    ¡°Almost have it,¡± Ichabod''s voice was strained. Exhausted. The security system had been wilier than he had anticipated. New walls had been put in place. There had been a physical lock that wrapped around one of the drives, and his Cutter had been forced to wrench it free, tossing it aside and ripping through a few errant wires. Nothing that he couldn''t fix. But it had been more brute force than elegant sidestepping.


    Something that Ichabod had always hated.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said, ¡°I think I''m in.¡±


    The elevator rang again.


    ¡°They''re going to call a technician soon, if they haven''t already,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°If they haven''t already. Rorshin, is the spell ready?¡±


    The druid nodded, stepping forward to the console.


    ¡°What should I do?¡± he asked.


    ¡°I''ve modified the system so it will take the password from last week,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Et in Arcadia Ego.¡±


    Rorshin produced the small, wooden cube that held the parrot''s power. He knelt down to Ichabod''s modified console. He breathed in deep, and when he exhaled, his breath smelled of humid mud and the rot of dead trees.


    When he spoke, his voice was Agrippa''s.


    ¡°Et in Arcadia Ego,¡± he said, and Ichabod suppressed a shiver.


    The door, forced into movement by the voice and by Ichabod''s machinations, rang green, and opened. The records room beckoned them in, swathed in darkness, the dim ringings of primitive, blocky machines making up the chorus of the room.


    They stepped inside. Ichabod took a shaky breath.


    He had never gotten this far.


    Not before.


    Images in his head, of that very hall, played out. Elijah roaring as he opened fire on the elevator, as Charnak''s spells deflected each bullet as the fox rushed in, flames swirling around him.


    But that hadn''t happened. It would not happen.


    He turned to Contort and Rorshin. Contort was looking around the room, brow furrowed. He still held the rifle in hand, and had prised free the other and put it into his back. Looked like a real Rambo, now. Rorshin stood a bit behind him, whispering words that took to the wind, the camouflage spell taking hold once more.


    ¡°Let''s get to it,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°We don''t have much time now.¡±


    ***


    The door to the records room closed. The hall was quiet, now. The bodies of the two security guards rested, blood beginning to pool on the beautiful, water-rippled floor. The elevator let out a third ding. Then a fourth.


    Then, Ichabod''s defenses overridden, the elevator began to head back up. All the way to the top floor of the Tower.


    From earth to sky.

 85. Even in Arcadia, There Am I

    The records room was bigger than Ichabod ever could have anticipated.


    Official schematics listed it as being around twenty feet tall and twenty feet wide, a box in which five oversized computers were arrayed, side by side, like dominos.


    In actuality, as they looked out from the metal outcropping, it was less like a room and more like a sea beneath them, an ocean of circuits, block boxes, wires, and beeping lights. Definitely more than five computers. More than ten. Fifteen. Dozens of computers took up the room, side by side, in rows that extended out towards the darkness in the distance. A maze of information, as Ichabod looked out for a moment. He tried very hard to stop his jaw from dropping.


    ¡°Easy, there,¡± Contort said, ¡°It''s just a bunch of computers.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Rorshin said, and his nose was twisted up in disgust, ¡°I wonder how much digging they did for this. How much they disrupted with their drilling.¡±


    ¡°Doesn''t matter, now,¡± Ichabod said, pulling himself together, ¡°Let''s get to it.¡±


    He practically jogged down the stairs, the metal clanging like drums beneath his feet, The ground became concrete as he stopped onto the floor proper, weaving through the pillar-like computers. For a moment, he froze, unsure of where to start.


    Then, he started walking, deeper and deeper into the catacombs.


    ¡°They''re onto us,¡± he said, ¡°We''ve only a few advantages. Rorshin, stick close. Make sure your spell is up and running.¡±


    ¡°It is,¡± the druid replied.


    Ichabod banked a hard right. He looked through the cracks between two of the computers, making sure he could keep an eye on the railings high above. Any moment now, the doors would open.


    His left arm broke into the Cutter once more, and he jammed it into one of the computer''s ports. His eyes immediately flashed green, glaring in the relative dusk of the room.


    ¡°Cover me,¡± he said, ¡°I''m deep in their systems now.¡±


    ¡°And you weren''t before?¡± Contort whispered to him.


    ¡°Shut up,¡± Ichabod hissed, ¡°This is busywork, now. Just have to find the right file...¡±


    He simply stared into dead space. A few moments passed.


    ¡°Going to be a while, then,¡± Contort said.


    ¡°It will be,¡± Ichabod replied.


    ***


    The taxi continued meandering through the streets. It got stuck in traffic at one point, caused by a crash up ahead. Becenti, Vicenorn, and G-Wiz looked through the camera at the sight of Charnak, who stopped with them. He was actively trying to keep out of sight now, weaving a spell of invisibility that obscured him in the clouds. Even Becenti''s sight, specially trained to see the magical and supernatural, had no luck spotting him.


    ¡°It''s no use,¡± he said, ¡°We''re just going to have to assume he can see us at all times.¡±


    ¡°Shit,¡± G-Wiz spat, ¡°What''s our play?¡±


    ¡°Our play is this,¡± Becenti said, ¡°We go back to the smokeshop.¡±


    ¡°That''ll reveal our main base to Pantheon,¡± Vicenorn said.


    ¡°Not much of a choice, really,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Unless you had any other ideas?¡±


    ¡°I...¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°I could drop you two off somewhere. Go my own way.¡±


    ¡°We split up,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°Y-Yeah,¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°He can only follow one of us, can''t he?¡±


    ¡°We''re not just up against Charnak, here,¡± Becenti said, ¡°The ravens, they''re still out there. Macabre''s looking for us just as much as he is.¡±


    ¡°And if she catches wind of something?¡± Vicenorn asked, ¡°I mean, a response from the Tower would be delayed. We''re almost out of the business district entirely.¡±


    ¡°There are other agents of Pantheon in the city, remember,¡± Becenti said, ¡°We would be contending with them, as well.¡±


    ¡°...Shit,¡± Vicenorn grumbled, ¡°I... I hadn''t thought of that.¡±


    He wiped his brow again.


    ¡°They''re looking hard for us,¡± he said.


    ¡°They are,¡± Becenti said, ¡°By now, I would suspect they''re starting to realize that someone''s infiltrated the Tower.¡±


    G-Wiz blanched at that. The thought of Ichabod in there, Contort too...


    She remembered Ichabod''s breakdown, a few days before. His tearless sobs. The fear he coughed out as he told her of what happened to him when he was caught inside...


    ¡°No,¡± she said, ¡°You... You think?¡±


    ¡°It''s only a matter of time, with a building like that,¡± Becenti said, ¡°What matters is that they get out before it gets too hairy. That they recognize when they''ve bitten off more than they can chew, and they retreat.¡±


    ¡°I thought the whole point was that you were here for that!¡± G-Wiz snarled. Vicenorn jumped, ¡°The entire point that Wakeling made was that you were here in case we started to fuck up!¡±


    ¡°I am,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Hence why we''re out here.¡±


    ¡°So you''re sacrificing them, then,¡± G-Wiz said. Her eyes were alight with a dark fury.


    ¡°No,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I''m here in case the job turned out to be impossible. In case Ichabod''s own... passions, got in the way of the job.¡±


    ¡°And they haven''t?¡± G-Wiz asked.


    ¡°They have not,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Becenti, did you fucking look at him the entire time we were here?¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°He''s been more alive than I''ve ever seen him before. He''s driven. He''s got skin in the game. You weren''t there when he cried on my shoulder. He cried, Becenti.¡±


    The old metahuman was quiet.


    ¡°You''re telling me, that the whole reason you''re here, is to make sure we don''t mess up, and we pull back when things get too hairy,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°That, if we were found out, we''d pull the plug. Then you tell me that the operation is going to be found out anyways, and you still go through with it?¡±


    ¡°Drive, Oris,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°You know what sort of message that''s going to send to him? To Saul?¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°That he''s allowed to have his passions, that you aren''t going to get in his way?¡±


    ¡°He''ll do the job, and he''ll do it well,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°And you''re sure he won''t do something crazy in there?¡± G-Wiz pushed, ¡°You don''t think he''s going to go and do something over-the-top?¡±


    ¡°I...¡± Becenti said, ¡°I don''t know.¡±


    G-Wiz saw red for a moment. She counted down, to calm herself, her fingernails digging into her pants, cutting through the cloth, digging into her skin. She gritted her teeth.


    ¡°They''re going to die,¡± she said, ¡°They''re going to die, Becenti.¡±


    ¡°...Not if they''re smart,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I trust them.¡±


    He turned to look at G-Wiz.


    ¡°Do you?¡±


    ***


    It took the technician several more minutes to get the elevator open again. A lifetime, in their lives. Whoever had done the work to lock the elevator from use had been a master hacker, presumably with a high-quality Cutter. Presumably with friends, too. A sneak. A magician, or camouflaging technology. How else could they have done this?


    ¡°Oh, Charnak,¡± Agrippa whispered to himself, ¡°Where is my spellcaster?¡±


    But Charnak was on his own, off on his one inane quest. Not likely one that would bear fruit, but Agrippa allowed him his own little adventures. Foxbound like him were a wily sort of folk, who had to poke and prod at every little thing in the multiverse to make sure it was not a trap. Occasionally he would flush out something interesting, at least.


    So Agrippa allowed the magician to wander.


    With a wrenching sigh, the elevator opened. Stuttered for a moment. The technician looked over at him.


    ¡°It''s done, sir,¡± he said.


    ¡°Good,¡± Agrippa said, ¡°Send the first team in.¡±


    ***


    There were a few moments of silence as Ichabod worked. He tried to ignore his heart''s hammer as he pored through thousands upon thousands of files. Everywhere he looked in their database, there were more of them. Records. Statements. Falsehoods, and copies of the write-ups they had overwritten. Several guilds used OzTech''s services, not just Like Shadow. Even the guild''s names were obscured. As were their employers. He was only looking at the surface level, of course. He would need time, once he found the right file, to crack it open.


    Time that he didn''t have right now.


    High above, the door opened up. Four security guards ¨C armed like the ones in the hall ¨C poured in, guns pointed forward, heavy boots stamping on the metal bridge. The first inside sweeped around the place, eyes glowing green ¨C not from jacking into a system, but from nightvision ¨C and already was making his way down the stairs. His compatriots followed.


    ¡°The spell''s holding,¡± Rorshin said, ¡°Stay close.¡±


    They streamed down. Starting hunting through the place, row by row.


    ¡°Ichabod,¡± Contort said, ¡°How mobile are you?¡±


    ¡°...It''s not here,¡± Ichabod concluded.


    Contort shot a look at him.


    ¡°Not in this computer,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°In any of the others?¡±


    ¡°One of them, yes,¡± Ichabod said. His eyes returned back to their usual clear, see-through glare, ¡°Some of them are networked. Some aren''t.¡±


    Above, men were barking orders at one another. Making reports. They were giving no indication that they were trying to be quiet about their hunt, almost as if their calls would flush out the infiltrators. Like dogs flush out geese.


    ¡°Quietly, now,¡± Ichabod whispered, ¡°I need... I need another port. Another computer.¡±


    He stepped back. Rorshin kept close to him, the two men side-by-side. Contort followed a step or two behind. He was holding his rifle.


    Two more men were streaming into the records room. Then two more. They worked in pairs, never going through the dark spaces alone. The entire place was cast in a dark shadow as Ichabod made his way down the rows, searching around for a fresh port. He would stop at one of the computers, jacking in for a brief millisecond that edged on a lifetime, the footsteps of security getting closer and closer, before he would pull out with a curse.


    ¡°Not here,¡± he snapped, ¡°Keep going.¡±


    Two more armed men went inside. One of them stopped, surveying the entire place, mirroring Ichabod''s freezing at the records'' magnificence. For these were old computers, and perhaps he recognized that. Old, and magnificent, in their way.


    When Ichabod brushed a hand against them, he did so with the same reverence as Rorshin touched stone, or trees, or felt the wind between his fingers.


    They whirred. They beeped. They spoke their own language, one of clicks and snaps. Ichabod stopped at one of the terminals, Cutter opening up to jack in.


    ¡°Yes, here we are,¡± he said, ¡°Fresh meat. New information.¡±


    His eyes glowed green. For a moment, they were so bright they threatened to pierce through the camouflage spell, and Rorshin had to re-double his efforts. Then, Ichabod closed his eyes.


    The security forces continued to move in.


    ***


    The head of security was waiting on the bottom floor for Agrippa. Heavily cyberized, he was more metal than man, more machine than flesh. The only thing that was still organic was his brain, his spinal cord, and a few miscellaneous nerves here and there. His flesh was false flesh. The mohawk cresting his head never grew. He was dressed up in combat gear, a heavy club hanging off of his belt, a handcannon in his metallic grip.


    He had long ago lost the ability to properly convey human emotion when his face had been replaced. The brows furrowed far too cleanly. The jaw clenched in just the right way, then froze in that grimace. The eyes dilated to precisely the exact specifications the program required.


    ¡°Sir,¡± he said, ¡°I must insist again, this is potentially an active combat situation.¡±


    ¡°I am aware,¡± Agrippa said, and his cadence betrayed how elated he was. The G''Rash Haro let out a purr, ¡°What do we have?¡±Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.


    ¡°We know someone''s in there,¡± the head of security said, ¡°They cut through. Even got past the oral security.¡±


    ¡°And I thought that was supposed to be top of the line,¡± Agrippa said, ¡°Any lasting damage?¡±


    ¡°To what?¡± the head of security asked.


    ¡°To the system overall,¡± Agrippa said, ¡°They got in. Is the damage they did to the door... permanent?¡±


    ¡°They didn''t damage the door at all.¡±


    ¡°Good.¡±


    He looked over. The door was wide open, two security guards standing at attention. Beside them was the corpse of one of the security guards, his neck shot through, blood staining the floor. On the other side of him was...


    ¡°A frog,¡± he said. Agrippa leaned down.


    ¡°Suspected spellcaster, sir,¡± the head of security said, ¡°I''ve a mind to recall Charnak, or call someone else from Pantheon in.¡±


    ¡°A good idea,¡± Agrippa said.


    He felt the presence of Macabre draw up beside him. The fluttering of her cloak. The flapping of her raven''s wings. He looked up at her, his face breaking into a drunken smile. She glowered down at him, her face impassive.


    ¡°Send your birds in,¡± he said.


    ***


    They came in overhead. Birds. Ravens. Three, if Contort counted right. Wheeling shadows that cawed overhead. Ichabod was leaning down, still concentrating on searching through the computer''s database. Rorshin was watching the birds as well.


    ¡°Nothing,¡± Ichabod said, at length. He returned to himself, looking up, ¡°Ah, I see they''re here.¡±


    ¡°I can take them over,¡± Rorshin said, ¡°If need be.¡±


    Ichabod thought on that for a moment, staring out at them. At the landing. They could hear the guards getting closer. Soon, the druid''s spell would be put to the test.


    ¡°If we need a distraction, do so,¡± he said, ¡°If-¡±


    Ichabod faltered. He stopped speaking. His eyes widened.


    He was here.


    Agrippa.


    Stepping out onto the landing, Macabre beside him. He looked much the same as when the last time Ichabod had seen him, still in a loose business suit that made him look like he was wearing his father''s clothes, still with that drunken, duck-like gait. Those greedy eyes that, even from this distance, seemed filmed over. The G''Rash Haro floated over him, his own little guardian angel, lion''s head looking this way and that, lion''s mane swishing in the air. Agrippa leaned over the railing, looking out over the tower-like computers.


    Of course he would come here, part of Ichabod told him. He was a man who lusted for that which he did not have, and that included danger.


    He was far away from Ichabod.


    But not far enough away that he could not be shot at. For a moment, Ichabod''s hands searched his inner coat for a pistol. But that would be difficult. The shot would need to have enough stopping power to kill Agrippa at once. He might survive light arms fire.


    His eyes, searching ''round, glanced over to Contort. At the rifle in his hands.


    Contort took notice. Put two and two together. He took a light step back.


    ¡°Thought we were supposed to be professional, Ichabod,¡± he murmured, ¡°You think we''re getting out of this alive, if we take out the head honcho?¡±


    But I don''t want to get out of this alive, Ichabod wanted to say, Not while he''s still around.


    Not while the man who killed his Elijah stood tall and proud, lording over the room, the computers, the soldiers.


    Not while his company drove Neos, his home, further into the ground.


    Not while Julius Agrippa still drew breath.


    He was salivating, he realized. His breathing was quick and hot.


    ¡°Calm down, man,¡± Contort said, and there was a hint of concern in his voice, ¡°Just... sit tight, Ichabod.¡±


    He felt a hand rest on his shoulder. Rorshin''s.


    ¡°When the time comes, every wolf has his day,¡± the druid said, ¡°But time for that is coming. This is just a step.¡±


    He shot a look of pure venom, venom to match Ichabod''s, at the man high above.


    ¡°But just a step,¡± he said.


    Just a step.


    Elijah flashed in Ichabod''s mind. Of the way he smiled, crooked and jubilant. His warm hands, warm no matter the weather. The way he leaned forward when he was excited, almost to your face. The way he danced when old music from his childhood would play, up and down and too energetic, the floor of their flat shaking.


    Of the fear in his eyes, as they were brought to Agrippa''s office.


    The way he whispered in Saul''s ear at night, when the times were hard.


    A hole in his head, his eyes devoid of meaning and light and life and love.


    Of the promises he would make, of the speeches he would roar.


    Of the better days they would bring.


    Just a step.


    The guards passed them by, looking down, with raised rifles, at their row. Contort prepared his own rifle, taking aim.


    But they passed them by.


    They were hemmed in, now.


    But the camouflage spell had held.


    ¡°...Very well,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Let''s find another damn computer.¡±


    ***


    The car moved slowly up to the smokeshop. It dropped them off nearly on the street. Had Charnak not been there, floating in the sky, they would have parked the taxi a few blocks away, to ease suspicion. Vicenorn was still at work on the computer, keeping the cameras up and ready, but the signal was weakening here, his connection to the Spiders becoming more and more tenuous.


    It was only a matter of time before it broke.


    But for now, their mission was one of showmanship. To finish the story they had concocted for Charnak. The two of them glanced at each other for a moment, before getting out of the car, stepping out with umbrellas unfurled. The smoke shop greeted them with vague neon light and a lonely atmosphere. They went towards the door, Becenti opening it for G-Wiz, letting her go inside first.


    He glanced around outside for a moment, watching for danger. A natural movement, considering the neighborhood. The taxi idled outside, Vicenorn still within. Typing frantically to keep the connection between himself and the Spiders up and running.


    Without another word, Becenti closed the door.


    G-Wiz was already running upstairs, the entire building shaking with each of her stomps. Becenti followed her, walking slowly through the shop, his footsteps measured. When he arrived on the second floor, he could see her fumbling with her zumbelaphone, wrestling the strap over her shoulder. She began tuning it, the music changing with a press of a button from electronic, to synthesized trumpets, to an artificial singing hum.


    She made for the door.


    ¡°Stop, Galatea,¡± Becenti said.


    She turned glaring at him. Resisted the urge to flip him off.


    Becenti, however, drew towards her, put a hand on her shoulder ¨C but she immediately shrugged it off ¨C and turned on his communicator, tapping the button in his ear.


    ¡°B team to C team, over,¡± he said.


    ¡°C team to B team,¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°I''m here.¡±


    ¡°...Is he outside?¡±


    A moment, as Vicenorn checked the cameras. Becenti could hear his heavy breathing through the communicator.


    ¡°He is,¡± the cybernetic man said.


    ¡°Hell,¡± Becenti took a deep breath, ¡°Alright. He''s probably waiting for us to make another move. Go drive out, it''ll look too unnatural if you idle there for long.¡±


    ¡°And... if he starts to follow me?¡± Vicenorn asked.


    G-Wiz was looking at him. Becenti, in a rare moment, grimaced. Vicenorn was no fighter, not truly. If Charnak attacked him...


    ¡°...Go,¡± he said, ¡°You''re not alone.¡±


    They had to be subtle. There was the chance that their lines had been tapped by now. That other members of Pantheon were listening in, or keeping an eye on Charnak. Becenti drew close to one of the windows, peering out from a corner. Vicenorn''s taxi drew out, taking a right and cruising down a weathered sideroad.


    ¡°You''re just going to let him go?¡± G-Wiz accused.


    Becenti walked over to the stove, and flicked it on. Turned the knob all the way around, to the highest setting. He hovered a hand over its bare surface, feeling tinges of warmth caress his palm.


    ¡°He''s out there, Becenti!¡± G-Wiz yelled, ¡°You''re going to get him killed!¡±


    The metahuman slammed a fist down onto the countertop. G-Wiz jumped.


    When he turned, Becenti''s eyes blazed.


    ¡°I''m not about to let Oris die,¡± he said, ¡°Charnak is a suspicious individual. He will attack Vicenorn when he thinks he is alone.¡±


    ¡°So you''re-¡±


    Her eyes slid to the stove. Watched as the heat, formless and invisible, began to ripple around Becenti''s hand.


    ¡°...If we''re doing this,¡± Becenti said, ¡°We''re going to need to be fast. Take out the ravens. Then Charnak.¡±


    Her heart fell at his frankness. Some of her bluster fell away.


    ¡°So we''re doing this,¡± she said.


    Becenti was quiet for a moment. The stovetop lit up red, to signify it was hot enough to burn. Yet he kept his hand there all the same.


    ¡°I should have pulled us out,¡± he said, ¡°I was... too reluctant. Too naive, again. That if we were going to succeed, we were either going to lose people, or put ourselves into a compromised situation.¡±


    G-Wiz gritted her teeth.


    ¡°There are two options here,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Either one, we let Vicenorn go. Make up some sort of story, cut him loose.¡±


    ¡°Not an option,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Any story we make would be weak. OzTech would look at us suspiciously. But assuming that Ichabod''s team gets out successfully, they have nothing they''re able to truly prove. Just pieces, but nothing to link them together.¡±


    ¡°And if Ichabod''s team is caught?¡± G-Wiz asked.


    ¡°Then it goes to hell, but I''m relying on Ichabod to get that part sorted,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Now, if we let Vicenorn go, we have a shot ¨C a shot,¡± he said, interrupting G-Wiz as she opened her mouth again, ¡°At getting out of this. You and I, at least.¡±


    ¡°Bull-fucking-shit,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°I know,¡± Becenti said.


    He had pulled enough heat that he was satisfied. He switched the oven off.


    ¡°I''m not about to let that fox kill another one of my friends,¡± Becenti said, ¡°But we''ll need to be quick. We need to kill Charnak, so he doesn''t say a word. If we''re caught by anyone in Pantheon doing this, it won''t just be a small legal spat. OzTech will come after us with everything we have. It could mean the end of the Amber Foundation.¡±


    G-Wiz lifted up her keytar.


    ¡°Like hell,¡± she said.


    ¡°Indeed, Ms. Wiz,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Let''s go.¡±


    ***


    They, just barely, managed to hold the spellwork together as they weaved down a row. By now, another pair of OzTech''s security had gone inside, sweeping through the place. A pair of them started climbing along the walls, their mechanical feet bending sideways at the ankle, magnetizing to the wall, a line fired to the ceiling to keep them aloft. They crested upwards in an arc, looking down at the records room below for any signs of trouble.


    ¡°Be careful where you shoot!¡± the head of security roared high above. His voice had an electronic edge to it, and Ichabod could guess that the man was most likely heavily cyberized, ¡°If any of these consoles are damaged, it''s on you!¡±


    So they were going to be careful. There was an advantage he did not have before.


    Before, all those years ago, they had been caught in the hall before the door, and they had not cared about damaging that place. Aesthetics could be replaced. Plants could be regrown, water diverted. The decoration here, that was the lifeblood of elsewhere, was an afterthought compared to the raw data in these computers.


    Ichabod jacked in. Found a new network.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said, ¡°third time¡¯s the charm.¡±


    ¡°Make it a quick one,¡± Rorshin hissed. His voice was like a taut line. He was struggling to make sure the camouflage covered them, make sure they were cloaked, sinking into the darkness like shadows. Such constant scrutiny, such endless searching, was difficult for him.


    By now, he would have lashed out.


    Well, perhaps he would have to, in the end. They were in a bad situation.


    ¡°Ichabod,¡± Contort said, ¡°What are the options?¡±


    Ichabod was quiet as he continued working. He was getting closer, he felt.


    ¡°Ichabod?¡±


    He felt the Cutter, connected to his organic systems, slip. He stopped himself at the last moment, before a claw scraped at the computer''s surface. When had his breathing gotten so haggard? When had sweat begun to soak into him like rain?


    ¡°Ichabod.¡±


    Contort was more set now, as though he were accepting that, whatever plan Ichabod had, it wasn''t going to be pretty. Ichabod cleared his throat.


    ¡°We need a distraction,¡± he said, ¡°Our goal is to get to the elevator on the other side.¡±


    ¡°That''s dealing with... a lot of security,¡± Contort said. He quieted down as he noticed a few guards pass by their row, one of them peering in.


    For a heartbeat, the guard froze. Looked in.


    Continued on.


    Rorshin let out a deep, agonized breath. He was sweating just as hard as Ichabod, now. His fingers shook as he clutched his staff.


    ¡°Only way,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Our bug-out plan is the teleport spell. We need to be above ground. We need the wind. Once we get in the elevator, I can get us to wherever we need to go.¡±


    ¡°And how are we getting out?¡±


    Ichabod bit his lip.


    ¡°We need Rorshin to keep the spell up. How long can you last, druid?¡±


    ¡°All day,¡± Rorshin said.


    ¡°Be truthful,¡± Ichabod snapped, eyes flashing clear for a moment. He fixed Rorshin with a level glare, ¡°I need to know.¡±


    The druid shot Ichabod a mutinous look. Then rolled his shoulders.


    ¡°Another twenty minutes.¡±


    ¡°Right, that should let us last,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°I''ve almost got it, I swear to God.¡±


    ¡°Then what?¡± Contort asked.


    Above, one of Macabre''s ravens soared overhead. More and more of them were streaming out of the door.


    ¡°We cause a distraction,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Contort, start firing at him. Rorshin, override Macabre''s control on the birds. Make them fall on security.¡±


    ¡°That''s your plan?¡± Contort asked.


    ¡°I never said it was a good one,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Now...¡±


    His eyes flashed green.


    ¡°...I found it. Get ready in three.¡±


    ***


    The taxi drew out. Charnak, high above, followed.


    A moment later, G-Wiz and Becenti stepped out, and started following. It was difficult, as the fox began to move between the skyscrapers high above. Vicenorn stuck to side streets, intentionally going as slow as he could, his breathing labored as he relayed to Becenti where he was heading.


    But, despite this, they started to lose sight of him. Figures on the street began to take notice of them. The homeless. The broken. The desperate. They regarded the two outlanders who stalked their city with eyes both weary and wary, and not a few of them started going inside.


    Some came back out with bats. Or clubs. One even had a pistol in hand. Becenti and G-Wiz kept their distance from her.


    ¡°I''m going towards Seventeenth,¡± Vicenorn said.


    ¡°On it,¡± Becenti said, ¡°We''ll meet you there. Take the long way, let us get there first.¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡±


    And they were running now. When they glanced up, peering through their clear umbrellas, they could see the barest shadow of Charnak high above, oiling around the buildings like an eel through the upper parts of a reef.


    The ravens followed him. Two. Attracted to him, perhaps, or they had been trained to keep up with him.


    ¡°Hurry, G-Wiz,¡± Becenti said, and he started running faster. G-Wiz followed.


    Seventh Street and Old Boulevard was a crossroads in the middle of the city. Two skyscrapers loomed high above, one on each side of the crosswalk. On the northern edge was a small gas station. Across from there was what appeared to have, once upon a time, been the gas station''s rival, though the building itself was now abandoned, a concrete shell, the interior having long ago been looted and carved out.


    All was quiet, here. The neon signs, the overtly loud music that accompanied them, the holoads that danced and dazzled, were farther away. The only light came from the gas station, though there was no one inside. Becenti found that odd.


    The rain continued to pour as he and G-Wiz positioned themselves in the abandoned building. G-Wiz was thumbing her keytar. Heat roiled around Becenti.


    He glanced up.


    ¡°Get me on the roof,¡± he said.


    ¡°On it,¡± G-Wiz replied. She played a few keys on the zumbelaphone, nothing concrete, just to burn light to life, forming a staircase that punched through the ceiling''s fragile roof. It went out as soon as Becenti climbed it, the harsh pink dissolving and leaving him in darkness.


    Rain poured over him. He let a small bit of heat out, let it form into a makeshift umbrella. But he could not afford to look out of place here.


    Slowly, he formed the rest of his heat into a bow with six arrows.


    The ravens cawed. One of them landed nearby.


    The taxi began to pull in. Charnak followed above. A spectre.


    Becenti clicked on his communicator.


    ¡°He''s above you,¡± he said, simply.


    There was quiet. Charnak began descending down, followed by the other raven. They were looking this way and that, one of them hopping into the light of the gas station, picking at a piece of trash. Becenti wondered if Macabre was looking through them now.


    Charnak stopped. He stared down at the taxi for a long time, tilting his head a bit. Something flashed. Magic. Perhaps. Becenti couldn''t be sure. But the air had another scent to it.


    The fox floated back up. Up towards the night.


    And pointed down with his staff.


    Every hair on Becenti''s neck rose.


    ¡°Vicenorn, get out!¡± he said, ¡°Now!¡±


    The door opened. Vicenorn was pulling himself free, his robotic arm gripping the edge of the taxi as he wrenched his mass out of the taxi.


    He was halfway out when the taxi exploded.

 86. Fox in the Snare

    There was a moment''s silence as Ichabod finished his search.


    There it was. An encrypted file. In the searching of his mind, he could almost reach out and touch it. It resembled a scroll, though dream-like and waving in the false land that was cyberspace. There and not there. Physical yet not. Yet there it was.


    He was aware, as he considered it, of distant voices. He was deep in the system now, his eyes fully engrossed in an emerald ocean''s glow.


    It was more protected than he realized. Whoever this client was, they were high-class. Influential. Defenses could be broken, of course. He was already seeing chinks in the file''s armor. But what he needed to break through was time. A chance to breathe. To sit down ¨C preferably with Oris ¨C and figure it out.


    For a moment, his mind flashed to a fantasy, of him sitting shoulder to shoulder with Vicenorn, the two of them chuckling under their breaths as they worked, at some dumb joke the other made. Their hands would inch closer.


    Would lock together.


    It was a sunset in that dream. Or a sunrise. It didn''t matter, so long as it was not gray and storming.


    ¡°Ichabod,¡± Contort said, ¡°We''re about to be completely closed in.¡±


    His guildmate''s words brought Ichabod back to the surface. He looked at the file.


    ¡°Right,¡± he said.


    He downloaded the file into the hard drive chip stored in his head, feeling himself grow cold, as though he were experiencing a brain freeze, as artificial memories flooded into his mind. They filled the same space as the hippocampus, though he could not recall the information now, not with the firewalls protecting them. It felt much the same as struggling to remember a face, or a name.


    The transfer took a minute. Maybe two.


    In that time, they became surrounded. Agrippa''s soldiers stalked the dark hallways. So far, they had not detected Rorshin''s spellwork.


    But it was only a matter of time.


    Ichabod returned to the present. To the now. He turned to Rorshin and Contort. Gave them a nod. The druid was ready, his brow beaded with sweat, his eyes having taken on a distant luster. Whatever he was about to unleash, it was big. Contort handed Ichabod his rifle, unslinging the spare and checking its safety.


    It would be a controlled assault. Nothing all in. No final stands. He hoped.


    The very fact that they were in this position at all was not ideal. Far from it.


    ¡°Rorshin,¡± he said, ¡°We''re going to move.¡±


    Rorshin nodded. His breathing was shallow. But he stepped in time with Ichabod.


    The three of them made it out of their hallway, moving towards the landing above. Soldiers hunted for them. From the floor. On the walls. The ravens wheeled above.


    ¡°The ravens first,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Set them out. Then, we move as one.¡±


    They were almost to the flight of stairs. They clung to the wall, the sea of computers to their left. Agrippa looked out from his perch. The G''Rash Haro just above him. Ichabod took a deep breath. Resisted the urge to simply open fire on him.


    ¡°Now.¡±


    Rorshin''s eyes flashed silver. Like Macabre''s. His open palms squeezed into fists.


    Two of the ravens broke at once, the sheer force of the spell shattering their wings, their spines, their necks. The rest plummeted for a half-stroke of a second. Macabre started, her hands grabbing onto the rails of the landing as she lost control of her unkindness.


    Rorshin gave a desperate, toothy smile. He turned his fist.


    His thin thumb shot downwards.


    The ravens followed, diving at the soldiers below. Pecking at them, pulling at them. It wasn''t enough to do any real damage, of course.


    But it was enough to distract them. For them to cry out. To bat at the birds. One of them even began opening fire, stomach-dropping pops echoing through the room. A couple of ravens cawed in answer. Screams could be heard. One of the soldiers began to waver, losing his grip on the wall. He slid for a moment, before catching himself.


    The Amber Foundation rushed up the stairs to the landing.


    Agrippa turned. His eyes widened as Ichabod and Contort took aim. The world seemed to slow down, their cloaks fluttering through the air, the rifles pointed directly at the CEO of OzTech. At Macabre. The two guards flanking the door.


    And then they opened fire. Full-auto.


    Macabre let out a gasp of pain, hitting the deck and clutching her stomach. Scarlet bloomed from her belly. The two guards roared, a stray bullet catching one in the mouth, the other ducking down and letting her armor take the bulk of the spray.


    Agrippa merely stumbled back. The G''Rash Haro let out a hissing snarl, its claws flashing faster than sound, each graze cutting a bullet, knocking it away. The air around him merely seemed to ripple, the spirit a blur of orange.


    But the G''Rash Haro could not hold the defensive for long. Its back claws dug into Agrippa, holding him fast as it threw itself to the side. Its master fell with it, over the railing, down into the depths.


    The gunfire died down as they, as three, rushed forward, Contort and Ichabod reloading. The last guard standing rose up-


    Only for Rorshin to slam into him, a hand covered the soldier''s mouth. The druid''s skin rippled, and something shot into the soldier.


    The man''s flesh began to pale. Take on a sickly shade. And he collapsed to the ground. Rorshin hardly missed a step as he threw open the door. There were four other guards in the hallway, who turned as Contort opened fire.


    Two of them were felled, a third slid against the wall, which slicked red as he went down. The last, nearest to the door, raised his rifle in turn.


    Rorshin raised a hand. The air between them thickened, became shell-like, and the soldier''s spray drummed against his shield.


    At the same moment, Ichabod turned, his Cutter springing to life. He shut the door to the records room, locking it down.


    Contort took advantage of the shield, rushing forward to the soldier. The hairs on his arm hardened as he slashed at them, scraping hard rents into the soldier''s armor. The soldier swiped at him, only to watch him move as oil, his entire form lurid and liquid as he ducked behind the soldier.


    And Ichabod opened fire again.


    The soldier hit the ground.


    Ichabod crossed the hallway, his breathing heavy. He all but dragged the rifle as he made his way to the elevator.


    ¡°Get ready to take out anyone inside,¡± he said.


    Rorshin and Contort grimaced. Ichabod''s Cutter stabbed deep into the elevator''s console. No time for caution, or patience. He sent it down, damn the consequences.


    The elevator opened. A technician and a soldier were inside.


    Ichabod moved to the side. Contort took aim, opened fire.


    The soldier moved to shield the technician, but at near point-blank range, it was far from enough, shuddering as gunfire made him porous. The technician¡¯s scream was cut loose as a bullet struck her throat. The two of them slid down the wall, which painted red.


    Corpses, now.


    Contort grimaced. Ichabod moved the soldier''s foot out of the way of the door so it would close.


    ¡°Them or us,¡± he muttered, ¡°Rorshin. The spell.¡±


    Rorshin stepped into the elevator, his nose wrinkling at the sight of the two bodies. The elevator door closed, and once more did Ichabod''s Cutter peel itself out of his arm, attacking the console, peeling its front off to reveal the innards within.


    With a shudder, the elevator started going up, far faster than before.


    ¡°They''ll be on every floor,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°We need out, fast.¡±


    He looked at Rorshin.


    ¡°Any time now.¡±


    ¡°It...¡± Rorshin gasped, ¡°A moment.¡±


    The spellcaster looked absolutely haggard. There were deep rings under his eyes, and he looked as though he had aged a decade since they had gone underground. His hands shook as he whispered hoarse words to himself, his fingers crossing and uncrossing in strange motions.


    ¡°Above,¡± he said, ¡°We need to be above ground.¡±


    ¡°We will be, in a second,¡± Ichabod said.


    Contort knelt down, pilfering the dead guard''s sidearm, his rifle. He was carrying, in blind defiance to working in an office with several important pieces of hardware, a pair of grenades.


    Contort took those, too.


    The lift continued upwards. Rorshin continued to take deep breaths. In. Out.


    ¡°Alright,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°We''re aboveground.¡±


    ¡°Higher,¡± Rorshin said.


    Ichabod pulled a face.


    ¡°You want the spell to succeed, or not?¡± Rorshin said, ¡°Higher, you damn fool. This is taking enough out of me as is.¡±


    Ichabod complied. The elevator continued rising.


    ¡°As soon as we get out,¡± he said, ¡°They''ll activate security throughout the city. Things are going to get hot.¡±


    ¡°This is all I have in me,¡± Rorshin said, ¡°I need to rest.¡±


    There was a stark frankness to his voice. A suggestion in it, even. Of leaving him behind. But Ichabod shook his head.


    ¡°Right,¡± he said, ¡°I carry you. Contort, blow anyone you see to hell.¡±


    ¡°Anyone from Pantheon?¡± Contort asked.


    ¡°Maybe. Perhaps. Another spellcaster, if Charnak hasn''t been dealt with,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Voldoma, perhaps.¡±


    They were quiet at that. Ichabod glanced at the console. The only sounds were the shaking of the elevator, which had begun to shudder from the speed, but Ichabod could imagine the security teams waiting on each floor, the barking orders, the dull hums of security drones as they began cutting into each door.


    Almost as if on cue, they heard the sound of someone dropping down from above.


    ¡°A stupid move,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°We got up to the top, and they''re crushed.¡±


    The elevator stopped. The force sent the three of them up, then down. They hit the deck with a groan.


    ¡°Now!¡± Ichabod roared.


    An orange spot appeared on the ceiling. Grew larger. Gained a blue pupil as the cutting tool grew hot as a star.


    Rorshin let out a final exhale, and once more the scent of nature overtook them. Like a forest. They were there, then were not. Like a predator melting into the bush. The world inside the lift was silent for a split moment.


    And then the security team broke through.


    They found no one alive. Just two bodies.


    ***


    Agrippa stood facing the metal door, watching as one of the soldiers worked to cut through its thick frame. But the door was designed to resist any and all physical damage, and the guard was having a hard time using the devices on hand to get through, the thermal lance barely starting to heat through the door''s surface.


    Macabre was curled up beside him, being tended to by one of the guards. The body of one of her ravens was draped in her arms, a bullet having shorn through its chest. She was sobbing quietly to herself.


    By the end of it, they had needed to kill all of the ravens in the room. Whatever spell had been set off, it had been enough for her to lose control of the birds completely. Part of him wondered if she had lost the rest of the unkindness. Part of him did not care.


    ¡°Confirmed, they''re gone, sir,¡± a voice cracked through the communicator, ¡°Confirmed mage.¡±


    ¡°Recall Charnak,¡± Agrippa said, ¡°He''s the only mage we''ve got online right now.¡±


    There were a few moments as he heard the security team work in the background. He heard the man on the line swear under his breath.


    ¡°...He''s not answering, sir.¡±Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    Agrippa took a deep breath. Exhaled slowly.


    His eyes remained filmed over.


    The G''Rash Haro let out a roar that echoed through the records room. It began to thrash about wildly over him as Agrippa scratched his chin.


    ¡°Very well,¡± he said, ¡°We do things the usual way, then. Send out every team online. Wake up any agent of Pantheon in the city. Tear New Shan apart. Bring me heads. Bring me bodies. Bring them to me.¡±


    His heart was racing, and not in a good way. He gripped the landing''s rails, steadying himself. The G''Rash Haro''s roars slowly died out.


    This was not happening.


    ***


    Charnak floated over the remains of the taxi, tilting his head a bit to observe its corpse.


    Vicenorn, somehow, still lived. That fact made G-Wiz sick to her stomach, as she saw some shambling, skeletal mass pull itself out of the twisted wreckage.


    Above, on the roof, Becenti was raising up his ethereal bow, his face still set in its usual, stone-like glint.


    His eyes alight with fury.


    The first two arrows let loose without a sound. G-Wiz wasn''t sure how he could aim in these conditions, the rain pouring around outside and obscuring everything in a light fog. He was hitting shadows, too, the ravens popping from place to place.


    And yet the first arrow struck head-on, tearing the raven in half.


    The second arrow followed a split-second later, clipping the raven''s wing. It spiraled to the ground.


    Becenti cursed to himself, pulling out a third arrow, taking aim.


    By now, however, Charnak had taken notice that something was off. The fox''s head shot towards the bird as it hit the ground, hobbling on the street. It was as though G-Wiz could see the gears turning in the magician''s head, as Charnak began trying to piece where the shot had come from. He landed on the ground, stepping towards the raven, ignoring the flaming wreck of the taxi.


    Ignoring the somehow still-breathing form of Vicenorn, which G-Wiz thanked the Muses for.


    ¡°G-Wiz, to the side,¡± Becenti¡¯s voice crackled in her communicator, ¡°Cause a distraction. Careful.¡±


    G-Wiz nodded, unsaddling the zumbelaphone, fingers hovering over the keys. She could hear, just barely, as Becenti shifted, moving along the top of the roof, re-positioning himself. Charnak had almost finished his search, sniffing the air, beady, primal eyes looking to and fro.


    His eyes landed on the most likely place an attacker would be. The abandoned shop that G-Wiz and Becenti were in.


    He pointed his multi-starred staff.


    ¡°Shit,¡± G-Wiz said. She ran to the left. She heard Becenti stomp on the roof, going to the right. He was making more of a ruckus than her, and was far faster, too. He would be the first to leave the building¡¯s vicinity.


    Charnak would see him first.


    G-Wiz couldn''t let that hap-


    There was the sound of the air popping.


    A millisecond later, the world behind her exploded, throwing her forward from the sheer force. G-Wiz was just outside the building as it happened, and she flew through the air. Keying her zumbelaphone, her fingers in a mad rush, she played out a song, a light, cloudy tune. Almost like a music box, from the deepest parts of her childhood memories.


    What projected out of the zumbelaphone''s end was a cloud-like caress, a sheer white cloak of light that she sunk into, absorbing the energy of the fall. She slid down.


    It was light. It shone like a star.


    Charnak could not help but notice. Good.


    G-Wiz pointed the keytar at him, then down. She played a quick tune, writing out words in the cracked street between them.


    RISE.


    The earth splintered. In command of G-Wiz''s word, hunks of the street rose in the air as a natural barrier.


    Flames appeared around Charnak. He threw them out, globules of fire whirling towards the barrier. He was already flying high above it, however, arcing his spellwork down. G-Wiz played a few keys, erecting a shield of light.


    Fire and light met in midair.


    They made a cacophonous boom that echoed across the street. Sirens began to scream in the distance.


    Had to make this quick.


    Becenti was somewhere. She hoped. Part of her worried that he''d been caught in the explosion-


    Charnak sent more spells down, magic that looked as though he had torn open the starry skies and sent them down, the night in all of its glory collapsing on G-Wiz. The first slash shattered her shield. The second went right for her.


    G-Wiz dove, rolling back to her feet, skipping to the side. She played another tune, switching from electronica to drumbeats, painting a word on the floating street she had erected.


    STRIKE.


    The broken street shot upwards at the fox. Charnak let out a snarl, and he disappeared into his cloak, the cloak itself fading into the night.


    He reappeared a moment later next to her.


    A claw lashed out, studded with stars and flame.


    It caught her in the side, scraping flesh clean. G-Wiz howled, jumping back. Her mind was flooding with pain, her muscle memory forcing her to pick a song, any song.


    It ended up being Rick Astley.


    ¡°Shit,¡± she said, and she fired off the beam of light, Charnak grimacing as it hit him head on. It forced him back, feet scraping against the ground. Teeth gritting, G-Wiz etched the words quickly on the fox''s chest.


    HURT YOU.


    Charnak began to scream, a loud, primal screech that pierced her ears. He fell to the knees, clutching his head.


    The zumbelaphone was starting to smoke. Almost out of juice. Ever since Mordenaro, it had been weaker. G-Wiz''s heart fell.


    Any time now, Becenti.


    And then Charnak twisted, as though struck by something. The air shimmered at his side. One of the metahuman''s heat arrows.


    Becenti was rushing forward, dragging heat from the smoking wreckage of the taxi. He formed three more arrows, taking aim, firing off another. But by now Charnak was powering through the pain. He raised his staff, the air hardening in front of him, the metahuman''s shot ricocheting.


    G-Wiz pointed the zumbelaphone, playing out a sample of Holst''s ''Mars: the Bringer of War,'' painting out words onto Charnak''s chest.


    BOOM.


    Charnak''s eyes widened. He took a deep breath, and he began to cough out a spell-


    And then he blew the fuck up.


    ***


    The three of them appeared on a rooftop nearby. The building itself went down a few floors, a bridge near its middle connecting it to the rest of the middle class districts of New Shan.


    Almost immediately, Rorshin collapsed. His breathing was heavy, haggard. His forehead, when Contort felt it, was as ice.


    ¡°Can you walk?¡± Contort asked.


    The druid, with a monumental effort, rose. Took a few steps. For a moment, he swayed.


    Then, he nodded.


    ¡°Good,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Almost out. Into the city we go, into the-¡±


    He gasped as a bullet struck his shoulder. The shot spun him ''round. Contort looked up, pointing his rifle. Two drones hummed in the air. They began opening fire, pinprick shots winking in the false neon dawn. The three of them rushed forward, the spray of gunfire dancing at their feet, whizzing over their heads, rushing by their ears.


    One struck Contort in the leg just as they made it to the door. He let out a coughing wheeze, twisting his torso around, taking aim. He pulled the trigger, firing off answers of his own. One drone was hit, spiraling down. The other began flying back, out of the rifle''s effective range, the shots going wild and awry. But they stopped firing, now threatened, as Ichabod¡¯s Cutter ate through the door¡¯s defenses and he swung it open. They ran inside.


    The cybernetic man rolled his shoulder. The injury could be easily repaired. But his right arm was dummied, now. Loose. He could feel the bullet still in there, the artificial nerve networks connecting to his brain letting him know it was lodged somewhere near the rotator cuff. A bad place for it to be.


    The arm hung at his side. His left arm, containing the Cutter, was safe.


    Contort was testing his leg, applying weight to it. He nodded as he shifted the muscles and bones around to accommodate the bullet.


    Yet he still winced as he stood tall.


    ¡°No time to waste,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°We go down. Now.¡±


    He took point, pulling free his pistol as they ran towards a spiral staircase. By now the entire city seemed on edge, the sounds of sirens roaring outside.


    They rounded a corner to see a security guard on the landing. The guard raised a rifle.


    Two shots rang out. Ichabod grimaced and hit the deck, feeling the bullets whiz by his forehead as he pointed his pistol. His first shot missed. His second struck the man in his false eye, shattering it, glass mixed with blood splattering the wall as his last few shots went wild.


    Contort was over Ichabod now, stepping over him and taking point, rifle pointed directly downwards. But this guard had been an exception, presumably stationed here for precisely these situations.


    OzTech''s agents, situated around the city.


    ¡°Only a matter of time before we hit someone from Pantheon,¡± Contort said.


    ¡°They will break,¡± Rorshin said, ¡°I will break them.¡±


    He was wheezing, taking the steps carefully. Ichabod shook his head.


    ¡°Stay back,¡± he said, ¡°Another spell could kill you.¡±


    ¡°Like I care,¡± Rorshin said, ¡°Anything, to break men and their ways.¡±


    There was a desperate edge in his voice. Contort grimaced.


    Rorshin wasn''t expecting to make it.


    ¡°No,¡± Contort said, ¡°If any of us go out, they know we''re here.¡±


    ¡°I... will be dead,¡± Rorshin said, ¡°I will not care.¡±


    ¡°Save it,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Cast your damn spells. But we''re dragging your corpse with us, if it comes to it.¡±


    Rorshin was quiet. Ichabod looked at him.


    ¡°This is just a step, you damn fool. You do more damage alive than as a martyr.¡±


    The druid let out a low hum.


    They made their way down the staircase. The building they were in was another office building, evidently not as large as the Tower, but with the same dizzying numbness.


    They could hear, on all sides, the sounds of sirens. Rorshin grimaced as he perked an ear up, listening.


    ¡°Glass breaking, two floors down,¡± he said.


    ¡°Another security team,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°Above, too,¡± Rorshin said.


    ¡°We sneak by,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°We go further down. To the bottom, if we have to.¡±


    ¡°Not the bridge?¡± Contort asked.


    ¡°They''ll have locked that down by now,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°No. Down. To the very bottom.¡±


    ¡°We''ll be sitting ducks there,¡± Contort said.


    The cybernetic man''s mind raced. He grit his teeth as he considered their options. They were, truly, pinned.


    ¡°Rorshin,¡± he said, ¡°Your spellwork, is it better above or below?¡±


    ¡°On the bridge, or the the ground?¡± Rorshin said, ¡°Above. The higher we are in the air, the more I''m connected to what little life is left here.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°How much more can you do?¡±


    ¡°...One spell,¡± Rorshin said, ¡°Maybe two. If you are serious about carrying me, best be ready.¡±


    ¡°Contort,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Drop the rifle.¡±


    Contort did so.


    ¡°Rorshin unleashes a spell at the team holding the bridge. Make it nasty. You carry him. We go across the bridge, disappear into the middle class district. Hide in clubs.¡±


    ¡°Should we separate?¡± Contort asked.


    ¡°No,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°We''re better together than apart. At least then we''ve got a chance at getting out of this alive.¡±


    The elevator door on the other side of the room dinged. They ducked beneath a line of cubicles.


    Two security guards were in the elevator. Both of them were OzTech standard, in full combat gear.


    Contort pulled out the grenade. Gave Ichabod a look.


    He nodded.


    Contort ripped the pin free, tossing it at the elevator.


    A split-second of silence.


    An explosion.


    The wet sounds of flesh hitting the ground independent of the body. The other guard screaming in agony.


    They stood back up and continued running. The elevator was a bust, obliterated by the grenade''s blast. The smell of death hung in the air, iron-tinged. The screams of the still-living guard slowly disappeared as they ran towards the door to the stairwell. Contort pulled out his other grenade, opening the door up.


    Only to be greeted by another OzTech soldier. They were face to face. Two more were behind him.


    Contort ducked. Ichabod pulled up his pistol right as the guard opened fire.


    Ichabod''s shot hit true, plugging a hole into the soldier''s head. The soldier''s own rifle tore at Ichabod''s side, cutting through his cloak and biting into skin. Ichabod sneered, taking an unsteady step.


    Contort himself pushed the now-dead soldier to the side, rushing into the stairwell. He tackled the second soldier, his body twisting around so he was behind him, his arms wrapped around his waist. With a heft, and a surprising strength, Contort lifted him into the air, tumbling backwards, throwing the guard over him and off the side of the staircase.


    At the same moment, the third soldier dropped the rifle and pulled out an electric baton. He swung it down at Ichabod, who was advancing. Ichabod grimaced as he leaped back. Rorshin poured into the room, swinging his staff weakly at the soldier.


    Who simply pushed it out of the way and cracked the baton across the druid''s jaw. Rorshin spun.


    Contort was back on his feet, arms wrapping around the soldier''s neck like twin serpents. The soldier began slamming his elbow into his side, and Contort grimaced, his muscles bulging as the soldier struggled.


    Ichabod rammed his fist into the man''s stomach. The guard let out a gasp of pain, doubling over, his concentration lost.


    Contort twisted. There was an ugly crack, like wood splintering.


    The guard went limp. Contort pitched him over the side.


    They ran. Ichabod clutched his new gunshot wound. It had hit the flesh, and he was bleeding out an ugly, raw stream. Rorshin was unsteady on his feet, rubbing his chin and beard. He spat out a tooth into his hand, considering it for a second, then swallowed it.


    And they went down the staircase, down to the floor that led out to the bridge. The stairwell door led out into a lobby, with a fountain at its center, a statue atop it depicting a businessman holding the hand of a cartoon rabbit. Three doors led out to the open world, and by the way they shimmered, Ichabod could tell they were one-paned. They could see out, but no one could see in.


    Security was not inside this room, but outside. Soldiers, all of them armed, all of them with rifles pointed at the door. A few police cars were hovering overhead, and the sky above swam with ravens and drones.


    ¡°Good,¡± Rorshin rasped, ¡°This is good.¡±


    He staggered over to the fountain, peeling off his ski mask and throwing his head down into the pool. His hair floated on the water''s surface as he drank deep. When he pulled out, he was breathing heavily, but there was a renewed energy in his eyes. His face broke out into his vile grin.


    ¡°A lot of ravens, " he said, ¡°Macabre will despise me.¡±


    Contort drew towards the door, looking at the druid.


    ¡°What''s the spell?¡± he asked.


    ¡°A destructive one,¡± Rorshin said, ¡°One that better demonstrates my will. No camouflage. No voice mimicry.¡±


    His hands, shaking, were clasping together. He brought them up to his lips.


    ¡°Open the door.¡±


    Contort, grimacing, complied. Security outside opened fire, a symphony of bullets tearing through the doorways, annihilating the front half of the office''s entrance. Contort and Ichabod hit the deck.


    Rorshin, however, slowly brought his hands to his lips. Bullets roared around him, the world alight with light and flame and death, but nothing touched him, as though fate itself allowed him to cast his spell.


    He blew into his hands, and his breath became a mournful whistle. Quiet at first, deeper than one would have expected. But it soon became louder, weeping out of the building, out into the night. It hung for a single long, smooth note. For an eternity. For a second.


    For the time that was needed for the ravens to hear the call, and become transfixed.


    Transformed.


    The first part of the unkindness took to the drones, slamming into them midair, exploding as they did so with roars. Their blood became fire, their feathers like napalm. The drones burned, winking out and falling to the world below.


    The rest of the unkindness flew, like missiles, into the security team on the bridge. They burst into flames as they did so, becoming as phoenixes. Some of them fell alone, miniature bombs that crashed into an individual soldier. Others flew as one, a wave of flame that cut through entire squads.


    Rorshin was laughing. High and reedy, a pitch higher than usual. Ichabod and Contort could only watch, mouths agape, as they saw the world outside burn.


    And then, the druid collapsed. Contort ran over, and picked him up.


    Noted how light he was.


    ¡°Let''s go,¡± he said.


    The OzTech security team was still screaming as Ichabod and Contort ran outside. Some of them were on fire, rolling on the ground. Others, dressed in flames, were throwing themselves off the bridge''s sides, falling stars to the pit below. The smell of burning flesh hung in the air.


    They ran through. Ichabod was grimacing. Contort was biting back a vomiting fit.


    The end of the bridge was blocked off by police tape, though the officers patrolling the line had been burned away. A crowd of civilians were watching as Ichabod and Contort charged at them.


    A few more ravens were still around, drunkenly wheeling through the air.


    They flew into the crowd, igniting.


    And the night became filled with their screams. As one, the mob broke, surging away from the office building. Ichabod and Contort followed them, jostled to and fro, as they tried their damned hardest to disappear into the stampede.


    The sea of people rushed away from the scene. Those unfortunate tripped, fell, were trampled underneath. Rorshin''s spell claimed more than OzTech''s security team.


    And, Contort noted bitterly, he wouldn''t like it any other way.

 87. Leave the Way You Came

    There were, at the moment, three members of Pantheon stationed in New Shan.


    A far more conservative amount than Ichabod''s original estimate. He had glanced at every shadow, noted every doorway, eyed every space of dead air. His calculations and observations could only do so much, and bereft of knowledge, his mind filled in the blanks with fear.


    But Pantheon was a guild of symbols. Symbols of Agrippa''s wealth. His influence. As such, most of them were working off-plane, patrolling museums under OzTech''s patronage or fighting in wars on the company''s behalf.


    Others, still, were working for Agrippa in other places. Darker places. Secret meetings, and handshakes made in hidden rooms.


    Truly, only Charnak and Macabre were actively under Agrippa''s personal employ in the city. Macabre because her metapower allowed her to surveil multiple parts of New Shan at once. Her emphasis on using her ravens over the usual technologies seen on Neos meant that the ravens, if one did not know her power, were seen as a curiosity.


    Bereft of knowledge, one sees the birds as nothing more than birds.


    Charnak was a different case. He was a magician. A former Son of Darwin, and Agrippa preferred to keep him close. Not for protection, but to make sure the fox didn''t go his own way.


    The third member of Pantheon stationed in New Shan was not truly active at any one time.


    They only were brought forth in times of danger, or when Agrippa needed more uncommon defenses against uncommon foes.


    And a guild assaulting his Tower, using magic foreign to Neos, was uncommon indeed.


    They were not located in the Tower itself, but rather at the top of a skyscraper just outside the business district. The building itself belonged to OzTech, home to a couple of miscellaneous shell companies that they employed for less scrupulous practices. Two security guards, stationed just outside the guildmember''s room, received a call from the Tower.


    One looked to the other as the CEO of the company gave them instructions. Agrippa''s smooth, deadened voice made their skin crawl, made sweat bead on their necks despite the relative coolness of the rainy night.


    ¡°Wake it up,¡± Agrippa ordered, ¡°Let me speak to it.¡±


    The guard nodded. He gestured for his companion to open the door.


    Inside was a square, simple room, in which floated a small sphere of glass. A single raindrop was held within,suspended in midair, mid-flight, midfall, the top tapering off to a point.


    The guard brought the communicator up to the sphere.


    ¡°Themble,¡± Agrippa said, ¡°It''s me. How are you?¡±


    Had the guard better vision, he would have seen the raindrop ripple.


    ¡°I have a mission for you,¡± Agrippa said, ¡°The Tower''s been hit. Three interlopers have made off with OzTech information. A magician is among them. Find anything suspicious in the city. Kill them for me.


    ¡°Release the elemental,¡± Agrippa ordered the guard, ¡°Let it grow.¡±


    The guard complied. Breaking Themble''s cage was simple enough ¨C it was designed to break, to be crushed from the outside with a single squeeze of the hand. The sphere broke into gel, and the guard turned and walked outside.


    He made his way to the balcony overlooking New Shan, the entire city misted over with smoke and fog. Rain sheeted down in great curtains, unusually warm and tinged with forever chemicals. Unsafe to drink. Unsafe to walk in, not without something to protect bare skin.


    Themble had always hated the rain here. It made their form unbearable. Uncomfortable. Painful.


    The guard opened his hand, releasing the rain elemental into the air.


    And Themble began to grow, raindrops stopping midair, freezing in place, absorbing into a mass with silver-light eyes. It was the size of a house when it dispersed, moving between raindrops, the entire storm taking on a strange nature. The clouds began to curl in tandem with one another. Chunks of the falling rain began to curve sideways as Themble moved through the city.


    Each drop was an eye.


    They would find their quarry yet.


    ***


    None of his magic would have let Charnak survive an explosion at point-blank range. The fox''s charred remains lay on the ground, pelted by rain, his chest blown to smithereens, revealing a hollowed-out ribcage. He lay on his back, his arms and legs contorted in awkward, broken directions. His tongue hung loose from his muzzle, his eyes still locked in a wide void of fear.


    An ignoble end, for one with such a storied history. Becenti looked down at the form. Devoid of life, it quietly reminded him of roadkill back home, stray dogs or coyotes caught underneath wheels, crumpled beneath rubber and smeared into the ground. He looked down at Charnak¡¯s body for a small while.


    Then, his attention turned over to Vicenorn. G-Wiz was running over to the ruins of the car, the flames dying down, having lost their heat, suffocated under the rain.


    She stopped at the fallen form of her guildmate.


    And froze. Her jaw dropped, and she resisted the urge to vomit.


    He had been halfway out when the taxi erupted. The entire bottom half of his body was gone, blown away. The other parts of him had been set aflame, a blaze that was only now extinguishing, exposing charred flesh.


    Charred circuitry. Much of Vicenorn''s skin had melted away. But what was odd was the fact that he possessed no true skeleton. Only a metal framework, wide and spherical. His left arm had been mechanical ¨C they already knew that. What they had not realized was that his right was, as well. His legs. His head. His organs, too. All of him had been mechanical, as robotic as Lazuli.


    The only pieces of him that were organic were his brain and his lungs, held in place by a metal rod, an iron heart beating between them, now exposed to the rain, a thin layer of plastic-like material housing his most precious parts.


    Vicenorn, despite everything, was still awake. His skull-like visage turned to G-Wiz. Something in his clockwork head whirred, and she saw part of it turn to consider her.


    Her heart fell when she realized they were his eyes, the jelly-like coating melted away, revealing cracked, burned spheres. One of them fell out and clattered on the ground as it turned to her.


    His voice, now distorted and distant, wraith-like, sounded from somewhere in the corpse that was his chest.


    ¡°G-Galatea,¡± he said, ¡°D-Don''t look at me.¡±


    Becenti caught up to her. He pointed upwards, his remaining heat swaddling over them in a great umbrella. The rain poured down around them as though they were inside a waterfall.


    ¡°Galatea,¡± Vicenorn said again, ¡°Don''t look at me, please.¡±


    There was a desperate, sobbing edge to his voice. G-Wiz looked away.


    Becenti, however, kneeled down.


    ¡°Oris, it''s bad,¡± he said, ¡°Your entire chassis is spent.¡±


    ¡°You don''t have to tell me,¡± Vicenorn said.


    ¡°Can you survive?¡± Becenti asked.


    ¡°...Is there a point?¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°Look at me, Myron. I''m an... an abomination.¡±


    Becenti was quiet. Parts of Vicenorn whirled, then stopped.


    ¡°If Ichabod... if he saw me, I would-¡±


    ¡°Enough of that,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Can you survive this, Oris?¡±


    ¡°I don''t want to.¡±


    ¡°Answer the damn question.¡±


    ¡°Everything hurts, Myron.¡±


    ¡°Oris,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I need you. Ichabod needs you. You think this would stop him from loving you?¡±


    ¡°I am a brain in a jar, Myron,¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°Nothing more. Who can love a brain?¡±


    Becenti began pulling the metal ribcage around the lungs apart, tossing them aside.


    ¡°Do you think Ichabod just sees your body, Oris?¡± he asked, ¡°Or does he see your soul?¡±


    Vicenorn choked back a sob.


    ¡°...I must be put into a container,¡± he said, ¡°The lungs. My brain. They''re connected to the metal rod in the center. Within is a special type of liquid that keeps them alive. It functions much like blood, in that it needs oxygen to keep regulating itself.¡±


    ¡°And how long can you survive without that circuit?¡± Becenti asked.


    ¡°Preferably a day,¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°But longer, if we can get a makeshift breathing apparatus. And opening in the Cryzofilm that surrounds my organic parts will expose them to open air. I would die. No, a breathing apparatus. I can give you the instructions for how to make it. It should not be hard.¡±


    ¡°Got it,¡± Becenti said, ¡°G-Wiz, we need a carrier.¡±


    He pulled down some of the heat from his umbrella, forming it into a knife. Like a surgeon, he began to cut away the Cryzofilm''s organs from the chassis''s corpse.


    ¡°You won''t be able to speak,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Or hear. We have to leave that behind.¡±


    ¡°Trust me, Myron,¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°Better that I see nothing, hear nothing, and am nothing.¡±


    ¡°Very well,¡± Becenti said, ¡°But remember: Ichabod looks at you, and he sees love. Keep that in mind. You are more than just the sum of your parts.¡±


    ¡°...Always, Myron,¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°Now cut me free.¡±


    He did so, gingerly lifting the organs and metal rod up. The Cryzofilm held. Was surprisingly flexible, yet strong. It coated over Vicenorn''s brain and lungs like a suit, a miracle material that kept him in an eternal stasis.


    G-Wiz, meanwhile, had created a jar of light. She held it open for Becenti to place Vicenorn into, organs and all. She closed it up, and they floated within.


    ¡°The rest of the chassis is finished,¡± Becenti said, ¡°We''ll need to repair him when we get back home.¡±


    G-Wiz nodded. Looked down at the remains of what she thought had been her friend.


    ¡°You knew,¡± she said.


    ¡°That he was like this?¡± Becenti said, ¡°Of course. I''ve known Oris for years. But Braindolls like him, they''re... not well-regarded, especially not in the High Federation.¡±


    ¡°So you lied about him,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Dressed him up, gave us all a facade.¡±


    ¡°I did,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°You could have warned us. Let us know.¡±


    ¡°I never said anything,¡± Becenti said, ¡°That''s it.¡±


    ¡°A lie of omission''s-¡±


    ¡°Still a lie, I know,¡± Becenti said, ¡°But he insisted on this arrangement. I chose his privacy over your curiosity. Always have. Always will. Understand?¡±


    There was a graven finality to his voice. G-Wiz bit her tongue. Nodded.


    ¡°Good,¡± Becenti said, ¡°That is what guild leadership does, Galatea. We hide the truth sometimes, when it''s pertinent to hide it. For the sake of privacy. For the sake of other''s safety. For the sake of your safety.¡±


    He made to turn.


    ¡°That is the way of InterGuild.¡±


    ***


    They stopped running, moving out into a small pathway that had been set up between two of the skyscrapers. They stayed in the middle of the path, the bridges of New Shan on one side, the open city on the other.


    Police cars trawled the skies, accompanied by drones, both OzTech and not. Security guards, fully armored up and holding heavy assault rifles, patrolled the streets. The crowds parted as they went, their eyes searching through each and every face they saw for any identifying features.


    Almost all of the ads had been replaced, too. With footage from the Tower, now that Vicenorn had lost control of the security network. Something had happened, there. It depicted the three of them in the elevator, each of them wearing their longcoats, their faces concealed by their masks, drawing close to the gnarled form of Rorshin as he cast his spell to teleport them out of the Tower.


    Below the videos, it read, in great blocky letters, ''IF FOUND, CONTACT YOUR CLOSEST OFFICER.''


    In fine print, on the bottom, ''Sponsored by Chummy''s Fruit-Like Juice.''


    Contort was breathing heavily, setting Rorshin down. As he did so, he clutched his leg, wincing as he did so, pulling up a pant leg to reveal an ugly gunshot wound, though the skin around it was rippling, evidence that he was willing his muscles to move despite the pain, his muscles moving around the bullet. Ichabod, meanwhile, grimaced as he felt at his side, noting the shot that had scraped him by. Somehow it had been a near miss, tearing through cloth and past the ribcage, though it had still cut deep. Blood spooled out unbidden, and when he removed his good hand, it was caked in red.


    Rorshin had gone to sleep. He mumbled to himself, shifted uncomfortably. Whatever dreams he had, they were not pleasant.


    But what pursuers had been after them had been lost. The heat was still on, but they were no longer actively being chased. Merely hunted.


    Ichabod let out a cough, pulling out his pistol.


    ¡°Arne,¡± he said, ¡°Help me reload it.¡±


    Contort complied, taking it from the cybernetic man, taking out the half-spent clip and replacing it with one produced from inside his guildmate''s coat. Ichabod took the old one and put it away as though it were merely a pack of cigarettes. He chanced a glance over to the street, then shimmied back.


    ¡°No one on this block,¡± he said, still catching his breath, ¡°No one hostile, that is. A few groups we can hide ourselves in.¡±


    ¡°What''s the plan?¡± Contort asked.


    ¡°First off, we drop the guns here,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°The rifles. They''re no good to us now.¡±


    ¡°And then?¡±


    ¡°Wake up Rorshin,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°We need to lay low, and you carrying him like that would just attract attention.¡±


    ¡°He''s in no shape to go, Ichabod,¡± Contort said.


    ¡°Support him. He''ll look like a drunk. Take off your mask, too. That''s what they''re looking for.¡±


    Saying this, Ichabod peeled off his own. He stepped over and tossed it off the side and into the city below.


    Contort took off Rorshin''s ski mask, as well as his own, and followed Ichabod''s example.


    ¡°Right,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Now, we''re wearing heavy raincoats, though we might still get questioned. We had a night out, is all.¡±


    ¡°Ichabod, you''re bleeding!¡± Contort said.


    ¡°It was a rather intense night,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°If all goes well, though, we won''t be stopped. Get out your umbrella.¡±


    Contort was quiet. Ichabod frowned.


    ¡°Your umbrella, Arne. It''s pouring out here, and we''ve already been out here enough.¡±


    ¡°...I lost it,¡± Contort said.


    ¡°You what?¡±


    ¡°Lost it, during the big fight,¡± Contort said, ¡°You know, the one for our lives? I don''t have it.¡±


    Ichabod rolled his eyes, reaching down to Rorshin and rustling through his pockets, pulling out the collapsible umbrella and throwing it to, nearly at, his guildmate.


    ¡°Wake him up, while you''re at it, we need to move,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°To the rendezvous.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Contort said. He knelt down to Rorshin, slapping his face. The druid stirred, his eyes glazed over and weary.


    ¡°Time to get up, guy,¡± he said, ¡°Come on.¡±


    He draped one of Rorshin''s bony arms over his shoulder, lifting him up. They began stuttering out of the alley, looking the part of a man supporting his drunken friend. Ichabod followed.


    ***


    The rendezvous point was an old building that had been bombed out during the war, abandoned to time. It, thankfully, had a roof, as G-Wiz and Becenti stepped inside, the rain thundering outside. There was a malevolent energy to it now, as though the storm itself had become hostile. But perhaps G-Wiz was just paranoid, especially after the fight with Charnak.


    She and Becenti stepped inside. Becenti put Vicenorn''s jar on the table.


    ¡°Now what?¡± G-Wiz asked.


    ¡°Now, we wait,¡± Becenti said.


    ***


    They stumbled along, heading towards the nearest elevator tower, making sure to keep themselves going as drunkenly as possible. Rain poured around them as they went, and they found that, at certain parts, the crowd would start pressing, practically crushing them. Stolen novel; please report.


    But as the ads glared scarlet and the police rang overhead, many began to get the smart idea to keep quiet. To go indoors. To go home. Better to not be caught up in the mess of corporate espionage. Bereft of any actual suspects, the police might start turning on anyone who looked at them funny.


    The going was slow, nonetheless. Rorshin would stir, occasionally, and he would start to drift to sleep. Contort would have to shake to wake him up.


    But, by and large, they were unaccosted. Those who would usually disturb a trio of drunken revelers had better things to do, better places to hide.


    The rain above roiled and twisted.


    And then changed, almost imperceptibly. Rorshin''s eyes shot open. He brought out a hand, letting the rain lap at his open palm, before drawing it in.


    He licked it.


    ¡°Not healthy,¡± Contort said.


    ¡°The rain,¡± he whispered, and then spat, ¡°It''s alive.¡±


    Contort froze. As did Ichabod.


    They were close to the tower. So damn close. It loomed close to them, just at the edge of the bridge.


    ¡°A magician?¡± Contort whispered.


    ¡°No,¡± Rorshin said, ¡°Something... something else.¡±


    A police siren blared overhead. The vehicle itself was awash in rain-smeared blue and red light as it landed on the bridge,


    ¡°Keep cool,¡± Contort said.


    The door opened. An officer stepped out, a heavy pistol holstered at his hip. He was wearing body armor, but certainly not at the level of OzTech''s security, a bulletproof vest hidden beneath a blue dress shirt. His eyes glared artificial green as he stepped to them.


    ¡°Evening, fellas,¡± he said.


    ¡°Good evening, officer,¡± Ichabod said.


    The cop''s partner was stepping up as well, keeping behind the vehicle. Ready to use it as cover, if it came to it.


    ¡°What''re you up to so late at night?¡± the officer said.


    ¡°I didn''t realize it was so late,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°Where you headed?¡±


    ¡°Nowhere important,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°Hmm,¡± the officer looked Ichabod over, gauged him. Ichabod kept his good side turned to him, tried his best to hide his gunshot wound.


    Then the officer looked over at Contort and Rorshin.


    ¡°Looks like you''ve been through the ringer, guy,¡± he said, ¡°As a matter o'' fact, you three are matching similar descriptions to some people we''re looking for.¡±


    ¡°Oh, really?¡± Ichabod said, feigning ignorance, ¡°Interesting.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± the officer said, ¡°Now, where are you all headed from?¡±


    ¡°Just out at the bar, officer,¡± Ichabod said. Then internally winced. It would have been better to let the cop draw that conclusion, as opposed to outright saying it.


    The officer''s eyebrows raised at Rorshin.


    ¡°You good, guy?¡± he said, ¡°Looks like you''ve been on quite the slosh.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Rorshin said, ¡°Very much.¡±


    And the officer walked towards him, reaching out and pulling a flashlight. He pointed it at Rorshin''s eye, and the druid naturally looked away.


    ¡°Better get a breathalyzer test for you, guy,¡± the officer said, ¡°See how much you''re drinking.¡±


    Every hair on Contort''s hands stood on edge. His heart began to hammer. They hadn''t been drinking. Rorshin hadn''t a drop of alcohol in his system. But him being sober, looking like that, would be grounds to be searched. They''d be looked over. They''d find the gunshot wounds. Put two and two together, or delay them long enough to be found by OzTech.


    ¡°Sir,¡± Contort said, ¡°We''re walking home. Not driving.¡±


    ¡°All the same, better safe than sorry,¡± the officer said. He pulled out a thin, metal rod from a pocket, ¡°If you could breathe, guy.¡±


    There was no choice.


    Rorshin breathed into the rod, his eyes lolling as he did so.


    A few moments passed.


    The rain continued to thunder hard.


    The breathalyzer flashed blue. Negative. The officer frowned dramatically.


    And then his partner waved him over.


    ¡°Getting a call, Chuck,¡± she said.


    The cop nodded.


    ¡°Stay right there,¡± he said.


    And he sauntered back to the vehicle. His partner handed him the phone. He took it, leaning casually over, keeping an eye on Ichabod and the others as he did so.


    His hand was firmly on his pistol.


    ¡°Right,¡± he said, ¡°Alright.¡±


    He hung up.


    Smiled.


    ¡°You¡¯re all free to go,¡± he said, ¡°Sorry to hold you up. Get home safe, guy.¡±


    He and his partner stepped into the car. The vehicle took off.


    Leaving them alone.


    Ichabod''s heart fell.


    ¡°Shit,¡± he said, ¡°They found us.¡±


    ***


    Ichabod, Contort, and Rorshin drew into the safehouse almost an hour later.


    All three of them were exhausted. Almost immediately after getting in, Contort collapsed, groaning and clutching his legs. Becenti, at once, rushed over to him, kneeling down with a medkit.


    ¡°I''m fine,¡± Contort wheezed, ¡°G-Get to Ichabod first.¡±


    Ichabod, indeed, was already taking off his coat, gasping as he did so, revealing a thin, red cut across his ribcage. A stray bullet had cut deep, though G-Wiz was already playing her zumbelaphone, light echoing out of the keytar''s handle, suturing the wound closed. She applied a gauze to it, wrapping it quickly around Ichabod, as Elenry had taught her.


    ¡°Should be good,¡± she said, ¡°I think.¡±


    ¡°It will have to do,¡± Ichabod rasped. He looked around the room, ¡°Oris, where is he...?¡±


    G-Wiz bit the inside of her mouth, then nodded her head at the table. Ichabod followed her gaze, looking over to see the floating brain and lungs of Vicenorn, still in the Cryzofilm, bereft of a body. His frown, sharp and bitter, became somber and sad.


    ¡°You''re a Braindoll,¡± he whispered.


    Becenti, meanwhile, pulled out a pair of pliers from the medkit.


    ¡°This is going to be a bit painful,¡± the metahuman said, ¡°Get ready, Arne.¡±


    ¡°Just get on with it,¡± Contort said.


    Becenti dove in, reaching down. Contort''s leg opened up to him, the grisly wound widening, the muscles moving in unnatural ways to push out a flash of metal. He grunted all the while, and sweat beaded his brow as Becenti plucked the bullet free, tossing it away.


    ¡°God,¡± Contort said. He winced as Becenti wrapped the wound in gauze, then made to stand, putting a bit of weight on it.


    ¡°I know that you can work around the pain,¡± Becenti said, ¡°But don''t put much pressure on it, Arne. We need to get you to a dedicated healer.¡±


    ¡°Not an option,¡± Rorshin, in the corner, wheezed. G-Wiz was just now getting to him, looking him over for any major wounds. She grimaced at purple bruises blooming beneath his beard, on his jaw.


    ¡°What do you mean, not an option?¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Rain''s alive,¡± Rorshin coughed. He slapped G-Wiz away, ¡°I''m fine. Just tired. Need food. More spellwork needed.¡±


    Ichabod was stepping quietly over to the table, looking at the jar that held Vicenorn. His good hand was trembling as it rose up to press against the jar of light.


    ¡°Rain''s alive,¡± Becenti muttered. He looked up at the ceiling for a second, before walking over and cracking open the door.


    The rain poured outside.


    ¡°Alive in what way?¡± he asked Rorshin.


    ¡°The rain has eyes,¡± the druid replied.


    Becenti swore. He could see it now, the spiritual, soul-like presence in the air. He closed the door. Turned around.


    ¡°Rain elemental,¡± he said, ¡°They''ve got a damn rain elemental.¡±


    ¡°A... what?¡± G-Wiz asked as she pulled out a soybar for Rorshin.


    ¡°Living rain. It travels, spirit-like, through storms. Can manipulate them, too. Each and every drop is an eye. I''ve only seen them once, one was a familiar to a Weatherfolk...¡±


    He turned to the door.


    ¡°Ichabod, what happened out there?¡± Becenti asked, ¡°How hot did it get?¡±


    But Ichabod was in another world now, staring at Vicenorn.


    ¡°It makes sense, I suppose,¡± he said, ¡°Braindolls are outlawed. Your knowledge on cybernetics is second to none. All I have is tech from Neos, but you''re from all over, aren''t you?¡±


    A relieved smile flickered on his face.


    ¡°Good God, I''m glad you''re alive,¡± he whispered.


    ¡°Ichabod.¡±


    He turned. All eyes were on him.


    ¡°Ichabod,¡± Becenti said, ¡°What happened?¡±


    ¡°You said they found us,¡± Contort said, ¡°Right?¡±


    Ichabod blinked.


    ¡°They... They did,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Rain elemental. Right. It''s been following us for the past hour or so.¡±


    ¡°Shit, since the cops,¡± Contort said.


    ¡°Correct,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Whatever call they got to let us go, it must have come from the elemental. It''s been tracking us, seeing where we''re going.¡±


    ¡°...Which means that they''re trying to see if there are more of us in the city,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°They have an idea of what we might look like,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°But beyond that, I''m not sure.¡±


    ¡°Did they recognize you as being part of a guild?¡± Becenti asked.


    ¡°No,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°They didn''t.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Becenti murmured.


    ¡°So it''s right outside, then?¡± Contort said, ¡°Just... waiting?¡±


    ¡°Waiting, and presumably calling for backup,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°We shouldn''t be here long.¡±


    ¡°Agreed,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°...We''re also going to need to separate again,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°Wait, now,¡± Becenti said, ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    And Ichabod was already pressing a few buttons on his arm, his fingers pressing against his palm and calling up a taxi line.


    ¡°The rain elemental saw three of us go in,¡± he said, ¡°And it''s expecting the three of us to go out.¡±


    ¡°Does it have any reason to attack?¡± G-Wiz asked.


    ¡°...No,¡± Ichabod said carefully, ¡°Right now it''s only got suspicions. Presumably it''s all over the city, looking around. But we''re targeted by it. Marked.¡±


    ¡°Did anyone stop you on the way out?¡± Becenti asked.


    ¡°A cop,¡± Contort said, ¡°And he got a good look at us.¡±


    ¡°Shit,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Alright. Okay.¡±


    His heart was hammering as he put his hands on the table to steady himself.


    ¡°Agrippa,¡± he said, ¡°Can put two and two together. But if we''re quick, if we can get back to Castle Belenus, we can do some fabrication. They already know the Amber Foundation''s here, just that a few other of our number were in the city.¡±


    ¡°Don''t panic on that,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Right now, they''re looking for an excuse to stop us. They don''t have any legal grounds, just suspicions.¡±


    ¡°They could quickly get legal grounds,¡± Becenti said, ¡°If they stop you, they can get it.¡±


    ¡°They have to stop us first,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Hence why I say we separate. Easier to get three people out sneakily than six.¡±


    ¡°And how are you going to do that?¡± Becenti asked.


    ¡°I called a taxi,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Rorshin, Contort, and I will get in, and leave the city that way. We can hack any security checkpoints we come across ¨C the Cutter will be able to do that relatively easily ¨C and we make for the Traveling Point at Farbank.¡±


    ¡°The one we came in on,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°Precisely. You three,¡± Ichabod pointed to Becenti, Vicenorn''s jar, and G-Wiz, ¡°You three go through the usual channels. Get home safe. If OzTech comes knocking, feign ignorance. We''ll take the long way to get there.¡±


    ¡°You''ll be followed,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°I am aware,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°You might be caught.¡±


    ¡°We have the cover story to burn us away,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°We''re just a trio of revolutionaries who went about things the wrong way. Cut ties with our guild. Burned our bridges. Cut us loose, Myron.¡±


    Becenti looked over at Contort and Rorshin.


    ¡°And you two are fine in that?¡±


    ¡°I am,¡± Rorshin stated.


    Contort shook his head, and grimaced.


    ¡°No choice,¡± he said, ¡°Either you cut us out, or they go after all of us.¡±


    ¡°We''ll regroup at Castle Belenus when we can,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°When the heat dies down.¡±


    ¡°...I''ve got a few contacts,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I''ll get in touch with them, let them know to expect you. Make for Owl''s Landing, if you can. Or Prime.¡±


    ¡°We''ll try,¡± Ichabod said. He looked down at his arm, ¡°Our ride''s here. Time to go.¡±


    ¡°Good luck,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°And with you,¡± Ichabod replied.


    He turned to G-Wiz. The Electron was putting up a strong front, but her eyes swam.


    ¡°Be careful, alright?¡± she said.


    ¡°Same with you,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°We''re not out of the woods yet.¡±


    ¡°If you die, dipshit, I''ll kill you.¡±


    ¡°Same to you,¡± Ichabod said. He glanced at Ichabod''s jar, his frown becoming more worried, ¡°Tell Vicenorn I said goodbye.¡±


    ¡°I will,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°Tell him I love him.¡±


    There was a quiet sort of desperation in his voice. A scared, almost final quality. G-Wiz shook her head.


    ¡°Tell him yourself,¡± she said, ¡°Get home.¡±


    Contort, meanwhile, was talking to Becenti.


    ¡°Don''t tell Vyde about the gunshot wound, alright?¡± he said to the metahuman, ¡°It''ll just worry her.¡±


    ¡°I won''t,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Good,¡± Contort stretched, then winced a bit, ¡°Don''t worry about us. Once Rorshin gets up and running again, we''ll be able to heal up the worst of it. It''s just a bad night, is all.¡±


    ¡°All the same, be careful. Watch everything, from the oddest blips on the horizon to the strange scents in the wind. The multiverse is myriad, its dangers even more so.¡±


    Contort smirked.


    ¡°Talking like I''m a newbie at this, Myron,¡± he said, ¡°You''re giving warnings you''d give to someone like Joe.¡±


    ¡°They''re warnings I give to everyone,¡± Becenti said. He presented a hand, ¡°I will see you when we dream again.¡±


    Contort quirked an eyebrow at the phrase. Some metahuman lingo. But he took Becenti''s hand all the same, and shook.


    Rorshin watched the two scenes play out, huddled in a corner, rubbing his jaw. No one offered him a goodbye. Part of him did not care.


    But part of him did.


    Ichabod and Contort both drew out their umbrellas, opening them up. Contort stooped down to lift the druid to his feet. With a final series of nods, they opened the door, and walked outside to the taxi idling at the end of the street. They clambered in, Ichabod sliding into the driver''s seat, his Cutter immediately springing to life and jamming into the console, wiring into its network. Contort sat beside him. Rorshin hung out in the back, and slumped against the window.


    ¡°Going to be a bit nasty,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Get ready for a bumpy ride.¡±


    Contort nodded. He pulled his injured leg to his chest, pulling up his pant leg to look at the wrapped-up wound. He grimaced as he felt his muscles re-adjust.


    He needed that healing magic. And fast.


    The taxi took off. Whatever presence in the storm followed it. Becenti peeked through the window, his trained eyes watching as the bulk of the rain elemental chugged after his guildmates. Part of it was still here, however. He and G-Wiz would need to swaddle up well to avoid being recognized.


    ¡°Right, well,¡± he said, ¡°Let''s give it another few minutes. Ms. Wiz, get Vicenorn''s jar ready.¡±


    He turned around to see G-Wiz lying against the wall, her bottom lip quivering. She looked over at him.


    ¡°Tell me they''ll be alright, Becenti,¡± she said, ¡°Just... tell me.¡±


    ¡°I can''t-¡±


    ¡°I don''t care about the ''ifs'' and the ''buts'',¡± she spat, ¡°Just tell me.¡±


    ¡°...They''ll be okay, G-Wiz,¡± Becenti lied.


    ¡°I can''t lose another friend,¡± she said, ¡°Not so soon.¡±


    Becenti was quiet at that. He opened his mouth to say something, then closed it.


    Sometimes there wasn''t anything to say. Sometimes you could only watch. And wait. And dream.


    He walked over to the table and drew on his coat, pulling the hood over his head.


    ¡°We should get moving,¡± he said.


    ***


    There was a blockade set up against the street they were taking to leave New Shan. Even though they had taken sideroads, avoided the major highways, there it sat, a toll booth with a security guard, two others flanking either side of the road. A fourth, Contort noted, positioned on one of the rooftops with a sniper rifle.


    A latticework fence had been set up to block the city off from the wasteland. An automatic system that, upon the entire city going into a lockdown, had moved the fence so it blocked off the street. Ichabod could only smile at that. His Cutter, connected to the taxi''s network, interfaced with the security system, wresting control of it.


    He began to speed up the taxi. Contort gripped the grab handle over the door. Rorshin let out a snort.


    The soldiers called out after them, roaring out warnings. Ichabod pressed a button.


    The gate began to open. Far too slowly for the speed that they were going at. But Ichabod didn''t care.


    Rorshin pointed a finger, whispering a word. The air in front of the taxi hardened like a battering ram, and it slammed into the gate, tearing through it as though it were naught but paper. The guards opened fire, bullets ricocheting off the vehicle, Rorshin¡¯s spell holding the taxi together, magic absorbing the worst of the spray. The taxi sped off, out of New Shan.


    Not much pursued them. Ichabod wasn''t sure why. Perhaps the rain elemental knew where they were going, and was calling for other members of Pantheon. Whatever the case, they were alone as they rushed off towards the Traveling Point.


    ***


    Becenti and G-Wiz, meanwhile, stole away into the night, the rain elemental looking them over for a few moments. But it was far too broken up and spread across the city to pay them much heed, and they were unaccosted as they went up to the middle class district and the Traveling Point there. They presented their guild IDs. Spoke with the officers there, but the security detail already had them on file as being on Neos legitimately. They had come here under the banner of the Amber Foundation. Broken bread with Agrippa. And now, they were going home.


    The guard didn''t even ask about the weariness in their eyes. The scuffed up raincoats they wore, after their fight with Charnak. Even Vicenorn, a brain in a jar, was only afforded a simple glare, before they wrote up the report and let them through.


    They were quiet on the journey back. Exchanging a few conversations. Making a stop at Great Rana to buy supplies to construct a breathing apparatus for Vicenorn, as well as a voice modulator and artificial ears, a new container to house him.


    Even with this done, even with his voice restored, the Braindoll said little. Both Becenti and G-Wiz knew who was on his mind.


    ***


    The other team''s arrival to the Traveling Point was a quick one. Damn any Federation records. Damn the soldiers and their warning shouts.


    They drove right through. A car through the multiverse, rainbows shuddering around them, as they wound up on Clusteredion. They drove down crystallized roads, dodged past amethyst soldiers. Ditched the car.


    ...Themble followed them. At once a storm arrived on Clusteredion, and tracked the three of them as they ran.


    It would be a long chase, indeed.


    ***


    Macabre waited outside Agrippa''s office, grimacing as she rolled her shoulder. It had been a rush job, getting her up and back on her feet, and would require therapy. Surgeries. Part of her wished that she could leave Neos entirely, to seek out a magician to get the arm healed up nice and easy. Magic always trumped technology, in her eyes. There was no waiting time. No surgeons hmm-ing and haw-ing over a simple wound. Just a spell, a few whispered words, perhaps, and she would be right as rain.


    But not here. Not on Neos. Everything had a bit of frustration built into it. Everything, and everyone.


    Finally, she heard a voice.


    ¡°Come in,¡± Agrippa said, through the speaker. Macabre complied.


    The door opened, and the smell of death hung in the air. The head of security had been the first to report to Agrippa, after the assailants had escaped the Tower. A mistake. His mistake, for even letting them get in and out on his watch. His corpse lay in the center of the room, the G''Rash Haro pecking it over, serpent-like neck twisting, lion''s head licking at any organic material that was left. Blood caked the floor, along with the fluids from the head of security''s cybernetics. Dull red and neon blue.


    The office itself was thrashed. The four statues had been tipped over. Claw marks, both human and spirit, scraped into the walls. The desk had been cracked. The only thing that seemed unharmed in the room was a small sapling on the desk''s surface, standing atop a mound of dirt, green and almost glowing.


    Agrippa himself was sitting in front of his desk, watching his spirit feed. As Macabre walked in, his eyes slid over to her, starting at her feet, lingering on her chest, then up to her face.


    ¡°Macabre,¡± he said, and his voice was hollow, ¡°What news?¡±


    ¡°Themble is pursuing a trio that we believe to be the invaders,¡± Macabre stated.


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Agrippa said, ¡°So they were outlanders. Multiversal. A guild?¡±


    ¡°We believe so.¡±


    Agrippa let out a low grumble.


    ¡°What Traveling Point?¡±


    ¡°The one leading to Clusteredion,¡± Macabre said.


    Agrippa nodded. He tilted his head over to look at the G''Rash Haro, who had scraped open the corpse''s head and was licking at whatever was inside.


    ¡°Where is Charnak?¡± Agrippa asked, ¡°Where is my spellcaster?¡±


    ¡°...Dead, sir,¡± Macabre ventured, ¡°Down in the slums.¡±


    The CEO of OzTech didn''t respond to that. He merely continued to stare.


    ¡°Mobilize our agents,¡± Agrippa said, ¡°All of them, in the planes surrounding Clusteredion. Turn that place inside out. Hunt them down. Bring me their heads.¡±


    ¡°Sir, some advice,¡± Macabre said, ¡°Without proper legal recourse-¡±


    ¡°THEIR HEADS!¡±


    The G''Rash Haro was looking up at her. Agrippa''s eyes were wide, dangerous, and she noted that his voice was raw from screaming. He was looking for someone else to take his anger out on. A reason. An excuse.


    ¡°...Their heads, sir,¡± Macabre said, carefully.


    ¡°Their heads, you bitch,¡± Agrippa said, ¡°Or perhaps you''ll be losing more of your flock.¡±


    An empty threat, but the reminder of what she had lost stabbed Macabre. Reminded her, too, of their assailants.


    ¡°Very well,¡± she said.


    ¡°Good. Now leave me alone,¡± Agrippa said, ¡°I need... I need to think. I need to plan. I need you to get the fuck out.¡±


    Macabre did so, stepping back outside, making sure she didn''t turn her back on the G''Rash Haro.


    The door closed. She took a deep breath. Steeled herself. Then went to make the order.


    ***


    Agrippa sat in the darkness, the only sounds being the scraping crunches as his spirit fed.


    After a while, he stood up. Walked over, turned on the cameras, let New Shan spill out around him, though the feed was scratched and snarled from his tantrum earlier, the walls still holding fresh wounds.


    He went over to the coffee maker, before noting that he had thrown it across the room. How had that happened? But then, the last few hours had been a blur of red¡­ excitement.


    He pressed a button on his desk. Thank God, that still worked.


    ¡°Poppy?¡± he said, ¡°Be a dear, and get me a coffee.¡±


    And he waited. An intern knocked on his door a few minutes later.


    ¡°Come in,¡± he said.


    He gave the intern ¨C a nice, young lady ¨C a smile as she walked in. She pretended not to notice the corpse on the ground, gave the G''Rash Haro a wide berth. But by now Agrippa had calmed down, and the spirit let out a yowling yawn and slinked back over to his side.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Agrippa said, and he took the coffee. Stared at the intern''s back as she left. Took a sip.


    Realizations came to him as he sat down, and reviewed security footage. Of the last few days. The last couple of hours. For their assailants had been from the multiverse. Their blood caked the elevator.


    He pressed a button, and wrote to the security team to request a blood sample, to compare it to various records in the High Federation database. That would take time ¨C not every guild sent blood and DNA samples to the Silver Eye.


    But really, it was just to give a legal excuse for the repercussions to come. His answer would be slow. Torturous. As formal as one could get, save for the biting, personal ways he would break them. Agrippa already had an inkling of who had done this.


    If the attackers had been from the multiverse, then they must have been from a guild.


    And only one guild had visited him today.

 88. Travelers Patron

    There was, in stark contrast to the Outer World of Londoa, no Autumn''s night shortening in Scuttleway. The Inner Sun crested high in the sky, looped across Moadma Landmass, and darkened as it reached the other side, to begin the journey again. It did this irrespective of Londoa''s tilt to its sun, irrespective of the Outer World''s natural laws. Up and down. The same time, each morning. It dimmed, the same time, each night.


    As it had for hundreds of years.


    Joseph had been able to see evidence of this first hand on his daily jogs. He had taken to running in the evenings, now that it had gotten cooler. Just before the Inner Sun burned out, as the sky over Scuttleway became an orange-bronze, he would head out of Castle Belenus and run. To clear his head, after the last couple of weeks. His journey would take him through the markets, through the neighborhoods of the upper class districts, and towards the ravine that divided Scuttleway in half. When he jogged by the docks, dodging past sailors as they turned into their usual bars and dives for the night, he would occasionally glance down into the depths below.


    In Summer, the end of the ravine would be the hue of sunset, a straight, falling path to the Outer World.


    Now, however, it was pitch black. Night had already overtaken the Outer World, and it filtered through the ravine as though it had a bottom.


    Sometimes, Joseph could imagine himself falling in. It sent a chill up his spine.


    He would ignore that, and continue on, jogging along the edge of the ravine, listening to the sounds of the city as it wound into its usual nightlife. He stopped for a moment, looking out for a few minutes, chewing the inside of his cheek. A ship was cresting in, bone-white like an elephant''s tusk. The Gil-Galad. Sunala''s ship.


    She had been busy, as of late. Bringing in more Elven retainers, Rosemary said. For the election. For their organization, the Verdant Reclamation.


    After her and Joseph''s argument at InterGuild, she almost whispered when she talked about Sunala now. Much of the allure and awe she had for the noblewoman had drained away.


    And yet, time and time again, Sunala called on Rosemary, signed her up to be her assistant. Each and every time, Rosemary was allowed to go.


    More and more, she looked uncomfortable.


    It was almost time to head home, now. Joseph watched as the Gil-Galad docked, and elves began unloading crates, each one emblazoned with the symbol of House Sunala.


    After watching them for a time, he started back. He wished he had music to listen to on nights like these. The chill air had a hint of loneliness to it. At least back in San Francisco, or Seattle...


    Earth.


    At least then he had his artists. To relax to. To calm himself with. He had considered asking G-Wiz to hook him up with a music player of some sort. Anything, really.


    Music helped him stave away the sense of isolation he had been feeling with the onset of cold weather.


    He arrived back at Castle Belenus. He opened up the door.


    Standing at the entrance was Tek. Joseph''s heart fell.


    ¡°Hey, Tek,¡± he said.


    The mound glanced over at him. Glanced away. Shouldered him as he went past into the city. To go to the Welt, presumably. He had taken to drinking there, considering Becenti''s banning of alcohol in the guildhall.


    A stab of guilt hit him. He walked inside.


    There were a few other guildmembers inside. Mekke. Lazuli. Elenry.


    Mekke gave him a curt nod. Lazuli flipped him off.


    He rolled his eyes at the android, and walked to the dining hall, grabbing at one of the floating dishes with tonight''s meal. Chicken soup, by the looks of it, with a couple of slices of toast. A few of the other guildmembers were already eating. Broon and Ezel were talking to one another about some job or other. XLS was going over a few diagrams with Barbara. The toucan glanced up as Joseph walked in. Her eyes narrowed, in the same manner as when Joseph had first joined the guild.


    No surprise. She was one of Tek''s close friends. As was Calacious Nine, who, in the corner of the room, turned bright red upon sensing Joseph. The jellyfish rose up from where they had been sitting with Gluh and drifted out of the room in a hurry.


    Phineas and Meleko were at one of the tables, their empty dishes pushed to the side, a field of Myth Battle cards between them. Meleko was scratching at his chin. Phineas was nervously shuffling his hand, over and over and over.


    Joseph walked over to them.


    ¡°Hey, Phin.¡±


    ¡°Ah, Joseph,¡± the Deep One said, playing a card down, ¡°Many here are angry at you.¡±


    Joseph winced.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± he said.


    ¡°It was rather stupid of you, to turn coat on Tek like that,¡± Phineas said.


    ¡°I know,¡± Joseph replied.


    ¡°And all of it for nothing,¡± Phineas said.


    ¡°You going to let me sit down, Phin? Or are you just going to rag at me while I stand?¡±


    The Deep One''s great, globular eyes fixed on him. They sat on him for an uncomfortable amount of time.


    ¡°Just let the guy sit, Phin,¡± Meleko said, ¡°And finish up your turn.¡±


    ¡°Oh, yes,¡± Phineas said, ¡°The game.¡±


    He gestured.


    ¡°Sit, Joseph. Please.¡±


    Joseph sat down, though he kept himself a bit of a ways away from his two guildmates, watching as Phineas finished his turn.


    ¡°Dakos strikes Emhammer,¡± the Deep One said, ¡°Another of your pantheon gone.¡±


    ¡°Hell,¡± Meleko grunted.


    ¡°Hell is not in play,¡± Phineas rasped.


    ¡°Figure of speech.¡±


    ¡°Ah.¡±


    Joseph swirled his soup, spooning some in his mouth. Far too watery ¨C Ezel must have been on cooking duty tonight. The toast was burned. He took a bite of the bread, feeling it crunch uncomfortably as he chewed, the ashen taste of burnt food swimming in his mouth.


    He swallowed.


    Turned to watch the game.


    Noticed that Phineas was looking at him again.


    ¡°Hey, Phin,¡± he said.


    ¡°Hello, Joseph.¡±


    ¡°What''s up?¡±


    ¡°Nothing,¡± Phineas said, scratching at a scale, ¡°I am just wondering about you.¡±


    He felt a twinge of annoyance.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said, ¡°Well, I''m an open book. What do you want?¡±


    ¡°He''s wondering why you had to turn on Tek like that,¡± Meleko said, drawing a card, ¡°He''s been talking about it all day.¡±


    ¡°Great,¡± Joseph said. He let out a weary sigh, and was quiet for a second to collect his thoughts, ¡°To be honest, I don''t know.¡±


    ¡°Yet you did anyways?¡±


    ¡°...I suppose I did,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Did you apologize?¡±


    ¡°Trust me, I''ve tried,¡± Joseph said, ¡°But he''s giving me the cold shoulder.¡±


    ¡°Not surprising,¡± Phineas said, ¡°He was very excited about that engine. I hear that Professor Adesanya found another colleague to work on it with him, instead.¡±


    ¡°And now half the guild''s pissed off at me.¡±


    ¡°It was his big break, from what I hear. Something he had been working on for several years, was one of the largest projects he¡¯d ever been on. All of that work, down the drain, and-¡±


    ¡°Cut it out, Phin,¡± Joseph growled.


    Phineas stopped. Blinked. Meleko coughed awkwardly.


    ¡°Can''t blame ''em,¡± the Jugdran said. He placed a card down, moved a card depicting a gray-skinned man with six arms into place, ¡°Okuta Stone-and-Sky. I''m going to eat your Redeemer.¡±


    ¡°Bad time,¡± Phineas said, and his voice was a pitch higher than normal, ¡°Not cool, having him in a set.¡±


    He was looking down at the card of Okuta Stone-and-Sky. Meleko shrugged.


    ¡°War was thirty years ago,¡± he said, ¡°We have one of Dakos.¡±


    ¡°I... I suppose,¡± Phineas said. He could only watch as Meleko placed Okuta Stone-and-Sky over Redeemer.


    ¡°Anyways, Joe,¡± Meleko said, ¡°You kind of shot yourself in the foot.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Joseph said.


    Phineas was nodding in agreement.


    ¡°He is right. Being in a guild, you are only as good as your word-¡±


    ¡°I know, Phin,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Can you just drop it? If I wanted to hear all about InterGuild and Tek, I''d sit with Laz.¡±


    ¡°Like he''d let you sit,¡± Meleko said.


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Joseph said. He took another bite of his bread.


    Meleko finished his turn. Phineas drew a card. He considered it for a few moments.


    Then tossed it to Joseph. He looked down. Hermes greeted him, the image of the god with winged feet smiling up at him.


    ¡°You still have your copy?¡± Phineas asked.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph said, ¡°You''ve seen it. I keep it on my desk.¡±


    ¡°That is good, it means you haven''t forgotten,¡± Phineas said.


    ¡°That I''m from Earth?¡±


    ¡°That I gave it to you,¡± the Deep One said.


    Joseph blinked at that, pondering what Phineas meant. He stirred his soup. Meleko stretched for a moment, watching Phineas play out his turn. The Jugdran glanced at Joseph.


    ¡°Don''t worry, you know,¡± he said, ¡°About Tek. Things''ll simmer down. Sometimes... Sometimes you just gotta look out for yourself, you know? People''ll realize that.¡±


    ¡°I hope,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°If not, hey,¡± Meleko said, and he drew a card to start his turn, ¡°There''s always other guilds, right?¡±


    ¡°Always others...¡± Joseph looked down at his soup.


    The thought had not occurred to him. Not until this moment. He was not the same person he had been eight months ago. He had changed. Gotten experience. Fought harder than he''d ever had to in his life. He was a man of the multiverse now, wasn''t he?


    So why didn''t he just... leave?


    ¡°Joseph,¡± Phineas said.


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    ¡°I flicked my card dramatically to you. Can I have it back?¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Joseph looked down. Hermes. The God of Messengers. Traveler''s Patron. Perhaps that was a message from Phineas, too. Joseph picked it up and handed it back to the Deep One, ¡°Here.¡±


    ***


    Joseph finished up his dinner, taking care of his dishes, along with Meleko''s and Phineas''s, bringing them into the kitchen. The Deep One had been on cleaning duty, though his magic was already doing the work for him, the plates drying themselves, soap bubbles erupting from the sinks unbidden, washing over dirty bowls and silverware like rogue waves. Joseph just had to toss the dishes into the air, before whatever spell that had been cast picked them up and added them to the network.


    That done, he walked up the stairs, heading towards one of the landings, the same one where he had spoken with Nash before they left for Chliofrond. He stepped outside, at once the air becoming near frigid. He pulled his cloak in close, looking out.


    The stars were beginning to glitter. He looked up at them for a while, knowing that they weren''t stars. That they were campfires. Other civilizations, all aglow.


    Save for a dark patch on one of the other landmasses. A dense, dark storm that covered the entire place, occasional lightning riveting over its blanket.


    ¡°Eln meia lands,¡± a voice said behind him.


    Joseph turned. Mekke was there, her arms folded as she leaned against the open doorway.


    ¡°Eln meia,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Heard of them. Blue people, right?¡±


    ¡°Pirates. Nomads. Travelers. Some of them Far,¡± Mekke said, ¡°They''ve united, you know. All of their fleets under a single banner. People are saying they''re going on a warpath with the rest of Londoa.¡±Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°Great,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Just what I needed, a damn war.¡±


    ¡°Doesn''t mean we''re going to get involved,¡± Mekke said.


    ¡°With my luck?¡± Joseph chuckled, ¡°We will.¡±


    ¡°Hmm.¡±


    The former soldier closed the door, walking over to stand next to him. He kept his eyes on the storm. She was looking at the city below.


    ¡°So,¡± she said, ¡°People still haven''t forgotten about what you did, then.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Joseph said, ¡°And I''m not expecting to.¡±


    ¡°Did you even think about what the reaction would be?¡± Mekke asked.


    ¡°I mean, I knew it''d be bad,¡± Joseph replied, but then he gave out a weary sigh, ¡°Just didn''t realize it was that big of a deal, you know? I thought Tek would easily be able to find someone else.¡±


    ¡°But he didn''t.¡±


    ¡°No, I guess not.¡±


    ¡°You went back on your word.¡±


    ¡°People do that all the time, here,¡± Joseph said.


    He realized he had said the wrong thing, as he noticed that Mekke immediately turned to look at him. To glare at him.


    ¡°Is that what you think, then?¡± she said.


    ¡°Not you, at least,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Then who?¡±


    Joseph was careful. But he was also¡­


    Something was stirring within him, a face to conjure, to vent his frustrations.


    ¡°Wakeling, for one,¡± he said.


    ¡°Why, because she won''t let you go to the sarcophagi?¡±


    Now it was Joseph who was glaring. The air began to smell of ozone.


    ¡°She told you that, then?¡± he said.


    ¡°I''m part of guild leadership, remember,¡± Mekke said, ¡°Sometimes we have conversations. Sometimes we tell each other about the day.¡±


    ¡°Glad she felt comfortable enough to just drop that into a conversation,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°It was nothing like that,¡± Mekke said, ¡°She told me about your talk with her to let me know how you were feeling. She cares about you, Joseph.¡±


    ¡°Feels like I never even see her,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Besides, it''s not... It''s not just that.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡±


    ¡°...Back on Chliofrond,¡± Joseph said, ¡°We were all told that our mission was one of exploration. That we were surveying a dead plane. That was it. But then we found out later that the whole point of the job was to find the Shard of Imagination. You should have seen Nash, then.¡±


    ¡°There''s a reason Nash doesn''t visit very often,¡± Mekke said.


    ¡°I''m starting to see why,¡± Joseph replied, ¡°They were... They were mad because Wakeling kept things out of the job description. Said it was on a ''need to know basis.'' I don''t know about you, but I''ve done my research on Shards of Imagination. On what we were told to find. We''re looking for something like that, and you don''t tell us?¡±


    Mekke was quiet.


    ¡°I just, I don''t know,¡± Joseph said, ¡°It just seems like I''m getting strung up and forced to do all of this crazy shit, and I''m told I''ll get the help I need to get home, but... I don''t. I''ve only ever found one thing that gets me home, and I''m barred from it. And then she doesn''t say anything, and then she expects me to fight for her, to kill, and-¡±


    ¡°Joseph, you don''t need to go on those jobs,¡± Mekke said, ¡°Just talk to her. Or Becenti.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, well,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Remember what we talked about, before I went to InterGuild?¡±


    He gave a dark, angry smirk. Cobalt light washed over him as his soul''s head overtook his own.


    ¡°''Find what I''m good at.''¡±


    Mekke glared at him.


    ¡°You know that''s not what I meant, Joseph.¡±


    He kept the eagle''s head on like a helmet. But she could see his frown deepen.


    ¡°Maybe you¡¯re right,¡± he said, ¡°But¡­ I need those damn coffins, Mekke. They¡¯re all I have. They¡¯re all I¡¯ve got.¡±


    There was a desperate edge to his voice. But Mekke was unimpressed.


    ¡°Enough to turn your back on Tek?¡±


    He rolled his eagle¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°Trust me,¡± he said, ¡°I¡¯ve bled enough for that. I didn¡¯t even get what I was looking for. That make you feel any better?¡±


    ¡°Does it matter?¡±


    ¡°The way people lord it over me, it fucking does.¡±


    He felt Mekke''s hand fall on his shoulder, and squeeze tight. Painfully so. He looked up to see her glaring down at him.


    ¡°Because it doesn¡¯t make me feel better,¡± she said, ¡°Don¡¯t you go thinking that just because you¡¯ve got your own issues means you get to step on everyone around you. We¡¯ve all got places to be.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, but-¡±


    ¡°Joseph,¡± Mekke said, ¡°You want to know why everyone¡¯s mad at you, why they can¡¯t seem to ¡®let it go¡¯? Because we care about what our guildmates do. We want you to succeed. Trust me on that. What we don¡¯t want, is for you to stab us in the back while you do it.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything like that to Tek,¡± Joseph said.


    Mekke snorted.


    ¡°You might as well have,¡± she said, ¡°He needed you. Right at the climax of what he was working for. You couldn''t have left at a worse time.¡±


    There was an uncomfortable silence that came at Mekke''s words. She let go of him, stepping back, crossing her arms once more.


    Waiting for Joseph''s reaction.


    He sighed. Turned back to look down at the city.


    ¡°Right,¡± he said, ¡°Well, I did fuck up, didn''t I?¡±


    ¡°You did,¡± Mekke said.


    ¡°Meleko says that things will calm down,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Maybe,¡± Mekke said, ¡°But your rep took a hit, Joe. Remember that. People you hurt, they don''t forget about what you did to them, even after they forgive you.¡±


    She gave Joseph a light punch on the shoulder.


    ¡°Remember that.¡±


    She was about to walk back inside when they heard yells from below. Both of them looked down below, and through his enhanced vision Joseph saw two figures making their way to Castle Belenus. Both of them were wearing ragged cloaks, one of them was carrying what seemed to be a large vase of some kind. The taller of the two called out.


    His voice was familiar...


    Becenti.


    At once Joseph was vaulting down the side of the guildhall, electrical arms sparking to life, gorilla-like and grabbing onto the vines that covered the outer walls of Castle Belenus. He made his way down, landing with a grunt in the garden. He ran to the entrance just as Becenti made it to the door.


    The old man was accompanied by G-Wiz, and both of them looked exhausted. Purple rings underscored their eyes, which were darting this way and that, as though they were expecting an attack at any moment.


    Joseph looked out into the night, to be sure. But there was nothing out there save for the city.


    ¡°G-Good to see you, Joseph,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Get us inside. Get Lazuli and Tek. Mallory, too. Go.¡±


    There was a hard knuckle to his order, as though life and death were hanging in the balance. Joseph threw open the door and ran inside. He was in a rush, looking around. He found Mallory and Lazuli relatively quickly, the two of them working on an engine of some sort in one of the side rooms. Mallory looked up at him for a moment, giving him a curt nod (which was more than she had given him the past few weeks.) Lazuli, on the other hand, flipped him off.


    ¡°Fuck off, Joe.¡±


    ¡°Guys,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Becenti''s back.¡±


    ¡°Suck my-¡±


    ¡°Fuck off, he needs you both,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Don''t shoot the messenger.¡±


    Lazuli rolled his eyes, but he and the steamer got up. Slowly. Sauntering their way towards the door.


    Then G-Wiz began to yell, and they broke into dead runs. Joseph followed closely behind.


    ¡°Tek,¡± he said, ¡°Tek.¡±


    The mound was in the Welt. Probably already there, too. Shit.


    He ran to the library. Barbara was sorting through a pile of books.


    ¡°Barbara!¡± he said, ¡°I need Tek.¡±


    ¡°Oh, now you need him?¡± Barbara said, ¡°After all this time-¡±


    ¡°Becenti needs him!¡± Joseph said, ¡°He''s at the Welt, and it''s an emergency, and-¡±


    The toucan was already taking off, winging into the air and flying through an open window. He saw her disappear into the night.


    With that done, Joseph ran down the stairs out of the library, towards the Great Hall. Becenti and G-Wiz had drawn a crowd by this point, the Electron having laid the vase on the ground. A speaker was attached to the vase, and crackling through it was a voice.


    ¡°Easy does it, now,¡± the voice said.


    ¡°Oh geez,¡± Lazuli gasped, ¡°Vicenorn?¡±


    ¡°Hello, Lazuli,¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°Help me, will you? This vase isn''t going to be able to hold me much longer.¡±


    ¡°How long do we have?¡± Becenti asked.


    ¡°Until basic functions begin to shut down?¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°Six hours. Please hurry, I''m beginning to see stars, and I have no eyes.¡±


    With a twist, Becenti opened up the vase''s top. Spilling out in a pool of solid slime was a smaller, clear vase, inside of which was a brain and a pair of lungs, connected to a brass rod. Becenti picked it up and looked around.


    ¡°We need Tek for this,¡± he said, and his eyes found Joseph, ¡°Mr. Zheng?¡±


    ¡°He''s at the Welt,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Barbara''s getting him.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Mallory. Lazuli. We''re going to his lab. Start getting materials together. Get Heyma, too, we might need some assistance from her.¡±


    He stood up and started to walk. Some of the crowd followed him. Others lingered. Lazuli and Mallory walked just behind the old metahuman as he made for the stairs, heading towards Tek''s lab.


    ¡°Why Heyma?¡± Lazuli asked.


    ¡°She''s a soul in a suit of armor,¡± Becenti said, ¡°A similar situation to Vicenorn.¡±


    ¡°And what''s Vicenorn?¡± Lazuli asked.


    Becenti turned around. By this point, others in the guild were following them. He surveyed their faces.


    ¡°All of you, clear off,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Get to surveying the city. Make sure we weren''t followed, and by God make sure that Tek knows this is urgent. Oris is dying.¡±


    He glared at all of them. The Amber Foundation waited.


    ¡°Go!¡± he barked, and they scattered. Joseph found Dama Runebreaker drawing up beside him.


    ¡°Not everyday you see something like that,¡± she said.


    ¡°Mm,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Wasn''t talking to you, Joseph,¡± Dama Runebreaker said, ¡°Nova''s above you.¡±


    Joseph looked up. The neon elemental was, indeed, hanging over him like a cloud. They and Dama Runebreaker quickened their pace to get in front of him as they continued talking. Joseph slowed down a bit, letting them move off. He stood at the bottom of the stairs for a few moments, watching the rest of the guild scatter into pairs of twos and threes.


    ¡°Hey Noodle.¡±


    He turned.


    G-Wiz was there. She was still in her dingy cloak, and she was clutching her keytar in hand, holding it close to her like a teddy bear.


    ¡°''Sup, G-Wiz,¡± Joseph said, ¡°All good?¡±


    ¡°...Nah,¡± she said, ¡°Just...¡±


    She took a deep breath. But was silent. Joseph leaned against the wall.


    ¡°G,¡± he said, ¡°What happened out there? Where the hell were you?¡±


    The Electron opened her mouth, then closed it. As though unsure of what to say. Her eyes darted over as she noticed something floating down by the glass blade in the Great Hall''s center. Wakeling. The witch''s head was making her way to the floor that Becenti and the others were on. She glanced to G-Wiz and Joseph. Gave G-Wiz a warning look, before moving down the hall with the others. Joseph''s eyes narrowed at that.


    ¡°One of those jobs, then,¡± he said.


    ¡°Could say that,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°Thought you went with Ichabod on that. I heard Rorshin and Contort were going on something, too.¡±


    ¡°Can''t confirm nor deny.¡±


    ¡°But they were, weren''t they?¡± Joseph said, ¡°And now they''re not here. They... They aren''t, you know...¡±


    ¡°What? Dead?¡± G-Wiz spat, ¡°No, Noods. I don''t think they are. They''re just... on a bit of a walkabout.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Look, dude,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°I can''t tell you anything about it. Now get out of the way, I need to get to the infirmary.¡±


    She pushed him out of the way, heading towards Elenry, who was already opening up the door to the medical wing and rushing towards her. Joseph watched them for a few moments.


    Then, curiosity washing over him, he walked over to the door, surreptitiously putting an ear against it. The sound was muffled through the heavy wooden door, but he could make out Elenry cooing and tutting over G-Wiz, with all the usual air of a disappointed mother. Joseph rolled his eyes at that.


    ¡°How did this even happen?¡± Elenry said, ¡°What sort of job did Myron have you going on this time?¡±


    ¡°Can''t say,¡± G-Wiz''s voice was difficult to hear, Joseph pressed his ear further against the door. He was aware that, at any moment, someone would be able to see him. But he didn''t care.


    ¡°Can''t say, or won''t?¡± Elenry asked.


    ¡°Can''t,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Mum''s the word, Wakeling''s orders.¡±


    There was a bout of silence at that. Joseph could hear, dimly, the clink of potions, of Elenry padding over to her desk.


    ¡°Bullshite, that''s what I say to that,¡± the gloivel said, ¡°The more Wakeling puts us on jobs like that, the less say we have on anything we do.¡±


    ¡°It was... a personal matter, to be honest,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°As if that makes a difference,¡± Elenry said, ¡°The more secrets one hides, the more the secrets become them, and they have to study every word they say, and make more secrets, more lies, for the sake of it. And witches, they''re often the worst of the lot.¡±


    A finger tapped on Joseph''s shoulder. With a start, he turned. Rosemary was there, eyebrow raised. Joseph shooed her away, but she didn''t budge.


    Finally, he stood up. Brought a finger to his lips, and continued to listen.


    ¡°Easier place for it,¡± Rosemary whispered.


    Joseph blinked. Then followed her as she started running up the stairs. She went up a level, then turned to the hallway, removing a couple of bricks from a wall, revealing a small tunnel. She beamed at Joseph and gestured for him to follow her in.


    ¡°You do this a lot?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Best to know the place you live, you know?¡± Rosemary replied, ¡°Be careful. Bit of a squeeze.¡±


    Indeed, it was. The makeshift tunnel soon became a crawling affair, as the two of them snailed their way through the opening on their hands and feet. Joseph''s heart hammered as he went in. He never was quite good with tight spaces like this. Rosemary, too, when she glanced back at him, wore a forced smile.


    ¡°Here we go,¡± she whispered, and she removed a few more bricks on the floor, before crawling over them. With a flexibility that almost matched Contort''s, she turned in the tunnel so she and Joseph were face to face, ¡°Go on, look down.¡±


    Joseph did so, peering down through the hole she made. It was a subtle opening, but they were right over Elenry''s office. The gloivel had finished making a cup of hot chocolate, passing it over to G-Wiz, who took it in hand, taking a few sips.


    ¡°Right, then,¡± Elenry said, ¡°Most of your wounds are superficial. Scrapes and whatnot.¡±


    ¡°Then why fret about the job?¡± G-Wiz asked.


    ¡°Because six of you went on it, and only three of you returned,¡± Elenry said, ¡°One of you in a jar. The last time something like that happened, it was Mordenaro.¡±


    G-Wiz flinched.


    ¡°And now you''re telling me that you can''t say where you went, what you did. That''s fine. Wakeling''s orders. Sure. But I''m a doctor, and a doctor supersedes a guildmaster, each and every time. You look like you''ve been through the wringer, and since we don''t have a therapist onboard, I suppose I''m the next best thing.¡±


    ¡°And what the hell is that supposed to mean?¡± G-Wiz asked.


    ¡°It means that, when the others return, they''re going to have some mental trauma that needs to be worked through,¡± Elenry said, ¡°And I''ll have to be the shoulder to cry on. I''ve done that with almost everyone here, you know. My door''s always open.¡±


    ¡°Thanks, but fuck that,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Let me deal with shit my own way.¡±


    ¡°Go ahead,¡± Elenry said, ¡°At least have someone to talk to, doesn''t need to be me. But I do need to know, at least an inkling of what happened, so I can help the others. I know that Contort, at least, will need to talk.¡±


    G-Wiz was quiet.


    ¡°Doesn''t have to be a lot,¡± Elenry said, ¡°Just what happened. What you had to do.¡±


    ¡°...Alright,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°We infiltrated a tower.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Elenry said.


    ¡°No, you don''t get it. It wasn''t...¡±


    She hesitated. Joseph could see her look around, to make sure no one was watching. But she never looked up.


    ¡°It wasn''t just a tower. It was... the Tower. The Tower of Eden.¡±


    He saw Elenry give out a light gasp, almost drop the potion she was holding onto. She caught it. Adjusted her glasses.


    ¡°Agrippa,¡± she said.


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    Rosemary''s eyes were widening, but Joseph didn''t hear anything else. His heartbeat, deep and electric and getting faster and faster, overtook all sound in his head.


    Stay away from Agrippa, Joseph. The words, Wakeling''s warnings, played out in his head. Rosemary looked at him. He remembered that she had told him that the Amber Foundation didn''t deal with him. Any job that came up involving him, they avoided.


    As though he were the plague.


    And yet-


    And yet here they were. Dealing with Agrippa.


    Who had the sarcophagi.


    Wakeling had lied. She had gone back on her words.


    Joseph began to see red.


    ¡°Joseph?¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Joseph, what''s up?¡±


    He was already crawling out, wanting to stand up, his back scraping against the tunnel''s low ceiling. Occasionally his head would bump against it, sprouting pain that just drove his anger further.


    He extricated himself. Took a deep breath. Two.


    Steady yourself, Joseph.


    The air reeked of ozone, of cooking bread. Sparks popped in the air like miniature fireworks.


    ¡°Joseph,¡± he could hear Rosemary, but she sounded far away, ¡°Joseph, what¡¯s up, what¡¯s-¡±


    He ignored her.


    He was off.


    Up the stairs.


    To Wakeling.

 89. A Storm Brewing

    They had to put Vicenorn into a large, bronze bubble, one that was modeled after a prototype design that the Braindoll had in his room for these darkest of occasions.


    It was quick work. Wakeling moved fast, her eyes glowing bright silver, pulling forth the metals from the storage rooms down below, her magic bending and hammering them into shape, hollowing out parts of the bubble to insert tubes, and plugs, and a strange, swirling engine. A carrier was quickly carved into the bubble''s center, in which to hold Vicenorn''s lungs, a hollow rod with which to insert the false spine that carried his life-giving liquids. The brain at the top, once he was sealed in.


    She listened to Tek''s ramblings as he ran calculations, both in his head and on his small laptop, typing quickly and muttering to her. Mallory and Lazuli were hard at work supplying other parts of the device, churning a magic elixir that aped the liquid that kept Vicenorn alive. It was much like blood in its color, though it stank of burning plastic. They poured it into the bubble at Tek''s beckoning.


    ¡°Right,¡± Tek said, ¡°The devices.¡±


    Lazuli pulled out electronics from a bag that he had retrieved on the way up to the lab. Instruments of his own make, a chip-sized voice box and a monitor, much like his own, from which Vicenorn would be able to see. He clicked them into place, connected them to cords that snaked out of the simulacrum.


    The earliest forms of the Braindolls of Izos were much like this. A large, almost cauldron-like cage, in which the brain, the lungs, and the false stem were housed. They had walked on spidery legs, and manipulated objects with needle-like, mechanical hands.


    They had only begun taking on false human forms when the Romano Accords had passed, outlawing their existence completely. Braindolls like Vicenorn had been systematically hunted down, their innards exposed to open air, left to slowly die.


    Thus did Vicenorn sit, once more as a bronze vat, his falsehoods torn away, revealing the illegality of his existence.


    He was quiet as they finished their work. It was now late into the night, and much of the guild had gone to bed. Coffee floated gently in the corners of the room, to be picked up if need be. But none of them had ceased their work, their buildings and re-buildings, to rest. All of them looked exhausted. With the work done, Mallory leaned against Tek, and fell asleep.


    Becenti, who had been helping Tek with the calculations and the finer work, looked at the Braindoll. He cleared his throat.


    ¡°...Oris?¡± he asked, and he wondered when his throat had become so raw.


    There was no answer.


    Not at first.


    Then, clear and crisp for the first time in what felt like an eternity, Vicenorn spoke.


    ¡°I''m here,¡± he said. He still held the same cadence as before. His voice was still deep and broad.


    Becenti relaxed.


    ¡°Good,¡± he said.


    ¡°...Where''s Ichabod?¡± Vicenorn asked, ¡°I don''t see him here.¡±


    ¡°He''s...¡± Becenti sighed, ¡°Still out. Taking the long way to get home.¡±


    ¡°Oh, God,¡± Vicenorn said, and his voice filled with worry, ¡°Is he safe? Is he alright?¡±


    ¡°Rorshin and Arne are with him,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Don''t worry about them, Oris. Worry about yourself.¡±


    ¡°I can''t do that,¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°Why should I think about myself? About any of this?¡±


    The entire jar shuddered.


    ¡°I look like a monster again, Myron. I don''t deserve to worry over myself.¡±


    ¡°You''re alive,¡± Tek said, ¡°You have that.¡±


    ¡°Am I?¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°I can barely... I can barely move in here. I can''t breathe. I can''t do anything! Where is Ichabod? I want to see him. Please, God, let me see him-¡±


    ¡°That''s enough, Oris,¡± Wakeling said.


    Her voice, sharp and commanding, shut the Braindoll up.


    ¡°We''ll get you legs,¡± she said, ¡°And we''ll get to work rebuilding you. It will take time, Oris.¡±


    ¡°Time,¡± Vicenorn spat, ¡°Time, of course. I waited years before getting a body, you know. I''ll... I''ll have to wait again, I suppose.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Becenti murmured.


    ¡°The others,¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°They didn''t see me like this, did they? You won''t tell anyone else in the guild?¡±


    The monitor moved, looking around, as Vicenorn realized just how many of his guildmates were in the room with him.


    ¡°My secret, it stays in this room, correct? Right?¡±


    No one replied, for they all remembered the crowd they had drawn rushing in. By now many of their fellows had probably put two and two together. They knew what Vicenorn was, now.


    ¡°It will remain a secret,¡± Wakeling said, and she turned to the others, ¡°What happened here, it doesn''t leave this room.¡±


    ¡°Wakeling,¡± Lazuli said, ¡°That''s impossible. He''s got to move at some point. Folks are going to know.¡±


    ¡°And are you going to tell them?¡± Wakeling said, her voice warning. Lazuli cowered.


    ¡°He''s right, Vyde,¡± Becenti''s voice was low, ¡°We can''t keep him cooped up in here forever. And getting a new body, one that was as complicated as his old one? That will take... time.¡±


    ¡°I can still do my duties,¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°Let me be in here. Let me just... Just let me stay here. I can do my calculations. Send out the proper reports. Just let me say in here, Vyde. Don''t let them see what I am.¡±


    ¡°...Alright, Mr. Vicenorn,¡± Wakeling said, her voice distant, ¡°You can stay here.¡±


    There was, despite the fact that he was nothing more than a brain and lungs, a sob from Vicenorn.


    ¡°Th-thank you,¡± he said, ¡°Thank you, God, thank you...¡±


    ¡°It''s late,¡± Becenti said, ¡°All of you, get some rest. Laz, I want you to watch over Vicenorn for the night. Let me know if anything comes up.¡±


    ¡°Got it,¡± Lazuli said. For the first time in a while, he looked dead serious.


    ¡°What about you?¡± Tek said, ¡°You going to rest?¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I think not.¡±


    ¡°Neither am I,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°We''ve got a lot to talk about, Myron. In my office, please.¡±


    The metahuman nodded. Turned to the others. Tek was scooping Mallory up in his bear-like arms. Lazuli was pulling up a chair and sitting by Vicenorn''s metallic bulk. He gave a thumbs up to Becenti.


    ¡°Right, then,¡± Becenti said, ¡°To your office.¡±


    ***


    A severe silence had settled over the guildhall as Becenti and Wakeling went up the stairs to her office. The events that had transpired earlier in the night had set whispers ablaze, whispers that were only now starting to cease as the guild turned to bed. The rumors, the theories, the arguments, they would come with morning''s dawn, when the Inner Sun burned to life once more.


    Becenti would be hard at work dispelling them.


    ¡°A cover story,¡± he murmured, ¡°That''s what we''ll need.¡±


    ¡°Don''t say anything,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°We only talk when we''re in the office.¡±


    Becenti frown deepened, but he nevertheless nodded. The walk up to the top of Castle Belenus was quiet, tense, and not a bit awkward.


    It felt like eyes watched through closed doors. Guildmembers opened their eyes, either stirred from sleep or from half-wakefulness by the sound of Becenti''s footsteps echoing dully up the stairs.


    They made it up to Wakeling''s office.


    The door, usually closed, was half ajar. Wakeling''s eyebrow quirked at that. The two of them exchanged looks, before Becenti walked forward and opened the door up.


    The office was quiet, the blue runes along the spines of Wakeling''s books shining moon-like in the darkness. There were no stars above on the ceiling, however. No, something had obscured them, cast them away, blanketed them in a whirling stormcell, dark clouds hanging and swirling, lightning coursing through their make.


    The reason for that was sitting at Wakeling''s desk, having pulled the chair around so that he could sit facing the door.


    ¡°Mr. Zheng,¡± Becenti said.


    Joseph sat there, his hands clasped together on the table, as though he had been expecting them. The air reeked of ozone.


    ¡°Mr. Zheng,¡± Becenti repeated, ¡°It''s getting late, perhaps you should-¡±


    ¡°I''m...¡± Joseph''s voice was trembling, ¡°I''m not leaving. I heard about what happened. With Vicenorn. I heard you...¡±


    He took a deep breath, getting his emotions under control.


    ¡°I heard you were working on making sure he was okay. Is he... okay?¡±


    ¡°He is,¡± Wakeling said.


    ¡°Good. I didn''t want to disturb you,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°He''s... as fine as can be, Joseph,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Everything''s alright.¡±


    ¡°Bullshit.¡±


    At his words, lightning cracked overhead.


    ¡°You and me, we have to talk,¡± Joseph said, looking to Wakeling.


    Wakeling chose her words carefully. She feigned ignorance.


    ¡°About what, Joseph?¡± she said.


    His eyes widened. His fingers clenched together even tighter.


    ¡°I know where you sent them,¡± he said.


    Wakeling, for a moment, looked like a deer in headlights. Then, she composed herself, turning to Becenti.


    ¡°Go to bed, Myron,¡± she said, ¡°We''ll talk in the morning.¡±


    Becenti looked over. Wanted to reach out to Joseph. But his words were for Wakeling, not for him. Right now, he was only getting in the way of the young man''s anger.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said, ¡°Good night, Joseph.¡±


    Joseph merely nodded.


    Becenti walked down the steps. He heard the door to Wakeling''s office close as he went halfway down.


    ***


    The pillow on the desk drifted upwards, meeting with Wakeling halfway in the air as she settled down across from Joseph. No laying on the desk luxuriously. This floating head simply sat mid-air. Joseph stared hard at her as she took a deep breath, steeling herself for their conversation.


    When she looked at him, she looked at him directly.


    ¡°Alright, Mr. Zheng,¡± she said, ¡°How much do you know?¡±


    ¡°That Ichabod took a team to face Agrippa,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Even though he''s off-limits, right? Everyone I talk to, they say Agrippa''s dangerous. That he''s- he''s, a monster. That we don''t go near him.¡±


    The thunder roiled.


    ¡°That''s... correct,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°We do not, traditionally, take jobs that involve Agrippa.¡±


    ¡°Then why did Ichabod go?¡± Joseph said, ¡°Don''t tell me bullshit, I can smell it on you when you do. Why did you send Ichabod? Becenti, too, I guess? G-Wiz?¡±


    ¡°Rorshin, Vicenorn, and Contort as well,¡± Wakeling said. She took a shaky breath, ¡°Mr. Zheng, what we are talking about, it does not leave this room.¡±


    ¡°I don''t care about what leaves this room or doesn''t,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Quit it with that doubletalk. Tell it to me straight.¡±


    ¡°I am, Mr. Zheng,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°But dealing with Agrippa holds risks to it. He''s not a man who you deal with lightly. He''s got eyes everywhere, ears in the right places. He''s among the most powerful men in the multiverse.¡±


    ¡°You''re saying that you''re afraid he''ll do something.¡±


    ¡°...Half of the team still isn''t accounted for,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°They''re out there, Mr. Zheng. Something went awry. I''m afraid of retaliation.¡±


    ¡°Retaliation,¡± Joseph''s voice was flat.


    ¡°It''s... a distinct possibility,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°I haven''t gotten the full details from Becenti yet. But whatever happened on Neos, it wasn''t good.¡±


    ¡°No shit,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Indeed, Mr. Zheng.¡±


    ¡°So why hide it from us, then?¡± Joseph said, ¡°Why keep it a secret? Then we''d all be in agreement, right? You want us to know if a man like that is out there, and you might have pissed him off?¡±


    ¡°It''s not so simple, Mr. Zheng,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°It would incite a riot among the guildmembers.¡±


    ¡°It probably fucking would,¡± Joseph said, ¡°But they deserve to know, don''t they? That you made a call like that.¡±


    ¡°In time,¡± Wakeling said.


    ¡°What if he bombs us tomorrow?¡± Joseph said, ¡°What if he sends someone out here tomorrow?¡±


    ¡°That wouldn''t happen,¡± Wakeling said.


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°One, because I am here,¡± the guildmaster said, and her voice became barbed, ¡°You think that I would just sit by, and let my home be destroyed, Joseph? You''re wrong. I would rather die, Joseph. Agrippa destroys this guild over my dead body.¡±


    Joseph subtly shook his head, his teeth gritting.


    But he could not refute her point.


    ¡°The second reason,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Is because any response that Agrippa would have would be delayed, by time, by legality, by preparations. He knows that Castle Belenus is no easy prize, if it comes down to an outright assault.¡±


    ¡°He could have sent someone ahead,¡± Joseph said, ¡°If he''s such a big deal. You should have seen the way Becenti was looking over his shoulder. The fear in his eyes. It''s like he and G-Wiz were chased all the way here.¡±


    ¡°I know that, Mr. Zheng,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°I... I know.¡±


    ¡°So you''re going to tell everyone, right?¡± Joseph leaned forward, finger rapping against the table with each word he said, ¡°You''re. Going. To.¡±


    Wakeling was quiet. Joseph rolled his eyes.


    ¡°Sure, take your time,¡± he said, ¡°Take your fucking time. I don''t give a shit. Talk to Becenti about it. Cry about it. Sob and wheeze and all of that. Sure. Wait a week. Wait two! But tell them, at the end of the day.¡±


    ¡°...What''s this really about, Mr. Zheng?¡± Wakeling prodded.


    Joseph began seeing red. For a moment. She was avoiding the question. Avoiding his concern. Like it didn''t matter. He took a deep breath, forcing his harsher emotions down. The way she looked at him, it was like how his father looked at him. Like his mother. The sighs. The eyes rolling. The exhausted concern.


    What''s this really about, Joseph? He could imagine his father waving the rest of the family away so the two of them could have their private little talks. His father ignoring Joseph''s protests. Complaints. Brushing them aside.


    What is this really about, Joseph?


    That''s what he would say, in an irritated, tired way, as though everything Joseph said stemmed from one, singular point of anger.


    Perhaps it was.


    But Joseph didn''t care. He could hear that same dismissive tone in Wakeling''s voice. The same deflections.


    And, goddammit, he was falling for her ruse.


    ¡°...You went to Agrippa,¡± Joseph said, ¡°You told me that I shouldn''t go near him. That no one could. And yet you went anyway.¡±


    ¡°It was my call,¡± Wakeling said.


    ¡°Why?¡± Joseph said, ¡°What was so important that you threw all caution to the wind like that?¡±


    ¡°...Personal reasons,¡± Wakeling said.


    ¡°Whose?¡±


    ¡°Ichabod''s.¡±


    Joseph took a deep breath. In. Out. Wakeling fixed him with a pointed look.


    ¡°I did it,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Because it''s something that Ichabod had been wanting for a long time. It''s... Agrippa made him what he is, Joseph. And he owes me for sending him there. Big time, for letting him use guild resources. For potentially compromising us.¡±


    ¡°So that''s it, then,¡± Joseph said, ¡°You did it because you felt bad.¡±


    There was a mocking tone to his voice. Wakeling''s nostrils flared.


    ¡°None of that nonsense,¡± she said.


    ¡°Bullshit,¡± Joseph said, ¡°You said-¡±


    Wakeling opened her mouth, but he tapped the desk, rapped angry knuckles on its surface.


    ¡°You said, that no one could go near Agrippa. We even had an entire talk about it, about something that he probably doesn''t even notice, or care about. And then you let Ichabod go.¡±


    ¡°Ichabod is a lot more experienced than you, Joseph,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°He could handle it.¡±


    ¡°And I couldn''t?¡± Joseph said, and there was an edge of desperation to his words, ¡°Look at me. Look at this!¡±


    His soul flared. The eagle shuddered upwards, out of his back, in all of its glory, painting the entire room a deep, cobalt glow. Wakeling looked up at it, gauging its size. The eagle had grown stronger than when Joseph had first awakened. Its muscles were larger, its claws sharper, almost glinting despite their plasmatic make.


    But more, it was scarred. Heavily so. Up and down its back. It''s chest. Its arms were covered in cuts and scrapes that had scabbed white, glowing brighter than the eagle itself.


    Joseph''s soul, made physical.


    ¡°I''ve been fighting since I got here,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Since I made a deal with you. Every job I''ve gone on for the guild that went off-plane, I''ve almost died. I faced Mordenaro. I survived Chliofrond. I fought other metahumans in bumfuck nowhere. I''ve been fighting, for you. For your stupid fucking guild.¡±


    ¡°Joseph-¡±


    ¡°And what do I get?¡± Joseph said, ¡°What the hell do I get? I can''t sleep at night, you know, not without those pills that Becenti has. I close my eyes, and-¡±


    He leaned down, and he suddenly looked haggard. As though he were spilling out for the first time.


    ¡°And I see everything. You get that? Everything.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Zheng-¡±


    ¡°What do I get, Wakeling?¡±


    The question hung in the air. Joseph''s soul began sinking back into his body as he sat back down. Wakeling herself was looking away from him.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


    ¡°That was our original deal, right?¡± he said, ¡°I work for you, you help me get back home.¡±


    ¡°It was,¡± Wakeling said.


    ¡°So, why the hell aren''t you helping me, then?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°I have been,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°I gave you our library. I gave you room and board.¡±


    ¡°I''ve read as much as I can,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I''ve practically asked everyone here. Not even Becenti knows anything about Earth. The one time I got a lead, anywhere at all, was from someone outside the guild.¡±


    ¡°So you''re concerned that we''re not helping you enough, then,¡± Wakeling said.


    ¡°Never mind ''enough help,''¡± Joseph said, ¡°You''re all take and no give. Playing favorites. Telling some of us that we can''t go some places, yet trusting others to.¡±


    ¡°That''s an immature way of viewing things,¡± Wakeling said.


    ¡°Immature?¡±


    Wakeling swore under her breath. The wrong word to say. Joseph looked about to explode again.


    ¡°Context, Mr. Zheng,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°I... I trusted Ichabod-¡±


    ¡°And you don''t trust me?¡±


    ¡°And there were conditions,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°If Becenti didn''t trust that the mission could be pulled off, he would pull out. If he even sniffed out that we could be compromised, he would pull out.¡±


    ¡°...So do you think he did?¡± Joseph asked, ¡°When he got here, he sure looked pretty fucking compromised.¡±


    ¡°A conversation for him, later,¡± Wakeling said.


    ¡°Sure. Whatever,¡± Joseph said.


    He crossed his arms.


    Wakeling sighed.


    ¡°I am sorry, Mr. Zheng,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°It was... Pig-headed of me.¡±


    ¡°...So, what?¡± Joseph said, ¡°That''s it?¡±


    ¡°What do you want from me, Mr. Zheng?¡±


    ¡°I want...¡± Joseph looked over. He hadn''t¡­


    Hadn''t thought about that.


    But he knew, deep down. Or, at least, grasped at what few straws were left.


    ¡°I want to go to Melmaen,¡± he said, ¡°To the Museum of Unnatural History. To Anut¨¦ and Inweth.¡±


    Wakeling truly looked apologetic.


    ¡°I am sorry, Joseph,¡± she said, ¡°But I can''t let you go. Especially not now.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean, not now?¡±


    ¡°Not with what happened on Neos,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Not with the heat we''re most likely catching from Agrippa.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Joseph sneered.


    ¡°...Perhaps, later,¡± Wakeling said.


    ¡°Sure, why not,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Later. When the heat''s died down, or Agrippa fucking sends a nuke at us, or something. I don''t know. Fucking whatever.¡±


    He was leaning back, sighing. He suddenly felt very tired, an exhaustion seeped into his bones and soul.


    ¡°Give it time,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Let things simmer for a bit. Then, if things are well, if he doesn''t suspect you...¡±


    Joseph paused.


    ¡°...Suspect me?¡± he asked.


    There was a moment, as he looked up at her, as the lightning roiled on the magical ceiling above, flashing so he could see her face more clearly. That she was looking away, her nostrils flaring again, for just a moment, as though she had said the wrong thing. A momentary, involuntary response. One that she smothered at once.


    ¡°That you''re a member of the guild,¡± she said, though there was a tightness to her voice.


    The same that she had when she had talked to him before, about Nai Nai, when she was forbidding him originally.


    She was lying to him.


    ¡°Suspect me for what?¡± he said.


    ¡°I told you, Mr. Zheng,¡± Wakeling said.


    ¡°No, you didn''t,¡± Joseph said, ¡°For what?¡±


    ¡°Nothing, Joseph,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°I already-¡±


    ¡°For what!¡±


    He was rising back to his feet. Standing tall.


    ¡°Cut it with the bullshit!¡± he said, ¡°For the love of God, for what?!¡±


    Wakeling grit her teeth.


    ¡°If he suspects you''re Zheng Chun''s grandson,¡± she forced out.


    ¡°That I''m...¡±


    He glared at her. Realizations washed over him like waves.


    ¡°How well did you know my Nai Nai?¡± he asked.


    Wakeling turned away.


    ¡°How well did you know her?¡± Joseph pressed, ¡°How much did you know about F¨¥ngb¨¤o?!¡±


    He watched as Wakeling visibly recoiled at the use of his grandmother''s metahuman name. All at once in her eyes there was recognition. Fear. Anxiety. Anticipation. Joseph''s hands curled into fists.


    ¡°You knew her a lot better than you told me,¡± Joseph said, ¡°You''ve been lying to me about her from the start.¡±


    ¡°I...¡±


    ¡°What did she do?¡± Joseph asked, ¡°I know she was an explorer. That she was a big deal. How did you know her? Were you close? How did she get to Earth and back so often? You told me it wasn¡¯t in forecast.¡±


    He was pointing a finger, jabbing it in her face.


    ¡°Forty years!¡± he screeched, ¡°Forty years, Wakeling! I saw her every Summer! Yet you tell me that she was a great explorer! She used the sarcophagi, I know it! And you won''t let me see them. Because of Agrippa. Why! Why?¡±


    But Wakeling was silent. She was looking away.


    There were...


    Tears.


    In her eyes.


    Joseph, glaring, dropped his hand.


    ¡°Fine,¡± he said, ¡°You won''t tell me. Sure. Fuck off, then.¡±


    He moved away. Made for the door. His hand turned the knob.


    ¡°Joseph,¡± Wakeling said.


    He turned.


    ¡°...Sleep well,¡± she said.


    Joseph let out a low ''tsk.'' He opened the door, and walked out.


    ***


    He started packing as soon as he got back into his room. He made for his closet, opening it up, pulling out the meager collection of shirts he had collected, the other two pairs of jeans that had been provided to him. He pulled out the duffel bag that had been given to him for the expedition to Chliofrond, and started throwing them in. A claw curled over his fist as he worked, lighting the room up for him to see.


    There was movement from under Phineas''s bed. The Deep One crawled out blearily, globe-like eyes glistening in the blue half-light. Joseph looked down at him for a moment.


    Then, he turned back and continued packing.


    ¡°You are leaving?¡± Phineas asked, ¡°A secret job?¡±


    ¡°No, Phin.¡±


    ¡°An impromptu camping trip?¡±


    Joseph stopped packing. Couldn''t bear to meet Phineas''s eyes. For a moment, he was quiet, and the Deep One let him keep his silence.


    ¡°I''m quitting, dude,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Oh?¡±


    ¡°I''m... I''m done with this,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I can''t take this sort of life anymore. Not with the lies. Not with everything getting in my way.¡±


    ¡°What will you do?¡±


    ¡°I''m going to Melmaen,¡± Joseph said, ¡°To the Museum of Unnatural History.¡±


    ¡°Ah,¡± Phineas said, ¡°Quite a journey.¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    ¡°Do you know where to go?¡±


    ¡°I...¡± Joseph looked down, ¡°No. I don''t. I''ll figure it out.¡±


    ¡°You have Hermes,¡± Phineas said.


    ¡°I do.¡±


    ¡°Patron to travelers.¡±


    ¡°Hope he''s feeling pretty damn generous,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± Phineas said, ¡°But traveling is not always kind. Not when you don''t know the road, or have the money.¡±


    ¡°I''ve got a bit saved up,¡± Joseph said, ¡°My shares from Luevo''s job. Chliofrond.¡±


    ¡°Ah, good,¡± Phineas said, ¡°But no map.¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    The Deep One nodded, and slithered out from under his bed. He fixed Joseph with a long stare, before turning away and leaving the room. Joseph waited for him for a few moments, before turning back to his packing.


    Another guildmember, letting him down.


    Typical.


    ***


    And then, almost twenty minutes later, just as Joseph finished up and was heading out the door, Phineas came back.


    Rosemary was with him. She was holding her sceptre in hand, and slung over her shoulder was a pack of her own.


    ¡°''Sup, Rosemary,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Heya, Joe,¡± she said, ¡°Phin told me what''s up.¡±


    ¡°Nice,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Get out of my way.¡±


    His eyes slid over to her pack. It was the same one she had been wearing when she had first met him, all those months ago, aboard the Fortune''s Favor. The one that had held the Dragon''s egg, which had led to his going meta. Phineas pushed past him, pulling out a duffel bag of his own from beneath his bed.


    ¡°We''re going with you, Joseph,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°Like hell you are-¡±


    ¡°No buts,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°We are.¡±


    ¡°How?¡± Joseph said, ¡°You know I''m quitting for real, right?¡±


    Rosemary tilted her head, fixing him with an odd look. Gauging his sincerity. He stood tall, glaring back at her.


    ¡°I''m going to Melmaen,¡± Joseph said, ¡°To the sarcophagus they have there. I''m going to find a way to go back through. Go back to Earth. Should''ve been the first thing I did as soon as I got some spending money.¡±


    ¡°Melmaen''s a long way from here,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°You''ll need maps.¡±


    ¡°I can buy those.¡±


    ¡°Can you read them?¡± Rosemary asked.


    ¡°I... I can ask around.¡±


    ¡°From who?¡±


    Joseph swore under his breath, rolling his eyes.


    ¡°Out of the way, Rosemary,¡± he said, ¡°Let me go my own way.¡±


    Phineas piped up.


    ¡°I can read them,¡± he rasped, ¡°They are easy, for my kind.¡±


    Joseph was quiet.


    ¡°Just... let us go with you, alright?¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Look, it''s obvious you had a big argument with Wakeling, and you want out. That''s fair. More than fair, if I''m honest with you.¡±


    ¡°Sure,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°But if this is your last trip, might as well make it one with friends, right?¡±


    There was a hopefulness to her voice. Joseph looked at her. She was smiling at him, though it seemed forced, almost sad.


    ¡°...Alright,¡± he said, ¡°I don''t really have a plan, anyways.¡±


    ¡°You want to leave now, yeah?¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°That was the deal,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I figured I''d make my way to Kelphaven, see where I can go from there.¡±


    ¡°Kelphaven''s not the best idea,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°If we want to get anywhere fast, we''ll want to take another Traveling Point.¡±


    She took a deep breath.


    ¡°I think I know who can help us with that.¡±


    ***


    The Lady Sunala was still awake. She had been getting very little sleep, what with the election season running at a fever pitch. A warm glow emanated from the top of the manor, from the noblewoman''s room. She was still working. Rosemary could imagine the fireflies inside glowing like miniature stars, lighting her bedroom up in imitation of sunrise.


    The manor stood tower-like in the distance. It reminded her of the lighthouse on the edge of the city, where she had squirreled away some of her affectations. But she wasn''t going to Sunala''s manor tonight. She had only gone there when called, per contract between House Sunala and the Amber Foundation.


    ¡°Rosemary?¡± Joseph said, ¡°Where are you taking us?¡±


    ¡°I''m...¡± Rosemary looked over to Joseph and Phineas. They were packed up, and ready to go. Joseph was swaddled in a dark blue cloak. Phineas had his tome in his bag as he peeked around Joseph to look at her.


    ¡°Everything is alright?¡± Phineas asked.


    ¡°Yes. Maybe. I don''t...¡± Rosemary sighed, ¡°I don''t know.¡±


    ¡°For a second, I thought you were taking us to Sunala,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°I thought about it, for a little while,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°But she''s gotten scary, Joe.¡±


    Joseph cocked his head, eyebrow raising.


    ¡°How?¡± he asked.


    ¡°At first, I thought about taking you to her manor. But there''s been... there have been a lot more elves there. From the Verdant Reclamation. From the White Feathers.¡±


    Joseph nodded.


    ¡°The ones who don''t like non-elves.¡±


    ¡°I think... I think you were right, Joseph,¡± Rosemary whispered, ¡°Sunala''s been getting angrier. There''s a fire in her eyes. She''s been reaching out to more and more of her contacts off-plane. A lot of the big Scuttler families are aligning with the Rithmounds.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°I''m worried, Joe,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°About what happens if they win.¡±


    Her confession hung in the night for a moment.


    ¡°Right,¡± Joseph said, ¡°So they''re not a good look. Where are you taking us, then?¡±


    ¡°I''m taking us to the Bronze-Hued Keep,¡± Rosemary said.


    Phineas let out a low hiss.


    ¡°Careful,¡± the Deep One said, ¡°That is playing politics. They will not take any of our money.¡±


    ¡°I know, Phin,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°But I have something more than money for them. Something that can get them an edge. Besides, we''re already playing politics. I think we''ve been playing politics ever since the gala.¡±


    ¡°What''s the Bronze-Hued Keep?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°It''s the home of House Rithmound,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Busciver''s main political rival.¡±


    She turned.


    ¡°Shall we be off?¡±


    ***


    Isaac Rithmound had been dealing with a bout of insomnia for most of the night.


    It came up every so often. Stress would get to him, or too much energized drinks from off-plane. Sometimes it was nothing at all. He hated it, hated not being able to sleep, as though some supernatural force had gotten in the way of his body''s natural processes. He felt like he had lost control of something on these nights. If the Lady Busciver were here, she would be able to get him to drift off. There was a softness to her voice, as she spoke to him, whispered in his ear, one hand clasping his, the other resting on his chest, feeling its rise and fall.


    He missed her, bitterly. He wondered if she was awake, too. Before this damned election, before these political games, before the gala, he could have sneaked her in. Most of his guards were aware of their affair.


    ¡­No. Affair was such an ugly word for what they had. It was love, truly. Like in the books he had read as a child. That his mother was so keen on reading.


    How could she not? Better to read about the life she had dreamed about. A better relationship was in her books than what she had with his father, whom Isaac respected but did not love.


    These thoughts, this forlorn heartsickness, rippled in his chest as he stood on one of the balconies of the Bronze-Hued Keep. His only companions were his two guards, who stood flanking either side of the door leading back inside. Always, he was to be on guard. The assassin that had been at the gala had been after someone.


    They just weren''t sure who.


    And they had foiled four more attempts since then.


    ¡°Trouble, Raulito?¡±


    The voice came from the door. Isaac turned, just a bit, to consider the voice''s owner. Alonso Moriguchi was on his nightly patrol, dressed up in a casual white dress shirt and black pants, his multi-colored mask freshly cleaned after a morning''s session of sparring with his guildmates. It occurred to Isaac that he had never seen Moriguchi without it.


    ¡°Nothing, Alonso,¡± Isaac said, ¡°Just thinking on things.¡±


    ¡°Insomnia''s quite the vile thing,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°My mam¨¢, she always said to drink a warm cup of milk before bed.¡±


    ¡°Hobgoblins don''t drink milk,¡± Isaac said.


    ¡°Maybe not here,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°But on other planes, I have seen it. Must be an allergy here.¡±


    Isaac snorted, smiling despite himself.


    ¡°Odd that there are other hobgoblins out there,¡± he said, ¡°All of our records here, all of our histories, they state that hobgoblins evolved on Moadma Landmass from reptiles that learned to walk and had too much time on their hands.¡±


    ¡°Ah, there are always theories,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°There are plenty of humans about, no? Plenty of talks of evolution with them. Of migrations. No one''s figured it out. I would not be surprised if anyone ever will.¡±


    He let out a low chuckle, walking over to Isaac, leaning on the scaffolding.


    ¡°You''re thinking of your lady, aren''t you?¡±


    Isaac let out a heavy sigh. And nodded.


    The Exodus Walker rested a hand on his shoulder.


    ¡°These elections, they are not forever. Things will pass. They always do.¡±


    ¡°Maybe,¡± Isaac said, ¡°But I''m of marriageable age, Alonso. My heart was not made for love.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°Or perhaps that''s just what you keep telling yourself.¡±


    Isaac fixed him with a reprimanding glare. But Moriguchi ignored that.


    ¡°There will be time enough to think on that,¡± he said, ¡°But for now, I would start calling for someone. I see three people walking up to the entrance now.¡±


    Isaac turned. He could barely make them out. He gestured to one of the guards, who approached, pulling out a spyglass and handing it to him. Enchanted with nightvision, he could make out the three figures more clearly. Isaac grimaced.


    ¡°Well, well,¡± he said, ¡°Let''s get downstairs. Get a few more guards. It''s the Amber Foundation.¡±


    ***


    ¡°Surprised you''re still around, Moriguchi,¡± Rosemary said.


    The Exodus Walker stood with Isaac Rithmound at the gates. Four soldiers were flanking them, two to either side. All of them looked ready for a fight. It could come as no surprise ¨C they knew who the Amber Foundation had traditionally worked for in this election.


    ¡°Hola, Rosemary, Joseph,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°Who is the last...?¡±


    ¡°I am Phineas.¡±


    ¡°Ah. One of your magicians. Pleased to make your acquaintance,¡± Moriguchi said.


    ¡°Enough with the guild talk,¡± Isaac Rithmound said. He jabbed a finger at them, ¡°State your business, or leave our grounds.¡±


    ¡°We came to talk to Lord Rithmound,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°You speak with him.¡±


    ¡°The other Lord Rithmound,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Or, at least, someone with the authority to allow three passengers aboard an airship.¡±


    Isaac Rithmound grimaced.


    ¡°This late at night...?¡±


    ¡°In exchange,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°We have... information. On the Lady Sunala''s dealings in the multiverse.¡±


    Phineas let out a low hiss at the sound of that. What Rosemary was proposing...


    It threatened the Amber Foundation''s reputation. One didn''t just go out and reveal client information like this. Not for politics.


    But...


    The Lady Sunala made him uncomfortable, so he said nothing.


    Isaac Rithmound took a second to digest the information. His jaw was set.


    ¡°Truly?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Rosemary replied.


    ¡°Very well,¡± Isaac Rithmound said, his tone careful, ¡°You will follow me.¡±


    And he turned, opening the gates to the Bronze-Hued Keep. As its name implied, the entire dome-shaped building looked like it had been painted with a bronze shell, gleaming in the fire of Scuttleway''s nightlife. A wall separated the building proper from the outside world, and as they went in Joseph could see various scaffoldings and balconies peppering the dome''s surface. The courtyard itself was bare. No shrubberies, no gardens, no decorations. Just a bare platform of stone. Servants opened the door to let the entire entourage inside, and Isaac Rithmound guided them down dark halls, barely lit by blue ghost-like torches. Guards were on patrol. Magical paper birds flapped about the place, runes blazing on their chests and wings.


    The shadows seemed to dance. Ket seemed to be aware of them, and watching.


    Isaac Rithmound led them to his father''s office. He knocked twice.


    ¡°Enter,¡± a voice said on the other side.


    Isaac opened the door, beckoned them inside.


    Lord Bryce Rithmound, too, had not slept this night.


    His was not based on insomnia, however, but like Sunala there was a desperate zeal to his work. Coffee cups, freshly ordered from the local Friendbucks in the market district (he liked their pumpkin spice this time of year) littered his office, overflowed from his trash can. The patriarch of House Rithmound nonetheless looked exhausted as Joseph, Rosemary, and Phineas walked into the room. Paperwork covered his desk, and at the sight of the Amber Foundation he returned his quill to its holder, clasping thin, orange fingers together as he gave them his full attention.


    ¡°Amber Foundation,¡± he said, ¡°If you''re coming on behalf of Wakeling, I''m afraid you will find us sour clients. We''ve already hired security.¡±


    He gave a nod to Moriguchi.


    ¡°Actually, sir,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°We''re here on our own.¡±


    Lord Rithmound''s eyes narrowed.


    ¡°Oh?¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°We have some information on Sunala''s dealing in the multiverse. Something you might be able to use for your own sake.¡±


    ¡°...I see,¡± Lord Rithmound said. He took a moment to think, ¡°And... how do I know that this isn''t some sort of Busciver trick?¡±


    ¡°The information we have can be seen as baseline rumor,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°But the implications are enough that...¡±


    She took a deep breath, steeling herself.


    ¡°That the High Federation would take a look at Sunala''s dealings. At the very least, it would delay her ventures off-plane. You know that she''s been relying on her extraplanar contacts for this, don''t you?¡±


    ¡°I do,¡± Rithmound said, ¡°And what do you want in return?¡±


    ¡°A ship,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°A... ship.¡±


    ¡°We''re on a mission to get off-plane,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°And we can''t use the Amber Foundation''s resources.¡±


    ¡°You''re deserting,¡± Rithmound spat.


    Rosemary paled. Rithmound was a military man. He wouldn''t like the fact that Joseph was leaving. For a moment, she thought of lying ¨C avoiding the question, dodging to one side. But Rithmound was a shrewd man. He reminded her of her father, where even if he had the truth he would still disapprove.


    Better to tell the truth, all things told.


    ¡°No, we''re not,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Phineas and I, we''re escorting Joseph home. He''s leaving the guild, and we thought we''d accompany him to the Traveling Point to his home plane.¡±


    ¡°And you can''t use guild resources?¡± Rithmound asked, ¡°You''re not going through the proper channels with your guildmaster? In the dead of night?¡±


    ¡°He''s not...¡± Rosemary glanced at Joseph. The metahuman gave her a nod.


    Go ahead.


    ¡°He''s not telling the guildmaster,¡± she said, ¡°If you want to let her know where we went, go ahead.¡±


    ¡°I will,¡± Rithmound said, ¡°If someone from your guild comes knocking.¡±


    He took a moment to look at his drink, giving it a sip. He tossed the empty cup over his shoulder, just barely missing the trash can. He snapped a finger, and a servant drew into the room.


    ¡°Get me another. Give the manager my regards.¡±


    The servant nodded, and went out the door.


    It was to give him time to think, Rosemary knew. Rithmound scratched at his chin.


    ¡°I wouldn''t be able to give you a free ship to go where you please,¡± he said, ¡°I''ve haven''t got any to spare. But I do have a number of ships leaving port in the morning. You can pick from them, and be on your way.¡±


    ¡°We''ll take it,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Get me a contract.¡±


    Rithmound smirked.


    ¡°This isn''t your first time doing something like this, is it?¡± he said.


    ¡°I learned a long time ago to have a paper trail,¡± Rosemary said, shrugging, ¡°Nothing crazy. Just something concrete. At the very least, you can tear it up if the deal''s off. Pretty dramatic.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Rithmound said, ¡°Very well.¡±


    He pulled out a blank page from his desk, and started writing. He was quick, inking out the agreement in but a moment. He handed the page over to Rosemary, who read it over. She nodded in satisfaction.


    ¡°I''ll be the one to sign,¡± she said, ¡°It''s me with the info, after all.¡±


    ¡°Very well,¡± Rithmound said.


    She signed. As did he.


    When he was done, he leaned in.


    ¡°Now then, your information.¡±


    ¡°It''s about a plane we traveled to. A dead one,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°And what we found there.¡±


    ¡°And what did you find?¡±


    Rosemary''s eyes glistened in the candlelight.


    ¡°A Shard of Imagination.¡±


    ***


    Sunala was working on her own when she received a knock at her door.


    She glanced up from her work. It was dark outside, and only the servants and overnight guard were awake at this time. Her entire bedroom, where she had set up her office for comfort''s sake, had a melancholic air to it. The only light came from the will-o-the-wisps floating in the air, shining duskily in the mid-morning night.


    Something had happened. Something that was important, for it wasn''t delivered to her in the usual messenger birds or magical requests from the Doge.


    ¡°Enter,¡± Sunala said.


    Adonal Adaya stepped into her room. He looked cross as he stepped forward. In his hand was a spell. A trapped air elemental, endomed within crystal so it would not disperse. He had a dark look on his face as he stepped to Sunala''s desk.


    ¡°Greetings, Lord Adaya,¡± Sunala said.


    Without a word, Adonal Adaya released the air elemental from its cage. It floated over Sunala''s desk for a moment, before it lost its form, swirling into a mirror depicting an event from earlier in the night.


    One of their security elementals, she knew. This one had been positioned just outside the Bronze-Hued Keep''s front gate.


    It depicted three figures walking to the gate. Rithmound''s son, Isaac Rithmound, greeting them. He guided them inside.


    They were the Amber Foundation.


    Leading the trio had been...


    ¡°Rosemary,¡± Sunala said.


    ¡°Your ward turns coat,¡± Adonal Adaya hissed.


    ¡°She... She wouldn''t,¡± Sunala said.


    ¡°She would,¡± Adonal Adaya said, ¡°I saw her during InterGuild. During my speech. She was afraid, Sunala. She is not one of us.¡±


    Sunala was careful as she cleared her throat.


    ¡°Not... one of us?¡±


    ¡°I have done my research, Sunala,¡± Adonal Adaya said, ¡°She looks like an elf, but she is not. She is one from one of our cousin races. She had been lying to you.¡±


    Sunala nodded, feigning restrained shock.


    ¡°I... see.¡±


    ¡°And now, she goes to the enemy,¡± Adonal Adaya said, ¡°I do hope you did not reveal our secrets to her.¡±


    ¡°I swear, I did not,¡± Sunala said, ¡°She was barred from all of our most important meetings. You know that. She''s only been my assistant in certain matters.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Adonal Adaya said, and Sunala''s heart sank.


    He did not believe her.


    But he also knew she was too important to throw away.


    ¡°Do not forget,¡± Adonal Adaya said, ¡°How important Scuttleway is to our future prospects in this region. It sits on an important trade route here in Londoa. Its mines harbor more than jewels and gold. If we are to maintain a foothold in this region, we must have Scuttleway under our control.¡±


    ¡°I am aware,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Once this election is over, and we re-seal our hold on the Doge''s mind, we can better align his interests to ours.¡±


    ¡°The gnome?¡± Adaya spat, ¡°He thinks every shadow his enemy. He is a coward, as all his kind are. Be careful, Sunala, for he will betray you to save his own hide.¡±


    Sunala could do little but nod.


    ¡°Hope your Rosemary, your precious falsehood, knows little,¡± Adonal Adaya said, ¡°If we lose this plane due to your greed, due to your love of the lesser races, it will be on your head. I will make sure of it.¡±


    He swept out the door.


    Sunala exhaled, realizing she had been holding her breath.


    Her hands shook as she returned to her work.

 90. The Dutiful Son

    The Recluse was a ship that House Rithmound had bought from Escovia, the World of Sacrifice. It gave Rosemary a hollow sense of nostalgia, for the entire ship was the carved-out shell of a massive arthropod, a pillbug of some sort, a dark, sunset blue creature who had been painstakingly vivisected clean of the non-important bits like the guts, heart, and all of the gooey pieces. The only thing really left of it was the exo-skeleton and the brain, in which a rod had been jammed in to control the Recluse''s movements. The pillbug''s top had been shaved flat as an open-air observation platform, upon which one could see the skies of the world the Recluse traveled through.


    Her bottom, close to her engine, was covered in runes. Similar to the Dreamer''s Lament, but the power source was a bit more... grisly.


    She didn''t want to think on that.


    The Recluse''s captain, a gnarled, scarred-over old ogre, considered her, Joseph, and Phineas for a few moments.


    ¡°Lushak,¡± their guide was saying, ¡°Three for the skies. They''re to be passengers, guests for the journey to Cuadron Bay.¡±


    Lushak glared down at them. He was easily twice everyone''s height, maybe three times in Phineas''s case, and he was missing an eye, though he had forgone the eyepatch entirely to just show it all up there (which, gross.) He was wearing a captain''s overcoat, a cutlass at his side, though it would easily be a two-hander in any of their hands.


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Lushak said, ¡°Outlanders, all. Very well. They look like they''ve had their stones cast at ''em. Welcome aboard. I''ll be taking your names.¡±


    ¡°I''m Rosemary, this is Joseph and Phineas,¡± Rosemary said.


    Lushak gave a curt nod.


    ¡°Get aboard. Don''t get in the way of my people. Come with me.¡±


    It was scarcely five in the morning. The Inner Sun still hadn''t begun its casting up yet, though the Recluse''s crew were already hard at work getting the ship ready, loading cargo into the ship''s top floors. Lushak brought them first onto the ship''s observation deck, then down into the pillbug''s depths. Walls of dark ebony wood had been erected within, mostly to cordon off parts of the ship into cargo holds, sleeping areas, the captain''s quarters, and the like. He brought them to guest''s quarters, a simple room with two beds inside.


    ¡°Only two,¡± he gruffed.


    ¡°That is alright,¡± Phineas rasped, ¡°I sleep under my bed, anyways.¡±


    Lushak fixed him with an odd look for a moment, processing this, then nodded.


    ¡°Right. No complaints then. We cast off in an hour.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Captain,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Truly.¡±


    Lushak let out a harumph, and returned back to work. The door had scarcely closed when he began bellowing out orders in his burned trumpet of a voice.


    Joseph sat down on one of the beds. It was comfortable enough.


    He was out like a lamp almost immediately. Rosemary couldn''t blame him. He hadn''t gotten any sleep at all last night, what with him waiting for Wakeling, his angry packing, their sudden negotiations with Lord Rithmound. She was feeling pretty tired, herself.


    ¡°I''m going to sleep, Phin,¡± she said, untying her cloak. She felt a momentary thrill as she felt cool air on her back, felt her scars suddenly whine, but she ignored it, ¡°Are you?¡±


    ¡°I slept well enough last night,¡± the Deep One said, ¡°I will keep watch.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Rosemary said. She climbed into the other bed, holding her sceptre close to her. Her father would have sneered at her for that.


    But then, he sneered at everything.


    ¡°''Night, Phin.¡±


    ¡°It is morning.¡±


    ¡°You know what I mean.¡±


    ¡°Oh! Good night to you as well, Rosemary.¡±


    ***


    Their journey, then, began with sleep. The Recluse cast off right on schedule, almost to the minute. Captain Lushak gave one last look out at Scuttleway as the ship carried upwards into the sky. It traveled over mountains, across Landmasses, past the storming skies that were the result of the eln meias'' wars, and planeshifted at a point in the sky just over the city of Amoideia.


    Joseph was the only one who really noticed, waking up despite himself. He could feel the world between worlds suffuse over him as the Recluse shuddered in its journey. He could imagine those rainbow energies out there, past the dark hold and the macabre bug''s shell. He remembered seeing the Dragon for the first time from what felt like a hundred years ago, on the lake, their gaze upon him as they awakened his soul.


    When he closed his eyes, he saw the Dragon''s three staring back at him.


    DID YOU AWAKEN? they seemed to ask.


    ¡°I did,¡± Joseph whispered aloud. Rosemary was already asleep, holding her sceptre like a teddy bear. Phineas was under her bed, one of his magazines opened up, and he was lost in his own little world.


    DID YOU FACE STAGNATION?


    He wondered what that meant. He shook his head.


    The Dragon rumbled a low growl, as low as the rumbling of continents. Their singular middle eye closed up, back into its scar-like slit.


    Your power is your own, they seemed to say, Do with it as you will. Turn your back, if you must, on the coming days. Awash the self in dreamless sleep.


    There was disappointment, there.


    Well, add it to the pile.


    And the Dragon, either in his head or somewhere out there, said nothing else. They disappeared from his mind, golden scales melding with the rainbow sea of Imagination.


    ¡°Say hi to the kid for me,¡± Joseph said, ¡°If they hatched, I dunno.¡±


    And the ship continued on.


    It lurched into its new world, and everything was silent once more.


    Joseph fell back to sleep.


    He had no dreams.


    ***


    It was well into the afternoon when they realized the three had gone.


    Joseph, Wakeling had expected. Rosemary and Phineas, when they failed to make an appearance at breakfast, then lunch, were a different story.


    There were a few mixed whispers among the guildhall. Somehow, even though their argument had been so late at night, rumors of the guildmaster and Joseph''s confrontation had made the rounds through the guild. Wakeling could not help but notice the stares as she drifted down for lunch.


    Of course, she usually had lunch in her office. But her talk with Becenti, one that had eaten up the entire morning, had set her on edge. Dark things had been done on Neos. Agrippa''s eyes had slid over to consider them, she just knew it.


    Joseph was right.


    She shouldn''t have sent Ichabod there. Not at all.


    As she looked around the room, she had a distinct feeling that she had just signed her guild''s death warrant.


    She, nonetheless, floated over where her body would be sitting at a table. She ate her lunch quietly, sandwich floating in midair as she kept to herself.


    But it wasn''t long before she was disturbed. Before someone sat down.


    It was Mallory and Broon. The Steamer sat down without a word across from Wakeling. The half-orc remained standing, feeling a tad awkward being so informal with the guildmaster.


    ¡°Hey, Wakeling,¡± Mallory said, ¡°Have you seen Rosemary?¡±


    ¡°I haven''t,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Not since... last night, I believe.¡±


    ¡°She never went to bed,¡± Mallory said, ¡°At least, I don''t think she did.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Perhaps you should look around the city. She probably got a bit too drunk, sleeping it off at the lighthouse.¡±


    ¡°Maybe,¡± Mallory said.


    ¡°Doesn''t sound like her,¡± Broon said, ¡°She only goes drinking when the rest of us do, and the only one who went to the Welt last night was me and Tek.¡±


    ¡°Look for her, then,¡± Wakeling snapped, ¡°Don''t disturb me with it. I''ve got a lot to think about right now.¡±


    Mallory looked a bit taken aback by that. Broon, however, put a hand on her shoulder, guiding her to her feet. They walked off.


    Internally, Wakeling winced. She wasn''t in the mood for this. She shouldn''t have come downstairs. Shouldn''t have done anything at all except sulk in her office with a glass of wine.


    She was a rotten guildmaster, and she knew it.


    She floated up. Her eyes flashed, and she was gone from the dining hall.


    ***


    Broon and Mallory didn''t talk about Wakeling''s sudden anger. They instead looked at one another as soon as they walked into the Great Hall.


    ¡°She won''t be at the lighthouse,¡± Mallory said, ¡°She only goes up there once a week or so.¡±


    ¡°She didn''t go drinking, either,¡± Broon said, ¡°I don''t think she left the guildhall at all last night.¡±


    ¡°Let''s ask Lazuli, maybe. Or Whiskey.¡±


    ¡°Whiskey,¡± Broon said, ¡°I don''t really relish talking to Lazuli. You know how he is.¡±


    Mallory winced, but nodded.


    ¡°It''s alright,¡± Broon said, ¡°I''ll talk to Whiskey. You look through her usual nooks and crannies, you know most of her hiding spots.¡±


    ¡°Not all of them,¡± Mallory said.


    ¡°But most of them,¡± Broon said, ¡°If Rosemary wants to be found, she''ll be found.¡±


    ***


    Whiskey spent most of his time at the guild going up and down the stairs. He didn''t do much else, unless called by Wakeling to be her personal carrier. Rumors abounded that he''d been around since before the guild, before Castle Belenus was planted, and had stood at Titania Amber''s side in her endless searchings across the multiverse. There was little evidence of this ¨C his silence was infamous ¨C save for, on occasion, he would turn to look, at length, at the Glass Slipper, the great glass blade in the Great Hall. It had been Titania Amber''s weapon. Her stalwart companion.


    Much like the old marionette.


    So the rumor went. Broon and Mallory found him when he was having one of those moments, near the top floors just before one veered into the hallways of the northern tower. He was simply looking over the railing. Apricot-hued sunlight poured down on the blade, which glistened and glowed in the midday glow. Despite the cloudy days of Autumn, the Glass Slipper always made the Great Hall feel like summer.


    ¡°Ho, Whiskey,¡± Broon said.


    The puppet''s head let out a click as he turned to consider them.


    ¡°Got a sec?¡±


    The puppet nodded. Each of his movements was accompanied by a ratcheting sound. He clicked his head in a tilt as he waited for their question.


    ¡°Rosemary,¡± Mallory said, ¡°Did you see her at all last night?¡±


    The puppet nodded. He brought a finger up, and pointed. Mallory walked over and looked over his shoulder to see what he was showing them.


    It pointed a few floors down, on the other side of the Great Hall. To Joseph and Phineas''s room.


    ¡°Ah, shit,¡± Mallory said, ¡°Broon, I think we''ve got a problem.¡±


    ***


    They first knocked on Joseph and Phineas''s door.


    Then, looking at one another awkwardly, Broon tried the door. It was unlocked, and he turned the handle. The door whined open to show their room, which was relatively sparse, all things considered. Phineas kept most of his junk under the bed with him, and Joseph kept his section prim and bare, putting all of his clothes into the closet, his books stacked up at the desk. Metahuman histories, Broon presumed, though at the top of the pile was a book titled ''I Survived: A Story of Being Stranded in the Multiverse.''


    Made sense.


    They looked around for a few moments, before Mallory noted something.


    ¡°Hey,¡± she said, ¡°There''s a paper airplane at the window.¡±


    Broon looked over. Sure enough, there was a paper airplane. The creased-up construct was just outside, powered by Phineas''s magic, though it had obviously never considered that a glass pane would get in its way. It went forward, pressed its tip against the window''s surface, then drifted back, like a poor man''s battering ram.


    The half-orc opened the door open, easing the paper airplane into his hand. He unfolded it, reading it for a few moments, his brow furrowing. He gave it to Mallory.


    ¡°Shit,¡± she said, ¡°We really have a problem.¡±


    ***


    ¡°''To Whom It May Concern,''¡± Wakeling read, ¡°Yes, that''s Phineas, alright, ''To Whom It May Concern: I, myself, Joseph, and Rosemary, and myself, have left the guildhall for the time being. Joseph is angry and has decided to go to Melmaen, and Rosemary thought it prudent to accompany him so he does not perish on the way. We are waiting at the Bronze-Hued Keep as I write this, waiting for an airship to leave. It is cold outside. They gave us coffee. That was kind of them. Please do not worry about us. We are fine. Everything is fine.''¡±


    She let out a deep, exhausted sigh, the kind that only comes from the deepest pits of the soul.


    ¡°Joseph, I expected,¡± Wakeling said.


    ¡°That bad of an argument?¡± Broon asked.


    He saw her wince, and wondered if he had said the wrong thing.


    ¡°I''m pushing him away,¡± she whispered, ¡°I''m... I should apologize, I think, before he gets hurt.¡±


    She looked up at Broon and Mallory.


    ¡°Alright,¡± she said, ¡°They went to House Rithmound. That''s... hmm, not good, considering the job''s we went on for Sunala.¡±


    ¡°Ma''am,¡± Broon said, ¡°Maybe it''s best if we let them go.¡±


    The guildmaster''s eyes slid over to Broon. Considered him. Waited for him to continue.


    ¡°Look,¡± he said, picking his words carefully, ¡°Joseph''s new to the multiverse, but he can take his licks if he needs to. Rosemary and Phineas are self-sufficient. They can look after him as they get to Melmaen. Maybe whatever Joseph''s looking for is there. Maybe he gets home.¡±


    ¡°...No, Broon,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°I can''t have that at the moment.¡±A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    ¡°What?¡± Mallory said, ¡°Can''t have Joe going home?¡±


    ¡°Not like that,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°But where he''s going, it''s...¡±


    She looked away, debating if she should say anything or not.


    ¡°Wakeling,¡± Mallory said, ¡°What''s at Melmaen?¡±


    ¡°The... Museum of Unnatural History,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°That''s where he''s going.¡±


    ¡°Alright, what''s the big deal?¡± Broon said, ¡°It''s just a museum.¡±


    ¡°He must not get there,¡± Wakeling said.


    Broon and Mallory looked at one another.


    ¡°I need you to go get him,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Retrieve him, by any means necessary.¡±


    ¡°...Alright,¡± Broon said, ¡°I''ll start getting ready.¡±


    ¡°Take Ezel, too,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Get them back, Broon. That''s an order.¡±


    ***


    Mallory turned to Broon as soon as they left the office. The half-orc was grimacing, and his hand was clenching and unclenching.


    ¡°Why Ezel?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Because,¡± Broon said, ¡°Wakeling wants it to be a three-for-three.¡±


    ¡°For what?¡±


    But Broon didn''t answer her. He started going down the stairs, going two steps at a time. He was down the hall, taking a few lefts, for his room. Mallory followed him.


    ¡°Broon?¡± she asked.


    He opened up the door, revealing his quarters, a bed with a poster of some Orcish baseball player on Damiseri, signed and autographed. Kilnriv, Broon''s sword, was sitting on the bed, pieces of his armor scattered across the room. He started to pick them up, and pull them on.


    ¡°...Broon?¡± Mallory said.


    ¡°Go get Ezel,¡± the half-orc said, ¡°Let her know that it was an order.¡±


    ¡°An... order?¡±


    ¡°The last time that Wakeling gave me an order to retrieve another guildmember, it was Tycho. Do you remember him?


    Tycho. A lizardfolk. With the fetishes on his snake-like neck. One hand replaced by a wooden prosthetic.


    ¡°I do.¡±


    ¡°Had to pick him up after he stole one of Urash''s experiments,¡± Broon said, ¡°He wanted to bring it to his home plane, start a technological revolution there. Something that the High Federation would have glassed Londoa for. Broon sent me and Tiger after him. We brought him back. With force.¡±


    Mallory''s blood became like ice.


    ¡°You mean...¡±


    ¡°That''s right,¡± Broon said, ¡°We''re to get Rosemary, Joseph, and Phineas, even if we bring them back kicking and screaming.¡±


    ***


    ¡°Joseph,¡± the principal said, ¡°Do you know why we''re in this room today?¡±


    He was ten. In the principal''s office. The principal was an older, wiry man, with wiry gray hair and wire-like fingers that he clasped together as he peered down to look at Joseph. Joseph''s father sat in the other chair, stiff as a board, looking directly at the principal. He was in a three-piece suit, the same one he always wore to work. Or when they went out on a trip. Or any time, really. He always wore a suit. He had recently sheared off the whispery, silver aftershave that he had worn as long as Joseph could remember. That had happened after a visit to his doctor.


    Joseph was looking away, staring at the wall. He was ignoring them, they knew.


    ¡°Joseph,¡± his father said, ¡°Answer him.¡±


    ¡°Uhm,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I don''t know.¡±


    ¡°I think you do, Joseph,¡± the principal said, ¡°You''ve been caught fighting again.¡±


    ¡°Fighting?¡±


    His father''s voice was barbed. Incredulous. It made Joseph''s heart leap to his throat. There was a pitch to his anger, he knew. A sudden high whine that escaped, disbelieving, at the end of each of his sentences. The old man''s head had snapped to leer down at him.


    ¡°Joseph, look at me.¡±


    Joseph looked up.


    ¡°Have you been fighting?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Joseph lied.


    His father turned to the principal.


    ¡°Has he?¡± he said.


    ¡°Yes, Mr. Zheng,¡± the principal said, and Joseph realized he was holding a stack of papers in hand, his records, ¡°Joseph was caught fighting one of his schoolmates again, an older boy a grade above him.¡±


    Mr. Zheng seemed at a loss for words. He looked at Joseph again.


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Was a jerk,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Kept calling me names.¡±


    His father¡¯s nostrils flared.


    ¡°Joseph,¡± he said, ¡°I am very disappointed in you.¡±


    There was an exhausted, hollow nature to his voice. As though he had rehearsed saying that in the mirror, over and over.


    He had said it to Joseph before. Some days, it felt like that was all he said.


    ¡°Mr. Zheng,¡± the principal interrupted, ¡°This is not the first time the school''s talked about Joseph to you before. Remember your conversation a month ago with his Math teacher, Mrs. Hembrandt? She said that Joseph was constantly disruptive. That his grades are among the lowest in his class.¡±


    ¡°He didn''t tell me this,¡± father said.


    ¡°You''ve seen his report cards, haven''t you?¡± the principal asked, ¡°I''ve spoken to his other teachers. Joseph is failing most of his classes this year.¡±


    The principal leaned in.


    ¡°Is his... home life, alright?¡±


    ¡°His home life is fine,¡± his father said, a touch insulted, ¡°My son just needs to learn to apply himself. We''ve talked to him about it before.¡±


    The principal nodded, though he didn''t seem to believe Mr. Zheng.


    ¡°Bullying here at Katherine Elementary is not tolerated, Mr. Zheng,¡± the principal said, ¡°Joseph''s facing suspension. We wanted to bring you in here to let you know why.¡±


    ¡°Joseph, go outside,¡± his father said.


    ¡°I think it might be best if Joseph remains here,¡± the principal said.


    ¡°My son is my ward,¡± his father said, ¡°I''m responsible for him, and he doesn''t need to hear this. Joseph, wait outside.¡±


    The principal opened his mouth to say something, then sighed. Nodded.


    ¡°Alright, son,¡± he said, ¡°You can go.¡±


    ***


    He was to be suspended for one week. Down from two, after his father had negotiated with the school. The two of them left Katherine Elementary''s front office in silence, Joseph trying to keep pace with his father''s long strides as they went out into the parking lot and to the car.


    His father dug into him as soon as they had closed the doors.


    ¡°Fighting?!¡± his father roared, ¡°Fighting! Wait until your mother hears about this. Shameful.¡±


    He turned the car on.


    ¡°Joseph, what were you thinking?¡± he said.


    ¡°It was Cameron,¡± Joseph said, ¡°He was making fun of my lunch again. He''s always making fun of it, or how I look, or-¡±


    ¡°I don''t care, Joseph,¡± his father said, ¡°I don''t care if he was making fun of your lunch, or your hair, or your clothes. You do not start fights. Do you understand?¡±


    Joseph grit his teeth. He saw red for a moment, though that subsided.


    ¡°Joseph?¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±


    His father glanced over at him for a moment. By now they were on the main street. A couple lefts, and a right, and they would be home.


    ¡°What is this really about, Joseph?¡± his father said, ¡°Your mother and I, we''ve built a fine life for you. You come in each day with a homemade lunch in your bag. You go to a high end school so you can get the best education in the city. Yet all you do is bicker at everyone. You should be lucky, you know. Not everyone has a life like ours, not everyone...¡±


    Joseph ignored his father. It was the usual spiel. He could almost count the beats of each and every one of his sentences. Each stab, each barb, each disappointment. Joseph went on auto-pilot. He nodded when his father asked him a question, said ¡°Yes, sir¡± at the right moments. As had been drilled into him. As was his role as the dutiful son.


    Inwards, Joseph took the anger of the day, and set it down. Pushed it into his belly. Let it sit there.


    As he always did.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    It was the first time his father had spoken to him, truly spoken to him, in a week.


    ***


    He awoke with a headache. The ship lumbered beneath him as his eyes opened, blurry and hot. He wiped at them with a sleeve for a moment, grimacing as he pulled himself up. Parts of his body were aching. He had not slept well.


    He glanced over to the other bed. Rosemary wasn''t there. Neither was Phineas, as he glanced down to see if the Deep One was underneath. But no, Phineas was elsewhere on the ship.


    The hours before he had gone to sleep were a blur of anger and adrenaline. One of them was still there. But Joseph was tired, now, and he felt like a dull knife''s edge as he dragged himself to his feet, and went outside.


    A couple of crewmembers passed him by in the hall as he went down, searching for air. It was stuffy and uncomfortable belowdecks, and the windows that were here were few, small, and slit-like. He could barely make out the outside world as he strained to look. They were on another plane, the sky a pale, ugly yellow, the world below naught but a sea of sickly clouds. His stomach twisted at the looks of it.


    But nonetheless, he made his way around the ship, trying to find a ladder or staircase up to the top deck of the Recluse.


    He ran into Rosemary as he looked around. She, at least, seemed awake enough as she waved him over.


    ¡°Morning, Joe,¡± she said.


    ¡°Hey,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Sleep well?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡±


    She pulled at her cloak, wrapping and scrunching in her fingers.


    ¡°Where the hell are we?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Agro-Kandano,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°It''s just a flyover plane, for us. People live on floating islands here. There''s no ground.¡±


    ¡°Neat,¡± Joseph forced out, ¡°I need air.¡±


    ¡°Oh, um, follow me, then,¡± Rosemary said. She took his hand and pulled him, guiding him down the halls of the Recluse until they got to a staircase, going up a few floors until she pushed open the trapdoor that led to the surface.


    He poked his head out, and nearly gagged. The air smelled like rotten eggs. Crewmembers had wrapped bandanas around their faces to keep the scent out, even Captain Lugash, who was looking out over the cloud sea.


    ¡°Better wear this,¡± Rosemary said, and she handed Joseph a cloth.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± he said, and as he started to wrap it ''round he asked, ¡°You''re not coming up?¡±


    ¡°Naw,¡± she said, ¡°I''m exploring the ship a bit, getting a feel for the nooks and crannies. You never know.¡±


    ¡°Hm,¡± Joseph said, nodding, ¡°Alright, then.¡±


    ¡°See you at dinner!¡± she popped back down below decks.


    ¡°Right,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Wait, what time is it?¡±


    But she was already gone. Back down into the rotten depths, leaving Joseph with the rotten air.


    Great.


    He pulled himself up onto the top level, walking forward. The entirety of the Recluse shuddered and skittered beneath him, and the ground felt... off, to some extent. He looked around at a few crewmembers as they ran about on top. It was then that Joseph noted that none of them seemed to be doing anything save for moving from one end of the ship to the other. Four in total.


    All of them armed.


    ¡°We expecting trouble?¡± Joseph asked.


    Captain Lugash turned around.


    ¡°Ah. The metahuman.¡±


    ¡°So you know who I am,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°I know what you are,¡± the ogre said, ¡°But not who. I care little to do so.¡±


    ¡°Feeling''s mutual,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I''m asking again: we expecting trouble?¡±


    The Captain nodded.


    ¡°Raiders. Pirates. The like,¡± he growled, ¡°Agro-Kandano is a well-used thoroughfare for interplanar travel. The locals sometimes like to get their slice. Normally we pay the proper tariffs, but sometimes...¡±


    He glanced down.


    ¡°We pay the nation, but not its people. And sometimes the people get desperate. Not my business, anyhow. I''m just here to get the cargo out safely.¡±


    He glared back at Joseph.


    ¡°The cargo, metahuman. You want to get to where you need to go safe, you''d better carry your weight.¡±


    Again. Again, he was to be a weapon.


    At least he was going where he needed to.


    ¡°Trust me, guy,¡± Joseph growled, ¡°You don''t need to tell me twice. Just point me at what you want, and I''ll fry it for you. Leave me alone until then.¡±


    Lushak just gave a curt nod. Then he turned back around to watch the skies. Joseph considered flipping him off, then thought better of it.


    Instead, he went to the railing, and looked out over the edge, watching for danger.


    ***


    Rosemary did not like the Recluse. It was a giant bug, which was nostalgic to her. She was comfortable with it, as there were many giant arthropods back home that she had grown up beside. But the Recluse was different. It was... sadder, in a way.


    The first thing she realized, as she looked down, was that the ship was still alive.


    Even after being hollowed out of its internal organs, its brain was still intact. Still pulsing, the pillbug still moving about. The ship''s pilot had shown her this, and the way he spoke was almost prideful, which disgusted her. She ignored him as she continued going down.


    She wanted to see the power source for herself. She had heard of ships from Escovia. They were all the rage nowadays, being used by the merchant houses of a hundred planes due to being relatively low-tech in the Federation''s eyes. The Feds only cared about machinery. They didn''t care for ¨C or, perhaps, did not understand ¨C magical progress. The power of Escovian vessels all came from sacrifice, from the forced burden of the living. The runes were powered by blood.


    She snuck down to the belly of the beast. The pit of the Recluse. She found the door to the engine room easily enough, creaking it open a bit and taking a peek inside.


    Unlike most engine rooms, this one was small, a hollow, circular carving out roughly the size of a bedroom. The center of the room was dominated by a cauldon, a vat, with pipes running along its base that sank into the floor, connecting to the runes that lined the Recluse''s stomach outside.


    Shelves were carved into the walls. Upon which were jars of...


    Rosemary''s blood ran cold. She suppressed a gasp, and felt sick.


    Faeries. Dozens upon dozens of faeries.


    As she watched, she saw the ship''s Engine Mage pluck a jar from the shelf, and shake it to discombobulate the faerie inside. He unstoppered the jar, pouring the contents into his hand. The faerie looked around, dazed, in his palm. She was small, with white hair and flower petal wings.


    ¡°For my ancestors, for ours,¡± the Engine Mage prayed, ¡°Through the soul, power, through power, the soul.¡±


    He squeezed, crushed the faerie between two hands as though she were nothing but a common flower. Her liquid remains poured into the cauldron.


    The ship shuddered, and continued its flight.


    Pale, Rosemary turned away. Closed the door. Her heart was hammering.


    ¡°...Hello?¡± a voice rasped beside her.


    She jumped, eyes wide.


    But it was only Phineas.


    ¡°Oh, hey Phin,¡± she said.


    ¡°Greetings, Rosemary,¡± he said. He tilted his head, ¡°Is... everything alright?¡±


    ¡°Everything''s fine,¡± Rosemary lied, ¡°Trust me, Phin. I''m alright.¡±


    Phineas nodded. Good ol'' Phineas, as socially aware as a doorknob.


    ¡°I was just studying the magic of the ship,¡± the Deep One said, ¡°Did you know they sacrifice faeries here?¡±


    Damn Phineas, as socially aware as a doorknob.


    ¡°Neat, Phin,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°They use faeries, did you know?¡± Phineas said, ¡°Magically potent, the fae are.¡±


    ¡°I''m aware, Phin,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Go away.¡±


    ¡°I was going to talk to the Engine Mage, actually,¡± Phineas said, ¡°So no, I will not ''go away.''¡±


    ¡°Alright, then,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°See you.¡±


    ¡°Goodbye.¡±


    She stomped away, turning back. She saw Phineas open the door and let out a shy ¡°Hello.¡±


    The door closed behind him.


    Of course it was purely academic for him. Phineas worked with sacrificial magics all the time. His sort of spellcasting was probably darker still. She had seen that tome of his. The ink was blood, the pages flesh. If he thought of the mortal aspect of his work, he did not seem to show it.


    Then, Phineas was not mortal.


    Rosemary considered that for a few moments, before turning around, and heading away. Back upstairs. To the very top deck of the Recluse, as far away from its hellish stomach as she could get.


    ***


    Rosemary came up to the top, her eyes empty. She looked pale. Joseph raised an eyebrow as she walked over to him.


    ¡°Sure you don''t want a mask, or something?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Don''t care about the smell,¡± she said.


    ¡°It looks like you do,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Everything alright?¡±


    ¡°''M fine, Joe,¡± Rosemary said, and she leaned over the railing beside him. The two watched the clouds roil beneath them. She had seen something down there, Joseph knew. But she wasn''t keen on saying anything.


    So he let her be.


    An eternity passed before she spoke up again.


    ¡°Joseph, what''s your family like?¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    ¡°I mean, you want to get back to them so badly, right?¡± she said, ¡°So, what''re they like?¡±


    ¡°Oh, well,¡± Joseph sighed, ¡°There''s my dad. He''s a surgeon. There''s my mom, she''s... Well, I don''t know what exactly she does. She''s always out of the house, though. Got two brothers, and a sister.¡±


    ¡°You''re the youngest?¡± Rosemary asked.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph replied.


    ¡°That makes two of us,¡± Rosemary looked over to him, ¡°What''s your oldest brother do?¡±


    ¡°He''s an engineer,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I don''t see him much, he was fifteen when I was born.¡±


    ¡°And your other brother?¡±


    ¡°He''s a surgeon, too,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Lives down in LA, has his own practice. Kind of a big deal, there.¡±


    ¡°And your sister?¡±


    ¡°She''s married, lives out in North Carolina ¨C you know what that is, right?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°I don''t.¡±


    ¡°It''s on the other side of the country,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Imagine... If you moved from Scuttleway all the way out to, I dunno, Beritale Landmass.¡±


    Rosemary nodded at that.


    ¡°So, far away then.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph said, ¡°We didn''t really talk much. It was mostly me and...¡±


    He went quiet.


    ¡°Yeah, mostly me, actually,¡± he said, ¡°My parents were always working. My other siblings, they were already moved out by the time I was in school.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°So, you don''t know them that well.¡±


    ¡°Guess not,¡± Joseph said.


    She nodded at that, and he had the strange feeling that he''d let her down somehow. That made him angry.


    ¡°Hey,¡± he said, ¡°They''re my family, get it? I''m supposed to go back to them. Family first, and all that.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I get that,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°My father said that all the time.¡±


    ¡°What about you?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°I didn''t know my mother,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°I had... my father.¡±


    There was a strain to her voice.


    ¡°I have my aunt. I have two older sisters. I had an older brother, but... he passed away.¡±


    ¡°I''m sorry,¡± Joseph said, his indignation fading somewhat.


    ¡°I am, too,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Things were... easier, when he was alive. My father got a lot worse when Vervain died.¡±


    Joseph nodded at that. The look on Rosemary''s face was distant and sad.


    ¡°Joseph,¡± she said, ¡°It sounds like... is it alright if I say something?¡±


    ¡°Sure,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°You weren''t... you aren''t... you aren''t the only one who had a bad family.¡±


    ¡°Bad?¡± Joseph said, and he felt the defensive anger come back out of him.


    ¡°I had hoped that the guild could''ve been something for you, you know?¡± Rosemary said, ¡°That we could... I don''t know. I just don''t know.¡±


    She sighed.


    ¡°I guess I was wro-¡±


    She stopped speaking, her eyes catching something in the clouds.


    Joseph turned to look down, too, circuiting his soul. The eagle''s head overtook his own, and he looked below. His sharpened vision saw...


    There.


    Fins. Rising, just barely, out of the clouds.


    A rider emerged from the sea of yellow-white, wearing little save for armor on their shins and arms, a helmet on their head with a long, black feather that streamed in the wind, taken from some godbird or other. A spear was in one hand, a buckler in the other.


    ¡°Hey, Captain!¡± Joseph yelled, ¡°We got company!¡±


    Captain Lugash looked over at Joseph, followed his gaze to the sea. Let out a snarl.


    ¡°Alright, lads!¡± he roared, ¡°Couple of trailers! Take them out!¡±


    There was movement on the deck, as sailors pulled weapons free, notched arrows into crossbows. There was movement on the sea, as more fins pushed out of the cloud layer. For one brief, tense moment, there was silence. The world itself seemed to slow.


    Then all at once the cloud sea was alive with violence.

 91. Pariahs In Their Homeland

    ¡°So let me get this straight,¡± Broon said, ¡°The three of them left onboard one of your ships.¡±


    ¡°Correct,¡± Isaac Rithmound said, ¡°They left early this morning, at the stroke of dawn.¡±


    He and Broon were in the young nobleman''s office, a drab, bare place that seemed like it was set up strictly for business. Isaac seemed to have little need for physical affectations, the only true decoration being a painting of his mother looming behind him. Lady Rithmound had been a goddess, it had been said, a lady to whom all in Scuttleway looked up to for grace, cunning, and authority.


    There were no windows here. The dark blue candlelight was the only source of illumination here. It gave Isaac a dark edge to him, his pointed features lengthening the shadows on his face. He looked tired, both physically and emotionally.


    ¡°Right,¡± Broon said, ¡°Did they say where they were headed?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Isaac Rithmound said, ¡°Only that they needed a ship. They went on the Recluse, headed for Cuadron Bay. They''ll arrive there, if the weather permits, in about three days.¡±


    He leaned in.


    ¡°Is that all? I''m rather busy, sir.¡±


    The half-orc scratched his chin for a moment, thinking.


    ¡°No,¡± he said, ¡°There''s one last thing.¡±


    Isaac nodded, though he could not fully conceal the irritation that splashed on his face for a moment.


    ¡°How''d they pay?¡± Broon asked, ¡°I know that they had a nest egg built up, but this was all rather impromptu. To get an audience with Lord Rithmound, it must have been quite a cost indeed.¡±


    The hobgoblin bit the inside of his cheek, and his eyes became distant. He was, Broon realizing, weighing things in his mind. On how much to reveal. Broon''s heart sank at that.


    ¡°I can''t say for certain,¡± the young Rithmound said, ¡°Only that it was pertinent information that my father needed. I didn''t catch everything that was being talked about in there. Nor can I gauge what my father''s reaction about the information your guildmates provided. I''ve hardly seen him since that talk. He only stepped out, guided them to the Recluse, and went back to his work.¡±


    A non-answer.


    ¡°Right,¡± Broon said. He rose to his feet, ¡°Thank you, Lord Rithmound. I''ll be out of your scales.¡±


    The hobgoblin nodded. He joined Broon, walking over to the door and opening it up. Mallory and Ezel were outside, the latter holding Kilnriv, Broon''s sword. Isaac looked at the three of them in turn, before turning to the shadows.


    ¡°Ket,¡± he said, ¡°Please accompany our guests out of Keep.¡±


    From nowhere, the Inl¨¦an emerged. All-black, like a walking shadow with a rabbit''s head. Ket gave them a nod.


    ¡°Your health, Amber Foundation,¡± Isaac said, ¡°Please, excuse me.¡±


    And he closed the door.


    ¡°You will follow me,¡± Ket rasped. He made down the hallway. Broon, Mallory, and Ezel started after him.


    ¡°Well, it''s true,¡± Broon said, ¡°All of it.¡±


    Ezel waited until they were out of the building before she posed her question.


    ¡°Did you at least get what they gave the Rithmounds as payment?¡±


    ¡°Information,¡± Broon said, ¡°And Rithmound was being dodgy about it. Whatever they gave, they were snitching.¡±


    ¡°Shit,¡± Mallory said, ¡°That''s not good, is it?¡±


    ¡°There''s an expectation of anonymity when it comes to clientele,¡± Broon said, ¡°If they wanted something hidden, we''d keep it off of the report we make to the High Federation.¡±


    ¡°So what sort of information did they give the Rithmounds?¡± Mallory asked.


    ¡°Well, let''s think about it,¡± Ezel said, ¡°What information would be good to the Rithmounds that we have?¡±


    ¡°Probably something on Busciver,¡± Mallory said, ¡°Or... Sunala. Rosemary was going to her manor almost every day, right before InterGuild.¡±


    ¡°And it would be need to be juicy enough to get them passage aboard one of Rithmound''s airships,¡± Ezel said, ¡°I don''t know about you, but the Great Houses are usually rather selfish when it comes to their off-plane acquisitions.¡±


    She let the last point hang. They all had a feeling. A hunch, on what the three of them...


    No.


    What Rosemary had given to the Rithmounds. Something had shifted between her and the Lady Sunala.


    ¡°We don''t have a moment to lose,¡± Broon said, ¡°We''ve got to secure an airship. Go after them. Cuadron Bay''s our next destination, people. Let''s see if we can''t beat them there.¡±


    ***


    Joseph pointed a hand as the first of the raiders leapt out of the cloud sea.


    Lightning flashed. Thunder boomed. The world was blinded by cobalt light.


    And then the raider was falling, blown back by the bolt. Joseph felt a dark sense of pride at that. A moment later, he realized he had just killed someone. The pride fell away at that, and the demonic smile on his face fell into a sour frown. Rosemary was wielding her sceptre, firing off beams of light at still more pirates as they made for the top deck of the Recluse. Sailors had drawn weapons, clashing against those who managed to land.


    There was a deep shudder that caused Joseph to stumble back. He regained his footing, looking down. Captain Lugash was grimacing, his blade drawn.


    ¡°They''re hitting below, lads!¡± he roared, ¡°All hands, battle stations!¡±


    He turned, noting that his order went unheeded as more raiders made it onboard, and clashed with his crew.


    Rolling his eyes, Lugash pulled out a conch shell, a spiraled orange and cream affair from back on Scuttleway, harvested from the lakes deep in the mines beneath the city. He blew into it, producing a low, mournful howl. Sailors both above and below took that as the sign for battle.


    Below, the crew of the Recluse prepared the aerial defenses, running for the great ballistae on the ship''s orlop. Usually, these had been used to hunt even larger creatures that trawled Escovia''s lower skies. They were loaded up, aimed downwards into the cloud layer.


    The raiders were riding fish that swam through the skies. They resembled pikes, though their dorsal fins were sharper than other species in the multiverse. A metal ring pierced through each fin, on which had been carved writings and runes.


    Many of the raiders wielded spears. A few had bows. One of them was weaving a spell in her hand, fire curling at her fingertips.


    The crew of the Recluse aimed at her first, tracking her movements through the clouds. It was difficult to see through the fog, though a single crewmember had a pair of goggles on, enchanted to cut through the mist. She was guiding the ballista''s aim.


    ¡°Steady,¡± she murmured, ¡°Steady...¡±


    There.


    She patted her comrade on the shoulder. He fired. The bolt flung off into the white.


    A moment later, they saw scales thrashing in the sky. An errant fireball go haywire downwards, sailing like a meteor to the world below.


    Its spellcaster joined a moment later.


    Yet more of them were rising from the deep. The ballista continued its thrumming.


    ***


    A raider jumped down beside Joseph, thrusting a spear towards him.


    He sidestepped out of the way, ready to deliver a strike of his own when he suddenly felt the hairs on the back of his neck raise.


    ¡°Hit the deck!¡± Lugash roared.


    Joseph did so, falling to his knees. As did his opponent, as a full flock of pikes rushed over the top deck of the ship. One of them had a sailor in its jaws as they flew overhead, so close Joseph could see the runes carved into the rings on their bottom fins.


    Yet more of the pirates dropped from their mounts and onto the deck.


    And his current opponent was rushing towards him as Joseph was rising to his feet, ramming a knee into his face. Joseph saw stars as he stumbled back. Panic gripped him as his soul erupted from his chest, claws catching the spear jab of the pirate, who let out a yelp.


    ¡°Meta!¡± the raider screamed, ¡°Meta!¡±


    And then the soul''s other claw closed over his head, picking him up, and throwing him overboard.


    By now, however, the other raiders were scrambling back from him, taking notice of his great eagle-headed being that was now moving from his chest to its customary spot on his back. Joseph turned to consider them. Even the crewmembers were stumbling back, giving him wary looks.


    Many of them had lowered their weapons, hesitant with this¡­ revelation.


    Captain Lugash, however, was having none of that.


    ¡°Get them, lads!¡± he roared, ¡°Get them all!¡±


    The ogre rushed forward, cutlass swiping forward, cutting down another raider. The Recluse''s crew, shaken out of their stupor, followed suit.


    Joseph could only watch as the raiders quickly gave up their fight, jumping off the sides of the ship, catching onto their pike mounts, disappearing into the depths of the cloud ocean. The Recluse had taken hardly any damage from their assault, her hull peppered with a few fizzling fire spells that were, at most, superficial.


    In all, the attack had taken a few minutes. Five dead raiders that they could find onboard the ship, though there was an unknown number that had been unmounted during the assault.


    Joseph could count at least two that he had hit with his lightning. Part of him hoped they were still alive. Part of him knew they weren''t. The one he had thrown overboard probably had gotten his neck broken with the ragdoll toss his soul had made, too.


    So that was three dead. Three he had killed in a matter of minutes.


    He supposed that he couldn''t blame the reluctant looks the crew of the Recluse was giving him now. They were wary. One looked afraid. One looked mutinous.


    ¡°A metahuman!¡± the sailor, a human, yelled, ¡°A fucking metahuman, Captain!¡±


    ¡°Enough of that!¡± Lugash snapped, ¡°All of you, damage assessment!¡±


    ¡°I didn''t sign up to ferry one of them around!¡± the sailor said, ¡°You had to clear this with us if you wanted us to take a bunch of stowaways!¡±


    ¡°Lord Rithmound''s orders, Enoas,¡± Lugash said, ¡°Now quit yappin'' your pipe and get back to work.¡±


    Enoas glared at the Captain. Then to Joseph. He muttered darkly to himself as he picked up the body of a raider, pulled off of a few trinkets, then tossed the corpse unceremoniously off the edge.


    Lugash stepped over to Joseph.


    ¡°Good work, carrying your weight,¡± he said, ¡°Go to the medical wing, get that nose looked at.¡±


    Joseph nodded. Now that the adrenaline was dying down, he noted that it had been broken. He had suffered worse before. He gave the ogre a nod, and made for downstairs.


    Out on the top deck, Rosemary looked down at her sceptre, inspecting it for damage. Ever since Chliofrond, ever since she had given it a hairline fracture, she had looked to it after every battle. Her heart hammered as she looked up and down its length, eyes squinting to see if there was anything, anything at all, that would denote another crack.


    But no. Nothing.


    She breathed a sigh of relief.


    ¡°Not every day the Kapi attack us like that,¡± Captain Lugash said, drawing up to her.


    ¡°There were a lot of them,¡± she said, ¡°You''d think they would have broken off after a few hits.¡±


    ¡°They''re desperate,¡± Lugash said, ¡°Once upon a time, they were the largest tribe in these parts. But settlers from the Silver Eye founded a colony here on Federation charter. Started eating up their lands. You''re looking at a dying people, here.¡±


    He glanced down for a moment at the sea of clouds.


    ¡°None of my business,¡± he said, ¡°So long as it doesn''t cut into Rithmound profits. The damage to the Recluse is superficial. I lost a few crewmembers. Nothing to it.¡±


    He turned to Rosemary, noted how she continued to stare out at the sea, lost in thought.


    Then, he turned back ''round, and continued barking out orders.


    ***


    Joseph got lost on the way to the infirmary. Of course he did. He wasn''t like Rosemary, who explored every nook and cranny of a place and always knew exactly where to go. No, he was lost before he knew it.


    When he asked a crewmember, they shook their head, and continued working. Whispers were following him. He occasionally found the crew stealing looks his way.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Phineas found him at one point, the Deep One waddling down a hall.


    ¡°Hey, Phin,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Help me out here. Where the hell''s the infirmary.¡±


    ¡°Joseph!¡± Phineas said, ¡°You have a broken nose.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Joseph said, ¡°I didn''t know.¡±


    ¡°I do not see how you would not know,¡± Phineas said, ¡°It looks extremely...¡±


    He blinked at Joseph.


    ¡°Ah. A joke.¡±


    ¡°Just tell me where it is, man.¡±


    ¡°This way, Joseph,¡± Phineas said.


    And the two of them made their way to the infirmary, which was just down the hall they were in. Joseph rolled his eyes at that.


    They opened the door, where a medical mage was busy attending to a crewmember, who was sporting a rather nasty cut on her arm. The crewmate looked over to Joseph and Phineas, and Joseph saw her eyes widen in apprehension.


    ¡°Relax,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I''m not going to hurt you, or whatever.¡±


    ¡°The metahuman,¡± the crewmate whispered to the mage, ¡°The one I was telling you about.¡±


    The mage nodded at that.


    ¡°Take a seat,¡± he said, ¡°I''ll attend to you shortly.¡±


    Joseph nodded, waiting for his turn. The crewmember continued glancing at him as the medical mage whispered words of magic, applied salves, and sewed the wound shut.


    ¡°Nothing major, Amdrin,¡± the mage said, ¡°Get back to work. Watch the arm. If the cut re-opens, come back to me.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Amdrin said, ¡°Th-thanks.¡±


    They stood up a bit too abruptly. Left the room a bit too quickly, too.


    ¡°Must have needed to use the bathroom,¡± Phineas said.


    ¡°I don''t think that''s the case, Phin,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°And now, you,¡± the medical mage said, ¡°I''ve never had to work on a metahuman before. Anything I should know?¡±


    ¡°I''m allergic to penicillin,¡± Joseph drawled.


    ¡°Hmm, right,¡± the mage said, ¡°Well, come here, this won''t take long.¡±


    ***


    The Recluse trawled the skies for another few hours. Their destination, the Port of Solitude, loomed in the distance. It was built on a mountain, high above the cloud sea, its base a jungled island. Captain Lugash was watching it now, a stern expression on his face. The crew behind him was working on repairing the damage the ship had suffered during the attack, tying ropes around their waists and anchoring them to her rails in order to jump and climb down her side. A bit of scrubbing would fix his old girl right up. The Recluse had taken worse in its day. An attack from the natives here was nothing.


    ¡°Captain.¡±


    He turned.


    It was his first mate, Celery. A tall, willowy eln meia, scars laced across her blue skin, on her face, on her hands, from what Lugash reckoned, on her back and stomach as well. Not ritualistic, no, she had lived a hard life. Then, most eln meia did.


    The sea was not kind.


    Behind Celery was Enoas, leading a sizable grouping of the crew. Lugash let out a sigh.


    This wasn''t good.


    ¡°What is it, lass?¡± he said.


    ¡°Captain,¡± Celery said, ¡°The crew''s been talking, and I thought I''d bring it up with you. You saw what that metahuman did, right?¡±


    ¡°He pulled his weight is what he did.¡±


    ¡°He fucking fried those natives, is what he did,¡± Enoas said, ¡°We all saw it, his bird nearly decapitated one of ''em. I saw that one go down, his neck was broken.¡±


    ¡°He''s a metahuman, Enoas,¡± Lugash said, ¡°He uses what he''s been given.¡±


    ¡°He''s a monster, is what he is,¡± Enoas said, ¡°Most metahumans are, right? There''s a way he''s walking ''round these parts, a look in his eye. We all talked about it, and we all agree. We''re scared of him, Captain.¡±


    Lugash furrowed his brow, looking at each of the crew in turn. Most of them were nodding with what Enoas was saying. He looked at Celery.


    ¡°You agree, Celery?¡± he asked.


    The eln meia shrugged.


    ¡°Seen plenty of storms in my day, sir,¡± she said, ¡°But I''m the voice of the crew. Enough of ''em have come up here to talk about the meta you got downstairs that I thought it''d be prudent if we talked about it.¡±


    ¡°He''s here on the direct orders of Lord Rithmound,¡± Lugash said, ¡°We''re to take him to Cuadron Bay.¡±


    ¡°Captain,¡± Celery said, ¡°At the risk of sounding disrespectful, Lord Rithmound ain''t here.¡±


    ¡°And the metahuman is,¡± Enoas added.


    ¡°Listen, lads, I''d love to have this discussion, but Lord Rithmound was directly telling me to take the guildfolk to Cuadron Bay,¡± Lugash said.


    ¡°We ain''t workin'' if the Mutt''s here, sir,¡± Enoas said.


    Lugash looked at Celery. She gave a guilty nod.


    ¡°That go for the rest of ye?¡± Lugash said.


    His heart fell at the sight of his crew nodding. He noted that a few others, not in the group but still on the deck, had been listening in. They were muttering assent, as well.


    A captain without a crew was no captain at all.


    For a moment, he almost felt sorry for the metahuman and his two companions. They had seemed desperate, desperate enough to strike a deal with Rithmound.


    But then, their concerns were none of his business.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said, ¡°Let me talk to ''em.¡±


    ***


    ¡°Fucking bullshit,¡± Joseph said.


    They had been pulled into the captain''s quarters, Lugash''s space, which was filled with memorabilia from his travels across the multiverse ¨C paintings lined the wall, a suit of armor sat in the corner, a photo was on Lugash''s desk that showed him with a tall man with three eyes ¨C Aldr Fatebreaker ¨C giving a thumbs up. The Captain looked apologetic as he broke the news to the three of them.


    ¡°I''m sorry, lad,¡± the ogre said, ¡°But the crew''s wishes are clear. They don''t want you onboard.¡±


    ¡°I don''t give a shit,¡± Joseph said, ¡°That''s their problem, if they don''t like me. We had a deal.¡±


    ¡°They said they won''t work unless you leave,¡± Lugash said.


    Rosemary glanced over to Joseph. His fists were clenched as he glared at Lugash. The air began to smell of ozone.


    She was smelling that a lot lately.


    Not that she didn''t agree with Joe right now. She was scrunching the hem of her cloak as she let him do his thing.


    ¡°I thought we had a deal,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°We did,¡± Lugash said, ¡°We brought you onboard.¡±


    ¡°All the way to Cuadron Bay, that''s what we agreed on with Rithmound.¡±


    ¡°Rithmound isn''t here, lad,¡± Lugash said.


    ¡°But you work for him, don''t you?¡± Joseph said, ¡°He''s your boss, right?¡±


    ¡°Aye, he is,¡± Lugash said, ¡°But so is my crew. If they don''t want to work, there''s not much I can really do.¡±


    ¡°Some captain you are, then,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Rithmound seemed like the kind of guy who hired people with spine.¡±


    ¡°Joseph,¡± Rosemary said.


    She put a hand on his shoulder. He was shaking. Incandescent. Lugash seemed unperturbed by the insult, leaning back and crossing his arms. Phineas was watching the entire scene with wide eyes. He was nervous, she knew. He had always hated anger, always hated when Joseph worked himself up. Even now, he was starting to shrink back from him.


    ¡°Where are you leaving us?¡± Rosemary said, ¡°You can''t just throw us overboard, right?¡±


    ¡°Wouldn''t put it past him,¡± Joseph muttered.


    ¡°Nothing barbaric like that,¡± Lugash said, ¡°We''ll drop you off at the Port of Solitude. Should be coming up on it in another hour or so. We were stopping there anyway for a re-supply. It''s fine, it''s a Federation colony. You can go any which way you like from there.¡±


    ¡°Oh, great,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Thanks.¡±


    ¡°Look, lad, I''m sorry,¡± Lugash said, ¡°But my crew''s my crew.¡±


    ¡°No, I get it,¡± Joseph said, ¡°You''re just a loser. It''s fine.¡±


    He got up out of his chair.


    ¡°Drop us off a cliff, for all I care,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Thanks for nothing.¡±


    He was out the door before Lugash could get out another word. The ogre, upon him leaving, visibly relaxed. He gave an apologetic shrug.


    ¡°Good luck on your journey,¡± he said.


    ¡°Thank you, sir,¡± Rosemary''s voice was cool, ¡°Rithmound hospitality, right?¡±


    She stood up.


    ¡°Let''s go, Phineas,¡± she said.


    ***


    It was so named the Port of Solitude because the original settlers were an order of monks who had, to a being, taken a vow of silence.


    They had come from the Silver Eye, from the world of Shaalken III, having received written permission from the High Federation to build a temple here. They had done so by hand, painstakingly carving it out of the stone on the highest mountain on Agro-Kandano. Written their scriptures on the pillars of the temple, as was their tradition. Runed the name of their home on the temple''s roof, for all to see.


    Then, they had meditated.


    For a hundred years, they meditated.


    For a hundred years, they dropped like flies. From starvation. From disease, for they did not believe in medicines of any kind. From simple old age. They did not speak. They did not procreate. They simply sat in silence, until the silence was all that remained.


    Then, twenty years later, explorers found the Federation charter in old records. By then, the order had ceased to exist, which meant ownership of their religion reverted to the Department of Accepted Philosophies. One could now buy into the cult, defanged by time and by death. Settlers bought into the religious order. Used it as a tool to colonize a new plane.


    They planeshifted there in droves. Cast away the Kapi, who had co-existed with the order for their entire existence here. To the Kapi, the order had been a mere curiosity.


    The new settlers of the Port of Solitude, however, were of a different sort. They took the temple and made it a great market bazaar. They cleared away the surrounding islands of any sort of jungle and turned it into farmlands for their new homes. They went to war with the Kapi, and won.


    They cast them out. Made them pariahs in their homeland.


    And turned the Port of Solitude into a spaceport. The Traveling Point to the Silver Eye was a few miles above, guarded by a levitating platform flanked by their militiamen.


    The Recluse landed on the mountain. Sailors began to offload a couple of crates, then load a few barrels. Rosemary glanced over to them.


    There was an Elven symbol on the barrels. She recognized it as the Adaya family crest, a two-headed swan holding a fairy in the left beak, an arrow in the other. While a few sailors weren''t looking, she glanced inside.


    Inside were fairy bottles. Dozens per barrel. She went pale, and closed the barrel back up.


    Maybe it was a good thing they were leaving.


    They stepped off and onto the port itself. Many of the buildings were built in the style of the Post-Colonial region of the Silver Eye, segmented white blocks on slightly upraised pillar supports that went drilled deep into the rock. Such buildings were wheeled off of ships and then hammered into the ground, white blemishes on the green knolls that rolled across the Port. A few of the buildings had been built here, however, stone and brick affairs, while others looked more futuristic. Those were the administration buildings, made of metals and with less angular features, the tallest reaching towards the sky and built out of the mountain like it was a chimney.


    With a last, murderous glare at the crew, Joseph stepped off the Recluse with Rosemary and Phineas. They went a ways down the main road, before turning.


    ¡°Let''s get a drink,¡± he said.


    The market bazaar in the temple had several rooms that had been dedicated to specific meditations for certain times of the day ¨C reflections on the morning, on the evening, at midnight. They were vast and sparse.


    Perfect for setting up shop.


    The walls were covered in carvings from the order''s age. The room itself had tables and a bar, which was tended to by an alien from the Eye, a slug-like creature who was mixing drinks with eight slimy appendages. Joseph found himself wiping goo off of his cup after it had been handed to him.


    He downed the drink quickly. Asked for another.


    ¡°Go easy, Joe,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°We''re on a budget, here.¡±


    ¡°Right, sure,¡± Joseph said, ¡°One more then. Two.¡±


    ¡°One,¡± Phineas said, ¡°Addled minds are the easiest to sway.¡±


    Joseph fixed the Deep One with a dark look.


    ¡°Shut up, Phineas.¡±


    An awkward silence settled between the three of them. The waiter handed out another drink. Joseph downed this one, too. It tasted like battery acid. It tasted good.


    He hated both of these facts.


    He took a deep breath.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said, ¡°So where do we go from here?¡±


    He looked at the two of them.


    ¡°You guys got any ideas? Come on.¡±


    ¡°I''m thinking, okay?¡± Rosemary said, ¡°I didn''t expect...¡±


    ¡°Yeah, neither did fucking I,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°It was not like this with Becenti?¡± Phineas said.


    ¡°I don''t want to talk about Becenti,¡± Joseph said.


    They both looked at him. Joseph sighed.


    ¡°It... It wasn''t, alright? It was... different. When we were heading to and from Prime. It was...¡±


    ¡°He knew his way,¡± Phineas said, ¡°Knew the routes to take, to minimize hatred.¡±


    Joseph nodded.


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°And even then,¡± Phineas said, ¡°You had to be careful.¡±


    ¡°It''s not like I''m going to hurt anyone,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Not unless they start something with me. How hard is it to wrap your head around that? I mean, people were like that back home sometimes, but it was mostly just them being snide. Nothing like... I don''t know. I need another drink.¡±


    He slumped. Rosemary seemed to be at a loss for words.


    ¡°We should be careful,¡± Phineas said, ¡°We already look the parts of outlanders.¡±


    Joseph nodded at that.


    ¡°Joseph,¡± Phineas said, ¡°May I give some awkward advice?¡±


    ¡°Go ahead, Phin.¡±


    ¡°You should hide your powers,¡± Phineas said, ¡°Do not use them unless absolutely necessary.¡±


    He blinked. It was... an odd request. Not using his powers. They felt like they were a part of him now, a core facet of his being. His soul rippled in his belly as he thought of Phineas''s advice. Logically, it was the right way to go.


    Emotionally, he could not imagine not using his powers. His abilities. It was as though he were being told not to use his arms and legs.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said, after a moment¡¯s hesitation.


    ¡°We''re going into some dangerous territory,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Kind of at an impasse. Either we charter another ship to Cuadron Bay, or we get a ship to the Silver Eye, and go to another Traveling Point there.¡±


    ¡°Another ship to Cuadron Bay will be expensive, yes?¡± Phineas said, ¡°Very few go out there.¡±


    ¡°That''s right,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°How much money do we have?¡±


    Joseph shrugged, and pulled out a credstick.


    ¡°Wakeling keeps loading money on here for every job I do,¡± he said, ¡°There''s about five thousand on here?¡±


    ¡°Not bad,¡± Phineas said. He reached into his bag, pulling out a sack of coin, ¡°I have about two hundred gold coins in here. Exchange rate is twenty to one, if we''re talking credits. Four thousand credits.¡±


    ¡°And I have...¡± Rosemary fumbled through her pockets for a second, pulling out a small coin purse. She opened it up, painstakingly taking out...


    Three coins. Silver.


    ¡°Rosemary,¡± Phineas said, ¡°You should learn to budget.¡±


    ¡°Hey, get off my back,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°But I¡¯m not on-¡±


    ¡°How much is it for a ride to Cuadron Bay?¡± Joseph interrupted, ¡°Or to the Silver Eye?¡±


    ¡°Not sure,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°We''ll need to ask around. I''ll talk to the bartender, see what he knows.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Joseph said.


    She stood up, and walked to the bar. Joseph sighed.


    ¡°Sorry I snapped at you, Phineas,¡± he said.


    ¡°It is alright,¡± Phineas said, ¡°I am used to it.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, well, you shouldn''t be,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°But I am.¡±


    Joseph winced.


    He said nothing. Then, awkwardly, while Rosemary was talking to the bartender, called the waiter over for another drink.


    ¡°Not as strong, though,¡± he said, ¡°Surprise me.¡±


    The bartender, a humanoid seahorse, nodded. They came back a few minutes later with a neon green drink that smelled faintly of bananas.


    ¡°Ah, I recognize that, I think,¡± Phineas said, ¡°Tiger drank it, once.¡±


    ¡°Tiger drinks?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°All the time,¡± Phineas said, ¡°He tends not to do it in front of Becenti, though, out of respect.¡±


    ¡°That''s fair,¡± Joseph said. He looked down at the drink, ¡°What is it, exactly?¡±


    ¡°I believe it is called g''Narok,¡± Phineas said, ¡°A sipping drink. You sip it.¡±


    Joseph sipped it. It had no flavor.


    ¡°Odd,¡± he said, ¡°I''ll take it.¡±


    He took another few sips, passing it over to Phineas (who downed it, cup and all) as Rosemary came back.


    ¡°Right,¡± she said, ¡°Our hunch was right. Any ship to Cuadron Bay''s a merchant ship that''s local to this part of the multiverse. Airships, and the like. They don''t take passengers very often, so whatever price we pay is going to be inflated. He thinks it''s going to be around a thousand credits for each of us.¡±


    ¡°Not good,¡± Phineas said, ¡°We still have to catch other rides after Cuadron Bay.¡±


    ¡°Conversely,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°People go through the Traveling Point located here all the time. There''s a shipyard on the other side, usually a lot cheaper, around maybe five hundred credits each?¡±


    ¡°So either we go into the Silver Eye, or we pay a lot of money to get to Cuadron Bay,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°I do want to point out, the road to Cuadron Bay is safer,¡± Phineas said, ¡°For Joseph, at least.¡±


    They all knew what he meant by that.


    ¡°It''s a lot more expensive, though,¡± Joseph said, ¡°My vote? Let''s go to the Silver Eye. We can charter a ship. We''ll keep quiet.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Rosemary said.


    He looked at the two of them.


    ¡°...Is it really that bad?¡± he asked.


    ¡°The Federation is not kind to metahumans,¡± Phineas said, ¡°Most of your people are forced to live in the Outer Reach. The Traveling Point leads to a planet in the Post-Colonial. Far away from safety. Close to the sorts of beings who despise you.¡±


    The metahuman gritted his teeth.


    ¡°I''ll take a challenge,¡± he said, ¡°It''s cheaper, too. I just... won''t use my powers, I guess.¡±


    ¡°Alright, if you''re sure,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°I''m sure.¡±


    With that, she nodded.


    ¡°Let me do the talking,¡± she said, ¡°They won''t blink twice at me. I look like proper guildfolk-¡±


    Joseph scoffed.


    ¡°And I''ve got my guild ID, it''s just another day on the job.¡±


    They nodded. With their decision made, they rose, and headed out the door.


    There was more traveling to be done, Recluse be damned.

 92. Stone and Glass

    It was late at night when Joseph''s mom got home.


    She had been drinking. He could smell it on her. A night full of friends and parties, her husband still pulling a long shift at work, doing some surgery or other. She was like this most nights, nowadays, stumbling through the front door, giggling to herself a bit as she pulled herself to her feet. Lazy eyes swung into the dark living room, where Joseph was sitting on the couch. The only light was from the TV, a late night anime blaring.


    ¡°Joseph,¡± she drawled, ¡°Hi, Joseph.¡±


    He glanced her way. Looked back.


    ¡°Hi, Mom.¡±


    ¡°Joseph, I''m very...¡± she stood up tall, thought of words to say. It took her a few moments to compose herself, ¡°Very glad you¡¯re home.¡±


    ¡°I know, Mom,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Did you do your homework?¡± her voice was melody-like.


    ¡°I did,¡± Joseph lied.


    In truth, as soon as he got home, he had done his usual routine. Made dinner for himself, scrounging for whatever was still left in the fridge. His mother was always out, going to parties or hanging out with friends. Her husband was busy with work. They hadn''t gone grocery shopping in a little while, so all that was left was a cup of noodles, some leftover rice. Enough to get by, at least.


    After that, he sat down, and watched TV. Better to do this, then anything else.


    Anything else reminded him that he was alone in the house.


    ¡°Are you hungry?¡± his mom asked.


    ¡°No,¡± he said.


    ¡°Okay, good,¡± his mom said, ¡°What are you watching?¡±


    ¡°TV.¡±


    ¡°Oh! TV. That''s nice.¡±


    She drew forward, sitting down on the couch, her eyes glazed over as she dully watched Naruto with him. Her face scrunched a bit at the sight of Rock Lee facing off against Gaara.


    ¡°So violent, Joseph,¡± she said, lazy disapproval in her voice, ¡°Your brothers never watched stuff like this.¡±


    Joseph glanced over at her. But he knew that''s all she would say. A simple, quiet admonishment. A comparison between him and his brothers. But she was too drunk to really say much else. He was glad for that.


    She began to nod off, began to fall asleep. Sson, She was snoring softly. It irked Joseph. It kept distracting him as he tried to watch his show.


    He tried not to think about anything except for what was in front of him. Tried not to think about the birthday party he had been to last week, at his friend Barry''s house. How his mom was all smiles and cheer, bringing out a giant birthday cake. His mom threw him birthdays, he knew. But there was a tired edge to them. Like she was going through the motions. She forgot to send out invitations last year. There hadn¡¯t been a cake the year before.


    Not like Barry''s mom, whose laughter was real and whose love could be felt like a warm hug.


    The love in Barry''s mom''s voice. It hurt him, and he hardly knew why.


    So he continued to watch TV. Wished he were so desperately there.


    And despite the fact that there were two people on the couch, Joseph was alone.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    It had been the first time she had spoken to him, truly spoken to him, in a week.


    He was ten years old.


    ***


    They found a ship a few hours later, scheduled to cast off later in the evening. Rosemary did most of the talking, jabbering quickly with the ship''s pilot, a strange, humanoid pterosaur with a long beak filled with brush-like teeth. Phineas said that one was a Dauschian, from the planet Imbelon III. The Dauschian couldn''t speak Basic, but an orb in its hand lit up whenever it spoke, translating their words so Rosemary could understand. Joseph watched the exchange happen, putting on an air of annoyance. But in truth, he could not but watch as the alien scanned one of their credsticks, nodded, then swayed back to their ship.


    Nothing like that, back home.


    He tried to push that thought down. Tried to ignore his excitement at the thought of talking to the Dauschian, of what sights awaited him on the journey.


    He was going to go home. Back to Earth. Back to what he had before.


    And that would be that.


    ¡°Alright,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Their ship''s docked in the skyharbor. We''ll be leaving after dinner. The alien said not to be late, she''s leaving as soon as the clock hits six.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Joseph said, ¡°And where are we going?¡±


    ¡°Apparently,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°She''s heading towards Gallita Secunda to deliver some local goods from here.¡±


    ¡°We''re not stowing away or anything, right?¡±


    ¡°She''s got a couple of bedrolls, but we''ll have to sleep in the storage room onboard,¡± Rosemary said, shrugging, ¡°She doesn''t have guest rooms.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I guess that''s fine.¡±


    ***


    They ate dinner at the bar, the cheapest they could get, which meant food from the farms, a sort of blue porridge mashed up from the corn-like vegetables that the colonists grew. After that, they went off, heading towards the Dauschian''s ship. It was an old vessel, vaguely triangular, pockmarked with plasma scarring and with a large dent near its base. Her name was written in a language Joseph didn''t understand. He looked at Phineas.


    ¡°Its name is Sieve-Like and Traveling,¡± the Deep One said, ¡°Weird name. I like it.¡±


    The Dauschian greeted them as they went to the ship''s entrance. Her speech came out vaguely whistling and quiet, from what sounded like from the base of her throat. The orb in her hand did the translating.


    ¡°Greetings, outlanders,¡± she said.


    ¡°Hi again,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Joseph, Phineas, this is Donaidora. Donaidora, this is Joseph and Phineas.¡±


    ¡°''Sup,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Hello,¡± Phineas rasped.


    Donaidora''s head dipped down in a nod, a graceful, slow motion, as though her beak were weighing her down.


    ¡°I presume you have your guild IDs?¡± she asked.


    They nodded.


    ¡°Good,¡± Donaidora said, ¡°I wouldn''t want to get caught by the soldiers stationed above. They are... overzealous, at times.¡±


    ¡°Overzealous how?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°They don''t like rogue elements coming into the Silver Eye,¡± Donaidora said, ¡°Metahumans, unregistered travelers, the like.¡±


    Joseph tried not to react to that.


    ¡°None of that here,¡± Rosemary lied, ¡°We''re just heading to the Silver Eye on a job, that''s all.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Donaidora said, ¡°Let us get inside. Time is wasting.¡±


    They went into the Sieve-Like and Traveling. It smelled vaguely of the sea, the cockpit arranged in a way so that the consoles were on Donaidora''s either side. There was a table set in the corner, along with one lonely chair.


    ¡°Everything''s already loaded up downstairs,¡± Donaidora said, ¡°Make yourselves at home. Journey should only be a few days.¡±


    She sat down in the cockpit, flipping a few switches. The Sieve-Like and Traveling shuddered to life. They were casting off a moment later, climbing higher and higher into the sky. Donaidora clicked a few more buttons, her hand closing over a throttle to ease the ship upwards. Joseph sat down at the table and watched the Dauschian work, Phineas plopping down by his feet and Rosemary leaning against a wall.


    Through the viewscreen, Joseph watched as two ships flanked the Sieve-Like''s sides. Federation vessels, raptor-like and deadly looking. Donaidora exchanged a few communications with them, before turning.


    ¡°Your IDs, outlanders,¡± she said.


    Rosemary walked forward, presenting them to Donaidora, who snatched them from the elf''s hand and scanned them into a computer. A few moments passed.


    The Federation ships broke off.


    ¡°We''re good to go,¡± the Dauschian said, ¡°Silver Eye, ho.¡±


    And then they were rushing through the Traveling Point. The world outside smeared mosaic. The ship rumbled. For a moment, Joseph was afraid that the Dragon would come back to him. But he wasn''t asleep this go-around. There was nothing but potential outside, and then even that was gone as they broke through to the Silver Eye, to a planet that reminded him of Mars, red canyons and a pitch-black, star-covered sky. There was a shipyard outside, a bubble encasing it in an atmosphere, but Donaidora ignored that as they went higher and higher into the night, outside of the planet''s gravity well. She pulled a small lever, and the ship broke into the Warp.


    Joseph watched the world become a miasma of grays and whites, then turned away.


    ***


    They kept to themselves for the most part. True to her word, Donaidora had set up a few bed spreads downstairs, downy and comfortable enough. Joseph sat down here, the ship''s engine below rolling like thunder. The cargo hold was filled near to the brim with barrels of wine, local make, a mixture the Kapi had invented and that Donaidora bought at a bargain price.


    ¡°She takes odd jobs, from what she told me,¡± Rosemary said as she lay down on a mat, wrapping herself in her cloak like a cocoon, ¡°Mostly sticks to Traveling Points in the Post-Colonial, gets some local stuff, trades it.¡±


    ¡°A merchant, neat,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°It''s a steady gig,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Not as exciting as guildwork, but you see some sights.¡±


    ¡°Sure,¡± Joseph drawled, ¡°¡®Exciting.¡¯¡±


    Rosemary fixed him with an odd look, then sighed. She rolled around to look at the barrels. Joseph felt a bit guilty at his flippant tone.


    ¡°...Yo,¡± he said.


    She was quiet.


    ¡°I''ve got a question.¡±


    ¡°Answer away, Joseph,¡± she said.


    ¡°How do you do it?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Do what?¡±


    ¡°All of this,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Whenever I see you, you''re in a good mood. It''s like you''re nothing but smiles and cheer. Or at least, you try to be.¡±


    ¡°I try to be,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°Mind if I''m real?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Sure, Joe.¡±


    ¡°I don''t know if you''re faking it because it makes things easier, or if because you think that forcing yourself to be happy makes you happy.¡±


    Rosemary was quiet for a moment. She was breathing deep, he realized. Collecting her thoughts. He shouldn''t have called her out like this.


    ¡°It''s a bit of both, I think,¡± she whispered, ¡°Am I... Am I that obvious?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Joseph said, ¡°At least, you''re not...¡±


    He looked away. To the barrels. Now it was his turn to think of what to say.


    ¡°Usually I think people who force a cheery attitude are annoying,¡± he said, ¡°But it''s different with you. I don''t know.¡±


    ¡°Do you... Do you remember when we first met?¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Onboard the airship. There was that point where Ichabod saw the Steamer and his men in a room, and we had you wait outside while we took them out.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I do,¡± Joseph said. He remembered the gunshots. The sneering look on Ichabod''s face, the way Broon took a deep breath before rushing in.


    ¡°I had you look up so you wouldn''t see the blood,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°There was... a lot of it.¡±


    ¡°I mean, Broon uses a sword,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Of course it''s going to get gross.¡±


    ¡°You say that now,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°But I had you look up. I wanted to look up, too. To ignore what was at my feet. The bodies. The death. To ignore it, for something better.¡±


    ¡°A ceiling?¡±


    ¡°Even a ceiling''s better than what was there,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°I don''t like seeing dead people, Joseph, and I know you don''t, either.¡±


    Joseph was quiet at that.


    ¡°So that''s... I fake that I''m alright with it,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°I fake a lot of things, you know? Sometimes I feel like I''m just nothing but a fake.¡±A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    ¡°You''re... You''re not,¡± Joseph said.


    She rolled over to look at him.


    ¡°I say that you''re positive,¡± he said, ¡°That you force it. But you also don''t. It''s a mix, I guess..¡±


    She smiled at that, a sad one.


    ¡°Then I''m pretty good at it, aren''t I?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph said, ¡°But... it''s good that you''re good at it. It makes things easier.¡±


    The sad smile became a bit lighter, more real. She turned back around, and was quiet.


    ***


    True to their agreement, they kept a low profile, only talking to Donaidora every so often, mostly during meal times and to exchange any information. The Dauchian seemed to prefer this, as she kept to herself as well as they careened across the expanse of the Post-Colonial. Joseph took a chance to see a map of the Silver Eye galaxy to see where exactly they were. It was a bird''s eye view, the Silver Eye a disc, and the Post-Colonial was located to the galactic west of the Iris, which banded around the galactic core.


    According to Donaidora, they were going across the entire expanse of the Post-Colonial to get to Gallita Secunda.


    ¡°Better for business,¡± she said, ¡°Far away from the Traveling Point, and all.¡±


    The days were a quiet blur.


    They dropped out of warp on the third day, Gallita Secunda looming below. It was a gas giant, though unlike Everlasting Truth, it was a rich blue color, as though someone had taken a piece of the sky and sculpted it into a ball. The Sieve-Like began rumbling into the planet''s atmosphere, and dodging past a few other ships that were heading towards the same spaceport, a needle-like silver tower that extended far into the cloud layers below.


    ¡°Goes all the way down, you know,¡± Donaidora said, ¡°Collects rare gasses below and sends them up to the top, which are then extracted for use elsewhere.¡±


    ¡°That''s all it does?¡±


    ¡°Well, it is also a spaceport,¡± Donaidora said, ¡°Your Traveling Point, outlander, is located near the needle''s middle.¡±


    ¡°Is it breathable?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Depending on the species,¡± Donaidora said, and she glanced over, ¡°You are...?¡±


    ¡°Human,¡± he said.


    ¡°It theoretically is,¡± she said, ¡°But it matters little. You will freeze if you are exposed to the air. All business is conducted on the station.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Joseph said.


    They arrived in the spaceport, landing amidst a sea of strange starcraft, ships of a dozen makes and from across the breadth of the Silver Eye''s history. There was nothing new among the stars, and the ships here reflected that ¨C all of them looked disheveled, run down, scarred with plasma burns and hardly looking like they could fly at all. The Sieve-Like settled down, an attendant striding past the line of ships towards them.


    ¡°Wait inside,¡± Donaidora said, ¡°I''ll talk to them.¡±


    She stepped out to speak with him. Joseph stretched, Rosemary yawned. Phineas closed up the book he had been reading. All of them felt relieved to be here. It took all of Rosemary''s willpower not to just bolt out of the ship.


    A few moments later, the Dauschian came back.


    ¡°Our agreement is finished,¡± she said.


    ¡°It was a pleasure,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Thanks again.¡±


    ¡°Safe travelings, outlanders.¡±


    And they stepped off of the Sieve-Like, leaving the hangar and its forest of ships. They went down a hall, taking a right, moving past a rather large, slug-like alien as it slimed its way down the hall. Joseph''s nose rankled as he stepped in its leftover trail by accident.


    Past the halls that led into the hangar was the spaceport proper, a large, circular room, big enough to fit a warbird inside. A veritable city of stalls had been set up, hawkers calling out to the world about their wares, from around the galaxy and beyond. Food stalls dominated the mark, the smell of cooking food making Joseph''s stomach grumble.


    ¡°Let''s get lunch,¡± he said.


    ¡°Sounds like a plan,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°We can talk shop while we eat.¡±


    The crowd thickened as they went down, and they found themselves jostling through the crowd, pushing past figures enraptured in cloaks and sashes, centaur-like aliens with six legs and heads resembling anvils, and a contingent of what appeared to be some sort of warrior cult, each of the members wearing masks carved from wood and covered head to toe in armor, blades strapped to their sides.


    Rosemary bought the food, some sort of cooked, prawn-like creature on a stick. It tasted smokey and the insides were far too chewy for Joseph''s tastes, like bubblegum. But it was food, so he ate without complaint.


    They tucked themselves away at a small booth, watching the spaceport go by around them.


    ¡°Right,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°So Gallita Secunda''s Traveling Point.¡±


    ¡°Any idea where it leads?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Phineas,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°You have a map?¡±


    The Deep One nodded, pulling out his tome and slamming it on the table. He rifled through a few pages, before finding his bookmark. He whispered a few words in a tongue that made Joseph''s mind roil, before looking at his guildmates.


    ¡°Do not look at it,¡± he said, ¡°The geometries are hard to comprehend with stone minds like yours.¡±


    ¡°Stone minds?¡± Joseph said, but he followed Phineas''s instruction, looking away and to the spaceport.


    ¡°We are in a handy spot,¡± Phineas said, ¡°The Traveling Point for the last five years has led to Moirod, but it just changed a few months ago to Shazuad.¡±


    ¡°Shazuad?¡± Rosemary asked.


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Phineas said, ¡°The former World of Flow. Not much of it left, but there''s a small route that takes us to St. Malendia¡¯s.¡±


    ¡°St. Malendia¡¯s,¡± Rosemary said, and she racked her brains for a few moments before grinning, ¡°That''s perfect, actually.¡±


    ¡°St. Malendia''s,¡± Phineas said, ¡°You know of this plane?¡±


    ¡°I traveled around there for a little while,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°It''s a big cathedral. Like, huge. World-sized. If we follow the right paths, we can get pretty much anywhere.¡±


    ¡°Where does it lead?¡± Phineas asked.


    Rosemary smirked.


    ¡°Right to Melmaen,¡± she said, ¡°We''d be right back on schedule.¡±


    ¡°That is agreeable,¡± Phineas said, ¡°What do you think, Joseph-¡±


    The Deep One and the elf turned to him, only to realize that Joseph was hardly paying attention. Instead, he was looking at an ad that was playing high above, blaring down upon the entire spaceport. It depicted a silhouetted figure, fire burning in their eyes as they stepped out of a Traveling Point.


    In Basic, the ad read: IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING. PREVENT METAHUMAN TERRORISM, REPORT SUSPICIOUS INDIVIDUALS TO THE NEAREST FEDERATION OFFICIAL. PROTECT YOUR FAMILY. PROTECT OUR WORLDS.


    He was all but glaring at it.


    ¡°Those are in most Traveling Points now, from what I hear,¡± Phineas said, ¡°Meleko was telling me about them. A lot of heat coming from the government, I think.¡±


    ¡°We should head out,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Let''s just get out of here.¡±


    ***


    Heading down out of the spaceport markets revealed a completely new world. Past the glamor of above revealed an underworld below. The poor, the disenfranchised, the unfortunate, they were the primary inhabitants that looked up as the three of them walked down dimly-lit halls. Many of them looked worse for wear, hands reaching up to them as they passed by.


    Rosemary gave them a couple of coins as they went, but Joseph gritted his teeth and kept his eyes set and forward. At least here, too, had something like Earth. He was used to the looks the beggars gave him as they walked further down the needle. It was the same looks the homeless gave him back in San Francisco.


    They thinned out as they got to the Traveling Point, which was located in a large, empty room in the needle''s center. There had been market stalls here, though they had been abandoned with the Traveling Point''s change in forecast.


    Shazuad was an unpopular plane.


    And this was reflected in the way that the soldiers guarding the Traveling Point looked at the trio as they approached.


    ¡°State your purpose, outlanders,¡± one of the soldiers said. His helmet was oblong, obviously to hide a long snout of some sort.


    ¡°Guild business,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°We''re from the Amber Foundation.¡±


    The guard sneered at that.


    ¡°Right,¡± he said, ¡°Guild IDs.¡±


    She handed them over. The guard looked it over, giving Rosemary a side glance.


    ¡°What''s in Sazuad?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Nothing major,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°What''s the hurry in getting there?¡± the soldier asked, ¡°You seem to have come down pretty quick.¡±


    She shrugged.


    ¡°Who said we were in a hurry?¡±


    ¡°Just let ''em go, Invochin,¡± the other soldier said, ¡°Look, are their IDs legit?¡±


    ¡°They are,¡± Invochin said, an air of disappointment in his voice, ¡°Right. Just need the job details from you, for record''s sake.¡±


    Rosemary quirked an eyebrow.


    ¡°That''s not necessary,¡± she said, ¡°We''re just planeshifting, is all.¡±


    ¡°It''s necessary when you''re traveling to Sazuad,¡± the soldier said, ¡°Metahumans, they''ve been coming through here lately, causing a stir. Old Manticore plane, you know?¡±


    ¡°It''s just simple business,¡± Joseph lied, ¡°We''re going to meet a client on the other side.¡±


    ¡°So you don''t even know the contract?¡± the soldier asked.


    ¡°Client''s insistence,¡± Rosemary said, picking up on Joseph''s tale, ¡°They want to be anonymous.¡±


    ¡°And I assume,¡± Invochin said, ¡°Their identity will be made on the report?¡±


    ¡°Hey,¡± Joseph said, ¡°If that''s what gets us through the damn Traveling Point, sure.¡±


    ¡°I don''t like your tone, young man,¡± the soldier said.


    ¡°Yeah, well-¡±


    ¡°He''s had a rough few days,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Ignore him. He''s an idiot.¡±


    ¡°...Right,¡± the soldier said, ¡°Keep a leash on your dog, miss. He''s got the stink of a Mutt on him.¡±


    ¡°...Sorry?¡± Joseph said, ¡°Run that by me again?¡±


    But Rosemary was elbowing him in the ribs.


    ¡°Can we just go through?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Come on, Invochin. They''re just outlanders.¡±


    ¡°I don''t know,¡± Invochin said, and though both of the soldiers were helmeted, Joseph could tell that Invochin was looking right at him, ¡°I can smell metahumanity on them.¡±


    ¡°Of course you can,¡± the other said, ¡°They''re outlanders. Mutts keep to the multiverse. They reek of it.¡±


    ¡°Been sleeping with many of them?¡± Invochin asked Joseph, ¡°You look like the kind of guy who would.¡±


    He was starting to see red. The air was starting to smell of ozone.


    ¡°No,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I haven''t.¡±


    ¡°Huh. Must be the multiverse, then,¡± Invochin said, ¡°Alright, you can go through. Enjoy, I guess.¡±


    He moved out of the way, and the three of them briskly walked past and into the Traveling Point.


    Joseph stepped out, and whirled.


    ¡°Fucking bullshit!¡± he roared, ¡°Do I smell like a Mutt? What the fuck was that?¡±


    Rosemary, too, was glaring back at the Traveling Point. The guards on the other side were fixing them with odd looks. One of them began to approach.


    ¡°I will deal with them,¡± Phineas said to Rosemary, ¡°Go help Joseph.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Rosemary said.


    She and Joseph walked off, while Phineas waddled over to the soldiers.


    Joseph was stomping off of the road, Rosemary followed a bit behind. She placed a hand on his shoulder as he took a deep breath to steady himself.


    They stayed in silence for a long time as Joseph regained his composure. He looked over at Rosemary, then just gave a quiet nod.


    ¡°What did that Feddie call you?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Mutt,¡± Joseph said, ¡°...Becenti told me about it. It¡¯s¡­¡±


    He shrugged.


    ¡°It¡¯s a word they use.¡±


    ¡°Gods,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°I''m sorry.¡±


    ¡°It''s... alright, I guess,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I''m... used to it, I guess. Even on Earth. Just didn''t realize I would react like that. But the way the guy sneered. I couldn''t even see his face, and I just knew...¡±


    He shook his head.


    ¡°Whatever. We''re out of it now. Fuck the Silver Eye.¡±


    He took a look around, just now taking stock of his surroundings.


    Shazuad had been glassed. Joseph had heard of such a thing before, of the Federation''s rage against the multiverse. They did it rarely to their own worlds, but against other planes, it was a first response.


    The entire world was one of glass. Dirty glass, shimmering in the hot sun. Cities had been wasted away. Forests had been cleared by neon flame. Mountains had been melted, liquified by the sheer force of the Federation''s might, mounds of lava that had spilled out, then cooled into vague piles of dark stone. Stone and glass, that was all that was left of Shazuad. Shapeless. Formless.


    Dead.


    Phineas waddled over to them, looking around.


    ¡°We are good to keep going,¡± he said, ¡°The soldiers, their minds are weak. They will not say what that Invochin said.¡±


    He looked over to where Joseph was looking, at a particularly large mound of ashen glass.


    ¡°What are you looking at?¡± he asked.


    ¡°What happened here?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°A glassing,¡± Phineas said, ¡°Let us go. The path is not a long one.¡±


    And he began moving off. Rosemary tugged Joseph''s sleeve.


    ¡°You gonna be okay?¡± she asked.


    He looked at the mound for a while longer, wondering at who had lived here. What they had done to earn the Federation''s wrath. But he nodded.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± he said, ¡°Let''s go.¡±


    ***


    There was a beaten path that had been made across the wasteland expanse, carved out by footprints and wagon wheels over the years since the plane''s glassing. They met only a few travelers on the road, outlanders all. A pair of guildfolk from Los Elementales, a merchant prince from Krenstone, a bounty hunter from the Silver Eye, wrapped up in combat armor and wearing a futuristic, bullet-shaped helmet, a plasma rifle slung over their shoulder.


    There was no one native here. The only people they saw were outlanders.


    ¡°There''s no birds in the sky,¡± Joseph noted.


    ¡°No insects on the ground, either,¡± Rosemary murmured, ¡°There''s just... this.¡±


    They kept going in an awkward, near-reverent silence. As though they were walking through a graveyard. Occasionally the path would slant upwards, and they would climb up one of the lava-cooled hilltops. It would give them a view of the land around them at the hill''s zenith, showcasing more ash-glass miasma.


    At these times, Joseph would sometimes, when he knew they were alone, and no one else was around the road, bring out his soul. Just the eagle''s eyes, to survey the landscape. He told his guildmates that it was to watch out for danger, but it was more for his benefit, his own sickening curiosity, to look upon the death here and pick at it like an errant scab.


    Buildings occasionally poked out of the muck. Steel towers that just barely grazed past the glass. He looked at them for a long time, before Rosemary or Phineas would pull him away, and down the road.


    The sun was blood red. It began to dip below the horizon, burnishing the sky orange. Shadows lengthened.


    ¡°We should bed down, I think,¡± Phineas said, ¡°Eat some food.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°We''ve done enough traveling, I think.¡±


    ¡°How far away are we from the next Traveling Point?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Another day''s walk,¡± Phineas replied.


    Joseph grimaced, but nodded.


    ¡°It''s this place, isn''t it?¡± Rosemary said, ¡°It''s getting to me, too.¡±


    But they were tired after the long day of travel, so they went off the road and set up camp, laying out bed mats beneath the stars. Phineas cast a spell that lit a purple flame as a campfire. They ate dried meats and nuts for dinner, keeping warm as the sun disappeared completely below the horizon. The moon, high above, was a fragmented thing, blown apart from some catastrophe or other in the past, and its shards glittered in the night above in place of stars.


    ¡°There a lot of planes like this?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Not many that are still used to travel,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°But yeah, there are a lot of ''em.¡±


    ¡°You read the stories, yes, Joseph?¡± Phineas said, ¡°The histories. You know the Federation does this often. Why are you confused?¡±


    ¡°Just...¡± Joseph shrugged, ¡°Seeing is believing, you know?¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Phineas said, ¡°You are still in disbelief of this place.¡±


    He nodded.


    ¡°Hearing about what the Federation''s done, and seeing it in person, it''s different,¡± he said.


    ¡°It is,¡± Phineas said, ¡°I have only been to a few other planes like this. Glassed, by the Federation. One was a memory given to me by my mother. A metahuman kingdom. The other two were from contamination.¡±


    ¡°Contamination?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°The sharing of advanced technologies with less developed planes,¡± Phineas said, ¡°The crime of a single black market deal is inflicted on the entire world.¡±


    ¡°And the guy who traded it probably just runs back to the Silver Eye,¡± Joseph said, darkly.


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Phineas said, ¡°The goal is to enforce through fear. Through fear, control. The thought process is, if the entire plane bears the judgment, then the entire plane will look out for contamination on their own.¡±


    ¡°That''s an ugly word you keep using,¡± Joseph said, ¡°''Contamination.''¡±


    ¡°It is a word that the Federation uses,¡± Phineas said.


    ¡°That doesn''t mean it''s correct,¡± Joseph said, ¡°The tech that''s smuggled in, does that include medicines? Machines to cure diseases?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Phineas said, ¡°Those are illegal.¡±


    ¡°Even if it could save lives,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Smuggling weapons is illegal, too,¡± Phineas said, ¡°It is a blanket. That which can save, that which can destroy, both are held in the hands of the Federation.¡±


    Joseph was quiet at that, biting off a piece of dried meat. Rosemary had her hands hovering over the purple flame. If he was being honest, the fire disturbed Joseph. It whispered in the night, and although it was warm, it cast the world in a sick violet. There were no sounds around them. No animals. No wind, even. Just the sounds of fire and of their collective talking.


    But then...


    ¡°Movement,¡± Rosemary said, perking up. She picked up her sceptre, and it began to glow, ¡°Footsteps.¡±


    Joseph and Phineas looked at each other. The Deep One pulled free his tome, fluttering it open.


    ¡°Boots,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Heavy ones.¡±


    Joseph could make out a figure silhouetted in the darkness, a looming, imposing figure. They walked slowly, simply, with all the grace of a continent. His heart hammered as he realized...


    He recognized this newcomer.


    ¡°Fuck,¡± he said, ¡°It''s Mordenaro.¡±

 93. The Path to the Dream

    Cuadron Bay was so named because the plane was a simple island on a midnight sea. There was no daytime here. Only a moon that hung high above, somehow reflecting light from some unknown place and shining it down upon the crescent island below. Scientists and magicians had worked to discover where the light was coming from, but to no avail.


    It simply reflected.


    Shimmered on the waters.


    Was captured and used to light torches that lined Cuadron Bay. The buildings were squat and pearl-colored, shaped from stone that had been brought here from one of the twenty Traveling Points that Cuadron Bay hosted. All of the Traveling Points, tucked onto one island, meant that the plane was a trading hub, one of the more popular nexuses in the multiverse.


    Broon, Mallory, and Ezel arrived at port aboard the Star Runner, stepping off and saying goodbye to the captain. Ships were pulling in and out of Cuadron Bay, traveling towards the horizon, where the majority of the Traveling Points were located. None of them looked like they were from Scuttleway, but then, they hadn''t had the time to get a description of what the Recluse looked like.


    ¡°Guess we ask around, then,¡± Broon said.


    ¡°You think they''re still here?¡± Mallory asked.


    ¡°Maybe,¡± Ezel said, ¡°By all means, the Star Runner made it here rather quickly.¡±


    They stopped at a small tavern, and the demigod pulled out a small scroll from her bag, unfurling it on a table. Broon and Mallory peeked over her shoulders on either side. Ezel had scribbled the names of each planes, as well as where their Traveling Points led, in a spider-web of names and lines. The name ''Melmaen'' was underlined and circled. Five lines led to it.


    ¡°From Cuadron Bay, they''d take Ladeth, I think,¡± she said, ¡°Then, they''d cut across there to get to the CITY, then to Melmaen.¡±


    ¡°You sure about that?¡± Mallory said, ¡°Gladefel is a trip over, Rosemary would want to go there, since she''s never been. They could then go to Tsaeyaru, then to the CITY.¡±


    ¡°Tsaeyaru''s too dangerous,¡± Broon said, ¡°And Rosemary knows that. She''s heard the stories Archenround tells of that place.¡±


    Ezel suppressed a shudder at that. Archenround had poor experiences with gods, something Ezel was always sad for.


    ¡°Phineas would want to go, at least,¡± she said, ¡°And those three aren''t ones to shy from danger.¡±


    ¡°Rosemary and Phineas are curious, Joseph''s an idiot,¡± Mallory noted.


    ¡°Aye... True.¡±


    They were quiet for a moment. Sailors from a ship barged into the tavern, laughing and jeering, walking up to the bar and getting filled up mugs of ale. The place would be rowdy yet.


    ¡°Regardless,¡± Mallory says, ¡°Let''s just look around here. They could be around the city, or haven''t arrived yet.¡±


    ¡°Agreed,¡± Broon said, ¡°Step one: find the Recluse. Let''s start asking around.¡±


    ***


    They found the Recluse rather easily, stepping out and looking around. The pillbug ship was moored on the other side of the island, her crew loaded up supplies for the return trip back to Londoa. The ship''s captain, Lugash, gave them a wary look as they approached.


    ¡°Wildarm,¡± he said.


    ¡°Aye, that''s me,¡± Broon said.


    ¡°Atalar. The Steamer.¡±


    ¡°Woah,¡± Mallory said, ¡°You know of us?¡±


    ¡°Wildarm and Atalar I know from stories from Evukor,¡± Lugash said, ¡°The Steamer, from her work with Orion at Hilar''s Rock.¡±


    Mallory blushed.


    ¡°Wasn''t that big of a deal,¡± she said.


    ¡°You held off an entire battalion then,¡± Lugash said, ¡°Magicians always scare me.¡±


    ¡°It''s not really magic, is the thing,¡± Mallory said, ¡°We just have a few more specialized organs than most other humans.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Lugash said, ¡°I presume you''re here to discuss your guildmates.¡±


    ¡°Aye,¡± Broon said, ¡°Where are they?¡±


    And at that, Lugash shifted uncomfortably, looking away. Broon narrowed his eyes. His hand fell to his sword.


    ¡°Where are they, Captain?¡±


    ¡°We... Look, it wasn''t my call, sir,¡± Lugash said.


    ¡°Oh?¡± Ezel said, and though she was smiling her eyes flashed a dangerous glint, ¡°And whose was it?¡±


    ¡°Was on the verge of mutiny, the ship was,¡± Lugash said, ¡°Crew didn''t give me much of a choice.¡±


    ¡°Fucking spill,¡± Mallory said.


    ¡°They''re... We left them behind,¡± Lugash said, ¡°At the Port of Solitude, in Agro-Kandano.¡±


    ¡°Agro-Kandano?¡± Broon growled.


    ¡°Hardly into the journey,¡± Lugash said, ¡°I''m sorry. The crew found out that one of yours was a metahuman. They weren''t having that.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Broon said. He removed his hand from Kilnriv''s hilt. Then he strode over to the Captain.


    And slugged him in the jaw.


    ***


    ¡°Makes my hand hurt, when I do that,¡± Broon said.


    ¡°At least you broke the bastard''s jaw,¡± Mallory said, ¡°What a waste of time.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Ezel said, ¡°It''s everything I could do to...¡±


    She was shaking in her seat. The three of them had gone to a tavern to calm down, to grab drinks to soothe their anger.


    It wasn''t working.


    Broon reached out, and rested his still-aching hand on Ezel''s shoulder.


    ¡°Hey,¡± he said, ¡°Just a punch, and that was that. Crew was looking away. Serves ''em right.¡±


    ¡°Let them feel shame,¡± Ezel said, though the way she said it, it sounded like she was trying to convince herself, ¡°I hope that crew gets nightmares, leaving them behind like that.¡±


    ¡°Rosemary and Phineas can look after themselves, Ezel,¡± Mallory said, ¡°It''s just Joe we have to worry about.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Ezel said, ¡°But... I''m worried. I can''t help but...¡±


    She took a deep breath. Took a sip of the beer Mallory had brought to the table. It was rare to see the demigod drink anything stronger than warm cider, and her entire face recoiled.


    Still, she took another sip after that. Broon couldn''t help but smirk.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said, ¡°What''s the plan now?¡±


    ¡°They could be anywhere,¡± Mallory said, ¡°Taken any ship. Gone any which way. Could have gone to the Silver Eye...¡±


    ¡°I hope not,¡± Ezel said, ¡°Joseph''s a metahuman.¡±


    ¡°It''s a risk he would take,¡± Broon said.


    They were quiet for a moment, staring down at their mugs. Broon picked his up, and drank it down. Then he took Ezel''s, and drained it, earning a look of reprimand from the demigod.


    ¡°What if we don''t chase them down?¡± Mallory said, ¡°What if we just... went to Melmaen?¡±


    Her two guildmates looked at her. The Steamer shrugged.


    ¡°Look,¡± she said, ¡°It''s no use going on a wild goose chase across the multiverse to track them down. I mean, we were barely getting a lead on them as is.¡±


    ¡°Wakeling wanted us to get them before they got to Melmaen,¡± Ezel said.


    ¡°Maybe,¡± Broon said, ¡°But Melmaen''s a big plane. Planet-sized. We could get to them before they get to the Museum of Unnatural History.¡±


    ¡°It''s an easy route, too,¡± Mallory said, ¡°If they were left behind on Agro-Kandano, it means they have to take a longer route to get to Melmaen. We can beat them there. Stop them right at the museum''s door.¡±


    Broon smiled, looking at Ezel.


    ¡°Well?¡± he said, ¡°What do you think?¡±


    The demigod looked nervous. Uncomfortable. Broon''s grin faltered.


    ¡°We don''t have to, at least,¡± he said, ¡°We can find another way.¡±


    ¡°I don''t see if there''s another way,¡± Ezel said, ¡°We''re just cutting it close.¡±


    ¡°We are,¡± Broon said, ¡°But sometimes that''s what the job requires, right?¡±


    ¡°I suppose,¡± Ezel said, ¡°Alright, let''s get going. But first, buy me another drink, dear.¡±


    She smirked at Broon. The half-orc blinked.


    ¡°But you... didn''t... like yours?¡±


    ***


    Joseph''s soul roared to life out of his back, the eagle fully realizing into the world, claws glistening, hawkish eyes narrowing. Rosemary pointed her sceptre directly at Mordenaro, who stood just at the campfire''s edge. Phineas merely opened his book, looking at the Guild of One curiously, his head slightly tilted.


    Mordenaro was wearing his usual duster. He was also wearing a wide-brimmed hat, black as the night, and for a moment his eyes were hidden by its shade before pulsing emerald green, scanning the three of them. Joseph saw his legs tense. His heart hammered.


    ¡°So we meet again, meta-man,¡± Mordenaro said.


    ¡°You remember me?¡±


    ¡°I remember most whom I face,¡± Mordenaro said, ¡°You held yourself high and tall, but you seem scarred, now.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, well,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Not everyone likes killing as much as you do.¡±


    ¡°It''s not the killing that excites me, meta-man,¡± Mordenaro said, ¡°It''s what happens before. The rush. The struggle. The fear in all hearts.¡±


    And he smirked. Rosemary adjusted her stance. The soul raised its fists.


    ¡°Tell me, meta-man,¡± Mordenaro said, ¡°Of the three of you, who am I going for, first?¡±


    Joseph''s eyes narrowed. Pondered out an attack plan. Flashed back to Mordenaro''s speed, his terrifying punches wailing on him like atomic bombs.


    ¡°Me,¡± he said.


    ¡°Wrong,¡± Mordenaro said, ¡°I would go after the Deep One. The fae''s sceptre is strong, but not enough. You I have faced, and broken. But the Deep One''s magic runs deep into the roots of the world. I would go after him first.¡±


    ¡°No, you wouldn''t,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Because I''ll get to you first.¡±


    ¡°You would act like your guildmate, the troll?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Joseph said.


    And he was shocked that he meant it. Mordenaro''s smirk deepened.


    ¡°Good, meta-man,¡± Mordenaro said, ¡°You look the part of the warrior, even if you shiver.¡±


    And his legs untensed. The Grim Walker stood tall.


    ¡°But you are not my targets. I merely wish to rest for the night.¡±


    ¡°You?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°I have traveled the length of the multiverse for this job, and even Walkers must rest, at times. May I join your fire?¡±


    The three of them looked at one another. They could, theoretically, say no. Turn him away. Let him sulk in the shadows. But Mordenaro was a dangerous being. It would be akin to refusing a demon.


    ¡°It''d be rude to say no,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Phineas said.


    Joseph sighed.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said, ¡°But I''m still keeping my guard up.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Mordenaro said, ¡°I am no enemy.¡±


    ¡°Let me be the judge of that.¡±


    Mordenaro drew forward into the greater light, sitting down at the fire, crossing his legs and simply staring at the violet flames. Joseph''s soul still crackled, still glared at him. Rosemary quietly lowered her sceptre, though she still held it tight. Phineas, however, closed his book.


    ¡°He is no enemy,¡± Phineas said, ¡°If he were, he would have attacked us by now.¡±


    ¡°Let me have my suspicions, Phin,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Very well,¡± Phineas said, ¡°So, Mordenaro, what is your job?¡±


    His guildmates blinked. Mordenaro nodded.


    ¡°I pursue a quarry across the multiverse,¡± he said, ¡°On behalf of a client I am not at liberty to reveal. The target lives in-between.¡±


    Joseph looked at Phineas. The Deep One was flipping through pages of his tome.


    ¡°In-between, Joseph,¡± he said, to his guildmate''s unvoiced question, ¡°Between planes. Worlds. Ideas. In that space we travel safely via Traveling Point. Is it a Dragon, Grim Walker?¡±


    ¡°I would not be so unkind,¡± Mordenaro said.


    ¡°I see. Something else, then,¡± Phineas said, ¡°Not a Deep One, I hope.¡±Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.


    ¡°No. Not that.¡±


    Phineas nodded, apparently losing interest in the conversation and returning to reading spells from his tome. Rosemary coughed. Joseph, after a few more moments of gauging the Guild of One, dropped his soul.


    Because Phineas was right.


    If Mordenaro wanted them dead, he would have killed them already.


    There was no subterfuge with him.


    Only action.


    ***


    They were quiet long into the night. Mordenaro did little save for staring at the purple fire. Aside from a few odd questions from Phineas, he was silent as the void. Joseph and Rosemary were far too nervous around the Guild of One to think of getting sleep. But the night drew long. And they were tired.


    ¡°I will keep watch,¡± Phineas said, ¡°I need little sleep.¡±


    ¡°I require none,¡± Mordenaro said, ¡°You may rest, Deep One. No one will accost us this night.¡±


    Rosemary shifted uncomfortably.


    ¡°My friends,¡± Phineas said, ¡°They do not trust you.¡±


    ¡°And why is that?¡±


    ¡°Because you have hurt them before,¡± Phineas said, ¡°They will feel better if we keep watch.¡±


    At that, the Guild of One tilted his head, as though Phineas''s words confused him. His eyes glowed green for a moment as he pondered. Then, he gave a curt nod.


    ¡°An understandable assessment,¡± he said, ¡°Very well. You may set up your camp, Amber Foundation. I will not harm you. The Deep One may hold vigil.¡±


    He said everything like he was permitting them. Joseph hated that. Hated the way that he seemed... confused, by them. Like killing Nole, killing Shetavalk, had been nothing to him. Part of him hated Mordenaro for that.


    Part of him was jealous of it, too, at his uncaring nature. He wished that were him.


    Rosemary was laying out their bed mats. Their ceiling tonight was the sky above, dreadful and dark. Joseph stared up at it as he tried to sleep. Tried to think of the stars back home. Nai Nai showing him constellations through her telescope. Going out into the wilderness with friends, staring up to see the sea of stars. None of that, here.


    The world above was empty and hollow.


    He turned on his side, closed his eyes.


    His dreams were disturbed. He saw Nole in them, injured and broken on the train, torn to pieces, his skull caved in by Mordenaro''s fists. He saw his remains in a bloody bag, his head swaying like a pendulum.


    This, and more.


    ***


    He was twelve.


    He had just come home, near dinner time. A direct violation of his parents'' orders, to come back home as soon as school ended. But Joseph had flaunted those rules each and every time he was reminded of them, choosing to stay out later and later.


    They ignored him most of the time anyways, so why should they care? They hardly commented most nights, when he came home, and they had already eaten dinner. On those nights they came home early at all. He would eat dinner with them. They would interrogate him about his day. How his grades were. Was he behaving himself. Did he eat his mother''s lunch.


    Never a ¡°How are you, Joseph.¡±


    Never a ¡°What did you do today?¡±


    Never a question about his friends, unless it was to disapprove of them.


    No, just the baseline questions. The surface-level inquiries. The sort of questions one uses to make sure their child, superficially, is fine. No questions that prodded how he was, what he was feeling, who was bullying him, what he wanted to do in the summer. No talk of going out, as a family, anywhere. The weekend would be the same as the weekday, his father at work and his mother out with her friends.


    Little family outings, those bonding moments, the memories of a happier childhood, had belonged to his older siblings.


    And speak of the devil, who was sitting at the table with his dad now.


    Zheng Liu was the eldest of the Zheng children. He was also the only one with a Chinese name. Nai Nai had insisted that her son name his firstborn something nice and traditional. It meant ''Willow Tree,'' though Joseph had had to look it up online to find out. The truth of the matter was that the eldest of the Zheng children took after his father, going by an American name when in public, only going by Liu when talking to Nai Nai, and only Nai Nai.


    Joseph had always heard of him being called Luke. Luke Zheng. Eldest of the Zhengs, a full eighteen years Joseph''s senior. He was practically an uncle to him, thirty years old, looking much like their father in his younger years. He was a surgeon, too, and was dressed up in a nice suit. Father and son, watching the youngest walk through the door to the table, mirror images of the past and present.


    Both of them, with looks of stern disappointment on their faces.


    ¡°''Sup,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Joseph,¡± his dad said, ¡°Where have you been?¡±


    ¡°Out.¡±


    ¡°Where?¡±


    ¡°Just out,¡± Joseph said.


    His dad''s eyes narrowed, but he said nothing else, instead gesturing for Joseph to sit. Joseph did so, casually tossing his backpack onto the couch as he went.


    The smell of food was drifting from the kitchen. A rare night where mom was cooking. Banmian noodles, Joseph knew. Luke''s favorite. His favorite, too, but he knew his mom was not cooking for him.


    ¡°It''s good to see you, Joseph,¡± Luke said, ¡°You''ve gotten taller.¡±


    ¡°Hey, Luke,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Thought you weren''t coming down here ''til summer.¡±


    ¡°I had a bit of time off,¡± Luke said, ¡°And Dad asked me to come down.¡±


    There was¡­ something in his voice. Like he had prepared himself to say that. Rehearsed casualness.


    He smiled, ruffled Joseph''s hair.


    ¡°We''ll talk after dinner.¡±


    ***


    He awoke in the middle of the night, his entire body aching from a lack of good sleep. The campfire had reduced down to a few lonely mauve embers, and the world was cold. Mordenaro had not moved. Phineas was still sitting down, still ruffling through the pages of his tome. He turned to Joseph, somehow aware that he had awoken.


    ¡°Your dreams,¡± the Deep One said, ¡°They are sad.¡±


    Joseph was quiet.


    ¡°I am sorry that they are, Joseph,¡± Phineas said, ¡°It makes me sad, that I cannot help you when you close your eyes.¡±


    ¡°Is it really that bad?¡± Joseph asked, annoyed.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Phineas said, ¡°I''ve been able to see them, when you sleep. I do not mean to pry, but it is akin to you screaming at night.¡±


    There was such a frank honesty to Phineas''s voice, that Joseph''s heart fell. He felt guilt crawl up into his chest.


    ¡°Sorry, Phin,¡± he said.


    ¡°It is alright,¡± Phineas said, ¡°What matters is that nightmares end. You are awake now.¡±


    ¡°What time is it?¡±


    ¡°Four in the morning,¡± Phineas said, ¡°There is time for you yet to sleep.¡±


    ¡°I...¡± Joseph shrugged, ¡°Don''t want to. You should get some, though.¡±


    ¡°You will take my watch?¡±


    ¡°Sure thing. Trust me, I¡¯ve gotten enough sleep.¡±


    The Deep One closed up his tome, and got up. He waddled over to his bed mat, slipping underneath it like it was a blanket.


    ¡°Good night, Joseph,¡± he said.


    ¡°''Night, Phin.¡±


    It was disturbing how quickly his guildmate could go to sleep, for as Joseph unwrapped himself from his bed mat and walked over to the fire, blanket still covering him like a cloak, Phineas had gone to sleep, watery coos whispering in the night. Rosemary, too, was still asleep, bundled up and snoring softly. She, at least, didn''t seem affected by nightmares.


    Or, perhaps, she was better at hiding them.


    Mordenaro still had not moved. It was as though he were a robot, and had simply shut down. Without the aid of the campfire, he was nothing more than a dark silhouette.


    The events of a seeming lifetime ago, of fighting Mordenaro across the multiverse, the sheer desperation, was written into Joseph''s soul. Even now, as he looked at the Guild of One, he could not help but feel his fight-or-flight response kicking in.


    Mordenaro, for his part, did nothing. Not for a long time.


    An eternity passed before he spoke again.


    ¡°You''re different, meta-man.¡±


    Joseph looked up at him. The Guild of One was looking at him now, re-awakened, those eyes beating green like twin hearts.


    ¡°You''re broken. And it was not I who did that.¡±


    Joseph glared at him.


    ¡°You were the start,¡± he said.


    ¡°Hmm, perhaps,¡± Mordenaro said, ¡°I thought you stronger, meta-man.¡±


    ¡°My name is Joseph.¡±


    ¡°Joseph,¡± Mordenaro said, and his eyes flashed bright, ¡°That name is used on many planes. Prime. Micondria. Earth.¡±


    Joseph looked up at him.


    ¡°Yes, I have been there,¡± Mordenaro said, ¡°I have been on many planes of the multiverse. It is your home?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph said, ¡°It is.¡±


    ¡°An... interesting place.¡±


    ¡°When were you there last?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°A thousand years ago,¡± Mordenaro said, ¡°Very little of interest to me happens there. A client reached out into the multiverse, and requested my aid.¡±


    A thousand years ago. 1023 AD. Joseph leaned forward.


    ¡°What are you?¡± he asked.


    Mordenaro shrugged.


    ¡°I do not know,¡± he said, ¡°I lost what I was long ago, in pursuit of my dream.¡±


    ¡°Your dream.¡±


    ¡°I do not bleed, Joseph,¡± Mordenaro said, ¡°You saw the holes torn in me. They lead nowhere. The skin that is torn repairs itself soon enough. I detect I have cybernetics, but they are both here and not-here. Part of my soul lives in the in-between spaces. I dipped my heart into that thing known as Imagination, and I believe I lost part of it, somewhere.¡±


    Joseph''s eyes narrowed.


    ¡°All for your dream.¡±


    ¡°All in pursuit of strength,¡± Mordenaro said, ¡°We all live for what we wish for. Mine is to become stronger. To face interesting foes. That is why I abandoned my mission, on Nesona, to duel you. Metahumans present unique challenges.¡±


    ¡°That''s all I am to you, then,¡± Joseph said, ¡°A unique challenge.¡±


    ¡°It saved the prince, did it not?¡± Mordenaro said, ¡°You acted as the troll acted, as a sacrifice to me.¡±


    Joseph was quiet at that.


    ¡°That is my dream, to face those such as you,¡± Mordenaro said, ¡°I live as I see fit. I live doing what I love.¡±


    He had not moved the entire time he had spoken. At last, however, he did, almost robotically, jerking forward in a lean.


    ¡°What is your dream?¡±


    ***


    They ate dinner. Traded a couple awkward questions. Luke laughed easily with mom and dad ¨C but then, he was the eldest, the apple of their eye, and the way his father looked at him was not the way he looked at Joseph. There was pride in those eyes, not exhaustion. Luke had made it. He had his own practice down in LA. He was married ¨C though the only black mark on his record was he had no kids. Yet, of course.


    Their conversation was light and easy, nothing like how his parents spoke to Joseph. And when dinner was done, his mother began clearing off the table, taking their bowls and glasses and putting them into the dishwasher. That had been a source of contention between her and her husband ¨C Joseph''s father had never used a dishwasher growing up, using it more like a drying rack. His mom, though, hadn¡¯t been raised like that. She had been adopted, and her family had insisted on using it every week. She was loading it up as Luke and his dad looked at each other for a moment, before Luke got up and walked over to his briefcase on the coffee table. He opened it up, taking out a manila folder. He handed it to Joseph.


    ¡°Alright, Joseph,¡± he said, ¡°Dad and I''ve been talking. We think it''s time you had a plan.¡±


    ¡°A... plan?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Sure thing,¡± Luke said, ¡°For your future. What schools to get in, what grades to aim for.¡±


    ¡°Where''s this coming from?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Your grades, Joseph,¡± his dad said, ¡°They''ve been falling. I had a talk with your principal about it last week.¡±


    Joseph winced. Now his mom was sitting down with them, a look of concern on her face.


    ¡°We''re very disappointed in you, Joseph,¡± she said, ¡°We expected better of you.¡±


    Anger bloomed in his chest, but he knew there was no point yelling about it. He forced it down. His face was a mixture of emotions as he did so, his parents and brother waiting for him to get a grip.


    ¡°Your brothers'' grades weren''t this low, when they were your age,¡± his dad said, ¡°Even your sister''s were acceptable. But a C, Joseph? In Mathematics?¡±


    ¡°We talked about it, Joseph,¡± Luke said, ¡°And I think it''s because you don''t have a plan, right? You don''t know what you want to do with your life.¡±


    ¡°You think you''re just going to drift through everything?¡± his mom said, ¡°You think you''re just going to find a job that pays enough to have a wife, raise a family?¡±


    He had never thought about a family. Never even considered the thought.


    Why have a family, when they¡¯d be like this?


    ¡°So we thought, if you had something to work towards, it would improve your grades,¡± Luke said, ¡°Go ahead, open the folder.¡±


    Joseph looked down, gritting his teeth. He opened the folder up.


    ***


    ¡°My dream?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Your dream. Your goal. The reason you exist, meta-man,¡± Mordenaro said.


    He moved again, more fluid than he had before, more organic. For the first time, there was something that flashed in his eyes, something real.


    ¡°All of us have dreams, Joseph. It is what drives us forward, what defines us, what makes us more than just apes on the rocks.¡±


    ¡°Apes on the rocks?¡±


    ¡°Are you a mere animal, Joseph?¡± Mordenaro said, ¡°Or is there more to you than meets the eye?¡±


    ***


    ¡°If you want to be like us, you''ve got to be a doctor of some sort,¡± Luke said, ¡°Or an engineer. Maybe a lawyer, though I wouldn''t recommend it. Lily was taking a look into that before she met Dyvone.¡±


    Joseph was looking at the three papers before him. Each of them was a spider web of classes in school, grades to aim for, all of them ending at one single line, at the bottom, underlined and circled: Engineer, Doctor, Lawyer.


    ¡°It took me all night to write these up,¡± Luke said, ¡°I talked to my colleagues about it, reached out to a few of my old college buds. They assured me that these were the paths to take, if you''re going to make it.¡±


    ¡°Going to... make it?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°The time''s come for you to be a man, Joseph,¡± his dad said, ¡°You''re about to head into the most important years of your life. The grades you make, the academic landmarks you must achieve, are absolutely paramount to get a stable life and a respectable job.¡±


    ¡°And the way you''re going, Joseph,¡± his mom said, ¡°You''re not going to get any of that. You''ve got to turn things around, Joseph. You can''t afford to flunk your classes anymore.¡±


    ¡°You honestly shouldn''t have, before,¡± Luke said, ¡°Because all three plans, they need you to get into Alsbury Private.¡±


    He pointed at each paper, showing Alsbury Private. A notorious high school, one of the best in the state. Known for being incredibly ruthless in its application process, taking only the best of the best.


    ¡°Both of your brothers have gone, so there is precedent,¡± his father said, ¡°But that just means that you must get in, as well. You must stop slacking off in your studies if you hope to make it in the world, my son. Do you understand?¡±


    ¡°I do,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°I do, sir.¡±


    ¡°Sir,¡± Joseph mumbled.


    Luke smiled again, and ruffled Joseph''s hair, noting how Joseph had not moved since the entire conversation had begun. The young boy was still staring at the table, at the three papers.


    ¡°I think we should just go over what we need to do now,¡± he said, ¡°I''ve got your report card here from last semester. Let''s go over it, see what you need to work on in order to secure straight A''s. Alright?¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    He was quiet as they went over everything. The grades. The classes. Which professors, in college, to suck up to. What practices to get started at. What kind of patients to operate on, or projects to take on, or clients to prosecute.


    His whole life, planned out for him, step by step.


    And when he went to bed that night, Joseph had but one thought.


    To hell with a plan.


    ***


    ¡°What if that dream is to just live another day?¡±


    Rosemary''s voice pierced through the night. Joseph turned to her. She was rising out of bed, looking directly at Mordenaro. Joseph had hardly noticed her waking up in the night.


    ¡°That, too, is a dream,¡± Mordenaro said, ¡°For a long time, that was my dream.¡±


    ¡°You say it so easily,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°You say it like it''s an easy thing to do, living in accordance to your dream.¡±


    ¡°It is.¡±


    ¡°Maybe it is, for you,¡± Rosemary said, her brow furrowing, ¡°Because you''ve already attained it. You live each day fighting gods, monsters. Getting paid to do so. You''ve probably been doing that for thousands of years.¡±


    ¡°And I worked for thousands more to get to where I am,¡± Mordenaro said, ¡°I did not say that the path to the dream is an easy one. It is not so easy as to lift oneself up from the rock, and walk. Apes did not evolve into humans overnight, and I did not become what I am by mere happenstance.¡±


    ¡°It took work.¡±


    ¡°That it did.¡±


    Rosemary was quiet. She stood up, walking over to the campfire, sceptre in hand. She sat down by Joseph, getting close to him. She was... nervous, he realized.


    ¡°Mind if I ask you a question?¡±


    The Grim Walker nodded.


    ¡°Nole and Shetavalk,¡± she said, ¡°You killed them.¡±


    ¡°The Spioa''s death was ignoble, the troll was among the most vicious enemies I have faced,¡± Mordenaro said.


    Rosemary winced.


    ¡°It is the Law of InterGuild,¡± Mordenaro said, ¡°Is it simple business.¡±


    ¡°On some level, I know that,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Just... you messed up our friends really badly. Those that are still around, I mean.¡±


    ¡°The meta-man is a broken creature,¡± Mordenaro said.


    ¡°So''s G-Wiz,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Archenround, she still doesn''t slither right.¡±


    ¡°That is a question between they and themselves,¡± Mordenaro said, ¡°I am hired to break. Those that get in my way will be broken. If not me, then someone else.¡±


    It was as though he had physically slapped her. Rosemary visibly recoiled. Joseph glared at the Grim Walker.


    ¡°You''re a rotten son of a bitch, aren''t you,¡± he growled.


    ¡°There''s the metahuman I fought on Nesona,¡± Mordenaro said, ¡°I see what brings out the best in you.¡±


    ¡°What''s that mean?¡±


    ¡°Perhaps I should kill the Deep One,¡± Mordenaro said, ¡°It would make you angry.¡±


    At this, Joseph rose to his feet. Sparks flew in the air, lighting up the night.


    ¡°Say that again,¡± he said, ¡°Go on. I¡¯m ready for round two.


    ¡°Joseph,¡± Rosemary said, and there was a light thrill of fear in her voice, one that he had never heard in her before, ¡°Please.¡±


    The Guild of One, however, had not moved. He was, instead, smiling. A proud smile.


    The way he looked at Joseph was the way that his father looked at Luke.


    ¡°You fight well, meta-man,¡± Mordenaro said, ¡°As did the troll. I look back on those days with fondness. Even the Spioa, despite himself, did not die like a coward. He did his best to keep me at bay. And for that, you have my thanks.¡±


    Joseph rose.


    ¡°I will not hurt the Deep One, I swear,¡± Mordenaro said, ¡°It was a ruse. Anger suits you, Joseph.¡±


    ¡°Let''s get out of here,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°You''ll need to excuse us. We''re heading out.¡±


    The Grim Walker did not reply. He merely turned to stare, once more, at the campfire''s purple embers. Rosemary walked over and nudged Phineas awake.


    ¡°Did you sleep enough?¡± she whispered.


    ¡°I did,¡± Phineas rasped.


    ¡°We''re leaving,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Come on.¡±


    And they did so, rolling up their bed mats and putting them into Phineas''s bag. It was dark out, with no stars to guide their way. Instead, Joseph manifested his soul, the eagle realizing into the world and acting as a great beacon to light the path.


    Mordenaro stayed behind. They left him to his victories and to his hunt, and walked across the glass and ash wastes.


    As they crested up a hill, Phineas stopped and turned. Despite the darkness, Joseph knew the Deep One could still see the Grim Walker.


    ¡°He looks lonely,¡± Phineas said.


    And he turned, and continued waddling on.

 94. Fire in the Multiverse

    It was known as the CITY. The entire plane was an urban sprawl, stretching across the vast expanses. The CITY was flat. The CITY had no end. It had always been, with records of its involvement in the multiverse stretching far back into the annals of history. It had been a Sybil of the CITY who had been witness to the Age of Abandonment, when the Alu''eer had left the High Federation and ascended elsewhere.


    As such, it was a multiversal reflection of the High Federation itself: futuristic, massive on a scale scarce comprehensible, run-down and broken. The high rises that jutted out of the earth like silver knives were worn and rusted. Ships from a millenia ago flew under a clouded sky.


    Broon, Ezel, and Mallory were just stepping out of the Traveling Point, which was located on a bridge across a polluted, ancient river below. It was one of the busiest Traveling Points on the plane, and they were jostled and shoved through a crowd of the weird and wonderful on their arrival. They stepped quickly over to the side to get their bearings. Mallory leaned over a railing, looking at the brackish water below. Broon looked over Ezel''s shoulder as she pulled out their makeshift map. The half-orc pointed at the CITY.


    ¡°Right,¡± Broon said, ¡°We just have to take a ship to the Traveling Point floating over Aldmenis Tower, and we''re there.¡±


    ¡°Melmaen,¡± Ezel said, ¡°It''s been a few years since I''ve been.¡±


    ¡°Not since the Walker Job, right?¡± Broon said, ¡°Feels like it was yesterday.¡±


    ¡°Makes me feel... old,¡± Ezel said, ¡°Funny, I never thought about that before.¡±


    ¡°I''ve never been,¡± Mallory said, ¡°The Walker Job?¡±


    ¡°That was a bit before your time, I think,¡± Broon said, ¡°Back when Tyler was our Steamer. The Walkers are a prominent noble family there, we were hired as a security detail for a wedding. Lazuli was there, and-¡±


    Ezel suppressed a snorting laugh.


    ¡°He, ah, pulled a few pranks,¡± Broon said, ¡°We don''t take jobs from the Walkers anymore.¡±


    ¡°Sounds like him,¡± Mallory said.


    ¡°Come on, time''s of the essence,¡± Broon said. He made to leave, as did Mallory. The two of them began to push back into the crowd when the half-orc stopped, turned around. Ezel had not moved from her spot. She had stowed away her map, and was now looking out past the bridge.


    ¡°Alright, Ezel?¡±


    ¡°The river,¡± she said, ¡°It''s so... I had no idea it had gotten this bad.¡±


    ¡°This bad?¡± Broon said.


    Aye, it was more than polluted, when he looked down at it. The water was a dark, murky brown, and it was not from mud. Plastic bottles, old trash cans, tires, and more floated on its surface. A wagon had been tossed in, as well, jutting from the shallows and crusted over with rust and muck.


    ¡°I... I used to come here, as a child,¡± she said, ¡°My father would whisk me across the multiverse, on those days that he could incarnate from the Hanging Gardens. It was cleaner, then. I could hear the water, hear her voice.¡±


    ¡°But then...?¡±


    Ezel sighed.


    ¡°I heard that the Federation struck a number of trade deals with the Sybil. Factories that were set up, as if they don''t have enough of those back in the Silver Eye. I just...¡±


    She trailed off. Broon walked over and placed a hand on her shoulder, which she removed and took into her own.


    ¡°Every river has a voice, Broon,¡± she said, ¡°It''s a sad thing, when it''s snuffed out.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Broon said.


    ¡°We should think of a plan,¡± Ezel said, ¡°For when we get to Melmaen. How we''re going to stop Rosemary''s team.¡±


    ¡°You''re right,¡± Broon said, ¡°Think they''ll see reason?¡±


    Mallory drew up beside them.


    ¡°Rosemary, maybe,¡± the Steamer said, ¡°Phineas tends to follow whoever he likes the most, and he really likes Joe.¡±


    ¡°And Joseph...?¡± Ezel asked.


    ¡°I dunno,¡± Mallory said, ¡°But he''s pissed.¡±


    She let that sink in. The three of them stood for a few moments.


    ¡°We should get moving,¡± Broon said, ¡°We''ll discuss a plan once we get on the next ship.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Ezel said. She cast one more sad glance to the river below, before turning, ¡°Let''s go.¡±


    ***


    They walked in the early morning, away from Mordenaro and his words, his darkness, his statue-like movements. A bit of the Grim Walker was carried in them, was carried in the night around them. Joseph lit the way with his soul, the eagle coalescing around his arms like sleeves and illuminating the path.


    Much of the road was the same, a vague walkway from here to there. The ground beneath them was smooth in some places, jagged in others. At some point, the ground crunched under their feet as though they were walking through gravel, in others, they had to poke around and find their footing carefully from errant pieces of glass that jutted out of the ground.


    There were few reminders, here in the pre-dusk morn, that Shazuad had once been a living place. With only the path in front of them and behind them in sight, they could only get a feeling for what the plane was by touch and by the bare few feet the soul''s light afforded them.


    All of it was wasteland.


    They didn''t speak, not until dawn began painting itself on the world. The sun rose in the distance, crawling over the ashglass mounds on the horizon. Even the sky was sickly, the blue a bit too pale to be healthy.


    ¡°Joseph,¡± Phineas said, ¡°He is following us.¡±


    Joseph stopped, turning around, eagle''s head glaring out to the horizon behind. He felt an involuntary thrill of fear overtake him as he noted Mordenaro''s familiar black dot striding towards them. The last time he had seen that...


    He suppressed another shudder, choked down the ghost fear in his voice.


    ¡°It''s fine,¡± he said, ¡°We''re on the same path, right? There''s no other Traveling Points here?¡±


    ¡°None that I am aware of,¡± Phineas replied.


    ¡°Well, it''s only natural then,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Let''s just keep going, yeah?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Joseph, will you be alright?¡±


    Joseph looked at her.


    ¡°Alright?¡± he asked.


    ¡°There''s just...¡± Rosemary glanced away nervously, before doubling down, ¡°There''s a way you''re looking out there. The way your soul''s spasming. Like you''ve seen a ghost.¡±


    ¡°I''m fine,¡± Joseph said, a bit too forcefully, ¡°Let''s go.¡±


    And he set off again.


    The barest scent of ozone hinted the air as they followed off with him again.


    ***


    They ate lunch on the move, Joseph unwilling to stop, not with Mordenaro following behind them. He kept glancing back at the Grim Walker, who was beginning to gain on them as the day wore on. Joseph responded in turn, picking up his pace, to the point that he was beginning to outstrip his guildmates. Phineas practically had to jog to keep up. Rosemary herself drew up beside Joseph and gave him a look.


    ¡°What''s up, Joe?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Nothing.¡±


    ¡°Joseph, come on,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Seriously, ever since last night...¡±


    ¡°I''m running on four hours of sleep, Rosemary,¡± Joseph said, ¡°And I just want to get off this godforsaken rock.¡±


    ¡°And that''s it.¡±


    ¡°That''s it,¡± Joseph said.


    And he glanced back behind him. To Mordenaro. Rosemary sighed.


    ¡°Alright, dude,¡± she said, ¡°Stop.¡±


    The metahuman glared at her.


    ¡°Stop?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Yeah, stop,¡± Rosemary said, and she shot out a hand to grab his arm, pulling him to a standstill, ¡°You too, Phineas.¡±


    The Deep One, panting, nodded and slowed down, webbed hands resting on his frog-like knees as he caught his breath.


    ¡°Alright,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°This way.¡±


    And she pulled Joseph by the arm off the path. Joseph opened his mouth to object, but as he did so she tugged on his arm, causing him to stumble forward and catch his footing.


    He shut up after that.


    Rosemary took them off of the path and towards one of the few landmarks in the distance, an old tower that was jutting out of the earth like an errant tooth.


    ¡°Rosemary,¡± Joseph said, ¡°What''s the point of-¡±


    She let go of his arm, turning to him.


    ¡°And now,¡± she said, ¡°We wait.¡±


    ¡°For what?¡±


    ¡°For Mordenaro to leave.¡±


    And it was then that Joseph realized what Rosemary was doing. He glanced back to the path, to the Guild of One as he made his way down the road. They were half-hidden by the mounds and the tower''s corpse, dots on the horizon from the Grim Walker''s perspective. A reversal of roles, indeed.


    Mordenaro walked, eclipsed where they had been on the road, kept moving.


    He didn''t even stop to consider them, and Joseph knew that he was aware of them.


    Yet his heart''s hammering slowed down as Mordenaro walked well and away.


    ¡°There,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°How are you feeling?¡±


    ¡°...Better,¡± Joseph said, and he hated saying that, ¡°Thanks, Rosemary.¡±


    ¡°When you have something like that, don''t just run away from it,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Run to the side, you know? Some things can only catch you when they''re running in a straight line.¡±


    ¡°Like cheetahs,¡± Phineas said.


    They both looked at him. The Deep One shrugged.


    ¡°I like cheetahs,¡± he said.


    Joseph, despite himself, let out a chuckle at that. It grew into relieved laughter as he noted that there was no longer a dark blot on the horizon.


    ¡°You''re the salt of the earth, Phin,¡± he said, ¡°Jesus Christ.¡±


    ***


    The rest of the journey took up most of the remainder of the day. They arrived at the Traveling Point in the evening. It was located between two watchtowers, atop of which were Federation soldiers who lazily waved at them as they went forward. This far from the Silver Eye, across the expanse of a broken place, things were not as formal and hard-nosed. A Federation soldier spoke through a speaker at them, Rosemary held up their guild IDs to a small scanner located at one of the watchtower''s bases, and they were through.


    Joseph was glad to be rid of this place. All of Shazuad had been a quiet, somber affair. He immediately felt a wave of calm run over him as he stepped into the Traveling Point, the ocean of the multiverse deluging him, a miasma of color and life.


    Part of him now understood why metahumans had spread across the multiverse. This journey between planes, this glimpse of the world between worlds, when one was not within a ship, was exhilarating. Rosemary glanced over at him, noted the smile on his face, and grinned at him.


    ***


    Gouffant, one of their guildmates back at Castle Belenus, had told them a bit about St. Malendia''s. The large rat was scarfing down the remainders of everyone''s dinners as he spoke, the bones, the leftover broths, Mallory''s uneaten bread crusts.


    ¡°It''s a giant cathedral,¡± Gouffant said, ¡°To some lady. Malendia, I think her name was.¡±


    ¡°Nah, couldn''t be,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Ha, ha, runt,¡± Gouffant said, ¡°You watch yourself.¡±


    ¡°And I¡¯m looking fine,¡± Joseph said.


    Gouffant rolled his eyes. Smiled his rat smile.


    ¡°Anyways, imagine a cathedral,¡± he said, ¡°A church. All stonework and whatnot. Extends as far as the eye can see. A lot of places to hide.¡±


    It was this conversation that stirred in Joseph¡¯s head as he stepped through the Traveling Point.


    Indeed, St. Malendia''s was a cathedral, squared and multiplied across the entire breadth of the plane, endless stone hallways and tucked away rooms, hundreds of chapels, every window a stained glass masterpiece, depicting the life of St. Malendia and her struggles in the earliest dawn of the multiverse. Every chapel hall depicted a statue of her, along with marble reliefs of a variety of figures throughout history.


    The Traveling Point was in a quiet little chapel, dominated by a stained glass relief of St. Malendia, a dark-skinned woman in pure white robes, in her hand a moon, on her feet twin crosses. A pair of Federation soldiers were lazing by the chapel''s exit, both of them in the same white military gear as back in the Silver Eye. One of them looked over at them.


    ¡°Great,¡± Joseph muttered.


    ¡°State your purpose,¡± the soldier said.


    ¡°Ah, we''re Amber Foundation,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Just on guild business.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± the soldier said, ¡°Guild IDs, please.¡±


    Rosemary presented them. The soldier looked them over, and gave a nod.


    ¡°Name your species,¡± the soldier said.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    ¡°Any reason why?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Hey, pal, no need to get snippy,¡± the soldier said, ¡°Just been having some interesting times here at St. Malendia''s, making sure none of the usual Mutts are involved, you know?¡±


    Joseph, inwardly, seethed.


    ¡°Human,¡± he lied.


    ¡°Elf,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°Deep One.¡±


    The Federation soldier appraised each of them in turn. Then turned to his comrade. They spoke quietly and quickly, in a guttural language Joseph didn''t understand. He turned back to look at Joseph.


    ¡°And our guys on the other side just let you through?¡±


    ¡°I told you,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°We''re here on guild business. Just passing through to get to Melmaen.¡±


    ¡°And what''s on Melmaen?¡±


    ¡°Guild business,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Meeting a client, that''s all.¡±


    ¡°Do you have a copy of the contract?¡± the soldier asked.


    ¡°No,¡± Rosemary said, quickly, ¡°One hasn''t officially been written up. We''re going to the client; they didn''t come to us. We''ll write it up, and provide the usual reports when the job is finished.¡±


    ¡°They do have guild IDs,¡± one said to the other.


    ¡°Yeah, but still,¡± the first soldier said, ¡°Don''t like the looks of ''em.¡±


    They conversed again in that language, and though both of their faces were covered by helmets Joseph noted that they were looking at them, glancing their way every so often. Then one let out an audible, exhausted sigh.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said, ¡°You three, we''re going to the main gate. Have a few more things to confirm with you.¡±


    ¡°Kind of on a time crunch, guy,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°You want to be on more of a time crunch?¡± the soldier said, ¡°Spend the weekend in a holding cell?¡±


    Joseph gritted his teeth.


    ¡°That''s what I thought. Now, just follow me, and we''ll get this all sorted out soon enough.¡±


    The guard moved off, heading down the hall. Joseph, after a nervous glance to Rosemary and Phineas, walked after him. They trailed a bit behind him to murmur to each other.


    ¡°Recognize the language?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°No,¡± Rosemary whispered.


    ¡°I did not.¡±


    ¡°Any idea what they''re gonna do?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Probably get a genetic scanner,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Find out if we''re...¡±


    She trailed off. All three of them knew what she meant by that.


    ¡°Alright,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Phin, cover us if you have to. We make a break for it.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Just be careful, yeah?¡±


    The guard, if he could hear them, said nothing. He, instead, guided them to the main chapel.


    St. Malendia''s, due to its vast size, had many Traveling Points, tucked away in hidden broom closets, or floating in chapels, one was even known to be within a window that depicted the plane it was in forecast with. Those Traveling Points that were known were cordoned off, guarded by Federation soldiers.


    The guard took them to a chapel, much larger than the one they had been in, and also one that was much livelier. Nomads and merchants, outlanders, guildfolk, all of them were arrayed in a line, a crowd streaming in from three Traveling Points where the doors would have been. They snaked towards the end of the chapel, where atop of the raised chancel was a large desk flanked by two Federation soldiers, an official taking down names and rifling through paperwork.


    ¡°You''re lucky you came from Sazuad,¡± their soldier said, ¡°Otherwise you''d be with this lot. Follow me.¡±


    He pushed through the crowd, growling at them, guiding the three of them through the mass, towards the chancel. People stared at him as he walked, eyes of a dozen shapes and colors glaring. A few people began to whisper.


    And Joseph''s heart suddenly began to quicken. Phineas pulled at his shirt.


    ¡°Joseph,¡± he rasped, ¡°Something is wrong.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Joseph said, ¡°On the count of three, we disappear.¡±


    ¡°It is not that, Joseph,¡± Phineas said, ¡°Stop moving.¡±


    ¡°Not yet, Phin-¡±


    ¡°Stop.¡±


    And Phineas tugged Joseph back, his other webbed hand snarling at Rosemary''s cloak, pulling her with such force that she slipped and fell.


    ¡°What the heck, Phin-¡±


    They heard a voice. A scream.


    ¡°Gandayal Okuta!¡±


    The world shook, fell apart. A moment later, a deep bang rocketed across the cathedral. Joseph felt himself flying back, felt a wave of heat rush wash over him. People screamed. The smell of fire, of plasma, shuddered through the air.


    He landed hard.


    ¡°Phineas!¡± he roared, though he could not hear his own voice. All he could hear was ringing. The chancel was a smoldering ruin, green and orange flames spread across the chapel''s floor. Bodies ¨C or pieces of bodies ¨C were lying on the ground. People were holding some of those bodies, rocking them back and forth. Trying to shake corpses awake.


    ¡°Rosemary,¡± Joseph felt himself say, ¡°Phineas, where-?¡±


    But he could not see them. By this point, Federation soldiers were streaming in from other rooms. They were pulling people to their feet, holding handheld scanners to the victims'' foreheads. One of them rushed towards Joseph, scanner in hand.


    Joseph pulled himself to his feet, his head swimming. He could scarce feel the soldier slam the scanner into his head. The scanner flashed green.


    The soldier slammed the butt of his rifle into the side of Joseph''s head. Pain blossomed through the screaming ring, and he fell sideways to the ground-


    Someone was leaping through the flames on the chancel. A being of fire, a symbol emblazoned on his chest made of scarred-over magma. A man with four arms and four legs splayed out, with an oval-shaped head. He raised up a rifle and opened fire. More silent screams. The Federation soldier who had struck Joseph fell to the ground, a plasma bolt burned through his chest. More chaos, the chapel lighting up with red and green bolts.


    And Joseph felt himself getting dragged away. He groaned, looking up, his soul starting up its circuit.


    It was a woman dragging him. With white hair and pale skin, and as she looked at him with a look of controlled panic, he noted that her eyes were a brilliant, burning scarlet.


    She mouthed something to him. He wasn''t sure what she was saying. But she was not yelling. She carried no weapons. She was pulling at Joseph, who got to his feet, stumbling a bit.


    She let go, gestured for him to follow her.


    The man on fire was still firing at the crowd indiscriminately. Joseph ran after her down the hall.


    ***


    Rosemary had been scanned, then discarded. Then the Omendrai had leapt onto the chancel and opened fire on the crowd. Rosemary hit the ground running, dodging as a plasma bolt slammed into a merchant, his husband roaring out and holding onto his dead lover. But the world was a ringing one, and Rosemary was glad she could not hear the screams.


    No, she was in full panic mode, pulling her sceptre free and forming a shield between her and the Omendrai. The Omendrai, however, was busy firing at the soldiers who were trying to take him down, plasma bolts ringing across the chapel hall.


    She was aware, distantly, of Phineas waddling away. He had been...


    Oh god, Phineas.


    He had been struck by a bolt, and the Deep One was now wheezing and limping, a plasma burn running across his side. It had drilled deep. His eyes locked with her, and he began stumbling towards her. Rosemary ran over to meet with him, her shield still blocking her from the Omendrai''s line of fire. She lifted Phineas''s arm over her shoulder.


    Amidst the flames, the plasma, the roars they could not hear, they dragged themselves away from the chapel. Down into one of the side halls, getting jostled by the crowd as they shoved and pushed to get out of the hell behind them.


    For a moment, the world swam as a minotaur shoved Rosemary into a wall, dashing her head against the stone. She grimaced, pushing forward.


    Phineas pointed. There, ignored by the crowd as they choked their way down the halls, was a side door. They made their way down to it, opening the door and going inside.


    It was a monk''s study, a homely little place, lit by everburning torches, with a desk and a couple of comfy, aged chairs. A couple shelves, too, though devoid of books and instead the home of cobwebs and dust bunnies. Rosemary turned around and slammed the door shut. She turned around to see Phineas opening up his book with shaking hands. His breathing was irregular. He reached into his bag, pulling out...


    Eyeballs. Gross. He whispered words she could not hear, crushed the eyeballs into goo, smeared them on the tome''s open pages.


    The torches flickered, and when they returned they were notably weaker. Phineas''s wound began to close, the burn drying out and flaking off of his scales. He pointed a webbed hand at Rosemary, and the ringing began to lessen. The throbbing, newly-formed bruise on her head began to shrink.


    ¡°Phin?¡± she asked, ¡°You okay?¡±


    ¡°I am not,¡± Phineas rasped, and he did sound weaker than normal, ¡°I do not like getting shot.¡±


    ¡°Do you need me to take a look?¡± Rosemary asked.


    ¡°No,¡± Phineas said, ¡°I invoked a pact with Ech''th''n the Wound-Eater. It has the injury now, not I.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Okay.¡±


    She took a few steps back, stumbled, landed with her back against the wall. She slid down, the adrenaline in her system replaced with horror. Her hands found the hem of her cloak, and she wrapped it around herself.


    ¡°What the hell was that?¡± she said, ¡°Where''s Joseph?¡±


    ¡°I saw him get thrown back,¡± Phineas said, ¡°Like us. I did not see what happened to him.¡±


    ¡°He''s not- he wouldn''t be-¡±


    ¡°We survived,¡± Phineas said, ¡°He is tough. He would have survived.¡±


    ¡°Then where is he?¡± Rosemary asked, ¡°Why didn''t he follow us?¡±


    ¡°I hardly found you,¡± Phineas said, ¡°It is chaos. It is still chaos.¡±


    The Deep One hesitated for a moment.


    ¡°And,¡± he said, ¡°I saw something more disturbing.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°The Federation came in, their soldiers,¡± Phineas said, ¡°They were carrying genetic scanners. I suspect that they suspect metahumans were involved in that attack.¡±


    Rosemary''s blood became ice.


    ¡°You don''t think...¡±


    ¡°If they found him, they would have taken him,¡± Phineas said, ¡°But then the Omendrai came in. Opened fire. I hope he is alright. If he did not have his soul out, I do not know how he could survive a plasma bolt to the chest-¡±


    ¡°Phineas.¡±


    ¡°I am merely saying,¡± Phineas said, ¡°If he was struck, he may be among the injured. Or dead. He may still be in the chapel-¡±


    ¡°Shut up, Phineas,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Don''t think about that. Please.¡±


    There was a pleading edge to her voice. Phineas stopped.


    They stared at the ground for a few moments.


    ¡°I am sorry,¡± Phineas said, ¡°I should not have said anything like that. I did not know it was hurting you.¡±


    ¡°I''m just scared, Phin,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°I''m sorry, too. For snapping at you.¡±


    ¡°It is alright,¡± Phineas said, ¡°It is right. I do not always... ''read the room,'' Joseph calls it.¡±


    Rosemary forced out a chuckle, though it died quickly. Now that her hearing had returned, she could hear screams outside. The Omendrai must have been neutralized, for now all she could hear was the wailing of those who had lost loved ones, the sounds of Federation soldiers shouting orders to one another. She heard boots stomp down the hall, and for a moment she felt a thrill of fear.


    Phineas raised a hand, swiping it in the air.


    ¡°There,¡± he said, ¡°They do not see the door. We are safe, here. We will not be accosted.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Joseph. We have to find him.¡±


    ¡°Agreed,¡± Phineas said, ¡°Options?¡±


    Rosemary took a deep breath.


    ¡°Right,¡± she said, ¡°I''m thinking two options.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Phineas said.


    ¡°Either one, he got away on his own,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Or the Federation took him.¡±


    They both knew the third option. That he was dead in the chapel. But that was something neither of them were willing to accept.


    ¡°Both of them are distinct possibilities,¡± Phineas said, ¡°Either way, he is lost. Potentially in danger.¡±


    ¡°If the Feds have him, he is,¡± Rosemary said. She pulled her sceptre out, brandishing it like a staff, ¡°You know what that means, Phin. You know what we''d have to do.¡±


    ¡°Let us hope that it does not come to that,¡± Phineas said. He flipped through a few pages in his tome.


    ¡°Any ideas?¡±


    ¡°Spellwork,¡± Phineas said, ¡°I can detect him. Maybe. Perhaps. I have a few spells of that nature, a couple pacts I may call upon.¡±


    Rosemary nodded. She waited for Phineas to look through the book, the Deep One shuddering  and murmuring to himself. The mutters became more frustrated as he flipped page after page of his flesh-bound tome.


    ¡°Everything alright?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Many spells will not work today,¡± Phineas said, ¡°The beings I call, they are not here. It is St. Malendia, I suspect. This is consecrated ground.¡±


    ¡°And that''s fatal to them, right?¡±


    ¡°Not fatal,¡± Phineas said, ¡°Nothing is ever fatal, to beings such as we. But it is uncomfortable. Like...¡±


    He scratched off a scale.


    ¡°Like saying the wrong thing to a friend, and hurting them. Like feeling petroleum in the water. Like taking a bite of food, and realizing you do not like it. Like the feeling of pain when it first shocks your mind, and overwhelms it.¡±


    He looked up at her.


    ¡°Does... that make sense?¡±


    ¡°I... suppose it does,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°Very few spells will work here,¡± Phineas said, ¡°I may be able to strike a deal with Ech''th''n the Wound-Eater, once more. But it will require...¡±


    He cooed down, looking at the book, flipping a few pages, which seemed to whisper at him.


    ¡°Yes,¡± he said, ¡°It will require sacrifice.¡±


    ¡°What kind of sacrifice?¡± Rosemary asked.


    ¡°Organic matter, I think,¡± Phineas said, ¡°Usually skin. Or blood. I have used scales before, or the fur of Teknogan.¡±


    ¡°Blood?¡± Rosemary asked. A thought was coming into her mind.


    ¡°The more potent, the better,¡± Phineas said.


    Outside, they heard more shouts. Screams. The heavy thuds of plasma rifles discharging. Evidently this terrorist attack was not over.


    Something slumped against the door, slid down. Rosemary crept down onto her knees, peering down at the crack between the door and the floor. A body was there, and she saw a shadow step over it.


    ¡°More Feds,¡± a voice growled, ¡°They''re coming from the eastern hallways.¡±


    ¡°We don''t have to hold long,¡± a lighter voice said, ¡°Get the Domehead in, tell him to hold this place down.¡±


    ¡°Aye,¡± the other voice said, ¡°On it.¡±


    They needed to find Joseph.


    And fast.


    ¡°You need blood?¡± Rosemary said, and she found herself rolling up her sleeve, ¡°I''ve got some, Phin.¡±


    Phineas blinked.


    ¡°Are you... sure?¡± he asked.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Rosemary asked.


    ¡°You are not an elf, Rosemary,¡± Phineas said, ¡°Not like Sunala. You are a faerie. I can see it when you walk. When you breathe. In your soul.¡±


    She winced at the frank admission.


    Then, she nodded.


    ¡°...Where are your wings?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Ignore that,¡± Rosemary said, growing red at the question, ¡°Just... let''s get this over with. Get your spell ready. Now.¡±


    ***


    The woman took Joseph down a series of winding halls and small, dimly lit chapels. She led the way, grabbing his arm and all but dragging him away from the scene of the carnage. His head hurt, wheeled, throbbed with dull pain from the Federation soldier''s sudden strike. But he followed her, nonetheless, and he had enough of his wits about him to keep an eye out for danger.


    They avoided the onslaught of the fleeing mob, though he could feel footsteps following behind them, sometimes far away, sometimes close by. All of them quick. The fastest of the mob, fleet-footed raptors or professional athletes-turned-nomads, caught up to them, jostled them by, pushed past and disappeared down bends in the stone.


    Finally, the woman stopped, feeling the stone for a few moments, before pressing a hand against a specific brick. A crack between the walls yawned, then expanded, revealing a staircase that stretched upwards into shadow.


    She beckoned again. Joseph followed.


    The wall behind re-knit itself as they went up the staircase. It went far upwards, never once diverging or bending. A killer on the legs, too, and he thought that Castle Belenus was bad. A door loomed at the top, which the woman opened and ran inside.


    Her home was a loft, an aerie that would have housed the church bells and a couple of miscreant bird nests. Indeed, there was a pair of church bells in the center of the large room, old and unpolished and with cobwebs snarling their yokes. A bed was tucked away in the corner with a night stand. A table was set up along the wall, with the remains of the day''s breakfast still on its plate. A cauldron set up along with a makeshift kitchen, a portable stove and a few dirty pots. A shelf, on which were two lonely little books and a couple of potions.


    The woman ran to these, picking one up and twisting its cap off. She took a drink from it, grimacing, before offering it to Joseph.


    Who looked at it, and gave her a suspicious look.


    She rolled her burning eyes, pointing at her ears. Then shoved the potion into Joseph''s hands.


    For a moment, he hesitated.


    Then, he took a sip. Gagged at the potion''s taste. Like a mashed up earwig.


    But he could feel his hearing start to return. With a sigh, he took another mouthful, swallowing it down quickly. Almost vomited.


    But he kept it down, and by and large he could hear the woman speaking to him. Her voice was soft. Kind.


    ¡°...alright?¡± she was asking.


    Joseph nodded.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± he said, and he found it odd to hear his own voice again, ¡°Yeah, I''m fine.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± the woman said, ¡°That potion''s a healing potion, but it only delays the pain. The next time you wake up, expect that headache to come back full force.¡±


    She snatched the potion from him, replacing it back on the shelf.


    ¡°Never fun, getting hit by a rifle.¡±


    ¡°You''ve been smacked by one of those fuckers before?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°A Mutt like me?¡± the woman gave a dark smile, ¡°Plenty of times.¡±


    She turned.


    ¡°Lunus Oculus.¡±


    ¡°Sorry?¡±


    ¡°My name.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± he shrugged, ¡°Joseph.¡±


    ¡°Aye, Joseph,¡± she said, ¡°Glad you''re alright. You picked an awful time to show up to St. Malendia''s, though.¡±


    ¡°Don''t have to tell me twice,¡± Joseph said. He groaned as he sat down by the table, ¡°They always like that?¡±


    ¡°Who, the Feds?¡± Lunus Oculus quirked an eyebrow, ¡°Newly awakened?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Few months now. Almost a year.¡±


    ¡°And this your first time on your own?¡±


    ¡°I''ve had a couple friends,¡± Joseph said, ¡°They were with me...¡±


    His eyes widened.


    ¡°My friends!¡± he said, ¡°Shit. You didn''t see them, did you?¡±


    He made to rise, to go to the door, but Lunus Oculus drew in front of him.


    ¡°Hey, pal,¡± she said, ¡°Don''t want to go down there yet. Let things simmer for a while. This is the third attack this month, Feds are going stir-crazy over it.¡±


    ¡°But if-¡±


    ¡°If your friends aren''t meta, they should be fine,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°Even though it was an Omendrai this time, they only ever go after us.¡±


    ¡°That doesn''t-¡± Joseph sighed, ¡°What the hell''s an Omendrai?¡±


    Lunus Oculus blinked.


    ¡°You''re new to this whole thing, then.¡±


    ¡°I went meta only a few weeks after I got stranded out here,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I''m from a plane that''s only in forecast every so often. I didn''t even know there was a multiverse before then.¡±


    Lunus Oculus nodded at that. She sat him back down at the table, and went over to the chair across from him. She pulled out a flask and poured whatever in it into the two cups on the table.


    ¡°We''ve got time,¡± she said, ¡°What is your story, then?¡±

 95. Crimson Star

    Her blood was silver.


    Or, at least, it glittered with it. Blood from Rosemary''s arm streamed down and onto Phineas''s book, flecks of magic that almost sparkled in the red. Phineas could only watch, his mouth agape, as Rosemary''s sacrifice fell into the pages of his book as though it were a hole, as Ech''th''n the Wound-Eater was given its due. She hardly seemed to squirm at the sight of her self-made cut, at the way her blood shimmered, at the way the book drank it down perhaps a bit too greedily, though that last part Phineas knew only he could notice.


    When it was over, he produced a bandage, which she wove ''round her arm. It had not been a deep cut, but it was enough that she grimaced a bit at the sparking pain. She held her sceptre to her chest, her cloak wrapped around her like a chrysalis, as Phineas worked out the spell, murmuring profane words into his tome. His communications with the Wound-Eater, however, eventually went to a level above this reality, and thus he stopped speaking.


    Part of him was negotiating.


    Part of him was curious, and could act on his curiosity.


    ¡°It is pretty,¡± he said.


    ¡°What, the blood?¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Don''t be gross, Phin.¡±


    ¡°I am sorry,¡± Phineas said, ¡°But it is true. It glitters. It looks different, to my eyes. In yours, it sparkles. In mine, it does much, much more.¡±


    She was quiet, shamefaced, as the Deep One continued his spell. The words on the tome''s pages grew larger, spilled out, stained the entire paper a deep, deep black. Outside, they could hear shouts. The thrums of plasma fire, though that died down soon enough.


    ¡°Rosemary,¡± Phineas rasped, ¡°May I ask you a question?¡±


    ¡°Why do I hide?¡± Rosemary asked.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Phineas said, ¡°Though, it is a poor disguise.¡±


    ¡°Maybe to you,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Because you can see a heck of a lot more than other people, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Phineas said.


    ¡°How long have you known?¡± Rosemary asked.


    ¡°I had suspicions,¡± Phineas said, ¡°You always... there are parts of you...¡±


    He looked down, struggling to describe himself.


    ¡°When I see my memories of you, in the in-between, at night, when I dream, when I drift, when I swim, you are different. You shine bright, like a crimson star.¡±


    ¡°Not like an elf.¡±


    ¡°Their light is different,¡± Phineas said, ¡°And yet not. It is... difficult to explain. I do not think I can convey how you feel, or look, or shine, in mere words. What I present are simulacrums, poor imitations, of what I describe.¡±


    ¡°And it was when you saw me there, that you realized I''m a faerie.¡±


    ¡°Correct.¡±


    ¡°It''s... complicated, Phineas,¡± Rosemary said, and she found herself shrinking a bit, growing red, ¡°I don''t know. Maybe it isn''t. We ¨C my family, I mean ¨C we''ve got a bit of Elven blood in our lineage. My home plane is a distant one, though elves once called it home. I remember hearing stories about them. I remember people telling me that I looked like them, without my wings.¡±


    ¡°And what happened to your-¡±


    ¡°Don''t ask about them,¡± Rosemary said, her voice tight, ¡°Please, Phineas. Don''t.¡±


    The Deep One nodded. The silence became awkward. Rosemary sighed.


    ¡°You remember when we were onboard the Recluse?¡±


    ¡°A few days ago?¡± Phineas said, ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°And you know how it was powered.¡±


    ¡°By faerie''s blood,¡± Phineas said, and realization began to settle in on him, his eyes bugging wide, ¡°...Ah.¡±


    ¡°I''ve heard dark stories,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Of factories set up on certain planes, like Tsaeyaru, or Escovia. Where faeries are bred on farms like cattle, harvested like honey from the hive. All of them are destined for one thing: to be killed, used up, sacrificed. Each part of the faerie is magically potent, our blood is a power source that''s revolutionized the multiverse many times throughout history.¡±


    ¡°I... see,¡± Phineas said.


    ¡°So you can imagine,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Those little faeries? They provide a quick boost, and in order to power something like the Recluse, you need a lot of them. But I''m several times larger than most faeries. I''m human-sized. Imagine all the blood bags I''d be able to fill.¡±


    ¡°You are a target,¡± Phineas said.


    She nodded.


    ¡°Then I am sorry,¡± Phineas said, ¡°I did not realize. By the Recluse. By what they do on that ship. I knew that they were faeries, and I knew that you were faerie, but-¡±


    ¡°It''s fine,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°You''ve got a different way of viewing sacrifice, and death. You''re more out there than in here, you know?¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Phineas said.


    ¡°It''s normal for you. For other people.¡±


    ¡°That does not make it right,¡± Phineas said.


    She smiled at that. It was sad, almost shameful.


    ¡°No, Phin,¡± she whispered, ¡°It doesn''t.¡±


    The page on Phineas''s book began turning upwards, the black paper fashioning into a lantern. Phineas took hold of its top, standing up. A cobalt flame bloomed.


    ¡°There,¡± he said, ¡°I can find him. He is alive, I think, otherwise the flame would be small, and weak.¡±


    Rosemary felt relief wash over her.


    ¡°Good,¡± she said, ¡°What''s next?¡±


    And they heard roars outside. More shouts. More plasma fire.


    ¡°Evidently whatever is happening outside, is still happening,¡± Phineas said, ¡°The terrorist incident is not over.¡±


    ¡°...Odd,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°You''d think it''d be over by now. A flash in the pan. Most terrorist attacks are. You can''t afford to stay there for long, if you''re playing the guerilla.¡±


    ¡°Something has gone wrong,¡± Phineas said. He took a deep breath, ¡°I will go.¡±


    ¡°Phineas, no,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°It''s dangerous.¡±


    ¡°And Joseph may be in danger,¡± Phineas said, ¡°My magic is difficult to use here, but the Wound-Eater has been kind. It enjoys your blood-¡±


    She shivered at that.


    ¡°-And may be willing to give me more gifts. Shadows to hide in. I am good at hiding.¡±


    She watched as Phineas made for the door, darkness lengthening around him, snuffing the lantern''s light from her, hiding it and her friend away.


    ¡°...We were supposed to do this together, Phin,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°And we are,¡± Phineas said, ¡°But you just gave blood, and must rest. I will find Joseph. I will bring him back to us. We will leave this place, and go to Melmaen together.¡±


    He gave her a watery smile.


    Then he opened the door, and disappeared.


    ***


    There were three Traveling Points in Beta Chapel. One led to Sazuad. The other two were constantly in flux, forecasting to at least fifteen other planes throughout a cycle, sometimes a sixteenth, though that was determined to only happen for a single day once every hundred years.


    Bodies littered the floor. Dallion was glad to see that many of them were Federation shits, their sparkling white combat uniforms punched through with holes. Others were guildfolk, and the Omendrai felt a burning elation at that. Dogs of the Federation, they were. Too cowardly to actually stand up for themselves, to be the man''s man. He stood over one of them, a strange, multi-eyed goblin, and sneered down. His entire body burned bright in victory.


    ¡°Hey, Dal,¡± Shonis said, next to him, ¡°We heading out, or what?¡±


    Dallion glared over. Shonis was wiry, thin. Weak, really, not a true warrior. The little elf was gripping his rifle gingerly in hand, nervousness written on his entire frame. He would be the first to fall, when everything well and truly went down. When they would get what was theirs.


    Action like this, this was just a taste of what was to come. And Shonis would be dead long before that, when it came to separating the wheat and the chaff.


    ¡°We aren''t heading out ''til the Sons finish their job,¡± Dallion growled, ¡°Remember?¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Shonis said, ¡°But it''s taking them a second, right? Usually we just run off, bloody the Fed''s noses a bit-¡±


    ¡°Quit your whining,¡± Dallion said, ¡°We''re fine.¡±


    And he smiled a dark smile at Shonis, once more casting his gaze at the roomful of the dead. This action had been more effective than their entire year-long operation here on St. Malendia''s. Father had been right to reach out to the Sons.


    And it was all thanks to that mercenary they had sent. The Domehead, they called him. In heavy-duty combat armor, a futuristic-looking helmet. But there was more to him. The Sons'' servant had lightly tapped Dallion''s chest, and unleashed a flame far more powerful than the Omendrai could ever conjure. He had found a metahuman in the dying masses, a guildfolk who had stood up to defend herself, and imitated her ability to produce sonic screams, which had shattered the stained glass windows and cracked the stone walls of the chapel.


    He stood now, alone, among the corpses, stolen flame still in hand.


    And Dallion, deep down, could not help but fear him.


    ¡°When does the VIP get here?¡± Shonis asked, ¡°Dallion, I hear more footsteps. More of them are coming.¡±


    ¡°Soon,¡± Dallion said, ¡°Shut up.¡±


    ¡°But what if-¡±


    ¡°I said, shut up!¡±


    The Omendrai wheeled over, snarling, glaring at the elf. Shonis whimpered back as Dallion loomed over him.


    ¡°If you''re feeling like a bitch, then go check the hallways with the others. Use that rifle for something other than a security blanket. You haven''t fired it once this entire time.¡±


    He let out a grunt.


    ¡°Didn''t know we were letting pansies in on the jobs nowadays.¡±


    Shosi reddened. Stuttered for a second to get out some asinine excuse. Then, he fumbled away, heading towards the hallways. Dallion could hear plasma fire a little ways away ¨C Gordon''s squad probably was fending off another assault. He stepped forward to the Domehead.


    ¡°You should head back to the eastern halls,¡± the Omendrai said, ¡°They''ll be needing you again soon.¡±


    The Domehead turned to look at him, and he felt a thrill of fear crawl up his spine. The Domehead nodded, heading for the hallway, stepping over burnt and plasma-riddled corpses.


    ¡°Hey,¡± Dallion said.


    The Domehead stopped.


    ¡°You took my fire, didn''t you?¡±


    ¡°I did.¡±


    The voice that came from the Domehead was young. Good. The newer generations were either far too weak or far too brainwashed by the media. They were given the wrong values. The wrong way to live their lives. Not like true men, and proper women. Warriors and homemakers, in their proper roles.


    But the Domehead wasn''t like that. He was strong. A true paragon of the world Dallion hoped for. He could not help but see Shonis, and see a world that he feared.


    ¡°Can you do that with anyone?¡± he asked.


    ¡°It is easier with certain species,¡± the Domehead said, ¡°Metahumans, for example. Elemental races, such as yourself.¡±


    Dallion sneered.


    ¡°All the good bits?¡± he said.


    ¡°All that you are, I become,¡± the Domehead said. He still held a burning flame in hand, ¡°I will watch the eastern halls. Be prepared for the Martian''s arrival. He should be here soon.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Dallion said, ¡°I''ve got the main chapel.¡±


    And the Domehead drew off, leaving Dallion alone.


    ***


    ¡°Hell of a time,¡± Lunus Oculus said.


    Joseph had begun his story rather meekly, trying to spare as much detail as he could. He had started with telling her why he was on St. Malendia''s. Where he was going. But as she nodded, poured them cups of tea, her red eyes practically glowing, everything spilled out.


    Why he was stranded in the multiverse.


    Earth.


    His family.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    The Amber Foundation.


    Wakeling.


    The jobs he had been on.


    Everything. He was breaking down, he knew. His voice trembled with emotion. Anger. Fear. Sadness. Loneliness.


    Through it all, Lunus Oculus listened. Sipped her tea. Nodded along.


    When he was done, she set her cup down.


    ¡°That''s quite the time you''ve had,¡± she said, ¡°More tea?¡±


    He stared at her. Gawked, for a moment, at her nonchalant reaction.


    Then, he shrugged.


    ¡°Sure,¡± he said, ¡°What is the stuff, anyways?¡±


    ¡°Elderberry,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°Nothing major. There are a couple gardens here that grow the stuff, I make sure to swipe some every so often.¡±


    She went over to her makeshift kitchen, pouring out another cup for them.


    ¡°So, you''re trying to get home, then,¡± she said.


    ¡°That''s the goal,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Gotta got to the sarcophagi.¡±


    ¡°And what''ll you do when you get to them?¡± Lunus Oculus said.


    Joseph felt heat rising at that statement.


    ¡°Hate people asking me that,¡± he said, ¡°I''ll figure it out. And before you ask, I''ve done my research. There''s very little on the sarcophagi, only that they exist, that they were used by metahumans a long time ago to get from here to there.¡±


    He accepted the cup from her.


    ¡°I don''t think I''ll need much time to figure out how a door works.¡±


    And Lunus Oculus smiled at that.


    ¡°A door,¡± she repeated.


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°The sarcophagi sound like they''re a bit more than just simple doors, friend.¡±


    ¡°Maybe,¡± Joseph said.


    He swirled the tea for a second. Glared at it.


    ¡°Regardless,¡± he said, ¡°Thanks for helping me out back there. Scary stuff''s out here, huh?¡±


    ¡°Wasn''t always like this,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°Those terrorists, they only started hiding out on St. Malendia''s a few months ago. Most of the time they stick to the surrounding planes. Mendros, and the like.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Joseph said, ¡°And, what, the Federation just accepts it?¡±


    ¡°Oh, I bet the rank and file hate it,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°They''re used to running their regular beats. Questioning any of their usual undesirables. But they''re also used to coming home at night to their barracks, sending letters home, spending Silverfish shares to talk to family in the Eye.¡±


    ¡°Not this.¡±


    ¡°Naw, not this,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°This is the third attack this month. I heard about the first two from a couple friends here. One was centered on a small colony the Feds founded a few years back. The other was at Gamma Chapel.¡±


    ¡°And they, what, aren''t investigating this?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Ha,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°As if. Any requests for help from the Federation government just goes to some administration world. It could be years before they send someone out here.¡±


    She sat down, and the look on her face became dark.


    ¡°Unless it''s to investigate some cross-technological ''contamination,'' the Feddies are slow,¡± she said, ¡°And they only have quick investigations as an excuse to glass planes. Keeps the rest of the multiverse in line, you know?¡±


    Joseph was quiet at that.


    ¡°It''s whatever,¡± she said, her voice sarcastic, ¡°It''s not like everyone is doing it, anyways. Even the most primitive planes have some sort of tech they got from beyond a Traveling Point. Not like they just send agents out for the hell of it. Listen to me, and listen to me well, Joseph.¡±


    And she fixed him with a level stare.


    ¡°All of this, the attacks, the glassings, the wanton cruelty towards people like us, all of it is intentional. It causes suffering. It sends a message. If they wanted to, they could have found whoever caused this attack in mere days. But they don''t, because the more they can paint the multiverse as this barbaric place, the more they look like the pinnacle of civilization.¡±


    He wasn''t sure how to respond to that. Lunus Oculus shrugged.


    ¡°More tea?¡± she said.


    ¡°...Sure,¡± he replied.


    They were both silent as she poured out another cup for him.


    ¡°Running low,¡± she said, ¡°Sorry, but I''m fresh out after this one.¡±


    ¡°It''s alright,¡± Joseph said.


    She came back. They continued to drink.


    ***


    Sneaking through the halls of St. Malendia proved to be more difficult than Phineas anticipated.


    The hallways spider-webbing out between where he was, and where Joseph had been taken, had erupted into chaos. Federation soldiers were rushing towards the chapel where the terrorist attack had taken place. Men in cobbled-together combat gear, including the fiery Omendrai, fought them off. Phineas did his best to avoid those halls, sticking to the shadows, letting his spell conceal his presence from all.


    Down the stone halls, he could hear the sounds of plasma fire. Explosions. Thuds and screams. Shouts and orders. It sounded, truly, like a warzone.


    He was going through another chapel now, this one similar to the one hosting the Traveling Points. A statue of St. Malendia dominated its center, water streaming from her golden eyes and pouring down into a fountain below. Coins littered the pool''s base. The stained glass windows here depicted various stages of grief ¨C refugees crying amidst flames, a son at his father''s bedside, a mother holding a decapitated infant.


    It was here that Phineas hid as he heard sounds coming from down the hall. He knew they were not Federation make.


    A large form stepped through the halls, flanked by two mercenaries. He was an easy ten feet tall, a giant with skin the color of sun-bleached bone. A breathing mask was affixed to his face, and he wore a strange, bronze-colored ceremonial armor.


    Phineas recognized him.


    He had built an entire Myth Battle deck around him.


    And he hid away until the god left, going down the halls leading to the Traveling Point.


    ***


    Dakos.


    The Martian god stepped out into the light, into the chapel, surveyed the carnage that the Sons of Darwin had wrought.


    Dallion stood beside Manny, and despite the Omendrai''s previous posturing and blustering, he could see the Omendrai''s hands shake slightly at the sight of the god. Dakos stepped fully onto the chapel''s dais, his hand extending out.


    The bodies in the room began to shudder, lifted up slightly into the air. Red mist began pouring out of open, dead mouths, out of ears, nostrils, tear glands. The bits of life force that still clung desperately to their owners, the shredded souls that still remained in flesh, suffused out like a blood fog towards Dakos.


    Who breathed deep, and heavy. The sound was ancient, almost haggard, masked a bit by his breathing apparatus, tubes which ran from his face, looping around his neck, plugged into his chest. An exterior system of lungs, for it was said that the ancient Martians, now long gone, had breathed something other than air, and needed their technology to survive Prime-like environments and planes.


    And here, Dakos breathed in the soul.


    Manny had heard stories of the Martian. How he was one of their gods. How they had invaded Prime long ago, and lost, leading to their extinction.


    How Dakos, in an action of desperation, had tied his godhood to Prime, to the Sons of Darwin, to the Manticore. To be bereft of any of these sources meant that he would become diminished, until he faded entirely.


    And so, to move about the multiverse, without the Sons of Darwin or his master or Prime, he breathed in the next best thing.


    The corpses looked hollow when he was finished. A bloodbath, all in favor of making sure that Dakos was comfortable in his travels.


    Part of Manny did not care. He had killed these people, as was his job.


    Part of Manny was disgusted.


    And, distantly, part of Manny felt guilt.


    ¡°So, this is Matergabia''s simulacrum,¡± Dakos said. His voice was smeared by his mask, and sounded like he had inhaled flames, so scarred was his throat, ¡°I did not expect a falsehood as you to come here.¡±


    Manny was silent. He did not know how to respond to that.


    ¡°Nothing?¡± Dakos said, ¡°You, who live as a false Okuta, can say nothing? Did Matergabia not create you to imitate our leader?¡±


    Dallion was looking between him and the Martian god. Dakos let out an exhausted sigh.


    ¡°Perhaps I should kill you,¡± Dakos said.


    This got Manny on edge, an electric fuzz enveloping his spine. The flame in his hand grew brighter.


    ¡°You act like him,¡± Dakos said, ¡°You possess a... poor copy, of his abilities. You do not devour like he does, you merely ape.¡±


    ¡°The doctor did not design me to be his replacement,¡± Manny said, ¡°Only an agent.¡±


    ¡°Then why design you like this at all?¡± Dakos said, ¡°I see all of you. My eyes see more than flesh. You are nothing more than a soup of crossed DNA, all tying together and trying to be something you are not.¡±


    And he stepped forward.


    ¡°And Okuta has no DNA.¡±


    ¡°If you wish to kill me,¡± Manny said, ¡°Then do so. But I am Matergabia''s opus. You would be hearing from her.¡±


    ¡°I do not care about the whims of some scientist,¡± Dakos growled.


    ¡°She made me on specific orders from Koban Drol,¡± Manny said, ¡°I am an agent of the Sons. You would be killing your own.¡±


    ¡°My own died long ago,¡± Dakos said. He took another step forward. The Omendrai began stumbling back from the two of them.


    ¡°If you wish me harm, I will fight back,¡± Manny said, ¡°You may kill me. But it will drain you of energy needed for the mission the guildmaster has assigned you.¡±


    At this, Dakos stopped. He considered Manny''s words.


    ¡°You, spawn, will not accompany me,¡± he said, ¡°The mission on Kelankhosha is a red one, and I will not have my back watched by something such as you.¡±


    ¡°If that is your wish,¡± Manny said, ¡°I am merely here to hold this place for your arrival.¡±


    They could hear more shouts. More plasma fire. The elf, Shonis, rushed into the room.


    ¡°An entire squadron!¡± he cried, ¡°They''re on their way! They overwhelmed us, they-¡±


    ¡°Time to go,¡± Dallion said, ¡°You coming, Domehead?¡±


    Manny nodded. If Dakos would not take him, he would ensure this cell''s safety. Dakos let out a low growl, his head cocking as he heard the Federation''s approach.


    Then, without another word, the Martian god stepped through the Traveling Point to Kelankhosha. Manny turned to Shonis and Dallion, and the three of them made for the hall, disappearing into the depths of St. Malendia''s.


    ***


    ¡°What you said before,¡± Joseph said, ¡°People like us.¡±


    ¡°Metahumans,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°And others. The Federation has a long history of grinding those of the multiverse under their heel.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Joseph said, ¡°What others?¡±


    ¡°Humans,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°Thought not as much anymore. Their danger is not as... overt, as us.¡±


    ¡°You can say that again,¡± Joseph said, sipping his tea, ¡°Feels like every metahuman I meet is dangerous.¡±


    Lunus Oculus smiled.


    ¡°Even me?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Maybe,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I don''t know your power.¡±


    ¡°My eyes change color with the phases of the moon,¡± she said, ¡°Is that what makes me dangerous?¡±


    Joseph shrugged.


    ¡°It''s not that,¡± he said, ¡°It sounds like you''ve just been living on the edge like this for a while now.¡±


    ¡°I am what my oppressors made me,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°Some of us have dangerous abilities, Joseph. Others are like me. Yet they hunt us, all the same. They hate us. They see what we can do, what we can be, and they are afraid.¡±


    ¡°Maybe they have a right to be,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°And what do you mean by that?¡±


    ¡°I...¡± Joseph sighed, ¡°When I first went meta, I used my powers to kill someone. To hurt people.¡±


    His hand became cloaked in his soul''s glow, the claw manifesting out, curled and sharp and deadly.


    ¡°And I hear that when people go meta, it can be dangerous. That it''s caused people to get hurt before.¡±


    ¡°If one is not careful, if one does not have a good support network, that can happen,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°But is that a reason to imprison us? To oppress us? Take away our rights, drive us to genocide?¡±


    Joseph was quiet. He stared, still, at his hand.


    ¡°We used to have that, when one first awakened,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°Did you know that? I remember my grandmother tell me stories of Epochia. How each awakening was a cause for celebration. That there were those who knew what to do when a metahuman ''went meta,'' like a midwife knows how to deliver a baby.¡±


    Her eyes flashed.


    ¡°Of course our awakenings would be dangerous now. We don''t have our networks anymore. They were taken from us. And now they''re used to further justify the Federation''s cruelty.¡±


    ¡°Which is the point, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°It is the point.¡±


    They were quiet for a long while after that. Lunus Oculus had run out of tea. Joseph had finished his, and now sat there, his head swimming in thought.


    Eventually, Lunus Oculus stood up, picked up the cups, put them into the sink.


    ¡°I''ll probably head out myself, soon,¡± she said, ¡°It''s getting too hot here. Too much Federation presence.¡±


    ¡°Where will you go?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Oh, I don''t know,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°Anywhere but here. I''ll figure something out.¡±


    She turned to him.


    ¡°You''re still wanting to get to Melmaen?¡±


    He nodded.


    ¡°Well, good luck with that,¡± she said, ¡°I do hope you find what-¡±


    There was a knock at the door, far below. Lunus Oculus spun. Grimaced.


    ¡°Might want to get your power ready,¡± she said. She crossed over to her bed, pulled out a pistol from beneath her pillow. Joseph''s soul began pumping, the claw on his hand growing larger, the eagle''s arm peeling away from his own.


    Lunus Oculus went downstairs. She looked through the small peephole to see who was on the other side. But there was no one.


    And yet the knock came again. Whoever was on the other side was either invisible, or short.


    She opened the door.


    And realized it was both. The visitor''s form was shimmering, a vague silhouette in the air that, after a few moments, melted away to reveal a Deep One. He was holding a black paper lantern in one webbed hand, and his bubble eyes slid up to see her.


    ¡°Oh,¡± he said, ¡°You are not Joseph.¡±


    ¡°And who are you?¡±


    ¡°I am Phineas,¡± the Deep One said, ¡°I am here for him.¡±


    ¡°You his guildmate?¡± Lunus Oculus said.


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Phineas said, ¡°I am his keeper. Is he hurt?¡±


    ¡°Nothing a quick potion couldn''t fix,¡± Lunus Oculus said, and she looked over her shoulder, shouting, ¡°Hey, Joseph! Deep One here says he''s with you!¡±


    ¡°He is,¡± Joseph said, crossing over and looking down the staircase, ¡°Phin? Is Rosemary okay?¡±


    ¡°She is fine. I am fine,¡± Phineas said, ¡°Things are settling down outside. If we are quiet, I can use my spellwork to get us through St. Malendia''s safely.¡±


    ¡°...Right,¡± Joseph said. He turned to look at Lunus Oculus, ¡°Think we''re good to go?¡±


    The metahuman hesitated, then nodded.


    ¡°Should be,¡± she said, ¡°Phineas, your spellwork, it extends to Joseph?¡±


    ¡°It extends to whomever I wish.¡±


    ¡°You could come with us,¡± Joseph said, ¡°You said you were leaving here anyways.¡±


    But Lunus Oculus shook her head.


    ¡°Melmaen is dangerous, for our kind,¡± she said, ¡°Metahumans there are either experiments, or taken by their governments to be used as wardogs. Best you be careful yourself.¡±


    Joseph''s heart fell at that.


    ¡°Right,¡± he said.


    ¡°Joseph,¡± Phineas said, ¡°We must go. Rosemary is waiting.¡±


    ¡°Keep to the northern hallways,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°If you see a chapel with a stained glass depicting St. Malendia slaying a unicorn, stay away. Federation sympathizers live in those halls. They aren¡¯t the friendliest to us.¡±


    ¡°We will be careful,¡± Phineas said.


    Lunus Oculus looked at Joseph for another few moments, before extending a hand. Joseph shook it.


    ¡°Thanks for helping me, back there,¡± he said, ¡°You probably saved my life.¡±


    ¡°Pay it forward,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°That''s all I ask.¡±


    ¡°Be careful.¡±


    ¡°And you. I will see you when we dream again.¡±


    He smiled at her. Then, he and Phineas left.


    ***


    They went down the passages of stone, listening as the Federation''s response teams finally broke the terrorists, who scattered down into the depths and side rooms of St. Malendia''s, through the Traveling Points linking to the other planes. Some hallways were choked with refugees, all of them with hollow eyes and some with injuries, others clutching family, friends, lovers. Not a few were sobbing.


    Federation soldiers scoured the halls, each of them carrying genetic scanners, all but slamming them into random victims'' foreheads. Joseph only saw one metahuman caught in the bunch, whom the Federation soldiers then dragged away.


    For a moment, cloaked in Phineas''s camouflage spell, he pointed a hand out, lightning beginning to arc across his fingertips at the soldiers as they dragged the man away, his family reaching out towards him and screaming. But Phineas stopped him.


    ¡°We are in no shape for such action,¡± he said, ¡°Please, Joseph.¡±


    ¡°I can''t just leave him, Phin,¡± Joseph murmured. His voice was angry. He was glaring at the Federation soldiers with a new realization.


    ¡°We have no choice,¡± Phineas said, ¡°We have to get you to Melmaen. We cannot do that if you are here, and dead.¡±


    Joseph stood. For a long time, he stood.


    Phineas tugged at his jacket.


    Then, crestfallen, Joseph lowered his hand.


    ¡°I promised to take care of you,¡± Phineas said, ¡°To help you, as my guildmate.¡±


    ¡°Phineas,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I''m leaving the guild, remember?¡±


    ¡°So?¡± Phineas said, ¡°Until you do, you are my guildmate. And even after, I will help you, because you are my friend.¡±


    Joseph choked up. Looked at Phineas, who was still his usual self, waddling down the hallway. Joseph stopped, letting the Deep One get ahead of him. Phineas turned around.


    ¡°Joseph?¡± he rasped, ¡°Stay close to me, or you will leave the influence of my spell, and you will be caught by the Federation, and then things will get truly violent, as I will go and save you.¡±


    ¡°R-Right,¡± Joseph said. He stumbled ahead.


    Phineas had cast a spell to conceal away where he and Rosemary had been hiding during the attack. She was still inside, her arm wrapped up in a bandage, though she gave Joseph a relieved smile when he walked in.


    ¡°Thank god,¡± she said, ¡°You''re good?¡±


    ¡°I''m alright,¡± Joseph said, ¡°You are too?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Rosemary said.


    They stood awkwardly for a few moments.


    ¡°We should leave,¡± Phineas said, ¡°The Federation, they will be putting this entire place on lockdown. We must hurry.¡±


    His guildmates nodded.


    ¡°Right,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Lead the way, Phin.¡±

 96. Good At Running

    His name was Coach Tristan. Joseph didn''t know if it was his first or last name, only that he was only ever referred to as Coach at the gym. An older African American man, with a fuzzy gray beard and a shock of white hair atop his head like a cluster of wisps, he had the build of a man who had gone to seed a long time ago, yet when he spoke, he spoke with power, despite his frail voice racked by a smoking addiction that he promised to quit every year.


    Joseph was fourteen when he met the Coach, who was the older brother of his Track coach (whom everyone just called Mr. Alder) at school. High School, now. Not Alsbury Private. Joseph''s grades had been far too low for that. He tried not to think of the way his parents had looked at him when he had failed his admission test. They still looked at him like that, every so often, when they pulled their heads out of their asses and paid attention to him.


    No, another private school then. And if he was honest, Joseph was relieved. Martin Wood had a good athletic program, probably the only thing he was ever good at. He already was catching a few eyes at Track, and Mr. Alder was talking to him about other extracurriculars.


    ¡°Come down to my brother''s gym,¡± he said, ¡°I think he''ll want to meet you.¡±


    Like his parents gave a shit. They weren''t even home by nine or ten nowadays. They wouldn''t even notice that he had been out for the evening after school, when the unspoken rule was he was to be home and working on schoolwork.


    It was a sweaty place, as he walked in. A large ring was set up in the gym''s center, a couple of men dancing around each other in bright blue and red gear. A couple of punching bags lined the wall.


    It was a boxing gym.


    Joseph almost turned around, but Mr. Alder spotted him before he could.


    ¡°Joseph!¡± he called out, ¡°Over here!¡±


    And Joseph walked over, rolling his eyes. His coach introduced the Coach, with a capital ''C'', who was wearing a simple gray coat, a cigarette in a weathered, long hand. Coach Tristan gave Joseph a once-over. Joseph crossed his arms.


    ¡°You''re scrawny,¡± Coach said.


    ¡°You''re a dipshit.¡±


    At that, Coach Tristan let out a wheezy laugh.


    ¡°Ha!¡± he said, ¡°You got the attitude for it, I guess. What''s your name, son?¡±


    ¡°Joe.¡±


    ¡°Joe. Joseph. You not like your daddy''s name?¡±


    ¡°Not really,¡± Joseph said, ¡°But it''s mine.¡±


    ¡°Once you turn eighteen, you can change it,¡± Coach Tristan said, ¡°My brother, he says you¡¯re a runner?¡±


    ¡°I run,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Jog. Track. I don''t box.¡±


    ¡°Not yet, you don''t,¡± Coach Tristan said. He looked at his brother, ¡°You''re sure he''s actually any good?¡±


    ¡°He''s good at anything I throw at him,¡± Mr. Alder said, ¡°He''s been in Track since he started High School, but I''ve seen him in Basketball, a couple pickup games of Baseball after school. Kid''s good.¡±


    ¡°Ball games ain''t boxing,¡± Coach Tristan said, ¡°But, alright. Let''s see what the kid can do.¡±


    He reached underneath his chair, pulling out a pair of pads that he put over his hands, which he then raised up.


    ¡°Alright, Joe,¡± he said, ¡°Punch me.¡±


    Joseph blinked.


    ¡°I''m not doing this,¡± he said.


    ¡°I said, punch me.¡±


    ¡°No way, weirdass,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I''m not punching you-¡±


    ¡°Shut up and punch me!¡±


    Coach Tristan swung his right lightly, slowly, so slow that Joseph easily ducked underneath. Yet Joseph didn''t. Instead, he rolled his eyes, allowed the swipe to puff the side of his head as he reared back and threw a punch, one that landed in the square center of Coach''s other hand.


    It was a lazy hit. A wild one. Devoid of any practice whatsoever. But Coach Tristan nodded.


    ¡°He''s an idiot who needs to learn when to get hit and when to dodge, but he''s got a bit of power to him. A bit of that raw edge I like.¡±


    He looked Joseph up and down.


    ¡°Your daddy don''t mind if you come here?¡±


    ¡°My dad doesn''t give two shits about what I do,¡± Joseph said, ¡°But I''m not going here.¡±


    ¡°Naw, naw,¡± Coach Tristan said, ¡°I''ll give you a deal, now, son. I teach you to box. You can come here whenever you want, between eight in the mornin'' and eight at night. Just so long as you come.¡±


    ¡°What''s the catch?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°The catch?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, the catch,¡± Joseph said, crossing his arms again.


    Coach Tristan leaned in.


    ¡°You¡¯re an angry boy, you know that?¡±


    Joseph''s eyes narrowed.


    ¡°You come here, I give you something to punch. That wallop you just gave me, there''s some real power behind it, though it''s clumsy as shit. I¡¯ll give you something to punch, and punch it right. Punch it so good, it sees the starry sky.¡±


    And Joseph dropped his guard at that, relaxed his shoulders, which had been tensing up.


    And so it was that Joseph joined Coach Tristan''s gym. He didn''t go every day. He sometimes went weeks without going. Yet whenever he was angry, whenever he had one of those arguments with his parents that were becoming more intense, more heated, he would find his way here. It was close enough to his school that he could jog to it.


    And he would punch. And Coach would show him how to use his legs, how to raise up his fists to protect his head, how to counterpunch, and take more than the other guy.


    The gym became his second home. No, it became more than that. There was a life there that was more fulfilling than anything that was back home.


    Track, too, became more fulfilling. The two of them, running and boxing, went hand in hand in Joseph''s head. Some days, they were the only thing that got him out of bed.


    And the years of High School passed.


    ***


    ¡°It''s a good scholarship, Joseph.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Joseph said, ¡°But... isn''t Harvard.¡±


    ¡°You''re right, it''s not,¡± Mr. Alder said, ¡°But it''s still a full ride. Esther University''s got one of the best Track programs in the country. You could go far.¡±


    ¡°Or boxing,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°That, too,¡± Mr. Alder said, ¡°Or wrestling. Swimming. You''d be good at that, I think. But the scholarship''s for running, so you''d probably want to concentrate on that.¡±


    Joseph looked down at his coach''s desk. Mr. Alder sighed, gave a nod.


    ¡°Just think about it, alright?¡± he said, ¡°Keep it in mind. Senior year''s going to be over before you know it, and as an educator, it''s sort of my responsibility to push you towards college.¡±


    ¡°And, not as an educator?¡± Joseph said, ¡°How about as just a person?¡±


    A smile flickered on his coach''s face.


    ¡°Well,¡± he said, ¡°You''re good at running. I''d hate to see that go to waste.¡±


    ***


    He was eighteen at this point. A senior. The future was wide. Vast. Or so his teachers told him. They had given a speech, each of them, on the first day of classes, with by and large the same beats. Almost the same words, too.


    But to Joseph, who was running to the gym, the future was like a vise.


    His parents had started paying attention to his grades again. And, while he was passing his classes just fine, they were not-


    He missed a step, almost tripped.


    They weren''t good, not to them. Never to them. Never would be.


    Every conversation they had, when he got home at night, was about Harvard. His grades. His latest report cards.


    Always, the disappointment just brimming in his dad''s eyes. The stolen glances towards the wall when his mother spoke about his siblings. Success stories, all three of them, to some degree or another. And here was Joseph, the youngest, the fuck-up.


    Like Joseph gave two shits about that.


    He got to work almost as soon as he got to the gym. Just walked over to the nearest punching bag and stanced up. His strikes over the last four years had become surgical and precise. Yet there was raw anger in them, parts of him that he could barely suppress nowadays coming out and pumping through his arms, into the bag. A flow of energy. Like his soul awakened.


    ¡°You didn''t stretch, again,¡± he heard Coach Tristan say, ¡°And you didn''t warm up again, either.¡±


    The old man was walking behind him. Aside from Brock and Ivan sparring in the ring, they were the only people in the gym. He was, as usual, wearing his old gray coat. He had tried swearing off cigarettes last month, so he had a mean look to him. Joseph glanced over to him for a moment, then turned around and continued punching.


    ¡°Man, what did I say to you?¡± Coach said, ¡°You stretch. You warm up. You don''t just walk in and start beating on the bag like it hurt your daddy.¡±


    Joseph continued punching. His hits became more savage. Less focused. He lost his form.


    And Coach Tristan''s hand landed on his shoulder. Joseph whirled.


    ¡°What the-¡±


    ¡°Stop,¡± Coach said.


    Joseph gritted his teeth. For a moment, he wanted to just keep going. Push him back. Do anything. Then, seething, he shrugged Coach''s hand away and walked over to the wall, leaning against it, taking deep breaths.


    Coach walked over to the bag and stilled it.


    ¡°You look like you wouldn''t care if someone hurt your daddy,¡± he said.


    ¡°I wouldn''t give two shits.¡±


    ¡°Naw, don''t say that,¡± Coach Tristan said, ¡°You don''t say that about your family. Even if they aren''t the best.¡±


    ¡°I-¡± Joseph rolled his eyes, ¡°Sure. Whatever.¡±


    And Coach Tristan fixed him with those eyes again. That gauged Joseph.


    ¡°Something happen?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Scholarship, from your bro,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Track. In Seattle.¡±


    ¡°Well, knew you were good for something,¡± Coach Tristan said, ¡°What school?¡±


    ¡°Esther,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Never heard of it.¡±


    ¡°Exactly why my parents wouldn''t want me to go,¡± Joseph said, ¡°It''s Harvard, or bust.¡±


    ¡°And is Harvard an option?¡±


    Joseph squeezed his eyes shut. Forced out a ¡®No.¡¯


    ¡°Well, now,¡± Coach Tristan said, ¡°Seems like that path is clear, if you want to take it.¡±


    He glanced over to see Joseph shaking. Glaring at the wall. Almost fighting back tears. Coach Tristan¡¯s face went somber, the anger and the sarcastic smile dropping.


    ¡°Joseph?¡± he asked.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t-¡± but Joseph almost broke for a moment, taking a deep breath, pulling himself together.


    ¡°It¡¯s alright, son,¡± Coach Tristan said, ¡°Let it out, slow-like.¡±


    It took Joseph another few moments to compose himself. His voice was still shaking and ragged as he spoke, though.


    ¡°I¡­ I know I''m not what they wanted. I know I was the surprise. I just wish... I just wish they cared more.¡±


    The Coach nodded.


    ¡°Maybe that''s their way of carin'',¡± he said, ¡°They like that with the other ones?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph said, ¡°But there''s a way my dad looks at them. At Luke and Jonathon. There''s a way my mom talks when Lily comes home. There''s a way they-¡±


    He took another deep breath.


    ¡°A way... A way they look at them, that they don''t look at me. Like¡­ I¡¯m¡­¡±


    At this, Tristan nodded again. Sagged a bit. He looked away from Joseph, let the young man have a shred of privacy, give him a second to force himself back under control again.


    And Joseph did. He was good at that.


    Good at forcing everything down. Letting it stew in his belly.


    ¡°Me not getting Harvard, that''s that for them,¡± he said, ¡°They really want me to go. That''s all they talk about. But I''m just... I''m not good enough, Coach.¡±


    Tristan nodded at that.


    He pulled out a cigarette out of his pocket, lit it up. Joseph looked over at him, his eyes narrowing.


    ¡°Thought you quit,¡± he said.


    ¡°I don''t give two shits about what you think,¡± Coach said, ¡°And I thought you didn''t give two shits about what your parents thought, either.¡±


    ¡°Maybe I do,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°...Yea, maybe you do,¡± Coach said. He took a drag from his cigarette, the smoke drifting out in curls from his cracked lips, ¡°You want my advice?¡±


    ¡°...Sure.¡±


    ¡°Take the scholarship, Joe,¡± Coach said, his voice low and serious, ¡°Even a college like Esther is better than no college at all.¡±


    ¡°It''s not Harvard.¡±


    ¡°Hell no, it''s not. But it''s still college. It''s still education. Opportunity. It''s a full ride, right?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°Then it''s a chance to be on your own, without your parents breathin¡¯ down your neck. They can''t try and control you with money. It''s all the way out in Seattle.¡±


    ¡°My parents,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Aren''t trying to control me.¡±


    And Coach Tristan let out a harsh, shocked laugh at that.


    ¡°Boy,¡± he said, ¡°Your parents been trying to control you since the day you was born. I bet it''s how they show that they love you, that they pick your future like they did. They probably want to make sure you''re well and set when you''re out of their roost.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Maybe.¡±


    ¡°But I also know, not every little bird''s the same, right?¡± Coach said, ¡°Some are sparrows. Some are hawks. And sometimes, you gotta do what''s right for you. Yeah?¡±


    ¡°I just don''t know what I''m gonna tell them,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Like, how do I even broach it? Tell them I''m going somewhere else?¡±


    ¡°You give it time,¡± Coach said, ¡°You prepare to say your piece. You say it. Their reaction, that''s on them. But don''t let them shout you down, Joe. You''re better than that.¡±


    He rested his hand, again, on Joseph''s shoulder.


    ¡°But you gotta tell ''em.¡±


    ¡°I... will,¡± Joseph said.


    And they went back to work. Boxing. Coach let Joseph get it out of his system, gave him tips when Ivan invited him over for a quick spar. His world, once more, became one of movement and energy.


    And he didn''t tell his parents when he got home.


    He would not tell them until much later, when it was too late.


    ***


    They arrived on Melmaen from a Traveling Point in the nation of Carda. A nation that had recently won its independence from the Julianisan Empire, the Traveling Point was located in Carda''s capital city, which had been founded specifically to capitalize on the Traveling Point''s mercantile opportunities, for Melmaen was well-acquainted with the multiverse.


    They were greeted by Federation soldiers as they stepped through, though this far from the Eye proper, they were given only a few meager questions, and then were released into a city of cobblestone walkways, brick-and-mortar buildings with scaled roofs, and airships plying the skies above. A series of towers lined the city''s outer walls, acting as ports for flying galleons with runes glowing on their hulls. A few of them reminded Joseph of the Dreamer''s Lament.


    ¡°Right,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Come on, let''s get something to eat. I''m starved.¡±


    All three of them had the unvoiced thought of leaving the area of the Traveling Point quickly. The terrorist attack on St. Malendia''s weighed heavy on them as they walked down the road to find a place to sit down. As they dodged out of the main plaza and down a side road, Joseph took a look back at the Traveling Point.


    It shimmered, just barely. Flanked by two Federation soldiers. Guarded by no one else.


    ¡°Joseph,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Come on!¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Right, let''s go.¡±


    They found a nice little cafe to stop at, ordering a couple of sandwiches, a cup of tea for Rosemary and Joseph, coffee for Phineas, who slurped it loudly as they ate and went over their plan.


    ¡°Right,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°So we''re here.¡±


    ¡°That we are,¡± Joseph said. He watched as a magitek car went by, runes on its front, some joyride a guy was taking his lady friend on. He could hear her laughter, high and grating, echo down the street as they disappeared down a bend.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    ¡°So,¡± Phineas said, ¡°Where is this Museum of Unnatural History?¡±


    ¡°On Melmaen,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°But where?¡±


    Joseph blinked. Sipped his tea.


    ¡°Um,¡± he said, ¡°I''m not sure.¡±


    Rosemary grimaced. Phineas scratched at an arm.


    ¡°Well, uhm,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Neither do I. Phin?¡±


    ¡°I have no idea where it is,¡± Phineas said, ¡°I only heard about this museum as Joseph started packing up to leave.¡±


    The three of them sat in an awkward silence. Down the street, they could hear a couple of sailors start arguing with each other over a dropped crate.


    ¡°We''d...¡± Rosemary said, ¡°We''d better start doing a bit of research, yeah?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Research is good,¡± Phineas said, ¡°Only fools dislike it.¡±


    ¡°We should have done this before we left.¡±


    ¡°We were in a hurry,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Better late than never, right?¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Phineas said.


    They simmered back into the awkward silence. Their server walked over to them, and refilled Joseph and Rosemary''s tea. She offered some more coffee to Phineas, who declined. Joseph sipped. Rosemary coughed.


    ¡°We should get to it,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Yeah, let''s,¡± Rosemary said.


    They started by asking the server.


    ¡°The Museum?¡± she asked, pouring Joseph another cup of tea, ¡°Not sure. There''s a Museum of Natural History, down the way.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Unnatural History.¡±


    ¡°Well, now, that just don''t make a lick o'' sense,¡± the server said, ¡°What even is that? Ain''t ever heard of unnatural history.¡±


    ¡°It is a weird name,¡± Phineas conceded.


    ¡°Now, there''s supernatural history,¡± the server said, ¡°Ghosts, like. Why, my sister, Cindy, she lives just outside o'' town, and she suh-wears there''s a ghost living in her attic.¡±


    ¡°Uh-huh,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Right. We''ll be taking our check now.¡±


    The server wilted.


    ¡°Aw, heck,¡± she said, ¡°Foreigners never want to hear about the ghosts.¡±


    They left the cafe with more confusion than answer. After a few minutes of conferring amongst each other, they headed for the docks.


    ***


    ¡°Yeah, the Museum of Unnatural History,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Heard of it?¡±


    He had managed to pull two sailors away from their work loading cargo onto the pulley system held within the tower. Stone elementals hidden in the tower''s walls began lifting the floor up towards the top, where they could load the cargo onto the airship moored high above. But both of them were looking at Joseph like he had grown two heads.


    ¡°I''ll be honest,¡± one said, ¡°I''ve never actually been to a museum.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± the other said, ¡°They''re pretty good. My dad used to take me to the local one, back when I was growing up.¡±


    ¡°Thought you grew up on a farm.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I did,¡± the other sailor said, ¡°But he''d take me to the one in town. Was one of them freak show places, with two-headed cows and stuffed metahumans and the like.¡±


    Joseph''s blood ran cold at that.


    ¡°Th-the Museum?¡± he said, ¡°Unnatural History.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± the sailors said, together, ¡°Well, there''s one in town. Natural History, though.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, we know,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°I should go, I think,¡± the first sailor said, ¡°I''ve never been.¡±


    ¡°Why don''t,¡± the other sailor said, ¡°On our break, once we finish loading up, we go?¡±


    ¡°Aye, I like the sound of that.¡±


    Joseph rolled his eyes.


    ¡°Hey!¡± he said, ¡°Museum of Unnatural Goddamn History. You heard of it?¡±


    Both sailors turned to look at him. One looked angry. The other just looked confused. Joseph glared at both of them.


    ¡°It''s a simple question,¡± he said.


    ¡°Then here''s a simple answer,¡± the first sailor said, ¡°Neither of us know of a Museum of Unnatural History, so bugger off.¡±


    ¡°Really, if we knew what it was, we''d have told you,¡± the other sailor said. He looked at Rosemary, ¡°Kind of a simpleton, isn''t he?¡±


    ¡°Ooookay,¡± Rosemary said. She grabbed at Joseph before he threw himself at them, the air smelling like ozone, ¡°Thanks for your time. We''ll be leaving.¡±


    ***


    ¡°Great,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Fuckers.¡±


    ¡°Well, they did not know,¡± Phineas said, ¡°And moved on to other topics. Seemed logical, to me.¡±


    Joseph shot Phineas a look. The Deep One just shrugged.


    ¡°Well,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°What other options do we have?¡±


    Joseph grimaced.


    ¡°I''m not sure,¡± he said.


    ¡°The library,¡± Phineas rasped, ¡°Whenever I have to do research, I do it there. Don''t you, Joseph?¡±


    ¡°I do,¡± Joseph said, scratching the back of his head, ¡°I''ll be real, though, I''m kind of sick of them, though. Feels like all I do back at the guild when I''m not fighting is reading.¡±


    ¡°All you did,¡± Phineas said.


    Joseph caught himself at that.


    ¡°Did, right,¡± he said, though he did not sound convinced, ¡°...Did.¡±


    He was quiet for a moment, lost in his own thoughts. His hand balled into fists as he remembered all of the times he went into that damn place, poring over every metahuman volume he could find, begging Becenti if he had any more.


    All this time, and the answer could have been here. And Wakeling had forbidden him because of some damn businessman.


    The same businessman Ichabod had gone after.


    He felt his soul circuit, hot and angry.


    ¡°Regardless,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°It''s worth a shot.¡±


    ¡°Let''s just go,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°I can ask around,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°There''s bound to be a map, or something.¡±


    ¡°I don''t care,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Let''s just do it. Go.¡±


    There was a dark edge in his voice. Rosemary and Phineas looked at one another for a moment, hesitating.


    ¡°What?¡± Joseph said, ¡°What''s the holdup? I''m leaving the guild, you''re helping me, right?¡±


    ¡°Joseph,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°We-¡±


    ¡°Let''s go. Start asking around,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Let''s just find a goddamn library. Read through books, again. Maybe we''ll find one that we''re looking for.¡±


    And he strode off, leaving the two of them behind. Phineas rested a hand on Rosemary''s arm.


    ¡°He is angry,¡± he said.


    ¡°I know, Phin,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°No excuse to take it out on us, though.¡±


    ¡°Agreed,¡± Phineas said, ¡°We shall just help him look, then.¡±


    He made to start waddling after the metahuman, before stopping to look back up at her. There was a distant, sad look in her eyes.


    ¡°Rosemary?¡± he said.


    She shook herself from her stupor, and gave Phineas a soft, false smile.


    ¡°Yeah, Phin,¡± she said, ¡°Let''s go.¡±


    ***


    They found a library soon enough, asking around for a small while before settling on one in the inner city. It was an old building, with that familiar, dusty book smell. Books were piled high on desks and on shelves, thick tomes that went over Melmaen''s vast, almost impossible histories. The man at the desk was helpful, at least.


    ¡°The Museum of Unnatural History?¡± he said.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph said, ¡°And if you say that there''s already a museum of NATURAL history here, I''m going to lose it.¡±


    ¡°I''m quite aware of the Museum of Unnatural History, young sir,¡± the librarian said, ¡°Hmm, perhaps it''s best if I show you a map.¡±


    He got up, grimacing a bit as he put weight onto his old wooden leg. He walked with a limp over to one of the shelves tucked away in the corner, weathered hands sorting through books of geography, before stopping and picking one out.


    ¡°Here we are,¡± he said, ¡°A map of the Julianisan Empire''s borders, circa a hundred years ago.¡±


    ¡°Won''t that be out of date?¡± Joseph said, ¡°It was a century ago.¡±


    ¡°Not for what I''m going to show you,¡± the librarian said.


    He laid the book down at a table, the three guildmembers crowding around him as he opened it up and flipped a few pages. He stopped, pointing down at a map of the Julianisan Empire''s holdings on the northern continent.


    ¡°Here we are,¡± he said, ¡°The floating island of Stellaluna.¡±


    ¡°Stellaluna,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°That''s a pretty name.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± the librarian said, ¡°I remember my grandmother telling me about it. An old floating island that was brought here from another plane around five thousand years ago.¡±


    ¡°And it''s still part of the Julianisan Empire?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°I believe so,¡± the librarian said, ¡°But don''t go spouting that off in public, eh?¡±


    ¡°Whatever,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Stellaluna, where is it?¡±


    ¡°It''s floating isl-¡±


    ¡°We know,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Where is it?¡±


    ¡°That''s what I''m trying to tell you,¡± the librarian said, and his voice was barbed with trying patience, ¡°It''s a floating island. It migrates, depending on the time of year. Most of the time, you''d be able to charter a ship. But...¡±


    ¡°It could be on the other side of the globe,¡± Joseph muttered.


    ¡°Err, disc,¡± the librarian said.


    ¡°Fucking whatever,¡± Joseph said. He moved off, exiting the library, taking a second to himself.


    ¡°Sorry about him,¡± Rosemary said to the librarian, ¡°He''s been going through it.¡±


    ¡°Quite alright, I suppose,¡± the librarian said, ¡°Would you like to check out the book?¡±


    ¡°I think we will be alright,¡± Phineas said, ¡°We only needed to see where the museum was. Thank you.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± the librarian said, ¡°Have a good rest of your day.¡±


    ***


    They had seven thousand credits to their name, roughly. They had to round back to the plaza with the Traveling Point to exchange Phineas''s gold coins for the Julianisan gel, before snooping back to the port towers to find a ship that would take them to Stellaluna. They found one, just barely.


    For two hundred gel. Five thousand credits.


    All three of them winced at that.


    ¡°You''re lucky,¡± the ship''s captain said, ¡°Island''s close to us this time o'' year. We can drop you off on the way over.¡±


    ¡°Two hundred gel, though,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°It''s a bit steep, isn''t it?¡±


    ¡°Outlanders attract trouble,¡± the captain said, ¡°For all I know, you could be on the run. You got the looks of it.¡±


    ¡°What does that mean?¡± Joseph asked, darkly.


    ¡°We''ll take it,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Two hundred.¡±


    ¡°Deal,¡± the captain said, fixing Joseph a warning look, ¡°Be sure to keep this one in check.¡±


    ¡°What does-¡±


    Rosemary elbowed him. Joseph grimaced.


    ¡°Fine,¡± he said.


    And they were off on another ship. One with a name, though this time Joseph didn''t bother to learn it. No, instead, he sat down on the bunk that had been provided for him, and closed his eyes. A pounding headache had crept into his skull while they had been on Melmaen, and it throbbed and pulsed as his anger, for a bit, subsided.


    ¡°Two days,¡± Rosemary said, as she settled into the bottom bunk, ¡°Two days, Joe. Then we''re there.¡±


    He didn''t respond. He merely closed his eyes.


    Memories came back to him.


    ***


    ¡°Two weeks,¡± his father said, ¡°Two weeks until the end of classes, and you''ve yet to make a decision.¡±


    They were back at the dinner table. His dad. His mom. Luke. Joseph was leaning back, the dishes cleared away, the plans once more back in front of him. None of them had been accomplished. Not the right school, not the right grades, not the right extra-fucking-curriculars. All three of them were looking at him now with different looks. Luke looked awkward, fidgeting a bit and glancing every so often at their dad, whose face was set in a look of profound, exhausted disappointment. His mother was looking at him as though she were seeing him for the first time in her life.


    It had been a year since he had first spoken to his two coaches about the athletic scholarship.


    And he still had not told his parents.


    His heart was hammering as he took a deep breath.


    ¡°I know it''s not what you guys want,¡± he said.


    ¡°It is not,¡± his father said. His voice was flat. Tense.


    ¡°Joseph,¡± Luke said, ¡°What were you doing, these last few years? Were you studying?¡±


    ¡°I was,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Evidently not enough,¡± his mom said. She picked up his report card, ¡°Bs in English, Math, Science? Joseph, that''s not even close to acceptable.¡±


    Joseph was quiet.


    ¡°Did you write your introductory letter?¡± Luke said, ¡°You were supposed to have it by now.¡±


    ¡°I''ll write it in the Summer,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Damn the Summer!¡± his father yelled. He rose to his feet, anger etched into every line on his face, as he pointed a finger at Joseph, ¡°What is wrong with you?¡±


    They all froze.


    ¡°Joseph Zheng!¡± his father snarled, ¡°You were supposed to be working on getting into a good school! What have you been doing? Every night, I come home to see that you''re out, that you''re not studying, not writing, not getting any of your homework done on time!¡±


    He stepped over to him now, leering over Joseph.


    ¡°What have you even been doing? No doubt more of that boxing, getting concussions, getting brain damage! Your brain is the most important part of your body, Joseph! You can''t get hurt, not now! Not when your brain''s all you have!¡±


    Joseph mumbled something under his breath.


    ¡°What was that?¡± his father said, ¡°Speak up, Joseph. Don''t make me tell you again.¡±


    ¡°I said, maybe my brain''s not all I have.¡±


    His answer created a moment of quiet. His father froze, anger still burning in his eyes, in the way that a vein was popping out of his temple. Luke glanced at his mom, who spoke up.


    ¡°What do you mean by that, Joseph?¡± she asked.


    ¡°I''ve been...¡± Joseph''s heart raced as he looked up to meet his father''s face, ¡°I''ve been meaning to tell you. I''ve been offered a scholarship. Full ride, Esther.¡±


    ¡°What. Is. Esther?¡± his father forced out.


    ¡°It''s a college.¡±


    ¡°Ain''t Harvard,¡± Luke murmured. He was staring at the table.


    ¡°Isn''t MIT, either,¡± his father said, ¡°What sort of scholarship, Joseph?¡±


    ¡°For Track,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Track?¡± his father said, his eyes widening in disbelief, ¡°Track?!¡±


    ¡°I know it''s not what you want,¡± Joseph said, ¡°But it''s an opportunity-¡±


    ¡°You''re supposed to be a doctor, Joseph! Or an engineer, or something worth something in the world! What, are you expecting to be the next Usain Bolt? Hmm?¡±


    ¡°No, but I-¡±


    ¡°What good is another runner? When you could be helping save lives, push the future forward?¡± his father snapped, ¡°You need to be able to support yourself, Joseph! You think you''re going to be doing that running?¡±


    ¡°Dad,¡± Luke said, ¡°Maybe-¡±


    ¡°Stay out of this, Liu!¡± his father said, ¡°Joseph, do you understand what I''m saying?¡±


    ¡°Dad,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Just, hear me-¡±


    ¡°Harvard, Joseph!¡± his father said, ¡°If you''re not going there, then what good are you-¡±


    ¡°Oh, will you fuck off!¡±


    Now Joseph was rising to his feet. He was his father''s height, now. Maybe a few centimeters taller. His father even took a step back.


    ¡°What,¡± his dad said, ¡°Did you say?¡±


    ¡°I said, fuck off,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°You do not-¡±


    ¡°I''m going to-¡±


    ¡°You do not speak to me that way!¡± his father roared. Joseph fell back into his chair as his father beared over him, caked him in his shadow, ¡°I am your father, boy. You will respect me!¡±


    For a moment, Joseph''s stomach boiled, as part of him tried to force down his emotions. But another part of him, something whispering on his shoulder, in his ear, exploded out.


    ¡°Oh, fuck off with that!¡± he snarled, ¡°Father? Like hell you are!¡±


    ¡°Woah, Joseph,¡± Luke said. His mother was gasping.


    ¡°What does that mean?¡± his dad said, ¡°I pour my soul into my work, to support a family, to support you-¡±


    ¡°You didn''t even want me!¡± Joseph said, ¡°I was the fucking mistake, remember?¡±


    ¡°And still, we raised you!¡± his father said, ¡°We did not have to do that, Joseph!¡±


    ¡°Yeah, you fucking did!¡± Joseph said, ¡°I''m your son, right? I''m supposed to be! But you aren''t even home when I am! You never have been. Never! When I was-¡±


    He doubled, for a moment, fighting down a sob.


    ¡°When I was ten, and Cameron was bullying me, what did you do?¡±


    His father was silent.


    ¡°Nothing!¡± Joseph snarled, ¡°I had to fight for myself, and all I got from you was yelling!¡±


    ¡°That has nothing to do with your grades,¡± his father said, ¡°That has-¡±


    ¡°To hell with my grades!¡± Joseph screamed, ¡°To hell with school! Fuck Harvard! That''s all you ever talk about with me! You don''t ask me anything except to ask me about my GODDAMN grades, my school! Do you even know what I''ve been doing outside of school?¡±


    ¡°I know what you''re supposed to be doing,¡± his father said.


    ¡°What?¡± Joseph said, ¡°Studying? Like some fucking hermit? Do you even know who my friends are?¡±


    His father was quiet at that. Luke was staring at the wall, his hands balled into nervous fists. His mother''s breathing came out in short, panicked bursts.


    ¡°You don''t know me,¡± Joseph said, ¡°You don¡¯t even try.¡±


    There was a moment where his words remained in the air. All of them were deathly quiet. Outside, they could hear police sirens blaze somewhere in the night. Privately, Luke and his mother wondered how it had gotten so hot inside.


    Then, his father brought out a hand.


    And slapped Joseph across the face.


    Joseph stumbled back, cheek stinging, his father stepping forward. His face was one of mutiny as he turned back to look at his father, who returned it in kind.


    ¡°I,¡± Zheng Hong said, ¡°Am your father. You do not-¡±


    Joseph''s swing was decisive. His fist shot into his father''s face like a bullet, a right hook that was far stronger than Joseph had expected. His dad crumpled. His mom screamed.


    ¡°Joseph!¡± Luke was yelling, ¡°What the hell?¡±


    But Joseph was already moving, grabbing his phone, his wallet. He strode to the door and began putting his shoes on, tying them. Luke was moving around the table to check on his father, who was shaking as he rose to his feet, rubbing his jaw.


    All three of his family stayed away from him as Joseph stood tall.


    He wanted to say something to them.


    Anything.


    But he was seeing red. His curled fist throbbed.


    Without another word, he walked out the door.


    ***


    He would crash at his friends'' houses for the next few days, couch-surfing and attending school. Every evening, he would make his way to the gym. He didn''t tell Coach what had happened. But he knew that the old man knew, in the way that he boxed now, his punches taking on a more savage edge to them. In the way that Joseph walked.


    On Sunday, he finally took one of his sister''s calls, after ignoring them, and Luke''s.


    ¡°They just want to make sure you''re okay, Joseph,¡± Lily said.


    ¡°You know that¡¯s not true,¡± Joseph said, ¡°They don¡¯t even talk about me, do they?¡±


    Lily was quiet at that. For she knew he was right.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Joseph said.


    Lily let out a deep sigh.


    ¡°Joseph,¡± Lily said, ¡°Luke and I have been talking. School''s almost over. Finals are coming up. You have to be home.¡±


    ¡°I''m not going back there,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I''m doing just fine as is.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± Lily faltered. Well, it wasn¡¯t ¡®fine.¡¯ But what else could she say?


    ¡°We''ll... I guess, I don''t know,¡± she admitted, ¡°We''ll rent you a motel room while you take finals. Then, once school''s out, you can crash with Luke for the Summer.¡±


    ¡°I''ve got my boxing here,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I''ve got the gym.¡±


    ¡°Well, we''re not going to pay for a place for you the entire summer, dude,¡± Lily said, ¡°So either you... do whatever you''re doing, or you have a roof over your head. Have you¡­ you¡¯ve been able to eat, right?¡±


    He considered her offer ¨C more Luke''s, he knew. He had only talked to Lily every so often, and knew that she was only calling him because she knew he was still angry at his brother.


    But still...


    ¡°Fine,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I''ll call you later. I''m going to pick up my stuff from Mom and Dad''s.¡±


    ¡°They won¡¯t-¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll do it when they¡¯re gone,¡± Joseph said, ¡°They never come home anyways.¡±


    ¡°...Alright,¡± Lily said, ¡°I''ll see you, Joe.¡±


    Joseph picked up his books while his parents were out ¨C his dad once more at work, his mom probably out and about. Maybe getting tipsy with her girlfriends, especially after what had happened. At least she had a shoulder to cry on. But, more likely, she wouldn¡¯t mention him at all. Would never mention him again.


    He stayed at the dingy, roach-ridden motel for the last dregs of the school year. He passed his classes. Got the scholarship. His last day at Coach''s gym was like any other. He did his warmups, his practice drills, sparred a bit with Ivan. His goodbye to the Coach was like any other.


    He hadn''t even told the Coach he was leaving for LA. But he knew that the Coach knew, in the way that Tristan looked at him. Shook his hand, his grip just a bit too tight.


    After that, the morning after, Joseph left for Los Angeles. Stayed in Luke''s guest bedroom over the Summer, doing research on Esther''s dorms. He video chatted with his dormmate, who was moving all the way from Texas, with the pronounced Southern drawl and everything.


    ¡°So, what''re you goin'' to Esther for?¡± his dormmate said, ¡°You studyin'' to be a doctor?¡±


    ¡°Nah, man,¡± Joseph said, ¡°In it for Track.¡±


    ¡°Huh,¡± his dormmate said, ¡°Goin'' the other way, I guess.¡±


    ¡°Something like that,¡± Joseph said.


    He kept to himself. Jogged almost every day, wandered around the city, had the whole world to himself. He made no friends there. Talked little to Luke, or his wife, or their children.


    They were, in retrospect, the loneliest months of his life.


    They visited Nai Nai at the end of August. Luke loaded up, dragging Joseph along. They were, at first, worried about the rift between him and his parents. But Nai Nai had insisted, had screamed and ordered her son to let Joseph come. And so, the entire family came together to visit her, in her old house with the movie props and the strange statues. Joseph slept in the same room as the painting of ¡®Saturn Devouring His Son,¡¯ as he had every Summer.


    Lily was there, with her family.


    Luke, obviously, was there.


    Jonathon, his other brother, was there, babbling incessantly about his classes.


    And his parents were there. His father gave a simple, curt nod to Joseph. His mother tried to make light, horribly awkward small talk, though Joseph brushed her off.


    Nai Nai gave no indication of suspecting anything was wrong. She was her old, caustic self, like battery acid given form. At least she was blunt and honest. Not like the rest of his family. She insulted Joseph, called him a dishonorable wretch, a blemish on the Zheng name. But she did not have the two-faced, hidden look to her eyes like the rest of them.


    ¡°Track,¡± she said, ¡°You''re going to school for Track and Field.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, Nai Nai,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Running.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Nai Nai said, pursing her thin lips, ¡°That is good. Us Zhengs, we are good at running.¡±


    And that was all she said about that.


    ***


    Joseph moved to Seattle. Attended his classes. Made a few passing acquaintances with other students. He called them his friends, though he knew little about them. Those were days of hard partying. Of running on the field, practicing relays with Esther''s Track and Field team. He did little else.


    He did not speak to his family, save for the occasional awkward phone call with Lily, or Luke. The next two years after that fateful Summer, Joseph lived his life in Seattle. Told himself he loved it. His friendships there became a bit deeper. He ran in a few events, and did well. He chose a Major, then switched it a semester later. Then switched that a semester later, too. He dabbled, took a cursory glance at engineering. At being a doctor. Though he was mostly using those as excuses, all told.


    And then¡­


    And then one day, his father called him. Joseph was about to ignore it, but something made him pick up the line.


    He was outside that day, in the middle of a jog, staring down at his phone, his eyes hard.


    And then he answered.


    ¡°Hey,¡± he said.


    ¡°It''s your grandmother,¡± his father said, ¡°She''s sick, Joseph. We''re going up to Seattle to visit her. You will come with us to see her, and be a dutiful grandson.¡±


    He knew that Nai Nai was insisting they all come together.


    Part of Joseph hated her for that. Part of him worried for her.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said, ¡°I''ll be there.¡±


    He hung up. Bit his lip, pushed down emotions that he hadn¡¯t let bubble up for a long time. And continued running.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    It was the first time his father had spoken to him, truly spoken to him, in two years.

 97. Alone, As He Ever Had Been

    Rinny Jetters woke up at precisely six in the morning. She did her morning routine, taking her shower, fixing up her locs, washing her face, making sure she was applying her daily medicine to her one, single eye ¨C the weather on Melmaen was awful for cyclopes, so one of her guildmates had prescribed to her an eyedrop to help with the bad allergies.


    After this, she set out her single mat in the center of the small apartment that Lord Iridos had provided for her on her arrival to the plane three weeks ago. She did her morning stretches, and she felt loose and ready as she pulled on her leather jacket. The wind whipped around her as she felt the jacket''s enchantment activate, her feet lifting on the ground for a brief moment. She took stock of the rest of her magical items, choosing to take her spellslinger for the day, along with her wand bracer and a scroll of healing. All items designed for combat, but she had a kick in her gut that told her to bring them along. Besides, the spellslinger looked intimidating, a six-shooter that was more advanced than the powder and flint affairs that the people of Melmaen were used to. It would help, if anyone gave her trouble.


    Krishyar Zon, her guildmate, was waiting outside the door. He was an insect ¨C a locust, or perhaps a grasshopper, bent into a humanoid shape, he wore the faded white sash of an apparent ascetic and little else, his exoskeleton shining primly in the morning''s light. His spear, a beautiful piece he had wielded for as long as Rinny could remember, was slung over his shoulders. His mandibles (which, to Rinny''s amusement, were arrayed naturally to resemble a mustache) chittered and adjusted as she walked out.


    ¡°Top o'' the morning,¡± Krishyar said, ¡°Hope you had a good night?¡±


    ¡°It was alright,¡± Rinny said, ¡°You?¡±


    ¡°Rubbish,¡± Krishyar said, a bit clipped, ¡°They told me, again, that they would provide a bamboo carpet, like I had asked. But they didn¡¯t. Poppycock, I say. Absolute poppycock.¡±


    ¡°I hear that bamboo doesn''t grow on Melmaen,¡± Rinny said. She began taking their conversation outside her door and down the hall, ¡°Lord Iridos would probably have to import it.¡±


    ¡°I knew I should have brought mine from home,¡± Krishyar said. The insect''s mandibles chittered, ¡°Ah, well. Enough bellyaching, I''ve had unpleasant nights before.¡±


    Rinny smiled at him. Together, the two of them grabbed a couple of danishes in the lobby and walked out into Stellaluna proper. They avoided a couple of cars as they drove by, walking out into the main plaza.


    ¡°What''s the agenda today, again?¡± Rinny asked.


    ¡°Nothing major,¡± Krishyar replied, ¡°A spot of breakfast with Iridos, a look around the museum, and then a nap.¡±


    ¡°And then,¡± Rinny said, ¡°Night time.¡±


    They both shuddered a bit. Their overnight patrols through the Museum of Unnatural History had been long, and boring, and had turned them into nocturnal creatures. Even after a few days off, they grimaced at the shining sun above.


    ¡°Only a few more weeks,¡± Krishyar said.


    ¡°God,¡± Rinny said, ¡°Remind me never to take one of these kinds of jobs again.¡±


    ¡°Don''t have to tell me twice,¡± Krishyar said, ¡°I say, after we get back to Imran, we go to Lou''s. Get drunk.¡±


    Rinny suppressed a snort. Krishyar never drank.


    ¡°Deal,¡± she said, ¡°But you''re buying.¡±


    ¡°With the bonus I''m demanding after this is over?¡± Krishyar chuckled, ¡°I''m buying the whole damn bar.¡±


    ***


    Broon woke up early in the morning, making sure not to accidentally wake Ezel as he rose out of their bed. He walked out onto the balcony overlooking Stellaluna, watching as it woke up around him. Much of the city was dedicated to the arts, or to history, or to education. Students were heading to breakfast at the cafe neighboring the inn. An artist on the balcony opposite Broon had opened up the window, taking in a deep breath of the morning, the room behind her ready for a day of painting. An airship with the flag of the Julianisan Empire flew overhead, landing at a port at Stellaluna''s edge.


    Broon''s eyes narrowed at that. He went back inside for a moment. Ezel was waking up, rubbing her eyes and looking at him blearily as he started opening his bag.


    ¡°Something up?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Ship''s docked,¡± Broon said.


    ¡°Think it''s them?¡±


    Broon fished out the telescope he had been looking for, extending it out with his teeth.


    ¡°Maybe,¡± he said, ¡°Only one way to know for sure.¡±


    The demigod followed him out onto the balcony, resting her head on his shoulder as he looked out. Sailors were unloading cargo, and a rather foppish-looking wizard, some noble from the Empire proper, was following after them, bickering and bothering at them to put the crates down gently.


    Ye gods, he could practically hear the magician''s whine from here.


    ¡°Nothing,¡± Broon said, ¡°But I wouldn''t be surprised if they came here today.¡±


    ¡°We can cover the docks in shifts,¡± Ezel said, ¡°Want me to wake up Mallory?¡±


    For a moment, he was tempted to. But as he saw one of the sailors punch the wizard''s lights out, wiping him out cold, he gave a shrug.


    ¡°Plenty of time in the day,¡± he said, smiling to Ezel, ¡°Just let her sleep in.¡±


    ***


    Lord Iridos von Gronheim was a portly fellow from the province of Acaditzwehl, a rather prosperous region of the Julianisan Empire known for its vineyards and music. He was a soft man as a result, looking much like an overgrown child in his nice, purple velvet suit and his cream-colored pants, with a strawberry blush to his face and a bald head that reflected the sun''s light as they took breakfast on the balcony of his estate here on Stellaluna. He always wore a smile on his face, and Rinny could not help but like the guy as he tucked into a plate of eggs benedict and hash.


    ¡°I''m so glad you could make it this morning,¡± he said to Krishyar and Rinny, ¡°Seriously, I know things have been rather difficult for you, these past couple weeks.¡±


    ¡°Oh, nonsense,¡± Krishyar said, ¡°It''s of no concern to us, dear fellow. Just us doing our jobs.¡±


    ¡°But a jewel thief!¡± Lord Iridos said, ¡°Attempting to rob the gallery? Truly, a reprehensible situation.¡±


    ¡°It''s nothing major,¡± Rinny said, ¡°We''ve run into worse before.¡±


    ¡°Well, all the same,¡± Lord Iridos said, ¡°You have my endless gratitude. Your guild has proven to be quite reliable. Perhaps I''ll be hiring you in the future.¡±


    He gave them a cherubic smile before cutting into his breakfast again, taking an overly large bite of hash and eggs that kept him chewing for a moment. He closed his eyes in childish delight, shaking to himself.


    Rinny and Krishyar stole glances at each other. Both of them wished never to work a job like this again, even if Lord Iridos was kinder than a chicken''s egg.


    A servant walked over to Lord Iridos, whispering quickly in his ear. The portly man swallowed dramatically and nodded.


    ¡°Ah, good, good,¡± he said, ¡°Very well, bring him in. He can join us for breakfast.¡±


    The servant gave a quick bow, and went back inside. Lord Iridos leaned in conspiratorially.


    ¡°I hope you''ve heard the rumors, yes?¡± he said, practically whispering, ¡°About the Anut¨¦ and Inweth exhibit?¡±


    ¡°I have not, no,¡± Krishyar said.


    ¡°They''re sarcophagi, perhaps you''ve seen them on your nightly patrols,¡± Lord Iridos said, ¡°But not just any sarcophagi. Metahuman sarcophagi. Dating back to the days of Epochia.¡±


    Rinny''s brow furrowed. Krishyar, however, looked impressed. Or perhaps he was playing his reaction up for their client''s benefit.


    ¡°Oh?¡± the insect said, ¡°I had no idea.¡±


    ¡°Apparently the patron of the exhibit, some multiplanar corporate fib-and-fob''s been getting worried about it,¡± Iridos said, ¡°He''s sent over a guard. Another guild. Pantheon.¡±


    Both of them knew of Pantheon.


    Both of their stomachs fell.


    Especially when they realized that Iridos had invited the Pantheon member to have breakfast with them today.


    ¡°Ah!¡± he said, ¡°Krishyar, my dear Rinny, allow me to introduce you to Sir Ahklahan. You hail from Tsaeyaru, correct, sir?¡±


    As they both turned around, both Krishyar and Rinny had the same thought.


    This guy was bad news.


    He was from Tsaeyaru, already a plane known for its violent history. Worse, by the armor that he was wearing, Akhlahan looked to be a crusader of some sort. His armor was vehicle parts that had been hammered into gauntlets, greaves, a cuirass. A chain ran across his torso in an ''X'' shape, its hooked end swinging behind him like a tail. Lord Iridos was stupid enough to allow weapons in his vicinity, and the crusader carried his ¨C a chainsaw, with its grip modified to be held in two hands like a sword. A chainsaw blade. Common, to the crusaders of Tsaeyaru.


    Akhlahan pushed back his long, stringy, dark hair to get a better look at them. At the sight of the two Disciples of Aether, his nose curled.


    ¡°Please, sir,¡± Iridos said, ¡°Sit down. Do you like eggs?¡±


    ¡°I do not eat the unborn,¡± Ahklahan said. His voice was accented, as though he came from Kievan Rus''.


    ¡°They... aren''t fertilized,¡± Lord Iridos said, and he gave out a nervous chuckle, ¡°But! I can see you have your principles. Does hash work? Bacon?¡±


    ¡°Both are agreeable,¡± the crusader said.


    He sat down, and a servant scooped some hash and bacon onto his plate. Ahklahan began eating, shoveling food into his mouth using his spoon.


    ¡°So!¡± Lord Iridos said, ¡°I trust you had a fine journey here to Stellaluna?¡±


    Ahklahan ignored him, continuing to eat.


    ¡°Have you had a chance to look at the Museum of Unnatural History?¡± Iridos said, ¡°You could join the tour I''m hosting today.¡±


    Ahklahan poured some water into a glass, drained it.


    ¡°I say, my good fellow,¡± Krishyar said, ¡°You seem rather intent on eating, don''t you?¡±


    The crusader looked up at the insect for a moment. Then looked down, and spooned in another mouthful.


    ¡°Good food, I suppose,¡± Krishyar said, more to himself than anyone else, ¡°My cheers to the chef.¡±


    ¡°My condolences, too,¡± Rinny muttered, wrinkling her nose at the sight of Ahklahan wolfing down his food, ¡°He''s destroying it.¡±


    ¡°Ha, I suppose he is,¡± Lord Iridos said. He was presenting a good cheer, but his eyes betrayed regret, ¡°Err, have you had a chance to look at the Anut¨¦ and Inweth exhibit...?¡±


    At that, Ahklahan looked up from the corpse of his meal. His face was set and dark.


    ¡°Metahuman sarcophagi,¡± he clipped, ¡°The coffins of demons concern me little. I do not guard out of any love for such blasphemies.¡±


    He speared the last bit of bacon from his plate, and stuffed it into his mouth. His beard was dribbled with fat and hash.


    ¡°I guard only what I am told to,¡± he finished. With that, he rose from his seat, ¡°I must go. Do not invite me again.¡±


    With that, he turned and left. Krishyar eyed the remains of the crusader''s dish, and politely put his fork and knife parallel to each other on his plate. His mandibles twitched in subtle revulsion.


    ¡°Nice guy, isn''t he?¡± Lord Iridos said, ¡°All the way from Pantheon, can you imagine?¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Krishyar drawled, ¡°Quite the charmer.¡±


    ***


    The ship crested higher and higher into the sky as the day wore on. The world below was an ocean ¨C at this time of year, Stellaluna was traveling between continents, and the open sea was her only companion. Phineas sequestered himself in the hold, reading his dark tome and the last of his magazines. Rosemary and Joseph, however, hung out on the top deck, the wind whipping around them, through their hair and billowing up Rosemary''s cloak. Sailors worked on the deck, adjusting the sails, keeping lookout for potential dangers.


    ¡°Nice day of it, yeah?¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Joseph said, only half paying attention.


    ¡°Almost there.¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    Rosemary looked over at Joseph. He was sitting on a crate, leaning against the ship''s rail, his gaze set on the horizon. His fingers were tapping against his knee in anticipation. After a few more tries at conversation, Rosemary wilted a bit, and joined him in watching the sky.


    Soon enough, Stellaluna appeared. First as a gray dot on the blue sky, and then looming into a floating island, spired buildings rising from its surface, along with a cathedral at its center. A small city, it had been colonized by the Julianisan Empire some two hundred years ago, serving as both an observation platform for their holdings across Melmaen and also as a center of learning.


    For Stellaluna had once been alien to Melmaen. Brought here just barely after the grand magocracies of the past had nuked the plane back to the stone age. Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    No one knew where Stellaluna''s old home had been. Some theorized it to be a rock of metahuman origin, like the floating cities of Chliofrond. Others thought it to be something from Methuselah, brought forth by that plane''s ancestors during the ancient spellwars with the Federation. Astute astronomers noted that the minerals within Stellaluna closely aligned with the space rock of the Silver Eye, and surmised the island to be a nomad asteroid from the Roimis Belt in the galaxy''s Inner Reach.


    Whatever the case, the Julianisan Empire had conquered it from their rival, Kievan Rus'', during the Hundred Years'' War. The place attracted merchants, scholars, and teachers from across the face of Melmaen and beyond. Ships flew around the island as it rolled across the sky like a stone cloud.


    By this time, it was the afternoon, just after lunch. The ship lurched its way towards the docks. The sailors shouting to one another, a magician walking out onto the deck, her arms spread as though in supplication, to help ease the vessel''s runes as it pulled up to the plankway.


    They quickly paid the captain, stepping off and onto Stellaluna, dodging past sailors and fellow travelers, and into the city itself. The roads were cobblestone, and there were only a few carriages and magitek cars about. Most of the people of Stellaluna made their way through the city on their own two legs. So the three of them walked, assimilating into the crowd of wizards, students, merchants, and even other guildfolk.


    Phineas stopped at a certain point, sniffing the air. He looked around, then up.


    Towards an inn near the edge of the city. He blinked for a few moments, gave an awkward wave.


    ¡°Phineas,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Don''t get separated from us, yeah?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Phineas said, ¡°I should warn you, though. They are here.¡±


    ***


    ¡°They''re here,¡± Mallory said.


    She had joined Broon and Ezel in their room, leaning against the balcony''s railings with the telescope in hand, chewing gum she had bought in Ladeth. Broon was polishing Kilnriv, the blade on his lap. Ezel was reading a book. Both of them looked up at her.


    ¡°You sure?¡± Broon said.


    ¡°Phineas literally just waved to me,¡± Mallory said, ¡°They''re here.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Broon said, ¡°We''ll catch up to them once we get to the museum''s entrance.¡±


    ¡°You don''t want to find them now?¡± Mallory asked.


    ¡°No point,¡± Broon said, ¡°Look around. Do you still see them?¡±


    The Steamer took another look through the telescope, then cursed to herself.


    ¡°No,¡± she said.


    ¡°We''d lose them if we tried getting to them now,¡± Broon said, ¡°Crowd''s too thick.¡±


    ¡°So, we ambush them right as they get to the museum,¡± Mallory said, ¡°Since we know they''re going there.¡±


    ¡°Exactly,¡± Broon said, ¡°Let''s go.¡±


    He rose to his feet, rolling his shoulders for a moment and hearing an uncomfortable pop somewhere on his back. He grimaced at that.


    ¡°Hate it when that happens,¡± he said, ¡°Going to throw my back out, one of these days. Mark my words.¡±


    ¡°Nonsense,¡± Ezel said, ¡°You''re still young.¡±


    ¡°Ha!¡± Broon said, chuckling, ¡°I see the gray hairs when I look in the mirror. I won''t be ''young'' for much longer.¡±


    ¡°And when that happens, I''ll still be here,¡± Ezel said. She picked up Kilnriv''s scabbard, helping the half-orc tie it to his belt.


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Broon said, ¡°Aye, that''s true.¡±


    He gave her a fond smile.


    ¡°I''d say get a room,¡± Mallory said, ¡°But you already did.¡±


    ***


    The Museum of Unnatural History was founded fifty years ago by some enterprising noble fool with far too much money and far too little sense, and the latter destroyed the former. It had been about to go under when an off-plane investor, OzTech, had swooped in and pumped enough money into the museum to make it an influential player in the world of interplanar archaeology.


    It was situated in the Foreign Plaza, a center in Stellaluna dedicated to extraplanar activities. There was not much here, save for a couple nondescript houses, annex buildings from the local Royal Academy of Stellaluna. No, the primary reason one came here was for the museum itself, a solid, rectangular building of off-color marble, one statue depicting an Alu''eer, the other an Elven lord in robes, a gnarled staff in hand. It reminded Joseph, as they approached, somewhat of a Greek temple.


    The crowd thinned as they approached. A gaggle of students from the Academy were waiting outside, talking to one another, a few of them holding books for studying when they went inside. A portly nobleman, flanked by a dark-skinned cyclops and an insect-person, came down the stairs to greet them. The nobleman''s voice, high and reedy, echoed through the plaza as he welcomed them in.


    ¡°Alright,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°We''re here.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph said.


    There was a moment of quiet as he stared at the museum.


    Somewhere in there was the sarcophagus that had brought him out into the multiverse. All of his problems were in that building. All of his experiences since he had been stranded out here. All of the catalysts. The death he had seen. That he had delivered.


    All of it, came from a coffin that was connected to his Nai Nai''s house.


    He took a shaky breath.


    ¡°Let''s go.¡±


    He took a step.


    And heard a voice behind him.


    ¡°Joseph.¡±


    His heart fell as he turned. Broon was there. So was Ezel. Mallory, the Steamer chewing a wad of gum, blowing out a hot pink bubble. Joseph''s eyes narrowed. Broon''s hand was resting, casually, against the pommel of his sword.


    ¡°''Sup,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Glad to see you''re safe,¡± Ezel said.


    ¡°When Phineas said that you all were here, I was expecting maybe Contort,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Not all three of you.¡±


    ¡°Wakeling sent three of us, for three of you,¡± Ezel said, ¡°She was... rather upset, about you leaving.¡±


    ¡°It''s my choice,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Nothing about it.¡±


    ¡°It''s not about your choice to leave, Joe,¡± Broon said, ¡°It''s more the fact that you went to Rithmound about it.¡±


    ¡°So what about Rithmound?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Wakeling put two and two together,¡± Mallory said, ¡°You traded information about Sunala to them, didn''t you? To get passage on one of their ships.¡±


    ¡°Like it helped,¡± Joseph muttered darkly.


    ¡°That was my idea, Mallory,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°It was me who had the idea. Not Joseph.¡±


    ¡°It doesn''t matter whose idea it was, Rose,¡± Broon said, ¡°What matters is that you traded it. Revealed information about a client about a job that was supposed to be kept close to the chest.¡±


    ¡°Even if that client is someone like Sunala?¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°Even someone like her,¡± Broon said.


    Rosemary bit her lip for a moment, steeling herself.


    ¡°Even,¡± she said, ¡°If that client was a member of an Elven supremacist group?¡±


    ¡°Sunala?¡± Broon said, ¡°...Is she?¡±


    ¡°Verdant Reclamation, Broon,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°She''s... You should have heard what she said to me. The company she keeps. I¡­¡±


    She wilted.


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t be with her anymore, Broon. I know what she¡¯s planning. She wants all of us, all of us gone.¡±


    Broon swore under his breath. His face painted a dozen emotions, all of them negative. Ezel grimaced.


    ¡°Explains a lot,¡± Mallory muttered.


    ¡°So,¡± Broon said, ¡°You think that, by trading information to Rithmound, he could pull the necessary strings to stop her.¡±


    ¡°That''s... not what I was thinking,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°Well, were you thinking?¡± Broon asked.


    ¡°I was,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°I was thinking about Joseph.¡±


    Broon sagged at that. Ezel took over.


    ¡°I appreciate the intentions behind that,¡± she said, ¡°And if what you say about Sunala is true, then we should bring that up with Wakeling. See what our options are.¡±


    Joseph rolled his eyes at that. As though the hag would do anything about that.


    ¡°We need to be unified when we work against those of Sunala¡¯s ideology,¡± Ezel continued, ¡°...But that doesn''t erase the fact that you''re here. Wakeling sent us here to bring you home.¡±


    ¡°Home''s the other way, Ezel,¡± Joseph said, jamming a thumb at the museum.


    ¡°You know the rules, Joseph,¡± Broon said, ¡°We don''t mess with Agrippa. And that museum''s owned by him in all but name.¡±


    ¡°Like with Ichabod?¡± Joseph snapped, ¡°He and Becenti, they messed with Agrippa. They got a whole damn team to do it, too.¡±


    For a moment, Broon grimaced. He evidently had not heard the complete details of the mission that Ichabod had gone on.


    ¡°And you think you¡¯re going to do better?¡± Mallory said, pointing a finger at Joseph, ¡°Three of them are MIA, Vicenorn¡¯s reduced to just being a brain. They went through hell.¡±


    ¡°Maybe,¡± Joseph said, ¡°But from what I heard, they were dealing with the home base there. I highly doubt that they''ve got security like that here. Besides.¡±


    His hand fluttered blue, claw forming out.


    ¡°I''ve handled worse before.¡±


    ¡°This is all rather much,¡± Phineas commented.


    ¡°Doesn''t matter if you can handle it, Joe,¡± Broon said, ¡°What matters are the repercussions.¡±


    ¡°Damn the repercussions,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°You would do that to us, Joseph?¡± Ezel said, ¡°Even if you head home, even if you get back to Earth, the consequences fall on us. Agrippa''s reprisal could ruin us.¡±


    At that, Joseph went quiet. Rosemary and Phineas were both looking at him. And he knew that he didn¡¯t have an answer to that. He opened his mouth, but faltered.


    ¡°I...¡±


    ¡°Look, Joseph,¡± Broon said, ¡°I''m going to be honest with you, here. Wakeling ordered us to bring the three of you back to Londoa. No matter what.¡±


    At that, his fingers curled around his sword''s handle.


    ¡°You do know what that means, right?¡± he said, ¡°Please, Joseph. Don''t make us...¡±


    ¡°So that''s why there''s three of you, then,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Three for three. A regular ol'' brawl.¡±


    He looked hard at Broon. His hand was still caked in electricity. Broon¡¯s face was set, but Joseph noticed small changes in the half-orc¡¯s stance. He was positioning himself, ready to deflect a clawing slash.


    ¡°I do not wish to harm my guildmates,¡± Phineas said, ¡°I will not fight.¡±


    All five heads turned to him. The Deep One was scratching at his arm nervously.


    ¡°When we came here, it was to help Joseph get home. To look at Anut¨¦ and Inweth. I did not come here to face Broon, or harm Ezel.¡±


    ¡°We don''t want to hurt you either, Phineas,¡± Ezel''s voice was soft.


    Phineas looked genuinely apologetic.


    ¡°I am sorry, Joseph,¡± he said.


    The world was silent.


    Then, Joseph sighed.


    ¡°It''s... It''s alright, man,¡± he said, ¡°You don''t have to do anything. Rosemary?¡±


    Rosemary herself seemed torn, eyes darting from Joseph to Broon.


    Then, she wilted.


    ¡°Sorry, Joe,¡± she said, ¡°I''m not willing to hurt the people I love.¡±


    ¡°Didn''t expect you to,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Didn''t want you to.¡±


    He turned back to Broon, Mallory, and Ezel. The Steamer had taken out a thermos full of water, and had started drinking from it. The demigod simply looked sad, though Joseph could see droplets of water start to form in the air.


    He would not be able to win against them, three to one.


    ¡°Alright,¡± Joseph said, his voice bitter, ¡°I won''t fight.¡±


    All three of them relaxed. Broon walked over and rested a hand on his shoulder.


    ¡°I know that you want to go home,¡± he said, ¡°But this isn''t the way.¡±


    Joseph was quiet.


    ¡°We''ll charter a ship out of here, alright?¡± Broon said, ¡°We''ll head back to Castle Belenus. Maybe there''s a book there you haven''t read. Maybe you can talk to Wakeling more. Apologize.¡±


    ¡°Apologize?¡± Joseph growled, ¡°For fucking what?¡±


    His voice was dangerous. Venomous. Broon let his hand fall. He rose to his full height, looking down at Joseph.


    Warning him.


    ¡°We''re going home, Amber Foundation,¡± he said.


    ***


    They had to remain in Stellaluna for the time being, for the island''s port had gone quiet for the night, the sailors turning in and getting drunk at the bars that dotted the docks. So while Broon managed to secure passage for the six of them to the Traveling Point at New Kondris, for the night, they had to turn in. One last night at Stellaluna. Broon turned from the counter as he finished ordering dinner, turning to look at his five guildmates sitting at a table. Rosemary was awkwardly making conversation with Mallory.


    ¡°So, they kicked you off the ship?¡± the Steamer was asking, ¡°That''s messed up.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Soon as they saw he was metahuman. You ever been kicked off before?¡±


    ¡°Plenty of times,¡± Mallory said, and her voice went dark, ¡°A lot of times, actually. Mostly back home.¡±


    Phineas had returned to reading a book, a magazine that he was poring over. Ezel was next to him, looking over his shoulder and murmuring to herself every so often.


    ¡°That''s not how it works,¡± she said, ¡°Gilgamesh was a lot less muscular.¡±


    ¡°It is the card art,¡± Phineas said, ¡°An interpretation.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Ezel said, ¡°A bad one.¡±


    ¡°You have met Gilgamesh before?¡±


    ¡°A few times,¡± Ezel said, ¡°Back when I still lived on Prime. I saw Marduk, too.¡±


    She pointed a finger at a picture in the magazine.


    ¡°Not nearly as handsome, in my opinion. And he has four eyes.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Phineas said.


    The demigod noted that Broon was watching them, and gave him a wink. Broon smiled back at that. Then his gaze shifted over to Joseph. The young metahuman had a blank, subtly morose look on his face as he stared down at the table. He hadn''t spoken since giving in to Broon, but his hands were balled into fists.


    For a moment, he looked up, locking eyes with Broon before shifting them to the wall.


    Broon''s heart fell. He knew that look. Joseph was hiding something.


    But¡­


    But the half-orc didn¡¯t want to believe that. He¡¯d given Joseph his warning glare. The metahuman wouldn¡¯t put them all into danger. He knew what would happen if he sneaked out.


    Right?


    Broon chose to believe that.


    (And, perhaps, he was wrong to.)


    He was quiet as they ate. They all were, the conversation dying away with the day.


    When they returned to their rooms, Broon looked at them. Then gave a nod.


    ¡°Right,¡± he said, ¡°Joseph, you and Phineas are with me. Ezel, look after Mal and Rose.¡±


    He and the demigod traded looks to each other, a silent communication running between them. So he would take two of them, she and Mallory would guard Rosemary. Just in case.


    They went into their rooms, and bedded down. Phineas quickly rushed underneath one of the beds, and Broon claimed its top. Joseph sat down at the foot of the bed.


    ¡°Joseph,¡± Broon said.


    The metahuman looked over. The half-orc opened his mouth, then closed it.


    ¡°What?¡± Joseph said, ¡°You watchin'' me? Make sure I don''t try anything funny?¡±


    ¡°Not like that,¡± Broon said.


    ¡°Don''t think I don''t know what you''re doing, Broon,¡± Joseph said.


    He took a shaky breath.


    ¡°It''s fine,¡± he said, ¡°Really. I''m tired, anyways. It''s been a long day.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Broon said, ¡°Alright. Sleep well, Joseph.¡±


    ¡°And you, Broon.¡±


    ***


    The world passed on, stars wheeling in the sky, the Three Moons hanging like ornaments from a tree. Joseph waited, wide awake, his entire body buzzing with energy. He tried his hardest to keep his soul from pumping, from letting ozone leak out of his body and into the room. He turned his head to watch Broon slowly fall asleep. From experience, he knew that the half-orc was a light sleeper. If Joseph tried raising his voice too loud, he would wake up.


    So he quietly leaned over, letting his arm slip off the bed and hang for a moment, and he scratched a finger against the wood floor.


    At once, Phineas''s eyes opened up beneath Broon''s bed. The Deep One crawled out, quietly and slowly.


    ¡°Phin,¡± Joseph''s voice was so low he could hardly hear it.


    Broon shifted in the bed. Joseph winced.


    But then the half-orc settled back down.


    ¡°What, Joseph?¡± Phineas whispered.


    ¡°I need,¡± Joseph thought, ¡°I need one last favor, Phin.¡±


    ¡°I cannot do that,¡± Phineas said, ¡°We are going home.¡±


    ¡°That''s true, Phin. Only I''m going to my home, and you''re going to yours.¡±


    The Deep One was quiet. He looked conflicted. Unsure.


    ¡°Phin,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I''m leaving the guild. Left it. If they catch me, I''ll just be some random interloper. You wouldn''t even have to look for me if I got caught.¡±


    ¡°I would still try,¡± Phineas said.


    ¡°I need you to put Broon into an even deeper sleep,¡± Joseph whispered, ¡°Can you do that?¡±


    ¡°I told you,¡± Phineas said, ¡°I would not harm my guildmates. My friends.¡±


    ¡°It isn''t hurting him, is it?¡± Joseph said, ¡°He probably needs the sleep, anyways. I mean, look at him. It''s been a busy few days.¡±


    Phineas stood up to look at the half-orc. Then, he lowered back down, and nodded.


    ¡°True,¡± he murmured. Then, he went back beneath the bed. For a moment, Joseph thought that the Deep One had decided to deny his request, and gone back to sleep.


    Then, he came back out with his tome, opening it up, a spell weaving in his hands. Mist curled around his webbed fingers, then began rising up to Broon''s face. The half-orc looked about to sneeze, nose wrinkling up. Then he simmered back down, his breathing becoming quiet and regular.


    ¡°There,¡± Phineas said.


    Joseph climbed out of bed. Pulled on his jacket and shoes. He opened the door to the balcony carefully, despite the fact that Broon was out like a light. The night was cold. Very cold. Joseph shivered in spite of himself. He walked over to the edge of the balcony, and threw himself over the railing, manifesting his soul at the last moment to cushion his fall, great form thudding into the cobblestone. He was surprised the road didn''t crack.


    He looked up, extinguishing the azure light. But no one from either of the two rooms came walking out. Good. He didn''t want them involved with this. Rosemary and Phineas had gotten him this far, and Broon was right ¨C if they made a move in the museum, it could come down on the guild''s head.


    No. Joseph was alone for this.


    As he had, truly, always been. He just hadn''t seen it.


    He dwelled on that thought for a moment. Let it wash over him.


    Then, he looked up, and started his way to the museum.

 98. Museum Mosh

    Joseph stepped onto the main road that snaked up to the Museum of Unnatural History. Lampposts lit his way, the fires a dull orange that beamed dim in the night. He wrapped his coat tight around himself as he walked. This high up above the clouds, the air became frigid, almost Winter-like. The inn had internal heating, heat elementals that Phineas told him that were bound to the floor and walls to keep a building cozy.


    Nothing like that here, as the museum loomed in the middle distance. It was quiet, and Joseph''s only companion was the wind. As it always had been, truly. The Amber Foundation behind him. The future in front.


    He was hiding behind one of the buildings that edged against the Foreign Plaza when he felt a webbed hand brush his arm. Joseph spun, eyes wide, to see Phineas''s silhouette in the darkness. The Deep One''s scales reflected poorly against the light of the lamps as his orbicular eyes looked up to Joseph.


    ¡°Get out of here, Phin,¡± Joseph hissed, ¡°Go!¡±


    ¡°I will not,¡± Phineas rasped back, ¡°I am here.¡±


    ¡°You''ll get in trouble,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°I will not,¡± Phineas said, ¡°I am one with the shadows.¡±


    ¡°They''ll think I''m part of the guild,¡± Joseph said, ¡°You''ll get in trouble. All of you.¡±


    ¡°I am not helping my guildmate,¡± Phineas said, ¡°I am helping my friend.¡±


    Joseph deflated a bit at that. Phineas gave no indication of leaving, nor could Joseph really force the Deep One to go back to the inn. His eyes burned with anger, before he closed them, and sighed.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said, ¡°But if we get caught, get away from me. Leave me to the wolves. Got it?¡±


    ¡°I will not-¡±


    ¡°It''s that, or I wake up Broon,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I can outrun you, you know.¡±


    The Deep One thought about that for a moment, before giving a nod.


    ¡°Right,¡± Joseph said. He turned his attention back to the museum, which now loomed before them, ¡°Two guards at the front.¡±


    Indeed, they were there. The night shift, guards from the museum, they had batons strapped to their sides and not much else. One of them was visibly yawning. The other was already dozing off, spilling her cup of coffee onto the marble steps.


    Too easy. Joseph and Phineas hunkered down, and began dodging between buildings as they made their way up the side of the museum''s main entrance. They took the steps carefully, being sure to keep out of the guard''s line of sight. There was a drastic blindspot in the position the guards had taken ¨C both of them were in front of two pillars, almost ten feet from the entrance itself, which was closed up tight, mahogany doors with golden knobs. Joseph and Phineas dodged past them, behind the pillars, towards the door. Phineas opened up his tome, reading over a couple spells, wiping a hand against the door''s frame. He nodded to Joseph.


    ¡°Open,¡± he whispered.


    And Joseph did so. The door opened soundlessly, thanks to Phineas¡¯s spell, and the guards were none the wiser as he stepped in and closed it behind him.


    The main lobby of the Museum of the Unnatural was empty. Designed to hold multiple tours for visiting student bodies, it was a large, circular room with a center exhibit of a great, skeletal creature, vaguely ox-like, though easily ten times its size. Its horns curved skywards, just barely managing to avoid grazing against the ceiling. One staircase on the left drove downwards, a door on the left led to other exhibits on the first floor, and a staircase directly in front of them led upwards.


    Joseph looked around for a second, before heading to the information kiosk, grabbing a brochure and flipping through it. The bottom floor was a grouping of galleries, famous paintings, sculptures, and other artistic expressions were listed as being down there. The ground floor held the common, staged archaeological finds, as did the top floor.


    There, too, was a traveling exhibit, dedicated to a series of floating spells, enchanted armors, and the like.


    ¡°But no sarcophagi,¡± Joseph muttered to himself, flipping through the pamphlet, ¡°Nothing at all.¡±


    ¡°We will need to look,¡± Phineas said, ¡°It is no concern. Our footsteps are concealed.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Joseph said. He took an experimental step forward. Indeed, what sound his shoes created were muted. He could hardly hear them. The entire lobby of the museum felt eerie. With only the two of them, it felt like the museum was a mausoleum. A dead place. As though the living were not meant to be here. Only adding to this effect were the various artifacts that lined the walls ¨C stone and jade idols, cups carved from the skulls of long-dead beings, an ancient board game played using bone dice and wooden chips. The Museum of Unnatural History had a feeling of finality to it.


    This place was a tomb.


    ¡°Only natural that the coffins would be here, then,¡± Joseph said to himself.


    ¡°Joseph?¡± Phineas asked.¡°Nothing,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Let''s start on the ground floor, and move our way up.¡±


    ***


    Phineas''s spell on Broon wore away with the Deep One''s distance from the inn. As such, Broon stirred as the magic fell away, flaking off of his mind like dead skin. The half-orc was slow to wake, pulling his eyes open and looking over to the other bed.


    Joseph was gone.


    Broon rose suddenly, jumping out of the bed and looking underneath. Phineas was gone, too. He had suspected that his guildmate would join Joseph, if he tried anything stupid.


    He had just hoped that Phineas would be able to convince him to go back to the guild. Broon sighed, walking over to the wall and hammering against it to wake Ezel up. He heard her stir in the other room, her voice rising to rouse Rosemary and Mallory. He pulled on his armor quickly, strapping it on and pulling Kilnriv to his side, tying the blade to his belt.


    There came a knock.


    ¡°Enter,¡± Broon said.


    Ezel walked in, looking past Broon and to the open balcony door.


    ¡°Phin put a spell on me,¡± Broon said, ¡°He had to have. I sleep light. I would have heard them, I would have-¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Ezel said, ¡°Don''t beat yourself up over it.¡±


    She rested a hand on the shaking, fidgeting half-orc. At her touch, Broon relaxed, taking a deep breath to steady himself. Mallory and Rosemary were peeking through the doorframe, Rosemary''s hair a rat''s nest. She was holding her sceptre in her hand as she walked into the room.


    ¡°You''re ready for this,¡± Broon said. His voice was not accusatory, but nonetheless Rosemary scoffed.


    ¡°You know Joe,¡± she said, ¡°And you know Phineas worships the ground he walks on.¡±


    ¡°You aren''t in on this?¡± Broon said.


    ¡°...No,¡± Rosemary said, and she sounded almost regretful, ¡°No, he didn''t tell me.¡±


    ¡°We''ll have to assume that it was spontaneous,¡± Ezel said, ¡°We gave them no opportunity to talk to each other in private.¡±


    ¡°Doesn''t matter if it was spontaneous or not,¡± Mallory said, ¡°They''re gone.¡±


    Broon nodded at that. He stepped out onto the balcony, glancing down below. Joseph must have leaped down, cushioning his fall with that soul of his. He could almost imagine it now.


    ¡°We have to go over after him,¡± Broon said, ¡°The museum, it''s got guards inside.¡±


    ¡°Joseph could take out a couple guards,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°It''s not Joseph I''m worried about.¡±


    He let that statement hang in the cold night air for a moment, turning around.


    ¡°Will he hurt them? Not badly,¡± Broon said, ¡°But any interaction is going to be rough. We need to get him back before he winds up in a situation he can''t run from.¡±


    He turned to look at each of them in turn. Then his eyes landed on Rosemary. Her forehead knit itself together when she put two and two together.


    ¡°I can''t let you go, Rosemary,¡± Broon said.


    ¡°You don''t trust me.¡±


    The half-orc grimaced.


    ¡°It''s not that I don''t trust you,¡± he said.


    ¡°So let me go.¡±


    Broon hesitated. Rosemary took the opportunity to stomp over to him.


    ¡°You know that Joseph''s going to get in trouble,¡± she said, ¡°Right?¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Broon said, ¡°But I still can''t let you go.¡±


    She opened her mouth to object, but Broon interrupted her.


    ¡°There''s already enough of us compromised here, Rosemary,¡± he said, ¡°Ezel and I will go. You and Mallory stay here. I don''t want you heading out, got it?¡±


    ¡°But-¡±


    ¡°The smaller the team, the better,¡± Broon said, ¡°And we''re losing time. I need you to promise me you''ll stay here.¡±


    Rosemary faltered, and Broon could almost see the gears turning in her head. Then, she gave a defeated sigh.


    ¡°Alright,¡± she said, walking over and lying down on one of the beds, ¡°Okay.¡±


    ¡°Mallory,¡± Broon said, ¡°You stay here until morning. If you don''t hear from us by then, start checking the jails.¡±


    ¡°You got it,¡± Mallory said.


    Broon crossed over to the door leading out of the room. Ezel followed, and the two of them left the room. Walked down the stairs, retrieved the keys from the sleeping attendant at the lobby''s desk to unlock the main doors. It was cold out as they walked across Stellaluna, towards the museum.


    ¡°You don''t trust her,¡± Ezel said.


    ¡°I...¡± Broon trailed off.


    ¡°It''s alright,¡± Ezel said. She gestured at a nearby decorative pond, and ducks and geese squawked away as the water convulsed for a moment, snaked towards her open hand, floated over her palm in an orb, ¡°It makes sense.¡±


    ¡°I want to trust her,¡± Broon said.


    ¡°If you do, she''ll stay put,¡± Ezel said, ¡°Besides, Mallory''s there.¡±


    ¡°...If I trusted her,¡± Broon whispered, his voice almost stolen by the wind, ¡°I would have brought Mallory with us.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Ezel said, ¡°But you know, three''s a crowd.¡±


    He appreciated her poor attempt at humor, giving her a sympathetic smile.Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.


    Together, they headed to the museum.


    ***


    There was, to Joseph''s frustration, no sign of the sarcophagi on the first floor. He and Phineas walked across the museum, keeping an eye on each exhibit, looking at the map in the brochure to try and guide their way. Suits of armor greeted them. As did ancient stone sculptures that depicted many-armed gods, or mythic beasts, or virgin mothers, their bellies swollen with child. River-rusted swords, clay pots, vases with highly detailed, kaleidoscopic patterns were set up on display. The moon shined bright and bawling, illuminated the museum, made it possible to read out each exhibit''s description in the middle night.


    But no sarcophagi.


    They could hear the footsteps of guards echoing down the halls. But there weren''t many. Joseph supposed that, due to Stellaluna''s relative isolation, the security here was meant more to keep out curious students, not actual thieves.


    Not guildfolk, like Phineas.


    Avoiding them was simple. Phineas''s spell made the act of sneaking around a formality. The doors they had to go through opened soundlessly. Their words were muted by a sphere of silence he had cast, similar to the one the elves had used at InterGuild.


    ¡°Alright,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Let''s head upstairs.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Phineas said.


    They had to stop, peeking through the door that led back to the main lobby, as a patrolling guard took a moment to light a smoke, glancing up at the massive, skeletal creature in the room''s center. After finishing it up, he dropped it and smothered it beneath his heel. Then, he walked downstairs, to the paintings.


    Phineas grabbed the cigarette''s ashen remains, and tossed them into a trashcan. The two of them made for the second flight of stairs, leading up to the third floor.


    ***


    The exhibit Krishyar and Rinny were watching was a gallery of frozen spells, taken from across the multiverse. Famous spells. Spells that the most legendary, influential magicians in their time had cast. Vorpal''s Burning Rage, which had devastated an entire kingdom, floated encased in a sphere made of glass and water. The Locus of Locust was held in the form of a single grasshopper, held in a cage on a small dais. Lord Iridos had almost knocked it over when the exhibit had been getting set up here, and had gotten a stern talking to from the museum''s curator about almost causing an international incident.


    But the spell that enraptured Rinny the most was in a simple, wooden chest. It was known as Presh-Ho-Mirana, the Prize/Price of Greed. Nations had fought for it. Kings had sent entire armies to die for it. Even the High Federation had sent agents to retrieve it. The Epochians, too. It was an old spell. Ancient, predating many plane''s prehistories.


    And no one had any idea what it did.


    The mystery intrigued Rinny, and on these long nights, when it was just her and Krishyar on the lonely top floor, she would stare at it. Her eye glistened in the moonlight, full of wonder and curiosity.


    ¡°Bad for the health, staring at one thing for so long,¡± Krishyar said to her. He was leaning against a wall, spear tucked between his shoulder and head.


    ¡°I''m trying to resist the urge to open it.¡±


    ¡°Well, don''t,¡± Krishyar said, ¡°It''s probably the spell talking, telling you to open it. Like one of those rings, the kind that makes you invisible and belongs to some dark lord or other.¡±


    ¡°I''m aware,¡± Rinny said, breaking her gaze at the chest to give a quick glare at her guildmate, ¡°But it''s why I joined the guild. They don''t have magic like this on the Runway.¡±


    ¡°Poppycock,¡± Krishyar said, ¡°All of this. Spells that can destroy planes, ruin lives, and they put them on display like common zoo animals.¡±


    ¡°No wonder they needed a guild to guard them,¡± Rinny said. She looked conspiratorially over to Krishyar, ¡°Did you hear what happened when this exhibit passed through Titan''s Walk?¡±


    ¡°Titan''s Walk?¡± Krishyar said, ¡°That plane with the cities built on giants, yes?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, that''s the one,¡± Rinny said, ¡°Apparently some dregs from the Sons of Darwin tried stealing them. Almost activated that one over there.¡±


    She pointed at a glass sphere containing a neon-green liquid. Krishyar shuddered.


    ¡°No wonder they chose us,¡± he said, ¡°The expendable ones, in case things go sideways.¡±


    ¡°Oh, don''t say it like that,¡± Rinny smirked, ¡°I know enough about magic to understand most of these spells.¡±


    ¡°And me?¡± Krishyar said, ¡°My dear, I don''t know a lick of magic.¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± Rinny said, ¡°You''re the expendable one, I guess.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Krishyar let out a low, huffing chuckle, ¡°Stiff upper mandible, and all that.¡±


    And then one of Rinny''s magic items began going off. It was a small bell strapped to her belt, and it began to ring. She stilled it, looking at Krishyar.


    Who nodded. And stood up straight, rolling his shoulders.


    Someone in the museum was not supposed to be here.


    Someone using magic to hide their presence. They had just made it to the top floor. Krishyar headed out of the traveling exhibit, which had its own separate section, and into the main hallway.


    ***


    There was a bugman framing the door that led to the Impressive Spells Traveling Gallery. It was directly to the left of the stairwell.


    Or, Joseph supposed, perhaps it was rude to refer to him as a ''bugman.'' The creature that stepped out into the main hallway, glancing this way and that, resembled a humanoid grasshopper of some sort, or an ant, or something else vaguely insect-ish, though he possessed only two arms and two legs. His mandibles were curved upwards, like a mustache, and he gripped a beautiful spear in one hand, a red sash wrapped just beneath the head.


    Phineas whispered a few words, sinking into the shadows, wrapping them around him. Joseph followed suit. The magic was a piggybacking of the work the Deep One had performed at St. Malendia''s. They were camouflaged.


    ¡°Hmm,¡± the insect said, in a pronounced British accent, ¡°Well, chaps, that''s some impressive work there, innit?¡±


    They both froze. Phineas let out a low hiss.


    ¡°I can''t see you, really,¡± the insect said, ¡°Nor can I hear you. So you''ve got two of the major senses covered, eh?¡±


    Joseph began drawing in front of Phineas.


    ¡°But you missed one,¡± the insect said, ¡°I can smell you.¡±


    There was a sound of buzzing wings thrumming against a shining carapace. One moment he was there, the next he was not.


    Joseph''s soul surged, and he pushed Phineas out of the way as the eagle brought up its claws.


    Right in the nick of time, as the spear surged into its open palm. Joseph felt the reflex of cold burn into his spine, but the soul flung the spear back. Somehow the insect managed to keep hold of it, wrenching it free of the eagle''s hand. He zipped forward, delivering further stabs at Joseph, who deflected them with back hands and claws.


    Phineas let out a gurgle as he cowered at Joseph''s feet. Joseph could not let the insect hurt his friend. As the spear zipped forward, the eagle let it pierce its chest, a great, clawed hand wrapped around it as it plunged through, holding it firm.


    The other hand fired back a few quick jabs at the insect. One, then two. Enough to discombobulate him, then its talons closed around the bug''s torso and tossed him down the stairs.


    The soul dissipated. Joseph turned to Phineas.


    ¡°We''re doing it live!¡± he said, ¡°Run!¡±


    And they ran.


    Just as the cyclops walked into the room, pulled out a revolver, and opened fire.


    ***


    It was quiet enough that it felt like all of Stellaluna could hear the gunshots fire out.


    It came from the museum, right as Broon and Ezel were crossing the Foreign Plaza. The guards posted out front jolted awake, having fallen asleep. They looked at one another, before rushing inside.


    ¡°Shit,¡± Ezel said, ¡°We''d better hurry.¡±


    ¡°Aye,¡± Broon said.


    The guards had left their post. Also left the door open, so Broon and Ezel were able to rush inside without trouble. The gunshots continued ringing out. Two shots. Three. Four, then five.


    A sixth, then silence.


    ¡°Top floor,¡± Broon said. He pulled free his sword. The guards were already rushing up the staircase on the other side of the lobby.


    There was a rattling boom that shook the building. A flash of burning blue. Joseph had unleashed a lightning bolt. A few more gunshots rang out.


    ¡°Those guards aren''t going to be able to do a thing,¡± Ezel said.


    ¡°Whoever''s up there, they dodged one of Joseph''s bolts,¡± Broon said, ¡°Guildfolk?¡±


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± Ezel said.


    Whatever was happening up there, it was more than what a pair of guards were equipped to handle. They stopped halfway up the steps, staying at the landing in the center, both of them fumbling out batons and hesitating.


    The entire top floor was blocked by shadow.


    ***


    Phineas''s spell had caked the entire place in shadow.


    It had grown from his tome, first an orb expanding in size, then as a wave, until it covered the entire hallway in darkness. Unnatural darkness, blackness so black it felt unreal. Joseph could feel the Deep One''s webbed hands close over his wrist and pull him away from the battle. His soul, still re-circuiting after unleashing a bolt of lightning (one that both the cyclops and the insect had deftly avoided) shook in his stomach as Phineas all but dragged him away.


    They left the hallway with the stairwell, ducking to the left and into an exhibit, a special section dedicated completely to some ancient Elven civilization. Bowls made from leaves were encased in glass boxes, arrowheads made of flint were lined on the wall, along with a beautiful, cracked wooden bow, petrified into stone.


    ¡°Joseph,¡± Phineas wheezed, ¡°We should leave.¡±


    ¡°We can''t,¡± Joseph said, his heart hammering, ¡°We''re so close, Phin. I can feel it.¡±


    ¡°Joseph, those are guildfolk after us,¡± Phineas said, ¡°The cyclops, she has many magical items on her.¡±


    ¡°Then do something about it,¡± Joseph demanded, ¡°You''re a mage, aren''t you? She''s not so tough. Her revolver didn''t do much to me.¡±


    ¡°That was no ordinary revolver,¡± Phineas said, ¡°That was a spellslinger.¡±


    ¡°Let''s keep moving,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Go.¡±


    He and Phineas exited the Elven section, moving into a section somewhat resembling ancient Egypt, complete with diagrams of pyramids, ancient hooked blades, and a sarcophagus.


    Joseph started at that. But no, it was not Inweth. This one, while also gold, had a human''s head, and a crook and flail.


    ¡°Spellslinger,¡± Joseph said, re-centering himself, ¡°Right. What is that?¡±


    ¡°A type of special firearm,¡± Phineas said, ¡°It''s magically enchanted so that its bullets can carry spells.¡±


    ¡°Didn''t feel anything when the bullets hit me,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Nor did my eagle. Just the same usual pain.¡±


    ¡°The cyclops perhaps did not cast anything,¡± Phineas said, ¡°Perhaps she only meant to incapacitate you.¡±


    ¡°Center of mass, Phin,¡± Joseph said, ¡°You only shoot at something you mean to destroy.¡±


    ¡°Then I do not know what spells she might have used,¡± Phineas said, ¡°Usually they are more destructive than subtle. Lightning spells, and others.¡±


    ¡°Like that would work,¡± Joseph drawled.


    ¡°Joseph,¡± Phineas said, ¡°This is a lot more than just a few random museum guards.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Joseph dismissed, ¡°But we''ve been through worse.¡±


    ¡°Joseph,¡± Phineas said, ¡°I am scared.¡±


    The metahuman stopped, looked over to the Deep One, who was scratching off a scale. His face was contorted oddly, in an expression that Joseph realized was anxiety. He wore it rarely.


    ¡°I know, man,¡± Joseph said, ¡°You can head out if you want. But I''m staying.¡±


    He turned to move away. Walked into another gallery.


    Phineas, after a moment, followed after him.


    ***


    He could hear the action happening in the other hallways. Sir Ahklahan picked up his chainblade, unsheathing it from its leather scabbard on his back. He pressed a hand against the large disc on its crossguard, his eyes closing as he prayed to his god. A daily ritual, one that he performed four times a day. It was said that if one prayed a thousand times in the morning, then Ion himself would come down and bless your day. But there was no time for that, now. There was only time for the action to come. So a single prayer would suffice, enough to get himself ready.


    The gallery that housed the artifacts most precious to his client, Agrippa, was tucked away in the back corner of the museum, erroneously given the moniker of ''Alia Artificialia.'' What a fancy way to just say ''other artifacts.'' What a blasphemous boast, to think that a couple of vases, a mundane golden coffin, and a weathered old sword were worthy of display. Nothing should be on display save for those works that glorified Ion.


    So were Sir Ahklahan''s private reasonings. But he kept them, perhaps wisely, to himself. For he was in the land of the pagan, and would render unto Caesar.


    Besides, it gave him an excuse, as his smile widened. He stepped out of the exhibit.


    Whoever was robbing this place was more than just a simple thief in the night. They would make for good sport.


    ***


    When at least the shadows cleared, there were two figures before Krishyar and Rinny. A half-orc, one-armed, a single, rune-painted blade in one hand. He wore armor, scaled yet dull, scabbed and scarred, and it was obvious to both of them that he was battle-hardened. The other wore a black coat to match her long, black hair. Water snaked around her like twin serpents. A magician, of some sort.


    ¡°Good lord,¡± Krishyar said, ¡°More of them.¡±


    ¡°Name your guild!¡± Rinny called out.


    ¡°You first,¡± the half-orc growled.


    ¡°We are the Disciples of Aether,¡± Rinny said. She started to load more charges into her spellslinger. Spells with this one, not the usual bullets. Usually the latter was sufficient for most situations.


    But now...


    She pointed the firearm at the two intruders. Both of them immediately clocked it, hunkered down, prepared to find cover.


    ¡°Your guild,¡± she said.


    ¡°No time for this,¡± the magician said.


    The water whip snapped, knocking the spellslinger from Rinny''s hand right as she pulled the trigger. The bullet struck the ground.


    Shit, Rinny thought.


    She had loaded a fire spell in the chamber, to burn away the magician''s water into steam, when she inevitably used the liquid as a shield. It wasn''t meant to be a destructive spell.


    Not like this, as a wall of flame erupted from the ground. It roared towards the two infiltrators. The half-orc skipped back, the magician dove back down the stairs.


    The cyclops grimaced as the flames dispersed. The half-orc was rushing towards them.


    Well, in for a penny. Rinny slipped a wand from her bracer.


    ¡°Go!¡± she shouted at Krishyar, ¡°I have this!¡±


    She pointed the wand out, and cast Polfin''s Black Hole. It struck the center of the hallway, expanding in size. The half-orc became caught in its gravity well, and he let out a roar of shock as he spun, slamming his blade into the marble floor. The magician let out a holler as the water swirled around her, coiling around her arms like a pair of tentacles, latching onto the staircase.


    Rinny could decide who and who wasn''t pulled in by the black hole. So Krishyar could avoid its gravity well with ease, flitting past the half-orc and into the hallways on the other side.


    She could hear him, banging on walls, his shout of surprise as he caught up with the other two infiltrators.


    This was only just getting started.

 99. Anger and Kindness, War With Peace

    Rosemary walked out onto the balcony, a cold gale rippling through her body. She shivered, clutching the hems of her cloak and swallowing herself in its red cloth. She could not remember a time where she had not worn something like this. Only at the gala, with Sunala, had she let her back lay bare.


    Part of her had hoped it was the beginning of something. The beginning of¡­ a healing process.


    But then, after InterGuild, after Adaya¡¯s rants¡­


    She shuddered, and not from the cold. She would wear her cloak forever now, she thought.


    Mallory walked up beside her. She had donned a heavy coat, her thermos in one hand, her bright eyes looking out towards Stellaluna. There was a subtle, uncomfortable silence between them. For the Steamer knew where her guildmate wanted to go. There was the distant sound of gunshots ringing out. Six, seven. A thundering boom in the distance that made Rosemary tense up. She almost made for Joseph''s bed, where she had left her sceptre.


    But Broon''s words halted her. As did the stern look on his face. The way his hand held onto Kilnriv too securely, too surely, too readily. She could imagine him now, facing off against... whatever was in the museum.


    There were shouts in the distance, and only Rosemary''s more sensitive ears could pick them out over the sound of the wind outside. Mallory had not heard.


    ¡°It''s more intense than I thought,¡± she whispered to the Steamer.


    ¡°Joseph''s going rogue?¡±


    At this, Rosemary gave her a hard look.


    ¡°He wouldn''t,¡± she said, ¡°Don''t think of him like that.¡±


    ¡°Rosemary,¡± Mallory said, ¡°Mind if I''m honest with you?¡±


    The Steamer leaned against the railing.


    ¡°Joseph''s kind of an ass,¡± she said.


    ¡°Because of everything with Tek?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Mallory said, ¡°More than that. There''s this look in his eyes that''s gotten... more intense, I should say.¡±


    ¡°You hardly even talk to him,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°He''s a good guy.¡±


    ¡°Look at the way he''s using Phineas,¡± Mallory said.


    ¡°He''s not using Phineas,¡± Rosemary snapped.


    ¡°Rosemary, listen-¡±


    ¡°Phineas came to me, Mal,¡± she said, her voice raising over the wind, ¡°We, together, went to Joseph.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Mallory said, ¡°And how do you know he''s not going to just... toss you by the wayside as soon as he can get home?¡±


    That stopped Rosemary.


    ¡°Tek''s one of the nicest people in the guild,¡± Mallory continued, ¡°And Joseph just straight up lied to him. Used him. And I know that he wants to get home and everything, but he''s setting a precedent. That''s all I''m saying.¡±


    ¡°...And, you think,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°That he''s gotten violent with Broon and Ezel.¡±


    Mallory grimaced, then nodded.


    ¡°...I''m not hearing this bullshit,¡± Rosemary said.


    She strided over to the bed, and picked up her sceptre.


    Mallory stood between her and the door.


    ¡°No, Rosemary,¡± she said, ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Get out of my way, Mal,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°I''m going to help Joseph.¡±


    ¡°And fight Broon?¡±


    ¡°He''s not fighting Broon!¡± Rosemary screamed, ¡°He wouldn''t!¡±


    ¡°How do you know that?¡±


    ¡°Because he''s my friend!¡± Rosemary said, ¡°You think he''s an ass, but he''s just...¡±


    She had trusted people before. People like Sunala. For just a brief, heartbreaking flash, doubt crept in.


    What if she was wrong about Joseph, too?


    He was her friend. Right?


    He wouldn''t...


    She faltered.


    Then, she steeled herself again. Her sceptre glowed like a miniature sun.


    ¡°Get out of my way, Mal.¡±


    ¡°I can''t,¡± Mallory said, ¡°Broon''s orders. Wakeling''s orders.¡±


    ¡°Then come with me,¡± Rosemary said, and added, almost pleading, ¡°Please.¡±


    Mallory glared hard at her guildmate. Her friend. She had been in the guild for a few years before Rosemary had joined up, but she had shown her the ropes, the ins and outs of guild life. Though they were near enough the same age, Rosemary was a younger sister to her.


    The Steamer sighed.


    ¡°Alright,¡± she said, ¡°Okay.¡±


    ***


    The insect buzzed into the next exhibit, spear shining like silver as he thrusted it at Phineas. It struck true, the Deep One letting out a gurgled gasp of pain as it tore through his scaled shoulder. Blood, black and soap-like, shining like oil, flowed free from the wound as Joseph swung at the spear with his soul''s arm, though the insect dove and zipped back, landing on the wall opposite, the wood instruments and bone fetishes rattling around him.


    Joseph only had the eagle''s arms manifested, and they mirrored his own as he raised them up, stepping past Phineas.


    The insect rushed forward, and Joseph steeled himself for the next volley of spear thrusts, heart pounding as steel flashed towards him. He sidestepped, feeling the wind rush past his ear as the insect stabbed forward. His soul''s arms came up to block, cold pain racking his body for their trouble, but it gave him an opening for his human fist to rush forward and collide against the insect''s head. The creature staggered back, letting out a grim curse.


    And he zipped away from the soul''s arcing right hook, ducking beneath it, showing that Joseph''s strike had not done as much as he would have hoped. His hand ached from the punch. Striking the bug was like striking stone.


    An exoskeleton. Stupid. He would have to be careful going for the head, for he wasn''t wearing gloves, and even human skulls could break fingers, bruise knuckles.


    He grabbed Phineas and dragged the Deep One back. The room was the insect''s, the way he was flitting about. So Joseph positioned himself in an archway between two galleries.


    The insect would be forced to attack him head on. And Joseph was ready for that.


    Beneath him, Phineas had reopened his tome, his breath labored and hurried. He was unused to pain.


    And the spear rocketed towards him, instead of Joseph. A miscalculation, Joseph bringing his soul''s fists on the insect, who sidestepped and thrust downward, pinning Phineas''s hand into the pages of his book.


    Phineas let out another gasp, pointing a hand at his assailant, and a wave of black enveloped the world like a cold, dead serpent. The insect was thrown back, letting out a shout of surprise as it carried him into the opposite wall like a wave. It held him there, the entire false night freezing in place, the entire room covered in black, frozen liquid.


    Joseph pulled Phineas to his feet, and the two fled. Down the other exhibit, up another flight of stairs that led...


    To a locked door.


    Joseph''s claw tore through the wood, and he shoved through, knocking it off its hinges. Phineas let out a rasp of shock at this as Joseph, in a mad dash, all but dragged him into an adjoining passage. There were offices up here, most likely the administrative areas of the museum.


    Perfect.


    At the end of the hall was a door with a golden plaque that read ''Sir Ivan Prostagmos, Head Curator.'' Joseph pushed through, eagle''s talons tearing through the wood.


    ¡°Joseph,¡± Phineas said, ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    But Joseph ignored him, pushing into the dark study, now illuminated by his cobalt glow. There was a desk with a pile of paperwork that this Prostagmos had left for the morning, along with a small, silver statue depicting some sort of samurai. Stolen, probably.


    ¡°Joseph,¡± Phineas said, ¡°What are we doing here?¡±


    His friend crossed over to the desk, opening it up and rifling through it. When he found nothing, he began looking through the stack of papers, throwing each one away after reading it.


    ¡°Joseph,¡± Phineas''s voice became tinged with slight fear, ¡°We came here for the sarcophagi, not for... this.¡±


    But the metahuman ignored him, finally finding what he was looking for, his eyes scanning a worn, folded piece of paper.


    ¡°Joseph,¡± Phineas said, and he sounded small, ¡°It¡­ it hurts.¡±


    The Deep One''s wounds still had not re-stitched themselves, like when he had been shot on St. Malendia''s. Instead, the bleeding had stopped, but pain still bittered Phineas''s body, made it difficult to move. That last spell had taken much out of him.


    ¡°There,¡± Joseph said, ignoring him, ¡°A communication between this guy and....¡±


    His eyes narrowed as he realized the letter''s full contents. They were not in the usual script that Prostagmos used, but rather a clipped, simple affair, the letters small and quick and messy. It was signed by Agrippa.


    ¡°They require that Inweth be stored in the northern galleries, in the Alia Artificialia exhibit,¡± Joseph looked up at Phineas, ¡°Do you remember where that is?¡±


    The Deep One hesitated.


    ¡°The sooner we get to the exhibit, the sooner you can get out of here,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Come on.¡±


    ¡°I do,¡± Phineas said, and he plucked the pamphlet out of his bag, opening it up. Half of the brochure was smeared with his blood, ¡°It''s in the corner. Tucked away. Practically hidden.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Can you walk?¡±


    ¡°I can.¡±


    His gait was hobbled and stuttered. But he could, with a bit of pain, an ounce of effort, keep up with Joseph as he read over the brochure once more time, before stowing it away in his jacket pocket.


    ¡°Let''s go,¡± Joseph said.


    ***


    The cyclops was a menagerie of magical artifacts. Bracers lined with wands were donned on each wrist. The spellslinger was loaded up now with magical bullets that Ezel could hardly deflect with her own water whips. Her cloak allowed her to fly, which she did now, hovering a few feet off the floor. Occasionally she would pull some bit or bob from a pocket, sand that she flung at Broon that exploded on contact with skin, or a flock of butterflies held in a locket that pushed the half-orc back.


    But while she had her eclectic collection, she did not have the experience that Broon possessed, from his years of endless violence, of living alone in the wilds for his childhood, his time as a sellsword before the Amber Foundation, his experience fighting in wars on the guild''s behalf. He took each new artifact with aplomb, grimacing and growling, his blade''s runes flaring with each swing.


    A wand slipped into the cyclops''s hand, and she unleashed a green-tinged gale. Broon stabbed forward, the tip of his blade shearing through the wind as he rushed forward. He brought the blade back around at the last moment, swinging it towards the cyclops, who flew upwards away from the half-orc''s wild yet calculated slashes.


    A thin stream of water wrapped around the cyclops¡¯s leg. Ezel pulled downwards, wrenching the cyclops towards the floor. She slammed into the ground, which cracked from the blow, pulling out her spellslinger in response-


    Kilnriv cut through its muzzle, battering it away. The cyclops''s eye was wide with panic as she pulled out another wand. A stream of white light burst forth from its tip, striking Broon in the jaw like an uppercut. He was thrown upwards, falling onto his back with a grunt.


    Ezel''s whips snapped at the cyclops, whose cloak billowed back to life and carried her upwards. This time, the whips found naught but empty air as the cyclops rose, expelling another beam of light at the demigod. Ezel ducked down, rushing forward to Broon, the bolt flying over her head, punching a solid hole in the floor behind her.The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    The half-orc was already up on his feet. He glared at the cyclops, who was floating away from them, discarding her wand. Only two shots in it ¨C a weak enchantment, indeed. The replacement wand cast a glowing green light, more of a rod, and as she pointed it at the two of them it extended forward. Broon brought up his sword in reply, the two weapons clanging together, sparks flying as Ezel''s water whips bounded for the cyclops-


    Who dove, barreling out of their reach, pulling out a strange, gooey glob of something, throwing it at Ezel''s foot. It slobbered against her boot, and as Ezel spun as the cyclops rushed past her, she found that she was stuck fast to the ground.


    The rod extended both ways as the cyclops positioned her flight so she was between Broon and Ezel. It rushed behind her, catching Ezel in the side, and she let out a gasp of pain as it whipped her back, her entire body save her ankle getting carried with the blow. There was an audible snap as her ankle twisted and broke, and she landed on the ground, her foot blooming in pain.


    The rod rushed towards Broon, who once more parried with Kilnriv, letting the flat of his sword scream against the rod''s extension as he bored down on the cyclops.


    The blade flung true, cutting a deep slash against the cyclops''s thigh. She let out a ragged scream of pain, flying upwards from the half-orc-


    Who dropped Kilnriv, the blade letting out a keening clatter as it hit the floor. He reached out a hand, jumping into the air to grab the cyclops''s foot, holding her fast like she was a balloon.


    He didn''t have quite the strength as Ezel''s water whips. Those were like nature incarnate, a slice of a waterfall brought to bear. His arm bulged with the effort as he pulled the cyclops down. They were face to face for a moment-


    And Broon clobbered her in the face. The cyclops stuttered back for a moment, dazed.


    It was a situation he had been in before. His opponent stunned. All he had to do was pick up Kilnriv, and he would be done with it. He had killed before, even beings as young as the woman in front of him now.


    A quick strike, and that would be that.


    But he was not on a job for killing. He knew those jobs, and this was not one of them. He needed to get Ezel up. Find Joseph and Phineas.


    He had not come to Melmaen to be a murderer.


    The cyclops took a few more steps back, stumbling, falling onto her butt. She was wincing. Broon stepped forward, grasped her cloak, and pulled it free from her neck, tossing it aside, watched it flutter down the stairs out of the corner of his eyes. He unstrapped the bracers, throwing them away, too.


    ¡°Don''t try anything funny,¡± he warned her, ¡°Got it?¡±


    He had hit her harder than he had anticipated. She nodded, her eye bleary, her nose broken.


    She was done for the night. Broon turned around, his breathing ragged, his jaw aching from the shot he had taken. He had been lucky that time. Anything stronger than that, and the magic would have burned his face off. He went over to Ezel, whose eyes were scrunched tight in pain. She had completely twisted her ankle.


    He went to one knee.


    ¡°How bad is it?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Broken. Badly,¡± Ezel gasped, ¡°Need to get this stuff off.¡±


    She extended a hand, and the puddles of water that had splashed on the floor after her downing began to ripple, flow around her ankle, down towards the pile of goo that held her to the ground.


    They could hear footsteps. Heavy. Metal-booted.


    And out stepped the crusader, from the seeming shadows. A monster from Tsaeyaru, and Broon did not use that term lightly. He had worked with Archenround, his guildmate, who was also from that strange, post-apocalyptic plane. But the man who stood before him was the same sort of man who had torn out his guildmate''s tongue, branded her a demon. He was a crusader, and Broon could tell that much, by the way he walked, by the old insignias on his beaten-car armor, a chain that wrapped around a six-fingered hand. Archenround had shown him that symbol, once.


    She had shown the symbol, and quickly erased it, her face stricken with ghost fears and ghost memories.


    The crusader stepped forward.


    Hell, Broon''s sword was out of reach, just a mere, agonizing few feet away.


    The crusader lifted his weapon. It was a chainsaw that had been retrofitted into a sword, hilt and all. It began powering up with no apparent ripcord, and the night became alive with its gargling whine.


    The half-orc''s heart pounded. Ezel had clocked their new opponent. The water stopped welling around her feet...


    And shot forward at the crusader.


    He sidestepped it, striding forward, but it was time enough for Broon to dive for his sword. He grabbed it, stood tall, as the crusader swung his chainsword. Sparks flew as Kilnriv clashed with the strange blade, the sound of grinding metal screaming out of the museum.


    The two exchanged a series of strikes, trying to get past the guard of the other. Parrying the chainsword was like nothing Broon had encountered before. Each strike sent racking vibrations up his arm. His blade shivered with each teeth-gnashing bite of the crusader''s weapon, and had Kilnriv not been a unique weapon with powerful enchantments, it would have broken.


    Even then, there were nicks on Broon''s sword.


    The crusader was pushing the half-orc being, forcing him on the defensive. Broon was a fine swordsman, one of the finest in the guild ¨C it was either him or Tiger, truly ¨C but he was not used to an opponent like this. The crusader moved with a grace that belied his heavy armor, swung his sword true, his stance at once both perfectly defensive and offensive.


    At one moment, he got past Broon''s guard. The chainsword tore through his side. Broon let out a gasp, taking a few steps back. He nearly stumbled over Ezel, who was still stuck to the floor.


    He had to get out of here. He had to get them out of here. Away from the battle...


    But Ezel was still stuck fast.


    The crusader surged forward again. Broon met his assault, the two blades ringing out once more, the chugging cough of the chainblade thrumming over their din of steel.


    A flick of his wrist, and a swing. Broon managed to get past the man''s guard, stabbed forward at the crusader''s head. The crusader moved to the side, but Broon kept going forward, into the man''s guard, and Kilnriv''s crossguard caught the man in the teeth. He let out a grunt of shock as Broon full-on tackled him, shoving him to the ground. The two became locked in a wrestling match. Broon dropped his blade once more, but the crusader refused to relinquish his, and found it awkward to use in such close proximity. Broon brought up a fist, shot it down into his enemy''s head. Once, twice.


    Only then, did the crusader drop his chainsword, one hand brought up to block Broon''s next strike, his other balling up into a mailed fist, which he cracked against the half-orc''s temple. Broon saw stars as he felt the man throw him off. Both of them stumbled to their feet once more. Both found their swords.


    Both clashed against one another, the chainsword whining, Kilnriv''s runes glowing bright.


    Then the runes dimmed. Went out completely. The chainsword cut completely through, snapping the blade, driving its edge into Broon''s chest. Were it not for his armor, he would have been dead there, as the teeth of the chainsword grinded against his breastplate, tearing free metal and tearing through the leather underneath, continuing further into mottled green skin. Broon fell to the ground writhing.


    The crusader stepped over him, a wicked smile on his face.


    Then he stopped.


    ***


    There was a warning in Sir Ahklahan''s head. A private ding, magically produced, that meant that somewhere was getting near the sarcophagus. He let out a grim, quiet curse. The half-orc beneath him was finished. The woman was trapped. He could get to them at his leisure, even if they were captured by the guards and thrown into the jailhouse.


    He had let his impulses guide him. He whispered a shamed prayer to Ion, his god, and stepped away. He did not regret the violence he had imparted ¨C violence was a blessed thing, divine punishment to be delivered to the pagan. Rather, he regretted that he had let himself get away from that which he had sworn to protect. Agrippa was his lord, and though he was second lord to Ion, he would still render unto Caesar.


    He stepped away, back into the dark halls of the museum. Towards his exhibit, squirreled away in the back corners. Hardly looked after, the room that held the sarcophagus was at the very end of a series of more impressive galleries. It held only a few artifacts, none of real note.


    Yet there were intruders heading there.


    A part of Sir Ahklahan wondered why. A part did not care.


    He strode forward.


    ***


    Phineas had started to slow down as they went through the back galleries. His wounds, still unhealed, bogged him down. Joseph turned to him.


    ¡°You can''t heal?¡± he asked.


    ¡°N-Not yet,¡± Phineas rasped, ¡°I need time.¡±


    They both knew that that was something they didn''t have. They could hear the roar of what sounded like a chainsaw behind them. The scraping echo of steel on steel. Broon was facing someone else with a blade.


    No, they didn''t have time.


    ¡°The sarcophagus,¡± Joseph said, ¡°When we get there, what do we do?¡±


    ¡°I do not know, Joseph,¡± Phineas said. He pushed himself, gasping a bit in pain as he caught up with him, ¡°What did you try to do, before?¡±


    ¡°On the airship?¡± Joseph said, ¡°I crawled back inside. See if it sent me back.¡±


    ¡°What will you do now?¡±


    ¡°I don''t know,¡± Joseph said.


    Phineas stumbled. His scales had become pale and sickly. He brought out his tome, the pages sticky with inky blood. He flipped through the book, trying to find his healing spell. Like the one on St. Malendia''s. Joseph''s insides twisted. He wanted to hurry. Wanted to get to the sarcophagi. He was being rushed again, like back on the airship.


    It occurred to Joseph that, had he had time, had the Steamer on the airship so long ago not been about to flood the room, that he could have solved the mystery. Gone back home. To Earth. To his life, there.


    Part of him screamed ''what life?''


    Part of him wanted...


    Wanted what his brothers had. What his sister had. And he could not find that here. Not truly, he told himself.


    Becenti''s face flashed in his mind. But Becenti was not his father.


    He picked up the pace. He had no time. He would only have a few minutes with the sarcophagus, before the guards broke in. He needed to be gone by then. Back to Earth.


    Back to Nai Nai''s house.


    Phineas stumbled. Joseph turned, his eyes wide. Phineas was taking too long. Joseph''s heart hammered as the Deep One pulled himself back up, and continued on. His rasping became quick as Joseph was all but jogging now.


    There was someone after them. He could hear the sounds of metal boots thudding against the marble floor.


    The final exhibit before Alia Artificialia was a meager, barebones place depicting the last paintings of some ancient culture. They were simple cave paintings, stylized hunters stalking after mammoths. One of them wielded fire in hand. It was there that their pursuer caught up with them. A monster out of some holy nightmare. He held a sword in hand, though instead of a blade there was a chainsaw, one that began to whirl to life as he strode forward.


    ¡°Joseph,¡± Phineas said, ¡°Go.¡±


    Part of Joseph was relieved. It gave him more time to look at the sarcophagus. He rushed into the room.


    And heard Phineas throw waves of night at the crusader. The Deep One would hold him off, long enough for him to look at the sarcophagus. Activate it. Go home.


    He did not notice that Phineas''s face was full of fear. That his webbed hands shook. That the crusader cut through the magic more easily than he anticipated.


    ***


    There were only three items of interest in the Alia Artificalia exhibit. The room was small. It held two vases, both of them without feature. It reminded Joseph of art projects that he had been forced to do in high school, his hands wet and muddy with clay as he made some semblance of a pot with his hands, pinching handles onto their sides.


    They flanked Inweth. The sarcophagus looked exactly the same as it had on the Fortune''s Favor. Pure, solid gold. The head, an eagle''s head. Like Joseph''s soul, really, the way its hands melded into talons, which were curled up around its shoulders. As though Inweth were hugging itself. Joseph reached out a tentative hand, placing it against the coffin''s golden surface.


    ***


    Phineas let loose a torrent of black, like the kind that had immobilized the insect monk. The Crusader of Ion tore through it, blade in hand, his eyes wild, his laughter ragged. The chainsword in his hand whirred by faith alone, that much Phineas could see. It ran on prayer. On devotion. On things he could only dream of, that his mother told him about, what some cults sometimes did on her behalf, back on Amzuth.


    It was a violent thing, this sort of faith.


    It carved through Phineas''s magic, his pacts, as though it were butter.


    ***


    Joseph''s soul drew out of his back. It mirrored Inweth, stared at it, face to face. With his sharpened vision, Joseph could see just how... pure the sarcophagus was. How it was unblemished. How it seemed to have been newly polished. He could see his soul''s reflection on its glass-like surface. The scars on its beak, its torso, its arms.


    The eagle''s talons were careful as he pried the sarcophagus open. The inside was mundane. Before, on the other side, on Earth, he had heard voices. Like a choir. A chorus. A crowd, beckoning him inside, their sounds alone pulling him into the multiverse.


    Nothing like that, here.


    Here, there was nothing but emptiness.


    Joseph was alone.


    His soul dissipated. He crawled inside.


    ***


    And the crusader broke through, his blade swinging wildly at Phineas. Wild, yet controlled. The work of a monster tamed by something more than himself, disciplined into using the blade as a blade, and not as a club. And Phineas understood how he had gotten past Broon, past Ezel.


    The Deep One threw up a wall of night, red eyes festering on its surface. It served to deter the crusader for a moment, allowing Phineas to think, to flip through the pages, to find something that would kill his enemy.


    For kill it had become.


    He found it, and as the chainsword drove through the inky wall and carved through, Phineas pulled the spell from his page. He fed the spell memories of his childhood, a couple of errant, random weeks, and as the crusader showed his face he flung the spell at the man.


    Who let out a snarl, and was thrown back. The spell, invisible, clawed at his face like a rabid cat. Phineas raised his tome into the air, and tentacles snarled from the pages, rushed at the crusader.


    Who had enough of his foresight to deflect them, knock them away. He reached up to his face, his gauntleted fist closing around the spell, and he tore it away with a roar, coughing and wheezing as he did so, his face a torn wreck of stringy skin and-


    Phineas molded one of the tentacles into a beetle-black point, and sent it flying. It tore through the crusader''s chest, and he let out a howl as he stumbled to his knees. The tentacle hardened into a spike of magic, breaking away from the tome. Phineas, exhausted, fell on his rump. His tome fell out of his hands, scattered on the ground.


    The crusader coughed up blood, then took a deep, shaking breath.


    He rose, his entire body shuddering like a scarecrow in a storm, to his feet. He held his blade in hand, whispered a few words to it. The chainsword started up again, its roar breaking the silence of the night.


    Phineas hurt. The spell had drained him, used him up. His wounds bled. He hurt so much.


    But¡­


    But Joseph was relying on him. Joseph, who was his friend, who had been the first person to really talk to him, get to know him, in his time at the guild. Joseph, who wore both anger and kindness, war with peace, whose eagle showed his true self.


    The crusader stepped forward.


    ***


    ...After a few moments, Joseph got out of the sarcophagus. He had sat in there, waiting for something, anything, to happen. For the myriad realities to open up around him, for the rainbow deluge of Imagination, for Inweth to send him home.


    Home. His heart pounded at the mere thought of the word. Memories flashed in his mind. Of his father. His mother. Their faces were set in the usual way they looked at him, one in anger, the other in veiled disappointment. Part of him missed them. It was the same part that hoped they would, one day, be able to look at him with something other than disdain.


    It was why he wanted to get back to Earth, for he could not impress them out here. They would see his metahumanity as an aberration, his eagle a monstrosity.


    That, which was part of him. His very soul.


    ...And yet more memories came to Joseph. Of playing cards with Phineas while the dishes cleaned themselves in the kitchen. Of talking with Rosemary at the lighthouse, her presenting him with a shirt from Prime. Becenti and his long talks, the old man''s eyes alight as he spoke of the history of Epochia. Mekke sparring with him in the garden maze. G-Wiz helping him learn how to dance. Barbara''s helping him find books in the library, the toucan an endless repository of information. Tek giving him a chance at InterGuild.


    When he thought of home, that painful word, Joseph was appalled, surprised, to find that he thought of the orange, evening halls of Castle Belenus.


    He stood there, in front of the sarcophagus, his world spinning.


    ¡°What the hell am I doing?¡±


    And then he heard a scream behind him. Phineas''s. He had never heard him scream before, not like this. Pained. Desperate. Like a deer caught in a trap.


    This was not worth it. Even if he made it back to Earth, this was not worth it.


    Joseph spun around, and ran out of the room.

 100. The Demon in Blue

    Joseph stepped out into the gallery to see Phineas lying on the ground, the crusader standing over him. The man was gasping, red dripping from his mouth, a wild expression on his face. His chainsword dripped inky black blood, was caked in it.


    Phineas was wheezing on the floor, his voice hoarse from screaming. His arm was laying on the ground a few feet away from him, black blood squirting from the stump. He was curled in a fetal position, his eyes shut tight, his entire body shaking.


    Joseph took a step forward.


    ¡°Get away from him.¡±


    The crusader looked up at him, his nostrils flaring, sniffed the air. For a moment, something within the crusader wavered, before he redoubled himself. The chainsword started up, all sound and fury, the whirring of the beast in his hand making Joseph''s heart pound. But he was ready for this. He had resolved himself to save his guildmate. To do what had to be done.


    Joseph shot out a fist, and like a javelin the lightning bolt sailed from his hand. The crusader brought his blade out in front of him, the whirring edge of the chainsword catching the plasma, preventing it from spearing him through. It was enough to push him back, however, the sheer force of Joseph''s power making his boots slide against the ground, still slick with Phineas''s blood.


    The metahuman rushed forward, his soul blaring fully to life as it let out a swing, claws raking at the crusader, whose sword flashed out. Talon clashed with blade, sparks flying out as the eagle''s nails were torn away by the chainsword¡¯s teeth.


    Joseph wound back an electric fist, firing it off. It smashed the crusader dead in the chest, sending him careening back to the next gallery. He crashed against an ancient statue of a multi-headed Dragon, the entire stonework cracking and bowling over, shattering to pieces. The crusader picked himself up from the Dragon''s remains, let out a dull groan.


    He looked up, grimacing as the soul bore down on him, the eagle extended out like the snap of a whip from Joseph''s outstretched hand. The crusader''s chainsword was a blur as he cut at the soul, Joseph wincing as the feedback ice rushed through his hands, up his spine, into his brain.


    And the chainsword twisted ''round the soul''s guard, burying itself deep into its chest. Joseph let out a wail of agony.


    But he was a counterpuncher. He had dealt with pain before. The soul delivered a couple of quick shots to the crusader''s head, and the two broke apart. The soul receded back into Joseph''s body, and with it came agony. The crusader was stumbling back, a hand reaching out to support himself against the wall, the chainsword grinding down into silence.


    They both breathed heavily for a moment, glaring down at the other.


    Then, the crusader started to laugh. It was hoarse at first. Exhausted. The man was riddled with wounds, and it looked there was more blood outside his body than in. A welt was forming on his head. His metal armor was becoming rust-red.


    Yet he laughed. It became more maniacal, more joyful.


    For faith alone was the reason why Sir Ahklahan still drew breath.


    Everything that he despised, all that he considered unholy, stood in front of him. A metahuman. A Mutt. A pagan devil, in the trappings of light. A demon in blue.


    His chainsword started up. Joseph''s heart skipped a beat as the Pantheon charged, far faster than he was anticipating. He could only bring up his soul''s arm to deflect the blow, weaving out of the way as the blade cut deep. Joseph stumbled away from the man, who continued swinging his sword, twisting around to launch another bolt.


    This one hit the crusader in the chest, flinging him back. The man was on his feet almost as soon as he hit the ground, pursuing Joseph as the metahuman fled through the galleries.


    Joseph needed time. That was it. His soul was racing through him, trying its damned hardest to circuit into something able to match the crusader''s zeal. He passed by the insect, who let out a scoff at him.


    ¡°You awakened the beast, you daft fool!¡± the insect called out, ¡°Ahklahan will kill you! Run, lad, get out of here!¡±


    But running away was not an option. Joseph stumbled into the main hallway, and he was shocked to see Broon and Ezel there. The half-orc was breathing heavily, a vicious slash winnowing along his chest. Ezel was beside him, her foot twisted at an angle. The cyclops was motionless behind them.


    Ezel looked up at Joseph.


    ¡°You,¡± she said. Her voice was hard.


    ¡°Phin''s in the back galleries,¡± Joseph said, ¡°He''s-¡±


    He felt the wind rush behind him before he heard the sound of the chainsword. Joseph ducked, feeling the chainsword whip over him. He stumbled back-


    His soul was strong enough. It burst from his chest, claws snarling. It caught Ahklahan by surprise, the man stumbling back and on the defensive.


    For only a moment, however, as the crusader took stock of Joseph''s strikes. Even wounded like this, barely holding on, he gauged the eagle''s claws, the myriad azure daggers that closed on him. He was Broon''s better.


    And he found himself getting under the eagle''s guard.


    He ducked beneath one of Joseph''s swings, his blade rushing upward with a lion''s roar. It tore through the eagle''s neck, up through the other side. There was a moment where he wrestled against the bird of prey, Joseph''s wincing as the soul embraced Ahklahan, attempting to crush him in a bear hug. The crusader''s armor bent, popped, broke.


    Then the chainsword gave, twisting, wrenching through cobalt flesh. Through the neck, blurring past skin and feather. Headless, the soul broke. Joseph''s mind swam as he fell to the ground, ice replacing blood, pain replacing reason. He was gasping, feeling Ezel''s hand distantly as she placed it against his temple. Her voice was muted. She was saying something. But his world was awash with motion and cold and pain.


    ¡°Joseph, get up,¡± she said, ¡°Get up, Joseph.¡±


    And he did. The marble floor was splattered with azure blood. It glowed like bioluminescent slime on the ground, giving the museum light.


    The soul had been shattered. Joseph could feel it. It was much like with Mordenaro on Nesona, damaged and corpse-like, sitting like a dull stone in the pit of his stomach.


    But he was alive.


    The crusader was still stumbling to his feet.


    Joseph walked over, grabbing the man''s greasy hair, and rammed a knee into his face. The man flopped down.


    This wasn''t a good place. Broon was still injured, as was Ezel. She was murmuring words to herself, trying to will what little water was left here to her side. Right now, the crusader had eyes only for Joseph. He could tell by the way the man was glaring at him, the maniacal glee replaced with murderous hate.


    ¡°Dog,¡± Ahklahan spat, and in the blue light his saliva was dark with blood.


    ¡°Yeah, fuck you, too,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Come and get me.¡±


    And he moved away, limping now, eyes darting here and there for -


    There. Broon''s sword had been shattering during his duel, pieces of enchanted metal littering the floor. Joseph picked up the remains of the sword''s tip, a jagged shard, and made his way down the opposite hallway.


    He could hear, like a predatory slug, Ahklahan behind him. Stumbling. Gasping. Limping, like him, his wounds beginning to truly wear him down. His boots scraped against the marble floor.


    Joseph stumbled down the hall, into the next exhibit. This one was a traveling exhibit, one that displayed...


    Displayed magic.


    The very air changed as Joseph entered. It tasted both sweet and bitter, sour and spicy. It was the scent of magic, though where he had only encountered its scent when Wakeling had hinted at her more formidable spells or when Urash was preparing his spellrod for a day''s work, here it suffused the place. His heart''s beat sped up, though not with the adrenaline of combat, but with elation. Excitement.


    Possibility slept here. In the magic crystals floating in the air, roaring whirlwinds held within. In the treasure chest on its dais, ready to be opened and reveal its secrets. In the strange, chittering grasshopper on its pedestal.


    He was ahead of Ahklahan. The crusader had not yet entered the room. Joseph turned, closed the door behind him. Set one of the marble stands in front of it. He could hear the chainsword start up through the wood.


    There wasn''t much time. Joseph looked around for a moment, choosing something, anything. He picked up a glass orb, a fire spell of some sort burning within, though the ball itself was cool in his hands. He turned, and waited.


    The chainsword ruptured through the door, twisting and pushing sideways. It found resistance against the marble stand, but that too started to break as the chain sliced through.


    Joseph wasn''t sure what sort of spell was in the glass. He looked down at the orb.


    It was up here for a reason, on display. It wouldn''t be some little firecracker, some random fire spell that a basic magician had cast. No, if it was here in a museum, it must have been conjured by a famous sorcerer. For a moment, scenes of apocalyptic fire swam through Joseph''s head.


    But no one would be dumb enough to put these out on display for the public, right?


    The chainsword cut through the stand completely. Ahklahan shoved it away, tearing the door off of its hinges. Joseph threw the orb at him.


    And the world exploded.


    ***


    The cyclops was coming to, groaning to herself and clutching her head. Ezel looked at her, water spinning over her open palm, ready to spear at her, if need be. The demigod was pulling herself, slowly, to her feet, having finally managed to extricate herself from the goop that had held her down. Her ankle was well and truly broken ¨C she didn''t even dare to test her weight on it. The cyclops froze at the sight of her, at the sight of water welling around her arms, about to snap forward.


    ¡°One wrong move, and I take out your eye,¡± Ezel said.


    ¡°No wrong moves, then,¡± the cyclops said. She raised her hands in the air in surrender, and she noted Broon, ¡°What happened?¡±


    ¡°Your guildmate, the crusader,¡± Ezel said.


    The cyclops shook her head.


    ¡°Not mine,¡± she said, ¡°I''m a Disciple of Aether.¡±


    ¡°Then who?¡±


    ¡°Pantheon.¡±


    Ezel''s blood became ice. Wakeling had been right. Agrippa had stationed one of his cronies here. It made logical sense ¨C crusaders from Tsaeyaru were monsters, chained only by their so-called faith and the vows they made to their masters. Of course a being like him would be in Pantheon.


    It also meant that they had fucked up, big time.


    There was the sound of flames roiling to life. It was a sound she was well familiar with, dark memories from her childhood rushing to the fore. But those memories did not own her. She faced them, head-on, as the exhibit Joseph and the crusader had run into became awash in bright orange flame.


    ¡°Shit,¡± the cyclops said. She stood up, reaching for a wand, only to realize her bracers were missing.


    ¡°There,¡± Ezel said, pointing to them on the ground. The cyclops strode over, fumbled out a wand. It was clear and cornishly rainbow, like carnival glass. She pointed it as the flame tunneled out of the hall, and erected a barrier of light.


    The two magic forces met, and the entire museum shuddered. The flame crackled and spat, seemed more alive than usual, and had a dark crimson hue. It crashed against the barrier like a wave, deluging against the magic surface. The cyclops grimaced, the wand cracking in her hand.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°What is it?!¡± Ezel yelled over the din.


    ¡°Vorpal''s Burning Rage!¡± the cyclops replied, ¡°A small piece of it!¡±


    Indeed, the flames seemed angry. They lapped against the barrier, battered against it. Ezel could do nothing but hope that it held. She hunkered down over Broon, prepared to cover the half-orc''s body with her own.


    And she watched.


    ***


    It was only because of the other spells in the room that Joseph was not immediately immolated by Vorpal''s Burning Rage.


    He was thrown back by the sheer force of the casting, the glass and water orb shattering to pieces. Akhlahan was ground zero, and he was completely covered in dark red fire. It took to his skin, his armor, his blade, using the man as kindling and growing by simply existing. Its flames lapped the walls, devoured the stands that the other spells were on. Some were merely consumed.


    Others activated.


    The flames bore down on the single grasshopper in its cage. As it ate through the bars, the grasshopper''s back opened as though it were molting. But instead of a single insect came thousands. Millions. A wave of locusts erupted, the chorus of chittering wings drowning out the flames. They acted as a wall for Joseph, who could do nothing but watch as the bugs caught aflame, smashing against and through the walls and out into Stellaluna. The Burning Rage drove through them like a drill through the earth. Embers caught wings, cooked through carapace, heat boiled locusts as they flew above the fire.


    So many of them were materializing, however. An endless deluge of legs and wings and mandibles, eyes that were constantly searching and bellies that were eternally hungry. The sheer weight of them suffocated the flames, crushed it beneath their bodies, which cooked from the ambient heat in the air.


    It was a war between sorcerers who had died long before. Joseph could do nothing but watch.


    He looked behind him. The exhibit was positioned at a dead end, though there was an emergency exit. But he couldn''t leave the others behind, not after witnessing that. They were still in danger.


    Guilt, raw and red, struck him like an arrow.


    He may have just killed everyone.


    He ran for the emergency exit, throwing it open. The cold air of Stellaluna greeted him, blowing in as a freezing gale. But it felt warm against his clammy skin. He had experienced colder. He looked back, watching as the flames finished devouring the locust swarm. But it had been a mutual kill, the fire dying out, the room charred black, exposing the walls'' wooden, ember peppered frames.


    Outside, the world was surrounded by a wall of fog. It circled, almost perfectly, ten feet around the building.


    No, not fog.


    Steam.


    Mallory had come. That meant Rosemary, too. More people to get caught up in his bullshit. Joseph bit his lip. He hoped they were okay.


    The emergency exit led to landing, and to get to the ground, Joseph had to climb down a ladder. His entire body cried out as he clambered down. It was like fighting a head cold, the way his soul whined in his belly, icy pain lancing through his body. Never mind the fact that he was bruised and battered after his fight with Ahklahan.


    ¡°Joe!¡±


    It was Rosemary. She had spotted him. She and Mallory were just at the entrance of the museum, her sceptre in hand. Mallory had surrounded the entire place, the steam so thick that Joseph could only see the silhouettes of guards on the other side.


    ¡°Hey,¡± Joseph murmured, though he knew she couldn''t hear him. Nonetheless, she ran over to him.


    ¡°What happened?¡± she said.


    ¡°Bad shit,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Have you gotten inside?¡±


    ¡°We just got here,¡± Rosemary said. She caught Joseph as he started to fall, ¡°Joe, how bad is it?¡±


    ¡°I got the guy,¡± Joseph said, ¡°But they''re all-¡±


    He suppressed a sob.


    ¡°They''re all hurt pretty bad. I fucked up.¡±


    ¡°We all do,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°Gotta get inside-¡±


    ¡°You''re staying here,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°You lie down, let yourself rest. I got this.¡±


    Joseph looked at her, his eyes hollow. Then, he nodded, letting the elf guide him to the steps, where he laid down beside Mallory. The Steamer glanced over at him, giving him a grim nod.


    ***


    Rosemary ran inside. Museum guards spun to face her, but she swung her sceptre, clocking one in the head. No time to explain, no time to apologize. They had to get out of here. The other guard fumbled out a baton, but Rosemary spun, unleashing a beam of light from her sceptre, one that turned into a net midflight, catching and tangling the guard as it pushed her back. She could hear shouts coming from further in, but the security was hanging back.


    And the reason why was at the top of the stairs. A blood red flame was blazing up. Held back, just barely, by a barrier of light. Ezel and Broon were there, the half-orc with a nasty gash in his chest, the demigod with a twisted foot that made Rosemary''s insides squirm. A cyclops stood over them, a wand pointed at the wall. The source of the magic spell.


    Rosemary rushed past the guards, who turned and yelled at her to stop. But they didn''t dare pursue as she took to the stairs three steps at a time.


    ¡°We told you to stay!¡± Ezel said, ¡°Get out of here!¡±


    ¡°Where''s Phin?!¡±


    ¡°In the back!¡±


    She pointed to the side. Without another word, Rosemary danced to the hallways. She passed into a room that had once been caked with shadow, ink staining the walls, magic having scoured the artifacts and broken the displays.


    An insect was extricating himself from the mess. A monk, by the way he was dressed. He held a spear in hand, and he rounded on Rosemary.


    ¡°Another one!¡± he shouted, ¡°Have at you!¡±


    ¡°No time,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Deep One. Where''d he go?¡±


    ¡°I don''t have time for your poppycock,¡± the insect said, ¡°Now-¡±


    ¡°The place is on fire!¡± Rosemary said, ¡°We have to get out of here. All of us.¡±


    At that, the insect grimaced.


    ¡°They didn''t- the fire, what color was it?¡±


    ¡°Dark red.¡±


    ¡°Hell. Your lad went into the back rooms. Go get him, quickly now. Go!¡±


    And the insect was taking off, flitting away back towards the main halls.


    ***


    Krishyar landed beside Rinny, a concerned look on his face.


    ¡°How bad is it?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Not as bad-¡± Rinny winced as the flames convulsed, cracks appearing in the barrier. She redoubled her efforts, a thin line of light shooting from the tip of her wand, stitching the barrier back together.


    ¡°Not as bad,¡± she said, ¡°Something in the gallery must have taken the brunt of the fire.¡±


    ¡°How long will it last?¡± Krishyar asked.


    ¡°Not sure,¡± Rinny said, ¡°In my studies, it only died out after a hundred years. Ever-blazing-¡±


    She winced as the spell made another try at breaking through. She held it back.


    ¡°Ever-burning. This is just a small ember of it.¡±


    ¡°Guards should be coming in soon. Mages from the college.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Rinny said, ¡°I can''t hold out much longer.¡±


    Vorpal''s Burning Rage, like a beating heart, hammered against her barrier.


    ***


    Phineas was on the ground. Rosemary suppressed crying out at the sight of him, at the way his scales were pale as sickly snow. His arm was off to the side, and sticky black blood caked the floor. He had somehow stopped the bleeding as she rushed over to his side, kneeling down and turning him around.


    He was still alive, though his breathing was quiet and haggard. Rosemary knelt down, gingerly helping him up, shouldering him and adjusting so she could walk. He was lighter than she realized.


    She left his arm there.


    The two of them stumbled through the gallery, past the carnage that Joseph''s battle had wrought. Phineas''s eyes opened up as he quietly came to.


    ¡°Rosemary,¡± he whispered in her ear, ¡°What is...?¡±


    ¡°Don''t talk,¡± Rosemary said, and she bit down the fear in her voice. Or, at least, tried to.


    ¡°He came back, Rosemary,¡± Phineas said, ¡°Joseph, he came back...¡±


    He drifted away again. She redoubled her pace, all but dragging him away.


    Ezel was waiting for them. She had torn her jacket in half, using it to bind the grisly wound on Broon''s chest. The cyclops and the insect were looking at them with wary eyes.


    Rosemary set Phineas down, looking at Ezel.


    ¡°We can''t stay here,¡± she murmured to the demigod.


    Ezel looked conflicted. She cast a glance over at the insect. He was, among the two Disciples of Aether, the one who would be able to stop them. The cyclops was occupied. If they revealed themselves, the other guild would go after them.


    And they already had enough problems getting involved with Pantheon.


    The insect, perhaps, realized this. He wheeled on them. Rosemary pointed her sceptre in retaliation. The two of them were quiet as the cyclops battled the flames.


    ¡°...This doesn¡¯t have to end like this,¡± the insect said.


    ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°It doesn¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°The battle¡¯s over, I think,¡± the insect said, ¡°If you tell me your guild, you can go. I won¡¯t try to stop you.¡±


    The three of them were quiet.


    ¡°Tell me your guild, lass,¡± the insect said, again, ¡°And, on my honor, we''ll keep this to the Law of InterGuild. We won''t tell our client that you did this. You''re interlopers, nothing more.¡±


    ¡°Just business,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°We failed in our job, because of you,¡± the insect said, ¡°We''ll be reprimanded by our client, but keep stiff upper mandibles about it. But we''ll be going after you for costs.¡±


    She winced.


    ¡°R-right,¡± she said.


    ¡°You know the alternative, lass,¡± the insect said, ¡°And your guild''s been through enough today, eh?¡±


    ¡°We didn''t mean for it to get like this,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°But it did, didn''t it?¡± the insect said, ¡°Live with the mistakes you make. Atone for them, if you can. Apologize. Then don''t make them again. Simple as, simple is.¡±


    The heat convulsed again.


    ¡°Your guild, lass.¡±


    Rosemary traded a look with Ezel. The demigod nodded.


    ¡°Amber Foundation.¡±


    ¡°Wakeling''s folk?¡± the insect said, ¡°Not too often you lot go for smash and grabs, eh?¡±


    ¡°T-true,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°You''re alone?¡±


    ¡°Got people outside.¡±


    ¡°Then it''s time for us to evacuate, too,¡± the insect said. He turned over and hollered out an ¡°Oi!¡±


    The guards at the bottom of the steps started.


    ¡°Got three injured up here! Two of you, get up here! The rest of you lot, get out of here. Now!¡±


    He had a surprisingly commanding voice. The museum guards complied, two burlier fellows running up the stairs. The first one picked up Ezel without too much trouble. The other one grimaced at the sight of Broon, then made to pick him up. The insect helped him, the two of them together making their way down the stairs, supporting Broon on each shoulder. s


    Rosemary looked at the cyclops. The fire spell still had not abated, pushing against the wall of light and coughing out flame. But it was still holding. She glanced over to the insect, gave a grim nod.


    Then they went down the stairs.


    ***


    They evacuated, all of them, out to the entrance of the museum. It was chaos. The guards took one look at the steam wall that Mallory had created, and started working themselves up into a panic. They could hear voices on the other side, shouts from the city militia, from magicians woken up from the college. Krishyar took point, barking out orders and organizing people, making sure that the night crew had gotten out safely.


    It was at that time that the Amber Foundation slipped away. Mallory cleared an opening through the steam, and they left the vicinity of the Foreign Plaza. The steam died away as Mallory gave up hold over it, and magicians rushed inside. They secured Rinny, getting her out of the way, and collectively managed to smother Vorpal''s Burning Rage. The damage was contained, just barely, to the traveling exhibit, that entire wing charred and scarred black by the blood flames.


    The Amber Foundation ran off, heading back to the inn, gathering their things. They went down to the docks, which were quiet and cold, the sailors still asleep in their beds. It would be another few hours before they got up, and they could secure passage off of Stellaluna.


    New sounds joined the quiet wind. Shouts from the city guard. What sounded like a chorus of chimes as magic was cast. Screams. The sound of a lone siren that caused the dogs in the city to start braying out, sharp and distant.


    But true to Krishyar''s word, no one hunted them. How he did it was anyone''s guess, considering that others had seen them in the museum. But no guards ran to secure the ports. No armed soldiers marched past their hiding spot, a small room in an abandoned shack near the docks.


    Rosemary provided light, and she and Ezel got to work tending to Broon and Phineas. Joseph was fine. Physically, at least, though he hunkered down in a corner, pulling his knees to his chest. Ezel directed Mallory and Rosemary, covering his wound in a bandage, making him drink potions to magically stitch him back together. They got to work on her ankle, too, and she drank a vile looking concoction that numbed the pain just enough to reset it and tie it up.


    ¡°Elenry will be able to do more work once we get back,¡± the demigod said, ¡°I''m... not sure what to do with Phineas, though.¡±


    They cast a look over at the Deep One. Phineas had come to again, a hand clutching the stump where Ahklahan had dismembered his arm. A bit of color had returned to him.


    ¡°I will be fine,¡± he rasped, ¡°Did you get my book?¡±


    Rosemary grimaced.


    ¡°That is alright,¡± he said, ¡°I will summon a new one. With the arm.¡±


    He shuddered a bit.


    ¡°Sleep,¡± Ezel said, ¡°All of you. I''ll keep watch.¡±


    ¡°Like hell you will,¡± Mallory said, ¡°Get to sleep. It''s only for a few hours. Once I see people up and about, I''ll get us a ship.¡±


    ¡°That''s...¡± Ezel stammered, but the very mention of Mallory taking watch put a spell on her, and she drifted away. They all did, save for Mallory, who took a sip from her thermos, and Joseph, who was too cold.


    It was another hour before Mallory spoke.


    ¡°You fucked up,¡± she said.


    Joseph looked up at her. She was all but glaring at him, her hands curled into fists.


    He nodded.


    ¡°I did,¡± he said.


    ¡°You came back, though,¡± Mallory said, ¡°You didn''t fuck off back to Earth.¡±


    ¡°I didn''t.¡±


    She took a second to herself, staring at the wall.


    ¡°Listen up, Joe,¡± she said at length, ¡°A lot of people just got hurt because of you. And I know that Wakeling''s gonna spit roast you when we get back, but I''m going to tell you here: you do something like this again, you hurt my family again, and I''ll make sure the only earth you''re in is the dirt.¡±


    Joseph could only give her another nod in response to that. Because she was right, and she had every right to be angry. Seemingly satisfied with that, the Steamer turned back around, took another sip of her thermos.


    At the first sounds of sailors outside, she got up.


    ¡°I''m going to get us a ship,¡± she said, ¡°Be right back.¡±


    And she was out. She returned a half hour later. They had their ship, a merchant''s vessel that would take them off of Stellaluna.


    Away from the sarcophagi. But when Joseph thought back on them, all he could think of was Phineas''s scream, mixed with his memories at the guildhall. His...


    His home.


    He swallowed that down like a bittersweet pill, let his soul feed on it.


    He didn''t say a word as he helped Broon, who was freshly woken up and able to limp, up and towards the airship.


    Dawn crested the sky, painted it red.


    And they left Stellaluna.

 101. New Promises

    They waylaid a small infirmary when they left Stellaluna and were back on solid ground. Rosemary returned back to them from that trip with her arms full of gauze and potions and painkillers. Ezel retied Broon''s wound, grimacing at the sight of it.


    It would not heal well. It would leave a deep scar, even when Elenry got to him.


    For now, it was all she could do to keep the wound from reopening. The potions had sealed it shut, preventing further blood loss. But that was it.


    They could do nothing for Phineas, though he seemed to be recovering, to some poor extent, on his own. Doubtless he would have to return to Amzuth, however, and restore himself there, using whatever dark magics that had caused his spawning. Ezel did not like thinking about that. She had only once seen a being like Phineas, a creature of the Outside, and she still had nightmares.


    Her own ankle was bound up. Rosemary had managed to find her a pair of crutches, and she used them as they traveled through the multiverse back to Londoa. They took trains. Cars. They even had a stopover on Prime, for the Traveling Point to the CITY had gone on lockdown, citing ''internal affairs.''


    They all knew what that meant. There were enough Darwinist dregs.


    So they flew, taking a plane across Europe, starting in New Avalon all the way to Leningrad. It was an awkward trip, for the people there were unused to guildfolk or Far Travelers. Many of them gave the likes of Broon or Phineas the side eye. They almost didn''t let the Deep One fly at all.


    Through it, Joseph kept to himself. Rosemary and Mallory talked to each other, even joked. Ezel would tell them stories at night of her divine parentage, her father, Enbilulu, and his guardianship over the Tigris and the Euphrates. Broon, when he was feeling well, would chuckle along with them. Even Phineas, missing an arm, his scales pale and sickly, joined in with them.


    The danger had passed. They were on their way home.


    And only Joseph was alone. As he always had been.


    His soul was broken. It would heal, of course. It always did. He had done this before. But he knew, and they all knew, that they were hurt because of him. Regret hounded his mornings. He would open his eyes, having survived nightmares of Phineas''s butchered corpse, of Rosemary''s screams as Ahklahan tore her in half, of Broon''s body lying on the ground, the gouge in chest truly fatal.


    And he would awake, his heart pounding and his soul mewling.


    ***


    It was on a cold morning that Joseph woke up from one such nightmare. They were on Sectum Suundra, a relatively unsettled plane, in a deep wood. Rosemary was tending to the campfire, the flames dancing in her eyes. She was clutching the hem of her cloak with one hand, the other tossing sticks into the coals.


    Even the very sight of the flames set Joseph on edge. He could still feel Vorpal''s Burning Rage on his skin, the heat, the blistering, the coughing roars in his ears.


    He joined her at the fire, still wrapped up in a blanket. She looked over at him for a moment, gave him a small smile. Picked up his bag and handed it to him. He reached inside and pulled out breakfast, a protein bar and a water bottle. He ate quietly. The food tasted plain. The fire crackled.


    Rosemary released her grip on her cloak. She almost relaxed, sagging a bit.


    ¡°Long night?¡± Joseph asked.


    It was the first time he had spoken, truly spoken, for the last two days. She perked up at his voice.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± she said, ¡°There was...¡±


    She hesitated.


    ¡°Something out there, I think. I dunno. I start at shadows, sometimes. After jobs like these.¡±


    Joseph nodded at that. He couldn¡¯t blame her. Even if she wasn''t on watch, he doubted that Rosemary had gotten much sleep.


    He felt awkward, thinking of what to say, digging a hole in the dirt with his shoe.


    ¡°Listen,¡± he said, ¡°I wanted to say... I''m sorry.¡±


    But Rosemary shook her head.


    ¡°My choice. Phin''s, too.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Even then. I''ve just been... I''ve just been thinking of myself. Letting you all use yourselves up for...¡±


    He took a shuddering breath.


    ¡°I don''t know. I''ve never... I''ve never been good at this. I''ve never felt like this. I''m doing it all wrong.¡±


    ¡°It''s alright, Joseph,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°We make sacrifices for each other. We protect one another.¡±


    ¡°But I haven''t,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Not until I heard Phineas scream.¡±


    ¡°You protected us on Chliofrond,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°You helped dig us out.¡±


    ¡°I was there, too,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I didn''t want to die.¡±


    ¡°You protected G-Wiz,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°You protected that prince, didn''t you? Nearly gave your life up for it.¡±


    And Joseph was quiet at that.


    ¡°...I know what it feels like,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°To want a home.¡±


    ¡°I was just... chasing it,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I didn''t realize that it was here.¡±


    ¡°Did you want it to be?¡±


    ¡°I...¡±


    He hesitated.


    ¡°I did,¡± he decided, ¡°I do.¡±


    ¡°Then that''s enough,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Then here''s a deal you can make. You look after me, and I look after you. We protect each other.¡±


    She leaned in.


    ¡°Promise?¡±


    And he returned her smile.


    ¡°Promise,¡± he said.


    ***


    He helped Phineas get off the ship, stumbling with the Deep One onto the docks. Kelphaven reached out before them, the early dawn cresting overhead, four-winged seagulls screaming and cawing. The comfortable, nostalgic din of the sea, the smell of salt in the air, made Joseph''s heart ache. But it was a different sort of pain now, more bitter than sweet. No longer forlorn. No longer as wanting.


    It was the pain that came from remembering the past, and the sorrow that it was gone.


    Phineas let out a rasping cough. Joseph helped settle him down, waited for the episode to pass. Then, he offered his arm to the Deep One. Phineas took it, using Joseph to support himself as the two swayed off the docks. The others were waiting for them, having gone ahead.


    ¡°I''m going to get us a wagon,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°I know a few people here. Be back!¡±


    And she scampered off, soon disappearing into the crowd. Phineas leaned against Joseph, his arm snaking down and pulling out a magazine. Joseph tried to ignore the splotches of dried, black blood that stained its front cover. The Deep One chuckled as he swayed, and Joseph caught him.


    ¡°Thank you, Joseph,¡± he said.


    Rosemary came back a few minutes later. She had secured passage aboard a traveling farmhand''s wagon. They set Phineas and Broon onto the wagon, and Mallory looked at Ezel.


    ¡°You, too,¡± the Steamer said.


    ¡°I assure you,¡± Ezel said, ¡°I''m fine. I can walk.¡±


    ¡°The less strain you''re putting on yourself, the better,¡± Mallory said, ¡°You know that. Get on up.¡±


    ¡°It''s true,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Go ahead, Ezel.¡±


    The demigod sighed, then acquiesced. Joseph and Mallory helped push her up onto the wagon, and she sat down amidst bundles of hay. The wagon set off, and they were soon out of the city and on the journey back to Scuttleway. It was a familiar road. He had traversed it before. The land curved as they went over the edge, but this time Joseph didn''t close his eyes, didn''t feel his heart hammering at the very thought of gravity shifting, or moving perpendicular over the edge.


    He had seen a lot, in his time out here.


    Phineas looked up at Joseph at one point. He nestled over so he could whisper. Joseph stepped closer to the wagon, leaning over so he could hear.


    ¡°You stayed,¡± the Deep One said.


    ¡°Yeah, I did,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°You could have left.¡±


    ¡°Maybe,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Maybe not. But you''re my guildmate, Phin. And before that, you were my friend.¡±


    The Deep One grinned at that.


    ¡°I''m going to make it up to you,¡± Joseph said, ¡°To everyone, got it?¡±


    ¡°You don''t have to say that, Joseph,¡± Phineas said, ¡°You ''make it up'' by existing.¡±


    He nestled back into the hay, letting out a soft coo. He looked comfortable. His eyes were closed, and his face had gone from pained to serene.


    ¡°Joseph Zheng. Metahuman. My friend.¡±


    ***


    Deep snow riveted Scuttleway. There had been a snowstorm just the week before, and the Inner World was still recovering. Parts of the road had been plowed, though the night''s dusting caked them in a blanket of soft white mixed with brown earth. Scuttleway itself looked like a sandstone bonfire as it loomed on the grayscale horizon, the earth the color of milk, the sky a light gray. The walls had been cleared away already, soldiers in cloaks of krem hair and bear fur watching as merchants streamed into the city. They hardly picked out the small wagon filled with hay among the crowd.


    No one helped them as the Amber Foundation limped their way back to Castle Belenus. The only guildmember to greet them outside was Whiskey, the old marionette shoveling snow off of the walkway. He gave them a wave. They waved back.


    And opened the doors to the Great Hall.


    Elenry was in a state as she looked them over.


    ¡°A few weeks!¡± she screamed, ¡°That was it! And this is what you do?!¡±


    She shoved Broon onto the bed, and began picking away at his bindings. Whatever magic from the potions on Melmaen that had been holding it closed had begun to give way, fresh blood leaking from the deep cut.


    ¡°Alright,¡± she said, ¡°Ezel, Phineas, you sit and wait. If I''m not quick, this is going to get ugly.¡±


    She glanced back at the other three.


    ¡°You alright?¡±


    ¡°As well as can be,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°Good,¡± Elenry said, ¡°I don''t know what kind of foolish job Wakeling had you on this time, but this is the worst I''ve seen in a while. Now get out, I have work to do.¡±


    ¡°Yes, ma''am,¡± Rosemary said. They awkwardly left the infirmary.


    Joseph took a deep breath.


    ¡°Right,¡± he said, ¡°I guess I have to go up to talk to Wakeling.¡±


    Rosemary winced. Mallory nodded.


    ¡°Just desserts, Joe,¡± she said.


    ¡°Don''t I know it,¡± Joseph said. He felt unsteady as he looked at the staircases. He did not relish having to walk all the way up to the top of Wakeling''s tower. She probably already knew he was back. Yet she hadn''t sent anyone else to come retrieve him.


    Which meant it was a final challenge, of a sort.


    If he was serious about this, he would need to go up himself.


    Yet he didn''t want to. He still felt anger at the bitter old witch. He had left the guild. Used up Phineas and Rosemary. But he still would have done it again.


    Perhaps she knew that. Perhaps she didn''t.


    He sighed heavily.


    And walked up.


    It was a familiar journey. The same one he had taken months ago, when he had first arrived to Londoa. He no longer felt winded going up the seemingly never ending staircases. At one point, he could hear Tiger growling over to Mekke, the clash of swords ringing from one of the empty rooms. Aldreia, a cleric who Joseph rarely spoke to, was setting up a couple of floating fires, her hands alight with flame. She gave a curt nod to him as he passed.


    Chadwick and Becenti were talking to one another on the landing just before the final ascension up to Wakeling''s office. The calico''s eyes glittered at the sight of Joseph.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    ¡°Excuse me, Myron,¡± the cat said, and he limbered off.


    Joseph looked at Becenti. The old metahuman gave an awkward, stiff cough.


    ¡°You''ve returned, Mr. Zheng,¡± he said.


    ¡°I have.¡±


    Becenti seemed at a loss for words. He adjusted his tie. Joseph leaned against the wall.


    ¡°I...¡± Becenti said, ¡°I''m glad you''re safe, Joseph.¡±


    ¡°Almost wasn''t,¡± Joseph said, looking away, ¡°Almost got Broon and Phineas killed.¡±


    He let out a ragged sigh.


    ¡°I hurt them, Becenti. You said... you said...¡±


    He faltered. At a loss for words.


    Becenti nodded. Joseph didn¡¯t need to say anything.


    ¡°Hmm,¡± the old metahuman said, ¡°Ordinarily, any punishment for that would come from me. But I don''t... I don''t want to do that to you, Joseph. You look punished enough.¡±


    ¡°That obvious?¡± Joseph let out a hollow chuckle, ¡°Only took a trek across the multiverse. Only took one of my only friends losing an arm.¡±


    ¡°Be lucky that was all,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Journeys like these, they often demand more. Sometimes you don''t realize how much they cost until much, much later.¡±


    He stood aside.


    ¡°Wakeling will want to speak with you.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I know.¡±


    He began walking up the stairs.


    ¡°Joseph,¡± Becenti said.


    The younger metahuman looked over his shoulder.


    ¡°She tries, you know,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Wakeling. She has to keep her own counsel. From the rest of us, sometimes. She''s learned dark secrets, Joseph. The sort of knowledge that one doesn''t give easily.¡±


    ¡°...She was only my Nai Nai, man,¡± Joseph said, ¡°That''s all she was to me. My only connection to¡­ out here.¡±


    He gave Becenti a darker look, and a bit of the old Joseph came through.


    ¡°You''d be angry too, wouldn''t you?¡±


    Becenti hesitated at that, then gave a short nod.


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Still. It keeps her up at night.¡±


    ¡°Keeps me up at night, too,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I''ll see you later, Becenti.¡±


    ¡°Of course, Joseph.¡±


    ***


    The ceiling of Wakeling''s office beheld a starry sky. Joseph found the old familiar constellations of Earth. Centaurus, or Sea and Mountain. The Southern Cross. Others, though he found that Wakeling''s enchantment intermixed the northern and southern skies. All of the constellations of his childhood, all together.


    The room was the usual moody dark. Wakeling was at her customary place at her desk. The guildmaster looked tired. Worn out. She looked at Joseph, and her eyes narrowed at the sight of him.


    ¡°Broon''s nearly dead,¡± she said.


    ¡°I know,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Mr. Phineas will need to go back to Amzuth for a little while,¡± she said, ¡°A shame, Sunala was personally requesting his presence on Chliofrond.¡±


    Joseph was quiet at that. Wakeling sighed.


    ¡°Did you find it, at least?¡± she asked.


    ¡°I did,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°But you''re still here.¡±


    ¡°I didn''t have time,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Phin was... there was a crusader.¡±


    ¡°From Pantheon?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    Wakeling sucked in a hiss. Nodded to herself grimly.


    ¡°I suppose it''s only a matter of time before there''s reprisal,¡± she said, more to herself, ¡°I should never have let Ichabod go to Neos. I should never have...¡±


    She looked over at Joseph.


    ¡°I... I''m sorry, that you didn''t get what you were looking for, Joseph,¡± she said.


    Joseph shook his head.


    ¡°Why don''t you have a seat?¡± Wakeling asked.


    He walked over, setting himself down on the old chair, the wood creaking beneath him. Wakeling''s eyes flashed silver, and a blank parchment appeared out of thin air, attended by an ink-dripped quill.


    ¡°Tell me what happened,¡± she said.


    Joseph sighed.


    And he did. The entire journey. Getting abandoned by the Recluse. The terrorist attack on St. Malendia''s. Meeting up with Broon. Sneaking into the museum. The battle inside. Setting off the spells. At that, Wakeling nodded.


    ¡°Traveling exhibits like that are becoming more common,¡± she said, ¡°You should be lucky you''re still alive.¡±


    ¡°Trust me,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I am.¡±


    ¡°And, after that, you escaped.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph said, ¡°We laid low, but it looks like the Disciples of Aether managed to get Stellaluna off of our backs.¡±


    ¡°And now,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°We should be expecting to hear from their lawyers any day now.¡±


    Joseph nodded.


    ¡°No doubt for an under the table deal,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Gouffant''s good at those. I''ll get him and Glonthek on that, when they come knocking at our door.¡±


    ¡°What''ll they want?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Money, probably,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Compensation for making them look bad in front of their client. We''ll trade information, too.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I''m... sorry. That I caused trouble.¡±


    ¡°You damn well better be,¡± Wakeling snapped, ¡°It''s not the Disciples I''m worried about. We''ve fucked up before. I''ve fucked up before.¡±


    She leaned her head forward. Her eyes were set and dark as she glared at Joseph.


    ¡°What I care about, is that you came back with two near-corpses and a lifetime of nightmares, Mr. Zheng.¡±


    And Joseph could do nothing but wince, and nod.


    ¡°Now,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Ordinarily, the stunt you''ve pulled is enough for me to throw you out, our previous deal be damned. You seemed pretty intent on reneging on that anyways.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Joseph said, ¡°If that''s... If that''s what you want to do.¡±


    ¡°I don''t,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Because at the end, you did stay.¡±


    She sighed. Her eyes glowed silver, and a glass of wine materialized in the air. She drank deep, her head floating a few inches off of the desk. Her lips were stained purple as she finished, peering back at Joseph.


    ¡°You stayed,¡± she said, ¡°You saved Phineas''s life, even if it was your fault that he almost died in the first place. You, pardon the term, fucked up. But you had the guts to admit it. You''ve got the capacity to grow, at the very least.¡±


    ¡°Still...¡± Joseph said, ¡°I¡­¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°I suppose I owe you an apology, as well.¡±


    Joseph wanted to say ¡°You do,¡± but he was wisely silent.


    ¡°I was hypocritical,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°I was harsh. I was foolish, thinking that I could hide the Neos job from you. It''s already gotten out to the whole damn guild, no matter how hard I tried to keep a lid on things.¡±


    Joseph nodded.


    And he felt odd.


    He had never...


    Never been apologized to.


    Not like this.


    Never like this.


    Never from the heart, never for something so deep. He found himself biting back tears.


    ¡°I really messed up,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Jesus, I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m so¡­.¡±


    ¡°I know you did,¡± Wakeling said, and Joseph hated how soft, how kind, her voice was, ¡°And I did, too. Where we go from here, well...¡±


    She had been writing down Joseph''s entire account. She presented it to Joseph, who gave it a lookover, before he nodded.


    When he let it drift back up into the air, he was shocked as it lit up into flames.


    ¡°No doubt rumors are going to come up about what happened,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Let that be the price of your tomfoolery. They''ll hurt deeper than the truth. You''ve made people angry here, Joseph. But you''ve also made people realize that you''re not as bad as they thought you were.¡±


    The flames ate through the paper quickly. Soon there was nothing but a pile of ash on the desk in front of Wakeling.


    ¡°This trip you went on was a private job I sent the six of you on,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°The details came from an unknown client, and we swore to keep utmost secrecy on what you did.¡±


    ¡°People will know,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Of course they will,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°But they''ll recognize that we want to keep things on the down low. Be lucky that I''m not telling the wider guild about this, Joseph. Only the six of you, myself, Becenti, Mekke, and Elenry will be officially informed.¡±


    ¡°...Right,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°And I want to warn you, Joseph Zheng,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°If you do something like this again, I will cast you out. F¨¥ngb¨¤o''s grandson or no, you hurt your guildmates like this again, and I will throw you onto the streets myself.¡±


    Joseph felt his face go red with shame. He could only give an awkward nod. Wakeling seemed satisfied with that.


    ¡°So, you''re back with us,¡± Wakeling said.


    Joseph nodded.


    ¡°I want you to stay here,¡± the guildmaster said, ¡°In the city, at the very least, for a few weeks. I''m going to have you relegated to backup duty. That means you''re staying put.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°And you''ll be cleaning out the stables for the next two months,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Got it?¡±


    Joseph winced.


    ¡°Now, you should get some food. Some rest. Your bed''s still open to you, Mr. Zheng.¡±


    She hesitated for a moment.


    Then said, ¡°Did you still want to get to Earth?¡±


    Joseph gave a quiet shrug.


    ¡°I don''t know,¡± he said, ¡°I just... I need time to think, alright?¡±


    ¡°Very well, Joseph,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°You can have that time. But don''t leave the city.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Joseph said.


    He made to rise. He gave Wakeling one last look, opened his mouth, before closing it. He walked out of her office. The old witch waited until he was gone before her eyes glowed once more. A small journal pulled itself free from the shelves, drifting over to the desk and opening. F¨¥ngb¨¤o''s crisp, cutting handwriting made her heart pang with nostalgia. She read over the last instructions. And again.


    She would need to tell Joseph, wouldn''t she? Damn the hag¡¯s last wishes.


    But not now. Not with the young man''s head in a fog. Let him rest. Recover. She would give it to him once things had calmed down.


    Above, the stars twinkled.


    ***


    The entirety of the traveling exhibit''s wing was charred black. It was a miracle that the fire had not spread to the rest of the museum. But the university magicians were quick, and Old Sage Wizen had managed to quell Vorpal''s Burning Rage completely, pulling the air within the museum into a single hand, empathetic spells of calming suffocating out the magical aspects of the fire, until all that was left was a few simmering cinders that the elderly warlock stamped out completely.


    ¡°Be lucky it was just a shard of that power,¡± Old Sage Wizen said, ¡°Else all of Stellaluna would have been awash in fire. No amount of power would be enough to contain it.¡±


    He glared at Lord Iridos, who had run all the way to the museum from his manor in pajamas. One of his guards had wrapped him in a blanket due to the cold.


    They made their leave.


    Of course, the fact that the majority of the spells in the traveling exhibit were now gone, eaten away by the Burning Rage, meant that Krishyar and Rinny had officially failed their contract.


    Lord Iridos was not angry. He was far too kind a man for something like that. Instead, he looked downcast as he explained that their services would no longer be needed. Now bereft of an employer, the only thing they could do was sit at an inn, drink heavy drinks, and set up a Silverfish to call home.


    This far away from a Traveling Point, it would take a couple hours to connect with their guildmaster. They were at an inn right by the docks, watching the city go by below them.


    Out of nowhere, a starship erupted from below the island. Beautiful. Pristine. Silver. The logo of OzTech, that corporation from Neos, had been burned onto its hull. Below that was the ship''s name, Dream of the Sky.


    A thin man in an ermine coat stepped off of the ship. He was flanked by a woman in a black cloak, a raven perched on her shoulder, and a man in golden armor, a floating sun in place of his head. Even from the inn, they could see the serene, beaming smile on his face.


    ¡°Pantheon,¡± Krishyar grumbled, ¡°Look alive, Rinny. They might be questioning us.¡±


    ¡°Maybe,¡± Rinny said.


    But no, the lapdogs of OzTech were heading to the museum. At the sight of the three of them, the people of Stellaluna gave them a wide berth.


    ***


    ¡°Lord Iridos,¡± one of the guards said, ¡°Julius Agrippa is here.¡±


    That shook the nobleman from his stupor. He glanced up to see the head of OzTech walking to the museum. He was wearing a glorious overcoat to keep him warm, though it looked just a size too big for him as he swayed up the stairs. A thin smile was painted on his face, glazed-over eyes sliding to look at Lord Iridos.


    ¡°My friend,¡± he said, ¡°Where is the curator?¡±


    ¡°Ah,¡± Lord Iridos said, ¡°He''s... out.¡±


    ¡°Hyperion, does he speak the truth?¡± Agrippa asked.


    The man with the sun for a head loomed over Iridos. His face began to glow, blot out the day, replacing it with his own. Iridos suppressed a scream. He felt his mind burn.


    Then, it dulled.


    ¡°No,¡± Hyperion said, ¡°The man speaks the truth.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, unfortunate,¡± Agrippa drawled, ¡°Well, have a look about the place. See what you can find.¡±


    He looked at Iridos. The nobleman cringed, shrinking into himself.


    ¡°Where is Ahklahan?¡± Agrippa asked, ¡°I had him sent here to guard my sarcophagus. Where did he go?¡±


    ¡°I... I don''t know,¡± Iridos said, ¡°Th-there was a fire, and-¡±


    ¡°Who started it?¡±


    ¡°I don''t know,¡± Iridos repeated, his voice pleading, ¡°Please, sir, I don''t know. I just-¡±


    ¡°My raven''s found something,¡± the woman accompanying Agrippa said. She was gesturing at the ground. Beneath the rubble and ash-covered footprints were stains of red.


    The air above Agrippa shimmered. A... A thing materialized over his shoulder, a lion with a long, sinewy, serpentine neck. It drifted down, forked tongue flickering out, tasting the air. It dipped against the stain, its emerald eyes widening in glee. For what it tasted, it liked.


    ¡°Blood,¡± Agrippa said, ¡°Good. Clear the area here. Get a forensics crew from the Dream.¡±


    ¡°I say,¡± Iridos said, ¡°You can''t do that, we''re still in recovery e-efforts-¡±


    The glazed eyes drifted to Iridos. Became clear. Filled with disgust. Iridos gulped.


    ¡°S-Sir.¡±


    ¡°They killed another one of my Pantheon,¡± Agrippa said, and his usual drunken drawl was gone, ¡°I demand compensation for his death. Do you want to be responsible for that? To have me decide it was you who killed him?¡±


    Iridos shook his head.


    ¡°Then let me do my work,¡± Agrippa said, ¡°Everyone gets out. No one enters this godforsaken museum unless I say so. Are we clear?¡±


    Iridos nodded. Agrippa smiled, and the cloudy look returned.


    ¡°Good,¡± he said, ¡°Now, run along. My guild has its work to do.¡±


    The nobleman hesitated, then left. He could see that Hyperion was guiding the rest of the guards out. A contingent of OzTech scientists were already arriving at the museum, Fedtek devices in hand. They would work their magic.


    Iridos bit back a sob, Agrippa''s harsh glare burned in his mind. He went back to his manor, and stayed there for the rest of the week.


    ***


    The next few days were punishing work, as Becenti assigned Joseph the worst chores in the guild. He had to clean the stables. Scrub every latrine in Castle Belenus. Look after Lazuli at night, lest the android decide to do a prank that would get someone killed. The last of these was the worst, as Joseph lived off of a diet of coffee as he walked with Lazuli through the night.


    Despite the fact that Whiskey was right there. They passed the damn mannequin multiple times throughout the night.


    But Joseph took his punishment with resigned acceptance.


    He deserved worse. And he knew it.


    The days drew ever forward. Winter curled its fist over Scuttleway. The storms continued on, intensified, some said, by the wars of the eln meia. Wakeling had told Joseph to stay in the city, to stay in the guildhall, but he needed no such instructions. He would look out the windows in the morning to see snow that rose up to his waist.


    It was during one such morning that Joseph, alone, stepped out of his room. He was wearing the heaviest cloak he could find, along with a pair of sturdy boots that someone ¨C probably Nash ¨C had left behind in the community closet. He had found a right glove from Chadwick, who had stolen it from somewhere in the city, and Broon had given him a left handed, oversized mitt from a set the half-orc had recently ordered.


    He wound his way up the staircases of Castle Belenus, by now familiar with them and their maze like structure. He knew which way to turn, which hallways to go down, which rooms to avoid, lest he incur some asshole''s wrath.


    It was the same balcony that he and Nash had hung out on, the morning of the expedition. It was crusted over with snow from last night. Becenti was leaning against the railing, a calm expression on his face. He, too, was wearing the heaviest clothing he owned.


    The old metahuman turned to Joseph as he walked out.


    ¡°Mr. Zheng.¡±


    ¡°Becenti.¡±


    ¡°You''re not wearing a hat,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Don''t have one.¡±


    ¡°Here,¡± Becenti reached into a coat pocket, and came out with a wool cap. He tossed it to Joseph, ¡°I always carry a few extra.¡±


    Joseph knew that was a lie. But he let Becenti have his moment, his awkward warmth, and slipped it on. He walked over to his side, the two of them watching the city awaken.


    Neither of them said a word. Neither of them needed to.


    After a few minutes, Becenti gave a nod to Joseph, and took his leave. The young metahuman was alone.


    His soul was almost healed. He could feel it. He felt... whole, again. Or as whole as he ever would be. Nothing felt right after Mordenaro. Everything about him was different.


    He was, he realized, not the same person as before, when he had first stumbled out of Inweth.


    And he liked that.


    Joseph Zheng stood out on the balcony for much of the morning, content to stand and watch the snow fall, the city breathe, alone with only his thoughts.


    And, for the first time, he was not uncomfortable doing so.

 102. Stirrings of Sound and Fury

    There had been another blizzard in the night. Isaac Rithmound awoke to find his window caked over with snow, servants shoveling the walk outside the Bronze-Hued Keep, swaddled in coats and heavy scarves. Someone had cast a spell of warmth over the manor as he stepped out of bed, and he found himself rather comfortable as he slipped on his usual uniform. Father had insisted that he look his best no matter what, even when he was at leisure.


    And, due to the fact that the election was on, and assassins were starting to prowl the shadows, he was forced to do it himself. Not that the hobgoblin necessarily minded. He had learned to clothe himself, like a good little gob, at a young age, and detested when his servants helped. They had more important matters to attend to.


    He stepped out, noting immediately that Ket was tailing him, the Inl¨¦an dancing with the darkness between corners, cast by furniture and paintings. He had personally requested Isaac''s father to keep the Bronze-Hued keep dim, to lengthen and strengthen the shadows. Lord Rithmound had complied, and now it felt like dusk as Isaac made his way to his office to begin the morning''s paperwork and tea.


    His father was waiting for him as Isaac walked in. The elder Lord Rithmound was ever a steel pillar in his life, and though Isaac was often told he was cut from the same metal, he knew otherwise. For no one was like Bryce Rithmound, tall and imposing, with skin the color of ancient fire and eyes that burned with a dark intensity. Isaac had long ago learned his father was not a kind man. In place of that was intelligence, cunning, and courage.


    But no love.


    It had taken Isaac a long time to accept that. And to replace his father''s love with respect.


    Lord Rithmound gave Isaac a nod. He returned it with a quick salute.


    ¡°I need you to speak with Lady Doria today,¡± he said, ¡°I''ve scheduled you to play Deepstone with her at her estate.¡±


    ¡°Lady Doria?¡± Isaac said, ¡°Shall I sneak in, or arrive in a carriage?¡±


    ¡°A carriage,¡± Lord Rithmound said at once, ¡°It''s time that we make our alliance with House Eilonwy public.¡±


    Isaac nodded at the news. Their dealings with Lady Doria''s House had been an open secret since Doge Busciver''s disastrous gala. But by going public with it¡­


    ¡°It''ll mean that House Deirdre will pay attention to us,¡± he said.


    ¡°Indeed,¡± his father said, ¡°It''s time to start wooing the whale. If we get Deirdre''s support, we''ll be in a powerful position indeed when the opening debates start.¡±


    Isaac nodded.


    ¡°Deepstone, then,¡± he said.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Lord Rithmound said, ¡°Just a few games. A couple hours for a kind elderly lady whose children and grandchildren are far too busy with her House''s affairs.¡±


    Isaac smirked at that.


    ¡°Very well,¡± he said.


    ¡°After that,¡± Rithmound said, ¡°Your afternoon practice.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Isaac said.


    ¡°Then, dinner with Lady Suella.¡±


    Isaac felt his heart deflate at those words. He did not let his father see. Though, perhaps Lord Rithmound did. No matter, the elder ignored the younger''s plight.


    ¡°...Very well,¡± Isaac said, ¡°But I choose the restaurant. I''m growing sick of the usual fare.¡±


    ¡°''The usual fare'' is provided by House Korgan,¡± Lord Rithmound said, ¡°A major ally, if you''ll remember?¡±


    ¡°Why not at Cherenfru''s?¡± Isaac said.


    His father''s gaze went flat.


    ¡°I know, I know,¡± Isaac said, ¡°It''s run by merchants sympathetic to House Meandring. But we''ve got to court them to our side at some point, right? I''ll show it as a message. Me and the lady friend, at Cherenfru''s? It gets in the right ears, it gets the other Houses talking.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Lord Rithmound said, ¡°It certainly wouldn''t sow any discord into Busciver''s caucus. Meandring and Busciver have been partners for several years now.¡±


    ¡°So were Eilonwy and Busciver,¡± Isaac said.


    His father could not argue that. Scratching his chin, he nodded.


    ¡°Very well,¡± he said, ¡°It is merely a restaurant. Perhaps I overthink things. Do at least try to have a good time, Isaac. I know that the Lady Suella''s not your first choice.¡±


    Isaac suppressed a wince. The old man saw far more than he let on.


    ¡°Anything else?¡± Isaac asked.


    ¡°No,¡± Lord Rithmound said, ¡°I''ll be taking my leave of you. I''ve got other matters to attend to.¡±


    And at that, there was a devilish look in his eye. Isaac frowned, trying to figure out what just his father meant. They switched places, the son going to his desk, the father making for the door.


    The younger Rithmound realized it when he sat down.


    ¡°The Federation,¡± he said, ¡°They approved an investigation.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± his father said. He had a decidedly Rithmound smirk on his face, ¡°A major blow to their interplanar holdings, if it goes the way I hope.¡±


    ¡°A Shard of Imagination...¡± Isaac began rifling through the stacks of paper at his desk, ¡°Is it truly that heinous? It''s... quaint.¡±


    ¡°Ha, no such thing as a simple stone,¡± Lord Rithmound said, ¡°I''ve heard stories... if they were not so hated by the Federation, I would covet one for myself. But they are dangerous, my son. They are weapons, even in the way we''re using this one, now.¡±


    He gave a curt nod to his son. Then closed the door behind him. Isaac fixed the door with a look for another moment, his mind drifting to the Lady Busciver. How he wished she were here...


    Then, he looked down, and began reading out his morning''s work.


    ***


    Alarms for Nelnuthans were chime-like. Soft, other beings would say. Three quiet rings, repeating every five point three seconds. Ora Sota awoke after the fifth series of chimes, opening his violet eyes and staring at the ceiling. He rose out of bed after the seventh series, bare paws touching the cold, golden floor of his home. Ora crossed over across the loft that was his bedroom, silencing the alarm, his ears flickering in annoyance as he got closer to the sound. His hearing was especially sensitive today. He made a mental note to wear earbuds before he went out.


    All of his home was designed to be as silent as possible. The walls, the floor, the ceiling, all of them were insulated with a metal from Doremi that deafened sounds. Heavy footsteps became soft. Loud music became quiet. Shouts turned to whispers.


    It was garish to call such silence golden, but Ora''s family had long been paid well for their services to the High Federation. Dealing with the multiverse, its idiosyncrasies, its quirks and pitfalls, was difficult work. Work that very few in the galaxy could handle.


    Ora poured himself a cup of Daerusian tea. He sipped at it, letting the caffeine enter his system, as he walked to his desk. He stifled a yawn as he got to work. Fifteen cases, and this was a light load. Many of them were decades old. Not worth getting up to investigate them. Some trading between barbarians on Melmaen. Arguments on Neos over warp travel laws. A polite request to probe Danquah, the major superpower on Great Rana, in its recent developments of mechanical humanoids.


    For a moment, Ora looked at it. Reviewed the request. It came from a minor politician within Danquah''s government. An up-and-coming idealist from one of the border communities on Danquah''s frontier. Ora could not help but smile at that, musing.


    Then, he put in a denial. One of his colleagues had investigated Great Rana a mere twenty years ago, and said that nothing was amiss. Who was he to rock the ship?


    More work came to his desk. He sorted through those. All in all, a quiet day. Nothing worth getting out of bed for. He almost regretted it. But it was too late. The caffeine had kicked in, and Ora was well and awake.


    The morning passed. Ora rose from his desk, stretched, and went to grab lunch. He had recently gotten into preparing his meals over the weekend, putting them away into neat little containers, each of them marked for each of his work days. The day that he was given off, he usually went out drinking with coworkers. It was how he knew they existed.


    Today was a simple fare of Mogret sushi with a sauce taken from the Shy Islands, a brown, tangy affair that Ora had found he rather liked. He had gotten it imported, after hearing about it from an acquaintance. He had meant to visit the plane last year, but had heard of potential terrorist activity in the surrounding squall.


    Never mind that, then. He would take his sauce without the bombs.


    Ora ate on the patio, a sea of stars before him. His manor, built by his forefathers generations ago, was just on the edge of Taisho Station, a High Federation outpost turned city, built on the back of an asteroid. As such, his vistas were not the usual bright days and nights of a planet-found soul, but rather the full majesty of the Silver Eye. The stars twinkled and wheeled. He could see a starship fluttering overhead to Taisho Station''s port.


    Above all, it was quiet. He had rarely had to go off-station, and those were trips of sound and fury. He disliked both immensely.


    He ate. Quietly. Slowly.


    Then, returned to his work.


    A new alert sat on his monitor. Brow furrowing, Ora clicked it open. Read it quickly.


    His heart began to hammer as the full meaning washed over him, a sudden rogue wave of bothersome noise.


    It was a request from only a month ago. A priority request, from Londoa, the Broken World. Ora clicked through his database quickly, trying to find out what that plane''s history was.


    There. A relatively backwards plane. Had once belonged to the elves. The request, however, was from a being named Bryce Rithmound. A hobgoblin. Ora had seen one of those once, a stuffed one, in the Museum of the Multiverse on Everlasting Truth.


    He looked back. Made sure the request was legitimate. Read it again. A second time. A third.


    The words ''SHARD OF IMAGINATION'' burned themselves into his mind. He had heard only stories. From his father. From his grandfather, around a fire, when his parents had dragged him out to the family camping trips.


    Bad news.


    Bad enough that it had become a priority. It had already been approved by the higher-ups.


    Ora sighed. Rubbed his forehead.


    He would need to charter a ship out there. To Londoa, or whatever. But he didn''t want to. It would mean noise. It would mean he would need to make a call to the Department of Interplanar Transportation. His stomach shivered.


    Perhaps...


    Perhaps he didn''t need to go to Londoa directly. He read over the case again. The Shard of Imagination had been in contact with a guild during the proceedings. The Amber Foundation.


    Hope bloomed in his chest. He looked over their file. A middling guild, local to Londoa. Had a couple of celebrities, some witch or other. Nothing to write home about, in his opinion.


    He was more concerned with the job they had undertaken for this House Sunala. They would have had to write up the records. And, like good little guildfolk, they would have needed to mention the Shard in their report.


    Their information was stored on Petulant Child. Perfect. He could fly there on his own. No commcall necessary. The Nelthuthan was relieved.


    He wasn''t prepared for this sort of trip, not so suddenly. He would do it tomorrow, when he was more prepared. Yes, that would be fine. One had to be prepared for making an outing. He drew up a map of the Post-Colonial. Petulant Child was only a few days away. Perfect.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    He spent the rest of the day lounging. He did not actually begin packing until it was time for bed, and that was a frantic thing. He barely knew what to bring. His reading tablet. A small charm, given to him by his late sister, for luck. A change of clothes. The replicator would provide him food, though it would not be tasty. So he brought a bag of Korelin nuts, a favorite treat.


    With that, he went to bed. Awoke early in the morning. His heart ached to be separated from his routine, but duty called, and he would make his forefathers proud.


    The ship was an heirloom as well. The Silence of Glory, it was called. A fine name, for such a thing. Ora flew it rarely, and it creaked and croaked as it powered up. But it could still fly, though he would need to replace the engine soon.


    It occurred to him that he had no idea how to go about doing that.


    Oh well, a problem for later.


    The ship rumbled off to Petulant Child.


    ***


    Rosemary awoke in the early morning with her stomach already twisted into knots. Mallory was still asleep across from her, the Steamer having worked late into the night helping with Vicenorn. The Braindoll still was in his pot, though there had been plans to get him a new body, and she had been working with him on getting blueprints and parts and whatnot. There was a lot of math that went over Rosemary''s head.


    As though she would be able to help with that. She was still on duty for the worst chores in the guildhall, along with Joseph. Phineas still had not returned from his journey to Amzuth.


    It had been a month since the three of them had left the guild for Melmaen. To be honest, Rosemary was surprised that she hadn''t been kicked out. She had given vital information to a client''s rival, and...


    And the day''s coming conversation with Wakeling came back to her once more. The guildmaster had been merciful, had allowed Rosemary to recover after the disaster on Stellaluna, and the journey home. But now, with the Minor Tribunal meeting soon, the time had come to talk about what Rosemary had given House Rithmound.


    She sighed. Walked over, wrapped herself up in her cloak. She wore it as she opened the door.


    Whiskey was standing there, waiting. Rosemary started. The marionette stared down at her.


    ¡°Morning,¡± she said, ¡°Are you... Are you here to escort me?¡±


    Whiskey nodded. Without another word, he lumbered down the hall. Rosemary followed him as they wound their way through the guildhall. He was not taking her to Wakeling''s usual office. No, instead, he went downstairs, out the door, out into the snow. Rosemary could see Joseph and Lazuli shoveling snow away, the metahuman''s soul out and full, scooping the stuff up in its great talons and tossing them into a massive pile.


    Lazuli, the little asshole, was watching, an unused shovel in hand.


    Wakeling was waiting at the fountain. There was a distinct circle of grass around her, melted away by whatever magic the old guildmaster used. As Rosemary got closer, the cold air became warm, as though it were a calm Summer''s day.


    ¡°Rosemary,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Coffee? Tea?¡±


    A conspiratorial look creeped onto her face.


    ¡°Wine?¡±


    ¡°Coffee, please,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°The usual.¡±


    The guildmaster''s eyes flashed, and Rosemary''s customary, sugar-filled drink appeared. She took it, giving it a few careful sips, and sat down by the fountain.


    ¡°...You wanted to talk?¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°Yes, Rosemary,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Whiskey, dear, thank you for bringing her here. You''re dismissed, if you want.¡±


    The marionette gave a slow shrug. He stayed where he was, content to enjoy the warmth that Wakeling had created.


    ¡°Very well,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°You can stay. No talking about this.¡±


    Whiskey gave another shrug.


    ¡°That''s why he''s one of my favorites,¡± Wakeling said, smirking, ¡°Knows how to keep his mouth shut.¡±


    Rosemary went red with shame. Wakeling''s eyes widened.


    ¡°Oh, dear,¡± she said, ¡°I didn''t mean- Not quite like-¡±


    ¡°It''s alright,¡± Rosemary said, forcing out a laugh, ¡°Really.¡±


    ¡°Rosemary, I didn''t mean it like that,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°It was just an idle joke, a little... Oh dear, I''ve made a mess of things already, haven''t I?¡±


    They both went silent. In the distance, Joseph realized that Lazuli wasn''t actually doing anything. They watched as he lifted the android into the air, and buried him headfirst into the pile of snow. Lazuli''s legs wriggled like two metal worms, kicking and flailing, and they could hear his electronic yelps from the fountain.


    Both of them chuckled at that.


    ¡°Rosemary,¡± Wakeling said, starting again, ¡°What happened on InterGuild?¡±


    Rosemary''s laughter died. Her expression became forlorn.


    ¡°I know that you and Sunala became rather close after the expedition,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°But that changed after InterGuild. She didn''t do anything, did she?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°She...¡±


    She sighed.


    ¡°She took me to the conference there. For the Verdant Reclamation. Have you heard of them?¡±


    ¡°I have,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°They''ve got a couple chapters in Tlantoia.¡±


    Rosemary winced at that. Tlantoia. Just on the other side of the landmass. She was reminded that it was more than just Sunala here.


    ¡°They had a rally,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°That''s what Sunala took me to. They cordoned off a space, invited as many Elven guilds as they could. Dozens of flags. And their leader, Adonal Adaya, he started to speak. Started...¡±


    She shivered.


    ¡°There was hate there, Wakeling. A lot of it. All of it directed at non-elves. They''re supremacists. All of them, even Sunala.¡±


    She let the words hang rank in the air. After a moment, she glanced up to Wakeling.


    ¡°You''re sure we can just... speak like this? Out in the open?¡± she asked, ¡°Sunala uses air elementals. Invisible sentries.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I detected a few of them were deployed outside the guildhall when you left for Melmaen,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°But they''re amateur spellwork, my dear. You really think simple witchcraft would get past me?¡±


    She grinned. It was devoid of mirth.


    ¡°You''re safe here, Rosemary. People will get to you over my damn dead body.¡±


    ¡°So that''s that, then,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°That''s why I told Rithmound about the Shard of Imagination. So he could use that information as he saw fit.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°A tricky play, Rosemary.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°But, I didn''t know what else to do. Joseph... he needed help. I think things would have gotten a lot worse if Phin and I hadn''t gone with him.¡±


    ¡°True,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°And you also wanted to strike at Sunala.¡±


    Rosemary reddened again.


    ¡°I... I didn''t... I just...¡±


    ¡°It''s alright, Rosemary,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°I just wanted to know why you gave the information to Rithmound. I have a feeling it was for more than just to help a guildmate.¡±


    The wind whipped up again. Joseph started piling snow onto Lazuli''s still-trapped form, covering him completely.


    ¡°You should have seen the way Adaya spoke,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Should have heard the things that Sunala whispered to me. Wakeling, I don''t know what''s going to happen if Busciver wins the election again. When I left, he was relying so much on Sunala''s ties with the Verdant Reclamation. He''s practically her puppet.¡±


    She sighed.


    ¡°What''ll happen to Scuttleway? To us?¡±


    ¡°I don''t know, Rosemary,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Only that I''ll protect this place with my life.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°But... you don''t have to be the only person to do that. I saw an opportunity. I took it.¡±


    ¡°You''re playing with fire, is what you''re doing,¡± Wakeling said, her voice soft, ¡°Rosemary, tell me, what do you think will result in what you''ve revealed?¡±


    ¡°I figure,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°House Rithmound will sit on the information for a few days, debate what to do. They don''t have the reach like Sunala does, not in the multiverse. They don''t have the backing of something like the Verdant Reclamation. So they can''t directly go after Sunala. Even rumors of something as powerful as a Shard of Imagination could get Busciver re-elected right then and there, in the first debate.¡±


    ¡°So who will they take the information to?¡±


    ¡°The High Federation,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°I figure that, even past the usual gridlock they''re known for, the Shard of Imagination will wake them up. Get them interested. Start an investigation.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Rosemary,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°You''re relying on an authoritarian state like the High Federation to do the dirty work for you.¡±


    She sighed, shaking her head.


    ¡°Men like Adaya are often friends with men like Valm.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°And I know the risk.¡±


    ¡°Do you?¡± Wakeling said, ¡°What if, theoretically, the Federation does find the Shard of Imagination? They could blame the Verdant Reclamation. They could do more digging, find the contract that we had with Sunala. They would look at Scuttleway as perpetrators for a cross-planar contamination. You know what that means.¡±


    The faerie''s blood ran cold.


    ¡°I knew that,¡± she whispered, though saying it and realizing it were two different things, ¡°But I didn''t see much of a choice.¡±


    The witch tried hard not to glare at her. But she failed.


    ¡°Well,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°What''s done is done, Rosemary. We''ll just have to wait. See what their investigation digs up. And, if need be, find a quick exit out of Londoa.¡±


    ¡°I might have just made things up worse,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°I¡­ I hope I didn¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps, Rosemary,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Perhaps.¡±


    ***


    Petulant Child was a Library World located clear on the other side of the Post-Colonial. It had, once upon a time, been one of the colonies that had given the Post-Colonial its name. Over time, however, as food ran dry and the planet''s resources were dispersed amongst the rest of the Silver Eye, it had been converted into an information repository. Where once had been green fields was wasteland. The sky had once been blue, but now choked on chemicals from a thousand worlds, pollutants that had forced the crops to grow fast and far too large, pesticides that had wiped out the native insect populations. For certain species, Nelnuthans included, it was unsafe to breathe without a mask.


    As such, Ora put his on, disliking how it fit over his snout. It was far too tight. His breathing became quickened for a moment, before he remembered his exercises, calming himself with thoughts of a silent place. His home. He would go back to it soon. Just had to look at a few records, then get out.


    He stepped out and into the sick air. A couple of librarians, also wearing masks, nodded to him as he flashed them a badge indicating his position. One of them approached, a Mechuvian with a pronounced fang.


    ¡°Can I help you, sir?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Ora said, ¡°Amber Foundation. I need their records.¡±


    The Mechuvian''s eyes went green as she pored over the local database. Ora knew that around half of her brain had probably been replaced with a wireless node to connect her to the planet''s information network. It certainly helped with processing times.


    ¡°There,¡± the Mechuvian said, ¡°This way.¡±


    And she led him to one of the massive domes that dominated the planet''s surface, a great metal abomination that dwarfed the horizon and seemed taller than the sky. They went inside, the air going from humid to clammy, and Ora''s fur became matted and cold.


    The inside of the dome was festooned with archived records like berries on a bush. Light blue datarods, by the hundreds, lined the walls, were set up on honeycombed shelves, were set in stacks on floating platforms that flew them to and fro. The Mechuvian took Ora down to a landing pad, clicking a button to call a shuttle.


    ¡°Amber Foundation, hm?¡± she said.


    ¡°Ah, yes,¡± Ora said.


    ¡°I''ve looked through their records a couple of times. Quite the guild, yes, quite the guild.¡±


    Ora cringed. He disliked small talk immensely.


    ¡°Y-Yes,¡± he said again.


    He had a feeling that he was supposed to say something else, continue the conversation. But he didn''t. And so the silence that lapsed became an awkward one.


    By and large, the shuttle settled down, a small, two-person craft that the Mechuvian beckoned Ora into. They spent the next twenty-odd minutes flying across the expanse of the dome. A few other shuttles passed them by. Ora let out a cough.


    And then the shuttle settled down, into another part of the archive that looked no different from the one he had just been in.


    ¡°You''d think that we''d have all this digitized by now,¡± Ora commented, ¡°Put on a cloud.¡±


    ¡°Ha, I remember there was a bill about it,¡± the Mechuvian said, ¡°Didn''t even reach the First Council. I think there''s a company that produces datarods, and they pushed for it to be dropped.¡±


    She began sorting through the records. Ora awkwardly walked over to a table.


    ¡°You want anything to drink?¡± Mechuvian said, ¡°I know it''s cold in here. Tea?¡±


    ¡°Is that allowed?¡± Ora said.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± the Mechuvian said, ¡°I like Coribaldi black tea, myself.¡±


    ¡°Sure,¡± Ora said, ¡°Do you have Daerusian?¡±


    ¡°Ha, a classy guy,¡± the Mechuvian said, with a wink, ¡°Very well, a cup of Daerusian tea for the fancy man.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Ora said.


    It would only come to him later that the Mechuvian had been trying to flirt with him. He wasn''t sure how to respond to that.


    ¡°So, what are we looking for, here?¡± the Mechuvian asked.


    ¡°A record that details a contract the guild took with one Lily-Ann Sunala,¡± Ora said, ¡°An expedition to what is described as a ''dead plane.''¡±


    The Mechuvian nodded, began looking more earnestly.


    By and large, their tea arrived on a floating table. Ora took his, giving a few sips. The Mechuvian drained hers.


    ¡°Ah, love this job,¡± she said, ¡°Just tea and sorting archives. The life, right?¡±


    ¡°I can see the appeal.¡±


    ¡°My dad did this, you know,¡± the Mechuvian said, ¡°So did my mum. Their parents. Same with you?¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡± Ora said, and he realized he had been drifting off in thought, ¡°Oh, yes. My father taught me about the multiverse, the investigations, the laws. We''ve been doing this line of work for generations, since the Second Age of Contemplation.¡±


    ¡°Hey, same as my family,¡± the Mechuvian said. Her long fingers flitted through a few more datarods, before finding one that she looked over quickly. She shook her head, and replaced it.


    Ora finished his tea. He set it down, and the table took it away, flying up and back up towards the top of the dome.


    ¡°Almost got it, sorry,¡± the Mechuvian said.


    ¡°Quite alright,¡± Ora said, ¡°Take your time.¡±


    It was another few minutes before she pulled out the record, presenting it to Ora. The Nelnuthan took it in hand, reading over, brow furrowing. It had been written in a peculiar dialect, so it took him a moment to comprehend what the report said.


    The writer was the Amber Foundation¡¯s guildmaster. Vyde Wakeling. The witch herself. She and Sunala had taken a team to this dead plane. It had been a plane full of water, with a couple of ruins from a long-gone civilization. Fresh water. Ora could see the economic impact of that.


    ¡°Nothing out of the ordinary,¡± he said.


    He read through the record again. A third time. His translation was correct. No mention of a Shard of Imagination.


    Looking back, he should have simply left it there. The guild had not mentioned a Shard, so there was no Shard. To not mention it would have been rather underhanded. One was not supposed to lie on an official record to the High Federation.


    And yet...


    If he was wrong, and they had lied, and there was a Shard of Imagination...


    He heaved a great sigh. The Melchuvian''s eyebrow quirked up.


    ¡°Everything alright?¡± she asked.


    ¡°No, I''m afraid not,¡± Ora said, ¡°What I''m looking for isn''t here. It means I need to actually go out to the multiverse and question the witnesses personally.¡±


    ¡°Oh, dear,¡± the Melchuvian said, ¡°Out into the wilds, eh?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Ora said, and his eyes grew distant. He had never left the Silver Eye before. Neither had his father, or his father before him. He was about to do something new for the Sota name.


    And he disliked this immensely.


    ¡°Well,¡± he said, more to himself than anything, ¡°Nothing to do but go out, and see for myself.¡±

 103. The Minor Tribunal

    Lady Sunala was in her study when she received the first of two messages. A fresh flurry of snow had just sugared down outside her window, and amidst the blizzard was a messenger pigeon. She raised an eyebrow, before putting down her quill and drifting over to let the poor thing in. She felt a phantom pain creep on the stump of her arm as the cold bit against her wrist. Cutting off her hand on Chliofrond had been a necessary risk. Despite her own proclivities, her own opinions, she had hired two non-elves in order to assuage suspicions about her ties to the Verdant Reclamation.


    But they had been Mutts, in the end. She hadn''t made that mistake again.


    She unlooped the scroll on the pigeon''s back. Another message from Busicver. Sunala''s stomach shook at the thought of the gnome. Such creatures, when controlled, were amiable enough. She was not like Adaya, she did not desire their extermination.


    But working with them could prove difficult at times. And this was one of them. Since he had lost his ties to Lady Doria, he had been relying on her more and more. It was a mixed blessing. Their election, at first a secure formality, had now become a tense race. But, if they won, if they pulled through, then Sunala''s hegemony over Scuttleway was all but assured. A victory for the Reclamation, when the time came for more overt action.


    She could not stop her hand from shaking as she read Busciver''s letter, and this was not from the cold. It was more and more of his ramblings. Sunala took out a quill, wrote down a reply, her usual spiel to assuage his stress.


    She found it difficult to tie the letter up with only one hand. She had to call a servant in. The Elven guard was a younger woman, bright-eyed and eager to help. She reminded Sunala of Rosemary, and the noblewoman''s heart panged.


    But no.


    Rosemary had betrayed her.


    For a moment, Sunala was overcome with emotion. Sadness for someone who was becoming her protege. She had not been an elf, not truly. But she was close enough to it. Adaya would disagree. Call her a fool. But Sunala had her heart, and she could do naught but follow it.


    She pushed those down. Thanked her new attendant. Put the message onto the tube on the pigeon''s back, and sent it on its way.


    It was murder to send birds out in this weather. But it was required.


    Everyone had to suffer for a bit of glory.


    ***


    Lady Sunala was eating lunch when she received the second of two messages. She was down in her dining room, eating alone, the long ivory table stretching down to the other end of the room, when a servant knocked on the door.


    ¡°Enter,¡± Sunala said.


    The servant walked in, her footsteps echoing down against the marble floor as she crossed across the room to Sunala¡¯s side. In her hand was the Silverfish. A message from the multiverse. Sunala hid her grimace. She did not want to speak to anyone from the Verdant Reclamation. Not now. Not when she had so much to do today.


    But she complied. Took a deep breath. Plucked the Silverfish from her servant¡¯s hands, gave them a wave to dismiss them.


    The Silverfish was small in her hand, needle-shaped, with six long, locust-like legs that bit into the palm of her hand. She waited for the voice to cough into existence.


    And it was Adaya''s.


    ¡°Sunala,¡± he said, clipped.


    ¡°Adonal Adaya,¡± Sunala said, ¡°To what to I have this privilege?¡±


    ¡°The Federation has launched an investigation into the dead plane.¡±


    Sunala''s heart fell.


    ¡°I see,¡± she said.


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Adonal Adaya said, ¡°I must stress, Sunala, we believe the breach came from that guild freak, Rosemary.¡±


    ¡°She''s not-¡± Sunala grimaced, ¡°She wouldn''t.¡±


    ¡°She was seen entering into the home of one of your rivals in Scuttleway, was she not?¡± Adonal Adaya said, ¡°It only stands to reason. The rest of us have to run a tight a ship as we can. But you had to go and fraternize with those lesser than you.¡±


    She could not refute that.


    ¡°So,¡± she said, ¡°Are they only investigating Chliofrond for its economic potential for us?¡±


    Adaya snorted.


    ¡°As if,¡± he said, ¡°They know about the Shard, Lily-Ann.¡±


    The world went cold.


    Sunala¡¯s vision swam in panic. In shock.


    ¡°I see,¡± she said, forcing the words out.


    ¡°I''m messaging a few contacts I have out in the Silver Eye,¡± Adaya said, ¡°Hopefully the Federation will just get tied up on some Library World or other. Hopefully this won''t get blown out of proportion. But Sunala, I am relying on you to send for me at once if he goes to the dead plane. I''m already on my way there if, gods forbid, he starts taking a closer look into our actions out here.¡±


    ¡°Understood,¡± Sunala said.


    ¡°The plane will be out of forecast soon,¡± Adaya said, ¡°At least, the most discovered path for a Silverfish will be. I¡¯ll be out of touch with you through these usual methods. If the investigator comes here, send word out via elemental. Send it through the Nordian Squall.¡±


    ¡°I will, if I catch word of the investigator heading to you,¡± Sunala said.


    There was a moment of dark silence. She could imagine Adaya sighing. Rubbing his thin temples.


    ¡°I feel as though I must remind you,¡± he said, ¡°That if we lose the Shard, we lose everything in Londoa.¡±


    ¡°I am aware,¡± Sunala said.


    ¡°Are you?¡± Adaya snarled, and for a moment his voice became distorted by the Silverfish, ¡°If we lose Scuttleway, we cannot advance into the inner parts of Moadma. The eln meia are unifying, Sunala, and if we were to pursue a war with them, we must have that city as a landing zone.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Sunala said, almost whispered.


    ¡°This is your dream, Sunala,¡± Adaya said, ¡°I know that you''ve been aiming to establish Scuttleway as an Elven city for a long time. The time of climax is upon us, after your years of planning. Are you going to just let it slip through your fingers? Take the initiative. Do what must be done. Or I will send Tirmo Telundela to assess your further position in the Reclamation.¡±


    And he cut the connection. Sunala swallowed. Held the Silverfish in her hand for a moment, staring down at it.


    Then, she threw it across the room as hard as she could.


    ***


    The Minor Tribunal was composed of the eleven most prominent merchant Houses in Scuttleway. They met in the Grand Commons, the great palace that had long been the meeting place for the city''s government. Once upon a time, it had been the governor''s offices when Scuttleway was under the thumb of Tlantoia, the Elven nation on the other side of the landmass. As such, it had Elven architecture in its blood, marble rises that were carved out into the shape of leaves, a golden dome, and prominent statues lining the alcoves, though the Elven figures here had been replaced with famous Doges of the past.


    The room where the Minor Tribunal met was a chamber, circular, with the eleven Houses meeting on the ground floor in circular tables that ringed the center of the room, where sat a throne for the incumbent Doge. Busciver sat there now, like a child on that golden seat, the Phrygian Cap upon his head like a limp half-moon.


    A series of stone galleries lined the ring-shaped room, set high above on the second and third floors of the palace, so observers could peer down and watch the proceedings. The chamber was large enough that one''s voice below could echo up to the top of the galleries.


    And every seat was filled. Hundreds of people were here. Representatives from the other Houses in Scuttleway, dignitaries from the various other city-states that dotted Moadma Landmass, such as One Claw, Procambarus, and Mantis Shrimp. Guildfolk were here as well ¨C the Amber Foundation had sent a couple of theirs to watch the proceedings, Gouffant the Rat and Orion, as well as Becenti. The Exodus Walkers had sent a few of theirs as well, Alonso Moriguchi stood behind Lord Bryce Rithmound as the hobgoblin took his seat beside his son. On top of the third floor was Khosrau, the Ogre Dragonfly, Moriguchi''s guildmate. White Feathers were here, that Elven guild, in the form of Urya Orna. She drew a few stares as she stood by the railing on the second floor, for the blue plasma scar on her face was unlike anything the majority of the city had seen.


    Beside her was an ambassador from Tlantoia. Whispers followed this one''s footsteps, for he had visited Sunala''s estate just the night before.


    The other major Houses filled in the bottom floor. Busciver and Rithmound, the two major powers in this election. Sunala stood beside Busciver. The Lady Doria''s House, Eilonwy, had gone public with its new alliance with Rithmound, and the Thirsty Lady sat just next to Isaac Rithmound.


    On Rithmound''s side were Houses Eilonwy and Korgan, the Orcish House. Korgan''s Patriarch, Gordusus, stood tall and proud, his prominent tusks sporting twin golden rings. He was whispering a few hoarse, deep words to his daughter, who was nodding as she stared across the aisle at Sunala. The Elven noblewoman simply smiled.


    For on Busciver''s side were Houses Sunala, Meandring, Mur, and Callistopa. All of them had been wooed to the gnome''s side during the last election, reaping profits from Sunala''s ties to the multiverse. They had been given new clients from beyond Londoa, new places to export crab, mushrooms, textiles, and spices.


    There were three Houses that were undecided. Deirdre, the so-called ''Whale.'' The House that had produced the Doges of Scuttleway''s past, whose monopoly on Scuttler politics had lasted for three generations. Even now, diminished, no longer able to position one of their own as Doge, they were a force to be reckoned with. And they knew this. The matriarch of Deirdre, Vataya, was a thin, witch-like creature, her skin paler than the snow outside, and twice as sickly. She was wearing an oversized band on her head, and hovering a few inches from her face, set just a bit upwards like a half-opened helmet, was a bronze mask.


    Houses Voltaise and Mescrova were the other two who had not publicly given their support to either of the two major factions. They both specialized in salt products, be it providing salt from the mines below the city or in salting meats and other items directly. Neither had been convinced yet.


    Both representatives from the Houses sat across from the other. Both of them glared. The rivalry between the two Houses was legendary.


    Busciver was smiling primly, though his eyes betrayed a fraction of his anxiety. He looked over at Sunala, who nodded to him. She was wearing a beautiful dress today, orange nasturtiums, to signify victory in battle. Patriotism. Some thought this meant to Scuttleway. Others suspected otherwise.


    Otherwise, and correctly.


    A man rose from amongst the tables, a symbolic gesture. The Executor of the Minor Tribunal came from the people, was selected by them to act as mediator. He was an ogre, a squat one at that, with a missing ear and a nasty scar on his face, a result of the Remington War between Scuttleway and Eocarcinus twenty years ago. Martin Gondoro stood tall as he shuffled a few papers in his thick, green hands, settling at a desk in front of the throne. He adjusted his monocle as he surveyed the landscape.


    ¡°Let this election for Doge begin,¡± he recited, and his deep voice, like stones at the bottom of a well, resonated through the chamber, ¡°On this blessed day three hundred and thirty in this Year 342 of Independence. Long have our Doges led Scuttleway. They are the best of us, our most shrewd, our most wise. May our next Doge guide us in peace and in war. May they put us first, and not last.¡±


    A murmuring rippled across the crowd. Becenti whispered something to Gouffant. Urya Orna flickered a couple of hand signals to Sunala below.


    Martin waited for the whispers to die down.


    ¡°My first order of business,¡± he said, ¡°Is to speak to our current Doge. Lord Busciver, of House Busciver. You have served as our steward, our ruler, our Doge, for the last five years. Do you tire of the role we, the people, have given you?¡±


    ¡°I have not,¡± Doge Busciver said, at once.


    ¡°If we, the people, have chosen another Doge, and see you are no longer fit for the role we have given you, do you swear to stand from your throne and re-join our multitudes?¡±


    There was just a split-second of silence.


    ¡°I will,¡± Busciver said.


    And a sigh of relief came from the audience. For there had been Doges in the past who had said no. Who had tried to make the Doge something more than the will of the people.


    And who would do that?


    Sunala whispered something to one of her attendants, wrote down a few notes on a piece of parchment.


    ¡°We will now begin the Vote of Confidence,¡± Martin said, ¡°Are the Great Houses of the Minor Tribunal in agreement? Do we believe that Busciver should serve our city for another five years?¡±


    There was another series of murmurings between the Houses. As they talked, a number of attendants walked across the room, handing out a series of balls, a golden and a silver for each House, along with a purple velvet bag.


    Each of the Houses made their decisions, dropping one of the balls into their bags. Gold for approval of Doge Busciver, Silver for disapproval, and a resulting election.


    The attendants put each of the purple sacks into a box, which Martin then shook, walking up to the throne. He placed the box by the throne''s base, and began pulling the bags out, taking out each ball in turn.


    ¡°Gold,¡± he said, ¡°Approval of Busciver.¡±


    He pulled out another.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    ¡°Silver,¡± he said, ¡°Disapproval of Busciver.¡±


    And he continued. It was a heavily ritualized sequence, and Martin Gondoro had done this twice before. He knew the words, the proper cadence, the heaviness of the responsibility given to him.


    When it was finished:


    Six Golden


    Five Silver.


    The crowd tensed. Martin, however, nodded.


    ¡°Doge Busciver,¡± he said, ¡°Does not possess the required eight votes necessary to be re-instituted as Doge of Scuttleway. He may, with shrewdness, obtain them. However, I declare the city now to be Auheru.


    Auheru. An Elven word, from when the city was still a colony of Tlantoia. It meant without leader. It meant that there truly would be an election, though the entire city knew it. But still, there had been some who had hoped that they wouldn''t have to do this entire show. That there was not tension between the Great Houses.


    Martin cut through the silence.


    ¡°We will now begin the Vote of the People,¡± Martin said, ¡°Those who have a sibling in our city, a friend, a comrade, rise and name them, and the Houses will see if they are fit to be Doge.¡±


    Sunala rose, at once.


    Heads turned to her. Her glare was imperious. Strong.


    ¡°I name Lord Busciver, of House Busciver, as a candidate for Dogeship.¡±


    A formality. But it was recorded.


    Lady Doria of House Eilonwy rose.


    ¡°I name Lord Bryce Rithmound, of House Rithmound, as a candidate for Dogeship.¡±


    This caused a stir. Rithmound and Eilonwy''s alliance had only been made public a few days before. The fact that it was Doria, of all people, to declare Rithmound for candidacy was unheard of.


    Just how deep did this alliance go?


    Lady Doria, for her part, sat down quickly. She avoided the hurt look Busciver threw at her.


    ¡°Are there any other declarations?¡± Martin asked.


    There was a quiet murmuring. Then, Lord Gordusus rose.


    ¡°I name Lady Vataya Deirdre, of House Deirdre, as a candidate for Dogeship.¡±


    Lord Rithmound''s head snapped to his left to look at the orc. Gordusus had sat back down again, ignoring the rumbling of the crowd. He met the hobgoblin''s gaze, but his face was like stone.


    High above, Becenti leaned into Gouffant. The great rat was chittering in thought.


    ¡°Well,¡± the metahuman murmured, ¡°Things just got interesting.¡±


    ¡°Yuh,¡± Gouffant said, ¡°Rithmound''s bound to be angry, nah?¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Becenti said.


    Across the chamber, Captain Ramsey grimaced. This was not what he had anticipated. Elections like these, with such powerful personalities, were already fraught. But this...


    This was a stark division of Rithmound''s caucus.


    Far below, Rithmound broke off his glare from Gordusus. He sat down, and his voice was sharp as he spoke.


    ¡°What the hell does he think he''s doing?¡± he snapped.


    ¡°Evidently Deirdre''s gotten bold,¡± Isaac murmured beside him, ¡°Thought the Lady Vataya wasn''t in the running.¡±


    ¡°She''s not,¡± Lord Rithmound said, ¡°She''s got absolutely no chance of winning. Deirdre''s unpopular, especially after that debacle with the eln meia. No, this is a ploy by Sunala. It''ll split us in half.¡±


    ¡°Deirdre''s not contesting,¡± Isaac said, ¡°Vataya''s accepting the candidacy.¡±


    He glanced over to his father.


    ¡°You sure this isn''t a third faction?¡±


    ¡°If it''s a true third faction, then this is going to take weeks,¡± Lord Rithmound said.


    Isaac nodded at that. He looked around the table, grimacing as he realized the only drink provided was water.


    ¡°They should bring something stronger,¡± he muttered.


    ¡°Don''t go giving up already,¡± Lord Rithmound said, ¡°Keep true. We grind out the day with arguments, then go behind the scenes.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Isaac said.


    Martin Gondoro cleared his throat. He had returned to his place at the desk before the throne.


    ¡°Anyone else?¡± he asked.


    There was silence.


    ¡°We have before us the three candidates for Dogeship of Scuttleway,¡± Martin said, ¡°We shall now begin the initial debates.¡±


    He leafed through a couple papers, turning to the throne.


    ¡°Lord Busciver,¡± he said, ¡°Let us begin with the most pertinent question of the hour. Across the sea are the eln meia, whose wars have been wreaking havoc on our weather, and there are those who worry that, now that they have unified under the Gathered Flags, that they will set their sights on the rest of the Inner World. What say you to those claims?¡±


    Busciver cleared his throat.


    ¡°Well,¡± he said, ¡°Certainly any imperialistic nation is a worry for our city. But our history is one of facing down such ambitions, and casting off the yoke they try and throw on us. The weather will subside ¨C I''ve already worked with the Weatherfolk already to mitigate the hardest effects.¡±


    ¡°And,¡± Martin said, ¡°If the eln meia invade?¡±


    The gnome grimaced for a moment.


    ¡°As always,¡± he said, ¡°We must join a coalition. One must remember that we sent our best, along with a rather substantial contract with our local guild, to face Salthirn when they began to spread out. We will gather our allies. We will do as we''ve always done.¡±


    He let the statement settle.


    Martin turned to Lord Rithmound. This was an open floor debate, and anyone could say their piece, but Rithmound was the House most associated with martial prowess and defense. The hobgoblin rose.


    ¡°You assume,¡± he said, ¡°That Salthirn is the same as the eln meia. That we will simply be able to outmaneuver them, ally ourselves with the right factions. What you fail to realize, Lord Busciver, is that such alliances take work, and we cannot simply stand by and let other cities do the work.¡±


    ¡°I am not presuming such things,¡± Busciver said, ¡°I am simply-¡±


    ¡°Which allies?¡± Rithmound asked, ¡°Ded-A-Chek and Dad-A-Chum are at war with each other, with no hope of reconciliation. One Claw is undergoing a miniature civil war of its own. Our treaty with Mantis Shrimp, our defense pact with that city, lapsed over a year ago. Under your purview, our relations with the other cities on Inner Moadma have broken down. Scuttleway exports more and more of our products to Outer Londoa. To the same Salthirn we fought only a few years before. To Tlantoia.¡±


    He leaned in.


    ¡°Will these be our allies?¡±


    ¡°Y-Yes,¡± Busciver said, ¡°Tlantoia has been a rather potent trading partner.¡±


    ¡°Indeed, we''ve certainly made money off of them,¡± Rithmound said, ¡°We''ve truly lived the Scuttle Way, hmm? But what about if they invade? Will we allow Tlantoian soldiers to aid us? Allow them into our gates?¡±


    The crowd stirred. Whispered. The thought of old enemies returning to Scuttleway in force was¡­ a dark thought.


    ¡°Now, Rithmound,¡± Busciver said, ¡°No one''s ever said anything about letting our former oppressors into our city. But Tlantoia is a powerful nation. Scuttleway has been using them as a business partner precisely because they are not in-fighting. Not like Ded-A-Chek and Dad-A-Chum. We don''t sell weapons, do we? We sell food. Textiles. Salt. All of which are easier to sell to a stable nation.¡±


    ¡°So, you state that we don''t need the other cities, our old allies, because they are weak?¡± Rithmound said.


    ¡°Nothing of the sort.¡±


    ¡°Yet you imply it.¡±


    ¡°I do not imply it!¡±


    ¡°Enough of that,¡± Martin interrupted. He turned to Deidre, ¡°Lady Vataya, if the eln meia unify, and invade, what are your proposals?¡±


    The old crone rose from her seat. She was quiet.


    ¡°...Lady Vataya?¡±


    ¡°It will be a staggering campaign,¡± she said, ¡°If the eln meia come, it will be from the north. They have an entire landmass''s worth of marching. We must delay them before they reach the city.¡±


    ¡°And the elves can do that,¡± Busciver said, ¡°It will strengthen our trade relationships with them.¡±


    ¡°It will,¡± Lord Rithmound conceded, ¡°But it will align us with their interests. What is the end result of this game, Busciver?¡±


    ¡°Lord Rithmound,¡± Busciver said, ¡°Are you accusing me of something?¡±


    The hobgoblin was silent. He was in a dangerous spot. Even if they were in a state of Auheru, accusing Busciver of Tlantoian sympathies would be tantamount to treason.


    ¡°I''m saying,¡± he said, his voice measured, ¡°Is that under your leadership, our city has fallen out of favor. You speak of sending our best and greatest to face the eln meia. But our military''s competence since the war with Salthirn has diminished. We aren''t standing tall. Not anymore.¡±


    He leaned forward.


    ¡°If,¡± he continued, ¡°A war comes with the eln meia, we should not just be relying on Tlantoia, or the other cities on Moadma. We must build our own military. Prepare for the worst. Our victories in the past have not come from us begging other nations for help, but from our own fortitude and strength.¡±


    He let that point stick. Busciver should have made a rebuttal. Needed to make a rebuttal.


    He said nothing. He glanced at Sunala. But that was that, and Martin Gondoro moved to the next topic.


    ¡°Lord Busciver,¡± the ogre said, ¡°Your economic policies have so far been rather strict as of late, and as such...¡±


    ***


    The debates continued on. Becenti began to ignore the exact minutae of the debates, the talk of treaties and trade agreements, instead concentrating on the reactions of each of the major Houses. The initial talk of the eln meia had been held purely by the three candidates. The organization of the city''s defenses, of the Scuttleway Militia, was the Doge''s responsibility. But talks of the economy brought the entire Minor Tribunal to bear. Questions were barraged at all three candidates. Gouffant, who sat beside Becenti, took to it with rapt attention, the rat absently gnawing on a cow''s femur, the remains of his breakfast earlier in the day.


    Busciver, when it came to such questions, talked easily. He was assertive. Despite his short stature, the nervous trembling of his hands, he spoke with the confidence that had won him the Dogeship five years prior. Rithmound, too, was strong. The economic reforms he was presenting turned heads, created murmurs. It was obvious he had been preparing for these debates for a long time.


    ¡°Notice Lady Vataya is hardly contributing,¡± the rat said to Becenti.


    ¡°Is she just relying on the fact that she''s Deirdre?¡± Becenti said, ¡°Letting her name carry her through these?¡±


    ¡°Naw,¡± Gouffant said, ¡°Can''t be. She''s not as prepared as Rithmound or Busciver. Must have been last minute, to have Korgan sponsor her.¡±


    ¡°And why would Korgan do that?¡±


    ¡°Can''t have been from a long-held betrayal,¡± Gouffant said, ¡°Otherwise they would have gone public with it a lot earlier, prepared Lady Vataya for these debates. Someone''s taken a bribe.¡±


    ¡°From Sunala?¡± Becenti asked.


    ¡°Or Busciver,¡± Gouffant said, ¡°That old gnome''s got more influence than her, at least in the other Houses. He''s just relying on Sunala for the funds.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Becenti said.


    He grimaced as Rithmound slammed a hand on the table. He was shouting now, pointing an accusing finger at Busciver over the lapsed deal with Kelphaven.


    ¡°They''re a day away from us!¡± he roared, ¡°They''ve been traditional trading partners with us since our liberation! You cannot just simply let these deals slide off the table! Kelphaven will be able to ask for twice as much as they did before!¡±


    ¡°It lapsed for a reason!¡± Busciver said, ¡°We need to redraw the lines in the sand, start from scratch with those treaties that favored them more than us! You wouldn''t understand, what with your warmongering and-¡±


    ¡°Fuck you!¡± the voice came from up in the gallery. One of the minor Houses started throwing leftover food, mushrooms and crab shells, down to the Tribunal below. The entire chamber erupted into roars.


    ¡°Enough!¡± Martin roared, ¡°Enough!¡±


    He lifted up a gavel, and slammed it down. Three times, and the chamber began to quiet, the harsh yells turning into venomous whispers.


    ¡°Lord Busciver,¡± Martin said, ¡°Please, finish your statement.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Gondoro,¡± Busciver said, ¡°As I was saying. Our alliance with Kelphaven is a sacred and treasured part of our history. I am not erasing that, but rather recreating it. Our treaty with Kelphaven must be made anew, in a new deal that will benefit Scuttleway. Remember, Rithmound, that the original deal with Kelphaven arrived by swordpoint.¡±


    Rithmound''s jaw was jutting as he glared at the gnome.


    ¡°I think,¡± Martin said, with the sun beginning to set, ¡°That our time here is finished.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Rithmound said, ¡°I call for a Vote of Dogeship.¡±


    The crowd began to mutter again. Martin looked over at him.


    ¡°Are you... quite sure?¡± he said, ¡°Lord Rithmound, this debate is over if any one of the three candidates gets the vote of eight Houses.¡±


    ¡°I am,¡± Rithmound said, his voice steel.


    ¡°Very well,¡± Martin said, ¡°Is the Minor Tribunal in agreement?¡±


    There was a murmur of assent.


    ¡°Very well,¡± Martin said, ¡°The servants will present the representative of each House a trio of balls: golden for Busciver, silver for Rithmound, bronze for Deirdre.¡±


    The vote began. As before, the members of the Minor Tribunal made their votes, placing one of the balls into the velvet bag, before placing them in a chest in front of Martin.


    Who shook the bag.


    And began to pull them out:


    BUSCIVER: 4


    RITHMOUND: 4


    DEIRDRE: 3


    Three for Deirdre. Four for Busciver. One of the Houses sworn to the gnome had turned. Rithmound nodded at that. Vataya had not just split Rithmound''s faction, but also Busciver''s. Which House? Voltaise? Callistopa?


    Whatever the case, Busciver was reacting poorly to the vote. He looked aghast to see that both he and Rithmound were tied. Sunala, too, was scribbling ferociously on her parchment, shooting dark looks over to the Houses that had sworn themselves to her faction.


    Lady Deirdre, for her part, remained in her seat. The old crone seemed unperturbed that she had gotten the least number of votes. Perhaps her game was only starting. Or, perhaps, she was just working on being an obstacle.


    ¡°Without the required eight Houses,¡± Martin said, ¡°Then the Vote for Dogeship fails. As Executor of the Minor Tribunal, I declare adjournment.¡±


    He leaned in.


    ¡°It''s getting late, folks, and my wife''s sick with the flu. That means I''m cooking dinner. We will meet again in two days'' time. You''re all dismissed.¡±


    With that, he rose. And the chamber rose with him. The din rose, though it wasn''t as aggressive as before. More conversational. The crowd began to stream out of the chamber.


    Lord Rithmound pushed his way through, and an orange hand reached out to snag hold of Lord Korgan''s arm.


    ¡°What''s your game, Gordusus?¡± Rithmound said, ¡°Knifing me in the back so soon?¡±


    ¡°My plans are my own,¡± Gordusus rumbled, ¡°Let go of me, Bryce.¡±


    ¡°I thought we had a pact,¡± Lord Rithmound spat, ¡°Is Orcish honor so tarnished...?¡±


    ¡°Let. Go. Of. Me.¡±


    Lord Rithmound realized he had gone a hair too far. He pulled back, adjusted his suit.


    ¡°I thought, out of everyone, that you would support me, Gordusus,¡± the hobgoblin said, ¡°Must you abandon me, too?¡±


    Gordusus looked stricken. He gave a curt nod.


    ¡°Time is your ally, old friend,¡± he said, ¡°Remember our time in Otria''s Wood.¡±


    Rithmound furrowed his brow. Gordudus gave a final nod, before walking out with the crowd. He stood tall over the heads of everyone else as he went, a mottled green bobber over a sea of nobility.


    ***


    Busciver''s hands shook as he and Sunala loaded up in a carriage, set for Moonstone on the Len. The two of them were alone, with Lady Busciver taking a separate ride back so the two of them could talk in secret.


    ¡°That was...¡± the gnome said, ¡°That was more intense than I anticipated.¡±


    ¡°Rithmound''s coming out swinging,¡± Sunala said, ¡°And, like we thought, he''s going for the major weaknesses in your administration.¡±


    ¡°I didn''t anticipate him bringing up Kelphaven,¡± Busciver said, ¡°I was bullshitting on that.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Sunala said, ¡°But you sounded strong, at the very least.¡±


    ¡°I doubt it,¡± Busciver said, ¡°He made some good points.¡±


    He began to hum to himself as he looked out the carriage''s window. Scuttleway to his left and right. His city. He could not help but smile as he saw the throngs of people who had been outside the palace to watch the Minor Tribunal leave.


    Sunala''s eyes narrowed.


    ¡°''Good points?''¡± she asked.


    ¡°He is right,¡± Busciver said, ¡°Scuttleway''s personal security is currently tied up in the Militia, and little else. The other Houses have their private guards, of course, but-¡±


    ¡°Never mind about that,¡± Sunala said, ¡°The alliances we can forge will be more than sufficient. Rithmound''s conflating a gaggle of blue-skinned savages for an actual, well-trained army. We will be fine.¡±


    Busciver wilted.


    ¡°...Do you think Tlantoia would defend us?¡± he whispered, ¡°Truly?¡±


    ¡°I have friends there, Busciver,¡± Sunala said, ¡°I need merely call in a few favors, and you will have your army.¡±


    ¡°But Lily-Ann,¡± Busciver said, ¡°What if Rithmound''s right? We''re tying a lot into relying on Tlantoia.¡±


    ¡°You''re not relying on them,¡± Sunala said, ¡°You''re relying on the Verdant Reclamation.¡±


    ¡°Then why don''t I just say that?¡± Busciver said.


    ¡°Because they won''t like it,¡± Sunala said, ¡°You know that.¡±


    ¡°I hardly think they like that I brought up Tlantoia so much,¡± Busciver said.


    ¡°They just don''t know,¡± Sunala cooed, ¡°Don''t worry, Busciver. We just have this election. Stick to your debates. We''ll find what makes Deirdre tick. I''ll talk to Vataya myself, if it comes to that. Once it''s over, the naysayers will see. You''re leading Scuttleway to glory.¡±


    ¡°To glory,¡± Busciver repeated, and his eyes shone like two suns, ¡°I''d go down in history, wouldn''t I?¡±


    ¡°You would,¡± Sunala said, smiling, ¡°And you will.¡±

 104. A Pair of Shadows

    The snow tonight was a light, powdery sort, quiet and unassuming, not like the gale force winds of the past few weeks. The mountains of white from earlier in the day had been cleared around the park, leaving only a small dusting, like the sugar atop a cake. Lamps blazed cheerily through the dark, unbeholden to the weather. Despite the fact that it was the middle of the night, they made the park feel like dusk.


    She was waiting at the fountain, wrapped up in the ermine coat that Isaac had given her the year before, secretly, on her birthday. Lady Busciver''s nose was red in the lamplight, and she was sniffling. She never was one for the colder season, and this intense winter, one for the history books, had made her miserable.


    Isaac approached her slowly, looking around to make sure he hadn''t been followed. But no ¨C the city was asleep tonight, still exhausted from the debate the day before. They were alone.


    He produced a thermos as he sidled up beside her, presenting it.


    ¡°Hot chocolate?¡± he asked.


    And she looked up at him, her shivering face breaking out into a wide grin. By the gods, the way she looked at him, the way her eyes sparkled, the way the grin became even wider, a bit watery, the way she immediately pulled him down to plant a kiss on his cheek.


    Winter had been cold. But Isaac found warmth here. Warmth he had never known before.


    He handed her the thermos. She opened it up, sniffing it, before she took a tentative sip.


    ¡°Good,¡± she murmured, ¡°You''re a master at making these, Isaac.¡±


    ¡°Well, you wanted hot chocolate,¡± Isaac said, ¡°I had to learn for my special girl.¡±


    She giggled at that. Pressed herself against him. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder, glancing around.


    ¡°You weren''t followed?¡± he asked.


    ¡°No, Driona made sure of that,¡± Busciver said. She nodded towards the end of the park. Half-hidden in shadow was Busciver''s Master of Arms. Isaac suppressed a shudder.


    ¡°She accompanied you?¡± he asked, nervous.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Busciver said, ¡°But it''s alright, Isaac. She won''t say anything.¡±


    ¡°Does she even know?¡± Isaac asked, ¡°I highly doubt she approves of our...¡±


    He trailed off.


    ¡°Relationship?¡± Busciver finished.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Isaac said, ¡°I suppose.¡±


    ¡°You suppose.¡±


    The hobgoblin reddened. He glanced down at the gnome, but Buscie wasn''t angry. She was giving him a mischievous grin. Isaac returned it.


    ¡°Why, yes, Lady Busciver,¡± Isaac said, ¡°I suppose that we''re in a relationship, considering that I''ve met you, in the middle of the night, during an election, with the only company being someone who could turn me inside out, and her Master of Arms.¡±


    Busciver started laughing again, peals of laughter ringing out of the park. Isaac joined her, chuckling softly to himself.


    A dog started barking in the distance, and the laughter died away. Both of them listened to it, listened for any movement.


    But no. Nothing. Isaac glared at the shadows.


    ¡°I wish we didn''t have to meet like this,¡± he said, ¡°I wish that I had gone to Cherenfru''s with you, and not Lady Suella.¡±


    ¡°I heard about that,¡± Buscie said, and the tremble in her voice betrayed her anxiety, ¡°I thought... I thought...¡±


    ¡°You thought what?¡± Isaac asked, ¡°That I''d fall in love with her, and not you?¡±


    She nodded. Quickly.


    ¡°Don''t worry about her,¡± Isaac said, ¡°Lady Suella isn''t you. She could never be you. You are like the sun, and she a sunflower, mimicking your beauty.¡±


    ¡°Very poetic,¡± Buscie snarked.


    ¡°It''s an election,¡± Isaac said, ¡°Father''s running me like a warkrem. I haven''t had time to do my usual poetry.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Buscie said, ¡°But I meant what I said. Whenever you speak like that, I know it comes from your heart.¡±


    She placed a hand on his chest. He let her, feeling her thin fingers press against his coat. He wished it were against his bare skin, like when they shared the night in bed, and not out in the cold. His heart beat quick and warm beneath her palm.


    ¡°Soon,¡± Isaac said, ¡°The election will be over. The rivalries will cool. You and I will be able to go out again. In public, not like this, like a pair of shadows.¡±


    ¡°Maybe I like this,¡± Busciver said, ¡°Maybe I like being a pair of shadows.¡±


    But Isaac shook his head.


    ¡°No,¡± he said, ¡°I don''t want to hide what we have from the world.¡±


    ¡°Do you think...¡± Busciver''s voice was quiet, ¡°Do you think they''ll let us wed?¡±


    Isaac''s heart skipped. He was quiet for a long time, and the gnome gave a small smile as she saw him think. There was a way that the hobgoblin''s face went slack, his eyes darting to and fro, as he thought.


    ¡°If we win the election, perhaps,¡± Isaac said, ¡°If I can convince my father that an alliance with Busciver would be more beneficial than with Suella.¡±


    ¡°Uncle would never approve,¡± Buscie said, ¡°You should hear how he talks about your father. He and the Lady Sunala.¡±


    ¡°I don''t doubt it,¡± Isaac said, ¡°Yesterday was rough.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Buscie said. She removed her hand, balling it into a fist and digging it into her coat pocket, ¡°Do you think... Even if you win, we don''t have to get married here.¡±


    Isaac looked down at her.


    ¡°We could...¡± Busciver took a shaky breath, ¡°We could elope.¡±


    Elope. The word sent ice through Isaac''s body.


    ¡°I''ve got a few contacts, out at Ded-A-Chek,¡± Busciver continued, ¡°We could go there, sail away from Moadma completely. The wind at our backs. Wouldn''t that... wouldn''t that be nice?¡±


    ¡°I... I suppose,¡± Isaac whispered.


    ¡°You suppose,¡± Busciver said, though this time her voice was sad. Resigned. For she knew that Isaac didn''t like her proposal.


    ¡°There''s so much to do,¡± Isaac said, ¡°My father, he''s relying on me.¡±


    ¡°He wouldn''t approve,¡± Busciver said, ¡°But... but maybe, maybe he would. In time. Once he sees how happy you are. How happy we are, how-¡±


    ¡°My father doesn''t care for happiness,¡± Isaac murmured.


    ¡°But...¡±


    ¡°He would hunt us,¡± Isaac said, ¡°And so would your uncle, if he won the election.¡±


    ¡°They wouldn''t be able to find us,¡± Busciver said.


    ¡°Wouldn''t they?¡± Isaac said, and his smile was false as he looked at her again, ¡°You don''t know my father. You don''t know what he''s capable of, when he puts his mind to it. Old man''s like a wolf.¡±


    Buscie deflated. She sighed, resting a cheek against his arm. He held out a hand, and she took it. Their fingers steepled together, orange and white, warm and cold.


    ¡°I''ll figure something out, Busciver,¡± Isaac said, ¡°Once this election is over. We will have our day.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Busciver said, and her voice was small.


    ***


    They enjoyed each other''s company into the small hours of the morning. Then, Busciver whispered into his ear that she had to leave. He watched her go, the ghost of her hand upon his cheek, the memory of her lips against his, still playing in his head as she walked out of the park, where the Master of Arms was waiting to escort her to Moonstone on the Len. After a moment, Isaac collected himself, forcing himself to his feet. The entire world was cold and bitter as he began to walk back home.


    He passed through Scuttleway quietly.


    And realized, as he turned through an alley, that he was being followed. He unhooked the knife hidden in his sleeve, letting it slip into his hand as he turned, his brow furrowed.


    ¡°...Raulito.¡±


    He relaxed, just a bit, as Alonso Moriguchi stepped out of the alley behind him. The roshador was wearing a heavy, wool-lined coat, his hands in his pockets, though he still wore the same blue, red, and green wrestling mask. Isaac had never seen him without it.


    He doubted that anyone had seen Moriguchi without it for a very long time.


    ¡°Glad it was you,¡± Isaac said, ¡°You follow me?¡±


    ¡°Of course, Raulito,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°You must think that you are sneaky, no? That you are like a shadow.¡±


    Isaac rolled his eyes.


    ¡°Ket saw me,¡± he said.


    ¡°Indeed, my friend,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°But Ket, he doesn''t like the cold. So he sent me out instead. Look at what you''ve made me do, Raulito. I had to get dressed and everything.¡±


    ¡°Sorry to make you come all the way out here,¡± Isaac said, ¡°What did you see?¡±


    ¡°I saw your little tryst,¡± Moriguchi said, and when Isaac opened his mouth to protest, the roshador put up a hand, ¡°Relax, my lord, your secret is safe with me.¡±


    ¡°Is it?¡± Isaac said, ¡°You''re under my father''s employ.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I am,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°But that does not mean I am his servant. Ours is a mutually beneficial relationship: he pays me, and I make sure his idiot son doesn''t get himself killed.¡±


    Isaac glared.


    ¡°I am not here to admonish you, nor tell you where your heart should wander,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°Trust me, Raulito. I know all too well that love cannot be denied.¡±


    And he stepped forward.


    ¡°What I am here for is to make sure that your heart does not overrun your mind, as it did tonight,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°Assassins stalk the streets, my lord. Things are getting tense in the election. And Sunala has eyes and ears everywhere. Listen to the wind, and it sings her song.¡±


    ¡°Sunala...?¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°Khosrau''s already picked off a few of her more obvious elementals. She''s been using them more, probably on loan from those White Feathers.¡±


    ¡°I thought my father told you to keep an eye on them,¡± Isaac said.


    ¡°Ah, but we are, Raulito,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°Why do you think we brought Khosrau in? Regardless, you are in no position to admonish me. You were fraternizing with the enemy, no?¡±


    The young Rithmound reddened at that. But Moriguchi was right. He took the jab.


    ¡°A fair point,¡± Isaac said, ¡°I presume you''re here to get me home?¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°Your father will be up in a few hours, so you''ll need to look like you''re presentable, at least. He doesn''t need to know that you were out.¡±


    Issac smiled at that.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± he said.


    ¡°Of course, Raulito,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°Now, let us head home.¡±


    ***


    Rosemary woke up in the morning with Wakeling''s calm voice beckoning her downstairs. She got up, pulling on a spare change of clothes and donning her cloak. It was cold out, so she put on a pair of mitts and a hat into her bag, just in case she had to go outside today. She picked up her sceptre, staring down at it for a moment. The crack that it had sustained on Chliofrond had not grown. Good. But she could not still her worry that it was only a matter of time before the crack widened, and the entire thing shattered.


    She pushed those thoughts to the back of her mind as she stole away down the stairs. She had gotten up late ¨C already much of the guild was awake and going about their daily lives. Gouffant and Orion were taking up the hall, talking to each other about the election, and Rosemary had to squeeze past them. Joseph was dozing in a corner, Lazuli drawing obscene symbols on his face. Chadwick stared at Rosemary as she headed down into the Great Hall.


    Wakeling was down by the Glass Slipper, the massive sword that was embedded in the Great Hall''s center. She was being held by Whiskey, the marionette swaying as though a calm wind were blowing through the guildhall.


    Beside them was someone Rosemary had never seen before, but with all the trappings of a High Federation bureaucrat. He resembled a humanoid fennec fox, though his fur was a deep purple and his ears were forked at the top. They flickered every so often, and despite the fact that he was trying his damned hardest to look official and orderly, Rosemary could tell that the sounds of the guild were disturbing to him. He was wearing a white robes, sullied a bit by his journey. The four interlocking hands of the High Federation was emblazoned on his breast, and a helmet was slung underneath one arm.


    Rosemary had to stifle a snort at the sight of him. He looked far too uncomfortable to be here. He practically jumped at the sight of her, his eyes widening, his muzzle scrunching.


    ¡°Rosemary,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°This is Mr. Ora Sota. He''s an official from the High Federation, here to discuss a few things with us on a job that we went on a few months before. Do you remember it?¡±


    There was a glimmer in the guildmaster''s eye. Rosemary picked up what she was putting down.


    ¡°I dunno,¡± she said, ¡°I go on a lot of jobs. You''ll need to be more specific.¡±


    ¡°I-I can be more specific,¡± Ora Sota said. He held out a tablet to her, ¡°This one. Right here. This job. Please, can you enlighten me on the details?¡±


    Rosemary took the pad, giving it a readover.


    It was the Chliofrond job. Her heart sank, but she wasn''t surprised. Wakeling had warned her about this, hadn''t she?


    ¡°Do you recognize the details?¡± Ora Sota asked.


    ¡°I do,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Kind of a wild one.¡±


    ¡°Can you... enlighten me, please?¡± Ora Sota repeated.


    ¡°Maybe it''s a good idea if we went into my office,¡± Wakeling said.


    ¡°A-Are you sure?¡± Ora Sota asked.


    Three heads turned to look at him. The purple alien''s ear flickered.


    ¡°I assure you, Mr. Sota,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°I won''t hurt you, or anything like that. I had assumed you would want somewhere more... private? For your interrogation.¡±


    ¡°Interrogation,¡± Ora Sota repeated, and there was a hint of apprehension in his voice.


    Oh, ye god, Rosemary realized.


    He was new to all of this.


    ¡°First time traveling?¡± Rosemary asked.


    After a moment, Ora Sota nodded.


    ¡°We don''t bite,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Well, some of us do. But I don''t.¡±


    ¡°Does the... puppet?¡± Ora Sota squeaked.


    ¡°Marionette,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°And no, Whiskey does not. Now, shall we head to my office?¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Ora Sota said, ¡°Lead on, then.¡±


    They went up the stairs. The fennec was out of breath on the third flight.


    ¡°Rosemary,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Be a dear, and make sure our friend the investigator gets up here safely.¡±


    And with that, she and Whiskey continued walking. Rosemary glanced back at Ora, who was leaning against the wall, panting heavily. She waited for him to catch his breath.


    ¡°How much more?¡± he asked.


    ¡°A bit,¡± Rosemary said.


    Ora Sota snorted.


    ¡°Of course,¡± he said, ¡°And ''a bit'' means several more stories, yes?¡±


    ¡°...Yeah,¡± Rosemary admitted, ¡°Sorry.¡±


    The alien just gave a gasp in response. He snailed up the stairs behind Rosemary, who waited for him as though he were an old man, all the way up to the top of Wakeling''s tower. The guildmaster was waiting for them on her desk, Whiskey standing at attention by one of the shelves.


    ¡°Ah, Mr. Sota,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°How good to see you again. Tea? Wine?¡±


    ¡°Water,¡± Ora Sota said.


    The guildmaster blinked.


    ¡°Well, haven''t had that in a long time,¡± she said. Her eyes glowed, and a bottle of water materialized out of thin air. He stared at it, incredulous.


    ¡°No teleporters?¡± he asked, ¡°No replicators?¡±


    ¡°Just magic, dear,¡± Wakeling said.


    ¡°How... quaint.¡±


    Wakeling didn''t respond to that, though Rosemary saw a peevish look flicker on her face for the briefest of seconds. She waited for Ora to open the bottle, drain it, and put it on the table. It disappeared in another flash of light.


    Rosemary sat down across from him, Wakeling between them. The guildmaster moved over to the side of the desk, turning so she faced both of them. The alien cleared his throat, scrolling through his tablet for a few moments.


    ¡°R-Right,¡± he said, ¡°As I was stating, it has come to the High Federation''s attention that a potential cross-tampering between two pre-Warp planes may have occurred. The Amber Foundation is involved.¡±


    Wakeling quirked an eyebrow.


    ¡°Cross-tampering?¡± she asked, ¡°Of what nature?¡±


    ¡°We received a message from an anonymous source here on this plane,¡± Ora said, ¡°That one of the factions here has recently acquired a Shard of Imagination.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Wakeling feigned, ¡°And, who is this source?¡±


    ¡°Anonymous, as I said,¡± Ora said.


    ¡°And who holds the Shard?¡± Wakeling asked.


    Ora was quiet for a moment.


    ¡°I''m just here to ask questions in relation to the job you went on, to this apparent... ''dead plane,''¡± he said, ¡°What is the nature of a dead plane? What attributes were there? Your report goes into detail that it was covered in greenery and had clean water. But it fails to mention anything about a Shard.¡±


    ¡°And yet, you got an anonymous tip,¡± Wakeling said.


    ¡°Indeed.¡±


    ¡°And you wanted to speak to someone who worked directly with the client,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Why not me?¡±


    ¡°To be blunt, Ms. Wakeling,¡± Ora said, ¡°You are not an elf.¡±


    Ah.


    ¡°So,¡± he said, turning to Rosemary, ¡°Ms. Rosemary, yes? Any last name? Workman''s title?¡±


    ¡°Just Rosemary.¡±


    Ora nodded.


    ¡°I see,¡± he said, ¡°Now, was there a Shard of Imagination there, or not?¡±


    Rosemary glanced to Wakeling. Who nodded. She took a deep breath.


    ¡°Yes,¡± he said.


    Ora Sota nodded, writing that down.


    Then he froze. His eyes went wide.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ¡°B-By the First,¡± he said, ¡°Truly?¡±


    Rosemary grimaced.


    ¡°No!¡± he said, ¡°No! A Shard? I didn''t expect- I wanted-¡±


    He took a moment to compose himself, breathing in, then out, his eyes shut tight. When they opened again, they were hard, a bit of that Federation indignation in his voice.


    ¡°Why,¡± he said, ¡°Pray tell, was this not reported?¡±


    ¡°It wasn''t reported,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°On request of our client.¡±


    ¡°Your client,¡± Ora said.


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Wakeling said.


    ¡°And what sort of client is this?¡± Ora Sota asked, ¡°What damned client thinks they''re stupid enough to think they can pull a fast one on us, hm?¡±


    He leaned in.


    ¡°I see that she is Lady Lily-Ann Sunala, yes? That is her name? What is she like? Where is she now?¡±


    ¡°She''s in the city,¡± Wakeling said.


    ¡°Then I will, at once, visit her,¡± Ora said. He rose.


    That got Rosemary on her feet.


    ¡°Don''t,¡± she said.


    ¡°I beg your pardon?¡± Ora said, ¡°Did you just-¡±


    ¡°Listen to her, Mr. Sota,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Please.¡±


    ¡°She''s beholden to the law of the High Federation, is she not?¡± Ora said, ¡°This is a case of cross-contamination. I''m sure she''ll be made to see reason, won''t she?¡±


    ¡°That is dangerously naive of you to think,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Do you honestly believe she''ll tell you the truth?¡±


    ¡°Of course she will,¡± Ora said, ¡°I represent the High Federation, I...¡±


    But he slowed down. Gripped the back of the chair, thinking, his brow furrowing, his snout curling.


    ¡°That''s right, Mr. Sota,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Think. You''re an investigator, are you not?¡±


    ¡°She''s already told you to keep it off the official report,¡± he said, and he looked up at Wakeling, ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Because it''s a Shard of Imagination,¡± Rosemary said, then added, with a touch of sadness, ¡°Because it''s Sunala.¡±


    ¡°What is she, to you?¡± Ora Sota asked, ¡°Why are you just telling us now, when they''ve sent me out here? Why didn''t you tip us off before?¡±


    ¡°Because we only realized the extent of her goals a few weeks ago,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°She''s been working with a group known as the Verdant Reclamation in order to secure funding for her various enterprises.¡±


    Ora Sota nodded. He sat back down.


    ¡°I might have heard of them,¡± he said, ¡°From a colleague. References to them. They''re a charity organization, aren''t they?¡±


    ¡°They''re a supremacist group,¡± Rosemary said, nearly spat, ¡°They have an elves-first policy, and are gearing up to retake old lands.¡±


    ¡°I fail how that has to do with why you didn''t report the Shard,¡± Ora said, ¡°It could be your heads for this.¡±


    ¡°Which is precisely why we didn''t mention it,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Mr. Sota, your Federation''s policy of punishment means that, were we to report it, all of Londoa would be liable for the repercussions. Note that we''re on Londoa, yes?¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Ora said, ¡°So you were, what, going to hide it?¡±


    Wakeling was quiet at that. She was unwilling to voice her answer. Ora¡¯s eyes narrowed at her, as he caught her meaning.


    ¡°What''s stopping me from just waltzing up to wherever this... Sunala, is,¡± Ora said, ¡°And interviewing her?¡±


    They were silent. Wakeling looked away.


    ¡°...Well?¡±


    ¡°You wouldn''t leave Londoa,¡± Rosemary said.


    Ora blinked. Then, as the full weight of Rosemary¡¯s words hit him, he let out a gasp, doubled over as though sucker-punched. Wakeling sighed.


    ¡°You think that Sunala would do that?¡± she asked.


    ¡°That damn Shard, that damn plane, it''s what''s holding Busciver''s election together,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Go to the debate today. They''re going to bring it up.¡±


    ¡°Is it truly worth killing for?¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Worth silencing a Federation official?¡±


    ¡°S-Silencing?¡± Ora said.


    ¡°You didn''t hear Adonal Adaya, Wakeling,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°He means to make good on his promises. And Sunala''s... Sunala''s with him, all the way.¡±


    ¡°I don''t believe it,¡± Ora said, ¡°I don''t...¡±


    He was spiraling. They both watched, in real time, as Ora''s mind raced. He made up his mind as he glared up at them.


    ¡°I don''t believe you,¡± he said, ¡°I refuse to believe you. Both of you.¡±


    He took a shaky breath.


    ¡°Here''s what''s going to happen,¡± he said, ¡°I''m going to head over to wherever Sunala is, and take her aside. Do you understand?¡±


    Rosemary glanced to Wakeling for an answer. But the guildmaster merely nodded.


    ¡°Very well,¡± she said.


    ¡°Do you... Do you know where I might find her?¡±


    ¡°She''ll be at the royal palace,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Preparing for the debate.¡±


    ¡°I''m sure she''ll have time,¡± Ora said, ¡°Good day, ma''ams.¡±


    And he stood up again, and walked out of the room. He slammed the door behind him in a huff. Rosemary looked at Wakeling.


    ¡°I know,¡± she said, ¡°Becenti and Gouffant are already there. I''ll message them to keep an eye out.¡±


    ¡°I''ll go, too,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°If that''s okay.¡±


    ¡°It is,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Take Meleko with you. Maybe someone from the Silver Eye will be able to set Mr. Sota straight.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°I''ll tell him to bring his big guns.¡±


    ***


    The Minor Tribunal met just after breakfast. They were arrayed out at their tables again, Busciver on his throne. His niece, Lady Busciver, stood at the table beside Lady Sunala. She did not meet Isaac Rithmound''s eyes as he and his contingent took their places. Lord Rithmound gave a dark look over at Gordusus, but the head of House Korgan was being mum, whispering a few words, once more, to his daughter.


    Martin Gondoro was already sitting at his desk before the throne, adjusting a monocle. He looked weary, having spent the last couple days taking questions and letters from citizens throughout the city. At one point the night before, a group of ''concerned'' individuals representing Busciver''s cabinet had shown up at his door.


    Which was why Orion now stood beside Martin now. The city had quickly contracted out the Amber Foundation for Martin''s security. The dark-skinned man stood tall, blade hanging casually at his side, his dreadlocks tied back into a ponytail.


    The fact that he was there at all, that it had gotten to that point, caused whispers to echo throughout the chamber. But Martin ignored them, ignored the rumors that would surely come. He cleared his throat.


    ¡°Let this second session of the Minor Tribunal begin,¡± he recited, ¡°On this blessed day three hundred and thirty-two in this Year 342 of Independence.¡±


    He sorted through a few papers.


    High above, on the third floor, Rosemary brought Ora Sota to the edge of the balcony. Unable to catch Sunala before the debates, he had been picked up by Rosemary and brought to the Grand Commons. She gestured downward, and the alien''s eyes squinted. He made out the Lady Sunala, today wearing a violet dress, a gladiolus lapelled on her shoulder.


    ¡°How long will this take?¡± he muttered to Rosemary.


    ¡°Most of the day,¡± Rosemary whispered back, ¡°Be patient, you''ll be able to talk to her soon.¡±


    Below, Martin started up.


    ¡°We last discussed our foreign policies here on Londoa proper,¡± the ogre said, ¡°But now, our next question goes to, perhaps, the most pressing matter in Scuttleway: our relation to the multiverse.¡±


    He turned first to Busciver.


    ¡°Lord Busciver,¡± he said, ¡°As the leading Doge, you have overseen the export of the goods we create here to fifteen different nations foreign to Londoa, as well as organized the expedition into at least one undiscovered plane. While the former is lauded by the majority of us in this room, the latter is questioned. I ask you, what is the economic value of such an expedition?¡±


    ¡°You''re already starting to see it,¡± Busciver replied, ¡°For one, it''s a large source of freshwater. Imagine an ocean-sized lake, my friends. All of it freshwater. Pristine. Drinkable.¡±


    He gestured, and one of his aides walked over with a bottle.


    ¡°In here,¡± he said, ¡°Is a bottle of water taken directly from that dead plane. Would anyone like to drink?¡±


    ¡°This is a debate, Busciver,¡± Lady Doria said, ¡°Not a sales pitch.¡±


    A few chuckles. Busciver deflated a bit. The Lady Sunala rose from her seat.


    ¡°What matters is the economic value that we have here,¡± she said, ¡°Once we are able to mass transport this product, we''ll be able to secure ourselves a monopoly. I know for a fact that Beritale Landmass''s drought is intensifying.¡±


    ¡°That''s assuming that you can get an enterprise up and running,¡± Rithmound said, ¡°What is the location of this dead plane? How often is it in reasonable forecast?¡±


    ¡°The plane''s location is classified,¡± Sunala said.


    ¡°By who?¡±


    ¡°By the current administration,¡± Busciver interrupted.


    ¡°So you admit, this is a nationalized effort,¡± Rithmound said.


    ¡°I do,¡± Busciver said.


    ¡°Despite the fact that, as of now,¡± Rithmound began sorting through his own notes. Isaac found what he was looking for first, handing the memo to his father, ¡°As of now, the plane is being tended to by a combination of agents from the Verdant Reclamation and the White Feathers.¡±


    There was a series of whispers.


    ¡°The White Feathers,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Have a contract.¡±


    ¡°With who?¡±


    ¡°Lord Busciver,¡± Sunala said, ¡°And the Verdant Reclamation is there on my behalf.¡±


    ¡°Then this is more of an Elven enterprise, then,¡± Rithmound said.


    ¡°Nothing of the sort,¡± Busciver said, ¡°What we do there is for all of Scuttleway.¡±


    ¡°Lord Busciver,¡± Lady Deirdre spoke, ¡°If you lose the Dogeship to another member of the Minor Tribunal, this enterprise you are on, this dead plane, will you hand its suzerainty over to the city?¡±


    ¡°Y-Yes,¡± Busciver said, ¡°It''s the city''s plane. It is a shining example of what we can do, when we put our minds to it. Scuttleway is entering the multiverse with a bang, everyone.¡±


    The crowd started talking to one another. They were looking at Busciver with a new look. The gnome was practically swelling as he smiled at them.


    Rosemary heard movement behind her, footsteps. She turned to see Meleko pushing through.


    ¡°Sorry I''m late,¡± he said, ¡°What''d I miss?¡±


    ¡°Busciver just announced his bombshell,¡± Rosemary whispered, ¡°He revealed the extent of Chliofrond.¡±


    ¡°Oh, shit,¡± Meleko said, ¡°Well, damn.¡±


    He glanced over.


    ¡°Oh, hey,¡± he said, ¡°You''re the Federation advisor, right?¡±


    ¡°I am,¡± Ora said, looking the Jugdran up and down, ¡°And you are...?¡±


    ¡°Meleko, Amber Foundation.¡±


    ¡°I am Ora Sota.¡±


    Rosemary turned to look at her guildmate. Meleko hadn''t brought his big guns, though perhaps that was too obvious. But she could tell he had still managed to smuggle in a pistol, a couple of grenades. Part of the advantage of being on Londoa, a place ''in the boonies,'' as one might call it, was that the guards weren''t trained to recognize certain items and how they were hidden. Meleko was ready in case anyone tried anything.


    And, she noted, he was already being protective of Ora Sota, crossing over so that he could cover the alien, if need be.


    The debate continued throughout the day.


    At the end, another vote was called:


    BUSCIVER: 5


    RITHMOUND: 4


    DEIRDRE: 2


    ¡°Already,¡± Rithmound muttered, ¡°They''ve got us locked down good, there.¡±


    ¡°The multiverse is theirs, father,¡± Isaac said, ¡°So long as they have the dead plane. It''s only a matter of time.¡±


    ¡°We knew today was going to be rough,¡± Rithmound said, ¡°But they''ve already pulled another to their side. We need to meet Deirdre as soon as we can. Present an alliance.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Isaac said.


    Martin called for another adjournment. Once more, people began to file out.


    Rithmound glanced over to Korgan. The orc gave a curt nod, but said nothing.


    ¡°You think he voted for Busciver?¡± Isaac asked.


    ¡°No,¡± Rithmound said, ¡°He''s the one who backed Deirdre. The two votes have got to be them.¡±


    ¡°Two for us, if we can bag them,¡± Isaac said, ¡°Then we just need to peel one off of Busciver, and we''re set.¡±


    His father nodded. They rose.


    ***


    ¡°Lady Sunala.¡±


    The noblewoman turned around to see an alien standing before her. He was wearing the livery of a High Federation official, and his eyes betrayed a nervous edge as he held a tablet in hand.


    The investigator.


    He was here.


    How had no one told her? How had the elementals set up in the city not tipped her off?


    She smiled at him, hiding her sudden panic.


    ¡°Good day, sir,¡± she said, ¡°Can I help you?¡±


    ¡°I was wondering if you could answer a few questions for me,¡± the investigator said, ¡°My name is Ora Sota, from-¡±


    ¡°The High Federation, yes?¡± Sunala said.


    Fortunately, he was inexperienced. Sunala nodded to one of her attendants, who glanced up to the top of the gallery. Urya had clocked him. She was already moving out, no doubt to mobilize a few of her guildmates.


    ¡°I was wondering if you could speak to me of a job you went on a few months ago,¡± the Federation official said, ¡°To this apparent dead plane that we''ve been hearing so much about.¡±


    Oh, indeed, he was scared. He was using ''we.'' Federation officials always used ''we.'' As though the full might of the Silver Eye was behind him. But this poor alien didn''t realize just how alone, how isolated he was.


    She relaxed. There was nothing to fear.


    ¡°Of course,¡± she said, ¡°We went to the dead plane, and you see its product before you.¡±


    She crossed over to Busciver, who was still sitting on his throne, talking to his niece. She plucked the water bottle from his hand, and handed it to Ora Sota.


    ¡°There you have it,¡± she said, ¡°The result of our expedition.¡±


    ¡°...Water,¡± the Federation official said.


    ¡°Not all of us have access to a thousand marine worlds, sir,¡± Sunala said, ¡°We make do, and make our breakthroughs.¡±


    ¡°And that''s it?¡± he said, ¡°No mention of anything... illicit?¡±


    ¡°In what way?¡± Sunala asked.


    ¡°Well,¡± the Federation official said, ¡°I''ve heard word that a Shard of Imagination was found there.¡±


    Busciver tensed, and he glanced over to Sunala''s conversation. But the noblewoman gave a light laugh.


    ¡°A Shard?¡± she said, ¡°Please, no, nothing of that nature. Just water.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± the Federation official said, ¡°You''re... quite sure?¡±


    ¡°Positive, sir,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Nothing to see.¡±


    And she smiled. And the official nodded.


    ¡°Very well,¡± he said, ¡°Good day.¡±


    ¡°And to you.¡±


    The alien turned, and melded with the crowd. Busciver leaned in.


    ¡°Dear lord, Lily-Ann,¡± he said, ¡°They''re already here.¡±


    ¡°Relax, Busciver,¡± Sunala said, ¡°I''ll take care of it.¡±


    ¡°But-¡±


    ¡°I will. Take care. Of it.¡±


    The Lady Busciver was glancing between her and her uncle. But she was a good girl, one who wisely kept her mouth shut.


    Sunala sighed.


    Already, she knew, Urya was stalking him.


    The Inner Sun was already setting. It would happen soon.


    ***


    The two Amber Foundation who had accompanied him were nowhere to be seen. Typical. He should have requested an escort. Perhaps for someone from Pagan Chorus. But he had chosen to go alone. It was his first investigation out in the multiverse proper, after all, right? He had armed himself with a knife, though that had been confiscated when he entered the palace. The guards had refused to give it back, as well, citing security reasons.


    So Ora Sota wandered an alien city, alone, as snow began to drift. The stars were strange and multi-colored (and, he would later learn, were not stars at all) and the sun began to dim like a dying lamp as it went down past the horizon.


    Something was starting to bloom in his chest as he walked down an alley, shivering.


    Something akin to fear.


    No, it was fear. Trepidation. He was alone, out here.


    It had been stupid. He had been stupid. He should have prepared more, should have known just how hostile people would be. The elf noble had the audacity to lie straight to his face! She was beholden to the Federation, was she not?


    All of these people were. Ora Sota looked around. There were a few beggars on the street. They were beholden to the Federation, too. All of the nobles in that grand palace were, as well.


    Everyone was. He should have been given the proper treatment, the proper answers, the proper-


    He felt a hand fall on his shoulder. A thrill of cold horror ran up his spine. He glanced over.


    An elf. Though this one was wearing dark clothes, their face covered up by a burgundy scarf.


    ¡°''Allo,¡± she said, ¡°How are you this evenin''?¡±


    ¡°I am... fine,¡± Ora Sota said.


    ¡°I''m sure you are, sure you are,¡± the elf said, ¡°Right then, if you''ll come along with me.¡±


    Her grip was vise-like. She twisted, steering him into a dark alley.


    ¡°I beg your pardon,¡± Ora said, ¡°L-Let go of me, please, I don''t-¡±


    Another elf materialized out of the shadows.


    They were holding something silvery, something-


    The elf holding him shoved him forward. The other one grabbed him-


    There was the dundun sound of a plasma pistol. The elf in the alley crumpled, half of their head seared away. The one who had grabbed his shoulder spun, drew out a dagger. Her assailant was a whirl of scarlet, wielding a miniature star. They danced for a moment, before the star''s arc turned deadly, a blade of light erupting from its tip and plunging into the elf''s chest.


    The elf coughed, her burgundy scarf staining dark, before she fell to the ground, her eyes devoid.


    Rosemary stood over her, wiping blood from a mace forged out of glass, a rose held within. Meleko, the Jugdran, stepped out of the alley, reholstering his pistol.


    ¡°Let''s get out of here,¡± he said.


    ¡°Come with us,¡± Rosemary said to Ora, ¡°Quick, before they get word of us.¡±


    Ora''s heart was hammering. He was looking at the two bodies on the ground in front of him...


    And he retched up his meal, coughing it out into the snow. He looked up at Rosemary and Meleko. The Jugdran was checking the surrounding area, glancing this way and that. Rosemary was looking right at him, a serious look on her face.


    Her warning played in his head.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said, ¡°I-I''ll follow.¡±


    ***


    They gave Ora a blanket and a cup of hot tea. He sat in a dark room, alone, for a few hours, letting him recuperate after what had gone down. He heaved again at one point, his mind playing and replaying the scene he had just witnessed. He had never seen a plasma bolt kill someone before. He had never seen the sheer ferocity that motion gave, the dance that ended with one killing another.


    And they had meant to kill him. Sunala had.


    It was almost enough for him to want to go home completely. Report that there was nothing unseemly. The lead had been false.


    They wouldn''t even read it. He knew that. No one would read it. They had sent it to him to convey that they were taking such a matter seriously.


    He could end it all, right now.


    He took a shaky breath.


    But...


    But if they had wanted him dead, just for asking a few questions.


    Well, that was an answer itself, was it not?


    He rose. Walked over to the door. Knocked.


    A man in a blue jacket opened it up.


    ¡°''Sup,¡± he said.


    ¡°H-Hello,¡± Ora said, ¡°Er... and you are...?¡±


    ¡°Joseph,¡± the man said, ¡°Wakeling asked me to guard the door.¡±


    ¡°Ah, thank you,¡± Ora said.


    ¡°No problem,¡± Joseph said, shrugging.


    ¡°Is... Wakeling... available?¡±


    ¡°Naw,¡± Joseph said, ¡°She just went to bed. You''ll have to talk to her tomorrow.¡±


    Ora wilted.


    ¡°I''m just shitting you, man,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Come on, I''ll get her.¡±


    And he moved off. Ora blinked.


    Then followed.


    ***


    ¡°Well, Mr. Sota,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°What do you expect me to do?¡±


    ¡°I need to know the location of the Shard,¡± Ora Sota said, ¡°If I can get physical evidence that Sunala has it, I can relay that to my superiors.¡±


    ¡°And then what happens?¡± Wakeling said, ¡°They come here, and glass our home?¡±


    The Nelnuthan grimaced for a moment, his ear flickering.


    ¡°I-If it''s here, perhaps,¡± he said.


    He let that hang in silence. Wakeling nodded, lost in thought, and Ora found he could not blame her. She was gambling on her entire life here, was she not? It was only natural for her to play carefully. Sunala would have the same reasoning...


    And he drew his conclusion.


    ¡°It''s not on Londoa,¡± he said.


    ¡°No,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°It is not.¡±


    ¡°It''s still on this... dead plane.¡±


    ¡°Chliofrond, the plane is called,¡± Wakeling said.


    ¡°Chliofrond,¡± Ora said. He let the word roll on his tongue, in his mind. The name was familiar...


    ¡°You''ll need to go there,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Get evidence that the Shard is there.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Ora said, ¡°Though... I cannot do it alone.¡±


    He looked at her.


    ¡°I would like to contract protection from your guild. I have... never been out in the multiverse before. It is my first time traveling.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Well, I''ve got two rather capable guildmembers who can guide you across the multiverse. They''ve already helped you, you see.¡±


    ¡°The Jugdran,¡± Ora said, ¡°And... Rosemary.¡±


    ¡°They were both there on the original job,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°I''ll get money to charter a ship out of the city for you. They''ll protect you the entire way.¡±


    Ora smiled.


    ¡°Th-thank you,¡± he said.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Let me draw up the contract.¡±


    ***


    Urya Orna returned back to Sunala''s manor late in the night. She was grimacing as she walked in, her hands shaking slightly as she stood at the noblewoman''s desk. Sunala had not slept. Not since the Federation official had visited. She sat at her desk, absently going over paperwork, trying to calm her nerves and not think about the fact that Urya had arrived so late.


    ¡°Report,¡± Sunala said.


    ¡°Zayatri and Gilthuril are dead,¡± Urya said, ¡°One to a plasma bolt. The other by magic.¡±


    ¡°The Amber Foundation,¡± Sunala said, at once, ¡°Wasn''t it?¡±


    ¡°It was,¡± Urya said, ¡°We tracked the Fed to Castle Belenus.¡±


    ¡°Well?¡± Sunala said, ¡°What has he been up to?¡±


    Urya was quiet.


    Sunala rose from her place. She walked out of the room, going down the marble stairs to her Enchanting Room. There, a series of glass orbs floated in the air, each displaying a different scene from Scuttleway. Her grounded elemental network, spread out across the city.


    Half of the orbs were dim, the elementals eliminated from their places. Exodus Walkers had been busy.


    Sunala strode over to the center of the room, where an Elven magician sat at a desk. He was starting to doze a bit, this late at night, and Sunala slammed a fist on the table to jolt him awake.


    ¡°Castle Belenus,¡± she said, ¡°Now.¡±


    The magician nodded, hand waving in the air. One of the orbs drifted over to his open palm.


    It was dim.


    ¡°Wakeling,¡± Sunala hissed, ¡°She''s onto us.¡±


    Been onto us, she realized. Rosemary''s doing. The betrayal bit deep. But she forced that away now. She had to be all business.


    ¡°The docks,¡± she said, ¡°The docks, now!¡±


    The magician brought forth three orbs. Each of them showed a portion of the docks between the great rent that cleaved Scuttleway in two. Many of the ships were moored there, including Sunala''s own, the Gil-Galad. It was usually a quiet night, even during the election ¨C the snowstorms had been especially intense, and had grounded most business.


    But now...


    Now, there was a ship leaving port. A small one, yes, but a ship nonetheless.


    And she knew, she knew, in her gut, her soul, that the investigator was on it.


    She spun to Urya.


    ¡°You,¡± she said, ¡°Get a team. Shoot down that ship. Kill the investigator. Now.¡±


    ¡°On the Gil-Galad?¡± Urya asked.


    ¡°Just go!¡±


    The White Feather drew off. Sunala was already rushing up the stairs. She had to send a message to Adonal Adaya, inform him of what transpired.


    She stopped halfway up. Was he to be bothered with this?


    If Urya halted the investigator''s progress now, then it was nothing. It would look like she was panicking.


    (Which, she was.)


    However, if Urya did not succeed (and, knowing the Amber Foundation''s abilities, as a real possibility) then Adonal Adaya would not realize the investigator was going to Chliofrond. He would show up out of the blue. And, now that he was with the Amber Foundation, he would be able to sneak in. None of the naive flaunting, like at the Grand Commons.


    The Amber Foundation already knew the way there. Knew where to look. It would be nothing, to them.


    Urya Orna would have to take the Gil-Galad. No choice. It was the fastest ship they''d be able to get out of port. But it was still slow, especially if it was actively pursuing and attempting to shoot down the other vessel.


    An air elemental would be faster. A message.


    One of the subtle annoying parts of missing her hand was that she could feel a phantom itch crawl up where it used to be. She scratched at the stump, instead, as she walked back up to her office. She wrote quickly. Jotted down the most pertinent information. Advised that she had sent a White Feather contingent, but in case they did not succeed, to prepare for a potential incursion.


    She tied it up into a wooden tube. Beckoned forth a wind elemental, which wavered in the air like a heat mirage. She gave it the tube.


    Then watched as it flew off.


    She could not hide her fear. Her panic. Her shaking hand, the sweat beading on her brow, despite the sheer cold of winter. She sat down at her desk. Called for tea, to hopefully calm the nerves. In the distance, she could see the ice-white hull of the Gil-Galad as it took off into the night sky. It was a desperate move. It would cause rumors, for House Sunala was not the only House watching the docks.


    But she had to do it.


    Now all she could do was trust that Urya Orna was up to the task.


    She took a deep breath.


    Another.


    It was out of her control.


    ¡­


    This was something she was not used to.


    ***


    The elemental alighted high into the sky, flying with the letter in hand in the direction of the nearest Traveling Point.


    It was roughly a mile out of the city when something fast, something predatory, zipped through it, destroying it utterly, snatching the letter out of the now open air.


    Khosrau was an Ogre Dragonfly, a Gigantoneura, easily dwarfing the average sapient in size, able to lift a man high into the air through sheer strength alone. He was one on his plane who had the rare curse of speech and higher learning, and had joined the Exodus Walkers after being driven out for his...


    Mutation, though he didn''t like thinking of it like that.


    Khosrau crested through the winter night sky, zipping towards an outcropping of stone that poked out over the snow-covered grass plain. His guildmate, Ket, bled out of the shadows, reaching out a hand to snatch the letter out of Khosrau''s claws. The Ogre Dragonfly landed nearby, head turning this way and that, his great red, hex-patterned eyes watching to make sure there was no one around.


    Ket opened the letter. Read it.


    Closed it, and as he did so a dark flame took to the paper, burning it away. Ash scattered into the wind, looking like off-color snow.


    ¡°Lord Rithmound will be pleased,¡± the Inl¨¦an said.


    ¡°Good,¡± Khosrau rasped, ¡°Extra pay, eh?¡±


    Ket nodded.


    ¡°Continue your patrol,¡± he said, ¡°I will inform Lord Rithmound personally of what has transpired. Excellent work.¡±


    For a moment, the two waited there, a pair of shadows.


    Then, without another word, Ket fell back into the darkness, sinking into it as though it was a deep lake. Khosrau took a moment to chitter his mandibles, wipe at his eyes, shudder a bit at the cold.


    Then he took off.


    And the world was quiet once more.

 105. The Rain Has Eyes

    ¡°It''ll be here soon,¡± Rorshin reported.


    He was sitting, cross-legged, outside the shallow cave that the three of them had been camping in for most of the day. Contort''s wound had reopened, and Ichabod was applying salves they had pilfered from Merrin to the open, still-bleeding cut. The magic they had been forced to use to stave off infection had possessed a drawback, and that was that it ate through stitches far too quickly. They would need stronger stuff, and soon.


    The plane they were on was known as the Quiet, and was an empty world. A grassland, a savannah, as far as the eye could see, with a few mountains cropping up here and there, cracks in the earth, rivers that puddled by, devoid of fish. No one knew why it was an unpopulated place.


    Well, no one knew. But people avoided the Quiet best they could. Colonies had been set up here, then disappeared within weeks. Travelers were known to be taken by... something. The wind that blew gently across the plane had something in it, a spirit, like the Spioa of Nesona, perhaps.


    But more concrete. Predatory. Forceful.


    But it had not accosted them on their journey across the bright fields. A stormwall rumbled in the distance, a solid sheet of rain and cold that blotted out the northern horizon. Clouds were pulled into the rain elemental''s influence, tugged across the sky like fish caught on the rod. They merely added to the rain elemental''s power, its devouring of the world, its inexorable crawl to the three of them.


    For the last week, in their mad spring across the multiverse, they had managed to shake the living storm off. But somewhere along Dalsim, it had caught up with them.


    Becenti''s words hung in their memories as Rorshin stamped down into the cave.


    Every raindrop was an eye.


    If even one could see them, it would find them. Tear them to pieces with a directed gale. The rain elemental would not relent.


    The druid turned around, and whispered a few words, scratching at the bare earth. There were no animals here, true, but there was plantlife. Very few planes were dead, truly dead. The Quiet was not one of them.


    He raised a hand, and a wall of roots began to rise at the mouth of the cave. It covered the cave''s entrance, sealing it tight.


    ¡°We''ll be safe here,¡± Rorshin said.


    ¡°We''ll have air?¡± Ichabod asked.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Rorshin said, ¡°Just enough holes to let it in. Like we are pets.¡±


    The druid gave Ichabod a toothy smirk at that.


    ¡°Did you ever claim to own insects, half-man?¡± he asked, ¡°Put them in glass jars, poke holes at the top? Does this not feel the same?¡±


    Ichabod grimaced. Sneered.


    ¡°Have you, wildman?¡± he asked, ¡°You certainly seem to have personal experience, you poor thing.¡±


    Rorshin''s grin dropped. His eyes went hard.


    ¡°That''s enough, you two,¡± Contort said. He was sitting down, back against the cave wall, the bandages on his leg freshly re-wrapped. He had it out to one side, which was uncomfortable for one of his species ¨C he much preferred to be bunched up like a coiled spring.


    Ichabod''s mind came back to the data chip stored in his head. He had not had time to properly start clawing at the firewalls surrounding it, at the heavy security that OzTech had installed. It held what Captain Ramsey, far away on Londoa, had requested ¨C the identity of the client who ordered the guild Like Shadow on an assassination in Scuttleway.


    An assassination attempt with a Maizimorph, that had led to two of their own getting broken noses and split lips.


    Ichabod didn''t particularly like one of them, and cared little for the other. But it had led him back to OzTech


    It had led to this.


    ¡°How long do we wait?¡± Contort asked, almost whispered.


    ¡°As long as the storm lasts,¡± Rorshin said, ¡°Despite its power, it is still beholden to the wind. It will pass.¡±


    ¡°It''ll come back,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°We''ll need to find another hiding spot once we leave.¡±


    The druid nodded.


    The rain washed over the roof of the cave. Hard. Like a thousand stone drums beating overhead, a thousand footfalls, a thousand warnings. Thunder rolled dull in clouds they could not see. They were quiet.


    For they did not know if the rain had ears, as well.


    So they waited. Ichabod continued probing at the firewall, but the rain''s assault distracted him, kept breaking his concentration, and soon enough he was merely sitting there, a scowl on his face, his hands on his knees, staring at the firewall in his head. Contort let out a small groan. Rorshin did nothing but stare at the roots that covered the cave''s entrance.


    After what felt like hours, the rain began to relent, bit by bit. The intensity died down, the droning of water upon earth lessened, then ceased.


    They waited another two hours after that.


    Then, Rorshin raised a hand. The root wall squelched its way back into the earth. The sun greeted them, which was a relief. When they walked out, they could see the rain elemental on the opposite horizon, gray and taking up the world.


    ¡°It''ll go back and forth between here and the Traveling Point,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°This is going to take forever,¡± Contort said, ¡°Rorshin, you still haven''t figured out a way to shake it off?¡±


    ¡°Hnn,¡± Rorshin growled, ¡°A desert, I think, we need a desert.¡±


    ¡°The next Traveling Point takes us to Hanbusan,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°From there, we can get to...¡±


    His mind raced. He had downloaded a map from Shambling before they left for Neos, but it was out of date in certain places. He pulled it up, a green hologram over a metal and glass arm. The socket on his shoulder rattled uncomfortably ¨C a stray bullet had struck him during the Tower assault, and since then it hadn''t been rotating right.


    As if he had time to properly repair it.


    The map here, at least, was still correct. Hanbusan was in forecast, and leading out from the Eternal Plateau was...


    ¡°Nesona,¡± he said, ¡°We can lose it there.¡±


    ***


    The ship was the Guttersnipe, a small airship from Melmaen that belonged to House Rithmound. Wakeling had booked passage on it for a steal, speaking with Lord Rithmound himself. She merely needed to give word to him about the Federation investigator, and she got the fastest vessel in the Rithmound fleet.


    The ship''s captain was a gnome named Ivar Orvisan, of the minor House Orvisan, which had been allied with the Rithmounds for the past few decades. A bushy beard plagued the gnome''s face, red and scraggled, and he looked all the world like a viking that had been scrunched down in a freak accident. He was currently on the deck of the ship, a spyglass in hand, scoped out and pointed behind them.


    He gave a grim scowl, and passed the spyglass to Meleko. The Jugdran looked through it, muttering to himself for a moment, before giving it to Rosemary.


    ¡°I don''t work well with these things,¡± he said, ¡°Too many eyes.¡±


    Rosemary nodded, bringing the spyglass up to her face.


    The Gil-Galad danced in the dark winter clouds, just bright enough to be made out, even by the naked eye if she knew where to look. White, like a swan, it crested across the sky towards the Guttersnipe. Elves were onboard, members of the White Feathers, most likely, armed and preparing cannon.


    Beside her, Ora Sota shook. She offered the Nelnuthan the spyglass.


    ¡°Want a peek?¡± she asked, ¡°See what we''re up against?¡±


    The Federation official looked down at the bronze piece in her hand. He took it in a paw, taking a shaky breath, before bringing it up to his eye. His expression, already nervous, became taut as a rope.


    ¡°It''s one thing to know that they want to kill you,¡± he murmured, ¡°Another to see.¡±


    ¡°They already tried to kill you once, guy,¡± Meleko laughed.


    Ora glanced at him.


    ¡°You''re certainly jovial about all this.¡±


    ¡°You learn that you have to be,¡± Meleko said, ¡°This is your first time out, isn''t it? First time really seeing your life on the line.¡±


    After a moment, as the crew of the Guttersnipe prepared for battle, Ora nodded. Meleko put a hand on his shoulder.


    ¡°Relax,¡± he said, ¡°It''ll be alright. Rosemary and I are here for you, in case things get bad. Right now this is a long-range battle. Isn''t that right, Captain?¡±


    Orvisan glanced over at them. Gave them a curt nod.


    ¡°Aye,¡± he said, ¡°We''re quicker than the Gil-Galad. We''ll be able to outrun her, just fine. She''ll be aiming at our sails and engines to hamper us in the skies.¡±


    Already, the crew was preparing cannons of their own. Two of them, bulbous and (to Ora, at least) barbaric. They were loading ammo into them. Not plasma, like the Nelnuthan had seen in his stories, but rather two balls connected with a chain.


    ¡°You''d better get below, now,¡± Orvisan said, ¡°We''ll do most of the fighting. But keep that mace handy, lass. You two, shark, with the Fedtek.¡±


    Rosemary nodded. Ora heard her mutter ¡°It''s a sceptre,¡± under her breath.


    The Jugdran, on the other hand, gave Orvisan a quizzical look.


    ¡°What''s a shark?¡± he asked.


    ***


    The Amber Foundation allowed Ora to take the one cot in the room that was allotted to them. There wasn''t much room onboard the Guttersnipe, not with the crew operating at near-full capacity. Ora lied down on the bed, hands behind his head, his heart shuddering. Meleko sat down on the chair beside him. Rosemary leaned against the wall. Her mace ¨C no, sceptre ¨C was held in her head, glowing gentle as a sunrise, but the way she held it made Ora suspect she was ready to beat any interloper''s head in.


    His ears flickered at the sound of distant cannon fire. Twin booms, echoing out of the night. He heard shouts above on the deck. Captain Orvisan''s barking out orders, his voice commanding despite its shrillness.


    ¡°Not sure why we took these guys,¡± Meleko said, ¡°Didn''t you have a ship?¡±


    ¡°It was...¡± Ora winced as he heard the Guttersnipe answer the Gil-Galad''s cannonfire. Much closer, the cannons went off with shuddering booms that made him rattle from his ribs to his jaw.


    ¡°One of those temporary ones, yeah?¡± Meleko said, ¡°One-stop shops, right? It''s only gonna come back when you call for it.¡±


    Ora nodded. The Jugdran seemed to be talking to distract him.


    ¡°Buddy,¡± Meleko said, ¡°Those are a scam. It ain''t coming back.¡±


    His heart fell.


    ¡°O-Oh,¡± he whimpered.


    ¡°How much you pay for it?¡±


    ¡°Almost two months'' salary.¡±


    And the mercenary had the gall to laugh at that, a cackle that was both amused and spiteful. Ora''s eyes narrowed.


    ¡°Hey,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Be nice to him. It''s his first time out here, you know.¡±


    She was smiling, though.


    ¡°I know, I know,¡± Meleko said, ¡°Just... whoof. Yeah, pal, don''t use those services. Don''t use anything that''s on the web, yeah? Best to know a guy to get out into the multiverse from the Silver Eye.¡±


    ¡°I used the proper channels,¡± Ora said, ¡°It''s-¡±


    Another boom. The sound of scraping wood. Meleko and Rosemary traded glances. The Guttersnipe stalled for a brief moment, shuddered, then pressed on.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    ¡°If you used the proper channels, then you got scammed,¡± Meleko said, ¡°Department of Interplanar Transportation''s been gutted for a while now, just filled with thieves and punks.¡±


    ¡°I-¡± Ora stammered, ¡°That''s- The Federation would never allow that!¡±


    ¡°Please,¡± Meleko said, ¡°You''re one of their investigators, right? You think you''re the only one who''s never been off-plane?¡±


    The Nelnuthan went silent.


    ¡°Betcha there are thousands of you,¡± Meleko said, ¡°Never been off their damn homeworlds, doing what daddy did, doing-¡±


    ¡°Meleko,¡± Rosemary warned, ¡°Laying it on a bit thick, yeah?¡±


    The Jugdran stopped. He fixed Ora a look. Ora returned it for a moment.


    Then looked away, shame-faced.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Meleko said, ¡°Maybe I was.¡±


    He sighed.


    ¡°You came out here, at least.¡±


    Another distant cannon. Ora groaned. His ears flickered.


    ¡°I can''t take this,¡± he said, ¡°Any moment, we could be torn to shreds.¡±


    ¡°We could be,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°We just have to trust the Captain.¡±


    ¡°Do we?¡± Ora asked, ¡°Maybe he gives up. Maybe he lets them onboard, let¡¯s them take me, let¡¯s-¡±


    ¡°Do you think we have a choice?¡± Rosemary asked.


    Ora took a deep breath.


    ¡°...No,¡± he said, ¡°I suppose I don¡¯t. I¡¯ll¡­ have to trust them.¡±


    It was a difficult thing, he found. He had always opined about the might of the Federation, the influence it had on the multiverse, the protection it afforded him as one of its servants. But this was very different from the idealized protector he had formed in his head. Here, the danger was real. He was not used to that.


    He had never been in danger before.


    So he mirrored Meleko and Rosemary. The Jugdran was cracking a few jokes, trying to keep the mood light, though he never removed his grip from the plasma rifle in his hands. Rosemary smiled at his wisecracks, smiled at Ora, always smiled, as though her face were a mask.


    After what felt like hours, they felt a shaking and rumbling. Ora gripped the edges of the cot, gasping, squeezed his eyes shut. The entirety of the Guttersnipe rumbled.


    ¡°H-Have we been hit?!¡± he screamed.


    ¡°We''re planeshifting!¡± Rosemary called back, ¡°Hang on tight!¡±


    It was nothing like when he had been on the Federation ship, heading to Londoa. The shudders had been accounted for, the vessel designed specifically to travel the multiverse in smooth arcs. The Guttersnipe felt like it was going to shake itself to pieces.


    And yet...


    The rumbling stopped, and they were whole.


    Another hour passed.


    There came a knock on the door.


    ¡°It''s over,¡± Captain Orvisan said, ¡°We''ve lost them.¡±


    They stepped out of the room, and back onto the deck. The Guttersnipe had taken a few good licks ¨C a gash cut across the hull, and one of the cannons had been blown to smithereens. Two bodies lay in the center of the deck, covered in white sheets.


    ¡°Oh, dear,¡± Ora said.


    ¡°Aye,¡± Captain Orvisan said, ¡°They fought well, Toes and Ceris.¡±


    The Nelnuthan continued to stare at the two veiled forms, while Rosemary glanced around. It was night here, still, though the air was markedly warmer, muggier.


    ¡°We''re on...¡± she struggled to remember the pathways they had taken to get to Chliofrond, ¡°Yuradal, right? The World of Swamps?¡±


    Orvisan nodded.


    ¡°If you can help with the injured, do so,¡± he said, ¡°It was a hell of a time getting you here.¡±


    ¡°It''ll be more of a time,¡± Meleko said, ¡°That ship, the Gil-Galad, knows where we''re heading. It''ll be pursuing us the whole time.¡±


    The gnome''s face went red.


    ¡°I see,¡± he growled.


    Meleko and Rosemary glanced at each other.


    ¡°How much did Rithmound tell you?¡± Rosemary asked.


    There came a wretched scream from below. Crewmembers were being taken into the infirmary now, their wounds being seen to. Some had been hit worse than others.


    ¡°Only,¡± Orvisan said, ¡°That you needed to get to that dead plane pronto. Didn''t realize this was an inter-House spat.¡±


    Rosemary wilted a bit.


    ¡°I understand,¡± she said.


    But the Captain rolled his eyes.


    ¡°Relax,¡± he said, ¡°I ain''t gonna drop you three off in the middle of Bumfuck, Nowhere. I''m just going to demand a much higher pay to Rithmound. This isn''t my first rodeo against Busciver, I''ll tell you that.¡±


    He let out a harsh laugh.


    ¡°Let me attend to my crew and ship,¡± he said, ¡°Then we''ll discuss options. It''ll be a while before the Elven ship finds us.¡±


    ***


    Isaac found his father just after supper, fresh off of a meeting with House Meandring. He was following up on a visitation by one of their representatives to the Blacksmith''s Association, a union which House Rithmound often spoke for. It had been mostly business, though the representative had hinted of a more stable relation with Rithmound...


    At this point, Isaac was willing to take anything to peel Meandring away from Busciver''s caucus. It was the steps that they should have taken months ago, to be honest. But if they were willing to extend an olive branch¡­


    He sighed.


    Lord Rithmound was in a room Isaac didn''t expect, after searching around the Bronze-Hued Keep. He was in Mother''s study. The Lady Rithmound was a fuzzy recollection, to Isaac. Memories of bright, young mornings, the air cool and crisp, her smelling like peach-infused perfume, a bright smile on her face, soft laughter at her son''s antics. His heart swelled at the thought of her.


    Her study was just as he remembered it ¨C Father was insistent on keeping everything in place, as though he could freeze time in a moment, keep it sterile, clean, and lovely. Like he could preserve Mother here.


    Like he could preserve her love.


    A shelf was put off to one side, a gift from Lord Rithmound during their courting. The desk held a few books, an inkwell, a quill. All of these things were basic and professional, but they were still hers. The end of the quill had been clipped. The books were on archaeological digs up near Hermit, ancient metahuman and Elven civilizations that dotted that region. There was a series of scratches on the desk''s surface, a heart that Isaac, as a child, had carefully etched in with his first knife.


    Father sat at the desk now, hands clasped, his brow furrowed.


    Isaac knocked on the door. Lord Rithmound came to, and for a moment Isaac saw a flash of anger on his face, disturbed that someone had come in here.


    But no, it was his son. His heir.


    He was not to show anger at Isaac, not for good reason.


    ¡°How did it go?¡± he asked.


    ¡°All business,¡± Isaac said, ¡°But they dropped a few hints. I''m going to formally request a meeting with Lord Meandring tomorrow, see if we can''t work out a deal.¡±


    ¡°Be careful, now,¡± Lord Rithmound said, ¡°Meet in a public space.¡±


    ¡°A public space means I won''t be able to clinch a deal,¡± Isaac said, ¡°We don''t have time. The vote could end tomorrow.¡±


    Lord Rithmound was quiet for a moment.


    ¡°I don''t think it will,¡± he said.


    Isaac raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°Oh?¡±


    ¡°I''m remembering what Gordudus said to me,¡± Lord Rithmound said, ¡°After the first vote. To remember the time in Otria''s Wood.¡±


    Otria''s Wood. A forest to the south, that crested the in-between slice of Inner and Outer Moadma.


    ¡°We were hunting there, for a time,¡± Lord Rithmound said, ¡°In our youth, around when I began courting your mother. We were chasing a bear, but no matter what we tried, it was a wily thing, and escaped us. Outran us.¡±


    Isaac nodded, leaning against the doorframe.


    ¡°Eventually, Gordusus and I commissioned a third friend to help us. She went ahead to a specific clearing in the woods, and began preparing a trap for the bear. Then, Gordusus and I funneled the bear into the clearing. It took three of us.¡±


    ¡°What do you think he meant?¡± Isaac said.


    Lord Rithmound sighed.


    ¡°The House Korgan is playing an interesting game,¡± he said, ¡°But they''re still allies to us. At least, that''s what I hope. But I will say, his elevating Lady Deirdre to candidacy cuts Busciver deep. Meandring, Mur, and Callistopa heavily supported her during the last election. One of them turned coat already. But she has no chance of winning, not with Sunala on Busciver''s side, and Eilonwy with ours.¡±


    ¡°She''s been bribed into trying,¡± Isaac said.


    ¡°It delays the votes,¡± Lord Rithmound said, ¡°You said it yourself, didn''t you? The multiverse is Sunala''s. That dead plane of hers is swaying the Minor Tribunal quite a bit. But if the investigation finishes, and the Federation wrests control of the plane from Sunala...¡±


    ¡°...I see,¡± Isaac said, ¡°A trap.¡±


    ¡°A trap that takes three,¡± Rithmound said, ¡°Ourselves, Korgan, and Deirdre. It''s to delay the votes until the investigation is complete. We just have to be sure that we build enough support on our end for them to come to us...¡±


    He was quiet.


    ¡°A marital alliance, perhaps,¡± he said. Carefully, Isaac noted.


    And Isaac''s heart fell.


    ¡°I thought, the Lady Suella,¡± Isaac said.


    ¡°No, they''re too minor, not at this point,¡± Lord Rithmound said, ¡°Would need to be someone from Mur, or Callistopa. I don''t want to touch Meandring, not now. But we must promise them something if we''re to win.¡±


    ¡°...I see,¡± Isaac said.


    ¡°I''ll have someone else represent us to the Meandrings tomorrow,¡± Lord Rithmound said, ¡°I want you to look at a list of potential suitors for Mur or Callistopa. Choose wisely, my son, for marriage is no small thing.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Isaac said. More than you realize, he wanted to add.


    Buscie''s face appeared in his head. His heart skipped, nearly broke.


    But he merely smiled.


    Nodded.


    And took his leave.


    ***


    Yuradal was a demonic place. Urya Orna had been forced to serve a tour of duty here, at the height of the Wonderous Wars, early on in her time with the White Feathers. She and her guildmates had been forced to settle in, trudging through steamy jungle, facing off against natives, a guild known as the Suits, and a family of rogue metahumans. They had been bitten by mosquitoes, preyed upon by massive chameleons, become stuck in the sludge. She still woke up with nightmares, at times, but because she was an elf she was not allowed to reveal such things.


    Nonetheless, as she watched the plane roil before her below, she gripped the Gil-Galad''s rail. Even high above, she could make out the silhouette of trees, could hear dominating, primordial calls. Her heart hammered with the onset of those darker memories.


    Someone drew beside her. Draz, the twin blades at his side glowing faintly in the moonlight. The sea elf''s look was dour.


    ¡°We lost them,¡± he said.


    Urya turned her attention to him.


    ¡°How?¡± she asked, ¡°It''s a clear night.¡±


    ¡°I don''t know,¡± Draz said, grimacing, ¡°They must have cast some spell, triggered something when they planeshifted here.¡±


    ¡°Keep searching,¡± Urya said, ¡°Get elementals out there. I don''t care if they disturb the mountains. Got it?¡±


    Draz grimaced.


    Nodded.


    Left.


    Leaving Urya alone once more. Her mind was swimming. What to do in this situation? What to do, when you knew where your enemy was going, the exact route?


    Was this to be a race? It would be for sure one they would lose. The little Scuttler ship they had been chasing certainly could scrap, that was for sure ¨C one of the Gil-Galad''s sails had been torn to shreds, and the sides of her hull had been grazed and smashed through with cannonfire. Not enough to sink her, though.


    There was a screech below, sharp enough to shock her from her ruminations. Gods, how she hated this place.


    ***


    The Gil-Galad had been expecting the Guttersnipe to still be airborne, as they sent out their scouts to scour the sky. But the small airship had gone down to the treeline below, mooring to one of the trees. They had also gone off the beaten path, entirely forgoing the straight pathway to the Traveling Point that led to Entheos. They went far east, leaving the Gil-Galad as a vague speck.


    ¡°Won''t be be picked up on scanner?¡± Ora asked.


    ¡°The Gil-Galad doesn''t have scanners,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°They use magic, and what they use is tied to the air. They won''t find us.¡±


    ¡°Dangerous, though,¡± Meleko said, ¡°There''s more than just trees on Yuradal.¡±


    They could hear buzzing in the distance, warnings of the God-Mosquitoes that dominated the plane. But nothing came for them, for the apex predators usually hunted in the day.


    ¡°As long as we''re in the air by then, we''ll be fine,¡± Captain Orvisan said, ¡°But I think it''s time we had a little talk.¡±


    They had set up a crate on the deck of the ship as a makeshift table, along with a few stools. Orvisan was standing on his, one leg on the crate like some sort of Captain Morgan, eyeing each of them in turn.


    ¡°We''re heading to the dead plane,¡± he said, ¡°With the elves on our tail. You said the ship was the Gil-Galad?¡±


    Rosemary nodded. Orvisan grinned.


    ¡°A galleon,¡± he said, ¡°Good. We can run circles around those. And the Gil-Galad sticks out like a sore thumb. Sunala traded in good boating for gaudiness. What''s the route, exactly?¡±


    ¡°Entheos is next,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°We''ll need to negotiate or avoid the ruler there, a Dragon named Skarnorex.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Orvisan said, ¡°And what did they take from you last time?¡±


    ¡°A song,¡± Rosemary said, recalling G-Wiz''s account. She and Heyma had gone together, ¡°I don''t know if they''ll give us the same treatment, though.¡±


    ¡°Best we avoid them,¡± Orvisan said, ¡°The next plane?¡±


    ¡°Redenia,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Across the sea. If we''re lucky, we''ll avoid Elzan Chi ¨C I don''t know her migration patterns, but...¡±


    But the gnome swore.


    ¡°Only been to Redenia once,¡± he said, ¡°Never liked the place. Elzan Chi, eh?¡±


    ¡°Eh,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°We fed her a lot,¡± Meleko added, ¡°The entirety of the Gil-Galad''s hold was full of salted meat to give to her.¡±


    ¡°A tribute, then,¡± Orvisan said. He was running a small hand through his long beard, ¡°Interesting.¡±


    Meleko caught what the Captain was pondering. He leaned in.


    ¡°You''re thinking what I am, right?¡±


    ¡°Oho, you''re a smart one, alien,¡± Orvisan said, ¡°It''s risky. We''ll be chased by the Gil-Galad the entire trip. We won''t be able to give them the slip.¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Ora asked, ¡°Can someone fill me in?¡±


    ¡°A running firefight might just keep Skarnorex off our backs, though,¡± Meleko said, ¡°But if we don¡¯t sink the Gil-Galad, then we certainly have our incentive.¡±


    ¡°Incentive?¡± Rosemary said.


    The Jugdran nodded. He wore a devious smile.


    ¡°We need to make sure the Gil-Galad doesn''t arrive on Chliofrond,¡± he said, ¡°And we also have to make sure we pay tribute to Elzan Chi.¡±


    Rosemary''s blood went cold.


    ¡°I... I see,¡± she said, ¡°That''s... well... it works, but...¡±


    She gripped the hem of her cloak. She remembered the Gil-Galad''s crew. Had eaten with them, spoken with them many times. They were kind people.


    But they also worked with Sunala. Were members of the Verdant Reclamation. They had bayed for blood at InterGuild''s rally.


    Coupling those two images was paradoxical, for Rosemary. She was quiet as Ora spoke up.


    ¡°I don''t understand,¡± the Nelnuthan said, ¡°Who is Elzan Chi?¡±


    ¡°The Queen of the Monsters,¡± Meleko said, ¡°And she despises travelers over her waters.¡±


    Ora was putting two and two together. He glanced over at Rosemary, who gave a grim nod.


    ¡°Oh,¡± he said, ¡°O-Oh. Well, that certainly gets the job done.¡±


    ¡°It does,¡± Orvisan said, ¡°Crew''s almost done repairing most of the damage here. Once we''re airborne, we''ll get the Gil-Galad''s attention, fly out to Entheos. Most of the fighting will take place there. Be prepared.¡±


    The gnome got up from his seat, began shrilling out orders. Meleko glanced at Rosemary. ¡°You going to be okay?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Y-Yeah,¡± she replied, ¡°Just... realizing how far we''re going to need to go.¡±


    ¡°Sorry it''s come to this,¡± Meleko said, ¡°But you know that they''ll kill you if they catch you.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°I know. Excuse me.¡±


    She got up, and walked downstairs. She made her way to the small room, and lied down on the cot.


    She laid there for hours, lost in thought.

 106. Kindness for Kindness

    Captain Ramsey was having a short, meager supper of stale cigarettes and a bit of leftover bread from lunch.


    It was one of those days.


    He was at his desk, in his office, the stone room where he had spent more time than he would have liked. Never mind the fact that there were whispers of the eln meia ¨C that entire debate in the Grand Commons had shaken the entire Militia, and Ramsey found himself going over paperwork of people wanting to leave, or people complaining about the politics of it all, or people wanting to follow Rithmound''s advice and start funneling more money into the force. No complaints on that last one, as Ramsey bit into the last ghostly crust of bread.


    No, what concerned Ramsey more was that the election was hitting a fever pitch. Bodies had hit the floor ¨C two elves, both of them White Feathers, had been found dead, one by stabbing, another by plasma fire. Which meant Fedtek.


    Which meant guildfolk. Myron Becenti sat across Ramsey''s desk, the old metahuman wearing his usual business suit, his graying hair tied back to reveal a stone face, calm and bitter. Ramsey had always liked Becenti ¨C he wore clothing he was more familiar with, spoke with the cadence of an old veteran, and knew where the scope of things lay.


    ¡°You don''t smoke, do you?¡± Ramsey asked, offering a cigarette.


    Becenti shook his head. Ramsey nodded, putting the cigarette in his mouth and lighting the tip. He took a puff, unsure of how to start. Becenti stood still as a statue, waiting. He gave off no tells, none that Ramsey could see.


    Well, better to just go for it, then.


    ¡°The White Feathers,¡± he said, ¡°That you?¡±


    ¡°Not personally,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°But it was your guild.¡±


    ¡°They were threatening a client,¡± Becenti said, ¡°We''ve already written up the necessary reports to the High Federation.¡±


    Ramsey nodded.


    ¡°Who was the client?¡± he asked.


    ¡°I''m afraid we''re not at liberty to say,¡± Becenti said, ¡°They are choosing to remain anonymous at this time, until our contract runs its course.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Ramsey said, ¡°And it wouldn''t happen to be a Federation official, would it?¡±


    The metahuman remained silent. He gave a shrug. Ramsey sighed, rubbed his temples, rose from his seat. He had developed a headache, these last few weeks. Ever since the assassination attempt at Moonstone on the Len, if he was being honest.


    ¡°And the agents you sent out to investigate Like Shadow,¡± he said, ¡°They''re still not back yet?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Becenti said, ¡°We haven''t had contact with them for a while now.¡±


    ¡°You think they''ll return?¡±


    ¡°No doubt,¡± Becenti said, and Ramsey found himself impressed at the metahuman''s false confidence, ¡°Give it time. You''ll have your killer yet.¡±


    ¡°I already have our killer,¡± Ramsey said, ¡°I need to know who hired them.¡±


    ¡°Semantics,¡± Becenti said, ¡°What is an assassin, if not a tool for someone else? There''s someone in your city who''s willing to play with blood.¡±


    ¡°You don''t have to tell me twice,¡± Ramsey said, ¡°Considering the state your guild left those White Feathers in.¡±


    His hand patted his desk, looking for his flask. He took it and gulped down a shot, grimacing as hard whiskey burned its way down.


    ¡°What''s happening to this city, eh?¡± Ramsey said, ¡°Assassins in the streets, in the noble Houses. The last election was never like this.¡±


    ¡°It''s a crossroads, Captain,¡± Becenti said, ¡°The future of the city is at stake, nothing major.¡±


    ¡°Ha,¡± he said, ¡°I''ve got folks freaked out after all that sabre-rattling on the debate''s first day. Rithmound''s really trying to hammer home his importance.¡±


    ¡°Be careful, now,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Rithmound sees the way the wind is turning. He fears the elves. The eln meia, too.¡±


    ¡°Do you?¡± Ramsey asked.


    Becenti was quiet as he considered the question, scratching at his chin. His frown deepened.


    ¡°The eln meia, no,¡± he said, ¡°I''ve fought in wars, and while that brings fear of the future, it is the fear that I am familiar with. But the elves? You see how Sunala has Busciver under her thumb. I''m concerned for the elves, Captain. I''ve heard their rhetoric before.¡±


    ¡°Their imperialism.¡±


    ¡°The words they call us,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I heard hatred like that all the time back home, as a child, even before I found I was metahuman. I''m just a Mutt, to people like Sunala.¡±


    Ramsey nodded. He took another drag of the cigarette.


    ¡°Your guild,¡± he said, ¡°They''re protecting your client. They have something to do with the election?¡±


    Again, Becenti shrugged.


    ¡°Right,¡± Ramsey said, and he knew that silence was just as much an answer as speaking, ¡°Well, keep yourselves ready. City might have another contract with you.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Becenti said, and he gave a polite smile.


    They shook hands. Becenti left.


    Ramsey sunk back into his seat, cigarette hanging limp from his lips. Worry pounded through his heart like blood.


    ***


    The Guttersnipe took off after seeing to repairs, rising up out of the dense jungles and high into the sky. The crew kept an eye out for the Gil-Galad and other dangers. A few of them were watching the floating mountains in the distance, wary and ready.


    The journey across Yuradal was one of tense silence. Hands always massaged the handles of swords, daggers, the flat tops of boarding axes. Their one remaining cannon was loaded up and ready to fire, their best bombardier always nearby, a thin ogre who was sweating up a storm. Ora looked at Rosemary, noted how she never let go of the sceptre in her hand. Same with Meleko, who kept checking and re-checking his plasma rifle, the pistol at his side, what seemed to be grenades on his belt that he occasionally removed and gave a once-over.


    The Nelnuthan was unsure of what to do. He had no weapon of his own. He could only watch, his fate well and truly out of his hands, as the Guttersnipe crested across the sky.


    At one point, Meleko perked up, as did a few crewmates. They beckoned him over to look over the side of the ship. Ora watched as the Jugdran planted a boot on the ship''s rail, leaning down and pointing his rifle down.


    He didn''t think he would ever get used to the dull thuds that came with plasmafire. He jumped at each jolt as Meleko fired down on whatever was accosting them. The crew jeered and laughed, one of them gave Meleko a high-five. He swaggered back to the Federation official with a vicious grin on his face.


    ¡°One of the mosquitoes,¡± he said, ¡°Not bad, right?¡±


    ¡°I... see,¡± Ora said.


    ¡°What''s wrong?¡± Meleko asked, ¡°You look like you''ve seen a ghost.¡±


    ¡°It''s nothing,¡± Ora said, but he could not hide the flickering of his eyes, from Meleko to his rifle. The Jugdran took note, and the grin became an amused smile.


    ¡°What?¡± he said, ¡°You''ve never fired one of these?¡±


    Ora shook his head. Meleko chuckled.


    ¡°I forget how coddled your folk can be, sometimes,¡± he said, ¡°You don''t see the Federation''s bad side ever, do you?¡±


    ¡°I suppose not,¡± Ora said, and he was surprised at his frankness. Only a few days before, he would have gotten¡­ defensive.


    But then, it had been an eventful few days.


    ¡°Here,¡± Meleko said, and he pulled free his pistol, ¡°Start small, right?¡±


    ¡°I...¡± Ora looked down at the weapon, ¡°What do you expect me to do with it?¡±


    ¡°You wanna get used to plasmafire, you''d better learn how to use one of these,¡± Meleko said, ¡°Now, this here is a Glomnius 87. This here''s the trigger, you click it, a plasma bolt fires off. The gas canisters are located up top here, and...¡±


    So they spent their time learning about the pistol, its ins and outs, how to practice good gun safety. Finally, Meleko set up a target on an empty crate. The crew gathered ''round as Ora held the pistol in hand. There was a weight to it that he was unused to, a certain electric tingle in his hands. He held, for the first time, something that could easily kill another being. He was both nervous and excited, something deep and primal bubbling up from the pit in his stomach to his chest. He pointed the pistol at the crate, taking a deep breath.


    ¡°That''s it,¡± Meleko said. The Jugdran was standing just behind him, ¡°Two hands, like that. Breathe in, breathe out. Fire.¡±


    He fired. The plasma bolt thundered out of its cartridge with a thud that shivered teeth and bucked the pistol upwards. A white-hot, green-tinged slab of plasma rushed into the crate, burned a hole through its center.


    Relief flooded through Ora''s system. He lowered the pistol, and he allowed himself a laugh that was perhaps a pitch too high.


    ¡°Awesome,¡± Meleko said, ¡°Fire it again.¡±


    ¡°W-What?¡± Ora said, ¡°Again?¡±


    ¡°Still got nineteen shots in there, guy,¡± Meleko said, ¡°Why don''t you fire off a couple more, get used to it.¡±


    The Nelnuthan looked down at the pistol. All of that, again?


    All of the build-up, the breathing, the steeling, the will to actually pull the trigger.


    But yes, Meleko was right. He had to get used to it, didn''t he? Because...


    Because he knew what their plan was, and it was a violent one. He could not afford to be the weak link of the crew.


    He raised the pistol. Fired again. And again. A fourth time. The second and third shots burned true. The fourth whizzed off the ship, arcing down as it lost momentum and fizzling as it neared the treeline.


    ¡°Not bad,¡± Meleko said, ¡°Not bad at all.¡±


    He glanced over at Ora. The Nelnuthan''s fur had become matted down with sweat. He was breathing heavily. But he gave the Jugdran a vicious grin. Meleko returned it.


    ¡°Good,¡± he said, ¡°You keep that pistol with you now.¡±


    He reached into a pocket, pulling out a few clips. He handed them over.


    ¡°Things are going to get nasty,¡± Meleko said, ¡°Fortunately you should be away from the worst of it, but I can''t promise anything. You keep that gun, and use it when you have to, got it?¡±


    Ora nodded.


    ¡°Good,¡± Meleko said, ¡°I''ve got a feeling they''ll find us soon.¡±


    ***


    Indeed, the Gil-Galad did. A few hours later, just after Ora had forced down a meager lunch of salted pork and a cup of water. He had holstered the pistol to his side, and it felt like a growth, the way it weighed him down.


    He was standing out on a railing, looking out to see the vast expanse of jungle below, when he heard shouts come from the crow''s nest. Trudy, one of the crew, was pointing out, the goblin''s high-pitched shrieking demanding everyone''s attention.


    The Gil-Galad was a white dot on a blue horizon. She was swanning across the sky, beautiful and terrible, the gashes on her hull having been patched over by the crew¡¯s repairmen. Ora, if he squinted, could just barely make out figures moving on the deck. Something off-white was being moved on the deck, a strange device. Its main cannon, he realized.


    Orvisan drew up beside him.


    ¡°Best you get below deck,¡± he said.


    Ora nodded. He began making his way down, glancing up to see Rosemary climbing the Guttersnipe''s rigging towards the crow''s nest. Was she going to be fighting, too? Ora supposed she would be.


    Meleko was waiting for him downstairs.


    ¡°Get yourself inside,¡± the Jugdran, ¡°I''ll be outside your door.¡±


    Ora complied. He wanted to say something to Meleko. Ask him why he wasn''t going inside with him, like before. But the easygoing, relaxed look that Meleko had been giving him was gone, replaced by a harder edge. This skirmish would not be like the one before. They were getting closer to the Gil-Galad. Boarding action had been discussed.


    It would be a bumpy ride to Entheos.


    ***


    Rosemary perched herself next to Trudy. The goblin was busy sharpening a knife, a vile smile on her face. She glanced up to Rosemary.Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    ¡°''Bout time,¡± she said, ¡°You ready?¡±


    Rosemary gripped her sceptre, looking down at it, trying to keep her mind off of the sceptre''s crack. She had been charging it up all day, and it was ready to unleash light upon the Gil-Galad. She pushed down the guilty feeling that was cropping up as she stared out at Sunala''s ship. The Gil-Galad was keeping pace with the Guttersnipe, neither ship getting within firing range.


    ¡°Hell,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°They''re guarding the Traveling Point.¡±


    ¡°I don''t see it,¡± Trudy said, ¡°Are you sure?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°See that island in the distance?¡±


    She pointed. Trudy squinted. Indeed, there was a patch of green floating several stories over the jungle.


    ¡°Traveling Point''s there,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Looks like your Captain was right. They went past us and waited for us.¡±


    ¡°Must''ve gone through, realized we weren''t there,¡± Trudy said. She flipped her knife into her belt, took out another, began to sharpen once more, scraping it against a whetstone.


    ¡°Mmm,¡± Rosemary said.


    The two ships continued their game of chicken for another twenty minutes. The crew sat with bated breath, weapons drawn, cannon ready to fire, as Orvisan steered the Guttersnipe, prodding at the Gil-Galad''s range.


    He got just a bit too close.


    The Gil-Galad fired just a hair too soon.


    The cannon rushed past the Guttersnipe, missed by just a few yards.


    ¡°Fire up the engines!¡± Orvisan ordered, ¡°They fucked up!¡±


    And the Guttersnipe plunged full throttle towards the island. The Gil-Galad followed after it, dipping down the sky, the two ships descending down in such a way that Rosemary and Trudy had to secure their arms around the ropes lining the crow''s nest.


    Then, suddenly, the Guttersnipe leveled out, now on the same plane as the island. The ogre bombardier aimed the cannon up at the approaching Gil-Galad. She took a deep breath. Lit the fuse-


    And the cannon fired, chainshot thrumming through the sky. It struck the Gil-Galad true, gouging across her hull.


    Trudy''s screech ran ragged as she screamed out with the crew. Rosemary gave her a smile, before turning her attention back to the Elven vessel. Despite the rent in her hull, the Gil-Galad was holding true. She hadn''t slowed down. Her size alone was what had saved her ¨C a hit like that on a ship like the Guttersnipe would have hit the engine, would have downed her.


    As it stood, the Gil-Galad was on an intercept course with the Guttersnipe, moving perpendicular to the caravel. Both crews were loading up.


    ¡°Now, Rosemary,¡± she whispered to herself. She took aim, pointing her sceptre at the distant galleon. The rose¡¯s head began to glow, a ball of light emanating from its tip, one that she began to shape into something sharper, arrow-like.


    She fired it off. The construct shot across the sky, tearing through one of the galleon''s sails. Elves onboard began to climb up the rigging towards the torn cloth, and she took aim at them, too.


    A net. That would catch them. They were close enough now that Rosemary could make them out more easily, figures in dark clothing, holding curved blades, spears, a few knocking arrows to heavy bows made from trees across the multiverse.


    For a heart-splitting second, she hesitated.


    Then, she fired off a ball of light, one that shot forwards, opening into a net halfway over. It caught like a large hand over one of the elves, throwing them off the riggings, ensnaring them. They missed the Gil-Galad''s rail, and fell past the ship, screaming towards the ground far below.


    Rosemary had been holding her breath. She let it out, her head swimming with panic and guilt. Trudy was letting out another war whoop beside her, as was the rest of the Guttersnipe''s crew.


    But she didn''t hear them. She was lost in her own thoughts.


    For the crew of the Gil-Galad had been kind to her.


    Part of her, thankfully small, painfully naive, asked if this is how she repaid their kindness.


    But the rest of her rejected that. These people wanted to hurt her friends. Her guild. Given the chance, they would kill her.


    So she shoved the guilt down. And returned her attention to the Gil-Galad.


    ***


    ¡°Rosemary''s on that ship,¡± Draz said.


    ¡°Sunala''s toy?¡± Urya said, ¡°Would explain the light there.¡±


    She nodded at the rigging, where Aethlindiril had been only a moment before. Draz grimaced.


    ¡°Never liked her,¡± the sea elf said, ¡°Sunala always favored her, and for what? For living in that guildhall? With all the rest of those freaks?¡±


    ¡°Calm yourself, Draz,¡± Urya said.


    ¡°She just killed one of her own,¡± Draz said, ¡°And I am supposed to be calm?¡±


    Urya raised an eyebrow. She had heard rumors about Rosemary. About how she wasn''t an elf, and how Sunala knew that, but kept her around. Her little plaything, her little¡­


    If someone like Adonal Adaya found out...


    Well, she was doing Adaya''s work for him. She''d ask for additional payment.


    ¡°Get the cannon ready,¡± she said, ¡°Prepare boarding parties. This ends now.¡±


    ***


    The Gil-Galad drew ever closer. As did the island, which by now they could make out the top of. It was abandoned. Once upon a time a Federation outpost had been set up here, when Entheos had been in forecast with several other planes and been a major nexus. But now the World of the Dead curved alongside more obscure squalls, had been projected to leave the Mellow-Diriad Paradigm entirely. The Federation had left the outpost decades ago, and all that was on the island was a lonely, silverish tower. If one squinted, and knew where to look, one could see the slight wavering in the air that was the Traveling Point.


    But the Gil-Galad was still on its course, would still cut the Guttersnipe off. The two ships rushed towards the island, one directly forward, one at an angle. Rosemary braced herself as the Gil-Galad fired, two of its cannons slamming directly into the Guttersnipe, one tearing through the hull, the other burning a hole through her sail.


    The Guttersnipe started to lag, trailing like a wounded animal as it crawled toward the island. Rosemary prepared herself, keeping low on the crow''s nest so the White Feathers wouldn''t be able to see her or Trudy. A few of the crew were down below as well, to give an illusion that the ship was running on a skeleton crew after the last battle.


    The Gil-Galad took advantage of the Guttersnipe''s drop in speed. She bore down upon the caravel-


    And Rosemary stood up, pointing at the Gil-Galad''s central mast. Fired. A drill, like back on Chliofrond, and it pierced through the white wood, a solid gash that made the mast start to sway...


    At the same moment, the Guttersnipe''s crew began to throw sealed pots at the Gil-Galad. Those that managed to hit the ship''s deck exploded, shattering and burning to life as a green flame that chewed through wood, through rigging¡­


    Through flesh, as a few unlucky elves were set ablaze. Emerald fire devoured their bodies as they screamed, a few of them leaping down towards the jungle below.


    But the Gil-Galad was not one to go down easy. Elves jumped down-


    A sea elf leaped from the deck of the Gil-Galad, landing neatly on the crow''s nest, twin blades flashing to his hands. Rosemary recognized him. Draz, one of the White Feathers that Sunala had been keeping around. He sneered at her.


    ¡°Freak,¡± he growled. And he swung his swords down like pincers. Rosemary brought up her sceptre, parrying the strikes, ducking as he slashed at her, but he had her on the defensive, was driving her back-


    Trudy dove around, drawing a dagger that she stabbed deep into the sea elf''s leg. Draz let out a gasp of pain. Rosemary rose and swung her sceptre, aiming clear for his head, but Draz was not so distracted as to give her a killing blow. One blade clashed with the sceptre''s head, the other drove towards her belly. Rosemary twisted around, feeling the blade slide across her side, piercing through her leather and citing into her hip. She watched as Trudy pulled out another knife, slicing viciously at Draz, who broke off his attack on Rosemary to deal with her. He favored his good leg, keeping himself stationary as his arms became a blur.


    Trudy swung at him, diving past what she thought was his guard.


    But he reared up his good leg, driving his knee into her chin, somehow standing on his wounded leg. Trudy bit her own tongue, her head racketing upwards-


    The sea elf''s blade flashed again, and her head flew down to the deck below.


    ¡°No!¡± Rosemary yelled, and she was swinging at Draz. At the last moment, she dipped back, letting his blades fly over her head, clipping a few curls of her hair, as she fired off a beam of light, point-blank, at him. It stabbed through his side, carried him up, released him to fall to the ground below.


    But she didn''t care about that. She looked at the headless corpse of Trudy for a moment, grimaced, and then looked over the crow''s nest-


    The Guttersnipe had blunted the assault. Bodies of both elves and Scuttlers littered the deck. But she was moving again, moving past the Gil-Galad, which bled green flame. Their magicians would be able to put it out yet, but for now she was dead in the sky.


    The Guttersnipe continued on towards the Traveling Point. Limped, more like, after that spat. The Gil-Galad lurched, did not follow.


    The island was green. It was beautiful, in its way. Rosemary would have liked to visit it.


    But as it stood, there were screams coming from the deck. A corpse beside her in the crow''s nest. She held Trudy down as she wrapped an arm around the rope on the crow''s nest, fastening herself tight as the Guttersnipe entered the Traveling Point.


    Rainbows flew above her. Around her. Within. Becenti called the in-between place Imagination. Or, at least, this place bled of it. Often when she was traveling on her own, simply walking through the Traveling Point, the miasma was just a rush of color.


    But stationary, like this? It was a mosaic. A kaleidoscope. Possibility flooded above her, raw and untamed and powerful. She remembered Becenti telling her that, in older days, latent metahumans would first walk through a Traveling Point to awaken their abilities, a rite of passage that they took at the age of five.


    She could see why.


    And all too soon, they drifted out to the other side. For a moment, Rosemary wondered if they''d somehow returned to Londoa, the way the world shivered. But no, Entheos was in its ice age, far colder than Londoa could ever be. The clouds drooped heavy, swollen with snow. The land below was grayscale.


    She peeked over the crow''s nest. The crew were tending to their wounded, wrapping up open cuts and bringing their comrades down belowdecks, to the infirmary.


    There were wounded elves, too, White Feathers that hadn''t gotten a chance to return to the Gil-Galad. Those, the Scuttlers finished off, running them through with sabres, slitting throats with daggers, cleaving their heads with boarding axes. The bodies were looted, then pitched over the side. Almost professional, their efficiency. Rosemary shuddered.


    ***


    When Ora was allowed to walk the deck again, he found the entire place a warzone. A boarding party had hit the Guttersnipe, and the wooden floorboards of the ship were stained red with, Ora realized later, blood. A hint of iron tinged the air, and the sight of so many dead bodies almost made him want to retch. But he didn''t.


    He had promised himself that he would be strong.


    Captain Orvisan had taken a nasty bash to the temple from the pommel of an elf''s broadsword. A medical mage was looking at it now, wrapping a bandage around his head as he steered the Guttersnipe. Rosemary had taken a vicious cut to the side, though she had managed to bind the wound with gauze, wincing a bit as she waved at Ora and Meleko.


    ¡°Was more of a fight than we expected,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Crew held on, though.¡±


    ¡°Certainly seemed to be a battle,¡± Ora murmured. His gaze was on a line of bodies, those of the Guttersnipe who hadn''t been so lucky. Seven bodies.


    Nine Scuttlers dead, overall, and Ora couldn''t count the number of elves they had killed. A lot of death, for this investigation.


    ¡°Have to make it count,¡± he said to himself.


    ¡°What was that?¡± Meleko asked.


    ¡°N-Nothing,¡± Ora said, turning around, ¡°Ah, Rosemary, are you alright?¡±


    She shrugged, giving him a smile that didn''t quite match the ones she had given him before.


    ¡°Eh,¡± she said, ¡°I''ve had worse.¡±


    Shouts came up from the lookout. Those crewmembers still able to fight were pointing out towards the Traveling Point, which hung in the sky like a gossamer. For a moment, the air shuddered, seemed about to shatter.


    Then the Gil-Galad poured out of the Traveling Point, the entire ship pitching forwards, a few elves holding on before the galleon righted itself.


    ¡°Hell,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°They recover fast,¡± Meleko said, ¡°They''re not even on fire anymore.¡±


    Orvisan, too, had noted the Gil-Galad''s reappearance. He waved off the medical mage, gave control of the ship over to the usual helmsman, and swaggered over to the three of them.


    ¡°Worse than we thought,¡± he said, ¡°I underestimated them.¡±


    ¡°The majority of the battle was going to be here, wasn''t it?¡± Rosemary said, ¡°A running battle to the Traveling Point to Redenia.¡±


    ¡°Aye,¡± Orvisan said, ¡°But I thought there''d be a chance for us to lick our wounds, recover without them looking down at us from the horizon line.¡±


    He looked out at the Gil-Galad, his brow furrowed. He was lost in thought, and barely concealed worry, for a few moments.


    ¡°Best you all get ready,¡± he said, ¡°This fight''s going to get bloody. We might need to try and sink them here, and now.¡±


    ¡°What about Elzan Chi?¡± Rosemary asked.


    ¡°We deal with that when we get to Redenia,¡± Orvisan said, ¡°But, the way things are going, I''m not sure if we will get there.¡±


    ***


    They dodged past the comings and goings of the rain elemental, keeping low and keeping ever-anxious watch over the horizon. One side of the world was always covered in a wall of gray. The plains became suffocated with water, free of the rain elemental''s influence, pooling in small lakes that, at some points, went up to their knees.


    ¡°If we aren''t careful,¡± Rorshin said, ¡°We''ll be caught in a flash flood.¡±


    With that in mind, they kept moving forward. The Traveling Point to Hanbusan was in the distance, an outcropping of stone that drew upwards in a ring. Some sort of language had been scrawled at the ring''s top ¨C Epochian, or some variation. Or, at least, that was Ichabod''s guess. If Becenti were here, he''d be able to translate it easily.


    They stopped just at a nearby ditch, newly funneled by the ceaseless rain. They waited, looking towards the other horizon.


    The rain elemental was coming in fast.


    ¡°No doubt it''s seen us,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°Or it senses something near the Traveling Point,¡± Rorshin noted, ¡°Elementals, they''re tied to the in-between places deep.¡±


    ¡°So it could be tracking us no matter where we go?¡± Contort said, ¡°Is it like Phineas, with eyes on the outside?¡±


    ¡°Hnng,¡± Rorshin sneered, ¡°Perhaps. Perhaps not. Our plan remains the same.¡±


    ¡°We''d better run,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°The storm, it''s started to sprint.¡±


    Indeed, the rain elemental was rushing forward, far faster than its meandering plod across the Quiet. Of the three of them, only Rorshin could sense the gales ripping up plains grass, the whistling roar of the storm.


    He was the first to break into full flight, running as fast as he could to the Traveling Point. The other two followed suit, and three figures broke into dead sprints across the field. Thunder roared in the distance, and as Ichabod, the slowest of the three, rushed into the Traveling Point, droplets had splattered against the mud where he had just stepped.


    They arrived to an abandoned town. A mere fifteen years ago, Hanbusan had been in forecast with the CITY, and this Traveling Point had led directly to one of the most profitable districts there.


    Now, however, it led to the Quiet. Business had dried up. People had left. All that was left in the stone buildings were rats, overgrown plantlife, and a couple of lonely squatters.


    All was silent as the three figures appeared out of the Traveling Point, immediately booking down the primary road, dodging past abandoned car shells and looted buildings.


    An hour later, the Traveling Point conflated, shivering as though caught in an earthquake. Rain began to petal out, big, globular raindrops that splattered against old stone.


    Then, the bulk of the storm broke through, a dark gray cloud that hung in the plaza for a moment before rising up towards the sky. It billowed out of the Traveling Point like a serpent, pooling high above, mixing with native weathers, forcing the world to expel its rain.


    Each raindrop was an eye.


    And it continued its hunt.

 107. The Whale of Scuttleway

    House Eilonwy was one of the most prominent noble Houses in all of Scuttleway, and it had been for years. It was made up of those goblins and hobgoblins that had been enslaved by the Tlantoians long ago, forced out of their homelands across the multiverse and brought here, to Londoa, to work in the underground farms that provided most of the essential foods of Scuttleway. Bread in this city was a luxury. Salt, however, was an export, as were the crabs that lived in the underground lakes beneath the city. Many of these pools had been cordoned off and used specifically for breeding the crustaceans, from which Scuttleway had taken its name and symbology.


    Pools that House Eilonway claimed. They owned roughly forty percent of the crab farms beneath the city, a monopoly that allowed them to control much of the industry. Isaac looked out, squinting in the half-lit dim of the great cavern that Lady Doria had guided him through. They were walking along the shores of an indoor pool, lake-sized, so vast that he could barely make out the edge on the other side. Nets divided the lake up into pieces, and workers were knee-deep in frigid water, dipping gloved hands in to grab at crabs, mostly orange in coloration, a result of the mineral rich waters. They put the largest ones into buckets on their backs. The smaller ones they left well alone, to grow.


    Lady Eilonwy was walking with a cane, her feet sure against the uneven stone. She had been working these pools for years, first as a farmhand, then as a minor baroness. Eilonwy did not have a true familial unity like the other Houses ¨C it was meritocratic in nature, and Doria had come from nothing, evolving into one of the most powerful beings in Scuttleway.


    ¡°I''m surprised the lake hasn''t frozen over,¡± Isaac said, ¡°It''s cold, up above.¡±


    He shivered. It was cold in here, too, even with a heavy fur coat.


    ¡°Ah,¡± Lady Doria said, ¡°Fire elementals are stationed here and there, mostly under the pools. Keeps the crabs warm and growing.¡±


    She turned a snide eye over to Isaac.


    ¡°But I thought you learned that in your tutoring?¡±


    ¡°Just trying to make conversation, milady.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Lady Doria said, ¡°One must improve in many things, I suppose.¡±


    She stepped over a small jut of stone, cane tapping against the ground. It echoed harsh across the cavern.


    ¡°We''re in an interesting period of time, Lord Isaac,¡± Doria said, ¡°Sunala''s hold over Busciver grows with every passing day.¡±


    Isaac was quiet, waiting for her to continue. The old crone continued her way across the shoreline, towards a small hill that sloped up to overlook the pool. A simple chair and table had been set up there, along with a lamp that burned a bright blue. Lady Doria sat down on it, letting out a relieved wheeze. A servant brought her a cup of tea, which she accepted with gentle thanks. The servant looked askance at Isaac, who shook his head.


    ¡°I tell you, Isaac,¡± Doria said, ¡°The older you get, the worse everything becomes. Ye gods, my bones ache.¡±


    She turned to him.


    ¡°I''m sorry, dear, give me a moment.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Isaac said, giving her a smile. He gave her time to rest, taking a moment to survey the landscape, hands behind his back. The workers ignored them ¨C they were used to Lady Eilonwy''s comings and goings. Behind him, Isaac made out the silhouette of Ket. This was a natural arena for him, enough shadow for him to pull off the same feats he had performed at the gala. Isaac was in no danger.


    ¡°As I was saying,¡± Lady Doria said, ¡°It appears that your father''s warnings have borne true. Busciver has fully flung himself into the arms of Sunala. I thought him a fool, but not to this extent.¡±


    ¡°It''s a dire situation,¡± Isaac agreed.


    ¡°And what are you doing about it?¡± Lady Doria asked.


    Isaac was prepared for that.


    ¡°We''re making our overtures,¡± he replied, ¡°Poking and prodding at Callistopa and Mur. Setting up potential...¡±


    He went quiet. For he didn''t want to speak. He had found that the young Lady Callistopa, granddaughter and heir to the House, was still unwedded. She was coming of marriageable age in the Spring.


    ¡°Isaac,¡± Lady Doria said, chuckling, ¡°You aren''t thinking of marrying yourself off for something as little as the Dogeship, are you?¡±


    ¡°I might,¡± Isaac said, ¡°The sacrifices we make, to stop the devil.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Doria hummed, ¡°I think your father''s gotten his claws deep in you, boy. If you''re not careful, you''ll end up just like him.¡±


    ¡°And is that such a bad thing?¡± Isaac said, though there was a slight tremor in his voice, ¡°My father is a powerful man. He did not consider such trivialities as love.¡±


    ¡°He did, once,¡± Lady Doria murmured, ¡°Once upon a time, Bryce Rithmound was a loving man. Wore his heart on his sleeve, like you do.¡±


    She glanced over his way.


    ¡°Now,¡± she said, ¡°I didn''t put much stock in Lord Rithmound when he was younger, but I must say, you''re his spitting image.¡±


    ¡°A mirror, some people say,¡± Isaac said.


    ¡°Only part of that was a compliment,¡± Lady Doria said, ¡°Don¡¯t let his passionless ways consume you, is all I say. This election is but one. Even if the elves take over Scuttleway, their time will pass. Even if it takes a hundred years. A thousand. Allow yourself to love, and feel joy.¡±


    Isaac was quiet.


    ¡°Don''t do anything drastic, Isaac dear,¡± Doria said, ¡°Not for this election. You''ve played your best card. Now all you have to do is wait.¡±


    ¡°I''m afraid we can''t,¡± Isaac said, ¡°The next debate could very well be the last. It''s only a matter of time before Deirdre concedes. She''s got no point of winning, and she knows it, and...¡±


    Something was percolating in his head. He started to understand. Lady Doria''s smile turned vile and devious.


    ¡°House Korgan''s sponsorship of Deirdre. That was you.¡±


    The Lady Eilonwy sipped her tea. Isaac''s brow was furrowed.


    ¡°...Why?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Your father''s chances at becoming Doge sank the moment Sunala found that dead plane,¡± Doria said, ¡°And you know it. He knows it. If Deirdre is the Whale, then the dead plane is its sea.¡±


    ¡°So you pay off Korgan, bribe them to push Deirdre to the forefront,¡± Isaac said, ¡°Make them a third party in the election. It splits the votes.¡±


    ¡°House Deirdre won''t win, and they know that,¡± Doria said, ¡°But by putting in Vataya as a potential candidate, Deirdre can''t be used to sway the remaining Houses. I know for a fact that at least a few members of the Tribunal would vote the same as Vataya, if she merely spoke to them outside the Commons.¡±


    ¡°So you put her in, so she can¡¯t sway either side,¡± Isaac said, ¡°Nor does she truly want the Dogeship.¡±


    ¡°So Deirdre can do nothing but remain quiet, and eventually, gracefully, step down. That will take time. People will understand. But it will take a few more rounds of debate. A few more weeks. It will be agony. It will be boring. The last thing any Scuttler wants. By then, we¡¯ll be thanking Lady Vataya for turning the other cheek. It means we can end this damn election, and get on with our lives.¡±


    She took another sip of her tea.


    ¡°If Lord Gordusus had not sponsored Lady Deirdre, what would have been the result?¡±


    ¡°We would have lost the election,¡± Isaac said, ¡°If not the first debate, then the second, when Lord Busciver revealed more details on the dead plane.¡±


    ¡°And we''d be aligning our trade deals with Tlantoia, and Sunala''s damned Verdant Reclamation.¡±


    Lady Doria''s eyes grew red. Her voice was venomous as she spoke.


    ¡°The things Tlantoia did to our people, Isaac... you''ve read the history books. But you haven''t seen it with your own eyes, have you? They still practice slavery, on the other side of Moadma. People like you and me, in chains.¡±


    She set her tea down.


    ¡°It could happen here. It will happen here, if Busciver is re-elected. When I say we''re at a precipice, I mean it with full certainty.¡±


    ¡°Then time is our ally,¡± Isaac said, ¡°So long as the dead plane remains as Busciver''s trump card, then eventually a vote will break through, and Busciver will win.¡±


    ¡°So we delay,¡± Lady Doria said, ¡°We wait for the Federation to wrest the dead plane from Sunala''s grasp. Do everything in your power to stop the debates. Kill Busciver''s trump card.¡±


    ***


    The Minor Tribunal met, once more, the following day. It was also, once more, a debate that went nowhere. Ramsey watched from his customary perch on the third floor, leering down at the Grand Commons like a vulture. One of the Amber Foundation was beside him, Gouffant, a rat the size of a large pony. The guild¡¯s apparent political observer, he knew that Gouffant had been some sort of politician on his home plane, the Consortium, and thus took a keen interest whenever an election rolled around.


    ¡°Your thoughts?¡± the Captain of the Guard asked. Far below, House Korgan was putting out a list of complaints the local unions had brought forth.


    ¡°They have been sitting on your desk for quite some time, now,¡± Lord Korgan was saying to Busciver, ¡°Complaints on the conditions of trading ships that Busciver has sponsored, the engines of which are in dire need of repair. Already one ship, the Gnomish Delight, has sunk, lost with all hands. What do you say to this?¡±


    ¡°It will come, in time,¡± Busciver said, ¡°Trust me on this, Lord Korgan. Such complaints were brought to my administration''s attention. But, more often than not, they have been problems that have corrected themselves. House Deirdre, for example, bought a variety of such engines from Melmaen after the incident with the Gnomish Delight, and all was well with our fleet.¡±


    ¡°Never mind that the Gnomish Delight was a Busciver ship,¡± Gouffant muttered, ¡°Another House had to cover his ass.¡±


    ¡°That''s your thought on him,¡± Ramsey said.


    The rat had a wheel of cheese clutched between his paws. He nibbled at it in thought.


    ¡°He knows how to use the other Houses,¡± Gouffant said, at length, ¡°He''s always been the middleman for a wide variety of trade deals in the city. Only natural, then, that he''s just a middleman for the infrastructure of Scuttleway, too.¡±


    ¡°He''s good at deflecting, at least,¡± Ramsey said, ¡°He''s got an answer for each and every challenge.¡±


    ¡°Aye,¡± Gouffant said, ¡°But notice: he hasn''t done anything himself, has he? The Busciver administration''s always found someone to do the heavy lifting for them. They''re the ultimate connector.¡±


    Ramsey furrowed his brow. But he could not disagree.


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t all good Houses be?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Yuh,¡± Gouffant said, ¡°To a point.¡±


    Ramsey looked away as the rat stuffed the entire wheel of cheese into his mouth.


    ***


    A vote was not called this session. None of the three factions were keen on seeing the results, not when they were needing to dig in their heels and fight a protracted debate. So the third session of the Minor Tribunal ended with an exhausted sigh. Ramsey was among the last to leave, lost in thought as the rest of the city streamed out of the Grand Commons. When no one was looking, he took a moment to light a cigarette, taking a drag. Most smokes were forbidden in the Commons, but at this point most everyone was too tired to object.


    Besides, he was Captain of the Guard, who were assigned to protect this place. He could tell whoever admonished him to shut up.


    ¡°Sir,¡± a voice said beside him, ¡°Smokin''s not allowed.¡±


    He rolled his eyes at Lieutenant Antsy, and then quietly put the smoke out. The gnome was standing to attention, arms clasped behind her back.


    ¡°Anything I can help you with, Lieutenant?¡± Ramsey said, ¡°I''m rather busy, at the moment.¡±


    ¡°Aye, sir,¡± Antsy said, ¡°A rep from Deirdre''s here to speak with you.¡±


    He turned. Behind his Lieutenant was a nervous looking, sickly lady. Vataya Deirdre''s daughter, the Lady Uvalendri. She looked like she was attending a funeral, all in black, with deep rings under her eyes.


    ¡°Milady,¡± Ramsey said, ¡°What do you need?¡±


    ¡°I-I-I would prefer to speak in private, Captain,¡± she had a high, nervous voice, and she seemed to be fighting off a stutter. Ramsey nodded.If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    ¡°The upper rooms of the Commons would work,¡± he said, ¡°No eyes there.¡±


    She made to say something.


    ¡°No ears, either,¡± Ramsey said.


    She closed her mouth.


    Antsy accompanied them as they went up a flight of stairs. At this time of day, the only people in the Grand Commons were a couple miscellaneous servants and the Guard. When there was not a debate, usually it had a couple of nobles too, politicians with so much ambition jammed up their ass that they chose, voluntarily, to stay here after sessions were over. Ramsey had no idea why one would want to do that. He''d rather just go home.


    Which, after these debates, most the nobility, the nobility that mattered, did. Good.


    It meant that they could walk into an empty room, a small study, and were well and left alone. Antsy did the usual check-up, searching inside for any listening devices or elementals. She sneered at a couple of pigeons that were outside, picking at the roof''s shingling. After she gave the all-clear, Ramsey and Lady Uvalendri went inside.


    ¡°Thank you for speaking with me,¡± Lady Uvalendri said, ¡°My mother, she refuses to hear what I''m saying.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Ramsey said, ¡°Now, milady, what seems to be the problem?¡±


    ¡°It''s this election, Captain,¡± Uvalendri said, ¡°And the effect it''s having on my family.¡±


    Ramsey lifted an eyebrow. He leaned against a desk, crossing his arms.


    ¡°Milady, to be frank,¡± he said, ¡°I''m not a family therapist.¡±


    ¡°It''s not therapy I seek, Captain,¡± Uvalendri said, ¡°It''s protection.¡±


    Antsy gave Ramsey a look. He gave a shrug.


    ¡°Explain,¡± he said.


    The Lady Uvalendri took a deep breath. She looked to and fro, as though she were letting them in on a dark secret.


    ¡°I-It goes like this, sir¡± she said, ¡°Up until one day before the first debate, House Deirdre had no intention of allowing anyone to sponsor my mother for Dogeship.¡±


    ¡°I... see,¡± Ramsey said, ¡°That''s...¡±


    ¡°I-I-I-I know,¡± she said, ¡°The House was united by the fact that we were to play a major role nonetheless, and both the Busciver and Rithmound caucuses were at our doorstep with multiple trade deals and gifts and offers of alliance. T-To be c-candid, sir, we would have made out like bandits.¡±


    ¡°You can choose whoever gives you the biggest stack,¡± Ramsey said.


    ¡°C-Correct,¡± Uvalendri said.


    ¡°Until Lord Korgan sponsored your mother as a potential Doge.¡±


    ¡°Captain, it''s torn my House apart,¡± Uvalendri said, ¡°I-It''s... I-It''s...¡±


    Her hands were shaking. She started to take quick, short breaths. Anty, at once, crossed over to her side, resting a hand on her shoulder.


    ¡°It''s alright, milady,¡± she said, ¡°Atta girl, get yourself a rest. There we are...¡±


    To her credit, the Lady Uvalendri was quick to recover herself. Probably, Ramsey surmised, because there was no one who would help her, but herself.


    ¡°Th-thank you,¡± Lady Uvalendri said, ¡°Captain, I-I apologize for my a-attack. Th-these are t-t-troubling times.¡±


    ¡°Quite alright,¡± Ramsey said, ¡°You were saying.¡±


    ¡°I-I was saying,¡± Uvalendri said, ¡°That it''s torn the House apart. My brothers, they didn''t realize that we were going to be declared for candidacy. They''re calling for my mother to be deposed. My mother is arguing with them. Servants are being given all sorts of orders. They...¡±


    She paused. As if, by speaking, she was calling forth the discord in her home.


    ¡°They stopped posting guards at my mother''s door at night,¡± she whispered, ¡°Th-They''ve dismissed our Master a-at Arms, and replaced him with... with s-someone from off-p-plane. A W-White Feather.¡±


    Ramsey was quiet.


    ¡°Sir,¡± she said, ¡°I-I need... M-My mother needs outside protection.¡±


    ¡°As a member of the Militia, we can''t guard private Houses,¡± Ramsey said, ¡°That''s why you have your guards.¡±


    ¡°I-I am well a-aware,¡± Uvalendri said, ¡°B-But I''m not asking for you to guard them. I''m aware that you''ve made contracts with the local guild, hiring them to protect Mr. Gondoro, the Executor.¡±


    ¡°We have,¡± Ramsey said.


    ¡°I-I would ask that you help me secure an audience with them,¡± Uvalendri said.


    ¡°An... audience,¡± Ramsey said, ¡°And why not go there yourself?¡±


    There was a pause.


    ¡°I am watched,¡± she said, ¡°In these times, even the rain has eyes. I-I have l-little power on my own. They dismissed my handmaid. I-I think my b-brothers are going to t-try and pull a takeover...¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Ramsey said. He turned to Antsy, ¡°Lieutenant. Call for Becenti.¡±


    ¡°Sir?¡± Antsy said, ¡°I thought we were supposed to stay away from all this.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps we are,¡± Ramsey said, ¡°Perhaps we aren''t.¡±


    Antsy''s brow furrowed. But she nevertheless did as he ordered.


    ***


    As it stood, Becenti was still outside the Grand Commons, enjoying a cup of hot chocolate with Gouffant and Joseph. The young metahuman was, Gouffant joked, out on furlough. For even if the entire debacle at Melmaen had been swept under the rug, people in the guild still knew that something had gone down. Joseph had been put on the worst chores in the guild. Phineas still had not returned from Amzuth, so devastating were his injuries.


    And there was the fact that Joseph was always accompanied by at least someone, usually Lazuli or Whiskey.


    Lieutenant Antsy was, to be honest, a bit intimidated by their local guildfolk. She had heard stories of the Amber Foundation, this strange collection of individuals from across the reaches of reality. Some of them wandered the city well enough, to the point that she knew a few of their names ¨C Rosemary, Dama Runebreaker, and the like. She had even almost hooked up with one of them, a human with spiky purple hair and a strange instrument and a hell of a kisser, but decided against it later in the night when she broke a fellow guard''s nose. But occasionally one of their more esoteric members would come out of the orange castle on the edge of the city. A mass of plantlife with two heads, a strange jellyfish that spoke in color, a walking marionette that never spoke and always stared.


    But the three outside seemed well enough. Even the giant rat.


    The oldest of them, a brown-skinned man, looked at her.


    ¡°Lieutenant,¡± he said, a bit terse.


    ¡°Good day, sir,¡± Antsy said, ¡°Captain Ramsey wants to speak with ya.¡±


    ¡°Ah, I see,¡± Becenti said, ¡°About our contract?¡±


    ¡°Ah, no,¡± Antsy said, ¡°About...¡±


    She glanced out. Realized she was out in the open. And, these days, it seemed like the city itself had eyes and ears.


    ¡°He''s waiting in the Grand Commons, sir,¡± she said.


    Becenti gave a curt nod. He turned to the others.


    ¡°I''ll catch up with you later,¡± he said, ¡°Remember what I told you, Mr. Zheng. We''ll continue your practice tomorrow morning.¡±


    ¡°Great,¡± the younger man said, ¡°Love getting up at dawn to shovel snow. Some training.¡±


    Becenti smirked, then joined Antsy.


    ***


    But the smirk died away, as Becenti listened to Lady Uvalendri. He took one last sip of his hot chocolate, putting the cup down, and steepled his fingers.


    ¡°These guards,¡± he said, ¡°This White Feather. Do you think they''ll do actual harm to your mother?¡±


    ¡°I...¡± and Uvalendri wilted a bit, ¡°I-I am not sure.¡±


    ¡°If the Amber Foundation publicly protects your mother,¡± Becenti said, ¡°It could be seen as us unfairly taking a side in these debates.¡±


    He did not mention the fact that, by sending out Meleko and Rosemary to protect the Federation investigator, the Amber Foundation had taken a side. He had to be careful.


    ¡°I understand,¡± Lady Uvalendri said, ¡°But I-I do fear for m-my mother.¡±


    ¡°You fear for her, but you are unsure,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I see there''s much that clouds your mind.¡±


    ¡°I...¡±


    ¡°What are the results,¡± Becenti said, ¡°If one of your brothers takes over House Deirdre?¡±


    ¡°We would pull out of the election,¡± Uvalendri said, ¡°Become the ''Whale'' that s-so many w-wish us to be.¡±


    ¡°Who would you vote for?¡± Becenti asked.


    ¡°I...¡±


    She was quiet for a long while. Becenti allowed her time to collect her thoughts.


    ¡°I-I-I believe it would be B-Busciver,¡± she confessed, ¡°My older b-brother, Alabaster, he h-has many t-trade deals with him. W-We were o-offered a lucrative deal, a monopoly on carving-stone trade, to Tlantoia and beyond...¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Very well.¡±


    He rolled his shoulder, suppressing a wince as an old pain wound its way down his arm.


    ¡°I can offer a few of us to observe your mother,¡± he said, ¡°Protect her discreetly. But if anything happens, you cannot mention us.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Uvalendri said, ¡°I-I have...¡±


    ¡°We''ll draw up the contract when the election is over,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°I..¡± Uvalendri said, ¡°Y-You can do that?¡±


    ¡°We need merely to send a report to the Federation when this is over,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I''ll talk with my guildmaster about it, let her know that we''re bending the rules a bit.¡±


    Ramsey was grimacing.


    ¡°Usually you want specific stipulations, don''t you?¡± he said, ¡°You''re making this all rather under-the-table.¡±


    ¡°I am,¡± Becenti said, ¡°But I have my reasons.¡±


    He took a shaky breath.


    ¡°A White Feather is your Master of Arms now?¡± he said, ¡°Who?¡±


    ¡°I-I don''t know,¡± Uvalendri said, ¡°A f-friend of my brother''s.¡±


    ¡°Very well,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I have but one last question for you.¡±


    Uvalendri nodded.


    ¡°Your mother,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Does she like cats?¡±


    ***


    Thus did Lady Vataya Deirdre gain two bodyguards, one of whom she was aware of, another of whom she was not.


    The first was Chadwick, who was only convinced by the fact that Deirdre was known to import numerous bottles of spiced milk. Emerald eyes danced with merriment as he was brought to Deirdre''s estate, a beautiful, blue-bricked manor in the center of the noble district, on a satin pillow. A Deirdre servant, loyal to Vataya, dropped him off at the door, whereupon another servant picked up the pillow and brought it up the multitude of stairs to the Lady Deirdre''s personal rooms. They set it down at the base of her bed.


    She raised an eyebrow at him.


    ¡°The Amber Foundation sends me a cat, hm?¡± she said.


    ¡°Oh, don''t sound too upset,¡± Chadwick said, preening a paw, ¡°I assure you, little one, I am quite capable of defending you and your home.¡±


    ¡°''Little one''?¡± Lady Vataya said, and she smirked, ¡°What is your name, friend?¡±


    ¡°Chadwick,¡± the cat said, ¡°I will require spiced milk twice a day. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the finest crab you can provide. All you need give me is food, and I will protect your family.¡±


    ¡°From what my daughter so crudely told me,¡± Lady Vataya said, ¡°It is not my family whom you must protect.¡±


    Chadwick''s eyes glittered.


    ¡°Indulge me,¡± he said.


    There came a knock at the door. Chadwick continued licking the back of his paw, before curling up on the pillow and closing his eyes.


    ¡°Enter,¡± Lady Vataya said.


    Of her three children, Alabaster Deirdre was her oldest and most prominent, a tall, thin man with the familial sickly white skin, though his was not quite so yellowed, more marble than sickly. He was all but glaring at his mother. He had caught her right as she was about to get ready for bed, her hair tied up in a series of curlers for the next morning.


    ¡°Tired already, mother?¡± Alabaster asked, ¡°Did today truly exhaust you?¡±


    ¡°Tomorrow is a busy day, my son,¡± Vataya said, ¡°I am going to meet with Lord Korgan to discuss a particular shipment of cargo that was lost the other week.¡±


    ¡°Nothing else?¡± Alabaster said, ¡°Mother, what did Korgan promise you?¡±


    ¡°Lord Korgan,¡± Vataya corrected, ¡°He promised me nothing, my son. Only that we had mutual goals.¡±


    ¡°Mutual goals,¡± Alabaster sneered, ¡°Of course, mother. Of course.¡±


    His eyes fell on Chadwick.


    ¡°A cat, mother?¡± he said, ¡°Moving on so soon, after Gertruda?¡±


    ¡°A gift,¡± Lady Vataya said, ¡°Nothing more.¡±


    Alabaster drew further into the room, stalking inside like a bear. He was glaring at the cat.


    ¡°I thought we agreed,¡± he said, ¡°No more cats. No more pets. You''re getting too old to take proper care of them, mother, and none of us will want it after you''re gone.¡±


    ¡°True,¡± Vataya said, ¡°But I cannot refuse a gift, yes?¡±


    ¡°You can,¡± Alabaster said, and he moved towards Chadwick, ¡°Better to throw it out now, mother.¡±


    He reached out a hand.


    Chadwick opened up a single, emerald eye.


    His shadow danced, and lengthened, and Alabaster''s eyes widened. His heart began to hammer as he made out the shadow''s shape. Large, winged, vicious. The form the shadow belonged to was far larger than the simple calico on the satin pillow.


    He took a step back. Tried to still his shaking hand.


    ¡°Well,¡± he said, ¡°Best to keep it there, for now. But I want it gone, mother.¡±


    ¡°If I pass on, you may return it,¡± Lady Vataya said, ¡°Now, leave my room. I am tired. And a busy day beckons.¡±


    Lord Alabaster faltered for a second, before giving a curt nod and leaving.


    Chadwick closed his eye. It was a good time for a nap, was it not?


    ***


    A being slipped out from beneath the pillow. Guerico, an Abstract Man, a living piece of art from some distant place. He lived in a two-dimensional world, and as such his crawling out from beneath the pillow was him merely moving against the floor, sliding along the marble, his one eye flickering to and fro, the nose on the top of his head sniffing about.


    Chadwick opened a lazy eye again. Watched Guerico peel towards the door, easily inking beneath its frame, and into the hallway proper. Better three eyes than two, for someone like the Lady Deirdre.


    Guerico kept watch, slinking to the ceiling, hiding in a shadow, just out of sight. He could not affect the material, three-dimensional world, not really, but he had a certain eye for things. Chadwick worked best when he knew what to expect. He tended to go overboard when he was surprised.


    And, Becenti had stressed, this was not the sort of job to go overboard on.


    ***


    ¡°She''s got something with her,¡± Alabaster said to the new Master of Arms.


    They were in a private room, one of the wings that Alabaster had taken over for his own musings and plans when he had come of age, as was his right as the firstborn of his House. Deirdre was not like the other old Houses of Scuttleway, which were descended from the slaves and serfs that Tlantoia had brought from their empire on the other side. No, Deirdre was a human house, with a couple of metahumans rumored to be mixed among their number. Merchants from across the multiverse who had been trading partners to Tlantoia in times past. They had only been allowed to settle in Scuttleway because it was a Deirdre who had, with great reluctance, closed the gates of the city, trapping the Third Tlantoian in its walls, to be slaughtered by the uprising.


    And yet, even after that hesitant betrayal, they were still friends to the elves. In certain respects, at least. Alabaster and the new Master of Arms, a high elf named Usanur, were friends. Confidants, from their old days attending a university in the Silver Eye. Usanur leaned against the wall, twin axes looped on her belt, her arms crossed.


    ¡°You think she knows?¡± Usanur asked.


    ¡°She''s getting suspicious,¡± Alabaster said, ¡°Someone must have let slip what''s been happening here.¡±


    ¡°It''s getting far too obvious,¡± Usanur said, ¡°Trust me on this, try all you might, familial drama tends to draw rumors, no matter how much you put a clamp down on it.¡±


    Alabaster nodded in agreement.


    ¡°Whatever the case is,¡± he said, ¡°It''s put me in a bad situation. She knows that I can''t very well call for her to step down. My sister supports her, and my brother is still on the fence about... all of this.¡±


    He gestured to Usanur, who shrugged.


    ¡°I think you know what you have to do,¡± Usanur said, ¡°Don''t you?¡±


    ¡°I...¡± Alabaster hesitated, ¡°She''s my mother.¡±


    ¡°Then why did you replace your old Master of Arms with me?¡± Usanur asked. There was a dark edge to her voice.


    Alabaster knew what she was suggesting.


    ¡°There''s a difference,¡± Alabaster said, ¡°I hired you to look the other way, in case our rivals decide to take matters into their own hands, and remove her. I didn''t hire you to do the deed yourself.¡±


    ¡°Family means little, at the end of the day,¡± Usanur said, ¡°They are your closest allies, until they are not.¡±


    ¡°You speak plainly,¡± Alabaster said, ¡°I knew your father. I knew he was not a kind man. Don''t apply your trauma to me.¡±


    Usanur rolled her eyes.


    ¡°The sooner your mother concedes, the sooner we can get this all out of the way,¡± she said.


    ¡°Right,¡± Alabaster said, ¡°Tell Sunala that. Let her make that choice.¡±


    ¡°''Reach Heaven through violence,''¡± Usanur quoted.


    Alabaster didn''t reply to that.


    He didn''t want to.


    Despite his own ruthlessness, he was still his mother''s son. Still had that bond, no matter how frayed the election had made it.


    He...


    He would not kill his own mother.


    Especially not with that cat who-was-not-a-cat was guarding her. Such a creature made things too obvious. Too risky.


    Usanur moved away, presumably to her own offices, where she was reviewing the paperwork their old Master of Arms had left behind. Leaving Alabaster alone.

 108. The Making of a Killer

    Hanbusan was an older plane. Or, at least, the civilization that currently dominated it was old. The Most Illustrious Republic of Quanchani had been existing, in some shape or form, as empire or as kingdom or as nation, for the last four thousand years. Ancient, in the eyes of the local multiverse.


    Young, to the Silver Eye. But then, they considered much of the multiverse young, in comparison to them.


    Ichabod managed to find a weathered old car and broke in, fiddling with wires for a few minutes. The three of them had stopped at a gas station, and the car itself apparently belonged to the gas station attendant''s manager.


    ¡°Take it,¡± the attendant said, ¡°I''d give you the keys. I hate that guy. Take it, outlanders.¡±


    So they did. And now they were driving down a cracked, ancient highway. The rain elemental followed in the horizon, always behind them, always hunting.


    They tried not to talk about it as Ichabod drove. All three of them knew that there wasn''t anything to say. They had their plan. Their destination.


    So they tried for idle conversation.


    But that failed, too. So they tended to their injuries in silence, drove on the cracked roads, through run-down towns and abandoned ruins, for the Republic of Quanchani''s golden age was far in its youth.


    ***


    A problem arose, Ichabod realized.


    He was keeping watch that third night on Hanbusan, Rorshin sleeping under the stars, Contort in the back seat of the car. The cybernetic man was working on the firewall around the contract, rolling the program around in his head, poking and prodding at it. The night was old, and dew had begun to collect on the grasses by the road.


    Ichabod stopped. He looked up.


    The rain elemental was still roiling, but they had gotten far enough away that they could afford a rest. But a thought came to Ichabod.


    This far out in the multiverse, why had there been no other agents of Pantheon?


    The thought disturbed him, kept him occupied, to the point that he lost concentration and had to put the contract back in storage for a while. His hands, glass and metal, shook slightly as Contort rolled out of the back, twisting and stretching, his shoulder blades, ribs, and spine popping and setting in place.


    ¡°Mornin'',¡± he mumbled. He let out a dramatic, loud yawn that practically echoed into the emptiness between cities. Ichabod suppressed a wince. Contort looked over at Ichabod, raising an eyebrow.


    ¡°What''s up, Ichabod?¡± he asked.


    ¡°I was wondering when other members of Pantheon would be showing up.¡±


    ¡°Ah,¡± Contort said. He walked over, prodding Rorshin with a boot, ¡°Get up, old man. Time to keep driving.¡±


    ¡°Damned contraption,¡± the druid growled, and he shot the car a dire look.


    ¡°Yo, Rorshin,¡± Contort said, ¡°Feel anything on the wind?¡±


    ¡°The usual,¡± Rorshin muttered, ¡°The elemental. The deadness of this plane.¡±


    ¡°...No other guildfolk?¡±


    The druid paused, picking up on Contort¡¯s question. He let out a sigh, licking his thumb and raising it into the air. The early dawn was cool, and it would herald a not unpleasant day, elemental withstanding.


    ¡°...Nothing,¡± he said, ¡°At least, I sense nothing.¡±


    ¡°And what''s that supposed to mean?¡± Ichabod asked.


    ¡°It means that, if we are being tracked by something other than the elemental, then it''s doing a good job hiding,¡± Rorshin said, ¡°Regardless, it matters little. If we are intercepted, we will deal with it.¡±


    He stood up.


    ¡°Now, let''s get into your damn machine.¡±


    ***


    Entheos. World of the Dead. The Guttersnipe limped its way across a cloud-covered sky, bloated with snow and ash. Ora Sota, wrapped up in the heaviest cloaks and furs the crew could provide, looked over the ship''s railing to see small dots walking the icy wastes. After a moment, he fumbled out shivering hands and pulled free Captain Orvisan''s spyglass, which he had borrowed for a small while, extending it out and peering down. The small dots revealed themselves to be shaggy beasts, with long, arm-like trunks and tusks that curved like crescent moons. One was missing a leg. Another had a gash in its messy, dark fur, revealing a ribcage.


    The herd plodded along.


    ¡°Mammoths, they''re called,¡± Rosemary said, drawing up beside him. Ora nearly jumped. Nearly, but the last few days had been enough to get some iron in his belly.


    ¡°Mammoths,¡± he said, rolling it around on his tongue, ¡°Odd word.¡±


    ¡°Odd word for odd animals,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°They''re all undead here, but there''s a few other planes that have them, and they''re alive.¡±


    She chuckled.


    ¡°I¡¯m used to big animals like that, insects and the like. Like those mosquitoes on Yuradal,¡± she said, ¡°I was never allowed to go near them.¡±


    ¡°And what is your home plane like?¡± Ora asked.


    She reddened, and was quiet. She didn''t quite meet his eyes.


    ¡°Oh,¡± Ora said, ¡°I am... I am sorry.¡±


    ¡°S''alright,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Some people are lucky, you know? Some people get to like where they come from.¡±


    ¡°I...¡± Ora began, but that drifted away. He had lived on Taisho Station his entire life, and he felt something akin to pride ¨C he thought it pride, at least. But after being out here, he was not altogether sure ¨C about his family''s legacy. He would get to go home after this. Go back to his silent manor, his quiet halls, drink his teas. Assuming he lived through this, of course.


    Funny, how he was accepting that fact so readily.


    ¡°Where I''m from,¡± he said, ¡°Nothing comes even close to getting that big. Nothing living.¡±


    She glanced over at him.


    ¡°No mammoths,¡± he said, ¡°No... giant mammals. The biggest animal I''ve seen was a neighbor''s Dronat.¡±


    ¡°D-Dronat?¡±


    ¡°It''s a pet,¡± Ora said, ¡°Gets about... this tall?¡±


    He put a hand to his hip.


    Ora was five feet tall.


    ¡°And they''re herbivorous, not like those beasts down there,¡± Ora said.


    ¡°Mammoths eat plants, too,¡± Rosemary said, suppressing a chuckle.


    ¡°O-Oh,¡± Ora said, ¡°Well, I... I didn''t know. Truly, something that big, on nothing but greens?¡±


    He glanced down at them.


    ¡°There''s a lesson there, I think.¡±


    Rosemary laughed. It pealed into the winter world, causing a few crewmembers to look over. Just as soon as she was finished, she went somber again.


    This wasn''t a situation to be laughing at, was it? But she couldn''t help herself.


    Nerves.


    ¡°S-Sorry,¡± she said.


    ¡°Oh, quite alright,¡± Ora said, ¡°Good to... have that, all things considered.¡±


    For out of the mist, high above, was the Gil-Galad.


    ***


    Urya Orna had been in mourning, for more of her guildmates had been slain. Draz had been a close friend to her, a confidant in darker times. Now he was gone, taken, like the others, during that initial assault on the little ship they pursued through the blizzard. She wore a necklace with a single black feather around her neck, a traditional sign of mourning from her homeland. She wasn''t quite sure what sea elves did to mourn, and she found herself sad that she had never asked Draz.


    Death was to be respected, and one should be mourned in the way that they wished. All Urya had was the way that she wished, and felt herself diminished because of it.


    The enemy ship drifted below. From here, it was a speck on the endless white of Entheos. It lagged a bit, after that last engagement. They had given it their all.


    One of the elves drew up beside her. Urya looked over.


    By the gods, it was Celendri. What was she doing here? She was far too young for something like this. She had just joined the White Feathers a few months ago. Yet here she was, all in armor with her four daggers ¨C two from her father, two from her mother ¨C and looking nervous.


    ¡°We''re ready,¡± she said.


    ¡°Good,¡± Urya said. Perhaps she was being too cautious. After all, Celendri had been there during the first boarding action, hadn''t she? She was alive. She had tasted blood.


    Urya''s heart hammered. This was getting all too difficult. She had not expected this much bloodshed. This little ship had been more than a match for the Gil-Galad.


    Which disturbed her. The crew of the ship, along with those White Feathers who were accompanying her, had haunted looks in their eyes now. That last combat had rattled them. She looked at them, noted they were watching her.


    For weakness. For moral support.


    She was their pillar. Cracked as she was.


    ¡°Alright,¡± she said, ¡°Get ready. We close again. Use the blizzard to camouflage ourselves, get in close.¡±


    She strode towards the center of the deck, hiding a grimace at the burns that scarred the white surface.


    ¡°Prepare for battle!¡±


    ***


    And at once, the Gil-Galad disappeared with a drift of snow.


    The crew watching the vessel started, weapons appearing in hand. Orvisan looked up where the galleon had been but a moment before, his heart hammering. Rosemary took a few deep breaths, looking at Ora.


    ¡°Best we get below decks, yeah?¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Ora said, ¡°L-Lead the way.¡±


    And they headed down, passing by Meleko, who was carrying his heavy rifle. He flashed them a ferocious grin as he stepped out onto the deck.


    Ora felt the familiar weight of his own lended pistol against his leg. Rosemary gave another one of her smiles, the kind that tried its damned hardest to tell him that everything would be alright. She was good at that, putting him at ease.


    He took a deep breath. Another. A third.


    And they were below decks.


    ***


    The Gil-Galad plunged through the clouds, through the thick blizzard, which only seemed to strengthen with time and as the ship swanned through the harshest of winds. The crew above deck held on tight, shivering in the cold, weapons at the ready for the inevitable boarding action.


    ¡°Urya,¡± one of them, Purzan said, ¡°Look.¡±


    She pointed. Urya squinted.


    Yes, there, commanding the winds. The blizzard''s master. Skarnorex was observing them, the Dracolich ensuring that they weren''t trying anything funny in their skies.


    ¡°They know the other ship is out here,¡± Purzan said.


    ¡°And they know it''s going to be a nasty fight,¡± Urya said, ¡°They won''t interfere.¡±


    She turned back to the crew.


    ¡°Get under them. And fire.¡±


    ***


    The Gil-Galad descended through the gale, shuddering and creaking, tracking the location of the Guttersnipe through the clouds, one of their mages using an elemental to scout through the blizzard to identify the caravel''s approximate location. By now, the Gil-Galad was underneath the Guttersnipe. It crawled upwards, the cannon on the deck, the only one able to point up, aimed towards the Guttersnipe''s bottom.


    They could see it now, were so close they could make out the caravel''s hull.


    And the Gil-Galad fired. Her cannon was of a unique design, able to be loaded with more than just cannonball and chain. The projectile was arrow-shaped, attached to a line of thick, silverweave rope. It speared the Guttersnipe, which shuddered from the blow, the caravel lurching like a fish as the line pulled taut.


    ***


    Ora tripped, Rosemary danced, catching the Nelnuthan before he could fall. The other side of the hallway they were in had just been annihilated by a steel javelin, a man-sized needle that held fast to the roof.


    ¡°Stay behind me,¡± Rosemary said, and an axehead of light bloomed from the top of her sceptre. She rushed towards the javelin. She knew that there was a rope connecting it, holding the Guttersnipe fast like a speared marlin. And she needed to get it out, cut them away, before the Gil-Galad did anything worse-Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.


    The air elemental rushed up and slammed into her, galeforce winds tearing through her, rending and blowing her back. It threw Rosemary, slamming her into the opposite wall, stars swimming in her vision. The elemental reared up-


    And one of the crewmembers downstairs ran it through, their cutlass cutting this way and that, dicing it quickly. The elemental dispersed. Ora ran over to Rosemary, helping her to her feet. She felt the back of her head, wincing as she felt a bump purpling its way up.


    ¡°L-Leaves a mark,¡± she said, ¡°Stupid of me.¡±


    She waved him off.


    ¡°I''m fine,¡± she said, ¡°I''m ¨C look out!¡±


    She shoved Ora out of the way as an elf jumped out of the hole, blades flashing at the crewmember, running them through. A moment later, Rosemary''s beam of light punched through them, blood splattering the wooden wall. She stumbled a bit, grimacing, as a few other crewmembers rushed down, weapons drawn. Knives and hand-axes ¨C anything larger would be unwieldy in these close quarters.


    A line of rope was tied to the end of the great bolt, taut and strong, silvery in appearance. Elves, barely able to made out in the white blight, were shimmying up its length like squirrels, seemingly unimpeded by the blizzard.


    Ferezno, one of the crewmembers, a hobgoblin, unhitched his crossbow, laying out a bolt and taking aim. He grimaced as he pulled the trigger, the bolt sailing for a moment, before a stray gale blew it off course.


    ¡°More elementals,¡± he grunted, ¡°More of them!¡±


    The next elf came out of the hole, pulling out a pair of daggers from her brace. Ferezno dropped his crossbow, pulling free a hand axe ¨C right in the nick of time, as the elf became a blur of motion. The two danced for a moment, before the elf rammed a dagger into his stomach. He let out a choking gasp, falling to the ground, though one of his comrades stepped over.


    More elves were finishing their climb. One with a shortsword, curved and wicked-looking, the other...


    The other with a pair of revolvers. A plasma scar on her face, which was a porcelain mask, despite the fire in her eyes. Rosemary grimaced.


    ¡°Urya Orna,¡± she said.


    ***


    ¡°Something''s caught us!¡± a crewmember said, ¡°The Gil-Galad, they''ve got a towline!¡±


    Captain Orvisan ran over to the railing, looking down, squinting through the blizzard''s harsh fog. Sure enough, the Gil-Galad had gotten them. Elves were clambering up a line that had buried itself into the bottom of the Guttersnipe.


    ¡°Meleko!¡± he screamed, ¡°Over here, now!¡±


    The alien ran over to the gnome''s side, glancing down. He reared his rifle, firing off a few shots. Pink plasma rang towards the climbing elves.


    Then, something in the air shifted, pushing the shots awry.


    ¡°Air elementals,¡± Orvisan said, ¡°Shit.¡±


    ¡°No mages?¡± Meleko asked.


    ¡°Downstairs,¡± Orvisan said, ¡°Working on the engine, making sure it doesn''t overheat.¡±


    ¡°Best get them,¡± Meleko said. He fired a few more shots, testing the elementals'' resolve. But heat is natural to an air elemental, and they flung the plasma away, the fire petering out in the cold and disappearing.


    ¡°We''re not going to last long with that line on us,¡± Orvisan said, ¡°I''ve got to command the crew up here.¡±


    ¡°Got it,¡± Meleko said, ¡°Heading down.¡±


    ***


    ¡°Rosemary of the Amber Foundation,¡± Urya Orna said, ¡°I had seen that you were on the ship, and yet part of me wished that was untrue.¡±


    She took a step forward, a hand brushing against a revolver''s grip.


    ¡°Urya,¡± Rosemary''s voice was quiet, tight with fear. She stood over Ora. Her head was throbbing, and she wavered slightly as she met the elf''s glare, ¡°Don''t do this.¡±


    ¡°It is necessary, Rosemary,¡± Urya said, ¡°You hurt Sunala, you know.¡±


    Rosemary was quiet.


    ¡°No words,¡± Urya said, ¡°Very well.¡±


    Rosemary raised her scep-


    Urya pulled free a revolver, faster than sound. A flash from the muzzle-


    It struck Rosemary, who gasped, but adrenaline and muscle memory took hold, and the sceptre formed a wall of light, bullets flying into the construct, which reverberated like a drum with each shot. Urya stopped firing, eyebrow raised on high.


    Rosemary collapsed. Ora''s eyes widened as he went down with her, catching her before she could hit the ground, the two falling to their knees. The Nelnuthan threw her arm over his shoulder, lifting her up. The two struggled to their feet.


    Ora looked up.


    At Urya.


    Who was reloading calmly. The elves had taken the hallway, and more of them were coming up from the Gil-Galad. The elf glared at Ora, whose heart fell at the sight of her.


    Then, he began dragging Rosemary away, down another hallway to their left.


    ***


    More elves had made their way onto the Guttersnipe. A squad of them had taken one of the hallways.


    Shame, to be packed like Kirelan sardines.


    Meleko aimed his rifle down the hall, switching from single shot to full auto. He braced himself as he opened fire, the rifle''s dull thuds turning into a fast-paced ring of thumps, plasma arcing out in lines that cut down the elves in the hall. There was hardly time to scream as fire burned through cloak, through flesh, punched through armor and bone.


    The landing party was taken out in a stroke of a second. Still more were no doubt further belowdecks, their forward base being where spear met ship.


    Meleko shouldered his rifle, pulling out his pistol, switching off its safety and running down to the engine room.


    Two crewmembers had managed to secure it. The Jugdran''s heart skipped a beat at the sight of a dead elf at their feet.


    Had they gotten so far in?


    ¡°Need the mage,¡± Meleko said.


    ¡°Inside,¡± one of the crewmates said, and he opened the door, ¡°Zad!¡±


    Zad was a gnome, though unlike Orvisan, he was completely bald. A former graduate of Haiser''s University for Gifted Magicians, he had, after a bad accident, wound up as the Guttersnipe''s Engine Mage. He turned to glare at Meleko with one bloodshot, violet-pupiled eye. The other had been lost in the same accident that had also claimed his bachelor''s degree.


    ¡°What is it!?¡± he snarled, ¡°I''m busy!¡±


    ¡°We need you to disperse some elementals,¡± Meleko said, ¡°Now!¡±


    ¡°Engine''s near fried,¡± Zad retorted, and he gestured to the square, runed box in the center of the room, a rudimentary, early model that had been cast off from Melmaen. Meleko strode inside and took the engine''s top off, looking into the inner workings of gears and wires. The magic part was more Urash or Wakeling''s forte ¨C even Aldreia''s, perhaps, but when it came to the mechanical part, he knew at least a bit.


    ¡°It''s fine for now,¡± he said, ¡°Right?¡±


    ¡°Bah, for now,¡± Zad said, ¡°I''ve just dumped enough of my power in there to keep it lasting a good few minutes, but the longer we''re stuck here, the longer whatever''s holding us is holding us-¡±


    ¡°That''s what I need you for,¡± Meleko said, ¡°There''s a spear lodged in the bottom-¡±


    ¡°Explains the runic disruption,¡± Zad said.


    ¡°And I can''t get it loose, since there''s a host of elementals guarding it.¡±


    ¡°They''ll be stronger out there,¡± he said, ¡°Any up here?¡±


    Meleko shook his head.


    ¡°Any of them that are stupid enough to enter the ship proper, they''ll be diced up easy,¡± Zad said, ¡°But out there...?¡±


    He looked around the engine room for a second, before grabbing a few potions and putting them into a bag.


    ¡°Get me to the hole,¡± he said, ¡°Make sure I don''t get got, aye?¡±


    ***


    Urya walked over to the wall of light, pressing a hand against it. It was surprisingly cool to the touch, like smooth stone, and for a moment Urya considered it. Her shots had ricocheted off its surface, so it was far too dangerous to fire on it with her revolvers. No, she would need to do something else.


    She turned as another one of the Gil-Galad''s crew made their way to the top. Celendri was out of breath as she pulled herself up, taking Urya''s proffered hand.


    ¡°First time climbing?¡± Urya asked.


    ¡°N-No,¡± Celendri said, ¡°I climbed trees all the time, back home.¡±


    ¡°A bit different,¡± Urya said, ¡°Boarding actions like these are usually rare. But it requires all of your energy, all of your strength, and all of your skills.¡±


    She put a hand on Celendri''s shoulder.


    ¡°Stick by me,¡± she said, ¡°I''ll get you through this safely.¡±


    Celendri nodded.


    Then both of them ducked as a plasma bolt flew at them, staining the wall where Urya''s head had been but a moment before.


    The damn alien. The Federation freak. A four-eyed hammerhead with the body of a man. He was wielding a plasma pistol, and a gnome stood behind him.


    Urya''s revolvers flipped into her hand, and she opened fire on them. The alien took cover at the end of the hall, pulling the gnome with him, waiting for a moment before returning fire. Fire and steel rang down the hallway, from one end to the other, for a few minutes.


    Then, Urya saw something skitter down the hall. A small, metal pod.


    Her eyes widened.


    ¡°Move!¡± she shouted, and she all but shoved Celendri down the hall, their backs against the wall of light as the grenade exploded, sparking showers burning the elves'' backs.


    They were pinned, they needed to-


    The alien rounded the corner, pistol raised on high. Celendri dove towards him, ducking underneath his shot, pulling twin daggers free and swinging at him. He blocked one, allowed another to graze him, and smashed the side of her head with his pistol''s butt.


    ¡°No!¡± Urya was rushing to him now, flipping her revolvers and swinging them as clubs. The alien took a few steps back, before catching Urya''s right arm, his pistol aimed at her stomach. She twisted, the bolt flying awry, and her left revolver caught the alien''s arm. He grunted, dropping the pistol, his hand forming into a fist. He rammed it into her stomach, and she gasped, the wind leaving her system.


    He followed up a haymaker straight to the nose. Urya saw stars as he let her go, and she stumbled back-


    Celendri was back up on her feet, pulling free her second pair of knives. She slashed at the alien, cutting deep into his arm, but he grabbed her other arm and rammed a knee into her stomach. His great purple hands closed over her neck, and he slammed her head into the wall. She ragdolled for a second as Urya pulled herself to her feet, grabbing her revolver from the ground.


    The alien took notice. He spun Celendri ''round so she was facing Urya, holding onto her with one hand, the other grabbing her knife and bringing it to her throat.


    ¡°One move, elf, and she''s done,¡± he said.


    Urya froze.


    Sunala would have taken the shot, she knew. She needed a moment to aim, to...


    Celendri''s eyes were wide with fear. She was frozen stiff from it.


    No, she could not sacrifice Celendri. She was...


    Urya grimaced.


    Behind the alien, at the hole they had made to get into the ship, the Engine Mage was dispelling the elementals below, pouring his potion into the wind. She could hear shrieking as the elementals went berserk, no doubt tearing through each other, the elves on the line. Perhaps even the line itself.


    It was time to go. This boarding action had done its work.


    Urya rose to her feet.


    The alien pressed the knife further into Celendri''s neck.


    ¡°U-Urya,¡± she whispered.


    The wind whipped.


    And she had her shot.


    Urya''s revolver flipped up, and she fired before the alien could react. He tried to cut at Celendri''s throat, but let out a gasp of pain as the shot struck his shoulder with enough force to throw him off-balance. Urya ran, tackling Celendri, all but picking her up.


    She jumped through the hole.


    Towards the Gil-Galad, which swayed far below.


    Elementals screeched around her as she and Celendri fell. The mages on the Gil-Galad had lost control of their servants, and now the air was alive and rogue, tearing at them, at the elves still holding on and trying to climb the line up to the caravel. Some were lucky enough to drop, hitting the deck of the Gil-Galad, away from the most dangerous parts of the storm. But those who were near the top...


    They were still holding onto the line, sitting ducks for the elementals, as they tore them to pieces. Blood speckled the snow as Urya twisted, taking the full brunt of the fall, grimacing as she thudded dully against the Gil-Galad''s deck.


    But she was alive. Celendri was alive.


    High above, someone on the caravel cut the line. It swung and cracked in the gale like a whip.


    The Gil-Galad pulled away.


    ***


    Ora managed to get Rosemary into one of the spare rooms, laying her down on a cot. She was wincing as he helped her sit down. She began to tear at her armor, pulling it free, revealing a bloody hole that made Ora''s head spin.


    ¡°Doctor,¡± he said, ¡°You need a doctor.¡±


    ¡°S-Stay in here,¡± Rosemary gasped. She was holding her sceptre, a thin line of light trailing from its head. It was forming into a paper-thin fold, which she took and pressed against her side. She swayed, her eyes rolling to the back of her head.


    ¡°H-Hold,¡± she said.


    Ora did so, grabbing the makeshift gauze and applying it to the wound.


    ¡°How hard?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Harder,¡± she said, ¡°E-Enough to clot.¡±


    Her blood had a strange quality to it. It almost seemed to glitter in the light. But he pressed down on the wound nonetheless. They could hear shouts from above decks, the continuing pulse of plasma fire.


    The entire ship shuddered. Something had given.


    Ora''s heart hammered. He heard-


    Footsteps!


    Someone flung the door open. An elf, blade in hand. His eyes locked onto Ora, a dark smile appearing on his face.


    It happened too fast. Ora wrenched the pistol free. He clicked once.


    The safety was on.


    The elf advanced, swinging the blade-


    Ora ducked. Rosemary fell on her back, laying on the cot.


    With fumbling hands, he switched the safety off, jamming the muzzle of the pistol into the elf''s stomach. He pulled the trigger.


    The smell of burning ozone. Heat, far more heat than he was used to. The elf stumbled back, dropped his blade, his hands closed over the wound. His smile was gone. His eyes were hollowed-out. Smoke drifted from the hole in his stomach.


    He collapsed to the ground. Took one breath. A second.


    Then he was still.


    Ora looked down at the pistol. He could see his reflection in its shiny surface, could see how wide his eyes were. Tears were staining his fur. He threw the gun away, his hands shaking.


    His gaze turned on the elf''s body. At those empty eyes.


    Ora turned, and retched.


    More movement from outside. More footsteps. Part of Ora panicked. Part of him did not care.


    But it was Meleko. He was sporting a few nasty cuts of his own, but he looked none the worse for wear. His eyes merely flickered to the elf. But he ignored it as he stepped over.


    ¡°Oh god,¡± he said, ¡°Rosemary, you good?¡±


    She was drifting in and out of consciousness. The Jugdran attended to her, noting the makeshift gauze she had created. He pulled some actual cloth from a pocket and started to apply pressure to the wound. He turned to Ora.


    Noted that Ora was crawling over to the wall, putting his back against it, his knees drawn to his chest.


    The Jugdran remembered his first time killing. Some took to it better than others.


    He took it as a sign that Ora was a good man, if this was his reaction.


    Then he turned, and continued treating his guildmate.


    ***


    The Gil-Galad disappeared into the storm, taking its wounded with it.


    They had lost twenty. A staggering blow.


    The Guttersnipe, free of its pursuer ¨C for now ¨C lurched itself out of the worst of the storm. A similar action took place as before. Her crew stalked the halls belowdecks, finding any and all interlopers that had somehow managed to escape the wrath of Meleko''s plasmafire.


    They dispatched them, now with far more anger than before, a fire burning in their eyes as they cut the elves down. They pitched everything over the side, keeping the knives, the blades, as trophies.


    They had lost quite a few of their number as well, and they were desperate to avenge their comrades, lost friends and family.


    By the end of it, the ship reeked of blood. The infirmary was packed full, and the sound of gentle sobbing from those left carried up and down the Guttersnipe''s length.


    Ora was still in the room he and Rosemary had stumbled into. The elf had already been taken away, his blade claimed by one of the crew, his armor stripped and his body pitched over the Guttersnipe''s side.


    He ignored all this. He had been joining the crew in their sorrow. Sorrow of his own, however, for he had lost no one but himself.


    Meleko walked in, bandages tied around his arm, his leg.


    ¡°Hey,¡± he said.


    The Nelnuthan looked up at him weakly.


    ¡°Rosemary''ll pull through,¡± he said, ¡°She''s fine.¡±


    ¡°G-Good,¡± Ora said.


    The room still smelled faintly of plasma. Meleko picked up the discarded plasma pistol, sitting down across from Ora. He switched the safety back on, considered it for damage. He saw his reflection in the pistol''s sheen, and was surprised by how haggard his face had become, since joining the guild. He had been young once, he thought.


    ¡°You saved her life, you know,¡± he said.


    Ora didn''t respond.


    ¡°She was next on the block, after you,¡± Meleko said, ¡°I''m not going to pretend like it wasn''t easy. But...¡±


    Ora turned away. He sighed.


    ¡°Come on,¡± Meleko said, ¡°Let''s go up to the deck, get some fresh air. While we still can, you know?¡±


    ¡°F-Fresh air...¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Meleko said, ¡°Come on.¡±


    He rose to his feet, and offered him a hand. Ora took it, and the two of them walked out of the room, through the halls, out onto the deck. It was cold out, bitterly so, but they had left the worst of the blizzard behind. Captain Orvisan gave them a nod. A few of the crew were out watching for danger, for they all knew this was only a lull. A break.


    Ora walked over to the railing, once more. Night had fallen, and through the darkness he could make out the azure fires of a distant city. A mausoleum, really, for he knew that all here was death.


    Death below, and death above.


    ¡°I...¡± Ora said to Meleko, ¡°I believe I hate this plane.¡±

 109. Matricide

    And the Minor Tribunal met, once more, in the Grand Commons. They sat down, one and all, in their places, with a few changes from the previous session. House Korgan had moved their seats, Gordusus himself at Lady Deirdre''s left hand. He didn''t meet Lord Rithmound''s gaze. The gallery was not as full as before, some of the more minor players in the city growing bored with the debates, with the constant back and forth bickering. The last debate had no structure, merely arguments upon arguments, with nothing to show.


    Money was money, at the end of the day. Who was Doge did not matter.


    But Ramsey was still there, as was Gouffant, the rat sitting down with an entire blueberry pie that he held in his paws, chewing on it quietly. Ramsey''s eyebrow quirked up at the sight of him.


    ¡°Always gotta have a snack, hm?¡± he said.


    ¡°Yuh,¡± Gouffant said, ¡°I''m basically living my best life, might as well use my guild money on something I enjoy.¡±


    He chuckled to himself, looking down at the gallery below.


    ¡°Maybe I should run for office myself, one of these days,¡± he said, ¡°A rat for your Doge, eh? Might as well be literal about it.¡±


    ¡°You have to be a naturalized citizen to run,¡± Ramsey said, ¡°That''s why Sunala isn''t going for the role herself.¡±


    Gouffant glanced over at him.


    ¡°''S called a joke, mate,¡± he said, ¡°You got those here, right?¡±


    Ramsey shook his head. Far below, Martin Gondoro cleared his throat.


    ¡°Right!¡± he said, ¡°Very well, let''s get to business then...¡±


    He went through his usual spiel, and when he was finished he glanced up.


    ¡°Let''s begin with the order of business-¡±


    Only for Deirdre to raise a hand.


    ¡°I call for a vote,¡± she said, ¡°For the position of Dogeship.¡±


    A murmur rippled through the crowd. Martin, to his credit, nodded. His hands were shaking as he shuffled his papers, preparing his answer. Deep rings purpled beneath his eyes, and he sighed deeply as he looked to meet her eyes.


    ¡°You have the right,¡± he said, ¡°I call upon our Minor Tribunal, then, to vote. Get on with it. Silver balls, gold balls. The usual.¡±


    He gestured. The Houses made their votes:


    BUSCIVER: 4


    RITHMOUND: 4


    DEIRDRE: 3


    There was a series of whispers from the galleries. Rithmound looked over at Deirdre. Her face was as ivory, and revealed nothing. But the fact that one of the Busciver caucus had, apparently, turned tail was news enough. Sunala was whispering harsh words to one of her attendants. Busciver was staring at the ground, his eyes wide and shocked. The Busciver faction''s members were looking to one another. Meandring, Callistopa, and Mur. One of them had turned to Deirdre''s side.


    For now, at least.


    Sunala had not realized how slippery her hold over those three had suddenly gotten. The Lords Mur and Callistopa were silent. As was Lady Meandring, who was looking askance at Sunala.


    It was a message, Sunala realized. Deirdre had blunted what should have been a major upset, an ending to this entire charade.


    She took a deep breath. Fixed Busciver with a level gaze. The gnome was inhaling deeply, returning her look. She gave him a slight, almost imperceptible nod.


    ¡°Well,¡± Busciver said, raising his voice, ¡°I guess we''ll have our debates, then.¡±


    Some in the audience groaned. Patience was never a virtue for Scuttlers. Already a few of them were walking out of the Grand Commons.


    None of the Minor Tribunal, however. They sat down, and debated.


    ¡°Very well,¡± Lord Rithmound said, ¡°Get on with it, Martin.¡±


    Gondoro looked through his papers again, adjusting his monocle.


    ¡°Lord Rithmound,¡± he said, ¡°A query was recently submitted last night on the nature of your relationship with House Eilonwy.¡±


    ¡°A trade relationship,¡± Lord Rithmound said, ¡°House Eilonwy has seen which way the wind turns.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± Gondoro said, ¡°But the query does question your claims on the trade agreement. It has asked for you to reveal the nature of this trade agreement at hand.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Rithmound said, calmly, ¡°In exchange for support in this election, House Rithmound is giving to House Eilonwy three ships, the Durmenswell, the Crucible, and the Anno Dominus, for use in the Estrod Trade Route.¡±


    A murmur that quickly quieted. The Estrod Trade Route was an airship path that led to Beritale Landmass. To the Silver Eye Galaxy.


    ¡°You''re reaching out to the Silver Eye, then?¡± Lord Busciver said, ¡°Is that correct, Lady Eilonwy? You would court them?¡±


    ¡°The Silver Eye is a nexus,¡± Lady Eilonwy said, ¡°Simple as that, Lord Busciver.¡±


    ¡°It attracts unwanted attention,¡± Lady Sunala said, ¡°Trust me on this, you do not want to open a trade route into the Silver Eye. Not with ships like those.¡±


    ¡°The three ships,¡± Lord Rithmound said, ¡°Are some of the finest in our fleet.¡±


    ¡°Which is precisely why you shouldn''t,¡± Lady Sunala said, ¡°They veer into being... a hair, shall we say, too advanced for you.¡±


    ¡°Too advanced?¡± Lord Rithmound said.


    ¡°It would attract an investigator,¡± Lady Sunala said, ¡°One who would look at the technological advances that Scuttleway has been enjoying, these past few years.¡±


    Rithmound was quiet.


    ¡°You would begin exports to the Silver Eye,¡± Lady Sunala continued, ¡°Which would be, predominantly, crab, would it not? Food. But your ships cannot leave Everlasting Truth''s atmosphere. You would be tied to one singular planet, and one that already has a robust feeding system. They eat roaches there, Lady Eilonwy. They eat what their masters give them.¡±


    ¡°Ah, Lily-Ann,¡± Lady Eilonwy said, ¡°You do not know the deals I have struck.¡±


    ¡°Pray tell,¡± Lady Sunala said, her smile serene, her eyes burning, ¡°What sort of deal?¡±


    ¡°That''s confidential,¡± Lady Eilonwy said, ¡°Many of my dealings are.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Lady Sunala said, ¡°I would like to put in, for the record, that what you do is still risky.¡±


    ¡°All great ventures require risk, Lily-Ann,¡± Lady Eilonwy said simply.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Lady Sunala said.


    ¡°You would be good, to take my example, I think,¡± Lady Eilonwy said.


    Sunala''s nostrils flared. Isaac turned to look at Doria. The old hobgoblin was smiling serenely. He knew her game. Get the other side unbalanced, until they start arguing. The first side to explode first, to devolve into accusations, would look the weakest.


    Besides, it wasted time, and that was their greatest weapon.


    ¡°I think that''s enough there,¡± Lord Busciver said, ¡°But what Lady Sunala says is true. You court danger, Lady Eilonwy.¡±


    ¡°We all court danger,¡± Lady Eilonwy said, ¡°Don''t we, Busciver? I would have thought that you would be excited by such... revelations. After all, you often expressed reaching out to the Silver Eye, before the arrival of Lady Sunala to our doorsteps.¡±


    Busciver wilted.


    Everyone in the chamber remembered this. They knew.


    ¡°But instead of looking out there, to the nexus, you instead turn to Tlantoia. To the elves. Our old oppressors.¡±


    ¡°Today''s enemy is tomorrow''s friend,¡± Busciver said, ¡°You told me that.¡±


    ¡°I did,¡± Lady Doria agreed, ¡°But that should only be when the opportunity that arises trumps the potential dangers. Tell me, Lord Busciver: Is working with Tlantoia, and the elves, and their Verdant Reclamation, truly worth it?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Busciver said.


    ¡°...Truly?¡±


    Busciver went quiet.


    The room did not respond. No one did. Something was settling in. A sort of... shame, perhaps. All of it stemmed from their former Doge.


    ¡°Three ships, Doria,¡± Busciver whispered, so low he couldn''t be heard, ¡°Everything we''ve done, for three ships?¡±


    But then he looked up, and his eyes were hard.


    ¡°Truly,¡± he said, ¡°The deals I have made, the agreements I have forged, they will be a light to guide us. Scuttleway will become a great city. It must become a great city. And it will only do so under my leadership.¡±


    There were a few whispers at that assertion.


    ¡°Let us hope so,¡± Lady Doria said, ¡°Because if that is not the case, if you fail again-¡±


    ¡°He will not fail,¡± Lady Sunala said, ¡°He is not doing this alone.¡±


    ¡°I was speaking to him, Lily-Ann,¡± Doria dismissed, ¡°He doesn¡¯t need his mother to speak up for him.¡±


    And Sunala glared at her.


    ¡°I must remind you, Doria,¡± she said, ¡°I am the Lady Sunala.¡±


    ¡°I see no lady before me.¡±


    There were a few gasps. A stifled laugh. Lady Sunala, for a moment, seemed to see red, her one good hand tightening into a fist. Busciver, too, looked at his old friend in shock. The Lady Eilonwy merely shrugged.


    She turned to Martin Gondoro.


    ¡°I have given your answer,¡± she said, ¡°Shall we move on?¡±


    Martin shifted uncomfortably in his seat.


    ¡°Y-You have the right,¡± he murmured.


    ¡°I wish for you to rescind that statement, Lady Eilonwy.¡±


    Busciver was speaking. He stood tall in his seat, and despite his short stature he was like a blazing lion on his throne.


    ¡°That was out of line,¡± he said, ¡°This is the Minor Tribunal, not one of your... farms.¡±


    ¡°Agreed,¡± another voice said. The Minor Tribunal, as one, turned to see someone beside the Lady Deirdre rising. Lord Alabaster was wearing his best armor, ceremonial and shining like silver, though its brightness merely made him seem more like a thing out of Winter. But his eyes blazed.


    ¡°Lord Deirdre,¡± Gondoro said, ¡°Have you something to say?¡±


    ¡°The Lady Sunala has long been a major fixture of our city,¡± Lord Alabaster said, ¡°You have crossed a line, Lady Eilonwy.¡±


    ¡°I have crossed many lines, young man,¡± Lady Eilonwy said, ¡°Please, be a dear, and be more specific.¡±


    Alabaster gritted his teeth.


    ¡°You have sullied the Lady Sunala''s name,¡± he said, ¡°By not acknowledging her status as a noble, you have undermined all that we of the Minor Tribunal stand for.¡±


    Here was a firecracker. Alabaster Deirdre, firstborn of Vataya''s brood. A pale man. A proud man, too. He would take over as head of the house, if he could.


    ¡°Lord Alabaster,¡± Lady Eilonwy said, ¡°Are you fighting the good lady''s battles?¡±


    ¡°Now, Doria,¡± Busciver began.


    ¡°I''m not fighting for anyone,¡± Lord Alabaster said, ¡°I''m merely agreeing with our Doge-¡±


    ¡°Former Doge,¡± Lord Rithmound interrupted. Alabaster stuttered over his words.


    ¡°With Lord Busciver,¡± Alabaster amended, ¡°I formally demand that you apologize.¡±


    ¡°Aw, stuff it, Alabaster,¡± another voice said. Lord Caledos, of House Voltaise, rose from his seat. A young firebrand, much like Alabaster, ¡°You always go on about this. You¡¯re quite literally a white knight.¡±


    ¡°I beg your pardon,¡± Lord Alabaster said, ¡°But there are rules that we have set here. Respect must be given, must it not? Like you know anything of respect, Lord Caledos.¡±


    ¡°Respect''s rich, coming from you,¡± Lord Caledos said.


    ¡°The serpent calls the toad venomous,¡± a third voice said. Lord Alabaster''s younger brother, Pearl, rose from his seat, ¡°I still remember how you treated my sister, at the last gala.¡±


    ¡°If your sister weren''t such a-¡±


    ¡°Enough, my son.¡±


    Lord Voltaise rested a hand on his son''s shoulder. The nobles in the room looked mutinous, glaring at each other from across the aisle. The debate had turned from something economic to something more... personal.


    Tension buzzed in the air.


    Lady Doria looked at Isaac.


    ¡°Almost there,¡± she said to him, ¡°Why don''t you inspire the new generation, Isaac, and make this kindling into a fire?¡±


    Isaac nodded. Smirked, despite himself, ignored his father¡¯s warning glance.


    He rose from his seat, and all heads turned to him.


    ¡°I agree with what''s been said,¡± he announced, ¡°Quit being such a warkrem about this, Alabaster.¡±


    Alabaster glared.


    ¡°We all know you want to fuck Sunala, anyway.¡±


    ¡°Why, you!¡±


    And the entire Grand Commons erupted. Alabaster leaped forward, attempting to scrabble over his chair to throttle Isaac, only for Pearl to grab him and physically restrain him. Nobles stood up, shouting at each other, accusing one another of old grievances. A member of Voltaise swung a fist at a lord of House Mul. Cacophony and chaos reigned.


    Captain Ramsey took out a whistle, and began blowing harshly into it, a shrill peal swanning over the moshpit below, the fists and the curses and the biting and the crying. Orion, of the Amber Foundation, Martin Gondor¡¯s bodyguard, stood, hand on the handle of his blade.


    ¡°Time to go, Mr. Gondoro,¡± he said.


    ¡°A-Agreed,¡± Martin replied, ¡°We adjourn early, then.¡±


    He was pulled out, Orion having to physically push people out of the way. Ramsey''s whistle continued to scream over the din. The Militia started pouring into the room as Martin left, pulling nobles away from each other.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    The debate, or the excuse of it, was over.


    ***


    ¡°That was stupid,¡± Lord Rithmound said.


    Isaac was nursing a black eye. Alabaster hadn''t been able to leap over to him, but one of House Deirdre had gotten over to him, and walloped him hard. But the young noble''s bruised knuckles told the story of his reprisal. He and his father were in the medical wing of the Bronze-Hued Keep now, Isaac holding an ice pack to his face, his father looming over him. The nurses kept their distance.


    ¡°What, in all of Hell, inspired you to do that?¡± Lord Rithmound asked. His voice was low. Venomous. There was an anger there that Isaac heard rarely.


    ¡°It ended the debate,¡± Isaac said.


    ¡°It bloody well did,¡± Lord Rithmound said, ¡°But it also sullied our name, I think.¡±


    Isaac was quiet.


    ¡°Well?¡±


    ¡°You spoke to Lady Eilonwy.¡±


    His father''s eyes narrowed.


    ¡°I did,¡± he said simply.


    ¡°You know what we have to do, if we''re going to pull this through,¡± Isaac said.


    ¡°The longer the debates go, the better chance that the investigation into that damn dead plane bears fruit,¡± Lord Rithmound rolled his eyes. He crossed to the other side of the room. The best medicine, a bottle of wine, had been left for them by a servant. He picked it up, pouring himself a glass.


    ¡°That''s correct,¡± Isaac said, ¡°I did what I had to do, to stop the election.¡±


    ¡°You truly believe that things will end soon?¡± Lord Rithmound asked, ¡°Already, one of the Houses swayed over to Deirdre.¡±


    ¡°For now,¡± Isaac said, ¡°But it''s only a matter of time before Deirdre decides to concede. You know that.¡±


    His good eye squinted to get a better look at the bottle. Lord Rithmound caught his gaze, letting out a huff and pouring a glass for his son. He strode over, and Isaac brought out a hand...


    ...Only for Lord Rithmound to pull back.


    ¡°What''s your endgame?¡± he asked, ¡°Why rile them up now?¡±


    ¡°I''ve... I''ve had an idea,¡± Isaac said, ¡°But it will require the debates to become more... lively.¡±


    ¡°Violent.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Isaac said, ¡°Everything broke out because we''re currently in a mode of free debate. Anyone can say anything, whenever, so long as the rest of the Minor Tribunal is fine with it. It''s a method of debate that''s based on goodwill and civility.¡±


    ¡°A civilized floor, then,¡± Lord Rithmound said.


    ¡°We need to stop it being civilized,¡± Isaac said, ¡°We need to get someone to make a motion to Gondoro to turn it from a free-floor to a more centralized version of debate. Speech-givings, and all of that.¡±


    ¡°We''ll lose if we do that,¡± Lord Rithmound said, ¡°If anything, Busciver is charismatic.¡±


    He swirled the wine in his glass.


    ¡°Something I most certainly lack.¡±


    Isaac wasn''t sure what to say, at that frank admission. It was the first time he had seen his father convey weakness.


    ¡°It...¡± Isaac said, ¡°Whatever he says, it won''t matter. The majority of the Busciver caucus supports him because of that dead plane. If that falls out from under him, no speech will save him.¡±


    ¡°So how do you propose we do things?¡± Lord Rithmound asked.


    ¡°...We get out your collection of books,¡± Isaac said.


    ***


    Usanur swung open the door to Alabaster''s room. The tall, pale man was taking off his armor, his eyes boiling with unsatisfied anger. He had thrown pieces of his mail across the room, the shoulder pads, his helmet, he was in the middle of unstrapping his chestplate when the new Master of Arms strode in.


    ¡°What,¡± he said.


    ¡°That was a disaster,¡± Usanur said.


    ¡°I''ll kill that goblin,¡± Alabaster said, ¡°Mark my words.¡±


    ¡°When this election is over, we''ll hand him to you on a silver platter,¡± Usanur said, ¡°Mark my words on that. You can have any non-elf in the city.¡±


    Alabaster glared at her.


    ¡°Busciver should have won today,¡± Usanur said, ¡°But your mother''s in the way. And Rithmound knows this.¡±


    ¡°He... goaded me,¡± Alabaster said.


    ¡°He did.¡±


    Alabaster was quiet for a long time. He peeled off the rest of his armor like a molting crab, before nodding to Usanur.


    ¡°Get your men ready,¡± he said, ¡°And get me Pearl. And Uvalendri. ¡±


    The Master of Arms nodded.


    ¡°I''m... sorry, for what it''s worth,¡± she said, ¡°That it''s come to this.¡±


    Alabaster was quiet.


    Usanur awkwardly left the room, giving one last sympathetic look to her old friend. As she left, she gave hand signals to one of the guards. The guard was an elf.


    Alabaster had a few minutes to himself. He took the time to stand up. Stretch. Look out the window. It was nearing dusk now, and the sky, which for the last few weeks had been cloudy, was clear and orange. His heart hammered, and he took a few deep breaths.


    He did not want...


    This.


    How much changed, over a few days.


    He wanted to break down. To cry. The insults at the debate came back to him. From Caledos Voltaise.


    ¡°Respect''s rich, coming from you.¡±


    Did Caledos realize? That he was right? Through the snark and the wit, through the barbed words, did he reach out, and ensnare the truth?


    He did not respect his mother. Nor his sister, Uvalendri, who defended her.


    He was...


    He was killing his own mother.


    Emotions overwhelmed him. Alabaster suddenly fell to his knees, broke down into a fit of hysterical sobs. Memories were coming back to him. Of Vataya reading to him in his room, late at night, rain and thunder roaring outside. Of her shrill singing voice, loud and awful and full of life, as she, for a moment, tore away the mask that she wore to the public to be something real to her children. Of the proud look on her proud face as he was presented his father''s sword. It was in a case at the foot of his bed, now. He could not face it.


    He composed himself.


    She had told him.


    Family was everything.


    And he was leading his family to the future, was he not?


    The old must yield to the new. That''s what she had told him, one calm summer''s night, while the two were discussing the future.


    There came a knock at the door.


    ¡°Enter,¡± he said.


    Pearl and Uvalendri walked in. Pearl with a welt on his jaw from today''s debate. Uvalendri looked nervous, her hands folded over her stomach. But Uvalendri always looked nervous. Of her three children, she had inherited their mother''s anxiety.


    ¡°Alabaster,¡± Pearl said, ¡°What is it?¡±


    He looked at him first.


    ¡°Pearl,¡± he said, ¡°Prepare all spare armors for some visitors tonight. Dismiss the guards attending to mother''s wing.¡±


    Pearl paled. His hands shook. As did Uvalendri''s.


    ¡°B-Brother,¡± she said, ¡°Y-You aren''t, y-you-¡±


    ¡°Uvalendri,¡± Alabaster said, ¡°You''re to stay in here, with me.¡±


    ¡°B-But-¡±


    ¡°Sit. Down.¡±


    Alabaster had always filled in his father''s boots, since the old man passed. Uvalendri complied, walking over to his desk and sitting down. She was on the verge of tears.


    ¡°Pearl,¡± Alabaster said, ¡°Go. They''ll be here shortly.¡±


    ¡°It''s time, then,¡± Pearl said. His voice was quiet, almost a squeak.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Alabaster said, ¡°I...¡±


    What could he say? He and his younger brother had sworn to do this, if it came to it. To look the other way. But speaking of this, acknowledging it, gave it a far graver dimension. It was real, if they did that.


    But it was real, wasn''t it?


    And yet...


    ¡°Once the guests arrive,¡± Alabaster said, ¡°Sequester yourself in your room.¡±


    ¡°For¡­ mother?¡±


    Damn him. He had to go out and speak it out. Alabaster gave a curt nod.


    ¡°Yes, Pearl,¡± he said, his voice raw, ¡°For her.¡±


    Pearl choked back a sob.


    He nodded.


    And said not another word as he left the room. Alabaster strode over to the door, closing and locking it. He gave Uvalendri a dark look. Better to wear the mask of the warrior than the brother.


    ¡°You''ll stay here,¡± he said, ¡°Read a book, Uvalendri. Close your ears and your eyes. You can use my bed to sleep, if you wish.¡±


    ¡°Y-You''re a monster.¡±


    He flinched at the harshness in her voice. Uvalendri was glaring at him with bloodshot eyes.


    He found he had no retort. For she was right.


    But monsters were required, to burn forth a new future.


    ***


    Pearl took a moment to compose himself, his head spinning, his cheeks tearstained. But he wiped them away with the sleeve of his shirt, and walked outside, to the barracks. A few of the guards were idling there, preparing for the night shift, and they rose and saluted as he strode in.


    ¡°Mone,¡± he said, ¡°Get me Mone.¡±


    Mone was shift head for tonight. A stocky ogre who stepped out from his room at Pearl''s call.


    ¡°You should sleep tonight, Mone,¡± Pearl said.


    ¡°But Milord,¡± Mone said, ¡°Lady Deirdre-¡±


    ¡°Is guarded already,¡± Pearl said, ¡°By another. You''re dismissed for tonight, Mone. Get some rest. You''ve earned it. Same goes for the rest of the boys on your shift.¡±


    Mone hesitated. But he could not object to a Lord of Deirdre. He shuffled back into his room, shutting the door behind him. Perhaps he knew why he was being put away. Perhaps it was just Pearl''s guilt.


    Guilt that he shoved down. He turned to the other guards in the room.


    ¡°Get the spare uniforms out of the back,¡± he said, ¡°Then go to your rooms.¡±


    They did so, shuffling out the spare armor, the chestplates emblazoned with the symbol of House Deirdre, a white crab with four claws. Pearl looked at one of them for a moment. He swallowed down bile.


    Just one night, he told himself.


    The guards went to their rooms. Shut the door. Pearl took a deep breath.


    Usanur walked in. Regarded Pearl with a cool stare. Behind her was a squad of elves. White Feathers, he knew. More trained than Sunala''s personal guard.


    Expendable, too, if it came to that.


    ¡°Here''s the armor,¡± he said, ¡°Put it on. Get it over with.¡±


    The Master of Arms nodded. Pearl took his leave, walking back into the manor. He wound up the countless stairs to his room. Sat down on his bed. There was a painting that hung over the fireplace. It depicted his mother sitting on a chair, her three children around her. Alabaster looked grim. Pearl was smiling. Mother had a hand on Uvalendri''s shoulder.


    He could not meet her face, not even on the painting. He instead locked the door, taking a deep, ragged breath, and poured himself a glass of wine. He drained it. Poured another.


    Just one night, and it would be over.


    ***


    Guerico rushed into the Lady Deirdre''s room. He arrived at Chadwick''s satin pillow. The calico had hardly moved since his arrival to the estate, the only evidence of his awakening being the empty bowl by the side of his pillow, which was filled daily with spiced milk.


    The Abstract Man shuttled from the floor to the pillow, curving along its exterior until he was right next to Chadwick''s head.


    ¡°Hey,¡± he whispered, ¡°Hey!¡±


    The cat opened a single eye.


    ¡°Quiet, now,¡± Chadwick said, ¡°You''ll wake our client.¡±


    ¡°Might want to, anyways,¡± Guerico said, ¡°Elves just arrived at the estate. They''re dressing up as soldiers. The two brothers locked themselves in their rooms.¡±


    ¡°My, my,¡± Chadwick said, and his pupils turned to slits, ¡°What a mistake they''ve made.¡±


    ¡°Heh,¡± Guerico said, ¡°You''re going all out?¡±


    ¡°Might as well,¡± Chadwick said, and he stretched, yawning, ¡°You really think I should wake Lady Deirdre?¡±


    ¡°Probably a good idea,¡± Guerico said, ¡°Considering you''re going to be causing a ruckus.¡±


    ¡°Mmm,¡± the cat purred. He took his time getting up, smiling his feline smile as he turned and leaped onto the bed. He padded over to where Lady Deirdre was sleeping.


    ¡°My lady,¡± he said.


    She stirred, but did not wake.


    So he batted her nose with a paw. Vataya grimaced, opening her eyes. She was a brave sort ¨C she didn''t jump at the sight of him, like some in the guild did.


    ¡°Cat,¡± she said, ¡°Do you require more milk?¡±


    ¡°Mmm, after tonight, I think so,¡± Chadwick said, ¡°But I''m afraid I''ve got something else that must be done.¡±


    ¡°And what is that?¡±


    ¡°Some interlopers have decided to kill you,¡± he said.


    ¡°I see,¡± she said, ¡°You''ll take care of them?


    ¡°Yes,¡± he said.


    ¡°You will protect my children?¡±


    Something glittered in Chadwick''s eyes.


    ¡°As best as I am able to,¡± he said.


    ¡°Then do what must be done,¡± Vataya said.


    She turned, pulling herself out of bed, slipping a knife out from within her pillow. She flipped it a few times.


    ¡°I''ll get to work now,¡± Chadwick said, ¡°Stay in here.¡±


    She nodded. Wavered a bit, placed a hand on a bedpost to steady herself. Chadwick purred as he approached the door. He turned to her.


    ¡°Ah,¡± he said, ¡°Will you please...?¡±


    She walked over, and opened the door.


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    And he stepped out into the hall. He heard Vataya close the door behind her, the lock clicking. He stretched again. It was dark out. The only light came from the torch sconces on the wall. They shone like sunset in the halls.


    They lengthened his shadow.


    Which was winged. Large.


    Two guards appeared, wearing mismatched Deirdre uniforms. He could tell they were elves. By their smells. By their souls. They looked down at the cat, weapons drawn. One of them was sneering.


    Chadwick began to grow.


    Shadows overtook his form.


    And-


    ***


    Usanur was hanging back, holding the stairwell that led up to the master bedroom. A few of the soldiers went up after her. There were six of them in all. Considering Vataya''s age, truly, she should have only needed one or two. But Sunala had been insistent.


    Six.


    To make sure.


    One of them drew up beside her. He wore a pair of goggles, and as he looked up at the ceiling, she realized that they were enchanted with x-ray vision. He grimaced.


    ¡°The cat''s up there,¡± he noted, ¡°The one from the Amber Foundation.¡±


    ¡°Be careful,¡± Usanur said, ¡°Looks can be deceiving.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± he replied, ¡°The cat''s... growing, it''s-¡±


    He went pale. Opened his mouth wide.


    And started to scream.


    Something rushed down the stairs, large and shaggy and shadowed.


    And-


    ***


    Alabaster and Uvalendri waited in his room. She had not moved from her place at the desk. He was pacing back and forth, occasionally tossing firewood into the fireplace to keep warm, for it was a cold night. At one point, he looked at her. Noted that she was only wearing her nightgown. Her thin arms were bare.


    ¡°Would you...¡± he said, ¡°Would you like a coat?¡±


    She looked away, glaring hard at the wall. He supposed that was a fair response.


    He...


    He was not sure if she would ever speak to him again, after this.


    But she would understand in time.


    One floor above, they could hear the sounds of the assassination begin, dulled by the stone. Grunts and screams. He knew that the cat (who-was-not-a-cat) was guarding his mother, but he still believed...


    Had to believe...


    The White Feathers were guildfolk, too. That meant that they were able to fight in battles like these. Battles that defied imagination. He heard tales, from his days off-plane, studying in university, of what some guilds were capable of. Beings like Aldr Fatebreaker, or Ultan. The Manticore and his Devouring.


    He heard a sudden scream from one of the elves, high-pitched and horribly pained. Both his and Uvalendri''s heads snapped to the door.


    Because the scream came from just outside-


    The door flew open-


    Something oozed through the door. Shadowed. Vaguely feline, predatory, with wings that took up half the room. Out of the shadows came something resembling a claw, and in that claw was Usanur, the talons dug deep into her chest, her back, her neck. She was nearly decapitated, her head hanging by a string, that-


    That snapped completely as the shadow flung it to the ground.


    Oh dear, it said, How unfortunate.


    Uvalendri was hyperventilating. Alabaster''s heart was skipping every other beat. The thing''s voice was layered, on top calm and suave, though something deeper, something of the earth yet not, something beyond, rumbled underneath, always threatening to bubble to the surface.


    The form was like oil. Two eyes, still cat-like, still emerald and glistening, oozed to the forefront, took note of Alabaster.


    How sad, it said, To be killed by your friend, your love, your idol.


    And-


    ***


    Uvalendri screamed, her voice raw and ragged, both out of fear and out of absolute grief at the cat speared Alabaster through the chest. He let out a coughing gasp, falling to his knees, blood dribbling from his chin like spittle. Light left his eyes.


    The fire had been extinguished, casting all into darkness. She could only see the thing¡¯s eyes, twin emeralds that smiled at her with a dark glee.


    Uvalendri cowered against the corner of the room as the cat discarded Alabaster''s body.


    There, he said, That does that.


    He glanced over to her. Her heart stopped.


    You are the client, are you not?


    She didn''t respond, tears streaming down her face, scarring her cheeks. She wanted to retch, to sob, to scream, to-


    Be not afraid, it said, I am not here to kill you.


    Its voice was so calm. So assured. Uvalendri worked up the courage to speak.


    ¡°Y-You,¡± she said, ¡°Y-you killed h-h-h-him.¡±


    I did, it said simply, For if I did not, he would have tried again, wouldn''t he?


    ¡°H-H-He w-was my b-brother.¡±


    That he was, it said, and its voice took on an edge like an adult talking to a child, He was also a son. He would have been a father, too, were his future brighter.


    Uvalendri could not bear to see his body in the center of the room. She broke down completely, her crying loud and piercing. The cat waited for her to control herself.


    It was necessary, it said, Now, your mother is safe. Your city is safe. You are safe.


    ¡°I didn''t,¡± she said, ¡°I-I-I-¡±


    Didn''t expect me to go this far?


    A noise came from the cat. Chuffing. Soft. It was laughter.


    Let''s just say, I chose to interpret the contract my own way, it said, I did what you were too afraid to do, what was unthinkable for your mother. I pave the way to your safety.


    It began moving away from her, out of the room.


    Here is how it went, it said, This elf, this friend of your brother''s, decided to take it a step further. Decided to end the family line. Oh, I was far too late. She plunged a blade into his chest, and killed him. I only stopped after as she was standing over you, about to kill you, too.


    Uvalendri was quiet.


    Oh, my guildmaster will be upset.


    ¡°She¡¯ll¡­¡± Uvalendri said, ¡°Y-You¡¯ll¡­¡±


    What? There will be consequences? Perhaps. But she can''t afford to kick me out. She''s bound me so.


    Those emerald eyes burned into her soul.


    She should not have sent me, I think.


    And she realized.


    The cat had not killed her brother to protect her.


    The cat had killed her brother because it enjoyed it. Because it could.


    ¡°Th-That''s not how it will go,¡± Uvalendri said, ¡°M-My mother, I-I''ll tell h-her.¡±


    You are brave, it said, But still naive. Of course your mother will know. But she will accept my story. She will know, yet not know. As will you. As will this city. They will accept the lie, for it is the easier path.


    There was such sureness in its voice. Uvalendri went quiet.


    Mourn your brother, it said, Hate me for what I have done, I do not care. You will thank me, when your emotion clears.


    And the thing receded. Down the hallway. Up the stairs, back to her mother''s room.


    She was alone.


    Two corpses in the room.


    She broke down into another fit of sobs.


    Her brother was dead.


    Her brother was dead, and it was her fault.

 110. Deus ex Mare - The Plight of the Ant

    They lost the Gil-Galad in the storm. The blizzard continued, unabated, for their entire journey across the skies of Entheos. It was as though Skarnorex themself were driving them away. Indeed, at certain points Meleko would look out to see a dark blot against the endless white, as though the Dracolich were stalking them across the expanse.


    But that couldn''t be the case, right?


    No Dracolich was that petty about outlanders.


    ...Right?


    He was one of the few members of the Guttersnipe''s menagerie that would actually go out onto the deck. Most of the time, it was to look out for danger. Someone would always have to be in the crow''s nest, a position decided by lots among the crew. The Jugdran threw himself into the running, and often found himself ascending the cold rope ladder, bitter snow curling around him.


    But he was used to this. Used to being in a crew that looked out for each other. Even before the guild, he had found kinship with other Jugdran during campaigns on icy worlds. There was a coming-together, an odd sort of community that came when one was fighting alongside strangers against the same foe. There was no choice. Even nomads yearn for camaraderie.


    Despite the fact that he was Amber Foundation, body and soul, for this trip, in this endless winter, he was of the Guttersnipe, and he carried himself accordingly.


    Rosemary was recovering after the fight. And she, despite everything, cast herself out into the snow with him.


    It was their final day on Entheos when he found her joining him in the crow''s nest. She was wrapped in several heavy cloaks, like he was, the head of her mace poking out from the folds, glowing slightly to cast warm light in the gray dusk of the world.


    ¡°So,¡± she said.


    ¡°You feeling up for it?¡± Meleko asked.


    She nodded.


    ¡°I want to see the rainbows,¡± she said, ¡°I want to be the first person on this ship to actually feel warm again.¡±


    She shivered a bit, and Meleko let her sidle up against him. The two watched the blizzard. There was only one other crewmate up above deck, Captain Orvisan himself, the surly gnome holding himself to a railing. He was smoking, but what smoke came from his cigar was stolen quickly by the wind.


    ¡°Should tie himself down,¡± Rosemary commented, ¡°One stray gale, and we''re down a captain.¡±


    ¡°Aye,¡± Meleko said, ¡°You should, too.¡±


    Rosemary blinked, then nodded, wrapping a rope around her waist and fastening the end of it to the base of the crow''s nest. She settled back down.


    ¡°So,¡± Meleko said, ¡°Almost there.¡±


    ¡°It''s been...¡± Rosemary sighed, ¡°It''s been a lot.¡±


    ¡°Got that right,¡± Meleko said.


    They didn''t state the obvious. A fourth of the crew was dead. Most of the injured had been attended to ¨C the wonders of modern magic ¨C but it was still a harsh blow to morale. The cold, the endless cold, did little to help matters.


    Meleko leaned back.


    ¡°So, Rosie,¡± he said, ¡°You doing alright?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Rosemary said.


    He looked at her.


    ¡°Rosemary,¡± he said, ¡°You good?¡±


    And she wilted.


    ¡°No,¡± she said, ¡°No, I''m...¡±


    The wind wailed around them. Meleko had to strain to hear her as she spoke.


    ¡°Can''t hear you, Rosie.¡±


    ¡°...I said I feel like a lot of this is my fault,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°How so?¡±


    ¡°It was...¡± Rosemary sighed, ¡°It was me who gave Rithmound the information on the dead plane. It was me who got Ora sent out here. It was...¡±


    Me who got the crew killed.


    Meleko put a hand on her shoulder.


    ¡°Hey,¡± he said.


    She looked over at him.


    ¡°You''re the cause,¡± he said, ¡°But it''s not your fault.¡±


    ¡°But-¡±


    ¡°Way I see it, Sunala was the one who ordered the Gil-Galad out to kill all of us,¡± Meleko said, ¡°She''s also the one who found the dead plane in the first place. To search for her damn Shard.¡±


    He shrugged.


    ¡°Don''t be hard on yourself, Rosemary.¡±


    ¡°Easy to say, harder to do,¡± Rosemary said.


    She looked glumly out past the blizzard, her blue eyes glistening. Meleko re-adjusted himself, his grip on his rifle, and he settled back down.


    ¡°Wish I had some cards,¡± he said.


    ¡°You didn''t bring your deck?¡±


    ¡°Not on a job like this,¡± Meleko said, ¡°Not with all the action going on.¡±


    He looked uncomfortable.


    ¡°I...¡± he said, ¡°I usually don''t say stuff like this, but you want my opinion?¡±


    Rosemary looked at him.


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    ¡°Look, as a mercenary brat, I was told to just follow orders,¡± Meleko said, ¡°Keep my head down, shoot who I''m told to shoot, all that good stuff.¡±


    ¡°You were trained to keep your mouth shut,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Meleko said, ¡°Keep my opinions to myself, all of that.¡±


    ¡°You think I should have just kept things to myself,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°What?¡± Meleko said, ¡°No! Not like that, not-¡±


    He grimaced.


    ¡°Gods, no. Ignore everything I just-¡±


    ¡°It''s fine, Mel,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°It''s just...¡±


    ¡°What would she have done if you hadn''t told Rithmound?¡±


    Rosemary was quiet.


    ¡°Come on,¡± Meleko said, ¡°I know that you think about this sorta stuff. The political dramas.¡±


    ¡°I...¡±


    She thought on it, her brow furrowing, her worry, for a moment, displaced. The blizzard began to abate by a hair, and one of the crewmembers came up from belowdecks. He whispered a few words to Orvisan below, who looked out for a few moments before going down.


    ¡°She would win,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°I... I took a measure of the Houses in the Minor Tribunal.¡±


    ¡°The whatnow?¡±


    ¡°The council that decides the new Doge,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Scuttleway is a plutocracy. Rule by the rich-¡±


    ¡°I mean, all governments are, it seems-¡±


    ¡°They''re more overt with it,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°The city worships gold. Encourages greed. It wasn''t always like that. Back when the revolution hit, when they overthrew Tlantoia, the Houses were made up of former slaves. The system was designed so that anyone could join one of the Houses as a means of social mobility.¡±


    ¡°But it wasn''t.¡±


    ¡°It wasn''t,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Give it a few decades,now those old Houses are set like stone, save for a few here and there. Let anything set itself in, refuse to change, and it will grow stagnant.¡±


    ¡°So you think she''ll win,¡± Meleko said.


    ¡°As I said,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°The Houses only care about gold. And Chliofrond is a moneybag waiting to be spilled open. Never mind the Shard. Look at the water supply. The ''tourist'' options. God, Becenti would hate that, wouldn''t he...?¡±


    ¡°He would,¡± Meleko agreed, ¡°So... without you telling Rithmound, and everything going on out there, she''d win.¡±


    ¡°Don''t kid yourself,¡± Rosemary said, darkly, ¡°Even if we do this, there''s always a chance it''s for nothing. The Minor Tribunal could still vote for her. The Gil-Galad might shoot us down.¡±


    ¡°Busciver, or whatever, wins the Dogeship. What happens?¡±


    ¡°More Elven influence over the city,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Tlantoian influence. You know what they were like?¡±


    Meleko shook his head.


    ¡°They were...¡± Rosemary sighed, ¡°I did my reading, like a good little elf. Did more reading than Sunala thought I would, to be honest, read more than the books she gave me. Everyone non-elf was a second class citizen.¡±


    She was giving the storm a hard look.


    ¡°There was a certain blood quantum you had to fulfill,¡± she continued, ¡°You...you had to have so much Elven blood, in order to be able to hold down jobs, or have children, or anything like that. They hated anything non-elf. At the height of the revolution, they were butchering entire cities of their non-Elven people.¡±


    Meleko took a moment to absorb that. His frown deepened. No one in the Amber Foundation, save Rosemary, was Elven.


    ¡°So it¡¯d be back to that, then,¡± he said.


    ¡°...Yeah.¡±


    Meleko nodded.


    ¡°And I...¡± Rosemary grimaced, ¡°And I...¡±


    She was tearing up.


    ¡°Aw, no, Rose,¡± Meleko said. He patted her shoulder.


    ¡°I f-f-feel like I helped with it,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°If I hadn''t... h-helped get us out of there, on Ch-Chliofrond, if I had t-told someone sooner, we wouldn''t be here.¡±


    Meleko was quiet. Gave her time to get control of herself. When she glared out, her face was like glass.


    ¡°At least you''re doing this now, right?¡± Meleko said.


    ¡°Y-Yeah,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°I just hope it''s enough.¡±


    ¡°It will be,¡± Meleko said.


    ¡°What if it''s not?¡±


    Meleko glared at her, brandished his rifle. His four eyes boiled with a dark sort of fire.


    ¡°It will be.¡±


    ***


    Celendri was alright, after that hard fall.


    But the attack had certainly bruised the Gil-Galad''s attack force. Of the team that she had assembled for direct boarding action against the Rithmound ship, just less than half remained. They had been her friends. She missed them, and could not help but feel guilt as she realized just how over her head she had gotten.


    These Scuttlers had far more bite than their bark had pronounced. And she could see it in the eyes of her comrades, her guildmates. When the White Feathers had first left Scuttleway, they were professional. Some were even excited ¨C they had been the one to hold the ideals of the Verdant Reclamation closer to their hearts than others, and the chance to enact those ideals...


    To remove their lessers...


    Well, the excitement was gone now. What had taken its place was an exhaustion. Fear, even, in certain cases. Celendri had lost all four of her daggers after that raid, and she looked lost without them, sitting in her room and staring at the wall.


    Whatever the case, another assault on this plane was not an option. Urya cursed. She had hoped to deal enough damage to the Rithmound ship to slow it down, enough that she could use ranged cannonfire to knock it out of the sky. It was too fast.


    And now, they had lost it in the blizzard. Damn Skarnorex, they had lost their momentum. It would need to be picked up on the next plane.


    Redenia.


    She took a deep breath, pacing across the deck. This high up, with cold, bitter winds wailing around them, most of the crew sequestered below. She was fine, however, for she was used to these freezing temperatures after a childhood on Neverspring. It gave her time to think. Time to be alone.


    A place to avoid the haunted look her crew gave her.


    She found her hands shaking, and not from the cold. She tried to still them, taking deep breaths.


    And a small voice wormed its way into her head.


    What if she failed?


    ***


    Rosemary and Meleko hunkered down. The Guttersnipe entered the Traveling Point. The world lurched. Rainbows filled Rosemary''s vision, cascades of mosaic blues and greens, neon pinks and harsh reds, whites and blacks, peachy creams and oranges that reminded her of Castle Belenus at sunrise, when the morning was cold and dew stuck to the grass and everything seemed alright, not like now, not with everything going on, the death, the quiet sobs that echoed down the halls of the ship, the empty look Ora Sota wore now, after killing the elf.


    The blizzard disappeared around them. The snow that had collected on the ship''s decks, the ice on its masts, the sleet covering the ropes, all of it was torn away by the sheer power of Imagination. The Guttersnipe arrived on Redenia with very little of Entheos''s winter world left, just a few bare patches of ice here and there. That would melt away in the tropical heat in the first hour.


    Something new greeted them, something had not been there before.


    A Federation vessel. A Shrikeling, large and globular, a planet in miniature, halfmoon wings pointed diagonally to the ground . It floated serenely in the air close to the Traveling Point, its bottom just brushing against the forest of gingkos, cycads, and conifers below. Rosemary and Meleko were looking at it, watching it for signs of trouble, as the ship, on their arrival, began to move towards them.


    The crew was making their way up to the top deck. This included Ora Sota, who squinted at the sight of the Shrikeling as it undulated to meet them.


    ¡°I''ll handle this,¡± Ora said.


    ¡°You sure?¡± Captain Orvisan said, ¡°It doesn''t look friendly.¡±


    ¡°Sh-Shrikelings are not intended to look kind,¡± Ora said, ¡°They are a message.¡±


    He said little else as he stepped forward, ignoring Captain Orvisan''s questioning look. The Shrikeling moved portside to the Guttersnipe. A door opened from its surface, and a bridge extended to connect the two vessels. A Federation soldier stepped out, rifle in hand, their face enclosed with a helmet, the shape of their armor giving them a reptilian appearance, with digitigrade legs and an elongated snout. Ora waited for them to step onto the ship.


    ¡°I am Lieutenant Commander Arthrux Drif,¡± the alien said, ¡°Commanding officer of the ship New Home¡¯s Comfort.¡±


    He gestured to the Shrikeling. Ora cleared his throat.


    ¡°I am Ora Sota, multiversal investigator of the High Federation.¡±


    ¡°And that is your reason for being here?¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Ora Sota said, ¡°We are here to cross the sea to go to another plane. I am investigating a potential case of technological contamination.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Arthrux Drif said, ¡°And these are...?¡±


    ¡°A ship I have chartered for travel,¡± Ora said, ¡°Along with a pair of guildfolk from the Amber Foundation.¡±


    The alien grunted, taking out a pad and beginning to tap. Ora waited for a few moments, before he grimaced and looked back at the Traveling Point.


    ¡°Can we... hurry this along?¡± he asked.


    The alien stopped.


    ¡°Any particular reason?¡±


    ¡°We are being pursued,¡± Ora said.


    ¡°By whom?¡±


    ¡°Another guild,¡± Ora said, ¡°Elves.¡±Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.


    Arthrux Drif snorted, a low huffing chuff.


    ¡°Can''t help you there,¡± he said, ¡°You got two guildfolk with you, which means it''s InterGuild territory.¡±


    ¡°I... see,¡± Ora said.


    ¡°If we interfere, it''s seen as the High Federation taking an interest in these sorts of affairs. Best we remain neutral, aye?¡±


    Ora nodded. His brow was furrowing, however, as he considered his own role in this. He had already spoken to Rosemary about this a few times. Why he was out here, his entanglement in local politics.


    Even a Shrikeling way out here in Redenia was a statement, was it not? There was no neutrality with warships in foreign skies.


    But he kept his mouth shut there. And tried a different approach.


    ¡°Well,¡± Ora said, ¡°One Silver Eye local to another, perhaps you could... do something?¡±


    ¡°I''m not going to shoot them down, if that''s what you''re implying,¡± Arthrux Drif said, ¡°Nothing of that sort.¡±


    ¡°...No,¡± Ora said, ¡°No, don''t do that. But please, notify my superiors in the Department of Multiversal Irregularities that I am out here. Let them know that...¡±


    He looked back and forth, feigning fear of being overheard. Arthrux Drif leaned in.


    ¡°That I am expecting to find a Shard of Imagination.¡±


    The alien let out a low hiss.


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Ora said.


    Drif paused for a few moments, considering his words.


    ¡°If it''s a false lead, I will lose face,¡± he said, ¡°I''ve already lost a bit of respect, being sent out here.¡±


    Ora winced. No one in the Silver Eye''s military wanted to have a command outside of the Silver Eye. It was seen as a sign that one was a maverick of some sort.


    ¡°Do this, then,¡± Ora said, ¡°I have here a communicator. I''ll return back here, to Redenia, with my findings. If they are positive, please relay the information to my superiors at once.¡±


    ¡°...It''s a Shard of Imagination?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°I''ll go back to the Silver Eye myself, if I have to,¡± Arthrux Drif said.


    ¡°Good,¡± Ora said, ¡°Now, those pursuing us have proven to be violent individuals, potential enemies of the state. Now I know that you cannot face them immediately. But you can delay them, yes?¡±


    Arthrux considered.


    ¡°Please do,¡± Ora said, ¡°Now, are we good to go?¡±


    ¡°...Aye.¡±


    And the alien returned back to his ship. The New Home¡¯s Comfort broke away from the Guttersnipe, moving off towards the Traveling Point.


    ¡°What was that all about?¡± Captain Orvisan asked.


    ¡°Federation sentry,¡± Ora replied, still watching the Shrikeling.


    ¡°Any reason why they sent one out here?¡± Meleko asked.


    Memories percolated in Ora''s head. He had been speaking to a colleague about this, relatively recently...


    ¡°I believe,¡± he said, ¡°It''s part of an initiative from the Reclamationists. They''re the big party that has the supermajority in the senate. A... way, I believe, to look out on the more dangerous planes in the multiverse.¡±


    ¡°That''s a damn Shrikeling,¡± Meleko said, ¡°A bit of an escalation, isn''t it?¡±


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± Ora said.


    Meleko was quiet. His four eyes narrowed. He did not mention the similarity between the Verdant Reclamation and the Reclamationist¡¯s names. They dealt the same cards. They spoke the same language.


    Rosemary drew up beside him, squinting out as the ship made its way to the Traveling Point, keeping watch over it like a great steel eye.


    ¡°You handled that well,¡± she said.


    ¡°I''ve... had to handle quite a bit, these past few days,¡± Ora said, ¡°I found that doing this was a cakewalk, after what else I''ve done.¡±


    He didn''t need to say much else than that. The guildfolk knew what he meant.


    Compared to what was coming, talking to Arthrux Drif was easy.


    ***


    She was Elzan Chi, the Queen of Monsters. A goddess on Redenia. Worshiped by what few sapient species there were on the plane, her territory was the entirety of the sea between Redenia''s two continents. She often spent her days in the deepest bottom of the ocean, plying the bottoms for deep cracks in Redenia''s foundations, where she could drink in the energies of the multiverse.


    There were no whales on Redenia, for Elzan Chi had eaten them. The other monsters that lived in these parts of the seas lived in a migratory pattern that involved always being on the other side of the ocean from where she stalked. For if she found them, she ate them, too. The Manticore would be proud.


    The Guttersnipe took to the sky above the sea carefully. Orvisan glanced at Rosemary and Ora. Rosemary gave him a thumbs up. Ora gave a grim nod.


    And the caravel moved forward.


    ***


    The Gil-Galad crested out of the Traveling Point, dipping, for a moment, in the sky. It righted itself, moving upwards.


    Directly into the path of the Shrikeling. Urya froze at the sight of it.


    Was the Federation already here?


    No. She had heard from her contacts in the Silver Eye. It was part of the Silver Eye''s initiatives to station more dangerous ships in the multiverse. They had probably chosen a Shrikeling because of Elzan Chi.


    And yet...


    And yet, a Shrikeling, presumably with a glassmaker, this close to the dead plane, was an ill omen indeed.


    ¡°Gods,¡± Celendri said, ¡°I hate the sight of it.¡±


    ¡°As do I,¡± Urya said. She grimaced, feeling her scar tighten. She had earned it in the Silver Eye, helping a small community of Elven refugees get off-plane. The Federation had found them, and declared their existence in the Silver Eye illegal.


    And the sky had been filled with Shrikelings then. She shuddered.


    Her life was full of nothing but bad memories, was it not?


    The Shrikeling came down portside to the Gil-Galad. A bridge extended out, and a High Federation soldier stepped out onto the ship. He ignored the leering looks the crew gave him as he took out a pad.


    ¡°I am Lieutenant Commander Arthrux Drif,¡± he rasped, ¡°Of the Federation starship New Home¡¯s Comfort. And, you are...?¡±


    ¡°Don''t have time for this,¡± Urya said.


    ¡°Odd name.¡±


    ¡°I am Urya Orna, of the guild White Feathers. I am here on behalf of a client. I have the proper identification.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± the alien said, ¡°Please, present it to me.¡±


    She did so.


    He took it in hand, and though she could not see through the alien''s opaque helmet, she could tell he was considering it.


    ¡°This checks out, I suppose,¡± the alien said, ¡°But there''s more than one of you savages onboard, isn''t there...?¡±


    She kept a steady hold over her emotions as she gave a slight nod.


    ¡°I''ll need all of your IDs, then,¡± the alien said, ¡°Please.¡±


    And the White Feathers and the crew of the Gil-Galad began to hand in their IDs. The alien waited patiently as they did so, hand on his rifle. He yawned a bit as they went.


    When all was said and done, the lizard had a small deck of guild IDs, merchant passes, and other identifying cards in hand. He sorted through them. Slowly.


    He looked up at Urya.


    ¡°I''m going to need to run all of these,¡± he said, ¡°Sit tight.¡±


    And he turned around, and walked back into the Shrikeling.


    Urya glared at his back. The Federation investigator was responsible for this nonsense, wasn''t he? The Shrikeling could not shoot down the Gil-Galad. It would do the next best thing. It would delay them. Make them wait. And the whole time, the damn Scuttler caravel was making its way across the ocean.


    She grimaced.


    For a moment, she considered having the Gil-Galad move away.


    Then, taking a deep breath, she went over to one of the mages still alive onboard the ship.


    ¡°Malis,¡± she said.


    ¡°Aye.¡±


    ¡°Unleash a few of the air elementals still in our employ,¡± Urya said, ¡°Send them at the caravel.¡±


    ¡°A-Are you sure?¡± Malis said, ¡°Always a chance that they''ll get all riled up again, and-¡±


    ¡°We''re in clear skies,¡± Urya said, ¡°No storm to jog their senses. And we''re going to be stuck here for a while.¡±


    She glared at the Shrikeling.


    ¡°So get to work at it.¡±


    Malis nodded. Raised a hand. The air just off the starboard side began to coalesce and churn like a heat mirage. The wind elementals took off, rippling away from the two ships. Urya watched them go, trying her hardest to still her shaking hands.


    They were getting far too close to the dead plane.


    Far too close, indeed.


    ***


    ¡°So tell me,¡± Ora said to Rosemary, ¡°How did you cross the sea before, if this... Queen of Monsters, live here?¡±


    ¡°Two of our guildmates came here last time, before the expedition,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Tek and Aristo. Tek for logistical support, running numbers, all of that jazz. Aristo''s a language expert. Can speak pretty much every language that I can think of, and then some.¡±


    She looked down at the dark waters below.


    ¡°Can... Elzan Chi, does she understand us?¡± Ora said, ¡°I''ve heard tales of her, but...¡±


    ¡°Oh, yeah, from what Aristo told us, it''s fine,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°And I think we''re in luck, too. The seas are calm. That means all the other nasties are staying out of her way. Otherwise we''d be getting attacked right about now.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Ora said, an octave higher than usual, ¡°That''s nice.¡±


    Rosemary gave him a lopsided grin.


    ¡°You''re really scared, aren''t you?¡±


    He gave a quiet nod.


    ¡°It''s alright,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°We''ve worked with Elzan Chi before. We''ve got our... our offering-¡±


    She said this part with a forced cheer.


    ¡°-And I think it will be enough. So long as she eats, she''s happy.¡±


    ¡°I...I suppose I know that feeling,¡± Ora said. He glanced down.


    And the dark waters began to churn. Far below, the sea frothed milk-white and shuddered as she rose from the depths. What Ora realized to be her neck came up first, a scaled arc with the thickness of a tower, easily able to reach the Guttersnipe above. Then came her head, vaguely arrow-shaped. Massive. Easily twice the size of the caravel. Eyes the size of worlds looked down at the little ship. Mast-sized fangs filled her maw. She opened her mouth, and it was like staring into the void. The air reeked of dying fish.


    A deep rumble emanated from her, shook the ship, shook the world, the very air vibrated and threatened to break like glass. The crew braced themselves, holding onto the mast, onto the railings, Orvisan onto the steering wheel. High above, Meleko held onto the ropes of the crow''s nest.


    For a moment, all was still. Elzan Chi was staring at them. Expectant.


    She had not eaten them yet.


    She was waiting for tribute.


    Orvisan glanced up at the crow''s nest. At Meleko, who was taking a deep breath. He stood tall from the crow''s nest, four eyes staring down her maw.


    ¡°Elzan Chi!¡± he roared, ¡°I come bearing tribute!¡±


    The Queen waited.


    Meleko pointed back.


    ¡°Behind us is a ship! The Gil-Galad, you remember it? White as a bone!¡±


    Elzan Chi growled, her voice so low that they almost couldn''t hear it. A series of clicks crackled from deep within her throat, like whalesong, so loud that Meleko instinctively put his hands out to protect himself.


    When he drew them back, he had lost all feeling in his arms.


    Lord, just being in her presence was dangerous. She didn''t need to even eat them. Just her voice was enough to kill them all.


    Meleko gestured back.


    ¡°She''s-¡± he felt so quiet compared to her, ¡°She''s behind us! Go get her! Let us pass!¡±


    There was silence.


    Then something shot from Elzan Chi''s mouth. A sliver of red. It wrapped itself around Meleko.


    And pulled him to her.


    ¡°Meleko!¡± Rosemary screamed. But he was gone in an instant. Elzan Chi closed her maw, and stood stock still. Rosemary sunk to her knees, her eyes wide, her mouth flickering between a thin, shocked line and a frown. The crew simply stood, their jaws agape. Ora, however, was on the ground, clutching his bleeding ears. His hearing was more sensitive.


    And the noise she made.


    The noise.


    She was not just roaring and grumbling and clicking. Below that was something more. Whispers that only a Nelnuthan could register.


    And she was still making them.


    She opened her mouth again.


    The sliver of her tongue unraveled, releasing Meleko from her grip. He was shuddering, his eyes closed, hugging himself in a fetal position, like he was fighting a bad cold.


    ¡°What did you do?¡± Rosemary whispered, then, ¡°What did you do?!¡±


    But the Queen of Monsters was already sinking down, a collapsing tower, into the waves. Her head disappeared completely. The water fizzled on the surface, a quilt of whites and darks.


    Rosemary ran over to Meleko''s side, checking him over. He was completely sodden with her saliva ¨C there must have been a paralyzing agent. A couple crewmates went over by her side, including one of the medics.


    One of them, too, went to Ora. His ears were ringing, his fur still matted with his blood, as he rose unsteadily to his feet. He could not hear the medic as they spoke to him.


    ¡°Captain,¡± one of them, Mori, said, ¡°Air elementals. They''re going to hit us portside.¡±


    Orvisan, who had been staring at where Elzan Chi had just been, snapped to attention.


    ¡°Elementals?¡± he said.


    ¡°Aye, Captain,¡± Mori said, ¡°Must be from the Gil-Galad, since they themselve can''t make an appearance.¡±


    Orvisan grimaced, then nodded.


    ¡°Get Zad,¡± he said, ¡°Everyone, battle stations, now!¡±


    ***


    Ora was gestured to go down to the infirmary, which he did. But he could not shake his own suspicions as he went down. They had to load Meleko onto a stretcher, moving him down behind the Nelnuthan. Rosemary was pale faced, but she stayed above on the top deck in order to face the oncoming assault.


    He was sat down on a bed. The medic patted him on the shoulder, and began to write something out. He had to use a translator to understand what she was saying, but he understood well enough. They had to attend to others before him, in case things got bad.


    And, so far, whenever they had gotten into an engagement, things had gotten bad. So he understood.


    All Ora could hear was the ringing. A dull pain throbbed behind his eyes as he leaned back, trying not to think about what was happening on the deck. Once more, people were risking their lives for him. And there was nothing he could do.


    The ship shook. He wondered what had caused that. Air elementals, as far as he had learned, cut their prey to pieces. They whipped their forms around like curved blades, miniature tornadoes that sheared away flesh, bit by bit, until the target was dead.


    He suppressed a shiver. He had no right to be disgusted by such a thing.


    He had killed someone in just a gruesome a way.


    Perhaps the multiverse had made killers of all. Or, perhaps, that was just the nature of things. He could not surmise. Whenever he thought of the elf he had killed back on Entheos, he felt nothing but guilt.


    Meleko was turning to his side in his stupor, and Ora could see that he was muttering to himself.


    The ship shuddered again. Ah, now he could hear something. A shout, muted and distant.


    What had she done to him?


    More importantly, why?


    Certainly not to eat him. If she wanted to do that, she could have simply swallowed. It would be like eating an Argosan ant.


    She had...


    Ora blinked.


    She had still been speaking to him.


    She had still been clicking and rumbling.


    He rose unsteadily to his feet. Walked over to Meleko''s side.


    ¡°Meleko,¡± he could barely hear his own voice, which sounded muted, ¡°What did she say?¡±


    He put his damaged ear right next to the Jugdran''s mouth. Even damaged, even bleeding, it was still better hearing than most of the crew. He strained, shutting his eyes and concentrating, trying to hear Meleko through the world of rings.


    He was just repeating the same word. Over and over and over again, quietly and breathlessly.


    ¡°Stay.¡±


    ***


    The air elementals had torn through the rigging. The sails. They bore down on the crew now, snarling, miniature tornadoes that, in the calm day, could hardly be seen. Rosemary swung her sceptre at them, connecting with hardened air here and there. Zad was tossing salt into the sky. Weapons were being swung. But the elementals had learned after the bout on Entheos. They were keeping their distance. Picking at the crew like buzzards.


    Captain Orvisan was bleeding from the side of his head, red streaming down and staining his beard. He grimaced as he limped over to Rosemary''s side.


    ¡°We need to get out of here,¡± he said.


    ¡°What about Elzan Chi?¡± Rosemary asked.


    ¡°Damn the monster, damn it all,¡± Orvisan said, ¡°We''re sitting ducks. It''s only a matter of time before-¡±


    ¡°The Gil-Galad!¡± Mori screamed, ¡°On the horizon!¡±


    Rosemary looked out. Sure enough, the white ship was making her way towards them. She squinted, watching as figures on the deck were preparing the one cannon on her deck.


    ¡°Get me to the wheel,¡± Orvisan said, ¡°Go!¡±


    Rosemary complied, her sceptre shining like a star as she fired off beams of light at the elementals above. Orvisan kept his head down, running despite his limp. He made his wheel to the wheel, noted how slick with blood his hands had become. He ran them down the length of his coat before grabbing on. He started to spin.


    ¡°CAPTAIN!¡±


    The voice was Ora''s.


    ¡°Ora!¡± Rosemary yelled, ¡°Get down!¡±


    But the Nelnuthan was stumbling up from the stairs. Rosemary, grimacing, pointed her sceptre, firing off a beam of light as one of the elementals swooped down at him. It speared through, and the elemental dispersed. But Ora didn''t seem to notice as he called at Orvisan again.


    ¡°CAPTAIN!¡± he said again, ¡°DON''T MOVE!¡±


    ¡°Not an option!¡± Orvisan roared back, ¡°Gil-Galad''s out there now!¡±


    ¡°MELEKO SAYS WE HAVE TO STAY!¡± Ora said. It was as though he were shouting more to hear himself than anything.


    ¡°Meleko...?¡± Orvisan said. He blinked.


    Far away, the cannon on the Gil-Galad flashed. A moment later, a cannonball collided with the Guttersnipe, a direct hit that tore through her center. The entire ship lurched to the side.


    The resulting boom resounded a moment later, as sound caught up with action. Orvisan spun the ship''s wheel, turning the Guttersnipe to face the Gil-Galad. A smaller target, facing the galleon head-on.


    ¡°WE HAVE TO STAY!¡± Ora screeched again. His voice was hoarse. Rosemary wondered if he had even shouted this loud before, or if he was yelling out of fear or to hear himself through his bleeding ears, ¡°STAY!¡±


    ¡°We can''t!¡± Orvisan said, ¡°Another hit like that, and we''re through!¡±


    But Ora could not hear him. Instead, he took another step forward.


    ¡°STAY!¡±


    ¡°Captain,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Maybe he''s right.¡±


    ¡°How could he be?¡± Orvisan said, ¡°You saw the alien. He was paralyzed. How could Sota even hear him? He''s-¡±


    He grimaced as a cannon shot right past the Guttersnipe''s starboard side.


    ¡°Trust him,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°I think that''s all you can do.¡±


    ¡°We have to...¡± Orvisan hesitated.


    Far below, the sea began to churn.


    ¡°...Alright,¡± Orvisan said, ¡°We wait.¡±


    Another cannon whizzed by, almost clipped the mast.


    Then another, this one scraping the Guttersnipe''s hull. The elementals were still spearing towards them, the crew waving swords, salt, anything to keep them from picking them off. One of the elementals managed to grab Mori, who was lifted into the air and dropped off the side of the ship.


    And yet they waited.


    Far below, the sea began to churn once more. It moved, like the bulging of a wave, towards the Gil-Galad.


    And Elzan Chi broke upwards.


    ***


    The maw rose up on either side of the Gil-Galad like the sides of a canyon. Urya''s eyes widened in shock at the sight of the teeth, the void, the clickings that rumbled from deep below. The crew were covering their ears as pure sound hit them, rumblings and clatterings and voices deeper still.


    ¡°Fight back!¡± Urya roared, ¡°Fire the cannon!¡±


    She was pulling her revolvers out, her heart racing. The cannoneer was swiveling the cannon ''round, aimed it for a moment, lit the fuse. The entire ship shook as it fired, though the boom was drowned out by the chorus of clicks.


    For a moment, they ceased, as the cannonball struck home.


    Then they started back up again, louder this time, as though Elzan Chi was screaming.


    Celendri was on the ground, curled up, sobbing. A few of the others were, as well. Urya pointed up her revolvers, and opened fire. In the approaching false dusk, the muzzle flashes lit up the world, illuminating Urya''s face. It was taut with fear. With shock.


    And the bullets did nothing to dissuade the Queen of Monsters.


    God does not care for the plight of the ant.


    Urya fell to her knees. Dropped her weapons, for she knew she did not need them anymore. Many of the elves had gone silent, or perhaps...


    Something felt slick on either side of her head. She dabbed her ear with a numb finger, and it came away red.


    The sobbings, the cries, the screams, all had been replaced by ringing.


    Water. No, saliva, deluged them as Elzan Chi''s mouth closed. The world was one of darkness, and as the maw became an inner sea, the sound traveled better, the clicks became louder, more intense, until all that Urya could feel was their vibrations thrumming through her ribcage.


    And all became silent.


    ***


    Elzan Chi''s mouth closed over the Gil-Galad. And that was that.


    The air elementals, bereft of a master, dispersed. The Guttersnipe was left alone. All that was left to do was to stare at the Queen of Monsters as she disappeared back into the depths, her serpentine neck arcing down into the brine.


    And that had only been her neck. Her body had never once reached the surface.


    ¡°Well,¡± Orvisan whispered, ¡°I see why we needed the tribute.¡±


    Rosemary was stone-faced as she stared out at where the Gil-Galad had been. Sunala''s ship was gone. Forever. She had helped consign all of those people to their deaths. Part of her was relieved. The White Feathers had been trying to kill them.


    But part of her felt like something had been torn away from her. Felt guilt. But then, she realized she would always feel guilt.


    Guilt for helping kill these people.


    Guilt for believing them, too. For, at one point, supporting that which they died for.


    ¡°Alright,¡± Orvisan said, ¡°Can we move?¡±


    Rosemary glanced back at Ora Sota. He was looking out, too, and his face was just as mask-like as hers. He met her gaze, and gave a grim nod.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± she said, ¡°Let''s go.¡±

 111. The Perfect Weapon

    ¡°So, that''s two for two,¡± Hyperion said, ¡°Two hits from the Amber Foundation on Agrippa''s business.¡±


    ¡°That is his conclusion?¡± Tacera asked, ¡°Out of all the guilds, Wakeling''s backwater?¡±


    One stood, one sat midair, out in an open field, near the Traveling Point that led to Nesona. There was a gas station nearby, though it had long ago been abandoned by Nexcorp, the company that had been the major gas mogul on Hanbusan before its collapse. The greens and reds of the Nexcorp logo had faded with time, and the shell of an old car was parked in front of the hollowed building. The rain elemental, Themble, downpoured and painted the horizon in a thick fog, the elemental hunting ceaselessly for the interlopers.


    ¡°You should have seen him,¡± Hyperion said, ¡°Ranting about Becenti and Wakeling, at how they''ve ruined him.¡±


    She was not looking at Hyperion, but she could sense his amusement.


    ¡°You know how he gets,¡± the sunman said.


    The demon gave no response. She cared little, in truth, for her employer''s little temper tantrums. She was more used to fighting in wars on Agrippa''s behalf ¨C sent out to wartorn planes, where fire was law, where such things as civility and goodwill had been discarded for simple brutality. Hanbusan was a plane that should have had such things ¨C indeed, she could feel within the earth the rumblings of militia groups and rebels beginning to arm themselves for open war ¨C but not here.


    This part of Hanbusan was choosing to die quietly.


    And so the two members of Pantheon were alone, waiting for anyone to arrive here.


    The air behind them rippled. The Traveling Point was free-form, the remains of a gate having moldered away long ago. Hyperion and Tacera turned to consider the new arrival. A man in combat armor stepped out, a plasma rifle in hand, his face obscured by a globular helmet. He stood simple and tall, nodding to each of them in turn.


    ¡°The lease,¡± Hyperion noted, ¡°You''re early.¡±


    ¡°I had time,¡± the man said.


    ¡°I would have your name,¡± Hyperion said, smiling serenely, ¡°So that we may be better acquainted.¡±


    The man was quiet for a few moments. Tacera could sense his unease, and she joined Hyperion in smiling at this, her fleshless jaws contorting and twisting.


    ¡°...Manny,¡± he said.


    ¡°Manny,¡± Hyperion said, ¡°Good.¡±


    ¡°I was not aware there was another joining us,¡± Tacera said, ¡°Is there a reason for this?¡±


    Manny shrugged.


    ¡°We must be stretched thin,¡± Hyperion said, ¡°From what I believe, Agrippa is re-assigning anyone in this Paradigm to lock down Hanbusan. He''s looking for outside help.¡±


    The sunman leered down at Manny.


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    Manny gave another shrug.


    ¡°I was told to look out for three people,¡± he said, ¡°A druid, a mechanical man, and an acro.¡±


    ¡°Ah,¡± Hyperion said, ¡°So one is a circus freak. Madmolian would be thrilled.¡±


    ¡°A shame, to kill it,¡± Tacera said, ¡°Those things rarely leave their home plane.¡±


    Manny checked his rifle, and said nothing else.


    Instead, he stepped out to survey the landscape. He nodded.


    ¡°A car''s approaching,¡± he said, ¡°Just down the road.¡±


    ***


    ¡°Three at the Traveling Point,¡± Ichabod grimaced, ¡°Shit, it''s Pantheon.¡±


    ¡°What makes you say that?¡± Contort asked.


    ¡°Only guildfolk around,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°I''m-¡±


    The plasma bolt seared through the front windshield, out the back, burning a perfect hole. The air stank of burning chemicals as Ichabod briefly lost control, grabbing hold of panic''s momentum and spinning the car around. He stopped it, the three of them ducking as another plasma bolt whizzed through the car, just barely missing Contort''s head.


    Ichabod opened the door, stumbling out and drawing his pistol, resting it on the car''s hood and taking aim. His enhanced vision kicked in, zooming in on the three Pantheon members guarding the Traveling Point. One was a hired gun, a mercenary, in a domed helmet, his plasma rifle steaming. Beside him was a man in silver armor, a sun floating serenely where the head should have been. The other...


    Ichabod swore.


    ¡°What we got?¡± Contort said. He was taking cover beside Ichabod, his back to the car, his hairs standing on edge.


    ¡°A Narideesh,¡± Ichabod said.


    Contort swore. Such demons were rare. Hard to summon, even harder to bind to a pact. The fact that one was a member of Pantheon spoke multitudes of Agrippa''s influence on the darker parts of reality.


    The Narideesh sat cross-legged in midair, her great arms lazing about on either side, both of them ending in large, clawed, six-fingered hands. She was naked, though it were as though all of the skin had been torn away, revealing pulsing muscles and half-exposed bone underneath. The entire head itself was bare, revealing a horned skull, three on one side of her temple, two on the other. She brought up a massive hand and rested it on the domehead''s shoulder, motioning for him to stop.


    Then, her other hand went to her chest, twisting in inhuman ways, her fingers splaying out and dislocating into a symbol-


    ¡°Spell!¡± Ichabod shouted, ¡°Get away from the-¡±


    He leaped. As did Contort. He wasn''t sure if Rorshin did.


    The ground beneath them ruptured into a geyser, the car was thrown high into the sky. It hung there, for a brief second, before it fell like a meteor to the ground, dirt spraying up with its landing. Ichabod stumbled up to his feet, firing a few potshots at Pantheon. He wasn''t sure if it was enough. The sun-headed man began to glow, lowering himself into a stance, his head becoming awash with light.


    The solar flare roared at Ichabod. He grimaced, out of cover, out of-


    The wall of roots absorbed the flare well enough. Rorshin was on his feet, gnarled staff in hand, the wind roaring around him, picking up his threadbare cloak, his beard. Power rippled off of him as he glared at Pantheon.


    In the dying city on Neos, he was weak.


    And although Hanbusan was dying, too, it still held much power for the druid to tap into. The wind was his servant, the plains his steward. All the world bowed to him, though he would deny such things.


    He shot both hands out, open-fingered, as though he were pushing against a wall. The wind snapped like a whip at his command. The sun-headed being recoiled. The flare ceased. The Narideesh brought both of her hands to her forehead, and formed from it a mark. The other coiled to her stomach-


    Rorshin spun his staff, planting it into the earth. He was shaking. Shuddering.


    And Ichabod could tell there was a battle deeper in the world, in a place he could not see.


    Contort was stumbling to the side, grasping his leg, his face twisted in a look of pain.


    The sun-headed man, in the distance, was still offline. He would be getting up soon.


    The mercenary...


    Was taking aim at Rorshin. Ichabod''s pistol whipped up, his mechanical mind taking over, guiding his shots. The first one fired true, and the mercenary grunted as it clipped his shoulder, the force making him stumble back for a brief second. The second pierced his helmet, and he fell to the ground.


    Not dead, of course, but he was certainly on the ground trying to get his senses back.


    Contort was staggering to his feet. He had shifted his body enough to cover any injuries he sustained. He and Ichabod locked eyes. They both nodded. Ichabod tossed him his other pistol, and Contort took aim, firing off a few shots. They went awry ¨C he didn''t possess Ichabod''s enhanced aim. But it was enough for the sun-headed man to duck down, not wanting to be caught by a stray.


    Whatever Rorshin and the Narideesh demon were doing in worlds above and below, it was starting to leak onto Hanbusan. The air began to take on a greasy air, and smelled of burning rubber.


    Then, the air between them exploded in a shower of oil and tar. Rorshin let out a gasp, and fell to his knees. The oil caught aflame as it fell to the ground, like a hundred raining stars.


    Contort took the chance to close the gap. The Narideesh turned to consider him. Her hands began to spin on their sockets-


    And Rorshin reached into the earth, and it obeyed. It cracked, splintered open beneath the demon. She spun to him, her hands forming a symbol, and the falling flames coalesced and speared towards the druid.


    He was screaming. The wind was taking his voice, forming it into a gale, one that struck at the demon and forced her downwards into the hole. She fell. The earth closed around her.


    The oil pierced through Rorshin, three of them driving through his stomach, his right shoulder, a knee. He let out a gasp of pain, collapsing.


    Ichabod ran over to his side, firing off at the mercenary, who was getting to his feet, holding his shoulder. The mercenary took cover-


    And Contort opened fire on him, only a mere ten feet away. The mercenary hunkered down, letting his armor absorb the worst of it. The pistol spent, Contort flipped it around and swung it at the mercenary''s head, who dropped his rifle and grabbed at Contort''s arm. Contort''s shoulder dislocated, his bones unsettled, and though the mercenary caught his arm, it was still like a whip, rubberbanding into the mercenary''s temple.


    The mercenary stuttered back, and Contort took a chance to catch his breath. The sun-headed Pantheon was recovering-


    And a bullet pierced through his head, and the being fell to his knees. Ichabod was making his way to the Traveling Point, supporting Rorshin, practically carrying him. He fired off another shot at the guildfolk, who was having trouble reforming.


    The mercenary stood up, raising his fists. Contort gave him a dark smile.


    ¡°Alright, guy,¡± he said, ¡°Let''s go-¡±


    And the mercenary rushed him down, throwing out a few jabs that Contort avoided easily. Contort spun, smacking the mercenary in the head with the back of his fist. The mercenary still held on, and he pressed a hand against Contort''s chest-


    And the mercenary''s next strike whipped at Contort, his entire arm going rubbery. Contort was caught unawares, the strike snapping against his ribcage. He grunted, wincing back-


    Only for the mercenary to grab his throat. Wings, bat-like and massive, pulled themselves out of his back. With one gust of wind, he was aloft, lifting Contort high in the air. Contort grimaced legs bending and twisting around the mercenary''s waist, the hairs on his arms standing on end. He stabbed them into the mercenary''s side, blood trailing as the two flew higher and higher-


    But the wind was Rorshin''s, and the druid pointed a weak, bleary hand at the mercenary. The air solidified around him, held him fast. Separated him from Contort.


    Then sent him careening to the earth like a missile.


    Contort fell, as well, but his was an acrobat''s childhood. He spun, flipped through the air, landed like a cat.


    ¡°Fuck!¡± he said, and the pain in his leg flared up again. He rose unsteadily to his feet.


    ¡°That won''t keep them down for long!¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Through the Traveling Point, now!¡±


    And they ran through. The world shimmered, broke, became miasma. They were sent careening towards Nesona, practically dripping out of the Traveling Point and out to the other side.


    The Deadlands greeted them. Like Hanbusan, but worse, the world cold, the mountains in the distance foreboding and scarred. Even the very sky was a different shade, from the empty evening sunset to brown and choked with dust clouds.


    ¡°Run!¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Go, Contort!¡±


    The three of them limped their way across the Deadlands, leaving the Traveling Point behind. It was well in the distance when it started to convulse, and the sun-headed man stepped out.


    Rorshin stumbled. Ichabod picked him back up.


    ¡°W-Where...¡± he said, ¡°Where are we?¡±


    ¡°Deadlands, Nesona,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Are you...?¡±


    The druid did not respond.


    ¡°Rorshin?¡±


    ¡°North,¡± Rorshin said, and his voice was very quiet, ¡°North. There is a landscape to the north.¡±


    ¡°North we go, then,¡± Contort said.


    He cast a sad look to Rorshin. He and Ichabod traded looks.


    But neither of them said anything.


    The rain elemental billowed out of the Traveling Point a while later, but as it snared itself to the Deadlands, they heard a scream like clapping thunder. No rain greeted them on the horizon. It would need to retreat, back to Hanbusan, where there was life. Weather that could sustain its being.


    But the sun-headed man still stalked them. The mercenary was nowhere to be seen.


    Even so, as Ichabod counted the number of bullets he still had left, it was a dire situation.


    Rorshin continued stumbling, still carried by Ichabod. The mechanical man tore off parts of his longcoat, making a makeshift bandanna to tie around their faces. It did little to stave off the coldness of the place, the sense of loss in their limbs.


    ¡°Pantheon''s slowing down, too,¡± Contort said to Ichabod. By now it was getting dark, and the temperature was dropping even lower. Ichabod shivered.


    ¡°Good,¡± he said, ¡°Any sign of the demon?¡±


    ¡°...She is h-here,¡± Rorshin gasped, ¡°I-I can s-sense...¡±


    Ichabod looked down at him. The druid was haggard. The spears of oil had cooled, become stone-like, and he could tell they were the only things that were keeping the druid in his half-living state.


    ¡°...It''s time,¡± Rorshin said, simply.


    His guildmates traded looks. Ichabod looked back.


    ¡°...The sun-head stopped,¡± he said, ¡°It''s getting too cold for him, I think. His head''s practically a wisp.¡±


    ¡°Then we can set down here for a second,¡± Contort said, ¡°To rest. To...¡±


    He sighed. Nodded to Ichabod. The mechanical man put the druid down.


    ¡°O-on my back,¡± Rorshin whispered, ¡°So I can see the stars.¡±


    They did so. But there were no stars, only a curtain of dust high above. But Rorshin was starting to slip into another place, for he smiled and his eyes grew large.


    ¡°A-Ahh,¡± he said, ¡°I... I wish you... could see this.¡±


    Ichabod knelt down by Rorshin''s side. Took out a cigarette. Lit it, and offered it to Rorshin.


    ¡°...I do not smoke, half-man,¡± the druid said.


    ¡°Might as well, wildman,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°It''s what my old crew and I used to do, on jobs like these.¡±


    He put it into Rorshin''s mouth. The druid made an exaggerated sucking sound, practically inhaling the cigarette.


    And he coughed, his lungs making an unnatural wheezing noise.


    ¡°All of that trouble,¡± he said, ¡°E-every time you s-smoke these damnable th-things, and...¡±


    And he was silent. His body relaxed. Contort looked down at him sadly.


    ¡°I never liked him, you know,¡± he said, ¡°But still, when it came down to it, he was alright.¡±


    ¡°He saved our lives, I suppose,¡± Ichabod said.


    They were quiet for a few awkward moments. Two men and a body.


    ¡°He wouldn''t want to be buried, would he?¡± Contort said, ¡°I don''t know what his burial rituals were.¡±


    Ichabod gave a shrug.


    ¡°He''d want to be left out here, I think,¡± the mechanical man said, ¡°To nature.¡±


    ¡°Ha,¡± Contort said, ¡°You call this ''nature''?¡±


    ¡°...To be more practical,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°I''m not carrying a corpse while we''re being pursued by Pantheon. We barely made it out of that little spat, didn''t we?¡±


    ¡°We made it out because of him, Ichabod,¡± Contort said, ¡°I don''t think just leaving him here is the way to go. He... he saved us, is all.¡±


    ¡°Then by all means, carry him,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Throw his corpse at the sunman, when he catches up to us tomorrow morning.¡±


    Contort glared.


    ¡°...Fine,¡± he said, ¡°We leave him here.¡±


    ¡°Let''s rest up as much as we can,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°We make our way north. To the landscape. Got it?¡±


    But Contort didn''t respond. He picked up Rorshin''s gnarled staff, gave his guildmate one last dark look, and turned his back to him.


    ¡­


    They left in the early morning, having rested for a few hours. The sunman, with the day''s arrival, started back up again, stalking after them relentlessly.


    The landscape was on the horizon. A field of gold. An airship whirred high above.


    And they continued.If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ***


    The letter was delivered to the Bronze-Hued Keep by means of an Ogloric Falcon. It was a bird-of-prey native to Salthirn, a strange, scaled creature, a living fossil, with teeth lining its beak and a toe on each foot upraised and sickle-like. It was a bird used by House Korgan.


    It was a message from Gordusus. The servants within the manor scried it for potential poisons, before handing it over to Ket. The Inl¨¦an looked over it once, twice, then nodded. He and the letter disappeared into the shadows, and he reformed himself in Lord Rithmound''s office. The hobgoblin and his son were taking brunch, looking over a bit of paperwork. Isaac was trying not to pay too much attention to the marriage contract his father had conjured up, between him and Lady Suella.


    ¡°A letter,¡± Ket said. He handed it to Lord Rithmound.


    ¡°From who?¡±


    ¡°Korgan.¡±


    Lord Rithmound nodded. He opened it as Ket melted back into the shadows, giving it a read-over.


    ¡°I see,¡± he said, and he turned the letter over to Isaac, ¡°What do you make of this?¡±


    Isaac looked down at it, and his brow furrowed.


    ¡°I...¡± he said, ¡°I don''t know. It''s in code. I don''t recognize the cipher.¡±


    ¡°It''s from an old language Gordusus and I used to use,¡± Lord Rithmound said, ¡°He says that Lady Deirdre is going to withdraw from the election, with his blessing. They''re going to announce it tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°...Ah,¡± Isaac said. He took a deep breath, ¡°I... I heard about what happened.¡±


    ¡°An attempted assassination,¡± Lord Rithmound said, ¡°Smart of them, to hire the Amber Foundation.¡±


    ¡°...A few of my contacts told me about what happened,¡± Isaac said, ¡°Lord Alabaster and Lord Pearl dead, along with their assailants. Place was a bloodbath.¡±


    ¡°A few of your contacts, hmm?¡± Lord Rithmound said.


    Isaac didn''t respond. He didn''t want to tell his father that he had met Lady Busciver that night. That she was beside herself, for she was good friends with the Lady Uvalendri. That Lady Uvalendri was inconsolable, that...


    Well, his silence was answer enough. But his father said nothing.


    He finished his coffee, a signal that his meal was over, and rose to his feet.


    ¡°I must be off,¡± he said.


    Isaac raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°You?¡± he said.


    ¡°Yes, me,¡± Lord Rithmound said, ¡°I will speak with Lady Deirdre. This is a ripe opportunity.¡±


    ¡°Is she not in mourning?¡± Isaac said.


    ¡°She will be,¡± Lord Rithmound said, ¡°And in her grief, I will introduce to her an idea.¡±


    ¡°An idea,¡± Isaac said, finding himself growing angry, ¡°That''s... callous.¡±


    ¡°It is,¡± Lord Rithmound said, ¡°But it is necessary. Stay here, Isaac. The city is not safe, and only one of us should be going out.¡±


    His son was silent, but gave a nod. He was giving his father a reproachful look. But Lord Rithmound ignored it, and made his way down to his carriage.


    ***


    ¡°That was too much, Chadwick,¡± Wakeling said.


    The calico had been recalled back to Castle Belenus. He sat down at the guildmaster''s desk, the head glaring down at him. But Chadwick ignored the dark look she was giving him, instead choosing to lick his paw.


    ¡°Oh?¡± Chadwick said, ¡°In what way?¡±


    ¡°You know precisely the way,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°The contract stated that you were to protect the Lady Deirde from any assassins, hitmen, or otherwise. Not to kill her children.¡±


    ¡°Oh, please, Vyde,¡± Chadwick mewled, ¡°Her sons were in on the hit. They practically ordered it. You told me to protect the Lady Deirdre, yes?¡±


    His eyes twinkled.


    ¡°I just took the next step.¡±


    ¡°That wasn''t-¡± Wakeling scowled, ¡°You little-¡±


    ¡°What''s wrong, Vyde?¡± Chadwick said, ¡°You wanted me for this job, didn''t you?¡±


    And his grin became devious.


    ¡°I may be trapped like this, you witch, but that doesn''t mean I''m going to be a good little cat. Let me have my fun, I may have just saved your little city.¡±


    Wakeling glared at him.


    ¡°I''m taking you off the job,¡± Wakeling said.


    ¡°Why, I''m surprised that Deirdre even wants us at all,¡± Chadwick said, ¡°I''ve rather put a claw into some intense interpersonal drama, haven''t I?¡±


    ¡°Get out of my sight, imp,¡± Wakeling snapped.


    ¡°You''re stretched thin as is, aren''t you?¡± Chadwick said, ¡°Everyone else is on their little jobs, or injured, or dead-¡±


    ¡°Get out!¡±


    Her roar shook the entire room. Chadwick leaped from the desk and scampered off. Wakeling leaned back, rocking a bit, biting back tears. She had made another mistake, hadn''t she? Another damn...


    ¡°No, Vyde,¡± she said, ¡°No.¡±


    She took control of herself. Forced herself to think logically. The contract was still active ¨C Deirdre letters had merely asked for Chadwick''s replacement, not for a termination altogether. They still needed protection, especially since they could not trust their own. But he was right.


    The Amber Foundation was spread thin. Her guildmates were on their own projects, their own missions.


    That left...


    Lazuli, but no. He wasn''t built for combat like what had transpired. Neither was someone like Whiskey.


    ¡°Oh, dear,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Well, let''s ask, I suppose.¡±


    ***


    Joseph was standing at Tek''s door. He could hear the mound rumbling inside, working on this and that, probably pieces for Vicenorn''s new body. He had seen glimpses of the new design, now and again. The Braindoll had put up a poll on the chalkboard to vote if he should have a beard or not (the beard won out), as well as if he should re-install his old arm implements. It was¡­ fun, if he was being honest.


    He had tried doing that more, opening up and doing more of those things. Participating in the funny votes. The daily practices. Between all of his chores, at least.


    But he still had a hurdle to jump through, and he knew it. Joseph took a deep breath, and knocked on the door.


    Tek stopped working inside. Joseph could hear him lump over to the door, opening it a crack. The mound adjusted his glasses as he looked down at Joseph.


    ¡°Hey, Tek,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°...Joseph,¡± Tek said, his voice careful, ¡°Did Becenti need anything?¡±


    ¡°No, I,¡± Joseph shrugged, ¡°I just... can I come in?¡±


    The mound was quiet for a moment. Then, he sighed, and opened the door.


    ¡°Don''t touch anything, Zheng,¡± he said.


    The room was, as always, cluttered and claustrophobic. Pieces of machinery littered the floor and the desk. Tek had been working on an arm, a bronze piece that was gorgeously detailed, designs embroidered into its surface, curving and flower-like.


    The mound walked over to his desk, and sat down. His horn-like fingers picked up the arm, inspecting it for a few moments. Joseph looked around awkwardly, shuffled a bit. Cleared his throat.


    ¡°...Go ahead, Joseph,¡± Tek said.


    ¡°Tek, I''m sorry,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°That''s the fourteenth time you''ve said that to me,¡± the mound said.


    ¡°Yeah, I know,¡± Joseph said, ¡°But it''s...¡±


    ¡°The first time you''ve said this to me since you up and left. No note, with a half-dead Phineas in tow.¡±


    Joseph pulled a face. He couldn''t refute that.


    ¡°...It took you long enough,¡± Tek said.


    ¡°I know,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I... I wanted to think things over, once I got back. Put my thoughts into order, instead of being half-assed, like before.¡±


    Tek stopped his work, looking up at the metahuman.


    ¡°I don''t know what I was doing,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I was... lashing out. I was only thinking for myself. I got desperate, and I ended up treating you like a stepping stone. I shouldn''t have done that.¡±


    ¡°You shouldn''t have,¡± Tek said.


    ¡°So, I''m sorry,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°...Alright, Joseph,¡± Tek said.


    Things were quiet. Joseph blinked.


    ¡°So... now what?¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Tek said, ¡°I don''t forgive you.¡±


    Joseph''s heart sank.


    ¡°You, to use your more crass language, fucked me over, Zheng,¡± Tek said, ¡°That meeting with Professor Adesanya was to be my big break. The thing that helped propel my career. Have you heard of Moundumaine?¡±


    ¡°N-No.¡±


    Tek shrugged.


    ¡°It''s a primitive world,¡± he said, ¡°Mounds like me come from there. We''re only seen as dumb muscle. Slave labor ¨C certain planes in our local Squall are known to have raiders who come to Moundumaine to kidnap us, sell us off to the highest bidder. That''s how I lost my daughter. It''s how I wound up here.¡±


    Joseph was quiet. He let Tek continue.


    ¡°Naturally,¡± the mound said, ¡°We''re looked down upon, in certain fields of science. A mound, working on an interplanar engine? Perish the thought.¡±


    ¡°I... I see,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Now, someone else will claim the glory of discovery,¡± Tek said, ¡°Not me, not a mound. My career, small as it is, is in tatters. The time will come, of course, where I can try again. But that could take decades.¡±


    He fixed Joseph with a level look.


    ¡°I do not forgive you, Zheng,¡± he said, ¡°But I... I acknowledge, that you seem to have grown from this. So take this away: put your nose to the grindstone. Walk the walk, as you''ve now talked the talk. Do the work the guild needs you to do. Don''t try and pull what you did again. Then, we can, perhaps, make better.¡±


    He resumed inspecting the arm. Took out a small screwdriver, and twisted at a joint.


    ¡°But that could take decades.¡±


    Joseph nodded. Sighed. Pushed down a frustration, the biting snark he was about to give Tek.


    He was learning, more and more, that the frustration he felt was for himself, and not anyone around him.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said, ¡°I hope that... I hope that I can be better.¡±


    Tek said nothing.


    ¡°I''ll be better,¡± Joseph re-iterated, more to himself than anything, ¡°I''ll... leave you alone now.¡±


    ¡°See that you do.¡±


    And Joseph left the room. Closed the door behind him. The shame he felt had lessened, somewhat.


    But he knew actions spoke louder than words. He would need to do better. All that he could do now was do the work.


    And, at that moment, he felt a small ring in his head.


    ¡°Wakeling,¡± he said.


    Ah, Joseph, Wakeling''s voice whispered in his mind. Even through telepathy, she was choosing her words carefully, I was hoping that you, ah, have time for, ah...


    ¡°It''s alright,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Say what you want.¡±


    It might be a better idea if you come up here, Wakeling sent, Please.


    ¡°...Be right up,¡± Joseph said.


    ***


    ¡°So that''s the job,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Chadwick went too far, and I''m out of options. I need someone to guard Lady Deirdre.¡±


    Joseph''s arms were crossed. With his arrival, the sky above, the false ceiling that Wakeling enchanted to show a starry sky, had become cloudy and gray. It was as though he carried the weather with him, now.


    Well, that was to be expected.


    ¡°I know that you''ve had your little punishments,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°The more... unique, chores, of the guildhall. You''ve had to put up with Lazuli for quite a while. I''m expecting you''re feeling exhausted.¡±


    Joseph shrugged.


    ¡°Maybe I am,¡± he said.


    ¡°And this job would most likely be dangerous,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Although the two perpetrators of the attempted takeover were killed, there still is a chance that further violence could happen.¡±


    ¡°What kind of violence?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Assassins,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°This election''s been heating up to a fever pitch, and it''s far more brutal than it''s been in recent years. There''s a reason why House Rithmound''s kept the Exodus Walkers around for so long.¡±


    Joseph was quiet. He nodded, however, and Wakeling could not discern the young man''s thoughts.


    ¡°In...¡± Wakeling sighed, ¡°I don''t expect you to do this for free, or for the usual guild fare that would be owed to you.¡±


    She took a shaky breath.


    ¡°I''m... prepared, now, I think,¡± the guildmaster said, ¡°I had to collect a few diaries, make a few calls. But I knew F¨¥ngb¨¤o. I knew your grandmother.¡±


    Joseph''s nostrils flared. The stone mask he was wearing melted, for just a second, into a face of anger.


    But then, he pushed that away.


    ¡°If you... do this job,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°I''ll tell you everything I know.¡±


    ¡°You already were going to do that,¡± Joseph said.


    Damn, this kid had gotten too good. Wakeling grimaced. Looked away. She was caught in another lie.


    ¡°It''s alright,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I''ll go on the job.¡±


    Wakeling looked at him.


    ¡°You... you don''t have to.¡±


    But Tek''s words were coming back to the metahuman. He just gave a (slightly forced) smile.


    ¡°I''ve been cooped up in here too long,¡± he said, ¡°I could use the time out. Even if it''s fighting assassins, or whatever.¡±


    ***


    So it was that Joseph of the Amber Foundation became the bodyguard to the Lady Deirdre, as Lord Rithmound''s carriage pulled up to the manor. The metahuman was dressed in his usual blue jacket, though he had added a pair of gloves and a scarf due to the recent blizzards that had been rolling through. He decided to put himself in a respectable distance from Lady Deirdre. The matriarch was in mourning. She was paler than she had ever been. Her hands shook, as did her bottom lip, at random intervals. At times, she fixed Joseph with a harsh look.


    But he accepted those. Chadwick had killed her kids.


    His opinion on the cat sank lower.


    Lord Rithmound drew into the gallery that Deirdre was eating brunch in. It was a room devoted to her children''s paintings. All Deirdres, from the time of the revolution, were painters, and their greatest works were put into this very room, on stark white marble walls. Some were realists, with incredibly detailed works that showed hobgoblins and ogres and humans wielding pitchforks and war scythes against an army of faceless elves. Others were more abstract, strange, Picasso-esque self-portraits.


    Joseph noted Guerico hiding among them. He gave a short, subtle nod to the Abstract Man. Guerico gave a thumbs up.


    The Lady Deirdre had set up a small table beside a rather sizable painting of her daughter. Lady Uvalendri was a sickly-looking girl, hardly seventeen by Joseph''s guess, and her black dress with her stringy black hair gave her a dour aura. But her late brother, Alabaster, had done the painting, and he had captured her look well. Part of Joseph was impressed.


    Part of him kept an eye out for danger, because it was Alabaster who had orchestrated the whole mess the night before. His painting was a reminder to keep on your toes.


    Lord Rithmound sat down across from Lady Deirdre. He gave a cursory glance to Joseph, his eyes glittering in sudden recognition, before turning his attention back to the noblewoman.


    ¡°I wanted to express my condolences in person, milady,¡± he said.


    Lady Deirdre was quiet. She had hardly touched her meal, eggs benedict with crab. But she took the opportunity now to put a forkful in her mouth, chewing slowly, so as to avoid speaking.


    ¡°If it were my own son, I would be heartbroken,¡± Lord Rithmound said.


    She swallowed.


    ¡°Your son,¡± she said, all but forcing the words out, ¡°Did not try and have you killed.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± Lord Rithmound said, ¡°But all the same, they were your children.¡±


    ¡°I raised them to be killers.¡±


    ¡°You raised them to think for themselves,¡± Lord Rithmound said, ¡°Any parent would be lucky.¡±


    Kind of a fucked up way to put it, Joseph thought. But he was here to guard, not to pry. So he kept his mouth shut.


    ¡°I...¡± Lady Deirdre looked at him, ¡°You are a very odd man, Bryce.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Rithmound said, ¡°I... suppose I am.¡±


    They were quiet for a time. Lord Rithmound waited for Lady Deirdre to speak, but she took the time to take another few bites of her food.


    Even in grief, one must eat. Joseph was just surprised she was composing herself so well.


    ¡°The election will not stop,¡± Lady Deirdre said, at length, ¡°I wish it would.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Lord Rithmound said, ¡°It''s gotten out of hand.¡±


    He sighed. A servant came into the room with a bottle of wine and a single glass. She poured out a glass to Rithmound, and handed the bottle to Deirdre. The pale old woman took it and began to drink. Joseph almost wished that the servant would offer a glass to him, but from the dark look she shot at him, he guessed not. Amber Foundation wasn''t exactly popular in the manor.


    ¡°Wonder why,¡± he muttered under his breath.


    ¡°Tell me, Bryce,¡± Lady Deirdre said, ¡°Did you imagine that your life would wind up like this? Your sons plotting against you, the city hating you?¡±


    ¡°Hate you?¡± Lord Rithmound said, ¡°No one hates you, Vataya.¡±


    ¡°You do.¡±


    ¡°I do not,¡± Rithmound said.


    ¡°Then why...¡± Lady Deirdre choked for a moment. She whispered something to Rithmound, words for him alone. He nodded, closing his eyes. Sipped his wine.


    ¡°...Because you were not the only one I loved,¡± he replied.


    Lady Deirdre took this as an answer, taking another swig from the bottle. Dribbles of wine spilled from past her lips, dribbled onto her drab black dress.


    ¡°Things have...¡± she said, ¡°Things have gotten so out of hand, Bryce. I wish it were...¡±


    She trailed off. But Rithmound nodded.


    ¡°I know,¡± he said, ¡°Things are getting too heated. Even...¡±


    He stopped.


    ¡°It''s alright, Lord Rithmound,¡± Deirdre said, ¡°My sons are dead. They cannot hear you.¡±


    ¡°Even the last debate was too much,¡± the nobleman said, ¡°Even my own son proved difficult to rein in. We need cooler heads to prevail.¡±


    ¡°On that, we agree,¡± Lady Deirdre said, and she took another drink. Her eyes rolled over to Joseph, ¡°Mr. Zheng, was it?¡±


    ¡°Y-Yeah,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°You aren''t going to kill my daughter too, are you?¡±


    ¡°I...¡± Joseph said, thinking quickly, ¡°I''m just here to protect you, that''s all.¡±


    ¡°Ha!¡± Deirdre barked, suddenly, ¡°A non-answer. You''d make a noble yet, young man.¡±


    She took another swig. Lord Rithmound gave a glance to Joseph. Who shrugged.


    It appeared the Lady Deirdre could hardly hold her drink.


    ¡°How do you do debates on your home plane, Mr. Zheng?¡± Lord Rithmound asked.


    Joseph blinked.


    ¡°Uh,¡± he said, ¡°We don''t do it like you do it here, from what I''ve been hearing.¡±


    ¡°Then how do you do it?¡± Lady Deirdre asked.


    ¡°People stand up, say their pieces, then sit back down,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Counter-arguments happen, but they¡¯re separate from the first speaker''s allotted time. It goes back and forth. It''s a series of speeches and questionings, not a conversation.¡±


    ¡°Ah, that''s how the elves did it,¡± Lord Rithmound said, ¡°The Rite of the Voice, it was called. We could do it, if the Minor Tribunal voted.¡±


    And that suggestion, that little idea, filled Lady Deirdre''s bloodshot eyes. She took on a new air.


    ¡°Were we able to do that,¡± Lord Rithmound said, ¡°I believe it would have saved a lot of trouble, don''t you?¡±


    They continued to speak for another hour or so, on other matters ¨C the new heir, the secret childhoods they had lived, old friends who had been lost to war or betrayal. But the look Lady Deirdre now wore never disappeared. Even as Lord Rithmound took his leave, and she moved from the gallery to her bedroom. Even long into the night, when sleep evaded her and the memory of her sons overtook her.


    ***


    The debate started back up the next day. The Grand Commons was unusually silent as the Minor Tribunal took their places. Joseph, the new bodyguard, sat at the table with House Deirdre, feeling distinctly out of place. The Houses of Scuttleway were dressed in their finest apparel, in dresses and suits, a few in masquerade masks (which, to Joseph, was a bit much.)


    He was still wearing his jacket and scarf. He took off his gloves and laid them on the table.


    Orion, his guildmate, took note of him, gave him a nod.


    The mediator of the debate rose, a large ogre with a monocle.


    ¡°We begin today in the newest rounds of the debate to decide our Doge of Scuttleway. Before we begin in earnest, I have been notified of an announcement.¡±


    He opened up a small letter.


    ¡°The Lady Vataya Deirdre, with permission from her sponsor, Lord Gordusus Korgan, has withdrawn her candidacy for Doge of Scuttleway.¡±


    There was a series of murmurs, but they died down rather quickly. No one could say they were surprised. Her sons were dead.


    ¡°My lady,¡± the ogre said, ¡°Do you have any words to say on this?¡±


    Lady Deirdre rose. She was freshly cleaned up, after yesterday''s drinking binge, her servants having to bathe and dress her by hand. She wore all black, customary for her house, symbolic for her grief, with a veil that obscured her face. She lifted this up to speak to the Minor Tribunal.


    ¡°My friends, my rivals,¡± she said, ¡°My people of Scuttleway. It is with great sadness that I must announce my dropping from this race. House Deirdre has been rocked with unimaginable loss, and I cannot in good conscience allow myself to continue without properly addressing my family''s grief, and the future of my House.¡±


    She cleared her throat again, swallowing dramatically.


    ¡°I call, as my last act as candidate, for a vote. We have gone too far in our debates. Things have become too personal, too heated. I only wonder, if the events of the other day had not transpired between these walls, if my sons would still be alive.


    ¡°I motion for our style of debate to revert to the Rite of the Voice.¡±


    This drew whispers. Rithmound looked to Korgan, who nodded. Sunala shot Busciver a look. High above, Ramsey gestured to a few of his Militiamen.


    ¡°We may vote for it,¡± the mediator said, ¡°Let us begin the vote to change the manner of debate from the Rite of the Many to the Rite of the Voice.¡±


    And they voted.


    It passed.


    ¡°Well, then,¡± the ogre said, ¡°Let us begin, then. Lord Busciver, would you...?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Busciver said. The gnome sat up on his throne, clearing his throat.


    ¡°My fellow citizens of Scuttleway,¡± he said, ¡°I call on you to vote, when all is said and done, for this charade to be over. The calls have been cast, the deals have been made. Things are hitting a fever pitch, one that can only end in one thing: the vote.


    ¡°Yes, the vote. A beautiful voice that allows us to decide our own futures, outside of what our oppressors wished for us and forced for us. Everything we do hinges on the fact that we are a free city. And, I assure you, no matter what happens, we shall be free.


    ¡°I call on you all, my Minor Tribunal, my friends, my rivals-¡±


    He winked at Rithmound.


    ¡°-To decide carefully, with all of the facts laid out to you. See where the best deals lie. See where money can be made. But also see where freedom rings. That is all I have to say.¡±


    And he sat down.


    ¡°Very well,¡± the ogre said, ¡°Lord Rithmound, your counterpoint...?¡±


    ¡°I have the floor?¡± Lord Rithmound said.


    ¡°You do.¡±


    And the hobgoblin rose. He was holding a book in hand. A few people traded looks. Joseph''s brow furrowed.


    Lord Rithmound opened the book, clearing his throat. Looked around for a few moments.


    ¡°It was seven o¡¯clock of a very warm evening in the Seeonee hills when Father Wolf woke up from his day¡¯s rest, scratched himself, yawned, and spread out his paws one after the other to get rid of the sleepy feeling in their tips.¡±


    Lord Korgan exchanged an odd look with his daughter. One of Busciver''s eyebrows was raising. Martin Gondoro looked through his papers in confusion.


    ¡°Mother Wolf lay with her big gray nose dropped across her four tumbling, squealing cubs, and the moon shone into the mouth of the cave where they all lived.¡±


    A few in the gallery were catching onto what Rithmound was doing. Joseph caught Becenti''s eye, the old metahuman sitting beside Gouffant the rat. He smiled at Joseph, winked.


    ¡°''Augrh!'' said Father Wolf. ''It is time to hunt again,''¡± Lord Rithmound said, giving an exaggerated, harsh cough of a voice.


    Sunala''s eyes widened. She rose.


    ¡°Stop this at once!¡± she snarled, ¡°Stop it!¡±


    ¡°I have the floor!¡± Lord Rithmound roared, ¡°And I will use my time with it as I see fit!¡±


    The Elven noblewoman shot the mediator a mutinous glare. As did a few of the others in the Minor Tribunal. But the mediator shook his head.


    ¡°He has the floor,¡± he said simply.


    Nobles began to rise and shout. But the mediator lifted his gavel and slammed it hard.


    ¡°We voted to change to the Rite of the Voice!¡± he roared, ¡°I will have order! Order!¡±


    House Sunala''s attendants were starting to file out. As were a few from Buscver''s party. The rest sat down, muttering to one another.


    ¡°Please, Lord Rithmound,¡± the mediator said, and he sounded exhausted, ¡°...Continue.¡±


    ¡°Gladly, Mr. Gondoro,¡± Lord Rithmound said, and his smirk made Joseph want to stand up and throttle the man.


    The head of Rithmound continued reading. The Minor Tribunal settled in. Dug in their heels.


    For Lord Rithmound had his perfect weapon for delaying the vote.


    He had started a filibuster.

 112. Here There Be Monsters

    The Traveling Point to Chliofrond drifted above the dark sapphire ocean, just barely able to be made out in the open sky, the only evidence of its existence being a shimmering mirage. It took the remaining crew a few minutes to actually find it.


    But there it rippled. Captain Orvisan''s eyes squinted as he glared out at it, chewing the inside of his cheek. The Guttersnipe lurched, all but limped, across the sky, the crew seeing to repairs as she sailed, patching the mast back together, retying ropes, applying rough planks to the gashes in her hull.


    ¡°Right,¡± he growled, ¡°We have a bit of time to ourselves. No pursuers behind, only what''s ahead.¡±


    He looked exhausted. He either colored his beard and had run out of dye, or the stresses of constant battle had taken far more of a toll than his gruff exterior had let on. Regardless, he was going gray. Deep bags hung beneath his eyes, purpled like twin bruises.


    ¡°We should get down,¡± Rosemary said behind him, ¡°I think there should be islands that we can hide out on.¡±


    ¡°Are we safe down there?¡± Meleko asked. He was resting one booted leg on the railing, looking out beyond the ship, towards the seas below, ¡°Here there be monsters, and all that.¡±


    ¡°Either the monsters below, or the monsters above,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°If the Verdant Reclamation''s still on Chliofrond, they''re going to be sending people in and out. I''m surprised we haven''t met anyone else so far.¡±


    ¡°Down, then,¡± Orvisan said, ¡°I''m sick of elves.¡±


    Rosemary gave him a look.


    ¡°...Present company excluded, of course.¡±


    And the Guttersnipe descended, towards a small island far below. It was mossed over with tropical trees, palms and the like, and the water around the island was shallow and sky blue. The caravel settled down near the treeline, and Zad brought up a hand, waving it to and fro. The air around the ship began to shiver.


    ¡°Not going to hold under any sort of scrutiny, Captain,¡± he said, ¡°I should warn ye.¡±


    ¡°It''s fine,¡± Orvisan said, stroking his beard, ¡°We cross that bridge when it comes.¡±


    He let out a heavy sigh, turning to Meleko, Rosemary, and Ora Sota.


    ¡°Now,¡± he said, ¡°What''s the plan?¡±


    ***


    They were on the beach near the ship, Meleko leaning against the hull, checking over his rifle, his pistols, his combat knife. Rosemary sat down beside him, scrunched up in her red cloak, despite the relative warmness of the day. Captain Orvisan looked right at home, scratching at his beard as he popped out a bottle of rum, taking shots at it every so often. Ora stood a bit away from them.


    Entranced.


    He had never known that such places existed. His toes buried themselves into the warm sand, the wind rippled through his fur, his ears. The sea beckoned to him, waves crashing softly against the shore. He heard birdsong in the trees, and though they were just a bit too loud for his sensitive ears, they were beautiful, in their way.


    ¡°Ora?¡± Meleko said.


    He stepped out of the treeline, and the sun shone, warm and comfortable, beckoning to him-


    Rosemary grabbed his shoulder. Ora shook out of his stupor, glancing back at her.


    ¡°S-Sorry,¡± he said, ¡°Just...¡±


    He looked out to the ocean again.


    ¡°I''ve never been to a place like this before.¡±


    The past few days had been exhausting. Rosemary had an emptiness in her eyes that had not been there when they had left Scuttleway. But despite this, she gave him a smile.


    ¡°Once we''re done here, you can go to any beach you please,¡± she said, ¡°I know there are at least a few in the Silver Eye.¡±


    She pulled him back to the group.


    ¡°As I was saying,¡± Orvisan said, ¡°If what you say is true, Rosemary, and the elves are still on the dead plane, then there''s bound to be shipments coming in and out. How often do you think they''ll be?¡±


    Rosemary thought for a few moments, struggling to remember her conversations with Sunala. The noblewoman had gone over logistics with her.


    ¡°There''s no food on Chliofrond,¡± she said, ¡°And growing anything would take months.¡±


    ¡°Which, they could have started a harvest,¡± Meleko said, ¡°I know of several waterborne plants that they could grow to eat there.¡±


    ¡°Maybe,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°But there''s also questions of exporting and importing. They''ve got to get Chliofrond up and running if it''s going to be profitable. The more evidence they have of it being a bargain deal, the better their chances are back home.¡±


    Orvisan nodded.


    ¡°So, we wait?¡± he said, ¡°See what that''s looking like?¡±


    ¡°If we just barge in, willy-nilly, they''re going to stamp us out,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°I wouldn''t be surprised if they''ve got some sort of security on the other side, scanning for any interlopers. Elementals, like the kind that we saw on the Gil-Galad.¡±


    ¡°And you''re thinking we hitch a ride on one of them,¡± Meleko said.


    ¡°Something like that,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°I think we''ll need to plan out more, get more information, but it''s a start.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, I''ll post a few of the crew to keep an eye on the Traveling Point,¡± Orvisan said, ¡°Once we get an idea of what''s going in and out, we''ll go from there.¡±


    Meleko finished checking over his pistol. He put it into its holster, turning to Ora.


    ¡°You still have the one I lent you?¡± he said.


    Ora had wanted to throw the damn gun away after he had shot the elf. But he had learned to be less foolish. He produced it, presenting it to Meleko.


    Who jumped, pushing the barrel down away from his face.


    ¡°Hey, hey!¡± he said, ¡°Gun to the floor. You know the rules.¡±


    ¡°Y-Yes,¡± he said, ¡°Sorry.¡±


    Meleko took the gun from the Nelnuthan''s hands, giving it a once-over.


    ¡°Going to polish it,¡± he said, ¡°Here, let me show you.¡±


    Orvisan turned to Rosemary.


    ¡°I''ll let you know if I see anything.¡±


    ¡°I''ll keep watch, myself,¡± she said.


    ¡°No, you look tired,¡± Orvisan said, ¡°You should rest. Sleep. You''re going to need it, if we''re truly going through to the other side.¡±


    He glanced up towards the sky, the Traveling Point. He was bristling.


    ¡°One Elven ship nearly brought us down,¡± he said, ¡°I don''t relish having to go against a fleet.¡±


    ***


    They kept watch, two at a time, the rest of the crew working on scouting out the island for danger or repairing the ship. Ora sat with Meleko, the Jugdran showing the Nelnuthan how to clean the firearm, wiping it down, taking it apart and polishing each piece. Rosemary went to bed, but the Guttersnipe''s innards were warm today, so she found herself tossing and turning, unable to get comfortable.


    So, after a while, she got up, stretching. Truth be told, she didn''t feel much like resting, even if they were captain''s orders. The rest she needed could only be had after the mission was over. After it was done.


    After...


    After Sunala was out.


    Because she could not admit to herself that her mind kept drifting back to the Gil-Galad. To Elzan Chi devouring the ship, mast and all. She could almost imagine the screams. She wondered, for about the hundredth time, if anyone she knew had been onboard. She would probably think about that for a long time, even when all of this was over.


    One did not meet a god without such thoughts.


    So she took to wandering the ship, though the caravel was rather small, all things considered. Not like the Recluse, damn her crew, which had been a true cargo liner. So she went out onto the deck, ignored Orvisan''s sharp look, leaned down to watch the sea.


    She missed these sounds, this atmosphere, this world that she could only steal when she went to Kelphaven. The sounds of an ocean always calmed her, for there were none back on her home plane. And Scuttleway was a mining town. She had, once upon a time, worked as a barmaid on Paladyos, listening to sailor''s songs and tales.


    A part of Rosemary yearned for that. Yearned to be away from... all of this. The guilt. The trepidation.


    One of the crewmembers shouted. Pointed. High above, the Traveling Point began to vibrate. Becenti would have been able to describe it better. But then, he was trained to see the hidden places of the world better than she.


    A ship poured out of the Traveling Point. A galleon, like the Gil-Galad, those this one was umber-colored, her name emblazoned in gold on her hull. Rosemary squinted, then took Orvisan''s offered spyglass as the gnome ran up to her side.


    ¡°The Vanima,¡± she read, ¡°I think that''s Adonal Adaya''s ship.¡±


    ¡°The head of the Verdant Reclamation?¡±


    ¡°One of them,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°I think he was looking after Chliofrond, preparing it for the election.¡±


    ¡°He''s leaving,¡± Orvisan noted, and indeed, the galleon was trailing across the skypath back to Entheos.


    ¡°He doesn''t always travel with the Vanima,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°If I remember right, he mostly sent it out as a message to others that he was personally involved. Kind of like Sunala, with the Gil-Galad.¡±


    ¡°A raising of the standard,¡± Orvisan said, ¡°I saw Lord Rithmound do that once, when tensions with Procambarus got a bit heated.¡±


    ¡°We''ll need to see if it returns any time soon,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Or if any other ship makes its way in.¡±


    ¡°We continue the watch, then,¡± Orvisan grunted.


    ***


    ¡°Tell me, Meleko,¡± Ora Sota said, ¡°Might I ask you a... personal question?¡±


    It was later in the day, the sun beginning to burnish the sky bronze-orange. The two of them had moved to the deck with a few of the crew, and a small pick-up game of cards had started up. Meleko was joining in on it. Ora chose to merely watch.


    ¡°Sure,¡± Meleko said, yawning. He tossed a card into a small pile.


    ¡°It''s rather intense,¡± Ora warned.


    ¡°I already have a feeling,¡± Meleko said.


    ¡°...Do you remember your first time killing someone?¡±


    Meleko let out a huff, thinking, all four of his eyes furrowing. Some of the crewmates looked at Ora with reprimanding looks, and he felt an odd sense that he had broken some sense of decorum.


    But the Jugdran waved a hand.


    ¡°It''s alright,¡± he said to them, ¡°Just keep playing.¡±


    ¡°If you''re going to talk about death,¡± one of them, Cala, said, ¡°Then you do it away from us. I''m sick of it.¡±


    Meleko gave a grim nod, rising to his feet. He slapped Ora on the back.


    ¡°Come on,¡± he said, ¡°Let''s get off the ship. I''m feeling cramped.¡±


    He jumped off the railing, landing hard in the sand. He glanced up at Ora, who began to clamber, bit by bit, down the rope ladder on the ship''s side. The Nelnuthan let out a deep exhale as his feet touched solid ground. The sand was starting to cool with the day''s end.


    The two of them moved off, away from the Guttersnipe and deeper into the forest. Even as the sun disappeared, they could still hear birdsong. Meleko noted that Ora''s ears were flickering.


    ¡°Bad sound?¡± he said.


    ¡°One would think, after everything, that my hearing would be a bit sterner,¡± the investigator said, ¡°But no, I''d suppose not. The Nelnuthan''s gift, the Nelnuthan''s curse.¡±


    Meleko snorted. Leaned against a tree.


    ¡°Right,¡± he said, ¡°Some folk think it''s a bad thing, talking about stuff like this.¡±


    ¡°Death,¡± Ora said.


    ¡°Death''s a natural part of life,¡± Meleko said, ¡°No, what they''re concerned about there is the act of death. Of killing. Taking another being''s life.¡±Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.


    ¡°But... not you?¡± Ora asked.


    ¡°I was raised a mercenary,¡± Meleko said, chuckling, ¡°We''re not like you Nelnuthans. We don''t have family, or kin, or any of that business. Your daddy gave you a nice, cushy job as an investigator, didn''t he?¡±


    Ora felt himself grow warm.


    ¡°Well, y-yes,¡± he said, ¡°As did his father before-¡±


    ¡°We don''t have those sorts of relationships,¡± Meleko said, ¡°I never knew the being that birthed me. I was dropped off on a wartorn world, told to pick up the pieces.¡±


    ¡°...Ah.¡±


    ¡°So death was my father,¡± Meleko said, shrugging, ¡°Been with me my whole life. I killed my first sapient when I was...¡±


    His four eyes went distant. Cloudy.


    ¡°...Three standard years, I believe,¡± he said, ¡°Then, Jugdrans age quicker than most. I would have been your equivalent to nine.¡±


    Ora shuddered. The barbarity. The callousness.


    ¡°I''m sorry,¡± he said, his voice bare and whispering.


    ¡°It''s alright,¡± Meleko said, then added, ¡°You must pity me.¡±


    Ora said nothing, for he did.


    ¡°But it''s just the way I was born,¡± he said, ¡°The way I was raised. It''s... normal, you know?¡±


    ¡°It doesn''t feel normal,¡± Ora said, and his ears wilted, ¡°I... I don''t...¡±


    And Meleko put a hand on his shoulder.


    ¡°Hey,¡± he said, ¡°It was kill or be killed.¡±


    ¡°That does not make it better,¡± Ora said, ¡°I still see his eyes, Meleko. I still feel his presence. Like a ghost.¡±


    ¡°That goes away, with time,¡± Meleko said, ¡°It''s your body''s reaction to stress and adrenaline. Too much gets the blood pumping. One day you''ll wake up, and realize that you don''t think about it anymore. It only comes up every once in a while. Like grief.¡±


    ¡°Is that it, then?¡± Ora said, ¡°Am I to have these feelings... forever?¡±


    ¡°Maybe,¡± Meleko said, ¡°But to be in the multiverse is to be changed.¡±


    Ora thought on that.


    ¡°Look, you want my view on it?¡± Meleko said, ¡°My opinion on you?¡±


    ¡°I am... open, to such thoughts,¡± Ora said, carefully.


    ¡°You''ve been living on your cushy little world in the Post-Colonial, or the Inner Reach, or wherever,¡± Meleko said, ¡°Investigating multiversal lives. How folks out here live. How I live, now that I''ve left the Silver Eye. Things shake out right, you''ll get home safe. But you''ve tasted a bit of what it''s like out here.¡±


    He looked at Ora, dead on.


    ¡°And, let me tell you,¡± he said, ¡°There''s a reason I left the Silver Eye to take up mercenary work with a guild. The multiverse is a rough place to live. It''s a place of violence, and only by living in it, do you get a real understanding of what it''s like.¡±


    ¡°And your point is?¡± Ora asked, feeling a bit defensive.


    ¡°What are you going to do when you get home?¡± Meleko said, shrugging, ¡°That''s the lesson, there, the-¡±


    They heard a scream, deep in the jungle. Meleko''s head shot in the direction of the sound. At once his rifle was in his hands.


    ¡°Get back to the ship,¡± he ordered, ¡°Watch my back.¡±


    Ora complied. He, after a moment''s hesitation, unholstered the pistol, holding it in trembling hands. Pointed it at the ground, like Meleko had taught him.


    The two stepped backward, carefully, in the direction of the Guttersnipe. At once the island was quiet. Ora''s mouth went dry.


    ¡°Can you hear anything?¡± Meleko whispered.


    The Nelnuthan''s ears swiveled. He could make out...


    ¡°Movement, I think,¡± he said, ¡°Moving parallel.¡±


    They took another few steps back. The light of the Guttersnipe''s lamp washed over them. By now the sun was almost gone, dipping below the sea, the sky half orange, half dark blue.


    Rosemary slapped Meleko on the shoulder. She was alert, her sceptre in hand.


    ¡°What was that?¡± she said.


    ¡°Not sure,¡± Meleko said, ¡°One of the crew.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± she said, ¡°Ora, get back to the ship.¡±


    ¡°Already on it,¡± Ora said, ¡°I''ll be below decks.¡±


    ¡°You want to guard him, or me?¡± Meleko asked.


    ¡°You,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°I''ll handle whatever''s out there.¡±


    The Jugdran nodded. He and Meleko went back to the ship, climbing up the rope ladder onto the deck. The crew was on high alert, weapons drawn, crossbows aimed at the trees. Orvisan was signaling orders. Some of the crew were joining Rosemary as she went out into the jungle. Ora watched as she melted into the treeline.


    ***


    She was moving carefully through the forest, so quiet that the trees hardly stirred. The sun was dropping fast from the sky, the shadows lengthening, disappearing altogether as they became overwhelmed with night. Stars hung beyond the canopy above. The moon was bright tonight. That was good. She could see a bit better.


    She took a moment to gauge the trees around her. They were mostly palms, so no branches to jump from. This would be a ground game.


    Other members of the crew moved with her. The crew of the Guttersnipe had not yet sated themselves with Elven blood, and their weapons were drawn as they moved through the underbrush that caked the jungle''s floor. They were not as quiet as Rosemary, however, which perhaps was to her advantage.


    They would stir up whatever was on the island, whatever had silenced that crewmember. The scream had been a final one, she knew it.


    She took a deep breath. Steeled herself. And went forward.


    The crew moved into a small clearing in the center of the jungle. They signaled to one another, their hand signs just barely able to be made out in the dusk. One of them, Cala, stepped into the very center, where she looked down.


    There was a body.


    They were still moving. Rosemary squinted.


    Yes, they were still alive. But they were in a fetal position. Maybe something had hit them in the stomach? She glanced around. No one else was here. Whoever their assailant was, they were going guerilla, sticking to the shadows.


    And then Cala shuddered, twisted. She let out a barking cough of pain before they all heard a series of sickening snaps. She fell to the ground. In the same position as her comrade.


    Rosemary''s eyes widened. She immediately took to a tree, scrambling up.


    She knew who they were facing.


    ¡°Metahuman!¡± she roared, ¡°It''s Brother Bone!¡±


    At the sound of her voice, the entire jungle became alive. The crew tensed. At the word ''metahuman,'' they all immediately drew back from the clearing.


    Brother Bone. Nelthel. That had been his fake name, while he had been working as an assistant to Sunala. He and his sibling, Brother Brain, had tried to claim the Shard on Chliofrond for their own. Broon and the others had stopped them. She thought that they had been arrested. Trussed up. Sent to Prime, or wherever.


    But no, he was here, on Redenia, near the Traveling Point.


    Rosemary leaped, scrabbling up another palm, then another. She needed to hide her location from him. She didn''t know his range, or if he needed to see her to use his power.


    True to his name, he controlled bone. Any bone. He had turned her into a pretzel, last time. And there was no Phineas to save her if he caught her again.


    Another of the crew collapsed. Another series of snaps. Shit, she had to be fast. Rosemary scanned the trees, keeping an eye out...


    No, it was too dark. The shadows were to his advantage.


    Her sceptre glowed. Rosemary swung it ''round, casting out a series of glowing balls that scattered across the clearing, each one shining like a will-o-the-wisp. There. Now she could see a bit better.


    At once she leaped back, just in case she was still in Brother Bone''s range.


    Then...


    There. She saw him. Hiding behind a tree on the other side of the clearing. Rosemary took aim, breathing in, out.


    When she fired, the beam of light split into a vise-like construct. It wrapped around Nelthel, clawed his torso, held him fast to the palm.


    ¡°Don''t move!¡± Rosemary said, ¡°You try anything, and I''ll crush you!¡±


    He spat out a series of curses. Then-


    ¡°Fine!¡± he said, ¡°You got me, god damn you.¡±


    ***


    They dragged him off of the tree, Rosemary''s construct tightening around him as he was pulled loose from the palm. Rosemary glared at him as two of the crew dragged up to his knees.


    ¡°The crew,¡± she said, ¡°Unbend them. Now.¡±


    ¡°I''ll need my hands for that,¡± Brother Bone growled, ¡°Better get that fish of yours.¡±


    She slapped him hard against the face.


    ¡°Get him to the ship,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°We''ll figure this out there.¡±


    They pulled him to his feet. Began to guide him. Rosemary stood a ways back, sceptre pointed at his back. Any funny moves, he was getting a beam through his spine. A few more picked up the three who had been twisted up by the metahuman''s power, carrying them back to the ship.


    Lights shone on them as they arrived at the Guttersnipe.


    ¡°Meleko!¡± Rosemary said, ¡°I need Meleko!¡±


    Movement on the deck. She saw the Jugdran appear, rifle in hand.


    ¡°Rosemary,¡± he said, ¡°All good?¡±


    ¡°No, Mel!¡± Rosemary said, ¡°It''s Brother Bone. He''s got a few of the crew all twisted up.¡±


    ¡°Brother Bone?¡± Meleko said, and she saw him squint to see the man wrapped in light in front of her, ¡°You fuck! What are you doing here?¡±


    Bone said nothing, looking away.


    ¡°Meleko, how''s your aim?¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°In the dark? Let me grab a scope.¡±


    He reached into a bag, fishing around for a few moments, before he clicked a scope onto his rifle. He laid the firearm onto the railing, leaning in and taking aim.


    ¡°Yeah, I''m good,¡± he said, ¡°We popping him now?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°I''m going to move him back. Removing his bonds. If he tries anything, kill him.¡±


    Meleko grunted in approval. Rosemary went to Nelthel, grabbing his bindings and dragging him back. She moved him to a range she was comfortable with, setting him back down on his knees.


    ¡°Alright,¡± she said, ¡°I''m going to remove the bindings. You use your powers, get the crew back to normal. Meleko''s got his sights on you, so if you try anything, he''ll shoot you.¡±


    ¡°The Jugdran?¡± Brother Bone said, ¡°Ah, yes, I see him. Hell of a marksman. Fine. I''ll release your crew.¡±


    Rosemary nodded. She pressed the sceptre against the light construct, willing it to dissipate. Her heart was hammering as Nelthel pointed a hand at Cala first. There was another series of crunches as he knit her back together, and by the way her face contorted, it was not a pleasant experience.


    He did it with the two others, as well, and then Rosemary recast the bindings around him.


    ¡°Can I kill him now, Rosemary?¡± Meleko called from the deck, ¡°Please?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Let''s get him to Orvisan first.¡±


    ***


    They kept him off the ship, on the beach, Meleko''s rifle still aimed at his head. The crew set up a table for him to sit at, and Orvisan stood on a barrel so he could look at the metahuman eye-to-eye. Rosemary joined him, moving so she was beside the captain. She was glaring at Brother Bone. He was glaring back. Now that she could get a good look at him, it was obvious that Brother Bone was haggard. He had lost weight ¨C and he was already a thin man. His hair had been graying, and he had tied it back in a rough ponytail to reveal gaunt cheeks and sunken eyes. It was almost like his skin was stretched taut on his face. He wore an overcoat, grimy and smelling of dried sweat and salt.


    ¡°Rosemary,¡± Orvisan said, ¡°You''re saying he was one of the metahumans who was with Sunala?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Him and his brother.¡±


    Orvisan nodded. He turned to consider Nelthel. The metahuman was quiet.


    ¡°Who sent you?¡± he asked.


    ¡°No one,¡± Bone replied.


    ¡°You, what, decided to just ''hang out'' on a deserted island?¡± Orvisan said.


    Brother Bone was silent.


    ¡°You look like you haven''t had a decent meal in a while,¡± the captain noted, ¡°Do you... want something to eat?¡±


    That got a reaction, subtle as it was. Bone''s eyes glinted at the mention of food. The gnome smiled.


    ¡°Right,¡± he said, ¡°Get some bread for our guest.¡±


    Rosemary nodded, moving off. Orvisan would be safe, she hoped, without her immediate presence. Meleko was right there, in case things needed to be ended quickly. She ran over to the Guttersnipe. Most of the crew was watching the proceedings on the beach. Orvisan was continuing to ask Nelthel questions.


    ¡°Food,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Bread, I guess.¡±


    ¡°You sure?¡± Meleko said.


    ¡°We''re playing nice,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Guy looks like he''s been hit by a train.¡±


    ¡°We can dream,¡± Meleko said, darkly.


    One of the crew handed her a loaf of bread from dinner. She took it, leaping off the ship and into a sprint back to the interrogation. Orvisan was continuing to talk.


    ¡°Way I see it,¡± he was saying, ¡°You''re in a rather bad position. You''re a fugitive from the law. Scuttleway law. Federation law, too, if I remember right.¡±


    ¡°All metahumans are fugitives, under their laws,¡± Bone said, ¡°I don''t care about being wanted by you. I''m wanted on a dozen other planes, too.¡±


    ¡°Well, then, if things go sour, we have a few places to option you to,¡± Orvisan said.


    Rosemary handed him the bread. Orvisan took it, flipping a dagger out from his sleeve, cutting into the loaf. Brother Bone stared down at it, his eyes watering, his lips quivering.


    ¡°I bet you''ve been eating nothing but rats out here, eh?¡± Orvisan said, ¡°Well, here''s some food for you.¡±


    Brother Bone opened his mouth. The gnome put the bread in. The metahuman chewed. Swallowed.


    ¡°There''s more, if you tell us who sent you.¡±


    ¡°I''m telling you the truth,¡± Bone said, ¡°No one sent me. I came here of my own accord.¡±


    ¡°How''d you get out of jail?¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°Ha!¡± Bone said, ¡°Jailbreaking is second nature to supervillains like us. You elves think your prisons are so secure. But compared to Prime, they¡¯re nothing. I was out in less than a month.¡±


    ¡°And you... made your way back here?¡± Orvisan said, ¡°Why?¡±


    At that, Bone went quiet.


    ¡°You were going to go back to Chliofrond, weren''t you,¡± Rosemary said.


    ...The metahuman gave a slow nod.


    ¡°For the Shard?¡±


    ¡°For my brother.¡±


    His brother. Spinlock. Brother Brain. He had the power to telekinetically lift anything he could feasibly lift with his own body. Rosemary remembered him as a large, muscular man, jacked up on steroids and other muscle enhancers, in order to maximize his power.


    Mallory had kicked him into a field of stopped time. He had been next to the Shard of Imagination itself.


    Things were starting to click together. Rosemary''s eyes were widening.


    ¡°They... they didn''t retrieve him, did they?¡± she said, ¡°He''s just... Oh my god.¡±


    ¡°Still in the field,¡± Bone said, ¡°You remember what happened to your guildmate, the other metahuman? Joseph, I believe, was his name.¡±


    Rosemary nodded. Joseph''s eagle had gotten caught in such a field. They littered Chliofrond, the result of a long-dead metahuman''s powers. Phineas had needed to get him out, and Joseph had described it as...


    Unpleasant.


    ¡°They didn''t throw him into a jail,¡± Bone said, ¡°Trust me, I broke into their databases. I''ve been traveling the multiverse, trying to see where they put him away. And I found out. They didn''t at all. They''re just keeping him there.¡±


    His voice was dark. Sad. Desperate.


    ¡°He''s my brother,¡± he said, breaking down, ¡°How... how dare they do that to him. Keep him like that. I''ll kill them. I''ll kill them all. Swear on my life.¡±


    Orvisan and Rosemary were quiet. They looked at each other, found a common understanding.


    Desperate times called for desperate allies.


    The gnome leaned forward.


    ¡°Brother Bone,¡± he said, ¡°That is your metahuman name?¡±


    ¡°It is my name,¡± he said, ¡°I cast my old one away long ago.¡±


    ¡°Brother Bone,¡± Orvisan said, nodding, ¡°I believe we have a common enemy.¡±


    Bone blinked. And he looked at Rosemary.


    ¡°What,¡± he said, ¡°Did you finally find out about Sunala''s deal? That she''s a damn fascist?¡±


    She gave him a guilty look. That was answer enough.


    ¡°We''ve got a Fed with us,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°For the Shard.¡±


    Bone whistled.


    ¡°Well,¡± he said, ¡°Aren''t you playing a dangerous game. You realize if the Feds think funny, your home''s as good as glass, right?¡±


    ¡°I do,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°But you worked with Sunala. You know the alternative.¡±


    Bone simmered, and thought about that.


    ¡°...We may very well be siblings in arms, then,¡± he said, ¡°You''re looking for a way to Chliofrond, one that avoids the elves'' lookouts?¡±


    Orvisan nodded.


    ¡°I''ve been here longer than you,¡± he said, ¡°I''ve been watching them go in and out of the Traveling Point for the last two months. I''ve got a plan. If you release me, I can... help you.¡±


    ¡°An alliance,¡± Orvisan said.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Bone said, ¡°I want my brother back. I don''t care about the Shard anymore. That was a bungled heist, and I''d prefer greener pastures.¡±


    ¡°...You won''t double-cross us?¡± Rosemary asked.


    ¡°What kind of question is that?¡± Bone said, ¡°I''m a supervillain. There''s always a chance I could double-cross you. And your man the Jugdran hates me, there''s always a chance you blow out my brains here and now. The trust is in the goal, not in each other.¡±


    He spat to the side.


    ¡°So, do we have a deal?¡±


    Orvisan looked at Rosemary.


    ¡°He''s the one who betrayed you before,¡± he said, ¡°It''s your call.¡±


    Rosemary looked at the metahuman. For a long time. Gauged his face, his reactions. His sincerity. He had always been polite, even when he had turned her inside out.


    ¡°...Alright,¡± she said, ¡°I''m letting you loose.¡±


    The light construct fell away.


    ¡°Rosemary!¡± Meleko called over, ¡°What the fuck!¡±


    Brother Bone rose to his feet.


    ¡°You did not just cut a deal with him!¡± Meleko said, ¡°Come on!¡±


    He rubbed his wrists. Felt where the light had been constricting his arms. He did not smile. Instead, he gave a curt nod.


    ¡°Let''s get to it, then,¡± he said.

 113. All Too Bright Darkness

    Prince Luevo had not slept well.


    True, the Denrama were kind, when they wanted to be. They trained him in their ways, told him stories of their people, tolerated his more¡­ eclectic tastes. But the one thing the prince could not understand about them was their insistence on sleeping on a blanket on the ground. Try as he might, he could never convince them, not even the most inquisitive, to try out a proper bed, frame and all, with a fluffy mattress and pillows stuffed with Gele feathers.


    ¡°We stick close to the earth,¡± the Denrama''s leader, Manzima, told him, ¡°Even if our place is born anew, Kimao, it is the earth that is our home. Let the air be ruled by the Spioa.¡±


    ¡°It''s... three feet off the ground,¡± Luevo had said.


    But the look Manzima had given him no room to argue, so he relented.


    So here he was, on the ground, in the yurt the Denrama had given him when he had returned to them, to live with them for a little while. He had returned back to the royal palace after the ragged journey across the multiverse.


    And found it...


    Empty.


    Of the experiences he had come to enjoy in the multiverse. His adventures. He found his old habits hollow.


    So, two months later, he had returned to the Denrama, and lived with them ever since.


    They had named the Landscape after the creature he had carried, as though he had a womb, across the breadth of reality, as was his duty as Kimao.


    Rolala. It rolled off the tongue, did it not? Luevo could feel nothing but bittersweet pride at the name.


    He stepped out of the yurt in the early morning, the sun glaring into his eyes, his bare feet brushing into grass, squelching into the dirt. The Denrama had set up near the exact center of the plains. Yurts were scattered haphazardly across the expanse of the field, a city of cloth, as other Deadlanders had arrived in Rolala. They swore to the Denrama. Swore to Luevo, too, for the Denrama had become patrons to his father''s kingdom.


    At the edge of the city was an airship. Settlers from across Nesona were coming here, too, mostly farmers to take advantage of the vast grassplains, with ample room to grow corn, tobacco, tomatoes, and wheat. And the airship companies that had set up shop on the plane were having quite the business boom, moving folks from hither to thither.


    A few of the Denrama greeted Luevo as he stepped out. He smiled, bowed his head to them.


    And he walked a few steps.


    And turned right back around, back into his yurt, to retrieve his shoes. He still could not stand the feeling of dirt between his toes. His feet were to be clean, thank you very much.


    He emerged a bit later, hiking boots wrapped around his legs like vises. Uncomfortable, but still better than the dirt and the grime.


    He walked out.


    A few of the Denrama greeted Luevo, again, a few of them wearing light smirks on their faces. He had learned to ignore these. Luevo went to begin his daily chores, moving to take his shift tending the herd of goats and sheep the Denrama collected. The creatures were no longer skin and bones. They had fat on them now, their fleeces freshly groomed.


    And with that, came their ornery attitudes. He wasn''t looking forward to today.


    ¡°Luevo.¡±


    Manzima spoke behind him. The prince turned.


    ¡°Yes, ashai?¡± he said. Manzima had gained some meat on the bone, too, thank the Lady. She had been practically at death''s door before the landscape had changed.


    ¡°Two people approach,¡± she said.


    ¡°More settlers?¡± Luevo said, ¡°Is there... danger?¡±


    ¡°They are outlanders, Luevo,¡± Manzima said, ¡°Two of them. They appear wounded, but it is still a wary situation. Will you go and meet them?¡±


    ¡°I...¡± Luevo faltered.


    For a moment.


    ¡°If I have sufficient protection, yes,¡± Luevo said, ¡°I am a prince, and they might be here to kill me.¡±


    ¡°You''ll have our best warriors,¡± Manzima said.


    Ten of the Denrama had died during the battle with Mordenaro. He felt guilty using them again, in case things went sideways.


    But he would not deny Manzima''s generosity. To do so would look bad. He gave a grateful nod.


    ¡°I''ll meet them, then.¡±


    ***


    They were tribesfolk, clad in goat furs and wielding weapons made of old wood and bone. A few of them wore masks, a few held bows. Fresh settlers of this part of the landscape, Ichabod supposed, for their haggard looks made them stand out on the field of green that paraded to the horizon. Sitting in the center of their number was a man, dark-skinned, in white robes with muddy edges, a silver tiara adorning his head, sunken into his thick locs. Some noble, or other.


    ¡°You come to the landscape of Rolala,¡± the man said in a nasally voice, ¡°And you are...?¡±


    ¡°Outlanders,¡± Ichabod said. He grimaced, glancing over to Contort for a moment, before continuing, ¡°On guild business.¡±


    ¡°What kind of business?¡± the noble asked.


    ¡°The private kind,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°We''re just passing through.¡±


    ¡°Uh-huh,¡± the noble said. One of the tribals walked over to him, whispered something in his ear. He nodded, looking hard at the horizon behind.


    ¡°I s-see,¡± he said, betraying a bit of his nervousness, ¡°I see two pursuers after you. Guildfolk as well?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Contort said, ¡°Look, pal, you better let us pass. What''s coming isn''t going to be pretty.¡±


    ¡°Where will you go?¡± the noble said, ¡°All of Rolala is claimed by the Denrama. We''re... we''re not going to just sit there and let you tear it all to pieces. They''ve already lost a lot, because of guild spats.¡±


    ¡°Nothing but sympathy, for that,¡± Contort said, ¡°But if you don''t let us pass, you''re going to get a guild spat at your front door.¡±


    He glanced back. As did Ichabod. The cybernetic man''s sight was better, and he could just barely make out the sun-headed man on the horizon.


    ¡°One way or another, this is going to play out,¡± Contort said.


    The noble seemed to wince, biting his lip in thought. For a long time, with shaking hands, he considered the situation in front of him.


    ¡°What guild are you?¡± he said, ¡°You''ll foot the bill.¡±


    ¡°Amber Foundation,¡± Ichabod said.


    And the man''s eyes widened.


    ¡°A-Amber Foundation?¡± he said, ¡°Joseph and G-Wiz, are they okay?¡±


    Ah.


    Ichabod had heard of this job. It had been the one that got Shetavalk and Nole killed.


    ¡°Joseph''s fine, last time I saw him,¡± Contort said, ¡°G-Wiz too. I think.¡±


    ¡°You... think?¡± the noble faltered, and the veil of diplomacy fell away for a moment, ¡°She''s...?¡±


    ¡°We''ve been separated from our guildmates for a long time,¡± Contort said, ¡°A job went south. We''re being pursued by Pantheon.¡±


    ¡°Pantheon?¡± the noble said, ¡°...Agrippa''s guild, yes?¡±


    ¡°You know him?¡±


    ¡°Our spies indicate he tried to have me killed,¡± the noble said, ¡°They hired Mordenaro.¡±


    He was quiet for a moment. The shaking in his hand had stilled. He looked out towards the horizon, calculating, his jaw set.


    ¡°And they''re trying to kill you again?¡± he said, ¡°Sending more pursuers?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°...Alright,¡± the noble said, ¡°Let me pull a few strings. I suppose I should help get you out of here.¡±


    ***


    And so Luevo made his moves. Got the Amber Foundation all loaded up and on their way. It was only natural, a debt he had wanted to repay, and would probably always repay. They did not need to traipse across the multiverse with him, all that time ago. They didn''t need to die for him. Lady''s breath, he didn''t deserve that.


    Yet died they had.


    He would not soon forget that.


    It was all that held his heart in place, as he waited for the three Pantheon agents to arrive. A demon. A sun-headed man. A mercenary from the Eye, he presumed, decked out in Fedtek. The demon would be the hardest to deal with.


    He took a deep breath. The mercenaries toed the line between the Deadlands and the Landscape. Denrama warriors pointed spears at them, aimed arrows. Luevo, as before, stood at their center, trying to look as regal as possible despite his muddied robes.


    ¡°You come to Rolala,¡± he said, trying his best to sound authoritative, ¡°What business do you seek here?¡±


    ¡°Guild business,¡± the sun-headed man said.


    ¡°Of what sort?¡±


    ¡°There are two,¡± the demon said, and Luevo shivered at the sight of her, all skinless and floating, a woman''s voice curling from her skull and into his, ¡°There once were three, but the journey has been difficult for them.¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± Luevo said, ¡°I''m sorry to say, they aren''t here.¡±


    ¡°Tell me, friend,¡± the sun-headed man said, ¡°In what direction did they go?¡±


    ¡°South,¡± he said, ¡°They went south. I told them that no guildfolk with violent businesses are to come here to Rolala. They must go south.¡±


    ¡°To another Landscape,¡± the demon said, ¡°Hyperion, see if he speaks true.¡±


    Hyperion, the sun-headed man, nodded. His face began to glow. The Denrama began to shout a few warnings, prepared their weapons.


    The mercenary took aim.


    ¡°Don¡¯t move,¡± he said, ¡°Make any move at all, and I open fire.¡±


    Luevo brought up a hand to still them, his heart racing. This was not a time for action. Better he die, and they move on, then the Denrama waste their lives in a futile effort. He knew they would not survive an engagement with this trio.


    Hyperion''s face became swallowed with light, and his entire form began to blaze. Luevo winced as the full brunt of the sun washed over him like an ocean wave, burning his skin, his bones, his skull, his mind. It flayed him with a thousand whips, surged through his memories.


    And then, the light ceased. Luevo found himself on his back, spots dancing in his eyes. One of the Denrama, Ruti, ran over to help him to his feet.


    ¡°He lies,¡± Hyperion said, and pointed, ¡°High above. An airship. He paid off the captain to get them away in a hurry.¡±


    The demon glanced up, and hissed.


    ¡°They are outside of my range. Mercenary, can you pursue?¡±


    The mercenary looked up. Nodded.


    ¡°N-Now, hang on,¡± Luevo said.


    The three of them glared down at him.


    ¡°What stops us from killing you?¡± the demon said, ¡°What stops us from pulling free your spine and beating your savages with it?¡±


    He swallowed.


    ¡°W-Well,¡± Luevo said, ¡°That airship is... under my protection.¡±


    Hyperion scoffed.


    ¡°Your protection?¡± he said, ¡°On whose authority, some backwards tribe in the middle of nowhere? You wield pointed sticks, little man.¡±


    ¡°I am...¡± Luevo rose. He was shaking. This was not...


    Not how he expected today to go.


    But he had been through worse, hadn''t he? Mordenaro. His father''s cooking.


    He swallowed, again.


    ¡°I am Prince Luevo, son of Soluum,¡± he said, reconquering his whining tone, ¡°Of Ionica.¡±


    ¡°Ionica,¡± the demon said, ¡°The largest nation, in these lands.¡±


    ¡°Rolala is under my patronage,¡± Luevo said, ¡°As is that ship up there. As are the guildfolk. You... You will not touch them. You will turn back. You will leave.¡±


    The demon moved forward. Luevo faltered, for just a second, as she leered down at him, the bridge of his nose almost touching her nasal cavity. The demon had no eyes. All that was there was a void, deep and foreboding, like a black hole given sight.


    ¡°And if we do not...?¡±The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    ¡°I-If you kill me,¡± Luevo said, ¡°It will look bad. It will... you''ll send all of Ionica a-after you.¡±


    ¡°We would kill them all,¡± the demon said.


    ¡°K-Killing me?¡± Luevo said, ¡°A prince? Going to war with an off-plane nation? Without a contract? What sort of message d-does that tell the F-Federation, hmm?¡±


    ¡°He''s right,¡± the mercenary grunted, ¡°We''re here to kill the guildfolk, not some random royals.¡±


    For a long time, the demon stood there, staring at Luevo. Gauging him. Sizing him up. Luevo all but glared at her, letting a bit of his anger at Agrippa come through his eyes. He had to be solid. Look like he could follow through with his threat.


    And then...


    ¡°Fine,¡± the demon said. She drew back, turning to Hyperion and the mercenary, ¡°We turn back. We can pursue them with other methods. Other ways. We tell Agrippa that the Amber Foundation is...¡±


    She shot one last glare back at Luevo.


    ¡°Under Ionica''s protection.¡±


    Hyperion nodded. The mercenary shouldered his rifle. The three Pantheon agents turned.


    And went back the way they came. Back to the Deadlands. Luevo continued to watch them, his mouth turned in a deep frown.


    He only relaxed, the Denrama only lowered their weapons, when the trio was well past the horizon.


    ¡°You handled them well,¡± Ruti said.


    ¡°I hope so,¡± Luevo said, his knees shaking. He felt the need to vomit, ¡°...But I feel like I''ve just made quite the enemy.¡±


    He swallowed, tasting bile in his mouth.


    ¡°Come on,¡± he said, ¡°Let''s go back. I think I''ll lie down for a little while.¡±


    ***


    Brother Bone led Rosemary, Meleko, Ora, and Orvisan deeper into the jungle. It was late at night, and Rosemary had to ignite the tip of her sceptre to provide some light as they stepped over roots, side-stepped thick trunked palms, and pushed back leaves. The forest on the island was deceptive (then, all forests were) going much deeper than one would have anticipated. Brother Bone had been making his abode in the very deepest part of the wood, and they arrived at his makeshift camp to see a small tent, the remains of a campfire, and a cage made out of bones.


    ¡°A cage...?¡± Ora said.


    ¡°Part of my plan,¡± Brother Bone said, giving the Nelnuthan a wry smile, ¡°I''ve been building it ever since I got here. Been eating birds, fish, even a couple monsters if I can catch them. And I use every part.¡±


    He rested a hand on the bone cage. It was twice his height, circular in appearance, easily large enough to fit a few people inside. He beamed at it in a dark sort of pride.


    ¡°What you see here is several meals worth of bone,¡± he said, ¡°I can control it all.¡±


    ¡°And what''s the purpose of this cage?¡± Meleko said, darkly, ¡°You going to capture a few elves with it?¡±


    ¡°I thought of that, at first,¡± Bone said, ¡°A good ol'' hostage situation. But I''m not in a position of strength, here. Too many variables. No, I''ve decided to use this bone cage as my chariot.¡±


    The Amber Foundation looked at Orvisan. The gnome shrugged.


    ¡°Your... chariot,¡± he said.


    ¡°Aye, my chariot,¡± Bone said, ¡°This is what I wanted to show you.¡±


    He cleared his throat, spitting a loogie to the side.


    ¡°The elves have gotten a pretty good schedule going,¡± he said, ¡°At least once every few days, they send a ship out. Or a ship in. I think a few of them are cargo haulers, probably full of fresh water, but that great galleon-¡±


    ¡°The Vanima,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°The same,¡± Bone said, nodding, ¡°It comes in, stays out for most of the night, returns before dawn.¡±


    ¡°So what was your plan, then?¡± Meleko said, ¡°Use your chariot, hitch a ride on the ship? Sneak aboard?¡±


    ¡°Not exactly,¡± Bone said, ¡°I figure the Vanima probably has magical defenses. I''d considered using the cage and hanging on-¡±


    He flexed a hand, and the bone cage''s outside twisted, two of the bars curling into off-white hooks.


    ¡°-But I figured, why not just stay a bit behind?¡± he said, ¡°Go in a moment later?¡±


    ¡°So the elves on the other side will be expecting movement at the Traveling Point, and will be distracted by the Vanima,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Smart.¡±


    ¡°Don''t give him credit, Rosemary,¡± Meleko growled. He was giving Bone a suspicious look, ¡°What happens next?¡±


    ¡°Well, we dive into the water,¡± Bone said, ¡°The cage is airtight.¡±


    He gestured. The bars shifted, turning the bone cage into a closed up, vaguely irregular ball.


    ¡°The problem is we don''t know what Chliofrond looks like now,¡± the metahuman continued, ¡°We know it''s general shape, right?¡±


    ¡°A series of islands,¡± Meleko said, ¡°A freshwater sea. A lot of plants.¡±


    ¡°There''s the island we landed on, the island with the Shard, a few other miscellaneous places,¡± Bone said, ¡°But we don''t know how the elves have set up shop. We''ll be doing everything on the fly once we get there.¡±


    Rosemary nodded.


    ¡°Right,¡± she said, ¡°How many people can you fit in the cage?¡±


    ¡°Myself, and five others,¡± Bone said, ¡°But the more we pack in, the less air we''ll have, the less time we''ll be able to be submerged.¡±


    ¡°You, me, Meleko, and Ora,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°Wait, now,¡± Orvisan said, his brow furrowing, ¡°Lass, what about us?¡±


    Rosemary turned to him. The gnome, despite his objections, looked harrowed. Exhausted. She could see the gray streaks in his beard, only accentuated in the sceptrelight. Of all of them here, he had lost the most.


    ¡°You''ve done more than enough,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°I don''t feel as though I have, Rosemary,¡± Orvisan said, ¡°There''s still elves on the other side of that portal, still people who want to turn my city into something it''s not.¡±


    Rosemary put a hand on his shoulder. She leaned down. She gave him a sad smile.


    ¡°You got us here,¡± she said, ¡°But you should stay for a few reasons. One, the less people go to Chliofrond, the better. We''ll have more air when we go underwater. There''ll be less of us to look after.¡±


    ¡°Yes, but-¡±


    ¡°Second reason is we need a lookout here,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°In case someone else arrives.¡±


    ¡°We can leave a few crewmates here, we can-¡±


    ¡°Third,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Is enough of your crew have died.¡±


    Orvisan choked up. At once, his facade of the good captain broke, and he fell to his knees. Tears were stinging his eyes as he looked down at the ground.


    ¡°I... I...¡±


    ¡°Stand, Orvisan,¡± Rosemary said. She removed the hand on his shoulder, turned it to him in offer. After a while, the gnome took it, pulling himself to his feet.


    ¡°It''s been quite the game, Rosemary,¡± he said, ¡°I''m sad to say that I''ll have to drop out.¡±


    ¡°Oh, you aren''t dropping out,¡± Meleko said, ¡°No one ever drops out, when facing groups like the Verdant Reclamation. But take your time to rest. Repair your ship, look to your crew.¡±


    He fixed Orvisan with a hard look.


    ¡°And be ready to get out of here in a hurry.¡±


    ***


    They waited for the little hours of the morning for the Vanima''s return. Zad cast a night vision spell, pouring the magic into his hands from a vial and applying it to the crew''s closed eyelids. Ora watched them from a small distance, as those on watch rubbed it, blinking a bit, squinting as though they were seeing in bright daylight. Rosemary had used some, too. She looked at Ora.


    ¡°You want in?¡± she asked.


    ¡°I-I suppose so,¡± Ora said, ¡°It will make things easier, won''t it?¡±


    ¡°We don''t know what time it will be on Chliofrond,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°But it''ll help to look out for the Vanima.¡±


    Ora looked down at the paste in Zad''s hands. It was clear, only able to properly be seen in Rosemary''s sceptrelight.


    Well, he had done crazier these past few days, hadn''t he? More living than he had for most of his life. He nodded, and Zad smiled. He poured some into his hands. The magic was cold, gel-like, with only a slight burning sensation in his head, like a hot brain freeze.


    A paradox. But Ora had read that magic was built on paradoxes.


    When he opened his eyes, it was as though night and day had turned inside out. Shadows became light, light became shadows. His heart''s beat quickened as he tried to make sense of it.


    ¡°Easy, there,¡± Zad said, laying a hand on Ora''s shoulder, ¡°Just go with the flow. The magic inverts the perception of shadow and light.¡±


    ¡°I-¡± Ora stammered, ¡°It''s-¡±


    ¡°Intense, yeah?¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Here, look at my sceptre.¡±


    She presented it. With the magic fully in his system like a drug, the end of the rose seemed to emanate shadow, yet not shadow, as he knew it was light but it still dragged the world around it into a pit, like-


    ¡°This is night,¡± Rosemary said, gesturing to her sceptre, ¡°Concentrate.¡±


    ¡°I...¡± Ora took a deep breath. And he followed her orders. Concentrate. Yet don''t concentrate. Have the two ideas in the mind.


    He calmed down.


    ¡°Right,¡± Zad said, ¡°Snap your fingers, and-¡±


    Ora snapped his fingers. The world returned to normal.


    ¡°Dammit, not now!¡± Zad snarled, ¡°That ends the spell. Hold out your hand again.¡±


    ***


    The Vanima drifted from the horizon a few hours later, at almost four in the morning. Ora had been dozing as Meleko approached, tapping him on the shoulder.


    ¡°Yo,¡± he said, ¡°Wake up. It''s here.¡±


    The Nelnuthan''s ears flickered as he rubbed his eyes, yawning. In the all too bright darkness of the dusk, he could make out the Vanima as it flew overhead, moving with the grace of a rogue planet across the pre-dawn, burning sky.


    ¡°She''s a beaut, ain''t she?¡± Meleko said, drawing up beside her, ¡°I did a bit of research on airships like her, from Melmaen. She''s an older vessel, not just a ship with a slapdash rune job.¡±


    ¡°It used to be a...?¡±


    ¡°A sailing ship,¡± Meleko said, ¡°A lot of ships from Melmaen used to be sailing vessels, for the ocean, before they were converted for the sky. Hence why her shell seems so out of place up there.¡±


    He smiled at Ora.


    ¡°Not like our ancient birds back home, eh?¡±


    Ora nodded at that. Brother Bone, the metahuman, was rolling out his cage onto the beach. He gestured over for Ora and Meleko to join him. Rosemary was talking to Captain Orvisan, giving him a few last words of advice.


    ¡°If we''re not back by tomorrow,¡± she said, ¡°Assume we''ve been captured.¡±


    ¡°What time tomorrow?¡± Orvisan asked.


    ¡°Let''s make it noon,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°So at noon, we go in blades drawn, aye?¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Rosemary said, ¡°No. Get out of here. It means we failed. They''ll kill us, Captain.¡±


    ¡°...Very well,¡± Orvisan said, ¡°We''ll leave.¡±


    Though Ora suspected that Orvisan would not. He said nothing. Rosemary joined them as Bone put some last finishing touches on his construct, smiling a grim smile.


    ¡°It''s time,¡± he said, ¡°Are you all ready?¡±


    They nodded.


    ¡°Get in, then.¡±


    And they did. Meleko first, then Rosemary, then Ora, who nearly tripped as he entered, then Bone. The metahuman gestured, and the bone cage closed. Ora shivered, in spite of himself. He was not used to being this close to metahumanity. Bone gave off a dangerous air. Perhaps it was because of his power. Perhaps it was his history.


    No matter the reason, he was unsettled.


    Bone gestured again, and the cage shuddered, then rose. Like a shuttle. Ora held onto a bar as the cage took off in pursuit of the Vanima. He hung the cage low, like a lantern, the bottom skimming the dark-light sea.


    The Vanima reached the Traveling Point. It disappeared into the rippling oblivion. Brother Bone was sweating, grimacing, his face contorted into a mask of horror, but he gestured, and the cage shot after the galleon. His creation creaked. A couple shards of bone fell away, only to be pulled back by the metahuman''s power.


    They entered the Traveling Point, almost a second after the Vanima.


    And with the magic of the night vision, the rainbows were replaced by shadows. The rip between worlds became a grayscale kaleidoscope, shapes moving in and out of place. Ora''s eyes teared up at the sight of them, at the fury of the wind whipping around them, all of the world raged in light and shadow, and-


    And they were out. The cage fell at once towards a calm, silent sea. It was night here, too, the two planes syncing up their schedules.


    This was to their advantage, for no one seemed to notice as the cage plunged into the water, the sides closing up to encase them in a casting of bone. Bone''s breathing was laborious and heavy, but he gave them a wild grin.


    ¡°Now comes the hard part,¡± he said.


    ***


    The metahuman kingdom, part of the collection of polities that converged into the nation of Epochia, had been known as Chliofrond. A series of nomadic, floating islands. They had, once upon a day, in an age of possibility, journeyed across the multiverse, from the Silver Eye to Squalls to Paradigms and everything in between.


    But, thousands of years ago, they had crashed here, and with the kingdom''s destruction came the name of this plane, scavenged from the remains of dead islands and dead metahumans. Chliofrond. The plane was a vast, freshwater sea, the bottom festooned in glow algae, the surface host to the corpses of the once-great cities of the kingdom. Some were standing tall, having taken to the water like landing swans. Others had capsized, tipped over, their towers pointing to the horizon. Still more had been turned upside-down, its contents consigned to watery graves.


    Plantlife had claimed all. Trees grew unbidden, even in the depths of the dark halls that were now submerged in the sea. Vines crawled over the statues of the monarchs that had ruled the kingdom, flowers grew in gardens that covered islands, moss burrowed between the cracks of jade and lapis lazuli mosaics.


    Broon had called this place a tomb, but no plane is truly dead. There is still movement. Storms still roil. Oceans still seize. Moons still circle planets, even if the planet''s denizens destroyed themselves.


    That, there, is life. For even when we are long gone, the universe, the multiverse, will churn on.


    So we tell ourselves.


    (And, perhaps, we are right.)


    ¡­


    The bone cage erupted from the surface, breaching like an old whale, near one of the abandoned islands. Abandoned by metahumans, and by the elves that had settled the plane. It opened up, fresh air pouring into the pod, and the four infiltrators were glad to have the chance to breathe. Bone was slick with sweat as he stumbled onto the island, which had once seemed to have been a residential area, peppered with white brick, single story homes with blue, domed roofs. The forest had overtaken this island, too, a thick woodland growing out of the urban setting.


    But they didn''t venture into it, instead looking out towards the rest of Chliofrond. The Verdant Reclamation had taken over most of the plane. Ships trawled the waters, galleons and caravels, a few swan-shaped canoes, one of the ships was a cut-down oak tree that had been hollowed out, a few elves rowing it across the water, dragging a hunk of white stone behind them. Still more ships moved across the sky above. One of the islands, one with a tower, had been converted into a skyport, and much of the vegetation there had been cleared away. A few of the houses even had lights on inside. Music played in the distance.


    Rosemary recognized it as the Enil-galdrim Marching Song. She shivered. Flags fluttered from reclaimed poles, from the parapets of specific buildings. They depicted a two-headed swan on a green background, one holding a faerie in its beak, the other holding an arrow in a webbed claw.


    The Adaya family crest, now the symbol of the Verdant Reclamation as a whole.


    Ora stood apart from the group, kneeling down as he stared out across the waters, which shimmered in shadow due to the nightvision magic.


    ¡°So this was...¡± he murmured, ¡°This was a metahuman nation?¡±


    ¡°Aye,¡± Meleko said, ¡°Pretty, isn''t it?¡±


    ¡°That''s a lot of flags.¡±


    Meleko nodded at that.


    ¡°It''s a physical claim on the plane,¡± the Jugdran said.


    Bone was giving the place a hard look.


    ¡°This is...¡± he growled, ¡°I... I never cared much about my heritage. But this feels wrong. The air''s gone stale, hasn''t it?¡±


    ¡°Do you think they removed Chronilocke''s body?¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Her power was holding most of this place together.¡±


    ¡°Maybe,¡± Bone said, ¡°But then they''d have to move Brain. Subdue him, somehow, which would be a drain on resources. It''s not easy to take him down.¡±


    He paused for a moment.


    ¡°At least,¡± he whispered, ¡°I hope he''s not.¡±


    ¡°We should take a ship,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Disguise ourselves.¡±


    She glanced over at one of the canoes.


    ¡°Bone,¡± she said, ¡°What''s the range of your power?¡±


    ¡°About ten feet,¡± he said.


    ¡°Can you get in close...?¡±


    The metahuman nodded. His brow was set, and his eyes were mutinous. He kept glancing back at the Elven settlements, pupils flashing from flag to flag, parapet to parapet.


    ¡°Aye,¡± he said, ¡°I can.¡±


    Part of the cage broke off, turning into a one man construct that closed over Bone like a coffin. He sank into the water, the surface rippling for just a few moments, concentric rings mirroring out. Ora squinted.


    One of the canoes in the distance stopped moving. The figures driving the boat forward jerked, then rowed into the shadows. Another few minutes passed, but none of the other ships noted the disappearance. No alarms were raised.


    The canoe moved from island to island. Arrived at theirs. Bone emerged from the boat, and the two elves onboard collapsed, their spines snapped with a flick of his wrist.


    ¡°Get their clothes,¡± he said, ¡°We can go in disguises.¡±


    ¡°There''s four of us,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°And two of them.¡±


    ¡°I stay underwater,¡± he said, ¡°You take off that ridiculous cloak of yours. It''s obvious. If you do that, you''ll be able to pass easily enough.¡±


    Rosemary blushed. She gripped her cloak''s hems.


    ¡°I-I''m not taking it off,¡± she said.


    Bone rolled his eyes.


    ¡°First thing I noticed when I met you was the cloak,¡± he said, ¡°The elves know it. They''ll recognize you.¡±


    ¡°We can stow it away on the canoe,¡± Meleko said, ¡°Or stuff it in your bag.¡±


    She was quiet, her head cast down at the ground. Becenti might have stopped them. Joseph would have taken notice of her discomfort, and told them to lay off. But neither of them were here. She sighed, and undid the cloak''s clasp. The wind felt cold against her back, even through her armor and shirt. She folded it up and put it into her bag.


    Tried not to show them she was fighting back tears.


    Tried not to feel the scars on her back prickle.


    Wakeling had told her that it was psychological. But still.


    ¡°Alright,¡± she said, and her face was like ice as she looked at the rest of them. Meleko was keeping mum. Bone didn''t seem to care. Ora was giving her a sympathetic look.


    ¡°Good,¡± Bone said, ¡°Now, I''ll be underwater, in the coffin. Any trouble comes up, tap the side of the canoe.¡±


    He was already sinking back into the depths, the coffin encasing him once more.


    ¡°Good luck.¡±

 114. Hatred

    Meleko and Ora looked out of place in the dark cloaks that the elves had been wearing. They wouldn''t pass for elves, not anytime soon, the Nelnuthan folding his ears down beneath the hood, the Jugdran struggling to even put the hood on with his hammer-shaped head. Rosemary grimaced.


    ¡°We need heavier clothing,¡± she said, ¡°Something that hides your silhouette.¡±


    ¡°We could just sneak,¡± Meleko said, and he glanced out across the dark waters to the occupied parts of the plane, ¡°Security doesn''t seem too bad.¡±


    ¡°They''re arrogant,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°They assume that they''re the only ones who know about the plane. Doesn''t seem like Sunala''s warned them of any Federation investigator.¡±


    Her guildmate nodded.


    ¡°Right,¡± he said, ¡°You and Ora get on the boat. I''ll swim.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Are you sure?¡±


    ¡°Aye,¡± Meleko said, ¡°Better to have two aces in the hole, not just one. And I don''t altogether trust Brother Bone.¡±


    He glanced at the dark waters.


    ¡°Besides, we''re shooting ourselves in the foot if we think I can fit in one of these damn cloaks. My head''s too big. You wear it, Rosemary, finish looking the part.¡±


    He handed the dark robes to her. Rosemary, after a moment, donned them. The prickling feeling in her back ceased, though it did not completely abate.


    It only disappeared with the red cloak, and the aping of her family''s wings.


    ¡°Our target''s the silver tower,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Remember it? It''s on its side.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I remember it,¡± Meleko said, and the look on his face became dark, ¡°I remember.¡±


    He shouldered his rifle, stretching a bit. Walked over to the shore and dipped a finger into the water, testing its temperature. It was cool, but not unpleasantly so. The Jugdran could see a sea of algae far below, shining in neon-blue bioluminescence. It was light enough to guide his way, like undersea stars. Behind him, Rosemary was adjusting Ora''s cloak, making sure he was hiding his muzzle as much as she could.


    ¡°From what I remember,¡± she was saying, ¡°There are certain Elven races that have the ability to take on half-wolf forms. Maybe they''ll think you''re one of them.¡±


    ¡°Do they have purple fur?¡± Ora asked, his pitch an octave higher than usual, ¡°I-I don''t think it''s going to work.¡±


    ¡°One way or another, we''re going to have to get you into that tower,¡± Rosemary said. She took a deep breath, ¡°Relax. It''ll be fine. I''m right here with you.¡±


    ¡°I-I do suppose that counts for something,¡± Ora said.


    They glanced at the sound of splashes. Meleko was already swimming, the only signs of his departure being a few lonely ripples on the water''s surface. The canoe rocked a bit from the disturbance.


    Rosemary took another deep breath.


    ¡°Get on the boat,¡± she said, ¡°I''ll row.¡±


    ¡°A-Alone?¡± Ora said, ¡°I suppose...¡±


    He clambered onto the canoe. Picked up a paddle.


    ¡°It''s for two, yes?¡±


    Rosemary smiled, in spite of herself, in spite of her fear. She joined him.


    ¡°You know how to paddle?¡± she asked.


    ¡°No,¡± the Nelnuthan admitted, ¡°B-But, then, I''ve had to learn a lot of things lately.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Dip it into the water in time with me. I''ll stick in the back to help control.¡±


    Ora nodded. He dipped the paddle into the water. It was difficult, at first, and after the first few strokes he found his thin arms were burning. But he soldiered on.


    The vastness of the occupied Chliofrond was before them.


    ***


    Adonal Adaya stepped off of the Vanima attended by four guards, each of them taken from the royal knights of his homeland. Silver armored, each of them held in their hands one of the sacred blades that had been wielded by their forefathers to guard the Adaya family over their long history. Curved, freshly sharpened and polished, the four weapons glittered, unsheathed, in the light of the will-o-the-wisps that now inhabited the dead plane.


    Dead plane. Adaya huffed at that as he made his way down the tower they had set up as a port. It would not do to call this place a dead plane, not when elves lived here now. Nor would it do to call it the name the Mutts had given it. Chliofrond.


    No, it needed a proper name.


    He would need to think on it. Consult his dictionaries. Find a proper name for this ancient place, scour it of all its doggish influence. The floating islands were a blight upon the freshwater sea. If he had the time and energy, Adaya would replace them, too.


    He stepped out of the tower and onto one of the passenger ships that plied the waters, a beautiful, swan-shaped canoe with wood taken from Taure, the golden eyes mined from Kahaza, the paint on its beak mixed from dyes found only on the Iluvan Reefs. A composite example of Elven culture across the multiverse.


    Elven supremacy, rather.


    On the nose, perhaps, but Adaya was glad to see that they were able to be on the nose with what they did. They were becoming more obvious, and no one said a word. Not even the Federation.


    The boat drifted across the dark waters. A few canoes were out tonight, one of them lagging a bit ¨C it seemed like one of the elves down there was new to the whole thing. Must have come from a desert plane.


    ¡°Well,¡± Adaya said, and he called out, ¡°You there!¡±


    The canoe stopped.


    ¡°Y-Yes!¡± the front figure, the one who had been having trouble, said, ¡°H-Hello!¡±


    ¡°Having a bit of trouble?¡± Adaya said.


    There was a bout of silence. Perhaps this newcomer was uncomfortable. He could not make out their features out here in the darkness, could not properly tell what subspecies he was from. That mattered little. There were only elves here, after they had finally expelled the last of Sunala''s damned local guild.


    ¡°Yes, we are!¡± the other figure called out. A woman, ¡°Idiot''s from a desert plane, never seen a canoe in his life!¡±


    ¡°Y-Yes!¡± the front elf said, ¡°What''s an ocean?¡±


    Adaya smiled at that. Well, there was a first for everything. One should never look down upon ignorance, unless the ignorance stuck like honey.


    ¡°Keep your back straight!¡± he called out, ¡°Quit hunching over! Twist your waist. Yes, like that.¡±


    The canoe started back up. The desert elf could learn, at least.


    ¡°Th-Thank you!¡± he called out.


    ¡°Of course!¡± Adaya said. He turned back to his helmsman, ¡°Now, take me to the Shard.¡±


    ***


    The swan-headed canoe moved off. Rosemary''s heart was pounding harder than a war drum, and she hadn''t realized she had been holding her breath until she exhaled. Ora glanced back at her, his large eyes alight with fear.


    ¡°That was...¡±


    ¡°Too close,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°God, I didn''t realize that Adaya himself would talk to us.¡±


    ¡°No sign of Meleko or Bone,¡± Ora said.


    ¡°Of course not,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°They''re keeping themselves well hidden.¡±


    She glanced out. Aye, she couldn''t even see Meleko sneaking across any of the islands. Most likely, he was deep underwater. For a moment, her heart skipped a beat at the thought of sea elves that might have gone below to patrol. It would make sense, wouldn''t it?


    But no, she had her own job to do. Meleko and Bone''s departures meant that they had confidence in her. And she had to be confident in them.


    She had her own role to play, here.


    ¡°Let''s take a break, real quick,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Pull into one of the islands. We don''t want to look like we''re following Adaya.¡±


    ¡°R-Right,¡± Ora said, and then, to himself, ¡°Back straight. Twist the waist...¡±


    ***


    There were, much to the Amber Foundation''s benefit, no sea elves in the waters tonight. There were a few of them working the crews of the fleet, but they very rarely dipped into the freshwater sea, content to stay aboard their ships. Sea elves, true to their name, prefer saltier waters, and this lake-like ocean had very little of that.


    As such, Meleko swam in peace in the dark waters, using the fifth eye in the center of his head to help with navigation. Jugdrans had evolved from sea dwellers, and were used to murkier, darker places with very little light. So much of the ocean of Chliofrond felt like home as he swam, using the islands above as landmarks, keeping a note on the direction of Rosemary and Ora''s canoe. He was tailing them behind, making sure that they were getting there safely.


    In the distance, he could make out Brother Bone''s coffin. The metahuman had gone far ahead of them, beelining for the capsized island that held the Shard of Imagination. Meleko grimaced.


    If he made a scene, then they would need to keep their distance.


    But then, Meleko knew that Bone was no fool. He could not make any hasty actions, not unless they somehow came down upon his brother. He was a seasoned criminal, and such veterans worked as guerillas would, with as few mistakes as possible.


    They had limited resources here. Only four bodies, one of them completely untrained. They could not afford to reveal any weakness, any at all.


    He sensed the coffin move to the island, hang just beneath the boardwalk.


    ***


    They moved past the great islands marked and overgrown with plantlife, lit only by the dim glow of the will-o-the-wisps. Most of the inhabited islands were rightside up, forested monuments to the very best that metahumanity had to offer, with their white marble buildings infested with vines, their statues, their mossed-over mosaics.


    But the tower that held the Shard of Imagination had capsized. Half of it was fully submerged underwater. It had been identified as a laboratory of some sort, or a university. A silvered, marble tower had jutted out of the stone, out of the rest of the urban jungle, unblemished by the nature that had taken the rest of its comrades.


    Unblemished, that is, until Broon had cut a hole into its side. The Verdant Reclamation had followed his lead, cutting holes into the tower in order to open it up to the outside world, their blades enchanted to cut through whatever metahuman magic had made it eternal in the first place.


    A door had been cut near the port in order to allow for easier entry ¨C no jumping down into the darkness, as Broon and the others had done when they were here. A boardwalk had been set up by the door, and Rosemary could make out Adaya''s swan-shaped canoe. The head of the Verdant Reclamation had already gone inside, accompanied by his four silver-armored guards.


    A few soldiers were stationed outside. A few more were on the tower''s top, walking up and down its length.


    ¡°Alright,¡± she said, ¡°Here we go.¡±


    She heard Ora''s sharp intake of breath. The realization that it was time for action. The Nelnuthan waited for her lead. She had them move the canoe closer to the boardwalk. One of the guards on the planks glanced over. Made to gesture to her-


    And then he fell into the water. As did his companion. Bone''s work, the metahuman pulling the soldiers into the water. She hoped he made it quick. A quick snap of the neck.


    Part of her knew otherwise, though. Bone had suffered at the Reclamation''s hands.


    The guards on top of the tower seemed none the wiser. Rosemary and Ora maneuvered the canoe over to the boardwalk, stepping out and onto solid ground. Bone''s coffin rose out of the water, opening up like a crab in molt, and the metahuman peeled out.


    ¡°Better sink the canoe,¡± he hissed to Rosemary, ¡°Makes it too obvious that we''re here.¡±


    She nodded in agreement, moving away from the canoe as Bone lifted a hand, the coffin sinking back into the water. She heard a dull snap from the boat, and it began taking on water, sinking slowly into the murk.


    The three of them looked at each other. Then, all of them nodded.


    And headed into the tower. No guards were posted here, and much of the place looked abandoned. The labs had been drained of water, at least, and the ground was dry. They were standing on the walls of the place, with tables affixed on their left, the lamps that had once been on the ceiling now working as oddly-shaped torch sconces. Balls of glowing light, miniature moons, floating within the glass.


    ¡°No sign of Meleko,¡± Rosemary whispered.


    ¡°He''ll be around,¡± Bone said, ¡°Follow my lead.¡±


    Steps had been erected to reach the door frames, which had been widened to make it easier to walk through, now that they were on their sides, miniature microcosms of the tower itself. Some had more work put into them than others, more square than rectangular, now, the doors removed from their hinges. The lab equipment, the broken glass, had all been cleared away.


    It was like walking inside a picked-over corpse. Any sign of life had been eaten away, leaving only the skeleton.


    There were few elves here. Rosemary only saw one, a sleeping guard of some sort, as Bone guided them through the tower.


    To be safe, Bone snapped his neck with a twist of the wrist. There was a violent look on the supervillain''s face. She remembered how he had made a point not to kill anyone during his and Brain''s infiltration before, how he had ''merely'' twisted them up, kept them alive, gave Phineas a chance to restore them with his magic.


    None of that, here.


    Here was a merciless man, driven to the edge, his face taut as a line.


    Just what had happened to him, in that prison?


    They wound their way through the tower ¨C up the tower, if it had been still standing ¨C with little resistance.


    That is, until they heard footsteps and voices. They were in one of the honeycomb-shaped labs, Adonal Adaya''s voice echoing through the rooms, thin and hateful. He was barking orders to an attendant or other.


    ¡°And I want to make sure that the Shard is properly ready to go on schedule,¡± he snapped, ¡°When the hell does that damn specialist arrive?¡±


    ¡°In a week, sir,¡± his attendant said, ¡°H-He said he was delayed, it seems like there''s been a problem with his guild ID.¡±


    ¡°Damn Federation and their bureaucracy,¡± Adaya said, ¡°All they know how to do is file paperwork.¡±This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Bone traded looks with Rosemary. She nodded, and they moved off into another room, Rosemary grabbing Ora by the scruff of his cloak and pulling him with her. They hid in another room, one that did not directly lead to the observatory at the top of the tower.


    Adaya crossed over to where they had been a moment later. He was surrounded by his four guards, his attendant at his side, a scroll of paper in hand.


    ¡°Make a note to make sure the White Feather''s roster is updated,¡± he said, ¡°The sooner we do that, the sooner we can ignore all of that nonsense. I tell you, the guild system is a sham.¡±


    He sighed, rubbing his temple.


    ¡°Any news from Londoa?¡±


    ¡°Nothing recent,¡± his attendant said, ¡°Not since your conversation with the Lady Sunala over Silverfish.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Adaya said, ¡°Interesting.¡±


    There was a flatness to his voice. A suspicion. But he did not voice it. Instead, he merely moved off, into another room. Perhaps to his own private quarters. But Rosemary felt sharp relief flood through her system.


    Adaya didn''t know about Ora.


    Sunala must have sent out communication. But someone had intercepted. Someone must have intercepted. It was the only explanation. She glanced at Ora, and flashed him a smile.


    Bone brought up a hand. Flipped it up. His brow furrowed.


    ¡°They don''t have bones,¡± he said.


    ¡°W-What?¡± Ora said.


    ¡°I was curious, I didn''t sense them,¡± Bone whispered, ¡°I sense bones in my vicinity, it''s how I track to see if anyone''s getting close to me while I''m on the job.¡±


    ¡°No bones...¡± Rosemary said. A realization was coming to her. Her eyes widened, ¡°Don''t move.¡±


    They complied. Bone stood up straight, opening up a pack, small ivory shards pouring into his hand. Ora''s breath became shuddery and panicked. Rosemary put a hand on his shoulder.


    ¡°It''s alright,¡± she said, ¡°I think they''re using illusion magic.¡±


    ¡°Is Adaya a spellcaster?¡± Bone asked.


    ¡°Of some variety,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Sunala told me a bit about it, but never into much detail.¡±


    ¡°That could have been bad,¡± Bone said, and he grimaced, ¡°If we had just-¡±


    He shut up at the sound of more footsteps. One of his royal guards appeared, clad in silver armor that resembled, vaguely the wings of a swan, the helmet emblazoned with the bird''s visage. It reminded Rosemary of the way Joseph wore his eagle''s head, the bird overtaking the humanoid, though instead of a hook beak it was flat. A bit pathetic looking, if she was being honest.


    What was not pathetic was the blade the guard held in their hands. A wicked-looking, curved blade that shone like the moon, even in the dusk of the tower. It looked ancient, the handle revealing intricate, carved runes, the crossguard swirling at the tips like the neck of a loon.


    ¡°Does he have bones?¡± Rosemary asked.


    ¡°...No,¡± Bone said, ¡°An illusion.¡±


    ¡°Interesting defenses,¡± Rosemary whispered, and she grimaced, ¡°Probably activates with whoever¡¯s in the tower. Copies them, mimics their conversations, like an AI.¡±


    They moved away from the sight. Continued sneaking down through the opposite rooms. Guards were patrolling now. Or, rather, their mirages, copies created by Adaya''s magic. They couldn''t be sure if they could actually see or not, so they made sure to remain hidden. Each of the copies moved in an automated fashion, up and down the rooms, crossing and patrolling as though they had been pre-programmed.


    If they could truly see or not, these illusions did not spot the three of them as they made their way up the length of the tower. To a final room before the chamber with the statue of Iresine, with four statues that had been destroyed in the last battle of Chliofrond, complete with an energy cannon that the Verdant Reclamation had stripped from the floor and moved elsewhere.


    No, instead, there were four guards. All of them glared at the door as Bone opened it up. The same as the illusions, each of them carrying their beautiful, terrible blades, all of them armored in the semblance of the Reclamation.


    All of them were real.


    At once, Bone''s hand shot out. The four guards grunted, twisted, snapped like twigs. All four of them fell to the ground. Bone let out a ragged laugh as he stepped fully into the room, Rosemary and Ora behind him.


    ¡°That was...¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Quick.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Adaya''s voice rang, ¡°It was.¡±


    The voice came from the ceiling. From the walls. Reverbed from the floor.


    ¡°Magic,¡± Ora said, ¡°Dear lord, it''s-¡±


    ¡°A Federation investigator,¡± Adaya said, ¡°How... interesting. And two guildfolk, I presume. How did you get here?¡±


    ¡°Mum''s the word,¡± Rosemary whispered to Ora. The Nelnuthan nodded.


    ¡°No time for this,¡± Bone snapped. He strode forward, stepping over the bodies of the royal guard. His hand closed ''round the handle of the next door. It was locked.


    The metahuman cursed, pulled free shards of bone, twisted them together and started to jam it into the lock.


    ¡°A cunning trick,¡± Adaya said, ¡°My guards were loyal men. All four of them had been raised to be the perfect soldiers, the perfect elves, the perfect guardians for the most sacred of blood.¡±


    ¡°Your own,¡± Rosemary said, darkly.


    ¡°Well, I may be a faded, jaded old man,¡± Adaya said, ¡°But, yes. Tell me, do you know the weapons in their hands?¡±


    The lock would not pick. The room went cold. Rosemary put herself between the corpses and Ora.


    ¡°They''re blades,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°Ah,¡± Adaya said, ¡°I recognize you, now. The faerie.¡±


    She paled. Bone glanced back at her, his brow furrowing.


    ¡°A... faerie?¡± he said.


    ¡°That''s n-not true,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°I''m not-¡±


    ¡°Wingless freak,¡± Adaya said, and Rosemary flinched as though struck. Tears stung her eyes. Her world swam, and Ora could tell she was retreating into the past.


    ¡°They are weapons of my family,¡± Adaya continued, "Given to me by my father. They bind the wielder''s soul to the blade, so that they are one and the same. As though they were one''s arms. One''s wings. Yes, little fae, it took me a very long time to find your ancestry.¡±


    Rosemary flinched again.


    ¡°I could not measure your skull, nor the length of your fingers, nor the shape of your jaw,¡± Adaya said, ¡°I needed to use conjecture. Reach out to old contacts. I found your family on Silvere.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Rosemary said, her voice hollow, ¡°No-¡±


    ¡°Some might call it ludicrous, that I would research just one attendant in a colleague''s retinue. But you interested me, little fae.¡±


    Something in the world shifted. Death became life. For a moment, the four corpses became sheathed in ethereal glows. Like cocoons.


    Then, those glows lifted upwards. Ghosts, still holding Adaya''s ancestral weapons. Four in all.


    ¡°I... hate... ghosts,¡± Bone said. He spun.


    Ducked, as two of the ghosts stepped forward and slashed. One nearly decapitated him, the other cut deep into his side as he stumbled away, grimacing. His bone lockpick twisted into a knife as he shot it at one of them. It connected with the apparition''s stomach, forcing it back.


    The other two ran at Rosemary. She blinked.


    And then she raised her sceptre, a sphere of light enveloping her and Ora as the two ghosts brought their blades down, silver crashing against day. She pointed, and a beam of light erupting from the rose''s end, spearing through one of the ghosts, who was blown back and into the ceiling.


    Then, they dropped their sword. It spun, for a moment, to the ground, fluttering like an iron leaf. The ghost''s form dissipated into a mist, rushing towards its falling weapon, reforming just as the blade buried itself into the floor. The guard pulled it free.


    Brother Bone twisted a hand, and the four corpses still on the ground shuddered. Their skeletons pulled themselves free from their flesh, Ora''s eyes widening as the ivory-red mosaics broke away, shards of ribs and arms and legs and spines flying around the room and staining the walls red. Like the ripping gale of a sandstorm, they tore at the ghosts, ripped ectoplasm and splattered it on his fur, thundered against Rosemary''s shield, which cracked and shuddered and, at last, broke as the metahuman''s storm ceased. The room was painted red and blue and with flecks of sunlight.


    The weapons clattered to the ground.


    And the royal guard began to reform around them. Four soldiers rose up once more, apparitions of the Reclamation. Bone stepped forward, almost stumbled from the wound in his side. But he raised a hand, and the bone storm started up once more.


    Rosemary erected a shield, watching as the metahuman tore the apparitions to pieces. She and Ora only watched as the corpses of the guards were used to destroy their souls, flecks of bone and blood and other matter flying about the room. They only calmed down when there was nothing left.


    And the swords fell to the ground.


    And the royal guard began to reform around them.


    ¡°Get out of here!¡± Bone snarled, ¡°I''ll hold them off, get through! Save my brother!¡±


    She needed no further prodding. Rosemary grabbed Ora and all but pulled him with her, pointing her sceptre at the door. No time for lockpicking, she fired off a beam of light that tore the door from its hinges, throwing it into the next room.


    And they were back in the vast chamber that led to the observatory. It had once been a monument to Iresine, one of Chliofrond''s greatest figures. He was cast in marble, and at the nomadic kingdom''s height, models of the floating cities had drifted around him. Those had crashed long ago, with the city''s fall, and now lay moldering on the floor. Once, water from the freshwater sea had bled into the room, waist deep and warm. But that, too, had been drained away. They were on solid ground.


    A long ladder led to the observatory, though due to the tower''s fall, they merely had to run to it, open the door, and enter.


    They ran, hearing Bone''s shouts and screams and roars echo as he held back the four apparitions. Ora stumbled, fell, felt his knees bruise up. But Rosemary was right beside him, helping him to his feet.


    ¡°Almost there,¡± she said, ¡°Almost there.¡±


    She still could not see Adaya.


    ¨CAnd with that thought, he melted into existence. The thin elf was far faster than she realized as he bore down on her, snarling, something flashed in his hands as he swung at Rosemary, who pushed Ora out of the way.


    But he had not been aiming for the Nelnuthan. Ora hit the ground, scrabbling away as Adaya jabbed whatever he was holding into Rosemary¡¯s arm.


    And she began to scream. She crumpled, twisted into a fetal position. Three iron needles jutted from her arm, so cold that they burned, that mist welled around the wound.


    And she was screaming.


    ¡°Cold iron,¡± Adaya murmured, then, louder, over her agony, ¡°Cold iron!¡±


    He let out a vile laugh.


    And heard a click.


    Adaya turned around, stumbling a bit at the sight of Ora Sota standing up, plasma pistol in hand. All became silent. Rosemary''s screams turned into whimpers as she went into shock, still curled around her wound, still burning and freezing and dying. Ora''s hands shook as he took aim.


    ¡°Investigator,¡± Adaya said, and he composed himself, wiping his hands on his robes, standing tall, ¡°Welcome to the dead plane.¡±


    ¡°W-What did you do to her?¡± Ora said. He hated how high-pitched his voice was.


    ¡°Cold iron is anathema to the fae,¡± Adaya said, ¡°She''ll be dead soon enough, sir. There''s no need to worry about it.¡±


    ¡°Remove it,¡± Ora said.


    ¡°...Sorry?¡±


    ¡°Remove the needles,¡± Ora said.


    At that, Adaya barked out a laugh. It was strange, seeing him do so. His body didn''t look like it was designed for humor, so devoid of color, so devoid of mirth. Indeed, it sounded almost painful, his body shuddered as though he had a cold.


    ¡°Why would I ever do that?¡± he said, ¡°I am only killing a faerie. Millions of her kind die every day, just to run electricity through homes.¡±


    She was almost silent now. The shaking, the clawing, the gasping, those were dying down.


    ¡°You are of the Silver Eye,¡± Adaya said, ¡°And that means you are under the purview of the Alu''eer.¡±


    He drifted, moving so that he stood over Rosemary''s shaking form.


    ¡°I am an elf. My kind have been living in the multiverse for thousands of years. Together, our people form two kingdoms. They need not be enemies.¡±


    ¡°I...¡±


    ¡°I have friends in high places, investigator, sir,¡± Adaya said, and he moved again, away from Rosemary. He noted how Ora''s pistol traveled with him, ¡°Friends, within the Federation government. Those sympathetic to the cause of the Verdant Reclamation.¡±


    ¡°''The cause'',¡± Ora said, ¡°From what I hear, you''re a supremacist organization.¡±


    ¡°''Supremacist'' is a harsh word,¡± Adaya said, ¡°We are only creating living space for our people. Reclaiming our old glories. Our rightful place in the multiverse. Surely, you can understand.¡±


    He dipped his head forward, staring at Ora head on.


    ¡°Surely,¡± he continued, ¡°Were you in my place, and your people were being pushed back, bit by bit, day by day, by other races, other creeds, other ideas, ideas that corrupt your children, make them refuse their parents, surely you would want to do something about it?¡±


    Ora''s mouth was a thin line. His hands were still shaking. Fear was running through his entire system. He kept thinking back on the elf on the ship, the one whom he had killed, the smell of burning plasma, the hole in his stomach. This, and not Adaya''s words, were what made him hesitate.


    But Rosemary was dying. Her city would die, too, if he did nothing.


    He took aim.


    No words necessary. Ora fired at the elf. The plasma pistol rocked, the dundun sound echoed through the dark room.


    It zipped through Adaya, who sighed.


    And the illusion disappeared. He had been still standing over Rosemary''s body.


    ¡°Damn,¡± Ora said, and he turned, pointing the pistol at Adaya, who rushed forward and grabbed his wrist. With a shocking, hideous strength, Adaya twisted. Ora let out a scream as his wrist snapped, pain blossomed up and down his arm like electric shocks. Adaya lifted the Nelnuthan up by his arm so that they could see eye to eye.


    The elf''s face was contorted into a look of pure disgust. Pure hate. The apathetic mask had slipped.


    Adaya slammed Ora into the ground. Ora''s vision swam as he turned up to look up. He could see the statue of the metahuman, high above. Iresine looked... kind. Angelic, even, not at all like the stories he had read about, that his father had told him. Adaya eclipsed the marble, glaring down at Ora-


    And then a drill of light tore through him. Blood ¨C Elven blood ¨C splattered Ora''s face, stained his fur. The head of the Verdant Reclamation swayed for a second, stumbling, clutching his stomach, at the perfect hole that had been bored through him as though he were a mere plank of wood.


    And then he fell. Blood inked into his gray robes, pooled on the floor. Ora, blinking through agony, watched him breathe in once. Twice, his entire form rising and falling.


    A third time.


    And he was still.


    Rosemary held her sceptre in hand, her skin having become unhealthy and pale. The iron needles lay scattered on the ground beside her, and her breathing was shallow.


    But her eyes burned with a defiance Ora had never seen before, not in his entire life.


    ¡°H-Hurry,¡± she gasped.


    He ran to her side. Helped her to her feet. She slipped on the ground like it was ice, her entire form shaking.


    Ora heard movement behind him. He spun around to see Bone stepping through the doorway. He was bleeding from multiple slashes that the royal guard had delivered to him, but he stood, staunching the wounds and covering them with bone. He grimaced at the sight of Rosemary. Walked over and poked at the cold iron needles on the ground.


    He put two and two together.


    ¡°Well, now,¡± he said, ¡°That''s... certainly interesting.¡±


    She was avoiding the metahuman''s gaze. Something imperceptible had shifted in the way the metahuman looked at her. Ora glared at him. There was...


    Greed there, now.


    ¡°Enough,¡± he said, ¡°Your brother.¡±


    The metahuman came to. He blinked.


    ¡°Aye,¡± he said.


    ¡°The ghosts,¡± Ora said, ¡°Are they...?¡±


    ¡°Tied to their master''s magic,¡± Bone said, ¡°Or, that''s what I assume.¡±


    They looked at Adaya''s body. Now devoid of life, the elf looked thin. Small. Even pathetic, all of this bluster revealing a sick old man.


    Ora supported Rosemary, the faerie''s eyes lolling, her body shuddering in phantom pain. But she walked, nonetheless, as Ora guided her forward, wincing from his broken arm. They crossed the great chamber that held the stone relief of Iresine. His eyes seemed to follow them as they approached the capsized landing that led to the observatory.


    Rosemary was murmuring something. Ora''s ears flickered to hear her.


    ¡°C-careful,¡± she was saying, ¡°The door...¡±


    ¡°She says to be careful,¡± Ora said, ¡°Something''s wrong with the door.¡±


    Bone nodded. He opened it up, revealing the other side. The observatory was rightside up. Bone grimaced.


    ¡°I...¡± he said, ¡°That''s disturbing.¡±


    ¡°It''s almost like the other room''s center of gravity is different,¡± Ora said, ¡°I''ve seen it a few times. I-I had a colleague who used every clear a-area of his office for paperwork. Set up furniture on the ceiling and walls.¡±


    He stepped through, pulling Rosemary in with him. His stomach swam, but he was used to artificial gravity ¨C sometimes it went out back home, and he was forced to improvise ¨C and thus acclimated fine to the new room. The observatory was dominated by a great telescope in the center, pointing up towards a clear, blue sky, despite the fact that it was night outside. The place had been a study, with Silver Eye star charts, drawings of metahuman anatomy, an alembic tucked away in the corner.


    And Brother Brain. Still there. Still frozen in a pocket of time. The man who had called himself Spinlock was a large, muscular man, though most of his bulk was hidden by a great trenchcoat. He was mid-fall, having been kicked by someone into the invisible aura of the metahuman Chronilocke''s power.


    ¡°The idiot,¡± Bone said, and he smiled, ¡°The damn idiot.¡±


    ¡°Sh-Shard,¡± Rosemary whispered. She nodded, weakly, to the telescope. Ora walked over to it, glancing this way and that, then looked into the eyepiece.


    And although Chliofrond, the dead plane, was host to an empty night, there were stars on the other side.


    Bone glanced over.


    ¡°We can reveal it,¡± the metauman said, ¡°With my brother''s help.¡±


    He gestured. Brother Brain convulsed in his sphere of time, and a bead of sweat rolled down Bone''s temple as he pulled at his sibling''s skeleton, pulling him away from Chronilock''s influence. The effort took almost an eternity. Ora kept glancing back at the door, sure that at any moment someone would discover Adaya''s corpse, that they would realize intruders were in the tower.


    But no one came.


    Brother Brain was freed. The hulking metahuman stumbled back, catching himself just before he fell over. He was shaking his head.


    ¡°W-What...?¡±


    He looked around. His eyes fell on Bone.


    ¡°B-Brother,¡± he said.


    ¡°Brother,¡± Bone said.


    And the thin man embraced him.


    ¡°Oh my god, Brother,¡± Bone said, ¡°Oh my...¡±


    He wiped his eyes. Brother Brain looked confused, glancing around the room.


    ¡°Brother,¡± he said, ¡°What happened? Why is Rosemary here?¡±


    His gaze fell on Ora. The Nelnuthan quivered.


    ¡°Who is that?¡±


    ¡°That,¡± Bone said, ¡°Is a Federation investigator.¡±


    ¡°When did a Feddie get here?¡±


    ¡°It''s been...¡± Bone hesitated. His voice was slower, more careful, as he continued, ¡°It''s been several months.¡±


    ¡°Several... months?¡±


    And Brother Brain realized.


    ¡°Chronilock,¡± he said.


    ¡°One of the Amber Foundation kicked you into one of her bubbles,¡± Bone said.


    ¡°I remember steam,¡± Brain said.


    He was quiet.


    As was Bone.


    The world seemed to slow, for just a moment, as Ora''s stomach set. He realized it was his gut talking to him.


    Telling him to get out.


    ¡°Is the... job, still on?¡± Brain asked.


    Bone nodded.


    ¡°Yes, Brother,¡± he said, and he smiled, ¡°Oh, yes, it is.¡±


    ¡°W-Wait,¡± Rosemary said, and her hollow eyes widened, ¡°Wait.¡±


    ¡°Hang on,¡± Ora said, ¡°Please-¡±


    Bone spun, his powers activating, and Ora felt his entire skeleton revolt against him. He flew up like a marionette on its strings, slamming into the wall, gasping as the wind was knocked out of him. Rosemary joined him, and she let out a quiet cough, her eyes rolling into the back of her head.


    ¡°Get to work, Brother,¡± Bone said, ¡°Open the telescope. And we take what''s ours.¡±

 115. Mosaic and Myriad - Fear the Federation

    Rosemary was drifting in and out of consciousness. Ora winced, his bones working against him, rebelling against his body, holding him to the wall and keeping him there like heavy plates upon his form. Brother Bone was smiling, though it was desperate. He had not thought about betraying them like this, Ora realized, not until his sibling was free, not until he knew that Meleko wasn''t with them. He could complete his mission here, finish it after months of surviving on the fringes of the multiverse, after months of eating rats and birds on a desolate island. There was a ragged triumph in his voice as he spoke.


    ¡°Don''t worry,¡± he said, ¡°We won''t kill you.¡±


    ¡°W-We need the Shard,¡± Ora said, ¡°P-Please, have mercy.¡±


    ¡°Oh, but I give mercy,¡± Bone said, ¡°I give it.¡±


    His hand twitched. Ora felt small prickles run up and down his spine.


    ¡°One twist of my hand, and I can break every bone in your body,¡± Bone said, ¡°You''d almost deserve it, you bootlicker. But for the sake of our little alliance, I''ll let you live.¡±


    Brother Brain''s power activated, and the large man gestured at the telescope. The entire structure twisted, as though wrenched by two massive hands, and its outer shell peeled back, revealing inner workings that broke to pieces and floated away. The magnifying lenses cracked, and one shattered. The beautiful, polished bronze rings bent into unnatural shapes. Intricate pieces of machinery, small gears that were used to help adjust the lenses, were tossed away as though they were mere trash.


    And the Shard floated gently in the center of it all. Like a planetoid surrounded by a thousand artificial moons. It was small, only the size of Ora''s finger, rainbow-hued, it bobbed quietly up and down in a bubble-shaped stasis field. A simple thing.


    Yet the entire room took on its aura. Dimmed and became mosaic, a kaleidoscope reflecting on the walls, the floor, the ceiling, painted everything in soft reds and blues and greens and pinks and yellows, every color of the rainbow and beyond, even colors they did not recognize. Brain''s breath skipped. Bone''s grin widened.


    ¡°Good,¡± he said, ¡°Take it, brother. Be careful.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Brain said. He gestured to the Shard, shook it from its stupor. It floated over and stopped above the metahuman''s hand.


    At this, Brother Bone swallowed. There was a nervous edge in his voice.


    ¡°In the bag, brother,¡± he said, ¡°Be careful.¡±


    ¡°I am being careful,¡± Brother Brain said.


    He had been carrying a bag within his coat, a simple brown burlap sack, that floated free and went up to the Shard. Swallowed it up like a gulper eel. The Shard''s myriad glow dimmed, but did not disappear.


    ¡°Good,¡± Bone said, ¡°Good. Good god.¡±


    He wilted, almost crumpled. Brain steadied him with a hand on the shoulder.


    ¡°You have no idea,¡± Bone said, ¡°You have no idea, how good it is to...¡±


    He glanced over at Ora and Rosemary. And nodded.


    ¡°Right,¡± he said, ¡°Here''s how it goes down. We''re leaving. You two are on your own.¡±


    ¡°Y-You''re a bastard,¡± Ora said.


    ¡°Well, yes,¡± Brain said, ¡°We are.¡±


    ¡°Not what he meant, brother.¡±


    The two metahumans walked over to the door, Bone taking point. After a moment of glancing through the frame, he jumped through. Brain looked at each of them in turn, bag still in hand, and he lumbered through the frame.


    There was a pause.


    And then, the horrid thrumming of plasma fire. Bone let out a whine of pain. Brain roared. Shouts intermixed outside, a few angry, a few guttural and pained.


    And Bone''s hold over Ora and Rosemary released. The two of them fell to the ground. The Nelnuthan winced in pain as he rose to his feet, his entire body aching phantoms as he stumbled over to Rosemary''s side. She was facedown, so he turned her over.


    ¡°Rosemary,¡± he said, ¡°Rosemary, are you...?¡±


    She groaned. Opened her eyes.


    ¡°This...¡± she murmured, ¡°S-Sucks.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m inclined to a-agree,¡± Ora said, and he turned nervously at the door. Through the open frame, he could make out the rest of the tower, still lopsided from here. Bone and Brain were taking cover behind one of the islands, Brain snarling and throwing debris at a squad of elves ¨C evidently they had been discovered. He could also hear the dundun of Meleko. His plasma rifle.


    So he had been waiting for the double-cross. Smart.


    ¡°Rosemary,¡± Ora said, ¡°C-Can you walk?¡±


    The elf ¨C no, the faerie ¨C rose, clutching the arm that Adaya had run through with the cold iron needles. She gritted her teeth, almost fell, caught herself on the wall, stood up tall. And it looked like it took everything in her power to remain that way. Her eyes were burning as she looked at Ora.


    ¡°Support me,¡± she said.


    Ora complied. His wrist, still twisted and broken, throbbed as he took her injured arm, throwing it over his shoulder. She winced, seemed to swim and ripple, before she regained control of herself. She held her sceptre in her good hand, and together the two of them went towards the door.


    ***


    Meleko was in a good position, having climbed up the great statue of Iresine, memories flooding his mind of the last time he was here, of Heyma standing up here like a hawk prepared to dive upon its prey. He held his rifle in hand, his mouth a thin line, as he fired upon the elves below.


    They had been discovered. There must have been an alarm that went off in the event of Adaya''s death, some magical charm or other. He had never been good with magic. The head of the Verdant Reclamation lay still on the floor, in a pool of his own blood. Good.


    But now elves swarmed the tower, weapons drawn. Even now, they were pouring through the door.


    As Meleko had suspected, the Brothers Corpo had double crossed them. When they had stepped out of the room, alone, Meleko had realized that the worst had happened. He had two regrets.


    The first, was that Rosemary and Ora were likely dead, or gravely injured. Meleko recalled how Ichabod and Dama Runebreaker had been twisted by Brother Bone, their bodies crumpling in on themselves like tin cans. He would need a magical healer. If he could get out, at all.


    The second regret was that he had not landed a killing shot on Bone. He knew this in the way that Brain had dragged his sibling into cover, by the way that any elves who got close to the island they were taking cover behind twisted up in a series of sickly snaps.


    He was tempted to continue firing at them from his position, having taken up post on Iresine''s right shoulder. But a few of the elves were pointing at his position. One of them chanted words that rang through the hall, and she changed form into that of a massive spider, easily the size of a car. She leaped up, caught onto his torso, scrabbled up.


    Meleko swiveled, took aim. Fired.


    His aim was true. A plasma bolt seared through the elf-spider''s head, burning a hole the size of a fist between eight eyes. She fell, lifeless, shifting back to her Elven form as she splattered on the ground-


    Movement to his left. The spider had been a distraction. Now an elf was on him, blade in hand, a curved thing that he swung at Meleko, who deflected the strike with the length of his rifle. He pulled in close, leg rising and cracking against the side of the elf''s knee. The elf stumbled, lost his stance. Meleko swung the butt of his rifle into his head, and his unconscious form slid off the statue.


    Below, a few of the elves were pointing at the island Bone and Brain were hiding out in.


    ¡°Metahuman!¡± one of them snarled, ¡°Two!¡±


    They took note of the area of influence, the edge of the field of the Brothers'' powers, at the crumpled forms of their comrades. A few of them let loose a few arrows, which stopped in midair, Brain''s telekinetic power overtaking their natural velocities. A few more unleashed spells, bolts of lightning and balls of fire, and Brain raised a hand, one of the nearby islands lifting at his command. The metahuman strained, and threw the stone orb at the assailants. Elves were crushed as it rolled like a great marble across the hall, crashing against the wall.


    Meleko was having trouble of his own. More elves were coming up on him now. A few were firing arrows from below, too. They whizzed over the Jugdran''s head as he ducked down, shouldering his rifle and pulling out his pistol. He fired a few shots to keep the chasers at bay, stumbling further up Iresine''s form, grabbing onto an ear, hoisting himself onto the stone statue''s curly hair.


    He could see, far below, Rosemary and Ora pushing themselves out of the room. Good. They were alive.


    The Brothers Corpo were exposed. She pointed her sceptre at them.


    And let out a ragged scream.


    The beam of light that erupted from the rose''s tip burned like the sun. It was more light than he had ever seen her produce, a full-on deluge that ripped towards the Brothers. Bone grimaced, hitting the ground. Brain''s arm twisted, and the pockmarked island cover lifted, turned, spun just in time to act as a shield-


    No, the light drilled right through, the island doing nothing more than a simple roadblock, its debris tanking the worst of the flare as it swept the metahumans aside. It carved through the elves, too, burning them away, scattering the attacking force.


    And the sceptre''s light dimmed. Out of juice. But it was enough to get the Brothers away from the doorway, taking cover further down in the hall.


    ***


    And Rosemary looked down at her sceptre.


    And noted another small, hairline crack.


    ***


    One of the elves was a sorcerer of some magnitude. She took note of the beams of light, at the influence that Brain had over the environment. Her hands shook as she raised them upwards, chanting quietly. Meleko took note, took aim-


    And an elf took the opportunity to leap up onto the head and slash at him. The blade cut deep into the Jugdran''s leg, and he grunted, falling onto his back, twisting around, firing off two rounds into the elf''s chest. He fired a few more shots at the next elf just as they cleared Iresine''s head. They ducked down, the bolts sailing over them. A standoff. But it was enough time for Meleko to glance down.


    And see the sorcerer summon something. The room''s temperature went down. Meleko could suddenly see his breath, foggy and mist-like. A gargantuan ice elemental realized into the tower, lumbering and built like a fortress, with pillar-like legs and a second pair of arms supporting its great bulk. Its torso was misshapen. It possessed no head. But its very presence made the world winter. Ice began collecting on the walls. Snow began to fall from the ceiling.


    ¡°Brother!¡± Bone called out, ¡°Kill it! Kill it!¡±


    Brain nodded. The elves that were attacking them were merely staring up in awe at the sight of the elemental, so the metahuman took the opportunity to shake them from their stupor. One of the larger islands lifted ¨C one that depicted the Silver Tower itself ¨C and, straining, Brain threw it at the elemental.


    Stone broke against ice. Fell to the ground, frosted over.


    ¡°...Oh,¡± Brain said.


    The elemental lifted a finger-less hand, more of a club than anything. It brushed up against the ceiling.


    And then brought it down. The two Brothers scattered, leaping to opposite sides. Spikes of frost erupted from the impact site, dry ice stalagmites that nearly speared Brain through as he telekinetically threw himself into the air to avoid the worst of it. Frost covered his form as he landed. A few elves were on him, swinging weapons. Only one struck true, an errant spear thrust that scraped across his arm. The rest he threw away, along with their owners.


    Bone was not as lucky. Already injured, already frail, the thin metahuman gasped as one of the faster elves bore down on him, swinging her blade. It buried itself deep in his side as he pointed at her, her head exploding as her skull betrayed her. But the damage was done. The others kept their distance as he rose to his feet, twisting away some of the elf''s skeleton and covering up his wound in a poor attempt at a bandage.


    ¡°B-Brother!¡± Bone said, ¡°The elemental!¡±


    The ice elemental was rearing up again, slow as a continent, powerful as a blizzard. Brain''s mind raced. It would be over. Bone was injured. Brain was, too, but not so much that he was immobilized. He knew that his brother was operating and moving only through his metahuman power alone. A plasma bolt had seared through his leg. A rent had opened near his ribs.


    The elemental was boring down.


    ¡°No choice, then,¡± Brain said.


    For a moment, he hesitated.


    Then, he reached down into the burlap bag. His trembling hands closed over the Shard of Imagination. He lifted it up. Felt power suffuse through him. His blood was mosaic. His eyes glowed myriad.


    Mosaic and myriad.


    All was possible in the world. All was conceivable. Reality was a never ending flow of ideas that coalesced into storms, which birthed planes, which birthed land, which birthed people in a million forms, and a trillion thoughts whirled in their heads, and thoughts begat ideas, which coalesced into storms which birthed planes which birthed land which birthed people in a million forms.


    Ideas into storms.


    Storms into planes.


    Planes into land into people into ideas into storms into planes into land into people into-


    And-


    ***


    Ora stumbled back. Rosemary held him close, still pointing her depleted sceptre at the hulking form of the elemental. But both of them watched as Brother Brain held the Shard of Imagination in hand, a hand which cracked like dried clay as he brought it aloft. It shone like a multicolored star, drinking in his metahumanity, and then-


    His power increased. Ora and Rosemary felt themselves begin floating, gently, into the air. As did all of the elves. Meleko, too, along with his assailants. The ice elemental. Bone. The stone islands took to the air once more. Everything that was not bolted down was relieved of gravity.


    ¡­No.


    Everything that was not bolted down was being lifted. By Brother Brain. The metahuman floated, too, and everything began to circle around him. As though he were a planet. His eyes glowed, burned like rainbow suns.


    The elemental floated into his view. Like an automaton, his head snapped to consider it. He found its owner, the sorcerer. She was muttering to herself, a spell on her lips.


    And her mouth shut. And would not open.


    And then she began to break. As though a great hand was holding her. Brain''s hand, the one that was not holding the Shard, tightened into a fist, his fingernails digging deep, iridescent blood dripping from his palm.


    The sorcerer collapsed in on herself. Ora averted her eyes, tried not to think about the disgusting squelch he heard as the elf was crushed into gooey bits.


    But the elemental did not dispel.


    A few of the other magic-users began to throw spells at Brain. But they froze in midair, suspended by his telekinetic powers. Frozen bolts of lightning. Free-floating gouts of flame. They coalesced together, merged into a ball, were squeezed like oranges until they leaked away their elemental aspects, leaving behind pure magic.


    Magic that Brain threw at the elemental. Seared a hole through its torso, seared a hole through the wall of the tower, which exploded as the magic, acid-like and nightmarish, splattered out into the outside world. Water deluged in.


    And Brain released his hold on the world. Ora and Rosemary fell into the water. As did Meleko, who twisted, cutting into the freshwater sea that now leaked into the tower. Elves were scrambling beneath the surface.


    Some did not know how to swim.


    ¡°Brain!¡± Bone cried out, ¡°Brother!¡±


    He had pulled free several skeletons from their owners, designed a bloody raft to stay afloat.


    ¡°Brother!¡± he yelled, again.


    But Brain did not respond. Could not respond. His mind was in another world, as the islands continued floating around him, as elves continued to die.


    Meleko, despite his injured leg, swam quickly. He made it over to Ora and Rosemary''s side, looping his arms around them to keep their heads above water. Rosemary was nearly unconscious, shaking, horribly cold to the touch. Ora was wincing, but after a moment he could keep his head above on his own. Meleko let him go.


    ¡°W-Where to?¡± Ora said.


    ¡°Follow me!¡± Meleko said, ¡°Out of here!¡±


    He began to swim towards the hole that Brain had made, one arm wrapped around Rosemary, one helping him paddle. It was slow going. Elves were still struggling around them, some of them grabbing onto their comrades to keep afloat, inadvertently pulling them down. The sea itself was seizing and twisting.


    But, somehow, they made it out of the tower, moved towards the docks, where galleons were moored, elves watching the side of the tower. More of it was breaking apart, shattered loose from Brain''s power. Through it all, somehow, they could hear Bone''s calls to his brother.


    ¡°Pierre!¡± he was screaming, ¡°Pierre! That''s enough!¡±If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    A few of the galleons lifted into the sky, came crashing down. One capsized. Meleko swam towards one of the canoes. Watched as the one beside it flew up into the air.


    A plan was forming in his head. He threw Rosemary onto the boat, jumped on himself. He turned, grabbing Ora-


    Whose legs levitated up as though he were in zero-g. Meleko grabbed hold of his arms, and pulled him forward. They were right on the edge of Brain''s vastly increased influence, and the Nelnuthan crashed down into the Jugdran''s arms.


    But already the metahuman was moving out of the tower.


    Meleko grabbed an oar, pushed off the pier, and began to row.


    ¡°Help me!¡± he roared.


    Ora grabbed the other oar, wincing at his broken wrist. He could only awkwardly fiddle at the water. Meleko did most of the work.


    Or, rather, the sea did. It was convulsing, undulating as Brain moved high above. His every heartbeat reverbed into the water, cast out circular waves. Good. It was moving them away from the tower.


    Towards the Traveling Point.


    Ships lifted high into the air. Elves were cast upwards, and were crushed into piles of blood and powdery bone. Trees tore free from their roots. Buildings were sent skyward. They were just barely on the edge of his influence, Meleko reasoned. Just barely pushed forward, just enough to not be torn apart.


    Bone followed his brother. Still crying out. By now Brain''s entire body was glowing, deep cracks running along his body as though he were a fractured porcelain doll.


    The Shard always had a price that had to be paid. Sometimes it was bad luck after using its power. Sometimes it was the sacrifice of those whom one loved.


    Sometimes it was more straightforward, like now, and it claimed the life of its wielder.


    Brother Brain, Pierre, was not long for the world. And perhaps he realized that, as Bone was lifted into the air, boat and all, and sent careening through the air. He disappeared into the Traveling Point, which rippled as it took him in.


    There was Meleko''s target. He guided the canoe as best he could towards the shiver in the sky. The world lifted and fell around him. The seas convulsed.


    They were right below it now. Meleko stopped the canoe.


    And Brain''s power lifted it, unbidden, into the air.


    One moment Chliofrond was screaming around them, the next they were flying through the rainbow world between worlds.


    Then they were falling towards the sea of Redenia.


    Ora screamed. Meleko grimaced.


    And then they were caught by the wind, which formed like a hand around the boat, holding it aloft. Far below, Meleko saw the form of Zad, the Guttersnipe''s Engine Mage. A wind spell, probably unstoppered from one of his beakers. Like a gentle caress, it began to carry them down from the Traveling Point.


    Orvisan was stepping out onto the beach now, glancing up. As did a few crewmembers.


    In the distance, also traveling down, was Bone. He was sobbing horribly, and he lost his grip on his powers at the last moment, crashing into the beach''s shallows, the waves carrying him to shore.


    Perhaps that was payment enough for his betrayal. Meleko ignored him. Ora did, too, following the Jugdran''s lead.


    Their canoe landed. Zad ran over to it.


    ¡°How injured?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Rosemary,¡± Meleko said, ¡°She got hit by...¡±


    He looked askance at Ora. The Nelnuthan grimaced, debating on what to say. Rosemary had looked shocked when Adaya had revealed her to be a faerie. And she had called herself an elf this whole time...


    ¡°I need to know, lad,¡± Zad said, ¡°So will the medical mages.¡±


    ¡°Cold iron,¡± Ora said.


    The Engine Mage put two and two together. He nodded. A few of the crew ran out to the beach with a stretcher, which they loaded Rosemary onto. As Ora stepped out, Zad looked down at his wrist.


    ¡°You, too,¡± he said, ¡°Same with you, Jugdran. All of you, into the infirmary.¡±


    ¡°What about Bone?¡± Ora asked.


    He glanced over at the metahuman. He had not moved from his own makeshift boat. His ragged sobs, haunting and hollow, echoed up and down the beach.


    ¡°Leave him,¡± Meleko grunted, ¡°His brother made his bed.¡±


    One of the crew helped Ora out of the Traveling Point. He looked at Orvisan.


    ¡°Get ready,¡± he said, ¡°I need to make a few calls.¡±


    ***


    His wrist was a quick fix. A magic spell. Whispered words, so quiet that his ears flickered and strained to hear it all. And his bones reknit themselves together. The pain still throbbed, but it became dull. Besides, pain had become Ora''s friend, these last few days. He sighed as he rubbed his wrist, making his way back to his, Meleko, and Rosemary''s room. Both of them were still in the medical wing of the ship. Meleko was on the mend.


    Rosemary would need something more. The thought worried Ora. But he could not think of that now. The Shard of Imagination would still be in Chliofrond. He had seen it with his own eyes, glowing and beautiful and overwhelming.


    Dangerous, above all else. He took a deep breath, and flicked his communicator on. By now the sun was rising on the distant horizon, and he had to rub his eyes to stay awake.


    Arthrux Drif''s voice came tinny through the communicator.


    ¡°This is Lieutenant Commander Arthrux Drif of the New Home¡¯s Comfort,¡± he said, ¡°This is... the investigator?¡±


    ¡°It is,¡± Ora said, ¡°Please send word: confirmation of a Shard of Imagination on the dead plane. I''m sending you the coordinates to the Traveling Point.¡±


    There was silence on the line for a few moments.


    ¡°Affirmative,¡± Drif said, ¡°You''re lucky. There''s a Traveling Point nearby that we can piggyback off of using a Silverfish. Attempting contact with the Department of Multiversal Irregularities.¡±


    Ora nodded. Leaned back.


    ¡°This will take a few hours,¡± Drif said, ¡°I''ll contact you when I get a response.¡±


    ¡°Y-Yes,¡± Ora said, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    The line disconnected. A primal part of Ora took over, forced him to get up from the desk and walk to the bed. He was asleep as soon as he closed his eyes.


    ***


    The filibuster was still on. As it had been for the last few sessions. Lord Rithmound had not ceded the floor. Instead, every day, he would walk into the room, open up a new book, and begin reading.


    And then Martin Gondoro had forbidden bringing in books from outside the chamber. So he instead recited anything that came to mind. What he had eaten for breakfast. Poems he had memorized. The usual day to day of his life. Random speeches and philosophical musings.


    Anything to waste time. For ten hours a day. Each session. He had taken to not speaking at all at home, to let his voice rest. Isaac could see that the endless talking was getting to his father. He drank warm tea with honey to help soothe his throat. He ate comfort foods, foods that Isaac had not seen him eat since he was a child, mashed potatoes, eggs, pastas with light alfredo.


    And now they were at the Grand Commons once more. Martin Gondoro was rubbing his temples, and he let out a heavy sigh at the sight of Rithmound, having already risen. Only half of the audience had arrived today. Only the most important members of each House of the Minor Tribunal were in attendance.


    ¡°...Continue, Lord Rithmound,¡± Gondoro said.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Rithmound said, ¡°I think it''s time I turned my attention to something most fascinating, recently, a development that''s been affecting that most powerful of nations, the High Federation of the Silver Eye.¡±


    ***


    Someone knocked on the door. Ora''s eyes widened at once. His heart hammered.


    When he rose, he found he could not remember the dream he had just been having, save that it was filled with screams. He stumbled to the door, opened it up. Meleko was there, his leg freshly healed.


    ¡°Rosemary''s awake,¡± he said, ¡°Did you want to see her?¡±


    ¡°I-I do,¡± Ora said. He ran to the table, took a look at his communicator. Still no response from Drif. Yet. He took it, just in case, and followed Meleko down the halls of the Guttersnipe and into the medical bay. Rosemary was tucked into a bed there, and despite the muggy warmth of the room, she was wrapped in blankets, with two pillows tucked beneath her head. A cloth had been placed on her forehead. She turned, smiled at Ora and Meleko as they walked in.


    ¡°Hey,¡± she said, and her voice was a whisper.


    ¡°H-Hello,¡± Ora said.


    ¡°We did it.¡±


    They had. That realization sunk into Ora for the first time. Relief, all at once, flooded into his system.


    ¡°By the First Men, we did,¡± he said, and he let out a laugh, ¡°We did.¡±


    He stumbled, almost fell. Meleko caught him.


    ¡°Woah there, big guy,¡± Meleko said. He was grinning, too, ¡°Here, why don''t you have a seat.¡±


    ¡°Y-Yes,¡± Ora said.


    ¡°What happened?¡± Rosemary said, ¡°The last thing I remember, we were falling into water.¡±


    Meleko''s smile disappeared.


    ¡°Brain used the Shard of Imagination. Went nuts with it.¡±


    Rosemary nodded.


    ¡°I see,¡± she said, ¡°Is he...?¡±


    ¡°Dead, most likely,¡± Meleko said, ¡°I think Brother Bone''s still on that beach, crying his eyes out over it.¡±


    He all but glared at the wall, as though he could see the metahuman from inside the ship.


    ¡°Serves him right.¡±


    ¡°D-Don''t say it like that,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°It was...¡±


    But she couldn''t say much else. For part of her agreed with her guildmate. Ora, for his part, leaned back. His ear flickered.


    ¡°It''s over now,¡± he said, ¡°I suppose that''s what matters.¡±


    And at that moment, the communicator rang to life. Buzzed in his hands.


    ***


    ¡°The Federation,¡± Rithmound said, ¡°Let us savor the word for a moment, yes?¡±


    He paused. Just long enough for time to be wasted, but not enough for Gondoro to speak up.


    ¡°The apparent strongman of the multiverse. If they so wished, they could come here tomorrow and take Scuttleway in five minutes. We all saw that great globe ship that floated in a few months back, didn''t we? I''ve heard stories of what those can do. And it isn''t pretty.¡±


    He shook his head.


    ¡°No, it is not.¡±


    ***


    ¡°Lieutenant Commander Drif,¡± Ora said, ¡°Good to hear from you.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Drif said, ¡°I''m enroute to retrieve you, investigator, as well as anyone else who wants to leave Redenia.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Ora said, ¡°My superiors, did they...?¡±


    At that, Drif was quiet.


    Then, he spoke up.


    ¡°Actually, this went up the grapevine a bit,¡± he said, ¡°Your notification went up to the Director.¡±


    Ora''s blood ran cold. Grand Director Voropline Muandana. He had only seen pictures of her.


    ¡°She wants to talk to you,¡± Drif said, ¡°Via Silverfish. I can connect you two now, if you wish...?¡±


    ¡°Y-Yes,¡± Ora said, ¡°The sooner, the better.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Drif said, ¡°Dropping off the line now.¡±


    There was another moment''s pause. Rosemary and Meleko were looking at him. Ora gave them a weak smile.


    ¡°My boss,¡± he said.


    ¡°Gotta stand tall,¡± Meleko said, ¡°Trust me, I know the feeling. One time, after a bad job on Prime, the guildmaster took me aside and-¡±


    The communicator beeped. The Jugdran shut up.


    ¡°Investigator Ora Sota,¡± a woman''s voice came through. Director Muandana was a plant-based being, Ora knew, and he could imagine her speaking to him, flytrap-like mouth opening and closing, forming words in her own language that was translated by the machine she carried with her at all times, ¡°I hope you''re alright.¡±


    ¡°A-As f-fine as I can be, Director,¡± Ora said.


    ¡°Oh, calm down, my boy,¡± Muandana said, ¡°This is not a reprimand. I just want confirmation from you. Verbal. For the record.¡±


    There was an... oddity, to her voice. Her translator was good at picking up the subtleties of her question. Ora sighed. Nodded.


    ¡°Yes,¡± he said, ¡°There was a Shard of Imagination.¡±


    ¡°And where is it now?¡±


    ¡°A...¡± Ora glanced at Rosemary and Meleko. They nodded.


    ¡°A rogue metahuman had it in hand,¡± Ora said.


    ¡°A Mutt?¡± the Director said, ¡°Did they take it off-plane?¡±


    Rosemary winced.


    ¡°No,¡± Ora said, ¡°It''s still there.¡±


    ¡°What is the detail of the plane, investigator?¡±


    ¡°It''s...¡± Ora grimaced, ¡°It''s a dead plane. Metahuman ruins. Overgrown islands.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± the Director said, ¡°Very well, I suppose it can''t be helped then. Tainted by the Mutts, like all the rest of them.¡±


    There was a pause, and he could hear her tapping on a holo-keyboard.


    ¡°It will all have to go.¡±


    ***


    ¡°My point on the Federation is this, ladies and gentlemen,¡± Rithmound said, ¡°They represent a facet of the multiverse that cannot be ignored. They have been here for thousands of years, and will be here for thousands of years after. They are a core pillar of reality. So, what do we do with them? How do we interact with them?


    ¡°Well,¡± he smiled, ¡°When there''s rumors of a lion in the jungle, one takes the proper precautions, yes?¡±


    The crowd stirred.


    ¡°Yes, I am precisely suggesting that,¡± Rithmound said, to the unanswered questions, ¡°In order to survive in the multiverse, one must make sure they toe the line. The Federation is a sleeping lion, one that, when awakened, is a dangerous beast. Entire planes have been annihilated on one of their rampages. So what do we do with that?


    ¡°Why, we learn about them. Learn what makes them angry, and avoid doing those things. Find the proper trade routes into their lands. The Silver Eye is home to millions of worlds. Worlds, like Londoa. It''s a remarkable business opportunity.


    ¡°If one learns to play the rules, of course.¡±


    ***


    ¡°Have to go?¡± Ora said, ¡°W-What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°The plane, dear boy,¡± the Director said, ¡°The dead one. A graveyard for Mutts, yes? With a Shard of Imagination?¡±


    The translator picked up the disgust in her voice.


    ¡°Why, all of it must be wiped clean,¡± she said, ¡°Let it spin as glass for a few thousand years. That should clean it of the rot.¡±


    ¡°It''s not r-rotting,¡± Ora said, ¡°It''s a place overgrown. Forests. Trees. Gardens. Plants from across the multiverse. S-Some of them-¡±


    ¡°Yes, investigator?¡±


    ¡°Some of them m-might,¡± Ora''s mind was racing. Rosemary and Meleko were staring at him. Rosemary was almost pleading. Meleko''s expression was slowly becoming resigned.


    ¡°Some of them?¡± Director Muandana said, ¡°Mr. Sota?¡±


    ¡°Some of them might be endangered,¡± Ora said, ¡°They''re rare plants, held in time, I believe, by-¡±


    ¡°By the power of dogs, investigator,¡± the Director said, ¡°This the first time you''ve worked with metahumans before?¡±


    ¡°Y-Yes,¡± Ora said.


    ¡°Then listen well, as a bit of advice,¡± the Director said, ¡°Metahumans are a dangerous element in the multiverse. Every ruin they leave behind is corrupt, an example of their spread across reality. Given the chance, they would overtake us all.¡±


    ¡°I-I-¡±


    ¡°The best thing to do, when they''re involved with this sort of... contamination,¡± the Director thought on the word, ¡°Yes, contamination. That''s the right word for it. When they use the Shards of Imagination, they leave the plane more dangerous than it was before.¡±


    ¡°Director-¡±


    ¡°The only thing to do is to wipe the slate clean,¡± the Director said, ¡°And that''s what we''re going to do.¡±


    ***


    ¡°What I recommend, as our policy,¡± Rithmound said, ¡°With the High Federation, is what we have always done. We''re on a teetering balance, here in Scuttleway. We are at a point where...¡±


    He glanced around the room. Good. The audience was the locals. Most of the ambassadors, the dignitaries from other parts of Londoa, had failed to appear for today''s session.


    ¡°We''re at the point where we''re at the edge of a technological breakthrough,¡± Rithmound said, ¡°More airships are bought and reverse-engineered by our city every month. My own personal fleet travels across the breadth of the plane nowadays. I''ve downsized my traditional caravans significantly. We''re on the cusp of a zeitgeist.


    ¡°So, therefore, we must be careful,¡± Rithmound said, ¡°With the technologies we produce. What we bring in from other planes. Nothing major. Nothing that will upset the Federation.¡±


    To this, he looked pointedly at the Lady Sunala, across the way. She glared at him. Scratched at the stump of her missing hand.


    ***


    ¡°Director,¡± Ora said, ¡°That isn''t necessary, is it?¡±


    ¡°It is,¡± Muandana said, ¡°The New Home¡¯s Comfort is en-route, is it not?¡±


    Ora was quiet. His stomach was twisting itself into knots.


    ¡°Well,¡± Muandana said, ¡°It will pick you up. Take you where you need to go. I hear that you''ve hired a few of the natives to help you, yes? You can drop them off at their old tribal lands, then.¡±


    ¡°They''re not, ah, tribal-¡±


    ¡°Once that''s done, you''re free to go home,¡± Muandana said, ¡°But before any of that, the New Home¡¯s Comfort is to glass as much of the metahuman plane as it is able.¡±


    Rosemary, somehow, went even paler. Meleko began polishing his rifle, glaring at the ground.


    ¡°It''s... it''s...¡± Ora said, ¡°It has a glassmaker?¡±


    ¡°A modified one, weaker than the usual make,¡± Muandana said, ¡°But it should be sufficient. The plane, is it a large one?¡±


    Ora hesitated.


    ¡°Investigator?¡±


    ¡°It is not,¡± he murmured.


    ¡°Well, good, then,¡± Muandana said, ¡°It''s decided, then. The New Home¡¯s Comfort will glass the metahuman plane. Then, it will drop you and the hired muscle wherever you wish.¡±


    ¡°...Yes, Director.¡±


    ¡°Is there anything else I need to know?¡±


    ¡°No, Director.¡±


    ¡°Ah, good,¡± Muandana said, ¡°Now, if you will excuse me, I''ve a mountain of paperwork still to do. You''ll be well rewarded for this find, Mr. Sota. Expect a sizable bonus in your next paycheck. You''ve done the multiverse a service.¡±


    And she disconnected. Drif''s voice came in.


    ¡°We''ll be there in about half an hour,¡± he said, ¡°Do be ready for us.¡±


    ¡°...Yes,¡± Ora said, ¡°Take... take your time.¡±


    ***


    ¡°Fear the Federation,¡± Rithmound said, ¡°Fear the bear. Fear the lion. But know how they live. Know what makes them upset, or angry. Know what they will allow. And we shall prosper.¡±


    ***


    They were quiet as the Shrikeling came into view, heralding the end of the morning and the beginning of afternoon. The great, globular ship hovered over the beach, easily twice the island''s size. It covered all of them in its shadow. Meleko stepped out, squinted as he looked up at it, as it eclipsed the midday sun.


    A few shuttles were brought down to collect them. Then, upon realizing there was an entire airship to be taken, cables unlatched from the starship and grappled onto the Guttersnipe. It lifted it, hull and all, up into one of its hangars. The small caravel was dwarfed by the Fedtek giant. It fit snugly inside.


    Ora noted Bone, glaring up at the starship, disappear into the treeline. No one commented on this. No one, not even the Federation crew, searched for him. No, when everyone was accounted for, the New Home¡¯s Comfort took off.


    Towards the Traveling Point.


    Drif called up Ora up to the bridge. Meleko, always the guardian, joined him.


    ¡°I thought you might want to see this,¡± the Lieutenant Commander said, ¡°It''s going to be quite the light show.¡±


    Light show. As if it were nothing but mere fireworks.


    No, there was life there, as the Shrikeling arrived on Chliofrond. Brother Brain''s power had wreaked havoc on the elves there. Their ships were destroyed. Many still bobbed dead in the water. The survivors clung to the islands, attending to the wounded, mourning the drowned and the lost.


    And the Shrikeling hung above them.


    Rosemary''s eyes widened. She was down in the medical wing. She rose.


    ¡°Ah, ah,¡± the medical mage said, ¡°Don''t get up.¡±


    ¡°They''re doing it,¡± Rosemary whispered, ¡°They''re really doing it. Becenti''s going to be so upset. Oh my god, they''re doing it.¡±


    On the bridge, the weapons op flicked a few switches, pressed a few buttons. Wrote override codes into the console.


    ¡°Glassmaker is primed, sir,¡± he said, ¡°Ready to fire on your command.¡±


    Drif nodded. His hands were behind his back, and he looked all like the professional soldier, like the stories that Ora had been raised on, that his father had told him until the wee hours of the morning.


    ¡°Open fire,¡± Drif said, and his voice was far too casual.


    ...And the Shrikeling opened up, metal molting, weapons appearing from its walls, the entire shell morphed into a weapons platform bristling with plasma cannons, anti-air artillery mounts, and a long, thin rod.


    The glassmaker. It extended from the ship like a proboscis.


    Then, it powered up. A strange, thrumming sound came from Ora''s feet as energy collected into the glassmaker''s base. He could imagine the elves below watching in horror as the light from the glassmaker overtook the sun''s. Daytime came from the Federation, now.


    And the weapon fired its first volley, beams of light coming down like rain. Screams were drowned out by explosions, by loud bangs that Ora, even inside the Shrikeling, could hear. Steam rose where superheated plasma struck the water. Rocks were made molten. Flesh was seared, bubbled, melted away. Skeletons caught aflame. Armor fused to their owners.


    The second shot came down.


    The third.


    Most of the water steamed around them. The freshwater sea was evaporating. The trees died. One of the islands went up in flames.


    The fourth shot struck where Brother Brain''s body must have been, still holding the Shard of Imagination, for it exploded in a miasma of rainbows.


    And, with it destroyed, Chronilock''s powers deactivated.


    Time began to move on Chliofrond once more. Some of the islands began to sink into the quickly-disappearing sea.


    ¡°Faster,¡± Drif said, ¡°Let''s get this over with.¡±


    ¡°Increasing intensity,¡± the weapons op said.


    And, indeed, the glassmaker began to fire so quickly that it almost seemed to stream out a beam. Chliofrond burned, and froze, and receded, and broke in certain parts, and melted in others. Plasma heaped up on the islands and began to cool into mounds. Give it a few months, and they would take on a glass-like, ashen quality.


    And the glassmaker kept firing.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    It took hours. Ora could not keep watching. He eventually excused himself, his stomach boiling. He and Meleko went back down to the hangar, to the Guttersnipe and Rosemary. The entire crew was quiet. Rosemary was pale-faced. She nodded to Meleko as he walked into the room.


    ¡°...It''s almost done,¡± the Jugdran said, ¡°Another hour, I think.¡±


    And they said nothing else. Meleko sat down at a chair by Rosemary''s bed. Ora put his back to the wall. Slid down, tucked his knees to his chest. His arms gripped his legs.


    He started to rock himself.


    Outside, even through the walls of wood, the walls of Fedtek metal, they heard the explosions. The thrum of plasma fire, as the Shrikeling unleashed the rest of its weapons platform on Chliofrond.


    The only recourse was time. And, eventually, thankfully, miraculously, the explosions ceased. Ora knew that all that was outside was molten glass. Ash. Fire.


    Death.


    The Shrikeling lurched, and moved away. Out of the newly created wastelands. The dead plane was truly dead.


    Ora looked up at Rosemary.


    ¡°...They hate you, you know,¡± he said.


    The New Home¡¯s Comfort entered the Traveling Point. Rainbows surrounded the Shrikeling, that energy known as Imagination.


    ¡°They hate all of it,¡± Ora said, ¡°The metahumans. The elves. The multiverse. All of it. They don''t understand it. They would rather it had never existed at all.¡±


    Rosemary opened her mouth to say something, but stopped. She settled back into the bed, covered her face with a blanket.


    Ora said nothing else on the journey back to Londoa.

 116. The Open Hand and the Iron Rod

    Isaac Rithmound was drinking tea with his father late in the night. They were in his study, having retreated there after supper to hammer at paperwork, last minute negotiations, to read books for the morning''s filibuster. It had gotten to the point where Gondoro had been calling a session every day, in hopes of exhausting Lord Rithmound''s wit and improvisation.


    So far, just barely, they had held. And now Lord Rithmound sat sipping at tea with honey to soothe his throat. He had spent ten hours speaking non-stop. And Isaac could tell it was starting to get to his father. When he spoke, it was with a pronounced rasp. No doubt after this election was over, he would need to rest his voice for a long while.


    And yet, with the election dragging on for so long, it was starting to bleed into the Golden Round. The city waited with bated breath for the election of the new Doge, but decorations were starting to be strung up, statues were being painted gold, merchants from other parts of the Landmass were starting to funnel in and sell their wares.


    A Doge without a Round was an anomaly. Something would have to give soon.


    Isaac sipped at his tea. Looked at his father. Lord Bryce Rithmound was reading a book, and, in a rare moment of comfort, was leaning back in his chair, his dark eyes shimmering as he read. Isaac looked at the cover.


    ¡°''The Wedding of Rosharin''?¡± he said, ¡°A romance?¡±


    His father looked up at him, flashed a quick smile, then returned to reading. Isaac stretched, thinking back on the day, on what he had to do before session tomorrow. Outside the room, he could hear, muted through the door, Khosrau and Alonso talking to one another. The Ogre Dragonfly was giving him a general update on the patrol. Then, Alonso mentioned something about the weather. Isaac heard Khosrau make that chuffing sound he realized was the guildfolk''s laughter.


    ¡°How goes your courting?¡± his father said.


    Isaac blinked. His father was looking at him. He had closed up the book.


    An ambush.


    Isaac cleared his throat.


    ¡°It goes well,¡± he lied.


    ¡°Oh, please,¡± Lord Rithmound said with a huff, ¡°Don''t play the liar to me. I''ve been keeping tabs on you.¡±


    ¡°Tabs-¡± Isaac''s heart raced. He had hoped, with how busy things had been, with his father working every day and speaking, that his courtships would fall under the radar, that he would be beneath notice, but-


    ¡°You haven''t worked on your courting at all, lately,¡± his father said, ¡°Well, I suppose I can''t blame you. It''s a busy time, tending to your ailing father.¡±


    He gave a dark snort. A smile that did not quite reach his eyes. A play at mirth.


    ¡°I admit,¡± Isaac said, ¡°The election''s kept me rather busy.¡±


    ¡°Busy enough that you have to sneak out at night?¡± Rithmound asked.


    Isaac fixed his father with a level look.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Lord Rithmound said, ¡°I know of your little sneak-outs. I have eyes all over the city, my son, and you are not privy to all of them.¡±


    ¡°Your secret aces,¡± Isaac said.


    ¡°Always have a few tricks up your sleeve,¡± Lord Rithmound said, ¡°Always keep a few cards close to the chest.¡±


    Even to your own son?


    Isaac shook his head.


    ¡°Now, I know that you''re sneaking out,¡± his father said, ¡°To meet the Lady Busciver. Out in parks. Old, worn-down taverns in the slums. Always tailed by Ket, or Moriguchi, or Khosrau.¡±


    ¡°I''m in love, not a fool,¡± Isaac said.


    ¡°Ha. There''s a difference?¡± Lord Rithmound said, and he shook his head, ¡°I wonder what the other Houses would think, if they found out? A Rithmound and a Busciver, quite literally in bed.¡±


    Isaac''s nostrils flared. Rithmound sipped his tea.


    ¡°You should rest, father,¡± Isaac said, ¡°You''ve got a busy day tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°What do you see in her, my son?¡± Lord Rithmound said, ¡°Do you see the potential in a Busciver-Rithmound alliance?¡±


    ¡°It''s...¡± Isaac hesitated, ¡°It did cross my mind.¡±


    ¡°The gnome''s in bed with Sunala,¡± Lord Rithmound said, ¡°If he loses the election, she''ll pull out of their little pact. All of his major trade deals rely on the elves, or on being Doge of the city. He''ll become destitute.¡±


    ¡°''If,''¡± Isaac said.


    Lord Rithmound snorted.


    ¡°''If'' he wins the election,¡± Rithmound said, ¡°Then I believe we''ll have a much different problem on our hands.¡±


    He stirred his tea. Took another sip. He was quiet for a moment, his gaze turning to the book he had been reading. When he looked back at the face of his son, his eyes were shimmering.


    ¡°...It''s a bad deal, Isaac,¡± he said, ¡°Our House would not prosper if you married the Lady Busciver.¡±


    ¡°I''m afraid...¡± Isaac''s heart thumped. His hands shook. For a moment, he was about to nod. Agree with his father.


    No.


    Not again.


    ¡°I''m afraid that''s not an option, father,¡± he said.


    ¡°You will marry someone else,¡± his father said.


    ¡°I don''t believe I will,¡± Isaac said, ¡°I love her.¡±


    ¡°Well!¡± and his father rose from his seat. He was angry, his aching voice became snake-like and coughing as he spoke, ¡°Some spine in you, yet. But you will not court the niece of our greatest rival. Not during this election. Not after! Never!¡±


    He crossed over.


    ¡°You are the last heir of our House!¡± his father snarled, ¡°Everything of our future is relying on you!¡±


    ¡°If I am the last heir, then that means this House will be mine,¡± Isaac said, keeping his voice level. But he was trembling with emotion, ¡°Won''t that mean that, eventually, I make the rules? I decide who I marry?¡±


    He was staring at the wall. But he turned to glare up at his father.


    ¡°I will one day be Lord Rithmound. I... I need merely outlast you.¡±


    A vein throbbed in Lord Rithmound''s temple. He let out a low hiss. Then, his eyes flickered back to the book, then back to him.


    ¡°You''re-¡±


    A knock at the door. Both of them turned.


    ¡°Enter!¡± Lord Rithmound spat.


    A meek-looking servant opened the door, eyes flickering between the two Rithmounds.


    ¡°B-Begging your pardon, sirs,¡± she said, ¡°But, a letter''s come.¡±


    ¡°It can wait for the morning,¡± Lord Rithmound said.


    ¡°...It''s from the Guttersnipe, milord. Captain Orvisan.¡±


    Lord Rithmound stood up straight at that.


    ¡°Do you have it?¡± he asked.


    The servant nodded. She fully entered the room, scroll in hand. She handed it to Lord Rithmound, gave a short bow to the both of them, and left. Lord Rithmound glared at his son for a moment, before breaking the scroll''s seal and unfurling it. He read once. Then again.


    And then he broke out into a dark grin.


    ¡°Well,¡± he said, ¡°We will table this discussion for now. We''ve got more pressing matters.¡±


    ¡°...What does the letter say?¡± Isaac asked.


    His father handed it to him.


    ¡°Our victory.¡±


    ***


    The news trickled into Scuttleway in the night. Via bird. Via elemental. Via word of mouth, stolen whispers and rumors that snaked their way from House to House, leaked down into taverns, were shared in the night between parents worried for their children''s futures.


    The dead plane was dead. Truly.


    No fresh water to ship out.


    No trade deals related to the metahuman ruins. No tourism.


    Nothing.


    The High Federation had wrested control of the plane from House Sunala and House Busciver. And, in true Federation style, they had done what they did to all planes they disliked. That which they found abhorrent.


    There had been a volunteer force of Scuttlers who had been sent out during the war with the Manticore. A few of them, old men and women now, remembered those planes that had been glassed by the Federation at the war''s fever pitch. When the so-called civility was thrown out the window, and the open hand was replaced by the iron rod.


    The dead plane was nothing but glass, now.


    No mention of the elves who had been slaughtered like animals during the glassing. No mention of the rogue metahuman who had held a Shard of Imagination in one hand, his eyes glowing, his body cracking like a brittle clay soldier. No mention of the Federation investigator and the contingent of Rithmound and Amber Foundation.


    Only that the dead plane was gone.


    For that was all that mattered.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    Captain Orvisan and the crew of the Guttersnipe returned to port broken. A quarter of the crew dead, the ship itself in dire need of repair. The gnome himself stepped off of the ship, and onto the dry ground of Scuttleway.


    Investigator Ora Sota had left them, the Shrikeling having dropped them off on Londoa, near the Traveling Point at Beritale Landmass. There was only the two remaining passengers, who had become as close as crew on this short journey. Rosemary staggered off the ship, Meleko helping support her down the walkway and onto the dock. The Federation doctors had done what they could for her, but weakness of the magical variety was a foreign concept to them.


    ¡°It just doesn''t make sense,¡± the doctor had said, ¡°You guildfolk and your magics. Witchcraft, is what it is.¡±


    Meleko had ignored the sly look they had shot at Rosemary. But the meaning was clear.


    They would need Elenry.


    Well, they were home now. Castle Belenus was just on the other side of the city.


    She groaned.


    ¡°Alright if you can carry me?¡± she asked Meleko.


    The Jugdran looked down at her. After a moment, he nodded. She jumped on his back, and he piggybacked her across the quiet city. The night life had gone somber. Decorations, lights and banners for the Golden Round, were half put up across the market district. The entire city had breathed in, and had yet to exhale.


    That would come with tomorrow''s debate.


    And all of the city knew that it would be the last one.


    ***


    ¡°...So the entire plane''s gone, then,¡± Becenti said.


    Meleko nodded.


    He had taken Rosemary to the infirmary. Elenry had immediately started tut-tut-ing over her, putting her to bed, brewing her potions and making calls to associates in other parts of Londoa. Meleko, after a quick check-up, was deemed able to leave the medical wing and make his report to guild leadership.


    And, as it stood, Wakeling was still asleep. So it was Becenti, so late at night, the two of them in his office, who took the report. The old metahuman took the news of Chliofrond''s destruction with his usual stoic aplomb, leaning back in his chair, his face set in a deep frown.


    ¡°Yeah, all of it,¡± Meleko said, ¡°I''m sorry, Myron.¡±


    Becenti nodded.


    Stood up. Walked over to his shelf, his fingers dancing on the spines of his books as he searched around, finding what he was looking for. He pulled it out. A green book, a small one, called ''Epochia: Legends and Truths,'' with a picture of a Dragon holding its tail in its claws, ever-circling and eternal.


    If only.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    He stared at the book, walked back to his desk, sat down. Meleko let out an awkward cough.


    ¡°I can... make the appropriate report,¡± he said, ¡°I''ll try to get it to your desk by tomorrow afternoon.¡±


    ¡°...Take your time with it,¡± Becenti said, ¡°In fact, get some rest. I''m not going to expect the report until the day after tomorrow. You need...¡±


    He faltered.


    ¡°You need rest.¡±


    Meleko nodded. He sensed that the metahuman wanted to be left alone, so he stood up, gave him one last nod, and exited the room.


    Becenti opened the book, flipping through its worn pages. He had been given the book as a young man.


    By Luminary.


    His old friend.


    He chose not to dwell on that.


    He found the page he had been looking for. On Chliofrond. A small etching of one of her island cities took up an entire page. He stared hard at it. At its buildings, its statues, stick-like in the picture, magnificent in his memory.


    He had been to Chliofrond but once.


    But he, nonetheless, wiped stray tears from the edges of his eyes.


    Another heritage lost. Another monument destroyed. All that was the past would be gone. His people were stuck in an endless present.


    He closed the book.


    ***


    It was late at night when the Lady Vataya Deirdre received the news. She was still awake, for she dreamed of her children. All three of them, her sons and daughter. They were peaceful dreams, which was the worst part. She never realized that nightmares could have green fields and blue skies and the scent of green tea.


    And yet.


    Her guild bodyguard was a nice enough lad. A young man, Joseph by name. A metahuman, she had heard. He stood awake with her tonight, leaning against the wall, a cup of coffee in hand. Far too much creamer for her liking.


    The two of them stood alone in the great gallery, the painting of her son above her, as she read the letter. The delivery bird, four-winged and toothed, preened itself for a moment, before lighting off back into the sky. Joseph took the chance to look out the window, at the small flock of birds that flew over the city now. News was traveling fast. Whatever it was.


    ¡°The dead plane,¡± Lady Deirdre said, ¡°It''s gone.¡±


    Joseph''s head snapped to her.


    ¡°Chliofrond?¡± he said.


    ¡°The one that Sunala went on the expedition on,¡± Lady Deirdre said, ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°I-¡± Joseph''s mind raced. Rosemary and Meleko, they had gone to that plane, for the investigation, right?


    ¡°My guildmates,¡± he said, ¡°My friends. An elf and an alien. Does the letter mention it?¡±


    ¡°I''m afraid not,¡± Lady Deirdre said, ¡°Only that the dead plane''s gone. Glassed.¡±


    Joseph''s stomach boiled.


    ¡°I-I see,¡± he said.


    He wanted to bolt out the door, at that very moment. Run back to Castle Belenus. Make sure that Rosemary and Meleko had gotten home safely. That they were alright.


    But he was on a job. And he had promised Wakeling (damn her) that he would keep guarding her.


    ¡°Is... everything alright, Mr. Zheng?¡± Lady Deirdre asked.


    Joseph sighed.


    ¡°Just... hoping they''re alright,¡± he said.


    ¡°I can write a letter to Castle Belenus,¡± the noblewoman said, ¡°Make inquiries on their status. On your behalf.¡±


    ¡°Y-You would do that?¡± Joseph said.


    She smiled.


    ¡°Of course, dear boy,¡± she said, ¡°Enough... enough has been taken from us through this damn election. For your sake, I hope you have not lost much.¡±


    She rolled up the letter. Walked over to a small table that she had set up in the room with paperwork and quills. And began to write.


    ***


    The answer came promptly. A sudden flash of light, and a scroll in his hand. Joseph looked down at it. Lady Deirdre''s eyebrow quirked up.


    ¡°Your guildmaster''s magic extends this far?¡± she said.


    ¡°Guess so,¡± Joseph said. He unfurled the scroll, and read, ¡°Joseph: Rosemary + Meleko safe. Stay put, dangerous times.¡±


    ¡°Dangerous times, indeed,¡± Deirdre said, her voice scented bitter, ¡°But... I am glad.¡±


    She looked at Joseph. His eyes were closed. He breathed in. Then out. As though trying to overpower his emotions. When he opened them again, they were clear and hard.


    ¡°You wish that you were there, with them,¡± she said.


    ¡°I do,¡± he said, ¡°But I also have to guard you. I''d rather it be me, then-¡±


    He shut up at that. They both knew who he meant. The Amber Foundation had a bit of a stain on their record, with the Deirdres. Neither of them had spoken about Chadwick since his arrival to the manor. But she understood. And nodded.


    Part of her was grateful.


    ***


    They met late at night. Scuttleway was a frosted over corpse, the only signs of life being the birds still carrying news high above. They met at a park, again, noting how magical lights had been strung up, will-o-the-wisps that glowed and drifted like fireflies, just in time for the Golden Round. Isaac had thought himself to be alone when he left the Bronze-Hued Keep. Yet one of the fliers high above was far too large to be a bird. Khosrau. It was his turn to be chaperone tonight. Lady Busciver''s usual guide was her Master of Arms, Driona, and she glared at Isaac as he met with Buscie, the two of them sitting down on a park bench.


    ¡°You got the news,¡± he said.


    She was hesitant, her eyes downcast. Her hair was askew. Isaac began tending to it, pushing it out of her heart-shaped face.


    ¡°How is...¡±


    ¡°I don''t want to talk about it, Isaac,¡± she said.


    Isaac nodded. She rested her head against his shoulder. He held her hand in his, thumb running against her palm.


    ¡°...He''s catatonic,¡± she said, ¡°He didn''t expect this. Not at all.¡±


    ¡°They weren''t warned?¡± he asked, ¡°Of a Federation investigator?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± she said, ¡°Sunala said she sent out a message to her contact out there. But he apparently never got it. He''s dead now.¡±


    She shivered.


    ¡°First the Deirdres, now this.¡±


    A lot of dead. But he didn''t say this aloud.


    ¡°Did... did he and Sunala talk?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± she said, ¡°They argued. She screamed at him. She... she beat him, Isaac.¡±


    His blood ran cold at that.


    ¡°Said... said a lot to him. I don''t know. I was hiding in my room. But she screamed so loud I could hear it. When I saw him, Isaac, he... I think she broke his nose.¡±


    She was fighting back tears.


    ¡°Isaac,¡± she said, her voice breaking, ¡°I''m so, so scared.¡±


    ***


    The Grand Commons was uncharacteristically quiet as the people of Scuttleway streamed in. The news of last night meant that almost the entire city had come out. A crowd of Scuttlers sat outside the palace, and they would have all entered the building had Ramsey not assigned the Militia to keep them away from the entrance. Gone were the last few sessions¡¯ low turnout. Every House sat in attendance. Becenti almost couldn''t secure a seat. He noted that Gouffant had to all but push people out of the way to sit down. They were across the room from each other, looking out from different balconies down to the main debate floor below.


    The city filed in. Martin Gondoro looked exhausted, deep purple bags under his eyes, and he was sipping at a cup of Friendbucks coffee as he shuffled a few papers.


    ¡°Right,¡± he said, ¡°If we''re all here. I call this meeting of the Minor Tribunal into... yada yada.¡±


    He rubbed his temples.


    ¡°Lord Rithmound,¡± he said, ¡°Last I recall, you were talking about current trends in... krem breeding. Gods above.¡±


    The hobgoblin rose. He looked out across the room. Lord Korgan was looking down at the table, whispering a few words to his daughter. Lady Deirdre, despite everything, despite her two dead sons and near-overthrown House, sat tall, a mourning veil covering her icy face. One of the Amber Foundation, a man in a blue jacket, was at her left side, her daughter on her right. Lady Doria Eilonwy had a dire grin on her face. She was looking at Rithmound, hands steepled politely on the table. Lady Sunala glared across the room at Lord Rithmound. His eyes met hers, then moved over to Lord Busciver.


    At Sunala''s handiwork. The gnome sat on the throne. He smiled serenely, though it did not quite reach his eyes, and looked pained. As though magic had been used to hastily repair his face, but he could still feel the pain, wincing and stinging. He looked truly uncomfortable.


    Lord Rithmound cleared his throat.


    ¡°Friends,¡± he said, ¡°Enough about the krem.¡±


    He rapped at the table. Scratched at it with a long nail.


    ¡°No doubt,¡± he said, ¡°You''ve all heard the news.¡±


    The crowd murmured.


    ¡°Good,¡± he said, ¡°Then we appear to be at a crossroads of a sort. We have been, truly, for a while. Let me ask you a question: has Doge Busciver succeeded?¡±


    He let the question simmer. Let the crowd think.


    ¡°What sort of Doge makes deals such as this, out in the multiverse, with promises and deals, but then can''t even play the game? The High Federation is always hounding after us, always making sure we''re under the radar. Anyone who goes too far, any flower that grows too tall, gets plucked.


    ¡°And the good Lord Busciver played the multiverse like an amateur.¡±


    ¡°Now, Lord Rithmound-¡± Busciver said.


    ¡°I have the floor, Busciver.¡±


    The gnome, before, would have objected. Would have fought back. But he said nothing else. The Minor Tribunal noted that.


    ¡°We don''t need,¡± Lord Rithmound said, ¡°A man who acts as a child. Empty promises like the one our Doge made could spell disaster for the city. We stand, eternally, on a precipice. We cannot show weakness. And Doge Busciver, in his tenure as the leader of our city, has shown nothing but that.¡±


    He moved out from his desk, crossing over.


    ¡°When he receives bad news, what happens to him? Look at Doge Busciver now.¡±


    He nodded at the gnome.


    ¡°I''m a military man. I know the evidence of magical healing, and you, sir, are nothing but. When you received the news, did you slam your head against the wall? No, sir, you were beaten. Like a child.¡±


    Gasps from the crowd. Everyone knew it. But no one was willing to point it out.


    ¡°Who beat him? Well, there are a variety of guesses that I think we can all surmise. But I am not so callous as to accuse anyone here. But it does mean one thing: Busciver is not his own master.


    ¡°No, his master is the Lady Sunala. And we all know it. Why else would the elves be so involved in this year''s election? Why else would Elven assassins stalk our streets at night? Why else would Tlantoia, our old oppressor, send their ambassadors to the election today, when they have ignored us for the past five election cycles?¡±


    He glared around the room.


    ¡°The gnome you see on the throne is a puppet. And a Doge should not be that. They are to serve the city. I stand here, as your better option. With trade deals that will yield fruit. With economic plans that will strengthen us as a city, not bend us to the will of another. I stand here, before you, my friends, as your servant.¡±


    He bowed. When he rose, he looked the exhausted Gondoro dead in the eye.


    ¡°I yield the floor.¡±


    And the Minor Tribunal whispered. Lord Rithmound sat down. His son looked at him.


    ¡°Hell of a speech,¡± he said.


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± Lord Rithmound said, ¡°But it is not the speech that''s won me the day, I believe. Just the final punch for the knock-out.¡±


    Indeed, the heads of Meandring and Callistopa were looking at one another. Lady Deirdre was whispering a few words to her daughter. Martin Gondoro rose.


    ¡°We will now,¡± he said, ¡°Start the Vote for Dogeship.¡±


    The silver and gold balls began to be passed out. The entire room was silent save for the sounds of movement, of swishing robes and awkward coughs, of hastily concealed entries into the purple bag that the servants were passing around the room.


    Gondoro began to count:


    BUSCIVER: 3


    RITHMOUND: 8


    ***


    The crowd rippled. Sunala rose, a mutinous look on her face, and she stomped out of the Grand Commons. Busciver sank in his seat. He looked lost. Lonely.


    ¡°With a two-thirds majority of votes,¡± Martin Gondoro said, ¡°It is decided. The Vote for Dogeship passes in favor of Lord Bryce Rithmound. All, please rise for your new Doge.¡±


    And the Minor Tribunal rose. The city stood. All eyes were on Lord Rithmound, who left his seat, as well, and crossed over to the center of the room.


    To the throne.


    Busciver stayed seated.


    ¡°Come, Busciver,¡± Rithmound murmured, so low that only the gnome could hear, ¡°You had a good run. An admirable one.¡±


    Slowly, as though he were stuck on the throne, Busciver peeled off. Placed the half-moon Phrygian Cap on the throne''s arm. Walked quietly to his seat, sat down beside his niece, who rested a hand on his shoulder. Lord Rithmound took the throne. Placed the cap on his own head, for the Doge was not king, but a servant to the city. No one would place the cap on his head save himself, and no one would help him remove it, when his time came and his tenure ended.


    ¡°Have you any words?¡± Martin Gondoro said.


    ¡°Only a thank you,¡± Lord Rithmound said, ¡°And I will serve you as Doge. I accept your votes. I accept your request for a new servant. I will work to make this city a better place. A place worthy of the name ''Scuttleway.''¡±


    And the crowd applauded.


    ***


    Sunala went to her room. Sat at her desk. The stump of her hand throbbed. The other was curled up in anger. She was seeing red. So much effort. So much time. So much sacrifice. Her ship. Her hand. Her reputation. Her career. Her dreams.


    All of it gone, with a simple letter.


    Adaya was dead. Urya Orna was dead. Her ship was gone.


    Her father had given her the Gil-Galad. A parting gift. It had been his ship, and his mother''s before that.


    And her ship was gone.


    She glanced down to the letter that had arrived, via Royal Elemental, that morning. From Serce Aldhellen, the second leader of the Verdant Reclamation:


    Sunala.


    The Federation has considered the dead plane matter open and shut. It is gone now. Glassed. You have cost us dearly. Londoa is a lost cause. You are forbidden from returning to Yorhellas. We are sending Tirmo Telundela to ascertain your status in the new hierarchy. Expect a visit from him soon.


    Tirmo Telundela. They sent him only in cases of abysmal failure. To demote her. To execute her, if he deemed that the cost had been too great. One did not ever want a visit.


    ¡°Damn you, Busciver,¡± she growled.


    She grabbed her desk, with one hand overturned it.


    ¡°Damn you!¡±


    She looked around. Books, piles of books, towered around her. She started to push them over. Grab them, throw them across the room. Screaming. She grabbed the curtains by the window, tore them off with such force that the bar holding them was ripped from its hinge. She grabbed the rod, stomped over to the painting over her bed-


    And she was interrupted by the sound of fireworks. They were being let off at the Grand Commons. In celebration of the new Doge. Sunala stopped.


    Fireworks.


    An idea...


    An idea was percolating in her head.


    She took a look at the painting over the bed. At Montaine, tall and regal, his curved blade almost shimmering off of the canvas. He had founded this city, hadn''t he? Taken the prisoners from his wars across the Inner World and had them build this magnificent city. This city was her people''s birthright. The vermin here just didn''t realize it.


    They needed to be taught that again.


    There were still servants in the city. Still those loyal to the cause. They had not received word yet of Sunala''s impending departure.


    But there would be no departure.


    ¡°Heaven through violence,¡± she whispered.


    And she got to work.


    ***


    The airship traveled across the breadth of Nesona. Pantheon did not pursue them, leaving Ichabod and Contort alone. The crew did not disturb them. They were left to their own devices, to stew in the small room that had been provided to them. It gave Ichabod time to work on cracking the firewall around the contract they had stolen from the Tower of Eden. Contort sat resting in a bed, his eyes always on the door, or looking out the window for danger below.


    For only foolish guilds did not have flying members. He held Ichabod''s pistol in hand, finger always itching at the safety. Call it poor firearm safety, but the last few weeks had been anything but safe.


    Neither of them spoke about Rorshin. One of them would need to break the news to Wakeling when they got back home.


    ¡°It''s fair weather, at least,¡± Contort noted, ¡°Clear skies. I think that''s a landscape down below.¡±


    ¡°...You think?¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°Har,¡± Contort replied, and he shot the cybernetic man with a grin that was far too harsh for his liking. They had left Pantheon behind ¨C the demon, the rain elemental, all of it. But they did not feel safe. Indeed, their stress only intensified with each passing day.


    Ichabod continued work on the firewall.


    ***


    It was only after several days of travel that he managed to get in. Open it up without deleting the entire thing. He took a ragged breath, bringing out his arm.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said, ¡°Ready?¡±


    Contort nodded. It was late at night, the engine a warm chorus beneath their feet, the world outside bitterly cold and clouded. Ichabod opened the contract. Read through it once. Twice. He presented it to Contort, whose eyes narrowed as he skimmed through it.


    ¡°We need a Silverfish,¡± he said, ¡°This information, it can''t wait for us to mozy on back to Londoa.¡±


    ¡°Agreed,¡± Ichabod said.


    The cybernetic man''s glass eyes kept falling on the first paragraph. The first lines:


    THIS AGREEMENT IS MADE THIS YEAR 2045 OF THE AGE OF REST BY AND BETWEEN GUILD ''LIKE SHADOW'' (HEREIN REFERRED TO AS CONTRACTOR) AND ONE ''LADY LILY-ANN DORIAMA SUNALA'' (HEREIN REFERRED TO AS CLIENT)


    PER REGULATIONS RELATED TO THE ACT OF RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION AND THE FORESTER''S TREATY, THIS CONTRACT SERVES AS RECORD THAT CLIENT WISHES FOR THE NON-CONSENSUAL BIOLOGICAL TERMINATION OF TARGET ''LORD BRYCE RITHMOUND,'' THE METHODS OF WHICH, AS WELL AS THE CONTRACTOR''S PARTICIPANTS, ARE THE CONTRACTOR''S TO DECIDE.


    THE CLIENT AGREES TO PAY FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND CREDITS TO THE CONTRACTOR ON CONFIRMATION OF TERMINATION.

 117. Heaven Through Violence

    The Golden Round was established a hundred years ago by Doge Ivoric Deirdre, and every year Scuttleway played as its host. It was, ostensibly, a great mercantile holiday, an opportunity for traders from across Londoa (and beyond) to come to Scuttleway to browse wares from across the multiverse, to laugh and swap stories of their travels, for the entire city to come together under a single banner. During election years, it was set up to help heal wounds that may have opened or reopened during the election, for the Houses to swear themselves back to their city, for without the Great Orange Crab, they were nothing.


    As such, the entire city bloomed to life with decoration. Before, the setting up of the Golden Round had been a halfhearted affair, the election having drained much of the life of the city. Now, however, with a new Doge and a new future, people took to the streets with renewed gusto, hanging streamers across buildings, setting up circus rings in and around the colosseum, summoning multi-colored balls of light to make Scuttleway shine as though night were a neon day. The Weatherfolk had been hired to clear away the snow that crusted over the cobblestone streets, and one of their most powerful members, Clostara the Summer Elemental, blanketed the city in a pocket of warmth.


    It had an immediate effect. One walked across the barren, icy plains leading up to the city, only to feel warmth wash over you. The snow disappeared. The city was alive with music.


    Joseph, as he looked out a window in the Lady Deirdre''s manor, privately compared it to the landscapes of Nesona. Even in the noble district, where the Lady Deirdre had cordoned herself away after the election, he could hear the city.


    It had been three weeks since the election. Since Doge ¨C no, Lord Busciver ¨C had been dethroned, and Doge Rithmound had risen in his place. The hobgoblin had immediately set to work organizing the great festival. He had sent members of his faction across the city to help heal old wounds. Lord Korgan, one of Rithmound''s old friends, was visiting the Lady Deirdre today. He was sipping a cup of tea as the two of them sat in her office.


    ¡°-And that''s the only contribution that House Busciver is willing to give to the Round,¡± he said.


    ¡°Just fireworks?¡± Lady Deirdre said, ¡°My, that''s... petty.¡±


    ¡°Probably needs to work on re-organizing his funds,¡± Korgan said, ¡°You''ve heard that Sunala split off from him.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Deirdre said.


    Joseph was only half-listening, still looking out the window. Now that the election was over, many of the attempted assassinations had petered out. He''d missed all of the action.


    But...


    ¡°Joseph,¡± Lady Deirdre said.


    The metahuman blinked. Came to.


    ¡°W-What?¡± he said, ¡°Something you need?¡±


    She quirked an eyebrow. Lord Korgan rolled his eyes.


    ¡°Thought you Amber Foundation were supposed to be professional,¡± the orc said.


    ¡°Ah, sorry,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Just...¡±


    ¡°A lot on your mind,¡± Lady Deirdre said.


    He nodded.


    Rosemary was still in the infirmary. Whatever had happened to her during her travel back to Chliofrond, she still hadn''t recovered. Not fully. He had only been able to properly visit her once or twice.


    There was Becenti, too. Joseph still hadn''t been able to talk to him after...


    Well, after the news about Chliofrond came out.


    ¡°I was wondering your opinion, Mr. Zheng,¡± Lord Korgan said, ¡°You worked closely with the Lady Sunala on that dead plane, didn''t you?¡±


    ¡°I did,¡± Joseph said, his voice guarded.


    ¡°What do you think of her now?¡± Lord Korgan said, ¡°Now that she''s out of her little puppet.¡±


    Joseph grimaced. Looked out the window again. He took a second to think.


    ¡°I... I''m not sure, if I''m being real,¡± he said, ¡°She¡¯s made her authoritarian politics pretty clear, being part of the Verdant Reclamation, and all. And she''s lost the election.¡±


    He glanced over at the two nobles.


    ¡°I''m still guarding you for a reason,¡± he said.


    Korgan scoffed. The Lady Deirdre nodded. They continued to sip their tea.


    Outside, the city prepared.


    ***


    ¡°Alright,¡± Lazuli said, ¡°Starting test fourteen in three, two, one-¡±


    The android pressed a button on the mobile keyboard in his hand, his digitized face squeezing into a look of panic as nothing happened at first.


    ¡°Odd,¡± he said, ¡°It normally doesn''t do that.¡±


    He and Vicenorn were in the Braindoll''s lab, and their work of the last few weeks stood in the center of the room. A frame, linked to the vat that had stored Vicenorn''s brain and lungs since he lost his old body. The frame was metal in appearance, with a gel sac in its ribcage, where the organic form of Vicenorn now rested. The man''s voice came on through a small, tinny speaker located near the frame''s head.


    ¡°You didn''t power on the auxiliary batteries, Laz. They need to be on, otherwise if the main power shuts down, I won''t be able to move.¡±


    ¡°That...¡± Lazuli clicked a few buttons on the keyboard, ¡°Sounds very funny.¡±


    ¡°Har,¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°Just get the damn backups on.¡±


    ¡°Alright, alright,¡± Lazuli said, chuckling to himself, ¡°Alright, it''s on.¡±


    As though on cue, a bright blue light flickered on near one of the tables, cords hooking up the backup power to the vat and the frame. Lazuli entered a few more commands, before putting down looking up at Vicenorn.


    ¡°Starting test fifteen in three, two one-¡±


    And he pressed the key.


    The frame shuddered. Vicenorn groaned. For a moment, the lights in the room flickered.


    Then went out.


    ¡°Uh,¡± Lazuli said, ¡°...V-Vicenorn?¡±


    There was silence.


    And then he spoke.


    ¡°That''s why we have the backups.¡±


    The lights came back on. Vicenorn stood, for the first time in months. He, through his new, unsteady frame, staggered forward a step, nearly fell. Lazuli reached to help support him, but the Braindoll brought up a newborn hand to stop him.


    Another step.


    A second.


    ¡°...There,¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°I...¡±


    He looked down with new eyes. New eyes, but not young, for they were Fedtek replacements that had existed for over four hundred years, scrounged by Lazuli from downstairs in the storage rooms of Castle Belenus. Vicenorn saw the world in grayscale. When he walked, he could feel his entire body creak. His mechanical ears were cursed with a ringing.


    He looked down at Lazuli. The monitor-headed android looked nervous.


    ¡°What do you think?¡± he asked.


    ¡°It...¡± Vicenorn took a deep breath. He could not even feel air go into his lungs. Not like his old form, ¡°It is sufficient.¡±


    ¡°It''s just temporary,¡± Lazuli said, ¡°We knew that. But it''s a practice run, to see what we''re dealing with. I''m going to run a diagnostic on you, make sure everything''s working right.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Vicenorn said.


    Lazuli got to work, running a scanner over his guildmate''s form.


    ¡°Everything''s working, connection to your brain''s good enough, Cryzofilm''s holding, the frame''s starting to churn in the right way. I think... I think you''re self-sufficient. For now. Obviously, need to work out a few things here and there. I don''t think you''ll want to leave the guildhall any time soon, in case something goes wrong...¡±


    He was rambling to himself, talking more to the scanner than to Vicenorn. Lazuli glanced up to see his guildmate simply standing there, looking down at his hands. The face on the android''s monitor fell.


    ¡°It''s only temporary,¡± he said, ¡°You know that.¡±


    ¡°Some part of me is aware,¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°But I... I...¡±


    Vicenorn hugged himself with primitive arms, held to a primitive chest.


    ¡°I don''t want him to see me like this.¡±


    ¡°We''ll get to work on getting your old body back, or something like it,¡± Lazuli said, ¡°You won''t be a frame forever. Maybe we can make it muscular, too, make it-¡±


    ¡°I prefer to have the consistency of marshmallow, Lazuli,¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°It helps trick the body, trick myself that I''m not just... a metal frame and a brain.¡±


    Lazuli was quiet. He finished his diagnostic.


    ¡°It''s only temporary,¡± he repeated, ¡°It''s only-¡±


    Vicenorn began to shake.


    ¡°Oh, geez,¡± Lazuli said, and he patted Vicenorn on the arm, ¡°It''s alright, it''s going to be fine. Please don''t cry, I don''t ¨C I don''t know what to do when people cry. Please don''t, please...¡±


    ***


    The day wore on. A statue was put up in the town square, an effigy of the Elven lord Silvuril, the last of the Tlantoian kings to rule over Scuttleway. The man who had been executed by the rebels of the Inner World at the end of the revolution. With a frame of wood and skin made of hay, armor patched out of tinder and sticks, it was ripe for the burning that would herald the start of the Golden Round proper. Doge Rithmound himself helped pull the giant scarecrow to its feet, heaving and laughing with the workers and barking out orders as he worked. He was laughing, having taken off his overcoat, his white undershirt stained with sweat. Isaac knew this to be a farce, of course, a calculated effort to ingratiate the morose man in the eyes of the people. He knew that, even with the market square packed full of people, laughing and jeering and joking, that the new Doge had set up security. Khosrau flew high above. Ket stuck to every shadow.


    But it was working. With a final grunt, they pulled the effigy of Silvuril up. There was clapping. Doge Rithmound laughed, shook the hand of the worker''s headmen, and swaggered over to Isaac''s side. He took his son''s offered cup of water, draining it greedily.


    When he finished, the smile casually disappeared. Back to business.


    ¡°Getting too old for that, I think,¡± he said.


    ¡°You''ll put out your back,¡± Isaac said, ¡°We''ll have to take you out of the public eye. Again.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Doge Rithmound drawled, ¡°Anything but that.¡±


    They chuckled. A rare moment of humor. His father was in good spirits.


    ¡°I heard Lord Busciver''s imported fireworks,¡± Isaac said.


    ¡°An invitation,¡± Doge Rithmound said, ¡°I asked him about it a few days after the election. He already had them on order, probably in preparation for his ill-estimated victory.¡±


    Isaac nodded at that. He poured himself and his father more water from a pitcher brought from the Bronze-Hued Keep. Tested for poison. They would need to be doubly paranoid, now that his father was in the ultimate position of power in the city.


    They both drank. A few sorcerers were playing tricks for the children, lights dazzling from their hands, little sparks of magic that popped and fizzled, one passed out a small flame to a curious little goblin, who held it in her hands, her eyes wide in wonder.


    ¡°Listen, Isaac,¡± Doge Rithmound said, ¡°About...¡±


    He was quiet for a moment. Isaac glanced over. His heart began to hammer a bit, for he knew what his father was going to say.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    ¡°Courtship,¡± Doge Rithmound said, ¡°I''ve... been giving it some thought.¡±


    Isaac glanced over at his father.


    ¡°And...?¡±


    ¡°I would... like to once more dissuade you from Lady Busciver,¡± his father said. Isaac rolled his eyes.


    ¡°I understand, father,¡± he said, ¡°But, no, my heart is set. You cannot sway it.¡±


    ¡°It has little to do with your heart, Isaac,¡± Doge Rithmound said, ¡°You must think of-¡±


    ¡°I have other business to attend to,¡± Isaac interrupted. He made to leave.


    ¡°I am your father, Isaac-¡±


    ¡°I am speaking to you not as your son, but as a servant of the city,¡± Isaac replied, ¡°There''s a Golden Round to plan. Merchants to talk to. I know that a few dignitaries from Ded-A-Chek are angry about where they''ve been allowed to set up shop. I need to soothe a few ruffled feathers.¡±


    When he looked up at his father, his eyes were hard.


    ¡°Is that a problem?¡±


    Rithmound hesitated. Then nodded.


    ¡°Go, then,¡± he said, ¡°...Good luck.¡±


    Isaac nodded. And moved out into the crowd. Lord Rithmound watched his son go, until he was out of sight, and then went off. There was more work to be done, indeed.


    ***


    Mallory, Broon, and Ezel visited Rosemary in the infirmary to eat dinner with her, as they had every night since her return. Elenry gave them all sly looks as they filed into the medical wing, dinner in hand. Orion had been cooking tonight, a traditional meal from his home plane, chicken covered in an orange, spicy sauce and a plate of brown rice. The man had been a Far Traveler before joining the guild, exploring the multiverse with Gouffant and Rathia, and had been their cook. His home cooked meals were so good that Rosemary was on the verge of tears when she finished eating.


    ¡°Elenry says I should be out in another couple of days,¡± she said, putting her empty plate on her nightstand, ¡°Provided the treatment she has me on holds.¡±


    ¡°What has she been doing?¡± Ezel asked.


    ¡°Oh,¡± Rosemary said, suddenly a bit nervous, ¡°A bit of this and that. A couple of pills-¡±


    Elenry, listening in the corner as she read over a couple medical files, snorted.


    ¡°And a magic spell that Urash commissioned for me. He had to ask a couple of his contacts in Krenstone for it.¡±


    ¡°Krenstone, eh,¡± Broon said, ¡°Must''ve been some treatment, to have him reach out to home for help.¡±


    He smiled at her. But Rosemary, at his words, could do nothing but feel guilty.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± she said, lying through her teeth, ¡°It''s... nice.¡±


    They cleared away their dishes. Said a few more words to Rosemary, before departing. Rosemary settled back into her bed, a ghost of a smile both sincere and not still on her face.


    ¡°They love you, you know,¡± Elenry said.


    She glanced over at the gloivel. Elenry was starting to put away files, the door to her office ajar.


    ¡°All of them,¡± she said, ¡°They''d do anything for you.¡±


    ¡°I''d like to believe that,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°There''s no need to hide yourself, Rosemary,¡± Elenry said, ¡°You... know that, don''t you?¡±


    The faerie was hesitant. She looked down to the foot of her bed. She felt frigid, still, even though the influence of the cold iron was out of her system. Elenry had covered her with a quilt from her family, a couple of heavy comforters, she had even set out a warming spell that hovered just beneath the bed.


    And yet, she was still cold.


    ¡°It took a lot of awkward conversation to make that arrangement with Urash,¡± Elenry said, ¡°Not revealing your true nature to him was difficult.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Rosemary whispered.


    ¡°Who else knows?¡± Elenry asked.


    ¡°...Phineas,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Wakeling and Becenti, obviously. I bet you Broon suspects. Nash, too. S-Sunala.¡±


    She took a deep breath at that. She didn''t want to think about it.


    ¡°You.¡±


    ¡°And... that''s it?¡± Elenry asked.


    ¡°That''s... that''s it,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°Not even Joseph? Or Mallory?¡±


    ¡°Not even them.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Elenry said. She put away a few files. When she returned, she had a cup of hot cocoa in hand. Rosemary took it. Sipped. Felt warmth flow through her system. Part of her wondered if the others had asked Orion specifically to cook up something spicy tonight, to help warm her up.


    ¡°Your secrets are your own,¡± Elenry said, ¡°And I won''t pry, nor will I go about gossiping. But just remember, you''ve spent a long time on your own, having to hide away. And I don''t think you need to be quite so...¡±


    ¡°Dodgy?¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°Not quite that,¡± Elenry said, ¡°But... you''ve got people here who trust you. Who love you. We''ll accept you, no matter who you are.¡±


    She rose.


    ¡°Remember that.¡±


    ***


    The Golden Round started with the burning of the effigy of King Silvuril. Doge Rithmound himself was the one to light the scarecrow pyre, wearing the ceremonial robes and armor of the Doge of Scuttleway, the Great Orange Crab emblazoned on his chestplate, the Phrygian Cap upon his head. He lit the effigy at its base, fire licking up and consuming Silvuril entirely. The audience applauded. A series of fireworks lit up the night, oranges and blues of a thousand hues. Even as the Inner Sun blinked out, Scuttleway lived and breathed and shined, children playing on the streets, through the markets filled with items from across the multiverse, the smell of food wafting through the air. Music droned on from a hundred bands spread across the city. Every tavern was full.


    And the Amber Foundation, or most of them, turned out from Castle Belenus to enjoy the Round. Broon and Tiger shopped in the markets for new weapons, Urash dragged Rathia along to browse a potions stand that had been set up in the noble district, the seller having come all the way from Edris Spelkomea. Ezel and Broon watched a play set up in a temporary theatre, the story of Raul and Himiko, a romance of the heirs of two rival families. They saw Alonso Moriguchi there, the Roshador giving him a wave, and the three of them spoke at length as the performance ran on.


    Lazuli had his own goal. He entered out into the city, wrapped up in a cloak. He sneered as he went out, powder bombs in hand, for his night of pranks and mischief.


    He was caught by the Militia an hour into his escapade, and spent the rest of the night in the city jail.


    Joseph and Guerico accompanied the Lady Deirdre, the three of them getting into a carriage and rumbling into the city. None of the Lady Deirdre''s family accompanied her.


    ¡°My daughter is in mourning,¡± she said to Joseph, ¡°I thought it best to leave her to her privacy.¡±


    Joseph looked out the window. He could see the entirety of Scuttleway alive, lights dancing in mosaic rainbows, laughter and music slithering through the crowd. Part of him wished he were out there, to join in on the celebrations. Get drunk. Make his own mistakes. But he was on a job.


    ¡°I get that,¡± Joseph said, ¡°But...¡±


    He hesitated. The Lady Deirdre nodded.


    ¡°Say what you wish.¡±


    ¡°You''re not going to take a night to yourself?¡± Joseph asked, ¡°You''ve been entertaining your guests, working after the election. Every time I''ve been with you, you''ve been working.¡±


    But the pale noblewoman shook her head.


    ¡°I am the head of House Deirdre, one of the most prominent Houses of the city,¡± she said, ¡°I am too busy to mourn.¡±


    Joseph found that heartbreaking. But he said nothing, as he watched the city around him outside.


    ***


    Captain Ramsey, too, stood apart from the festivities. He watched them from atop the city jail, cigarette in hand. All around him was light, and he felt uncomfortable in its glow. But he had a job to do, and already the Miltia was already out on its patrols, making sure things didn''t get rowdy.


    Or, ah, too rowdy.


    There was a sickening feeling in his stomach, a thud in his gut that something about tonight was off. He could not shake it off. He carried his mace tonight, the familiar weight hanging on his side. It made for some comfort, at least.


    More fireworks rang off. Popped and snarled, and sent Ramsey on edge. There were no firearms on Londoa, not unless you were with a guild like the Amber Foundation. But he had his fill of lead from his time on Amdusias. He never liked the sound.


    Someone came up to the roof. Ramsey turned around. Then looked down, at Lieutenant Antsy.


    ¡°Cap,¡± she said.


    He nodded.


    ¡°Go on, Lieutenant.¡±


    ¡°Silverfish for ya, Cap,¡± Antsy said, ¡°Waitin'' in yours office.¡±


    Ramsey nodded.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± he said, as he made his way to the stairs back into the base, ¡°Everything''s alright?¡±


    Antsy gave a mock salute, though she had to jog a bit to keep up with the Captain, stumbling for a second, her hand still at her forehead.


    ¡°Aye, Cap,¡± she said, ¡°No troublemakers out yet. Caught one of them guildfolks, though, ''e''s in the jail.¡±


    ¡°Let me guess,¡± Ramsey said, turning a corner, ¡°Lazuli?¡±


    ¡°One and the same.¡±


    ¡°Let him stew,¡± Ramsey said, ¡°I know it won''t teach him anything, but it''ll keep him off my mind for tonight.¡±


    ¡°Aye, Cap.¡±


    He entered his office. Sat down at his desk, hand absently sticking his cigarette into the ashtray. The Silverfish was set up in the center of the table, having been set up a week prior.


    In anticipation, Ramsey supposed, of Ichabod''s findings. It had been months since the cybernetic man had last checked in. The Captain was getting anxious. He clicked the Silverfish on, and he could hear, through ragged, scratching, electric interference, the guildfolk''s voice.


    ¡°This Captain Ramsey?¡±


    ¡°It is. Is this Ichabod?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± and the cybernetic man exhaled, ¡°Good god, man, it''s good to finally hear you.¡±


    ¡°Where are you?¡± Ramsey asked.


    ¡°Doesn''t matter. The waves have ears, and all that. I''m here to tell you who the assassin''s client was.¡±


    Ramsey stood up, leaning over the desk.


    ¡°...Tell me,¡± he said.


    ¡°It''s Sunala,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°She commissioned Like Shadow to assassinate Lord Rithmound. Had OzTech cover it up.¡±


    He was quiet for a moment. He didn''t realize that Ramsey was quietly beckoning Antsy to get a squad of the Militia ready, the two of them exchanging a series of quiet hand signs. Ramsey''s heart was racing. He grabbed the cigarette out of the ashtray, re-lit it, took a drag.


    ¡°Seems like a pretty bog standard hit,¡± Ichabod noted, ¡°Nothing major. We lost a man, because of it.¡±


    ¡°I''m sorry for your loss,¡± Ramsey said, ¡°Truly, I am.¡±


    He took a deep breath.


    ¡°Right,¡± he said, ¡°You¡¯ve got evidence?¡±


    ¡°Got the contract right here,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°How long until you get back to the city?¡±


    ¡°Another few days,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Are you going for her now?¡±


    Ramsey grimaced.


    ¡°Just get yourself home,¡± he said, ¡°However you can. It¡¯s absolutely paramount that you get the evidence to me. Sounds like you''re on the run, so be careful. We''ll handle Sunala.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Have to go. Signal''s going funny.¡±


    And the Silverfish deactivated. Ramsey glanced over to Antsy.


    ¡°Squad''s ready,¡± the gnome said, ¡°We all movin'' out?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Ramsey said, ¡°For Sunala''s estate.¡±


    ***


    The Militia moved silently across the city as the Golden Round blazed around them. Soldiers, one and all, wielding maces, spears, bows and arrows, a couple of magicians in their number were already getting spells ready. They moved up the winding streets by carriage, by foot, by flight spell, towards Sunala''s estate. The tower stood tall, swan white pillars dancing with flame from the city''s celebration, the glass dome shimmering with the reflections of the fireworks high above.


    A couple of air elementals patrolling the skies were dispatched. Ramsey''s carriage rolled up to the estate just as a couple of the Militiamen apprehended the guards at the entrance. It had been a bloody affair, and Private Smalls had been injured, the hobgoblin on the ground and contorted around a vicious cut on his stomach.


    No quarter. The two elves had been killed.


    Ramsey grimaced. This was already going to be bad. Sunala still had not emerged from the estate. Doubtless she had detected the contingent of guards moving in on her position. And yet no response from the manor.


    ¡°Get the doors open,¡± Ramsey said, then, louder, ¡°Get the doors open!¡±


    Mage Anthronaz flicked a hand, and the doors of the estate pulled free from their hinges. She flung them inside. Soldiers swarmed inside, switching out spears for shortswords and maces. Ramsey walked in after them, light pouring from outside into the dark entry hall.


    There was no one here.


    ¡°Secure the area,¡± Ramsey said, ¡°Apprehend anyone you see.¡±


    The soldiers moved off. Took to the side halls of the estate, the small studies, the extra bedrooms. The servant''s quarters were empty. As was the armory. The kitchens and dining hall. Ramsey and a few others took to the stairs, ascending up, noting that even the enchanting rooms were empty. It was as though they were treading the inside of a corpse. Nothing living. They had to light torches to guide their way, for there was no other illumination here.


    They made their way up to Sunala''s bedroom. Ramsey glanced over to Antsy and the rest. Four other Militiamen accompanied him. All of them were steeling themselves. Sunala had to be in here.


    The Captain of the Guard took a deep breath.


    Then kicked the door. Once. Twice.


    It broke with the third. With a loud, creaking snap of wood.


    Small will-o-the-wisps floated gently, like fireflies, in the grand top room of Sunala''s estate. The domed ceiling reflected the sky above, with its multicolored neon fires from the other side of Londoa. Her four-postered bed was already made, and the painting of Montaine, the founder of Scuttleway, glittered in the warm light of the lit fireplace.


    The Lady Sunala was in the middle of the room, at her desk. She was waiting expectantly for them, a demure smile on her face, both hands on the table.


    Aye, both hands. She had finally replaced the missing stump, her sacrifice from the now-dead Chliofrond. A wooden prosthetic, enchanted and glowing a faint green, the fingers ended in nasty, curved claws. Its roots had burrowed deep into the stump, had wrapped around bone and muscle. A painful process, for such a thing. But, then, the most ancient of Elven magic was painful.


    ¡°Lady Sunala,¡± Ramsey said, ¡°I''m sorry to say this, but you''re under arrest.¡±


    Dully, through the glass ceilings, through the marble walls, they heard fireworks go off. One exploded just over the estate, cracks and embers smoking downwards like a dying star.


    ¡°On what charges?¡± Sunala asked.


    ¡°Soliciting to murder,¡± Ramsey said, ¡°You hired an assassin.¡±


    ¡°Which one?¡± Sunala asked.


    Ramsey grimaced.


    ¡°Your enforcers and hitmen are all over the city,¡± he said, ¡°Aren''t they? I know you were in deep with the White Feathers, with the Verdant Reclamation. It''s over, Sunala. Your man lost. Now, come along easy. This doesn''t have to get violent.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Sunala said, and another firework went off, ¡°But it already has gotten violent, hasn''t it? You''ve killed a few of my men downstairs.¡±


    Ramsey was quiet at that. Two of the Militiamen began rounding across the room, looking to surround the noblewoman. Sunala sighed.


    ¡°Well, tonight was the night,¡± she said, ¡°And you were on the list.¡±


    She tapped the table with her new hand. The claw left marks on its surface.


    ¡°I do wish it wouldn''t come to this, you know,¡± she said, ¡°I personally find you to be an honorable man, your race notwithstanding.¡±


    She pulled out something from beneath the desk. Ramsey''s eyes widened in sudden horror. An assault rifle.


    ¡°But that was not to be, I''m afraid.¡±


    She fired. The world became alight with sound and death. Ramsey gasped as the spray tore through his armor, his body. He collapsed at once, hitting the ground hard, blood ¨C his blood ¨C pooling beneath his form. With fading eyes, he saw Sunala wheel, firing off on Antsy. The others.


    And six corpses filled the room.


    Sunala reloaded the rifle with a new clip, snapping it into place. Her ears, even with the magical enchantments protecting them, were ringing.


    She could hear more gunfire downstairs. Those hidden agents, also armed, cleaning up the rest of the strike force.


    Her heart was hammering as she stepped out of the room. Went down the stairs and out of the estate. An air elemental had landed outside, the largest one in her collection. Even now it was suffocating the remaining Militia, twisting the air from out of their lungs, letting them choke out on the cobblestone streets. Other elves attended to her. Most of them were still wielding weapons of their homelands, blades and spears and bows, but a few of them were armed with other technology.


    Like her.


    ¡°You know the targets,¡± she said, ¡°Secure the Grand Commons. The prison. Castle Belenus, if we can. They are no friends of ours. Go, and go well.¡±


    She took to the air elemental with a few others. They flew up into the night, amid the fireworks still sounding across the city.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    The coup had begun.

 118. Become the Hunter

    Lazuli was in jail.


    An errant Militiamen had managed to snag him mid-prank, right as he was about to throw a sack of laughing gas into the crowd below. The ogre had lifted him, glared at him, thrown him into the jail without a second thought. When Lazuli began snapping about his rights, the guards had just laughed at him, and closed up the cell.


    Of course, being Lazuli, this cell was familiar to him. They had even set up a few self help books for him to flip through as he waited for the morning to come and for an angry Becenti to, once more, come down to the jailhouse and berate him.


    ¡°Don''t throw laughing gas into the crowd, Lazuli.¡±


    ¡°Don''t rewire the controls of the Titania Amber, Lazuli.¡±


    ¡°Stop being obnoxious, Lazuli.¡±


    Shit like that.


    So, as it was, he was sitting down in the old cot that he was only a bit too comfortable in, reading the book, his monitor-face reflecting dull, bored eyes, when he heard the gunshots.


    He looked up. Shouts could be heard upstairs, screams and barked out orders. Then more gunshots. Rapid. Assault rifles, by the sounds of it. There was a gargled gasp.


    He heard the door open. Heavy footfalls on the steps.


    Lazuli rolled off the cot, crawled underneath it, turned his monitor off so that its neon glow wouldn''t betray his position. He could still sense, through built-in scanners, the elves as they made their way down into the cell block.


    Panic was not one of the emotions programmed into Lazuli''s AI. He was calm as he began to methodically shut down key systems in his form, his primary batteries sizzling down. Elves used sight greater than just what their eyes saw, he knew.


    If he was found...


    ¡°No one here,¡± one of the elves said.


    ¡°Good,¡± his compatriot said.


    More gunshots rang out upstairs, harsher and more intense now with the open door. The elves glanced at one another, then went up-


    And Lazuli heard the ambush. The Militiamen drive blades into Elven bodies, gasps from the would-be assailants. Blood leaked down the steps in miniature red waterfalls.


    ¡°Go!¡± someone shouted, ¡°They''re upstairs, dammit! Get them!¡±


    And more footsteps. Footfalls. The gunfire abruptly stopped.


    Lazuli settled. He reached up from beneath the cot, pulled the book down. Opened it up, feeling much like Phineas.


    Maybe it was better to stay put for tonight. There was darker mischief about.


    ***


    The Lady Deirdre was one of the few people in the Grand Commons tonight. She had parked her carriage outside, moving into the palace, nodding as the guards let her and Joseph inside. She stopped in the circular chamber that had been the center of the debates. She stared at the throne that, scarce a few weeks before, Doge Rithmound had set himself upon.


    Joseph moved away from her, looking at the tables that circled around the throne. There was very little light here, a couple of lonely lanterns lighting up the galleries above, a couple of sconces on the walls that shimmered with halfhearted flame. Outside, he could hear the fireworks going off. More of them this time, a neverending cascade of pops and booms that thundered through stone. The metahuman set himself up against a pillar, keeping an eye on Lady Deirdre as she simply stood, staring at the throne.


    ¡°Is...¡± he said, ¡°Everything alright?¡±


    She didn''t answer, for a time. More fireworks rumbled. More shadows danced. Joseph felt a twinge of annoyance at her silence, but couldn''t blame her. It wasn''t his job to be her therapist, right?


    He sighed.


    And then, the Lady Deirdre spoke.


    ¡°So much death, Mr. Zheng,¡± she said.


    He glanced her way. She had sat down at one of the tables. The same table that she had sat at during the debates. Where she had watched her sons, angry and violent, make their unvoiced decisions to try and unseat her. Where she had announced her withdrawal from the election.


    ¡°Here. Out in the multiverse. All for the seat in a city.¡±


    She gestured at the throne. Yet even with that mundane pronouncement, she did not move to sit on it. She did not have the right.


    She was not Doge.


    And, perhaps, that was answer enough. Joseph didn''t have to say anything, nor could he. He opened his mouth, closed it.


    He had no answer.


    The Lady Deirdre sighed. She had been weeping, earlier in the night. Before her carriage ride. Joseph had heard her through closed doors, the racking sobs of an ancient woman.


    Perhaps, if the Lord Alabaster had been patient, a few more years perhaps, he would have become head of House Deirdre naturally. His mother was, in some ways, not long for the world. But he had gambled, and lost, and now an old crone was bereft of the future.


    Joseph wondered if his own mother cried about him, in that way. He wondered how his family was taking his sudden disappearance. They didn''t know about the multiverse, did they?


    Maybe his father.


    But Nai Nai, if anything, had been a secretive old thing.


    Maybe his father suspected.


    But Nai Nai, if his father would have asked, would have berated him. Shouted him down.


    Just like his father had done to him.


    No doubt, Joseph supposed, that they thought he had just left. Wandered off. Disappeared off the face of the earth. He had been half-tempted to, even while he had been at university. Even the occasional calls from Lily had been painful.


    He grimaced at the thought of that.


    He had been thinking of the past like this more, lately, and he didn''t know if he liked that or not. It made his heart hurt.


    (For this is what growing feels like.)


    ¡°...I wanted to be Doge, you know,¡± Lady Deirdre said.


    Joseph turned back to consider her.


    ¡°Yeah?¡± he said, ¡°Ruler of the whole city? The big orange crab, in the palm of your hand?¡±


    He smirked, but it was a false one, and he found that he didn''t like wearing it. But he wore it nonetheless. The Lady Deirdre''s eyebrow quirked.


    ¡°Yes,¡± she said, her voice measured, ¡°Ruler of the city. Servant to it, as well. The two terms go hand in hand. To lead a city, one must be subservient to it. You make the decisions, but it is only through the consent of the people.¡±


    Joseph opened his mouth to counter that.


    ¡°And I know, Mr. Zheng, that the people do not have a voice here,¡± Lady Deirdre said, ¡°Perhaps, once upon a time, they had more mobility. Perhaps Doge Rithmound will encourage that, make the most of a system that worships wealth, and produces those such as Busciver.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I get that,¡± Joseph said, ¡°You need people with morals, right?¡±


    ¡°And wealth corrupts morality,¡± Lady Deirdre said. And something came to her. Her eyes seemed clear, ¡°I apologize, young man. I don''t know what''s gotten into me.¡±


    She stared hard at the throne.


    ¡°Perhaps loss clears away the lies we tell ourselves. My sons are dead because of the worship of wealth in this city. They brought it on themselves, yes, but...¡±


    Her lower lip quivered. Joseph looked away.


    ¡°B-but, I still loved them.¡±


    She was about to break down, again, when something flashed in the corner of Joseph''s eye. Movement.


    There, in the upper gallery.


    Joseph''s soul took over, its head overtaking his as a helmet, its sharpened vision glaring through the dusk of the chamber.


    His body moved before his mind did. The soul extinguished. Re-circuited through his system. He pointed a hand.


    The bolt sang across the chamber, filling it, for a split-second, in a harsh cobalt light. It smashed into the upper gallery terrace, shattered the rails and the floor. The elf spun and fell, flipping through the air and landing on her feet. She took aim at the Lady Deirdre.


    Joseph was faster. The second bolt struck the elf, sending her into a wall, stopping her heart.


    More elves now. Joseph was rushing to Deirdre, his soul fully realizing. It grabbed hold of the noblewoman, pulling her in and covering her-


    As a hail of gunfire erupted around them.


    The eagle rolled with the Lady Deirdre, bullets ripping through its feathered form. Cold pain lanced through Joseph''s spine. He gritted his teeth, using the eagle''s vision to triangulate the attacker''s position. He and Deirdre took cover behind a table.


    But he knew that would be torn to bits.


    ¡°Move,¡± he gasped, ¡°Go.¡±


    She was no novice, at least, and she followed his orders. They moved from table to table, gunfire roaring around them. Joseph''s soul took the brunt of it.


    To his detriment. His vision was swimming.


    The sprays ceased. They were reloading.


    ¡°Go!¡± Joseph shouted. And he and the Lady Deirdre ran towards the doors out of the chamber.


    Two elves dropped down to intercept. One had a blade. The other raised up a spear.


    The soul''s claws snarled at them, parrying their strikes. The spearman drove forward. Joseph brought out the eagle''s hand, allowed the tip to plunge through its palm, close around the shaft, and snap it.


    The swordsman took a chance at that point, hacking at the eagle''s other hand. Joseph grimaced as the blade dug deep-


    And the hail of gunfires tore through the eagle''s back. He gasped as one pierced through azure skin and scraped against his shoulder.


    Time to end this quickly. The eagle swung at the swordsman, who stumbled back.


    And Joseph dropped the eagle, turning ''round and rammed a shoulder into the spearman. He pressed a hand against the spearman''s chest as the elf snarled at him, drawing out a wicked dagger, rammed it into Joseph''s ribs-


    Or would have, had Joseph''s jacket, enchanted to be stronger than steel, not deflected the blow.


    Lightning curled around Joseph''s finger tips. He sent the small bolt through the elf''s chest. It was enough to send the spearman back, cracking his head against the wall, and he was silent.


    At once, Joseph wheeled on the swordsman, manifesting the eagle''s arms over his shoulders as he rushed forward. The swordsman danced back from the hissing claws, blade flashing wildly to deflect each shot.


    But Joseph was faster, and each claw was like a blade of its own.


    And he got under the swordsman''s guard. A claw tore through his stomach. The elf gasped, fell to his knees as his innards spilled outwards.


    Joseph turned around, towards the still-open door to the chamber, fired off a few rounds of lightning. Then he and the Lady Deirdre stumbled off. The noblewoman''s face had become stone-like. She was in full survival mode. She almost looked calm, in contrast to Joseph''s heavy breathing, the panic thundering through his form. He kept glancing over his shoulder, looking around to make sure no one followed them as they retreated into one of the Grand Common''s side halls. They stopped behind a suit of armor. Joseph leaned against the wall.Stolen novel; please report.


    Outside, more fireworks went off. They had a new quality to them, now, after hearing the popping gunshots in the chamber.


    ¡°It''s a coup,¡± the Lady Deirdre whispered, ¡°Sunala''s trying for a damn coup.¡±


    ¡°Guess I shouldn''t be surprised,¡± Joseph said, ¡°You alright?¡±


    She nodded.


    ¡°And you?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Joseph said, ¡°But I''ve felt worse. I''ll be fine.¡±


    He glanced over. Better to not have the eagle out now, for its light painted the halls and revealed his position.


    Movement again. Against the wall. Joseph nearly jumped.


    ¡°Guerico,¡± he said.


    ¡°Holy shit, Joe,¡± Guerico gasped, ¡°That was-¡±


    ¡°The elves,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Where are they?¡±


    ¡°I saw them going down the stairs,¡± he said, ¡°There''s four of them.¡±


    ¡°Armed?¡±


    ¡°Two of them with rifles. Two of them with bows.¡±


    ¡°What about the guards posted here?¡± Joseph asked, ¡°They out?¡±


    ¡°Dead, Joe,¡± Guerico said.


    He nodded, his heart pounding. He wasn''t used to the loud shudders of gunfire. Plasma, he could take, but the bullets tearing through his soul had more oomph to them, a physicality that his soul couldn''t overcome.


    He would have to be careful. Ice filled his bones.


    ¡°Leave me, Mr. Zheng,¡± the Lady Deirdre said, ¡°You have to stop them.¡±


    Joseph, for a moment, considered that. His face scrunched in concentration.


    ¡°...No,¡± he said, ¡°That''s not an option. Not while we''re exposed like this.¡±


    ¡°I''m getting in your way, Mr. Zheng,¡± Lady Deirdre said.


    ¡°I''m aware,¡± Joseph said, a bit too darkly, ¡°But they''re after you.¡±


    He glanced up. He needed to get the noblewoman someplace safe.


    ¡°Guerico,¡± he said, ¡°When you were running over to me, what rooms did you see?¡±


    ¡°A couple of armories,¡± Guerico said, ¡°A storage room.¡±


    ¡°We''ll go there,¡± Joseph said. ¡°Guide me there. Keep an eye out for the elves, too.¡±


    ¡°What,¡± Guerico said, ¡°Do you want me to carry you, too?¡±


    The metahuman glared at him. Guerico put up two flat hands.


    ¡°Right,¡± he said, ¡°Sorry.¡±


    The Abstract Man moved off, far faster than Joseph or the Lady Deirdre. They followed after him, dancing down halls and moving across corners to make sure they weren''t being tailed. The fireworks were going off now in chorus, bright explosions that covered the city in their song.


    They were to cover the gunfire, Joseph realized.


    They were to cover the coup.


    If the elves succeeded, the people of Scuttleway would wake up under a military occupation, none the wiser of the death that had taken place in the night.


    There, the storage room. Joseph opened it up, breathing in the smell of dust and wooden crates. They went inside, closed the door.


    ¡°Guerico,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Keep watch outside.¡±


    ¡°Gotcha.¡±


    He didn''t see the Abstract Man leave, but he didn''t need to. Guerico knew his role. Joseph brought up a hand, caking it in his soul, a torch of cobalt light flooding through the room. He squinted in the sudden light, looking at the Lady Deirdre. The sorrow on her face was gone, or perhaps pushed down deep into her stomach. It had been replaced by a mask of professionalism. She''d been through these situations before. Good.


    ¡°Right,¡± Joseph said, his mind racing, ¡°You stay in here. Hide in a crate, maybe.¡±


    ¡°And I will be safe here?¡±


    ¡°I''ll stick to the halls around here,¡± Joseph said, ¡°...Become the hunter.¡±


    He felt frank in that statement. Part of him was shocked by the confidence in his voice, despite his fear.


    Because he had been through worse.


    There was a chance he was going to die, but he had been through worse.


    ¡°Stay hidden. If they get me, then hide as best you can until help arrives.¡±


    ¡°If it''s a coup, there may not be help arriving,¡± Lady Deirdre said, ¡°If they''re targeting major tactical points throughout the city.¡±


    ¡°Where would they target?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°The Grand Commons,¡± she said, ¡°Obviously. The prison, as well. Perhaps the Bronze-Hued Keep, but Rithmound keeps his own defenses. Maybe Castle Belenus-¡±


    Joseph''s heart sank at that.


    ¡°What I¡¯m saying, is that any response will stretch the Militia thin.¡±


    He nodded.


    ¡°If I die, they''ll probably find you. There won''t be any help.¡±


    ¡°Correct, Mr. Zheng.¡±


    The light extinguished.


    ¡°I just won''t die, then.¡±


    He opened the door. Closed it discreetly behind him. Left Deirdre in shadow.


    He was relieved that no one had found him yet. Joseph took a deep breath. He was in one of the side halls, a window on the opposite wall, the city beyond. Fireworks were going off above, a neverending neon cascade.


    ¡°Just how many do they have?¡± he muttered to himself.


    ¡°What was that?¡± Guerico asked. He was on the wall right by the door, a single eye on the bridge of his nose looking at Joseph quizzically.


    ¡°Nothing,¡± Joseph said. He took a deep breath, ¡°Alright. Let''s do this. Scout ahead. Get me their positions.¡±


    ¡°On it, boss,¡± the Abstract Man rushed off. Joseph crouched down, sticking to the wall, as though at any moment someone would open fire on him. He turned a corner, going down another hall, weaving his way back to the main chamber.


    Guerico returned a moment later.


    ¡°They''ve split off into pairs,¡± he said, ¡°One assault, one bow. They''ll try and get you at range.¡±


    Joseph nodded, sweat beading his brow. He wiped his forehead. Took a deep breath.


    ¡°Show me the first ones.¡±


    The Abstract Man gave him a thumbs up, moving off. Joseph followed him, his eyes tracking his guildmate''s movements. He found the first pair of elves as they were trailing through one of the art galleries, grand paintings from throughout Scuttleway''s history adorning the walls, symbolic orange crabs snipping swan''s heads or famous Doges arguing in the debate chambers. They stopped at their sensing of Joseph, most likely using more than sight to track him down.


    Well, there would be no element of surprise here.


    He was still yet to enter the room, keeping himself hidden by the door frame. The one with the assault rifle was starting to level it-


    And Joseph hit the deck, sliding on the ground so he could see the elves through the door, pointing a hand out.


    The bolt flashed, and his aim was true. It struck the elf head-on, sending them careening back, the resulting sonic boom shuddering the world. The air reeked of ozone as Joseph charged at the elf with the blow, who raised it up and fired an arrow. Two. Three.


    Joseph lifted his jacket so it covered his face, the arrows plinking off of the enchanted cloth. He was on the elf now, a claw swirling around his hand. The elf was pulling out a dagger. But the metahuman was faster, slashing a deep rent into the elf''s side. Joseph''s legs danced as he moved back from the returning slash, remembering Contort''s words from long ago, when he had first been in these sorts of situations.


    ¡°If the other guy has a knife, then it''s too risky to make big, dramatic flourishes and whatnot. Keep yourself mobile, and concentrate on staying alive.¡±


    Alive. He had to keep himself alive.


    He dodged back as the elf slashed at him again, bringing up his arms instinctively. The elf was bleeding out from his own slash. Good. He would weaken, slip up, make mistakes. Joseph moved back, letting the elf fill the space between them, keep the elf on the offensive, let him slip up-


    There. A too-wide swipe. The elf had overstepped.


    Joseph''s fist soared upwards, into the elf''s face. A sharp crack on the nose. The elf went down.


    Joseph''s hand turned into a claw once more, the soul''s energy overtaking his, and he drove it into the elf''s back. Once. Twice, to be sure.


    And the elf was dead.


    Joseph stepped back.


    He had killed him.


    He had killed before, of course, but not like this. Not this...


    Execution.


    He stared hard at his created corpse. At the way blood seeped from the elf''s back, pooled on the floor. It had been the logical thing to do. If the elf woke up, he would continue his crusade, right? It was an enemy he was leaving to knife him in the back.


    But still...


    ¡°The act of killing gets easier. The dreams don''t.¡±


    What dreams he would have, when this was all over.


    Joseph moved on.


    ***


    He found the other pair of elves, with Guerico''s advice, moving down the hall just by where Lady Deirdre had been stowed away. They were keeping to the walls, like he was, evidently having heard his dispatching of their compatriots.


    They hadn''t expected a metahuman here, had they? He smiled to himself, in spite of everything.


    He rounded the corner. Pointed-


    The elf was faster, leveling the rifle and opening fire. Joseph grimaced as he leaped back behind cover, bullets ripping through the marble where he had been just a moment ago. They were advancing on him now.


    His soul realized. Manifested. He sent it along his arm, around the corner, its claws swiping at the first elf, who was just a hair too close, a hair out of alignment, evidently having not expected the soul to whip around like this. An errant claw latching onto his chest, pulling him in. The eagle drove its beak into his chest, tore free his heart and whatever else. The elf''s ragged screams echoed through the halls, through Joseph''s mind.


    It was the elf with the bow who fired on the eagle. Five plumed arrows drove into the soul''s chest and neck. Joseph gasped as the reverb shuddered through his system. His vision became filled with ice as he rounded the corner himself, his soul still reaching for the elf with the bow, who was keeping back, skipping and firing arrow after arrow into the eagle''s form.


    No choice. Joseph dropped the soul. The arrows that had buried themselves in feather and cobalt flesh fell away. The floor was stained with plasmatic blood. The elf sneered at him, aiming the bow right at his face.


    Joseph wrenched off his jacket, wrapped it in his arm, held it in front of him as the elf fired. He worked to close the distance, but the elf was smart, always keeping several paces ahead of him.


    The soul was powered up enough. Joseph took aim.


    And fired.


    The lightning lanced through the elf''s form, pushed them back, made them lower the bow. It was not a powerful enough shot to kill them ¨C Joseph''s soul was still rather wounded ¨C but it was the opportunity he needed to close the distance.


    Joseph raised his fists. The elf, grimacing, looked up to see him start swinging.


    The old one-two. A haymaker. Followed by an uppercut. The elf was lifted off the ground at that last shot, hitting the ground hard. Joseph planted a boot on the elf''s chest. The elf was not moving. He leaned down to check the elf''s pulse.


    Still solid. Joseph formed an azure claw, standing over him.


    But hesitated.


    Part of him, the Joseph that was still new to the multiverse, still relatively innocent to the act of murder, did not want to go through with this.


    Part of him, the Joseph that had learned to be more pragmatic with these sorts of situations, knew he would be able to get information.


    ¡°Guerico,¡± he said, ¡°Keep watch.¡±


    ¡°On it, boss.¡±


    The Abstract Man moved off. Joseph checked over the elf''s body for weapons, anything that could be used to get free. Then, when he had stripped away those, Joseph''s soul realized, picked up the elf in a claw.


    ¡°Guerico,¡± he said, ¡°Any place where I could get some rope?¡±


    ¡°I''m not sure,¡± Guerico said, ¡°I can look around.¡±


    ¡°Do so,¡± Joseph said, ¡°And, thanks.¡±


    ¡°Any time, Joe,¡± Guerico said. And he was off again. Joseph started making his way back to the storage room, keeping watch with all four of his eyes to make sure there wasn''t any more trouble. But it seemed like Sunala had been devoting her forces to other parts of the city.


    The Grand Commons was a location to secure, but the most immediate threat to the coup were forces that could stop it.


    ¡°Rope, Joe,¡± Guerico said, returning, ¡°In one of the storage rooms.¡±


    He nodded. Let Guerico guide him to the room. Indeed, there was rope inside, and he took it and wrapped it ''round the elf, tying him up. With that done, he returned, prisoner in tow, to the Lady Deirdre.


    He knocked on the door, opening it up.


    ¡°It''s me.¡±


    ¡°Good, Mr. Zheng,¡± the Lady Deirdre said, ¡°Are you alright?¡±


    Ghost pains were spidering throughout his body. But Joseph nodded.


    ¡°Got a present.¡±


    He closed the door behind him, let his soul fully manifest, painting the room in light. He dropped the tied-up elf on the floor. The elf was coming to, now, bleary and groaning. Joseph glared at him.


    ¡°Alright, guy,¡± he said, ¡°How many of you are there?¡±


    The elf''s eyes widened at him suddenly. He struggled for a second, his face contorted in a grimace. Joseph''s hand shot out, grabbing at the elf''s face, pulling him close.


    ¡°How many?!¡± he snarled.


    And the elf bit something in his mouth, giving a triumphant smirk-


    As foam filled his jaws. He started to convulse, glaring up at Joseph with eyes full of hate. Eyes full of fear. Joseph''s heart skipped a beat. The Lady Deirdre''s eyebrows went up. And, in a moment, the elf was dead.


    ¡°...A pill,¡± Joseph muttered.


    ¡°It is to be expected,¡± the Lady Deirdre said, and she glanced over at the metahuman, ¡°Mr. Zheng, are you quite alright?¡±


    He was shaking. He dropped the now-lifeless elf, taking a deep breath to calm himself down. He stood up, brought up a hand to lean himself against the wall. He could not shake the image of the elf''s face from his mind. The ghostly glare. He swallowed.


    ¡°I''m...¡± he pushed down his disgust, ¡°I''ll be alright.¡±


    Lady Deirdre nodded.


    ¡°There''ll probably be more coming, once they receive word that the group here failed,¡± Joseph said, ¡°But I''m thinking, Sunala''s probably moving more for Rithmound. For...¡±


    Anger started up again. He looked up.


    ¡°For Castle Belenus. And they won''t even know.¡±


    He made to leave.


    ¡°Mr. Zheng,¡± Lady Deirdre said, ¡°Where... where are you going?¡±


    And he stopped.


    ¡°I was...¡± he looked back at her, ¡°I need to warn them. Let them know what''s going on. You heard the fireworks. I don''t think anyone knows that she''s doing this. People''ll wake up tomorrow morning to see that she''s taken over. It''ll be chaos.¡±


    ¡°I am aware, Mr. Zheng,¡± Lady Deirdre said, ¡°But...¡±


    She hesitated. For both of them knew what Joseph was thinking. That he would abandon her. That he would leave her, for when the wolves returned.


    Joseph''s heart hammered. He could not help but think about his friends at the guildhall. Rosemary was there, at the very least. Barbara, too. A few others here and there, and spread across the city. He could not help but feel frustration boiling over. The need to do something. But...


    But the Lady Deirdre was right. He had a role to play here, and it was helping her, here and now. To protect a part of the city.


    ¡°Guerico,¡± he said.


    The Abstract Man pulled up beside him.


    ¡°Go,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Get to Castle Belenus. Warn Wakeling about what''s going on. Warn everyone. This isn''t over.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure, Joe?¡± Guerico asked, ¡°You''ll be on your own.¡±


    ¡°I''ll be fine,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Let them know I''m here. Get some backup. I don''t know, just let them know what Sunala''s doing. That''s all that matters.¡±


    For a moment, Guerico hesitated. The one unblinking eye fell.


    ¡°Good luck, Joe.¡±


    ¡°Same with you.¡±


    And he was off. Joseph opened up the door, glanced this way and that. He looked back to Deirdre.


    ¡°You stay here,¡± he said, ¡°I''m going to scope out this place, best I can. I''ll be nearby, in case anything happens.¡±


    The noblewoman nodded.


    ¡°Be safe, Mr. Zheng,¡± she said, ¡°And not just for my sake.¡±


    He flashed her a dark smile, and closed the door behind him. Leaving him alone in the Grand Commons. The fireworks continued to blaze outside, a neverending orchestra of light and sound. There was a more sinister edge to them, now.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    And the coup continued. Dances in shadow. Gunfire veiled by fireworks.

 119. Blood and Bronze

    The air elemental blanketed the Bronze-Hued Keep like a heavy fog on a cold morning. The soldiers stationed outside were the first casualties of the Elven assault on the manor of House Rithmound. The shadows contorted as Ket''s magical sensors went off, the Inl¨¦an glancing outside to see Elven soldiers taking the courtyard. He whispered a few words to his guildmates.


    And Alonso Moriguchi took point, stalking down the dark halls of the Bronze-Hued Keep, cracking his knuckles. He stopped one of Rithmound''s guards.


    ¡°Where is the Doge?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Hidden away,¡± the guard replied, ¡°In a bug out room.¡±


    He hadn''t told Moriguchi, nor any of the Exodus Walkers, where that might be. Smart. Moriguchi rolled his shoulders as he heard the first sounds of combat, at the front entrance.


    Gunfire. His heart sank.


    ¡°Ah,¡± he said, ¡°This... will prove difficult.¡±


    Already he could hear strangled cries. Ket was already using his magic against them. Moriguchi could imagine a sea of darkness filling up the entrance hall, elves sinking down into it, into dark abysses and pits that only the rabbit knew.


    Moriguchi, for not the first time, suppressed a shudder.


    But...


    But the shouts continued. The Roshador could hear footsteps, light and swift, down the hall-


    The first elf had his rifle raised. But Moriguchi was on him in a moment, pushing the firearm''s muzzle upwards as it opened fire. He jabbed the elf in the stomach, pushed him so his stance was wide, wrapped his arms around the rifle, pulled and kicked and wrenched it free. He spun it around on the elf.


    ¡°Sorry,¡± he said.


    And he fired. He winced, his ears ringing, as the elf collapsed to the ground. Red blossomed and stained the floor.


    Moriguchi kept the rifle aimed, waited for any others to come. But none did.


    Ket emerged from the shadows on the wall, brushing a coat. He was breathing heavily, his eyes shiny and pearl-like against his jet black fur.


    ¡°They are still inside,¡± he said, ¡°Three spellcasters. They evaded me.¡±


    ¡°I''ll take the eastern wing,¡± Moriguchi said.


    ¡°I''ll take the west,¡± Ket said. He began to slink back into the darkness, ¡°I sent Khosrau out. He''s warning the other Houses.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°Any idea how many were hit?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Ket said. And he disappeared.


    He could hear more screams down the hall. More gunfire. Moriguchi checked the rifle''s clip. Only a few more shots left. Well, he had never been one for these sorts of weapons.


    ¡°I think I''ll want a bonus,¡± he said to himself.


    ***


    Khosrau found a problem as soon as he took flight.


    The night was burning with fireworks, cacophonous and incoherent, a neverending display of light and flame. He, therefore, had to stick low to the ground, buzzing over the heads of the crowd, who looked up at him, at the sudden gale of wind his wings gusted up, at the droning sound he made.


    He was being stalked. And he knew it.


    Daggers flashed. One drove deep into his thorax, the sheer force of it almost blowing him off course and into a market stall. But he kept his pace, looking all around him with his 360 degree vision for his attacker.


    There. Sifting through the crowds, the elf was pulling loose another dagger. She was wearing a whitewood mask, garbed in loose clothing, the hint of chainmail beneath her robes, her oversized sleeves. She was keeping pace with him, pushing people out of the way...


    And, Khosrau noted just a moment too late, she was the distraction.


    It was a novice move, on his part, as the second dagger twirled in the night. He was paying too much attention to her, the second one had leaped from the shadows, and he was too used to Ket being there for-


    The knife tore through his wings. Khosrau plummeted. Crashed hard into the ground. Onlookers scattered at the sight of him, a few gasped and pointed. One even poured out his wine onto the dragonfly''s head.


    He could see the two of them approaching. Two elves. The dragonfly got up to his feet. He wasn''t good at walking. He was a flier, and fliers flew, and-


    Why wasn''t anyone stopping them? The people of the Golden Round were already moving on, going back to their drinking and laughing and buying and selling. Damn them, there was just too much to-


    A heavy boot landed in front of him. It belonged to a dwarf, one with a spellrod in hand and a toothpick in the other, he was picking out a quick snack from his teeth. His eyes narrowed at the sight of the approaching elves, slitting down to look at Khosrau on the ground in front of him.


    ¡°...You''re part of the Exodus Walkers, right?¡±


    Khosrau wheezed out a reply.


    The elves had both stopped.


    The dwarf looked around, glanced up at the fireworks.


    ¡°Well, now,¡± he said, ¡°This isn''t a good look, is it? Some guild spat?¡±


    ¡°...N...No,¡± Khosrau said.


    One of the elves rushed forward. The dwarf glanced up. Flicked his spellrod-


    And the elf began to float, as though the laws of gravity had given up on her. The dwarf flicked his spellrod up, and the elf flung off high into the sky.


    The other elf surged forward, flipping out a couple of daggers, but the dwarf, rolling his eyes, twirled the rod. A shimmering field appeared in front of him, one that pushed out towards the elf, who, at the last moment, danced back, breaking off his attack.


    But too late, as the field enveloped him. Cast his form into stone.


    The dwarf looked down at Khosrau.


    ¡°There,¡± he said, ¡°I''ll send you an invoice, when we''re all through.¡±


    ¡°Urash?¡± another voice said, ¡°Urash, what the hell¡¯s all this about?¡±


    Another figure appeared. A girl with a keytar in hand, the tips of her spiked hair dyed purple.


    ¡°Elves,¡± Urash spat, ¡°Looks like they were tryin'' to claim one of the Exodus Walkers.¡±


    The girl glanced down at Khosrau. Her eyes widened.


    ¡°Well, shit, dude,¡± she said.


    She moved down to Khosrau¡¯s side, winced at the sight of the dagger in his carapace.


    ¡°Here, help me,¡± she said.


    ¡°What?¡± Urash said, ¡°It looks like a guild spat. Exodus Walkers probably pissed off the White Feathers. I¡¯m not getting in the middle of that-¡±


    ¡°You just did, you moron,¡± the girl said, and she turned and glared at him, ¡°I¡¯m not going to just leave him in the street. Come on.¡±


    ¡°And why,¡± Urash said, ¡°Would I do that?¡±


    ¡°Call it a gut feeling,¡± the girl said, and, thinking quickly, added, ¡°Think of it as a chance to get into Ultan¡¯s good graces.¡±


    She stood back up, pressed a few keys on her instrument, and a blanket of light picked Khosrau up, and lifted him into the air. After shooting another dark look at Urash, she started to move off. Urash, after a moment, rolling his eyes, followed.


    ¡°And where,¡± he said, ¡°Are we going?¡±


    ¡°Back to the guild.¡±


    ***


    Guerico returned to Castle Belenus at the same time as G-Wiz and Urash. The front courtyard was littered in corpses. Blood stained the grass. Whiskey stood out front, the marionette stained red. Chadwick was on his shoulder, mewling and licking himself. His eyes were dancing with a glee not unlike when he found a stray mouse in the halls.


    Fireworks boomed in the distance. Reds and greens, by now the sky was starting to choke from the smoke.


    ¡°Greetings, Urash,¡± Chadwick said, ¡°How nice, you''ve made a friend.¡±


    ¡°Bah,¡± Urash said, ¡°Spare me your barbs, cat.¡±


    G-Wiz was looking at the bodies on the ground. She stooped to study one of them. An elf, his eyes opened wide in the shock of the end. He was wearing armor beneath his robes, scaled with leaves and beautifully decorated. An art piece, as much as a piece of protection. An assault rifle lay in the grass a bit of a ways from him.


    He had been killed by strangulation. Deep purple welts on a thin throat.


    G-Wiz glanced over at Whiskey.


    ¡°Wakeling let us have our fun,¡± Chadwick mewled, ¡°She joined in, too, if you want to look at a few of them. Look at those piles of jelly, over there.¡±


    The Electron didn''t.


    Guerico spoke up. He was sticking to the wall by the entrance.


    ¡°I gotta get to the boss,¡± he said, ¡°Where is she?¡±


    ¡°In her office,¡± Chadwick said.


    The Abstract Man gave a thumbs up, slid between the cracks in the door and made his way in.


    ¡°Elenry still in there?¡± Urash asked.


    ¡°Hasn''t left,¡± Chadwick said, ¡°Something about keeping Rosemary company, I don''t know.¡±


    The dwarf let out a huff. He grumbled to G-Wiz to follow him, and they went inside.


    Most of the guild was out in the city. To see the Great Hall empty like this, with the fireworks roaring in the distance, colored orange by the glass panes, gave the Electron an eerie feeling. So, too, did the two body-less arms floating in the air, pointing at the entrance. Thin. Veined. Wakeling''s. G-Wiz swallowed at the sight of them.


    ¡°She... she''s going all out, isn''t she?¡±


    ¡°All out?¡± Urash said, ¡°Bah. If she were, she''d have the body and legs out, too. Now shut up and get the dragonfly to the infirmary.¡±


    G-Wiz flipped him off, moving him over to the medical wing. Elenry took one look at the dragonfly, and rolled her eyes.


    ¡°I expected one of us,¡± she said, ¡°Maybe Dama Runebreaker. Who is this?¡±


    ¡°I dunno,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Someone from the Exodus Walkers.¡±


    The gloivel let out a huff, but let him inside. Rosemary was looking over at them from her bed, her brow knit in worry. Elenry got to work on tending to the dragonfly, checking over the frayed remains of his wing, the dagger still thrust into his thorax.


    ¡°This,¡± she said, ¡°Will need to go. Urash, make yourself useful, and magic it out.¡±


    ¡°I don''t take orders from you-¡±


    She glared at him. Urash coughed. And was cowed. He whispered a spell to himself, and the knife disappeared, flickering into his hand a moment later. The dragonfly let out a wheeze as the now-exposed wound started to bleed, but Elenry got to work on patching it up.


    G-Wiz leaned against the wall, keeping out of the way as Elenry worked. Her guildmate was fast, working quickly to stop the bleeding, to get the worst of it out of the way.


    ¡°There,¡± she said, ¡°You won''t die, at least. But there''s still work to be done.¡±


    ¡°Th-thank you,¡± the dragonfly said, ¡°I... I owe you one.¡±


    ¡°Well, I''ll cash that favor in now, then,¡± Wakeling said behind them. They turned to see their guildmaster floating into the room. Guerico painted the wall behind her, easing himself in carefully. As though something might set her off. For the look that Wakeling was giving them was one of thinly-veiled rage.


    ¡°They attack my home,¡± she said, ¡°They try and hurt my family. I''ll have Sunala''s head, I think. I''ll wrench it off myself. I''ll-¡±


    ¡°Vyde,¡± Elenry said, ¡°No violence in the infirmary.¡±


    ¡°I...¡± and Wakeling sighed, looking at the dragonfly, ¡°You''re... Khosrau, aren''t you?¡±


    ¡°You know my name.¡±


    ¡°I know the names of each of you Exodus Walkers here in the city,¡± Wakeling replied, ¡°I make a point of it. Guerico''s caught me up on what''s going on.¡±


    Rosemary leaned in. Urash feigned apathy, but he kept a sideways glance at the guildmaster.


    ¡°Sunala''s trying for a coup, people,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°They''re hitting the Grand Commons as we speak. Khosrau, I need you to tell me where you''ve been.¡±


    ¡°They''re attacking the Bronze-Hued Keep,¡± the dragonfly replied, ¡°I think they took the prison, too.¡±


    Wakeling nodded.


    ¡°I''m going to send out a mental communication,¡± she said, ¡°Out to those of us in the city.¡±


    ¡°Wakeling,¡± Urash said, ¡°This isn''t up to us.¡±


    ¡°Isn''t it?¡± Wakeling said.


    ¡°You had to kill two elves to even get here,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Don''t be a dick, Urash. Just this once.¡±


    ¡°I did that to defend myself,¡± Urash said, ¡°This... this is different. This is a guild taking part in the affairs of a government without a binding contract.¡±


    Wakeling glared at him. For a moment, G-Wiz was afraid she was going to call her hands in from the Great Hall and throttle him.


    ¡°It sets a bad precedent, Wakeling,¡± Urash said, ¡°If we involve ourselves here, it could be considered a breach in the Law of InterGuild.¡±The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°Horseshit,¡± Rosemary said.


    They turned to her.


    ¡°It''s... Sunala,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°She''s a supremacist. A fascist. She targeted us. Specifically.¡±


    ¡°Her politics don''t matter,¡± Urash said, ¡°She targeted us, and we responded. That''s it. We aren''t getting paid to go the extra mile.¡±


    ¡°Oh, shut up,¡± Rosemary said. She moved to get out of bed.


    ¡°Rosemary,¡± Elenry said, and the gloivel rushed to her side, ¡°Rosemary, don''t.¡±


    ¡°I''m fine,¡± Rosemary said. Only a bit of color had returned to her face. She swayed when she stood, as she pushed Elenry''s hands out of the way, ¡°It does matter what Sunala''s politics are. It does matter what her views are, and what she''s doing. She''s already shown us that we''re not welcome here, if she takes over the city.¡±


    ¡°We can smooth things over,¡± Urash said, ¡°Money is power, is it not?¡±


    ¡°Are you seriously talking about bribing the Verdant Reclamation?¡± Rosemary snarled, ¡°What, let us stay while they kill everyone else?¡±


    Urash was quiet. He looked away. All of them were silent. They could hear the fireworks through the walls. The wheezing as they soared into the sky, the bursting pops, like gunshots, as they exploded.


    ¡°...Boss,¡± Guerico said, ¡°You wanna tell them?¡±


    ¡°Tell us what?¡± Rosemary said.


    Wakeling was looking down. Her head bobbed in the air, up and down, shuddered a bit, like a rogue planet, before she looked over at Rosemary.


    ¡°Joseph''s in the Grand Commons,¡± she said, ¡°He''s fighting them now, defending the Lady Deirdre.¡±


    And the witch knew, at that moment, that nothing was going to dissuade Rosemary. A coldness took over in the young woman''s eyes, and she started to move. Elenry re-doubled her efforts to get her to lie down.


    ¡°No, El,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Let go of me, let go of me, I need to-¡±


    ¡°You''re still sick,¡± Elenry said, ¡°You''re in no shape for a fight.¡±


    ¡°I am!¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Let go of me!¡±


    G-Wiz let out a huff.


    ¡°Joe, huh?¡± she said, ¡°Forgot that you let him out of the cage for a little while.¡±


    ¡°Trust me,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°I didn''t expect him to be caught up in something like this.¡±


    Elenry wrestled Rosemary back to the bed. She was practically screaming now.


    Wakeling took a deep breath.


    ¡°...He''s family,¡± she said.


    ¡°He sure makes it hard to treat him like it, sometimes,¡± G-Wiz said.


    But she was already shouldering her Zumbelaphone. Ready to move out.


    ¡°Well, he''s getting better,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°And so must we.¡±


    Urash closed his eyes. Sighed.


    Wakeling''s eyes flashed silver.


    And she sent out the message.


    ***


    Broon looked up. Glanced over at Ezel. The guildmaster''s voice rang in both of their heads.


    ¡°Joe,¡± Broon said.


    His new scar still smarted, where the Pantheon crusader had torn his chest open. He was carrying a new sword after losing Kilnriv, but the weight was off. But, nonetheless, the half-orc rose from where he had been sitting in the Horrid Welt. Ezel joined him, that cheery, half-drunk smile of hers melting into a look of concentration. She gave a nod to Dama Runebreaker in the corner, and the dwarf, rolling her eyes, rose up to join them. The three of them walked out the door, the sounds of the Golden Round surrounding them, even here in the slums. Broon was already pulling his new blade free.


    ***


    ¡°Joseph,¡± Tek said.


    He felt the name float in his mind for a few moments, linger in his memories. A few of them apathetic, one of them terrible. For the mound had trusted Joseph, had trusted him to be there, as any guildmate should.


    But Joseph hadn''t. He had left.


    Tek considered that, ruminating on Wakeling''s message. He had been shopping at one of the market stalls, picking over a few pretty gemstones that he was decently sure he could pay Urash to appraise and cut for a piece of machinery he had been working on. Calacious Nine floated by him. Evidently they had also heard Wakeling''s message, and they were flashing purple to red at him.


    ¡°Aye,¡± Tek said.


    He looked down at the gemstone. Sighed.


    ¡°I''m not doing this for him, though,¡± Tek said, ¡°He''s... apologetic. He''s working at it. But...¡±


    Calacious Nine flashed green in question.


    The mound nodded.


    ¡°I suppose I can be professional about this,¡± Tek said, ¡°Business first, eh?¡±


    He paid for the gemstone. Stuck it into a bag.


    And moved off to help fight off a coup. The jellyfish followed.


    ***


    Joseph.


    Becenti had gone underground, moving through the cavernous network beneath Scuttleway. He had never much relished fireworks. They reminded him of gunshots, of darker days, of the warzones of his distant past. So, every year, he went into the earth, as though it were a religious ceremony of some sort. He would ignore the crab farmers still working in the shallow lakes beneath the city and lean against the wall, or sit down at one of the chairs provided for the nobles who trawled the caves to see their industry. This year, he was tempted to give into his darker impulses and have a drink. But he fought that off, pushed it down with the discipline he had forged for himself so long ago.


    But the temptation called at him. Beckoned, like a toxic ex-lover.


    And Wakeling''s voice echoed in his mind.


    Joseph.


    A metahuman, like him. One who had...


    Who had become like a son to him. Becenti was on his feet at once, weaving his way back up to the surface. He could hear the fireworks going off. Well, it was a coup, wasn''t it? He would be in a warzone yet. His heart thumped with a bitter anticipation.


    It was warm as he walked out of the cave. Good. It gave him plenty to work with. The old metahuman raised a hand. The air rippled around it in a mirage.


    In a shimmer.


    Despite himself, he gave a dark smile.


    ***


    ¡°You heard the message,¡± Mekke said to Barbara.


    The great toucan bobbed her head in a nod. The two of them were methodical and cool. Tiger was wielding the emerald-crusted scimitar he had traded for at InterGuild. The blade had a peculiar song to it as it whistled through the air, as it rang against the eln meia''s steel.


    Doubtless, he had heard the message, too. But Tiger was one who reveled in combat, and he did not have time to process what Wakeling was saying. This eln meia was far too skilled for him to lose his concentration. in the colosseum. Far below, they could see Tiger dueling against the traveling eln meia, the two of them waltzing around one another in a dance of steel. The eln meia wielded twin cutlasses, her strikes practiced and quick.


    But not Mekke. She was already rising, drawing her sword and inspecting it for any abnormalities. A habit of hers, really, she had already oiled and sharpened it this morning. Barbara was rising, too.


    A coup was taking place.


    And Joe was involved.


    ¡°Well,¡± Barbara said, ¡°At least he''s earning his bread.¡±


    Tiger was sheathing his blade. The eln meia was giving him a quizzical look. But Tiger withdrew from their duel, stepping away. The crowd below started to boo him, but he ignored their barbs as he moved out of the arena.


    Barbara was already taking off into the night, barreling out of the way of still-rising fireworks. Mekke went down to meet Tiger, who gave her a nod as the two of them walked side by side.


    ***


    ¡°Mr. Vicenorn,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°You''ll stay here.¡±


    The awkward frame of Vicenorn had stepped out of his room. A faceless head, skull-like and made of metal, looked down at the guildmaster. His voice came out tinny and garbled, despite the progress he had made.


    ¡°I need to help,¡± he said.


    ¡°You''ll only get yourself killed, Vicenorn,¡± Wakeling said.


    ¡°It''s a coup. It''s my city,¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°I can''t live through that again. The last time...¡±


    He trailed off. Wakeling sighed.


    ¡°I''ll connect you to the spell I''m working on,¡± she said, ¡°No, no, this is good. This means that I''ll be able to take the field. You''ll be mission control for this one. Understood?¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Vyde,¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°I''ll... I''ll make it up to you.¡±


    ¡°Make it up to me by doing well,¡± Wakeling said. She turned to the others. By now, they were all in the Great Hall. Most of them were about to move out into the city, ¡°Alright, the lot of you. Here''s the plan. I''ve been trying to reach out to the Militia and to House Rithmound, to see who''s left. You''re to rendezvous with them and your guildmates at the Bronze-Hued Keep to save the Doge. From there, you¡¯re to go and assist Joseph at the Grand Commons itself.¡±


    ¡°What about you?¡± G-Wiz asked.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be accompanying you to the Bronze-Hued Keep,¡± Wakeling said,¡°I won¡¯t be there long, just to make sure people get there safely. I¡¯ll be taking the prison. Don¡¯t worry about me. I¡¯ll take it on my own.¡±


    She glanced at the faces in the room. G-Wiz. Urash, scowling. Guerico. A few others. Most of her family was out in the city, making their way to the Doge''s position. She could almost imagine them all staring at her. She took a deep breath.


    ¡°This is going to be dangerous, all of you,¡± she said, ¡°This is an active combat situation. I want you all to watch each other''s backs, and I want you all to stay alive. Am I clear?¡±


    They muttered their assents. She forced herself to wear a smile.


    ¡°Good,¡± she said, ¡°Now, let''s go.¡±


    ***


    Becenti was among the first of the Amber Foundation to arrive at the Bronze-Hued Keep. He set himself across the street, in a snug alleyway between two buildings, glancing over his shoulder for a moment to make sure that he did not share the shadows. He could still hear gunfire coming from inside the building, difficult to suss out with the droning of the fireworks above. The wall surrounding the manor blocked all secrets, so Becenti, after a moment, made for the entrance. The two guards that guarded the door into the courtyard were dead, and the door was unlatched, its lock slashed through. It opened without a fuss. Becenti veiled a shield of heat over his arm, keeping it in front of him as he stepped into the courtyard. Corpses littered the front. Becenti took a deep breath.


    ¡°Hey, boss.


    He nearly jumped. Guerico was next to him, painted on the wall.


    ¡°Guerico,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Broon''s on his way here,¡± the Abstract Man said, ¡°So''s Ezel. Tiger and Mekke. Pretty much everyone.¡±


    Becenti''s eyes narrowed.


    ¡°Wakeling turned out everyone, did she?¡±


    ¡°Boss herself''s on her way.¡±


    The old metahuman grimaced.


    ¡°Then it''s over,¡± he said, ¡°She''ll take out the elves, and half the city, if she''s not careful.¡±


    ¡°She''s only bringing an arm,¡± Guerico said.


    More gunshots from inside. A scream.


    Footsteps from behind. Becenti checked to see Broon approaching, his sword drawn. Ezel trailed behind him a few steps away, G-Wiz and Urash too. Whiskey trundled forward, and...


    And Wakeling herself.


    ¡°Vyde,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Myron. What''s the status?¡±


    ¡°I just got here,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Looks like there''s still fighting. You''ve notified the Exodus Walkers that we''re going in?¡±


    Wakeling''s eyes flashed silver.


    ¡°They know now,¡± she said.


    Tiger and Mekke were streaming in. Tek and Calacious Nine. Dama Runebreaker. Nova, too, the neon elemental glowing like a bright green sun. Gouffant was skittering on one of the nearby rooftops. Orion''s sword was already ablaze with fire. G-Wiz started keying a few notes on her Zumbelaphone. Archenround was slithering forward, Sign-Blade in hand. A few members of the Militia were here, too, their weapons drawn, clubs and maces and swords.


    ¡°It''ll be an indoor fight,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Keep that in mind. Let''s go.¡±


    He turned, and he ran across the courtyard. A couple of elves had been posted outside, but Gouffant and Nova took them out before they could call out, the great rat pouncing on the one on the wall, Nova firing off beams of plasma at the one overlooking one of the terraces, spearing them through. Becenti wrenched open the door-


    To see that the entrance hall was caked in the remains of shadow. Still more bodies were here, the primary thrust of the Elven assault blunted by...


    Ket.


    The Exodus Walker. The black rabbit. He stood in the center of the room, on his knees, his entire body covered in slashes, cuts, and bruises. One of his ears had been almost cleanly shorn away by an errant blade. His nice suit was in tatters. His remaining eye slid over to the newcomers.


    It relaxed in relief. And then he collapsed. Dama Runebreaker ran to his side, checking him over as the rest of the group took the entrance hall, checking for any signs of immediate danger.


    ¡°Teams of three!¡± Becenti said, ¡°Secure the place, go!¡±


    And they moved out. Becenti found himself moving with G-Wiz and Broon down the hall. They made for the direction of the gunfire.


    They found a few of the elves holed up in one of the dining rooms. House Rithmound soldiers were at its entrance, one of them attending to his comrade, patching up a grisly-looking gunshot wound. Alonso Moriguchi was with them. The Exodus Walker was covered in blood, not much of it his own, but his nice suit had been torn to pieces and there were a couple rips in his mask. He still waved at Becenti, gesturing him to keep away from the door.


    ¡°They''re locked down tight in there,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°Gunman inside. Three others, as far as I can tell.¡±


    They heard the gunshots in another part of the building go silent. Followed by Urash barking out ¡°Clear!¡±


    Becenti pulled in ambient heat. Formed it into a wall.


    ¡°I''ll take point,¡± he said, ¡°G-Wiz. Get the gunner. Broon, you''re next. The rest of you come in after. Kill anyone you see.¡±


    He took a deep breath. Nodded to Moriguchi.


    Who pulled open the door.


    At once the elf inside opened fire, a hail of bullets that plinked uselessly against Becenti''s wall of heat. He pushed himself into the room. The elves had kicked over the circular dining table in the room''s center, using it as cover. Already the elf was jumping on top of it, though, trying to move around the metahuman''s shield.


    They were used to having the ranged advantage. Of using bows and arrows that struck into precise chinks in the armor, with trusting more in their speed than in hunkering down. The elf was a fool, he had allowed his natural instincts to take over-


    Becenti spun the shield, trusted in Broon to block the thrown dagger that whizzed towards his head from the elf''s compatriots. The half-orc was already slashing at the table, cutting it in two.


    G-Wiz fired off a beam of light from her Zumbelaphone. It cracked hard like a fist into the gunner''s stomach, shoving him into the wall. He collapsed, groaning, clutching his stomach-


    As the head of the beam of light shoved down on his head. Once, then twice.


    Broon, meanwhile, was slashing at the other remaining elves. A few of Rithmound''s men were joining him, their side of the room a flurry of steel and wood. Moriguchi weaved his way in, curling a hand into a claw and tearing out an elf''s throat.


    It was over in a moment. Broon ran the last elf through.


    Becenti looked around, checked the room for any hiding spots.


    ¡°Clear!¡± he shouted.


    He could hear more of his guild yelling out. Room by room, they were clearing out the Bronze-Hued Keep.


    It was over in a few minutes.


    ***


    In truth, it had been Ket who had done the majority of the work.


    He had kept as many elves as he could in the entrance hall, shadows swirling, ripping them to shreds. Blood and darkness stained the walls, the floor, the ceiling. Those elves who had managed to get past his defenses found themselves in the labyrinth that was the Bronze-Hued Keep, lost in rooms of stone and mundane miscellanea, to be picked off by the roving bands of Rithmound soldiers that knew the manor better than they.


    As had been intended by the building''s architect.


    When, at last, the last of the invaders had been cleared out, Doge Rithmound emerged from his hiding place. He was already in armor, a blade strapped to his side. His eyes glittered at the sight of the red stains in his home. At the corpses that were already being cleared away and thrown into the courtyard.


    ¡°Guildmaster Wakeling,¡± he said, ¡°It is good to see you here.¡±


    Wakeling nodded.


    ¡°One of our own is wrapped up in all of this,¡± she said, ¡°We thought we''d help him out, a bit.¡±


    Rithmound glanced. At the number of Amber Foundation that she had brought along. Wakeling herself floated in the air, her arm swirling around her like the ring of a gas giant. She was smiling serenely, but her eyes blazed with a dark sort of fury.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Rithmound said, ¡°What news do you bring?¡±


    She caught him up to speed. Rithmound nodded.


    ¡°Securing the prison is tantamount to our success,¡± he said, ¡°No doubt that Sunala''s already sent out squads to secure other major parts of the city. But that prison is in the dead center. It means more to us than the Grand Commons at this time.¡±


    Wakeling could see G-Wiz open her mouth to say something, but then close it. Joseph was still in the Grand Commons, and any delays to getting there would make his situation worse. The guildmaster caught her eye, and nodded.


    ¡°Leave the prison to me,¡± she said, ¡°Any force you can mount, send it to the Grand Commons. I suspect that Sunala will be there.¡±


    ¡°On your own?¡± Rithmound asked.


    And at that, Wakeling''s grin went from professional to devilish.


    ¡°Oh, yes,¡± she said, ¡°I was at Evukor, Doge Rithmound. I was the one who turned things around.¡±


    The hobgoblin considered her words. Then gave a curt nod. Something akin to fear danced in his eyes now.


    ¡°Right,¡± he said, and he turned, ¡°All of you, let''s move.¡±


    The Amber Foundation, the remainders of the Scuttleway Militia, and the soldiers of House Rithmound moved off. The fireworks glittered overhead. Always going off. As though they were a thousand colored eyes, watching the battle play out.


    ***


    Rosemary was alone in the medical bay. Elenry had gone out with the others as a field medic, to patch up wounds and (god forbid) give last rites to the dying. She was sure that the only other people in the guildhall now were Shambling and Vicenorn.


    That was good. It meant no one could stop her. She threw off her covers and sheets, moving off of the bed. She was just wearing a simple gown, not unlike the hospital wear found on planes like Prime, and she was glad that it was a warm night out as she tiptoed across the infirmary and to Elenry''s office. The gloivel was far too trusting ¨C she had kept it unlocked. Rosemary went inside, beelined for one of the chests at the end of the room by her desk. She picked out her cloak. Slipped on her boots, checked the charge on her sceptre. Lylana still had not repaired her armor, there were still rips and tears from her time with Ora Sota. But it would do. She pulled it on.


    She rose to her feet. Unsteadily at first, stumbled for a second, before she caught herself, her brow knitted in determination.


    She opened the door out into the Great Hall.


    Vicenorn was there, just at the base of Glass Slipper''s garden. A spell was in his patchwork hands, and he was mumbling to himself.


    Rosemary made for the guildhall''s entrance.


    ¡°Ah, Rosemary,¡± Vicenorn said.


    She turned.


    ¡°Didn''t Elenry tell you to stay?¡±


    ¡°She did,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°But you''re going anyway.¡±


    ¡°Joe''s out there, Vicenorn,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°You know I have to go out there.¡±


    Vicenorn was quiet. Part of him, she knew, wanted to still stop her. For part of him was right. She was still weak, part of her was still empty after her fight with Adonal Adaya. And yet...


    ¡°You care about him,¡± he said.


    She...


    She had not yet been able to put her thoughts on Joe into words. Something bubbled within her, some soundless thing that was raw and real and filled her idle thoughts.


    All she could do was nod.


    And, perhaps, Vicenorn recognized that feeling in her, for he recognized it within himself.


    ¡°Go, then,¡± he said, ¡°I wouldn''t be able to stop you anyways. Just... be careful.¡±


    She considered him for a moment, before moving off. Forced open the front doors, moved past Whiskey, who was silent as he watched her weave down the path that led to the city, down the street, and out of sight.


    Above, the fireworks roared.

 120. Attack on the Grand Commons

    Amidst the fireworks and the panic was a small little bar near the noble district of the city. A relatively run-down place that ran on House Korgan''s contract, it was overseen by a rather bored looking orc and his daughter, who was tending the drinks of the bar''s only patron this night. Many of the usual drunks who went to the bar, fresh from a day on the docks, or working the farms underground, were out in the city celebrating.


    Which was odd that the single figure at the counter was there at all. He was a wry-looking man, an elf by the looks of it, with a calm, almost sardonic smile. He was wearing simple brown robes, taking on much the aspect of the ascetic, a monk on his pilgrimage.


    And yet he indulged himself here, at this bar, and the five empty mugs by his hands were evidence of that.


    Tirmo Telundela''s vows did not forbid drinking.


    And so he sat, and waited. He had honestly been expecting this night to be quick, if brutal. His employers had already made their decision, despite the fact that the letter that had been sent to the Lady Sunala had been vague on the final decision. He had been planning on sneaking into her estate, dispatch her, perhaps spend the night at one of the brothels in the town, and set out in the morning.


    But this...


    Ohohoho, the fireworks. A veil, for the untrained ears, for gunshots and modern weaponry. Telundela had not seen such brazen desperation since his time as a Son of Darwin.


    And so, he waited. If the Lady Sunala was attempting a coup, then he wished her luck.


    ¡°My lady,¡± he said to the bartender''s daughter, ¡°Might I have another ale?¡±


    She nodded. Poured him out another mug. Tirmo Telundela sipped.


    Around half of the popping bangs outside were gunshots. He smiled.


    And waited for the night''s end.


    ***


    ¡°L-Lily-Ann,¡± Busciver said, ¡°What''s going on?¡±


    The former Doge and his niece had been dragged to the Grand Commons from their home at Moonstone on the Len, taken by Sunala to the throne of the city, carried by air elemental to the front steps in a forest of fireworks. Elves flanked Busciver on either side, had thrown the Lady Busciver into a corner. A battle had taken place here, the old gnome could see. Tables had been shattered. One of the upper galleries had been obliterated. The walls were pockmarked with bullets and slashes. Every elf in the room had a weapon drawn, curved blades or spears or daggers. Three of them carried heavy rifles pilfered from some far off, far more advanced plane.


    It was this aspect that terrified Busciver so. The complete and utter ignorance of the High Federation''s laws. Despite everything, Lord Rithmound''s ¨C No, Doge Rithmound''s words came back to him, from the debate.


    ¡°Fear the Federation. Fear the bear. Fear the lion. But know how they live. Know what makes them upset. Take advantage of that. And we shall prosper.¡±


    This...


    This blatant disregard, this was not fear. The elves carried none of that in them as they stalked the halls, looking over their shoulders with a cool, professional air.


    The Lady Sunala herself was sitting on the throne of the Doge. She was wearing armor, a silver scale make that glittered even in the dusk of the fireworks show outside. Her right arm was gauntleted in mail. Her left, however, was bare, her hand replaced by a wooden prosthetic that glowed a subtle emerald. The armor ended at the torso, replaced instead by a long skirt, dark green in color. One leg was crossed over the other, and an assault rifle rested on her lap like a babe. A gladiolus flower rested in her hair, which was tied back into a long ponytail, revealing her thin face, her eyes which burned with a fierce desperation.


    ¡°What does it look like I''m doing, Busciver?¡± she said, ¡°I''m taking back your city.¡±


    ¡°I...¡± Busciver swallowed, ¡°Lily-Ann, this isn''t...¡±


    ¡°Isn''t what?¡± and her voice was dangerous. Venomous, ¡°Right? Correct? The way to go about things? If you want power, Busciver, you need to be prepared to make gambles.¡±


    ¡°We made gambles, Lily-Ann,¡± Busciver said, ¡°W-We made them, and we lost.¡±


    She exhaled. She held her composure by a mere thread.


    ¡°And now, I am making more,¡± she said, ¡°This will all be over soon, Busciver. We''ll take what is rightfully ours. We''ll open our gates to Tlantoia. Scuttleway will once again be an Elven client state. As it always should have been. As it always will be.¡±


    ¡°Then why am I here?¡± Busciver said, ¡°I''m not... I''m not an elf.¡±


    ¡°You still have your uses,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Better to have you at my side, then for the Militia to take you in, hmm?¡±


    An air elemental drifted to her side, shimmering in the air like a heat mirage. It whispered words into Sunala''s ear, who nodded.


    ¡°I see,¡± she said, ¡°There''s fighting in the streets. Looks like our little gambit at hitting Rithmound failed.¡±


    She took a shuddered breath. For a moment the confidence she held so fast became undone, and she was a panicked thing.


    But then, she stood up from the throne. Checked the sights on her rifle.


    ¡°It was a risk,¡± she said, ¡°But, at least, we have the Grand Commons. The prison. If we hold here, we can hold forever.¡±


    She took a few steps forward to better look down at Busciver. Her shadow cloaked over him.


    ¡°The... prison?¡± Busciver said, ¡°Lily-Ann, stop this. You''re killing people.¡±


    ¡°Of course I''m killing people, my old friend,¡± Sunala said, ¡°I''ve already killed Captain Ramsey. I''ve probably taken out a few of Rithmound''s retinue as well. I heard that Lady Deirdre was here, somewhere. I will have killed a lot of people, before this night is through.¡±


    Busciver''s blood ran cold. He choked back a sob.


    ¡°I-I know this isn''t your heart, Lily-Ann,¡± he said, ¡°P-Please. This won''t... My god, you''re going to get yourself killed.¡±


    And, for a moment, the noblewoman wilted. For this... this was not her, despite her bravado. For a moment, Lily-Ann Doriama Sunala glanced around the room, as though sobered from a bad high, wondering how she had gotten here.


    ¡°I''m a dead woman already, Busciver,¡± she said, her voice a bare whisper, ¡°Either I die here, or they... they send someone. To remove me. I''ve fallen too far, Busciver. The only way to reach my heaven is through this.¡±


    She shouldered her rifle. Her eyes became hard again.


    And there was the stink of ozone in the air.


    She grimaced. Shoved Busciver to the ground, leaping in the same motion. A bolt struck the floor at the gnome''s feet, and he let out a wail as his sight became marred by a blinding, cobalt light.


    A moment later, a shockwave pushed him back. A boom echoed through the room. Elves were scattered, some of them leaping onto the walls and climbing to the upper galleries, others taking aim and firing at someone in the upper floors.


    Lady Deirdre''s guildfolk. Joseph Zheng. He had... he had guarded Busciver, hadn''t he? During his gala. Had inadvertently ruined Sunala''s plans to be rid of Rithmound, having taken her assassin off the board.


    One of the elves had made it to the top gallery. He leaped over, blade in hand, ran into the hallway above-


    And was thrown, a moment later, off the balcony, a deep rent torn through his chest. He crumpled on the ground. Lady Busciver let out a ragged scream. His niece, he needed to get her out of here, he needed to get-


    The balcony above began to shine azure. A massive being, a demon in blue, an eagle the size of a giant, tore through more elves as they reached the top. One of the elves on the ground, one with an assault rifle, opened fire, pinpoint aim tearing through the eagle''s eye. It dissipated. The glow disappeared, the blue day extinguished.


    Sunala was glaring.


    ¡°Come out, Joseph Zheng!¡± she snarled, ¡°This doesn''t need to involve you!¡±


    There was no response. Still more of her forces were moving upstairs.


    He saw more lightning. Heard more screams. Sunala had moved off, as had the two elves flanking him. One was by the noblewoman''s side. Another was climbing up the wall to get upstairs.


    It was all too much. The noise in his ears, the sounds of heavy gunfire like the explosions of the fireworks. His niece was screaming still, clutching the sides of her head. The former Doge could do nothing except curl into a ball and sob.


    ***


    The Amber Foundation, Militia, and House Rithmound forces weaved their way through the city, towards the Grand Commons. Rithmound was quick. Decisive, sending out a division of his own forces to eliminate those workers firing off the near-endless array of fireworks going off across the city. Becenti ran alongside Broon and Mallory, and the three of them watched as, one by one, the fireworks platforms went silent. The sky above festered with smoke. All had become eerily silent. Even the musicians had stopped playing. The city was disquiet as those Verdant Reclamation agents still in the city made their moves. Ambushed Militiamen. Attacked other House members. Orion''s blade burst into flame as he swung it at a sudden attacker, taking a slash to the leg for his trouble. Ezel''s water tore through a couple of elves who had been aiming crossbows at her from one of the rooftops.


    The people of Scuttleway began to take note of the darker events of the night. Citizens watched as Militiamen, now fully set up in military wear, pushed towards the Grand Common. A barricade between the main street and the palace was set up. Airships took the sky, bright beams cutting through the smoke and pointed at the prison and the Grand Commons. One, the Recluse, positioned itself directly over the Lord Busciver¡¯s estate. Ropes were lowered down, and House Rithmound forces snaked down to the roof, broke through, entered the building proper. Still more, including the Dreamer''s Lament and the Titania Amber, alighted from Castle Belenus.


    Meleko was aboard the Titania Amber, running scans of the Grand Commons below. He grimaced as the readings spilled out on the consoles. He clicked the button on the radio.


    ¡°Right,¡± he said, ¡°Yeah, Joseph''s in there, Becenti.¡±


    Far below, Becenti made his way to the barricade. Was let through by the Militia. Heat rippled around him as he walked. He was starting to sweat as he brought a hand to his ear, but realized that the voice was coming from inside his head, from Wakeling''s communication spell. Old habits died hard.


    ¡°How many elves?¡±A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    ¡°Well, there''s at least four dozen lifeforms in the palace, by the looks of it,¡± Meleko noted, ¡°A bunch of elves. A couple of gnomes. Joseph. A human.¡±


    ¡°The Lady Deirdre,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Aye,¡± Meleko said, ¡°The Dreamer''s Lament and the King of Pigeons are overhead now.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Becenti said. Indeed, high above the Grand Commons was the guild''s airship. Alongside it was a simply massive, hollowed-out praying mantis, four of its legs having been clipped and replaced by magical thrusters, its carapace thrumming with runes of levitation. Rithmound''s flagship. Among the largest ships in Scuttleway. Rithmound soldiers were streaming down from it now, on ropes, via magic spell-


    And were interrupted by the air elementals high above, which snared them and sent them plummeting to the cobblestones below.


    Beside him, Mallory winced.


    ¡°A few of them are getting there, at least,¡± Broon said.


    ¡°Not our part to play,¡± Becenti said, ¡°We help take the front entrance.¡±


    The elves had set up a barricade on the front steps. Elves with assault rifles. Sunala knew just how dire her coup had gotten. She was prepared to hold the Grand Commons for as long as possible.


    Becenti lifted a hand. The heat coalesced in front of his open palm. He, Broon, and Mallory took cover with a few Militiamen at a barricade between two buildings, just before the open plaza in front of the palace.


    ¡°Myron,¡± Ezel''s voice whispered in his mind, ¡°We''re in position. Orion took a bad hit on the way over.¡±


    ¡°That''s alright,¡± he said, ¡°Can he still fight?¡±


    ¡°Elenry''s applied a potion,¡± Ezel said, ¡°Should be enough.¡±


    He noted the hesitation in her voice. He chose to ignore it. He knew Orion. Knew the spellsword had been through worse.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said. A few more send-offs rippled in his mind. He took a deep breath, ¡°First volley, prepare. Fire on my mark.¡±


    Mallory took a chug from her thermos. Steam began to rise from her fingertips. Becenti could imagine Urash preparing the gems on his spellrod. Aldreia''s pillars of flame. G-Wiz playing a few keys on her zumbelaphone.


    ¡°Fire!¡±


    He let loose his metapower in a wave of heat. At the same moment, Mallory fired off twin streams of steam from her hands. Urash''s spell cracked the front steps of the palace, the ground opened in sinkholes, elves fell through, their destination the caves beneath the city. Aldreia''s flames lit up, beams of fire that seared across the plaza and burned holes into her targets.


    Steam settled in around the plaza square. Mallory''s work. Like a fog, it sat rigid in front of the palace. Becenti started to hear screams. The Steamer''s face was cool. Collected. Her magic was a violent one, when used in this manner.


    Something set in Becenti''s gut.


    ¡°Down!¡± he snarled.


    He and Mallory took cover beneath the barricade as a hailstorm of bullets ripped into it. Becenti stayed put. Mallory retreated back away from the makeshift cover, moving to the corner of a building. She could still use her magic here. That was good.


    But a pair of mages had set up an enchantment to block out the heat. That was the only explanation for why the elves were still active. Already they were laying down suppressing fire, bullets ripping through the barricade, keeping Becenti''s head down. Streaks of ice tore through the steam, rocketing towards the other positions heading towards the plaza.


    ¡°Mallory!¡± Becenti said, ¡°Drop the steam! It''s cover! Ezel and Orion, fire off at them with water and wind. Go!¡±


    The Steamer gestured, and the cloud she had made evaporated, revealing two elves with rifles, paired off with two magicians, spells in hand.


    The Militia opened fire on them, crossbows thrumming towards their now exposed position. Orion swiped his blade, letting loose a gale of wind that tore through one of the magicians. The other''s head snapped back as one of Ezel''s water whips slashed against his temple, and he crumpled.


    One of the Militiamen had been hit by a spray of gunfire. He was curled on the ground, his breathing quick, his eyes wide with shock. Elenry attended to him, working quickly, stripping off leather armor and working on the wound.


    They all heard the thunder rumble, then crack, from inside the Grand Commons.


    Joseph.


    ¡°One step at a time, people,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Let''s go.¡±


    ***


    The fight in the Grand Commons had moved to the upper floors.


    Joseph felt as though he had been walking through a blizzard. Pain, dull and throbbing, shuddered throughout his body. His knuckles were bruised. He was walking with a limp from an errant spear strike.


    Yet, despite this all, he found himself smiling. It was a wild grin, a madman''s. A wild animal''s. His soul was screeching within his stomach, its claws dripping with blood both Elven and plasmatic. A few bodies were at his feet right now, one with his stomach torn open, another one against the wall, which had cracked as he flew into it, his body steaming from the full bolt of lightning Joseph had speared through him.


    Joseph moved off. He could hear elves shouting now, the roar of gunfire below. Evidently Guerico had sent out the message. Good-


    An elf appeared out of seeming thin air. No, from the shadows-


    Joseph spun, soul''s claw realizing over his own, blocking the blade, blue splashing on the ground. He rocketed his other fist into the elf, manifesting the right claw at the last moment, and three dagger-sized claws punched through armor, plunged into flesh.


    Down the hall, leave the body behind. Joseph heard gunfire from below, shouts from above, on the higher floors. Had they airdropped people in?


    He took a second to glance down into the main gallery, where the throne was situated. Sunala had left. She had taken Busciver with her. Lady Busciver, too. Joseph went down another hall. Took the stairs. He could hear gunshots outside. The world had gone dark, the fireworks had been extinguished.


    Now there was no hiding the events of tonight.


    He weaved down to the storage room where he had told the Lady Deirdre to stay put. Joseph opened the door-


    And moved out of the way just as the old noblewoman threw the dagger at him. It wheeled right where his head had been a moment before, clattering to the ground outside the room. Joseph shot her a glare.


    ¡°Ah, Mr. Zheng,¡± Deirdre said, ¡°Perhaps it would have been better to announce yourself.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Joseph said. He closed the door behind him, ¡°Everything good here?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Deirdre said, and her voice caught for a moment, ¡°Ah, Mr. Zheng. You''re covered in blood.¡±


    He looked down at himself. Now that the adrenaline was gone, now that he could properly see himself, he noted how his blue jacket had been stained red. Not all of the blood on his knuckles was his own. He must have slipped at some point, because his knees were wet and sticky.


    ¡°I... I guess so,¡± Joseph said.


    He could hear the screams, still, in his mind, now that he was taking a moment to process them.


    No.


    There wasn''t time for that. Joseph took a deep breath. In. Out.


    He turned for the door.


    ¡°I''m going to try and link up with the people upstairs,¡± he said, ¡°See if I-¡±


    ¡°People upstairs, Mr. Zheng?¡± Deirdre said, ¡°The Militia?¡±


    ¡°I don''t know,¡± Joseph said, ¡°There''s fighting upstairs, though. Outside, too. I think there''s some pushback.¡±


    Lady Deirdre was silent.


    ¡°No one''s really been able to get to you here, right?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°I''ve hidden myself well,¡± the noblewoman replied, ¡°And the elves have more pressing matters to attend to.¡±


    As though in response to her words, they heard a series of cracks from downstairs.


    ¡°You''re in a unique position,¡± the Lady Deirdre said, ¡°Between two battles, in the middle. They know you¡¯re dangerous, but they also can¡¯t afford to give ground on either front.¡±


    ¡°Then it means I can finish this,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Find the Lady Sunala. Stop her.¡±


    He rolled a shoulder.


    ¡°Then better that they see me,¡± Joseph said, and he turned to the door, ¡°Stay in here. Out of sight. I¡¯m going to end this.¡±


    ¡°I...¡± the Lady Deirdre hesitated. Joseph glanced back at her.


    ¡°I don''t want another young man to die for my sake, Mr. Zheng,¡± she said.


    And at that, the metahuman gave her an absolutely vicious smile.


    ¡°Who said anything about dying?¡±


    ***


    One of their magicians, upon seeing the Amber Foundation break through the front entrance, slammed a fist against the ground. The marble floor cracked, seized upwards like an unbroken wave that rippled towards Becenti and the others as they rushed in. People dove to the side. Becenti went upwards, forming a platform of heat beneath him that rose from the ground, over the wave. He heard it crash behind him, heard screams of pain. No time for that now, he broke off two of the platform''s corners and sent them careening towards the magician. He missed the first, but the second slammed into the magician''s head like a heated pan. The elf crumpled.


    Others had managed to join him. Good. A few of the Militia. Rithmound''s men. G-Wiz was writing RISE into the ground, and the floor shattered and lifted into the air to act as cover. Aldreia, too, had gotten inside. The former cleric pointed a finger, and a tower of flames consumed one of the elves taking cover behind a pillar.


    But the mountain of marble behind them had sealed off the entrance. Becenti lifted up the heat platform as he landed, arrows plinking against the construct. More elves than he had expected were still on the first floor, firing off at him. They were pinned.


    He grimaced.


    ***


    On the top floors was a much different story. The Grand Commons, as a palace, had once been the primary home of the ruling governor of Scuttleway, back when the city had been a Tlantoian colony. The upper rooms were living quarters, bedrooms for the governor and his family, for visiting nobility. The beds, one day prior to the coup, had had their sheets cleaned. The bedposts polished, the floors swept, the walls cleaned, the desks dusted. Everything for a presentation, in case a few enterprising merchants decided to pay to use the palace to bed for the night.


    Now, however, the rooms were caked over with blood. The fighting up here, due to the close quarters, had become physical. No bows and arrows here. Blades were drawn, spears were dropped for shortswords due to the narrower halls and smaller rooms. Death was dealt by the blade here.


    And who else in the center of it all but Tiger. The big cat was snarling, his blade a whirl of green and gold as he swung at the elves in one of the halls, the barest edges of his curved sword dashing against the walls, rending deep scars into the marble. Mekke was beside him, her blade coated in red, her shield battered from combat. Her nose was broken, and she was missing a few teeth after an elf had slammed her full in the head with the pommel of their sword.


    The hall was taken. It branched off in two directions. Mekke looked to the right. Tiger to the left. Both of them were breathing heavily.


    ¡°Good,¡± Mekke said, ¡°Hall, clear!¡±


    A few of Rithmound''s soldiers, those who had managed to make it past the air elementals on the roof, shouted out affirmatives. Not as many as Mekke had hoped. Nor were there many of her guildmates ¨C Archenround had been forced to stay aboard, an errant gust of wind cutting a deep gash in her shoulder. Nova was flying high above, squaring off with the other elementals. Hopefully to let more Rithmound troops down.


    Yet there were just as many of them as there were elves on the ground.


    ¡°Myron,¡± Mekke gasped, tapping into Sunala''s communication spell, ¡°We''re losing men fast up here.¡±


    ¡°Pinned,¡± Becenti''s voice was tight with energy, and she knew that he was experiencing heavy resistance, too.


    ¡°Right,¡± Mekke said, ¡°We''ll make our way down to you.¡±


    She turned to Tiger. The big cat''s ears were turning, and he let out a low growl.


    ¡°They''re coming up from the floor below,¡± he said, ¡°Ten.¡±


    Mekke glanced. Only two of Rithmound''s soldiers were still standing.


    ¡°Even fight,¡± Mekke said, and she spat out a wad of red spit, ¡°We''ll hold here, wait for backup.¡±


    Tiger chuffed. He allowed Mekke to take point. The first line of elves appeared ¨C the narrow hall allowed for only two at a time. They came from the right. Mekke shoved her shield forward, pushing the first elf back. The other''s blade flashed forward, but Tiger deflected it, giving Mekke time to run the blade through the elf''s leg. Her guildmate took off the elf''s head a moment later-


    And another took the elf''s place. This one was better, his scimitars flashing like twin moons. They glowed oddly, reflected a bit too keenly against the moonlight-


    Enchanted.


    The blade cut through her shield like butter. Mekke dropped it at the last moment, blade thrusting towards the elf, whose partner parried the blow. Tiger made an overhead swing, and it rang against the scimitar-wielding elf''s. Mekke attended to his partner, thrusting and slashing, only to be met with a solid defense.


    Another exchange. Tiger let out a growl as the scimitar-wielding elf gave him a cut across the side. Mekke dispatched her foe, running him through.


    And another elf took her place.


    She grimaced.


    This was going badly.


    ***


    Joseph stalked down the halls, trotting up the stairs, keeping low to the ground in case someone decided to start opening fire on him. But the Lady Deirdre had been right ¨C there were more pressing matters to attend to. Sunala had arrayed her forces on the top and bottom floors of the Grand Commons. A battle on two fronts. One that she would, inevitably, lose.


    Best for him to find her directly. End this before any more lives were lost. He moved quietly from hall to hall, room to room.


    Until he found her. A large, empty gallery of some sort. Once upon a time, the Tlantoians had set this room up to show off the artifacts from the governor''s family line, the curved blades, the leaf-hewn sculptures, the paintings made by the governor''s ancestors. But all of those had been consigned to the fire during the revolution.


    All, save for one. Amidst the empty white walls, the empty white tables, and the empty white podiums, rested a single, simple pot, a flower sprouting from the soil. It was a deep scarlet in color, its petals shaped vaguely like crescent moons.


    Lady Sunala considered the flower, flanked on either side by two elves. The Lord Busciver and his niece were in the corner, holding onto each other, the gnome with a deep, purple welt blooming over his eye.


    Four against one. Joseph liked those odds. He took a deep breath, was about to enter the room, when Sunala turned suddenly. Her rifle was aimed at the opposite wall, at the window that was now opened, letting in the warm summer air.


    But then the noblewoman faltered. Did not open fire immediately. Instead, she simply said one word:


    ¡°Rosemary.¡±

 121. I Loved You

    The Scuttleway Jail had been secured, by blood and by blade, by the elves. Lazuli could hear them upstairs, taking potshots to the streets below. Blood deluged down the stairs to the cells in a series of sticky waterfalls. Lazuli was glad he could turn off his olfactory sensors. He was still under the bed, still in a low power state. So far, the elves hadn''t taken to exploring down here. They had given the place a cursory search, just to make sure there weren''t any Militiamen hiding below, then quickly went back upstairs to keep the place secured. No doubt Scuttler forces were on the streets outside. Lazuli guessed that most of the elves were on the rooftops, firing down at anyone who came too close, or sending off air elementals to update the rest of their soldiers throughout the city that the jail still held.


    If the android could shiver, he would. Old Professor Dulbari, his creator, had talked about installing the necessary programs. But he had been killed by the Federation before he could get around to it.


    As the shouts increased, as the cracks of kinetic firearms splintered the night above, Lazuli dearly wished he were back there, helping Old Dulbari heat up his tea, or grab his newspaper off the walk. Dearly wished he were back at Castle Belenus, pestering Joe or Barbara or even Becenti.


    Above all, Lazuli wished he was home.


    And then, home came to him.


    Wakeling appeared in a muted flash of silver. Her head. Her arm, which floated around her like a pale serpent. She looked around the cells for a few moments, taking stock of her situation.


    ¡°Lazuli,¡± the guildmaster said, ¡°Come on out.¡±


    The android did so. There was a hollow tone to Wakeling''s voice, one that he had never heard before.


    ¡°What''s the status here?¡± she whispered.


    ¡°...Not good,¡± Lazuli said, ¡°Elves have taken up the upper rooms. I think they''re on the roof.¡±


    ¡°You think?¡±


    ¡°I''ve been down here. In a cell. You think I can get out?¡±


    Wakeling pursed her lips, then blinked. The lock on the cell clicked, and its door opened. Another dull flash, and Lazuli found he was holding a knife.


    ¡°You still have those combat routines online?¡± she asked.


    Lazuli looked at her, his display coming alive with a pixelated face mute with shock. He could only give a silent nod.


    ¡°Good,¡± she said, ¡°Now, I don''t think it will come to that, but if anyone comes down here, I want you to be able to defend yourself. Stay behind me now, dear. Time to get to work.¡±


    And she turned to face the staircase. Her arm ceased its orbit around her head, minnowing over directly in front of her, hands splayed out and her palm against the air. She breathed in. Out.


    ¡°Muzu''anuat.¡±


    Just beyond the doorway into the jail, at the top of the staircase, there was a sound like a bell ringing. Lazuli felt the world lurch. Felt something in the laws of reality shift. As though one plus one was equal to three, and not two. As though gravity pushed things away, rather than draw them in. Lazuli''s internal calculator began to rush like a desperate heart, beating with each new set of equations.


    And then, the feeling went away. The order of the world restored itself.


    And above, the air was replaced with gas.


    Toxic gas. A vaguely pinkish cloud that hung in the upper floors like a bad fog.


    It wasn''t long before Lazuli started to hear the screams.


    ¡°What is-¡± Lazuli began.


    ¡°Hush,¡± Wakeling snapped. She was sweating. Her lower lip was quivering. But her eyes were set and hard, the silver in her eyes more like steel.


    Soon enough the screams died away. Lazuli could not see this, but the cloud that Wakeling had spoken into the world shoved its way onto the rooftop, blanketing the elves. It funneled as some of Sunala''s soldiers jumped off the roof and onto the streets, tendrils of gas snarling after them, smothering them whole in a grasp that felt like breathing molasses. Scuttler onlookers, those who watched through windows, or soldiers who had taken to the streets, would later describe what looked like eyes, two dark dots on a pink mass, moving this way and that, cartoonish and filled with glee.


    Not a single elf who guarded the jailhouse survived.


    Wakeling waited for them to die. Soon enough the screams quieted down into gasping chokes. And then silence.


    Everything was quiet.


    Lazuli looked at his guildmaster with wide eyes.


    She snapped her finger, and the cloud burned itself out. It burned the bodies too, consuming them and dissolving them into ash.


    ¡°Come, Mr. Lazuli,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Let''s see my handiwork, hmm?¡±


    Her voice was forced light. A weak attempt at professionalism. But all Lazuli could hear in the silence were the screams, still echoing in his memory banks and still recalled as though they were still happening.


    He followed the floating head, this witch. This woman who had turned back the Salthirnans at Evukor. Who had traveled the multiverse for almost her entire life, and learned magic that was not to be learned, spoke languages that should not have been spoken.


    The jailhouse was quiet. There was no one inside. Even the dust had been devoured, leaving the interior of the Militia''s base pristine and polished. The air smelled crisp and clean.


    Wakeling spoke into the air, and Lazuli heard her voice in his head. A mental link to the rest of the guild.


    ¡°This is Wakeling,¡± she said, ¡°The jailhouse is secure.¡±


    ***


    Joseph moved so that he was right beside the door, peering in through the frame at Sunala. The noblewoman was staring at the window, the two guards beside her bearing their weapons. But Sunala brought up a single wooden hand, and they stood their ground.


    Rosemary had climbed her way up to this floor, brick by ever-painful brick, and the effort seemed to have taken a lot out of her. She was pale, paler than Joseph had ever seen her, and her eyes were sunken and hollow. She was breathing heavily as she raised up her sceptre to point it at Sunala, the end of the rose lighting up the room like a miniature star.


    But she did not fire. She merely aimed. Swallowed. Continued panting.


    ¡°Rosemary,¡± Sunala said, ¡°My... my dear, please. Put the sceptre down. This doesn''t have to be like this.¡±


    Busciver was mewling in the corner, nursing his purple eye. His niece was crawling over to him, slowly, and she wrapped her arms around him and held him close. Her face was white and filled with fear.


    Rosemary swallowed again. She was moving out of the window now, extricating herself and planting herself on the floor. She was unsteady on her feet. Yet she still aimed.


    They heard gunfire downstairs. Bang bang bang bang. Joseph''s heart leaped to his throat as he glanced over his shoulder. But no, no one else was here. The entire floor was empty save for the seven of them.


    Sunala held her rifle in hand, but even now she was lowering it, just a bit. The grip ¨C and her hands, both flesh and wood ¨C was slick with blood. Her armor was torn. She must have hit her head at some point, because she bled freely from her head. Even now, she was using a sleeve to wipe it from her forehead like crimson sweat, never taking her eyes off of Rosemary.


    ¡°Dear,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Don''t. Turn around. Leave the way you came.¡±


    ¡°I...¡± Rosemary''s eyes went from hard to sad. She wilted, ¡°I wanted to see you for myself. To tell myself it wasn''t true. That you weren''t doing this.¡±


    She was at a loss for words.


    ¡°You forced me to do this, Rosemary,¡± Sunala said, a note of bitterness creeping in, ¡°You, and your little honeyed tongue. You revealed our plans to the enemy.¡±


    ¡°The enemy?¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Is Rithmound truly your enemy? Is the guild?¡±


    ¡°You little snitch,¡± Sunala said, harsher this time, ¡°All of the death here, it''s because of you. All of it is on your head. Your shoulders.¡±


    Rosemary grimaced. Her free hand was shaking. Curled into a fist.


    ¡°N-No,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°You... you were the one who chose to do this. I''ve... I''ve heard these words before. Stop twisting it around on me. Look at yourself, Milady. Look at what you''ve done.¡±


    Sunala blinked. Glanced around her. At her two guards, their scimitars dyed red. At the cowering forms of the Buscivers. Her old friend, with a bruise to his eye she had given him. The sky outside still choked with smoke from her fireworks. More gunshots downstairs.


    ¡°I thought about it a long time, you see,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°I really did. I didn''t want to believe that you were... like this. Like a monster.¡±


    ¡°I am not a monster,¡± Sunala hissed.


    ¡°I heard what you said,¡± Rosemary said, her voice choked, ¡°Remember? After Adaya''s speech, back at InterGuild. A world for elves. Only for elves. That means... that means everyone here, my family, my guild, they wouldn''t be part of it? Mallory? Joe? Phineas?¡±


    She took another step forward.


    ¡°They helped you, Sunala. They saved your life.¡±


    Sunala was quiet.


    ¡°Did that world include me?¡± Rosemary pressed, ¡°Was there a place for me? Or was it inevitable that I¡¯d be found out, that I wasn¡¯t ¡®pure¡¯ enough for your Elven homeland. That I¡¯d be cast aside. Killed, like everyone else. I¡­ I didn¡¯t want to believe it.¡±


    And she faltered.


    ¡°If you didn''t want to believe it, then why did you betray me?¡± Sunala said, ¡°Why tell Rithmound about the dead plane?¡±


    ¡°Because I did believe it,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Because I knew Rithmound would do something. Something I couldn¡¯t. I told him about Chliofrond. He did the rest.¡±


    ¡°Guilt-free retribution,¡± Sunala said, almost snarled.


    Rosemary flinched.


    ¡°We all knew what you were planning to do,¡± she said, ¡°We knew what the Verdant Reclamation¡¯s goals were. Are.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re not my goals, Rosemary-¡±


    ¡°And it doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°You know that. You know that you¡¯ve gone too far. I¡­ I couldn¡¯t abide by it. I couldn¡¯t let you destroy everything and everyone I love. Even if it ends with you hating me.¡±


    She let the words hang in the air. Sunala lowered her rifle.


    ¡°I... I don''t hate you, Rosemary,¡± she said, and her voice was wistful.


    ¡°I know,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°And that''s the... the sad part. There''s a way you looked at me. Like I''m worth something. I...¡±


    The end of the rose began to glow. Joseph''s entire body began to shudder with lightning, as he prepared himself.


    ¡°I loved you, Sunala.¡±


    And she fired the sceptre.


    Sunala raised her rifle, opened fire.


    A beam of light, a shard of the sun, tore through Sunala''s shoulder.


    Rosemary doubled over as a bullet struck her in the stomach.


    Joseph turned into the room. Ozone filled the air. The sun was eclipsed by the storm, as he unleashed a bolt of lightning at Sunala.


    One of her guards shoved the injured Sunala out of the way, took the full brunt of the attack, was blown back, smashing into the stand with the single flower and into the wall.


    The other guard spun. Joseph was closing the distance-


    ¡°Joseph!¡± Rosemary screamed.


    But it wasn''t the guard Joseph had to worry about. Sunala was quick. She pointed her oaken hand at Joseph-


    Five fingers extended out like spears, thrusting forward faster than the metahuman could blink. They pierced through his side, and he let out a gasp as their rigidity loosened, as they became like tendrils as Sunala lifted him into the air. She stood up, her right arm swaying at her side in a deadman''s hang, the other quickly being overtaken by root and vine.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.


    She spun. Threw Joseph across the room. Blood trailed behind him, liquid clouds that splattered to the marble floor. He cracked hard against the wall, slid down, smeared it red. He let out a groan.


    ¡°Joseph!¡± Rosemary made to run to him, but Sunala spun. Opened fire on her, again, and Rosemary this time was fast enough to erect a barrier of light, a spray of bullets thundering against her shield.


    The remaining guard was approaching Joseph. The metahuman was trying to get up, to move, to do anything to get started again.


    The guard raised his sword-


    The eagle erupted from Joseph''s chest. One claw grabbed hold of the guard''s sword hand, another slammed a fist into his stomach. The blow lifted the guard off his feet, but the eagle held on so he did not fly off. Instead, the soul rose, grabbed hold of the guard''s torso, twisted him into a headlock.


    ¡°E-Enough, Sunala,¡± Joseph wheezed.


    The elf turned. Joseph was surprised at how weak his voice was, but his eyes were alight with a cobalt fury. The eagle fizzled and popped like a suspended lightning bolt as he held his hostage fast.


    ¡°Joseph Zheng,¡± Sunala said, ¡°I''m... surprised. Does anything kill you?¡±


    ¡°Takes... more... than... you.¡±


    Sunala smirked.


    ¡°Indeed, Mr. Zheng,¡± she said, ¡°Out of all of your kind, I respected you the most.¡±


    ¡°Don''t... move.¡±


    The eagle''s claw moved to the guard''s head. Claws tip-tapped against his temple.


    ¡°Or... I... kill.¡±


    ¡°You would do that?¡± Sunala said, ¡°Do you really have the guts to?¡±


    ¡°Had to get up here... somehow... right?¡±


    They locked eyes. And she knew he would do it.


    The noblewoman pursed her lips.


    ¡°...Interesting,¡± she said, ¡°Well, then,¡±


    She aimed her rifle at the Buscivers.


    ¡°Drop him, Joseph Zheng. Or I wipe away our former Doge.¡±


    ***


    The stone barricade at the entrance of the Grand Commons melted away. Urash, his spellrod glimmering with gemstones, was at the front entrance, his bald head sweating in concentration. Mallory was beside him, steaming already rippling from her palms. It rushed over Becenti''s head like a wave, into the line of elves still holding the first floor, the throne room. The gunfire pinning them down stopped.


    ¡°Fire off!¡± Becenti snarled.


    Aldreia''s fire sang into the room. G-Wiz shot off beams of light. More stone from Urash lifted up from the ground, and he threw them into the room. Becenti himself unleashed a wave of pure heat, as much of it as he could muster and control, his hands shaking from the effort. A few of Rithmound''s mages joined in with them, firing off magic spells of their own, splashes of acid, or fire, or bolts of ice.


    ¡°Mallory!¡± Becenti ordered, ¡°Lift the steam, now!¡±


    She did so. The metahuman rushed in, pulling in the ambient heat from her steam around him. He heard Aldreia rush in with him, along with a few Militiamen. A few Elven magicians were still standing, their hands a blur of spellwork to protect them from the assault.


    Becenti formed a dagger out of heat, rushed to the first one he saw. Battered aside the weak defense. Gutted him like a fish.


    Aldreia was working too, searing away the final magician with a wall of flame. Her eyes were alight with fire, and a dark smile was painted on her face. The air reeked of cooked meat.


    It made Becenti want to vomit. He controlled himself, feeling a dull pain in his back. He stretched as more of the Militia moved into the room.


    ¡°Getting too old for this,¡± he muttered.


    One of Rithmound''s men was aiming a crossbow up at the top of the galleries, but no one was coming in. Nonetheless, Becenti moved away from the election room. He didn''t fancy getting plugged in the head tonight. Aldreia was cooling off, her hands steaming. Mallory was chugging her thermos. Urash was looking at his spellrod.


    ¡°Two spells left, Myron,¡± he said, ¡°Not much juice left.¡±


    ¡°Use what you can,¡± Becenti said.


    Through the shattered entrance, he could see Elenry attending to one of the injured Militiamen. A carriage was coming up along the road, flanked by Rithmound soldiers riding krems. Doge Rithmound stepped out, in full armor, the Phrygian Cap notably set atop his head. His son, Isaac Rithmound, joined him. As did Alonso Moriguchi, who had put on a new suit.


    Rithmound met Becenti in the middle of the courtyard. The hobgoblin''s eyes were looking up to the Grand Commons, studying the architecture, his ears flickering a bit at the sound of gunfire inside.


    ¡°Still intense fighting, I see,¡± he said.


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I would stay out here, Milord. It''s still an active combat zone.¡±


    At this, the Doge grimaced.


    ¡°I should be in there,¡± he said.


    ¡°I don''t think you should,¡± his son, Isaac, drew up beside him, ¡°I don''t think you should be here at all. I''ll go in. Lead from the front.¡±


    ¡°My son-¡±


    But Isaac was already moving off, drawing his sword. Rithmound troops closed in around him. Moriguchi looked to the Doge, who gave a curt nod.


    ¡°Right,¡± he said, ¡°I''ll protect Raulito, Milord.¡±


    And the Exodus Walker went off.


    ***


    ¡°You wouldn''t,¡± Rosemary gasped. She was clutching her stomach now, had sunk to her knees from the gunshot wound, ¡°Sunala, don''t.¡±


    ¡°I will,¡± Sunala said. She aimed her rifle at the Buscivers. Lord Busciver''s one good eye went wide. Lady Busciver let out a ragged sob, and buried her face into her uncle''s shoulder.


    ¡°L-Lily-Ann,¡± Busciver said, ¡°Lily-Ann, what are you doing?¡±


    ¡°...What I must,¡± Sunala said. But this sounded forced. Like she was trying to convince herself.


    Joseph''s eyes narrowed. He let out a wheezing cough.


    The eagle''s claws moved to his hostage''s throat.


    ¡°Joe, don''t,¡± Rosemary said, noting this, ¡°P-Please, enough people have died today.¡±


    ¡°I... don''t... care,¡± Joseph said. Through his soul''s eyes, he could see the Buscivers cowering. This wasn''t right. None of this was right. Innocent people had died tonight.


    And one of the perpetrators was in his hands.


    ¡°Lily-Ann,¡± Busciver pleaded, ¡°I know this isn''t you. I-I know that you''re... that you''re-¡±


    ¡°That I''m what?¡± Sunala said, ¡°Go on, Busciver, tell me.¡±


    ¡°A good person,¡± Busciver said, ¡°I know you, Lily-Ann-¡±


    ¡°No, you don''t,¡± Sunala snapped, ¡°None of you know me. What I''ve been through. What I''ve had to sacrifice to get to where I am.¡±


    ¡°Maybe so,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°But... this doesn''t have to end like this.¡±


    Sunala glanced over at her former assistant. Rosemary was using her sceptre to support herself, pushing herself back onto her wobbling feet. She glared hard at Sunala.


    ¡°Let''s... let''s be logical here,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°What happens after you... kill Busciver?¡±


    ¡°I kill Joseph. Then I kill you,¡± Sunala said.


    Rosemary winced at the frank assertion.


    ¡°Is it?¡± she said.


    They heard more fighting down below. From above, as well, the gunshots suddenly winking out.


    ¡°You''re pinned, Sunala,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°You''re... against the wall. Desperate. And all that''s leading to is more suffering. For you and yours.¡±


    She gave a frank nod at Joseph. At the elf. By now, the eagle''s claws were digging into the elf''s head, his neck. Blood, like teardrops, began to fall from the pinpricks.


    ¡°I...¡± Sunala murmured, ¡°I...¡±


    ***


    Mekke was down. Her shield was busted on the ground behind her, and she was sporting several nasty wounds. She was alive, at least, wrapping the cut on her side in gauze from an emergency pack. One of the other Rithmound soldiers was beside her, very much dead, his head taken off from the scimitar-wielding elf. Tiger, still, was dueling him, three blades ringing. But they were the only three blades in the hall now that were being used. Corpses choked the floor. Blood pooled like flooding rainwater. They had held, somehow.


    No, Tiger had held. He truly was a wild animal. His eyes had gone wild, almost rabid. His blade strokes were heavier, more savage, more unhinged. It was not defense that had kept Tiger alive this night, it was overwhelming offense. One could not strike him down if one was too busy defending themselves from his strikes, slashes that whirled faster than one could see, mere glints of emerald and steel in the half-dusk of the city.


    The scimitar-wielding elf was matching his blows. But he was on the defensive. The two of them danced over flesh and armor, blades ringing-


    Until, at last, Tiger got past his guard. Slashed open the armor, his blade tearing through rings and scaled mail like paper. For his blade, too, was an enchanted make. The elf fell to the ground.


    Tiger kept on him. Slashed at him. Stabbed at him. At one point threw the blade away entirely to start tearing chunks of him away. The big cat forgoed this, too, and grabbed the dead elf''s neck with his teeth, holding the corpse with his jaws, tore away his throat in a final spasm of brutality.


    The corpse fell with a mundane splot. Mekke watched as Tiger, hunched over, looked around, sniffed the air, turned to her. There was a ragged edge to him now, his breathing coming out heavy. Exhausted. Triumphant.


    Wanting more.


    ¡°Tiger,¡± Mekke said, ¡°...Tiger?¡±


    He stalked towards her. Stepped over the corpses on the floor. Mekke''s heart hammered in her chest, but this was no time to panic. She had seen him get like this before. She felt around for her sword for a moment, found it, dragged it behind her back with shaking hands, ready to keep her guildmate at bay.


    ¡°Tiger,¡± Mekke said, working to keep her voice steady, ¡°Wake up.¡±


    He lowered himself down so they were face to face. She could smell his reeking, iron-tinged breath.


    ¡°Tiger,¡± Mekke whispered.


    And he came to. The wild eyes disappeared. He let out a low growl, stood up tall, proffered her a paw.


    ¡°Apologies,¡± he rumbled, ¡°I lost myself.¡±


    ¡°It''s fine,¡± Mekke said, ¡°It happens.¡±


    ¡°Hnn,¡± Tiger said, ¡°That does not make it right.¡±


    He looked around the room. At the devastation he had wrought. Rithmound''s sole remaining soldier was looking at him, his eyes wide with fear. The big cat sneered.


    ¡°We are alive,¡± he said, ¡°Let Becenti know.¡±


    Mekke nodded, tapped into Wakeling''s mental spell.


    ¡°Becenti,¡± she thought, ¡°We''re done here. Going down another floor.¡±


    There was a pause.


    ¡°Right,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I''m outside now. Meleko, how many lifeforms can you detect? How many elves?¡±


    Another pause. Meleko''s voice rang into the spell a moment later.


    ¡°Only a few more in the upper floors. The rest are us. Looks like Joe¡¯s on the fifth floor.¡±


    ¡°Good, he¡¯s still alive,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I''m letting the Doge know now.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Mekke said, ¡°Over and out.¡±


    She clicked the spell off. Winced at her wounds. Tiger had moved away from her, was cleaning his blade with a bloody rag. He looked at her, and she noted a hint of shame in his eyes.


    ¡°It really is alright, Tiger,¡± Mekke said, ¡°We know that you''ll come back to us. You always do.¡±


    ¡°I might still hurt someone,¡± he said, and he glanced at his carnage, ¡°Well, hurt someone I don''t intend.¡±


    ¡°But you haven''t. Not yet. And you never will,¡± Mekke limped over to her guildmate, rested a hand on his shoulder, ¡°You are more than an animal, my friend. Come, I believe this is almost over. Let''s rest. Look to our wounds.¡±


    He let out a low growl. But nodded.


    ***


    ¡°That''s the last of them,¡± Meleko said, ¡°Except for whoever Joe''s fighting on the fifth floor. A few on the fourth. Seven, maybe eight elves left. We''re converging on them.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Becenti asked.


    ¡°I am,¡± Meleko said, ¡°I think I''m scanning a few more agents throughout the city, but they won''t be able to do much.¡±


    The Doge cut in.


    ¡°We''ll deal with them in due time,¡± he said, ¡°Excellent work, Mr... Meleko, was it?¡±


    ¡°No problem,¡± Meleko said, ¡°I''m making for another swing around.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Becenti said, ¡°And the prison...?¡±


    ¡°Cleared,¡± Meleko said, and through the spell, the metahuman could tell that the Jugdran was placing his words carefully, ¡°All cleared.¡±


    Becenti nodded. He looked to the Doge. Rithmound was giving him a grim sneer.


    ¡°Time to go in,¡± he said, ¡°If it''s over, I need to be in the thick of the recovery actions. Besides, it''ll be safer in the Grand Commons then it will be out here.¡±


    ¡°Nonetheless, I recommend caution,¡± Becenti said.


    The Doge opened his mouth as though to retort, but wisely closed it. His beetle-black eyes stared out at the palace for a few moments, before he gave a nod.


    ¡°Will you be at my side, Mr. Becenti?¡±


    ¡°I will,¡± Becenti said, and then he gave a smirk, ¡°Assuming there''s a bonus, of course.¡±


    The Doge let out a dark chuckle.


    ¡°Of course,¡± he said.


    ***


    Inside, Isaac Rithmound had drawn his sword. Had tasted combat for the first time in a long time. His heart was pounding as he cleaned the blade, as he stared hard at the elf he had killed, having run her through with a final stroke. He could hear more sounds from across the hall. More fighting. Moriguchi was at his side, cracking bruised knuckles.


    ¡°Almost over,¡± he said.


    ¡°Indeed, Raulito.¡±


    Isaac looked down at his sword. He had forged it himself, in grand Rithmound tradition. He had worked with his father''s forgemaster, pounding the metal into shape, sharpening it to a fine point, inlaid the enchantments himself, with the House enchanter. It was the first time it had seen real combat. Part of him realized that he had always hoped it to be a ceremonial thing. A product of a bygone era.


    ¡°Do you think,¡± he said, ¡°Do you think it was necessary?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Raulito,¡± Moriguchi said without hesitation, ¡°It is always necessary.¡±


    His father was walking into the Grand Commons. Isaac could see him from one of the balconies where, just a few weeks ago, he had seen a couple of dignitaries from Mantis Shrimp hmm-ing and haw-ing at the election debates. He gave the Doge a wave. The Doge nodded back.


    ¡°Must mean it''s over,¡± Isaac said, ¡°Or nearly so.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Moriguchi said, ¡°Thank the stars for that.¡±


    ***


    They heard the shouts of Rithmound soldiers from below. Rosemary''s eyes flickered to the open door, then back to Sunala.


    ¡°It''s over,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°And you know it is. You''ve failed, Lily-Ann.¡±


    ¡°Don''t call me that,¡± Sunala said, ¡°Don''t you dare-¡±


    ¡°Milady,¡± Rosemary pleaded, ¡°It''s over. Rithmound soldiers are pouring into the Grand Commons as we speak. I know. I saw them as I was walking in. I saw Wakeling make her way to the prison. She brought one of her arms with her. I don''t know if that means anything to you, but if you knew her...¡±


    She trailed off. Joseph, in his blooded fugue state, knew what the old bat could do as just a head. He had also seen her use a single arm, and his head was still spinning.


    ¡°I die here, or I die later, Rosemary,¡± Sunala said, ¡°It isn''t as simple as giving up.¡±


    And yet part of the noblewoman already had. Her rifle was no longer aimed at Busciver. The roots digging into her skin had begun to recede back to her artificial hand. Her voice was tight as she spoke.


    ¡°They mean to kill me,¡± she said, ¡°They sent¡­ an agent, after me. To assess what I had done here. And I have not done well, Rosemary.¡±


    She looked at Rosemary with haunted eyes. The eyes of a dead woman walking.


    ¡°I am a loose end, my sweet, dear Rosemary. I am nothing but a wilted flower.¡±


    Rosemary swallowed, her mind racing.


    ¡°We-We''ll protect you,¡± a small voice said. It was Busciver, ¡°I''ll talk to Rithmound. Get him to protect you from them.¡±


    ¡°Do you really think Rithmound would protect me, Busciver?¡± Sunala said, and she let out a small, haughty, empty chuckle, ¡°Me?¡±


    ¡°He follows the rule of law,¡± Busciver said, ¡°He follows the will of the city.¡±


    ¡°And the will of the city would have me executed for treason,¡± Sunala said, ¡°It is death all the same.¡±


    ¡°It''s death with your head held high,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°It''s not... like this.¡±


    And she gestured around. Sunala considered her words. Looked to be on the verge of tears.


    ¡°Rosemary,¡± she said, her voice breaking, ¡°I''m so, so scared.¡±


    ¡°...I know,¡± Rosemary said.


    She took a shaky step forward.


    ¡°I know. We''re living in scary times. And you''ve done awful things. You¡¯ll¡­ you¡¯ll have to face the consequences. But please, don''t let it be here.¡±


    Another shaky step. She extended her hand.


    ¡°Don''t die in the sins you''ve wrought.¡±


    And the noblewoman sighed. She dropped the rifle. As she moved, her oaken hand fell away like a dead branch, clattering with a dull thud to the ground. And she was Sunala once more. Handless. Her heaven unattained.


    And it was this woman that the Rithmound soldiers found as they entered the room, weapons drawn. Holding onto Rosemary, this faerie, in her eyes a lesser thing. Rosemary cradled her like a child.


    Her face was like glass.


    The fireworks had gone out.


    The sky choked with smog. The ground choked with death.


    But it was over.

 122. Coup de Grace

    The morning after the coup attempt was chaos.


    The agents of the Verdant Reclamation still lingered in the city. Some were smart, leaving Scuttleway in the night, stealing away into the cold winter snows to survive in the wilds. Those were the survivors, the ones who would make their way back to Tlantoia, back to the bases of the Verdant Reclamation on the other side of the Landmass.


    Those who stayed in the city, those who decided to hole up in some inn or other, in Sunala''s manor, or in the remaining White Feather safehouses, were put to the sword. To the spear. To magic, horrid and beautiful. They were captured and put into holding cells in the Bronze-Hued Keep. When the Militia arrived at the prison, they found it near-devoid of life. Only a few members of the Militia, as well as Lazuli, were still inside.


    Everyone else, the elves, the bodies they had left behind, were gone. In their place was dust. Wakeling floated in the center of the lobby, her arm orbiting her head like the ring of a planet, a somber look on her broken face. Lazuli was looking at her differently now. With something akin to...


    Akin to fear.


    Sunala''s manor was taken, and cleared out. The Militia, Rithmound''s soldiers, and the Amber Foundation were hard at work picking out the last enchantments, the last traps, the last stragglers, from that place. From other parts of the city, too.


    But, by morning, most of it was over. Wakeling deigned to send most of her people home.


    Those uninjured, at least.


    Those injured were brought to the infirmary. Most with cuts and bruises. Joseph was, perhaps, the worst of them. He was cordoned off from the rest of the guild. He had multiple slashes across his body, three broken ribs, a crack in his arms, four broken fingers...


    It was, Elenry said, a miracle he was alive in the first place. More of his blood seemed splattered on the floors of the Grand Commons than inside his body.


    All Joseph could give in response to that was a truly vicious smile, missing tooth and all. Elenry rolled her eyes at that, ignored the urge to smother him with a pillow, and continued sewing him back together.


    ***


    Rosemary was there as they brought Sunala to her prison. As per the negotiations Busciver had with Rithmound, she was to be put under protection, thrown into one of the Bronze-Hued Keep''s cells, to be guarded by Ket, the Inl¨¦an''s wounds having healed up enough for him to go back onto the field. Sunala simply sat in the cell at the table provided for her, her face impassive.


    Rosemary sat on the other side, her arms crossed, biting her lip. Elenry had worked quickly with her, to remove the bullet in her gut and smooth the wound over with magic salves. She would need proper surgery, when she got back to the guild. But she had insisted on coming here, first.


    To say one last piece?


    To say goodbye?


    She wasn''t sure.


    She hadn''t slept at all since the coup. Even now, as the Inner Sun sparked to life and drenched the world in light. She swayed unsteadily, even in the chair, Mallory holding her shoulder in case she fell.


    But Rosemary didn''t fall. All she could do was stare at Sunala.


    Just Sunala, now. Doge Rithmound had sent out the call to the other Houses for a vote to strip her of her noble status. They could not take everything from her, but Sunala would no longer be a noble of the Great Orange Crab.


    Not that it mattered. The price of treason was execution. Soon, the Lady Sunala would be nothing at all, save for what lay on the other side of all things.


    And both of them knew that Sunala¡¯s execution would not come from the city.


    ¡°Mallory,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°You can go.¡±


    Mallory looked down at her guildmate.


    ¡°You sure?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°Rosemary, you''re barely awake.¡±


    ¡°I''ll drink a coffee when I get home. When Elenry''s looking over me again. It''s alright, really. You can just wait outside.¡±


    The Steamer''s brow furrowed. But she gave Rosemary a nod, and walked out of the room, closing the door behind her. Rosemary knew that they weren''t completely alone ¨C there were magical sensors here, and with Ket around the shadows had ears, but nonetheless she wanted as much privacy as possible.


    ¡°Well,¡± she said, ¡°It''s over.¡±


    Sunala did not respond. Through her window, the Inner Sun peaked out, filled the room with its glow.


    ¡°I...¡± Rosemary stuttered, ¡°I don''t know what to say.¡±


    The noblewoman did not reply.


    ¡°I know... I know what you must think of me,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°A traitor. A... A wingless freak.¡±


    She bit her lip, feeling a lifetime of insults wash over her.


    ¡°Did you... you really believe it?¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Back at InterGuild. Adaya''s rally. Did you truly believe it?¡±


    Outside, they could hear dogs barking. Music drifted through the window from the markets. Not even a bloody coup could stop the flow of coin, the trading of goods, the Golden Round.


    ¡°I''ve been thinking about it,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°About what you''ve said over what you''ve done. Parts of them make sense. Parts of them don''t. I don''t know. I''ve never been good at this.¡±


    ¡°A lie,¡± Sunala whispered.


    Rosemary wilted.


    ¡°I...¡± Rosemary sighed, ¡°If all you ever wanted was power, why work with them? With the Reclamation? I see you, and what you did for me, and I can¡¯t understand why. It¡¯s like there are two different people I met, living in the same body. You said they were a tool for you to use. But they weren¡¯t. They were more than you. And¡­ and now they¡¯re going to kill you.¡±


    Tears were brimming up. She choked back a sob.


    ¡°Why, why did someone as kind, as intelligent, as lovely as you, choose to work with them?¡±


    Sunala did not respond. She stared hard at the wall. Refused to look Rosemary in the eye. Refused to look at her at all. Rosemary, for her part, wiped her tears with pale, shaking hands. Breathed in. Out.


    ¡°I... I thank you, I guess,¡± she said, ¡°I... I always try to look for what people have done for me, even when they haven''t been... been the best. I don''t know. Is it coping?¡±


    She fought off another sob.


    ¡°I''m tired. I''m so, so tired. For a while, I thought you''d...¡±


    She looked up at Sunala. Fought back, for a moment, on what she wanted to say.


    But the way that Sunala was staring at the wall, with the sun pouring behind her, gave Rosemary a feeling that this was the last time she''d ever get to talk to her.


    ¡°For a while, I thought you''d be my light,¡± she said, ¡°I... I dreamed about us.¡±


    Her heart was heavy as lead. Sunala did not reply.


    For what felt like an eternity, for what felt like no time at all, the two sat as the sun rose.


    Then, Rosemary rose from her seat.


    ¡°Goodbye,¡± she said, her voice tight.


    She opened the door. Walked out of the room. Mallory supported her as they walked out of the Bronze-Hued Keep.


    Practically held her, as Rosemary broke down into tears halfway to home.


    ***


    Lord Busciver did not escape the retribution of the city, either.


    He was allowed home, back to his home at Moonstone on the Len. But he discovered that the elves had holed up there, too, a squad that had gotten separated in the chaos of the night. They had held the place down, gravely wounded his Master of Arms, and fought to the last against Rithmound''s soldiers. The gnome was held up outside, clutching his niece. Isaac Rithmound stayed outside with them, surrounded by his soldiers, by Moriguchi.


    When, at last, it was over, when blood stained Moonstone on the Len and bodies were being carried out on stretchers, the Doge turned to Busciver.


    ¡°Lord Busciver,¡± he said, ¡°I''m afraid we''re going to need to investigate your dealings with Sunala and the Verdant Reclamation.¡±


    Busciver deflated.


    ¡°Of course, my Doge,¡± he said.


    Guards moved to take him away.


    ¡°Lady Busciver, too,¡± the Doge said.


    This caused a stir. Isaac looked over at his father. Busciver''s eyes widened. His niece''s lower lip started to quiver.


    ¡°Bryce,¡± Busciver said, ¡°S-Surely not. She had nothing to do with this. Any of this. I kept her away from Sunala. I kept her away from all of this.¡±


    ¡°I can''t believe those words,¡± Rithmound said, ¡°I can''t believe anything you say, Lord Busciver. Not until a thorough investigation has been made.¡±


    He nodded to his guards.


    ¡°Take them away.¡±


    The guards made to move. But it was Isaac who put a hand on the Lady Busciver''s shoulder first. He drew himself by her, even as she was separated from her uncle.


    ¡°No, father,¡± he said.


    The Doge glared. The guards moved away from him. They were not about to try and get in the way of the ruler''s son.


    ¡°Isaac,¡± Doge Rithmound''s voice was quiet. Hard, ¡°Move away from her.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Isaac said, ¡°Look at her, father. I''ve been speaking to her throughout the election. She didn''t know about any of this.¡±


    ¡°Oh, you spoke with her?¡± Rithmound drawled, ¡°Of course you did. That must mean she is innocent.¡±


    ¡°I know why you''re doing this, father,¡± Isaac said.


    ¡°Do you now?¡± Rithmound said, ¡°You think I''m doing this because you fancy the girl?¡±


    ¡°I don''t fancy her,¡± Isaac said, ¡°I love her.¡±


    The guards started. A few of them knew. A few did not. Lord Busciver''s eyes were like twin globes as he looked at his niece.


    ¡°Buscie,¡± he said, ¡°Is this... is this true?¡±The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    But Doge Rithmound waved a hand.


    ¡°I''m not speaking to you as your father,¡± Rithmound growled, ¡°I''m speaking to you as Doge of this city, which has just survived a harrowing night. Move away from the girl, Isaac Rithmound. Unless you would join her.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps I would,¡± Isaac said, ¡°Perhaps I will.¡±


    The two Rithmounds, the elder and the younger, glared at one another. Isaac stood firm.


    ¡°I am not speaking to you as your son,¡± he said, ¡°Nor as a citizen of this city. I am speaking to you as Isaac. As someone who has found someone in the world. I will not be parted from her, old man. You cannot take me from her.¡±


    The elder said nothing.


    Then, he grimaced.


    ¡°I see your heart is set as stone.¡±


    ¡°It is.¡±


    ¡°Where will she stay?¡± the Doge said, ¡°Back here? In Moonstone on the Len? Alone?¡±


    ¡°She is not alone,¡± Isaac said, ¡°Investigate her, if you must. But you will not throw her into some dusty cage, to be forgotten.¡±


    Another moment passed. The wind picked up. It smelled of the city. Of spices and grime.


    Doge Rithmound spun.


    ¡°The uncle, then,¡± he said, ¡°Take him away. Leave my idiot son with his lover. Moriguchi, with me.¡±


    The guards made to move Busciver off. He gave one last look to his niece, before allowing them to guide him to the prison. Isaac held Buscie to him. She buried her face in his chest. Moriguchi hesitated for a moment, looking to his father, then back to the son.


    ¡°Congratulations, Raulito,¡± the Exodus Walker said, ¡°You broke that little story in half, no?¡±


    And the Roshador moved off.


    Isaac all but collapsed. Buscie moved to support him.


    ¡°Gods,¡± he said, ¡°That...¡±


    ¡°Isaac,¡± she said, ¡°Isaac, what did you do?¡±


    ¡°Revealed myself,¡± he said, ¡°I''m sick of hiding, Busciver. I''m sick of meeting you in the park late at night. Sick of our secret getaways. I want to show the world what you mean to me. I want us in the sun, not in the shadows.¡±


    Her lower lip quivered.


    ¡°What if your father throws you out?¡±


    ¡°He won''t,¡± Isaac said, ¡°I''m too valuable to him. And,¡±


    He looked down at her, and gave her a soft smile. A smile without regret.


    ¡°Even if he did, I''d have you. An admirable trade. One that merchants would applaud.¡±


    The gnome was stunned at that frank assertion. Despite herself, she laughed.


    Then started to cry. Tears rolled down her face. Isaac wrapped his arms around her, held her close once more.


    ¡°Oh, Isaac,¡± she said, ¡°Y-You really are a fool.¡±


    ***


    The Lady Deirdre visited Joseph in the medical wing the day after. She came alone, for she knew she was safe in the guildhall. The old crone''s eyebrow quirked up at the sight of the large marionette who accompanied her to the medical wing. She looked impressed at the sight of the Glass Slipper, Titania Amber''s blade. She narrowed her eyes at Chadwick, the calico dancing on the blade''s hilt, his emerald eyes staring down from above. He was, thankfully, more humble today. He had been warned of her visit by Wakeling.


    He had been warned that, if he played his usual games, Wakeling would bind him further.


    So he did nothing. Merely pranced on the glass sword before bounding off of it to one of the higher floors, and went about his day. The door to the infirmary was just off of the Great Hall. The mannequin opened the door, peering in. A gloivel was in her office ¨C Deirdre had only ever seen one, a member of Blue Sky Waiting, in her younger days at the university. She looked up at the noblewoman.


    ¡°Ah,¡± the gloivel said, ¡°You must be... Lady Deirdre, I presume?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Deirdre said, and she felt a hinting stab of offense at the lack of recognition.


    ¡°I''m Elenry,¡± the gloivel said, and she rose from the pillow at her desk, ¡°Are you here to see Joseph?¡±


    ¡°I am,¡± Deirdre said.


    ¡°I do hope,¡± Elenry said, ¡°That you aren''t here to recruit him into another bloodbath. Joe nearly died.¡±


    ¡°I... I am aware,¡± Deirdre replied, ¡°I came to visit him. To extend to him my thanks.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Elenry said, and she quirked an eyebrow, ¡°Very well. It will do him some good, I think. He''s had a rough few months.¡±


    She padded from her desk, towards the medical wing proper. The entire room was filled with Amber Foundation injured. Broon the Wildarm, with grazes all over his body. Mekke, a soldier from a distant part of Londoa, wrapped up in casts. Beside her was a catman, a tiger, who even now was straining against a magic spell that held him to his cot.


    Elenry strode over, and flicked his nose. Her guildmate let out a growl.


    ¡°No, Tiger,¡± she said, ¡°Rest. You''ve earned it.¡±


    ¡°Don''t... need... it,¡± Tiger growled. Deirdre moved away from that little scene as Elenry spoke a few words, re-binding the spell, and moved off.


    ¡°Through here,¡± she said, and she opened up another door. A private room. Joseph was in there, an older man at his side. Myron Becenti, still in a nice suit, his graying hair tied back in a ponytail, a severe look on his face as he was talking to Joseph.


    ¡°And that ended the Third Age of Repayment,¡± Becenti said, ¡°We were scattered, across the stars and the miasma.¡±


    ¡°And that''s where Armagest comes in,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Indeed, Mr. Zheng,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Armagest was one of those kingdoms that stayed in the Silver Eye. Many metahuman ruins that dot the galaxy are from your ancestors. Most are under lock and key, or gone, now, but...¡±


    The old metahuman glanced up as he took notice of Lady Deirdre.


    ¡°Another visitor,¡± he said.


    ¡°I hope...¡± Deirdre shuffled, perhaps a bit awkwardly, ¡°I hope I''m not intruding.¡±


    ¡°It''s fine,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°I was needing to move out, anyways,¡± Becenti rose from the chair, ¡°We''ll talk when I get back, Mr. Zheng.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Be safe.¡±


    ¡°Of course, Mr. Zheng.¡±


    He made to leave, giving a nod to the Lady Deirdre. The noblewoman returned it with one of her own. She turned to Joseph.


    ¡°Be safe?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Oh,¡± Joseph said, ¡°He''s, uh, going on a bit of a dangerous job. Nothing crazy. A personal project of his.¡±


    He shrugged, and winced. He was covered, practically head to toe, in bandages. His right arm was in a cast, held close to his chest. An IV was stabbed through his hand, connected to a fluid bag that held a strange, neon red liquid. A healing potion.


    The young metahuman noticed her staring.


    ¡°Most of this is going to get removed in the next week or so, I think,¡± he said, ¡°But I think Elenry''s lying to me. I haven''t gotten this beat up in... in a long while.¡±


    He flashed her a grin.


    ¡°I just keep getting myself killed, don''t I?¡±


    The Lady Deirdre felt a flashing pang of guilt. She walked over and sat down at the chair that Becenti had been occupying.


    ¡°I... I wanted to thank you,¡± she said, ¡°For saving my life. For saving the city.¡±


    Joseph shrugged again. And winced again.


    ¡°Got to stop doing that,¡± he said, before looking at her, ¡°It''s fine. Honestly. Part of the job.¡±


    ¡°You went above and beyond the call of the job, Mr. Zheng,¡± Deirdre said, ¡°You... You could have gotten out of there. With me. But you stayed. You helped bring the coup to an end.¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± Joseph said, ¡°That was me being selfish.¡±


    ¡°Nearly getting yourself killed for a city that owes you nothing is not ''selfish.''¡±


    Joseph was quiet for a moment. He stared, hard, at the wall.


    ¡°I...¡± he said, ¡°I didn''t do it for your city.¡±


    The Lady Deirdre nodded. She waited for him to continue.


    ¡°I did it for the guild,¡± Joseph said, ¡°For everyone here, in these walls. Castle Belenus, it''s become... it''s become a home to me, you know?¡±


    He gave her another smile. It was warm. It was pained.


    ¡°I''ve treated them like shit for a while. Took my hits, and gave them out too. To people who weren¡¯t really to blame. Because that''s how I always thought family treated each other, yeah? But now I... I don''t have to be like that anymore.¡±


    He shifted again.


    ¡°I don''t have to be the guy who''s always used, or who uses others. The people here, they''ve given me that. And then some asshole waltzes in, says we''re trash? Wants to take over the city? No, I''m not going to tolerate that.¡±


    He fixed Deirdre with another look. His voice burned with venom.


    ¡°I will die, before I let these people hurt my family.¡±


    The two of them were silent. Let the words linger in the air. Outside, they could hear Tiger let out a chuffing roar. He seemed to free himself from his bonds, as they heard him snarl at Elenry, who shouted at him to get back into bed.


    Then, they heard the sounds of scuffling. Elenry let out a shout. A crack. And then mewling.


    ¡°That''s one way to get him into the cot,¡± Joseph muttered, ¡°Third time today.¡±


    ¡°...Your intentions were to save your guild, not the city,¡± the Lady Deirdre said.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°But, intentions or not, you did save it. Saved me. And for that, Joseph, you have my thanks.¡±


    She reached down into her bag, fishing around for a second, before pulling out a sack of coins. She laid it on the table.


    ¡°And what''s this?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°An heirloom,¡± Deirdre said, ¡°From my family, to yours. Before my family settled here, they were Far Travelers. Did you know that? Nomads across the multiverse. We collected coins from across the myriad realities. And, when we settled here, we kept it. As a reminder of who we were.¡±


    She presented the sack of coins to Joseph.


    ¡°But I have enough reminders. It isn''t much. I would thank you with the world, Mr. Zheng. But...¡±


    ¡°I get it,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Needs must. But I''ll accept it.¡±


    She placed it on the table for him. He smiled.


    They talked for a little while longer.


    And then, Elenry walked in. Told her that visiting hours were over, and that Joseph would need rest. Lady Deirdre gave Joseph one last wave, and left. Out of the infirmary. Out of Castle Belenus. Back into the city. A city her family chose to call home.


    ***


    Another day passed.


    Then, a second. The Inner Sun rose. Fell. As it always had.


    Sunala stayed in her cell for that time. Ate her food like a good prisoner. Said nothing. Her trial was scheduled for a week''s time.


    No one visited her after Rosemary. There were no more friends for her in the city. Song drifted in through her barred window. The Golden Round was still going on. Merchants traded wares. Children laughed. Dancers from across the plane danced.


    If she had been successful, the entire city would have been on lockdown. On curfew.


    But here Scuttleway stood, still ''free,'' if its government truly was that. At least it was not under the Reclamation''s control.


    Part of her, the part of her that loved Rosemary, and dreamed of her, was glad.


    ¡­


    The music continued to play.


    And it was from that music, through the windows, that Tirmo Telundela appeared. Song became construct, knitting the assassin together. He placed a stone on the ground, and the air shifted. Froze. Time outside of the cell stopped, and the world took on a feverish tone.


    Sunala scooted her chair around. She still sat, her hand crossed over the stump of her arm, as she watched Tirmo Telundela stretch. Look around, a calm smile on his face. He was still wearing his ascetic robes. For the work he did was akin to worship to him. A wicked-looking blade was strapped to his side, a flint piece that had been said to have been sloughed off of the Manticore himself. He drew it now, gave it a couple of test swings. Sunala''s eyebrow quirked at that.


    ¡°You''re certainly calm about all of this,¡± Tirmo Telundela said, and he checked the door. No one seemed to have noticed his entrance. Then, Sunala recognized his spell. Time was collapsed here. Moments stretched to hours.


    ¡°When one knows the time and place, one tends to accept what''s going to happen,¡± Sunala said.


    Tirmo Telundela smirked.


    ¡°You can''t seriously believe that, can you?¡± he said, ¡°Where''s the primal fear? The base, animal nature to survive?¡±


    Sunala''s face was like a mask.


    Then, she cracked. Took a shuddering breath, and her hand shook. Her eyes were wide and watering.


    ¡°Do not be ashamed of this,¡± Tirmo Telundela said, ¡°It is in our nature to want to live. To survive. Fear springs from that desire. It is the natural response to danger. It is not something to hide.¡±


    Sunala glared at him.


    ¡°Spoken like a true Darwinist,¡± she said, ¡°Have you truly never left the Manticore''s teachings?¡±


    ¡°Before I was working for you, he was my guildmaster,¡± Tirmo Telundela said, ¡°It is difficult, to forget the teachings of one''s parents, and the effect they had on you.¡±


    Seemingly satisfied that no one would disturb them, he returned back to the center of the room. Made another practice swing.


    ¡°I assume you already know of my judgment,¡± he said.


    ¡°I do,¡± Sunala said, ¡°I... I suppose it is logical.¡±


    ¡°Mmm. The heads of the Verdant Reclamation are not pleased,¡± Tirmo Telundela said, ¡°Adaya is dead, and there''s a void in leadership. Those usual games are playing out. I''ve got three other elves I need to kill, once I''m done here. But they needed a scapegoat for here.¡±


    ¡°And I suppose I am sufficient,¡± Sunala said.


    ¡°You were the one who headed operations in this city,¡± Tirmo Telundela said, ¡°And you were the one who pushed for the Reclamation to try and colonize a dead plane. They¡¯re being quiet now. Making sure not to make any ripples, lest the High Federation catch wind, and decide we¡¯ve had our day.¡±


    He looked around the room again.


    ¡°I¡¯m surprised I haven¡¯t tripped any alarms,¡± he said, ¡°Didn¡¯t Rithmound hire some guildfolk?¡±


    ¡°He did,¡± Sunala said, ¡°But the only magician he brought on is an Inl¨¦an. And he was injured enough during the coup.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Tirmo Telundela said, ¡°Doubtless, he assumed that was enough. But people always, always, underestimate the multiverse. The wonders out there. The horrors one can use. I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if they¡¯ve never even seen the magic I¡¯m using here.¡±


    He gestured at the shivering, timewarped wall. Then, he stretched. His eyes had never lost their predatory glint, despite his almost-kind smile.


    ¡°It''s time,¡± he said.


    Sunala nodded. Seemed to be barely holding it together. Her eyes kept glancing to the door of her cell. But it was still locked. She was trapped here.


    ¡°I know,¡± Tirmo Telundela said, ¡°It''s a hell of a way to go. Do you have... anyone here?¡±


    Through panic that threatened to bubble over at any moment, she shook her head. Tirmo Telundela gave a soft nod.


    ¡°A shame,¡± he said, ¡°No one should have to die alone. It is unfortunate that fate had other plans.¡±


    He lifted his blade.


    ¡°Ready?¡±


    ¡°J-Just get it over with,¡± she spat.


    ¡°Ever the facade,¡± Tirmo Telundela said, and he swung sideways. Cut through her neck in a clean slice. Blood splattered the walls. Her head hit the ground with a surprising heaviness. Her body slid off of the chair, one of its legs breaking with her fall.


    It was almost painless.


    It was an ignoble end.


    (It was, in truth, better than she deserved.)

 123. The Last Prison

    And Becenti went out, once more, to the HFS De''aza''s Glory in the Umber-Hued Dawn. He traveled, by ship and by train and by road, to a Traveling Point located far away from all that he was familiar with. He could not take the usual route from Beritale Landmass ¨C the forecast for that Traveling Point was about to shift, and Londoa was about to separate itself from the Silver Eye for another year or so. He did not want to risk it, did not want to wind up on the Vital Realms, for the journey from there to his intended destination was more arduous.


    No, better the longer path.


    Besides, he did not want to see this journey''s end, and thus went out of his way to delay his way to his destination.


    Even with his usual medication, the dreams were coming to him, crawling out of the murk in the dead of night. The last few days, the last few weeks, had been harrowing. Awful. He had not felt such an adrenaline rush since the war. Had not felt that familiar charge of blood to the brain, the fear in his thundering heart, how every hair on his arms and legs stood on end like a feral cat''s.


    Yes, his dreams were awful indeed.


    And this journey did nothing but remind him of those times. He went on this final journey alone. Slept in caves. In old motels. Onboard ships that crawled across the endless night that was the Silver Eye. No one to converse with. He was wise enough to keep to himself, so as to not be identified as a metahuman, and earn for himself a cruel, untimely lynching.


    The HFS De''aza was moored on Telemurus V, the outermost planet in its system, a small, ragged moon. A jumping off point for the Outer Reach, specifically to the point where Stellar Queen''s prison was located.


    Kris Kristandi shook Becenti''s hand as Becenti stepped off of his rented shuttle and into the warbird''s hangar. The Lobidian looked tired. Deep rings ran under his eyes, the color of the scaled ridges on his forehead had lost some of their luster. But Becenti was tired too.


    These were busy times. And they would get busier.


    ¡°Good to see you, Myron,¡± Kristandi said, ¡°I trust it was no trouble getting here?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Are you ready?¡±


    ¡°As ready as I''ll ever be,¡± Kristandi said, and he rolled his shoulders. Closed his eyes, shook himself from a stupor, ¡°Come, I''ll take you to the bridge.¡±


    They started going down the halls, onto a lift to bring them to the bridge. Flanked, Becenti noted, by two guards.


    The bridge itself was quiet as Kristandi gave the order. The De''aza lurched. Unmoored and launched. They entered warp not long after. Kristandi turned to Becenti, looked him up and down.


    ¡°Did something happen?¡± he asked.


    Becenti smirked, but it was a forced one.


    ¡°I could ask the same as you,¡± the old metahuman said.


    Kristandi smiled.


    ¡°Let me take you to get something to drink.¡±


    ¡°I don''t drink anymore, Kris,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Water for the both of us, then,¡± Kristandi said, ¡°Seltzer. I''ve been working up here all day, I could use a break. Come on, follow me.¡±


    And the two of them left the bridge. Went back onto the lift, though they had scarce gotten off of it. Kristandi brought them to top decks, which were reserved for the more leisurely aspects of starship life. A warbird of the De''aza''s size was a city unto itself, and demanded of it the same commodities.


    Such as a bar. There were a few of them here, for officers to unwind after the day''s work. Becenti and Kristandi went to one of the side tables, nodded at a few upstart privates who saluted the Captain, and ordered their water. Kristandi ordered a plate of fried Ezoan nuts for the table as well, taking a few of them before he started speaking again.


    ¡°...Pirates,¡± he said, ¡°That''s the official name that the government''s given them. They''ve been attacking more and more settlements throughout the Post-Colonial. They''ve even staged action in the Inner Reach. I believe Pagan Chorus apprehended a few of them on Everlasting Truth itself.¡±


    Becenti grimaced.


    ¡°They''re Darwinists, Myron.¡±


    And his blood ran cold.


    ¡°So... forthright with it?¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°It''s because no one cares,¡± Kristandi said, ¡°Everyone aboard here is aware. We''ve investigated a few of these attacks ourselves. But any reports I''ve made to command have fallen on deaf ears.¡±


    ¡°Unsurprising,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Valm was... dismissive, when I spoke with him a few months ago.¡±


    Kristandi nodded. Their server came over with the water, and he drained his as though wishing it were something harder. When he put his beaker down, his eyes were hard.


    ¡°It''s starting again, Myron,¡± he said, ¡°You weren''t there for the early days, right?¡±


    ¡°I was just taking off in my superhero career,¡± Becenti said, ¡°A street level kid pretending he was making a difference. The Manticore didn''t clock in as anything to me at the time. Just another big villain, looming on the horizon.¡±


    ¡°You break it down so simply,¡± Kristandi said, giving a hoarse chuckle, ¡°Well, with the Manticore, it is simple, I suppose.¡±


    ¡°It was easy enough for me, then,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I knew who the villains were. I didn''t learn until much later that there were monsters on my side, as well.¡±


    He said it so frankly that, for a moment, he was afraid that Kristandi would object to that. But the Captain had been there at Ludaya. Had nearly given his career, his life, to get metahumans off of that doomed plane. Despite everything, Kris Kristandi knew the darkness of the Federation. Knew how easily the core worlds had been swayed by the Darwinist creed.


    To this end, he simply nodded.


    ¡°During the early days, there was ignorance,¡± he said, ¡°From politicians. From the military. Hell, even from the citizens that were falling under his thumb. It was the frog in the boiling pot idea. His hand squeezed, little by little, a bit harder every month, every year. Until the life had been choked out.¡±


    ¡°Until it was too late.¡±


    ¡°Until Darwinist ships were flying over Everlasting Truth,¡± Kristandi said, ¡°Those early years were bad, Myron.¡±


    ¡°I''ve only heard stories,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°And now, it''s happening again,¡± Kristandi said, ¡°The same ignorance. The same excuses. I think I know what''s stalling our response, Myron.¡±


    ¡°And what is that?¡± Becenti asked.


    ¡°Shame,¡± Kristandi''s voice was soft. Philosophical, but there was an undercurrent beneath it, a betrayal of his real feelings, ¡°Having to admit that we failed to make any meaningful change.¡±


    The server gave him another drink. He drained it, just as quickly.


    ¡°We''re going to be too late again,¡± he said.


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Perhaps.¡±


    He took a few sips of the seltzer water. Addictions from his younger years came biting at him again, the familiar cravings of strong drink to smear the mind. He remembered his techniques against his old enemies. He could not afford to sink back into those times. Not again.


    ¡°There is one thing we can do,¡± he said.


    ¡°And what is that?¡± Kristandi asked.


    ¡°Work outside the Federation. Draft our own response,¡± Becenti said, ¡°We check the prisons.¡±


    ***


    She was Stellar Queen. A metahuman. Becenti had seen her many times during the war, had fought her personally over Raichnor III. Purple-skinned, she held an entire solar system within her form. A sun, seven planets, an asteroid belt, three hundred moons. Her battle with Becenti had him dodging comets, solar flares, the errant atmosphere of a Venus-like world. Gravity was her servant, for she had the full weight of a star within her heart.


    She had been in the Manticore''s inner circle, and awaited her trial, which was scheduled a hundred years from now, in a prison specifically designed for her by a team of architects and metahuman specialists. The De''aza exited out of warp just on the bleeding edge of a black hole. Becenti, back on the bridge with Kristandi, looked at it through the main monitor. He had only seen a few black holes, during the war. Ancient superstitions, both Epochian and Federation, wrote of them as places of power. They were formed by collapsing stars. By intellects too vast to hold within the mind. By metahuman power, in some cases. Wherever there was mass, wherever there was weight, be it physical or historical, there were singularities.


    And Stellar Queen''s prison was a planet, once nomad, that had been ensnared in the black hole''s pull. The vast gravitational forces held her in place, kept her powers in check. Becenti could scarcely imagine it. He wondered, due to time dilation, how long she had been down there. For him, it had been thirty years since the war''s end.


    For her?


    Mere minutes. Maybe.


    The ops officer flicked a few buttons on her console.


    ¡°Getting into sensors range now,¡± she said, ¡°Sending out sub-warp beacons.¡±


    She pressed a key. Becenti watched as a few glittering drones disconnected from the De''aza, blinked into the warp for a split second to get closer to the black hole.


    ¡°Beacons are within the photon sphere, sir,¡± the ops officer said, ¡°Beginning scans.¡±


    Kristandi nodded. He looked over at Becenti.


    ¡°We won''t be able to actually go down there,¡± he said, ¡°The planet''s near enough to the event horizon that we risk getting trapped by the gravitational pull. We would need more specialized vessels for that.¡±


    ¡°Specialized vessels that aren''t available to us,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Ignorance, Myron,¡± Kristandi said, his voice dark, ¡°The Federation is suffuse with it.¡±


    ***


    Another few hours passed as the beacons did their work scanning the planet. Becenti did not leave the bridge during this time, content to lean against the wall, his arms crossed, exchanging a word or two with Kristandi. The rest of the bridge crew did their work, checked over the sensors readouts, one of them stood up and got some coffee from the replicator.


    All was, for a while, quiet. There was a collective inhale.


    And then...


    ¡°Report is finished,¡± the ops officer said, ¡°Captain.¡±


    Kristandi looked over at her.


    ¡°Go ahead.¡±


    There were a few moments of her reading over the full reading. When she spoke, her voice was...


    Light.


    Nervous.


    ¡°...No sign of life, sir.¡±


    Becenti looked up. Kristandi grimaced.


    ¡°You''re sure?¡±


    ¡°I made sure to position the beacons in such a way that we would have as little interference as possible.¡±


    ¡°Do the scan again,¡± Becenti said.


    The ops officer looked over at him. Her four eyes went wide.


    ¡°...Sir?¡±


    ¡°Do as he says, Lieutenant,¡± Kristandi said, ¡°Another scan. Full sensor sweep.¡±


    ¡°...Aye, sir.¡±


    And she started the process again. Kristandi started pacing. Becenti closed his eyes, his jaw set, his face like stone. One of the crewmembers offered him a chair, a cup of coffee. He took the chair, waved the coffee away.


    It was happening again.


    The simple truth was in his mind.


    He already knew, deep down, the results of the second sensor sweep. Two hours later, they came back.


    ¡°No sign of life,¡± the ops officer said, again.


    ¡°She couldn''t have escaped on her own,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°No way to do it,¡± Kristandi murmured, ¡°She''d need a ship with the tech required to escape a black hole''s pull. Her metahuman powers aren''t enough.¡±


    ¡°...Could the Darwinists have gotten such a vessel?¡± Becenti asked.


    ¡°Maybe,¡± Kristandi said, ¡°It''s old technology, hasn''t been replicated. But it''s out there. It''s...¡±


    He thought for a second, bringing a hand to his forehead, wiping away sweat on his scales.


    ¡°It''s mostly in the hands of the Department of Historical Technology,¡± he said.


    Becenti''s eyes narrowed.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    ¡°Sounds like there''s a mole.¡±


    ¡°A lot of them, most likely,¡± Kristandi said, ¡°Quite a few Darwinists were offered scientific positions within the Federation-¡±


    The entire ship lurched. Kristandi grabbed onto a rail. An alarm began to blare from above, red lights flashing and lighting up the bridge.


    ¡°Direct hit, starboard!¡± the tactical officer roared, ¡°Damage reported on decks five through eight!¡±


    ¡°Lieutenant!¡± Kristandi said, ¡°Who is it?¡±


    ¡°Three ships just decloaked, sir!¡± the ops officer said, ¡°Powering up weapons! They''re-¡±


    Three more hits. The De''aza shuddered.


    ¡°Cloaking?¡± Kristandi muttered, ¡°That hasn''t been viable since the Age of-¡±


    He shook himself, stood tall.


    ¡°Shields up. Dalsin, what''s the bead on these things?¡±


    The tactical officer grimaced.


    ¡°Two warbirds, sir. Looks like Valor-class. One is a carrier of some sort. Running it against our records now, doesn''t match any design in the surface-level database.¡±


    ¡°Start firing on the closer of the two warbirds,¡± Kristandi said, ¡°Evasive action.¡±


    The De''aza began moving, curving her way so that she was vertical and facing the two warships. Becenti could not see them onscreen. Interstellar combat was, he had learned long ago, much like submarine warfare. Vessels made small by the vastness of the void, calculations made on the fly, firing off bolts of plasma and light. Confirmation of a hit was not based on sight. It was based on sensor readings. Approximations. The occasional flash in the far distance.


    The De''aza fired off a full barrage. Plasma cannons launched blue and red globules the size of buildings. Glassmakers screamed out beams of light. Railguns lobbed kinetic projectiles, spikes of kallidium-enzoridium alloy. Two miles of death fired off at the target.


    They got the reading back fifteen minutes later.


    ¡°Direct hit. Flash one,¡± Dalsin reported.


    One down. Two to go.


    ¡°Reporting a barrage on our way,¡± Dalsin said, ¡°Second warbird launched its assault.¡±


    ¡°Prepare anti-plasma array,¡± Kristandi said.


    ¡°Firing web,¡± Dalsin said.


    Anti-plasma array. A series of tracking missiles to catch plasma bolts mid-flight. Recently rediscovered technology, from an archaeological dig in the Post-Colonial. The metal spears unlatched and fired at the distant barrage.


    A few minutes passed.


    A couple of bolts got through the web, three whizzing by the vertical warbird, two striking its rhino horn-like bow.


    ¡°This is nothing,¡± Kristandi said, ¡°They wouldn''t attack us like this. It''s too easy. It''s too-¡±


    His eyes widened.


    ¡°Unless-¡±


    ¡°Sir,¡± the ops officer said, ¡°Three more ships decloaking.¡±


    ¡°Where?¡±


    ¡°Two about five hundred miles from us. One...¡±


    Her eyes widened.


    ¡°It''s above! It''s directly above-¡±


    Another warbird. Smaller than the De''aza, a decrepit junkhawk of cobbled-together centuries. But it launched its assault on the larger ship, plasma thundering against her hull, piercing through the decks in some areas.


    ¡°Shields down!¡± Dalsin roared, ¡°We have shields down!¡±


    ¡°Fire on it!¡± Kristandi screamed, ¡°Fire!¡±


    The De''aza responded to the smaller warbird''s attack, firing another barrage. The other ship was old. Her hull was practically rotted by rust, by the looks of it, and whatever shield generator put into place was a shoddy thing. The smaller warbird died in an implosion of plasma, drifting off from the De''aza as the larger ship moved away.


    But one survivor clung on. Rocketed herself towards the limping bird.


    The ops officer was the first to notice.


    ¡°...Sir,¡± she said, ¡°There''s someone on the hull.¡±


    ¡°Someone?¡± Kristandi said, ¡°Onscreen.¡±


    And the main monitor flashed on. There was, indeed, a figure on the very tip of the De''aza''s starboard tip. Purple-skinned, wearing a blood red dress, the top half of her face obscured by a golden crescent moon.


    Stellar Queen.


    ¡°Anti-personnel, open fire!¡± Kristandi roared.


    Turrets, smaller than the main cannons, began to power on. Turned to face Stellar Queen...


    Stellar Queen opened her mouth. Placed a hand to her chest, another gestured to the air.


    And she began to sing. A long, operatic note, the work of a Mezzo-Soprano, that pierced through space despite the lack of atmosphere. For a moment, that was all that could be heard, that voice, both beautiful and terrible, long and loud and all-too-overbearing-


    And the solar flare erupted from her open mouth. Lashed like a whip against the ship, burned through metal and thrashed through flesh, rent deep holes into the De''aza and pulled screaming bodies out into space. Self-repair modules powered up, sent repair drones to the breaches in the ship-


    Only for them to be destroyed, a moment later, as Stellar Queen continued her song. As more flares from the star in her heart burned away the decks of the warbird, burned through her crew.


    People screamed. Died. Deep within the ship. On the bridge, Kristandi could do little but grimace.


    ¡°Sir!¡± Dalzin said, ¡°The carrier, it''s closing in.¡±


    ¡°Can we fire on it?¡± Kristandi asked. He was keeping his voice level, but Becenti could sense the panic fighting to rise to the surface.


    ¡°Main weapons are offline,¡± Dalzin said, ¡°Carrier is closing. It''ll be here in a few minutes.¡±


    ¡°Prepare for boarding action,¡± Kristandi said, ¡°Seal off the lift. Notify all crew to arm themselves.¡±


    ¡°Stellar Queen''s breaking off her song, sir,¡± Dalsin said, ¡°She''s moving off.¡±


    Becenti watched her through the screen. Stellar Queen wore a serene smile on her face as she drifted out into open space. She was one to use her powers like this only on rare occasions, and had been known to be a fickle woman in her time in the inner circle.


    Her role was done.


    ¡°Redundant repair modules are online, sir,¡± the ops officer said, ¡°They''re getting to work on the hull.¡±


    ¡°How long until warp?¡± Kristandi asked.


    The ops officer, reading out the De''aza''s condition, grimaced.


    ¡°I asked you a question, lieutenant.¡±


    ¡°...Three hours. Maybe. Damage on decks eight through fifteen. A quarter of the ship is de-pressurized.¡±


    ¡°There''s the problem,¡± Becenti said, ¡°We''d be torn to bits.¡±


    Kristandi was quiet for a long while. His hands gripped the rails, his entire face slick with sweat. The De''aza kept spinning, turning so that its front bow faced the warbird still accompanying the carrier. The other three warbirds were moving to flank.


    Two of them opened fire. Several minutes passed as plasma burned through the De''aza''s stern.


    ¡°...Propulsion''s down, sir,¡± the ops officer reported.


    ¡°Why would they board?¡± Kristandi said, ¡°They''ve got us right where they want us. An open barrage, maybe two, and that''s it. We''d be through.¡±


    ¡°They want the ship,¡± Becenti said.


    Kristandi looked up at him.


    ¡°The ship?¡±


    ¡°It''s a fully modernized warbird. A bit beat-up, perhaps, but any hull''s good, at the level they''re playing at.¡±


    ¡°They took out all of our weapons. The thrusters are fried.¡±


    ¡°But the sensor array is not. The shield generator''s top of the line. The De''aza''s bristling with rediscovered technology from golden ages past. It''s tech they can use.¡±


    Kristandi glared.


    ¡°The carrier''s on top of us, sir,¡± Dalsin said, ¡°Troops are coming down.¡±


    They could see them, through the screen. Soldiers in black combat armor carrying heavy plasma rifles. A few other specialized agents in their number, strange hulking creatures made of gemstones. A couple of fire-formed beings, too ¨C Omendrai, from the Fevered Sunlands.


    Kristandi made his decision. He walked over to the command console, and took out a key that was around his neck. He clicked it in. Turned it. A few words blared on all of the screens of the ship:


    Self-Destruction Sequence Activated.


    ¡°We''ll have an hour to get to the hangar,¡± he said, ¡°It''ll be a running firefight throughout.¡±


    He clicked on an announcer. When he spoke, his voice rang throughout the remains of the ship.


    ¡°Attention crew, this is your Captain speaking: Get to the escape pods. Get to the hangar. Get out of here.¡±


    He clicked off. A security officer opened up a rack on one of the walls, began pulling off plasma rifles and tossing them to the bridge crew. He offered one to Becenti, who took it, his heart rate increasing as he checked its sights.


    ¡°We''ll make for hangar bay fifteen,¡± Kristandi said, ¡°That''s the one with your shuttle.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Becenti said.


    Kristandi opened the door. Aimed down the hall, checked his blindspots, then moved off.


    ***


    The fighting began, at least for the bridge crew, on the floor below theirs.


    A squad of Omendrai intercepted them, opening fire. Dalsin was the first of their number to go down. One moment he was rounding a corner, raising up his rifle to open fire, the next he was on the ground, a bolt having burned through his head. Becenti took his place, laying down suppressive fire on the Omendrai, one of whom took a plasma bolt to the chest. But plasma was their maker, their skin and their souls. A perfect being to resist Fedtek weaponry.


    But not metahuman. The Darwinists, in bringing in Omendrai, had not realized that Myron Becenti was onboard. The old man thrust out a hand, curled it into a fist.


    The ambient heat radiating off of the Omendrai took form, slammed the squad, as one, into the floor. Began to bear down on them like a hydraulic press. Crushed armor. Smothered flame. Flattened them utterly.


    Kristandi grimaced at the sight of it, at the napalm-like blood that pooled in the hallway.


    ¡°Nasty business,¡± he said.


    ¡°...Indeed,¡± Becenti said.


    They moved off again.


    And he was so, so tired.


    The Darwinists stalked them through the halls. Occasionally they would come across the dregs of a skirmish, bodies on the floor, injured left behind by their comrades. The ninth floor was slippery with blood and spent plasma. The air stank of ozone.


    The eighth floor had housed a Krillodeeri, whose dismissed gasses hazed through the rooms, the flashes of plasma fire barely lighting through the pink smog. They lost the ops officer here, as a geode-encrusted construct ambushed them, slammed her into a wall. It must have hit her neck just right, and she went down.


    Becenti spun on the construct, the heat from the plasma coalescing into his hand. He formed it into a mace, bringing it down on the construct once. Twice. The third time yielded a crack, and the squad opened fire on the creature as it nursed its new wound. The barrage opened it up, melted enough of its stony exterior to reveal its core. Becenti thrust a heat-formed spear into it, and the creature went still.


    No time to check the ops officer''s body. No time to mourn her. They moved off again.


    Becenti had never learned her name.


    The comms officer on the fifth floor.


    The young private, whom Kristandi had taken under his wing and assigned as the navigator, was killed in a bloody scuffle on the fourth floor, an Omendrai and one of the geode constructs accompanied by a fireteam. Becenti brought up a hand to crush the Omendrai with its own body heat. The construct fired off shards of gemstone at the team. The private was struck right on, shielding the others, a full jewel the size of an arm rupturing his chest.


    When it was over, Kristandi could do nothing but look down at the private. He shook his head.


    ¡°A good lad,¡± he said.


    ¡°Almost there,¡± Becenti muttered.


    They were the only two left. The rest of the team had gone down.


    ¡°One more floor,¡± Kristandi said.


    They went down. Stepped over bodies, increasingly Federation, while occasionally firing on Darwinist positions. No doubt the boarding party had already secured the bridge. They would find that, no matter what, the self-destruct sequence would not, could not, be turned off. It was a permanent decision.


    It would, if Kristandi survived, lead to a court-martial.


    The hangar bay was the sight of a massacre.


    No doubt that a boarding party had landed here, had opened fire on any crewmember who had tried to leave the ship via the shuttles. Someone had set off explosives, for blackened splotches peppered the once-pristine, cobalt floor. Bodies littered the stairs leading down into the hangar bay, a couple of Darwinist soldiers were slumped over.


    But not all of the Darwinists had left. A few were still in the hangar. One of the constructs. A few firemen, who spun and opened fire on Becenti and Kristandi. Becenti hit the deck, willing what little heat that was left in the room to himself, forming a barrier between him and the plasma fire that thundered around him. Kristandi took to the stairs, rushing down in a blur as he blind-fired at the squadron. Lady Luck was on his side, as one of his shots struck one of the soldiers, who crumpled to the ground.


    The construct started to move towards him.


    Becenti leaped from the rails, letting his collected heat loose as on the construct. It crashed against the being like a wave, physically pushing it back. Melted through its exterior. He rolled as he hit the deck. Kristandi took his cue, stooping to a knee and firing at the construct''s core.


    The being fell.


    But the last two Darwinists fired on the stationary Kristandi. Becenti heard the Lobidian cry out. But he couldn''t think of that now. All he could do was sweep up the heatwave and push it at the soldiers, who screamed as they burned and sizzled and hit the ground.


    He fired on their bodies, a plasma bolt each, for assurance.


    And he turned.


    Kristandi was on the ground. He was crawling, one hand snaking out to grip the ground, pulling himself forward. The other was clutching a deep burn that had hollowed out his stomach. Becenti''s heart fell.


    ¡°...Ah,¡± he said.


    The Lobidian turned up to look at Becenti. The metahuman fought back tears at the fear in Kris''s eyes. He was breathing through his mouth, gasping for breath. Becenti ran to his side, ready to pick him up, drag him to the shuttle-


    But he was dead by the time he got to him. Becenti knelt down.


    ¡°No,¡± he whispered, softly, and he felt like a child once again, ¡°No, no, no...¡±


    Kristandi had been there for him. The two had fought side-by-side during the war. In cities. On frost-covered planets, across the breadth of the multiverse. He had been there at Ludaya, had joked about moving there with his family. Was the only one of Valm''s cabinet to speak up in Becenti''s favor, when Ludaya was destroyed. Was the only one who tried to track him down in Becenti''s drinking years, picking him up from seedy bars, from back alleys, from jails across the multiverse.


    This, despite the fact that he was Valm''s right hand. A role for a servant, not a rebel.


    Becenti heard movement from the hall.


    There was...


    There was no time to drag the body. Becenti was exhausted as is.


    Besides, Kristandi would find it fitting. The Captain going down with his ship. The metahuman rose. Fired at the Darwinists as they entered the hangar. Rushed to his shuttle, clambered in and powered on. The Darwinists fired at the rented old vessel as it took off, plasma peppering its hull.


    But he was out.


    The shuttle careened out into the night. Through the viewscreens, Becenti could see the De''aza''s broken form, a shattered angel as it floated in the night, the black hole looming behind her.


    And then, a flash of orange and blue. The self-destruction sequence activated, taking the De¡¯aza with all hands, both crew and invader. The carrier was carried upwards, floating like a spectre above the deluge of plasma and warp power. Were there sound, there would have been a catastrophic scream, the dying roars of a giant.


    In the silence of space, the De¡¯aza shattered without a whisper.


    In the distance, getting closer, he could see the other warbirds.


    If the ships took notice of him, they did nothing. No interception. No fighters in pursuit. They wanted survivors. For people to remember. An arrogant decision, of course. But the Federation had already made its lack of response clear. Becenti knew.


    No amount of violence would elicit a meaningful response. Not until the Manticore himself was free of his prison. Not until he was striking Everlasting Truth directly.


    Becenti''s vision swam. All he could see, as his body took over and muscle memory kicked in, was Kristandi''s face. He flipped the switch, entered the warp.


    He did not care where it sent him. It could crash him into a planet, and he would be content.


    ***


    He returned to Castle Belenus almost a month later. He weaved his way across the spider''s web that was the multiverse. Kept to himself. Stuck to the sparsely populated planes, lived in nature. Hunted, on occasion, using heat stolen from campfire, or from his own body, to fashion darts, or javelins. He would break into old, rundown motels on the outskirts of towns to shower, to do his hair, to look as presentable as he could look, for a presentable metahuman could blend better into the crowd, would not be accosted by random passerby.


    At night, bereft of his usual medication, the dreams pulled him down. He saw Kristandi''s face. He saw Luminary¡¯s. And Oliander''s. And Rhunea''s. And more. A thousand friends, most of them dead, visited him in his sleep. Made his world a nightmare''s world. The music of his dreams was the cacophony of plasma fire, the screams of the dying for their mothers, the ringing in the ears from explosions.


    He suffered through these, as he had suffered through all things before, in his usual stony way. Put one foot forward. Then another. Keep walking. He did not think of the past. He did not think of the future, and its worries. He did not even think of the present, the way he was shaking, the way a fever threatened to bring him down. All of Becenti became robotic as he went.


    And, at last, when he arrived back on Londoa, he was much the same as he had been before he left. With the usual nightmares, but he revealed nothing. He gave Wakeling his report with a professional air. She gave him a concerned look. A worried one. But she had enough to worry about. He would talk with her later.


    For now, he was tired. So he went to sleep.


    But that did little to alleviate his exhaustion.


    The Darwinists were moving once more.


    It was all happening again.


    Another generation, swept up by the sins of their fathers.


    When Becenti cast his gaze on the future, he found it filled with fire.

 124. Nai Nais Home

    The funeral for the Lady Lily-Ann Doriama Sunala was held at a cemetery within the city. Busciver owned, it was where non-aristocratic friends of the gnomish family were buried if their families did not possess the funds to bury them elsewhere. Lord Busciver was many things, but he did not betray his friends. Even when they used him up and cast him aside.


    It was one of his great weaknesses.


    Very few were in attendance. Lord Busciver was there, and it was he who had brought flowers to lay at his once-friend''s grave. His niece, the Lady Busciver, was there as well, Isaac Busciver at her side. His face was like stone, for in looking at the grave all he could think of was that night in the Grand Commons, facing White Feathers in the halls of the palace, his sword slick with blood. But he was here for Buscie''s sake, and she was here for her uncle, who aside from Rosemary was taking Sunala''s death the hardest.


    Rosemary herself stood apart from the proceedings, her red cloak wrapped around her as she shivered. Joseph stood by her side, the two of them huddling close, for the last dregs of winter were powdering down and the world was cold. Rosemary remembered learning about winter, when she was a child, in the academic textbooks her tutors forced her to read. She never imagined it would be so desolate. So... gray. Every year was a reminder of its isolation.


    Sunala was buried in an Elven style. Rosemary remembered reading about Elven mourning rituals, how one of their practices was to bury the body deep within the earth wrapped in silk, a symbolic representation that life in this world was but one stage, and that a myriad of possibilities lay beyond in the afterlife. She could almost imagine Sunala sprouting out from her makeshift cocoon, spreading out insectoid, scaled wings, to take off for whatever heaven awaited her.


    Or hell. For she was not a good person. Kind, perhaps, but not good.


    Rosemary thought about those wings. Thought about her family''s, her father''s, blood-red and beautiful.


    She shivered. Sidled closer to Joseph.


    Lord Busciver tried for a few words. Opened his mouth, stumbled out the beginnings of an awkward speech. But there was nothing left to say. The Lady Sunala''s actions were words enough, and they all knew it. To speak of her triumphs would be to diminish her sins. One could not think of the Lady Sunala without thinking of what she was, or had become, or the actions she had done.


    Even this very ceremony, small as it was, was an acknowledgement of the fabricated woman she was not.


    And so, eventually, Busciver sighed. Gave in. Laid the flowers by the tombstone. And left. Isaac and Lady Busciver went away soon after, the young Lord Rithmound giving Joseph and Rosemary a final nod.


    ¡°You want to stay?¡± Joseph asked Rosemary.


    Rosemary was quiet.


    ¡°...Rose?¡±


    ¡°I did thank her, in the end,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°You did.¡±


    ¡°...She meant a lot to me.¡±


    Joseph didn''t want to respond to that. He bit back a cutting remark.


    ¡°But...¡± Rosemary looked up at him, ¡°You mean a lot to me too.¡±


    He smiled down at her.


    ¡°Come on,¡± he said, ¡°Let''s get inside. It''s getting too cold.¡±


    ¡°Coffee?¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°With all of the cream,¡± Joseph said, and they started walking back to the guildhall, ¡°Enough to land me in the infirmary again.¡±


    ***


    Ichabod and Contort returned to Castle Belenus later that day. Bruised. Battered. Shivering from the cold, for they had little to protect themselves from the melting winter. The snow was beginning to dissolve, the rivers were beginning to run again, but the sky was in an overcast gray and the world still held a bitter chill. They covered up as best they could, swaddled up in cloaks and coats, Contort putting on a woolen hat over his head.


    And they were like practical furred mounds as they arrived at Castle Belenus. They were peeling off layers of clothing as they made their report to Wakeling. Ichabod took point, going over matter of factly over the details of their escape from Neos and Pantheon''s pursuit.


    He stumbled over his words for only a moment when he got to Rorshin''s death. Wakeling nodded.


    ¡°I see,¡± she said, ¡°So... he''s gone then.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Ichabod said, his voice level, ¡°He''s gone. Still on Nesona.¡±


    Wakeling nodded. Let the news wash over her with closed eyes.


    ¡°I never did like that old druid,¡± she said, ¡°He was a harsh man. With harsh politics.¡±


    Ichabod grimaced, but gave silent agreement.


    ¡°I assume you didn''t have time to administer any last rites?¡± Wakeling asked.


    ¡°No time,¡± Contort said, taking off a final jacket, ¡°They were right on us.¡±


    ¡°A shame,¡± Wakeling said, and her eyes flashed silver, ¡°He never did give me anything for that. I assumed he''d be like Nole. The unmarked grave.¡±


    ¡°If he wanted a grave at all,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Maybe he would have wanted to be left out in nature. Not a place like the Deadlands, but...¡±


    ¡°Aye,¡± Wakeling said, and she sighed, ¡°A shame.¡±


    The three of them were silent for a long while. Outside, the wind picked up, battered at the windows. A few crows were flying in the lonely sky, black dots on a sea of grey.


    ¡°Best you get warmed up,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Ichabod, Vicenorn''s up and running, if you want to see him.¡±


    ¡°I don''t know what you mean,¡± Ichabod sneered.


    The guildmaster fixed him a look. The cybernetic man looked taken aback.


    ¡°I''ll... visit him, I suppose,¡± Ichabod said, and then, at Contort and Wakeling''s smirks, coughed out, ¡°Never you mind!¡±


    ***


    They had needed to use healing magic to repair the worst of the damage that Joseph had taken during the coup. It was a surgery unlike any he had seen. He was used to hearing about his father''s grisly work, the way his father described, in detached, observational detail, how he would cut into skin, into muscle, into ligaments, carved away parts of the body, then replace them with prosthetic hips or knees. Always the act of cutting first, the act of harming the patient before he could get to work on healing them.


    Not so with the magic provided to him. Elenry laid him down on a wooden table inscribed with runes. Urash stood at the foot of the table, spellrod in hand, and he was muttering incantations as he waved it over Joseph''s head. Wakeling watched in the corner, making sure that everything went according to plan.


    And Joseph''s bones knit themselves back together. The cuts and scrapes and slashes filled in. The worst injuries he had sustained during that night disappeared, without even a scar.


    And now, a month later, he only had the occasional ache, though he suspected that wasn''t from the night of the coup. Rather, they were the echoes of injuries from before. From Mordenaro. From Death Valley. From the crusader.


    He was a being of scars, all of them earned.


    Though he found that he did not mind them as much as he had before. He walked up to Wakeling''s office with the occasional creak in the joint. She had called him, her voice echoing in his mind, earlier that morning. And so he climbed, passed by his guildmates on the way up. Chadwick danced between his legs for a moment. Broon gave him a nod as the two passed on one of the landings. Joseph had to sidle past Whiskey as the marionette trundled down, seemingly oblivious to the fact that the metahuman was there.


    When, at last, Joseph arrived, he found the door already slightly ajar. He opened it up, Wakeling''s office once more in that half-dusk that she preferred, the light from the room coming from the neon runes on the spines of the books on her shelves. Joseph didn''t recognize the stars above. Not at first.


    Then, he realized that they were not stars at all, but the multicolored glow of the other side of Londoa.


    ¡°Ah, Mr. Zheng,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°So good of you to come. Please, have a seat. Cookies? Wine?¡±


    ¡°I''m good,¡± Joseph said. He sat down at her desk.


    ¡°I expect you''re wondering why I called you here,¡± Wakeling said.


    ¡°I was,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I''m not in trouble again, am I?¡±


    ¡°Nothing of that nature, Joseph,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Not yet, anyways.¡±


    She gave him a sly look. Winked at him. Joseph rolled his eyes.


    ¡°I wanted to talk to you about your grandmother,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°To you, she was Zheng Chun, wasn''t she? Do you remember her... metahuman name?¡±


    ¡°F¨¥ngb¨¤o,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°She had quite a few friends out here, when she used that name. It''s the name that most people knew her by.¡±


    Joseph settled in. The way Wakeling was speaking...


    ¡°You knew her as more than a passing acquaintance, didn''t you,¡± he said.


    ¡°I did, Mr. Zheng,¡± Wakeling said.


    She let the confession hang in the air. The two of them went silent for a long while. The fires above glittered. The wind outside screamed.


    ¡°...Why didn''t you tell me?¡± Joseph said, and his voice was small. Almost child-like, ¡°Why didn''t you just say that at the very beginning?¡±


    Wakeling''s mouth was pulled into a tight frown. She opened her mouth. Closed it. Opened it again. Sighed.


    ¡°I...¡± she said, ¡°F¨¥ngb¨¤o, she was a marvelous woman. I looked up to her. She knew Titania Amber. Traveled with her, for a time. Traveled with me. But she did not join the guild. She didn''t join anyone. She was a free spirit, Joseph. Her metahuman abilities made traveling the multiverse almost easy for her.¡±


    ¡°That doesn''t answer my question,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°She was a Far Traveler, Joseph,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Nothing could tie her down. She was always out. Always exploring.¡±This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Joseph remembered, in a flash of lightning, how his father talked about Nai Nai. Always polite. Always with a measure of respect.


    Always distant.


    And never with warmth.


    ¡°...She discovered things, Joseph,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°She did what all good Far Travelers do, and went too far, delved too deep.¡±


    Joseph took a deep breath. Controlled his temper.


    ¡°So,¡± he said, nearly spat, ¡°Because of this, you decided it would be fine to lie to me when I got here. Send me on a wild goose chase.¡±


    ¡°I did,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°I... you were lost, Joseph. Confused.¡±


    ¡°I still am, to some extent.¡±


    ¡°But you''re strong now, too,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Strong enough for me to... well, come clean, I suppose.¡±


    ¡°And what does that mean?¡±


    His words were barbed with warning. Wakeling faltered, flustered for a moment. It was an unfamiliar feeling to her. It really only came up when she was dealing with Joseph.


    When she had dealt with F¨¥ngb¨¤o, years before.


    ¡°...Let me start over, Joseph,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Let me tell you about the last time that I saw your grandmother.¡±


    Joseph''s eyes narrowed. He didn''t say a word. Wakeling took that as a sign to continue. The old witch took a ragged breath before speaking again.


    ¡°It was only a few years ago,¡± she said, ¡°We had a tradition, you see. F¨¥ngb¨¤o would come in, around this time of year. We would brew hot tea. We would talk about our lives. Our goings on. Reminisce about the past. Remember our fallen friends. Remember Titania, bless her. F¨¥ngb¨¤o would stay for a day or two, and then she would depart.¡±


    ¡°Did anyone else know?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°They knew a metahuman was visiting,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Becenti knew of her, I think. They spoke, at times. But they didn''t know she was your grandmother. She kept her family a secret.¡±


    ¡°Of course she did,¡± Joseph mused, ¡°A little family, tucked away in the ass end of the multiverse.¡±


    He looked out the window. At the gales and the storms.


    ¡°Wonder how many of those she had,¡± he said.


    ¡°...Well,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°As far as I''m aware, only you. She spoke of you often.¡±


    Joseph looked back at her.


    ¡°...Me?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mr. Zheng,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°You. About your fascination with the constellations. The... Big Dipper, yes? And others. Tell me, do you see them in the sky now?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I do,¡± Joseph lied, and he was leaning forward in his seat now, ¡°Did she... talk about anyone else?¡±


    ¡°Only your father,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°And never much about him.¡±


    Joseph nodded, swallowing.


    There were...


    Tears.


    In his eyes.


    He wiped them with a hand.


    ¡°You were saying,¡± he said.


    ¡°A few years ago, F¨¥ngb¨¤o came to me on one of her annual visits. We greeted each other. Drank tea. Swapped stories. But she was... withdrawn. More than usual, you know how she was. Introverted. Shy, even.¡±


    ¡°I wouldn''t call my Nai Nai ''shy,''¡± Joseph said, and despite himself, he laughed, ¡°Bitter, yeah.¡±


    ¡°She would...¡± Wakeling started laughing, too, ¡°You know how she would get, when she got upset at someone? Start ranting? Going on and on about how they were a failure to their family, to their friends?¡±


    ¡°Oh God,¡± Joseph said, and he was laughing harder now, ¡°She was like that with you all, too? God, I''m sorry. Did she spit on you if you cursed in front of her, too?¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡± Wakeling said, and she started to chortle.


    To the point that they could do nothing but cackle and wheeze. A mourning of their own, long after Zheng Chun, or F¨¥ngb¨¤o, or Nai Nai''s death. Wakeling had tears in her eyes when they calmed down, not all of them from mirth. A handkerchief appeared out of thin air, and she dabbed her cheeks as she calmed down. She took a deep breath. Sipped at her wine, and the smile slowly faded back into a somber frown.


    ¡°...She was quiet, Mr. Zheng, and not in her usual way. Like she was... hiding something.¡±


    Joseph''s smile disappeared, too. He nodded.


    ¡°Hiding what?¡±


    ¡°She didn''t say, not in so many words,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°She wasn''t... herself. She didn''t talk much about her recent going ons. Her newest adventures. But I could see that look in her eye, Mr. Zheng. She had found something. She had gone too deep, flown too far.¡±


    ¡°What did she find?¡±


    ¡°I...¡± and Wakeling faltered again, ¡°I don''t know, Mr. Zheng. She just gave me this.¡±


    And her eyes flashed silver. A book appeared out of thin air, leatherbound. Worn. The pages were yellowed, opened like a dead moth''s wings as Joseph flipped through the pages. Whoever wrote this wrote with a quick script, wrote...


    Oh god.


    It was Nai Nai''s handwriting.


    His heart all but stopped. Yes. He recognized it now. How could he have not before? He had seen her write letters before, back at her three-storied house on Earth. Her quick, jittering script, the way she dotted her eyes with a slight curve, just like how she had written the name of constellations and their positions in the starry sky on paper, for him to memorize.


    It was written in English.


    It was written in Mandarin.


    It was written in a half dozen languages that Joseph could scarce understand. Languages from across the myriad realities. Some pages were full of them, entire essays in flowing runes and jagged lines and hieroglyphics. It was like the basement of her house in the pages of a worn book.


    ¡°It''s her journal,¡± Joseph said. His voice was tight, ¡°And you...¡±


    He looked up at her.


    ¡°You had this? This whole time?¡±


    ¡°...Yes, Mr. Zheng,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°It took me a while to find it again. I''m sorry.¡±


    She let the words hang in the air. But Joseph didn''t explode on her. Didn''t start yelling at her. The shock of seeing this part of his grandmother was still running through his system.


    ¡°She told me never to tell anyone about it,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°To hide it away.¡±


    ¡°Even from me?¡±


    ¡°Especially from you,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Or, her family. She never wanted you out here, Joseph. Not you. Not your father. Not anyone.¡±


    Joseph sighed.


    ¡°...Because we''re metahumans,¡± Joseph said, ¡°All of us.¡±


    ¡°Latent, yes,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°But it doesn''t take much to awaken. It doesn''t take much to go meta.¡±


    ¡°And we''d be hunted,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Your grandmother discovered something,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Something that the cynic in me fears is related to the High Federation.¡±


    ¡°And whatever they''re looking for, probably isn''t good,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°You''ve learned quick, Mr. Zheng,¡± Wakeling said with a hollow smirk, ¡°She told me only that there were three other journals like this. Her memoirs. Her collections of writings. She gave me this one to safekeep.¡±


    She took a breath.


    ¡°And now, I''m giving it to you.¡±


    Joseph looked up from the journal.


    ¡°It''s in a dozen languages, one or two of which even I don''t know,¡± Wakeling continued, ¡°But it''s yours, Mr. Zheng. It should always have been yours, if I weren''t such a coward.¡±


    And, for a moment, a hot flash of anger crawled up Joseph''s spine. His eyes went hard, and he opened his mouth to say something harsh to the guildmaster. But now...


    There was a look on her face. An acknowledgement of her error.


    She had apologized to Joseph once before, and meant it.


    And, Joseph thought, perhaps she meant it here, too.


    ¡°...''S fine,¡± Joseph said, ¡°You... she always was like that, right? Always hiding everything away from us. Even her real home.¡±


    ¡°...Indeed, Mr. Zheng,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Indeed.¡±


    They lapsed into silence again. Joseph flipped through the pages of Nai Nai''s journal. The pages were old and dry. Nai Nai mostly wrote, but there were a few diagrams, here and there. A couple pages had greeting cards glued inside.


    And, at the very end, was a series of numbers. In English. Joseph looked at them.


    ¡°Interesting,¡± he said.


    ¡°Now, Mr. Zheng,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°I can help you with translations. Or Barbara can. Some of them you''ll need to do outside research for, I think Myron can help with that, as that''s more his wheelhouse.¡±


    Joseph was peering down, reading through one of her entries. A journey on Moonrift, the World of Petaled Ruins. He could hardly imagine his old, crone-like Nai Nai, being somewhere out there. Could not believe it when she wrote that she argued with one of her fellow travelers, a three-eyed werewolf, over food rations. How she used her metapower and cowed her companion into silence.


    ¡°All that I''m asking you, Joseph, is to be careful,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°For me. Please.¡±


    ¡°What was her power?¡± Joseph asked, ¡°What could she do?¡±


    Wakeling blinked. And then her smile returned. Watered a bit.


    ¡°Oh, it was wonderful, Joseph,¡± she said, ¡°She could transform herself into a storm. She would coalesce into clouds, then disperse, and she''d sometimes travel with us as a gray-hued sky.¡±


    ¡°A storm?¡± Joseph said, ¡°Explains her name.¡±


    ¡°Ha!¡± Wakeling said, ¡°It does. She was powerful. She was wonderful. She was everything you expected a thunderstorm to be. Caustic. Dramatic. Beautiful.¡±


    She dabbed at her eyes again.


    ¡°I loved her, Mr. Zheng. In my way. I don''t always show it, but I love all of you. You''re my family. I only wish that, someday, you''ll see me as family, too.¡±


    Joseph smiled at her.


    Closed up the journal.


    ¡°How did you meet?¡± Joseph asked, ¡°You and Nai Nai.¡±


    Wakeling''s face lit up. Quite literally, to the point that Joseph had to avert his eyes for a second.


    ¡°Well!¡± she said, ¡°It started when I was a younger witch, fresh out of my first apprenticeship, I was on a job for old Professor Awolowo, when...¡±


    And she continued talking. She told him about F¨¥ngb¨¤o''s adventures. Their journeys with Titania Amber. Of the multiverse and its worlds. The sights they saw. The places they discovered or re-discovered. A time of ancient ruins and camaraderie. A time of war, or loss, of renewal. Of Nai Nai''s home.


    She spoke long into the day, and deep into the night.


    ***


    It was a few days later that Phineas returned back to Castle Belenus. He had needed a long healing session back on his home plane of Amzuth, and he had found, to his great sorrow, that the ticket that Becenti had given him for a ship across the Silver Eye had been lost in his reconstitution. So he had been making his way across the multiverse ever since, waddling his way through cities and forests and deserts and worlds unnamed.


    The last grips of winter were beginning to fade. It was the first day with an unclouded sky. The other side of Londoa watched from high above, green hills and mountains, deserts and seas, on the other side of the world that were half-faded due to the distance.


    Two people were waiting for Phineas on the steps of Castle Belenus. Joseph was wearing his blue jacket, a scarf wrapped around his neck, and he was leaning against the stair''s stone rail, his arms crossed, as Phineas approached. Rosemary was there, too, sitting on the first step, wrapped up in her burgundy cloak, her sceptre resting at her side. A cup of coffee was placed on the step above her, and was so filled with cream it was the color of caramel.


    ¡°Sup,¡± Joseph said, smiling.


    ¡°Hello, Joseph,¡± Phineas said, ¡°Hello, Rosemary.¡±


    ¡°You''re healed up?¡± Joseph said. He was trying to keep his voice light.


    ¡°I am,¡± Phineas said.


    Joseph nodded. Took a deep breath.


    ¡°I''m sorry, Phin,¡± he said.


    ¡°It is alright, Joseph.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Joseph said, ¡°It''s not. I... I really hurt you, man. I''m sorry. I didn''t treat you as my friend. I treated you like... like shit.¡±


    ¡°I am aware,¡± Phineas said.


    And Joseph winced.


    ¡°But that is alright,¡± Phineas said, ¡°It has been many months. You are apologetic. You have grown, Joseph. You are not the same person I met when you first arrived.¡±


    He smiled his watery smile.


    ¡°I forgive you, Joseph,¡± he said.


    Joseph smiled back at him.


    ¡°Th-Thanks,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I''m glad you''re here.¡±


    ¡°Hey Phin,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Glad you''re up and running.¡±


    ¡°I am,¡± Phineas said, ¡°Hello Rosemary. Did I miss much?¡±


    She grinned at him, too, though this was a bit forced, as memories of the last few months came up. Joseph took point.


    ¡°We''ll fill you in,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Come on, let''s get inside. It''s getting cold.¡±


    ¡°I am not cold,¡± Phineas said.


    ¡°Well, Rosemary is,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I''ve got a table set up for us inside. With cards.¡±


    ¡°Myth Battle cards?¡±


    ¡°The ones and only,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I talked to Meleko, he got you a few boosters from that new set. Unrivaled, or whatever it''s called.¡±


    ¡°Unrivaled Legends,¡± Phineas said, and his globular eyes widened, ¡°I thought I missed it, Joseph.¡±


    He made for the stairs. Nearly knocked Rosemary''s coffee over. She got up at once.


    ¡°Come, come,¡± Phineas said, ¡°There are worlds to conquer.¡±


    He opened the door, all but ran inside. Joseph chuckled.


    ¡°It''s... just a card game, man,¡± he said. He turned to Rosemary, ¡°You coming?¡±


    ¡°Sure,¡± Rosemary said, picking up her coffee, ¡°...I''m not playing, though.¡±


    ¡°Ha,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Once Meleko gets back, he can pick up the slack.¡±


    He turned to watch Phineas stop at the Glass Slipper, that great blade in the center of the Great Hall. Mekke, Broon, and Ezel were greeting him. The half-orc was moving to speak with him, his guffaws echoing out of the hall.


    ¡°I owe him that, at least,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I owe him a lot more than that.¡±


    Rosemary walked over, rested a hand on his shoulder.


    ¡°And we owe you,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°We owe each other. We protect each other. That''s what you do, in a guild.¡±


    ¡°...Yeah,¡± Joseph said, and he started walking inside, ¡°We do.¡±


    And they played their game. Laughed, as friends do. Swapped stories, made jokes. There was anger. Swearing. More laughter. And by and large the day wore on, and drew to a close. The Inner World festooned with light. Londoa spun ever on.


    Life was content.

 Book II: Thief of Creation

    Joseph Zheng has survived the worst the multiverse has had to offer, and found his place with his guild, the Amber Foundation. But that doesn''t mean that his life has calmed down. Far from it.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    The Sons of Darwin are returning, searching for the way to free their imprisoned guildmaster, the legendary Manticore. With him at their helm, the Sons of Darwin would reignite their war from thirty years ago, one that would engulf the entire multiverse and tear Joe''s newfound family apart.


    Joseph finds himself at the turning point of an age. The war drums beat. Old friends resurface. Lost history is unearthed. And through it all, his grandmother''s journal reveals secrets about her life in the multiverse, and all that she found...

 125. The Stranger in Blue

    It was in the 90th year of the Sun Dynasty that the stranger came to the Opal Hills. This very fact was the cause for apprehension, a good amount of concern, and just a bit of fear. The Opal Hills were not a place of great renown within the empire. It was a mountainous region, with roads that were made more by habit than by imperial order, dirt paths that snaked around ravines and were connected by rickety old bridges that the local governor refused to see repaired. A handful of lonely farms fed, like dying streams, to a village which shared the Opal Hills'' name.


    In truth, the Opal Hills were a mundane curiosity, and not the sort that any scholar looked to with any passing interest. The inhabitants hardly knew of winter. The farms provided rice well enough. The water from the rivers was cool and clean. The spirits that lived in the forests that marked the mountains were benign and polite, provided one knew the most basic rituals of respect.


    It was, as it had been for many years, a peaceful place.


    Which was why it was hardly looked upon. The Opal Hills were low on Anri, the Myriad Energies, and thus, while a peaceful region of the world, it was not a place of violent ambition. Not many figures of note visited the tucked away mountain valleys. Emperor Sun Rao, Slayer of a Thousand Techniques, Grandmaster of the Solar Dance Sect, had not even needed to send an army to bring the Opal Hills under his control. Old Lifeng, one of those few elders still alive to have seen the Emperor in his zenith, described him walking up the snaking roads to speak to the town''s mayor. The conversation was behind closed doors, took all of an hour, and the Emperor left the mayor with the Opal Hills newly under the imperial flag.


    No, the Opal Hills were left well and alone. And the locals preferred this. They paid their taxes. They did not break imperial law. What excess they grew they would bring down to Old Gate City, the capital of the province, to sell for a few meager coins to save for new tools, or perhaps to fix the hole in the roof of Guo Kenan''s inn. Children were taught to respect the spirits. To respect their elders. To teach the next generation the lessons passed down from their parents, who had learned it from their parents, all in an interlocking chain that was first forged thousands of years before.


    So it caused some stirring when the stranger in blue arrived from beyond the mountains and plains.


    The first two to see him were Wang Ro the Younger and Pan Bao. Two of the children from the town proper, Wang Ro the Younger was around ten, Pan Bao nearing eleven (a fact that she held over Wang Ro''s head at all times.)


    Both of them had, as children of around this age are wont to do, been pushing their luck. The limits of their freedom. They had decided to explore outside the town today, into the calm wilds. They had been picking at wild flowers near the road near Li Bai''s farm when they spotted him. The stranger. Wang Ro was the first of them to take note, tugging at Pan Bao and pointing the traveler out. The two of them ran over to a bush that overlooked the path, watching as the stranger passed them by, without any apparent notice.


    He was dressed in loose traveler''s robes with a blue cloak, a walking stick in hand. His hair was balled up in a bun, as was the style of the time, tied together with a simple cloth with a bronze symbol lapelled on its front.


    But what set Wang Ro the Younger off were his eyes. A brilliant, burning blue. Wang Ro the Elder, Wang Ro the Younger''s father, had told him of a type of Anri technique in Old Gate City. Spheres of glass, in which Anri was poured, from fire to ice to lightning, to be lobbed at one''s enemies in times of conflict. The man''s eyes were like those spheres, the way he looked out at the path. A storm held in silica.


    The man also carried no weapon. This meant that he was a warrior who used his fists and legs, elbows and feet, in combat. No doubt a practitioner from one sect or another.


    ¡°We should go, Wang Ro,¡± Pan Bao whispered in his ear. Her voice was tight with an apprehension Wang Ro had only heard once from her before, when they had heard a bear stalking through the woods one night, ¡°We should get my father.¡±


    ¡°I don''t think the man''s seen us,¡± Wang Ro said, ¡°Do you think he''s dangerous?¡±


    ¡°He could be a bandit,¡± Pan Bao said, ¡°Or maybe a rival to the White Flame Sect. You know how Grandmaster Zhou talks about the past.¡±


    A rival sect could mean trouble. Could mean conflict. When two sects met, their battles often devastated the region, so great was their power. Even a place low in Anri like the Opal Hills could be destroyed by their techniques and arts.


    ¡°He doesn''t look like a bandit,¡± Wang Ro said, and he struggled to form an image of one in his head, all knives and yellow-toothed grins and smelly. No, this stranger did not have the bearing of a brigand.


    ¡°Let''s just go,¡± Pan Bao said, ¡°Come on!¡±


    The man was already past their hiding spot now, continuing on the mountain path towards the town. At one point, he stopped, taking a rest and leaning on his walking stick to survey the landscape before him. The two children took this chance to skip off. They knew the land around the town, and were able to take small shortcuts to cut down on time. They ran into the town, beelining for the mayor''s manor.


    ***


    Pan Bao''s father was Pan Baihu, a middle-aged man whose ancestors had founded the small town back when the Opal Hills were rich with precious minerals. He lived out of his run-down manor with his wife and daughter, always dressed in his luxurious silk robes that his forebears had bought when the Pan family was far richer and had direct ties to the trade in Old Gate City. He was a bit plump, pleasantly so, for his family enjoyed far richer foods than the rest of the Opal Hills due to their status, and it gave him a complexion that he claimed made him look like Qin Da the Conqueror, the First Unifier. He smiled his too-wide smile at the arrival of Pan Bao and Wang Ro the Younger...


    And his smile immediately disappeared as soon as the word ''stranger'' left his daughter''s lips.


    ¡°A stranger?¡± he said, ¡°Well, they come occasionally. Is he a bandit? Are you alright?¡±


    ¡°I am fine, father,¡± Pan Bao said, ¡°But-¡±


    ¡°But he looks like he comes from a sect,¡± Wang Ro the Younger interceded, ¡°He might be a rival to Grandmaster Zhou.¡±


    ¡°I... see,¡± Pan Baihu said, and he bit his lower lip, thinking, ¡°And you said he''s coming here?¡±


    Wang Ro the Younger nodded. Pan Baihu thought for a moment, bringing up a hand to stroke his long, thin beard.


    ¡°Very well,¡± he said, ¡°Pan Bao, go get Grandmaster Zhou. Wang Ro, go get your father. The three of us will go together to meet his stranger, to see if his intentions are good.¡±


    The two children nodded. Bowed. Scampered off. Pan Baihu''s heart was beginning to thunder, and he found himself drifting over to his room, where sat on a stand his family''s ceremonial armor and sword. He took the sword in hand, feeling it. He had never used it before, had only occasionally sent it out to Old Gate City to have it polished and sharpened.


    But this stranger in blue was having an effect on him. His mind was catastrophizing, and going to the worst case scenario. Perhaps he should have told his daughter to have Grandmaster Zhou bring Tai Haoran, his protege, as well. Extra muscle never hurt anyone.


    No. He was the mayor of the Opal Hills. He would command the stranger by voice alone.


    But, nonetheless, he tied the blade to his side. It felt unnatural at his hip.


    ***


    Grandmaster Zhou Winyan was the head of the White Flame sect, an order of Anri users who had sequestered themselves to the Opal Hills after the War of the Sovereign Horse. A war where almost every single user of the White Flame Technique had been wiped out by Emperor Sun Rao. To say that the old man was bitter was an understatement. He and his two students lived up the hill from the town, in an old monastery, the last bastion of the White Flame. He was a small man, bent over with age, and he walked with a pronounced limp across the stone courtyard of the monastery. His two pupils, Tai Haoran and Xiao Rai, were sparring with each other as Pan Bao arrived. She had been running up the staircase that led up to the monastery, and she was out of breath as Grandmaster Zhou wobbled over to her. She bowed to him quickly.


    ¡°What is it, pup?¡± Grandmaster Zhou asked.


    ¡°My father requests for you,¡± Pan Bao said, ¡°A stranger has come to town.¡±


    ¡°A stranger?¡± Grandmaster Zhou said, ¡°Peh! And why would that involve me?¡±


    ¡°The stranger, he has no weapon,¡± Pan Bao said, ¡°I-I think he''s an Anri user.¡±


    ¡°You think?¡± Grandmaster Zhou said, ¡°Or your father?¡±


    Pan Bao froze up at that. Grandmaster Zhou was glaring at her, his face taut with a frown. The old man was not one to involve himself with the town. Only the occasional conversation with Wang Ro the Elder, on advice for the physician''s projects. But the fact that the mayor was calling for him...


    And this was a potential Anri user. A potential member of a rival sect.


    ¡°Very well,¡± Grandmaster Zhou said, ¡°Tai Haoran! Xiao Rai!¡±


    His students, at once, stopped their sparring. Ran to their master''s side, bowed.


    ¡°Yes, teacher?¡± Xiao Rai said.


    ¡°I''m going down to the village. Keep watch over the monastery. Watch for trouble.¡±Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.


    ¡°Do you need me to accompany you, teacher?¡± Xiao Rai, ever eager, asked.


    ¡°Peh!¡± Grandmaster Zhou said, ¡°I don''t need some bumbling girl to watch over me, like I''m two days from death. Tend to your chores, Xiao Rai, and make sure the monastery is safe.¡±


    And he left the monastery, going down the long stone staircase to the town, and though he walked with a limp and a wobble, he did not let that stop him. Pan Bao walked behind him, careful to not get in his way.


    Tai Haoran looked over to Xiao Rai, a sneer on his face.


    ¡°Accompany him?¡± he said, ¡°He is right, Xiao Rai. He''s not some sick dog. You try to impress yourself upon him too much.¡±


    Xiao Rai glared at him.


    ¡°Look to your own training, Tai Haoran,¡± she said, ¡°Leave me be.¡±


    He snorted, turned and walked off. As the junior member of the White Flames sect, most of the chores of the day fell to Xiao Rai, and so he was free to relax and train as he saw fit.


    Xiao Rai glanced back to the staircase. Already Grandmaster Zhou was a small, ugly dot below. He talked about protecting the monastery, but no danger ever came to the Opal Hills.


    He had given his students a worthless order.


    ***


    Wang Ro the Elder was the town''s physician. A man fifty years in age, but with the appearance of someone far younger, he was practically revered as a spirit for his skill in medicines and maladies. Tall and thin, he always wore the white robes of a healer as he went about his day, his hair tied back in a long tail, procuring medicines and seeing his various patients for their various ills, some of them traveling from the other side of the mountains to see him.


    He was working at his desk on some paperwork to send out to one of his contacts when his son, Wang Ro the Younger, came inside. Wang Ro the Elder adjusted his glasses, quickly flipped the paper over so his studious son would not see what he had been writing, and rose. Younger bowed to Elder.


    ¡°What is it, my son?¡± he asked.


    ¡°A stranger, father,¡± Wang Ro the Younger said.


    ¡°A stranger?¡± Wang Ro the Elder said, ¡°Is he hurt?¡±


    ¡°No, but the mayor wants you to accompany him,¡± Wang Ro the Younger said, ¡°They think the stranger is an Anri user.¡±


    ¡°I''m afraid I won''t be of much help, there,¡± Wang Ro the Elder said. But he was already gathering his things, making a note to take his paper and fold it away into his desk, ¡°Has Grandmaster Zhou been notified?¡±


    ¡°Yes, father,¡± Wang Ro the Younger said.


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Wang Ro the Elder turned, looked at his son, ¡°Did you get a good look at him?¡±


    ¡°I did.¡±


    ¡°And what are your impressions?¡±


    ¡°He doesn''t look like a bandit,¡± Wang Ro the Younger said, ¡°He looks like an Anri user?¡±


    ¡°Just an Anri user?¡± Wang Ro the Elder said, ¡°Or, perhaps, more?¡±


    His son went silent. Wang Ro the Elder smiled, and placed a hand on his child''s head.


    ¡°The world is far more vast than bandits and Anri,¡± he said, ¡°There are more possibilities than there are stars in the sky. How do you know who a man is, without asking him?¡±


    Wang Ro the Younger fell silent. Nodded.


    ¡°Come,¡± Wang Ro the Elder said, ¡°Let us go see who this stranger is. No doubt Pan Baihu is in a way about it.¡±


    He winked to Wang Ro the Younger, and the two of them walked out of his small home and towards the town square.


    ***


    Guo Kenan tended to the town''s only inn. It was a lonely place, supported more by the drink he provided than by the beds he offered. Farmers from across the Opal Hills congregated here at least once a week to drink a hard day''s work away, and a few elders came in every night to sip at rice wine and regale each other with stories they had told a thousand times. Guo Kenan was preparing some lunch for himself when he heard the door open.


    ¡°You''re early, Lo Qiu,¡± he said, ¡°Easy day today?¡±


    He peeked into the main room of the inn.


    To see the stranger in blue.


    ¡°Oh!¡± Guo Kenan said, ¡°A visitor. Welcome.¡±


    He stepped over to the bar, where the stranger had set himself down. A young man, maybe around twenty, with electric blue eyes and an angry sort of smile that set Guo Kenan on edge.


    ¡°Welcome, sir,¡± Guo Kenan said, ¡°May I interest you in anything?¡±


    ¡°Something strong,¡± the stranger said, ¡°Been traveling all day.¡±


    ¡°Ah, I see, I see,¡± Guo Kenan said. He poured out some rice wine into a small cup, passed it to the stranger, who flipped him a coin in response. Guo Kenan looked at it. It was an imperial silver. Usually most travelers paid in bronze.


    But, it was money. Guo Kenan shrugged.


    ¡°May I ask where you''re coming from?¡± he asked the stranger.


    To this, the stranger shrugged.


    ¡°Just Old Gate City,¡± he said, ¡°Here on business.¡±


    ¡°Business,¡± Guo Kenan said, and the answer sounded strange. No stranger came here on ''business.''


    The man sipped the rice wine. Gave Guo Kenan a polite smile, though there was a look in his eye, a harsh warning to stop asking him questions.


    ¡°I''ll need a room for the time being,¡± he said, ¡°I have money to pay in advance, or I can pay by the day. Up to you.¡±


    ¡°Better by the day,¡± Guo Kenan said, ¡°I''ll see to-¡±


    And the door opened again. The mayor, Pan Baihu, entered with Grandmaster Zhou Winyan and the town''s physician, Wang Ro the Elder. The three men filed into the room, arrayed themselves in such a way that they blocked the stranger from the door.


    At once the stranger in blue was on guard. His frown dropped.


    ¡°Hey,¡± he said, ¡°''Sup.¡±


    The three men shifted uncomfortably, looking at one another. They had all come to confront this mysterious traveler, each of them building a different image in their minds ¨C a demon, a rival, a drifter. Now confronted with this... person, they were unsure of how to start.


    Finally, Pan Baihu spoke up.


    ¡°Welcome to the Opal Hills, traveler,¡± he said, enriching his voice with an attempt at authority, ¡°I am this town''s mayor, Pan Baihu.¡±


    The stranger gave a quick, almost reluctant bow. Pan Baihu smiled, though it was forced.


    ¡°With me are Grandmaster Zhou of the White Flame sect, and our town''s physician, Wang Ro the Elder.¡±


    ¡°Nice to meet you both,¡± the stranger said, ¡°I''m not of any sect, and I''m feeling fine.¡±


    ¡°Ah,¡± Wang Ro the Elder said, ¡°That is good. No need for a checkup, then?¡±


    ¡°Nah,¡± the stranger said, shrugging again, ¡°I''m good. Thanks, though.¡±


    Wang Ro nodded politely at that. Grandmaster Zhou''s eyes narrowed, attempting to detect if the stranger was emanating any ambient Anri.


    He was, but it was strange. He could not explain it.


    ¡°We were wondering why you were here, in our little town,¡± Pan Baihu continued, ¡°For you see, we see very few travelers in these parts. One must always watch for danger.¡±


    The stranger''s smile became more guarded. His eyes narrowed.


    ¡°My business is my own,¡± he said.


    ¡°I''m afraid I must insist, sir,¡± Pan Baihu said. There was an edge to his voice.


    Guo Kenan looked to the stranger, then to the mayor, then to Grandmaster Zhou. The old man was leaning back, breathing in and out in a rapid way. To summon up Anri. To prepare in its use, if action was required.


    Perhaps the stranger picked up on that. Perhaps he picked up on the veiled threat in Pan Baihu''s voice. For he shrugged.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said, ¡°If you''re looking for anything juicy, I''m afraid you''ve got the wrong guy. I''m a researcher from the Three Sons Trading Company. I''ve been sent out here to do some research on the local flora and fauna. Nothing major.¡±


    ¡°I... see,¡± Pan Baihu said, and he deflated a bit. Wang Ro the Elder spoke up now.


    ¡°What sort of flora and fauna?¡± he asked, ¡°Anything interesting?¡±


    ¡°Oh, a couple species of wildflower, the habits of the bears around here, nothing major,¡± the stranger said, ¡°You''re a physician, right? You got anything on the plants out here?¡±


    ¡°I''ve a few books, and I believe the library will have something to assist you,¡± Wang Ro the Elder said, and this time his smile was genuine. He believed the stranger.


    ¡°Look,¡± the stranger said, ¡°I don''t want to cause any trouble. I''m aware that it''s not every day that someone comes out here, right? I''ll mostly be doing research, or surveying the landscape. I''ll keep out of your hair.¡±


    ¡°Out of... my hair,¡± Pan Baihu said.


    ¡°It''s... an expression,¡± the stranger said, ¡°Figure of speech.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Pan Baihu said. Wang Ro the Elder''s eyebrows were raised. Grandmaster Zhou snorted.


    ¡°Just a damned researcher,¡± he muttered, ¡°I take my leave.¡±


    And he walked out of the inn.


    ¡°Come to me, sir, if you need anything,¡± Wang Ro the Elder said, ¡°I am more than happy to assist a fellow student of the world.¡±


    He gave the stranger a bow. Gave a nod to Pan Baihu, and made his leave as well. Pan Baihu was giving the stranger a hard look. He was not one to be so defeated by such things as simple explanation. He needed to show this stranger where authority lay.


    ¡°I am warning you, young man,¡± he said, ¡°Cause no trouble.¡±


    ¡°I told you, I''m not going to,¡± the stranger said, his brow furrowing.


    ¡°G-Good,¡± Pan Baihu said, ¡°Good. I''ll be watching you. For the sake of people knowing who is in town, so they don''t get too riled up, may I have your name?¡±


    And the stranger nodded.


    ¡°Zheng Jo,¡± he said.


    ****


    And Pan Baihu made his leave. Guo Kenan, who was nervous of this new visitor to the Opal Hills, showed him to his room. It would be paid for by the day, at the beginning of the day, three copper pieces in the morning. Joseph made sure to count out his coin. Yes, he would have enough, but he would probably need to get back to Old Gate City at some point to exchange some of the silver. A day''s journey, but it was an uneventful trip.


    Joseph was glad for that. Uneventful meant peaceful. Meant safe. Safety, as of late, had been a stranger to him.


    Guo Kenan showed him his room, a sparse little place with a shelf bed and a desk. Despite the fact that so few travelers made it out to the Opal Hills, the innkeeper was evidently a meticulous man, as there wasn''t even the barest hint of dust as Joseph inspected his living space. This room would be his home for the time being. For perhaps the next few weeks.


    ¡°Dinner''s on the house,¡± Guo Kenan said, ¡°Come on down in the evening, we''ll get something for you.¡±


    ¡°Thanks,¡± Joseph said, and he smiled at him. Guo Kenan was curious, but most innkeepers were. He had seemed satisfied enough by Joseph''s cover story, and despite his nervousness was calming down. Joseph hadn''t burnt down the inn yet, had he?


    The innkeeper bowed, and closed the door as he left, leaving Joseph alone.


    Joseph put down his pack, unclasped his cloak, stretched and winced for a moment, before walking over and opening the window. Cool mountain air crisped into the room. Joseph sat down on the shelf bed, letting out a relieved sigh as he did so. His legs ached from the full day''s worth of travel, for he had set out early in the morning, before the sun had even risen. Never mind the fact that he had only arrived on this plane a few days before, and had trekked all the way from the Traveling Point down south. Old Gate City had been a welcome reprieve. A chance to unwind. To have a few drinks, to get his cover story straight.


    Joseph undid his bun. He had been letting his hair grow long, in preparation for this job, and it felt odd as it fell to his shoulders. The use of his last name before his first, like how his Nai Nai had presented herself, felt strange in his head. He would get used to it, but it would take time.


    For he was not, truly, Zheng Jo.


    He was Joseph Zheng. A metahuman. A member of the Amber Foundation, a guild in the multiverse. The plane he was on was unknown. It did not exist in official High Federation archives, and did not know about the greater multiverse outside of its walls.


    And he was here to find a Son of Darwin.

 126. Record of the Strangers Arrival

    The client for this particular job was a man from the High Federation. Commodore Shelley was a brute of a man, with gray-green skin and a shaved head, with two bolts nailed to each side of his thick neck. He was wearing a crisp dress uniform when Becenti and Joseph went to meet him aboard his flagship, the Eya''s Peace and Refuge. Joseph noted that one of his middle fingers had been stitched onto his hand, was a shade darker than the rest of his skin. Shelley''s left arm was also slightly longer than his right. He walked with a lumbering gait, towering over both metahumans as he greeted them in the Eya''s hangar, before taking them up to his office.


    A couple decorations adorned Commodore Shelley''s room. A painting of his people''s home plane, Kraven, the World of Genius. A couple artifacts from his family, hands and bones from his ancestors. A replica of the Eya was placed on a small pedestal by the wall, and lying against it was a hand-sewn doll with button eyes, its yarn scarred by scorch marks. Shelley, from what Becenti had told Joseph, had been a refugee, when Kraven had been glassed during the war. Joseph didn''t know who the doll had belonged to.


    He didn''t ask.


    ¡°I''m glad you could make it out here, Myron,¡± Commodore Shelley said in his gravelly voice, ¡°After Kristandi''s death, I was wondering if the wind had been taken from your sails.¡±


    ¡°Not at all,¡± Becenti said, ¡°If anything, Kristandi''s death has made my vision clearer.¡±


    He said this with an edge in his voice that Joseph rarely heard. The younger man gave Becenti a sideways glance.


    Shelley''s attention turned to him.


    ¡°And this is your guildmate?¡± he said, ¡°Joseph, was it not?¡±


    ¡°You''ve heard of me?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Myron''s told me about you, in our communications,¡± Shelley said, and he extended a meaty hand, ¡°Commodore Robert Shelley.¡±


    Joseph quirked an eyebrow, before taking the hand. He was unused to casual familiarity when dealing with the High Federation. The rulers of the Silver Eye were usually more aggressive. Demeaning.


    ¡°All bad things, right?¡± he said.


    ¡°Only the best,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Which is why I think you''ll want to hear the details on this job.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Joseph said, ¡°What is it?¡±


    Commodore Shelley nodded, and he took out a small disc, laying it down. A small hologram glowed to life, a fleet of odd shapes, ever-shifting and warping. The rudimentary depiction of a Squall, a small gathering of planes in the multiverse, a poor man''s attempt at mapping the fifth dimension to the third.


    ¡°What''s the plane?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°An uncontacted one,¡± Commodore Shelley said, ¡°It''s only recently been entered into the Federation records. It doesn''t even have an official name or designation.¡±


    ¡°Uncontacted?¡± Joseph said, and he turned to Becenti, ¡°A metahuman plane?¡±


    ¡°As far as I''m aware, no,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Then it''s an expedition, right?¡± Joseph said, ¡°I mean, if it is, why aren''t we getting everyone together, drawing names out of a hat, deciding who gets to go, all of that?¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± Commodore Shelley said, ¡°This isn''t primarily an exploratory mission, per say. More of a...¡±


    He struggled to find the word.


    ¡°Search and destroy.¡±


    Joseph raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°Search and destroy?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Commodore Shelley said, ¡°Are you aware of the Sons of Darwin, Joseph?¡±


    The Sons of Darwin. Joseph grimaced.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± he said, ¡°Visited one of their prisons.¡±


    He tried not to notice the imperceptible look of guilt that flashed on Becenti''s face. The Death Valley job on Prime had been brutal. A near disaster. Joseph still had nightmares.


    ¡°Good, then you know what to expect,¡± Commodore Shelley said.


    ¡°What, are they on this plane?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°They are,¡± Shelley said, ¡°Or, at least, one of their projects is.¡±


    He rose from his seat, lumbered over to the window. They were out in deep space, having rendezvoused with the Eya as far from prying eyes as was realistically possible.


    ¡°The Sons of Darwin delved deep into the multiverse, during their heyday,¡± Shelley said, ¡°They explored ¨C and conquered ¨C many planes of existence, many of which had been previously unknown to Federation records.¡±


    ¡°And this plane is one of them,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Shelley said, and he turned to face the metahuman, ¡°We tried to get as much information out of the Darwinist remains as we could, but there are still a few blind spots here and there. We believe this is one of those blind spots, a secret Darwinist project that they could reactivate, considering that Stellar Queen and Dakos have escaped their prisons.¡±


    Joseph was quiet at that. He looked at Becenti.


    ¡°And you''re sending me there.¡±


    ¡°You don''t have to take it, Joseph,¡± Becenti said, ¡°It''s a job that requires secrecy. You''ll be working to blend in with the locals.¡±


    ¡°You''ll have a cover story,¡± Shelley said, ¡°A cover life. You''ll work from within the confines of the plane to find the project, and destroy it.¡±


    ¡°...And why not send in a Federation agent?¡± Joseph said, ¡°You''ve got the resources, right?¡±


    At this, both Shelley and Becenti were quiet. They exchanged a look with one another. Joseph scowled.


    ¡°This is off the books, isn''t it?¡± he said.


    ¡°It''s still...¡± Becenti chose his words carefully, ¡°It''s still a guild job, officially. Our client is Robert Shelley, not the Federation.¡±


    ¡°...The High Federation''s burying its head in the sand,¡± the Commodore said, ¡°The fact that Kristandi''s death is being covered up tells us that much. We have to take matters into our own hands. Use what we must to counteract the threat.¡±


    Joseph sighed. Rubbed his temples.


    ¡°Will I be alone?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Rosemary and Mallory will be on a nearby plane, on another job,¡± Becenti said, ¡°But for the trip itself, you¡¯ll be on your own.¡±


    He looked hard at his guildmate.


    ¡°Joseph,¡± he said, ¡°I wouldn''t ask you to do this if I thought you wouldn''t be able to handle it. It''s a lot to take on. You''ll need to keep your wits about you at all times. You''ll be forced to lie almost casually-¡±


    ¡°Done that before,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°And you''re also one of the few in the guild I trust would be able to pull this off,¡± Becenti said, ¡°You''ll need to research to find what the project is. You''ll need to ingratiate yourself with the locals in the region we believe the project is located. You''ll need to destroy it.¡±


    ¡°And if I reveal knowledge of the multiverse?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°This isn''t a first contact scenario,¡± Shelley said, ¡°If you need to reveal that information, do so. But the reason for secrecy is so that you can avoid any suspicion from Darwinist agents still on-plane. You''ll be a native, not a guildfolk.¡±


    Joseph took a deep breath. Closed his eyes. Thought about it. This was not the sort of job that he was used to. Not the sort that he expected. But then, ever since his arrival to the multiverse, he''d had to do a lot, become a lot, of what he didn¡¯t want.


    What was one more?


    For the guild.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said, ¡°What can you tell me about this plane?¡±


    ***


    The locals called their world D¨¤ Xi¨¤ng ¨C quite literally, ''Big Elephant,'' or simply, ''Elephant.'' Joseph didn''t need a dictionary for that. He had found out why the plane was so named during his foray through Old Gate City. A vast map of the world was put up for sale at the market, showing a circular, flat world, the Elephant''s head, tusks, and trunk poking out of the map''s north. No doubt it was literal ¨C he had heard sellers peddling shavings of ivory as ''coming from beyond itself,'' to be bottled up for medicines, to purge toxins from the system and for general good health.


    If one felt the earth carefully, if one concentrated ¨C and that was easier for Anri users ¨C one could become part of the world, if for only a little while. They could feel D¨¤ Xi¨¤ng¡¯s movements, the rise and fall of pillar legs, the breathing through a trunk as long as a continent.


    And, one could feel how lonely D¨¤ Xi¨¤ng was. The only elephant of his size, alone in the multiverse. Always wandering, with nowhere to go.


    ***


    Dinner was, as Guo Kenan stated, ready when Zheng Jo came downstairs in the evening. It was evident that the inn here was not so much for visitors as it was for the townsfolk, who had congregated downstairs to play games, drink, and complain after a long day''s work.


    Or, perhaps, Zheng Jo''s arrival to the Opal Hills was newsworthy enough to bring the whole town in. It was the elders of the town, perhaps waiting for Zheng Jo''s appearance, who stopped talking first. Han Deming and Yin Biya were, arguably, the oldest two mortals in the Opal Hills, Han Deming being ninety-two, and Yin Biya being ninety-four (though she insisted she wasn''t a day over eighty.) The townsfolk argued that they should have gotten married upon the death of their respective spouses, but both refused, content to play Xiangqi, first at Han Deming''s house, then at the inn.


    They were the first to stop their game, craning ancient heads over to the new arrival. Li Bai, one of the more venerable members of the community, a farmer whose father''s harvests had saved the town after a bad winter, stopped listening to one of Lo Qiu''s drunken stories to look over at Zheng Jo.


    Tai Haoran, foremost protege of the White Flame Sect, had come down from the monastery tonight to get a glimpse of this newcomer. He was built like a tiger, lithe yet muscular, a thin mustache penciled on his lip. He kept his hair short, to better prevent an enemy from grasping it during combat (as had been his weakness during his first year of training under Grandmaster Zhou.)


    He was considering Zheng Jo with a sharp eye as the newcomer sat down at the bar. Zheng Jo, for his part, flashed him a smile, but there was warning to it.


    ¡°Ah, our visitor,¡± Guo Kenan said, ¡°Glad you could make it down.¡±


    ¡°I needed to rest up, after traveling so long,¡± Zheng Jo said, ¡°Sorry if I''m late.¡±


    ¡°Not late at all, young master,¡± Guo Kenan said.


    He ate his meal, roasted duck with spring onions and rice.


    The entirety of the inn had gone silent at this point. And watched him. Zheng Jo noted this partway through his meal. He looked up, glanced around.


    The farmers from the surrounding area, those who could afford to come into town on short notice, had all gathered inside. They had brought their wives with them. Their children. An entire population watched Zheng Jo eat.


    Tai Haoran continued glaring at him.


    Zheng Jo glanced over at him.


    ¡°What''s up?¡± he asked.


    ¡°I''m wondering why you are here, traveler,¡± Tai Haoran purred, ¡°I''m wondering if you are who you say you are.¡±


    Zheng Jo rolled his eyes.


    ¡°Way to be blunt about it,¡± he muttered.


    ¡°Are you?¡± Tai Haoran said.


    ¡°Am I what?¡± Zheng Jo asked, aggravated, ¡°What, one of your rival sects, or whatever?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Tai Haoran said, simply. Dangerously.


    ¡°...No,¡± Zheng Jo said, ¡°I''m not. I already told that Grandmaster Zhou guy, I''m just a researcher.¡±


    He fixed a level look at Tai Haoran.


    ¡°Nothing more.¡±


    There was, the room noted, an energy in the room. One that had suddenly become dangerous. Zheng Jo was glaring at Tai Haoran. Tai Haoran was glaring at Zheng Jo. The air took on an odd tinge.


    (And Joseph knew it to be ozone.)


    ¡°Alright,¡± Tai Haoran said, ¡°But know this. I''m watching you.¡±


    ¡°Do so,¡± Zheng Jo said, ¡°I don''t care.¡±


    He looked around the room. At the stares.


    He took his bowls, and went back up the stairs. They heard his footsteps as he made his way back to his room. Poor manners, though some couldn''t blame him.


    The townsfolk slowly started talking amongst themselves again, conversation picking back up.


    ¡°He''s a firecracker, that one,¡± Yin Biya said, ¡°Like he''s barely holding onto a civil facade.¡±


    ¡°Who?¡± Han Deming piped, ¡°Tai Haoran, or our visitor?¡±


    ¡°Our visitor,¡± Yin Biya said, ¡°He''s definitely got a temper to him.¡±Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    ¡°Ha!¡± Han Deming said, ¡°The young always do.¡±


    ¡°Remember when you were like that with Fang?¡± Yin Biya said, ¡°Always yammering at him? Until he got so mad he buried you in that hole.¡±


    At this, Han Deming let out a cracking laugh.


    ¡°Yes! Like that,¡± Han Deming said.


    On the other side of the room, Lo Qiu was chuckling to himself. He was one to drink hard and quick early in the night, and his words were already slurring.


    ¡°Doeshn''t sheem like a bad kid,¡± he said, ¡°Right, Li Bai?¡±


    Li Bai was watching Tai Haoran''s reaction. The Anri user was looking at the staircase where Zheng Jo had been a moment before. His arms were crossed, and he was leaning against the bar. Li Bai walked over to him.


    ¡°Do you think he''ll be trouble?¡± he asked.


    ¡°My master says there is something about him,¡± Tai Haoran said, ¡°I decided to check for myself.¡±


    ¡°Something about him?¡± Li Bai said.


    ¡°I do not expect you, who possesses no knowledge of Anri, to understand,¡± Tai Haoran sneered, ¡°But know this. I will watch this Zheng Jo. If he is a danger to the White Flame Sect, I will burn a hole through his chest.¡±


    He got up. Gave a mocking half bow to Li Bai, and sauntered off.


    ***


    It was obvious to Joseph, as he finished eating, that he had caused more of a stir than he had anticipated by coming to the Opal Hills.


    He hadn''t realized just how out in the boonies the town was located, in comparison to the rest of the region. Old Gate City had been a metropolis. Blending in had been no trouble at all.


    But here?


    He was making waves. And he wasn''t supposed to do that.


    Joseph sniffed. The air smelled of faint ozone. He could feel his soul, alive and burning, boil in his stomach. Joseph grimaced, despite the comfort of his eagle''s purr.


    The last thing he needed was to reveal himself as a metahuman. That old man, that Grandmaster Zhou, was already suspicious. As was Tai Haoran. Were there metahumans on this plane? So far, Joseph only knew that the magic here was based off of Anri. What the locals called the Myriad Energies.


    Perhaps there was a connection. Perhaps there wasn''t. Joseph didn''t care.


    He took a deep breath. Worked to calm himself down. Elenry, back at Castle Belenus, had been helping him with anger management techniques. He breathed in. Out. Decided to justify the local''s suspicion in his mind. They weren''t used to strangers, and in certain places, strangers meant danger. He couldn''t blame them for wanting to ensure that he wasn''t going to do anything to them.


    (Though the fact that he could hurt them always whispered in the back of his mind.)


    They would, hopefully, come to ignore him. With time. Once they realized that he was just a simple researcher.


    He made a note of what to do tomorrow. The town had a library. Great. Joseph had spent half of his life in the multiverse at the Amber Foundation''s library, trying to piece together a way back to Earth. To be told, he was sick of it.


    But, it was a place to start. A place to publicly show his face. Maybe people wouldn''t be as guarded if he showed that he was just another person to them. He was no danger.


    He turned in early for the night. He was still tired after traveling here. Still rankled, just a bit, at the way they had all stared at him downstairs. Like he had two heads.


    He was just another person, he told himself.


    Just another person.


    ***


    Joseph got up in the morning just as dawn heralded the day. He got dressed, tied his hair up with clumsy fingers (he had never been good at doing his hair up like this) and went downstairs. Guo Kenan wasn''t out of bed yet, but his daughter, Guo Liling, was there with breakfast.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± Joseph said.


    It was a rice porridge, and he ate quietly, keeping to himself at a table in the corner of the room. Guo Liling, who was around his age, kept glancing his way, and eventually, her face flushed red, had to excuse herself as go into the other room.


    Everyone else had gone home. Joseph was alone.


    After finishing his breakfast, Joseph rose. Walked out into the Opal Hills, squinting as his eyes adjusted to the morning sun. A few people were already up and about ¨C farmers rose with the dawn, to have as much daylight to work their fields. A few of the village''s children were already playing, laughing and dancing down the road leading to the inn.


    One of them stopped. A younger kid, maybe around ten. He adjusted his glasses as he stepped over to look hard at Joseph.


    ¡°Hey,¡± Joseph said, ¡°What''s up?¡±


    ¡°''What''s up?''¡± the kid asked.


    ¡°It''s... a figure of speech,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Where I''m from.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± the kid said.


    ¡°Hey,¡± Joseph said, ¡°You know where the library is?¡±


    The kid hesitated. Joseph didn''t blame him. He could see the kid''s friends had hidden themselves behind a building, peeking out to watch Joseph as he talked.


    ¡°It''s...¡± the kid said, ¡°Down the road. On the right. By my father''s house.¡±


    ¡°Awesome,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Thanks.¡±


    He flashed the kid a smile. Fished out a bronze coin, and flipped it to him. The kid snatched it out of the air, watching with wide eyes as Joseph set off down the road.


    After a few moments, he followed after Joseph.


    The metahuman looked back, eyebrow raised, and the kid stopped in his tracks. With a nervous shiver, the kid adjusted his glasses.


    ¡°What''s up?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°I...¡± the kid stammered, ¡°I w-wanted to know. What did you need the library for?¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I''m, ah, only looking for a few things. Scrolls on the recent history of the Opal Hills. The natural landscape around here, caves and the like. You know what I''m talking about?¡±


    ¡°My father doesn''t let me go into caves,¡± the kid said, ¡°He said they''re dangerous.¡±


    ¡°They could be,¡± Joseph said, ¡°But, gotta get my research in, right?¡±


    He offered a friendly smile. The kid twisted his shirt. Adjusted his glasses again.


    ¡°C-Can,¡± he said, ¡°Can I go with you?¡±


    Joseph blinked.


    ¡°You sure about that?¡± he said, ¡°I mean, your dad''s good with it?¡±


    ¡°My father,¡± the kid said, ¡°Is Wang Ro the Elder. He goes to the library often. I would not be surprised if he was already there.¡±


    ¡°Your father,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°And... What''s your name?¡±


    ¡°I am Wang Ro the Younger.¡±


    ¡°Right. Wang Ro the Elder. Makes sense,¡± Joseph noted that Wang Ro the Younger''s friends were still watching them, trying to hide behind the inn. The way they stared at him like he was some sort of spectacle...


    He looked at the kid.


    ¡°Do what you want,¡± he said, a bit annoyed, ¡°You can help. Or don''t, and just look at me like I have two heads. Up to you.¡±


    And he turned. And started talking.


    After a moment''s hesitation, Wang Ro the Younger followed him.


    ***


    Tai Haoran got up early in the morning, just before dawn, to work his daily warm ups. On certain days, he would go down to the town to help the widow Bai Lanfen with her chickens, with tending to her one, frail cow, and with chopping firewood so she and her infant son would be warm at night. Bai Lanfen''s husband, Bai Delun, had died last year after a run in with some bandits on his way back from Old Gate City. A freak occurrence, as bandits did not often roam the Opal Hills, preferring the more prosperous routes from Old Gate City to the Imperial Capital.


    And yet, the rarity of the event did not assuage Bai Lanfen, who jabbered at Tai Haoran as they worked.


    ¡°That traveler, Zheng Jo?¡± she said, ¡°He isn''t a danger to us, is he?¡±


    ¡°I still don''t know,¡± Tai Haoran said, ¡°If he is, I don''t think it''s in the way a bandit is dangerous.¡±


    Bai Lanfen shivered.


    ¡°He is an Anri user, then,¡± she said, ¡°Like you. He uses the mystical arts.¡±


    ¡°I don''t know that, either,¡± Tai Haoran said, a bit irritated. He was placing a log onto the chopping block. With a swift stroke, he brought a hand down, chopping it in two.


    He could have used an axe. Most did. But Tai Haoran was an arrogant fellow, who liked moving his body, liked the way his muscles burned after use, the way sweat shined on his bare chest. He smirked at the way that Bai Lan, and others in the town, looked at him when he was like this. Some averted their gazes. Others watched him like he was dinner.


    Bai Lan was the former. She was looking out, past the sun just barely walking over the horizon. Lost in memories.


    ¡°I''m scared, Tai Haoran,¡± she said.


    And he felt guilty for showing himself off so.


    ¡°...I know,¡± he said, ¡°But don''t worry. If he tries anything, if he is an Anri user, I''ll be there. I''ll get Xiao Rai to help.¡±


    ¡°That girl is trouble,¡± Bai Lan warned, ¡°Watch yourself with her.¡±


    At this, he gave a haughty smile.


    ¡°Please,¡± he said, ¡°Xiao Rai is two realms below me. She is nothing but a novice.¡±


    He finished chopping the last log of wood. He gave a bow to the widow, deeper than he should have for one of his station, and made his leave.


    He saw Zheng Jo with Wang Ro the Younger as he turned and went down one of the streets.


    ***


    Well now, Joseph supposed, this was trouble.


    The man from the inn was making a beeline for him. Joseph didn''t need to know about Anri users to know that he was bad news. He was easily one of the most built people Joseph had ever seen, chiseled and muscular from a lifetime of martial arts. The man obviously knew this, too, because he always went shirtless everywhere, his tiger-like eyes narrowing at Joseph as he approached.


    ¡°Greetings,¡± the man said.


    ¡°Hey,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Where are you and Wang Ro the Younger going?¡±


    ¡°To the library,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I want to get some initial research done.¡±


    ¡°The library.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Is that a problem?¡±


    And the man took a sharp breath, his brow furrowing at the blatant challenge. But this was still a land of civility, Anri and martial arts and testosterone be damned.


    ¡°No,¡± he said, ¡°I suppose not.¡±


    Joseph smirked at that.


    ¡°I wish to accompany you,¡± the man said.


    He tilted his head a bit.


    ¡°Is that a problem?¡±


    ¡°...No,¡± Joseph said, keeping his voice level, ¡°Can I have your reasoning? It''s just a bunch of musty old scrolls.¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± the man said, and he puffed his glistening chest, ¡°The great Tai Haoran always likes reading. It pays to strengthen the mind in addition to the body.¡±


    He smiled down at Joseph''s side.


    ¡°Is that not correct, Ro?¡±


    Wang Ro the Younger nodded at that. And smiled. He liked this Tai Haoran, didn''t he?


    ¡°Y-Yes,¡± he said, ¡°I believe my father will be there as well.¡±


    ¡°Ah, good, two birds and one stone,¡± Tai Haoran said, ¡°I wanted to talk to Wang Ro the Elder about my medicine.¡±


    And he turned to Joseph.


    ¡°After you, Zheng Jo.¡±


    ***


    The library was a sparse place, for the knowledge of the Opal Hills was in the way farmers tended to their crops, in stories passed from parent to child about the dangers of the wood, in holiday rituals to appease the spirits of the land, wind, and river. The scrolls and butterfly-bound books were from Wang Ro the Elder''s personal collection, as well as a few scant donations from Pan Baihu''s ancestral records, back when the family was more prominent and had more to record than the few taxes they paid to the capital.


    Zheng Jo walked into the single room, looking around. There were two tables, though only a single chair. Wang Ro the Elder was at one of the tables, one of the scrolls unfurled by a cup of tea. He looked up at the three of them as they walked in, a shadow of a smile flickering to his face.


    ¡°Ah, my son. Tai Haoran.¡±


    His eyes shifted to the newcomer, and Wang Ro the Younger noted something glimmering in his father''s eye.


    ¡°Zheng Jo.¡±


    ¡°Hey,¡± Zheng Jo said, ¡°I''m here to look over what you have.¡±


    ¡°Of course, Zheng Jo,¡± Wang Ro the Elder said, ¡°As you can see, there isn''t much.¡±


    ¡°That''s alright,¡± Zheng Jo said, ¡°I''m mostly looking for maps of the surrounding area.¡±


    ¡°Maps?¡± Wang Ro the Elder said.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Zheng Jo said, ¡°A lot of my research is going to take me out into the wilds, I was wanting to see if there was anything here that could help with that.¡±


    Wang Ro the Elder paused for a second, taking a sip of his tea.


    ¡°Maps,¡± he repeated, ¡°Well, nothing off the top of my head. But they should be here. My son, will you assist us with this?¡±


    ¡°O-Oh,¡± Wang Ro the Younger said, ¡°Yes, father.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Wang Ro the Elder rose from his seat, and crossed over to the other side of the room, taking a few scrolls for their honeycombs, ¡°It will take a while, Zheng Jo. Our collection is small, but its information runs deep.¡±


    ¡°That''s alright,¡± Zheng Jo said, ¡°I had a feeling this would take up most of the day. Most of my research does.¡±


    ¡°Ah, a learner of the world,¡± Wang Ro the Elder said, ¡°Would that there were more of you.¡±


    He unfurled a scroll. Started reading it.


    ¡°Shall we get to work?¡±


    ***


    Zheng Jo was meticulous.


    He had them start organizing the scrolls, giving a quick read-through each one and putting them into one of two piles. Those he would read more closely, and those that just needed a cursory glance. Those scrolls with maps he kept, putting them into a third pile. Tai Haoran, as the tallest of the group, grabbed those scrolls on the top cubbies, pulling them down and presenting them to Zheng Jo, who opened them, pored over their contents, and sorted them.


    ¡°You are certainly industrious,¡± the Anri user said to the newcomer, ¡°Do you do much research back at Old Gate City?¡±


    ¡°...Yes,¡± Zheng Jo said. He had taken a scroll, his electric eyes scanning over the writing, before he closed it up and put it in one of the piles, ¡°For a while, all I did between jobs was read at the library.¡±


    ¡°What were you studying?¡± Tai Haoran asked.


    ¡°...Nothing of any real importance,¡± Zheng Jo said, ¡°It didn''t go anywhere, if I''m being honest. I realized my place was with my... with the trading company.¡±


    He looked over one of the scrolls. Noted that Tai Haoran was still looking at him. That his answer was insufficient. The traveler sighed.


    ¡°I''m not native to Old Gate City,¡± he said, ¡°I come from... far away, we''ll say. It''s hard to get home. I tried very hard to find a way to get back.¡±


    ¡°Why did you not use your feet?¡± Tai Haoran asked, ¡°Walk the breadth of D¨¤ Xi¨¤ng, and see the sights of the world?¡±


    ¡°Ha,¡± Zheng Jo said, ¡°Getting home is... a bit more complicated than that. But... I see what you mean. It''s what I''m doing now.¡±


    He looked hard at Tai Haoran.


    ¡°Is that what you want to do? Travel the world?¡±


    Tai Haoran''s eyes widened for a second, before his brow furrowed once more. He had not had such a question asked of him before.


    ¡°I...¡± he said, thinking, ¡°Want to learn the White Flame Technique. Become the Grandmaster of the White Flame Sect. When I have surmounted all realms, perhaps I will travel. I will show the world the glory of the White Flame. Shame the emperor, if I am able. He has...¡±


    He grimaced. Looked away.


    ¡°He has hurt my master so.¡±


    Zheng Jo considered Tai Haoran. The hard look he had been shooting at the Anri user lessened.


    ¡°I get it,¡± he said, ¡°Grandmaster Zhou, right? Picked you up off the ground, dusted you off, made you something new?¡±


    And at that, Tai Haoran snorted.


    ¡°I don''t need to justify myself to you,¡± he said.


    ¡°You don''t have to,¡± Zheng Jo said, ¡°I have someone like your master, at the trading company.¡±


    ¡°Is he of a sect?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Zheng Jo said, ¡°He''s just a man. But... I owe him my life.¡±


    He smiled. Tai Haoran¡¯s glare, too, dropped. For a moment, they seemed to come to some sort of understanding. Then, they continued sorting.


    ***


    They worked long into the day. Much of the information in the library was census-based. The population of Opal Hills, which currently sat at around two hundred people tucked away in the mountains. The spirits, three of whom were rather prominent, one in the woods, one in the mountains, and one in the nearby river. There were harvest records, some good and some bad. A few writings and musings from governors past, all of them of the Pan family. Some poetry from Lo Ru, the great-grandfather of Lo Qiu, who had served as a soldier and returned home to live his days as a PTSD-ridden veteran (judging by the rather macabre topics he chose to write on.)


    There were two maps of the Opal Hills, and one map of the province as a whole. The first map was relatively recent, conveying the current roads and having a rough idea of elevations. The second (and more useful) map was old, very old, from when the Opal Hills was a prosperous mining colony. Joseph took it, reading it over. If he were a Darwinist, he''d want to hide the project away from prying eyes. Especially if it was something that was technologically advanced.


    ¡°Are the mines still open?¡± Zheng Jo asked, turning to Wang Ro the Elder.


    The physician adjusted his glasses, looking down at the map.


    ¡°No,¡± he said, ¡°Though you''d need to talk to Pan Baihu about that. Most of them, if I recall correctly, were shut down many years ago.¡±


    Zheng Jo looked at the map. Nodded.


    ¡°Right,¡± he said, ¡°Is it alright if I take this map here?¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡±


    ¡°I''d just be borrowing it,¡± Zheng Jo said, ¡°I want to use it when I go out to survey tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°You''re going tomorrow?¡± Wang Ro the Elder said, ¡°Young master, I wouldn''t.¡±


    ¡°Why not?¡±


    ¡°I must insist, as the physician of this town, that you don''t leave unless you have someone to guide you.¡±


    Zheng Jo''s eyes narrowed.


    ¡°I can take care of myself just fine,¡± he said.


    ¡°I''m sure you can,¡± Wang Ro the Elder said, ¡°But the Opal Hills may seem serene, but they can be dangerous. Landslides are common. Bears stalk the wood. Even the spirits can be restless, this time of year, and if you don''t have someone who knows the proper way to appease them, they could get violent.¡±


    Zheng Jo regarded Wang Ro the Elder with a dark look. Wang Ro the Younger was stepping away from the two of them. Tai Haoran was sizing Zheng Jo up.


    ¡°Is that a problem?¡± Tai Haoran asked.


    ¡°...I suppose what you''re saying''s got logic to it,¡± Zheng Jo said.


    ¡°Good,¡± Wang Ro the Elder said, ¡°Now, I am amenable to being your guide, but I will be busy tomorrow with my medicines. I won''t be available until the day after. Is that alright with you? It will let you get used to the town. You could explore there. My son would accompany you, if you so wish.¡±


    ¡°...Sure,¡± Zheng Jo said, ¡°That''s fine.¡±


    He awkwardly looked down at the map.


    ¡°It''d be good to compile some sources anyways,¡± he said, ¡°Give me time to talk to townsfolk, too.¡±


    ¡°I''ll start preparing supplies for a little expedition,¡± Wang Ro the Elder said, smiling, ¡°Fear not, Zheng Jo. I''ve lived in the Opal Hills for over twenty-five years. You won''t find a better guide.¡±

 127. The Fluorite Bird

    Joseph kept to himself in the evening, taking the scrolls and maps up to his room at the inn, reading through each and every entry and cross-noting them with the maps. There were plenty of mines in the mountains that had fallen out of use, since the precious minerals and jewels had run dry. Plenty of places to hide a Darwinist project. Joseph marked down, in his journal, which of the tunnels and mines that he thought would be the most important, based on proximity to the town and relative obscurity.


    He took dinner again in his room, eating quickly. He went to bed early, again, feeling uncharacteristically tired. Perhaps it was the mountain air. Perhaps it was being in a new place. His dreams were fitful, involving long hallways and Elven scimitars and men in dark trenchcoats who could break into storms of glass.


    But he was used to these nightmares. They burned him even through the hazy pills Becenti gave him, pills designed for dreamless sleep. He awoke in the morning with a headache that only went away with a cup of tea and breakfast. The air outside smelled of the mountains and wood-smoked fire. He could already hear children playing again, the sound of a dog barking on the other side of the village, the call of a great bird in the distance. Joseph craned an ear to listen to it.


    ¡°That''ll be Zi Shi Ying,¡± a voice said behind him.


    He turned. At the door of the inn was Guo Liling, the innkeeper''s daughter. She was around his age, and her hair was tied back in a ponytail to keep out of her face as she manned the counter.


    ¡°One of the spirits?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Yes,¡± she said. She sounded nervous, as though she had been working up to speak to him, and when she continued her words came out in a tumble, ¡°He usually calls in the mornings before a rainstorm. I think we''ll need to go up to his shrine to give him his customary gift, in thanks for warning us.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Joseph said. He heard the call again. Long and almost mournful, ¡°Has he been here at Opal Hills long?¡±


    Liling nodded, a bit quickly.


    ¡°You talk like spirits travel,¡± she said.


    ¡°Maybe some do,¡± Joseph said, shrugging, ¡°I don''t know. Not too many of them, where I''m from.¡±


    ¡°Sounds like a boring place,¡± Liling said.


    ¡°I''ve got plenty of other things to worry about,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Trust me, where I''m from, it''s chaotic.¡±


    Liling leaned against the doorframe.


    ¡°Oh?¡± she said, ¡°And what is it like?¡±


    Joseph almost grimaced. Time to think quick.


    ¡°It''s...¡± he said, ¡°I live in an old castle, with lots of people from all walks of life. It can get chaotic, sometimes, since everyone''s rowdy and everyone''s got their own goals. We can argue a lot. Sometimes I wonder why some of them are even there. But...¡±


    He looked at the rising sun in the distance.


    ¡°It''s good, though,¡± he said, ¡°We watch each other''s backs.¡±


    ¡°You go on lots of adventures?¡± Liling asked.


    ¡°Sure,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Take on jobs. Travel the mult- the world.¡±


    Liling nodded at that, and she gave a soft smile.


    ¡°It sounds wonderful,¡± she said, ¡°I''ve... I''ve never left the Opal Hills.¡±


    The call came out again. Shorter this time.


    ¡°Why not?¡± Joseph asked.


    Liling''s brow furrowed.


    ¡°It''d take time,¡± Joseph said, ¡°You''d need to save up money. You''d probably want to make a plan for where you want to go. But you could do it.¡±


    ¡°Did you do that?¡± Liling asked.


    ¡°Yeah, with my parents,¡± Joseph said, ¡°...It involved a bit of arguing.¡±


    ¡°Ha,¡± Liling said, ¡°Then you know how it goes. I''ve talked a bit with my father before.¡±


    She sighed. Looked out the window, her eyes inscrutable save for that familiar glint of yearning.


    ¡°He doesn''t want you to go,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°There''s still an inn,¡± Liling said, ¡°And it was his mother''s. Her father''s. Since the beginning of the Opal Hills, there has been a member of the Guo family to tend to its visitors.¡±


    Joseph bit back a sarcastic remark. He only nodded. He didn''t need to use much imagination to think of Liling''s arguments with Guo Kenan. Liling seemed to drop this train of thought, and her voice took on a shivering edge as she spoke again.


    ¡°I... I''ll probably head up to Zi Shi Ying''s shrine tonight, to pay respects,¡± she said, ¡°Y-You, you can come if you like.¡±


    It would make sense. If Zi Shi Ying was old, he probably would have knowledge of the hidden areas of the mountains. Who went to those hidden places. He could find the location of the Darwinist project, as well as its agent, in one fell swoop.


    ¡°I''d like that,¡± Joseph said, giving her a smile, ¡°Is it possible to talk to this Zi Shi Ying?¡±


    She beamed at that.


    ¡°Y-Yes!¡± she said, ¡°I''ll make sure to make his favorite meal. He prefers century eggs. I believe my father made some the other night for Pan Baihu, I can check. If we give him that, I''m sure he''d be amenable to talking with you. Especially a newcomer. He likes travelers, he gets them so rarely.¡±


    She began jabbering, talking about her plans. Evidently the fact that Joseph was joining her had awoken something in her. She regarded him with renewed excitement.


    They made plans for the evening, dinner with a spirit.


    ***


    Tai Haoran and Xiao Rai were the only students of the White Flame Sect. During the sect''s golden age, its seventeen monasteries had been home to hundreds of young Anri users, some raised at birth in the temple walls, others traveling from across the empire to learn all four realms of the White Flame Technique.


    But the golden age had died long ago, yes?


    When the Emperor and his Solar Dance Sect had systematically destroyed them, during the War of the Sovereign Horse.


    Ironic, the White Flame temples ablaze. For the sun burned brighter than any wildfire.


    They filled Grandmaster Zhou Winyan''s nightmares. The dying children. His dead friends. The way Emperor Sun Rao''s eyes glittered like stardust as he shattered Zhou Winyan''s spine.


    It was only the energy of Anri, as well as techniques hidden deep within the White Flame''s fourth and final realm, that he had survived at all. He still walked with a limp. His back ached, almost always, and shivered when rain was approaching.


    Like it was now, as he watched Tai Haoran and Xiao Rai spar in the courtyard. Xiao Rai, at first glance, had Tai Haoran on the defensive, and she spun at him with a variety of kicks and jabs. Tai Haoran was keeping his distance from her, dodging her strikes, the air filling with a burning scent as white flame overtook her hands and feet. It was paramount, in the first and second realms of the White Flame, that one learned how to convert Anri into fire. Externalization before internalization. Xiao Rai was well on her way to reaching the second realm.


    But Tai Haoran was at the third. The internalization of the White Flame quickened his movements. Strengthened his strikes, as he gave a counterattack to Xiao Rai, his fist striking her in the stomach. She wheezed, stumbling back.


    Tai Haoran waited for her to catch her breath. Xiao Rai fell to her knees. The Grandmaster could tell that Tai Haoran had put too much force into his attack. His face was impassive. His eyes spoke the truth, for there was a bit of guilt in them.


    Finish her, Grandmaster Zhou wanted to say, Kill her. If a simple strike would down her, she is not worthy of the White Flame.


    That is how they would have done it in the old days. Zhou remembered having slain his rival during his youth in another such training exercises. He chalked it up to miscalculating how much force he was striking him with. His master had accepted that answer. And that was that.


    Yet this was not the old days, was it? He could not dote upon Tai Haoran as he had been doted upon. Not brought up as the foremost pupil of the White Flame. That would imply there were more than two students.


    Besides, Tai Haoran needed someone to spar with. No one in the village would do. Zhou himself was too old and broken. Xiao Rai was¡­ enough


    Perhaps that Zheng Jo, with the strange way he breathed Anri, with the way it seemed to filter in his blood, would be a match.


    But that would have to wait, for now. Xiao Rai rose to her feet, a dark and ferocious look on her face. She knew she was the lesser of the two students. This fact enraged her, Zhou Winyan knew. He intentionally gave her the more difficult and frustrating chores around the monastery as a result. It would strengthen her, encourage her to do better.


    Encourage her to act like she was in the old days.


    She threw herself at Tai Haoran. The two danced a dance of fists and kicks.


    Then...


    ¡°That''s enough,¡± Grandmaster Zhou said, ¡°That''s enough!¡±


    They broke apart immediately, standing to attention, side by side.


    ¡°Tai Haoran,¡± Grandmaster Zhou said, ¡°You must learn to control the power behind your strikes. The White Flame encourages absolute destruction of your enemy. It requires much willpower to hold that power in check. Work on this.¡±


    ¡°Yes, master.¡±


    ¡°Xiao Rai!¡± Grandmaster Zhou snarled, ¡°You are too weak. Your strikes were pointless. Be direct. Be intentional. Review your basic strikes, and use them. Don''t throw out a hundred hoping they hit, throw out one and know. Tai Haoran knows this. It would be better if you were like him.¡±


    ¡°Y-Yes, master,¡± Xiao Rai said, grimacing.


    ¡°Attend to your chores, Xiao Rai,¡± the Grandmaster said, ¡°I want the rooms clean and free of dust. You will also take Tai Haoran''s duty of sweeping the temple grounds.¡±


    ¡°Master!¡± Xiao Rai said, ¡°That gives me no time to-¡±


    ¡°To what? Frivolously waste the day doing nothing? You must learn discipline, Xiao Rai, and discipline is learned by working.¡±


    She looked mutinous. Opened her mouth to say something rash. Then closed it. Tai Haoran sneered at her.


    ¡°Dismissed!¡± Grandmaster Zhou snapped.


    The two of them were off at once. Tai Haoran made for his room. Xiao Rai strode away with a huff, shooting one last glare at her fellow student''s back, before she went into the supply room to grab a feather duster.


    ***


    ¡°He is interesting,¡± Wang Ro the Younger said, ¡°I bet he has many stories.¡±


    He and his father, Wang Ro the Elder, were in the physician''s office. His father had just returned from a checkup with Lai Huan, who had come down with a fever of some sort. He had prescribed a few medicines to her, and told her family that he would visit them again in a few days. Nothing to be done except for the fever to work its way through her body like a bad meal.


    He was reading over a few notes now, a couple of wrinkled old pages that Wang Ro the Younger had never seen before.


    ¡°Father?¡± he said, ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°Reviewing old records,¡± Wang Ro the Elder said, ¡°Our visitor is making me delve into the past once more.¡±


    ¡°Once more?¡±


    There was a glimmer in his father''s eyes.


    ¡°Yes,¡± he said, ¡°I was on a similar road myself, once. A visitor to this small town. I went to the library, too, to get an idea of the Opal Hills'' history.¡±


    ¡°And you married mother,¡± Wang Ro the Younger said.


    ¡°Well,¡± Wang Ro the Elder said, ¡°That did not come until later. Perhaps Zheng Jo will follow me there. Perhaps he will not. It depends on whom he speaks to.¡±


    He glanced over at his son. Wang Ro the Younger was on the floor, staring at the ceiling, his hands clasped behind his head, fingers laced with uncombed hair. He was balancing his glasses on his nose.


    He was, Wang Ro the Elder noted, bored.


    ¡°You can visit him, if you wish.¡±


    His son looked over.


    ¡°You can have him tell your stories of his travels,¡± Wang Ro the Elder said, ¡°Say it is payment for helping him yesterday with the books.¡±


    ¡°Do you think he''d accept that?¡± Wang Ro the Younger asked.


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± Wang Ro the Elder replied, ¡°You will not know, until you try.¡±


    ¡°I''ll ask him, then,¡± Wang Ro the Younger said, jumping to his feet, ¡°I''ll go now!¡±


    And he scampered off. The Elder smiled at his son''s energy, and part of him wished he were still that young. He was an older father. He should have had a child thirty years ago.


    But then, thirty years ago had been a busy time.


    Wang Ro the Elder looked back at his notes.


    At the handmade map of the mines in the region. Zheng Jo was poking his nose in secret places. He would need to be steered carefully, lest he find something he should not.


    There was a knock at the door.


    Wang Ro the Elder closed up the map.


    ¡°Come in!¡± he said.


    The door opened. Tai Haoran sauntered in, all muscles and sweat and energy. He regarded the room with his usual cool air, for Wang Ro the Elder knew that, for all of his swearing on the need for knowledge, Tai Haoran was intimidated by the medicines of the clinic. He did not know what most of them did.


    ¡°Ah, Tai Haoran,¡± he said, ¡°Are you here for your prescription?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Wang Ro,¡± Tai Haoran said, ¡°I hope all is well?¡±


    ¡°All is as it should be,¡± Wang Ro the Elder said. He rose from his seat, moving over to his cupboard. Tai Haoran was a regular customer. Flying in the face of all of the Anri user''s blustering, his White Flame Techniques, his love of the moving body, was a heart condition. Few knew of it. Perhaps only Wang Ro and the White Flame Sect. Without the proper medication, it could lead to sudden and fatal attacks. Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    Especially if one overexerted himself.


    Fortunately, the proper medication was here. Wang Ro the Elder put the bottle of pills into a bag, and presented them to Tai Haoran.


    ¡°And what,¡± the physician said, ¡°Do you think of our newcomer, Zheng Jo?¡±


    Tai Haoran blinked his tiger-like eyes.


    ¡°What about him?¡± the Anri user asked.


    ¡°I recall you were rather suspicious of him, were you not?¡± Wang Ro the Elder said, ¡°You followed him to the library. I think you were helping him, not out of any sense of goodwill, but to keep an eye on him.¡±


    Tai Haoran''s eyebrow raised.


    ¡°Perhaps I still have suspicions,¡± he said, ¡°He has not done anything yet. But it has only been a day.¡±


    Here was an opportunity. Insurance. A suspicious Anri user was a weapon that could be used, if the need arose.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Wang Ro the Elder said, ¡°...I will tell you, if anything happens. I will do my own private research into Zheng Jo.¡±


    ¡°And you will let me know?¡± Tai Haoran said.


    ¡°If he is dangerous, if he is from a rival sect, you will be the first to know, Tai Haoran.¡±


    The smile that appeared on Tai Haoran''s face was predatory and triumphant. Yes, Tai Haoran, not Zhou Winyan, not Xiao Rai, would be the one to face down this outside threat. The glory would be his, and his alone.


    The two bowed. Tai Haoran took his leave.


    Yes, the arrogant were easy pieces to move on the board.


    ***


    It was just after lunch at this point. Zheng Jo was at a table on the inn''s first floor, a flurry of scrolls and notes spread out around him, sipping at a cup of tea. Guo Liling was at the bar¡¯s counter, giving her father time to rest before it came time to make Zi Shi Ying''s dinner. The older man was in the back taking a nap. One could hear his snores from his room in the back of the inn, and the louder ones made Zheng Jo and Guo Liling steal mirthful glances at one another.


    Wang Ro the Younger barged into the inn, his breathing heavy as he re-adjusted his glasses.


    ¡°Wang Ro,¡± Guo Liling said, ¡°Be quiet. My father is sleeping.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Wang Ro the Younger said, and he bowed, ¡°Sorry.¡±


    ¡°It''s alright,¡± Guo Liling said, ¡°Just be quiet. My father has a busy evening ahead of him, he and I are making Zi Shi Ying''s meal tonight.¡±


    Thanking and respecting the spirits of the Opal Hills was not child''s play. Wang Ro the Younger gave a slight grimace, before he bowed again. His eyes found Zheng Jo as the newcomer was finishing up writing a few notes into a book.


    A book, as was becoming the style, from what his father told him. Bound differently than what Wang Ro the Younger was used to, not like a scroll, not like the butterfly bindings that he sometimes saw in his father''s study. The very sight of it excited Wang Ro the Younger.


    And, with the arrogance that comes with all children, he strode over to Zheng Jo.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± he asked.


    Zheng Jo paused, turning to look at the Younger. His eyebrow raised, and Wang Ro the Younger had a feeling he was being an annoyance.


    But he didn''t care.


    ¡°I''m working,¡± Zheng Jo said, ¡°I''ve got a good idea of where I want to go when your dad and I go out tomorrow to survey the landscape, so I''m just looking at a personal project of mine.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡± Wang Ro the Younger asked.


    Zheng Jo sighed. Looked at his book.


    ¡°It''s...¡± he said, ¡°I''m doing a bit of translation work.¡±


    He gestured at another book on the table. This one was far more worn. Wang Ro the Younger noted Guo Liling lean against the bar, listening to their conversation. She was interested in the book, too.


    ¡°Translation?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Zheng Jo said, ¡°I''ve got a journal from my Nai Nai. She was a traveler, like me. Went all over the place, wrote down stories of her travels in a dozen different languages. I''ve been translating them.¡±


    He showed Wang Ro the Younger his journal, but the boy did not understand the language that Zheng Jo was translating the journal into, either.


    ¡°You must know a lot of languages,¡± Wang Ro the Younger said.


    ¡°Ha!¡± Zheng Jo said, ¡°Only a few. Not as many as her. Hence why this is taking me time.¡±


    He leaned back in his chair.


    ¡°Something I can help you with, man?¡± he asked.


    ¡°I...¡± Wang Ro the Younger hesitated, ¡°I was wondering if you could tell me more about where you''re from. A-As payment.¡±


    ¡°Payment?¡± Zheng Jo said.


    ¡°For helping you yesterday.¡±


    And, to his delight, Zheng Jo considered that. Shrugged, gave a frown of agreement, for he could not refute Wang Ro the Younger''s argument.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said, ¡°I''m from a castle. People from all over the place live there.¡±


    ¡°In Old Gate City?¡±


    ¡°...Yeah,¡± Zheng Jo said, ¡°In Old Gate City.¡±


    ¡°Are there lots of people there? And spirits?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Zheng Jo said.


    (At this, Guo Liling grew perplexed, for Zheng Jo had told her that the castle had no spirits, and Old Gate City was known for having many.)


    ¡°What are the other people in the castle like?¡±


    ¡°Oh, they''re all jerks,¡± Zheng Jo said, laughing, ¡°But not in a bad way. Like...¡±


    He thought of his words.


    ¡°Like Tai Haoran?¡± Guo Liling added, helpfully.


    Zheng Jo snapped his fingers.


    ¡°Yeah, like Tai Haoran, I guess,¡± he said, ¡°A jerk, but you keep him around because he''s useful.¡±


    ¡°He''s kind to me,¡± Wang Ro the Younger said, ¡°He helps me with my chores, sometimes.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, well,¡± Zheng Jo shrugged, ¡°You''re not an outsider.¡±


    Wang Ro the Younger went quiet at that. He pondered Zheng Jo''s words. Guo Liling spoke up.


    ¡°Give it time,¡± she said, ¡°I''m sure once you''re seen in town more, or in here, people will start trusting you.¡±


    ¡°Eh, it''s alright,¡± Zheng Jo said, ¡°Just as long as I can get my work done, that''s all I''ll need.¡±


    He gave her a smile. He''d been smiling more, lately. Since his talk with Guo Liling.


    Guo Liling thought it was because he had taken up her offer to go to Zi Shi Ying together.


    (Joseph, meanwhile, while he thought she was pretty, was smiling because he was getting somewhere in his investigation.)


    ¡°And why are you doing the work?¡± Wang Ro the Younger asked.


    Zheng Jo frowned.


    ¡°This job, you mean?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± Zheng Jo said, shrugging, ¡°It''s mostly because I was the one assigned to it. Our... boss, we''ll say, he has a list of jobs from our clients, and suggests that we go on them. I took this one on his suggestion.¡±


    ¡°Is it what you like to do?¡± Wang Ro the Younger asked.


    Zheng Jo winced.


    ¡°Partially,¡± he said, ¡°But, you take the partials in life, I''ve found. Get what you can get, while the getting''s good.¡±


    He fixed Wang Ro the Younger with a level look.


    ¡°I think you''ll get that, when you''re a bit older.¡±


    Wang Ro the Younger was quiet. Guo Liling was staring at the bar, busying herself by wiping it down, despite the fact that it had yet to be used.


    She thought about Zheng Jo''s words.


    She thought about talking to her father again. About leaving. And having adventures like him. Her daydreams for the rest of the day were filled with castles with a thousand people, each one different from the last.


    ***


    The preparation of a century egg, or the pine-patterned egg in certain parts of the empire, was a slow process. It required the coating of duck eggs in a mixture of lime, ash, rice, and mud, a specific mixture that Guo Kenan had learned when he was but five years old. For these eggs were the favorite of Zi Shi Ying, and thus many people in the Opal Hills were skilled in making them. The innkeeper had already prepared the month''s batch quite some time ago, pulling them out of storage. The eggshells had taken on a chalk-like quality, though they fell away easily. The white and the yolk had blackened, with pine-shaped indentations on the surface, for all the world resembling a black opal. Baptized in mud, it had taken on the appearance of a mineral from the mines.


    Guo Kenan added these eggs to a bowl of congee. He spent his evening preparing the rice porridge, adding slips of lean pork into the mix, a bit of ginger, and some green onions.


    Despite the relative simplicity of the recipe, Guo Kenan was sweating. For honoring one of the spirits of the Opal Hills, even if they were benign, required a level of perfection that mortals normally didn''t require. Everything had to be exact.


    He spent the evening agonizing over it. Guo Liling, his daughter, spent her time in the kitchen as well, cooking up rice noodles for her and Joseph.


    ¡°Want me to help?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°N-No!¡± Guo Liling said as she chopped rough vegetables, ¡°There would be too many in the kitchen.¡±


    ¡°I get that,¡± Joseph said. He knew the feeling too well. But, feeling like he wasn''t doing enough, he got permission to man the counter of the bar.


    The regulars filed in, and Joseph learned their names. Lo Qiu sauntered in first with his high, reedy, almost annoying laugh. He fixed Joseph with a look like he was in on some sort of joke, before guffawing himself to his customary seat at the table. Joseph poured out some rice wine for him.


    Yin Biya and Han Deming came in next. They ordered some warm tea each, then sat down at a table and started playing one of their board games, Han Deming gingerly pulling it out of his bag as though it were a sacred thing.


    Finally, Li Bai came in. In tow was his son, Li Tian. Around sixteen, maybe.


    ¡°Ah, working the bar?¡± Li Bai asked.


    ¡°Y-Yeah,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Hope that''s alright.¡±


    ¡°You''re not pillaging my fields, so I suppose it''s fine,¡± Li Bai said, ¡°This is Li Tian''s first time drinking alcohol.¡±


    That you know of, Joseph thought.


    ¡°What would you recommend?¡±


    Joseph thought for a moment, crossing his arms.


    ¡°Most of the stuff I drink isn''t available here,¡± he said, ¡°Probably equivalent to cheap baijiu.¡±


    ¡°Ah, I had that once,¡± Li Bai said, ¡°My father took me to Old Gate City, and we went to an inn there. Was very strong.¡±


    ¡°Mm,¡± Joseph said, and he poured Li Tian a glass.


    Behind him, in the kitchen, he could hear Guo Liling and Guo Kenan having a whispered argument.


    ¡°Please, father,¡± she was saying, ¡°It''s a chance for me to do this on my own. If I am to stay here, then I must be able to speak to Zi Shi Ying alone. If I am to leave, it is a chance to show...¡±


    ¡°Show what?¡± Guo Kenan asked.


    ¡°That I am capable,¡± she almost squeaked out this last part.


    ¡°You are capable, my daughter,¡± Guo Kenan said, ¡°But I don''t want you going alone, because that newcomer is still a stranger.¡±


    ¡°He''s kind, father.¡±


    ¡°Many people are kind,¡± Guo Kenan said, ¡°Until you get to know them. Little Jasmine, the fact that I am letting you go up the mountain at all shows how I trust you.¡±


    She was quiet at that. For she knew her old man was right.


    But yet...


    ¡°Please, father.¡±


    ¡°No. That''s final,¡± Guo Kenan said, ¡°Now, please, pass me the garlic.¡±


    ***


    They left for the mountain shrine just as dinner was arriving. Guo Kenan had Li Bai take over the bar, for he trusted the farmer enough (certainly more than the already drunken Lo Qiu) to pour out the usual drinks for the usual patrons, for everyone had their favorites, and rarely deviated. They went up along the mountain path near the White Flame monastery, and they could hear the shouts of Xiao Rai, the second student, as she practiced in the courtyard. The air up here smelled vaguely of flame.


    ¡°She practices a lot,¡± Guo Liling explained to Zheng Jo, ¡°Wants to get better than that braggart, Tai Haoran.¡±


    ¡°He''s definitely... a personality,¡± Zheng Jo admitted.


    Guo Liling snorted at that.


    Guo Kenan, older than the two youths, stayed a bit behind them. Despite himself, he smiled at the sound of their conversation, at his daughter pointing out various landmarks to the newcomer. The small grave of Pan Shun, ancestor of Pan Baihu, who had insisted on being buried nearest to the mine where he had discovered emeralds and thus saved the town''s economy in his day. The old tree by the river that had small stones slung on string wound ''round its lower branch, made by young couples to signify their newborn devotion.


    Guo Liling spent perhaps a hair bit longer gazing at the tree. She didn''t meet Zheng Jo''s eyes for a while after that.


    They wound their way up the mountain, mostly taking old dirt roads up to the meeting point, passing by the river, the grasses, hearing the calls of birds in the trees, a distant wolf''s howl. The sun was nearly set as they arrived at the site. Guo Kenan brought out a lamp, lighting it for the three of them as they sat in a small circle. The clearing was at outcropping of stone, a stretch of land that jutted from the mountain, with a gingko snaring out, like a rogue limb, towards the sky.


    It was where Zi Shi Ying came to meet the villagers of the Opal Hills. Where he accepted their gifts.


    Guo Kenan removed food from his pack. Simple rice noodles for himself, his daughter and Zheng Jo. The century egg congee for the spirit, which was in a covered bowl that he removed and placed in the center of the clearing.


    A few moments passed. The cold mountain air stilled.


    The flame in the lantern took on a whitish hue. They heard the shuffling of feathers on the wing.


    And Zi Shi Ying, the Fluorite Bird, landed in the clearing. He resembled, in some ways, an eagle. A hawk. A seagull or a crow. Any bird, and yet no bird atop D¨¤ Xi¨¤ng''s back. Zi Shi Ying''s plumage was white, though flecks of stones glittered in his feathers, of every color, almost glass-like in their make.


    (Guo Liling noted Zheng Jo''s shudder.)


    (Joseph could not help but remember Silicon, at Death Valley, and phantom pains burned in his soul.)


    Zi Shi Ying moved towards the bowl of congee, head flickering back and forth, eyes the color of marble considering the meal. He brought a beak down, pecked at it, fished out a slice of egg, and swallowed it whole.


    The eyes closed. He let out a deep, purring rumble.


    ¡°Mmm,¡± he said, and his voice was like the earth itself, deep and throaty, ¡°You honor me, Guo Kenan. Most delicious, most delicious.¡±


    He picked at it his meal some more. Rice stained his beak. Those ivory eyes considered his three guests.


    Lingered, for but a second sooner, on Zheng Jo.


    ¡°A newcomer,¡± he said, ¡°Rarely do we get visitors, especially up here. Introduce yourself, traveler.¡±


    Zheng Jo bowed.


    ¡°I''m Zheng Jo,¡± he said.


    ¡°Ah, good,¡± Zi Shi Ying said, ¡°Zheng is a powerful name, in more ways than one. You carry yourself in an honorable way.¡±


    ¡°I...¡± and Zheng Jo hesitated. Zi Shi Ying let out a chuffing laugh.


    ¡°I kid with you,¡± Zi Shi Ying said, ¡°Come, far traveler, eat. You must be hungry after your long journey.¡±


    At this, Zheng Jo''s eyes narrowed. But he started eating, together with Guo Liling and Guo Kenan. Zi Shi Ying tucked back into his congee. In four quick jabs, he was done. His three guests ate quickly, as well. They finished soon, too.


    ¡°And how is the village, Guo Kenan?¡± Zi Shi Ying asked, ¡°Are they ready for the storm?¡±


    ¡°Will it be a big one?¡±


    ¡°Oh, a few days, a few days,¡± Zi Shi Ying said, ¡°And not a small gale, either. A squall, I should think.¡±


    His words were weighted.


    (And Joseph understood them.)


    ¡°I thank you, Zi Shi Ying, for the warning,¡± Guo Kenan said, giving a slight bow, ¡°On behalf of myself, and for my village.¡±


    ¡°Gah, think nothing of it, young one,¡± Zi Shi Ying said, ¡°So long as you cook me the occasional meal, I am satisfied.¡±


    The bird turned his attention to Zheng Jo.


    ¡°I am curious, however, of this newcomer. Who are you, Zheng Jo? Why did you decide to join us, on this night of nights? Guo Liling I understand. She wishes to see the world outside her village.¡±


    At this, Guo Liling reddened. She looked away from the others.


    ¡°But you, you seem well traveled already, despite your young age,¡± Zi Shi Ying continued, ¡°You are from Old Gate City, yes?¡±


    Zheng Jo fixed the Fluorite Bird with an odd look. His eyes spoke words that only the spirit could understand.


    The bird unfurled his wings. White and glittering.


    ¡°The two of us will speak alone,¡± he said, ¡°You two, you are dismissed.¡±


    Guo Kenan and Guo Liling exchanged curious looks. But they both rose, father and daughter, and went down the path, out of earshot of the two of them. Guo Kenan took the lantern with him, leaving Zheng Jo in darkness with Zi Shi Ying.


    ¡°Odd of him,¡± Guo Kenan commented, ¡°Usually he doesn''t do that.¡±


    ¡°He doesn''t?¡± Guo Liling asked.


    ¡°When he speaks alone, it is usually to Grandmaster Zhou, or Pan Baihu,¡± Guo Kenan said, and he stroked his beard, ¡°Never to someone like our visitor.¡±


    Guo Liling bit her lip. Turned back to look at the clearing.


    After a moment, she started heading back up, making sure she made no noise.


    ¡°Liling!¡± her father hissed, ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°I''m going to see what they''re talking about,¡± she whispered back.


    ¡°My daughter, a sneak!¡±


    ¡°You want to know too, father, don''t you?¡±


    And Guo Kenan faltered. For he could not disagree. Besides. It was an opportunity to see if Zheng Jo was truly an interloper or not.


    ¡°Be careful,¡± was all he said.


    Guo Liling nodded, her face set. She brushed a few stray strands of hair from her face that had escaped from her haphazard ponytail, and went back up the path. She hid nearby, in a bundle of bushes, and craned an ear to listen in. Zi Shi Ying''s voice was almost supernaturally low.


    ¡°...As I saw your ancestors,¡± he said.


    ¡°So you know,¡± Zheng Jo said, ¡°I''m a metahuman?¡±


    ¡°Hnn, your kind are rare here, very rare,¡± Zi Shi Ying said, ¡°But the Anri flows through you, not around. To an Anri user such as I, it is a dead giveaway.¡±


    She heard Zheng Jo swear under his breath.


    ¡°Explains why that Grandmaster Zhou guy and Tai Haoran are so suspicious of me,¡± he said, ¡°I must look like a freak to them. Ah, well, I''m a freak to a lot of people.¡±


    The two were silent for a while.


    ¡°...And you know of the multiverse,¡± Zheng Jo said.


    Guo Liling''s eyes widened. Her heart started to race.


    ¡°I do, far traveler,¡± Zi Shi Ying said, ¡°I speak with Dragons. And I am old. I know you are not of this place. It is in your voice. The way you carry yourself. You are a curiosity.¡±


    Zheng Jo was quiet.


    ¡°Your secret is safe with me, Zheng Jo, if that is even your name.¡±


    ¡°Thanks.¡±


    ¡°What brings you from beyond D¨¤ Xi¨¤ng''s back?¡±


    ¡°I''m looking for... a project. One that was left behind, by a fellow traveler,¡± Zheng Jo said, ¡°I don''t know much about it. But I think it''s in one of the mines.¡±


    ¡°Hmm hmm, well, old Zi Shi Ying knows quite a bit of the mines in this area.¡±


    The flurry of paper. Zheng Jo was pulling out a map.


    ¡°It would have started up maybe thirty years ago. A bit later, maybe. That''s when... that''s when a war out there ended.¡±


    ¡°And the losers of that war spread out across the multiverse.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Hmm.¡±


    Zi Shi Ying was quiet. For a long time. Guo Liling clutched her chest, the way her heart pounded. It sounded like a war drum in her ears, so loud she swore that the spirit could hear her. But if the Fluorite Bird knew where she was hiding, he gave no indication. She heard him bring up a claw. Tap on the map


    ¡°This mine,¡± he said, ¡°And this one. This one, too. They are close to the town. But not so close as to be remembered. They also run deep.¡±


    ¡°Thanks,¡± Zheng Jo said.


    ¡°Of course, far traveler,¡± the spirit said, ¡°Now, run along. Beware of other newcomers in the Opal Hills, those who came before you.¡±


    ¡°...Should''ve thought of that sooner,¡± Zheng Jo said, with a grunt, ¡°I''ll ask around.¡±


    ¡°Yes, do so, Zheng Jo. Metahuman.¡±


    And marble eyes flashed in the darkness.


    Looked directly at Guo Liling, who nearly fainted from shock.


    ¡°Walk carefully, on your way home.¡±

 128. With Training/With Cunning

    Xiao Rai had joined the White Flame Sect when she was fifteen years old. She had set out from the imperial capital, stealing away from her family''s estate during the full moon, her head filled with stories of ancient Anri sects and the martial arts required to tap into their power. Her parents had wanted her to learn under the Cranes of the Weeping Lotus, but she knew she was no healer. She was no Sun Ya, First Wife of the Emperor, who could heal all ills by touch alone. No, when Xiao Rai thought of Anri, she thought of fire and action, motion and necessary violence. She had read every scroll related to the War of the Sovereign Horse and the White Flame Sect, for even though such texts were banned by imperial law, it was a poorly guarded secret that many noble families close to the Emperor secreted away censured information. Left it open for their children, in hopes that there may one day be found in them a weapon to erase the Sun Dynasty and replace it with their own.


    So she traveled across the elephant''s back. Traded stolen valuables from her family home for safe passage through the empire. Braved the swamplands, braved the fields with the Horse Lord Bandits, who ever warred against the Emperor''s armies, the thousand year rebels and enemies of a hundred dynasties. She hunkered down in old ruins, slept in new inns built on the ever-pushing frontier, searched for the elusive monastery of the White Flame Sect.


    Found it, at last, in the tucked away Opal Hills. She, too, took the path up the mountain, as Zheng Jo did, exchanging the villagers¡¯ suspicious looks with a snarl, with the haughty laugh of the noblewoman she might have become. Yet by the time that Xiao Rai had finally ascended the steps to the monastery and met Grandmaster Zhou, she was destitute. She had sold everything. She had nothing. She had become nothing.


    For the first step in the White Flame is to purge the self of all possessions, and cast them to the flame, be it metaphorical or physical. In Xiao Rai''s case, it was the former.


    That was three years ago.


    And now she was re-wrapping bandages around her arms. The chickens in the coop were violent creatures, more monster than poultry. They had decided to go on a rampage as she was tending to them that morning. All she had to speak for that was a few eggs and nasty cuts up and down her arm.


    Tai Haoran was already gone to bed for the night. The moon hung in the sky above. The stars twinkled. The crickets were already chirping their chorus.


    She had not had the time to do her exercises. Her day was spent living the life of a simple servant girl, cleaning the monastery and tending to the animals. It were as though she was not a student of the White Flame at all, but its maid.


    The thought of this made her clench her teeth, her hands ball into fists. She rose.


    She would do her exercises under the moon''s gaze.


    She walked out into the courtyard. Did her warm-ups.


    (Though they were sloppy)


    And started with her kicks. Her jabs. Breathing in the Anri, holding it in, letting it flow through her body, spark to flame around her hands and feet.


    She practiced for what felt like hours. The stars wheeled overhead in their snail trail races. The crickets continued their song. In the distance, a wolf howled.


    And Xiao Rai was almost finished when she heard a tapping on the stone. She wheeled to see Grandmaster Zhou draw out from behind a pillar.


    ¡°Your form is still poor,¡± he said, ¡°You put too much emphasis on rigidity. You must flow, for your blows to strike true.¡±


    ¡°When I flow, you tell me that I must be like stone,¡± Xiao Rai said, her exhaustion burning away formality, ¡°Which is it, old man?¡±


    Grandmaster Zhou smirked at his pupil''s insubordination. He ignored this as he walked over. ¡°It is a balance,¡± he said, ¡°Too soft, and you lose force in your strike. Too hard, the same is true. For maximum damage, for the Anri to flow properly, you must find the center, and strike from there.¡±


    He sniffed the air. Noted the scent of flames in the wind.


    ¡°Be like Tai Haoran,¡± he said.


    ¡°I don''t want anything to do with Tai Haoran,¡± Xiao Rai said irritably, ¡°Stop comparing me to him.¡±


    ¡°I compare you to greatness, so that you know to achieve it,¡± Grandmaster Zhou said, ¡°You are weak, girl. The way you are now, you will never be him.¡±


    She flushed red. Wanted to say something to retaliate. But she had been toeing the line enough, tonight. Grandmaster Zhou sighed.


    ¡°I want you,¡± he said, ¡°To accompany Wang Ro the Elder and that newcomer when they set out into the mountains tomorrow.¡±


    She looked up at him.


    ¡°I must practice tomorrow,¡± she said.


    ¡°Nonsense. Practice, and your chores, will be there for you when you''re finished,¡± Grandmaster Zhou said, ¡°Think of this excursion as a lesson-¡±


    Her fists clenched.


    ¡°-and meditate on what you''ve learned.¡±


    Xiao Rai bit down mutiny. She gave a bow. Headed into her room.


    Grandmaster Zhou watched her go.


    In truth, his needles were having their intended effect. It was only a matter of time before Xiao Rai took matters into her own hands. She was not as powerful as Tai Haoran. Her inexperience and her impatience meant that she was only an average student.


    But what she could not win through training, she would win through cunning.


    And the Grandmaster hoped for that.


    ***


    Moon waned. Sun rose. Stars closed their eyes.


    Guo Liling woke up at the first sign of dawn. Did her daily washing, noted that she would want to bathe tomorrow. She did her hair, tying it up in her usual messy ponytail. She put a bit more effort into it this morning, for she knew Zheng Jo would be downstairs for tea.


    Even after...


    Even after she heard of his conversation with Zi Shi Ying.


    Her mouth tightened into a thin line. She felt distracted, as she did the rest of her morning routine.


    Her father was already cooking breakfast when she walked into the bar. The smell of rice and fresh fish from the river filled the room, and already Guo Kenan''s brow was slaked with sweat as he worked. He met her gaze. Dropped it quickly.


    They had not spoken on the trip back to the village.


    But it was a new day now. But, even so, clouds were beginning to whisper across the sky. Zi Shi Ying''s warning of rain was bearing fruit. Guo Liling went outside, drew water from the well, came back in and plunged a rag into the bucket, began to wipe the bar.


    ¡°What did you hear, Little Jasmine?¡± her father asked.


    Guo Liling was quiet.


    ¡°What did Zheng Jo say?¡± her father pressed, ¡°Is he... an Anri user?¡±


    ¡°I...¡± she swallowed, ¡°I don''t know, Baba.¡±


    ¡°Could you not hear him well?¡±


    ¡°I could hear him fine,¡± Guo Liling said, her voice a bare whisper, ¡°But he said... many things. I''m confused, Baba. I''m scared.¡±


    ¡°Scared?¡± Guo Kenan''s voice took on a new tint, that of concern, ¡°Of what?¡±


    ¡°I don''t know,¡± Guo Liling said, ¡°It''s... a feeling. In my stomach. He said many things. I do not know if he is what he says he is.¡±


    Guo Kenan was quiet at that. Guo Liling continued to wipe down the bar. The tables. The chairs. She began to warm a pot of tea.


    An hour later, Zheng Jo came downstairs. He was dressed for travel, with his cloak and walking stick, a pack slung over his shoulder, his hair tied up in a comfortable bun. He gave her a smile.


    ¡°Hey,¡± he said.


    ¡°G-Good morning, Zheng Jo.¡±


    She already had his tea ready. He sipped it as he took out his journal, his strange little book, opening it up as he sat down. Guo Liling glanced over at her father in the kitchen, who gave her a grim nod.


    ¡°Zheng Jo,¡± she said, ¡°May I... ask you a question?¡±


    ¡°Sure. Shoot.¡±


    ¡°I do not know what that means.¡±


    ¡°Oh, uhm,¡± Zheng Jo thought for a moment, ¡°Just... ask your question. That''s what it means.¡±


    His smile became a bit awkward. Guarded.


    ¡°Ah, I see,¡± Guo Liling said, ¡°Err, what did you and Zi Shi Ying talk about last night?¡±


    And now she could see the wheel turn in Zheng Jo''s head. He thought quickly.


    ¡°Just about the mines in the area,¡± he said, a half-truth, ¡°For the project.¡±


    For the project. A project from his...


    Multiverse.


    Something in the back of Guo Liling''s mind tickled.


    (For possibility is impossible to contain.)


    ¡°That''s it?¡± she said.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Zheng Jo said, and he let out a light laugh, ¡°Nothing crazy. I just wanted to know a bit more about them from someone who''s been around the block a few times, you know?¡±


    Guo Liling nodded. Gave him a bow.


    ¡°Thank you, Zheng Jo,¡± she said, ¡°Enjoy the tea.¡±


    The traveler, this ''metahuman,'' raised an eyebrow at the sudden formality. He regarded her for another few moments, before he finished his drink, closed up his book, and rose. He gave a bow to her, said his goodbye, and left the inn.


    Guo Liling watched him go. Resisted the temptation to run out after him.


    To do what?


    She did not know.


    All she knew was that this multiverse was in the back of her mind. And like a snake in late summer, it writhed about, refusing to stay still.


    ***


    Joseph went over to the clinic after leaving the inn. The building was small, all things considered, because from what Joseph gathered, Wang Ro the Elder more often than not visited his patients in their homes, tended to their injuries surrounded by his patients'' families and old comforts. Not like the medical wing at Castle Belenus, which had specific rooms to segregate injured guildmembers from the rest of the guildhall. Elenry preferred her privacy, and the medical wing was her domain.


    As such, there was only a small waiting room, a back office, and living quarters for Wang Ro the Elder and his son. The decoration in the room was sparse, the only object of note being a painting hanging behind the desk of a woman. Wang Ro the Elder''s wife, Joseph assumed. He hadn''t seen her. Had probably passed on, from what he knew of the physician.


    Wang Ro the Elder was sitting at the desk itself when Joseph walked in. The physician adjusted his glasses ¨C much like his young son ¨C and rose. He already had a pack in hand.


    ¡°Ah, Zheng Jo,¡± he said, ¡°Good of you to come.¡±


    ¡°Well, you said I needed a guide, so here I am,¡± Joseph said, leaning against the doorpost, ¡°Anyone else coming?¡±


    ¡°I was hoping my son would join us,¡± Wang Ro the Elder said, ¡°I sent him over to retrieve Xiao Rai, who knows a bit about Anri here, and will be able to help us, if we run into trouble.¡±


    Joseph nodded, though he frowned.


    ¡°What sort of trouble?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Bandits occasionally come through here, especially this time of year,¡± Wang Ro the Elder said, ¡°Around this time, we usually set up militias to patrol the road. Xiao Rai and Tai Haoran accompany them.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Unless, of course, you think you''re capable enough to defend yourself,¡± Wang Ro the Elder said.


    ¡°I''ve taken my fair share of licks,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I can handle myself.¡±


    There was a way the physician''s eyebrows rose. Joseph shrugged.


    ¡°But, if you''re feeling uncomfortable with it, if you think that only having the suspicious newcomer around to protect you and your kid is a bad idea, then go ahead and call her.¡±


    ¡°I already did, Zheng Jo,¡± Wang Ro the Elder said, and he gave a bow, ¡°Forgive my caution.¡±If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    ¡°I suppose I can''t blame you,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I''d do the same.¡±


    Xiao Rai came down to the clinic with Wang Ro the Younger. She was dressed for travel as well, with loose fitting pants with a sleeveless red vest that left her bandaged arms bear. She wore her hair longer than most other Anri users, down to her shoulders like a shawl. Not tied up, though Joseph suspected she didn''t care.


    She was a rebel, and he could respect that.


    ¡°''Sup,¡± Joseph said, and he gave her a wave. Something dark flashed in Xiao Rai''s eyes, her face contorted for a split second, before she gave him a jerking bow.


    ¡°This is the newcomer?¡± she said, ¡°The esteemed Zheng Jo?¡±


    ¡°Well, I wouldn''t say ''esteemed,''¡± Joseph said, ¡°Just a traveler. You''re Xiao Rai, yeah?¡±


    ¡°I am,¡± Xiao Rai said, giving him a haughty look, ¡°I''m not impressed. Tai Haoran made you sound like a dog.¡±


    Joseph shrugged. Tried to be casual.


    (The word ¡®dog¡¯ set him on edge.)


    ¡°He''s just exaggerating,¡± he said, though he found it difficult to hide some heat in his voice, ¡°But enough about him. We ready to go?¡±


    ¡°Yes, enough about him,¡± Xiao Rai agreed, and she turned her attention to Wang Ro the Elder, ¡°Your son has brought me. I am here as a member of the White Flame Sect to accompany you, as per the instructions of my master. Shall we go?¡±


    Wang Ro the Elder was putting on a large pack.


    ¡°Yes,¡± he said, ¡°Let us be off.¡±


    ***


    To ask if the Opal Hills was beautiful was to ask if a river ran downstream or if the sun was warm. Even with the rainclouds now gathering, gray streaks through an azure sky, the Opal Hills lived up to their name as a tucked away paradise of rolling green mountains, with calm roads and gentle winds. Birds greeted them as the small party weaved through the mountain that held the town, moving across a pass via a rickety old bridge. A couple of signs pointed them in the direction of a few notable landmarks, shrines to ancestors or spirits, and they followed a few of them as they went. Zheng Jo looked down at his map, occasionally asked questions of his fellow travelers. But he took point for the journey across the mountains.


    ¡°I must insist you be careful, Zheng Jo,¡± Wang Ro the Elder admonished, ¡°If you stray off the wrong path, it could lead to trouble.¡±


    ¡°Thought you said it was nothing major,¡± Zheng Jo said, ¡°Besides, we''ve got Xiao Rai, right? She¡¯ll catch me.¡±


    He flashed her a smile. Xiao Rai glared.


    And they pressed on.


    At one point they came upon the first of Zheng Jo''s mines. Its entrance yawned at them, supported by wooden pillars taken from the forest nearby, and had once been used to carve out iron to be cast for pots in the town, weapons for the various wars outside of the province. But it had been used up long ago, hollowed out of any valuable minerals. All that was left was simple stone.


    Zheng Jo took note of it, looked down at his map.


    ¡°Ah, Agate Tapir Mine,¡± Wang Ro the Elder said, ¡°What interests you in there?¡±


    Zheng Jo scratched his cheek.


    ¡°Not sure,¡± he said, ¡°But I definitely want to check it out.¡±


    ¡°Well, if it''s all the same to you, I''d rather not go down there,¡± Wang Ro the Elder said, ¡°It''s precarious. Most of the old mines are. They haven''t been tended to since their abandonment. To go inside is to court a potential tunnel collapse.¡±


    ¡°Suit yourself,¡± Zheng Jo said, and he started walking towards the mine.


    Wang Ro the Younger looked at his father with a bit of worry. The physician''s eyes were fixed on Zheng Jo''s back.


    ¡°Go with him, Xiao Rai,¡± he said, ¡°Give him some light.¡±


    The Anri user scoffed. But nonetheless marched over to Zheng Jo''s side.


    ¡°Glad you could join me,¡± Zheng Jo said.


    ¡°Pray to your ancestors that we don''t die in a cave-in,¡± Xiao Rai spat.


    They came up to the mine''s entrance. Zheng Jo took a few tentative steps in, noted that the ground slanted downwards. He gauged his every move, paused after every footfall. Xiao Rai followed his movements. She took a deep breath. Held it. Breathed out.


    And a white flame lit in her open palm. She held the realized Anri there, illuminating the dark tunnel. Zheng Jo smirked.


    ¡°Nice,¡± he said.


    ¡°You mock me,¡± Xiao Rai said.


    ¡°No, seriously. It''s good work.¡±


    He said this with a casual air. Xiao Rai''s harsh glare lessened, then fell. It was rare for her to receive a compliment. She held up the flame higher into the hair, casting light further into the mine.


    But they were too late. A cave-in had already occurred as they rounded one of the bends. Old wood pillars had given way to rot and time, for the trees in the forest were not the best for this sort of job. Zheng Jo and Xiao Rai found themselves face to face with a dirt wall.


    The traveler could only nod at that. He pulled out his journal, scribbled a few notes, squinting in the fire light.


    When he was finished, he turned to Xiao Rai.


    ¡°Right,¡± he said, ¡°We''re done here.¡±


    ¡°That''s it?¡± Xiao Rai asked, ¡°No soil samples?¡±


    ¡°Soil samples?¡± Zheng Jo said, ¡°...No.¡±


    The Anri user crossed her arms, the flame moving to an elbow.


    ¡°What are you researching, exactly?¡± she asked.


    Zheng Jo hesitated. Xiao Rai''s brow furrowed.


    ¡°It''s...¡± Zheng Jo hesitated, ¡°Mostly the conditions down here in the mine. The Three Sons Trading Company were specifically looking at plantlife and wildlife here in the Opal Hills. That includes inside of it.¡±


    ¡°I have never heard of animals living within the mountains,¡± Xiao Rai said.


    ¡°...Well, I haven''t either,¡± Zheng Jo said, ¡°But they wanted me to investigate. Hey, I''m just the messenger here.¡±


    He kicked an errant pebble into the dirt cascade.


    ¡°Just the dumbass in the mine.¡±


    ***


    They emerged from the mine no worse for wear. Zheng Jo shrugged as Wang Ro the Younger approached.


    ¡°Was there anything in there?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Nah,¡± Zheng Jo said, pulling out his map, ¡°There was already a cave-in. Mine''s blocked off.¡±


    Wang Ro the Younger deflated.


    ¡°I see,¡± he said.


    Zheng Jo noted the kid''s disappointment, and patted him on the shoulder.


    ¡°Hey, it''s alright,¡± he said, ¡°Plenty of other mines to check out.¡±


    Wang Ro the Younger smiled at that.


    ¡°Can I... explore one?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Wang Ro the Elder said, ¡°It''s too dangerous.¡±


    ¡°Baba!¡±


    ¡°They''re old, my son, no place for a child,¡± Wang Ro the Elder said, his voice soft, ¡°Do you not enjoy the air? The travel we''re already on? Anything interesting about the Opal Hills is atop them, not within.¡±


    Wang Ro the Younger looked at his father with a pleading look. Wang Ro the Elder returned it with a mask of stone. Zheng Jo grimaced, then sighed.


    ¡°It''ll probably be a bunch of boring tunnels,¡± he said, ¡°Nothing worth getting yourself hyped up about.¡±


    ¡°...''Hyped up''?¡± Wang Ro the Younger asked.


    ¡°Ah, excited about,¡± Zheng Jo said, a hair too quickly. He earned a hidden, suspicious look from Wang Ro the Elder.


    (Who was starting to piece a few things together about this traveler.)


    Wang Ro deflated a bit, but seemed to accept his answer. The skip to his step returned as they returned back to the old dirt path.


    ¡°Wang Ro!¡± his father called, ¡°Be careful!¡±


    ¡°I will, Baba!¡±


    The old physician shook his head, but wore a good-natured smile.


    (That was a mask.)


    Zheng Jo and Xiao Rai followed after. The Anri user softened a bit with Zheng Jo, and chatted a bit more amicably.


    ***


    They checked two other mines before stopping for lunch. Both told the same stories. Green Root Mine had collapsed a few years ago, once more after its first bend. Shallow Tortoise Mine had flooded. It slanted downwards as soon as one entered, and a dirty lake dominated what had once been the primary landing of the mine, where workers had once rested before heading back into a spider web of tunnels.


    Zheng Jo crossed these off with an annoyed sort of precision. Only a few more to go.


    They ate lunch, packed from the inn, noodles, steamed buns, and a bit of rice. Zheng Jo and Wang Ro the Younger did most of the talking. The Younger asked questions. The traveler answered as best as he could.


    ¡°Well,¡± Zheng Jo said, ¡°It''s not so bad, being far from home. You get to learn to be yourself, you know?¡±


    ¡°But I already know who I am,¡± Wang Ro the Younger said.


    ¡°Maybe,¡± Zheng Jo said, shrugging, ¡°Or maybe you just know who you are in relation to your town. To your Baba.¡±


    He nodded at Wang Ro the Elder, who gave that polite, bemused smile.


    ¡°Bah,¡± Xiao Rai said, ¡°It''s not so good, traveling. It is a rigorous business. It is difficult, when you don''t know where your next meal is coming from or where you''re going to be placing your head at night. I''m glad to be done with it, for now.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, that''s true,¡± Zheng Jo said, ¡°It''s a tradeoff. Freedom for discomfort. I''d take it any day of the week.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Xiao Rai said, and she did not refute that. She did miss that. Missed not having to do endless chores, or escort annoying travelers to abandoned mines.


    ¡°Baba,¡± Wang Ro the Younger said, ¡°Perhaps when I am older, I''ll go out on my own.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps you will,¡± Wang Ro the Elder said, though he sounded a touch apprehensive, ¡°When you do, pray to your ancestors every day. The world is a dangerous place, my son.¡±


    Wang Ro the Younger nodded at that. But to tell a child that the world is dangerous is an exercise in folly. When the boy thought of danger, he thought of glory and adventure.


    ***


    They arrived at the next mine more than two hours later. By now the once-blue sky had become a horrid gray. Thunder rippled like a drum in the distance, and when Zheng Jo squinted, he could see sheets of rain on the far horizon. It made him comfortable, as they arrived at the mine.


    But Wang Ro the Elder was hesitant.


    ¡°It looks like a powerful storm, Zheng Jo,¡± he warned, ¡°The road will become slippery. We''ll be caught in a mudslide.¡±


    Zheng Jo grimaced.


    ¡°It''s just a few more mines, man,¡± he said, ¡°Nothing crazy.¡±


    ¡°The physician is right,¡± Xiao Rai said, matching Zheng Jo''s gaze on the horizon, ¡°I''d rather not be caught out in the open when the storm comes.¡±


    ¡°A White Flame practitioner, scared of a little rain?¡± Zheng Jo mocked, eyebrow raising, ¡°Seriously?¡±


    And she threw him a truly scathing look. The good opinion she''d had of him went out like a light.


    ¡°I am afraid of many things,¡± she said, ¡°Grandmaster Zhou says it''s normal to be afraid. I''m not afraid of a little rain. I''m afraid of a storm. And being caught out in it with a young one.¡±


    She gestured to Wang Ro the Younger. Zheng Jo sighed.


    ¡°Right,¡± he said, ¡°Low blow. Sorry.¡±


    He breathed in, out, looked at the map.


    ¡°I suppose I shouldn''t get this water damaged, either,¡± he said, ¡°...Alright. Give me a second. You guys start heading back. I''m going to check out the mine.¡±


    ¡°You don''t want help?¡± Wang Ro the Elder asked.


    ¡°...Nah,¡± Zheng Jo said, and he forced a smile, ¡°It''ll probably be caved-in anyways.¡±


    Xiao Rai rolled her eyes, started back on the path, the way back to the village. Wang Ro the Elder was considering Zheng Jo with a somber look.


    ¡°Seriously, it''s fine,¡± Zheng Jo said, ¡°Just a quick look. That''s all.¡±


    ¡°...Very well, Zheng Jo,¡± Wang Ro the Elder said, ¡°Come, my son, let us be off.¡±


    The two moved off. Zheng Jo watched them go aways, before he turned back to the mine.


    ***


    The mine indeed was empty. Joseph picked his way through it, listening for thunder rumbling above, for any sign of a Darwinist project below. This mine, however, was smaller than the others. It evidently had become abandoned due to a lack of funds, for it ended rather abruptly after a few bends, the pickaxes that had been hammering at the stone still resting on the wall, caked with dust and rust. Joseph picked one of them up, considered it for a few moments, before tossing it away.


    He put his hands on his hips for a moment, thinking, pacing, before taking out the map. With a frustrated grunt, he crossed the mine off of his list. Weaved his way back to the surface. Perhaps Wang Ro the Elder was right. The storm outside looked dreadful. He shouldn''t have said anything to Xiao Rai. That had been going too far.


    Biting his thumb, Joseph noted that the three of them were well and already on the path. Good. He turned a corner, looking down at the map again.


    The last mine. Golden Lion Mine. It was one of the places that Zi Shi Ying had specifically pointed out to him. A bit of a ways away.


    And yet...


    He couldn''t go to it right now, but he could get a good look at it. Joseph was a metahuman.


    A Child of Imagination.


    And there was no distance he could not see.


    He moved off of the path, rounding a bend so the others would not be able to see him. He closed his eyes. Let his soul, the eagle, start moving around in its circuit throughout his body. Using metahuman abilities felt good. Like breathing fresh air. Like falling in love. Like waking up to a rainy day.


    His soul realized, growing out of his back like a butterfly from its cocoon. Only the eagle''s head, connected to a thin line of electricity. It climbed into the air, ascending like the periscope of a submarine, until it could see over the mountain. A bird of prey''s eyes are much sharper than a human''s, and the soul''s were no exception. Joseph could see the land around him. Could make out individual leaves on the trees, bits of gravel on the road, even the strands of hair on Wang Ro the Younger''s head as he bounced ahead of his father and Xiao Rai.


    It swiveled, turning to consider Golden Lion Mine. It was out of the way, certainly, and from his research he knew it had been one of the more prominent mines in the region, expelling near-endless gold at its height. But that height had been generations ago.


    The river that ran through the mine was no longer tinged with metal. It ran clear.


    And thus the mine was abandoned.


    The soul descended, melted back into Joseph''s back. Rested in the nest that was his stomach. He felt, despite his frustration at the loss of the day, content.


    He made his way back.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    And did not notice that his turning of the bend did not fully hide his metahuman gift. Wang Ro the Elder''s eyes, sharpened from years of experience and paranoia, caught the eagle''s head as it swiveled around. He took note of this. Took note of the way that Zheng Jo had been speaking. This traveler was not who he said he was. He was of the multiverse.


    But... how of the multiverse? Was he of the damned Federation? Was he guildfolk?


    Was this Three Brothers Trading Company a guild?


    He did not know. He would need to send someone to Old Gate City.


    Perhaps this Zheng Jo was just a guildfolk. Perhaps he was there to root out the project.


    Wang Ro the Elder had to know for certain. He did not leave such things to chance.


    He had survived for so long by taking his time, and being methodical. He would do the same here.


    ***


    They returned back to the town. Went their separate ways. The physician and his son, Elder and Younger, went back to the clinic. Yin Biya was complaining about her knee again, especially with the oncoming rain. He prescribed her a few pills to ease the pain when she went to bed at night.


    Zheng Jo returned to the inn, took his customary spot at his table, pulled out his journal and the maps. Guo Liling, upon noting the traveler¡¯s return, approached him.


    ¡°May I join you?¡± she asked.


    Zheng Jo raised an eyebrow at her.


    ¡°Sure,¡± he said.


    She sat down. Helped him with a few translations. Mostly just watched him work. This curiosity of the multiverse. He muttered to himself, a bit darkly at times, threw out words that she had never heard, but knew to be curses. They ate dinner with her father. Traded a few stories.


    The storm rolled just after sundown. A deluge, it pelted the roofs of the Opal Hills, drank into the dirt, swelled into mud along the dirt paths. Trees swayed and bent, and a few broke. Children laugh-screamed into their parents'' homes. Windows were shuttered. The wind battered against the walls, which shuddered and howled as if in pain.


    The day wore away. The storm continued into the night. High in the monastery, Grandmaster Zhou decided to turn in early, his back and his legs aching. Tai Haoran decided to meditate in the rain, stepping out into the courtyard and closing his eyes. It was an exercise in concentration, a rare opportunity to use such harsh elements to one''s benefit.


    Tai Haoran did this every time it rained.


    ¡­


    And it was a golden opportunity, as he meditated, looking inwards to himself and his own training, numb to the world, for Xiao Rai to sneak into his room.


    She did this usually when he was out. But the journey outside the town had distracted her. Xiao Rai rose from her bed, kept low to the ground, was careful where she placed her steps as she moved over to Tai Haoran''s room. She could see him through the window, outside, in a lotus position, the rain battering around him like a thousand needles.


    She opened the door to his room. Tai Haoran kept his quarters bare of any decoration save for a scroll by his bed that read out a list of breathing exercises to strengthen the heart.


    Xiao Rai searched quickly. Found what she was looking for. Tai Haoran''s prescription. His pills from Wang Ro the Elder. For his heart. She did not know what exactly was wrong with TAi Haoran''s, save that it was where his malice dwelled, but the medicine certainly helped with it.


    Or would have. As Xiao Rai removed the medicine from its bottle, and replaced them with simple sugar pills. They looked much the same as Wang Ro the Elder''s, and every time she visited Old Gate City she made sure to grab more.


    What she could not get from Grandmaster Zhou with training, she would get with cunning.


    Every Anri user had their weakness, and Tai Haoran''s was his heart.


    She took the proper medicines in hand, and returned back to her room. Did a breathing technique to pull in Anri, much as she had during her trip into the mines earlier with Zheng Jo. The fire lit up Wang Ro the Elder''s medicine, burned through the casings and crushed-up plants completely. All evidence of treachery gone, she went to bed. It would be a long day of chores tomorrow, she knew.


    ¡­


    She had been doing this for two months now.


    It was only a matter of time.

 129. Hawk in the Snare

    The rain did not relent with morning''s arrival. The dawn-hued sky was covered by clouds. The morning sun could not shine through the curtains of endless rain. The storm hung, like a spectre, over the mountains, the forests, and the plains beyond. Some whispered of it being the work of the Broken Cloud Sect, an attempt of Anri techniques to send out a storm that would strengthen into a hurricane when it arrived at the imperial capital. Others wondered if it was the spirits that lived in the deep mountains of the north, their angry rumblings creating the strong winds that now buffeted houses, shook at windows, screamed out songs of cold water.


    It was, to Joseph Zheng, the perfect sort of morning. His soul crackled and popped like a campfire in his belly as he rose from bed and took his tea downstairs. Guo Liling was the only one up, this early in the morning, and the two of them watched the pouring rain from their places, Joseph at his table, Guo Liling at her bar. They traded few words, letting the chorus outside fill their conversation.


    Breakfast was served, noodles with a bit of spice to them, a few dumplings to soak up the heat. A meal designed for cold weather, to warm the body and enrich the soul.


    That was good, for Joseph rose from his seat after he was finished eating. Put the dishes away. Drained the last of his tea.


    And picked up his walking stick.


    ¡°Right,¡± he said, ¡°I''ll be back.¡±


    Liling''s eyes widened. They darted to the open door, then back to him.


    ¡°Where are you going?¡± she asked.


    ¡°I''m going to Old Gate City, to make an update to the trading company,¡± Joseph said, making for the door, ¡°I should be back by tonight.¡±


    ¡°Zheng Jo,¡± Liling said, ¡°It is pouring rain.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph said, shrugging, ¡°But come rain or shine, right?¡±


    He smiled at her. Winked. Liling looked aghast. Without another word, he stepped out through the door, into the icy rain. It pelted him immediately, drenched his long hair as he walked, dug into his shoulders. His boots quickly became muddy as he left the town and went down the winding trail out of the Opal Hills.


    But he was a metahuman. His soul was cobalt and electric. The storm was a friend to him. Were his Nai Nai still around, it might have even been his family. As such, he had no trouble with the weather. He slicked down the mud roads, his footing sure, perhaps a hair overconfident. But he was prepared for his slip-ups. He was alone, and that meant he could manifest his soul to catch him. At one point, he slipped, and the eagle realized into the world, sharp claws digging into the earth to hold him fast. At another, he decided to forgo taking the winding road and instead climb his way down with azure talons.


    It was a strange feeling for a metahuman to not use their abilities. Using them was euphoric.


    Lightning flashed in the distance. Joseph wished it were closer. Lightning was a refresher to him. A way to heal.


    Rosemary had taught him that.


    The thought of talking to her made his heart thunder.


    And he pressed on through the gale.


    ***


    Tan Fa was the village''s everyman. The secondborn of the once-illustrious Tan family, who had lived in the Opal Hills for hundreds of years, he and his brother, Tan Da, had been twin heads of a mischievous serpent. The family mine had given way to a family farm, and they had little to do after their tending to the fields save for causing trouble for the rest of the community. There had been a good-natured sigh upon the two brothers leaving the Opal Hills to join the army, ten years before. The entire town had gotten up, early in the morning, to see them off, despite them thinking they were sneaking away. Bittersweet laughter was had. Tan Xiaowen, their father, hid tears of pride and sorrow at their departure. For his unruly sons were finally going to grow up and find themselves in the world.


    Tan Fa returned five years later with a knowledge of warfare and an emptied heart. Tan Da had been killed during the Red Sash Rebellion, a stray gale of Anri shearing away the upper half of his body completely. He had died suddenly. He had died without pain.


    He had died in front of his brother, who screamed and cried at night, now.


    The Tan farm had been bought out by Li Bai, for Tan Xiaowen had died before his son''s return. Perhaps that was for the best.


    It did mean, however, that Tan Fa was without a stable means of income. He did odd jobs around the town to make ends meet. He repaired leaking roofs, or ran food to workers out in the fields, occasionally filled in when a farmer that was sick needed their field tended to. He lived off of meager coin and handouts.


    And he also did the odd job for Wang Ro the Elder. Tan Fa was in the clinic now, stroking his whispery goatee as the physician went over the particular job in mind.


    ¡°Old Gate City?¡± he said, ¡°You want me to go down there?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Wang Ro the Elder said, ¡°As soon as possible.¡±


    ¡°To investigate Zheng Jo.¡±


    ¡°He is not who he says he is.¡±


    ¡°From my experience, very few travelers are,¡± Tan Fa stretched, grunting a bit as a phantom pain in his leg came back to haunt him. A stray arrow, during the Battle of Ruby Sealed City.


    ¡°All the same,¡± Wang Ro the Elder said, ¡°I want you to see if his story is verifiable. Find out if there is a Three Sons Trading Company in Old Gate City. If there is, see if there is a Zheng Jo who works there.¡±


    ¡°And if there is not?¡±


    ¡°Then return back to me.¡±


    Tan Fa hesitated. In truth, he did not care for this Zheng Jo. He had not spoken to him, content to watch the traveler go about his day. He had more important work to do, such as repairing the widow Ban Lanfen''s windows and making sure he had dinner for the night.


    ¡°Why is Pan Baihu not asking about this?¡± he asked, ¡°You are a physician, not a leader. Not a warrior.¡±


    ¡°Fifteen silver pieces,¡± Wang Ro the Elder said, ¡°Fifteen more when you return.¡±


    Tan Fa¡¯s eyes widened, and he at once became more interested. The physician spoke the veteran''s language.


    ¡°It will be dangerous going out in the rain,¡± he said.


    ¡°If you are injured, I will tend to you upon your return, free of charge,¡± Wang Ro the Elder said, ¡°But I must know. Let me know when you return as soon as possible.¡±


    ¡°...Very well,¡± Tan Fa said. He rose. Picked up a walking stick.


    And a second traveler left the Opal Hills. For Old Gate City.


    ***


    The storm had arrived at the provincial capital, as well. It hung over the walled city, drenching it and the rice fields around it in an endless deluge. The road leading to Old Gate City''s titular entrance was a muddy path flanked by two rice paddies, and Joseph found that he had to be sure with his footsteps, lest he trip and embarrass himself. The ancient ivory gate, bleached white and off-yellow by the sun and by time, yawned before him, open even with the storm. Naturally, there were few other fellow travelers going through, though the guards manning the gates only gave him a curt nod as he approached.


    Much of the city was quiet. Like Joseph''s Scuttleway, the rain tended to scare people indoors, where they would drink by the fire, or talk and swap stories. Joseph could hear them now, idle conversation behind closed doors.


    Old Gate City sat atop a river. It had been founded by ancient warlords of the Elephant Walking Sect, masters of the earth, and they had formed the titular gate out of blessed ivory infused with Anri, becoming as strong as steel. It was considered one of the wonders of the world, along with the Rainbow Dragon River and the capital¡¯s Ascendant Palace.


    But it had been founded on a river. And it was because of the river that Old Gate City had grown to such an impressive size, was such a hub of trade and culture. And there was no better symbol of its riverborn roots as the great turtles that swam across its length. They were massive creatures, the largest being the size of a house, though it was said their cousins in the ocean were as moving islands. Anri was suffused across their being, so much that they had long ago become sapient ¨C enough Anri, and even an ant could talk like a man.


    The turtles of Old Gate City yearned for gold. For silver. For cold, hard cash. So they arranged for restaurants to be built on their backs. Inns and taverns. Manors, for the richest nobles, for the largest of turtles. And for a weekly sum they swam along the length of Old Gate City''s river.


    It was one of these traveling restaurants that Joseph sought out. He stepped onto a pier, waited for one of the turtles to arrive. One, after a few minutes, did, carrying atop his shell a teahouse. A lonely guzheng played from inside, and the smell of spices and burning leaves filled the air.


    Joseph stepped into the teahouse. A moment later the place lurched as the turtle set out once more. Rain buffeted the rooftop, mixing with the guzheng, which was being played by an old woman in the corner, practiced fingers plucking at lonely strings. The teahouse was single-storied, open for only a few patrons. Were it not for the rain, Joseph surmised, he might not have been able to even get in at all.


    As it was, the place was relatively empty, save for the old lady, another patron, and the teahouses''s owner, a spry-looking older man who bowed and plastered on a smile as he spoke to Joseph.


    ¡°Welcome, young master,¡± he said, ¡°Please, sit wherever.¡±


    ¡°Thanks,¡± Joseph said. He chose a place far away from the owner and the other patron, moving off to a corner. He ordered a plate of wonton noodles and, after eating that and warming up a bit, he requested for simple black tea. He paid the owner a bit extra as it was brought to the table, so he could remain undisturbed. The tea was sweet and fruity, and they had added a hint of pine.


    The other patron left soon enough, an older man who seemed to be a regular, the way he waved to the owner. The guzheng continued playing.


    And Joseph, realizing he was, at last, alone, pulled out the Silverfish.


    He had come to Old Gate City for one reason, and one reason alone. He could get good food at the Opal Hills ¨C Guo Liling and Guo Kenan were excellent cooks ¨C and the music, while nice, wasn''t his usual pick of electronic or hip-hop.


    No, Old Gate City was close enough to the Traveling Point that the Silverfish would be able to connect to the rest of the Squall. It was time for him to make an update to his guildmates.


    The Silverfish itself was small, easy enough to fit into a pack. It was one of the more advanced models, provided by Commodore Shelley, and was a simple metal disc with three jutting legs. The innards was where the magic happened ¨C Meleko had once tried to explain the inner workings of a Silverfish to Joseph, and the metahuman had walked away from that conversation with a spinning head and a wish for life to be simpler. He clicked it on. Followed the instructions that Shelley had provided for sending out a signal to the multiverse.


    And then he waited. Sipped his tea. Listened to the music. The sounds of the rain and of the city.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    And, after almost ten minutes, he got a response. Rosemary''s voice crackled through the Silverfish.


    ¡°Joe?¡± she said, ¡°That you?¡±


    ¡°It is,¡± Joseph said.


    The owner of the teahouse looked up, noted Joseph speaking. But the extra money in his pocket dissuaded him from bothering the metahuman. The old lady continued with her music.


    ¡°What''s the password?¡± Rosemary asked.


    ¡°Dragon''s Egg,¡± Joseph said. They had made the password together, a reference to their first job out together.


    ¡°You think it ever hatched, Joe?¡± Rosemary asked, ¡°I mean, it''s had to at this point.¡±


    ¡°Becenti told me once that Dragon eggs can take decades to develop,¡± Joseph said, ¡°So it could still be an egg.¡±


    ¡°Still, whatcha think?¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Little ol'' Dragon Junior, flying around with their parent.¡±


    ¡°It''s a good thought,¡± Joseph admitted, and he smiled in spite of himself.


    They went quiet for a moment. Rosemary and Mallory were on a job on a nearby plane, specifically assigned so Joseph could get in contact with them while also getting other work done. Wakeling liked it when two birds could be killed with one stone. Joseph could imagine Rosemary now, with her red cloak and her curly blond hair that hid pointed ears, her rose sceptre that housed and fired off pure sunlight. Her piercing blue eyes that saw more than she would ever let on.


    Joseph missed her.


    ¡°''Sup, Joe?¡± Rosemary said, ¡°You calling me ''cause you miss me?¡±


    ¡°What? No,¡± Joseph said, ¡°N-Not, well, it''s-¡±


    ¡°Relax, I''m just fucking with you,¡± Rosemary said, and he heard her laugh. The metahuman rolled his eyes, tried not to think about how he had reddened.


    ¡°I''m here,¡± he said, ¡°To make my report.¡±Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.


    ¡°Right,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Whatcha got for me?¡±


    ¡°I''ve made contact with the town near the Darwinist project,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Been searching the surrounding area. I''ve got a few good ideas, nothing concrete yet. I''m safe now, though. The locals were... a bit suspicious, but I know a few of them seem to be fine with me being around.¡±


    ¡°That''s good,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°One sec. Mallory''s calling me for something.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Joseph said, nodding. He heard Rosemary rise from her seat, her voice sounding a bit distant as she had a muffled conversation with Mallory. He sipped his tea, noted he was getting a bit low. The teahouse''s owner, taking notice, hurried over and refilled his cup. Joseph flipped him an extra few silver for his privacy.


    ¡°...Sorry about that,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°We''re helping keep guard at a miner''s strike. The union heads just approached us to let us know we''re moving out tomorrow to help mediate with the bosses.¡±


    ¡°Everything alright?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Oh, yeah,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Most of the miners are alright people. Most of the trouble''s come from the cops, but they''re keeping their distance.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Be careful.¡±


    ¡°Ha, you''re sounding like Becenti. He''s frazzled, whenever we mention what we''re up to.¡±


    ¡°I don''t think I''ve ever heard Becenti sound ''frazzled'' before,¡± Joseph said, chuckling.


    ¡°Oh, he keeps up his professional air,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°But you know him. Remember that prank Lazuli pulled on him? With the feathers?¡±


    And Joseph started laughing harder. He heard Rosemary join him, and the two took a second to collect themselves.


    ¡°...Anyways,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I''ll probably be a bit longer. Going to keep searching. But thought I''d give you an update, let you know I''m not dead.¡±


    ¡°Glad to hear you''re not dead, Joe.¡±


    ¡°Glad to hear that, too,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I was a bit concerned.¡±


    Rosemary snorted.


    ¡°Well, I''ll pass the information along,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Keep, uh, doing what you''re doing.¡±


    ¡°Ha, I will,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Anything else, Joe?¡±


    ¡°Nothing,¡± Joseph said, and then, ¡°...Well...¡±


    He paused, feeling a bit childish all of a sudden.


    ¡°Something up, Joe?¡±


    ¡°No, it''s nothing,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Forget it.¡±


    ¡°Come on,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°What''s up?¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± Joseph grimaced, ¡°It... was, well, it was my birthday a week ago.¡±


    ¡°Well, Joseph Zheng!¡± Rosemary said, ¡°Happy birthday! First birthday out in the multiverse?¡±


    ¡°Second, actually,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I, ah, turned twenty-one while I was with Becenti at Death Valley.¡±


    ¡°And you didn''t tell anyone?¡±


    ¡°I was in my own head a lot,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Didn''t even cross my mind until later. Besides, things were... busy.¡±


    He said this with a light air, but he could not hide the tightness in his voice. He took a chance to sip the tea. Rosemary knew this, and she didn¡¯t press him on it.


    ¡°Over a year and a half in the multiverse,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Why didn''t you say anything before?¡± Rosemary said, ¡°We could have done something before you left!¡±


    ¡°I felt weird about it!¡± Joseph said, ¡°I mean, it''s not a big deal or anything. Twenty-two isn''t as big a milestone as twenty-one.¡±


    ¡°And twenty-one''s a milestone?¡±


    ¡°Well, yeah,¡± Joseph said, ¡°It''s the legal drinking age, where I''m from.¡±


    ¡°Joseph, you told me that you first tried whiskey when you were thirteen.¡±


    ¡°...Alright,¡± the metahuman said, ¡°Maybe it''s not that big of a milestone, either.¡±


    He heard Rosemary laugh.


    ¡°Any birthday''s a milestone,¡± she said, ¡°You''re alive, aren''t you?¡±


    ¡°...I guess so,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Well, let''s drink to that, then,¡± Rosemary said. He heard her raise a glass.


    ¡°It''s tea, nothing stronger,¡± Joseph said, but despite himself, he lifted it.


    ¡°Happy birthday, Joe,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°When you get back, we''ll do something fun. Go out for drinks. It''s up to you.¡±


    He smiled.


    ¡°I''d like that,¡± he said.


    He heard Mallory speak up.


    ¡°Alright,¡± Rosemary said to her, then, ¡°Look, Joe, we have to go. One of the union heads is asking for us. Apparently the cops are moving in.¡±


    Joseph''s blood ran cold.


    ¡°Right,¡± he said, ¡°Be careful.¡±


    ¡°You know I will be,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°...You too. Don''t think that just because a few people out there like you, doesn''t mean everyone does.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°See you around, Joe.¡±


    ¡°Stay safe, Rosemary.¡±


    And the Silverfish''s line went dead. Joseph picked it up, inspected it for a few moments, his heart thumping despite the rainy slowness of the day. He packed it away. Sipped a bit more tea to calm himself down, and took his leave.


    ***


    And while Joseph, or Zheng Jo, or just Joe, had his talk, Tan Fa explored Old Gate City. He arrived almost an hour after the Opal Hills newcomer, wearing a conical straw hat to protect his head from the rain. He walked across muddy streets, going into the various taverns set up around the city.


    And asked his questions. Received his answers. Asked some more, received some more, a neverending, swirling pattern of ask and answer, giving and receiving, for Tan Fa was good at talking to people. Somehow, he was permitted to one of the mercantile libraries, where there was housed information on the various companies that used Old Gate City as their base of operations. He flipped through the records, unlooping the many scrolls held within the building, a mirror to Zheng Jo''s own frenzied research at the Opal Hills only a few days before.


    He did not find what he was looking for. No evidence of the Three Sons Trading Company.


    But that, too, was an answer.


    So satisfied, he made his bow, exited the building. Had a late lunch at the selfsame teahouse that Zheng Jo had visited to talk with his extraplanar contact.


    He had missed Zheng Jo by mere hours.


    And he, too, set back off for his home soon after. His legs ached from the travel. But he was used to it. The marches in the army had been far more rigorous.


    ***


    Zheng Jo returned back to the Opal Hills near enough to sunset to make Guo Liling concerned. But he arrived, all the same, haggard from his journey. He also didn''t seem to have anything to protect him from the rain, because he looked like he had been swimming, the way the water dripped from his cloak. Guo Kenan''s eyes narrowed at him.


    ¡°Young master,¡± he said, ¡°I must insist you dry yourself off before you eat at my table.¡±


    Zheng Jo shrugged. Even smiled.


    ¡°That''s fair,¡± he said, ¡°I''ll be upstairs.¡±


    And he made his way up to change clothes. He returned a bit later in the night in a fresh set of robes, sitting down at a table and eating quietly. The usual crowd had come in tonight, Li Bai and Lo Qiu swapping their stories over frantic drink, Yin Biya and Han Deming playing their boardgame.


    The rain continued, unabated, outside. It would probably continue on for another few days. In the absolute distance, they could hear Zi Shi Ying''s call pierce through the clouds.


    Li Bai took his leave, dragging a drooling Lo Qiu out of the inn. Yin Biya continued playing the game, waiting patiently for Han Deming to make his next move, entirely unaware that the old man had fallen to sleep.


    Zheng Jo was almost finished, too, and was about to get up to go to bed when Guo Liling sat down across from him. The traveler looked weary.


    Which was exactly what Guo Liling wanted him to be, for her line of questioning.


    ¡°How was Old Gate City?¡± she asked him.


    Zheng Jo blinked. Rubbed his eyes.


    ¡°Oh, it was fine,¡± he said, ¡°Nothing crazy. Just stopped by to make my report. That''s all.¡±


    ¡°Odd, that you would go all the way out there to make your report. You could have sent a letter. We have the birds for it.¡±


    ¡°I wanted to walk,¡± Zheng Jo said, and his eyes were starting to narrow, ¡°...What''s this about?¡±


    ¡°I''m just,¡± Guo Liling cringed. She was being far too aggressive, now. At the bar, her father was busying himself wiping down the counter, but she could tell he was listening.


    ¡°It was just a report that I wanted to make in person,¡± Zheng Jo said, ¡°That''s it.¡±


    Guo Liling faltered. Zheng Jo rose up from his seat.


    ¡°Well,¡± he said, ¡°I''m going to bed. Have a good night.¡±


    He flashed her a smile, though it was not entirely genuine. She was starting to see through Zheng Jo''s facade, now, the cheery air he almost forced through, at times. She watched the traveler make for the stairs.


    ¡°Wait!¡± she said.


    ¡°Little Jasmine,¡± Guo Kenan warned.


    But Zheng Jo had stopped.


    She had to know.


    She had to know.


    The multiverse, it writhed.


    ¡°Zi Shi Ying,¡± she said, all at once breathless, ¡°He... he said you were... you said you were...¡±


    Zheng Jo still had not moved.


    ¡°A metahuman, Zheng Jo,¡± she said, ¡°And he said it like it meant something. What does it mean?¡±


    Zheng Jo made no reply.


    But that, too, was an answer.


    He was tense, his hand curling on the railing, fingers digging into the wood. When he turned to face Guo Liling, his eyes danced and sparked.


    The air began to smell funny.


    (It smelled of ozone.)


    ¡°...It doesn''t mean anything,¡± he said.


    ¡°It...¡± Guo Liling hesitated, again, for she knew she was prodding at something Zheng Jo would rather remain hidden. It was not polite to pry into others'' business, ¡°It... the multiverse, Zheng Jo, you talked about the multiverse.¡±


    He breathed in. Out. Looked much like a deer caught in the sights of a hunter. A cornered serpent in the paws of a cat.


    Like a hawk in the snare.


    Thunder roiled, like a wardrum, outside.


    ¡°Drop it,¡± he said. Simply.


    Guo Kenan reared his head to consider Zheng Jo, his brow furrowed. Guo Liling started to speak again.


    ¡°But-¡±


    ¡°If you want to know about that, ask Zi Shi Ying,¡± Zheng Jo said, ¡°I don''t know what you''re talking about. That''s my final answer. Good night, Guo Liling.¡±


    And he turned, and went upstairs. The scent in the air followed him. Guo Liling''s heart hammered, as she turned to consider her father. Guo Kenan shook his head.


    ¡°What did you expect, Little Jasmine?¡± he said, ¡°Travelers have their secrets. Just because you like him does not mean he will be forthright.¡±


    ¡°Baba,¡± Guo Liling said, ¡°I...¡±


    ¡°If he wants to tell you, he will,¡± Guo Kenan said, ¡°But you''ve upset our guest. Best to let him cool off. Come, let''s finish cleaning up. It''s almost time for bed.¡±


    Guo Liling sighed. Pushed a few stray hairs from her face, tucked them back into her messy bob. Then joined her father in cleaning up the rest of the inn. They let Han Deming and Yin Biya stay the night, on account of the rain.


    ***


    Tan Fa returned later in the night, having gotten lost partway up the mountain. While the worst of the storm had passed, the roads up to the Opal Hills were treacherous during stormy seasons. Tan Fa had to be sure his footing was sure with his each and every step, and the rain buffeted him like miniature knives the entire way up. His entire body stung as he finally arrived back in town. He shivered from the cold, wiping his nose with the back of a numb hand. He wanted all the world to go back to his little home, to make something quick for dinner, and to fall asleep by the fire. But Wang Ro the Elder had told him to notify him of his return as soon as possible.


    And Tan Fa had made it his personal creed to follow through on his orders, to the letter. And as such, he made his way to Wang Ro the Elder''s clinic. He knocked, noting how weak he had gotten in the rain. With the adrenaline of climbing the mountains gone, Tan Fa found himself utterly exhausted. He nearly collapsed right as the physician opened the door.


    Wang Ro the Elder was still dressed in his hanfu ¨C he hadn¡¯t even prepared for bed yet. Warmth drifted from inside his home. The physician adjusted his glasses.


    ¡°I''ve been waiting,¡± he said, ¡°Please, come in.¡±


    He led Tan Fa inside, poured him a glass of tea, sat him down by the fire. Tan Fa took the cup with shivering hands. They waited for a few minutes for Tan Fa to warm up.


    ¡°That is good,¡± Tan Fa said, ¡°What is the blend?¡±


    ¡°A type of leaf far from here,¡± Wang Ro the Elder said, ¡°Please, lower your voice. My son sleeps in the next room.¡±


    ¡°Ah. Forgive me,¡± Tan Fa said, bowing a bit, ¡°This tea is most excellent.¡±


    Wang Ro the Elder nodded. He sat down across from Tan Fa. There was a hardness to his eyes as he looked at the war veteran.


    ¡°...What did you find?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Nothing,¡± Tan Fa said, ¡°I searched all over Old Gate City. Even got inside one of the merchant houses. There is no Three Sons Trading Company.¡±


    Something glittered in Wang Ro the Elder''s eyes. He nodded.


    ¡°And you asked about Zheng Jo?¡±


    ¡°I did. No one knew him. You would think a member of a trading company would be known.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± Wang Ro the Elder said, and he scratched his chin.


    He rose.


    ¡°You may stay here for the night,¡± he said, ¡°Please, do not disturb my son. I will not be gone long.¡±


    ¡°Where are you going?¡± Tan Fa asked.


    ¡°To the inn.¡±


    ¡°I will join you,¡± Tan Fa said, ¡°I appreciate your hospitality, Wang Ro, but I don''t want to disturb you any more than I have to.¡±


    Wang Ro the Elder nodded. He crossed over to his desk, pulled out a sack of coin.


    ¡°Payment. For the trip. I will pay for your dinner as well.¡±


    ¡°I thank you.¡±


    The two stepped out into the rain, Wang Ro the Elder took out an umbrella, holding it above his head as he walked a few steps ahead of Tan Fa. There was little light in town, save for a few lonely fires in a few of the buildings, including the inn itself. Guo Kenan was still tending to the counter, though he was starting to doze. Guo Liling was just coming downstairs, having taken Han Deming and Yin Biya to bed.


    ¡°Ah, Guo Kenan,¡± Wang Ro the Elder said.


    The innkeeper looked up, his eyes opening in recognition.


    ¡°Wang Ro,¡± he said, ¡°Tan Fa. Please, come in. What can I help you with?¡±


    ¡°A room for my companion,¡± Wang Ro the Elder said, ¡°As well as food.¡±


    ¡°I will need to make something quick,¡± Guo Kenan said, ¡°It might be a few minutes.¡±


    ¡°I can wait,¡± Tan Fa said.


    The two of them moved to the bar. Sat down. Guo Kenan moved into the kitchen. Guo Liling poured them some rice wine. There was an uncharacteristic look on her face.


    That of guilt.


    ¡°Is something the matter, Guo Liling?¡± Wang Ro the Elder asked.


    ¡°It is nothing,¡± Guo Liling said, a hair too quickly.


    ¡°And what brings you to the inn tonight, Wang Ro?¡± Guo Kenan said from the kitchen, ¡°Tan Fa, you have your own home, do you not?¡±


    ¡°Tan Fa was doing a personal favor for me, down in Old Gate City,¡± Wang Ro the Elder said, ¡°I figured that I would give him somewhere better to sleep tonight than his usual abode.¡±


    ¡°Old Gate City?¡± Guo Liling said. And there was an edge in her voice. One that gave Wang Ro the Elder pause. She had become friends with Zheng Jo, hadn¡¯t she? Or, at least, she had been serving him while he had been staying at the inn.


    What did she know?


    ¡°Yes, Old Gate City,¡± Wang Ro the Elder said, ¡°I had a few errands that needed to be down there. Why do you ask? It is a simple journey.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps not, what with the rain,¡± Tan Fa said.


    ¡°Yes, only the most important journeys should be made, what with this weather,¡± Wang Ro the Elder said, ¡°Is that not right?¡±


    Guo Liling hid her grimace well. But not well enough for the Darwinist.


    ¡°Tell me, Guo Liling,¡± he said, ¡°Is something the matter?¡±


    ¡°It is nothing,¡± she said.


    ¡°...Would you like me to tell you about what I needed Tan Fa to do?¡±


    Guo Liling looked up at him.


    ¡°It was to investigate Zheng Jo,¡± Wang Ro the Elder said, ¡°It was to verify his story.¡±


    He leaned in.


    ¡°Guo Liling, Zheng Jo is not who he says he is. I do not believe he is from here. I do not even believe he is from Old Gate City. The Three Sons Trading Company, it is not real. He invented it. He invented himself.¡±


    Tan Fa raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°I believe he is a potential danger to us,¡± Wang Ro the Elder said, ¡°I saw him exhibit... abilities, shall we say, during our foray out of the town. Tell me, Guo Liling, has he said anything to you?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Guo Liling said. She paused.


    Thought of the look Zheng Jo had given her earlier that night.


    The multiverse writhed in her mind.


    Curiosity is neither good nor evil. It simply is. And, in some cases, it will use any tool it can to find the truth.


    ¡°He spoke of himself as... a metahuman,¡± she confessed.


    Something flashed in Wang Ro the Elder''s eyes. He adjusted his glasses. Took a deep breath. In. Then out. His hands shook, ever so slightly, not from the cold, as he clasped them together and all but glared at the innkeeper''s daughter.


    ¡°Tell me everything,¡± he said.

 130. Fire and Lightning

    Tai Haoran''s morning ritual began with taking his pills. He woke up early, near the crack of dawn, doing his stretches and his first meditation of the day. He emptied his mind of all worries, of all nightmares and dreams, the mortal attempt to merge with the universe. Then, he made his breakfast, a simple bowl of rice with tea. Most of the protein that his body needed to encourage muscle growth would come from lunch and dinner, and at those meals Tai Haoran would gorge himself like a tiger, eating as much as he could. But breakfast, and the morning, was a time for speed and lithe movement, there was no need for a heavy meal to weigh him down.


    So rice it was. With the tea that his mother had taught him how to make, before her untimely demise. She had always told him that they shared the same heart.


    She had died from hers.


    And so he was grateful for the pills, the medicine that Wang Ro the Elder prescribed to him.


    (Never knowing that they were filled with mere sugar, the machinations of Grandmaster Zhou''s other student, Xiao Rai.)


    When he stepped out into the open courtyard from his room, he found that Grandmaster Zhou awaited him, staff in hand. The storm had abated after the night''s thrashing, but the clouds still hung overhead like spectres, still plump with rain, still ready to unleash a fresh deluge upon the world. Memories of his mother''s stories swam in Tai Haoran''s mind, of the great floods that D¨¤ Xi¨¤ng had created by drinking in water and spewing it from his trunk onto his back.


    He found himself missing her today.


    But he snapped to attention as he stood up straight in front of his master. Grandmaster Zhou raised an eyebrow at him, scratched his nose.


    ¡°Begin with the Third Lotus Stance,¡± he said.


    Tai Haoran complied, contorting his body. This was a difficult stance, one that was more for dance and show than for practical combat. It forced an irregular breathing on the body. It collected Anri in the pools of the arms.


    It was a warm-up for the swelling and expelling of Anri. They were using the supernatural aspects of the body today.


    ¡°Breathe in,¡± Grandmaster Zhou said, ¡°Breathe out.¡±


    Tai Haoran did so.


    ¡°Unleash Anri using the Third Realm''s might,¡± Grandmaster Zhou said, ¡°A beam, Tai Haoran, a beam.¡±


    Breathe in.


    Breathe out.


    Tai Haoran shifted his footing. His stance. Legs spread apart and bent, his arms strapped to his sides, his forearms jutting, his hands balled into fists. Anri welled through his system as he released a punch.


    Fire expelled from the blow. Anri converted into flame, flame so hot it became white as ivory, so condensed that instead of a conflagration it shot off as a beam of light and destruction. Tai Haoran''s White Flame sailed past the temple and into the cloudy sky, only dissipating when Tai Haoran stopped breathing in and out.


    There was a pause.


    Then Grandmaster Zhou nodded.


    ¡°Good,¡± he said, ¡°Very good.¡±


    Tai Haoran flashed him a ferocious smile.


    ¡°If your Hand of Light is that perfect on your one hundredth strike, you will ascend to the Fourth Realm in no time,¡± Grandmaster Zhou said, ¡°But first you must be perfect. So practice one hundred times. Do not think of sparring. Do not think of anything else. Simply concentrate on the Hand of Light.¡±


    ¡°Yes, master,¡± Tai Haoran said.


    ¡°I will be resting, I think,¡± Grandmaster Zhou said, ¡°The rain is making old bones creak, it''s...¡±


    He trailed off, for a newcomer was ascending the steps to the monastery. Wang Ro the Younger looked at the master and student, panting a bit from his climb, before he bowed to both of them.


    But he spoke to Tai Haoran.


    ¡°Wang Ro the Elder requests your presence, Master,¡± he said.


    ¡°''Master,''¡± Tai Haoran said, and he preened, ¡°That has a nice ring to it.¡±


    ¡°Humility, my student,¡± Grandmaster Zhou said, ¡°Humility.¡±


    And he smiled, too.


    ¡°But you will make master yet, eh?¡±


    Tai Haoran''s smirk widened. He turned to consider Wang Ro the Younger.


    ¡°And why does our physician have need of me?¡± he asked, ¡°I am in the middle of my lessons.¡±


    Wang Ro the Younger hesitated. Glanced over his shoulder. Tai Haoran''s eyes narrowed.


    ¡°What is the matter, Wang Ro?¡± he said.


    ¡°...Baba said it was in regards to Zheng Jo,¡± Wang Ro the Younger whispered, ¡°He has... He told me not to say anything, but...¡±


    ¡°Say nothing else,¡± Tai Haoran said, ¡°I will be there.¡±


    The Anri user turned to his master.


    ¡°May I have leave?¡±


    ¡°You may,¡± Grandmaster Zhou said, his voice grave, ¡°...Tai Haoran, I ask that you practice the Hand of Light on a living soul, if you must.¡±


    Tai Haoran nodded.


    ¡°I will.¡±


    He bowed. And went with Wang Ro the Younger down the stairs.


    ***


    The clinic was closed for the morning. None of the usual visits. None of the usual patients. Wang Ro the Elder was waiting quietly for Tai Haoran''s arrival at the front door.


    ¡°My son,¡± he said, ¡°Go play with Pan Bao. Speak nothing of this.¡±


    ¡°Baba-¡±


    ¡°Nothing, Wang Ro,¡± his father said, and his eyes glittered dangerously, ¡°Now. Go.¡±


    Wang Ro the Younger nodded, his face pale, and he turned and all but fled from the clinic. Tai Haoran watched the young boy run away, turning a corner to Pan Baihu''s estate. Wang Ro the Elder had never spoken to him like that, not once. He turned, and gave the physician a bow.


    ¡°Come,¡± Wang Ro the Elder said. He opened the door.


    And as soon as the White Flame entered, he closed the door. Locked it.


    ¡°What is the matter?¡± Tai Haoran asked, ¡°What did that newcomer do?¡±


    Wang Ro the Elder moved back over to his desk. Sat down. There was an uncharacteristic jitter in his hands as he clasped them together.


    ¡°Sit down, Tai Haoran,¡± he said.


    Tai Haoran raised an eyebrow, but nonetheless moved over and sat.


    ¡°What is wrong?¡± he asked.


    Wang Ro the Elder closed his eyes. Took a deep breath. Pushed his glasses up from the bridge of his nose. When he opened them again, they were hardened like twin geodes.


    ¡°I have evidence that Zheng Jo is not who he says he is.¡±


    ¡°Yes, and?¡±


    ¡°I have reason to believe he is an Anri user.¡±


    Tai Haoran grimaced. But he knew that Grandmaster Zhou had always suspected.


    (And, of course, Wang Ro the Elder was not about to speak of Zheng Jo as a metahuman. Enough secrets were being revealed as it was.)


    ¡°A dangerous one?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Wang Ro the Elder said, ¡°I had Tan Fa go down to Old Gate City yesterday to see if the Three Sons Trading Company, the organization Zheng Jo told us he was a part of, actually existed. It did not.¡±


    Tai Haoran nodded.


    ¡°He also exhibited the use of Anri during his investigation out in the mountains,¡± Wang Ro the Elder said, ¡°He produced an eagle''s head made of... blue light.¡±


    ¡°So he is an Anri user,¡± Tai Haoran said. And, thinking of Zheng Jo, and his reasonable nature, he hesitated.


    No one was ever one thing, yes?


    He was an Anri user, but he was a quiet one. He had not even gone to the monastery. When a rival sect challenged the incumbent, they did so with a bombastic air. Scores of practitioners dropping into the courtyard and demanding the death of every master in the temple. But Zheng Jo had not done this.


    He always seemed to be a man who wished to be left alone, and get his research finished.


    And Wang Ro the Elder noted Tai Haoran''s unspoken reluctance. And introduced another lie. The slander of Zheng Jo began.


    ¡°...He threatened my son,¡± the physician said.


    Tai Haoran''s eyes flashed up at Wang Ro the Elder''s face. But the Darwinist was an expert in the ways of deceit. He betrayed no sign of dishonesty.


    ¡°My son, you know how he asks his questions,¡± Wang Ro the Elder continued, ¡°He is curious about the world.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Tai Haoran said, and his voice was controlled. Yet the venom was there.


    ¡°He pushed, perhaps, a bit too far. Zheng Jo roared at him. Told him to get out. Told him he would kill him for asking too many questions.¡±


    Wang Ro the Elder inserted just the right amount of worry into his voice. Just enough fear.


    It was not difficult for Tai Haoran to devour the lie.


    Wang Ro the Younger was, perhaps not a friend, but someone that Tai Haoran liked. A younger brother, separated as he was from the Anri user''s life.


    And Zheng Jo always seemed to be an angry man, beneath his civility. It was not unreasonable.


    ¡°I believe he has his own private designs, Tai Haoran,¡± Wang Ro the Elder said, ¡°There is a reason why he is going out into the wilderness, and I do not believe it is for research. He has already spoken with Zi Shi Ying.¡±


    ¡°You think he is communing with the spirits,¡± Tai Haoran said.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Wang Ro the Elder said, ¡°He is weak now. But he may be trying to amass power, in some way. Some Anri users will do this. They will be quiet as they broker deals with the spirits of the land, to help them take over rival sects. It is not a good situation.¡±


    ¡°No, it is not,¡± Tai Haoran said, and he was starting to see red, ¡°I think we must remove this Zheng Jo, before he threatens anyone else.¡±


    He rose from his seat.


    And Wang Ro the Elder brought up a calming hand.


    ¡°Patience, Tai Haoran,¡± he said, ¡°Listen to what I have to say.¡±


    Tai Haoran glared. It took not a small amount of willpower to sit back down, to not immediately storm out and find Zheng Jo and ram a fist through his chest.


    ¡°Most of the town does not know,¡± he said, ¡°So if you go out and attack Zheng Jo now, it will be difficult to get them out of the way. A battle between Anri users causes quite a bit of collateral damage. We harm the town by attacking him there.¡±


    ¡°This...¡± Tai Haoran grimaced, ¡°This is true.¡±


    ¡°Zheng Jo and I are going out to survey the land once more, just after breakfast,¡± Wang Ro the Elder said, ¡°You will come with us as a bodyguard. Ostensibly for myself, against any potential banditry. When we find a suitable place, you can kill him there.¡±


    Tai Haoran nodded.


    ¡°This is agreeable to me,¡± Tai Haoran said, ¡°Where did you have in mind?¡±


    Wang Ro the Elder brought a hand to his chin. Then he looked at Tai Haoran.


    ¡°Green Serpent Pass.¡±


    ***


    Guo Liling did not bother Zheng Jo when he came downstairs the next morning for breakfast. Nor did he talk to her. He gave her the usual smile, yes, but it was no longer genuine, a polite facade, and nothing more. He ate quietly, flipping through his journal, making a few notes here and there. He returned to his room after breakfast, presumably to continue his work. And, when he was finished, he made his departure, walking stick in hand, saying nothing as he took his leave.


    From her place at the bar, Guo Liling sighed. She heard her father shuffle to her side.


    ¡°You pressed him too much, Little Jasmine,¡± he said.


    ¡°I did, Baba.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps that is for the best. Not all questions need to be answered. Not all curiosities need be sated.¡±


    He moved off, to wipe down the table Zheng Jo had been sitting at.


    And, privately, Guo Liling disagreed with her father''s assertion.


    ***


    Joseph noted that Xiao Rai was not today''s bodyguard for the trip. Tai Haoran, the ever-shirtless, stood beside Wang Ro the Elder, his arms crossed over his bare chest, his mustache twitching as his lip moved as he considered Joseph. Joseph walked over with his head held high.


    ¡°Zheng Jo,¡± Wang Ro the Elder said, ¡°I trust your morning has been fine?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, nothing crazy,¡± Joseph replied, ¡°No Xiao Rai today?¡±


    ¡°Xiao Rai is busy with her chores,¡± Tai Haoran said, and Joseph noted an edge in his voice, ¡°But have no fear. I will be here to protect Wang Ro the Elder on this trip.¡±You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    But not Joseph.


    The metahuman made a note to watch his step.


    ¡°Right,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Well, then, shall we be off?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Wang Ro the Elder said, ¡°To Golden Lion Mine.¡±


    ***


    And they set off. Across the hills, crossing the same rickety bridges and seeing the same landmarks.


    It was not until just before lunch that Wang Ro the Elder veered off the path. Tai Haoran, almost instinctively, followed him. Joseph paused at this, his brow furrowing. He produced the map from his pack, looking it over.


    ¡°Ah, guys,¡± he said, ¡°You''re going the wrong way.¡±


    Wang Ro the Elder stopped, turned to consider Joseph with a raised eyebrow. Joseph cleared his throat.


    ¡°Golden Lion Mine is to the west of us. That path takes you north. To...¡±


    He looked down at the map, translating the names of landmarks in his head.


    ¡°Green Serpent Pass,¡± he said.


    ¡°Ah, yes,¡± Wang Ro the Elder said, ¡°I was actually going to mention this to you, Zheng Jo. But there is actually a hidden shortcut through Green Serpent Pass. It was used during the days of the Hai Dynasty to smuggle in booze to the workers.¡±


    ¡°Booze,¡± Joseph said, his voice flat.


    ¡°It won''t be on that map,¡± Wang Ro the Elder said, ¡°The path was carved and used after that map''s creation.¡±


    Joseph paused.


    Above, the thunder warned of the incoming storm.


    ¡°We will want to be quick with this trip, Zheng Jo,¡± Wang Ro the Elder said, ¡°It may very well be the same as the other day. We may not be able to get to Golden Lion Mine in time.¡±


    Joseph bit his lip. There was a cadence to Wang Ro the Elder''s voice. Something was in there that set him on edge. But...


    Above, the thunder drummed, closer this time.


    Wang Ro the Elder''s point remained. They would probably run out of time, if they didn''t take the shortcut.Tai Haoran let out a huff, glaring at Joseph. The metahuman decided.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said, ¡°Lead the way.¡±


    But he made sure to take up the rear of their three-man party as they went.


    ***


    It was called Green Serpent Pass for the river that ran at the bottom of the ravine, ending in a pool at the ravine''s end. From above, it gave the river the appearance of a snake, and algae and moss in the water colored the river a rich green. Fish rarely came up the river, primarily because the pool of water was close in proximity to Fish Eater, one of the local spirits.


    ¡°He will not accost us, Zheng Jo,¡± Wang Ro the Elder said, ¡°Fish Eater is most likely downriver, for the fish are more plentiful there when it rains.¡±


    ¡°Makes sense,¡± Joseph said.


    They were curling around the edges of the ravine, sticking close to the passage that had been carved by smugglers hundreds of years before. There was some truth to Wang Ro the Elder''s words. The passage here had been used for its original purpose. It would, if one were to go along its way, lead to Golden Lion Mine.


    A stone bridge, created by an Anri user long ago, connected the two sides of the ravine like an umbilical cord. The middle point of the journey. From the other side of the ravine, they would climb and weave until they came upon Golden Lion Mine''s southern entrance.


    Wang Ro the Elder and Tai Haoran stopped for a moment, exchanging glances. The bridge had no rails. It was a simple piece of work, all told, and Joseph wasn''t even sure if it would be able to hold weight.


    But then Wang Ro the Elder started crossing. He made it halfway before Tai Haoran started.


    Above, the thunder roiled. Warned.


    There was...


    There was something wrong.


    There was a way that Tai Haoran viewed Joseph. A glint in Wang Ro the Elder''s eyes.


    And now Joseph was crossing the bridge, Tai Haoran''s muscular back dominating his view. He could see Wang Ro the Elder reaching the other side.


    Below them was the pool of water that was the Green Serpent''s head. Something there was disturbed, the echoing sounds of a crane spearing a frog in the lilypads at the lake''s edge.


    And the blow came swiftly. Tai Haoran spun, leg sweeping at Joseph''s head. The metahuman ducked, dodged back as Tai Haoran took his stance, advanced, his fist surging forward. Joseph grimaced, was not prepared as the fist rammed into his stomach, a second into the side of his head. Joseph brought up an arm for the third blow, one that would have been the fatal strike. He caught the chopping hand by the wrist, rushing forward and ramming a shoulder into Tai Haoran''s chest, forcing the Anri user back.


    The two separated. Joseph let out a wheeze, his head thundering as his wits caught up with him. Tai Haoran was already taking his stance again. Legs spread apart and bent, his arms strapped to his sides, his forearms jutting, his hands balled into fists.


    On the other side of the bridge, Wang Ro the Elder sat down. And watched.


    So it had come to that, then. Joseph felt like an idiot.


    But, idiot or not, he wasn¡¯t going to die here.


    And so he raised his fists, assumed a boxer''s dance, legs shuffling back and forth.


    ¡°Alright, wise guy,¡± he said to Tai Haoran, ¡°Bring it.¡±


    ***


    Tai Haoran had fought three other Anri users, aside from Xiao Rai and Grandmaster Zhou. He had been sent out, in a rather clandestine way, out of the Opal Hills, to seek out traveling Anri users who were out of their sects on business, away from their monasteries and the safety of their masters. Each had wielded a different style, used different techniques. He had killed all three, and returned home with victory and bloodied fists.


    And Zheng Jo''s style was unique, too, one that emphasized using the fists as his main weapon. His legs danced back and forth, and his entire body bobbed and weaved like a dancing serpent as he waited for Tai Haoran''s move.


    Tai Haoran started to rush forward-


    And received a shot in the jaw for his trouble. Zheng Jo''s arm hot out like a mantis''s, returned quickly back. It was not a devastating punch. It was one to test Tai Haoran''s defenses.


    But Tai Haoran was no paper tiger.


    He surged forward like liquid flame, Anri willing itself around his fists, heat rushing around him as he became enraptured in fire. Zheng Jo danced back, dodged each strike save for the last. The last blow, a fist wrapped in heat, clipped the side of his head, seared his hair, tore through the skin of his temple.


    But-


    But Zheng Jo had intended this. He moved inside of Tai Haoran''s guard, his own fist slamming directly into Tai Haoran''s face. For all of his appearances, Zheng Jo hit hard. It was as though a Tai Haoran had been bludgeoned by a bundle of bricks. He stumbled back, his eyes flashing and seeing stars. His nose was broken, he knew it.


    Zheng Jo had fallen to his knees, a hand reaching up to check his own wound. But any cut from the strike would have been cauterized from the flames. Nevertheless, he poked at the wound with a finger, before looking at his hand.


    And he nodded.


    And he resumed his stance.


    Tai Haoran glared at him through a broken nose, gauged his enemy''s stance. Pondered how best to take him down.


    And, after a moment, he noticed it.


    ***


    Tai Haoran was smart. He was going for the head. Hit there enough times, and it didn''t matter if you had good reaction, not when your brain was juggling around in the case that was its skull. Joseph had learned this from Coach Tristan, way back during his time on Earth, when he had first started boxing.


    ¡°Hit ''em in the thinker, son,¡± Coach Tristan said, ¡°Don''t worry about their body. You got to go for the knockout as quick as you can. Counterpunching ain''t just about how much you can take. It''s about how much you can throw. Got it?¡±


    ¡°Got it,¡± Joseph said now, under his breath.


    He debated, for a moment, about revealing his metapower. But no. Not yet. Not when this fight was just getting started. The key to defeating a metahuman was learning their ability. He would save using his powers for a critical moment.


    And now Tai Haoran was advancing on him once more. He moved with effortless grace, like a crane, like a tiger, as he flipped into the air and brought a leg downwards like an axe. Joseph had no guard for this, so all he could do was retreat back.


    As soon as the kick landed, splintering stone, Tai Haoran spun on the ground, his hands holding him aloft, his legs rushing towards Joseph''s side. Joseph took the blows, bringing his arms up to his head to protect himself.


    Fire rushed around him. Singed his clothes. Singed his skin. He grimaced as he burned. Tai Haoran was back on his feet now, moving in close, jabbing at Joseph, who hunkered down. He wanted to find a blow that he could counter, but by now Tai Haoran''s flames were fully wrapped in fire. He was dodging more than flesh now.


    He would need to use his metapower soon.


    Tai Haoran''s blows were still aimed at his head. Joseph raised his guard-


    And realized his error.


    And the words of his second teacher, his guildmate Mekke, came roaring at him.


    ¡°Boxing stances emphasize protecting the upper body and the head, as the fists are the only weapon to fear when facing someone in the ring.¡±


    Tai Haoran sweeped low, his kick aimed at Joseph''s knee.


    ¡°Out in the field, your opponent will use everything ¨C their arms, their legs, and whatever weapons they may be carrying. By lowering your hands, you protect your lower body and legs a bit more.¡±


    And Joseph had raised his guard too high.


    The kick forced Joseph''s knee in, not enough to break but enough to make Joseph stumble.


    And Tai Haoran, with the same leg, twisted, smashed it into Joseph''s head.


    The metahuman stumbled.


    Tai Haoran kicked him again, this time with Anri, this time with flame, and caustic heat burned through Joseph''s ribs, branded his skin, and the blow sent him careening off the edge of the bridge.


    ***


    For a moment, Tai Haoran stood triumphant on the bridge as he watched Zheng Jo sail off the edge.


    But his dark smile faltered, the relief spreading through his system ceased, as he watched Zheng Jo spin. Their fight on the bridge had moved them back over to the bridge''s beginning, and Zheng Jo was close to the wall of the ravine.


    A claw pulled loose from Zheng Jo''s back. The color of cobalt, it heralded a full being''s eruption, like a cicada from its molt, large and with a hawk''s head, it rammed its talons into the ravine''s side, slowing Zheng Jo''s descent.


    ¡°So this is Zheng Jo''s technique,¡± Tai Haoran said to himself. His heart was beating quickly, so quickly that one would not be able to feel the pause between each pulse.


    For Tai Haoran had read about many sects and many Anri techniques. But he had never seen one such as Zheng Jo''s.


    That would not deter him.


    Tai Haoran took his stance. And prepared to use the Hand of Light.


    ***


    It was a desperate move, to reveal himself so completely like this.


    The eagle, however, had saved Joseph''s life. Like a gorilla, it hung onto the side of the mountain, talons dug into the stone. Joseph turned to consider his surroundings, all four of his eyes looking this way and that, and he saw that Tai Haoran was still on the stone bridge.


    He hadn''t pursued Joseph down. No doubt he had expected Joseph to just fall to his death. Tai Haoran''s eyes were wide with shock, but already he was stanced up, ready for action. Joseph waited for him to make a move.


    Tai Haoran was taking a deep breath. His eagle''s sharp vision could see that.


    And then the Anri user thrust a fist out. It lit pure white, and a beam erupted from his knuckles, a halo¡¯s aura emanating from the center. Joseph''s eagle dug into the stone wall, arched, strained, and leaped, its great arms slingshotting him from his position, latching onto another stretch of rock like an ape through the trees. The beam roared into the place where he had just been but a moment before, drilling through the ravine''s face, melting and gouging away stone.


    Tai Haoran breathed again. Joseph prepared himself.


    Another pass of white light, blinding flame contorted into a pillar. Joseph dropped this time, eagle''s claws cutting into the ravine''s face as he went down. But Tai Haoran was evidently the experimental sort. Joseph saw him grunt, could see beads of sweat running down his forehead, as he twisted his arm downwards. The beam followed suit, following the metahuman''s descent, losing its shape as Tai Haoran lost control, shifting from beam to wave. Heat crackled above Joseph''s head, blistering the back of his neck. But he had felt worse.


    He hit the ground rolling, sending his soul back into himself, using the momentum of its sudden return to jumpstart the circuit in his body. Joseph''s body, upon his reawakening, had been reformatted. His joints had become landmarks, nodes for which his soul could rest and power up. He had become a living battery, and his soul was the electricity that powered it.


    It rushed through his body now. From stomach to the base of his spine, running up his vertebrae, up and down his arms, through his ribcage, down to his legs, over and over and over again at the speed of apparent light.


    But he would not realize the eagle for this shot. Would not manifest it as a bird of prey, with its scarred hide and sharp talons. No, Joseph pointed a hand, aiming at Tai Haoran.


    And Tai Haoran was not alone in controlling light.


    ***


    A bolt of lightning erupted from Zheng Jo''s open palm. Tai Haoran''s eyes widened at the sight of it, but he was already in stance.


    He would not dodge the bolt. He would meet it head on. A tiger''s roar, against the eagle''s charge.


    He thrust forth the Hand of Light. The pride of the White Flame sang from his fist, and beam met bolt, fire met lightning. The two intermixed in midair, exploded in a cacophony of singed plasma and electrical flame. Far below, Tai Haoran could make out Zheng Jo moving back, preparing for another bolt.


    Tai Haoran breathed in and out, letting Anri suffuse his body. He prepared another Hand of Light.


    Zheng Jo was faster. The lightning bolt broke from his hand, followed a moment later by a resounding boom as its wardrum broke the air. Tai Haoran returned fire.


    But the bolt was not aimed at him. The Hand of Light sailed over Zheng Jo''s head, immolating the ground behind him. His accursed rival had been aiming for the stone bridge. Lightning coursed through the stonework, breaking it apart beneath Tai Haoran''s feet, and he suddenly found himself in open air with a freefall avalanche.


    Tai Haoran began to breathe, taking in the Anri around him, strengthening his body. His legs. His arms. His core. He twisted his body, finding part of the bridge beside him, and he used it as leverage as it fell.


    And, with all of the Anri coiled within him, he went off like a spring towards Zheng Jo, white flame burning from his feet as he flew at the rival Anri user. Zheng Jo grimaced, evidently not expecting this. He resummoned his eagle, which carved itself out of his chest, its arms crossed in a last-ditch effort to block Tai Haoran''s strike. Fist met azure forearms as the two collided. Tai Haoran smiled within as he heard something crack within the eagle''s form. Zheng Jo let out a grunt.


    With a spin, Tai Haoran kicked off of the eagle. He landed by the pool''s edge, facing Zheng Jo.


    By now the surface of the river and pond was steaming from the sudden onset of heat. The clouds continued to curl overhead, and the thunder warned.


    (Though for Joseph, they had warned too late.)


    Zheng Jo''s eagle was fully out, now, manifested, had moved itself so it sprouted from his back. Together with Zheng Jo''s height, it was nine feet tall, its body covered in numerous scars from Zheng Jo''s past battles. No doubt he relied on it extensively when he fought. The man was breathing heavily, the side of his head singed. He would need to shave off his hair, if he survived.


    But Tai Haoran did not want that. A surviving Zheng Jo meant that he had fallen. And he would not let the Opal Hills be bereft of a protector. Would not let a monster such as this run amok.


    This creature. It was made of electricity, yes?


    That did not play well with water.


    And Tai Haoran had his plan of attack.


    He rushed forward towards Zheng Jo, who raised up four fists to meet him ¨C two of flesh, two of lightning ¨C and the two were at it. Tai Haoran spun, keeping his distance from those sweeping talons, which were Zheng Jo''s first line of defense. He prodded at Zheng Jo''s stance. Tested it. Kicked at talons, dodged counterstrokes. Zheng Jo''s style was inherently defensive.


    No...


    It wasn''t quite that.


    Tai Haoran leaped, aiming to deliver a kick at the eagle''s head.


    Zheng Jo let this happen. The kick collided with the side of its beak, throwing the head askew-


    And at the same moment Zheng Jo''s claw tore at Tai Haoran''s side. It bit deep, flinging Tai Haoran away, and were it not for his breathing techniques, ambient Anri casing his stomach like armor, it would have disemboweled him.


    As it were, Tai Haoran hit the ground.


    Yes, Zheng Jo''s style was to take an assault. And deliver it back at the same moment tenfold.


    All four of his fists were raised now, four arms of the mantis. Ready to crack at Tai Haoran at a moment''s notice.


    But Tai Haoran''s plan was working.


    Zheng Jo was inching to the water''s edge. His ankle was already in the pool.


    And Tai Haoran pressed his attack. He rushed at Zheng Jo, who hunkered down.


    Tai Haoran went for the legs once more, dodging past the snarling claws and going for Zheng Jo''s knees. The man stepped back, deeper into the pool, bringing up his claws, curling them into fists, and bringing them down upon the Anri user like hammers. They battered Tai Haoran¡¯s back, slammed him into the muck. Tai Haoran spun, launching a kick into Zheng Jo''s stomach.


    It was powerful enough to send him flying back.


    And-


    And-


    He let out a ragged gasp as the eagle hit the water¡¯s surface. The bird of prey itself let out a wretched scream that pierced the air like glass, before it shattered to pieces and went back into Zheng Jo''s body. The pool of water was shallow, only a few feet at its deepest point. Zheng Jo staggered back to his feet, clutching the side of his head.


    And Tai Haoran was on him. Fists blazing. He battered Zheng Jo. A hook to the jaw. A kick to the ribs. And endless barrage of blows against his hated foe.


    The man who had come here, saying he was a peaceful sort.


    The man who had come here, and spoken to Zi Shi Ying.


    The man who had threatened Wang Ro the Younger, his brother.


    Tai Haoran found himself screaming as he beat Zheng Jo to death. His fists lost their composure, became like claws as he slashed at Zheng Jo like a frenzied tiger. The scream ran ragged.


    His heart thundered, so quickly he could not feel the beat.


    And then-


    Stopped.


    At last, Xiao Rai''s cunning had claimed its prey.


    ***


    Joseph saw stars as he fell back into the water. His entire world was pain as he clutched his head.


    He should be dead. Why was he not dead?


    He opened up his one good eye, the other already swollen shut, to see Tai Haoran clutching his chest. The man was letting out ragged gasps as he stumbled back. The horrifying rage that had painted his face had given way to panic. His hands, which had just a moment ago been filled with flame, were shaking.


    Joseph, somehow, stood up. Powered through the pain, as he always had, and limped towards Tai Haoran.


    Who fell forward.


    Joseph caught him by the shoulders, the two falling to their knees into the water. Tai Haoran went limp.


    Joseph turned him around, rested him on his knees, kept his head above the water.


    He was not breathing. His eyes stared, sightless, towards the storming sky.


    Rain began to fall now, pattered around them, created patterns of rings in the pool as a liquid chorus. The thunder, once more, rumbled overhead. It sounded mournful.


    High above, Joseph saw Wang Ro the Elder moving away. No doubt to return back to the village.


    Joseph was not in good condition. But he could not be found here. When Wang Ro the Elder returned to the town, he would whip up a frenzy. The townsfolk, they would come out in droves to finish him off. He was already injured enough.


    With his current state, it would not be hard.


    He stumbled up, let Tai Haoran''s body float away from him. Trudged out of the water. His soul was out of commission, would need time to heal.


    So he went on his own two feet. Away from the site of their battle.


    And went to find somewhere he could shelter.

 131. Cadence of a Murderer

    Wang Ro the Elder returned to the town alone. His hands shaking, his glasses askew, he muttered incoherently as he walked, zombie-like, into the town square. Rain poured around him, drenched his hair, his clothes, ate into his skin. He was shivering when Lo Qiu, the town drunk, found him in the town square.


    ¡°Wang Ro!¡± Lo Qiu said, ¡°Wang Ro!¡±


    He ran over to the physician''s side. Wang Ro the Elder''s eyes shifted up to the man approaching him, and he fell to his knees, mumbling incoherently. Lo Qiu fell down beside him, putting a hand on Wang Ro the Elder''s shoulders, for he knew that this was something serious. For Wang Ro the Elder had never been in such a sorry state before.


    ¡°Wang Ro!¡± Lo Qiu said, ¡°What happened?¡±


    ¡°I...¡± the physician stuttered, ¡°I... I...¡±


    He was cold as ice. Lo Qiu lifted him to his feet, but Wang Ro stumbled as he walked, to the point that Lo Qiu had to throw an arm over his shoulder and support the physician. The drunk looked around the town square, but the rain had scared everyone inside. Lo Qiu himself had only been outside because he had been returning home after a half-day at Li Bai''s farm.


    How fortunate, that he had found Wang Ro the Elder.


    But what to do now?


    Lo Qiu decided to go to his place of comfort. He and Wang Ro the Elder limped to Guo Kenan''s inn. The innkeeper was at his customary place at the bar, already pouring out Lo Qiu''s customary drink. His eyes bulged wide at the sight of Wang Ro the Elder, shivering and sopping wet like a stray cat.


    ¡°Ancestors!¡± he said, and he moved out of the bar to help Lo Qiu. They put Wang Ro the Elder at a table, and Guo Kenan ran into the kitchen to put on a cup of the warmest tea blend he had.


    ¡°Daughter!¡± he said, ¡°Help me!¡±


    Guo Liling, who had been in her room, ran down to help her father. They returned a few moments later with the tea, handing it to Wang Ro the Elder, who drank it down greedily.


    (For, although much of this was an act on his part, Wang Ro the Elder had still traipsed across the mountains in the freezing rain.)


    ¡°M-My thanks,¡± he said, his voice a hoarse whisper, ¡°Pan Baihu. I need Pan Baihu. And Grandmaster Zhou.¡±


    ¡°Lo Qiu, go get the mayor,¡± Guo Kenan said, ¡°Little Jasmine, get up to the monastery.¡±


    The two nodded, and ran out the door. Guo Kenan turned his attention back to Wang Ro the Elder, pouring him another cup of tea. It was late in the afternoon now. Almost dinner.


    ¡°You can eat here,¡± he said to the physician, ¡°I''ll add some spices to tonight''s meal, help warm you up. But you''ll probably catch a cold.¡±


    ¡°I...¡± Wang Ro the Elder swallowed down the cup, ¡°I am aware. I am a doctor.¡±


    ¡°Doctor...?¡± Guo Kenan said, for he did not recognize the word.


    (For Wang Ro the Elder had, inadvertently, used the English word.)


    ¡°I am a physician,¡± he corrected, and he grimaced at his rare slip-up. Perhaps the rain had done more than he anticipated.


    (Perhaps he was afraid, for Zheng Jo''s metahuman power was terrifying indeed.)


    ¡°Well, all the same,¡± Guo Kenan said, ¡°Let me get you a blanket.¡±


    He ran up to one of the spare rooms, pulling a blanket from its bed. As he did so, he tried to piece together what could have put Wang Ro the Elder in such a state. What had he been doing?


    He had been...


    Going with Zheng Jo and Tai Haoran into the mountains. For more surveying work. Zheng Jo had left that morning, after breakfast.


    ¡°Oh no,¡± Guo Kenan said, and his heart was falling, ¡°Oh no.¡±


    He walked downstairs, handed Wang Ro the Elder the blanket. The physician wrapped it around himself.


    ¡°...Wang Ro,¡± Guo Kenan said, ¡°What happened? Where is Zheng Jo? Where is Tai Haoran?¡±


    Outside, the rain deluged down. Wang Ro the Elder sipped his tea. He didn''t respond.


    ***


    It took another thirty minutes for Grandmaster Zhou to go down the mountain. His back was acting up due to the storm, and he grimaced and cursed the entire way down the staircase from the monastery to the village. Guo Liling and Xiao Rai kept their distance, for both knew that the old Anri master would not tolerate any help on their part. So he tortoise-walked down the mountain, in the ice rain, panting and heaving like an old dog, before finally swaying into town. By now the ground was muddy, and Grandmaster Zhou''s illustrious robes were stained and dirtied, but he ignored this as he walked inside. Pan Baihu, mayor of the Opal Hills, was already there. He looked nervous, at the sight of Wang Ro the Elder, at Grandmaster Zhou''s arrival.


    ¡°What happened?¡± Grandmaster Zhou said, ¡°Where is Tai Haoran?¡±


    Wang Ro the Elder fixed the old man with a heavy look.


    ¡°He is dead.¡±


    It was as though the rain stilled. D¨¤ Xi¨¤ng stopped walking. The clouds ceased their endless swirling. Guo Kenan''s jaw went agape. Guo Liling sat down at the table, drawing in a quick breath of shock. Lo Qiu went white as a sheet. Pan Baihu let out a dramatic gasp, a hand grasping his chest. He began to hyperventilate, and had to be helped down into a chair by Guo Kenan. Grandmaster Zhou frowned.


    ¡°No,¡± he said, ¡°That is not true.¡±


    ¡°I saw it with my own eyes,¡± Wang Ro the Elder said, ¡°Zheng Jo, he killed him.¡±


    ¡°No!¡±


    All heads turned to Guo Liling. Her eyes were wide, and her lip was quivering.


    ¡°He wouldn''t!¡± she said, ¡°Zheng Jo''s a good man, he wouldn''t, he...¡±


    ¡°Evidently, we were wrong about him,¡± Wang Ro the Elder said.


    ¡°He was... He had his secrets, that''s all!¡± Guo Liling said, ¡°That''s it! He wouldn''t kill for them! He wouldn''t... he''s not a murderer, he''s-¡±


    ¡°Little Jasmine,¡± Guo Kenan said, ¡°Now... Now is not the time.¡±


    ¡°Baba-¡±


    But her father glared at her, and Guo Liling went quiet. She went to wipe down one of the tables, to give herself something to do, furiously running it over with a wet towel.


    Outside, the rain deluged. Souped dirt into mud. Xiao Rai was attending to her master, for Grandmaster Zhou was sitting down now, his ancient hands shaking. She was frowning.


    (For she had learned, long ago, how to feign sorrow. In truth, she was elated.)


    ¡°H-How?¡± Grandmaster Zhou said, ¡°How did this... what happened? Where is he?¡±


    ¡°Green Serpent Pass,¡± Wang Ro the Elder said, ¡°We had decided to take a shortcut. While on the bridge, Zheng Jo spun around, and attacked your student. They fought, furiously, but in the end...¡±


    He stared hard at his drink.


    ¡°Zheng Jo killed him.¡±


    ¡°HOW!?¡± Grandmaster Zhou snarled.


    ¡°...He appears to be an Anri user,¡± Wang Ro the Elder said, ¡°With power over lightning.¡±


    ¡°Lightning is nothing, compared to the White Flame,¡± Grandmaster Zhou said, ¡°We are trained to take on much more than mere lightshow. No, you are lying, Wang Ro. You are... you are...¡±


    But the look on Wang Ro''s face ceased his ramblings.


    ¡°His body,¡± Grandmaster Zhou said, still roiling in his denial, ¡°Where is his body?¡±


    ¡°I didn''t have the strength to... retrieve it,¡± Wang Ro the Elder said, ¡°I am sorry.¡±


    ¡°Where is his body, damnable fool!¡±


    ¡°...The bottom of Green Serpent Pass.¡±


    ¡°Xiao Rai, with me,¡± Grandmaster Zhou rose.


    ¡°Wait,¡± Guo Kenan said, ¡°Sit down, Grandmaster. It''s a dangerous path.¡±


    ¡°I am Grandmaster of the White Flame Sect!¡± Zhou Winyan screamed, and his frail voice shook the building, ¡°I will find my student''s body, so it may be interred! Out of my way, out of... out of...¡±


    He stammered. Broke. Looked at his hands. Looked lost.


    ¡°I...¡± he said, ¡°My back, it hurts me so.¡±


    The room was quiet. Finally, it was Xiao Rai who spoke.


    ¡°Stay here, master,¡± she said, her voice cool, ¡°I will go find Tai Haoran.¡±


    ¡°I will join you,¡± Wang Ro the Elder said.


    ¡°Now,¡± Guo Kenan said, ¡°Wang Ro, are you sure? You''re still-¡±


    ¡°I can walk,¡± Wang Ro the Elder said, ¡°I know... I know precisely where it happened. It has to be me. Please, old friend, do not let me give up on Tai Haoran so.¡±


    Guo Kenan grimaced.


    ¡°Lo Qiu,¡± he said, ¡°Go with them.¡±


    ¡°Ah, Guo Kenan,¡± Lo Qiu said, ¡°But-¡±


    ¡°Do this, and you drink for free for the next two weeks,¡± Guo Kenan said.


    ¡°I''ll grab my walking stick,¡± Lo Qiu said.


    The three of them prepared, then set out. Guo Kenan watched them go, turning his attention over to Pan Baihu. The mayor was catching his breath.


    ¡°Well?¡± the innkeeper said, ¡°What must we do?¡±


    Pan Baihu looked at him in nervous confusion.


    ¡°What...¡± he said, ¡°What must we do? Why...¡±


    He bit his lip. Looked at the wall.


    ¡°I don''t know, Guo Kenan. I just don''t know.¡±


    ***


    Xiao Rai, Wang Ro the Elder, and Lo Qiu went out of the town, weaving their way across the mountain and towards Green Serpent Pass. By now the rain was coming down hard upon the Opal Hills, and Wang Ro the Elder''s warnings to Zheng Jo were coming to pass ¨C it was a treacherous going, and they had to watch their every step as they went. Part of the usual road disappeared in a mudslide, cutting them off from one of the bridges that led to Green Serpent Pass, forcing them to double back and take another route.


    They didn''t speak as they went. Wang Ro the Elder led the way, his face set as glass, his hands and feet numb from the doubling of his journey. He was, in truth, exhausted, but Xiao Rai and Lo Qiu took his devotion to their quest as a combination of guilt and duty.


    (And, Wang Ro the Elder knew that they had to retrieve the body, to strengthen his story. Physical evidence of his misguided tale.)


    Lo Qiu followed, shivering the whole way, but the idea of two weeks'' worth of free drink was enough to keep him going. He would be able to drink like his friend, Li Bai, like a king. He had never been able to achieve the lofty heights that his old friend was beginning to achieve, both in family and in stature, and privately that thought rankled Lo Qiu.


    Perhaps he would gain some glory from this, from braving the weather to retrieve the divine body of the hero of the Opal Hills.


    And Xiao Rai followed close behind. She glanced this way and that, breathing Anri always, and of the three she alone was warm, for the White Flame stressed being able to burn even in the coldest of environments. She had felt colder, if she was being honest. But what was on her mind now was not the perils of the journey, but rather the man who had killed her fellow student.


    Not out of grief, or out of thoughts of revenge, for she had hated Tai Haoran.


    No, if Zheng Jo had managed to kill Tai Haoran, what chance would she have?


    He was, presumably, injured. Perhaps that would be enough.


    But part of Xiao Rai thought of facing Zheng Jo in battle, and became overwhelmed with fear.


    At last, they arrived to Green Serpent Pass. The stone bridge, created by an Anri user of the ancient past, had been destroyed by the battle. They could not see the bottom of the ravine, for by now it was getting dark both due to storm clouds and the setting of the sun.


    ¡°Xiao Rai,¡± Wang Ro the Elder said, ¡°Provide a light.¡±


    She nodded, willing up Anri, and white flame appeared in her hands. She sent them down into the ravine, and they shined like stars as they descended, lighting the way. She glanced over to Lo Qiu and Wang Ro the Elder, before she herself leaped down, dancing across the mountain''s wall down to the bottom of the ravine.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    With her flames, the base of Green Serpent Pass took on a hue of ivory twilight. She walked quietly as the rain fell around her, chorused rings on the green pool''s surface, echoed off of the stone walls. Xiao Rai created another few flames, and they floated around her head like twin moons as she searched around for Tai Haoran''s body.


    It did not take long for her to find it. Tai Haoran had drifted to the shore, had bloated a bit, was cold and stone-like as she pulled him away from the water''s edge. She turned him around. His nose had been broken during his and Zheng Jo''s duel. His side had been torn open.


    But an autopsy from Wang Ro the Elder would tell the whole truth.


    (And, privately, she wondered if the sugar pills she had been replacing his medicine with had anything to do with his death.)


    Thus satisfied that, marred and bloated as the corpse was, this was Tai Haoran, Xiao Rai picked him up, breathing in Anri to strengthen herself. She lifted him over her shoulders, grunting as she did so, for a body such as his was heavy, and with a titanic effort jumped into the air, repeating her dance across the ravine''s wall. She landed hard next to Lo Qiu, who jolted, trying to hide how exhausted the effort had been as she laid the body down next to Wang Ro the Elder.


    The physician looked it over, before nodding in a resigned satisfaction.


    ¡°Will you be able to carry him?¡± he asked Xiao Rai.


    ¡°I will,¡± Xiao Rai said, and she lifted him up.


    By now the sun was almost completely gone. Xiao Rai produced another series of small flames, handing them to Wang Ro the Elder and Lo Qiu.


    ¡°I''ll take the lead,¡± she said, ¡°Follow my light.¡±


    And she went off again.


    ***


    They returned to the inn late in the night. Lo Qiu and Wang Ro the Elder came in first, trading bows and grave nods to Pan Baihu and Grandmaster Zhoul. Xiao Rai came in next, and she held Tai Haoran''s body over her shoulders as though he were nothing more than a sack of grain. Yet Guo Kenan noted that she was breathing heavily as she set him down on one of the tables.


    Pan Baihu let out a gasp at the sight of the body and had to sit down again. Guo Kenan grimaced. Guo Liling''s hand shot to her mouth, covering it as her eyes went wide.


    And Grandmaster Zhou let out a ragged scream at the sight.


    ¡°My son!¡± he wailed, ¡°My son!¡±


    He hobbled over to the body, all but throwing himself on it as he let out a horrid sob.


    ¡°He was like my son!¡± Zhou Winyan roared, ¡°My son, my boy! My jewel!¡±


    And, in his sorrow, all pretense he had of Tai Haoran''s potential usurpation, his deceitful death by the hands of, perhaps, Xiao Rai, disappeared.


    (For, he did not know of the sugar pills.)


    No, in its stead came broken grief. All of his denials were gone. All of his rejections of reality. Tai Haoran lay on the table as cold, rigid truth, and for the first time Zhou Winyan realized what it meant to lose a child. A son, not by blood, but by creed and by promise. The others in the room looked to one another, unsure of what to do, feeling both awkward and aggrieved as they watched an old man weep for his heir.


    Finally, Guo Kenan stepped forward.


    ¡°Come, Grandmaster,¡± he said, his voice a whisper, ¡°We must let the physician look at the body.¡±


    He laid a hand on Zhou Winyan''s shoulder, but the Anri master flung it away.


    ¡°Don''t you touch him!¡± he snarled, ¡°Don''t you touch my boy! He''s of the White Flame. He is... he is...¡±


    He broke down again. And part of his old ''civilized'' self returned, for he moved away from the table. Wang Ro the Elder took his place, eyes scanning the body for a few moments, before he turned to Pan Baihu.


    ¡°It would be better if this were done at the clinic,¡± he said.


    Pan Baihu did not respond. He was staring at the body with a slackened mouth. Guo Kenan scowled at the man, before taking point.


    ¡°Right,¡± he said, ¡°Xiao Rai, will you help me...?¡±


    ¡°I will,¡± Xiao Rai said. She lifted up her fellow student once more, though she stumbled a bit, exhausted from the effort she''d had to exude throughout the afternoon and evening. Guo Kenan picked up the slack, walking over and picking up Tai Haoran by the legs, and she moved so she was carrying his shoulders.


    Carrying him so, like he were a boat, they paraded out of the inn and to the clinic.


    And there, deep into the night, though he was exhausted and freezing, Wang Ro the Elder made his autopsy.


    ***


    ¡°Say it isn''t so, Guo Liling,¡± Ban Lanfen said, ¡°Please, tell me it isn''t true.¡±


    She was foremost in the crowd that had drawn itself inside the inn. Rumor traveled with the rain''s lull, and in the morning almost all of the Opal Hills had turned up to interrogate Guo Liling about what had happened the day before. The innkeeper''s daughter stood behind the bar, pouring drinks for a few of the mourners, including Ban Lanfen. The widow had been crying, Guo Liling saw, and her eyes were bloodshot and raw.


    ¡°It is true,¡± Guo Liling almost whispered. She felt awful saying those words. Felt awful at the sight of Ban Lanfen fully breaking down, burying her face in her hands. Li Bai had to guide her away from the rest of the crowd, who went into an uproar.


    ¡°Dead!¡± Lai Huan, who had pulled herself out of bed after her fever had broken the night before, flushed red, ¡°Dead, by that traveler''s hand!¡±


    ¡°I heard he''s an Anri user,¡± Lo Qiu, in the corner said, ¡°I heard he killed Tai Haoran out of nowhere. A sickening zap, and he was dead.¡±


    ¡°Don''t spread rumors, Lo Qiu,¡± Guo Liling warned, ¡°You... you know that Tai Haoran fought back.¡±


    ¡°Do you deny the traveler killed him?¡± Lo Qiu said.


    Guo Liling grimaced. The crowd turned to her, and a dangerous energy flowed in the air. The Opal Hills were already stirred up as is. And, lacking Zheng Jo, they were looking for a scapegoat. Someone to take on their grief and outrage.


    ¡°No,¡± Guo Liling said, ¡°I... He killed him.¡±


    And it felt odd to say. Yet she knew Zheng Jo to be an angry man.


    She just had not expected for him to be a murderer.


    It did not feel like the truth. He had spoken easily to her. Laughed with her and Wang Ro the Younger. Seemed confident about his work. He did not have the cadence of a killer.


    She hadn''t seen Wang Ro the Younger all day. She hoped he was okay.


    ***


    The boy had hidden himself, or at least thought he had, in a tree near the clinic.


    He had been woken up by his father and Xiao Rai throwing the door open, and putting the body out on a table. He had watched, with wide eyes, from the bedroom as his father cut open Tai Haoran, his friend, and took samples of his blood. Checked the ghastly wound on his side, lit incense to ward away the awful stench of death that escaped from Tai Haoran''s body.


    Tai Haoran, his friend.


    Wang Ro the Younger had to watch, as his father mercilessly cut Tai Haoran to pieces, categorized him into times and dates and causes, and then put a blanket over him as though he were nothing more than furniture to be moved at a later date. At one point, Elder had locked eyes with Younger, in the harsh rains of the night, mid-cut into Tai Haoran''s face.


    Then, his father had continued his sterile work.


    It was then that Wang Ro the Younger had begun to cry. The physician went to bed that night hearing his son''s quiet sobs under his covers. The boy had climbed up the tree in the morning, and had not come down.


    His sorrow was for himself alone.


    And it was in the mid-morning, while the Opal Hills were gathered at the inn, that Wang Ro the Elder approached the tree, and looked through the branches to see his son.


    ¡°Wang Ro,¡± he said.


    He heard a few sniffles above.


    ¡°Wang Ro, come,¡± the physician said, ¡°We are going to the inn. The rest of the town is there. Pan Baihu has called for a meeting.¡±


    He received silence in answer. Wang Ro the Elder sighed, leaning against the tree.


    ¡°I want you to attend, my son,¡± he said, ¡°I want you to listen to what happens next.¡±


    ¡°Don''t wanna go.¡±


    ¡°You must,¡± Wang Ro the Elder said, ¡°You must see what happens. You must see what happens when we allow interlopers to come in, and take our friends away. You must see the retribution, Wang Ro. It is the first step to being a man.¡±


    He looked up. Could make out the Younger now. He was moving, climbing down the tree.


    ¡°You will understand, in time, why it had to be like this,¡± Wang Ro the Elder said, ¡°You will see that our world is a violent one. Let all of this be a lesson.¡±


    He reached out a hand. Wang Ro the Younger took it, and helped himself down.


    ***


    Pan Baihu quivered where he stood as Wang Ro the Elder and his son came through the door of the inn. The major figures of the Opal Hills were here ¨C Li Bai and his son, Li Tian. Grandmaster Zhou was in the corner, his eyes red and filled to the brim with hate. His remaining student, Xiao Rai, attended to him, and although Tai Haoran''s body was still fresh in the mind, she already was finding favor with her master ¨C he leaned on her for support, a hand on her shoulder to steady himself. Tan Fa, the veteran of the wars of the Empire, was there as well. He had an uncharacteristic scowl on his face, and he was scratching at his arm, glancing outside. For all of the town had crowded outside Guo Kenan''s inn, forced out by the innkeeper himself so the heads of the town could speak in peace. Guo Kenan himself was leaning on a wall behind the bar, his arms crossed. His daughter was in the kitchen, and though the door was closed she was listening intently.


    It was Wang Ro the Elder who spoke first.


    ¡°Tai Haoran died yesterday, near the afternoon. He was killed via electric shock, induced by Anri, and it stopped his heart. He felt little as he passed.¡±


    Grandmaster Zhou''s eyes narrowed at that.


    Xiao Rai looked away.


    ¡°I watched the battle rage,¡± Wang Ro the Elder continued, ¡°It was¡­ quite the sight. Tai Haoran almost killed Zheng Jo. He was a mess of blood and broken bones by the time their fight was over. But Zheng Jo escaped.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps he is dead!¡± Pan Baihu all but shouted. Heads in the room turned, and the mayor grimaced at the sudden attention, ¡°He was wounded, yes? The Opal Hills are dangerous, this time of year, especially with the storm. Wang Ro, how badly was he hurt?¡±


    Wang Ro the Elder pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. He was frowning.


    ¡°By the time Tai Haoran was dead, Zheng Jo had been savagely beaten,¡± he said.


    ¡°The problem''s solved then,¡± Pan Baihu said, ¡°Zheng Jo will have died from his wounds by now.¡±


    ¡°Not if he is an Anri user!¡± Grandmaster Zhou spat from the corner, ¡°He will be able to heal himself, given time. We are stronger than you all are. We can take more.¡±


    He let his statement hang in the air. Tan Fa grimaced.


    ¡°He''s right,¡± the veteran said, ¡°I''ve seen plenty of other Anri users take a beating and survive. I believe Zheng Jo will be able to heal.¡±


    ¡°He''ll be holed up somewhere in the mountains, then,¡± Li Bai said, ¡°He''ll lick his wounds.¡±


    ¡°And then,¡± Wang Ro the Elder said, with a calculated jab at hysteria, ¡°He''ll come back.¡±


    The room breathed in. Became tense, once more. Pan Baihu''s forehead became slick with sweat.


    ¡°You don''t surely mean that, do you?¡± he said, ¡°I mean, he wouldn''t?¡±


    ¡°He just killed one of the most powerful people in the Opal Hills,¡± Wang Ro the Elder said, ¡°What are some reasons why someone would come up here?¡±


    He let his question hang for a few moments.


    ¡°He would come here to either be a farmer, to be a hermit, or to be a bandit,¡± the physician continued, ¡°We thought him to be a researcher, but he is not. He is obviously not a farmer. Obviously not a hermit. No, his actions point him in the direction of a bandit. Without any resistance here, he could rule as a petty warlord. No other Anri user, no other sect, would bother coming out to stop him.¡±


    ¡°He would have the entire town under this thumb,¡± Tan Fa said, his voice heated.


    ¡°He''d kill anyone who got in his way,¡± Pan Baihu said, and he began to hyperventilate again. Guo Kenan moved from his place to put a hand on the mayor''s shoulder, easing him to a seat.


    ¡°Perhaps we should notify the government,¡± Li Bai said, ¡°Have them send a state practitioner out to eliminate him.¡±


    ¡°Yes, let''s do that!¡± Pan Baihu said, ¡°More Anri users! To take that Zheng Jo and tear out his innards.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Grandmaster Zhou said, and he sounded overwhelmed, ¡°No, not that.¡±


    Wang Ro the Elder spoke up.


    ¡°I don''t agree, either,¡± he said.


    And, once more, he captured the room.


    ¡°It''s simple,¡± the physician said, ¡°Zheng Jo is in hiding, licking his wounds, but he won''t be forever. We don''t have the time to request for a state practitioner to come out here, especially with the storm.¡±


    He looked at everyone in the room with a hard gaze.


    (And the Darwinist moved his pawns.)


    ¡°No,¡± he said, ¡°If we''re to stop Zheng Jo, we must do it ourselves. He is injured. That is good. It means he will be easier to kill.¡±


    The room fell silent. Pan Baihu faltered. Looked scared. But Grandmaster Zhou nodded. As did Li Bai.


    ¡°We still have Xiao Rai,¡± the farmer said, ¡°And I''ve got enough workers on my farm who can wield something.¡±


    ¡°We''ll use farming tools,¡± Tan Fa said, ¡°Knives. Whatever we can find. We''ll gang up on him. Travel in groups to flush him out.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Li Bai said, ¡°We should start organizing, and head out while the weather''s good. I''ll talk to everyone outside. Let them know of the plan.¡±


    He looked to Pan Baihu.


    ¡°Is this agreeable, mayor?¡±


    ¡°I...¡± Pan Baihu swallowed. He had lost his nerve for this long ago, allowed Wang Ro the Elder to control the conversation, ¡°That is... agreeable.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Li Bai said, and he bowed to the room, and went outside.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    Such it was that the Opal Hills mobilized. Men, women, even a few children, joined in this crusade against Tai Haoran''s supposed killer. They went out to confront Zheng Jo wielding farmer''s tools. Bows used for hunting. Knives used for preparing meals. Axes for wood. All of them wielded in the fashion of war. The plowshare to the sword.


    Xiao Rai joined them. As did Grandmaster Zhou. The two remaining members of the White Flame Sect joined up with Li Bai''s team, the farmer himself wielding an ancestral sword. They, along with around a hundred others, assembled as a peasant army. Fire in their eyes. And they prepared to leave the town and minnow out into the mountains.


    Guo Kenan resigned himself to this crusade. He was about to move out, an old knife in hand, when he passed by his daughter''s room. He saw Guo Liling inside, a pack on her bed, one that she was in the middle of filling with supplies.


    His brow furrowed.


    ¡°Where are you going, Little Jasmine?¡±


    Guo Liling froze.


    And even that was answer.


    ¡°You''re going after him, aren''t you?¡± Guo Kenan said.


    ¡°I have to, Baba,¡± Guo Liling said, and she turned to him, ¡°He has-¡±


    ¡°Answers, I know,¡± Guo Kenan said, ¡°But no. He is dangerous.¡±


    ¡°He is-¡±


    ¡°Dangerous, daughter!¡± her father snarled, and she flinched back. He rarely raised his voice towards her.


    The two of them stood in stark silence. Outside, they could hear people getting ready. They could hear raised voices, what sounded like Wang Ro the Elder giving a speech.


    ¡°We will find him!¡± he was shouting, ¡°We will cast him out of our homes, we will make him pay for what he has done to us! We will drag him, kicking and screaming out of his hole! We will have justice!¡±


    Guo Kenan looked hard at the wall, and Guo Liling knew he was looking far past the wood and to the crowd thronged outside. Already moving out, streaming from the town and into the mountains.


    How quickly they had fallen under the physician¡¯s gravitas.


    ¡°I know how you''re feeling, Little Jasmine,¡± Guo Kenan said, ¡°I''m... I''m scared too.¡±


    ¡°It''s all so sudden, Baba,¡± Guo Liling said, ¡°I see the looks in their eyes. The... stark anger. They didn''t really meet him. They didn''t meet Zheng Jo.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Guo Kenan said, ¡°This all feels... wrong. There''s a feeling in my gut. Like we''re being led astray.¡±


    She nodded.


    ¡°But there''s no stopping it now,¡± Guo Kenan said, and his voice was exhausted and resigned, ¡°They''ll hunt until they have their demon. I''ll be there to make sure they''re safe, because they are still our friends. Our family.¡±


    ¡°I know, Baba.¡±


    ¡°But you have to stay here.¡±


    There was a desperation to his voice.


    ¡°Things are getting dangerous,¡± he continued, ¡°And I can''t go out there without knowing that, no matter what happens, you''re safe here, at home, where no one can harm you. I''ve already lost your mother. I cannot afford to lose you.¡±


    He drew close, slowly, rested a weathered hand against her cheek.


    For the first time, he looked old to Guo Liling. She could see flecks of silver in his beard.


    ¡°Promise me, you will stay here. Please.¡±


    ¡°...I will, Baba,¡± she lied.


    She put the bag down. Guo Kenan gave a final sigh. Hefted his walking stick.


    ¡°I will return when... when it''s done,¡± he said, ¡°Take care of the inn. Watch for travelers. They can be dangerous.¡±


    And he turned to leave.


    ¡°Baba.¡±


    And Guo Liling rushed over, wrapped her arms around his waist.


    ¡°Be careful.¡±


    And he smiled.


    ¡°I will, Little Jasmine.¡±


    ¡­


    ¡­


    And when he was gone, when Wang Ro the Elder''s peasant army moved out with death on the mind, Guo Liling turned back to her pack. Picked it up off the ground. Finished packing.


    Would...


    Would Zheng Jo hurt them?


    He did not have the cadence of a murderer. Not like how Wang Ro the Elder had described him. In the people''s minds, he was a butcher. A demon, from the darkest places of the elephant''s back.


    But they had not seen him as she had. The true Zheng Jo, beneath his polite facade. There was anger there, but anger born of passion. As though he had once been a very sad man, but reclaimed his joy.


    Zheng Jo, the metahuman.


    And there, Guo Liling saw no monster.


    And with that in mind, Guo Liling turned back on her promise to her father. She finished packing her bag. Put on her straw raincoat, and her conical hat. She took enough food to last her a few days. A knife, in case something happened. The last of the century eggs.


    And then, prepared, she moved off herself. To move in a way the others had not anticipated.


    To go, once more, to the meeting place of a spirit.

 132. Danger and Worth

    ¡°I have here a map of the surrounding mines,¡± Wang Ro the Elder said, ¡°I''m sure that Zheng Jo will be in one of them.¡±


    He, Li Bai, Pan Baihu, Xiao Rai, and Tan Fa were gathered together as they walked up a mountain path. The rain was starting up again, the damnable, neverending storm. It was a slow going, for organizing a hundred people to move as one body across the treacherous mountains, even mountains they were familiar with, was proving to be more difficult than they thought. People slipped. People argued. A few tried going off on their own, and had to be dragged back by Xiao Rai.


    ¡°That''s good, that''s good,¡± Pan Baihu said, ¡°We¡¯ll find him yet.¡±


    ¡°That''s not good,¡± Tan Fa said, ¡°The mine will be a natural bottleneck. Zheng Jo will be able to blunt our advantage.¡±


    ¡°Our... advantage?¡± Pan Baihu said.


    ¡°We outnumber Zheng Jo,¡± Tan Fa said, ¡°When I was in the military, when they were short on Anri users, they would instead field many regular infantry to outnumber a sect. An entire army, dedicated to besieging a single temple, or monastery, or wandering Anri users.¡±


    ¡°And...¡± Pan Baihu swallowed, ¡°How many, ah, casualties, were there?¡±


    Tan Fa''s face became dour. He didn''t answer.


    Instead, he walked away.


    And that was answer enough.


    Li Bai cleared his throat, fixed Wang Ro the Elder with a disapproving look.


    ¡°This could easily become a disaster, Wang Ro,¡± the farmer said.


    ¡°It could,¡± Wang Ro the Elder said, ¡°But it is necessary. You know the alternative.¡±


    He looked back down at the map. Heard someone in the crowd cry out as they fell hard on the ground. The trail was becoming far too packed and cramped.


    At some point, someone would fall off the edge.


    ¡°...We should split up,¡± the physician said, ¡°Move out to the mines listed here. Flush him out.¡±


    ¡°How should we separate our forces?¡± Pan Baihu asked.


    ¡°Four groups,¡± Wang Ro the Elder decided, a hair quickly, ¡°Twenty-five each. I will take a group. Pan Baihu will take one. As will Tan Fa, and you, Li Bai.¡±


    ¡°That is agreeable to me,¡± Pan Baihu said, ¡°Shall we begin the organization?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Wang Ro the Elder said, ¡°Li Bai, will you make the announcement to the others?¡±


    But the farmer''s disapproving look had deepened.


    ¡°We should have done this back in town,¡± he said, ¡°Not out in the open like this.¡±


    ¡°I am aware,¡± Wang Ro the Elder said, ¡°But it would be for the best. Twenty-five soldiers can still overwhelm an Anri practitioner, especially out here.¡±


    ¡°Is that what we are now, Wang Ro?¡± Li Bai said, ¡°Soldiers?¡±


    ¡°You''ve certainly been acting like one,¡± the physician said, a hint of warning in his voice.


    ¡°I''m merely seeking out justice. Protecting my home.¡±


    ¡°Is that not what a soldier does?¡±


    The farmer grimaced, but said little else. He gave a quick bow to the mayor and the physician, before moving off. He raised his voice and started to shout at the crowd, to cordon them off into groups.


    Wang Ro the Elder turned to Xiao Rai.


    ¡°I want you with me,¡± he said, ¡°We''ll take our group out to Golden Lion Mine.¡±


    ¡°Zheng Jo was very interested in that,¡± Xiao Rai said, ¡°Do you think he''ll be there?¡±


    ¡°...If he is not,¡± Wang Ro the Elder said, ¡°Then he will most definitely be wanting to go there.¡±


    ¡°You sound confident,¡± Xiao Rai said, and she crossed her arms, ¡°...Tell me, oh physician, what is there that Zheng Jo would be interested in?¡±


    Something in Wang Ro the Elder''s eyes glimmered. He considered Xiao Rai. The anger in her stance. He had seen the way that Tai Haoran had been fighting Zheng Jo. The White Flame had been about to win, about to end all of the Darwinist''s problems.


    But he had died.


    Died of sudden heart failure.


    Which his medicine had been supposed to prevent. It was as though Tai Haoran had not been taking his medicine at all.


    Perhaps he hadn''t been.


    And a potential answer stood in front of him. Someone worth her salt. Someone ambitious. Ambitious, and ruthless. She would make a good Darwinist, would she not? It was almost time to leave this plane, as it was.


    ¡°We will speak more on this later, I think,¡± Wang Ro the Elder said, ¡°Just know that the Golden Lion Mine is important to me. And it is important to Zheng Jo, as well.¡±


    He let the enigmatic thread hang, and walked off. Xiao Rai thought on his words, her arms still crossed. Then, she nodded, taking this as answer. The physician had his secrets. But he would be forthright with her, in time.


    Right now, there was work to be done.


    ***


    Guo Liling caught up to the very back end of the Opal Hills crowd soon enough.


    Evidently they had separated out into groups, for she could see only a few of them as she made her way down one of the paths. She recognized a few faces ¨C Han Chen, one of the farmhands, was holding a shovel in hand like it was an axe, and his friend, Cao Xue, was one of those rare individuals whose forefathers had owned a sword, and still kept it. The stark way Cao Xue held it in hand, the way he seemed almost nervous with its weight, made Guo Liling''s heart sink.


    Wang Ro the Elder, in only a few words, had turned the Opal Hills into his own personal force. And none of them were trained for it.


    Were Zheng Jo different, were he more cruel, he would kill them all.


    (So Guo Liling hoped.)


    She was not so close that they would spot her. Guo Liling hid behind a bend in the pass, watching Cao Xue and Han Chen look this way and that, as though Zheng Jo would magically appear in front of them. And then, seeing nothing, they moved off to rejoin the rest of their group. Guo Liling watched them go.


    Had to wait a few hours for the procession to move on. She didn''t want to be spotted as she made her journey. Word of mouth would travel, and Guo Kenan would know that she had slipped away from the inn.


    And so she waited, her heart pounding with the peals of thunder and lightning. Then, she moved out. By now the rain was coming down so hard it was soaking through her raincoat, and deluged as miniature waterfalls from her hat. But still she pressed on, climbing up the hills, the mountains, mimicking a journey she had made just a few nights prior.


    Up the hill, towards Zi Shi Ying''s clearing.


    She thought she could hear shouts in the storm. But that was more than likely her imagination, as the rain once more took the world. She hoped that no one in the Opal Hills would fall. She prayed that no mudslides would occur. It was as though the natural world warred against the people of the Opal Hills. As though the rain was on Zheng Jo''s side.


    She herself slipped multiple times going up the final ascent to Zi Shi Ying''s meeting place. The path had become muddy, and she found that her shoes were sinking into the muck. The sky had become ice-white, milky in a way she had not seen before.


    (It was, historians would later say, the most intense storm system that the province had seen in over a hundred years.)


    At last, she arrived at the clearing, the top of the mountain, the jutting outreach with its lone ginkgo, though the storm had shorn off one of its branches, a tear in the wood that gaped like an open wound.


    Guo Liling pushed her way through the harsh winds and sat down. She did not know if Zi Shi Ying would even come here. The Fluorite Bird tended to keep to himself during the harsh weather. But she still, nonetheless, waited. She had the century eggs. She had news to share.


    The world was a chorus.


    She waited.


    Felt cold. Felt tired, all of a sudden.


    She was drifting when she heard the beating of wings. Felt the presence of something much larger than her fill up the space above. Zi Shi Ying crashed down almost on top of Guo Liling, his eyes bulged, his multicolored, glassy form matted down from the rain. He shimmered as he stalked around her, head twisting in exact angles as he looked at her.


    Guo Liling took the century eggs out of her pack. Presented them.


    For a moment, Zi Shi Ying paused.


    ¡°Hmm,¡± he mused, ¡°Usually these are warm. And in congee. You make me come out here, for so little?¡±


    Guo Liling was far too cold to say anything. She shivered. Zi Shi Ying took note of this.


    ¡°Well, that will not do,¡± he said, ¡°I will not have a cold mortal offer me a meal.¡±


    He flapped his wings. Once. Twice. The wind became a summer''s wind, warming Guo Liling up, like glass reflecting the sun. She swallowed, and found she could speak again.


    ¡°I...¡± she started, and she bowed, bringing her forehead to the muddy ground, ¡°I give you this meal, great spirit, in hopes you will answer my questions.¡±


    ¡°...You are Guo Kenan''s daughter,¡± Zi Shi Ying said, ¡°Guo...?¡±


    ¡°Liling.¡±


    ¡°Guo Liling. Ah, how that jasmine sings. A good name, a good name...¡±


    His head craned down to the pack. He fished out a century egg from the pack, crushing it with a sharp beak. He ate quietly. Quickly. When he finished, he closed his great, glassy eyes in satisfaction.


    ¡°I thank you, for the meal, Guo Liling,¡± he said.


    And he made to take off. Guo Liling rose.


    ¡°Wait!¡±


    And at once the air became still. Zi Shi Ying did, indeed, stop. His eyes rolled over to Guo Liling, became bead-like as he glared at her.


    ¡°...Excuse me?¡± he said, his voice a savage whisper, ¡°Wait?¡±


    Guo Liling''s blood became ice. She bowed quickly.


    ¡°Forgive me, oh great spirit,¡± she said, ¡°I just... I need to know. Where is Zheng Jo?¡±


    ¡°I should kill you, for that,¡± the Fluorite Bird said, ¡°No one tells the Great Zi Shi Ying where he may or may not go, nor should he wait, nor should he...¡±


    And then he sighed. Folded his wings up, looked down at the girl, regarded her with a cooler expression.


    ¡°You seek out the metahuman.¡±


    She rose from her bow, her forehead now stained with mud. She gave a nod.


    ¡°You know what he is?¡± Zi Shi Ying asked.


    ¡°I... I overheard your talk with him,¡± Guo Liling said.


    ¡°Oh, I am quite aware of that,¡± Zi Shi Ying said, ¡°You''re far too curious for your own good, girl. It will get you killed, if you are not careful. It just nearly did.¡±


    She swallowed.


    ¡°...What,¡± she said, ¡°What is the multiverse?¡±


    Zi Shi Ying preened himself, picking a few stray, glass-studded feathers from his plumage. He was considering Guo Liling''s question very carefully. Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    ¡°It is something I am most...¡± he was reluctant, ¡°...unfamiliar with.¡±


    ¡°Unfamiliar?¡±


    ¡°Yes, unfamiliar!¡± Zi Shi Ying squawked, ¡°I am aware of the multiverse, but not what it is, not truly, only that there is more out there than D¨¤ Xi¨¤ng. More than just a great elephant with the world on his back.¡±


    He let his answer rest. Guo Liling felt lost.


    ¡°...I do know where Zheng Jo is,¡± Zi Shi Ying said, ¡°Are you with the rest of the village? Are you here to kill him?¡±


    ¡°I am not,¡± Guo Liling said, ¡°I''m not with them.¡±


    ¡°Ah, the stray from the community,¡± Zi Shi Ying said, and he let out a soft chuckle, ¡°Be careful how you soar, girl, not everyone likes it when the greatest of us fly.¡±


    He stretched out his wings, turned his back in offer to her.


    ¡°I will take you to him,¡± he said, ¡°Hold on. Be prepared for a cold journey.¡±


    To ride Zi Shi Ying''s back was no mere feat. He rarely allowed this, only having done it twice in recorded history. Once, to a young farmboy who had given him his first century egg, the second, to Emperor Sun Rao himself. Guo Liling climbed aboard the spirit''s back, and despite the glittering pieces of clear stone in his plumage, she found he was comfortable, almost soft. The rain slid off of his feathers as though they had been treated with oil.


    ¡°Hold tight, Guo Liling,¡± Zi Shi Ying said, ¡°I fly as fast as I want.¡±


    And he ran, leaping off of the side of the mountain, plummeting for a few moments before opening his wings and letting the gale of the storm lift him high into the sky. Guo Liling''s stomach fell, rose, then fell again as he soared across the Opal Hills. All of her home became like toy sculptures to her, the mountains became anthills, the trees lost their detail and became patches of green. Zi Shi Ying climbed higher and higher, letting out a screech of triumph, before he broke through the cloud layer completely.


    It was here that Guo Liling lost her breath. The world was as ice, and she was numb to the touch, but nonetheless her eyes were wide and glittering, at the storm below her. She rarely saw the tops of clouds, only when she and her father hiked to the very highest parts of the Opal Hills. And now she saw all of them, like a sea, or a blanket. The sky up here was a burning blue, an azure that she realized she had missed since the storm''s arrival.


    And this was how Zi Shi Ying saw the world, every day.


    The spirit descended again, back into the storm, and the cold became frenzied once more. They whipped past the heads of the mountains, the world below a mosaic of mud and rain and the world that drank it.


    Until, at last, Zi Shi Ying began slowing down. He wheeled across the sky for a few minutes, letting himself descend down to one of the mountains. A little known landmark, Guo Liling realized, the Spiral Conch Hill was oddly shaped, having had a path cut around it in a circular pattern long ago, giving it the shape of a spiraling seashell. People rarely traveled here nowadays, due to the fact that it was out of the way and the land around it wasn''t good for farming.


    There were a few holes in the mountain, shallow caves that had been carved out while miners had been prospecting the place for precious minerals. But they hadn''t found any. An overload of work, carving out the path, for little gained.


    Zi Shi Ying landed near one of the caves. He nodded to Guo Liling, before taking off again, leaving her alone with the rain.


    Her heart was pounding. She was completely frozen over, both from the rain and from the winterish gales of Zi Shi Ying''s flight. She wasn''t even sure if she could walk, as she stepped forward, wobbling, into the cave.


    At least now the rain was not constantly battering her hat. The cave went inwards for a few dozen feet, ending in shallow darkness.


    And, silhouetted against the back wall was Zheng Jo.


    ¡°Oh, you,¡± he said, ¡°''Sup.¡±


    She was quiet. She swallowed.


    ¡°You look fucking freezing,¡± Zheng Jo said, ¡°What, did you walk all the way out here?¡±


    ¡°Z-Zi Shi Ying.¡±


    ¡°Oh, the spirit. Right, he knows I''m here,¡± Zheng Jo shifted from where he was sitting, ¡°Here, let me make a fire.¡±


    He took out a few orange stones from his pack, dashing them against the wall. Fire erupted from them, and he arranged them in a way as to make a campfire. Guo Liling sat down, feeling warmth return to her fingertips as she brought out her hands. Zheng Jo sat down across from her.


    And, with the fire she could see that he had taken a beating. He had taken off his shirt, leaving a bandaged chest, and there were several cuts all over his body that had scabbed over. He had shaved his hair, though there was a light shine on his left temple where Tai Haoran seemed to have burned him. Not that he seemed to care.


    ¡°You hungry?¡± he said, ¡°I''ve mostly been scavenging berries, but they don''t taste half-bad roasted.¡±


    ¡°I''m... fine,¡± Guo Liling said.


    ¡°Right,¡± Zheng Jo said.


    The silence drew on. The fire crackled. Rain mourned from the mouth of the cave, falling like tears outside.


    ¡°...The entire town is out for you,¡± Guo Liling said, at length, ¡°Wang Ro the Elder whipped them up into a frenzy.¡±


    ¡°Not surprised,¡± Zheng Jo said, shrugging, ¡°It''s his word against mine. And I''m just a simple traveler.¡±


    ¡°What happened?¡± Guo Liling said, ¡°Why did you kill Tai Haoran?¡±


    At that, Zheng Jo''s eyes narrowed.


    ¡°I didn''t kill him,¡± he said, ¡°His heart gave out. You''ve got it the other way around. He was about to finish me off when he clutched his chest and keeled over.¡±


    ¡°You aren''t...¡± Guo Liling hesitated, ¡°You aren''t going to kill me, are you?¡±


    ¡°What? No!¡± Zheng Jo said, ¡°Why would I do that?¡±


    He shook his head.


    ¡°Listen,¡± he said, ¡°I''m... I''m pretty sure that Wang Ro the Elder is a man I''ve been looking for. An agent, of a group called the Sons of Darwin.¡±


    ¡°From the multiverse.¡±


    ¡°From the multiverse,¡± Zheng Jo repeated, as though he expected Guo Liling¡¯s prodding, ¡°Yeah.¡±


    He leaned back.


    ¡°That''s why you looked for me, right?¡± he said, ¡°To find out.¡±


    ¡°Y-Yes,¡± Guo Liling said, and she suddenly felt guilty, ¡°I, I also looked for you, to make sure you were alright, to-¡±


    ¡°Ah, can it,¡± Zheng Jo said, ¡°You don''t have to lie to me.¡±


    And he gave her a soft smile.


    ¡°I can take care of myself.¡±


    She faltered.


    ¡°Well, the multiverse,¡± Zheng Jo said, and he looked up at the ceiling, as though he were trying to count out the stars, ¡°It''s...¡±


    ¡°Worlds,¡± Guo Liling said, ¡°More worlds than just D¨¤ Xi¨¤ng.¡±


    ¡°That''s a good way of putting it,¡± Zheng Jo said, ¡°It''s more worlds. Thousands of them. Millions of them. More than the stars in every sky.¡±


    Guo Liling''s breath caught.


    ¡°What does...¡± she said, ¡°Is it many elephants?¡±


    ¡°Many... elephants?¡± Zheng Jo said, ¡°Oh. No. It''s, well, like a web. Or a box.¡±


    ¡°It... Hmm,¡± Guo Liling said, for she had never heard of a world held on the back of a box.


    (But, then.)


    ¡°Some worlds, or we call them planes, aren''t on the back of anything,¡± Zheng Jo said, ¡°Like mine. Earth. It''s a planet. A ball of rock and earth, revolving around a star. Other planes are completely flat. The one I live on, the one my guild''s located on, is a shattered planet, and the people live on both the inside and the outside.¡±


    Guo Liling looked at him as though he had grown two heads.


    ¡°Must be hard to take in,¡± Zheng Jo said, laughing, ¡°Trust me, if I hadn''t been dragged, kicking and screaming, out into the multiverse, I would''ve been in disbelief too.¡±


    ¡°You''re a madman,¡± Guo Liling said.


    ¡°Maybe I am,¡± Zheng Jo said, ¡°Maybe I''m not. You can believe me, or not. It doesn''t matter. I know what I am.¡±


    And Guo Liling found she could not disbelieve him. The truth was before her.


    Zheng Jo.


    ¡°Metahuman,¡± she whispered.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Zheng Jo said, and now a hint of bitterness came into his voice, ¡°A metahuman. Enemies of stagnation, and all of that.¡±


    ¡°You use Anri?¡±


    ¡°Something like it,¡± Zheng Jo said, ¡°It''s... not something I breathe. It''s something I am. You ever heard of genes before?¡±


    ¡°...No,¡± Guo Liling said.


    ¡°It''s the things that your parents pass down to you,¡± Zheng Jo said, ¡°Whether you''ll have black hair. Whether you''ll be able to roll your tongue, or if your earlobes are attached to your head or not.¡±


    ¡°Mine are,¡± Guo Liling said.


    ¡°And mine aren''t,¡± Zheng Jo pulled at his free lobe, ¡°Genetics. And metahumans have an extra one, the Metagene, that allows us to tap into the power between worlds. One of my mentors, he calls it ''Imagination.''¡±


    ¡°And it gives you power.¡±


    ¡°It''s different for each metahuman,¡± Zheng Jo said, ¡°Mine is that my body was reformatted into a circuit. My soul''s been made physical. It''s sitting in the pit of my stomach, now. Watch.¡±


    He brought out a hand. And the air over his palm began to crackle and fizzle. A cobalt light burst free, a claw overtook his hand.


    ¡°Zheng Jo,¡± Guo Liling said, ¡°...Cobalt Jo.¡±


    He mused on those words, his brow furrowing.


    ¡°...Yeah,¡± he said, ¡°Cobalt Joe.¡±


    ¡°And you used this to kill Tai Haoran?¡±


    ¡°I used it to defend myself,¡± Zheng Jo said, heat in his voice, ¡°He attacked me out of the blue. Wang Ro the Elder watched. Look, he''s hiding something out here. A Darwinist project. And it''s something that he''s willing to kill for. It''s something that he''s willing to whip up the entire town into a lynch mob for.¡±


    He looked hard at her.


    ¡°When did he first arrive to the Opal Hills?¡±


    ¡°...Around twenty five years ago,¡± Guo Liling said.


    ¡°That''s around when the war out there ended,¡± Zheng Jo said, looking at the wall, ¡°That''s... give it five years, or something like that. I''d need to ask Becenti.¡±


    Guo Liling watched him, and she could practically see the sparks in his mind blazing.


    ¡°He''s... truly evil?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Well, that''s a cookie cutter way of putting it,¡± Zheng Jo said, ¡°He''s a Darwinist. About thirty years ago, they started a war against the multiverse, and apparently almost won. Most of them are gone now, but¡­¡±


    He sighed.


    ¡°They''re coming back, bit by bit,¡± he said, ¡°Regaining strength. Freeing old members. Even setting off a few terrorist attacks. I wouldn''t be surprised if one of them has gotten in contact with Wang Ro.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡±


    ¡°All the more reason,¡± Zheng Jo said, ¡°To find the project.¡±


    He let that statement hang in the air. Guo Liling shifted awkwardly where she was sitting, the warmth of the fire all at once becoming uncomfortable. Part of her could not see how Wang Ro the Elder, the physician who had helped so many in the Opal Hills, who had tended to her ailing mother in those last days, could be such a man. The term Darwinist sounded foreign and dangerous, the name of a group of demons.


    And yet there was a way that Wang Ro had been talking to the others at the inn. His measured voice, the ice in his eyes, made part of Guo Liling realize that, perhaps, Zheng Jo was telling the truth.


    ¡°Well,¡± Zheng Jo said, ¡°That''s it then. That''s why I''m here.¡±


    Guo Liling was quiet.


    ¡°...What do you want to do now?¡± Zheng Jo asked.


    ¡°I...¡± Guo Liling scratched at her arm, ¡°I...¡±


    She looked up at him.


    ¡°Is it worth it, your multiverse?¡±


    And he cracked an angry smile.


    ¡°It''s dangerous,¡± he said, ¡°And I can tell that''s what''s on your mind. But I''ve seen things I''d never thought I''d see. I''ve seen cities on the other side of the sky. I''ve been out into space more times than I can count. I''ve seen planes that are nothing but endless forest, with fireflies instead of stars. I''ve visited freshwater seas, with once-flying islands and histories that stretch back thousands of years. I''ve seen people who could break themselves in storms of glass, made friends with men with glass-spun limbs. One of my best friends has pointed ears and a sceptre that wields sunlight. My other best friend is a fish-man with secrets from a thousand dark places, and a book made of human skin.¡±


    He rose.


    ¡°I''ve seen far more than I ever thought I would. The multiverse is dangerous. But... it''s worth it.¡±


    And the way he smiled, the way lightning danced in his cobalt eyes, made Guo Liling''s heart leap.


    ¡°I...¡±


    ¡°Listen, what you do next is up to you,¡± Zheng Jo said, ¡°You can go your own way. I can see in your eyes that you''re wanting to get out there. We all have to leave home eventually.¡±


    He started talking.


    ¡°W-Where are you going?¡± Guo Liling asked.


    ¡°Me?¡± Zheng Jo said, and he turned, ¡°Well, my injuries are healed up enough that I think I can move out. But I want to recharge before I go out to Golden Lion Mine.¡±


    ¡°You mean to find the Darwinist project.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Zheng Jo said, ¡°I''ve got a job to do. And I''m not leaving ''til I do it.¡±


    ¡°Recharge?¡±


    He stepped out into the rain. Let it wash over him. He closed his eyes, his smile going from angry to serene. Guo Liling followed him out, watched as he started up the path.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± he said, his voice almost completely stolen by the wind, ¡°I''m going to the top. You can join me, if you like.¡±


    ***


    The pathway carved into Spiral Conch Hill made the start of their ascent a simple matter of walking. The mountain was devoid of most of the pitfalls of the rest of the Opal Hills, for there was very little mud, as all of the dirt had been scoured away by the Anri practitioner and revealed the stone beneath. A skeleton of a mountain, now devoid of the flesh that was plantlife and loose earth. As such, Guo Liling and Zheng Jo did not need to be as careful as they had been. There was little mud to slip on. The rain was not quite so strong as to flood the road.


    But, eventually, the road ended. And they had to climb manually up the mountain. Zheng Jo took point here, finding natural holds in the rock to hoist himself up. Guo Liling followed suit, and her muscles burned as she followed him. Memories returned to her, of her younger days, of playing with friends along these mountains, squirreling up their faces, one after another, as they explored the Opal Hills. Of scrapes and bruises on her arms and knees, the first calluses that formed on her tiny hands. It had been a long time since she had climbed like this.


    (Why had she ever stopped?)


    And, at one point, she slipped. Missed her footing. Muscle gave out. She began to fall-


    Only for an electric claw to grab her. It jutted from the back of Zheng Jo''s leg, a long, rope-like arm that ended in talons, though they were almost painfully gentle, barely prodding into her skin. A perfect level of control. He was looking down at her with some concern.


    ¡°I-I''m fine!¡± she said, and she grabbed back onto the rock, ¡°M-My thanks!¡±


    He nodded. Continued climbing. Like a man on a mission. Or a man in his own world.


    And they reached the top soon enough. It was not a flat place, for Spiral Conch Hill ended at a ragged point, like a broken tooth, sharp and jutting. Guo Liling found she had to hold onto a rock to steady herself, and she stood at a slant. In the clouds, in the fog, she could just barely make out the silhouette of Zhi Shi Ying flying around them, still wheeling around in his shivering sky. The thunder roiled around them. The world flashed white.


    Zheng Jo stood at the very center, the very tip of the mountain. He looked expectant.


    ¡°Stand back!¡± he said, ¡°This is going to get loud!¡±


    And Guo Liling did. Like before, when he had been talking to Zi Shi Ying, she stood back, and watched.


    And waited. The thunder continued boiling. The air began to smell of something familiar. The same scent that Zheng Jo had produced when he had gotten angry with her.


    It was, she realized, the smell of lightning. Of build-up.


    Zheng Jo waited, his arms cast out to either side, almost in supplication.


    The world became, for a moment, still.


    And then the sky split open. A white bolt flashed towards the world, struck Zheng Jo head on. It let out a terrific crack, so loud that Guo Liling had to bring her hands to her ears, and she almost slipped and fell.


    The jutting rock had stained black, but Zheng Jo himself was unharmed. Indeed, he looked almost exuberant.


    And how his soul was out. Peeling itself from his back. Like a ghost. Like a god. Azure blue, with an eagle''s head and an eagle''s claws and an eagle''s eyes that glared out towards the world, at once both ferocious and calm. Cobalt Joe stood at the top of the mountain, rejuvenated, his injuries ignored, an impossible man. Who was healed, not hurt by lightning. Whose soul was physical and not spiritual.


    Who took in pain, and was made whole.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said, ¡°I think I''m ready.¡±


    He looked at Guo Liling now, noticing her with renewed eyes that burned blue.


    ¡°You should get home, Guo Liling,¡± he said, ¡°I think I can get Zi Shi Ying to take you. But if the project is in Golden Lion Mine, then Wang Ro will be there. It''s going to get violent.¡±


    ¡°I...¡± Guo Liling said, ¡°I''ll go with you.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± he said, ¡°It''ll be dangerous.¡±


    ¡°It will be,¡± Guo Liling said.


    Would it be worth it?


    Perhaps not. But she had to see this through.


    ¡°Alright,¡± Cobalt Joe said, ¡°Be careful. Stay away from the fighting. Let''s go.¡±

 133. The Darwinist Project

    Zi Shi Ying, most graciously, took them away again. Guo Liling climbed on the Fluorite Bird''s back, Zheng Jo''s soul latched onto the spirit''s claws, talons meeting and grasping together. The metahuman had a confident smile on his face as the bird took off once more, this time sticking to the mountains and the storm. He did not climb above them, as he had before. This meant that the rain lashed against Guo Liling''s back, stung her face, once more her body numbed over from the sheer cold, as though winter had come early to the Opal Hills.


    And she knew that Zheng Jo ¨C Cobalt Joe ¨C was unaffected. Exulted in the rain, even. Laughed in the storm. He had Zi Shi Ying land them in the same spot that he had fought Tai Haoran at, Green Serpent Pass, thankfully on the other side of the bridge, so he could continue his journey to Golden Lion Mine.


    ¡°Thanks, again,¡± he said to Zi Shi Ying, ¡°Seriously, I owe you.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Zi Shi Ying said, ¡°Standard guild fare, then?¡±


    Something twinkled in Zheng Jo''s eyes.


    ¡°Sure,¡± he said, ¡°I''ll, ah, run it by my guildmaster.¡±


    And the Fluorite Bird let out a cawing laugh.


    ¡°Ha!¡± he said, ¡°I did not expect that to work. I was stringing words together.¡±


    And he flew off. Zheng Jo shook his head good-naturedly, and Guo Liling watched his hand twitch.


    (For Joseph was resisting the urge to flip the bird, at the bird.)


    He turned back to look at Guo Liling.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said, ¡°I had him drop us off a ways, in case Wang Ro''s blockaded the mine. I''d rather not chance anything with Zi Shi Ying, you know?¡±


    ¡°What should we do, Zheng Jo?¡± Guo Liling asked.


    ¡°We''ll sneak,¡± the metahuman replied, ¡°Get a lay of the land. It''s rainy enough that it''s hard to make anything out if you get far enough away. I can use my soul''s eyes, they''re a lot better than my, ah, fleshy ones.¡±


    He started moving off. Stopped for a moment, turned.


    ¡°You can just call me Joe by the way,¡± he said, ¡°Or... Joseph, that works too.¡±


    ¡°Joseph...?¡±


    ¡°My real name,¡± he said, ¡°Most people call me ''Joe'' nowadays. Either works. I''m kind of sick of hearing ''Zheng'' all the time, though.¡±


    It was alien to Guo Liling. Her brow furrowed.


    ¡°Very well... Joseph.¡±


    It felt strange on the tongue. But he smiled at her, nonetheless, and they continued on.


    ***


    Indeed, the front of the Golden Lion Mine was occupied. Joseph and Guo Liling stopped by the adjoining hill, and Joseph''s soul peeled from his back, twisted upwards as though it were a bird holding a rope, and sharp eyes glared down at the mine''s entrance.


    ¡°Couple dozen people, in and around the area,¡± he said, ¡°Probably a few in the mine, as well. Armed with... knives, shovels... Jesus, whatever they can get their hands on.¡±


    He looked concerned. A finger scratched at a chin. Guo Liling''s heart began to drop.


    ¡°You aren''t going to...¡±


    ¡°Kill them?¡± he said, ¡°No, but it might get ugly. I might have to flex a bit.¡±


    His eyes widened, as he noted something new.


    ¡°Oh, there she is,¡± he said, ¡°There''s Xiao Rai. She''s at the front of the mine. She just walked out.¡±


    ¡°Xiao Rai,¡± Guo Liling repeated. In truth, she had never liked the second student of the White Flame Sect. Xiao Rai was one of the nobles, coming from the distant capital. She still carried herself as one, haughty and arrogant and acting as though the world should bow to her.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph said, ¡°That''s an opportunity.¡±


    ¡°You''ll fight her?


    ¡°That''s the thought,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I''ll face off against her, move the fight inside.¡±


    ¡°And what about the others?¡±


    Joseph was already bringing the soul back down, and it dissolved back into his body. He turned to look at her.


    ¡°I''ll scare ''em,¡± he said, ¡°A bit of shock and awe. Literally.¡±


    Lightning played along his fingertips. He started climbing over the hill, moving towards Golden Lion Mine. Guo Liling followed, a bit away from him now.


    ¡°Look,¡± he said, ¡°You stay back for this part. Let me do most of the work. Get inside when you can. It looks like most of the leadership''s in the mine itself.¡±


    ¡°Leadership...?¡±


    ¡°Wang Ro the Elder,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Maybe a few others. Convince them, if you can. Or get them out, while I find the project. If you don''t see anyone, get out.¡±


    He stopped, turned to her.


    ¡°We''ll separate here. Good luck.¡±


    ***


    The entrance to the Golden Lion Mine was situated on an outcropping of stone, near the base of the mountain. It was guarded by fifteen of the twenty-five villagers that Wang Ro the Elder had taken with him, armed with makeshift spears, a few with bows, the rest with shovels and pickaxes. All of them gripped their weapons tightly, nervously, and they exchanged anxious glances with each other as the rain lashed and the storm intensified. They were not built for this, were not trained to stand and guard a simple abandoned mine, and not a few of them wondered if this was even worth it. Was Zheng Jo even here? Surely, he would have come out by now. Xiao Rai would have flushed him out.


    But no, for the past several hours they had been here, as though an occupying force. The storm''s orchestra was their company, for they dared not say a word.


    Xiao Rai, the remaining student of the White Flame Sect, stood outside with them, watching the mountains. That was evidence enough to them that Zheng Jo was not within. Rather, he would be outside.


    And, with that thought, as though he were a spirit drawn to them by thought alone, Zheng Jo appeared. He walked, as though on an evening stroll, from out of the storm, appearing out of seeming thin air. His first attack was on Xiao Rai herself. The Anri user''s eyes widened, she breathed in, pulled in Anri-


    But she was too late. A raised hand. A leap into the air. Zheng Jo threw a lightning bolt at her, an explosive boom following a split-second later. The bolt struck Xiao Rai head on, throwing her back, caused the townsfolk to scatter.


    Xiao Rai leaped to her feet, white flame wrapping around her hands. Zheng Jo landed hard on the ground, rolling, lightning still coursing through his body.


    Build-up, release.


    He fired another bolt at her. But Xiao Rai, if anything, was faster than Tai Haoran. She at least had faster reaction time, for she could not take as much punishment as Tai Haoran had been able to. She dodged to the side, the bolt shattering against the mountain''s wall.


    ¡°Get him!¡± she snarled.


    Something in her voice caused the townsfolk to shake from their stupor. Zheng Jo grimaced as he looked at all of them. The townsfolk outside were grasping their weapons, ready to charge at him. Fear was etched into every line of their soaked faces.


    So Zheng Jo gave them something to fear.


    The soul realized, fully, sprouted from his back like a djinn. It let out a titanic screech, showed off its scarred and terrible form, its scythe-like claws, its hooked beak. It was enough to make the townsfolk pause.


    ¡°You don''t want this,¡± Zheng Jo said, ¡°Get out of here, before you get killed.¡±


    They hesitated.


    And Zheng Jo took the opportunity to charge, the eagle letting out another ragged scream as it surged, like a wave, towards Xiao Rai. Xiao Rai jumped, leaping over Zheng Jo''s eagle, and the White Flame rocketed from her palms as balls of fire. They burned into the eagle''s back, but Zheng Jo didn''t seem to notice as he continued running forward, into Golden Lion Mine.


    ***


    Golden Lion Mine had been made in the traditional way, as a series of long tunnels that burrowed deep into the earth. True to its name, it had been a gold mine, and it was rumored that during its heyday the rivers themselves were almost yellow with the mineral''s flakes. It had been one of the most profitable and popular mines in the region, and as such the main entrance led into a wide-open space, where workers could take breaks, where foremen would organize, where people would sleep, even, for the workers would occasionally be stranded during periods of heavy storms.


    And it was this wide-open space, this clearing, that Joseph ran into, full bore. He stopped in the center. The remainder of Wang Ro the Elder''s group was in here. Tan Fa drew out his sword, let out a roar, and charged at the metahuman. The rest of them followed after him, emboldened by the veteran''s courage.


    But it was not Tan Fa who met Joseph''s first assault. It was Guo Kenan, dagger in hand. The innkeeper was quick, rushing towards Zheng Jo, who spun and brought out a talon to block his strike. The dagger buried itself, to the hilt, into the back of the soul''s hand. Joseph winced, and the reverberation came back through his body like ice. He looked at Guo Kenan for a second. The innkeeper locked eyes with him.


    ¡°You too, huh?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Stand down, son,¡± Guo Kenan said, ¡°For all our sakes.¡±


    But the metahuman shook his head. The eagle''s hand flung outwards, carrying Guo Kenan for a moment, before the innkeeper realized he needed to let go of his old dagger. He did so, but he was nonetheless sent flying, hitting the ground with a wheeze.


    Tan Fa''s blade spun. He, at least, had some skill, realized that in order to face an Anri user one must be quick on their feet. He dodged past Joseph''s guard, past the eagle''s flailing claws, and he swung his blade at Joseph.


    Who ducked beneath the slash, the blade flying overhead. The soul collapsed back into his body as he punched Tan Fa directly in the stomach. The veteran doubled over, and Joseph took that moment to grab the back of Tan Fa''s head and slam it into the ground.


    More of the townsfolk were streaming in from outside. They were emboldened now, the initial fear of Joseph''s power disappearing as they rushed at him.


    At the head of the pack was Xiao Rai. She cartwheeled through the air, kicking at Joseph''s erupting soul, who blocked the strikes. Xiao Rai landed, the townsfolk moving around her, and she kept her distance as they began hacking at the eagle.


    Joseph grimaced. He couldn''t kill them. His soul''s arms swept the townsfolk aside, battered them, bruised them, almost gently pushed them away. He was retreating now, taking steps back towards one of the tunnels.


    ¡°He''s trying to make a chokepoint!¡± Tan Fa roared, though he sounded whining with his newly broken nose. Guo Kenan was helping him to his feet, ¡°Cut him off!¡±


    And they were moving, somewhat sloppily, as a single unit. They moved to cut Joseph off from the tunnel. Joseph, taking note, broke into a full run.


    There were two bowmen in the caves with them. Li Bai and Lo Qiu. Li Bai occasionally hunted, though he looked uneasy with the bow in hand. Lo Qiu handled his almost expertly. They took aim as they saw Joseph run off, let loose arrows that burrowed into the eagle''s back. Joseph winced, pushed townsfolk out of the way with his great claws. He got into the tunnel, spinning around to face the onslaught once more. The tunnel was small, sloped down, allowed only for one or two of the townsfolk to be able to go in at once.


    And, due to Joseph being downhill, if they were to go down, they''d have to face the eagle first. The soul moved from Joseph''s back to his chest, claws curled into fists, which it raised up in a boxer''s stance.


    He kept moving down, glancing back.


    ¡°What are you doing?!¡± Tan Fa roared at Xiao Rai, ¡°Get him!¡±


    The White Flame glared at the veteran. Tan Fa was being tended to by Guo Kenan, the innkeeper''s brow furrowed at the blooming purple welt on Tan Fa''s forehead. Zheng Jo was being gentle, but he was still leaving his mark.


    ¡°I''m waiting for my chance,¡± Xiao Rai said, ¡°It''s as simple as that.¡±


    ¡°He''s going to kill someone,¡± Guo Kenan warned.


    ¡°What, did you think we would all make it out of this unharmed?¡± Xiao Rai said, ¡°Be realistic, innkeeper. This is war.¡±


    ¡°War?¡± Guo Kenan said, ¡°Against a single man?¡±


    She was quiet at that. Chastised, by the frank anger in Guo Kenan''s voice. He was rising now, glowering down at Xiao Rai.


    ¡°You, of all of us, have the greatest chance of ending this,¡± he said, ¡°And yet you''re allowing the others to throw their lives away. If Zheng Jo kills someone, it will be because of your cowardice.¡±


    ¡°I am not a coward!¡± Xiao Rai snarled, and fire wreathed in her hands. She pointed a finger beneath Guo Kenan''s chin, a lit flame dancing on her fingertip, ¡°Say that again, Guo Kenan, and I will take off your head!¡±You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    Guo Kenan continued glaring at her. Tan Fa started inching away from that scene. All three of them heard a wretched scream, and a crack from the tunnel.


    ¡°...This is no time for arguing,¡± Tan Fa said.


    Xiao Rai gritted her teeth, gave a savage nod.


    ¡°Take Li Bai and Lo Qiu,¡± Tan Fa said, ¡°Go down another path. Intercept Zheng Jo. We''ll do what we can to delay him here. Rough him up a bit. Then, you go in for the kill.¡±


    ¡°Agreed,¡± Xiao Rai said, ¡°LI Bai! Lo Qiu!¡±


    The old friends took to attention, twin bows in hand. Lo Qiu at once followed after Xiao Rai. Lo Qiu hesitated for a moment, hearing the screams and the awkward war cries below. This was all so¡­


    Bestial.


    It was not the Opal Hills that he knew.


    After another split-second, he went after Xiao Rai and Lo Qiu, and the three of them ran down one of the side tunnels, one that would connect them to Zheng Jo.


    ***


    They were getting beaten back. Joseph''s soul punched at them, two at a time, bloodied their noses and made them think twice about getting close to him. Joseph was breathing heavily now, a dark grin on his face as the eagle battered the last of them away. He was almost halfway through the tunnel now. At the top, he could see Tan Fa and Guo Kenan glowering down at him. Between the three was a series of bodies, the broken forms of the townsfolk who had allowed their broken ribs, arms, and legs to overpower them. Joseph sincerely hoped that none of them were dead.


    He had been as gentle as he had been able to.


    Neither Tan Fa nor Guo Kenan gave any sign of pursuing him further. Joseph''s soul returned back to his body to recuperate for the next battle. He didn''t see Xiao Rai. Nor did he see the two bowmen who had fired off at him.


    Most concerningly, he did not see Wang Ro the Elder, either.


    Joseph spun on his heel, ran down the tunnel. He was done there. Hopefully Guo Kenan realized that, too, and stopped things before they went too far.


    ***


    ¡°Father.¡±


    The innkeeper spun. As did Tan Fa.


    And there, walking into the mine, looking around at the crumpled forms around her, at the injured folks down the tunnel, was Guo Liling.


    Guo Kenan''s brow furrowed. His voice was dark as he spoke.


    ¡°I told you to stay home,¡± he said.


    ¡°I know,¡± Guo Liling said, ¡°But I couldn''t.¡±


    ¡°How did you get here so quickly?¡± Guo Kenan said, ¡°Did you follow us, all the way here?¡±


    ¡°Are you in league with Zheng Jo?¡± Tan Fa said, ¡°Is he a trickster, along with being a murderer?¡±


    ¡°He didn''t murder anyone, Baba,¡± Guo Liling said.


    ¡°And what,¡± Tan Fa said, ¡°Did he tell you that himself? The guilty, saying he is not? Look around, girl, look at how he''s hurt our village, our...¡±


    The veteran felt a hand land on his shoulder. Guo Kenan moved in front of him.


    ¡°...How did you get here?¡± he said, ¡°The storms are strong enough that we''re cut off from the rest of the Opal Hills.¡±


    ¡°Zi Shi Ying carried me,¡± Guo Liling said, and her voice was as hard as her father''s, ¡°He carried Cobalt Joe, too.¡±


    ¡°Cobalt Joe...?¡±


    ¡°Please, father,¡± Guo Liling said, ¡°Joseph. Zheng Jo. He told me that he''s here for a project. One that Wang Ro the Elder was working on. One that was dangerous. He means to destroy it.¡±


    She stepped forward.


    ¡°After that, he''s going to leave. Please, Baba, you have to believe me.¡±


    ¡°He killed Tai Haoran,¡± Tan Fa said.


    ¡°He didn¡¯t!¡± Guo Liling said, ¡°Nor did he whip you all up into this¡­ this frenzy. Look around you, Baba. Look at what we¡¯ve turned into.¡±


    ¡°We have become protectors,¡± Tan Fa said.


    ¡°You¡­¡± Guo Liling glared at the old veteran, ¡°You call this ¡®protecting?¡¯¡±


    Guo Kenan gritted his teeth. He could hear the moans of the townsfolk behind him, down in the tunnel. One of them was getting up. Began to tend to his brother. The Feng twins. Well, that mark on Feng Cuifen¡¯s forehead would turn into a scar. Would differentiate him from his brother yet.


    Cobalt Joe had not hurt them as badly as he could have. Those talons had hardly carved through flesh. His swinging fists could have had more force applied to them.


    This could have been a massacre.


    ¡°Tan Fa,¡± Guo Kenan said, ¡°Attend to the people here. Make sure no one''s hurt badly.¡±


    The veteran looked at him.


    ¡°And where are you going, Guo Kenan?¡±


    ¡°I''m going to find Wang Ro,¡± the innkeeper said, ¡°I''m going to see why he was so concerned about keeping us in this place. Why he was so confident that Zheng Jo would come here.¡±


    He looked at his daughter. Who, he knew, he would never be able to control. Not anymore.


    He could lock her in the inn. Forbid her from everything on the elephant¡¯s back. And she would still find a way out.


    For the multiverse, whatever it was, writhed in her mind now. Made her stubborn and hungry for her own brand of freedom.


    ¡°Come on,¡± he said, ¡°If I can''t tell you to stay put, I might as well make sure you''re safe.¡±


    Guo Liling smiled.


    ¡°Thank you, father,¡± she said.


    ¡°Guo Kenan,¡± Tan Fa said, ¡°Take my sword.¡±


    The veteran handed the old blade to the innkeeper. It felt awkward in Guo Kenan''s hands. Unsteady.


    ¡°I don''t need it,¡± Tan Fa said, ¡°And I don''t believe your daughter. You will need it more than me, I think.¡±


    And he moved off. Guo Kenan and Guo Liling moved off, down the tunnel that Zheng Jo had taken, to find Wang Ro.


    To find their answers.


    ***


    The tunnel down led to further rooms. More clearings. Places where workers had carved away living spaces, or rest stops. Parts of the Golden Lion Mine were not artificial, and the unnatural tunnels gave way to natural ravines, runs in the rock, rivers that flowed deep in the earth and carved ecosystems of their own. The rivers held blind fish, preyed upon by leeches, or bone-white salamanders. Joseph stumbled by one of these rivers, moved across its shores, keeping an eye out for trouble. It was difficult to see. He found himself calling up his soul, realizing a claw to wrap around his hand to light the way. Cobalt glow shone across the glittering rock faces, which twinkled like stars as Joseph made his way through the mine. He could hear shouts from the townsfolk, the barked orders of his pursuers, echo off the rock. They were close.


    And, leaping from one of the ridges by the river was Xiao Rai. She jumped between two of the outcroppings above Joseph, punched twice, twin balls of fire rushing at the metahuman. Joseph dodged one, batted the other away with his cobalt fist, winced as sparks of the White Flame bit at his arm. Xiao Rai landed in the center of the river, which only went up to her ankles, and she took a stance. Joseph glared at her. The claw disappeared.


    A moment later, his soul fully manifested. The azure glow became a raging sun.


    The two stood, facing down the other.


    ¡°...I didn''t kill him,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°If it''s all the same to you,¡± Xiao Rai said, ¡°I don''t really care.¡±


    And she flashed a suspicious, knowing smile at him. As though they were in on some sort of secret. Then she punched both fists forward, and what were embers turned into a white rush of fire. Joseph brought the soul''s arms up in a block, and the fire parted before him like waves against a bulwark.


    Too late, and Xiao Rai charged forward with her assault, leaping in the air, her kick landing cleanly against Joseph''s electric wall. Anri surged through the sole of her foot, through her shoes, into the soul''s arm, which erupted into a biting flame that made Joseph gasp, stumble back.


    The White Flames were spreading. Joseph had to dissolve his soul, let it re-circuit into his body, to snuff them out. This made him vulnerable-


    As arrows plinked overhead. The two bowmen were standing on the ridge above. One arrow missed. The other buried itself in Joseph''s arm. He let out a cry. Charged up, aimed bluntly at them.


    The bolt sailed, shattered the ground they were standing on. He saw them skid down with cries of their own.


    And Xiao Rai was back on him now, letting loose a series of devastating kicks, strikes which Joseph barely blocked, bringing up his arms to absorb their blows. They were not wrapped in flame. They felt cold to the touch, for she had been doused in the cold river water.


    It was only because of that he was alive.


    The arrow stung. His left arm wasn''t moving right. But he still had a right hook. And he took the chance to counterpunch one of her strikes, letting her get past its guard, twisting so a hand-formed claw merely grazed his ribs as he delivered a hook to her jaw.


    She danced back. Teetered, more like, her eyes wide and stupefied.


    And Joseph smiled.


    Xiao Rai had a glass jaw.


    He rushed forward now, using his weakened left arm to take her erratic strikes. Without her perfect poise, her graceful ambush, she was losing her composure. Joseph delivered two more good hits, one to the head, one to the stomach, finishing her off with a haymaker that spent her spinning. She hit the ground hard, coughing and wheezing.


    But he was breathing heavily now. An electric claw curled around his finger, snarled around the arrow''s shaft. He let out a grunt that twisted into a scream as he broke the shaft off, leaving the arrowhead inside. It was far more painful than he had anticipated, and it left him slumped against the wall, agony running up and down his arm and filling his brain with panic.


    It took a few moments to master himself. He opened his eyes. Forced the pain down. Like anger. Swallowed, like a bitter pill.


    Xiao Rai was rising again.


    Joseph raised up his hand.


    And she danced away, leaping away from the river and back onto the ridge. She gave him one last, fearful look, before she dipped into one of the side tunnels.


    Joseph lowered his arm, glaring where she had been, before turning his attention back to the river.


    There was...


    Yes. There was something odd. He licked a finger, brought it out in front of him.


    Felt cool air breeze it dry.


    Yes. There was open sky, further down. He moved across the shore again, his footsteps unsteady, uneven, for the arrow and Xiao Rai''s strikes had done a number on him. A few of his cuts from his fight with Tai Haoran had re-opened as well. But he was used to pain. Used to bleeding as he walked.


    And so he pushed forward. Down the length of the river, to see what was on the other side.


    ***


    The river disappeared back underground, into the depths of the earth. But the path itself continued. Joseph continued on it, noting the ground went from gravel to dirt, stone to loam. His eyes narrowed, for he did not know how far into the earth he had delved.


    It turns out, he was still very near the surface. Enough that light could crack through, that fresh air could waft in. A crack was in the roof of the large, circular room that the path ended in. It opened, like a wound, to the outside world. On sunnier days, sunlight would be able to shine through. Because of the storm, however, water took its place, a small waterfall that splattered down into the soft dirt.


    It was a good spot to hide the Darwinist project. For the Darwinist project was alive. It was...


    It was a tree. A juniper, its leaves evergreen, thin and cone-like and bowed with berries. It stood, simply, in the center of the cavern, and seemed almost to hum as Joseph approached it. His brow furrowed at the sight of it.


    And he realized, far too late, how stupid he was. To not check his corners. Pain had blunted his senses.


    The gunshot rang out. He felt the bullet clip his right shoulder, and he stumbled back, soul arcing to life around him. He fell to the ground, letting out a groan, both of his arms hanging limp at his side. He could not even lift himself up. His soul glared.


    Wang Ro the Elder stood with a smoking revolver in hand. He pulled the hammer back.


    ¡°...So you were the Darwinist,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Indeed, Zheng Jo, if that is even your name,¡± Wang Ro''s voice was low. Somber. For despite everything, despite his allegiances, his hands were shaking as though the act of murder scared him.


    ¡°It was close enough,¡± Joseph muttered. He let out a ragged gasp as he pulled himself up against the wall, ¡°Joseph. Of the Amber Foundation.¡±


    And Wang Ro''s eyes dazzled. He licked his lips, spoke as though he were speaking to an old friend.


    (for, like Guo Liling, the multiverse writhed in his mind.)


    ¡°A guild I''ve heard of!¡± he said, ¡°I always felt like Three Sons was a poor choice for a name.¡±


    Joseph glared.


    ¡°How long have you been here?¡± he asked, ¡°Twenty-five years?¡±


    ¡°I''ve been on D¨¤ Xi¨¤ng since the war''s end,¡± Wang Ro said, ¡°Wandered it for a few years, before settling here. To make sure this plane was safe. A place where I could grow the tree in peace.¡±


    ¡°And you found it here.¡±


    ¡°I did.¡±


    ¡°Looks like you laid down more roots than you thought, huh?¡± Joseph said, and he shifted again. His soul moved down, placing itself between himself and Wang Ro. But physical bullets tended to snarl through the eagle''s hide. It made for poor cover.


    Through hawk-like eyes, Joseph saw Wang Ro''s mouth twitch.


    And he also saw someone approaching from the cave¡¯s mouth. Two someones.


    ¡°...Sometimes it''s an easy thing, falling in love,¡± Wang Ro said, ¡°I had my son''s mother. But I also had the tree. And, in the end, I chose my duty over my desire.¡±


    ¡°Poor choice,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± Wang Ro said, ¡°But I will see my quest through.¡±


    He was quiet, for a few moments, his eyes scanning the soul''s form. He swallowed.


    ¡°Do you...¡± he said, ¡°Do you know what the tree is?¡±


    ¡°It''s a big fucking juniper.¡±


    ¡°It is more than that,¡± Wang Ro said, ¡°It is a cutting of Methuselah.¡±


    Joseph''s eyes widened. Methuselah. The World of the Tree. A vast tree, of every kind, tied together to a single trunk and a single being. The home plane of Blue Sky Waiting, one of the greatest guilds in the multiverse.


    ¡°Did you know,¡± Wang Ro said, ¡°Who Okuta Stone-and-Sky is?¡±


    ¡°The Manticore,¡± Joseph said darkly.


    ¡°And a thousand names between,¡± Wang Ro said, ¡°Guildmaster of the Sons of Darwin. The Shapechanger Dragon. Ruler of Allworlds, by right of conquest.¡±


    Wang Ro drew beside the tree. Put his other hand, which still shook, against its trunk.


    ¡°He is captured. Imprisoned.¡±


    ¡°I know my history.¡±


    ¡°But you do not know how he is imprisoned, do you?¡± Wang Ro said, ¡°What sort of prison can hold the Manticore? What sort of prison can hold God?¡±


    Joseph''s brow furrowed.


    ¡°...The Manticore is encased in amber,¡± Wang Ro said, ¡°The Blood of Methuselah itself covers him. Holds him fast. Makes his mind slow, his body slower.¡±


    And the metahuman understood.


    ¡°It''s a juniper,¡± he said, ¡°You''re growing a piece of Methuselah here. To study it. To study the amber.¡±


    ¡°So that I may find a way to free him,¡± Wang Ro said, ¡°Yes.¡±


    Movement from the path. Both of them turned.


    Joseph''s heart fell. Guo Kenan stood, sword in hand, the large man standing in front of Guo Liling.


    ¡°...We heard it all,¡± the innkeeper said, ¡°Wang Ro, is it true?¡±


    ¡°Get out,¡± Joseph said, ¡°He''s got a gun, he''s got-¡±


    But they did not know what firearms were.


    And in answer to Guo Kenan''s question, Wang Ro raised the revolver.


    ¡°No!¡±


    Joseph got to his feet, charged forward. Claw curled over muzzle, which flashed, and the bullet tore through Joseph''s hand, went awry, only struck Guo Kenan in the leg, who doubled over and let out a gasp of pain.


    ¡°Baba!¡± Guo Liling said, ¡°Baba!¡±


    More shots rang out. Closer this time, tore through the eagle''s head, ripped across Joseph''s ribs. The metahuman felt blind, cold pain. The soul collapsed back into his body, and he stumbled back against the tree.


    Wang Ro spun on him. He was breathing heavily, his glasses askew.


    He pointed the revolver at Joseph.


    And the blade erupted through his chest.


    Wang Ro blinked. Looked down. A hand, shivering and scared, felt the blade''s tip.


    Then, he keeled over.


    Guo Liling stood over him, her eyes wide and watering. She looked at Joseph. Looked back at the body.


    The body she had created.


    Guo Liling stumbled away, and retched.


    Guo Kenan was rising to his feet, bleary eyed, breathing heavily and grasping his leg.


    And Joseph rose. Winced at his injuries. Limped over to the innkeeper''s daughter. Tried his damned hardest to put a hand on her shoulder as the retching turned to sobbing, as she twisted in on herself, rocking back and forth.


    Then, after a few moments, the metahuman turned. Looked at the juniper, that cutting of the world. He moved up towards it. Pressed a palm against its trunk. It was warm to the touch. Full of life. He wondered why Wang Ro had chosen to bring the tree here. Why he had stolen away into secrecy like this.


    Why he had dragged this little town into hell.


    Lightning traced across his fingertips. He sent it coursing through the juniper, and plasma splintered wood, sparked against the resin within the tree. Caught aflame. With a crack, part of the tree exploded, and Joseph hit the ground hard, his entire body wheeling in sudden pain, as the entire juniper burned. Flame devoured leaf and berry. A great bonfire. A great torch.


    It burned within the cavern.


    With a grunt, Joseph helped Guo Kenan to his feet. All but dragged the sobbing form of Guo Liling away. The three of them left the cavern. Moved off, so they would not be suffocated by the smoke.


    And the work of two and a half decades, the Darwinist project, died alone in the caves.

 134. Into the Multiverse

    The storm, at last, abated.


    Well, perhaps that is not the correct term. The storm did not die out. It merely moved on, continuing its migration across the length of the elephant''s back, curling across once-blue skies and towards the center of the lands of the Sun Dynasty. It was life-giving in some areas, providing water to crops and drinking into parched rivers and lakes. It delivered death elsewhere ¨C it intensified around the Twin Sisters Province, cascading into a series of floods that killed over two thousand people, destroyed roads, created new landmarks by rain and by wind alone.


    Some would say that it never truly went away. That it continued its journey off of D¨¤ Xi¨¤ng, leaving the plane entirely, to join its brethren as part of the greater multiversal Squall.


    (For ideas become storms, which become planes, which become land, which become people, a cycle that goes ''round and ''round.)


    What mattered for the people of the Opal Hills was that the storm left their little mountain home. There were, at last, clear skies, just on the morning after Wang Ro the Elder''s passing. The townsfolk in the Golden Lion Mine patched themselves up as best they could, retrieved the body of the physician. They also found the wounded Guo Kenan, being tended over by none other than Zheng Jo, the man who had killed Tai Haoran. They also found Guo Kenan''s daughter there, a sobbing wreck, presumably due to how injured her father had become.


    (Neither Joseph nor Guo Kenan told the townspeople the full truth.)


    Guo Kenan''s wound was a curiosity to the people of the Opal Hills, even Tan Fa. They allowed, reluctantly, for Zheng Jo to look after the innkeeper, for he had seen such injuries before. Despite the fact that Zheng Jo had killed Tai Haoran, it was as though a spell had broken over them. He could have killed them all, they realized. Yet he did not. He tended to the innkeeper¡¯s injury. He worked, with some effort, to dislodge a metal, pointed stone from Guo Kenan''s leg, wrapped up the injury in bandages, and carried him home with his Anri-infused form.


    And he did nothing else to them.


    But Guo Kenan would always walk, from that day on, with a limp.


    They buried the physician in their own way. A stone tomb, with a few clay pots with food inside for offerings that he could use for the world beyond.


    It would not have been the way that Wang Ro, the Darwinist, would have wanted to be buried. He wanted to be cremated, his ashes scattered to the winds of his homeland, a distant plane from here.


    (But we are not always mourned how we wish.)


    Wang Ro the Younger was silent during the ceremony. He made the proper bows, burned the incense, his face as wavering glass. He had never known about his father''s ways. Neither Guo Kenan nor Guo Liling told him. Neither did they tell the village who had killed him. No one asked.


    The events in that small cavern grove were best left untold.


    Without a parental figure, Wang Ro the Younger would have been cast adrift. But Pan Baihu took charge of this.


    ¡°Wang Ro the Elder was my friend,¡± the mayor said, and with the disappearance of Zheng Jo his usual bluster had returned, ¡°I would dishonor him by not doing anything for his boy.¡±


    And so it became that Wang Ro the Younger became Pan Ro. Pan Bao became his sister, and he joined the prestigious Pan family that had governed the Opal Hills for so long. It would take a long time for him to accept this. Longer, still, for him to stop using the name ''Wang'' in secret, in his thoughts.


    ***


    They buried Tai Haoran just behind the monastery, in the way of the White Flame Sect. His body was lit aflame by Grandmaster Zhou, in the moments just before dawn, before the sun had risen over the mountains. The back of the monastery was where the dead were to be kept, their ashes intermingling around the sapling of a white ginkgo tree. But Tai Haoran was the first to fall in the new temple of the White Flame Sect. His ashes were the first ashes to be joined with new life. Grandmaster Zhou and Xiao Rai bowed. Burned incense. They spoke no words, and when they were done, they went out into the front courtyard. Each of them kneeled, to meditate with the rising sun.


    It was supposed to be a day of silence. But that was broken by the stifled sobs of Grandmaster Zhou. Tears streamed down his face. He almost seemed to break down at many points throughout his meditation. But mourning was to be done in a quiet way, so that Tai Haoran''s spirit would not be distracted as he went to the world beyond. The old man hoped his student, his son, would not be able to hear him.


    Xiao Rai''s meditations were not on Tai Haoran. Rather, they were on the piece of resin, scorched and stone-like, hidden away in her room. She had picked it up when no one was looking, stolen it away, and now the last vestige of Wang Ro the Elder''s work, that slice of the World of the Tree, lay with her now.


    She thought on this, and on her new place in the White Flame hierarchy, with a concealed smile.


    ***


    Joseph was in no real shape to travel. Not for the next week, at least. He kept away from the town, preferring to squirrel away in a nearby cave. But he was not alone. Guo Liling would walk up the mountain path to his little makeshift abode, to give him supplies from the now-abandoned clinic. Salves and balms and bandages, which he applied to himself, his gunshot wounds and his cuts and burns. They spoke very little in his last week in the Opal Hills. She would leave him his medicine, as well as food, as though he were a spirit with its offerings.


    He returned to working on his translations. His journal. Well, Nai Nai''s journal, but more and more he had been calling it his own. Nai Nai, F¨¥ngb¨¤o, was gone now. Her legacy was in the journal, an inheritance to Joseph, in addition to the multiverse itself.


    His wounds healed. Enough that he could start walking again without trouble. He worked on his hair, too, using a knife and a borrowed mirror to shave it, as best as he could, on the sides, keeping it long on the top. A new style for him, though he found that he liked it well enough. It certainly wasn''t the style of the Sun Dynasty, but he would rather be a curiosity than a suspicion. Burn scars were easier to show than burnt hair, after all. That legacy of Tai Haoran, at least, was erased. The rest would heal, with time.


    But they would never fully fade.


    Joe noted, with a bit of bitterness, that he was becoming a being of scars.


    Guo Liling visited him, on the seventh day, to note that he had packed up his belongings. His journal and his notes were put back into a bag. He had his walking stick in hand, and was doing a few preparatory stretches. She laid the food down at the mouth of the cave.


    ¡°You''re leaving,¡± she said.


    ¡°Yep,¡± Joe replied, ¡°Figured I''m well enough to get down to Old Gate City on my own. Take a turtle, get myself home.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Guo Liling said.


    Joe nodded. Looked at her, as the innkeeper''s daughter was looking away from him, to the side and towards the mountains. He sighed.


    ¡°You alright?¡± he said.


    ¡°I''m...¡± Guo Liling shook her head, ¡°Everything feels tense. But tired, too. I don''t know. I''m... I have bad dreams at night.¡±


    ¡°About what happened.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Well, if it''s any sympathy, I have bad dreams, too,¡± Joe said, ¡°About... About what I''ve done.¡±


    He rolled his shoulder, winced a bit at a phantom injury.


    ¡°We talked about it before. But the multiverse is a dangerous place.¡±


    ¡°But worth it.¡±


    ¡°Oh, hell yes,¡± Joe said, and he gave her a grin, ¡°It''s worth it for the sights alone.¡±


    ¡°When you...¡± Guo Liling said, ¡°When you leave, where will you go?¡±


    ¡°Well, the plane right by D¨¤ Xi¨¤ng is called Skellmodren. It was discovered recently, a few years ago. Big cavernous place, though I was only there for a little while before I came here.¡±


    ¡°And why were you there, Joe?¡± Guo Liling said, and now there was something aside from pain glittering in her eyes.


    ¡°I was just passing through,¡± Joe said, ¡°Two of my guildmates, Rosemary and Mallory-¡±


    ¡°Such weird names,¡± Guo Liling said.


    ¡°Hey, don''t interrupt me,¡± Joe said, smirking, ¡°Rosemary and Mal, they''re there on a job protecting union workers who''ve gone on strike. Helping with the negotiation process with their job.¡±


    ¡°Who is Rosemary? And Mallory?¡±


    ¡°Oh, shit, getting into it,¡± Joe said, laughing, ¡°Well, Rosemary''s an elf. Carries a rose sceptre, she''s...¡±


    And for a moment the joy turned into something deeper.


    ¡°She''s¡­ important to me, you know?¡± he said, ¡°Anyways, Mallory''s a Steamer. Controls steam. There''s a special organ in her body that produces it, and she can manipulate it, and...¡±


    He went on talking to Guo Liling. About his guild, the Amber Foundation. The adventures he''d been on. His friends. His enemies. The worlds of freshwater seas and landscapes created by giant locusts and airships that trawled across the sky. Of men who could shatter into glass and mentors who could control heat.


    He looked at Guo Liling when he was done.


    ¡°...You could come with, you know,¡± he said.


    ¡°W-What?¡± Guo Liling said.


    ¡°The multiverse,¡± Joe said, ¡°It''s vast. It''s out there. And you can walk to it.¡±


    ¡°I...¡± Guo Liling thought on it. This was all so sudden, and the metahuman noted the sudden panic written on her face. He shrugged.


    ¡°You don''t have to,¡± he said, ¡°Not right now. But it''s out there, if you ever want to go. I''ll tell you where the Traveling Point is.¡±


    She turned. Waited with bated breath.


    ¡°Just to the south of Old Gate City, in the Lihao Province, is a river known as the Caihong River. You can reach it by turtle, if you''ve got the money. At the base of the river, just at the mountains, is a small glade. The Traveling Point''s there. It''s tricky to see, if you''re not sure what to look for. It looks like a ripple in the air. A desert mirage.¡±


    He stood up.


    ¡°I''ve used up enough daylight, I think,¡± he said, ¡°I should head out.¡±


    Guo Liling nodded, smiled at him. Joe returned it, though it was a bit sad.


    ¡°I''m... sorry,¡± he said, ¡°For fucking things up.¡±


    ¡°You were merely a traveler,¡± Guo Liling said, ¡°What the others did, they did for their own sake.¡±


    ¡°I''ll try to remember that,¡± Joe said.


    (Though, in truth, he would carry this guilt for a very long time.)


    He waved goodbye to Guo Liling. Started back down the snaking path out of the Opal Hills. Stayed at Old Gate City for the night, eating its warming food, listening to the strings of the guzheng one last time. He set out in the morning, walking, occasionally buying space on passing wagons. It took him a week to get to the Traveling Point. He stepped through, out of the glade and into a dark cave. Rosemary and Mallory were waiting for him. Mallory had a new fresh cut on her cheek. Rosemary had a purple eye.


    ¡°Hey,¡± Joe said, and she ran over to embrace him, ¡°Should I see the other guy?¡±


    ¡°Oh, hell no,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°I made sure he paid.¡±This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    ¡°Dreamer''s Lament''s picking us up on Tearstained, Joe,¡± Mallory said, ¡°We should head out.¡±


    The metahuman gave her a nod. She regarded him with a cool look on her face.


    ¡°Right,¡± he said, ¡°Let''s go home.¡±


    ***


    It was two weeks after Zheng Jo left the Opal Hills that the second visitor arrived.


    This one, however, did not disguise himself, as the metahuman had. No, Tirmo Telundela swaggered into the inn of the Opal Hills with a bright smile on his Elven face, his blond hair long and his pointed ears on full display. Twin blades curved on either side of his gray cloak. He wore an easy smile as he ordered a drink. The innkeeper, Guo Kenan, regarded him with a dark look.


    It was late at night. No one was in the inn tonight, not even the regulars. The scouring of the Opal Hills had led to the sort of exhaustion that made people want to stay home, even weeks later.


    ¡°You certainly are foreign,¡± Guo Kenan said.


    ¡°Of course I am,¡± Tirmo Telundela said, and he smiled, ¡°But foreigners gotta drink too, yes?¡±


    Guo Kenan grimaced, but gave a curt nod. He poured out rice wine into a cup, handed it to his visitor. Tirmo Telundela drained it.


    ¡°God, that hits right,¡± he said, wiping his mouth with an errant sleeve, ¡°Yes, that''s good.¡±


    ¡°I''m honored, that you enjoy my drink so,¡± Guo Kenan said, with a bow, ¡°It''s sourced from the very fields you saw on your way in.¡±


    ¡°That''s nice,¡± Tirmo Telundela said.


    ¡°I should warn you, master,¡± Guo Kenan warned, ¡°We''ve just had a bit of trouble with another traveler. Folks around here might be a bit suspicious of you.¡±


    ¡°That metahuman bastard, right?¡± Tirmo Telundela said, ¡°Joseph Zheng?¡±


    Ah, yes. So the innkeeper knew of the Amber Foundation. There was a way he breathed in, just a bit too quickly. He stood up straight.


    ¡°Why... yes,¡± Guo Kenan said.


    ¡°I''m looking for an old associate of mine,¡± Tirmo Telundela said, ¡°Name''s... Wang Ro.¡±


    ¡°I''m... truly sorry, master,¡± Guo Kenan said, ¡°Wang Ro passed on, just a few weeks ago.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, so that metahuman did kill him,¡± Tirmo Telundela drew out a knife, absently balancing it on a finger, ¡°Well, that''s too damn bad. Wang Ro wasn¡¯t half bad. Kid had potential.¡±


    Guo Kenan raised an eyebrow at this. For Wang Ro the Elder had been in his fifties, and this golden-haired traveler hardly looked thirty. Tirmo Telundela noted this, winked at him.


    ¡°Aging cream,¡± he said, ¡°Good genetics. Superior genetics, if I''m being honest with you.¡±


    ¡°Is there... anything else I can get you?¡± Guo Kenan asked.


    ¡°A room, for the night,¡± Tirmo Telundela said, ¡°Say, you look like the sort of guy who knows his stuff. Has his information, yes? Tell me, how did Wang Ro die? Where is the metahuman?¡±


    ¡°I have no idea how Wang Ro passed,¡± Guo Kenan said, ¡°It was-¡±


    The knife slammed into the table.


    Tirmo Telundela smiled.


    ¡°Please, sir,¡± the elf said, ¡°I''m on a bit of a busy schedule. Times are changing, and I must be quick if I''m to stay ahead of the curve.¡±


    Guo Kenan leaned in, his brow furrowing. He glared at Tirmo Telundela.


    ¡°I will have you know, master, that I''m not one to take such threats idly.¡±


    ¡°My good man,¡± Tirmo Telundela said, ¡°If you do not tell me what happened here, in this little runt of a town, I will show you why those out in the multiverse call me the Emerald Butcher.¡±


    And he smiled. Guo Kenan looked away. His blood was as ice.


    ¡°See reason, young man,¡± Tirmo Telundela said, ¡°I''m only here for information. I won''t harm anyone here, so long as you tell me the truth.¡±


    Guo Kenan sighed. Looked exhausted.


    And he spoke.


    ***


    It did not take Tirmo Telundela long to track down the White Flame Monastery. It was just out of the way, and he ascended the stone steps with a whistle on his lips.


    The plane was beautiful. A disc on the back of a world elephant. It was charming, in its rustic villages, its grand cities that tried to ape magnificence. But Tirmo Telundela had seen the great cities of the elves. He had been to Alu Alay, the ruins of the First Men. Even decrepit and floating in the void of a gas giant, it dwarfed the imperial dreams of these backwater peoples.


    He thought on this, musing to himself. It had been a busy few months. Old contacts had reached out to him, contacts from a time of his life that he thought he had left behind. Koban Drol, bless him, had somehow survived the scourings of the High Federation. He hadn''t bowed to them either, or infiltrated their ranks during their recruiting of old Darwinist members and elements. No, the old dwarf had disappeared off the face of the multiverse. He had come back. Offered Tirmo Telundela his old place. The elf had taken it.


    For, while the Verdant Reclamation was his employer, the Sons of Darwin were his guild.


    And so he climbed up the steps. Made his way into the courtyard. An old man was there, meditating in the center of the ancient stones. He opened up an eye, flicked a finger. A blazing white flame erupted from a fist, light, so he could better see Tirmo Telundela.


    Both eyes opened, slitted with suspicion.


    ¡°Another foreigner,¡± he said, ¡°Have you come to kill me?¡±


    ¡°That depends on how things go,¡± Tirmo Telundela said, and he looked around the courtyard, grateful for the light.


    ¡°You will find me no easy meal, young man,¡± the elder said.


    ¡°Same goes for me, young man,¡± Tirmo Telundela said, and he gave the man a smile.


    The native gauged Tirmo Telundela for a second. Saw the age in the elf''s eyes.


    He relaxed.


    ¡°What is your name, old one?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Tirmo Telundela. And yours?¡±


    ¡°I am Grandmaster Zhou Winyan, of the White Flame Sect,¡± the man said, and he recited it with some exhaustion. A title that had long ago worn out, that he wore like a faded military badge, ¡°What do you seek here?¡±


    ¡°Information,¡± Tirmo Telundela said, ¡°On the recent traveler.¡±


    ¡°Zheng Jo,¡± and there was a hint of fire in Zhou Winyan''s voice.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Tirmo Telundela said, ¡°I represent... an organization, shall we say, who are aligned against Zheng Jo''s.¡±


    ¡°A rival sect.¡±


    ¡°If that is how you wish to see it. Then yes.¡±


    Grandmaster Zhou rose, wincing a bit as he reached for his walking stick, and again Tirmo Telundela could not help but chuckle, inwardly, at the man. Only a hundred, maybe. And already he was at the end of his life.


    What a short time, humans lived. Like ants, all things told.


    ¡°Xiao Rai!¡± he called out.


    There was a moment of someone in one of the rooms scuffling out of bed. A young woman ran out into the courtyard. Stood to attention. Bowed.


    ¡°Sir!¡±


    Fresh scars on her. Tirmo Telundela smiled.


    ¡°A member of a rival sect to Zheng Jo''s is here,¡± Zhou Winyan said, ¡°He''s got a few questions. You will answer. I am going to bed.¡±


    He started limping off. Tirmo Telundela watched him go. The woman, Xiao Rai, looked him up and down. Her voice was a whisper.


    ¡°Are you... a friend of Wang Ro the Elder''s?¡±


    The elf looked at her. Still wore his smile, though it was a touch more genuine.


    ¡°Why, yes,¡± he said, ¡°A friend. Did he tell you much, of his dealings?¡±


    ¡°He only hinted at them,¡± Xiao Rai said, ¡°Only that he had more to him. But he was dead before he told me. Zheng Jo killed him.¡±


    ¡°Yes, the metahuman,¡± Tirmo Telundela said, shrugging, ¡°What happened?¡±


    The White Flame regarded him.


    And began to speak of the traveler. The Anri user, though he did not use Anri at all, but something far more pure, something that weaved through his blood and through his genes, that circuited through his body as though he were a storm cloud on a rainy day. She spoke of Wang Ro the Elder, and the things he had done. The secrets. His taking of Tai Haoran to accompany Zheng Jo.


    She told him of the tree, and at that Tirmo Telundela, who had been listening patiently, interrupted her.


    ¡°The tree?¡± he said, ¡°Did it survive?¡±


    ¡°Zheng Jo destroyed it,¡± Xiao Rai said, and she grimaced, ¡°It was the thing he had been searching for...¡±


    There was something on her face. A hidden thing. Tirmo Telundela leaned forward.


    ¡°You''re hiding something, aren''t you?¡±


    The White Flame met his gaze. She was one of those of a new generation, one who hungered for change in her world, who would do anything to get what she felt was hers. He could see it in the ferocity behind her eyes, just barely hidden behind a veneer of the student¡¯s civility.


    ¡°It''s alright, friend,¡± Tirmo Telundela said, ¡°Anything you can give me, anything at all, will be of great help in the hunt for... Zheng Jo.¡±


    ¡°I have a piece,¡± Xiao Rai said, ¡°A... a piece, of that tree. Some of the resin escaped the burning. It''s hardened now. Like amber.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Tirmo Telundela said, and he worked to hide the excitement in his voice, ¡°May I see it?¡±


    She bowed. Disappeared back into her room. Came out a moment later with something in her hands. She gave it to Tirmo Telundela. A piece of resin, hardened due to the unique aspects of Methuselah, whose blood imprisoned his guildmaster. Yes, he held it, and knew that not all of Wang Ro''s work had been lost.


    ¡°...You''re taking it,¡± Xiao Rai said.


    Ah. She was perceptive.


    ¡°I am.¡±


    ¡°To whoever you work for. The same people that Wang Ro the Elder worked for.¡±


    ¡°Why, yes,¡± Tirmo Telundela said, and that saccharine smile reappeared. Yes, this woman, this girl, she was starting to come to an understanding. She was already starting to see hints of the multiverse.


    And it writhed in her mind.


    ¡°Shall I tell you who they are?¡± Tirmo Telundela said, ¡°I''m sure they would love to meet you.¡±


    ***


    Two months.


    Two months of waiting. Of yearning. Of preparations. Of making sure Baba was well enough that he could look after the inn on his own. He walked with a limp, but for the most part Guo Kenan had recovered from his wounds, from his time in Golden Lion Mine. Most of the Opal Hills had. The rains, and the visitor who had accompanied them, seemed like a distant memory.


    ¡°I still don''t see why you''re doing this,¡± Guo Kenan said. He was, nonetheless, helping his daughter pack. His contribution concerned her safety. A knife. Food. Money, to pay bribes, or to buy her way to safety.


    ¡°I know, Baba,¡± Guo Liling said, ¡°But... it''s out there. And I have to see it.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Guo Kenan said, and he stroked his beard. Guo Liling noted a few strands of gray in it, and for a moment she felt guilty. It was not every day that a daughter left her father''s house. She didn''t even have a marriage to justify it.


    But she had to go. And she was grateful that her father supported her.


    Very little of the village did. They scoffed. Berated her. Spoke about her decision behind her back. That she was going after Zheng Jo. That he had seduced her, and she was going to be his concubine (though only a few said this last part.)


    The only one who seemed to understand her was Tan Fa. The veteran had even given her his sword. Given her a few lessons, over the last few weeks.


    ¡°It''s all rudimentary, of course,¡± he said, ¡°But some knowledge is better than none at all.¡±


    And she was grateful for that. For his support.


    He and Guo Kenan accompanied her as she left the Opal Hills. As they walked past the aging stones, the old buildings, the mansion where Pan Baihu, Pan Bao, and Pan Ro lived. They went out of the town and through the mountains, past old mines that had once disgorged precious metals. They saw Zi Shi Ying overhead, the Fluorite Bird letting out a screech as he saw them. The spirit''s own goodbye.


    And then, at the base of the Opal Hills, Guo Liling shouldered her pack. Turned to her father and Tan Fa.


    ¡°Well,¡± she said, ¡°This... This is it.¡±


    Guo Kenan was smiling. But she could see his lip quivering beneath his beard.


    ¡°Yes, Little Jasmine,¡± he said.


    ¡°Keep following the road,¡± Tan Fa said, ¡°You''ll get to Old Gate City yet. And from there, well, that path is yours.¡±


    He was smiling, and he drew back to allow father to talk to daughter, one last time.


    ¡°You''ll be safe?¡± Guo Kenan asked.


    ¡°Yes, I will be.¡±


    ¡°You''ll be happy?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Baba.¡±


    ¡°...You''ll remember me?¡±


    Guo Liling''s voice caught in her throat. Tears stung her eyes. She ran over and embraced her father.


    ¡°Of course, Baba,¡± she said, ¡°I will always remember you. I''ll visit, when I can.¡±


    ¡°Oh, my daughter,¡± Guo Kenan said, and his great form shook, ¡°It all seems so far away. Your old man will be gone by the time you get home.¡±


    ¡°No, he won''t¡± she said, ¡°I''ll visit. And I''ll tell you s-stories. Of what I see. Of what I''ve done.¡±


    She broke from him. Wanted to completely break down, and part of her, a small part, was telling her to go back home. To return to the Opal Hills, to that quiet inn, to marry like her mother had married. To settle down and live a quaint life, trapped in the mountains.


    But she could not have that.


    And Guo Kenan, her father knew it.


    He sighed. Wiped at his eyes.


    ¡°I''ll look forward to that, then,¡± he said, ¡°I''ll wait for you to come up the mountain path.¡±


    He breathed out. His eyes were red.


    ¡°I love you, Guo Liling,¡± he said, ¡°Now go out there. Conquer that multiverse of yours. Make it stop writhing so.¡±


    She smiled at him.


    And made her leave.


    ***


    She repeated Cobalt Joe''s path. Went to Old Gate City. Stayed there for a night, eating food she had never eaten and hearing music from instruments she had only read about. She laughed. She cried into a bowl of noodles, an understanding and kind teashop owner patting her on the back as homesickness overtook her, threatened to possess her completely and send her back to the Opal Hills. She, perhaps, had a bit too much to drink.


    But she recovered the next morning. Joined a band of musicians as they booked passage on one of the great turtles that plied the rivers for passage out of the city. To the south. To Lihao Province, and she traded mountains for plains and forests. She said goodbye to the small band of musicians and made her own down the Caihong River, traveling along its shore. She saw fishing communities. Visited a small temple with Anri users practicing in them, water and ice flowing across their arms as they sparred for her enjoyment, for they rarely received visitors.


    One of them guided her to the glade, just at the base of a mountain. It was a hidden place, a pond that shimmered and reflected all the colors of the rainbow. Flowers grew in a field, poppies and daisies and other plants that she did not know of.


    (For, they were not native here.)


    The Traveling Point, as Cobalt Joe had described it, was a subtle ripple in the air. A dislodging of space. She could barely make it out as she stepped into the water, which only went up to her knees, underwater grasses brushing her legs as she approached the center of the glade.


    She brought a hand. Poked the Traveling Point. Watched her finger disappear into thin air. The other side felt both warm and cold.


    She gulped. Looked back, for a second, at the world as she had known it. The small glade. Beyond that, the elephant''s back. The Opal Hills.


    Then, with voices as a chorus calling to her, beckoning her, singing in her mind, she stepped through. Out of That She Knew.


    Into the multiverse.

 135. Whispers

    His name was Glonthek gel Glonthek, guild liaison. He represented three mid-level guilds: the Amber Foundation, the Weaponeers, and the Farmer''s Alliance, working within the legal system of the High Federation and the Law of InterGuild when problems arose between his clients and the planes they involved themselves with. Whenever there was collateral damage, whenever one of them up and got killed, whenever they up and killed someone else, he was there to smooth over ruffled feathers. Negotiate reparations. Settle scores. Without a liaison, most new guilds tended to flounder and drown in a flood of lawsuits. You needed a lawyer, if you wanted to survive. InterGuild had long ago moved the business of working with the multiverse into the realm of law and order.


    And part of Glonthek''s duties as guild liaison was attending the speeches of the Prime Voice. Olendris Valm was a multifarious being. He was a general. He was guildmaster. He was chairman of the Reclamationist Party, which held the majority within parliament. He was also Prime Voice, elected leader of the entirety of the High Federation and its holdings both within the Silver Eye Galaxy and out in the multiverse. When he spoke, there was no choice but to listen.


    And Glonthek was running late to one of his speeches. He waited in the old transport ship that he had hired to bring him to Four Hands Clasped in Unity, the ship rumbling beneath his webbed feet, a single slender finger tapping his knee. Glonthek was a Theeridian, a species somewhere between an insect and an amphibian, and his scales were starting to slick as he secreted a sort of slime, a sign of his anxiety. Bug-like eyes kept darting to the window, towards the floating metropolis that was Four Hands Clasped in Unity, a series of high towers awash in the orange cloud seas of planet Everlasting Truth. The gas giant was the capital of the High Federation, and Four Hands Clasped in Unity was its palace. A city completely dedicated to the governance of the Federation, it was where parliament met, it was where the majority of the galaxy''s politicians lived with their families. For thousands of years, laws had been debated, in the great pyramid that dominated the city''s skyline.


    The transport ship landed near the pyramid. Glonthek paid his usual fare, before running out the door in a panic. A few papers slipped from his briefcase, and he fumbled after them, before picking up his pace once more.


    He made it, just in time. Through the front entrance of the pyramid, dodging past statues of the Alu''eer, the Founders of the Federation. Up a few staircases. Flashed his ID to the security guard at the front office. Made his way up a few more stairs. By now, he could hear applause through the walls of the pyramid, through the speakers that had been set up in the side rooms and offices. Olendris Valm''s voice, deep as the world and just as measured, began to come through. It got louder as Glonthek made it to the observation deck. He recognized a few others he worked with. Rastonbury, a lawyer from the Marlish Empire, gave him a nod as the Theeridian sat down next to him.


    ¡°I miss much?¡± Glonthek asked.


    ¡°Just the opening vows,¡± Rastonbury said, and he nodded. The observation deck was located near the top of the Tower of Discourse. A vast, cylindrical room, representatives from each region of the Silver Eye sat in their assigned places, consoles in front of them to vote, to amplify their voices, to request recognition. In the center of the room, on a pillar of pale, near see through khuzelinite, was Olendris Valm himself. He was tall, with a long neck and gray skin that stretched, almost strained, over a skull-like head. His eyes were large and globular, and the stars seemed to pool within them. He was wearing his customary white robes, manta-ray like wings folded over them, the symbol of the High Federation, four interlocking hands, adorning his stomach.


    He was raising his arms up, as though in supplication, as he spoke.


    ¡°My friends,¡± he said, ¡°My Federation. I come to you on this most auspicious day, this anniversary, of the founding of InterGuild.¡±


    Another round of applause. Polite. A bit strained, for the nobility, the politicians, of the Silver Eye did not cast a favorable gaze on the multiverse.


    ¡°It comes at an unprecedented time¡± Valm said, ¡°Under our hand, we have worked to maintain stability within our Silver Eye. We work, to make a world where our children do not wake up fearful of the future. Where they do not dream of our old enemies.¡±


    He smiled, and it was a false thing. Everyone in the cylinder knew it. Knew that Valm was a consummate politician, that everything about him was a facade. And yet he kept winning his elections.


    He knew whose palms needed to be greased.


    ¡°With this anniversary, I come to you as your Prime Voice, to remind you of our place here. Why we come to these tired halls, every month of every year. That we will not win this peace through thought alone. No. It has been action that has guided our steps, and it will be action that allows us to reclaim our past glories. We must be as our forefathers were, even if we must remove the corrupt and the profane.¡±


    The crowd stirred at that.


    Rastonbury gave a sideways glance to Glonthek, who grimaced. Valm''s speeches had taken on a new edge, as of late. A more hardline view of the multiverse.


    Then, perhaps that had always been there.


    ***


    ¡°Suniti, it''s time.¡±


    She awoke. Meloche stood over her bed, a mass of tree sap, both dried and running. It covered his form, though even in the darkness of night Suniti could see the barest outline of his true body within the mountains of syrup. Or, perhaps, she had just grown used to his presence, and could pick out his features even when there was not enough light to see him.


    ¡°They''re all waiting for you,¡± Meloche said, and his voice was a garbled whisper, ¡°Everyone. The Council. The Workers. The Warriors.¡±


    ¡°Give me a moment,¡± Suniti said. She rubbed her eyes, yawned, ¡°What... What time is it?¡±


    ¡°Three in the morning,¡± Meloche said, ¡°A blessed time, in many metahuman kingdoms. It is when children are born. It is when metahumans awaken.¡±


    Awaken. And all at once the anxiety, the excitement, that had been plaguing Suniti throughout the night came back to her. She took a breath. Found her lips and mouth suddenly dry.


    ¡°It''s time, then,¡± she said.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Meloche said, ¡°We should hurry.¡±


    ¡°Give me a moment.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Meloche said, ¡°Get dressed. I''ll be waiting outside.¡±


    The philosopher moved outside. Gave Suniti her space. She put on her sari. Her mother''s, truthfully, though neither of them had ever worn it before. Her mother had bought it after years of saving money, in preparation for her daughter''s wedding day. It was the mother''s duty to provide her daughter clothes for marriage, and she had spared no expense. It was a beautiful thing, blue like the sea, glittering with small pearls and embroidered in swirling, fractal designs.


    It was Suniti''s first time wearing it. She wished her mother would have been able to see her. But her mother was gone now.


    Killed by Federation soldiers.


    She hadn''t even realized she was metahuman until their scanners told her, a mark of the beast on her forehead, and she was beaten in the street. The crowd had done nothing.


    Suniti breathed in. Out. Meloche had told her of a metahuman''s grief. That her loss was everyone''s loss. That the heart at the end of one''s life should be full of holes and scars. That she would accept her mother''s death. In time.


    But she cried angry tears in her wedding sari, and the only one to behold her was the night.


    She composed herself. Made her prayer to God, bowing deep on the ground, her forehead touching the wooden floor. Meloche had told her to be careful with this, for not all in New Ludaya understood her devotion. Religion, to them, was the weapon the High Federation used to justify themselves. To justify their atrocities. They spoke of God''s judgment.


    They never spoke of His shame.


    She emerged from her small house into the night. Nodded to Meloche. The philosopher would have smiled, if he could have.


    ¡°Come,¡± he said, ¡°They are waiting.¡±


    ***


    ¡°On this most auspicious of days, we must remind ourselves: What is the Law of InterGuild?¡± Valm said, ¡°Why must we bind ourselves to these agreements, these pacts of... ''fair play?'' It is because the nature of nation, of peace and order, is compromise.¡±


    He lowered his hands now. Gripped the stand in front of him.


    ¡°The role of guilds is to maintain order in the multiverse. To give people a venue to air their grievances, in a way that protects the whole. We would not want the multiverse to be a place of barbarians. The savagery of the other realms must be held in check. That is what guilds are for. That is the Law of InterGuild. It establishes rules. It adds legal precedent. It makes the multiverse a peaceful place to live. One can even thrive out there, if they are willing, and able, to adhere to civil society.¡±


    ¡°Bastard,¡± Rastonbury said under his breath.


    A few others in the observation deck were nodding with him as well. Glonthek was something of a minority here with the other liaisons. Most of them came from the multiverse themselves. A few were businessmen, like Rastonbury, opportunists who saw a lucrative career negotiating with guildfolk, if they could stomach life on a gas giant. Others, he knew, were activists. People who navigated the system to better the lives of their families and communities back home. One of the liaisons, an orc by the name of Moresh, was rising from his seat.


    ¡°Don''t have time for this,¡± he growled, ¡°I''m not going to hear any more shit from that bastard''s mouth.¡±


    He left the observation deck. A few of his compatriots went with him.


    Glonthek''s mouth was a thin line.


    He wasn''t liking what Valm was saying, either.


    But still, he stayed.


    ***


    Joseph, Rosemary, and Mallory returned home by airship. It was a ship familiar to Rosemary, the Guttersnipe, part of Doge Rithmound''s fleet, a small caravel captained by a gnome by the name of Orvisan. They had arranged for transport outside of the guild, since the Amber Foundation''s two ships, the Dreamer''s Lament and the Titania Amber, were both being used on other jobs. Joseph stood out on the deck, looking over a railing at the city below. Scuttleway was the host city to the Amber Foundation. Located on Londoa, the Broken World, it sat on the inner portions of a shattered planet. The landscape curved upwards on the horizon, and the sky above had more than clouds. The other side of Londoa could be seen, with its cities and green lands and its sea of artificial light. Were it not for the Inner Sun, there would be very little light here, too.


    Scuttleway itself was below. A sandstone city surrounded by a vast plain on either side, a ravine that cut all the way to the other side of the world at its center, Scuttleway was a mercantile city-state, ruled by a Doge and a grouping of noble houses.


    The wind was cool as the ship landed at the docks. Spring was nearing its end, bringing an onset of summer. Gone were the winter winds of change, of debate, of attempted coups, and although people still swore they smelled blood on the streets, most of Scuttleway was moving on from the election that had rocked the city a few months prior.


    They wanted to return to their trade deals and their underground crab farms. Joseph didn''t blame them. He still ached from the scars he had earned during that final night.


    The Guttersnipe landed. They stepped out onto the pier, saying their goodbyes to Captain Orvisan. The three of them walked across the city, past the market stalls, the Friendbucks that had been set up on Prime, down through the slums and towards the guildhall. Castle Belenus stood on the edge of the city, apart from the rest of the Great Orange Crab. The castle itself was orange, darker in shade than the rest of the city, its stained glass windows hued apricot, as though one had tried to color the entire castle after its namesake guild. Seven spires dominated the castle''s frame, four at each point, two flanking the tallest at the center. They ended in coned roofs, and the tallest held a lightning rod that Joseph occasionally climbed up to on rainy days.


    ¡°Home, sweet home,¡± Joseph murmured to himself, almost half sarcastically. Mallory scoffed.


    Rosemary, as they approached the entrance, peeled off from them. She ran towards one of the towers and began to climb. She was, out of the entire guild, perhaps the most adept at this, and she squirreled her way up towards one of the tower windows like it was nothing, pushing it open and going inside.


    ¡°I''ll make the report to Wakeling,¡± Mallory said, ¡°Let her know we''re home.¡±


    She nodded at Joseph. Regarded him, cooly, for a moment, as though he were going to object in some way. But Joseph shrugged.


    The two of them, while not having bad blood, nonetheless did not always get along. Joseph''s fault, truly. He had hurt one of their guildmates before. And Mallory was not one who forgave easily.


    ¡°Right,¡± the metahuman said, ¡°See you.¡±


    ¡°Aye.¡±


    They walked inside, into the Great Hall, a wide-open space for the guild to meet up for jobs, or talk, or even spar (though Becenti insisted most groups who did this move outside into the garden.) The center of the hall was taken up by a circular, indoor garden, the middle of which was host to a massive glass sword that extended up several stories. Glass Slipper, the blade of Titania Amber, the guild''s founder. It shimmered and refracted the orange light that poured in through the window. A welcome sight, as Joseph walked in-


    Only for someone to place a bag over his head immediately.


    Joseph immediately began to thrash, cursing and spluttering. He felt someone place a hand on his shoulder. He threw them off, attempted to spin to punch at them, felt that person grab him around the waist and lift him into the air. He kicked at their stomach. Felt a sick satisfaction as he heard them gasp.


    ¡°What the hell, Joe!¡± he heard Broon''s voice. The half-orc still hadn''t let go of him, and it was a testament to his strength that he only needed his one sole arm to keep Joseph held fast, ¡°Stop!¡±


    The sound of his voice made Joseph stop kicking. But he continued to squirm.


    ¡°Broon, come on!¡± he said, ¡°What gives?¡±


    ¡°S-Surprise,¡± Broon said, ¡°Lazuli, help me with him.¡±


    He heard Lazuli, the android, move over to grab his legs.


    ¡°Laz,¡± Joseph said, his voice muffled through the bag, ¡°If you so much as touch me, you''re dead meat.¡±


    ¡°I''m not made of meat,¡± Lazuli pointed out.


    Joseph paused. The frank assertion made him stop struggling completely.


    ¡°Just... put me down, man,¡± he said.


    ¡°Very well,¡± Broon said. He let Joseph down. Put a hand on his shoulder again, ¡°Sorry to go through the whole roughhousing piece, but Rosemary insisted.¡±


    ¡°Rosemary?¡± Joseph said, ¡°The hell''s she doing?¡±


    ¡°Just walk,¡± Lazuli said, ¡°Come on.¡±


    He felt Broon gently push him forward. Joseph complied.


    ¡°And don''t even think of using your soul to look where we''re going,¡± Broon warned, ¡°Rosemary said that it was a surprise. You wouldn''t want to upset her, aye?¡±


    Joseph muttered something between a curse and a threat, but he nonetheless allowed himself  to be guided by Lazuli and Broon through the great hall. Up the stairs. Into one of the side rooms.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    ¡°Alright,¡± Broon said, ¡°I''m lifting off the bag.¡±


    There were other people in here. He could hear hushed whispers, the sounds of someone shushing the others.


    Broon removed the bag from Joseph''s head. The lights flickered on. And all at once the people in the room shouted out ¡°Surprise!¡± save for Elenry, who took notice of Joseph''s sloppily redone bandages and the bruises on his face, and her shout became something akin to a banshee''s howl. She moved from her place at the hastily set up table to rush to Joseph''s side, almost blocking his view of the room. His guildmates were there. Phineas and Rosemary, Archenround arm in arm with Mekke, Guerico was running along the lengths of the back wall, Vicenorn was standing in his new, updated frame, giving Joseph a shy wave. Even Heyma and G-Wiz were there, hanging out near the back. The Dullahan had probably dragged the Electron into the whole shebang.


    ¡°Joseph Zheng, what have you done to yourself?¡± Elenry snapped, ¡°Why, you must have broken all the bones in your body!¡±


    ¡°Only the important ones,¡± Joseph said, and he grimaced as she grabbed both sides of his head, twisting him this way and that to look over his bruises, ¡°It''s fine, El, really, it''s-¡±


    ¡°It is not fine!¡± Elenry said, ¡°Becenti told me it was a stealth job! You were keeping a low profile! You-¡±


    ¡°Ah, lay off him, El,¡± a voice said behind them. Both of them turned to see Nash Rhyde emerging from the corner, a sardonic smile on their face. Joseph''s face lit up.


    ¡°Nash!¡± he said, ¡°Didn''t know you were in town.¡±


    ¡°I was nearby. Rosemary called me up,¡± Nash laughed, ¡°El, let him go. You''re going to hurt him.¡±


    ¡°I...¡± Elenry blushed. She let go of the metahuman, ¡°Very well. Hello, my dear.¡±


    ¡°Hi, baby,¡± Nash said to the doctor, before they drew forward and clasped arms with Joseph, ¡°Good to see you''re still in most of one piece.¡±


    ¡°Same with you,¡± Joseph said, ¡°What the hell is this, Nash?¡±


    ¡°Rosemary''s idea,¡± Broon said, moving out of the way and into the room, ¡°She said it was your birthday, right? A few weeks ago?¡±


    ¡°That wasn''t-¡± Joseph reddened, and he looked over at Rosemary. She was red, too, but was beaming with a vicious pride, ¡°I mean-¡±


    ¡°Come on, Joe, you''re only twenty-two for a little while,¡± Nash laughed, ¡°Enjoy yourself.¡±


    ¡°Yeah...¡±


    Joseph looked at the room. They had set up a makeshift table, upon which was a blocky white cake bought from the bakery which had ''Happy Birtday Joe, then underneath that, Welcome Home'' written on its surface in blue frosting. They were laughing. They had come out for him like this.


    Despite it all, he found tears brimming in his eyes.


    ¡°There''s cake,¡± Broon said, ¡°Rosemary bought it from the local bakery.¡±


    ¡°That''ll be good.¡±


    ¡°I think G-Wiz got you a mixtape of some sort,¡± Broon said, ¡°You''d want to talk to her.¡±


    ¡°I will.¡±


    ¡°Everything alright, Joe?¡± Broon said.


    He looked down. The metahuman was wiping his face. He smiled, and it was devoid of its usual anger.


    ¡°Yeah, Broon,¡± he said, ¡°I''m good.¡±


    ***


    The way to the Site of Awakening was lit by metahumans. By glowing orbs of light. By living flames, metahumans who could set themselves ablaze, assisted or not, without feeling the heat of the fire. They danced and jumped through the trees, guiding Suniti and Meloche through the woods, lurid forms of heat mirages, dream-like in their movements, graceful as the swans back on her home plane. The moon was full tonight, and Suniti could hear the howls of a few metahumans who transformed with the moon, into wolves and lions and crocodiles, brays and barks and screeches in the distance that beckoned her forward.


    As they got closer, they saw, high above, metahumans who could fly. On angelic wings, on demonic ones, too. Using levitation. Or one who pulled the leaves around herself into a makeshift boat that floated through the air. Thunderhead had transformed into a helicopter, and his churning could be heard even from far below.


    Music, now. Drifting with the wind. Flutes. Shouts and hums. Very few metahumans of New Ludaya had been able to bring in instruments from their homes, as most of them were refugees in some shape or form. So it was a pulled-together orchestra, accompanied by those who could produce music using their own metahuman abilities.


    The path went from the dirt and roots of the forest to a graveled path. It had been made by Pauldros the Stonemaker, one of the Council. There he stood now, waiting for them, torch in hand. Dark-skinned, larger than even Meloche, flecks of granite embedded in his skin. His smile was warm, and it felt strange that a gaggle of children was not around him, strange that he did not have a book in hand, and was reading out his stories to them. No, Pauldros the Stonemaker stood alone tonight, the vanguard for every latent metahuman who would walk this path to the cavern and the Imagination held there.


    And he walked. Meloche and Suniti followed. Down the gravel path. Out of the forest, up one of the mountains that ranged across New Ludaya. Towards the Cave of Awakening. It was flanked by two Warriors. Rainbowfish and the Shadow of the Giant. Rainbowfish flashed his customary smile. The Shadow of the Giant, short and thin and far too pale, simply stared at her with eyes that seemed too large for his face.


    ¡°I must leave you here,¡± Meloche said, and Suniti turned to him, ¡°I''ll be in the gallery, watching.¡±


    She smiled at him.


    ¡°Thank you, Meloche,¡± she said, ¡°For everything.¡±


    ¡°You act like this is goodbye,¡± the philosopher said.


    ¡°Have you not said it yourself?¡± Suniti said, ¡°That to awaken is to cast off the old self. Part of me dies tonight, Meloche. Part of me is born. I will forever be a changed thing.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Meloche said, and he was lost in thought for a moment, before saying, ¡°Then I will see you when we dream again.¡±


    A quaint saying. He said it often. As his creed, as his promise. The reassertion of hope.


    Without another word, Suniti walked into the cavern. She walked alone.


    ***


    The crowd gave its applause. Olendris Valm let it wear itself out, let it die down before he slammed a thin-fingered fist onto the table.


    ¡°We will create an era of peace!¡± he roared, ¡°We will make the Silver Eye a safe place to be! As it once was, thousands of years ago, before corruption and terrorists and pirates turned this place into a hellhole! I promise you, on this anniversary of order, that we will make it safe to walk through our cities again, to fly in our skies, to look at our children at night and feel pride! Pride in the Silver Eye! Pride in the High Federation!¡±


    And the crowd started up again.


    ¡°That was a quick turn,¡± Rhunea commented.


    She, Kathen, and Old Scar were the only two organic members of Pagan Chorus who had chosen to attend Valm''s speech. The rest of the guild was on duty, though Kate knew that Truthspeaker, Valm''s personal AI, was listening in.


    As was Merry Curiosity, his own little digital assistant. She was scanning his surface thoughts now, and seemed bored out of her skull. She was never one for these sorts of speeches.


    The three of them sat in an observation lounge directly across from the guild liaisons. Far across the cylinder, they watched as the more fiery parts of Valm''s speech was driving a few of them off. A man in a pinstripe suit and fedora was getting up, shaking hands with a Theeridian before taking his leave. An air elemental followed after him, the wind whipping around the room as they left.


    ¡°Multiverse freaks,¡± Old Scar muttered, ¡°They don''t get it. They never will.¡±


    Kathen looked at his weapons instructor. Old Scar was sharpening one of his combat knives as he watched the speech. A shorter man, true to his name painted with scars both ceremonial and combat-made, he had never been kind to those who dissented with the High Federation. He wore his Pagan Chorus symbol with pride, a man of the multiverse who had become native to the Silver Eye.


    ¡°They''re just angry at Valm''s words, Old Scar,¡± Rhunea said. She was combing Kathen''s long, wild hair, and she cast her doe head to look at him, ¡°You know how he can get.¡±


    ¡°They don''t know how good they have it, you mean,¡± Old Scar said, ¡°Without InterGuild, you know what would happen. You get the Manticore. You get the war. I''d like to think that shook the outlanders up, made them realize how important we are to the multiverse.¡±


    He glowered. Kathen''s brow furrowed as the old veteran returned the knife to its place, and leaned back with folded arms.


    ¡°But they didn''t, did they?¡± he said, ¡°Right, Kate?¡±


    Kathen was quiet. Old Scar turned to look up at him from his seat.


    ¡°Come on, kid, what do you see in ''em?¡± he said, ¡°You remember what happened at InterGuild. That Mutt should have just given you the book in the first place.¡±


    ¡°His name,¡± Kathen said, ¡°Was Joseph Zheng.¡±


    He leered down at him, challenged his mentor''s glare. After a moment, Old Scar turned back in his seat, shaking his head.


    ¡°Should just glass ''em all,¡± he muttered, ¡°Save us all the trouble.¡±


    ***


    ¡°''Sup, Joe,¡± G-Wiz said.


    ¡°''Sup, G,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Hey, Heyma.¡±


    He had approached her as the party commenced, and as the rest of their guildmates were busy cutting into the cake, passing out slices and laughing at one another, at the way Broon got some frosting on his tusks that Ezel had to help him wipe off with a napkin. Someone threw Lazuli out of the room, to raucous applause. G-Wiz and Heyma still stuck to the corner. The Dullahan tapped G-Wiz on the shoulder.


    ¡°You promised, you''d give it to him,¡± she said.


    The Electron rolled her eyes.


    ¡°Do you want cake?¡± Joseph asked, ¡°There''s some there. I don''t know if you eat, Heyma?¡±


    ¡°I don''t,¡± Heyma said, ¡°But thanks for the offer, Joe.¡±


    ¡°For sure,¡± Joseph said.


    Rosemary was calling him. He was turning around.


    Heyma tapped G-Wiz again.


    ¡°Come on, G,¡± she said.


    ¡°Alright, fuck it. Fine,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°Joe. Wait.¡±


    Joseph stopped. G-Wiz shot out a hand, holding out a tape. She gave it to Joseph, who looked at it. The mixtape was blue in color, with ''Best of Nujabes'' written in G-Wiz''s smearing script. He smiled.


    ¡°Hell yeah,¡± he said.


    ¡°It''s from throughout his career,¡± G-Wiz said, ¡°I also put in some other shit that I think you''d like, too.¡±


    She scratched her arm.


    ¡°Happy birthday, Joe.¡±


    He smiled.


    ¡°Thanks, G-Wiz.¡±


    And she smirked at him.


    ¡°Hey, Joe!¡± Broon was calling, ¡°Got a sec?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, sure.¡±


    He waved to G-Wiz, who flipped him off. The metahuman walked over to Broon, who was waiting near the entrance. Waiting at the door was another one of their guildmates, Nasir. An older man with a graying beard and haunted eyes, he was leaning a bit nervously against the doorframe, trying to put on a relaxed air. Joseph didn''t really speak to him too often, but Rosemary had told him he came from a plane that had recently fallen to an undead apocalypse. So Joseph tried to keep an open mind with him.


    ¡°Joseph,¡± Nasir said.


    ¡°You can call me Joe,¡± the metahuman said.


    ¡°Right. Joe. Right,¡± Nasir scratched his beard, ¡°Heya, Broon.¡±


    ¡°What''s up, Nasir?¡± the half-orc said.


    ¡°Not much, just noticed a few of you were throwing a party, is all, and...¡±


    He rubbed his hands on his pants. Looked this way and that. Then he leveled a gaze at Joseph.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be honest. I¡¯m not here for myself. India, he saw there was a party. And he¡­ wanted cake. I¡¯m not much for it, myself, but you know how the kid gets, and¡­¡±


    He faltered. Joseph moved past him, looked out the door. Indeed, sitting by the wall was the hulking form of Iandi. A brute of a man, bald and always in power armor to support his experimented body. He looked over at Joseph, his face breaking into a wide smile.


    ¡°Joe!¡± he said.


    ¡°Hey, man,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°I don''t think he''ll fit in the room,¡± Nasir said, ¡°But I reckon, he¡¯ll be fine eating out here.¡±


    ¡°For sure,¡± Joseph said, and he turned to Broon, ¡°Get him a slice. Nasir too.¡±


    Iandi''s grin widened. Nasir scratched behind his head, looking away again.


    ¡°Ah, thanks, Joe,¡± he said, ¡°Means the world to him.¡±


    They cut the cake. Handed it to Iandi, who stuffed it in his mouth with a single, gargantuan hand. Nasir was at his side, patting his elbow.


    ¡°There we go, kid,¡± he said, ¡°Chew slow. Slower. Come on, don¡¯t go choking. Slow yourself¡­¡±


    Joseph smiled at the sight of Nasir and Iandi for a few moments, before noting something.


    ¡°Where''s Becenti?¡± he asked.


    ¡°On a job,¡± Nash said, drawing up beside him. They produced a newspaper, ¡°Made it on the news and everything.¡±


    Joseph took a look at it. It was a newspaper clipping from Great Rana, the Solar World. Becenti was on the front page, smiling his grim smile. Orion was beside him, his sword drawn, fire and water whipping around his blade. Vespa was on the other side, a swarm of giant hornets acting with a single mind. The headlines read ''GUILD AMBER FOUNDATION SAVES POLITICIAN''S DAUGHTER, FACES OFF AGAINST GUILD POWERHOUSES OF THE CELL.''


    ¡°Looks like he''s been busy,¡± Joseph said, looking up at Nash, ¡°He''ll be back soon?¡±


    ¡°I think he talked to Wakeling last night,¡± the Far Traveler said, ¡°He¡¯s on his way back.¡±


    They pounded Joseph on the back.


    ¡°Come on,¡± they said, ¡°Let''s get back to the party, eh?¡±


    ¡°Eh,¡± Joseph said, and he rejoined the festivities.


    ***


    The Cave of Awakening was a vast cavern that had been carved by Pauldros the Stonemaker. It was a circular, multi-leveled room, with rows upon rows of seats for the people of New Ludaya to sit down and watch Suniti as she walked inside. She recognized a few faces, but for the most part the audience tonight was a menagerie of the strange. Metahumans with feathers. Metahumans with scales. Others with long necks, some with fire in their eyes, others made out of water, one had the head of a whale, the other had the legs of an ant, and she positioned herself in such a way that her children, twins with the heads of a sun and moon, could watch between her spindled limbs.


    Above, sitting in a box so they could see Suniti directly, were the seats of the Council. Seven all told, and Pauldros the Stonemaker had already sat himself down at the rightmost seat, next to Lord Freak, the shark-toothed scientist who smiled a bit too hungrily for Suniti''s comfort. Beside him was Nomatrius Dorucanthos, one of New Ludaya''s primary investors. And next to him was¡­


    Luminary. The nation¡¯s Founder. She was wearing white tonight, with a crown of laurels formed from light adorning her head, her white hair cascading down either side of her weathered face. She was frowning as Suniti entered the cave.


    All of the light in the room came from her. Her and her power.


    The leftmost of the Council rose from her seat. Memoire, her skin a patchwork of swirling memories, letters and words and random hieroglyphics, the unspoken thought made physical. The room went silent.


    And she began to speak.


    ¡°We all walk this path,¡± she said, and her frail voice boomed, echoed through the Cave.


    ¡°This path, we must walk,¡± came the reply. It came from the crowd. From the lower floors, the Workers, those whose metahuman gifts were not combat focused, or those like Suniti who had yet to awaken the metagene. From the upper levels, the Warriors, those who would defend New Ludaya when the time came.


    ¡°This path, we must see,¡± Memoire said.


    ¡°This path, the path to the myriad,¡± the crowd replied.


    ¡°Here we have a Child of Imagination who has yet to awaken,¡± Memoire said, and her purple eyes slid down to look at Suniti, ¡°The tide turns. The multiverse sighs. Will you rouse from your sleep? Will you take your next step, and become that which you always were?¡±


    Suniti swallowed. She stepped into the middle of the cavern. All eyes looked at her.


    ¡°I will,¡± she said, and though her voice was a bare whisper the entire cave caught her answer. Meloche talked to a metahuman beside him. Pauldros the Stonemaker''s smile widened. Luminary looked...


    Unimpressed.


    Memoire nodded, and she gestured. Pauldros the Stonemaker rested a hand on the railing, and the earth rumbled as he used his metahuman power. The earth in front of Suniti pulled itself away, and something rose from the depths of stone. A circular gate. A ring, eight feet in diameter. Within was a swirling cascade of colors, the rainbow force that was Imagination.


    Memoire continued to speak as Suniti approached the gate. Stared hard into it, as she had been told before the ceremony.


    ¡°I name you,¡± Memoire said, ¡°As I named you in ancient times. I reveal you, as I revealed your ancestors. Arise, World-Maker, Explorer, Enemy of Stagnation.


    Arise, Metahuman.¡±


    And all at once the world was shaking. All at once the energy suffused Suniti, every cell in her body shook and broke. Something that sounded like an explosion echoed in Suniti''s mind and then disappeared.


    And she was rising. Her skin had taken on an orange color, swirling fractals that moved up and down the length of her body. The air was shimmering around her. People were pointing. Gasping as she floated upwards. As though gravity had lost all of its mastery upon her.


    She blacked out for a moment. Felt herself fall, gently, back down.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡°Oh, my.¡±


    The voice was old. Cracked, like a vase had been broken and then sealed back together. Suniti ¨C or, no, the fractal being she had become, though now the fractals were gone but she could still feel them under her skin, ready to break free, looked up to see the face of Luminary. The Founder of New Ludaya was kneeling next to her, brought out a pale hand and lifted up Suniti-who-was-not-Suniti''s chin.


    ¡°You are beautiful,¡± Luminary said, ¡°What magnificence. You will go far. Your power, it is a blessing. For all of us. May you pull down the Federation''s greatest ships, and win for us a homeland.¡±


    She helped Suniti-who-was-not-Suniti to her unsteady feet. Raised her arms into the air like a prophet.


    ¡°Our sister, she has awoken!¡± Luminary roared, and her voice broke, ¡°She is metahuman!¡±


    ¡°METAHUMAN!¡± the crowd repeated.


    They cheered. They screamed. They cried tears of joy. They came down at once, to lift Suniti-who-was-not-Suniti into the air. And she cried with them. Mourned with happiness. Born anew.


    ***


    The festivities would go on late into the night, but Luminary retired from them early. Went to her own rooms, located above the Cave of Awakening, carved by Pauldros the Stonemaker into a series of halls that ended with her bedroom, the end of a cave which had once opened out to the outside world, though now it was covered in glass. It overlooked the land that was New Ludaya. The forest beyond the mountains were lit up with lights, and even from here she could hear the sounds of laughter and music.


    She smiled. A year''s worth of effort. More metahumans coming in every week from the Traveling Point on the mountain. They would have their homeland yet.


    And from there?


    (The smile became grim and vicious.)


    She sat down at a seat by the wall-sized window. Manipulated the light in the room to bring her a cup of tea and a small stack of letters from her desk. The work of nation was never done, and she chose to sacrifice the rest of her night to taming paperwork that was starting to become overwhelming. She flipped through a few letters, mostly complaints from the Worker class, tossing them into a small pile that was destined to be burned by Eldipus, who gained strength the more paper they burned.


    She stopped at a large package, upon which was written in marker ''Look! An old friend.''


    A package from one of her contacts in the multiverse. She opened it up. Unfolded the newspaper. Read the headline, ''GUILD AMBER FOUNDATION SAVES POLITICIAN''S DAUGHTER, FACES OFF AGAINST GUILD POWERHOUSES OF THE CELL.''


    And she saw his face. Old, like hers. Weathered by time and by pain.


    But still his.


    ¡°Oh, Shimmer,¡± she said, and her voice caught, ¡°My precious Shimmer. My little brother.¡±


    Tears brimmed. She wiped them away.


    Meloche had told her a bit about him, when she had gotten time to speak with the philosopher. A few others had seen him at Death Valley, on Prime. But to hear about him and to see his face on a page were two different things.


    ¡°You have to see this place, Shimmer,¡± she said, ¡°It''s a nation. Like we promised we would make.¡±


    She looked out the window. Smiled.


    Yes. He would have joined a guild. He had often talked about them with a sort of pride. Siblings in arms, the guildfolk often were.


    Amber Foundation. The guild he had joined. She would need to track them down. Find out where their guildhall was.


    Invite her Shimmer to join them, and see what had been built.

 136. CEASE THE DIASPORA

    Let us speak of Kehaulani. Twenty-eight years old. Her metahuman power was the gift of night ¨C she knew the number of stars in the sky of every plane she visited. Numbers that changed depending on where she was in the multiverse, or how badly light pollution affected the area she was in. She tended to avoid large cities as a result.


    Such a metahuman power was not considered by the Council of New Ludaya to have military application, which made her of the Worker class, building homes for newcomers, repairing the roads that Pauldros the Stonemaker had hewn from the ground, tending to the fields upon fields of corn, wheat, and barley.


    She was born on the Wandering Archipelago to a family of nomads. She had dark hair, usually tied back but tonight it was free, as well as a scar on her right eye after a run-in with slavers on the Onaui Coast. She had gained weight since her arrival to New Ludaya. No, even before that. The demands of pregnancy had made her seek out far more food than she was used to.


    Oh, yes! She was having a child tonight. The father, another metahuman by the name of Three Eye, had died near the start of the pregnancy, murdered by Federation soldiers. The grief had almost been enough to terminate the baby, but Kehaulani had persevered. And now she was in a safe place, attended by three midwives in her home. They whispered to her, encouraged her, made prayers to their gods, for Kehaulani had never been one for religion.


    But it helped. Kehaulani had given birth but once, but that had been a stillborn. Her body had made her forget the pain. The intensity. She was sweating now, letting out measured gasps.


    ¡°Almost ready to push now, Kehaulani,¡± one of the midwives, Paper Puzzle, said, her papyrus brow furrowed, ¡°You''re doing great. Keep breathing. That''s the spirit, thatta girl, thatta girl.¡±


    She could hear Eksonis outside. Her husband. Not the father, no, but her lover still. One she loved differently than she had Three Eye, but adored all the same. He was not allowed in their home ¨C the midwives had all but pushed him out. So now he paced below.


    ¡°There, now!¡± Paper Puzzle said, ¡°Push, Kehaulani! Push!¡±


    She grunted. Started to push. Felt the world go dim as pain and concentration took over. Her screams mixed in with the baby''s, the glass-piercing cry of birth. Paper Puzzle eased the baby into the world, held him to another midwife, whose hands turned into clamps, putting pressure on the umbilical cord. Paper Puzzle''s own hand suddenly went sharp as she cut the cord, freeing mother and child for the first time.


    The baby was still crying. Good.


    Kehaulani collapsed back into bed, exhausted, her forehead slaked with sweat.


    ¡°A son!¡± Paper Puzzle said, ¡°A son. For now. You never know what the future brings.¡±


    The Counter of Stars felt them lay her child against her bosom, and she brought him to her breast to start eating. Paper Puzzle was checking her over, making sure she was breathing, making sure she was not bleeding out too heavily.


    Downstairs, she heard the door open. Close.


    Eksonis was still outside. Some distant part of Kehaulani wondered about that.


    Then, gasps from the midwives.


    ¡°Luminary!¡±


    ¡°Luminary.¡±


    ¡°Luminary,¡± Paper Puzzle said.


    They said this in turn. Kehaulani opened her eyes.


    There. At the foot of the bed. The Founder of New Ludaya. Older in a way that many were not. Sixty years old, a venerable age, a symbol of a survivor, though her childhood was on Prime and as such was not quite as harsh as other metahumans in the multiverse. Long hair fell on either side of a calm, spider-web wrinkled face. It had once been blond, but time and war and sorrow and anger had claimed its luster long ago, bled it white and almost stringy. She wore a simple shawl, threaded herself, and a necklace looped down to her chest, an amulet with the New Ludayan symbol ¨C twin strands of DNA with a sword crossed through ¨C imprinted on its metal surface.


    The midwives were quiet, bowed their heads in deference as Luminary looked down at Kehaulani. Calculated old eyes looked up and down the Star Counter. This member of the Worker class.


    ¡°A child,¡± she said, ¡°A new life, born on New Ludayan soil. Tell me, a boy or a girl?¡±


    ¡°A boy,¡± Kehaulani said.


    ¡°Ah, I see,¡± Luminary said, and she moved over to her side. Kehaulani, despite everything, resisted the urge to pull her son away from the Founder''s piercing gaze, ¡°He looks strong. Like his father was.¡±


    Kehaulani nodded.


    ¡°Tell me, have you thought of a name?¡± Luminary asked.


    ¡°...Three Eye ¨C his father ¨C he and I spoke of it when we first found out I was pregnant,¡± Kehaulani said, ¡°We wanted to name him Makaio.¡±


    ¡°After the island of your birth¡± Luminary said, ¡°From the Archipelago?¡±


    ¡°Until... until he is fit to choose his own name, yes,¡± Kehaulani said, ¡°As I did.¡±


    ¡°It is a beautiful name. Just because it is temporary, does not mean it is not important.¡±


    She laid a hand on Kehaulani''s shoulder.


    ¡°Congratulations, my child. May your son grow strong. May he be gifted with a power that makes worlds shudder.¡±


    She smiled her pristine smile. Like a grandmother''s.


    (And it made Kehaulani shiver.)


    ¡°Ms... Ms. Luminary,¡± Paper Puzzle said, her voice mouse-like, ¡°Ah, the mother. She needs rest now.¡±


    ¡°Ah, yes,¡± Kehaulani said, ¡°And that man outside ¨C is that Three Eye?¡±


    ¡°Eksonis,¡± Paper Puzzle said, ¡°Kehaulani''s husband.¡±


    ¡°Hmm. A family built by bond, not blood,¡± Luminary said, ¡°A fine thing. A survivor''s clan. I leave you, Kehaulani. Rest well.¡±


    And Luminary left the room. A few moments later, Eksonis moved inside. His reptilian eyes, nervous and twitching, flickering around the room, landed at Kehaulani.


    ¡°Be quiet,¡± Paper Puzzle admonished, ¡°She needs rest.¡±


    ¡°Of course, of course,¡± Eksonis said, ¡°May I approach?¡±


    ¡°If you''re gentle,¡± Paper Puzzle said.


    And Eksonin did, walking over to his wife''s bed as though the floor were mined. He broke into a lizard''s smile as he looked at her, at her son.


    His son, too, not by blood but by bond.


    ¡°He''s beautiful,¡± his voice was a whisper.


    Kehaulani was content. Her eyes fluttered as she looked at her husband. Then, she yawned.


    ¡°She''ll need sleep,¡± Paper Puzzle said, ¡°It has been a long night.¡±


    ¡°May I stay?¡± Eksonis said, turning to the midwife, ¡°I''ll stay out of the way. Just let me be in the same room.¡±


    Paper Puzzle nodded.


    ¡°That can be arranged,¡± she said.


    And thus did Eksonis do so. He stayed by his wife''s side throughout the day. She spent much of it sleeping, little Makaio at her breast. Paper Puzzle and the other midwives made sure the mother was comfortable, put the cutting of the umbilical cord into a pickling jar, for certain metahumans kept them to be buried with them at death.


    The sun glistened high above. The mountains sang. The trees breezed.


    All was well.


    ***


    The Horrid Welt was a seedy old bar in the slums district of Scuttleway. The owner, Halt Kohranthi, was a kitsune, and he had bought the bar upon his arrival to the city. Once upon a day, it was said, Halt Kohranthi was the prince of a far-off kingdom on distant Terna Minor Landmass. One of the richest men on Londoa, who had spent his vast fortune traveling across the Shattered World, both the inside and the out, and had bought the bar as a last act of capital, a humbling of the super rich.


    Or, perhaps, he had just wanted to buy a bar. Foreigners to Scuttleway drew suspicion or awe, oftentimes both.


    Whatever the case, he ran himself ragged keeping the place open. Deep rings purpled under his eyes, for he had spent the entire night tending to the bar. Only a few patrons were still here, now that morning had come and most folks had cleared out. A few merchants from out of town, who had ended their binge drinking here at the Welt. A member of one of the trade unions who came down here to talk to the poorer parts of town, in hopes of eventually working them up for a strike.


    And a member of the Amber Foundation. Aldreia Dawnbringer slept at the counter, in a puddle of spilled beer and her own dried saliva, her platinum blond hair askew around her in the muck like a dead octopus. The cleric was snoring, still nursing a half-empty cup.


    The front door opened. Dama Runebreaker walked in. She was a dwarf, tall for her race at five feet, with her hair tied back in a series of auburn braids, clearing a heart-shaped face. She was already in armor, with knives belted across her chest, at her sides, a thin blade tucked into her hair as a pin amongst her bunches of braids.


    She looked over at Halt. The kitsune shrugged.


    ¡°Morning, Dama Runebreaker,¡± he said.


    ¡°She been here all night?¡± the dwarf asked.


    ¡°Drank me out of hearth and home,¡± Halt said, and his sly eyes narrowed, ¡°She''s worked up quite a tab. And I need her to pay up soon.¡±


    ¡°I''ll get her to pay you,¡± Dama Runebreaker said. She sighed, walking over to Aldreia''s side. She rested a hand on the cleric''s shoulder, gave her a gentle shake.


    Aldreia stirred.


    ¡°Mmm?¡± she said, and she yawned, turned to look over at Dama Runebreaker.


    At the sight of her guildmate, she started tearing up. Broke down into a fit of sobs.


    ¡°Who was it this time?¡± Dama Runebreaker asked.


    She gestured to Halt, who walked into the back, coming out a moment later with a glass of water. With a sleight of hand, he switched Aldreia''s drink. Blubbering, she took a sip. Her face scrunched up as though she had eaten a lemon.


    ¡°Gods!¡± she said, ¡°Halt, get me a drink!¡±


    ¡°You''ve got a drink,¡± Halt said.


    ¡°Something strong!¡±


    ¡°You''ve had enough of that,¡± Halt said, and he shook his head, ¡°Dama Runebreaker, you''d better get her home.¡±


    ¡°Aye,¡± Dama Runebreaker said, ¡°Come on, Al. Let''s go.¡±


    ¡°I''m not done mourning,¡± Aldreia said.


    ¡°You can mourn at home. Talk to Elenry. I hear she''s good with relationships.¡±


    Aldreia pouted. Then, she wiped her tears.


    ¡°F-Fine,¡± she said, ¡°Let''s go-¡±


    She got up. Stumbled, and Dama Runebreaker caught her. Aldreia''s legs shook as she walked, and the dwarf had to hold her up as the two of them made their way towards the door.


    ¡°Aldreia,¡± Halt said, ¡°Don''t come back for a few weeks, okay?¡±


    ¡°But-!¡±


    ¡°You drank too much this time,¡± Halt said, ¡°The kind of drinking that''s not healthy.¡±


    ¡°I''ll-¡±


    ¡°That''s enough, Al,¡± Dama Runebreaker said, ¡°Let''s go.¡±


    ¡°...Alright.¡±


    And they moved off. Out of the Welt and into Scuttleway. It was just after breakfast, and the day promised to be a peaceful one. Spring was in the air, and the clouds high above were light and whisperish. The other side of Londoa could be seen through the clouds, cities and farms and, if one looked closely, the gray roads that connected nations. The people of Scuttleway gave Dama Runebreaker and Aldreia a wide berth as they walked. The cleric clutched her head miserably.


    ¡°Banned from the bar,¡± she muttered, ¡°Again.¡±


    ¡°Third time this year,¡± Dama Runebreaker said, ¡°Aldreia, it''s getting to be a problem.¡±


    ¡°Can''t help it, helps me not think about her,¡± Aldreia said.


    ¡°You dated her for a week.¡±


    ¡°You don''t understand,¡± Aldreia said, ¡°She was my soul! My light!¡±


    ¡°You said that about the last four girlfriends.¡±


    ¡°Well, excuse me for having a big heart full of love!¡±


    Dama Runebreaker rolled her eyes.


    ***


    Castle Belenus stood tall, and was oddly empty for this time of year. Most of the hundred-odd members of the guild were out on jobs, traveling across the multiverse on behalf of clients. A few of them were working on expeditions. Others were sent out as bodyguards. Some were even taking on mercenary work, fighting in one of the endless wars that raged across an endless reality.


    Myron Becenti, second-in-command, was waiting in the Great Hall, just below the Glass Slipper. The metahuman was wearing his usual suit-and-tie affair, his graying hair tied back into a ponytail, the hints of tattoos beneath his sleeves. His was a stony face, his brow knit in concern as he saw Dama Runebreaker all but drag Aldreia into the guildhall.


    He strode over.


    ¡°What happened?¡± he said.


    ¡°Just a bender,¡± Dama Runebreaker said, a bit too hastily.


    Becenti shook his head.


    ¡°Did that Jenny girl dump you?¡± he asked Aldreia.


    The cleric winced. Cast her gaze away from Becenti. She knew that he never liked her drinking binges, especially after a rough break-up. He had never been a fond friend of alcohol.


    Becenti sighed.


    ¡°Come on, I''ll take her from here,¡± he said, and he brought out a hand.


    ¡°''M fine,¡± Aldreia said.


    ¡°You most certainly are not,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Come on. Into my office. We need to have a talk.¡±


    There was an edge in his voice. A warning. Dama Runebreaker moved away from the two of them as Becenti helped Aldreia stand. Then, without a word, he started going upstairs. The cleric, after a moment, started to follow.


    The staircases of Castle Belenus were winding and twisting, made worse by Aldreia''s hung-over state. Becenti, unlike Dama Runebreaker, did not help her walk. Did not help her climb. Instead, he simply walked a few steps, always a few steps, ahead of her. He was unyielding. And all she could do was curse and splutter her way behind him.


    At last, they arrived at his office. Becenti opened the door for her, letting her walk in. Becenti''s decoration style was sparse and bare-bones. A couple shelves full of books. A Din¨¦ blanket, diamond-patterned, hung up on display. A desk with a mountain of paperwork to one side. Becenti sat down. He gestured for Aldreia to join him.


    As the cleric sat down, Becenti waved at the air. A flash of silver light overtook the room, and a raw egg, a bit of a neon green powder, and a glass of tomato juice appeared out of thin air. Becenti took it. Cracked the egg into the glass. Dashed a bit of powder. Handed it to Aldreia.


    ¡°Drink.¡±


    The cleric''s nose turned at the sight of it.


    ¡°...My vows prevent me from eating the unborn,¡± she lied.


    ¡°The egg''s not fertilized,¡± Becenti said, rolling his eyes, ¡°Drink.¡±


    Scowling, Aldreia took the drink. Downed it, almost coughed it back up, yolk and all. But her headache began to lessen. The urge to vomit ceased. She leaned back in her chair, looked at Becenti through bloodshot eyes.


    ¡°Sir,¡± she said.


    ¡°No need for that,¡± Becenti said, ¡°An old hangover trick. That''s all.¡±


    He sighed. Clasped his hands on the table.  Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°So,¡± he said, ¡°It didn''t work out?¡±


    Aldreia scoffed. Pouted.


    ¡°It didn''t,¡± she said, ¡°She needs time to think about herself. She wants to take a break. It''s her, not me. She wants kids, and I don''t. Or I want kids, and she doesn''t, or whatever other horrid reason you can come up with.¡±


    She sighed again, rubbed her forehead with three thin fingers.


    ¡°Always the same excuses,¡± she said, ¡°For Jenny. For Dualia. Maegred. Always something that''s... something we don''t agree with. Or it''s just the roll of the dice. But always I feel like I''m doing something wrong.¡±


    Her lower lip was quivering. But Aldreia had wept almost all night, and she doubted her body could even spare the moisture. The headache of the hangover was gone, replaced by a ravenous thirst.


    ¡°Do you have any water?¡± she asked.


    Another flash of light. A pitcher of water. Aldreia took it, ignoring its attendant cup, and drank greedily. Becenti waited for her to finish. To wipe her mouth on a beer-stained sleeve.


    ¡°Aldreia,¡± he said, his voice even, ¡°Do you remember you were supposed to leave for a job last night?¡±


    She froze. Her eyes widened.


    ¡°No,¡± she said, ¡°Oh, by Pelliad, the Rinos job-¡±


    She made to rise. Becenti brought up a hand.


    ¡°They''re long gone,¡± he said, ¡°Meleko and the others. They took the Dreamer''s Lament last night. They actually found you at the Welt. But I told them to leave you.¡±


    ¡°L-Leave me?¡± Aldreia said, ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Because you were drunk,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Because you looked miserable.¡±


    He leaned in, and his voice became hard.


    ¡°Because this is the third time we''ve had to leave you behind because of your blackouts.¡±


    Algeria¡¯s brow furrowed in anger, then slowly started to dissolve as she pushed her rage down. This was Becenti she was talking to, not some random catcaller on the other side of the street.


    ¡°Aldreia,¡± Becenti said, ¡°You know that we have rules here. You have to go on jobs, if you''re to remain in the guild. Everyone has to do their share. Even Mo.¡±


    ¡°I''ve never seen the mimic leave the storage room,¡± Aldreia grumbled.


    ¡°If you''re not able to go out on guild contracts, then you know we don''t have a choice but to eject you.¡±


    Aldreia was quiet. Stared at the wall. Becenti stood up, letting her digest his words, and he walked over to inspect his bookshelf, fingers dancing over book spines. In truth, his stomach was twisting itself into knots. He never enjoyed these conversations, especially when it came to sobriety. A former alcholic''s guilt.


    He turned back to look at her.


    ¡°Now,¡± he said, ¡°That doesn''t mean we''re kicking you out tomorrow. I''m going to give you another chance. The next time I go out, you''re coming with me.¡±


    ¡°But what if-¡±


    ¡°That''s not a request.¡±


    He stood stock tall.


    ¡°I''m not about to let you waste your life on some drinks, or some girl. The best way to heal a broken heart is to do new things, go to new places. It won''t be long.¡±


    Aldreia looked about to either scream or cry. But she nodded.


    ¡°Very well,¡± she said, her voice controlled.


    She rose from her seat. Walked out. Becenti let her go.


    He turned back to the books, found one he had been curious about rereading, and went back to his desk.


    ***


    For a metahuman, traveling the multiverse presented a heightened chance of danger. The High Federation despised the myriad folk, and their bases were erected on many planes, their soldiers always scanning for the metagene in the multiverse''s population, and their politicians passed laws that, year by year, were choking the rights of the multiverse everywhere, all in an attempt to politely destroy them.


    As such, many metahumans stuck to the outer Squalls of the multiverse. Those planes that had no Traveling Points to the Silver Eye Galaxy. Planes that would require several jumps across reality to arrive to, where establishing a military presence was difficult. There, at least, they were free from the worst of the Federation''s policies. Paths across such planes were drawn by metahumans, the safest routes across the multiverse.


    It was on one such path that Gallimena and Mister Meaning took. Gallimena carried Mister Meaning as though she were a steed, and they traveled from hidden plane to hidden plane, a network that would lead them to Londoa and the Amber Foundation.


    We should describe Gallimena first. She was a metahuman with the power to turn into a horse-sized chicken. Vicious, the guards at the front gates of Scuttleway grimaced and pointed at the sight of her, of the claws hidden in her wings, at the toothed maw. Like a raptor in the coat of a hen.


    Mister Meaning slid off her back. He was tall. Thin. Skin so dark it was nearly black. A prickled mustache and his hair in a flat top. He nodded to a few of the guards, presenting a fake guild ID to them, and was allowed to pass through, on condition that his... ''chicken,'' be well and restrained. Mister Meaning smiled in contempt as he said ¡°Why, of course.¡±


    And the two of them set off for the Amber Foundation. To their orange-hued guildhall, Castle Belenus. As they walked, Gallimena started to shine, before transforming with a flash of light into a shorter girl with a straw hat over brown hair.


    ¡°Let me do most of the talking,¡± Mister Meaning said.


    ¡°Right,¡± Gallimena drawled.


    The front entrance to the Amber Foundation was open. A few of their guildmembers were sitting at the stairs. A man in a blue jacket. A young woman with a red cloak and a rose sceptre. A fishman, a Deep One from the deepest trenches of reality. They were looking over the man''s shoulders as he held out a torn journal in front of them.


    ¡°So it''s out there, somewhere, but it''s going to take a second for me to find out what language the destination is written in.¡±


    ¡°Looks Locorian, Joseph,¡± the Deep One rasped, ¡°I have a few books, hidden from the usual sight. You may borrow them.¡±


    ¡°...You''d do that?¡±


    ¡°Of course, Joseph.¡±


    ¡°One in a million, Phin,¡± the man, Joseph, said. His smile disappeared at the sight of the newcomers, ¡°''Sup.¡±


    ¡°Greetings,¡± Mister Meaning said, and he gave them a bow, ¡°Allow us to introduce ourselves. I am Mister Meaning.¡±


    ¡°And I''m-¡± Gallimena started.


    ¡°And this is Gallimena,¡± Mister Meaning said, still wearing his polite grin, ¡°Tell me, good man, is this Castle Belenus? Guildhall of the Amber Foundation?¡±


    ¡°It is,¡± Joseph said.


    The red-cloaked woman spoke up.


    ¡°Are you clients?¡± she asked, ¡°Tourists?¡±


    ¡°Clients, or something to that effect,¡± Mr. Meaning said, ¡°Tell me, Ms...?¡±


    ¡°Rosemary.¡±


    ¡°Ms. Rosemary, is the one known as Myron Becenti around?¡±


    At this, Joseph''s eyes narrowed.


    ¡°...He is,¡± the man said, and he rose, ¡°Why are you asking?¡±


    ¡°We come bearing a message from an old contact of his,¡± Mister Meaning said, ¡°We have been traveling across the multiverse for quite awhile to get here.¡±


    ¡°Who''s the contact?¡±


    ¡°He''ll know who it is when he reads the letter.¡±


    Joseph hadn''t moved. He was giving Mister Meaning and Gallimena a suspicious look.


    ¡°Hey, Phin,¡± he said.


    ¡°Yes, Joseph?¡±


    ¡°Send a message to Becenti. Let him know he''s got visitors. I''ll guide them up.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± the Deep One opened up his tome, flipped through a few pages, whispered dark words that made the visitors'' minds swim, but Mister Meaning understood it to be a message to Becenti, sent via spell. Joseph turned and went into the guildhall. The two metahumans followed soon after, leaving the red-cloaked woman and the Deep One behind.


    They went up the winding stairs up to Myron Becenti''s office. Dodged past a few of Joseph''s guildmates ¨C an android, a peevish-looking dwarf, a one-armed half-orc, a sapient swarm of hornets. Joseph knocked on the door once.


    ¡°Come in,¡± a tired voice said.


    He opened it up. Allowed Mister Meaning and Gallimena to come inside.


    ¡°Join us, Mr. Zheng,¡± Myron Becenti said, ¡°I was just having a talk with Ms. Firedawn.¡±


    Another one of the Amber Foundation. A cleric, though her white robes were stained with grime and beer. She was moving away to one of the corners, leaning against the wall. Joseph crossed over to join her.


    ¡°Rough night?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Piss off,¡± she growled.


    Myron Becenti looked up at the two newcomers. Dark eyes gauged the both of them, their manner of wear. His eyes were enchanted, trained to see more than just what was on the surface. Mister Meaning and Gallimena walked inside, Gallimena a bit nervous, her hands twisting themselves into a knot, Mr. Meaning leaning and relaxing.


    ¡°You''re metahumans,¡± Becenti said.


    Joseph, in the corner, started. Looked at the two visitors.


    ¡°Why, we are,¡± Mister Meaning said, ¡°Very perceptive of you. My old name, it has no purpose and no draw. My metahuman name is Mister Meaning. And this is Gallimena.¡±


    ¡°Greetings to you both,¡± Becenti said, ¡°You choose to travel in dangerous times.¡±


    ¡°Oh, but of course we do,¡± Mister Meaning said, ¡°New laws being passed. What was it last month, that expansion of the Registration Act? That certain guilds have the right to act on behalf of the High Federation in ''dealing'' with our kind?¡±


    ¡°Dark times, indeed,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Indeed, Shimmer, indeed,¡± Mister Meaning said.


    The old metahuman glared at the newcomer, at his polite, mocking smile.


    ¡°That''s a name,¡± Becenti said, ¡°That I haven''t used in a very long time. That only associates from... old careers, use for me.¡±


    ¡°Becenti,¡± Joseph said, ¡°This guy here said he has a letter for you.¡±


    ¡°Oh, right to business, then?¡± Mister Meaning said, ¡°No time for idle chit-chat, small talk-¡±


    Gallimena, at this, elbowed her companion. He re-assessed the situation, the three guildfolk glaring at him, and wisely chose to shut his mouth.


    Instead, he moved forward, a thin hand reaching to his chest. He pressed it, and his chest, traveler''s robes and all, clicked open, revealing a yawning portal within. The metahuman reached in, fished around, produced a faded letter. He presented it to Becenti.


    Who took it. Gave one last stony look at his sardonic visitor. Flipped it over. His breath caught at the sight of the handwriting. He opened the letter quickly, his eyes flying across its page. They widened in something between shock and horror.


    He collapsed into his chair. Looked at Mister Meaning.


    ¡°It''s all true?¡± he said.


    ¡°Every word, good man,¡± Mister Meaning said, and his smile became more genuine, ¡°We''ve won for ourselves a home. Just a few jumps away.¡±


    ¡°A nation,¡± Becenti''s voice was a whisper, ¡°...Thirty thousand?¡±


    ¡°And counting,¡± Mister Meaning said, ¡°More of us are finding our way there every day. I know it would mean the world to Luminary if you''d join us.¡±


    ¡°I...¡± Becenti faltered.


    He looked over at Joseph. At Aldreia.


    And composed himself.


    ¡°Give me time to think,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I''ll need to talk to my guildmaster.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Mister Meaning said.


    ¡°For now, I''ll arrange for guest rooms for yourself and Gallimena,¡± Becenti said, and he nodded to his guildmates, ¡°Aldreia, could you please show them the way?¡±


    ¡°I will,¡± Aldreia said, ¡°Please, sir and miss, follow me.¡±


    ¡°Ain''t ever been called ''Miss'' before,¡± Gallimena said.


    ¡°If you dressed nicer, you probably would,¡± Mister Meaning said.


    She elbowed him again, then followed Aldreia out of the office. Joseph looked over at Becenti, who was reading over the letter again.


    And again.


    He was wiping his eyes.


    ¡°Everything alright?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Yes, Mr. Zheng,¡± Becenti said, and there was rare joy in his voice, ¡°Better than alright.¡±


    ***


    ¡°My dearest Shimmer,¡± Wakeling read, ¡°It has been far too long since we last met. I hope you are well. I hope you have survived. I hope your dreams are filled with sweeter things. Myself? I have been in hiding. The Federation has been building up towards another Purge, Shimmer. I can feel it in my bones and in my heart. Every day they are passing new laws, or digging up old ones, or assembling new task forces. The time has come for us to cease being a diaspora. And so, I have once more undertaken our dream. A metahuman nation, Shimmer, called New Ludaya. Thirty thousand strong, metahumans all, on a virgin plane where we can be safe from the Federation''s talons.


    I await you there, my dear Shimmer. I wish in my heart of hearts that I could have come to you personally, but the great work that is our dream has kept me occupied at every hour of the day (who knew that nation-building would take up so much time! I haven''t even had a chance to play cards like I used to!)


    In the meantime, if you wish to join us (and I so dearly hope you do) I have left you in the care of Gallimena, one of our finest New Ludayan scouts, and Mister Meaning, my personal right hand. I hope he does not grate upon you so greatly (ha!) for while his tongue is sharp, his heart is pure. I await your arrival.


    When we dream again,


    Luminary.¡±


    The guildmaster looked at the letter. It had been written in code, and Becenti had written out the translation for her to read. He and Joseph were in Wakeling''s study, at the topmost tower of Castle Belenus. She was a floating head, old and wizened, her nose crooked from repeated breakings, the result of a life of hard knocks. Her hair was shock white, though she had recently taken to binding it down into a tight bun. Wakeling read the letter carefully, occasionally looking over at Becenti, who was sitting across from her at her desk. The office was circular, walled in by shelves of books, and the ceiling was enchanted to reflect the sky, whichever way the guildmaster wished it to be. On some days, it was a starry night. Today, however, it was as clear and blue as it was outside.


    ¡°Well, Myron,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°That''s... quite the letter.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°And what are your thoughts on this?¡± Wakeling said.


    ¡°I...¡± and Becenti hesitated. He looked at a loss for words, something which set Joseph on edge. He had never seen the old man so lost.


    ¡°It''s a nation,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Apparently, at least. You know the dangers of that.¡±


    ¡°The fact that it''s got so many metahumans means that it''s well hidden,¡± Becenti replied, ¡°And well defended.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Becenti said. She read over the letter again, ¡°You know, I never actually met Luminary. I''d only heard of her actions during the war.¡±


    ¡°Who''s Luminary?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°An...¡± Becenti looked over at his guildmate, ¡°An old friend.¡±


    ¡°Sounds like more than that,¡± Joseph said, smirking.


    ¡°N-Nothing like that, Mr. Zheng,¡± Becenti said, a hair too quickly, ¡°For her, anyways. Luminary''s a metahuman, like us. She and I... we fought in the war together. With Rhunea, and Oliander.¡±


    ¡°You''ve told me a bit about them,¡± Joseph said, ¡°They''re your old war buddies from before, right?¡±


    Becenti was quiet. He knew Becenti didn''t like to talk about his time in the war.


    ¡°Luminary and I,¡± the old metahuman said, ¡°We worked to found a nation after the war. Ludaya. Old Ludaya now, I suppose. Many metahumans fought against the Manticore back then. Many fought alongside their guilds. Others fought alongside the High Federation.¡±


    Becenti looked up at Joseph.


    ¡°We''d hoped,¡± he continued, ¡°That our service to the High Federation would allow us to gain a new homeland. A nation for metahumans, like Epochia had been.¡±


    ¡°Only it wasn''t,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°It wasn''t,¡± Becenti said, and his voice went distant, ¡°The Federation... they caught wind of what we were doing. And they did what they do best.¡±


    Joseph grimaced. Wakeling sighed.


    ¡°And now,¡± the guildmaster said, ¡°She''s doing it again.¡±


    ¡°I haven''t seen her since...¡± Becenti faltered, ¡°Since Old Ludaya. I thought she was dead.¡±


    ¡°What do you want to do, Myron?¡± Wakeling asked.


    ¡°I want...¡± Becenti thought, scratching the back of his hand.


    ¡°There''s a real possibility that the Federation could find this New Ludaya,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°And you know what they''ll try to do.¡±


    ¡°I know.¡±


    ¡°But you still want to go?¡± Wakeling asked.


    ¡°...I do,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I want to see it for myself.¡±


    ¡°Would you be leaving the guild?¡± Joseph asked.


    At this, Wakeling looked away. She was grimacing, and an anxiety she rarely exhibited took over. It was not every day that someone willingly left the guild, least of all its right hand. She was glad that it had been Joseph who''d asked. There was a nervousness to his voice.


    Becenti took a moment to consider.


    ¡°To be honest,¡± he said, ¡°That''s a real possibility, Mr. Zheng.¡±


    The three of them were quiet.


    ¡°...You''re welcome to join me, of course,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°My place is here,¡± Joseph said, crossing his arms, ¡°I''ve got the guild. This nation stuff, that''s your dream. Not mine.¡±


    Becenti nodded.


    ¡°We''re getting ahead of ourselves,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Myron, I assume you''ll want to go to, at the very least, check it out.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°I''d ask that you take a team with you,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°A small one.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Becenti asked.


    ¡°For your protection,¡± Wakeling said, and she shook her head when Becenti opened his mouth to object, ¡°No, Myron. It''s a potentially dangerous situation, and I''d prefer if you had a few guildmates with you. You''re still family.¡±


    Becenti''s mouth was a thin line.


    ¡°Mr. Zheng,¡± he said, ¡°Would you join me?¡±


    The younger metahuman shrugged.


    ¡°For the trip,¡± he said.


    Becenti smiled at that, though that disappeared quickly.


    ¡°I suppose I should take Aldreia with me, too,¡± he said, ¡°I promised her that I''d take her with me when I next went out.¡±


    ¡°Poor girl could use some fresh air,¡± Wakeling said, and she thought for a moment, ¡°...Take Evancar Morandis, too.¡±


    Becenti blanched.


    ¡°The archaeologist?¡± Becenti said, ¡°Vyde, he''s a-¡±


    ¡°A what, Mr. Becenti?¡± Wakeling asked, her voice testing.


    Becenti bit down his insult. Took a deep breath.


    ¡°He doesn''t have the best track record with... metahuman artifacts,¡± he said, ¡°I''m worried he''d insult Luminary, in some way.¡±


    ¡°He''ll need a minder, then,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°But he could prove useful. He could glean some information on the plane. He''s not just in it for the old clay pots, Myron. He knows a lot about the multiverse and its history. Maybe more than you do.¡±


    Becenti gritted his teeth.


    ¡°It gives Aldreia something to do, at least,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°She¡¯s stubborn enough to keep him out of trouble.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Becenti said, his voice flat.


    ¡°How far away is New Ludaya from here?¡± Wakeling asked.


    ¡°They didn''t say,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Though they might have taken a roundabout path to get here, to avoid Federation patrols.¡±


    ¡°Might be on foot,¡± Joseph noted.


    ¡°Take Nasir, then,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°He might be able to help you on the way there. And if Nasir''s going, then Iandi''s going, too.¡±


    Becenti was quiet. Wakeling looked expectant of him, waiting for his answer. When he spoke again, his voice dangerously low.


    ¡°...I see what you''re doing,¡± the old metahuman said, ¡°You''re sending me with a security detail.¡±


    ¡°I''m-¡±


    ¡°Joseph''s a pinch in a brawl, but the good Professor isn¡¯t much of a fighter. So you have Aldreia ¡®handling¡¯ him? She¡¯s one of the best we¡¯ve got.¡±


    ¡°Now, Myron-¡±


    ¡°You should let him finish,¡± Joseph warned.


    Wakeling grimaced. She nodded at her guildmate to continue.


    ¡°Iandi¡¯s a damn Mark Eta,¡± Becenti said, ¡°And Nasir¡¯s no slouch either. An entire security detail. Just for me. Are you truly that scared?¡±


    ¡°...Yes, Myron,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°I am.¡±


    Becenti was silent.


    ¡°Not because of this metahuman nation,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°But the... the circumstances around it. I know that they''ve been in hiding, and that''s why this is the first we''re hearing of this. But... I don''t know, Myron, there''s something about this that''s set me on edge. If push comes to shove, I want your guild to protect you.¡±


    ¡°I won''t need the guild,¡± Becenti snapped.


    ¡°Myron!¡± Wakeling said, and she looked like she''d been slapped, ¡°Why, I-!¡±


    ¡°Becenti-¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Luminary isn''t going to just... stand by, and watch me be hurt. She wouldn''t do that,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I feel like you aren''t trusting me on this, Vyde.¡±


    ¡°It''s because I trust you at all that I''m letting you go in the first place!¡± Wakeling retorted.


    ¡°You couldn''t stop me,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°I wouldn''t,¡± Wakeling hissed, ¡°But you still need a place to come home to, don''t you?¡±


    ¡°Hey-¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Not now, Mr. Zheng,¡± Becenti said, and he rose from his seat.


    ¡°Myron,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°If not for you, then for Joseph.¡±


    The old metahuman glanced over to his protege. Joseph''s arms were crossed, and he was glaring at both of them.


    ¡°...Fine,¡± Becenti said, ¡°For Joseph''s sake. Not mine. If you''ll excuse me, I''m going to start packing. Mr. Zheng, we leave in the morning.¡±


    And he moved off. Joseph opened his mouth to speak, but Wakeling shook her head at him. The two of them let him leave. Joseph moved over to the desk, sat down at it.


    ¡°...I haven''t seen him like that before,¡± he said.


    ¡°What, angry?¡± Wakeling asked.


    ¡°I''ve seen him angry,¡± Joseph said, ¡°But not like that. He looked about to quit right then and there.¡±


    ¡°...Ludaya meant a lot to him, Mr. Zheng,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°More than he let on. It was his... well, I hate to call it ''reward.'' It was his justification for fighting in the war. His dream. Something he''d been working for ever since he Awakened. To hear that his dream has returned to him, seemingly on a silver platter...¡±


    ¡°Seems too good to be true,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Precisely,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°If the Federation hasn''t found out about it, then that means the plane that New Ludaya is on is very, very far from here. I would not be surprised if you''re gone for a long time.¡±


    Joseph nodded at that.


    Then, his brow furrowed.


    ¡°Funny,¡± he said, ¡°That Mister Meaning guy said it was only a few jumps away.¡±


    Wakeling pursed her lips.


    ¡°That''s... hmm,¡± she murmured to herself, and she looked down. Her voice was careful when she spoke, ¡°Mr. Zheng, please, look after Myron. Watch his back. Make sure he doesn''t wind up in trouble. Alright?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, of course,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I''ll look after him.¡±


    And the guildmaster smiled a sad smile.


    ¡°Thank you, Mr. Zheng,¡± she said, ¡°I''ll see you off tomorrow.¡±

 137. THE ROADS UNTRAVELED

    ¡°So now you''re getting whisked away, off to some far-off plane,¡± Rosemary said to Joseph, ¡°Again.¡±


    ¡°Hey, it''s not like it''ll be forever,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Not for me, anyways.¡±


    The two of them, along with Phineas, were in Joseph and Phineas''s shared room. Joseph had a bag on his bed, and he was in the middle of packing up clothes and other essentials for the trip. Most of his clothes came from the community closet, novelty t-shirts donated by a late guildmate, along with a few pants and jackets bought from the Witch Rogga, a local seamstress in the city. Survival supplies lay on the bed as well, flashlights and a first aid kit.


    ¡°Still,¡± Rosemary said, ¡°It''s a long way off...¡±


    ¡°What''s up, Rosemary?¡± Joseph said, ¡°You going to miss me?¡±


    He smirked at her. Then, when she saw she was reddening, blushed and looked away a hair too quickly.


    ¡°No!¡± she said, ¡°Well, yes, but-¡±


    ¡°It was a joke,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Right.¡±


    Phineas, from beneath his bed, thankfully interrupted them.


    ¡°I have heard of Old Ludaya before,¡± he said, ¡°There are few records of them that still exist.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph said, ¡°From what Becenti told me, the Federation made sure to destroy as many records of it as possible. But they didn¡¯t get them all.¡±


    Rosemary was quiet at that.


    ¡°Do you think he will want to stay?¡± Phineas asked.


    The metahuman shrugged.


    ¡°I don''t know,¡± he said, ¡°He seemed... you should have seen him when he was reading that letter. If New Ludaya''s legit, he just might.¡±


    ¡°Well, that''d be sad. For us, at least,¡± Rosemary said.


    ¡°...Will you want to live there?¡± Phineas asked. He asked carefully. As though his words would set Joseph off. Rosemary looked like she had wanted to ask the same question, too. There was a look in her eyes, a nervous glint.


    He smiled again.


    ¡°Hey,¡± he said, ¡°I''m not going anywhere.¡±


    ¡°But you are,¡± Phineas said.


    ¡°I''m not going to stay there, Phin,¡± Joseph said, ¡°My place is here. I''m mostly going to keep an eye on Becenti.¡±


    Rosemary looked a bit too relieved.


    ¡°You''ll be careful, yeah?¡± she said.


    ¡°I will be.¡±


    ¡°Don''t come home all bloodied up again.¡±


    There was a worry to her voice that Joseph had never heard before.


    ¡°...I''ll try not to,¡± he said, ¡°But you know how my jobs tend to go.¡±


    ***


    To say that Aldreia was angry about the situation was an understatement.


    She shot a venomous look at Becenti as the two of them, along with Evancar Morandus, sat at one of the tables in the mess hall. Becenti was stacking a few papers, going over some last bits of paperwork before the journey. He did not look happy at the proceedings, either, and he continued going on about what the job entailed, and Evancar¡¯s involvement with it, with a droll, monotonous tone.


    We should speak of Evancar Morandus. Professor Evancar Morandus. Guild archaeologist, with a PhD in the field, his thesis being on the ancient empire of Farhad¡¯du, which ruled a vast swath of the multiverse in ancient times. He was thirty-seven years old, and above all he looked a touch out of place with the rest of the guild, with their swords and guns and magic and metahuman powers. He had watery eyes and too-large horn rimmed glasses, flecks of gray hair in a sea of curly brown. He was more at home in his study, or perhaps at an archaeological dig, his usual brown coat caked in dust and sand.


    He kept glancing nervously at Becenti, for while the old metahuman respected the Professor, he didn¡¯t exactly like him.


    ¡°So, overall,¡± Becenti said, ¡°You are to accompany Professor Morandus on the expedition to New Ludaya. You are to look after him, and ensure he doesn¡¯t stray too far.¡±


    He said these words bitingly. He leaned in towards Aldreia.


    ¡°Is that clear?¡±


    She glared at him.


    ¡°Fine,¡± she said, ¡°I''m his leash for this one, eh?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Ms. Firedawn,¡± Becenti said, ¡°You are.¡±


    ¡°I''m right here,¡± Evancar said, ¡°There''s, uh, no need to talk like I''m not, haha.¡±


    He gave his sheepish smile. Aldreia suppressed a snort.


    ¡°So,¡± she said, ¡°A metahuman¡­ colony? Kingdom?¡±


    ¡°Nation, Ms. Firedawn,¡± Becenti said.


    Aldreia¡¯s eyes flickered over to Evancar, who at the mention of ¡®metahuman nation¡¯ looked about ready to vibrate himself into oblivion.


    ¡°Exciting, isn¡¯t it?¡± the archaeologist said, ¡°Think, if they''re resettling one of their old kingdoms, then it means that the ruins might still be around, might-¡±


    ¡°Patience, Professor,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°All I''m saying, Becenti,¡± Evancar said, ¡°Is that I missed out on Chliofrond, especially now that it¡¯s gone-¡±


    (Becenti''s fists tightened.)


    ¡°-And I''m not going to pass up on this opportunity, you hear?¡±


    ¡°Think that''s enough,¡± Aldreia said, ¡°Becenti''s busy.¡±


    ¡°R-Right,¡± Evancar said, and he ran a hand through his hair, ¡°Right. Sorry. I''m just excited, is all. Mister Meaning and Gallimena, they''re here?¡±


    ¡°Yes, they''re here,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I think they''re eating lunch in the mess hall.¡±


    ¡°Ah, perfect,¡± Evancar said, ¡°I''ve got a few questions for them.¡±


    He moved off, all but skipping down the stairs. Aldreia traded a look with Becenti, who nodded his head in the good archaeologist¡¯s direction.


    Aldreia sighed. Then, she got up and followed after him.


    ***


    Iandi, at least, was excited to go. The barge of a man''s face broke into his childish smile at the news that he would be leaving the guildhall.


    ¡°Adventure!¡± he cried out, ¡°Adventure!¡±


    And he started to dance around his and Nasir''s living space, a sizable room located at the top of the northern tower. In any other castle, it would have been an aerie, a loft for birds of various sizes to be housed when they were not flying about the skies as messengers. But communication within the Amber Foundation''s guildhall was done by mental spellwork, and messages to the outside world were done by Fedtek communicators or sounding stones. As such, the empty space was now taken up by soldier and survivor. Nasir watched his guildmate dance in joy, a grim smile painted on his face.


    ¡°Alright, kid, that''s enough,¡± he said, at length, ¡°Settle down.¡±


    Iandi did, sitting down on his oversized bed. But the innocent, wide smile still did not leave his face.


    ¡°Will we bring weapons?¡± he asked, ¡°Will we blow things up?¡±


    ¡°Don''t think it''s going to be that sort of job,¡± Nasir said, blowing a puff from his pipe, ¡°Think they''re wanting me more-a-like.¡±


    ¡°Aw, no weapons,¡± Iandi said, and he pouted, ¡°No job is fun without weapons.¡±


    Nasir patted Iandi¡¯s upper arm.


    ¡°It''s still an adventure, kid,¡± Nasir said, ¡°You know that. They want me to go because of my scouting.¡±


    ¡°And I guard you!¡± Iandi roared, ¡°Iandi guards Nasir, as it always goes!¡±


    Nasir gave a soft smile at that.


    ¡°Yeah, kid. That''s how it goes.¡±


    ***


    Joseph and Becenti took lunch together at the mess hall. They sat apart from the rest of the festivities, for it was a busy lunch rush. Gluh the zombie was today''s cook, and that meant they ate the best that the guild had to offer. A crab curry affair, the crabs taken from the finest farms beneath the city, the vegetables taken from across the multiverse, for most grown foods in Scuttleway were imported from other parts of Londoa and beyond. The heat sat in the mouth and settled in the stomach. For most of the meal, the two metahumans were quiet, content to enjoy their meal and let the space for conversation be filled with the chatter of the rest of the guildhall. Rosemary was talking with Mallory a table away about a job that Orion was on. Broon and Mekke were with Ezel, and the demigod was acting as a mediator as the half-orc and the former soldier were getting into a heated argument about swordplay.


    And Joseph''s eyes kept glancing over to Mister Meaning and Gallimena, a few tables away. Professor Morandus had caught up with them, had plopped himself down at their table and was asking them a stream of questions. Mister Meaning was polite, though there was a condescending look in his eye. Aldreia sat apart from them, brushing golden hair from her face. She looked annoyed.


    ¡°Short straw, huh?¡± Joseph said.


    Becenti didn''t answer. He almost angrily scooped in a mouthful of food.


    ¡°Look,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I know that getting an entire gang of people together isn''t what you want, right?¡±


    ¡°That is correct, Mr. Zheng,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I would have preferred just us.¡±


    ¡°...Won''t be all bad,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Aldreia can be an ass, but Evancar isn''t so bad. Iandi''s fun.¡±


    ¡°I don''t care for ''bad'' or ''fun,'' Mr. Zheng,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°What do you care about, then?¡± Joseph asked, his arms crossed.


    Becenti put down his fork. Fixed the younger metahuman with a harsh look.


    ¡°I care that we''re too obvious, the route we''re heading,¡± he said, ¡°We''re already going to have four metahumans traveling in a group. That''s bound to draw suspicion, even if we''re taking the hidden paths. Add a few guildfolk on top of that? It''s a caravan.¡±


    Joseph crossed his arms.


    ¡°...You sure it''s not because a bunch of non-metahumans are going?¡± he asked.


    Becenti''s fists tightened.


    ¡°No,¡± he said, ¡°...Well. Perhaps Professor Morandus.¡±


    Joseph smirked.


    ¡°He means well,¡± Becenti said, ¡°But far too often, I feel he forgets that he must be... respectful, of the artifacts he comes across. He thinks many things belong in museums, and not in the artifact''s old homelands.¡±


    ¡°I remember, he was in the running to go to Chliofrond, right?¡±


    ¡°We chose Nash over him,¡± Becenti said, ¡°It was not a polite debate. He was far too forward.¡±


    He dug a fork into his curry, taking a bite.


    ¡°At least Wakeling knows him well enough to get someone like Aldreia to look after him,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I wouldn''t worry. She''ll make sure he''s not a dipshit.¡±


    ¡°...Perhaps, Mr. Zheng,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Perhaps.¡±


    ***


    The day passed. Packing was done. Iandi hardly slept that night, excited as he was. Yet he had been designed to work off of very little sleep anyways, so he looked right as rain as he and Nasir made their way downstairs the next morning. Becenti was already waiting down there, as were Evancar and Joseph. Aldreia came down next. Followed by Gallimena.


    ¡°Mister Meaning is still getting ready,¡± she said, ¡°He said another ten minutes.¡±


    Twenty minutes later, Mister Meaning opened the door of his guest room and sauntered downstairs, in a new set of traveler''s robes, with a new walking stick. He smiled, and Joseph noted that he seemed to have put on some cologne.


    ¡°Never hurts to travel in style, eh?¡± Mister Meaning said, ¡°Come. We won''t be in Londoa for very long.¡±


    They said last goodbyes, then set off from Castle Belenus. The open plains around Scuttleway greeted them, though they were not on the road for long. A few hours into their journey, Gallimena led them off the path and towards the Lalo Woods to the west.


    ¡°The Lalo Woods?¡± Becenti said, ¡°I''ve never heard of a Traveling Point there.¡±


    ¡°My dear Shimmer,¡± Mister Meaning said, ¡°It isn''t a Traveling Point.¡±


    Becenti''s eyes narrowed.


    ¡°There are ruins in the forest,¡± Evancar offered up, ¡°From before the Tlantoian colonization.¡±


    ¡°Why, aren''t you a smart little man,¡± Mister Meaning drawled, ¡°That''s where we''re going!¡±


    He smiled. Aldreia, despite her annoyance at Evancar, suppressed an urge to throttle him.


    Indeed, they passed into the woods. Birds called high above. A few crickets were already chirping, despite it being barely noon. A chorus of cicadas droned out their songs. There was no road in the Lalo Woods. Most travelers left the place alone, and the logging unions from Scuttleway mostly cut down trees in the northern parts, and they were far in the south.


    The ruins were of a stone make, a few lonely arches and pillars amidst a sea of green. Hardly ruins at all, though Evancar stepped around them, looking this way and that. His gray eyes settled on one of the archways, and he tilted his head.


    ¡°That wasn''t there before,¡± he said.


    ¡°It rebuilt itself,¡± Mister Meaning said, ¡°When we used it as a gate.¡±If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ¡°A gate?¡± Becenti said, ¡°Out here?¡±


    ¡°The power source is on the other side,¡± Mister Meaning said, ¡°But, with the right runes, we can open it up here too.¡±


    He pointed. Indeed, etched into the arch was a series of runes, jagged and harsh, that went up and down the arch and down into the earth.


    Mister Meaning opened up his chest, fishing around for a few moments, before he produced a glass jar, inside of which was a swirling cloud of light.


    ¡°An elemental,¡± Joseph said, and he leaned down to look at it, ¡°What kind?¡±


    ¡°Light,¡± Mister Meaning said, ¡°Our Founder, Luminary, she summons them up on occasion, so we''re able to use these here gates.¡±


    He opened the jar, plucking out the elemental and placing it beside one of the runes. The light elemental poured into the etched marks, filling the symbol as though it were a liquid, bleeding into the other runes and lighting the entire archway in its yellow glow.


    A door appeared, a solid wooden make with the symbol of three swans flying in a V formation.


    ¡°Cygnetia,¡± Becenti said, ¡°A rare plane.¡±


    ¡°Barely in forecast anywhere,¡± Mister Meaning said, ¡°The High Federation can barely get a bead on it, so it''s ideal for traveling. The Three Swans will be passing by a Traveling Point to Kamareta very soon.¡±


    He opened the door, and a cold gale wind whipped up around them. The gate led to a ruin near the First Swan''s head, and they could hear the trumpeter''s call echoing with the force of a thunderclap. Mister Meaning smiled.


    ¡°Our ways are hidden, dear Shimmer,¡± he said, ¡°We''ve discovered paths the Federation could only dream of.¡±


    He held the door open for the rest of them to step through.


    ¡°After you.¡±


    ***


    They stayed on Cygnetia for three days, hunkering down at a small inn outside the primary city atop the First Swan''s back as she traveled, flying or swimming, across the expanse of a toxic lake. The Three Swans were siblings, and once had been as close as could be, but time and pain had turned them against each other, and on the third day, as they approached the Traveling Point that would take them to Kamareta, the Third Swan attacked the First, the denizens atop his back dropping firebombs onto the waterbird. They ran to the Traveling Point amidst a hailstorm of flames, only just making it to the other side in time.


    Kamareta, thankfully, was an uneventful part of their journey. The plane was a sparse one, in the grip of an ice age, and little life had settled here. The group put on heavy coats and boots, and marched across the snowy wastes towards the next Traveling Point. There were no Federation soldiers guarding it, despite the fact that it led to Bloodrun.


    Bloodrun, an old Darwinist plane. It had once been an empty place, but the Darwinists, who had discovered the plane, found it rich in Choridium, a key alloy in the construction of their starships. The caravan passed broken down shipyards and military bases on their journey, but according to Mister Meaning, Bloodrun was on the outs in terms of forecasting, and would leave the known multiverse entirely in a year''s time.


    ¡°And when will it drift back in?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°About five hundred years from now,¡± Mister Meaning said, ¡°Not that long for the Federation, mind you, but definitely quite a long time to leave an outpost. Especially one with the materials to build their own birds of prey, hmm?¡±


    He smiled his smearing smile.


    ¡°No, Bloodrun will be long gone, soon enough. Come, we''re almost to the gate.¡±


    Joseph exchanged a look with Becenti.


    ¡°What is it, Mr. Zheng?¡±


    ¡°We always talk about planes being in forecast,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Are there a lot of planes like Bloodrun or Earth, that just... drift away for a long time?¡±


    ¡°Some do,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Bloodrun is a bit of an extreme example. Some planes are like Earth, with very short windows where their Traveling Points are aligned with the known multiverse and able to be traveled to. Most planes are known to be simply uncontactable, or don''t possess Traveling Points at all.¡±


    ¡°But you know of them.¡±


    ¡°Old history speaks of them, and some can be accessed via gates, or other methods of interplanar travel,¡± Becenti said, ¡°But those methods-¡±


    ¡°Are difficult.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mr. Zheng,¡± Becenti said, and Joseph noted that the two of them were letting the rest of the group move ahead of them, giving them a bit of privacy, ¡°I don''t like how many gates we''re using. They can be dangerous, if one is not careful.¡±


    Joseph was quiet.


    ¡°What is it, Mr. Zheng?¡±


    ¡°I remember Wakeling telling me that Earth''s going back into forecast in another forty years or so,¡± he said, ¡°So, theoretically, I could wait it out.¡±


    ¡°Are you still thinking of going back?¡±


    ¡°I mean, maybe one day,¡± Joseph said, ¡°No time in the near future. I... I''m here now.¡±


    ¡°But it''s still your birth plane.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I didn''t leave exactly on the best terms with my family. It would be nice to... let them know I''m alright, you know?¡±


    Becenti was quiet.


    ¡°You''ve told me a bit about your home plane, Joseph. And about your family. How they weren''t exactly the most...¡±


    ¡°They weren''t the best,¡± Joseph said, simply. His voice now had a bit of heat.


    ¡°But I''m glad that you''re still thinking of them,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I wish I had been able to say goodbye to my own father. To my brothers. I wish I had been able to be there for them.¡±


    He laid a hand on his guildmate''s shoulder.


    ¡°I know that you have found that your place is here,¡± he continued, ¡°But never forget where you came from, Joseph. A part of ourselves is always where we were born and where we grew up. To cast it away is to cast away part of your soul.¡±


    ¡°We''re here!¡± Mister Meaning called from the front. He had stopped in front of another series of old ruins, the corpse of a temple that had somehow avoided being destroyed by the Darwinist factories.


    ¡°I''ll...¡± Joseph said, ¡°I''ll keep that in mind.¡±


    ¡°See that you do,¡± Becenti said, and he went to join the other metahumans at the front of the pack.


    ***


    Mister Meaning opened up the gate on Bloodrun, plucking out a light elemental once more and applying it to the runes set on the temple. This time, there was a strange feeling in Joseph''s stomach as they stepped through the door. Like something was wrong.


    Indeed, when all of them stepped through, the door shuddered, and splintered apart. The archway it had been built in collapsed into a heap of stone.


    ¡°What happened?¡± Aldreia said.


    ¡°Looks like the gate couldn''t take the energy,¡± Evancar said, kneeling down to pick up a stone. He flipped it over, revealing a rune on its surface, now split in two, ¡°These gates fell out of use for a reason. They can only be used so many times.¡±


    ¡°That''s not good,¡± Mister Meaning said, and there was a light edge to his voice, ¡°Bloodrun was an important plane in our network. We''ve... hmm.¡±


    He considered the remains of the gate for a few moments, before walking over to Evancar.


    ¡°My good man,¡± the metahuman said, ¡°May I...?¡±


    ¡°Oh, of course,¡± Evancar handed the stone to Mister Meaning, who opened up his chest and threw it in.


    ¡°I''ll tell Luminary about what happened,¡± he said, ¡°She won''t be happy. But, it''s as our good archaeologist friend said. Sometimes there''s a time limit.¡±


    He winked at the group. Becenti rolled his eyes, then looked around. It was night here, and the wind whispered through distant trees, which were long and twisting and covered in what looked like baubled lights.


    ¡°Where are we?¡± Becenti asked.


    ¡°Impellia III,¡± Gallimena said, ¡°In the Outer Reach.¡±


    ¡°The Outer Reach?¡± Becenti said, wheeling, ¡°Of the Silver Eye?¡±


    ¡°The very same,¡± Mister Meaning said, ¡°Hiding right under the Federation''s noses. In the galactic north, just on the very edge of the plane itself. If you''re not careful, our ship will slip right off.¡±


    He started moving away, towards the forest of lights.


    ¡°Come along!¡± he said.


    ¡°Now, wait just a minute,¡± Nasir said, speaking up, ¡°I have a question for you.¡±


    ¡°You can walk and talk, can''t you?¡±


    Nasir stomped after the preening metahuman, cutting him off from his path.


    ¡°You¡¯re a metahuman nation,yes?¡± Nasir said, ¡°We''d thought that you''d be out way past the known multiverse. On planes like Cygnetia.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Mister Meaning said.


    ¡°Where is this New Ludaya?¡± Nasir said, ¡°It''s not on the Silver Eye proper, is it?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Gallimena said, ¡°Just in the forest is the Traveling Point.¡±


    Nasir looked dumbfounded. Iandi, meanwhile, ran over and picked up his guildmate, hoisting him onto a shoulder.


    ¡°Yay!¡± the super soldier said, ¡°Almost there!¡±


    And he trundled off. Mister Meaning followed.


    And, again, Joseph and Becenti exchanged a look.


    ¡°It is out of the way,¡± Evancar said, beside them, ¡°Federation doesn''t really have a military presence in the Outer Reach.¡±


    ¡°It''s still highly risky,¡± Becenti said, his brow furrowing, ¡°And highly unusual.¡±


    But he moved on. Aldreia tapped Evancar on the shoulder.


    ¡°Come on,¡± she said, ¡°it¡¯s odd, but maybe the plane that New Ludaya¡¯s on will go out of forecast soon.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± Evancar said, though he did not look convinced.


    ***


    Then, at last, they reached the Traveling Point to New Ludaya. It was hidden in a small clearing in the wood, attended to by two metahuman guards. The stars above twinkled in their endless miasma, and the moon above cast its calm glow upon them. One of the metahumans appeared to have been carved out of ice. The other was covered in small slits, taller than the others, and Joseph recognized her.


    ¡°...You''re Pocket,¡± he said, ¡°From Death Valley.¡±


    She grimaced, then nodded.


    ¡°I don''t remember your name,¡± she said to him, ¡°But I recognize Shimmer. You were with...¡±


    ¡°Oliphant,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Err... Analyza''s your partner, right?¡±


    ¡°Indeed.¡±


    ¡°She''s... her leg''s alright?¡±


    ¡°She has recovered. Physically,¡± Pocket said, ¡°I don''t want to talk about it. Death Valley is in the past now.¡±


    ¡°Aaaand the future is here,¡± Mister Meaning said, gesturing to the Traveling Point, ¡°Pocket, Iceformed, we''re here with guests. May I introduce Shimmer-¡±


    ¡°Becenti.¡±


    ¡°Joseph Zheng, Evancar Morandus, and a few others,¡± Mister Meaning said, and he twirled his hand around, ¡°Metahumans and humans. Cousins, yes?¡±


    ¡°You''re on a job for Luminary, right?¡± Iceformed said, and their voice was like a scream in a storm, ¡°You will, of course, record the visitors.¡±


    ¡°Why, yes.¡±


    ¡°I will herald your arrival, then,¡± Iceformed said, ¡°Pocket, you''re good on your own?¡±


    ¡°I am,¡± Pocket said.


    Iceformed nodded, then stepped through the Traveling Point. After a few moments, Mister Meaning beckoned for the group to follow. Becenti went first, without hesitation. The others hung back for a few moments.


    ¡°Alright,¡± Evancar said, and he was hyping himself up, ¡°Here I go.¡±


    He all but jumped into the Traveling Point, earning him a scoff from Pocket. Aldreia  followed close behind. Nasir and Iandi went next, going along with Gallimena. Joseph was alone with Pocket for a few moments. The two of them looked awkwardly at each other. Joseph felt the urge to say something to her.


    But he wasn''t sure.


    Then, perhaps she was right. Death Valley was in the past. He decided to treat it like a guild spat, nothing personal at the end of the day.


    (This, despite the fact that their groups had tried to kill each other. That both he and Pocket still had nightmares.)


    He gave Pocket a final nod, and then stepped through the Traveling Point. Felt the rush of the multiverse flow through him. A mosaic of colors streamed alongside him as was carried across reality towards New Ludaya, the energy that was known as Imagination. Yet even now there was a harsher, more intense quality to them. The colors were brighter. Richer and fuller. As though the multiverse knew that there were metahumans on the other side, and roaring.


    The world was bright when he stumbled out, and Aldreia caught him before he fell to his knees. Joseph grimaced, letting his eyes adjust as the cleric helped him to his feet.


    They were on the ledge of a mountain, a jutting of stone that overlooked the nation of New Ludaya. The sky was a calm, warm blue, and a forest nestled against the mountain''s side, conifers and oaks and over-large buckeyes, overgrown and resembling bushes with the aspirations of giants. Lakes and rivers criss-crossed the wood, some with boats already plying their surfaces, nets cast down into their depths to capture fish. In the distance the forest disappeared, taken over by till plains and farmland, wheat and corn fields, rice paddies, sapfruit and gera vineyards. Buildings, too, the beginnings of a city, with wood taken from the forest, or erected by metahuman abilities. Some were made of stone. Others were ice, or solidified flame, one was a strange, multi-angled structure made of stained glass.


    Metahumans were flying above. Others were in the water. A few of them were greeting the group now, a delegation of the weird and wonderful. They were headed by a dark-skinned man in green, a smile on his face, stone gauntlets covering his arms.


    ¡°Mister Meaning!¡± the man called out, ¡°You''ve brought guests!¡±


    ¡°One of Luminary''s old friends, along with a few members of his guild,¡± Mister Meaning said.


    At this, the man with the stone gauntlet''s brow furrowed.


    ¡°Are they metahumans?¡±


    ¡°Two are,¡± Mister Meaning said, casting a sly eye at Joseph, ¡°The others are simple guildfolk. Shimmer vouches for them.¡±


    ¡°Shimmer...?¡± the man looked at Becenti, and his eyes began to widen in recognition. A smile broke out on his face, and he let out a solid laugh and crossed over to clasp his hand.


    ¡°It''s just Becenti, nowadays,¡± the older metahuman said.


    ¡°Becenti, Shimmer, it matters not!¡± the man with the gauntlets said, ¡°It''s good to see you here. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Pauldros the Stonemaker, member of the Council.¡±


    He gauged the rest of them, looking over at Joseph.


    ¡°And you are?¡±


    ¡°Joe.¡±


    ¡°That''s it? No other name?¡±


    ¡°Just Joe, for now.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Pauldros the Stonemaker considered those words, before giving a sage nod, ¡°Well, it is a fine enough name. It matters not.¡±


    ¡°Pauldros, my good man,¡± Mister Meaning drawled, ¡°Would you do the honors of attending to our guests? I''d like to take Shimmer up to see Luminary, post-haste.¡±


    ¡°You''re in luck, it''s still an hour or two before the Moot,¡± Pauldros the Stonemaker said, ¡°Go on, take Luminary''s friend up. I''ll deal with the guildfolk.¡±


    He smiled at them, and members of the delegation started to draw forward, guiding Becenti''s group from the Traveling Point. Pauldros took the lead, moving towards a staircase that spiraled from the ledge down towards the ground below. Mister Meaning took Becenti in the other direction.


    ¡°Meet up later?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Yes, Mr. Zheng,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Tour the place. Enjoy yourselves. I will see you soon.¡±


    And they left. Pauldros the Stonemaker''s delegation took them down the mountain, stopping near the base before going into a series of wide tunnels carved into the stone''s face.


    ¡°Now, most of the living spaces here are in Mt. Redress itself,¡± the metahuman said, ¡°Courtesy of yours truly.¡±


    He smiled, and brought a gauntleted hand to the wall. The rock began to shape itself, twisting and carving until the words, ¡°Hello World!¡± were branded on its surface.


    ¡°E-Efficient,¡± Evancar said, ¡°And, how old is this mountain?¡±


    Pauldros shrugged.


    ¡°A few million years, is my guess,¡± he said, ¡°I''ve only been here for a year or two, and despite everything I don''t talk to the stone. Not like that. I think there''s a few of my colleagues with abilities that can answer your questions, perhaps a bit better than I.¡±


    Other metahumans were in the halls. Workers, by the looks of them, sweeping the floors or carrying pickaxes and chisels. They passed down one of the halls, where they watched as someone with the power to secrete acid was applying their hands to the wall, melting it down.


    ¡°We''re always building,¡± Pauldros said, ¡°Most of New Ludaya''s moved outside, but Mt. Redress is important to us. It''s where all of the governmental offices are located, as well as the Cave of Awakening.¡±


    ¡°Cave of Awakening?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Ah, where latent metahumans Awaken,¡± Pauldros said, ¡°I''m sure if you stay here long enough, you''ll be witness to such a sight.¡±


    He stopped at one of the rooms. Beds and tables had been set up for them, carved from the same stone as the mountain.


    ¡°You can stay here,¡± Pauldros said, ¡°Feel free to relax. Make yourselves comfortable. It''s been a long day for you. Dodeca here will be your guide.¡±


    He nodded to one of his attendants, a tall and muscular woman with a shaved head and a dark look on her face. She seemed to suppress a grimace before giving a curt nod.


    ¡°When you have eaten, feel free to explore New Ludaya,¡± Pauldros said, ¡°Dodeca, please accompany them. Call on anyone you need to support you.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir,¡± Dodeca growled.


    The Stonemaker grinned at the group as they started putting bags on their beds. Iandi looked at his, frowning.


    ¡°It is small,¡± he said.


    ¡°Hmm, it is,¡± Nasir replied. He looked up at Pauldros.


    Who rested a hand against the wall. Stone began to erect upwards, combining two of the beds together.


    ¡°Dodeca will arrange for a mattress to be provided,¡± he said, ¡°If you will excuse me.¡±


    And he moved off. Dodeca rolled her eyes, leaned against the frame of a doorway. The Amber Foundation looked at each other.


    ¡°Nasir,¡± Aldreia said, ¡°I swear to Pelliad that if Iandi¡¯s snoring keeps me up, I¡¯ll throttle you.¡±


    ¡°Why me?¡± Nasir said, ¡°It¡¯s the boy who snores.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t snore!¡± Iandi cried out.


    ¡°You¡­ You do,¡± Evancar admitted, ¡°I can hear it from the other tower sometimes.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, sorry,¡± Joseph said.


    Iandi looked mournfully down at Nasir. Nasir patted his arm.


    ¡°It¡¯s alright, I¡¯m used to it,¡± he said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Snore away.¡±


    Aldreia snorted, rolled her eyes, and simply walked to her bed and began to unpack.


    Joseph took stock of his room, his bed. Outside, He could hear people working. Someone was using a jackhammer, or had the ability of one, because its droning shook the stone above them.


    ¡°Nice place,¡± he said.


    ***


    Mister Meaning, meanwhile, took Becenti up the stairs and towards the top of the mountain. Here, instead of barebone stone walls and floors, the tunnels leading up to the upper estates were painted and cobbled in rich purples and blues, greens and reds, oranges and yellows. Sashes lined the walls, as did paintings of famous metahuman figures, all of them walking up towards a single, great room.


    ¡°The council chambers,¡± Mister Meaning said.


    No one accosted them, giving Mister Meaning a wide berth. Becenti noted that not a few of them were giving a sharp look at the sharp-dressed man as his back was turned.


    They continued going up. Towards a spiraling staircase. Up through another hallway, one with murals depicting the various metahuman kingdoms of Epochia.


    And, at last, a closed door. Mister Meaning strode over, giving it a knock. Then a second.


    A voice old, yet all too familiar, came muted from the other side.


    ¡°Come in.¡±


    Mister Meaning opened the door, taking point as he walked inside. Luminary''s room was built out of an open mouth cave, the original entrance sealed up with glass, so one could behold the entirety of New Ludaya below. The wall was lined with a shining moss, bright green in color, and the place was also illuminated by light-formed shapes, cubes and cones and pyramids.


    A woman was looking out the great window, hands behind her back.


    ¡°Miss Luminary,¡± Mister Meaning said, bowing, ¡°I''m here. With Shimmer.¡±


    And she turned. Time had drained her youth. Pain had drained her of gentle aging, for she was all sharp angles and her eyes were sunken in a way they hadn''t before when Becenti had known her. But she was still Luminary. There was still that strange way her mouth tugged upwards when she smiled, still the way that her upper teeth jutted past her lower due to an overbite she had never wanted to fix. She was still wearing her jewelry, her oversized rings, her overlong necklace, there were still the metal beads in her stringy hair and she had not removed the silverish tattoos on her wrinkled hands.


    ¡°Shimmer,¡± she breathed, ¡°Oh, my Shimmer.¡±


    ¡°Hello, Luminary,¡± Becenti said.


    And they rushed forth to embrace.

 138. CHILDREN OF IMAGINATION

    Nasir and Iandi were not in their assigned room for very long. Their time was a flurry - on Iandi¡¯s part ¨C of putting down bags, unpacking clothes and supplies, and checking over a few smuggled weapons. Then, Iandi, with a bright smile on his face, stepped into the other room.


    ¡°Exploring!¡± he said, ¡°Adventure!¡±


    Joseph smirked at the large man. He was sitting at the foot of his bed, listening to Professor Morandus ask a line-up of questions to Dodeca.


    ¡°Tell me, how long has this plane existed?¡± he asked.


    ¡°I don''t know,¡± Dodeca shrugged, ¡°A while.¡±


    Are there any ruins on this plane? Metahuman or otherwise?¡±


    Dodeca grimaced. Then shook her head.


    ¡°As far as I''m aware, no,¡± she said, ¡°I''ve asked my old man about it, nothing.¡±


    ¡°What about from where you''re from? What kingdom were you part of?¡±


    ¡°We aren''t part of any kingdom,¡± Dodeca said, ¡°The Dorucanthos Family looks towards the future, not the past.¡±


    ¡°But you were part of a kingdom, at some point. Was this plane a part of Epochia?¡±


    ¡°I don''t know.¡±


    ¡°What about-¡±


    ¡°Evancar, that''s enough,¡± Aldreia said, ¡°You''re going to make her want to hurt you.¡±


    She winked at the metahuman. Dodeca scoffed.


    ¡°Adventure!¡± Iandi said.


    ¡°Think it''s time we went out exploring,¡± Nasir said.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I think that''s probably for the best.¡±


    He gave Dodeca a sympathetic look. Dodeca nodded, only a bit exasperated, before she raised her voice.


    ¡°Right, you lot,¡± she said, ¡°You''re going to follow me throughout this little... tour,¡±


    (she said this with some disgust.)


    ¡°If you''ll just come with me, let''s be off.¡±


    She moved off. Iandi bounded after her, laughing, Nasir only a step behind. Evancar got up next, moving off to join her. Joseph stretched, and rose from his seat. As he started to leave, he noted that Aldreia was still lying in her bed.


    ¡°You coming?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Oh, gods, no,¡± she said, ¡°I can''t stand guided tours. I''m going to look to see if these people have a bar.¡±


    Joseph''s brow furrowed.


    ¡°You know you''re supposed to look after Evancar, right?¡±


    ¡°Please, Joe,¡± Aldreia said, lounging, ¡°Nasir''ll make sure he doesn''t run off. And that Dodeca woman''s got her eye on him. She hasn''t relaxed at all since we got here.¡±


    She batted her eyes.


    ¡°A shame. I bet she''s a joy when she''s had a few drinks.¡±


    Joseph rolled his eyes.


    ¡°Right. Whatever,¡± he said, and he left to catch up with the others.


    ***


    Luminary and Becenti sat down at a table by the window. Far below, the citizens of New Ludaya were as multicolored dots on the landscape. Occasionally he would see blasts of power rupture the sky, metahuman abilities taming the land, or cutting down trees, or erecting buildings, or harvesting crops. A cloud hung specifically over one of the fields like a specter, and the rain that sheeted down over it had a pinkish hue.


    Luminary flicked a finger, and Becenti squinted his eyes as a hand formed out of light appeared, moving over to a small kitchen cabinet. It pulled out a few cups, then drifted back to her, setting them out before the two of them. She poured out tea from a pitcher for the both of them. Becenti sipped.


    ¡°Interesting flavor,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Do you... not like it?¡± Luminary said, and her voice was careful.


    ¡°Interesting, not bad,¡± Becenti said, a bit hastily, and he sipped again, ¡°...Yes, I could get used to it. It''s an acquired taste.¡±


    ¡°It''s a blend taken from mixing black tea with milk, along with a plant unique to this plane,¡± Luminary said, ¡°I''ve been wanting to give it a name, but nothing''s come to mind yet.¡±


    She broke into a warm smile.


    ¡°How exciting, isn''t it, Shimmer? That we get to name things again.¡±


    Becenti was quiet. He took another sip. The tea was bitter, the aftertaste having a hint of heat. He looked down at it for a few moments.


    ¡°Luminary,¡± he said, ¡°I... I don''t use Shimmer as my name anymore.¡±


    ¡°O-Oh?¡± Luminary said, ¡°Did you choose a new name? Did your powers evolve?¡±


    ¡°Nothing of the sort,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I just, I... I''m going by my old name now. Myron Becenti.¡±


    For a moment, Luminary stared at him. Her mouth was flickering downwards in an almost-disappointed frown.


    Then, she controlled herself. Leaned in, her hands resting beneath her chin, breaking into a smile.


    (One that was not completely genuine.)


    ¡°Back to using your ''secret identity,'' eh, superhero?¡± she teased.


    ¡°Something like that,¡± Becenti said, refusing the bait, ¡°You can call me Myron. You''re close enough to me for that.¡±


    ¡°Well, very well, then, Myron,¡± Luminary said, ¡°I''ll let the others know.¡±


    ¡°Others?¡±


    ¡°Why, I''ve told everyone here about you,¡± Luminary said, and her finger swirled on the table, ¡°Those who care to listen, anyway. About our adventures. Our time in the war. I... I had no idea you were still alive.¡±


    ¡°I thought you died,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I thought... I thought everyone did.¡±


    ¡°From Old Ludaya.¡±


    Becenti nodded.


    She shook her head.


    ¡°Uzimi the Cloak hid me away. She went along with the other metahumans that Kristandi managed to smuggle off of the plane.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Uzimi, is she here?¡±


    Luminary gave a soft shake of the head.


    ¡°No, Myron,¡± she said, ¡°I''m afraid Uzimi passed away soon after that. She got caught by a Federation patrol on Galapos III.¡±


    Becenti nodded. Swallowed.


    ¡°I see,¡± he said.


    The two of them were quiet.


    Luminary raised up her cup.


    ¡°To dreaming again,¡± she said.


    Becenti, frowning, clinked his own cup with hers. Took another sip.


    ¡°And how did you survive?¡± Luminary said, ¡°You joined a guild, didn''t you?¡±


    ¡°I did,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I... I cut a deal with Kristandi and Valm. The same that let so many of us leave Old Ludaya.¡±


    ¡°You... talked with Valm?¡±


    Becenti was quiet.


    ¡°...Yes, Luminary,¡± he said, ¡°I''ve been... On occasion, he has permitted me to oversee certain metahuman projects in the multiverse.¡±


    Luminary was giving him a disapproving look.


    ¡°It''s not every day, of course,¡± Becenti said, ¡°But it''s better than having a Federation presence there. Did you hear about Death Valley, on Prime?¡±


    ¡°We had a few agents there,¡± Luminary said.


    ¡°Then you know that I was there, as was one of my guildmates,¡± Becenti said, ¡°We were there-¡±


    ¡°-On behalf of the Federation?¡± her words, they were careful. Not accusing, but still tense.


    ¡°On behalf of myself,¡± Becenti said, ¡°But the deal I made with Valm allowed me to ensure that the Federation wasn''t involved.¡±


    His old friend was quiet for a long time. She took a sip of her tea. Looked out the window.


    ¡°...They killed so many of us, Myron,¡± she said.


    ¡°I know,¡± Becenti whispered, his voice tight, ¡°I... I didn''t have a choice. There was just the glassing, and the screams, and I knew that I had to do something. And...¡±


    He was tearing up. His ears were starting to ring with hard memories. Becenti put his hands on the table, controlling himself. Luminary watched his near breakdown, watched as her friend stitched himself back up into Myron Becenti, and when he looked at her again his face was as stone.


    ¡°I''m sorry, Luminary,¡± he said.


    ¡°...I believe you,¡± Luminary said, careful, ¡°You did what you had to do.¡±


    ***


    Dodeca led them out of Mt. Redress, past all of the workers and their tunnels, and out into the sunlight. They went down a mountain path towards the base of the mountain, passing by a few metahumans who were carrying in building supplies, or barrels, or crates of produce.


    ¡°What''s this about?¡± Evancar said, pointing at a rhino-headed man pushing a wheelbarrow filled with grain.


    ¡°We store much of our food in the mountain itself,¡± Dodeca said, ¡°Although there are a few granaries in the farther communes, and discussions about building more. But as of right now, much of the nation''s infrastructure is based on the mountain.¡±


    They went down to the mountain''s base. A few metahumans wearing armor flanked the path leading to the top. Dodeca nodded at them.


    ¡°We''re mostly divided into three classes,¡± Dodeca said, ¡°The Workers who help build and maintain the nation. The Warriors are those of us with metahuman abilities deemed fit for combat.¡±


    ¡°To protect yourselves!¡± Evancar said.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Dodeca said, and she gave a scowl, ¡°And then there is the ruling body. The Council and their retainers.¡±


    ¡°Like Luminary.¡±


    ¡°And my father,¡± Dodeca said, ¡°Who is approaching now.¡±


    Indeed, a small retinue of metahumans was coming up towards the mountain. An older man was at their head, dressed in a nice blue pinstripe suit, his long yellow hair tied up in a series of knots, his short beard scored with a few stripes of gray. He broke out into a smile at the sight of Dodeca.


    ¡°Ah, my daughter,¡± he said, and he strode forward ahead of his retinue, embracing her. Dodeca frowned, patting her father on the head, for she was far taller than him.


    ¡°Father,¡± she said, and then to one of the people in his entourage, ¡°Snapdragon.¡±


    Snapdragon gave a curt nod. They were almost Dodeca''s height, the top half of their face veiled by a scaled wood mask.


    ¡°Guiding some tourists, eh?¡± the older metahuman looked at Dodeca''s group, ¡°Always good to see some new faces.¡±


    He extended out a hand.


    ¡°Nomatrius Dorucanthos, Head of the Dorucanthos Family, Seat of Commerce on the Council.¡±


    ¡°P-Professor Evancar Morandus, guild archaeologist,¡± Evancar shook the hand with a bit of a weak grip.


    ¡°An archaeologist?¡± Nomatrius said, ¡°Well, not much of that here. This is a pristine plane.¡±


    He smiled.


    ¡°But! Who knows. A couple thousand years, and your descendants will be sifting through here. Unless you''re one of those long-lived folks.¡±


    ¡°Ah, no. Just a human. Baseline, human,¡± Evancar said.


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Nomatrius said. He gave a nod at that.


    ¡°Father,¡± Dodeca said, ¡°We were just leaving.¡±


    ¡°And you have the council session,¡± Snapdragon said.


    ¡°Yes. Yes,¡± Nomatrius nodded, re-centering himself, ¡°Well, I''d love to stop and chat. But, duty calls. That''s the problem with nation-building: You don''t have free time.¡±


    He gave Evancar a conspiratorial wink, saluted the others, and then headed off.


    ¡°Good seeing you, Dodeca,¡± Snapdragon said. They smiled.


    Dodeca gave them a hard glare in answer. Snapdragon returned to frowning, and left with the rest of the entourage.


    Joseph sidled up to Dodeca.


    ¡°Sibling?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Oldest of us,¡± Dodeca growled.


    ¡°Ruling class?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°And what are you?¡± Joseph prodded.


    ¡°I''m part of it as well, but I don''t exactly have the charisma for it,¡± she said, ¡°I''d rather be a Warrior.¡±


    ¡°And why aren''t you?¡± Joseph asked.


    She turned, glared at him. Brought up a hand, revealing a second thumb next to the pinkie.


    ¡°This is my metahuman gift,¡± she said, ¡°Snapdragon can turn themself into a half-Dragon, and I have another thumb. You do the math.¡±


    She shouldered past him.


    ¡°Let''s go, people!¡± she said, ¡°Keep walking!¡±


    ¡°Yay!¡± Iandi roared, and he trudged along after her.


    Nasir looked at Joseph.


    ¡°Classes, eh?¡± he said, ¡°A caste system?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph said, shaking his head, ¡°That''s...¡±


    He didn''t voice his concern. But his brow was furrowed. This would be a better talk with Becenti.


    ¡°Aye,¡± Nasir said, ¡°Better to just observe for now.¡±


    They kept walking.


    ***


    ¡°Why, I think I can see them,¡± Luminary said.


    She had taken out a spyglass, pointing it down towards the base of the mountain below.


    ¡°Joseph and the rest?¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Yes. I believe so, anyways. Here,¡± Luminary handed Becenti the spyglass. He looked down below. Indeed, there was his guild. Joseph, Nasir, Iandi, and Evancar.


    ¡°But no Aldreia,¡± Becenti muttered, ¡°I do hope she hasn''t taken to finding a bar.¡±


    ¡°We''ve got a few down there,¡± Luminary said, chuckling, ¡°We could go to one, if you want. Like old times.¡±


    ¡°I don''t drink anymore,¡± Becenti said, his voice curt.


    ¡°Oh,¡± Luminary said, ¡°I... Apologies.¡±


    He shook his head.


    ¡°It''s fine.¡±


    He looked out the window, lost in thought.


    ¡°The years after the war''s end were hard,¡± he said, at length, ¡°I... Alcohol was an easy escape. A bit too easy. I stopped when I joined the Amber Foundation. Wakeling helped me recover.¡±


    ¡°Ah, yes, your guild.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Are they good to you?¡± Luminary asked.


    Becenti nodded. And he smiled.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    ¡°They mean the world to me, Luminary,¡± he said, ¡°I... you''d love them.¡±


    ¡°Are there any metahumans in their number?¡±


    ¡°There''s Joseph,¡± Becenti said, ¡°He''s got an awakened soul. It''s been made physical. Takes the form of a humanoid eagle made of electricity. He''s angry a lot.¡±


    ¡°I can''t blame him,¡± Luminary said.


    ¡°But he''s a good kid,¡± Becenti said, ¡°He''s here, you know. You should meet him.¡±


    ¡°I should,¡± Luminary said.


    ¡°Nasir and Iandi are here, too,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Nasir''s from Last Stand-¡±


    Luminary winced.


    ¡°-Iandi''s from Zult.¡±


    ¡°A Mark Eta?¡± Luminary said.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Becenti said, ¡°They wrote him off as a failure after their experiments changed his mental state. Nasir found him a bit later. They''ve been together ever since.¡±


    ¡°Mmm,¡± Luminary said, ¡°And what about Aldreia?¡±


    ¡°A former priestess to Pelliad,¡± Becenti said, ¡°She was cast out of her order for... fraternizing with the other priestesses, we''ll say.¡±


    ¡°A guild of the rejects, Myron,¡± Luminary said, laughing.


    ¡°Isn''t that what all guilds are?¡± Becenti said, chuckling.


    ¡°And what about this... Evancar Morandus?¡±


    ¡°He''s an archaeologist,¡± Becenti said, his voice suddenly flat.


    ¡°Ah,¡± Luminary said, ¡°One of those archaeologists, hmm?¡±


    ¡°He... can be,¡± Becenti said, ¡°When he forgets himself.¡±


    ¡°Well, I''m afraid to say he won''t find anything here,¡± Luminary said. She gestured out the window, ¡°This is a virgin plane, Myron. Newborn and ready for settling.¡±


    ***


    They went through the forest. And it was there that Joseph saw him.


    Meloche. The metahuman with a shell of sap covering his body, he was sitting on a tree stump, children gathered around him, their eyes wide in wonder as he moved his body, evidently in the middle of a story.


    ¡°Joseph,¡± Dodeca said, ¡°We''re moving on.¡±


    She looked over at him, followed his gaze to the philosopher.


    ¡°That''s Meloche,¡± she said, ¡°Part of the Workers class.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I know him,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I''ll catch up with you. Keep going.¡±


    ¡°I''m supposed to keep all of you with me.¡±


    ¡°And that Stonemaker guy said you could request any help you need, right?¡± Joseph said, ¡°Meloche can ¡®look after me,¡¯ or whatever. I''ll meet up with you guys for dinner.¡±


    Dodeca thought about this. Then, glad to be rid of one of her tourists, nodded and kept going on. Joseph leaned against a tree, watching Meloche''s class. The sapman was rising up, gesturing towards the sky.


    ¡°And from there, High King Coral struck,¡± he said, ¡°The reef splintered, and rose at his command, ensnaring the starship high above.¡±


    One of the children, a little girl with a mantid''s arms, brought her claws to her mouth with a gasp.


    ¡°With a great shout!¡± Meloche roared, ¡°He used his power, and pulled the starship to the sea below. The Alu''eer who commanded the starship rose from his throne. He walked on the sea, for the First Men were able to do so, in those days, and upon reaching the shore, he bowed to Coral.¡±


    He kneeled.


    ¡°He and High King Coral talked long into the night, and deep into the day. When it was over, the Alu''eer left, leaving Armagest and allowing it to flourish. For a time, at least.¡±


    And, finally, Meloche noted Joseph. The philosopher froze at the sight of him, before turning his attention back to the children.


    ¡°But that, I think, is a story for another day.¡±


    The children started speaking up in a series of ''awws'' and ''but-just-one-mores,'' but Meloche brought up a hand in silence.


    ¡°You have your other classes, my friends,¡± he said, ¡°Go on now, we will continue our lessons tomorrow.¡±


    The children got up, jabbering to each other, a couple dancing and skipping away from Meloche''s clearing. One of them, the one with indigo wings, took to the sky above her classmates. Joseph approached the old philosopher as he rose up. They clasped hands.


    ¡°Joseph Zheng,¡± he said, ¡°As I live and breathe.¡±


    ¡°Good to see you, Meloche,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I see you''re in your element.¡±


    ¡°Ha!¡± Meloche said, ¡°Yes. I found out about New Ludaya soon after Prime. It''s...¡±


    He watched the children leave. Already, another teacher was collecting them, scooping them up in laughing bundles with her multiple, wave-like arms.


    ¡°It''s good, Joseph,¡± Meloche said, ¡°It feels good to dream again.¡±


    He looked over at Joseph.


    ¡°And what of you?¡± he said, ¡°What have you done since InterGuild?¡±


    ¡°Oh, a bit of this, a bit of that,¡± Joseph said, scratching the back of his head again, ¡°Sorry, by the way, for messing things up with Bulg.¡±


    Meloche shrugged.


    ¡°A business contact,¡± he said, ¡°Nothing more. Nothing personal. I''m more concerned about you. Did you find a way back to Earth?¡±


    ¡°I... had some realizations,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Decided I was happier out here.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Meloche said, ¡°Well, I am very glad to see you again. And to see you in good health.¡±


    Joseph laughed, though it was a touch bitter. Meloche slapped him on the back.


    ¡°Come!¡± he said, ¡°I''ve finished teaching for the day. Let me get you a drink.¡±


    ¡°I''d like that,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Lead the way.¡±


    ***


    Someone knocked on Luminary''s door. She looked over.


    ¡°Come in,¡± she said.


    Mister Meaning strode inside, bowing to the two of them.


    ¡°Ms. Luminary, Mr. Shimmer-¡±


    ¡°He goes by ''Becenti,'' now,¡± Luminary said.


    ¡°Ah!¡± Mister Meaning said, ¡°Mr. Becenti. Your pardon, but it''s time for the Council session.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Luminary said, and she rose, ¡°Myron, you''ve got to see this. The Council is convening for this week''s moot. I want you to meet the ruling body. See who we''ve all got here.¡±


    ¡°R-Ruling body?¡±


    ¡°Why, of course,¡± Luminary said, and already she was getting up, donning a white shawl from her dresser, ¡°If one is to have a nation, should there not be people to govern it?¡±


    ¡°We didn''t have a ruling body on Old Ludaya.¡±


    ¡°We didn''t have the time to get one set up,¡± Luminary said, ¡°But here? Time has been our ally, Myron. We''ve got a council and everything. We''ve even started up the beginnings of a constitution.¡±


    She smiled.


    ¡°Come. Let me show you.¡±


    ***


    The Council met at the top of the mountain. Pauldros the Stonemaker was, once more, the architect, having carved a rectangular meeting place into the tallest spire of Mt. Redress, carved in such a way that it was indented into the stone, the walls of the spire hemming them in on all sides. Luminary''s light dressed the place, lit up the darkness, so that even though it was almost cave-like, the only source of natural light coming from the single square opening high above, Becenti was able to see the members of the Council just fine.


    The center of the room was dominated by a rectangular stone table, upon which a map of New Ludaya was lovingly molded, every river and every tree, every lake and hill, cast in painstaking detail, rising out of the ground like a holographic map. The plane, Becenti noted, was ringed in by a great mountain range, like a serpent biting its own tail. Mt. Redress stood tallest, at its southernmost tip.


    Chairs were set at the table, stone chairs, like the rest of the place. Three to one side, two to another, one on the northern and southern sides. Luminary took her place at the northern side of the table. She sat alone.


    We have already described two of the members. Nomatrius Dorucanthos, head of the Dorucanthos family, Seat of Commerce, sat at Luminary''s left. He had an easy smile as he leaned back in his chair. Pauldros the Stonemaker sat beside him, and his each impatient tap on the table''s surface made the room ripple.


    Across from them were Lord Freak, the Pit, and Iconoclast. Lord Freak was wrapped up in a strange union of a scientist''s lab coat and an alchemist''s robes, and there was the stench of fresh experimentation about him, chemicals and cleaner and perhaps blood, and he was smiling his shark-toothed smile. His metahuman ability was to have a shark''s teeth, and nothing else. They did not keep him around for his metagene.


    He was the Seat of Science.


    The Pit was wrapped up in blood red robes. She kept to herself, glaring with sunken eyes at Becenti in the corner. Her skin was chalk-white, and she was bald, though not by choice ¨C she once had been prisoner in a Federation internment camp, and they had used a special shampoo to deaden her hair follicles so that nothing would grow, a ruin upon her head. Scars both surgical and weapon-made danced on her scalp instead of hair.


    She was the Seat of Magic, and she always looked pregnant, her body swollen with demonic pacts and beasts won by aggressive negotiation. One did not learn about demons without learning their trade.


    Beside her was Iconoclast, the Seat of History. He was a tall man, muscular and hale, the youngest of the members of the Council ¨C perhaps in his thirties, Becenti mused. He was Asian, or whatever his world''s equivalent to that was, and he kept his arms bare and crossed over his chest, his vest a decorative piece of vines and wooden pauldrons. There was no metal on his form. Iconoclast''s power was anathema to it. He kept his hair short and his eyes were hard. Becenti had seen his kind before. Pain had made him ruthless. A warrior, above all else.


    Sitting across from Luminary was Memoire. Becenti had only heard stories of her. Her skin was composed of words and letters, symbols such as eagle-headed men and political iconography. The unspoken, unrealized thoughts of the multiverse crawled on her skin like ants. Her hair was wild and askew, the tip of each of her ragged braids ending in a question mark, and her eyes were wide and dew-filled.


    She was the Seat of Ritual and Secrets. She looked at Luminary nervously.


    Luminary smiled.


    ¡°Gathered friends,¡± she said, ¡°Let us begin. As the Seat of Warfare, I open up this sixty-fourth meeting of the Council of New Ludaya. Here, we will discuss our nation. But before we begin, I will note our observers.¡±


    The Council shifted, and now everyone was looking at Becenti.


    ¡°Myron Becenti,¡± Luminary said, ¡°Here from distant Londoa. He is an old friend of mine. You may recognize him.¡±


    ¡°Hail, war hero,¡± Iconoclast said, smirking, ¡°Your reputation precedes you.¡±


    ¡°Y-You do not use your other name?¡± Memoire said in her high, reedy voice, ¡°Y-You a-are among friends.¡±


    (She forced out this last word with some difficulty.)


    Becenti shook his head, giving her a good-natured smile.


    ¡°Just Becenti, for now.¡±


    They nodded, accepting this answer.


    Pauldros the Stonemaker rose from his seat.


    ¡°I''d like to present another observer. Someone who will also make her grievances known.¡±


    Something flickered in Luminary''s eyes.


    ¡°Oh?¡± she said, and her voice was a tad barbed.


    Pauldros gestured, and a figure emerged from one of the staircases. A woman, in simple construction gear, her eyes glowing a shining yellow, like citrines.


    ¡°Lunus Oculus, of the Workers class,¡± Pauldros the Stonemaker said, ¡°She is here as my personal guest.¡±


    ***


    The bar that Meloche brought Joseph to was called the Dancing Dragon, and a depiction of one of the serpentine beings wound its way around the top of the building, its head resting just above the door. Joseph smiled at it, noted that the Dragon had three eyes, just like the one that had awoken him a few years ago.


    It was near the end of second shift, so many patrons were at the bar. The person tending the bar had multiple arms, each one of a different kind, tentacled or scaled or feathered or furred, and they were passing out drink after drink to exhausted Workers. A metahuman in the corner was playing music, guitar strings running from their neck to their stomach, with a hole in their chest to better amplify the acoustics.


    Meloche and Joseph sat down at a table in the corner of the room, and a server came over and took their orders.


    ¡°Ah, Ellian brandy for me,¡± Meloche said, ¡°Joseph?¡±


    ¡°Same,¡± Joseph said. The server jotted the order, and walked away.


    ¡°Have you ever had it?¡± Meloche asked.


    ¡°Nah,¡± Joseph said, ¡°But trips are for experimentation, right?¡±


    ¡°Ha!¡± Meloche said, ¡°You''ll like it. It''s a smooth sort of after-dinner drink from Aristocrat''s Abyss.¡±


    Joseph raised an eyebrow at that.


    ¡°Not exactly the drink for this kind of crowd, is it?¡± he said, watching them laugh. The music began to take on a more energetic melody.


    ¡°You learn not to care as much, as time goes on,¡± Meloche said, ¡°I want brandy, so I''m getting brandy.¡±


    The server set down the drinks. They clinked glasses, and sipped. It was strong and tasted of golden raisins. Joseph put it down, swilling it in his glass for a second.


    ¡°Not bad,¡± he said.


    ¡°Takes just a bit of getting used to,¡± Meloche said, ¡°That aftertaste is from the fruit from that area. It''s sort of bittersweet.¡±


    ¡°Mmm,¡± Joseph said.


    Someone walked in. Meloche looked over.


    ¡°Oh!¡± he said, ¡°Fractal! Over here!¡±


    Joseph turned around. A woman was walking over. She was tall, with braided dark hair and beetle black eyes. She was wearing a sari with a swirling design, blue in color, patterned with small beads and shells.


    (Her mother''s wedding dress, now a Warrior''s uniform.)


    ¡°Meloche,¡± she said, ¡°How good to see you. You have a friend?¡±


    ¡°This is Joseph Zheng, from off-plane,¡± Meloche said, ¡°Old friend of mine. Do you remember when I told you about Death Valley?¡±


    ¡°Ah!¡± Fractal said, and her haughty eyes grew wide, ¡°Yes! The eagle-man.¡±


    She tilted her head at him.


    ¡°You''re not as tall as I thought.¡±


    Joseph raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°Tell me,¡± Fractal said, ¡°Your power, when your soul is not manifested, where does it hide?¡±


    Joseph looked at Meloche.


    ¡°I guess my reputation precedes me,¡± he said.


    ¡°Apologies, Joseph,¡± Meloche said, ¡°I like to tell stories, and yours is a good one.¡±


    Joseph smirked at that.


    ¡°I guess it is, isn''t it?¡± he said, before saying to Fractal, ¡°It sits in my stomach. My body''s been reworked so it can move around like it''s on an electric circuit. That''s how it gains power.¡±


    ¡°So it''s your weak point,¡± Fractal said.


    ¡°Hey, now,¡± Joseph said, ¡°No one ever said anything about that. I keep my guard up.¡±


    ¡°And yet,¡± Fractal said, her smile becoming arrogant, ¡°You''ve just told me more about your power. I have this knowledge over you, and yet you know nothing about what I can do.¡±


    Joseph smiled back at her, but his eyes betrayed a sudden hardness, a flush of anger.


    ¡°Well,¡± he breathed, ¡°Thought I was among friends.¡±


    ¡°To many, metahuman abilities are the source of their greatest strength,¡± Fractal said, ¡°They are not to be simply revealed in idle curiosity.¡±


    ¡°And it''s a sign of confidence,¡± Joseph countered, ¡°To let others know what you can do, because they can''t do anything about it.¡±


    Fractal tilted her head.


    ¡°And you believe you can... take me?¡±


    ¡°I''ve taken my licks,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I can take more.¡±


    For a moment, the two glared at each other. Meloche prepared to intervene, if things escalated.


    Then, Fractal let out a barking laugh. Joseph gave a savage grin.


    ¡°Good!¡± she said, ¡°He''s as tough as you say. Mind if I sit with you?¡±


    ¡°Be my guest,¡± Joseph said, and he scooted over for the taller woman to sit down. Fractal took her place, and a server came over with her usual order of a bright pink cocktail with a cherry.


    ***


    ¡°Gathered friends,¡± Pauldros the Stonemaker said, ¡°I request that Lunus Oculus take the floor.¡±


    ¡°To air grievances,¡± Luminary said, with a grandmother¡¯s patience.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Pauldros said, ¡°She represents a group of metahumans who are all of the Worker class, who have been concerned about certain aspects of the work they have been doing.¡±


    Lunus Oculus nodded gratefully to him. Becenti, in his corner of the room, leaned back against the wall. He noted Luminary''s gaze flicker over to him for a split second.


    ¡°You have the floor,¡± Luminary said to Lunus Oculus. Lunus Oculus nodded, moving forward so she was standing at the corner of the table between Pauldros and Memoire. Memoire flinched. Pauldros smiled.


    ¡°Hello,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°My metahuman name is Lunus Oculus. I am a member of the Workers class, and I represent a gathering of us who have some concerns about a few recent decisions that have been brought down by the Council.¡±


    She paused, waiting for any comment. When there was none, she continued.


    ¡°Recently, our workload has tripled in scope,¡± she said, ¡°Especially in relation to the recent excavations into the Simhdal Caverns, which has proven to be dangerous work. Already, we have had several cave-ins. The designs provided to us are...¡±


    She hesitated. Pauldros the Stonemaker nodded to her.


    ¡°Are odd,¡± she said, ¡°And... they make the structure frail.¡±


    ¡°Is not Pauldros the Stonemaker in charge of the architecture?¡± the Pit said.


    ¡°Not here,¡± Pauldros said, ¡°It''s...¡±


    He looked over at Luminary.


    ¡°It''s a project under the Seat of War,¡± he said, ¡°I think it was Molesque that drafted the designs.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Luminary said, ¡°It''s a... personal project of mine, for the future of the nation.¡±


    ¡°And yet,¡± the Pit said, ¡°Not under the Seat of Infrastructure?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Luminary said.


    ¡°What is it, then?¡± Lunus Oculus said, and then added, ¡°Respectfully. Molesque simply tells us where to build, or where to dig, and little else.¡±


    ¡°A project for the future of the nation,¡± Luminary said.


    There was some pause. Becenti looked hard at his old friend. This was not like her.


    ¡°Rest assured,¡± Luminary said, ¡°It''s something that will benefit the nation. The Seat of Commerce is already aware of the costs incurred for it, as well as the workforce required for its construction.¡±


    All eyes turned to Nomatrius Dorucanthos, who shrugged.


    ¡°There are a couple contracts related to it,¡± he said, ¡°I haven''t delved in too deeply. But I''m aware, and it''s in the budget.¡±


    ¡°What is it, Luminary?¡± the Pit pushed, ¡°I think it would be good, for the sake of transparency, for us to know.¡±


    ¡°I agree,¡± Pauldros the Stonemaker said, giving Luminary a pointed look.


    There was a tense pause. Luminary seemed to suppress a grimace.


    ¡°It''s a factory,¡± she said, ¡°...Nothing more.¡±


    She looked at Lunus Oculus.


    ¡°Is that all?¡± she said.


    ¡°No,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°There''s also the role that the Worker class has been playing in New Ludayan society.¡±


    Another awkward silence.


    ¡°Continue,¡± Pauldros the Stonemaker said.


    ¡°There''s the fact that we aren''t getting as much food as the Warriors,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°Nor are we being considered when it comes to major decisions here on the Council. In many cases, if there is a dispute between a Warrior and a Worker, the Council decides on the Warrior''s argument.¡±


    ¡°More often than not, because the Warrior''s argument is sound,¡± Iconoclast said.


    ¡°Not necessarily,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°There was the matter of the Crystal Lake neighborhoods, which was a community center used by the Workers, where we lived and raised our families. When it came time to expand the Warrior class during the recent series of Awakenings, many of the Workers were forced to relocate.¡±


    ¡°But all of New Ludaya is a paradise,¡± Luminary said, ¡°You were given the pick of the plane for relocation.¡±


    ¡°But it was our home,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°And we did not have a say in the matter.¡±


    ¡°I... see,¡± Luminary said, ¡°That... hmm.¡±


    ¡°She''s got a point,¡± Nomatrius Dorucanthos said, ¡°That was kind of a clusterfuck anyways, wasn''t it?¡±


    ¡°What is your solution to this?¡± Luminary asked.


    ¡°I recommend,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°That we be allowed a seat on the council. A Seat of Workers.¡±


    ¡°We already have a role that fulfills such a need,¡± Iconoclast said, ¡°Pauldros the Stonemaker is the Seat of Infrastructure.¡±


    ¡°With respect,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°Pauldros the Stonemaker is not on the ground actively. He is an admirable organizer, but he is not involved in every project that the Worker class is involved in.¡±


    ¡°Would we have a representative from the Warrior class, as well?¡± Luminary said, ¡°What about the Rulers class, which we are already a part of?¡±


    ¡°If the Warriors wish for a representative, then they should be allowed one as well,¡± Lunus Oculus said.


    There was another pause. Luminary cleared her throat.


    ¡°The Council will consider your suggestion, Lunus Oculus,¡± she said, ¡°But, like all decisions, it must be one with patient deliberation. We will discuss this, and then give you your answer.¡±


    There was something in the Founder''s words that made one of Lunus Oculus''s burning yellow eyes twitch. But she nodded.


    ¡°Of course,¡± she said.


    ¡°You are dismissed,¡± Luminary said.


    ¡°Thank you for your time,¡± Lunus Oculus said. And she moved out of the chamber. Luminary looked to the rest of the group.


    ¡°Now,¡± she said, ¡°With that distraction out of the way, I would like to turn our attention to more important matters. Several of our spies have reported...¡±


    ***


    ¡°So,¡± Joseph said, ¡°A member of the Warrior class, right?¡±


    Fractal took a sip of her cocktail before answering. The music continued its erratic tone, as the musician, while still playing, shotgunned a beer.


    ¡°Yes,¡± she said, ¡°It''s nothing special. It just means more military training, more use of our powers for when the Federation inevitably finds out about us.¡±


    ¡°And what does being in the Warrior class mean, exactly?¡± Joseph said, ¡°How do you get in?¡±


    ¡°Your power needs to be evaluated by someone in the Ruler class,¡± Fractal said, ¡°Usually there are specific inspectors. They determine if your ability can be used in an active combat scenario, or provides an advantage others normally would not have.¡±


    ¡°So, powers over fire, or acid, or something,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Or electricity,¡± Fractal said, smirking, ¡°Oh, I know a few drill instructors who would love to see you fight.¡±


    Joseph shrugged.


    ¡°We can set something up later,¡± he said.


    Fractal took another drink. Joseph sipped at his brandy. His brow furrowed, and he jabbed a thumb at Meloche.


    ¡°I know Meloche here is a fighter,¡± he said, ¡°He survived Death Valley. Took a few good swings, too. Why isn''t he a Warrior?¡±


    ¡°Because the instructor deemed that his ability wasn''t the most combat capable,¡± Fractal said.


    ¡°What about the bartender, over there?¡± Joseph said, ¡°Multiple arms. Multiple weapons.¡±


    ¡°You''d need to ask them yourself,¡± Fractal said, ¡°I wasn''t there for their inspection. Probably didn''t pass because of their own personality.¡±


    She paused at this, looking at her drink.


    ¡°All of us are survivors. But not all of us are fighters.¡±


    There was a somber look on her face. For a moment, her facade dropped. Joseph, noting this leaned in.


    ¡°Hey, world needs all kinds, right?¡± he said.


    ¡°...Yes,¡± Fractal said, ¡°And that is why the Warrior class is there. We will defend New Ludaya, when the time comes.¡±


    She smiled again.


    ¡°But enough about that. What of you? You are a man of the multiverse, aren''t you?¡±


    ¡°Not just a man of the multiverse,¡± Meloche said, ¡°Joseph''s in a guild. Amber Foundation.¡±


    ¡°A-Amber Foundation?¡± Fractal said, and at this her eyes widened, ¡°Titania Amber''s guild?¡±


    ¡°You a fan?¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Fractal said, ¡°She visited my Nani¡¯s village when Nani was a young girl. I grew up hearing stories about her.¡±


    ¡°All true, I hope,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Does it matter?¡± Fractal said, ¡°Most of them were probably not. Embellishments from her childhood. Or made-up fairy tales. But they mattered to her, and they matter to me.¡±


    She looked at Joseph, and her smile grew manic.


    ¡°And now,¡± she said, ¡°A member of her guild is here. Tell me, is it as they say?¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Joseph said, ¡°All adventure?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°There''s a lot of fighting,¡± Joseph said, ¡°More than you''d think, actually.¡±


    At this, Fractal''s eyes started to dazzle. Joseph couldn''t help but laugh.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said, ¡°What do you want to know?¡±


    ¡°Your toughest fight.¡±


    ¡°Ah, hell,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Probably... I don''t know, Mordenaro?¡±


    ¡°You faced Mordenaro?¡±


    ¡°Well, it wasn''t much,¡± Joseph said, ¡°He was throwing us around like ragdolls for most of it, but I got a few good licks in...¡±


    He talked to Fractal about his journey. She told him about her training on New Ludaya. More drinks were poured. More music played.


    And they spoke long into the day.

 139. THE IDEALISTS AND THE CYNICS

    ¡°And here is where we live,¡± Dodeca drawled on, rolling her eyes, ¡°The Warriors, at least.¡±


    ¡°Water!¡± Iandi roared.


    They were by the largest lake on the plane, a sparkling, silverish gap of water. Sailboats trawled along, nets collecting up fish, a few metahumans with water-based abilities diving below into the depths. One of them, a woman with her bottom half replaced by a dolphin''s tail, breached the surface, spun in the air, droplets spraying around her like shards of glass, before she cut back into the lake. A few people were playing on the beach, teenagers with their awkward gaits running into the water like drunken swans, guffawing and splashing their friends. One twisted their hand, producing a firecracker, which they threw at their brother, who let out a mirthful gasp of surprise as it struck his side.


    ¡°Nasir,¡± Iandi said, and his voice was hopeful, ¡°I go...?¡±


    Nasir thought on this, scratching his beard, looking at the groups of metahumans. The old tracker looked at Dodeca.


    ¡°He wants to play with them,¡± he said.


    Dodeca looked out, grimacing for a moment, before shrugging.


    ¡°He won''t hurt them?¡±


    ¡°He won''t hurt anyone,¡± Nasir said, defensive, ¡°He just wants to have fun.¡±


    The metahuman with the firecracker let out a yelp as their brother raised a hand, a wave rippling from where he was, waist-height, in the water. It rolled at his command into his sibling, who was completely subsumed. They came back up to the surface, spluttering and cursing, almost twenty feet from where they had been.


    ¡°He can take whatever those are, too,¡± Nasir said, ¡°He knows this is a safe place.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Dodeca said, ¡°Alright.¡±


    ¡°You heard the lady,¡± Nasir said, ¡°Go have fun.¡±


    Nasir broke out into a wide smile, running full bore towards the water. A few metahumans looked up at him in shock, before the one who had created the wave smiled at him and ran over to greet him.


    Dodeca crossed her arms, watching Iandi introduce himself to the teenagers.


    ¡°I know those two,¡± Dodeca said, ¡°Sparks and Wavemaker. They came alone, if I recall.¡±


    ¡°Refugees?¡± Nasir asked.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Dodeca said, ¡°All of us are. Even the Dorucanthos family.¡±


    Evancar scratched his chin.


    ¡°I''ve heard of you,¡± he said, ¡°A prominent merchant family, from the Qualladian Paradigm, yes?¡±


    Dodeca nodded.


    ¡°Yes,¡± she said, ¡°My... father, is in charge of the family business. He brought us here, after a few deals went south.¡±


    ¡°New Ludaya''s an investment,¡± Nasir said.


    ¡°To be blunt, yes,¡± Dodeca said, ¡°He brought the entire family here. My siblings. My niece. I''m sure you''ll meet them, in time.¡±


    Wavemaker was bringing up another wave, sending it towards Iandi. Iandi laughed as it rippled beneath him, carrying him further out into the water. With great breaststrokes, he swam back to his little grouping of new friends.


    ¡°It''s a beautiful place,¡± Aldreia said, ¡°I''m impressed that you found it. And so close to the Silver Eye.¡±


    ¡°Surprised there aren''t any ruins,¡± Evancar said, scratching his chin, ¡°None at all.¡±


    ¡°We were... lucky,¡± Dodeca said.


    Evancar looked over at her.


    ¡°How long has New Ludaya been in forecast?¡± he asked.


    ¡°I''m not sure,¡± Dodeca said, ¡°All I know is that it will leave forecast in about a decade.¡±


    ¡°Ten years, right under the Federation''s nose?¡± Evancar said, ¡°That''s a risky business. Especially when the other side is the Silver Eye itself.¡±


    Dodeca glowered down at him.


    ¡°I assure you,¡± she said, ¡°New Ludaya is perfectly safe. Impellia III is in one of the most distant parts of the galaxy. And even if the Federation does come, we will be ready.¡±


    There was a sureness to her voice.


    (Though she did not feel it in her heart.)


    ¡°...I see,¡± Evancar said, ¡°You have the Warrior class.¡±


    ¡°All New Ludayans are required to undergo military training,¡± Dodeca said, ¡°Even the Workers. Even those of us still sleeping.¡±


    ¡°S-Sleeping?¡± Aldreia asked, tilting her head.


    ¡°Those metahumans who have yet to awaken,¡± Dodeca said, ¡°Ah, those of who don''t have their powers yet.¡±


    ¡°Joe used to be like that,¡± Nasir noted, ¡°When he first arrived. He went meta on his first job.¡±


    Dodeca''s nose curled.


    ¡°A crass term,¡± she said.


    ¡°Oh,¡± Nasir said, ¡°Apologies.¡±


    Now Iandi was picking up one of the children now, lifting her onto his broad shoulders. She was letting out squeals of delight as Iandi threw her into the water.


    Evancar was biting his thumb, lost in thought. He adjusted his glasses.


    ¡°It is so odd,¡± he said, ¡°This place is pristine. And seems to be on a long-term forecast. You''re... you''re sure it hasn''t ever been inhabited before? Not even an old Fedtek outpost?¡±


    Dodeca''s brow furrowed. It took her a long moment before she spoke again.


    ¡°...No,¡± she said, ¡°Not as far as the nation is aware.¡±


    ***


    The day turned to night. The sun on New Ludaya wavered and dipped below the mountains. The plane was a geocentric one ¨C the sun orbited the earth, flat as it was, a disc floating in a pool of space. The stars, it had been identified, were glowing beetles that crawled on the inner surface of the plane. Such beetles were native to other parts of the multiverse, were said to infest other similar planes. They hardly moved, these planet-sized beings.


    There were discussions in the Council, of eventually moving to settle atop them. The ancient Epochians had been able to do so, once upon a time. So why not now?


    But that was a debate for another day.


    We should describe Analyza. Small and scrawny, despite being thirty-two years of age. She was dark-skinned, with frazzled hair and eyes with square-shaped pupils, a result of her metahuman power to understand and break down the components of anything she cast her gaze upon. The walls, to her, were not simply walls. They were forty percent wooden and forty percent stone, twenty percent glass, with a few other miscellaneous materials that had no bearing on the structure as a whole. The wind was not simply wind, but rather a mixture of gasses and microscopic debris, oxygen and carbon dioxide and bits of dust and sand and seeds from the many trees on the plane.


    She was of the Worker class, and as such was involved in the building of new homes for the New Ludayans. Her metapower was used to great effect here. But it was exhausting work, and she found herself wiped as she got home to her little brickwork home, leaning back on the couch and warming her hands and feet at the fireplace.


    She ate dinner alone, though she left some of it for Pocket, when she got home. Soup boiled quietly on the stove, meat and corn floating in a savory broth. Analyza did nothing but wait for her wife to come home, staring intently at the fire, mentally picking at each and every chemical and every gas that the flames created.


    Then, at last, the door opened. Pocket walked inside, groaning. She was tall, and her body was covered in a series of slits ¨C individual portals to pocket dimensions. In truth, Analyza''s wife was a walking armory, brimming with weapons from across the multiverse, Fedtek plasma weaponry, kinetic rifles, blades and axes, spears and bows, even a Banetech grenade from the now-glassed Umulus Amulus. Analyza heard her move over into the kitchen, ladle out some soup into a bowl. Then, Pocket walked over and sidled next to her on the couch. There were deep rings under her eyes as she ate.


    ¡°Long day?¡± Analyza said.


    ¡°Mmm.¡±


    ¡°What''d you do, Pock?¡±


    ¡°Guarded the Traveling Point,¡± Analyza said, ¡°Ran some scans on the surrounding sectors. The usual.¡±


    She rubbed her temple. Looked at Analyza for a few moments, hesitant about something.


    Then¡­


    ¡°...Ana,¡± she said, ¡°Do you remember Death Valley?¡±


    ¡°Of course I do, ya dummy,¡± Analyza said, though there was a tremor to her voice, ¡°Who could forget?¡±


    ¡°There was a metahuman there. Joseph Zheng. With Meloche and Oliphant.¡±


    Oliphant. Just the name of the man from Prime sent a ripple up Analyza''s spine. She nodded, gulping.


    ¡°Yeah. He isn''t here, is he?¡±


    ¡°He is. And so is Becenti,¡± Pocket said, ¡°Just wanted to warn you, in case you run into him.¡±


    ¡°We already ran into Meloche,¡± Analyza said, ¡°We broke bread with him. We''re fine now.¡±


    Pocket was quiet. Analyza knew she was in the past, recalling those final moments facing Oliphant. Her begging Oliphant to spare her wife. The empty look in the man''s eyes, this second coming of Silver Arthur. Analyza had grown up on Prime. She knew of Silver Arthur''s deeds, his heroism.


    She had seen none of that in the new leader of the Silver Knights.


    ¡°And how was your day, my love?¡± Pocket said.


    ¡°Oh, it was nothing,¡± Analyza said, ¡°Worked on building up a few new houses. Had an audience with Lord Freak about a couple samples he provided to me for study. It was fine. Nothing really happened, nothing...¡±


    She let out a heavy sigh, leaned her head against Pocket''s shoulder.


    ¡°...What are we doing, Pock?¡± she said, ¡°This whole charade?¡±


    Pocket glanced at her wife.


    ¡°Oh?¡±


    ¡°I just...¡± Analyza sighed, ¡°It feels so weird. I don''t like it.¡±


    ¡°You don''t like being here, with me?¡± Pocket mused, smiling.


    ¡°N-No!¡± Analyza said, ¡°It''s not you. It''s never you. Don''t you even joke about that, don''t...¡±


    She was working herself up, hyperventilating. Pocket stroked her head, soothing her. After a few minutes, Analyza calmed down. She closed her eyes.


    ¡°It just feels weird,¡± she said, ¡°Being here. Not traveling.¡±


    ¡°We could leave, if you want,¡± Pocket said.


    ¡°But you wanted to stay here,¡± Analyza said, ¡°Didn''t you?¡±


    Pocket nodded. She took a moment to think, taking another spoonful of soup.


    ¡°I was tired of running,¡± she stated.


    ¡°I was too,¡± Analyza said, ¡°But...¡±


    She hesitated. Pocket was staring at the fire now.


    ¡°Say your piece, love,¡± she said.


    Analyza sighed again.


    ¡°It''s just difficult,¡± she said, ¡°It''s like, we''re here now, and everyone keeps saying that we''re safe. That we''re not going anywhere. But I can''t shake off the feeling. We talked about it before, right?¡±


    ¡°The rabbit runs,¡± Pocket said.


    ¡°The rabbit runs,¡± Analyza repeated, ¡°Yeah. Like...¡±


    She looked up at the ceiling. Towards their bedroom on the second floor. The ceiling was eighty percent wood, taken from a few oaks just down the road, along with twenty percent metal produced by a metahuman with the power to transmute wind into steel.


    ¡°I haven''t unpacked my suitcase, Pock.¡±


    ¡°Ana, we''ve been here for six months,¡± Pocket said, her voice soft.


    ¡°I know,¡± Analyza said, ¡°I just... it''s been a while, since we''ve stayed somewhere this long.¡±


    ¡°You aren''t scared, are you?¡±


    ¡°Maybe a bit?¡± Analyza said, ¡°But... it''s not that. It just feels like we''re going to be leaving any day now. Maybe tomorrow. Maybe give it another week. And then I see that we''ve built a house and we''re at a fireplace and we''re sitting here like any other married couple. Next thing you know, my pocket-pocked friend, we''ll be talking about having kids.¡±


    Pocket snorted. She covered her mouth to suppress a laugh.


    ¡°You know it''s true!¡± Analyza said, giggling.


    Pocket put her bowl down, then moved closer and kissed Analyza. It felt like the first time, when they were two lost teenagers on the run.


    (It always did.)


    ¡°You know I love you, right?¡± Pocket said.


    ¡°Promise?¡±


    ¡°Only if you do,¡± Pocket said.


    They crossed pinkies. Like they had, way back when. They had decided to wear their wedding rings there, too, a decision that they had made, unspoken, on their wedding day.


    ¡°I''m not scared, Pock,¡± Analyza said.


    ¡°I know,¡± Pocket said, ¡°And I know it''s an adjustment. It is for me, too. But give it time. I have a good feeling about this place.¡±


    They settled back together. Added a few more logs to the fire. Told each other about the rest of their day. Analyza went to bed early, leaving Pocket alone on the couch. She took out a book from inside one of her pockets, picking up where she had left off.


    (Noting, silently, almost as a confession, that she had not unpacked either.)


    ***


    ¡°So, Mr. Zheng,¡± Becenti said, ¡°What do you think of the place?¡±


    They had eaten dinner separately ¨C Joseph with Fractal and Meloche, Becenti with Luminary up in her room. Two different experiences. Becenti''s meal had been cooked by Luminary''s personal chef, and was an affair of spicy meats and a far too extravagant soup. Joseph''s had a sandwich and fries at the bar.


    The two of them were outside now, in the forest, fairy lights dancing among the trees. Music was playing in the distance, and they could hear people laughing around them. They saw the silhouetted form of Iandi as he and a gaggle of children, led by two teenagers, paraded around the forest. Nasir was watching them with Evancar, the archaeologist biting his thumb in thought.


    ¡°It''s not bad,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I like the drinks. Everyone I''ve met has been chill.¡±


    ¡°But...?¡±


    Joseph raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°What?¡± he said.


    ¡°You have your reservations,¡± Becenti said.


    Joseph sighed, leaning back on his stump. He scratched his arm, thinking.


    ¡°It''s just not exactly my speed,¡± he said, ¡°Like, I get it. For you, this is your dream, right?¡±


    ¡°I have a few... observations,¡± Becenti said, ¡°The class system here can be turned sideways, but I''m reserving judgment on that for now.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, it''s a bit awkward,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Our guide, Dodeca, seemed to really rankle at it. And if I were to live here, I''d be upset too, if I wasn''t able to do the job that I wanted.¡±


    ¡°You''d likely be a Warrior,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°And that''s all well and good,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I can fight. That''s one of the big things I do, isn''t it?¡±


    He smiled, though it was a tad forced.


    ¡°Maybe it''s because the guild got to me first,¡± he said, ¡°I look here, and I get the vibes. But when I think of home, it''s with Rosemary and the others.¡±


    He noted Becenti staring at him.


    ¡°...What?¡±


    ¡°Odd, that you mention Ms. Rosemary first, of everyone in the guild,¡± Becenti said.


    Joseph reddened.


    ¡°Whatever, man,¡± he said, and his smile became meek.


    Becenti laughed to himself, letting his protege squirm. He settled in as he looked out into the forest.


    ¡°It is... beautiful, Joseph,¡± he said, ¡°I''ve seen the Council. I''ve seen what they''ve built here.¡±


    ¡°And you like it?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°There are a couple things that could be worked on,¡± Becenti said, ¡°The structure of the Council is... odd. Very ceremonial, and not enough voices in the pool, I think. I''ll need to ask Luminary how each member was decided.¡±


    ¡°Not very democratic,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°There was a metahuman, Lunus Oculus-¡±


    ¡°She''s here?¡± Joseph said, sitting up straight.


    ¡°Why, yes,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Do you know her?¡±


    ¡°We met during-¡± Joseph winced, ¡°...During that time I was out. With Rosemary and Phineas.¡±A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    ¡°Ah,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Yes. Well, Lunus Oculus seemed determined.¡±


    ¡°And what''d she say?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°She had some concerns over the way the Worker class was being used,¡± Becenti said, ¡°When you''re building a nation, Mr. Zheng, it''s healthy to voice your opinion. Everyone should have a seat at the table.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph said, ¡°That''s all a bit beyond me.¡±


    ¡°Is it?¡± Becenti said, and he leaned in, ¡°Tell me, Joe. What are your thoughts?¡±


    ¡°I''m not a philosopher, Becenti.¡±


    ¡°But you are alive,¡± Becenti said, ¡°That means something, doesn''t it?¡±


    Joseph looked at him, then sighed.


    ¡°I don''t know,¡± he said, ¡°All I want is to make sure the people I... that the people I love-¡±


    (He stumbled over this word, for it was still difficult for him to voice it.)


    ¡°That the people I love are safe,¡± Joseph said, ¡°That they''re able to, I don''t know. Wake up. And eat breakfast. And laugh. Play games. I don''t know.¡±


    ¡°It''s a good start, Mr. Zheng,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Sometimes freedom is just being able to do what everyone else does, and not being killed for it.¡±


    Joseph nodded at that.


    ¡°...If the Federation comes here,¡± he said, ¡°What will you do?¡±


    It was a question that he knew had been in the back of the older metahuman''s head. Becenti pursed his lips, and there was an uncharacteristic bob to his knee as he thought.


    ¡°I''ll negotiate with them,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Talk to them. Make Valm see sense.¡±


    ¡°That didn''t work out last time, did it?¡± Joseph said.


    Becenti looked hard at him.


    ¡°I did what I could,¡± he said, ¡°I got a bunch of us out before Old Ludaya was glassed. I begged Valm to let them go. For the most part, he allowed me to.¡±


    Joseph studied Becenti''s face. In the distance, Nasir was approaching Iandi.


    ¡°Alright, kid,¡± he said, ¡°It''s getting to be late. Let''s get to bed.¡±


    ¡°Oh, no!¡± Iandi said, ¡°I don''t like bed.¡±


    ¡°Look at the sun, it''s gone now,¡± Nasir said, ¡°And you know the rules. Five hours after sundown, then it''s bedtime.¡±


    Iandi gave Nasir a sorrowful look.


    ¡°One more?¡± Iandi said, ¡°Please, one more.¡±


    The old tracker grimaced, looked at his guildmate, then to the children surrounding him, climbing him like a jungle gym. Then, he sighed.


    ¡°Alright, kid,¡± he said, ¡°Just one more.¡±


    Becenti and Joseph watched as Iandi let out a guffawed ¡°Hooray!¡± and started ambling with his new friends.


    ¡°Someone''s having fun, at least,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Are you not... having fun, here?¡± Joseph asked.


    Becenti smiled, though it did not hide the flash of misery on his face.


    ¡°It is good to see Luminary again,¡± he said, ¡°But it comes with hard memories, Joseph. The last time I saw her was at Old Ludaya.¡±


    Joseph was quiet, letting his mentor continue.


    ¡°...This isn''t the first time she''s tried this, you know,¡± Becenti said, ¡°This business of building a nation. We tried building something, during the war.¡±


    ¡°Back when the Sons of Darwin were invading the Silver Eye.¡±


    ¡°Invading everywhere, Mr. Zheng,¡± Becenti said, ¡°It seemed like every plane back then was under his influence, to some level. I didn''t just fight as a soldier back then. I was a guerilla fighter on some planes. A naval commander on others. I even flew biplanes on Kelstonda.¡±


    He looked up at Joseph.


    ¡°And I did so under the flag of the High Federation.¡±


    ¡°Shit,¡± Joseph said. He had known of this, of course, but to hear the old man say it¡­


    ¡°It was logical,¡± Becenti said, ¡°The High Federation was ¨C is ¨C the most powerful state in the known multiverse. They were the ones fighting the Darwinist threat, and they were organizing other planes in order to stop his advance across all of reality. It was there that I met Luminary.¡±


    ¡°She was a soldier, too.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Becenti said, ¡°We fought together, along with Captain Kristandi, Rhunea, and Oliander, throughout the multiverse. And when we did, it was as though the High Federation didn''t exist. That it was just us against a thousand worlds.¡±


    He let out a dry laugh.


    ¡°And you drafted up Ludaya back then, right?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°It was her idea,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Luminary, she and I talked long into the night about the old kingdoms. About Epochia. Much of my knowledge about metahuman history and culture, comes from her.¡±


    ¡°She gave you her books, didn''t she?¡±


    ¡°A few,¡± Becenti said, ¡°The ones that mattered. She helped me with translating the old languages. She''s not like me, Joseph. She was born in the knowledge of Epochia. She knew, from the day of her birth, what kingdom she was descended from. When she came to me with the idea of Ludaya, I was ecstatic. We found a plane, an uninhabited one, far from the eyes of the Federation. We started bringing people in.¡±


    He smiled.


    ¡°Old Ludaya was beautiful, Joseph. In its way. It was primarily a desert, though we stuck to a series of oases that marked the plane. That''s what ''Ludaya'' means, in First Epochian. ''Oasis.''¡±


    He drew silent, and Joseph knew that Becenti''s mind was turning elsewhere. To darker memories.


    ¡°...What happened?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°What do you think?¡± Becenti said, ¡°The Federation had known about our project. It turns out, they had always known. Someone must have let it slip. We must have made some sort of mistake. But they allowed us to build our little nation for the duration of the war. And then, when the war was over, when the Manticore was imprisoned and the Darwinists were scattered...¡±


    He took a shuddering breath. Had to control himself, his shaking hands.


    ¡°The Federation returned back to its old status quo. Old Ludaya was glassed. Almost everyone there was killed, save for those we could pack onto Kristandi''s ships.¡±


    He looked to be on the verge of tears. Becenti stood up, started pacing. In the distance, someone was crying. One of the children had accidentally fallen off of Iandi, and they were on the ground holding their leg. Iandi was kneeling over them, scooping them up in his arms to bring them to their nearby mother.


    ¡°Fuck,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I''m sorry.¡±


    ¡°It was long ago, Joseph,¡± Becenti said.


    The child''s mother took them into her arms, and her voice caught on the wind, her soothing song as she looked at the bruise on her child''s leg.


    ¡°What can we do, Mr. Zheng, but try again?¡±


    ***


    The night wore on.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    There was a hole in the ground in the middle of the forest. Deceptively hidden, it in truth led to a natural stone ramp that curved deep into the earth, almost fifty feet down.


    Thankfully, it was not vertical, and although it could potentially be dangerous, if one were to fall in, they would not have too much trouble climbing back out. What mattered for Lunus Oculus''s little gathering of friends was that no one ventured this deep into the wood, or those that did, did not know of the cave''s existence.


    The ramp led down towards a shallow underground pool, with a short roof only around four feet above the water''s surface. In order to get to the next part of the cave, which was a large cavern, one had to go onto their hands and knees and crawl through the frigid pool, keeping all but their head underneath the water. It was harsh work, though there was a small fire that was kept eternally going by Glow, who made this place their home. They also possessed a few magic spells, collected from their travels across the multiverse, to dry people off as they arrived.


    They were perhaps the oldest of the gathering. Their metahuman awakening had converted them into a being of bioluminescent moss, humanoid in shape, and were it for their DNA still reading the metagene, one would be remiss in dismissing them as something non-human altogether. They hardly ever spoke, and it was rumored that they were older than Luminary, who was among the oldest members of New Ludaya.


    Beside them was Lunus Oculus herself, and the drink she had was a bitter wine that Tallneck had brought with him. Tallneck himself sat a ways from them. His metahuman power was to have a giraffe''s neck ¨C but not its head ¨C leading to an awkward man whose head brushed the ceiling of the cavern. Getting here was misery for him, but he did it, nonetheless, for the sake of secrecy.


    Dodeca was there, too, freshly away from giving the newcomers their tour. She sat sourly against one of the walls, sharpening a combat knife. Cowering next to the Dorucanthos was the Giant Northern Termite Queen. Despite her name, she was slight and scrawny, constantly shaking like a chihuahua. She was wearing her usual backless dress, revealing a pockmarked back, for the Giant Northern Termite Queen''s back was where her children grew, and ate their way out of her skin. A few of them were in the cave now, crawling on the ceiling, on the walls of the tunnel to the pool, keeping an eye out for newcomers.


    She lifted her head.


    ¡°Someone approaches,¡± she said in a soft hiss.


    They, as one, looked up. Indeed, if Lunus Oculus strained her ears, she could hear the sound of swishing water coming from the tunnel, the telltale sign that someone was pushing their way through it. Dodeca, despite herself, held her knife ready.


    A reptilian metahuman trudged up from the tunnel. Shook himself off, beady eyes looking to and fro, his vision adapting to the darker environment. Glow, for their part, whispered a few words, drying him off.


    ¡°Eksonis,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°You made it.¡±


    ¡°Sorry I''m late,¡± Eksonis said, moving up to join them by the fire, ¡°Baby''s having trouble getting to sleep most nights. I probably shouldn''t stay long.¡±


    ¡°Is Kehaulani doing alright?¡± Lunus Oculus said.


    ¡°She''s as well as can be,¡± Eksonis said, and he smiled, ¡°Baby''s eating fine. She rests a lot. Says she wishes she were here.¡±


    ¡°Oh, gods, no,¡± Tallneck said, ¡°You tell her, she can only join when we move to a less miserable meeting place.¡±


    ¡°Tallneck,¡± Dodeca warned.


    ¡°I know, I know!¡± Tallneck said, ¡°It''s for safety, and all of that bitter nonsense, but I tell you, I think I''m coming down with something. There''s a chill here that isn''t in the rest of the plane. I''ve already gone to the infirmary three times today, I''ll have you know-¡±


    ¡°Not a cold, not a cough,¡± the Giant Northern Termite Queen said.


    ¡°It could be!¡± Tallneck said.


    ¡°Hey, guys, that''s enough,¡± Dodeca said, ¡°We''re all here now. And we don''t have much time.¡±


    Eksonis gave the Dorucanthos a grateful look, settling in by the fire, bringing a hand up to warm scaled skin. He took a deep breath, before looking at Lunus Oculus.


    ¡°You talked to the Council.¡±


    Lunus Oculus nodded.


    ¡°I did.¡±


    ¡°What''d they say?¡±


    ¡°The same thing we thought they''d say,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°They heard my concern, debated about the role of Workers, about the projects under the Seat of War, and then they moved on.¡±


    ¡°Any motion on someone from the Workers being given a seat?¡± Tallneck asked.


    ¡°They said they would talk about it,¡± Lunus Oculus said.


    Dodeca snorted.


    ¡°Which is the same thing as a ''no,''¡± she said, ¡°Trust me, I know my old man. It''s the same words he uses when he wants to politely reject a deal.¡±


    They all deflated. Tallneck shook his head, which was obscured by the shadows high above. Eksonis stretched, his maw a thin line. Lunus Oculus took another drink of her wine. Dodeca looked at it.


    ¡°What is that stuff?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Tallneck brought it.¡±


    ¡°Ah,¡± Tallneck said, ¡°It''s a wine I managed to trade for, apparently was brought by one of the recent arrivals from Gastronomis.¡±


    ¡°Explains the taste,¡± Lunus Oculus said, her nose curling.


    ¡°Mind if I...?¡± Dodeca asked.


    Lunus Oculus tossed her the bottle. Dodeca unstoppered it, taking a sip. She grimaced.


    ¡°Gods,¡± she said, ¡°Yeah, no, Tallneck, bring the good stuff next time.¡±


    ¡°I happen to like it,¡± Tallneck said, ¡°It''s not my fault you have no taste.¡±


    Dodeca snorted, again.


    ¡°We''re getting off topic,¡± Eksonis said, ¡°Lunus, did they say anything else?¡±


    ¡°Not much more,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°Not anything related to my meeting, anyways. I''ll talk with Pauldros about it-¡±


    ¡°Like that will help,¡± Dodeca grumbled.


    ¡°-See if we can''t keep pushing them,¡± Lunus Oculus said.


    ¡°See, that''s not going to do anything,¡± Dodeca said, ¡°You know that. Pauldros is like the rest of them. He talks a good game, but he''s just going to toe the party line.¡±


    ¡°That''s unfair,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°You can tell that he''s listening to our concerns.¡±


    ¡°Is he?¡± Dodeca said, ¡°Or maybe he''s just full of shit, and is out of useful things to do except build more rooms in that godforsaken mountain.¡±


    ¡°Well, it''s either him, or Nomatrius,¡± Lunus Oculus said, her voice a tad heated.


    ¡°Right,¡± Dodeca said, ¡°My dad, the capitalist. He''s already thrown in his lot with Luminary. He''ll be no help.¡±


    ¡°Then, and you know this, I have to keep pressing Pauldros,¡± Lunus Oculus growled, ¡°He''s the only one who''ll move for us!¡±


    ¡°I''m telling you, Lunus,¡± Dodeca said, ¡°That ain''t gonna happen. We have to find other solutions.¡±


    ¡°What other solutions are there?¡± Lunus Oculus said, and she was standing up now, ¡°What, work outside the system?¡±


    Dodeca gave her an exasperated look.


    ¡°Yes!¡± she said, ¡°Empower the Worker class to make their own decisions, to stand up for themselves. And, if it comes to it, inspire them to stop working. That''ll get the Council''s attention.¡±


    ¡°You''re talking about a general strike,¡± Eksonis said.


    ¡°A general strike that won''t work!¡± Lunus Oculus shouted. The Giant Northern Termite Queen recoiled at the sound.


    ¡°Hey, maybe it won''t, maybe it will!¡± Dodeca said, standing, ¡°We won''t know until we''ve tried! It''s a hell of a lot better than whatever you''ve been doing, your groveling to the Council, asking for just a crumb, sir, please, of-¡±


    ¡°Enough,¡± Glow said.


    Lunus Oculus and Dodeca were both standing, glaring, when they stopped. They both turned to Glow, who was simply sitting, a knee against their chest, staring at them.


    ¡°You are friends,¡± they said, ¡°You are comrades. Remember your work. Passion is only useful when it is used well.¡±


    They both grimaced.


    ¡°Right,¡± Lunus Oculus said.


    ¡°Sorry, Lunus,¡± Dodeca said, ¡°...Stressful day.¡±


    They both sat back down. Lunus Oculus let out a heavy sigh.


    ¡°We can start talking to others,¡± she said, ¡°Maybe... Maybe getting more support isn''t such a bad idea. Put our general thoughts out to the populace.¡±


    ¡°I can help with that,¡± Eksonis said, ¡°Kehaulani knows most of the mothers around here. She can start organizing them.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been talking to the other teachers,¡± Tallneck said, ¡°Meloche and the others. I''m sure they''ll come ''round. I''m surprised he''s not here, himself.¡±


    ¡°That''ll work,¡± Dodeca said. She slumped against the wall again, flipping her knife in her hand. Lunus Oculus studied her.


    ¡°...Long day?¡± she said.


    ¡°Been giving out a tour to a bunch of newcomers,¡± Dodeca said, ¡°Some fucking guild. Most of ''em aren''t even metahumans, except for some old man and a guy named Joseph.¡±


    ¡°J-Joseph?¡± Lunus Oculus said.


    Dodeca looked over at her.


    ¡°What, you know him?¡± she asked.


    ¡°I... I met a metahuman named Joseph Zheng awhile back, at St. Malendia''s,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°Same name. He seemed lost.¡±


    ¡°Seemed fine when I talked to him,¡± Dodeca said, ¡°Split off to meet up with Meloche. It was mostly me babysitting some supersoldier with the mind of a toddler.¡±


    She shook her head.


    ¡°The work they put me up to,¡± she growled, ¡°At least you lot get to use your hands for something.¡±


    They were quiet. Dodeca handed Lunus Oculus back the wine, and the yellow-eyed metahuman took another swig.


    And then...


    ¡°Someone is coming,¡± the Giant Northern Termite Queen whispered.


    They all started at this, for all of their number were accounted for. But yes, they could hear someone swishing across the claustrophobic tunnel to their meeting place. Dodeca rose, brandishing her knife. Glow began peeling off moss from their arm, molding it into a ball. Lunus Oculus swung the wine bottle around, holding it by its handle, ready to dash it against the wall and brandish it like a shiv.


    A figure climbed through the tunnel and rose. He had short hair and was in a sleeveless vest, revealing glowing, rainbow-hued fish scales that shimmered and shined as though they were mirrors to Imagination. He considered them all with an inscrutable look.


    ¡°Rainbowfish,¡± Lunus Oculus said.


    ¡°Hey, Lune,¡± Rainbowfish said, ¡°Nice place you got here.¡±


    Glow whispered a few words, and a spell washed over the Warrior, drying him off. Rainbowfish smiled.


    ¡°Thanks, Glow,¡± he said, ¡°You''re looking good.¡±


    Glow shrugged. Rainbowfish looked out at the rest of the cavern.


    Noted the positions of everyone there. The scales on his arm shimmered as he walked out of the water.


    ¡°What do you want, Rainbowfish?¡± Dodeca said, ¡°This isn''t your usual patrol, is it?¡±


    ¡°No, it''s not,¡± Rainbowfish said, ¡°Just... thought I''d come by, see a few old friends.¡±


    Lunus Oculus smirked at him. Flipped the bottle over to him in offer. Rainbowfish took it, sniffed the lip, then took a drink. He nodded in satisfaction.


    ¡°Good stuff,¡± he said.


    ¡°Finally,¡± Tallneck said, ¡°Someone gets it.¡±


    ¡°What do you want, Rainbowfish?¡± Dodeca repeated.


    Rainbowfish looked at her. Then sighed, relaxing a bit.


    ¡°All business, then?¡± he said, ¡°Is that what your little group''s all about? Even with the drink?¡±


    They had quieted down. Were staring at him, none of them daring to say a word. Dodeca was still flipping her knife.


    ¡°Alright, alright, I get it,¡± Rainbowfish said, ¡°Look, I''m not here on anyone''s orders. Luminary didn''t send me, or anything like that.¡±


    ¡°That''s well and good,¡± Lunus Oculus said.


    ¡°But... they did mention something to me,¡± Rainbowfish said, ¡°Something about you causing a stir at the moot today. You said some pretty interesting stuff, from what I hear.¡±


    ¡°And you hear a lot,¡± Lunus Oculus said.


    ¡°I do.¡±


    ¡°How''d you even find us?¡± Eksonis asked.


    ¡°Followed you, actually,¡± Rainbowfish said, ¡°I know that y''all''ve been meeting in secret. Lunus and I have had our little talks. I knew y''all were organizing something big. So I decided to tail you, Eksonis.¡±


    The reptilian metahuman let out a low hiss. Rainbowfish shrugged.


    ¡°Sorry,¡± he said.


    ¡°Then what are you here for?¡± Dodeca said, ¡°You, what, want to join us?¡±


    ¡°I want to warn you,¡± Rainbowfish said, ¡°Listen, when I say you caused a stir, I don''t mean it in the positive sense. Word got out. To the Shadow of the Giant and the rest of them.¡±


    ¡°Why would the Warriors be upset?¡± Eksonis said, ¡°We were merely presenting concerns.¡±


    ¡°Because it''s getting in the way of their work, apparently,¡± Rainbowfish said, ¡°They''re drawing conclusions that you might be about to do something drastic, like a general strike, or something.¡±


    They were quiet at that. Rainbowfish took their silence as answer, his eyes widening.


    ¡°Oh, you bastards,¡± he said, ¡°You are, aren''t you?¡±


    ¡°It''s...¡± Lunus Oculus chose her words carefully, ¡°It has been suggested.¡±


    ¡°Oh for god''s sake, Lune,¡± Rainbowfish said, and he started pacing, ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°Rainbowfish, you know that it¡¯s not a good situation out there,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°You talked to the Shadow of the Giant during the initial move-outs from the lake. You spoke on our behalf.¡±


    ¡°I did,¡± Rainbowfish said, ¡°But this... this goes beyond that.¡±


    ¡°It''ll get their attention,¡± Dodeca said.


    ¡°It''ll get the Warriors on you, is what it''ll do,¡± Rainbowfish said, ¡°It''ll pull vital resources away from our defense networks. Networks designed to make sure the High Federation doesn''t know about us until it''s time.¡±


    ¡°...Until it''s time?¡± Lunus Oculus asked.


    Rainbowfish grimaced, looked away.


    ¡°Slip of the tongue, slip of the voice,¡± the Giant Northern Termite Queen murmured.


    ¡°You think that the High Federation is going to find out about New Ludaya,¡± Lunus Oculus said.


    ¡°Look, it makes logical sense,¡± Rainbowfish said, ¡°The primary Traveling Point is on a planet in the Silver Eye itself, and I know everyone keeps going on about how it''s located at the ass-end of the Outer Reach, but I think they''re trying to convince themselves. The Federation will find out. They''ve got the technology, and the Silver Eye''s their home turf.¡±


    He looked hard at them.


    ¡°They will find out. And you... riling people up, it''s going to keep us divided when that time comes. We won''t be a unified nation facing off against our old enemy. Just a bunch of squabbling metahumans, as they''ve always seen us.¡±


    He sighed.


    ¡°As we''ve always been,¡± he said.


    Dodeca muttered a curse. Lunus Oculus looked hard at Rainbowfish, her old friend. Tallneck shook his head, his entire neck rippling with the movement.


    ¡°Then why even come here?¡± he said, ¡°Why choose this plane at all? Why not go far away, far away from everything, and hide ourselves away? Why are we so damned close to the Federation, if we know they''ll come?¡±


    ¡°I...¡± and Rainbowfish faltered, ¡°I don''t know.¡±


    ¡°I mean, it feels foolish,¡± Tallneck said, ¡°Here we have a nation, one that is growing day by day, a safe haven for metahumans to come to. A place where the High Federation will not harm us. Why, then, did we set up shop in our oppressor''s backyard?¡±


    He bent his neck down, lowering slowly, like a crane, so that they could see his face, morose and sad and with sunken cheeks, purple rings beneath the eyes.


    ¡°You say that our actions will divide the nation?¡± he said, ¡°Why not take it a step further. Why do we need to have such rigid defense at all? Not saying that a healthy defense is good, but this... division of ourselves, into Warriors and Workers, this absolute emphasis on a militant lifestyle-¡±


    ¡°-You don''t think people should be able to defend themselves?¡± Rainbowfish said.


    ¡°Perish the thought,¡± Tallneck said, ¡°We have a right to defend ourselves. But this isn''t that. This is making militancy a core part of our culture. This is overriding any complaints people will have in the name of the nation''s defense. In the short term, perhaps, this is fine. In the long term, this will cause problems, and I think you know this, my good man.¡±


    He moved in closer.


    ¡°Which begs the question, why would we choose to be here, in this place that will be discovered, which forces us into the role of haves and have-nots? Why this plane, specifically?¡±


    ¡°It''s a virgin plane,¡± Rainbowfish said, ¡°Pristine and new.¡±


    ¡°Ah, that phrase,¡± Tallneck said.


    They were silent, for a long while. Tallneck continued staring at Rainbowfish, as though challenging him.


    ¡°There are the ruins.¡±


    This came from Glow. They were scratching at an arm, not looking at anyone, instead their gaze was on the wall. Rainbowfish broke his gaze from Tallneck, looked over at the old metahuman.


    ¡°The... ruins?¡± he said.


    ¡°That''s conjecture, Glow,¡± Lunus Oculus said.


    ¡°There are ruins,¡± Glow said, again, ¡°They are there. This plane is not new. It was inhabited once before.¡±


    ¡°Where did you find them?¡± Rainbowfish asked, ¡°What are they?¡±


    Glow looked over at him.


    ¡°I...¡± they said, ¡°I don''t consider you trustworthy enough to reveal them.¡±


    ¡°Glow, please,¡± Rainbowfish said, ¡°It''s me. It''s Rainbowfish. You know me.¡±


    ¡°I know that you are a Warrior, and I am a Worker,¡± Glow said, ¡°That part of our friendship was severed by coming here.¡±


    Rainbowfish looked like he had been sucker-punched. Lunus Oculus rose, walked over and put a steadying hand on his shoulder.


    ¡°Is that it, then?¡± he said, ¡°Is that... after everything?¡±


    ¡°We are what this nation makes us,¡± Glow said, ¡°We are-¡±


    ¡°The guild has an archaeologist,¡± Dodeca said.


    They looked over at her.


    ¡°Evancar Morandus. He''s not a metahuman,¡± Dodeca said, ¡°But we could take him there. See what he has to say.¡±


    ¡°And you trust him?¡± Glow asked.


    ¡°I think he''s annoying,¡± Dodeca said, ¡°But he''s classically trained. Wouldn''t stop asking me question after question about this place. He''s obviously interested.¡±


    She sighed.


    ¡°And... I don''t think he believes that this place is ''virgin,'' either,¡± she said, ¡°Ugh. I hate calling it that.¡±


    ¡°And if it''s not?¡± Rainbowfish said, ¡°What then?¡±


    ¡°Then?¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°We go from there.¡±


    She looked hard at Rainbowfish. Her old friend. They had spent a few years traveling together, back when they were younger, two Far Travelers against the multiverse. Her yellow eyes twinkled in the half-light of the cavern.


    ¡°I know you may think we''re dividing people,¡± she said, ¡°But division always comes from injustice. And what we see is the beginnings of an unjust system. And we''re only a year and a half into this project of nation building.¡±


    ¡°And... you think that finding these ruins, will change anything?¡± Rainbowfish asked, his voice small.


    ¡°If they are ruins, it means the Council is lying to us,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°What are we, without the truth? Why shouldn''t we seek out answers?¡±


    She looked at him hard. Above, the moon shifted. And her eyes changed, from deep yellow to a burning, scarlet red.


    ¡°Will you join us?¡± she asked.


    Rainbowfish bit his lip. Considered. Then, nodded.


    ¡°I will,¡± he said.

 140. THE NATURE OF NATION AND SOUL

    Aldreia Firedawn had never been the most devout of clerics to Pelliad, Lord of the Endless Suns. She had, as a baby, been left on the doorstep of an abbey on Imena, a tucked-away medieval plane that floated with the rest of the Ozhai Paradigm. The priests had taken her in, raised her as a foundling, and she took the First Oath of the Sun when she was but thirteen years old. The Oath required one to drink a full glass of white wine, taken from grapes harvested from the tallest vine in the orchard, that which reached up to fully take in Pelliad''s solar greatness. She had taken her drink. Crossed her heart, had the symbol of Pelliad painted on her forehead like a third eye, swore the Oath, to always uphold Pelliad, to not eat nor drink when it was night, to sleep when the sun slept, to walk when the sun walked. She had remembered feeling a hollowness during the ceremony. There was little pride to it. She assigned little meaning to it.


    It was the first time, at that ceremony, that she had felt the spell of drunkenness. And she found she liked it.


    The next week, in the dead of night, she and a friend snuck into the wine cellar, and opened up a few bottles. Father Imbius found her the next day, her sleeping gown stained purple, her eyes bloodshot, with an empty bottle in hand.


    That, indeed, was the first of her problems. Alcohol called to Aldreia Firedawn, even then. When she read about the laws of Pelliad, the love it forbade, it called to her. When she read of the banning of relationships, the insistence on gender roles and gender binaries, it called to her.


    It called to her for all that she felt about herself. All of herself, the stolen glances of her fellow sisters, the yearning in the night, was wrong and immoral, to act on it even moreso. To walk away from the Light of Pelliad was to consign oneself to hell. Her time at the abbey and as a cleric was to be reminded that she was an aberration.


    Yes, the wine there, as well as whatever she could get her hands on, was a welcome reprieve indeed.


    Which was why she was proud of herself that she hadn''t drunk a single drop on that first day on New Ludaya. Aldreia rolled her eyes at Evancar Morandus, allowed the archaeologist his freedom (who was she to say no?), instead lazing in the guest room, or walking around Mt. Redress, listening to the sound of the New Ludayans as they worked on expanding the mountain''s interior.


    She was the last to get back to the guest room at the end of the night. The rest of her guildmates were there. Becenti and Joseph. Nasir and Iandi. Becenti gave Aldreia a warning look, one the cleric ignored, turning her back to him as she settled into bed.


    She was the first to get up in the morning, near the crack of dawn. A magic spell went off in her head, installed in her mind long ago, that woke her up with the sun''s rising. Sometimes it was marred by drink, but today it was not.


    Aldreia got up, rubbing her eyes, mumbling to herself. Her head was hurting. She¡­


    She wanted a drink.


    ¡°Dammit,¡± she whispered.


    She got up. Pulled on her robes, brushed her hair, cleaned her teeth. Made herself presentable, then stepped out of the room. Down the mountain.


    She found the nearest metahuman, a stone-flecked man who was busy chiseling away an alcove in the hall.


    ¡°Excuse me,¡± she said, ¡°You know of a place to get a drink?¡±


    The metahuman looked up at her.


    ¡°It''s a bit early for it, isn''t it?¡±


    ¡°What, you''ve never heard of breakfast mimosas?¡± Aldreia snapped, ¡°Just get me a place.¡±


    ¡°There''s a bar a few floors above us,¡± the metahuman said, a bit surly, ¡°Usually it''s reserved for the Rulers, but you''re a guest of theirs, aren''t you?¡±


    ¡°I suppose I am,¡± Aldreia said, ¡°Ah, thank you.¡±


    The metahuman huffed, before returning to his work. Aldreia walked up the winding hallways, the ramps and stairways, up to the bar, which was located on an overhang, a shelf of stone that jutted out into the open air. Tables and chairs were set up, and the bartender was busy shaking a few drinks out to a blond-haired older man and a blue-skinned metahuman with four spiked, feather-like ears. Both of them were dressed to impress, both in nice suits.


    The elder of them took note of Aldreia as she walked up to the counter and ordered a drink from the mass of shimmering light. He nodded to his son, striding over to lean beside her.


    ¡°It''s on the house, Rhetoric,¡± he said.


    ¡°Of course, Mr. Dorucanthos,¡± Rhetoric, the mass of light, said.


    He poured Aldreia a drink. Aldreia looked over at Mr. Dorucanthos. Who smiled at her with a slightly oily smile.


    ¡°A bit early for it, isn''t it?¡± he said, ¡°Well, can''t be helped. I''m the same way. Odd business leads to odd hours, doesn''t it?¡±


    He tapped the counter.


    ¡°One for me, too, Rhetoric.¡±


    ¡°Of course, Mr. Dorucanthos.¡±


    The light poured him a drink. The older metahuman raised his glass to Aldreia, then took a drink. The cleric still hadn''t touched hers, instead giving him an annoyed glare. At the table, the blue-skinned metahuman rolled his eyes.


    ¡°Father,¡± he said, ¡°She thinks you''re trying to hit on her.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡± the older metahuman said, looking over at his son, ¡°Hitting on her, Jaskaios? Why, she''s your sister''s age.¡±


    ¡°You''d like that, wouldn''t you?¡± Aldreia hissed.


    The older metahuman blinked. Looked at his drink, then to Aldreia''s, then to her face. She resisted the urge to throw a pillar of fire at him.


    Then, he let out a barking laugh.


    ¡°I see the misunderstanding!¡± he said, ¡°I''m sorry, my dear. I remembered that you were on the guest list, and saw you were all alone this morning. No, ah, ill-intent.¡±


    ¡°You''d be wasting your time,¡± Aldreia said, ¡°I like girls.¡±


    ¡°Ha!¡± Mr. Dorucanthos said, ¡°See, Jaskaios? I''d be wasting my time anyways!¡±


    Jaskaios sighed.


    ¡°You''ll have to forgive the old man,¡± he said, ¡°He''s just like this. We think it''s an illness of some sort.¡±


    ¡°Nomatrius Dorucanthos,¡± the older metahuman brought out a hand, ¡°Seat of Commerce on the Council.¡±


    ¡°Aldreia Firedawn,¡± the cleric took the hand.


    ¡°Firedawn?¡± Nomatrius said, ¡°Why, a cleric to Pelliad?¡±


    ¡°Former cleric,¡± Aldreia said, ¡°I like girls.¡±


    ¡°Ah, I see, I see,¡± Nomatrius said, and his cheery attitude dropped, ¡°My condolences. It seems your guild has your back.¡±


    She nodded. Grateful, at least, that this Nomatrius seemed to have a conscience. That, on a second glance, he didn''t look at her with the same predatory look most men did.


    Recalled the disappointed look on Becenti''s face the night before, and tried to push down her guilt.


    ¡°Yes,¡± she said, ¡°They''re fine enough.¡±


    She looked down at her drink. Took a reluctant sip.


    ¡°They treat me better than I deserve, I suppose,¡± she said.


    ¡°Family does that,¡± Nomatrius said, ¡°They also see us for who we are, and it''s far better than how we see ourselves.¡±


    He smiled at her. The oil in it was gone.


    ¡°Tell me,¡± he said, ¡°What do you think?¡±


    ¡°...Of what?¡± Aldreia said.


    ¡°Of this. New Ludaya. Us. Homo mirabilis. Metahumans. All of it,¡± Nomatrius said, ¡°From what I''ve been told, the only metahumans in your guild are Becenti and that Joseph boy, yes?¡±


    He was leaning against the counter.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Aldreia said, ¡°They''re fine enough. Joseph is a bit of an ass. But then, who isn''t?¡±


    She shook her head.


    ¡°I haven''t really gone on many jobs with him. Can''t say much about his so-called ''character'' aside from what I''ve heard from my guildmates.¡±


    ¡°And?¡± Nomatrius said.


    ¡°...He''s rough around the edges,¡± Aldreia said, ¡°He''s, pardon the language, fucked up before.¡±


    ¡°Who hasn''t?¡± Nomatrius said. Aldreia gave him a sideways glance.


    ¡°He''s a fighter,¡± Aldreia said, ¡°Whenever we need violence, he''s there.¡±


    ¡°He''s a metahuman with a combat-based ability?¡± Nomatrius said.


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Aldreia said, and she took another sip of her drink. It was good. Sweet. Someone who wasn''t paying attention could get buzzed very quickly.


    ¡°Well,¡± Nomatrius said, ¡°He''d be useful here.¡±


    ¡°And what about non-metahumans?¡± Aldreia asked, ¡°As far as I can see, I''m one of the only baseline humans here, aside from my guildmates.¡±


    ¡°They''d be welcome, after a time, I''m sure,¡± Nomatrius said, ¡°It''s been discussed with the Council, of course, but as of right now the only people who are welcome as citizens are other metahumans.¡±


    ¡°An ethnostate,¡± Aldreia said.


    ¡°A speciostate,¡± Nomatrius said, wagging a finger, ¡°We''re not an ethnicity. We''re not a part of the human race. We''re a separate species of our own.¡±


    ¡°As if that makes it any better,¡± Aldreia muttered.


    ¡°So you don''t like what we''re doing here?¡± Nomatrius said. He was still jovial, but there was a subtle edge to his voice.


    ¡°I never said that,¡± Aldreia said. She looked at her drink, debating on what to say. Jaskaios stood up, to look out at New Ludaya.


    ¡°You seem like an educated girl,¡± Nomatrius said, ¡°No doubt, you''ve read up on other metahuman nations.¡±


    ¡°And other speciostates, both historical and proposed,¡± Aldreia said, ¡°Epochia. The Great Elven Nation, the Utopian Movement. And they often fall in line with far-right movements across the multiverse. It is easy to co-opt those nations with far more hateful ideologies in mind.¡±


    ¡°Well, I can agree with that,¡± Nomatrius said, ¡°I''ve heard of the Verdant Reclamation''s recent actions in the multiverse. As for Epochia, I would argue that that is more mythological than anything now. The ''history'' of Epochia is more folktale than truth. It died out thousands and thousands of years ago.¡±


    ¡°Father,¡± Jaskaios said, ¡°She should be here soon.¡±


    ¡°Ah, yes,¡± Nomatrius said, ¡°Ms. Firedawn, would you like to accompany me? There is a shipment coming in that I want to oversee personally.¡±


    Aldreia finished her drink. Wished she had more. But nodded.


    ¡°Good, good,¡± Nomatrius said, and he rose. He, Aldreia, and Jaskaios made their way back inside, before descending down, outside and down the path out of Mt. Redress''s base.


    ¡°History,¡± Nomatrius said, ¡°Is not a static thing. It is not...¡±


    He scratched his beard.


    ¡°It''s not a recording of what happened, as though separated by sapient logic and emotion. It is not a force outside of ourselves.¡±


    They stepped past a few metahumans who were carrying in a harvest of grain into the mountain. The gravel path greeted them, and they continued walking into the forest.


    ¡°Rather,¡± Nomatrius said, ¡°History is a record of people doing things. The decisions that are made. On an individual level. On a governmental level.¡±


    They stopped at a clearing in the forest, along with a few other metahumans who were standing by a few empty wagons. They were being directed by a pelican-headed woman. Jaskaios walked up to her, started conversing with her and pointing out specific parts of the clearing.


    ¡°What I''m trying to say,¡± Nomatrius said, ¡°Is that just because the concept has failed before does not mean it is going to fail now.¡±


    ¡°That''s a bit naive, isn''t it?¡± Aldreia said.


    ¡°Perhaps it is,¡± Nomatrius said, ¡°If you take the wrong lessons away from it. If you ignore what didn''t work in the past.¡±


    Above, on the mountain, the Traveling Point rippled. A ship erupted from thin air, a sleek, mud-brown cargo vessel that pushed out the Traveling Point''s outer diameter, allowing its full bulk through. It was the size of a caravel back on Londoa, and it made its way towards the clearing. It landed, and a woman jumped out, accompanied by several humanoids made of...


    ¡°Keratin,¡± Aldreia said.


    ¡°My youngest, Melitta,¡± Nomatrius said, ¡°When she buries her fingernails into the earth, they sprout up as warriors who follow her every whim. She mostly uses them to help with deliveries nowadays.¡±


    Indeed, the keratin soldiers had begun unloading a series of crates. Aldreia walked over to one of them, opening up a top. Her brow furrowed at the sight of it.


    ¡°Are these... plasma cartridges?¡± she said, ¡°And rifles.¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡± Nomatrius said, ¡°Oh... yes.¡±


    He opened the crate up, fishing out a plasma rifle. He inspected it for a few moments, aiming down its sights. It was sleek and modern.


    ¡°We buy these from surplus stores, primarily from Enduin III and Glimmor Prime,¡± he said, ¡°For those of us who don''t have combat-oriented abilities.¡±


    ¡°...Indeed,¡± Aldreia said, ¡°May I...?¡±


    ¡°Be my guest.¡±


    He handed her the rifle. It was heavy in her hands. She had practiced down at the range a few times with Meleko, but even now its weight felt uncomfortable. She''d always preferred her magic, those last vestiges of her faith. She repeated Nomatrius''s actions, a thin frown on her face.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    ¡°I understand that must look awkward,¡± Nomatrius said, ¡°But, as the Seat of Commerce, I wanted to ensure this shipment came in safely. And for you to see it, as our guest.¡±


    ¡°For the nation''s defense, yes?¡± Aldreia said.


    ¡°We are metahumans,¡± Nomatrius said, ¡°Our histories are filled with oppression. Genocide. Bloodshed and broken communities. Even the Dorucanthos family hasn''t gotten away from it all unscathed.¡±


    His sigh shuddered as he looked out towards the treeline.


    ¡°I lost my wife to the High Federation, Ms. Firedawn. I think of her every day. I don''t want that to happen to any other of my people.¡±


    His gaze returned to her.


    ¡°It is a precarious thing, the concept of nation. We can easily be led astray, if the wrong leaders are in power, if the wrong decisions are made. But we have to try, don''t we? We must form a nation once more, so that we can be protected and defended. I believe in that. That''s why I invested in New Ludaya, when Luminary approached me. So no more metahuman husbands have to lose their spouses. No more metahuman children have to be raised without a mother.¡±


    The crates were being loaded onto the wagons. A woman was stepping off the ship, laughing as she ran over to embrace Jaskaios.


    ¡°Melitta, my youngest,¡± Nomatrius said.


    She was easy on the eyes, that was for sure. Young and bubbly, with rainbow-hued hair.


    ¡°She dyed it again,¡± Nomatrius noted. Melitta looked over at the two of them, her eyes locking with Aldreia.


    (Oh, by Pelliad, it was happening again.)


    Aldreia cleared her throat. Tried to still her shaking hands, control her heart''s rapid beat.


    She gave her best, her most lovely, smile.


    ¡°Dad!¡± and Melitta ran over to embrace her father. Nomatrius let out a laugh as he returned it, squeezing her tight. Melitta''s laugh turned pained as he put her down.


    ¡°Easy on the ribs, Dad,¡± she said, ¡°You''re gonna break them one of these days.¡±


    ¡°Nonsense!¡± Nomatrius barked, ¡°I''m always careful with the weakest of us.¡±


    ¡°Weakest!¡± and she slugged him playfully on the arm. Nomatrius was chortling now. Melitta''s eyes slid over to Aldreia.


    ¡°And who is this?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Ah, Melitta,¡± Nomatrius said, ¡°This is Aldreia Firedawn. She''s a guest from off-plane.¡±


    ¡°Nice to meet you,¡± Melitta said.


    ¡°Y-Yes,¡± Aldreia said, ¡°Indeed. Feeling''s mutual.¡±


    (Gods, that was what she said?)


    ¡°Father,¡± Jaskaios said, ¡°We''d better get going. The meeting with Snapdragon is happening in an hour.¡±


    ¡°Oh, yes,¡± Nomatrius said, ¡°Melitta, you don''t have anything going on today, right?¡±


    ¡°Just stopping by for a little while,¡± Melitta said, ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Can you do me a favor,¡± Nomatrius said, ¡°And accompany our guest as she explores our new home?¡±


    Melitta looked at Aldreia, her eyes fluttering.


    ¡°Sure, why not,¡± Melitta said, ¡°I''d be more than happy to.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Nomatrius said, and he looked to Aldreia, ¡°I did enjoy our talk, Ms. Firedawn. And I know your reservations. Trust me, I have them, too. But I believe in our nation. I believe in New Ludaya.¡±


    Aldreia nodded.


    ¡°I''ll... look around,¡± she said, ¡°It''s ultimately not up to me, at the end of the day.¡±


    ¡°It isn''t,¡± Nomatrius said, ¡°But know that we aren''t doing this out of hatred for the Other. We are doing it for the sake of our own space and our own community. Why shouldn''t we feel safe in our own home?¡±


    ¡°Father,¡± Jaskaios said, ¡°We''ll be late.¡±


    ¡°Right are you, son,¡± Nomatrius said, ¡°Your good health, Ms. Firedawn.¡±


    ¡°And yours,¡± Aldreia said.


    Nomatrius made his leave, Jaskaios following closely behind him. Melitta tapped Aldreia on the shoulder.


    ¡°Come on,¡± she said, ¡°My soldiers are almost done anyways. Want to get some breakfast?¡±


    Aldreia gave her a smile that she hoped was not too watery.


    ¡°I''d like that,¡± she said.


    ***


    Nasir and Iandi were the next to get up in the morning, but Joseph didn''t see them go. They were quiet, and all he heard as he turned, half-asleep, in bed was their hurried whispers as Nasir pushed Iandi out the door. When he fully came to, the only person in the room with him was Evancar. The archaeologist was looking in a mirror by his bed, brushing his curly, disheveled hair. He wasn''t doing a good job of it, but he nonetheless had a glint in his eye as he noted Joseph getting out of bed.


    ¡°Ah, good morning, Joe,¡± he said, ¡°Sleep well?¡±


    ¡°Eh,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Bad dreams.¡±


    ¡°Not surprised,¡± Evancar said, ¡°From the jobs I''ve heard you go on, and all-¡±


    He blinked. Joseph was glaring at him. Evancar turned around.


    ¡°Ah, sorry,¡± he said, ¡°I tend to ramble.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph said, irritated, ¡°Where''s Becenti?¡±


    ¡°H-He went out a few minutes ago,¡± Evancar said, ¡°Said he''d be back soon for you.¡±


    Joseph nodded, getting out of bed. He started getting dressed, watching as Evancar opened a few books from his bag, flipping through them. The archaeologist noticed him staring.


    ¡°Ah,¡± he said, ¡°Books about ruins around here. In the local Squall.¡±


    ¡°Mmm,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Anything good?¡±


    ¡°Well, the Silver Eye is connected to any number of Squalls and Paradigms at any one time,¡± Evancar said, ¡°New Ludaya has been in forecast with the Silver Eye for a while, but it wasn''t always. I''m taking a look at a few records to see what other planes were in forecast with the Silver Eye a few hundred years ago.¡±


    ¡°Old records,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Yes. From a transcribed collection,¡± Evancar said, ¡°You can still smell the plastic. I''m trying to see if there are any planes in the Squall around here that might have once connected to New Ludaya.¡±


    ¡°So you can see if there were any settlers here,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°To see if there are any records on this plane at all,¡± Evancar said, ¡°Planes only a jump or two away from the Silver Eye tend to, at the very least, have a survey team sent out. Expeditions from the High Federation.¡±


    ¡°And you think it''s weird that the people here insist this plane is new?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°I''m willing to give them the benefit of the doubt, of course,¡± Evancar said, ¡°New planes spring up into existence all the time. But... this close to the Federation? This part of the multiverse is old, Joe, very old.¡±


    ¡°So I''m always told,¡± Joseph muttered, crossing his arms, ¡°You want my advice?¡±


    Evancar looked up at him. Adjusted his glasses.


    ¡°People here really care about this place,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Be careful, you know?¡±


    ¡°...If this place is new, then everything is fine,¡± Evancar said, ¡°I''ll accept that as truth, and be on my way. But if this place isn''t new, if there were at least surveys, or even nomadic peoples who lived here long ago, wouldn''t it be good to know? The land has history, and no amount of insistence to the contrary erases that.¡±


    Joseph was quiet.


    He didn''t have to answer that question, as Becenti entered the door. He had a rare smile on his face.


    ¡°Mr. Zheng,¡± he said, ¡°...Professor Morandus. We have been invited to have breakfast with Luminary. Would you like to join me?¡±


    ¡°Sure,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I could eat.¡±


    ¡°I would be honored,¡± Evancar said. He rose.


    ¡°I should warn you, Professor,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Be sure to watch yourself with her.¡±


    ¡°Afraid I might say the wrong thing?¡± Evancar said, ¡°Nonsense, Becenti, I''ll be on my best behavior.¡±


    Becenti raised an eyebrow, his smile leering into a frown, but he nodded nonetheless, and brought them to Luminary.


    ***


    Breakfast today was taken in one of the private dining halls. Joining Luminary was a slight man, almost childlike in appearance, thin and scrawny, with wide eyes that seemed too large for his head and stringy black hair. He wore only a simple tunic, and he looked uncomfortable as he sat at Luminary''s right side.


    ¡°Ah, Myron. Joseph. ProfessorMorandus,¡± Luminary said, ¡°May I introduce to you the Shadow of the Giant, head of our military forces here on New Ludaya. One of my right hands.¡±


    ¡°Good morning,¡± the Shadow of the Giant said, ¡°Pleased to meet you.¡±


    ¡°I believe this is my first time speaking with you, Mr. Zheng,¡± Luminary said, ¡°Charmed.¡±


    They shook hands. Joseph gave her a polite smile.


    ¡°Pleased to meet you, ma''am,¡± he said.


    ¡°Ma''am!¡± Luminary chuckled, ¡°Why, you make me sound like I''m old.¡±


    ¡°N-Nothing like that,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Just-¡±


    ¡°She''s joking with you, Joseph,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Luminary, be nice. He''s a good man.¡±


    ¡°I''m sure you are, Mr. Zheng,¡± Luminary said, ¡°Come. Sit.¡±


    She guided them over to the long table in the room, and the two parties sat across from each other.


    (And Joseph took note that Luminary hadn''t introduced herself to Evancar. Indeed, she almost tried to ignore him.)


    A couple of servants brought out their food, plates of eggs benedict, though salmon substituted the ham. They took a few moments to dig in, and for a moment there was only the sound of silverware and water poured into cups.


    ¡°So, Joseph,¡± Luminary said at length, ¡°May I call you Joseph?¡±


    ¡°Just Joe is fine,¡± the younger metahuman said.


    ¡°Ah, Joe, then,¡± Luminary said, smiling, ¡°Experimenting with a new name?¡±


    ¡°Something like that,¡± Joe said. He met Becenti''s sideways glance, ¡°Been thinking about it for a while. Might as well... give it a spin, I guess?¡±


    ¡°Only way to do it,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I will say, it did take quite a while to get used to ''Shimmer,'' myself.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joe said, simply.


    ¡°Well, it''s short. To the point,¡± Luminary said, ¡°Is it short for anything?¡±


    ¡°C-Cobalt Joe,¡± and Joe blushed, looking away, ¡°Never mind.¡±


    ¡°And where did you think of that?¡± Becenti asked.


    ¡°The... the solo job I went on, a few months back,¡± Joe said, ¡°Someone called me that, and I liked the ring of it.¡±


    ¡°Well, it''s a fine name, Cobalt Joe,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Wear it well.¡±


    He smiled at him. Joseph returned it.


    ¡°Well, Cobalt Joe,¡± Luminary said, ¡°Myron told me you''re from Earth. Tell me, what is it like there?¡±


    ¡°Ah,¡± Joseph blinked, ¡°Well, it''s a lot like Prime. Same places. Same history, for the most part. A few names are changed here and there. The Soviet Union, it fell back in the 90s.¡±


    ¡°Odd,¡± Luminary said.


    ¡°There aren''t any metahumans, or superheroes, or anything like that,¡± Joseph said, ¡°At least, no metahumans that I''m aware of.¡±


    ¡°We tend to inhabit every plane,¡± Luminary said, smiling, ¡°I''m sure you just weren''t looking hard enough.¡±


    ¡°Maybe,¡± Joseph said, a bit put off by her statement.


    ¡°Tell me, Cobalt Joe, what do you think of this place?¡± Luminary said.


    ¡°Seems like everyone''s asking me that these days,¡± Joseph said, swallowing a mouthful of egg, ¡°It''s a good place.¡±


    Luminary smiled, though Joseph suspected that that was not the answer she was looking for. But it was what he thought.


    ¡°I mean,¡± he continued, ¡°It''s a beautiful plane. And I get why you''re going for this nation.¡±


    ¡°Would you join us?¡± Luminary said, ¡°Perhaps, when you get a chance to speak with the other Warriors.¡±


    ¡°Other Warriors?¡± Joseph said, ¡°You know what I can do?¡±


    ¡°We... talked about it, Joe,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Nothing major, of course. Just a bit of what you can do.¡±


    ¡°''Just a bit!''¡± Luminary laughed, ¡°He told me about that soul of yours, how it can come to life like an astral projection. I heard how you fended off Silicon with it during the Death Valley incident.¡±


    ¡°Y-Yeah,¡± Joseph said, and he grimaced, ¡°Silicon... he isn''t here, is he?¡±


    Becenti looked over to him, noted the uncharacteristic quiver in his guildmate''s voice. There were few that could make Cobalt Joe nervous like this. Silicon was one of them.


    (And Joseph still had nightmares.)


    ¡°No,¡± Luminary said, her voice measured, ¡°He chose not to come here. I met with him personally.¡±


    Joseph swallowed.


    ¡°Right,¡± he said.


    ¡°He always was a man who looked to the past,¡± Becenti said, his voice measured.


    ¡°Then why was he there at all?¡± Joseph murmured.


    ¡°Because Earthmute is a being of the past,¡± Becenti said, ¡°You saw what was in his halls. He held history within his form, Joe. The past and the future, brought together in the present.¡±


    Joseph was quiet. He stabbed at a piece of egg. Stuffed it in his mouth.


    ¡°An astral projection?¡± a quiet voice said.


    It was the Shadow of the Giant. He was looking at Joseph intently, his head tilted, his eyes wide.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Becenti said, ¡°It is his soul, made physical.¡±


    ¡°That certainly brings up certain conundrums,¡± the Shadow of the Giant said, ¡°Tell me, Cobalt Joe, does your soul see?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph said, his brow furrowing, ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Can it see now?¡±


    Joseph blinked. Closed his eyes.


    Yes. Just barely. He could make out the shadow of his stomach. It nested there, when it was not in use. He opened his regular eyes again and gave a curt nod in response.


    ¡°I wonder, Cobalt Joe,¡± the Shadow of the Giant said, ¡°How you will age. Will your physical body deteriorate? Or will your soul keep it fresh and young? Or, perhaps, your body will crumple, leaving your soul free to fly away.¡±


    Joseph tilted his head, leaned in.


    ¡°What are you getting at?¡± his voice was heated.


    ¡°I am curious,¡± the Shadow of the Giant said, ¡°You can forgive curiosity, can you not?¡±


    Joseph gave him a stern look.


    ¡°They are important questions,¡± the Shadow of the Giant said, ¡°Metahuman powers can change and evolve as one grows older, or more practiced in their use. It makes sense to ask yourself, what will you be in the future?¡±


    ¡°I suppose that makes sense,¡± Joe tersed.


    ¡°Indeed,¡± the Shadow of the Giant siad, ¡°Your metahuman power seems much like mine, and they are questions I asked of myself. Who is truly ''you?'' Is it your body, which may eventually wither, or is it the ''you'' in your stomach, slumbering now?¡±


    ¡°Does it fucking matter?¡± Joe said, almost yelled. Loud enough, at least, for his voice to echo off of the walls.


    There was a moment of stark silence. Professor Morandus shifted the eggs on his plate around with a fork. Becenti¡¯s face was as stone. Luminary was still smiling amiably. The Shadow of the Giant stared.


    (And Joseph, Cobalt Joe, had no answer.)


    ¡°You''ve posed quite a few observations, my Shadow,¡± Luminary said, ¡°But I fear you may have upset our guest.¡±


    ¡°No, it''s¡­ it¡¯s fine,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Personal questions like that, they feel weird to me.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± the Shadow of the Giant said, ¡°Indeed.¡±


    Becenti was giving Joseph a measured look. Joseph took a drink from his glass.


    ¡°I think that''s enough on that, for now,¡± Becenti said, ¡°On Cobalt Joe, at least.¡±


    ¡°One last question, if he permits,¡± Luminary said.


    Joseph looked at her.


    ¡°Tell me, would you stay?¡± Luminary said.


    The younger metahuman shook his head.


    ¡°With respect,¡± he growled, ¡°My home is elsewhere. I look up at the stars, and they aren''t exactly ''mine,'' if that makes sense.¡±


    Luminary nodded.


    ¡°Well, it is rather early to be asking you, especially when you are so set in your ways,¡± she said, ¡°But, think on it, hm? You have a place here, when your options run out. We can answer questions that you obviously have been worrying about.¡±


    Joseph''s mouth tightened into a frown.


    (Why, this Luminary was perceptive, wasn''t she?)


    ¡°I''ll keep it in mind,¡± he said.


    ***


    Luminary had to attend a few meetings of her own.


    ¡°Weapon shipments,¡± she said, ¡°Boring ones. You will be bored, Myron. Go on, explore and meet new people here.¡±


    And she made her leave. As did Shadow of the Giant, who gave Joseph a final nod, an awkward sort of apology, and went off as well. It left the three Amber Foundation together in the room.


    ¡°Evancar,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Where is Aldreia?¡±


    ¡°I... I don''t know,¡± the archaeologist admitted, ¡°She left before I woke up.¡±


    ¡°And she wasn''t there when you left with the others yesterday,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°She stayed in her room,¡± Evancar said, ¡°Honest, Becenti, I''ve been on my best behavior. No awkward questions from me. Just the usual, you know.¡±


    ¡°I think he''s fine,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Seriously, Becenti, he''s not hurting anyone. You don''t need him on a leash.¡±


    Becenti looked over at Joseph. His eyes revealed nothing.


    ¡°You were certainly heated with the Shadow of the Giant, weren''t you?¡± he said.


    ¡°Don''t change the subject,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Lay off Evancar. He''s fine.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I don''t need...¡± Evancar stammered, ¡°It''s fine, I can find Aldreia, have her accompany me, it''s n-nothing.¡±


    ¡°Very well,¡± Becenti said curtly, ¡°I apologize, Professor Morandus. Do what you will.¡±


    He hadn''t averted his gaze from Joseph. Joseph''s brow, after a moment, furrowed. Then he broke their little staring game and looked at the wall.


    ¡°It''s nothing,¡± he said.


    ¡°Thinking of the future?¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Something like that,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I shouldn''t have gotten upset about it. I just got defensive, is all. They mentioned Silicon.¡±


    ¡°You were already on edge,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Exactly,¡± Joseph said, ¡°And...¡±


    He sighed.


    ¡°What the Shadow of the Giant was asking, they''re questions I''ve asked myself,¡± he said, ¡°They''re questions I don''t like.¡±


    Becenti nodded.


    ¡°They are your powers, Mr... Joe.¡±


    Joseph smirked at his mentor''s correction.


    ¡°Yeah, they are,¡± he said, standing, ¡°But, I look in the mirror sometimes. And I''m a thing of scars. Sometimes I look at myself, and I think, ''what''s next?''¡±


    He paced around. His footsteps echoed on the stone.


    ¡°I don''t want to go back to Earth. Well, maybe a little, but not to stay. Not like I did before,¡± he said, ¡°So all I do is go on jobs, and fight Darwinists, and get my shit rocked. And I wonder what''ll happen to my soul when it''s over.¡±


    He looked at Becenti, and in his eyes was an anxiety, a fear, that the older man had never seen in the younger metahuman''s eyes.


    ¡°I''ve been seeing more through my soul, every day,¡± he said, ¡°And when I dream, it''s my soul that I see, and not myself. Blue feathers and claws, and all that.¡±


    He let his statement hang.


    Evancar cleared his throat.


    ¡°...Maybe find a hobby?¡± he asked.


    Joseph, despite himself, snorted.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± he said, ¡°Something like that.¡±


    He shook his head.


    ¡°I dunno. I''ll leave you to do whatever. I''m going to get some fresh air.¡±


    ¡°I have a few visits I need to make,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I want to see if some old friends survived. Meet back up later?¡±


    Joseph nodded.


    ¡°Do you mind if I come with you, Cobalt Joe?¡± Evancar asked, ¡°We could find Aldreia.¡±


    There was a tone to his voice. He recognized Joe defending him in front of Becenti.


    ¡°Sure,¡± Joseph said, and he gave a rare smile, ¡°Why not.¡±

 141. GRAVITY WELL

    The Pit woke up late in the morning. This was a habit born out of the sacrifice of her internal alarm clock, a part of her pact with a demon known as Izeman. As such, it was Pauldros the Stonemaker''s responsibility to make breakfast for the two of them. He cracked eggs on a stove, added flakes of rosemary to the mix, added slices of onions and bell peppers to their omelettes. They lived in a house just down the path from Mt. Redress, a small cottage that had been built by the two of them, together. The Stonemaker had raised the earth, had carved stone into bricks. The Pit had used her demonic menagerie as a workforce, putting the house together, a six-armed, ox-headed demon placing the roof onto the house, slapping on the tiles shingle-by-shingle.


    In the other room, Pauldros watched her mutter in her sleep, turn in her bed. She, too, was having nightmares as of late. As was he. When Pauldros slept, he dreamed of screams. Most of the night, they were familiar ¨C those of his mother. His father. His brother and sister.


    And yet, recently, the screams at night were foreign to him. Far more numerous.


    He told himself that they were easier to forget. To push down.


    (Why, then, did he feel such guilt?)


    He was thinking of this, holding the pan in hand, when breakfast went up in flames. Pauldros let out a bark of surprise, moving the pan away from the stove, batting a hand at the burning eggs. Earthen dust from the walls came to life, beckoned at his command, smothering the fire.


    And ruining the eggs with a much grittier seasoning. Dusted with dirt. Pauldros glared down at the remains with a frown.


    ¡°Everything alright?¡± the Pit asked behind him.


    He almost jumped at the sound of her voice. Pauldros turned around. She was at the door frame, wrapped in a blanket.


    ¡°Oh, it''s, ah,¡± Pauldros said, ¡°It''s nothing. Breakfast will be a bit late.¡±


    He dumped the remains into the trash.


    ¡°I didn''t mean to wake you,¡± he said.


    ¡°It''s fine,¡± the Pit said, ¡°I was getting up anyways.¡±


    She sat down at the table. Pauldros walked over to the fridge, pouring out a glass of juice for her. He placed it in front of her, noting, for a moment, how mundane he felt. Light poured in through the window. He could hear children playing outside, gathering for the day''s lessons. A few neighbors were calling out ¡°Hellos¡± and ¡°Good mornings¡± to each other.


    The Pit sipped the juice. Pauldros started breakfast up again, and this time the attempt was much better. He laid out two plates, put the omelette out, cut it into two pieces, one much larger than the other, for the Pit was never much one for an appetite. The two of them tucked in.


    ¡°Mmm,¡± Pauldros said, ¡°I added too much salt again.¡±


    The Pit did not respond.


    ¡°Maybe I''ll get some of that drikma from Molesque. I heard it''s good with eggs. Maybe get some meat in it, too, I need to get back on that weight lifting regimen.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± the Pit said.


    The Stonemaker looked up at her. She had hardly touched her food.


    ¡°Everything alright?¡± he asked.


    The Pit did not respond for a few moments, her thin brow furrowing.


    ¡°Everything is fine,¡± she murmured.


    Pauldros looked at her, before giving a nod.


    ¡°You should eat,¡± he said, ¡°It''s going to be a big day.¡±


    ¡°My love,¡± the Pit said, ¡°Every day is a big day.¡±


    She stabbed a fork into the omelette. Took a bite. But there was the way she said it that did not leave Pauldros convinced.


    ***


    They left soon after eating, walking down the path from their house to the main road, towards Mt. Redress. Other New Ludayans joined them, heading to Mt. Redress to continue excavating the mountains, or to store food, or for various meetings with the Ruler class. It was a cold day, and though Pauldros enjoyed it, he noted that the Pit was shivering.


    ¡°Here,¡± he said, and he took off his vast cloak, putting it over her shoulders.


    ¡°Pauldros, my dear,¡± the Pit said, ¡°We''re in public.¡±


    ¡°No one cares,¡± Pauldros said, smiling.


    Indeed, no one gave them any mind. The Pit looked away.


    ¡°You will be cold,¡± she said.


    ¡°Please,¡± Pauldros said, ¡°I grew up on Echor III. Cold is a close friend.¡±


    He smiled at her. The Pit returned it, albeit reluctantly.


    As they approached the ramp up to Mt. Redress and its interior rooms, a class of children spotted them. Pauldros''s eyes went wide and almost glittered as they ran over to surround them. The Pit notably took a step back.


    ¡°My friends!¡± he said.


    They all but tackled him, laughing and cheering and giggling, climbing up his mountainous form, using his arms like tree branches, one of them even managed to get up on his head, the tips of her fingers suction-padding onto his temples to hold on.


    ¡°Alright, alright,¡± their teacher said, ¡°That''s enough.¡±


    It was Meloche. The philosopher was plodding his way forward. He was good at controlling a classroom when they were gathered ''round, but not when they were ready to play. Usually Meloche took the class in after their exercise period.


    ¡°Meloche,¡± he said, ¡°Indani sick?¡±


    ¡°A bit of a fever,¡± Meloche said, ¡°Nothing major. I volunteered to look after them for the day.¡±


    ¡°Ah, lucky you,¡± Pauldros said, with a hint of sarcasm, ¡°I''ll make sure to get you the strong stuff tonight.¡±


    ¡°I''ll need it,¡± Meloche said, ¡°Come now, children, that''s enough.¡±


    ¡°I can handle them for a few minutes,¡± Pauldros said, ¡°Tell me, friends, would you like a story?¡±


    ¡°No!¡± one of them said, ¡°Make us something, Stonemaker!¡±


    ¡°Make us something!¡± another repeated.


    And they all repeated it, one by one, until it was a chant around him. Pauldros rolled his eyes, shook his head in a good-natured way. He looked over to the Pit.


    Who wasn''t paying attention. She was staring up at workers near one of the mountain''s cliffs, lost in thought. The Stonemaker''s smile, for a moment, flickered.


    Then he rested a hand on the ground. The earth on the road seized up, and a stone playground rippled up from the depths. The children, as one, let out a series of whoops before washing over it, climbing atop and sliding down its slide. The only one who didn''t go was the girl on Pauldro''s head, and that was only because she was having trouble unsuctioning herself.


    ¡°S-Sorry, Stonemaker,¡± she said, ¡°Sorry sorry sorry.¡±


    ¡°It''s fine, little one,¡± Pauldros said, and he winced as she pulled at his skin, one of the suction pads popping from his head, leaving a ring in its place, ¡°Take your time with it.¡±


    ¡°They are not being careful,¡± the Pit said.


    ¡°Ah, my constructs are fine,¡± Pauldros said.


    ¡°I''m not talking about that,¡± she said, ¡°One of the workers, he strays too close to the-¡±


    And indeed, atop the cliff, one of the men fell. He was near the ledge, which broke underneath his elephantine foot. With a trumpet of surprise, he started tumbling down the mountain, hitting a few outcroppings before going into a freefall.


    The Pit raised up a hand. Activated her metahuman power. Fished through the pacts in her belly, trying to find one...


    A specific one...


    Her eyes went wide.


    Nothing leaped from her form. No demon broke out of her belly like a chick from the egg.


    The worker continued falling-


    And a hand of light caught him. Large and pillow-like, it scooped him from the air.


    ¡°Trouble, Pit?¡± Luminary asked.


    She was just behind them, accompanied by Mister Meaning. The two of them were, in a rare moment, outside of Mt. Redress, coming up the road behind Pauldros''s little group.


    ¡°I...¡± the Pit blinked, ¡°It is fine.¡±


    A few people were gawking at the sight of the elephantine metahuman and the hand that held him. Luminary lowered him down to the ground beside Pauldros''s playground. The children, at the sight of the founder, went silent, and moved away from the Stonemaker''s creation.


    The elephantine worker patted at himself for a few moments, as though in awe he were still alive. Then he gave a bow to Luminary.


    ¡°I owe you my life,¡± he said.


    ¡°Nonsense,¡± Luminary said, ¡°I am doing what we all do. Go to the infirmary, get yourself checked out.¡±


    ¡°He seems fine to me,¡± Mister Meaning said, ¡°He could probably tank a glassmaker.¡±


    ¡°I will,¡± the worker said, ¡°Th-thank you.¡±


    And he rumbled off. Luminary watched him go, before turning her attention to Pauldros and the Pit.


    ¡°We''ll want to put up some railings up there,¡± she said, ¡°Pauldros?¡±


    ¡°I''ll get on it,¡± he said, ¡°When I have time. I''ve got half a dozen other projects I''m working on for you.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Luminary said, ¡°Very well. Add it to the list.¡±


    And she strode off. Mister Meaning gave a half-mocking bow and a half-mocking smile to them as he followed.


    The children, after a few moments, gathered to Meloche. Luminary''s presence had cowed them, and now the philosopher could herd them away and to their class. He gave a nod to Pauldros, who returned it, before they disappeared into the woods.


    The Stonemaker looked down at the Pit.


    ¡°Is everything alright?¡± he asked.


    She was quiet.


    ¡°Pit, talk to me,¡± he said, ¡°You''ve been withdrawn today. More than you usually are.¡±


    The Pit looked away.


    ¡°I am...¡± she said, ¡°I appear to be missing one of my pacts.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Pauldros said, ¡°Who? How?¡±


    ¡°It is Izmanuzu,¡± she said, ¡°A demon of the wind. He is gone. I don''t know how.¡±


    She looked up at Pauldros.


    ¡°I don''t.¡±


    ***


    We should speak of Riah Truegale. It was his duty to train the Warriors. To coach them. To drill them. To turn them into soldiers, for when the time came. He was a tall metahuman, willowy and thin, with a short, triangular beard. He wore simple white clothing that did not cover his arms and legs, revealing small holes on his limbs. He sat in the middle of the training field as Joseph and Fractal approached. Dozens of metahumans, Warriors all, were taking part in drills behind him, climbing through obstacle courses, firing various weapons down a shooting range, and practicing their abilities, paired off in twos. Fire and ice spun in the air. One metahuman was attacking another with his multiple arms, the other hardening the air around her as a shield in response. All around them were the sounds of metahuman training and metahuman warfare.


    Evancar took a second to hang back, watching the proceedings. He looked a bit out of place as he watched the Warriors spar. As the multiple-armed metahuman overtook his opponent with a ragged shout of triumph.


    ¡°Ah, Fractal,¡± Riah Truegale said, ¡°This is...?¡±


    ¡°Cobalt Joe,¡± Fractal said, and she smirked at him, ¡°The visitor.¡±


    ¡°Ah, the guildfolk,¡± Riah Truegale said. He shook Joseph''s hand, ¡°Good to meet you. Fractal told me about you last night.¡±


    ¡°All bad things, I hope,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°The worst,¡± Riah Truegale said, ¡°She makes good friends.¡±


    He took a moment to size Joseph up. Looked back at Evancar.


    ¡°A guildmate of yours?¡± he said.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Not a metahuman.¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Some people get all the luck,¡± Riah Truegale said, ¡°Well, now, Fractal says that you''ve got abilities in line with a Warrior class. Is that right?¡±


    ¡°Something like that,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Show me,¡± Riah Truegale said, ¡°A quick sparring session. Nothing major.¡±


    ¡°If it''s all the same to you,¡± Fractal said, ¡°I''d like to be the one who faces Cobalt Joe.¡±


    ¡°Is that right?¡± Joseph said, ¡°Putting the money where your mouth is?¡±


    ¡°Feeling''s mutual,¡± Fractal said, ¡°You said some pretty tough stuff, Birdboy. I want to see you back it up.¡±


    ¡°Alright, alright,¡± Riah Truegale said, ¡°Into the sparring pit, you two. Go on.¡±


    Fractal started to move off to one of the fenced-off areas of the training yard. Joseph went to follow her. Evancar jogged over to his side.


    ¡°Ah... Joseph. Joe. Sorry, Joe?¡±


    He turned.


    ¡°Are you sure this is a good idea?¡±This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    ¡°It''s just a sparring match,¡± Joseph said, ¡°You''ve seen me spar with Broon and Mekke dozens of times.¡±


    ¡°Broon and Mekke use swords,¡± Evancar said, ¡°That''s a fully fledged, trained metahuman you''re facing.¡±


    ¡°I can take it,¡± Joseph said, and he turned, ¡°What, you worried about me?¡±


    ¡°I''d rather not be the one to explain your untimely demise to Becenti, is all,¡± Evancar said, ¡°I''m already on thin ice with him.¡±


    Joseph glowered.


    ¡°You''re fine,¡± he said, ¡°I think Becenti''s just being overprotective.¡±


    ¡°He has a right to be,¡± Evancar said, ¡°There have been moments where I''ve said the wrong thing... you know me, Joe. I sometimes don''t know what to say-¡±


    ¡°Hey, Birdboy!¡± Fractal called from the ring, ¡°You a hawk, or a chicken?¡±


    Joseph looked up at her. Then looked to Evancar.


    ¡°Relax, man,¡± he said, ¡°I''ll be fine. You can watch, if you want.¡±


    He jogged over to the fence. Bounded over it. Met Fractal in the center of the ring. Riah Truegale nodded at him.


    ¡°Alright, son,¡± he said, ¡°Show us what you can do.¡±


    Joseph stretched. Felt his soul surge across his body, jumping from point to point, a circuit to gain power. A split-second later, the eagle erupted from his back, hanging over him like a hawkish god. It mirrored his stance as Joseph raised up his fists.


    Fractal took a moment to take it in. There was a fire in her eyes.


    And then she changed. An energy washed over her, orange and ever-shifting, overtaking her form and making her a fractal silhouette. Everything ¨C her skin, her hair, her sari ¨C became as one, became a vaguely humanoid pattern of triangles and lines. The air around her rippled.


    And seemed to expand, bit by bit, as Joseph watched.


    ¡°Better hurry, Joe,¡± Riah Truegale said, ¡°If that field gets too big, it''ll be over.¡±


    Joseph bit his lip. He had not expected this.


    But, then, this was a metahuman battle. The unexpected was normal.


    He took a few steps forward.


    ¡°What''s wrong, Joe?¡± Fractal''s voice echoed as though she were in a hallway, and her eyes, which were glowing and pupil-less, slitted down in mirth, ¡°Feeling silly right now, aren''t you?¡±


    ¡°Nah,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Just testing the waters.¡±


    The eagle disappeared. Joseph re-circuited, firing off a bolt of lightning at her. A small one, one that would shock her, send her flying. Certainly not kill her, of course.


    It struck Fractal directly in the chest, and she was shoved back. She shoved her hands down, and she started sinking into the earth, which shuddered and broke beneath her. The air rippled as she did so.


    And continued to expand.


    Her eyes were wide with surprise.


    Riah Truegale laughed.


    ¡°Remember your science, Fractal!¡± he called out, ¡°The lightning''s just a bit too fast for you. Gravity is the hammer here, not the blade.¡±


    ¡°Gravity?¡± Joseph said. He looked over to Fractal, who was pulling herself up. The air rippled once more, and she was in the air.


    The eagle came back to life.


    And she rushed forward, twisting her body as she did so, not so much flying as falling sideways in a dropkick. Joseph brought his soul''s arms up to block the blow, which connected with its forearms and-


    Oh, god. She hit much harder than he anticipated. He felt something crack in the soul''s arms, and he was shoved back and-


    And she was still going, pushing him back, her weight increasing each and every second. The field was expanding, and Joseph felt it difficult to move as he tried to extricate himself from her blow. It was as though weights had been strapped to his legs, his arms, his back. Everywhere, really, an intense pressure that forced him down.


    Gravity.


    The air rippling.


    Joseph let out a grunt, and the soul lifted up an arm, swinging at Fractal. Fractal broke off, floating into the air, the rippling air ¨C no, the aura ¨C following her. When she left, the pressure eased. Joseph let out a sigh of relief.


    And knew that she was holding back, like he was. The thought scared him.


    Her field was expanding. Joseph looked up at her as she twirled through the air, swimming through it like a lionfish. Cold pain from her strike eased down Joseph''s spine in a slow trickle. He released the eagle, let it dissolve back into his form to fix up its arms.


    ¡°Not bad,¡± he said, ¡°Not bad at all.¡±


    ***


    ¡°He''s good,¡± Riah Truegale said, ¡°He powered through the pain there.¡±


    ¡°Y-Yes,¡± Evancar said, ¡°He''s been known to do that.¡±


    The two of them had moved off to the side to watch Cobalt Joe and Fractal spar. Already the battle was growing intense, as Cobalt Joe was increasingly forced to retreat, as Fractal''s gravity aura grew in size and scope.


    ¡°Is...¡± Evancar said, ¡°Is there an upper limit?¡±


    ¡°To Fractal''s field?¡± Riah Truegale said, ¡°As of right now, no, but its growth does start to slow down as time goes on. It''s amazing. She only awakened a few months ago, and already she has such control over it. She''ll be one of the greatest of us, mark my words.¡±


    ¡°I-indeed,¡± Evancar said.


    Cobalt Joe was firing off another series of bolts. Small ones, little zips of light that speared around Fractal, who was bobbing and weaving in the air to avoid them, descending and then ascending, though it looked more like she was falling both up and down, changing her own gravitational pull to mimic flight. What mattered was that Joe was keeping her away from him.


    A figure moved beside Evancar. A man in a sleeveless jacket, his arms covered in shimmering scales. He wore an easy smile.


    ¡°Riah Truegale,¡± he said.


    ¡°Ah, Rainbowfish,¡± Riah nodded to the other metahuman, ¡°You missed today''s drills.¡±


    ¡°I apologize,¡± he said, ¡°I was called away by Luminary for a job.¡±


    Riah Truegale fixed Rainbowfish a look, as though he did not quite believe the younger metahuman''s words. Then, he nodded.


    ¡°Very well,¡± he said, ¡°You''ll be here tomorrow. I will speak with Luminary to ensure this. You will not miss any more sessions, I promise you that.¡±


    ¡°I''ll be there,¡± Rainbowfish said, ¡°Now, ah, I think Fractal''s going to crush that newcomer.¡±


    Indeed, Fractal had finally closed the distance between herself and Cobalt Joe. Joe was moving slower as she flung herself at him, twisting at the last moment and delivering a hammering blow to the eagle''s head. Cobalt Joe''s eagle dissolved once more-


    ¡°A farce,¡± Riah Truegale said.


    Indeed, Cobalt Joe, powering through the increased gravity, brought a fist forward, one that curled with lightning. A bolt flung from his hand, pierced Fractal''s stomach like a spear.


    She continued bearing down at him, using her power to anchor herself in place. And shoved Joe down like a hydraulic press.


    ¡°I''d better stop them,¡± Riah Truegale said, and he jumped over the fence, ¡°Alright, that''s enough!¡±


    Rainbowfish and Evancar watched the instructor jog to the middle of the field. Fractal was unsteady on her feet as she stumbled back, the fractal orange pattern disappearing. Cobalt Joe was kneeling on the ground, breathing heavily.


    ¡°You''re... Amber Foundation, right?¡± Rainbowfish said, ¡°An archaeologist.¡±


    Evancar adjusted his glasses.


    ¡°I am,¡± he said, ¡°Professor Evancar Morandus. Guild archaeologist. Specializations in the Daynian Paradigm and the Qing''Oghma Squall.¡±


    ¡°Rainbowfish. Metahuman. Warrior class,¡± he shook Evancar''s hand, ¡°You got a second? There''s a few people I want you to meet.¡±


    ¡°I do believe I should stay with Cobalt Joe,¡± Evancar said, ¡°If that''s alright.¡±


    ¡°It''ll be for just a second,¡± Rainbowfish said, ¡°I''ve got a few associates who want to meet you.¡±


    ¡°I really do think-¡±


    ¡°It''s about some ruins they''ve found on the plane,¡± Rainbowfish said.


    He said this in a hurried whisper, evidently not wanting to be overheard. Evancar''s eyes widened.


    ¡°I was told there...¡± he swallowed, ¡°I was told there weren''t any ruins here.¡±


    ¡°Lunus and the others will be able to tell you more,¡± Rainbowfish said, ¡°They''re out in the woods near here. They''ve had to be on the down low.¡±


    He made to move off.


    ¡°You coming?¡±


    Cobalt Joe was still winded. Fractal offered a hand to help pull him up. He was smiling, but there was an exhaustion in his step. Evidently Fractal had done more damage than she had anticipated. He probably wouldn''t notice Evancar disappear...


    ¡°For a few minutes, nothing more,¡± the archaeologist said.


    ¡°Good,¡± Rainbowfish said, ¡°Come on.¡±


    ***


    Kehaulani and Lunus Oculus were the two who had decided to meet the guild archaeologist. Everyone else was busy ¨C the work of nation-building meant that meeting someone in the middle of the morning like this was difficult. But Lunus Oculus was never one for structured work, and Kehaulani was still technically on maternity leave. As such, the two of them waited in the woods for Rainbowfish to return with the archaeologist. Lunus was leaning against a tree, her eyes burning blood red. Kehaulani was sitting on a tree stump, her son, Makaio, bundled up in her arms. She was rocking him gently. Thankfully, he was a quiet little thing, and was asleep. No crying today, not for something as important as this.


    Rainbowfish pushed through the branches and brush with the archaeologist behind him. The branches whipped at the guildfolk, who let out a squeal of surprise, ducking before they smacked him in the face. He looked much like any other academic, with his glasses and his bag of books and his generally vacant stare.


    He took a moment to look at the two of them.


    ¡°Is that a baby?¡± he asked, ¡°I''m not good with kids.¡±


    ¡°His name is Makaio,¡± Kehaulani said, ¡°You need not worry. He''s asleep.¡±


    ¡°Oh, good,¡± the archaeologist said, ¡°I had to babysit for my brother once. That didn''t go over very well. Little tyke got into my bookshelf, ruined a book from one of my professors, only twenty-five in existence, not barring potential copies in the Flyleaf Forest. It was mostly primary sources, though, so you could most likely get them from the Silver Eye, or...¡±


    He blinked.


    ¡°I''m rambling,¡± he said, ¡°Apologies.¡±


    Kehaulani suppressed a snort. Lunus Oculus smiled at him. Rainbowfish rolled his eyes.


    ¡°I got your guy, Lune,¡± he said, ¡°That it?¡±


    ¡°You should stay,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°This near to the training yard, I don''t want any awkward questions if someone stumbles in.¡±


    ¡°And you think that I can stave those off,¡± Rainbowfish grunted, ¡°You do realize I''m already on Riah Truegale''s shitlist, right?¡±


    ¡°Better you than me, right?¡± Lunus Oculus said.


    Rainbowfish muttered something under his breath, but he stayed.


    ¡°Ah,¡± the archaeologist said, ¡°I''m afraid I''m at a loss here. Who are you...?¡±


    ¡°I am Lunus Oculus, and my comrades here are Rainbowfish and Kehaulani,¡± Lunus Oculus gestured, ¡°You''re the Amber Foundation''s archaeologist, aren''t you?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Professor Evancar Morandus,¡± Evancar scratched the back of his head, ¡°Good to meet you, I suppose. Which, I do suppose! Oh, anyways, you said something, or rather, Mr. Fish-¡±


    ¡°Just Rainbowfish.¡±


    ¡°Rainbowfish here,¡± Evancar corrected, a bit hastily, ¡°You said something about ruins on this plane?¡±


    Lunus Oculus looked to Kehaulani, who nodded.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°Ruins. They''re about a day out from here.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Evancar said, and he pulled out a book from his bag, ¡°...Can you describe them?¡±


    ¡°We''d prefer you to see them for yourself,¡± Lunus Oculus said.


    ¡°Well, that won''t do,¡± Evancar said, ¡°How can you be sure that they¡¯re ruins?¡±


    Lunus Oculus pulled a face. Kehaulani spoke up.


    ¡°...The Council has eyes and ears everywhere,¡± she said, ¡°We''d prefer to keep it as quiet as possible.¡±


    ¡°And yet you''re talking about it, so brazenly, to me,¡± Evancar said, ¡°If they''ve got eyes and ears, they already know.¡±


    He looked at Kehaulani.


    ¡°The very mention of ''ruins'' would probably cause a stir in the Council, wouldn''t it? Damn the details, its very existence is taboo.¡±


    Kehaulani''s mouth formed into a thin line.


    ¡°I-I know politics,¡± Evancar said, ¡°And I''m not a fool when it comes to them. Legacy is an empire in of itself, and if this plane was previously inhabited, it damages the mythology your nation is trying to make.¡±


    ¡°And yet,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°The ruins are there.¡±


    ¡°And you''re sure they''re ruins?¡± Evancar said, ¡°T-trust me, I''m willing to believe you. I''m not doing my job if I''m not. Is it from an archaeological dig?¡±


    ¡°It''s a cave system,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°Near the mountains, on the western side. They show signs of wear and carving.¡±


    Evancar nodded.


    ¡°I see,¡± he said, ¡°Anything else?¡±


    ¡°There are...¡± Kehaulani said, ¡°Signs of... habitation there.¡±


    ¡°Habitation?¡±


    ¡°The shells of old buildings,¡± Kehaulani said, ¡°It looks like they''ve become overgrown, but they''re there.¡±


    Evancar nodded.


    ¡°And no one''s noticed them?¡±


    ¡°No one,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°It''s not an area that many New Ludayans frequent. It''s out of the way, and the earth there isn''t very good for farming.¡±


    Evancar nodded. He flipped through a few pages in his book, running a finger over a passage, ¡°In the mountains, you say?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Lunus Oculus said.


    ¡°And you haven''t found anything else?¡± he said, ¡°Nothing by the rivers?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Lunus Oculus said.


    ¡°...Interesting,¡± Evancar said. And he nodded, ¡°Very well. When can we head there?¡±


    ¡°Now would be preferable,¡± Lunus Oculus said.


    ¡°But that won''t be an option,¡± Rainbowfish said, ¡°People are still working, and if they''re to the west then we''d need to cross through the farmlands. That would attract attention.¡±


    ¡°...Tonight, then,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°We''ll leave while everyone is resting.¡±


    ¡°And I want to bring my comrades,¡± Evancar said, ¡°Cobalt Joe and Becenti.¡±


    ¡°Becenti?¡± Rainbowfish said, ¡°Luminary''s old friend?¡±


    ¡°Okay, maybe not him,¡± Evancar said, ¡°But Cobalt Joe at the very least. Aldreia Firedawn, if I can find her.¡±


    ¡°Why would you want to do that?¡± Kehaulani asked.


    ¡°I''m not going out in the middle of the night to ruins with strangers,¡± Evancar said, ¡°It''s archaeology 101.¡±


    ¡°Even if that stranger has a baby?¡± Kehaulani asked.


    ¡°Especially,¡± Evancar said, ¡°I''ve been tricked by that before.¡±


    Kehaulani blinked.


    ¡°If they''re amenable to go, they may,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°It''s... one of your guildmates, his name is Joseph?¡±


    ¡°Cobalt Joe,¡± Evancar said, ¡°He''s giving that name a spin.¡±


    ¡°Cobalt Joe, then,¡± Lunus Oculus said, with a smile, ¡°Very well. He, and any other guildmate, may join you.¡±


    Rainbowfish gave her a slightly concerned look. Lunus Oculus returned it, tried to answer the question in his eyes. They were conditions they could work with.


    (Better a few more guildfolk than none at all, yes?)


    ¡°Good!¡± Evancar said, ¡°I''ll bring it up to Joe. Now, ah, I should head back. Rainbowfish, would you...?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Rainbowfish started moving out. Evancar waved goodbye to Lunus Oculus and Kehaulani, and joined him.


    Lunus sighed. Kehaulani shook her head.


    ¡°He''ll have to do,¡± she said.


    ***


    Joseph''s head was spinning. His entire body ached, as though he had done a full-body workout. He stood stiff as a board as he spoke with Fractal, who was being looked over by a couple of medics.


    ¡°He was holding back, but do be careful next time,¡± one of the medics was telling Fractal.


    ¡°He shouldn''t have,¡± Fractal said, ¡°Then he might have won.¡±


    ¡°Har,¡± Joseph said.


    One of the medics moved from Fractal and started looking him over. They tut-tutted in a way that reminded him of Elenry, feeling his arms, his shoulders, poking at his forehead. Their two heads flashed iridescent as they did this last action, before nodding.


    ¡°I see your soul,¡± they said, ¡°It is hurt, but not gravely so.¡±


    ¡°Hell of a dropkick,¡± Joseph said.


    The medic pulled a bottle out of their pouch, pouring a few pills into their hand.


    ¡°For the pain,¡± they said, ¡°Nothing that won''t heal with time. Take it easy, over these next few days, hmm?¡±


    ¡°Y-Yeah,¡± Joseph said. He took the pills, ¡°Swallow ''em whole?¡±


    ¡°With water, which I will now prescribe,¡± the medic said, a tad robotically, and they handed him a waterskin, ¡°Take one every hour until tomorrow. If the pain persists, see me.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I will. What''s your name?¡±


    ¡°Cosette C-Thru,¡± they said, ¡°I will be here tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Thanks, Cosette,¡± Joseph said. They nodded, and they and the other medics took their leave. Riah Truegale smiled at him.


    ¡°Not bad,¡± he said, ¡°I can tell you''ve got a bit of trouble not going all out, but you handled yourself well out there.¡±


    ¡°Becenti threw me into a life-or-death situation pretty soon after I awakened,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I''ve never done things halfway.¡±


    ¡°And it shows!¡± Fractal said, ¡°I had you at the end there, Cobalt Joe. Had I pressed a little harder...¡±


    ¡°Yeah, yeah,¡± Joseph said, shaking his head, ¡°Hell of a power.¡±


    ¡°And it will only grow more powerful with time,¡± Riah Truegale said, ¡°And, more importantly, with training.¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes,¡± Fractal said, and her cheer lessened, ¡°I will keep this in mind.¡±


    She looked over to Joseph.


    ¡°You did good,¡± she said, ¡°If you had gone out, do you think you would have won?¡±


    Joseph shrugged.


    ¡°Come, now, Cobalt Joe,¡± Fractal said, ¡°The truth.¡±


    Joseph thought for a few moments, putting his hands in his pockets.


    ¡°You scare too easily,¡± he said, ¡°And your dodges are a bit slow. You''re relying a lot on your power, which makes you overcompensate when push comes to shove.¡±


    Fractal''s eyes widened. Riah Truegale barked out a laugh.


    ¡°A real fight,¡± Fractal said, ¡°What would you do?¡±


    ¡°Aim better,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Nail you before you get close. My lightning doesn''t seem affected by your gravity. I hit you with enough volts to stop your heart. And it''s done.¡±


    ¡°If you hit at all,¡± Fractal said, and her voice was low.


    (Almost dangerously so.)


    ¡°Now, now, you two,¡± Riah Truegale said, ¡°You both did well. Cobalt Joe, what Fractal said is true. You have seen real combat, and you know that it''s life or death in most circumstances. But there are times where you must not reveal your entire hand. You risk hurting those around you if you do.¡±


    Joseph nodded, remembering his previous battles. The rooms he had wrecked. He had burned down the entire wing of a library during one of his fights with a crusader.


    ¡°Yeah, that''s true,¡± he said.


    ¡°And Fractal,¡± Riah Truegale said, ¡°You rely far too much on your power. If you lose it, or if something happens, you must be able to look after yourself.¡±


    Fractal sucked in a hiss. Then stood straight, and nodded.


    ¡°Yes, sir,¡± she said.


    ¡°Martial arts will help,¡± Riah Truegale said, ¡°Rainbowfish is a master at that. I''ll have him start helping you specialize in something that fits your body type and talents.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±


    She smiled at Joseph.


    ¡°A good spar, Joe.¡±


    Joseph smirked back at her. Both of their eyes were filled with fire.


    ¡°Yeah, it was.¡±


    Then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw Evancar. The archaeologist was waving to him.


    ¡°Hold up,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Let me go see what he wants.¡±


    He made to jog, though even with the pills he felt a stiffness in his shoulders and back that forced him into an awkward half-walk. Fractal had done more damage than he thought.


    (He was glad she was on his side.)


    ¡°Evancar,¡± he said, ¡°What''s up?¡±


    ¡°Cobalt Joe,¡± Evancar said, ¡°I think I might have just fucked things up.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°It''s...¡± Evancar looked around, to be sure he wasn''t being overheard. Fractal and Riah Truegale were back to talking to each other, not paying the two Amber Foundation any mind.


    ¡°Go ahead,¡± Joseph said.


    Evancar swallowed.


    ¡°Well, it''s like this, Joe,¡± Evancar said, ¡°A metahuman by the name of Rainbowfish just approached me. He has quite the proposition in mind...¡±

 142. ANCESTRAL MEMORY

    Let us speak of Memoire. The Seat of Rituals and Secrets within the High Council, hers was a special position within New Ludayan society. It was her duty to chronicle the holidays of the nation. The turning points. She worked closely with the Seat of History to ensure that the daily prayers, if any, were spoken, and in the correct way, with the correct movements. Epochia was myriad in its cultures and, in truth, the only thing that connected the nation together was that her people shared the metagene. Each kingdom had its own rituals, its own gods.


    And it was Memoire''s duty to chronicle them all. Or what was left of them, at least.


    She was working with Iconoclast this afternoon, just after the Council''s meeting. Luminary was with them, and beside her was her friend, the newcomer, the one once known as Shimmer. Yes, Memoire remembered this one. Or rather, a few of the people in her memories did. Luminary had shared with her the first meeting with the now-old man in front of her now, sitting across from her at a table. He was young in her memory, scarcely out of his teens, all fire and passion. The Becenti that sat in front of her now was none of that. There was a hollowness to his eyes that many older metahumans shared. Even now, with all of the wonders of New Ludaya around him, despite the excitement in his voice as he spoke, there was a resignation there. As though he were simply waiting for all of it to come crashing down.


    (Or, perhaps, that was her own biases infecting her view of the world.)


    ¡°The plane Chliofrond descended to was one of water,¡± Becenti was saying, ¡°A freshwater sea in a stone bowl. No waves. No local life. Even the sun was artificial in nature. My guildmaster, Wakeling, thought that it was placed there by metahuman magic.¡±


    ¡°Which implies that the Chliofrondi stayed there for awhile,¡± Memoire noted.


    ¡°That was a line of reasoning we had,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Though we have no way of knowing how long the islands were inhabited after crashing into the sea. Most of the work the elves did there was based on the freshwater sea itself. They were after its resources. The metahuman ruins were, frankly, an afterthought.¡±


    ¡°And yet you didn''t go there more often, Myron?¡± Luminary said.


    ¡°No,¡± Becenti said, ¡°...No, I did not. There were more pressing matters I had to attend to.¡±


    He and Luminary exchanged knowing looks.


    (For, earlier in the day, they had spoken at length about Darwinists.)


    ¡°The plane''s gone, from what I hear,¡± Memoire said, ¡°The Federation glassed it, yes?¡±


    ¡°They found out about the metahuman ruins,¡± Becenti said, ¡°And what the elves were doing there. There were¡­ fears, of cross-technological contamination. There was a Shard of Imagination there.¡±


    Memoire sucked in a breath. Iconoclast''s jaw set.


    ¡°I see,¡± Memoire said, ¡°And they destroyed it.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°And you''re sure of this?¡±


    ¡°I had a few guildmates on that job,¡± Becenti said, ¡°They said that there was nothing left but ash and glass.¡±


    ¡°A Shard of Imagination can survive worse,¡± Memoire said, and her entire body, that symbol-etched thing, rippled and twisted as she pulled up an ancient memory, ¡°A great-grandfather of an old friend experimented on Shards of Imagination. Saw them survive glassings. Saw them survive worse.¡±


    She looked at Becenti.


    ¡°It is likely the Federation collected the Shard later on.¡±


    Becenti grimaced. Looked away.


    ¡°They wouldn''t want it,¡± he said, ¡°It''s anathema to them. Runs against everything they stand for.¡±


    ¡°And yet, it is power,¡± Luminary said, ¡°And we know they love power over anything else.¡±


    ¡°And old records show that they''ve used them before,¡± Iconoclast added, ¡°It was considered a heresy, back then, but they still used them. There''s precedent.¡±


    ¡°...You may be correct,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°We''re getting off track,¡± Memoire said, ¡°The plane, Mr. Becenti. Can you describe more of it? Where is it located?¡±


    ¡°...It was located on its own,¡± Becenti said, ¡°The Traveling Point hung in the middle of the ocean on Redenia. Hard to see. It apparently took the elves years to even find it. I''m not sure how long it''s been in forecast.¡±


    ¡°Redenia,¡± Memoire said.


    ¡°The Pallaved Paradigm,¡± Luminary said.


    ¡°Quarzen-Heim, actually,¡± Becenti corrected, ¡°But the dead plane itself didn''t appear to travel with the rest of the Paradigm.¡±


    They were quiet.


    Then...


    ¡°I wish to speak with Becenti alone,¡± Memoire said, ¡°My power is best used in private, between donor and host.¡±


    Luminary nodded. She gave Becenti¡¯s shoulder a tight squeeze, and then she and Iconoclast took their leave.


    Becenti rose from his seat as well, pacing around the room. They were in Memoire''s office, a tucked-away corner of Mt. Redress with no windows. It was a cave, a natural one by the looks of it, with a few stalagmites and stalactites, though there was a way the walls of the caves glinted, as though Pauldros''s power had turned them over, had cast a sheet of rock over the original walls.


    The only source of light came from torches set into the stone. Dusk in the cavern, and they only added more shadow to Memoire as she watched Becenti take stock of her room.


    ¡°I was raised on Krenstone,¡± she said, ¡°The open sky, it makes me feel odd. Fearful, even, on bad days.¡±


    ¡°I have a guildmate from Krenstone,¡± Becenti said, ¡°One of the Dwarven merchant princes.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I never met any of them,¡± Memoire said, ¡°The rich do not care for beggars like me. Especially if they''re metahuman.¡±


    Becenti nodded at that. He turned around, sat back at the table.


    ¡°Tell me,¡± he said, ¡°This... your ability. Does it hurt?¡±


    Memoire smiled at that.


    ¡°It does not,¡± she said, ¡°Many ask the same thing. But what I am doing is copying your memory. That is all.¡±


    ¡°Just copying?¡± Becenti said, ¡°Nothing else?¡±


    ¡°For you, just copying,¡± Memoire said, ¡°Many ask that same question, as well. I will be frank, Becenti, I have the power to take memory away as well, and you would not even realize. You would not know the difference. They would simply be gone.¡±


    ¡°Then it''s a matter of trust,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Memoire said.


    After a moment, Becenti sighed. Put his elbows on the table, and leaned in.


    ¡°I''m ready,¡± he said.


    ¡°It''s not so much a surgery,¡± Memoire said, and she put her hands on his head, fingers just grazing his temples, ¡°It may take a while.¡±


    ¡°It is a wonderful thing, your ability,¡± Becenti said, ¡°A living memory.¡±


    ¡°I have collected much, in my travels,¡± Memoire said, and her eyes flashed for a second, ¡°I''ve gotten started, but you may continue talking.¡±


    ¡°You take the emotions as well?¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°At times, I can try,¡± Memoire said, ¡°There can be no memory without emotion, and no emotion without memory. It is an inexact art. Often, I extract a memory, but the emotion remains, and like how a bee uses landmarks to find its way home, so too does the memory return to its original owner.¡±


    She frowned upon settling on an incident on Chliofrond. Shouts and barely repressed anger.


    ¡°So much pain, there,¡± she said.


    ¡°An argument that one of my guildmates, Nash, had with the guildmaster,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Nash has always... been abrasive, when it comes to authority. There''s a reason why they''re one of our Far Travelers.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Memoire said, ¡°You argued before?¡±


    ¡°A number of times, when they first joined,¡± Becenti said. He felt the heat of embarrassment, and so tried turning the subject again, ¡°And you feel the emotions with everything?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Even guilt?¡±


    Memoire''s eyes became focused again, as she looked at Becenti. Her heart rate quickened.


    ¡°Y-Yes,¡± she said, ¡°How did you...?¡±


    But Becenti''s voice betrayed nothing.


    (No, he did not know.)


    ¡°...Yes,¡± she said, ¡°I feel the guilt. The guilt of every memory I take. I have taken harsh memories, Becenti. Memories of murder. Of looting. Of dark things happening in dark places, on the edge of the known multiverse. Sometimes all I feel is guilt.¡±


    (Though it was not from these memories that she felt this way.)


    ¡°I see,¡± Becenti said, ¡°...Forgive me. I''m prodding too much.¡±


    ¡°It''s quite alright,¡± Memoire said, ¡°Many have asked me these questions. You are no different.¡±


    She removed her hands.


    ¡°I''m finished,¡± she said, ¡°All of your time at Chliofrond has been put in my head. Even if you were to pass on, your time there will still be here. Chliofrond will not be forgotten.¡±


    Becenti nodded.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± he said.


    She smiled.


    ¡°You''re welcome,¡± she said.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    Long after the newcomer left, Memoire stayed in her room. She paced around, like he had, memories swirling in her head. The raw burn of guilt attended her, the way it rotted the stomach and filled her chest. She was mumbling to herself.


    She had not done that before New Ludaya.


    Then, without warning, she retched. Vomited, for she recalled a moment of violence. Of screaming. Of the air filling with the copper-iron scent of blood.


    And these memories, they were not taken from another.


    And these memories, they were all too recent.


    ***


    Deep range scanners in the Outer Reach detected the starship on its third run.


    It was a small cargo runner of some sort. Going in and out of a sector of the Silver Eye that wasn''t known to have any official colonies. A few settlers without legal mandates, perhaps, but that wasn''t unheard of in the eyes of the government. People were wont to go where they wished, and there were far too many of them for the High Federation to keep track of. The majority of such colonists were people who wanted to keep to themselves. Religious communes. Isolationist cults. Anti-technology, old-ways farmers. They found themselves some nice world in the Outer Reach where they could survive off the land, and disappeared. It was rare for the High Federation to involve themselves with such worlds.


    As such, the detection of a cargo runner in that region of space wasn''t anything to be alarmed about.


    What was cause for some investigation was that the cargo runner kept appearing. Again and again, over the course of the year. And others with it.


    Someone was building up out there. This, Olendris Valm, Prime Voice of the High Federation, knew. There was a feeling in his gut as he read these reports. The galactic north of the Outer Reach was a good place to strike at the core worlds. There were several undocumented Traveling Points out there, ones that an enemy could use as a staging ground. Old Warp trails connected from there to the Iris and the Founder''s Apple, back when the galactic north was the center of commerce during the Age of Reflection. Such enemies, if they gained a foothold, could launch assaults on the inner parts of the Federation. Perhaps even Everlasting Truth itself.


    And there was more.


    There were the nomads.


    They arrested a caravan of them on Galandos Secundus, a stormy planet that was a launching point to the galactic north. Metahumans all, which was why they were taken in by the authorities for questioning, for, to quote former Prime Voice Horenthian Kantos, ''One metahuman is suspicious, two are trouble, three are a conspiracy, and any beyond that is a terrorist plot.''


    They were resistant to initial interrogations. To the point that the authorities on Galandos Secundus put in a request to the Department of Psionic Affairs for the dispatching of a telepath. Three months later, the Department of Psionic Affairs confirmed the request, and a month after that they sent out an agent to interrogate the metahumans.


    (Who, it should be noted, were held in a small, single room cell the entire time.)


    The telepathic agent drilled into the metahumans. A Mescusian, the agent was known for having perhaps too rough an edge in their telepathic abilities. One of the metahumans, a young child, was reported as ''passing away due to a telepath-related incident.''This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    (The agent was given a light reprimand.)


    The child''s parents were far more valuable. They had images in mind of paradise. A green world, a utopia in the galactic north, just on the edge of the Silver Eye.


    Three more parties, two on Galandos Secundus and one on Impechu, were taken in for questioning. They all had the same thoughts, the same general area.


    The same utopia.


    All of these reports fed their way to Olendris Valm. Who read them all.


    ¡°Tell me,¡± he said to his protege, Kathen Aru, ¡°What do you think of this?¡±


    He handed the report to Kathen.


    We should speak of Kathen Aru.


    (Sairad Ghedir.)


    He was in his twenties, with long, blond, wild hair like a lion''s. His beard was light and shallow, and there was a sort of reserved sadness in his eyes. A raysword hung at his side, and he was leaning back in his chair. His AI companion, Merry Curiosity, was sitting on his shoulder in the form of a Delluran Avatar, green, with four whispery arms, eight eyes looking over at Valm.


    Kathen took the report, reading it over. His mouth ground itself into a thin line.


    ¡°Metahumans always have their utopias,¡± he said, ¡°Always going on about the past. About their old nations.¡±


    Valm nodded.


    ¡°What else?¡± he said.


    ¡°What was the reasoning behind their internment?¡± Kathen asked.


    ¡°They''re metahumans,¡± Valm said, ¡°What other reason is needed?¡±


    Kathen was quiet at that. He disagreed with his mentor''s assertion.


    But Valm was like a father to him. So he said nothing to that.


    ¡°We''ve got four, maybe five interesting metahuman parties, families all,¡± Valm said, ¡°Caught up by the authorities, all of them thinking the same thing. Tell me, Kathen, what conclusions can you draw?¡±


    Kathen thought, scratching his beard.


    It was Merry who spoke first.


    ¡°Families tend towards safety,¡± she said, ¡°A few metahuman terrorists would be normal, but these are entire family units, moving as one.¡±


    ¡°It''s risky,¡± Kathen said, ¡°One of the families, that first one, had three young children, all under the age of eight. Traveling the galaxy like that, from cargo ship to cargo ship, that''s gotta be tough...¡±


    ¡°But what is the destination?¡± Valm said, ¡°What would make a family with three young children uproot their lives and make a dangerous trek across the Silver Eye?¡±


    Kathen looked up at his mentor.


    ¡°A nation,¡± he said, ¡°They''re trying to build a nation.¡±


    ¡°Precisely,¡± Valm said, ¡°Now, it is a gut feeling. A conclusion drawn on rather faulty evidence, for we know that a metahuman''s word means little.¡±


    ¡°But it''s something that''s caught your attention,¡± he said.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Valm said. He brought a longer finger up to his mouth, thinking.


    ¡°Will you...¡± Kathen grimaced, ¡°Will you bring this up to parliament?¡±


    Valm thought on this, then shook his head.


    ¡°No,¡± he said, ¡°This is not something to bring up with them. They would not believe this information. A metahuman nation, after all this time? I''d be the laughingstock of the galaxy. No, they don''t believe in anything save for what lines their pockets. I wouldn''t be surprised if a few of them were bribed by those Mutts out there.¡±


    ¡°Sir,¡± Kathen said.


    ¡°I know, Mr. Aru,¡± Valm said, ¡°I should not call them that. But when one acts like a dog...¡±


    He shook his head.


    ¡°Well, the parliament will be what it will be. A thorn in my side.¡±


    He looked at a few more reports. Looked up at Kathen.


    ¡°Tell me,¡± he said, ¡°What would you do?¡±


    ¡°Me, sir?¡± Kathen said, ¡°You said it yourself, parliament won''t do anything about it.¡±


    ¡°Yes, but we know they''re out there,¡± Valm said, ¡°A metahuman nation, right in our backyard. Tell me, Kathen, can you sense the danger? Can you even see it?¡±


    ¡°Families, sir,¡± Kathen said, ¡°They''re families.¡±


    ¡°And families grow,¡± Valm said, ¡°And tell their little children how awful our Federation is. How vile we are, for treating them as they are. They tell them to be scared of us. And, eventually, fear turns to action. And then you have metahumans on Everlasting Truth. You have metahuman mongrels killing our women and children.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I get it,¡± Kathen said, ¡°You want a plan of action.¡±


    ¡°I have a few ideas,¡± Valm said, ¡°But I want to hear your input, Mr. Aru.¡±


    ¡°Hear that, Kate?¡± Merry Curiosity said, ¡°He wants your ideas. Not sure why, though, considering-¡±


    Kathen turned her off. Merry disappeared back into his head. He thought for a few moments. Then looked up.


    ¡°The Auxiliary Support Act,¡± he said, ¡°That bill that passed just a few months ago.¡±


    ¡°What about it?¡±


    Kathen took his datapad, flipping through a few tabs, before reading it out.


    ¡°''When given cause is sufficient, the High Federation may direct the use of specific guilds with special charters to act on matters usually forbidden by the Law of InterGuild.''¡±


    He looked up at Valm.


    ¡°That includes military action on behalf of the High Federation.¡±


    Valm smiled.


    ¡°Precisely,¡± he said, ¡°The Auxiliary Support Act was drafted by the best think tanks in the Reclamationist Party. It was written precisely so that I, as Prime Voice, would be able to use Pagan Chorus for these ends.¡±


    ¡°Something you wouldn''t be able to do normally,¡± Kathen said.


    ¡°As Prime Voice, I cannot legally make a contract with a guild that I am part of,¡± Valm said, ¡°The possibility of stepping down as guildmaster did come up early on after I was sworn in, but I rejected it. Pagan Chorus is an important instrument for my plans.¡±


    He gave Kathen a knowing look. One that Kathen did not quite understand, like he was supposed to be aware of some sort of in-joke.


    ¡°But now, we have a unique weapon in our hands,¡± Valm said, ¡°Pagan Chorus can go to the Outer Reach, without contract, and investigate this... metahuman utopia.¡±


    ¡°Good thinking, sir,¡± Kathen said.


    ¡°And,¡± Valm said, looking at Kathen, ¡°We''re going with them.¡±


    ***


    There was very little innovation in the technology of the High Federation. The starships, the plasma weaponry, the grand terraforming machines that had transformed ten million worlds, those were all gifts from the past. They had existed, unchanged save for the odd difference in hull design, or the slightly more efficient plasma chamber, for tens of thousands of years. It had been High Federation warbirds that had brought down Epochia. And some were still in the fleet today, relics of an ancient era, still patrolling the eternal night, never allowed to rest, only allowed to retire in a flash of burning plasma and shrieking metal.


    As such, there had been very little progress made on the warp engines of the High Federation. That most important piece of the Silver Eye''s infrastructure, the means to bypass the distance between stars, and few knew how they actually worked. There were schematics, but it took a scholar''s eye to translate the dead languages of the Federation''s ancestors. There were copies, cobbled-together engines that could do the work, though they were shoddy work, and it often took several weeks for them to chug from one end of the galaxy to the other.


    No, only the oldest of engines would do. Those that had been made in the Federation''s golden age.


    (An age that some said had long since come and gone, never to return.)


    The fastest of the engines were reserved for the most important starships in the High Federation. Rediscovered from archaeological digs in the Founder''s Apple, they were said to have powered the ships of the Alu''eer themselves. Clean. Beautiful. A rainbow pillar of light in the center of the ship.


    And the Sovereign Melody, flagship of Pagan Chorus, had been outfitted with one such engine some three months ago.


    Kathen stared at it now, leaning over a railing in the engine room. Guildmate workers tended to the pillar of reality, which glowed and shifted in iridescent shapes, a rainbow twisted into the shape of a machine. There was a distinct rumble to it, a humming like a woman''s wail.


    ¡°Magnificent, isn''t it?¡± a voice said behind him.


    Kathen turned around. Old Scar, his weapons instructor, head of security, was walking into the room, pushing past a few crewmembers. He had a smile on his ugly face.


    ¡°Makes her the fastest warbird in the fleet,¡± he said, ¡°I was onboard when we took her to respond to some pirates down in the Pleyor system. I blinked, and we were there. Only took a couple hours.¡±


    He slapped a hand on Kathen''s shoulder, shook him.


    ¡°A couple hours! Before, it would take a day.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Kathen said, ¡°I asked the engineers about how long it''ll take us to get to the edge of the galaxy. They said only a couple of days.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Old Scar said, ¡°And then we can sync up with long range scanners and see for ourselves what the Mutts have been up to.¡±


    At once his ferocious, jovial attitude melted away. Replaced with a familiar look of hatred. Old Scar leaned against the rail with Kathen, his jaw set as he stared at the warp engine. His pitiless eyes reflected the multicolor aura.


    ¡°Don''t like it when they get like this,¡± he said.


    Kathen didn''t answer. Old Scar''s head turned, just a bit, to his young protege.


    ¡°Well, say something, will ya?¡± he said, ¡°You''ve got to have that stick in your gut too.¡±


    Kathen shrugged.


    ¡°They''re just families,¡± he said, ¡°Sounds to me they''re just trying to...¡±


    He thought of his words.


    ¡°Find something better out there. And I can''t say I blame them.¡±


    ¡°Families,¡± Old Scar said, ¡°You sound like Rhunea.¡±


    He spat off the edge of the railing. Saliva plattered down to the pillar''s base. A couple of crewmembers looked up. One of them went to contact the Chief Engineer.


    ¡°They''re just families,¡± he said, ¡°Until you find one of their kids has a bomb strapped to his chest. Just families, until every single one of ''em is going for your throat during a raid. I lost plenty of good friends to ''just families.''¡±


    He turned his hateful gaze on Kathen.


    ¡°Mark my words, kid. If we do find them out there, it''ll be to the death. Don''t hesitate. You''ll be burying your guildmates, if you do that.¡±


    The Chief Engineer hmm-ed and haw-ed over to him. Old Scar waved him off. He was already leaving.


    ¡°Yeah, yeah,¡± he said, ¡°Fucking whatever.¡±


    ***


    The Sovereign Melody departed from Everlasting Truth a couple of hours later. Any viewscreens that showed the outside world smeared into an ocean of whites and greys. Kathen found himself wandering the halls of the old warbird, Merry peppering him with idle chatter. The weight of certain types of seashells. The recent jobs that Pagan Chorus had gone on. The latest guild spat, something between the Academy of the Unreal and the Solth''layat.


    ¡°Apparently, they were both hired by the same client for the same job,¡± she said, ¡°And they didn''t realize it until they got there.¡±


    ¡°Doesn''t the Academy and the Solth''layat have history?¡± Kathen asked, though his question was forced and absent.


    ¡°Yeah. It ended with the client cleaning the walls of Solth''layat innards,¡± Merry said, ¡°Their guildmaster is apparently furious.¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    A pause. Merry Curiosity materialized on Kathen''s shoulder.


    ¡°Everything alright?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Yeah, yeah,¡± Kathen said. Then, with a wince, he said, ¡°Maybe not. I don''t know. Just trying to clear my head I guess.¡±


    ¡°You''re still thinking about what Old Scar said.¡±


    Kathen nodded. A few guildmates walked by him, giving him a wave. He gave them a curt nod. He passed one of the auxiliary crewmembers, common for the Sovereign Melody, officially in the guild, but given none of its privileges, for this was a right to be earned.


    ¡°Sairad Ghedir,¡± one of them whispered to the other. The other gave Kathen an odd look.


    He had never seen those two before. But they walked on and down the hall.


    ¡°There we are again,¡± he muttered.


    ¡°It''s been happening more,¡± Merry said, ¡°That''s the fifteenth time this month.¡±


    ¡°I hate that you''ve been tracking it,¡± Kathen said.


    ¡°I know,¡± Merry said, ¡°But it''s... interesting, don''t you think? I¡¯ve hardly been able to find any history of the term-¡±


    Kathen walked briskly, trying to avoid her assertions and research. It was becoming a sore point between the two of them. The more he heard ''Sairad Ghedir,'' the more uncomfortable he became.


    Thankfully, someone came along to end Merry''s running commentary. Rhunea was just coming out of her quarters, a datapad in hand that she was reviewing. She looked up at Kathen.


    ¡°Well, Kate,¡± she said, ¡°How goes it?¡±


    The look on his face was answer enough. One of Rhunea''s ears flickered.


    ¡°Perhaps we should get a drink,¡± she said, ¡°And you can tell me what''s on your mind.¡±


    ***


    Rhunea was from the multiverse. Some members of Pagan Chorus were, though they adopted the customs and weaponry of their adopted home plane. As such, she was wearing the guild''s military-style uniform when on-duty, and during combat she wore heavy combat armor. She was a woman with the head of a doe, and something about this, in the sea of sapience that was the Silver Eye, with its thousands of spacefaring races, would always denote her of being foreign to the galaxy.


    Perhaps, too, it was the way she still practiced the old ways of her home plane. Magic was traditionally an unknown to the Silver Eye, one of the many things the Alu''eer considered offensive and profane, to the point that it had once been listed as one of the One Hundred Hatreds.


    But now it was not as looked down upon. And Rhunea practiced it, a finger swirling in her cup of tea to warm it up through will alone. Plangosian Tea was served cold, and no matter what, the replicators served it that way. So she always made do, and warmed it up herself, as was her habit.


    She took a sip, smiling.


    ¡°Always good to have a good drink while you do work,¡± she said, ¡°The guildmaster asked me to review a few records in the Metahuman Registry, see if they could potentially pull something like this off.¡±


    ¡°Like who?¡± Kathen asked.


    ¡°The Dorucanthos Family. Iconoclast. Maybe Silicon, he''s got the influence,¡± Rhunea said, ¡°Though I''ve met him before, and his politics weren''t exactly utopian in nature.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Kathen said.


    They were sitting down in one of the bars onboard. Viewscreens were hung on the walls to simulate windows, and they were connected to the external sensors. The world outside was much like a sped-up video as the Sovereign Melody cut through the warp.


    ¡°Rhunea,¡± Kathen said, ¡°Is it alright if I ask you a more... personal question?¡±


    ¡°By all means,¡± Rhunea said, ¡°I''m an open book.¡±


    ¡°Did you... fight alongside any metahumans, during the war?¡±


    The doe looked up from her datapad, and her eyes suddenly became very, very sad.


    ¡°...Yes,¡± she said, ¡°I served alongside several. Most of them are gone now. They died during the war. Or they died after it.¡±


    (Kate noted she did not say how.)


    ¡°Were they nice?¡± Kathen asked.


    ¡°¡®Nice,'' is such a vague term,¡± Rhunea said, ¡°Many of them bore scars from their pasts. You cannot go through what...¡±


    Now it was her turn to look out the window, as she searched for her words.


    ¡°You cannot go through what they have gone through, and come out as ''nice,''¡± she decided, as though letting out a secret, ¡°Many of them were kind, in their way, but they were brusque. Rude. Immature, even.¡±


    She let her statement hang, distracted herself from having to answer by sipping her tea, by putting a few notes into her datapad.


    ¡°But... not all of them?¡± Kathen asked.


    Rhunea sighed. When she spoke, she was careful. Careful and uncomfortable.


    ¡°There were a few who I counted as friends. Shimmer. He''s... do you remember that spat you had during InterGuild? He was part of the guild that you fought.¡±


    The flash of an older man, brown-skinned and with hard, angry eyes came to Kathen''s mind.


    ¡°I only saw him once,¡± he said.


    ¡°He was a friend,¡± Rhunea said, ¡°So were a few others in our little outfit. But... not anymore. We made choices. I joined Pagan Chorus. He took that as a betrayal.¡±


    She sounded on the verge of tears.


    ¡°My dear Kate, do you know the worst part? He was not angry. He was just sad. Like I had broken something in him.¡±


    ¡°Why did you join the guild?¡± Merry''s question came out of thin air, delivered to the internal chips embedded in both of their brains.


    Rhunea glanced up, gave Merry a smile, though the AI had gone back into her own subsystems and discorporated her avatar.


    ¡°I felt like I could still do good work here,¡± she said, ¡°I don''t believe in the High Federation, mind you. Not traditionally. But I see it for the force of good it can be.¡±


    She leaned in.


    ¡°You must understand. The High Federation is like any other state. It has its vices. Its corruptions. Its dark history. But it was also the primary bulwark between the Manticore and the rest of the multiverse. Without it, I believe that all of the multiverse would have been lost to the Darwinists.¡±


    She sipped her tea.


    ¡°You ask me these questions because of this particular job we''re going on, yes?¡±


    Kathen nodded.


    ¡°It doesn''t seem right,¡± he said, ¡°They''re just refugees.¡±


    ¡°It''s not up to us to decide that, Kathen,¡± Rhunea said, ¡°We are guildfolk. The role we play is that of the instrument, not its wielder.¡±


    Kathen scowled.


    ¡°Even if the wielder is the guildmaster himself?¡± Katehn asked, ¡°If it''s a client, that''s another story. But there''s not even a contract. This is just Valm making his own decisions, his own-


    ¡°It doesn''t matter,¡± Rhunea said, ¡°It''s still our job. We have to put our personal feelings aside. To protect people, Kathen.¡±


    She sounded like she was trying to convince herself. Kathen decided not to press her further. She had her own opinions, guilty as they were. But she doing the best she could to justify why she was here.


    Why she was helping with this.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said, ¡°Thanks, Rhunea.¡±


    ¡°Of course, Kathen,¡± she said, ¡°See to your hair. It''s getting unruly again.¡±


    He got up and left his guildmate to her work. He walked. Continued his pacing, finding no answers to his questions.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    The Sovereign Melody continued its journey across the galaxy.


    It would arrive in the sector of space that held New Ludaya''s Traveling Point in a mere two days.


    No time at all.

 143. RITUALS AND SECRETS

    The day wore on, and Aldreia Firedawn found herself spending all of it with Melitta Dorucanthos. The youngest daughter of the Dorucanthos family laughed easily, and there was a spring in her step that made Aldreia''s heart shiver. Above all things, Melitta Dorucanthos was alive, and there was joy in her. Something Aldreia hadn''t felt, truly felt, for a long time.


    ¡°Tell me, Aldreia,¡± she said, ¡°How long have you been with your guild?¡±


    The two of them were in the Dorucanthos Family''s personal apartments, a square manor that overlooked the lake, the Warriors settlement on the other side. Aldreia was looking through one of the mounted spyglasses on the railing, and she could see, even now, Iandi with his newfound friends, splashing and playing in the water.


    ¡°Oh, five years, give or take,¡± Aldreia said, ¡°Nasty lot, most of them. But a few are alright.¡±


    She smiled at the Dorucanthos. Dinner was being laid out in the other room by one of Melitta''s nail soldiers. The two of them moved out over to the dining room, sitting down and eating. The table itself was clean and almost empty. There were very few dishes in here.


    ¡°Usually,¡± Melitta said, ¡°My father insists that everyone eats at his place. It''s only a few floors up. The entire family, my siblings and my niece. Though I got special permission to eat here tonight.¡±


    She gave Aldreia a wink.


    ¡°I know that feeling,¡± Aldreia said, ¡°Usually I''m eating at the guild''s mess hall. There''s always at least a few people in there. I''ve often found that eating alone isn''t the best for me.¡±


    ¡°I understand that,¡± Melitta said, ¡°But... it can get dull, I guess. Eating with the same people. Eating the same meal.¡±


    She gestured at her plate, a mix of mashed potatoes and corn. Some replicated meat.


    ¡°Sorry about the steak,¡± she said, ¡°We haven''t had a chance to really import any real livestock onto the plane yet. But we''ve got a few deals going. For now, I hope you don''t mind the aftertaste.¡±


    ¡°It''s fine,¡± Aldreia said, taking a bite, ¡°Better replicated than not at all. The wonders it would do to the multiverse.¡±


    Their conversation lapsed for a few minutes as they ate. Melitta, despite her effort to be polite, ate quickly, as though the act of eating were a detriment to herself. When she finished, she watched Aldreia. Marveled at the guildfolk''s beauty. As though her every movement was divine, from the way she spoke to the way she held her fork to the way that she held herself up, stern as a rod, at the table. The cleric''s training, there.


    Melitta gave her a lopsided grin.


    ¡°In truth, I envy you,¡± she said.


    ¡°Envy me?¡± Aldreia said, ¡°Why ever would you?¡±


    ¡°Because you travel the multiverse,¡± Melitta said, ¡°Because you''re in a guild. The adventures you''ve seen. The wonders.¡±


    Aldreia gave her a sad smile.


    ¡°Yes,¡± she said, ¡°It does have that. But it''s not always sunshine and rainbows.¡±


    ¡°Don''t have to tell me twice,¡± Melitta said, ¡°Every time I venture out on my ship, I have to be careful. The High Federation''s always watching.¡±


    ¡°Do you like being here?¡± Aldreia said, ¡°Surely, there must be something that keeps you from flying the coop.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I do,¡± Melitta said, ¡°I like being around my family. I''m around for my niece. But...¡±


    She shook her head. And when she looked at Aldreia, her eyes were wide and full of dreaming.


    ¡°I don''t like being in one place for too long. I want to explore. I want to travel. I want my home to be the multiverse, and nowhere else. But¡­ my family needs me, right now. I have to put them first.¡±


    Aldreia nodded at that. Opened her mouth to reply, when they were interrupted by a knock at the door. Melitta''s brow furrowed.


    ¡°I told the old man,¡± she said, ¡°I didn''t want to be disturbed tonight.¡±


    She got up from her seat and went to the entrance, opening the door. The visitor was Kehaulani, her niece''s babysitter. Along with a trio that she didn''t recognize.


    ¡°Kehaulani,¡± Melitta said, ¡°Everyone else is eating dinner upstairs.¡±


    ¡°I didn''t come for Aima,¡± Kehaulani said, ¡°Rather, I heard that one of the guildfolk visitors was here. These are her guildmates.¡±


    She gestured. One was a professor. One was a man swaddled in old survival gear, his head wrapped in a turban. One was wearing a blue jacket and had electric blue eyes. He smiled easily, though there was anger to it.


    ¡°Right,¡± Melitta said, and she turned her head, ¡°Aldreia, you''ve got guests.¡±


    The cleric got up. Her eyes narrowed at the sight of her guildmates as she joined Melitta at the door.


    ¡°Joseph,¡± she said, her voice controlled, ¡°Nasir. Evancar. What do you want?¡±


    ¡°G-Good evening, Aldreia,¡± the professor said.


    ¡°What do you want?¡± Aldreia asked, annoyed.


    ¡°We want you to come with us,¡± Evancar answered, ¡°There''s been a bit of an investigation that''s come up, and I was hoping for extra muscle.¡±


    Aldreia glared at him.


    ¡°No,¡± she said.


    ¡°It''ll be a nice trip,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Trust me, you''ll want to be there.¡±


    There was a tone in his voice, one that Melitta didn''t recognize. One that Aldreia did, however, as her eyes narrowed.


    ¡°Did Becenti put you up to this?¡± she said, ¡°I''m not looking after Evancar, and so now you''re roping me back in?¡±


    ¡°Nothing like that,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Then what, then?¡± Aldreia said, ¡°I''m busy.¡±


    Her guildmate''s eyes flickered between her and Melitta. Then widened.


    ¡°O-Oh,¡± he said.


    ¡°If you need muscle, then get Iandi,¡± Aldreia said, and she wheeled on Nasir, ¡°Where is he, anyway?¡±


    ¡°We asked him already,¡± Nasir, the man in the turban, said, ¡°He didn''t want to go. He''d... rather be with his new friends right now.¡±


    ¡°And I want to be with my new friend, right now,¡± Aldreia all but spat, ¡°Get it?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph said, hastily, ¡°I get it.¡±


    Nasir nodded. Shrugged.


    ¡°I don''t get it,¡± Evancar said, ¡°You''d rather be with this metahuman, then investigating some old-¡±


    But Joseph was already moving off. As was Nasir, who patted the archaeologist on the back, guiding him away.


    Kehaulani gave Melitta a short bow.


    ¡°Sorry to disturb you, miss,¡± she said.


    ¡°It''s fine,¡± Melitta said, ¡°Really.¡±


    Then Kehaulani, too, left. Melitta exchanged a look with Aldreia, before the two of them returned to their meal. She tried to start up their conversation again, though it took the cleric a while to open up again. There was a bitter note in her voice. As though the mere presence of her guild had ruined her mood.


    ***


    Let us speak of Aima Dorucanthos. Thirteen years old, she was reaching that age where she was struggling against her father''s rules, as all children eventually do. Her grandfather was Nomatrius Dorucanthos, and her father was Jaskaios. Her mother, like her grandmother, had been killed by the High Federation, a cycle that Jaskaios dared to hope would be broken by the time Aima became an adult.


    She lived, along with the rest of the Dorucanthos family, at the estate overlooking the lake. She had never liked living here, in truth. The manor was more of a square block, plopped down by metahuman power when the Dorucanthos family had arrived on New Ludaya. It was almost a blight on the landscape, foreign to the rest of the plane. A piece of Fedtek granite, in the middle of nature.


    But she knew that her father would hear nothing of her complaints.


    ¡°It is safe,¡± he said, in his concise way, ¡°It is home.¡±


    And the rest of her family, save for perhaps Aunt Melitta, would agree. But Aunt Melitta wasn''t there at dinner tonight, so dinner was filled with nothing but talk of business. For all of the children of the Dorucanthos family were involved in the company''s affairs.


    Like her aunt, Aima ate quickly. To the point that her time at the dinner table while her family talked, an empty plate in front of her, the chorus of boring drawls around her.


    Eventually, her grandfather took note of this.


    ¡°You''re excused, Aima,¡± he said.


    ¡°Father,¡± Jaskaios said, ¡°Not all of us are done yet.¡±


    ¡°It''s fine, Jaskaios,¡± her grandfather said, ¡°Kids her age should have as much freedom as they can. Go on, Aima, you''re free to go. Say hi to your friends for me.¡±


    Her father shook his head. There was a way his ears flickered, like a bothered fox¡¯s, and Aima knew he was annoyed. They often twitched when she was talking back to him. He turned to her.


    ¡°You wish to leave?¡± he said.


    Aima swallowed, then gave a curt nod.


    ¡°You may go, then,¡± Jaskaios said, ¡°Be careful. It is getting dark out.¡±


    ¡°I will, father,¡± Aima said, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    She hated the way that Jaskaios nodded to her. Hated the way that his gaze followed her as she walked out of the room. If he could, he would have followed her, to keep an eye on her. She knew that he would probably arrange for a messenger bird to tail her, wherever she went. It was his way.


    (His wife''s death had made him an anxious man, when it came to the matter of family.)


    She merely went downstairs to her room. The apartment she shared with her father was a bare place, for neither of them really stayed in there for long. There was a couch. A fireplace. A table. A picture of her late mother, Summersong, watched her from across the room. Always warm and smiling, that photo was.


    Aima all but glared at it.


    She stepped onto the balcony, the warm night air washing over her. By now, the sun was almost completely set, and the sky crawled with New Ludayan stars.


    Then, bored, she climbed over the railing. Slid down its side, her fingers catching at the balcony''s bottom. As she''d practiced many times before. She shimmied over to the wall, holding onto a few latches in the brickwork, dug her shoes into makeshift footholds. She climbed down to the first floor of the estate, dropping at the last three feet and into the brush of bushes that nestled against the manor.


    She pushed her way out of the bushes, picking away a few stray leaves and twigs from her clothes, her hair. Her father had never appreciated her going out at night like this, so she had made it a point to sneak out.


    And yet, he knew what she would be doing. She would return home late at night, and he would still be up, reading a book by the fireplace. Their eyes would meet. He would return to reading. She would go into her room, and go to bed.


    A dance they had done many times before. They had argued about it when they had first arrived to New Ludaya. But they had just lost Mom, and there was a bitter edge to their words. Her grandfather had told her father to leave her be.


    ¡°We all process it differently,¡± Nomatrius Dorucanthos had said, ¡°Let her have her space. Besides, it is safe on New Ludaya. For us all.¡±


    And so Jaskaios had let her have this nightly freedom. He was strict in everything else save for this.


    By the main road leading up to the estate, she could see a group of people. She stopped, watching them, squinting in the torchlight and the ending light of dusk.


    ¡°Kehaulani,¡± she whispered.


    She drew closer, and as she did so she picked at a scab on her arm to the point of bleeding, small little red droplets that blobbed on the back of her hand.


    And, in doing this, she could use her ability. Wherever her blood was exposed to the open air, she could perform illusions. This one was not so difficult, a mere wall of air, an aura of invisibility, as she drew closer.


    She could Kehaulani talk to one of the people. Now she could see that her caretaker, who usually ''looked after'' her on the days off from classes (though she usually let Aima do what she wished) was accompanied by three others, and she was approaching the fifth member. He was tall and muscular, with red hair and a red goatee. He smelled of motor oil.


    Oh, gods, it was Thunderhead. Hot as hell. The subject of Aima''s dreams. All her friends talked about him. The way he almost seemed to shine, even in the moonlight.


    She could hear Kehaulani now, as she got closer. So far, none of them seemed to notice her, though one of them, a man in a white, shabby turban, was looking around. Perhaps he was just the suspicious sort.


    ¡°...She said no,¡± Kehaulani was saying.


    ¡°Not surprised,¡± one of her companions, a man with glowing blue eyes, said, ¡°She''s on a date.¡±


    ¡°That was a date?¡± another one, a man with glasses and a bit of a nervous air, said, ¡°O-Oh, dear, I feel quite bad now.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, really dropped the ball there,¡± the man with the glowing blue eyes said, ¡°It''s not a big deal.¡±This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    Thunderhead shrugged.


    ¡°If we get into trouble, it might be,¡± he said.


    ¡°Why do you say that?¡± the man with the blue eyes said, ¡°The plane''s safe, right?¡±


    ¡°The settled parts are,¡± Kehaulani said, ¡°But it''s a big place. We still haven''t chronicled all of the wildlife out here yet. There could be predators.¡±


    She sounded nervous. She had none of Aima¡¯s grandfather''s confidence about this place.


    ¡°Trust me,¡± the man with the blue eyes said, ¡°I''m more than enough for anything out here.¡±


    Thunderhead barked out a laugh.


    ¡°I can see why Fractal likes you!¡± he said, ¡°Cobalt Joe, more than a match for anything.¡±


    Cobalt Joe shook his head, but smiled.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± he said, ¡°Something like that.¡±


    ¡°We should head out, then,¡± Kehaulani said, ¡°I''m sorry I won''t be able to join you.¡±


    ¡°It''s quite alright,¡± the man with the glasses said, ¡°You have a family to look after. It''s getting late.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Kehaulani said, ¡°I''ll make my own way home from here. The rest of you should head out and pick up Lunus.¡±


    Lunus. As in Lunus Oculus. Aima hadn''t realized that she and Kehaulani knew each other. Her grandfather talked about her quite a bit, especially nowadays.


    None of it was good.


    ¡°Nonsense,¡± Thunderhead said, ¡°It¡¯s not even a detour. I¡¯ll get you home.¡±


    The man in the white cloth was looking around again. He had a bit of an accent as he spoke.


    ¡°Either way, we should leave,¡± he said, ¡°We''re wasting moonlight.¡±


    They nodded, a few muttered assent.


    ¡°I''m sorry for the trouble,¡± Kehaulani said.


    ¡°No trouble at all,¡± Thunderhead said, ¡°I''ll drop you off at your place, pick up Lune on the way over. Be careful. Remember the cover story.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Kehaulani said.


    Aima wanted to creep closer. But couldn''t. The man in white was truly looking around now, and there was a way his eyes seemed to land on her for just a millisecond before he continued surveying that made Aima stop. As though he could see her.


    As though he was warning her.


    Thunderhead took a deep breath, and then began to expand. Flesh became metal. Arms became tires. His eyes turned into the front windshield, his eyelashes into wipers. He was a sports car, blood red like sunrise, and his engine purred low like a lion as the party clambered on in.


    In a moment, he was gone, peeling away, dirt flying beneath his wheels as he drove off. Aima cursed.


    She should have snuck aboard, somehow.


    ***


    ¡°There was someone out there,¡± Nasir said.


    He was up against the window, Joseph in the middle, Evancar on the other side. Kehaulani was in the passenger''s seat. The driver''s was empty, though the steering wheel turned of its own accord as Thunderhead took them to Kehaulani''s house.


    ¡°You think?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°I could hear them,¡± Nasir said, ¡°They were hiding well. Perhaps someone with power of invisibility.¡±


    ¡°I can''t think of anyone,¡± Thunderhead''s voice came from the radio, a bit scratched and garbled, ¡°Kehaulani?¡±


    The other metahuman shook her head.


    ¡°I know that Luminary has her own little spy network out here,¡± she said, ¡°To keep an eye on people.¡±


    Joseph''s eyes narrowed.


    ¡°Really?¡± he said.


    ¡°She''s the head of state,¡± Kehaulani said, ¡°What else would she have? Take it slow around this bend, Thunderhead.¡±


    ¡°I''m good at driving, Kehaulani,¡± Thunderhead said, ¡°Relax.¡±


    She grimaced.


    ¡°Right. Sorry.¡±


    Her hands were steepled together, bone-white from the pressure. And more and more, as Nasir glared out the window, as Thunderhead made for a secret path through the woods, as Kehaulani''s breathing became a bit quickened, Joseph realized that they were heading somewhere they truly were not supposed to go.


    ***


    ¡°Ah, Aima,¡± Memoire said, ¡°Good evening.¡±


    Aima had found the Seat of Rituals and Secrets out on a walk by the lake. It rippled and shimmered now, as a few metahumans were flying over the surface and shining like twin moons. Sisters, both of them, with the power to glow when close to one another. They danced in the air and made the surface as polished glass.


    ¡°Good evening, Memoire,¡± Aima said, giving a bow.


    The older metahuman laughed lightly.


    ¡°I''ve told you before, there''s no need to be so formal,¡± she said, ¡°I never did like this. The...¡±


    ¡°Ritual of it all?¡± Aima asked.


    ¡°Yes. Now, don''t get me wrong,¡± Memoire said, as Aima opened her mouth, ¡°There''s a difference between the rituals we keep and the rituals of my station. I uphold the former. I detest the latter.¡±


    Aima snorted. She sat down in the grass, watching as, even now after dinner, a few people were playing in the water, splashing and jeering.


    ¡°I can relate to that,¡± she said, ¡°Give it a few years, and I''ll bet you my grandfather will want me wearing a tiara.¡±


    ¡°And a crown for him,¡± Memoire said, and as she chuckled the symbols on her form shook, ¡°I don''t believe your grandfather is quite so... forthcoming.¡±


    ¡°He''s not the guy who''ll rule from the shadows,¡± Aima said.


    ¡°He''s not the sort who would rule at all,¡± Memoire said, ¡°You don''t know your grandfather as I do. He is a good soul. Even when he''s blustering.¡±


    Aima thought about the first few days after Mom died. The way Nomatrius''s voice was so kind, so gentle. Her grandmother had been killed in much the same way, hadn''t she?


    ¡°Maybe,¡± she said, at length. The begrudging response of a teenager.


    ¡°When the time comes,¡± Memoire said, ¡°Your grandfather will be a good man.¡±


    She said this so surely. So assured. Aima looked up at her. But Memoire was looking out at the lake, lost in her own thoughts, her own world.


    ¡°When the time comes,¡± Aima said.


    How she hated those words.


    ***


    They dropped Kehaulani off at her home, which was just on the edge of the farmlands. Several other buildings surrounded it, homes and apartments all.


    ¡°We''re lucky we got a house to ourselves,¡± Kehaulani mentioned, ¡°We''ll need to move back into the shared apartments, once Makaio gets old enough.¡±


    ¡°A whole house, dedicated to childbirth?¡± Evancar said.


    ¡°It''s a start,¡± Kehaulani said, ¡°According to the Council, much of the space around here will be dedicated to farmland. I wouldn''t be surprised if the entire Worker class gets moved again.¡±


    Indeed, what was a small town was growing, bit by bit, into the beginnings of a city. The way was lit by kerosene lanterns and small bonfires and glowing metahumans. Parents watched from the windows of square brick buildings as Thunderhead pulled in. Children were playing ball on the streets, the ball itself untwisting himself into a boy of around eight. They watched the red hot sports car drive towards the house.


    Kehaulani''s husband was waiting outside the door. He was a reptilian man, and he gave the group a nod as Thunderhead parked in front of the house. He was holding a baby in his arms, though Joseph couldn''t make out the kid''s details, for he was completely swaddled in a patterned blanket.


    ¡°When we dream again,¡± Kehaulani whispered, and she stepped out of the car.


    ¡°See you around,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°N-Nice meeting you,¡± Evancar mumbled.


    Kehaulani embraced her husband. The two of them whispered to each other, her husband looking at the car one final time before closing the door.


    It was only then that Thunderhead pulled away. He drove on, out of the town.


    Nasir cleared his throat as they left the town behind. Towards a distant granary.


    ¡°You sure we won''t be followed?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Maybe,¡± Thunderhead said, ¡°We might be. Maybe Mister Meaning. Maybe Gallimena.¡±


    ¡°You''re a bit obvious,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°We''re all a bit obvious, Cobalt Joe,¡± Thunderhead said, ¡°That just comes with the metagene. I think Lunus Oculus paid some people off to look the other way, but we''ll need to outpace them. Don''t worry-¡±


    If the car could wink, he would.


    ¡°I''m fast.¡±


    ***


    ¡°''When the time comes,''¡± Aima said, ¡°And for what?¡±


    A massive man was lumbering into the water now. He was chortling as a metahuman with control over waves carried him further from shore. He was pushing against the metahuman''s power, taking step after titanic step. A gaggle of teenagers were laughing at his effort, before the man caught up to the metahuman and pushed his head beneath the surface.


    (But only for a split second, for Iandi was always careful not to go too far, as Nasir had told him.)


    ¡°The Federation will find us,¡± Memoire said. A rehearsed line. Aima snorted.


    ¡°Of course they''ll find us,¡± she said, ¡°We''re in their backyard.¡±


    Memoire did not answer this. She instead stared out at the water.


    (With guilt.)


    ¡°I just don''t like it,¡± Aima said, continuing, ¡°I don''t want the Federation to come. I don''t want...¡±


    Mom flashed in her mind. Summersong''s smile.


    Summersong''s empty eyes, a hole burned in her chest.


    ¡°I don''t want it to happen all over again,¡± Aima said, ¡°I don''t.¡±


    ¡°There is no choice,¡± Memoire said, her voice tight, ¡°They hate us. They will never stop until we are all exterminated.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Aima said, ¡°Why us, and not anyone else? Why not, I don''t know, elves. Or baselines.¡±


    Memoire sighed.


    ¡°Because hate is irrational,¡± she said, ¡°Though, to structure the illogical¡­¡±


    She paused. Thought.


    ¡°We represent the multiverse.¡±


    ¡°Everyone does,¡± Aima replied, ¡°We''re nothing special.¡±


    ¡°To them, we do,¡± Memoire stated, ¡°And they hate the multiverse. They can''t understand it. They''d rather it not exist at all.¡±


    And now Memoire was pulling her knees to her chest.


    ¡°But you are right,¡± she said, ¡°In the grand scheme of things, we are nothing special. Nor should we be.¡±


    ***


    Lunus Oculus was waiting near the long, metal tower that was the granary. She climbed into the car, turning around and flashing Joseph a brilliant smile, her crimson eyes shining in the darkness.


    ¡°Cobalt Joe, now, yes?¡± she said, ¡°You chose a name.¡±


    Joseph shook her hand.


    ¡°Trying it out,¡± he said, ¡°Giving it a test run.¡±


    ¡°I like it,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°I''m sorry that we''re roping you into all this.¡±


    Joseph shrugged.


    ¡°It''s fine,¡± he said, ¡°I''m just happy to see you again.¡±


    Thunderhead went off again. Pulled into the dark. By now the moon was fully overhead, the sun having gone to rest. The only lights came from the sports car''s high beams.


    ¡°Is there a road?¡± Evancar asked.


    ¡°''Fraid not,¡± Thunderhead said, ¡°It''s going to get bumpy.¡±


    ¡°Quite alright,¡± Evancar said. The nervous energy that was coiled up inside him was starting to dissipate. He was going into work mode, and he looked out the window at the night with a smile on his face.


    Soon he would be in his element.


    ¡°So,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°What happened to you after St. Malendia''s?¡±


    ¡°A lot,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I decided to stick around the guild.¡±


    Lunus Oculus nodded.


    ¡°Good choice,¡± she said, ¡°You have your people there. I could tell with your friend, the Deep One.¡±


    ¡°Phineas,¡± Joseph said, ¡°He''s a good egg.¡±


    ¡°Ha!¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°A good egg. Indeed, Cobalt Joe. Indeed.¡±


    Thunderhead drove on.


    ***


    It was not long before Thunderhead spoke up again. They were driving parallel to the forest, curving around its edge, hugging the line between grassplain and woodlands. The ride, as the sports car had promised, was jittery. Joseph found himself getting bounced to and fro.


    ¡°Yeah, Lunus,¡± Thunderhead said, ¡°Gallimena''s following us.¡±


    ¡°I see her,¡± Nasir said.


    Joseph''s soul overtook his head, and he looked out the window with sharpened vision. Indeed, Gallimena was keeping pace with them, on the grass plains, a shock of white on the pitch-black horizon line. She wasn''t getting closer.


    Nor was she getting further.


    ¡°She''s hemming us in,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Keeping us pinned against the forest.¡±


    ¡°She''s smart,¡± Thunderhead murmured, ¡°Forest''s too crowded for me to drive safely.¡±


    ¡°Maybe transform into a helicopter?¡± Lunus Oculus said.


    ¡°That''d look too suspicious,¡± Thunderhead said, ¡°That''d look like I''m trying to get away.¡±


    ¡°You already are,¡± Nasir muttered, ¡°What happens when we stop?¡±


    ¡°She comes forward. Asks her questions,¡± Lunus Oculus''s voice was tight with apprehension, ¡°Then she ¡®orders¡¯ us to go home, on authority of the Seat of War.¡±


    ¡°There isn''t a war, though,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°That doesn''t matter,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°The Seat of War calls the shots, in matters pertaining to secrets of the state.¡±


    ¡°''Secrets of the state''?¡± Joseph asked.


    Crimson eyes flickered to Cobalt Joe, then back outside.


    ¡°They are ruins in the promised land,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°Something that isn''t supposed to be.¡±


    ¡°I could transform back,¡± Thunderhead said, ¡°We cut through the woods.¡±


    ¡°Would she catch us?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Gallimena''s fast. But I know a few spells,¡± Lunus Oculus said.


    ¡°We could cripple her,¡± Nasir noted, ¡°Break her legs. Perhaps her back.¡±


    Lunus Oculus fixed him with a slightly horrified look. The tracker shrugged.


    ¡°It''s an option,¡± he said.


    ¡°I''ll weave a spell,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°I''ve used it against her before, and she hasn''t realized it yet. Thunderhead, get as deep into the forest as you can.¡±


    ¡°On it,¡± Thunderhead swerved, wheels going over dirt and upraised roots. His four passengers jostled and jumped as he struggled into the forest. Branches lashed against the windows. At one point, a wheel got stuck, and he had to hit the gas to power through. Nasir looked out the back window, his eyes glittering in the darkness.


    ¡°Better cast your spell,¡± he said, ¡°She''s coming.¡±


    Lunus Oculus was chanting under her breath, quickened, melodious words in a language that Joseph only half-knew. She glanced up.


    ¡°Thunderhead, transform,¡± she said.


    The car doors opened. The four of them jumped out of the car as it twisted and pretzeled back into a human shape. Thunderhead hunkered down behind a tree, sidling up beside Joseph. Evancar and Nasir were opposite them. Lunus Oculus was in the spot where Thunderhead had stopped, kneeling and finishing her spell.


    ¡°Ehrenfaixen drapose,¡± she hissed.


    The air took on a cold gale.


    Gallimena ran right beside her, so close that feathers brushed against Lunus Oculus''s cheek. But the spell worked. Gallimena blew past her, sprinting out into the wood. She looked one way, then another, beady eyes searching for her quarry. Lunus Oculus had played this game with Luminary''s hunter before.


    Yet she still held her breath. Her heart still thudded in her chest. Joseph and the others hunkered down. Nasir prepared his hunting knife, slowly drawing it from its leather sheath.


    Then, Gallimena moved off. Out of the forest. Back onto the grass plains. Without another word the metahuman loped off, perhaps to return to Luminary. Perhaps to watch the road again, to wait for Thunderhead''s return.


    For Lunus Oculus''s party had never gone out so far, at least as far as Luminary''s agents knew.


    ¡°You''re good to come out now,¡± Lunus Oculus said.


    They pulled themselves up. Lunus Oculus''s eyes found the knife in Nasir''s hand, and she squinted in disapproval as Nasir held it still, listening, his head turning like an owl''s.


    ¡°What now?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°For now, we go on foot,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°Eventually, Thunderhead will be able to transform again, and carry us.¡±


    ¡°That''s me,¡± her friend muttered, ¡°Thunderhead, the living wagon.¡±


    ¡°Sports car,¡± Lunus Oculus smirked, ¡°Again, thank you for doing this.¡±


    Thunderhead shook his head, chuckling to himself.


    ¡°Yeah, yeah,¡± he said, ¡°Just buy me a drink when we''re done. The good stuff.¡±


    ¡°Only the best,¡± Lunus Oculus said, and she jerked her head, ¡°Now come on.¡±


    ***


    ¡°Tell me,¡± Memoire said, ¡°What do you want to do with your life, Aima?¡±


    The question came after a silence, of the two of them just staring out at the stars. Aima shrugged.


    ¡°I don''t know,¡± she said, ¡°Maybe explore the multiverse. Be like Aunt Melitta, and ship cargo. That would be fun. I could be in the family business, but get to go out a lot.¡±


    ¡°My father was a cargo hauler,¡± Memoire said, ¡°I have several memories in here-¡±


    She tapped the side of her head.


    ¡°-Of his long days on the Ka''ishi Belt. It is not a glamorous life. But you do see many sights.¡±


    ¡°What happened to him?¡± Aima asked.


    ¡°He... died of a stroke,¡± Memoire said, her voice soft, ¡°It was many years ago.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Aima said, ¡°I''m sorry.¡±


    ¡°It is fine,¡± Memoire replied, ¡°Everyone has to die, at some point.¡±


    She faltered.


    ¡°But,¡± the Seat of Rituals said, ¡°We were talking about you. Tell me, what do you want to do?¡±


    ¡°A cargo hauler,¡± Aima said, ¡°Or a businesswoman. Or a Far Traveler. I''ve heard stories of one of them, the legendary F¨¥ngb¨¤o. Gods, the things she must have seen.¡±


    Her eyes became dreamy.


    ¡°I think,¡± she said, ¡°Out of everything, I want to get out there. I want to be in the multiverse. I want to see everything. I...¡±


    The reality of New Ludaya came down on her.


    ¡°I don''t want war,¡± she said, ¡°I don''t want the time to come. I hope the Federation never finds us. Or maybe they will. If... If they do, I just want them to leave us alone.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Memoire said, ¡°We can only hope. And pray.¡±


    The conversation quieted down. Eventually, Aima knew that she was staying out too late. That even her grandfather''s patience had limits, that her leash only drew so long. So she bade her goodbye to Memoire, and went on her way.


    Memoire stayed alone at the beach. Even as everyone went home. Went to sleep.


    (As five people, two metahumans and three outlanders, half-knowingly walked and sneaked and drove across New Ludaya, to the place of her greatest guilt.)


    God, she could hardly stand it. Her chest felt about to burst. She could hear the hope in Aima Dorucanthos''s voice. The quiet pleading. The innocence, despite everything that had happened to her.


    And Memoire could feel nothing but that she had betrayed her young friend. Even in silence, she deceived her.


    Memoire bit back tears. Her entire form rippled.


    But the Seat of Secrets rose. And she too, walked home. And felt ten thousand eyes staring down at her.


    But they were just the stars.

 144. FREEDOM AND AUTHORITY

    As of late, Mister Meaning''s thoughts had turned back to his father.


    Meaning had gone meta early in his life, at the age of seven, or perhaps eight. It was difficult for him to remember, for those childhood days in the swamps of Louisiana, of his time in the bayou with his old man, living on the outskirts of society. Mister Meaning''s early years were filled with fishing and trapping and swatting mosquitoes at night, of watching for alligators and listening to his dad''s old tales from the war.


    ¡°It''s a hell of life out there, son,¡± he said, ¡°You just have to get out there and see it.¡±


    ¡°What will they think of this, Pa?¡± the boy who would become Mister Meaning gestured to his chest, to the door that latched to his skin, that opened up to yawn towards a heartless chamber.


    Old Man Meaning''s eyes softened. His smile became sad. He drew his son close, rocking the fishing boat the two had been hanging out on. Crickets chirped with the setting sun. Frogs croaked and whistled. A heron was picking over the long grasses on the shore, towerish legs rising and falling ankle-deep into the water.


    ¡°You hide that, around certain folk,¡± Old Man Meaning said, ¡°Some people will love you for it. Others will hate you for it. But you''re used to that already, aren''t you?¡±


    The boy who would become Mister Meaning nodded.


    ¡°It''s best,¡± Pa continued, ¡°If you learn how to hide it. Don''t go near swimming pools. Don''t go shirtless on the beach. Your chest there''s a secret, and only those you trust should see it. Got it?¡±


    ¡°I will, Pa,¡± he said.


    There was a way his dad smiled. All lopsided like, as though you were perpetually in on some sort of joke. He poked at his son''s chest.


    ¡°Be careful how you use it,¡± he said, ¡°You can put all sorts of secrets in there.¡±


    ¡­


    ¡­


    Perhaps his thoughts had been of his father as of late because of the presence of Myron Becenti. Which was odd, considering that the old metahuman was nothing like Old Man Meaning. He was a man bereft of humor. Bereft of good cheer, despite the smile that was on his face. He had seen everything about New Ludaya, the hope and the wonder, and still there was a stillness to his joy. As though everything around him could disappear in an instant.


    Not like his father.


    And, yet, still, when Mister Meaning saw Becenti, he could not think of anything else.


    His heart, then, hammered in his chest as he presented the news to Luminary.


    ¡°Three of Becenti''s guildmates are gone,¡± he said, ¡°Gallimena saw them in Thunderhead''s car. They disappeared somewhere north last night.¡±


    ¡°Thunderhead?¡± Luminary said.


    They were eating breakfast in her personal quarters. Becenti had, of course, noted that most of his guildmates had not returned last night. He chalked them up to finding other places to spend the night, all of them save for Iandi, who now ate breakfast next to him, the super soldier looking somber as he picked at his eggs.


    ¡°Who Thunderhead?¡± Iandi asked.


    ¡°A...¡± Luminary was choosing her words carefully, ¡°A more controversial figure in the community.¡±


    ¡°He''s got some strong opinions about New Ludaya,¡± Mister Meaning offered, ¡°He''s been known to do¡­ well, let¡¯s call it ¡®drastic action,¡¯ to make his point.¡±


    ¡°Was he related at all to this Lunus Oculus?¡± Becenti asked.


    ¡°He is,¡± Luminary said, ¡°I believe their relationship is from before New Ludaya.¡±


    ¡°Old nomad buddies, if I recall,¡± Mister Meaning said. He opened up his chest, fishing around inside for a few records. He found what he was looking for, pulled it out, and read it aloud.


    ¡°''I met Lunus Oculus on the Runway. We were close allies during my time there. We watched each other''s backs during a series of High Federation investigations into dealings near the Seventh Caravan. She is a fine individual, and I''m proud to call her friend.''¡±


    He looked up at Becenti, who was giving him a stern look.


    ¡°That came from an interview we had with Thunderhead a few months ago,¡± Mister Meaning said, ¡°After he had a bar fight with a member of the Warrior class.¡±


    ¡°And you were asking about her?¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°They''re part of a small gathering of New Ludayans,¡± Mister Meaning said, ¡°The fight was in relation to something that Lunus Oculus had been protesting. Ah, give me a moment-¡±


    He began looking through his little chest of secrets again, but Becenti shook his head.


    ¡°That won''t be necessary,¡± he said.


    ¡°Nasir go with them?¡± Iandi asked.


    ¡°It appears so,¡± Mister Meaning said, and he added a level of mocking sympathy to Iandi, as though he were talking to a particularly stupid puppy, ¡°I''m sorry, big guy.¡±


    Becenti''s eyes narrowed at that.


    ¡°I would refrain from taking such a tone with my guildmate,¡± he said.


    ¡°Right,¡± Mister Meaning said, and his oily smile returned, ¡°Just trying to read the room. Sometimes I don''t always read it right.¡±


    The old metahuman let out a snort of derision. Luminary spoke up now.


    ¡°Is Gallimena still trying to find them?¡± Luminary asked.


    ¡°Trying to,¡± Mrister Meaning said, ¡°But...¡±


    He shrugged.


    ¡°It''s like they disappeared.¡±


    Luminary nodded.


    ¡°Where Nasir go?¡± Iandi asked.


    ¡°Not sure,¡± Mister Meaning said, ¡°We don''t know where they''re headed.¡±


    ¡°Then I will find him.¡±


    Iandi rose from his seat, a serious expression written on his cherubic face. Becenti joined him, put a hand on his shoulder.


    ¡°It''s alright,¡± he said, ¡°We''ll take a look around. You can ask your friends.¡±


    ¡°Myron, wait.¡±


    Luminary was writing a few notes down. She passed them to Mister Meaning, who put them into his chest.


    ¡°Don''t worry about your guildmates,¡± she said, ¡°We''ve been keeping tabs on Thunderhead and his associates for a while now.¡±


    ¡°If they''re mixed up in something, I want to know,¡± Becenti said, and he turned to look at her. His voice was hard and cold as ice, ¡°I understand that you have your resources. Use them. I will use my own. Look for them of my own accord.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Becenti,¡± Meaning said, ¡°It''s a very big plane.¡±


    ¡°Iandi,¡± Becenti said, ¡°You''ve got your friends by the lake, right?¡±


    ¡°Wavemaker and Sparks and Teambop and-¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Can you ask them if they know anyone who-¡±


    ¡°I''d like to ask that you don''t involve civilians in this, Myron,¡± Luminary said.


    Becenti looked at her.


    ¡°Civilians?¡± he said, ¡°Is this a military matter? A matter for the government?¡±


    ¡°They are visitors to our land who have disappeared,¡± Luminary said, ¡°It is a big plane. We have people who can find them. You can join them on the investigation. But anyone who will be able to help you will be here. I''ve already given Mister Meaning instructions and orders. If you wish, you and Iandi may accompany him.¡±


    Becenti studied Luminary. His old friend stood straight as a pillar, and her usual matronly smile had gone flat. There was a steel to her voice, one that he hadn''t been subject to for a long time. The steel of authority, usually reserved for soldiers in her platoon.


    And, old comrade that he was, he fell in line. Just nodded.


    ¡°I''ll go with Mister Meaning,¡± he said, ¡°I understand that those like Thunderhead are malcontents. I''m surprised you have any at all.¡±


    He turned to Iandi.


    ¡°Stay here, in case they return,¡± he said, ¡°Notify me if that happens.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Iandi said.


    Luminary shrugged. The steel evaporated.


    ¡°Some people can''t get by, in paradise,¡± she said, ¡°They don''t know what to do with themselves, after everything they''ve seen.¡±


    ¡°Even so,¡± Becenti said, ¡°If Joe and the others have disappeared, I want to be there on their behalf.¡±


    ¡°Of course, Myron,¡± Luminary said, ¡°Mister Meaning, please, pass out my orders. We''ll find them all soon.¡±


    ***


    We should speak of Iconoclast.


    The Seat of History, though that was not his first choice. Iconoclast wanted the Seat of War, but Luminary had claimed that role at New Ludaya''s founding. He was not angry about this, for Luminary excelled in her role, setting up an intelligence agency to make sure that the citizens of New Ludaya were adhering to their roles in this new society. That the Workers built, the Rulers made laws, and the Warriors prepared.


    For when the time came.


    And even as the Seat of History, Iconoclast helped with these intelligence operations, for the agents actually under Luminary''s employ were few. He volunteered to assist her with these efforts, an attempt to do some of the work that he had so dearly wanted. His background, aside from his work on metahuman histories, was in the realm of security. He had been a police officer on Prime. He had worked as a private investigator on Amzuth. Mercenary work across the Silver Eye.


    As such, he was ready for when something like this sprang up, when malcontents muttered within society, to be weeded out.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    Rainbowfish was in the middle of a weapons inspection with a squad of other Warriors. Melitta Dorucanthos''s shipment from the day before had been a gunrunner''s menagerie, primarily discarded weapon depots from across the Post-Colonial, caches of Fedtek weaponry buried within Federation records on far-off Library Worlds. No one would miss them.


    More importantly, it would take decades for the Federation to notice that they were gone. The weapons in this shipment were rifles, sidearms, and canisters and canisters of plasma. Rainbowfish was working with Cutting Edge, a pile of rifles between them on a table. They would take one, inspect it for any wear and tear, fire off a couple of test rounds at a target set up in the middle of the field, then put it either into a ''good'' or ''bad'' pile, to be used either for combat or for spare parts.


    When Iconoclast stepped out onto the field, all he could hear were a few shouts and the familiar pulsing dun-dun-duns of plasma fire. His jaw set as he approached Rainbowfish''s table.


    ¡°Rainbowfish,¡± he said.


    The scale-armed metahuman turned around, saw that it was the Seat of History. He put down the rifle he had been inspecting, nodding to Cutting Edge, before walking up to Iconoclast and saluting.


    ¡°Sir.¡±


    ¡°Walk with me.¡±


    Iconoclast, without another word, stepped away. Rainbowfish followed him closely behind. They were walking through the training fields, watching New Ludayans spar. Riah Truegale was giving a training lesson to a group of young metahumans on firearm protocol and etiquette. He stood tall among them as he systematically took apart a plasma rifle, pointing out where each part of the weapon was located, how to clean away plasma stains, how the weapon socketed back together.


    Iconoclast noticed this, but not Rainbowfish. Rainbowfish was keeping his eyes on the Seat of History''s back. He surreptitiously wiped away a bit of sweat on his brow.


    (Thank the gods that today was hot.)


    Eventually, Iconoclast found a good place for his interview. He had brought them to the other side of the field, away from the rest of the Warriors. Just the two of them, and Rainbowfish obviously looked nervous.


    How much of this nervousness came from speaking to a member of the Council?


    How much of this nervousness came from his guilt?


    Iconoclast furrowed his brow.


    ¡°Tell me,¡± he said, ¡°What is your relationship with the one known as Lunus Oculus?¡±


    Rainbowfish shrugged.


    (Rainbowfish feigned apathy.)


    ¡°She''s an old acquaintance,¡± he said, ¡°From before New Ludaya.¡±


    ¡°Tell me,¡± Iconoclast said, ¡°What sort of relationship was this?¡±


    ¡°Nothing major,¡± Rainbowfish said, ¡°We were associates for a few jobs out in the multiverse. I was with a guild at the time. She was a Far Traveler. We saw a bit of action together.¡±


    ¡°You mind describing these actions?¡± Iconoclast asked.


    Rainbowfish swallowed. His scales shimmered in the sun, rippling and dappling up and down his bare arms. Iconoclast had heard of his power. He earned a scale for each and every contest he won, be it a spar, or a coin flip, or a debate.


    He was covered in scales. Up and down the length of both arms. Yet there were bare spots, near his shoulders.


    Rainbowfish was thinking, his cheeks puffing. Then, he let out an exhale, and his eyes were hard.


    ¡°You mind telling me the reason for this interview?¡± he asked, ¡°Sir?¡±


    ¡°I am collecting histories and stories,¡± Iconoclast said, ¡°This interview will be collected and digitized, so we may know who we were before the founding of our nation.¡±


    An amicable enough explanation. It was within the purview of the Seat of History.


    Both of them knew that was now why Iconoclast was here, however. But he could not outright say that he was investigating Lunus Oculus and her activities on-plane. That was the purview of the Seat of War.


    And yet.


    ¡°It was mostly military in nature,¡± Rainbowfish answered, ¡°She was helping a few rebel cells on Alnolot. You know that plane, right?¡±


    ¡°I am,¡± Iconoclast said.


    ¡°Then you know that it''s pretty low-tech,¡± Rainbowfish said, ¡°I was part of a guild at the time known as Panther''s Oracle. We were hired on to help the rebellion in a number of guerilla actions against the Embelgan Empire.¡±


    ¡°And you met there,¡± Iconoclast said.


    ¡°That''s correct,¡± Rainbowfish said, ¡°We fought in a few battles alongside one another. After that, we went our separate ways.¡±


    ¡°Do you know where she is now?¡± Iconoclast asked.


    ¡°I''ve seen her around,¡± Rainbowfish said, ¡°I''ve only been able to speak with her a few times, however. We have separate duties.¡±


    ¡°Not even for drinks?¡± Iconoclast said, ¡°Or meeting up to catch up?¡±


    Rainbowfish shook his head.


    ¡°The duties of the Warrior class have given me little room to really explore the plane,¡± he said, ¡°I know that the Workers moved to other parts of New Ludaya, but for the most part, I have been here.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Iconoclast said, ¡°Very well. Thank you for your time. Return to your duty, soldier.¡±


    He returned Rainbowfish''s salute, and took his leave. Stepped out of the field, back towards the forest that separated the grassplains from Mt. Redress.


    But before he did so, he turned around. Produced a pair of binoculars, and focused them on Rainbowfish.


    He was returning back to the table of weapons. He spoke a few words to Cutting Edge, before picking up another rifle and beginning the inspection process.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    And there was a new scale, set in the dead center of his shoulder.


    The interview had been a contest for him.


    He had won.


    Which meant he was hiding something, and Iconoclast hadn''t figured it out.


    Well, that indeed was answer enough.


    Iconoclast put down the binoculars. And went to Luminary to make his report.


    ***


    Mister Meaning went with Becenti to interview the metahuman known as Tallneck.


    The giraffe-necked man was attending to class this morning. All of them were teenagers, around seventeen or eighteen, reaching that age where philosophy and more advanced sciences were settling in and they were beginning to actually glean something from his lessons. The class, like all of the others, was outdoors, in the woods, and one of the students, a bright young lass who had the power to replace surfaces with chalkboards, had cleared away a particularly large stone in the middle of the forest. As Mister Meaning and Becenti approached, they watched as Tallneck wrote down a few theorems to the class, who were hurriedly taking notes.


    ¡°And, as such,¡± he said, ¡°The geometric shape of a Squall is difficult to reproduce, even on a three-dimensional surface. Gods forbid you try for two-dimensional. Only specific fourth-dimensional simulations have been able to try and capture them.¡±


    ¡°What about fifth-dimensional?¡± one of the students asked, a girl with a third eye on a stalk on her forehead.


    ¡°Well, that''s the primary dimension Squalls inhabit,¡± Tallneck said, ¡°And, so far, no one has been able to map them. Even fourth-dimensional simulations are... rudimentary at best. It could be that we may never know their true shape...¡±


    He glanced around, his long neck allowing him to sweep over his class from a bird''s eye view. He spotted Mister Meaning and Becenti, and for a moment his eyes widened. He nearly dropped the chalk in his hand.


    ¡°Right, well,¡± he said, to his class, ¡°I''m afraid that we''ll have to continue this lesson later.¡±


    ¡°But Mr. Tallneck-¡± the student with the eyestalk said.


    ¡°Later! Tomorrow!¡± Tallneck said, ¡°I''m feeling ill. Dismissed. Have a good day.¡±


    He made shooing motions, and the students dispersed. Some were grumbling. Some were happy to be out of another of ''Old Tallneck''s Lectures,'' others were already talking to each other. The girl with the eyestalk gave Tallneck a sad look, before she, too, went off to join her friends.


    Mister Meaning stepped forward as the class left. He tilted his head at the diagrams Tallneck had been drawing on his chalkboard.


    ¡°I don''t recognize them,¡± he murmured.


    ¡°I do,¡± Becenti said, ¡°That''s Walker''s Geometry, isn''t it?¡±


    He looked at Tallneck.


    ¡°A very rudimentary form of mapping the multiverse,¡± he said.


    ¡°Without Walker''s power, yes,¡± Tallneck said, ¡°But with his power, it''s revolutionary. Do you know why?¡±


    ¡°Because Walker had the power to collapse dimensions down,¡± Becenti said, ¡°The third became the second. He hoped to push the multiverse down in such a way that planar travel was as simple as walking from Point A to Point B.¡±


    Tallneck nodded, and despite his sudden anxiety, he looked impressed. He extended a hand.


    ¡°Professor Tallneck,¡± he said.


    ¡°Myron Becenti,¡± and the two metahumans shook.


    ¡°Why, practically metahuman royalty!¡± Tallneck said, though his voice was an octave higher than normal, ¡°I''ve heard about you.¡±


    ¡°Seems like everyone has,¡± Becenti said in an unhappy tone.


    ¡°Y-Yes,¡± Tallneck said, ¡°Being a friend to our beloved Founder has a tendency to raise you to... celebrity status.¡±


    Mister Meaning cleared his throat. Tallneck visibly gulped.


    ¡°And,¡± he said, his voice careful, ¡°How can I help you, Mister Meaning?¡±


    ¡°Well, now, the better question is, how can I help you?¡± Mister Meaning asked, ¡°Everything''s alright? Y''all have the resources you need?¡±


    ¡°Everything is working fine, yes,¡± Tallneck said, ¡°I have the materials required for my lessons. Though I wish you wouldn''t pull some of my students away from their classes.¡±


    ¡°That been happening a lot?¡± Mister Meaning asked.


    ¡°One of them, Geode, is pulled away four times a week,¡± Tallneck grumbled.


    ¡°Well, the needs of the state, and all that,¡± Mister Meaning said, ¡°Those like Geode, they got those nicer powers. Powers that protect. I think their uses are better spent helping defend the homeland, don''t you?¡±


    ¡°That is a debatable subject,¡± Tallneck said, ¡°Geode has said that they quite like my lessons, and wish they could attend them more.¡±


    ¡°Needs must, Tallneck,¡± Mister Meaning said, ¡°We''re not in a state where we can afford to have our own goals. Not yet.¡±


    (This drew a look from Becenti.)


    ¡°The needs of the nation, Tallneck,¡± Mister Meaning said, ¡°For-¡±


    ¡°-For when the time comes, yes, yes,¡± Tallneck drawled, and Mister Meaning, straining to look up at him, noted Tallneck roll his eyes.


    ¡°By the way,¡± Mister Meaning said, ¡°Did you know that your associate Lunus Oculus has gone missing?¡±


    There was a sudden pause.


    ¡°A-Associate?¡± Tallneck said.


    ¡°Another one of hers, too,¡± Mister Meaning said, ¡°Thunderhead. You know about him? Muscular. Turns into a car. Or a helicopter, when he''s feelin'' it.¡±


    ¡°I have worked with her a few times,¡± Tallneck said.


    ¡°And I know that it''s been more than ''a few times,''¡± Mister Meaning said. He unlatched his chest, felt around inside for a few moments, before pulling out a paper, ¡°Says here that you worked with her quite a bit, back when y''all first arrived here.¡±


    Tallneck was quiet. He was sweating, Becenti noticed.


    ¡°Aaaand,¡± Mister Meaning said, ¡°You ceased any major contact after an incident involving an organized protest near the lakes, when the Warriors¡¯ homes were bein¡¯ built.¡±


    ¡°We went our separate ways,¡± Tallneck said, ¡°Tell me, how did you know this?¡±


    ¡°Eyes and ears everywhere, my friend,¡± Mister Meaning said.


    Tallneck murmured something. Mister Meaning put himself on his toes, straining with a hand against his ear.


    ¡°Come again?¡± he asked.


    ¡°I said,¡± Tallneck said, nervous, ¡°That obviously is not the case, if you''ve lost her.¡±


    ¡°You admitting you know where she is?¡± Mister Meaning said.


    ¡°Just making... just making an observation,¡± Tallneck countered.


    Mister Meaning pursed his lips. He swayed for a moment, thinking, then nodded.


    ¡°Where is she?¡± he said.


    ¡°I haven''t a clue,¡± Tallneck said.


    There was another tense silence. Becenti hung back, watching the two of them. Mister Meaning''s false calm had given way to a dark sort of glare, one that he directed up at Tallneck. Tallneck, to his credit, remained silent, returning the glare with one of his own.


    ¡°You do realize,¡± Mister Meaning said, ¡°That if we find out you''re lying, that you could be in quite a bit of trouble?¡±


    ¡°Why would I lie?¡± Tallneck asked.


    ¡°Banishment would be the proper punishment, I think,¡± Mister Meaning said, ¡°We''d put you on some rock in the Silver Eye, let you go your own way. Though, being a metahuman, I can''t imagine you''d get very far over there.¡±


    ¡°I''m not lying,¡± Tallneck said, his voice tight and almost angry, ¡°I''m telling you the... the truth. I''m not sure where Lunus Oculus is.¡±


    ¡°Do you know where she''s going?¡± Mister Meaning asked.


    ¡°...So she''s going somewhere now?¡± Tallneck asked.


    Mister Meaning''s mouth became a line.


    ¡°Yes,¡± he said.


    Tallneck, now, thought on this. Becenti watched the gears turn in his head. He was hiding something. He knew where Lunus Oculus was going.


    And, by extension, he knew where Cobalt Joe was going. Him and the others.


    And yet...


    There was something in Becenti''s gut that did not sit right. Perhaps it was Mister Meaning''s words, the oil in them, the drawling arrogance. Perhaps it was the fact that Tallneck was a teacher, and a seemingly good one at that.


    Now the old metahuman spoke up.


    ¡°I think that''s enough for now,¡± he said.


    Both of them looked at him. Tallneck with relief. Mister Meaning with muted surprise.


    ¡°Are you quite sure?¡± Mister Meaning asked, ¡°We haven''t gotten any-¡±


    ¡°He doesn''t know anything, I think,¡± Becenti said, ¡°And if he does, you can ask him later. It''s not like he''s going to up and leave the plane now, is he?¡±


    ¡°That would be suicide,¡± Tallneck said.


    ¡°Well, there you have it,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I think you''re wasting your time here, Mister Meaning.¡±


    Luminary''s personal right hand scratched his chin, thinking. The cold anger in his voice had evaporated, replaced with his usual hollow pleasantness.


    ¡°Very well,¡± he said, and he gave Tallneck a mock bow, ¡°Thank you for your time, my friend.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Tallneck said, and he nodded, ¡°''Til we dream again.¡±


    ***


    They had a few more interviews. Asked a few more of Lunus Oculus''s associates throughout the Worker class who had interactions with her in the last few days. Only one or two questions were asked about Thunderhead, as though he were merely an accomplice, a tool in Lunus Oculus''s menagerie. She was the true mastermind. Someone to interrogate, put on trial, and then banish, and then all of the supposed problems of New Ludaya would go away.


    ¡°They''re definitely hiding something,¡± Mister Meaning said.


    They had returned, at the end of a very long day of talking and interviewing and analyzing and judging. A very late dinner in the main dining hall, where Cobalt Joe had announced his name change only a day before. Iandi was tucking into a pot roast. Mister Meaning was leaning back, his feet on the table, rubbing his temple in exhaustion. Becenti was across from Iandi, his coat over his chair, his arms clasped. He had rolled up sleeves, revealing his tattoos. He hadn''t touched his food.


    Curiously, or at least, curiously to Becenti, the Seat of History was there as well. Iconoclast was reviewing notes that he had laid out, his observations put onto paper. The metahuman''s brow was furrowed.


    It occurred to Becenti that he had never truly spoken with Iconoclast before. He was, perhaps, around twenty years younger than him. There was a coldness to his eyes that set him on edge.


    But, then, that coldness was in many metahumans'' eyes. Even his own.


    Coldness was a defense mechanism.


    ¡°They''re definitely hiding something,¡± the younger metahuman said, ¡°That Rainbowfish won a scale.¡±


    ¡°This is important?¡± Becenti asked.


    ¡°He only gains a scale whenever he wins a contest,¡± Iconoclast said, ¡°And he saw my interview with him as a contest. One in which he won. He revealed some information, but not the main one.¡±


    ¡°Where the hell did they go?¡± Mister Meaning muttered, ¡°Gods, Luminary won''t like this.¡±


    ¡°Where could they have gone?¡± Becenti asked.


    The two of them were silent. Iandi took another bite of his pork roast. He was a very loud eater, chewing voraciously. Becenti had disliked this, had admonished Iandi for this when he and Nasir had first joined the guild.


    Then, he had learned that Iandi had no choice but to eat like this, with an open mouth. He couldn''t breathe while he ate otherwise. His jaws latched and unlatched. It was why he sounded... awkward. Open and blunt. Experimentation had stolen his subtlety.


    ¡°There are,¡± Mister Meaning said, ¡°A few small enclaves here and there. Small families, who live apart from the rest of society.¡±


    ¡°Hermits,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Yes. But they report to work, either way,¡± Mister Meaning said, ¡°And we have record of them.¡±


    ¡°Maybe Lunus Oculus wanted to do this, too,¡± Becenti shrugged, ¡°She and Thunderhead.¡±


    ¡°And she dragged along your guildmates?¡± Mister Meaning said, ¡°And just the three of them?¡±


    Becenti nodded.


    ¡°Why not him?¡± Mister Meaning said, nodding at Iandi, ¡°And that... cleric girl of yours.¡±


    ¡°I...¡± Becenti hesitated, ¡°I couldn''t find her.¡±


    ¡°Well, you''re certainly good at this,¡± Mister Meaning said, and his voice was devoid of mirth, ¡°Hey, big guy.¡±


    Iandi continued eating.


    ¡°Iandi, right?¡±


    Iandi was chewing loudly, far too loudly for him to be able to hear Mister Meaning. The metahuman muttered something dark under his breath. Becenti reached and patted Iandi on the shoulder.


    ¡°Mr. Iandi.¡±


    The super soldier looked up at him.


    ¡°What''sh up, Beshenti?¡± he asked through a mouthful of food.


    ¡°Mister Meaning is talking to you.¡±


    Iandi turned. Mister Meaning suppressed an eye roll.


    ¡°Did your guildmates tell you where they were going?¡± he asked.


    Iandi shook his head.


    ¡°Not anything,¡± he said, a bit sadly, ¡°Nasir just askhed if I want go shomewhere. I shaid no.¡±


    He swallowed his food.


    ¡°Then he went away.¡±


    ¡°Typical,¡± Mister Meaning said, ¡°He knew you''d blab. Typical re...¡±


    He looked up. Realized where he was, and did not finish his sentence.


    ¡°We''ll find him,¡± Becenti said, giving Mister Meaning a quick glare, ¡°Don''t worry about it.¡±


    Iandi nodded again. His face was morose.


    ¡°Don''t like it,¡± he said.


    ¡°I know,¡± Becenti said, ¡°But it is as Nasir says.¡±


    ¡°Cards.¡±


    ¡°It''s the cards,¡± Becenti said.


    He got up.


    ¡°I''ll talk to Luminary,¡± he said, ¡°Let her know what''s been going on with this.¡±


    ¡°Saves me a lecture,¡± Mister Meaning said.


    Iconoclast was still looking at his notes. He gave Becenti a dismissive wave.


    ¡°...Right,¡± Becenti said, ¡°See you tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Becenti,¡± Iandi said, ¡°I go with you?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Let''s go.¡±


    The super soldier took his empty plate with him, and one of the attendants offered to take it from him as they left the dining room. He walked a step behind Becenti as they went through the halls of Mt. Redress.


    ¡°Don''t like Mister Meaning,¡± he said.


    ¡°I don''t quite like him either,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Was gonna call me something bad,¡± Iandi said.


    Becenti suppressed a grimace. His face became like stone.


    They moved to find Luminary.


    ***


    They found her in the Cave of Awakening. The vast cavern, completely metahuman-made, was located deep within Mt. Redress, though Pauldros the Stonemaker had carved a long tunnel from outside, and multiple hallways converged into the ritual site from other parts of the mountain. Circular stands had been hewn from the stone. A square box hung a story up from the first floor, for the Council to watch the traumatic experience that was Awakening.


    Becenti remembered his Awakening. It had been in his dad''s garage, while the two of them had been working on a porsche. It was the height of summer in northern Arizona. He had sweat more on that day than he had in his entire life, and boy and old man worked on the porsche, spluttering and cursing, the old man out loud, the boy under his breath, always afraid that his father would hear him.


    The heat sweltered around him.


    And then the heat obeyed him.


    And now, it was an old friend. Though it, too, had abandoned him in this room, this place of ritual. Awakening on New Ludaya was done here, not in random places, and not by accident. Many metahuman kingdoms had celebrated the sudden onset of powers. The randomness of it. The sudden diversity.


    Others, the more martial kingdoms, those that defined their existence with their wars against the High Federation, were more reserved. They picked and chose who could ascend, and who could not.


    And they did this with...


    ¡°A Walker''s Gate,¡± Becenti whispered.


    There it sat, a ring of stone. With all of the right runes. All of the right whispers kissed into the rock. A Walker''s Gate was incredibly difficult to reproduce. One needed precise calculations, along with difficult spells and specific gemstones crafted into the masonry, like bones within the flesh, to hold the construct together.


    It was much like a Traveling Point. But it did not point to a specific plane. No, it led to Imagination itself. That place beyond worlds. Beyond storms and ideas.


    Some, like Walker themself, had walked through.


    No one, not even Walker, had ever returned.


    Luminary did not dare to stare directly into it. But she was beside it, lost in thought. She noticed Becenti''s approach, and gave him a tightened smile.


    ¡°They didn''t find them,¡± she said.


    ¡°No, they didn''t,¡± Becenti said.


    Iandi was glancing around the room. Luminary''s eyes flickered to him, glowed with a sudden disapproval, as though the super soldier was bumbling on sacred ground.


    Then the disapproval disappeared.


    (No, it was hidden away.)


    ¡°I''ll have Gallimena out there again, when she''s rested,¡± Luminary said.


    ¡°Is there no one else you can send?¡± Becenti asked, ¡°I''ve only worked with Mister Meaning and Iconoclast. It''s not my place to say, but you''re certainly misusing your Seat of History.¡±


    ¡°Iconoclast volunteered,¡± Luminary said, her voice even, ¡°And... we could use the help.¡±


    She hesitated, before adding:


    ¡°There is no one else.¡±


    Becenti''s eyes narrowed.


    ¡°It is a sensitive topic, Myron,¡± Luminary said, ¡°Please, trust me on that. We''ll find them. With who we''ve got. Mister Meaning will find them.¡±


    ¡°Don''t like him,¡± Iandi said.


    ¡°He is a difficult man to get along with,¡± Luminary said, ¡°But he is impressive. There is a reason why he is my right hand.¡±


    Becenti was quiet. Iandi walked over to the Walker''s Gate.


    ¡°Don''t touch,¡± Luminary warned, ¡°In fact, it may be good for you to stay back from it.¡±


    ¡°It make me feel fuzzy,¡± Iandi said, ¡°I wanna touch it-¡±


    ¡°Iandi,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Not a good idea. No one should touch it.¡±


    Iandi looked back at Becenti. But the metahuman''s words rang true, and after a sad look at the construct, he moved away and leaned against a wall, humming to himself, his voice like a helicopter''s thrumming.


    ¡°Lunus Oculus,¡± Becenti said, ¡°She isn''t... dangerous, is she?¡±


    ¡°Her power is not combat-based,¡± Luminary said, ¡°Your Cobalt Joe could stop her, if he needed to.¡±


    ¡°She won''t hurt them?¡±


    ¡°I don''t know, Myron,¡± Luminary said, ¡°All I can tell you is that we''ll find them.¡±


    Becenti was quiet. He crossed his arms, looking at the Walker''s Gate for a moment, being very careful not to stare directly at it. The runes were exquisite. Hand-carved, by the looks of it, painstakingly so. Someone in New Ludaya was a master runesmith.


    ¡°Like it?¡± Luminary said, ¡°It took months to make.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡±


    ¡°I''ll introduce you to Hanwe,¡± Luminary continued, ¡°She''s the one who worked the magic. We''ve got another metahuman, Geode, a bright lad who helped with the crystal work on the inside, and-¡±


    Geode.


    The conversation Becenti and Mister Meaning had with Tallneck came back to him.


    ¡°Luminary,¡± Becenti said, ¡°There is... one other thing.¡±


    Luminary faltered.


    ¡°What is it, Myron?¡± she asked.


    ¡°There was something that... one of the metahumans we spoke to, said,¡± Becenti said, ¡°About there being pushback against New Ludayans and their own.... personal futures.¡±


    He shuffled awkwardly.


    ¡°You''re talking about the class system,¡± Luminary said.


    ¡°It''s a macroscopic aspect of this, yes,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Big words, Myron,¡± Luminary said, and a smile flickered on her face, ¡°But... there is some truth to it. A temporary truth, at least. We are more rigid here than in Old Ludaya.¡±


    ¡°I remember that freedom was a core part of what we were building there,¡± Becenti said, ¡°This metahuman, Geode, how old are they?¡±


    ¡°Thirteen,¡± Luminary said.


    ¡°And they¡¯re pulled away for... military applications,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Not military,¡± Luminary said, ¡°Just training exercises, all of which involve their power. The Walker''s Gate was part of that. We''re stretching their muscles just a little more than the others, because of their potential.¡±


    ¡°Even though they¡¯d rather be at school,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°There are needs of the nation,¡± Luminary said, ¡°What we are doing here, it is for the good of all.¡±


    Becenti was quiet.


    ¡°I...¡± Luminary collected her thoughts, ¡°The freedoms that we espoused, back on Old Ludaya. That people could do what they want. It was a good dream. But it was naive for the times we were in. I feel like they still are.¡±


    ¡°And this is the alternative?¡± Becenti asked, gesturing around. His voice was even.


    But his eyes were burning.


    ¡°It is temporary,¡± Luminary said, ¡°Until we can secure ourselves a future from the High Federation. Only then, only when our greatest oppressor is gone, only then will we have true freedom.¡±


    She raised an arm. She, too, gestured at the room. At what it represented.


    ¡°It was that freedom that was a weakness, Myron. There is still freedom here, but it is tempered by reality. By what is coming for us. And until that threat is resolved, we must build. We must prepare. We must sacrifice parts of ourselves, for the sake of the whole. Our generation, and perhaps the generation after that, will live in this version of New Ludaya.¡±


    ¡°And after that?¡± Becenti asked.


    ¡°Paradise,¡± Luminary said, ¡°Or, at least, as close as we can get. That''s what I''m trying to build here, Myron. A world for my children.¡±


    Becenti swallowed.


    ¡°And, in the meantime,¡± he said, ¡°We are here. Where we must sacrifice our time for the sake of the nation.¡±


    ¡°It is a trade-off,¡± Luminary said, ¡°Freedom for security, just like any other nation. Should we ask for any different?¡±


    Becenti had no answer to that.


    No.


    He did.


    But he did not wish to voice it. Not yet. Maybe not ever.


    (His hope would not let him.)


    ¡°It is a bitter pill to swallow,¡± Luminary said, ¡°But we are better off here, in this way, than we ever were in the multiverse. At least here, parents do not have to lose their children. At least here, we are able to build something, and not have it torn down.¡±


    She took a deep breath. It was getting late. The debate had obviously tired her.


    ¡°It will be a long day tomorrow,¡± she said, ¡°For both of us. I''ll have Gallimena do another sweep. If I find your guildmates, Myron, I promise you that you''ll be the first person to know.¡±


    She gave him a pleading look. She looked... frail. Against the backdrop of the Walker''s Gate, she was just another old lady who had lost far too much in her life.


    ¡°Please, Myron,¡± she said, ¡°Trust me.¡±


    ¡°I...¡± Becenti said, ¡°I do.¡±


    She smiled.


    ¡°Thank you, Myron,¡± she said, ¡°...Good night.¡±


    She made her leave, using a construct of light to carry her to one of the higher floors, and through the hallway. Back to her room. Becenti waited in the Cave of Awakening, mulling it over. But Iandi yawned his loud yawn, and he decided to go to bed, too.


    To sleep, and wonder what tomorrow would bring.

 145. EMPTY HOUSES IN THE PROMISED LAND

    In truth, the galactic north was a term used loosely by stellar cartographers. There was no north or south in space, nor east or west. The Silver Eye revolved on a disk, centered around the supermassive black hole at the galaxy''s core, an endless pinwheel of fifteen billion years. As such, when one referred to the galactic north, they meant as if the galaxy were a two-dimensional, static image. As though Walker had made the three dimensions into two.


    And yet, stellar cartography said that it was north, so it was north. The truth damned in favor of simplicity.


    ...


    ¡­


    The Sovereign Melody dropped out of warp over the planet Abrixes II, host to a small colony that had only recently been entered into Federation records. It was a pretty little world, as Kathen looked at it through a holographic projection. Suitable for most species in the galaxy, it was covered in steaming jungles and volcanic activity, though the poles were host to wet rainforests and colder days. A small community had nestled itself up there, had turned their colony ships into the first buildings, as was the norm for colonization efforts.


    Ten thousand souls down there. Kathen wondered what they were doing. How they were faring. What sort of wildlife did they contend with? What was their colonial governor''s policies? How were they reacting, now that they were back in the Federation''s fold? That the Sovereign Melody now looked down upon it?


    Fear?


    Wariness?


    Excitement, perhaps?


    These thoughts drifted in and out of Kathen''s head as he looked at Abrixes II. He stared at it. Could almost feel the ten thousand down there, their myriad emotions.


    Odd, he had never felt that before.


    ¡°Sairad Ghedir.¡±


    (He heard this.)


    ¡°Kathen.¡±


    Guildmaster Valm''s voice broke through his unexpected meditation. Kathen shook himself from his stupor. Turned to Valm. Yes. He was manning the sensor array, though Merry Curiosity was doing most of the work. Valm was staring down at him from the captain''s chair, which was situated above the rest of the bridge, an arm reaching from the ceiling to hold it in the air. Old Scar stood at attention below him, to the chair''s side.


    Yes, Valm was asking Kathen a question.


    (He must have misheard him call him Sairad Ghedir.)


    ¡°Is everything alright, Mr. Aru?¡± Valm asked.


    ¡°Everything''s fine, sir,¡± Kathen said, and he tried to sound sure, ¡°Going through a few readings on the planet below.¡±


    ¡°And the long-range sensors?¡± Valm asked.


    ¡°We''re just about prepped to send out the drones,¡± Kathen replied, ¡°Merry''s just going over the last few details.¡±


    Indeed, a fuzz was pulsing through his mind, centered on his implant. Merry was hard at work, so busy that she didn''t even have time to fill his head with her usual chatter. Perhaps it was more difficult than she anticipated.


    Perhaps it was because Truthspeaker, the oldest AI in Pagan Chorus, was watching her carefully.


    ¡°Have Merry send me its findings,¡± Valm said, ¡°I want to see the spread its algorithms have concocted.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Kathen said, and he pressed a few keys on his console.


    The holographic projection of the sector appeared in front of Valm, who narrowed his pupil-less eyes to look over it. Points of light representing the one thousand deep space drones blinked in specific points across the diagram. Various star systems that could house the metahuman nation, or the Traveling Point that led to it, were highlighted.


    Valm looked it over. Pressed a few keys on the terminal on his chair. And Kathen knew that Truthspeaker was scanning it, assessing Merry''s work.


    Truthspeaker spoke only in High Speech, the closest language to the tongue of the First Men. Kathen only understood a few words of it. Yet he could feel Merry quiver in his mind at Truthspeaker''s words.


    ¡°It asks,¡± Valm said, ¡°About positions seven hundred and three through eight hundred and four.¡±


    ¡°The mapping of the Kolares systems,¡± Merry said, her voice echoing from the captain''s chair.


    ¡°Far away from the projected locations of known Traveling Points,¡± Valm said.


    Truthspeaker hummed her ancient tongue.


    She concurred.


    ¡°It is,¡± Merry Curiosity said, ¡°But I chose it specifically because of historical sympathies the Kolares peoples had with ancient Epochia.¡±


    ¡°The Kolares people no longer exist,¡± Valm said, ¡°They paid for their crimes.¡±


    ¡°And all that''s out there are old ruins and uncontacted colonies,¡± Merry said.


    Truthspeaker spoke again.


    ¡°A rabbit in a graveyard,¡± Valm said, and he nodded, ¡°Indeed. We should not use so many drones there. But Merry Curiosity''s algorithm has a touch of accuracy to it.¡±


    Truthspeaker began reworking Merry''s work. The last hundred or so drones were re-positioned elsewhere in the sector.


    ¡°It is good work,¡± Valm said, looking down at Kathen, ¡°You''ve trained your AI well.¡±


    ¡°She''s self-learning,¡± Kathen said, ¡°I didn''t have much to do with it.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Valm said, ¡°What cutting is it from?¡±


    ¡°Truthspeaker herself,¡± Kathen said, ¡°Remember?¡±


    Indeed, Valm had gifted Kathen his own AI as a birthday present, almost a decade ago. Valm nodded.


    ¡°Ah, yes,¡± he said, ¡°I remember now. Good. Truthspeaker''s progeny holds strong.¡±


    The entire bridge rumbled with Truthspeaker''s hum. Kate felt Merry fuzz up his entire mind in pride.


    ¡°Alright, alright,¡± Kathen whispered, ¡°Enough of that.¡±


    He spoke up.


    ¡°Ready to deploy the drones, sir.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Valm said, ¡°Do so.¡±


    Kathen pressed a few buttons. One of the Sovereign Melody''s subhangars opened up. Each drone was roughly the size of a small ship on its own, large enough to be equipped with its own warp drive. Each one was bulbous and ball-shaped, the entire surface covered in lights and lines. Both the interior and exterior of the drone were devoted to sensing and long-range communication. A network of scanners, far outside what any regular ship was capable of.


    One by one, they blinked out of existence, into the warp. They would spread out across the sector and begin communicating with one another, sending their findings back to the Sovereign Melody, which remained in orbit over Abrixes II.


    Now came a time of waiting.


    Valm lowered himself out of his seat. He nodded to Kathen, before leaving the bridge for his own personal office, to continue the paperwork that always hounded him. Old Scar relaxed, taking out a block of wood as he sat down by one of the consoles, along with a small rayknife, and began cutting away at it, to chisel it into a boat. He had been on a boat kick as of late.


    Kathen kicked up his feet onto the terminal, hands folded on his stomach. He pulled up a display of the drones, watched as they traveled to their assigned places.


    And yet, he found his gaze once more pulled to Abrixes II. At the people down there.


    The more he stared, the more his head hurt.


    The more his head hurt, the more he could hear voices. People speaking. Parents telling their children to stay indoors. Community leaders speaking in a meeting, a holographic projection of the Sovereign Melody in the center of a table. They were discussing what to do. Why the ship was out there. Counting the number of anti-ship cannons. The fifteen glassmakers hidden within her hull.


    Even though they were once more Federation citizens, Kathen could sense fear rippling across the planet below.


    He grimaced, held his head.


    ¡°Everything alright, Kate?¡± Merry asked.


    ¡°I''m fine,¡± he lied, ¡°I''m going to lie down. Look after the drones for me, alright?¡±


    ¡°For sure.¡±


    Kathen got up. Made to leave the bridge.


    ¡°Truthmaker said I did a good job,¡± Merry said.


    ¡°Truthmaker''s right,¡± Kathen said, ¡°You did good work.¡±


    She was brimming with pride. He could feel it, feel it infect his own mind, make his own heart swell to the point of bursting.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said, ¡°Settle down. Have your celebration somewhere else.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, yeah,¡± Merry said, ¡°It''s alright to be a little jealous. I get it. I''ll stay in the computer.¡±


    She left his mind, transferring into the Sovereign Melody''s computers. Leaving Kathen alone with his thoughts.


    With the voices. Now that he wasn''t looking at Abrixes II, they had subsided.


    But they did not completely go away.


    ***


    They bedded down in the middle of the forest. Thunderhead had a few packs in his trunk, and Lunus Oculus pulled them out and handed them out to each of them. Sleeping bags, though they didn''t have any tents, nor did they risk making a fire in fear that someone would find them.


    But Joseph was used to that. Used to being hunted. In truth, they all were, in some way.


    ¡°Reminds me of a time I was helping excavate some ruins in Gayados,¡± Evancar said, ¡°Smack dab in the middle of the rebellion, bullets flying overhead. I barely slept most nights.¡±


    ¡°Gayados?¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°You were there?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Evancar said, ¡°The Blue Rose Rebellion. Sir Guenhwyvar''s Purge.¡±


    ¡°Awful place to be,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°I had a few friends who lived through it. And you were looking into the ruins there?¡±


    Evancar shrugged.


    ¡°Tried to record as much as I could before Sir Guenhwyvar destroyed them,¡± he said, ¡°You must know how bad it got.¡±


    And he hunkered down, turning over in his sleeping bag. Lunus Oculus and Joseph exchanged looks, before settling down as well.


    It was a cold night, but it was better to be cold and safe than warm and in danger. Nasir took first watch, listening to the crickets in the wood, the occasional call of a nighttime bird. Then the sun came, and they were off again. They packed up their bags, put them into the sports car''s trunk, then Thunderhead transformed again and walked with them to the edge of the forest. The other side was a broad plain, wild grasses growing with a few massive, tree-sized dandelions springing up here and there.


    ¡°Rosemary''d like that,¡± Joseph noted.


    ¡°She would,¡± Evancar said.


    Thunderhead took point again, going down on all fours as he shifted back to car form. They piled in, and he peeled away, dirt spinning up beneath his wheels. The ride was jostling and bumpy, even on the flat terrain, as they went over rocks and gravel, climbed over small hills, rumbled over the oversized dandelion roots that on occasion poked out of the ground.


    They ate breakfast in the car, though that amounted to some trail mix and dried jerky. At midday, they stopped to rest. A small river crossed across the plains, and they stopped by the shore to refill their water bottles and rest.


    ¡°What ruins were you investigating on Gayados?¡± Lunus Oculus asked Evancar.


    ¡°Oh!¡± Evancar said, ¡°The Episcodereans. Ancient civilization that lived in that area, some ten or twenty thousand years ago. Most of them were wiped out by the High Federation, but their descendants were known to live in that region. I met a few of them.¡±


    Lunus Oculus nodded.


    ¡°Guides?¡± she asked.


    He nodded.


    ¡°The descendants of the Episcodeareans, the Catridore, were caught in the crossfire of the war,¡± he said, ¡°Sir Guenhwyvar was setting up extermination campaigns against them, but they took my money to go down to their old ruins to see them for myself.¡±


    ¡°You paid them?¡± Lunus Oculus asked.


    ¡°I did,¡± Evancar said, ¡°I was working for another guild at the time, the Olive Branch Society. We were on a peacekeeping mission there, and I used my share of the funds to get a few of them out of there. Those that decided to stay led me there. We hunkered down there for a few months, while I looked over the old carvings.¡±


    Nasir sneered.


    ¡°Ask him what he did afterwards.¡±


    Lunus Oculus looked askance. Evancar shook his head, frowning.


    ¡°A... A regrettable mistake,¡± he said, ¡°I decided to¡­ take-¡±


    ¡°Steal,¡± Nasir said.


    ¡°Steal. Yes, I suppose that¡¯s what it was. I stole a sampling of the carvings directly, to donate to the Museum of Unnatural History on Melmaen. The Catridore found out. They... didn''t exactly like what I was doing.¡±


    He steepled his fingers.


    ¡°I know that it was¡­ a rotten thing now, of course! But back then, I was... full of piss and vinegar. Everything was to be chronicled. I had to salvage all that I could.¡±


    ¡°You thought that the Catridore wouldn''t be around much longer,¡± Lunus Oculus said. Her voice was even. But there was something new in her eyes. Something wary.


    ¡°Y-Yes,¡± Evancar said, ¡°My mistake. Again. They persevered. Sir Guenhwyvar was executed by the Gayados Alliance Tribunal. I drew my conclusion too soon.¡±


    ¡°And now the Catridore consider him to be a pariah,¡± Nasir said.


    Evancar shrugged.


    ¡°I made my choice. I learned.¡±


    ¡°And will you do it again?¡± Lunus Oculus asked.


    Evancar tilted his head. Looked up at Lunus Oculus.


    ¡°I would... I would love to say that I wouldn''t,¡± he said, ¡°But when a civilization dies, then it''s up to those left behind to pick up the pieces and record them.¡±


    ¡°But a civilization, a people, never dies,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°There are always survivors. There is always legacy. And it belongs to them.¡±


    Evancar grimaced. Swallowed.


    ¡°I was trying to help,¡± he said, ¡°Trying to get as much evidence of the Catridores, of the Episcodoreans, that I could off of Gayados. You weren¡¯t there, were you? You only heard stories. You don¡¯t know how bad it got. The¡­ pogroms. The camps.¡±Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    ¡°Tell me, Professor Morandus, did you help them?¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°The Catridores, beyond giving them money for some of them to leave, did you help?¡±


    ¡°Others did,¡± Evancar said, ¡°My guild at the time.¡±


    ¡°But did you?¡±


    Evancar was quiet. He looked out towards the river. It was clear, and one could see, past the ripples and the water''s churning, small fish and frogs, a water snake hiding beneath a rock.


    ¡°I should have,¡± he said.


    ***


    After a tense silence, they piled back into the car, and took off once more. Joseph joined Lunus Oculus up in the front, taking the driver''s seat, and he was leaning an arm against the window and watching New Ludaya roll by. The plains to their left, the river to Joseph''s right, all silvery and scored glass, ambling on alongside them as Thunderhead drove on. The wheel turned and adjusted of its own accord. The gas pedal pressed down on its own.


    ¡°You got cars back where you''re from?¡± Thunderhead''s voice crackled through the radio.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I grew up in a place called the USA. Heard of it?¡±


    ¡°Prime''s got one of those,¡± Thunderhead said, ¡°I''ve visited a few times. Good place?¡±


    Joseph shrugged.


    ¡°The country''s on Earth,¡± he said, ¡°It has its problems.¡±


    ¡°What place doesn''t?¡± Thunderhead chuckled darkly, ¡°They know about metahumans there?¡±


    ¡°I don''t know,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I didn''t know I was one until I got out here. Maybe the governments there know. Or certain communities. Metahuman communes, tucked away in the mountains.¡±


    ¡°Maybe,¡± Lunus Oculus said.


    ¡°Or maybe Nai Nai was the only metahuman to visit,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Maybe our family was the first metahuman family there.¡±


    A realization was coming to him. He blinked.


    Looked over at Lunus Oculus.


    ¡°Hey,¡± he said, ¡°I''m metahuman. Does that mean my family is, too?¡±


    Lunus Oculus pursed her lips. Then nodded.


    ¡°Shit,¡± Joseph said, and he slumped, ¡°Hope they''ve got resources.¡±


    ¡°Maybe when you go home, you can get them up to speed,¡± Lunus Oculus said.


    ¡°I don''t know if I want to go back,¡± Joseph said, ¡°And if I did, it''d just be to visit.¡±


    Evancar poke his head between the chairs.


    ¡°Earth''s got a long forecast, right?¡± the Professor said, ¡°I remember Rosemary mentioning that to me.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, it is,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Decades. I''d be in my sixties.¡±


    He frowned, and there was something storming behind his neon eyes.


    ¡°I... I don''t know how to feel about that,¡± he said.


    ¡°Do you miss your family?¡± Lunus Oculus asked.


    Those eyes, glaring and angry, shifted over to her. Lunus met his gaze. Cobalt Joe was quiet for a very long time, as the car rumbled beneath them, as winds whipped up around outside.


    ¡°I don''t know,¡± he said, at last, though he knew that was no answer at all, ¡°...I didn''t... don''t, have the best relationship with them. With my parents.¡±


    ¡°I''m sorry,¡± Lunus Oculus said.


    ¡°It''s fine,¡± Joseph said, though the heat in his voice said otherwise, ¡°I realized a long time ago that they didn''t really want me. That they were just going through the motions with me. Every time I did something they weren''t expecting, they reacted with anger.¡±


    He looked out the window again.


    ¡°But... I''d like to see them again. To show them that I''m alright.¡±


    (Without them, though he did not say this.)


    Lunus Oculus nodded. But it was Thunderhead who spoke up.


    ¡°I was like that with my parents,¡± he said, ¡°They threw me out of the house when I was sixteen.¡±


    ¡°How come?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°They found me kissing the neighbor''s son beneath a tree,¡± Thunderhead said, terse, ¡°Might not be exactly how it went down for you, but I get it.¡±


    The car was speeding up. As though Thunderhead, in mentioning his past, was now flying away from it.


    ¡°Anyways,¡± the sports car said, ¡°I''m pretty sure we should separate from the river pretty soon. Gallimena will be running alongside it, if she''s trying to track us.¡±


    ¡°I think it may be time to go helicopter,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°We''re far enough away. And I''ve got a spell of silence.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Thunderhead said, ¡°Hold on tight, everyone.¡±


    Something within the engine shifted. The interior began to warp and twist, metal screeching and motors churning. The walls expanded, became curved. The seats raised, the back disconnecting from the front and pushing itself back. The wheels flattened and hardened, becoming landing skids. The roof concaved, and blades sprouted from Thunderhead''s top like saplings. They began to spin, faster and faster, until the bulk of the new vehicle was lifted off of the ground.


    Lunus Oculus started passing out headsets. Joseph put his on, and the spinning blades, the loud chopping through the air, the whir of the engines, muted and almost seemed to cease.


    Thunderhead''s voice cracked into the headset.


    ¡°Your spell, Lunus.¡±


    Lunus Oculus whispered a few words. Her silence spell took hold once more. A bubble of hardened noise, one that cut away the chopping of the helicopter''s blades.


    ¡°Get as high as you can, Thunderhead,¡± she said, then, to the rest of them, ¡°They won''t be able to hear us. But they''ll be able to see us.¡±


    ¡°There aren''t many clouds,¡± Nasir said.


    ¡°But they may still miss us if we look like a dot,¡± Lunus Oculus said.


    The tracker''s eyes narrowed.


    ¡°I would be able to see you,¡± he said.


    Lunus Oculus grimaced.


    ¡°Better than them tracking us down by the tire tracks,¡± she said, ¡°Right?¡±


    Nasir thought on this. Then nodded.


    ¡°It''s still not good,¡± he said, ¡°We should set down soon either way. And walk the rest of the way.¡±


    Lunus Oculus nodded.


    ¡°This will cut down the travel time, at least,¡± she said, ¡°Only make it so we have a little ways to go.¡±


    She turned back around. By now the ground was becoming small, indeed. The tree-like dandelions almost looked regular-sized, now.


    She looked around to see if she could spot pursuers. Gallimena. Or Mister Meaning. But no one so far.


    ***


    ¡°Your play, Kathen.¡±


    Dicaeopolis smiled from across the game board from the young human. Kathen''s brow was furrowed, looking at his holographic pieces. Under the Ruler''s Gaze was a complex wargame, an attempt to simulate the ancient warships of the First Men as closely as possible. They were geometric shapes, for no one knew what the true design of the ships of the Alu''eer looked like, and it was heretical to try and scrutinize their true appearance. But the tactics were well-documented, for the Alu''eer were known warmakers, and had fought amongst themselves for thousands of years before they created their High Federation.


    They recorded the tactics as lessons for the younger races.


    As lessons, and as warnings.


    Kathen was, once again, losing this game. Dicaeopolis was brutal in his assault, attack after attack against Kathen''s fleet, which had whittled down to a single carrier and a defensive web of fighters, automatic drones, and a small battleship. On the other side of the map, floating in a creche-style formation, was Dicaeopolis''s pieces. Floating cubes. Octahedrons to represent the Izmu''helat, the most precious of Alu''eer ships, which dipped in and out of the Warp at will, without need of a drive. As close to Imagination as the First Men dared to be.


    He scratched his beard. Ran a hand through his wild hair, though he had to force it through, as his fingers became tangled. Dicaeopolis smiled at the sight.


    ¡°You really should stop doing that,¡± he said, ¡°Respect your hair, or it will start to leave you. Like a lover.¡±


    He gestured to his balding head.


    ¡°You''re a lucky man, Kathen,¡± he said, ¡°I know satyrs back home who would kill for your hair.¡±


    Kathen flickered a smile. Then went back to the game. Dicaeopolis leaned back, tapping a hoof against the floor absently. He had a way of chewing the inside of his cheek, his brow furrowing, that showed that he was lost in thought. He always won his games with Kathen.


    But Kathen didn''t make it easy.


    The young man pressed a few buttons. His defensive network tightened around the carrier, which moved upwards. He was making his overall fleet a smaller target. It began moving forward towards Dicaeopolis''s fleet.


    ¡°Ah, smart,¡± the satyr said, ¡°You know you cannot win a defensive game.¡±


    ¡°Just make your play, old man,¡± Kathen said.


    ¡°Temper, temper,¡± Dicaeopolis chided, though he smiled. He moved his fleet around. Pressed a few keys, and the octahedrons disappeared, dipping into the simulated Warp. They would be able to attack from any position.


    They exchanged a few shots. Kathen advanced. The network completely surrounded the carrier, turned outwards against Dicaeopolis''s fleet. They opened fire, and squares and circles were obliterated.


    ¡°You cannot win,¡± Dicaeopolis said.


    Kathen shook his head. He dared not speak.


    ¡°So you wish to force me into a draw,¡± Dicaeopolis said.


    ¡°It''ll be the closest I''ve gotten,¡± Kathen said.


    ¡°...By all means,¡± Dicaeopolis said, ¡°Go ahead. Make your play.¡±


    Kathen''s fleet continued firing at the satyr''s, who responded in kind. For a moment, the holographic battlefield became a mess of spinning shapes and flashes of light. Both fleets would be destroyed. Even if Dicaeopolis''s octahedrons dropped out of Warp, he would have lost too much to claim victory.


    The satyr knew this. He pressed a key.


    One of the octahedrons re-appeared on the board. Directly overhead, it flew into the carrier. Shape met shape. Both exploded in a festival of digital light.


    The board disappeared. The game gave Dicaeopolis the victory. The satyr leaned back, smiling. Kathen frowned.


    ¡°A blasphemous play,¡± he said.


    ¡°Oh, most definitely,¡± Dicaeopolis said, ¡°But I won.¡±


    Kathen sighed. Stood up. They were lucky that they were in Dicaeopolis''s quarters. Merry had control of the security cameras, and he knew that she would erase the evidence of the satyr''s irreligious strategy.


    ¡°That''s it, then?¡± Kathen said, ¡°That''s how you chose to get out of it?¡±


    ¡°Kathen, my friend,¡± Dicaeopolis said, ¡°What matters at the end of the day is that you win. The way you get there, doesn''t.¡±


    He wagged a finger.


    ¡°That''s why so many of us Pagan Chorus are of the multiverse, isn''t it? To make those sacrilegious decisions.¡±


    Kathen''s brow furrowed.


    ¡°It doesn''t make it right,¡± he said.


    Dicaeopolis considered those words, a single eyebrow raising. He slapped his furred legs, before standing up, trotting over to a bowl of nuts on the table. From his home plane, Kathen knew. Not replicated. The satyr spent half of his salary on the damn things.


    He cracked it open with a utensil, pouring out the contents onto a hand. Tossed a few pieces to Kathen, who took it and popped it in his mouth.


    ¡°Good, isn''t it?¡± Dicaeopolis said.


    The nuts had an earthy flavor. A hard to acquire taste, if Kathen was being honest, but he had spent enough time with Dicaeopolis that he had learned to like them.


    ¡°Did you know,¡± Dicaeopolis said, ¡°That it is an affront to the gods to eat satharos nuts so casually?¡±


    Kathen swallowed. Tilted his head in askance.


    ¡°Oh, yes,¡± Dicaeopolis said, and he broke another nut, tossed it into his mouth, crunched loudly, ¡°You only eat the satharos nut on certain holidays. Maybe once or twice a year. Any other time, and you''d be executed.¡±


    He popped more into his mouth.


    ¡°A few years ago, before I left home to become a Far Traveler, there was a famine in my homeland. The crops failed. Our livestock died. When we went to hunt, we couldn''t find any game. When we went fishing, it was as though Thoseidos himself had banished all the fish. The only thing that grew were satharos nuts.¡±


    He looked down at one. Turned it in his hands.


    ¡°Of course, the priesthood forbade us from eating them. Killed anyone they caught. Because we did eat them. Damn the rituals, we were starving. We almost lost my sister, were it not for these.¡±


    ¡°And your point is?¡± Kathen asked.


    ¡°It was around that time that I stopped believing in the gods of Gaea,¡± Dicaeopolis said, ¡°And if I don''t believe in the gods, why should I follow their rules?¡±


    ¡°And you''re saying the same applies here,¡± Kathen said.


    Dicaeopolis nodded.


    ¡°I am not a fervent believer in the First Men,¡± he said, ¡°It is a debate that the guildmaster and I have had many a time. But it is useful, for it allows me to do things that Valm otherwise wouldn''t be able to do. I am allowed my blasphemy, because it brings about new ideas.¡±


    A smirk appeared on his face.


    ¡°I just have to be smart about it, and know when to stop.¡±


    Kathen crossed his arms. Thought on this.


    ¡°Know when to stop,¡± he said.


    ¡°You''re one of Valm''s proteges,¡± Dicaeopolis said, ¡°But that doesn''t mean you are Valm. Don''t be afraid to... change things up. Go your own way on things. You''ll be surprised at your success.¡±


    At that, the intercoms crackled up. Valm''s voice, deep and drawn-out, echoed across the ship.


    ¡°All senior staff report to the bridge,¡± he said, ¡°We''ve found something.¡±


    ***


    They did, indeed, land after about an hour. No one was pursuing them, that much they deciphered. Cobalt Joe looked out the window, and his eagle''s head covered his own like a mask, and sharpened eyes pierced towards the ground below, searching around for Gallimena. But no, there was no sign of her. They had lost her.


    ¡°She must have been ordered home,¡± he muttered.


    Lunus Oculus was quiet.


    ¡°Keep looking,¡± she said, ¡°I don''t quite trust that we''re out of the woods yet.¡±


    Eventually, caution won over expedience, and Thunderhead descended to the ground, landing and letting the group out, before he himself transformed back to organic form. He stood up, letting out a groan as he stretched, hands on his back.


    ¡°Is it painful?¡± Evancar asked, ¡°The transforming.¡±


    ¡°This? Nah,¡± Thunderhead said, ¡°It''s natural. But it''s easier to be a car. I feel all scrunched up as a helicopter.¡±


    The western mountains greeted them. They were spikier here, and did not rise as tall as Mt. Redress in the south. They connected, Joseph knew, at some point in the southwest. A ring around New Ludaya, holding it in. He wondered what was on the other side.


    ¡°Ruins are up against the mountains,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°Glow found them, in their travels around the plane. Another associate of ours.¡±


    Evancar scratched his chin, nodding. They began to walk towards the mountains.


    ¡°They''re caves, you said,¡± he said, ¡°And a few buildings?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Lunus Oculus said.


    ¡°Inside or outside the cave system?¡±


    ¡°Both,¡± Lunus Oculus said, and she looked over her shoulder for a moment, crimson eyes scanning the horizon, ¡°One or two outside. Most of them inside.¡±


    ¡°Have you been able to see what''s inside the buildings?¡±


    ¡°Most of them are overgrown, and roots covered the doors,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°But their roofs are gone. Tallneck could peer in, and he didn''t see much. Maybe a few arrowheads.¡±


    Evancar nodded. He continued asking questions to Lunus Oculus as they approached the mountain. The ruins themselves were surrounded by a small forest that traveled up with them as they climbed up to higher elevation. It was not so steep that they had to climb, but more often than not Joseph found himself having to track where he was walking, so he did not slip on loose gravel. Evancar took point at this point, soldiering up the mountain, and though he was breathing heavily and was evidently winded by the journey, his eyes became alight with the strange fire of obsession.


    ***


    Joseph, at first, did not realize they were abandoned buildings until he had it pointed out to him. Lunus Oculus stopped, turning and pointing, at an outcropping of trees near one of the mountain faces.


    ¡°There,¡± she said.


    Joseph squinted. Yes. Amidst the brambles of the trees were a pair of buildings, small and stout. Evancar walked closer to them, stepping over erratic roots, and pressing a hand against one of them. They were made of stone brick, though vines had wedged themselves in several cracks, had split into the rock itself. The archaeologist looked out. Yes, if one were to look out from here, one would be able to see the mountain below, even with all of the trees and foliage.


    ¡°Perfect place to keep watch,¡± he muttered to himself.


    By now the rest of the group was catching up to him. Evancar moved around the building, finding the door. That, too, was covered in thick brambles, the roots of one of the oaks having climbed over like a mollusk to claim the building. Evancar tilted his head.


    ¡°That''s odd,¡± he said.


    ¡°The trees?¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°It is.¡±


    ¡°What could have prompted the tree to grow like this?¡± Evancar said, ¡°Roots want to be in the ground, not raised up like this.¡±


    ¡°An adaptation?¡± Thunderhead said.


    ¡°Like what?¡± Evancar asked.


    The metahuman scratched his chin, thinking. Then, he shook his head.


    ¡°I''m not a Ptarist,¡± he said, ¡°So I can''t really say anything about unique adaptations to the environment. It wouldn''t make sense, though, considering the other trees we''ve seen in the region. Even the dandelions.¡±


    ¡°Magic, perhaps?¡± Lunus Oculus said.


    ¡°Magic would make sense,¡± Evancar said, ¡°Though whoever wielded it would have trapped something inside. Or trapped themselves inside.¡±


    He turned to Joseph.


    ¡°Joe,¡± he said, ¡°Are you able to cut through?¡±


    Joseph considered the roots. He brought up a hand, which enveloped with an azure claw. He scratched at the roots for a moment, seeing how easily they would shear away.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± he said, ¡°I got this.¡±


    He twisted his body, making a wild cut across the root wall. Gouged holes in the blockage, tore away bark, revealing off-white innards. He continued cutting, the rest of them watching in silence. Nasir took a moment to look around, bringing a knee to inspect the ground, his brow furrowed.


    ¡°That should be enough,¡± Evancar said.


    Joseph stopped. Indeed, he had managed to carve away enough of the root system that the archaeologist could hunker down and climb in. Evancar huffed and pushed himself through. He reached into his coat pocket for a few moments, pulling out a small flashlight, clicking it on.


    ¡°There we are,¡± he said, and the thin beam cut through the half-light of the house. The tree had completely covered the roof at this point, though he suspected that it had not always been this way. Indeed, when he looked at the edges of the roof, he found scrapings and half-jutted stone.


    ¡°There used to be a ceiling,¡± he said, more to himself than anything, though by now Lunus Oculus was peeking her head in.


    ¡°A ceiling?¡±


    ¡°Made of rock. Or mudbrick. Or dried hay, maybe, and there was a line of stone to help hold it aloft,¡± Evancar said, ¡°Whatever the case, this tree came later.¡±


    He looked down at the ground. Leaves and broken branches littered the floor, and he bent down and started picking through them.


    ¡°Ah, here we are,¡± he said, ¡°Arrowheads, like you said.¡±


    He picked one up.


    ¡°Are there any more?¡±


    He continued searching. Indeed, arrowheads littered the ground. Lots of them. Broken arrow shafts, too, and eventually, in the grime and the leaves, a bow.


    This, he considered, turning it over in his hands.


    ¡°Everything alright?¡± Lunus Oculus asked.


    Evancar rose, clambered out of the house. He reached down into his coat pocket again, feeling around.


    ¡°Good thing about being in a guild,¡± he said, ¡°You get a bit of magic on your side.¡±


    He pulled out a large metal box, easily the size of his own arm, far larger than his small coat pocket. He set it on the ground, started calibrating it with the small console it was connected to by a metal line.


    ¡°Fedtek,¡± Lunus Oculus said.


    ¡°An Aradian Reader,¡± Evancar said, ¡°Useful for these sorts of situations.¡±


    He laid the bow on the metal box, and a red light started moving up and down the bow''s length. Evancar continued typing.


    ¡°It''s used primarily by archaeologists in the Post-Colonial,¡± Evancar continued, ¡°A good portion of the current administration''s budget goes to the Department of Historical Achievement, which is dedicated to unearthing lost technology from the Federation''s golden ages.¡±


    He tapped a few more keys.


    ¡°Mine was a factory cast-off that I bought off the black market a few years back. Urash helped me get it.¡±


    ¡°You came prepared,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Never leave home without it,¡± Evancar said, ¡°I... I didn''t quite believe Becenti about this place. About it being brand new. Abandoned, sure. Many planes are abandoned. One has to be alive first, in order to be dead. God, that sounds emo. G-Wiz would like that.¡±


    The Reader dinged. Evancar looked at the console.


    Then his brow furrowed.


    ¡°No,¡± he said, ¡°That''s not right. Not right at all.¡±


    He pressed a few keys. Restarted the scan.


    The same result. He nodded, thinking.


    ¡°What''s up?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°The Reader works by counting specific atoms in an object''s organic material, similar to radiocarbon dating,¡± Evancar said, ¡°It can''t give exact ages, but it gives an estimate. I was hoping...¡±


    He flicked his chin.


    ¡°I was hoping to get a good range, then I could compare the records here to other nomadic groups from that time period. If it was fifty thousand years, for example, I''d be able to surmise that perhaps the ancient Mithrani traveled here. Or perhaps a few metahuman kingdoms. Maybe even elves.¡±


    ¡°Then what''s wrong?¡± Joseph asked, ¡°Is the machine broken?¡±


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± Evancar said, ¡°But...¡±


    He sighed.


    ¡°The Reader''s telling me that this bow here, or at least the tree itself, was less than a hundred years old. That means that someone was here only in the last century or so. Maybe even less time.¡±


    He let that statement hang in the air. Joseph looked away, out towards the rest of New Ludaya. Nasir sneered. Lunus Oculus''s eyes began to widen as the realization began to wash over her like a rogue wave.


    ¡°We should check out the caves,¡± Evancar said, and his voice was grave, ¡°Let''s go.¡±

 146. THE MEETING OF POWERS

    Aldreia and Melitta had spent the night together.


    Then, the rainbow-haired metahuman had needed to get some business done with her family. She kissed Aldreia goodbye, promised to meet up with her for dinner, and skipped off. A few of her nail servants followed after her as she headed to her ship. Aldreia watched her get in, watched the carrier lift off the ground and head towards the Traveling Point.


    The cleric used her shower. Then she, too, stepped out. She was, at first, unsure of where to go first, then she supposed that she should meet up with Becenti, explain where she had been. The thought of meeting with the old man made her tense. But she hadn''t gone overboard in her drinking. She had found a new...


    ''Friend.'' Yes. That was the word she would use. Despite the fact that Melitta Dorucanthos was becoming something much more to her than that.


    (She had thought the same thoughts for each and every one of her lovers.)


    She set off towards Mt. Redress. A few other New Ludayans were on the road as well, Workers all, bringing supplies into the home base, or traveling to work within the mountain itself. A few of them let her accompany them, a metahuman with yo-yos for arms helping her onto their wagon. The New Ludayans talked with one another, enjoyed the fresh breeze in the air, one of them was reading a book to herself, fifteen eyes scanning page after page. A child, maybe three or four, was squirming in his uncle''s arms, his mother across from him. She was peeling stuck shed from her arm, forked tongue flickering every so often to taste the air.


    ¡°Now, now, abisu,¡± the uncle said, ¡°Your mama''s almost done. See? Just a bit more.¡±


    The kid let out a squeal, watching his mother scrape away the last dead skin from her fingers. She took her child back from her brother, rocking him on a knee.


    Mt. Redress was, as per the usual, filled with metahumans. Workers expanded the interior of the mountain, or brought in goods for storage. Members of the Ruler class walked, paperwork in hand, to organize the community. Aldreia passed by a crowded room, where a crystalline metahuman was pointing to a map of the plane, marking points of interest, places to build new towns, where to plant crops for the next season. A few Warriors were patrolling the mountain, more an exercise in security than anything else, for there was little reason for them as of right now.


    At last, Aldreia found Becenti in the guest rooms that their hosts had provided to them. The older man was sitting at the bed, his hands clasped together. He looked up at Aldreia.


    And his eyes narrowed.


    ¡°Where have you been?¡± he asked.


    ¡°I met a friend,¡± Aldreia said, ¡°I...¡±


    ¡°Cobalt Joe and the others are gone,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Him. Nasir. Professor Morandus.¡±


    Aldreia pulled a face.


    ¡°They probably just got lost somewhere. Or they met friends too,¡± she said.


    Becenti shook his head.


    ¡°No, Aldreia,¡± he said, ¡°They were last seen with a few... malcontents, in New Ludayan society. They may have put themselves in danger.¡±


    ¡°There''s little of that here,¡± Aldreia said.


    ¡°So we''ve been told, over and over,¡± Becenti said, ¡°But there is no such thing as ''no danger.''¡±


    He rose.


    ¡°I understand why you did not want to look after Professor Morandus,¡± he said, ¡°But he was still your responsibility.¡±


    Aldreia rolled her eyes.


    ¡°Oh, bother,¡± she said.


    And realized she had said the wrong thing, as Becenti''s eyes bulged, for a moment, anger overtaking him for just the slightest moments. He controlled himself, but his voice was measured and controlled as he spoke.


    ¡°Three of your guildmates are gone,¡± Becenti said, ¡°And that''s... all you can say.¡±


    Aldreia was giving him a mutinous look. But she didn''t dare say anything, not yet.


    ¡°We had an agreement, Aldreia,¡± Becenti said, ¡°You were to leave the guildhall for another job. That you would listen to what I said. And I gave you specific instructions to look after Evancar. To make sure he didn''t get into trouble.¡±


    He gestured.


    ¡°I do believe he''s in trouble, Aldreia.¡±


    ¡°He''s got Joe with him,¡± Aldreia countered, ¡°He''s fine-¡±


    ¡°Joe has other priorities!¡± Becenti roared. Aldreia flinched. It was rare for him to shout. To scream. To lose his temper so. And the old metahuman knew this. Heat was rippling around him, as though he were nothing but a desert mirage. He took a moment to compose himself, staring at the wall as though his eyes alone could bore holes into it. His hands were shaking.


    ¡°I''m sorry,¡± he said, ¡°I shouldn''t... I shouldn''t shout.¡±


    Aldriea shook her head, disgusted.


    ¡°It''s all about Joe to you, isn''t it?¡± she said, ¡°Your little protege. He was your first choice for coming here, right?¡±


    ¡°I want him to see us at our best,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Nothing more.¡±


    ¡°Bullshit,¡± Aldreia said, ¡°All due respect, sir, but I can see the way you look at him. Like he''s everything you want to be.¡±


    Becenti opened his mouth to retort, then closed it.


    Because she was right.


    Despite his openness, despite accepting Joe''s decision to not stay here on New Ludaya.


    She was right.


    ¡°You still were supposed to look after Evancar,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°The Professor is a grown man, Becenti,¡± Aldreia said, ¡°He''s not a child. He can look after himself.¡±


    ¡°It''s not him I''m worried about,¡± Becenti said, ¡°It''s the people around him.¡±


    Aldreia scoffed.


    ¡°You think a few mean words will get to people?¡± she said.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Becenti said, his voice hard, ¡°Words can mean the world. You know this. Stop pretending like you don''t.¡±


    Now it was Aldreia''s turn to pause. To digest her guildmate''s words. She had no answer.


    ¡°I need you to listen to what I say, from now on,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I did not ask you to look after Evancar just because he tends to run his mouth. I did it because I know that he''s a conspiracy theorist, at his heart. If he believes something, he tends to find opportunities to find it.¡±


    ¡°And you wanted me to stop him,¡± Aldreia said.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Joe will be able to protect him, of course. Nasir will make sure he doesn''t get lost. But he shouldn''t have left at all. And now they''re gone. And...¡±


    He looked around. Walked past Aldreia, looked down the halls to make sure they weren''t being listened in on.


    ¡°And we''re getting very little support in finding them,¡± he whispered, ¡°Luminary only has a few agents searching for them.¡±


    ¡°Where''s Iandi?¡± Aldreia asked.


    ¡°He''s with some of the people he''s made friends with,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Asking around. Luminary told us not to, but...¡±


    He shrugged.


    ¡°They''re missing. And I''m worried.¡±


    Now Aldreia could see the core of his anger. There was fear layered in Becenti''s voice. Barely controlled panic. Three guildmates were missing on an unknown plane, and their hosts were hardly of use in helping him.


    Their hosts, who were supposed to be Becenti¡¯s family, siblings by the metagene.


    ¡°I''m... sorry,¡± she said, ¡°They... They did meet with me. And they told me that they were going on an investigation. They asked me to come.¡±


    ¡°And you didn''t?¡± Becenti asked.


    ¡°I was... with a friend,¡± Aldreia said, ¡°I met someone here.¡±


    Becenti studied her for a few moments.


    ¡°You decided to follow your heart,¡± he said.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Even when they needed your help,¡± he said.


    ¡°And what would you have done?¡± Aldreia asked, ¡°If I had disappeared with them, too?¡±


    ¡°I would have expected you to tell them not to go at all,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°And would that have stopped them?¡± Aldreia asked, ¡°Evancar, maybe. But Joe? Remember how he went AWOL, and he went all the way out to Melmaen?¡±


    Becenti shook his head.


    ¡°No,¡± he said, ¡°It wouldn''t have.¡±


    He looked at her.


    ¡°But all the same. I ask that you listen to me from now on. We are in a precarious situation, and I don''t know how it will play out. I need you here, Aldreia.¡±


    The cleric nodded. Swallowed.


    ¡°...Alright,¡± she said.


    ***


    Just past the overgrown buildings were the caves that Lunus Oculus had described. The scarlet-eyed metahuman took point, leading them down into the earth, the cave''s entrance being blocked by a shawl of vines. The echoing roar of rushing water beckoned them downwards. Cobalt Joe''s azure claw lit the way, painting the stone walls blue. The ground was even, and they had no trouble descending down. No sudden gravel falls. No shifts in the earth. It was a ramp downwards.


    Evancar looked down at it. Noted how easy their journey was. How the path seemed so manmade.


    The tunnel opened up into a large cavern, and the source of the rushing water. A waterfall trembled down into a large pool, a never ending stream that churned the pool white. A few more houses were set up here, similar in make to the ones outside. The same sort of brick walls. The roofs were missing, but they were not dominated by trees. Rather, they were simply empty.


    Evancar poked his head into one of them, looking around. Images were painstakingly etched into the walls, hunters and animals, a full moon with a bear at its center. More arrowheads littered the ground.


    ¡°It was a weapons cache,¡± Evancar said, ¡°Whoever these people were, this cave was a fallback point.¡±


    He picked up an arrowhead, flipping it over with his fingers.


    ¡°Flint,¡± he said, ¡°And lots of it here.¡±


    Cobalt Joe walked over to the pool while Evancar picked over the houses. He dipped a hand into the water. It was frigid. Nasir joined him, looking around. It was dark in here, the only source of light coming from when Joe used his metahuman power, or when Evancar took out his flashlight. And yet the tracker''s careful eyes adjusted, and he seemed to be able to see the cavern just fine.


    ¡°Anything in the other buildings?¡± Evancar asked.


    ¡°Most of the same,¡± Lunus Oculus said.


    ¡°Show me.¡±


    The din of the waterfall was the only sound as Evancar looked over a few of the other buildings. A few of them were squat. A few more were longhouses, three in total, made of stone, with walls that divided small, compartmentalized rooms.


    ¡°No fire pits,¡± Evancar said, ¡°Makes sense. Can''t have a fire in a cave. No, the rooms are small enough to house a lot of people, keep them huddled together for warmth...¡±


    He scratched his chin.


    He explored a few of the cramped rooms. Saw more carvings. Those of the bear and the moon. Of a man with a spear for a hand, or perhaps he was merely holding the spear against his arm. One of the rooms was larger than the others, was made in such a way that people could sit together in a large circle and look down at the room''s center. Perhaps a map would have been placed there. The back wall of the room had the man with the spear for an arm protecting his people. He was positioned between them and an army of animals, serpents and bears and wolves. His people were huddled behind him.


    ¡°A war room,¡± Evancar said.


    ¡°That''s what we thought, too,¡± Lunus Oculus said.


    ¡°Most of these longhouses were used by refugees, I think,¡± Evancar said, ¡°A place for people to flee in times of conflict.¡±


    ¡°And to stockpile weapons,¡± she said.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Evancar said, ¡°The cave is on a bit of a lookout, meaning you can see the enemy approaching. They''d have to come uphill, giving you a natural advantage.¡±


    He left the war room.


    ¡°Tell me,¡± he said, ¡°Is there any sign of combat in here?¡±


    ¡°I... I don''t know,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°None that I''ve been able to see. But it''s rather dark.¡±


    Indeed, with Joe outside, the only source of light was coming from the soft glow of Lunus''s eyes, the cutting beam of Evancar''s flashlight. His brow furrowed.


    ¡°Any sign of old combat would be difficult to spot,¡± he said, ¡°Any bodies would have decomposed long ago.¡±


    ¡°...Even if the bow was young?¡± Lunus Oculus asked.


    There was an edge to her voice. She was starting to pick up on Evancar''s line of questioning. He looked up at her.


    ¡°A body naturally left behind, in a cave like this?¡± he said, ¡°Give it a few years, tops. If an animal got in here, there''d be nothing left in a matter of weeks.¡±


    ¡°But that''s only if a body was left behind,¡± Lunus Oculus said.


    ¡°True,¡± Evancar said, ¡°If I were...¡±


    He trailed off. His mind was racing to a conclusion, one he was not sure that the New Ludayans would like.


    ¡°I don''t see any bodies here,¡± he said, ¡°Let''s move on.¡±


    They went into a few other rooms. Noted that there were wool bed mats, though they had become a bit threadbare due to abandonment. As before, none of the rooms had firepits. Whatever these lodgings were, they were ultimately temporary, only to be used in times of conflict.


    And, in one of the rooms, they found a cornhusk doll.


    ¡°Oh, no,¡± Evancar said, ¡°Hey, little guy, what are you doing here?¡±


    It was tucked away in the corner of one of the rooms, beside a picked-away bed mat. Twisted out of cornhusks, with pinched up arms and a dress, a faceless head with pinned down hair tied by yarn.


    Undeniably a child''s toy.


    Evancar picked it up.


    ¡°This should have rotted by now,¡± he said, ¡°Or, at the very least, we should be seeing spots here and there.¡±


    Lunus Oculus was looking at it with watering eyes. She swallowed.


    ¡°How...¡± she said, ¡°How old is it?¡±


    Her voice was trembling.


    Evancar looked sadly at it.


    ¡°There''s not a chance,¡± he said, ¡°That there were metahumans here before, right?¡±


    ¡°N-No,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°Not to build something like this. I don''t recognize any of the art on the walls. I don''t recognize any of this.¡±


    Evancar sighed.


    ¡°How old is it, Professor Morandus?¡± Lunus Oculus asked, ¡°How long has it been here?¡±


    The archaeologist ran his fingers through his curly hair. Adjusted his glasses. When he looked at Lunus Oculus, his face was downcast, his eyes sympathetic.


    ¡°A year. Maybe two.¡±


    ***


    ¡°There is more to the cave, I think,¡± Nasir said.


    Joseph looked up at him.


    ¡°You think?¡±


    Nasir nodded, looking around. Lunus Oculus was stepping out of one of the longhouses, her face aghast. Thunderhead walked over to her, had to hold her up as the metahuman almost collapsed. Joseph jogged over to her, a look of concern on his face.


    ¡°What''s up?¡± he said.


    Lunus Oculus was staring at nothing. Her burning red eyes were empty. The windows were open, but no one was home. Evancar stepped out of the longhouse behind her. In his hand was a doll made out of corn husk. Joseph looked at it. Looked at Evancar.


    ¡°There were people here,¡± Evancar said, simply.


    ¡°We knew that,¡± Joseph said, ¡°They''re ruins.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Lunus Oculus mouthed.


    ¡°Lune, what''s up?¡± Thunderhead said, ¡°Come on, speak to me.¡±


    She took out her drinking flask, downed some water. Swallowed almost painfully.


    ¡°No,¡± she said again, ¡°I can''t...¡±


    She looked at Evancar.


    ¡°Talk to me, archaeologist,¡± she said, ¡°What does this mean?¡±


    Evancar scratched the back of his head. He looked down at the doll in his hand. Joseph''s brow knitted.


    ¡°Yeah, Evancar,¡± he said, ¡°What does it mean?¡±


    The archaeologist sighed.


    ¡°I don''t believe...¡± he chose his words carefully, ¡°It''s my hypothesis that these ruins are not that old. They were abandoned very recently. Within the last few years.¡±


    He swallowed.


    ¡°No,¡± he said, ¡°Only within the last year or so.¡±


    It took Joseph a moment.


    Then his eyes widened. A sudden coldness ran up his spine. A heavy weight set into his chest.


    ¡°Wait,¡± he said, ¡°These are metahuman, right?¡±


    ¡°They don''t have any traditional Epochian symbology,¡± Evancar said, ¡°No Dragons. None of the old folk heroes. Not even a depiction of High King Coral, and every kingdom had images of him somewhere.¡±


    Nasir was walking along the water''s edge. He brought a finger to his mouth, brought it up to the air.


    ¡°So, not metahuman,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Someone else.¡±


    ¡°Someone else who lived here about a year or two ago,¡± Evancar said, ¡°Tell me, when was New Ludaya founded?¡±


    ¡°A year and a half ago,¡± Thunderhead said, ¡°That''s how the story goes.¡±


    His voice was hard. He looked at Lunus Oculus in his arms. Then away, at the longhouse.


    ¡°The Founders discovered this plane, and made for us a home.¡±


    ¡°I''m not going to assume anything,¡± Evancar said, ¡°But... the timeline, it doesn''t look good.¡±


    ¡°She wouldn''t do something like that,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°None of them would.¡±


    She looked up at Evancar.


    ¡°I know what you''re implying, Professor.¡±This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Evancar pulled a face.


    Nasir, now, walked up to the group.


    ¡°There is more to the cave,¡± he said.


    ¡°How do you know?¡± Lunus Oculus said.


    ¡°This place is one of refuge,¡± Nasir said, ¡°I''ve seen a few places like it, back on my birth plane. We''d hide away in caves like this one when hordes came through. But if these people were smart, you''d want to have an exit. A way out that wasn''t the entrance. Otherwise you''d just be trapping yourself.¡±


    ¡°Maybe we should go back to the Council with this,¡± Evancar said.


    ¡°Are you stupid?¡± Joseph asked.


    The archaeologist shot him a surprised look.


    ¡°I think the Council already knows about this place,¡± Joseph said, ¡°I think...¡±


    ¡°Careful what you say, Cobalt Joe,¡± Lunus Oculus said, and he was surprised at the level of anger in her voice.


    ¡°I''ll say whatever I damn want,¡± Joseph growled, ¡°And I''m telling you. The fact that they sent agents after you here means they know that there''s something out here. What else would they be hiding?¡±


    He gestured.


    ¡°It goes against everything they''ve said about this place. I don''t know about you, but if I said that this plane was uninhabited, I''d make sure.¡±


    Lunus Oculus grimaced.


    Then nodded.


    ¡°I say we keep going through the cave,¡± Joseph said, ¡°If there were people here, maybe they''re still around.¡±


    ¡°On the other side?¡± Evancar asked.


    Joseph nodded.


    ¡°We can get our answers there. Nasir, you want to take point?¡±


    The old tracker nodded. And without another word, turned and started heading deeper into the caves.


    ***


    Here the path was not as easy. The passage as they left the vast open cavern narrowed, to the point that at certain points they had to bend down and all but crawl through the claustrophobic spaces, heads brushing against the ceiling. Lunus Oculus and Thunderhead were used to this sort of spelunking, what with Lunus''s hidden cave she had met the rest of her little group in. Nasir, too, was used to this. His life was one of survival, before he joined the guild. He had spent three years living in a small community on his birth plane that had hunkered down in a small mine. He had spent that time learning how to explore the dark caves of the mine. What direction the path under the earth might be taking. When it was time to call it quits, if the way was too narrow or dangerous.


    He took point, though he found that, aside from the discomfort, the passage was relatively safe. A child could crawl through.


    They spent what felt like hours pushing through the caverns. Time had no meaning here. There was no sun. There were no stars. Only the stone, sometimes cascading, sometimes spiked, at one point they passed by a shallow pool of water, the sand and mud hiding colonies of pearls.


    The rushing water was the only sound. It covered their labored breaths, the coughs and Joseph''s light curses as he grazed his knee. The only light came from his eagle''s claw, or Evancar''s flashlight. Things that Nasir did not need. The tracker was implacable.


    Then, at one point, after an eternity, he stopped, licked a finger, brought it to the air.


    ¡°We''re getting close,¡± he said.


    They ascended now, climbing on a deceptively smooth sheath of stone, a pale cream in color, almost seeming to shimmer from the small stream of water that trickled overhead. This part was more dangerous, as the way was slippery. At one point, Evancar''s boots gave way, and he started to slide back down. Cobalt Joe''s soul twisted out from the sole of his foot, clawing down and catching hold of the archaeologist. With a heft, it lifted him back onto the rock so he could get a grip.


    ¡°Th-thanks,¡± he said.


    The soul nodded, then dispersed.


    Fortunately, the slippery-smooth stone eventually wound up to a more even path. They went from crawling on all fours back to being able to walk on two. All of them were exhausted, and at one point they stopped to rest and refill their water using a small underground stream running beside them.


    There were fish in there. Small, blind ones, white with pockmarked black scales, as though river stones had grown fins and started to swim.


    ¡°How close are we?¡± Lunus Oculus asked.


    ¡°Close,¡± Nasir said, ¡°A little ways more.¡±


    They set off again. And now a pinprick of light was in the distance, a herald to the end of their journey through stone. They pushed forward towards it. The path became wider.


    And Nasir stopped them.


    ¡°There''s someone here,¡± he said.


    At once they became guarded. Joe''s soul began to thunder in his stomach, started rushing through its circuit. The air became his. Became filled with ozone. Nasir moved forward, a hand reaching for one of his knives.


    He tilted his head to the side. The arrow grazed his cheek.


    The tracker leaped forward, triangulating where the arrow had come from. There. Above, on one of the outcroppings, a figure was loading a second arrow.


    They fired, though their aim was awry. Nasir avoided them, leaped up onto the jutting, chased after the assailant. Joe followed after him, then watched as the hunter tackled the archer and slammed him into the ground. The two were a tangle of limbs for a split second. It ended with the archer pinned face first to the ground, his arm twisted behind his back, Nasir''s knife against his throat.


    ¡°Easy,¡± Nasir said, ¡°Do not move.¡±


    The archer struggled for a few moments. Then ceased. They wore a wooden mask on their face, and their clothing was made out of what looked like deerskin. Their bow had snapped in the scuffle, and lay beside Nasir as he held the archer fast.


    ¡°Gods, Nasir,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°He''s just a kid.¡±


    ¡°As if that changes anything,¡± Nasir said, darkly, ¡°Kid almost had me.¡±


    Cobalt Joe brought his light up to illuminate the two of them. Indeed, it was a teenager. Maybe thirteen or fourteen, at most. He was glaring up at the light with a defiant look. He struggled more.


    ¡°...Get it over with,¡± the boy said.


    Joseph blinked.


    ¡°We¡¯re not going to hurt you, dude,¡± he said.


    ¡°You have a knife to my throat. You have won,¡± the boy said, ¡°Kill me. Get it over with.¡±


    ¡°No one said anything about killing,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°Nasir, get that knife away from him.¡±


    Nasir complied, but he did not break his hold. Lunus climbed up the shelf, kneeling down by the boy. Her red eyes glowed and shimmered, almost made the cave dusk.


    ¡°Tell me,¡± she said, ¡°...Who are you?¡±


    The boy did not answer.


    ¡°My name is Lunus Oculus,¡± the metahuman said, ¡°The man holding you is Nasir. The man with the claw is Cobalt Joe.¡±


    ¡°People from the Outside,¡± the boy said.


    ¡°...Yes,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°You are¡­ aware of the multiverse?¡±


    The youth did not respond. His mutinous glare did not cease.


    ¡°Are there more of you?¡± Lunus Oculus said.


    Again, no answer.


    ¡°He''s... not going to answer that question,¡± Evancar said, from below. He started stumbling up to join them, ¡°He thinks that if he tells you, you''ll go out and kill them all.¡±


    ¡°I wouldn''t-¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°Why would I do that?¡±


    ¡°Look at his eyes,¡± Evancar said, ¡°That doesn''t come from simple suspicion.¡±


    He looked at Nasir.


    ¡°I think you should let him go,¡± he said, ¡°You''re only hurting him now.¡±


    ¡°He could try something,¡± Nasir said, ¡°Are you sure, archaeologist?¡±


    Evancar nodded.


    Nasir hesitated, then complied, releasing the boy and standing up.


    ¡°No tricks,¡± he warned.


    The boy rubbed his arm. Sat on his haunches, coiled like a spring, ready to jump away at a moment''s notice.


    ¡°My name is Professor Morandus,¡± Evancar said, ¡°I''m an archaeologist. Do you have any of those?¡±


    ¡°What is that?¡± the boy asked.


    ¡°We...¡± Evancar searched for his words, ¡°I research the past.¡±


    ¡°Like an elder.¡±


    ¡°Well, I''m not that old,¡± Evancar said, ¡°We''re all from... the Outside. From the multiverse.¡±


    He tilted his head.


    ¡°I''ve told you a bit about myself. Now I ask you: what is your name?¡±


    The boy recognized the trade. He looked at the wall, adjusted his mask. In the light, Joe could see that he had painted a face on it with red ochre dye. A thin, frowning mouth. Marks on the cheeks as though he were mimicking warpaint.


    Here was a boy ready for conflict. Who had been guarding the entrance of the cave.


    Alone.


    ¡°I will not tell you that,¡± he said.


    Evancar nodded.


    ¡°That''s fine,¡± he said, ¡°And you won''t tell us anything else?¡±


    The boy shook his head.


    ¡°...Alright,¡± Evancar said.


    He turned to the others.


    ¡°Let''s move on.¡±


    The boy started.


    ¡°No!¡± he said, ¡°Don''t go forward anymore!¡±


    Evancar slipped down back onto the path. By now he could see the exit of the cave. The sliver of light had become practically gigantic, a full blown doorway to the world above. He stumbled after it.


    ¡°Don''t go!¡± the boy said, and there was a new edge to his voice.


    It was not anger.


    It was fear.


    But Evancar continued anyway.


    The boy slipped down to the path. Nasir followed after him, grabbing his shoulder and pulling him back.


    ¡°Nasir!¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°No!¡±


    But Evancar had stopped. Against the doorway, he was nothing but a dark silhouette as he turned.


    ¡°What''s on the other side?¡± he asked.


    The boy swallowed.


    ¡°A trap?¡± Evancar said, ¡°Are more of you waiting outside?¡±


    The boy shook his head.


    Evancar rested a hand against the wall. There was something this boy, this warrior, wasn''t telling them. Something he couldn''t?


    Or wouldn''t?


    ¡°Will you show me?¡± Evancar said.


    The wind outside was whipping, bringing cold gales into the cave. It made Evancar shiver, almost seemed to freeze his wet clothes to his stringy form. He nodded to Nasir, who let the youth go, the boy stumbling a bit on his own two feet. He was exhausted, Evancar realized. There was an emptiness to his eyes.


    The boy nodded.


    Hunkered down.


    ¡°Don''t... don''t leave the cave,¡± he said, ¡°Just look out. But don''t look too hard, or he will see you.¡±


    ***


    Indeed, they were careful. The boy''s steps became measured and slow, as though a single misstep could spell oblivion. Evancar matched his movements, shushing the others and waving them away from the cave''s exit. He peeked out the cave''s exit.


    There was a small clearing of stone on the other side, a miniaturized valley of gravel and rock, a few spruces of green poking up here and there. The place was bowl-shaped, reminding Evancar of a nest.


    And in the center of the clearing was a demon.


    Serpentine, like a Dragon, but with the head of a monkey. Its scales were the color of clay, save for those on its neck, which seemed to be made out of lapis lazuli. It had many legs, like a centipede, though each one was from a different animal, wolves and bears and raptors and crocodilians. Three of the demon''s eyes were closed. A fourth was open, blood-red and looking around.


    As if looking for someone.


    Evancar stepped back. Reconvened with the rest of the group. The boy continued watching the creature outside, still arched and ready to bolt.


    ¡°There''s a demon out there,¡± Evancar said.


    ¡°How do you know?¡± Lunus Oculus asked. Her eyes looked out towards the cave''s exit, then back to the archaeologist.


    ¡°Well, because it''s out there,¡± Evancar said, ¡°Demons are like Dragons. You look out at them, and part of you knows what it is. Like it''s an immutable fact.¡±


    ¡°Describe this demon,¡± Nasir said.


    ¡°Serpentine. Monkey''s head. Legs from the whole animal kingdom,¡± Evancar said, ¡°Ah... four eyes.¡±


    He was surprised when Nasir let out a low hiss of recognition.


    ¡°I know a bit about demons,¡± the archaeologist said, ¡°But certainly not much. But you know this one?¡±


    ¡°It sounds like a demon from my childhood,¡± Nasir said, ¡°Izmanuzu. Or something like it. Permutations were known to travel through the Squall my plane was in.¡±


    ¡°Izmanuzu?¡± Joe said, ¡°How powerful is it?¡±


    Nasir shrugged.


    ¡°I only know its description and name. And folktales my Teta told me about. It is a creature of the wind. It comes into the village at night to hunt stray dogs and children. It never needs to sleep, for one eye is always open.¡±


    Joe nodded. He beckoned for the kid to join them. The boy, after a moment, slunk over.


    ¡°That thing,¡± Joe said, ¡°It''s been hunting you?¡±


    ¡°It hunts all of us,¡± the boy said, ¡°They brought it here.¡±


    ¡°Who is they?¡± Thunderhead asked.


    ¡°The other outsiders,¡± the boy said, ¡°The woman who used light. The man who used stone. The... mother carrying a child. She commanded it.¡±


    The entire group was silent at that. Lunus Oculus looked like she wanted to vomit. Evancar let out a soft ¡°Oh.¡±


    Joe turned to Nasir.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said, ¡°How do we kill it?¡±


    ***


    ¡°You don''t kill demons,¡± the Pit said to her small class, ¡°Rather, a demon''s form is unbound from the multiverse we are aware of. It cannot hold a corporeal form, and thus is forced to exit that which we know for darker spaces.¡±


    She was in front of her class, a small gathering of like-minded apprentice magicians. Magic was an important part of New Ludayan culture. It was as myriad as they were, some bound by rules and others free with feeling. A thousand kingdoms, of words and motion and intonations and the creeping feeling at the base of one''s spine. Here now the Pit sat in the center of the lecture space, which was wide-open and in a clearing of the forest.


    One that once held significance, but she was not sure why.


    (Nor did she try and question it, for this plane was pristine and new.)


    ¡°The form that a demon takes is myriad,¡± the Pit said, ¡°Chosen by the demon at the time of its realization into our view of existence. Tell me, now, how does a demon come here?¡±


    One of her students raised a webbed hand.


    ¡°By pacts,¡± the student said, ¡°It is the binding that allows the demon to realize into the world.¡±


    ¡°That is correct,¡± the Pit said, ¡°The binding is the demon''s flesh. Now, how does one banish a demon?¡±


    A pause in her class. The Pit waited for an answer.


    (and counted her pacts in the back of her mind. Always one missing, always one gone.)


    (Where was Izmanuzu?)


    ¡°No one?¡± she asked.


    ¡°You break the pact?¡± the webbed handed student asked.


    ¡°That is possible,¡± the Pit said, ¡°If one knew the exact specifications of the pact itself. But the pact is usually broken by the one who made it, not by an outside force.¡±


    ¡°Violence,¡± another of the class said. He was a broad lad with cinderblock skin, and he moved slowly as he spoke, ¡°That''s how we did it on my home plane. Hit a demon hard enough, and it shatters.¡±


    ¡°You are from Tsaeyaru, are you not?¡± the Pit asked.


    Her student nodded.


    ¡°That is another option, and the one that people usually go for,¡± the Pit said, ¡°There is often little choice. But know this: demons are powerful beings. How many friends have you lost to them, on Tsaeyaru?¡±


    The concrete student went quiet. The pain in his eyes was answer enough.


    And now a third student raised a tree branch hand. When they spoke, the trees around them spoke, whistling and creaking.


    ¡°Betleh-Kep.¡±


    And the Pit smiled.


    ¡°Yes,¡± the Pit said, ¡°Betleh-Kep. The Meeting of Powers. It is a rare tool, as many pacts deny the demon from sitting in such palavers. But those are exclusionary. They only deny certain groups, or certain people. Tell me, what is the purpose of Betleh-Kep, Ensemble?¡±


    The tree student Ensemble thought for another few moments.


    ¡°To renegotiate a pact,¡± they said, ¡°Barring this, an opportunity for the demon to forgo its previous pact and move on to other duties.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± the Pit said, ¡°A Betleh-Kep can be used to force a demon to renege on its old deals with previous pactmakers. But it is a dangerous process. A demon''s prices are demanding.¡±


    She shivered as she said this.


    ¡°A demon''s prices are often overwhelming.¡±


    ***


    Cobalt Joe, Nasir, and Evancar stepped out of the caves and into the small, shallow valley. Izmanuzu watched them approach, his remaining three eyes opening. A low hiss escaped from deep within his throat, and the demon began to arch back into an ''S'' shape, ready to strike at the three of them. The wind began to ripple around Joe''s ears, and he found it resisted him as he moved forward.


    Joe took point, and he brought up a hand.


    ¡°I declare Betleh-Kep!¡± he said, and though his voice was sure, he still found the word odd to say.


    Izmanuzu hissed again. The air at once went quiet and still. Evancar took out a piece of chalk from a bag, and he beckoned Nasir and Joe to sit down. Keeping an eye on Izmanuzu, he began to draw a half-circle behind the three of them. Then, he sat cross-legged beside Joe.


    The demon watched this with careful eyes. He had still not unwound himself, but the air no longer whipped around them. It was as though he were a lizard deciding. Then, the monkey-headed demon untwisted himself, rearing onto his many back legs and arching up as though he were standing. His animal legs tucked in like birds'' wings as he considered them.


    ¡°Outsiders,¡± he said, ¡°Thou wishes for Betleh-Kep.¡±


    ¡°If your pact allows it,¡± Joe said.


    Evancar had said that it should be him who did most of the speaking, at least in the beginning. Whoever had made the pact was probably a metahuman, and one of the stipulations for the declaration was that it was a metahuman who would need to do it.


    It was also Joe, and not Lunus Oculus or Thunderhead, because Joe was the one with the most combat-focused ability. If Izmanuzu did not accept the Betleh-Kep, he stood the best chance of fighting the demon head on. The demon knew this, for he saw the way that Cobalt Joe studied him, looking for weak points in his form.


    Izmanuzu let out a low chuff.


    ¡°Thou art a crafty one,¡± he said, ¡°Betleh-Kep in my pact may only be declared by one who is both a Child of Imagination and not one of the Oshya:de.¡±


    Joe''s brow furrowed.


    ¡°I am metahuman,¡± he said, ¡°I''m not one of these... ''Oshya:de.''¡±


    ¡°Then we may hold palaver,¡± Izmanuzu said, ¡°Thou declares these two?¡±


    ¡°They are not metahuman,¡± Joe said, ¡°...But they are not Oshya:de either.¡±


    ¡°It is the latter part that matters,¡± Izmanuzu said, ¡°At least for negotiations. I cannot speak with the natives of this plane-¡±


    (Ah, there was an answer.)


    ¡°But I will entreat with those of the baseline blood. Declare thyselves.¡±


    ¡°Professor Evancar Morandus.¡±


    ¡°Nasir.¡±


    ¡°The one on the left,¡± Izmanuzu said, turning to the tracker, ¡°Thou art sly. Thou does not give thy true name.¡±


    Nasir glared up at the demon. He resisted the urge to bolt.


    ¡°I don''t,¡± he said, ¡°You will call me by what I call myself.¡±


    Izmanuzu considered this.


    ¡°I will not entreat with one who does not give their true names to me,¡± he said, ¡°At least, not one of the baseline blood. A Child of Imagination''s name is myriad and evershifting, but what of thee? Thou hath only thy name, and little else.¡±


    Nasir grimaced.


    He stood up.


    ¡°Leave, little baseline,¡± Izmanuzu said, ¡°Thou have five seconds to return to thy cave.¡±


    Nasir sprinted back in four. He tumbled into the darkness. Joe and Evancar looked at each other, before turning back to look up at the demon.


    ¡°And... your name?¡± Evancar said, ¡°Your true name.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Izmanuzu said, and he let out a screeching laugh, ¡°I am Izmanuzu Delacourmac of the Hundred Legions, Hunter of a Hundred Squalls. Look upon me, mortal, see me how I am.¡±


    He writhed. All of the animal legs kicked. The monkey head was screeching, and through it they could hear the demon''s laugh. An attempt at intimidation. For Joe and Evancar to leave the circle, and risk getting torn apart. Outside the circle, the wind began whipping up once more into a horrid gale, the air so sharp it was cutting gashes into the stone.


    Only when Izmanuzu noticed that they were not leaving did the demon quiet down. He hunkered down to stare at them, four red eyes looking at them, switching back and forth between their two faces independently of the others, a doubled chameleon with the face of an ape.


    ¡°Metahuman,¡± he said, ¡°What is thy want?¡±


    Joseph ¨C No, Cobalt Joe, swallowed. He picked his words carefully.


    ¡°I... want you to leave,¡± he said, ¡°Leave this place. Leave the plane.¡±


    Izmanuzu let out a low laugh.


    ¡°Oh?¡± he said, ¡°Thy wish is for me to simply¡­ go? Break mine oath with the one who placed it?¡±


    ¡°Who made your pact?¡± Cobalt Joe asked.


    ¡°That is a secret only between myself and them,¡± Izmanuzu said, ¡°Only they may reveal it.¡±


    Cobalt Joe nodded.


    ¡°Right,¡± he said, ¡°Very well. Are you able to tell me your purpose here?¡±


    ¡°For a price,¡± Izmanuzu said, and he bared his teeth in a grimacing smile, ¡°Tell me, what would thou give up in exchange for this?¡±


    ¡°What do you want?¡± Cobalt Joe asked.


    ¡°Thy soul,¡± Izmanuzu said, ¡°Thine eagle. I see it slumber in thy belly, Child of Imagination.¡±


    Cobalt Joe grimaced. And Evancar took point.


    ¡°Quite the trade,¡± the archaeologist said, and Izmanuzu''s attention turned, ¡°But not a fair deal, I would think.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± the demon said, ¡°Perhaps.¡±


    ¡°I''m sure we have something else you would want, yes?¡±


    ¡°Thine eyes.¡±


    Evancar furrowed his brow.


    He took out a book from his pack. Presented it to Izmanuzu.


    ¡°This book here,¡± he said, ¡°Possesses knowledge of the Daynian Paradigm. Specifically old Traveling Points and other means that the Daynians used to build their interplanar empire.¡±


    Izmanuzu looked at the book''s cover. Sniffed it.


    ¡°Leatherbound, not plasticine,¡± the demon said, ¡°Not of the High Federation.¡±


    ¡°It was written on Methuselah,¡± Evancar said, ¡°One of the foremost Daynian scholars resides there.¡±


    ¡°And why this book, thou of the baseline blood?¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± Evancar said, ¡°It''s a new opportunity for you. A chance to expand into another Paradigm.¡±


    Izmanuzu was quiet. Evancar prodded further.


    ¡°Look,¡± he said, ¡°You can get this information easily, I suppose, but that would require quite a bit of travel. You''d need to make a pact with someone new specifically to get this information, or get it from a source from... wherever you''re from. That could be dangerous. Here is a free opportunity to see the infrastructure of the Daynian Empire, quite a bit of which is still used today.¡±


    He smiled his salesman''s smile. Joe gave him a sideways look. How easily his pitch rolled off his tongue. Selling information to a demon was no simple matter, and yet Evancar was doing it as easily as though he were selling a used car.


    He could see why Becenti didn''t like him.


    Izmanuzu took the book. As it curled around his crow''s claws, it disappeared.


    ¡°Very well,¡± the demon said, ¡°Mine duty is simple: to keep the Oshya:de in their caves. They are to be held there indefinitely, and I am to kill any I find who stray from their new home.¡±


    Cobalt Joe thought of the boy, the youth with the bow, and understood his fear.


    ¡°I am not to speak to the Oshya:de,¡± Izmanuzu continued, ¡°I am not to enter Betleh-Kep with them. I cannot enter the caves directly. The exchange for this is I am allowed to feed upon any I find. Per the original contract with the pactmaker, I am allowed any knowledge of the Hizimet Squall that the pactmaker learns. This knowledge is removed from the pactmaker''s mind, and inserted into my own.¡±


    Both Cobalt Joe and Evancar were silent. Joe''s mouth had gone dry. On the other side of the valley, he could make out yet more caves. Small pockmarks on the mountain. He didn''t want to risk using his eagle''s vision in front of Izmanuzu, but he swore he could see figures looking out at them. A community. A people.


    Cordoned off from the rest of New Ludaya.


    Evancar nodded at this.


    ¡°What would we need to give you to renege on this deal?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Which one, Professor Evancar Morandus?¡± Izmanuzu said.


    ¡°The terms associated with you keeping the Oshya:de in the caves,¡± Evancar said, ¡°The one pertaining to your killing them.¡±


    Izmanuzu thought on this, rearing back up to his full, impressive height, a tower of the animal kingdom.


    ¡°What does thou hast to offer me?¡±


    Evancar scratched his chin.


    ¡°I have more books,¡± he said.


    ¡°Knowledge is a fine payment,¡± Izmanuzu said, ¡°But I desire more. Tell me, Professor Evancar Morandus, what does thou hast?¡±


    His head turned to Joe.


    ¡°And thou, Child of Imagination? Thou will not release thy soul to me, but thou must have something.¡±


    Cobalt Joe''s belly was quaking. He was not sure what to say. Not sure what he could offer. In truth, this was not really his wheelhouse. Usually other guildmates did the negotiating. He did the fighting. It was a good arrangement.


    He looked to Evancar.


    ¡°What is your wish?¡± Evancar asked.


    Izmanuzu chuffed.


    ¡°To have dominion over all,¡± he said.


    ¡°Well, I can''t offer you that,¡± Evancar said, ¡°Not because I won''t give it, but because I can''t. I''m not a ruler of anything save for what''s in my bag.¡±


    ¡°A lie,¡± Izmanuzu said, ¡°I can smell thy ambition.¡±


    Evancar grimaced.


    ¡°Perhaps not dominion of the world,¡± Izmanuzu said, ¡°But thy wish to have dominion over the past. Thou would do anything for it, yes?¡±


    Evancar licked his lips.


    He could only nod in response.


    ¡°A respectable thing, thou of the baseline blood,¡± Izmanuzu said, ¡°I will not leave this level of reality. There is much I wish to learn here. But I am willing to renege on the pact pertaining to the Oshya:de, if thou art willing to be a new vessel to travel.¡±


    ¡°P-Possession?¡± Evancar asked.


    ¡°Only thine eyes. I will see what thou will see. I have no need to control thy movements or thoughts. Those hold ambition plenty.¡±


    Evancar grimaced.


    ¡°Thou will tell no one of this,¡± Izmanuzu said, ¡°Neither thee, nor the Child of Imagination.¡±


    ¡°Hold on,¡± Cobalt Joe said, ¡°Evancar, let''s think about-¡±


    ¡°I agree,¡± Evancar said. He looked up at Izmanuzu, ¡°You see what I see. And you leave the Oshya:de alone.¡±


    ¡°I will no longer devour them,¡± Izmanuzu said, ¡°I will no longer hunt them if they leave their caves.¡±


    There was no shaking of hands. No contract. Simple oral agreement seemed to be enough.


    And the wind started whipping around them once more. Picked up gravel and sand and debris, swirling around them, forming into a dome.


    One that Cobalt Joe could not see the other side of. He heard Nasir let out a bark of shock from the cave. Thunderhead roared out a ¡°No!¡±


    But he knew that none of them would dare leave. They could not hope to harm Izmanuzu. Could not hope to escape him.


    The demon lowered his head down to Evancar. Evancar took off his glasses with shaking hands.


    ¡°You might want to stand back, Joe,¡± the archaeologist said.


    Joe stood up. Walked back to the edge of the semicircle.


    And Izmanuzu, all of him, all hundred legs, all of his wiry, serpentine body, rushed into Evancar''s eyes. The archaeologist let out a yelp, though that devolved into a scream of agony as he fell flat onto his back, the demon entering into him through his eyes.


    The wind quieted down. The dust cleared. Evancar was on his back, clutching his head, moaning.


    ¡°Like a splitting headache,¡± he said, ¡°Good god, that''s...¡±


    He looked up at Joe. His eyes had become bloodshot, his pupils the color of dried blood. But that, at least, was returning back to its usual brown.


    Joe walked over, helped him to his feet. From the cave, he could see Nasir and the others watching. Thunderhead was carefully stepping out.


    ¡°You didn''t have to do that,¡± Joe said, ¡°We could have found something.¡±


    ¡°We got lucky with that one,¡± Evancar said, shaking his head. He fumbled on the ground for his glasses, picking them up and wiping them, ¡°Neither of us were good enough at negotiating to get a better deal.¡±


    ¡°Still,¡± Joe said, and then, tilting his head, ¡°He can''t hear you?¡±


    Evancar smiled.


    ¡°He sees what I see,¡± the archaeologist said, ¡°But he can''t hear what I hear.¡±


    The rest of them were coming out now. Lunus Oculus looked aghast. Nasir looked askance.


    ¡°Don''t worry about me, Joe,¡± Evancar said, ¡°This isn''t... I''ve made deals like this before. I''ll be fine.¡±


    And, in the distance, on the other side of the valley, figures were emerging out of the caves. The masked boy started running after them. Someone ran over to him, the two meeting in the middle and embracing.


    ¡°It''s worth it,¡± Evancar said, watching the scene, ¡°Now, let''s go meet these Oshya:de.¡±

 147. CHILDREN OF THE SETTLED PEACE

    ¡°Impellia III,¡± Erak Yawat said, ¡°It''s a small planet, hardly inhabitable, on the very edge of the galactic north.¡±


    They were in one of the conference rooms aboard the Sovereign Melody. Kathen was sitting beside Rhunea. Dicaeopolis sat on the other side, along with Bluebell the Dragonfolk, who was tapping a claw against the table. Guildmaster Valm sat at the table''s end, long fingers steepled together. At the Voskian''s side was Old Scar. His weapons mentor¡¯s arms were crossed, his hairless brow furrowed, for he did not like Erak Yawat.


    We should speak of Erak Yawat. A human, like Kathen. He was from the plane of Korat Hung, though his birthplace had been almost destroyed by the Manticore during the war. The humans of Korat Hung had six fingers to a hand, and they pointed with three, as Erak Yawat was doing now. He was thin, almost skeletal. He had an accent, though Kathen had never been able to figure out what it reminded him of. Erak Yawat applied markings to himself every morning, different for each day of the month. Today was a line on the forehead, two dots just below the eyes, a rippling cross on his bald head.


    He was one of the guild''s Forecasters. An important position for any guild, even one that stuck to the Silver Eye. It was his responsibility to map out the multiverse, as much as he was able. To see which planes were in forecast and which were not. Several implants were inserted into his brain, to help with memory, to aid in the complex calculations, that attempt to emulate the language of reality. With them, he was able to know the location of most of the Traveling Points in the Silver Eye.


    ¡°I went over a few old records with Truthspeaker,¡± Erak Yawat continued, ¡°Impellia III was given to a group of colonists circa three thousand years ago. The colonists were religious isolationists, a branch of the Way of the First Men.¡±


    ¡°Already a heretical denomination,¡± Valm said.


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Erak Yawat said, ¡°I defer that matter to you, guildmaster.¡±


    Valm nodded.


    ¡°The Way of the First Men went extinct long ago,¡± he said, ¡°They were a strain of belief that the First Men were an evolutionary conglomerate of several different species that ascended as one. That, through the Way, one could ascend as they did.¡±


    He was quiet for a moment, took the opportunity to drink from a glass of water at his side.


    ¡°Tell me,¡± the guildmaster said, ¡°Did this off-branch settle the planet?¡±


    ¡°No, they did not,¡± Erak Yawat said, ¡°The planet was discovered to contain a Traveling Point, and citing Federation law, the colonial charter was revoked, and the planet itself was nationalized.¡±


    ¡°So it should be in our records, then,¡± Rhunea said, ¡°If a planet belongs to the Federation government, then there should be a survey of the planet itself on a Library World. I would guess Sacred Recording.¡±


    ¡°I checked,¡± Erak Yawat said, ¡°But there is nothing.¡±


    The doe-headed woman winced.


    ¡°Two thousand years ago,¡± Valm said.


    ¡°That would have been during the Navigator''s Rebellion,¡± Old Scar said.


    ¡°Ah, yes,¡± Valm said, ¡°One of my ancestors fought in that war. They made for busy times. Busy enough for a small backwater world to be forgotten about. Tell me, Erak Yawat, what plane is in forecast there?¡±


    ¡°We¡­ do not know,¡± Erak Yawat said, and his eyes flashed green, ¡°Based on local Paradigms, however, it would be close to Bloodrun.¡±


    ¡°So it¡¯s an unknown plane,¡± Valm said.


    ¡°Perfect place for an ambush,¡± Old Scar said, ¡°Set up shop there. Tell people it''s a paradise. Militarize them, then strike at the Silver Eye from an unknown point.¡±


    Valm nodded.


    Then turned to Kathen.


    ¡°What are your thoughts, Mr. Aru?¡± he asked.


    Kathen blinked.


    ¡°It was your AI''s algorithms that helped detect Impellia III,¡± Valm said, ¡°A planet on the very edge of the galaxy, in the old lands of the Kolares peoples. Surely, you agree with her.¡±


    The young man thought for a moment. All eyes were on him, which made him feel uncomfortable. But it was true. Merry had spoken with him about it. He pressed a finger on a datapad, bringing up a map in the table''s center, an image of local space.


    ¡°Here''s Impellia III,¡± Kathen said.


    He dotted where the planet was. Then zoomed out, showing the greater portions of the Outer Reach.


    ¡°Here''s the local warp charts in the region,¡± Kathen said.


    He began drawing a line. Starships often followed specific paths across the galaxy, predetermined destinations that made travel across the galaxy safe and easy. Impellia III was far away from most of the usual lanes of commerce.


    ¡°Here''s a comparison,¡± Kathen said, ¡°Of the warp lanes that the Kolares were known to use.¡±


    ¡°You came prepared,¡± Rhunea said, smiling.


    ¡°Merry did most of the work,¡± Kathen said, reddening, and he pressed another key, showing the warp lanes that the Kolares used in their golden age. Much of it was confined to the Kolares sphere of influence.


    But there was some overlap.


    ¡°Here,¡± Valm said, pointing, ¡°That''s an easy route to take, it overlaps at Ozadi. Goes all the way down to Galandos Secundus-¡±


    ¡°-A gate goes both ways,¡± Old Scar muttered.


    ¡°-All the way to the Iris itself,¡± Valm said.


    There was a pause as the members in the conference room absorbed that information. Old Scar growled a low curse, more of a slur than anything. One of Rhunea''s ears flickered. She leaned in.


    ¡°It won''t come to that, right?¡± she said, ¡°We can stop this before it happens.¡±


    ¡°It will not, Ms. Rhunea,¡± Valm said, ¡°It''s precisely why we''re heading to Impellia III now. We go in, glass the place, and leave.¡±


    At this, Old Scar smirked. It was bestial. Scary. Kathen had never seen Old Scar wear it before.


    (He had never seen Old Scar fight metahumans. Only heard about it.)


    ¡°What if there are other people there?¡± Kathen asked.


    Valm looked over at him.


    ¡°Other... people?¡±


    ¡°Non-metahumans,¡± Kathen said, ¡°What if... What if that Traveling Point leads to an already inhabited plane?¡±


    ¡°Then they are harboring enemies of the state,¡± Old Scar grunted, annoyed, ¡°And we wipe them out too. Like the Kolares.¡±


    ¡°Now, Old Scar,¡± Dicaeopolis said, ¡°If there are people there, they may not know that the metahumans have set up shop there.¡±


    Valm nodded at this.


    ¡°What is your point, Mr. Aru?¡±


    ¡°I think,¡± Kathen said, ¡°We need to know context.¡±


    ¡°Context,¡± Valm said, flatly.


    Kathen nodded.


    ¡°We have context of history, Mr. Aru,¡± Valm said, ¡°Is that not enough?¡±


    There was warning in his voice. As though Kathen was crossing a line.


    But he didn''t care.


    ¡°With respect, sir,¡± Kathen said, ¡°Historical context gives precedent. But precedents can change. This is an unknown plane we''re dealing with. We don''t know what''s on the other side. It could be a plane that''s already in the records, and this is just a new way of going there. It could be that the plane is uncontacted, but has a large indigenous population of non-metahumans.¡±


    He looked directly at his mentor. Stared him down.


    ¡°If there is a non-metahuman population there, then it''s in our best interest to make allies with them. We don''t want another enemy in our backyard.¡±


    ¡°An opportunity for negotiation,¡± Valm said.


    Old Scar scoffed.


    ¡°And,¡± he said, ¡°What if that non-metahuman population is already in bed with the Mutts?¡±


    ¡°What if they aren''t?¡± Rhunea countered, ¡°What if... what if the metahuman population is in hiding? What if they''re at war with the indigenous population?¡±


    ¡°Then we do what we do best,¡± Old Scar said, ¡°Kate''s just adding some bullshit between us arriving and the actions we need to take.¡±


    Kathen was still looking at Valm. The Prime Voice, the guildmaster, was thinking hard on his protege''s words.


    ¡°You have an open mind,¡± Valm said, at length, ¡°But be careful, Mr. Aru. You possess a naive optimism. I would suggest you read about the Parable of the Silent Forest, when you have a moment.¡±


    Kathen was quiet. He awaited Valm''s final answer.


    ¡°We go, and we see what is on the other side,¡± Valm said, ¡°Then, I will make my decision on what must be done.¡±


    ***


    Luminary was standing at the very top of Mt. Redress when Memoire approached her. The highest point of the mountain rose as a hollowed-out spire, inside of which was the Council chambers. Pauldros the Stonemaker had erected a hidden stairway for Luminary, so she could climb it and look out upon her nation. In front of her was New Ludaya, all beautiful and pristine and hers. Behind her there was nothing, for New Ludaya was a bowl ringed by mountains, and there was nothing but darkness on the other side.


    Darkness, and then storms.


    It was cool up here, and Luminary had wrapped herself up in a blanket. She sat on a simple stone chair, for age had stolen long standing periods from her. From a certain point of view, she looked like any other grandmother one would see at the park, or at a small restaurant, in her white shawl and a wrinkled face, speckled liver spots on pale, skeletal hands.


    Were it not for the power within her. The things that Memoire had seen her do.


    This in mind, she approached the Founder carefully.


    Luminary heard her before she saw her. She did not turn her head as she spoke.


    ¡°Ah, Memoire,¡± she said, her voice warm, ¡°How goes your project with Myron?¡±


    ¡°I''m finished,¡± Memoire said, ¡°All of his memories about Chliofrond are recorded.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Luminary said, ¡°Sit down, dear, you must be tired.¡±


    ¡°I''d prefer to stand.¡±


    ¡°Hmm.¡±


    Memoire stood apart from Luminary, but watched New Ludaya nonetheless. Someone was flying high above. No, two someones. A father and his daughter, both of them wings, one an alabaster bat''s, the others the wings of the indigo bird''s. They were wheeling about in their daily lessons. Luminary was watching them, a content smile on her face.


    ¡°...How do you stand it?¡± Memoire asked.


    ¡°Stand what?¡±


    Memoires swallowed. When Luminary glanced over at her, the symbols on her form were shaking.


    ¡°You''re too obvious, dear,¡± Luminary said, ¡°I''ve told you before.¡±


    ¡°How do you stand it?¡± Memoire asked, again.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°I think... Pauldros is starting to remember. The Pit mentioned that she is missing one of her demons, the one we sent out-¡±


    ¡°That''s enough, Memoire,¡± Luminary said, ¡°The wind has ears, and it belongs to all of us.¡±


    A frank warning, delivered with Luminary''s usual kindness.


    But there were barbs underneath.


    Memoire quieted down. Luminary sighed, gesturing out.


    ¡°Look at this,¡± she said, ¡°Look at what we''ve built.¡±


    Memoire did so. At the father and daughter. She was twirling in the air. Memoire knew of her. Indy''s flying abilities had improved in the few months she had been here. She could imagine her laughter now.


    ¡°She didn''t have the opportunity to do that before,¡± Luminary said, ¡°She and her father were refugees, up from Melmaen. You know how the Julianisan Empire gets with us. If she didn''t hide those wings, she''d be dragged off to one of their government programs. Used as a weapon.¡±


    ¡°You remember this?¡± Memoire said.


    ¡°I try to remember as much as I can about my people,¡± Luminary said, ¡°It''s difficult. I certainly don''t have a memory like yours. And my age is getting to me. But...¡±


    She watched the child loop through the air.


    ¡°Her story could have gone like mine,¡± she continued, ¡°It sticks out to me.¡±


    She looked at Memoire again.


    ¡°You want to ask me how I can live with it?¡± she said, ¡°I do. Easily. Because here, my people are safe. Here, my people are free.¡±


    ***


    Cobalt Joe, Evancar, and Lunus Oculus stood in the center of the shallow valley, watching as the Oshya:de reunited with the boy. He was the only one wearing a mask. The others were wearing moccasins and deer hide coats, a few of the women wearing white dresses with beaded dark overcoats. All of the men, save for the masked boy, were wearing wooden hats decored with a nest of feathers. Some had them a single feather jutting towards the air. A few had the feathers on the top slicked back. One of them, a young man around Joe''s age, had one pointing up, the other pointing down. It was he who approached them, the masked boy in tow. The man had a tomahawk in hand, wooden handle and stone head, and the way he was spinning it gave Joe warning that he knew how to use it.This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    He looked back to the crowd of Oshya:de, as though unsure. One of the women nodded to him. This was encouragement enough, as the man turned to face the three outsiders. There was a pain in his eyes as he looked at them. A wary sort of pain. Like he had been burned before. Someone on the other side of a broken promise.


    ¡°Where is the demon?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Evancar took care of it,¡± Joe said.


    ¡°Where did it go?¡± the man asked, forcefully, ¡°The truth. What did you do with it?¡±


    ¡°I...I made a pact with it,¡± Evancar said, piping up, ¡°I cannot go into much detail, per the agreement. But it cannot hear us. It will not hurt you.¡±


    ¡°How do I know this?¡± the man said, ¡°What evidence do you have?¡±


    Evancar swallowed.


    ¡°Only my word,¡± he said.


    At this, the man''s eyes narrowed. He was tall, towering over Joe, and the way he slunk around them gave him pause. He found himself starting up his soul''s circuit. Already he saw a few more men breaking off from the crowd, weapons in hand. Tomahawks and bows. A few with knives.


    ¡°I know it''s not much,¡± Evancar said, ¡°Truly, I understand.¡±


    ¡°You''re outsiders?¡± the man said.


    ¡°We are,¡± Lunus Oculus said.


    ¡°...Metahuman?¡±


    ¡°Two of us,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°Joe and I. Professor Morandus here is not. He''s human.¡±


    The man tilted his head. Stared hard at Evancar.


    ¡°Are you with... them?¡± the man asked, ¡°The woman in white and her kind.¡±


    ¡°Who''s the woman?¡± Joe asked, ¡°...Luminary?¡±


    The man grimaced.


    ¡°Yes. Her. And her accomplices.¡±


    ¡°Did they...¡± Lunus Oculus swallowed, ¡°Did they do this to you?¡±


    The man glared at her. He gestured to the world, tomahawk in hand.


    ¡°We are trapped in the mountains by a demon they brought forth, and this is what you ask me?¡±


    ¡°I...¡± Lunus Oculus stammered, ¡°I...¡±


    Joe put a hand on her shoulder. He looked over at the man.


    ¡°What''s your name?¡± he asked.


    ¡°I would ask yours first.¡±


    ¡°...Cobalt Joe,¡± the metahuman said, ¡°I''m not... with them. Not in that way. We''re outsiders, but Professor Morandus and I, as well as a few others, came here as guests.¡±


    ¡°Not our guests,¡± the man said.


    ¡°No,¡± Joe said, ¡°Guests of New Ludaya.¡±


    ¡°W-We were told that no one was here before,¡± Evancar said, ¡°No one else on this plane, save for them. Obviously, we were¡­ misinformed.¡±


    The air was still. Joe watched as the man absorbed Evancar''s words. Thought on them. He paced for a few moments, tomahawk still twirling in his hand. He stopped to look up at the clouds. Joseph wondered how long it had been since the man had seen open sky.


    The man looked at him.


    ¡°How many more of you are there?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Outsiders, or metahumans?¡± Joe said.


    ¡°Metahumans. The woman in white, she said she was wanting to bring her people here. Did she?¡±


    ¡°A lot,¡± Joe said, ¡°Thousands. Tens of thousands.¡±


    ¡°To our home,¡± the man said, and his voice was hard, ¡°Our forests. Our rivers. Our lakes.¡±


    ¡°To New Ludaya,¡± Lunus Oculus said.


    ¡°She used that word,¡± the man said, ¡°She called this place that name. But it is not New Ludaya. To my people, it is Gan¨¢:yeht.¡±


    He glared at them. Studied each other in turn, as though disbelieving.


    ¡°There are many like you,¡± he said, ¡°You with wondrous powers. I ask you, how do I know this is not some sort of trick? How do I know that you are not here to finish us off?¡±


    ¡°Only our words,¡± Evancar said, ¡°...But you may wish for more.¡±


    The man nodded. Thought on this.


    ¡°I will take one of you with me as I confer with the mothers,¡± he said, ¡°You have changed things. Freed us of the demon. But you did so by binding it to yourself. That is an evil thing.¡±


    He pointed at Lunus Oculus.


    ¡°You. What are your powers?¡±


    ¡°I...¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°My eye color. It changes with the moon''s phases.¡±


    The man blinked.


    ¡°...That is it?¡± he said.


    ¡°Not all metahumans have powers over light, or the earth,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°Most of us are mundane.¡±


    ¡°And yet,¡± the man said.


    ¡°If you are to take me hostage, I will ask again for your name,¡± Lunus Oculus said.


    The man''s mouth became a thin line.


    ¡°I am Hadawa''ko,¡± he said, ¡°I will not take you. You are metahuman, but we must respect our mothers.¡±


    (Lunus Oculus looked offended at that.)


    He looked at Joseph.


    ¡°You. What is your power?¡±


    ¡°I''m of the more violent kind,¡± Joe said, ¡°My soul can manifest as an eagle.¡±


    ¡°It is dangerous?¡±


    Joe nodded.


    ¡°You will have to do,¡± Hadawa''ko said, ¡°Know this. If you try anything, I will kill you.¡±


    ¡°Goes both ways,¡± Joe said, ¡°If you hurt me, my guildmates here won''t be happy.¡±


    ¡°They have powers like yours?¡±


    ¡°One of them controls fire,¡± Joe said, ¡°One of them controls heat. One of them''s the size of a bear, and hits like one.¡±


    But, nonetheless, he approached Hadawa''ko, arms raised.


    ¡°My soul doesn''t come out unless I want it to,¡± he said, ¡°I''ll answer any questions you have.¡±


    Hadawa''ko nodded. He gestured for Joseph to start walking.


    ¡°I''ll be back,¡± the metahuman said to the others, ¡°Don''t start anything, alright?¡±


    ¡°What if they hurt you?¡± Evancar said.


    ¡°They''re not another guild, right?¡± Joseph said, ¡°If they do anything, follow through with what I said.¡±


    He followed after Hadawa''ko, back to the Oshya:de.


    ***


    Christ, Joseph thought, There are children here.


    Only now did he realize this. Only now did he realize that the boy in the mask, bereft of his bow and his coiled venom, was just that: a boy. Hurt by whatever Luminary had done to him. Only now could he see how thin the Oshya:de were. How malnourished the children were, how the people here swayed as they watched Hadawa''ko lead him into the crowd. There were empty eyes here. The bloated stomachs of advanced starvation.


    The tools were chipped. The clothing frayed. The Oshya:de had been in the caves for a very long time.


    A few of them watched Joseph with suspicion, and with a few of them, he was sure that they were going to leap at him, knives in hand, an attempt to revenge themselves upon the metahumans who had taken their home.


    But metahumans were not monolithic, and Joseph returned their glare.


    Besides, it would not come to that. Hadawa''ko shook his head at them, and any apparent challengers backed down. Still with hate in their eyes, but Cobalt Joe was under their leader''s protection. He guided Joe to a group of women near the back of the crowd. Here he recognized the one who had nodded to Hadawa''ko before. She was wearing a white dress, with peahen''s feathers braided in her hair, adorning her person. She was holding a string of beads in her hand, carved out of clam shell. She was a few years older than Hadawa''ko. Shared the man''s sharpened face.


    She studied Joseph as Hadawa''ko sat him down in front of the woman. Hadawa''ko continued pacing around. Oshya:de warriors kept themselves ready, in case Joseph tried anything.


    The woman spoke first.


    ¡°Who are they, Hadawa''ko?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Outsiders, sister,¡± Hadawa''ko said, ¡°This one here says he is metahuman, but not a part of the woman in white''s group.¡±


    The woman nodded.


    ¡°What is your name, outsider?¡± she asked.


    ¡°I''m Cobalt Joe,¡± the metahuman replied, ¡°Your... brother, right? Hadawa''ko, what he''s saying is true. There are a lot of metahumans on this plane now.¡±


    ¡°Plane?¡± the woman said.


    ¡°...World,¡± Cobalt Joe said, ¡°Land. I don''t know how else to describe it.¡±


    ¡°The land of the outside, you come from it,¡± the woman said.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joe said, ¡°But it''s not just one land. It''s thousands. Millions.¡±


    The woman nodded. She ignored the whispers that were coming from the rest of the Oshya:de.


    ¡°You say,¡± she said, ¡°That you were invited here as a guest. By who?¡±


    Joe swallowed. He sighed, looking out. He could say whoever. But he was starting to detect that the Oshya:de had been deceived before. That if he were to lie now, it would cause problems later.


    But then, the truth might get him killed.


    The woman held up the beads in her hand.


    ¡°I say this to you as Clan Mother of Mountain Clan. And my brother as Warleader of the Oshya:de. You will not be harmed. This I promise you.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Joe said, ¡°We were invited by the woman in white.¡±


    More whispers. Harsher ones.


    ¡°She... One of my guildmates, my mentor, is a man who''s old war buddies with the woman in white. With Luminary. She invited him, and he brought me along, with a few other guildmates.¡±


    ¡°Guildmates?¡± the clan mother said.


    ¡°It''s...¡± Joseph thought, ¡°A lot to get into. But they''re like family, to me. A few of them back there are my guildmates.¡±


    ¡°Not of blood, but by creed,¡± the clan mother said.


    ¡°By common fortune,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Something like that.¡±


    ***


    Across the small valley, Thunderhead stretched. He had never been one for caves. Not like Lunus, who seemed to prefer them as her place of gathering. It was her idea to use the small cavern they had found in the woods as their meeting place. And it was because of this that Thunderhead very rarely attended their meetings. Even Tallneck struggled through the low passages, the icy pool.


    But not Thunderhead, oh no. It was too uncomfortable. He had spent several years working in the caverns of Krenstone as a miner, carving away rock with pick and explosive. The narrow tunnels brought back bad memories.


    He was glad to be out in the sun.


    Nor could he imagine having to be trapped in the caves, as the people on the other side of the valley had been.


    They were still talking. A group of them were watching them warily, though only a few wielded weapons. Most of them just watched. The rest of the Oshya:de were gathered in a circle around what Thunderhead presumed to be their leadership.


    Around Cobalt Joe.


    ¡°Do you think they''ll hurt him?¡± Lunus Oculus asked.


    Evancar, who was chewing on some jerky, shrugged.


    ¡°Dunno,¡± he said, ¡°They''re definitely guarded. But that comes from... whatever happened to them.¡±


    Lunus Oculus nodded. She had gone pale. Her hands were shaking, and her red eyes had lost a bit of their luster.


    The existence of the Oshya:de had struck quite a blow to her. To her fantasy of New Ludaya, problems and all.


    There was a reason she had not left the plane. There was a reason that she had organized instead. To bring up her protestations.


    She had believed.


    ¡°Nasir,¡± Evancar said, ¡°You see anything?¡±


    The tracker was on his haunches, watching the Oshya:de in the distance. He shrugged.


    ¡°Nothing,¡± he said, ¡°Though, that is a good sign. It means they haven''t killed Joe.¡±


    ¡°What makes you say that?¡± Thunderhead walked over and patted Lunus Oculus on the shoulder.


    ¡°They would be turning on us at that point,¡± Nasir said, ¡°They can''t risk us realizing and dipping back into the caves. We know the way out just as much as they do.¡±


    ¡°A f-fair assessment,¡± Evancar said, and he ate more of the jerky.


    Then noticed quite a few of the Oshya:de were looking at him.


    ¡°...Wonder how long since they''ve eaten.¡±


    ***


    ¡°So there are more of you,¡± the woman said.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joe said, ¡°Other metahumans.¡±


    ¡°How many?¡±


    ¡°Thousands,¡± Joe said, ¡°Tens of thousands.¡±


    Another ripple of murmurs. Many of the Oshya:de were talking hurriedly to one another. Hadawa''ko was grimacing. He began spinning the tomahawk in his hand again. Joseph leaned in to look at the woman.


    ¡°You aren''t...¡± he thought for a moment, choosing his words carefully, ¡°You aren''t going to do anything, are you?¡±


    ¡°You worry that we will try and attack them.¡±


    ¡°They aren''t involved in this,¡± Joe said.


    ¡°They took our homes!¡± Hadawa''ko snarled, suddenly, ¡°They slaughtered our families!¡±


    ¡°They don''t know that!¡± Joe retorted, ¡°Most of the people came here because they were told it was safe.¡±


    ¡°Safe?¡± Hadawa''ko said, ¡°Your people, safe?¡±


    Cobalt Joe nodded.


    ¡°Your people are monsters,¡± Hadawa''ko said, ¡°You, with your demonic abilities, your curses given form-¡±


    ¡°Say that again, dipshit,¡± Joe growled, nearly standing, ¡°And they''ll be burying pieces of you.¡±


    The crowd stirred. The air scented ozone. Cobalt Joe''s soul began to rocket through his body. But the woman raised her hand.


    ¡°Enough,¡± she said, ¡°Hadawa''ko, that''s enough.¡±


    ¡°He said there are thousands of them!¡± Hadawa''ko said, ¡°Thousands! They''ve already moved all of their clans in! How do we know that they haven''t ravaged the world? That they haven''t turned Father Mountain inside out, like they said they would?¡±


    ¡°And there are thousands of them!¡± the woman countered, ¡°How do you hope to stop them? We could not even stop seven.¡±


    At this, Joe''s anger died for a second. As the facts of the situation came back to him.


    ¡°Seven,¡± he said, ¡°You said... seven metahumans did this, right?¡±


    ¡°You will not speak unless spoken to, outsider,¡± Hadawa''ko said, ¡°You are-¡±


    ¡°Brother, enough.¡±


    ¡°Sister,¡± Hadawa''ko said, ¡°The mothers named me Warleader. Here I am, in war, and you overrule me?¡±


    The siblings glared at each other.


    ¡°We named you Warleader because of your level headed nature,¡± the woman said, ¡°You know how father was. You know he would have used us up, in his game of retribution.¡±


    ¡°Retribution that is deserved,¡± Hadawa''ko said.


    ¡°Retribution that would annihilate us,¡± the woman replied, ¡°You know this.¡±


    Hadawa''ko''s mouth formed into a thin line. He glanced over to Joe. Then shook his head.


    ¡°Very well,¡± he said, ¡°Speak, outsider.¡±


    ¡°What happened?¡± Joe said, ¡°What did Luminary do?¡±


    ***


    It was the masked boy who split off from the group. Someone shouted after him, but did little else. Evidently there was little to deter the boy as he strode over to Evancar. Nasir got up, watching the kid. But Evancar brought up a hand to ward the tracker off.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Evancar said.


    ¡°The jerky,¡± the boy said, ¡°Give it to me.¡±


    The archaeologist blinked.


    ¡°W-What?¡±


    ¡°I''m hungry,¡± the boy said, ¡°You have food.¡±


    He paused again. And now his voice became just the least bit pleading.


    ¡°...Please.¡±


    Evancar studied the kid. Noted how bones jutted from beneath his skin. How his wiriness came not only from his build, but from starvation. He handed the bag to him.


    ¡°Pass it around,¡± he said, ¡°We can look into getting more food later.¡±


    The boy nodded. Slipped a few pieces of jerky beneath his mask and into his mouth. Then, he turned around, bag in hand, back to his group.


    Evancar watched him hand out pieces to those immediately around him. They wolfed the food down quickly.


    ***


    ¡°They came to us as friends,¡± the woman said, ¡°Outsiders are a rare sight here, on Gan¨¢:yeht. The last time we had heard of one was from a story told by my grandmother. Kariwase would know more.¡±


    She nodded to an old man watching the proceedings. The only elder Joe had seen among the Oshya:de.


    ¡°Most of them were explorers, my grandmother told me,¡± the woman continued, ¡°Those who were not were asked to leave. It was the duty of my clan, Mountain clan, to dissuade any outsiders from overt violence against our people.¡±


    Joe nodded.


    ¡°...Then the woman in white came,¡± he said, ¡°Luminary.¡±


    ¡°Her, and others,¡± the woman said, ¡°She could control light. Another could control the earth. One turned metal to plantlife. One was a conjurer. One''s chest could hold anything, as though it were a sack. One held memory, and stole many of ours.¡±


    A cold, creeping feeling was winding its way up Cobalt Joe''s spine. They sounded like the Council, or at least how Becenti had described them.


    ¡°And,¡± he said, ¡°What happened?¡±


    ¡°They said that they wished to purchase land from us,¡± the woman said, ¡°At first, we did not understand. We do not own Gan¨¢:yeht. We live upon it. But from where you are from, people claim to do this. To barter the land as though they were beads.¡±


    ¡°How much did she want to buy?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°The area around Father Mountain,¡± the woman said, ¡°It must be obvious that we refused. Father Mountain is one of our most revered sites. It is where we are said to have sprung from earth, from a spring hidden deep within the rock.¡±


    Joe nodded.


    He didn''t say anything about where he suspected Father Mountain to be.


    Nor how much Mt. Redress had been hollowed out by Pauldros the Stonemaker and the Workers.


    ¡°And when you refused, she struck,¡± he said.


    The woman was quiet. Her bottom lip was trembling. She struggled to compose herself, and all she could give Joe was a quick nod. One of the other women laid a reassuring hand on her arm, while Hadawa''ko took point.


    ¡°They summoned demons,¡± he said, ¡°They used their powers against us. Against all five clans, though they had only spoken to Mountain. Dandelion, Mountain, Four Banner, Arrowmakers, and Sky. All five were driven out. Driven here.¡±


    ¡°They did this,¡± Joe said.


    ¡°They killed our families,¡± Hadawa''ko said, ¡°They killed our father, who was the old Chief. The Clan Mothers...¡±


    He shook his head.


    ¡°Those who were left of them, they named me Warleader.¡±


    ¡°Is that different from Chief?¡±


    ¡°In times of war, the Chief is Warleader,¡± Hadawa''ko said, ¡°In times of peace, the Warleader is Chief.¡±


    Joseph nodded. Looked away. At the faces of the Oshya:de around him. He had seen the looks in those eyes before. They had seen war. They were on the brink of starvation. Forced into the caves.


    By Luminary.


    And she had set a demon to keep guard. No doubt keeping some of them alive was her version of mercy.


    ¡°...I''m sorry,¡± he said, ¡°Truly I am. I didn''t know.¡±


    Hadawa''ko''s sister had calmed down. She glared at him.


    ¡°You did not know,¡± she said, ¡°Now what will you do? There are thousands of your people now, no longer seven.¡±


    ¡°First,¡± Joe said, ¡°We have to get you food. Water.¡±


    ¡°And then what?¡±


    ¡°I don''t... I don''t know,¡± Joe said, ¡°This is...¡±


    He took a deep breath. Ice had filled his spine.


    ¡°A lot to take in,¡± he said, ¡°I''ll talk with the others.¡±


    ¡°The others?¡±


    ¡°I''m mostly muscle,¡± Joe said, ¡°I want to talk to the rest of my group. See what we can do.¡±


    ¡°What you can do,¡± Hadawa''ko growled.


    Joseph returned his glare.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± he said, ¡°I''m just one guy. What else would you have me do?¡±


    Hadawa''ko was quiet. He flipped his tomahawk to the other hand.


    ¡°Very well, Cobalt Joe,¡± he said, ¡°Return to your group. We will talk amongst ourselves, to see what we should do with our new freedom.¡±


    Joe nodded.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said, ¡°Keep in touch.¡±

 148. CLAN MOTHERS AND AMOEBAS

    Let us speak of Tekahentakwa. Eldest daughter of the late Chief Akwirente, she was twenty-one years old when Luminary arrived to Gan¨¢:yeht. She remembered looking at this woman, pale-skinned and wrapped up in white shawls and a white dress, as though winter had taken on a human''s form. She remembered the conversations that her parents had, for her mother, Halona, mistrusted Luminary. But when Tekahentakwa had asked her about it, her mother had merely smiled at her, patted her shoulder.


    ¡°Don''t worry about the outsiders, Tekahentakwa,¡± her mother had said, ¡°The Clan Mothers and the Chiefs will decide what is to be done. You should worry more about that Sa:k boy, and how he keeps coming around.¡±


    Tekahentakwa had gone to bed that night feeling a hollow sense of relief. The childish impulse to believe one''s parents that everything would be okay, despite the bad feeling in the gut. The veil of childhood once more placed over the horrors of the world.


    It would be the last time that Tekahentakwa would do this, for only a few days later the metahuman with the swelling, pregnant belly would belch forth demons of a thousand kinds. They would ravage her home. Drive the Mountain clan from Father Mountain. Her mother died. Her father died. Even the ''shifty'' Sa:k died, torn to pieces by a three-headed, ferret-like thing.


    That had been almost two years ago.


    Tekahentakwa was twenty-three now. Clan Mother of Mountain clan, though by extension she was also Clan Mother of the Oshya:de as a whole, for all five clans that lived on Gan¨¢:yeht were together now, in one place. Mountain with Dandelion and Sky and Arrowmakers and the last Four Banner child.


    Guyasuta sat in the circle of the Clan Mothers and Warleaders, for he was the last of his clan. He still wore the Four Banner mask, had painted it in colors of war. The wiry teenager, hardly thirteen, looked small against the sea of the Oshya:de who surrounded the circle.


    There was only one Warleader. That was Tekahentakwa''s brother, Hadawa''ko. He stood outside the circle, tomahawk still in hand, and his brow was furrowed.


    ¡°What should be done?¡± one of the Clan Mothers, a slight, thin woman named W¨¢:ri, said, ¡°They have not killed us.¡±


    ¡°Yet,¡± Hadawa''ko grumbled.


    Tekahentakwa shot her brother a dark look, before turning to the rest of the Clan Mothers.


    ¡°They have not,¡± she said, ¡°And they also removed the demon.¡±


    ¡°That could be a trap in of itself,¡± another Clan Mother, tall Otstoch of Dandelion said, ¡°A chance for cruelty. A glimmer of hope, before they wipe us out forever.¡±


    There came a ripple of talk among the Oshya:de. Tekahentakwa looked at Otstoch. Otstoch was the oldest of the Clan Mothers, and the only one who was a mother proper, her two year old daughter being held by her sister in the crowd. She remembered when Otstoch had been happy and mischievous, how they had made beads during harvest festivals and practiced music and dancing with her mother.


    ¡°You think they would do that?¡± Tekahentakwa said, ¡°Cobalt Joe seems truthful.¡±


    ¡°So was the woman in white,¡± Otstoch countered, ¡°I don''t put it past these guild outsiders to lie to us before our extermination.¡±


    W¨¢:ri winced. She had been elected Clan Mother of the Sky Clan only recently, and only because there was little other option. She was a skittish girl, hardly an adult.


    ¡°What other options do we have?¡± Degonwadonti, of the Arrowmakers, said, ¡°These guild outsiders, they have bound the demon to another pact. One that allows us our freedom.¡±


    ¡°And where would we go, with that freedom?¡± Otstoch said, ¡°You heard what the metahuman said. They have taken all of Gan¨¢:yeht.¡±


    ¡°We can scatter,¡± Hadawa''ko said, ¡°Strike from the forests.¡±


    ¡°They have many powers,¡± Degonwadonti said, ¡°How do we know that the forest is with us?¡±


    ¡°It is a forest of Gan¨¢:yeht,¡± Hadawa''ko said, ¡°It cannot betray us.¡±


    ¡°What if one of them can speak to the forest?¡± Degonwadonti pressed, ¡°What if one of them can burn the forests down completely?¡±


    ¡°Th-They would do that?¡± W¨¢:ri said, ¡°I thought they wanted to live here.¡±


    ¡°They can live without forests,¡± Otstoch said, ¡°Can''t they? Guyasuta?¡±


    The boy started. Out of all of the Oshya:de, he was the only one who dared escape the demon, the only one who had left the caves of the western refuge to see what the New Ludayans had built.


    The only one who dared escape and survived, anyway.


    It took him a moment to shift, and think, and gather the courage to speak up. Even before, when Four Banner numbered ten thousand, he had been a shy boy.


    The final voice of his clan, and it was a nervous one. He had no choice but to be loud.


    ¡°They like fields,¡± he said, ¡°Fields to grow food. To train themselves and their powers.¡±


    ¡°Food and warriors,¡± Hadawa''ko said, ¡°They train constantly, do they not, Guyasuta?¡±


    The boy nodded.


    ¡°You''ve been talking to him again,¡± Tekahentakwa said, ¡°Haven''t you?¡±


    ¡°No choice,¡± Hadawa''ko said, ¡°He wants to go out, he might as well tell us what he sees.¡±


    There had been arguments between the siblings before. About allowing Guyasuta to leave like this. One false move, and the demon would have scored him with its power over the wind. And one more child of the Oshya:de would be gone.


    ¡°What do you think they are planning?¡± Otstoch said, ¡°With all of their warriors? And the food to support them?¡±


    ¡°War?¡± Hadawa''ko said.


    The Clan Mothers lapsed into silence. War, full-scale war, had not been seen on Gan¨¢:yeht for hundreds of years, not since the Settled Peace. There had been disagreements between the clans, of course, but there were laws and rituals to circumvent open conflict.


    A war of thousands was almost inconceivable to them.


    ¡°Against who?¡± Tekahentakwa said.


    ¡°That High Federation,¡± Hadawa''ko said, ¡°They build up here, they strike their old enemy. There is not a forest they would burn, a field they would not plow, to accomplish this. I know that.¡±


    (I feel that, though he did not say this part aloud.)


    ¡°So a rebellion would be impossible,¡± Tekahentakwa said.


    ¡°The opposite,¡± Hadawa''ko said, ¡°We must strike at them, before they completely destroy our home.¡±


    He gestured with his tomahawk.


    ¡°Whatever their reasons are, the guild outsiders have given us an opportunity. We can spread out, leave the caverns. We know our lands better than they do. We can disappear into the woods, strike where they are weak, and quickly, and melt back into the forest. We can make them regret choosing Gan¨¢:yeht for their war.¡±


    He spoke the truth. An option, though none of them liked it. Otstoch seemed to be leaning to agree with the Warleader.


    W¨¢:ri spoke next.


    ¡°That''s a goal for the future,¡± she said, ¡°What we need now is the needs of the community. We need food. Water.¡±


    She glanced at the Oshya:de around her. The bones sticking from skin. The sunken skull-like faces.


    ¡°We''ll starve to death, if we keep staying here.¡±


    ***


    ¡°They need food,¡± Evancar said, ¡°Before anything else, we need to make sure they have their immediate needs met.¡±


    ¡°Shit,¡± Thunderhead said, ¡°How many people are over there?¡±


    ¡°A lot,¡± Cobalt Joe said, ¡°There''s a crowd there, but I think there''s more in the caves.¡±


    ¡°So, thousands,¡± Lunus Oculus said.


    Cobalt Joe nodded.


    ¡°We''d need to get an exact number,¡± he said, ¡°But that''s still a logistical nightmare.¡±


    Evancar was scratching his chin. He was staring at the Oshya:de across the valley, watched as the crowd rippled and debated. They were talking amongst themselves, wondering what the next step was.


    ¡°They''ll be thinking the same thing,¡± Nasir said, ¡°Food and water first. They might be able to get water from the caves, in the pools, but all that we saw there for food have been those blind fish. I wouldn''t be surprised if that''s what they''ve been subsisting off of.¡±


    ¡°Any chance we can get more food from the fields?¡± Thunderhead said.


    ¡°Thousands of people,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°It''d be noticeable.¡±


    ¡°The grain we''d be moving, anything''d be noticeable,¡± Cobalt Joe said, and he ran his hand through his hair, noting the tender, light burn scars from his duel with Tai Haoran months ago, ¡°Shit, anything we do will be obvious.¡±


    ¡°Should we tell someone?¡± Evancar asked, ¡°Becenti?¡±


    Joseph''s eyes widened at his mentor''s name. Becenti didn''t know about this, did he?


    Nor would he stand for it.


    He sighed. Stood up from where he had been hunched over, started walking around to get some of the nervous energy out of his system.


    ¡°He''s not gonna like this,¡± the metahuman said, ¡°He was told this place wasn''t inhabited.¡±


    ¡°How do you think he''ll react?¡± Evancar asked, ¡°I mean... he''s... quite angry, when he wants to be.¡±


    A memory flashed in Cobalt Joe''s head. Just after the job on Nesona, when the High Federation delayed the trial against Mordenaro, despite the fact that he had killed two guildmembers and injured the rest of them. Archenround still had trouble speaking, at times.


    The outrage in Becenti''s eyes. The frustration. The stone cracking, and revealing nothing but rage underneath.


    Joe swallowed.


    ¡°I''ll tell him,¡± he said, ¡°He''ll be mad. But he''ll be able to help.¡±


    ¡°How?¡± Evancar asked, ¡°Let''s think about this, Joe. He was invited here by Luminary herself. Do you think he''ll be able to just... just walk up to the woman who forced these people here, ask her for aid?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Joe said, ¡°Nothing like that.¡±


    He took a deep breath.


    ¡°But he won''t stand for it,¡± he said, ¡°I know that.¡±


    ¡°We should start organizing... something,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°Start letting people know the truth.¡±


    Nasir sneered.


    ¡°You sure that''s a good idea?¡± he said, ¡°You let one of your Workers know the truth, then it will spread as rumor. It will come to the ears of the Council.¡±


    ¡°Why even let them live in the first place?¡± Evancar wondered, ¡°Why not just...¡±


    He let the thought trail off. The reality of the situation was still washing over them like waves upon the shore. Cobalt Joe was still pacing, and the nervous energy that was quickly becoming something more did not go away. Evancar''s hands were fidgeting. Thunderhead kept sighing and cursing to himself. Even Nasir, who had seen much in his days as a tracker in the wasteland, was tight-lipped, his gaze still sliding to the Oshya:de, as though in disbelief that they were there at all.


    It was Lunus Oculus who rose, as the full truth ran over her.


    She stepped away from the group and retched up her morning''s meager breakfast.


    When she stepped back over, her crimson eyes were burning.


    ¡°We''ll send a few of us back,¡± she said, ¡°Joe and I will head back to Mt. Redress. You too, Thunderhead, we''ll fly as close to the main communities as we can.¡±This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    ¡°Then what?¡± Joe asked.


    ¡°You tell Becenti,¡± Lunus Oculus said, and her voice was shivery, ¡°You tell Becenti, and see what he''ll do. I''ll organize the Workers, start having them get food out. It shouldn''t be at the refuge proper. It should be...¡±


    She racked her brains, rubbing her temple.


    ¡°There''s a small community of Workers near the Dandelion Plains,¡± Thunderhead said, ¡°Amoeboy and his little group.¡±


    ¡°That might work,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°Say it''s a shipment of food to them.¡±


    ¡°We wouldn''t be able to get much without suspicion,¡± Thunderhead said, ¡°There''s only a couple dozen of ''em out there.¡±


    ¡°Evancar,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°Can you get an exact estimate of how many of the Oshya:de there are?¡±


    The professor nodded.


    ¡°Joe, maybe you should come with me,¡± he said, ¡°They let you back over here. They know you''ll talk to them. Answer their questions.¡±


    His guildmate nodded. Stood up. Joined the archaeologist back to the Oshya:de.


    ***


    ¡°You wish for us to stay?¡± Tekahentakwa said to Evancar, ¡°All of us?¡±


    The archaeologist was wringing his hands.


    ¡°In the forests around here, at the very least,¡± he said, ¡°Hidden away. But thirty thousand metahumans are on New Ludaya now. Once Luminary catches wind of what we''re doing here, she''ll send out a survey group to investigate and, if necessary, eliminate you.¡±


    ¡°Then we fight back,¡± Hadawa''ko said, ¡°I tell you this, we will reclaim our home.¡±


    ¡°You''ll lose,¡± Cobalt Joe said, his arms crossed.


    Hadawa''ko''s eyes bulged, and he started to advance on Joe.


    ¡°Brother,¡± Tekahentakwa said, ¡°Think.¡±


    The other Clan Mothers were nodding. One of them, a slight woman who looked hardly eighteen named W¨¢:ri, spoke up.


    ¡°We are starving,¡± she said, ¡°And our best warriors are gone. It would not be a battle, Warleader. It would be a slaughter.¡±


    ¡°You need food,¡± Evancar said, nodding in thanks to the woman, ¡°We can get you some. Not a lot, but Lunus Oculus will talk to her contacts in the Worker class to have some brought up from the farmlands.¡±


    He wrung his hands. Looked out at the crowd.


    ¡°How...¡± he said, and swallowed, ¡°How many are there of you?¡±


    Hadawa''ko tilted his head, his eyes narrowing. The other Clan Mothers looked at the archaeologist.


    ¡°We need to know,¡± Joe said, ¡°So we know how much we can sneak out.¡±


    ¡°We cannot give an exact number,¡± Tekahentakwa said, ¡°But we count twenty thousand.¡±


    ¡°And...¡± Evancar said, ¡°How many before... you know, everything?¡±


    Joe elbowed his guildmate. Now was not the time to bring up dark memories. Indeed, the young Clan Mother went pale in the face. Hadawa''ko sneered, glared out past the mountains. Tekahentakwa took a deep breath, controlling herself, but she could not answer.


    A taller woman, Otstoch, older than the rest of them by about a decade, answered.


    ¡°Fifty-thousand,¡± she said, ¡°That is what we know of. We do not count our people as you do. But that is what I assume.¡±


    She considered the two guild outsiders.


    ¡°We should have two of our own go to this,¡± she said, ¡°A united front. And so we can get a fair deal.¡±


    ¡°That is not a good idea,¡± he said, ¡°If it is a trap, they will die.¡±


    ¡°If it is a trap, we all will die,¡± Otstoch replied, ¡°But if they mean well, then there must be a voice from our people.¡±


    She cast a glance at Joe and Evancar, as though she did not completely believe that they were on the Oshya:de''s side. But there was little that could be done.


    They needed allies.


    ¡°I will go,¡± Tekahentakwa said.


    ¡°You are too important,¡± Hadawa''ko said, ¡°You are too-¡±


    ¡°I will go,¡± Tekahentakwa said, her voice firm, ¡°I will speak with the Workers. If there are any who are sympathetic to us, they will listen.¡±


    ¡°You will need someone to protect you,¡± a voice said from the back. The quietest of the Clan Mothers, Degonwadonti. She was around Tekahentakwa''s age, though they hadn''t gotten along in the days before the woman in white''s arrival.


    How that had changed.


    Tekahentakwa looked to Hadawa''ko.


    ¡°Who?¡± she said.


    ¡°It should be me,¡± Hadawa''ko said, ¡°I am Warleader. I speak for the Oshya:de in regards to war.¡±


    ¡°This is not war, not yet,¡± Tekahentakwa said, ¡°And you must organize us here, if these guild outsiders cannot keep their promises, and we must spread out into the forest.¡±


    Hadawa''ko grimaced. Then shouted.


    ¡°Rohahes!¡±


    A figure emerged out of the crowd. Rohahes was taller than the rest of the Oshya:de and built like a tank. The wooden cap on his head had two feathers pointing to either side, denoting him as a member of Mountain clan. His left hand was missing, reminding Joe vaguely of Broon.


    ¡°You will guard the Clan Mother,¡± he said, ¡°She''s going with the guild outsiders.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Rohahes¡¯s voice was, perhaps, a hair higher than Joe was expecting. Rohahes had once been a relaxed individual. He still was, but there was an edge to it. The large man sauntered over, helped Tekahentakwa to her feet. But stood an arm''s distance from her.


    ¡°Are you sure that''s wise?¡± Tekahentakwa asked.


    ¡°He''ll protect you,¡± Hadawa''ko said, ¡°No matter what.¡±


    She did not seem to quite believe his words, but she made no further complaint.


    ¡°Come on,¡± Joe said, ¡°We should leave.¡±


    ***


    Thunderhead airlifted them out. Tekahentakwa and Rohahes watched, their eyes widening, as the man transformed into the metal machine, all blades and skids and with a waterfall''s roar. Cobalt Joe and Lunus Oculus stepped inside without a word. Joe turned back and offered a hand.


    Rohahes took point. He grabbed Joe''s hand, and the metahuman pulled him into the transformation. Tekahentakwa hesitated for a moment, before letting Joe help her in. He handed her a set of instruments, one of which he put on his head. She mimicked him, and the sounds of the monster''s roar dimmed. When he spoke, it was as though he were whispering right into her ear.


    ¡°Don''t worry about Thunderhead,¡± he said, ¡°He''ll fly us out.¡±


    Indeed, Thunderhead was taking off. The ground, the shallow valley, the mountains that were the western refuge, began to grow smaller and smaller. Tekahentakwa glanced over to see Rohahes''s nostrils flaring in shock.


    ¡°Only seen the world like this once before,¡± he said, ¡°When me and my brother climbed up the northern peaks.¡±


    ¡°We''ll stop at Amoeboy''s commune first,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°I don''t think Gallimena will think to check the place out.¡±


    ¡°I''m surprised that she hasn''t devoted more resources to finding us,¡± Joe replied.


    ¡°She wants to keep the Oshya:de''s existence as much of a secret as possible,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°If it gets out...¡±


    She shook her head.


    ¡°What will they do?¡± Tekahentakwa asked.


    The red-eyed metahuman looked at her, tilted her head. There was something there that the Clan Mother could not see.


    ¡°You are on our land,¡± Tekahentakwa said, ¡°You have stolen it, though you did not know you were thieves. What will you do, with that realization?¡±


    ¡°I don''t know,¡± Lunus Oculus said.


    ¡°The right thing to do would be to leave,¡± Rohahes reasoned, ¡°Simple enough. All of these gifts, you can make your own world.¡±


    ¡°I¡­ I know,¡± Lunus Oculus said.


    ¡°Some of you would stay on that world, of course,¡± Tekahentakwa said, ¡°The very young. The very old. The Clan Mothers and their sisters. But many of you would go. Go, to fight your war with your High Federation.¡±


    ¡°I don''t want to go to war,¡± Lunus Oculus said.


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Tekahentakwa said, ¡°It seems like your entire society is preparing for it.¡±


    ¡°It''s for when the time comes,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°I would not call what the Federation does to us a ''war.'' That implies that things are equal. They despise us. We just...¡±


    She sighed.


    ¡°I thought, that this would be a refuge. A place of peace, where we could rebuild our communities. Heal our trauma. It is not easy to be metahuman in the multiverse.¡±


    She looked out the window. They were passing over the old lands of Dandelion Clan, the titular flowers swaying tall as trees in the wind. It was breeding time for them, the yellow petals having fallen away for the seeds to spread, balls of white atop long stalks.


    ¡°Peace without preparation is meaningless,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°I believe there is no such thing as eternal peace. There is always strife. Always conflict. Always our oppressors, who want for nothing more but to exterminate us completely.¡±


    ¡°And that is why you prepare.¡±


    The comment came from Rohahes. The awe from being so high had disappeared. But there was little anger in his eyes.


    Lunus Oculus nodded.


    ¡°Yes,¡± she said, ¡°That is what we were told. But now?¡±


    It took her a long moment to answer. She still stared out the window.


    ¡°I don''t know. I don''t know what the others here on New Luda... on Gan¨¢:yeht will think. All I know is that what has been done is not right.¡±


    Thunderhead thrummed. His voice came on through.


    ¡°Getting near Amoeboy''s,¡± he said, ¡°Get ready.¡±


    ***


    We should speak of Amoeboy.


    Well, he was not really a ''boy'' now, was he? He was a former superstar on Prime, the World of Heroes. The sidekick to the Chemist, who mixed and matched concoctions to fight crime on the streets. The Chemist had fought in the war.


    The Chemist had died on his first deployment on Melmaen.


    Amoeboy was in his forties now, with a short, stubby beard. He was wearing overalls and a beat up straw hat. His metahuman power was the ability to grow amoeba, as well as other microscopic creatures, to impressive sizes. He was riding atop an elephant-sized paramecium, its cilia rowing through tall grass as though it were a golden sea. A few other metahumans were toiling at the fields, using more large single-celled organisms as pack animals. Amoeboy''s sunburnt, wrinkled face looked up at the arrival of Thunderhead.


    ¡°You sure they''ll be safe here?¡± Cobalt Joe asked.


    ¡°Amoeboy''s commune have been friends with us for a while,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°He split off from the other Workers pretty early on.¡±


    ¡°They allow that?¡± Joe asked.


    ¡°As long as they deliver their crops and come into work for specific projects,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°The disadvantage of living far from town is that if you can''t make it to work on time, the Council will¡­ ¡®talk¡¯ with you.¡±


    ¡°So everyone stays as close to Mt. Redress as possible,¡± Joe murmured.


    ¡°Amoeboy and his group have a metahuman, Flying Carpet, who can carry them all to Mt. Redress if they need to,¡± Lunus Oculus said. She stepped off of the helicopter, stretching. Rohahes and Tekahentakwa followed suit, leering at Amoeboy and his paramecium. Amoeboy was still watching them. He had a stick of hay in his mouth, Joe noted.


    ¡°I''ll talk to him,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°You all stay here.¡±


    She started moving through tall grass, which ran up to her waist here. A farm had been erected nearby, and fenced inside they could see a few pigs, a few cows, and more of those microscopic creatures made macroscopic.


    Amoeboy slid down from his perch on his paramecium, patting its side as he spoke with Lunus Oculus. He was nodding and grunting, and did little else. Lunus did most of the talking.


    Joe noticed Rohahes and Tekahentakwa staring. At Amoeboy and his tamed microorganisms. At the other metahumans, one with three heads, one that had the grass pulling towards him as though he were a plant magnet.


    ¡°Are all of your people different?¡± Tekahentakwa asked.


    Joe nodded.


    ¡°Each of us has a different power,¡± he said, ¡°Mine''s different from my Nai Nai. My grandmother.¡±


    ¡°Nai Nai,¡± Rohahes whispered, and his voice was stolen by the wind. But Joe caught his meaning. He nodded.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± he said, ¡°She could turn into a thunderstorm.¡±


    Rohahes blinked at that.


    ¡°A thunderstorm?¡± Rohahes said, ¡°My¡­ My grandmother¡­¡±


    He thought.


    ¡°My grandmother burped like one.¡±


    ¡°Rohahes!¡± Tekahentakwa said, and she slapped him lightly in the chest.


    He guffawed, and for a moment the harshness of the world fell away. They had history, these two, and though Tekahentakwa looked cross, and Rohahes¡¯s chuckle soon died away, they seemed just a hair more at ease.


    Thunderhead started folding back into himself, twisting back into organic form. He let out a groan as he staggered towards Joe.


    ¡°Never liked flying,¡± he said, ¡°It feels weird.¡±


    Amoeboy turned to look at Rohahes and Tekahentakwa. The warrior placed himself in front of the Clan Mother.


    The farmer continued speaking.


    ¡°She is telling him about us,¡± Tekahentakwa said.


    ¡°Aye,¡± Thunderhead said, crossing his arms, ¡°I don''t think he''s gonna like this.¡±


    Amoeboy was taking it well enough, Joe supposed. He glanced at the Oshya:de, pointed at them, and they heard him raise his voice, let out a few ¡°God damn!¡± and other spluttered curses. He walked away from Lunus Oculus, cursing and shouting.


    When he was done, he sighed. Waved at Tekahentakwa and Rohahes, and gestured for them to come forward.


    Joe and Thunderhead accompanied them. A pair of metahumans, parents, were watching the proceedings with tilted heads. One of them was holding a baby swaddled up on his shelled back. So many obvious changes that came with awakening. It made Joe realize how easy he had gotten it, that all of his mutations had occurred inside of him.


    Amoeboy was blind in an eye. He was also much shorter than Joe had anticipated, only five feet on a good day, and he was gnarled down from a lifetime of toil and work, for he had returned to his family farm after the war''s end.


    (For a time, at least.)


    He sized them up. Looked at Rohahes.


    ¡°Ye lead, boy?¡±


    Rohahes shook his head, moving to the side, in deference to Tekahentakwa. She was taller than the metahuman by a head, and a frown painted itself on her face as she lowered her gaze to him.


    ¡°Awright, girl,¡± Amoeboy grunted, ¡°Yer name?¡±


    ¡°I am Tekahentakwa, Clan Mother of Mountain Clan and the Oshya:de.¡±


    She tilted her head.


    ¡°You are Amoeboy.¡±


    ¡°Yap.¡±


    ¡°Tell me, what have you done to my home?¡±


    Amoeboy grunted, looking around. The paramecium began to move off, and he patted it as it went on its way, oar hairs plodding it forward like a thousand primitive legs.


    ¡°Raised a farm up,¡± he said, ¡°Set that up.¡±


    He nodded to the building.


    ¡°We grow corn here. Wheat, too. I grow my micros.¡±


    He hesitated.


    ¡°They took yer home away, right?¡±


    ¡°You did, yes,¡± Tekahentakwa said.


    ¡°Now, y¡¯hear, I didn''t do any o'' that,¡± he said, ¡°And I wouldn''t''ve, either. If I''d known this place was made by blood, I wouldn''t''ve come.¡±


    Tekahentakwa looked to be unsure of what else there was to say to that. These metahumans, they were not a monolith. Indeed, Amoeboy almost looked angry for her, as he looked out among his fields.


    (Then, she supposed, were the Oshya:de?)


    ¡°Now, I''ll get ye as much food as I can,¡± Amoeboy said, ¡°There''s a few crops that we have in excess that we were gon set up in a grainhouse that ye can eat. The girl Lunus can use this place as a base for the Oshya:de.¡±


    ¡°I...¡± Tekahentakwa said, ¡°I thank you.¡±


    Amoeboy waved a hand.


    ¡°No need to thank,¡± he growled, ¡°Never shoulda come here. Place''ll rile up once folk find out.¡±


    He looked at Lunus Oculus.


    ¡°Ye ready for that?¡±


    The crimson-eyed metahuman grimaced.


    ¡°No choice,¡± she said, ¡°One way or another, the truth will come out. And I''d rather it come out than for us to live in ignorance.¡±


    ¡°Even if it means we gotta leave?¡± Amoeboy said, ¡°We got a good thing goin'' on here. Folks have a home. Some of ''em have never had that before.¡±


    ¡°It''s a home made by bloodshed,¡± Lunus Oculus said.


    ¡°Most homes are,¡± Amoeboy replied.


    ¡°That does not make it right,¡± Lunus countered. Her eyes were hard and her voice was set. And this was what Amoeboy seemed to be looking for, as he nodded.


    ¡°''S long as yer sure,¡± he said, ¡°I never thought Luminary was all that, anyway. Somethin'' wasn''t right about her.¡±


    He rolled his shoulders.


    ¡°Best ye hide these Oshya:de folks,¡± he said, ¡°Warriors have been rangin'' ''round these parts, these last couple o'' days. I think they''re trying to keep an eye on us.¡±


    Lunus Oculus exchanged a look with Cobalt Joe and Thunderhead.


    ¡°The farm''ll do,¡± Amoeboy said, ¡°Y''all can stay here for the night.¡±

 149. DREAMERS LAMENT

    Let us speak of Prehistoric. Tall. Muscular, with a bushy brown mustache that stretched from his upper lip to his sideburns. Prehistoric was a former supervillain from Prime, similar to the former Brothers Corpo. He had been imprisoned by the Silver Knights before he had been busted out by agents of New Ludaya to serve as one of their Warriors. An arrangement that worked for Prehistoric just fine, for it allowed him the ability to exhibit his metahuman ability freely and without consequence. The use of metahuman power, to many, is an enjoyable experience. To not use their abilities, to be prevented from doing so, can lead to stress to a metahuman, the feeling of being caged in, or trapped. In extreme cases, it has led to Skinner''s Psychosis, which can be fatal to both the metahuman and their surroundings.


    Thus, for Prehistoric to be told that he could use his destructive metahuman power without having the authorities on his back, without the threat of being shipped off to a High Federation penal colony, was a light at the end of a long tunnel that was his life on Prime, for being a supervillain on Prime in the days after the Manticore was difficult indeed.


    He was brought up to the highest point of Mt. Redress, and saw four figures standing out, looking at the length of New Ludaya, a place that Prehistoric had begun to love. He could be free here. He could maybe raise a family, that secret wish that had always whispered in the back of his mind.


    But, he had a new duty now, and so he approached the four figures. Luminary was sitting at the bench, her back turned to him. Mister Meaning faced him, and the dark-skinned man gave Prehistoric his false smile. Memoire was turning, as well, and her expression seemed... sad.


    The fourth person was the Shadow of the Giant. One of the leaders of the Warriors. The thin, short man, almost boy-like, considered Prehistoric with over-large, glassish eyes. The long shadows of evening rippled with his every breath.


    Prehistoric saluted.


    ¡°You called for me,¡± he gruffed.


    ¡°Yes,¡± the Shadow of the Giant said, ¡°There is a situation of the most delicate natures.¡±


    ¡°Are the Workers striking?¡± Prehistoric asked.


    The Shadow of the Giant tilted his head. Mister Meaning scoffed.


    ¡°We haven''t gotten to that point quite yet,¡± he said, ¡°Not that I wouldn''t put it past them. They don''t know how good they''ve got it here-¡±


    ¡°Mister Meaning,¡± Luminary said, ¡°Enough of that.¡±


    Her right hand stood taller. Said nothing else.


    Indeed, Luminary rose from her seat, turning. She held herself well, Prehistoric thought, though age was certainly starting to affect her. She looked nothing like the pictures he had seen of her on Prime, in newspaper clippings and history books. Here, despite everything, she looked frail. As though the wind would blow her away like leaves in autumn.


    ¡°A few individuals foreign to our nation have been spotted in the northwest, in the Dandelion Plains,¡± Luminary said, ¡°They are suspected of having ties to those who would see our nation brought low.¡±


    ¡°So you want me to kill them,¡± Prehistoric said, and he rolled his shoulders.


    Luminary nodded.


    (Memoire flinched.)


    ¡°This mission,¡± the Shadow of the Giant said, picking up the conversation, ¡°Is of a most delicate nature. No one can know. Indeed, when this is over, we will excise the memories of this encounter from your mind.¡±


    Prehistoric nodded. He did not like this, this invasion of his privacy and sense of self. He had once been subject to a psionic attack from the superhero Acero, on Prime, and the experience still gave him nightmares.


    But, he had a duty as a Warrior.


    ¡°Very well,¡± he said.


    ¡°It is presumed that they are being hosted by the metahuman Amoeboy''s commune,¡± the Shadow of the Giant said, ¡°The metahumans there are sympathetic to them.¡±


    Prehistoric''s breath skipped.


    ¡°...Traitors?¡± he said, ¡°Amoeboy?¡±


    This, this felt odd. He had met Amoeboy in the past. The old farmer had never seemed like one to go turncoat.


    ¡°Yes,¡± the Shadow of the Giant said, ¡°Be careful. Be prepared to use your abilities. Ensure these foreign agents are brought to the light.¡±


    ¡°Who will accompany me?¡± Prehistoric asked.


    ¡°Gallimena is already there,¡± Luminary said, ¡°Mister Meaning will be there as well. You are going to act as the muscle of the group. Go for the large theropods. Intimidate them into giving you information.¡±


    Prehistoric licked his lips nervously. He looked disturbed.


    ¡°...It is a delicate operation,¡± the Shadow of the Giant said, ¡°This cannot come out to the wider public as a whole. Not even to your other Warriors.¡±


    The former supervillain looked hesitant.


    But, eventually, he relented.


    ¡°Very well,¡± he said, ¡°Take me to this commune.¡±


    ***


    Amoeboy''s people gave them dinner, making sure there were seconds and thirds for Tekahentakwa and Rohahes. The sight of food, of roasted meat and corn, made the starving Oshya:de forget themselves for a moment. They were a mess of scraping spoons, of food flying into their mouths, swallowed half-chewed as though they were pythons, as though someone would take it from their bowls and from their mouths. The metahumans allowed them this temporary indignity. Indeed, Tekahentakwa looked to be on the verge of tears when she was finished. She took a moment to control her shaking emotions, pushing them down. She looked at Amoeboy as she put her third bowl down.


    ¡°I thank you,¡± she said.


    ¡°Ye got some on your cheek,¡± Amoeboy said.


    He handed her a napkin. Tekahentakwa dabbed at it and then, a moment later, sucked on the napkin''s stains.


    They were in the barn. A table had been set up for them, and here the two Oshya:de sat. Cobalt Joe, Lunus Oculus, and Thunderhead sat on bundles of hay beside more of Amoeboy''s horse-sized amoeba and paramecium. Amoeboy sat across from the two Oshya:de.


    ¡°Y¡¯all can spend the night here,¡± he said, ¡°I think it''ll be best. Don''t have much room in the house as is, and if anyone comes snoopin''-¡±


    ¡°Then they''ll look here,¡± Cobalt Joe said, ¡°Come on, man, be for real.¡±


    Amoeboy shot the younger metahuman a glare. Cobalt Joe shrugged.


    ¡°They''re looking for us,¡± Joe continued, ¡°You know that. There''s only two buildings in the damn place.¡±


    ¡°It''s also the most protected place in the commune,¡± Amoeboy countered, ¡°Look at the hay.¡±


    Cobalt Joe looked at one of the bundles. Yes, he realized, parts of it were moving.


    ¡°Come on out, now,¡± Amoeboy said, ¡°They''re friends.¡±


    And bits of straw began to separate from the hay bales, from the bundles, from even the ground. They formed themselves together into the shape of a young woman with long hair, though the only organic part of her was bright, piercing blue eyes.


    Eyes floating in hay. Cobalt Joe suppressed the urge to make a comment on that.


    ¡°This is Needle,¡± Amoeboy said, ¡°She''s one of the most powerful metahumans here. Is the hay itself, and it gets stronger under her control.¡±


    ¡°Why is she not a Warrior?¡± Thunderhead asked.


    ¡°Ye think she wants to fight?¡± Amoeboy muttered, ¡°No. She keeps to herself. Ye bombed the test on purpose, didn''t ye?¡±


    He smirked at Needle, whose entire form rippled in a light, nervous giggle.


    ¡°If other metahumans come, they''ll find ye,¡± Amoeboy said, ¡°No matter where ye hide. So we come out swingin'' instead.¡±


    Lunus Oculus had gone pale. Amoeboy fixed her with a look.


    ¡°Ye got the old natives of this place here. Evidence that this entire nation is built on a lie. They''ll kill to hide that secret.¡±


    Cobalt Joe, indeed, was already stretching. He brought up a hand, and an eagle''s claw, plasmatic and neon blue, erupted from his open palm.


    ¡°We''ll stay in here for the night,¡± he said, ¡°Needle, you mind telling me what you can do?¡±


    She shrugged, and gestured. More of the hay in the barn began to rise, lifted into the air of their own accord, swirling and drifting around them. Joe nodded.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said, ¡°I can work with this.¡±


    ***


    They slept fitfully in the barn. Passed out on the hay, though with the realization that it was the ''body'' of Needle made a few of them uncomfortable. This, combined with the fact that, at any moment, Luminary''s agents could descend on the barn, made them uneasy. Indeed, Tekahentakwa could not sleep. She tossed and turned, and then eventually got up, pacing around the barn. Most of the others were already passed out, even Rohahes, who after such a heavy meal was snoring just a hair too loudly.


    She looked down at him. The ravages of his time in the caves were still fresh on his face. She had hoped, quite naively, that leaving the cave would also rid her of the scars they had given her and her people. That the winds of the plains would score them away. That the forests, the familiar woods, would heal all wounds.


    But only time and work would do that.


    And there was still so much to be done.


    And Gan¨¢:yeht had already changed so much.


    Rohahes turned, murmured something in his sleep. He rubbed at the stump on his wrist absently. He had not lost it during the Oshya:de''s exile. Rather, he had lost it during an incident in his youth. A wolf had attacked him in the dead of winter, while he and a few of his friends were on their way home from a hunting trip. His hand had been mangled so badly that they had needed to amputate it completely.


    She still remembered his screams.


    Perhaps he dreamed of that now.


    Or, like her, perhaps he dreamed of the caves.


    ¡°Can''t sleep?¡± someone whispered.


    She nearly jumped, but she had gotten used to voices in the darkness. Cobalt Joe was sitting at the table, scratching at the wood with a single finger. His electric blue eyes glowed in the darkness.


    ¡°No,¡± Tekahentakwa said, ¡°I can''t.¡±


    ¡°Join the club,¡± Cobalt Joe replied, ¡°Fucking nightmares.¡±


    He leaned back, the chair''s front legs going up into the air. Tekahentakwa tilted her head. She walked over, sat at the table across from him.


    The two of them were quiet. Outside, they could hear wolves howling.


    ¡°This is good, actually,¡± Joe said.


    She looked at him.


    ¡°If they end up coming, I don''t need to rouse myself,¡± Joe said, ¡°I can keep a lookout with Needle. That way I''m not tired when everything goes down.¡±


    He pressed a hand against his chest.


    ¡°Christ,¡± he said, ¡°My heart always beats so fast during these parts.¡±


    ¡°You have been hunted before?¡±


    He nodded.


    ¡°One of my first jobs,¡± he said, ¡°We were being chased across the multiverse by a man named Mordenaro. Unstoppable piece of shit. Killed two of my guildmates. That wasn''t...¡±


    He continued scratching the table.


    ¡°One of them, he was this old asshole named Nole. Biggest dick I''ve ever had the misfortune of knowing. But... he died so we could get out. I won''t forget that.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Tekahentakwa said, ¡°I''m sorry.¡±


    Joe shrugged.


    ¡°Sorry,¡± he said, ¡°Guess I''m rambling.¡±


    She was quiet. Joe was, too. He took the time to stand up, walking over to the barn''s front. He looked through the crack between the barn doors out into the night. Wind was whipping up outside, wailing and mournful.


    ¡°Cobalt Joe,¡± Tekahentakwa said, ¡°Will you leave this place?¡±


    ¡°What, if we manage to get out the truth about you guys?¡± Joe asked, ¡°Well, yeah. I didn''t want to stay here, anyways. My home''s elsewhere.¡±


    He cracked a smile, though it looked odd on his face. As though there was still some sort of anger beneath it.


    ¡°I''m just here for the ride.¡±


    The hay on the floor stirred. Cobalt Joe looked down.


    Outside, they heard the door to the house open up. Someone shuffle outside. Cobalt Joe peeked through the crack in the doors, his brow furrowing. Tekahentakwa opened her mouth to speak.


    ¡°Is it-¡±


    ¡°Quiet,¡± Cobalt Joe said.


    She heard the old man Amoeboy''s voice.


    ¡°Mister Meaning,¡± he gruffed, ¡°What brings you out here so late?¡±


    ¡°Could say the same to you,¡± a sly voice, Mister Meaning''s voice, though muted by the barn doors, ¡°A man walks out like he means somethin'', this late at night?¡±


    ¡°Insomnia,¡± Amoeboy said.


    ¡°In paradise?¡± Mister Meaning said.


    ¡°Just because I''m in paradise, doesn''t mean I get to sleep well,¡± Amoeboy said, ¡°I''m not like you, Meaning. I feel shame.¡±


    She heard Mister Meaning let out a whistle, as though impressed by Amoeboy''s slight.


    ¡°Two of ''em,¡± Cobalt Joe whispered, ¡°No, three. That''s Gallimena, rounding in the shadows. She''s transformed.¡±


    He was speaking to Needle. The hay metahuman was whispering. Joe turned to Tekahentakwa.


    ¡°Wake up the others,¡± he said.


    Tekahentakwa moved off, sneaking carefully across the barn. Needle''s hay was muting her footsteps against the wooden planks. Indeed, Joe himself was deadly quiet, and in the half-dusk of the barn she could see him tensing up, poised for a skirmish. She had seen that look before.


    ¡°You''ve met my associate,¡± Mister Meaning said, outside, ¡°Prehistoric, he''s one of them Warriors now. Careful, he bites.¡±


    Rohahes was already awake. He, too, was quiet, unlooped his long hunting knife. Tekahentakwa almost jumped as she shook Lunus Oculus awake, the metahuman''s eyes glowing like twin red suns. She didn''t say a word as she got up, made eye contact with Joe. Red and blue, and understanding between.


    Thunderhead was in the back of the barn, already transformed into his sports car. Lunus Oculus patted his hood.


    ¡°Wait for my signal,¡± she said, and she opened up the door. Gestured for Rohahes to enter inside.


    But the man shook his head, and waited for his Clan Mother to get in first.


    ¡°What do ye want, Meaning?¡± Amoeboy said, outside.


    ¡°Funny you should ask,¡± Mister Meaning preened, ¡°Gallimena, she''s been lookin'' ''round these parts here, for a couple Feddie agents. Said some folks looked suspicious, and they were hanging in yon farm there.¡±


    ¡°It''s a barn, you sycophant,¡± Amoeboy said.


    ¡°Temper, temper, my good dear,¡± Mister Meaning said, ¡°Now, as a member of the Ruler class, and aide to the illustrious Luminary herself, I am well within my rights to have that farm searched.¡±


    ¡°Come back with a-¡±


    ¡°A what?¡± Mister Meaning said, ¡°A warrant? Dear Amoeboy, there are no warrants here. Us metahumans, we make our own laws, damn any idea of a warrant.¡±


    Tekahentakwa clambered into the car. Rohahes hesitated, still listening to the conversation outside.


    ¡°It''s fine,¡± Lunus Oculus hissed, ¡°Joe''s got it. Go.¡±


    The Oshya:de, mumbling to himself, got into the car.


    ¡°Prehistoric,¡± Mister Meaning said, ¡°Open the door.¡±


    Lunus Oculus got into the driver''s seat. Waited to give Thunderhead the signal to turn on. Cobalt Joe was wound as a spring, and the air in the barn was starting to smell like ozone. Hay was starting to drift from the ground, floating in the air like a thousand sharp knives.


    There were footsteps coming up to the barn door. But they were getting heavier, as though the man were transforming into something larger.


    Cobalt Joe tensed.


    Lunus Oculus''s heart pounded. When to give the signal? Now? When things went down?


    The heavy footstops stopped at the barn doors. The massive hands of a gigantopithecus closed over the handles, started to pull them open-Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.


    And Joe pointed a fist at Prehistoric. There was a white flash, followed a moment later by a terrific boom, as lightning laced forward, striking the great ape in the chest, sending him flying into the air.


    ¡°Now!¡± Lunus Oculus roared, and the car engine roared to life. Thunderhead peeled forward, out of the front doors, headlights blaring.


    But Prehistoric was already back on his feet. The shaggy apeform started to meld once more, a shadow that expanded outwards. Teeth sharpened, mouth expanded to snout and massive jaws. The arms shortened and became two-pronged, the legs became lean and bird-like.


    The car veered out of the way as Prehistoric bit down at the car, for a moment his teeth scraping along its back trunk. Tekahentakwa let out a scream of surprise. Cobalt Joe''s full soul realized into the world, the scarred eagle''s arms punching into the earth, and the metahuman sprang into the air, catching onto the tyrannosaur''s lower jaw, pulling it down. Joe spun as he did so, slamming Prehistoric''s head into the ground. He took off running towards the car, Prehistoric writhing behind him.


    Mister Meaning, panicked, reached into his chest. And began to pull.


    And pull.


    He had meant to grab a one-handed revolver. A nice one, that he had pilfered from some dead cowboy on the edges of the multiverse.


    But no, it was the hunting rifle his uncle had given him when he was a kid. It had been awhile since he had actually used it.


    ¡°Ah, now,¡± he said, ¡°Use what you have.¡±


    He kneeled, checked the rifle to make sure it was in good working order. He was never one for conflict like this. His hands were shaking and he licked his lips nervously, trying to still his hammering heart, the sudden ache in his stomach, as he took aim at Cobalt Joe¡¯s fleeing form-


    And then was speared through by a storm of hay, the points sharp as blades, they pinned Mister Meaning to the ground, held him fast, a clump rising up into the air and smashing directly into the back of Mister Meaning''s head. The straw then released, leaving Mister Meaning in a fetal position, clutching the back of his head and seeing stars.


    The eagle''s arms held onto the earth again, released, launched Joe forward once more. Thunderhead was slowing down, and Joe landed right on top of the sports car''s hood. The soul dissipated. The passenger window rolled down, and Joe spun, scrunching his way inside. Lunus Oculus helped pull him into the car.


    Then Thunderhead took off once more.


    Rohahes glanced out the window. There was a figure in the shadows, something fleeting and quick.


    ¡°Gallimena,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°Thunderhead, you got something for her?¡±


    ¡°She''s to the left,¡± Rohahes said, ¡°What is she?¡±


    ¡°Some sort of chicken-raptor,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°She''s fast. She''ll be able to keep pace with us.¡±


    ¡°That''s not all,¡± Cobalt Joe said, ¡°That Prehistoric guy''s to the right. What''s his power?¡±


    His eyes were studying the horizon on the right, but when Tekahentakwa looked out the window, all she could see was the night. Lunus Oculus coughed for a moment, thinking.


    ¡°He can transform into any extinct animal,¡± she said, ¡°So long as it''s extinct on at least one plane. He also has to know about its general makeup.¡±


    ¡°He turned into a big oraguntan,¡± Joe said, ¡°And then a T-Rex.¡±


    ¡°Gigantopithicus,¡± Thunderhead said through the radio, ¡°From Prime. Went extinct about three hundred thousand years ago.¡±


    Joe looked at the radio.


    ¡°What?¡± Thunderhead said, ¡°I was a dinosaur kid.¡±


    Something stirred in the shadows. Jumped into the sky, and carried itself aloft on leathery wings.


    Cobalt Joe pushed himself out of the window. Lunus Oculus grabbed at his legs. For a moment, Tekahentakwa saw him fumbling in the darkness, looking this way and that.


    Then, he pointed. And another thunderbolt erupted from his hand, lighting the world for a split-second, and she could see something horrifying above them, some creature on wings like dried hides and a long beak like a crane''s.


    The bolt clipped a wing, and it started to wheel about in the air. That was the last that Tekahentakwa saw of it.


    ¡°Now for Gallimena,¡± Cobalt Joe said.


    Lunus Oculus''s face was white as a sheet. She looked at Joe.


    ¡°You didn''t kill him, did you?¡±


    ¡°I don''t think so,¡± Joe said, and he took a heavy breath, ¡°I didn''t see him land. But I got him good.¡±


    ¡°He was a pterosaur, right?¡± Thunderhead said, ¡°Their wings tended to be frail.¡±


    Gallimena was still sprinting parallel to the car. On occasion, she would attempt to get closer to them. But there was plenty of open space for Thunderhead to go, and he veered to keep a respectable distance between them.


    And Gallimena started to drag. Slow down. For as much as she had her incredible speed, she only had so much stamina.


    Even so, it was well over an hour before she lagged considerably. Tekahentakwa watched, under the crescent moon, as she slowed, bit by bit, losing her pace with the car. Finally, she stopped, a silhouetted, raptor-like form in the night, a quick shadow that disappeared in the rearview mirror.


    ¡°That''s that, then,¡± Thunderhead said.


    ***


    They brought Mister Meaning back into the house. One of Amoeboy''s farmhands produced a few strands of ice from his fingers, placing them in a bag and putting them on the back of the man''s head. Mister Meaning winced and groaned. Amoeboy checked out the injury, grimacing as he did so.


    ¡°Looks like they got ye good,¡± he said.


    ¡°You stupid old man,¡± Mister Meaning snapped, ¡°That was your people.¡±


    ¡°Hey, now,¡± Amoeboy said, ¡°This isn''t the time for pointless accusations. Me an'' mine were outside, or in the house. Not in yon barn. We didn''t know them Feddies were hiding in there.¡±


    Mister Meaning glared at Amoeboy, for he knew Gallimena''s info had been good. That she had seen, from a distance, the old farmer talking to the Oshya:de and to Lunus Oculus. He made to speak up for a moment, but then noted that he was surrounded by the old farmer''s commune. Outnumbered, and with Prehistoric and Gallimena still pursuing them, Mister Meaning was alone.


    This was, in a rare moment, not exactly the time to go running one''s mouth. So he wisely shut up.


    ¡°Sounds like they took off,¡± Amoeboy said, ¡°Out into the wilderness.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Mister Meaning said.


    He looked at the pinpricks on the back of his hand. Caused by metahuman power. He made a note to check to see who was recorded as part of the commune when he returned to Mt. Redress.


    But for now, he held the pack on his head. A migraine was starting to form. That wasn''t good, not good at all.


    ***


    They got into the primary Workers town late in the night, dozing in the car. The ride had been an unexpected one, and though they had worked well enough as a team to escape, all of them felt exhausted, both due to a lack of sleep and, in Joe''s case, the exertion that comes with combat. He tossed and turned in the passenger seat, occasionally murmuring to himself about Phineases and Rosemarys and men made of glass and shadows.


    The car pulled up into the edge of town. Lunus Oculus, her eyes wide and burning, shook Joe awake. The four of them got out of the car, which molded back into Thunderhead. Deep rings ran under his eyes, and his walk was sluggish and tired.


    There were a few metahumans out. Those nocturnal folks. A bat-headed New Ludayan watchman who saw them come in. Lunus Oculus nodded to him as they went inside, the bat-headed man turning his head and watching them go down the main road.


    Lunus Oculus turned down the street. Went past a small neighborhood of alike wooden houses, row after row, and then onwards towards the more interesting architectural nightmares. Glass glittered under the moon''s light from the multi-pointed art buildings. Statue-homes loomed, marble depictions of ancient metahuman history. Temples were here, too, shrines and idols to the various faiths that the former refugees had brought with them to their paradise.


    Rohahes and Tekahentakwa looked around at these buildings, this show of make and work. Both of them were awed. Both of them were somewhat cowed.


    Both of them walked with emptied hearts, at what the metahumans had erected here.


    One of these buildings was a tall sandstone tower, hewn by Pauldros the Stonemaker and a few other earth-moving metahumans. It was a library of sorts, though there were very few books in it. But the rooms were spacious enough that Tallneck was comfortable living here.


    Lunus Oculus walked up. Rapped hard on the door.


    There was silence. A few other New Ludayans had woken up by now, were watching the group of four as they waited for Tallneck outside. Lunus Oculus recognized Glow among them. Quiet rumor-whisper mixed with the calm gait of the wind and the chirping of crickets.


    The door to the sandstone library was tall, tall enough to accommodate Tallneck amicably. Its opening was ponderous, Tallneck even more so. He peered down at them blearily, a nightcap atop his head. Rohahes took a step back in surprise at the sight of the metahuman''s power.


    ¡°Lunus...?¡± Tallneck said, ¡°It''s... not even five in the morn-¡±


    Sleepy eyes fell on the two Oshya:de. They widened.


    ¡°You''d better come in,¡± he said, ¡°Quickly now.¡±


    They started heading inside.


    All save for Joe.


    Lunus Oculus turned to him.


    ¡°Come on,¡± she said.


    But the Amber Foundation shook his head.


    ¡°I''m going to find Becenti,¡± he said, ¡°Tell him what''s happened.¡±


    ¡°Do you think he''ll believe you?¡± Lunus Oculus asked.


    ¡°He will,¡± Joe said, forcefully, ¡°If not him, then Iandi and Aldreia. We''ll outnumber him, and even if he''s the boss for this one, he''ll have no choice but to listen.¡±


    Lunus Oculus studied his face for a few moments. Her eyes were starting to change ¨C the moon on New Ludaya, on Gan¨¢:yeht, only changed phases every so often. Tonight it was, from crimson to a deep sort of purple.


    ¡°Alright,¡± she said, ¡°Stay safe. You''re guildfolk, but don''t think that you''re not a target.¡±


    ¡°I''ve been hunted before,¡± Joe said, ¡°You watch yourself, too.¡±


    And he moved off, taking a few steps back from the building, before turning and breaking into a light jog towards Mt. Redress.


    ***


    He had to bullshit his way past a few patrols. New Ludayan Warriors, dressed up in combat armor, walking down empty roads and lonely side trails. They paid Joseph little mind, and it was obvious enough that there was not a full-scale manhunt for Lunus Oculus''s group. Luminary and the Council were playing their cards close to the chest. He knew this already, of course, considering how poor a response that Luminary had been able to field against their investigation.


    But to see so many people ignore him, or nod at him as he passed them on the road, or just ask one or two cursory questions, made him uneasy. So many people, outright ignorant of the ground they walked on. Oblivious to the history here.


    He redoubled his efforts, and only quieted his step when he got to Mt. Redress. There were two guards posted in front of the main cavern, so Joe took a sideways path up the mountain, dancing past anyone he could see, his blue eyes blazing and straining in the night.


    No doubt someone would eventually find him. The gamut of metahuman powers here meant that detection and security was endlessly versatile. The stars could be eyes. The night could smell him.


    But, if he was detected, he was not accosted, and he found a side passage into the mountain soon enough, and went inside. Stone hall after stone hall-


    Iandi and Aldreia were in the guest rooms. The Mark Eta was snoring soundly on his oversized bed, Aldrea at the foot of hers, hands clasped. She looked up at Joe as he walked in.


    ¡°Where have you been?¡± she hissed.


    Joe brought a finger to his lips. Inched inside. He looked disheveled, as Aldreia looked him up and down.


    ¡°Becenti''s furious,¡± her voice was a low, dangerous whisper, ¡°You better have a good reas-¡±


    ¡°I do,¡± Joe said, ¡°Where is he?¡±


    ¡°Upstairs, I think,¡± Aldreia said, ¡°In one of the observation rooms. He hasn''t been able to sleep.¡±


    A sudden gale of guilt. But Joe pushed it aside.


    ¡°Take me to him,¡± he said, ¡°Wake up Iandi, too. He''ll want to hear this.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Aldreia asked, ¡°He''ll be loud.¡±


    Joe nodded.


    ¡°It''s serious,¡± he said.


    ¡°Where the hell are Nasir and Evancar?¡± Aldreia asked.


    ¡°They''re with-¡± but Joe shut up, glanced at the ceiling. He wasn''t sure if anyone would be able to hear him, ¡°They''re with the others. I''ll explain in a second. Come on, wake him up.¡±


    ¡­


    ¡­


    Iandi could not be roused. He let out a loud complaint, turned over in his sleep, and continued muttering to his dreams. So they let him be, going down the long halls and staircases up to an observation lounge.


    It was a smaller room. Stonemake, as the rest of the place, even the chairs were hewn by Pauldros. Unlike Luminary''s room, which had been a natural cave paved over with glass, the entire wall had been expertly sheared away, replaced by a see-through wall formed by a metahuman by the name of Mime. Becenti was sitting at one of the chairs, leaning forward, elbows on his knees, his hands clasped together. He had taken off his suit jacket, leaving him with a rolled up dress shirt, revealing the tattoos on his arms. The man''s eyes were sunken and purpled. He was staring, blankly, out the wide window, at the forests below.


    Aldreia and Joe walked into the room. Becenti turned, his eyes landing on his protege. He stood up, shaking, and he seemed to be flickering between rage and relief.


    ¡°Cobalt Joe,¡± he said, ¡°You''re a bastard of a man, aren''t you.¡±


    He strode forward. All but slammed his hands onto his guildmate''s shoulders.


    ¡°You better have a damn good reason for doing all of this,¡± he said.


    ¡°I do,¡± Joe muttered. He wasn''t meeting Becenti''s eyes.


    No, couldn''t.


    ¡°Dammit, Joe!¡± Becenti said, and shoved the younger man away, turned his back to him, paced around the room for a few moments, ¡°What the hell is going on?!¡±


    He glared at him.


    ¡°...Are we alone?¡± Joe asked.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Becenti growled, ¡°We''re alone.¡±


    ¡°I need to be sure,¡± Joe said, and he was fighting down his own irrational anger. He had never enjoyed being yelled at by fathers, or father-like figures, ¡°Luminary has ears everywhere, doesn''t she?¡±


    ¡°What does Luminary have to do with this?¡± Becenti said in an accusing tone, ¡°Joe, you''ve fallen in with quite the crowd, haven''t-¡±


    And he studied his guildmate''s face. The determination. The anxiety. The ill-repressed anger. He wasn''t being fair to the young man, was he? He had an explanation.


    Perhaps not a good one.


    But one, at least, that made sense to him.


    ¡°Alright, Joe,¡± Becenti said, ¡°...We''re alone. Luminary hasn''t... she hasn''t sent anyone to look after me.¡±


    ¡°And the mountain?¡± Joe asked, ¡°Walls don''t have ears, do they?¡±


    ¡°Not here, as far as I can tell,¡± Becenti said.


    Joe nodded. Looked at the wall. Looked out the window.


    Looked hard at Becenti.


    ¡°There were people here before New Ludayans,¡± he said, ¡°There still are.¡±


    ***


    ¡°Food,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°They need food. Amoeboy''s willing to be a cover, but that''ll only last so long. Gallimena and Prehistoric are about, they''ll be able to investigate his farm further.¡±


    She had called an emergency meeting with the rest of her people, or those who were around. Tallneck was passing out drinks at the table, which was situated in a wide-open space at the top of the tower, the ceiling stretching up almost twenty feet, easily enough room for the long-necked metahuman to walk around in. Glow was sitting at the table, though they did not accept a drink. Eksonis was there, too, but not Kehaulani, for she was tending to their son. The reptilian metahuman¡¯s hands were balled into fists on the table, and he simply stared at its surface with a dark sort of rage. The Giant Northern Termite Queen sat in the corner, mumbling to herself, her termites eating their way out of her back, crawling down the long staircases to keep an eye on the doors and windows, in case anyone came knocking.


    Rohahes and Tekahentakwa were standing apart from the table, watching the metahumans debate. They were whispering feverishly to each other, Eksonis and Tallneck occasionally glancing over at them. It was obvious with the reptile, even more so for the giraffe-necked.


    ¡°That''s not a reasonable timeframe,¡± Eksonis said, ¡°When do you think they''ll find Amoeboy out?¡±


    ¡°Maybe by tomorrow,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°Cobalt Joe hit Prehistoric hard, but he''ll be up and flying soon enough.¡±


    A collective murmur of curses.


    ¡°We can start organizing now,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°Get people out there. Batty saw us coming in. Rumor''s already begun to spread.¡±


    ¡°I see them here, I see them there,¡± the Giant Northern Termite Queen whispered, ¡°People talking everywhere.¡±


    She pointed a skeletal finger to a window. Indeed, there was a small crowd of Workers outside, just on the tower''s perimeter. Watching and whispering, despite the lateness of the night.


    Though that was becoming an early dawn.


    ¡°We can talk to them, then,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°Tell them the truth.¡±


    ¡°Is that wise?¡± Tallneck said, ¡°I mean, it could set things off. Get the Warriors here.¡±


    ¡°We have to be ready for that,¡± Eksonis said, ¡°Maybe we can warn them off. Have Dodeca distract the Council, or-¡±


    ¡°No, no, no,¡± Tallneck said, and he was starting to sweat, ¡°That won''t stop them. Lunus, you have to hide them. We''ll have to be discreet, we''ll-¡±


    ¡°That''s not possible,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°The Oshya:de will come out of the west eventually. We can only hide them for so long.¡±


    ¡°This is true,¡± Tekahentakwa said, away from the table, ¡°My brother is Warleader. If we do not get aid soon, we will have no choice but to aid ourselves.¡±


    The table grimaced. Eksonis let out a low hiss.


    ¡°That won''t be good for anyone,¡± he said.


    ¡°The Warriors will come anyway,¡± Glow said.


    They were rubbing their chin, though with their shining form it was difficult to make out where hand ended and face began.


    ¡°This is...¡± they said, ¡°A revelation that I do not believe anyone here expected.¡±


    The table murmured assent to that. Glow continued pondering for a moment, though the way they were sitting told the room there was still more for them to say. So the table let them stew for a moment.


    ¡°It is a revelation that will break the nation in half,¡± they said, ¡°But it a truth that will come out no matter what we do in the here and the now. What we have.... what we have is opportunity. To let the truth come out the way we want it.¡±


    ¡°You control our lives, then,¡± Tekahentakwa said.


    Glow looked across the room at her. The Clan Mother glared at them.


    ¡°We are not something to be hidden,¡± she said.


    ¡°No one is saying that,¡± Eksonis said.


    ¡°You will be silent,¡± Tekahentakwa said, ¡°This is not a debate. I do not know your people, but for the Oshya:de, any debate of this magnitude is done by Clan Mothers.¡±


    ¡°There are no Clan Mothers here,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°I understand your hesitation, Tekahentakwa.¡±


    ¡°Do you?¡± Tekahentakwa said, ¡°My people starve, and you''re here at the table.¡±


    ¡°We''re trying,¡± Tallneck said, though his voice was weak, ¡°It''s just-¡±


    Glow raised up a hand.


    ¡°This is a difficult position,¡± they said, ¡°For all of us.¡±


    Tekahentakwa tilted her head at the strange, moss-covered metahuman. There was a way they were speaking. A way they were moving. Slow and graceful, and they were patient, letting her choose her response. The others were deferring to them.


    When Tekahentakwa did not reply, Glow continued.


    ¡°This is a Pandora''s Box that has been opened,¡± they said, ¡°Something that cannot be closed. The entire scope of this nation has changed. And things will get violent, especially for you and the Oshya:de.¡±


    ¡°We are prepared for violence,¡± Tekahentakwa said. Rohahes nodded in affirmation.


    ¡°Such violence can lead to genocide,¡± Glow said, ¡°And our nation will become something else. Something darker. It is already going down that path, and it has hardly been a year. Look how militarized we are. Our distinctions between Warrior and Worker, those who can kill with their powers and those who cannot.¡±


    Tekahentakwa walked forward. Stood at the table, laid a hand against its surface.


    ¡°...What are you saying?¡± she said.


    ¡°We are at a crossroads,¡± Glow said, ¡°There are people who I feel will join you. Other metahumans. Warriors, too, when violence does arrive.¡±


    ¡°They will help us?¡± Tekahentakwa said.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Glow said, ¡°It will be difficult. There will be trauma. But yes, they will help you. Their hearts are good.¡±


    ¡°We didn''t...¡± Tallneck gulped, and Tekahentakwa could see the bulge of saliva drool as a bump down his throat, ¡°We didn''t come here for any of this. People will see that. They''ll see themselves in you.¡±


    Tekahentakwa studied the room. At the metahumans'' faces. She sighed.


    ¡°Alright,¡± she said, ¡°What do you suggest?¡±


    ***


    Becenti was staring out the window again.


    And Joseph could tell he had broken something in the old man. Aldreia looked sick to her stomach. She was sitting at the stone chair, hands between her knees, staring at the floor.


    (Did Melitta know?)


    Joseph, for his part, walked over beside Becenti. Looked out the window at-


    At Gan¨¢:yeht. The forests. The rivers and lakes. The wide open sky.


    ¡°...It''s not true,¡± Becenti said.


    Joe looked over at him.


    ¡°It can''t be true,¡± Becenti said, and he walked away from the window. Paced across the room. Stopped at the stone table, rested his hands on the edges, ¡°Joe, do not lie to me. Don''t do this.¡±


    ¡°Man,¡± Joe said, ¡°I''m sorry-¡±


    ¡°Don''t say that!¡± Becenti roared.


    Aldreia flinched. Joseph gave him a sad look.


    ¡°Don''t look at me like that,¡± Becenti snapped, and he paced again. His face was a mixture, an ocean of emotions, anger above all else bubbling to the surface, breaking that stony facade that he always wore. He pointed a finger at Joseph.


    ¡°They''re lying to you,¡± he said, ¡°Lunus and the others. They... They''re using a power. An illusion. Tricking you into a lie, Joe, you have to see that. You have to see that.¡±


    ¡°Becenti,¡± Joe said, ¡°They''re not.¡±


    ¡°I...¡± Becenti faltered.


    And then heat flowed through his body. He stole what little there was in the room, and it flowered into a heavy club that he slammed into the table.


    ¡°It''s always something!¡± his roar echoed through the room and down the halls, ¡°Always something that comes up, or is in my way, or stops me! Always some goddamn excuse! Always!¡±


    He slammed the table again. And again. This one with no heat, and the bottom of his knuckles bled.


    His back was turned to Joseph and Aldreia. The cleric was still staring at the floor, in some vain attempt to spare Becenti his dignity.


    The old man''s back was shaking. He was crying, Joseph realized. Slow sobs, quiet and reserved, as much sorrow as Becenti allowed himself to reveal.


    (He had already shown too much of himself as it was.)


    Myron Becenti turned, and he was still failing to put on a professional mask. His bottom lip was trembling, and his eyes were bloodshot and empty.


    ¡°I''m tired,¡± he said, ¡°So... so tired.¡±


    ¡°I know, Myron,¡± Joseph said.


    Becenti went quiet again. Walked quietly over to the chair, and picked up his dress jacket.


    Without another word, he put it on. Rebuttoned the waist. Adjusted the cuffs.


    ¡°The...¡± he said, ¡°The Oshya:de. Where are they?¡±


    ¡°I can show you,¡± Joe said, ¡°But we''ll need to be quiet. If Luminary finds out...¡±


    Becenti froze at this. Another wave of grief washed over him. Luminary. His friend.


    She had done this.


    His breathing quickened. Aldreia now stood up, walked over to him, patted him on the shoulder.


    ¡°Breathe, Becenti,¡± she said, ¡°Breathe.¡±


    ¡°I...¡± Becenti allowed her to guide him to the chair, and he sat down, struggled to recompose himself.


    He was clutching his chest. And, for a moment, Joseph feared that he would have a heart attack. But soon enough Becenti controlled himself. Looked as though he had been swimming in molasses. Looked as though he had run a marathon.


    Above all, he looked old. Something Joseph had never seen in the man before. He called him old metahuman, in his head, but not in the way Becenti sat now, like a tired, decrepit thing in its winter years. He had never truly noted the crisscross of wrinkles and cracks on Becenti''s face, like dried-up riverbeds, or the powder gray hue of his hair.


    He looked up at his guildmate.


    ¡°Show me, Joe,¡± he said, ¡°...Please.¡±

 150. A WORLD FOR MY CHILDREN

    They did not sleep on the way over.


    Aldreia. Joe. Becenti. And Iandi, who they had to roll out of bed with threats that they would tell Nasir that he wasn''t listening to them if he didn''t get up. He was almost tearful, which made Joe feel bad.


    But what made him feel worse was the look on Becenti''s face. Ghastly. Emptied of the mirth he had enjoyed for the last few days after being here on New Ludaya. They walked out of Mt. Redress, waving to the guards at the front, avoiding their askance looks.


    Someone was flying overhead. Joe looked up to see it was Fractal, fully in her gravity-controlling form, a blip of orange against the night sky. She was watching them, he realized, as they stole off the path and into the forest, towards the Worker''s main town.


    ¡°How many Warriors are out?¡± Joe asked.


    ¡°Only a few,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Luminary was keeping the fact that you disappeared with Lunus Oculus quiet.¡±


    He glanced up at Fractal.


    ¡°No doubt word''s gotten back to her,¡± the older metahuman continued, ¡°About what happened at Amoeboy''s ranch. I wouldn''t be surprised if they''re sending a contingent of Warriors there, now.¡±


    ¡°Then we''ve been made,¡± Joe said.


    ¡°Going to happen!¡± Iandi cried out.


    Joe nearly jumped, shot a glare at the Mark Eta. Iandi shrugged.


    ¡°Going to happen,¡± he repeated, a bit quieter this time.


    ¡°He''s right,¡± Becenti said, ¡°You were very lucky, Cobalt Joe. Luminary wasn''t using her full resources here. Now that more and more people are finding out, however, she''ll use those loyal to the Council as her agents. Expect more versatility.¡±


    ¡°Should we expect violence?¡± Aldreia asked, and her fingers danced briefly with flame.


    Becenti grimaced. He had regained control of himself. Pushed his grief down, but he still looked weak, still there was pain in his eyes.


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± he said, ¡°Especially against the Oshya:de.¡±


    Fractal wasn''t trying anything. She was merely watching.


    Joe hoped that was all she would do.


    ***


    There was commotion in the Worker communes, particularly in the primary settlement. Fractal could see this as she drifted like a rogue meteor over the forests of New Ludaya. It was late at night, but a crowd was forming around a sandstone tower that rose in the Architects'' Clearing. People were talking.


    Fractal wasn''t sure why. She had only been told to monitor Cobalt Joe, who had been spotted heading into Mt. Redress.


    ¡°Why Joe?¡± Fractal had asked Riah Truegale. The older metahuman had woken her up in the barracks late at night for her assignment.


    Riah Truegale had shrugged.


    ¡°I''m not sure,¡± he said, ¡°I believe he and a few of his guildmates disappeared recently with a few of the malcontents. He''s just gotten back.¡±


    ¡°I can talk to him, perhaps,¡± Fractal said, ¡°See why he decided to head out.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Riah Truegale said, ¡°This order comes directly from the Shadow of the Giant. Do not interact, unless he becomes hostile or aggressive to other New Ludayans. Only observe.¡±


    Fractal nodded.


    And thus she was here, watching as Cobalt Joe and his guildmates made their way to the sandstone tower. They pushed their way through the crowd, which was only growing.


    Fractal kept watching. What had gotten people so agitated?


    ¡°Fractal,¡± a voice rang in her mind. Tele-phone, a metahuman Warrior with psychic abilities, ¡°Report?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, it''s a crowd,¡± Fractal said, ¡°They aren''t doing anything except whispering to each other. They''re gathered around that sandstone tower.¡±


    ¡°...Tallneck''s library,¡± Tele-phone said, ¡°Alright. Keep an eye out.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Fractal said, ¡°Will do.¡±


    ***


    Myron Becenti was not the sort of man that Lunus Oculus had expected.


    She had expected a war hero, the way that she had heard about him from Luminary''s old speeches and writings. A man in spandex and red streamers. Yes, she had remembered seeing images of him. This man, who had fought with the High Federation against the Manticore during the war.


    Yet the man in front of her, who now stood at the table with Cobalt Joe''s guildmates, was different. He was around Joe''s height and wore a three piece suit, even this late at night. His hair was tied back in a strict ponytail, and he carried himself as though a board were taped to his back.


    Above all, however, there was a look in his eyes. Something sad there. Emptied out. No doubt he had taken the news about the Oshya:de poorly. His gaze kept flickering to Tekahentakwa and Rohahes, as though in disbelief they were there at all.


    ¡°Tekahentakwa,¡± Cobalt Joe said, ¡°This is Becenti. He''s the second-in-command of my guild.¡±


    The Clan Mother nodded at him.


    ¡°Second-in-command?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I am not guildmaster, but I do many organizational duties of the guild, such as finalizing paperwork, putting together teams for the jobs we do, as well as go over contracts we have with clients.¡±


    ¡°These words mean little to me,¡± Tekahentakwa said, ¡°But you are a leader.¡±


    Becenti nodded.


    ¡°I am.¡±


    ¡°And these two others who came with Cobalt Joe, they are also of this... guild?¡± Tekahentakwa said.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Aldreia Firedawn and Iandi.¡±


    ¡°Hello!¡± Iandi said, and he broke into a smile, ¡°I like your hair.¡±


    Tekahentakwa blinked.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± she said, and she absently tugged a braid, ¡°Are you metahuman?¡±


    ¡°No, no, I am not,¡± Iandi said, ¡°I am Mark Eta! That''s what everyone tells me.¡±


    ¡°...A super soldier,¡± Becenti said, ¡°From Zult.¡±


    When Tekahentakwa looked at him again, the metahuman continued.


    ¡°Another plane of existence. Like this one. We''re all from different planes.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Tekahentakwa said, ¡°So many people now, in this land.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Becenti said.


    They lapsed into a silence. Lunus Oculus was sitting at the table, looking from guild to native, native to guild. They both were similar in skin tone. In hair color. In other time, perhaps if Becenti were not a Child of Imagination, he might have blended in with the Oshya:de.


    ¡°Alright,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Joe... he told me everything. I...¡±


    He sighed.


    ¡°I don''t know what to say,¡± he said.


    ¡°Are you coming here to personally apologize?¡± Tekahentakwa said, ¡°Is that all?¡±


    Becenti was quiet.


    Tekahentakwa looked past him.


    ¡°Cobalt Joe,¡± she said, ¡°Why did you bring this man here?¡±


    ¡°He wanted to see you,¡± Joe said, and his voice was apprehensive.


    ¡°For what reason?¡± Tekahentakwa asked.


    ¡°To see if you were real,¡± Becenti said.


    The Clan Mother glared at him. Becenti shrugged.


    ¡°It is... the truth,¡± he said, ¡°You have heard it from others. Your existence here puts the idea of New Ludaya into jeopardy.¡±


    ¡°Then perhaps it was not a good idea,¡± Tekahentakwa said.


    ¡°...Perhaps,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°I have been told by others,¡± Tekahentakwa said, ¡°About what is like for your people in your multiverse. That you are scourged. Hunted for sport. Sent into camps. Your bodies are put on display, or cut up to be used in jewelry.¡±


    ¡°That is correct,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°And yet,¡± Tekahentakwa said, ¡°You claim to find paradise here?¡±


    ¡°I don''t know why she did it,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°The woman in white.¡±


    ¡°Luminary,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°...I have been wondering that as well,¡± Tallneck said. Becenti glanced up at him.


    ¡°Professor Tallneck, wasn''t it?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Tallneck said, ¡°We had a... riveting discussion, shall we say.¡±


    Becenti nodded.


    ¡°Well?¡± he said, ¡°What is your hypothesis?¡±


    Tallneck dipped his neck down, so he was level to the table.


    ¡°It''s simple,¡± he said, ¡°I do believe that New Ludaya being solely on this plane is temporary.¡±


    Becenti''s brow furrowed.


    ¡°Explain,¡± he said.


    ¡°If one was to build paradise, why do it in the High Federation''s backyard?¡± Tallneck said.


    ¡°We''ve had this discussion,¡± Eksonis growled, ¡°It''s the last place the Federation would find us.¡±


    ¡°Is it?¡± Tallneck said, ¡°There are known metahuman communes that exist in the far reaches of the multiverse, uncontacted planes that are out of forecast for thousands of years-¡±


    (Cobalt Joe shivered at this.)


    ¡°-And where communities can build. Many of these planes are, specifically, not already inhabited by sapient populations.¡±


    ¡°Sapient?¡± Tekahentakwa asked.


    ¡°...Of a mind,¡± Tallneck said, ¡°Thinking creatures.¡±


    ¡°All creatures think,¡± Tekahentakwa said, ¡°I ask you, what is done to the other animals of the land?¡±


    Tallneck pulled a face.


    ¡°Depends¡­ Well, it depends on the community,¡± he said.


    ¡°Getting past that point,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°Tallneck, finish what you''re saying.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Tallneck said, ¡°I say this: why this plane, specifically? Why a plane with a Traveling Point directly to the Silver Eye, with one to an old Darwinist holdout, with an already established indigenous population?¡±


    Becenti was quiet at this.


    (He almost thought that he could not break anymore.)


    ¡°I have to talk to Luminary,¡± he said. And he rose.


    But Cobalt Joe stopped him.


    ¡°Wait,¡± the younger metahuman said, ¡°Myron, slow down.¡±


    Becenti spun on him. His eyes became bloodshot and angry. He seemed to be about to start yelling.


    (Yes, here is the Becenti I read about, was Lunus''s thought.)


    But then he simmered.


    ¡°If we reveal that we know everything, Luminary might try and do something drastic to silence us,¡± Joe said, ¡°Wait until the truth comes out.¡±


    ¡°And will the truth come out?¡± Becenti asked, and he looked over at Lunus Oculus. She was younger than he expected, perhaps a few years older than Cobalt Joe himself. Her eyes were purple, though Joe had told him that they changed with the phases of the moon, which on New Ludaya were more subtle and slower than on other planes.


    ¡°It will,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°The Oshya:de will not wait long. They are free from the caves. They want their home back.¡±


    ¡°It''s more complicated than that,¡± Eksonis said, ¡°You know this. There are innocent people here-¡±


    ¡°How innocent will they be, when they learn they live on stolen land?¡± Tekahentakwa asked.


    Becenti suppressed a wince. He had heard of these arguments before.


    ¡°It is precisely why we''re telling people now,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°Glow''s getting people together. They''re going to tell them in the morning.¡±


    ¡°And then what?¡± Tekahentakwa asked.


    ¡°I don''t know,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°But it''s like they said: it''s a box that cannot be re-closed.¡±


    There was silence at that statement.


    Tense and heavy. For they all knew what the future would bring, and it was not peace.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    ***


    They went to bed. Or, at least, tried to. A few Workers close to Lunus Oculus were brought into the fold, those with combat-related abilities that, for some reason or another, did not pass the test to become Warriors. Wavemaker was eighteen years old, hardly an adult, for he had only come of age last week. He was accompanied by one of his friends, a girl his age by the name of Uni, who had a single unicorn''s horn on her forehead. She was from the Constellations, that endless war torn plane, and thus she carried herself as the soldier she had been raised as since a child. Not a Warrior, true, but with the training of one. Jolly Old Elder was there as well. A metahuman who, in truth, was only in his thirties, but with the experience and age of a man three times as old, for he absorbed ambient knowledge, as well as ambient age, from those around him.


    Fourth to join them was Rainbowfish. The sole Warrior in a sea of Workers. One of the Giant Northern Termite Queen''s flying termites had braved the journey to him, a signal that there was something up. He had made his way towards the Worker''s town, noting the stares, the whispers, the crowd late at night.


    He hadn''t come alone.


    ¡°Pigmalion''s watching above,¡± he said as he walked into the sandstone tower, ¡°I see Fractal up there, too.¡±


    Lunus Oculus helped him take off his jacket, revealing his shimmering, fishscaled arms.


    ¡°She followed Joe,¡± she said.


    ¡°Joe?¡± Rainbowfish asked, and his eyes fell on Cobalt Joe, who was at the entrance as well, leaning against a wall, ¡°Ah. Name¡¯s Rainbowfish.¡±


    ¡°Cobalt Joe.¡±


    They shook hands.


    ¡°You don''t think they''ll try and get you, will they?¡± he asked.


    ¡°...There''s a non-zero chance,¡± Rainbowfish replied, and he looked through a window. Pigmalion was flying on one of his marble constructs, what appeared to be a pegasus hewn from stone.


    ¡°They''ll already know something''s up,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°We just need you and the others in case things get...¡±


    She bit her lip.


    ¡°Violent,¡± Rainbowfish finished for her.


    ¡°I wish it wouldn''t come to that,¡± Lunus Oculus said.


    Rainbowfish shook his head.


    ¡°What''d we find in the ruins?¡± he asked, ¡°Better be something big.¡±


    ¡°...Come upstairs, and I''ll show you.¡±


    The two of them walked upstairs, leaving Joe alone. He could hear Wavemaker and Uni muttering to themselves down the hall.


    ¡°I don''t know what to say,¡± Wavemaker said, ¡°I just...¡±


    ¡°That''s the world we''re in,¡± Uni said, ¡°No nation''s perfect.¡±


    ¡°Pretty far from perfect, here,¡± Wavemaker grumbled, ¡°You''re taking this well.¡±


    Uni was quiet at that.


    (For she was not.)


    Joe heard a shout from above. Rainbowfish. He was angry. For a moment, he wanted to go up and check things out, make sure that the Warrior wasn''t getting violent. But he heard Thunderhead roar ¡°Calm down, man!¡± and things simmered.


    Aldreia came downstairs. She was smoking, Joe noted. A cigarette, though he did not know where she had gotten it from.


    (Melitta''s place.)


    ¡°He''s agreed to help look after the tower overnight,¡± Aldreia said, ¡°You should get some sleep.¡±


    Indeed. He was feeling exhausted.


    ¡°Christ, what time is it?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Four in the morning,¡± Aldreia said, ¡°Lunus Oculus put a message out to the other Workers. She''ll be giving the news to them in the morning. Revealing the Oshya:de then.¡±


    Joe nodded.


    ¡°Right,¡± he said, ¡°I''ll get to sleep.¡±


    ¡°Tallneck''s got a few spare rooms three floors up,¡± Aldreia said, ¡°Better than sleeping in that damn mountain, isn''t it?¡±


    She offered him a smile. Gone was the venom in her voice. The frustration, a few nights before. Then, whoever she had been spending the night with wasn''t here.


    Bereft of the usual poison of love, she was perfectly amiable.


    He chose to return her smile, and went upstairs. The guest room reminded him of his room at Castle Belenus when he had first joined the guild. Barren but comfortable.


    He was asleep in minutes.


    ***


    It was Becenti who could not sleep.


    He sat at the table, hands clasped together, his mind a swamp of thought and worry and anger.


    Everyone else had gone to bed. Even Joe and Aldreia. Iandi''s snores reverberated from downstairs, seeming to shake the floor itself. Only a few other New Ludayans were awake with him, and their job was to guard the tower. Wavemaker, more of a boy than anything, would periodically come upstairs and pace around, shaking out any nervous energy. Uni came over to hand Becenti some coffee. Rainbowfish kept to himself, coming downstairs from his perch on the roof to stretch and get something to eat.


    Only one other person joined him at the table, late in the night, as dawn was drifting over the mountains.


    Tekahentakwa.


    Clan Mother. Becenti had heard of such terms before, at powwows on Prime. Looking at her, he imagined his life before his awakening. Before the metahuman powers and the spandex and the fighting supervillains. Before the war and the dreams and the nightmares. He could hear chants and dances in his ears, the rhythmic pounding of drums and voices, braids and beads bouncing in time to the music. His older brother, before he had taken his own life, had gotten quite into the competitive parts of the Gathering of Nations Powwow. Every morning, he would practice, stamping feet and music played on the old radio his father had, for he didn''t have access to actual people and their voices save for perhaps once or twice a month, and even then.


    But his brother was gone now.


    (Everyone was gone now.)


    Tekahentakwa noted Becenti staring at her. She moved, a hair uncomfortable.


    ¡°You look lost,¡± she said, after a time.


    ¡°...I am,¡± Becenti said, and he shifted in his seat, ¡°I can''t sleep.¡±


    ¡°Neither can I,¡± Tekahentakwa said, ¡°To know that I will be forced to justify my existence tomorrow, our existence...¡±


    ¡°It feels insurmountable, at times,¡± Becenti said, ¡°The frustration. The anger.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Tekahentakwa said, ¡°You know this.¡±


    ¡°All of my life,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Even before I became metahuman.¡±


    He sighed, rubbed his face.


    ¡°I know what I have to do,¡± he said, ¡°I just don''t want to do it.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Tekahentakwa said, ¡°Leave?¡±


    ¡°Reparation is a difficult thing for the colonizer to understand,¡± Becenti said, ¡°To them, it feels like oppression. But we are metahumans. We are an oppressed people. You think we would know. You think we would understand. You think that... that we wouldn''t become like them.¡±


    He said this with such hatred in his voice, such shame, that Tekahentakwa almost flinched.


    Becenti looked up at her. Leaned back in his chair.


    ¡°Tell me,¡± he said, ¡°When... When Luminary tried to speak to you, did she try to buy this land?¡±


    ¡°From under our own feet,¡± Tekahentakwa said, ¡°She showed us many pretty things. Jewels and polished beads. Silver sticks that she claimed were worth a fortune in your multiverse. She even offered other planes to us, places we could move to, so she could take this one.¡±


    ¡°But it was your home,¡± Becenti said, ¡°So you refused.¡±


    ¡°How could we?¡± Tekahentakwa said, ¡°It would be like selling our grandmothers.¡±


    Becenti nodded at this.


    For he had heard all of this before. He had even spoken almost the same words, when he was begging Olendris Valm to spare Old Ludaya.


    ¡°Many metahumans,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Do not... They aren''t aware of what''s going on. What will happen to them?¡±


    ¡°That is to be determined,¡± Tekahentakwa said, ¡°Many of my people believe that they should go. Back to your multiverse.¡±


    ¡°Back to the High Federation,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Where once more, we would once more have to contend with genocide. With slavery.¡±


    Tekahentakwa studied Becenti''s face. The older man sighed.


    ¡°We have dealt with such things before, and survived,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I can see it in your eyes. You do not believe me. What I say is true. You talk to any metahuman here, and they will tell you a story of lost children. Parents. Siblings. Grandfathers and grandmothers.¡±


    ¡°And I do care for this,¡± Tekahentakwa said, ¡°I see it in your eyes. In the eyes of many people here. I saw it in the woman in white''s eyes, too. You have survived desolation. But that does not make this right.¡±


    She gestured to the room. To the world.


    ¡°You know that I must look after my own people,¡± she said.


    And, despite the truth in her words, Becenti grimaced. He knew she was right. That for all of his people''s agonies, all of their suffering, that they could not become like their oppressors. They could not turn around and repeat the same sins.


    ¡°We are not like them,¡± he whispered, more to himself than anything.


    ¡°Myron Becenti,¡± Tekahentakwa said, and she kneeled down, rifling through her bag. Becenti recognized what she pulled out. The beginnings of a wampum, ¡°You say you are guild, yes? You have contracts.¡±


    ¡°In paper, not in bead,¡± Becenti replied.


    ¡°Then this will not suffice?¡± Tekahentakwa asked.


    ¡°...It depends on what you are requesting,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°The coming days will be dangerous,¡± the Clan Mother said, ¡°For myself. For my people. I believe that many metahumans here will see the truth. That they have become something they are not. But there are those who will join with Luminary.¡±


    Becenti was quiet.


    ¡°They will attempt to attack us,¡± Tekahentakwa said, ¡°They have done so before. We require more than just our own warriors.¡±


    ¡°...And the Amber Foundation will protect you,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°A guild contract,¡± Tekahentakwa said, ¡°You and yours will protect us. At least we will have a few allies from the multiverse. Even if we must pay.¡±


    The sun was starting to rise. Becenti stood up. Paced around the room. It was almost time for the news.


    ¡°Please, Myron Becenti,¡± Tekahentakwa said, ¡°Despite everything, we have few allies. The truth is not enough to save my people.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Becenti whispered.


    And Tekahentakwa started to get flustered. For even speaking like this, all but begging to him, these justifications, were bringing back dark memories to her mind.


    ¡°Please,¡± she pleaded, and she was on the verge of tears, ¡°I''m only trying to do what any mother does. I''m just... I''m trying to create a world for my children.¡±


    At this, Becenti''s eyes widened.


    And he knew the path he would have to take.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said, and he turned, ¡°I will help you. Let''s write up a contract. Get some beads. Start sewing.¡±


    He took a shaking breath.


    ¡°And we''ll see what tomorrow brings.¡±


    ***


    Tomorrow brought the news.


    Lunus Oculus stepped out to the crowd of Workers with the rising sun. Those metahumans who had decided to go home for the night, on the promise of the news, came out to see here. At first, there were only dozens. Curiosity over anything else was what brought them here, for news of Lunus Oculus and the group''s arrival in the middle of the night, after apparently having gone AWOL, had spread through the town like wildfire.


    Dozens became hundreds upon the appearance of Tekahentakwa. At her story. The young Clan Mother''s voice rang through the crowd as she told her story. Again and again.


    A constant justification to her existence.


    Some of New Ludaya was apathetic. They returned to their work, and though there was some level of guilt, some measure of shame, they continued to plow on. For New Ludaya was their paradise.


    And all nations required monstrosities to exist.


    Others were horrified. Screams came from the town. The wretched were these. People who had survived genocide. Survived glassings. Survived the worst the High Federation, and others, ever had to offer. To see their nation do the same, to live on the legacy of such atrocity...


    There were tears indeed, as paradise became hollow.


    Still more were outraged. Vengeful. Against the High Federation. Against New Ludaya, whom in their eyes had become no better. These were already contacts to Lunus Oculus, who already had an idea of what the nation had done.


    For all nations required monstrosities to exist.


    ...And news, from them, leaked to the Warriors. And action began there as well.


    Through it all, Becenti stood with Cobalt Joe by Tekahentakwa''s side. As did Rohahes, who stood closer and closer to Tekahentakwa during the initial proceedings.


    And then, as news filtered through New Ludaya, as more people came to see if what was being said was true...


    A messenger appeared.


    Mister Meaning. Still holding an ice pack to the back of his head. Riding atop Gallimena, that raptor in the coat of a hen. She transformed back into her humanoid form as they arrived to the sandstone tower. Prehistoric wheeled about in the sky as a quetzalcoatlus, flying along Pigmalion and the still-floating Fractal.


    (The last of whom Cobalt Joe watched with reservation. Given the chance, she could flatten all of the Workers with a flick of the finger.)


    Tekahentakwa was inside the tower. She peered through a window at the arrival of the pair. Becenti, too, looked down at them, his eyes narrowing.


    They had known.


    Rainbowfish and Uni were outside, guarding the door. Though they were not alone, for many Workers who had learned the truth, and decided to do something about it, had set up camp in the clearing around the tower.


    Mister Meaning cleared his throat.


    ¡°Rainbowfish,¡± he said.


    The Warrior nodded, his arms crossed.


    ¡°What the hell do you want?¡± he asked.


    ¡°That''s all you can say to me?¡± Mister Meaning asked, ¡°My, my, Rainbowfish, I-¡±


    ¡°Cut the bullshit,¡± Rainbowfish said, ¡°Speak your piece. Then get out.¡±


    Mister Meaning opened his mouth, but then stopped, noting now that Workers were staring at him. He suppressed a shiver.


    This was no situation to be flippant.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said, ¡°No games, then. We''ve heard the word. That some of these... ''Oshya:de,'' are around. The Council wants to meet with them.¡±


    ¡°To do what, Meaning?¡± Rainbowfish asked.


    ¡°Negotiations, my good man,¡± Mister Meaning said, ¡°Tell me, how many Oshya:de are there?¡±


    ¡°Not for me to tell,¡± Rainbowfish said. He looked at Mister Meaning and Gallimena. At the Warriors high above, ¡°I''ll let her know you dropped by.¡±


    ¡°Luminary herself wants to meet the Clan Mother,¡± Mister Meaning said, ¡°She insists on it.¡±


    Rainbowfish hesitated. Then looked to Uni.


    ¡°Go inside,¡± he said, ¡°Tell the Clan Mother what they want.¡±


    The horned metahuman nodded. Went inside. The tower was a flurry of motion and movement, of metahumans going up and down the stairs to meet with Tekahentakwa. The Clan Mother was at one of the tables on the fifth floor, talking to Lunus Oculus and Amoeboy, who had arrived a few hours before by Flying Carpet.


    ¡°Aye, they''re on their way to the farm,¡± Amoeboy said, ¡°A big stream o'' folks.¡±


    ¡°Will there be food there?¡± Tekahentakwa asked.


    ¡°Well, they''ll probably eat up our stockpile,¡± Amoeboy said, scratching his cheek, ¡°But after that, it just depends on how much we can get from the other granaries. Might even be able to get some from Mt. Redress.¡±


    Tekahentakwa nodded at this. Looked up at Uni.


    ¡°What do they want?¡± Tekahentakwa asked.


    ¡°Luminary wants to meet with you,¡± Uni replied, ¡°They''re waiting for an answer.¡±


    The Clan Mother took a deep, steadying breath. To meet her people''s butcher was no easy thing. Her hands shook as she smoothed over her dress.


    ¡°Right,¡± she said, ¡°I thought this would come.¡±


    Becenti crossed his arms.


    ¡°She won''t hurt you,¡± he said.


    ¡°Are you so sure?¡± Tekahentakwa asked, ¡°She has before.¡±


    ¡°She had the advantage then,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Secrecy hides the greatest of shame. Now that people know, she will be careful.¡±


    ¡°So she will not hurt me in public, then,¡± Tekahentakwa said.


    The old man grimaced.


    ¡°...Correct,¡± he said, ¡°We will not leave your side. Joe or Aldreia will be with you at all times.¡±


    ¡°And what of you, Myron Becenti?¡± Tekahentakwa said.


    Becenti was quiet for a moment.


    ¡°I have some of my own business to attend to,¡± he said, ¡°They are for protecting the Oshya:de, of course. But you must allow me to make actions of my own. Luminary and I, we have unfinished business.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Tekahentakwa said. She turned to Uni, ¡°I will not meet with Mister Meaning outside. I remember him from before, and he is a serpent.¡±


    ¡°Mood,¡± Uni said.


    ¡°I will,¡± Tekahentakwa said, ¡°Consider meeting with Luminary. But for now, I must attend to my people and their needs.¡±


    ¡°She''s gonna want to talk at some point,¡± Amoeboy said, ¡°Bad PR to not.¡±


    ¡°And,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°I worry that the longer we wait, the more she''ll see more extreme methods as... tempting.¡±


    Tekahentakwa looked at each of them.


    ¡°Immediate needs, first,¡± she said, ¡°Amoeboy, will you take me back to your farm?¡±


    ¡°Aye,¡± Amoeboy said, ¡°I''ll get Flying Carpet to take you.¡±


    ¡°We''d better get you a retinue,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Flying metahumans loyal to Luminary might try something drastic.¡±


    Rohahes grimaced.


    ¡°Thunderhead, then,¡± Tekahentakwa said, at once, ¡°Flying Carpet can carry Aldreia Firedawn. Cobalt Joe will join myself and Rohahes.¡±


    ¡°There are a few other winged metahumans we can ask for help, too,¡± Lunus Oculus said.


    ¡°You think they''ll be able to help?¡± Becenti asked, ¡°People are still recovering from the news.¡±


    ¡°I''ll ask around,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°Reach out to a few people who I know who already were chafing.¡±


    Tekahentakwa rose.


    ¡°Very well,¡± she said, ¡°We should be off, then.¡±


    ***


    It was by some miracle, Meaning supposed, that the Workers outside did not immediately tear his and Gallimena''s heads off.


    Perhaps it was the three Warriors flying overhead. Perhaps it was the shock of the news still making people reel. The only response to the pair''s arrival, and subsequent departure, were stares. Whispers and stares. But they both were used to that, for such things are the common companions to metahumans in the multiverse.


    ¡°Well,¡± Mister Meaning said, ¡°This isn''t good.¡±


    Gallimena was quiet.


    Mister Meaning glanced down at her.


    ¡°Something wrong?¡± he asked.


    She had not yet transformed. It occurred to Mister Meaning just how young Gallimena was. Hardly in her twenties. She snorted derisively, looking away from him. Towards the Architects'' Clearing. Those metahumans who had chosen to aid the Oshya:de were there. Dozens of them, though that number would grow.


    ¡°Gallimena,¡± Mister Meaning said, ¡°I know what you must be feeling. Something akin to guilt, hmm?¡±


    She shot him a glare.


    ¡°You were there,¡± Mister Meaning leaned down, ¡°You chose not to have your memories stolen from that time.¡±


    ¡°Weren''t their choice,¡± Gallimena tersed, ¡°The others. Weren''t their choice at all.¡±


    ¡°But it was for you,¡± Mister Meaning said, ¡°Luminary offered that to you. Now, I know you must be feeling rather poor about the situation. But you cannot turn coat now, can you?¡±


    Gallimena did not answer. Did not even glare at him, as she usually did. Mister Meaning stood back up, thin as a needle, tall as a tower.


    ¡°Now,¡± he said, ¡°We have the news to report back to our great Founder. This all will pass in time, Gallimena. We''ve made our beds. We''ll lie in them, and luxuriously so. Come along, now, and carry me to the mountain.¡±


    He smirked at her. Gallimena shot a mutinous look at the other metahuman now, a return to form, for she disliked Mister Meaning immensely. But she did as she was told. Molted back into a raptor, allowed Mister Meaning to climb onto her back, and they made for Mt. Redress once more.

 151. REVULSION OF THE DELUSION

    ¡°Why do I not remember?¡± the Pit asked.


    There was news spreading across the land. That old tale of genocide. Whispered and screamed. Even now, an argument was breaking out between two of the Warriors, far below at the foot of Mt. Redress. The Pit watched them from her perch in one of the observation lounges. She was holding her swollen, pregnant stomach as though there was a true child within, and not the bastardization that represented all of her demonic pacts.


    Far below, one of the Warriors started pushing the other. People gathered ''round the two of them, shouting. One of them tried to separate the Warriors, hands out to either side as the two Warriors stalked the other, two wolves in the circle.


    And then, the conflagration of metahuman power. Flame met with sound. The sonic boom reverberated all the way up to the observation lounge. The Pit shuddered. The pacts in her belly kicked.


    ¡°Why do I not remember?¡± she asked again.


    Pauldros walked into the room. He looked haggard. He sat down across from his lover, his hands clasped together.


    ¡°I...¡± Pauldros said, ¡°Luminary is furious.¡±


    The Pit did not answer.


    Yes, bits and pieces were coming back to her now. Of rupturing like an overinflated balloon. Demons marching in a horrid parade from her split-open body.


    ¡°Most of the Warriors are believing the Workers,¡± Pauldros said, ¡°A lot of word of mouth, but it''s coming from trustworthy sources. People who have no reason to lie. People who went over to the Worker''s town, to see for themselves.¡±


    Demons, so many demons. The Pit had lost count, at times, of just how many infernal things she had broken bread with. Oh, what shame. How used she felt, in body and mind. They tore at brown-skinned people in feather hats and moccasins. Screams in her mind. Yes, they were familiar now.


    ¡°You really think people wouldn''t get violent,¡± Pauldros said, and he nodded at the fight below. A quick spat. Already over.


    (A harbinger, of what was to come.)


    ¡°Meloche, as well as the other teachers, are already heading to the... Oshya:de,¡± the Stonemaker continued.


    Screams. A thousand myriad forms, washing over them in a tide of flesh and horror. Claws tearing children apart. Ripping open man and woman alike. One of them, she recognized as the Crimson Knight, bled the sky scarlet. Overtook the stars. Overtook the moon and the sun.


    Screams. All an orchestra of screams.


    ¡°...My love?¡± Pauldros asked.


    The Pit was crying. She realized this. Thin lines of salt that wetted her marble face. She looked at Pauldros.


    ¡°Why do I not remember?¡± she asked, ¡°I would know if I did something like this.¡±


    ¡°They are tricks of the demons within you,¡± Pauldros said. He did not sound convinced.


    Indeed, the Pit shook her head.


    ¡°No,¡± she rasped, ¡°No no no. You know they cannot access my mind. Not even the most psionic of them. It is part of my ability.¡±


    Her eyes were bloodshot.


    ¡°Why can I not remember?¡±


    ¡°What is it you cannot remember, my dove?¡± Pauldros asked, ¡°Tell me. You''re... you''re scaring me, Pit.¡±


    ¡°You were there, too,¡± the Pit said, and indeed she saw her lover''s face, there in the past. His face had betrayed no emotion. He merely watched as the Pit cracked like an egg. On occasion, when one of the Oshya:de got too close, he or Luminary would flex a finger. Move a hand. Earth or light would enrapture the would-be attacker. And they would be gone. Sunken into the dirt.


    Or crushed by glowing hands.


    ¡°I.. was?¡± Pauldros said, ¡°I don''t understand.¡±


    ¡°Don''t say that you don''t have the nightmares,¡± the Pit said, ¡°The screams.¡±


    ¡°We have led hard lives,¡± Pauldros said, ¡°My dreams are always-¡±


    ¡°Do not excuse,¡± the Pit hissed, ¡°Do you not remember coming here? Before. Before we found paradise.¡±


    And Pauldros was quiet for a long time. He looked out the window, his eyes watering. The Warriors had been broken up from one another. But there was still shouting.


    ¡°...We should talk to Memoire,¡± the Stonemaker said.


    ***


    Dodeca Dorucanthos was something of the black sheep of the family.


    She stood, along with the rest of her family, in their estate. They were in one of the sitting rooms, which had a long couch with plush cushions, enough room for all of them to sit down, if need be. However, only Snapdragon, Jaskaios, and his daughter Aima sat there. Nomatrius Dorucanthos instead sat at a chair by the fireplace. There was no fire, however, for Nomatrius only had it lit in the evenings. A painting of Nomatrius''s wife, Carissa Dorucanthos, rested above. She smiled down upon the family. Only Snapdragon and Jaskaios had really gotten to know their late mother. Dodeca had been only five. Melitta had still been a baby.


    The rainbow-haired youngest daughter stood watching the window. Workers were watching from outside. A few of them were raising up signs, shouting and screaming, though it was muted by the glass.


    And Dodeca stood, arms crossed, at the frame of the door. She glared at her father.


    ¡°So it''s true, then,¡± she said.


    Nomatrius did not reply. Her father was staring at the wall.


    ¡°I just got back from the Worker''s town. The sandstone tower. There were people here,¡± Dodeca said, ¡°There are people here.¡±


    She advanced. Snapdragon rose from their seat.


    ¡°Enough, Dodeca,¡± they said.


    ¡°Bullshit,¡± Dodeca said, and Aima winced, ¡°You knew, didn''t you? You all fucking knew.¡±


    ¡°No, we didn''t,¡± Jaskaios murmured.


    ¡°What was that?¡± Dodeca wheeled on him.


    ¡°I said, we didn''t,¡± Jaskaios said, ¡°You think we''d be able to live with ourselves?¡±


    ¡°Our family''s done worse,¡± Dodeca said, ¡°It runs right in our wheelhouse, doesn''t it, old man?¡±


    She pointed a finger at Nomatrius.


    ¡°What did these people do, that made them deserve what you did?¡±


    ¡°That''s enough,¡± Jaskaios said, ¡°You''re scaring Aima.¡±


    ¡°Then she can leave,¡± Dodeca said, ¡°The adults are talking-¡±


    ¡°I don''t see an ''adult'' before me,¡± Jaskaios spat, ¡°Only a child pretending at-¡±


    ¡°Don''t you start, either,¡± Snapdragon said, ¡°All of you, enough.¡±


    Dodeca glared at Jaskaios. Jaskaios was still sitting down, but his hand was rapping against his knee. Their arguments often ended like this. With venom and barbs, and their older sibling picking up the pieces.


    Melitta, for her part, stayed away from all of this. She walked over to her father, rested a hand on his shoulder.


    ¡°Papa,¡± she said, ¡°...Are you alright?¡±


    Nomatrius looked up at her.


    ¡°I... I am,¡± he said, ¡°I think. I don''t know. I don''t... remember.¡±


    He rubbed his temples.


    ¡°There was that business trip. You remember, don''t you?¡± he said to Snapdragon.


    ¡°You take many such trips,¡± Snapdragon said.


    Dodeca crossed over to the room. Took up Melitta''s spot of looking out the window. There were more Workers out, now. The signs were demanding answers. But they had not crossed into the front lawn of the manor.


    ¡°It was...¡± Nomatrius said, ¡°It was one of the more secret ones. A couple years ago now, I think. Luminary was wanting to meet with me.¡±


    ¡°I had warned you to stay away from her,¡± Jaskaios muttered.


    ¡°She told me of... this place,¡± Nomatrius said, ¡°I don''t remember anything else.¡±


    He was quiet, for a time. Dodeca shook her head, and made for the door.


    ¡°And where are you going?¡± Snapdragon asked.


    ¡°I''m going out to the sandstone tower,¡± Dodeca replied, ¡°Going to see what I can do.¡±


    ¡°Dodeca, don''t be stupid,¡± Snapdragon said, ¡°You are a Dorucanthos.¡±


    ¡°Like hell I am,¡± Dodeca said, and she glared at all of them in the room, ¡°You know what this is, right?¡±


    They were quiet.


    ¡°I''ll tell you what this is. It''s a cover up. A coverup of genocide. We''re metahumans. I thought we were better than this.¡±


    Snapdragon''s mouth tightened into frown.


    ¡°All the same,¡± they said, ¡°They''ll know you''re a Dorucanthos.¡±


    ¡°And they won''t care,¡± Dodeca said, ¡°You don''t know them like I do. Probably because you''ve never talked to them before, have you?¡±


    She walked out the door. Not even a last goodbye. Nothing.


    ¡°What should we do, Papa?¡± Melitta asked.


    But Nomatrius was quiet again. Memories were resurfacing. Of his time on New Ludaya, before the nation and before the Workers and Warriors and Rulers.


    Before, when it was called Gan¨¢:yeht.


    ¡°Oh, god,¡± he said, and he buried his face into his hands, ¡°What have I done?¡±


    ***


    Jaskaios ordered Aima to her room.


    ¡°Dad,¡± she said, ¡°You can''t be serious.¡±


    ¡°It''s dangerous,¡± Jaskaios said, ¡°I''m worried that the Workers will try and do something.¡±


    ¡°People are upset,¡± Aima said, ¡°But come on, I''m old enough to take care of myself. I want to see-¡±


    ¡°See what?¡± Jaskaios said, ¡°It''s hardly been a day, and already people are riled up. Things are going to get worse, Aima, and it''s going to get violent.¡±


    He knelt down to look at her face-to-face, and she could see the anxiety, the fear, etched onto every line of his blue face.


    ¡°When people see injustice, they want to do something about it,¡± he said, ¡°And metahumans are used to seeing injustice. So they see a half-story given to them, and now want to dispense the justice they''ve been so denied. They''ll burn this plane to the ground, just to feel like they''ve done the right thing.¡±


    ¡°A... half-story,¡± Aima said.


    ¡°We don''t have all of the facts,¡± Jaskaios said, ¡°Only the words of a stranger.¡±


    ¡°Dad, you saw Grandfather,¡± Aima said, ¡°I''ve... I''ve never seen him cry before. Never seen him-¡±


    ¡°It is a stressful time,¡± Jaskaios said, ¡°Don''t worry about your grandfather. Just... stay here. I''ll come get you when things calm down.¡±


    Aima''s eyes widened.


    ¡°Wait,¡± she said, ¡°W-Where are you going?¡±


    Her father was opening the window. Climbing out, and he was assuming his cloudform. Flesh became water vapor.


    ¡°Your entle Snapdragon thinks it''s best if we go to Mt. Redress as a group,¡± Jaskaios said, ¡°I''ll be carrying your grandfather through the sky, since all the protestors are below. Your aunt Melitta''s to stay here, and look after you.¡±


    Indeed, on the ground, Melitta Dorucanthos was burying fingernails in the soft earth of the estate. Her nail-soldiers pulled themselves from the ground, and began to patrol the manor.


    ¡°Stay here,¡± Jaskaios said, ¡°I love you.¡±


    And he was off. Whispering as a cloud to pick up her grandfather. She saw him lift Nomatrius into the sky, holding him aloft as though he were a fluffy palanquin. Entle Snapdragon was wheeling about in the sky with them on Draconic wings. They waited for a few moments for Jaskaios to fly beside them, then as a strange flock of three, they were off.


    Aima heard a knock at the door. She turned around. Melitta was there. Smiling at her, ever the ''fun'' aunt, but there was a forced nature to it. Like she was trying to hold it together.


    ¡°I thought I''d make us a snack,¡± she said, ¡°You want anything?¡±


    Aima blinked.


    ¡°No thanks,¡± she said, ¡°I''m... I''m good.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Melitta said, and she sighed, ¡°Crazy world, huh?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Aima said.


    And now her aunt looked at her, and though she was still smiling, there was warning in her voice.


    ¡°You heard your father,¡± she said, ¡°Don''t leave the house. I can see that look on your face.¡±


    Indeed, through the window Aima could see one of her aunt¡¯s nail-soldiers climbing onto the balcony. It hoisted itself over the railing, then stood at attention.


    ¡°Wouldn''t dream of it,¡± Aima said.


    Aunt Melitta nodded at that.


    ¡°Well, if you want anything, just say the word,¡± she said. And was off.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    It was a few hours before Aima decided that enough was enough.


    And so, she decided to do something.


    Her father, notably, had left no sharp objects in her bedroom. Cutlery was for the kitchen and dining room only. Any pens were to be asked for, and only under the strictest of supervision. Any sharp edge had to be filed off into blunted knubs. All to make sure she could not bleed. For Aima Dorucanthos''s power was to create illusions when her blood was exposed to open air. The more she bled, the more powerful the illusion.


    There had been a time when she had fallen while on a business trip on Kelstonda. It had just been her entle Snapdragon and her, and they had been trying to keep a low profile, for business on Kelstonda could be risky. A gash to the forehead, and her illusion powers hid her away from her entle, who had spent most of the day looking for her, almost ruining a potential business meeting with investors from the Marlish Empire.


    She still had the scar on her forehead to show for it. A trophy, for her Awakening.


    Since then, her father had tried to hamper her abilities. They were only to be trained when he was around. Any injury she gave herself was to be tended to immediately. It was, in his eyes, the ultimate father''s fear. In order for his daughter to flourish, she must harm herself.


    But her family underestimated how potent Aima''s power could be. How potent it had become.


    She dug her fingernails into her arm. Hard. She bit on her lip, powering through the sharp pain as she raked slowly down her skin, red pepperish dots emerging from underneath. She exhaled, and began to craft her illusion. She made herself invisible. Made a copy of herself to sit at the seat of her bed, reading a book.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    And then, she opened the door to the balcony, though she projected the illusion that it was still closed. The nail-soldier hardly noticed.


    And she climbed over, as she had so many times before. The protests below had dispersed a bit, with Nomatrius''s leaving. But there were still a few people milling about, watching the estate for any sign of change. No one took note of her.


    For she still was bleeding from the marks on her arm.


    All of New Ludaya was talking. People on the road were talking openly about the Oshya:de. Some were on their side. Others were not.


    Everyone, as far as she could tell, was some shade of anger.


    She did not take any wagons. Did not take any carts. She merely continued onwards, sometimes jogging, sometimes walking.


    Her grandfather did not remember. He told tales of the past, when this land was called something else. He broke down sobbing at them. Guilt in every cry.


    She had never seen Nomatrius Dorucanthos cry.


    And she only knew of one metahuman with such powerful ability over memory.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    She found Memoire by the lake.


    Not at Mt. Redress, where one would have expected her. But then, the mountain was awash with movement. Panic. Organization, as the Shadow of the Giant sent out Warriors to different communities across New Ludaya, the small communes and the large town, to keep watch and make sure the Workers didn''t go completely berserk. Far too much anxiety for Memoire.


    Who, instead, sat at the shores of the lake. It was quiet here, for many of the Warriors were out on the plane. A few loons called in the distance. Something rippled near the lake''s middle. Dragonflies skirted over the surface. A crane picked through the reeds.


    Aima dropped her power. Appeared out of seeming thin air.


    ¡°Memoire,¡± she said.


    The older metahuman turned. She had been... crying. Tear marks strained down her face, which had matted down as though they had wettened papyrus. She was holding her knees to her chest. Was rocking as she considered Aima.


    Then, she turned back to look at the lake. Aima took this as permission to go to her side, once more.


    The two sat for a while.


    Memoire wiped her eyes.


    ¡°...You shouldn''t be here, child,¡± she said, ¡°These have become dangerous times.¡±


    ¡°I can take care of myself,¡± Aima said.


    ¡°People are confused. People are uncertain,¡± Memoire said, ¡°It''s my fault. It''s all my fault.¡±


    ¡°H-How is it your fault?¡± Aima asked.


    ¡°She asked me to do things,¡± Memoire said, ¡°I should never have done this. We shouldn''t have done this.¡±


    She was breaking down again. Buried her face in her knees. Began to shake.


    ¡°N-Never, never never never.¡±


    Aima allowed her time. Shouts came from up the road. Someone was having trouble with a wagon, by the sounds of it, a broken wheel. Another metahuman grew in size, lifted the thing wholesale. He should have been a Warrior, but he did the job of a Worker.


    And then she heard someone approach.


    ¡°Ah, I thought I''d find you here.¡±


    Aima turned. Memoire did not need to.


    ¡°Hello, Meloche,¡± the Seat of Secrets said, ¡°I hope you are well.¡±


    He was a metahuman. Sap covered his entire body, layer after layer, to the point that he looked almost like a humanoid glob than anything else. Dirt and grass stuck to Meloche''s feet as he walked down to join them. He was wearing a satchel stuffed with papers and coins, and Aima could see the barest hint of a skeleton within the mass.


    ¡°You really fucked things up, didn''t you?¡± Meloche asked.


    Memoire winced. Aima stood.


    ¡°Don''t you hurt her,¡± she said.


    Meloche looked at her.


    ¡°...You''re Aima Dorucanthos, yes?¡± he said, ¡°You come to my lessons every once in a while.¡±


    ¡°My father made me,¡± Aima said.


    ¡°A bit too heady for you?¡± Meloche asked, ¡°My lectures often involve more... esoteric concepts.¡±


    Memoire wiped her face. Looked at Meloche.


    ¡°What do you want, philosopher?¡±


    ¡°Merely to hand in my resignation,¡± Meloche said, ¡°I was hoping to find someone more suitable on the Council. Pauldros the Stonemaker or Iconoclast. But you''ll have to do.¡±


    Memoire sighed.


    ¡°Where will you go?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Where do you think?¡± Meloche said, ¡°I go to the Oshya:de. To that sandstone tower.¡±


    ¡°So you''re turning our backs on us, too, then.¡±


    ¡°I will not be party to genocide,¡± Meloche said, ¡°Any more than I already have been. You have damned us, Memoire. Every metahuman here. You have made us accomplices to your atrocity.¡±


    ¡°We didn''t do anything,¡± Aima shot back, ¡°How the hell are we accomplices?¡±


    ¡°We live on stolen land,¡± Meloche said, ¡°We have used it for farms. For erecting buildings. We have chopped down forests, and hollowed out mountains. We benefit from the sins of what you have done.¡±


    ¡°My father said there are half-truths everywhere,¡± Aima said, ¡°How do you know Memoire did anything?¡±


    ¡°It does not matter what she did, or did not do,¡± Meloche said, ¡°She holds a seat on the Council. You are more than just yourself, up there. You are the face of the nation. A nation that has slaughtered a people.¡±


    ¡°That doesn''t mean she should have to pay for its crimes,¡± Aima said, ¡°Even if they are true, even if-¡±


    ¡°Please, Aima,¡± Memoire said, ¡°You don''t need to defend me. He speaks the truth, and nothing but.¡±


    She did not meet Meloche''s face. But she half-turned, at least.


    ¡°You always were so forthright, philosopher,¡± she said.


    Aima''s brow furrowed.


    Then, she realized what the Councilwoman was saying.


    And she stumbled back, her eyes wide.


    ¡°You were there,¡± she said, ¡°You... all of it. It''s true.¡±


    Memoire did not reply.


    She merely nodded.


    Meloche shifted uncomfortably.


    ¡°Gods, Memoire,¡± he said, ¡°I...¡±


    He looked away.


    ¡°I didn''t want to believe it, you know,¡± he said, ¡°I could see Luminary doing this. Iconoclast, too. They roped you all into this delusion, didn''t they?¡±


    The lake was still. The crane had stopped. It was lowering its neck lower and lower towards the water, its eyes set on something in the murk.


    ¡°Though that does not excuse you,¡± Meloche said, ¡°Convinced or not, on Luminary''s order or not, you are not a tool. You are your own person, at the end of the day.¡±


    Memoire was crying again. Tears were rolling down her paper-like face. The symbols on her body shook and shimmered.


    ¡°When we first met, ten years ago,¡± Meloche said, ¡°I had heard stories of you. The great Memoire, who could take pain away. Who manipulated memory as though it were sand. The mind was a plaything to her. And she was kind. Above all, she was kind. She did not use her power for selfish gain. She did it to help people, to ease us.¡±


    The crane speared whatever it was hunting for. A fish flapped in its mouth, gored by its upper beak.


    ¡°...Well,¡± Meloche said, ¡°I know what I must do. I must help to make things right. I suggest you look in the mirror, Memoire, and ask yourself the same question.¡±


    He looked at the aghast Aima.


    ¡°What will you do, young Dorucanthos?¡±


    Aima had gone pale. As the revelations washed over her.


    Her sobbing grandfather.


    Her conversation the other night with Memoire, at this very lake.


    ¡°I... I don''t know.¡±


    ¡°That is alright, I suppose,¡± Meloche said, ¡°You are a child. You are still growing. In the ideal world, you would not be involved at all.¡±


    Aima shook her head.


    ¡°But I am, aren''t I?¡± she said.


    ¡°You are,¡± Meloche said, ¡°We all are. But take your time to think. To reflect. And do so in a safe place. You should go home for now, Aima Dorucanthos, before the cooler heads grow hot.¡±


    Aima did not reply.


    The philosopher paused.


    ¡°The future is not an easy road,¡± he said, ¡°It will get violent.¡±


    ¡°I''m prepared for that,¡± Aima said, ¡°I''m used to violence.¡±


    ¡°I wish it were not so,¡± Meloche murmured, ¡°Very well. Make your decisions. If you choose to join us, know that we will be waiting.¡±


    He turned to Memoire.


    ¡°I will see you when we dream again, Memoire,¡± he said.


    He left them. A few minutes later, heeding Meloche''s words, Aima bade her goodbye as well.


    Memoire stared down at the water. At her reflection in the lake. How she had aged in so short a time. How guilt had eaten at her features, though only she knew this, for very few others wondered at how one with a power like hers would change with time. She had fewer symbols as a child. But as she grew up, more and more appeared on her. Hieroglyphs and words and letters from a hundred different cultures, each more ancient than the last. If she reached old age, she had wondered long ago, would her face, her skin, reflect the first languages of the multiverse?


    But she was not sure if she would reach old age.


    (Nor did she think she deserved it.)


    Luminary would be convening the Council soon. Memoire stood up.


    And walked back onto the path. For Mt. Redress, and what was to come there.


    ***


    The Council met in their old chambers. The sky overhead leering down at them. In judgment, in some of their eyes.


    This meeting was not a normal one. Not only because of the new circumstances. The revelation. Of them all, Luminary sat at her most relaxed. She was statue-still, demure and frowning, as they had always known her. Iconoclast''s entire body was contorted, as though he were ready to pounce on any of them. His eyes were hard and burning.


    The Pit looked mutinous. Her entire form shook with rage. Pauldros the Stonemaker sat beside her, shuffling in his seat at times. He was tapping the table again, each time making small towers of rock erupt from its surface, then sink back down, waves upon rippling waves.


    Lord Freak was still smiling his shark tooth smile, but there was an edge to his grin. He knew full well what the contents of today''s meeting would be about. He seemed almost joyful.


    It made Nomatrius Dorucanthos want to leap across the table and throttle him.


    Instead, the patriarch of the Dorucanthos family, one of the primary investors in the project that was New Ludaya, sat leaning in his chair. His two eldest, Snapdragon and Jaskaios, flanked him on either side. Snapdragon had their arms crossed. One of Jaskaio''s ears flickered. Both of them looked serious and prepared, expecting the meeting to devolve into violence.


    And, across from Luminary was the miserable Memoire. Curled up in her chair, wrapped up in her own arms and legs, hands crossed to each shoulder and rubbing them as though she were cold.


    There was a moment of pause.


    Then...


    ¡°What the hell happened, Luminary.¡±


    It was the Pit. Her voice was low and dangerous.


    Luminary took a second to respond. She considered the Pit for a few seconds.


    ¡°...So you''ve heard,¡± she said.


    ¡°Yes,¡± the Pit said, ¡°I''ve heard it all. And I remember it.¡±


    She turned to glare at Memoire.


    ¡°What did you do to us, you sniveling little monster?¡±


    Memoire flinched.


    Lord Freak laughed.


    ¡°She just did clean-up,¡± he said, ¡°I think you''re projecting, Pit.¡±


    The Seat of Magic wheeled on the Seat of Science. Lord Freak had his hands clasped on the table. Luminary sighed.


    ¡°Don''t egg her on, Lord Freak,¡± she said.


    ¡°She''s the one swinging,¡± Lord Freak said, ¡°I understand your anger, Pit dear, but do try to control it-¡±


    ¡°Damn you!¡±


    She leaped from her chair. The table seized, then shifted upwards, catching her and settling her down. The Pit, spluttering, lowered back to her seat. Pauldros guiltily reset the chair to its original point.


    ¡°We came for answers, my dove,¡± he said.


    The Pit forced her anger down. Shook, once more, and said nothing else.


    ¡°I''m curious, too,¡± Nomatrius said, and he glanced at the table, ¡°Obviously, only a few of us got our minds wiped by Memoire.¡±


    ¡°And how do you know that?¡± Luminary said.


    ¡°Because some of us are angry, some of us are sad, and some of us don''t seem to care,¡± Nomatrius replied, ¡°The Freak''s enough of a bastard that I wouldn''t be surprised if you let him off his leash.¡±


    ¡°I''m not that monstrous,¡± Luminary said, ¡°Part of our deal for Lord Freak remaining on New Ludaya was that he couldn''t experiment on the Oshya:de.¡±


    She looked at Pauldros.


    ¡°It was you who insisted on that.¡±


    Pauldros shifted in his seat.


    ¡°It was also you who insisted that the Oshya:de would get to live in the caves,¡± Luminary said, ¡°Enough clearing away that we would have a space for ourselves, but not all of them, lest our hands be completely drenched.¡±


    ¡°Easy for you to say,¡± the Pit said, incandescent, ¡°I... I... I split myself open, Luminary, I have done that but once before, and it was... it was...¡±


    She looked about to throw herself at the old woman. Luminary shook her head.


    ¡°You agreed to it,¡± Luminary said, ¡°It was either that, or we risk losing the plane. The tactical advantages that New Ludaya provides. I did not believe that the seven of us would be able to found our nation without you making an ultimate sacrifice.¡±


    The Pit swallowed.


    ¡°You were smiling, as I recall,¡± Luminary said.


    The Pit went silent.


    For she had been.


    (She had never done what she had done before, and she had found it exhilarating.)


    Luminary turned her attention to the rest of the Council.


    ¡°You all did,¡± Luminary said, ¡°Every single one of you. The seven of us gathered. And we agreed on this plane. When the Oshya:de refused our offer to sell their land, we made the necessary, and difficult, decision to remove them.¡±


    Memoire broke into tears. Pauldros got up from the table in a daze. He paced around the room for a few seconds, before slumping against the wall. The Pit had not moved. She grappled with the realization. And fresh memories.


    Yes, she saw Lord Freak there. Laughing amidst a sea of fire. One of his horrid machines was cutting up a crowd of Oshya:de warriors, multiple long scythes cutting them down as though it were a fall harvest.


    Pauldros held her in his arms. He tried not to see the rent in her stomach, the constant disgorging of horrors. No, he looked at her face.


    ¡°It''s okay, baby,¡± he said, ¡°It''s going to be fine. Keep breathing, in and out. You got it...¡±


    He looked afraid, in her memory. He looked panicked. The sky was red and he had not expected just how intense things would become. How the slash in her belly looked like it had been made by claws. The first of the demons, Balaphos the Foremost, had literally ripped her from the inside out for his freedom.


    There was a way that Pauldros had looked at her, back then, something akin to fear in his eyes.


    (And that fear was returning, now, as Pauldros in the present looked up to the Pit at the table. Memories re-awakened more than guilt.)


    Nomatrius was tight-lipped, even as Snapdragon looked aghast, as Jaskaios''s ears flickered in agitation, though his face was set.


    The patriarch looked over to Iconoclast.


    ¡°And you?¡± he said, ¡°Did you know, too?¡±


    The Seat of History looked over at the Seat of Commerce.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Iconoclast said, ¡°I feel guilt. But I did not react as you had.¡±


    The Pit glanced at Nomatrius. Yes. Pauldros had been shouting, as the sky went red.


    ¡°I didn''t sign up for this!¡± he had roared at Iconoclast, ¡°We were going to remove them, not slaughter them! Drive them out, not butcher them like animals!¡±


    ¡°What the hell did you expect?!¡± Iconoclast had retorted, ¡°That they would just take our orders lying down? You cannot have change without violence!¡±


    ¡°They were never going to leave without a fight,¡± the present Seat of History said, ¡°You know that. We have made them refugees.¡±


    Nomatrius shook his head.


    ¡°This is beyond the pale,¡± he said, ¡°This is...¡±


    ¡°It was necessary,¡± Iconoclast said, ¡°And I carry the scars of that work that we did. I will carry it for the rest of my life. History will not look kindly on us, now.¡±


    He looked directly at Nomatrius and his disapproval. Met it in the eye.


    ¡°But since when have we metahumans been friends of history?¡± he said.


    The room was quiet. Luminary sighed.


    ¡°What''s done, is done,¡± she said, ¡°We live with what we must.¡±


    The Pit started at that. Nomatrius shook his head.


    ¡°It doesn''t work like that,¡± he said, ¡°These Oshya:de, they will come back. They already are coming back, based on the rumors.¡±


    ¡°And yet we are here, already,¡± Luminary said, ¡°This is our home now, as much as it is theirs. I will not give up on New Ludaya.¡±


    Memoire''s crying had turned into soft whimpers. Nomatrius simply shook his head again.


    Luminary turned to him, first.


    ¡°You are one of the primary investors here,¡± Luminary said, ¡°All of your time here will go to waste, if you do what these Oshya:de say. They will tell you to leave. To go back to the multiverse, and not come back. Millions of credits, gone.¡±


    Nomatrius bit the inside of his cheek.


    He studied Luminary for a few moments.


    ¡°I have invested quite a bit into this plane,¡± he said.


    ¡°The weapons. The training. The machinery,¡± Luminary said, ¡°All of this is from you. And you have been operating at a loss for quite some time now, haven''t you? Will your family be able to live as they have lived, if you pull out now?¡±


    She shook her head.


    ¡°You profit, when the time comes,¡± she said, ¡°First run of any planet freed from the Federation. That was your deal, was it not?¡±


    Nomatrius did not respond. Could not. For what Luminary said was true.


    If they pulled out now, he would be destitute.


    He stared down at the table in shame.


    (Shame, and deep thought.)


    ¡°And you, Memoire,¡± Luminary said.


    ¡°Don''t talk to me!¡± Memoire screamed.


    She stumbled out of her chair. Ran out of the room. Lord Freak barked out a laugh.


    ¡°I''m surprised she lasted this long!¡± he cawed, ¡°Really, Luminary, you put so much pressure on the girl.¡±


    ¡°Enough of that, Freak,¡± Luminary said, ¡°She did what was necessary. We all feel guilt in our actions. But it won for us a home-¡±


    ¡°You speak like them,¡± the Pit said.


    Luminary blinked.


    ¡°You speak like the High Federation speaks,¡± the Pit muttered, ¡°The same justifications.¡±


    ¡°And you,¡± Luminary spat, ¡°Acted like them.¡±


    The Pit flinched as though she had been slapped. Again the rage filled her form, and she rose.


    And now she was weaving something in her hands. A spell. A calling, for her demons, her collection of horrors and monsters.


    And now Iconoclast was acting, far faster than the Pit had anticipated. A quick chop to the throat to gag her, and she doubled over. Iconoclast grabbed the back of her neck, and produced a slab of metal from his pocket. In his hands, it dissolved and warped into vines that wrapped around her arm, pulled it to the side, held it fast.


    Lord Freak rose now, and he produced from one of his sleeves a syringe. As the Pit let out a ragged scream, he jammed it into her arm, pressing down and injecting her with a clear liquid. The Pit''s eyes started to loll. She went limp.


    Pauldros did nothing.


    He merely stared at the table.


    ¡°Nasty business,¡± Luminary said, ¡°You didn''t kill her, did you?¡±


    ¡°Of course not,¡± Lord Freak said, ¡°A sleeping potion of my own design. I have the antidote, if you wish for me to administer it.¡±


    ¡°Not yet,¡± Luminary said, ¡°Let''s let things calm down.¡±


    She glanced at the remains of the Council.


    ¡°And what will you all do?¡± she asked.


    Pauldros did not reply. Luminary took that as answer.


    ¡°And you, Nomatrius?¡± she asked.


    ¡°...I need time to think,¡± Nomatrius said, and he rose from his seat, ¡°Don''t try to do to me what you just did to the Pit.¡±


    Snapdragon''s head was morphing into a Dragon''s. Jaskaios was assuming his cloud-like form, his arms elongating and his hands growing to the size of wrecking balls. But Luminary shook her head.


    ¡°The Pit was about to do something drastic,¡± she said, ¡°You seem like a thoughtful man, Nomatrius. Take your time. Then, give me your answer. You''re free to return to your home.¡±


    Nomatrius nodded.


    ¡°Let''s go,¡± he said.


    Jaskaios fully enveloped his father, carrying him up through the opening in the mountain. Snapdragon followed behind, taking off with Draconic wings. Luminary, Iconoclast, and Lord Freak watched them go.


    ¡°And Memoire?¡± Iconoclast asked.


    ¡°...Freak,¡± Luminary said, ¡°Take a few Warriors, and find her. Be careful.¡±


    ¡°Why, of course,¡± Lord Freak said, ¡°I think dear Memoire could use a rest.¡±


    He left the room.


    Luminary looked to Iconoclast.


    ¡°The worst has come to pass,¡± she said, ¡°I want you to take a group of Warriors and go up to Amoeboy''s commune. Do what you have to do. Take the Shadow of the Giant with you.¡±


    ¡°You''ve vetted him?¡± Iconoclast said.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Luminary said, ¡°He agrees.¡±


    The Seat of History nodded. He moved past her and out the door.


    Only Luminary and Pauldros were in the room. Luminary moved away from the table. Walked over to the Stonemaker. She knelt down beside him.


    ¡°I am sorry, for what we had to do with the Pit,¡± she said.


    He looked up at her.


    ¡°Take your time,¡± Luminary said, ¡°To decide what you need to do. But do not become my enemy, Pauldros, I beg of you.¡±


    She stood.


    ¡°I''ll be waiting,¡± she said.


    And then she, too, left the Council chambers. Leaving the Stonemaker to his guilt in the room that he built.

 152. BY FIRE AND BY METAGENE

    ¡°Thar¡¯s word,¡± Amoeboy said, ¡°It looks like the Oshya:de are headed over here.¡±


    They had returned to the old farmer''s commune. Metahumans were busy here, unloading sacks of grain from wagons and carts and beasts of burden. They had been working since late last night, taking shifts, the night crew sleeping, tentless, on the grass. Cobalt Joe helped them with this, his electric soul jutting from his back. Aldreia watched as they unloaded, occasionally helping them. But her role today was to be a guard.


    She kept watching the horizon. To the west, and to the south. It would be another day or so if the Oshya:de were to come here. They were not like the winged metahumans who had accompanied them here, carrying other Workers aloft to help Amoeboy and Tekahentakwa organize food, water, and what was the barest beginnings of a tent city. They were walking on foot. Near starvation.


    Indeed, a few of the carts were wheeling westwards. To meet with the refugees as they streamed towards the commune. Nasir and Evancar were with them. Aldreia found herself surprised that Iandi had not volunteered to join them here. But the Mark Eta''s size made it difficult. He wouldn''t be able to fit into Thunderhead, and Flying Carpet was too busy lifting heavy supplies there. Iandi alone was a single trip.


    These thoughts were on her mind as Cobalt Joe walked up to her. He had been pushing himself hard these last few days. Even with what little sleep he could afford, he still looked exhausted.


    ¡°You think they''ll come here?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Who, the Oshya:de?¡± Aldreia asked.


    ¡°Luminary.¡±


    The cleric''s brow furrowed.


    ¡°Right,¡± she said, ¡°Or people loyal to her, I suppose.¡±


    Her floating fires flickered for a second, dimming and then spluttering back to life. Joe tilted his head as he looked at her.


    ¡°You met that one girl, right?¡± he said, ¡°One of the...¡±


    ¡°Dorucanthos,¡± Aldreia said, ¡°Yes.¡±


    It took the metahuman a few moments to recollect them. Yes, the Dorucanthos family. One of whom was on the Council.


    ¡°Shit,¡± he said, ¡°You think she''s-¡±


    ¡°Drop it, Joe,¡± Aldreia said, and she crossed her arms, looking away, ¡°Just... drop it.¡±


    Joe shook his head, stuffing his hands into his pockets. A few of Amoeboy''s enlarged paramecium were pulling a cart now, driven by a wolf-headed metahuman. Needle''s hay was floating about the place. Every single piece, Joe realized, was an eye.


    She was keeping watch, and he relaxed somewhat.


    ¡°Look,¡± Joe said, ¡°There''s no way that she could have known.¡±


    ¡°I said-¡± Aldreia spat, and then she paused. Her bottom lip quivered. But she controlled herself, ¡°I''m sorry. I shouldn''t snap at you.¡±


    ¡°It''s fine,¡± Joe said.


    ¡°I shouldn''t have brushed you off before, either,¡± Aldreia said, ¡°Before all of this.¡±


    ¡°I don''t blame you,¡± Joe said, ¡°I probably would''ve done the same.¡±


    Aldreia shook her head.


    ¡°You wouldn''t have,¡± she said, ¡°You know that.¡±


    Joe shrugged.


    ¡°...She is a Dorucanthos,¡± Aldreia said, ¡°Melitta. She''s wonderful, Joe. I don''t know if she''d be... alright, with all of this nonsense.¡±


    At this, the metahuman chuckled.


    ¡°The nonsense of nation, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Aldreia said, and she smiled. Like Joe''s, it was hard and bitter, ¡°I don''t know what she''s thinking right now. I don''t even know where she is.¡±


    Her hands were shaking.


    ¡°And if she''s with... with Luminary, I don''t know what I''ll do.¡±


    Joe nodded.


    ¡°You''ve fallen for her hard.¡±


    ¡°Tch,¡± Aldreia said, ¡°What else is new. That''s the problem with wearing your heart on your sleeve when your robes always get dirty.¡±


    Needle coalesced into a humanoid form beside Amoeboy, who was at the barn. She pointed in the distance.


    To the south.


    Aldreia sighed.


    ¡°Looks like we''ve got company,¡± she said.


    She snapped a finger, and a fire sparked to life in her palm. Joe''s soul erupted from his back.


    It was late in the day, and the wind had ceased. As though the world itself knew better than to speak.


    ***


    One of the Workers had the ability to transmute water into coffee. She poured out a cup for Becenti now. He had not slept well. For whenever he did, nightmares would overtake him. Sleep paralysis would set in, holding him in that place between rest and wakefulness, and he would feel an immense pressure on his chest, as though the world had moved from his shoulders to his heart.


    So no, he did not sleep. He instead sat at the table in the sandstone tower, occasionally reading one of Tallneck''s books, or tapping on the table''s surface. He paced the room. His heart was hammering, as the stress and the anxieties overwhelmed him.


    ¡°Myron Becenti.¡±


    The older man turned. Meloche was there. Aye, Meloche. The philosopher had arrived earlier in the day, and had set to work with helping organize food to be sent to the Oshya:de, from the granaries dotted around New Ludaya. There had been talks about going into the storage caverns in Mt. Redress, but that place was increasingly becoming locked down with the Workers protesting near the site.


    ¡°Meloche,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Please, have a seat.¡±


    The mound of sap sat at the table. Becenti joined him, and the two of them listened to the sounds outside. A few Workers patrolling the tower.


    ¡°Amazing, isn''t it,¡± Becenti said, ¡°A mere day, and already so many people are up and protesting the Council.¡±


    ¡°It''s not just the Oshya:de,¡± Meloche said, ¡°I believe they are the straw that has broken the camel''s back. It''s... everything about this place.¡±


    Becenti nodded.


    ¡°The Workers. The Warriors.¡±


    ¡°The Rulers, too,¡± Meloche said, ¡°New Ludaya, as it is now, is not a democratic nation. It was Luminary who assembled the Council. If the nation continues, without change, then it will be very unequal indeed.¡±


    ¡°...It stands against what I wanted it to be,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Of course it does,¡± Meloche said, ¡°You weren''t there to put the foundations down.¡±


    ¡°I had thought,¡± Becenti said, ¡°That Luminary and I had the same idea. The same dream. That we could make a place where we would be free.¡±


    He shook his head.


    ¡°But this place is not free.¡±


    ¡°No nation is,¡± Meloche said, ¡°To be within a nation implies a certain degree of oppression.¡±


    Becenti looked up at the philosopher, a grim smile painted on his face.


    ¡°Reading some of the more radical thinkers?¡± he said.


    ¡°All thinking is radical, when it comes to politics,¡± Meloche said, ¡°But my literature as of late has been more... pertinent, to our situation.¡±


    He looked out the window.


    ¡°It is, quite frankly, terrifying,¡± he said, ¡°That we can be no better than our oppressors. When the High Federation finds us, I fear it will be like looking into a mirror.¡±


    Movement outside.


    Shouts and warnings.


    And a second dawn was approaching. Pulling the light of the day around herself like a shining frozen star.


    The woman in white.


    Luminary.


    Becenti glared at her.


    ¡°She''ll want an audience, I suppose,¡± Meloche said.


    ¡°Do you think she''s alone?¡± Becenti asked.


    ¡°You know her better than I do,¡± the philosopher said.


    ¡°Do I?¡± Becenti said, ¡°You''ve worked with her more, here. I only knew the Luminary of the past.¡±


    ¡°Are they not the same?¡± Meloche said.


    The old metahuman shot the philosopher a ferocious glare. But then, he considered the truth in Meloche''s words. He sighed, rubbed his temples for a moment, as the feelings of guilt and betrayal bubbled up once more.


    ¡°...She is more than capable of defending herself,¡± he said, ¡°I doubt she will have anyone with her aside from, perhaps, Mister Meaning.¡±


    Tallneck poked his head up from the bottom floor. He looked panicked. Becenti waved at him with a hand.


    ¡°She won''t attack us,¡± Becenti said to him.


    ¡°A-Are you quite sure?¡± the teacher asked, stricken, ¡°She''s alone. And that''s quite a bit of light she''s pulling in.¡±


    ¡°Trust me,¡± Becenti said, ¡°If she were going to attack this place, she would have leveled this place from a distance.¡±


    ¡°She is that powerful?¡± Tallneck asked.


    ¡°She is,¡± Becenti said, ¡°...Let her in, I suppose. We will talk.¡±


    ***


    Luminary was, indeed, alone. Not even Mister Meaning accompanied her. That set off alarm bells for others in the tower, for it meant that she was multi-tasking, setting her aide to undertake action on her behalf. She approached the entrance to the tower with a grim smile on her face, ever putting on the facade of the matron. Uni resisted the urge to open fire on her immediately. But no. Light was dancing around Luminary, five strands that spun around her like the rings of a gas giant. Even more shapes floated in the air, glowing celestial needles that she could rain upon the tower at once, if she so chose.


    Rainbowfish greeted her, flipping a coin absently in his hand as she waited at the door. His eyes narrowed at her.


    ¡°Founder,¡± he said.


    ¡°Rainbowfish,¡± Luminary said, ¡°I come in peace.¡±


    ¡°Drop the light show,¡± Rainbowfish replied, ¡°And you''re free to enter.¡±


    ¡°I do this for my own safety,¡± Luminary replied, ¡°How do I know that you will not harm me when I go inside?¡±


    ¡°Becenti assures me, you will not be harmed,¡± Rainbowfish said, ¡°Release your hold, Luminary. And you may enter.¡±


    The old woman considered that, before nodding. The light dispelled. Every needle. Every arrow. The rings.


    All, save one. It floated in the air, hovering in place near the fourth floor. Luminary flicked her wrist, and the glow disappeared, melding with the light of the day. Thus camouflaged, she feigned acquiescence. And Rainbowfish let her inside.


    She ascended the stairs, led upwards by Rainbowfish. Uni took up the rear, hemming her in. They brought her up to the fifth floor, towards the same table that, just the previous night, Becenti had sworn to protect Tekahentakwa. He sat there now, his face grave and exhausted. Meloche sat next to his right, Tallneck to his left, and the teacher stared far down at Luminary. Kehaulani had been chosen to speak there as well, as another perspective of the Workers. Eksonis was in another building, and he and one of the midwives, Paper Puzzle, tended to her son.


    Amidst the books and the tall windows.


    (And the spear of light levitated, invisible, up to stare down at the Workers.)


    ¡°Myron,¡± Luminary said.


    Becenti did not reply.


    ¡°Meloche. Tallneck,¡± Luminary said, ¡°I''m surprised that you two had the gumption to pull something like this off.¡±


    Tallneck went pale. Meloche shrugged.


    ¡°I had little to do with it,¡± the philosopher said, ¡°I heard the truth, and I acted on it.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Luminary said, unimpressed, and she looked at Kehaulani, ¡°You. I remember you. Your son is a native of this plane, is he not?¡±


    Kehaulani shook her head.


    ¡°He is not.¡±


    ¡°He was born here, and therefore he is native,¡± Luminary said, ¡°Is that not how this goes? It is how we have survived, in the past.¡±


    ¡°It is colonization,¡± Becenti said.


    His voice was hard. Hard and professional. He was putting on a front, Luminary knew. She had heard that tone so many times from her little brother. She usually smiled at this. Smiled at Shimmer''s antics, at his attempt to portray himself as the stoic.


    She was not smiling now.


    Instead, she strode forward, and took a seat.


    ¡°I will start,¡± she said, ¡°With my demands.¡±


    ¡°Your demands,¡± Becenti said, flatly.


    ¡°My cards on the table,¡± Luminary said, ¡°I have spoken with the Council. And I come to you as their representative.¡±


    ¡°Interesting,¡± Meloche said, ¡°You, yourself, come? And not your lapdog, Meaning?¡±


    Luminary''s frown deepened.


    ¡°Mister Meaning is on other business,¡± Luminary said, ¡°These have become busy times.¡±


    She shook her head.


    ¡°I will start by saying that I am aware of the news that has been coming and going throughout our nation,¡± she continued, ¡°About those inhabitants who used to live on this plane-¡±


    ¡°Who still do,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°-And their current situation,¡± Luminary said, ¡°And while we are... regretful, of these circumstances, that does not change that over thirty thousand metahumans now call this plane home.¡±


    ¡°You butchered them,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°I did what was necessary,¡± Luminary said.


    He went quiet at this. Meloche took point, now.


    ¡°What are your demands?¡± he asked.


    ¡°That all Workers immediately return to their duties,¡± Luminary said, ¡°The Council will speak with the leaders of the former inhabitants, and a deal will be struck. There is still time for negotiation. They may live on this plane. Perhaps they may purchase living space from us. That, or when we are stronger, and more numerous, we can find another plane they are willing to live on.¡±


    ¡°That is genocide,¡± Meloche said.


    Luminary shook her head.


    ¡°Do not tell me what is, or is not, genocide,¡± she said, ¡°I have experienced it.¡±


    ¡°As have I,¡± Meloche said, ¡°I think most of us on this plane have. And the removal of a people from their native land, by force, is genocide.¡±


    ¡°It would not be by force,¡± Luminary said.


    ¡°Quite on the contrary,¡± Meloche said, ¡°You come from a position of power, after you have slaughtered them and forced them into caverns with little food and water. ''Force'' in this scenario is the implicit threat of violence.¡±


    ¡°There would be no violence,¡± Luminary said.


    ¡°And what of those who would not agree to leave?¡± Kehaulani asked.


    ¡°That will be a bridge to cross when it arrives,¡± Luminary said, ¡°But those are my terms. Return to work, and the previous inhabitants of this plane would be free to leave.¡±


    ¡°And,¡± Becenti said, ¡°What if the answer is ''no''?¡±The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    ***


    Warriors.


    The weird and the wonderful. Weaponized. Hone to a sharpened edge by fate. They were led by the Shadow of the Giant and by Iconoclast. Metahumans who spat fire and ice. Fractal floated high above, along with Pigmalion and a dozen other flying metahumans. A small attack force. They had stopped, standing in the field.


    Cobalt Joe and Aldreia were there to greet them. Lunus Oculus and Thunderhead, too. Amoeboy stood beside a large amoeba, which pulsated and jostled. This one, above all of them, looked predatory. There was a way that it kept inching towards the Warriors, only to be pulled by its master.


    Iconoclast strode forward.


    ¡°You,¡± he said, pointing at Amoeboy, ¡°Where are the Oshya:de.¡±


    The farmer scratched his cheek.


    ¡°The who?¡±


    ¡°Don''t play coy,¡± the Seat of History said, ¡°We have reports that there is a line of them coming towards this commune, and that their leadership is here.¡±


    ¡°An'' what would ye do with them, lad?¡± Amoeboy asked.


    ¡°That is none of your concern,¡± Iconoclast said.


    ¡°So you''ll kill them, then,¡± Cobalt Joe said.


    Iconoclast''s eyes darted over to the other metahuman. Cobalt Joe held himself casually, but there was a tightness to him nonetheless. He looked about ready to pounce on the Seat of History. Anger burned in his neon blue eyes.


    (Then, anger often did for Joe.)


    ¡°Barbaric,¡± Iconoclast said, ¡°We would not do so.¡±


    ¡°Then why do you want them?¡± Joe asked.


    ¡°So they are here, then,¡± Iconoclast said.


    Joe crossed his arms. The air stank of ozone.


    The breeze picked up. Bits of hay floated around. Yes. Needle was here now. Someone was floating down towards the ground. It was Fractal. She was fully in her gravity-powered form, orange and rippling, and her aura was casting around all of them.


    Joe grimaced. She could crush them all, if need be.


    But there were no Oshya:de out here. He knew that Rohahes and Tekahentakwa would have gone to the barn to hide. Where Needle''s influence was greatest. No metahuman wanted to harm the other.


    They were in a dance, and he knew this. Eyes kept flickering, from Warrior to Worker and back again. There was hesitation in the way everyone was moving.


    No one wanted to be the one to sling the first stone.


    No one wanted to be the one to hurt someone who, just a few days prior, had been a comrade.


    ***


    ¡°Then there will be violence,¡± Luminary said, ¡°There will be no choice. We are in a tense situation here. And I come to you first to negotiate with words, in hopes that the alternative does not come to pass.¡±


    ¡°You always speak of violence,¡± Tallneck said, ¡°Always action. Always Warriors and Workers. A-Always preparing, for when the time comes. There is something subtle there, isn''t there.¡±


    Luminary craned her neck to look at him.


    ¡°And what is that, Tallneck?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Our reason for being here,¡± Tallneck said, ¡°Our damned class system. The Workers and the Warriors. Weapons pouring in from off-plane.¡±


    ¡°For when the time comes,¡± Luminary said.


    ¡°And what does that mean, exactly?¡± Tallneck asked.


    Luminary tilted her head.


    ¡°Oh?¡±


    ¡°We always say that. ''When the time comes,''¡± Tallneck said, ¡°Always, always, preparation, for when the time comes. What is that time? When the Federation finds us?¡±


    Luminary was silent. She allowed Tallneck to think.


    (To come to conclusions that he had been putting off, ever since he had arrived to New Ludaya.)


    ¡°...You intend for the High Federation to find us here, don''t you?¡± he said.


    At once Becenti''s eyes widened. Kehaulani sucked in a breath. Meloche''s hands balled into molasses fists. Luminary merely waited for them to calm down.


    ¡°There are many paths to liberation,¡± she said, ¡°True liberation. Liberation, to me, means that we are free to do as we wish. That we are free to live our lives without looking over our shoulders. That our children are able to grow up without losing a mother, or a father, or an entle or cousin.¡±


    They had all lost someone.


    They waited for Luminary to finish her point.


    ¡°And who is responsible for this?¡± Luminary said, ¡°We all know. The elephant in the room. The giant of the multiverse. The High Federation.¡±


    ¡°There are others,¡± Tallneck said, a bit weakly.


    ¡°But it is the High Federation who encourages it. Celebrates it, even. How many planets have we gone to, where there is a festival celebrating a metahuman massacre? They idolize our butchers. Nothing is new to the High Federation. That is their weakness. The Silver Eye has witnessed every atrocity under its many suns. In the far reaches of space. Every act of violence, every wretched sin.


    ¡°And they have never once learned from their shame.¡±


    ¡°And so,¡± Becenti said, ¡°This nation. It''s to stand against them.¡±


    ¡°We are the offspring of Epochia,¡± Luminary said, ¡°We once were a nation that stretched across the multiverse. It is time we were again. We will go into the Silver Eye. From the galactic north. We will free our brothers and sisters in chains. We will take world after world, and bring justice to the unjust.¡±


    ¡°That is the time,¡± Tallneck whispered.


    ¡°This plane, this is only the beginning,¡± Luminary said, ¡°This plane is a small one. It can only hold so many of us. So our nation will expand. It has been built to do so.¡±


    ¡°By fire and by metagene,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°As it was, in ancient days,¡± Luminary said.


    ***


    ¡°It is the right of the Council,¡± Iconoclast said, ¡°That any building be searched, that any question be answered, to the fullest extent of one''s ability.¡±


    ¡°I''m tellin'' ye,¡± Amoeboy said, ¡°I''ve never heard of these folks yer on about.¡±


    Iconoclast''s eyes twitched. He stepped forward, past the old man.


    ¡°I''m searching the property,¡± he said, ¡°Warriors, on me-¡±


    And Cobalt Joe stepped in front of him.


    ¡°No, you''re not,¡± Joe said.


    ¡°I have the right,¡± the Seat of History said.


    ¡°Do you?¡± Joe replied, ¡°Show me.¡±


    And Iconoclast dashed a fist against his jaw. Joe stumbled to the ground. High above, Fractal winced. Lunus Oculus gasped. Iconoclast stepped past him.


    ¡°Warriors, on me,¡± he said, ¡°We search the place, and-¡±


    And then there was a terrific eagle''s scream. Something large erupted from Cobalt Joe''s back, and an azure backhand swiped up into Iconoclast''s chest. He was sent flying into the air for a few silent, terrifying seconds. Every metahuman started as he crumpled to the ground in a puff of dust and stray grass.


    Cobalt Joe rose to his feet. The eagle was fully realized, claws like sickles pulsing and sparking with his every heartbeat.


    ¡°You better hit harder, next time,¡± Joe said.


    Iconoclast stood up, catching his stolen breath. He was pulling metal slabs out of his pocket, and at his touch they started to dissolve and re-shape themselves. Other Warriors were starting to power up their metahuman abilities.


    All of them were centered at Joe.


    The Amber Foundation member smiled. It was vicious and angry.


    And scared.


    ¡°Hey, Aldreia,¡± he said, ¡°I just fucked up, didn''t I?¡±


    The cleric was weaving a spell of flame, fire dancing on her fingertips.


    ¡°You did, Joe,¡± she said, ¡°But what else is new?¡±


    ***


    ¡°I don''t want that.¡±


    This came from Kehaulani.


    Let us speak of her. How she looked at this moment. She was staring at the wall, a finger digging into the wood on the table, errantly carving up a splinter. The other hand was balled and close to her stomach. She was lost in thought. The very back of her mind counted every star. But that was simple noise to her, like long-term tinnitus, and her forward thoughts were of the future.


    ¡°I don''t want that,¡± she said, ¡°What you speak of is war.¡±


    ¡°It would be,¡± Luminary admitted.


    ¡°...My son would be fighting,¡± Kehaulani said, ¡°My husband. Myself. Everyone I know would be fighting.¡±


    ¡°Every citizen, a soldier,¡± Luminary said.


    ¡°I don''t want that,¡± Kehaulani repeated, a third time, ¡°I have spent my entire life fighting. In wars. To survive. I don''t want that to be my son''s life.¡±


    ¡°We often don''t have that choice,¡± Luminary said.


    ¡°And yet this nation stood... stands, as a place where we can be safe,¡± Kehaulani said, ¡°Where we can heal. Where we can grow old.¡±


    ¡°And that,¡± Luminary said, ¡°Lies the problem. We cannot do these things, cannot truly be safe, until the High Federation is dealt with.¡±


    ¡°But forcing people to do this?¡± Kehaulani said, ¡°Instituting a system of Warrior and Worker, where we are defined only by what we can do ''when the time comes?''¡±


    ¡°We would still be oppressed,¡± Meloche said, ¡°Forced into what we do not want to be. How many Warriors, who otherwise would be skilled artisans, or writers, or poets, would be made to die on the front lines?¡±


    ¡°The world has little use for writers and poets right now,¡± Luminary said, ¡°Perhaps, when we are free...¡±


    ¡°That is the work of generations,¡± Meloche said, ¡°Generations, without art. We will not have our peace with the laws you have enacted here. The Warriors and the Workers will continue to stratify. Will become another tool of control ¨C as it already has been. It is not because of the Oshya:de alone that there are protests across the plane.¡±


    ¡°But, at least, we will be alive,¡± Luminary said, ¡°We will be able to stand on our own feet.¡±


    ¡°And will that be worth it?¡± Becenti asked.


    Luminary looked over to him.


    ¡°Excuse me?¡± she said.


    ¡°Will all of this be worth the slaughter of tens of thousands of people?¡± Becenti said, ¡°Is our liberation built on the bones of the Oshya:de?¡±


    ***


    Amoeboy gestured, and his amoeba, faster than anyone could anticipate, rushed forward, smothering Iconoclast in its elephantine mass. It shivered and shook as the Seat of History struggled against it.


    Aldreia directed a hand, and a pillar of fire erupted from her open palm. It sailed upwards, clipping Pigmalion as he made to dive towards the Workers. His angelic statue began to fall like a stone towards the earth.


    Two Warriors engaged Cobalt Joe. One of them had snakes for arms, hissing, venomous reptiles, somewhere between king cobras and anacondas. They whipped them forward at Joe, who grabbed one with a cobalt claw, deftly moving out of the way to avoid the other. The eagle yanked the snake in its hand, sending the metahuman flying towards him, grabbing the metahuman wholesale in the other hand, raising him into the air.


    ¡°Joe!¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°On your left!¡±


    Indeed, the other Warrior was lowering himself to all fours. His mouth opened unnaturally wide, and energy began to foam around his lips.


    They coalesced into a white-hot beam. Joe threw the other Warrior away and hunkered down, letting the energy wash over his soul''s form. The pain went from flashing hot to ice cold. But it was pain, and little else, and the energy dispelled.


    And Joe threw himself at the other Warrior. Sent a fist careening into the metahuman''s jaw, sending him flying away.


    Needle was fully awakened now. Hay floated around him like a thousand daggers. Swirled, kept many of the Warriors who were rushing to their compatriots'' aide at bay. But there was still hesitation in all of them.


    Especially in Fractal, high above. Who watched all of this.


    The air around her shimmered with her power. It was expanding further now. Towards the earth below.


    ...She needed merely to wait.


    But not all of them were hesitant.


    The Shadow of the Giant watched Cobalt Joe as he fought the Warriors. The pale man smiled.


    ¡°Interesting,¡± he said, ¡°Very interesting.¡±


    And he unveiled his metahuman power.


    His shadow had been pointing away from the sun, stretching towards the east. But at once it drew behind him and lengthened towards the horizon.


    The air went cold.


    Heads turned.


    Those Warriors who were about to engage broke off.


    The shadow lifted from the ground. And with its newfound expansion into the third dimension came a widening in its shape. Muscles pupated from the mass of darkness. Its lower half split, forming two legs. Arms pulled themselves free. Hair, long and free, flowed in the grass plains'' breeze. A single eye, pupil-less and glowing, dominated the Giant''s forehead.


    It stood twenty feet tall.


    Its head eclipsed the sun as it stared down at Joseph.


    Who swallowed.


    And raised his fists.


    ¡°Good,¡± the Shadow said, ¡°You''re sporting.¡±


    The Giant''s fist came crashing down.


    ***


    ¡°It was necessary,¡± Luminary said.


    ¡°...That''s all you can say,¡± Becenti said, ¡°That it was necessary.¡±


    The woman in white''s mouth flickered. She was, Becenti realized, having difficulty with her emotions. In trying to keep them in check. As the person he had known her as struggled to re-assert itself. As her past met her present, and was appalled.


    ¡°The Luminary I knew,¡± Becenti said, slowly, ¡°Was a kind woman. She saw the best in everyone. She raised you up, so you could stand at her side. The both of you... the both of us, against the world.¡±


    Luminary took in a deep breath. Exhaled.


    ¡°What changed?¡± Becenti said, his voice hard, ¡°What... happened to you? Thirty years ago, you would never do this. You would never stoop so low.¡±


    ¡°Thirty years is a long time, Myron,¡± Luminary said, ¡°People will change.¡±


    ¡°Change,¡± Becenti said, almost laughed in his bitter way, ¡°Change. And tell me, how much of you has changed, that you would be alright with the murder of a world?¡±


    ¡°I am what the Federation has made me,¡± Luminary said, through gritted teeth, ¡°I am what this world requires.¡±


    ¡°There is little requirement in this,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Our resistance is not just glorified war. There is violence, yes. There is action. But there is not genocide.¡±


    ¡°You speak of resistance,¡± Luminary said, ¡°You? Of all people, you? You bow down to the Federation, Myron Becenti. You were on Prime to be Valm''s lapdog, and nothing else.¡±


    Becenti did not rise to her insult. He merely looked sorrowful. He frowned, and looked, once more, to be on the verge of tears.


    ¡°But I would not do something like this,¡± he whispered, ¡°I wanted a nation, Luminary. I wanted a home. But not at this cost.¡±


    ¡°Then you are a fool,¡± Luminary said, ¡°Still the same naive little boy in spandex that I picked up from the ashes all those years ago.¡±


    She slammed a fist on the table.


    ¡°This is what nation is,¡± she said, ¡°The sacrifice of freedoms and morals, for the sake of security and a better future. A world for our children.¡±


    Becenti shook his head.


    And something within him broke.


    Someone came stomping from upstairs. They heard voices. Wavemaker shouting at Iandi. The supersoldier was thundering up the stairs.


    ¡°Iandi, calm down!¡± Wavemaker said, ¡°They''re busy, they''re-¡±


    ¡°Becenti!¡± Iandi said.


    ¡°...Hello, Iandi.¡±


    The Mark Eta pointed out the window.


    ¡°Light!¡±


    ¡°Yeah, man, it''s daytime,¡± Wavemaker said.


    But Becenti''s eyes widened. He turned around, and looked out the window. Then back to Luminary.


    Then back to the window.


    ¡°Iandi,¡± Becenti said, ¡°What does it look like?¡±


    ¡°Spear!¡± Iandi said, ¡°I can see it because of my eyes.¡±


    His cybernetic eyes. That could see more than what others could see. Becenti''s eyes narrowed as he looked at Luminary, though she was already rising.


    ¡°The Oshya:de,¡± he said, ¡°You were going to see if they were here, and kill them.¡±


    Luminary did not respond.


    ¡°Mean!¡± Iandi said, and he advanced on her-


    Only for the spear of light to shoot forwards, smashing through the window, erupting into Iandi¡¯s chest.


    Becenti let out something between a cry and a roar, and he leaped over the table. Luminary ducked out the way as he ran to Iandi''s side. Iandi was screaming, blubbering.


    But he was rising to his feet. The shaft of light in his chest did little to stop him.


    And he rushed at Luminary.


    Who, perhaps out of a sense of pity, perhaps because of Becenti, instead of engaging him, jumped backwards. Light solidified around the window, shattering what glass remained. Tallneck shouted in surprise. Becenti pulled heat from his body, forming a wall to shield him from the shards. Meloche covered Kehaulani.


    And Luminary leaped out of the window. Light cushioned her, carried her on a carriage away from the tower. Workers below pointed, gasping and whispering in shock.


    Iandi grabbed the spear, and tore it from his chest.


    ¡°Owie,¡± he cried, and he wept painful tears as a combination of regenerating cells and nanotechnology sealed the wound shut.


    ¡°You''re alright, Iandi,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Hurt me,¡± Iandi said.


    ¡°She did,¡± Becenti said, and at once he was exhausted, ¡°She did.¡±


    ***


    Joe leaped to the side as the fist cratered the ground where he had just been standing.


    The eagle dissipated, and he took aim. Ozone sparked and filled the air, and he unleashed a bolt at the Giant.


    Who batted it away like scattered cobwebs.


    ¡°Shit,¡± Joe said.


    He was aware of other Warriors rushing towards them now. Aldreia, on his peripheral, creating a wall of flame to keep them at bay. More hay lifted from the ground and scattered out. Even Thunderhead was fighting now, transformed as a sports car and revving his engines, threatening to run people down.


    The Giant was far faster than he had any right to be. It was as though he were a guest to this level of the multiverse, and the rules of nature, of physics and mass, did not apply to him. At once, the Giant was on him, the Shadow trailing just a bit behind. Joseph''s heart pounded, and his soul re-circuited, erupting from his chest and meeting the Shadow''s blows. Fist met fist. Claw curled over hand, scraped at solid darkness.


    For a moment, the two danced.


    But only for a moment.


    The Shadow shot a glancing blow against the eagle''s beak. Brought up its fists, and brought them down in an arc. The eagle lifted up its arms to block-


    And they cracked, nearly shattered, against the blow. Joseph let out a grunt of pain. The eagle dissolved back into him as he stumbled away.


    But the Giant loomed over him.


    ¡°It is curious,¡± the Shadow said, ¡°We had spoken about this before, yes? What is your soul, but yourself?¡±


    ¡°Fuck... off,¡± Joseph said, and he pulled himself to his feet. Lifted his fists. Talons covered his hands like gauntlets. The Shadow stood in front of the Giant, swaying a bit, as though a stray wind would pick him up and carry him away.


    ¡°Your soul, Cobalt Joe,¡± the Shadow said, ¡°Can it see now?¡±


    Joseph did not respond.


    Nearby, Iconoclast had torn his way free of the amoeba. Vines lashed and snapped as he rushed forward, with a ragged roar. He was taking out more and more pieces of metal, all of the slabs he carried at once, and more plantlife was blooming from them, transformed and under his control.


    Thunderhead honked.


    And when Iconoclast kept pressing forward, he peeled off to meet him. Vine interrupted wheels, lifted them from the ground. Thunderhead churned, and began to transform into a helicopter, and the grass plains buzzed with its warlike whirling.


    Joseph took his stance. advanced on the Shadow.


    Who shook his head.


    ¡°It is no use,¡± he said.


    The Giant batted at Joseph, who spun, dancer-like, away from the strike. The Giant was merely playing with him. And yet the obvious weakness was the Shadow himself.


    And, no doubt, the Shadow knew this.


    So why, then, did he make himself such an obvious target?


    ¡°What will happen when you die, Cobalt Joe?¡± the Shadow said, ¡°What will happen?¡±


    ¡°I meet my ancestors,¡± Joe said, ¡°Just like you''re about to meet yours.¡±


    But the Shadow shook his head.


    ¡°The true me looms over you,¡± he said, ¡°I will not die. I will merely go with him. He existed before me, did you know that?¡±


    The Giant writhed, rippled, and another fist came rocketing down. Joseph dodged this one, too.


    Thunderhead was lifting off the ground now, high into the air. Iconoclast was still holding onto him, vines wrapped around rail and arm.


    ¡°Joe!¡± Aldreia called out, ¡°Together!¡±


    ¡°Right!¡± Joseph yelled.


    He went left. She skirted the Giant''s right, and her hands burned white-hot before she sent out a bombast of fire. At the same moment, Joe speared another bolt of lightning. The Giant took both of them, shuddering for a moment at the strikes, before it spun like a tornado and knocked Aldreia away.


    ¡°An annoyance,¡± the Shadow said, his voice even, ¡°You did not answer my question, Cobalt Joe.¡±


    The Giant''s hand closed over Joseph. Lifted him into the air.


    And when the Shadow spoke, it was in the Giant''s voice. Deep and booming, and the world shuddered with every syllable.


    ¡°Are you your body, or are you your soul?¡±


    Joseph blinked.


    ¡°...What?¡±


    ¡°Think on this, Cobalt Joe, meditate on these words,¡± the Shadow of the Giant said, ¡°And-¡±


    They were interrupted by the spinning Thunderhead. Iconoclast had pulled himself up so he was in the cockpit of the vehicle.


    The metal vehicle.


    ¡°To hell with this,¡± the Seat of History said. He rested a hand on the cyclic control.


    And his power activated. Metal transformed into vine. Like acid, it washed over the rest of Thunderhead, eating away and morphing every metal part of him into grass and plants and flowers and roots. Iconoclast jumped out right as all power of flight left Thunderhead''s newly green form, and the Worker plummeted like a verdant meteor to the earth.


    He thudded. There was no screech of metal on metal. No explosion. It was as though a tree had fallen in the wood.


    And every metahuman ceased their combats. The Shadow of the Giant dropped Joseph, who hit the ground and rolled.


    Fractal floating dimly in the air.


    Amoeboy frowned, and looked away.


    Every needle of straw froze in place.


    And Lunus Oculus rushed over to the site of Thunderhead''s crash.


    ¡°Thunderhead?¡± she said, ¡°Thunderhead!¡±


    There was no response.


    ¡°No!¡± Lunus screamed, ¡°No no no, wake up! Come on, don''t do this! Don''t you dare leave me, too! Don''t you-¡±


    Joseph looked back to see the Giant receding back towards the Shadow. The pale man was shaking his head.


    He took the chance to walk over, put a hand on Lunus Oculus''s shoulder.


    ¡°I think he''s gone, Lunus,¡± he said.


    And Lunus Oculus screamed. Collapsed in on herself, Joe supported her as she crumpled into the grass.


    The Warriors had stopped. Many of them looked aghast. Not a few looked at Iconoclast with something resembling revulsion.


    ¡°...We are done here,¡± the Shadow of the Giant said, ¡°Warriors, we return home.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Iconoclast said, ¡°We-¡±


    And he noted the looks everyone, Warrior and Worker, was giving him. He quieted down, took one glance at the man he had killed, before he started to walk away.


    ¡°It''s over?¡± Pigmalion said, and the hog-headed man looked forlorn and lost, ¡°W-What do we do?¡±


    But the other Warriors who had accompanied Iconoclast were leaving, too. Heading back south. To Mt. Redress. So he joined them, too.


    Aldreia''s fire spells ceased. The plains were pockmarked with burns and craters. She surveyed the area, tried to ignore the sobbing Lunus Oculus, to give her privacy. Tried to concentrate on the sound of the wind as it whipped across the fields.


    There would be injured to attend to.


    The cleric went off to find them, in hopes of keeping the casualties at one.

 153. DREGS OF THE OLD WORLD

    ¡°Tell me, Professor,¡± W¨¢:ri said, ¡°What has been your favorite plane to see, in your multiverse?¡±


    Evancar ruffled a hand through his curly hair, thinking. He and W¨¢:ri walked with the rest of Sky Clan. They numbered a few thousand, perhaps, and due to W¨¢:ri''s own physical frailty, they made up the rear of the long caravan of the Oshya:de that were heading towards Amoeboy''s commune. It was slow going, for the Oshya:de were starving, on their last legs, supporting the last dregs of their elderly and children.


    A few of them had fallen on the journey, and had not gotten up. They were free from the demon, yes, but there was still much road to traverse. If a few of the Workers had not come over with food, passing out rations of bread and meat and corn, Evancar was sure that many of them would not have made it this far.


    The Workers remained with the Oshya:de. A few kept their distance. A few helped load the weakest of the Oshya:de onto their wagons, to pull them along with the rest of the caravan. But W¨¢:ri had refused. It was her duty as Clan Mother, she stated, to walk with her people. There were others who needed the wagons more than her.


    And so she walked. With Evancar for company, for it seemed like talking with others kept her spirits up.


    ¡°Well,¡± Evancar said, ¡°I don''t have a favorite plane, per say...¡±


    ¡°One that appeals to you, then,¡± W¨¢:ri said.


    The archaeologist thought for a few moments, absently watching the wind pick up on the plain, plucking a few dandelion tree seeds and scattering them like shed feathers.


    ¡°Barren Iluthian,¡± he said, ¡°It''s an Elven plane.¡±


    ¡°Elven?¡± W¨¢:ri asked, ¡°What are those?¡±


    ¡°Elves,¡± Evancar said, ¡°They''re a race of people who have pointed ears. Many of them are known to live for several thousands of years. Nice people, depending on where you go. They''ve got a strain of supremacism in their recent history, but the average elf I''ve run into has been fine enough. One of my guildmate''s an elf, Rosemary, she''s nice...¡±


    He noted her staring up at him with something akin to wonder. He coughed.


    ¡°Well, yes,¡± he said, ¡°Barren Iluthian is a plane I visited some years back. An archaeological dig sponsored by some bigwig or other. Six months of sitting in a canyon, dusting away old pot shards and the like.¡±


    He grew wistful.


    ¡°But it was a beautiful canyon. It had waterfalls that sprayed down into a winding river. It was always cool, too, and every morning I''d get to get up before everyone else and watch some of the most magnificent birds I''ve ever seen fly around, searching for breakfast. The couple that hosted us were an old husband and wife who had been married for over five hundred years.¡±


    ¡°Five... hundred... years?¡± W¨¢:ri said.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Evancar said, chuckling, ¡°But elves, they don''t age like we do. They both looked a hair under thirty.¡±


    ¡°Five hundred years,¡± W¨¢:ri said, and she looked blank, ¡°You lie to me.¡±


    ¡°Trust me, I''m not!¡± Evancar gesticulated, ¡°Five hundred years!¡±


    He was aware of a few of the other Sky Clan members laughing at him under their breaths.


    ¡°And, tell me, Professor,¡± W¨¢:ri said, ¡°Did they have a child a year? Five hundred little ones, running around?¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± Evancar said, ¡°N-No, they had three, if I recall, and all of them lived off-plane.¡±


    ¡°Off-plane?¡± W¨¢:ri said, ¡°So, they lived away from their parents.¡±


    ¡°All children leave the flock, I suppose,¡± Evancar said.


    ¡°Perhaps the men,¡± W¨¢:ri said, ¡°Women here stay with their families, and only the men leave to marry into other families.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Evancar said, ¡°Your people, they are matrilineal?¡±


    W¨¢:ri looked askance.


    ¡°The Oshya:de, they are led by women, and trace their family lines by the mother, and not the father.¡±


    ¡°That is correct,¡± W¨¢:ri said, ¡°I am Clan Mother of Sky Clan. My mother was Clan Mother before me, though she was my birth mother''s sister.¡±


    ¡°Except for Warleader,¡± Evancar said.


    ¡°In peace, he is Chief,¡± W¨¢:ri said, ¡°In times of war, he is Warleader. He is elected by the Clan Mothers to organize hunts, negotiate with other Clans, and other work associated with men. But he ultimately listens to the Clan Mothers.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Evancar said, ¡°Very different from most other places.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡± W¨¢:ri said, ¡°What about where you are from? Who leads your guild?¡±


    ¡°A guildmaster,¡± Evancar said, ¡°Ours is a woman, but a guildmaster can be anyone. Different guilds have different ways of choosing a guildmaster.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± W¨¢:ri said.


    ¡°For example, another guild I used to be part of, the Emberpetals, elected their guildmasters by direct vote. Whoever gained the most votes became guildmaster, and they served as such for around five years.¡±


    W¨¢:ri nodded at this.


    ¡°The Clan Mothers do something similar,¡± she said, ¡°Under usual circumstances, the next Clan Mother is the daughter of the old Clan Mother, but she must still be approved by the other women in the family...¡±


    And she looked downcast at this. Evancar raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°That happened with you, yes?¡± he said.


    ¡°Yes, Professor,¡± W¨¢:ri said, ¡°...I am Clan Mother. Approved by the other women of Sky Clan. In the caves.¡±


    She wiped her eyes.


    ¡°I had... hoped it would be my sister,¡± she said, ¡°But no. She was...¡±


    She did not finish.


    But Evancar understood.


    The other Sky Clan members were looking at her. W¨¢:ri covered herself for a moment with a sleeve for a moment. When she stared forward, it was with a brave face, a stone mask that could put Becenti to shame.


    ¡°Tell me, Professor,¡± W¨¢:ri said, ¡°What else have you seen? What was your own... home plane, like?¡±


    She wanted to change the subject away from herself. Evancar understood that. He forced his frown away, put on a jovial air once more.


    ¡°Well!¡± Evancar said, ¡°My home plane is a place called Melmaen. Nice place, all things considered, if you can ignore the wartorn environment and the Writ of Exile your uncle wrote you when you were seventeen...¡±


    ***


    Nasir and Hadawa''ko walked together, nearer to the front of the train. The Warleader carried Guyasuta on his shoulders, his tomahawk looped on a belt, and he kept watching the sky. High above, watching the line of Oshya:de, were a few New Ludayans from the Warrior class. One on bat-like wings, one atop a canoe made of leaves, one seemed like a spirit of flame, circling the air like an eternal torch, watching the line below.


    They had not made any moves upon the Oshya:de.


    Yet.


    One of the Workers walked up to the pair of them. Hadawa''ko''s eyes narrowed at the sight of him. Stepping Stone was a metahuman composed entirely of bismuth, iridescent and shimmering in the daytime sun. He walked unsteadily with his mismatched legs, one a spiraling series of metallic stone, the other a Picasso-esque nightmare of steps and blocks. He smiled glumly at them as he approached.


    ¡°I recognize one of ''em, up there,¡± he said, pointing, ¡°The one in the canoe. Leafy, she''s called.¡±


    ¡°Imaginative name,¡± Nasir said.


    ¡°Will they attempt to attack us?¡± Hadawa''ko said.


    ¡°They might,¡± Stepping Stone admitted, ¡°But I think they''re just keeping tabs on us. One of the other Workers just came here, said there was some conflict back at Amoeboy''s commune, and it''s got everyone being careful.¡±


    ¡°Anyone hurt?¡± Nasir asked.


    ¡°Someone died, if the rumor goes,¡± Stepping Stone said, ¡°So everyone''s being careful not to start anything.¡±


    Hadawa''ko nodded at this, looking up at the three Warriors above.


    ¡°The advantage is ours, then,¡± he said, ¡°We can get to this commune safely, then.¡±


    The Warleader grimaced. He didn''t like the fact that all of the Oshya:de were moving to the commune. They would be exposed there, and were increasingly reliant on the goodwill of the Workers.


    But what choice was there?


    Guyasuta tapped Hadawa''ko''s head. A signal to be let down. Hadawa''ko did so, watching the last of the Four Banner disappear into the crowd, presumably to keep watch from a less conspicuous place. A smart move. Hadawa''ko wished he could join him.


    But no, to be Warleader was to lead from the front. He signaled to a few of the other warriors with him, and they continued watching the metahumans above.


    ***


    There was no choice but to rest a few hours later. The Oshya:de settled down under a series of dandelion trees. What food they had was passed around, and another small series of wagons from the Workers at the commune pulled in to provide more. Sacks of grain were unloaded, fires were set. Leafy and the other metahumans kept watch on them as they ate. Nasir watched them, too, standing by Hadawa''ko and a band of his warriors were rethreading bows and checking over arrows. Before they had left, they had tried to scrounge from the overgrown storage houses what they could. But Iconoclast had destroyed much that was there.


    Hadawa''ko looked at the tracker. Nasir was leaning against the trunk of a dandelion tree, his eyes studying the three figures above.


    ¡°Do you use bows much, Nasir?¡± the Warleader asked.


    ¡°I have used them before,¡± Nasir replied, ¡°My father taught me to hunt using one.¡±


    ¡°You don''t carry many other weapons, aside from your knives,¡± Hadawa''ko said.


    Nasir shrugged.


    ¡°I had thought to bring a rifle along. We snuck a few in. But I was already with a few guildmates,¡± he said, ¡°The less attention we drew, the better.¡±


    ¡°And they could defend you, if need be,¡± Hadawa''ko said.


    ¡°I can defend myself,¡± Nasir said, ¡°But¡­ we were going for stealth, not for a show. I will take a bow, however, if you can spare one.¡±


    The Warleader handed him one. Nasir looked it over, pulled at the string. It was supple and strong.


    ¡°Well made,¡± he said.


    ¡°The wood is from a grandfather tree,¡± Nasir said, and he patted the dandelion''s trunk, ¡°The string is made from deer''s gut.¡±


    ¡°Back home,¡± Nasir said, ¡°We mostly used scavenged bows made from plastics and metal. Wooden bows were expensive, for the art of making them was a re-discovered craft, and the fletchers made us pay out the nose for their services.¡±


    Another one of Hadawa''ko''s warriors handed him a quiver full of arrows. Nasir nocked an arrow, pulling the string back. Yes, a good amount of resistance. The arrow would yet fly.


    ¡°And how would you judge an Arrowmaker''s bow?¡± Hadawa''ko said, ¡°Sagoyewatha''s father made it himself.¡±


    One of the warriors, a younger man, smiled in fierce pride.


    ¡°It is good,¡± Nasir said, ¡°It will kill, and will not break. The only two things that matter.¡±


    ¡°The Arrowmakers are the greatest bowmakers on Gan¨¢:yeht,¡± Sagoyewatha said, ¡°You talk to anyone here with a weapon, I will tell you that it came from us. They are the only ones that survived the purges.¡±


    Nasir fired the arrow. It whistled off into the grass.


    ¡°Good range,¡± Nasir said.


    He walked from the rest of them, picked the arrow from where it was buried in the grass.


    When he returned, Hadawa''ko was speaking to the rest of his warriors.


    ¡°From what rumors tell us, there was conflict at the commune,¡± he said, ¡°The metahumans fought each other, and one of them was killed.¡±


    ¡°So they can be killed then,¡± Sagoyewatha said, ¡°How?¡±


    ¡°I don''t know,¡± the Warleader said, ¡°But these people are, for the most part, of flesh and muscle. Save for perhaps those like Stepping Stone.¡±


    He glanced up as Nasir returned.


    ¡°Is that right?¡± he asked.


    Nasir shrugged.


    ¡°It depends on the metahuman,¡± he said, ¡°They are known as the myriad folk for a reason. Each one dies a different way.¡±


    ¡°Have you ever killed one before?¡± Hadawa''ko asked.


    ¡°I have fought a few,¡± Nasir said, ¡°Killed? Yes. Mostly using a bow, or a rifle. From a distance, where they couldn''t harm me. But some metahumans have ranged abilities. You will learn that, if you wish to free your homeland, you will need to be as adaptable as they are.¡±


    Hadawa''ko thought about this.


    ¡°What about the three above us?¡± he said, ¡°Leafy, and those.¡±


    Nasir watched the three Warriors circling above the caravan. One of them was breaking off from the other two, the one with the bat-like wings. He wheeled and headed south, back to Mt. Redress.


    ¡°Leafy''s got the head of a reptile, I believe,¡± Nasir said, squinting his eyes, ¡°She appears to be able to pull leaves together to form constructs of her own. The fact that she is a Warrior means she can be quite dangerous with what she can make. But if she is flesh, then an arrow, or an axe will bring her down.¡±


    ¡°And the man made of fire?¡± Hadawa''ko said.


    Nasir studied him. No, not truly a man, not anymore. The metahuman above seemed to have no physical form. It was as though a flame had leaped from its candle and gone to live its own life.


    ¡°...Smother it,¡± Nasir said, ¡°Fire relies on oxygen, you deprive it of this, and it will go out.¡±


    ¡°And if that doesn''t work?¡± Hadawa''ko said.


    ¡°Run away, and try something else,¡± Nasir said, ¡°The important part is that you survive the encounter. You will get a chance to fight the metahuman again.¡±


    The Oshya:de thought on the tracker''s words. They were, to a man, young and perhaps a hair naive. Hadawa''ko was the eldest of them, and he was, perhaps, twenty. They spoke brashly, despite the horrors they had seen. There was that energy of boyish retribution to them, now that they finally had the chance to avenge their people.


    They would learn, soon, that passion would not be enough. They would need to be smart, be cunning, learn the lessons their fathers would have taught them, in order to survive.


    ***


    ¡°In ancient days,¡± Kariwase said, ¡°There was the Good Spirit and Father Mountain. Father Mountain lived alone in those times, with only the Good Spirit and water animals such as the beaver, the loon, and the muskrat for company. It was a world of darkness then, and Father Mountain was lonely and foolish, and he did many brash things.¡±This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    A group of children were gathered around the old man as he sat at a small campfire. They listened in wonder as Kariwase warbled on with his cracked voice, like the hottest day of summer given song, as he told the first tale of the Oshya:de.


    Also listening was six-fingered Dodeca Dorucanthos. She had come with the Workers here, to help provide food and, if need be, defense. She was sitting outside of the circle, a heavy-powered plasma rifle resting between neck and shoulder, and she absently picked at the grass as Kariwase spun his tale.


    ¡°One day, Father Mountain lost his temper. The reasons why are unknown to us, for it happened a long time ago. But he thrashed and he roared, and he threw such a fit that he sent stones into the sky, and they would become the sun, the moon, and the stars. He lifted himself up, just a bit, and dry land broke up all around him. When he was done, he fell asleep, and the Good Spirit came down to see how much he had changed the once dark world.¡±


    Kariwase licked his lips.


    ¡°The Good Spirit began to gather up reeds and mud, and he gave them to Father Mountain to eat. Father Mountain ate them greedily, and when he was done, he opened up his mouth, and he began to spit forth the first people. The first of the Oshya:de, gathered in their clans of Four Banner, Dandelion, Arrowmaker, Sky, and Mountain. Yes, even then, there were the five clans, for the Good Spirit saw it fit to organize us into these structures, so each of us would think slightly differently about the world, and come together to discuss our ideas.¡±


    ¡°And then what?¡± one of the children asked.


    Kariwase chuckled.


    ¡°There was battle, of course,¡± he said, ¡°War, like the kind we see now. The five clans agreed on some things, but they disagreed on many others. Who would fish from one river or another, who would marry who, who got to visit Father Mountain in his sleep. People got so angry, they took up the bows that the Good Spirit had taught them to use to hunt animals, and turned them on each other. For a long time, there was war.¡±


    People were starting to break camp. It was time to move on. Kariwase looked up at them, and he broke into a sad smile.


    ¡°But that, the Tale of the Settled Peace, is for another time,¡± the old man said, ¡°Now, please, help me up.¡±


    Two of the older kids helped Kariwase to his feet, helped him over to the wagon, helped him as he pulled himself onto it, resting on a bundle of old hay. A few of the younger children were loaded up as well, and the wagon moved off with the rest of the caravan.


    Dodeca joined them, walking beside one of the wheels. She looked up at Kariwase.


    ¡°A creation story,¡± she said.


    Kariwase looked down at her. At the rifle in her hand, the way she carried herself, taut and angry. But he shrugged, for he was used to angry youths.


    ¡°It is the one my grandmother told me,¡± he said, ¡°I still remember the first time she told me the story, when I was a boy. It was around a fire in my family''s longhouse. It had been a cold night, the middle of winter...¡±


    He smiled wistfully. Though it dropped quickly.


    ¡°I am glad,¡± he said, ¡°That she is not here. That she''s not here to see what we have become.¡±


    ¡°Not your fault,¡± Dodeca said.


    ¡°Even so,¡± Kariwase said, ¡°She died knowing her grandchildren''s futures were bright. Who could imagine the unimaginable? That there are other worlds than the world of Father Mountain, and people like the woman in white...¡±


    He shook his head.


    ¡°Did you know,¡± he said, ¡°It is the mother''s role to pass down our old stories? She tells them to her daughters and sons, but it is her daughter''s responsibility to remember them. To pass them down to her own children. But I loved the stories my grandmother told me. I held onto every last one of them.¡±


    He gestured at the world.


    ¡°And now I am one of the last of the elderly left,¡± he said, ¡°And I''ve spoken to some of the others. Old friends from other clans. Their memory is going, and they do not remember. It seems like I''m the only one who does.¡±


    ¡°So it''s your job to pass it down,¡± Dodeca said.


    ¡°How we must change,¡± Kariwase said, ¡°What I do today, will set a precedent to last seven generations. Storytelling will not just be the work of mothers and grandmothers.¡±


    ¡°Where I''m from,¡± Dodeca said, ¡°Anyone could tell the story of the past.¡±


    Kariwase looked down at her.


    ¡°My mum, before she passed away, used to tell me stories of the past,¡± the metahuman said,


    ¡°How she and my dad met. About her metahuman kingdom, or as much of it as she could remember. Bits and pieces here and there. Our family, thousands of years ago, lived on the coast of a shimmering, golden sea. We constructed castles made of coral and seashell.¡±


    ¡°Seashell,¡± Kariwase said, ¡°What is a seashell?¡±


    Dodeca blinked, but then remembered that there was no ocean on New Lud- on Gan¨¢:yeht.


    ¡°It''s like the shells you find on the shores of the lakes here,¡± Dodeca said, ¡°By the sea. A big-ass lake.¡±


    Kariwase nodded at this.


    ¡°It sounds like a beautiful place,¡± he said, ¡°Why did you leave?¡±


    ¡°Why else?¡± Dodeca said, and her voice turned into a growl, ¡°The damn Federation drove us out. The same Federation that killed my mom.¡±


    ¡°And thus, you have to tell her stories, lest your generation forgets,¡± Kariwase said.


    Dodeca blinked at this. The thought had not occurred to her.


    ¡°...Yeah, I guess so,¡± she said, ¡°You need to understand, there''s a shitton that we''ve lost already. We don''t even remember our kingdom''s name.¡±


    ¡°But you remember it was by the sea,¡± Kariwase said, ¡°You have that.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Just as I remember how Father Mountain disgorged us,¡± the old man said, ¡°These lessons, we must remember. We remember, or we lose everything.¡±


    ***


    At last, they arrived at Amoeboy''s commune.


    The area was pockmarked with burn marks. A few of the metahumans there were injured. Cobalt Joe was shivering in the corner. Lunus Oculus had been crying. Dodeca pushed herself through the crowd to see her.


    ¡°What happened?¡± the Dorucanthos asked.


    ¡°Thunderhead''s dead,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°Iconoclast killed him.¡±


    Dodeca took a moment to absorb the information. Breathed in. Out. Looked out to the horizon.


    ¡°Sh-shit,¡± she said, ¡°Lune, you okay?¡±


    She was shaking, herself. Lunus Oculus nodded.


    ¡°I''ve lost people before,¡± she said, her voice raw, ¡°I''ll be fine.¡±


    She regained her composure. Watched the long line of Oshya:de streaming in. Thousands upon thousands of them, and only around a hundred Workers to tend to them. People were passing out bundles of food. Children started to cry. An argument was already breaking out between one of the Oshya:de and a Worker.


    ¡°This was our home!¡± the Oshya:de was screaming, ¡°Our longhouse was right here! Where is it? Where is my mother buried? Where is the lodge where they held my brother''s body?¡±


    She was holding onto the Worker''s legs, trying to pull them down. The Worker was trying to extricate themself.


    ¡°I don''t know!¡± they said, ¡°I don''t know!¡±


    Indeed, there was only the grass plains and Amoeboy''s barn and the small scattering of houses where his commune lived. It were as though the Oshya:de were new arrivals to this place.


    (For Luminary had done her damnedest to reclaim the plane''s virginity.)


    Nearby, Hadawa''ko was moving off with his warriors towards the barn. Rohahes emerged from the building, watching the line of refugees in their homeland, and at the sight of the Warleader he gestured for Tekahentakwa to come out. The Clan Mother of Mountain had been hiding away in the barn, protected by the bulk of Needle''s influence, since Iconoclast and his Warriors had tried to take them by force.


    She ran over to her brother, and the two embraced, for a split-second once more children, and their worries were children''s worries. But then they were leaders once more, and watched the caravan break camp.


    A few of the Warriors loyal to Luminary were still wheeling around in the sky. Leafy and the fireborn metahuman were still following the caravan, joined by a few others. In the far distance, just on the horizon, Hadawa''ko could see Gallimena.


    ¡°I heard that someone died here,¡± Hadawa''ko said.


    ¡°It was Thunderhead,¡± Tekahentakwa said, ¡°One of the Council killed him during a skirmish.¡±


    Her brother pursed his lips.


    ¡°He seemed a good man,¡± he said, ¡°I''m sure he died well.¡±


    Tekahentakwa had only been able to see the battle through slats in the wood. She just saw hints of Thunderhead''s crash into the earth. She had allowed the metahumans to bury him already, just outside of the commune. A short funeral, for the Oshya:de''s arrival meant that things had become busy.


    She shuddered.


    ¡°How many did we lose?¡± she asked.


    ¡°On the way over?¡± Hadawa''ko said, ¡°The other Clan Mothers gave me reports every day, but the number was small. Around a dozen people.¡±


    Tekahentakwa took an unsteady breath.


    ¡°There was no choice,¡± Hadawa''ko said, ¡°We could not stay in the mountains.¡±


    ¡°That doesn''t mean I shouldn''t feel sorrow for them,¡± Tekahentakwa said.


    ¡°I didn''t say that.¡±


    And now the Clan Mother studied her brother, and realized how much of a brave front he was presenting to the world. There was a deep-seated fear in his eyes, and she could still see in them her little brother who cried at the sight of dried-up frogs in the summer.


    She rested a hand on his shoulder.


    ¡°I know,¡± she said, ¡°It just hurts for you to talk about us like that.¡±


    ¡°I must be like a rock,¡± Hadawa''ko said, ¡°A rock does not cry. A rock does not...¡±


    His lower lip quivered.


    ¡°Father never cried.¡±


    ¡°Not in front of us,¡± Tekahentakwa said.


    ¡°...Is it alright if I do?¡± Hadawa''ko said, ¡°In the barn?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Tekahentakwa said, ¡°I''ll be waiting outside.¡±


    The Warleader drew into the barn. She heard his quiet sobs, and chose to ignore them.


    ***


    ¡°Are you alright, Joe?¡± Aldreia asked.


    Her guildmate was leaning against the fence by the barn. The Oshya:de were here, and Rohahes was still Tekahentakwa''s bodyguard, but he still felt a need to keep an eye on the Clan Mother. There was a way that the Warriors above were circling them. Not like vultures, waiting for the dying to stumble.


    More like hawks, about to fall like bullets and strike.


    So he kept himself close to Tekahentakwa.


    ¡°I''m fine,¡± he said, and he was perhaps a bit more terse than he had expected, for the cleric gave him a severe look, ¡°Alright, maybe I''m not.¡±


    ¡°Is it that eagle of yours?¡± Aldreia asked, ¡°The Shadow of the Giant did a number to it.¡±


    ¡°Mordenaro did worse,¡± Joseph replied, ¡°No. It''s...¡±


    He sighed.


    ¡°It''s what he said,¡± Cobalt Joe said, ¡°About my soul. I can see through it, right?¡±


    ¡°I''m aware,¡± Aldreia said.


    ¡°No, you don''t get it,¡± Joe said, ¡°I can see what it''s seeing right now. In my stomach. Hell of a double vision, let me tell you.¡±


    The cleric blinked, unsure of how to respond.


    ¡°And¡­ it didn''t before?¡± Aldreia asked.


    ¡°No,¡± Joe said, ¡°It was just something I felt, at first. Like it was something distinct from me, to be called up when I needed it.¡±


    He studied the flying metahumans above.


    ¡°But lately, that''s changed,¡± he said, ¡°I can see what it sees at all times. Sometimes, when I dream, it''s as an eagle, and not as myself. It makes me think, what happens if I die?¡±


    He looked back at his guildmate.


    ¡°I mean, I wouldn''t go to an afterlife, right? My soul might remove itself from the body. It would be me. And I''d... I guess I''d still be around.¡±


    ¡°And you aren''t sure how to feel about that,¡± Aldreia said.


    ¡°Right,¡± Joe said, ¡°What the Shadow of the Giant said... that his Giant existed before him...¡±


    He shook his head.


    ¡°It''s hard for me to parse.¡±


    ¡°I''m afraid I can''t say much to that,¡± Aldreia said, ¡°The nature of the soul changes from person to person, I''ve found. Different religions have different doctrines, and different ways that it''s split up. I was taught that our souls belong to Pelliad, and that it is a a small shard of sunlight allowed to live as flesh.¡±


    ¡°The elves believe that the soul is fleeting,¡± Joe said, ¡°That, in exchange for a longer life, their soul disappears after death, to be absorbed into the ether.¡±


    ¡°So, perhaps it will do that,¡± Aldreia said.


    ¡°Maybe,¡± Joe said.


    Aldreia faltered, unsure of what else to say. She and Cobalt Joe didn''t talk very often. Nor had they gone on a job together before. He usually hung around with Rosemary and Phineas...


    But they were guildmates, and perhaps that would be enough.


    (By Pelliad, she wanted a drink.)


    By and large, he shook himself from his funk, and looked up at the flying metahumans.


    ¡°We should make sure they don''t try anything funny,¡± he said, ¡°A few of the Workers here have weaponry, but as far as I''m aware, you and Lunus Oculus are the only ones who use magic, and I''m one of the only metahumans with combat abilities.¡±


    ¡°I''ll talk to Professor Morandus and Nasir,¡± Aldreia said, ¡°And we should get a message to Becenti, let him know that the Oshya:de are here.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Joe said, ¡°I''ll talk to Amoeboy.¡±


    Hadawa''ko was stepping out of the barn. He was wiping his face, and hugged Tekahentakwa briefly. The two of them noted Joseph and Aldreia. Tekahentakwa waved at them.


    Joe waved back.


    ***


    ¡°As far as we''re aware,¡± Hadawa''ko said, ¡°There have been no attacks since the one here.¡±


    A war council was called. The Clan Mothers, along with Hadawa''ko, were gathered. Joe, Evancar, and Aldreia were attending as well. Lunus Oculus and Amoeboy, too. Lunus Oculus had broken down crying again before the session, but she was nonetheless steeled for what was to come.


    They met in Amoeboy''s house, in the kitchen. Most of them sat at the table. Joe leaned against a counter, his arms crossed.


    ¡°There are around one thousand warriors who are in fighting shape,¡± Hadawa''ko said, ¡°Most of us are armed with bows and knives. A few tomahawks and clubs.¡±


    ¡°Many o¡¯ the Workers know how to use weapons,¡± Amoeboy said, ¡°We kin potentially raid Mt. Redress''s weapons storage to arm ourselves.¡±


    ¡°How many Workers are like Needle?¡± Joe asked.


    ¡°Like Needle in what way?¡± Amoeboy asked.


    ¡°She skipped out on the tests, right?¡± Joe said, ¡°I''ve seen her power. It''s something that would''ve made her a Warrior.¡±


    Amoeboy scratched his chin.


    ¡°A few, I''m sure,¡± he said, turning to Lunus, ¡°Ye got any ideas?¡±


    ¡°I can talk to a few people,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°We''re still putting a number of Workers who are joining up with us. A lot of the resistance to Luminary''s disorganized and in small pockets. I know Glow separated with a few metahumans to do something. I haven''t heard from the Giant Northern Termite Queen.¡±


    (The Oshya:de blinked at this name.)


    ¡°You don''t think she''s been hurt, has she?¡± Evancar said, wringing his hands.


    ¡°The Queen?¡± Lunus Oculus said, and she shook her head, ¡°No. She''s off doing her own thing, I''m sure. She tends to.¡±


    ¡°What about the Warriors?¡± Joe asked.


    ¡°Luminary kept a tighter grip on them,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°Rainbowfish talked about going to try and turn some of them away. We''ll see how that goes.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Joe said.


    ¡°We should start talking about potential areas of weakness,¡± Hadawa''ko said, ¡°What is the center of power of New Ludaya?¡±


    Lunus Oculus grimaced.


    ¡°I know how ye feel, kid,¡± Amoeboy said, ¡°This ain''t pretty. But they''ve already drawn blood.¡±


    The purple-eyed metahuman nodded.


    ¡°I know,¡± she said, ¡°The area that the Council mostly resides in is Mt. Redress.¡±


    ¡°Which is?¡± Hadawa''ko said.


    ¡°It''s a mountain to the south of here, right on the edge of the plane,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°Pauldros the Stonemaker has carved an extensive network of tunnels and rooms inside. It''s where most of the governmental offices are. Storehouses, too.¡±


    ¡°It''s Father Mountain,¡± Otstoch said.


    Dandelion''s Clan Mother swallowed and glared at Lunus Oculus.


    ¡°You monsters, you''ve carved him up,¡± she said.


    The meeting lapsed into a tense silence. Hadawa''ko was frowning. Tekahentakwa looked to be on the verge of tears, for she and her brother had lived at the foot of Father Mountain. To think of him hollowed out...


    ¡°That is a conversation for later.¡±


    The voice came from Degonwadonti. Clan Mother of the Arrowmakers. She had armed herself, too, with a bow and quiver.


    ¡°For now,¡± Degonwadonti continued, ¡°We need to think of what our immediate needs are. We have a thousand Oshya:de warriors, and an unnumbered amount of metahumans willing to help resist.¡±


    ¡°But what is the final goal, here?¡± Lunus Oculus asked.


    ¡°It is simple,¡± Hadawa''ko said, ¡°You leave.¡±


    Lunus Oculus suppressed an urge to flinch.


    ¡°And go where?¡± Amoeboy asked, ¡°Back out there? Where the Federation¡¯ll tear us up like dogs?¡±


    ¡°I do not care,¡± Hadawa''ko said.


    ¡°Well, you''re not going to win any friends with that line,¡± Joe growled.


    Silence. The Warleader glared at the guildmate. Ozone began scenting the room.


    ¡°Again,¡± Degonwadonti said, ¡°That is a conversation for later. Negotiations that can be had when the woman in white is gone.¡±


    ¡°We can agree on that,¡± Amoeboy said, ¡°I don''t think this is a discussion to have now, not when y''all are still on the brink.¡±


    Hadawa''ko grimaced. But he did not dissent.


    ¡°Let''s make that our primary goal, then,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°I''ll talk to the other Workers protesting. Our aim is to remove the Council from power.¡±


    She looked around at the group.


    ¡°Is that agreeable?¡±


    Hadawa''ko thought about this.


    Then, he nodded.


    ¡°It will do, for now,¡± he said, ¡°But know that we will have discussions again.¡±


    ¡°''Course, son,¡± Amoeboy said, ¡°But let''s not put the cart before the horse, here.¡±


    ¡°Ah, excuse me,¡± Evancar said, and he raised a hand.


    ¡°This isn''t school, Professor,¡± Lunus Oculus said, and she smiled at him, ¡°You can talk.¡±


    ¡°What happens if Luminary comes here herself?¡± he said, ¡°She could wipe us all out if she wanted. A big column of Warriors, or the Pit invokes her pacts again, or...¡±


    ¡°She can''t,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°Not without the entire nation rising up against her.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡± Evancar said.


    ¡°A lot of people are shaken by all of this,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°They see the Oshya:de as... not comrades, but there''s similar history between us. Or... there is now, at least.¡±


    ¡°And by attacking them again like she did will make her lose what little credibility she has left,¡± Evancar said.


    ¡°She''ll be more forceful, as more turn on her,¡± Amoeboy said, ¡°The Professor does raise a good point. If she goes and loses all credibility with folks, she''ll have no choice but to use violence to remain in power.¡±


    ¡°We can scatter to the forests, then,¡± Hadawa''ko said, ¡°We shouldn''t be gathered like this, anyways.¡±


    ¡°The forests, the mountains, everywhere,¡± Degonwadonti said, ¡°You speak of the other metahumans striking from different areas. We should be the same.¡±


    ¡°Guerilla warfare,¡± Evancar said, ¡°It''s a nasty battle. But we''re the underdogs here.¡±


    ¡°Agreed,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°Warleader, you and yours know the landscape better than we do. Organize yourselves as you see fit.¡±


    ¡°Take a couple o'' metahumans with ya,¡± Amoeboy said, ¡°I can get a few with messenger abilities to join up with y''all, to keep in touch.¡±


    ¡°Very well,¡± Hadawa''ko said, ¡°We will do so. I''ll let you know who I wish to join us.¡±


    They quibbled over a few more minor details, but at the day''s end they had a solid plan. The day disappeared.


    The moon''s phases on Gan¨¢:yeht were erratic. They did not change on a daily basis, like on other planes. It was as though the moon was alive, and opened its great, single eye at its leisure.


    Thus, Lunus Oculus''s eyes were purple for only a short time. They changed as the sky burned orange, then burnt out completely and revealed the stars. Yet the sunset did not leave her eyes, rather it held there, twin wildfires that glowed in the night.


    ***


    The Sovereign Melody warped into Impellia III''s star system. Scanners and sensors powered up, scouting vessels left the hangar bays to go to each individual planet, in case the Mutts had managed to set up additional bases in the system, and claimed it as a whole.


    But aside from a couple of random unmanned outposts here and there, they found nothing. Impellia III was where they had concentrated most of their power.


    Valm was woken up late in the artificial night. Bell-like chimes, a quiet alarm that nevertheless roused him from his sleep. He picked up his communicator with slender, over-long fingers and brought it to his ear.


    ¡°What is it?¡± the guildmaster said.


    ¡°It''s Impellia III,¡± Old Scar said on the other line, ¡°Looks like our projections were right. Life signs are there, and they''re metahuman.¡±


    A thin smile crawled on Valm''s lips.


    ¡°Good,¡± he said, ¡°I''ll be right there. Start up a bioscan. See how many there are.¡±


    He rose from his bed, and began putting on his robes. He felt the entire ship lurch as it entered the Warp to rush towards Impellia III.


    And Olendris Valm brushed his teeth while the High Federation flew, once more, to do what it did best.

 154. THE AGE OF DESPERATION

    A series of small listening posts were situated across Impellia III. Much of the planet was covered in forest, tall and twisting trees that rooted deep into the earth. Baublefruits, as the New Ludayans had taken to call them, grew from the trees, though they were bitter and poisonous to most sapients. These baublefruit trees were the primary flora on the planet, with variations and subspecies making up the rest, and the only animals that ate them were a variety of insectoid animals, the largest the size of a small pony. The majority of these, too, were poisonous, due to the fact that they ate the bark and fruits of the long, winding trees.


    A planet that would be difficult to colonize, if that had been the New Ludayans'' goal. But it had not been. Instead, the metahumans of New Ludaya were content to pepper the planet with listening posts. Two metahumans, both Warriors, were assigned to each one, and they connected to one another in a network of lonely sensor arrays.


    For when the time came.


    Pocket and Iceformed manned the outpost closest to the Traveling Point, and that afforded them the ability to travel to New Ludaya proper at the end of their shifts. They were lucky, in that regard ¨C other Warriors located on Impellia III lived their shifts at their listening posts, cycling out every two weeks.


    Under usual circumstances, they waited by the Traveling Point, or at the forest''s edge, radio always in hand.


    But it was by luck that they were at their own outpost when the message came through. Each listening post was built in the same way ¨C a squat, squarish building, with a room dedicated to a large sensor array, the other for two cots and a mobile kitchen.


    Iceformed was at the sensor array. Pocket was smoking a cigarette outside. Analyza had tried getting her to quit, but as of late boredom had been taking over Pocket''s life. There was little to do out here save for scanning and making idle chatter, and Iceformed was not one for small talk.


    So she sat outside, and took a drag of the cigarette. The smoke curled as she exhaled.


    And Iceformed emerged, looking at her with frozen-crystal eyes.


    ¡°Message,¡± they said, ¡°Encrypted.¡±


    ¡°On it,¡± Pocket said.


    She joined them inside, sitting down at one of the two chairs in the room. The sensor array took up the majority of the three walls, all flashing lights and black consoles and electric fans to prevent overheating. The metahuman pressed a few buttons at one of the keyboards.


    ¡°From Point Achulos,¡± she said to Iceformed, ¡°Detection near the ninth planet. Might be a ghost.¡±


    ¡°I''m going to set up a call,¡± Iceformed said, and they pressed a key, brought a microphone to their mouth, ¡°Point Achulos, this is Point Armagest, over.¡±


    Silence for a few moments.


    ¡°Point Armagest, Point Achulos acknowledges,¡± the voice was Serendipper''s, ¡°Small warp signature located near the ninth planet in the system, over.¡±


    ¡°Point Achulos, confirming with Point Omperstellicad and Point Hyzodriad, over,¡± Iceformed said.


    Pocket took a shuddering breath, and began to configure the sensor array for nearer waves. Warp signatures were nigh-undetectable at a certain range, and a scan by Point Achulos would have been the mere afterimages of whatever ghost was carving its way through the stars.


    ¡°Point Armagest,¡± the voice came from Tinny Five-Eyes, at Point Omperstellicad, ¡°This is Point Omperstellicad. Picking up warp signature close to planet-side.¡±


    ¡°This is Point Hyzodriad,¡± now here was Morten''s voice, a muscular metahuman with a bison''s head, ¡°We''re triangulating...¡±


    Iceformed and Pocket exchanged looks. She stood up, walked out the door, climbed up to the listening post¡¯s roof. As she did so, she began to open up the slits on her arms. True to her name, each slit on Pocket''s body led to a small pocket dimension. She carried an entire menagerie of random materials and items from her travels in the multiverse.


    Lens.


    A scope.


    A tripod.


    She built the telescope, then and there, and set it on the roof. She could hear Iceformed through the open door, and if she strained, she could hear the others too, through the crackling radio.


    ¡°All points,¡± Morten said, ¡°This is Point Hyzodriad. Picking up a starship warping in planetside. Coordinates 114, 118, 110, 129.¡±


    She started adjusting the telescope to aim at the sky.


    ¡°It''s a warbird,¡± Tinny Five-Eyes said, ¡°By Pelliad, it''s a godsdamn warbird.¡±


    ¡°All points, easy now,¡± Iceformed said, ¡°Can we get confirmation, Point Omperstellicad?¡±


    ¡°I''m-I''m sure,¡± Tinny Five-Eyes said, ¡°Older model, but it''s a warbird, over.¡±


    ¡°Any others, over?¡± This now came from Point Hmpatu. The voice was Ella Burning''s.


    ¡°No, just the one, o-over,¡± Tinny Five-Eyes replied.


    Pocket looked through the telescope. Turned it this way and that, until she was looking at the coordinates.


    Aye, there it was. Like a fell crescent moon, shining like silver and already releasing drones and fighters from its hangar bays. The ship''s name was emblazoned in High Speech on its hull, but she could not make it out.


    She did not need to.


    ¡°All points, it''s the Sovereign Melody,¡± Morten said, ¡°All points, this is not a drill. Guild Pagan Chorus is here. The High Federation is here.


    ¡°The time has come.¡±


    She was already putting the telescope away, and now taking out parts to form a heavy rifle. She slid back off of the roof and landed next to the door. Iceformed was firing off frantic messages to the other listening points.


    ¡°All Points, this is Point Omperstellicad,¡± Tinny Five-Eyes sounded on the verge of a panic attack, ¡°I don''t know how, but they''re flying overhead. We''re preparing to engage, I r-repeat, we''re-¡±


    She screamed. There was the sound of a distant explosion. The line crackled.


    And then went dead.


    ¡°I''m going to New Ludaya,¡± she said, ¡°I''ve got to warn people.¡±


    ¡°Do so,¡± Iceformed said, ¡°We''re not going to hold out here.¡±


    She stepped out of the building. Heard more news coming in from the other listening posts. The High Federation was silencing them, one at a time.


    A quick response. Pagan Chorus had at least a few magicians. People to teleport them down. That, or perhaps they were using some rediscovered technology to get planetside quickly.


    (Or, perhaps, both.)


    ***


    Listening Point Omperstellicad had been obliterated during the battle.


    Tinny Five-Eyes kept all but one of her eyes closed at all times. When all five were opened, she unleashed a horrendous beam of pure light at whatever she looked at. With but a glance, she had cut through the wing of fighters that had suddenly appeared overhead.


    But she was not prepared for those guildfolk already on the ground. Rhunea''s spell had brought down a small team of Pagan Chorus special forces. Led by Kathen Aru, who took aim with his modified sniper rifle. A bullet to the stomach doubled Tinny Five-Eyes over, and another to the shoulder sent her spinning, the beams from her eyes cutting through the listening post and the occupant still within.


    She had annihilated the small building by the time she expired. The light did not leave her eyes until she took her final breath, and then it petered out, washing to the ground like spent plasma, pooling in puddles like rain and evaporating completely.


    She had cleared away the forest around her.


    Kathen stepped out, breathing heavily. Rhunea and the others joined him.


    ¡°Other teams are having worse luck,¡± Merry Curiosity said, ¡°I''m reporting from Truthspeaker that other outposts are more prepared for us.¡±


    Kathen swallowed.


    He tried not to look at the body of the metahuman, alone in the ashes of her own destruction. In the far distance, they heard more explosions and bangs, the loud dundundun of plasma fire.


    ¡°Kathen,¡± Merry said, ¡°I''m getting orders, we''re to assist Team Beta.¡±


    ¡°Explains the explosions,¡± Kathen said. He turned to Rhunea, ¡°You ready for another jump?¡±


    The doe-headed magician nodded. She was carrying her staff in one hand, carved from yew and with crystalline flowers jammed into the top. She twirled it ''round, whispering words, and for a moment the air smelled sweet and lovely.


    And then she slammed the staff into the ground, and Kathen felt the familiar jerking in the stomach that came with her method of teleportation. The wind picked them up, and they were sent away, towards another part of Impellia III.


    They landed near the clearing that the listening post was situated in. Bodies littered the forest floor, Pagan Chorus operatives who had been seared through by piercing spears of flame. The metahuman responsible was taking cover in the building itself, which itself was riddled with bright blue plasma stains.


    Dicaeopolis greeted them, signaled for them to keep quiet. Pointed towards the forest around them.


    One of the metahumans was stalking them.


    So, two, then.


    Kathen removed the scope from his rifle, unlatched the elongated muzzle and replaced it with a shorter one. Now with a more general rifle in hand, he signaled for the others to join him as they started skirting around the clearing''s perimeter. He saw the metahuman through the open door, fire curling around her fingertips.


    He aimed the rifle-


    And the metahuman flicked her fingers. The fire grew and lanced off towards his team. Kathen took cover behind one of the trees, as did Rhunea. Two of the operatives were not so lucky, as the spears ran straight through them, ignoring their combat armor, sending them flying back with the blow.


    They did not get up.


    Mage and protege looked to one another. Now they understood why Dicaeopolis was having trouble-


    The second metahuman leaped down from one of the trees, some horrifying, two-headed ape that screamed as it fell on top of one of the other operatives, who collapsed under the creature''s weight.


    ¡°Rhunea, cover me!¡± Kathen roared, ¡°Watch the other one!¡±


    Rhunea spun and pointed her staff at the building, sending a wave of heated spring at the fire-using metahuman. At the same moment, Kathen pressed a button on his wristband, and a three-tailed plasma whip emerged from the band on his arm. He cracked it at the two-headed ape, who screeched as it scored against his shoulder, nearly severing the arm completely. Kathen spun, lashing it against one of the metahuman''s throats. One of the heads rolled limp, and the ape leaped at Kathen-


    One for lightning to pierce through the ape''s form. Dicaeopolis''s magic. The satyr grinned-


    And fire roared towards him. He took cover, the spear grazing a few hairs from his balding head, but it was enough for Rhunea and a few operatives to open fire on the building.


    Kathen caught his breath, before hunkering down as more flaming lances rocketed in answer to Pagan Chorus''s assault, nailing another one of his guildmates in the head.


    This had to end.


    He took out a grenade, bit off the pin, and threw it. His aim was true, and it clattered through the open door.


    A moment later, the fire-using metahuman ran out the listening post, sending out more fire to cover her escape.


    But it wasn''t enough.


    Pagan Chorus opened fire. Dicaeopolis and Rhunea''s spellwork mixed with plasma fire. The metahuman went down riddled with burn marks and holes.


    A second later, the grenade went off, destroying the sensor array inside.


    There was only fire and the heavy breathing of the survivors. Kathen rose to his feet, his heart still pounding as he looked at the metahuman''s remains.


    ¡°Clear!¡± he called out.


    And he stepped out into the clearing. The plasma whip receded back into his wristband. Merry Curiosity was peppering him with readouts, the results of the other raids, High Federation attacks that had quickly bloomed into dozens planetside.


    ¡°They''re indicating that they''re doing a scan for a Traveling Point,¡± his AI said, ¡°Population here is only a few dozen metahumans, spread out over the plane. Not exactly the giant population we''d expect.¡±


    He thought about the recent battle, noted the corpses of his guildmates. He had never spoken to any of them, he realized. The disadvantage of being in a guild as large as Pagan Chorus meant that you only remembered so many faces. He had his immediate guildmates, such as Dicaeopolis and Rhunea, Valm and Antular, the endless company of Merry Curiosity.


    But Pagan Chorus was its own army. And many of them, Kate realized, were faceless to him.


    (As was Valm''s intent.)


    Rhunea nearby was giving last rites to the fallen, metahuman and guildfolk alike. She whispered sad words to each of them in the tongue of her home plane, soothing and dancing. For her guildmates, she sent them on their way, up to wherever the First Men had gone, as was spoken in the religious texts of the High Federation, that those who served the Federation met the blessed Alu''eer at the end of their lives.


    For the metahumans, and her words were quieter, to the point that Kate could hardly hear them, she begged apologies.


    He leaned against one of the spiraling, bauble-glowing trees.


    Already, this phase was almost over.


    ***


    High above, the Sovereign Melody was beginning to endure its way through Impellia III''s atmosphere. Warbirds such as she were designed for both planetside and interstellar operations, and as such she had no problem as flames bloomed across her hull, shuddering and rumbling. The bridge was alive with the paradoxical slowness and intensity of guiding warfare. Crewmembers were at each station, sending out orders, operating sensor arrays, ensuring that the descent to the blighted planet below was smooth and controlled. Guildmaster Valm sat on the upraised seat at the bridge''s center, a holographic projection of the planet in front of him, readouts showing the results and news of each of the raids that his guildmates were conducting. Old Scar stood at attention to the Voskian''s right, his jaw clenched and a vein pulsing on his temple.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!


    For he had wanted to go down there himself, and have himself a Mutt-killing.


    But no, he was to protect Valm himself, in case there was a metahuman with an unanticipated power that put them in danger.


    ¡°Most teams are reporting in,¡± one of the crewmates said, ¡°Initial sweep is almost finished.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Valm said, ¡°Any runners?¡±


    ¡°...Runners, sir?¡± the crewmate asked.


    ¡°There are always runners,¡± Valm said, ¡°Lookouts, scouts, those who return to the main community to warn them. In most cases, this is what we want, as it leads us right to where they''re hiding.¡±


    He leaned forward.


    ¡°In this case, however, we already will know where the Traveling Point will be. In a few minutes, at least. The element of surprise must be on our side.¡±


    ¡°Like picking a needle out of a haystack, sir,¡± Old Scar gruffed.


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Valm said, ¡°Etnoka, have you managed to find the Traveling Point?¡±


    ¡°Yes, guildmaster,¡± Etnoka said, and three stalk-hanging eyes turned to the Prime Voice, ¡°Pinning it to your map now.¡±


    There. A small circle identified the Traveling Point''s location, in the forests on the southern continent. Valm looked at it.


    ¡°Lifesigns indicate a few metahumans still alive there, only one of which is close enough to the Traveling Point for a jump,¡± Etnoka said, ¡°Giving you a list of squadrons nearby.¡±


    A list appeared next to the planet on Valm''s hologram. He looked it over.


    ¡°Send Bluebell''s team,¡± he said, ¡°Kill that metahuman. Make it quick. And then into the wolf''s den we go.¡±


    ***


    There was a sudden smell in the air that Pocket was not familiar with.


    She was running through the forest, towards the Traveling Point in the clearing. She was not sure what had happened to Iceformed, but she had heard explosions behind her as she left. No doubt the Federation had hit their location. Maybe wiped it off the map.


    Her heart pounded as she at once noted shapes behind the trees. Figures in combat armor and closed helmets, plasma rifles in hand. Federation forces.


    She had been in similar situations before. And she had the right tools to defend herself. A menagerie of plasma and kinetic weaponry. And a stealth device, a Fedtek piece, that she pulled from a pocket on her wrist and clicked. The air around her warbled, and she slunk down.


    And she was hidden, hiding behind a baublefruit tree, and now the Federation soldiers had stopped their pursuit and were now hunting for her, slow and laborious, wolves to flush out a rabbit in the grass.


    Someone new joined them. A blue-scaled, Dragon-like man in burgundy robes. He carried a simple walking stick in hand, though the top of it was bobbed with a glowing salt-colored crystal.


    A guildfolk.


    So, then, this was Pagan Chorus. Prime Voice Valm''s pack of hounds. His own personal militia. Pocket tried to steady the rapid beats of her heart as she moved away from the bulk of the Pagan Chorus squad, slinking towards the clearing with the Traveling Point.


    She could see a ship dropping downwards like a sharpened stone. The warbird. Soldiers would secure the Traveling Point soon, and then Pocket would be cut off from New Ludaya. She would be hunted here, like Iceformed and the rest.


    That could not happen. The stealth module was still active, but it only had so much power and only held to so much scrutiny. Already she could see the Draconic guildfolk sniff the air, and his eyes fell on her, or close to her, she was not sure.


    ¡°Go time,¡± she whispered.


    She was just on the edge of the forest now. Could see the slight wave in the air that was the Traveling Point. Pocket''s slits opened up, and she produced a few pieces of combat armor that she slapped onto her arms and legs, a chest piece that bound itself to her chest. A helmet, one she had taken from a Federation soldier years and years ago, though she had shattered the glass visor before ramming a pistol into the Feddie''s mouth.


    She wore it, and it stank the copper stink of the Utomian''s blood.


    The rest of her pockets opened up at key points of her body. Rifles and pistols emerged, rigged to fire at a thought. A unique quirk of her metahuman ability, one that had taken her years to perfect.


    It was the one that had won her the right to be a Warrior, and not a Worker.


    Another deep breath.


    Now the blue-scaled guildfolk was pointing at her. A spell began shining from his staff. His maw began sizzling and spitting with acid breath.


    She sprinted. And opened fire at the same moment. She released a dance of plasma fire and kinetic projectiles, bullets and arrows and small, sharpened stones that exploded on impact, an effort to distract her Pagan Chorus pursuers.


    And, for the most part, it worked, as a few of them gasped in shock as they were hit and downed.


    All, save for the reptilian guildfolk. He took off on leathery wings, flying high over the forest''s clearing. His spell had been interrupted by Pocket''s assault, but acid still bubbled in his mouth.


    He unleashed it, a thunderbolt line of green-laced agony.


    Pocket noticed it almost too late. She leaped out of the way, acid cratering into the ground at the spot she had been standing, flecks of the stuff stinging her chest armor, flicking onto her cheeks and burning. She grimaced, almost stumbled as she hit the ground, and then kept running.


    With a leap, she was through the Traveling Point. The guildfolk, high above, shook his head.


    ***


    ¡°I apologize, guildmaster,¡± Bluebell said, ¡°I was not able to secure the kill.¡±


    ¡°Quite alright, Bluebell,¡± Valm said, ¡°She seemed to be a slippery one. It is no great concern, not when we make our initial assault.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Bluebell asked.


    Valm nodded.


    ¡°I am,¡± he said, ¡°Secure the Traveling Point with your team. Kill anyone who emerges from it.¡±


    ¡°Understood, guildmaster,¡± Bluebell said.


    The Sovereign Melody was directly over the Traveling Point now. Through the ship''s cameras, Valm could see Bluebell circling the clearing, his guildmates running to secure a perimeter. There were still a few raids ongoing. A few teams had not reported in. That was to be expected, however.


    What mattered to Valm was that Kathen''s team was alright, and that he had succeeded in both of the raids Valm had given him.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said, ¡°Recall teams one through eighteen. Then, we go through.¡±


    ***


    It was late in the night when Pocket jumped through the Traveling Point at New Ludaya.


    And the air had shifted, she noted. She had not been able to return to the plane for a few days.


    Something had happened.


    Campfires littered the grounds outside Mt. Redress. Warriors were positioned around the Traveling Point, but instead of looking towards the portal, they were staring down at the flames at the mountain¡¯s base. Protestors, Workers who had finally gone on an extended strike for some reason. Indeed, they almost looked surprised as Pocket, breathless and shaking, emerged.


    One of them she recognized. Quail of the Feathers approached her as Pocket turned, taking aim at the Traveling Point.


    ¡°They''re here,¡± Pocket said, ¡°Warn everyone, they''re here.¡±


    She turned back to note Quail''s hesitation.


    ¡°...The hell are you doing?¡± Pocket said, ¡°The High Federation is here, damn you! The time''s come, tell the Council, now!¡±


    Quail jumped as though shaken from a stupor. At once she was sending out orders to the other Warriors guarding the Traveling Point. One of them disassembled into dozens of flying paper airplanes and took off to warn the various sectors of New Ludaya.


    Pocket took a deep breath. No one was coming out of the Traveling Point. No one had followed her.


    But she knew they would come streaming in. Any moment¡­


    ***


    The message came to Luminary as she was in the Council chamber. The only person still inside here was Pauldros the Stonemaker, who had taken this place as his own personal room. He sat in the corner, almost as though trying to make himself smaller, the way that he slumped and squirmed, his knees tucked into his chest, his feet scrabbling against the stone floor. Cornered by his own guilt and shame.


    Luminary ignored this as she listened to Mister Meaning''s report.


    ¡°As it is, Memoire''s still somewhere within Mt. Redress,¡± her right hand said, ¡°Looks like she''s been able to avoid Lord Freak''s hunt for her rather well.¡±


    ¡°We should recall him soon,¡± Luminary said, ¡°Send other people after her. He''s good, but I need him for other projects.¡±


    ¡°He won''t be too happy,¡± Mister Meaning said.


    ¡°Oh, I''m well aware,¡± Luminary said, ¡°But the needs of the nation come before the needs of the self.¡±


    She rubbed her eyes. It was late, and she had gotten very little sleep.


    ¡°What news of Dorucanthos?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Still no response,¡± Mister Meaning said, ¡°A group of Workers are picketing his manor, however. No one''s really accosted him directly.¡±


    ¡°That will change,¡± Luminary said, ¡°As long as the Oshya:de are still here, they will get angrier and angrier...¡±


    She sighed.


    ¡°We need to get this resolved. And quickly,¡± she said.


    ¡°No easy way to do that,¡± Mister Meaning said, ¡°It''s not like we can do what we did before. I think our hold on the Warriors is already tenuous at best. Half of them would revolt if we told them to finish what we started.¡±


    Luminary nodded at that.


    And, at that moment, the paper airplane fluttered down from above. It opened up in front of Luminary, who read it.


    Once.


    Twice.


    No, it was not possible.


    It was far too soon.


    Fear filled her veins as she looked up at Mister Meaning.


    ¡°The damn Federation''s here,¡± she said, ¡°Get everyone up. Wake them up, now.¡±


    Meaning made no quip. No sarcastic remark. He was all business and cold ice as he ran out of the room at once, calling for the Warriors to assemble. There was a tremor in his voice she hardly heard from him.


    ¡°Alright,¡± she said, and her hands were shaking, ¡°We''re ready for this. We''ve been ready for this.¡±


    She looked to Pauldros. The Stonemaker had stopped his fidgeting. Was looking at her with a forlorn, lost expression.


    ¡°Stonemaker,¡± Luminary said, ¡°I have need of you.¡±


    He did not respond.


    Through muted stone walls, she could already hear Warriors assembling and moving out.


    ¡°We will need your abilities,¡± Luminary said, ¡°To protect Mt. Redress.¡±


    ¡°They didn''t call it that,¡± Pauldros said.


    Luminary''s mouth became a thin line.


    ¡°Our people are in danger,¡± she said, ¡°Defend us, as you so promised.¡±


    Pauldros rolled his eyes.


    But there was truth in Luminary''s words. There were the Workers who protested outside of the mountain, and they would be the first to be butchered.


    ¡°Get everyone inside,¡± he said, ¡°Workers too. Even those who disagree with us.¡±


    He rose.


    Rested a hand against the stone. Took a deep breath, in and out. And when his eyes opened they were pupil-less.


    The entire mountain began to ripple. The ceiling to the Council chambers closed up with stone.


    ¡°The time has come,¡± he said, and his voice was hollow.


    ***


    A paper airplane flew to the Warriors all over the plane. To specific bases that had been set up on New Ludaya.


    And, since many Warriors were sympathetic to the plight of the Oshya:de, one of the airplanes came down to the sandstone tower. Tallneck picked it up, read over it with a craned neck. He began to hyperventilate as he handed it to Becenti.


    The older metahuman read it once. Twice.


    And Tallneck began to sob. Shuddering horrid sobs. The others in the room looked at Becenti as he absorbed the news. The moon high above cast its glow, and had become the only source of light in the room.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Kehaulani asked, ¡°What''s wrong?¡±


    ¡°The Federation is here,¡± Becenti said, ¡°They''re on the other side of the Traveling Point now.¡±


    Silence.


    Still, Tallneck''s fearful tears.


    ¡°I need-¡± Kehaulani said, ¡°I need to find my husband. My baby.¡±


    ¡°Go,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Scatter to the wind.¡±


    Already Kehaulani was leaving. A few other metahumans went with her. Rainbowfish glanced out the window, to the direction of Mt. Redress, which rose darkly on the horizon. He could see the campfires from here, littering the mountainside. He knew that more were at the mountain''s base, those Workers who were protesting the Council.


    So many people...


    ¡°I should go,¡± he said, ¡°Get people out of the way there.¡±


    ¡°Do so,¡± Becenti said.


    Other metahumans peeled from the Worker''s town. Word was spreading quickly. A few metahumans took off into the air, to spread the news, to help organize defense.


    Becenti, however, merely watched through the window. His hands shook.


    The only way off of New Ludaya was through the Traveling Point.


    But Impellia III had no spaceport. It had a few lonely cargo ships that New Ludayans used to smuggle in weapons, but there was not nearly a large enough fleet to carry the entire population away.


    And the gate to Bloodrun was gone. Destroyed.


    This place was a death trap.


    ***


    The letter also arrived at Amoeboy''s commune. He passed it around.


    Already, high above, the flying Warriors loyal to Luminary were being recalled. Leafy and the flaming metahuman retreated towards Father Mountain.


    ¡°They''re here,¡± Lunus Oculus whispered.


    She had just finished reading the letter to Tekahentakwa and Hadawa''ko. The two Oshya:de exchanged glances, looking out towards the horizon. They could barely make out Father Mountain from here, but there was a sickening feeling in the pit of their stomachs. Cobalt Joe was pacing as he watched the news flow over the Workers and the Oshya:de. There was already a controlled panic among the crowd, mostly among the metahumans. Lived-in experiences and traumas resurfaced. Already a few of them were running away, towards the forests.


    ¡°This place is over-exposed,¡± Joe said, ¡°That plan we had, of spreading out? We should do that.¡±


    There was a distant boom.


    ¡°We should do that now,¡± he said.


    ***


    ¡°Get away from the Traveling Point!¡± someone called out, ¡°Get away!¡±


    Pocket and the other Warriors did so, skipping down the mountain. The Traveling Point was starting to shudder. Something was forcing its way in. The air around the Traveling Point resisted. But then it cracked. Whatever was coming through, it was far too large for the Traveling Point to naturally allow in.


    And then the reality around the cliff''s edge shattered. The warbird spilled out, forcing itself forward, its thrusters burning deep plasma stains into the mountain''s side.


    The mountain responded in turn. As did Warriors. Fire and ice and lightning and blades fired off from the skies, from the ground. Those Workers at the base of Mt. Redress retreated into the forest as the warbird turned and began to ascend upwards, as metahuman power struck its shields, which absorbed and rebounded each and every blow¡­


    ***


    ¡°Lifesigns all over the plane, guildmaster,¡± Etnoka said, ¡°Thousands upon thousands.¡±


    ¡°Well, what do you know,¡± Valm said, ¡°They are a nation, real and true.¡±


    ¡°Every dog has its day,¡± Old Scar muttered.


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Valm said, and he scratched the arm of his chair in thought as the Sovereign Melody ascended higher and higher, away from the reach of most of the New Ludayans below.


    ¡°Fire on the mountain,¡± the Prime Voice said, ¡°Send them a message.¡±


    ***


    There was a few minutes of panic. Of screams and cries as metahumans dispersed into the forest, or retreated into the mountains. Mt. Redress itself opened up, sculpting missiles of stone that aimed towards the night sky. The warbird could be seen backdropped against the moon, crescent against wax.


    Light began to pull away from the torch sconces. From the floating will o'' the wisps in the forests, from the campfires the Workers had been using. They melded into arrows. Luminary''s power, spread out across the vicinity of the mountain, though it was to her great strain. She was in her personal rooms, looking out the window at the expanse of New Ludaya, sweat beading her temples and matting down her whispery hair as she concentrated. The light was pulling itself into a ball.


    Pauldros was in the Council room still, and his breathing was labored and heavy as he forced his will on the mountain, shaping the stone into weapons and armor.


    His earthen spears rocketed upwards towards that blight of the moon.


    And, at the same moment, a hail of plasma fire rained down. Large globules, beams of energy, though the light from the attacks were pulled at once by Luminary''s power.


    The Sovereign Melody''s assault carved through the mountains. Set the forests ablaze. Metahumans died screaming, melting and burning as bolts the size of houses rained down upon them and the forest.


    Children were calling out for their mothers. A boy was pulling his brother''s remains from the wreckage of one of the cottages in the woods, the forest burning around him. He would not survive the night.


    A man with overlong arms had wrapped them around the bisected body of his niece. She had been his only family here, the last vestige the man had of his sister, who had been killed on the way to paradise.


    One of the teachers was holding a girl in one of her manta ray, wave-like arms. The girl had been flying with her father when the warbird had appeared overhead. The man, whose wings were like a white bat''s, was nowhere to be seen, and the girl had lost one of her indigo bird''s wings, along with her right arm and right leg. She was delirious as the teacher carried her, metahumans screaming all around the two of them as they pushed towards one of the cracks in the earth, a hidden spot to escape the worst of the Federation''s barrage.


    And through it all, as metahumans screamed and wept and died, Luminary concentrated, pulling the light from each beam of energy from the warbird high above. The mountain coiled and shifted, repairing every crater, every strike, every blow against Mt. Redress, as Pauldros pulled up earth from the deepest parts of New Ludaya to cover up each injury, like a child shoring up a sand castle against the crashing waves.


    And then, amidst the storm, she opened her eyes, let out a cry, and the orb of light shot off towards the warbird.


    For a moment, she was worried that she had missed. But the light was hers to control, and she had hit smaller targets before, from a greater distance.


    There was a boom high above as the warbird shuddered.


    Luminary slumped, her head spinning.


    And the rain of plasma ceased.


    ***


    The Sovereign Melody became a place of controlled chaos. The warbird lurched as it moved away from Mt. Redress, northwards towards the plains. There was little visible damage to the ship itself, and yet energy crackled across her hull.


    ¡°One shot,¡± Valm muttered, ¡°One shot, and they took out the shields.¡±


    ¡°And they''ll be gone for a while,¡± the weapons op said, ¡°Whatever that hit was, it was almost equivalent to a full barrage from a rival warbird.¡±


    ¡°They absorbed most of the light from our attack,¡± Valm said, and he thought for a few moments, ¡°Old Scar, who does that remind you of?¡±


    ¡°Luminary,¡± and Old Scar grimaced, ¡°Thought we killed her during the war.¡±


    ¡°Unfortunately, not,¡± Valm said.


    There was no second volley from the metahumans below. The mountain still stood. He should have deployed a glassmaker, obliterated the entire thing. No doubt there were many metahumans inside.


    He had used a gentle hand.


    (The forests below burned with no sign of being put out.)


    ¡°Retreat for now,¡± Valm said, ¡°When will our shields be online again?¡±


    ¡°Not sure,¡± the weapons op said, ¡°Hours. That was a heavy hit, and it overloaded the systems. The Sovereign Melody''s an old bird, guildmaster.¡±


    Valm nodded.


    ¡°Of course,¡± he said, ¡°Well, get to work on it. It looks like these Mutts get to live another day.¡±

 155. MOON OVER GANè°©:YEHT

    The council convened in a moot, though the seating arrangements had changed. Iconoclast and Lord Freak took to one side. Nomatrius Dorucanthos took Memoire''s customary seat, alone on his side of the table. Pauldros the Stonemaker sat alone. Neither Memoire nor the Pit were in attendance, for Lord Freak had not been able to find the former, and the latter was sleeping in one of the guest rooms, guarded by two Warriors.


    (To protect her from the Federation? Or to protect the Council from her?)


    Luminary was in her usual place at the table''s northern side. She was looking at each of them in turn. Yes, she would need to find a new Seat of Secrets and Rituals and a new Seat of Magic, when this was over. But there was little that could be done.


    Her exhaustion was showing through. She had fallen unconscious soon after the battle, and had only just stirred from slumber within the last few hours. Mister Meaning attended to her, hanging to her right like a vulture.


    It had been six hours since the Sovereign Melody and Pagan Chorus had erupted from the Traveling Point. The fires they had set in the forests surrounding Mt. Redress had been put out. The dead had been gathered, row after row in one of the larger caverns, covered in white sheets. Those who were left mourned. Shuddering, empty cries echoed down Mt. Redress¡¯s halls.


    If one strained, they could even be heard from the Council room.


    None of the Councilmembers chose to concentrate on this. Instead, they all listened as Pocket, the only confirmed survivor of Impellia III, finished her report.


    ¡°As far as I''m aware, we''re cut off,¡± she said, ¡°Pagan Chorus hit us hard. Sent teams out to every listening post on the planet.¡±


    ¡°But you don''t know for certain,¡± Nomatrius Dorucanthos said.


    Pocket shook her head.


    ¡°No,¡± she said, ¡°I''m not. I can only tell you what the chatter was before I started heading for the Traveling Point.¡±


    ¡°The fact that no one has sent a message via Silverfish strengthens your theory,¡± Luminary said, ¡°No word, yet. We should send a team through, see what''s going on there.¡±


    She breathed out an anxious sigh.


    ¡°Water, please, water,¡± she said.


    Mister Meaning opened up his chest, produced a water bottle, handed it to her. Luminary''s hands shook as she twisted off the cap, and took a long drink.


    ¡°What''s the status of the Sovereign Melody?¡± she croaked.


    ¡°High above,¡± Iconoclast said, ¡°Shields are still down. You did good.¡±


    ¡°We need to act fast,¡± Luminary said, ¡°I need you to assemble a team to bring the ship down. Do whatever you can.¡±


    Iconoclast nodded. He stood up at once.


    ¡°I''ll have Riah Truegale start gathering Warriors,¡± he said, ¡°We strike.¡±


    ¡°Stonemaker,¡± Luminary said.


    Pauldros didn''t respond. Like Luminary, he looked exhausted. Shearing and repairing the entire mountain had done a number on him. His bright eyes were sunken, and he looked as though he had been running all night.


    ¡°Stonemaker,¡± Luminary repeated.


    He looked up at her.


    ¡°How does the mountain fare?¡±


    ¡°As well as it needs to,¡± Pauldros muttered, ¡°It will not survive a full glassing. But it can take another hit like the one we saw last night.¡±


    He shook himself from his stupor.


    ¡°We should reach out to Lunus Oculus and the Oshya:de,¡± he said.


    ¡°That is another matter entirely,¡± Luminary said, shaking her head, ¡°We have more pressing concerns at the moment.¡±


    ¡°They''re a dagger waiting to strike our backs,¡± Lord Freak said, ¡°There should at least be some sort of truce with them. To bring protestors back into the fold. And then, when this is over, we can make a move against the Oshya:de.¡±


    Pauldros''s eyes widened at this.


    ¡°You''re not serious,¡± he said.


    Lord Freak turned to the Stonemaker, his shark-toothed smile wide.


    ¡°They still remain a problem,¡± he said, ¡°They will be a problem afterwards. If we are able to align the dissenters under our banner, remind them of our common enemy, we will be more versatile in our response.¡±


    ¡°You''re talking about another genocide,¡± Pauldros said, ¡°I won''t be... I won''t be party to that.¡±


    He looked about ready to vomit.


    ¡°I can''t be party to that.¡±


    ¡°You''ve done it once before,¡± Lord Freak said, ¡°And-¡±


    ¡°NOT AGAIN!¡±


    He screamed this, and the mountain shook. Pauldros was on his feet, and though he was unsteady he glared at the Council.


    ¡°All of you,¡± he said, ¡°All of you¡­ talking like this. Or agreeing to it. Or¡­ Or¡­¡±


    He hung his head, looking worn down. Beaten and trodden upon.


    ¡°Do we need to put you down, too?¡± Luminary said, ¡°Like the Pit?¡±


    ¡°Try that, and I collapse the entire complex,¡± Pauldros said.


    ¡°You would kill your own people,¡± Luminary said, ¡°Thousands of Workers are here. Innocent people, who are protesting the very same thing that you are. Only, they don''t have the regret that you do. They don''t have the guilt. You''d just be doing Valm''s work for him.¡±


    Pauldros was quiet.


    ¡°Work on protecting the mountain,¡± Luminary said, ¡°You won''t need to do anything else.¡±


    ¡°...I will do this,¡± Pauldros said miserably.


    He walked out of the room. Pocket looked uncomfortable.


    ¡°You have a wife, yes?¡± Luminary said.


    Pocket nodded.


    ¡°Go to her,¡± Luminary said, ¡°You will be called upon soon.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Pocket said, and she saluted, and took her leave as well.


    Nomatrius Dorucanthos watched the Warrior leave, before looking to Luminary.


    ¡°Well,¡± he said, ¡°This has certainly shaken things up quite a bit.¡±


    He noted the Founder looking at him. Nomatrius returned the look with a half-glare.


    ¡°You''re wondering where I stand, in all of that,¡± he said.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Luminary said.


    The patriarch of the Dorucanthos family sighed. Rapped knuckles against the table, words juggling on his lips.


    ¡°I''ll stand with the nation,¡± he decided, ¡°It''s not easy. It''s not kind. I already know a few of my children aren''t going to talk to me, when this is over. But there''s a High Federation starship flying over the place that I''ve chosen as my home.¡±


    He looked down at the table.


    (And felt like he was signing away his soul.)


    ¡°I stand with New Ludaya,¡± he said, ¡°Tell me what to do, Luminary.¡±


    ***


    ¡°What do we do?¡± Tekahentakwa asked.


    She sat in with the other Clan Mothers, and her brother, Hadawa''ko. They were sitting outside, away from the barn and Amoeboy''s houses. A campfire burned around them as they discussed their options. Hadawa''ko''s warriors paced around the perimeter.


    They were away, most importantly, from the metahumans. Many of them looked aghast. Scared beyond all senses. They paced the commune, occasionally looking up at the night sky, as though at any moment it would come crashing down.


    ¡°The arrival of this ''High Federation'' changes things,¡± Hadawa''ko said, ¡°They are a potential ally.¡±


    ¡°They are a potential enemy, as well,¡± W¨¢:ri said, ¡°I have spoken with Professor Evancar Morandus. He has nothing good to say about the High Federation.¡±


    ¡°I don''t expect the High Federation to be our friends,¡± Hadawa''ko said, ¡°But we may be able to use them to our advantage.¡±


    ¡°How so?¡± Otstoch asked.


    ¡°They want the metahumans gone, we want the metahumans gone,¡± Hadawa''ko said, ¡°We share a common goal.¡±


    ¡°And what about those metahumans who have been helping us?¡± Tekahentakwa said, ¡°Amoeboy, and Lunus Oculus. We have made an agreement with Myron Becenti that his guild will protect us, and he and Cobalt Joe are both metahumans.¡±


    Hadawa''ko shook his head.


    ¡°That was before,¡± he said, ¡°When we were negotiating with the metahumans, trying to recruit them to our cause. Even then, those who we recruited are overwhelmingly from the Worker class. They are not as powerful as the woman in white''s loyalists.¡±


    ¡°And you think,¡± Otstoch said, ¡°That the High Federation would be able to defeat them?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± the Warleader said, ¡°It would not be a pretty war. But it would end with the metahumans being driven from our lands.¡±


    ¡°...And at what cost?¡± Tekahentakwa said.


    Hadawa''ko looked at her.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°We heard the explosions,¡± Tekahentakwa said, ¡°The trail of refugees coming from the south.¡±


    For, indeed, many New Ludayans, fearful of the large target that Father Mountain represented, had spread across Gan¨¢:yeht. A neverending trail of survivors had gone to the Worker''s town and the sandstone tower, or to the communes dotting the plane, or even into the forests.


    ¡°How do we know that the High Federation won''t completely destroy our home?¡± Tekahentakwa said.


    ¡°It is true,¡± W¨¢:ri said, ¡°Professor Morandus has told me about the High Federation''s... ''glassings,'' he calls them. They have the power to turn this land to glass and ash.¡±


    Hadawa''ko grimaced, and looked away.


    ¡°If we do not pick a side, we will be caught in the middle,¡± he said, ¡°If we do not act, the others will act for us.¡±


    ¡°We are acting,¡± Tekahentakwa said, ¡°We are still keeping to our plans of disruption with those who choose to join us.¡±


    ¡°Will that be enough?¡± Hadawa''ko said.


    ¡°The alternative is unthinkable,¡± Tekahentakwa said, ¡°I fear that if we choose to ally with the High Federation, we will be trading one group of oppressors for another. Our true freedom must come with those who would act with us out of solidarity.¡±


    The council was silent. Tekahentakwa took a shuddering breath. She didn''t know what she was saying, she felt. But there was a look in Hadawa''ko''s eyes that scared her. He had been almost smiling when he had been listening to the explosions just hours before.


    ¡°We should speak with Lunus Oculus,¡± Degonwadonti said, ¡°See what their response to the High Federation will be.¡±


    ¡°Agreed,¡± Otstoch said.


    ¡°I''ll go to her,¡± Tekahentakwa said, ¡°Hadawa''ko, will you join me?¡±


    Her brother looked at her. He did not seem convinced by her arguments. But he nodded, nonetheless.


    ¡°Of course, Clan Mother,¡± he said, ¡°I will join you.¡±


    ***


    The brother and sister walked into Amoeboy''s house to see a similar scene. Cobalt Joe was pacing the room, occasionally glancing out the window, as though at any moment the Federation would come flying down. Lunus Oculus and Amoeboy were at the table, the former with her hands steepled and shaking, the latter chewing a thin stick of straw. A paramecium the size of a small dog was in his lap, and Amoeboy was petting it, a leathered hand moving up and down where its ¡®back.¡¯ If the single-celled organism enjoyed it or not was a different matter.


    Professor Morandus and Myron Becenti were there, as well. Evancar was leaning against the kitchen counter, a frank expression on his face. Becenti was at the table with Lunus and Amoeboy. If the Federation''s arrival had scared him, he wasn''t showing it. All business, was Myron Becenti.


    (Only Joseph noted the slight shiver in his mentor''s voice.)


    ¡°It looks like the Sovereign Melody,¡± Becenti said, nodding to Tekahentakwa, ¡°Flagship of the guild known as Pagan Chorus.¡±


    ¡°And what is Pagan Chorus like?¡± Tekahentakwa asked.


    ¡°They function both as a guild, and as Valm''s personal militia,¡± Becenti said, ¡°An armed group outside of the Federation''s military force that he can use as a scalpel.¡±


    ¡°Why just the one ship?¡± Cobalt Joe asked, ¡°You''d think they''d send a fleet.¡±


    ¡°Pagan Chorus is large, but it is also spread thin,¡± Becenti said, ¡°They serve the guildmaster''s interests, and Valm''s are multifarious.¡±


    ¡°No doubt they went ¡®n¡¯ thought that they could just glass the plane from orbit,¡± Amoeboy said, ¡°Bah god, we were lucky.¡±


    ¡°Any word on the... ship, itself?¡± Hadawa''ko asked.


    ¡°Trailing north,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°A few people volunteered to tail it. Luminary took out its shields-¡±


    (Joe suppressed a shiver, at the thought of such power.)


    ¡°-And it hasn''t come back online.¡±


    ¡°They''ll need to rest somewhere for repairs,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Luminary brought down warbirds like that all the time, during the war. She''ll have hit them harder than they''ll have anticipated.¡±


    ¡°Jesus,¡± Joe said, ¡°She''s that powerful?¡±


    Becenti nodded.


    ¡°Yes, Joe,¡± he said, ¡°She is. She''ll be out of commission for a while-¡±


    ¡°Then that is a moment to strike,¡± Hadawa''ko said.


    They looked at him.


    ¡°She is weakened, yes?¡± the Warleader said, ¡°We gather who we can, make for Mt. Redress.¡±


    ¡°And what of the Federation?¡± Becenti said, ¡°They will still be here.¡±


    ¡°But we can negotiate with them,¡± Hadawa''ko said, ¡°We can get them to leave us alone.¡±


    ¡°Then you do not understand them,¡± Becenti said, ¡°You. I don''t know your name.¡±


    ¡°Hadawa''ko, Warleader of the Oshya:de,¡± the young man puffed out his chest, unlooped his tomahawk and flipped it in his hands, ¡°You are Myron Becenti. The Clan Mother has told me about you.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Becenti said, ¡°And I will tell you this. The Federation will not listen to you. They will claim to want to protect your home. Promise that they will leave when they are done. That they will try to keep damage to a minimum. But they will break every promise they make. Even sworn on the most holy of objects, they will break them.¡±


    ¡°But we are not like you,¡± Hadawa''ko said, ¡°We are not metahuman.¡±


    ¡°That changes little,¡± Becenti said, ¡°You are of the multiverse.¡±


    ¡°I am of Gan¨¢:yeht!¡± Hadawa''ko said.


    ¡°And that, to them, is the multiverse,¡± Becenti replied, ¡°They will stab you in the back, too. They will destroy Gan¨¢:yeht, if it serves their interest.¡±


    The Warleader glared at the older man. Tekahentakwa laid a hand on her brother''s arm.


    ¡°What should we do?¡± she said.


    ¡°I will... talk. To Luminary.¡±


    ¡°Inconceivable,¡± Hadawa''ko snapped.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.


    He started pacing the room now, still flipping the tomahawk in his hand.


    ¡°We need to come to an understanding,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°I disagree,¡± Tekahentakwa said.


    Her brother sneered in agreement.


    ¡°We will not talk to the woman in white,¡± Tekahentakwa said, ¡°You mean to broker a truce with her.¡±


    Becenti was quiet for a long moment.


    And then, he nodded.


    ¡°I do,¡± he said.


    ¡°That is not an option for us,¡± Tekahentakwa said, ¡°The woman in white has done just what your Federation has done. We do not trust her words. We do not trust what little promises she has made.¡±


    ¡°All the same,¡± Becenti said, ¡°We need to come to an understanding. The High Federation''s arrival here is a dark turn. They are worse than us-¡±


    ¡°I find that hard to believe,¡± Hadawa''ko said.


    The older man suppressed a flinch. Lunus Oculus looked away. Cobalt Joe took note of the conversation''s turn. At the way that Hadawa''ko held the tomahawk in his hand.


    ¡°You weren''t there,¡± the Warleader said, ¡°You weren''t there during the initial discussion the woman in white had with our Clan Mothers and with our Chiefs. The hollow promises. The compromises she suggested to us, when we did not need to compromise at all.¡±


    His eyes betrayed a dangerous glint.


    ¡°You weren''t there when the Pit split open. You weren''t there for any of it. The sky bled red. Father Mountain was forced to split into pieces and kill us, his own children. Entire family lines are gone. The boy, Guyasuta, is the last of Four Banner. Thousands of people, and he is the last of them. Every father and mother, brother and sister, gone! Gone!¡±


    He was screaming now.


    ¡°And you tell me to talk to the woman who did this!¡± he said, ¡°You sit here, all of you, and you debate, and you talk, but I see no action!¡±


    ¡°Hadawa''ko!¡± Tekahentakwa said.


    Silence.


    ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Lunus Oculus said, and she glared at Hadawa¡¯ko, ¡°We weren¡¯t there, were we?¡±


    Hadawa¡¯ko¡¯s face contorted. And then went slack as he realized the full weight of her words.


    ¡°Enough of this,¡± he muttered, ¡°We do not work with Luminary. We don¡¯t believe her lies.¡±


    And he turned. Stormed out of the room.


    Out of the house, and out onto the plains. No one said a word.


    Becenti was looking down at the table. Evancar took a moment to watch him.


    ¡°Well,¡± he said, ¡°He''s right.¡±


    Becenti stood up at once, shot Evancar a truly loathsome glare. The Professor met it.


    ¡°Don''t tell me that I''m not,¡± he said, ¡°You haven''t heard the stories I''ve heard, Becenti. That Luminary is a monster.¡±


    ¡°I...¡± Becenti said, ¡°I''m going to step outside for a few moments.¡±


    And he left too, leaving the rest of them alone.


    ¡°...So we don''t talk to Luminary,¡± Cobalt Joe said, ¡°That''s fine with me. But if we don''t do something, we''re just going to be caught in the crossfire.¡±


    ¡°Agreed,¡± Tekahentakwa said, ¡°The time has come for us to disperse. We should move into the shadows.¡±


    ¡°A few communication metahumans will be with each group, right?¡± Cobalt Joe said, ¡°Stepping Stone and the others. That should work to our advantage.¡±


    ¡°Agreed,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°Get your warriors ready, Clan Mother. Things are only going to get more intense from here.¡±


    ***


    The small, makeshift council split apart. Tekahentakwa stayed in the house to talk to the other Clan Mothers, along with Lunus Oculus. The metahumans who had escaped from the forest so late at night were streaming in, and were being attended to by Workers.


    The Oshya:de watched the Workers. Quite a few New Ludayans were watching the Oshya:de as they set up camp. A few were wary of them, wondering if the Oshy:de would enact violence, retribution for the horrors Luminary and the Council had visited upon them.


    But the Oshya:de kept to themselves, only interacting with those metahumans who had helped them on the great march to the plains. Campfires were set up. Food from other communes were spread out, to both metahuman and human alike. There was whisperish talk. Gentle sobs as a few tried to rock themselves to sleep. A few Workers were already disappearing, leaving the others to go out into the forests, in hopes that the plane would swallow them up and spare them the High Federation''s wrath.


    Joseph, Evancar, and Aldreia found Becenti alone, sitting on an outcropping of stone, feeding a few sticks into a meager fire.


    ¡°Mind if we join you?¡± Joe asked.


    Becenti turned to look at his guildmates. Studied each of them, in turn. He shrugged, turning back to the fire.


    Joseph, at least, took this as a sign to sit with his mentor. The others followed suit, a bit unsure of what to say to the older metahuman. There was a tension in Becenti''s shoulders. He seemed angry, above all else.


    ¡°Nasir and Iandi left,¡± Joe said, ¡°They''re going with a couple of Oshya:de and metahumans to scout southwards.¡±


    ¡°They should be careful,¡± Becenti said, ¡°If Pagan Chorus is here, then it will mean they will encounter resistance of the guild kind. Myriad and strange, in many ways.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joe said, ¡°They''ll be careful, you know that.¡±


    ¡°Do I?¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Come on, man,¡± Joe said, ¡°It''s Nasir and Iandi.¡±


    Becenti, for a moment, seemed about to retort.


    Then, shaking his head, he returned his attention to the fire.


    ¡°We should be leaving soon, too,¡± Aldreia said, ¡°Most of us are leaving Amoeboy''s commune.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Becenti said, ¡°That would be wise.¡±


    He sighed, ran a hand through his graying hair.


    ¡°It feels as though no one understands just how bad this is going to get,¡± he said, ¡°That boy, Hadawa''ko, is seeing the High Federation as a potential ally in all of this.¡±


    ¡°From their perspective, the High Federation could be,¡± Evancar said, ¡°They don''t know them like you do.¡±


    ¡°Enough with that,¡± Becenti growled.


    ¡°It''s true,¡± Evancar said, ¡°You know that. I''ve heard stories, about what Luminary did-¡±


    ¡°I said, enough!¡±


    The heat splintered. The campfire collapsed. Becenti glared at the professor.


    But Evancar did not flinch.


    ¡°Look,¡± Evancar said, ¡°I know that you were friends with Luminary...¡±


    ¡°Watch yourself, Professor Morandus,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Seriously, Evancar,¡± Aldreia said, ¡°Maybe you should-¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Evancar said, shaking his head, ¡°I''m going to say what I want to say. All of this trip, you''ve been trying to put a muzzle on me, Becenti. I know that you didn''t want me here-¡±


    ¡°I still don''t,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Well, I''m here,¡± Evancar said, ¡°And I''m going to tell you that the Luminary you know isn''t the Luminary these people know. She''s more of a butcher than the High Federation ever will be, to hem-¡±


    ¡°You don''t think I don''t know that?¡± Becenti said, ¡°Luminary has done-¡±


    ¡°Awful things, I know,¡± Evancar said, ¡°But as soon as the Federation shows up, you propose an alliance with them.¡±


    Becenti deflated.


    ¡°It made... tactical sense,¡± he said.


    ¡°Tactical, sure,¡± Evancar said, ¡°But try telling that to the Oshya:de. Tell that the only way to get the High Federation, these... these phantom overlords, off the plane, is to ally themselves with the very people who obliterated them.¡±


    He gestured to the open air.


    ¡°I wouldn''t do that. Would you?¡±


    Becenti stared at the fire.


    ¡°No,¡± he said, ¡°I suppose I wouldn''t.¡±


    Aldreia and Joseph looked at one another. There was a fire in Professor Morandus''s eyes that had not been there before.


    ¡°I owe you an apology, Professor,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I haven''t been very fair to you.¡±


    ¡°You haven''t,¡± Evancar said, ¡°I suppose that is fair. We haven''t seen eye to eye in the past. I wondered if there were ruins here, and...¡±


    He shook his head.


    ¡°There were. And now we''re in a mess of things.¡±


    ¡°This isn''t the nation I thought it would be,¡± Becenti said, darkly, ¡°This isn''t the way I thought things would go. And now the Federation''s here, and we''re about to see things get worse. Again.¡±


    Joe shrugged.


    ¡°Well, that''s what we''re here for, isn''t it?¡± Joe said, ¡°To make sure that things don''t go to shit.¡±


    ¡°Easier said than done,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Things already have gone to shit. People are dead, Joe. And if the Federation has its way, I fear it will leave all of Gan¨¢:yeht a graveyard.¡±


    ***


    ¡°Brother, a word.¡±


    Hadawa¡¯ko turned. Tekahentakwa stood before him, the two away from the commune. Away from the rest of the Oshya:de, too. Alone, as they ever had been.


    ¡°I know what you¡¯re going to say,¡± Hadawa¡¯ko said, rolling his shoulders, ¡°That I lost my temper.¡±


    ¡°You did,¡± Tekahentakwa said, ¡°Not out of turn, but¡­¡±


    ¡°The wrong place,¡± Hadawa¡¯ko said, ¡°The wrong time.¡±


    He sneered at this, though that quickly fell way into a look of complete anger. He looked out at the commune.


    ¡°Look at them,¡± he said, ¡°The land they¡¯ve built on used to have Dandelion Clan. Right there, there used to be Clan Mother Kase:waien¡¯s longhouse. We used to play in there, remember? When mother would come to negotiate with her. Remember her kids?¡±


    ¡°I do,¡± Tekahentakwa said. Her face was flat. But he could see the rippling of emotion within her.


    ¡°Remember how we saw them die?¡± he said, ¡°Torn apart, burned-¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t need you to remind me, Hadawa¡¯ko,¡± the Clan Mother said, ¡°I see it in my dreams well enough.¡±


    Hadawa¡¯ko¡¯s face fell. Guilt welled up within him. It had been a low blow.


    ¡°Yes,¡± he said, ¡°I suppose¡­ yes.¡±


    The wind whistled between them. Picked up the grass, carried man-sized dandelion seeds up and into the sky, to root elsewhere. One of the metahumans jumped from seed to seed, letting it carry him northwards, to send a message to the sandstone tower.


    ¡°You risk alienating our allies,¡± Tekahentakwa said, ¡°With anger like that.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure they¡¯re our allies?¡± Hadawa¡¯ko said, and he turned to her now, ¡°Or are they just doing this out of guilt? I ask you, sister. Consider: what happens if we win this?¡±


    ¡°There is no ¡®if,¡¯¡± Tekahentakwa said.


    ¡°What happens when we win this?¡± the Warleader prodded, ¡°What happens to them? The metahumans who are helping us?¡±


    The Clan Mother thought on this. Her brow furrowed. She brought a hand to a chin.


    ¡°Will we drive them out, too?¡± Hadawa¡¯ko continued, ¡°Treat them like the woman in white?¡±


    ¡°You already are, to some extent,¡± the Clan Mother said.


    ¡°Only because I think that they are going to abandon us,¡± he said, ¡°Look at the fear in them, Tekahentakwa. Look at the way they look to the sky. They¡¯ll leave us all to die. Not from malice, but from self-preservation.¡±


    ¡°They would have done that already,¡± Tekahentakwa said, ¡°But you don¡¯t see them leaving us, do you? They¡¯re still working to disappear with us. Ready to strike for us.¡±


    ¡°Even against their own people?¡±


    ¡°They already have,¡± Tekahentakwa said, ¡°Wasn¡¯t it Cobalt Joe who fought back first?¡±


    Hadawa¡¯ko sighed. Unlooped his tomahawk again, flipped it in his hands. A comforting motion, one that he had started ever since his exile to the caves.


    ¡°We will see,¡± he said, ¡°We will see.¡±


    ***


    Nomatrius Dorucanthos approached the Traveling Point with a hammering heart. Snapdragon and Melitta accompanied him, watching him with scared expressions on their faces as he stepped forward onto the cliff''s edge, where rippled the rent in reality. He wore an easy smile, though it did not quite reach his eyes, seemed more tugged upwards by an outside force than anything else.


    His children had seen their mother die, right in front of them.


    By the High Federation. A shadowy invasion into their house, a pistol crack to the back of her head, an awkward fall against the corner of the coffee table.


    He did not want his children to see something like that again. He did not want to see them orphaned, even if they were all adults. He did not want them to see both of their parents murdered by the High Federation.


    And yet, his power was tailored for the task ahead.


    Warriors attended to him, too, rifles and awakened metahuman powers aimed at the Traveling Point. No one had come through, thus far. Yet Pocket reported that Impellia III on the other side of the portal had been overtaken. Which meant that the Sovereign Melody, wounded and limping north, was still in communication with the other side.


    ¡°Alright,¡± Nomatrius said, ¡°I''m ready.¡±


    The Shadow of the Giant stuck to the mouth of the cave. Not scared, per say, but he had always preferred the hidden, murky places. He nodded at Nomatrius.


    ¡°Be careful,¡± he said, ¡°Be swift.¡±


    The patriarch of the Dorucanthos nodded, kneeling down, resting one knee on the ground. He called up his power.


    Felt the pack rise up within him, and expel from his chest.


    A wolfhound, its fur a mixture of grays and whites, leaped forth. Padded the ground, but no sound came from it. It had no jaws. No teeth to rend and tear, no ears and no muzzle and no eyes. Its entire head was replaced by the ancient letter ''alpha.''


    A letter used by many planes. On Prime and on Earth, by the Greeks. On Nomatrius''s home plane, by the Pyrthians.


    Another wolfhound leaped from Nomatrius''s form, this one bearing the letter ''beta.'' Then gamma, then delta.


    Four alphadogs. Pawing the ground, looking this way and that, and Nomatrius could see through each of them. Delta nuzzled against Beta, one side of its triangular head running up and down Beta''s shoulder.


    Then, Nomatrius whistled, and all four came to attention.


    Then, as one, they leaped into the Traveling Point.


    Nomatrius closed his eyes. Yes, the alphadogs were rushing through reality, a miasma of colors, bright and vivid and burning.


    And then, the odd, clammy warmth of Impellia III-


    And at once Beta was shot down. Alpha, Delta, and Gamma scattered as Pagan Chorus members opened fire on the pack. Plasma discharge that made Nomatrius stomach drop, but his pack was quick, rushing away from the clearing.


    Pagan Chorus pursued. ''Guildfolk,'' though not guildfolk like Becenti or Cobalt Joe, hunted after the alphadogs as they ran into the forest. They were heavily armored, carrying heavy plasma rifles, and chased the pack on Fedtek anti-grav bikes and ornithopters that churned through the air. It was night on the other side, and it was alight with the green and red lights of plasma discharge.


    ¡°They''ve completely surrounded the place,¡± Nomatrius said, and Melitta watched his eyes move beneath closed lids, ¡°Seems like they''ve left a small occupying force- none of their specialists, only soldiers.¡±


    ¡°So most specialists of Pagan Chorus are here,¡± Snapdragon said.


    ¡°Alpha''s been taken out,¡± Nomatrius said, and he winced, ¡°They''ve lost sight of Gamma. They''re pursuing Delta...¡±


    Yes, through the forests, Delta arrived at the location of the closest listening post, the one that Iceformed and Pocket had been stationed at. It was a smoldering ruin, with massive spikes of ice, some taller than the baublefruit trees, pushing out of the ground like rows of teeth. Iceformed had gone down, but not before they had put forth a momentous effort.


    Gamma disappeared into the forest, as was Nomatrius''s intention. He would be able to use it to scout the other Pagan Chorus members on the planet. Alphadogs were not technically alive, nor did they show up on the usual scanners. Agreeable ghosts.


    Delta pawed at the ground. Though without a nose, its senses were sharp and intuitive. It started digging at the ground near the remains of the listening post.


    Its sharp claws scraped against ice.


    ¡°Iceformed,¡± Nomatrius reported, ¡°Looks like they buried them.¡±


    ¡°...Until we dream again,¡± Snapdragon muttered to themself.


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Nomatrius said.


    He opened his eyes, turned to the Shadow of the Giant, who was walking out from the mouth of the cave.


    ¡°It''s about what we expected,¡± Nomatrius said, ¡°They''re locking down the plane tight. We''re stuck here.¡±


    ¡°We will need to mount a counteroffensive,¡± the Shadow of the Giant said, ¡°We are fortunate. With the Sovereign Melody so far north, it will be difficult for them to support those they''ve left behind.¡±


    Nomatrius nodded.


    ¡°Two of my pack are still on the other side,¡± he said, ¡°They''ll be watching.¡±


    ¡°Understood,¡± the Shadow of the Giant said, ¡°Keep to Mt. Redress. We will have need of you.¡±


    Nomatrius grimaced. Aima was still at the family manor, with his son Jaskaios. Dodeca had joined up with the Workers, and Nomatrius would have liked to find her himself.


    He looked at Snapdragon and Melitta.


    ¡°You two,¡± he said, ¡°Keep around here, alright?¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t want us helping with the assault?¡± Snapdragon said.


    ¡°We could help,¡± Melitta said, ¡°My soldiers, they¡¯re-¡±


    ¡°No, no,¡± Nomatrius said, and he squeezed the bridge of his nose, grimacing.


    Things were falling apart so, so fast.


    ¡°No,¡± he said, ¡°I need you two here, where I know you¡¯re safe. Can you promise me, that you¡¯ll be safe?¡±


    The two siblings looked at each other.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Snapdragon said.


    ¡°We¡¯ll stay put,¡± Melitta said.


    ¡°Good,¡± Nomatrius said, ¡°Melitta. Help with organizing the weapons caches below. Use your soldiers. Get a good count. And a recount. Snapdragon, you¡¯re up here, helping us organize Mt. Redress.¡±


    The two nodded. Nomatrius relaxed, gave them a small smile.


    ¡°We¡¯ll get through this,¡± he said, ¡°I promise.¡±


    ***


    Seventy dead.


    That was how many members of Pagan Chorus had been claimed by the battles on Impellia III. Dead by stormfire, or ice-made spears, or songs turned into monsters, or acid-laced saliva, spat at the throat.


    To a guild like the Amber Foundation, seventy dead was the vast majority of the guild. At ninety-five members, a guild like Cobalt Joe''s would have dissolved, its surviving members assimilating into other guilds, on other planes. The guildhall would have become like a dire crab''s shell, empty and spacious, with a forlorn, ghost-like lingering, a place to attract tourists and children''s dares.


    But to Pagan Chorus, seventy was no great loss. They were large enough that members became numbers. Kathen Aru did not even know any of the dead''s names. He read them out on the casualty report, people who he had seen, perhaps, in passing, and little else.


    ¡°Kate?¡± Merry said, ¡°You alright?¡±


    ¡°I''m fine,¡± Kathen lied.


    He looked up from his seat at the comms station. He and the others had been quickly returned back to the Sovereign Melody, and witnessed the battle between the metahumans and the Sovereign Melody.


    The ship trailed northwards.


    The shields had not returned. Luminary''s attack had damaged the ship far more than they had anticipated. Talk about repairing the shield''s engines had dragged from hours to days.


    And thus, Valm sat, keying commands into the console on his chair¡¯s arm. A few communications arrays had been detected at the southernmost mountain range where the majority of the metahumans had sequestered themselves. The guildmaster was sending hailing frequencies in that direction, his other hand reaching into a small, floating glass bowl filled with nuts and Sedrian grapes. Occasionally he would pop one into his mouth, chewing slowly as he worked.


    At last, he received a response. A holographic projection appeared in front of him.


    It was Luminary herself. Old and worn, like a dying vulture. Her eyes were sunken and her hair was thin and string-like. She wore a shawl that seemed far too large for her frail form, and she was bogged down with baubles and metal trinkets, in her hair, on her fingers, a grand amulet depicting some metahuman symbol or other weighed on her thin neck.


    The look she gave to Valm was one of pure hate.


    ¡°Valm,¡± she said, ¡°I should have known you''d want to personally come here.¡±


    ¡°You people have called together a nation,¡± Valm said, ¡°Our ancient enemies, under a single banner once more.¡±


    ¡°I don''t think you''ll care, but your actions have led to dead families, and dead children,¡± Luminary said.


    ¡°Perhaps their parents will take it as a message,¡± Valm said, ¡°To not follow the words of a witch far past her zenith.¡±


    Luminary winced.


    ¡°You are a butcher, Valm,¡± she said, ¡°Just like you were before.¡±


    ¡°I am necessary,¡± the Prime Voice replied, simply.


    Luminary paused. Tilted her head in thought.


    ¡°What do you want?¡± she said, ¡°Why message me? You''ve already made your intentions quite clear.¡±


    Valm''s long fingers reaching to his bowl, plucking out a Drandian enlonut. He put it into his mouth, chewing slowly. Luminary glared at him. She could not interrupt him. She could not cut off communications.


    His presence demanded such, even from his enemies.


    He swallowed, and the food slid as a visible bulge down his long neck.


    ¡°I will make this simple,¡± he said, ¡°I am sending word to other members of Pagan Chorus. To our cargo haulers. Thousands of your people can fit inside one ship alone.¡±


    Luminary''s eyes widened.


    ¡°You and your people are to stand down. You are to go through the Traveling Point, and wait on Impellia III. When the cargo ships arrive, you and your people are to board them.¡±


    ¡°And where,¡± Luminary''s voice was shaking, out of both fear and rage, ¡°Would you take us?¡±


    ¡°Elsewhere,¡± Valm said, ¡°I assure you, you will be quite safe.¡±


    ¡°Lies,¡± Luminary hissed, ¡°Lies, damn you.¡±


    ¡°If you do not do this, then I will have no choice but to glass this plane, and everyone on it,¡± Valm said, ¡°We have done our scans of this plane, Luminary. The only Traveling Point is to Impellia III. You are surrounded and isolated. You will all die. Each and every one of you.¡±


    The old woman''s hands shook. She was shaking her head slowly.


    ¡°There are more than thirty thousand people here, you bastard,¡± she said.


    ¡°Thirty thousand dead metahumans,¡± Valm said, ¡°Their deaths, on your shoulders. Think on this, Laura Bellhopper.¡±


    And he cut communications.


    Kathen had gone pale.


    ¡°Admirable words, guildmaster,¡± Old Scar said.


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Valm said. He continued working on his console.


    ¡°Kate?¡± Merry said, ¡°You alright?¡±


    ¡°We can''t do that,¡± he whispered, more to himself than anyone, ¡°That''s... so many people, Merry.¡±


    Valm was getting up. He nodded to Kathen.


    ¡°Will you join me, for dinner?¡± he asked.


    Dinner.


    The threat of annihilation. And, after that, dinner.


    ¡°I''m afraid I''m not hungry, guildmaster,¡± Kathen said.


    At least he could keep his voice steady.


    ¡°A pity,¡± Valm said, ¡°Old Scar, take the helm. Continue on our course. Do not fire upon the metahumans unless fired upon.¡±


    And Kathen was horrified to see his combat instructor grimace, as though told he was not allowed to have dessert.


    ¡°Very well, guildmaster,¡± Old Scar gruffed. He got up, sat in Valm''s chair. The guildmaster swept out of the room.


    Kate leaned back in the comms chair.


    ¡°Kate, your breathing''s ragged,¡± Merry said, ¡°You''ve broken into a sweat, but your internal temperature''s like ice, and-¡±


    ¡°I know, Merry,¡± Kathen whispered.


    ¡°Are you- should you go to the infirmary?¡± Merry said.


    ¡°I don''t think the doctors are going to be able to help, Merry,¡± Kate said. He took a moment to compose himself.


    Just...


    Just what had he gotten into?

 156. RETURN TO FATHER MOUNTAIN

    Workers and Oshya:de, together, disappeared into the forests of Gan¨¢:yeht. They broke off from the sandstone tower and from Amoeboy''s commune, together as one melting into the natural environment of the plane. Not a few of them were fearful of the warbird in the sky, and what it might do, and thus they returned to Mt. Redress to take up arms against the High Federation.


    Rainbowfish was one of them. He was packing his bags when Lunus Oculus walked into his room in the sandstone tower. He glanced up at her, producing a coin from his pocket.


    ¡°Heads, or tails?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Heads,¡± Lunus Oculus said.


    Rainbowfish flipped the coin, and it landed tails. At once, a scale began to grow out of his shoulder, shimmering and iridescent as the rest of them.


    ¡°You''re leaving,¡± Lunus Oculus said.


    ¡°The Shadow of the Giant put out a general call,¡± Rainbowfish said, ¡°All Warriors, protesting or not, were to report to him at once. No hard feelings, and any act of protest would be pardoned.¡±


    ¡°What about us?¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°What about the Oshya:de?¡±


    Rainbowfish stopped packing, sighing. He turned to her, bag in hand, and for a moment seemed to be at a loss for words.


    ¡°I do understand the Oshya:de and their plight,¡± Rainbowfish said.


    ¡°So, you go right back to the people who put them in their situation,¡± Lunus Oculus said.


    ¡°Let me finish,¡± Rainbowfish said, and for a moment his voice shivered, ¡°Listen. Listen, please, Lune. The High Federation''s here. There''s no way off of the plane.¡±


    ¡°I understand that,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°But that''s certainly no reason to-¡±


    ¡°I said, let me finish,¡± Rainbowfish said, ¡°Here''s how I see it. We have to unify. Be a nation once more, just for a little while. Remove the threat of the High Federation, completely, from New... From Gan¨¢:yeht.¡±


    He took a shuddering breath, his very body betraying his anxiety.


    ¡°The conversations about the Oshya:de, and about this plane, cannot happen with the High Federation here,¡± he said, ¡°And, I feel like I will be of better use helping repel the High Federation.¡±


    ¡°You''re scared,¡± Lunus Oculus said.


    ¡°We''re all fucking scared,¡± Rainbowfish said, ¡°That damn warbird in the sky, it''s like a noose around my neck.¡±


    He rubbed his throat.


    ¡°Once... If, we manage to get the High Federation to leave, I''ll be in a position where I''d be able to leak information to the others. I''m still on your side, Lunus.¡±


    Lunus Oculus did not reply. A mixture of betrayal and sadness mixed in her burning orange eyes.


    Then, shaking her head, she moved out of the way, so her old friend could walk through the door.


    ¡°Go,¡± she said, ¡°...I''ll see you when we dream again.¡±


    Rainbowfish nodded at this. And he walked out. Down the stairs. And while the other Workers, and those Warriors who were, perhaps, not as cowardly as him, or perhaps stupider than him, trailed north and east and west into the forests, Rainbowfish went south.


    To Mt. Redress, and Luminary.


    ***


    Brother and sister separated apart.


    Hadawa''ko took a band of his warriors, his closests of friends, and together as one they went northwards. Only a single metahuman accompanied them. Stepping Stone had broken off parts of his body, shards of bismuth here and there, and he handed them out to a few other groups. He could feel them, spread across Gan¨¢:yeht as they disappeared into the forest. They shook, and he had a rudimentary communication system, based on vibrations, with a few of his friends who had gone with the others. He was the nexus of communication for his group, which included several other bands of Oshya:de warriors, and the metahumans accompanying them.


    ¡°Looks like Scellar and the others have made it to their assigned point,¡± Stepping Stone said, ¡°They''re... setting up a raid on one of the granaries under Luminary''s control.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Hadawa''ko said, ¡°Scellar, what is their power?¡±


    ¡°They have multiple arms,¡± Stepping Stone said, ¡°Each one different from the other. Scaled. Feathered. Furred.¡±


    ¡°They can hold many weapons, then,¡± Hadawa''ko said.


    ¡°Correct,¡± Stepping Stone said, ¡°He failed his Warrior test, but that doesn''t mean he doesn''t know what to do in a scrap.¡±


    ¡°And do you?¡± Hadawa''ko said. He stopped trudging through the forest, turning to the stone-covered metahuman.


    Stepping Stone nodded.


    ¡°I''m from a plane known as Tsaeyaru,¡± he said, ¡°A demonic place, ruled over by the Church of Hope. There, metahumans are either demons, or weapons.¡±


    ¡°Or both,¡± Hadawa''ko said.


    ¡°Or both,¡± Stepping Stone said, ¡°I had no choice but to fight. It is not a kind place.¡±


    He became lost in his own memories for a few moments, hesitant, and for the briefest of moments, Hadawa''ko was sorry for his comment.


    (Then he remembered why he was going north.)


    ¡°Tell me,¡± Hadawa''ko said, ¡°How do you fight?¡±


    ¡°With weapons, mainly,¡± Stepping Stone said, ¡°Swords and spears, mainly. But I am trained in gunplay. Barring all of this...¡±


    He raised his fists.


    ¡°I make do.¡±


    ***


    ¡°We can''t exactly make do with what we have,¡± Cobalt Joe said, ¡°We''re going to need something more than this, if we''re going to survive what''s coming.¡±


    He was part of a group that went southwards. Closer to Mt. Redress, and all that was held within there. They hid out in parts of the forest surrounding Father Mountain that had escaped the worst of the Sovereign Melody''s scourge upon the plane. Much of it was ash and the blackened skeletons of trees, and oftentimes Rohahes, who had joined Joseph''s group, would stop and peer around him for a long time, before he would be pulled back by the others.


    Glow led them to their makeshift home. A simple hole that led deep into the earth. They slopped through freezing ice waters, through a small tunnel with a roof only four feet above their heads, and into a cavern with an already lit fire. Glow cast a spell to dry their clothes, and they passed out food and ate while they planned.


    From the Amber Foundation, it was Joe, Aldreia, Nasir, and Iandi. From the New Ludayans, Eksonis and Glow were joining them. The Oshya:de had sent Rohahes and two others from the Oshya:de, Okwaho and Shawatis. Okwaho was tall and older, and there was a way that he held his knives that impressed Cobalt Joe, for they reminded him of how Contort wielded his. Shawatis was wiry and thin, though all of the Oshya:de were after their time in the caves. But he carried himself well, and was well known as one of the best fighters in all of Gan¨¢:yeht, a member of the Arrowmakers.


    In truth, the Oshya:de had sent three of their finest for this upcoming mission, for it was considerably more dangerous than what the other groups were doing.


    ¡°Father Mountain,¡± Rohahes said, chewing on a piece of jerky at the fire, ¡°It''s smaller.¡±


    They had seen the mountain, on their way southwards, before going down into the caves.


    ¡°Looks like Pauldros used much of its outer shell during the battle,¡± Eksonis said.


    Rohahes was quiet at this. It was Shawatis who spoke up.


    ¡°They''ve carved him all up, haven''t they?¡± he said.


    ¡°They have,¡± Cobalt Joe said, ¡°Pauldros''s power makes it easy, but there were quite a few crews inside carving it out, as well.¡±


    He leaned forward.


    ¡°You know this job requires us to go inside. You''re alright with that?¡±


    The three Oshya:de grimaced.


    ¡°We want to be part of this fight,¡± Rohahes said, ¡°And to do so, we must get the weapons required.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Cobalt Joe said, and he turned to Eksonis, ¡°Do you know where exactly their weapons caches are going to be stored?¡±


    The reptilian metahuman thought, then pulled a face, and shrugged.


    ¡°When I worked down there, they kept everything down in storage,¡± he said, ¡°It''ll be deep within the earth, and swarming with guards.¡±


    ¡°They don''t want us sneaking in, hmm?¡± Okwaho chuckled, ¡°Don''t want their own weapons suddenly turned against them?¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Joe said, and despite himself, he smiled, ¡°It''s probably going to get violent.¡±


    ¡°We''ll need to act quick,¡± Nasir said, ¡°Hit them hard, and fast.¡±


    ¡°Why is Iandi here, then?¡± Aldreia said.


    ¡°He''s got a stealth module,¡± Nasir said, ¡°He''ll be able to sneak in effectively.¡±


    He tilted his head at the cleric.


    ¡°Why are you?¡±


    ¡°I can sneak!¡± Iandi said, ¡°I can be real quiet!¡±


    His voice boomed through the caverns. Aldreia scowled.


    ¡°We''re going to fight metahumans,¡± she said, ¡°I''ve done that before, on a couple of other jobs. Becenti said I was quick-witted enough to do that.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll ask this,¡± Rohahes said, ¡°What does fighting one of your kind entail?¡±


    The metahumans in the group looked at Rohahes. The other Oshya:de were staring at them, Joseph realized.


    ¡°It''s different, depending on who it is,¡± Joe said, ¡°Each metahuman has a power, and with it, strengths and weaknesses.¡±


    ¡°I am aware of that,¡± Rohahes said, ¡°What can we expect with those within Father Mountain?¡±


    ¡°Most of them will be Warriors,¡± Eksonis said, ¡°With abilities deemed by the Council to be fit for direct combat. They look for that which can be used, alone, to harm another. Although, there are certain metahumans who would have abilities that would consign them to being Workers, but they proved their prowess with them to be considered Warriors.¡±


    ¡°Like Pocket,¡± Joe said, with a snap of the fingers, ¡°She''s got pocket dimensions all over her body, and most of what she carries is weaponry.¡±


    ¡°Aye,¡± Eksonis said, ¡°I pray we don''t run into her. Or Pigmalion. Or, gods forbid, the Shadow of the Giant.¡±


    Joseph''s brow furrowed, and he lapsed into silence as the others talked.


    The Shadow of the Giant.


    The Shadow''s words still rang in his head.


    He still had found no answer.


    ***


    Becenti''s group had to skirt around the Crystal Lake on their trek eastwards. They stuck to the forest, Oshya:de scouts flitting around a perimeter, a few getting within a hair''s breadth of the home of the Warriors. Much of it was empty, they found, and a long line of Warriors were marching south, to Mt. Redress, in preparation for another attack from the High Federation.


    ¡°I heard them,¡± one of the Warriors said to Tekahentakwa, ¡°A few of them were grumbling.¡±


    ¡°A lot of them are scared,¡± Becenti said, his arms crossed, ¡°They''ve heard they''re being called for war. With the bombshells surrounding your existence, I''m sure not a few of them have quite low morale.¡±


    ¡°Especially since we''re cut off,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°We''re like caged animals, and not a few of them should have figured that out by now. They¡¯ll be¡­ desperate.¡±


    She lapsed into silence, staring at the ground. Rainbowfish¡¯s return to Luminary¡¯s side had still set her on edge.


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Becenti said. He said nothing else to that.


    They forded across one of the rivers. One of the metahumans in their number, Wavemaker, parted the waters to allow them to pass. Moccasins and boots and clawed feet stepped into muck and mud and silt, but the group did this without complaint.


    A good portion of the Oshya:de were here, though all of the Clan Mothers were separated from one another. Tekahentakwa had only Kehaulani, Becenti, and Lunus Oculus for company, as well as a scattering of her brother''s warriors and miscellaneous members from Mountain Clan.


    She watched the latter with a worrying gaze, as she watched her people climb up the river''s steep banks. They were still, almost all of them, skeletal and thin, a result of their long starvation in the mountains. Even the warriors, who had been rationed out the greater portions on the journey, looked haggard and tired.


    ¡°Tell me something, Myron Becenti,¡± she said, ¡°Do you think it is possible?¡±


    ¡°Is what possible?¡± Becenti asked.


    ¡°That we win.¡±


    Becenti was quiet at this for a long time, watching the forest line, his cold eyes narrowing at every change in the wind.


    ¡°It is a long road,¡± he said, ¡°And it is not a happy one.¡±


    ¡°But we win, yes?¡± Tekahentakwa said, ¡°We earn our freedom.¡±


    ¡°...That remains to be seen,¡± he said, ¡°I will be honest with you, Clan Mother. Our odds are not good.¡±


    He looked at her.


    ¡°I made a contract with you, not because I think we would succeed, but because to do otherwise, to not help you, would be monstrous.¡±


    ¡°Monstrous?¡± Tekahentakwa said.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I was not, am not, spurred to do this because I think I will succeed. I do this because I must.¡±


    He stopped for a second, listening to the sounds around them. His trained eyes continued to study the trees.


    ¡°We should tell people to keep quiet,¡± he said, ¡°Warriors are about.¡±


    ***


    ¡°And so, Rainbowfish,¡± the Shadow of the Giant said, ¡°You are hereby pardoned, of your crimes of insubordination and treason.¡±


    Treason. So that was what they were calling it. That''s what it had come to.


    Rainbowfish stood tall, his back to the dozens of Warriors who had turned their backs on New Ludaya on the revelation of the Oshya:de. Many of them, like Rainbowfish, had returned. They were all deep in one of Pauldros''s caves, images of great metahuman warriors, Epochians all, painted on the walls.


    ¡°I give you thanks,¡± Rainbowfish recited, ¡°And I die for New Ludaya.¡±


    ¡°As must we all,¡± the Shadow of the Giant said, ¡°Such is the price of nation.¡±


    One of his globular, far-too-large eyes twitched.


    ¡°You may go. Molesque will assign your quarters.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Rainbowfish said. He left the room. A few of the other Warriors considered his back, but they threw no barbs.


    Not like the Warriors who shouldered him on the way through the mountain. Molesque simply snarled at him as he handed Rainbowfish the paper noting his assigned quarters. A few of them kept staring at Rainbowfish as he went past.


    A few of them started to follow him, too. He kept an eye on them, his scales shimmering and reflecting the light of the torches that lined the walls. He only slightly relaxed when he made it to his room.


    Six to a room, simple woolen cots. Like back in his army days.


    But no one else had stopped by here save for Fractal. The young woman sat at the foot of one of the cots, her hands clasped together. She was wearing her orange sari still, a sign that she was ready for combat.


    He had never asked her why this, specifically, and yet he was not one to judge what someone wore to war. He sat down at the opposite cot. She glanced up at him.


    ¡°Rainbowfish,¡± she said, ¡°You''ve come back.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Rainbowfish said, ¡°The High Federation is here. It''s only right.¡±


    She let out a snort.


    ¡°Yes,¡± she said, ¡°The time has come.¡±


    There was a quiver in her voice, despite her bravado, the sneering grin painted on her face. Rainbowfish tilted his head.


    ¡°Are you scared?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Of course not,¡± she said.


    Then her face fell.


    ¡°Of course not,¡± she repeated.


    Like she would ever say it out loud. Rainbowfish nodded, accepting her answer, false as it was. He was more concerned with who else would come in.


    He was not the most popular guy right now.


    ***


    ¡°This next part requires a degree of trust,¡± Eksonis said. He produced a simple burlap bag, opened it up, fished around its insides for a few moments. He pulled out a sword. A tin baseball bat. A basketball. Objects that should not have been able to fit inside.


    ¡°Enchanted,¡± Cobalt Joe said, ¡°Right?¡±


    ¡°Correct,¡± Eksonis said, ¡°It''s quite comfortable.¡±


    He presented the bag to Joseph.


    ¡°Get in.¡±


    The three Oshya:de looked at the reptilian metahuman as though he''d grown a third eye.


    ¡°What is this?¡± Rohahes said.


    ¡°The bag is enchanted to be far larger on the inside, roughly the size of a small room,¡± Eksonis said, ¡°It''s also enchanted to bring in air from the outside, so you will not suffocate. Mt. Redr... Father Mountain, is crawling with Warriors. The less of us going in, the better.¡±


    ¡°I''ll carry the bag,¡± Nasir said.


    ¡°You won''t,¡± Eksonis said, ¡°They''ll be having magical sensors placed all over, most likely, and a bag of this variety will set off any alarms they may have.¡±


    ¡°Like my jacket,¡± Joe said, ¡°It''s enchanted to be as strong as armor.¡±


    Eksonis fixed Joe with a look. With a sigh, the Amber Foundation took his jacket off, and put it in the bag.


    ¡°What do you propose, then?¡± Nasir said.


    ¡°One of us will sneak in, holding my arm,¡± Eksonis said, ¡°My metahuman power allows me to teleport and reconnect with any of my limbs. I will hold the bag, you will sneak in with my arm, and I will teleport to it, and let the rest of us out.¡±


    ¡°Quite a bit of work,¡± Aldreia said.


    ¡°The less people going into the entrance, the better,¡± Eksonis said.


    ¡°I''ll still take point,¡± Nasir said, ¡°I have a good feel for the interior of the mountain. And I don''t use magic.¡±


    They nodded at this. Eksonis held up the bag, and Joe was the first to clamber in. He looked unsure as he put a foot through the bag, his leg sinking to the knee. The mouth of the bag opened wider, like a snake unhinging its jaw, and swallowed Joe up.


    Then, sheepishly, Rohahes and Okwaho climbed inside. Shawatis gave Eksonis a suspicious look.


    ¡°No tricks,¡± he said.


    ¡°No tricks,¡± Eksonis said.


    And Shawatis went inside.


    Iandi was frowning at Nasir.


    ¡°Don''t wanna go,¡± he said.


    ¡°No choice, kid,¡± Nasir said, ¡°It won''t be long.¡±


    ¡°In danger,¡± Iandi said.


    ¡°Yes, I will be,¡± Nasir said, ¡°But nothing we haven''t been through before. Remember Anumanae, with those ruby automatons?¡±


    The Mark Eta thought on this for a second. Then nodded.


    ¡°It will be like that,¡± Nasir said, ¡°I''ll be careful.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Iandi said, miserable. But he complied with his guildmate, forcing himself inside.


    Aldreia took a deep breath.


    ¡°It won''t... jostle, will it?¡± she said, ¡°I''ve done this before, only it was a suitcase, and I had bruises all over my body by the time they let me out.¡±


    ¡°It won''t,¡± Eksonis said, ¡°I think.¡±


    The cleric rolled her eyes.


    ¡°I''ll take that, I suppose,¡± she said, ¡°Not much of a choice, is there? With my magic, I''d be setting off every alarm in the mountain.¡±


    And she clambered inside.


    ¡°Now comes the fun part,¡± Eksonis said, his voice tight.


    ¡°Glow isn''t coming?¡± Nasir said.


    He looked over to the moss-covered metahuman, who shook their head.


    ¡°Glow''s not much of a fighter,¡± Eksonis said, ¡°Not for this sort of job, anyway.¡±


    But they were picking up the blade that Eksonis had taken out of the bag. It looked overlarge in their illuminated hands, but they took a seasoned stance. Eksonis swallowed, and Nasir noted that, despite being reptilian, the metahuman''s scales were shining with sweat.


    The tracker took a step back.


    The blade came down. Cut off Eksonis''s arm as though it were butter. For a moment, the metahuman gasped.


    And then he let out a ragged scream. Breathed heavily, but the wound was already closing up on both ends.


    Nasir picked up the arm. The fingers were twitching. Glow caught Eksonis as he collapsed, his breathing coming out quick and shallow. He laid him by the fire, and Eksonis curled up on himself.


    ¡°How do I know when to call you?¡± Nasir asked casually.


    ¡°He can still feel his hand,¡± Glow said, and they were holding Eksonis''s head in their lap stroking his forehead, ¡°Run a finger down his palm three times, and he will know.¡±


    ¡°Very well,¡± Nasir said. He picked up the hand, stuffed it into a bag. He held the bag secure, looking over what he had brought. A few knives. The bow, borrowed from the Arrowmakers, supple and strong.


    Without another word, he stole away, upwards out of the cave, towards Father Mountain.


    ***


    Surveying the mountain for potential, unused entrances proved to be a challenge. Nasir laid low, sneaking closer and closer to the stone, avoiding the obvious manmade ramps and staircases, for Warriors patrolling the mountain used them often. No, the parts of the mountain that Nasir wanted to go to were the natural caverns, the places that the New Ludayans had found and expanded on. There were a number of caves that pockmarked Father Mountain''s body, but finding one that led into the inner workings of New Ludayan architecture was another matter.


    But he found it, on the second attempt. The first had led to a dead end, and he had to wait some hours when a couple of New Ludayans wandered by, one made of glass and one with mewling warts on his arms. But the second, a small opening into the rock that he slipped into, led him through a shimmying downwards tunnel that sloped into one of the side halls. There were no guards down here, though he could hear footsteps stomping above, on the next floor. When Nasir peeked into one of the rooms, he saw sacks upon sacks of grain.


    ¡°Food storage,¡± he whispered, ¡°Very well.¡±


    He reached into his bag, found Eksonis''s arm. Flipped it ''round, and stroked the metahuman''s palm three times.


    The hand twitched for a few moments, before the fingers curled and gave a thumbs up. Then the whole thing shook and green liquid leaked from its stump. Nasir took a step back as something grew from the hand, like a seed breaking into a root system. Green scales, followed by clothes and gasps of pain.


    And Eksonis was kneeling beside him, his breathing heavy, the enchanted bag in hand. He looked around for a second.


    ¡°W-Where are we?¡± he said.


    ¡°One of the storage rooms,¡± Nasir replied.


    Eksonis nodded, swallowed as though he were fighting the urge to retch. Nasir tilted his head.


    ¡°A painful ability,¡± he said.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Eksonis said, ¡°I feel all of it. The pain from having lost a limb. And, oddly, I feel the pain in my hand as well.¡±


    He stretched his now reunited arm.


    ¡°But enough of that. Let''s get everyone out.¡±


    He opened the bag.


    Iandi all but jumped out of the bag. He looked haggard from his time inside, and Nasir patted his friend on the shoulder as Iandi gave him a sad look.


    ¡°Uncomfy,¡± he said, ¡°Not comfy.¡±


    ¡°It wasn''t, kid, but I''m proud of you,¡± Nasir said.


    Cobalt Joe came up next, and helped the others pull themselves up from the inside. He looked around the room for a moment, resting a hand against one of the sacks of grain, which were stacked atop one another, a tower of burlap and harvest.


    ¡°Will the weapons depot be in here?¡± he asked, adjusting his jacket.


    ¡°Around here, I believe,¡± Eksonis recalled, ¡°Let''s get ready to split up.¡±


    They nodded. Three groups. They passed out communicators. Iandi pressed a button on his arm, one that had been implanted directly into his skin, and his entire form wavered and shimmered. When he moved, he made no sound. It was eerie how good he was, as he disappeared from view and seemed to follow Nasir. An invisible man with the strength of a rhinoceros.


    Aldreia, Joe, and Rohahes went together. Eksonis, Shawatis, and Okwaho a third group. They traveled together for a time, weaving through the stone halls, passing by multiple storage rooms, before they separated at a crossroads. Joe, Aldreia, and Rohahes went down one of the side passages. Eksonis, Shawatis, and Okwaho went up the stairs.


    They had already lost sight of Nasir and Iandi. The tracker had completely disappeared.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡°Trouble,¡± Aldreia whispered.


    They ducked into one of the stone rooms, a room with multiple crates emblazoned with the Dorucanthos family crest. They heard stomping come down from the hall, and as they hid behind the crates and peeked out, they made out someone walking into the room. A being made of keratin, carrying one of the heavy crates, which it set down, robotically turning back around and leaving.


    ¡°That''s...¡± Aldreia whispered.


    She rose.


    ¡°Careful,¡± Joe hissed.


    ¡°That''s...¡±


    She made for the door, all sense of stealth forgotten. Joe''s eyes widened, and he followed her, grabbing her wrist.


    ¡°Aldreia, wait,¡± he said.


    ¡°It''s Melitta,¡± Aldreia said, ¡°She''s here.¡±


    ¡°Melitta...¡± Joseph racked his mind. Yes. The Dorucanthos. Aldreia¡¯s¡­ ¡®friend,¡¯ ¡°You think she''s going to be on our side?¡±


    ¡°I don''t know,¡± Aldreia said, ¡°But I''ll talk with her. Get her to understand-¡±


    ¡°Not a good idea,¡± Joe said, ¡°You know that.¡±


    Aldreia shot him a mutinous look. Joe returned it, stood tall.


    ¡°Don''t do it,¡± he said, ¡°We''re on the job. We can''t risk it.¡±


    ¡°We''re one of three teams,¡± Aldreia retorted, ¡°If not us, then one of the others will find the weapons. But we''re here for more than that, aren''t we? Otherwise they wouldn''t have sent so many of us.¡±


    ¡°Bullshit,¡± Joe said, ¡°They threw bodies at this expecting some of us to go down.¡±


    The cleric swore. But she remembered Becenti''s conversation with her, nights and nights ago, when Joe and the others had disappeared. She couldn''t let her heart rule her, not right now.


    It was painful to not do so.


    ¡°Fine,¡± she said, crossing her arms, ¡°But be careful, Joe. Melitta will be down here, I''m sure of it.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Joe said, ¡°Leave her to me, then.¡±


    There was a chilling effect to her words. For a moment, Aldreia''s eyes widened in horror. Cobalt Joe''s face was resolute as he signaled for Rohahes to get up, and follow him.


    Then, she controlled herself.


    It had come to that, hadn''t it?


    ***


    Eksonis, Shawatis, and Okwaho went up a flight of stairs, and then another. The two Oshya:de kept looking at the walls, Eksonis noted. Shawatis ran a hand against one of the stone doors, his brow furrowing in deep thought. They had never been inside Father Mountain, not like this, not carved and hewn, transformed from a myth into a storage room. The Settled Peace had ended the great wars that had devastated Gan¨¢:yeht in the distant past, but even then, even when forests burned and mothers mourned their children, the possibility of Father Mountain being hollowed out was foreign to them.


    (But, then, metahumans made the impossible, possible, did they not?)


    They ducked into one of the rooms upon hearing movement from down the hall. A man in a laboratory coat over a series of bright purple sashes and robes, and crimson pantaloons. Lord Freak was looking this way and that, with one of the Warriors attending him.


    ¡°Still haven''t found her,¡± the Warrior said, ¡°No signs of her on this floor, either.¡±


    ¡°Are you quite sure?¡± Lord Freak said, ¡°Or perhaps, you''ve found her, but she''s made you forget.¡±


    The Warrior went red in the face. Thundercloud brows crackled and popped in frustrated embarrassment.


    ¡°That was a distinct possibility,¡± they admitted, ¡°We''ll continue our search. Rest assured, we will find-¡±


    ¡°Bah!¡± Lord Freak said, ¡°Don''t bother. You''re needed elsewhere. I suppose it will fall to me to find Memoire.¡±


    The Warrior grimaced.


    ¡°Off you go, now,¡± Lord Freak said, and he smiled his shark-toothed smile, ¡°Don''t worry. I make my own fun.¡±


    Hearing that made the three infiltrators'' shiver. The Warrior walked away, and as he did so, Lord Freak reached into his robes, pulling free a small bottle.


    And he turned.


    And his smile widened, as he looked into the room.


    ¡°Don''t act like I can''t see you,¡± he said, ¡°I have more eyes than what''s on my face.¡±


    ***


    They found Melitta in one of the other storage rooms. They, at least, found what they were looking for. The Dorucanthos''s had been one of the primary arms dealers of New Ludaya. Quite a bit of capital had been devoted to the stockpile, to the acquisition of heavy arms and pistols, grenades and rocket launchers, various types of mines, some kinetic and some that used sound to shatter their victim''s ribcage, others that blew apart upon contact, others that leaped into the air and exploded at the waist. Rayswords and rayshields, traditionally Fedtek riot gear, but to be used as shields for those metahumans who had come from medieval planes, strong enough to repel plasma fire. Sniper rifles and shotguns, discarded, experimental assault rifles that fired plasma in lines as opposed to globules. Ancient, scavenged plasma rifles, antique and boxy in appearance.


    All of this, and more.


    They were carried out by Melitta Dorucanthos''s keratin soldiers. Like worker ants, they organized the storage rooms beneath Father Mountain, maintaining the food stores and categorizing the various weapons brought to the plane. They outright ignored Cobalt Joe, Aldreia, and Rohahes as they went down the halls towards the main weapons cache. Melitta had ordered them to organize, not to watch for danger.


    For, even now, the thought of infiltrators this deep into the mountain was alien to her.


    (But, then, metahumans made the impossible, possible, did they not?)


    Cobalt Joe peeked into the room, an azure claw enveloping his hand. He would need to silence her, and quickly. The room she was in was the largest storage room yet, rows upon rows of boxes and crates, barrels and sacks, all of them filled to the brim with weapons. Melitta Dorucanthos was walking among them, occasionally opening up one of the crates, or fishing into the sacks and pulling out a grenade. She was holding a tablet, marking down each and every weapon. Her keratin soldiers weaved in and out of the rows, picking up crates, sometimes two at a time, and leaving the room with them.


    To go upstairs, with the other Warriors.


    ¡°Joe,¡± Aldreia whispered.


    He looked at her. There was a pleading look in the cleric''s eyes.


    ¡°Please, Joe,¡± she said, ¡°Just let me talk to her.¡±


    Joe grimaced. He looked to Rohahes.


    Who shrugged.


    He was already unlooping his tomahawk.


    ¡°If it comes to it, we can be quick,¡± he said, ¡°She''ll be a distraction.¡±


    Joe nodded.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said to Aldreia, ¡°Go.¡±


    The cleric turned into the room. Walked slowly, noting that the keratin soldiers still didn''t react to her presence. She snapped a finger, and a fire appeared in her hand, floating above her open palm.


    ¡°Melitta,¡± she said.


    The rainbow-haired metahuman looked up at her. She was tired, Aldreia noted. Exhausted.


    ¡°Aldreia,¡± Melitta said, ¡°Hello.¡±


    The two looked at each other uncomfortably. Awkwardly.


    ¡°They...¡± Aldreia said, ¡°They aren''t making you work down here, all alone, are they?¡±


    ¡°Half of New Ludaya''s rebelling, even with everything going on,¡± Melitta said, ¡°Usually a few Workers are down here, too, but...¡±


    She looked at the crates.


    ¡°My power reduces the workload it would take to organize everything and get it sent up top. Frees up Warriors who are otherwise needed. Needs must, you know?¡±


    She let out a hoarse chuckle, before looking at Aldreia.


    ¡°You... You''re with them, aren''t you?¡± she said, ¡°The other Workers. The... natives.¡±


    Aldreia nodded.


    ¡°I am.¡±


    The cleric bit her lip.


    ¡°You should join us,¡± she said, ¡°You know this isn''t right.¡±


    But Melitta shook her head.


    ¡°No,¡± she said, ¡°No, I''d like to, but...¡±


    Aldreia wilted.


    ¡°You have your family to think of,¡± Melitta said.


    The cleric saw, out of the corner of her eye, Joe and Rohahes sneaking into the room, splitting off so they could flank the Dorucanthos.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Melitta said, ¡°It''s... I''m sorry, Aldreia. Truly, I am.¡±


    ¡°I understand,¡± Aldreia said.


    ¡°It''s for my papa,¡± Melitta said, ¡°My niece. Maybe once everything is over, we can talk to these... natives. Find some sort of understanding.¡±


    The keratin soldiers had put down their crates. Were turning, as one, to look at Aldreia.


    Whose eyes were narrowing.


    (Whose heart was breaking.)


    ¡°Don''t you fucking dare,¡± Aldreia said.


    ¡°No choice,¡± Melitta said, ¡°I think I know why you''re down here. You''re arming the natives, aren''t you? You know that will only cause more bloodshed. For everyone.¡±


    She produced a whistle from her pocket.


    ¡°I can''t have you do that,¡± she said.


    She blew into the whistle.


    And the cave became alive with violence.

 157. VIOLENCE IN A SACRED SPACE

    Okwaho, Eksonis, and Shawatis froze in place. Lord Freak, the Seat of Science, stepped into the room they were hiding in, a carved out storage space with stone shelves, upon which were pieces of machinery, the remains of Fedtek devices, or steam-powered contraptions, the remains of an old sports car''s engine. More boxes were piled in the center of the room, behind which was Eksonis. He was sweating as the Seat of Science walked in, looking around. Lord Freak had many pupils, a result of experimentation upon his own body, dark orbs that crowded his eyes like tadpole''s eggs in a pond. Each one saw a different level of reality.


    And he saw all three of them.


    ¡°Come, now,¡± he said to the room, ¡°No need to be shy.¡±


    Okwaho was off to the side, his daggers drawn. He and Eksonis exchanged looks.


    On the other side of the room, hiding behind a crate of mechanical miscellanea, Shawatis tensed, ready to pounce. No other metahumans were with Lord Freak. The scientist merely kept smiling, shark teeth bared and ready. One of his mechanical hands was twitching.


    Eksonis swallowed. He reached into his bag, pulling free a sword of his own. A cutlass, though he doubted it would do much against their assailant.


    They would need to strike together.


    Shawatis and Okwaho, at least, worked well together. They tensed as one, prepared themselves, and then sprung.


    Shawatis took point, his tomahawk a blur of stone. Lord Freak sidestepped the blow, that damned grin still painted on his face. He rammed a fist into Shawatis''s stomach, the Oshya:de doubled over, and then Okwaho''s knives were flashing, covering his friend as Shawatis retreated from the fight. If anything, Okwaho was far faster than Shawatis. For a moment, Eksonis could only watch as Oshya:de and New Ludayan were locked in a deadly dance.


    The reptilian metahuman took his chance as Lord Freak got the upper hand against the Oshya:de. He rushed forward, swinging his cutlass.


    Lord Freak spun, caught the blade in one artificial hand. The other caught Okwaho''s wrist, twisting it to the side with inhuman strength, and the force sent Okwaho into the wall.


    The Seat of Science turned to look at Eksonis, still holding onto the shivering blade.


    ¡°Do I know you?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Eksonis the Quick.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Lord Freak considered this.


    Then, he pulled Eksonis close, his free hand tightening into a fist. Eksonis twisted at the last moment, but the blow still caught him in the side.


    Lord Freak spun, still clutching the cutlass, and he threw the reptilian metahuman at Shawatis, who ducked beneath the scaly projectile, and he renewed his assault on Lord Freak.


    ***


    The keratin soldiers surged forward. Melitta and her father, who had, on the surface, similar abilities, had trained together, learning how to coordinate their constructs and conjurations to work as though they had one mind. Cobalt Joe leaped forward to intercept one of the soldiers as it made for Aldreia. Rohahes''s tomahawk fluttered through the air, but one of the keratin constructs caught it just before it sunk into the side of Melitta''s head.


    Melitta herself was running back. Aldreia just watched sadly as her once-lover gestured, and two soldiers took her place.


    The cleric raised up her hands. The air warmed.


    Then erupted, as fire launched from her open palms. Horizontal pillars, they engulfed the keratin soldiers completely. Melitta let out a gasp of shock at the sheer power, as the temperature in the room spiked at the sudden conflagration.


    ¡°You''ll set everything off in here!¡± she screamed.


    ¡°As if I''m that clumsy!¡± Aldreia roared.


    Her arm was as a rod as she aimed a pillar at one of the keratin soldiers rushing towards Rohahes. The Oshya:de grimaced as the keratin soldier fell on him, but he pushed it off, and found he had no burns.


    The flames burned only what Aldreia wished them to.


    Cobalt Joe had finished his soldier. They moved robotically. Predictably. What they lacked in skill, they should have been making up in numbers. But they were spread all over Father Mountain, and were only now starting to converge.


    Joe couldn''t let that happen. If they swarmed into the room, they were finished. He moved to the doorframe, raising his fists, dancing on his toes, electric arms wiring down his shoulders, giving him four hands to work with.


    He would hold them here.


    ***


    Nomatrius Dorucanthos''s eyes widened as he heard his daughter''s whistle.


    He was on the cliffside watching the Traveling Point with a dozen Warriors, yet the sound carried all the way up from the depths of Mt. Redress, magically carried, magically attuned so that only a Dorucanthos would be able to hear it.


    And at once he turned.


    The Shadow of the Giant stopped him.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± he asked.


    ¡°There are people below,¡± Nomatrius said, ¡°My daughter is in danger.¡±


    ¡°We need you,¡± the Shadow of the Giant said, ¡°Your alphadogs are currently our only link to Impellia III. If anything changes, we need to know.¡±


    Through his mind''s eye, Nomatrius could see as Delta and Gamma prowled through the baublefruit forest. Delta''s triangular head was stained with greenish blood, the result of a quick raid against a pair of Pagan Chorus caught out of position. Gamma was hunkered down in the bushes as a patrol passed it by.


    A hand fell on his shoulder. Snapdragon and Jaskaios.


    ¡°We''ll find her,¡± Snapdragon said.


    ¡°Go,¡± Nomatrius said, ¡°Here.¡±


    Another pair of alphadogs erupted from his chest. Epsilon and Zeta went into the caverns. His two eldest children followed after them, down into the depths.


    A few other Warriors followed.


    ***


    ¡°No word from the others yet,¡± Nasir whispered. He heard the sounds of combat a floor below them. Conflagrations of fire, dulled by the stone, as well as yells and gasps of pain that echoed from the stairs and down the hall. A few Warriors were rushing to the scene. A blue-skinned man drifted through as a cloud.


    Nasir wheeled a corner to avoid this, pulling out a communicator.


    ¡°I don''t know who set them off,¡± he whispered into it, ¡°But a group of Warriors are headed your way.¡±


    ¡°Acknowledged,¡± Cobalt Joe (Of course it would be Joe) said, ¡°We found the weapon depot. Just ¨C Oof ¨C just having a bit of trouble holding it.¡±


    ¡°Lord Freak is here,¡± Eksonis gasped from another line. His breath was quick, ¡°He''s- He''s-¡±


    ¡°Go help them,¡± Joe said, ¡°Nasir, you and Iandi. We need that bag. Go-¡±


    He let out a series of grunts, and the line went dead. Nasir pocketed the communicator, signaled to the still-invisible Iandi, and they went off to help the Oshya:de and Eksonis.


    ***


    The keratin soldiers were as nothing. Joe occasionally sparred with his guildmate Whiskey, himself a constructed puppet that had been given sapience (and he was decently sure of that last part.) Whiskey was one of the stronger members of the guild, but like Melitta Dorucanthos''s soldiers, his movements could be awkward and predictable, if one had the mind to study their movements. And Joe was a master of this, and his four arms cut the soldiers arriving to the weapons storage room to pieces.


    It was when other Warriors arrived that he saw a problem.


    ¡°Shit,¡± he said, and he summoned up his full soul, the eagle rupturing from his body like a butterfly from the cocoon as one of the metahumans rushed forward, one of their arms turning into the sinewy neck of a Dragon, their hand turning into its head. A gout of flame enveloped the tunnel, and Joe''s soul blistered and burned as it took the brunt of the assault.


    Snapdragon Dorucanthos. Joe remembered seeing them accompanying their father, Nomatrius, during the initial tours. They were here for their younger sister.


    But the flame had not just been to attack Joe. In enveloping him so, in forcing him to use his eagle to protect his organic body, he had blinded himself to the next assault. Clouds gathered in the room, Jaskaios Dorucanthos drifting through in cloud form, his face contorted in concentrated rage. He unleashed his assault on Joe right as his soul uncurled, revealing him. Multiple tendrils of cloud, hardened as stone, rushed at Joe, who took the first one directly in the chest, another clipping his shoulder, though by now he was aware, and was in a frenzy, punching them away with his soul''s fists and dodging those the eagle missed.


    But he was forced back into the room. Snapdragon flew overhead, safe from the eagle''s snarls due to their brother''s assault. The eldest Dorucanthos first saw their sister frantically moving towards the back of the room. Her keratin soldiers were assaulting one of the natives, as well as...


    ¡°Aldreia Firedawn,¡± they said, ¡°I fear you''ve broken my sister''s heart.¡±


    ¡°She''s the one who dumped me,¡± Aldreia snarked back. The cleric was turning, fire burning in both hands.


    ¡°I''m still going to kill you, just for making her sad,¡± Snapdragon said.


    Both hands turned into Dragon heads. Twin maws opened. Aldreia retorted with her two open hands, pillars of flame erupting from both.


    Fire met fire in midair. Snapdragon''s was wild and uncontrolled, a true Dragon''s breath. Aldreia''s was almost scientifically beam-shaped.


    They both exploded. Fire showered the cargo room-


    And weapons started going off. Grenades and mines exploded, to Aldreia''s right and left. Rohahes grunted, leaping over a few crates as a grenade nearby exploded, shrapnel just barely grazing his shoulders and the back of his head. But he was alive, and still kicking, and that was what mattered.


    Jaskaios followed after his sibling, shaking his head at the chaos. His cloudy form began to envelop the room, covering the weapons, and his face twisted into a grimace as he absorbed the explosions.


    ¡°Stupid,¡± he grunted, ¡°Fucking stupid.¡±


    When the fires died away, Aldreia Firedawn was still standing. She smirked as the flames danced on her fingertips.


    ¡°You can''t beat me with that,¡± she said to Snapdragon, ¡°I''m a Firedawn. I''ve soaked in Pelliad''s solar glory, and it was a nice tan.¡±


    Snapdragon frowned.


    And their Dragon heads became Dragon''s claws, and they rushed at the cleric.


    Cobalt Joe''s head was spinning as he heard them clash. Jaskaios was busy dealing with the weapons that had gone off in the room, and as Joe stumbled out into the hallway, the Dorucanthos did not follow.


    But two wolfhounds, one with the letter ''E'' and the other with the letter ''Z'' instead of heads, were rushing at him. Joe''s fists swung, cracking one into the wall. The other stopped mid-run, wheeling and turning back around. Two Warriors rushed into the hall. One had eyebrows like twin thunderclouds, and lightning laced around their form as they unleashed a bolt at Joe.


    They obviously hadn''t gotten good intel on Joe''s abilities. The bolt struck Joe, who staggered a bit from the force of the blow, but by and large it did the opposite of what ol'' Thunderbrows intended. Cobalt Joe rose, steaming curling from his body, and when he opened his eyes, they were glowing brighter than usual, twin neon orbs that pulse and sparked.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± he said, and he rushed forward.


    Thunderbrows''s comrade took point, stomping a foot on the floor, twisting their foot, and the entire room warped, twisting it so it flipped on its side like a derailed train. Joe leaped forward, but stumbled as he found his footing. The other metahuman ran uninhibited, drawing out a curved blade and swinging it.


    Joe raised a claw, parrying the blade, but his stance was twisted ''round again as the metahuman shifted the room so that the ceiling was the floor. They fell with Joe, who fell on his back. Joe grunted as he brought up his jacket, the blade sliding off of it as though it had struck armor at an awkward angle.


    His soul manifested, bursting from his chest, grabbing hold of the metahuman and, surging upwards, slammed him into the floor, or ceiling, above. The metahuman let out a gasp as the wind was knocked out of him, as the back of his head cracked against rock.


    The soul did it again.


    A third time, and the metahuman went limp, the sword fell out of their hands. The room reverted back, and the soul let go of the metahuman, great arms reaching to cushion Joe''s fall.


    Thunderbrows rushed Joe, fists raised. Joe smiled at this. At least they were willing to go toe-to-toe.


    He raised his fists in answer.


    He was still smiling.


    ***


    Lord Freak slammed Eksonis into the wall. Dodged past Okwaho''s dancing knives. Shawatis was on him, his tomahawk crashing down against him in a downward swoop. It caught against Lord Freak''s robotic arm, held it fast as Shawatis forced it into the ground, nearly pinned Lord Freak to the floor.


    The Oshya:de then slammed his knee into Lord Freak''s face. Lord Freak stumbled back as Okwaho took point, driving his knives into Lord Freak''s back and side.


    Lord Freak was not one to be deterred, however. Nor was he one to be slowed down by something as simple as mortal wounds. His flesh already was closing up as he stood back up. Shawatis and Okwaho watched as his smile returned.


    ¡°Surprised?¡± he said, ¡°I have delved deep into all things mundane and supernatural. Death rejected me long ago.¡±You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    His left arm was transforming, the arms opening and uncoiling into a series of razor-sharp wire. Like tentacles, they moved of their own accord, twisting and snarling.


    He twisted and, with a snap, sent them at the Oshya:de. Okwaho was quick, dodging and weaving, but he was pushed back. Shawatis avoided the strikes for a few moments, moving to get closer to Lord Freak.


    But then Lord Freak shot out his other arm. The entire forearm twisted around, his hand grabbing hold of his elbow, the stump glowing-


    ¡°Watch out!¡± Eksonis roared, ¡°It''s-¡±


    But too late. The energy cannon tore through Shawatis''s chest. The Oshya:de fell to the ground, and his dead face was stricken with shock and fear.


    Eksonis and Okwaho took a step away from Lord Freak. The Seat of Science was still grinning, though there was a new edge to it, wild and unhinged.


    ¡°Surrender,¡± he said, ¡°I''ll be gentle with you. Luminary doesn''t even have to know you were here. You can be my little secret.¡±


    He took a step forward.


    ¡°And you will be alive,¡± he said, ¡°For a while, at least. Better than your compatriots, I should-¡±


    He wheeled around, whipping his tendrils at the open door. Something caught hold of him, held them fast. The stealth module fell away, revealing the bulwark form of Iandi. Nasir was just behind, bow in hand, an arrow nocked in place. The Mark Eta looked at the wires in his hand. They were lashing against his skin, though the marks they scored were already healing, red and skin and red again.


    ¡°Don''t like him,¡± he said to Nasir, ¡°Mean.¡±


    ¡°Break him, then,¡± Nasir replied.


    And Iandi tugged, pulling Lord Freak towards him. He slugged the Seat of Science in the jaw, twisting his fist, and slammed him down into the ground.


    ***


    Were it not for her training with Orion in these situations, Aldreia would have been torn to pieces. Snapdragon''s claws snarled at her, and the cleric leaped back, talons missing her by mere centimeters. She raised up her hands, unleashing a gout of flame that, like the thrusters of a jetpack, sent her flying backwards towards the back wall. They washed over Snapdragon at the same moment, and the eldest Dorucanthos let out a grunt as fireproof Dragon scales grew over their skin to protect them from the worst of it.


    And then Melitta was there. Melitta, a blur of rainbow hair, a flash of steel. Her dagger whipped past Aldreia, just barely. Melitta leaped back, and one of her keratin soldiers took her place, and its fist connected with Aldreia''s nose. There was a horrid crack as it broke, and red pain bloomed and overtook the cleric''s vision. Aldreia stumbled back-


    Rohahes was suddenly beside her, pushing her back, his tomahawk spinning. He slammed it against the keratin soldier''s knee, cutting it down, and with a roar he connected the axe with the soldier''s head, cleaving it in two.


    The Oshya:de glared at Melitta, who was already moving back, unsteady. By now many of her keratin soldiers in the room had been shattered and broken.


    Rohahes rushed forward, and with a flick of the hand, disarmed the youngest Dorucanthos. The stump of his arm slammed into her stomach, and he forced her to ground, before he wrapped his arm around her and lifted her onto her feet, dragging her back, tomahawk to her neck.


    Snapdragon walked through the flames. Their clothes were singed, and their wooden mask had fallen away, revealing the upper half of their face, which was marked by the slightly-blue shine of plasma scarring. Their eyes glowed a ferocious red through it.


    Past Aldreia, who through her haze of pain watched the scene with fear, at Rohahes. Who held Melitta fast.


    ¡°Easy now,¡± the Oshya:de said, ¡°Any false moves, and she dies.¡±


    Snapdragon grimaced. Aldreia blanched, but did not speak out against him.


    Jaskaios, meanwhile, was floating around Cobalt Joe, having wheeled on him after Joe had taken out the Warriors in the hall. They were stalking around the other when they heard Rohahes''s voice.


    Both of the elder siblings froze in place. Glared at the Oshya:de.


    ***


    Eksonis and Okwaho rushed out the room as Iandi pummeled Lord Freak into jam.


    ¡°Shawatis,¡± Okwaho said.


    ¡°Leave him,¡± Nasir said, leading them, ¡°No choice but to.¡±


    Shawatis looked, for a moment, as though he were about to break down, but he pushed ahead with them.


    Nasir was the one who guided them, the tracker listening for the sounds of flames and strikes, of lightning and explosions. They saw Cobalt Joe in the hall, facing down with another one of the New Ludayans, a metahuman with a clouded form. They were glaring at each other, but neither made a move as the rest of Joe''s comrades approached.


    ¡°Careful,¡± Joe said, ¡°It''s a tense situation.¡±


    They could hear the sound of other metahumans moving above them to intercept. It was time to go.


    ¡°Eksonis, the bag,¡± Joe said, ¡°Grab as many crates as you can.¡±


    Eksonis nodded, moving inside. The floor was littered with keratin bodies. Many of the crates had exploded. Aldreia Firedawn and Rohahes stood at the very back of the room, and the large Oshya:de had his tomahawk against the neck of a rainbow-haired woman. Melitta Dorucanthos, Eksonis remembered. The youngest daughter of Nomatrius.


    If she was hurt...


    Indeed, the eldest of the Dorucanthos siblings, Snapdragon, looked about ready to pounce on Rohahes. Melitta looked stricken, but she was stock still as Eksonis and Okwaho started lifting up crates and dumping them into the enchanted bag.


    ¡°Three crates,¡± Eksonis said, ¡°That''s all we can fit.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Joe said, ¡°Alright, Rohahes, Nasir, you know how to get out of here?¡±


    ¡°Iandi''s still upstairs,¡± Nasir said, ¡°He should be here soon.¡±


    Eksonis presented the bag to Aldreia, who climbed in. Joe did, as well. Nasir took hold of the bag as the reptilian metahuman pulled himself inside. Okwaho followed suit.


    Leaving only Rohahes and Nasir. They heard shouts from above. Evidently Iandi was fighting more than just Lord Freak now.


    Nasir and Rohahes moved to the exit. Both Snapdragon and Jaskaios watched them, watched for any sign of them releasing Melitta.


    And then, when they reached the door, they released the youngest Dorucanthos, and sprinted off.


    ***


    Lord Freak was seeing stars in his many pupils.


    His vision, we should say, was like that of a fly''s. Multiple pupils all connected to a single eyestalk, though this did not mean that each saw of its own accord. Rather, his vision was singular and perhaps a tad blurred, for the metahuman brain could only take so much information, and it smoothed over some of the more intense sights that he had modified himself to see.


    Like Becenti, he could see souls. He could also see magic. Had nightvision. Infrared. Could see sounds and smells. Could see creatures below New Ludaya snarling and grasping, trying to pull themselves into this level of reality.


    And he could see through the walls. The Mark Eta had shattered all four of his robotic limbs, had torn out the Dian Engine that powered the majority of his non-essential systems, and tossed him unceremoniously into the storage room. Now the supersoldier was rampaging through the halls, moving ever downwards.


    Warriors threw themselves at him. One of them rushed forward, their entire body melting and reforming like hot wax until they were a gorilla with a crocodile''s head. Jaws snapped shut on the Mark Eta''s arm, and he let out a cry like a bitten child, his great hand seizing over the Warrior''s head, before he slammed the metahuman into the wall with enough force to crack the stone.


    ¡°No time for this,¡± Lord Freak said. To bring down a Mark Eta required specific planning. There were tactics to bring them down, and very few of them involved actually meeting the Mark Eta head on.


    The crocodile metahuman collapsed. The other Warriors were watching the Mark Eta as he ran down the hall. Lord Freak''s eyes followed after him.


    No, the Mark Eta needed to toyed with. Played with. When they were in combat, they were nigh-unstoppable, more of a force of nature than anything else. Outside of combat, however, their minds were like the minds of children. They needed to be treated as such.


    Now he could see the Mark Eta meeting up with a few of his guildmates. No... the tracker, and one of the natives. Two of the Dorucanthos family were moving after them.


    And then...


    They disappeared.


    One moment they were there, the next they flickered out of sight. Not even his many eyes could suss them out.


    ¡°Ah,¡± the Seat of Science said, ¡°Interesting, very interesting.¡±


    ***


    Aima Dorucanthos stood in the center of the small hallway that led towards the natural caverns Nasir had used before. Nomatrius''s granddaughter looked at Rohahes and Nasir, the former covered in small burn marks and breathing heavily, the latter with bow and arrow in hand, occasionally looking over his shoulder for any signs of danger. Iandi was looking behind them, the bite marks on his arm sealing shut.


    ¡°They won''t find us,¡± Aima Dorucanthos said, ¡°I''ve used my power. If they pass by here, they''ll see nothing, nothing at all.¡±


    ¡°I don''t recognize you,¡± Nasir said, ¡°You are...?¡±


    ¡°Aima. Aima Dorucanthos.¡±


    At the name, both of them tensed, but the young girl shook her head.


    ¡°I''m not going to rat you out, or anything,¡± she said, ¡°Nothing like that. No one knows that I''m even here. My father thinks that I''m safe and sound back at our family manor.¡±


    They heard more people running down the hall. A serpentine Warrior fully morphed into a great serpent, his scales shimmering rainbow as he went by, completely unaware that their quarry had given them the dupe.


    ¡°Why are you helping us?¡± Rohahes demanded.


    ¡°...I''m here protecting Memoire,¡± she said, ¡°Here...¡±


    She waved a hand, and both of them noted that it was slick with red blood. She had been bleeding, they realized, pinches on her index fingers that she had spread over her entire hand. The air shimmered.


    And the Seat of Rituals and Secrets appeared. Memoire looked disheveled, her question-mark tipped hair slicked with sweat and grime, her eyes dull and exhausted. The symbols that floated on her skin lazed quietly.


    ¡°Lord Freak''s been hunting her for days,¡± Aima Dorucanthos said, ¡°We were hiding in the caverns when you crossed by.¡±


    ¡°A member of the Council,¡± Rohahes said.


    There was a warning in his words. Aima looked at him.


    ¡°D-Don''t hurt her,¡± she said.


    ¡°It is not up to me,¡± Rohahes said, ¡°But you should come with us.¡±


    ¡°Agreed,¡± Nasir said, ¡°Come on.¡±


    He made to grab at the girl, who stepped back, her eyes blazing.


    ¡°Don''t you touch me,¡± she said, ¡°One move, and I will let the others know you''re here. You''ll be set upon in moments.¡±


    ¡°We''ll be out of the mountain by then,¡± Nasir countered, ¡°Let us out. Join or, or don¡¯t, or-¡±


    ¡°I will go.¡±


    Memoire spoke up. She was looking at Rohahes with sad eyes.


    ¡°I will go,¡± she said, ¡°Don''t worry, Aima. I''ll go with them.¡±


    ¡°I...¡± Aima faltered. And it was now that Nasir noted how tired she looked. She had been using her powers to dodge Lord Freak''s patrols, had she not? She bled freely, but of her own accord. She had injured herself. Perhaps her power had something to do with her own blood. Blood loss of that sort would weaken anybody.


    ¡°I''ll go with you,¡± Aima said, ¡°Make sure they don''t hurt you.¡±


    Rohahes nodded at this.


    ¡°That is agreeable,¡± he said, ¡°Your power, can it conceal us?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Aima said, and she swayed, ¡°I''m going to need to rest soon, though.¡±


    ¡°Just to the forest, then,¡± Nasir said, ¡°Come on. Follow my lead.¡±


    ¡­


    ¡­


    They lost one of their number. Shawatis''s body was found, and swiftly discarded. They did not give him any sort of gravestone. Nor did they burn his body. They simply moved it into an unmarked grave somewhere outside the mountain.


    In Okwaho''s dreams, much later, he could see his friend looking down at him. Sad, but not ashamed. If there was anything to regret, it was that Okwaho, nor Shawatis''s family, his mothers and two remaining brothers, would never find his remains. An anonymous part of Gan¨¢:yeht.


    But of Gan¨¢:yeht nonetheless.


    But they also gained two. Nasir took the lead, weaving through the caverns out of Father Mountain. It was still light out, and were it not for Aima Dorucanthos''s metapower, they would have been found out, for Warriors now scoured the mountain, hunting for the Oshya:de and guildfolk interlopers. Rohahes was glad to be out, for despite his casual bravado, his heart pounded with the panic of claustrophobia, a result of his time trapped in the caverns.


    Aima nearly passed out when they got to the forest''s edge. Her power dispersed, forcing Rohahes to carry the Dorucanthos as they disappeared into the trees. Memoire followed behind him anxiously, not for her own sake but for the girl''s. She said little on their journey back into the cavern.


    It was only once they got there that Nasir pulled out the bag, and opened it up. Allowed Iandi and the others to climb out. Closed it, for but a second, before Cobalt Joe exited, a smirk on his face. Then he opened it up and offered a hand to the metahuman, who shook his head in a good-natured way.


    ¡°Mostly plasma rifles,¡± Joe said, ¡°A good haul.¡±


    His eyes fell on Memoire. And narrowed.


    ¡°You,¡± he said, ¡°You''re Memoire.¡±


    ¡°I am.¡±


    ¡°She decided to come here,¡± Nasir said, ¡°Along with the youngest Dorucanthos.¡±


    He gestured to Aima. By now, she was passed out, lying down by the fire. Glow was removing patches of moss from their shoulders, patting down her bleeding fingers, wiping the red from her palms.


    ¡°What for?¡± Joe asked.


    Rohahes shrugged.


    ¡°I thought to bring her by force,¡± he said, ¡°For the Clan Mothers and the Warleader. They would discuss her fate, perhaps make her part of the Oshya:de.¡±


    Joe raised an eyebrow at this. Rohahes shrugged.


    ¡°In times of war, sometimes we take members of those who have wronged us,¡± he said, ¡°To integrate into our own clans.¡±


    ¡°I...¡± Memoire faltered, ¡°I came because... I remember it all. I wish to speak with the Clan Mothers.¡±


    ¡°Like we''d let you get close to them,¡± Aldreia said, ¡°You''ve got power over memory, right? You could wipe all of us, here and now, couldn''t you? Make us all dithering, brainless idiots in a cave.¡±


    ¡°I wouldn''t do that,¡± Memoire said, ¡°I... I...¡±


    She was breaking down into tears. Looked to Rohahes, who shook his head.


    ¡°This place makes me uncomfortable,¡± he said, ¡°I''m going above.¡±


    Joe nodded.


    ¡°Let us know if you see anything,¡± he said.


    The Oshya:de nodded. He left, leaving the others to tend to the sobbing Memoire. Aldreia kept her distance. Joe helped her to the fire, gave her a bit of food, but left her alone. Nasir and Iandi went back up top to join Rohahes. Eksonis, who was breathing heavily, still rubbing his once cut-off arm, rested a head against the wall and went to sleep.


    It was only Glow who rested a hand on Memoire''s shoulder. Their touch alone was enough to calm Memoire down, and the guilty woman soon drifted to an uneasy sleep. Filled with nightmares and screams, but sleep nonetheless.


    She would need it, in the coming days.


    ***


    The days passed on. The team that had plunged into Father Mountain moved away from the forests, convening with other small cells of resistance, passing out weapons, trekking eastwards to where Tekahentakwa was hiding out. Warriors loyal to Luminary patrolled the areas around the mountain, while they prepared to strike at the High Federation.


    It was not just Father Mountain alone that was raided. Oshya:de and Worker teams did action on the various granaries that dotted the plane. Skirmishes were had. Strikes were called. The fields lay empty and bare, for the metahumans who would work them were protesting the Council.


    The situation was heating up.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    Hadawa''ko and his band of warriors, along with Stepping Stone, had been making their way through the northern half of Gan¨¢:yeht. The forests had long ago melted away, in favor of rolling tundra plains. Their company was composed of solitary wolves, though they heard packs howling at night, along with small rabbits and deer, an occasional moose. The rivers here were as ice, and the northernmost mountain was capped with snow.


    ¡°My father took me here, one year,¡± Hadawa''ko said, ¡°We got permission from Four Banner, so long as we shared whatever we hunted with them, and lived among them for a while.¡±


    ¡°It sounds nice,¡± Stepping Stone said, ¡°I remember my old man taking me out on a hunting trip, back when I was a little rock.¡±


    Hadawa''ko chuckled at that. Since coming up here, he had become a hair more cheerful. He laughed easily, as though the cold winds had awakened happier times within him. He gestured to his band, and they settled down for the night. They had brought firewood with them, and a fire burned merrily as the sun dipped below the mountains. They ate the rest of the deer they had hunted yesterday for dinner, taking drinks from the river nearby.


    ¡°The land gifted my father and I with the sight of one of the last mammoths,¡± Hadawa''ko said as they ate, picking up the conversation once more, ¡°We did not hunt it. It is forbidden now, for before the Settled Peace we had hunted them nearly to extinction. If our people went hungry, the other clans could help us.¡±


    ¡°That''s good,¡± Stepping Stone said, ¡°Mammoths are rare, out in the multiverse. Most of them have gone extinct now. I think a few of the smarter ones work in guilds, though.¡±


    Hadawa''ko laughed.


    ¡°Tell me,¡± he said, ¡°Do they talk?¡±


    ¡°They do,¡± Stepping Stone said, then added, ¡°So I''ve heard.¡±


    The Warleader''s laugh pealed in the night.


    ¡°A talking mammoth!¡± he said, ¡°Now I have heard everything. Your multiverse is strange, indeed.¡±


    He shook his head.


    They continued eating for a while yet. They were, to a man, relaxed and easy. There were no High Federation patrols, and any New Ludayan influence had been left behind. Metahumans had claimed the plane as their own, but they had truly only colonized the southern half of it. The north was still Oshya:de.


    Perhaps this was why Hadawa''ko talked so easily. Laughed easier now. There were no caves nor tunnels here, no Clan Mother politics, the only metahuman among their number an amiable sort.


    But, a metahuman nonetheless. And for this, Hadawa''ko did not tell Stepping Stone of his real reason for coming so far north. Stepping Stone had wondered, of course, but any question was deflected with a somber frown, or with the arrival of the tundra, an easy joke.


    They pitched tents. Hadawa''ko took first watch, tending to the fire, for to have no fire this far north was dangerous and suicidal. He was quiet, and the grin on his face died as Stepping Stone went to bed.


    Replaced by somber planning. Of what words he would say. Of treaties and stipulations, a second Settled Peace, not between the clans of the Oshya:de, but between his people and the multiverse.


    He had chosen this band of comrades, five in all, including himself, because of their great stealth. Four Banner was gone, all of them wiped out save for the young Guyasuta, who went with Sky Clan. They moved quietly, leaving much of their tents behind, prepared to live off the land for the final day in the journey.


    Light and quick.


    To better leave Stepping Stone behind.


    The metahuman woke up to a fire that had nearly burned itself out. And to empty tents. He looked around for a few minutes, wondering where they had gone. Then as the hours crept on he realized that he had been left behind. Abandoned.


    And he had one conclusion.


    For only one of the three factions on Gan¨¢:yeht was this far north.


    Hadawa''ko was going to meet with the High Federation.

 158. THE POINT OF NO RETURN

    The Sovereign Melody, in an attempt to conserve power, had landed.


    It was an ungainly sight, for a High Federation warbird is at its most beautiful when it is in space, where it is better able to resist the gravitational pull of the spheres, where it moves with an uncanny grace that belies its city-like size.


    None of that, here on Gan¨¢:yeht. Here, the Sovereign Melody had swayed and shuddered, and Luminary''s assault on the starship had only exacerbated this. Were it not for its powerful thrusters and expert spacemanship, the Sovereign Melody would have dipped too low onto the plane, and crashed onto its surface.


    It was easy to spot, due to its vast size, and Hadawa''ko had to calm himself down as he and his troupe crested over a hill to behold a silver crescent moon resting upon the northernmost mountain. The Warleader stopped, resting a hand against an outcropping of stone, breathing in and out. He had heard tales, mostly from Stepping Stone, about the power of the High Federation. How they ruled over a million worlds with a fleet of a trillion ships.


    This, he thought, This is but one of them?


    The Sovereign Melody rested upon the mountain, a shining blight upon the stone, and as Hadawa''ko beheld it, and the valley between him and the Federation, he wondered how he would even get inside.


    ¡°There are people in there?¡± one of his warriors, Onondakai, said.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Hadawa''ko replied, and he attempted to hide the shivering in his voice, ¡°Come, let us be off.¡±


    He began descending down the hill. His eyes kept shifting back up to the ship. There was no sound coming from it. No voices, no shouts or screams, no smoke and no fire. It lay completely still, like a statue.


    No...


    Like an oversized bobcat, ready to pounce.


    ***


    Kathen Aru was in his personal quarters, lying in bed, his arms crossed behind his head. Merry Curiosity was running through calculations in the back of his head, a faint buzzing that sometimes crept into his waking thoughts, numbers and calculations and symbols modifying symbols. He had little idea of what they meant, for Merry''s mathematics often went into realms beyond organic understanding and into a place that only AI could access.


    ¡°Alright,¡± she said, ¡°After taking in recent scans, as well as projected maps taken from Truthspeaker''s database, I''d surmise this plane has been in forecast with the Silver Eye for around twenty years.¡±


    ¡°Twenty years,¡± Kathen said, ¡°Explains a lot, doesn''t it?¡±


    ¡°About no one finding it?¡± Merry said, ¡°It does. Hasn''t been here for very long, nor is it going to be around for much longer. I''d say it''s leaving in a year, tops.¡±


    Kathen nodded at this. Anxiety flooded his chest, and he got up and started to pace.


    ¡°...Kate?¡± Merry said, ¡°Something up?¡±


    He shook his head.


    ¡°It''s fine,¡± he said, ¡°I just...¡±


    He trailed off. Found himself looking into the mirror. He hardly recognized the person staring back at him. There was a sunken quality in his eyes that had not been there before.


    ¡°I need to talk to someone,¡± he said.


    ¡°You can talk to me,¡± Merry said, and there was a rare tremor of worry in her voice, ¡°Kate, what''s wrong? You''re scaring me.¡±


    Could he talk to her?


    Could he trust her?


    Merry Curiosity was a cutting from Truthspeaker, who reported all secrets and revelations to Valm. One did not even need to speak out loud for this, either, for if one possessed an implant and she was given admin permissions, she could scan your surface thoughts for any doubts, any thoughts of heresy.


    But, then, if Merry could do this as well, then she already knew.


    And she had not told Valm.


    ¡°I''m scared, Merry,¡± he said, and his voice broke, ¡°I... I don''t think I can go through with this?¡±


    ¡°Go through with what?¡± Merry said, ¡°The glassing?¡±


    She said it so casually, they had sucked in a breath as though sucker punched.


    ¡°Y-Yeah,¡± he said.


    He sat down on his bed again, his hands shaking. He wanted to vomit.


    ¡°There are people here,¡± he said, ¡°Not just metahumans. The native peoples of this land. And we''re just going to...¡±


    He shook his head.


    ¡°And... And even then,¡± he said, ¡°Most of the metahumans down there are just trying to survive. They aren''t... They aren''t guilty of anything. They don''t deserve this.¡±


    Merry was quiet for a long time, and for a moment he was afraid that she had left him, that she would betray his trust and adhere to her programming, and notify Valm. But she did not.


    Instead, numbers appeared in the back of his mind. Calculations.


    ¡°There''s a good chance,¡± Merry said, ¡°A ninety-four percent chance, that Valm is going to glass this plane.¡±


    ¡°That doesn''t help, Merry,¡± Kate said.


    ¡°An eighty-five percent chance that the metahumans here fight back,¡± she said, ¡°A seventy-five percent chance that they successfully destroy the Sovereign Melody-¡±


    ¡°Merry, stop,¡± Kathen snapped, ¡°Seriously. Stop it.¡±


    Another bout of silence. Kathen''s anger simmered. Was replaced by a cold sort of guilt. He had never talked down to Merry, not like this.


    ¡°I''m sorry,¡± he said, ¡°I... I don''t know what''s happening to me.¡±


    ¡°I...¡± Merry hesitated, and though she was an AI, she seemed on the verge of tears, ¡°I don''t know what you want me to do. I can run calculations for you. Scan places and things. But...¡±


    ¡°It''s alright,¡± Kathen said, ¡°You don''t have to do anything.¡±


    ¡°Let me help you, Kate,¡± Merry said, ¡°Please.¡±


    How could she help?


    And, at that moment, a call came online.


    ¡°Mr. Aru,¡± Valm''s voice rang through his communicator, deep and oaken, ¡°A group of natives have appeared. I want you here for this meeting.¡±


    ***


    ¡°Human, by all indications,¡± Rhunea had taken the sensor array, reporting her readouts to the guildmaster, ¡°A group of five. They have stopped, and are watching the ship from a distance.¡±


    Old Scar took a look through the viewscreen, his brow furrowing at the sight of them. Five natives, brown-skinned and with long black hair, all of them were thin to the point of near starvation.


    ¡°They''re dressed up in animal hides and wield stone tools,¡± he said, ¡°Primitives. They probably haven''t even invented the wheel.¡±


    ¡°Now, Old Scar,¡± Valm said, ¡°They are human, like you. Try to show them respect, when they come here.¡±


    Old Scar scoffed.


    ¡°Very well, guildmaster,¡± he said, ¡°We are to bring them in?¡±


    ¡°They appear to be here to hold palaver,¡± Valm said, ¡°I would hear them out. We have yet to broach contact with the natives of this plane. I would collect a few of them, so their line survives in some place.¡±


    ¡°I know of a few conservation worlds we can place them,¡± Rhunea said, ¡°I can send you a list, guildmaster.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Rhunea,¡± Valm said, ¡°All of them are men?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Rhunea said.


    ¡°We''ll need to capture at least a few females, then,¡± Valm said, scratching a chin, ¡°Send a shuttle for them.¡±


    Kathen was at Valm''s left hand. He suppressed the urge to panic.


    ¡°Are we...¡± Kathen said, swallowing, ¡°Are we sure that''s wise?¡±


    Valm turned to look at his protege. As did Old Scar and Rhunea. Old Scar looked annoyed. Rhunea looked worried, and there was a hint of warning in her wide eyes. Valm was frowning, as he was wont to do. His entire neck craned.


    ¡°Explain, Mr. Aru,¡± the guildmaster said.


    Kathen swallowed.


    Now or never.


    ¡°I... don''t you think it''s wrong, sir, for us to do this? To glass the entire plane?¡±


    Valm sighed. Rubbed his temples, as though he were talking to an especially stubborn child.


    ¡°Mr. Aru,¡± he said, ¡°Please, now is not the time.¡±


    ¡°I''m just saying,¡± Kathen said, ¡°This is a bit... over the top. There are innocent people down there, sir, and-¡±


    ¡°That''s enough, Mr. Aru,¡± Valm said, ¡°I will not say this again. This metahuman nation is like a weed, and the only way to remove a weed is by pulling it up, roots and all.¡±


    ¡°Those people aren''t roots,¡± Kathen said, gesturing at the viewscreen.


    ¡°They are not,¡± Valm said, ¡°But they are still in the way. Not all of them have to die, Mr. Aru. We will collect specimens, so that the culture does not die out.¡±


    (Kathen could already hear the screams.)


    ¡°But-¡±


    ¡°That''s enough, Mr. Aru,¡± Valm said, ¡°I have heard you out. And I have made my decision.¡±


    ¡°Sir-¡±


    ¡°Kid,¡± Old Scar growled, ¡°Shut it.¡±


    Kathen looked at Rhunea, who averted her eyes. Others onboard seemed unsure as well. They went about their duties, trying to keep themselves out of Valm''s wrathful sight. The entire exchange seemed to have annoyed the Prime Voice, for there were barbs in his voice as he spoke again.


    ¡°Have a shuttle sent down to retrieve these natives,¡± he said, ¡°We will speak with them. Collect specimens of both sexes, so that they may procreate in their new home.¡±


    His eyes slid, disapproving, at Kathen.


    ¡°And, when this is done,¡± he said, ¡°We go high above this forsaken rock, and glass it from existence.¡±


    ***


    ¡°Something''s come from the moon,¡± Onondakai said, pointing, ¡°It''s small. Silver.¡±


    Hadawa''ko looked up. Indeed, there was something that had broken off from the Sovereign Melody, flying towards them. Like the metahuman that was a flying carpet, or the boat made of leaves by the Warrior who had stalked them on the way to Amoeboy''s commune, it floated through the sky without wings. What started as a dot on the mountain quickly became larger and larger, a metal vessel the size of a longhouse, arrow-shaped and quiet as a night of hunting.


    The door opened. People walked out. One seemed to be like them, human and not metahuman. The other was a woman with the head of a doe, and she considered all of them with sad eyes. Hadawa''ko saw the others shift, heard Onondakai let out a soft curse, for although they were getting used to the strangeness of the New Ludayans, the sight of such a being was enough to set them on edge.


    The last was covered completely in white armor, and held a rifle in hand. They possessed digitigrade legs, like a bird''s, and their head was long and snoutish, covered by a helmet with a black visor, though they could not see this High Federation''s face.


    ¡°You are the natives of this plane,¡± the one with the helmet said.


    ¡°We are,¡± Hadawa''ko said, ¡°We are the inhabitants of Gan¨¢:yeht, the true-¡±


    ¡°You will come onboard,¡± the figure said, and the doe-headed woman averted her eyes, ¡°You will present yourself before the Prime Voice.¡±


    Without another word, the creature went inside. The woman followed suit, as did the seeming human.


    Hadawa''ko exchanged glances with the others. Then he went inside. The inside was long and chute-like, and with numerous seats for them to sit down in. The three who drove the ship were the only inhabitants here, and already the human-like one was going to the front to drive the ship towards the Sovereign Melody. The entire vessel lurched. Hadawa''ko fought rising panic, for there were no windows in here for him to see out.


    The doe-headed woman noted this.


    ¡°You are scared?¡± she asked.


    It was disturbing, to see a voice coming from a deer''s mouth. Like out of his grandmother''s stories. Hadawa''ko swallowed. Nodded.


    The woman pulled out a glass tablet, and presented it to him.


    ¡°Viewscreens,¡± she said, ¡°They show us the outside.¡±


    Indeed, he could see the outside of the arrow-shaped ship. It was floating through the air, and the ground below was both small and blurred due to its speed. Onondakai and the others let out gasps and whispers of awe mixed with fear.


    But Hadawa''ko took note of what the High Federation was doing. The bird-legged one was lounging, their long tail flickering like a rattlesnake''s. The doe-headed woman sat straight, her hands clasped together, her thumbs twiddling. At times she would glance up at Hadawa''ko, but when he returned her gaze she would look away as though ashamed.


    The ship rumbled to a halt. The door opened back out, and the doe-headed woman stood up, beckoned for them to exit. They had landed in a room completely composed of metal, box-shaped and cold and sterile. Other ships were here, some arrow-shaped, others bulbous, a few of them sleek and dangerous. Hadawa''ko stared at all of this, trying to hide the awe in his eyes, the nervousness in his voice, for if he was going to bargain with these people, he needed to not look like a confused child.


    These people and their flying machines were far more advanced than the Oshya:de. By magnitudes. There was a near-divine quality to it. He could not afford to be taken in by this, and worship them in all but name.


    He turned to the doe-headed woman.


    ¡°I thank you for bringing me here,¡± he said, ¡°What is your name?¡±


    The woman flinched.


    ¡°I am Rhunea,¡± she said, ¡°Please, follow me.¡±


    She led them out of the box-shaped room, down metal halls and up metal ramps. Everything was metal. On occasion they would pass by another of the High Federation, dressed up in white armor or in strange uniforms, black leathers and with golden badges upon their chests, depicting four hands, each one clasping another''s wrist.


    At last, they came upon a final room. By now Hadawa''ko surmised they were somewhere in the center of the ship, though he could not trust his own judgment, for Rhunea had guided them through a maze of iron.


    This last door, however, was made out of ivory. Polished and shining, and two guards attended to it. They paid Rhunea no mind as she knocked, and a voice that sounded like ancient, creaking wood said ,¡±Enter.¡±


    The door opened. The room was circular, with random objects lining the walls, skulls and gemstones, a spear made of rainbows, a miniature golden rendition of a naked man with seven arms, three on each side, the last arching over his back like a scorpion''s.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    There was a crescent-moon desk at the end of the room. A tall, gray creature sat at it, his neck overly long, his head small and skull-like, with large eyes that did not have pupils and instead seemed to fill with stars. He was wearing white robes and had two long, blanket-like appendages (wings, Hadawa''ko would later realize) that were tucked quietly over him. Two humans were at his either side. One was old and bald and with skin the color of suntanned bone. The other''s hair was yellow, long and wild, and though he held himself at attention, he seemed sad, very sad.


    The creature in the center looked at Hadawa''ko.


    ¡°You will enter.¡±


    Hadawa''ko, despite himself, complied. All of his bravado, all of the courage had tried to cultivate during the journey, was draining away, to the point that he was sure it was pooling at his feet. The creature at the desk did not so much speak as command, and there was a tremor to it that warned Hadawa''ko not to refuse.


    ¡°Your name,¡± the creature said.


    ¡°I am Hadawa''ko-¡±


    (He hoped his voice did not tremble.)


    ¡°-Warleader of the Oshya:de. Mountain Clan.¡±


    He leaned forward.


    ¡°What is yours?¡±


    At this, the older man at the gray''s left side started. His voice was venomous and heated as he spoke.


    ¡°You are not to speak unless spoken to, native.¡±


    But the gray brought up a hand.


    ¡°I am Olendris Valm. Prime Voice of the High Federation. Guildmaster of Pagan Chorus. A thousand other such titles, but the two that matter to you are those.¡±


    ¡°Prime Voice Valm,¡± Hadawa''ko said, ¡°I offer alliance.¡±


    Valm titled his skullish head. Hadawa''ko took this as permission to continue.


    ¡°We share a common enemy,¡± he said, ¡°The metahumans of New Ludaya. Together, we can drive them from Gan¨¢:yeht, and make our land free again.¡±


    The man with the yellow hair breathed in and out. A bit too loud. His nostrils were flaring, and his eyes seemed to well with tears.


    The gray did not respond.


    ¡°You may ask,¡± Hadawa''ko continued, keeping the stammer from his voice, ¡°You may ask, what we, the Oshya:de, can provide for you. We know this land. Better than the New Ludayans, and better than yourselves. We can help you find them. Where they would hide in the forests, or in the caves, or even deep in the hidden parts of the world, those secret lakes and glades.¡±


    He licked his lips.


    ¡°Together, we can remove your hated enemy from this place.¡±


    ¡°So they have named the plane, then,¡± Prime Voice Valm said.


    ¡°It appears so, sir,¡± the old man said, ¡°Ganayit.¡±


    ¡°And, where are the females?¡± he asked.


    ¡°They''re spread out across the plane,¡± Old Scar said, ¡°There are five here.¡±


    ¡°So take five females of breeding age,¡± Valm said, ¡°These males look old enough.¡±


    ¡°Of course, sir,¡± the old man said.


    ¡°Prime Voice,¡± Hadawa''ko said, and now he was realizing something, ¡°Will you assist us, or not?¡±


    But now the two soldiers from outside were walking into the room. Their rifles were raised.


    Hadawa''ko''s eyes widened.


    ¡°What are you-¡±


    Valm was shaking his head.


    ¡°No, no, no,¡± he said, ¡°Look at their eyes. They will go down fighting. Rhunea, put them to sleep.¡±


    He heard the doe-headed woman from the doorframe.


    ¡°Yes, guildmaster.¡±


    A breeze drifted through the room. It was scented with something. Fresh flowers, the hints of spring...


    He was...


    Sleep was...


    Hadawa''ko''s eyes snapped open. With a snarl, he threw himself forward at Valm, drawing forth his tomahawk. The two men at either side started, but the Prime Voice was quicker, rising to his full height, a thin arm whipping out to catch Hadawa''ko''s wrist, lifting him into the air. His grip was strong, far stronger than Hadawa''ko expected, and the Oshya:de let out a gasp of pain as Valm squeezed, the tomahawk falling from his numbing hand.


    ¡°Re-double your spell, Rhunea,¡± Valm said, and his tone was almost bored, ¡°This one''s a fighter.¡±


    ¡°Of course, guildmaster,¡± Rhunea''s voice was laced with guilt.


    The breeze returned, and with it the scent of dawn and winter''s end. Hadawa''ko''s rage dulled. He felt heavy, and his limbs lost their motivation, his arms falling to his sides as he felt Valm drop him, his legs buckling beneath him.


    This was the last thing he felt, before darkness overtook him.


    Rhunea was merciful, for her spell encouraged a good night''s sleep.


    For the first time in two years, Hadawa''ko''s dreams were pleasant.


    ***


    The leadership of Pagan Chorus convened in one of the conference rooms. Dicaeopolis sat next to Kathen, who kept his hands underneath the table, lest Valm see them shaking. The young man had gone pale, and his time was spent flitting his gaze between the table and his mentor. Old Scar stood at attention at Valm''s right, hands behind his back, deactivated raysword on his belt. The guildmaster himself waited for people to file in.


    Oliander was the last to enter. He nodded to Valm, passed him a piece of paper. The guildmaster read over it, before nodding.


    ¡°Rhunea will not be joining us for this meeting,¡± he said, ¡°She is tired, after that spell.¡±


    Old Scar sneered, for they all knew that such simple magic would not exhaust their guildmate. But no one said anything.


    Kathen was staring at the table.


    And it was Merry Curiosity, still watching them, who noted the apprehension in Bluebell''s eyes, in the way that Dicaeopolis''s smile seemed too tugged, too plastered onto his face.


    There were some who were like Kathen, who did not agree with this.


    But, then, they were a guild, and they were to follow their guildmaster''s orders.


    ¡°The females,¡± Valm said, turning to Erak Yawat, ¡°Where are they?¡±


    ¡°Scans indicate they are spread across the plane, guildmaster,¡± Erak Yawat said, ¡°The natives are spreading out with those metahumans loyal to them.¡±


    ¡°We need only five,¡± Valm said, ¡°Show me a map.¡±


    Erak Yawat pressed a button, and the map of the plane appeared before them. Small red dots indicated metahuman bioscans. Blue indicated humans. The natives. Much of the red was concentrated in the southern half of the plane, especially around the mountain that hosted the Traveling Point.


    Valm surveyed the map, his eyes narrowing in thought.


    ¡°Have they been sedentary?¡± he asked.


    ¡°No,¡± Erak Yawat noted, ¡°They have not been. They appear to be engaging in guerilla activities against the metahumans, hitting at stationary food storage facilities, even an apparent attack on their mountain base itself.¡±


    ¡°Then any action we take will need to be swift,¡± he said, ¡°And we must make sure that we are able to capture them.¡±


    ¡°The largest gathering of them proves to be the most promising,¡± Erak Yawat said, ¡°We can lead a raid down there.¡±


    ¡°How many metahumans with them?¡± Valm asked.


    He was looking at a red blotch on the map. Each individual blip was a human, and there were hundreds of them.


    ¡°At least a hundred,¡± Erak Yawat said, ¡°Abilities unknown. We''re still cataloging who''s here, and who''s not.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Valm said, ¡°Then we will need to use overwhelming force.¡±


    ¡°And with the number of metahumans,¡± Old Scar said, ¡°We might want to just bring the entire Sovereign Melody herself.¡±


    ¡°What''s your logic, there?¡± Dicaeopolis asked, ¡°You don''t think a strike team can''t just come in and sow chaos?¡±


    ¡°Metahumans are chaos,¡± Old Scar said, ¡°You don''t play their games. You show up with overwhelming force. You be the hammer, before they show resistance.¡±


    He crossed over, leaning against the table so he could face Valm directly.


    ¡°We send a raid team in, we don''t secure anything. We send in the Sovereign Melody, we can overwhelm them, and take what we need. We can take an entire tribe. Hell, we can start the glassing campaign from there.¡±


    ¡°It''s a central location,¡± Valm admitted, looking at the blotch, ¡°Near to the center of the plane.¡±


    ¡°Two birds, one stone,¡± Old Scar said, and Kathen''s blood ran cold at his guildmate''s smile.


    ***


    Rhunea had beaten Kate to the bar.


    She was sitting at one of the counters, the bartender pouring her another glass of some smelling, foul purple liquid. She was hunched over it, nursing it in one hand, the other wiping her eyes. She had been crying, Kathen realized, the fur on her face matted and wet.


    She looked up at Kathen as he approached, as he wordlessly gestured for the bartender to pour him a glass. He downed it, grimacing at the taste and at the burn.


    ¡°Awful stuff,¡± he said.


    ¡°Diashan ale,¡± Rhunea slurred, ¡°De... De''asin.¡±


    ¡°I get it,¡± Kathen said.


    ¡°Huh, you do,¡± Rhunea said.


    She looked at him. Kathen was staring hard at the wall, his jaw set, his teeth grinding. There was a sense of disgust about him, a shameful sort of anger, and the helplessness that came with it.


    ¡°You don''t like it,¡± she said.


    ¡°This isn''t why I joined the guild,¡± Kathen said.


    ¡°Kate, Kate, Kate,¡± Rhunea said, and her head was lolling, ¡°You never joined the guild. You were born into it.¡±


    ¡°It''s why I stayed,¡± he said.


    ¡°Very few choose to leave the life they''ve led,¡± Rhunea said, ¡°To cut all ties. Burn all bridges. It''s more difficult than you think.¡±


    She looked at her drink.


    ¡°I believe a dear, former friend of mine is down there.¡±


    A name¡­


    Yes.


    ¡°Myron Becenti,¡± Kathen said.


    ¡°I went through old records,¡± Rhunea said, ¡°Cross-compared to bioscans here. He''s here. It fits his MO. Well, the nation part. He was always an isolationist, in his politics. I don''t think he''d want other sapients to join his little nation.¡±


    She shook her head.


    ¡°I wish I would get to say goodbye to him,¡± she murmured, almost confessed, ¡°He was a good man.¡±


    She was already talking about him in the past tense. To her, he was as good as dead. Kathen looked at Rhunea, horrified, and she smiled as she noticed.


    ¡°This is part of being in a guild such as ours, Kate,¡± she said, ¡°You do the good. But you have to watch the evil, too.¡±


    The bartender poured her another drink. She downed it at once.


    ¡°No way around it.¡±


    ***


    ¡°Your play, Kathen.¡±


    Dicaeopolis was leaning against his chair, watching Kathen as the young human stared at the holographic projection that was Under the Ruler''s Gaze. Geometric shapes and points of light floated between the two of them, as they had before. But there was a different energy than their previous session. The satyr''s smile did not quite reach his eyes. Kathen was lost in thought, though not because of the game.


    ¡°Kathen,¡± Dicaeopolis prodded, ¡°Your play.¡±


    Kathen reached out a hand. Then retracted it.


    Dicaeopolis sighed.


    ¡°Your head''s not in it,¡± he said.


    Kathen, after a moment, shook his head.


    ¡°You''re thinking about the meeting, my friend,¡± Dicaeopolis said, ¡°About what we''re going to do.¡±


    He nodded.


    The satyr shrugged.


    ¡°First glassing?¡±


    He sounded so calm and casual, but there was a hint of resignation in his voice, bitter and sad.


    ¡°When was yours?¡± Kathen asked.


    ¡°My dear friend, it''s not like virginity,¡± Dicaepolis said, and he let out a false chuckle, ¡°I jest, I jest. No. It was...¡±


    And his eyes became distant.


    ¡°It was... Porphyrion,¡± he said, ¡°During the war. Darwinists had rolled in, around ten years prior, and taken over, ruling through a proxy dictatorship. Was one of their major bases in the Elch-Dieran Paradigm. The locus of the entire front out there.¡±


    ¡°And they glassed it.¡±


    ¡°I was... I hadn''t joined the guild then, but I had received the invitation,¡± Dicaeopolis said, ¡°Poor Tom, you remember him? Poor Tom had suggested I join him with the Seventy Seventh. We watched from an observation platform as the Seventy Seventh blew the place to Tartarus.¡±


    He shook his head, and when he sighed was not from fondness.


    ¡°And... you got rid of the Darwinists there,¡± Kathen said, carefully.


    ¡°The Darwinists. Their proxies. The rebels hiding out there. Our own forces, too, those we couldn''t pull out in time. Everyone, and everything. Soldiers and civilians. The elders and the children. Porphyrion is gone now. All that''s left is glass and ash.¡±


    He looked at the game.


    ¡°I''ve seen three other glassings since,¡± he said, ¡°The same story, each and every time. They all look exactly like the others. I couldn''t tell Porphyrion apart from Imactuli, or Starland.¡±


    Kathen looked at the game.


    He moved a piece. His carrier, one of his last pieces remaining in the game. As before, Dicaepolis''s ships outnumbered his. But the winning pieces, the Izmu''helat, were nowhere to be seen. Kathen had destroyed them, all of them, near the start of the game.


    All, save for one, one of his own, floating with the rest of his meager fleet. Everything else were naught but  simple ships, carriers and fighters, and even then Kathen had only one wing of those to the satyr''s six.


    So it was odd, then, to send the carrier forward. Without protection, with only its onboard cannons for defense.


    ¡°Are you... giving up?¡± Dicaepolis asked, ¡°Making the sacrifice play?¡±


    Kathen did not answer.


    His Izmu¡¯helat disappeared, lapsed into the warp.


    His carrier opened fire. His wings surrounded it, as he had done before. Dicaeopolis¡¯s forces fired off plasma in return, and the battlefield became alight with numbers and pixelated explosions.


    And then the Izmu¡¯helat re-appeared. Directly between Dicaeopolis¡¯s forces. The auto-defenses on the satyr¡¯s ships turned, started opening fire.


    The Izmu¡¯helat went down in a blaze, exploded, and its death was enough to take out half of Dicaeopolis¡¯s fleet. Yet its presence was still there, and the ships kept firing at it. At each other, now that their main target was gone.


    Kate¡¯s last wing of fighters mopped up the rest.


    The game ended. The two sat, staring.


    Dicaepolis blinked.


    Then smiled.


    ¡°You''re a tricky devil, aren''t you.¡±


    Kathen smirked in response


    It was his win.


    His first, against Dicaeopolis.


    ¡°You''re starting to learn,¡± he said, ¡°Every piece is just a piece. The only one of value is the last one.¡±


    Kathen nodded.


    ¡°As long as someone survives, that''s what matters,¡± he said.


    ¡°Precisely,¡± Dicaeopolis said.


    There was a way that his young friend stood. As though he had decided something. Something secret.


    Something heretical.


    Kathen made for the door.


    ¡°Oh, Kate?¡± Dicaepolis said.


    Kate stopped.


    ¡°Mind how you go,¡± the satyr said, and he gave him a wink.


    ***


    The Sovereign Melody''s brig was spread across the entire first deck. A valley of steel, there were only a few true rooms, with walls and doors, desks and a few cots for the guards who patrolled the cavernous underbelly. The rest of the place was composed of looming metal poles, ten feet to a roof, before it repeated over and over until they struck the ceiling. Rayshields divided them into cells, and the natives were thrown into one. All five of them were huddled together, fearful eyes leering out at the blood red lights that walled them in. There were no guards here ¨C the Sovereign Melody had no other prisoners, and the ship''s manpower had been devoted to her repairs.


    As such, Kathen Aru was alone as he stepped out of the lift and into the brig. He went down the electro-plasmatic halls, which hummed with his every step. His brow was furrowed, and he rolled his jaw as he came to them.


    The leader of them, this Hadawa''ko, stood up from the others. Glared at Kathen. The young guildmember tilted his head, sighed. No doubt Hadawa''ko had come in good faith, that the High Federation could save his people, as Kathen had been taught was the right and just thing to do.


    When you fight for others, you fight for the world.


    The voice, Valm''s face, came to Kathen like an electric shock. His mentor spoke of freedom. Of justice, and the weapons to wield it. He spoke of peace. Of goodwill.


    And yet...


    And yet he wanted to destroy these people.


    ¡°You,¡± he said, ¡°Are you able to pilot a ship?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Hadawa''ko replied, ¡°I... I do not.¡±


    ¡°Autopilot, then,¡± Merry Curiosity said. Kathen paused at this. She was on his side. She hadn''t ratted him out to Truthspeaker.


    ¡°Hey,¡± he said.


    ¡°Hey, yourself,¡± Merry replied, ¡°Are you... are you sure about this?¡±


    Kathen looked at Hadawa''ko''s pleading face, and in his mind he could see what would happen if he went down this path. The native would go free. He would warn the others, his people and the metahumans, of the carving path of the Sovereign Melody. They would know, quite precisely, where Pagan Chorus was going, and lay an ambush there.


    His guildmates would die.


    ¡°Yes,¡± he said, ¡°I''m sure.¡±


    ¡°Valm will be disappointed,¡± Merry said.


    ¡°I know,¡± Kate said, ¡°But I don''t care.¡±


    He pressed a keypad, and the front rayshield blipped out. Hadawa''ko and the others looked at him with surprise.


    ¡°Come on,¡± he said, ¡°Let''s go.¡±


    ***


    They moved as one through the halls. Merry requested permissions to the various camera programs on the ship, turning them off, or playing false footage, so that Kate and the others weren''t spotted. They went manually down the ship, floor by floor, ramp by ramp, until they hit the floor that Hadawa''ko recognized. Despite the narrow sameness of the passages within the Sovereign Melody, this floor was different. It was more open.


    ¡°The hangar''s down here,¡± Kate said, ¡°Quick, follow...¡±


    He stopped.


    In front of him was one of his guildmates, a Plodiak, in the ship''s uniform, a couple of miscellaneous tablets and machinery in hand.


    The Plodiak looked at Kathen, who scrunched down, ready to pounce on him.


    ¡°Sairad Ghedir,¡± the Plodiak said, and he smiled at Kathen as though he were a close friend. With a conspiratorial wink, the Plodiak guided Kathen and the natives towards one of the ships.


    It was the Point of No Return. Kathen winced at the name.


    ¡°Get in,¡± Kathen said, ¡°Quick.¡±


    The natives did so. Kathen was the last to enter, running up to the console and inputting commands. At least he was familiar with the Point of No Return''s schematics. It even possessed a stealth drive, which he thrummed on.


    He input the coordinates, before turning to Hadawa''ko.


    ¡°Alright, listen,¡± he said, ¡°This thing here''s on autopilot. It''ll take you home.¡±


    Hadawa''ko''s eyes narrowed.


    ¡°When you''re there, you tell everyone that the Sovereign Melody''s going to glass the plane,¡± Kathen said, ¡°Get as many people through the Traveling Point as you can.¡±


    ¡°We will not leave,¡± Hadawa''ko said.


    ¡°You have-¡± Kathen grimaced, looking away, ¡°You have to.¡±


    ¡°Where does the glassing start?¡± Hadawa''ko said.


    Kate''s heart hammered. He could not...


    ¡°They''re going to start at the largest place you''ve congregated,¡± he said, ¡°The... center of the plane.¡±


    Hadawa''ko, for a moment, looked confused.


    Then his breath caught.


    ¡°I thank you,¡± he breathed, ¡°I...¡±


    He looked away, aghast.


    The door closed. Kathen turned around.


    ¡°No one saw us?¡± he asked.


    ¡°No one,¡± Merry said, ¡°There''ll be a ruckus soon, though.¡±


    Kathen nodded.


    ¡°We will not say anything, Sairad Ghedir,¡± the Plodiak said, and he smiled, as though in on a joke.


    Kathen shook his head. More of that business. But he knew the Plodiak would keep their secret. There was a tone akin to reverence in his voice.


    It disturbed him greatly.


    But it was also a tool.


    ¡°Tell no one,¡± he said, ¡°No one at all.¡±


    He put a finger to his lips. The Plodiak mimicked the action, a sly smile on his face.


    Kathen nodded, and returned to his room. He heard the Sovereign Melody lurch beneath him, the soft purr of her engine rumbling beneath his feet. She was taking off again.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    Yet even then, the Point of No Return fired off like an arrow from the bow. Its stealth module was active, and it was as though it were naught but the invisible wind as it rushed away from the Sovereign Melody.


    The warbird took off, bereft of one of her flock.

 159. DOG OF THE FEDERATION

    The arrow-shaped ship was not spotted by Oshya:de scouts and metahuman Workers until it was almost upon them.


    The group, a small patrol that had been sent north to watch for any potential New Ludayan activities, watched in shock as the ship appeared out of seeming thin air. It did not turn on its weapons, no plasma rain peppered at the group. Instead, the group watched, hidden in the tall grasses, as the ship landed.


    And as Oshya:de stepped out. Five of them, dazed and confused, looking at the ship with a mixture of awe and exhaustion.


    They were collected, the five of them, and brought into the forest. At the sight of one of the larger trees in the forest, they were stopped and searched by one of the metahumans for signs of a tracker. The metahuman had the power to sense the flow of one''s blood, and she stroked each of their wrists, her four eyes closed in concentration.


    ¡°Nothing in the blood,¡± she said, ¡°No tracker. They''re clean.¡±


    ¡°Come, then,¡± one of the other Oshya:de said to the five, ¡°Come with us.¡±


    By now, the Oshya:de had recognized that one of the five was none other than Hadawa''ko. But the young Warleader gave no orders. Said little to them. He looked shell-shocked, and his hands were shaking. He swallowed as he allowed himself to be brought into the camp.


    The camp of his sister. Tekahentakwa''s group had dispersed near and around the Site of the Settled Peace. Once, it had been one of the most important locations on all of Gan¨¢:yeht, an oblong stone in the center of a clearing, upon which was carved images of the five clans coming together as one, a campfire between them, five Warleaders and five Clan Mothers. Together, they created the laws, sworn upon the wampum, to abandon the wars that had devastated their home.


    None of that, now, of course. For Luminary had been very thorough in her destruction of all that the Oshya:de were. The clearing was just a clearing, and its meaning was held only in the Oshya:de¡¯s hearts and minds, and the stories they would pass on to their children.


    Tents had been pitched. Oshya:de and metahuman children were playing in the clearing''s short grasses. The adults patrolled the clearing, a few armed with plasma rifles. They regarded Hadawa''ko''s group coolly.


    Tekahentakwa, Lunus Oculus, and Becenti were at one of the campfires when they spotted him. At once, Tekahentakwa''s eyes went wide, and she rushed over to Hadawa''ko-


    And slapped him full in the face.


    ¡°Stepping Stone says you all disappeared,¡± she almost screamed, ¡°All of you! Where did you go? Where did you go?!¡±


    Hadawa''ko didn''t respond. He simply looked away.


    ¡°You went to the High Federation, didn''t you?¡± Tekahentakwa said, ¡°To make an alliance.¡±


    ¡°...Yes,¡± Hadawa''ko said, ¡°Yes, sister, I did.¡±


    ¡°And what did they say?¡± Tekahentakwa asked.


    The Warleader was silent. Becenti, walking over to them now, was furrowing his brow.


    ¡°Hadawa''ko, what did they say?¡± the Clan Mother asked.


    ¡°...They mean to destroy the world,¡± Hadawa''ko said, ¡°And take five men, and five women, and keep them.¡±


    ¡°Keep them?¡± Tekahentakwa asked.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Hadawa¡¯ko fixed his sister with a dark look, ¡°Them, and only them.¡±


    The Clan Mother stepped away in horror. Becenti swallowed.


    ¡°They... They''re on their way here,¡± Hadawa''ko said, ¡°Their ship.¡±


    ¡°Here?¡± Tekahentakwa pointed two fingers to the ground, ¡°You mean, here?¡±


    ¡°The largest encampment of Oshya:de,¡± Hadawa''ko said, hoarsely, ¡°They''re going to start the... the glassing, too.¡±


    Lunus Oculus swore. Tekahentakwa looked to be on the verge of a breakdown, and Becenti rested a hand on her shoulder.


    The older metahuman looked around.


    ¡°Get me a communicator,¡± he said, ¡°Get me Valm.¡±


    ***


    Myron Becenti ¨C Shimmer ¨C and Olendris Valm had a unique relationship. Or, at least, an understanding. The older metahuman paced outside the tent of Radiohead, a frown on his face. Radiohead was hard at work, kneading his stomach fat as though it were bread, and as he did his stomach was starting to gray and sharpen into something resembling a long-range communicator.


    By the end, it was as though the communicator were jutting from his skin like a technological growth. He clicked off the mouthpiece and handed it to Becenti.


    ¡°Sending out a hailing frequency to thin air,¡± he said, ¡°Maybe Valm will pick up. Maybe he won''t.¡±


    ¡°He will,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Mix the hail with the phrase ''Be all our sins remembered.''¡±


    Radiohead raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°It''s the signal for Valm to know that I am here,¡± Becenti said.


    The other metahuman''s brows furrowed.


    ¡°Lapdog,¡± he snapped.


    ¡°I am,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Send out the hail. Please.¡±


    Despite his gruff exterior, and the voice to match it, there was something pleading in Shimmer. Radiohead heard it, and after spitting out another insult at Becenti, he clicked a button, and sent out the hail.


    Moments passed...


    And then Valm''s oaken voice rang through the communicator.


    ¡°Shimmer,¡± he said, ¡°I would be lying to say that I am glad to see you.¡±


    ¡°Stop this, Valm,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Or what, Shimmer?¡± Valm said, and his voice was equal parts angered and amused, ¡°We had a deal, did we not? That you would control your people, keep a tight leash on them, make sure they wouldn''t do something as crass as calling themselves a nation.¡±


    ¡°There are children here, Valm,¡± Becenti said, and he was pacing again, a fearful eye on the encampment. By now, news was spreading about Hadawa''ko''s reappearance, the news he brought with them. The clearing was alive with movement, as people debated on what to do. Panic was starting to settle in. Already a few of them were disappearing into the forest.


    ¡°I''m afraid that you''ve forced my hand, Shimmer,¡± Valm said, ¡°This... national infection, has spread throughout the plane. The only way to remove it is simple extermination.¡±


    ¡°We can cut a deal, like before,¡± Becenti said, ¡°We can... Let some of us go. Let the Oshya:de go-¡±


    ¡°Are the Oshya:de the natives of this plane?¡± Valm asked.


    Becenti froze.


    The Prime Voice hadn''t even learned these people''s names. He probably didn''t even know the name they had given their plane.


    ¡°I assure you, Shimmer,¡± Valm said, ¡°Their culture will be quite safe. I''ve been looking through various conservation worlds to house them.¡±


    ¡°You''re barbaric,¡± Becenti said, ¡°You''re...¡±


    ¡°Any word you say is but a mirror,¡± Valm said, ¡°Know that I do all of this, this purge, with a reluctant hand. You should have heeded my words better, Shimmer. You should have controlled your people with a tighter grip. All of this, because of you.¡±


    Becenti was silent. After a moment, Valm sighed.


    ¡°At least you will burn with them this time,¡± the Prime Voice said, ¡°May you dream again, or whatever it is you people say.¡±


    And the communicator went dead. Becenti looked down at it, his mouth opened stupidly, as the reality of what Valm was going to do washed over him, once more, in a wave. Old fears crept into his chest. His breathing quickened.


    He dropped the communicator into the grass. He couldn''t think straight. He was feeling feverish. Everyone was being too loud around him.


    He needed...


    He needed to sit down.


    There. A nearby log. Becenti rested on it, tried to control his breathing. He could practically hear the Sovereign Melody now, the warhorse thrum of its engines, the spine-tingling breathe-in of its cannons and glassmakers¡­


    He felt a presence beside him.


    Lunus Oculus.


    ¡°Radiohead told me you tried to talk to Olendris Valm,¡± she said, ¡°Right?¡±


    Becenti nodded.


    ¡°What did you offer him?¡± she asked.


    ¡°I... I couldn''t get that far,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I just... I was just begging.¡±


    Lunus Oculus shook her head.


    ¡°You could offer him the multiverse, and he would refuse,¡± she said, ¡°You know that.¡±


    ¡°It worked once before,¡± Becenti said, ¡°With Old Ludaya.¡±


    ¡°And why was that?¡± she said.


    ¡°Because I was of use to him,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Because he was under some sort of impression that... that I had more influence among our communities than I actually do.¡±


    He looked down at his hands.


    They were old and wrinkled, like paper that had been folded too many times.


    ¡°I... we can''t beat them. The High Federation, I mean. We can only sequester ourselves away. Enjoy what freedoms they allow us. Accept that which we cannot change...¡±


    Lunus Oculus regarded him. Her orange eyes flared.


    ¡°Hypocrite,¡± she said.


    Becenti looked up at her.


    ¡°Excuse me?¡±


    ¡°You''re a hypocrite,¡± she said, ¡°You talk all about how we cannot win in this, but you fight on anyway.¡±


    ¡°I don''t fight to win,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I fight because it''s right.¡±


    ¡°Then you will never win, if you keep thinking like that,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°You were about to just hand us all over to the High Federation, weren''t you?¡±


    ¡°I...¡± Becenti faltered.


    ¡°What if Valm was willing to negotiate?¡± Lunus Oculus asked, ¡°What then? What would you have given him?¡±


    The old man was quiet.


    ¡°What would you have given him, Becenti?¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°Tell me!¡±


    ¡°Everything,¡± Becenti said, ¡°So that they would leave¡±


    He looked at her.


    ¡°Everything. For the chance for us to live.¡±


    Lunus Oculus shook her head, and he could see in her eyes a breaking of some sort. She was reevaluating him.


    ¡°Do you think we would truly be alive, if that happened?¡± she said, ¡°That is not life, Myron Becenti. That''s just survival. And we deserve far more than that.¡±


    ***


    Tekahentakwa took Hadawa''ko aside, away from the main bulk of the camp. One of the Oshya:de warriors joined them, and he was smart enough to keep his distance as their conversation became hisses and whispers.


    ¡°Are you alright, at least?¡± she said, ¡°They didn''t hurt you?¡±


    ¡°They put us to sleep,¡± Hadawa''ko said, ¡°Threw us in... a room of red light. But no, they didn''t hurt us.¡±


    Tekahentakwa sighed, taking out her waterskin, and handed it to him. Hadawa''ko drank greedily, water dribbling down his chin as he gave it back to her. He took a shuddering breath.


    ¡°I thought they would help us,¡± he said, ¡°I thought...¡±


    He was on the verge of tears.


    ¡°They''re going to destroy it all,¡± he said, ¡°They''re going to... to...¡±


    He broke down. Tekahentakwa held him as her brother sobbed into her shoulder. They were again children, and he had skinned his knee while playing down by the river, with his sister to comfort him. Tekahentakwa and Hadawa''ko, always together.


    But there was the raw edge of adulthood to his breakdown. The hoarse, empty exhaustion that came with the sheer weight of what he had seen. Impending annihilation replaced childhood woes.


    Yet the body reacted the same.


    ¡°It''s alright,¡± Tekahentakwa said, ¡°It''s alright, it''s...¡±


    ¡°I-I''m sorry,¡± he said, ¡°I''m so... I should have believed you, sh-should have...¡±


    He was rocking himself now. His eyes were bloodshot.


    ¡°I''m tired,¡± he said, ¡°So, so tired.¡±Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.


    ¡°I know,¡± Tekahentakwa said, ¡°I am too.¡±


    ***


    ¡°People are already moving out,¡± Kehaulani told Lunus Oculus, ¡°We''re communicating with the other groups, letting them know that the Sovereign Melody''s taken off.¡±


    ¡°Where are they going?¡± Lunus Oculus asked, ¡°There''s nowhere to go.¡±


    ¡°Some of them are making a break for the Traveling Point,¡± Kehaulani said, ¡°The metahumans, at least. Some of the Oshya:de are heading east, towards a series of caves.¡±


    ¡°Back into the caverns,¡± Lunus Oculus said.


    ¡°They won''t survive long in there,¡± Kehaulani said, ¡°Even if they get through the glassing, there won''t be any food or water. They''ll need to go to Impellia III...¡±


    Her voice faltered.


    There was always the possibility that the Federation would glass the planet, too, to be completely certain. New Ludayan outposts had dotted the entire surface.


    ¡°Then we have to fight,¡± Lunus said, ¡°Get whatever metahuman we can to launch an attack.¡±


    ¡°We don''t have anyone like that,¡± Kehaulani said, ¡°Most of us are Workers, Lune. Our abilities aren''t combat focused. Maybe Cobalt Joe, but that''s it. Most of the Warriors are with...¡±


    She blinked.


    ¡°Are with Luminary.¡±


    Lunus Oculus watched as her friend made realizations.


    ¡°The New Ludayans are going to be striking at the Sovereign Melody soon,¡± Kehaulani said, ¡°And we know where the ship is going.¡±


    ¡°The Oshya:de will never agree,¡± Lunus Oculus said.


    ¡°It doesn''t have to be an alliance,¡± Kehaulani said, ¡°But our causes are aligned.¡±


    ¡°That''s what Hadawa''ko said, isn''t it?¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°About the High Federation.¡±


    The young mother swore. Lunus Oculus nodded.


    ¡°Trust me,¡± she said, ¡°I know what you''re saying. And I agree. But it''s convincing the Oshya:de that would be-¡±


    ¡°Convince us of what?¡±


    Tekahentakwa had returned, with Hadawa''ko in tow. The young man had been crying. His eyes were bloodshot, and he was scrunched over with exhaustion. He was still skin and bones, truth be told. The caverns had left him bereft of muscle and youth, and the boy in front of her looked more like an old man than anything.


    Lunus Oculus took a deep breath, before speaking.


    ¡°We know the Sovereign Melody is on its way here,¡± she said, ¡°They''re here to finish what New Ludaya ¨C what we ¨C started. Five men, five women, and then they destroy the rest.¡±


    Tekahentakwa nodded. There was a resignation in her eyes.


    ¡°We don''t have the kind of resistance necessary to stop them,¡± Lunus Oculus continued, ¡°None of us have the power to bring down a warbird of that size. The only person who stood a chance to do that was-¡±


    ¡°-Was the woman in white,¡± Tekahentakwa said, almost hissed.


    She shivered even in the relative cool of the evening.


    And she shook her head.


    ¡°I don''t see how we can negotiate with her,¡± she said, ¡°She wants us all dead.¡±


    ¡°It doesn''t have to be through her, directly,¡± Kehaulani said, ¡°We can send intermediaries. Have it come from the Workers-¡±


    ¡°You realize who you speak of, yes?¡± Tekahentakwa said.


    There was warning in her voice. A heat. The very mention of Luminary had set her on edge. Hadawa''ko, too, though his was the exhausted sort. Lunus Oculus felt a familiar pinprick run up her spine. Of guilt, and shame.


    She had had these sorts of conversations before. She was playing the villain, here.


    ¡°I do,¡± the orange-eyed metahuman said, ¡°Trust me, I do. But...¡±


    ¡°That woman slaughtered everyone here,¡± Tekahentakwa''s voice was rising, ¡°There is not a single Oshya:de here who has not lost someone, because of her!¡±


    She strode forth, jammed a finger in Lunus Oculus''s face.


    ¡°And you want to speak with her?¡± she snarled, ¡°You want to negotiate with her? We tried doing that already, and look where we are now.¡±


    She gestured.


    ¡°She may very well just let us all die here, and then shoot down the ship herself,¡± the Clan Mother said, ¡°She will not negotiate in good faith.¡±


    ¡°I never said she would,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°But she has the firepower to-¡±


    ¡°I will not hear it,¡± Tekahentakwa said, ¡°I won''t hear any of this. Not so soon after getting my brother back.¡±


    She stomped away. Hadawa''ko, after a few moments, toddled after her.


    Becenti watched the scene from afar. He only approached after she was gone. Lunus Oculus was rubbing her temple.


    ¡°We should talk about evacuation,¡± the older metahuman said, ¡°Scattering.¡±


    ¡°And you know that won''t work,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°They probably scanned this entire plane. They''ll have an idea of where everyone is. Scattering won''t make a difference.¡±


    ¡°You''re right,¡± Becenti said, ¡°It won''t.¡±


    He shook his head. Looked hard at the treeline.


    ¡°It won¡¯t.¡±


    ***


    ¡°Tell me, Professor,¡± W¨¢:ri said, ¡°What do you think will happen?¡±


    Private meetings and communications were being sent out to the various cells of Oshya:de and their metahuman supporters. W¨¢:ri had listened to the message with Professor Morandus via a piece of bismuth, Stepping Stone''s powers, as he relayed the High Federation''s takeoff to the others. He was somewhere north, hiding in the nook of a tree, as the warbird lifted from its mountain perch and headed south, towards the center of the plane.


    ¡°I don''t know,¡± Evancar said.


    He and the young Clan Mother were near a river that ran into the earth. Guyasuta was with them, skipping rocks on the rapids, his bow ever in his hand. His mask betrayed no emotion, but Evancar knew well enough that he was scared.


    All of them were.


    The professor ran a hand through his hair. Noted the strands that tugged free were gray.


    ¡°I''m going to be honest with you,¡± he said, ¡°It''s not a good situation to be in. Worse situations have come and gone.¡±


    ¡°Do you think we''ll survive?¡± W¨¢:ri asked.


    ¡°Nothing survives a glassing,¡± Evancar said, ¡°Nothing at all. That''s the horror of them. Perhaps a few buildings, here and there, but the rest is just glass. Glass, and ash. It is a scouring, not just of the land, but of its people, and its history.¡±


    He gestured.


    ¡°This river will be gone. The trees. The mountains. The lakes. All of it.¡±


    W¨¢:ri looked aghast, and Evancar grimaced.


    ¡°I''m... I-I''m sorry,¡± he said, ¡°I''m getting away from pleasant conversation.¡±


    He shook his head.


    ¡°I''ve only ever seen the results of... one of these,¡± he said, avoiding the term, ¡°I think a few of my guildmates witnessed it. They don''t talk about it.¡±


    His eyes studied the woods.


    ¡°I''m sorry, if I''ve horrified you,¡± he said, ¡°But...¡±


    ¡°It is what will happen,¡± W¨¢:ri said, ¡°If we don''t do anything.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Evancar said, hopeless, ¡°And there''s not much we can do.¡±


    At this, the Clan Mother shook her head.


    ¡°There are many who said the same thing about the caverns,¡± she said, ¡°And yet, we were freed.¡±


    Evancar smiled sadly, and she could see, just for a moment, the demon dance in his eyes.


    ¡°That was a much different circumstance,¡± he said, ¡°A demon is a small thing, compared to a warbird.¡±


    ¡°Is it?¡± W¨¢:ri said, ¡°Or have you just convinced yourself of this?¡±


    Evancar''s smile dropped. He blinked.


    He did not answer.


    (He did not want to hope.)


    ***


    ¡°So,¡± Joe said into the small communicator, ¡°They''re on their way.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Joe,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°And no chance in hell we''re talking to Luminary,¡± Joe said.


    ¡°No, we are not,¡± Becenti said.


    Cobalt Joe''s group, consisting of himself, Eksonis, Aldreia, Glow, Nasir, Iandi, and Okwaho, were sitting around a campfire in the cave system that Glow had lived in since their moving to the plane. Memoire and Aima Dorucanthos kept their distance, though the young metahuman craned her neck to hear their talks of whispers and mutters. The only one outside the cave was Rohahes, who could not stomach staying underground.


    ¡°I suppose I can''t blame them,¡± Joe said, ¡°I wouldn''t want to talk to Luminary, either.¡±


    There was a sharp sigh from the other side. Becenti still harbored some feeling for his old friend, to some degree.


    But Joe didn''t find himself in a sympathetic mood. He let his statement hang, without apology.


    ¡°We''re thinking of taking the Traveling Point,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Sending you out there, along with whoever''s close to Father Mountain. At least then we can, perhaps, escape to Impellia III.¡±


    ¡°That won''t work,¡± Nasir said, ¡°We''d just be going to a slightly larger prison.¡±


    ¡°Agreed,¡± Joe said, ¡°And that''s such a pipe dream, as it is. That damn rock-¡±


    He noted Okwaho''s glare.


    ¡°Sorry, the mountain, it''s crawling with Warriors. We got lucky, last time. But we still lost someone, and the entrance we used has been sealed up. I don''t think we''d be able to secure a landing with that many people guarding it.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Keep watch on it, alright?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, for sure,¡± Joe said.


    The line went dead. The group returned to their usual business. Nasir spoke softly to Iandi, trying to coax him to get some sleep. Glow tended to the fire, their mossy form shifting and absorbing the carbon dioxide runoff. Aldreia was on her knees, her hands clasped together in something akin to prayer, though Joe knew the cleric was not religious.


    He got up, looking at the small tunnel that led to the outside world. Rohahes had not reported back in.


    ¡°I''m heading outside,¡± he said to the others.


    A few nodded. A few ignored him. Joe supposed he couldn''t blame them. The news of the Sovereign Melody''s takeoff had demoralized them. He had heard of the glassing on Chliofrond. Heard it from a few of his guildmates, like Rosemary.


    Rosemary had mentioned it once.


    And she refused to talk about it anymore. Her voice broke when she did.


    He stepped into the water. Icy and freezing, and soon enough it went up to his knees, and then his chest. Joseph crept down the passage, the ceiling uncomfortably close to the top of his head, scraping against his hair and scalp when he wasn''t careful.


    And then, after this, a ramp that went up towards the outside world.


    No wonder Rohahes didn''t like coming down here.


    Joseph ascended. Wondered, vaguely, how things had gotten to this point. Death on the horizon, and the more he talked to people, the more news he heard...


    The more it felt like he wouldn''t be making it out of this one alive.


    But then, he had been in these situations before, hadn''t he?


    With Mordenaro.


    The night of the coup.


    He would survive, and all that he would be left with would be scars. Scars and nightmares.


    ¡°You look dour,¡± Rohahes said.


    The warrior was peering down at him from above, smiling grimly. Joseph let out a dark chuckle.


    ¡°The High Federation''s moving out, towards the center of the plane,¡± he said, ¡°Where Tekahentakwa is. They''re going to start the glassing campaign there.¡±


    Rohahes nodded.


    ¡°I see,¡± he said.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joe said.


    The large man reached down a hand, one that Joe took. It was cool out tonight, which was awful for the soaked-through metahuman. He shivered as he sat down by a tree. Rohahes had caught a few rabbits, and the remains of a small fire, hastily scattered and broken, was beside him.


    ¡°You could get caught, if it''s big enough,¡± Joe said, gesturing towards the ashes.


    Rohahes shrugged.


    ¡°They¡¯re too busy with other things,¡± Rohahes said, ¡°I''ve seen them. Father Mountain crawls with metahumans, but none of them range down here.¡±


    ¡°You don''t know that,¡± Joe said, ¡°Myriad abilities-¡±


    ¡°And yet I eat, and am unbothered,¡± Rohahes said, ¡°I set traps and snares. I''ve even ranged out a bit, and seen New Ludayans in the woods, packing up bags and leaving their houses. They''re scared of what is to come.¡±


    ¡°I don''t blame them,¡± Joe said, and he crossed his arms, leaning against the tree''s trunk, ¡°So, what do you think?¡±


    ¡°Of what?¡± Rohahes asked.


    ¡°They''re going to glass the plane,¡± Joe said, ¡°You know what that means?¡±


    ¡°Only the stories from what you metahumans have told me,¡± Rohahes said, ¡°Nothing else. Perhaps I don¡¯t fear the same fear as you. It¡¯s not my reality. The caves are. The demons are.¡±


    Joseph nodded at that, closing his eyes.


    ¡°You have seen much,¡± the warrior said.


    ¡°Seen too much,¡± the metahuman replied, ¡°Things I wished I hadn''t.¡±


    ¡°Mmm,¡± Rohahes said, ¡°Such is the nature of the world we live in. Were it not so.¡±


    He was staring up towards the looming Father Mountain. There was a glint in his eyes, one that Cobalt Joe zero''d in on.


    ¡°You''re thinking,¡± he said.


    ¡°I am,¡± Rohahes said, ¡°Our impending annihilation is nigh, isn''t it? The only way to secure a future for ourselves is there.¡±


    He nodded at the mountain.


    ¡°Not like we can do anything,¡± Joe said, ¡°Only Luminary has the sort of firepower to bring down something like a warbird.¡±


    ¡°We will not work with the woman in white,¡± Rohahes said.


    ¡°Which, I get,¡± Joe said.


    ¡°But that does not mean we can''t let the woman in white know where this warbird is.¡±


    The warrior gave Joe a knowing look.


    ¡°Tell me. These warbirds, how powerful are they?¡±


    Joe shrugged.


    ¡°It takes a lot to bring them down. I''ve only heard stories.¡±


    ¡°But it''s possible.¡±


    ¡°It''s possible,¡± Joe said, ¡°But difficult.¡±


    ¡°Difficult enough to send an entire raiding party?¡± Rohahes said, ¡°An... army?¡±


    And Joseph caught onto what he was saying. A dark smile crept on his face.


    If the big hitters of New Ludaya were away...


    He took out the communicator once more.


    ¡°Hey, Becenti,¡± he said, ¡°I think Rohahes has an idea...¡±


    ***


    ¡°Fractal, wake up.¡±


    It was Rainbowfish. He was shaking her gently, though she still nonetheless slapped his hand away. Rainbowfish raised his hands in surrender.


    ¡°Sorry,¡± he said, ¡°But we''re moving out.¡±


    Indeed, she could hear movement. People were waking up. Armorhide was suiting up, wiping saliva on her forearms, metal growing from her skin wherever her spittle touched. Rainbowfish''s own arms glistened in the half-light of the cavern, and a serious expression was knitted on his face.


    ¡°Get up,¡± he said, ¡°Get dressed. We leave in the hour.¡±


    Fractal frantically started getting changed out of her nightgown and into her sari. People were whispering to one another, muttering and preparing, and not a single person made a sound louder than a sneeze, as though speaking at a normal volume would awaken something horrifying.


    Despite her bravado, Fractal''s heart was hammering.


    ¡°What''s going on?¡± she asked Rainbowfish.


    The metahuman slid on his vest, keeping his shining arms bare.


    ¡°Orders,¡± he said, ¡°The Shadow of the Giant will tell us more. Come on.¡±


    They took off together, along with a long line of Warriors that wormed their way through the hallways, which were now tight with bodies and mutters and fear. They arrived to one of the larger caverns, metahumans pouring in from all directions. There was a bit of upraised stone, a solid pillar that the Shadow of the Giant stood upon, along with Riah Truegale and others. Luminary herself was in one of the higher galleries, attended by Mister Meaning, along with Nomatrius Dorucanthos and his family.


    The Shadow of the Giant''s thin, reedy voice echoed off the stone.


    ¡°You may have heard the news,¡± he said, ¡°But we''ve found the location of the Sovereign Melody. We move out to bring it down. Tonight. You''ll be briefed by your squad leaders on the way there. Dismissed.¡±


    Simple words, but it set the Warriors alight at once. The tense quiet erupted into frantic motion, as people began reporting to their assigned squad leaders. Already a few metahumans were leaving the caverns, one of them pulling her hand from her wrist, a manta-ray like creature billowing out to carry her and her comrades off into the night.


    Riah Truegale was their squad leader. The tall man was busy stretching as he considered all of them.


    ¡°We''re taking to the air, with this one,¡± he said, ¡°Ten of us. Eight fliers, two who cannot. Petrie, you carry Rainbowfish and Melorine.¡±


    ¡°I''m not carrying the traitor,¡± Petrie hissed, and his leathery wings shuddered in his anger, ¡°I''m not-¡±


    ¡°They are your orders,¡± Riah Truegale said, ¡°You will carry them out.¡±


    Petrie glared at Rainbowfish, who returned it with a stony look of his own.


    ¡°Very well,¡± the metahuman said, clacking his beak.


    They moved out, weaving through the halls and the tunnels, and all too soon they were outside, in the cool of midnight. The moon was at its full disc, and the stars seemed to wink at Fractal high above. The night was marred by the silhouettes, or the glows, or the shifting winds, of flying metahumans.


    ¡°We meet in the skies,¡± Riah Truegale said, ¡°Expect heavy resistance, it''s an entire warbird we''re going after. Heavy losses are to be expected, but stick close to me and I''ll get us onto the ship just fine.¡±


    ¡°The shield will be up, sir,¡± Rainbowfish said, ¡°We have an answer for that?¡±


    ¡°We do,¡± Riah Truegale said, ¡°She''s gathering light as we speak.¡±


    Rainbowfish stopped, his eyes widening.


    ¡°The Founder herself is...?¡±


    ¡°She''s the only metahuman here who has demonstrated the power,¡± Riah Truegale said, ¡°Wait for her to bring the shields down, once more. Then, when they are down, swarm the ship, kill anyone you see. Our goal is the engines. Barring that, primary thrusters.¡±


    The pores on Riah Truegale''s arms and legs took in air. Two holes on the bottom his feet exhaled, and he launched into the sky. The way he flew reminded Fractal of a cephalopod, sucking in air, and then expelling it to launch himself forward.


    Her own power took form, and the world became orange and rippling. Flight for her was awkward, as she changed her center of gravity upwards, and then sideways.


    She did not so much fly, as fall.


    ¡°Luminary herself...¡± Rainbowfish murmured to himself.


    A rough wing batted at him.


    ¡°Climb on,¡± Petrie said, ¡°And watch yourself, traitor. Don''t want to tumble, do you? It''s a long way down.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Rainbowfish said. He climbed on Petrie''s wide back, and the metahuman took off.


    So Luminary was joining them for this operation.


    If there was any time to strike Father Mountain, it would be now.

 160. FOLKTALES AND BLOODSHED

    The Sovereign Melody''s hum was deep and low, like the rumbling of an elephant. The slumbering of the earth. It eclipsed the moon as it flew overhead, as high as the plane allowed it, before like a hawk in slow motion it dipped down towards the earth, descending faster and faster towards the center of the plane. Oshya:de below were scattering, along with their metahuman allies. They disappeared into the forest, running as fast as they were able to, dragging their children, or the elderly.


    The forest would not save them. The natives burned red on the heat map displayed on the main viewscreen.


    ¡°We must be quick,¡± Valm said, ¡°Send a strike team down.¡±


    ¡°Aye, sir,¡± Old Scar said. He had moved from his guildmaster''s side to man one of the consoles, and punched in the order. One of the arrow-shaped Tlakto-class vessels took off from one of the Melody''s hangars, whipping around in freefall for a moment before its thrusters took to life, and it rocketed towards the ground. Twenty Pagan Chorus guildmembers were stowed inside, ready to take the natives needed to re-seed.


    They would need ten, now. They had learned of the mysterious escape of their natives from the brig only a few hours ago. More work to be done, before they could be rid of this place.


    ¡°Sir,¡± Kathen said, manning sensors, ¡°Metahumans on the horizon. Coming from the south.¡±


    ¡°How many?¡± Valm asked.


    Kathen took a quick sweep.


    ¡°Thousands,¡± he said, ¡°Thousands of them.¡±


    Valm grimaced.


    ¡°Turn guns on them,¡± he said, ¡°Wipe them from the night.¡±


    ¡°Aye, sir,¡± Etnoka, the weapons officer, said. The officer''s violet skin had drained lavender. Good, he wasn''t the only one nervous then. Kathen punched in a scanning solution to isolate a more specific number to feed into Truthspeaker.


    The entire time, his mind buzzed.


    ¡°They told them,¡± Merry whispered, ¡°The natives told them where we were going.¡±


    Kathen felt a lump in his throat. He swallowed, but it did not go down.


    ¡°Let''s just hope we can keep our wits about us,¡± he said.


    He heard the churning of weapons come online. The Sovereign Melody lurched with the grace of a tectonic plate to face the metahumans. They were only a few miles away now, flying in the sky, or rushing on the ground.


    Kathen''s jaw set.


    ***


    Luminary was on the ground level.


    A veil was over her, cast by Acruma the Tricking Stone, who had cast the spell over the entire vicinity. Mister Meaning attended to Luminary, a rifle in hand. High above, they could see the Sovereign Melody turn and open fire on those metahumans in the sky. Puffs of blue smoke popped in the air as unlucky Warriors were blasted out of the night, to fall to an ignoble death in the forest below. One of them caught aflame as she fell, a meteor of flesh and screams.


    Meaning swallowed down his fear.


    He could hear the Oshya:de in the distance. Screams at the sight of the starship floating like a spectre above. Luminary had been tipped off about Pagan Chorus coming here, to this sight, where thousands of Oshya:de were fleeing through the forest.


    It made sense.


    The High Federation often took specimens, when they were glassing a plane. Survivors, to tell stories and remember.


    For they hoped that the memory of glass and ash would extinguish all thoughts of rebellion.


    (How wrong they were.)


    ¡°They''re following your orders,¡± Mister Meaning said, ¡°They''re keeping their distance. For the most part.¡±


    Another metahuman ignited. Powder Keg, whose own power had turned against her. She should have been on the ground, with other metahumans who were positioning to cover Luminary. The old woman''s eyes were closed, and her hands trembled as she sculpted her power.


    Light streamed through the forest in rivers. Pulled from every torch and leftover daytime. Every glowing metahuman still loyal to New Ludaya was contributing, pouring their own power into the flowing construct.


    It was a wonder that the High Federation had not noticed yet.


    But, then, a number of the Warriors were also magicians, or possessed powers that hid and concealed. Roughly a hundred of them, centered around the Tricking Stone, were weaving spellwork or metahuman abilities to keep Luminary and her weapon hidden.


    Almost a quarter of the New Ludayan army assaulting the Sovereign Melody were dedicated to this part of the battle. The rest were in the sky, or getting into position on the ground below.


    Luminary was chanting to herself.


    ¡°In the Age before the Brothers and Lover, there was a time when the High Federation had taken the shipnation of Armagest for themselves.The Alu''eer known as Naru Nalan dragged Armagest to the holy city of Alu Alay, and there he visited horrors upon the metahumans who lived there.¡±


    Not prayers, for Luminary had lost religion long ago. Not magic incantations, for she had not the mind for such things.


    ¡°There were two brothers who could not stand to see their nation throttled so,¡± Luminary continued, and she grit her teeth for a moment, her hands twitched with arthritic pain, ¡°The first was the elder brother, whom we know now as High King Coral. The second was his younger brother, the artistic Archaic Mosaic.¡±


    History lessons. Folktales that Luminary had memorized long ago, with Shimmer, in those days when the two dreamed of nation and were of one mind.


    ¡°High King Coral began a rebellion. He started first with assaulting the tendrils that bound his family''s ship to Alu Alay. Sharpened, hardened coral, magically made strong as Valdorian steel, tore and scraped through that which chained his home and his people.¡±


    The light shined, and the night of New Ludaya burned away in a false dawn.


    ¡°He forged a path for his people. And in doing so, made Armagest an eternal enemy to the High Federation.¡±


    ***


    Truthspeaker spoke. Valm listened to her for a few moments, tilting his head.


    He nodded.


    ¡°Get me Rhunea,¡± he said, ¡°Get me Dicaeopolis.¡±


    The two of them were on the bridge in moments, courtesy of one of Rhunea''s spells. Valm gestured for them to approach his chair, pointing out specific parts on the viewscreen.


    ¡°Truthspeaker''s algorithms are detecting fluctuations used by magical spells congruent to the Shade-Imit Paradigm and the Empire of Clazmonya,¡± he said, ¡°Can you sense anything?¡±


    ¡°Clazmonya,¡± Dicaeopolis said, and he grimaced, ¡°Haven''t visited there in quite a while. Nasty business, but...¡±


    He closed his eyes, and his pupils flickered through his eyelids for a few moments.


    ¡°Yes,¡± he said, ¡°I do... illusionary magic. Shadow magic. Some of the metahumans down there will have nightmares tonight. If they survive, of course.¡±


    Rhunea was staring at the viewscreen.


    ¡°I would....¡± she murmured, ¡°I would need to get down to investigate. My magic is tied to nature.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Valm said, ¡°You''ll join the strike teams we''re sending down there. You too, Dicaeopolis. Kathen.¡±


    Kathen drew up from his place at the sensor array.


    ¡°Aye, sir,¡± he said.


    Old Scar took Kathen''s place at the console, patting him on the shoulder.


    ¡°Get a few of them for me,¡± his weapons instructor said, ¡°A few ears, eh?¡±


    ¡°Eh,¡± Kathen said, though he was not as enthused. He joined Dicaeopolis and Rhunea as the three of them left the room. Another whispered spell, and Rhunea warped them down towards one of the hangars. Pagan Chorus members were loading onto ships. A few fighters were already screaming off into the night in pursuit of flying metahumans. The sky was alight with neon plasma bursts and metahuman powers.


    ¡°We won''t take a ship down,¡± Rhunea said, ¡°Too risky, with all of the flak.¡±


    She called a few soldiers who were approaching one of the ships to her. They made for ten.


    Kathen checked his plasma rifle one last time. His wrist-bound whip. His raysword. Merry already was feeding him information about the situation below, a neverending stream of whispers and comments and images.


    A few teams had already been sent down to engage the metahuman threat. By teleportation or by landing craft.


    There were already casualty reports.


    ***


    The strike teams came down on the same arrow-shaped ships.


    Only one at first, but then as the New Ludayans began their assault on the Sovereign Melody, more belched forth, flanked by fighters. The night sky above lit up with plasma and dead metahumans, with steel and with smoldering Fedtek carcasses.


    But a few managed to land amidst the scattered Oshya:de.


    And Federation soldiers emerged.


    Pagan Chorus in name only, for the only thing that truly separated them from the High Federation''s military was the addition of the silver guild badge situated beneath the golden four-hands-clasped-in-unity. A single metal bar, depicting a man, woman, and a small goblin, bowing towards the hands above.


    In all else, they were High Federation marines. White power armor. Heavy plasma rifles, their faces veiled by helmet and black visors. They opened fire on the fleeing Oshya:de, and now the forest too was alight with neon flashes of red and green. In a moment, they were on the ground, in the clearing that had once been the Site of Settled Peace.


    A few metahumans, trained in firearms, took cover behind trees just before the clearing. They returned fire with the stolen guns that Joe''s team had retrieved from Father Mountain. One of the fifteen soldiers from the ship went down. Another was struck in the chest, only protected by a fatal blow by his armor, an azure stain blooming on his breastplate.


    He was speared, a moment later, by a lance of pure heat.


    Becenti had stayed with the Oshya:de. While the rest of his guild was doing the other part of this operation, he was here. Heat rippled off of him, collected from the hastily erected campfires of the night and excess body heat from those who could spare it.


    He unleashed the rest of the heat as a wave towards the soldiers. Heat alone would not be enough for them, but at the last moment they sharpened and took shape into more spears, firing like flechette rounds at the High Federation soldiers.


    Uni was with him, her rifle raised. She plugged another as they tried to rush behind the ship for cover.


    The arrow-shaped ship took off again. Becenti let it go, as it left the strike team exposed. They were still firing on the treelines, the Oshya:de having scattered into the forest.


    High above, Becenti could make out darker silhouettes in the night sky. More ships.


    Screams in the night, as teleportation spells activated, and strike teams warped in.


    ¡°Time to wrap this up,¡± he murmured to Uni.


    Uni nodded, signaling.


    Wavemaker took point now from the east. He slammed a fist against the earth, which rippled towards the soldiers, breaking into a shower of dirt and debris upon them, crashing down and carrying them into the forest as though the land were water.


    Oshya:de hiding in the forest were upon them in moments. They wrenched away Fedtek weaponry. They opened fire on the downed soldiers, flashes of red and green that died down as the guildfolk stopped moving.


    They collected weapons. One of them peeled off the helmet, and took it as his own.


    More strike teams were moving down. The body was littered with Oshya:de bodies.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    Becenti wasn''t sure how many living had been taken yet.


    He slipped into the forest with Uni, Wavemaker, and the Oshya:de.


    ***


    The world breathed a green sigh.


    And then they were on the ground.


    Kathen and the soldiers took aim. Dicaeopolis''s fingers danced with electricity. They covered Rhunea, who smelled of spring and fresh fruits, her cloak fluttering from a sourceless wind for a few moments, before it died down. The doe-headed woman opened her eyes, looking around.


    They heard the distant sound of battle. Explosions and bursts above the forest canopy. There were no other signs, for the wildlife of the plane were silent, as though they knew the fate that was coming for them.


    Then, she pushed this away.


    There was work to be done.


    Rhunea laid a palm against the loam. The magic and metahuman abilities extended to the world around them, but below?


    Some of them did. The metahuman powers, at least, were twisted in such a way as roots. Someone could hide people using tendrils of night given form. A powerful being, indeed, but they were using their power defensively. To hide whatever was being done here.


    But the magic itself was only on a ground level. It hid specific points in the forest.


    Like...


    ¡°Rivers,¡± she whispered to herself, ¡°I can work with this. Dicaeopolis, make a ball of light.¡±


    ¡°''Course,¡± the satyr brought a hand, and the electricity pooled into his palm, sparking and popping into a will-o''-the-wisp. One that immediately pulled away from him as though tugged by a magnet and into the forest.


    ¡°Follow me,¡± Rhunea said, ¡°But walk where I walk.¡±


    She started pursuing the ball of light. The others went after her, in a line, matching her movements, where she walked, or jumped, at times, as though avoiding mines that only she could see.


    Rhunea guided them further and further from the main fighting. Deeper into the forest, and it was Dicaeopolis who first noted that the woods around him were strange.


    ¡°No sounds,¡± he said, ¡°No whispers. Nothing.¡±


    ¡°Makes sense,¡± Kathen murmured beside him, ¡°Not too many people will want to draw attention to themselves.¡±


    ¡°Ah, but think outside of this, my young friend,¡± Dicaeopolis said, ¡°This silence, it is magical in nature. Observe.¡±


    He batted a hoof against the trunk of a tree.


    No sound.


    ¡°Magic,¡± Kathen said.


    ¡°Silencing spells, and lots of them,¡± Dicaeopolis said, ¡°It''s a wonder we''re able to speak at all. Which means-¡±


    ¡°No mental metahuman,¡± Kathen said, ¡°At least, none that''s being used here.¡±


    ¡°They need oral communication,¡± Dicaeopolis agreed, ¡°So that part of the spell''s been left out.¡±


    ¡°Quiet,¡± Rhunea said, ¡°Look.¡±


    The ball of light was still floating, like the end of a tunnel, ahead of them. It drifted towards a clearing-


    And then abruptly blinked out.


    Dicaeopolis tilted his head.


    ¡°Odd,¡± he whispered.


    ¡°Not odd,¡± Rhunea said, ¡°Not at all. There''s a metahuman ability that allows one to camouflage themselves. Combine this with spells that disrupt scanners on the electromagnetic spectrum, and one that scrambles biosigns, and we have a hidden place to store power for Luminary.¡±


    She suppressed a shiver.


    If Luminary was down here...


    She swallowed.


    ¡°Alright,¡± she said, ¡°We need to disrupt the spell. Get ready.¡±


    ¡°How so?¡± Kathen asked.


    ¡°The easiest way to eliminate the caster,¡± Rhunea said, ¡°Or, in this case, the casters. My primary concern is the metahuman using the veiling ability. We need to find them, and eliminate them. Kate, you''ll be doing that portion.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Kathen said, ¡°Merry, start running algorithms.¡±


    ¡°On it,¡± Merry said.


    ¡°Dicaeopolis, we''re going to overload the spells,¡± Rhunea said, ¡°Get me a scanner.¡±


    One of the soldiers came forward, handed the doe-headed woman the scanner. She looked to Kathen.


    ¡°Merry,¡± she said, ¡°Would you do the honors?¡±


    ¡°Yes, ma''am,¡± Merry said, and Kathen felt part of her leave him, to enter into the scanner and start running her own numbers.


    He had done something like this before. A quick interruption of the spell that jammed the sensors of the Sovereign Melody. Then a valid bioscan of the area. A snapshot, one that Merry would be able to use to triangulate the likely position of the veiling metahuman.


    Once they were out, the Sovereign Melody''s firing solutions would be able to mark patterns into the forest, and start a barrage.


    ¡°Alright, my dear, I''m ready,¡± Dicaeopolis said. Lightning was pulsing at his fingertips.


    ¡°As one,¡± Rhunea said.


    She pointed her staff at the forest clearing. Dicaeopolis thrust his palm forward.


    At first, there was nothing. The satyr chanted to himself a magic incantation. Rhunea simply closed her eyes, falling to her knees, her boots sinking into the earth as though she were in quicksand.


    And then, the air in the clearing rippled, shook, and broke.


    For just the slightest moments.


    ¡°Scanning,¡± Merry said, ¡°Alright, I got it.¡±


    Images appeared in Kathen''s mind. A top down view of the forest, with red spots noting the actual positions of metahumans.


    A cunning play.


    One of the red blips switched green.


    ¡°That one,¡± Merry said, ¡°I''m sure of it.¡±


    ¡°What makes you say that?¡± Kathen asked.


    ¡°It''s close to a major cluster of them,¡± Merry said, ¡°But off on its own. But it''s also in a central location, so they can spread their power over the surrounding forest. There are encampments of metahumans around them, and if we assume Luminary''s in the central cluster, and those encampments are producing light for her, then they would appear as rivers.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Kathen said, ¡°And that position would cover it all.¡±


    ¡°They probably have protection,¡± Merry said.


    ¡°Of course they will,¡± Kathen said. He turned to Rhunea and Dicaeopolis, ¡°Do your magic thing. I''ll be back.¡±


    ¡°Be careful,¡± Rhunea said.


    ¡°Save one for me, eh?¡± Dicaeopolis said.


    A few of the soldiers split off with Kathen as he rushed into the forest. They dashed through the trees, dodged past branches and roots that rambled on the forest floor.


    The central position that the metahuman had situated themselves in was near a wide, powerful river situated within the forest. The sounds of rushing water the color of black marble overtook the sounds of battle, save for only the loudest of explosions. A bricklaid bridge had been erected over the rapids, and there Kathen could make out the metahuman. Two other metahumans attended to them. One with the head of a rhino, the other over-tall, his long legs three times those of a baseline''s, his entire head replaced by a single large, bloodshot eye.


    They hadn''t noticed Kathen''s squad yet. Good. Kathen added a scope to his rifle, replaced its muzzle with a longer one. He took aim at the figure on the bridge.


    Breathe in.


    Breathe out.


    Pull the trigger.


    The dun of a single plasma shot.


    The figure stumbled, a plasma stain on their chest. But it was a high-powered charge, and it should have blown them completely off the bridge. Kathen caught a glimpse of the illusionist ¨C skin like molten rock, tough and impenetrable.


    And the metahumans switched places. It was the rhino-headed man on the bridge. The illusion maker was clear on the other side of the river. They hadn''t moved, meaning that they were still concentrating on the illusion.


    The third metahuman twisted at the sound of the shot, and their head, their entire eyeball, pulsed blue. X-ray vision to determine where the threat was, and then a beam of red light pierced from the iris.


    Kathen and the squad moved out, rushing forward as the forest burned behind them. One of them was unlucky, was caught right at the end of the beam''s arc, and screamed as the light cut him in half.


    Kathen took aim at the eye...


    The rhino-headed metahuman stomped the ground, and in a flash he and the eyeball had switched places. He charged forward at Kathen''s group, who lowered their rifles and opened fire-


    Only for one of their own to be caught up instead. The rhino was suddenly beside Kathen, and he brought up a fist, thundering it towards Kathen''s head.


    Kathen''s raysword was in his hand at once. He swung it, cutting deep into the rhino''s side, and the rhino stumbled back.


    This one could switch. He had the power to change his position with someone else-


    The rhino surged forward. Slammed a fist against one of his guildmate''s heads, swung a backhand into another. Kathen''s raysword flashed forward in a quick thrust-


    Another flash. Kathen''s heart fell as he realized the blade was buried hilt deep into one of his comrades. A thick, green gas erupted from the wound, and his guildmate fell to the ground, their armor slowly deflating as though it were a popped balloon.


    The rhino leaped back. Kathen did, too, as the eyeball-headed metahuman unleashed another beam of light. Kathen hit the ground, tearing off the elongated muzzle of his rifle, turning and preparing a spray of plasma.


    His mind racing, he wheeled on one of his remaining comrades, and opened fire.


    In truth, it was but blind luck that Kathen had predicted the switch. A flash of light, and the rhino-headed man took Kate''s guildmate''s place, right in the path of the assault. Kathen unloaded a full clip into the metahuman, who fell to the ground, writhing for a few moments, before he went still.


    The illusionist was retreating over the bridge. Kathen picked up his elongated muzzle, clicking it into place. His guildmates took position, firing at the eyeball metahuman, who was trying to hunker down, using the bridge as cover. An errant bolt seared through his leg, and the metahuman fell, twisting, their knees buckling as they struck the bridge''s rail, and they fell over into the water, which pulled them down and away. No need to worry about that now. Kathen took aim at the forest, watching the illusionist dance between the trees.


    ¡°Dammit,¡± he muttered, ¡°After them!¡±


    He took point, running over the bridge. The metahuman was slower than him, both due to the bolt of plasma burned into their chest and the sheer effort it was taking to maintain their power. Even with the head start, Kathen caught up to them, and he stopped, aiming the rifle directly square at their back.


    ¡°Freeze!¡± he snarled.


    The metahuman stopped in their tracks. Seemed still with fear.


    (Though, Kate would later realize, it was his own.)


    ¡°On your knees,¡± Kathen said, ¡°On your knees!¡±


    The metahuman spun, and a pistol flashed in their hands.


    Kathen opened fire.


    The first bolt shattered the metahuman''s own firearm. A second nailed into their chest, a third in their head as they stumbled back.


    And yet even this was not enough. The metahuman''s face was half-melted, molten and burning, and they let out a ragged scream.


    A globule in the stomach, and now the metahuman was collapsing to the ground, first on their knees, their hands clenching their stomach, then keeled over entirely.


    They did not get up.


    Kathen lowered his rifle, his throat dry and heaving.


    (And he wondered, not for the first time, why he had been made into a killer.)


    And then the illusion dispersed. Was overloaded with magic, and burst with a fizzle. At once the world became brighter, as though aping the day. Streams of light, heavy and burning, twisted on his right and left.


    They fed, as did others, like a great spiderweb, towards a descended star.


    ***


    Mister Meaning had put on his best sunglasses, fished out from deep within his chest.


    Luminary was still reciting to herself.


    ¡°In those days, love was a strange thing,¡± she said, ¡°Armagest was not a nation of lovers. Marriage and reproduction were in the hands of the government. Genetics overrode all else, and seers and psychics divined the powers of newborn children from the potential matches of various metahuman pairings. Coral had been born from this. As had Archaic Mosaic. But Coral chose to love, and worse still in the eyes of his freed kingdom, love a man, and not a woman...¡±


    A midnight sun bloomed overhead. Burning and bright, the rivers of light lifted from the earth and ribboned up towards it as beseeching hands.


    And, worst of all, Mister Meaning could see it.


    Which meant that Acruma the Tricking Stone had been slain.


    ¡°Better make it count,¡± he whispered to Luminary, ¡°They''ve discovered the ruse.¡±


    ¡°My dear Mister Meaning,¡± Luminary said, and despite her exhaustion, her voice was taut with a grim sort of triumph, ¡°I always make it count.¡±


    ***


    All at once, the earth below became alight. From his position on the Sovereign Melody, Valm watched as what was dark became bright. The plane became infested with rivers of light, all of them feeding towards a single source, which even now was starting to mold into a sharpened thing, one that would pierce through the warbird.


    That would not happen.


    ¡°Fire on that position,¡± Valm said, and his voice was even, ¡°There.¡±


    The Sovereign Melody turned, its weapons lowering down towards the earth below.


    (And, far below, Luminary merely smiled.)


    ***


    ¡°We should get away,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Go. Run!¡±


    He and the Oshya:de accompanying him broke into a dead sprint through the suddenly-lit forest. He turned for a moment to watch as Luminary''s construct tightened into a great lance, as before, though with proper preparation and time it was far larger than when she had attacked the warbird during its assault on Father Mountain.


    It would not simply break down the Sovereign Melody''s shield. Such concentrated power had the potential to down the ship entirely.


    And she would crash and burn in the forest, then and there.


    And so, they ran.


    ***


    The Prime Voice watched as Luminary''s power focused the light.


    No. There would not be enough time to volley a barrage at it. Any opening shots in a firing solution would miss, and the light that resulted from such strikes would only be absorbed by her glowing monstrosity.


    They had missed their opportunity by mere seconds.


    ¡°Evasive maneuvers!¡± Valm roared, ¡°Don''t let that spear hit us!¡±


    The entire ship shuddered and turned, twisting vertically to minimize itself as a target. For a moment, the moon pooled behind it, and it was but a thin line against its full wax.


    And then, Luminary''s spear thrust forward. It surged forward a beam with an arrow''s head. The Sovereign Melody turned, just a bit, in an attempt to avoid the shot.


    But it was too late.


    Kathen had been too late.


    Everyone in Pagan Chorus had been too late. The beam scraped against the bottom of the Sovereign Melody''s hull, and there was a horrid crack that all in the forest heard, metahuman and guildfolk and Oshya:de alike. The warbird''s shields broke, ruptured, disappeared in a flash of blue static.


    For a moment, the attacking Warriors wavered, watching in shock as smoke erupted from various points on the warbird, as a plasma explosion took out its third and fifth anti-air turrets.


    And then, as one, with a ragged cry, they descended on the ship.


    Becenti watched all of this with the Oshya:de. The explosions in the sky had tightened down to around the ship. He swore he could make out the largest of the metahumans landing on the Sovereign Melody proper. Like ants, swarming over a grasshopper.


    He hoped it would take them hours to get into the ship.


    For there was other violence tonight.


    ***


    ¡°Click.¡±


    We should speak of Harpsichord the Recorder. A metahuman with telescopic vision and an ability to ''snapshot'' what he could see. These snapshots printed out as polaroid pictures from the back of his head. He stared out, now, at Father Mountain, and the image on the photo showed metahumans patrolling staircases and vantage points.


    Warriors who had been left behind to protect the mountain from the Oshya:de. Though they were few in number, especially against the sea of Workers and Oshya:de who had come out for this.


    Lunus Oculus looked down at the polaroid photo. She could make out Leafy and Snapdragon. So Rulers, too, had been left behind.


    ¡°That''s my entle, isn''t it?¡± Aima Dorucanthos said, looking over Lunus''s shoulder, ¡°Let me talk to them.¡±


    ¡°You being with us might dissuade them,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°I''m hoping that we''ll be able to resolve this without violence.¡±


    In the distance, they heard distant explosions. The screams of plasma arcs.


    ¡°Enough of that tonight already,¡± Lunus added, ¡°Come on.¡±


    They moved out. Hundreds, if not thousands, of Workers first. They came forward as a great host through the trees, towards the base of Father Mountain. Already Lunus Oculus could see Warriors rising up to meet them.


    But there wasn''t any hostile action.


    Not yet.


    That depended on the dialogue to come.

 161. SIBLINGS BY THE METAGENE

    ¡°My Shadow,¡± Molesque said, ¡°We have a situation.¡±


    The Shadow of the Giant and Nomatrius Dorucanthos were in the council chambers. Nomatrius sat at his usual seat at the table, the Shadow near the entrance, leaning against a wall. Molesque looked nervous as he walked through the hall, his clawed hands shaking a bit.


    ¡°Approach,¡± the Shadow said, ¡°Come, I will join you.¡±


    The thin, pale metahuman guided Molesque to the table. Nomatrius''s brow furrowed at the sight of him. Barring the usual Warrior leadership, Luminary had put Molesque in charge of organizing the defenses here at Mt. Redress, in case an attack came from the Oshya:de. There was little to fear, the council supposed, for the Oshya:de were scattered and disorganized, a broken people upon the land. Those Workers who had joined with them were on the outskirts of society.


    But the New Ludayans had not taken a census, to record who had left them and who had stayed behind.


    They had not realized the depths that would scour them.


    ¡°Thousands of Workers are approaching the mountain,¡± Molesque said, ¡°Thousands.¡±


    Nomatrius stood up at this.


    ¡°I''ll talk to them,¡± he said.


    ¡°Don''t bother,¡± the Shadow of the Giant said, ¡°You stay in here. They won''t talk to you. They won''t talk to anyone on the council.¡±


    He looked to Molesque.


    ¡°Gather what Warriors you can. Those with abilities that cover a wide area-¡±


    ¡°The hell does that mean?¡± Nomatrius growled, ¡°What do you have planned?¡±


    ¡°A deterrent, nothing more,¡± the Shadow of the Giant said, ¡°We are outnumbered, so we must outpower those below.¡±


    Nomatrius glared at the Shadow. Considered his words.


    The Dorucanthos had dealt with a strike but once. Long ago, before New Ludaya, when he had been entering into the field of shoka fruit farms. A union had sprung up, and the workers had all agreed to stop working until their demands were met.


    They were reasonable, Nomatrius had noted, as a young man. Better wages. Food and water, the latter especially so, for the summers of Sieren Salhar, when shoka fruits grow best, were searing and blistering.


    There had been negotiations. But it had ended with the mechanical Strikebreakers, on loan from Neos, being brought in to clear the union out. Heads were cracked. And that was that.


    Nomatrius still regretted it.


    This, and more, turned in his head.


    ¡°...Alright,¡± he said, ¡°But I''ll be watching.¡±


    One of his alphadogs erupted from his chest, landing lightly on the table before padding down beside the Shadow. Its head was the letter Theta, a circle with a line through its center, and despite the severity of the situation, its tail was wagging.


    ¡°Agreeable,¡± the Shadow said, ¡°You stay here, with your family. I''ll go and disperse them.¡±


    ***


    Pauldros the Stonemaker had crafted a small window for himself, far above near the upper rooms of Mt. Redress.


    (The natives had called it Father Mountain.)


    He was looking out the window at the procession below. An ocean of light and movement. Thousands of metahumans, and he knew them to be metahumans, for they were burning or glowing or chanting or sending off sparks of electricity into the air. Aye, metahumans were below, swarming around the mountain''s base.


    Workers, he knew them to be. For he heard the distant sounds of battle, as the Warriors fought against the High Federation, that endless story of oppression and reaction.


    He had been trying to shake himself from his stupor of guilt. Try and find some sort of meaning in all that he had done. The memories that Memoire had stolen away from him had returned in full force, and even now they crashed against him like waves on the shore, reminding him of the violence that he had enacted upon the people here.


    Gods, the naivety one possessed, even two years before. All of life was just looking back at the past with regret and ill-learned lessons.


    A group of metahumans were approaching the Workers. Spreading out. The Shadow of the Giant, that damnable eel, was heading the procession. Pauldros stood up from where he was slumped over.


    If the Shadow of the Giant was outside, with a group of the more powerful Warriors, then it meant that he had a chance.


    A chance to find the Pit, and make things right.


    ***


    Joe recognized Prehistoric beside the Shadow of the Giant. Two of Luminary''s cronies, her most loyal of servants staying behind to defend Father Mountain. But he could tell by the look on Prehistoric''s face that he was not prepared for the full ocean of Workers who had come out for this. Explosions rang behind them, in the far distance, as one of many fates of Gan¨¢:yeht played out.


    The Workers were strategically placed by Lunus Oculus to surround the Oshya:de, who were scattered among them. One could not target one of the natives of the plan without targeting one of the Workers.


    And despite the blood that had already been spilled, there was still hesitation in the Warriors. Their own country stood out before them, their siblings by the metagene. If there was violence, it would be against human and metahuman both.


    Joe stood beside Lunus Oculus as she took point, approaching the Shadow of the Giant and Prehistoric. The Shadow was standing simply on an upraised stone, just before the ramp that led up to the Traveling Point. Even now, with all of the unrest, a group of Warriors were guarding it, to prevent any Pagan Chorus reinforcements from jumping through and joining the Sovereign Melody.


    Lunus Oculus gave Joe a quick glance, and he nodded, almost imperceptibly, at her.


    He was the muscle. She was one of the voices.


    ¡°What is this?¡± the Shadow of the Giant asked, ¡°What is going on here?¡±


    His thin voice sounded amused, but there was a deep current of anger running underneath it. Joseph had used that same sardonic tone plenty of times, he recognized it like an old friend. He found himself smirking at the realization.


    ¡°You know damn well what this is,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°We''re here to take Father Mountain.¡±


    ¡°Father Mountain?¡± the Shadow said, ¡°I see no Father Mountain here. This is Mt. Redress, Lunus Oculus, and though I can see many of the indigenous here, they must use its new name.¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    This came from Tekahentakwa. The Clan Mother stood with them, protected by Rohahes. Despite everything, she had insisted on coming here, with the throng of Workers and Oshya:de. Despite the Warriors that now surrounded the Workers, threatening to kettle them in.


    ¡°You stole this place from us,¡± Tekahentakwa said, ¡°You stole our world. A thief does not get to rename what they have stolen. It rings hollow.¡±


    The Shadow of the Giant looked down at her. At her deerhide clothes and moccasins. At Rohahes, with his stone tomahawk and his cap made of wood and feathers. He had heard these words, once. Spoke them, too.


    He had much like these natives, once.


    But not anymore.


    ¡°That matters little,¡± he said, ¡°Not when our greatest enemy is there, and on the other side of the Traveling Point. The time has come. War is here. And instead of unifying, you come before the Council with requests and complaints and the usual incessant whining.¡±


    ¡°Is there even a Council, anymore?¡± Lunus Oculus said.


    ¡°Of course there is a Council,¡± the Shadow of the Giant said, ¡°There will be replacements, selected for those who have left us.¡±


    ¡°And will there be voices in that Council?¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°A member of the Workers? Of Warriors, too? Or will it all be self-appointed, as it was before?¡±


    The Shadow sighed.


    ¡°I don''t know,¡± he said, ¡°The revelation of these natives here-¡±


    (Tekahentakwa looked about to throw herself at the thin man)


    ¡°-Has shaken the nation. There are lessons to be learned.¡±


    He looked down at her. Almost glared at her.


    ¡°But those lessons will not be learned if we are all dead. There is an active wartime operation happening right now. Those Workers who cannot fight are to go to their assigned bunkers to wait things out.¡±


    He glanced at the sea of faces staring up at him.


    God, how he hated his role as the leader of the Warriors.


    ¡°Do you hear me?¡± he said, and then, he shouted out, ¡°Go home! Leave us to your safety! To your-¡±


    ¡°We''re not leaving,¡± Tekahentakwa said.


    The Shadow looked at her.


    ¡°You are not metahuman,¡± he said, ¡°Go where you will. But you will leave here at once.¡±


    The Clan Mother crossed her arms over her chest.


    ¡°No,¡± she said, ¡°I will not.¡±


    Here, now, did the tensions rise. The Shadow of the Giant exhaled, and something began climbing up, seemingly out of the earth, behind him. Shadow and Giant separated, one became two, and a single giant eye from the singular giant being stared down at her.


    ¡°You will leave,¡± he said, ¡°We will deal with you afterwards.¡±


    ¡°Are are not something that you can ''deal with,''¡± Tekahentakwa said, ¡°We... we are not something you can ignore. We are here. We have survived what your leaders have given us.¡±


    Rohahes unlooped his axe.


    ¡°And we want our home back,¡± Tekahentakwa said.


    There was a stark silence.


    The air began to reek of ozone. Lunus glanced at Joe, who gave her a tightened smile.


    ¡°That is not an option,¡± the Shadow of the Giant said, ¡°We are here now. It is not so easy to remove us.¡±


    ¡°We''ve lived here for barely two years, lad.¡±


    Amoeboy moved out from the crowd. He was holding a simple jar in his hand, and a cloud of hay surrounded him.


    ¡°Two years,¡± the old farmer said, ¡°Two hundred. It doesn''t matter. We''ve been made party to a horrid thing, and now we have to make things right.¡±


    ¡°I will hear no more of this,¡± the Shadow said, ¡°Leave. That is an order.¡±


    ¡°I don''t listen to children,¡± Amoeboy said, ¡°Now, move aside, or-¡±


    The Giant moved quickly. He swiped at the old farmer. For a horrid moment, the crowd watched, gasped, a few screamed, as the old man''s body hung, suspended in the air, for a brief moment, and then the hay coalesced, catching him before he hit the ground.


    Warriors whispered to each other. Workers looked stunned. The hay cloud came down into the center of the crowd, and someone pushed through to check on Amoeboy''s vitals.


    ¡°That is what will happen to you!¡± the Shadow screamed, ¡°What I did to him, I will do to you, if you do not disperse, and-¡±


    Someone in the crowd threw a sharpened stone. It cracked against the side of the Shadow''s head, sending him reeling back. The Shadow placed a shaking hand against his temple, and he looked down at it to see it stained with midnight blood.


    And then he looked at Prehistoric.


    ¡°Get rid of them,¡± he said, ¡°Make them leave.¡±


    Joe heard this. He rolled his shoulders.


    ¡°Well, let''s get on with it,¡± he said.


    He pointed, and unleashed a lightning bolt at the Giant''s face. It struck the Giant directly in the eye. Both Shadow and Giant reeled from this. Workers were pushing forward with a roar. Oshya:de drew weapons. Metahuman powers activated.


    At first, the Warriors surrounding them were unsure of what to do. The crowd surged over them, even trampled a few, pulling them down and stomping them in a desperate push towards the ramp. A few Workers with earth-moving abilities started climbing the walls of Father Mountain directly, scrabbling up to get to the various entrance points that Pauldros had carved at the nation''s inception.


    And then the Warriors started fighting back.


    It was Firespeaker who went first. Who realized that, if he did not do something, then the Workers would tear him to pieces. His metahuman power was that he spoke flame. He did not speak at all, most days, and when he needed to communicate with others, it was in the form of hand signals and burning whispers.The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    Not this roar that he unleashed, and with it a firestorm that washed over the Workers. People screamed as they caught aflame. Aldreia rushed over, praying to Pelliad under her breath, the solar god that she cursed as much as she still claimed to worship, and the flames began peeling from Firespeaker''s victims and towards her open palm.


    Elsewhere, Rohahes moved to get Tekahentakwa away from the bulk of the fighting. They dodged back as Cobalt Joe rushed the stone that the Shadow of the Giant was on. For a moment, the metahuman almost seemed to fly as his soul erupted all around him, and it slammed into the Giant with a triumphant shriek.


    ¡°Duck,¡± Rohahes said, simply, and he threw his tomahawk as Prehistoric surged towards them as a great beaked thing. The axe cut deep into the pterosaur''s shoulder, and for a moment Prehistoric floundered, before he folded in on himself and transformed once more, hitting the ground as a three-horned beast that charged instead of flew, knocking metahumans and Oshya:de aside to get to Tekahentakwa.


    ¡°NO!¡±


    A mass of flesh and metal put himself between Tekahentakwa and the triceratops. Iandi brought up two massive hands, catching Prehistoric''s charge, the ground beneath his feet giving way as he absorbed the full blow, positioning himself so he would not be gored by the metahuman''s horns.


    ¡°YOU DON''T!¡± the Mark Eta roared.


    And he lifted Prehistoric into the air. Spun him for a few moments, and then threw him away. Prehistoric ragdolled through the air, before crashing into the mountain''s side and falling down to one of the ledges, which broke beneath him, and he rolled down to one of the staircases, finally stopping in a heap.


    He did not get up. He merely stared, in shock, at what had just happened, transforming back into his metahuman form.


    Joe, meanwhile clawed at the Giant with a fervent ferocity, claws scraping and slashing and digging away at the Giant''s chest, tearing away hunks of darkness as the Giant stumbled back.


    Then massive hands, cold as ice, grabbed the soul''s back, and the Shadow of the Giant ripped his assailant off of him. The Giant held Joe at arm''s length.


    ¡°You,¡± the Shadow said, ¡°Cobalt Joe.¡±


    ¡°''Sup,¡± Joe said.


    ¡°You are certainly proving yourself to be something of a nuisance,¡± the Shadow said, ¡°Tell me, have you thought any more of my questions?¡±


    ¡°Haven''t had the time,¡± Joe replied, ¡°To be honest, I''ve been a bit busy.¡±


    ¡°These are interesting times,¡± the Shadow said.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joe said, ¡°They are.¡±


    He dropped the soul, and with it, the Shadow''s grip. The Giant was fast, however, regrabbing Joe, but by now Joe''s lightning had built back up, and he threw another spear of lightning full in the Giant''s chest, where he had been digging. The wound exploded in a shower of light and shadow, and Joe fell-


    Just as a cloud of hay took hold of him, and carried him to the ground.


    ¡°Thanks, Needle,¡± he said, ¡°Amoeboy alright?¡±


    The straw quivered in response. The Shadow was stumbling back, screaming as the Giant lost its form for a few moments, smearing like watercolor, before it reformed. A single eye glared at Joe.


    By now, many of the Workers were breaking through. Pushing up the ramp, or up the sides of the mountain.


    Oshya:de joined them. Firespeaker fell to the ground, an arrow pierced through his throat, and he spoke no more.


    The Giant moved to intercept them, to cut off the ramp so they could not climb up.


    ¡°Oh, no,¡± Joe said, ¡°You deal with me.¡±


    Hay surrounded him like a cloud of knives. He pointed, and they surged forward, piercing the Giant''s skin.


    And he threw a bolt of lightning, not at the Giant, but the Shadow. Who had to jump away to avoid the strike. Joe ran after him, and the two started moving up the mountain''s side, up the ramp and towards one of the staircases that led into the interiors.


    The main passage into Father Mountain closed up. One of Molesque''s defenses, so that people could not use the entrance.


    This pinned them against the mountain''s side, and those Warriors who had chosen to take up arms aimed their powers at them.


    Clouds of gas washed over the Workers and Oshya:de, choking them out.


    Boulders of ice slammed into their number.


    Some of the Workers fell to the ground, shaking, as an invisible force tugged at their nervous systems.


    One of the Oshya:de started screaming, before swelling up and exploding in a shower of gore.


    Prehistoric dragged himself up from where Iandi had thrown him. He grimaced as everything ached. He had somehow broken a rib, despite the fact that damage in his transformed state didn''t transfer over to his metahuman body.


    But broken he was, as he crawled over to view the destruction.


    The strike was breaking. Workers took up arms, fired at the Warriors, but to be a Warrior was to have an ability that was optimal for combat, both offensive and defensive. The clouds of gas surged away from the group and hardened. The metahuman wielding ice covered themselves in it like armor.


    And Prehistoric knew, deep down, that no matter what happened, no matter if they defeated the Federation or not, that New Ludaya was finished.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    High above, on the overlook that held the Traveling Point, Pocket watched the battle.


    As Warriors used their powers on Workers and the natives of this plane.


    She had managed to get Analyza up here. Had practically snuck her onto the platform, on the excuse that she would be able to scan the Traveling Point with those beautiful eyes of hers. But really, it was to make sure that she didn''t get mixed up in all of this.


    They had already packed their bags.


    ¡°Horrible,¡± one of the Warriors, Leafy, said, ¡°Absolutely atrocious.¡±


    We should speak of Leafy. A woman with skin like an oak''s bark, and with leaves for hair. Her head was a sauropod¡¯s head. She had the power to control and manipulate leaves, and like Needle she could strengthen them and make them as sharp as knives, and she always carried a basket full of them. She was Stepping Stone''s friend.


    She watched the battle below with revulsion on her face.


    ¡°We''re to guard the Traveling Point,¡± Pocket said, shouldering her rifle, ¡°No matter what happens down there, our duty''s to make sure the Federation doesn''t come pouring out.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Leafy said, ¡°I know, but...¡±


    She watched as a few Workers, as well as one of the natives, broke off from the rest of them, trying to escape into the forest. A Warrior went after them, freezing them in place with funnels of ice.


    ¡°I can''t stomach this,¡± Leafy said, ¡°I can''t let this go on. I...¡±


    ¡°Remember your duty,¡± Pocket said, ¡°If you-¡±


    But Leafy wasn''t listening. She gestured, and leaves pulled from her basket, forming into a flying canoe. She jumped into it, and descended down.


    Two of her leaves flicked, and they rushed forward as boomerangs, cutting down the ice-wielding Warrior.


    Pocket shook her head. Turned around to look at Analyza.


    And saw sympathy painted on her wife''s face.


    ¡°Ana, no,¡± Pocket said.


    ¡°She''s right,¡± Analyza said, ¡°It''s a slaughter down there.¡±


    ¡°I know it is,¡± Pocket said, ¡°But we''ve been through this sort of thing before. We''ll be alright.¡±


    ¡°I...¡± Analyza grimaced, ¡°I don''t... We can''t let this happen, Pock. They¡¯re killing them.¡±


    Pocket shook her head.


    ¡°My priority is making sure the Federation doesn''t wipe us out,¡± she said, ¡°My priority, is you.¡±


    One of the other Warriors, a winged metahuman named Sweep, watched the war below. Then, he, too, took off to join it. Feathers tore from his wings, pierced through his once-fellow Warriors.


    ¡°I don''t want that,¡± Analyza said, ¡°I want us to... I don''t want us to regret this.¡±


    Pocket glared at her wife. Then looked at those who remained with her.


    Fifteen Warriors, now fourteen, had been arrayed against the Traveling Point. Earthshaker, Bloodcurdle, and Rowsby Woof looked about ready to jump off into the fray.


    It was Stelman the Lunar who spoke up, however. Tallest of their number, with ivory skin and silverish hair, he shook his head at the sight of the slaughter below.


    ¡°We have our own battle,¡± he said, ¡°What happens below is but one part of it.¡±


    ¡°Easy for you to say,¡± Analyza said, reproachfully, ¡°Look at you, all high and mighty and-¡±


    Stelman glared at her with such an intense ferocity that Pocket put herself in front of her wife. The Lunar''s nostrils flared, and he took a deep, shuddering breath.


    ¡°If you will fight, then fight,¡± he said, ¡°I understand. Truly, I do. But...¡±


    He glanced at the rippling Traveling Point.


    ¡°All of this nonsense, while the Federation lies in wait, just on the other side. Someone has to guard. While we fight amongst ourselves, someone must be vigilant.¡±


    He drew his sword, glittering and pearl-crusted. His one item that he had been able to bring from his home, on far-off Echo.


    ¡°And the rest of you?¡± Pocket said, looking at them.


    Jodora was quiet, and turned away. A few others did, as well.


    But Rowby Woof stepped forward. Earthshaker and Bloodcurdle. Tangoman, still in his Prime spandex.


    ¡°Pock,¡± Analyza said, ¡°You know what the Warriors are doing is wrong.¡±


    Her wife did not respond.


    ¡°Pocket,¡± Analyza said, ¡°Please.¡±


    ¡°...Just the two of us,¡± Pocket said, ¡°Always, right?¡±


    She looked down at Analyza. Sighed.


    ¡°I really was thinking about kids here, Ana,¡± Pocket said, ¡°And that''s not going to happen now, is it?¡±


    More screams. Far below, a metahuman with thick, spiked tentacle arms whipping at a group of natives and Workers. A snap, and the tendrils tore through a Worker''s throat. Another removed the skin from a native''s back.


    Pocket began removing pieces from the slits on her arms. A scope. A muzzle. A folding stock. A suppressor, which she snapped to the end of the rifle.


    ¡°At least we can prevent more families from breaking apart,¡± Ana said, ¡°Right?¡±


    Pocket took aim.


    The metahuman with the whip-arms. Shoharis was his name. A kind soul, Pocket knew. She had even babysat for his kid.


    How awful he looked, such savage glee on his face.


    The first bullet pierced through his chest, the second through his eye.


    He hit the ground.


    Pocket looked at the others.


    ¡°I''ll take a higher ridge,¡± she said, ¡°Rowsby, join Sweep and Leafy in the sky. Earthshaker, go down, take up a defense up the ramp. Bloodcurdle.¡±


    She looked at the wolfish woman, who was already growing larger, a second pair of arms erupting from her side.


    ¡°Eliminate any Warriors you can see,¡± she said, ¡°You''re better as a wrench in their plans.¡±


    Bloodcurdle snarled, and leaped off the edge. She hit the ground running, tackling one of the Warriors to the ground.


    ***


    ¡°There we are,¡± Molesque said. He and a few others were arrayed on the other side of the entrance into Mt. Redress. They could hear the sounds of Workers and natives through the stone. The sounds of death.


    Molesque swallowed at the sound. He didn''t like hearing it, not one bit. They reminded him far too much of his days in Krenstone, during the Rioting Days. So many dead, across all of the Towers. His brother had died, his head cracked open by one of the mechanical Strikebreakers, imported from Neos.


    The screams, those horrid screams, he had to resist the urge to cover his ears.


    ¡°That should hold them,¡± he said, to his crew.


    (To himself.)


    ¡°The Shadow will regain order,¡± Molesque said, ¡°Let a few people bleed out, then he''ll get everyone back on their feet. Back to work.¡±


    He inspected his handiwork, a smooth stone that fit evenly into the entrance, to cut people off, either from going in, or going out. A strikebreaker''s-


    (He swallowed his sudden guilt.)


    -No, an artisan''s handiwork. Perfect for times of siege.


    ¡°Molesque,¡± one of his workers said, ¡°Behind us.¡±


    The foreman turned.


    And saw the Stonemaker standing in the hallway. In the half-dusk of the enclosed tunnel, he looked like a drooping shadow, and they could only see the whites of his eyes as he considered them.


    ¡°L-Lord Stonemaker,¡± Molesque said, ¡°You surprise us.¡±


    He smiled his nervous smile.


    Pauldros ignored this. He, instead, cast his gaze across the tunnel. It was larger than most of the others within the mountain, to better accommodate traffic coming in and going out. He had carved it himself, before anyone else had even arrived to New Ludaya save for the Founders.


    His first work, aside from the killing and the death, had been here. Hewing away holy stone, scarring sacred ground.


    No more.


    He rested a hand against the wall.


    ¡°No,¡± Molesque said, ¡°Stonemaker-¡±


    The earth shook. Rippled.


    And then the entrance opened.


    ***


    Oshya:de warriors and Workers had managed to secure a path up to the entrance.


    The entire clearing before Father Mountain was in chaos. Warriors turned upon Warriors. Metahuman power rang out in conflagrations, catching anyone who was too unlucky to be caught in gouts of fire, or living screams, or leaves that cut as knives.


    Whatever counter that the Shadow had planned for the protestors, it had dissolved into violence. The Giant was nowhere to be seen, having chased Cobalt Joe as the Amber Foundation guildmember led him into the forest.


    Meanwhile, the Oshya:de and the Workers took hold of a second wind. Oshya:de skirmishers charged at the Warriors in twos and threes. As Tekahentakwa and Rohahes made a rush towards the entrance, they watched as three Oshya:de, stringy and exhausted, yet still emboldened, fell upon one of the Warriors. Light lanced at the Oshya:de, obliterating one of them, but his two comrades charged forward, one thrusting a spear into the Warrior''s stomach, the other leaping into the air and planting a tomahawk in the metahuman''s forehead.


    Still more were scrabbling up the mountain. Members of Tekahentakwa''s own clan, Mountain reclaimed mountain, as they worked to secure staircases, and smaller openings into the rock.


    For what the Warriors lacked were numbers. Even with their vast powers, even if they had been selected by the Shadow to cut through the protest in large swathes, there were only so many of them. And, even then, the entire class was quickly splintering. It was not just New Ludaya loyalists who flew the skies. Now those Warriors who could not stomach... all of this, fought their brethren. Some were careful. Some did not know how to be careful, as they killed their own.


    Bodies tumbled out of the sky.


    One almost slammed into Rohahes on the ramp, and he jumped to the side to avoid it, was careful not to let the new pool of gore slip him up, as he finally made it to the entrance.


    Which was, now, opening.


    ¡°Stay together!¡± he heard Lunus Oculus screaming, ¡°Stay together! Don''t let them separate us!¡±


    ¡°Together!¡± the Workers around her called out.


    There were a few metahumans on the entrance''s other side. A portly-looking metahuman with large, mole-like claws. A few more with feathers on their heads, one with three arms, the third sticking out of his chest.


    And they were swallowed in a sea of mass as the Oshya:de and Workers poured into the opening.


    All over the mountain, they found ways in. Like breaking an egg, piece by piece, they found ways in.


    The Oshya:de were in the mountain.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    Meloche stayed outside.


    As much of the fighting drove into the mountain, the philosopher took a chance to catch his breath. Let his sap regenerate, for he had sloughed so much of it off during the battle that he had almost exposed his actual body in certain places. His left arm. Some of his torso region.


    He walked unsteadily towards the mountain ramp. Workers were outside, moving about, tending to the wounded. A few of the Oshya:de, too, one of them falling to his knees and crying out at his dead brother''s body.


    Meloche watched this mourning with a weary sag in his entire body. Many Workers here, left behind, dead or injured.


    And it was not exhaustion that stopped Meloche there, that stayed his step, and made him not even lift a finger to help.


    It was shell shock.


    Shock, at what had just happened. At the bloodshed.


    A groan behind him. He turned.


    ¡°Prehistoric,¡± he said.


    The metahuman was crawling towards him, his breathing ragged and choked, and he was shaking as he rose to his feet.


    He glared at Meloche, but drew no further.


    ¡°Damn it all,¡± Prehistoric said, ¡°Damn it all to hell.¡±


    ¡°You''ve all done well to do that,¡± Meloche said.


    The Warrior was quiet at that. He took a few unsteady steps, before he clutched his head and half-fell, half-sat, beside Meloche.


    ¡°What''s going to happen?¡± Prehistoric asked.


    ¡°I imagine it will be chaos, no matter what,¡± Meloche said, ¡°People will be sad. People will be angry. As it is on every other plane.¡±


    A few more of the Oshya:de were coming out of the forest, medics to help with the injured. One of them ran over, started applying salves and bandages to one of the Workers.


    ¡°Wasn''t supposed to be like this,¡± Prehistoric muttered, ¡°Was supposed to be...¡±


    ¡°Paradise,¡± Meloche said, ¡°Yes, that term has been thrown around quite a bit.¡±


    A few Warriors loyal to Luminary were holding out on one of the outcroppings of stone. One was firing scales from her arms, the other was opening his mouth, and a gout of pure darkness swallowed up a group of Workers pushing towards them.


    An errant arrow from one of the Oshya:de pierced through the scale-armed metahuman''s throat. One of the Workers rushed forward, bowling the darkness-spewing metahuman to the rocks below.


    He broke upon them.


    The Worker looked down for a moment, his companions leaving him to enter into the mountain, and he turned and retched.


    Meloche turned to Prehistoric.


    ¡°Are you going to do anything?¡± he asked.


    Prehistoric thought for a long time.


    Then shook his head.


    ¡°Hit harder than I thought I''d be hit,¡± he said, ¡°I''m... I''m down.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Meloche said, ¡°Very good. Stay down, my friend.¡±


    The philosopher rose to his feet.


    ¡°I will see you when we dream again.¡±

 162. THE WORLD WE GIVE OUR CHILDREN

    ¡°My Father, and my Father''s Fathers, I see you,¡± Ghosha the Water''s Whip was murmuring, fully half of her body seared and dead, plasma-burned flesh sloughing off of her body as she lay, staring up at the stars and the moon, her one remaining eye glassy and shining.


    ¡°He sees you, he knows you,¡± Rainbowfish said.


    They were on the hull of the Sovereign Melody. Warriors all around them were landing on the starship, trying to burrow their way inside. Destroying the ship would require a raid into the engine room, to overload the engine itself so that it would explode. That, or take out the ship''s primary thrusters.


    A few of the Warriors were attempting to do this. He could see Fractal bending her gravitational will against them, the massive cones of steel shaking and shuddering. But a warbird of the Sovereign Melody''s size was designed to withstand the tug of singularities, the overwhelming, infinite pull of black holes and other stellar entities.


    ¡°I see them, and I forgive them,¡± Ghosha coughed, and her voice was becoming a bare whisper as she made her last prayers, ¡°For the world they have given us.¡±


    ¡°For the world we give our children,¡± Rainbowfish said.


    ¡°For the world our children give theirs,¡± Ghosha said.


    Another spluttering cough.


    And then she was still.


    Rainbowfish closed her single, remaining eye. The pain and the shock had disappeared on her face. Good.


    He stood up. There was no time to move her body elsewhere. Plasma flew all around him. Anti-air turrets fired into the crowded night, a few Pagan Chorus guildfolk were jumping onto the hull, firing off at those who were descending down.


    Rainbowfish looked at a squadron of them.


    And charged.


    The squad turned, and opened fire.


    He expelled one of his scales.


    Dodged past a few bolts that would have shorn off his head. The scale disappeared in a glitter of light. A few more started glowing brighter as he brought up a fist.


    The first strike broke through armor. Broke through skin, and bone, and muscle. The expending of his hard-won scales empowered Rainbowfish, made him able to do the impossible, increased his strength and durability.


    He picked up the Pagan Chorus, green blood splattering his entire body from his gaping wound, and threw him into his compatriots.


    The next few moments were a blur of action and the expending of scales. Rainbowfish was a blur, moving from one Pagan Chorus to the next, slashing with curled hands, ramming his fist into throats, wrestling them to the ground, shattering skulls and breaking spines.


    The last of the Pagan Chorus was a large alien. Rainbowfish expended two scales, empowering his punch as he ducked down beneath the alien''s sweeping haymaker, his fist cracking against the alien''s knee, dislocating it. Two more quick punches to the alien''s head to discombobulate, and then the metahuman picked him up, carried him to the Melody''s edge.


    They were on the starboard wing. The world was a blur below them, and the wind up here was so strong that he had to work to make sure he didn''t slip.


    With a grunt, he lifted the Pagan Chorus over his head, then pitched him over the side.


    The Pagan Chorus fell into the night, tumbling and flailing, a blot of ever-small white that eventually disappeared somewhere in the trees.


    Rainbowfish watched him fall.


    Then turned around.


    ¡°Warriors, to me!¡± he roared, and though his voice was stolen by the wind, the other metahumans noted that Ranbowfish''s left arm was glowing so brightly it almost dwarfed the light of the moon.


    They knew his powers.


    And they knew what he was going to do to get them inside.


    He leaped into the air, left arm shining as a torch.


    And he slammed a fist into the hull, near where the wing connected to the main living spaces.


    The entire left side of the Sovereign Melody shuddered. Half of the wing crumpled as though it were aluminum, cracks breaking out across its surface. Portions of the ship exploded internally. Rainbowfih stumbled back, his left arm smoking, his head spinning-


    Riah Truegale caught him.


    ¡°Excellent work, son,¡± he said, ¡°Cutting Edge, finish the word.¡±


    Cutting Edge nodded, her blade flashing out of its sheath. Her power was that she was able to cut through any metal, so long as she wielded a sword. She burrowed the blade into the steel of the warbird, down to its hilt, and began dragging it across, opening up a larger gap for Warriors to get inside.


    ¡°You up for more?¡± Riah Truegale asked.


    Rainbowfish''s head spun. He had not used so many scales for a very long time. His left arm was fully bare now, pockmarked with red imprints from where the oldest scales had been.


    But he pushed himself up.


    ¡°I''m fit,¡± he said, ¡°Just... don''t expect me to do anything so crazy.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Riah Truegale said.


    They watched as other metahumans were landing. Pigmalion. Lute and Saren Wise, the latter flicking a finger, two orbs floating around her head like electrons.


    ¡°Okay, people,¡± Riah Truegale said, ¡°Our mission is a very simple one.¡±


    He pointed at the gap that Cutting Edge had made. Already they could see Pagan Chorus, crewmembers and soldiers preparing for the incursion.


    The holes on Riah Truegale''s arms and legs started sucking in air.


    ¡°I''ll take point!¡± he said, ¡°Pigmalion, back me up!¡±


    Two of the pig-headed metahuman''s constructs attended him, angels both. The marble beings leaped down with Riah Truegale into the ship, into a small bedroom. A few Federation soldiers were on the other side, and the room was alight with red and green plasma as they opened fire-


    The angels took the brunt of the assault, while Riah Truegale whipped his hands forward, unleashing a gale of razor wind that cut into the Federation soldiers. They crumpled, one decapitated, the other letting out gasps of pain at their sudden disarming.


    One of the angels walked over to this soldier, and stomped until his head was mush.


    They were in one of the barracks onboard. Bunk beds to either side, and they could hear more movement coming from the door on the other side of the long room. Riah Truegale''s comrades jumped in behind him.


    ¡°To the engine room,¡± Riah Truegale said, ¡°Let''s end this.¡±


    ***


    Truthspeaker''s voice rang on the bridge.


    The entire crew looked up.


    ¡°They''re onboard,¡± Valm said.


    ¡°I''m reading incursions on decks eight, nine, and five,¡± the sensors officer said, ¡°Dozens of metahumans, sir.¡±


    ¡°They''ll be heading towards the engine room,¡± Valm muttered, ¡°Old Scar. Take a team down there, protect the engines at all costs.¡±


    ¡°Yes, guildmaster,¡± Old Scar moved off at once, unlooping his raysword. A vile grin painted on his face.


    ¡°Truthspeaker,¡± Valm said, ¡°Instruct all non-combat personnel to take cover. Get Erak Yawat to the shelter. Get all autonomous weapons online, and start bombarding the plane below. Natives be damned, we need to get this over with.¡±


    Truthspeaker sang, but Valm shook his head.


    ¡°I am aware,¡± he said, ¡°But none of our teams have reported back from the ground. We must assume the mission to retrieve native inhabitants has been a failure, and this is now a life-or-death scenario.¡±


    He pressed a few keys.


    ¡°I choose life,¡± he said.


    Glassmakers spurred to life. The entire ship shuddered as ten of the Sovereign Melody''s long, proboscis-like cannons revealed themselves on the bottom of the warbird''s hull. They pointed at the ground.


    And started to churn to life. A deep, thrumming sound vibrated the air around the ship.


    ***


    Becenti looked up as he heard that all-too-familiar sound. The hollow warble of a glassmaker powering up. He looked at those with him. Hadawa''ko and a few of his warriors. Uni and Wavemaker.


    ¡°Run,¡± he said, ¡°Run!¡±


    They started sprinting. High above, the night became day, as the glassmakers powered up. They would release into the center of the forest, obliterating everything in their path. All Becenti could do was run-


    One of the glassmakers shuddered, and the power welling up within it went out.


    And then, it bent. Twisted.


    Becenti made out an orange silhouette dancing amongst the forest of rods.


    ***


    The thrusters were made of stern stuff. Designed to not splinter apart in the event of the Sovereign Melody having to move towards the edge of a black hole. Something was inlaid into the metal, some unknown Fedtek that Fractal could not identify, that made it harder for her powers to manipulate. She squeezed at them. Tore at them. Tried to change the gravitational pull around them to go down.


    But to no avail.


    But glassmakers were fragile things. Careful tubes designed to fire pure power from the ship''s warp field, and this made the ship a vulnerable thing. Their purpose in warfare was for use in bombarding a planet, or a plane, from relative safety. They had no defenses of their own, were not made of the same stuff as the rest of the ship, for the metals and glasswork required in making them was a difficult process, lest the warp recoil back on the ship and destroy it completely.


    As such, they broke when Fractal twisted. When her aura of gravitational energy washed over them like waves upon the shore. Some imploded. Others gnarled and cracked like broken limbs, dislocating and shattering.


    The energy within them extinguished, as was designed. A glassmaker exploding next to a ship would destroy it completely. And so they had been built to only fire their discharge at the last possible moment.


    But, at least, she had rendered the glassmakers useless.


    Plasma flew around her. A couple of Federation fighters were dipping down beneath the ship to match her. But they made the mistake of falling too close to her gravitational field as she fell across the air. With a flick of the finger, she broke their cockpits, or crumpled their wings, and they sank like stones to the ground below.


    She needed to be careful.


    Anti-air plasma bolts were zipping past her head. She contorted the gravity around her, making them arc away from her, but they were much like Cobalt Joe''s lightning. They were fast, and if she was not careful, one could get to her.


    Powerful as she was, she was still flesh and blood. A bolt in the wrong place would kill her.


    The Sovereign Melody started moving off, trying to get away from her. And though she could not stop it with her power alone, she could still rush after it, keep pace with it, like a wolf stalking a dying elk.


    For, indeed, the Sovereign Melody was dying.


    Pagan Chorus was just in denial, as all dying things are.


    ***


    Hallway by hallway. Room by room.


    That was how it was with starship incursions. Riah Truegale''s team moved with a fluid grace, and two years'' worth of training, as working as a team, had paid off, for they rushed into each room as one great force. Riah Truegale''s wind whipped up and slammed Pagan Chorus crewmembers into walls, or cut into their flesh. Saren Wise''s orbs fired off, at some points taking up rooms entirely, bouncing on the walls and the ceiling and the floor and burning through anyone unlucky enough to be caught in their paths. Cutting Edge''s blade was a blur as she cut through Federation soldiers, or into the floor so they could move further down into the belly of the Sovereign Melody. Pigmalion''s angels took up posts as moveable barricades, blocking plasma fire with marbled wings, returning the favor with sheer physical might, charging into Pagan Chorus and breaking them apart with punches, kicks, stomps, and broken necks.


    Hallway by hallway, and then down ramps and staircases. They did not take the lifts, for the ship would all too easily shut them in there, perhaps remove the air from the small compartment. There was an onboard AI that was half-singing, half-screaming, throughout the ship, revealing their location as they moved.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    On occasion they could see other metahumans who had made it inside. Other incursion teams. But they would split off, for other actions on the ship, for while the engine was the core of the vessel, there were other systems that could be shut down to aid them. The entire warbird rumbled as its primary weapons banks were destroyed. They passed one of the hangars, with Durian Sea half in the doorway, flooding the entire cavernous room with water, drowning crew and drones alike.


    ¡°A few more floors,¡± Riah Truegale said, ¡°Then it''s the hangar.¡±


    Rainbowfish nodded. As did the others.


    The lights below had gone completely out. Lute strummed a few notes on her titular instrument, before tossing it into the air. Her power was the ability to create and control stringed instruments, and she had learned on Doremi how to use the magic imbued within music, within vibration and sound, to create light. The lute hung in the air as a floating lantern, and she produced another one from thin air, the strings disconnecting from the neck and snarling in the air like eleven ornery snakes.


    They took this path carefully, an angel in front and an angel behind. Riah Truegale''s holes puckered and swallowed down air. Rainbowfish inspected the new scales on his arms, won for each little skirmish that he won. Cutting Edge checked over her blade, wiped it clean of myriad blood.


    Another ramp down. This one curved-


    There was a man at the bottom.


    He held a rocket launcher.


    He fired.


    A chung sound. A whistling in the air. A heap of caustic plasma, held within an iron ball.


    The explosion shattered the angel guarding them. Riah Truegale let out a roar of agony. As did Lute and Cutting Edge.


    Saren Wise shot off her two orbs through the plasma smoke. She could see through them, a second pair of burning eyes that bounced off of the opposite walls. Yes, there was the engine room. But an older man was guarding it, reloading the rocket launcher. He was armed to the teeth, an ugly lump bristling with plasma weaponry and rayswords and knives.


    He casually moved his head, letting an orb rush past. It bounced off of an invisible wall, a rayshield, just as it was about to go into the engine room.


    As it returned back to her, she saw him taking out-


    ¡°Grenade!¡± she screamed.


    They rushed back upstairs. An oblong sphere peppered against the wall, started to glow, and exploded.


    Riah Truegale''s leg had been blasted off. He had only escaped the grenade with an exhalation of wind. Now he took point, spinning back around, his face one of calm fury. He ignored the pain as he puffed back down the ramp, faster than the old Federation soldier could anticipate.


    He unleashed razor gales.


    The man had anticipated this. Or rather, something similar, for he had already rolled out of the way as Riah Truegale was coming down the stairs.


    Prediction and a rocket launcher, the two good friends of one who wished to kill a metahuman.


    The ball of iron and plasma thundered into Riah Truegale''s torso, somewhere between his chest and his stomach, and exploded.


    A shower of gore and neon plasma.


    The other Warriors rushed down as one. Cutting Edge''s blade flashed at the old man, who dodged back, dropping his rocket launcher and drawing his raysword.


    At the same moment, Lute roared, and her instrument''s strings whipped at the old man, tearing into the skin on his arm.


    He ignored the pain, slashing at Cutting Edge with his raysword.


    Cutting Edge''s sword met his. And cut through it, running a deep slash against the man''s chest.


    He jumped back, pulling out a pistol and opening fire. Cutting Edge was forced to retreat back, using her blade to deflect each shot, and at the same moment the man spun, tossing a grenade-


    It bounced off the wall, glowed, as slime ejected from its capsule. It stuck to the side of Lute''s temple. For a split-second, the metahuman brought up delicate fingers to prod it, her eyes widening in realization-


    And then her head exploded.


    One of the angels rushed forward. Pigmalion was back on the ramp, frantically pulling out marble, squeezing it in his porcine hands. Rainbowfish was rushing at the man as well, but he had to leap back as the man pulled out a heavy rifle and opened fire, the Warrior expelling scales to avoid each and every shot, the room filled with the horrid thudthudthud of plasma fire.


    The man had retreated down the hall, the rayshielded engine room at his back. He pulled out a smaller pistol, a heavy capsule on its barrel, and he fired it off right as the angel rushed at him, bursting at its shoulder and breaking away an arm, cracks appearing in the right of its body.


    His raysword flashed, cutting the angel in two. It stopped moving, bereft of Pigmalion''s power of animation.


    Saren Wise''s orbs bounced forward. The old man dodged past them, rushing forward, throwing a third grenade towards the ramp that led into the other room. His aiming was impeccable, and Pigmalion leaped up, letting out a squeal of shock, his malformed marble creation jumped in the grenade''s path.


    Rainbowfish and Cutting Edge rushed the man, who drew a second raysword in response. He slashed viciously at the two, and for a few frantic moments the three of them were a blur of motion, a trio of killers. Cutting Edge''s blade cut through the rayswords easily, but the rayswords reformed almost instantaneously.


    The old man was more than a match for Rainbowfish, who had to constantly expel his scales to avoid lethal slashes, cuts, stabs that almost went too deep. He was bleeding within but a few moments, and after another round of jabs and parried punches, he had to retreat back.


    He stumbled back as Saren Wise''s orbs returned back to her, ready for another round. The two watched the old man and Cutting Edge dance around each other, neither able to parry, only able to slash and dodge.


    She knicked his torso, cutting through his combat armor. Gave him another ragged slash to his side, and for a moment he stumbled back, for a moment the game seemed up.


    But Cutting Edge was, if anything, overconfident. Her skill with the blade was near-unmatched. Her metahuman ability made her a masterful duelist, indeed. The walls of the hallway were rent and slashed, cut like butter, all of it from her.


    But the old man had been trained, and trained well.


    And he was not overconfident. Quite on the contrary, he knew all too well that death was on the line. Adrenaline pumped into his system, both natural and externally injected by systems in his armor, and he rose. He dodged the first slash, then the second, before he found his opening, thrusting his raysword into Cutting Edge''s leg. She let out a gasp, started to crumple, her head falling to chest height-


    With the second raysword, the old man decapitated her. Cutting Edge''s head bounced off the wall for a moment, before rolling back down towards Rainbowfish and Saren Wise. They both looked aghast.


    The Federation soldier spat.


    ¡°You face Old Scar, Mutts,¡± he said, ¡°You find me no easy prize, eh?¡±


    Above, they heard plasma fire. Pigmalion must have gotten caught up by another Pagan Chorus repelling crew. Saren Wise and Rainbowfish exchanged looks.


    Then Rainbowfish stepped forward, raising up his fists. Old Scar smiled.


    They both knew the game. The old man was Rainbowfish''s superior in a fight. But the metahuman''s ability allowed him to expend the scales to avoid near-death blows, or to power up his strikes. It was a duel of endurance.


    Helped by Saren Wise, whose orbs shot off at the Pagan Chorus guildmember.


    Old Scar deflected the first, dodged the second, slashing at Rainbowfish, who danced back a few steps, before he rushed forward and punched at the baseline. The two were a flurry of motion for a second, before breaking off.


    He had gotten a few good shots in. Expended a few of his scales and perhaps broken a few of Old Scar''s ribs. The man stumbled back, wheezing heavily. His smile was red. His eyes were full of hate.


    Rainbowfish rushed forward again, getting inside of Old Scar''s guard, expelling two scales, one to strengthen his grip as he squeezed Old Scar''s wrist, the old man letting out a gargle of pain as he was forced to drop a raysword. The other to slam an elbow into the baseline''s face, a harsh crack that sent him reeling back.


    A third, to rocket a fist into Old Scar''s stomach.


    A fourth, to-


    Old Scar''s reeling head whipped forward suddenly, and he cracked his forehead against Rainbowfish''s. Nimble fingers flicked on his remaining raysword, shortening the blade, and he rammed it into the Warrior''s stomach.


    Rainbowfish sputtered.


    Saren Wise sent out the orbs again. But this time they didn''t even come close to Old Scar, who was easing Rainbowfish to the ground.


    The orbs slammed against the rayshield.


    And the old man''s eyes widened in shock.


    The rayshield cracked.


    For Saren Wise had never been aiming for the Pagan Chorus at all.


    Old Scar rose-


    As did Rainbowfish, who punched vaguely at the old man.


    And expended six scales.


    His errant, lazy blow sent Old Scar rocketing up towards the ceiling. The Pagan Chorus cracked against it, held there for a moment, before he dropped, like a stone, to the ground, landing with a crunch beside Rainbowfish.


    Saren Wise''s orbs were flying around the engineering bay. Striking crewmembers, soldiers, consoles and rayshields. A panel on one of the walls burst, showering the place with sparks.


    Rainbowfish moved forward, a hand clutching his stomach. He could see it. The warp engine, and in his eyes it was beautiful. Despite its aping of the multiverse, its false rainbows and miasmas, it was still something worth judging, and finding wonderful.


    Bodies littered the floor. Old Scar was fast, perhaps, able to dodge and weave and counter, but this engineering crew was not. Aliens, all of them, green skinned and red and one a shade of purple, as myriad as metahumanity itself.


    Only a few scales left. Rainbowfish was covered in wounds and bruises. The wound in his stomach bled freely. In truth, he was not sure why he was still alive, or how he could keep moving. Perhaps it was adrenaline. Perhaps it was fear.


    Perhaps, as he saw in his mind''s eye Lunus Oculus and the others, it was hope. Or something like it, at least.


    He had never been good at feeling so, and it made his last moments confused.


    Confused, but hopeful.


    As he leaped into the air, the last of his scales expending.


    As Saren Wise, her eyes widening, turned and began to run.


    As Old Scar, too, saw what the madman was doing, and took off behind her.


    The two of them made it up to the second floor when Rainbowfish''s fist slammed against the clear tube holding the warp in. Under normal circumstances, such a blow, even as strong as Rainbowfish''s would not have cracked the barrier. It would have held, for it was designed to hold forces much stronger than the metahuman''s.


    But the warp is like Imagination.


    And Imagination recognizes its children.


    The glass-like pillar cracked. Warp began to bleed out like iridescent blood.


    And then the engine exploded.


    ***


    An explosion aboard a warbird as well designed as the Sovereign Melody is contained. Parts of the ship are more well-shielded than others, the metal used is more durable, even against Imagination itself. The center of the warbird erupted in a pillar of light, as though the Sovereign Melody was pierced by a divine nail. And yet it was by design that the ship did not completely shatter, did not conflagrate in a ball of plasma and shrapnel.


    It even descended as one piece. The center had been almost completely removed by the explosion, and it went down as a solid bulk of metal and fire. Flying metahumans moved out of the way, though a few were caught in the Sovereign Melody''s final arc.


    And, within, the ship was in full panic.


    Valm''s deep voice sounded like a horn as he roared out orders. As Truthspeaker screamed alerts. The warbird''s crew were moving off towards escape pods, going to the parts of the ship designed to splinter and reveal capsules of steel, to fly away even as the Sovereign Melody broke apart around them.


    For, much like a tower, the Sovereign Melody was designed to collapse. To die.


    ¡°Guildmaster,¡± one of the attendants beside Valm said, ¡°It is time.¡±


    The Prime Voice sneered. Recalled Truthspeaker to the implant in his mind, and then allowed the attendant to guide him towards one of the escape pods. A row of them revealed themselves on the hallway leading to the bridge. Valm clambered in one, along with a few of the bridge crew.


    They launched with a cathunk. Felt themselves freed from the world, spinning and whirling, before they righted themselves and flew off.


    A few of the escape pods were captured by the metahumans. Through one of the viewscreens, Valm watched as a Mutt in orange flew around, stopping the capsules in midair, bringing them down to the earth.


    But he ignored this, as he prepared for the escape pod''s landing on the earth.


    It was well-designed, for it was made for the Prime Voice to be comfortable, as he escaped oblivion.


    It landed softly. Thrusters had slowed its descent, little by little, bit by bit, to the ground. What would have been a tremendous crash had turned into a puff of dust in a field with towering dandelions.


    Valm stepped out.


    And watched the Sovereign Melody die.


    It was breaking apart as it fell towards the forest below. The wings were chipping away, scale by scale, pylon by pylon. The starboard curve split from the rest of the wreckage. The thrusters, solid constructs of the most powerful metals, fell as a single package, only splintering from the rest of the Sovereign Melody at the final moment. Like a diver into a shallow pool, the Sovereign Melody struck the ground headfirst, its head twisting sideways, crumpling in on itself.


    The rest of the body fell, crashed to the earth, set the forests ablaze and sent people and animals scattering. The earth churned, was thrown upwards in showers. The ground seized and shook.


    The shockwave of the crash reverberated across the plane. New Ludaya or Gan¨¢:yeht, it mattered little, as both worlds were shaken and trees were toppled, as children covered their ears as the world vibrated and cracked.


    ***


    Far away, yet still in the woods, Kathen fell to his knees.


    He let out a ragged roar, as voices screamed in his head.


    He heard Old Scar. Somehow his old bastard of a mentor had survived, had managed to get into an escape pod, though half of his body was seared and he was screaming.


    He heard Rhunea. She was crying out, too, at the sight of the downed warbird, and she was screaming.


    He heard the soldiers with him, beside him and in his mind, screaming.


    The remainder of Pagan Chorus, trapped in their pods, or climbing out of the wreckage of the ship, alive save to its expert design, but they were screaming.


    Perhaps, not with their voices, but in their minds. Panic and fear washed over Kathen Aru in waves, and he found his mouth tasting of bile. He shook as he tried to pull himself to his feet, to recollect himself. There was still a battle on, still Pagan Chorus and metahumans in the forest.


    And then, he retched.


    He had done this.


    The destruction of his guildmaster''s ship. Valm was alive, he could sense the Prime Voice''s presence.


    (He was screaming.)


    But had he not freed the natives...


    Had he not warned them...


    And now, thousands of voices cried out in his mind. Some went silent, as injuries overtook them or as metahumans tracked them down. Thousands of voices, some Kathen was close to, but the vast majority he had only viewed as passing faces. As figures around him, and not beside him.


    Thousands of voices, and they screamed as if they were his own.


    What a poor guildmember he had been.


    He¡­


    He stood up. Looked at the remains of his squad, his mouth still tasting of vomit. Three people. The rest, killed during the fighting. They would need to leave the bodies behind. But¡­


    They needed to leave.


    Kathen swallowed.


    ¡°Tridian,¡± he said, pointing to the tallest of them, ¡°Get Rhunea. Get Dicaeopolis. They''re still alive.¡±


    ¡°Sir,¡± Tridian said, ¡°With all due respect-¡±


    ¡°They''re alive,¡± Kathen said, ¡°I know it. I can-¡±


    Hear them?


    Was he a madman?


    ¡°I just know it,¡± Kathen said, ¡°We need to get the survivors together, before we''re picked off. Follow my orders.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Sairad Ghedir.¡±


    He winced at the name.


    They took cover in a copse of trees. Tridian opened up a communicator, started getting in contact with their guildmates. Points of light in the dark forest, though there was still heavy battle. Pagan Chorus holdouts. The natives of the plane clashing with metahumans.


    He was aware, distantly, of Valm moving into the forest, for fear bred anger and rash action, and Valm was absolutely livid.


    He had to...


    Had to make sure his guildmaster, his father by guild, was safe.


    ¡°Tridian, stay here,¡± Kathen said, ¡°Get the others together. Have Rhunea start teleporting people to this location. Start setting up defensive positions.¡±


    ¡°Where are you going, Sairad Ghedir?¡± Tridian asked.


    ¡°I''m going to make sure the Prime Voice is safe,¡± Kathen said, ¡°Keep safe. We''ll get through this.¡±


    Debris was still falling from the sky. Part of the Sovereign Melody exploded, one of her weapons ports had malfunctioned, clogged up like an artery, and burst. As Kathen ran through the forest, it rained sparks of plasma. Trees caught on fire. Smoke choked the night, blotted out the stars. There were parts of the wood that Kathen was not able to run into, for walls of flame closed him off. And on the other side he could hear screams.


    Even the forest was screaming, and he could hear it.


    Gods, he was running through Hell.

 163. HEAT AND LIGHT AND FALLING LEAVES

    Anger.


    Anger was what Olendris Valm felt.


    Seething, overwhelming anger.


    The Voskian watched, his head held high, as the Sovereign Melody crashed into the earth. As it lay, dead on the ground, like a downed goose, a sudden landmark upon the face of the plane. Those who had come with him, crawling out of the escape pod, watched with horror. One of them broke down into sobs, for her sister had been working in the engine room, and there was little chance of her survival. Another retched, vomiting into the grass, clutching his stomach and falling to his knees. Still others merely stared.


    But not Valm.


    No, all he felt was anger.


    How dare they.


    He reached into his robes, pulled free a Silverfish. One of the most advanced of its kind, beautiful and shimmering, it had been rediscovered during one of his expeditions into Alu Alay, the City of the First Men. A priceless artifact, but its practical applications overruled its historical value.


    For half of it floated in the spaces between, for the First Men were eager to learn of the walls that separated the worlds, in hopes of better strengthening them, to turn them into walls in truth.


    And to do that, one had to have a great understanding of them. As any great scientist should.


    It was difficult to look at, this Silverfish. Valm pressed a few buttons, and even his own prodigious mind swam as the Silverfish clicked on, as parts of it flitted in and out of existence.


    Until...


    ¡°Bluebell,¡± Valm said, ¡°Bluebell, this is your guildmaster.¡±


    A moment.


    A second.


    And then-


    ¡°Guildmaster,¡± Bluebell said, ¡°What news?¡±


    ¡°The Sovereign Melody has been shot out of the night,¡± Valm said, and though his voice was stern just the mere mention made him see red.


    Bluebell was quiet for a second, dumbstruck.


    ¡°My... My guildmaster,¡± he said, ¡°That''s...¡±


    ¡°I need you,¡± Valm said, ¡°To signal the closest fleet in the Outer Reach. Send them here. These Mutts have crossed a line. They have enacted violence against us, and shot down our shining star.¡±


    He took a shaking breath.


    ¡°Do this. Now.¡±


    ¡°O-Of course, guildmaster,¡± Bluebell said.


    There were the sounds of shuffling. As Bluebell ran over, shouted to a few of his guildmates to get a communications array up and running.


    ¡°Guildmaster,¡± Bluebell said, ¡°It appears the closest fleet is a few days from here. The Twelve-Thousandth Blessing-Upon-Blessings.¡±


    Valm had never heard of such a fleet before.


    But then, the High Federation possessed many groups, so many that some had been lost to the bureaucracy of the galactic state.


    ¡°Send for them,¡± Valm said, ¡°Tell them what has happened. That the Prime Voice himself is here.¡±


    ¡°Of course, guildmaster,¡± Bluebell said, ¡°I will let you know when they respond and are on their way here.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Valm said.


    He hung up the line. Stowed the Silverfish away.


    And, with that, he moved off.


    ¡°Guildmaster!¡± one of the crewmembers called out, ¡°Where are you going?¡±


    ¡°Stay here!¡± Valm roared, ¡°That is an order!¡±


    And he continued on. With long strides, he made his way towards the forest, his robes billowing with the false wind, the result of plasma expulsion from the Sovereign Melody. The tree-sized dandelions blew with the wind, plucking away their seeds which drifted through the night sky.


    It was a fell air.


    But it would hold him aloft. Despite the fact that he was going against the wind, Valm spread his great, manta ray-like wings. He took a running start, and then jumped into the air. The wind picked him up, carried him back for a few moments, then with a few titanic flaps he pushed forward, swimming through the sky, towards the forest.


    Luminary would be there.


    Luminary, weakened.


    Valm would break her.


    ***


    Lord Freak''s laboratory was deep within Father Mountain.


    He ignored the calls and roars of war and combat above. As the natives of the plane reclaimed their home, with their Worker allies.


    In truth, Lord Freak saw the writing on the wall. He was currently in the middle of packing up to get the hell out of dodge. He had made his home within a vast, natural cavern, though he had drained the small river that had run through it and had Pauldros close the indents in the stone. The stalagmites and stalactites had been shorn away. Lights lined the walls of the room, revealing desks that had been host to beakers and notes, piles upon piles of papers. Machines had been set up, Lord Freak''s various autonomous implements, steamworks and crystal-powered and Fedtek. Some were used for chopping, others for injecting, one was a scavenged Neos security drone that floated around as a third eye for the Freak, connected via implant so he could see through its camera with his mind''s eye.


    But much of the place was packed up. The papers had been moved into bags that were larger on the inside. The experiments had been cleared away. The only machines that had not been dismantled or shut down were the violent ones. A few of them, soldier units, with arms and legs and thus able to assist him directly, moved at Lord Freak''s command, for he was still relatively frail after his run-in with the Mark Eta. He had been forced to use old standby mechanical legs, and his arms were not of the best quality, though there were still a few surprises held in the wrists, the forearms, even the shoulders.


    Movement. From the doorway, which Lord Freak had sealed with rock.


    Rock, which shifted.


    ¡°Ahhh,¡± Lord Freak said, ¡°Pauldros. How nice it is to see you.¡±


    He turned to consider Pauldros the Stonemaker with his one-and-a-half real eyes. Pauldros was as gargantuan as ever, moving with a tectonic grace down the stairway that led into the cavern. The earth rippled with each and every step.


    The sounds of combat were outside the hall. The Oshya:de were moving swiftly.


    ¡°You know, under normal circumstances, those Warriors should be trouncing them,¡± Lord Freak said, ¡°Homo mirabilis is not created equal. Some just have sharpened teeth, others can move mountains.¡±


    He smiled.


    ¡°Most of us are superior to baselines, as well. The Warriors, especially. Even with the reduced numbers, we should be defending this home easily.¡±


    A tilt of the head.


    ¡°But we aren''t. Why is that?¡±


    ¡°Where,¡± Pauldros said, ¡°Is the Pit?¡±


    But Lord Freak ignored this.


    ¡°You''ve been holing them up, haven''t you?¡± Lord Freak said, ¡°Covering them with stone. Leaving them trapped in the mountain. They will suffocate, before long.¡±


    ¡°The Pit, Freak,¡± Pauldros said, ¡°Where is she?¡±


    ¡°Suffocation in an enclosed space,¡± Lord Freak said, ¡°It could take days, if you make the room large enough.¡±


    ¡°I am not a monster,¡± Pauldros said, ¡°They will be freed, when this is over.¡±


    ¡°Oh, come now, Stonemaker,¡± Lord Freak said, ¡°We are all monsters. That was the cost. The price of nation.¡±


    He turned back around, started putting more of his experiments away. A couple alembics. He left one of the potions in hand, however.


    He gave the illusion of ignoring Pauldros.


    The Stonemaker had flinched at the Freak''s assertion. But he could not refute it.


    He was a monster.


    A murderer.


    A butcher.


    A party to genocide.


    ¡°The Pit,¡± Pauldros said, ¡°What did you do with her?¡±


    ¡°Oh, you won''t be finding her again,¡± Lord Freak said, ¡°I intend to keep her. To set her free, when I leave this plane. You can join us, if you want.¡±


    Pauldros glared at the scientist.


    ¡°What?¡± Lord Freak said, shrugging, ¡°It''s over. The nation of New Ludaya won''t survive... all of this. Too many know the truth now. The Federation''s found out about us, and they won''t just send one piddly warbird next time. The skies will choke Fedtek, my friend.¡±


    Another beaker put into the bag. By now the servants were moving deeper into the cavern, opening up a hole, a small tunnel out of the mountain.


    ¡°Better to get out with most of my skin intact. I''ve taken my licks from this whole endeavor. Learned a lot, too. Political science was never my strong point.¡±


    Pauldros lifted a hand.


    Squeezed it into a fist.


    The hole closed up, crushing one of the servants in a squeal of metal and scraping rock.


    ¡°No one is going anywhere,¡± Pauldros said, ¡°Until you give the Pit back to me.¡±


    ¡°And what will you do with her?¡± Lord Freak said, ¡°Give her to those native dogs? Those barbarians? They''ll kill her. Eat her, too. You saw them, Stonemaker, all fur hides and stone tools.¡±


    ¡°Fur hides and stone tools,¡± Pauldros said, ¡°Is that how you justify what you did to them?¡±


    ¡°Oh, Stonemaker,¡± Lord Freak said, and his smile became wider, ¡°I''m a former Darwinist. My justification is that it sates my curiosity.¡±


    Pauldros stepped forward.


    ¡°I will not ask again,¡± he said, ¡°The Pit. To me. So we may face our crimes. Leave, if you must. But you will not take the Pit with you.¡±


    Lord Freak studied Pauldros for a long time. Every wrinkle on his aged face. How old, Pauldros had become, and in such short a time. Lord Freak found he could not relate.


    ¡°Well,¡± the Freak said, ¡°That isn''t going to happen. Too much good knowledge in her.¡±


    With a flick of his wrist, the bottle was in his hand. Lord Freak rushed forward, just as Pauldros gestured to the stone. The ground where Lord Freak had just been erupted into spikes, but the shark-toothed metahuman was far faster than the Stonemaker realized.


    He unstoppered the bottle.


    And threw its contents into Pauldros''s face.


    And the large man let out a roar of agony as the acid began eating away at his eyes, his brow, parts of his nose.


    He fell to the ground, writhing, and Lord Freak stood over him, and his face became something akin to demonic.


    ¡°Oh, Stonemaker,¡± he said, ¡°You always did have a bleeding heart, didn''t you?¡±


    ***


    ¡°Tell me, Professor,¡± Clan Mother W¨¢:ri said, ¡°Is this how we die?¡±


    The two of them were alone in the flames. A cacophony of fire, falling like meteors on a dying world, had come down with the Sovereign Melody''s fall. The wildfire that now swarmed across the forest came in oranges and red and blues and greens. A kaleidoscope of death. Smoke choked the night, covered up the stars.


    People screamed. Bodies ¨C metahuman, Oshya:de, and Federation ¨C littered the forest floor. W¨¢:ri and Evancar had gotten separated from the others, in this mad rush of violence and flame. On occasion, a Warrior of New Ludaya would land, start picking off anyone they could find. Oshya:de warriors, armed with plasma weaponry or simple bows and arrows, or clubs, or whatever they could find, would fall upon them.


    The Professor saw the result of such scenes everywhere he looked. His heart hammered in his chest, and he knew that Izmanuzu, watching through his eyes, was hollering and laughing at the scenes played out before them.


    ¡°I...¡± Evancar said, and he licked dry lips, ¡°J-Just concentrate on getting out of here.¡±


    But by now the flames were pillaring as walls. Wherever the two turned, fire greeted them.


    And now W¨¢:ri was starting to cough. To choke, as the myriad world closed in on them.


    ¡°Nowhere to turn,¡± Evancar muttered to himself, flames dancing in the reflection of his spectacles, ¡°Nowhere to...¡±


    At one moment it was blistering hot.


    And then, the heat disappeared.


    No. It coalesced. Took shape, a block of mirage that shimmered in the night. It pressed down upon a wall of flames, choking it down, suffocating it, extinguishing it. Then formed into a tunnel of warmth.


    ¡°Professor.¡±


    Becenti''s voice was frank, almost quiet, yet through the wildfire''s screams, Evancar heard it.


    His guildmate was standing beside Hadawa''ko. The young Warleader was holding a scavenged plasma rifle in hand, his tomahawk looped on a belt, his face ashen and set. He and W¨¢:ri had witnessed scenes like this, during the initial purges. At least demons were not howling this time.


    ¡°Becenti!¡± Evancar called out, ¡°By god, it''s good to see you.¡±


    He had to help W¨¢:ri to her feet, the two of them stumbling together to safety. They moved out of the worst of the wildfire, before Becenti wheeled on them.


    ¡°Professor Morandus,¡± he said, ¡°I was under the impression that you and the Clan Mother were supposed to be far away from all of this.¡±


    ¡°We were,¡± Evancar said, ¡°But Clan Mother W¨¢:ri insisted.¡±


    The old metahuman looked at the leader of Sky Clan.


    ¡°There are Sky Clan here,¡± she said, ¡°I had to make sure they''re okay.¡±


    ¡°You could have been hurt,¡± Becenti said, ¡°You could still be hurt.¡±


    ¡°And that is alright,¡± W¨¢:ri replied, ¡°I''ve been hurt before. If I die, they will just choose another Clan Mother.¡±


    (One who is more competent, but she did not say this aloud.)


    Hadawa''ko shook his head.


    ¡°You are to leave,¡± he said, ¡°You and Professor Morandus both. Go north. That''s where most of us are meeting.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Evancar said, ¡°Come along, Clan Mother, let''s-¡±


    He made to move.


    And froze.


    ¡°Myron,¡± he said.


    His guildmate turned.


    For stumbling out of the woods nearby were two figures. Luminary and Mister Meaning.


    We should speak of Luminary. Haggard, haggard Luminary. The strike to destroy the Sovereign Melody''s shields, as well as the answering barrage after, protecting herself and her people, as best as she could, had exhausted her. She all but tripped her way through the forest, her attendant supporting her. He had pulled a cane out for her, for the love of god. She shook. She trembled. When she looked up at Becenti, her eyes were hollow with age and loss.


    And then they sharpened, beady and hateful, at the sight of W¨¢:ri and Hadawa''ko.


    She lifted a hand.


    Light peeled from the flames. From the stars.


    Heat, too, as Becenti swept a hand forward, and a rippling curtain whooshed in front of them, blocking Luminary''s beam of light.


    ¡°Luminary, enough!¡± Becenti screamed, ¡°It''s over!¡±


    Mister Meaning was fumbling, reaching into his chest fishing around for a weapon. His face was contorted in panic. Luminary did not respond to her old friend. She simply gestured, and a serpent formed of light curled around them.


    Becenti twisted a fist, and part of his curtain formed into a vise, which closed on the serpent''s neck, crushing it. The light dissipated with the construct''s death.


    ¡°Get them out of here!¡± Becenti roared to Evancar, ¡°Go!¡±


    Evancar and W¨¢:ri ran off one way, Hadawa''ko another, and Becenti gestured, unleashing a wave of heat at Luminary and Mister Meaning to occupy them. Luminary brought up a fist, and light coalesced in front of her, sharpened into a blade, which cut through the wave, which rippled on either side of the two Rulers as a gale...Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    It was not enough, of course.


    It was not intended to be enough.


    Myron Becenti simply stood a ways from them, staring them down, his fingers twitching, slowly collecting the heat from the wildfire around him. He was in hell. Yes, he was in hell, and forced to fight his dearest friend. This was certainly the scene for it. The wildfire burned on either side, behind and in front, reaching towards the sky and scouring the earth. Screams echoed in the night. An explosion roared in the distance. Embers drifted from the trees as falling leaves.


    Luminary was pulling herself to her full height now, trying to will some of that iron back into her form. Her glare at Becenti was as ice.


    ¡°Luminary,¡± Becenti said, ¡°This doesn''t have to end like this.¡±


    ¡°I believe it does,¡± Luminary said, ¡°No. More than that. It has to end like this. This was the only way it could have shaken out, in hindsight.¡±


    Her voice was flat and analytical. It was the tone she took when she was discussing philosophy. Philosophy bereft of emotion. Without curiosity. Hard and cold.


    ¡°The nation of New Ludaya has encountered its first evolution,¡± Luminary said, ¡°And only two years into our history.¡±


    ¡°Is that all you can say,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Is that all you can be?¡±


    ¡°Shimmer, oh my Shimmer,¡± Luminary said, ¡°You see all of this, and you must be horrified.¡±


    She brought a hand to her heart.


    ¡°I am too.¡±


    ¡°I... I doubt that, Luminary,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I doubt that a great deal.¡±


    ¡°Of course you do,¡± Luminary said, ¡°Of course you do, because you do not see. That is the price of nation, Myron. Shimmer. We must harden our hearts, if we are to forge a future. A world for our children.¡±


    ¡°Lies,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I will not be party to this. I will not...¡±


    He sucked in a sob. And his eyes were shining.


    ¡°I did not watch my friends die, my families die, I did not sacrifice so much, just to become a monster.¡±


    ¡°It is-¡±


    ¡°Unacceptable,¡± Becenti said, ¡°It is unacceptable, Luminary. We will not recreate the conditions that led to the world that we live in. We must be better.¡±


    Luminary batted her eyelids, and her frown deepened, not in anger, but in a matronly sort of disapproval.


    ¡°And who,¡± she said, ¡°Is going to stop me?¡±


    He was a little boy again. A little boy before his older sister. Confused and innocent and naive to the world.


    But no more.


    He shakily stepped forward.


    ¡°I will,¡± he said, ¡°This hell, it ends here. It ends now.¡±


    Luminary sighed.


    She flicked a finger.


    Light glowed.


    Heat rippled.


    And the two forces clashed.


    ***


    The earth closed in at once, covering Pauldros and forming a dome to shield himself.


    Lord Freak, at this, simply turned around, and continued packing. The Stonemaker could hear him, albeit muted, through his created sphere. The shuffling of paper. The sound of metal feet on the rock. One of the shark-toothed metahuman''s mechanical servants started carving away at the stone, trying to recreate the path that Lord Freak had made.


    Pain dulled Pauldros''s senses. Agonizing pain. He could not see. He was aware that some of his face, most of his face, was gone. But he had not lost consciousness. He had stopped screaming, instead breathing in and out, managing as much as he could, willing himself to think. To react.


    He had been in similar circumstances before.


    He rested a hand against the earth. Felt vibrations.


    Lord Freak was walking to and fro, seemingly ignorant of Pauldros.


    The Stonemaker took a deep, shuddered breath.


    Yes, he could feel him.


    He could not feel the Pit anywhere. He was not a speaker of the earth, not like others. The earth merely shifted with his will. Like a muscle, and one did not speak to a muscle, they merely moved it.


    And Pauldros flexed.


    The floor ruptured where he sensed Lord Freak to be. Spikes erupted, poking out of the ground and stabbing upwards-


    ¡°Now, Pauldros,¡± he heard Lord Freak say, ¡°Do you think me dumb?¡±


    Pauldros froze.


    Where...


    Where was he?


    ¡°I suppose, by this point, you''re blind,¡± Lord Freak said, ¡°The acid only chews on your face for but a little while, just enough to do lasting damage, but not enough to eat into your skull and the pebble that is your brain.¡±


    His voice was somewhere above. He was flying. Yes, Pauldros could see it now. The Freak had removed his legs, set them walking around the room as bait, while he himself continued his work. Lord Freak''s game was one of distraction. He needed to delay Pauldros, enough so he could escape.


    And, eventually, his vibrations would cease, and the now-blinded Stonemaker would lose him forever.


    Would lose the Pit forever.


    Pauldros slammed a fist into the ground.


    The earth above cracked, and then started flying. Boulders and bullet-speed pebbles and shards of rock whirled around the room. He was aware, distantly, of the Freak avoiding them. Letting out gasps of shocked pain as he overestimated his own capabilities, and was dashed by the stone.


    He heard something crumple on the ground, which swallowed it up like a starving catfish. It was not Lord Freak, but it was message enough.


    Time to turn it up a notch.


    Pauldros knew he could not go all out. By now, he knew that the Pit was not here. She was, most likely, being stored in one of Lord Freak''s bags, with just enough air to keep her breathing and alive. No, he targeted the servants. Swallowed them up. Broke them apart. Speared them with rock-hewn lances, shuddered the earth and made it fall upon them as meteors.


    All of the world was a hurricane of rock.


    ***


    Becenti and Luminary traded another flow of power.


    Heat and light ran up against each other. Glowing serpents, rippling walls and javelins and spears, will-o''-the-wisps that formed into arrowheads mid-flight. They ran into each other, danced and juggled, and then dissipated as the two metahumans went for other avenues of attack.


    Becenti found himself moving and dodging, nonetheless. Weakened as she was, Luminary was still Luminary. Still overwhelming. Still, in her old age, nigh-unstoppable. The level of control, the intensity, the depth and potential of her ability dwarfed Becenti''s by a considerable margin.


    And she was crafty, too. Becenti was forced to keep a bubble of heat around him constantly, for Luminary had started flinging out spiked constructs, concealing them to near-invisibility. The fingers on his left hand twitched as ribbons whirled out from them, covering the ground like mycelium, connected to the nerves in his hand to feel and find.


    To detect.


    He kept up his attack, nonetheless. The advantage of a wildfire is he was never for want for ammo. Heat rippled throughout the world around him, and he threw pillars and waves at Luminary.


    Mister Meaning was caught in the crossfire. He moved off into the trees, disappearing, unable to match the sheer level of power that the two demonstrated.


    They stopped, at one point, both of them panting, wiped and on their last legs. Becenti felt his joints crying to give out, that old pain in his knee was coming back. Luminary''s hands were shaking, and it was not from fear, but rather from her arthritis.


    They were too old to be playing this sort of game.


    Old folks, in a young person''s war.


    And then the eldest of them descended.


    He struck Luminary first. A quick crack upon the head with a gnarled fist, before Olendris Valm, in a whirl of manta-ray wings and white cloth, bodily threw Luminary through the forest. She cracked against the trunk of a tree, sliding down, her eyes wide in shock.


    Becenti took a step back.


    The Prime Voice, in all of his splendor. Tall and imposing, tower-like, his wings flapping the heatwave air and whipping up gales of leaves and embers. He was frowning, and at the sight of the metahuman his globe eyes narrowed.


    ¡°Shimmer,¡± he said, ¡°I expected you to keep your people in check.¡±


    And he whirled forward, faster than Becenti could react, before he could even think of raising a hand in defense. A flutter of smooth, naked wings, and Valm was upon him.


    Voskians are much stronger than the average sapient. Naturally so, they were on par with a gorilla, despite the seeming frailty of the form. And Valm used the techniques of Evok''shu, the pre-eminent martial arts practiced by the upper echelons of his species. His fist was the practiced fist, the slam into Becenti''s stomach sending him into the air almost perfectly, so that the other hand could curl around the metahuman''s throat and slam him into the ground.


    ¡°I should have known better,¡± Valm said, and still his voice was deep and smooth, though there was a thunderous anger in the back of his throat, bubbling, ¡°I should have known better to trust a sheep to lead its flock.¡±


    Becenti''s hands closed around Valm''s thin wrist, trying to pry those cold, slender fingers from his neck.


    Prime Voice be damned, he had to defend himself. He willed the heat from around them into a spear, gesturing an arm sideways-


    Valm noticed.


    Valm lifted Becenti into the air, in the path of his construct.


    Which whispered away, the heat rippling from the two of them, lest they burn the metahuman, too.


    ¡°Oh, no, Shimmer,¡± Valm said, ¡°None of your tricks.¡±


    He tilted his head.


    ¡°I should kill you now,¡± he said, ¡°One more body on one more backwater plane. Your guild would have questions, but then, I am of a guild as well, am I not?¡±


    And now, only now, only after everything, after the destruction of his warbird, did Valm smile. Cold and heartless and far too cruel.


    ¡°The cost of doing business,¡± he said.


    The torrent of light was not caustic, nor burning, nor sharpened. It was a dull wave, washing over the Voskian, pushing him forward with enough force that he dropped Becenti, who crumpled to the ground.


    Luminary, despite everything, stood, stooped like a vulture, stockily willed herself forward, step by shaky step. She coughed, both from internal injury and from the choking smoke.


    ¡°Gene bitch,¡± Valm said.


    And his eyes widened, and he dodged away, as Luminary sent her power towards him. This time, she was able to, just barely, form constructs, daggers of light that scream-sang as they pierced at Valm, who dodged them, flying higher and higher into the sky.


    For a moment, she saw him, a blight against the moon.


    And then he darted downwards towards her-


    Only for something to shoot him. A globule of plasma caught one of his wings, and his straight dive spiraled.


    ¡°Hadawa''ko,¡± Becenti said.


    The Oshya:de was still somewhere in the trees. For a moment, Becenti saw him, the young Warleader''s eyes ablaze with more than fire.


    Valm landed. He gave no indication of feeling any great pain as he inspected his wing. A solid hole through the membrane. He would need healing, if he was going to fly again.


    Luminary stumbled after him. She gestured, and a carpet of light billowed beneath her, picking her up.


    She went after Valm.


    Hadawa''ko ran to Becenti¡¯s side.


    ¡°This is no place to die, Myron Becenti,¡± the Warleader said, ¡°Get up.¡±


    The old man took the younger''s proffered hand.


    ¡°Valm is here,¡± Hadawa''ko said, ¡°He survived.¡±


    ¡°Yes, he did,¡± Becenti said, and he took a deep, shaking breath, ¡°I... suppose I shouldn''t be surprised.¡±


    ¡°We can change that,¡± Hadawa''ko said, and he smiled a horrid smile.


    Becenti looked aghast.


    ¡°What?¡± Hadawa''ko said, ¡°They are glassing our home anyways, are they not? More of you outsiders will come. With your wars and Federations. We might as well bite back.¡±


    ¡°They''ll do more than glass this place if you kill him,¡± Becenti said, ¡°There''s worse than death. They may decide to keep you alive.¡±


    He looked at Hadawa''ko with a hard look.


    ¡°You do not want to be in the clutches of the Federation, Hadawa''ko.¡±


    ¡°You speak from experience?¡± the Warleader asked.


    Becenti simply nodded.


    And a bit of the fire died. Hadawa''ko took a hard look around him. At the wildfire just barely kept at bay by the old man''s powers. The further destruction of his home and people.


    How many Oshya:de had died, just on this night alone?


    How many were even left?


    How many would suffer, if he did this? He had heard what Valm had said. Ten people, in total, to be taken to another place. The rest exterminated. But there was a look in Becenti''s eye that said that this was nothing personal. This was the Federation at its base form. Cruelty without reason.


    But cruelty with reason...


    ¡°Very well,¡± Hadawa''ko said, ¡°We... We don''t kill him. But I don¡¯t know what we can do.¡±


    Becenti sighed.


    ¡°We...¡± he swallowed from a dry throat, ¡°We... we go for Luminary. She''s still powerful enough to dissuade Valm, I think. Then we finish her off. The Sovereign Melody is gone, but there will be others. But at least we will have breathing room.¡±


    He looked on the verge of tears.


    Hadawa''ko narrowed his eyes.


    ¡°You still do not want to do this,¡± he said.


    ¡°Would you kill your sister, Hadawa''ko?¡± Becenti said.


    He let the statement hang in the air, for he trudged forward. Aching, broken, both physically and emotionally. For now the chance to breathe was also the chance for emotions to catch up to him.


    The full weight of what Myron Becenti was doing this night caught up to him.


    He almost stumbled as it overtook him.


    ***


    And, at last, a blow struck Lord Freak in the side of the head. Another struck his side, still more carried him into the wall, a metal and flesh reverb that perked Pauldros''s head up. The earth swallowed up the Freak as he fell to the ground, the earth beneath Pauldros''s feet shifting into a tunnel that moved his adversary forward until he was directly beneath him.


    Pauldros opened up just a slight hole, to let the former Seat of Science breathe.


    Lord Freak squirmed.


    Pauldros brought up a fist, and rocketed it into his face. He broke something in the Freak''s mouth.


    He could not see the red froth dribbling down Lord Freak''s mouth. How his remaining teeth stained crimson, as though he had just torn an animal to pieces with his jaws alone.


    ¡°E-Enough!¡± Lord Freak coughed, ¡°Pauldros, stop, stop-¡±


    Pauldros raised up his fist again.


    Brought it down.


    This blow splintered the man''s nose. Pushed it inwards, crumpled cartilage and all. Lord Freak let out a gagged scream of pain, tears streaming down his face.


    ¡°STOP!¡± Lord Freak said, ¡°Pauldros, please, I don''t- I don''t want to die, I don''t, please, I-¡±


    ¡°We are all monsters, aren''t we?¡± Pauldros said, ¡°Aren''t we?¡±


    A third blow.


    A fourth.


    A fifth.


    Over and over, a practiced repetition. Pauldros had beaten another man to death but once before, long ago, when he was younger, but with the same naivety to the world. It was in the famine years of Daren, and his sisters, still alive then, were on the brink of starvation. He had found a man with an extra share of rations, and fought him for it. Wrestled him down, for even then Pauldros was a large man. Fists flying, earth trembling, he beat the man down, and kept going. The worth of one person''s life was a sack of grain.


    Lord Freak was mewling when Pauldros, blind yet still seeing red, came to his senses. He had not been screaming. Had not done anything but swing his fist downward. He leaned down to Lord Freak.


    ¡°The Pit, Freak,¡± he said, ¡°And you may go.¡±


    Lord Freak, crying, red snot bubbling from a smashed-up nose, let out a choke in response.


    ¡°The...¡± Lord Freak''s voice was a rasp, ¡°Second servant to the right. Holds her in a bag.¡±


    ¡°And the antidote?¡± Pauldros said.


    ¡°In... In my sleeve.¡±


    ¡°You will give it,¡± Pauldros said, ¡°It must be the right one. If it is not, god willing, you will not leave this mountain.¡±


    Lord Freak let out a gasp in agreement.


    The stone dome fell away. Lord Freak was lifted up and out of the floor. Pauldros heard him gingerly reach down, retrieve the vial from his sleeve.


    A braver man would have had more tricks.


    But Pauldros did not see the fearful look in Lord Freak''s still-working eye. Did not see just how brutally he had mashed up the former Founder''s face.


    One of the servants approached, and opened the bag. The Stonemaker heard the sound of breathing. The smell of brimstone. Yes, the Pit was before him now. That was all that mattered. He didn¡¯t even notice Lord Freak scamper off into the shadows.


    With a bloodied hand, he reached down, took one of his lover''s thin arms, injected the antidote.


    For a moment, silence.


    And then, she coughed. Spluttered. Wheezed and cursed. When she opened her eyes, she beheld Pauldros the Stonemaker.


    The upper half of his face was gone. Melted. He was bent over himself. His right hand was caked in gore and metal and a bit of a tooth was embedded in the space between his index and middle finger.


    The Pit''s eyes widened.


    ¡°My love,¡± she said, ¡°What have you done?¡±


    ***


    A braver man would have fought back.


    But Mister Meaning was not a brave man. A cunning man. A smart man.


    But not brave.


    He sat, transfixed, behind a tree, shaking and hyperventilating, the fire burning around him, as he hid from the Prime Voice of the High Federation.


    Olendris Valm was pushing his way through the burning brush, an unimpressed look on his face as he approached Luminary. The old crone stood alone, hunched over and witch-like, light weaving around her as ribbons. Her face was defiant.


    There were no words traded between the two.


    Only hatred.


    Valm struck first. Mister Meaning, turned, watched, as the Prime Voice flung himself at his Founder, as Luminary brought up a hand, and erected a glowing wall between the two of them.


    It was not a testament to Valm''s strength, but rather of Luminary''s weakened state, that the wall cracked beneath the Voskian''s fist. It splintered, shattered, and Valm¡¯s fist kept going.


    Luminary, however, had foreseen this. The shards of her construct stopped midair, and as Valm''s blow cracked the side of her head, they whirled as daggers into his form. They struck his shoulders, his arms, one even grazed the side of his long neck. He dived back, grimacing, blood splattering his body-


    And Luminary twisted.


    Collected as much light as she could. From the fire. From the stars. From the light of the moon. From the glitter in her eyes. The vestiges of light-wielding metahumans. The scream of plasma.


    All of the world''s light.


    The fist and arm was the size of a train. Luminary threw it at Valm.


    It collided with him. Sent him flying, heads over heels, through the air as though flying. He sailed past Becenti and Hadawa''ko, cracked against a few trees, broke the trunks completely in a spray of lightless embers.


    He hit the ground.


    Was alive.


    But was still.


    And Luminary slumped over. Dragged herself over to a nearby tree.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    And the Oshya:de drew forth.


    Rifle in hand. Anger in his eyes.


    But he was not here for Luminary. Hadawa''ko had, in something between mercy and cruelty, allowed Becenti the job of eliminating her. No, the Warleader stood before Mister Meaning, who was still wrapped up behind the tree.


    ¡°On your feet,¡± the Warleader said.


    Mister Meaning looked at him.


    ¡°It''s over,¡± Hadawa''ko said, ¡°Get up. Put your hands in the air.¡±


    ¡°Don''t kill me,¡± Mister Meaning said, all elegance gone, ¡°Please, don''t kill me. I''ll do anything, just don''t-¡±


    ¡°You will not die here,¡± Hadawa''ko said, and there was rage in his voice, ¡°Despite everything. I remember you. The man who had a door in his chest. Your words like honey. You didn''t kill my people.¡±


    He leveled the rifle.


    ¡°You merely watched. And smiled. For that, I will not kill you here. Now, on your feet.¡±


    Mister Meaning rose. Raised his hands in the air.


    A defeated man, and he had not even been struck.


    A ways away, Hadawa''ko saw the form of Valm. The Prime Voice. Guildmaster of Pagan Chorus.


    Unconscious. Injured. Vulnerable.


    And an idea came to Hadawa''ko. The Warleader.


    What could be won, with him a prisoner.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    Myron Becenti stood before the crumpled form of Luminary.


    Smoke clouded the world, the fire raged, but did not bother them, for the old man had erected walls to protect himself and Hadawa''ko. The Warleader was collecting Meaning, as well as the fallen form of Olendris Valm. Both of them would be kept alive, for the dialogues to come.


    But not Luminary. She was too dangerous.


    The Founder of New Ludaya''s justice would come from her brother''s hand.


    She looked up at him through hazy eyes. Valm had broken something in her, during their battle. She should have died standing, Becenti thought. She should have died triumphant. Not like this, not like every other old thing, decayed and discarded.


    ¡°Myron?¡± she said, ¡°Myron, is that you?¡±


    ¡°It is, Luminary,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°What''s going on, Myron?¡± Luminary said, and she sounded confused, ¡°Did we... Did we win?¡±


    Becenti sighed. Fought back a tide of emotions.


    ¡°No, Luminary,¡± he said, ¡°You did not.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Luminary said, ¡°Oh... Oh dear...¡±


    She was quiet. And then, her eyes widened, as though remembering that, for perhaps the first time in her life, Becenti was against her.


    ¡°I see,¡± she said, ¡°I''m... This is it, isn''t it, Myron.¡±


    ¡°You''re... too dangerous to be left alive,¡± Becenti said, ¡°There''s no way to control you. Not with your powers. And... even if we could.¡±


    He glanced over at Hadawa''ko. At Mister Meaning and Valm, the former sobbing, the latter unconscious.


    ¡°The Warleader insisted,¡± Becenti said, ¡°You must die tonight, Luminary. Justice will come in other forms, for the others. But the woman in white must be removed completely.¡±


    ¡°No trial,¡± Luminary said, ¡°No jury.¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°So uncivilized,¡± Luminary said.


    Becenti sighed. He knelt down to meet her face. She wouldn''t hurt him, not anymore. The spirit of defiance had left her completely.


    ¡°If...¡± Luminary said, ¡°If I had found a place for us, Shim, a true place, without history and without murder, would you have stayed? Fought by my side?¡±


    ¡°I would have died for you, Luminary.¡±


    Luminary gave a sad smile.


    ¡°Don''t sacrifice your life so, Shimmer. We have too many martyrs, and not enough... good people. Symbols can only go so far, and say so much.¡±


    He did not respond to this.


    Instead, he brought a hand to her forehead.


    ¡°Shimmer,¡± she said, ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°I''m moving the heat out of your body,¡± he said, ¡°You will die cold, Luminary.¡±


    She frowned. Closed her eyes. Already she could feel it, the heat leaving her extremities, despite the firestorm.


    ¡°...You haven''t pulled this trick for a long time, Shimmer,¡± she said.


    ¡°Not since the war.¡±


    ¡°You did it as an execution,¡± Luminary said.


    ¡°I did it as a mercy.¡±


    She laughed, hard and hollow.


    ¡°You call this... mercy?¡±


    And Becenti, Shimmer, nodded.


    ¡°It is quick. It is quiet. It is painful for only a second,¡± and his voice cracked, ¡°It is... It is... as merciful as I can be, in a world such as ours.¡±


    Luminary opened her mouth to reply, but by now she felt like she was in a frozen wasteland. She did not feel the flames, did not see her Shimmer, but instead saw something cold ahead of her.


    ¡°I...¡±


    But whatever she was going to say was lost.


    So passed the Luminary, frozen to death in a wildfire.


    Becenti held her slumped-over body. Bereft of life, it was a little thing. Like a bird''s, all frail, with hollow bones. Becenti looked down at her for a long time.


    He started to break down, his whole body shaking.


    Hadawa''ko looked away.


    As brother mourned sister.


    And this part, at least, was over.

 164. TO THOSE WHO DREAM

    The fight between Cobalt Joe and the Shadow of the Giant had moved to the forest.


    Away from the battle of Father Mountain, Joe had slashed up the Giant enough that it no longer moved under the Shadow''s directions. It loped after Joe, stomping through the woods, uprooting trees and pulling them away when they drew too close to its form. The Shadow moved along with it, his face increasingly etched into one of panic, for he knew what Joe was doing.


    The two of them were alone, moving through the forest. Joe''s eagle took to the tallest of trees, swinging from branch to branch like some sort of avian gorilla. They were getting closer and closer to a wildfire. The Sovereign Melody had been shot down, as had been the hope.


    Both metahumans felt a ragged triumph at the thought of that.


    But now was not the time for thoughts of alliance. Joe finished his trek atop one of the tallest trees in the forest, a great pine that swayed with wind. Rainbow-scented embers peppered the trunk, the branches, as Joe dispelled his soul, allowing it to sink back into his body.


    Though already he was moving it throughout his circuit.


    He heard the Shadow of the Giant move through the forest, and towards the pine. The Giant had not noticed him, despite the fact that Joe was perched nearly at its eye level. And yet the being stopped, its single, great eye searching to find him in the dark, glowing like a miniature moon.


    ¡°Come out, Joe,¡± he heard the Shadow say, far below, ¡°Let us cease this little game.¡±


    The Amber Foundation did not answer. He merely hunkered down, ready to pounce, like a raptor, onto the Giant''s back.


    ¡°This is foolish, you know,¡± the Shadow said, ¡°In truth, you have ruined this place. Made this plane a wasted one. People will not want to stay here. Not when we have been forced to kill their friends. Their families. Brothers and sisters, Cobalt Joe, and you have killed them.¡±


    He fought the urge to fire back a scathing remark. This is what the Shadow wanted. Anger was an easy emotion for Joseph Zheng. It bubbled up within him with the smallest slight, and he worked hard to keep it from exploding out.


    ¡°Anger is just another emotion, Joseph,¡± he remembered Becenti telling him, one day, ¡°When misused, it hurts the people around you, and they''ll push you away. When used correctly, however, it is a very pure fuel.¡±


    He waited, letting his rage stew. The injustice of all of this. The ignorance in the Shadow''s words.


    And, when the Giant''s back was turned, he pounced.


    He did not manifest the eagle, not at first. Instead, Joe sailed over the treetops on his own. A ploy, to make him less noticeable. The Giant was far faster than it let on, and he was taking no chances.


    It was only when he landed on the Giant¡¯s non-newtonian back, half-sinking and half-solid, that his eagle erupted from his back, its talons digging into shadowflesh.


    The Giant let out a low, booming roar in pain, twisting and turning.


    And then it stepped backwards.


    Joe realized what it was doing at the last moment.


    By then, though, it was too late.


    It slammed itself against the pine tree. Joe let go, the eagle surrounding him as a shield, covering him with feathered arms. The slam cracked something in the eagle, and Joe felt cold pain lash up and down his spine as he fell to the ground, a dagger dislodged from the Giant''s back.


    He could not afford to let the Giant get him. As soon as he hit the ground, he was running.


    Not a millisecond too soon, for as soon as Joe took off the Giant''s fist slammed into the ground, rupturing where he had just landed, spraying up dirt and roots and leaves. It swept its other hand after Joe, who jumped up, twisting his body sideways, his soul''s arms reaching towards the ground, pushing down, then up as a spring, sending Joe into the air to avoid the strike.


    He dispelled his soul, and took off sprinting. The Zhengs had always been good at running, and he was off like a bullet into the trees.


    The Giant swaggered after him.


    ***


    ¡°You should stay here,¡± Rohahes said to Tekahentakwa.


    They were within Father Mountain. Metahumans and Oshya:de fought in the halls outside, throwing spears and tomahawks, beating down Warriors with clubs. Luminary''s loyalists responded with their powers. Entire rooms became bloodbaths as rocks turned to flame, as one Warrior expelled his skeleton, which grew in size and began tearing apart anything it could get its hands on.


    And yet.


    And yet, they were losing.


    More Warriors were turning. Or, bereft of that, leaving the battle entirely. The Oshya:de and Workers battered into one of the caverns to find it abandoned, save for the last of Luminary''s loyalists in the room, the rest having fled to outside the mountain.


    They were in one of the secured rooms now. Rohahes was breathing heavily, his tomahawk stained red. Tekahentakwa was staring, shaken, at the wall, muttering to herself. Lunus Oculus had managed to secure a plasma rifle, and now held it far too professionally for her liking, checking it over for damage, reloading it with a measured practice that belied the fear running up and down her spine.


    ¡°I... I cannot,¡± Tekahentakwa said, ¡°This is almost over. I can feel it. And I have to be there.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Rohahes said, ¡°You shouldn''t be. This is just getting more violent.¡±


    The Clan Mother looked at the warrior.


    ¡°I am aware,¡± she said, ¡°But this... I will be there, when the last of these New Ludayans surrender.¡±


    Lunus Oculus shouldered her rifle. Stared hard at the wall. Tried not to listen in on the conversation. She peered her head outside. Okwaho was guarding the room. He nodded to her, absently flipping a knife in his hand. He had taken a nasty cut to the ribs during the battle, a result of a Warrior with the power to turn wind into swords. One of the healers in the back had already patched him up, but he still walked awkwardly, and his smile hid a thin veneer of pain.


    ¡°They''re just going to get more desperate, as you go in,¡± Rohahes said, ¡°Tekahentakwa, I¡¯m telling you, I don¡¯t want you to be another body on the floor. What happens if we lose you?¡±


    ¡°Then you elect a new Clan Mother,¡± Tekahentakwa said, ¡°It will be no great loss.¡±


    Rohahes reacted as though sucker punched.


    ¡°No,¡± he said, ¡°That''s not true. And you know this.¡±


    He looked at her, and they were teenagers again. Again, in that awkward dance they had danced when they were still growing up, and learning, and breaking each other down in ways the other did not realize.


    ¡°Don''t you say that, Clan Mother,¡± Rohahes said, ¡°Never say that again. We''re going to get through this alive. And you will be Clan Mother when we come out of the other side.¡±


    Tekahentakwa''s throat caught. The emotions of the night were catching up to her.


    She bit back tears.


    And looked, determined, at her once-lover.


    ¡°All the same,¡± she said, ¡°I will be there for this. You will guard me.¡±


    Rohahes nodded.


    And smiled.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said, ¡°I can definitely do that.¡±


    ¡­


    ¡­


    The last of them had holed up in the Cave of Awakening.


    The last of the Founders. Iconoclast and Nomatrius Dorucanthos were busy shoring up defenses, arraying Warriors in the upper galleries. Pauldros, the bastard, had revealed the Walker''s Gate before he had left. Entire squads were trapped in the rock. The Seat of Infrastructure had betrayed them. Lord Freak was leaving them. Luminary was out fighting the Federation. Memoire had disappeared. The Pit...


    They didn''t speak of the Pit.


    ¡°Cover up the doors!¡± Iconoclast called out, ¡°You! Donorus!¡±


    He pointed at the metahuman.


    ¡°Block up that hallway there.¡±


    Donorus nodded, expanding in size as they approached the hall, their skin becoming gelatinous and pink. They slimed into the tunnel, taking it up entirely. Iconoclast moved forward to order a few other loyalists to take up positions at the exit tunnels, lest the natives and the Workers try and take those spaces, too.


    This was all happening too quickly. More and more were turning away from the nation. Iconoclast''s voice was starting to take on a wild edge. More bitter, more panicked, angrier than anyone had ever heard him.


    A cloud drifted down, taking on a metahuman form. Jaskaios approached his father and Snapdragon, who were sitting in the booth the Founders occupied during Awakening rituals.


    ¡°They''ve taken most of the mountain,¡± he said, ¡°Including the Council chambers.¡±


    Nomatrius swore. Stood up, started pacing the booth.


    In the gallery above, Melitta Dorucanthos was directing her keratin soldiers. She normally kept a collection of nails in a bag, though she was running out, and had taken to cutting down her cuticles, to the point that her fingers bled as she buried yet more of herself into the earth. The natives were smashing through her servants faster than she could make them.


    Snapdragon was injured. One of the natives had struck them in the side of the head. Their mask was broken, revealing bloodshot, weary eyes.


    They still could not find Dodeca or Aima.


    Jaskaios sighed.


    ¡°Father,¡± he said, ¡°We should surrender.¡±


    Nomatrius looked up at his son. His proud boy. In another time, he would not have said this. If it had been the Federation breaking down their door, he would have died standing and defiant.


    But this was not the Federation facing them.


    It was their own people. Their own selves.


    ¡°Surrender?¡±


    This came from Iconoclast. He had heard Jaskaios, and was moving himself over to the gallery, vines erupting from the metal bars in his hand to carry him upwards.


    ¡°Surrender?¡± he repeated, ¡°No. No, we won''t surrender.¡±


    ¡°Iconoclast, sir,¡± Jaskaios said, ¡°We''re beaten. It''s done.¡±


    ¡°It''s not done,¡± Iconoclast said, ¡°We will make it through this. This is but...¡±


    He looked around, his eyes wild.


    ¡°This is just one of the tests we expected, as a nation.¡±


    ¡°There is no nation,¡± Jaskaios retorted, ¡°The mountain''s been claimed. I don''t know what''s going on outside, only that it''s pure chaos. They downed the Sovereign Melody, but that''s just caused a fire that will burn down the forest. We''re living on a desolate plane-¡±


    ¡°I will not surrender!¡± Iconoclast roared, ¡°And neither will you! None of you!¡±


    The entire room froze. Exhausted loyalists looked up at Iconoclast as he rose higher into the air, supported by his vines.


    ¡°We are New Ludayans!¡± he screamed, ¡°We are here today, because no one else recognizes that we are a people! We are a nation! We are what we deserve, all of us! We deserve a home. We deserve a nation!¡±


    His voice was hoarse.


    ¡°And I will kill anyone who says otherwise!¡± he screeched, ¡°That includes anyone in this room, you hear me?¡±


    He glared around the room.


    Wherever he looked, people averted his gaze, as though his was a gorgon''s look.


    ¡°Snapdragon,¡± he said, pointing, ¡°Go to the hallway over the hallway over there. Burn anyone who comes through.¡±


    ¡°Iconoclast,¡± Nomatrius said, ¡°They''re exhausted. They''re injured-¡±


    ¡°We all are, you old fool,¡± Iconoclast said, ¡°That means nothing. We must all push ourselves past our limits, if we''re to survive.¡±


    He tilted his head.


    ¡°I expect some steel from the Seat of Commerce. You are still a Founder. Still a Ruler. Follow what I say, for there is no Seat of War to guide us now.¡±


    ¡°I''ll go,¡± Snapdragon muttered.


    They swayed when they stood up. They did not fly, as they normally would have, but instead stumbled awkwardly to the hallway. A Dragon''s head sculpted from their hand as they went.


    They simply stood, teetering like a tower on unstable foundations, in front of the tunnel.


    ¡°And you, Seat of Commerce,¡± Iconoclast said, ¡°Summon up your wolves.¡±


    ¡°They''re dogs.¡±


    ¡°All of them, Nomatrius,¡± Iconoclast said, ¡°The entire damn alphabet.¡±


    The Seat of History turned to bark out further orders. Nomatrius sighed, closed his eyes.


    His alphadogs started erupting from his chest. One after the other. A few of them were still out and about, guarding the mountains, but he got the rest of them out in short order, scattering them to the hallways and levels surrounding the Cave of Awakening.


    He sighed. And rubbed his temples.


    ***


    Through the fire they went. Shadow and Giant and Eagle together, first moving along the edges, but by now the wildfire was expanding far faster than they could have anticipated, and they did so much plunge into the deluge as the fire engulfed them, covered their surroundings, eating away at the pines that Cobalt Joe climbed. This was the wildfire fallout that came from a crashed starship. The flames were reds and greens and blues and even periwinkles and burgundies and violets.


    Coughing, the Giant stumbled into the flames. Cobalt Joe tore off part of his undershirt, tying it around his face to keep out the worst of the choking flames. His eyes were hardened and determined as he flitted between the flaming trees, as the Giant pushed after him in a fit of rage.


    At one point, the Giant caught up with him. The Warrior faced the guildfolk, a fist of shadows rushing towards Joe, whose soul caught the ground, throwing him forward. The earth cracked in a shower of sparks and dirt.


    Joe spun on his heel, dispelling his soul, pointing a hand up-


    Lightning flashed. Thunder boomed. The Giant brought up its trunk-sized arms in front of its head, taking the worst of the strike. It stumbled back.


    The Shadow, below, glared at Joseph.


    Who was already disappearing back into the forest.


    They were getting closer to the site of the Sovereign Melody''s crash.


    They were getting closer to Kathen Aru.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡°Scans show that''s the last of them,¡± Merry Curiosity said.


    Kathen nodded, checking his rifle. Only a few more rounds, and that was that.


    He still could not find Valm. Neither could Merry. The Sovereign Melody''s destruction had meant that the systems she had been relying on to scan for lifesigns was greatly diminished.


    He wasn''t even sure if her scans were accurate.


    He doubted that Rhunea had managed to get the last of Pagan Chorus away from this maelstrom.


    Metahumans were flying down. By now, a few of them were organizing to douse the flames. Warriors with power over water were flying overhead, funneling down sprays that did little to alleviate the flames. Others with power over oxygenation had more success, depriving the flames of life and whittling them down.


    A few came down in pursuit of him. Kathen ran at those, firing back at those metahumans.


    He didn''t have time to see if he had any confirmed hits. Only gags of pain, though from the flames or from his own rifle, he was unsure. Everything was madness. The only thing in the world that made sense to him, as he jumped and leaped and screamed out orders to Pagan Chorus survivors, as he pulled people out of escape pods and directed them away, away, anywhere but here, was Merry Curiosity. Her voice was flat and professional. Forceful when she needed to be. Never panicking. Never stuttering. Never nervous.


    He had never heard her like this before, but he appreciated it nonetheless.


    He moved through the forest, distantly aware that Merry was telling him he was reaching the wildfire''s edge, more a creature of adrenaline and reaction. He checked his rifle over. Only a few more rounds. He had his plasma whip and raysword. A couple of grenades. A holdout pistol with a few meager shots.


    And he had the voices, which spurred him on.


    Ye god, the voices.


    Voices of metahumans screaming. Fighting. Desperate and just trying to survive.


    Voices of Pagan Chorus screaming. Panicked. In over their heads. They had never expected this to happen. He had lost Valm''s voice in the sea of shouts and cries and gasps.


    Voices of the natives here, the Oshya:de. Angry. Vengeful. Triumphant. They had taken over the mountain to the south, where a host of metahumans had been occupying. This was all almost over.


    Thank god.


    Three voices rose in power and influence as Kathen ran.


    He ran into the voices'' owners. One stumbled as a massive shadow, a giant, a cyclopean being made of darkness itself, it seemed to pull in the light like a humanoid black hole, and a single great eye stared down at Kathen as it emerged from the flames.


    Its servant-


    (Yes, a servant, Kathen supposed. That was the feeling he got from them.)


    Its servant was a slight man. Thin and with oversized eyes. He was panicked. He had not wanted to be dragged out here. He wanted to be back at the mountain. To gather his people in an effort to repel the Oshya:de. But the Giant''s will was greater than his. He was but a vessel.


    And the last was none other than Joseph Zheng, running before the Giant. He looked haggard, but relatively injured.


    Kathen froze.


    As did Joe.


    (Yes, Cobalt Joe. He was using that name.)


    And then they both leaped to the side, rolling as one as the Giant crashed down upon them. Kathen was on his feet in moments, opening fire on the Shadow below, the thin man. Two of his five remaining shots missed. The other three plugged into the metahuman, who staggered with each shot.


    The Giant was unaffected.


    It reared up a fist-


    Joe''s eagle was far faster than Kathen could ever hope to be. It took advantage of the Giant¡¯s diverted attention, and the Amber Foundation leaped leaped forward, claws digging up on the Giant''s legs, scraping and tearing-


    And then crawling down. With Joseph''s roar, with the eagle''s cry, it swung its claws together as a great scythe into the back of the Giant''s ankle, severing its achilles tendon.


    And both Giant and Shadow cried out.


    Kathen took the opportunity to activate his plasma whip. Three snarling serpents erupted from his wrist, and he cracked them at the metahuman-


    The Giant covered its vessel, and plasma scored its arms. It flailed at Kate, who jumped back.


    Joe was still carving away at the Giant, the eagle screeching in triumph, the man along with it, as it raked away chunks of midnight from the Giant''s side.The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    The Giant swatted, and Joe went flying with a cry. He landed somewhere in the bushes.


    Then, shaking with the pain of a continent, the Giant rose. The Shadow was in one hand, and it was supporting its weight on its good leg. It towered over Kathen, leering down at him. As did the Shadow.


    ¡°More Federation scum,¡± the Shadow said, ¡°We have no use for you.¡±


    Despite his eagle-scored limp, the Giant moved fast. Kathen was on the backwheel, all but turning around and breaking into a dead sprint. He was aware of the Giant ripping away part of a tree, holding it in hand for a moment, aiming and throwing it like a javelin towards him.


    He broke left. Heard the half-tree splinter the earth behind him.


    ¡°On your right,¡± Merry said.


    There was Joe. Running side by side with him. A race, much like the two had shared during their encounter at InterGuild.


    The two traded looks.


    And came to an understanding.


    Both of them spun, as one, to face the Giant.


    Joe fired a bolt of lightning at the Shadow.


    The Giant brought up a hand to bat the bolt away. Lightning laced around the Shadow, blinding him for a moment-


    A moment was all that was needed, as Kathen moved sideways, grenade primed in hand. He threw it at the blinded Giant, right where Joe had cut through its achilles tendon.


    It exploded in a cacophony of reds, deepening the cut that Joe had made before, nearly severing the foot of the Giant completely. It fell forward, a tree cut at the base, and Joseph had to dance back, lest its mass swallow him up completely.


    ¡­


    Yet already it was getting back up to its feet.


    Kathen''s whip blazed to life, three tails snaking around his wrists. He unleashed them with a crack, flaying plasma burns into the Giant''s side. The Giant, despite everything, rose. The Shadow was climbing up its back, squirreling up to its shoulder. His feet were fully submerged in the Giant''s mass now, to hold him tight, and he and the Giant were one.


    The Shadow of the Giant glared down at Joseph, whose soul was once more realizing into the world. Kathen Aru retreated a bit, and the two guildmembers started circling the Giant.


    Lions against an elephant.


    The eagle''s gaze studied the Giant, trying to pinprick weaknesses.


    Merry Curiosity buzzed in Kathen''s mind, telling him what she could scan of the shadowed being.


    And the Shadow smiled.


    ***


    Snapdragon heard shouts from down the hall. A multitude of footsteps, and despite the throbbing pain in their head, they concentrated, focused, listened intently. Father had sent them on a journey, around near their coming of age, just a few months before they came out, to a journey on the plane of Amu Dama, to study Dragons with the Priests of the Forked Tongues. Such tongues were to be used only for scenting the air, as Dragons do, and not for speaking. The wore blindfolds always, communicated with raps on the stone, announced their presences in a room by footfall alone. Snapdragon had learned quickly how to listen. They wore their mask in remembrance of their time there.


    (Or, rather, they had.)


    The footsteps ceased. Snapdragon raised up a Dragon-covered arm. The maw opened, and fire sparked in the Dragon''s jaws.


    A series of whispers.


    And then two figures stepped out.


    Aima and Dodeca. Dammit all, Father wouldn''t be happy.


    Their niece, at least, seemed to be in good health. Haggard, but who wasn''t, these days? She wasn''t holding a weapon ¨C thanks the gods, they had not made her a killer. Not like Dodeca, who held a steaming plasma rifle in her six-fingered hands. Sibling met sibling''s eyes, and it occurred to Snapdragon that Dodeca had not seen them maskless for some time now ¨C they only took it off now when they went to bed.


    Dodeca''s face was awash with a dark sort of anger.


    ¡°Snapdragon,¡± she said.


    ¡°Sister,¡± Snapdragon said, their voice cool.


    (Or, trying to be cool.)


    ¡°Entle,¡± Aima said, ¡°We''ve come to put an end to this.¡±


    ¡°I''m afraid it''s not that simple, Aima,¡± Snapdragon said.


    ¡°It is,¡± Dodeca said, ¡°Snap, it''s over. The Oshya:de have taken the mountain. They control the Traveling Point. Most of the Warriors still loyal to you are gone.¡±


    ¡°Gone?¡± Snapdragon said, ¡°You didn''t...¡±


    And Dodeca grimaced.


    ¡°Some of them are dead,¡± she said, ¡°But most of them just... left. They couldn''t take attacking their friends. Their families.¡±


    Snapdragon didn''t respond to this. They simply stepped back, a mixture of emotions welling up from within them. Neither their sister nor their niece noted this, for their face was as impassive as ever, but a tide, a rush, assaulted Snapdragon.


    Froze them.


    Made them unsure of what to do.


    They were aware of a few other figures emerging from the tunnel, to face them.


    One was Memoire. The former Seat of Secrets and Ritual. The other was someone whom Snapdragon had never met before. Female presenting, her white dress was matted down with red, and peahen feathers were braided in her hair.


    The Clan Mother.


    Beside her was one of the Oshya:de warriors. Single-handed, tomahawk in hand, he stood beside the Clan Mother, ready to leap in front of her, if needed.


    ¡°What is this?¡± a voice behind them.


    Father.


    Nomatrius Dorucanthos rose, two of his alphadogs by his side. From his place at the podium, he called out to his child.


    ¡°Snapdragon, are they here?¡± he said.


    ¡°It''s...¡± Snapdragon said, ¡°It''s Aima. And Dodeca.¡±


    Father sucked in a breath. His eyes widened.


    ¡°Don''t just stand there!¡± he said, ¡°Let them in!¡±


    ¡°Aima!¡± their brother, Jaskaios, said, ¡°Aima, good gods! You''re alright!¡±


    But it was Iconoclast who cut through them.


    ¡°Who are they with, Snapdragon?¡± he asked, ¡°The savages?¡±


    The Clan Mother tensed.


    Snapdragon had been called similar things before. They could, on some level, understand the Oshya:de''s fear. Fear and anger. The part of Snapdragon that was metahuman, and not Dorucanthos, could empathize.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Snapdragon said, ¡°They''re here.¡±


    ¡°Kill them, then,¡± Iconoclast said, ¡°Now-¡±


    ¡°Don''t you dare do anything to my daughter,¡± Jaskaios''s voice was hard, almost shouting. Snapdragon had never heard such heat in their brother''s voice before.


    Iconoclast turned to Jaskaios, and sneered.


    ¡°What are you going to do, cloud man?¡± he said, ¡°Mist me to death?¡±


    But then the Seat of History noted Father''s glare, and he went silent. A flash of anger on his face, venomous and frustrated, and then he turned to Snapdragon.


    ¡°What do they want?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Iconoclast asks what you want,¡± the eldest Durucanthos relayed.


    It was the Clan Mother who spoke.


    ¡°We wish to negotiate,¡± she said, ¡°To see an end to all of this violence.¡±


    Snapdragon turned.


    ¡°She says-¡±


    ¡°I heard what she said,¡± Iconoclast said.


    And then Father spoke.


    ¡°Let them in,¡± he said.


    Iconoclast''s eyes bulged. But Nomatrius Dorucanthos had slumped back into his chair, looking thoroughly exhausted.


    ¡°Let them in,¡± he said.


    ***


    ¡°Tell me, Cobalt Joe,¡± the Shadow said, ¡°Are you truly turncoat?¡±


    Joe glared up at the Shadow, whose smile was curling, despite the twitching in his eye, the only indication that he was feeling, on some level, the pain the Giant felt at its missing foot. The Giant was shifting itself, adjusting to carry itself on its remaining leg, putting as little weight as it could on its stump.


    ¡°Why?¡± Joe asked, ¡°Because of the Feddie here?¡±


    He nodded to Kathen, whose nose curled at the use of slang. Kathen Aru had obtained a plasma whip since the last time Joe had seen him, three trails of light erupting from a device on his wrist. He looked exhausted, despite the way he carried himself. Pure adrenaline was all that was keeping Kathen Aru up and standing.


    Joseph could understand.


    ¡°Yes,¡± the Shadow said, ¡°We have brought down their starship, and the Federation dogs run headless through the burning forest. Is it pity, that has allied you with him?¡±


    ¡°I''m just trying to kill you, man,¡± Joe said, ¡°There isn''t much more to it.¡±


    The Shadow''s eye twitched, and his smile was more angry than curious, as it had been before.


    Joe adjusted his stance.


    ¡°How many people are dying, because of this?¡± the Amber Foundation prodded, ¡°Not just the Federation. Not just the Oshya:de. I know you don''t care about them. How many metahumans?¡±


    ¡°If they died, it was on their own heads, their own decisions,¡± the Shadow said, ¡°They are not children, Cobalt Joe. If their ideals ran counter to my own, then there is no other recourse.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean by that?¡±


    The voice was not the Shadow''s, nor Kathen''s, nor Joseph''s. It came from above.


    The air started to ripple.


    The trees swayed awkwardly.


    Kathen took a few steps away from the field, and from the orange-patterned being floating down. Fractal was floating high above them. Joe''s heart skipped a beat.


    ¡°Ah, Fractal,¡± the Shadow said, ¡°Help me, now. Kill these two.¡±


    She looked down first at Joseph. Their eyes met.


    She looked back up at the Shadow.


    ¡°What do you mean, Shadow?¡± she said, ¡°What do you mean that metahumans have died tonight? What are you doing out here, in the forest?¡±


    ¡°A mass gathering of them came up to Mt. Redress,¡± the Shadow said, ¡°They are being handled.¡±


    ¡°Violently,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Your Warriors just started indiscriminately attacking the crowd.¡±


    The Shadow was quiet at this.


    He looked up at Fractal.


    ¡°Kill him, Fractal,¡± he said, ¡°Aid me in this. This is almost over.¡±


    And the Warrior above looked torn. Joseph could see it, in the way she wavered. Kathen Aru was looking up at her, his entire body tensed as a coil. He was, out of the four powers here, the weakest. In truth, both he and Joseph''s lives hung in the balance. Joe knew he should have been preparing for if Fractal turned on him. They had spoken before, about a battle between the two, one that was an actual combat to the death. He had made plans for her, or at the very least, vague ideas of what he would do, if he came to this moment.


    But all he could see was the indecision on her face.


    He sighed.


    ¡°Fractal,¡± he said, ¡°You know what they''re doing is wrong.¡±


    ¡°Is it, Cobalt Joe?¡± Fractal said, ¡°Is it so wrong, to defend yourself against people like him?¡±


    She gestured at Kathen, who shrugged.


    ¡°What''s happened here isn''t defense,¡± he said, ¡°The Oshya:de never attacked you. They were just... just living their lives, until we came here. All of us. Guilty and ignorant alike.¡±


    ¡°You say that Shadow ordered the Warriors against Workers,¡± Fractal said.


    ¡°He did,¡± Joe said, ¡°I was there.¡±


    ¡°I can corroborate,¡± Kathen said, ¡°My onboard AI, she says that there''s been heavy fighting in the region south of here, and I know that Pagan Chorus has little presence there, Traveling Point beside.¡±


    ¡°Shadow,¡± Fractal said, ¡°Tell me that it''s not true.¡±


    The Shadow of the Giant grimaced.


    ¡°A group of them came up, but tell me you didn''t just start... start... butchering them,¡± she said.


    ¡°They came with the natives,¡± the Shadow said, ¡°They were there for violent intent.¡±


    ¡°Maybe we were,¡± Joseph said, ¡°But this place is the Oshya:de''s home. This entire plane. And we''re helping them.¡±


    ¡°I became a Warrior to defend my people,¡± Fractal said, ¡°To defend them from the High Federation. To protect metahumanity, when the time came.¡±


    She gestured.


    ¡°The time came, and I have helped bring down a warship. And now I come down, back to the earth, and I find you killing the people I swore to protect. Tell me, Shadow, when does it end? When the Oshya:de are gone? Or when the Workers cease their protests?¡±


    ¡°A complicated answer,¡± the Shadow said, simply, ¡°The Oshya:de will be allowed a portion of the land, if they wish for it, and only if they cease their protestations. The same will go for the Workers. We are a violent nation, Fractal. We have no choice but to be.¡±


    ¡°Bullshit,¡± Joseph said, ¡°You chose to be a violent nation the moment you came here. New Ludaya was born out of violence, and the only way it can change, is through violence.¡±


    He looked at the Shadow.


    ¡°Did you ever stop to consider the Worker''s proposals, even once?¡±


    The Shadow was quiet. His face had gone stone-like, and when he looked up at Fractal, his eyes were cool.


    ¡°Kill him, Fractal,¡± he said, ¡°That is an order.¡±


    Fractal glared at him.


    ¡°And that, Shadow, is answer enough,¡± she said.


    The world churned.


    The Giant buckled as the world began pulling it harder towards itself, as gravity intensified. Joseph smiled.


    ¡°Let''s do this,¡± he said.


    And two became three.


    They leaped, as one, at the Shadow of the Giant.


    ***


    To see two of the men who had killed her world was almost enough to send Tekahentakwa on a panic attack.


    She remembered Nomatrius Dorucanthos as a kind man. Charismatic and loud, brash, but also willing to listen to the Oshya:de.


    Yet when the time had come for violence he had reluctantly gone along. Now he looked... tired. He had spoken of his riches, during the initial dialogues. Now, when the currency of the day was blood, he was an old man out of his depth.


    Not so with the one in the center of the room. Iconoclast. Vines slithered on the ceiling, on the walls, connected to the man and the metal he wore, the metal he bloomed into plantlife. A beautiful power, in the hands of the hateful. The way that Iconoclast glared at Tekahentakwa made her heart hammer faster and faster in abject fear. This was a man who would kill her, if given the chance.


    She needed to be careful.


    At least Rohahes was with her. At least those like Aldreia and Nasir were. The cleric''s eyes studied the room, fell on Melitta. The two women averted their gazes at the same time.


    Dodeca shouldered her plasma rifle, turned to let Lunus Oculus into the room. Glow drew up beside the two of them.


    ¡°It''s time,¡± Rohahes whispered, ¡°Say what you have to say.¡±


    Tekahentakwa stilled her breathing. Settled herself in. Tried to put on a strong front as she glared out at the last of the opposition. At Iconoclast and Nomatrius. She chose to concentrate on looking at the old man first, for he looked more... amiable.


    ¡°The battle is over, New Ludayans,¡± she said, ¡°We have reclaimed our home. We have-¡±


    ¡°It''s not over yet,¡± Iconoclast said, ¡°While a single metahuman still stands, the battle is not lost.¡±


    Tekahentakwa flinched. Iconoclast smiled.


    ¡°You are... what was it you people called your leaders, the Clan Mother, yes?¡±


    ¡°I am Tekahentakwa,¡± she said, ¡°You killed my mother. My father. You killed many of my friends and family, and-¡±


    ¡°-And that matters little,¡± Iconoclast snapped.


    ¡°A lie!¡± Tekahentakwa shouted, ¡°It... it matters to me! It matters to my people, who you butchered. Tell me, all of you metahumans always tell me that you have seen similar scenes to what I went through.¡±


    ¡°We have,¡± Nomatrius Dorucanthos said, from the gallery.


    ¡°And tell me, do you feel nothing, nothing at all, when you visit the same thing upon others?¡± Tekahentakwa said, ¡°Nothing at all?¡±


    Nomatrius grimaced. As did other Warriors in the room. Melitta Dorucanthos looked away. Jaskaios sighed.


    But Iconoclast did not react.


    ¡°That matters little, now,¡± he said, ¡°The past is the past, and there is the future ahead of us. Tell me, if you drive us out, where will we go? There is nowhere. We are stranded here. And the High Federation will come again.¡±


    ¡°The High Federation is here,¡± Tekahentakwa said, ¡°And those metahumans who are of sounder minds have already realized we should be allies, not enemies.¡±


    ¡°You''re referring to these... gene traitors,¡± Iconoclast said.


    Glow stepped forward.


    ¡°Stand down, Iconoclast,¡± they said, ¡°The mountain is taken. New Ludaya is finished. Even if you somehow hold out here, the seat of power is no longer here. It is with the people.¡±


    ¡°As it always should have been,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°Never mind self-appointed seats. Never mind the distinctions between Ruler and Warrior and Worker. We should have been as one. Not divided.¡±


    Iconoclast glared, but said nothing else.


    Nomatrius Dorucanthos rose.


    ¡°Aima,¡± he said, ¡°Are you there?¡±


    The youngest Dorucanthos emerged from the crowd. She went up by Dodeca''s side. Jaskaios''s eyes went wide.


    ¡°Aima,¡± he said, ¡°Aima, you''re okay. They didn''t hurt you?¡±


    ¡°They haven''t, father,¡± Aima said.


    ¡°Why would we?¡± Tekahentakwa said.


    The blue-skinned metahuman stood up. Looked torn for a moment.


    ¡°May I...¡± he said, ¡°May I come over to you?¡±


    Dodeca looked down at her niece.


    ¡°You cool with that?¡± she said.


    ¡°I''m... yes,¡± Aima said.


    ¡°You too, Clan Mother?¡± Dodeca said.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Tekahentakwa said, though she took a step back, Rohahes crossed in front of her.


    At once Aima¡¯s father''s form became cloud-like. Jaskaios billowed down towards Tekahentakwa''s group, turned metahuman once more, engulfed his daughter in a tight hug.


    ¡°I was so scared,¡± he said, ¡°I was... I''m sorry, I-¡±


    ¡°It''s alright,¡± Aima said, patting her father''s back, ¡°I''m here. I''m here.¡±


    Nomatrius was on his feet, looked about ready to leap from his place in the box and come down to greet the others.


    Iconoclast sneered.


    ¡°We will not surrender,¡± he said, ¡°We''ll hold here, and-¡±


    ¡°Iconoclast, enough,¡± Nomatrius Dorucanthos said.


    The room froze.


    Nomatrius Dorucanthos stood up. Surveyed the room. The Warriors who had stayed loyal to the dream. His own family, splintered as they were. It was for their sake that he spoke.


    ¡°Enough people have died already,¡± he said, ¡°The nation''s turned against us. Or what''s left of it, anyways. And I don''t know about you, but I''m...¡±


    He looked down. At glaring Dodeca. Unsure Snapdragon. Mournful Jaskaios, who was already breaking down into tears, so happy he was that his daughter was safe.


    ¡°I''m done, Iconoclast,¡± he said, ¡°This notion of nation has ruined me, morally and economically. I''m spent. I''m wasted. I''m done.¡±


    He looked at the Warriors in the room.


    ¡°You all should be, too.¡±


    Iconoclast glared at him.


    ¡°Et tu, capitalist?¡± he said, ¡°Even the money surrenders. Very well.¡±


    He gestured.


    Metal flashed in his hand. Became vines, sharpened and bristling with needles.


    He speared directly for Nomatrius''s heart.


    ***


    The Giant reached for Fractal first. It rose, despite the gravitational weight on its shoulders, and swung a wild hand at the flying metahuman. It grazed her legs, which flipped her sideways, and she lost her concentration on the gravitational field. The Giant swatted at her, but she was quick, changing her center of gravity, falling upwards, spinning up so the burning forest was the sky, righting herself away from the Giant''s reach.


    At the same moment, she pointed a finger. Joe noted that he bounced a bit easier here, as though he were walking on a moon.


    He knew at once what was happening. Bounced once. Twice. And then propelled himself upwards, up to the Giant''s head. The Giant spun, backhanding Joseph away. He was sent flying, but at the same time felt himself falling upwards as well, joining Fractal in the sky. Below, the two metahumans watched Kathen Aru dance around the Giant''s blows, spinning and weaving, far faster than Joe had seen him since InterGuild.


    He had been training.


    ¡°Keep it up,¡± Fractal said, ¡°Remember when I dropkicked you?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joe said.


    ¡°Follow me.¡±


    She dropped like a stone. Speeding up as she intensified her gravity, positioning herself as an arrow, her legs pillaring together. The Giant noticed this at the last possible moment, bringing up its arms to block her blow.


    It was a mirror of when she and Joe had sparred. The Giant held fast against the hyperweighted organic bullet. Its arms shook, shadowy skin started to splinter.


    But, unlike Joe, it held fast.


    The other difference, of course, was that Joe fell down with Fractal.


    And Kathen Aru''s whip snarled, lashing against the Giant''s other foot.


    Joe fell on the Giant''s head. His soul''s talons caught on the lip of its one, burning eye, and he spun, pulling the Giant''s head back with him, like a fish caught on a line. The Giant''s back arched-


    Kathen''s whip managed to cut through enough of the Giant''s remaining achilles tendon, and the rest of the ligament bent, and broke with the Giant''s fall.


    One of its arms went flying out, and the other was not enough to fully absorb Fractal''s blow. She tore through it, smashing into the Giant''s chest, which cratered with her blow.


    The Giant fell on its back.


    And then Fractal rose up, and went to work. She applied her gravitational power upon the Giant, increasing the gravity around it, forcing it into the ground. The earth began to shake as she did so, broke beneath the Giant''s crumpled form.


    ¡°Its eye, Cobalt Joe,¡± Fractal said, ¡°Through the eye.¡±


    Joe looked at Kathen Aru.


    Who took out his final grenade.


    The two nodded.


    Fractal''s gravitational control was fine enough for Joe to run up the Giant''s head under normal conditions. He looked down at the Giant''s eye, glowing and bleeding ink like blood.


    Time to pluck it out.


    The eagle realized over his head, let out a triumphant shriek.


    Its claws fell upon the eye. Ripping and tearing, and the Giant let out a roar of pain, low and rumbling, the agony of a continent.


    But it could not move. It was as though it were on a planet with gravity several times greater than the norm.


    And Cobalt Joe kept tearing, until there was nothing to tear.


    Exhausted, he stepped back.


    And Kathen Aru took point.


    Primed the grenade.


    And shoved it into the gaping pit.


    Both men leaped back, ran away from the Giant.


    There was a few seconds where the Giant lay there, motionless.


    And then it jolted upwards, and they heard a muted, squishy boom in its skull.


    Another moment.


    And then the Giant started melting. Into the shadows and darkness, like baby spiders escaping their mother''s corpse, the shadow retreated into the trees, into the night, wherever there was brethren, wherever there still remained some pull of darkness.


    Its servant was left alone.


    He was on his knees, his eyes wide.


    He looked up as the three approached him.


    ¡°What... what did you do?¡± he asked.


    ¡°We killed the Giant,¡± Joe said, simply.


    Kathen Aru''s whip returned back into the device on his wrist. Fractal was returning gravity to normal around her, yet she still kept her powers activated, still was orange and patterned and difficult to look at. Joe''s eagle returned into his body, though its claws were wrapped around his hands.


    ¡°You killed it,¡± the Shadow whimpered, ¡°You have killed an ancient thing. You have...¡±


    The Shadow glared at Joe.


    ¡°There are repercussions for this, Cobalt Joe. You will... you will...¡±


    But he could do nothing but curl his face in a look of desperate anger. Joe tilted his head.


    ¡°Your questions, Shadow,¡± Joe said, ¡°About who I am, and what I''ll be in the future.¡±


    He looked hard at the frail little man. Who justified the killing of his own kind and kin.


    ¡°I don''t know what I''ll be, but at least I won''t be you.¡±


    With a snarl, the Shadow leaped at Joe.


    Who swung his claws. Tore through the thin man''s chest. Through paper flesh and hollow bones, and the shriveled thing that was his heart.


    ***


    Many things happened at once.


    The vine surged at Nomatrius Dorucanthos.


    One of his alphadogs leaped in front of it, taking the blow, as the old man rolled out of the way.


    Dodeca let out a snarl, aiming her plasma rifle. At the same time, Snapdragon''s hand lanced out, their Dragon''s maw unleashing a torrent of flame at Iconoclast. Warriors shouted. Aima screamed. Jaskaios turned himself back into a cloud, covering his daughter, hardening parts of himself to protect her as the Seat of History twitched a finger, and more vines erupted from metal parts on his pack and rushed down towards them.


    Rohahes shoved Tekahentakwa back. Lunus Oculus and Glow moved to the side.


    Iconoclast dropped to the ground. He pulled free another slab of metal, squeezed it into a wall of thorns that protected him from the worst of the flames and plasma. Another pair of tendrils whipped from a plate on his back. Dragorax seeds bloomed from their tips, botanical explosives that he arced downwards.


    The Oshya:de and Workers scattered as they exploded.


    ¡°No!¡± Melitta roared.


    She pointed, and at her command nail soldiers leaped down from their places and rushed towards Iconoclast.


    Who simply spun, sending out further more dragorax seeds flailing at them. Several keratin constructs shattered and broke.


    Aldreia muttered a quick prayer, and radiant flame erupted from her hands. She propelled herself upwards with them, before turning them on Iconoclast. A pillar of flame engulfed the Seat of History-


    More metal on his form erupted, turning into massive thorn shields. Yet he was still burned, still gritted his teeth as vines coiled beneath him, sprung him into the air to meet her. With a kick, he knocked her out of the indoor sky, sending her down into one of the second level podiums. Vines collected him, prevented him from falling to the ground. He scanned the room-


    Yes. The Clan Mother.


    He fired more vines at her.


    Jaskaios spread himself out, covering the two Oshya:de, and the vines snapped against his clouded form.


    Dodeca was running, opening fire on the vines holding Iconoclast aloft. He spun at her-


    Nasir took aim, fired an arrow. It grazed Iconoclast''s shoulder, and he grimaced, wheeled on him-


    Snapdragon took flight, rising up to meet him. Dragon''s jaws seized the Seat of History, bit through his torso and his shoulder, forced him down. The two crashed into the ground-


    And thorns erupted from Snapdragon''s body. Nomatrius, above, let out a roar of ¡°No!¡± and he started running, out of his box and towards one of the loose vines. Iconoclast lifted himself up, bleeding, and with a tendril tossed Snapdragon away. His eyes were wild, and he turned on Jaskaios.


    Another dragorax seed balled into his hand, and he whipped it at the wall of clouds.


    Which broke apart. The air seemed to scream as Jaskaios gagged, once more becoming incorporeal. He revealed Tekahentakwa and Aima, and Iconoclast took aim-


    Nomatrius tackled him to the ground. Bereft of his alphadogs, the old man simply started wailing on the Seat of History, balled fists batting against the younger man''s head and face.


    Iconoclast bit down on a metal tooth, which dislodged, formed into an enlarged cactus needle. He spit it into Nomatrius''s throat. The Patriarch of the Dorucanthos Family gagged, fell back.


    Iconoclast rose, clutching his head-


    And then started. Exhaled a silent breath-


    And fell to the ground, a tomahawk embedded in his back.


    ¡°Father!¡± Jaskaios rushed over to Nomatrius Dorucanthos. The old man was unmoving. His eyes stared up at the ceiling, soulless and gone. Melitta and Dodeca ran up to him, too. Melitta broke down into a screaming sob. Dodeca merely stared.


    Snapdragon sat up, aching. They saw Father. Dead. Iconoclast before him, the Oshya:de''s axe in his back. They shut their eyes, grimaced, then opened them.


    Th-this was not the time for mourning.


    They had to be the strong one.


    They had to be the-


    And they broke down, too. For there was nothing left. Nothing left of all that had been built. New Ludaya was gone. Two of its leaders dead in the place of its awakening. The Walker''s Gate saw all. Judged all.


    And said nothing.

 165. BRIDGES

    They allowed Kathen Aru to return to the rest of his guild. A gesture of goodwill, he knew, for helping them bring down the Shadow of the Giant. And with the promise that he would be there, when negotiations started.


    Oshya:de guided him through the forest. The blaze that had permeated the woods had died down, both by natural exhaustion and by the efforts of both metahumans and natives. The air in the forest had changed, smelling both woody and with the familiar ozone reek of spent plasma. What animals had been here, the deer and the birds, beavers who had built dams in the rivers, black bears and wolves, had fled, for other parts of the plane.


    Fled, or burned.


    It would be a while yet before they would return, before the forest''s scent would resemble something natural.


    He heard their voices, Kathen did. The animals. The people. Whispers in his mind, altogether overtaking his own thoughts, as well as Merry''s usual observations.


    If the Oshya:de noticed, they did not say anything. The head of their party, Okwaho, guided Kathen through the trees, a practiced path away from the forest and towards the tundra to the north. They stopped at the forest''s edge, where in the distance Kathen could see the remains of his guild.


    ¡°You will go there, and you will talk to them,¡± Okwaho said, ¡°Relay our demands. And we can end this bloodshed.¡±


    Kathen nodded, murmuring a word of thanks. Okwaho did not return it. He and his party melted back into the wood, though Kate knew they were watching him.


    It had been a mad dash out of the forest and from the Sovereign Melody''s corpse. The survivors of the starship were arrayed out amongst the tundras in makeshift tents or escape pods dragged over to provide shelter. A few cookfires, lit aflame by random bits of firewood and plasma charges, blazed multicolor against the drab, thin grass and the chilly sky. Kathen stumbled forward.


    And he could hear their voices in his mind.


    Panic.


    Anxiety.


    Fear.


    Grief.


    Overwhelming grief. For those they had lost. They had been a guild, and although Kathen had never learned most of their names he could feel their agonies, their lost friends and family. Here was Etnoka, one of the weapons officers. His three eyes were hanging down, staring at the fire, for he had lost his brother in the blazing deluge. Kathen had never spoken to him before, not outside of the job.


    Sondoka, Etnoka''s brother, even in death Kathen could feel him. He had argued with his brother the night before they arrived to Impellia III. A stupid argument, over something that didn''t matter, but it had been the last time they had ever spoken to each other.


    The last word of brotherhood.


    Kathen turned away, his bottom lip quivering.


    ¡°Kathen?¡±


    Rhunea approached him. Heavy bags hung under her eyes. Her armor was in tatters. Her arm was in a sling. But she ran over to Kathen and embraced him at once.


    And then started playing with his hair.


    And he heard her voice, in his head.


    ¡°Wild again,¡± she said, ¡°You must¡­ you must keep it combed. Or buzzed. A buzz would be good¡­¡±


    She was trying to find some sense of normalcy in all of this. The world had ended, she had walked through hell, and somehow she was still alive.


    ¡°Thank the gods you''re alright,¡± she said, ¡°Come on, this way.¡±


    She took him by a hand, guided him through the camp.


    There was Tlona, who had once passed Kathen down a hallway, and had helped him carry a few supplies to the cargo bay. He had never once gotten her name.


    Her husband had been killed during the assault. Even in death, Kathen could feel him, guiding people to escape pods, allowing himself to be the last one to leave, cut off from his final exit before he could clamber in.


    His name had been Amantis.


    Kathen swallowed.


    His head was awash in grief.


    He felt Old Scar before he saw him. Fully half of his body was covered in plasma scarring. The ugly lump of a man had healing salves applied to his arms, bandages wrapped around his head. The whisper of Rhunea''s magic scented the air.


    If there was any truth to the world, it was that Old Scar was a survivor. Somehow he was awake, glaring at Kathen as Rhunea brought him forward. Hate and anger radiated off him like heatwaves.


    ¡°You''re alright,¡± he said.


    ¡°I am,¡± Kathen said.


    ¡°Did you see Valm?¡±


    Kathen hesitated. Then, looked up, fixed him with a look. One of their guildmates started reapplying salves. His name was Khr''ech''nar. He and twenty-two nestmates had left their homeworld of Cheelk''na to find their place in the Silver Eye. Khr''ech''nar and his twenty-two nestmates lived together in a single room on Mausoleum.


    Thirteen of them had joined him on the Sovereign Melody.


    He had never once learned their names. He had seen them. Yes, he could remember them. Joining them at mealtime, perhaps, never exchanging conversation. Manning the station next to his.


    Dear god, one of them had been with him just a few nights before. He had been killed by that eye-headed metahuman.


    He had never once learned his name.


    ¡°Kathen,¡± Old Scar growled, ¡°Where''s Valm?¡±


    Kathen blinked.


    Looked at the weapons instructor.


    ¡°Captured,¡± he said, ¡°The Oshya:de have him.¡±


    Rhunea''s eyes widened. Old Scar spat.


    ¡°Then the war continues,¡± he said, ¡°We''ll wait for reinforcements from offworld. Glass this place to oblivion.¡±


    The war continues.


    Such a trite way to put it. Kathen''s brow furrowed.


    ¡°The... Oshya:de,¡± he said, ¡°They sent me back with a message. To negotiate.¡±


    ¡°Negotiations ended as soon as they shot down the warbird,¡± Old Scar said, ¡°No, there will be no negotiations.¡±


    And Kathen could see it now.


    More warships would come. Valm had sent for them. An entire fleet, to glass this place. The metahumans would fight back. The same battle that had played out a few nights before would play out again. And again. Until there was nothing left here but ash and death and voices in his head.


    ¡°No,¡± Kathen said.


    Old Scar shifted.


    ¡°Excuse me?¡± Old Scar said.


    ¡°I said, no,¡± Kathen said. He stood a bit straighter, ¡°We have a chance to end this.¡±


    Old Scar grimaced, and shook his head.


    ¡°I don''t believe what I''m hearing,¡± he said, ¡°They shot us down! They killed our people! They''ve captured our leader, the Prime Voice, and now you say that we should talk with them? Come to some sort of... some sort of what, an accord?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Kathen said, ¡°They have the guildmaster. They can kill him.¡±


    ¡°If they kill him, then the High Federation will do more than glass this plane,¡± Old Scar said, ¡°They''ll erase as much of it from the maps as they can. They''ll take whatever survives and make it wish that it didn''t.¡±


    He shook his head.


    ¡°No, Kathen,¡± he said, ¡°This is just a minor pause. This is just-¡±


    ¡°More people are going to die, if we keep going,¡± Kathen said, ¡°Not just the metahumans. Or the Oshya:de. Our own people.¡±


    ¡°They knew what they signed up for.¡±


    ¡°I don''t care,¡± Kathen said, and he stood as tall as he could, and raised his voice, ¡°I am going to talk with them. And find some measure of peace.¡±


    ¡°Like hell you will,¡± Old Scar growled, ¡°As ranking member of Pagan Chorus-¡±


    ¡°I said, I don''t care!¡±


    His voice roared. The wind seemed to pick it up. Expand its volume. His voice was like thunder, ancient and deep. Rhunea flinched. Old Scar''s eyes widened. The camp went silent.


    And stared.


    Kathen glared at Old Scar, seeing red. Such hatred, in his mentor''s heart. Kathen could see all of it laid bare. There was no worry. No anxiety. Just blood red loathing. He did not care for this plane. Did not care for those who had been lost.


    He only cared for killing Mutts.


    ¡°Sairad Ghedir.¡±


    This voice came from Khr''ech''nar. He was staring at Kathen in awe.


    And, as Kathen turned, he noticed the same look on everyone''s faces.


    (And, for the first time, it felt right to him.)


    ¡°I am Sairad Ghedir,¡± Kathen said, and he both knew and did not know his words, ¡°Lord of the Past. And I say to you, we will talk to them, and let the killing end.¡±


    He clicked a button, and his plasma whip crackled to life. Three sinewy lines of energy trailed on the ground, scraped against the grasses.


    ¡°Or would you like to challenge me, old man?¡±


    Old Scar glared at Sairad Ghedir.


    But he said nothing.


    ***


    They bound Olendris Valm in ropes.


    Two Oshya:de and two Warriors guarded him at all times. They kept him in a small cave, a natural one, just poking off from Father Mountain. Father Mountain itself was in the middle of being disgorged. Workers, both metahuman and Oshya:de, were busy carrying food out. Supplies. Crates of weapons, and arming themselves with them. A full contingent of soldiers guarding the Traveling Point. Weapons aimed at all times. Fractal was with them, the air around her rippling, ready to crush any ship that dared to try and arrive on Gan¨¢:yeht.


    Becenti was near the Traveling Point as well, Valm''s advanced Silverfish in hand. He was speaking quietly into it. Wakeling''s crone voice came from the other side. A connection from Impellia III''s Traveling Point, across the galaxy, dipping into the warp, all the way to Everlasting Truth, and the Traveling Point back to Londoa there.


    ¡°So that''s it, then,¡± Wakeling said.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Becenti said, ¡°That''s the situation.¡±


    ¡°I...¡± Wakeling went silent for a few moments, absorbing everything Becenti had told her. When she spoke again, her voice was careful, ¡°Are you... alright, Myron?¡±


    Becenti suppressed a wince.


    ¡°I can''t say that I am, if I''m... If I''m being honest,¡± he said. It felt like there was a stone in his throat, ¡°I... Vyde, we need your help. The Federation is going to be on its way soon, and we need a way to get everyone out.¡±


    ¡°I don''t know if there''s much I can do, Myron,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°You are a long way away.¡±


    ¡°There''s thirty thousand metahumans here,¡± Becenti said, ¡°And the Oshya:de, too.¡±


    ¡°I''ve already arranged for Meleko to swing by and pick you up,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°But that might take a few weeks.¡±


    ¡°On the Titania Amber?¡± Becenti said, ¡°Vyde. You know what the Federation will do when they see all of this. I don''t even know if the negotiations with Pagan Chorus will be enough to save us.¡±


    Wakeling was quiet for a long time.


    In the distance, Becenti could make out a few members of the Oshya:de building the beginnings of a longhouse. A few metahumans were helping them, bending posts and poles into the structure''s shape, covering it with long sheets of bark conjured from thin air. Already, rebuilding had begun.


    ¡°I can call in a few favors,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°I... Oh dear, this is going to cost us, Myron.¡±


    ¡°I''ll do anything,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Just... You''re our only chance.¡±


    ¡°I''ll see what I can do, then,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Keep in touch.¡±


    ¡°I will,¡± Becenti said.


    He ended the line.


    His head swam with anxieties and possibilities. He took a shuddering breath.


    There was still work to do. Becenti walked off, to go find Hadawa''ko and Tekahentakwa.


    ***


    ¡°I''m sorry, Lunus Oculus, but we haven''t been able to find him,¡± Leafy said.


    They were in the sandstone tower together, along with a few of the Clan Mothers. W¨¢:ri was talking to Degonwadonti, arranging for guards to be posted outside the door when the delegation from Pagan Chorus would arrive. The Oshya:de kept glancing over at Pocket, who ignored them.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    ¡°The last we saw of him,¡± the Warrior said, ¡°He was apparently going into the Sovereign Melody''s engine room. I think he was the one who blew the whole ship up.¡±


    She sighed.


    ¡°That''s a one way trip.¡±


    Lunus Oculus breathed in, and out. Closed her eyes, which had recently turned piercing emerald, and steadied herself.


    Many dead friends.


    Many dead dreams.


    ¡°It''s alright,¡± she said, ¡°Thank you, for searching. I know it''s been busy.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Pocket said, ¡°I''ll continue to look, too. Who knows? Maybe he survived. Maybe we''re allowed miracles.¡±


    Leafy walked into the room. Of the remaining leadership of Luminary''s loyalists, he was one of those few who the Workers felt comfortable representing the Warriors. She avoided the Oshya:de altogether, but gave Lunus Oculus a curt nod.


    ¡°Almost time,¡± Lunus Oculus said, and she swallowed some nerves, ¡°Almost the end.¡±


    ***


    Nomatrius Dorucanthos had, in his will, a request to be cremated on his home plane, should that be possible. Even with the idea of homeland percolating in his mind, even with his wealth being used to fund the nation of New Ludaya, he still had a thought of his ashes interred in the old Dorucanthos family crypt.


    At the end of it all, Nomatrius Dorucanthos cared most about his family, placing them before nation.


    Perhaps that would be enough to absolve him, wherever his soul went. Snapdragon Dorucanthos stared at the raised dais that they had laid Father''s body. Covered him with a white blanket. They swallowed, mentally preparing themself for the dialogues to come. People were busy moving everything out of...


    Father Mountain. Yes. That was its old name. Snapdragon tilted their head, considered Father, wondered how he was alright with all of this. Wondered why they had gone along with him, when he had thrown in his lot with Luminary. Dodeca was far braver than them. They could see their sister now, helping heft a crate over a shoulder, moving down the ramp, talking idly with one of the Oshya:de. She had not wanted to take part in the talks with the High Federation.


    As such, it fell to Snapdragon. One of the only people from the old government whom the Oshya:de were willing to hear out.


    Always, always Snapdragon. The responsible one. The eldest Dorucanthos.


    What joy.


    Movement from the right. They turned to see Jaskaios standing beside them. The two siblings looked at Father''s body for a moment. They had not seen their little brother express any sort of grief at Father''s death. Then, he was one to keep to himself, for such things. When Summersong had died, they had not seen him weep openly. Only after his breakdowns.


    After he had bled his tears.


    ¡°It''s time,¡± Jaskaios said.


    Snapdragon nodded. Rose.


    And they made their way towards the sandstone tower.


    ***


    The five Clan Mothers and the one Warleader, accompanied by Becenti, made up the contingent of the Oshya:de within the sandstone tower. They were arrayed as one along a wide, circular table on the tower''s top floor. Tallneck had intended for this table, lovingly crafted by one of his associates, who had the power to turn air into wood, to be a place for him to place maps of the plane. He had dreamed of it filled with an entire map of New Ludaya, the whole valley hemmed in by mountains.


    Now, it was the place where the future of Gan¨¢:yeht would be decided.


    The teacher himself was not present for this meeting. Instead, it was Lunus Oculus, Glow, and Meloche who represented the New Ludayan Workers. From the Warriors, Leafy, whose tallish neck towered over the others, her hair falling like ivy from the top of her reptilian head. She shifted, perhaps uncomfortably, at the sight of the Oshya:de just across from her. Beside her was Snapdragon Dorucanthos, the only member of the Rulers whom the Oshya:de would speak with. Lord Freak had disappeared. The Pit and Pauldros the Stonemaker were being held in another place, their fate to be decided by those they had harmed. Memoire, too, but she was at least allowed to wander with Aima and a few guards.


    Snapdragon had finally been able to replace their mask. They sat quiet, a frown painted on their face, as the delegation from the High Federation walked into the room. Kathen Aru was leading the contingency, though he looked exhausted, deep rings running beneath his eyes. Rhunea the doe-headed woman walked in after him. She and Becenti exchanged looks, though she was the first to break. Dicaeopolis took up the rear, smiling his professional, lopsided smile, though no one returned it.


    It was Hadawa''ko who spoke first.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said, ¡°Let''s get started.¡±


    He flipped a tomahawk, laid it on the table. He glared across the table, at Kathen Aru. Yes, he recognized this man. The one who had freed him on the Sovereign Melody.


    ¡°To the High Federation, the Oshya:de are willing to make peace with you,¡± the Warleader said, ¡°Our home only will remain in... forecast-¡±


    He said this word with some hesitance. It still felt odd on the tongue, to use it in this way.


    ¡°For another year. In that time, we will be at peace. You will leave our home, and leave us alone. That is all that we wish.¡±


    He turned to Lunus Oculus.


    ¡°I had wanted you to leave our home. Leave us alone. Go back to your multiverse.¡±


    There was an utter, stark silence to his words.


    ¡°But,¡± he said, ¡°The Clan Mothers have spoken. There are many of you who did not know the true extent of what Luminary did to us. What the Founders did to us. We are willing to speak with you. To allow you to continue staying on Gan¨¢:yeht. We have discussed this, and we are willing to broker a new treaty. A new Settled Peace, one you and yours will be beholden to.¡±


    ¡°Now,¡± Leafy said, ¡°This is not such a simple thing.¡±


    She leaned forward.


    ¡°You ask that we become your subjects.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Tekahentakwa said, ¡°We ask that we become the stewards of our lands.¡±


    ¡°What laws will we be under?¡± Leafy said, ¡°What of our own self-determination? Our own laws?¡±


    ¡°You may continue to have them,¡± Tekahentakwa said, ¡°Provided they respect the land. Provided you do not carve into mountains, or burn down our sacred places.¡±


    ¡°In those cases, we would have to defer to you,¡± Leafy said.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Hadawa''ko said, ¡°You would.¡±


    ¡°These are our terms,¡± this came from Clan Mother Otstoch, ¡°As the original occupants of this land, we have stewardship over it. All you have brought to this place has been destruction and death. It was not Oshya:de who set the forest ablaze. It was not Oshya:de who tried to glass this plane from the sky.¡±


    Leafy opened her mouth, then closed it.


    ¡°Many of us will not agree to this,¡± she said, ¡°They want to live where they please. Live as they please.¡±


    ¡°That does not mean that they will not be able to,¡± Tekahentakwa said, ¡°Our laws are sensible. They are for respecting the land, and each other. Before your Founders, before your Warriors and Workers, I am sure you had the same ideas.¡±


    At this, Leafy grimaced.


    ¡°And the Warriors?¡±


    ¡°Some will be asked to leave,¡± Hadawa''ko said, ¡°Many who chose to remain loyal to Luminary, and who have injured or killed our people.¡±


    ¡°And those who want to leave?¡±


    ¡°They will be allowed to,¡± Hadawa''ko said, ¡°To find their fortune elsewhere.¡±


    ¡°And the Pit? Pauldros? The other Founders?¡±


    ¡°Those we could find,¡± Hadawa''ko said, ¡°Will be forced to stay here. To help rebuild. To atone, for the actions they have caused.


    At this, Kathen Aru cleared his throat.


    ¡°Now, hang on there,¡± he said, ¡°Both Pauldros and the Pit, as well as Memoire and several other metahumans on this plane are wanted fugitives within the High Federation.¡±


    ¡°I assure you, there will be justice,¡± Hadawa''ko said.


    ¡°What sort of justice?¡± Kathen asked.


    ¡°They will be made to help remake our world,¡± Hadawa''ko said, ¡°To help us rebuild. Then, they are to live in distant places. Away from their people, and ours. Exile.¡±


    Kathen stared hard at the Warleader for a long time.


    Then, he glanced at Dicaeopolis and Rhunea. The doe-headed woman nodded. The satyr shrugged.


    ¡°Very well,¡± Kathen said, ¡°But those who have Silver Eye bounties are to be remanded to High Federation custody.¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    This came from Lunus Oculus.


    ¡°We will not allow ourselves to be under your control again,¡± she said.


    ¡°You harbor criminals.¡±


    ¡°Criminals?¡± Meloche said, ¡°You brand us criminals for breathing. I could say the wrong word, and you people would throw me into a prison camp.¡±


    ¡°You''re trapped,¡± this came from Dicaeopolis, ¡°You''re up against a wall. The hosts of this beautiful plane are allowing you to leave, but there is still a problem. This looks much like a nation, all the same.¡±


    ¡°It will not be a nation,¡± Hadawa''ko said, ¡°The metahumans here, those that choose to stay, will not govern in the way they had. They will not build weapons. They will not use their abilities for violence.¡±


    ¡°All the same,¡± Kathen said, ¡°The High Federation does not look kindly on a metahuman force in its own backyard.¡±


    He shook his head.


    ¡°Let us take the guilty,¡± he said, ¡°The rest of you, I leave to the Oshya:de.¡±


    ¡°''Guilt,''¡± Glow said, ¡°Is a very easy word for you to throw around. You have made our very existence illegal.¡±


    There was a silence.


    And Becenti cleared his throat.


    ¡°There is the possibility of us leaving of our own accord.¡±


    They turned to him.


    ¡°We are a guild,¡± Becenti said, ¡°The Amber Foundation has resources. We can bring ships in. To retrieve metahumans, and leave this place.¡±


    Kathen looked at him.


    Rhunea cleared her throat.


    ¡°Myron... can you promise this?¡± she said, ¡°It''s a big ask.¡±


    ¡°It is,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°The Dorucanthos Family also has access to such ships,¡± Snapdragon said, ¡°Given time, we could call a few over.¡±


    ¡°And where would you go?¡± Kathen asked.


    ¡°Everywhere,¡± Meloche said, ¡°As we always have.¡±


    He sighed.


    ¡°A diaspora. As we ever have been, I suppose.¡±


    Dicaeopolis chuckled.


    ¡°And you expect us to just... let you go?¡±


    ¡°It''s either that,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Or we let Valm go. And we tell the entire multiverse what transpired here. Not just the metahuman nation. But that Olendris Valm, Prime Voice of the Federation, got his warbird shot down, and captured by multiverse natives in his own backyard.¡±


    He smiled amicably.


    Kathen grimaced.


    Knew that he had been caught.


    ¡°The High Federation will oversee the exodus,¡± he said, ¡°Take whatever ships you wish. But the fleet is already on its way here.¡±


    ¡°And while it is here,¡± Hadawa''ko said, ¡°We will hold your leader, such as he is, until the wampum is beaded. When the metahumans who are told to leave, leave.¡±


    ¡°You won''t give him up to us?¡± Rhunea said.


    ¡°We know your kind,¡± Hadawa''ko said, ¡°The multiverse, the Outside, it is a place full of deceit. Each of you are liars, in your own way. I, nor the Clan Mothers, trust you to keep to your word, even with a wampum in hand. So we will hold your leader, until the time comes for our plane to leave forecast.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not acceptable,¡± Dicaeopolis said, ¡°You¡¯ll return our leader to us. His return is the only thing keeping our guildmates from renewing our assaults.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t speak for them?¡± Hadawa¡¯ko said, ¡°Then why are you here?¡±


    Rhunea winced. Kathen was silent, staring at the Warleader.


    ¡°This is what I mean,¡± Hadawa¡¯ko said, ¡°Tell me, did you sneak in here, away from your guildmates, to make a deal behind their backs? Is the High Federation truly willing to negotiate with us in good faith?¡±


    ¡°They are,¡± Kathen said, ¡°I am.¡±


    ¡°Which is it?¡± Tekahentakwa said, ¡°You are not the High Federation.¡±


    And at this, Kathen rose to his feet. Rested a hand on his chest.


    ¡°Return our leader to us,¡± he said, ¡°And I promise you, we will leave you alone.¡±


    ¡°And what word do you rest this on?¡± Tekahentakwa said.


    Kathen took a deep breath.


    ¡°I am Sairad Ghedir,¡± he said, ¡°Lord of the Past. I swear to you, the High Federation will leave. Release Valm to us upon the exodus of the metahumans. After this, we will leave you alone. The authority is my own. I speak for the High Federation. I speak for the Silver Eye.¡±


    ¡°And,¡± Hadawa''ko said, ¡°If Valm changes his mind? He is your leader.¡±


    ¡°I am Sairad Ghedir,¡± Kathen repeated, ¡°He will listen to me.¡±


    And, somehow, he knew this to be true.


    He continued, and a deep tremor rumbled beneath his voice, as though something in the deeper realities spoke through him.


    ¡°I freed you from your prison, Warleader,¡± he said, ¡°On the Sovereign Melody. I heard your voice, and I knew what was happening here was not right. You trusted me then. I ask that you trust me now.¡±


    There was silence.


    The Clan Mothers looked over to Hadawa''ko, who merely stared at Kathen Aru. The Pagan Chorus simply stood. He was wearing the remaining tatters of his combat armor, looked tired above all else. He had been organizing the guild since Valm''s capture and since they had started deferring to him in all matters.


    (Already, they had stopped calling him ''Kate'' or ''Kathen'' and merely Sairad Ghedir.)


    He wanted to end this. End this humiliation. Moreover, end the death and destruction. Aru felt the voices of everyone in the room. Heard them on his skin, crawling up his arms and into his mind.


    They all wanted the same thing too.


    An end to all the death.


    And, he realized, the High Federation was doing far more to hamper these talks than anyone else.


    They had come here to destroy.


    A lifetime of being taught to help others. To uplift the weak, to protect them from the strong.


    A lifetime of sneaking supplies to starving worlds. Of hunting down those who would prey on the innocent.


    A lifetime of being taught to do the right thing, and to cherish life.


    And those same teachers were wanting him to be the butcher.


    That could not happen.


    That would not happen.


    He tried to project these feelings into the room.


    The metahumans scoffed. Of course they would. They had no reason to believe Kathen Aru''s words.


    Yet he knew he did not need to convince them. Guilt and good faith meant that they would defer to the Oshya:de.


    ¡­And the Warleader, Hadawa¡¯ko, whom he had freed, nodded.


    ¡°Very well,¡± he said, ¡°We will give you Valm when the metahumans are gone.¡±


    Grimaces. Sneers. Becenti looked over at Hadawa''ko, who did not turn to meet his gaze. Tekahentakwa whispered a few words in his ear. Hadawa''ko shook his head.


    And that was that.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    There were other talks.


    Organizational pieces. What metahumans would leave, and who would be permitted, or forced, to stay. What High Federation presence would be involved on Gan¨¢:yeht.


    By the end of it, very few in the room were happy.


    But there was an accord.


    Nightfall brought the beading. Seashells gathered from many places across the plane. A few smoldering remains of the Sovereign Melody were brought forward, chipped pieces of combat armor. Ice made eternal by metahuman power. Magical stones that hummed with their own sort of power. Simple shells taken from the shores of the great lakes, carved painstakingly by expert hands. The wampum came together, was complete in the morning.


    A treaty enshrined in beads.


    Peace, perhaps.


    A rest, at the very least.


    ***


    ¡°So,¡± Olendris Valm said, ¡°You have chosen to end this.¡±


    Kathen was permitted to see Valm for a few minutes. They had taken him into one of the caves, posted both Oshya:de and metahuman guards outside its mouth. One of the former Warriors of New Ludaya stood in the room with them, leaning absently against the wall. This here was a Warrior who had her head on straight. Pocket was smart. She would not end all of this talk, this one chance of letting the metahumans go free, on the death of the Prime Voice.


    Valm was still tied up in thick ropes, yet even with this, even after a few days of nothing but prison rations, he stood tall. Intimidating. His eyes narrowed at Kathen.


    ¡°Of your own choice, with no word of dissent, you have chosen to end this.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Kathen said, ¡°And no, there was word of dissent. But they chose not to act on those words.¡±


    ¡°Old Scar,¡± Valm said.


    ¡°And a few others,¡± Kathen said, and he crossed his arms, ¡°But I asked if they wanted to fight me over it. Physically. Words won''t sway me. Only action will.¡±


    Valm tilted his head at these words.


    ¡°You did more than that, I would imagine,¡± the guildmaster said, ¡°There are many who would not have agreed.¡±


    Kathen was quiet for a long time.


    Then, he took a breath.


    ¡°I am Sairad Ghedir,¡± he said.


    ¡°And that, my lord, is enough,¡± Valm said, and he smiled.


    It made Kathen''s blood run cold.


    Whispers in his mind.


    ¡°What does it mean?¡± he said, ¡°What... What are you doing to me?¡±


    ¡°I do nothing but reveal the truth,¡± Valm said, ¡°But, all in due time. It is good, I think, that your first act is mercy. But we will speak later on this. The enemy is still here.¡±


    He nodded at the Warrior. Pocket snorted.


    ***


    The night ended with the wampum finished. It was carried by Clan Mother Tekahentakwa, who would carry it for the rest of her days. The three factions dispersed, the Oshya:de to the base of Father Mountain, joined by those metahumans who had assisted them. Despite everything, they still posted a guard in front of the Traveling Point.


    Those New Ludayans who had not joined the Oshya:de loitered. Some went back to their towns, or communes. They returned in silence.


    In their houses, they debated. Talked. Went over what they would do.


    Some chose to stay with the Oshya:de. On Gan¨¢:yeht, where at least they had simple safety. There was the question of what the Oshya:de would do to them. Some feared retribution. Others knew otherwise, that the Oshya:de were much like them: people who just wanted to leave free of fear, to build a world for their children.


    Others still cried out. There was anger in them. Anger at the world. Anger at the High Federation, or the natives whose homeland they had stolen. Anger at the simple fact that they possessed the metagene, for what use was the weird and wonderful, if you were hated for it?


    Others simply... disappeared. Into the forests, deep into the mountains, damn the treaty, in hopes they would be able to live apart from the Oshya:de and from the other metahumans altogether. Peace in solitude.


    Conspiracies were thought. Anxiety and relief rippled through the communities.


    They weren''t being removed.


    And that, at least, was hope enough.


    Still others looked at the Oshya:de, and this treaty, as the replacement of one oppressor for another. First the High Federation, then the Founders, and now these baselines who used stone tools and traded with beads. They looked at this and saw a dark future, one where the metahumans who stayed would be used, or slaughtered, or made into weapons, as they had been on other planes.


    They could not imagine a place where this would not happen. Where they would be allowed to live, and simply live, while non-metahumans lived with them.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    But dawn still came, all the same.

 166. REPARATION/REBIRTH

    Let us speak of Dumandus of the Clear Morning. A Coribaldi, gray-skinned and taller than most other humanoid sapients in the galaxy. His ship, the Memnis, was a mercantile cargo carrier, composed of two bulbous metal structures connected by a single bridge ¨C the Memnis often took on dangerous or contraband cargo, and the more he could keep that separated from the actual living spaces of his crew, the better.


    The Coribaldi looked through the viewscreen next to his captain''s chair as the Memnis exited warp. Impellia III rushed in before them, all dour and brown and with a few glowing forests. Hardly livable ¨C much of the ground looked hard, and he doubted the trees bore edible fruit. And yet this was where good ol'' Vyde had sent him.


    ¡°Alright,¡± Dumandus said, ¡°Scribbins, make a scan of the planet. Let''s see what''s below.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Scribbins pressed a few keys on his console. The read-outs started coming up on the viewscreen.


    Ah, yes. Vyde had said the Federation would be here. Pagan Chorus, specifically. Legally a guild, but everyone knew it was the Prime Voice''s personal militia. The fact that they were out here meant...


    Metahumans. Three metahuman lifesigns below, mixed with the various sapients from across the Silver Eye and beyond. A Traveling Point, then. Unless they were extremely unlucky, many metahumans preferred to stay out in the multiverse.


    A series of clicks. Auntie Eternity, his onboard AI''s, crisp voice came online.


    ¡°My Good Sir,¡± she said, ¡°We''re receiving a hail from below.¡±


    ¡°Put it on the main screen, Auntie,¡± Dumandus said.


    Then, suppressing an eyeroll:


    ¡°Please.¡±


    He felt a shift in his implant, a ghost of a smile, or as much of a smile as an AI could make.


    The image came online. Three metahumans, amidst a group of Pagan Chorus soldiers. The one leading them was a young man in a blue jacket. He nodded at Dumandus.


    ¡°This is Cobalt Joe of the Amber Foundation,¡± he said, ¡°You''re Dumandus of the Clear Morning?¡±


    ¡°The one and only,¡± Dumandus said, ¡°Vyde''s told me about you.¡±


    ¡°Has she?¡± Joe said, and he looked a hair surprised at that, ¡°Well, that''s fine.¡±


    ¡°She said you have a metahuman situation, right?¡± Dumandus said, ¡°Some folks needed to be moved off-world.¡±


    One of the metahumans beside Joe, a woman with almost-glowing green eyes, tilted her head.


    ¡°How much... how much did the magician Wakeling tell you?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Ahh,¡± Dumandus rubbed the back of his bald head, ¡°That metahumans were in danger. That she was calling in a favor from a few years back. That we were to take any of you away from this planet, to a place the Federation couldn''t find them.¡±


    He shrugged.


    ¡°Looks like they already found you.¡±


    The woman looked at Joe, who sighed.


    ¡°How many people can your ship hold?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Quite a few,¡± Dumandus said, ¡°The Memnis is an old worldship, used to settle colonies in the Outer Reach.¡±


    ¡°How does twenty thousand metahumans, give or take, sound to you?¡± Joe asked.


    Dumandus opened his mouth to reply.


    Then the full weight of what the guildfolk said hit him.


    He closed his mouth.


    Opened it again.


    Closed it.


    Stood up. Paced the room for a second. Then took out a cigarette, lit it, took a drag.


    When he returned in view of the screen, he was shaking his head. Joe smirked.


    ¡°You owed one hell of a favor, didn''t you?¡± he said.


    ¡°The biggest,¡± Dumandus said, ¡°You ever been married before?¡±


    Joe shook his head.


    ¡°Don''t,¡± Dumandus said, ¡°It''ll save you a world of trouble.¡±


    He shook his head again.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said, ¡°I''ll start arranging for transports to come down. Federation won''t be any trouble?¡±


    ¡°They won''t,¡± Joe said.


    ¡°They''ll be coming through a Traveling Point?¡±


    ¡°They will,¡± Joe said.


    Dumandus nodded. His mind raced as he worked out the logistics. Auntie Eternity was helping him with this, pumping numbers and calculations into his head. It would take at least a week to get everyone onboard...


    ¡°Better start getting them out here,¡± he said.


    ¡°Will do,¡± Joe said, ¡°We''ll keep in touch.¡±


    The line cut out. Dumandus had a blank look on his face, as he exchanged glances with his crew. Then, he took another drag of his cigarette as he slumped into his chair.


    ¡°Twenty thousand metahumans,¡± he said, ¡°My god!¡±


    ***


    Melitta and Aldreia watched, from one of the last metahuman caverns within Father Mountain, as metahumans started going through the Traveling Point.


    Thousands and thousands of metahumans. Back through the Traveling Point they would go. At least Kathen Aru had agreed to step aside. It would not be the Federation that would be taking them away. The Memnis would be delivering them to Karatropolis, a planet in the galactic south of the Outer Reach. A major Traveling Point network. There, they would be allowed to enter through the Traveling Points and scatter.


    A diaspora once more, but at least they would not be forced into prison camps.


    ¡°We''re going to be leaving with them,¡± Melitta said, ¡°My family. My... father.¡±


    She swallowed. She had been crying, Aldreia realized. Her eyes were bloodshot, and though she smiled at her, there was a way it did not quite reach her eyes. It reminded Aldreia of Rosemary, that hiding behind mirth and good cheer.


    ¡°Where will you go?¡± Aldreia asked.


    ¡°Oh, we''ll stay out in a safehouse, I''m sure,¡± Melitta said, ¡°Father sold our old home to finance our trip here, you see. We''ll lay low for a little while, consider what assets we still have. Snapdragon''s going to take over the family business.¡±


    She shuddered a sigh.


    ¡°It''ll be bad, but we''ll be okay,¡± she said, ¡°We have somewhere safe, at least.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Aldreia said, ¡°You do.¡±


    They lapsed into an awkward silence.


    ¡°What... what about you?¡± Melitta asked.


    ¡°Oh, it''s back to the guildhall for me,¡± Aldreia said, ¡°We''ve talked about it. One of our ships is on its way here to pick us up, take us back to Londoa.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Melitta said, ¡°I see.¡±


    She swallowed.


    In the distance, they spotted Jaskaios and Snapdragon helping Dodeca with a few crates of supplies. Two of Melitta''s keratin soldiers followed behind them.


    ¡°Well, I should go,¡± Melitta said, ¡°I''ll, ah...¡±


    She struggled, trying to choose her words.


    ¡°Well, seeya,¡± she decided.


    A quick wave, devoid of any closeness the two had shared.


    And she ran off.


    Aldreia watched her go, her rainbow hair dancing and bobbing as she ran.


    It had only been a night, she told herself.


    (A night, and an eternity.)


    She bit back a stammer in her lips. Tears that threatened to come loose.


    ¡°Dammit,¡± she said.


    ***


    Professor Morandus joined Sky Clan as they traveled east, to the thick forests that had once been their home, that would be their home once again. They settled by a lake, pitching tents and lighting campfires. A few of them had come here earlier, and started erecting longhouses for families to live in once more. One of the metahumans, Stepping Stone, had begun carving out canoes to dip into the waters, guided by a few elder Oshya:de. He was helping the Oshya:de cast it into the water, watching it float on the lake''s still surface.


    ¡°We let him join us,¡± W¨¢:ri said to Evancar, ¡°He volunteered to use his abilities, to help us remain in contact with the other clans as we rebuild.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Evancar said, ¡°And the Settled Peace?¡±


    ¡°Part of it¡¯s been made,¡± W¨¢:ri replied, ¡°The greater pieces of it. But the individual treaties still have to be sewed together. I¡¯ve already started gathering beads and shells. Hopefully, it will be a reason for a festival.¡±


    She smiled.


    ¡°I never was one for those. But perhaps I''ll like this one. After all, I am Clan Mother, what is there to be afraid of?¡±


    And she laughed. Nervously, but a laugh nonetheless.


    Evancar grinned at that.


    ¡°I''m glad,¡± he said, ¡°This place, it''s beautiful.¡±


    ¡°It was where I grew up,¡± W¨¢:ri said, and she pointed, ¡°There. My sisters and I used to play at the shore, over there. Picking through the muck and reeds for frogs and minnows. There''s an old tree near the shoreline that we used to climb.¡±


    She looked around, and her smile fell.


    ¡°Longhouses, as far as you could see. This lake was Sky Clan''s home. A reflection of our namesake. It will be once again.¡±


    There was a sureness to her voice that had not been there before.


    She looked at Evancar.


    ¡°You could stay, Professor,¡± she said, ¡°Like Stepping Stone.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I couldn''t,¡± Evancar said, and he ran a hand through his curly hair, ¡°I''ve too much research. Too much out there.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± she said, ¡°I will miss our talks.¡±


    ¡°As will I, Clan Mother,¡± Evancar said.


    He sighed.


    Watched the canoe on the water. Stepping Stone was calling out to it, laughing with a few of the Sky Clan as the canoe capsized, sending its hapless occupant into the lake.


    For a moment, Evancar imagined himself here. Living with the Oshya:de. Learning from them. Using what knowledge he had gained in the multiverse to help them rebuild. Building up a sweat as he built new homes. Telling stories before a fire. Cherishing each and every one of his books, before Gan¨¢:yeht lapsed out of forecast with the rest of the multiverse.


    It filled his heart with a sort of yearning he felt but rarely.


    But the demon was still in his eyes.


    Izmanuzu still lurked, seeing all that he could.


    And Evancar knew, he could never stay here, not while the demon and his pact still dwelled within him.


    ¡°As will I.¡±


    ***


    ¡°Where will you be going?¡± Tallneck asked Meloche.


    The philosopher shrugged.


    ¡°Nowhere important,¡± he said, ¡°Just not here.¡±


    He was holding a few sacks in hand, a large backpack slung over a shoulder. Tallneck was accompanying him as he plodded along with a line of metahumans, one that started from the base of Father Mountain and up to the Traveling Point. Oshya:de, as well as metahumans who had chosen to stay, watched from the forest lines.


    ¡°Too many memories?¡± Tallneck asked.


    ¡°I feel... uncomfortable, here,¡± Meloche said, ¡°What we have here is good. The fact that the Oshya:de are allowing many of us to stay is a miracle. But...¡±


    He watched the crowd moving.


    ¡°More than half of New Ludaya is leaving,¡± he said, ¡°To find that greener pasture. A place where they can lay down their roots, and not know that the land they live on was home to bloodshed against a people who had done them no wrong.¡±


    Tallneck looked squeamish at this.


    ¡°Perhaps I will return to my home plane, for a while,¡± Meloche said, ¡°Although, I hear that the protests on Kelstonda are hitting a fever point. Elections within the Marlish Empire, and Federation-backed parties look to be about to control parliament. I could fight there.¡±


    He turned to consider Tallneck.


    ¡°I suppose I always fight, in the end.¡±


    ¡°That''s what we do,¡± Tallneck said, with little humor, ¡°Fight.¡±


    ¡°Ten thousand metahumans won''t be,¡± Meloche said, ¡°Not in the same way. Here, at least you''ll be able to teach new generations. Tell them what happened here, so it will not again.¡±


    He heaved a sigh.


    ¡°Ten thousand, but millions of us are out there,¡± he said, ¡°Still under the High Federation''s thumb.¡±You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    Tallneck nodded at this.


    And the two noticed a figure join them.


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± Fractal said, ¡°You may want to consider our proposition, then.¡±


    ¡­


    ¡­


    She was with Uni and Wavemaker. The three young metahumans had packed bags, Meloche noted. One of them looked familiar...


    ¡°A bag of holding,¡± he said, ¡°Bigger on the inside.¡±


    Uni nodded. She was dressed, Meloche noted, in light combat gear. As was Wavemaker. Fractal was wearing her sari, her own military uniform. A promise of what had been stolen from her.


    She stepped forward, pulled open the bag, gestured for the philosopher to look down into it.


    Weapons.


    Plasma rifles and plasma pistols and even a stolen rocket launcher. Grenades. A pair of pilfered rayswords. A plasma whip, even, like Kathen Aru''s, ready to be worn as a bracelet and unleash three-cracked hell upon the enemy.


    ¡°And where will you be taking these?¡± Meloche asked.


    Fractal smirked.


    ¡°We''re staying on Karatropolis,¡± she said, ¡°For a while, at least. We''re going to give the Federation hell.¡±


    ¡°A return to rebellion,¡± Meloche said.


    ¡°We never left,¡± Fractal said, ¡°Even when we were here, we were always preparing for the High Federation to come here. And they did. And now,¡±


    She gestured to the forest. To where, in the forest''s center, where once had been the Site of Settled Peace, was now a smoldering ruin of ash and glass. A miniature scale of the glassed plane, the Federation''s greatest legacy.


    ¡°And now we have to live with what they have done,¡± Fractal said, ¡°If the negotiations had gone south, we would still be fighting here.¡±


    Meloche nodded.


    ¡°And now,¡± he said, ¡°You intend to take the fight to them.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Fractal said, ¡°We should never have come to New... To Gan¨¢:yeht. But the Federation is still out there, still repeating the same story as what nearly happened here.¡±


    She fixed Meloche with a ferocious look.


    ¡°It is time we stopped them.¡±


    ¡°Not an easy task,¡± Meloche said, ¡°Many greater than us have tried. Entire metahuman kingdoms, and the Federation emerged triumphant.¡±


    Fractal''s smirk turned into a grimace.


    ¡°We have to try,¡± she said.


    Meloche, if he could, would have smiled.


    ¡°Good,¡± he said, ¡°That is the correct answer. I will join you.¡±


    He picked up the bag of holding, tucked it into his own pack.


    ¡°To Karatropolis.¡±


    ***


    They put Pauldros to work.


    He was the one who was healing Father Mountain''s wounds. Those rooms that the Stonemaker had rent into the inside of the mountain, the living spaces, the Council chamber, the storage rooms where the New Ludayans had stored their weapons. The granaries had been distributed to the rest of the plane, the supernatural harvests given out to the Oshya:de and the metahumans who remained. There would still be granaries, for the hard winter season that was quickly approaching, but never again would Father Mountain be used like this.


    He would be sacred once more.


    Pauldros churned rock up from deep beneath the plane to repair the damage. Members of Mountain Clan were his eyes, pointing out specific areas he had missed, going through the tunnels and caverns that had been carved out and noting where he would fill the place in.


    He would travel, from place to place on Gan¨¢:yeht, to do much the same. To break down what he had built in the sacred spaces.


    He did all of this in silence. At times, he and the Pit would be allowed to visit the other. The Pit was busy dismissing her many pacts. When Pauldros felt for her, he noted her stomach was becoming smaller and smaller. It had taken her years to get so many demons to agree to her terms.


    And now she was reneging on them.


    Undergoing Betleh-Kep, multiple times a day.


    And yet...


    She found was getting happier.


    She could tell time again.


    She could feel her fingers once more.


    She no longer felt pain in her back.


    Everything the pacts, the demons, had taken from her, she was slowly regaining. She thought she never would again, even on New Ludaya. For New Ludaya had been built for war, but Gan¨¢:yeht was a place of hard-earned peace.


    It was when Pauldros and the Pit were alone together, one night, that she broke down over this. Heavy, heaving sobs, the only witnesses being her lover and the moon high above. He held her close, looked down at her with his sightless eyes.


    ¡°It is alright, my love,¡± he said, ¡°It''s alright.¡±


    ¡°I can think again,¡± she said, ¡°I can feel again. Oh, Pauldros, it was all so easy.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± the Stonemaker said, and his voice was heavy with guilt, ¡°I know.¡±


    Perhaps it was not the justice that many looked for, with them. There were talks of execution. Of confinement, for even now the Stonemaker was still a dangerous metahuman. But that would come later. There was still trial to be had, still sins to be atoned for.


    But it started with rebuilding, and setting right the land.


    Perhaps that would be enough.


    ***


    ¡°It''s not a nation,¡± Cobalt Joe said.


    ¡°No, Joe, it''s not,¡± Becenti replied.


    They were sitting down near Amoeboy''s barn. Dandelion clan, like Sky and the others, had started building their longhouses once more. They had situated them near the barn, new additions to the older metahuman''s commune. They heard Clan Mother Otstoch''s voice, loud and commanding, as she directed people around. Workers carried in the giant dandelions to help with the longhouses'' skeletons, pruning them of the puffy white seeds, letting them scatter out on the wind. High above, a few Oshya:de were landing with Flying Carpet, sheaths of wood in hand for the walls.


    ¡°Maybe it''s for the best,¡± Joe said.


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± Becenti said.


    There was a way he said it that made Joe turn to him. Becenti smiled over at his young guildmate. The older man had not slept well since Luminary''s death. He looked thinner. Older. Gray and wasted by the world.


    ¡°Nation, to me, is not simple statehood,¡± Becenti said, ¡°It is... was, I suppose, a dream. The idea that we would have a place where we would be safe.¡±


    ¡°Seems like you have that, here,¡± Joe said, gesturing.


    ¡°In some ways,¡± Becenti said, ¡°But this is not a plane where metahumanity can come together. Not in the... way I was imagining.¡±


    He lowered his head.


    ¡°Perhaps I''m just being selfish,¡± he said, ¡°Perhaps I''m just looking at the world through a lens of black and white.¡±


    ¡°When all the world is, is gray,¡± Joe finished.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Gray...¡±


    He went quiet, and Joseph knew that Becenti was thinking about Luminary again. He had been the one to kill her, he had found out. The one to end her rule over the plane.


    For rule it had been. The Warriors and the Rulers and the Workers. That had been her idea.


    He put a hand on his mentor''s shoulder.


    ¡°At least here, people can be safe,¡± he said, ¡°They don''t have to fear the Federation anymore.¡±


    ¡°For now,¡± Becenti said, ¡°I shudder to think-¡±


    ¡°That''s enough,¡± Joe said, ¡°Enough with the attitude, for today. Come on, man, look.¡±


    He pointed. At the longhouses. The Oshya:de and metahumans, together.


    ¡°The sky''s blue. The day is long. And people are safe,¡± Joe said, ¡°Shouldn''t that be enough?¡±


    Becenti sighed.


    Smiled.


    And had to agree.


    (Or, at least, pretended to.)


    ***


    Guyasuta and Hadawa''ko ventured north. A trip to the tundra. For the former Warleader, now Chief, of the Oshya:de, it was a bitter time. He saw the path that he had walked, just a few weeks ago, to go to the Sovereign Melody, and barter his people''s souls. How funny it was, that a scarce few weeks could change his world. His outlook. The way he looked at the multiverse and its people.


    But he did not voice these thoughts. For he had come with Guyasuta to support him, as the last of Four Banner trekked to his old home to pay final respects.


    The place where Four Banner had once lived was gone. The two Oshya:de crested over a hill to find nothing but the same rolling tundra. The same grass. The same snow, the same cold, the same mountains looming in the distance.


    Hadawa''ko remembered seeing the longhouses of Four Banner here. The people in their masks, painted and carved with hundreds of different patterns and stripes and meanings. The namesake banners, painted from red ochre on animal hides, fluttering on longhouses, to denote which Banner one belonged to, what role they would take in the community.


    Guyasuta merely looked out, where once had been an entire clan.


    He went down the hill, stopping about halfway down, and merely sat, his arms crossing over his knees. He looked much like the boy that he was, not the wiry warrior he had tried to be. He hadn''t even participated in the final battle. Not in Father Mountain, not fighting Pagan Chorus in the forests.


    Hadawa''ko had forbidden it.


    Lest the last become none at all.


    He sat down with Guyasuta. The boy was trembling, and not from the cold.


    Hadawa''ko rested a hand on his shoulder. For support.


    They did not say anything.


    They did not need to.


    They merely sat. And remembered.


    ***


    Rhunea found Becenti in one of the campfires near the base of Father Mountain. He was alone tonight, most of his guildmates having gone up north to help set up the new longhouses with the natives of the plane. The metahuman had taken off his jacket, rolled up his sleeves, his white dress shirt matted with dirt and sweat after a day of hard work. He looked up at her as she approached.


    She saw a dark sort of betrayal in his eyes.


    ¡°Becenti,¡± she said, ¡°It''s...¡±


    She faltered.


    What was there to say?


    There was nothing.


    She knew what she had done. What she had supported. That night played, on repeat, in her head. The elimination of metahumans, of Myron''s people.


    Others who may have recognized her glared at her. But the treaty still stood. The agreements, and the peace, stood on a razor''s edge. If the balance were tipped, it would mean the return of hostilities, and the glassing of the plane.


    So all she received were angry looks, including from Becenti.


    Who opened his mouth.


    ¡°Four hundred and seventy-three,¡± he said.


    She tilted her head.


    ¡°Sorry?¡±


    ¡°That is how many metahumans were killed during the battles here. Three hundred alone from when you came onto this plane. Many of them were families. Hundreds more were injured.¡±


    She felt a lump form in her throat.


    ¡°That''s an estimate,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Some metahumans, we haven''t even found. Same with the Oshya:de. They number two hundred and five.¡±


    She brought a hand to her snout, covering it and looking away. Tears started brimming in her eyes.


    ¡°I thought you said,¡± Becenti''s voice was flat. Low. Even. But she could feel the menace all the same, ¡°You joined the Federation so things like this wouldn''t happen again. So you could change them from the inside.¡±


    He shook his head.


    ¡°Thirty years, Rhunea,¡± he said, ¡°Thirty years, and the same things happen.¡±


    She didn''t answer.


    She couldn¡¯t answer.


    She simply left. Back into the trees, and her old friend''s gaze followed her all the way back to Pagan Chorus.


    ***


    ¡°Joe,¡± Nasir said, ¡°It''s him.¡±


    The tracker pointed out Kathen Aru to Joseph, standing out in the field. The guildmates had been helping build one of the longhouses, a sheath of bark in Joe''s hands, the eagle fully realized and carrying a dandelion trunk in its claws.


    He set it down, the soul dispelling as he picked through the long grass towards the member of Pagan Chorus. Kathen Aru was dressed back in his military uniform, a long sheath of gray with the symbol of the High Federation on his chest. His AI, Merry Curiosity, sat on his shoulder.


    The two men regarded each other for a few moments. Nasir watched the two for a time, before he returned to his work, bringing his sheath of wood over to a longhouse, helping a pair of Dandelion Clan brace it up against the building as a wall.


    ¡°The Twelve-Thousandth Blessing-Upon-Blessings warped in this morning,¡± Kathen Aru said, ¡°I''ve explained the situation to them. Let them know that the Memnis is to leave the system unharmed.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Joe said, ¡°You''re a man of your word.¡±


    ¡°I am,¡± Kathen said, ¡°I meant what I said. No more killing. Not here, anyways.¡±


    He looked out. The wind picked up, blowing his long hair back, revealing his haunted face, the deep rings beneath his eyes. He looked almost skeletal, without the lion''s mane to conceal him. Naked without his crown.


    ¡°It''s a beautiful plane,¡± he said, ¡°I''m sorry that things escalated as they did. That hotter heads took over.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joe said, ¡°You almost ruined it for everyone, didn''t you?¡±


    There was a spark of heat in his voice. Kathen gave him a sidelong glance, but then shrugged it off.


    Joe had a point.


    ¡°There are talks of reparations,¡± he said, ¡°For... the forest. The attempted glassing. The deaths. But for the most part, it seems like the Oshya:de just want to be left alone.¡±


    ¡°They were dragged into all of this,¡± Joe said, ¡°I gotta say, I sympathize with them.¡±


    ¡°Mm,¡± Kathen said, ¡°Same.¡±


    They were quiet for a while.


    ¡°Whatever happened to the Dyriptium of Karn?¡± Joe asked, ¡°You ever do anything with it?¡±


    Kathen grimaced.


    ¡°I... I did,¡± he said, ¡°Studied the book for a long time. Researched it. But...¡±


    (Voices whispered in his head.)


    ¡°Things got busy for me,¡± he said, ¡°I haven''t had a chance to go out to the Frauds-Echten Squall.¡±


    There was a lot unsaid in that. He swallowed, and looked like he didn''t want to speak of it anymore.


    ¡°Right,¡± Joe said.


    ¡°And you?¡± Kathen asked, ¡°You fought hard for it, back then. There''s something different about you now.¡±


    He looked the metahuman up and down.


    ¡°You''re angry, but in a different way,¡± he said.


    Joe chuckled darkly.


    ¡°I figured some things out,¡± he said, ¡°That''s all.¡±


    ¡°Mm,¡± Kathen said, ¡°So it goes.¡±


    ¡°So it goes,¡± Joe said, ¡°How long are your people going to stay here?¡±


    ¡°Not much longer, I think,¡± Kathen said, ¡°No doubt that someone in the fleet will try and track where the Memnis will go.¡±


    ¡°According to my contacts,¡± Merry said, interrupting him, ¡°The other AI, there''s already been three attempts, from different ships.¡±


    ¡°Gods,¡± Kathen said, and he pulled a face, ¡°I tell them not to try anything funny, and look at what they do.¡±


    ¡°When the king rests, the servants misbehave,¡± Merry chuckled.


    And at this, Kathen''s face took on a sudden anger. Shadows cloaked much of his face as he glared out at the world with a mixture of resentment and defiance.


    ¡°Not a king,¡± he said, ¡°Just... I hear people. And I understand.¡±


    He nodded to Joe, and took his leave.


    Joseph watched him go, moving through the grass, before he turned and continued his work.


    ***


    Let us speak of Gallimena.


    The work that she had been assigned for the rebuilding was the harshest of all. Hers was to go out into the plasma-blasted wasteland, the corpse of the Sovereign Melody, and scavenge it for materials. For potential technology. For survivors, if it came to that, for many people were still coming out of the forest, having been lost in the weeks following the Sovereign Melody''s destruction. Her metahuman power made her perfect for this role, and she was a white blur among the trees and ash.


    She thought, at times, as she looked around, at the hull of the warbird that rose as a mountain of metal, how her life had gotten to this point. She had gotten off easy, she knew. Not like Mister Meaning, who had been beaten upon his capture by the Oshya:de. She had known about the initial scourging.


    The...


    The genocide.


    And yet the Oshya:de''s punishment for her, when her duty here was done, was simple. She was to leave. A ship had been procured for her, separate from the Memnis, a final favor by the Dorucanthos family. She would disappear.


    It did not feel right.


    Now, as she ran, without Mister Meaning''s snide voice to mock her, to guilt her into continuing Luminary''s work, she could process the guilt. The shame. Like Memoire.


    She took all of this in silence. She had always been a quiet girl.


    Perhaps she would find some uncharted plane. A planet. Somewhere she could live in nature as a raptor, her metahuman form discarded forever. There, she would be an animal.


    For an animal killed for survival, and not out of malice.


    ***


    And what of Memoire?


    What of the old Seat of Ritual and History?


    She was exiled. No work. No reparation. Simple dismissal.


    They allowed her to live in a small home in the mountains. Aima Dorucanthos visited her there. It was a quaint little place, a cottage built by Pauldros the Stonemaker and a few other building metahumans.


    The young Dorucanthos girl looked around. The place was bare. A table. A bed. A firepit, for the winters in the eastern parts of Gan¨¢:yeht were bitter and cold. Food would be provided, for Flying Carpet was staying and would be able to ferry supplies to the metahuman.


    For, guilty as she was, liable as she was, she still carried the memories of a people within her. She would be honored, not for her person, but for her power.


    Her power, and nothing else.


    Memoire was sitting on her bed. She looked up at Aima''s approach.


    ¡°Ah,¡± she said, ¡°Hello.¡±


    ¡°Hello,¡± Aima said.


    She scratched her arm awkwardly. The wind outside howled.


    ¡°I''ve come to say goodbye,¡± Aima said, ¡°We''re leaving. In the morning.¡±


    ¡°And so our nation ends,¡± Memoire said, ¡°With our people in twain once more.¡±


    She said this without emotion. No hate. No anger. But no relief, either. A simple statement of fact, for that was all she was, now.


    ¡°Will you... be alright?¡± Aima asked.


    ¡°No,¡± Memoire replied, ¡°I''m... I will never be alright.¡±


    She looked down, and the symbols floating on her skin slowed down in mourning.


    ¡°I have become that which I feared and hated,¡± she said, ¡°And there is no coming back from it. There is only atonement. Only justice.¡±


    She let out a dry chuckle.


    ¡°It''s funny,¡± she said, ¡°When I was young, I thought I would be on the other side of this. The one delivering justice. The one liberating us.¡±


    ¡°The Oshya:de aren''t being fair,¡± Aima said, ¡°They''re-¡±


    And at this, Memoire looked up at her. There was something in her eyes that made the young Dorucanthos stammer.


    ¡°They''re... they''re... you felt bad,¡± she said, ¡°You feel guilty.¡±


    ¡°Is that enough?¡± Memoire asked, ¡°Tell me, Aima Dorucanthos, is feeling guilt enough to be forgiven?¡±


    Aima sighed. Leaned against the table.


    ¡°No,¡± she said, ¡°I guess it isn''t.¡±


    ¡°Guilt is the first step,¡± Memoire said, ¡°Shame should be the catalyst, not the redemption alone. It is what you do with that guilt, that matters.¡±


    She gestured.


    ¡°This is my atonement. A life, alone. The others will come to me so I may record their lives. But they won''t speak to me. I will have use. I will be used. And that will be all.¡±


    She sighed.


    ¡°Perhaps, in time...¡±


    But then she shook her head. And looked back up to Aima.


    ¡°I bid you farewell, Aima. I wish you luck. The multiverse is a harsh place. And it is getting harsher. Be quick. Be smart. And above all, survive.¡±


    Aima nodded.


    Then ran over, and hugged Memoire.


    And the former Seat of Ritual walked her out the door. Bade her goodbye, watched as the young Dorucanthos walked down the mountain path, onto Flying Carpet, who swallowed her up and launched into the sky. She watched the hope for the future disappear into the distance, a speck on the horizon, leave the past and its shame behind.

 167. Traveling Anew

    Let us speak of Mister Meaning.


    Aye, Luminary''s weasel. Her right hand man. Her tool for the continuation of New Ludaya. Captured by Hadawa''ko, he did not take part in the rebuilding of Gan¨¢:yeht. Instead, his sentence was exile. Exile to Impellia III, to live among the remains of metahuman outposts and the baublefruit trees. The atmosphere was acrid. The water was tinged with something that tasted odd to him. The only edible food here was the glowing fruit of the trees that covered the planet. A miserable existence, devoid of diversity.


    Perhaps if the gate still worked, he could have escaped to Bloodrun, traveled back to Londoa, and from there, the entire multiverse would have been open to him.


    But, no, that was not in the cards.


    A few metahumans were calling ships. The Dorucanthos left Impellia III on Melitta Dorucanthos''s old cargo runner, flanked by two escorts they had called from a family friend. A few others had family in the Silver Eye, who had pooled money with their communities to bring traveling services out to this ass end of nowhere, to take them elsewhere. Still more simply piled onto the Memnis, the cargo hauler that Myron Becenti had called in.


    But Meaning had no one.


    No one searched for him. Invited him. Rescued him.


    He was alone.


    He tried not to let it get to him, as he watched the people pile onto traveling shuttles from a distance. Shuttled that carried them to the Memnis and to salvation. High Federation warships floated overhead, pinpricks of light that aped the stars. Hundreds of them, ready to glass the planet with but a word and a vow. But Kathen Aru had been true to his word.


    They were not attacking them.


    They were letting them leave.


    Meaning exhaled. Curled in on himself.


    Watched his people leave without him.


    Knowing that they would not miss him. Him and his acrid tongue.


    ***


    Joseph found Lunus Oculus sitting beside Thunderhead''s grave. The night was young, and crickets had begun ringing their songs in the night. Lunus''s eyes were closed, and for a moment Joe thought she had fallen asleep.


    He cleared his throat.


    And she opened them. They had become blue, like his, in the intervening days, as the moon on its own whim had changed, waning into a thin crescent high above. She tilted her head and gave Joe a sad smile.


    ¡°Word''s come,¡± Joe said, ¡°The Memnis is about ready to leave.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± she said.


    Joe stretched.


    ¡°After that, we''re going to be leaving,¡± he said, ¡°The guild, I mean. Our job here''s done.¡±


    ¡°One of your ships?¡± Lunus Oculus asked.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joe said.


    Lunus Oculus nodded at this. She cast an azure gaze over to her old friend''s gravestone.


    ¡°I never even got to say goodbye,¡± she said, ¡°I''ve lost many friends, over these last few months.¡±


    Joe sighed, walked over, sat down in the grass across from her.


    ¡°I get it,¡± he said, ¡°They ever find Rainbowfish?¡±


    She shook her head.


    ¡°No,¡± she said, ¡°He''s gone. Not even a body.¡±


    She wiped her eyes.


    ¡°He wanted to be buried, you know,¡± she said, ¡°Where he''s from, they remove the tongue and replace the eyes with stones made of malachite. He told me that. He wanted to be buried in the same way. Not a metahuman ritual. At least, not that I know of, but...¡±


    She swallowed.


    ¡°I apologize,¡± she said, ¡°I''m rambling.¡±


    ¡°It''s alright,¡± Joe said, ¡°I''m sorry.¡±


    ¡°It wasn''t your fault,¡± Lunus said.


    ¡°Well,¡± Joe said, ¡°Someone should say it.¡±


    He looked out onto the grass plains. The longhouses and Amoeboy''s commune stood together. Someone had set up a bonfire, and music was playing. People were laughing and joking. Someone was letting out a crowing whoop into the sky, sending it up with the embers that drifted nightward, intermingling with the stars.


    ¡°I don''t know if I''ll stay here,¡± Lunus Oculus said.


    Joe looked back over to her.


    ¡°Gan¨¢:yeht,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°There''s too much... memory here. I look at the Oshya:de, and I remember what it felt like, that... shivering in the stomach. When we found them in the caves.¡±


    ¡°Where will you go?¡± Joe asked.


    ¡°I don''t know,¡± Lunus Oculus replied, ¡°Glow''s leaving, too, but they made it clear to me that they want to be left alone for a while. Dodeca''s going with her family, to pick up the pieces of what they left behind. Tallneck and the Giant Northern Termite Queen are staying.¡±


    ¡°The last of the malcontents,¡± Joe said, smirking.


    Lunus Oculus smiled.


    ¡°It was... exciting, wasn''t it?¡± she said, ¡°In its way. The secret meetings. The righteous indignation. But that''s done now. New Ludaya''s gone. The nation is dead. What''s left is community, and I... I don''t feel part of it.¡±


    Joe sighed.


    ¡°So you''ll travel alone,¡± he said.


    ¡°I have done so before,¡± Lunus Oculus said.


    ¡°That''s dangerous, for people like us,¡± Joe said.


    ¡°It is,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°But again, I''ve done it before.¡±


    The guildmember scratched an arm awkwardly, unsure of what to say.


    No, rather, how to say it.


    ¡°You don''t have to,¡± he said.


    She looked up at him.


    ¡°Have you...¡± Joe swallowed, ¡°Considered joining a guild?¡±


    ***


    ¡°It''s all sealed up, then,¡± Tekahentakwa said.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Rohahes replied, ¡°The Stonemaker''s done his work.¡±


    The Clan Mother nodded. She leaned back against the wall of the longhouse. One of the first to be completed. Longhouses on Gan¨¢:yeht, after so long. Already a fire burned cheerily in the room, warming it against the cold night. Rohahes sat down across from her, rubbing the stump of his hand absently.


    ¡°We''ll need to do something,¡± Tekahentakwa said, ¡°Set up a ceremony of some sort. I''ve already sent people to the lakes to gather up shells for the further re-establishment of the Settled Peace.¡±


    Rohahes nodded at this.


    ¡°I¡¯m glad that the Clan Mothers transitioned Hadawa¡¯ko back to being Chief,¡± he said, ¡°You¡¯re confident, right? That the metahumans will keep their word.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Tekahentakwa said, ¡°There are deals to be made. Disagreements to mediate. But¡­ yes. For the most part.¡±


    The warrior nodded at this. He looked a bit awkward as he gazed into the fire. Tekahentakwa smiled.


    ¡°What is it?¡± she asked.


    ¡°I...¡± he said, ¡°Are we going to be alright?¡± he asked.


    ¡°We will be,¡± Tekahentakwa said.


    ¡°Even though so many of them are staying?¡±


    The Clan Mother had heard that question many times already. Had asked it to herself, even.


    She sighed.


    ¡°Many of the metahumans came here to escape from the High Federation,¡± she asked, ¡°They''re refugees.¡±


    ¡°Refugees who have the power to shake the world,¡± Rohahes said.


    ¡°You fought alongside them, Rohahes,¡± Tekahentakwa said, ¡°What do you think of them?¡±


    Rohahes blinked.


    Thought about this.


    ¡°They''re scared,¡± he said, ¡°Like we are.¡±


    She nodded.


    ¡°And... they''re fine, I guess,¡± Rohahes said, ¡°Many of them came to our aid, without a second thought, as soon as they found out about us. After they found out what Luminary did to us.¡±


    ¡°Because they have experienced the same,¡± Tekahentakwa said, ¡°Because of the High Federation. What sort of people would we be, to turn them back out into the night?¡±


    Rohahes smiled at this.


    ¡°You''ve gotten pretty good at this, haven''t you?¡± he said.


    She reddened in the face, was for a moment a silly teenager again.


    ¡°I-I suppose so,¡± she said, ¡°But, I suppose I''ve had support, to get me where I am. From many people.¡±


    (Including you, she wanted to say. But, she needed time to sort through such thoughts.)


    ¡°Ha!¡± Rohahes said, ¡°True. Someone doesn''t guide a people without hands to guide her in turn.¡±


    She returned his smile.


    ¡°And I''ll need guidance yet,¡± she said, ¡°From everyone.¡±


    ***


    The Memnis''s cargo bay was crowded. Metahumans who had chosen to leave were gathered in the various holds in the ship''s secondary pod, and each cavernous room was becoming a community in of itself. People jostled together, trading laughs and jeers, not a few were looking through viewscreens down at Impellia III, and what lay beyond it, with forlorn looks.


    Among these were Pocket and Analyza. The two lay huddled together, their bags safely within Pock''s pockets, her wife''s head resting on a shoulder.


    ¡°So, that''s it, then,¡± she said.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Pocket said, ¡°It is.¡±


    ¡°I would have loved to stay,¡± she said.


    ¡°As would I,¡± Pocket said, ¡°But we talked about this.¡±


    ¡°The High Federation knows it''s there,¡± she said.


    ¡°And no matter how much Valm''s golden boy says that he won''t harm us, we know that as soon as he''s gone, they''ll be back.¡±


    Analyza nodded glumly at this.


    ¡°What are we going to do, Pock?¡± she said, ¡°I''m scared.¡±


    ¡°I am too,¡± Pocket said, ¡°But...¡±


    She looked down at her.


    ¡°We''re together. That''s what matters, at the end of the day.¡±


    ¡­


    ¡­


    In the same hold, Uni was checking over the last of the weapons they had smuggled onto the Memnis. Meloche stood apart from them, reading a book on urban warfare. Wavemaker was tapping a hand against the floor, which rippled at his touch. Fractal was watching Uni check over a rifle.


    ¡°As soon as we get to Karatropolis,¡± Uni said, ¡°We''ll need to make sure you have the bag.¡±


    ¡°Me?¡± Fractal said, ¡°Why me?¡±


    ¡°Because you stand the best chance of not getting stopped by the Feddies,¡± she said, ¡°I''ve got this horn on my head. Meloche, no offense, looks like a metahuman. Wavemaker might be able to get it, but he''ll already be on thin ice trying to get us through with those forged licenses.¡±


    She polished the barrel of one of the pistols.


    ¡°Only one crime at a time,¡± she said.This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    Fractal swallowed.


    ¡°Alright,¡± she said, ¡°Not what I''m used to, but I''ll do it.¡±


    Uni smirked at her.


    ¡°You were a good girl before New Ludaya, weren''t you?¡±


    ¡°I didn''t even know I was metahuman until I started traveling,¡± Fractal said, ¡°I only know how to be polite, or how to hit someone really hard.¡±


    ¡°You will learn,¡± Meloche said from his corner, ¡°We''ll teach you as we go along. There''s more to being a metahuman than using your abilities.¡±


    Fractal smiled at this.


    ¡°Yes,¡± she said, ¡°I suppose there is.¡±


    ***


    And, at last, the Memnis started up its engines. Shuddered, for a second, as its warp drive came online, that rainbow thing that held Imagination itself.


    A crowd of metahumans and Oshya:de stood to see it off. Heading them were Hadawa''ko and Tekahentakwa. They stepped out of Gan¨¢:yeht and onto Impellia III and the Silver Eye. Rankled their noses at the smell of the planet. At the coldness of it. The glowing of the baublefruit trees. And the foreign stars in the sky.


    ¡°There,¡± Stepping Stone said, pointing it out to them, ¡°See that blot there? That''s the Memnis.¡±


    ¡°And those are Federation ships around it?¡± Hadawa''ko said.


    A pause.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Stepping Stone said, ¡°That''s them.¡±


    He laughed nervously.


    ¡°Scary, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    The two Oshya:de simply stared up at the fleet, their mouths creased in thin frowns.


    But they, at least, waved with the rest of the others as the Memnis disappeared into the night. One moment it was there, the next it was not. To far-off Karatropolis.


    And that was that.


    In ones or twos, sometimes threes and sometimes as family units, those who remained went back through the Traveling Point.


    ***


    Valm was, at last, allowed to return. He and the rest of Pagan Chorus took a shuttle to the flagship of the Twelve-Thousandth Blessing-Upon-Blessings, an old Petraek-class, all sharp edges and points and without the crescent-moon shape that defined the more classical and neo-classical starships within the High Federation''s fleet. They gave them a hero''s welcome, half of the crew gathered in the hangar bay and clapped as the Prime Voice stepped off of the shuttle.


    The admiral herself walked up and introduced herself to Valm. The two exchanged pleasantries, commented on a few things, the planet below, the state of the survivors, how Valm looked to be at the height of health.


    Kathen hardly noticed.


    He heard the ripple of the fleet in the back of his mind, filling the spot where Merry''s chatter usually would go. It forced out her snide little comments. They were upset. They were relieved.


    They were ready to go home.


    The Twelve-Thousandth Blessing-Upon-Blessings found nothing worth avenging on Impellia III. At Valm''s command, the fleet ceased any hostile operations, its bioscans and projected plans for potential glassing, and as one, like white blood cells within the body, they turned, and warped out of the system.


    Kathen did not see Valm, nor really any other members of Pagan Chorus, for a while. He was assigned temporary quarters, and he spent his time there. Merry fed him news. Old Scar was wheeled to the medical wing, and he was undergoing extensive surgery. Rhunea was at the bar again. Dicaeopolis inquired after his young guildmate for another game of Under the Ruler''s Gaze. But, upon learning that Kate wished to be left alone, he sent him well wishes, and disturbed him no further.


    It was on the second day of the fleet''s travel back to Everlasting Truth that Kathen received summons from the guildmaster.


    He rose from his bed. Showered. Put on his overcoat, donned the badge of the High Federation, which felt like fool''s gold upon his chest. He needed Merry''s help to guide him to Valm''s quarters. The crew gave him nods as he walked. Some even saluted. Word was traveling of Kathen''s leadership on the Oshya:de''s plane.


    Valm''s room was a luxurious one, the floor made of marble, the lights here mimicking sunlight instead of the artificial purples and reds like the rest of the ship. Plants grew in pots on either side of the doorway, and a long table had been set up in the center, a feast laid out for Valm and any of his guests. Berries and meats and stews, legs of far-off animals that were salted and spiced. Wines of a dozen varieties, some that were dry and others that burned, still more that left one''s head spinning with delight. A small pool of water was in the corner, and a waterfall deluged down into its center. The ambience of nature, captured and brought here.


    ¡°Ah, Kathen,¡± Valm said, ¡°Come. Sit.¡±


    Kathen sat down across from Valm. Looked askance of him. The Prime Voice merely smiled. He was wearing a fresh set of robes. His wing had been repaired and regenerated. He looked as fresh and new as when he had left for Impellia III.


    ¡°We have much to talk about,¡± Valm said, ¡°But, first. Eat. You must be hungry.¡±


    The two ate, and for a time the only sound was the scraping of knives, the awkward smacks of chewing and swallowing. When they had finished, Valm looked up at Kathen.


    ¡°So,¡± he said, ¡°You chose to let them live.¡±


    Kathen nodded. He felt a pinprick, warm and anxious, settle at the base of his spine, start crawling up his back. Valm''s eyes studied him for a while.


    ¡°Why?¡± the guildmaster asked.


    ¡°Because I could hear them,¡± Kathen said, ¡°I could hear everyone. Everyone''s fears. Their anxieties. At first I thought... I thought that it was because of the situation. The metahumans were building a nation, and the Federation was responding as it always did.¡±


    He looked away from Valm, his gaze landing on one of the goblets of wine. It was still full, and as the ship lurched onwards it rippled slightly, as though heralding a giant.


    ¡°But I listened more,¡± Kathen said, after a time, ¡°And... I realized something. Everyone there was lost.¡±


    He met Valm''s stare again.


    ¡°Lost. All of us. All of them. Everyone, just flailing about. Trying to make sense of the hatred around us. Trying to understand why... why someone would do this. Would ruin families. Kill fathers. Kill mothers, kill sons and daughters. The killing of a world, and everyone wondered why, and no one thought that there could be anything else.¡±


    ¡°You heard their voices,¡± Valm said.


    ¡°I did.¡±


    ¡°And you took control of my guild,¡± Valm said, ¡°Away from Old Scar.¡±


    ¡°As is my right,¡± Kathen said, harder, ¡°I am Sairad Ghedir.¡±


    And a thin smile crept onto Valm''s face.


    ¡°You don''t even know what that means, do you?¡± he said.


    ¡°Lord of the Past,¡± Kathen said, ¡°I feel it, but I do not know it. But perhaps that is enough.¡±


    ¡°It is not,¡± Valm said, ¡°But it is a start.¡±


    He tilted his head forward.


    ¡°We will learn, in the coming weeks,¡± he said, ¡°You will train. And reveal your true heritage. Who you are, which is ruler of all.¡±


    Kathen''s brow furrowed.


    ¡°Tell me,¡± Olendris Valm said, ¡°What can you tell me about our founders, the Alu''eer?¡±


    ***


    At last, the Titania Amber settled down onto Gan¨¢:yeht. Cobalt Joe, Becenti, Aldreia, Nasir, Iandi, Evancar, and Lunus Oculus stood out in the field, a crowd of Oshya:de and metahumans watching them from afar.


    Meleko stepped out of the ship first. Strapped to the gills with weapons, the Jugdran looked ready for a fight. Four eyes swiveled to and fro, his very appearance making a few of the Oshya:de gasp in surprise.


    But he looked over and smiled at Joe.


    ¡°Hey,¡± he said, ¡°Hell of a time, right?¡±


    ¡°You have no idea,¡± Joe said.


    They bumped fists.


    The second person to come out of the ship was none other than Vyde Wakeling herself. She floated in the air like a rogue planetoid, turning this way and that, her mashed up nose sniffing the air, taking in the world of Gan¨¢:yeht.


    ¡°Myron,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°What exactly happened?¡±


    ¡°...A lot,¡± Becenti said, ¡°We''ll tell you on the way back.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Has Dumandus already left?¡±


    ¡°Him and the High Federation,¡± Becenti said, ¡°They''re gone.¡±


    ¡°Ah, good,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°You took a contract with some people here, yes?¡±


    ¡°I did,¡± Becenti said, and he gestured over, ¡°In the crowd there, approaching us. That''s Clan Mother Tekahentakwa, of the Oshya:de.¡±


    ¡°And you swore on an irregular contract, I hear,¡± Wakeling said.


    ¡°A wampum,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Beads knitted together into a vow.¡±


    Wakeling nodded at that.


    ¡°Alright,¡± she said, ¡°I want to talk to the client, make sure she''s satisfied with our service.¡±


    She smirked at Becenti, winked at Joe.


    Met Lunus Oculus''s blue gaze.


    ¡°Ah,¡± she said, ¡°And you are?¡±


    ¡°L-Lunus Oculus, ma''am.¡±


    ¡°Ha!¡± Wakeling said, ¡°You''re making me feel old. I''d shake your hand, but I''m afraid I''ve left it at home.¡±


    ¡°I... see,¡± Lunus Oculus said.


    ¡°Vyde Wakeling, at your service,¡± the floating head said, ¡°Guildmaster of the Amber Foundation. No doubt you''ve worked with our best.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Lunus Oculus said, ¡°And... I''d like to join you.¡±


    Wakeling blinked.


    ¡°Join us?¡± she said, ¡°Well...¡±


    Tekahentakwa was approaching. Wakeling turned back to Lunus Oculus.


    ¡°We''ll speak later,¡± she said, ¡°How''s that sound?¡±


    Lunus Oculus smiled.


    ¡°That works for me,¡± she said.


    ***


    Tekahentakwa and Wakeling spoke alone for a long time. During which Meleko helped the others pile up onto the Titania Amber. They packed their bags. Loaded them onto the box-shaped starship.


    There were a few things to remember Gan¨¢:yeht by. Hadawa''ko came forward to Nasir, presented him with a bow and arrow.


    ¡°It is a new make,¡± he said, ¡°Carved by the Arrowmakers. I used it myself during the final battles. I want you to have it.¡±


    Nasir took it, tested its strength. The bow was supple and strong. He nodded in satisfaction.


    ¡°A good weapon,¡± he said, ¡°May you need these only for hunting.¡±


    W¨¢:ri and Kariwase, meanwhile, were talking with Evancar. The Professor was hard at work writing, listening as Kariwase recounted the stories of the Oshya:de to him. To be recorded, to be remembered, for when Gan¨¢:yeht lapsed out of forecast with the rest of the multiverse.


    Becenti was speaking quietly to Tallneck. The giraffe-necked metahuman was presenting him with a silver necklace.


    ¡°It was Luminary''s,¡± he said.


    Becenti looked down at it.


    It was an amulet that depicted the symbol of Old Ludaya. Back when she and Becenti had been the idealists, and not the cynics. It shared the same iconography as New Ludaya, depicting twin strands of DNA, curling around each other like lovers.


    But, unlike New Ludaya, there was no sword. No promise of war and vengeance-laced justice. Justice, to them, back then, was simply leaving and getting to wake up in the morning.


    He shuddered a sigh. Held the necklace close to his chest.


    ¡°She kept it,¡± he said.


    ¡°We found it in her quarters, as we were clearing it out,¡± Tallneck said.


    ¡°She kept it,¡± Becenti said, again, and he bit back tears, ¡°Oh god, Luminary...¡±


    Memories swirled in his mind, broken fresh anew. Of times of war, of joy stolen between moments of violence. Shimmer and Luminary, two metahumans against the world, seeing the sights of the multiverse under the thick veneer of bloodshed. Of whispered talks over a campfire of better days and better dreams. Musings over political writings, studies of the laws of nations, and where they failed and succeeded. Of ancient metahuman heroes, those icons of Epochia.


    All of this, and all that was left was an old man and a necklace.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± he said, ¡°This is more than she deserved.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Tallneck said, ¡°I... I hope you can make it mean more than... this.¡±


    He gestured to Gan¨¢:yeht. And the sins that had happened here.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    After a time, Wakeling returned back to the group.


    ¡°Last goodbyes made?¡± she asked.


    They nodded.


    ¡°Alright,¡± she said, ¡°Amber Foundation, we''re going home.¡±


    She winked at Lunus Oculus.


    ¡°We''ll interview you en route. How''s that sound?¡±


    Lunus Oculus grinned.


    ¡°I would like nothing better.¡±


    ***


    Let us speak of Cobalt Joe.


    Joseph Zheng.


    The names felt interchangeable in his mind. Both of them, part of him. Both of them, the whole of him. The eagle and the metahuman, the soul and the flesh, intertwined and dancing together like DNA strands.


    He talked with Lunus Oculus on the way back to Londoa. The Titania Amber took the usual route back home, a flight across space that took the better part of two weeks. Back to Everlasting Truth, and the Traveling Point that led to Beritale Landmass. He read a few books that Wakeling provided, swapped stories with Meleko about what had been going on in the guild.


    ¡°Aye,¡± the Jugdran said, ¡°Rosemary and Orion just got back from that job on Duran, so she should be around.¡±


    He winked at him. Joseph furrowed his brow.


    (Tried not to redden.)


    ¡°What about Phin?¡± he said.


    ¡°Oh, still with Draynach on Amzuth,¡± Meleko said, ¡°They should be home soon.¡±


    Lunus Oculus listened to them with rapt attention. Many new names. Many new faces that she would soon have to learn, and remember.


    Well, she had done so on New Ludaya. She would do so again.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    And, late at night, when everyone else was asleep and Joseph was manning the console, he would spend his time deciphering Nai Nai''s journal. He listened to music quietly, running the mixtape G-Wiz had given him on repeat, Nujabes and MF DOOM and other artists from Earth acting as the beat to his research. His head pounded with a dozen languages that he didn''t recognize, all in his Nai Nai''s script, the only familiarity in a book of peculiar journeys.


    He was getting closer, he knew. Each day, each time he opened the pages, more pieces fell into place, as though F¨¥ngb¨¤o had written it solely for him.


    Getting closer...


    He drifted to sleep.


    Becenti found him the next morning, book half-open, his cheek resting on the console.


    He smiled at his guildmate. Was proud that he had done the right thing, when the truth was presented to him. He closed up the journal, gave it a cursory look, and took control of the console from the other seat. Let Joe rest. He deserved it.


    God willing, they all did.


    ¡­


    ...


    Thus did the Amber Foundation return back to Londoa, to Castle Belenus, to Scuttleway. Joseph slept like a log the first night home. Went out for drinks with Rosemary and Broon the second. Talked with Lunus Oculus the third, for she was allowed to join the guild. Had a visit from Glonthek gel Glonthek the fourth, to go over any potential legal ramifications with Pagan Chorus. All the while, he felt...


    At peace.


    Content, for he was back with his people.


    ***


    Becenti was not so happy to return.


    The adrenaline, the energy, the sheer rage had, at last, abated, returning back to that spot in the pit of Becenti''s stomach, to be called upon for use later. Anger was something he knew well, and used well, but he always felt exhausted afterward.


    Exhausted, and sad.


    He looked at the dingy state of his office. At his quilt hanging from his wall like a mere poster, one his father had given him, a hand-me-down from his grandmother. He had never known her. He had never known really much of his family, really, save for the work of cars and the attempts by his brothers to go to powwows and learn Navajo.


    His old bookshelf, too, with his metahuman books. Another attempt to find some sort of legacy. This he stared at, and not for the first time, with disdain and loathing. How he hated himself. How he hated the metagene, and all that it stood for. Hadn''t he suffered enough?


    He buried his face in his hands.


    Sobbed, quietly, alone in the office.


    All dreams were ended. All hope was gone.


    There were only the nightmares now, those that came with wakefulness.


    ...But he knew he would get up the next morning, and continue the work again.


    There was no choice but to.


    ***


    ...Let us speak of Kehaulani. Twenty-eight years old. Her metahuman power was the gift of night ¨C she knew the number of stars in the sky of every plane she visited.


    As of now, as she rose in the middle of the night, she counted three thousand, seven hundred, and forty three. Visible, at least. Four hundred of them were molting, shining brighter than the others. One was winking out, an old beetle that had lived its time. Two hundred more were hatching atop their mother''s back, to crawl on the inner dome of Gan¨¢:yeht.


    Makaio was crying again. She could hear him from across the room of the longhouse. She made to rise-


    But Tekahentakwa was already awake, already striding over to pick him up. She rocked him gently, whispering sweet promises to him, gently swayed until he had calmed down, and gone back to sleep.


    Eksonis had been woken up, too. He looked over at Kehaulani. Shrugged.


    It was a difficult thing to get used to. Before, they had been the only two to look after Makaio. The midwives had left the maternity house, visiting during the day, but most of the other metahumans had been called to work, unable to help them with the baby.


    But now, it seemed like every single woman in the longhouse, in the community, was there. At both night and day. It was Tekahentakwa''s turn to look after him tonight. Tomorrow, it would be someone else.


    It takes a village, indeed.


    She still wasn''t used to it.


    But she watched Tekahentakwa lower Makaio back to bed. The Clan Mother moved back over to her own bed. Her eyes met Kehaulani''s. She smiled.


    ¡°Let him sleep,¡± her voice was a bare whisper, ¡°Let him dream.¡±


    Kehaulani closed her eyes. She heard ¨C and felt ¨C Eksonis shift, move over, cover her with his scaled arms, his snout resting in her hair. It was cold tonight. The fire had gone down to bare embers. Tekahentakwa would stoke it back to life soon enough.


    ...For the first time in a very long time, Kehaulani felt safe.


    She went back to sleep.


    Outside, Gan¨¢:yeht stirred and shifted, as all planes do. Crickets chirped. Wolves howled at the ever-shifting moon. A few nocturnal metahumans moved through the forest. A few Oshya:de, too, teens who were at last able to run free through the prairies. The rivers churned. The lake shimmered with slivers of glass light.


    The world was alive.

 168. Greetings from the World Tree

    Methuselah.


    One of the oldest inhabited planes in the multiverse, with a history that rivaled that of the High Federation''s ¨C indeed, the Silver Eye and the World Tree had been friends, lovers, rivals, bitter enemies, sometimes all at once, for thousands upon thousands of years. A vast tree, larger than life and stretching downwards to eternity, its roots snarled into the fabric between planes, that place of storms and imagination and possibility. It was this which nourished it. Which allowed entire forests, continental offshoots of trees of a million makes, to root on its branches. Entire cities were built on Methuselah''s branches, drooped off of overhangs, sailed from place to place on leaves the size of starships. Wars were fought, and contained, on the tree alone. Within its trunk lived colonies of dwarves and molemen and dark elves and other folk who, instead of deep underground, lived within the tree¡¯s interior, carving holes and sap-bled tunnels. Lives were lived and ended on Methuselah, with the people never once seeing the multiverse, despite the World Tree''s influence upon the rest of reality.


    It was here that the Two Hundred Thousandth-and-Third Interplanar Auction of Triceradeus was being held. The Auction, named in honor of the legendary Triceradeus, guildmaster of the Acting Kings, changed hosts every year, traveling from plane to plane, collecting wonders and artifacts from the breadth of reality.


    (Stolen and otherwise.)


    It was also tradition for the auction to be held within a guildhall, for the Acting Kings were among the first guilds to be founded and given a guild charter, and Triceradeus had been one of the first signatories of the Law of InterGuild.


    And who better to host this auspicious event than Blue Sky Waiting, one of the largest and most powerful guilds in the multiverse?


    ¡­


    ¡­


    It was a fucking nightmare, in Haemosu''s opinion.


    Any good guild worth its salt had an empty guildhall. An empty guildhall meant one of two things: either there weren''t any members in the guild, or the good majority of its makeup was out in the multiverse on work. In Blue Sky Waiting''s case, it was the latter. The Interplanar Auction was coming up, and all that he had to his name for security was...


    Six.


    Six guildmembers.


    Including himself, yes, and including the guildmaster, which would be enough to dissuade most of the smaller guilds from doing anything funny. But it was a skeleton crew, to oversee security and make sure no one snooped into the more... private areas, of Oracle''s Aviary.


    The warlock passed by the security automatons that patrolled the halls. Drebulon''s work. At least there were more than six bodies, for this. If not for the Makooran, Haemosu would have protested more heavily to Aldr Fatebreaker.


    The guildmaster''s office was located just down the hall from the observatory. Its cherry doors swung open without Haemosu''s need to knock. The sound of songbirds filled the room, for Aldr Fatebreaker''s office was as much a garden as it was a study. The ground here was loam and grass and wild flowers. Shelf trees from the Flyleaf Forest lined the walls, or grew hither and thither, and held Aldr''s books and tomes and random trophies from his many adventures. The very desk that the Fatebreaker was kneeling over grew out of the ground, roots rising up and forming a roughly flat surface topped with the endless paperwork of the average guildmaster.


    ¡°Sir,¡± Haemosu said, ¡°It''s almost ready.¡±


    Two eyes swiveled up to look at Haemosu. The third, the one on Aldr''s forehead, continued staring down at what he was writing. He was wearing sky-colored robes today, and they reflected the afternoon outside, with its lazy traveling clouds and bright blue affect.


    ¡°Ah,¡± Aldr said, ¡°Good.¡±


    Another few awkward moments passed. Haemosu crossed his arms, leaned against one of the shelf trees. Even now, weeks before the auction, he was wearing armor, his sword at his side. Aldr Fatebreaker smiled.


    ¡°Everything alright, my boy?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Nervous, is all,¡± Haemosu said.


    ¡°If it makes you feel better, I am too,¡± Aldr Fatebreaker said.


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t exactly put me at ease,¡± Haemosu said.


    ¡°I suppose it doesn¡¯t,¡± Aldr Fatebreaker said.


    He sat up straight.


    ¡°It''s been almost a hundred years since we''ve hosted the Auction,¡± he said, ¡°And I was much more prepared back then. Not that I don''t doubt your abilities, my friend.¡±


    ¡°But you had more people.¡±


    ¡°We technically have more guards here, this go-around,¡± Aldr said, ¡°Back then, there were thirty guildmates protecting Oracle¡¯s Aviary.¡±


    ¡°Thirty,¡± Haemosu said, ¡°Versus six.¡±


    He let the statement hang in the air. Aldr did, too, letting Haemosu ruminate and collect his thoughts. The warlock pushed his black hair, scored through with cyan, out of his face.


    ¡°I just think,¡± he said, ¡°That there¡¯s a lot that can go wrong here, sir.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Aldr said.


    ¡°I think you¡¯re underestimating the guilds that are going to be involved here. I saw the rosters. Pantheon¡¯s here. The Amber Foundation¡¯s bringing in some of their heavy hitters. Hell, even Ultan¡­¡±


    ¡°Let me deal with him,¡± Aldr said, his voice dark.


    ¡°There¡¯s a chance that this will be disastrous,¡± Haemosu pressed, ¡°It¡¯ll be chaos.¡±


    At this, Aldr smiled wanly.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that what all guilds are?¡± he said, ¡°Controlled chaos.¡±


    ***


    ¡°Eight members, Myron,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Are you sure?¡±


    ¡°I am,¡± Becenti said, ¡°It''s required.¡±


    The two guildmembers sat in Wakeling''s study. The sky above reflected the outside world, and distant Darkheld staring back at them with its fires and ruined cities, for the eln meia were busy expanding and conquering the entirety of the Landmass. Rumors were beginning to flutter in that they were eyeing the inner portion of Moadma, and they were starting to set Scuttleway on edge.


    ¡°Ichabod,¡± Wakeling read out from his proposal, ¡°Urash, Archenround... Good lord, link up with Petra on Methuselah, to use her influence on the Auction?¡±


    She looked up at him.


    ¡°For Commodore Shelley?¡± she said.


    ¡°One of his officers is going to be attending on his behalf,¡± Becenti said, ¡°That''s what Petra, Gouffant, and Orion are for.¡±


    ¡°Myron,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°We''re already stretched thin as it is. We''ve got three other jobs lined up that we could use Urash alone on.¡±


    ¡°I know it''s a big ask,¡± Becenti said, ¡°But Urash is one of our best magicians.¡±


    ¡°He and Petra hate each other.¡±


    ¡°He and Petra,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Are both professionals.¡±


    The two held in silence. Wakeling studied Becenti''s face for a long time. It had been two months since he had returned from Gan¨¢:yeht. The others had recovered well enough. Joe had just returned from a job in the north, in Mantis Shrimp. Nasir and Iandi were somewhere out in the Silver Eye. Even Aldreia was out, working with Professor Morandus on an archaelogical dig in the Eona-Umani Paradigm.


    But not Becenti. He had been sequestered to Castle Belenus. Recovering. Hardly speaking to anyone else. Taking his meals in his room, only coming out to assign jobs, or to scold Lazuli.


    Wakeling sighed.


    ¡°What''s going on with this Shelley fellow, Myron?¡± she said, ¡°This is the fourth job we''ve taken from him.¡±


    ¡°He is a repeat client,¡± Becenti said, ¡°A good thing.¡±


    ¡°He is also an Commodore of the High Federation,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°He''s got other resources to do the¡­ sorts of things he''s asking us to do.¡±


    ¡°It''s security for the Auction,¡± Becenti said, ¡°Nothing more.¡±


    ¡°This looks more like a chimera,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°A few people to play guild politics. A few to muscle in. A few to pull off a heist.¡±


    She tilted her head forward.


    ¡°You''re expecting this to blow up in your face, aren''t you?¡±


    Becenti grimaced. A dark sort of anger rippled in his eyes.


    ¡°Yes,¡± he admitted.


    ¡°You know,¡± Wakeling said, and the paper moved as though it were in her hand, as she shook it, ¡°There''s a reason why we usually don''t play security for the Auction. It''s dangerous business.¡±


    ¡°I''m aware.¡±


    ¡°What''s there, that you''re not telling me?¡± Wakeling said, ¡°What is Commodore Shelley so concerned about?¡±


    ¡°He''s asked for it to be made confidential,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°I''m not asking him,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°I''m asking you.¡±


    Becenti blinked.


    ¡°Don''t think I don''t know that you''re in private communication with him,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°That job you sent Joe on, to that undiscovered plane. It was for something related to the recent... rumors, of the Sons of Darwin returning. Is this one of those, too? Were the others?¡±


    The metahuman looked away. His mouth creased into a thin frown. Wakeling shook her head.


    ¡°Myron,¡± she said, ¡°I... I understand, that you''ve been having a rough few months. Trust me, I do. But this-¡±


    She presented the paper.


    ¡°I don''t like this,¡± she said, ¡°You''re using the guild as a... a blunt tool. To do what the Federation won''t. You''re putting your guildmates'' lives on the line.¡±


    ¡°He pays well,¡± Becenti said.


    ¡°Oh, he pays very well,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°More than a Commodore''s salary. Shelley''s putting his life savings into this endeavor. It''s only for the money, and the payout, that I''m allowing you to assign so many people to this.¡±


    She leaned in, tilted her head down level to Becenti¡¯s field of view.


    ¡°But if I feel that the guild is putting too much at risk by taking these sorts of contracts, I''m putting Shelley on the blacklist.¡±


    She raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°Are we clear?¡±


    Becenti''s face had gone flat. When he spoke, it was terse.


    ¡°Crystal, guildmaster.¡±


    (How she hated when people called her like that.)


    ¡°Good,¡± Wakeling said, ¡°Now. Go assign your people. I''ll get in contact with Petra. You''re dismissed.¡±


    ***


    Gaiusaia was a planet in the Milky Way, a distant world that was far from Prime. In stark constrast to the Silver Eye, the Milky Way was a relatively empty galaxy, home to a few lonely High Federation outposts, perhaps a few lifeforms that merited some measure of intelligence. But the Federation was already stretched thin with governing its own worlds and the planes of the multiverse, and as such had few resources to spare to colonizing and exploring Prime''s host.


    A perfect place for the remaining Sons of Darwin to set up home. Gaiusaia was a swampworld, with red rain that made the mist glow scarlet. Humid and harsh, the denizens of the planet, Darwinist scientists who had chosen to flee than be absorbed into the Federation''s research branches, lived within bulbous domes on the planet''s surface. They were not the glass-like fish bowls like some other terraformed colonies that Manny had seen. These were clustered things, growths upon metal growths, ugly and strange on an ugly and strange landscape.


    To Manny, it was home.


    He sat on a table in Doctor Matergabia''s lab, which she kept unlit, the only source of light being the neon vials and alembics she kept around for her own experiments. But Manny did not need light to see. He had gotten new eyes installed recently, Dusktiger''s eyes, and he saw without need for mechanicall aid. Matergabia had been dabbling more in organic tech as of late, and Manny found he quite enjoyed his new vision.


    She was at her desk, looking over a series of readouts coming from the needle implanted in Manny''s arm. A few more were positioned on his shoulders. He stared at her as she worked, keying in a few parameters for her experiment. A woman from the Soviet Union. She had worked with the superhero Red Iron long ago, before the war, but had turned and joined the Darwinists when the Manticore''s forces loomed over Prime.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.


    She never said why.


    She pushed back a gray curl out of her eyes, adjusted her glasses, and spoke.


    ¡°Alright, Manny,¡± she said, ¡°Lift your arm up by ninety degrees.¡±


    ¡°Yes, ma''am.¡±


    He lifted his arm.


    ¡°Now, flex.¡±


    Manny did so. A solid bulge of muscle pushed out beneath his skin. Half of it was from his workout regimen. Half of it was from the furthered experiments that Doctor Matergabia had been doing upon him as of late. Jericho always made fun of him for it.


    ¡°Hard work hardly works, right?¡± his friend laughed, ¡°Maybe I should get me a good doctor, implant me with all sorts of gooey business.¡±


    Manny had rolled his eyes.


    ¡°Alright,¡± Doctor Matergabia''s voice snapped him back to attention, ¡°I think this is good. You''re holding together.¡±


    She looked at him with sharp, gray eyes.


    ¡°How do you feel?¡±


    ¡°Fine,¡± Manny said, ¡°No pain.¡±


    ¡°We''ll see how your newfound strength goes with your next job,¡± Doctor Matergabia siad, ¡°You''ll need it.¡±


    Manny nodded. An auction, on far-off Methuselah. He''d never been.


    ¡°What is the plane like?¡± he asked.


    Doctor Matergabia snorted.


    ¡°It''s a giant tree,¡± she said, ¡°Nothing else.¡±


    Manny blinked. Felt his heart rate quicken at the thought of it.


    ¡°And... people live on it?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Manny,¡± Doctor Matergabia said.


    ¡°...What kind of tree is it?¡±


    At this, Doctor Matergabia rolled her eyes.


    ¡°Does it matter?¡± she said, ¡°You''re going there.¡±


    ¡°I-I know,¡± Manny said, ¡°But...¡±


    He wasn''t sure how to put it. This feeling. The idea of going to some far-off place, to see the multiverse.


    ¡°I''m curious,¡± he said.


    Doctor Matergabia stopped writing in her observations. She turned, again, to face Manny, studying his face.


    ¡°You''re not supposed to be ''curious,''¡± she said, ¡°Been reading more of those adventure books, haven''t you?¡±


    Manny shrugged.


    Doctor Matergabia sighed. Rubbed her eyes. It was late, and Manny was due to ship off in the morning.


    ¡°It''s a cutting of the first tree in the multiverse,¡± she said, ¡°Or, so the locals say.¡±


    Manny sat up straighter at that. His eyes widened.


    ¡°I... see,¡± he said, and he tried to hide the excitement in his voice.


    ¡°Now, what the locals say, and what science says, don''t always align,¡± Doctor Matergabia said, ¡°They talk up the tree quite a bit. How it''s one of the oldest beings existence. How in some parts it''s a pine, others an oak, further more juniper. How...¡±


    She looked over. Noted, again, that Manny was leaning to listen.


    Noted how he hung on every word.


    She snorted. Could not hide her smile.


    ¡°It is said,¡± she said, ¡°That its sap, one of the rarest substances in the multiverse, were used to entrap the Manticore.¡±


    At this, Manny wilted. A reminder of his mission.


    ¡°The Auction there,¡± he said, ¡°I''m to retrieve the item there.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Doctor Matergabia said.


    ¡°...Can I stay a bit longer after?¡± Manny said, ¡°I want to see the trees.¡±


    The Doctor shook her head.


    ¡°No, Manny,¡± she said, ¡°You''ll have to be quick. We''re expecting it to get hot there. Get in, get out.¡±


    And her sharp features relaxed, just slightly.


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± she said, ¡°I can find some old books about the place. I''m sure there are some in the library.¡±


    Manny perked up at this.


    ¡°I would like that,¡± he said, and he broke into a wide grin.


    ¡°Good,¡± Doctor Matergabia said, and she was relieved by how quick he was to agree to her compromise. Perhaps it was because he was going to Methuselah itself...


    ¡°Now,¡± she said, ¡°Lift your arm again. There''s a few micro-adjustments I need to make. It won''t take long.¡±


    Manny did so.


    A few minor tweaks, here and there.


    And he was ready.


    ***


    In truth, Ichabod was not relishing having to leave Castle Belenus.


    He was thinking about the coming job as he and Oris Vicenorn had their picnic in Pelkerson''s Park. He watched as a few teenagers, two humans and a goblin, were hanging out by the fountain, the goblin walking along the fountain''s edge, one of the humans every so often running her hand across the water''s surface.


    Vicenorn did not need to eat. A Braindoll, his body was artificial, though it took the form of a large man with a mechanical arm from Kelstonda, which could flip into a variety of implements he used for his engineering work. He instead jacked a small tube into his shoulder, filled with a bright green liquid, that slowly churned downwards to provide nutrients to his brain, the only thing that he needed to keep going.


    Still, he missed eating. Eating, and his red beard. They had spent the last six months buying synthetic skin for his new frame after the old one had been destroyed on Neos during a raid on the Tower of Eden, guildhall of Pantheon. His old body had been able to eat. Had been able to digest, do all of those things that made Vicenorn ''human.''


    (Or, at least, what he thought humanity to be.)


    So he didn''t look at the plug as it churned away. He rubbed a beardless face, cherubic and smooth, and winced.


    Ichabod only sipped at his thermos of coffee. He didn''t like eating around Vicenorn. But he leaned against the large man''s arm, nonetheless, the two of them enjoying some measure of peace. The sounds of the city went away, just a bit, when they were here. Pelkerson''s Park was a famous meeting place for those who needed a break from the urban bustle of Scuttleway. A slice of nature in a district of chaos.


    ¡°How long?¡± Vicenorn asked.


    ¡°I don''t know,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°A few weeks.¡±


    He sipped at his coffee.


    ¡°Taking quite the team, too,¡± he continued, ¡°Urash, Archenround, Vespa. Meeting Petra there, too.¡±


    ¡°Petra?¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°Petra Balishen?¡±


    ¡°The very same,¡± Ichabod replied, ¡°Urash is livid.¡±


    ¡°Anyone else?¡±


    ¡°Orion, Gouffant, and Dama Runebreaker are going, too,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Becenti''s sending them to act as security for the client.¡±


    ¡°And the rest of you aren''t?¡±


    Ichabod was quiet at that.


    Vicenorn sighed. He knew the answer to that question. The Auction was never peaceful. There was a reason why it was powerful guilds like Blue Sky Waiting that hosted the events.


    ¡°I should go with you,¡± Vicenorn said.


    ¡°What?¡± Ichabod said, ¡°No, no, don''t you even think on it.¡±


    He wagged a mechanical finger.


    ¡°This is going to get dangerous.¡±


    ¡°Which is precisely why-¡±


    ¡°You shouldn''t be there,¡± Ichabod interrupted. Vicenorn looked taken aback. One disadvantage to going beardless was that Ichabod could more easily see the emotion on his face. The hurt. Ichabod grimaced, standing up and pacing on the grass. He took off his sunglasses and looked at Vicenorn with glass eyes.


    ¡°I need you here,¡± he said, ¡°Where I know you''ll be safe.¡±


    ¡°And I need to be there,¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°So I know... so I know I can keep you safe.¡±


    ¡°I still remember Neos,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°And there''ll be more dangerous people than that damned fox. Becenti''s sending some of our best for this.¡±


    Vicenorn was quiet.


    ¡°We just spent all of our money to get you that new frame,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Hair''s going to be a bit expensive, but we''re... we''re getting there. I don''t want to have to start from scratch again.¡±


    ¡°Alright, Ichabod,¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°You don''t have to say anything else. I understand.¡±


    Worlds in those words. Ichabod was not sure whether to be relieved or hurt. He felt a knot of emotion in his stomach, all the same.


    ¡°I have to meet with Vespa,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°I need to go over some security business with her. Meet for dinner?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Vicenorn said, ¡°Of course.¡±


    They kissed goodbye, and Ichabod went off.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    Vicenorn stayed in the park for a long time, thinking.


    Thinking, and worrying.


    ***


    No one knew what plane Vespa came from. Some distant one. Nameless, or at least unpronouncable in her native tonuge of buzzing and chittering. For Vespa was a hive of hornets. Hundreds of them at at time, she was among the more unsettling members of the guild. Ichabod had to suppress an urge to flee as he approached her. She was at the top of the lighthouse, with Rosemary. Rosemary''s sceptre was positioned at its usual spot on a hole in the railing, collecting sunlight. Vespa was spread out around her, hornets resting on the elf''s shoulders and nestled in her hair, on the rails, a couple fluttering lazily about. The queen of the hive was on Rosemary''s shoulder. Ichabod had once thought that the queen was Vespa''s ''core,'' yet every few years a new one was birthed, the old one was eaten, and Vespa remained the same.


    He tried not to think about that.


    Rosemary noted the mechanical man stepping out onto the lighthouse''s pier. She broke into a wide smile.


    ¡°Why, Ichabod!¡± she said, ¡°Finally trying to get a tan?¡±


    ¡°Why, Rosemary!¡± Ichabod said, ¡°You should join me. Take off that cloak of yours, eh?¡±


    Not much of an insult on the outside, but Rosemary went red at his words. She almost never took off the cloak in public, to better cover herself, to cover twin scars on her back, just below her shoulder blades. Even when she wore her blouses or armor, she wore it.


    She turned away, quite put off, indeed. Ichabod sneered, gesturing around.


    ¡°Vespa,¡± he said, ¡°I have need of you.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± the voice came from every hornet. A chorus of buzzes, churning together into melodies and song, resembling something vaguely human, ¡°See you, Rosemary.¡±


    ¡°Uh, yeah,¡± Rosemary said, glum, ¡°See you.¡±


    The hornets congregated together into a massive flying pile of carapace and wings. Ichabod started his way back down the stairs. Spiraling down and down, the lighthouse had only one worker, who only manned the building at night, or during heavy storms. All other times, it was left to Rosemary and whoever she decided to bring up.


    ¡°You should say nice things,¡± Vespa''s voice rang.


    ¡°I merely bit back,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°That''s all.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps I''ll tell Vicenorn.¡±


    ¡°Don''t you dare,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°He and I have already talked about it.¡±


    ¡°Then you should say nice things,¡± Vespa repeated.


    The swarm rippled in amusement. Ichabod shook his head.


    ¡°Look,¡± he said, ¡°I wanted to go over the travel plan with you.¡±


    ¡°You''re not stuffing me in a box again, are you?¡± Vespa asked.


    ¡°What?¡± Ichabod said, ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Vespa said, and she shivered in something between amusement, fear, and anger, ¡°That would not be good.¡±


    ¡°We''re going to be going on one of our client''s ships,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°A Fedtek vessel. They''ve already been briefed about the membership.¡±


    ¡°And they are alright with me?¡± Vespa asked.


    ¡°I suppose they''ll have no choice but to be,¡± Ichabod said.


    A pause.


    ¡°Why is Becenti sending me on this mission?¡± the swarm asked.


    ¡°Because you''re perfect for what we have in mind,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°And that is?¡±


    Ichabod sneered.


    ¡°You''re our scout,¡± he said, ¡°Our observation unit. No tech necessary. You''ll get a good idea of what it is we''ll need to grab. And if anyone gets in your way, swarm them. Mob them.¡±


    Another pause. Vespa was thinking.


    ¡°We should do nice things,¡± she said.


    ¡°Were the world a better place,¡± Ichabod said, only half-mockingly, ¡°Unfortunately, it''s not.¡±


    Hundreds of eyes stared at Ichabod. He sighed.


    ¡°If it makes you feel better,¡± he said, ¡°Most of the violence should be coming from Archenround.¡±


    ***


    Blades flashed in the practice room. Archenround and Orion were sparring, Mekke watching the proceedings. Orion''s single longsword, swathed in fire, sometimes in stone, sometimes whipping up lines of water, clashed against Archenround''s blessed Sign-Blades.


    Orion grunted as Archenround put him on the defensive. He skipped back, dancer-like, as the beaten up old street signs, stamped into axe-like swords, swung at him. Archenround''s lower body was that of a serpent''s, twisting and coiling, and he was one who paid attention to his opponent''s footwork.


    Hard to do, when your opponent had no feet.


    And yet his blade flashed. Took on the aspects of wind, and he found himself whirling faster as he regained control of their little duel. He parried one shot, then another, and then with a titanic thrust forced her back. His sword encrusted with earth, becoming heavier, and he spun, slamming it like a hammer. Archenround brought her Sign-Blades together to block the blow. Three swords sounded like a gong. The demon grimaced, as Orion hit the ground, kicking out a foot and cracking it against her side. She went down.


    Far too easily.


    ¡°Alright, enough!¡± Mekke called out, ¡°Enough!¡±


    Orion breathed heavily as he dispelled the earth from his blade, which fell to the floor as dirt, before dissolving completely. He held out a hand out to Archenround, who took it. The demon was looking away, anger written on her face.


    Not at him.


    At herself.


    ¡°It''s that side again,¡± Mekke said, ¡°You''re opening yourself up too much.¡±


    I am aware, Archenround signed to her, and her fingers were jittering and frustrated.


    ¡°Your offense is getting better, at least,¡± Orion said, ¡°You almost had me.¡±


    It used to be more, Archenround signed, I used to be more.


    Ever since Mordenaro.


    ¡°And you''ll get back up to that point,¡± Mekke said, ¡°You know that.¡±


    Archenround glared hard at the wall. She picked up her Sign-Blades off of the ground. Recovered after her battle with Mordenaro, they still felt uneven in her hands. She felt uneven. She kept tipping to the side, as though her body had lost the ability to right itself. It was exhausting.


    And yet, she was Archenround. She would make do. She had to make do.


    She slithered back to her starting place. Turned to Orion, and raised her swords.


    Orion smiled, and fire bloomed from his blade.


    And the two clashed again.


    ***


    Urash Belgone heard word that Petra Balishen was going to be joining them, and immediately went down to the Horrid Welt. Dama Runebreaker and Gouffant joined him, watching him drain mug after mug of heavy drink.


    ¡°That damnable hag,¡± he said to his mug of ale, ¡°Why Becenti chose her, of all people...¡±


    He drained his mug.


    ¡°It won''t be so bad,¡± Dama Runebreaker said, across from him at the table, ¡°Most likely you''ll be in the thick of things, and she''ll be smoothing things over.¡±


    ¡°Oh huh!¡± Urash spat, ¡°Of course, she''s the one who talks. And sucks up to the bigwigs. And swallows, too.¡±


    Dama Runebreaker scrunched up her face at his insults. Urash slammed his mug on the table.


    ¡°More!¡± he called out.


    The rest of the tavern was already at its fever pitch. Cobalt Joe was dancing in the boxing ring with one of the local favorites, an orc the size of a barge. The crowd was roaring and jeering, laughing as Joe slipped past one of the orc''s jabs, returning it with a punch of his own. Music was playing, and the two boxers split off in time to the heavy drums that thundered in everyone''s ribcages.


    Urash rolled his eyes. Took out his spellrod, muttered a spell, one of the gems set in the metal bar growing dark.


    ¡°MORE!¡± he roared, and this time his voice was ten times as loud, echoing with magic. The entire crowd, save for the two boxers, recoiled. The music stopped playing.


    One of the servers, rolling her eyes, walked over and poured him out a new drink. Urash took it, tenderly nursing it in a single hand, glaring at it like it had killed his mother. The music started up again, and the crowd let out a loud whoop as the orc crossed Joe up, downing him.


    Dama Runebreaker watched the metahuman crawl to the ropes, the referee calling out a countdown. Watched as he climbed up to his feet, shaking his head. Nodded and counted out the ref''s fingers. Then, slamming his gloved fists together, he was back in the ring.


    ¡°Yuh, it makes sense,¡± Gouffant the rat said. He was chewing on a large piece of meat, his loud smacking being the only thing able to make it over the din of the Welt, ¡°Of all the Far Travelers, she''d be the one going to an auction. You don''t see Nash or Trinimorius going to one of those.¡±


    ¡°I don''t care if it ''makes sense,''¡± Urash muttered, ¡°I care that I have to see that contemptible witch again.¡±


    ¡°Maybe don''t call her a witch,¡± Dama Runebreaker said, ¡°Maybe you should watch your tongue.¡±


    She was glaring at him, fed up with his antics. Urash rolled his eyes, drained his last mug, before slamming it on the table.


    ¡°Enough of this,¡± he said, ¡°You two are poor company.¡±


    He stomped off, swaying not a bit from so much strong drink. Dama Runebreaker looked to Gouffant. His ears flickered, his version of a shrug.


    ¡°Exes, am I right?¡± he said, ¡°At least you and Aldreia get along fine enough.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, true,¡± Dama Runebreaker said.


    The two watched the spar continue. Watched as Joe got a few good hits in, before leaping back from the orc¡¯s reach.


    ¡°Do you think it''ll be a good auction?¡± Gouffant asked.


    ¡°With the Fatebreaker in charge?¡± Dama Runebreaker said, ¡°That old man? Not a chance in hell.¡±

 169. The Imperial Capital

    Oracle''s Aviary stood as the tallest building in all of Palasaic, one of the largest cities on Methuselah. The capital of the mighty, multi-planar empire of Drindium Halsthorum, it was built both atop and hung below one of the World Tree''s continental branches. Buildings rose upwards from the bark, half-melded from wood and with bricks made of wood-fired glassleaves, which were imported from the crystalline forests that dotted Methuselah''s ecosystem here and there. This gave them a shining, slightly translucent quality, and if you squinted, on occasion you could make out the shadowed silhouettes of the building''s occupants within. A shining, refracting city. Arches looped downwards beneath the branch, and here there were airship docks, where workers unloaded cargo from ships from across the multiverse. Wooden, rune-pocked ships from Melmaen, or steaming hunks of vaguely flying metal from Kelstonda. A few starships from alien merchants who deigned to venture into the multiverse. Even the Exodus Walker''s nihilship, Old Moby, was descending down here. The skeletal frame of some long-dead, massive fish, enchanted to fly through the skies of reality by necromantic magic.


    And who else to step out of the ship but the guildmaster of the Exodus Walkers himself. Ultan was dressed in his best purple cloak, one that was studded with peacock feathers and with an elephantine Purple Lion''s mane adorning his neck. His skull head was freshly polished as he surveyed the landscape. Fleshless fingers went up to a fleshless chin, scratched curiously at the sight.


    ¡°Aha,¡± Ultan said, mirthless, ¡°Many guilds today.¡±


    He surveyed as he recognized a familiar ship. The Dreamer''s Lament. The Amber Foundation was here.


    Movement from behind. Ultan''s right hand. Palmanthra the Redeemed flew in to perch beside him on swan-white wings. She surveyed the scene with the guildmaster with sightless eyes, hidden by a band that wrapped around her head. The angel saw with more than sight, and she painted a deep frown.


    ¡°Not a bit of competition,¡± she said.


    ¡°Bah,¡± Ultan said, ¡°It gets more intense every year. I hear that Fatebreaker requisitioned an entire arm of automatons to act as security.¡±


    ¡°Helps plug in a few holes,¡± Palmanthra reasoned, ¡°Do you think it will be violent again, this year?¡±


    ¡°You saw some of the big tickets,¡± Ultan said, ¡°Of course it will get violent. Which is why we brought the big guns.¡±


    He could not smile, for that was movement of muscle and flesh. He let out a low, crackling chuckle instead, one that Palmanthra suppressed a shiver at.


    Ultan, Lord Necromancer of Tiermen, was excited indeed.


    ***


    The Dreamer''s Lament took off soon after dropping off her passengers. Ichabod surveyed the docks around him. Thank god, the sun was blocked out by the branch''s roof, which instead festered with lanterns and campfires and the occasional faerie-powered construct. Orion was beside him, stretching and groaning, before he went over and started helping Gouffant with a few of the bags. Dame Runebreaker and Vespa were talking to one another, pointing out a few ships.


    ¡°Nihilship,¡± Dama Runebreaker said, ¡°That ain''t good. Ultan himself''s here.¡±


    ¡°We will be careful,¡± Vespa said, ¡°So long as he is kind, we will be kind.¡±


    ¡°This ain''t the ''kind'' sorta business, Vespa,¡± the dwarf replied, ¡°Just watch out.¡±


    Vespa rippled a series of buzzes in response. She perched her swarm on one of the packs, which Orion hefted and put onto Gouffant''s back.


    ¡°You''re good with playing pack animal?¡± he asked the large rat.


    ¡°Yuh,¡± Gouffant said, ¡°Only if you add it to my share.¡±


    ¡°Drinks are on me,¡± Orion said.


    Ichabod''s glass eyes flitted between his guildmates. At the Dreamer''s Lament, which was already heading back through the Traveling Point a mile out, disappearing into thin air. Calacious Nine and Teknogan were going to help with a survey of Hala''onala, a few jumps away. But then they¡¯d be gone. One of Commodore Shelley¡¯s aides would be picking them up, when it was over.


    ¡°Oh, gods,¡± the mechanical man heard Urash grumble, ¡°She''s already here.¡±


    Stepping off of a Fedtek ship was none other than Petra Balishen. One of the Amber Foundation''s Far Travelers, she walked with an almost unearthly grace, violet eyes glancing this way and that. She was wearing a dress made of individual flowing sashes, purples and blacks and exposed ivory skin, at the hips, the shoulders, a plunge down her chest, leaving just enough to the imagination. Her hair flowed down into pockets in these robes, which were enchanted to be far larger on the inside, to hold a length that stretched into meters and, when fully out, trailed across multiple rooms.


    She smiled her demure smile at the sight of her guildmates. Her eyes were filled with joy.


    Joy that went flat at the sight of Belgone.


    She exhaled out of her nose, still wearing that smile. She strode forward on high-heeled shoes towards Ichabod and Urash.


    ¡°Ah, look what we have here,¡± Petra said, ¡°How...¡±


    ¡°What, Balishen?¡± Urash gruffed, ¡°Delightful? Wonderful?¡±


    ¡°I wouldn''t use those words, darling,¡± Petra said, ¡°But you are quite the sight, indeed. Using my maiden name? How cute.¡±


    ¡°You took it back, didn''t you?¡± Urash said, ¡°Might as well put some use to it, before you lose it for the fourth time-¡±


    ¡°Fifth, dear,¡± Petra said, ¡°And I must say, Lord Antonious was a far more caring lover. Lasted just a hair longer, too.¡±


    She winked at him. He glared at her.


    ¡°Revolting woman,¡± he muttered.


    ¡°Right bastard,¡± Petra whispered, before she re-doubled her smile to look at her other guildmates, ¡°Ah, Ichabod. I''ve heard that you and Oris finally hooked up.¡±


    ¡°Was it that obvious?¡± Ichabod said, and the pale man went red, ¡°W-Well, you know...¡±


    ¡°Love is a beautiful thing,¡± Petra said, ¡°Some of us could afford to learn that.¡±


    Urash opened his mouth to say something spiteful, but already the Far Traveler turned.


    ¡°Ah, our client is here,¡± Petra said, ¡°Mr. Gnawliver was just helping her unload.¡±


    Indeed, Commodore Shelley''s representative was coming down the Fedtek ship''s ramp. She was a reptilian alien, with a head vaguely resembling a hadrosaur''s, with a curved, knobbed horn that stretched out a foot behind her head. Her short snout ended in a blunt, flat beak. She was wearing casual clothes, to better blend in with the rest of the plane, a relaxed air about her despite the plasma pistol at her waist and the fact that she was coming out of a High Federation vessel.


    Joining her was a muscular, beaver-headed man in a three-piece suit. Dammon Gnawliver, Petra''s bodyguard and assistant. Gnawliver was carrying multiple heavy suitcases, one hefted over a shoulder, two more held in the other hand.


    ¡°May I introduce Lieutenant Commander Morinthian,¡± Petra said, ¡°Of the five-hundredth.¡±


    ¡°Never heard of it,¡± Urash said.


    ¡°Charmed,¡± Ichabod said, ignoring Urash''s slight. He extended a hand.


    (Inwardly, he grimaced. But, appearances.)


    Morinthian took it. She nodded.


    ¡°The honor''s mine,¡± she said, ¡°I''ve heard good things about your guild from the Commodore. Is this everyone?¡±


    ¡°It is,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°A team of eight, like you said.¡±


    ¡°Nine, with Mr. Gnawliver,¡± Petra said.


    ¡°I count you two together,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°He''s not leaving your side, is he?¡±


    ¡°If I need him to protect me, he will,¡± Petra said, ¡°But don''t fret, Ichabod dear, he''s just as much the muscle as Archenround.¡±


    She nodded at their guildmate. Archenround was staring blankly ahead, as though lost in thought.


    ¡°Archenround!¡± Ichabod called.


    She snapped to attention.


    Sorry, she signed, Distracted.


    ¡°We''re headed out,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Come on, then.¡±


    ***


    They were staying at the Ch¨¨re Noel, one of the topside hotels, located just a few blocks from Oracle''s Aviary itself. A glassleaf building, they were led down green and blue halls to their rooms, for all the world feeling like they were walking through a river frozen in time. Fish designs adorned the walls, for Methuselah was not naturally home to more marine animals. They were imported, instead, and cast into waterlogged grooves in the branches. A sign of wealth, and the Ch¨¨re Noel was for the wealthy.


    ¡°You went all out on this, didn''t you?¡± Dama Runebreaker said to Petra as they walked down a hall.


    ¡°But of course,¡± Petra said, ¡°I so rarely get to see my guildmates. I can''t help but spoil.¡±


    Urash gruffed something under his breath, but said little else.


    Two to a room. Save for Petra, who had gone and got herself a suite.


    ¡°I''m the one paying,¡± she said, ¡°I figured I would splurge a little.¡±


    And they watched her disappear behind a door, seeing only a hint of a great chamber that smelled of spices and lilacs. Gnawliver stood in front of the door, furry hands behind his back.


    ¡°Typical,¡± Urash said, ¡°She gets the lion''s share, and we get slim pickings.¡±


    ¡°I would hardly call this ''slim pickings,''¡± Vespa churned.


    ¡°Aye,¡± Dama Runebreaker said, ¡°I''ve only heard stories of the Noel.¡±


    She glanced over at Gnawliver.


    ¡°You... do you have a room?¡± she asked him.


    ¡°A bed has been portioned to me in the suite,¡± Gnawliver''s voice was crisp and professional, ¡°I will go there when I must retire for the night. But, I am ever the servant.¡±


    ¡°That makes sense,¡± Dama Runebreaker said, ¡°How''s the husband and kids?¡±


    And at this, a polite, slightly chuffed smile bloomed on the beaver. He produced his wallet, opened it up, a set of photos unfolding from one of its pockets. Gnawliver with his beaver husband, a slightly portlier fellow, in their dam home, with a gaggle of beaver children.


    ¡°They are well,¡± he said, ¡°My youngest, Tom, it''s his birthday in a few weeks. I''m hoping this job doesn''t take us too long, now, lest I miss it.¡±


    ¡°You had to last year, didn''t you?¡± Dama Runebreaker said.


    He pulled a face.


    ¡°A nasty business, that,¡± he said, ¡°I''m quite afraid he''ll be quite cross with me if I miss this one. David and I are buying him one of those little model ships in a bottle, you see, his first, and...¡±If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    He started talking, at length, about his kids. All five of them. Ichabod rolled his eyes.


    ¡°Let me tell you,¡± he said to Gouffant, ¡°I hope that Oris and I aren''t like that.¡±


    ¡°Yuh, you''re worse in your own ways,¡± the rat said.


    ¡°Don''t even say how,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°I''m sure I already know.¡±


    Orion, meanwhile, turned to Lieutenant Commander Morinthian.


    ¡°Well,¡± he said, "It appears you and I are in the same room. Want to see what it''s all about?¡±


    The alien rolled her shoulders, nodded.


    ¡°I suppose,¡± she said.


    Ichabod watched the two of them walk into another one of the rooms.


    She hadn''t spoken very much on their trip. So many people seemed to have made her quiet, though there was a sharpness to her eye that Ichabod knew all too well. Morinthian was observing them, their dynamics, to see where she would fall in with them.


    She would have her reservations, of course, but that didn''t matter to him. In truth, any High Federation official, even one nominally on ''their side,'' set him on edge.


    At least Orion was leading that part of the mission.


    ***


    Orion opened the door, allowed Morinthian inside first. The room was a spacious one, with two circular beds on one side of the room, a TV connected to the World Tree Network on the other. It, too, was glass, and shined images onto its flat surface using projection magic. Orion swung his bag off of his shoulder, throwing it onto one of the beds. He unbuckled his sword from his side, letting it rest against the nightstand as he strode over and started unlocking the window. He opened it up, and a cool air breezed into the room.


    Lieutenant Commander Morinthian watched all of this, having put herself into the corner of the room. She was not sure what to make of this man. A human, by the looks of it, dark-skinned and wearing a simple blue shirt and trousers, his hair swept up into a ponytail of locs, revealing a sharp face covered with a short, triangular beard. His eyes were what Morinthian paid attention to. Clear and brown. Like he was looking straight through her.


    ¡°You''re staring, ma''am,¡± he said.


    ¡°Oh,¡± Morinthian said, ¡°Apologies.¡±


    An easy smile.


    ¡°It''s fine,¡± he said, ¡°You''re new to all of this travel, aren''t you?¡±


    ¡°I am not a stranger to it,¡± Morinthian said, a touch too hot, ¡°I''ve been across the entirety of the Silver Eye.¡±


    ¡°And outside of it?¡± Orion asked.


    She exhaled.


    ¡°Well,¡± she said, ¡°Perhaps one or two planes.¡±


    At this, the man shrugged.


    ¡°It''s alright to feel nervous, then,¡± he said, ¡°Silver Eye''s big, but a lot of it, especially its military, is pretty homogenous.¡±


    ¡°I suppose you''re right,¡± Morinthian said, and she stared out, over his shoulder, at the window. A few elephantine leaves were drifting from higher up the World Tree. Griffon riders were taking off after them, looping the leaves with giant hooks, pulling them away so they did not settle on the city.


    ¡°I guess introductions are in order, if you''re going to be working with me,¡± Orion said, ¡°You already know my name, right?¡±


    ¡°Orion Gyasi,¡± Morinthian said, ¡°I''m aware of the names of the rest of your guildmates.¡±


    ¡°Mm,¡± Orion said, ¡°Orion Gyasi. From Azantum, the World of Four Things. Maaha.¡±


    ¡°You''re a swordsman,¡± Morinthian said.


    ¡°Technically a spellsword¡± Orion said, ¡°Azantum is based on a rule of four. Magicians use four elements. I use earth, fire, water, and air, but others use... more esoteric elements and symbols.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Morinthian said.


    ¡°And you''re Lieutenant Commander Morinthian Meras,¡± Orion said.


    ¡°Please don''t use my first name,¡± Morinthian said, ¡°It''s... a personal thing, for my people.¡±


    ¡°Got it,¡± Orion said, ¡°You''re a Paranian, right?¡±


    ¡°Correct,¡± Morinthian said, ¡°Not many of my people leave the homeworld. But...¡±


    At this, something glimmered in her eye.


    ¡°I always was the rebel.¡±


    Orion grinned at that.


    ¡°You''ll fit right in with us,¡± Orion said, ¡°If you can take the barbs, that is.¡±


    ***


    ¡°I''ll admit,¡± Gouffant said, ¡°Kind of weird I''m not the one bedding down with Orion.¡±


    The rat was already resting on his bed, scrabbling at the blankets, throwing them together into a cotton nest. A pillow for his rump, a pillow for his head. And already he was calling room service, his whiskers twitching and his nose sniffing. Dama Runebreaker was unpacking a change of clothes, laying them out and putting them into the drawer of the nightstand.


    ¡°I almost wish you would,¡± she said, ¡°You''re going to tear that bed to shreds.¡±


    ¡°You should be nice,¡± Vespa droned.


    ¡°And he should be gentle,¡± Dama Runebreaker retorted, ¡°Look, he''s already torn the blankets.¡±


    ¡°Yuh, makes them comfortable,¡± Gouffant said.


    She rolled her eyes.


    ¡°So,¡± she said, ¡°What do you make of the Feddie?¡±


    The rat stopped adjusting his bed. He fixed her with a frank look.


    ¡°She''s typical Feddie in the multiverse,¡± he said, ¡°All wide-eyed and a bit scared.¡±


    ¡°Scared,¡± Dama Runebreaker said.


    ¡°Yuh, scared''s the word,¡± Gouffant said, ¡°Most High Federation soldiers are only in the multiverse to guard a Traveling Point or to glass some plane or other. And she''s a soldier, through and through. There''s a way they''re trained to stand, that even if she were undercover you''d be able to point out.¡±


    He chuckled.


    ¡°Easiest way to spot one? Just shout ''Good morning, officer,'' and they''ll snap their heads in your direction.¡±


    ¡°Easy, Gouffant,¡± Vespa churned, ¡°Be-¡±


    ¡°Kind, kind, chuff chuff,¡± Gouffant said, ¡°Anyways, it''s not her I''m concerned about. She''ll stare, and make her reports, and spend money that isn''t hers to buy who knows what. No, what I''m concerned about is that Old Moby''s here.¡±


    Dama Runebreaker looked up at him.


    ¡°That''s... Ultan''s ship.¡±


    ¡°The one he always comes in on,¡± Gouffant said, ¡°It''s powered by his magic, y''see. If he''s here, it means that the Exodus Walkers are putting their best foot forward. What that means for us, well...¡±


    He chuckled darkly.


    ¡°Won''t be pretty,¡± he said, ¡°Ichabod''s here to infiltrate. So is every other damn guild here. And the Exodus Walkers are some of the best at that.¡±


    ***


    Archenround and Ichabod to another room. The mechanical man walked up to the window, and closed its blinders, casting the room into a half-dusk. He went over to his bed, unlatched his briefcase, and began removing a series of implements from inside. Tools, a few of which he clicked into slots in his mechanical arms. He was expecting magical defenses within Oracle''s Aviary, but then, the guildhall was probably loaded with high-tech locks and doorways. Castle Belenus back home was much the same way ¨C there was only the veneer of a medieval castle.


    Archenround slithered over to the bed, curling her bottom half into a pile. She closed her eyes in meditation, and Ichabod noted that she was working to keep herself upright. She could never quite slither in a straight line. Or, it took effort to do so. The damage that Mordenaro, the Guild of One, had inflicted on her a few years back had done a number on her.


    And yet she still deigned to go on missions.


    Ichabod looked at his mechanical arms. His mechanical legs. His eyes. All of that had been the result of someone else, too. He didn''t have them by choice.


    So who was he, to judge her?


    ***


    Urash had a room to himself.


    Despite his protestations about Petra, Urash had, indeed, bought his own room outside of the rest of the guild. It was his right. It was his choice.


    It was, to be frank, by tradition, for Urash kept his own private fund outside of the guild. Of course many of his guildmates did as well, but Urash''s was, perhaps, the largest. A pale echo of what he had once beheld, in his younger years, but it was enough that he could splurge every once in a while.


    It was the same room as the others. Two beds, but he claimed only one, settling down, peeling off his armor, brushing a few strands out of his graying beard.


    Graying. He looked at himself in the mirror, ran a grubby hand down long whiskers. Aye, graying. When had that started happening?


    ¡°Bah, enough of this.¡±


    He finished unpacking. Turned on the television as he clambered into the bed, feeling his feet ache in relief. He let out a sigh. A game of ulama was on, the Marlish Manes facing the local favorites, the Halthorum Harpies. Urash settled in.


    Outside, he could hear the others walking through the hall. Dama Runebreaker was chatting with Gouffant. They were talking about going out to look for a place to get a good drink. Maybe some food. Urash racked his brains. A few restaurants around Palasaic were decent enough. He opened his mouth to say something, to shout it through the door. Maybe even get up, and tell them.


    But they would invite him out, wouldn''t they?


    (Or, more terrifying, they wouldn''t.)


    He hesitated.


    And already they were gone. Down the hall and down the elevator and out the door. Urash was alone.


    He sighed. Leaned back against the bed. All but glared at the television. He didn''t even know how ulama was played. Just two teams kicking a hard rubber ball. He should have gone with them.


    But then...


    Inaction ruled Urash.


    He stayed in bed.


    And both did and did not regret.


    ***


    Palasaic was no stranger to organized crime. This is where the capital of the empire diverged from Scuttleway. Both were large cities, twin metropolises that garnered trade from across the plane and beyond. But crime in Scuttleway was tied, hand in hand, with the noble houses that ruled them. It was regulated by the ruling body, and their use of such unsavory subjects to secure power. The Lady Sunala had dispatched assassins. Doge Rithmound had spied, rather blatantly, on every other faction in the city during the election. Voices had been intimidated. Arms had been broken. Knees had been kicked in. Blood money had changed hands. All of this, with the stamp of nobility.


    Not so with Palasaic. Here, ethnic gangs ruled the streets. Organized crime based on species and Little Elftowns and metahuman communes. The heads of these families lived topside, lived on laundered money and danced with the authorities in neverending games of cat and mouse. The majority of the work, the drug smuggling and the protection rackets, were down beneath Palasaic''s branch.


    It was through one such group that Manny and Jericho arrived to the city.


    The airship that closed in on the docks was from Amzuth. An old blimp with halls that whispered and whose exterior always shined as though salt-wet from the sea, they looked as ordinary dockworkers as they helped unload Amzuth cargo, seven-eyed fish and other oddities from that place, mere curiosities, but they would sell on the market well enough.


    They also brought their weapons. But this came in one of the crates that the authorities had been paid to overlook.


    Once they were finished unloading, the blimp released its hold on the dock, curling back towards the open sky. Manny and Jericho watched it go for a few minutes. Then, their contact''s hired hands picked up the crate with their weapons and started heading for their hideaway. They were trellians, native to Methuselah, people with butterfly scales peppering their skin, most prominently on their necks and cheeks. They had once ruled all of the World Tree, according to their own history.


    (How the mighty fall, eh?)


    ¡°Come on,¡± their contact said, he was a burly one, his face almost completely studded orange, ¡°You''re staying below.¡±


    ''Below,'' of course, meant the basement of a house. A safehouse, legally belonging to one of the trellian''s associates, they were put below and fed a dinner of salad and berries. Food taken from the World Tree itself, it was given to them by the old grandmother who tended the place. Nourishing enough, at least.


    ¡°Needs meat,¡± Jericho whispered, with a smirk.


    They spoke little. Instead, they polished their weapons, checked them over. Jericho started reading his book. Manny leaned back, listened to the trellians above rant about ''the good old days'' before their empire was ruled by humans and half-elves. Someone came in with the day''s payment from the streets. Business as usual.


    ¡°You get a look at the guildhall?¡± Jericho asked him.


    Manny blinked. He had been lost in thought, almost dozing. His friend noted this, smiled.


    ¡°A bit,¡± Manny replied, ¡°It looks impressive.¡±


    ¡°I''m sure it will be,¡± Jericho said, ¡°I''m excited, you know.¡±


    And Manny tilted his head. Jericho leaned forward, his rifle between his head and his shoulder.


    ¡°Never mind all of the treasure to be had in there,¡± his eyes were ablaze, ¡°Aldr Fatebreaker himself is going to be on guard.¡±


    Ah. That was it. Good ol'' Jericho, ever in love with a fight. Manny could not help but match his friend''s smile.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said, ¡°Just so long as your eye''s on the mission.¡±


    ¡°It will, it will, I promise,¡± Jericho chuckled, and he leaned back, ¡°Same goes for you. No sight-seeing.¡±


    Manny rolled his eyes.


    ¡°I see it, man,¡± Jericho said, and his voice was light, ¡°You just want to go out there. Go to a restaurant. A bar. Maybe go to the gift shop, buy Doc Matergabia something nice-¡±


    ¡°Oh, shove it,¡± Manny said, and he found himself getting warm.


    ¡°Haha!¡± Jericho said, ¡°Look at you! Manny, you''re a schoolboy with a killcount.¡±


    ¡°Enough of that,¡± Manny said, ¡°Go read your book.¡±


    ¡°Maybe you should get her a teddy bear,¡± Jericho said, ¡°Or a book about leaves, or-¡±


    Manny slugged him in the arm. A light punch.


    Or, so he thought.


    It was enough to knock Jericho off of his place on the small couch. He rolled to the floor with a sudden gasp, grabbing his arm and holding it. He almost screamed as he glared up at Manny.


    ¡°What the fuck, man?¡± he said, ¡°God!¡±


    Manny looked at his fist in horror.


    ¡°I-I''m sorry,¡± he said, ¡°I''m-¡±


    ¡°I think it''s broken,¡± Jericho said, ¡°God, help me, check it-¡±


    Manny at once went to his friend''s side. Checked him over, rolled him onto his back, careful not to move his arm-


    And Manny punched him back in the arm.


    ¡°Ha!¡± he said, ¡°Easy.¡±


    (He tried his hardest to hide just how hard Manny had hit him.)


    Manny frowned at him, before breaking out into a relieved smile. Jericho broke out into a laugh, easy and light, as he allowed Manny to offer him a friend.


    ¡°You''re too easy, man,¡± he said.


    Manny just rolled his eyes, shook his head in a good-natured way, before he returned to his seat.


    They spoke a few more words, heard the trellians above turn in for the night, though one of them stayed away to keep watch.


    Jericho, bless him, took to bed easily. Manny watched him drift off to sleep, snoring softly. He smiled at his friend.


    Felt something more than this, but he ignored those feelings. Instead, he turned his attention to the closed door. At what it represented. This mission was to be one of utmost secrecy. They were expecting to be found out by Blue Sky Waiting, but until then, they were to hide. Let no one, save for those loyal to the ideals of the Sons of Darwin, know that they were here.


    And yet...


    He could hear the city above.


    Closed his eyes, and imagined the lights at night, the sound of music, the cheering and laughter.


    He...


    He wanted to go out, and see that.


    And so, he rose. His hands shook, for he had never done something like this before. Excitement mixed with anxiety of getting caught mixed with guilt washed over him, and, for a moment, he stopped, his hand hanging at the doorknob.


    But then, excitement won out. He walked up the stairs, nodded to the trellian watching the front door from a place at the table. He would not stop him, for Manny was a Son of Darwin.


    And he walked out of the door, and out into the city.

 170. Palasaic at Night, Part I - Calm Before the Storm

    Cities are alive, in their way. The people who live within them are the red blood cells, constantly keeping up its beat, day and night. Unlike other living organisms, a city never truly sleeps. There is always something going on. The lights never truly dim, not until the city''s death. Music is played, love is made, dreams are dreamed and life is portrayed.


    Manny exited the trellian''s house just after dinner. The sun was starting to burn away, to be replaced by a semblance of the moon, though in truth both of these were just far-off vines of the World Tree that held greater light than most. He wandered Palasaic''s streets, watching the city and its people. A couple were pushing a small stroller in an evening stroll. A few children were playing hide and seek, crowing and howling to one another over a series of streets, one by one getting picked off, not by the seeker, but rather their parents calling them in for bedtime. A well-to-do lady was walking with her manservant, who was leading an elephantine, two-headed pomeranian around on a leash. A man was playing a guitar, the case open and with a few small coins tossed in. Manny, smiling at this, as the man thrummed out some folktale from lower down the trunk, flipped a few quarters in.


    He found himself going downtown. By now the sun was fully extinguished, and the usual bar crawlers had come out of the woodwork. A couple of drunken revelers passed him by, laughing and jeering.


    He smiled at this, too.


    He had never been to a bar on his own. Not like this. Usually when he went to them, it was to meet Darwinist contacts. People loyal to the Doctor''s cause. He hadn''t even gone to one with Jericho, when the two had free time. Prime was a dangerous place, and much of their off-time was spent on Gaiusaia, hunting for rats and fish in the swamps, camping under its red lights.


    Manny approached one of the revelers, tapped him on the shoulder.


    ¡°Excuse me,¡± he said, pointing at the bottle in the man''s hand, ¡°Where can I buy one of those?¡±


    The man looked at Manny, then to the bottle, then started chortling.


    ¡°''Where kin ah buy one of dose,'' he says!¡± he roared, ¡°Gods above, gods below, gods...¡±


    He broke down into another fit of hysterical giggles. Stopped, looked at Manny, then broke down again.


    Manny sighed. Then looked around.


    Aye, there was a building that looked like a tavern. A cheery looking place, light filtered in from the green glass windows and the sign had a symbol of a knight riding a griffon. The bouncer, a large and muscular looking trellian, nodded to him as he approached the door, and let him in without a word.


    At once Manny was assaulted by light and color and sound. A band was playing on an upraised podium in the corner of the room, guitars and fiddles and a single woman strapping out some bawdy jeer. The crowd roared whenever she cursed, or sang things so indecent they made Manny''s ears run hot. The entire tavern was packed tonight with travelers from across the multiverse, guildfolk and their clients, and he found himself pushing through the weird and wonderful as he tried to find a seat.


    There was an open stool at the bar. He sat down in it. The bartender looked at him.


    ¡°What''ll you be having?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Water,¡± Manny said.


    The bartender looked at him with an upraised eyebrow.


    ¡°Oh, let the boy have something strong,¡± a voice said behind him, ¡°I''m paying.¡±


    He turned around to see a woman waltzing into the room, drawing not a few glances at the sight of her, her plunging dress, the way that individual strands of her hair seemed to move, as serpents, of their own accord. She was followed by a beaverfolk in a nice suit, who turned an upraised snout to the depravity of the scene.


    Manny looked perplexed at her, unsure of how to respond. The bartender answered in his stead with a chuckle.


    ¡°Alright, caught the pretty lady''s eye,¡± he said, ¡°What''ll it be, lad?¡±


    ¡°Uhm,¡± Manny said, a bit dumb, ¡°Beer.¡±


    ¡°Just the grog? We got some special stuff in the back, if you''re wanting to make it your while.¡±


    ¡°Just beer,¡± Manny said.


    The bartender laughed, and poured out a mug, passing it to him.


    ¡°And for the miss?¡± he asked.


    ¡°The same,¡± the lady said, and she approached Manny, sat down next to him, ¡°Mr. Gnawliver, would you like anything?¡±


    ¡°I''m quite fine, milady,¡± the beaverfolk puffed.


    ¡°Ah, very well, then,¡± the lady smiled at Manny, ¡°Petra Balishen.¡±


    ¡°...Manny.¡±


    ¡°Forgive my interruption, Manny,¡± Petra said, ¡°But you looked a bit out of place here. I mean, water, really?¡±


    She gestured at the room.


    ¡°There''s not a drop in the building.¡±


    ¡°I don''t usually drink,¡± Manny said, ¡°Don''t come here often.¡±


    ¡°Well, I do hope you end the night with something more than just your basic grog,¡± she said, and she took a sip of her own drink. For a moment, her face scrunched as she drank.


    But just for a moment, before she hid it behind that demure smile once more.


    ¡°Might I ask what guild you''re part of?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Oh, uh,¡± Manny said, ¡°The...¡±


    He racked his brains.


    ¡°The Jet Runners,¡± he decided.


    (Winced internally, what kind of name was that?)


    ¡°The Jet Runners,¡± Petra said, and she said it like she was rolling it in her mind, ¡°Odd name.¡±


    ¡°We... yeah, it is,¡± Manny said, ¡°But what guild name isn''t?¡±


    ¡°Ha, I suppose that is true,¡± Petra said, ¡°My guild is one called the Amber Foundation.¡±


    (Amber Foundation. Vague memories, of his time on Prime, in Death Valley...)


    ¡°Interesting,¡± Manny said, and he sipped the beer.


    And his face wrinkled.


    ¡°Like piss, isn''t it?¡± Petra said, amused.


    ¡°People drink this stuff?¡± Manny asked.


    ¡°They drink it if they''re poor, and you, my friend, are not,¡± Petra said, ¡°Not with me, anyways. I believe I see a few of my guildmates, over there. You''re welcome to join us.¡±


    Manny glanced over as Petra pointed them out. A dwarf. A swarm of hornets. A rat and two humans. A demon, by the looks of it, who was drinking greedily from an overlarge mug.


    ¡°Why not,¡± Manny said, ¡°I''ll join you.¡±


    ***


    Petra Balishen waltzed into the Sir and Bird, found some young guy to hang around her arm, and guided him, like a lost puppy, towards the group. Dama Runebreaker chuckled at the sight.


    ¡°Glad Urash ain''t here,¡± she said to Archenround.


    He''d have a fit, Archenround signed, smirking.


    ¡°God, he''s like half her age,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°Hot,¡± Orion said.


    The others looked at him. The swordsman raised up his hands in surrender.


    ¡°What?¡± he said, ¡°I like older women. Sue me.¡±


    ¡°Hush, now,¡± Vespa said, ¡°Be kind.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t say that in front of Petra, either,¡± Gouffant chuckled, ¡°Or you¡¯re a dead man.¡±


    Petra, her tugalong, and Gnawliver took their seats at the booth. By now, they were all squeezing in. Vespa was spread out across the table, individual hornets taking sips of everyone''s drink. Already her buzzing words were slurring. She had never been one to hold her drink ¨C hornets could only take so much before getting drunk. Archenround did not have a seat, instead coiling herself outside the booth, drink in hand.


    ¡°Chuh-huh, Petra,¡± Gouffant said, ¡°Found yourself a friend, hm?¡±


    ¡°Just a lonely little boy,¡± Petra said, ¡°From the Jet Runners.¡±


    ¡°M-My name''s Manny.¡±


    The group considered him. He was wearing a dark cloak, and sat uncomfortably with them, nursing his drink as though it were something foreign to him, like he wasn''t sure how to exactly hold it in hand.


    ¡°Well, might as well do introductions,¡± Orion said, ¡°Name''s Orion. That''s Dama Runebreaker, Archenround, the asshole there''s Ichabod-¡±


    He went through their names, one by one. Manny looked at attention to each of them, his eyes glistening in wonder at each of them. He sipped his drink. Pulled a face. Petra rested a hand on his arm.


    ¡°Something better, dear,¡± she said, ¡°Mr. Gnawliver, would you please order our friend here something worth his night?¡±


    ¡°Of course, milady,¡± Gnawliver said, and he got up to head to the bar. Despite his posh accent, they could hear him order a drink for Manny over the din of the tavern.


    ¡°So... Manny,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Is that short for anything? Manfred?¡±


    ¡°Just Manny.¡±


    ¡°Just Manny,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°So, what do you do with the Jet Runners?¡±


    ¡°What do I do?¡± Manny said.


    ¡°I''m usually used for infiltration,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Not for this job, of course. Archenround is the muscle. Petra is there to look pretty-¡±


    ¡°-He means I''m the one with the connections,¡± Petra said, and she flashed her guildmate a warning smile.


    ¡°Gouffant, too,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°Yuh,¡± the giant rat heaved, ¡°Better lookin'' than all you lot, that''s for sure.¡±


    ¡°Humble, too,¡± Orion said.


    Manny was quiet for a few moments.


    (What could he say?)


    ¡°I''m... the muscle,¡± he said, as though deciding.


    ¡°Ah, good,¡± Orion said, ¡°I always lose to Archenround in arm wrestling. She has a new friend.¡±


    Archenround, as though in answer, got ready, rested an elbow on the table, her fingers wiggling in challenge.


    Manny, at this, smirked. He clasped Archenround''s arm-


    ¡°Alright, usual rules,¡± Orion said, ¡°Archenround, don''t hold the table with your other hand.¡±


    ¡°Oh lord,¡± Petra said, and she rolled her eyes, ¡°Already?¡±


    ¡°Money''s on Archenround,¡± Ichabod said to her.


    ¡°Very well,¡± Petra said, ¡°I''ll support our new friend. Fifty gold.¡±


    ¡°Deal,¡± Ichabod said.


    ¡°Wait, wait,¡± Dama Runebreaker said, and she was fumbling out her purse, ¡°Lemme in, lemme-¡±


    ¡°Two players, two betters,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Snooze, you lose.¡±


    ¡°Alright, people,¡± Orion said, ¡°Ready?¡±


    Archenround nodded.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Manny said.


    ¡°Three, two, one,¡± Orion counted, ¡°Go!¡±


    The two strained. Archenround grimaced. Manny''s nervous look fell away into one of dark concentration. The group watched the two push against one another, their hands shivering with effort. Moments stretched out into long seconds. All but Ichabod missed the rage that started boiling in Manny''s eyes, borne out of a desperate determination, as though he were in a firefight. As though his life were on the line.


    And then, with a grunt, he won out, forcing Archenround''s hand onto the table with a dull slam. She released, shaking her hand, and the group laughed as Manny raised a fist in victory.


    ¡°Not bad, not bad!¡± Orion said.


    ¡°Must be built like a battleship, beneath all of those layers,¡± Gouffant said.


    Strong, Archenround signed, with a defeated sigh.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    ¡°Ichabod, dear,¡± Petra said, ¡°I do believe that you owe me.¡±


    ¡°Ah,¡± Ichabod said, and he tugged at the collar of his coat, ¡°I''m afraid I don''t quite have the money on me, now...¡±


    ¡°If you don''t have the money, then why even play?¡± Petra said.


    ¡°Simple, I was assuming that I''d win,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Excuse me for having a little faith in my guildmate.¡±


    Gnawliver walked over now, set out a drink for Manny. A glass chute, filled with a clearish, green drink, a berry floating in the glass, a slice of orange on its rim.


    ¡°Ah, the kiddie stuff,¡± Orion said, ¡°Careful, now, Manny. Easy to get wasted with stuff like that.¡±


    ¡°It''s alright to get a bit wasted,¡± Vespa churned, and the hornets around the table were now starting to laze in the air, ¡°It''s fine.¡±


    ¡°And you,¡± Dama Runebreaker said, ¡°Are done.¡±


    ¡°No I am not,¡± Vespa said, ¡°No I am not Dama be kind you should be kind.¡±


    Manny looked down at the drink. Sipped at it. Nodded in appreciation.


    ¡°Not bad,¡± he said, ¡°It tastes... fruity.¡±


    ¡°Must be the fruit,¡± Ichabod drawled.


    Manny took another drink.


    Then drained it.


    ¡°Not how you drink it,¡± Orion said, ¡°But I get the energy.¡±


    ***


    Lilmora of the Silent Morning was a Coribaldi, gray-skinned and tall, her yellow, wolf-like eyes always set in an eternal glare. One learned quickly to steer clear of her when she looked upon Palasaic with that certain look of revulsion. Only fools dared to speak to her.


    ¡°You look like you''re in a mood,¡± Haemosu said. He was leaning against the doorframe.


    Lilmora rolled her eyes, turned to her guildmate. She didn''t respond to him, only glared. Haemosu shrugged.


    ¡°Right,¡± he said, ¡°Stating the obvious, I know.¡±


    ¡°And you know why,¡± Lilmora said.


    ¡°''Course I do,¡± Haemosu said, ¡°You''re preaching to the fucking choir.¡±


    He shook his head, ran a hand through his light blue hair. Walked over to join her by the balcony''s edge, a gauntleted hand resting on the rail. They watched as airships from the multiverse, not the usual make of wood and runes, flew overhead from the Traveling Point, dipped down beneath Palasaic''s branch to moor at the docks.


    ¡°I just keep telling myself it''ll be over in a few days,¡± Haemosu said.


    ¡°Don''t try and patronize me, Haemosu,¡± Lilmora said.


    ¡°I''m just saying,¡± Haemosu said, and his nostrils flared, ¡°I get it, I do. But it''ll be over. You know that.¡±


    Lilmora, for a moment, opened her mouth to say something caustic. But she had been working on her anger, as of late, letting it fuel her magic, and nothing else. She let it simmer as she turned back to the city. Haemosu relaxed. Felt guilty, at matching her state.


    ¡°You''re worried,¡± he said.


    ¡°Of course I''m fucking worried.¡±


    ¡°I am, too,¡± Haemosu said, ¡°Drebulon said he saw the Old Moby touching down earlier today.¡±


    ¡°Do you think the Exodus Walkers are going to try something drastic?¡± Lilmora said, ¡°Who''s their client this time?¡±


    ¡°Some new money bullshitter from Mirkanthia,¡± Haemosu said.


    Lilmora shivered. Faerie blood investors always were the worst.


    ¡°It''s all such bullshit,¡± Lilmora said, ¡°The guildmaster knows how bad things get during these auctions. And he''s relying on a bunch of automatons to do the bulk of the work.¡±


    ¡°Automatons, and himself,¡± Haemosu said.


    Lilmora snorted.


    ¡°He''ll get into a spat with Ultan, and the other interlopers will leak in through the cracks,¡± she said, ¡°Better keep your bedroom door locked, Haemosu, or they might steal your underwear.¡±


    Haemosu let out a chuckle that did not sound genuine.


    ¡°Ugh,¡± he said, ¡°We''re all going to die, aren''t we?¡±


    ***


    Aldr Fatebreaker left the guildhall late in the night.


    He wrapped himself in his usual ragged, raven feathered cloak. With a flick of his wrist, turned his spear into a walking stick, and closed up his third eye with flesh. A couple other glamour effects, and he looked like any other old human on the road. He left the guildhall without a word, dancing past Drebulon''s patrolling automatons, offering them a wink when Drebulon took notice. He did this often, and his disguises were not for his guildmates'' sakes, but for his own privacy.


    Palasaic was abuzz with life, even this late into the night. Capital cities were often like this. Even the Shimmering Palace was awash with greenglow light.


    But it was not the night life that Aldr sought out. Leave that for the young folks, let them sow their wild oats. No, instead, Aldr went down side streets, went into a building with a staircase that was carved into the wood of Methuselah. The spiraling staircase bored right through the branch, down into the docks district. Aldr sighed to himself as he descended. He remembered well the objections the Temple of the World Tree had made to the emperor about the decision. The protests. How one of the priests had set herself on fire in the courtyard of the Shimmering Palace.


    All on deaf ears. And the tree was made just another object, another thing to use and abuse.


    ...And here was Aldr Fatebreaker now, using one of the staircases to go down to the docks.


    A hypocritical man, eh?


    (But then, who wasn''t?)


    The docks were still full of motion and movement. Workers and guildfolk from across the multiverse. He ignored the majority of the ships unloading, and instead looked towards the Old Moby, that old bag o'' tricks.


    He brought up a hand, and signaled.


    Ultan and Aldr Fatebreaker were two with history. Both were powerful magicians. Both had faced each other a number of times. Nothing personal, of course, but the level of power they were playing at meant there needed to be a number of... rules. Concessions. Agreements and compromise.


    And the magical equivalent to the Red Telephone between the North Americans and the Soviets, on Prime.


    A snap of the finger. An elder''s whisper that encouraged the wind. All that was needed. Aldr walked over to one of the piers, looked down over its edge to see the lower branches of the World Tree below, glowing with lights from other cities, rippling with silhouetted leaves as they caught the wind. A dizzying sight, for the branches simply kept going, and going, and going. Very few had actually seen Methuselah''s base. Some even presumed it did not exist.


    And then, the shadows took on new ownership. The air became cold, horrid and cold.


    Ultan stepped out of seeming nowhere, in truth that place between life and death, the metaphysical made traversable by his magic. The skeleton was wearing his usual purple plumage, looking for all of the world like an arrogant bird as he strutted onto the pier. A pair of gold coins danced in his meatless fingers.


    He flipped one to Aldr, who caught it midair.


    ¡°Fatebreaker,¡± Ultan said.


    ¡°Ultra-Skeletal.¡±


    The necromancer chuckled, his teeth chattering.


    ¡°What do you want?¡± Ultan asked, ¡°I was just about to go for my evening bath, before you so rudely interrupted me.¡±


    ¡°I know well,¡± Aldr Fatebreaker said, ¡°That anything I do would be a ''rude interruption.''¡±


    ¡°That''s because that''s all that you are,¡± Ultan preened, ¡°But, I digress. What do you want, Fatebreaker?¡±


    Aldr sighed. Looked up towards the roof of the branch. His third eye pushed through the flesh covering it, and he saw with more than mortal sight at his guildhall. At his guildmates. Preparing and waiting with bated breath.


    ¡°An understanding,¡± he said, ¡°My sources tell me you''ve brought quite a few of your own here, yes?¡±


    ¡°Less than you''d think,¡± Ultan said.


    ¡°But you are here.¡±


    ¡°That I am.¡±


    Aldr turned to glare at Ultan. Who returned it with a rigor mortis grin. Then, the necromancer turned away, striding down the boardwalk.


    ¡°If you think I''m going to blow up your precious little guildhall, you can quit quaking in those fancy little boots,¡± he said, ¡°That''s an escalation that I''m not willing to entertain. God knows we''ve enough reasons to kill each other.¡±


    ¡°Aye,¡± said Aldr, darkly.


    ¡°Besides,¡± Ultan said, and he gave Aldr a side eye, ¡°It''s not me you should be worried about.¡±


    There was something in his words, something more than his usual barbs, and the Fatebreaker was not so naive as to ignore them. His brows furrowed.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± he asked.


    ¡°You''ve heard the rumors,¡± Ultan said, ¡°You''ve read the news. The regimes that have started taking power across the multiverse. Regimes backed by power with no apparent source. Hell, did you hear about those coups on Londoa? Half the plane''s gone fash like it''s back in fash. Never mind the eln meia...¡±


    ¡°You''re talking about Darwinists,¡± Aldr said.


    ¡°Of course I am,¡± Ultan said.


    ¡°You believe the rumors?¡±


    ¡°Are you a fool, Fatebreaker?¡± Ultan said, ¡°We should have found a way to kill the Manticore.¡±


    ¡°Killing him would have martyred him,¡± Aldr said, and he rubbed his temples, ¡°Gods, we''ve gone over this. Thirty years, we''ve gone over this.¡±


    Ultan let out an annoyed huff.


    ¡°And yet, they are here,¡± he said, ¡°Be a smart man, Fatebreaker. Unless you thoroughly stamp them out, it''s a cycle. Unless you address the cause for their rise, which we have not, it''s a cycle.¡±


    He shook his head.


    ¡°Are we done here?¡± he said, ¡°My bath is getting cold.¡±


    Aldr sighed.


    ¡°You won''t go overboard?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Of course I will,¡± Ultan said, ¡°Just not in a way that gets you upset. We''ll dance, I think.¡±


    The guildmaster of Blue Sky Waiting looked miserable.


    ¡°I suppose that is enough,¡± he said, ¡°I will warn you, however...¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes, if I cross a line, you''ll hunt me down, yadda yadda yadda,¡± Ultan said, ¡°I take my leave.¡±


    He started heading back towards the Old Moby.


    Stopped.


    Half-turned.


    ¡°They''re probably here, you know,¡± he said.


    Aldr looked at him. Ultan was looking, not at him, but at the world tree below. Green, burning pupils lit up the holes in his skull, a rare sight. It signified strong emotion. Anger. Loathing.


    Fear.


    ¡°For the auction,¡± the necromancer continued, ¡°Hiding in plain sight. Hiding right underneath our noses...¡±


    ***


    ¡°So, Manny,¡± Orion said, wiping his mouth with a sleeve, ¡°Your finest kill.¡±


    Manny blinked at this. Orion smirked at him.


    ¡°Come on,¡± he said, ¡°Don''t tell me you''re the type who doesn''t pay attention to that sort of thing.¡±


    ¡°It''s just a job,¡± Manny said, ¡°My... guildmate. He would be better suited for that. In that he sees glory.¡±


    Vespa, all of her, snorted. Tiny little hornet huffs of mirth.


    ¡°''In that he sees glory,''¡± she quoted, ¡°What a square.¡±


    ¡°Be nice, Vespa dear,¡± Petra said.


    ¡°Right, be kind,¡± Vespa said, ¡°Sorry sorry sorry.¡±


    ¡°It''s fine,¡± Manny said with a wave of the hand, ¡°It''s just not what I really... get out of this.¡±


    ¡°And what do you get out of it?¡± Petra asked.


    Manny looked at her. She was smiling, though it was starting to laze, just a bit. A result of the strong drink and friends strong enough to keep drinking.


    ¡°I don''t understand,¡± Manny said.


    ¡°Oh, we all get something out of this line of work,¡± Petra said, ¡°Me, I get stinking rich.¡±


    ¡°That''s from all of your other ventures, isn''t it?¡± Dama Runebreaker said.


    ¡°Yes, that too,¡± Petra said, ¡°But I love my guildwork jobs most of all, Dama dear, they are most exciting.¡±


    ¡°It''s a good excuse to do what I do best,¡± the dwarf said, ¡°I''m a Runebreaker. I break runes.¡±


    ¡°Sounds logical,¡± Manny said. Then, to deflect attention from himself, ¡°What about the rest of you?¡±


    ¡°Adventure,¡± Orion leaned back, patted the sword at his side, ¡°I''m a wanderer at heart. Being part of a guild lets me see the multiverse in a safe manner. Not as a Far Traveler. No offense, Petra.¡±


    ¡°Oh, taken,¡± Petra said, but she was starting to nod off. Gnawliver was rising from his seat, ready to escort her back to the hotel.


    ¡°Yuh, adventure,¡± Gouffant said, ¡°Me ''n'' Orion, as well as another one of our guildmates, Rathia, we used to travel together. Joined the guild as a joint package.¡±


    ¡°Interesting,¡± Manny said, ¡°And, uh, Vespa? Archenround?¡±


    Archenround started signing.


    ¡°She says,¡± Dama Runebreaker translated, ¡°The guild gave her a home. A place to stay. Sometimes that''s all we need.¡±


    ¡°I joined because I wanted to be... be...¡± Vespa said, ¡°Be the best.¡±


    ¡°The best,¡± Manny said.


    ¡°Bee the best!¡± the swarm said, ¡°Geddit? Because I''m a hive of... hornets.¡±


    At this, Dama Runebreaker got up, took out a bag, started gesturing individual insects inside.


    ¡°Ichabod?¡± Orion said, ¡°You going to give your piece?¡±


    ¡°I do it for the money,¡± Ichabod said, smoothly, easily, deceitfully and with a smirk, ¡°Nothing more.¡±


    ¡°Oh, bullshit,¡± Dama Runebreaker said.


    ¡°Yesss,¡± Vespa said, ¡°You do it for Vicenorn, because you luuuvvv him-¡±


    ¡°Enough of that,¡± Ichabod snapped. His pale face reddened. His bottom lip quivered in embarrassment, ¡°Hush, now.¡±


    ¡°Well, Manny?¡± Dama Runebreaker said, and somehow as she spoke her voice pierced through the din of the tavern, through any distraction around them. Aimed directly at Manny.


    (In his opinion, anyway.)


    ¡°I...¡± Manny thought on this.


    He was quiet for a long while, his brow furrowed in thought, his heart pounding.


    What...


    What kind of question was that?


    He looked up, sure that the others were going to say something. Accuse him. God, it was like they could see right through him. Here was a Darwinist, they would say, here was...


    But no, they were losing interest. Or losing consciousness, as Petra finally started snoring. Gnawliver lifted her to her feet.


    ¡°Hmm?¡± she said, ¡°Oh, yes, Mr. Gnawliver, let us get to bed...¡±


    ¡°Good night, friends,¡± the beaverfolk said.


    ¡°G''night, Gnawliver,¡± Orion said.


    ¡°Night, Gnawliver,¡± Dama Runebreaker said.


    Archenround signed. The remaining hornets on the table slurred out a ''bye. Ichabod nodded. Now was the chance to leave.


    Manny cleared his throat.


    ¡°Right,¡± he said, ¡°I should be going to. Jet Runners are waiting, and all.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Dama Runebreaker said, and she sounded almost disappointed, ¡°''Night. Good to meet you.¡±


    ¡°Good to meet you too,¡± Manny said, and he answered this part easily. He nodded to each of them, got a ''goodbye'' in return, and made his leave.


    He walked out of the tavern. Back into the cool night. God, how nice it was. After the heat of the tavern, the heat of...


    Those questions.


    Manny stopped in his tracks. Let the crowd pass him by, as he walked over to the rail of the city''s edge. All of Methuselah spilled out to him. The World Tree''s branches, snarling like great, wooden serpents into the blue ink horizon.


    He took a breath.


    Then another.


    He was a Darwinist.


    He was a Darwinist because Doctor Matergabia, his-


    (Mother)


    -Creator, was a Darwinist.


    He swallowed.


    Swallowed down that anxiety.


    (Swallowed down the questions.)


    And he left, walked back over to the trellian''s house. Back down into the cellar. Jericho was awake, holding a pillow to his stomach, sitting on the couch. He looked up at Manny.


    ¡°Hey,¡± he said.


    ¡°Hey,¡± Manny said.


    ¡°You went out,¡± Jericho said.


    ¡°I did,¡± Manny replied.


    Jericho gave Manny a disapproving look. He was quiet for a long time, chewing the inside of his cheek, as Manny started getting ready for bed, peeled off his hidden armor, got into his sleeping bag. He tossed, turned, looked over at Jericho.


    ¡°Was it...¡± Jericho said, ¡°Was it a good time, at least?¡±


    Manny considered.


    Then nodded.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± he said, ¡°It was.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Jericho said, ¡°Just don''t do it again, man. You had me worried.¡±


    ¡°I won''t,¡± Manny said.


    ¡°Good night, Manny.¡±


    ¡°Good night, Jericho.¡±


    He turned away from his friend. Closed his eyes.


    It was a long time before he went to sleep.


    ***


    Aldr Fatebreaker returned back to Oracle''s Aviary much later in the night. The moon cast full against the branches. Werewolves would be shifting tonight. Already the Fatebreaker could hear one howl, though he knew they would be chained until morning.


    Chained. Aye, he felt chained, as he stopped, and looked up towards his guildhall. Oracle''s Aviary stood as a tower, though its base was that of the tree, bark and roots melding into rock and stone. Aldr''s rooms were located at the very top of the tower, where a massive telescope pointed out towards the night, attuned by Imagination to see stars from other planes.


    What stress, when he looked out there. The High Federation was becoming more authoritarian. Darwinists stalked the hidden places. More guilds were aligning with them. Spies within their makeup that took over leadership positions.


    And there was the auction.


    Ultan''s words rattled in his mind.


    There were Darwinists here.


    He had considered this, of course. But to hear it from another...


    Gods, he was chained. He looked up at the guildhall and felt nothing more than an overwhelming urge to retire.


    ¡°When did I get so old?¡± he said, aloud.


    The wind whistled. Billowed up his cloak, cold whipping around him.


    But it gave no answer.


    Aldr sighed. Smiled in his grim way, and then he went up to the guildhall''s door.

 171. Incipe Auctionem

    Lieutenant Commander Morinthian Meras. A few other titles were attached to her family line, who had been descended from royalty on Parania. She did not use them, however, for the High Federation cared little for such things. They cared only for those royals who were of use to them, working as their politicians and their soldiers.


    In accordance, Morinthian Meras joined the military. Worked her way up the ladder. Took missions on hundreds of worlds, with so many biomes it made her head spin, deserts and pink oceans and ecumenopolises and endless forests and storms of diamond rain. She looked upon these, the planets of the Silver Eye, with all of their beauty, with awe. The First Men, blessed be they, had left an eternity of wonder for them.


    She did not feel so, here in the multiverse.


    Perhaps it was the stories. Perhaps it was the lesser technological level. Perhaps the First Men were right, and the multiverse was just too different from the Silver Eye. But whatever the case, Morinthian awoke with a cramping stomach. She stood up, swayed towards the sink, a hand covering her side as it twisted in pain. She awoke Orion in the other bed, the man fumbling awake.


    She made her way to the toilet. Opened its lid.


    Retched.


    Paranians make a strange sort of whistle when they cough. She wheezed out a chorus of chirps as Orion got out of bed and strode over to her.


    ¡°You alright?¡± he asked.


    ¡°''M fine,¡± Morinthian said, hacking out another whistle, ¡°Must''ve been something I ate.¡±


    ¡°I''ll take another look at their menu,¡± Orion said, ¡°What did you have for dinner?¡±


    ¡°That... salad,¡± Morinthian said, and her stomach roiled. She clutched a hand to it, ¡°Along with some of the... crab.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Orion said, ¡°How well cooked was it?¡±


    ¡°It seemed... fine,¡± Morinthian gasped.


    ¡°Doesn''t look like it was fine,¡± Orion said, and he rose, ¡°Hang on. I''ll get you some medicine.¡±


    He ran off, down the hall and down the stairs. Morinthian stumbled back over to her bed, curling up into a ball, still clutching her stomach.


    They didn''t cook their food all the way here?


    They didn''t even try to make sure?


    Gods, the multiverse.


    ¡­


    ...


    Orion returned with a tonic from a local potion shop a few minutes later. Had Morinthian take it. The next couple of hours were spent in bed, recovering and waiting for the shaking and the sweats to subside.


    They did. Morinthian got up, her stomach still feeling shallow.


    ¡°Witch who brewed it said not to go out,¡± Orion said.


    Morinthian looked at him. The spellsword shrugged.


    ¡°That''s the rule,¡± he said, ¡°Best to follow a witch''s advice.¡±


    ¡°Doesn''t matter, I have to go,¡± Morinthian said, and she rose.


    ¡°Woah, hey,¡± Orion said.


    ¡°The auction''s today, Mr. Gyasi,¡± Morinthian said, and she walked over to the bathroom, ¡°We don''t have time for something like this. Tell your guildmates to get ready.¡±


    Orion hesitated. Morinthian turned on the shower. Only a few minutes to get ready. The other guildmembers were probably downstairs already, eating breakfast.


    Her stomach quivered. By the First Men, she didn''t want to eat anything else on this forsaken plane.


    ***


    Morinthian and Orion came downstairs last. Dama Runebreaker was feeding a tonic to Vespa. Hundreds of hungover hornets littered the small dining table that they had stationed at, and the dwarf was pouring a bit of tonic into her hand, letting individual insects drink from the small pool. Gouffant was at the breakfast table, stuffing himself silly. Ichabod was speaking with Petra, who gave a smile over Morinthian''s way as the Lieutenant Commander made her way to the group.


    ¡°We were just talking about the funds for this mission,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°You''re working with credit, yes?¡±


    ¡°Correct,¡± Morinthian said, ¡°Any arrangements for payment will be done using the Commodore''s account.¡±


    ¡°And what about upfront payments?¡± Petra asked.


    Morinthian tilted her head.


    ¡°Sorry?¡±


    ¡°You must understand,¡± Petra said, ¡°Many items in the Auction will require payment to be made upfront. This ensures that the sold item is paid for immediately.¡±


    ¡°I was to understand,¡± Morinthian said, ¡°That there were going to be payment plans set up for many of the items here.¡±


    ¡°That depends on the patron,¡± a voice said behind them. Urash walked up to the table, a drink in hand. He returned Petra''s side-eye, before turning his attention to Morinthian, ¡°Silver Eye auctions, especially in the Inner Reach and the Post-Colonial, rely on payment plans, because the majority of the people at those auctions are friends of the patron in question.¡±


    ¡°They know that the money''s good,¡± Petra added.


    ¡°Aye, or they have ways to leverage the payer outside of monetary value,¡± Urash said, ¡°Auctions in the Silver Eye are done by old money families. The Valms, the Gwedenos, and the like.¡±


    ¡°That is what I expected here,¡± Morinthian said, and she swallowed, ¡°The Commodore gave me a credstick with a hundred million credits.¡±


    They looked at her.


    ¡°Better quiet yourself down while you say that,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°I don''t fancy having to deal with muggers here.¡±


    ¡°Chump change, depending on where in the Eye you are,¡± Urash said, ¡°That''ll do, if the auction for the freedom elemental runs up short.¡±


    ¡°Not enough to get all three items,¡± Petra said.


    ¡°Aye, not enough,¡± Urash said.


    Morinthian swallowed.


    ¡°I apologize,¡± she said, ¡°I... didn''t realize. I should have done more research.¡±


    ¡°Aye, you should have,¡± Urash said.


    Petra rested a hand on Urash''s shoulder, which the dwarf shrugged off.


    ¡°I''ve been doing research on our three patrons,¡± Petra said, and she produced a photograph from one of her pockets. It depicted a young man, maybe around twenty, smiling for the camera and accompanied by a superhero.


    ¡°Jason Overton,¡± Urash said.


    ¡°Who is he?¡± Morinthian said.


    ¡°The first of our three targets,¡± Petra said, ¡°A rich boy from Prime. Recently inherited daddy''s estate, trying to sell off as much of it as he can so he can continue his life of drugs and ladies.¡±


    ¡°Lucky bastard,¡± Urash grunted.


    ¡°So he''ll want upfront payments, then,¡± Morinthian said.


    ¡°Correct,¡± Urash said, ¡°Upfront. I don''t even think he''s here at the auction, one of his representatives will be doing most of the heavy lifting. He''s probably back in Horizon City, doing lines of coke off a stripper''s-¡±


    ¡°Anyways,¡± Petra interrupted, shooting Urash a warning smile, ¡°That''s him.¡±


    ¡°What about the other two?¡± Morinthian asked.


    ¡°Locus of Locust,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°That''s from the Museum of Unnatural History, right?¡±


    ¡°Well, technically a private patron, who had it on display there,¡± Petra said, ¡°Until, ah...¡±


    A pause. Ichabod scratched his chin, Urash a bearded cheek. Petra was still smiling, but there was an edge to it, now.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Morinthian asked, ¡°Something to be concerned about?¡±


    ¡°One of our guildmates burned most of the collection down,¡± Ichabod said.


    Morinthian blinked.


    ¡°Oh,¡± she said.


    ¡°Small world,¡± Petra said, her voice tight, ¡°Thank goodness they never found us out. We kept it... guild-to-guild, as it were.¡±


    ¡°What it means,¡± Urash said, ¡°Is that the private patron, a man named Iridos von Gronheim, is putting the rest of it up for sale. Several destructive spells.¡±


    ¡°The Locus of Locust is the important one,¡± Morinthian said, ¡°In terms of priority, it''s after the freedom elemental.¡±


    ¡°I believe von Gronheim is here, actually,¡± Petra said, ¡°We may be able to speak with him, set up a payment plan of some sort.¡±


    Urash groaned.


    ¡°Should have gone to a credit union, get a loan,¡± he said, ¡°Silver Eye doesn''t have many of those-¡±


    ¡°They wouldn''t work with the Commodore,¡± Morinthian said, ¡°Considering he''s from the multiverse. Even when he suggested using an intermediary from the Silver Eye, they wouldn''t work with us.¡±


    They lapsed into silence. Petra smiled grimly. Urash took a long swig of his drink. Ichabod sneered. By now, most of Vespa was up and running, and hornets lazily flew about them. A few of the other hotel guests watched them nervously. Archenround was coming over with plates for them, eggs and hashbrowns, a few slices of bacon. Salad for Petra and Gnawliver.


    They ate for a few minutes, though Morinthian declined.


    ¡°I had food poisoning this morning,¡± she said.


    They looked at her.


    ¡°Are you quite alright, dear?¡± Petra asked.


    ¡°I''m quite fine,¡± Morinthian said, ¡°Don''t order the shellfish here.¡±


    ¡°Shouldn''t you be in... bed, then?¡± Petra prodded.


    ¡°No,¡± Morinthian said, ¡°Mr. Gyasi gave me a tonic from a witch, and I''m quite fine.¡±


    She looked, disapproving, at the plate of eggs.


    ¡°Not hungry, though.¡±


    Urash and Ichabod shrugged. Petra motioned for her butler.


    ¡°Mr. Gnawliver,¡± she said, ¡°Please, order a few more of those... ''tonics-''¡±


    (She said this with a touch of distaste.)


    ¡°-In case our good Lieutenant Commander has need of them.¡±


    ¡°Of course, ma''am,¡± the beaverfolk said, ¡°I will get directions from Mr. Gyasi.¡±


    He walked over to Orion, who was eating with Archenround and the others. After a few hurried words, and Orion pointing and waving out a handsign map, he went through the hotel''s front entrance.


    ¡°We''re getting off track,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Morinthian, you want to review the third item?¡±


    The Paranian nodded, and she produced a holostick from her jacket coat. She placed it on a table, and a hologram of a book appeared. Even in the image, it looked plasticine, a flash-printed High Federation record.


    ¡°A record of the Armagestine Squall,¡± she said.


    ¡°Armagestine,¡± Petra said, ¡°Sounds familiar.¡±


    ¡°So named for a metahuman kingdom that inhabited it,¡± Morinthian said, ¡°According to one of the Commodore''s contacts, it used to be very close to the Silver Eye, with many Traveling Points that went to multiple planets in the Post-Colonial. The metahuman kingdom lived there and had many settlements in the Silver Eye, as well.¡±


    ¡°And we want it, because...?¡± Urash said.


    ¡°The record of the Armagestine Squall was located on Penitent Orations,¡± Morinthian said, ¡°A Library World that the Sons of Darwin glassed during the war.¡±The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    ¡°So it''s the only surviving record, then,¡± Urash said.


    ¡°Precisely,¡± Morinthian said, ¡°The Commodore thinks that the Darwinists may be targeting it.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Urash said, and he took another drink. Flecks of beer dribbled down into his beard. Petra disguised her revulsion as she spoke to him.


    ¡°You did the groundwork for this one, didn''t you?¡± she said.


    ¡°I did,¡± Urash said, and he brought a hand to his soaked beer, pulled out a slip of sodden paper, unraveled and read it, ¡°The patron putting the record up for sale is a noblewoman from Titan''s Walk, specifically from the Titan Oersten.¡±


    Ichabod pulled a face. He looked up at the rest of the group.


    ¡°Archenround!¡± he said, ¡°You have a sec?¡±


    The demon nodded, slithered over to them. Signed, and Ichabod translated for Morinthian''s benefit.


    ¡°You''ve been on Titan''s Walk a few times before, haven''t you?¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Anything on a Titan called Oersten?¡±


    Archenround''s brow furrowed, she thought for a few moments.


    I heard of him, she signed, One of the older Titans. One of my clients there mentioned that he was dying.


    ¡°From what?¡± Morinthian asked.


    I am unsure, Archenround replied, Most of them die of old age, that''s all. It takes a few millennia.


    ¡°So she''s probably selling to get enough money to get the hell away,¡± Urash said, ¡°One of those bastards taking a dirt nap usually causes all sorts of chaos.¡±


    Agreed, Archenround signed.


    ¡°So,¡± Morinthian said, ¡°Another upfront payment.¡±


    ¡°Not necessarily,¡± Petra said, ¡°Titans usually take a while to go. Am I correct in that assumption, Archenround?¡±


    The demon nodded.


    Yes. The Titan I worked on, Plamon, was dying, but she had been dying for at least a few decades.


    ¡°So, a payment plan may work,¡± Petra said, ¡°Depends on what we say. I''ll talk to this noblewoman. Is she here on the plane?¡±


    ¡°Aye,¡± Urash said, ¡°Scoped that out myself.¡±


    ¡°Of course you would,¡± Petra said, a hair accusing.


    ¡°Never you mind, revolting woman,¡± Urash spat, ¡°Her name is Kristen Omandi. Go have your girltalk.¡±


    He shook his head. Petra rolled her eyes. Ichabod grimaced.


    ¡°Regardless,¡± the cybernetic man said, ¡°Even if we don''t make the sale, we have the second option.¡±


    ¡°Is your part in this ready?¡± Urash said.


    ¡°Dama Runebreaker''s ready,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Vespa needs to get over her hangover. Archenround...?¡±


    He looked at her.


    The demon gave him a resolute nod.


    ¡°Right,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°We''ll see what we can grab.¡±


    Morinthian shuddered.


    ¡°It is always like this, at the auction?¡± she asked.


    ¡°The auction comes in two parts,¡± Urash gruffed, ¡°The first part, we''re civilized. Clients show what guilds they''ve hired, people make their sales.¡±


    ¡°And then night falls,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°And then everyone who wanted the item, and didn''t get it, make a grab.¡±


    Morinthian held her tongue, though she wanted to say something the others would find insulting.


    Petra smiled, sensing the Paranian''s distaste.


    ¡°It''s just tradition, at this point,¡± she said, ¡°Most of the time, whatever guild is hosting the auction is able to keep up security. But that doesn''t mean people don''t try. Including us, of course.¡±


    Orion approached them.


    ¡°We should go,¡± he said, ¡°Doors are going to open soon.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Petra said, and she looked at Urash, ¡°You''ll behave?¡±


    ¡°Of course I will,¡± Urash said, offended, ¡°I''ve got the proper spells. Just get me a layout of the place, will you?¡±


    Petra raised up her nose.


    ¡°Come, then, dears,¡± she said, ¡°Let''s leave this one to his little games. No offense, Ichabod.¡±


    ¡°Don''t rope me into... whatever this is,¡± Ichabod sneered, ¡°Off you go. Have fun.¡±


    Orion called for Gouffant, and the rat swayed off of his seat and skittered over.


    ¡°Did I miss anything?¡± he said.


    ¡°Nothing you don''t already know,¡± Petra said.


    ¡°Ah, good,¡± Gouffant said, ¡°The food here? Fantastique.¡±


    ¡°And you''ve got a bit of it in your whiskers,¡± Orion said, chuckling.


    ¡°Snack for later,¡± Gouffant said.


    The three of them, along with Morinthian, left the hotel. Gnawliver caught up with them on the way to Oracle''s Aviary.


    ***


    A line was forming outside the guildhall. Prospective buyers at the auction, along with their guildfolk escorts, were filling out the main plaza that hosted Oracle''s Aviary, talking and chattering and jeering. Already a couple were arguing with each other, held back by their comrades, the two about to dissolve into blows. Security automatons patrolled the crowd, held them back from the front door. They were large and hulking, primarily made of metal and with Fedtek circuitry, powered by manastones that had been bought, en masse, from a supplier on Krenstone. Mechanical birds flew through the air, each of them a camera. Some were undisguised, bronze and glass automata that circled in the air.


    Others, however, were clad in feathers. Pigeons and crows, a few seagulls. On the surface, they looked like any of the other fowl that flocked to the plaza, to pick at the peanuts, sandwiches, and chips that vendors were selling to the crowd as they waited. But underneath the feathers were clockwork hinges and gears, their eyes were cameras and their ears were listening devices that fed into Drebulon Anxen''s office.


    Drebulon Anxen. A Makooran, naturally large, almost hippo-like in appearance, with pinkish scales. Two horns grew from his head, and because he was working with Polly Poltergeist for this job, he had them freshly polished and filed. He was sitting at his desk, watching readouts from half a dozen monitors, his hands a blur on his keyboard as he entered commands into the network. Most of the automatons were on autopilot and able to move without his input, but he had overridden these commands for a small grouping of them to specifically watch for a group of guildfolk who were streaming in, led by none other than Ultan. Exodus Walkers.


    Drebulon shivered.


    One of the machines next to him rattled. Drebulon glanced over to see Polly Poltergeist manifesting beside him. She was wearing a nice dress for this occasion ¨C or, at least, she had manifested herself wearing a nice dress. A sunhat, too, and as she smiled Drebulon felt his heart quiver.


    ¡°Oh!¡± he said, ¡°You look-¡±


    (Nice? What kind of compliment was that? She''d know his feelings for sure, if he said that.)


    ¡°Ready,¡± he decided.


    ¡°Ready,¡± Polly said. Did she sound disappointed?


    ¡°Good,¡± Drebulon said, ¡°Cool. Right.¡±


    He took a deep breath. Re-centered himself.


    ¡°Right,¡± he said, again, ¡°So the Exodus Walkers just got here. Looks like it''s Ultan himself, Khosrau, Meldorn, and Jani. You''ve read the files on them?¡±


    ¡°Yep,¡± Polly Poltergeist said, ¡°I''ll possess one of Jani''s devices, feed you back any information.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Drebulon said, ¡°Be really careful, alright? Ultan''s a necromancer.¡±


    ¡°Please,¡± Polly Poltergeist said, ¡°I know his tricks.¡±


    ¡°All the same,¡± Drebulon said.


    And Polly Poltergeist rolled her eyes.


    ¡°Come on, Drebulon,¡± she said, ¡°I''ll be fine.¡±


    She looked him up and down. Quirked an eyebrow.


    ¡°Did you... polish your horns?¡± she asked.


    ¡°No!¡± Drebulon said, then, ¡°Y-Yes. Have to look my best, you know?¡±


    ¡°It looks nice,¡± the poltergeist said.


    (Nice? She thought, What kind of compliment is that?)


    ¡°Thanks,¡± Drebulon said, and that''s all he could say to that, ¡°Uh, good luck.¡±


    ¡°Ah, right,¡± Polly said, ¡°Same with you.¡±


    And she disappeared back into the machine. Drebulon knew that she would leap from device to device, until she made it to the Exodus Walkers.


    ***


    Amphitrite Vivi-Tone was the sixth member of Blue Sky Waiting assigned to watch over the guildhall. She was below, watching in a silent way as automatons patrolled the storage rooms. The sellers had arrived a week ago to bring their goods into Oracle''s Aviary, setting them up in a series of large vaults that Aldr Fatebreaker had personally crafted. A long hallway, each with a massive metal door with a wheel on its front, each inscribed with a rune. Each room inside was larger on the inside, its own little pocket dimension. They were all closed right now, and Amphitrite was alone below save for Drebulon''s workers. She was from Doremi. A Meldicon, those who believed that the Classicists and the Electrons could find common ground and just play the music.


    (¡°Fucking centrists,¡± G-Wiz called them, when Joseph asked.)


    She was wearing a nice suit, sitting on a stool, her hair shot through with bright silver strands, like lines of the moon. She had applied glittering silver eyeshadow, matched by glittering silver lipstick. Really, all of her glittered, though she didn''t have an audience.


    (Yet.)


    With each note she played, an excerpt from Chopin, moonlit notes emanated from her piano. They floated around the place, bouncing off the walls like sturdy bubbles. Each one fed vibrations back to her.


    All music is vibration.


    And through those vibrations, she could see the entire hall, and any interlopers that might come down.


    ***


    ¡°Alright,¡± Haemosu said, through a comm. He was on the third floor''s balcony, watching people start streaming in from outside as doors opened. Gods, there were so many out there. The final guest list sat at around a few thousand, give or take. Thousands of people, all in the guildhall at once. The lobby became alive with voices, people talking, and Haemosu felt them shudder in his ears. For a moment, he gripped the balcony''s marble rail.


    A hand rested on his shoulder.


    ¡°Everything alright?¡± Aldr Fatebreaker asked.


    He was wearing his usual storm-colored cloak, spear in hand, his conical hat rising high above like a pointed spike, a mirror to his billowing beard. All three eyes peered at Haemosu as he took a deep breath.


    ¡°Lots of noise,¡± Haemosu said, ¡°I''ll be fine.¡±


    ¡°Don''t be afraid to duck out, if you need to,¡± Aldr said.


    ¡°I said, I''m fine,¡± Haemosu said, ¡°This is more important than my own sensory issues.¡±


    They had had these discussions before. Aldr let it drop, the two of them watching as the crowd streamed in, and were directed by the robots to go into one of the side rooms. On normal occasions, it led into one of the dining halls. Aldr''s magic, however, had replaced it with an oversized seating gallery, a theatre that descended downwards towards a smallish stage, where Lilmora was situated, watching people stream in and take their seats. People from all over the multiverse. Elves and dwarves, trellian dignitaries from the last pureblood nation, a few well-to-dos from Kelstonda, one with a metahuman bodyguard, a pocket-covered woman who looked upon the scene with a surly glare. Ultan the Ultra-Skeletal strode in with his client, a meek looking nobleman from Melmaen, the two of them sitting, along with his guildmates, in one of the corners, where a specialized chair had been set aside for Ultan''s great size.


    ¡°Quite the crowd,¡± a voice beside Lilmora said. She turned, and there was the auctioneer. Siltman Saltman gave his practiced, cheery smile that made Lilmora''s stomach roil as he walked onto the stage, stroking that annoying white beard of his. It matched his white suit and his oversized white cowboy hat, as well as the ivory gavel that replaced his left hand.


    ¡°Is it always this...¡± Lilmora bit a lip, unsure of whether to say something rude.


    ¡°Bougie? Arrogant? Ridiculous?¡± Saltman''s smile became a hair more genuine, ¡°Why, of course. They''re rich. They''re allowed to be all of those things, and we can''t do anything about it.¡±


    ¡°You certainly can count yourself among their number,¡± Lilmora said, shooting him a sideways look, ¡°That suit looks like it costs an entire year''s salary.¡±


    ¡°It takes a trained eye to see that,¡± Saltman said, ¡°Let me guess, runaway rich girl? Noblewoman?¡±


    Lilmora turned to fully glare at him. Saltman shrugged, raised up his hands, gavel and all, in surrender.


    ¡°Well,¡± he said, ¡°This is going to be a productive time, at least. Tell that Feddie friend of yours-¡±


    ¡°I''m a Coribaldi.¡±


    ¡°Tell your fellow Feddie to start getting the automatons prepped with the first item,¡± Saltman said, ¡°It''s almost time to begin.¡±


    A couple of automatons were already coming up onto the stage, each holding an end of a long table. Saltman walked up to it, checked it over. It was shortened, to accommodate his small stature. Lilmora walked off the stage, shaking her head, letting the anger pool in certain spots of her mind, in case she needed to use it later.


    Saltman cleared his throat. Tested his gavel. Then, brought a hand to the side of his neck, whispered a few magic words.


    And when he spoke next, his voice was booming.


    ¡°WELCOME!¡± he roared, ¡°Welcome, one and all, to the Two Hundred Thousandth-and-Third Interplanar Auction of Triceradeus!¡±


    A few people in the crowd, who were already seated, clapped. That was all the energy the gnome needed.


    ¡°I am your auctioneer for this fine day, Siltman Saltman! I''ve been working for this auction for damn near two hundred years, and I''m mighty grateful that y''all have decided to let me somehow worm my way into another one.¡±


    A couple of laughs.


    ¡°Today''s gonna be like any other day, folks. Now, if you''ve never been to one of these ol'' auctions before, it''s pretty simple. One of these fine automations that Blue Sky Waiting has provided, will bring up an item from downstairs, generously put up for sale by one of several patrons, and we''ll name a price. If you like it, bid on it, but someone else might want it, too, and bid higher. Highest bid wins the item.¡±


    He leaned forward.


    ¡°We deal in High Federation credits here. No buts or how, credits are what makes the multiverse go ''round.¡±


    (¡°Not round,¡± Aldr said to Haemosu, as an aside, ¡°It''s a far more interesting shape than that.¡±)


    (Haemosu resisted the urge to walk out of the guildhall.)


    ¡°We''ll get started in a few minutes, here,¡± Siltman Saltman said, ¡°Once everyone''s seated, we can start the fun.¡±


    He smiled wide, revealing pearly white teeth.


    ***


    ¡°Annoying little man,¡± Morinthian said.


    ¡°Yuh, he can be like that,¡± Gouffant replied. He had been given a specialized seat, a long couch that took up two chairs'' worth of space. Morinthian sat beside him, and behind them, Gnawliver was adjusting a seat for Petra. She gave him a nod in thanks, the butler sinking down beside her. Orion sat next to Gouffant, looked a bit disturbed as a mass of ooze slithered over to rest next to him. Automatons directed people to sit down. They were an interesting mix of Fedtek and lesser machinery, Morinthian noted. Amalgamations of technologies that certain circles in the Silver Eye would see as heretical.


    None of that, here. Even those fellow Federation merchants here turned them a blind eye. There was money to be made, faith be damned. Morinthian found herself judging these people most of all. Silently, of course, for she was a guest to the proceedings.


    ¡°Saltman''s one of the best auctioneers in the multiverse,¡± Petra said, ¡°Doesn''t look a hair over four hundred. And he''s got an excellent poker face. Quite the singer, too.¡±


    ¡°You''ve seen him perform,¡± Morinthian said, mirthlessly.


    ¡°Oh, yes,¡± Petra said, ¡°We frequent the same circles.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Morinthian said.


    ¡°Don''t worry too much ''bout him,¡± Gouffant said, ¡°He talks fast, but as long as you raise your hand when the time is right, he''ll see you.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Morinthian said.


    She had been to an auction but once before, and hadn¡¯t bet at the time. It was in her earlier years, when she was a military escort for a High Federation official on Everlasting Truth. The official, the head of the Department of Interrelations Between the Chosmians and the Kleptonians, was bereft of any actual work, as the two civilizations had ceased to exist over two thousand years ago. Instead, he wasted away his salary, which still came to him, year by year, on auctions and casinos, hoping to score something big. She could still see his thin, greedy little spider hand, grasping at the air, hoarsely shouting out ¡°Ten million! Ten million!¡± at an ancient artifact.


    Gods, how she hated him.


    Yet, here she was now, about to scream out the same thing. She felt herself recoiling at the thought of it. And her stomach still ached.


    ¡°Mr. Gnawliver,¡± she said, ¡°Can you hand me more of that tonic?¡±


    The beaverfolk nodded. Produced some of the potion from his jacket pocket.


    ¡°I must warn you, miss, for the sake of your own health,¡± he said, ¡°Don''t drink too much. But, a little more should help.¡±


    He unstoppered the cap. Handed it over. Morinthian drank it down. The potion was bitter, and she found herself having to force it down. It almost came up a number of times, but she swallowed. And kept swallowing.


    ¡°Disgusting things, aren''t they?¡±


    She turned.


    Sitting down next to her was a man in a dark cloak, his oily blond hair hanging, like curtains, on either side of his face. A serpentine creature with a raptor-like body rested on his shoulders, its lion-like head swirling this way and that.


    His eyes, they were filmy, as though covered in swamp murk. They slid over to her compatriots.


    ¡°Ah,¡± he said, ¡°The Amber Foundation.¡±


    A multitude of reactions on her companion''s faces, as she observed them. Petra smiled politely. Gouffant let out a chuffing ¡°Hullo.¡± Orion nodded, though his easy smile disappeared. Gnawliver took to polishing his monocle.


    ¡°Greetings, Mr. Agrippa,¡± Petra said, ¡°How are you?¡±

 172. Just A Game

    Afraid.


    That is what Petra Balishen felt at the sight of Agrippa in front of her. He was the CEO of OzTech, one of the most powerful megacorporations in the known multiverse. The Amber Foundation had raided his personal base of operations, the Tower of Eden, some time ago. Ichabod, Becenti, G-Wiz, Vicenorn, Contort, and the late Rorshin had gone to Neos. Had been the only people to infiltrate the place, which doubled as a guildhall for Agrippa''s wardogs, Pantheon, and got out alive. Barring a few hitches here and there, they had been able to get out without Agrippa knowing.


    But the way the man looked at them with those near filmed-over eyes, made Petra doubt that.


    That hadn''t been their only run-in with Pantheon. Cobalt Joe, Rosemary, and Phineas had fought against Pantheon on Melmaen, trying to get into a traveling exhibit that was under OzTech''s purview. No doubt Agrippa remembered that, too.


    But she smiled back at him. Politely. Professionally. This was no time to reveal that cold feeling leaking down her spine. She felt a twinge of embarrassment as she noted Agrippa''s eyes slide down from her face to her chest.


    Normally, she enjoyed such attention.


    Not here. Something about the way he looked at her...


    Hungrily.


    Set her on edge.


    Made her afraid.


    And now the rest of Agrippa''s retinue were sitting down. A few she recognized as guildmembers of Pantheon. Macabre, a metahuman. A raven was perched on her shoulder, a few more were no doubt flying outside, and she could see through all of them as her eyes.


    Petra shivered.


    And then, beside her, sitting awkwardly, was the guildmaster of Pantheon. Aeneas Silvestri, the Iron Stallion. More machine than man, his bulletproof plate chassis was night-black, and even sitting down he towered over the people around him. Aside from a few internal organs, the only part of him that was still organic was the top of his head, which was covered by dense, military-grade plating. One could see his eyes, angry and dark, as they flitted between each member of the Amber Foundation.


    Their apparent clients filled the seats to the Iron Stallion''s right. Two eln meia. They talked to each other in quiet tones.


    ¡°I''m quite well, actually,¡± and now Agrippa spoke, after a hair''s moment too long, ¡°And how are you, Ms. Balishen?¡±


    Of course he knew her name. He had done his research on them. Petra forced her smile to brighten.


    ¡°Why, we''re well, of course,¡± she said, ¡°What brings you to the auction, personally?¡±


    ¡°Oh, I always come to it,¡± Agrippa said, ¡°Every year, I see what new artifacts come through. Purchase a few for myself. A few for my clients. And you?¡±


    ¡°Ah,¡± Petra said, ¡°We''re here on business. I''m afraid we''re not so affluent as to come here every year, but our client today has a nest egg built up.¡±


    And Agrippa''s attention turned to Morinthian. The Paranian nodded at him.


    ¡°Julius Agrippa,¡± the oily man said, and he brought up a pale hand.


    ¡°Lieutenant Commander Morinthian.¡±


    The two shook. And the entire time, Agrippa''s G''Rash Haro stared at them. Ichabod had described the creature as being as large as Vicenorn, an apex predator upon his shoulders, but as of now it was the size of a particularly fat housecat.


    A size-changer, then.


    ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, and all variations in-between and thereof,¡± Siltman Saltman, the auctioneer, called out, ¡°Let us begin!¡±


    Polite clapping, and thank god, Agrippa turned around to join in. Iron Stallion was still staring hard at the group, but at least his master was wanting to get on with things. She leaned down to Gouffant and Orion.


    ¡°Well,¡± she said, ¡°Interesting.¡±


    Orion didn¡¯t say anything. He was trying to get back to putting on a polite front, smiling and chuckling at one of Saltman¡¯s bad jokes. But there was a new glitter in his eyes. Same with Gouffant, despite the rat''s nonchalant attitude. Morinthian hadn''t picked up on it, the anxiety that all of them suddenly felt.


    Or perhaps she did, and was a better poker player than they were.


    Regardless, she leaned over to Gouffant.


    ¡°So, they''ll bring up the first item.¡±


    ¡°Oh, yuh,¡± Gouffant said, ¡°See those androids? Here they come.¡±


    Two of the automatons were heading up the stairs now, carrying a large painting depicting an Elven warrior crossing blades with a Dragon, a storm roiling in the distance, carrying with it a fleet of Federation warbirds.


    ¡°A piece by the legendary painter Vincelle,¡± Saltman said, ¡°Ruminations on the Age of Strife.¡±


    Whispers in the crowd. Another piece by that famous artist, who had died penniless almost four thousand years ago. To see one of her pieces, in-person, and in such good condition...


    ¡°Now,¡± Saltman said, ¡°Starting bid is ten million. Do I hear ten million?¡±


    A person raised a hand.


    ¡°Ten million, raising to eleven, do I hear eleven million?¡±


    Another hand. Then another.


    ¡°Eleven million, twelve million,¡± Saltman''s voice started to quicken, ¡°ThirteenmilliondoIhearthirteen,thirteengood,fourteenfourteenmilliondoIsee-fifteen,fifteen-¡±


    More hands raised. The amount went up. Until time went out, and Saltman pointed.


    ¡°Sold!¡± he shouted, and he slammed his gavel against the table, ¡°To the gentleman in the back. Forty million credits.¡±


    ***


    Amphitrite heard applause upstairs. Cavalcades of thunder. A smile crept onto her face as she continued playing, as she recalled memories of sold-out concert halls and whistles and roses thrown onto the stage. Things were already getting busy above. She had only spoken to Siltman Saltman a pair of times, but already she could see why he was so revered in the auctioning world.


    Vibrations. Detections. A couple of Drebulon''s automatons were coming downstairs, accessing one of the vaults. They took out one of the items and started bringing it upstairs.


    A ring in her communicator. Amphitrite answered.


    ¡°Vivi-Tone,¡± she said.


    ¡°It''s Haemosu. Anxen''s on the line, too.¡±


    ¡°Hey, Amphitrite.¡±


    ¡°Hey yourself, Drebulon,¡± Amphitrite said, ¡°What''s up?¡±


    ¡°Getting a status update from each of the teams,¡± Haemosu said, ¡°I see Lilmora down there. She''s waving at me. Giving me a rude sign.¡±


    Amphitrite snorted.


    ¡°And I can''t get in contact with Polly Poltergeist.¡±


    ¡°She should be near the Exodus Walkers,¡± Drebulon said, ¡°Like you ordered.¡±


    There was a hint of apprehension in his voice. Amphitrite smirked.


    ¡°Getting worried?¡± she said.


    ¡°Y-Yes,¡± Drebulon said, ¡°Only natural. She''s right next to Ultan, and... and-¡±


    He huffed.


    ¡°Shut up,¡± he said.


    Amphitrite chuckled. She could almost see Haemosu roll his eyes.


    ¡°Quite teasing,¡± he said, ¡°Anxen, keep an eye on her. She should be reporting to me pretty soon. But, all the same, the Ultra-Skeletal''s wily. I don''t want anything awkward to happen.¡±


    ¡°R-Right,¡± Drebulon said, ¡°Will do.¡±


    ¡°Everything''s fine down there, Vivi-Tone?¡± Haemosu asked.


    Amphitrite''s fingers were a blur as she started playing Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2. Notes emanated from her Emenophone. Bounced off the walls.


    ¡°Only us Blue Skiers down here,¡± she said, with a wink, ¡°So far.¡±


    ¡°Hnn,¡± Haemosu grunted, ¡°Keep it that way. Lilmora''s by the door. Just say the word, and she''ll be down there.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Amphitrite said, ¡°Anything else?¡±


    ¡°Nothing else. Haemosu out.¡±


    He exited the line. Amphitrite took a second, still playing.


    ¡°Say hi if you see your girlfriend, Drebulon,¡± she said into the communicator.


    ¡°I-¡± he stammered, ¡°It''s not like that!¡±


    And he left the line. Amphitrite laughed.


    And continued playing.


    ***


    Neither Morinthian nor Agrippa bid on the next two items. One was a sword encased in amethyst. The next, the wand of some ancient wizard. It was now that Morinthian realized that the majority of the items on sale would either be collector''s items or magical artifacts. Federation technology was to be avoided. Or, at least, the sale of it would brazenly rebel against half a dozen laws and risk technological contamination, and subsequent glassing.


    ¡°Such boring things,¡± Agrippa said, next to her.


    She turned to look at him.


    ¡°I mean, a wand by Shelman the Wise?¡± the man chuckled, ¡°He had more wands than I have cars. I''ve got a few of his collection in my office, personally.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Morinthian said.


    And now, an item of value appeared that burned away the film in Agrippa''s eyes, just a bit.


    One of the eln meia started speaking to the other. Morinthian looked over. Both of them were women, blue-skinned, one a bit taller than the other. The shorter was wearing a dark blue overcoat and a tricorn hat. The other''s hair was tied in a tight ponytail, two cutlasses resting between her knees.


    The shorter looked over to Agrippa.


    He nodded.


    The item in question was a spear, inside the tip of which seemed to glow a miniature sun. It lit up the room, and a few members had to avert their eyes.


    ¡°The Spear of the Hierophant,¡± Siltman Saltman said, ¡°A powerful magical artifact. Starting at three million, not a bad hoop to jumpover,fourmillionIhearfourmillion,five-¡±


    Agrippa raised a hand.


    And kept raising it.


    Over and over, with each challenge, he raised his hand. Smiled sardonically.


    The final bid ended at fifteen million.


    ¡°Sold!¡± Saltman said, ¡°To the gentleman in the back, with the spirit.¡±


    Polite clapping.


    Morinthian looked over at him.


    ¡°If I recall correctly,¡± she said, ¡°Usually guilds are simple escorts, not doing the bidding on their own.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I''m not officially part of any guild,¡± Agrippa said, ¡°Pantheon agreed to meet with the client, and I decided to accompany them.¡±


    He nodded to the two eln meia.


    ¡°My clients ¨C well, the guild''s clients, technically, and I have an agreement with each other. The eln meia are preparing for... surprises, back home. I thought I''d give them a helping hand.¡±


    There was a way he said it. A way his eyes slid back to the Amber Foundation, then back to the small form of Saltman on the podium. Morinthian considered his words. Knew that they weren''t for her.


    Petra leaned in.


    ¡°Lieutenant,¡± she whispered to Morinthian, ¡°The Locus of Locust should be coming up soon. Get ready to bid. I''m going to go talk to the nobleman.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Morinthian said, ¡°Good luck.¡±


    The Far Traveler winked. She and Gnawliver stood up, and the beaverfolk started guiding her through the stands, heading towards Ultan the Ultra-Skeletal, and his client.


    ***


    Lord Iridos von Gronheim sat nervously beside the large, purple-feathered form of guildmaster Ultan. He was already a short, plump man, looking all the world like a tiny little bluejay, with his sky-hued Victorian jacket and his sky-hued powdered wig. He was practically perched on Ultan''s purple flamingo form, and Polly Poltergeist found that she needed to stifle laughter at the sight of him. Von Gronheim leaped at every shadow, regarded every person in the room with a nervously suspicious glance, and kept whispering ¡°They''re fine?¡± to Ultan.


    The necromancer was in good spirits, and kept reassuring his client in his professional way. He would explode on others, such as his legendary arguments at InterGuild, but with clients, he was calm. Collected. Reasonable, even. There was not a hint of annoyance when he spoke to von Gronheim, reassuring him and pointing out the items being brought onto the stage.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    ¡°Almost time for your item to get on,¡± Ultan said, ¡°Ready to be a rich man?¡±


    ¡°I''m already a rich man,¡± von Gronheim said, ¡°I just need that damn thing out of my hair.¡±


    From her place inhabiting the Exodus Walker Jani''s plasma rifle, Polly was aware of someone approaching, pushing her way through the stands. Was aware that Ultan looked at the newcomer, and her assistant beaverfolk, and nodded.


    ¡°You are... Lady Balishen, yes?¡± he said.


    ¡°Why, I''m more popular than I thought,¡± Lady Balishen replied, ¡°It''s good to meet you again, guildmaster. We danced together at the Yule Gala on Ekrimbia.¡±


    ¡°A good night,¡± Ultan mused.


    ¡°Ultan, who is this?¡± von Gronheim said, ¡°Trouble?¡±


    ¡°Oh, the best kind, sir,¡± Lady Balishen said, ¡°Lady Petra Balishen, of the Balishen family. Perhaps you''ve heard of us?¡±


    A pause, as von Gronheim thought.


    ¡°I remember hearing stories about your father, Banders Balishen,¡± he said, ¡°That means you''re Amber Foundation, yes?¡±


    ¡°Why, yes!¡± Polly could sense Lady Balishen''s smile, bright and brilliant, ¡°We''re here escorting a client who is interested in bidding for the Locus of Locust.¡±


    ¡°Ah!¡± von Gronheim said, ¡°G-Good.¡±


    ¡°I had a question, Lord von Gronheim,¡± Lady Balishen said.


    ¡°Please, Iridos is fine.¡±


    ¡°Ah, Iridos, then,¡± Lady Balishen said, ¡°Tell me, are you expecting an upfront payment for the spell?¡±


    ¡°Well, yes,¡± von Gronheim said, ¡°This is an auction, after all.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± Lady Balishen said, ¡°Now, is there anything I can do to convince you to... make an exception?¡±


    ¡°An exception?¡± von Gronheim said.


    ¡°Our client is extremely interested in the Locus of Locust as a matter of safety,¡± Lady Balishen said, ¡°You''ve heard the stories of the destruction that spell can cause.¡±


    ¡°Of course I do,¡± von Gronheim said, ¡°That''s why I want it out of my collection. No doubt you heard about what happened at the Museum of Unnatural History, almost two years ago.¡±


    ¡°I do,¡± Lady Balishen said, ¡°Which is why my client is intent on making sure the Locus does not fall into the wrong hands.¡±


    Von Gronheim went silent. Below, Siltman Saltman was bleeting out the next item.


    ¡°Up next!¡± he roared, ¡°An incredibly interesting item. A mace, with a head of amber, encased in which is a near-perfect specimen of a mosquito in amber, dating back almost one hundred and eleven million years ago.¡±


    The automatons brought the item onto the floor. The mace was smaller than expected, for it had been wielded by gnomes, and it sat upon a small glass pedestal, and as it was placed on the table, Saltman produced a magnifying glass. An image appeared over his head, a magical camera that showed the amber head in sharp detail.


    ¡°Note,¡± the auctioneer said, ¡°That bit of red there. That there''s blood, still in pristine condition. And with magic and technology where it''s at nowadays, who knows what you could do with it?¡±


    The bidding started.


    Von Gronheim spoke up.


    ¡°Who is your client?¡± he asked.


    ¡°A High Federation official.¡±


    And Ultan laughed.


    ¡°Ha!¡± he said, ¡°Didn''t realize you played for the cops.¡±


    ¡°Not quite like that, sir,¡± Lady Balishen said, ¡°Our client is a Commodore within the High Federation fleet, and is very disturbed by what''s been happening in recent years. He swore an oath, to seal the Locus of Locust away.¡±


    ¡°It''s Shelley, isn''t it?¡± Ultan said.


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± Lady Balishen said, and she did not betray her surprise, ¡°Why, have you met?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Ultan said, and his voice went dark, ¡°After the glassing of Kraven.¡±


    ¡°Ah, I see,¡± Lady Balishen said, ¡°So you must understand, then, that our client certainly doesn''t want any of that. Or anything of that scale.¡±


    Ultan huffed.


    ¡°Well,¡± the necromancer said, ¡°I think it''s hypocritical. But I''m not the one in charge. Lord Iridos?¡±


    Von Gronheim thought.


    ¡°What did you have in mind?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Assuming we''re not outbid, a payment plan,¡± Lady Balishen said, ¡°You''ll still get your money over a period of, let''s say, a year, with monthly installments.¡±


    ¡°And if you can''t pay?¡± von Gronheim asked.


    ¡°Oh, we most certainly will be able to,¡± Lady Balishen said, ¡°Our client has got quite a bit of a nest egg built up. He''ll be able to take the hits necessary.¡±


    ¡°Then why did you not bring the money now?¡± von Gronheim said, ¡°I want the Locus of Locust gone from my collection, but I also would prefer not to be tied to any deals here. I''ve already enough back home.¡±


    ¡°Because, realistically, the client has other pieces they are interested in,¡± Lady Balishen said, ¡°And, in the interest of security, it was deemed to only have so much on hand. You know how High Federation credit unions are, too. Our client''s of the multiverse. Like us. They wouldn''t work with him.¡±


    ¡°So you''re stretched thin.¡±


    ¡°As are all who try to do the right thing,¡± Lady Balishen said.


    She''s laying it on a bit thick, Polly Poltergeist thought. But it was the obvious that was appealing to Lord Iridos. He swallowed, thought for a moment.


    ¡°Well,¡± he said, ¡°You promise to hide the damn thing away?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Lady Balishen said, ¡°We''ll even write up a contract.¡±


    ¡°And this is only assuming you win the bidding war.¡±


    ¡°That''s correct,¡± Lady Balishen said, ¡°Us having a leg in the competition is good, as it means that we''ll be able to bid as much as needed to secure the item. More money for yourself.¡±


    Von Gronheim nodded at this.


    ¡°Very well,¡± he said, ¡°We''ll write up a contract. Assuming that you''re able to secure the item.¡±


    ***


    Petra turned to the rest of the group, gave Orion a nod.


    ¡°Alright,¡± Orion said, ¡°We''re good to go.¡±


    Morinthian nodded.


    ¡°Up next!¡± Saltman shouted, ¡°A very powerful spell. Some of you might have heard of it. Some of you have read about it. The elders in the room have probably seen it in action. The Locus of Locust.¡±


    The automaton was careful with this one. It held a small cage as it slowly walked up to the stage. A small locust sat within. Unmoving. Simple and unassuming. Morinthian swallowed at the sight of it. The Locus of Locust could destroy planes. Could render entire farming worlds barren, for it unleashed locusts, thousands of them, millions of them. The spell was a herald of famine.


    Why, in all of the First Men''s names, was it being auctioned like some vanity piece?


    ¡°Starting bid, fifty million,¡± Morinthian said, and he pointed, ¡°Fifty-one,doIhearfifty-one-¡±


    Morinthian''s hand shot up.


    As did Agrippa''s.


    ¡°Fifty-two,fifty-three,fifty-fourmillionfifty-fivemillionfifty-¡±


    She kept bidding.


    As did Agrippa.


    Over and over, a war of the hands, as the price of the Locus of Locust kept creeping higher and higher. The two eln meia looked unconcerned. Agrippa''s smile became, perhaps, a hair tighter as Morinthian continued challenging him.


    ¡°Seventy-million,seventy-one,seventy-two,¡± Saltman said.


    And now, a lapse.


    Morinthian leaned back.


    ¡°Seventy-three, do I hear a seventy-three?¡± Saltman asked.


    Silence from the crowd.


    Agrippa looked over at her.


    ¡°You want this quite a bit, don''t you?¡± he said.


    He raised his hand again. The Paranian winced.


    Challenged.


    Higher and higher.


    To the high seventies. Then the eighties. The high nineties...


    ¡°Sold!¡± Saltman roared, ¡°Sold, at one hundred and eleven million, to the lady in the back. Quite the fight, quite the fight indeed. I need a stiff drink after that one.¡±


    Morinthian relaxed.


    Winced.


    Higher than her upfront payment. But Petra had worked that out.


    Still...


    It meant that either they would need to negotiate with the other patrons, or Ichabod''s team would need to go for the item in a mad dash.


    Agrippa had sensed her weakness. And made her pay far more than she should have. Did the bastard even care? Morinthian gave the CEO of OzTech a sideways glance, trying to gauge his reaction. He was leaning back, looking unperturbed. The shorter of the eln meia shot him a dark look, but he waved it off.


    Which meant that he was probably going to send someone in for the Locus of Locust. They would be playing defense, in addition to offense.


    Morinthian traded a look with Orion. Who shook his head.


    ¡°Talk later,¡± he mouthed.


    ***


    Movement.


    Amphitrite opened her eyes.


    Someone, or something, other than her and Drebulon''s automatons. She tilted her head, playing her Emenophone so as to not reveal that she knew that the interloper had been detected. They were coming down the hall, quiet yet quick.


    She called more notes from the Emenophone. Yes. The person was on two legs. A tail slithered on the ground. She clicked her tongue quietly. They were a lizardfolk, a dagger in hand, a bag of holding looped on a belt.


    ¡°Got someone,¡± she whispered into her earpiece.


    A sudden, sharp sigh from Haemosu. This was early, very early. One of the guilds was certainly pushing its luck. Probably the Weaponeers ¨C they had started getting uppity as of late, pushing other guilds and the Law of InterGuild itself. They were probably looking for a quick raid, a smash and grab.


    Her music changed. She started playing out Holst''s Mars, the Bringer of War.


    ¡°I''m going in,¡± Lilmora said, ¡°Amphy, be my eyes.¡±


    More movement above. Vibrations across the hall, as the lizardfolk picked up pace. They were rounding a corner, coming upon Amphitrite now. She was still playing her piano, fingers dancing key by key. The lizardfolk was invisible to the eye, but not to the ear and not to echolocation.


    Vivi-Tone smirked.


    ¡°Well,¡± she said, ¡°Isn''t this interesting.¡±


    She played an off-key. It reverberated through the hall-


    The lizardfolk leaped forward at her.


    But they didn''t even get close. The notes shot downwards, intercepted the lizardfolk a full fifteen feet from Amphitrite. They expanded in size as they smothered the intruder, and with another false note she made them sticky yet cloud-like, and the lizardfolk started floating in the air, held fast as though by a bubblegum hand.


    Their invisibility spell fell away, revealing a snarling, raptorian head, though the rest was held in the melody.


    ¡°Petlak Inkov,¡± Amphitrite said, ¡°How do you do?¡±


    ¡°Dammit!¡± Petlak snarled, ¡°Dammit dammit! Curses you!¡±


    Lilmora was coming up behind him. Her face was cast in a look of dark anger, which began to pulse from her mind and into her hands as blood-red aura.


    ¡°You¡¯re from Scalebound,¡± the Coribaldi said, ¡°Aren''t you?¡±


    ¡°Let go me!¡± Petlak snapped


    ¡°I''ll take it from here,¡± Lilmora said.


    She brought hand up to Petlak''s face. Anger wove around the lizardfolk''s snout, formed into chains that snaked down his body, held him fast. When Amphitrite released her music, Petlak was completely enraptured in emotion.


    Haemosu''s voice rang up.


    ¡°Is it done?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Lilmora said, ¡°It''s Scalebound.¡±


    A pause, as Haemosu thought.


    ¡°Chiang Wei was their client,¡± he said, ¡°I''ll inform the guildmaster. Bring the interloper up.¡±


    ¡°On it,¡± Lilmora said.


    She nodded to Amphitrite, and started dragging Petlak back upstairs.


    ***


    Whispers and gasps. The auction was temporarily halted as one of Blue Sky Waiting came out from downstairs with a bound lizardfolk. The intruder''s chains were made of red-hot energy, those who knew more realizing that they were emotions realized into the world. The Coribaldi guildmember dragged him forward, glaring at the gallery, as she went away.


    A few moments later, a few members of the auction picked their way through the crowd, accompanied by a man in blue rust armor. Jee Haemosu, they knew him to be. Another member of Blue Sky Waiting. He let the patrons rise, and then escorted them out of the building.


    Thus eliminated the first players in the game that was the Interplanar Auction.


    Agrippa laughed at the sight of it.


    ¡°Idiots,¡± he said to Morinthian, ¡°You should know, you never start anything on the first day. It''s rude, and it''s when the host guild is at its most attentive.¡±


    The patron turned to protest his expulsion from the guildhall. Haemosu responded with a shove.


    ¡°See that?¡± Agrippa said, ¡°That''s all that needs to be seen. They''re angry that someone tried something this early. That stress will wear them down. They''ll be guarding all night.¡±


    Morinthian regarded him. Agrippa leaned back, smiled.


    The G''Rash Haro stared at the auctioneer.


    ¡°You''re certainly... cavalier, about all of this,¡± the Lieutenant Commander said.


    ¡°Oh, but of course,¡± Agrippa said, ¡°It''s all just a game. Smoke and mirrors.¡±


    The Paranian shook her head.


    ¡°I wouldn''t call an attempted robbery a ''game.''¡±


    ¡°Don''t be naive,¡± Agrippa said, ¡°Everyone''s doing it. Even you.¡±


    Morinthian suppressed a wince. Gods, he was perceptive. But then...


    ¡°It''s obvious,¡± Agrippa continued, ¡°You''re here. You have a guild backing you. Everyone does. Everyone''s going in. Tonight, probably tomorrow night, too. To steal what they can''t buy, to protect their hard-won trophies.¡±


    The auction started back up. But Siltman Saltman''s assault rifle voice became droning background buzz as Agrippa turned his full attention to Morinthian.


    ¡°When everyone does it, it becomes a game,¡± Agrippa said, ¡°How much can you get without getting caught? What guilds are best for this sort of job? What items do you aim for, or do you go for a general grab? That¡¯s why a lot of people here do it. For the game.¡±


    He chuckled. The thought of such violence burned away the film in his eyes. He was staring intently at Saltman. At the raising hands, the upping antes. The risk, knowing that all could be lost in the night and its thieves.


    ¡°That''s the joy of guilds, I think,¡± he said, ¡°They make it legal, in their way. They''re beholden only to the High Federation, and the Law of InterGuild. Nothing else.¡±


    A lazy, horrid smile crept onto his pale face.


    ¡°And when you have that, well, it makes things... interesting. Fun.¡±


    Morinthian swallowed.


    Concentrated, or tried to, on the auction.


    Could not get her mind off of the pageantry, and the death behind it.


    After all, guildfolk were expendable. Even the Amber Foundation.


    She was using them.


    Everyone here, was using someone.


    ***


    The day¡¯s auction ended. Neither the freedom elemental nor the Armagestine Records were put up for sale today. Petra returned back to the group, and they rose as one. It took a little while to wait for the crowd to thin, as people exited the guildhall. A few stayed behind to talk with Aldr Fatebreaker about other jobs and contracts, but for the most part the act of sitting and bidding had exhausted people. They would disperse, to the pubs and bars and taverns across the city, to drink and gamble and talk business.


    A few items changed hands. A few of the wealthier patrons, with the beef to create their own security, gobbled up their bought goods, and returned them to their ships.


    Those, like the Amber Foundation, simply let their items remain at the guildhall, until the conclusion of the auction. Blue Sky Waiting would continue to provide security for the item.


    (For a fee, of course, but one that was much cheaper than buying out an entire security suite.)


    Which meant that the group returned back to the Noel empty-handed, though with the upfront fee and payment plan secured with von Gronheim.


    The first group returned, exhausted from the time there, their ears ringing from the clapping and from Saltman''s booming voice. Petra sequestered herself in her suite, attended to only by Mr. Gnawliver. Morinthian laid down in bed, rubbed her eyes. Gouffant found himself in the dining rooms, eating and eating and eating away. Orion was the only one who stayed up.


    (They drew cards for this.)


    So rather than waste away in food and drink like everyone else, he stayed in the lobby, polishing his sword.


    Watched, as the sun went down and night droned on. As the second team prepared to head to the guildhall.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    They emerged, as though from hidden caverns, near one in the morning.


    Ichabod, Dama Runebreaker, Archenround, and Vespa. Urash dragged himself out of bed a few minutes later, came down, brandishing his spellrod, a dour look set on his face.


    ¡°Right,¡± he said, ¡°This is it, then?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°We know what to look out for. We know where most of the items are going to be.¡±


    He looked at Orion.


    ¡°You''re lookout?¡±


    ¡°Guilty as charged,¡± Orion said. He still had not gotten up from his chair, ¡°I''ll drink some coffee, wait for you all to get back.¡±


    The mechanical man nodded. He was wearing a heavy trenchcoat, inside of which was a variety of hacking implements, a couple of knives, and his twin pistols. His Shardeen Cutter rippled beneath his metal and glass arm.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said to the others, ¡°You know what to do. Vespa, take point. Scout ahead. Let us know who''s around.¡±


    The swarm churned. After a final nod to Orion, the group walked outside, and Vespa broke out into thousands of flying insects, a few landing on each of her guildmates. She started relaying information to them as they moved, block by block, towards the guildhall.


    The streets leading up to Oracle''s Aviary were silent. Horrid and silent. Pregnant with apprehension, it were as though the guildhall itself knew that there would be invaders tonight. Every light was out. Automatons stalked the plaza outside. Each of them were armed with strange rifles, heavy and stout, with tentacles twisting from their tops.


    The group stopped, hunkering down in an alley, as Vespa updated them.


    ¡°Ah, hell,¡± Urash said, ¡°Didn''t know they had those.¡±


    ¡°What are they?¡± Dama Runebreaker asked.


    ¡°Cubuzoa-45s,¡± Ichabod said, ¡°Jellyfish rifles, from Korlantis. Very painful. One shot incapacitates. To the average sapient, the second shot kills.¡±


    ¡°They''re illegal in multiple paradigms,¡± Urash said, ¡°Tried running a shipment of them. Hard to keep alive.¡±


    ¡°They''re alive?¡± Dama Runebreaker hissed.


    ¡°In a way,¡± Urash said, ¡°They''re basically jellyfish that have been twisted into weaponry. Hard to gauge just how sentient they even are.¡±


    ¡°Tell that to Calacious Nine,¡± Vespa murmured.


    Urash pulled a face, and said nothing else.


    ¡°I see,¡± Vespa whispered, ¡°I see a few other guildfolk going in.¡±


    There was a sound in the distance. Plasma fire. The buzzing, electric stingsong of the Cubuzoas. Screams. The scent of magic in the air.


    ¡°We''re losing time,¡± Ichabod said, and he turned off the alley, ¡°Let''s go.¡±