《Flight of the River Seraphs》


 1. Sun Girl

    As Althea soared toward the market, wild golden curls caught in the wind, she looked up to confront the endless sky, where only a few pale clouds failed to guard the naked sun smiling down upon her. She smiled back. A mistake, as is turned out, as she ran full-speed into a cloaked stranger who grunted and fell to the cobble-stoned ground.


    ¡°I am so sorry,¡± Althea apologized, out of breath and towering over the crumpled man, who was dressed in all black despite the heat of the sun. ¡°Are you hurt?¡±


    The man winced, shaggy head curled over the hand he was holding, scuffed on the stone, bleeding sluggishly.


    ¡°Nothing to worry about,¡± he said, his voice quiet and strained.


    She didn¡¯t have time to waste, so rather than worry about his reaction or draw this out, she grabbed his hand and held on despite his flinch, focusing her green senses on the wound until she called the flesh to knit itself back together. She thought of how she and Ar¨¦vis had to make it in time to the tavern later for Terran¡¯s performance.


    He gasped and looked at his hand in what she presumed was awe.


    ¡°Wow, thank you for ¨C ¡±


    ¡°Anyway, I¡¯ve gotta go,¡± Althea interrupted, and turned away before he could lift his head. ¡°You should be fine now!¡±


    She flew through the crowded street, dodging people with more care and making sure to keep her eyes in front of her instead of up.


    Althea could feel the invigorating warmth of the sun tingle on her skin as she hopped with calloused soles on the warmed stone of the Lantris market path.


    She bounded past the heady smells of fresh fish, oils, incense, and sweat from sea travel, hard work and toasting too long in the afternoon sun. The cacophony of sounds was drowned out by the way the sunlight played on the bright colors of Aridian linen, and the glint of metal and jewels. Aridian merchants yelled with heavy accents, advertising their goods fervently. Their skin shimmered in golds, browns, and blacks, so different from the paler shades of Lantris¡¯ people. It brought a smile to Althea¡¯s face. She loved the market here, right at the end of the river delta, near the coast, where trade was good. There were so many interesting travelers with stories of pirates and distant lands. Most of all, there were stories of foreign gods and magic¡ªstories of places that were still at war.


    She and Ar¨¦vis had poured over books that they would have never found at Isold¡¯s academy. The histories some merchants brought were older, sometimes written in Ancient Aridian. Althea had tried to learn once, but other things had seemed more important at the time than relics of a place she wasn¡¯t born in and had never been to.


    In the distance, she could just make out one of Isold¡¯s ice bridges, used to transport water into Lantris, the only home she had known. From what she had heard and read about, Lantris was pretty boring. The city council didn¡¯t want to murder Queen Theophilia. There was no threat of invasion from their foreign neighbors. Even Althea, who was only the daughter of fishers, had been fed, sheltered and educated for as long as she could remember.


    Despite the lack of excitement, Lantris was beautiful. The ice structures, frozen even in the cheerful sunlight, had been there for centuries. Her instructors at the academy had taught her that Isold, the goddess herself, had constructed them with powerful magic that rendered them invulnerable to destruction.


    ¡°Althea!¡± A merchant roared as she flew past him. She doubled back, curious.


    ¡°What is it?¡± She stopped to take a look at Harim¡¯s wares.


    ¡°Look what I have for you¡ªsilks from Aridia. You better get some before they are all sold out! I got a great deal on some things I know you will like.¡± He said, pleased with himself. He wore bright silks of red and gold himself, a walking ornament. Althea¡¯s eyes lit up as a deep blue dress caught her eye. Harim knew her too well.


    ¡°I really shouldn¡¯t spend so much,¡± Althea said as she touched the beautiful material.


    ¡°You always say this,¡± he said, smiling with a glint in his eye.


    ¡°And then I always buy something anyway,¡± Althea mumbled, knowing that she wouldn¡¯t leave without the dress. She grabbed some silver from her pocket and placed in Harim¡¯s waiting hand.


    ¡°Thanks, Harim!¡± She called, and sprinted off again.


    ¡°What? That¡¯s it? You don¡¯t want another scarf or a skirt?¡± Harim¡¯s voice became smaller in the distance.


    The sun might be slowly setting, but there was still time to run to Ar¨¦vis¡¯ and drag her friend into the welcoming coolness of the river. It was the only way to get her into the sun, anyway.


    The din of the market lulled away into endless trees and dirt pathways to a more isolated spot of land by the river. This is where Ar¨¦vis lived, in a small cottage that the queen and Isold had agreed to lend her. She had claimed that she¡¯d live in the woods before she went back to Isold¡¯s orphanage. After what happened a year ago, Althea thought this was the city¡¯s way of letting her recover.


    Althea slid past pretty, young trees, the smell of their sap sweet. The sun dappled the cool, sandy ground she sunk her feet into. It tickled her eyes through her lashes, made the world full of leaf green, sky blue, and sand white.


    She padded towards the hidden grove, so near to the river that Ar¨¦vis loved. It was quiet here, away from the bustle of the academy they both attended. Althea had just returned from her studies, but this is where Ar¨¦vis studied now. She borrowed books from the library and wrote in her home, visiting the academy only for tests and to gather more work, more knowledge to consume. Ar¨¦vis was always hungry.


    Althea knocked politely on the door of the small stone cottage, repressing the urge to burst in unannounced. Though she was sure Ar¨¦vis wouldn¡¯t mind her presence, Althea didn¡¯t want to find herself on the other end of a ferocious ice spell.


    She hid the blue dress behind her.


    She heard a quiet, ¡°Come in.¡±


    Behind the creak of the door sat Ar¨¦vis, head over her scribe table, scribbling furiously with charcoal. Her eyes were shadowed as they flickered toward her, but a small smile graced her lips.


    ¡°You¡¯re back before sunset,¡± Ar¨¦vis stated. Her voice was always steady, always quiet.


    ¡°I finished my work early since it¡¯s my last day until the harvest.¡± Althea announced, noting that Ar¨¦vis hadn¡¯t.


    ¡°And here I thought you were a fast writer,¡± she teased. ¡°Or were you procrastinating again?¡±


    Ar¨¦vis smiled that faint smile again. ¡°This is a project of my own. A continuance of an old one, actually.¡±Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    She put the charcoal down and turned toward Althea, who was bouncing on her toes in anticipation.


    ¡°Did I promise we¡¯d swim today?¡± Ar¨¦vis asked, amused.


    ¡°You did,¡± Althea said, folding her arms.


    Ar¨¦vis nodded.


    ¡°A night swim might be nicer.¡±


    ¡°Not if you want to stay warm,¡± she quipped.


    Ar¨¦vis rolled her eyes as if Althea¡¯s priorities were all wrong.


    ¡°Well, the ground is starting to move,¡± Ar¨¦vis admitted. A wisp of hair, pale ash in color, fell into her face despite her effort at pinning it back. ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s time to take a break.¡±


    Althea nearly squealed in joy, dancing happily around the tidy single room of the cottage. ¡°Tea before we go?¡±


    Ar¨¦vis nodded, seemingly in no hurry. It did nothing to quell the buzzing excitement in Althea. It was the beginning of summer, when she studied less and fished more, spent more time with her dearest friends. Part of the reason she was back before sunset was because the days were getting longer. Ar¨¦vis didn¡¯t seem to notice.


    Althea threw the dress into Ar¨¦vis¡¯ dressing chest for later.


    As Ar¨¦vis fingered the dried tea leaves hanging in her cramped kitchen, Althea continued her dance, twirling around and ogling the bookshelves.


    ¡°What is the project you¡¯re working on now?¡± She asked, deeply curious.


    ¡°How to solve an energy problem¡­¡± Ar¨¦vis mumbled, opening a large chest instead of preparing something new. A gust of cold settled in the air.


    ¡°Useful,¡± Althea said, eyeing the chest.


    ¡°Not until I¡¯ve solved it,¡± she replied.


    ¡°I meant your ice chest. You¡¯ve enchanted it to keep things cool. You could sell it to the queen herself for a fortune!¡± Althea exclaimed.


    ¡°It won¡¯t last forever,¡± Ar¨¦vis dismissed, pouring the tea from a clay jug that she lifted from the chest. ¡°I¡¯d have to keep enchanting it.¡±


    Althea smiled nonetheless. ¡°Have you shown this to your advisor at the academy?¡±


    ¡°No need,¡± Ar¨¦vis said, handing her a clay cup. ¡°The academy has taught me all I can learn there.¡±


    Ar¨¦vis gestured for her to take a seat at a humble dining table with stone chairs. Althea frowned slightly, but sat, sipping the peppermint iced tea.


    ¡°You¡¯re leaving the academy¡­¡± Althea said in disbelief.


    ¡°You should leave too,¡± Ar¨¦vis suggested. ¡°You know that Isold¡¯s Academy isn¡¯t suited to your type of magic, anyway.¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t want to leave Terran here,¡± she said, avoiding her best friend¡¯s eyes.


    Ar¨¦vis smiled at that, sipping at her tea. ¡°Is this where you see your future?¡±


    Althea honestly thought no. She belonged somewhere where she could make a difference¡ªsomewhere that needed her. Lantris didn¡¯t need someone to make it better. It wasn¡¯t like the places the merchants spoke of, drenched in blood and battle magic.


    ¡°Convince Terran to come with you,¡± Ar¨¦vis said in that maddeningly calm voice.


    ¡°I don''t think the places I want to go need someone to sing their tales for them,¡± Althea lamented.


    ¡°Maybe, but if you take him with you, all that unrequited love you¡¯ve been bottling up inside will have no choice but to free itself.¡±


    Althea frowned at her. ¡°Not funny.¡±


    Arevis rolled her eyes. ¡°He¡¯s not listening through the walls.¡±


    Althea folded her arms.


    ¡°This is the best place for him¡ªwhere he¡¯ll be appreciated the most.¡±


    ¡°Not necessarily true,¡± Ar¨¦vis insisted. ¡°Perhaps the most chaotic places need his songs and tales the most. Perhaps they need him to tell the world their tales.¡±


    Althea looked at her then, into the depths of her blue eyes, dark like the ocean. She thought she saw weariness there, a shadow that had come when she had returned to the academy.


    ¡°Do you want to leave because of what happened to your guild?¡± Althea asked seriously.


    Ar¨¦vis¡¯ weariness intensified, and she looked suddenly full of despair. The look deadened quickly into one of emptiness.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go before the sun sets, Althea,¡± She said with a small smile of reassurance.


    She had never talked about what happened only a year ago. Ar¨¦vis returned from a trip to the forest her guild had gone on, ragged, alone, and more silent than usual. Althea only heard about it through gossip at the River¡¯s End tavern¡ªher guild had been slaughtered by bandits as they returned from the forest. Only Ar¨¦vis had survived.


    ¡°You¡¯ll never tell me about it, will you?¡± Althea sighed, rising from the table.


    Ar¨¦vis said nothing as she put the tea away.


    ¡°Come on!¡± Althea laughed, soaking up the sunrays in the cool water of the river. She had stripped off her light dress and dove like a fish into the gentle current.


    Ar¨¦vis stood, perched atop their favorite diving rock. She eyed the shadier parts of the water, under the friendly grove. Seemingly quelled, she jumped in, curled up like a stone, and swam to the shade.


    ¡°The whole point was to get you some sunlight!¡± Althea roared with delight, diving under and surfacing near her friend, flinging the water from her unruly mane of hair.


    ¡°Not all of us are descended from Aridians,¡± Ar¨¦vis complained. ¡°You have the golden skin of your ancestors who tamed the desert. Of course the prospect of burning doesn¡¯t frighten you.¡±


    Althea laughed, utterly delighted. ¡°Plenty of fair folk venture into the sun daily. Some of them even get a tan.¡±


    Ar¨¦vis just smiled and closed her eyes in appreciation of the water.


    ¡°Remember when we used to play here as kids?¡± Althea remarked. ¡°We¡¯d make boats out of driftwood and sail around playing pirates.¡±


    Ar¨¦vis¡¯ smile spread. ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Those were happy times, weren¡¯t they?¡±


    She could hardly think of times that weren¡¯t happy at the moment.


    ¡°Anything was better than the orphanage,¡± Ar¨¦vis muttered. Her mood was like a raincloud settling over the sky.


    Althea remembered Isold¡¯s orphanage as well. They had both been there as young children. Althea had been adopted by her fisher parents as a young child. She begged and begged for them to take Ar¨¦vis too, but they were too poor for a second, they had said. Ar¨¦vis had been too withdrawn. They wanted a normal, lively child to play and learn to fish. It came as quite a shock when she told them that the sun beckoned her. Magic was for the oddballs of the orphanage, not for children like her.


    She had been sent to Isold¡¯s academy to study, as well as Ar¨¦vis. But not before years had passed¡ªyears where no one had adopted Ar¨¦vis, and she remained without Althea before they were reunited.


    ¡°I always feel bad that I abandoned you,¡± Althea said with regret.


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t your fault,¡± Ar¨¦vis reassured. ¡°It wasn¡¯t you who abandoned me.¡±


    ¡°Were¡ªwere the other children cruel to you after I left? Besides Gabriel, I mean.¡± Althea asked.


    ¡°No more cruel than usual.¡± She shrugged. ¡°But I felt trapped in my own mind. They heard me speak about why the sky was crying and didn¡¯t know how to react. I don¡¯t blame them.


    ¡°It still sounds crazy, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Ar¨¦vis laughed.


    ¡°Not to me,¡± Althea chuckled, though she was sure her parents would agree.


    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Ar¨¦vis smiled. ¡°You understand.¡±


    They swam for a while until the sun began to set.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you feel better?¡± Althea asked as they gathered their clothes.


    ¡°It was refreshing,¡± Ar¨¦vis conceded, sighing in contentment.


    The sand clung to her wet feet as they walked back to Ar¨¦vis¡¯ cottage.


    ¡°Will your parents worry if you don¡¯t return soon?¡± Ar¨¦vis asked. She lit candles around the little room as they huddled around the barren fireplace where cushions were laid out.


    ¡°No,¡± Althea said. ¡°They know I¡¯m old enough to take care of myself now, hard as they seem to find it that I¡¯m 17.¡±


    Ar¨¦vis eyed her carefully. ¡°Then when will you live on your own?¡±


    ¡°I don''t know¡­¡± Althea contemplated this. ¡°Do you really think I¡¯ve learned all I can at the academy? I still haven¡¯t mastered higher level pyromancy¡­¡±


    ¡°But healing magic is where your true skill lies. They can teach you no more here. You should find a guild in Aridia,¡± she suggested.


    ¡°Is that where you¡¯re going?¡± Althea asked.


    ¡°At first, maybe. I want to travel everywhere, Thea,¡± Ar¨¦vis said, her eyes lighting up, ¡°I want to study every history and magic book that I can come across. I want to learn every language and observe every government. I want to sail the seas until I reach the end of the earth.¡±


    ¡°Ar¨¦vis, the traveler, they¡¯ll call you!¡±


    ¡°Perhaps that will be my legacy¡­¡±


    Althea laughed and shook her head. ¡°No. You¡¯re destined for much greater things than just that.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what they used to tell me.¡±


    Althea sensed her melancholy coming on again, and pulled her up from the cushion.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go to the tavern!¡± She said, excited. ¡°We have all the time in the world!¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s true,¡± argued Ar¨¦vis, walking with Althea as she dragged her along by hand to her wardrobe.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you have anything besides robes?¡± Althea scolded.


    ¡°Robes are comfortable and light. Why would I need anything else?¡± She said, rather annoyed.


    Althea ran to Ar¨¦vis¡¯ chest where she had thrown the deep blue dress haphazardly. It would fall just above Ar¨¦vis¡¯ knees and had had a tie in the back. It was comfortable enough that Ar¨¦vis would wear it.


    She threw it into Ar¨¦vis¡¯ hands.


    ¡°Where did you get this?¡± Ar¨¦vis said in a low voice.


    ¡°Where do you think? Harim, obviously.¡± Althea said cheerfully.


    ¡°I can¡¯t take this.¡± Ar¨¦vis said, folding up the delicate piece of silk and offering it back.


    Althea rolled her eyes and shoved it back into her hands.


    ¡°It¡¯s nice enough that you won¡¯t look like a stuffy, old priest.¡± Althea grinned.


    Ar¨¦vis gave her a look, but seemed to concede at that, and changed quickly, moving to wrap her hair up again.


    ¡°Let it free!¡± Althea said, stealing the pin and setting it on her wardrobe.


    ¡°I don¡¯t even want to go,¡± she argued.


    Althea ignored her, and grasped her hand again so that they could run in the fading light to the inner city. After all, Terran would be playing tonight.

 2. Lit Up

    The glow of lanterns lit the streets as they ventured towards River¡¯s End, the tavern they sometimes frequented. The inner city was heavy with music and laughter, and the chant of the late night merchants.


    Ar¨¦vis¡¯ eyes lit up at the livery, prowling like a cat for entertainment.


    Althea smiled secretly to know that she did enjoy the spectacle.


    Black tree branches sat like shadows upon the sky, weaving their patterns of growth like lace. And behind the depth of clouds the twinkle of starlight gazed down upon them. They were like eyes to Althea, always watching. She could feel their warmth even from their great distance.


    It looks awfully crowded tonight,¡± Ar¨¦vis said, discouraged.


    Oh, that¡¯s even better!¡± Althea promised. ¡°More to enjoy the music.¡±


    The River¡¯s End sign hung, slightly crooked, with a brightly painted fish spattered on slapdash. The friendly glow of a fire lit the windows and cracks of the door. Althea had to admit that it did sound a little obnoxious in there.


    Bravely, she opened the door anyway, and beckoned Ar¨¦vis. A wall of warmth and music hit her like a crashing wave. A merry flute cut through the rowdy calls of the crowd, and more subtly, the sound of a lute strumming.


    Terran, a freckled boy with fair curls sang at the top of his lungs about the prowess of the local artisan who made lutes. Which as the song proudly declared, was very poor. Althea was smitten.


    You ungrateful scoundrel!¡± Came just as loudly from the audience.


    You mustn¡¯t misunderstand!¡± Terran shouted desperately, gesturing to his lute in concession. ¡°I got this lute from a foreign merchant!¡±


    He cackled loudly, and suddenly the music stopped abruptly as a mass of drunken protesters climbed onto the stage like ravenous sharks.


    The plump, bright-eyed bartender covered her mouth in horror.


    Althea and Ar¨¦vis stared at the spectacle, jaws dropped.


    Just in time for the show,¡± Ar¨¦vis said.


    Terran does love to entertain,¡± Althea said, cringing.


    It was a foreigner in a black cloak who climbed onto the stage and smiled, breaking up the brawl in hushed tones. Ar¨¦vis watched with narrowed eyes, though Althea suspected she was intrigued.


    I bumped into him on my way back from the academy today,¡± Althea said, remembering the tall man she barely caught a glimpse of. ¡°He didn¡¯t even shout at me about it.¡±


    Ar¨¦vis glanced at her, then stalked through the gradually settling uproar. Althea leapt to follow her, not wanting to miss this.


    That¡¯s quite a talent for diplomacy you have,¡± Ar¨¦vis proclaimed to the stranger. He towered above Althea, looking rather menacing swathed in black. But that was offset by how affable he was. Althea could only describe him as striking; he was not handsome in the way a masculine, square-jawed Gaitherian warrior was, but rather pretty like an Aridian courtesan. He had the high cheekbones and angular jaw of a Valerian politician, framed by loose black curls that clung to his face and neck like a shroud.


    His youth surprised her. He couldn¡¯t have been more than a few years older than her. What kind of a foreigner traveled alone at his age?


    He gave Ar¨¦vis the strangest look, assessing with his black eyes. But again, his mouth split into a wide smile.


    I offered them some Valerian crystals. Very valuable,¡± He said, amused. She could detect only the faintest trace of an accent.


    Not so impressive after all,¡± Ar¨¦vis amended, aloof. Althea looked between the two of them, not understanding her best friend¡¯s cold demeanor.


    Well,¡± The stranger said in a deeper voice, more quietly, ¡°I also told them if they hit the lute player again, I¡¯d break their arms.¡±


    And just in time!¡± Spoke the lute player, Terran, slapping the stranger on the back jovially and sporting a bloody lip and a black eye.


    Terran!¡± Althea all but squealed, pouncing on him with glee. Terran spun her around like they were dancing.


    It was an amazing performance!¡± Althea gushed, slightly dizzy. ¡°Hilarious and quite lively.¡±


    Why, thank you!¡± He cried, bowing theatrically. He kissed her hand like an honorable knight. Althea felt a flutter of warmth, caught up in the rush of the moment.


    But did you have to be so inflammatory?¡± She said in quiet tones, as a few members of the crowd scowled at her recovering companion.


    Of course he did,¡± The stranger chipped in. ¡°It¡¯s more entertaining.¡±


    And memorable,¡± Terran added, grinning like an idiot.


    Why help him?¡± Ar¨¦vis asked. ¡°You don¡¯t even know him.¡±


    Althea and Terran¡¯s smiles died quick deaths.


    The stranger smiled, ¡°And yet I feel like a close friend already. I quite enjoy his music.¡±


    Ar¨¦vis looked unsatisfied.


    And I find unprovoked violence terribly unjust,¡± He added.


    Your virtue is surprising,¡± Ar¨¦vis remarked.


    Why? Because I¡¯m a Volarite?¡± His eyes twinkled and the corners creased like he was about to smile.


    No,¡± She said, unsmiling, ¡°because you¡¯re a stranger.¡±


    ¡°Oh, my apologies.¡± He grasped Ar¨¦vis¡¯ hand and shook it. She flinched.


    My name is Nevic.¡±


    Ar¨¦vis looked appalled. She furrowed her brow, and stared just past him as he slowed the shaking motion.


    That is the custom here, correct?¡± Nevic asked, pulling his hand away.


    Sheyn, the flute player arrived beside him, holding a rag to his bloody nose.


    We owe you one!¡± He said, shaking the stranger¡¯s hand vigorously. Nevic looked reassured by this.


    It was my pleasure.¡±


    One of the bigger looking men who had attacked glared unblinkingly at their small group. His gaze seemed to promise retribution later. Sheyn paled and gave the stranger and Terran brief pats on the back.


    I better get out of here.¡± He said. ¡°Hope you liked the performance, Althea and Ar¨¦vis!¡±


    He stumbled out of the tavern, a skip still in his step. Terran just laughed like a mad man.


    What a coward!¡± He cried. ¡°We have this guy right next to us!¡±


    He gestured toward the stranger.


    Although, how you planned on breaking their bones, I¡¯m a little baffled at. You¡¯re a tall fellow, but a little on the scrawny side for a tavern brawl.¡±


    There¡¯s more than one way to break bones,¡± He suggested, still smiling.


    Let¡¯s get some drinks, Althea,¡± Ar¨¦vis declared, tugging Althea¡¯s arm to the bar.


    I¡¯ll take a pint!¡± Terran called after them.


    Without music, the bar¡¯s noise died down to a reasonable ruckus. Althea ordered pints for them all, shilling out some silver.


    Don¡¯t worry,¡± Althea said at Ar¨¦vis¡¯ look of concern. ¡°I have a little spending money from my parents.¡±


    Althea¡­¡± She started, clearly uneasy.


    Are you about to tell me why you¡¯re acting so weird? Yeah, that guy¡¯s a little forward, but he did help Terran out of a tight spot, didn¡¯t he?¡± Althea blew a long curl out of her face, feeling giddy without even having taken a drink yet.


    You said you bumped into him at the market earlier today?¡± Ar¨¦vis confirmed, sitting at a bar stool next to Althea.


    Yeah, I was in a hurry to get you to the river,¡± She said. Four leaking pints hit the bar in a satisfying thump. Althea took one and gulped down a few mouthfuls.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    I wonder if he knew you had plans to be here tonight¡­¡± Ar¨¦vis trailed off, trying not to stare at Terran and the stranger talking and gesturing in good spirits.


    How could he know? I didn''t even speak to him.¡± Althea shoved a mug into Ar¨¦vis¡¯ hands. She took it, but refused to drink.


    Ar¨¦vis¡¯ eyes darkened. ¡°He¡¯s a black mage. He can read our minds.¡±


    Althea nearly crossed her eyes at this declaration. Then she burst into laughter, interrupted only by another gulp of beer.


    Ar¨¦vis just waited patiently for her to stop laughing.


    Okay, okay. I¡¯m sorry.¡± Althea hiccupped a little. ¡°Why do you think he¡¯s a black mage?¡±


    You¡¯re telling me he doesn¡¯t look suspicious? He looks exactly like¡­¡± Ar¨¦vis trailed off, sighing.


    I¡¯m pretty sure most Volarites have never even heard of magic. There is no way a random mage from Volarach stumbled into Lantris,¡± Althea said.


    You¡¯re right,¡± Ar¨¦vis agreed, ¡°this was no accident.¡±


    Besides, the way he looks isn¡¯t an indicator¡ª¡±


    I could feel it, Althea,¡± Ar¨¦vis interrupted.


    Althea got quiet.


    Not just his presence, but¡­ when he shook my hand, I remembered things that I don¡¯t normally think of. Dark things. I know it was him¡ªreading my thoughts.¡±


    Ar¨¦vis,¡± Althea looked at her, worried. ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    He makes me nervous.¡±


    Althea was concerned, but it didn¡¯t seem likely that what Ar¨¦vis was describing was black magic. Maybe the guy just reminded her of someone unpleasant.


    If he really knew I was going to be here tonight, why didn¡¯t I feel him reading my thoughts?¡± Althea asked, puzzled.


    I don¡¯t know,¡± She said after a moment¡¯s hesitation.


    Althea paused, thinking deeply.


    Let¡¯s say you¡¯re right, and he¡¯s a suspicious black mage from Volarach. What on earth would he want with us?¡± Althea asked, genuinely curious.


    Ar¨¦vis shrugged.


    Maybe it¡¯s nothing,¡± she backpedaled, finally taking a sip of her beer.


    Let¡¯s go enjoy ourselves, Ar¨¦vis. If he really does want something, I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll make that quite clear to us. And if you think we¡¯re in danger¡ªwe¡¯re two of the most gifted students at the academy, aren¡¯t we? I think we¡¯ll be able to defend ourselves,¡± she reassured.


    This seemed to brighten Ar¨¦vis¡¯ mood.


    I guess he wouldn¡¯t stand a chance against the both of us,¡± she conceded.


    You¡¯re damn right,¡± Althea agreed, grabbing the extra beers and walking towards their jubilant companions.


    On closer inspection, this Nevic guy wasn¡¯t so strange after all. He was friendly and accommodating. He told them more about himself after they¡¯d all gotten quite cozy at a table and downed their drinks like pirates.


    He claimed to be a simple drifter, which Althea found fascinating. It was clear that Ar¨¦vis wasn¡¯t buying it, though. She stayed mostly quiet, piping up every now and then to throw a barb at the Volarite. He didn¡¯t seem to mind at all. In fact, he seemed to enjoy Ar¨¦vis¡¯ probing insults like they were exquisite little challenges to overcome. He was clever, that much was certain. There was a sharpness in his gaze that he reserved for rebutting Ar¨¦vis¡¯ digs. The people of Lantris had learned by now that to argue with Ar¨¦vis was to invite public humiliation. As a foreigner, he had no such knowledge to warn him of the cold edge of her contention. At the very least he seemed immune to humiliation.


    Ar¨¦vis could only stew in defeated silence when he smoothly overrode her comments with wit and grace. Althea had to admit that to see such a rare thing was amusing. Or perhaps that was the beer.


    At the moment, he was showing off the jewelry that adorned his fingers, wrists, and neck. Even his ear had a ring pierced through the lobe.


    How barbaric!¡± Althea declared with delight.


    He chuckled. ¡°It¡¯s a common practice in Isrun. That¡¯s where I got this one.¡±


    Ar¨¦vis interceded without derision in her voice this time, ¡°what about that one?¡±


    Nevic looked down at the tarnished bronze ring, a brilliant malachite jewel in its socket.


    It¡¯s from Aridia,¡± he said.


    Such brilliant stories for the carbon steel bracelets etched with script from ancient Orsas, and the silver ring with the fine metalwork, yet this one¡¯s only story is that it¡¯s from Aridia?¡± Ar¨¦vis prodded.


    Nevic flashed a small, closed smile, but it was fleeting. ¡°It¡¯s because that one is very special. It was from an old lover of mine.¡±


    Althea purred, interest piqued, ¡°You must tell us about that.¡±


    What are lovers in Aridia like?¡± Terran asked, in awe. He stared wide-eyed, expression open after who knows how many pints. It came to her attention that Terran was not only endearing, but quite attractive. His nose was speckled with adorable freckles and she wanted to count each one.


    One side of Althea¡¯s mouth quirked up, and she crept her hand up under the table to trace up Terran¡¯s leg. He nearly yelped.


    She could have sworn that Nevic¡¯s attention darted to her for a moment, but if it was true, he kept it well hidden.


    You should ask your friend, here. She¡¯s Aridian, is she not?¡± He suggested.


    Althea¡¯s hand stopped at Terran¡¯s upper thigh, taken by surprise.


    I¡¯m not from the mother land, I¡¯m afraid, but I¡¯m certain I¡¯ve read a book or two about lovemaking in the queen¡¯s harems,¡± Althea said, giving Terran her best bedroom eyes. He took a swig of his drink and floundered a bit like a fish out of water.


    She took a bizarre pleasure in catching him off guard. Not that she blamed him; she had never expressed any romantic interest in the past. But that was a thought best left to sober Althea.


    They don¡¯t have queens there, actually,¡± Nevic corrected. Did Althea detect a tinge of annoyance?


    There is only the ruling sovereign. Queen and king here refer to a ruler of either gender. In Aridia, there is no word for king.¡±


    I stand corrected,¡± Althea conceded, undaunted in her quest to fluster Terran.


    What was it like traveling to a land where you¡¯re looked upon as inferior?¡± Ar¨¦vis asked. If Althea wasn¡¯t mistaken, she was starting to enjoy prodding at Nevic. It was a challenge to see if she could break his veneer.


    Nevic had no smooth retort to this, it seemed. Ar¨¦vis smiled, sipping at her drink. She looked quite pleased with herself as Nevic tried to conceal his vexation.


    They look busy,¡± Althea whispered in Terran¡¯s ear. She could feel his breath stutter.


    Then perhaps we should leave them be?¡± He whispered back. Her insides did a flip.


    They slipped by without a backward glance out of the tavern and into the deepening night. Althea dragged Terran behind a shadowed tree and pushed him against it.


    Ow!¡± He winced. ¡°You know I just got beaten up by an angry mob, right? They take lute craftsmanship very seriously.¡±


    Althea smiled mischievously and kissed him anyway. The slight tang of blood was the only reminder of what she had witnessed earlier. Her head swam with alcohol and the dizzy rush of love.


    Terran¡¯s lips followed hers as she pulled away.


    Here,¡± she said, running a finger over his split lip. She could feel every process in his body: his quickened breaths that brought a portion of air into his heart, that madly beating organ that didn¡¯t stop until death. She could feel the rush of blood sending its vital components to every part of him. Every tiny, autonomous unit that worked in tandem to guide the twitch of his finger, the gentle flutter of his eyelids. She could even feel the sweet alchemy that left his nerves singing. It was a chorus, perfect in its execution. Althea touched the wound and felt the energy flow through her and to his lip. The torn flesh fused itself together like a kiss.


    Terran was breathless. He touched his hand to his sealed cut and smiled in thanks.


    I¡¯m pretty sure I¡¯m going to live through the night,¡± Terran said, ¡°so I¡¯m a little confused¡­¡±


    Althea smiled, still pressed close to Terran¡¯s familiar warmth. She struggled to dull the overwhelming rush of her green senses.


    He smelled like tree sap.


    Why hold it in any longer? I want you. I¡¯ve wanted you for years!¡± She leaned in, only to have Terran pull away.


    That has become apparent,¡± he said. The stars lit up his smile-scrunched freckles. ¡°But why now?¡±


    Why now?¡± Althea asked, nuzzling into him happily. ¡°What about you? If you feel the same, why wait for me to do something about it?¡±


    I didn¡¯t think you were interested,¡± he said, baffled.


    She threw her head back and laughed.


    Well, we¡¯ve cleared that up,¡± Althea kissed him again, drowning the uncertainty in whatever question he was about to ask.


    Terran embraced her fully, a hand tangling in her wild curls.


    And before Althea could truly enjoy the bliss of their first kiss and however many beers, a deafening crash rang through the streets of Lantris like a tidal wave.

 3. Blood of the Innocent

    Instead of the happy noise of partygoers, there was only the nightmarish sound of screams. The side of the River¡¯s End had been blown to bits, and citizens were scattering like deer.


    ¡°Ar¨¦vis!¡± Terran said, speaking her own thought out loud and looking to Althea.


    Without even thinking, she ran to the wreckage, and prepared herself for whatever horror lay behind the rubble.


    She caught only a glimpse of a small group of people, dressed in all black and wielding glowing handheld objects that resembled weapons unlike anything that Althea had never even seen or heard of before. She caught a glimpse of one that looked more like an ornamental scepter, crafted so delicately and beautifully that it appeared unfit to be in the scenery of chaos. They moved towards the hole in the now-empty tavern in unison, scouting silently.


    A cold hand on Althea¡¯s shoulder nearly made her scream, but another covered her mouth as if anticipating this. She fearfully looked into the eyes of¡ªAr¨¦vis.


    ¡°We have to go,¡± Ar¨¦vis said in a hushed, serious tone. Althea nodded and followed, Terran running behind Nevic, who must have come out with Ar¨¦vis.


    ¡°What is going on?¡± Althea asked, alarmed, running to keep pace with Ar¨¦vis and Terran.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t think they were angry enough to smash the tavern,¡± Terran said, shaking his head, out of breath already from running. ¡°Surely they can take a little constructive criticism towards beloved lute artisans!¡±


    Althea snorted despite herself.


    ¡°They¡¯re looking for me,¡± Ar¨¦vis said, not meeting her eyes. ¡°I knew they would be¡­ I should have left sooner.¡±


    ¡°You knew there were people that wanted to blow you up?¡± Althea piped. ¡°Well, when were you going to tell me?¡±


    ¡°Quieter is in your best interest,¡± Nevic said, to her annoyance.


    ¡°I was hoping I wouldn¡¯t have to,¡± Ar¨¦vis said, still calm.


    This pissed Althea off to no end.


    ¡°I was going to go with you!¡± Althea yelled, ignoring Nevic¡¯s renewed complaints. ¡°You¡¯re right: I¡¯ve outgrown Isold¡¯s Academy and I¡¯m ready to see what¡¯s beyond Lantris. I thought we could go on an adventure together¡­ yet you couldn¡¯t tell me something you knew might put me in danger? I thought we were friends!¡±


    ¡°Oh, I see,¡± Terran said, his voice defeated, struggling to keep pace, ¡°So it wasn¡¯t the beer. You were just going to leave the city.¡±


    ¡°She at least gave you a goodbye kiss,¡± Nevic said under his breath.


    ¡°Terran, this doesn¡¯t make my feelings for you any less real,¡± Althea said, feeling terribly guilty.


    ¡°No, just more exciting, right?¡± He said, still sounding angry.


    ¡°Look, Althea,¡± Ar¨¦vis began, sighing, ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t trust you. It¡¯s just that I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d have to deal with this. I didn¡¯t see the point in dragging you into it.¡±


    Althea didn¡¯t reply, opting to fume in silence instead.


    Ar¨¦vis seemed to accept this. ¡°We¡¯ll pick up supplies from my place.¡±


    ¡°Can we rest for a second?¡± Terran gasped. He stumbled behind a large tree and gulped in huge breaths of air.


    ¡°Only for a second,¡± Ar¨¦vis said, her chest heaving in the pretty blue dress Althea had picked out for her. Her hair was an unexpected mess of long, straight strands.


    ¡°So why did a group of robed warriors blow up half a tavern, Ar¨¦vis?¡± Terran asked, no less angry.


    ¡°Not in front of him.¡± Ar¨¦vis gestured towards Nevic.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t I just help you escape from there?¡± Nevic pointed out.


    ¡°I escaped on my own. You followed me,¡± Ar¨¦vis said, giving him a biting look.


    ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t enjoy your company, Nevic,¡± Althea said diplomatically, ¡°But why are you still here? We¡¯ve only just met you.¡±


    Nevic nodded his head. ¡°As a drifter, I go where fate takes me. I thought perhaps you could use my help.¡±


    ¡°Habit of his¡ªhelping strangers,¡± Terran said in Nevic¡¯s defense.


    ¡°You don¡¯t find this suspicious?¡± Ar¨¦vis asked, ¡°He¡¯s even dressed like they are.¡±


    Terran seemed to consider this with care.


    ¡°I can see why you don¡¯t trust me. I wouldn¡¯t in your position either,¡± Nevic said, his voice gentle, ¡°I¡¯ll leave you be if that¡¯s what you want. But please take these with you.¡±


    Pulling back his cloak, Nevic unlaced a small pouch. Inside were faintly glowing red crystals.


    ¡°These are some rare Volarachian crystals. They have certain properties that make them easier for¡­ transmission.¡±


    Nevic pulled out a crystal for each of them, placing the tiny shards in their palms. Ar¨¦vis accepted hers without moving a facial muscle.


    It reminded Althea of the glow of a forge. She turned the crystal over in her hand. It was slightly warm from nestling in Nevic¡¯s pouch under his cloak. Or was it because of what was inside?


    ¡°If you should need my help, just call on me.¡± He smiled.


    Ar¨¦vis held up her crystal to the starlight, examining it from every angle.


    ¡°These are trackers. You want to keep tabs on us.¡± Ar¨¦vis threw hers to the ground and stamped it into the soft earth with her sandaled foot. She looked him in the eye as she did it.


    He watched impassively.


    Althea and Terran remained silent.


    ¡°That¡¯s the whole point,¡± Nevic agreed, ¡°If you need my help, how else will I find you?¡±


    ¡°Help with what, Nevic?¡± Ar¨¦vis asked, ¡°They won¡¯t be a problem.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t know that.¡±


    ¡°And you do?¡±This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Althea watched them both closely, irked at how they ignored her.


    ¡°Care to explain any of this to the bystanders?¡± Althea cut in.


    Even Terran looked to them, sweaty and panicked from the confusion.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you? You certainly seem to know who they are,¡± Ar¨¦vis suggested.


    ¡°Alright, I do know,¡± Nevic admitted, ¡°All the more reason why I¡¯d like to go with you.¡±


    He sighed.


    ¡°They¡¯re members of The Artificer¡¯s Guild. I can tell from their weapons and attire.¡±


    It was like the dead of night tried to swallow her whole, and the stars skittered away like scared children.


    ¡°Your guild,¡± Althea whispered.


    She frowned and looked to Ar¨¦vis, desperate for an explanation.


    ¡°I thought they were dead, Ar¨¦vis,¡± Terran asked, hesitating.


    ¡°The ones from Lantris are,¡± Ar¨¦vis said, looking defeated. ¡°These are members from elsewhere. Perhaps the forest.¡±


    ¡°How do you know about this?¡± Althea asked Nevic, her head swimming with questions.


    ¡°The Artificer¡¯s Guild is an ancient guild. It was founded in Volarach. They worship the Goddess of the Forge, Nora.¡± He said.


    Althea knew of Nora from her studies. She was one of the oldest goddesses in existence. The legends said that she discovered smelting and changed warfare altogether. But that was long before written history. What was certain was that she held the greatest weaponry secrets on the earth, and Volarach boasted her as their founder.


    ¡°Isold sent you off to another goddess¡¯ guild?¡± Althea asked her, confused.


    ¡°She did,¡± Ar¨¦vis said, her voice hard.


    Just as she said it, a stream of fire roared above them, scorching the trees they hid between. Althea let out a surprised scream and ran to avoid the inevitable collapse. She shielded her face with her arms, blinking rapidly.


    As the fire blazed bright in the night, a path of wreckage lay in their wake, and in front stood four hooded figures, all in black, holding their peculiar devices.


    Terran had ash on his face and looked shaken, but appeared to be all right. Nevic and Ar¨¦vis were nowhere to be seen. He leaned on a tree whose crown had just caught fire.


    Althea shouted, ¡°Look out, Terran!¡±


    Another blaze hit that tree, and it slowly yawned to one side. A cold dread gripped Althea, and as she reached out for Terran, the sound of splintering wood slowed. Instead there was the sound of crystals subtly infiltrating the loud blaze of fire; the slow crack and glaze of ice froze the tree in its crooked place. A single iced leaf fell off in a brittle flutter.


    Ar¨¦vis emerged from the shadows, looking livid. It terrified Althea.


    ¡°So you¡¯re finished hiding,¡± a low voice said from behind one of the hoods.


    ¡°I was never hiding,¡± Ar¨¦vis bit out, ¡°Perhaps you¡¯re just terrible scouts.¡±


    A chuckle came from another hooded figure, this one larger than the others, wielding what looked like a large axe with a brilliant stone in the center. The etched carvings looked very much like Nevic¡¯s bracelets, but this axe was gleaming and bright rather than black, and its script was glowing.


    ¡°You¡¯re younger than I thought you¡¯d be,¡± said another figure.


    ¡°Don¡¯t let it fool you,¡± The last one said, clutching the pole weapon tightly, ¡°You know who she is.¡±


    Frost crept up the ground and tree trunks, towards the Artificers.


    Althea thought to help, but had never been in a battle before. Yes, they had attempted to kill Ar¨¦vis and didn¡¯t seem to care that she and the others would have been casualties. But could she really stomach hurting them? Was she prepared to kill if she had to?


    Ar¨¦vis flicked her hand forward like a sword and larger crystals sprang up from the ground like stalagmites, sharp and menacing. The figures scattered at the onslaught. One of the Artificers screamed as a crystal impaled him. Althea could only watch in horror as he wriggled helplessly, the crystals growing until his skin was latticed in ice, and his movements slowed as he froze entirely.


    Althea tore her eyes away to look at Ar¨¦vis, who was intensely focused on the task. Even as the others started to attack, Althea couldn¡¯t bring herself to react properly.


    The large one swung his axe into the ground, and the frosted grass burst into flames only to die out quickly, smothered by frost. It was enough to make Althea turn and push Terran from harm¡¯s way, running and grabbing his wrist as he protested.


    As they ran towards Ar¨¦vis¡¯ cottage, Terran stopped abruptly.


    ¡°Run!¡± Althea urged, still trying to push.


    But the reason Terran had stopped was because a thin figure had come before them, wielding a pole weapon with grace. Althea wasn¡¯t quick enough to react to the sudden lunge, or the grunt Terran made at the action. The soft metallic sound of the blade withdrawing from flesh was far too loud. She watched as the figure turned to her, and as if time had slowed, she could hear Terran dropping to the ground.


    Thinking only of revenge, Althea balled her fists, and prepared to rain fire upon the worthless murderer that stood before her.


    Instead, the Artificer made a wretched cry and curled in on himself. Behind him stood Nevic, a bloody serrated knife in his hand, a grave expression on his face. He wiped his blade quickly and knelt beside Terran¡¯s form, working fast. Althea knelt, watching as her dear friend¡¯s shirt was pushed up to expose a wound steadily gushing. Terran¡¯s breathing was ragged and as he looked down, he tried to clutch at the wound with trembling fingers. Nevic pushed his hands away, and Terran lost consciousness.


    ¡°I¡¯ll save him,¡± Nevic assured her. She must have gasped.


    Nevic pulled several vials out of his cloak, uncorking and pouring each on the wound with practiced efficiency. Althea recognized one of them as a blood coagulant, but the others she had never seen before in all her years of study. Nevic pulled out some moss and bandage materials.


    ¡°I¡ªI can heal him,¡± Althea stuttered, far too late.


    ¡°Then help me,¡± he said. He withheld the dressings as Althea put her hands upon Terran¡¯s stomach. She coaxed the damaged tissue to knit itself back into place. She could feel his body¡¯s deprivation as the precious blood spilled. Terran¡¯s breath stuttered. She had never put her skills into practice like this, on an actual dying person. She shook violently at the thought of messing up now. But she could feel the complex parts knitting, exerting as much effort as she could bear. Finally, scar tissue formed like a pearly bandage on Terran¡¯s bloody flesh.


    Althea let out a short sob and gripped at Terran¡¯s shirt, relieved and terrified.


    Nevic stood, his hands bloody. Althea probably didn¡¯t look much better. He picked up the pole weapon and observed the blade at the tip. With strength that seemed impossible for his wiry build, he plucked the blade from the weapon, and discarded the pole. He pulled back his cloak to tuck it away in some pouch. Althea watched as he sheathed the knife he had used to kill the Artificer. She caught a glimpse of a peculiar arrangement of discs secured to the inside of his cloak. The cloak fell back into place and Althea looked away, back to Terran on the ground.


    Terran¡¯s eyes fluttered, and he awoke, attempting to sit up with uncoordinated motions.


    ¡°You¡¯ll require some recovery time, but you¡¯ll live,¡± Nevic explained, offering a hand to help Terran up. Terran looked to Althea who was panicked and bloody, and a glimpse of worry passed over him. He took Nevic¡¯s hand. Althea did too.


    ¡°We should probably leave before anyone arrives,¡± Nevic urged.


    Ar¨¦vis joined them.


    ¡°I¡¯ve taken care of the other two,¡± Ar¨¦vis said. She held each weapon in her hand. In the distance, Althea could see another white shape, like a grotesque statue. She looked away.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to get some supplies from my cottage,¡± Ar¨¦vis explained, ¡°I¡¯m leaving for the forest.¡±


    Terran stumbled, and Althea caught hold of his middle, helping to support him.


    ¡°The blood will come back to you,¡± Althea assured him, elated that he was still warm in her arms.


    Ar¨¦vis fidgeted for a moment, eyebrows knit.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± There was despair in her voice like Althea had never heard.


    Althea frowned.


    ¡°Ar¨¦vis?¡± She asked, still shaken. ¡°Why is this happening?¡±


    Ar¨¦vis looked to her, to Terran. She didn¡¯t spare Nevic a glance.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what they want, Althea. It could be any number of things,¡± she admitted.


    ¡°Somehow I don¡¯t think they want to re-induct you,¡± Terran rasped.


    Ar¨¦vis spoke after a moment, ¡°That don¡¯t need to. Once a member, always a member.¡±


    She turned to Nevic, who hadn¡¯t moved.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that right, Nevic?¡±


    He nodded.


    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± he agreed, his voice low.


    ¡°Can I stay with you tonight, Ar¨¦vis?¡± Althea asked, shaken.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Ar¨¦vis assured her. Then she said in a cool voice, ¡°It was a pleasure meeting you, Nevic. I presume you¡¯ll be on your way?¡±


    Nevic bowed. He turned his black gaze to Althea, as if imploring her. ¡°I hope we meet again.¡±


    His gaze flitted to Ar¨¦vis, where it lingered before he departed into the night.

 4. Goddess of Ice

    In the pale chill of sunrise, Althea drifted through the lull of early market goers through Lantris. A fountain of ice sparkled in solitude, water trickling down slowly as if it were melting. Althea looked upon it wistfully, knowing she was leaving it and all the rest behind.


    She reached Isold¡¯s temple when the pink faded from the sky and clouds. It was the tallest structure within the city limits, constructed entirely from the blue of melt-proof ice. Althea thought it was far more beautiful than Queen Theophilia¡¯s castle. Even at the end of spring, it carved itself between trees in bloom like a reminder of when the world was covered in snow and ice.


    Althea was greeted by a young priest.


    ¡°Please come in, Althea,¡± He smiled happily at her presence. She smiled back, remembering him in the hallways of Isold¡¯s academy, a teacher of simple ice spells.


    ¡°I wish to request an audience with Isold,¡± She said, interrupting as the priest was about to open his mouth.


    ¡°Ah,¡± He said, looking ethereal in white flowing robes, ¡°That may not be possible.¡±


    Althea frowned. ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°She speaks with us less and less,¡± He explained with as much tact as he could muster, gesturing for her to follow him past statues and fountains. They reached a courtyard with trees in bloom. Pale pink and white flower petals rained from them gently, almost like snow. Priests and priestesses sat on ice benches, leisurely reading or practicing spells. One priestess was reinforcing a statue shaped like one of the trees. It was eerie juxtaposed with the others. It reminded her of the very real human statue that Ar¨¦vis had created last night. She shuddered and looked away.


    They finally approached Isold¡¯s sacred chambers. The door was sealed.


    ¡°Stand back, please,¡± The priest istructed.


    The door compressed to open, and the sound of ice on ice gave way to a cloud of frost. Althea shivered. She nodded to the priest in thanks, and stepped inside.


    The door shut behind her and it was like stepping into one of Ar¨¦vis¡¯ chests enchanted with cold. It was a cave covered in ice crystals and housing a single statue of Isold, white and opaque.


    ¡°I request your presence, Isold, Goddess of Ice. You control rivers for our beloved Lantris. You build structures of grace and strength. You tame the cold for our needs. You bring order and peace to our people.¡±


    Althea bowed, feeling foolish. Could Isold hear her? Was the statue merely a symbol of Isold, or the goddess herself, hibernating?


    After long, painful moments, Althea rose, ready to heed the priest¡¯s advice.


    She reached the iced door, but paused, unable to bring herself to touch the frozen surface. Instead, she turned, gazing at the impenetrable statue, wondering why it was not the cold blue of the temple, or the transparent clarity of countless other statues.


    Curious, she touched just the hand of Isold, poised in such a position that it looked as if it were reaching for her. The cold bit at her finger. Althea drew back, curling her hand into a fist, disappointed. She turned again to try the door.


    Before she could even complete a step, she heard the high-pitched squeak of ice moving against itself.


    She whirled around to witness the statue¡¯s transformation. The creaking and shifting turned to cracking as the long limbs moved from stasis. The white crumbled away like powder, and there stood the goddess herself, glorious and pale like the early dawn.


    Isold wore a crown like Theophilia¡¯s, but grander¡ªthin spires of ice arranged tightly together. Her gown looked like the finest, thinnest silk Althea had ever seen. Staring at her curiously were intense ice blue eyes.


    ¡°Althea, the fishers¡¯ daughter.¡± Isold said, her voice piercing in the otherwise quiet.


    Instead of speaking, Althea fell to her knees, awe-stricken.


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard much about you.¡± Isold said, unbothered. ¡°They tell me you¡¯re a promising student at the academy.¡±


    Althea nodded, raising her head to watch the goddess move like she hadn¡¯t in centuries. Her limbs were coated in ice still, and she moved them jerkily to circle her small chamber. The long train of her gown and the thin white of her hair trailed behind her. She was unimaginably old, but though her face revealed a hard sort of poise about it, she hardly looked aged.


    ¡°My goddess,¡± Althea choked out, flattered that Isold knew her by name, ¡°I¡¯ve summoned you for a blessing.¡±


    Isold regarded her and tilted her head, shifting her shoulders and neck like a marionette.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    ¡°Why do you need my help? From what I hear, you¡¯re quite capable,¡± The frosty bite of her voice stung.


    ¡°I thank you,¡± Althea¡¯s voice quivered, ¡°But I wish only for the survival of my friends. That is not something that I can entirely guarantee myself.¡±


    Isold smiled at that.


    ¡°Who better to ask than a master of death itself?¡± Isold mused, observing her own hand while stretching her long, pale fingers.


    ¡°This secret, I share with no one,¡± Isold said, dropping her hand and facing her fully. Her eyes were terrifying.


    Althea sharply took in a breath, trying to suppress her instinctual anger.


    ¡°I know, my goddess,¡± Althea said, trying for politeness, ¡°I only wish for a blessing¡­ something to keep my friends Terran and Ar¨¦vis alive for our journey to the forest.¡±


    At this, Isold froze in place.


    ¡°Ar¨¦vis¡­¡±


    Althea swallowed thickly.


    ¡°I always thought you would stay here, Althea,¡± She said, to her surprise, ¡°You would make an excellent healer for Lantris.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, my goddess,¡± Althea said quickly, ¡°But the beauty and peace you have created¡­ are complete. There is nothing I could do here that another could not also do.¡±


    Isold nodded, a look of understanding overcoming her. ¡°You crave greater things.¡±


    Althea waited in silence as Isold stopped in front of her and to her surprise, took her hands. They were surprisingly gentle, but the cold of them still nipped at her flesh. Isold lifted her so that she stood face to face with the taller woman.


    ¡°Are you loyal to Lantris, Althea? Loyal to your kingdom and your goddess?¡± Isold asked, her voice utterly serious.


    ¡°Of course!¡± Althea said.


    ¡°Then I would ask of you only this: return here after all you have learned on your journeys, and come to see me when you are the most powerful mortal of your time.¡±


    Althea stared, dumbfounded.


    ¡°I cannot promise you that I will ever be so powerful, or that I will live to return here, but I can promise you my loyalty.¡±


    Isold looked into her eyes, searching with that frozen gaze, full of centuries of wisdom.


    In her hand, she summoned an ice crystal, hardened it and bound it presumably so that it would never melt.


    For a moment, Althea thought she had angered the goddess. Her eyes flicked beside her as she contemplated escape. If she darted quickly, could she outrun a goddess?


    ¡°If you can promise that, then I will give you this for your friend, Ar¨¦vis.¡± Isold said, handing over the ice crystal. Althea took it, marveling at its craftsmanship.


    ¡°When you return to me as I asked of you, I shall share with you the secret of eternal life if you have remained loyal to me. Until then, I will protect you and your friends whenever I am able.¡±


    Isold parted from her to stand in the center of the chamber again, placing her hand in the same position that Althea had found her in.


    ¡°Wait!¡± Althea called, still full of so many questions. ¡°Why did you make Ar¨¦vis join The Artificer¡¯s Guild? Why not let her join your own guild?¡±


    Isold¡¯s small mouth tightened.


    ¡°She was best suited to The Artificer¡¯s Guild,¡± Isold said.


    Her simple, careless answer angered Althea.


    Though grateful for her help, Althea couldn¡¯t help but yell, ¡°You abandoned her! If you hadn¡¯t sent her away, her guild wouldn¡¯t have been destroyed by bandits. She¡¯s not the same anymore.¡±


    Althea knew she should have been much more careful by the menacing way Isold looked at her. She heard the curl of ice crystals growing in the chamber, slowly creeping like spiders towards her. They glittered from the sunbeams through the iced ceiling.


    ¡°You think I owe you defense of my actions?¡± Isold said, in the tone Althea was beginning to fear. She could feel goosebumps prickle all over her flesh.


    ¡°That is what our entire city council is built on¡ªdefense of the queen¡¯s actions. Why would you build one if you had no intention of listening? Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s peaceful here because you keep us safe?¡± Althea said, quite sure that the better option would have been silence.


    Dread overtook her as she stood at the mercy of Isold¡¯s glare. She thought that she caught a glimpse of pity in those cold depths.


    ¡°Question kings and queens, Althea, but do not question me. I will tell you because I have taken favor of you¡ªnot because I owe you or anyone an explanation.


    ¡°Ar¨¦vis would never have been happy in my guild,¡± The ice of her eyes looked almost sorrowful.


    ¡°I had to give her something more challenging, more useful. Her talents must be properly channeled and observed, otherwise she could become dangerous. I have seen it happen to many of my seraphs.¡±


    The history books were full of tales of doomed seraphs, the sons and daughters of gods growing too powerful or rebellious. The only tale of a seraph of Isold¡¯s met his end at the point of her ice.


    The seraph wars had ended the gods¡¯ obsession with having so many powerful children. No longer was there a demigod at every temple, academy and palace - because that had led to more blood and chaos.


    Althea had read about guilds, but in truth, she knew very little about what went on in them. Their secrets were always kept highly guarded. Members were sworn to secrecy and loyalty to prevent undue leaks. Ar¨¦vis had told her next to nothing about The Artificer¡¯s Guild.


    Isold spoke of Ar¨¦vis like a child of her own. Could that be why Isold kept such a close eye on her and Althea as well? Is that why she agreed to bless them now?


    ¡°I am sorry for questioning you,¡± Althea apologized, relieved but also terrified, a combination of emotions that remained unique to Isold so far.


    Isold waved it aside. ¡°Make me proud, Althea.¡±


    That was her final word as her position froze again like one of Ar¨¦vis¡¯ macabre statues.

 5. Goodbye

    Terran sat on the riverbank in shadow, strumming peacefully on his lute. It was a gentle, haunting tune. It soothed the ache she felt deep in her bones¡ªthe one Ar¨¦vis had put there.


    She couldn¡¯t truly blame Ar¨¦vis for the attack. Though she hinted at knowing something like this might have happened, she couldn¡¯t have known when or where. Whatever dark secrets she held from her time with The Artificers Althea could forgive.


    But that didn¡¯t mean she wasn¡¯t still pissed.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t notice you had come.¡± Terran stopped strumming.


    Althea didn¡¯t say anything at first, a pang replacing the beauty of Terran¡¯s music.


    ¡°I knew you¡¯d be here,¡± she murmured.


    Terran looked out at the river, refusing to meet her gaze. Perhaps he was just as pissed. Maybe he had better reason to be.


    ¡°I thought I¡¯d say goodbye to Ar¨¦vis before she left,¡± he said.


    ¡°But you forgot the going up to her cottage and knocking on the door part.¡±


    ¡°I was getting there.¡±


    Althea moseyed around the sand, pale and cool in the shade of the tree¡¯s large crown.


    ¡°Look, Terran, it was spontaneous¡ªI¡¯d considered it before, but I could never really muster up the courage¡ª¡±


    ¡°Althea, it¡¯s fine,¡± Terran dismissed, finally looking at her. His pale green eyes looked solemn, not angry. ¡°Maybe I¡¯m just mad that you¡¯re leaving.¡± He sighed.


    ¡°I have to go,¡± Althea defended, ¡°I have to stop the rest of them from hurting you or Ar¨¦vis.¡±


    Althea shuffled in place, toeing at the moist sand under the loose stuff.


    ¡°This doesn¡¯t have to be goodbye,¡± she said, gathering courage she didn¡¯t feel like she had.


    Terran¡¯s eyes lit up.


    ¡°You¡ªyou could come with us,¡± she ventured.


    His gaze fell.


    ¡°We always dreamed of adventure as kids,¡± Althea said, smiling and looking at the peacefully flowing river. ¡°We always played like we¡¯d become pirates one day.¡±


    ¡°Have you told your parents?¡± Terran asked.


    Althea pouted at his evasion.


    ¡°No. And I don¡¯t plan to. As far as they know, I was killed by those Artificers last night.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s cruel.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think so. I¡¯d rather they think I died than forsaken my family, home town, and studies to follow Ar¨¦vis to find and¡­ deal with the Artificers that ordered the attack on my best friend. And you and me. And half the River¡¯s End tavern,¡± she huffed.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


    ¡°Well, tell that to them when you return here and they¡¯ll try to kill you themselves,¡± Terran said, his voice rising.


    ¡°I will,¡± she snapped.


    They stewed in silence for a long moment.


    Althea plopped down onto the sand next to Terran. She leaned onto his shoulder, a gesture that had been a friendly one between them for years. Now she felt a longing that didn¡¯t make sense, given that he was right next to her.


    ¡°I can¡¯t go with you,¡± Terran said, placing his lute carefully next to him and embracing her properly.


    Althea hugged him close, his curls tickling her face and the scent of him pleasant.


    ¡°Yes you can,¡± she argued, angry tears welling up.


    ¡°Alright, I don¡¯t want to. I don¡¯t have a death wish,¡± he said, voice slightly muffled with his face pressed to her neck. The warmth of it was distracting ¨C but not from her anger.


    ¡°I saved you¡­ I could save you again if you¡¯re hurt,¡± she said, her voice stilted.


    ¡°With Nevic¡¯s help,¡± he corrected, holding her tighter, his voice beginning to warble.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you want revenge?¡±


    ¡°Not really.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re an idiot,¡± she blurted, pushing at him until they were apart.


    ¡°I¡¯m not the one leaving!¡± He snapped back.


    ¡°Speaking of leaving,¡± Ar¨¦vis¡¯ calm voice rang out. She was dressed in a traveling cloak and boots, a pack secured to her back. ¡°I had hoped to be gone hours before now. You two had other plans, I see.¡±


    ¡°He was here for a while, he just couldn¡¯t knock on your door¡ª¡±


    ¡°Althea didn¡¯t actually go to say goodbye to her parents¡ªshe went to see Isold,¡± Terran blurted.


    She nearly slapped him, before realizing that she had tattled on him first.


    Ar¨¦vis¡¯ eyes narrowed.


    ¡°What for?¡± She demanded.


    Althea pulled the stone from her own pack and rose, scowling at Terran and brushing the sand off her dress.


    She dropped the stone in Ar¨¦vis¡¯ hand.


    Ar¨¦vis examined it carefully, her brow furrowing. She turned it with her long fingers, closing her eyes to focus on its properties.


    ¡°It amplifies your ice capabilities,¡± Althea started.


    ¡°I know what it is,¡± Ar¨¦vis said, ¡°It¡¯s just puzzling that Isold would give this to me, since she doesn¡¯t trust me with power.¡±


    Althea rolled her eyes. ¡°Well, I guess you were wrong about her.¡±


    ¡°The gods are never to be trusted,¡± Ar¨¦vis hissed, pocketing the stone anyway.


    ¡°I used to think you just didn¡¯t like me much,¡± Terran said to Ar¨¦vis, having crept inext to them both, ¡°but now I realize that you just don¡¯t trust anyone.¡±


    ¡°Then it should be a consolation,¡± Ar¨¦vis said.


    Althea felt the sting of her words like water up her nose.


    ¡°You¡¯ve been good friends since we were kids!¡± Althea shouted.


    ¡°We had many good times. But the Ar¨¦vis that came back from after the bandit incident has no interest in good times, it seems,¡± Terran said.


    Althea breathed deeply, not sure how to remedy such a terrible goodbye.


    Ar¨¦vis¡¯ face was disturbingly blank.


    ¡°Or maybe she was always like this, and it¡¯s one of those things that you overlook as a child because you don¡¯t know any better,¡± he finished.


    ¡°Stop it,¡± Althea demanded, almost in tears.


    ¡°Perhaps good times have no interest in me,¡± Ar¨¦vis whispered.


    Terran¡¯s harsh demeanor melted at that. He rushed over to hug Ar¨¦vis. She closed her eyes and reciprocated.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry about Gabriel,¡± he whispered.


    ¡°Goodbye, Terran,¡± she replied.


    Terran turned to Althea, frowning. He slipped a leather bracelet on her wrist and tightened the knot. He grabbed her face and placed a gentle kiss on her lips. She barely had time to enjoy the bitter sweetness of it before he pulled away just as quickly, and walked back the way he had come, towards the village.

 6. Bandits

    Althea had ventured into the forest with Ar¨¦vis many times as children: it was their haven away from the orphanage. Many rivers that flowed into Lantris meandered through the trees of the Edajian forests and beyond that was farther north than she had ever traveled, towards the kingdom of Gaither.


    Edaj was an endless sprawl of wilderness and scattered chiefdoms. Traveling through thick, wooded areas was difficult and considered pointless when there were faster sea and river routes. That meant there were many unknown pathways and locations to get lost in.


    Despite the untamed chaos of it, or perhaps because of it, the forest was beautiful. The sunlight dappled the moist grass beneath her feet in friendly, leaf-filtered patches of white. The greens were pale and pleasant in the fading spring, before summer would dry and desaturate every living color. Moss climbed up tree shadows in the coolness of the morning, hiding from the ever-brighter sun peeking behind lush crowns of jade.


    Althea followed Ar¨¦vis, matching her brisk pace on a simple path through the piles of driftwood and sand. Althea pointed to a low-limbed beauty with wide leaves just starting to wilt.


    ¡°Remember we used to climb up in that tree and nap for hours?¡± Althea reminisced.


    Ar¨¦vis'' face lit up. ¡°I remember.¡±


    Althea smiled. ¡°Then you¡¯d wander off by yourself and set a trap to catch a rabbit. Something better than the gruel they served us.¡±


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t that bad,¡± she laughed, ¡°but catching things for myself let me know that I didn¡¯t have to stay there¡­ that I wasn¡¯t dependent on them.¡±


    ¡°If it were about that, I could have taught you to fish!¡± Althea exclaimed, pushing at Ar¨¦vis¡¯ shoulder.


    ¡°You did,¡± Ar¨¦vis said.


    ¡°Not properly,¡± Althea argued. ¡°You can only fish when I give you instructions.¡±


    Ar¨¦vis shrugged. ¡°Maybe so. But I don¡¯t know if there will always be a river where I go. Setting traps might be more useful.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re both useful,¡± Althea declared, though she had never hunted before. There hadn¡¯t ever been a need when she had a steady supply of fish.


    ¡°So what are we going to do when we find the Artificers in the forest?¡± Althea asked.


    ¡°I need to discover some things before I decide,¡± Ar¨¦vis said cryptically.


    ¡°So what are you considering¡­ asking them questions?¡± The crunch of Althea¡¯s feet on the ground sounded too loud amid the gentle birdsong. ¡°Won¡¯t that be hard if they¡¯re trying to kill you?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think they could,¡± Ar¨¦vis said. She smiled and whipped out the ice stone Isold had given her. She tossed it high into the air before catching it. A path of ice crawled from the ground they stood on to the nearest tree as they walked. Althea hesitated to step on the altered ground.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Ar¨¦vis assured her. ¡°I¡¯m not going to make it slow your heart or crystallize your blood.¡±


    She shivered at the thought. ¡°Well, when you put it like that, I¡¯m perfectly at ease.¡±


    Ar¨¦vis just laughed.


    ¡°Do you think there¡¯s a chance they won¡¯t be hostile next time? How are you going to approach them?¡± Althea spoke candidly.


    ¡°Maybe they¡¯ll talk,¡± Ar¨¦vis said, ¡°or maybe I¡¯ll have to stop them.¡±


    Althea stopped walking. It took Ar¨¦vis a moment before she stopped to look behind her.


    ¡°What is it?¡± She asked.


    ¡°You¡¯ve already agreed to let me come with you, so what is the point of being so secretive?¡± Althea demanded.


    ¡°There is a lot that could happen. I honestly don¡¯t know what will happen when we find them.¡± Ar¨¦vis made no move to come closer.


    ¡°Liar.¡±


    Ar¨¦vis frowned.


    ¡°If you want me here, then stop lying to me. If you don¡¯t want to tell me what happened last year, fine. But this concerns me ¨C I¡¯m not about to let you harm a bunch of Artificers without first knowing why,¡± Althea fumed.


    Ar¨¦vis shuffled a little, not speaking for a moment.


    ¡°I¡¯m grateful that you came with me, Althea,¡± Ar¨¦vis explained, ¡°but I honestly don¡¯t know what they want. The group we fought last night might have different goals than other Artificers we run into. That¡¯s why I need to find more of them and question them. It¡¯s a better option than letting them come to my village, group by group, while Lantris accrues collateral damage.¡±


    Althea felt her shoulders un-tense. ¡°It¡¯s not just that, is it? You wanted to escape ¨C you wanted an adventure.¡±


    Ar¨¦vis smirked. She closed the distance between them with straight, purposeful steps.


    ¡°So do you.¡±


    Althea folded her arms and tried to ignore her. Part of her wanted this to be an exciting adventure like she dreamed of as a child, but all she could think of was Terran bleeding on the ground and the ones responsible for such violence.


    ¡°So after we find the Artificers in the forest, where do you want to go?¡± Ar¨¦vis asked congenially.


    Althea felt herself smile as she stirred from excitement. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say Aridia was going to be our first stop?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure we can manage that.¡±


    They started walking again, and Althea rearranged the straps of her backpack to redistribute the weight of tools and clothes. It was heavy, but traveling without preparation wasn¡¯t an option. In it she brought her fishing equipment, healing supplies, some rations for the road, and cloth for blankets and tent-making. She brought a spare cloak, but her dress and boots were all that she had to wear. She also had a small chunk of birthday money left over. It should afford them some food or lodging should they run into any towns in the clearings.


    Ar¨¦vis had brought other types of tools ¨C probably for hunting. Beside her she carried a swift silver sword built to cut. She had never asked where she got it, but assumed it was equipment from the Artificer¡¯s Guild.


    She sighed as she matched Ar¨¦vis¡¯ quick pace.


    ¡°You know, you only walk faster because you have longer legs,¡± Althea teased.


    ¡°I know.¡± Ar¨¦vis¡¯ face was blank.


    ¡°You have terrible stamina when it comes to running,¡± she prodded further.


    ¡°I know,¡± she replied, still unaffected.


    ¡°How you fight with that sword is a mystery to me.¡±


    There was a slight pause. Althea adjusted her backpack and huffed.


    ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯ve named my sword Quick Death,¡± Ar¨¦vis returned, ¡°So I don¡¯t have to spend too much energy in a fight.¡±


    Althea laughed hysterically and clutched at her side.


    She recovered after a moment.


    ¡°Fair enough.¡±


    -


    They agreed to set up camp in a small clearing before it got dark.


    Althea set out to find kindling as Ar¨¦vis froze off high branches. There was enough daylight outside of the clearing to spot the small sticks and thin branches, though the waning sunlight promised to leave if she didn¡¯t hurry. It started to get cold, and she could hear stirrings deep in the woods that made her dart back like a scared rabbit. She returned to the clearing with an armful of wood.


    Ar¨¦vis had dug a small hole and ringed it in rocks. Her logs were neatly sectioned, but still had the bite of frost on them.


    ¡°That was fast.¡± Ar¨¦vis looked up in surprise.


    ¡°I could¡¯ve gotten more, but it¡¯s starting to get dark,¡± Althea lamented.


    ¡°It will suffice. I scraped off some sap too.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good news.¡±


    She arranged the kindling in a small tent. It would have been better if she had brought some dried grass as well. Ar¨¦vis wiped the sap she had found on the top and stood back to give her room.


    Althea focused on the waning star peeking out from the trees, bright yet far. She could feel tingles on her skin from each warm sunbeam. All that was left was to warp the sky.


    Althea started as far as she could reach between trees, towards the now-nearly-horizontal path to the sun. The first warp was always the hardest. It was a large amount of atmosphere to compress into a lens of adequate size. She relaxed her stance, calmed her mind and put her hands up to her target, a triangle of space between them. This wasn¡¯t necessary to conjure the alteration, but it helped her focus. When she felt the bulge take shape, she exhaled and started on the next. She knelt to make a direct path to the kindling and set up the last warp¡ªthe finest and most precise. She dilated and contracted it carefully until a searing beam of light focused on the small spot of sap. A tiny ribbon of smoke unfurled and rose against the black of the deep forest background. Ar¨¦vis readied the smallest of the logs and hovered over Althea¡¯s work, careful not to deprive it of air.


    At last, a tiny flame sprung up. Althea smiled, and with a small flick of her hand, she willed the flame to spread quickly, to eat up the kindling like the dinner she and Ar¨¦vis would soon share. Ar¨¦vis set two logs down next to the kindling, and Althea lit those too. The hiss of ice melting quickly turned into the crackle of coals forming.


    It wasn¡¯t long before they were comfortably set up next to the fire, covered in blankets and watching rabbits roast on the makeshift spit they had assembled. The gloom of nightfall sharpened the edges of the trees and overgrown roots around them. They munched on nuts and dried berries from their kits while they waited.


    Althea let out a satisfied sigh. It was a cloudless night. Above them, the clearing gave way to a smattering of glittering stars.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t so bad,¡± she observed.


    ¡°Not at all.¡± Ar¨¦vis seemed content, watching the flames as if they could hypnotize her.


    ¡°I wish Terran were here to play a song,¡± she sighed.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.


    ¡°That would be nice,¡± Ar¨¦vis agreed.


    They sat in silence for a moment.


    ¡°He could have come with us,¡± Althea huffed. An owl hoo-hooed off in the distance.


    ¡°He was wise not to,¡± Ar¨¦vis challenged.


    ¡°We¡¯re his best friends. He¡¯s an idiot,¡± Althea argued, violently tearing off a piece of dried fruit.


    ¡°He was almost killed by the Artificers. It¡¯s perfectly reasonable to stay away from what we¡¯re getting into. It doesn¡¯t mean he loves you any less,¡± she encouraged.


    Althea took in a deep breath, peering up at the stars as if for guidance.


    ¡°I always thought he and I would end up together,¡± she whispered, tugging at the simple leather bracelet he had tied on her wrist.


    ¡°I did too,¡± Ar¨¦vis said. ¡°But things don¡¯t always work out the way we think they will. I¡¯ve learned that all too well.¡±


    Ar¨¦vis stared into the fire, her mind clearly elsewhere.


    ¡°Maybe what he said about childhood friends is true. You overlook things. Maybe I wanted him to have the heart of an adventurer,¡± Althea pressed.


    ¡°Maybe. He always did strike me as the adventuring type, though,¡± Ar¨¦vis mused, popping a handful of nuts into her mouth.


    Althea hmphed. ¡°Maybe he just doesn¡¯t want to adventure with us.¡±


    ¡°Or he¡¯s not ready.¡± Ar¨¦vis shrugged.


    Althea shuffled, trying to situate the blankets around her. She thought she heard rustling nearby.


    ¡°Did you hear that?¡± She asked Ar¨¦vis, trying to hide the flicker of fear that engulfed her heart.


    ¡°The animals won¡¯t attack us if we have a fire,¡± Ar¨¦vis explained.


    ¡°I know that¡­ but did you hear it?¡±


    ¡°No, I wasn¡¯t paying attention.¡±


    Althea listened for it carefully, but heard nothing.


    ¡°Why, are you afraid?¡± Ar¨¦vis asked, smirking.


    ¡°No,¡± Althea defended, ¡°I just want to know what it is.¡±


    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s a wanderer,¡± Ar¨¦vis said, her voice dropping.


    ¡°What, like Nevic?¡±


    ¡°No, not a drifter. A wanderer. Haven¡¯t you heard people in the taverns speak of them?¡± Ar¨¦vis continued.


    ¡°It sounds sort of familiar,¡± Althea said, a chill climbing up her spine.


    ¡°They are gods that have lost their minds¡­ It¡¯s rumored that they can no longer function as people, and so they wander aimlessly around. All they want is to remain undisturbed,¡± Ar¨¦vis said in her best scary voice.


    ¡°And if they¡¯re disturbed?¡± Althea asked, hanging off Ar¨¦vis¡¯ every word.


    ¡°Usually they¡¯re harmless,¡± Ar¨¦vis looked to the side and shrugged. Althea relaxed a little.


    ¡°But sometimes they¡¯re not.¡±


    Althea smiled to ease the tension. ¡°You¡¯re just trying to scare me.¡±


    Ar¨¦vis chuckled. ¡°A little. But I have heard stories about wanderers. They say that in this forest is where the ancient god Avner fled after the destruction of Isrun. This is where he and his seraphs wander for eternity, lost, mad, and hoping only for peace and solitude.¡±


    ¡°That has got to be made up. Avner is a myth,¡± Althea said.


    ¡°It¡¯s hard to really know. But that seems like the case, doesn¡¯t it? Before there were real gods, we had myths to inspire us¡ªto guide us. Many tribes of Isrun still worship Avner.¡±


    ¡°Why worship a god that¡¯s not real?¡± Althea added.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. Maybe to keep a useful idea alive? Maybe because they fear a world without him?¡± Ar¨¦vis said.


    ¡°Don¡¯t they have more to fear if they¡¯re wrong? The world is already without him, even if he once was alive,¡± Althea argued.


    ¡°I think they hope that he¡¯ll eventually show up again,¡± Ar¨¦vis said.


    ¡°Do you think he will?¡± Althea asked.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Ar¨¦vis shrugged, ¡°but I find the gods here and now more terrifying. Who knows what Isold will do if Lantris stops following her commands? It¡¯s not the fear of some old, mad god. It¡¯s the fear of a real, living being.¡±


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t she get some credit for setting up the council?¡± Althea mentioned, ¡°She doesn¡¯t just command everyone. She cares about what we want.¡±


    ¡°I suppose,¡± Ar¨¦vis admitted. ¡°She¡¯s not bad compared to some of the other gods. Stories of them, anyway.¡±


    ¡°What about actual documents that we have in our history books?¡± Althea prodded.


    ¡°History is just stories, too, Thea. Who knows if they¡¯re closer to the truth? It all depends on who writes them. And what they write of old gods is more than terrifying.¡±


    ¡°Is that why you don¡¯t trust them?¡±


    ¡°Of course not. No one should.¡± Part of Ar¨¦vis¡¯ face was lit by flickering flame, but most of it was darkened by stark shadows.


    Althea thought about wanderers, flinching slightly every time she heard a rustling in the woods. The hoot of owls and other skittering noises divulged the nightly hunt of predators for their prey. Her stomach rumbled.


    ¡°Is the rabbit ready yet?¡± She asked.


    ¡°It should be. I¡¯ll check it.¡±


    Ar¨¦vis unwrapped herself from the comfort of her blankets, her travel cloak discarded by the rest of her belongings. She didn¡¯t shiver.


    Althea could only see Ar¨¦vis¡¯ back as she checked the rabbits. She scooted to try to see the meat.


    ¡°Well?¡± Althea asked, still impatient.


    ¡°One moment.¡± Ar¨¦vis replied, unbothered.


    Before she could complain again, she heard rustling behind her. She froze in terror. Wolves wouldn¡¯t attack when they had a fire going, would they?


    Althea¡¯s eyes darted around, searching for movement, but the fire had made her night blind. She heard the overwhelming sound of movement right behind her, but before she could move, she felt the cool tip of a blade at her throat. She gasped, too afraid to make a vocalization.


    Ar¨¦vis whipped around at the muffled commotion and froze as well. Her demeanor changed completely to an intense sort of awareness. Althea met her eyes, but could only see blankness. She must have looked like a frightened child to Ar¨¦vis.


    Ar¨¦vis made a slight gesture with her hand, perhaps preparing to cast a spell.


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t move if I were you,¡± a voice spoke into Althea¡¯s ear. To her surprise, it was that of a young girl ¨C perhaps close to her age.


    The girl behind her made a slight gesture. Ar¨¦vis looked where she had presumably nodded toward. Knelt on a steady branch in the treetops was a boy with a bow and arrow pointed right at Ar¨¦vis. He looked young as well. He was compact with dark hair from what she could make out of him.


    ¡°That¡¯s my brother,¡± the girl said, unbothered. ¡°He¡¯s not as quick as me, but his aim is good.¡±


    The boy in the tree made no movement or noise that she could detect.


    Althea couldn¡¯t help but make a slight squeak at this. The blade moved slightly against her throat. It felt like ice was running through her veins.


    ¡°So that means no moving, Curly,¡± she warned.


    She was quiet as the girl bound her hands behind her and then started on her ankles. Her movements were precise and quick, just as she had said. Ar¨¦vis stood like a statue the whole time, her arms and legs slightly bent as if ready to leap.


    ¡°If you hurt her, I will kill you, no matter how many arrows your brother shoots at me,¡± Ar¨¦vis said when the girl was done binding her.


    The girl just laughed.


    ¡°There won¡¯t be any need for that if you cooperate. This is just a simple robbery,¡± she said. There was something chilling about how casual she sounded.


    ¡°Ooh, is that roasted rabbit? I haven¡¯t had a hot meal in weeks.¡±


    The girl moved from behind her and took the rabbit from Ar¨¦vis¡¯ hands.


    ¡°Is this done?¡± She asked. The girl looked just like her brother. Dark hair, small frame. Her hair was pulled tight into a ponytail. Her large eyes almost made her look sympathetic.


    Ar¨¦vis said nothing.


    The girl just shrugged and tore off piece by piece, scarfing it down. Althea felt wave after wave of terror course through her. She looked to Ar¨¦vis again to quell her uncertainty. Should they attack? Should they just let themselves be robbed?


    Ar¨¦vis seemed to understand her dilemma. She just shook her head almost imperceptibly. So, they wait. Althea¡¯s heart dropped, and she closed her eyes for a moment.


    Just wait it out. It will be over soon.


    Still holding the rabbit on its stick, the girl skillfully moved to Ar¨¦vis¡¯ belongings.


    ¡°Let¡¯s see what kind of valuables two pretty girls carry with them in the woods,¡± she said, smacking her lips. She stopped for a moment to look at Ar¨¦vis.


    ¡°What are two girls like you doing in the woods anyway?¡± She laughed at the absurdity of it, perhaps recognizing that she looked just as odd.


    Still eating the rabbit, she poked her greasy fingers into Ar¨¦vis¡¯ bag. Rifling through various scrolls and tools, she picked up the ice crystal Isold had given to Ar¨¦vis.


    ¡°What a neat little jewel. Is this ice? Why doesn¡¯t it melt?¡± She asked, delighted. She pocketed it and kept rifling.


    She could see Ar¨¦vis visibly fuming at this. The girl didn¡¯t even look up. She jumped up and moved to Althea¡¯s bag, which had her uncomfortably close again.


    ¡°Chin up, Curly,¡± she said, smirking at the look of terror on her face, ¡°you¡¯ll be out of this in no time if your sister here doesn¡¯t make any wrong moves.¡±


    Althea watched as she opened her bag and looked through the fishing and healing supplies.


    ¡°What is all this, anyway?¡± She asked. The girl seemed genuinely curious.


    Althea was too terrified to speak, but she was also obstinate and followed Ar¨¦vis'' example of silence. Instead she glared at the girl.


    She just chuckled at this.


    ¡°Oooh, a good bit of silver here,¡± she called to her brother, holding up a few. She sealed Althea¡¯s bag along with Ar¨¦vis¡¯ and set them in a small pile. She finished devouring the rabbit and then moved to bind Ar¨¦vis as well.


    Ar¨¦vis resisted slightly, and the girl gestured towards her brother. An arrow swished through the air and landed right in front of Ar¨¦vis¡¯ foot. Before Althea could look up again, the boy already had another arrow knocked.


    ¡°Just a warning, Snow,¡± she reassured Ar¨¦vis, patting her on her tensed shoulder. Ar¨¦vis seemed to accept it when the girl pulled her arms behind her back, breathing deeply and evenly to calm herself.


    ¡°Look at this beauty¡­¡± The girl found Ar¨¦vis¡¯ sword lying on the ground next to her blankets.


    She had Ar¨¦vis kneel next to Althea, where they could both stare dead on at the archer in the trees.


    The girl grabbed the two bags, the sword, and the remaining cooked rabbit, and fled into the darkness without a trace. Ar¨¦vis¡¯ muscles twitched slightly, like she was ready at any moment to chase them, to attack.


    Instead, the archer sat for a long while before departing. He disappeared into the trees like some kind of ethereal squirrel.


    Althea let out the breath she was holding and sobbed just a little.


    ¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± Ar¨¦vis soothed. ¡°We just have to get untied.¡±


    ¡°How do we do that?¡± Althea sobbed again, overwhelmed.


    ¡°We¡¯ll turn so our backs are towards each other, and we¡¯ll untie each other¡¯s hands.¡± Ar¨¦vis moved to scoot so that her back was turned. She hesitated. ¡°All right? You can do it, Thea.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± she sniffled, moving as well for the first time in a while. It felt like her muscles had been plastered into one position.


    Ar¨¦vis untied her hands first so that she could finish untying them both. It wasn¡¯t all that hard. It just took time for Ar¨¦vis to undo the first knot without looking at it or having proper angles to work at it.


    Althea curled back up into her blanket, looking at the dying fire, and the lack of delicious roasted rabbits. Ar¨¦vis didn¡¯t even have tools to trap and skin another. Ar¨¦vis curled up next to her, so the wool and body heat made everything cozier.


    Althea couldn¡¯t hold it any longer, and started crying. She leaned into Ar¨¦vis who stiffly put an arm around her. Ar¨¦vis had always been weird about touching other people. But her arm slowly relaxed and she rubbed Althea¡¯s shoulder. It was more comforting than she could have imagined at that moment.


    ¡°We just started¡ª¡± Althea sobbed, the tragedy and injustice of it digging deep.


    ¡°I know,¡± Ar¨¦vis agreed. ¡°We¡¯ll find more supplies. Maybe we can barter if I catch some more food or do some manual labor.¡±


    ¡°But-but why would they just¨Ctake things from us like that?¡± Althea warbled.


    ¡°Because it¡¯s easier than making or buying them,¡± Ar¨¦vis answered matter-of-factly. Althea smiled despite herself at how typical it was.


    ¡°How can you do that to another person?¡± Althea sniffed. Her crying died down a little.


    ¡°They probably walk a rough path,¡± Ar¨¦vis said.


    ¡°So do we! That doesn¡¯t excuse it.¡±


    ¡°Certainly not,¡± she answered.


    Althea stopped crying, and her sadness morphed into anger. ¡°How did you deal with it? When it happened to you, I mean.¡±


    Ar¨¦vis was quiet for a moment, and her hand stopped rubbing. It just sat there, still as a fallen tree branch.


    ¡°It was different, because they had killed my guild members,¡± she muttered.


    ¡°I¡ªI know, but¡­ How did you escape? Did you attack them?¡± Althea prodded, knowing that Ar¨¦vis might not be ready to share details, but also hoping Ar¨¦vis understood that she needed sympathy right now.


    Ar¨¦vis squeezed her shoulder a little, perhaps preparing herself.


    ¡°I sought revenge,¡± Ar¨¦vis said. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if I should regret it.¡±


    Althea sat up straighter and faced Ar¨¦vis.


    ¡°Then we should go after them.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re already going after people who attacked us. Let¡¯s not forget they killed many of our own villagers, and almost killed Terran. Why add more to our troubles, especially for thieves?¡± Ar¨¦vis said, exhausted.


    ¡°I thought that we shouldn¡¯t hurt the Artificers we find because they weren¡¯t the ones who went after you, and maybe not all of them have the same goals. But this is just¡­ so meaningless. The only ¡®why¡¯ is a quick meal and a small reward. It¡¯s cruel.¡±


    ¡°It is cruel.¡± Ar¨¦vis agreed.


    ¡°Then we should find them and take our stuff back! We should let them know that it¡¯s not so easily forgotten,¡± Althea said fiercely.


    Ar¨¦vis sighed. ¡°I don¡¯t know if we can even find them.¡±

 7. Dead or Alive

    Althea was cold, hungry, and covered from head to toe in dirt. It had taken two days before they tracked down an occupied camp. Luckily, she and Ar¨¦vis had found a stream to drink from, but little else. Althea picked some herbs from the forest that were edible, and tried to catch some fish with makeshift equipment (unsuccessfully). They heard the bored drone of voices drift over from a small clearing.


    Althea all too eagerly jumped up from the stream to investigate.


    ¡°Be careful,¡± Ar¨¦vis warned, catching her sleeve. ¡°We don¡¯t know who they are and what they want.¡±


    ¡°Nothing could be worse than starving to death in this wretched forest, could it?¡± Althea said, and continued marching towards the clearing.


    It was a modest camp with large tents. It seemed to house only about twenty people or so. Some milled about in the daylight, preparing for lunch and stoking the fire. Two guards were slumped against a couple of trees, idly chatting.


    The guards stiffened when they were spotted. How must they have looked? Two young girls, half-starved and dirty like a couple of urchins.


    Ar¨¦vis stepped in front of Althea, who was still stunned from their discovery.


    ¡°Excuse me,¡± Ar¨¦vis rasped, ¡°Do you have any food?¡±


    The guards exchanged looks.


    ¡°You want free food? Go hunt for it. There¡¯s a whole forest of wild animals,¡± one of them said.


    The other looked more sympathetic, but still wary.


    ¡°We had a couple of bandits rob us last night. One of them was a young girl like you,¡± the other said. ¡°You can understand why my fellow thinks two young girls are suspicious.¡±


    Althea¡¯s temper shot up to the sun.


    ¡°Which way did they go?¡± Althea demanded, fuming.


    The unsympathetic guard looked stunned.


    ¡°Is that what happened to you two?¡± The nicer one asked.


    The other one snapped, ¡°Don¡¯t. It could be a trick.¡±


    Althea growled in frustration.


    ¡°Just tell me where they went! We won¡¯t step foot in your camp.¡±


    Ar¨¦vis took a deep breath and stood impeccably straight, her hands behind her back.


    ¡°We really will starve if we don¡¯t eat. Our tools were stolen from us two nights ago. If you could give us supplies for hunting, we¡¯d be happy to catch our own food. Obviously your camp needs to eat as well.¡±


    The guards were silent at that, contemplating her words. Althea didn¡¯t care to hear what they would say unless it was how to get those damned bandits.


    Finally, the cautious one spoke.


    ¡°We don¡¯t know where the bandits went. But if you truly need supplies, we¡¯ll sell some to you. We don¡¯t have much to spare.¡±


    Ar¨¦vis blinked several times and did her best not to look annoyed. Althea was too angry to notice if she pulled it off.


    ¡°I¡¯m happy that your camp is still intact, but they took everything of ours. Our money, our supplies, and our food. We don¡¯t have any money. Isn¡¯t there something we could do to gain your trust?¡±


    The friendly guard almost looked like he was about to crack.


    ¡°Where are you headed? Besides to find those bandits,¡± he asked.


    ¡°We¡¯re trying to find members of the Artificer¡¯s Guild,¡± Ar¨¦vis said right away. Althea may have even detected a small smile when she said it.


    Why would Ar¨¦vis come out with this, knowing how dangerous and secret they were? How was this in their best interest?


    But Althea soon found out, because the guards looked pale.


    ¡°¡­Who are you?¡± The suspicious one asked.


    ¡°That¡¯s not important,¡± Ar¨¦vis said, ¡°We need food and supplies to find them. And if we happen to encounter the bandits¡ªwell, I¡¯m sure we can return what they stole from you as well.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t tell you where The Artificers are. In truth, we¡¯re here to defend the camp from them. They want to steal our research¡ª¡±


    ¡°Quiet!¡± The other one reprimanded.


    ¡°Maybe you could help us¡ª¡± He continued hopefully.


    ¡°We would be more than happy to.¡± Ar¨¦vis replied.


    They all stood in silence for a moment, Althea fidgeting with her fingers, still wound up.


    ¡°You must know the Artificers have¡­ special kinds of weapons. Is that what you¡¯re here researching?¡± Ar¨¦vis pressed on. ¡°We don¡¯t want to interfere with your research. But we can certainly help you with it. I studied at Isold¡¯s academy for years.¡±


    Ar¨¦vis held out her hand and froze a tiny tree branch near the guard¡¯s head.


    Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.


    ¡°My friend is also a powerful mage. We could hunt anyone here down for you. In fact, if you give us proper supplies, we could bring the Artificers here when we¡¯re done questioning them. Do you want them dead or alive?¡±


    The two looked at each other, grim lines carved into their faces. The suspicious one spoke.


    ¡°We will let you speak with the head of our expedition.¡±


    Ar¨¦vis stepped into the camp, shooting Althea a smile as she followed.


    The head of the expedition was a stout man with a gruff demeanor. He introduced himself as Deryn and invited them into his tent abruptly, clearing off his table with a large map sprawled on it. There were empty beer horns and ink and paper strewn about.


    ¡°I¡¯m hoping Irwin and Leo didn¡¯t bring me a couple of Artificer spies. If that¡¯s so, I¡¯ll find out soon enough, won¡¯t I?¡± He grumped, gesturing for someone to pour him some more beer.


    ¡°To my knowledge, Edajian Artificers don¡¯t use ice magic,¡± Ar¨¦vis said.


    ¡°That is true!¡± One of the guards defended. ¡°I saw her use ice magic.¡±


    ¡°You two are dismissed,¡± Deryn said. The two left the tent without a word.


    ¡°We¡¯ll give you food and supplies as a gesture of good will. If you return with our agreement fulfilled, we¡¯ll give you a hefty reward in gold.¡±


    He took a swig of his beer and approached his map, gesturing for them to follow.


    ¡°The welfare of this expedition can¡¯t be compromised. The ones most likely to do that aren¡¯t a couple of bandits looking to steal some gold or food¡ªit¡¯s the ones who are looking to sabotage our research.


    ¡°Now, I don¡¯t know who you are. You very well could be spies or bandits with a good amount of knowledge about The Artificers. That¡¯s suspicious enough. But if you¡¯re one of Isold¡¯s, there¡¯s a chance you might help us¡­ Just know that if you betray us, our mages will wipe you out. I don¡¯t care how gifted you are. You¡¯re outnumbered,¡± he seemed to say more to himself.


    Althea could feel his desperation. If he had mages at his command, why not send them after the Artificers? But then a chilling thought gripped her: perhaps he had sent his mages and they had already failed. To him, she and Ar¨¦vis were expendable¡ªwhether or not he believed they could succeed.


    ¡°Are you here on behalf of king Garak?¡± Ar¨¦vis ventured softly.


    Deryn turned to her, surprised.


    ¡°You ask too many questions, mage.¡± He ran his fingers through his greasy hair and took another swig of beer. Even watching him with a drink that could hardly count as sustenance made Althea¡¯s stomach lurch.


    ¡°Bring us the weapons of the Artificers. We don¡¯t care what you do with them after that. If you happen to collect any other¡­ artifacts¡­ I will reward you for those as well.¡±


    Ar¨¦vis nodded.


    Althea thought to refuse, or ask more questions at least. But then, what choice did they have? They were just as desperate.


    ¡°Remember my warning, mage. If you betray me, you will not escape,¡± he repeated.


    ¡°My name is Ar¨¦vis,¡± she offered, holding her hand out. Deryn shook it and led her to the map. Althea followed.


    ¡°Althea,¡± she begrudgingly introduced herself. Deryn took her measure carefully before shaking her hand.


    ¡°This is where we think they are¡­¡±


    ¡°Is this really a good idea, Ar¨¦vis?¡± Althea asked, lying comfortably on her bedroll, contented with a belly full of the most succulent venison she had ever tasted. Her father always said that hunger was the best seasoning.


    They lay side by side in a small tent Deryn had lent them, on their way to an ¡°area of interest¡± on the map of this small section of Edajian forest. As labyrinthine as it was, no one had accurately mapped all of it.


    ¡°We¡¯ll find out,¡± Ar¨¦vis said, making no attempt to assuage her fears. She looked much less stressed than she had before they had found the expedition¡¯s camp. An expedition for what exactly, they still didn¡¯t know. The fear of acting as mercenaries had numbed any curiosity she might have had for their research.


    ¡°Why did you reveal your connection to the Artificers?¡± Althea asked.


    ¡°To frighten him,¡± Ar¨¦vis said.


    ¡°What if others come after you now? What if word spreads?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s part of the point. The easiest way to find someone is to lure them,¡± She said, shrugging.


    ¡°So the Artificers trained you to be, what? Some kind of spy?¡± Althea asked.


    ¡°I was a researcher,¡± Ar¨¦vis corrected, annoyed. ¡°Everything else I learned informally.¡±


    ¡°So you were around spies.¡±


    ¡°Lots of them,¡± Ar¨¦vis huffed.


    There was an uncomfortable pause. Althea had pushed her too far yet again.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Althea sighed. ¡°When you came to visit with them after you had been recruited, you told me how much you loved it there with Gabriel and your new friends. I thought for the first time, you had somewhere you could fit in¡ªwhere you could flourish. I know Isold sent you off to another guild, but you seemed¡­ content there.¡±


    ¡°I was content,¡± Ar¨¦vis reminisced, ¡°For a while, I thought it was my dream. But it was never meant to last. Isold didn¡¯t give a damn about my well-being after I had been shipped off like an unwanted package.¡±


    Althea frowned. Yes, Ar¨¦vis¡¯ future had been handled like a dismissal, or so Ar¨¦vis thought. But Isold had said it was what she thought was best for Ar¨¦vis¡ªwhat Ar¨¦vis would be happier with. She wasn¡¯t sure which version was true.


    ¡°But even so¡­ you were content. Those violent thieves stole your future, not Isold. They stole Gabriel¡¯s future,¡± Althea said. Now she knew a fraction of what Ar¨¦vis had gone through after that teenage bandit had held a knife to her throat and her brother brandished a bow and arrow.


    Ar¨¦vis remained quiet.


    ¡°She accommodated for you as best she could when you returned. She gave you a cottage by the river, and the resources to research for her at the academy¡­ Wasn¡¯t that what you wanted?¡± Althea was genuinely curious.


    ¡°It was too late by then,¡± Ar¨¦vis said. ¡°And I¡¯m done talking about it.¡±


    She rolled over, her back facing Althea.


    Althea was still madly curious about what The Artificer¡¯s Guild was like. As far as she could tell, they made enchanted weapons for Valeria. It seemed like a normal guild to her.


    By the time Ar¨¦vis had drifted off, Althea was still in a state of lethargy after the hearty meal. They were well-supplied, but it would take days to reach their destination, perhaps weeks. After a false start, they were on their way to settling this dispute once and for all. Then she and Ar¨¦vis could go on vacation.


    She dreamt of the decadent palaces in Aridia, of the hot sun, blinding in its glory. Sand shimmered and flew in a gentle breeze, the backdrop of a huge city in its wake. The markets there must be even livelier than the ones in Lantris, full of Aridian citizens chattering loudly and excitedly. She pictured the sovereign¡¯s personal palace chambers, littered with feast leftovers and fine linens. Of course, she and Ar¨¦vis weren¡¯t the daughters of politicians, priests, or the royal family. Only nobility could languish in the luxury of the palace walls.


    But they did have merit as mages. They¡¯d probably stay in some kind of inn in the outskirts of the royal city. They¡¯d clamor to get invites to royal festivals. Maybe they could work for the royal guard, Althea as a healer, and Ar¨¦vis as a soldier. If they couldn¡¯t do that, the city parties were something to explore. No one sang and danced like Aridians. Even the taverns must be amazing.


    Thoughts of a bright future let Althea drift off peacefully. She would cling to these thoughts dearly in the weeks to come, when there would only be forest for days in each direction.

 8. Too Far to Wander

    Althea and Ar¨¦vis clutched the map in their hands like children trying to decipher Ancient Aridian. They had been traveling long enough that the idea of adventure had lost its glamor. More than anything, Althea wanted to see the sun again.


    ¡°We¡¯re lost,¡± Althea declared. ¡°We¡¯ve officially wandered from that point¡ª¡± she pointed to a smudged section of the map ¡°¡ªto anywhere around here.¡± She outlined a large circle on the small map.


    ¡°As long as we¡¯re kind of north from that point, it should be okay¡­¡± Ar¨¦vis said, unsure.


    ¡°How hard could it be to find an Artificer camp?¡± Althea fumed. ¡°Won¡¯t they be chanting their prayers loudly and making a blood sacrifice or something?¡±


    Ar¨¦vis gave her a look. Althea chuckled.


    ¡°So now you get touchy about them. Even though we¡¯re probably going to have to¡ª¡±


    ¡°Shhh,¡± Ar¨¦vis interrupted.


    They both stood in silence for a moment, Althea gripped by a small rush of adrenaline. She wasn¡¯t sure if it was terror or excitement.


    ¡°What?¡± Althea whispered, hearing nothing.


    ¡°Oh, nothing,¡± Ar¨¦vis said, ¡°I just prefer silence to you complaining.¡±


    Althea frowned, snatching the map away from Ar¨¦vis. She started walking briskly in the direction she thought was north. Ar¨¦vis followed behind her without another word.


    If the trees hadn¡¯t gotten so dense, she¡¯d be able to measure where they were by the sun¡¯s position¡­ but their oppressive canopies jealously hoarded the nourishing rays for themselves, and no light reached them even before the sun had set completely. It was colder in the forest now, more sinister. The damp dark invited mushrooms and thick moss to smother the forest floor. She almost plucked one up to eat, but it looked like a species of poisonous mushroom she had studied, which also looked uncomfortably similar to one of the safe ones.


    The quiet was too dense, too full. She couldn¡¯t hear a single bird¡¯s cry. The skitter of a beetle surprised her as it crossed in front of them.


    ¡°I always used to run away from father and mother whenever they¡¯d tried to give me a bath,¡± Althea lamented. ¡°I was a sad, silly creature.¡±


    ¡°No one wants a bath as a child. You want dirt in the crevices of your toes, in your hair, in your clothes,¡± Ar¨¦vis agreed.


    ¡°When did we stop embracing the dirt?¡± Althea asked, her boots sinking into the soft earth like it was a carpet of woven cotton.


    ¡°I suppose when we care what other people think we look like,¡± Ar¨¦vis mused.


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t seem all that long ago.¡± Althea said. ¡°I think it coincided with wanting Terran to think of me as more than a child.¡±


    ¡°I think I wanted the adults to think of me as more than a child,¡± Ar¨¦vis recalled.


    ¡°Stupid, weren¡¯t we?¡± Althea said.


    ¡°I¡¯m used to baths now,¡± Ar¨¦vis shrugged.


    ¡°And now we¡¯re getting reacquainted with dirt,¡± Althea said sagely. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be much less painful if we stuck to one or the other?¡±


    Ar¨¦vis hummed, scrutinizing her dirty hands.


    ¡°We¡¯ve been sleeping in the dirt for weeks now, and I still think it gets colder and darker the longer we¡¯re in this forest,¡± Althea said.


    ¡°It is getting colder and darker. We¡¯re in deep now. I just hope we can find our way out,¡± Ar¨¦vis said.


    ¡°Don¡¯t talk like that,¡± Althea snapped.


    They walked in silence for a moment, Althea fidgeting.


    ¡°We¡¯ve still got enough water for a while, but perhaps we can find a stream. I can¡¯t feel one yet but I¡¯ll let you know as soon as I do,¡± Ar¨¦vis promised.


    ¡°I¡¯m not bathing this far in. I¡¯ll freeze,¡± Althea argued, shivering just thinking about it.


    ¡°Maybe just a splash of water on your face?¡± Ar¨¦vis encouraged.


    Althea frowned at her.


    ¡°No one is here with us. Who cares if my face is covered in dirt?¡±


    Ar¨¦vis didn¡¯t reply. She did cringe, though. Althea rolled her eyes.


    After the gloomy day waned into an even blacker night, Althea insisted they set up camp. They still hadn¡¯t found any water.


    ¡°Still can¡¯t make a fire with the stars,¡± Althea noted, eyeing the thick crowns of treetops.


    ¡°We¡¯ve still got the flint Deryn gave us,¡± Ar¨¦vis encouraged.


    ¡°More like loaned us,¡± Althea murmured. ¡°We still have to retrieve some kind of weird artifact that he won¡¯t even tell us about.¡±


    Ar¨¦vis was silent for a moment as she worked on arranging firewood.


    ¡°How much gold do you think he¡¯ll give us, anyway?¡± Althea wondered aloud.


    ¡°Althea¡­¡± Ar¨¦vis was squatting over the almost-fire, flint in hand. ¡°We¡¯re not going back there.¡±


    Althea frowned. ¡°I thought we needed gold.¡±


    ¡°We only need travel supplies. That¡¯s what we started with.¡±


    Althea mulled this over as Ar¨¦vis grated the flint against the steel. The moment a spark lit the fluff of dried moss, Althea caught the flame and made it eat the fuel ravenously. The fire hissed and climbed until it was bright and strong in the chilly gloom.


    ¡°Is that what we do now? Lie to people?¡± Althea said, not sure how to feel.


    ¡°It¡¯s survival.¡±


    ¡°Well maybe after we find the Artificers and have our friendly little chat, you can be on your way to Aridia. I¡¯ll catch up later after I bring Deryn the artifact.¡±


    ¡°Artifacts,¡± Ar¨¦vis corrected.


    ¡°Whatever!¡± Althea snapped.


    Ar¨¦vis shrugged and started setting up her bedroll.


    ¡°How are we any different than the thieves that took our things?¡± Althea asked, folding her arms.


    ¡°Let¡¯s see¡­¡± She pretended to count her fingers. ¡°We didn¡¯t hold knives to their throats and threaten their lives and the lives of their loved ones, we didn¡¯t take what they needed to survive, and we didn¡¯t casually steal their precious possessions,¡± she finished, tucking herself in.


    ¡°They helped us and they didn¡¯t have to,¡± Althea defended.


    ¡°If they hadn¡¯t helped us, they¡¯d be as good as killers. They clearly had enough to spare,¡± Ar¨¦vis rebutted.


    ¡°They had just been robbed the night before.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be so na?ve, Althea,¡± Ar¨¦vis derided, sitting up. ¡°They let us in because they wanted something from us. Whether or not we bring them some mysterious artifacts, we¡¯re doing their job for them¡ªeliminating the threat to their research. I think that¡¯s payment enough.¡±


    Althea stopped arguing. It wasn¡¯t that they hadn¡¯t argued before, or that they couldn¡¯t argue and come to some kind of agreement. But this was different. She felt the rift between them more acutely than she ever had.


    Terran had been right that Ar¨¦vis had changed. Maybe it was time to accept that their relationship would never be the same¡ªthat Ar¨¦vis would never be the same.


    She watched as Ar¨¦vis tucked herself in, lying on her back, motionless.


    Althea loved her. But maybe there was no recovering from what had happened to Ar¨¦vis.


    -


    Althea was woken by the dim light of morning. Even beneath her blanket she was covered in dew.


    A quick glance at the dead fire showed her Ar¨¦vis¡¯ empty bedroll.


    She scrambled out of her bedroll, putting on her cloak and getting ready to look for more water. The hunger ate at her insides. She pushed the discomfort away.


    Ar¨¦vis was in a small clearing where she could hear birds chirping in the higher canopies of thick trees. She was practicing some kind of warp like Althea usually did on the sky.


    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Althea asked.


    Ar¨¦vis frowned a little as her concentration was disrupted. She sighed.


    ¡°It¡¯s a pressure shield. I¡¯ve been working on it for a while, but¡­ I can¡¯t seem to get it to deflect solid objects,¡± Ar¨¦vis explained.


    ¡°Do you want me to throw things at it?¡± Althea suggested.


    Ar¨¦vis smiled a little. ¡°Sure.¡±


    They practiced for a while in the small clearing, her need for food and water still chanting in the back of her mind ferociously.


    Ar¨¦vis could make an impressive pressure warp, but it wasn¡¯t very strong. Eventually, Ar¨¦vis could get it to deflect small leaves and twigs. Althea jumped in triumph.


    ¡°You¡¯re just one step away from deflecting small rocks,¡± she encouraged.


    ¡°But not from deflecting arrows,¡± Ar¨¦vis grumped.


    Althea shrugged. ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong¡ªthat would be very useful. But there¡¯s a reason they don¡¯t teach that at Isold¡¯s Academy. It can¡¯t be done.¡±


    ¡°I know it can be done,¡± Ar¨¦vis argued. ¡°I¡¯ve read about Aure and her seraphs. They could move wind and clouds.¡±


    Ar¨¦vis was panting, and knelt on the mossy ground.


    ¡°That was before the seraph wars,¡± Althea reminded her. ¡°Aure and her children are dead. If someone once had the ability to make a strong enough pressure shield¡ªit¡¯s long gone.¡±


    Ar¨¦vis shook her head. ¡°Maybe they wrote it down somewhere. Maybe there¡¯s a book with how to do it written on the pages.¡±


    ¡°Even so,¡± Althea continued, ¡°you¡¯d have to be a descendent of Aure¡¯s. It¡¯s like how no one with Aridian blood can freeze anything to save their life, and no one without it can seal up wounds like they do.¡±


    She grinned at this, pleased that she had such blood.


    Ar¨¦vis slumped a little more at that. ¡°You¡¯re probably right. Maybe an ice shield¡­ No, I couldn¡¯t conjure it fast enough¡­ But if I had the stone¡­¡±


    She murmured for a while like that before Althea interrupted her.


    ¡°I know this is important, but so is not starving to death,¡± she prodded.


    ¡°Breakfast!¡± Ar¨¦vis exulted. ¡°That would give me clearer thoughts.¡±


    Hours passed, yet there was no sign of any animals this deep in the forest. Althea thought she could hear the faint howl of wolves, but they never did come close. They found some berries and mushrooms that looked edible. Althea picked as many as she could spot and called for Ar¨¦vis.


    If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    ¡°Here.¡± She laid out her offerings on the ground. ¡°I¡¯m almost certain that these aren¡¯t poisonous.¡±


    Ar¨¦vis looked skeptical. ¡°I¡¯m relying on your very impressive plant identification scores at the academy.¡±


    She grabbed a handful and then looked at Althea.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to have any?¡±


    ¡°I thought it might be smarter if only one of us eats them first. In case they¡¯re poisonous,¡± Althea ventured.


    Ar¨¦vis¡¯ brow furrowed for a moment as she thought this through.


    ¡°And obviously we shouldn¡¯t poison the healer,¡± she agreed, and shoved a handful of the mushrooms and berries in her mouth.


    Althea let out a breath, relieved that there was no anger in her companion¡¯s words. She watched carefully for any signs of poison. Ar¨¦vis just munched happily until half the pile was gone.


    ¡°How are you feeling?¡±


    ¡°Just fine,¡± Ar¨¦vis assured. It was amazing what even a small portion of food could do when they were this hungry.


    ¡°I think I¡¯ll dig in, then,¡± Althea said, knowing that she should probably wait longer, but too encouraged by Ar¨¦vis¡¯ assessment.


    ¡°Thea,¡± She called, standing and turning slowly.


    ¡°Hmph?¡± Althea inquired, mouth and hands stuffed with their spoils.


    ¡°I sense water.¡±


    Althea swallowed as fast as she could without hurting herself and scarfed down the rest of the pile.


    ¡°Finally!¡±


    They meandered between the thick trunks of trees, dewy ferns and creeping vines brushing their ankles like iced fingers. A thin layer of mist had risen from the forest floor, making every step damp and frigid.


    Sure enough, the trickle of a stream beckoned them from behind curtains of foliage.


    The mist hovered around a small vein of flowing water. It seemed to widen the farther up they went.


    Althea knelt and ran the water through her fingers, grateful for the relief that washed through her. She could sense nothing harmful living in the stream, so she splashed handfuls of water into her mouth and on her face, letting it drip from the tangles of curls in her face.


    Meanwhile, Ar¨¦vis had started following the stream upward, towards its source.


    ¡°What are you looking for?¡± Althea called to the thin, mist-shrouded form of Ar¨¦vis in the distance. She was almost completely out of sight when Althea ran to catch up.


    She stopped when she reached Ar¨¦vis, who stood, wide-eyed and silent.


    ¡°Well,¡± Ar¨¦vis broke the silence, ¡°it certainly wasn¡¯t this.¡±


    Althea looked ahead. No longer obscured by mist, instead of the thick trees they had grown used to, there was a mass of towering thorns, black and ravenous.


    The mass stretched in either direction as far as Althea could see. It hung like a canopy, choking the thicket of trees.


    ¡°How is this possible?¡± Ar¨¦vis asked.


    ¡°It shouldn¡¯t be.¡± Althea paused in thought. ¡°Unless someone grew them¡ªa very powerful green mage.¡±


    ¡°Could this be the Artificer¡¯s base?¡± Ar¨¦vis asked, pushing her voice out in a rush.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Althea answered.


    Ar¨¦vis strode to the mass of thorns and ran her fingers over the vines, careful not to prick her finger.


    ¡°I wonder how far it goes in either direction,¡± Ar¨¦vis pondered, still poking at the structure, freezing a thorn here or there.


    ¡°You run that way, and I¡¯ll run this way,¡± Althea joked.


    Althea approached the thicket as well, touching at a vine with careful interest.


    ¡°I can¡¯t sense the end of it,¡± Althea mused. ¡°I wonder who it¡¯s meant to keep out.¡±


    ¡°Funny,¡± said a quiet voice. ¡°Most of them ask what¡¯s inside.¡±


    Althea whipped around towards the sound. But there had been no direction, and no voice.


    Ar¨¦vis looked puzzled.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± She asked.


    ¡°I heard something,¡± Althea said, shivering and twirling to check around her.


    Like spiders, a few dark figures crawled from the mist towards them.


    Althea gasped, flinching back towards the thorns.


    Ar¨¦vis stood up taller.


    ¡°Speak before you approach,¡± Ar¨¦vis said in a clear voice, ¡°or all that mist you¡¯re soaking in will become very, very cold.¡±


    ¡°We do not fear the cold,¡± said a voice from no direction.


    ¡°And there will be no speaking,¡± said another.


    ¡°Ar¨¦vis,¡± She whispered, shaken. ¡°Can you hear them?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± she affirmed, spine unnaturally stiff.


    Out of the mist, black abstracted forms took shape.


    They were shrouded in dirt, but otherwise nude. All were covered in a mop of tangled, black hair. One woman¡¯s hair was so long that it dragged behind her in the damp soil as she crawled. There were at least four that she could make out, one lingering far behind, another off past Ar¨¦vis.


    Ar¨¦vis did not act as they approached. It became obvious that they had no interest in Althea or Ar¨¦vis, but rather the wall of thorns.


    The woman with the long hair rose, touching the wall as they both had. She worked to tear into the wall, her eyes consumed by despair. But all that she brought back with her were bloody hands. The thorns that had torn regrew more in their place.


    ¡°Not here, then¡­¡± The voice faded as the four creatures silently walked or crawled past Ar¨¦vis, further into the mist.


    Althea watched, horrified, not quite sure what to make of it.


    Ar¨¦vis let out a breath.


    ¡°That was beyond terrifying.¡± Althea was shaken.


    A flicker of movement in the mist caught her eye.


    It was another figure, walking slowly towards them. His hair was black and tangled like the rest of them.


    ¡°Open the gate,¡± he said, still too far to make out entirely. His voice sounded at once thin like an old man¡¯s and scared like a child¡¯s. It was filled with sickness and need. It scraped at her mind like a dull knife.


    ¡°So this is a gate,¡± Ar¨¦vis asked, ¡°to what?¡±


    The figure kept walking towards them slowly, steadily.


    ¡°You,¡± he demanded. His arm rose like the slow crawl of a plant sprouting to point at Althea. ¡°Open it.¡±


    Althea shook her head, ¡°I don¡¯t know how.¡±


    If he spoke further, she did not hear it. Instead, she heard the roar of ravenous flames gobbling up the thorns, and saw the bright orange light up the forest.


    In an instant, the vision was gone.


    ¡°You want me to¡ª¡±


    ¡°Burn the gate down, yes,¡± said a much louder voice, with a whole lot more people behind him grunting their agreement.


    When she turned around, it was not a black-haired figure facing her, but a party of travelers in all black. Their weapons looked ordinary.


    Ar¨¦vis had stepped in front of her, unyielding.


    ¡°Interesting,¡± Ar¨¦vis noted, her voice light as dragonfly wings, ¡°So Valerian Artificers don¡¯t share trade secrets with Edajian ones?¡±


    Their leader glared at her.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± He demanded.


    ¡°A weapon enchanted with fire could do the trick. Or you could just start a fire the old-fashioned way,¡± Ar¨¦vis said, ignoring their question.


    ¡°Normal fire doesn¡¯t work,¡± one of them growled, ¡°It has to be told where and how much to burn.¡±


    ¡°Quiet,¡± the leader spoke. He had green eyes like Terran.


    ¡°Why do you think she¡¯s a pyromancer?¡± Piped a snarky, youthful voice. ¡°If you untie me and my brother, we¡¯ll gladly burn down this¡­ thorn gate thing for you.¡±


    There, arms tied behind them, were the thieves that had attacked them not so long ago.


    Althea¡¯s temper shot up as fast as a fish leaping out of the water.


    ¡°Maybe I¡¯ll do it if you hand those two over to me,¡± Althea spat.


    ¡°We have yet to interrogate them¡ª¡± an artificer began to protest.


    The leader waved his hand, ¡°I don¡¯t particularly care.¡±


    Two of his subordinates pushed the prisoners forward. They inched toward Althea with narrowed eyes.


    The girl avoided eye contact, even as Althea attempted to burn a hole into her skull with her gaze.


    ¡°Well, this is awkward,¡± the girl said.


    ¡°Hand over what they stole from us,¡± Ar¨¦vis demanded.


    He nodded, and the Artificers lined up in a formation surrounding them. There were nine of them. Each pulled out a ranged weapon. Arrows were knocked, knives were brandished, and a particularly nonthreatening blowgun was whipped out.


    ¡°That is the last request you make of us,¡± he said.


    ¡°What makes you think it was a request?¡± Ar¨¦vis taunted. She eyed her opponents, unimpressed.


    ¡°Do you think this is a bad time to ask for their weapons?¡± Althea stage-whispered, surprising herself. Somehow, beyond her fear was excitement. They had all their enemies in one place, and although their lives were in danger, Althea felt invincible. Not long ago, Ar¨¦vis had helped best a group of them, and that was when they had far more terrifying weapons. Together, they might be able to win.


    Althea looked to Ar¨¦vis. She pulled out the flint and nodded. A single spark was all she needed to set off a blaze of fire in a ring around them.


    ¡°Whoa, whoa, whoa!¡± She heard the cries of the girl next to her. ¡°Maybe untie us first before you crisp everyone here?¡±


    ¡°We can help you kill them.¡± That was the first time she heard the thief boy speak. Beneath his quiet tone was a note of desperation. Thanks to him, she understood desperation.


    ¡°We don¡¯t need your help,¡± Ar¨¦vis bit out, like the chill of the mist.


    The Artificers had backed up several body lengths.


    ¡°Wait!¡± The leader shouted. ¡°Wait!¡±


    Althea kept a self-sustaining flame in the palm of her hand. Ar¨¦vis summoned a splintered wall of ice crystals to flank their escape.


    ¡°Now you wish to talk?¡± Ar¨¦vis mocked. ¡°Throw us their belongings.¡± She gestured towards the siblings.


    Their leader nodded. Two of the Artificers threw the bags into the semicircle of space between them.


    ¡°You are Ar¨¦vis of Lantris,¡± he said, some kind of realization dawning on him.


    Althea could see the pride that lit up Ar¨¦vis¡¯ face as he said it.


    ¡°The traitor.¡±


    The look was swallowed by a sharper one.


    ¡°What exactly did I betray? What was I supposed to be fighting for?¡± Ar¨¦vis asked.


    ¡°You know!¡± He bellowed, green eyes livid. ¡°And you threw it away for what?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure yet,¡± Ar¨¦vis said, considering. She furrowed her brow. ¡°Any suggestions?¡±


    Before Althea could process their leader¡¯s gesture, nearly a dozen arrows came flying at them. A cold breeze whipped some of the arrows aside. Althea could see the subtle warp of the air around Ar¨¦vis as she summoned a pressure shield.


    But just like when she and Ar¨¦vis had practiced, it did not stop the impact of the arrows that were still on course.


    Ar¨¦vis cried out as three arrows hit¡ªone on her right shoulder, one on her upper arm, and the last one pierced straight through her ribs. She staggered backward, and an aborted attempt at an ice shield grew in jagged columns from the moist ground.


    But instead of running, Ar¨¦vis looked at her, concerned and weary.


    Althea could hear the distant sound of the thief siblings pleading and dragging at Ar¨¦vis to kneel behind the small ice wall. Ar¨¦vis wrenched out of their grip and stood as still and rigid as one of the ice shards she had conjured. When the thief girl grabbed at Althea¡¯s arm to move her back behind Ar¨¦vis¡¯ constructed cover, she snarled.


    She looked down to find an arrow protruding from just above her hip. Well, that explained the sudden pain. The whole left side of her body groaned in sympathy.


    Ar¨¦vis stumbled towards her, gasping, and gripped her arm.


    ¡°We run or we fight,¡± Ar¨¦vis grit out. Althea looked up at her taller friend, certain that this would be the end if they didn¡¯t act, and they both knew it. Althea nodded.


    ¡°Slightly toasted, or burnt to a crisp?¡± Althea whispered more to herself, staving off her light-headedness.


    Ar¨¦vis nodded and lit another spark for her. Althea let the flame grow in her hand. As she looked towards her targets, she realized that none of them had knocked any arrows.


    Instead of the battle-ready commander, the leader of the Edajian Artificers had stopped the attack. A curious look overtook his freckled features. There was no anger or comprehension on his face any longer. Only panic.


    He screamed. It was the uninhibited scream of a child with no concept of the horror that had befallen him. It was as if the others around him did not exist. Even his comrades looked confused and terrified, exchanging looks amongst each other, clinging to their weapons for dear life. It didn¡¯t seem that he was capable of giving them commands any longer.


    He whirled around in a frenzy, swinging his sword like a mad man. Althea was too confused to intervene. What would she be trying to stop?


    He ran head first into one of the others, who tried to defend himself with his own sword. Before long, they were fighting each other, the same desperate determination on their faces. It wasn¡¯t long before the first wound echoed among the trees and thorns. An Artificer lopped off his comrade¡¯s arm, and the wounded one rampaged around like some kind of feral dog, spitting and biting while he bled.


    ¡°Alright. I¡¯m officially done with this party,¡± the thief girl said, gaping.


    That was when a crazed Artificer ran toward them, holding an arrow like a sword.


    Althea threw her flame at him. It expanded like silk in the wind, ballooning until he screamed and screamed, still running at them.


    Ar¨¦vis froze him in his tracks. He didn¡¯t stop screaming until the flames died out.


    More of them came towards them, and Althea heard that peculiar and terrifying voice again.


    ¡°Open the gate.¡±


    She looked around, but the black-haired man was nowhere in sight.


    Ar¨¦vis was freezing their legs into ice stumps so they couldn¡¯t run, but one broke free and crawled towards her like those creatures had only moments before.


    ¡°Open the gate or die,¡± it threatened, still chillingly quiet in the chaos. It was as if the rest of the sounds around her had been muted.


    Instead of the nine Artificers coming toward her, she saw a legion of them approaching from every side. They didn¡¯t run, but their pace was steady.


    ¡°OPEN IT!¡±


    Althea whirled around in a panic, and burned the gate of thorns until she could run through. The thorns regrew almost as quickly she burned them. She persisted, and her flames roared with halting intensity. Her insides burned as she moved forward. A powerful wave of dizziness gripped her.


    ¡°Come on, Ar¨¦vis!¡± She called, watching her still try to hold off the legion.


    ¡°There shouldn¡¯t be this many,¡± Ar¨¦vis called back, hobbling to follow her through the thorns.


    ¡°Hurry!¡± Althea called. ¡°It¡¯s hard to keep it open!¡±


    The strain of making the fire resilient taxed her.


    The two thieves ran in after them, but she found it hard to care. Behind them, she glimpsed a tangle of black. It was best not to think of that.


    Instead, she pushed forward, ignoring the scream of her abdomen. Ar¨¦vis staggered beside her, already out of breath.


    ¡°Are we there yet?¡± The thief girl asked, skipping merrily. She was quick on her feet. She gripped Ar¨¦vis arm and helped her move.


    Althea heard their voices as if they were far away. Instead, she burned a path forward, delirious from the effort.


    ¡°You need to heal it, Althea,¡± Ar¨¦vis kept saying. She was mumbling in hushed, hurried tones.


    Eventually, she realized that the thief boy was carrying her on his back. She burned a path forward, nevertheless.


    ¡°We¡¯re almost there,¡± said a weary voice. It might have been hers.


    Then there was only one thing she needed: sleep. A nice nap meant she could keep the flames alight. Her eyes drooped closed, and she was swallowed in bliss.

 9. The Lab

    Althea dreamt of Lantris. She and Ar¨¦vis were picking flowers in a meadow, laughing, the sun bright against an expanse of cloudless blue. Ar¨¦vis¡¯ hair was almost white, it was so pale. Her eyes were a deep blue like the ocean. She had a bouquet of dandelions in her hands.


    ¡°They¡¯re for you,¡± Ar¨¦vis said, smiling, her cheeks chubby with youth. Her arms were outstretched, presenting the gift with childish innocence.


    Now she was in a small grove, shaded by young trees and surrounded by driftwood and sand. Terran was strumming on his lute, singing a gentle tune. Althea wanted to kiss him.


    Terrified, she was dying for air. She had fallen off her driftwood boat in a small canal. She was down deep, trying to swim upward before she ran out of breath. A shimmer of particles danced under refracted sunbeams. She could see the gleam of a silver fish, swimming placidly. Ar¨¦vis and Terran pulled her up. Gabriel watched from behind them, shrouded in darkness.


    She awoke, gasping for air and reaching for their hands.


    There were no hands, but the water was only waist deep. She coughed and gasped until the fluid was gone from her lungs. She was sitting in a tank. She touched the edges of the transparent material, not hard like glass, but malleable like some kind of membrane¡­


    She withdrew her hand as if she had touched a slug. There were other tanks next to her, lining the walls of the domed, circular chamber. They were filled with a cloudy fluid. She investigated her own tank to see the same translucent fluid. She lifted her hands and watched the liquid run down her arms. Ahead of her was a corridor that she couldn¡¯t see the end of. Tumescent and faintly glowing green vines ran along the ceiling and affixed themselves to the tanks. The entire facility was lit by a low, eerie white glow that came from swollen, orb-shaped fixtures on the walls. They looked like fruit hanging off the vine.


    She reached behind her to find the vines connecting to her tank. It was jarring as she felt the  strange viscosity of the fluid stir around her, but she touched the connection, fascinated. She ran her hand inside the cloudy tank to find the juncture where the vines seemed to feed in the fluid. Sure enough, she could feel a light current flow into and out of the tank. She¡¯d have to conduct tests to find out what exactly was in it, but from what she could sense, it was full of compounds that she had never encountered before in her years of green magic training.


    She glanced further down the corridor and could see, mounted upon shelves, the glass of vials glinting in the phosphorescence of the enigmatic organisms. There wasn¡¯t much time to absorb what was in the vials or how the shelves melded seamlessly with the walls, because a figure was walking down the corridor.


    Black hair, pale skin.


    Suddenly memories came flooding back to her about the forest¡ªthe strange people who spoke in silence¡ªthe legion of Artificers¡ªthe man with the tangled hair and chilling voice who had told her to burn through the gate.


    ¡°It is alright,¡± said no voice at all, ¡°he is not here.¡±


    Althea backed up in her tank, trying to get away as fast as possible. The stillness of the water broke, and she splashed and flailed.


    ¡°Please calm down,¡± no voice said. His tone was soothing in her mind, like someone whispering into her thoughts.


    She saw Ar¨¦vis standing there instead. She was waiting for a sendoff to The Artificer¡¯s Guild.


    ¡°Don¡¯t leave without me,¡± Althea said, standing up and walking towards her.


    ¡°I won¡¯t,¡± Ar¨¦vis said.


    Althea blinked, and it was no longer Ar¨¦vis standing there, but the young man in the strange laboratory. She clutched at her soaking curls, then wiped at her damp face. She was dripping with the slick, cloudy fluid, naked.


    ¡°You endured quite an ordeal,¡± noo voice said into her mind. ¡°But you are safe now.¡±


    Althea¡¯s eyes darted around the lab, searching for Ar¨¦vis.


    The man flinched, but then relaxed the next instant.


    ¡°She is safe. In that tank, there,¡± his voice was pleasantly neutral, yet still off-putting in a way she couldn''t put her finger on.


    Althea looked where he had directed, behind her, next to the empty tank she had risen from.


    Ar¨¦vis was curled up in the fetal position. The association made Althea view the tanks differently. They resembled seed pods, or¡­ wombs.


    ¡°She¡¯ll drown.¡± Althea croaked, her throat sore.


    ¡°It is a breathable fluid. I helped develop it,¡± the disembodied voice in her head said. No, the man said.


    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    Althea knelt by the pod, as if to make sure she was alive. She reached into the cloudy fluid, touching her wrist. There was a pulse. She pulled back, not totally satisfied, but no longer panicked. After all, she had risen from one of these tanks alive and still breathing.


    A small, desperate voice that couldn¡¯t have been hers asked, ¡°Will she wake up?¡±


    ¡°Yes. She should wake up soon,¡± the man said, still calm as ever.


    Althea stood up and whipped around. She could feel lucidity returning to her.


    ¡°Where are we?¡± She demanded.


    ¡°It is¡­ difficult to explain. Would you like some clothes and food first?¡±


    Althea frowned at this, but gave him a brisk nod. Strangely, she didn¡¯t feel cold at all. She had almost forgotten that she needed clothes, or that she used to wear them.


    The man was dressed in all white. Who was he?


    ¡°My name is Cyrus,¡± he said. She watched his face as they walked down the corridor, side by side. It was strange to listen to the thoughts he sent her and to watch as his mouth didn¡¯t move.


    He was not much taller than her, and slightly built. He was not an imposing figure¡ªshouldn¡¯t have been. But when he looked at her, his eyes were wide and grey, bright and terrifying.


    ¡°I apologize. I know it can be unsettling to converse with a telepath.¡± He attempted a faint smile. Suddenly he looked friendlier, less like he was trying to burrow into her skull with just his eyes.


    Althea cringed at that visual.


    They strode past the strange orbs and shelves full of bottles and thick, tubular bundles on the wall that had to be some kind of irrigation or plumbing system.


    ¡°You are right to think of them like fruit,¡± Cyrus said, gesturing at the orbs with the grace of a dancer.


    ¡°Stop,¡± Althea blurted, trying to articulate in her own mind what to say. ¡°Stop responding to things I haven¡¯t said.¡±


    Cyrus nodded. ¡°As you wish.¡±


    He looked slightly more withdrawn as they came across a shelf with fresh linen. There appeared to be robes and dresses of light, white materials. Althea reached for a dress and pulled it over her head. It was the lightest silk she had ever touched. She stood there for a moment, realizing that she didn¡¯t have a destination. She was at Cyrus¡¯s mercy.


    ¡°What happened in the forest?¡± She asked, turning to face him directly.


    ¡°You came upon the Gate of Thorns. That is where you met The Artificers.¡± Cyrus¡¯s voice was blank like a piece of clean parchment.


    ¡°They were trying to get in?¡± Althea demanded.


    He nodded slowly.


    ¡°Along with the wanderers,¡± she prodded, calling them what Ar¨¦vis had.


    ¡°Yes.¡± He said.


    She waited.


    ¡°Were they your brothers and sisters?¡± Althea guessed.


    ¡°Among my many brothers and sisters.¡± Cyrus said, giving that slight smile again. His voice was calm, but his eyes were sad when he said it.


    ¡°After The Artificers were subdued, Ezra coerced you into burning your way in. You were tired and could not make your way on your own. Your companions helped you reach our city,¡± he continued.


    Althea frowned. ¡°Companions?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Cyrus paused for a moment. ¡°Ah. You do not wish to see them, for they were your assailants.¡±


    Althea rushed back to rip them out of those pods. She hoped they were the only things keeping them alive.


    ¡°Please wait,¡± he implored, neutral as ever. ¡°I ask that you harm no one here¡ªeven if you may hate them.¡±


    Althea stopped her tirade, remembering that she was at the mercy of a black mage in some strange place that she knew nothing about.


    ¡°And what of¡ªEzra, was it?¡ªis he being kept here safely as well?¡± She asked, still running hot.


    ¡°No.¡± Cyrus said. She could read no emotion on his face or from the voice echoing in her mind.


    That calmed her a little.


    Cyrus inhaled in excitement and gestured forward, towards what appeared to be some kind of door, made of the same membranous material as the tanks. The sound startled Althea a little, since he made almost no outward noises.


    ¡°Shall we? I promised you food,¡± he insisted..


    ¡°Are you incapable of speaking normally?¡± Althea asked, realizing right after she said it that it may have been tactless.


    His eyes softened, and he looked at her. ¡°None of my strain are capable of physical speech.¡±


    His strain? So were there more of him like the wanderers? She had so many questions, but was overwhelmed with new stimuli.


    ¡°Why are you helping us?¡± Althea asked, suddenly suspicious. ¡°What happened after we got through the gate?¡±


    ¡°There are fail safes in place if someone from the outside gets through. You were subdued by a powerful particulate that causes unconsciousness,¡± Cyrus explained.


    ¡°You poisoned me? And Ar¨¦vis?¡± She fumed.


    There was a genuine look of fear in his eyes as he flinched again. She wondered if he had seen what she could do with just a little bit of fire.


    ¡°Outsiders are not meant to get through the gate,¡± he defended.


    Althea toyed with the possibility of toasting him on the spot. But then she thought of the screams of The Artificers that she had burned, and a strong influx of nausea hit her like a wave. She nearly vomited.


    This seemed to placate Cyrus.


    ¡°I also healed you.¡±


    She did not think he was lying about this.


    ¡°Why are the others still recovering?¡± She asked, still on edge.


    ¡°Please¡­ later. Mother will speak with you, and there will be no confusion.¡± Again, he gestured for her to follow him through the membranous door.

 10. Paradise

    Cyrus led her out of the lab, into an overgrown grove. Althea thought of every beautiful grove she had ever seen in Lantris: shy green trees, the smell of youth and sap that led her through white sand dappled with sun blots, the cool breeze bristling the leaves where they touched high in the sky, or the polished sheen of driftwood piles where they had washed up on the river bank. There was always a pathway that led to an unexplored area of fun.


    Sometimes, a trail would lead to a forgotten canal where she could drift on a makeshift raft and forget the noon sun under the shade of bulkier trees. Sometimes there were secret forts that had been occupied not long before them ¨C maybe Sheyn¡¯s or someone else¡¯s. But there were always the winding channels of the river that cut through the forest. There was always a breeze that shifted the leaves above in a restless bid for movement.


    This was different.


    It was much warmer, darker, and closed to the outside world. The trees here stole the sunlight from above and filtered it into a warm green glow so that no direct sunlight reached the loamy floor. The dark, confined light was a shock after the bright white lights of Cyrus¡¯ lab.


    ¡°The lab requires more light and nutrition to function,¡± Cyrus said.


    Althea looked at the membranous door, now sealed like overlapping flesh. From the entire structure, which had no end as far as Althea could see, those translucent green vines fed a steady stream of something into the lab. The vines lined the mossy floor until they disappeared into darker areas of the forest. There were other doors lining the structure far into the grove, until it was swallowed by trees and other plants. It was difficult to make out in the dim light, but when her eyes adjusted, an endless array of life buzzed about merrily. There were pale flowers of pinks and whites lining the slight trail that led down the membranous doors to lab after lab. There were insects floating about that she had never seen before. Some were delicate and flew gracefully through the air, carapaces gently glinting in the dim light. Others were full of color, like butterflies and bees perched over flowers. She even saw a few small birds hum or tweet high in the branches.


    Another trail led to a pathway in the grove that looked like it had been specifically grown as some kind of facility. The scope reminded her of Isold¡¯s academy, with its sprawling libraries, training areas, and courtyards.


    It was in this direction that Cyrus beckoned her. Althea followed, mouth hanging open in awe.


    ¡°Is this whole structure surrounded by the Gate of Thorns?¡± Althea asked, the feel of soft dirt and moss on her feet comforting.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°How large is it?¡± Althea fired off question after question. She wondered if Cyrus was annoyed with her yet. He seemed as calm and patient as a priest.


    ¡°It¡¯s a city,¡± he said, and smiled at her. He looked much less unsettling in the gentle glow of the grove. Humble, even.


    They wove through trails and passageways all delicately lined with flowers and plants that looked too perfect to exist. There were no brown leaves or wilting petals, no signs of sickness or decay to be seen. All throughout were those strange, fluid-carrying vines, like veins feeding a massive organism.


    Althea supposed that the earth was like a large organism. There were cycles that fed into each other, dependent on one another for existence, flourishing and changing all the while. She thought of the sun that fed the plants, which fed the insects, which fed the birds, which fed organisms like herself. When she died, she¡¯d help feed the plants, the mushrooms, and the worms.


    ¡°Who built this city?¡± Althea finally asked. She concluded that Cyrus did not mind her questions. Or maybe he had been instructed to let her ask them.


    ¡°Mother did,¡± was his mysterious reply.


    After walking for what seemed like a long while, they reached something that resembled a main street, like at Lantris¡¯ marketplace.


    There appeared to be shops and places of business scattered throughout the trees. It almost seemed as if they were entwined with the growth of the living giants. A few places looked like they had been carved out of an enormous tree trunk.


    Eerily silent, a few people emerged from the main street, creeping along and chatting quietly. Some stared at her and Cyrus, not looking away when Althea frowned at them.


    ¡°They don¡¯t mean to be rude,¡± Cryus said. ¡°They haven¡¯t seen an outsider in years.¡±


    Althea sighed. She wanted to ask more questions about who Mother was, but she knew Cyrus would only tell her to wait.


    Cyrus smirked.


    ¡°Well, what do you expect?¡± Althea said, knowing he was reading her thoughts. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen anything like this before.¡±


    They stopped in the street as Cyrus contemplated their destination.


    ¡°What would you like to eat?¡± Cyrus asked softly.


    ¡°A huge dead animal,¡± she suggested, ravenous.


    Cyrus looked at her as if she had strangled a baby.


    ¡°What? You don¡¯t have farms in this place?¡± Althea asked, puzzled.


    There were still strangers all around avoiding them, but staring as they passed by. They silently milled about as if she were some kind of interesting infection.


    Althea returned the gaze of a half-naked girl, who looked away, scurrying forward on the main street.


    ¡°We do not eat animals here,¡± Cyrus explained. ¡°We do have a few farms for milk, honey and cheese.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Althea said, surprised. ¡°Why don¡¯t you eat animals?¡±


    Cyrus frowned slightly, thinking.


    ¡°It is less efficient when sustaining an ecosystem such as this,¡± he said after a while.


    ¡°And I think a great deal of us find the killing and suffering of animals¡­ distasteful,¡± he elaborated.


    Althea laughed.


    ¡°There wouldn¡¯t be any suffering if you had the right kind of farms,¡± she assured him. ¡°In Lantris, there are penalties for farmers who treat their animals with cruelty and neglect. Granted, Gaither doesn¡¯t have any such laws.¡±


    Cyrus still looked at her as if she were the strangest creature he had ever seen.


    ¡°Animals don¡¯t feel the same way we do about death,¡± Althea argued.


    ¡°Oh, I disagree. They have quite the disposition for avoiding pain and death. Especially animals who are prey,¡± Cyrus parried.


    ¡°Avoiding it, perhaps. When they know it¡¯s coming.¡± Althea shrugged. She hadn¡¯t really thought about it before. She also hadn¡¯t grown up on a farm, so she had no idea what the life of a cow was like.


    ¡°I will take you to a place with cheese,¡± Cyrus relented. ¡°It won¡¯t satisfy your bloodlust, but it may be more familiar to you.¡±


    Althea cracked a smile.


    They walked to a small diner that was warm and loud with laughter. There was a sign above the door carved in elegant lettering that said: The Honey Comb. Althea was grateful that they seemed to blend in more here. There were people of all different colors and dispositions around them that reminded her again of the marketplace.


    The server bounded to Cyrus with the enthusiasm of a hungry dog.


    ¡°Cyrus!¡± He said jovially, until he caught sight of Althea. Then his smile crawled into a grimace.


    ¡°Is this¡­¡± He trailed off, whispering in the din. Cyrus must have spoken to him then, because the man looked embarrassed, afraid, and then relaxed in short measure.


    Althea was thoroughly unsettled that she could hear none of it.


    ¡°Forgive me, Althea. I did not know you were our honored guest. You and your companions gave us quite a fright.¡± His dark eyes glistened with regret.


    Althea wasn¡¯t sure what to say.


    ¡°I am not as old as Cyrus. I have never seen an outsider before,¡± he explained.


    Cyrus smiled, but it looked plastered on.


    He locked eyes with her.


    ¡°Come, Althea.¡± Cyrus¡¯ mouth stayed closed and with the same frozen expression. ¡°We will sit. I have told Lael what to bring us.¡±


    Cyrus led her to a table with a flat top that resembled a mushroom. She sat down upon a stool that was of a similar structure, woody but springy. The place was lit with a warm, yellow and orange glow from artfully decorated pods. Some were in the shape of honeycombs hanging from the ceiling, made from wax. There were other delicate structures on the wall that looked like insects or flowers¡ªperhaps mushrooms.


    ¡°Are they all made of wax and lit with that stuff from the pods?¡± Althea asked, curious. Cyrus sat down across from her.


    ¡°The honeycombs are wax shells. Inside are pods similar to the ones from the lab,¡± he clarified. ¡°The ones that are scattered along the ceiling are a type of flower. They are bioluminescent like the rest of our light sources.¡±


    ¡°Did you make those?¡± Althea asked.


    ¡°No,¡± Cyrus said, amused. ¡°I design much more complex compounds mostly for healing purposes.


    ¡°The architects and decorators do quite a lovely job though, don¡¯t they?¡± Cyrus said, admiring the d¨¦cor.


    ¡°Did they design these tables and chairs? How did they make such a thing grow in this shape?¡± Althea was fascinated.


    Cyrus smiled.


    She realized that he probably could not laugh, otherwise perhaps he would have.


    ¡°You would not like to hear my approximation of a laugh,¡± Cyrus said, though his voice was fond. ¡°To answer your question, I do not know. My specialization does not involve making things grow.¡±


    Althea watched the people mill about, laughing and talking, eating like they were content in this small sanctuary. They barely had any contact with the outside world, yet they seemed happy.


    It was warm enough that most of them wore very little¡ªa transparent dress or a loincloth, sometimes. Some people were just naked, and no one seemed bothered.


    ¡°We keep the temperature warm and stabilized for comfort,¡± Cyrus continued. He seemed to enjoy explaining the wonders of this place as much as she liked hearing about it.


    ¡°Why do you wear clothes?¡± Althea asked, a twinkle of mischief behind her gaze.


    Cyrus cocked his head slightly, gauging her intent.


    ¡°I work in a lab most of the time. Sometimes it is better not to get compounds on my skin.¡±


    ¡°I wear clothes out of habit,¡± Althea thought out loud. ¡°But I guess you already know that.¡±


    ¡°Most people do outside of here. The nudity doesn¡¯t seem to make you all that uncomfortable.¡±


    ¡°Does it make most people?¡± Althea teased.


    ¡°From what little I¡¯ve seen, yes.¡±


    Drinks were brought to them by a server in polished wooden cups.


    Althea smelled the golden drink, then took the smallest of sips.


    ¡°Mmm. Mead?¡± She asked, delighted.


    ¡°I thought you¡¯d like it.¡±


    ¡°Well, you¡¯ll have to introduce me to the maker, so that I may learn every secret.¡±


    Cyrus quirked an eyebrow at that.


    ¡°Do not worry. You will meet The Maker soon,¡± he said. She did not think he was talking about the mead maker.


    Althea sipped at her drink, taking in the strange people who still now and then stole glances at her and Cyrus.


    ¡°Let me guess¡­ they rarely see you out of your lab, right?¡±


    ¡°How did you know?¡± Cyrus replied.


    ¡°It¡¯s not just me they¡¯re staring at.¡±


    ¡°Ah, yes. I suppose to them I am a bit of a curiosity too,¡± he admitted.


    ¡°But you live here with all of them. What makes you so strange?¡±


    ¡°If I could laugh now, I would,¡± Cyrus explained, joy crinkling his eyes. ¡°I stay in the lab most of the time because I am strange. But I am also very useful there. I am good at what I do.¡±


    ¡°Are you a green mage? Is that why you can handle all of those compounds?¡± Althea pressed.


    ¡°I am not. I have no healing abilities. I have other green mages that work with me, however. I know how they sense things because of my gifts. The rest I learned through experimentation¡ªand so I can manipulate the compounds.¡±


    ¡°Odd.¡± Althea blinked and took another drink of the delicious mead.


    There was a look of resignation on Cyrus¡¯ face.


    ¡°But not unheard of,¡± she amended. There were plenty of healers at Isold¡¯s academy studying herbs and wound treatment without any magical abilities.


    ¡°It is alright.¡± It sounded like he said it to put her at ease.


    ¡°Why do you do that?¡± Althea asked.


    Cyrus¡¯ eyes widened.


    ¡°Why am I friendly?¡± He clarified, confused.


    ¡°You¡¯re almost too friendly,¡± Althea accused. ¡°You try to put me at ease above yourself.¡±


    ¡°This is a bad thing?¡± He continued.


    ¡°I guess not if you¡¯re handling strangers from a weird world that you barely know of,¡± Althea said. ¡°Do you do this often?¡±


    ¡°Not at all. I think that would be overwhelming.¡± Cyrus seemed honest as he said this.


    ¡°Yet you have experience with it,¡± she pressed.


    ¡°I have met others that have tried to come in, yes,¡± he admitted. ¡°It is very rare.¡±


    ¡°But you are old,¡± Althea said.


    ¡°Older than Lael,¡± he amended, his gaze sharp.


    ¡°I think you¡¯re very old. I think you¡¯ve seen quite a lot.¡± She left out the part where she thought he was kind because maybe he¡¯d seen things that no one should see. But she knew he could pluck it from her mind anyway.


    Cyrus leaned back on his stool, measuring Althea with his gaze.


    ¡°Do you know when Ar¨¦vis will wake up, Cyrus?¡± Althea asked, thinking of little else. ¡°You will be kind to us when we go, won¡¯t you?¡±


    Cyrus¡¯ eyes softened as he looked at her.


    The servers brought their plates and set them down on the table.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Cyrus said to the server. He must have broadcast this to her as well.


    ¡°Yes, thank you.¡± Althea smiled and returned her gaze to Cyrus. He had begun to eat an assortment of breads and cheeses, along with a salad.


    Althea looked at her own selection and dug into the delicious cheese and honey.


    ¡°I suppose you¡¯ll want to meet the cooks as well?¡± Cyrus said, delighted at her reaction.


    ¡°Absolutely,¡± she agreed, mouth stuffed full.


    It wasn¡¯t long after they had finished eating that someone finally approached them. People had been eyeing Cyrus and her especially to the point that it made Althea uncomfortable. Althea normally didn¡¯t mind attention. They sipped at their mead, idly chatting, when a woman with long brown hair tiptoed over tentatively.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry to bother you, but you¡¯re Cyrus, aren¡¯t you?¡± She asked, eyes bright and skin glowing. Her beauty took Althea¡¯s breath away.


    Cyrus smiled politely.


    ¡°I am,¡± he broadcast.


    She quaked in her spot, lit with excitement.


    ¡°My friends and I are having a party later. Would you and your friend like to come? We would love it if you could give us a show.¡± She grinned, clenching her fists.


    ¡°A show?¡± Althea said, peering at Cyrus with an eyebrow raised.


    Cyrus'' eyes looked hooded as one side of his mouth quirked up.


    ¡°We would be glad to attend your party,¡± Cyrus replied, ignoring Althea¡¯s question.


    ¡°It¡¯s at¡ª¡± she began.


    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t worry about that.¡± Cyrus waved his hand, sitting back in his seat. ¡°I¡¯ve already read the location from your mind.¡±


    Her eyes went wide.


    ¡°I¡¯ll see you there.¡±


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


    Althea gaped as the woman left and Cyrus settled back in his seat.


    ¡°Show off,¡± she teased. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you had it in you.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± he said, pleased. ¡°I have many surprises for you tonight.¡±


    They went on a pleasant walk through the city streets before they set off to the party. Cyrus pointed out certain eateries and shops with delicious secrets. There were beautiful hand-carved wooden toys and pretty decorations. Althea wanted to meet some of the high-end designers that had made The Honeycomb beautiful, but apparently they were busy.


    ¡°Artists never sleep when they¡¯re working on a project,¡± Cyrus explained.


    Althea smiled, remembering Terran. She¡¯d meet him at the river only to see him strumming on his lyre, scribbling down lyrics, eyes dark from lack of sleep.


    ¡°I¡¯m almost done,¡± he¡¯d say. She would laugh and toss sand at him.


    A flash of Ar¨¦vis working on her writing before the end of the year released her from obligations crossed her mind.


    ¡°Neither do people like you,¡± Althea said.


    ¡°I¡¯m taking a night off right now, aren¡¯t I?¡± Cyrus pointed out.


    ¡°I bet it hurts a little.¡± Althea laughed. He rolled his eyes.


    The low glow of sunlight through the trees darkened further as sunset approached.


    To her surprise and delight, the city literally lit itself up like sparkling stars in the darkness. Fireflies flooded the streets like little beacons, buzzing about randomly. There were bioluminescent orbs that lined the trees and buildings emitting a gentle light. Even the fluid-filled vines that ran throughout the city were glowing a faint green. It was like this was when the city came to life via its creations.


    Pale flowers glowed softly in the overgrown wildlife as they walked a forest path to the party. Mushrooms lined the mossy ground, glowing a fluorescent blue. Still, fireflies permeated between the trees and plants like unexpected candles in the gloom. As Althea tiptoed between the thick growth of vines and branches, Cyrus led her silently.


    She was starting to hear the gentle tinkle of music and a flowing stream.


    ¡°Are we almost there?¡± She whispered with barely contained excitement.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Cyrus assured her. Althea thought he sounded excited, too.


    They finally approached the clearing and the sound of music became a pleasant lull. The stream was flowing from a small pool and waterfall that clashed off a tiny cliff. People were splashing in the pool, laughing and dancing. There were lanterns with glowing orbs and even more bioluminescent insects gathered amongst the chatter and dancing. She saw a huge moth, pale green and bright amongst the yellow of the fireflies.


    To Althea¡¯s delight, she spotted tables with snacks and drinks.


    ¡°Cyrus!¡± Rang the cries of several party-goers.


    ¡°Hello, everyone!¡± He broadcast, his arms outstretched. He was still wearing the white of his lab coat. It looked out of place with all the nudity and scant, stylish garments. Yet he looked at ease in this environment that was so out of his element.


    ¡°Shall we get a drink?¡± Cyrus asked her, leading her toward the snack table.


    ¡°Yes, please. I think my buzz is almost gone,¡± Althea lamented.


    The mossy floor was soft and cool beneath her bare feet. Althea was awash in the contented glow of the evening. Her belly was full, the lights were beautiful, and there were a slew of strange new people to meet. It was just the sort of place she¡¯d love to find at Lantris ¨C some new tavern that no one had found out yet, attracting travelers and musicians of eminent talent before it was crowded and overly popular. It was a secret: well hidden and kept safe from the outside world.


    Althea sipped a wonderful drink that must have been some kind of fruit wine. She watched some of the dancers sway to a lively tune. Their garments were flowing and bright with intricate designs.


    Cyrus helped himself to some food and drink before he was again accosted by the strange townsfolk.


    ¡°Give us a show!¡± One shouted gleefully.


    ¡°Tell us a story!¡± Cried more partygoers.


    Althea watched as Cyrus¡¯ eyes folded to their requests, resolve and amusement coming to his features.


    ¡°Alright, alright¡­¡± Cyrus assented, a close-lipped smile reaching his eyes.


    Althea watched, bright-eyed as the others gathered round in a circle.


    ¡°I shall tell you the story of a strange and mysterious event¡­,¡± he began, and the music shifted to something soft and mysterious as the musicians watched for his tone. The rest were quiet, fidgeting in anticipation.


    Cyrus¡¯ hands were graceful as he gestured, standing as the others watched him. Althea did the same.


    ¡°There once were two girls wandering in the forest,¡± he began, and his hands moved as if he were dancing. He looked almost fragile in the glowing lights. In the middle of the empty circle, the air itself began to shimmer. Althea fixated on the disturbance, watching as the light, flickering from color to color, shifted into the shape of a tree. It was pale, translucent, and three dimensional like the real thing. More trees lined the circle, all in the flickering illumination of the light. The crowd gasped in awe.


    Althea nearly did herself, looking from the light picture to Cyrus as he concentrated on making it real. It remained pale and flickering, but the shapes were detailed.


    Between the trees, the shapes of two girls appeared, and a stream of water trickled beside them.


    ¡°The girls had lost their way in the depths of trees, hidden even from the sun¡­¡±


    The pale light dimmed to a barely visible translucent picture.


    ¡°They had heard tales of monsters in the forest,¡± Cyrus continued, and the music became ominous. Shapes and shadows shifted between the trees, running behind them, always out of sight of the two girls.


    ¡°But they were not afraid, for they were stronger than the monsters.¡±


    On one side, the forest floor shimmered as it was covered in frost. On the other, the ground lit up with pale fire.


    The trees behind the girls became tall and thorned, like the gate she and Ar¨¦vis had crossed.


    ¡°The monsters attacked them as they were making their way.¡±


    Instead of artificers or wanderers, Cyrus drew pictures of giant snakes and wicked, misshapen creatures. They came at the two girls and they curled into the Gate of Thorns.


    ¡°The only way to escape was through the Gate of Thorns,¡± he said, and the gate opened miraculously for them. The monsters were engulfed in flames and ice and the shapes of the girls were sucked into the gate, along with some of the monsters. The music hit a crescendo.


    The lights dimmed until there was nothing.


    Then, a picture of the pods Ar¨¦vis and the others were recovering in bloomed in the center.


    ¡°Some of the monsters had come through with them¡­ but it turns out, they were people just like the girls. They had only mistaken them for monsters.¡±


    Cyrus made a large worm and another misshapen creature transform into a boy and girl.


    ¡°They recovered from the battle in their tanks because the villagers behind the Gate of Thorns had taken the lost people in.¡± A lone figure emerged in a white coat.


    ¡°And one of the girls recovered more quickly than the others. She was special, like the villagers,¡± he whispered into her mind. The music was low and hopeful.


    The light flickered until it was formless, shifting and dancing. The pale mass came to settle all around Althea like a shroud.


    ¡°She was kind and capable, and though she came from a different place, she was curious about the small village in the forest, and all the people in it,¡± he broadcast, letting the light slowly fade until Althea was sipping her wine and trying not to make eye contact with anyone in the crowd now staring at her.


    Though she tried to avoid their gazes, as she looked around she saw curiosity and worry.


    ¡°What was the girl¡¯s name?¡± Asked a villager.


    Cyrus looked to her and she spoke before he did.


    ¡°My name is Althea,¡± she said, smiling. ¡°What a beautiful light show, Cyrus. I¡¯m honored to be invited to such an interesting party with so many welcoming villagers.¡±


    The sounds of rustling and moving subdued and it was silent for a moment.


    ¡°Let us drink to Althea!¡± A boy said joyfully, and the music picked up into something they could dance to again.


    ¡°We¡¯re so glad you escaped the monsters!¡± Cried another.


    ¡°Me too,¡± Althea agreed, laughing.


    ¡°Tell us where you¡¯re from!¡± Another shouted.


    ¡°Alright, alright! I can tell a story or two before I dance my heart away.¡±


    She glanced at Cyrus, who was smiling softly, his eyes partially glazed. He was sipping from a drink and looked content.


    Several drinks later, Althea was telling a very handsome young man about Lantris, something he seemed endlessly fascinated about.


    ¡°How can so many people live in one place?¡± He asked, dark face shining with a smile.


    ¡°Lantris is on a delta¡ª,¡± His face scrunched up, ¡°¡ªwhich is a place where a river feeds into the ocean¡ª,¡± He tilted his head a bit, ¡°which is a large body of water that encompasses the whole world¡­ How do you not know what an ocean is?¡±


    ¡°Is it like a large river?¡± He asked, curious.


    ¡°¡­Sure. It¡¯s a huge river that surrounds all the other little villages.¡± Althea took a drink and then continued. ¡°So because it¡¯s so near the water, lots of people travel there to trade. Lots of people travel there because we have a famous academy.¡±


    ¡°Oh. Why do the other people travel to the famous academy? Why don¡¯t they go to their own academies?¡±


    ¡°Because it¡¯s better.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Hm¡­ I don¡¯t really know.¡± Althea shrugged. ¡°It has to do with prestige, I guess. If a famous goddess founded it, then it must be good? Maybe it attracts good teachers to teach the attendees, so it¡¯s a place where everyone wants to go.¡±


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t every academy be as good as a city can make it?¡±


    ¡°Well, yeah,¡± Althea slurred, trying to remember what she actually wanted to talk about.


    ¡°How do they know it¡¯s really better than their own academies?¡±


    ¡°I guess because the attendees become famous and then people want to go where the famous people went.¡± Althea shrugged again. ¡°I guess I didn¡¯t realize how much it doesn¡¯t really make sense.¡±


    The man started laughing.


    Althea tried again. ¡°I think it also depends on how rich a city is. Lantris has resources, so a lot of its public projects get attention. It¡¯s not a monarchy like Gaither, where the king gets to choose what gets built and when. In Lantris, the people help choose where it goes so that it benefits everyone.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s a monarchy?¡±


    Althea rubbed at her eyes, already exhausted with the conversation.


    ¡°You¡¯re joking, right? You¡¯re making jokes because I¡¯m an outsider?¡±


    The man just laughed. ¡°No, of course not. I just didn¡¯t know there were so many things outside of Paradise.¡±


    Althea blinked for a moment. She looked around and smiled.


    ¡°I guess it is.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Paradise.¡±


    The young man¡¯s smile it up his whole face.


    ¡°My name is Roone, Althea of Lantris. Will you come dance with me?¡±


    Althea left her drink on the table and leapt to the music, prancing with Roone in tow. She laughed and laughed as they danced, the music melodic and upbeat.


    Althea thought that dancing with a group of half naked drunk people was one of the best ways to spend a night. She swayed here and there, blissfully aware of good food and drink, scenery, and Roone¡¯s identical lack of inhibitions.


    She twirled into Roone¡¯s arms and stepped in very close to his personal space. He didn¡¯t seem to mind. In fact, he leaned in as well as she rose on her tip toes to kiss him. His mouth was warm and very pleasant.


    ¡°Come, Althea. Let¡¯s go to the pool,¡± he whispered enticingly.


    Althea thought that she just made a squealing noise rather than actually replying. He laughed and they pranced their way to a pool that was a bit more isolated from the frivolities.


    As they stripped off their clothes and slipped into the warmth of the pool, a gentle waterfall lightly misted them with a pleasant stream. A few partygoers whispered and stared.


    ¡°No need to stare! This is Althea,¡± Roone introduced her to the others.


    ¡°Oh, brother, you¡¯ve brought the fascinating outsider to our group!¡± Said a beautiful young woman with long, black hair. She had braided parts of it and woven in flowers and vines.


    ¡°This is my sister, Yuneira,¡± Roone said. Althea smiled at her.


    ¡°It¡¯s so lovely to meet you.¡±


    ¡°Althea was telling me about how things work in the outside world,¡± Roone explained in a low tone.


    ¡°Tell us all about that!¡± Yuneira squealed, swimming in the pool to where they were.


    Althea looked around at the curious eyes that reflected the pretty glowing lights.


    ¡°It all seems very complicated compared to Paradise,¡± she assented, still taking everything in.


    ¡°Cyrus says what he does is very complicated, too,¡± Yuneira explained, her wide, dark eyes sparkling up close.


    ¡°What he does is complicated,¡± said the voice of another woman, her eyes sharper and less open.


    ¡°Cyrus says the outside world is full of people who will hurt you, and use you, and take from you when you¡¯re in need. He says it¡¯s full of cruelty,¡± said a man with chestnut hair.


    Althea¡¯s face dropped.


    ¡°Is that what the monsters did to you from the story?¡± Roone asked.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Althea admitted. ¡°The outside world is full of cruelty. But it¡¯s full of people like you, too. My friends are out there. My best friend Ar¨¦vis is still healing from what happened outside the Gate of Thorns. People like Cyrus are there to help when others are hurt.¡±


    ¡°Cruelty exists here, too,¡± said the woman with the narrowed eyes. ¡°You¡¯re stupid if you think it¡¯s only on the outside.¡±


    Roone and Yuneira looked offended.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think Mother would like it if you told her that,¡± Yuneira said.


    ¡°I did tell her,¡± the woman said.


    ¡°Don¡¯t listen to Iliana,¡± Roone said. ¡°She¡¯s just angry because Mother told her she can¡¯t go outside.¡±


    ¡°Why would you even want to go outside?¡± Hissed Yuneira.


    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t understand,¡± Iliana scoffed.


    ¡°It¡¯s not like that. Mother keeps us safe,¡± Roone assured Althea.


    ¡°No one has ever been cruel to me,¡± Yuneira added.


    ¡°Then you don¡¯t remember being a child,¡± Iliana said, undeterred.


    ¡°Mother says that on the outside, no one cares if you live or die. No one takes care of you,¡± said the man with chestnut hair.


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s not always true,¡± Althea said, trying to soak in the warmth of the pool. ¡°Most of the time your parents take care of you. And if you don¡¯t have them, you have the orphanage. If you don¡¯t have that, you have friends, and they take care of you.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s an orphanage?¡±


    ¡°Parents?¡±


    ¡°What are your friends like?¡± Said three voices at once.


    Althea chose to answer the question about friends, because she was already getting tired of explaining simple concepts.


    ¡°My best friend¡¯s name is Ar¨¦vis. She¡¯s a gifted mage, so she was sent to a special academy to be trained.¡± Althea thought of how elating and disappointing it had been to watch her leave. She thought of how she wanted Ar¨¦vis¡¯ dreams to come true, and also how she was heartbroken to be separated from her.


    ¡°My other best friend is Terran. He¡¯s a musician who plays beautiful music, usually on a lyre. It has strings like one of the instruments in the band playing here.¡± She thought about how she had left him behind in Lantris because he didn¡¯t want to come. Althea¡¯s hand shot to her wrist where the leather strap should have been. It was with her other things, probably back in the lab.


    ¡°When we were children, we once broke into a bar in the middle of the night and filled all the barrels with salt so that it would ruin all the beer. It bubbled up and spilled everywhere!¡± Althea started laughing at the memory. ¡°We probably would have gotten away with it at the orphanage, but Ar¨¦vis and I smelled like beer. Terran got a good beating from his dad when he found out.¡±


    ¡°Why would you want to ruin all the beer?¡± Yuneira exclaimed.


    ¡°It was Terran¡¯s idea. His dad used to drink a little too much when he couldn¡¯t write. He was an author, you see. He wrote great epic tales about adventures.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no such thing as drinking too much,¡± Roone said, furrowing his brow.


    Althea just laughed. ¡°Trust me, there is. Especially for people who can¡¯t heal quite as fast.¡±


    ¡°You must love them so much,¡± Roone crooned. ¡°Did you make love to Ar¨¦vis and Terran often?¡±


    ¡°Make love ¨C have sex with them?¡± Althea clarified, taken aback.


    Roone just nodded.


    Althea sighed. She mumbled, ¡°Well, I would have liked to with Terran.¡±


    ¡°But why didn¡¯t you?¡± He prodded.


    ¡°I left with Ar¨¦vis. He didn¡¯t want to come with,¡± she explained. ¡°By then it was too late. It all happened so fast.¡±


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you before?¡±


    She shrugged. ¡°I was being stupid.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t say that,¡± said Yuneira. She hugged Althea close and petted at her wild curls.


    Althea laughed it off, secretly touched. ¡°Thanks. But I was stupid. I should have told him how I felt earlier. So many years we could have had¡­¡±


    Althea thought of it wistfully, and a pang of hurt went through her heart.


    ¡°But once Ar¨¦vis wakes up, you¡¯ll be with your other beloved. Then you will have many opportunities,¡± Roone said confidently.


    ¡°Oh. Um.¡± Althea was puzzled that he would get that idea. ¡°Ar¨¦vis and I don¡¯t do that.¡±


    He frowned, also confused.


    ¡°Not everyone fucks each other constantly, Roone,¡± Iliana said, toying with her own curls the color of gray-brown tree bark.


    ¡°Not everyone refuses to fuck anyone,¡± Yuneira defended, rolling her eyes.


    ¡°That¡¯s not true. I once had sex with Iliana!¡± Said someone at the opposite end of the pool.


    Iliana just shrugged.


    Althea spotted a few couples by the waterfall making out. They didn¡¯t seem to mind that they were surrounded by other people. Althea watched for a moment, transfixed.


    Roone looked at what Althea was staring at and then smirked.


    ¡°Maybe you can make up for it now,¡± he whispered, floating closer in the water and running a finger down her face.


    Althea thought again of Terran and violently shoved it down. There was no point dwelling on him when he hadn¡¯t come with.


    They kissed while the others made ¡°Ooohs,¡± and other noises. She opened her eyes when Roone pulled away, wanting to touch his dark, shining skin. Instead her vision was filled with the sight of Roone and Yuneira kissing close to her face. She jumped back, startled. This startled them and the others as well.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Roone asked, cupping his sister¡¯s face in his hands. Yuneira turned towards her as well.


    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t you like to join us?¡± She said dreamily. ¡°We can go somewhere more private if you want.¡±


    Althea¡¯s heart was racing. Her mind couldn¡¯t catch up to what she was witnessing.


    ¡°Um. N-no. I think I¡¯m¡­ I can¡¯t,¡± She stuttered uselessly, and rose from the pool, grabbing the white dress that Cyrus had given her. She stalked off into a mellow part of the party, where she grabbed another drink and sat. She stared into the spectacle of dancers and watched as many of them paired off, or went off sometimes in groups to make love, as Roone had called it.


    They were all comfortable with one another in a way that Althea couldn¡¯t grasp. It seemed wrong, yet they had all acted like she was the weird one for being shocked at such casual intimacy. Yet in Lantris, everyone knew it was wrong to couple with blood relatives.


    Althea flinched as she realized that Iliana had caught up with her and was sitting next to her on the stool.


    ¡°Sorry to startle you,¡± she said in a voice with little inflection. ¡°It wasn¡¯t really my scene either.¡±


    Althea frowned. ¡°But you live here. Didn¡¯t that seem normal to you?¡±


    ¡°From them? Yes, completely.¡± Iliana didn¡¯t seem to enjoy the party as much as the others.


    ¡°But it¡¯s weird to you,¡± Althea prodded.


    ¡°Only because I don¡¯t desire to have sex often.¡± Iliana shrugged, unbothered.


    ¡°But they were brother and sister,¡± Althea whispered, not wanting to say it out loud.


    ¡°A lot of us are related,¡± Iliana explained. ¡°I think part of my lineage comes from Roone and Yuneira¡¯s.¡±


    ¡°But if they were to couple and have a child, it could come out very wrong,¡± Althea said, hoping she was conveying the seriousness of the problem.


    Iliana scoffed. ¡°Mother has ensured that that will never happen.¡±


    She looked straight at Althea and made eye contact. Her eyes were green like tree leaves ¨C like Terran¡¯s.


    ¡°I¡¯m not as na?ve as the others. I know how a lot of things work in the outside world. Well, more than they do anyway.¡± She stared straight ahead at some partygoers. ¡°I know that where you come from, children are still born.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Althea was horrified. ¡°Children here aren¡¯t born?¡±


    ¡°Not in the way you think of. Mother makes them. She mixes their codes in special ways to create the best combinations. She makes sure to mask the parts that would make a child come out wrong.¡±


    ¡°But if Roone and Yuneira have sex¡ª¡±


    ¡°They have and they will again. No one here is capable of birthing children. Mother takes it out of us in the process of creation,¡± Iliana said.


    Althea put a hand to her mouth, trying to comprehend it.


    ¡°Does that horrify you?¡± Iliana asked, making direct eye contact again.


    Althea didn¡¯t answer, watching partygoers dance, some looking remarkably like one another. She wondered how many of them were close siblings. She wondered how many of them were lovers.


    ¡°Part of my lineage is also Aridian, like yours,¡± Iliana said after a while of letting Althea absorb what she had told her.


    ¡°Are you a healer?¡± Althea asked.


    Iliana nodded. ¡°One of the best here in Paradise. I am Mother¡¯s most trusted alchemist.¡±


    ¡°Do you work with Cyrus?¡±


    ¡°Sometimes. We make a lot of interesting compounds.¡±


    Althea leaned in to hear her better.


    ¡°For example, we perfected the stuff that is healing your friend Ar¨¦vis right now.¡±


    Althea thought of Ar¨¦vis and a pang of desperation went through her.


    ¡°When will she wake up?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Iliana said. ¡°Maybe in a day or two. She was injured more than the others.¡±


    At the mention of the bandits, Althea¡¯s temper flared.


    ¡°Why did you save them when they almost got Althea and I killed?¡± She demanded.


    ¡°Cyrus tells me that they also helped save you,¡± she said.


    Althea huffed. ¡°That doesn¡¯t erase what they did.¡±


    ¡°Maybe they wish it would.¡±


    There was a moment of silence as Althea tried to make sense of this place.


    ¡°Why do you want to go outside when you live in Paradise?¡± Althea asked.


    Iliana avoided eye contact unless she wanted to make a point. This time, she looked at Althea unblinkingly. It was a bit unnerving.


    ¡°Mostly because I¡¯m not allowed to leave. Don¡¯t you think that¡¯s strange?¡± Her brow furrowed slightly. ¡°The people in Lantris let you leave, right?¡±


    Althea frowned, a bit disturbed. ¡°Of course they do.¡±


    Iliana¡¯s face seemed to change to irritation for no apparent reason. Althea looked behind her, and there was Cyrus, looking as placid as ever.


    Iliana looked from Althea to Cyrus, gauging her words carefully.


    ¡°I will take my leave now. Althea, it was good to meet you. I hope to see you again after you meet Mother.¡± With that, she was swallowed up once more by the crowd.


    Cyrus settled beside her, ominously silent.


    Althea watched the partygoers, now exhausted from the night and more than a little drunk. She slouched in her chair, folding her arms.


    ¡°What did you tell her?¡± Althea asked.


    ¡°To save all that for Mother,¡± he said gently into her mind.


    ¡°Then why not broadcast it?¡± She snapped.


    ¡°It was between Iliana and me,¡± Cyrus replied just as sharply.


    Althea sighed. ¡°This place is wonderful and strange, but I¡¯m getting tired of being constantly surprised. When do I get to meet Mother? I have many questions that need answers.¡±


    Cyrus nodded. ¡°You can meet her tomorrow.¡±


    The party continued on, music frivolous and people shout-chatting.


    Despite the shock, it was still breathtaking.


    ¡°Good,¡± Althea assented. She realized how tired she was and yawned.


    ¡°Oh, how rude of me. Of course you want to retire for the night. It has been a long one for you.¡± Cyrus gestured for Althea to rise. ¡°Please follow me, and I shall take you to your chambers.¡±


    Cyrus led her back the way they came.


    ¡°I want my belongings back, too ¨C especially my leather bracelet.¡± Althea said, trying not to trip over vines and mushrooms.


    ¡°Of course. I shall have your belongings brought to you.¡±