As Corrin stepped off the lift which had lowered him to Finian’s workshop, he was greeted with quite the sight. The stairs to Finian’s room had been shattered, and in their place was a metal platform with some sort of pulley system atop it. The pulley wasn’t attached to anything, but a frame of some kind had been installed above. It seemed vaguely like one of the many lifts throughout the city, but if it was, it was unfinished. A ladder had been set up to reach the upper level, but Corrin couldn’t comprehend how it was supposed to be helpful to Finian.

That only captured his attention for a moment, as he was quickly distracted by the ringing of metal from inside the workshop, accompanied by two distinct voices. As he drew closer he began to be able to make them out.

“... more powerful stone to account for the increase in weight,” said a gruff voice, Finian’s father.

“But you’re not thinking about the expense. We can compensate with a wider wing frame. The weight reduction scales with size and we’ll generate enough extra lift to make up the difference.”

Was that Finian? He sounded so different than he had the last time they’d spoken.

“Sure you’ll generate extra lift, but you’ll also be more vulnerable to gusts.”

“I can handle gusts no problem.”

“What, are you saying you’re just that good?” There was a brief silence. “Okay so maybe you are, but this is going to be a whole different game than what you’re used to. Let’s not be cheap about it.”

“It’s not about–” Finian cut off as Corrin walked in.

Corrin looked around the shop. There was no other way to put it–the place was a disaster. Broken parts, crumpled papers, and all manner of raw materials littered the entire left side of the room, and the right wasn’t much better, though the floor was kept empty. More shocking though, was the state of the people inside. Finian was on the right at one workbench, sitting in some sort of modified wheelchair as he wrapped a cord around a wooden spool. His father was on the left at a different table, bending a metal rod as it was held in a large clamp.

“Oh Corrin, you’re here, that’s perfect!” Finian said with a smile, missing only a single beat. “Could you go up to my room and grab the–well, there’s a small box on my workbench with some gears on the back. If you could bring that down here that’d be great.”

Corrin blinked. “Um, sure?”

He walked back out and climbed the ladder up to the room. Unlike the rest of the place, Finian’s bedroom wasn’t any different from how he’d last seen it, and he quickly found the box–which was clearly some sort of contraption–and brought it back down. By the time he was back, his head had cleared, so as he handed off the thing, he was able to speak again.

“Wait, what happened Finn?” He asked. “I mean, two days ago–I’m glad you’re better but…” he stumbled over his words, what in the hells had happened here?

Finian grinned. “You’ve missed much, my gliding disciple! Big things have been set in motion! Big things!” At the sight of Corrin’s confused face, his smile fell a bit, and he scratched the back of his head awkwardly. “That is to say… Well, I’m feeling a bit better now. Here, look at this drawing.”

Corrin walked over to the workbench where a space had been cleared for a large sheet of paper. He hadn’t been able to make it out until he got closer, but when he did, he immediately understood what it was.

“A sitting glider!”

Finian nodded excitedly. “Exactly!”

“Finian, that’s great! You’ll be able to fly again,” Corrin said. He felt a smile stretch across his face.

“Well, we’re still a ways out from a working design, but it should be possible. There’s some stuff to fix in the meantime, like how I can’t really get to my room right now,” he laughed. “I took a nap down here earlier, but we need to get the lift at least running manually. Plus, getting around in general is a pain right now. If you hadn’t noticed, Precipice isn’t exactly built for a guy in a wheelchair.”

Corrin thought about the rope bridges and zip lines that crowded the cliffside. There were permanent pathways and tunnels in the rock, but they were more for commercial activities, and he’d only seen carts on them, not foot traffic.

“I can imagine. Not much you can do about that though right?”

Finian shrugged. “We’ll see. Not sure I’ll make it very far if I just accept that. I’ll figure something out. That said, there’s a competition next week. I can’t compete obviously, but it might be fun to watch if you want. I’m sure I’ll be needing a break by then.”

Corrin grimaced. “That’s actually why I’m here… we’re leaving tomorrow.”

Finn’s eyes widened in understanding as he grew still. “Ah. It’s that time huh?”

“Yeah.”

He took a deep breath. “Hey dad, I think I’m going to take a break. I’ll be back later.”

His father grunted affirmatively before responding. “Take your time.”

Finian glanced back at Corrin. “Got some time for a walk?”

Corrin smiled. “I’m free till sunset.”

“Great, let’s go then.” Finian wheeled his way out of the shop, and Corrin walked behind him.

There wasn’t much to say about what happened after that. They just… talked. There was no gliding to dominate their time, but that didn’t really matter. As they traversed the strip at the top of the city–Corrin could carry both Finn and his chair across bridges with ease–they just talked, enjoying the sights and sounds of the city. They talked about plans for the future–of which neither had many. They talked about things they wanted to do–of which both had plenty. They talked about unimportant things too, like favorite foods and funny stories.

It was fun.

But as always, the fun eventually came to an end, and as the sun fell through the sky, they made their way back to the beginning.

“Think you’ll go back to being a windseeker once you finish the new design?” Corrin asked.

“I’m not sure honestly. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to reach the same heights again, chair-glider or no. But I think… I think I might want to do something a bit bigger now anyways. I’m not sure what that is, but it’s there somewhere.”

“Bigger huh? Well good luck with that, I’m sure you’ll figure it out.”

“Hey, I almost forgot,” Finian said, speeding ahead as they got back to the workshop. He reached the rack of gliders and pulled one off of it. “Think you can take this with you?”

Corrin thought about it for only a moment. Though the gliders did fold up to be more compact, they were still quite cumbersome, and if he and Wyn ended up walking alone again, it would be a pain to carry. But that was fine. Even if he wasn’t sure he could fly elsewhere on the journey, or even in Taravast itself, he just wanted to have it, and that was the only reason he needed.

“The captain said we had extra room, so yeah I can take it. You said they cost about a gold piece right?” He had two on him, Wyn didn’t let him carry more for fear he’d lose them–which was probably fair.

Finn laughed. “They do, but this one’s free. Consider it a thanks.”

“For what?”

He shrugged. “The good times? I don’t know. I don’t need fancy reasons to do what I want.”

Corrin took it from his grasp. “Thanks man. I’ll hang onto it for sure. Maybe there’s a spot near Taravast where I can give it some use.” He opened the canvas to check out the design. It was white, with a single symbol painted on the middle in gold–two loops attached at the bottom.

“More symbols huh? What’s this one mean?”

“According to my mother, it means ‘friend’.”

“Damn,” Corrin said. “That’s a nice gift. I hate to say it, but I don’t have anything for you.”

“Well, that’s no problem. It’s not really a gift if you expect something in return now is it?”

“I guess you’re right. Thanks, again.”

They didn’t move for a moment. Until Finian broke the silence once more. “Time to go huh?”

Corrin looked at the sky. The sun was setting. “Yeah, I guess it is.”

Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

“You’d better hurry. Sounds like you’ve got people waiting on you.”

“You’re right,” Corrin said. “Well Finn, it was too short a time man. Wish I could’ve stayed longer.”

“Me too. I’m glad I got to meet you though. Good luck on your journey, something tells me you might have an even harder time than me in the next year or so.”

Corrin groaned. “Don’t say that. It’s going to be an easy journey, okay? And I’m going to easily become a spirit knight.”

Finian snorted. “I’ll believe that when cripples can fly.”

“So soon then yeah?” Corrin grinned.

“Soon.” Finian laughed. “Now get out of here. I’ve got work to do, and you’ve got places to be. The winds will bring us back together at some point I’m sure. For now though, I hope they stay at your back.”

“And yours,” Corrin said, patting Finian on the shoulder. “It’s been fun, Finn. I’ll see you later.”

Corrin took one last look at his short-lived friend, and then he walked over to the lift that would take him away. After only a moment’s hesitation, he pulled the lever.

“Corrin!” Finian called out from behind him.

Corrin turned around, waiting to see what he’d say.

“I’m not kidding! This isn’t the last time we’re going to meet. Someday, I’m going to come visit Taravast. By the time I get there, you’d better be a spirit knight, got it?” He held out a fist, too far away for Corrin to bump it.

The lift began to rumble upwards, and Corrin’s eyes widened slightly at the declaration. He could tell. Finian really believed it.

Damn, so I lose huh.

Corrin held out his fist as well, smirking at the gliding fanatic. “Of course I will be. I’ll be looking forward to it, so hurry up.”

Their eyes met until Corrin was taken out of sight. Only then did Corrin close his eyes and take in a deep breath. When he stepped off onto the platform above, he walked just a little straighter.

***

He was late getting to the inn, and by the time he arrived, the sun had already set. Kei and Wyn were both waiting for him outside, and the former had a worried expression on her face. When she saw him, it brightened with relief.

“Thank the kings, I was starting to get worried.”

“These plans of yours must be important,” Corrin chuckled.

“Well, of course. That’s why well, I think we should discuss them somewhere else! I heard about this tavern that’s supposedly quite good. How about there? And don’t worry about paying, I’ll take care of it.”

Corrin and Wyn exchanged a glance.

“Yeah sure, that sounds fine,” Wyn said, shrugging. “Is that a glider?”

Corrin held it up proudly. “Yep, it was a gift from Finian. Cool right? Let me put it in the room before we go.”

He did just that and came back out a moment later before looking at Kei and gesturing down the stairs. “Lead the way.”

Kei walked past him and onto the streets, moving a bit like a hummingbird as she led them towards their destination. A decent way behind her, Corrin fell into step next to Wyn, elbowing his friend with a chuckle.

“Subtle as an avalanche huh?”

“No kidding,” Wyn grinned.

Corrin kicked a pebble down the street. “What do you think it is?”

“Honestly I’m not sure. I don’t know if Kei is a tavern person, so maybe it’s actually at a nice dining house?”

“I could go for some good food, it’s gonna be rations for the next two months yeah? Do you think there’s ‘fishing’ on The Grass Sea?”

Wyn paused for a moment. “No… there couldn’t be. Right?”

“Do you think we need gear?”

“Corrin, I don't think it exists.”

They argued for some time as they walked. They descended the cliffside on one of the permanent paths, and the time passed quickly. Eventually Corrin came to a conclusion.

“Yeah, I’m going fishing.”

“There’s no fish Corrin. What are you going to catch?”

“I don’t know, bugs or something? Wait, is it bugging then?”

“If there’s ‘bugging’, I’ll lick your shoe.”

“I’m sorry, what’s this about licking shoes?” Kei chimed in.

“Wyn’s going to lick mine.”

“He’s going to what?”

Wyn held up his hands defensively. “I’m not going to do anything! Corrin’s just being an idiot as usual.”

She gave them a look as she came to a stop. “Well, if it can wait, we’re here.”

She gestured to the building in front of them–or rather, the whole platform in front of them. The entire semi-circular wooden platform seemed to be one building. Its wooden walls went up about ten feet, and atop them were support poles which held up a massive sloped canvas roof that stretched up towards a point on the wall, leaving only a small opening at the top.

The open design was more than aesthetic–smoke drifted out through the gaps and out of the building before it was carried away by the wind. It smelled damn good to Corrin, who suddenly found himself famished.

Kei cracked open the door and looked inside.

Wait. An idea started to form in Corrin’s mind. Could it be…

She smiled back at them, holding up a finger. “Just wait here for a second.” Then, she disappeared into the building.

Corrin glanced at Wyn, who glanced right back, sharing an incredulous look.

A moment later, her voice rang out through the door. “Okay you can come in now!”

Corrin moved first, pushing open the door, which opened with a rush of heat into a crowded tavern. He only took one step before he froze. Every head in the building was turned to him, and everyone was standing. He recognized many of them: it was the members of the caravan, most of whom he hadn’t seen since the day they arrived in the city.

Wyn came to a stop right next to him as the caravaners raised their glasses high and shouted out a welcome, the chorus of voices filling the air. In front of them all, Kei lifted a glass of her own, looking a bit sheepish.

Corrin had been expecting some sort of small party perhaps, given the way she had acted, but nothing like this–even the children had come.

Trell, the caravan head, was the one to break their tension as he walked up past Kei and threw his arms around their shoulders. “Well come on, join the party! The princess went through so much trouble to set it up after all.”

Corrin looked over, wide-eyed at Kei, and she blushed, turning her head away at the compliment.

“Oh speaking of which, do you have my coin?” Trell asked her, and the blush cooled as she nodded and reached into her pocket.

“Yes it’s right here.”

“Did it work?”

“It did. I used it to ‘help him decide’ just like you said.” Kei grinned, flipping a gold mark over to the older merchant.

Trell snatched it out of the air with a chuckle. “They can never help themselves. You wouldn’t believe the amount of deals this thing has helped me close.”

Wyn sputtered, seemingly shocked by something about whatever they were talking about, but Corrin didn’t get it.

As Trell dragged them over to an open table, Corrin asked Kei, “Did you plan all this?”

“Well, I proposed the idea to Trell,” she said with a faint smile. “He did most of the work. It seemed fitting though, you two did save us all after all. Apparently once he brought up the idea, everybody was happy to do it.”

Well, that’s a warm feeling. Corrin thought.

“Well, I’ll have to thank both of you then,” Wyn said.

Kei shook her head though. “No, I should be thanking you two. This is just me paying you back.”

“Yeah well I don’t mind taking some thanks myself,” Trell grinned.

Corrin and Wyn both thanked him with different levels of sincerity, but he seemed happy about it all the same.

As the party began in earnest, Corrin found he was enjoying himself quite a bit. The tavern was unique, with large heated plates at each table so you could cook the meat yourself, so he got to spend some time practicing his cooking with the older women that had come to the party. He'd neglected it during his time here, and he worried he'd be unable to cook much while on the sea as well.

The women were generous though, and before the night was over, they'd gifted him a bag of spices they'd bought in the city–regional ones he would be hard pressed to find in Taravast.

Wyn mostly sat at the table with Kei and Trell, though he seemed to be enjoying himself too, sipping at a drink while they talked, with a wide smile on his face.

They were given more gifts, both from the adults and the children of the caravan: scarves for the winter, new gloves, a deck of cards, even some specialty chocolates. The gifts kept coming until Corrin was worried they wouldn't be able to carry them all back to the inn, and the party continued into the night.

After some time, people began filtering out, until the only ones left were the three of them, Trell, and a few caravaners who’d passed out in the corner of the tavern. It was probably later than they should’ve been out, but even Wyn didn’t seem to mind.

As he finished his drink, Trell looked over at the men in the corner. “Ah well, I should probably make sure those fools get to their inn’s safe. I suppose I don’t have to worry about you lot.”

“Does that mean you’re leaving?” Wyn asked. “We’ll probably do the same then.”

Trell nodded. “In that case, I suppose this is the last I’ll see of ya.”

Wyn held out his hand. “It was a pleasure traveling with you, Trell. Stay safe on the road alright?”

“Ha! I should be saying that to you. Though I’d bet you two would be safer in the wastelands than I on the plateau.” He took Wyn’s hand and shook it, then did the same with Corrin and Kei. “Nonetheless, stay safe you three.”

“See ya Trell,” Corrin said.

“Farewell,” Kei followed.

And that was that. They went their separate ways. And Corrin knew that they'd likely never see him again.

The walk back was quiet as they enjoyed silence after the noise of the party.

In that silence, Corrin thought of Trell, the caravan, and Finian. He thought of how life was full of small goodbyes. But then again, he’d gotten to know them. He’d had fun with each of them, and he wouldn’t give up fun times just because he knew they would end. And despite how it felt, their journey had hardly even begun. If life was full of small goodbyes, then it must also be full of small hellos. Maybe he'd see them again, maybe he wouldn't. But he'd surely meet more people in the future, and do more fun things too. So Corrin tried to look forward to whoever he’d meet next.

And that was good enough for him.