In the northwest of Tagtrum, on the island of Frieden, Faustina rested in a shipyard of stone. Frieden would serve as Faustina’s last port, and Faustina appeared to know it. Her painted eyes now looked suspiciously up at the cockpit as if asking the pilot and riders what they were thinking.

Eva’s fighter, absent from the hull, rested in pieces, finally able to fit inside Faustina’s hold. The hold doors stood open, and Camellia’s friends worked to fit more supplies inside. Within the hold, Eva directed dwarven workers where to place boxes. She watched the men and women carefully. She accepted the crates and moved them around to fit more into the small space.

Meladee sat on the deck and made sure no one dinged Faustina’s paint. Since Meladee and Eva were so attentive to the loading process, Camellia was free to look around.

A recent paper had detailed the demise of dwarven subculture. Throughout most of Tagtrum, that assertion held true. Dwarves intermarried and had disappeared as a subgroup from most cities, but from the northwest’s viewpoint, dwarves seemed alive and well. They made up half the village’s inhabitants, and many children raced around the outskirts of the more dangerous loading zone. Of course, Camellia spotted a lot of half-dwarven people as well.

Half-dwarven people fell somewhere between the heights of dwarves and the rest of the population. They stood anywhere from four and a half feet to five and a half feet. Camellia fit in.

Most Groazans were taller but Camellia reached only five feet and two inches. Her brothers hovered just under six feet, losing anywhere from three to five inches off their ideal heights. Camellia bowed her head and thought of her father. She could blame it all on him. He picked a mortal mother that couldn’t feed them enough blood, and he never gave enough himself. They didn’t have what they needed to reach their full heights. That stinginess, coupled with his other actions, should be enough for him to deserve a death, infected by Ah’nee’thit. But, Camellia wished it wouldn’t happen.

Why am I thinking about this? I need to let him go. I need to stop. Camellia rubbed her forehead.

She was short for a Groazan and always would be, but she was in good company. Meladee, who likely had a dwarven ancestor, only reached five foot one. They could be short together, and for that matter, Eva could join them. Eva was shorter than both, citing her creator’s need to save materials. Camellia smiled. We’re like nesting dolls, each a little shorter than the last.

At the sound of a dwarvish dialect, Camellia’s ears perked.

“Damn kids should get a proper job.” Two older bearded men passed and glared at a small group of young dwarves.

Camellia startled. Nearby, beardless young men tuned their instruments. Camellia’s mouth dropped open, and she watched the men practice. They looked so strange without beards, the symbol of male dwarven adulthood. They played the same parts of a song over and over, a disconnected melody. Camellia didn’t mind.

“We’re almost done here,” Eva called up from the hold.

“Great. Faustina isn’t dry yet, so we need to hang around another hour or so. Think that’s a good idea?” Meladee asked.

“No.” Eva emerged from the hold. She stood on the ground and looked up. “We should get moving. Invent a spell to dry the ship. If you can make us wet, you should be able to make Faustina dry.”

Eva referred to the recent fish storm. Though, she hadn’t complained before, Eva went straight to shower after Faustina gained a safe altitude. She insisted that she smelled of fish and dust. Camellia had to agree and added wet rats to the roster. They had all smelt bad.

Camellia climbed the gangplank and looked over the shipyard. Beyond, she saw the city of stone and longed to see more of it. She knew half the city sat over the water, built on entirely artificial land.

Camellia listened for telepathic traffic. The daytime sun dimmed her reading, and faint whispered thoughts reached her mind – lazy, sleepy ones. It felt good to bask in all that peace. “I think we could spend an hour or two here.”

“So, there’s no cultists around?” Meladee asked.

“No.” Camellia stared into the distance, marveling at the height of a tower. “I mean...that is...I don’t know. It’s a very pleasant, sunny morning, and everyone’s enjoying it.”

Meladee nodded. “I want to go shopping, seeing as it’ll be my last day in Tagtrum – maybe forever. On the other hand, I don’t want to run into any more cultists.”

Eva closed the hold doors. “Be careful what you say.”

A dwarven man approached the ship, leaving his workers to the side of Faustina’s lot. He climbed the gangplank and stopped before Camellia. “Job’s all done.”

Camellia pulled his payment from her person.

The dwarven man accepted the money. “Thank you. Pleasure doing business.” His eyes were just at her breast level. He made an effort to look up, but he seemed uncomfortable.

“Thank you.” Camellia couldn’t decide whether to laugh or cry at his gaze.

The man waved goodbye and trotted off the gangplank.

“Well that was nice,” Meladee said. “Look, guys, I have a potential compromise. I’ll set up protection spells on the ship. Specifically, the really good one that requires my death to break. It’s suspicious to put that kind of enchantment on your ship, but I feel if anyone will understand why we don’t want to be robbed, it’s these guys.” Meladee gestured to the bustling inhabitants. “It’s daylight, and we’re parked in a busy shipyard. The ship will be safe. We’ll go eat and we’ll save all our food stores for Lurren. This will be our last meal, and Faustina’s face can dry.”

Eva and Camellia exchanged a look.

“I can agree to that.” Eva crossed her arms.

Camellia nodded. “Alright. You can pick our last meal, Meladee.”

Meladee smiled and began lockup procedures.

Meladee led Camellia and Eva back and forth. They followed her through a small pedestrian mall while she hoped to find just the right food. Meladee counted at least ten restaurants and narrowed her choices to three. She couldn’t decide between soup and sandwiches, pizza, and meat pies. She ran around, comparing menus.

At first, Camellia and Eva looked in shop windows. Meladee assumed they were happy. Then, they merely glanced in shop windows, and Meladee could feel Camellia’s boredom and Eva’s impatience. She ignored it. They had no idea how hard this choice was. One didn’t eat; the other probably preferred blood, though she’d never admit it.

Finally, after twenty minutes and an angry growl from Eva, Meladee chose meat pies, a restaurant right in the middle of the mall. They arrived just before the lunch rush.

“Choose fast,” Eva ordered. She looked at the drink menu.

Camellia pulled her hat over her eyes. “I think we should have eaten inside. I’m a bit sleepy.”

“Daystone.” Meladee pointed at Camellia’s neck. “Just get it out. You’ve got your bag with you. That means you’ve got everything you need right there to enjoy food outside.”

Camellia felt her chest for the day walker’s pendant and looked only half-surprised that she didn’t have it on. Camellia reached into her bag and retrieved the necklace.

As the tables filled up, Meladee waited and watched. Happy people sat down and ordered food. Most were dwarves, but several were taller Tagtrumians. Meladee found all the people, dwarves and others, familiar and comfortable.

“I’m going to miss this place,” Meladee said, with her chin in her hand.

“We can come back.” Camellia looked around the patio, a bit of sleep in her eyes.

“There’s a chance…” Eva paused as the waitress brought her fancy drink. “There’s a chance we won’t come back, but I hope to succeed. And, if we do, you want to fly out of the wormhole, correct? As soon as it shifts exit locations.” Eva sipped her drink.

Camellia looked down. “Right. I do want to see outside the wormhole.” She sighed.

Meladee thought Camellia looked anything but eager. “I didn’t mean to ruin our good times,” Meladee said. “I knew that was a bad topic. Too serious.”

Camellia looked up. “Oh no, not at all. I was thinking about someo...something else.” Camellia quickly corrected.

The waitress brought Meladee and Camellia’s food. The server had saved Camellia from Meladee’s unasked question. Who could Camellia be thinking of? Her father? Cahir? Meladee hoped it wasn’t Cahir, but her new friend loved romance novels. There should be a reason for that.

They began to eat.

Meladee finished fast and sat back in her chair. She watched her friends. After a beat, Meladee looked at Eva’s half-finished drink. “Is that alcohol?”

“I believe so. It’s more tolerable than your average sustenance. Hardly like organic food at all.” Eva drank more of the mixture.

Camellia smiled. “That’s not for me. I’d prefer...” Camellia didn’t say it. She didn’t need to.

Meladee made a face. “I don’t really like the stuff – alcohol or...you know. Figures you would.” She nodded to Eva.

“I didn’t say I liked it,” Eva corrected. “I said I didn’t dislike it.”

Before Meladee could respond, the waitress brought the check. She held it out. Meladee grabbed the check and tugged. It didn’t leave the waitress’ hand.

“Hey, you want me to pay this, right?” Meladee tugged again. Finally, she looked up.

The waitress stared straight at Meladee, unseeing. She held a pose, as if frozen mid-action, and Meladee determined that indeed, the waitress was frozen. Meladee got to her feet and wrenched the paper from the woman’s grasp. She looked at the bill. Instead of a tally for their food, she saw a familiar kind of magic circle. Her heart began to pound. She dropped the paper, and Camellia picked it up.

“What’s going on?” Camellia studied the drawing. “A magic circle?”

“Everyone’s frozen.” Eva walked back and forth between the tables. “What did you do?”

Meladee put a hand to her breast. “Me? I didn’t do anything. This is some Agaric Healer shit. Speaking of which…” Meladee paused and performed a protection spell, something to guard their bodies not from fire or ice but from evil healers.

For an instant, a yellow magic circle buzzed around their feet. Then, it dissipated.

“Now you did something,” Eva said.

“Protection spell.” Meladee moved closer to her friends.

They mirrored her action.

Camellia held the paper for Meladee to see. “What is this spell? Ah’nee’thit sent it.”

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Meladee glared back. She knew that spell wasn’t from Ah’nee’thit. It was from Alastronia, a leader of the Agaric Healers. Meladee knew the magic. “No, what are you talking about? That’s from someone else.”

“It has Ah’nee’thit’s seal.” Camellia shoved the paper into Meladee’s face.

“Oh, shit,” Meladee said. “Ah’nee’thit recruited them. Ah’nee’thit recruited Agaric Healers.” Meladee wondered if it was her fault or if the Agaric Healers and Ah’nee’thit had been chums for longer.

“Now, that’s the second time you’ve mentioned them,” Camellia said. “Who are the Agaric Healers?” Her droopy eyes searched the shopping area.

Meladee looked too. Everyone stood or sat in perfect stillness.

“Oh, wait.” Camellia pointed. “We aren’t the only ones who can move. The young dwarves they…” Camellia’s words trailed off.

Together, they watched the dwarves don robes and do-up large buttons around their necks, on which Ah’nee’thit’s seal had been engraved. Meladee kicked herself for not leaving sooner. More people emerged from shops in robes. At first, they strolled and exchanged quiet words with friends. Then, they became silent worshippers on their way to a meeting of whatever cult activity Ah’nee’thit had planned.

“This is so inappropriate for this time of day,” Camellia mumbled.

Meladee narrowed her eyes and gave Camellia a sidelong glance. “You mean inappropriate...period.”

Camellia didn’t address Meladee’s words. Instead, she pointed discretely. “I see members of the AAH.”

Meladee’s attention snapped to the cultists. She saw Groazans and Tagtrumians, with no dwarven influence in their blood. They didn’t belong in Frieden. Meladee searched for Agaric Healers, but she didn’t see any she recognized. Instead, she saw the wooden servants, favored by the organization. Just looking at them, Meladee’s toes curled. The wooden servants rounded up the cultists and called them to mass.

Meladee grabbed both of her friend’s arms. “Come on. Let’s get out of here.”

“Invisibility?” Eva asked. She led the way.

Meladee considered invisibility, but she dreaded to do more magic. Alastronia and the Agaric Healers could track magic. With no one else casting in the area, Meladee would stick out. She considered her magic gun. It might get around the tracking spells, but she left it aboard ship, trusting Camellia to carry the bulk of what they needed this day.

“I don’t think it’s such a good idea. We should try to sneak out. They can track us by magic.” Meladee kept moving forward. She longed to see Faustina.

“Meladee, what is an Agaric Healer?” Camellia asked quietly.

Meladee took a deep breath and spoke low. “They heal people, but only certain things suffice as payment, like your elderly parent or young child. Or, whatever thing you have that makes life worth living. They can do all kinds of crazy things and control other’s bodies – if they prepare the area.” Meladee gestured to the frozen individuals. “This looks pretty prepared to me. They must have predicted we’d come here. This is a lot of frozen people.” Meladee shook her head. “What’s the chance Ah’nee’thit and the Agaric Healers would be buddies?”

Eva held her staff ready. “I would say unlikely. This is recent. Ah’nee’thit saw it in your mind when we visited the temple.”

As much as she didn’t want to, Meladee had to agree. She remembered the buzz that had accosted her senses and fogged her thinking. She’d escaped it in time, or so she thought. “I can’t believe I let this happen.”

“Meladee…” Camellia put a hand on Meladee’s shoulder.

Meladee didn’t feel the comfort. She watched as wooden servants carried anti-magic devices. The devices, simple balls, displayed an array of complex magic circles. They glowed.

“Anti-magic fields,” Meladee said. Now, she couldn’t use invisibility or her magic gun. She should have acted when she had the chance.

The only thing that comforted her was the possibility one of the devices could negate ongoing spells. Then, it wouldn’t have mattered whether she cast something or not. Meladee searched the balls for that specific circle.

“Anti-magic?” Camellia sounded a touch panicked.

“Yeah, looks like a blanket ban.” Meladee saw everything, from spells that shut down new magic circles to spells that negated the old. She even saw spells that bound magic items. Meladee grabbed the arms of both her friends. Then, she stopped. She relied on one very important magic item, and they needed it now. “Uh oh, I think these things might affect how Faustina flies.”

Eva’s eyes widened. She went stiff, and Camellia’s eyebrows conveyed her fear. The trio paused; their escape uncertain.

“Camellia! Hi, how are you?” A Groazan woman approached their group and interrupted their moment of panic.

She smiled, and Camellia recognized the woman.

“Eda,” Camellia said. “I’m really surprised to see you here. I thought you took a post on the Groaza – Ponk Border.”

Eda possessed heritage and citizenship in both places, but her family lived within Ponk.

Camellia frowned. “I thought you wanted to be near your family.”

“I did, and it’s a really great museum. This is just one last trip before I get married and settle down. You know I won’t be doing a lot of traveling then.” Eda smiled. “I didn’t expect to see you here. I’m really impressed how you’ve risen through the ranks.”

Camellia tried to smile. “You mean...Ah’nee’thit’s ranks.”

“Yes! High priestess. I’m so happy to see you. A few of the others aren’t too thrilled, but they’re warming. Ah’nee’thit knows best.” Eda gestured for them to follow. “Come on. We don’t want to be late.”

Other anthropologists walked to Eda’s side. Camellia recognized most of them: Tagtrumians, Groazans, and a couple from Ponk. They worked as historians, restorationists, and archaeologists. Her heart broke to see them. Brilliant anthropologists, some just good, but all of them worth more than their work for the AAH.

Camellia turned to Meladee and Eva. Both women seemed ready to bolt, Meladee especially.

“We left our robes on the ship.” Meladee raised her eyebrows.

Eda waved a dismissive hand. “Don’t worry about that. We’d all love for our high priestess to join the meeting. You don’t need to be dressed.” She smiled. “Come on.”

Camellia waved Eda off. “You go on ahead. We’ll catch up.” As she turned back to her two friends, Camellia’s face fell into a frown. “I know these people. I wish we could save them.”

“Yeah, I get that, but you don’t understand. Agaric Healers are nothing to mess with.” Meladee crossed her arms. She jabbed a thumb in the direction of their ship. “We need to get out of here.”

Eva glanced at Meladee. Then, she stared into the distance. “What about Faustina? Can she fly?” Eva’s eyes narrowed. “What is that?” She pointed.

Meladee’s eyes widened, and Camellia whipped around. A waving curtain of light cut the town in half.

“What is that?” Camellia echoed.

“Magic barrier. We can’t pass through. Camellia, I’m telling you. This place is prepared.” Meladee’s hand shook as she gestured to the different elements of their situation. “This is not a random meeting. This is a trap for us – a goddamn beautiful collaboration between Ah’nee’thit’s cultists and Agaric Healers. Why can’t you see that?”

“I know it’s a trap. I’m just worried about some of these people.” Camellia watched Eda on her way to the meeting, head bowed under the weight of Ah’nee’thit’s false scriptures.

“We need to get out. We need to find out where that barrier ends and get the hell out. We’re supposed to go to Eva’s messed up home, not spend more time in our own,” Meladee spat the words. Then, she sighed and brushed a hand through her hair. “Why did I suggest we stop? Fu…”

Eva broke in. “Quiet you two. We can’t leave. To escape the trap, we need to go around.” Eva gazed at Camellia a little long. “If we’re doing that, we might as well see if there’s any opportunity to save some of these people.”

Eva, usually so stoic, showed a hint of empathy in her eyes. Camellia wanted to thank her, but instead, she just followed her friend. To Camellia’s surprise, Meladee followed too. Though, Meladee’s eyes moved over the horizon, searching for the edge of the barrier.

Camellia didn’t care about escaping, not yet. She studied Ah’nee’thit’s followers. She saw many mages. She didn’t recognize them, but subtle clues came from their clothes beneath the robes and the jewelry they wore. Bracelets and necklaces flashed magic circles, and small weapons as well as bottles signified a practitioner of magic.

The others, people from the AAH, Camellia mostly recognized. She didn’t look at their clothes to determine their professions. She looked at their faces, and her memories offered their names and expertise. Camellia spent a lot of time out of favor with so many of these people, but she recognized a few she might have called friends. She thought they lived happy lives. Yet, she found them here, preyed on by Ah’nee’thit. The thing identified their secret weaknesses and drew them into the fold.

Daylight streamed down on silent worshippers. Camellia felt the whole procession would be better at night, not under sunny, optimistic skies.

Meladee couldn’t believe Eva. While Meladee looked for a way out, Eva only looked ahead. She’d barely wanted to help Camellia’s family. Now, she wanted to help random strangers? Maybe, Eva just wanted to see how bad things had gotten in their part of the world, a little bit of last-minute reconnaissance to speed their pace out the wormhole.

Camellia was stuck on her old friends. Meladee found the idea even more alien than Eva’s possible mindset. Meladee wanted to knock Camellia on the head and remind her – We’re your friends now. You don’t need these people. It seemed Camellia would take a little longer to make the break.

Meladee worried she would see Alastronia among the Agaric Healers, but the Agaric Healers possessed so many sects. Meladee probably wouldn’t see anyone from her own. No one would recognize her, and Alastronia wouldn’t be among them. Then again, Ah’nee’thit took this idea from Meladee’s mind. Of course, Alastronia would be present.

Meladee wished she had one of the hoods. She wished she could explain to her friends exactly why she wanted to leave, but then, she’d have to admit she’d been a kind of cultist, barely better than the robed fools all around them.

The crowd grew thick, and Meladee felt painfully aware of her lack of robes. She wished someone had an extra pair that she could borrow, but no one whipped out a convenient garment and offered it to her.

Finally, the crowd filed into a covered walkway. They snaked around the path, becoming a square shaped audience. Like every other location in Frieden, cobbled stones formed the paths beneath their feet. Dwarves liked to obliterate everything natural. Nothing natural meant no bell and no men of dirt.

Meladee felt a flicker of hope. As one, the audience turned to look through archways. She saw a tree and wondered if she beheld a park. As the taller people made room for Meladee and her friends to creep in front, Meladee’s heart fell.

She saw one tree, but it wasn’t real. Meladee also saw colorful tubes; some tall, others short. Climbing bars and hammer shaped swings took up their own space. Beneath it all, a strange rubbery ground traced patterns of red, yellow, and blue. Those patterns served as something soft for kids to play upon. These cultists planned to have their meeting in a fucking playground.

Wooden servants took up posts within the playground. Higher ranking cultists wove themselves among the playthings and stood upon the ramps. Meladee raised her eyes to the tallest play tower and saw Alastronia.

Fuck this whole situation. It’s as bad as it gets. Camellia!!!! Eva!!

Alastronia waved a hand, calling for silence. The audience already fell silent, but Alastronia loved to feel important. Her black hair fell to her waist in perfect order, and she wore her own extravagant clothes, rather than the robes worn by every other cultist.

“Welcome, mages and historians. And, welcome my Agaric Healers.” Alastronia smiled. Her eyes searched the crowd. “We Agaric Healers are very happy to join you and Ah’nee’thit. The creature is new to us, but it’s a wonderful development. Who could have imagined something so awe inspiring existed on Iruedim?”

“Is she the new priestess?” Camellia asked, sounding mildly insulted.

Alastronia spotted Meladee. Their eyes met, and Meladee’s heart thundered, filling her ears with the sound rushing water. No wait, blood. Her blood rushed through her body, moving like the rapids of a log ride. Meladee knew Alastronia couldn’t have heard Camellia’s words, yet she blamed her friend for Alastronia’s notice.

“High Priestess,” Alastronia called. “I hoped you would join us. Please. Come forward. I’ll gladly relinquish the podium to you.” Alastronia smiled and beckoned Camellia into the playground.

Camellia took a couple of steps. Eva had disappeared.

“I see you’ve brought one of my old friends. Meladee, step forward as well.” Alastronia’s smile looked more wicked.

Meladee didn’t move.

Camellia entered the playground and stopped by a tunnel. She rested her hands on the tunnel’s blue surface and after a quick look at the audience, she called up to Alastronia. “Why are we meeting in a playground?”

“It’s the only space big enough, I’m afraid,” Alastronia said.

“And, during the day? Cult activities are meant to happen at night.”

Meladee left the crowd. Those around her bristled at Camellia’s words. They didn’t seem angry – more uncomfortable.

Can’t feel great to get scolded by your high priestess. Meladee almost smiled.

She walked to Camellia’s side and looked back. She felt naked without her magic, and where the hell had Eva gone?

“Oh, High Priestess, you hold us to such standards. What would Ah’nee’thit do without you?” Alastronia spread her arms wide. She smiled sweetly.

“I imagine, it’d make you high priestess,” Camellia answered.

“Alas, no. Ah’nee’thit wants you. Though, you are the entire reason we must select a new high priest.” Alastronia feigned sadness.

Camellia winced. “And, who are you exactly? Agaric Healer?”

Alastronia gasped. “Meladee hasn’t told you about me?” She put her hands to her cheeks and made a shocked face. “Meladee, I thought you’d never forget your time with us.”

Camellia gazed at Meladee with great interest.

Meladee sighed. “She’s Alastronia. The bitchiest bitch on all of Iruedim. Also, an Agaric Healer who destroys people’s lives to heal them and experiment on their family members.”

Camellia turned her attention back to Alastronia, cheeks slightly rosy with newly formed indignation.

Up in the tower, Alastronia’s mouth formed an ‘O,’ but she struggled not to smile. She inclined her head, and her dark, straight hair flowed forward. “I am. I’m Alastronia, new priestess of Ah’nee’thit. I’m not the priestess though. That’s you. So, guide our lost little flock. Given us a lesson on the meaning of Ah’nee’thit.”

“This is really bad,” Meladee whispered.

“I know,” Camellia whispered back.

Camellia took a deep breath. “The meaning of Ah’nee’thit is quite simple. It’s a creature from outside the wormhole lost on our little planet. If we want to be more spiritual about it, the meaning of Ah’nee’thit is whatever insecurity you let it see. That’s what it feeds on.” Camellia gestured to Alastronia, up in the tower. “I have trouble thinking you have one, priestess Alastronia, but it must be there.”

“That was...enlightening.” Alastronia looked uncomfortable, and as if she thought Camellia’s words anything but enlightening. “Please go on. Why don’t you tell us about your insecurity?”

Camellia glanced behind her. “Half of them already know mine.” Camellia looked at her feet. “And, they know I’m not willing to play high priestess for Ah’nee’thit, despite my problems.”

The crowd stayed silent. Meladee looked at their faces. Some seemed grim. Others looked disappointed. Most looked confused. Meladee shifted her attention to the tower.

Alastronia, of course, drew breath to speak. “Such a shame. I…”

“Alright! That’s enough of this nonsense.” Eva strode onto the playground. She held a giant gun, and a metal box. Eva held the box aloft. She shouted, “This thing is a bomb from my homeland. It can take out this square and then some. I’ve set it to go off.”

A moment of silence passed.

Eva leveled her gun. “I’ll shoot anyone who wants to avoid the pain.”

The crowd came alive. Screams rang through the square, and the stream of cultists hurried for the exit.

Meladee grinned. She looked up to see Alastronia in a bit of a bind, shouting not being heard. Meladee bet they had plenty of time to get out of the area before the bomb went off. What a great plan.