Below them, lit by the brilliant moon, Peter saw Varuk'hat's mount stumble and fall to its knees.

The Jupiter gybed over and arrowed towards the slope where the great beast had fallen.

‘The mount cannot give any more,’ said Sarah.

Peter landed the outrigger on the snow, its rudders dug into the powder and gave it grip as the prow nosed up and their forward rush stopped.

Breeze slid to the ground and floundered in the deep snow.

‘No,’ the imp said. ‘We must go on. We cannot stop.’

‘Varuk’hat. Let it rest. Or die,’ said Sarah. She moved to the beast’s head and pressed her brow to it’s great muzzle. ‘You’re not my Mirabel, but you gave as she always did.’

‘Jupiter,’ the imp said. ‘We cannot leave the zharaqsa here.’

‘Are you Breeze? Or are you Varuk’hat?’ said Peter. ‘I cannot tell.’

‘I am Varuk’hat. I am Breeze. I am both. But confused.’

Peter struggled with the large pannier fastened into the mount’s webbing. ‘Sarah. Help me with this will you?’

‘The treasure. Varuk’hat. You would take from our Clan?’

‘I would, and would do so again,’ said the imp. ‘We cannot let this catalyst fall into the hands of the Arthans, the blackbirders.’

He joined Sarah and Peter as they worked to release the panniers. There were five of packages, and each weighed close to fifty kilos each.

‘There is no time for this,’ said Berg. ‘There is plenty of this catalyst…’

‘Have you ever seen so much?’ said the imp. ‘In one place?’

‘No. But I am more concerned with…’

‘Zaj. Yeah. I don’t know what the Air Lord would want more,’ said Peter.

Tamm had joined Berg and now held Zaj close as she swayed in the wind that blew from Hatunqari.

‘We will not stay here. We must go to the capital,’ said Berg. ‘To Naruham, heart of Tsharaqna — Empire.’

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‘We’re taking this zharaqsa,’ said Peter.

‘And there’s no way we’re going anywhere near Naruham,’ said the imp.

‘We’re taking the treasure to the Clan,’ Peter said. ‘In the land of the klaeds.’

‘You would do this?’ Sarah gripped his arm. ‘Return to the Clan?’

Peter turned to her. ‘All my time on Eoth I have tried to leave. You are my reason for staying. It is selfish of me, but for a change I want to do something for myself. I don’t want to leave Eoth again. My life is here.’

‘As is mine,’ said Sarah and she slid her hand into his.

‘I know.’ Peter grinned and returned the warmth of her grip.

Berg stared at them. ‘The klaeds have risen against the Empire, joined in the Rebellion. I saw them.’

‘They joined only when I said you led the rebellion,’ said Peter with more confidence and resolution than he had felt in a long time.

‘You said this? And they followed?’ Berg said.

‘Yeah. That’s about it.’ Peter grinned. ‘You’re a rebel now.’

Tamm stood tall. ‘I too will gladly follow you Bamrushi. I will go with you to Naruham. I guard Zaj with my life.’ His aura flashed determination.

Berg nodded absently as they stared at Peter. Sarah and Breeze slid the panniers from the mount towards the outrigger. The old manisaur’s aura flashed resignation, and then a burst of enthusiasm. ‘Very well. We will go to Naruham together.’

‘Don’t you get it,’ said Peter. ‘We’re not going to the Empire. I don’t want to. We’re joining the Clan.’

‘I will go with you too,’ said Maggie. ‘To Naruham.’ She glared at Peter. ‘I want nothing to do with Jupiter.’

‘But how will we go?’ said Berg. But Maggie had already started to walk away. Tamm drew Zaj after.

‘I’m sorry Berg. The Jupiter cannot take you to Naruham. It barely has enough space for the zharaqsa and the three of us.’

Zaj bowed. ‘You have done so much.’

‘I you have done so much for me. Without you we would never have found the portal, the temple. Never seen Naz’naska.’

‘It is so. But in truth I wanted your craft once you had left. Or not.’ Berg sighed and looked down the slope where the other three stepped through the slush down the path between the standing stones.

‘Debts have been paid,’ said Berg. ‘Obligations met.’

‘I don’t believe in all that,’ said Peter. ‘Not anymore. I wanted to do this.’

‘As did I.’ Berg turned and followed the three figures dark against the bright moonlit snow.

‘And I want this,’ said Sarah. She stared into his eyes and they kissed. ‘I want you Peter.’

‘I’m not Peter. I’m Jupiter Drake. Sky Sailor of Eoth.’

Sarah laughed and hugged him close.

‘All is secure,’ said Breeze. The imp tugged at Jupiter’s sleeve. ‘We must be off.’

Jupiter settled at the stern and pulled in the mainsheet to settle the sail.

‘Spin the kheel up Breeze.’

‘No. Not going to do it,’ said the imp. ‘I’m not your slave.’

‘But you seemed to like it.’

‘I did. I really did,’ said the imp. ‘But now I know better now.’

‘And why is that? Varuk’hat? Breeze?’

‘I think… Yes… It’s Breeze. As to why? That’s a long story.’

Jupiter gave the kheel a spin, Sarah slipped beside it to take over as they bumped into motion.

‘We’ve got time,’ said Sarah. ‘Don’t we… Jupiter.’

‘Yeah. I think we do.’

Jupiter eased the mainsheet and angled in a broad reach across the wind. The moon lit the sail which glowed like a lantern as The Jupiter shot across the sky towards the klaeds.

Maggie caught sight of The Jupiter, a bright moving light that angled below the moon towards the east. Away from the four companions heading towards Hatunqari.

She frowned.

Jupiter Drake is going to pay for this. Somehow.