Our situation was still precarious and could change at any minute.

I verified the gem was still tucked tightly against my wrist and then hefted Aurora, distributing her weight more comfortably. My arms and back ached, and I was exhausted, but Aurora had been far better at reading the battlefield than I, and her help with dodging made her more of a boon to me than a hindrance.

We took off, parading through the gates, then vanishing into the woods under Faust and August’s lead with surprising ease. After about an hour of walking, he town's houses popped up out of the trees ahead, and we picked our way through the town of chimeras and onto a boat. It wasn’t the one we’d arrived on, luckily. Octavia, Aurora, and I stood off to the side while August and Faust had a quick discussion with one of the men on the ship. Faust flashed them his bag, and the captain personally came to greet us and show us to our temporary residence. As we walked, he explained that we were free to roam wherever we wished.

Everyone we passed on the ship was as extraordinarily friendly to us as the captain, and I wondered just how much Faust had in that bag. Regardless, it was an incredible change of pace, both literally and metaphorically. As soon as we settled into the hammocks, we were off, gliding gently across the ocean.

Sitting comfortably in the hammock, I explained the situation to Octavia and Aurora, before following with explaining the recent events to August in Faust. I included what Hilarious had told me of the chimera transformation, as well as the smell I had encountered upon reentering his study, petting Ani all the while.

A grim silence fell over the cabin at my description; it broke with heavy tears.

Horrified, Aurora brought her hand to her mouth, covering her face. “So Manius and Titus are really dead?” She asked tearfully.

I thought of Manius, the kind old man who’d kept us all in order and Titus, the lively young man who’d enjoyed riling Rude up. A lump grew in my throat. I swallowed it and said, “Yes.” Ani nudged my hand, begging for more pets.

Octavia sat there, pale-faced and wide-eyed. “If they were more compatible than we were….what would have happened to us?” She asked, horrified.

I looked down at the wooden planks of the floor and brushed the back of my hand across my nose, rubbing away the lingering smell of burning flesh. I answered her question with silence, and Octavia shivered, curling in on herself.

In the hammock next to her, Aurora sat, silent tears streaming down her face. It was a look full of sadness and horror, but …“You don’t look surprised.”

Aurora looked at me, smiling grimly. “My father used to bring me many ‘cure-alls.’ They were always too good to be true. I didn’t expect this one to be any different.” Her hands gripped the dress fabric resting on her legs.

August interjected, shifting uncomfortably in his seat as he explained their side of the story, passing the responsibility over to Faust as soon as possible. They’d snuck onto our ship as planned. The cook and his assistant had had an ‘accident” earlier that night, and the captain had been grateful to find replacements on such short notice. Once we’d arrived on the island, they’d slipped away, following us from a distance to the castle's walls. They used August’s insanely good vision, hoping to spot me.

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My efforts in the small room had paid off, and they’d ended up spotting me during one of my trips to the windowsill, waiting until the cover of nightfall to send Ani. Then, they’d spotted us in the trees, and the rest, as they say, was history.

“Thank you,” I told them. “We wouldn’t have made it without you.”

“Just doin’ our job,” Faust replied with a grin.

Octavia pointed at my wrist. “Are you really going to destroy that magic gem thing?”

Across from me, August tensed on his hammock. Faust shot Octavia a warning glare, which went unnoticed.

I flipped my wrist over, pulling the gem out from where it was nestled. Rolling it between my thumb and forefinger, I said, “That was the point of this mission.”

“But you could do so much with it.”

Sunlight flitted in through the window, glimmering off the gem in my hand. If I’d been planning to stay, I might have been more tempted by the power. As it was, the gem would be useless to me once I returned home, and I simply didn’t trust anyone with that much power.

I clenched my fist around the gem, rolling it in my palm. Grimmly, I replied, “So could the next person.”

Octavia lowered her eyes.

I mustered my strength, then flung the gem against the wall as hard as I could. It bounced, then skidded across the heaving floor to land beneath my hammock. Ani lept down, preparing to pounce. I leaned over and snatched it off the ground before he ran off with it, receiving scratches on my hand for my efforts.

Octavia opened her mouth again. “That was a horrible throw.”

August and Faust covered up a laugh, and I sent a scowl in their direction. “I’d like to see you do better.”

She shrugged. “That thing’s your responsibility, not mine.”

How helpful.

To Faust, I asked “Do you think we can smash it with your sword?” In my mind’s eye, I saw the gem crushed like garlic beneath the flat of his sword.

He shrugged, picking up the scabbard. “Won’t hurt to try.”

August rolled his eyes, climbing out of his hammock and stalking towards me like a cat. “Hand it over.” He demanded. I obliged, and he tightened his fist around the gem, nails digging into the gem. His fingers paled, and his hand shook with the effort.

There was a crack, then a crunch.

August opened his fist, gem shards falling from his claws and scattering across his palm. “Done.”

He used his free hand to rummage in his pockets, searching. The shard-filled hand tilted precariously, and I wrapped my hands around his, stopping the fragments from slipping onto the uneven floor. “Wait, how do we know the magic didn’t just split across the pieces? We should test it, first.”

He frowned, eyeing me suspiciously as he withdrew his hand, careful not to drop any pieces. “You’re not testing it on me.”

I looked pointedly at the lack of other chimeras in the room.

“You could just toss it in the ocean.” Aurora pointed out.

August bit his lip. “I planned to bring back the shattered gem as proof.”

“I don’t know her very well, but if she’s anything like the princess, she will rest easier knowing there was no chance any fragment could end up in the wrong hands. She sent you because she trusted your judgment, August,” Faust said.

“It’s not her that I’m worried about. They deserve to see proof for themselves, to know we will never be used in such a way again.”

“Then you need to be willing to take the risk. You can't promise them they’re safe until we’ve tested it.”

“Or you throw it into the ocean,” Aurora added.

“Or you throw it into the ocean,” Faust agreed.

August stared at the shards, tilting his hand so they caught the light. He sighed. “Fine.”

“Fine?” Octavia asked.

“I’ll throw it into the ocean.” His eyes glinted dangerously. “I will never allow myself to fall under its control again.”

Fair enough.