“So really,” Stephendore said to Falsie as he looked into the canon from where it opened at the back, “You wouldn’t need no fire magic at all if you had some kind of firing mechanism for that combustion powder?”

“I guess ya wouldn’t,” Falsie agreed, “It’s the same powder we use in the mines, back home. You could really light it with any fire, if ya had to. But I have a perfectly good fire mage, so I didn’t much think of it. I can spark it myself, if I need to.”

“That’s fascinating,” Stephendore said.

Orenda walked past them in the early morning light, because she thought she spotted the top of Gareth’s hat on the outcropping, the ceiling of the room that led to the kitchen, and heard Adamaryen’s voice.

“Oh my god,” he was nearly swooning, “It really is you! Tolith, come here! It really is Imperius Cornellius Oldman, the greatest water mage who has ever lived!”

“I don’t know who that is,” Toli broke away from Orenda to talk to them.

“During the war, when the Urillians were colonizing the water continent,” Adamaryen explained, “Imperius was the greatest student the mage academy ever saw. He held off an entire contingent of guards by himself!”

“What’s that?” The old man asked, “No, no, my boy, not by myself. With the student council. The teachers were nearly all killed in the attack, you see, they took them first. I suppose they thought we would be helpless without them.”

“That was more than a century ago,” Tolith said, “He’s lying to you, Adam. They don’t live that long.”

“No he’s not!” Adam insisted, “I was there! I remember him! I was so young… Imperius, you saved my life! I always admired you!”

“What’s that?” Impy asked, “I can’t hear so well anymore. Did you say I saved someone? I didn’t save anyone. We lost. Had to retreat. Were it not for the good captain I’d be dead.”

Draco flew and alighted on Impy’s shoulder to snuggle into his hair.

“Are we telling stories?” He asked, “Trying to impress the young blood, Impy?”

“I’ve never impressed anyone in my life,” Impy seemed insulted at the suggestion.

“Orenda!” Gareth called to her from the platform where they had lain out a table with a map on it. He was, once again, not wearing his mask, and Orenda suspected that he didn’t wear it among friends, only when he had people to whom he was ashamed to show his face, or to whom he wanted to hide his identity. His hand was working much more fluidly now, and under his gloves she was sure she wouldn’t have known it was clockwork had she not already been shown.

She made her way to the table, and stood on the only free side, so that she, Bella, and Gareth created a sort of barrier around it.

“We’re just here,” Gareth explained, and pointed to a wide expanse of sea between the earth continent and the fire continent, “It won’t take more than a day at top speed to get back to shore. I mean, once we ditch the vagabonds.”

“Gary,” Bella chastised, then looked at Orenda, “I’m going with you, as well, and Falsie. The three of us can stand the temperatures up there, provided it hasn’t much changed in the past couple centuries.”

Gareth made a face indicating that he didn’t believe this, so Orenda spoke up.

“You can?” Orenda asked, a little shocked at this information, “But you’re human. It’ll have the same effect on you as it does on the earth elves.”

“I’ll get over it,” She waved her hand dismissively, “Shifters are more hardy than other humans. We heal much faster, often so quickly it’s as if the environmental factors haven’t affected us at all. The only downside is you have to plan your life around the phases of the moon.”

“Nonsense,” Gareth smiled, “I think you could do just about anything shifted that you like. It’s just much furrier and a little more intense.”

Bella giggled, and Orenda looked from one of them to the other, the way Gareth’s face had softened, the way his eyes lidded ever so slightly, and she put pieces together that she could have lived without.

“You may be able to make it up the mountain, but I don’t think you’ll be able to go into town; and you certainly can’t enter the chamber with us,” Gareth said, “That’s the only thing. Only the council of priests and the person taking the test are allowed into the sacred space. But… we don’t have a priest to guide you, Rendy. I’ll try to come inside with you, but… I want you to know that we could travel all that way and still not get inside. And if we do get inside… don’t hold your breath about taking the staff out. It’s rejected everyone who ever tried, including mom and Ronnie.”

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

“I’m hoping,” he said softly, “That when you see that there’s no point to this silly quest, you’ll give it up. It’s my most sincere wish that you’re more intelligent than your father.”

“In this route,” Orenda said because she didn’t want to make any sort of reply to that statement, “We won’t be coming in anywhere near the colony’s capital?”

“Right,” Gareth said, “That’s the way we sometimes go in. It’s closer to Huriyat Allinsan, and closer to the Sacred Mountain temple. It’s just been a pain in the ass because Lord Glenlen had a vendetta against us; he was watching us so closely, so we had to amend. But I suspect it may be easier to move through now, more friendly allies now that the Allinsanian army is marching through. I suspect they’ve already taken most of this land and it’ll be safe.”

“The outlands here,” Orenda pointed to the map, to the place they would have to travel, “That was supposed to belong to Tolith… that’s where his father owned land.”

“Glenlen never owned a goddamn thing,” Gareth countered with more anger than Orenda had expected, “All the lands stretching from the sacred mountain to the sea belonged to the spirit of the Sacred Mountain Temple. No mortal would dare try to possess it.”

“I thought you were an atheist,” Orenda said.

“It’s disrespectful,” he mumbled, staring down at the map. Then, to Bella he asked, “Can you please get those boys off our ship? I’d like to set sail.”

“You said a day,” Orenda asked, “But looking at the map… this looks like a journey of about two months. We would have never arrived here so quickly without the djinn.”

“It would be,” Gareth said, “If I relied on the universe to provide for me. But we like to make our own way on the Burned Roc.”

“Get on the carpet,” Gareth demanded.

“Rendy,” Tolith held both her hands in his and gazed into her eyes, “This isn’t goodbye. I know we’ll see each other again.”

“I never thought it was,” Orenda said and squeezed his hand.

“Glenlen, get on the carpet!” Gareth demanded. He had already taken Stephendore and Adamaryn to their ship, and his patience was running thin.

“I’ll think about you often,” Tolith promised, and pulled her into a kiss.

“Get on the fucking carpet!” Gareth demanded.

“I more meant…” Orenda said as she pulled away, “Because I had to go over to the Recovery to collect my things.”

“Oh,” Tolith giggled and leaned up to press their foreheads together, “Right.”

“Get on the carpet, or I’m throwing you into the ocean!” Gareth demanded.

Orenda stood on the deck of the Burned Roc and waved to the crew she was leaving behind. Toli had climbed up two rungs of the railing and was waving enthusiastically, and his crew stood on either side of him.

“Goodbye,” Stephendore yelled, “I hope you find what you’re looking for!”

“We’ll miss you!” Adamaryen agreed.

“Rendy!” Toltih shouted, “I believe in you! You can do this! I believe you’ll get your staff! Send word as soon as you can! Make Impy scry Adam! Let me know that you’re safe! I love you!”

Orenda waved, but did not know how to respond, so she said nothing, and turned her attention to the crew of the Burned Roc as they unfurled the sails. They worked together more fluidly than those on the Recovery, in tandem, each to their ability. Draco had flown to undo the ropes where they met wood high above the ship, and as the heavy sheets unfurled Bella, Gareth, Mr Bildge and Falsie moved together, like a dance, to secure them in their open position.

Impy stood at the back of the ship, looking out over the sea, holding his staff in both hands, as if in deep thought about something.

“Alright,” Gareth called, “Everyone tie yourselves down, we’re going full speed ahead this time!”

“Tie ourselves down?” Orenda asked as Falsie handed her a rope.

“Yeah,” he explained, “We tied everything down while you were getting ready, getting your things and putting them away. Folks and things tend to go flying off into the sea until we get our momentum stable. It’s stable. The universe is like a clock- or, no a clock is like a universe- you know how fast the planet spins, but you don’t feel it because you’re used to it? Look, just tie yourself down. We’re gonna go real fast and that initial lurch is hell.”

“I get seasick,” Orenda said.

“Well when we get moving try to puke over the deck,” Falsie advised, tying the rope around his waist.

“Are we ready?” Gareth shouted from his position at the wheel, “Check in!”

“Aye, captain!” Came a chorus of voices, so Orenda not only tied herself in, but wrapped the rope around her arm and said, “Aye, captain!”

“Course is set!” Gareth yelled, “Calm seas, Mr Oldman?”

“What’s that, captain?” He asked.

“Are you ready to propel us?” Gareth yelled, annunciating each word clearly.

“Oh! Yes!” he said, “Here we go!”

Orenda lurched as the ship jerked forward, moving at breakneck speed, but she kept her grip on the railing, didn’t fall, and though the illness returned, it wasn’t nearly as bad as it could have been.

“First mate!” Gareth yelled, and Bella raised her wand, took a deep breath, and the world around Orenda became a blur as Bella’s wand lit up and she exhaled into the sails.