“These islanders aren’t what I expected,” Jaleel said.
Kol looked up at him. Jaleel stood beside the couch, staring out the nearest window. Jim glanced between the two of them.
“People are moving,” Jim said. “Big vibrations. Maybe there is a tour. Do you think there is a gift shop? I would like to purchase a T-shirt.”
“I don’t expect this place sells souvenirs, I’m afraid.” Dr. Stan sat at the sensor station. Max was back in his wheelchair, beside her. “But thank you for telling us what you feel. Can you also tell us what they’re doing?”
“They’re getting in boats,” Jaleel answered first. “A barge, or maybe a couple of barges – like that one they had for us – are going down the canal. People are climbing into one of them. And they’ve got animals.”
“Animals?” Kol stood and walked to the window. Islanders gathered along the edge of the wide canal and climbed aboard a barge.
The islanders wore layers of simple, dark clothing and heavy cloaks. They carried bags, suitcases, and old-fashioned steamer trunks.
Some of the islanders did lead animals – cows, pigs, and goats with long, curved horns. The islanders led their livestock down ramps to the water’s edge.
“They’re taking their farm animals,” Kol said. “And the other citizens, they have luggage.”
“I feel more boats,” Jim said. He pointed to his left. “There. And there. And there. And there.” He slowly moved his arm clockwise, until he wrapped it around his head. “Maybe they are throwing a party!”
“I don’t imagine this is a regular custom,” Max said. “We saw enough grasslands to provide for grazing without regularly relocating animals.”
“Gathering their animals and civilians somewhere safe after our warning?” Dr. Stan walked to the next window and pulled its curtain aside. “This is in response to us.”
As she looked, the first barge looped around the center island. It was full of standing people, packed together like sardines. The animals were led aboard a second, longer barge, with thick, metal dividers.
“I think I’ll ask them.” Dr. Stan walked to the door and cycled it open.
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Max asked.
“I don’t think they’re hostile,” she answered. “And if they are, you four are here to rescue me.” She stepped from the ship and walked to the edge of the central island, looking to the livestock barge as it finished its path up the canal.
“Maybe the animals are part of the defense,” Jaleel said. “Like, magic animals or something.”
“Magic goats?” Kol asked. “What do the magic goats do, Jaleel?”
“I don’t know,” he said. “They could be like the goats the Dwarves have in the Hobbit movies, or like Pokemon Gogoats. Horses might be tough to raise here, so they have battle goats.”
“I quit the Pokemon games before there were goats,” Kol said. “But these goats are so small. I think it’s more likely they’re just regular goats.”
“Our Wesley is small,” Jaleel said. “But he tore up the leg of a bounty hunter outside Littlefield.”
“That’s what happened to Trivett?” Kol remembered the images of blood stains in the hunter’s abandoned truck, shreds of sodden cloth mixed with the torn chunks of red. Wesley began to chatter in Jaleel’s bunk.
“It’s okay, buddy,” Jaleel called. “Yeah, Wesley defended Enoa, until she beat that guy and we sent him to the Pacific Alliance. And Wesley also found the transmitter on our friends’ roof. Did you hear about that one too?” He gave Kol a suspicious look.
“I heard about it.” Kol thought of the remote warnings from Duncan, as he spied on Littlefield, when he’d been discovered.
Kol found Max looking at him too. “Duncan?” Max asked.
“No way!” Jaleel said. “The astronaut was the one who spied on Eloise and Carlos? Wow, you’re lucky Orson doesn’t know about that.”
“I tried to recall Duncan,” Kol said. “I tried to disengage. I couldn’t reach him. We’d already transmitted the warning to Littlefield when that happened. None of it… None of it happened the way I intended.”
“Uh-huh.” Jaleel still stared at him. “Well, looks like Dr. Stan got somebody’s attention.” The livestock barge was moving around the big island. It glided through the water with no oars and no visible motor. A figure walked to the boat’s edge, facing Dr. Stan. “Ruby, can we listen with the external mic?”
“We’ll try!” Ruby answered.
“…brought the warning!” Dr. Stan called to the barge. “Would you mind telling me what’s happening here?”
“We’re leaving.” A man yelled back. “Under full evacuation order, thanks to your Dreamside Road!”
* * *
“Please,” Chairwoman Carliss said. “Tell us about Archie Grant. How did he die?”
“We’ll get you caught up,” Orson spoke before Enoa could answer. “But I don’t think we’re done talking about this evacuation. Helmont will hunt you across the world. He’ll lay waste to half the planet if that’s what it takes to get at the Dreamside Road keys. He needs to be stopped.”
“We will be fully evacuated in a few hours,” Carliss said. “We have been making preparations for a long time, Captain Gregory.”
“We don’t—” Enoa began.
“So that’s it.” Orson had venom in his voice. “Wherever you’re going to hide, you need to do a better job of it than you did here. Because that’s how we found you. We stole your location from them.”
“Archie left behind no method for finding us?” Sir Merrill asked.
“No,” Orson said. “His killer got to him before he even set foot in Nimauk, where Enoa lived.”
“You never met Archie?” Sir Merrill widened his eyes with realization. Enoa saw a flash of light from the knight, illumination of a sickened, nauseous green, like she witnessed his emotions bleed into the air around him. But then he ran a hand along his forehead and took a deep breath. The light passed. When he looked at them again, his eyes were calm once more. “He died in vain then.”
“He—” Orson started.
“Orson,” Enoa spoke up. “Wait.”
He nodded once. “Sorry.”
“Archie warned my hometown,” she said. “He died in a train derailment caused by a Hierarchia operative, a Shaper of Cobalt Nine named Daniel Tucker, who’d secretly joined my community and become an elected official. Tucker was sent there to watch my aunt. But, before Archie died, he gave my town the warning that let us figure out Tucker’s plan. And Archie also gave Captain Gregory time to find me, even if none of us intended that. I wish so much I could have met him. I’ll always appreciate his sacrifice. That’s another reason why it’s so important I stop people like the Liberty Corps from getting to the Dreamside Road. I need to honor him.”
“If someone killed Master Grant.” The young woman beside Sir Merrill stepped away from him. “How did either of you get here? Was Archie wrong? Did your aunt train you after she made her arrangements with Archie or he spoke to us? You were trained in less than a year?”
“I have…” Enoa began, but she trailed off. She had been trained, taught for years to prepare her thoughts to alter the world. Not Nimauk in origin.
“And you are?” Orson asked.
“Apologies.” She didn’t take her eyes off of Enoa. “Harper Tali. Great-niece and pupil to Sir Merrill.” She offered a slight bow.
Enoa returned the gesture. “I was not formally trained,” she explained. “Whatever my aunt told Archie was the truth.” When had Aunt Su spoken to Archie? How had she talked to him? “And even though I didn’t learn real Shaping, my aunt taught me meditation and mental control for my whole life. She also left behind films of herself demonstrating Anemos, so I could start properly training. I’ve worked with them constantly for the last months.”
“Films?” Harper asked. “And you, Captain, we’d heard the newest wielder of Thousand Destiny was a full mundane. But if a Shaper of Cobalt Nine really existed, and they could defeat Archie, a full mundane could never then win that contest.”
“Never’s not as strict when I’m around,” Orson said. “And I don’t know how many times—”
“That doesn’t explain anything,” Harper interrupted. “Could it be you were simply fooled, and this Tucker tricked you? Now you’ve been tricked further, fooled into thinking you stole this island’s location? Tricked into coming here as bait to lead us into a trap?”
“Yeah, we’re bait,” Orson mocked. “The Liberty Corps knew you’d all turn tail and run away, and they sent us here to scare you off.”
“This island has all the defenses we could need,” Harper said. “Whole battle groups, naval fleets, ancient weapons – this island has powers to match. There are powers here that can fight any invasion, without violence from us. Leading us to flee could be a trap, and a full mundane may not be able to perceive this treachery.”
“It’s good you don’t want to fight,” Orson raised his voice. “Anybody who assumes as much bullshit as you do would get cut down in a minute, no matter what powers you’ve got. And you’re forgetting one fact, I don’t want you to evacuate. I came here hoping to help you defend yourselves. If your island can fight for itself too, that’s even better.”
“Captain Gregory did defeat Archie’s killer,” Enoa said quickly. “He outsmarted Tucker and could protect himself from the cobalt attacks with his sword.”
“Many in our family wielded nothing arcane but their swords’ ignitions,” Sir Merrill caught his student’s eye. “But they would be considered mundane by that measure.”
“I don’t need the ignitions,” Orson said. “Tucker was powerful, but he had blind spots like a lot of enigmas or whatever name you use. I exploited those blind spots until I could catch him.”
“Without ignitions, it’s just a sword,” Harper said. “How could you possibly catch him?”
“And if you’re pacifists,” Enoa raised her voice too. “Orson probably knows a lot more about fighting than you do. And you’re here on this island, how could you know what anything is like in the real world? Powers aren’t everything. Orson overwhelmed Tucker and sedated him until his Cobalt Nine could be destroyed. Tucker’s imprisoned now, like a common criminal. And there’s going to be a trial to judge him for what he did.”
“I thought I liberated all the living Cobalt Nine subjects.” Sir Merrill sighed. “I am glad to hear you resolved the situation in a just way. That is admirable. I’m sorry if this is difficult, but did this man also kill your aunt?”
“No,” Enoa said. “She had cancer.”
“I’m so sorry,” Sir Merrill said. Harper shot him another look. “That was not how her passing felt to us. But we are very far away. And such senses are almost never precise.”
“We thank you again.” Chairwoman Carliss spoke up. She sounded strained, as if working to keep an even tone. “We all face distressing news, and we understand that it must be difficult answering these questions after your long journey. If you do not have any immediate questions for us, we would like to vote again on our next course of action.”
“We still have to talk about the Dreamside Road keys.” Orson looked to Sir Merrill. “Because the Liberty Corps is working on a way of getting at the trove without the keys. So they need to be collected. That problem needs a new answer.”
“Very well,” Sir Merrill said. “Council, I will speak to them. Thank you for your time. Know that the Arcanum supports your decision, whatever it may be.” Then he and Harper bowed to the council and led the way from the council chamber.
“Thank you,” Enoa said. She and Orson followed the other duo from the room. The chamber doors swung shut behind them.
“I hold my key with an oath to protect it.” Sir Merrill stopped along the far side of the entrance hall, beside one of the lamps. “The lady who adopted me and raised me in the covenant tradition held it before me. She died holding it. And I cannot easily give it away, not even under these circumstances.”
“What would it take for you to come with us?” Orson asked. “If we can ensure the safety of your people. Another key-holder, the current Keeper of the Concealment Truce, is preparing a safe place for all of us. With the four of us, that makes half of the keys.”
“What do you mean ‘us’?” Harper asked.
“I have Ophion’s key,” Orson explained.
“The people of this island will scatter to our regional allies,” Sir Merrill said, “though they do not know the full truth of who we are or where we come from. Until I am satisfied with their safety, that is my only concern.”
“The best way to be sure of their safety,” Orson started, “is to get the Dreamside Road off the table. That’ll take the target off their backs for the time being.”
“And why are you the one to collect these keys?” Harper asked. “A full mundane with only a dubious ownership or understanding of the sword he wields can’t be—”
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
“Stop,” Sir Merrill said. “This is not the way, Child. I have another suggestion.” He turned toward Enoa. “Guarding the key is not my only promise. Enoa, guiding you is another. Though I cannot offer you Anemos in the way Sucora could have, I can show you rudiments we all studied. If you learn from me, I can judge for myself if I can trust this oath to you and allow you to carry the Key of Ascendant Fire.”
“She already knows a lot more than rudiments,” Orson said. “She blinded an army a thousand strong. She destroyed a canon designed on a different planet. And, with some help, she beat one of Helmont’s own knights twice. She’s protected her key for months.”
Harper looked ready to answer, so Enoa spoke first. “I’m here to learn,” she said. “Please teach me. “
“I’m not quite finished.” Sir Merrill raised a hand. “There is no time to learn here and now, under such a terrible threat. If I am to teach you, you must come with me when I also leave this island, evacuating last as I was first to arrive here.”
* * *
“You didn’t have to come all the way in here, Teddy.” Sirona found him waiting outside the inn’s mezzanine, wearing full chef’s attire, toque and apron. “I thought we’d meet you outside.”
“I wanted to check on you,” he said. “So I made a couple calls and had them prepare a private table for your special guests. You can stay close this way. I was worried, y’know, worried about you, when I heard about Orson flying away to the North Pole.”
The mezzanine sat partway up the inn’s main atrium. It was lined with floor-to-ceiling windows on both sides. One looked onto the inn’s central courtyard and the tree that stood there, still growing higher, level-by-level. The tree was wrapped in the inn’s embrace, but it might one day grow to dwarf the building, another sentinel like the great line of trees.
The mezzanine’s other side gave a grand view of the gardens and the leagues of forest in the distance.
“You’re so kind, Teddy.” Sirona walked with him toward the outer view. A handful of round tables sat near the windows, but only one was occupied.
“I’m glad you’re here!” Sirona said. Aneirin and Melanthymos sat facing each other, and Sirona joined them. “I hope you’re both comfortable so far.”
“Very comfortable,” Aneirin said. Melanthymos only glanced at her. Both wore Inn merchandise, green and gold with the tree and moon symbol.
“Are you ready to order, Sirona?” Teddy asked. “I can get you a list of our lunch specials.”
“Teddy, if I read about your new specials,” she said. “I’ll be much too tempted. Unfortunately, I’ll be playing catch-up all day. I can’t eat anything too heavy.”
“We’re making the tortellini with the mushrooms that you like,” Teddy offered. “Perfect for some lunch now and some leftover later.”
“That would be perfect,” she answered.
“Coming right up.” Teddy drew a pencil and notepad from an apron pocket and wrote a note. “But I’ve got some new recipes to try soon. When we get our good news from the snow chapel expedition, you have to promise me you’ll celebrate and check out some of the new stuff.”
“Of course I will,” Sirona said. “Maybe April’s lake project will be done by then too.”
“Good news?” Melanthymos asked suddenly, but there was no real anger to her words. “Don’t get your hopes up.” She stood and walked from the table, following the mezzanine walkway until it curved out of sight. Aneirin stared after her.
“If you’d like to wait,” Sirona said. “We can meet up later for dinner instead. I don’t mean to offend her. Do you know what she’d want to do?”
“I have some pastry confections half-done,” Teddy said. “I like to give my baking to the lady in my life when she could use a treat. Would she like something like that, Mr. Wizard?”
Aneirin looked between Sirona and Teddy. He offered a weak smile, but did not answer.
“Why don’t you go ahead with that plan, Teddy?” Sirona said. “You always have the best ideas.”
“This is why I’m a pro!” he said.
“I’ll see she gets whatever you prepare,” Sirona added. Teddy hurried off too, back toward the atrium side of the walkway.
Sirona caught Aneirin’s gaze. She waited, gave him the chance to speak before she asked any questions.
“She sees you,” he said. “And she sees herself.”
“What do you mean?” Sirona asked.
“You…” He pressed his lips together. “You remind her. When she served… When she worked with the Hierarchia. She had a love. They worked together. They wanted to leave together. But the Hierarchia decided no. They were not free to go. Her love wanted to fight. He went alone. She thought he could win. She thought it did not matter what the Hierarchia decided.” He paused.
“They killed her love. And she was alone. She was a prisoner. They kept her. Tested on her. I know only some. She says not much. But young Kit, my friend, my holdfast interpreter – he was a prisoner who knew all the prisoners. He told me her story. He told me many stories of the prisoners. When I met her, I cared already. And now she sees you and young Orson. She is cruel. It is her shield. She is hurt and very sad.
“And she thinks young Orson will die. She sees her past repeat. Orson saved her. She wanted to save him. She fears she failed.” Aneirin’s eyes went glassy and he closed them.
“I have faith in Orson,” Sirona said. “He’s outside all our systems of ranked power. And the world is different now. The Liberty Corps won’t be taking prisoners while the status quo just stays the same. This could be a real war. If Orson… If the mission does not succeed, we will fight here too. We won’t just be captured.”
“You believe.” Aneirin fixed her with a sad smile and wiped at his eyes with the back of his hand. “It is not easy to ignore. Orson feels different. I feel story to him. I feel story to all in his crew. The Hierarchia said to me – they wanted to know what I know. Because they are new and I am old. But now Helmont is the old way. And maybe a new way will win.”
“I think it will,” Sirona said. “Orson does feel unique, but I’m biased. Still, I’m not sure if I could’ve beaten him, not even if I really tried to cook him. He’s something different now. Helmont’s got quite the fight on his hands, no matter what Sir Merrill can do.”
She felt the weight to Orson’s strikes with the sword, his movements fluent and focused, nothing wasted.
“Orson’s weaponized all his strongest traits,” she added. “And he’s good at bringing that out in others too.”
“If they do not win.” Aneirin met her eyes again, his brow furrowed. “If the baron comes here, I may stay. I may fight him again.”
“You’re welcome to stay,” Sirona said. “If Helmont comes here, I’m not going anywhere either.” She pointed down the mezzanine, where Melanthymos had gone. “Should we look for her, or would you rather wait here?”
* * *
Another full barge was circling the center island when Kol sensed Enoa returning to the Aesir.
Kol heard the sound of her presence, but it was changed, turbulent, discordant. He looked away from the window as she and Orson stepped aboard.
“We’ve got a whole bunch of complications.” Orson shut the door after them.
“The islanders have almost no standing defense force,” Max said. “Their school of magic teaches only pacifism. They can’t fight. They’re going to run away.”
“Oh, great,” Orson said. “That saves me the trouble of sharing the bad news. How did you find out?”
“I spoke to some of the evacuees,” Dr. Stan said. “Orson, what are we going to do?”
“It gets better.” Orson glanced at Enoa. “You want to tell them about the key crap?”
“Sir Merrill might be willing to let me take the key,” Enoa said. “But he wants to train me first.”
“That’s great news,” Jaleel said. “You’ve got your own wise old mentor. That’s a big deal, Enoa.”
“That isn’t all.” Enoa breathed deeply. “He wants me to evacuate with him and his school. Then I’ll be trained wherever they’re going, and only when he’s satisfied will he even think about giving me the key.”
“No!” Jaleel yelled. He walked around Kol and Orson and stopped right beside her. “You can’t go. We need you, Enoa. What will we do without you? If you stay and we go… The others aren’t really part of the quest. It’ll just be Orson and me.”
“We want to get our photos quick before the park closes,” Jim said. “Everyone is packing up.”
“Yeah, they sure are,” Orson said. “Jaleel, this is some heavy stuff, right now. Maybe nap time?”
Jaleel nodded. He retrieved a helmet with a metal faceplate from one of the cabin storage lockers.
“I’ll wake you, Jim, when we can get our photos and souvenirs.” Jaleel leaned forward to set the mask on Jim’s head.
“Thank—” Jim stopped abruptly when the mask blocked his vision.
Orson looked about to say something, but just shook his head.
“This Merrill’s timetable won’t work,” Max said. “If the Liberty Corps is nearing a method of reaching the Dreamside Road without the use of the keys, we cannot afford to wait while Enoa undergoes months or, God forbid, years of training. We can’t let the global power balance totally rest on the judgment of this one man, even if he is a knight.”
“You know I like personal rights and responsibilities,” Orson said. “But this time, I agree with you. I’m just not sure what else we can do now. It looks like we’ve got two options, wait and watch or be actually hostile with these islanders.”
“I’ve already learned a lot,” Enoa added. She fiddled with her staff. She extended it and held it against her shoulder. “The beginner stuff he’s offering might not take too long to learn.”
“Are you certain that the lessons you would receive could translate into the knowledge your aunt’s films have already been teaching you?” Dr. Stan asked. “It could be very difficult to start all over again.”
“You’re not really thinking about this, are you?” Jaleel’s voice sounded very small.
“I don’t know,” Enoa answered. “My aunt wanted me to be trained by these people. She wanted me to learn and be safe with them.”
“Unfortunately,” Max said. “Her assessment of their safety here was not accurate. Who can say if the Liberty Corps would have come here if events transpired some other way, but the chance remained. It may be that these people only survive due to our warning.”
“The Liberty Corps would’ve come here no matter what,” Kol said. “I wasn’t the only one Czar Hawthorne had looking. Only Sir Merrill’s reputation stayed their hand this long.”
“Others looking besides you and the baron?” Orson asked. “When were you gonna share that?”
“Helmont introduced this prior to trying to plummet us,” Kol said. “I have no details.”
Orson grimaced. “Well, there is more here than reputation. Merrill’s student talked about the island protecting them. Like it’s alive somehow and can fight for itself.”
Kol heard a new Shaping sound, actually two sounds, he realized, two perfect sustained pitches. Together, they were like an endless bow brought across well-tuned strings. There came a knock at the ship’s door. Orson turned around and opened it.
An older man and young woman stood outside, wearing simple, matching clothes.
“Sir Merrill,” Orson said. “Student, uh, Harper, this is the Aesir crew.”
“Hello,” Sir Merrill said. “The council has made its decision. The evacuation will be on course. The first plane will launch in minutes.”
“That’s your choice,” Orson said. “But will your island fight to defend itself if you aren’t still here? You won’t want this place falling into the hands of the Liberty Corps.”
“I believe it will fight,” Sir Merrill said. “The works of this place are not mine, but my ancestors’. To my knowledge, it has never been located without the will of its leader, not until now.”
“It’s been a day for that kind of thing,” Orson said. “So you’re just leaving then?”
“Soon.” Sir Merrill looked to Enoa. “I will leave last, as I said. I am gathering my students to look at the world. It will be easier when we widen the throughway to let the planes leave. Would you like to join us, Enoa? It may be enlightening.”
“Of course,” Enoa said immediately. “I’m… I’m honored.”
“Then come along,” Sir Merrill said. “If you decide to remain with the crew when the time comes for me to leave this island, I will be sure you have the chance to return to your vessel.”
“Do you mind if we go over to this widened throughway?” Orson asked. “I’d like to take some readings. I’m good at hiding my ship from the Liberty Corps. I promise I won’t give you away.”
“I see no problem with it,” Sir Merrill said. “The throughway will open to the far opposite side of the island from where you arrived. That will be where the planes gather.” He smiled at Enoa. “Very well, shall we go?”
Enoa looked back once, long enough to lock eyes with Jaleel. But then she jumped from the ship and followed after the knight.
The young woman, Harper, lingered outside the door. She watched Orson.
“If any action is taken that communicates with the outside world,” she said. “If you do anything that could draw us into conflict, all the power vested in this land will know you are the source of danger.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Orson said. “I’ll be careful. I’ve never been attacked by an island before. Well, at least not one that was really an island. Thanks for the heads up.” He shut the door in her face. Then he walked to the pilot’s seat.
“What a damn bust.” Orson powered on the Aesir. “We spent a lot of time talking about expecting the unexpected, but this is a new one for me. I could’ve lived to be a hundred and ten and I would never have guessed this.”
“Will I need to get strapped in again?” Max asked.
“We’ll go slow,” Orson said. “I don’t see what hurry we’re in. They’re only interested in Enoa, and we don’t have a whole lot to do. I’ll ease around the big church here, and if you’re uncomfortable and want to sit in something bolted down, just let me know.”
Jaleel returned to the copilot’s seat. Kol advanced too. He didn’t sit in Enoa’s vacant chair, but he stood beside it. He watched the center of Knightschurch as Orson drove them along the island.
They passed beyond the identical temples and alongside the immense cathedral. The church had a second wall of ice, an inner rampart and concealed courtyard.
And Kol saw the ice made to mimic stained glass. There were stories formed into the colored ice, legends, probably histories of the islands’ founders. Kol saw riders on horseback, swordsmen with gleaming emerald blades, and the fire in crescent moon symbol.
Kol looked away from the church when the noise started, a rumbling like a distant earthquake.
“I’m gonna give us a little more speed,” Orson said. “Let me know if I need to slow down, but I want to see their takeoff.”
The Aesir cleared the cathedral and rounded the far side of the central island. More of the white buildings stood there, with more grasslands and terraced hills.
Kol could not see where most of the planes were parked, but he did see one take flight, with a boom that he felt even inside the Aesir. It was a pointed, sleek aircraft, with six engines along its wings and more at the rear.
A massive rent opened in the distant ice wall, like two sides of an opening zipper.
Then the plane blasted out through the opening, glowing yellow from all its many engines.
The ice slowly zipped shut again, with a rumbling like an avalanche. Kol did not know whether the noise was a real sound he heard or Shaping he sensed.
The ice wall remained partly ajar, enough to see a clear view of the blue sky outside.
“I’ll move us a little closer to the evacuation,” Orson said. “See if we can learn anything useful.”
“So they’re really running,” Dr. Stan said. “All this. All of this! And they’re just going to run away.”
“Looks like it.” Orson drove them around the far side of the cathedral’s wall. He found a ramp down into a canal on the opposite side.
Orson guided them along the water again, steering toward the gap in the ice.
* * *
Enoa followed Sir Merrill and Harper to a boat moored behind the cathedral. It bobbed lightly as they stepped aboard. Enoa sat beside Harper, but Sir Merrill remained standing. He untied them from the dock, and the boat carried them away.
There were no oars, no sail, no engine. Enoa saw nothing from Sir Merrill, but the boat seemed to move with his will. It followed another canal between low residential buildings. Locals already gathered outside with their packed bags.
Light fell across the canal. Enoa looked up from the water and found the opening where the plane had departed. The light at the opening looked distorted. The color was too harsh, somehow less real than the light filtering down through the ice above. There was something strange about the glow of the true sky, like an optical illusion that forced her eye to see motion where there was none. Something looked strange at the horizon. Was she seeing the Shaping that opened the ice?
“My students will have already begun,” Sir Merrill lightly stepped from the boat and tied it at its new mooring. “I will introduce you at the earliest pause. This is a unique chance for my students to learn. We will sense the world. It is easiest to look out when we lower our defenses, but that is a rare thing in these suspicious times.”
Enoa tried not to think about her choice. Leave the Aesir crew? Lose a second home in less than six months? She saw Jaleel’s devastated face.
Instead of dwelling on her situation, Enoa focused again on the illusion at the hole in the ice. The trick of the light left her uneasy, but distracted.
Sir Merrill led them along a wide grassy expanse. Ahead, four planes waited. A queue of people filed up a rear ramp into one of them. They moved in a practiced way. Enoa glanced from the odd light to the line of evacuees, laden with their bags.
Then she looked back to the opening again. It seemed to have shifted, like clouds moved there, blocking and revealing the sun in flashes of light and shadow.
But the illumination from above stayed steady. It did not change like the light at the horizon.
“Are you ill?” Harper watched her.
“I’ll be okay,” she said. “I’m just…” But Enoa couldn’t put her finger on what bothered her, why the opening drew her eye. “I’m fine.”
Sir Merrill brought them along the sides of one of the terraced hills. It was lined with plants, but there was also a brick path that circled higher. A crowd of people in the same, simple tunics sat in a circle at the hill’s top.
“We are all here now.” Sir Merrill took a deep breath. He closed his eyes. “We face a test of our values. We face a loss and a danger. We face a new scattering. May it be the last. We look to the world for answers. We look to the cycles of this earth, the motion of sea and sun, the turnings of the cosmos. Find peace in consistency. Find knowledge in what you can sense.”
Enoa closed her eyes too. She followed the exercise, followed the sea and the sun. She followed the strange way the light shone in the distance.
There, she found a place where the ocean did not move.
She sensed water that was almost stagnant. The wind did not disturb it, skirting the sea without ripple or wave. And there was no tide. The unmoving ocean ignored the sun and the moon in the sky. It was still.
It was Shaping.
Enoa suddenly realized what the distortion meant. She snapped her eyes open and gasped.
Sir Merrill and Harper and all the students turned to look at her.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I think the attack is here. I think they’re doing something to the ocean.”
“I don’t feel anything,” Harper said. “Are you sure it isn’t—”
“Wait.” Sir Merrill had shut his eyes again. “Very subtle. Powered ships on an unmoving ocean could travel very quickly. Inventive.” He regarded them all, before settling on Enoa.
“You bring a second warning, Enoa Cloud,” Sir Merrill said. “I believe you’re right. Our attackers are here.”