Sara pulled a side table closer to the bed, and began rummaging through her bag to pull out small satchels. When she glanced up at him, there was sadness there, pity, and something he couldn’t quite place.

‘The Guard Captain accused me of witchcraft,’ he blurted out.

The satchel in her hands dropped to the floor with a heavy thunk, though Sara’s hands remained frozen as though she were still holding it. Asher watched the colour drain from her face, and another sickly wave of guilt washed over him.

‘I’m sorry,’ he said. ‘I know you told me to be careful, but—’

‘Asher, I’m so sorry,’ Sara whispered. ‘I should have… I should have told you they weren’t real. Most people will stop seeing them after a while. If I hadn’t—’

‘No, that’s the thing,’ Asher said. ‘I didn’t. I mean, I didn’t mean to.’

Sara’s brow furrowed. ‘What do you mean?’

‘It’s all this… this stuff.’ His frustration bled into the words, and he bit it down, forcing himself to be calm. ‘It’s getting everywhere and reacting to everything and I didn’t even do anything but it still—’

‘Breathe,’ Sara pressed. ‘Please, sweetie. Breathe.’

He couldn’t. Now that it was all out in the open, it had possessed him completely, scattering every other thought and movement. His lungs tightened, refusing to let air in. His hands were shaking again. They were still covered in that strange dust.

‘Asher, I can’t help both of you like this,’ Sara pressed. ‘I need you to breathe. Slow down. Take a few deep breaths. Please.’

Asher swallowed, driving his palms into his knees and forcing them to still. Sara scooped up the satchel from the floor and pulled all of her small collection open.

‘I know you’re scared. Believe me, I do, but there’s nothing you can do for the moment. I won’t tell anyone you’re here, and I don’t think the bartender will either. You have time to sort this out.’

Asher pulled in a deep breath, holding it until he grew dizzy. She was right of course, but it was more than that. ‘I need to know how this works,’ he said. ‘Properly. I know you told me that I shouldn’t—’

‘Well, it’s too late for that,’ Sara said. She sighed. ‘There’s a way to control it, the dust I mean, but this isn’t the right time. The spirits aren’t acting the way they should.’

‘The gate,’ Penn said. ‘They know it’s about to open.’

Sara paused. ‘I hope you’re being pessimistic.’

‘I don’t think he is,’ Asher said. ‘The Nakati are here because their home has been destroyed.’

‘Oh…’ Sara shifted, staring intently at the spread across the little table, though her hands only knocked the little bags back and forth. ‘I… I want to say I’m surprised, but I… oh, by the three. Is that really what’s happening here?’

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‘I don’t know,’ Asher mumbled. ‘I’m still trying to figure out what’s going on.’

‘I’d rather that before we start thinking… Asher, do you know what it means if the Gate is opening?’

‘I know it’s not good,’ Asher said.

‘It’s the end,’ Sara pressed. ‘Back during the first King’s war, the gate opening was the same as the first of the sleeping gods waking up. It’s… it’s the end.’

A shiver ran down the base of Asher’s spine. ‘Okay, that’s bad.’

‘It’s true,’ Penn said. ‘I don’t know what is waking up, but the gate is growing weak. It’s not the end though. It needs to be stopped.’

‘I would agree to that,’ Sara mumbled. ‘But witches… there’s no-one on this side to close it.’

‘That’s true,’ Penn said.

‘Is that why you’re here?’ Sara asked. ‘I’m sorry, I don’t usually see Nakati in this world. I hope it’s not rude.’

Penn’s eyes narrowed and Asher wondered for a moment if he was going to start growling at her, but he instead tilted his head. ‘You have Nakati marks.’

Sara laughed nervously, then reached up and caught a small wisp of a spirit as it sailed past. Black dust rained from her fist and into the bag, before she sealed it up. ‘I don’t know what that means, but I’ve been to Nakati, yes.’

‘That’s where you spent time in another world?’ Asher asked. ‘Nakati?’

‘It’s not quite as exciting as being in the Underlands,’ Sara said. ‘But yes, when I was a little girl, I wondered in after a strange group.’

‘Oh.’ Asher shifted in his seat as Sara shook the little bag violently, the contents inside thrashing with a hissing sound. She then turned to Penn, and handed the bag out to him.

‘It’s better that you do it,’ Sara said. ‘It’ll help with his fever, but there’s not much else I can put together without going home first.’

Penn hesitated, then slowly reached out and took the bag before rushing over to the bed. Sara turned back to Asher, then pressed her hands into her hips.

She sighed. ‘What to do with you.’

‘You don’t have to help,’ Asher mumbled. ‘I don’t want you getting in trouble just for me.’

‘I’m ignoring the pessimism,’ Sara said. ‘But if you can’t turn back, I’m at least going to… oh, I don’t know. It’s dangerous to throw yourself blind.’

Now was the time to ask, though Asher still couldn’t bring himself to form the questions. If he handled it as carelessly as he had with Iain, he would lose yet another ally, and he’d be back to square one with helping Teka. Penn had already worked through most of the little bag, drawing a paste across the man’s forehead and across his upper lip.

‘Oh, it’s been so long since I’ve done anything magical,’ Sara said. ‘I’m probably as rusty as you are.’ She gave a little jump. ‘I have an idea. I’ll be back in a second.’

Before Asher could respond, she whirled around and swept down the stairs, out of sight. Penn moved over to the other end of the bed, sitting cross-legged on the side with his back to Asher. He was still watching Teka intently.

‘She’s going to teach you,’ he said.

‘I… think so?’ Asher mumbled.

‘That’s good,’ Penn said.

‘Maybe,’ Asher said. ‘It’s dangerous, and I don’t want her to—’

‘She said she would,’ Penn said. ‘Does she know it’s dangerous?’

‘Well, yes, but—’

‘You worry a lot.’

‘Is this really the end of the world?’

‘That’s one story,’ Penn said. ‘It’s not… I don’t know if it’s real.’

‘I guess it doesn’t have to be,’ Asher mumbled.

‘No,’ Penn said. He shifted and made to turn around, then instead collapsed down on the pillow next to his father. Asher struggled to his feet, and by the time he reached over to pull the blankets up, the man was already asleep. Teka was still and breathing next to him.