Blake dropped to all fours and resisted the urge to vomit. Damn magic again. They had ridden all the way to the capital, so they could ride back to Danira just as easily. Why trust a green circle on the ground and some guy who could barely keep himself awake?

Liera tried to lift him to his feet, but the armour made it difficult. "Get up you idiot."

“Give me a bit.” Blake placed his head between his vambraces. Vince had demanded that he shunt while in full plate. It’d be a useful experience, he had said, for his body to bear the strain. He looked around and found he recognized the room. When he first stumbled upon it when roaming the city hall he thought it was abandoned.

Asah approached him, walking now, on legs made entirely of metal. They were intricate, with hundreds of cogs and tiny moving pieces. Just like the constructs had. “Isn’t this your city?” She giggled. “You should show us the way. Your elder should be expecting us."

That poked at Blake’s pride somehow. He pushed himself up and even jumped in place a couple of times, making his armor clank. “Follow me then,” he said and took the lead.

“Before that.” Vince stopped him. He looked Blake and Liera up and down with a slight frown. “Some last minute preparations.” He reached back into his sack and pulled out a dagger. It seemed tiny in his hand, but shiny and beautiful. It’s blade split in two and curved, and a gem glittered in its hilt. “This arrived today from the Tower. For your mission,” he said before handing it to Liera.

She took it with both hands and flinched. “The weight’s all off.”

Vince placed a hand on her shoulder. “It’s not for wielding. Drayton told me you have a little bit of magic inside you, enough to light glyphs."

"Not enough for a spell…"

Vince smiled and turned the dagger around in her hands. She traced its rough, uneven surface. Her eyes squinted, as if she was having trouble reading the glyph. Blake felt somewhat vindicated. She always made fun of him for being so inept when it came to magic.

"Don't bother," Asah said. "Not even I can make sense of the old man's scribblings."

"The old man?" Blake raised an eyebrow

"An archmage who prefers the solitude of his tower more than the glamour of city life. His life's work has been automating Silyra. Thanks to him, I can walk again."

"But what does it do?" Liera touched the glyph and it lit up with her blue magic.

Blake heard the gem whirr and turn in the daggers hilt. Liera's form wavered. Like a curtain being drawn over the world itself, she vanished.

Vince smiled. "It bends light."

"Amazing..." Liera's voice was heard. "I can already feel it draining me." She phased back into existence in front of them, staring at the dagger.

"Naturally." Asah laughed. "It's very new technology, so I'm guessing it hasn't been made efficient yet. The same principle is used on a larger scale, to make the capital invisible. Still, it should prove useful after you practice using it."

"I will." Liera nodded and slid it back in its holster.

"Right. We should be ready to leave then." Blake shuffled around in his armour. It was starting to heat up and he couldn't wait to get out of it. He opened the door to the main area of the city hall. He'd been here so many times in his twenty three years that he knew it like the back of his hand. And even when he did get lost, there was a simple rule to help him. Follow the rising ceiling.

"Very interesting design!" Asah kept wandering off to the side, to admire the architecture and the paintings. "It gets grander with each iteration, doesn't it?"

"I don't remember the previous one really." Blake saw the head of the statue that decorated the central hall and changed direction. "But I'm pretty sure I like this one better,” he said, yet an uneasy feeling settled in his stomach. He reached the base of the statue, even rounded it a couple of times. No sign of Drayton.

Instead, it was another official that greeted them. He wore the colors of Danira, intertwined brown and red that blended softly into one another. “Welcome, Archmage. Welcome, Commander.” He bowed.

The seed of worry sprouted in Blake’s mind. Drayton was old, and his health had been declining for a while. “The elder? He was supposed to meet us here.” He tried not to show worry as he said it. The elder had always been there for them, as a parent and a mentor.

“Resting. He was forced to use a spell.” The man paused, fidgeting with his robe. “You should be aware of his condition.”

Liera looked up, sorrowful. “Will he make it?”

“He is stable now, but there is no telling when he will wake up.” The man shook his head. “We shouldn’t lose sight of what’s important in his absence. The Andren ambassador is already waiting for you outside. He is anxious to begin the journey.”

"Just one more thing. Don't ask for his name," Vince said. The Daniran official behind him nodded in agreement. "They think it an insult. Like a slave answering to a master. If he believes us to be of a higher rank than his own, he will introduce himself."

Blake furrowed his brows. "None of the Ashfen we've met did that."

"They were slaves or foot soldiers," Liera noted. "What did you expect?"

"You'll be dealing with much more than slaves or foot soldiers," Vince said, lifting his helmet for a breath. He turned around and made for the twin doors that led outside. He placed a hand on each one and pushed them open.

Sunlight flooded the hall. Blake had always thought the building unreasonably large, but Vince’s build made it seem normal. And yet despite his father’s stature and the depth of his voice, there was something calming about his presence.

A small crowd had gathered in the courtyard around the Andren ambassador and their vehicle. The clank of Blake’s armor alerted them, and they parted to allow them through. He’d heard of Andre’s desert ships, but he’d never seen one up close before. Four wings made entirely of metal spread out in an ‘X’, bending to touch the ground with pointy tips. Their bases joined at the top, forming a flat circle. The wings themselves were so tall that Blake couldn't see what lay on top.

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They neared enough for the Andren ambassador to notice them. He was unlike the other ashfen Blake had seen, wearing clothes tailored to his form and colored a soft blue. Instead of the usual dull gray, his skin was white. His hair was straight, held together in a knot with a small twig. And he was smiling. In his mind, they couldn’t smile.

"My name is Gyn Zeral. I am honored to be in your presence." He knelt and bent forward, until his forehead touched the ground in front of Vince’s feet. He didn’t move.

“Rise, Gyn,” Asah said.

The man stood, taking a few moments to fix his hair and straighten his clothes. His movements were quick, practiced. “Thank you.” He motioned to one of the massive wings behind him. “We can depart whenever you are ready.”

Vince spared them all a quick glance and Blake nodded in approval. Asah went first, scaling the rods fixed to the wing. He had secretly hoped he’d have enough time to see Sasha, but that didn’t seem an option. She had a tendency of overworking, and he always worried for her. He wanted nothing more than to hug her, feel her warmth against his body.

As if in response to his thoughts, Liera’s voice called from below him. “Focus, idiot, and hurry up.”

“I’m focused,” he muttered. “Try climbing in plate.” Despite his protests, he was already nearing the top of the aircraft, could see its tough leather exterior. The brown material stretched over it like a dome, shielding seats and supplies from the sun. Gyn offered his hand and Blake took it, propping himself up. Once everyone had safely boarded, he motioned to the seats lining the outer edges of the platform. “Please, make yourselves comfortable. If you go down the central stairs, you will find lodging, where you can sleep all you want. The journey to Trosa will take no more than three days.”

Blake doubted his ears. They couldn’t reach the Andren capital in three days. He’d heard from his father that riding the fastest horse with little rest cut the time down to a month.

“You don’t have to worry, sir.” Gyn must have sensed his scepticism. “Esteemed guests such as yourselves get to enjoy the fastest ships Andren technology has to offer. You can sit back and enjoy the ride.”

Blake simply glanced at Liera and nodded. Honestly, Gyn unnerved him. He was just too… different. Well spoken, gentle, and perhaps even intelligent. So far, the ashfen were little more than criminals in his mind. He had been taught how to kill or capture them, but nothing more. Perhaps he was the animal in the end. His hand found the leather back of one seat and he flopped down, removing his helmet. “I feel sick.”

Liera sat by his side. “What’s wrong?”

“I think–”

A loud whirr and a rumble interrupted his words. No, his thoughts. The desert ship took to the sky and tilted forward slightly. Blake and Liera stared outside through one of the holes in the leather. The wings flapped furiously, too fast for their eyes to track, and familiar buildings passed them by underneath. Moments later, and there was nothing but red sand under the ship. Its wings descended, curving again to touch the sand. The turbulence settled and the groans of the machinery gradually died down, but the speed remained the same. Red sand faded into a blur.

“By the Arbiter!” Blake looked over his shoulder. Danira and the surrounding forest were but a spot in the horizon. “‘This isn’t right.” He shifted in his seat, gauntleted fingers tightening around it.

Liera glanced at the other end of the ship, where Vince and Gyn stood. “What do you mean?” She leaned in close and lowered her voice.

Blake kept his own steady. “I’m not cut out for this.” He’d fought and killed and been injured multiple times throughout his life, but this mission was different. It was more than his own life he was responsible for, and the burden had already started to weigh heavy. “Why would dad choose us of all people for such an important task?”

“I wouldn’t say he chose us. More like resorted to using us.” Liera sneered. “Don’t mistake his desperation for trust.”

“I guess you’re right.” Blake let his head hang. He was so tired of it all. Travelling, fighting… worrying. He only pushed himself further for those he cared about. His sister, Sasha, Rane, even his father. They needed him. Was it selfish to think of peace and a quiet life during such a time?

“Hey, what’s wrong?” Liera spoke softly. She rubbed his shoulders through the plate. He barely felt it.

“What if we fail?” He raised his head and looked her straight in the eyes. “What if we go to war?”

Liera stood, puffed out her chest and pushed her chin forward. She placed her hands on her waist. “We’d rough them up!”

It took him a few moments of confusion to remember. “Shut up!” He pushed her shoulder and laughed. “I don’t look that stupid.”

“Try it in front of a mirror when you get the chance.” Liera sat back down beside him. “You shouldn’t worry too much. What happens is out of your control anyway.” She motioned to Asah and Vince. “What can we do but trust them? What can we do but fight should the need arise?”

We could flee, Blake thought. He didn’t dare say it. Liera and Vince might have a complicated relationship, but they had one thing in common. Unwavering patriotism, or perhaps simple stubbornness. Whatever it was, it didn’t allow them to yield. They would fight till the end. “You know I’ll stand by you,” he said. “No matter what happens.” That was his reason. He couldn’t afford to lose another sibling. He couldn’t.

“That’s the spirit.” She smiled and patted his back. “Oh, I forgot to mention. Vince said you can take off the armor whenever you want.”

“What? Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” Blake stood and unclasped the straps that held his gauntlets and vambraces on. He struggled to reach the belt that kept his faulds in place.

“I’ll leave you to it.” Liera shot him a grin and skipped away.

“Hey! Get back here and help me…” He tried to protest, but she was already gone. If they were back home, he’d raise his voice and maybe even chase her, but that didn’t seem wise under these circumstances. He simply sighed and went back to working on the armour. Full plate covered every part of the body, and that very fact made removing it tortuous. Sometimes he wondered if the trade off was worth it.

He had barely gotten the last piece off when Gyn spoke from behind him. “You must be weary. Perhaps you’d like to sleep?”

Blake shivered. Why did the ashfen keep lingering around him? “No, I’m alright.” He shot the man a sideways glance, hoping it’d hold the same meaning of ‘leave me alone’ in Andren culture. It didn’t.

“I’m afraid I must insist." Gyn placed a hand on Blake's shoulder. "The ship will be passing through a sandstorm, and it is my duty to ensure your safe arrival.”

Blake was about to protest, but he saw Vince nodding meaningfully. "Fair enough." He reached over and picked up his chestplate when Gyn stopped him.

"I'll take care of your armour, you need not worry." Gyn circled around, picking up more pieces of it than he could carry. He seemed hurried.

Blake didn't question it anymore. He left the ashfen and walked to the center of the platform. Climbing the stairs down and into the wooden interior of the ship was much easier without the armour hindering his movements. When he reached the bottom, he found everyone waiting for him.

Liera glanced up at the opening. "He's lying," she whispered. "There's no storm coming. Something's going on."

Blake scratched his head. "But we've just begun traveling."

"You must have noticed it too, how he changed," Vince said, sitting down on a crate. "He was all smiles at first, but now he seemed almost anxious to cramp us all up down here."

"He doesn't want us on deck," Asah said.

"But why?" Blake asked.

"I don't know." Liera reached for the dagger's hilt, and she vanished. "But I intend to find out."