Rynnelle and the entire ballroom watched as Silverhand tried to step over the fallen glass, stumble, and pinwheel his arms as he regained balance. Holding up a thumb to let everyone know he's okay.

"We're all going to die," Rynnelle muttered.

Silverhand had stepped out of the alcove and stood a few feet away from being directly in its light when he’d pulled the lantern out of-well Rynnelle wasn't sure. Everything happened so fast. One second, all he had was a quarter-full pitcher. In the next, he held the pitcher in one hand and that strange lantern in the other.

"There you are," The pirate captain's eyes went as wide as saucers. Thankfully, he dropped Rynnelle's father without doing that freaky shadow stuff from earlier before taking a couple of steps in Silverhand and, by extension, Rynnelle's direction. There was no easy path to get to them because of the crowd. An annoyed look passed his face, and everyone moved aside to give him an unobstructed view. To Silverhand, the pirate captain said, "And you are?"

Silverhand dramatically put a hand to his chest and stated to the captain, with his mouth open in exasperation, “S-hic, seriously, I’m hurt, Dooley. Really hurt.” He sniffled and wiped a tear from his eye before loudly exclaiming, “Abdul Ketemah, everybody! Probably can remember the name of every candle scent but not the guy who helped save his life! Shadow life? Whatever. I mean, Captain Chin over there knew who I was, and I never even met him!” Silverhand jerked a thumb in Dashards direction, who shot him a disapproving glare. “Still think h-hic-he's secretly part of my fan club, but that's not the point! It's the principle!”

In the furthest reaches of Rynnelles mind, something stirred at the mention of Abdul Ketemah. It was familiar, but she couldn’t place exactly where she’d heard it. She pushed the thought away, focusing on the present moment.

The collective gaze of the ballroom shifted from Silverhand to Captain Ketemah, who just stared at the drunken Yana with a blank face. Taking that same cold, dispassionate tone, he said, “Kaine. Take our prize and him. If he resists, take his other hand and whatever else you need to make him cooperate. We need him alive. Whether he's intact or not is up to him.”

“With pleasure.”

The crowd shifted again, allowing an all-too-familiar monstrous figure to enter the cleared path. Kaine strode toward them with a horrifying smile that made Rynnelle’s skin crawl. The pirate may have been a head or so taller than Dashard, but he towered over Silverhand like an obelisk.

Kaine stopped just outside of getting into the white light. His smile flickered, Kaine’s hand tentatively reaching out to touch as if to touch it.

Silverhand put his hand over his mouth in a poor attempt to hide his sudden stitch of laughter. Kaine arched a quizzical eyebrow at him. “ Whatswrong?" Silverhand mocked, his words slurring together into one as a derisive grin spread across his face, "Scaredofalittlenightlight?"

Unable to contain himself anymore, Silverhand burst into a fit of drunken laughter. Kaine, however, didn’t find it amusing. “C’mere, you little shit.”

Kaine swung his cleaver down so the edge sunk into the floor as he ignored his earlier reservations and marched into the light. His hand swiped at Silverhand, intent on wrapping around the Yana’s throat and throttling him.

“Actually, I get it now. If I had a face like yours, I’d want to stay in the dark, too.” Kaine blinked, looking at his empty hand and then at Silverhand, who was still snickering as he stood out of his reach. “You know magic’s a thing, right? I’m sure someone out there who can fix all that. Won’t be cheap, though.”

Kaine growled. He grabbed at Silverhand again, but at that moment, the drunken Yana dropped his shoulder as he turned around to look at Rynnelle. Kaine's fingers brushed past him as he spoke, “What do you think, Nelle? I’m not the best with money, but he could probably look decent if he spent two or three gold scal, right?”

“Uh…” Was all Rynnelle could say at first, still trying to process what was happening. She swallowed hard and said, “Five, just to be safe.”

Silverhand doubled over laughing, seemingly oblivious to Kaine's hand as it passed over his head. “You hear that Kaine? Even she thinks you need some work done!”

“Stand still!”

Rynnelle watched with bewildered fascination as she finally understood exactly how this frivolously unhinged drunk of a pirate eluded the combined effort of the Yanayin tribe for so long.

Silverhand moved like a leaf lazily meandering through a whirlwind. He swayed back and forth, taking one staggering step after another. If he was standing by himself, it looked nothing more than a bunch of random, sloppy, somewhat dancing-like movements; Kaine's continued roars of frustration told a very different story, however. Try as the massive pirate might, he couldn't lay a finger on Silverhand. Rynnelle thought that would've been humiliating enough, but Silverhand apparently felt chatty.

“Speaking of getting stuff done, You're pretty old, so they may not've had them back in your day, but there's this new thing called dental hygiene. I think it'd do you wonders.” Silverhand said casually, “I'm only bringing it up because you like to smile a lot, and it makes you hard to look at. Unless that was intentional, in which case, keep up the good work.”

Veins popped in Kaine's forehead and neck, "Do you ever stop talking?!" He stepped back, chest heaving as he caught his breath. Behind him, Captain Ketemah said, “Put an end to this already.” Kaine spun and glared scornfully at Ketemah as he pulled his cleaver from the floor.

Silverhand responded as if Ketemah was talking to him, “Fiiiiine, if you insist.” As Kaine turned back around, Silverhand swung the lantern into his face.

Kaine staggered. Streams of crimson blood flowed from a broken nose as he furiously blinked his eyes. The pirate blindly swung the cleaver, snarling like an animal too mad to form words. Coiling like a viper to dodge the blade, Silverhand used his gold prosthetic to strike Kaine's knee with the open palm.

There was a sharp crack. Kaine opened his eyes. Staring straight at Rynnelle for three seconds before looking down to see Silverhand grinning up at him and then at his knee. A scream, unlike anything Rynnelles ever heard, tore its way up from Kaine's throat. The pirate dropped the cleaver, bent down, still screaming to clutch his knee. Silverhands prosthetic glinted in the light as it darted forward like a spear right into Kaine's throat, silencing the scream. With Kaine still off-balance, Silverhand grabbed a handful of his beard and yanked it down and out as he stepped to the side.

Kaine's eyes rolled into his head as he fell face forward into the remains of the broken pitcher. Rynnelle winced as Silverhand stepped on his head, the bits of glass crunching against Kaine's face as he smugly said, “Bet that didn’t turn out like you thought it would.”

Captain Ketemah didn’t respond, studying Silverhand in perplexed frustration. Rynnelle watched his jaw set as Ketemah's hand shifted on the pommel of his sword. “You said I know you. How?” Captain Ketemah said slowly, sounding to Rynnelle like he’d already found the answer.

Silverhand clicked his tongue, hopped off Kaine as blood started to pool at his feet, and took a few steps back toward the alcove, although Kaine's sprawled form was still in the white light. Twirling the lantern by the ring around his wrist, Silverhand said, “I’ll give you a hint. Last time we spoke, I told you I’d be the one to finally put you and your crew of bastards out of their misery.” He gave Ketemah a smile that didn’t reach his eyes, “Lucky for you, I turned a new leaf. So if you leave now, I won’t consider tracking you down and dragging you out into the sunshine.”

Captain Ketemah narrowed his eyes and wordlessly drew his blade, “You’re supposed to be dead.”

“What can I say?” Silverhand said with a shrug, “It didn’t stick.”

Ketemah tilted his head, confused, but only let it distract him momentarily. “Give me the lantern, and tell me who you stole it from. Then we-“

“Yeaaaaah, imma stop you right there. According to the rules of sir finders of keepers, this is mine,” Silverhand tossed the Eclipse Lantern between his hands. “Not my fault it took you guys, like, fifty years to find it when I did in an afternoon without really trying.”

Captain Ketemah's face twitched, and he was about to say something when he thought better of it. He exhaled through his nostrils and calmly said, “Silverhand, I always knew If you survived that mouth of yours, you’d grow up to make a name for yourself.” That sent a wave of murmurs through the members of Parliament, who’d been watching the exchange like a spectator sport. There were maybe a dozen close to their alcove. They took several steps back, “I also knew that it was his, and likely the tribe's underestimation of you, that allowed you to run unchecked for so long.”

“Gee, thanks, I thi-“

“I will not make that same mistake,” Ketemah said, cutting Silverhand off. He slashed the air above his head, making a six-pointed star out of flaming shadows, and plunged his sword into the floor as he started to cast a spell. “May this sacrifice placate the hunger of the abyss.”

The ballroom started to rumble, and the Navy moved. Using Silverhand as a distraction, they got in position to free the hostages and press the pirates in a last-ditch effort.

"I offer their hope, for they still think their lives belong to them," The temperature in the room began to fall when the flaming star started to spin and grow in size. "I offer their screams. May the litany act as prayer and give you strength." Rynnelle felt her ears pop as the room suddenly went silent.

Silverhand scrambled back to the alcove to stand next to Rynnelle. The strange haze of heat enveloped her. It was warm and tickled her skin. To Rynnelle's surprise, once it enveloped her, she could hear again. “Here, hold this.” Silverhand shoved the lantern into Rynnelles hands before she could respond.

“This is supposed to be your plan?!” Rynnelle exclaimed as she watched him shift through his pockets and pull out a couple of ornate vials.

“Oh, don’t give me that this is the best you’re going to get with it being short notice,” The spinning stars' edges folded down, slowly forming a cage around the pirate captain. Silverhand picked out two vials. One was a black tube with golden glowing contents inside, while purple fur covered the other. “Okay, we gotta be quick because once he finishes, we get one chance to get out of here. Tell me when they’re right on top of us, and then close your eyes. Don’t. Drop. The. Lantern.” He down the glowing vial and shut his eyes tight. Silverhand put a gentle but firm hand on her shoulder.

Rynnelle opened her mouth to speak, but Captain Ketemah’s voice was as loud as thunder as he finished the incantation. "I offer their light. Consume it, and bless them with your eternal embrace."

The flaming shadows surrounding Captain Ketemah shot out, wafting a chilling wind as they shattered the remaining lights in the room. It was like being sent to the bottom of the Iega as darkness flooded the room.

For some reason, the shimmering haze persisted even as the rod above them shattered. It acted as a barrier but was slowly shrinking. It would be on them in minutes. Rynnelle glanced at Silverhand wearily. His eyes remained closed, but a bright light radiated under his eyelids. She scanned the room, and Rynnelles breath caught in her chest.

The barrier highlighted the room's occupants. Each life is represented by a floating mote of light. The pirates looked the same, but they glided toward them through the sea of shadows like a frenzy of sharks. Captain Ketemah was the only one who stood still, anchored by his sword impaled in the floor.

Rynnelle flinched as they slammed into the barrier. It held. Their hands and snarling faces pressed against it like glass. But she started to tremble as those minutes the barrier brought them turned into seconds. Silverhands grip on her shoulder tightened, “How we looking? Now?”

“No,” Rynnelle answered quickly, surprising herself.

She tasted copper and realized she’d been biting her lip hard. Rynnelle took a calming breath. She'd gotten into her fair share of trouble over the years, but nothing like this. Captain Ketemah intended to kill everyone on the island.

The pirates hammered at the barrier, yelling at them with promises of what they’d do to them and everyone else in the room. Even if Rynnelle had doubts about Silverhand, once again, trusting him proved to be her only option.

Rynnelle's breath fogged up as the frigid air of the room sent goosebumps across her skin. When the pirates were a foot away from her face, she shouted, “Now!” Rynnelle closed her eyes tight as Silverhand opened his, unleashing a light so intense it could only be comparable to the sun. The pirates screamed, violently repelled by the light. Rynnelle felt a rush of cold wind and wrapped her hands around the lantern as Silverhand swept her feet out from under her and carried her out of the ballroom and down the hall.

"You can open your eyes now," Silverhand said after a minute.

Rynnelle's eyes fluttered. She looked at Silverhand, who was carrying her and screamed.

Silverhand flinched but didn’t break his stride, “Why are you yelling?!”

"What is that?!"

"What is what?!" Silverhand looked over his shoulder to the bushy purple tail sprouting out of his back. "oh, that,"

-----

There was a pop, and the giant tail fell off, standing like a purple tree in the middle of the hallway.

That’s it. Rynnelle had had enough. She’d barely kept it together after Uncle Theodaur, but this was the straw that broke the Rykote’s back. “Put me down.”

“Kind of in a hurry here if you hadn’t noticed.”

Rynnelle gritted her teeth, pinching Silverhands ear and yanking it down. “Put. Me. Down.”

“Owwwww, okay! Okay!” Silverhand skidded to a halt, setting Rynnelle down as they turned a corner. He leaned over to look behind them. “We don’t have long before we can recover.”

Rynnelle looked at the state of herself. Her adornments were gone, and she’d lost a shoe. Purple needle-like hairs stuck out of her dress. Rynnelle sucked her teeth, shaking her head at the absurdity.

Silverhand turned to face Rynnelle as she reached down to remove the hairs and ushered a quick warning, “No, wait!”

It was too late. When Rynnelle's fingers grew close, the hairs came alive. Wrapping around her fingers with a terrifying grip despite her struggles. There was a glint of silver as Silverhand used a kitchen knife to cut the hairs and a sizeable hole in her dress.

They paused, and Rynnelle let out a deep breath through her nostrils. Silverhand looked like he was about to make a joke, but Rynnelle pointed a warning finger at him, and he shut up. She saw him glance at the lantern, and her grip tightened.

"I'll just take this off your hand." Silverhand grabbed for the lantern, but Rynnelle snatched it back. "Oh no, you don't," she said quickly, "I have questions, and you're going to answer them before I give this back. Understand?"

"I don’t think I have time to give you the full story," Silverhand asked just as they heard cursing from around the corner. They looked at each other, then peaked around the corner.

Rynnelle didn’t know whether to be impressed or horrified. She sighed in relief that Captain Ketemah’s spell hadn’t extended into the hall, but it brought her little comfort.

A carpet of lavender covered the floor, wall, and ceiling down the length of the two halls they’d passed through. The tail, now hairless, wriggled as it sat there rooted in the floor. Rynnelle heard the pirates before she saw them. They were down the first hall they’d passed through, and by how loud they were cursing.

Only one pirate managed to make it down the hall onto their view. The pirate fought for each step, repeatedly tearing himself free from the carpet of hair's grip. Whisps of smoke curled off his skin as he sliced at the hair with a sword. He cleared a short path, but then the hairs along the wall snatched the sword out of his hands. He cursed as he pointed a gun at the closest light on the wall and fired. Sparks flew as the radantum rod shattered, and black veins sprouted from the wall where the bullet hit. The pirate only got one shot as the hairs snatched the gun away, too. Where that section of the hall darkened, though, he seemed to have an easier time getting himself free.

Rynnelle felt the phantom grip of those hairs on her fingers, then thought of that multiplied by thousands. It may not buy them long, but it would have to do.

They stepped back from the corner. Rynnelle held out her hand to Silverhand expectantly. He looked at her, puzzled momentarily, then gave her a wry smile and handed her the knife. Rynnelle was sure she’d get an earful for this later, but she set the lantern down on a side table behind her and used the knife to make the dress into a skirt she could at least run in. As she worked, Rynnelle said, “Guess you’d better summarize then.”

“How exactly am I supposed to do that?”

Rynnelle kicked off her remaining shoe, picked up the lantern, and rested it on her cocked hip as she gave Silverhand a challenging look, knife still in hand, “You can start with who these guys are. What they want with this thing,” She gestured to the lantern, “Why you have it, and how you plan on getting them off the island without everyone dying,” Rynnelle pointed the knife at Silverhand, “Then you’re going to give me a real answer of where Kaleon is,”

Silverhand grinned broadly at her, “I see why he loves you,” Rynnelle blinked, hostility washing out of her face as Silverhand walked past her down the hall. “Well, you already know Wickersby and that dastardly candelabra of a crew he has, especially if you read Iegan Oddities. Though you probably know ‘em under a different name. Do the Night Baron pirates ring any bells to you? They're one of the-“

“Seven Plagues of the Sea,” Rynnelle finished. She had to lean against the wall to catch herself from falling. That’s why the name felt familiar to her; she’d read it in an issue of Iegan Oddities. Her heart felt like it sank to the floor as she recalled the title of that particle article: ‘Fates worse than death. '

“As for what they want the lantern for, either they’re going to break the curse keeping them unfeeling, immortal shadow monsters, or they want it to finish what they started during the Zephayne and plunge the Iega into a new age of everlasting darkness.” Silverhand looked back over his shoulder to Rynnelle and shrugged, “It’s a toss-up,”

There was a crash as more shouting came from around the corner. Rynnelle glanced around the corner.

Thirty or so pirates had trekked a quarter of the way down the hall to catch up to them. They argued, spat, and cursed at each other as the needle-like hair coiled around them like snakes. Wrapping around their arms and legs to pin them to the floor, walls, and ceiling. They tried to rip themselves free, shooting out the lights as they got deeper down the hall, but the hairs fought with vigorous fervor. One of the pirates got close to the tail, and the massive appendage whipped out. It wrapped around their neck, thrashing them against the floor like a rag doll before tossing them back down the hall.

Rynnelle, not wanting to see what would happen if they caught up, followed after Silverhand. She cut him off, “In every article I’ve ever read on the Night Barons, the only thing that’s ever consistent was that nobody survives. They either die in the attack or by some disease where the Medical Guild's only solution is to quarantine the people who have it. How are we going to save everyone?”

Silverhand shifted his gaze away from Rynnelle’s, scratching his face with a finger, “All cards on the table? I don’t. Don’t give me that look. I saw your face when you put it together. You and I both know there was no version of this where everyone walks out of here. My only options were stealing a ship and leading them away from the island or playing keep away long enough that the sun comes up.” There was a crash from behind them as more pirates reached the tail. “Pretty sure they’re drawn to the lantern, though, so it’ll have to be the latter.”

Rynnelle fought the urge to bite her lip, still tasting blood in her mouth. She’d wasted seconds they hadn’t had, but Rynnelle couldn’t help but ask one more question. “What does this have to do with Kaleon.”

Silverhand looked at her then, and a pained look passed across his face. “It’s him they’re looking for.”

There was another shot, and the hall behind them went dark. “Follow me!” Rynnelle shot down the hallway, not waiting to see if Silverhand had listened.

“Hey!” Silverhand matched her pace, pulling out another pair of vials. “I told you my plan! Where are we going?”

The Manor interior was precisely as complex as its exterior would suggest. If she hadn’t grown up here, getting turned around would be easy. Gunshots traced through the air around them. Each missed them by mere inches, leaving those sickening black veins in the walls.

Rynnelle led Silverhand down a flight of steps before turning down another long stretch of the hall and cutting into a side room. Exiting out another door leading to a different hallway with portraits adorning the walls.

“Do you have any more tricks that can trip them up?” Rynnelle asked between breaths. Running for her life felt like it was consuming three times the energy as usual, but she kept pushing forward.

“Yeah, one. Trying to booby-trap the hallway again?”

“Something like that. Don’t use it until I tell you, though.” They reached the end of the hall, and Rynnelle pushed Silverhand through a set of large oak doors and closed them behind her. “So their weakness is what? Just Sunlight? Or would any magical light source do?”

“Roger, that boss lady,” Silverhand said, stowing the vials in his pocket. Vulnerability. Not a weakness. It sounds like semantics, but trust me, there’s a difference. I'm not entirely sure what the rules are with the lantern, but direct sunlight is the best thing. It hurts them just by standing in it and slows the regeneration to a crawl. Radantum's good, too, but it's hard to get your hands on the pure stuff to get the sunlight's full effect.” He let out a low whistle as he looked about the room, “I’ve gotta say, Nelle, for an island in the middle of nowhere, you stay ready to impress. This’ll be a lovely mausoleum,”

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

Rynnelle had brought them to the Manor's prayer sanctuary. A soft blue light illuminated the octagonal room. Mirrors lined the walls, floor, and ceiling, creating an almost disorienting infinity effect. An ornate crystal chandelier hung in the center of the room. “Do you always make terrible jokes in life-or-death situations?” Rynnelle walked to the wall opposite the door and traced an octogram on its surface with a finger. Greenlight outline of the shape, and Rynnelle drew a circle in its center.

“Oh, I don’t know,” Silverhand said, moving from underneath the chandelier to beside Rynnelle as a trap door in the mirrored floor slid away. Revealing a large pool that took up most of the floor space, “I wouldn’t say they’re all terrible,” He grinned at her. Rynnelle shook her head in exasperation, hiding a reluctant grin of her own. “To answer your question. Yes, any magical light source can hurt ‘em, but the light itself is what does the damage. Magical effects don’t do anything.”

“Got it,” Rynnelle said. She faced the doorway. The Eclipse Lantern felt warm, radiating a comfort that eased Rynnelle’s frayed nerves enough to speak an incantation. "Stars, ignite your fires; May Hewa's blessing reveals my heart's desires."

The stars on Rynnelles Chart ignited, flashing like twinkling jewels against her skin. Muffled shouts came from the other side of the door. It rattled in its frame when the pirates started to barge their way in.

“Let no harm befall those within my sight, and allow my mercy to shine bright.” One by one, the twinkling stars across Rynnelle's face faded and returned to normal.

Rynnelle saw Silverhand eyeing her suspiciously, but she ignored it. The lantern in her arms still brought a slim comfort, but it was a blaring reminder of the stakes if they failed. If she failed because Rynnelle had a plan, it was insane and likely wouldn't work, but it was the only thing she could think of to protect the ones she loved.

Silverhand looked like he wanted to say something but suddenly jumped for her. He pulled Rynnelle into his chest and to the floor, pulling them down as the door exploded. Their ears rang as dust and splinters flew across the room.

"Oi Tup," Came a voice through the settling debris. "Reckon dey took a wrong turn,"

"Ion know, Kins'," another voice laughed. Maybe the girlie wanted to take a dip?"

“Cut the chatter so we can get this over with.”

Three pirates led thirty men into the sanctuary. They should've been forced to go along the sides. To Rynnelle's dismay, the pirates walked across the pool's surface without even making a ripple.

"Make this easy on yourselves. Give up the lantern and come with us." The pirate that spoke was the tallest of the men, with an unkempt beard and hard lines cut into his face from a permanent grimace on his face. "As long as it's lit, there's no use in running."

Rynnelle's heart pounded inside her chest. This night had been one terrifying ordeal after another. After everything that had happened, Rynnelle knew she'd break down in tears if she made it out of this. In this sliver of a moment, though, Rynnelle couldn't suppress the smile on her face. "Does it look like I'm running?"

Rynnelle looked at the chandelier, and the stars across her Chart burned to life at once with blinding intensity. A beam of emerald light shot out of her left eye, hitting the crystal heart of the chandelier and splitting into seven more that shot in every direction. Each laser bounced off the mirrors in over a dozen places. Silverhand let out a small yelp and struck an awkward pose to keep himself from getting hit, but the pirates hadn't even had a chance to blink before the laser shredded them to pieces. A black film covered the pool, and Rynnelle blinked.

The laser fizzled out, and Rynnelle released a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. Rynnelle could feel her magic swelling in her chest and tingling across her skin. She erased the circle from the octagon outline on the wall behind her, and the floor slid back into place. Now, even if they regenerated, the thirty of them would have to fight for air.

“Oh, you are cold-blooded, Nelle,” Silverhand said as if reading her mind.

Rynnelle arched an eyebrow at the name but shrugged, “Serves them right.”

“Well, I hope this plan of yours doesn’t involve going back out that way.” Silverhand nodded toward the doors. Darkness coated the hallway, leaving no trace of where they’d come to enter the room. In response, Rynnelle placed her palm inside the octagon and pushed.

The mirror rippled and suddenly went transparent, revealing a dimly lit stone corridor, barely large enough for two people to walk side by side. Silverhands eyes widened as he looked between Rynnelle and the corridor, “Laser beams and secret passageways? Forgot Kaleon, I might just be in love with you myself.”

Rynnelle didn't respond, sprinting into the corridor with Silverhand following behind. The mirror rippled again as soon as he passed through, turning back into a wall and sealing Rynnelle and Silverhand inside. “Think you can block off this hallway behind us? This’ll lead us back to the main hall so we can get back to the ballroom. I don’t think all of the crew was chasing us, and I'd rather not have to worry about pirates coming at us from both sides.”

“Wait, hold up, ballroom?” Silverhand paused, putting down one of his vials as it touched his lip. “Why’re you trying to go back to the ballroom? I thought we understood that taking the lantern away from here was the best way to go.”

Rynnelle stopped and wheeled around to face him. “Look, it’s just us here. No Navy, No member of Parliament. So we can be open with each other."

Silverhand came to an abrupt stop, nearly bumping into her. “Uh, okay?”

Rynnelle took a deep breath before speaking, “I don’t understand you.” She said plainly, “Dashard and Parliament think you’re the Eighth Plague, which makes sense since you’re on a first-name basis with the immortal shadow pirates trying to destroy my home. As if that, and your unnervingly calm attitude about this entire situation, wasn’t crazy enough. For some reason, my father thinks that even if half the stuff they say about you is true, it’s still worth it for you to owe us a favor.”

Silverhand studied her for a long time, even if it was a few seconds in hindsight. Like earlier, there was no trace of humor on his face, and Rynnelle could see those same dark lights behind his eyes she swore she’d seen when they met. “And what do you think?”

Rynnelle bit her lip as she contemplated a response. His tone was bitterly cold, but Rynnelle caught the hints of a vulnerability there. “I want to think you’re a good man. One who got lost in a dark place and is trying to find his way back again.” She paused, and her grip on the lantern tightened. “You took the lantern knowing they’d look for it and hid Kaleon, so even if they did get it, they wouldn’t get him.”

Silverhand simply stared at her, without saying a word.

“You’re probably right that we can’t save everyone,” Rynnelle said through gritted teeth, the admittance tasting sour on her tongue. “But we need to at least try.” When Silverhand still didn’t react, Rynnelle huffed and reluctantly added, “Also, we’re still in an alliance. Allies don’t let one another get killed, especially after they save your ass, and it’s your turn to come up with a ridiculous plan that somehow works out in the end.”

Rynnelle felt her face grow hot but powered through the embarrassment. That logic was flimsy, childish, and honestly nonsensical, but by the Gods, she meant every word. It was a gamble. Rynnelle needed Silverhand a lot more than he needed her, and they both knew it. Still, it wasn’t like she had anything more to lose at that point.

Silverhand blew out his cheeks and downed the vial. He started to sweat, his skin glistening with a pearlescent sheen as he rubbed his hands together. His right hand lathered up as if covered in soap. Silverhand turned and blew a stream of multicolored bubbles down the hallway behind them. The bubble expanded the further away they got from him until they blocked off the hallway entirely. When he was done, he said, “We’ll need to find a way to make the lantern inert. I’d like to be able to get away after leading them off the island.”

“The safe room,” Rynnelle said quickly. Relief and excitement washed over her, although she couldn’t help but feel guilty about the latter. It’s lined with Ininka, so taking it there should cut out the light. There are plenty of ways to the ballroom from here; we can go to the safe room afterward.”

Silverhand shook his head in exasperation, flinging bubbles to either side. “You know, I don’t think you realize how lucky we were that I just happened to have something that could’ve counteracted that spell. Even with all my stuff, taking them on alone would’ve been a nightmare. Now? With a single-shot vial and actively trying to save all those people? That’s a big ask.”

“Well, you’re not alone now. Plus, I have a hard time believing you haven’t gotten out of worse situations than this.” Rynnelle said confidently, “So, do you have any ideas?”

Silverhand rubbed his chin in thought, giving himself an utterly ridiculous bubble beard. His gaze fell on the rods lining the walls, then at the expectant Rynnelle. She caught a glint in Silverhands eye as a grin spread across his face, “Well, that depends; tell me a little more about that laser."

-----

Fifty years, eleven months, twenty-five days, and thirty-four minutes. That is how long Abdul Ketemah has been looking for the Eclipse Lantern. All that time, lost, chasing what only amounted to rumors. Poetic, that it be the eve of the Harvetal that they felt the light of the lantern. Even more fitting that it be in the hands of the same boy who had gotten in his way all those years ago.

Abdul stood in the ballroom, gazing at the still forms of those caught in his spell—three hundred forty-six souls, blinded and silenced but still aware. Still awake. Soon, his spell would spread through the Manor and out into the island. He'd warned them, and now he'd made good on his promise. Abdul would scour each soul on the island until he'd found the lantern's new owner. It was a choir, but with them being so close to the end, Abdul could afford to be a little more patient.

There was a low groan off to Abdul’s left, and he watched Kaine, who’d used a pile of the dead as a makeshift seat, while he picked shards of glass from his beard and face. Thanks to the lantern’s light, his regeneration had slowed, but Abdul knew it was his pride that was truly wounded. He looked away before Kaine noticed his gaze upon him, not wanting the man to see the faint smile on his face.

His focus shifted to one of the doors as he sensed the lantern approach. Abdul couldn't move until the spell was over, so he could do nothing but watch as the doors opened, revealing Silverhands grinning face.

"Knock knock!" Silverhand shouted. What remained of Abdul’s crew launched themselves in Silverhands direction. Before they reached him, Silverhand started throwing radantum rods across the ballroom. The lights caught Abdul off guard, and he reflexively put up a hand to shield his eyes. Brilliant golden light battled the infiltrating darkness of Abdul's spell.

Abdul looked in time to see a woman step into the doorway, holding the lantern. Beams of emerald light shot out of her eye, cutting the shadows not to Abdul but to the rods. When it struck, the rod's light brightened briefly, then exploded in a concussive flash. Abdul shouted in outrage as she shot one rod after another, the chain of explosion tearing the darkness and his spell apart.

The pirate captain locked eyes with the woman for only a moment, before pain erupted in Abdul's chest as she shot him with another emerald laser, knocking him off his feet. The stilled screams of the guests finally released into the night. Their screams stuttered as the disoriented crowd readjusted themselves, then started again even louder.

"The exits!" The woman screamed, "Get to the exits!"

Abdul pawed his stinging chest, curling his fingers into a fist. The crowd stampeded around him. Rushing into the hallways in droves. It didn't matter. They were already dead. They just didn't know it. Abdul stomped over to retrieve his sword. A guard rushed him, and Abdul cut him down before looking about the room for Silverhand. One way or another, he was going to fulfill his promise. By any means necessary.

——-

Rynnelle got the sense it would’ve been easier to swim up a waterfall than try and get into the ballroom. When she said they could use the exits, Silverhand had to pull Rynnelle aside so she didn’t get trampled by the current of people.

They squeezed inside only when it was clear to the guests they were who the pirates were after.

Four pirates tried to wade through the crowd to cut them off before Rynnelle and Silverhand could get to the other side of the ballroom. Dashard cut all four down like he’d put them through a blender.

“Rynnelle! Rynnelle, we have to get out of here!” Dashard yelled over the guests' roar.

Rynnelle froze as she looked at the state of her friend. His alabaster coat was now a smokey grey, flecked with droplets of red and torn in several places. She also noted the hints of black veins surrounding a cut on Dashards face.

“Nelle, we gotta get a move on. Now.” Silverhand yelled, snapping her from her thoughts.

A pained expression passed Rynnelle's face as she looked between the two men. Gods help her, she thought. Rynnelle had to choose again—not that it was any real choice at all.

Dashard cut down another pirate, whose blood ran red thanks to being caught in the light of the lantern. Silverhand simultaneously did something to an approaching pirate faster than her eye could see. Still, it ended with the pirate face-planting into the floor.

“Dashard. Listen to me.” Rynnelle said quickly. She squeezed his arm, and her heart broke a fraction once she met his eyes. Dashard’s expression darkened, glancing swiftly between her and Silverhand. She hadn’t even gotten the words out, and he’d already guessed how this would go. “I have a plan to stop the pirates, and I need Silverhand to do it. Trust me, just find my father, get him and these people out of here.”

Dashards stoic exterior broke, and tears stung the corners of her eyes at the look of hurt on his face. It was only there for a second before he shot a glare so hot it could burn a hole through the sun at Silverhand. “Protect her.”

Silverhand didn’t respond, and Dashard didn’t wait before sprinting to help an officer and two guards protect the nearest exit. Under his breath, he muttered, “I really hate pirates.”

Rynnelle was still watching Dashard when Silverhand pushed her forward. Narrowly dodging as a shot flew right by her head, “Gotta move!” Silverhand yelled, and Rynnelles feet were moving before she even realized it.

When the pirates first arrived, Rynnelle felt like she was observing it from some remote place outside of her body. Like what was happening couldn’t possibly occur in her world. It was only when her father’s life had been immediately in danger did Rynnelle snap back to reality.

Right now, it was the exact opposite. Rynnelle was here, fully present in the moment and hyperaware of everything that was happening around her. She saw the renewed carnage unfolding around them as they ran for the exit. Could smell the scent of death clinging to her clothes and mixing with fear to make an acrid scent that made the tears in her eyes run free. Felt the burning tingle of magic in her chest and across her skin, warning her that she was nearing her limit.

Somewhere behind her, someone yelled, “Silverhand!” Followed by a gunshot.

Rynnelle stole a glance over her shoulder. She could see Captain Ketemah, and that pirate from earlier, Kaine, slashing their way through the crowd, wisps of black smoke wafting up from the barrels of their guns. Both of them pointed at her.

In that infinitesimally small fraction of a moment, Rynnelle knew she was about to die. She’d gambled her life for the slim chance to save everyone else’s. Even if it wasn’t everyone, some would survive, and that alone was worth it. Rynnelles thoughts drifted to Kaleon. All those years spent together, and not once had she shared how she truly felt. Rynnelle made a vow to herself, in this moment of premortem clarity. If she ever got to see Kaleon again, she’d give her heart to him, regardless of what consequences it may bring.

“Move your ass Nelle! Less looking, more running!” Silverhand yelled with a grunt, breaking Rynnelle’s chain of thoughts. He moved, blocking her view of Kaine and Abdul to push her forward until they were both out the door.

The members of Parliament were a disoriented mass that filled the halls of the Odulfo family home. They were trying to look for an exit, but the remnants of Abdul’s spell lingered in the hallway, blocking entire rooms and corridors and making the already extensive interior even more maze-like.

Rynnelle wanted to help the Manor staff who were trying to gain control of the situation, but she had bigger concerns. Kaine and Abdul were hot on their tails and rapidly closing the distance. The only reason they hadn’t reached them yet was the panicked crowd in their way and the officers periodically trying to attack them. Each one only bought Rynnelle and Silverhand a precious few seconds. Rynnelle hadn’t wasted a single one, dragging Silverhand by the wrist when he’d started to slow and almost got lost in the crowd.

More shots whizzed by her head, nearly missing her as she turned a corner and sprinted down an empty stretch of hallway, up a flight of stairs, and into her bedroom.

Rynnelle slammed the door shut, bracing her back against it. "Okay, Rynn, not much time." She pressed a hand on the door, engaging the security enchantments.

The first thing she went to was the tri-fold mirror. With the lantern in one hand, she pressed a complex pattern into the jewels adorning the mirror, "Before you can go through the mirror, you have to press your thumb on the emerald here," Rynnelle demonstrated, pressing her thumb on the emerald at the top. The surface of the primary mirror rippled, then went transparent, revealing a short, slate-grey corridor leading down a flight of stairs. "I hope this works."

Rynnelle gingerly set the lantern in the corridor, and the white light residing within extinguished. She sighed in relief but didn't let herself relax. She wouldn't have to go through with her plan if they could get to a ship.

"Okay," Rynnelle said to herself, "No resting. We still have to move." She went to her dresser, opened the drawer, and then opened the secret compartment. She removed her jewelry, swapping it for the contents inside. Kaleon's ring, tied on a string, which she placed around her neck, and a wooden whistle, carved in the shape of a horse.

"Don't know if anyones ever told you this, but you'd make one hell of an adventurer," Silverhand joked, although it came out a bit forced to Rynnelle's ears.

"Thanks, that...actually means a lot," Rynnelle said, trying not to let the randomness of the question distract her, but genuinely meaning it. She went to a closet and put on a pair of old, worn leather boots. They may not have much time, but something told her the seconds spent keeping her from walking around barefoot would be worth it. "I wanted to be one when I was a kid,"

"Lemme guess, responsibilities killed that dream before it could walk huh?"

Rynnelle let out a short, sad laugh. "Yeah how'd you-oh my gosh Silverhand? Silverhand!" Rynnelle had been moving so fast she hadn't noticed that he'd sat hunched over on the bed. "What's wrong? What happened?" She asked, even as the horrifying realization dawned on her at seeing black droplets trailing down his fingers at his feet.

Silverhand tried to stand but fell, hitting his knee on the floor hard. "Ow." He sighed, letting Rynnelle help him up to his feet. Silverhand leaned against the bedpost, allowing Rynnelle to give him a quick look over. "So, Doc, how are we looking?"

Rynnelle swallowed hard before thinking of a response. There were two holes in the back of his robes, and she could see the blackened blood flowing from the wound. Rynnelle started to remove them, but invisible runes flared to life across Silverhands torso keeping them in place.

"It's not that bad," She lied. Rynnelle felt herself starting to panic. She’d been so close. They were almost there. "Don’t worry I’ll get something to stop the bleeding and-"

The door shook in its frame as a massive fist slammed against it. Rynnelle paused, throwing weary glances between Silverhand and the door. She reached for him, but he waved her away.

Silverhand reached into his pocket, pulling out the last of his vials. The liquid inside swirled with rainbow light. To Rynnelle, he said, "Go, take the lantern, find a ship, and play hard to get until sunrise."

"You think I'm just going to leave you here?" Rynnelle snapped. A complex wash of emotions run amok on her face, and she reflexively bit her lip to keep her nerves from getting the better of her. The pounding on the door got louder, and it started to rattle in its frame against the assault.

"I think we both know that you have a long enough list of people you're trying to save, Nelle, and I shouldn’t be one of 'em." Silverhand downed the vial's contents, "Take the lantern, find Kaleon, and get out of here. Do whatever you have to keep your people safe, that includes using a former pirate to buy you some time."

So close, but to what? Another six hours of running and hiding until sunset? Whether she wanted to admit it or not, this entire ordeal ran on borrowed time. Now, that time was up.

Rynnelle wanted to shout in protest, but that was precisely when her bedroom door was ripped off the hinges and flung back into the hallway.

Captain Abdul Ketemah strode into the room with his hands clasped behind his back. "Silverhand. Miss. I believe you two have something that belongs to us." His voice was in that same dispassionate, calm tone that he took before, but his eyes radiated with anger.

Silverhand made a show of standing up straight and stretching, "C'mon Abe! I told you, finders keepers. Tell you what, though-" There was a buzz of energy in the air as Silverhand's magic took into effect. The three other occupants looked at him, perplexed. To Rynnelle, it looked like he was wearing matching neon rainbow pants and shoes. "If you ask real nice, I may even let you borrow it." He made a show of thinking for a second, then added, "For a price."

Captain Ketemah sighed, "Must you always make things difficult?" He focused on Rynnelle, and it took everything in her not to let the shiver running down her spine show. "You. I don’t know what he told you, but if you believe that this will end with us leaving here without what we came for, let me dissuade you of that delusion now." He looked her up and down, then about the room, until he found the lantern. Captain Ketemah studied it, sitting idly in the corridor, before speaking again, "The offer I made to this Manor's Lord still stands. Hand the lantern and its owner to me. We will leave; you have my word."

Rynnelles heart was hammering in her chest at that, but before she could respond, Silverhand spoke up, "This is rich coming from me, but take it from a guy who knows what it's like to be out of touch with folks. If you're going to talk like you're some reasonable guy, it helps if you don't murder someone for your introduction." To Rynnelle's surprise, Captain Ketemah looked like Silverhand had slapped him. He added, "Otherwise, we can cut all the bullshit and just get to the point where I kick you and big boys ass."

"Something we can agree on." Kaine chuckled darkly as he crouched to enter the bedroom, standing beside Ketemah to face Silverhand. His knuckles popped as he flexed his hands, staring down at the young Yana with hate-filled eyes. "Toagbwi en la’rae."

There was a pause as the bedroom's four occupants studied one another. Kaine only had eyes for Silverhand. Silverhand split his focus between looking at Kaine and Captain Ketemah, who looked from the lantern to Rynnelle. Rynnelle was focused solely on the lantern. She could reach it in just a few steps. Not that they'd let her get that far.

The moment stretched and stretched until it broke as all four of them moved at once. Rynnelle darted toward the mirror, Captain Ketemah moving to intercept while Kaine lunged for Silverhand.

Even with two shots to the back, Silverhand still moved with frightening speed. He launched a radantum fist toward Captain Ketemah's head, then jumped to spin-kick Kaine. Kaine grabbed Silverhands leg, and the rainbow light burned his hand. Captain Ketemah drew his sword, using the blade to deflect the fist. Snarling in pain, Kaine held on to Silverhands leg and slammed him into the bed, shattering the bedframe.

Rynnelle blinked, looking at the slate-gray walls around her and the stairs she nearly fell down. She turned, catching a glimpse of the fight between Silverhand and Kaine, but Ketemah’s form blocked her view. He stared at her, palm on the mirrored surface as if he intended to force his way inside but was met with a wall.

Rynnelle swallowed hard, put on her most confident face, and knelt to pick up the lantern. Her fingers had barely wrapped around the handle when Captain Ketemah spoke, “I saw you in the ballroom. Talking to that Navy Captain Kaine had fought earlier.” Rynnelle’s breath caught in her chest, she stood up, feeling Ketemah’s gaze on her as she did. When she met his eyes he asked, “Do you care for him?”

Rynnelle didn’t respond, forcing her face to be neutral and not give anything away. However, Ketemah must have seen some indication because he nodded to himself thoughtfully.

Captain Ketemah stepped to the side so Rynnelle could see the bedroom—or what was left of it. The bed was in shambles, the nightstand smashed to pieces, and her dresser split down the middle. Silverhand stood with his back against the wall in the corner of the room, bloodied and bruised but somehow still grinning with a wild look in his eyes that would’ve frightened her if she were on its receiving end. Kaine loomed over him, looking frustrated that this wasn’t already over.

“Kaine,” Captain Ketemah said, despite his eyes never leaving Rynnelle. The giant pirate looked over his shoulder at the mention of his name. “Tell the men to start slaughtering everyone they come across, and make sure you kill that captain you were toying with earlier.”

“No!” Rynnelle screamed as a broad grin spread across Kaine’s face. He sent a savage kick to Silverhands chest, knocking the wind out of him. He crumpled on the floor as Kaine walked out of the room and down the hall. “Silverhand!” Rynnelle pleaded, desperation seeding her voice.

"Oh man," Silverhand groaned, shakily getting to his feet. "That one..." He huffed, "That one hurt," He shot Rynnelle a conflicted, concerned look, but a second later, he was out the door after Kaine.

Rynnelle felt a lump form in her throat. Silverhand had barely been able to stand, and that was before he fought Kaine the second time. He’d told her to do whatever it took to keep her people safe. Still, if that included sending people off to die in their place, well, Rynnelle wasn’t sure if that was something she was ready to accept as an option.

"Now that we are free of distractions," Captain Ketemah said, drawing her attention back to him, "Tell me, how do you want to move forward? Give me what I want, or keep running because-"

“Shut up.”

Captain Ketemah paused, “I-“

“Shut up!” Rynnelle screamed as her emotions finally broke free, causing flashes of lightning to go off in her hair, “I get it! You’ll kill everybody unless you get this stupid lantern. Well, fine, here, take it.” She pushed the lantern into Ketemah’s chest.

He dropped his sword, taking a few steps back as he stared at the lantern resting in his arms. Captain Ketemah took a long time before looking at Rynnelle, who’d angrily stepped back into her bedroom. Slowly, he asked, “And the owner?”

Rynnelle stomped up to the man, pulling out the ring, “You’re looking at her.” She leaned forward, jabbing a finger into the man’s chest, “I’ll leave with you without causing any more trouble, but only if you meet my conditions.”

Captain Ketemah looked like he wasn’t sure what emotion he should express. His face cycled through overjoyed, confused, annoyed, and impressed for a few seconds as he worked out a response. Eventually, he settled on speaking with her plainly, “I’m listening.”

The next few minutes of Rynnelles life blurred together into one as she returned to the ballroom.

The fight now was completely at odds with what she’d expected. Maybe a quarter of the Navy officers and her father's Guard were left, along with some members of Parliament who, to Rynnelle's surprise, had stayed to help them fight. All of them were hurt and painted black by the pirate's blood, but instead of discouraging them, it had the opposite effect. It sent the defenders into a frenzy. Captain Ketemah’s crew, the majority of whom were unarmed for some reason, hesitated to press their attack.

The naval captains capitalized on that hesitation the most. With the room free of guests who could get hurt in the crossfire, they were free to cast spell after spell, cutting down the pirates almost faster than they could get back up.

Rynnelle sighed in relief when she saw her father firing lasers to support the defenders from the back line. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Dashard. He was in a fierce battle with Kaine, who was laughing maniacally. The sight made her grab fistfuls of the hem of her dress-turned-skirt.

Captain Ketemah put a delicate hand on her shoulder, a subtle but distinctive reminder of his presence. “Remember our deal. The faster we’re done. The more people you save.”

Rynnelle paused, then nodded reluctantly, only to stop dead in her tracks a few steps later.

Kaleon knelt on the floor, surrounded by what looked to be the pirate's weapons. His back was facing her, so he hadn't noticed them approaching the center of the room. No, that wasn't quite right. Kaleon hadn't seen them because he focused on the still body in his arms. Rynnelle couldn't see the person's face, but she recognized the distinct sunset-colored clouds on their heads.

Rynnelle wanted to scream, to say something, anything to get Kaleon's attention and make sure he was alright. But the last thing she wanted to do was put Kaleon on Ketemah's radar.

Captain Abdul followed Rynnelle's gaze. He grunted indiscernibly and said, "So ends the saga of Silverhand." With the Eclipse Lantern in his right hand, he let go of Rynnelles shoulder, raising his open palm to the ceiling.

Another monstrous roar came down from above, and the Manor trembled like the dormant volcano suddenly decided to erupt. Rynnelle heard screams from the halls from the members of Parliament, who were still unsure where to go. Crashing waves of darkness poured from the doors, flooding the ballroom for the second time.

The shadows harmlessly passed over the officers, guests, and guard, but they swept up the pirates like grains of sand washed away by the tide.

Kaleon stirred, then looked around with tear-filled eyes until he saw Rynnelle. She didn’t know what she could’ve done or said to have made him understand what she’d done. In the end, she hadn’t even tried to. Rynnelle smiled as if to say, ‘Everything’s going to be alright,’ and he was the last thing she saw before the darkness swallowed her.