Up close, the tire looked like any tire Isa would expect to see on a car in Portland, only this one looked to be almost six feet across. Isa crossed her arms. “Maybe you should have brought Lund with you. This tire is huge.”

“Tire? That’s what they call wheels where you’re from?”

“Ones like this, yeah.”

“You have wheels like this? I thought it was new, a new invention. Huh.” He bent over and worked his hands under the edge of the tire.

Isa joined him, and their combined effort righted the wheel. Isa looked up at the top ridge. “I can say that I’ve never been this close to a tire this big.” She ran her hands over the area where she’d expect to see a logo. “Who did you say made this?”

“There are several artificers working in the Hinter. Lowlanders don’t want to admit how clever the Yeckonner are. Which is….” Gil stepped through the tire and stood opposite Isa. “….their own loss. We’re going to slowly roll the wheel, all right? And outlanders, well how would you know our ways? But the land inspires a certain creativity, a certain outlook.”

They began to move the tire hand over hand, and Isa was able to match Gil’s pace by watching him through the huge tire opening. She said, “Can we expect this sort of thing happening again? Sorry, that didn’t come out right. Crashes like this, they happen a lot?”

“They can. We’d worked up some good speed. I’m glad nothing worse happened. The axle could have split; the bow could have cracked. Those boards, they could have sheared right off.”

“Or someone could have been killed. We’re lucky that Marissa’s splinter was the worst of it.”

“Oh. Yes. Of course,” said Gil. “Although Ladja is designed to be sailed by just one person.”

“Yes, but—” Isa stopped herself. They were all safe; in a day or two they’d be at the Shimmer and Gil and his boat would be a memory.

As they neared the boat Isa could see three figures looking out at the distant desert from the bow. Mimay was one of the people; her short stature was striking in comparison to her two companions.

Isa dropped her head to concentrate on guiding the large wheel the remaining distance to the raft. When she glanced up again, only Mimay still stood on the deck. Just then she heard a voice in her ear. Mery said, “Spotted a group of hunters. Alice is coming to you.” And sure enough, Alice was closing the distance to them quickly.

To Gil Isa said, “They’ve spotted someone. Here’s Alice now.”

“A group of ten headed our way,” Alice said. “Carrying some sort of kill. They look like bees, maybe. Swear to God, bees with legs and arms.” To Isa she added, “And wings.”

“Threeps,” said Gil. He let go of the tire. “Did they see you? Did they see the boat?”

“No. I don’t know. Mery used a scope. A spyglass. So, unless they have one too, I don’t think so.”

“Unlikely. But they are territorial, quick to strike.” He seemed uncertain what to do.

“Well surely,” said Isa, “they’ll understand that we suffered a breakdown, and we’ll be on our way soon.”

“You don’t know threeps. Seven against ten, you said?” He nodded. “Let’s go. They’ll take that risk. Ladja would be quite the prize. Leave the wheel.” He started to run toward the raft. Over his shoulder he said, “We’ll come back for it if we survive.”

When they got to the raft, Lund and Marissa were arguing. “Get up there.” Lund pointed up at the deck.

“I can’t help from up there,” Marissa replied.

From above Mery said, “It’s literally her funeral, Lund. You gotta focus. We need to be ready in case they— Oh good, you’re here. Are we about to have a fight?”

“I don’t know.” Gil scrambled up the rope in seconds and pulled a small spyglass from his belt. When Isa joined them at the bow, Gil was saying to Mery, “Where were they when you last saw them?”

“What do you mean last?” Mery raised her own glass to her eye. “Where are they? Where the fuck….” She moved her head, scanning. “Fuck me, there’s the kill.” She collapsed the glass and said, “How do they fight?”

“How do—” Gil lowered his spyglass.

“They left their kill. Only reason for that is they found something better.”

Gil tucked his glass away and pulled free one of the two short swords hanging from his belt. “They’re cowards. If they think they’re going to lose, they’ll break and run.” He vaulted over the bow of the boat and disappeared.

Isa started back toward the rope, but Mimay stopped her. “Help me down.”

“Meet you below,” said Mery, and she followed Gil over the front of the boat. Isa heard a grunt and Mery saying, “Son of a bitch. Who put that hole there?”

Isa and Mimay got the edge of the raft. Alice looked up. “What’s going on?”

“Gil thinks they’re attacking. Lund! Help Mimay. Please.” Isa held the rope out for the cleric. “It’s not far, and Lund will be right there to catch you if you slip.” She looked over the edge, plopped down on her butt and jumped down.

She landed on the sand in time to see Mimay lowered to the ground by Lund. The halfling tugged her sweater into place. “Are they here? Are they attacking?”

“Don’t worry,” Alice told her. “We’ll keep you safe.”

“Safe? Bywick is my shield and armor. I’m talking about the blessing. Only lasts a minute, and if I want to try to keep you children from harm, I need to make sure I don’t say it too early.” She thumped Lund’s hip. “What do you see?”

He scanned the sands. “Nothing.”

From under the raft Mery whispered, “Isa, this way. Lund, you and the others stay here in case they flank.”

Isa glanced at Alice, and the two of them moved toward Mery. “I said Isa.”

“I don’t really care.” Alice touched the copper cuff on her wrist, and her familiar appeared. “Peck,” she told the bird, “stay with Marissa. Come to me if they have trouble.”

Isa followed behind Mery. “I really don’t think we should split the party,” Isa said. “It never works out like we want.”

“Gil says we just need to scare them off. Three blades drawn against them, that should put some fear into their eyes.”

“How many eyes does a bee have?” muttered Alice.

Gil crouched beside a large stone about 15 feet past the raft. He was scanning the area with his spyglass. “Gil! Where are they?” Mery called softly. In response he motioned that they should join him. With eyes on the rocks and sands ahead, Isa darted across. Nothing stirred.

“Are they even out there? Maybe they gave up,” she said to Gil.

“Why aren’t they attacking?” said Mery. “Are they scared? I could scare them a little more.” She stood up and when no spears or spells rained down, she called out, “We don’t want to hurt you. Leave now and we won’t call the full crew down from the ship.”

Her words met with silence. Alice said, “Either they’re gone or they’re not going away. Which is it, though?”

“They can blend into the sands,” said Gil as he stowed his scope. “Wait here while I take a closer look.” He crouched low and ran to a boulder farther away. As he came to a stop and turned to smile at the group, spears fell from the sky. Two nicked Gil and a third lodged in his thigh.

“I guess they’re still here,” Mery said. “Isn’t that a pain in the ass.” She charged out from their spot and joined Gil. He pulled the spear from his thigh and tossed it aside.

“Do you see them?” Alice asked Isa.

“No.” Isa’s eyes strained to see where the spears had come from. They were well camouflaged, these adversaries. And why were they even fighting? Why hadn’t they responded to Mery’s words? But then, why didn’t her group just repair the raft and go on their way, assuming that they would be left alone? But then, the spear that Gil had just pulled from his leg was all the evidence Isa needed to tell her what to do.

“Magic missile?” Alice asked as she stared at the sandy landscape.

“Yeah, I guess. When we have something to shoot. Did I tell you I leveled?”

Alice glanced at Isa. “I looked at your notebook, remember?”

Something is Alice’s tone irked Isa. She was never wrong, never unsure, never misspoke or forgot anything, apparently. “Notebooks change. People change, Alice.”

Alice shifted so that she was facing Isa. “What the hell does that mean?”

“I’m just saying that just because you looked at my notebook days ago—”

“It was yesterday.”

“Fuck. Do you hear yourself? You don’t always have to be right, all right?”

Before Alice could respond loud clicking filled the air.