Adalhard and Cernunnos ate breakfast in the inn’s small dining room. Already the day grew hot, and they had chosen a seat by an open window. While they waited for Inez and Eder, they enjoyed the scant breeze.

“Aren’t you going to eat more?” Adalhard asked.

Cernunnos shook his head. “Too hot. Who wants to eat when it’s hot?”

“Long day,” Adalhard warned.

“I’ve been doing this longer than you. I know how to handle meal time.” Cernunnos waved a dismissive hand.

Adalhard didn’t retort. He eyed Cernunnos’ skinny frame and wondered if he should try to steer the older man somewhere a bit colder when it came time for his retirement. Then, he could ensure Cernunnos would eat. But, that was a long way off. Cernunnos might never retire, and Adalhard wouldn’t be surprised if the man keeled over in the middle of a dig someday.

“Ah, here they are,” Cernunnos looked up. He’d spotted Inez and Eder.

Eder nodded at the anthropologists, but Inez spared them only a glance. She led the way to the buffet line, and she and Eder picked up breakfast.

Adalhard wanted to continue the previous night’s conversation. The one where Cernunnos had called Adalhard a good, stable friend for Camellia.

Friend, Adalhard thought. Was not the word.

The next time they spoke, Adalhard would require Cernunnos to lay out his meaning clearly, without all the insinuations and odd accusations. With the two textilers ready to join the table, that conversation would have to wait.

“Good morning,” Cernunnos greeted.

“Morning.” Eder sat down and started to eat.

Inez also found her seat, but she didn’t dig into her breakfast. “Why don’t you show us the research and explain these leads? Eder is dying to know.”

Eder focused on his food, eating as if nothing she’d just said was true.

Adalhard suspected that both brother and sister were curious, yet neither wanted to be the first to admit it. Or, they might want to hide their enthusiasm from the other Textilers. Many of whom filed in to breakfast – ready to eat before a long day of catching cultists. If so, Inez was not doing the sisterly thing by claiming Eder was excited. Then again, maybe, she was. Adalhard wouldn’t know. He didn’t have a sister...or a brother.

Cernunnos opened his mouth to speak. He held a glint of mischief in his eyes. Adalhard put a hand on his friend’s arm, shook his head, and gave the buffet a meaningful glance. Cernunnos knit his brow and looked over.

Several Textilers, all watched closely by guards, got breakfast and prepped for their long cultist hunt. Everyone looked miserable. With so many spectators, Inez and Eder should curb their enthusiasm. After all, research was their punishment, not a reward.

Cernunnos gestured for Adalhard to begin.

Adalhard leaned into the table. “We’ll travel to the only well-preserved site of the first colonists – the Volanters.” Adalhard kept his voice low and wore his best professional face. He took a breath and continued, “We know the Volanters arrived here, probably in spaceships, about eight thousand years ago. They remained here for some time, doing magical research. However, it seems they always intended to return home. Their numbers were small. They brought only fifty individuals to Iruedim at a time. We know this from depictions of their ships, and the size of their living arrangements. Sometime after the wormhole’s exit shifted, they made an attempt to leave. Obviously, they were unsuccessful.” Adalhard paused and found both Textilers rapt. He smiled slightly. “More colonists came through and because Volanter numbers were so small, they interbred with the new colonists. We have them to thank for our current magic system.” Again, Adalhard paused.

Inez and Eder listened with wide eyes. They seemed to barely breathe.

Adalhard smiled more openly, awash in their youthful sense of adventure. “Hopefully, we will owe the Volanters our freedom from Lurrien monsters as well.”

Eder exchanged an excited but discrete glance with his sister. “Is that all we know about Volanters? Do you have any more details?”

Cernunnos took over. “Plenty, but keep in mind that this research is relatively new.” He also leaned forward in his seat. “Before we found the Volanter site, all our knowledge came from second hand observations: notes about Volanter magic, stories of them...things like that.” Cernunnos glanced at the guards and other Textilers.

The groups sat far away and ignored the researchers.

He risked a smile. “Thanks to the Volanter site, we’ve seen images of their ships – which, mind you, don’t look ships at all. We’ve been inside their living quarters, and in the lower regions of the temple, there are hundreds of magic circles. Modern circles have rendered most obsolete, but we can find advanced magic there.”

“How come you didn’t copy the spells before?” Eder asked.

Cernunnos looked at Adalhard. Adalhard, not at all eager to explain Cernunnos’ near-death experiences, gestured for Cernunnos to go on.

Cernunnos shifted in his seat. He seemed just as reluctant to tell the young Ferrans. With some resignation, he began, “There are a couple of reasons. First, several expert mages have looked at the circles we did retrieve and dubbed them nothing more than a curiosity. So, we switched the focus of our research to the building and the artwork inside.”

“Every spell you took out was crap,” Inez said, with a smirk.

“Pretty much.” Cernunnos shrugged. “Some mages duplicated a few of the spells, but the magic was erratic and hard to control.”

Inez frowned. She sat back in her chair and crossed her arms. “How are old, crappy spells going to help us defeat Ah’nee’thit? We don’t need magic from the dawn of time. We just need magic with sufficient firepower.”

Adalhard raised a finger. “Yes, during the Lurrien war that seems to have been the approach. But, we’ll have a hard time duplicating their methods. The texts are too vague. The writers were less interested in preserving history and more interested in preserving civilization and their own lives. They didn’t think ahead. Now, our enemy is bigger and more mature.” Adalhard gestured to the two Textilers. “Of all people, you should know that we can’t defeat these monsters with our strongest magic. Not now. It’s much too late.”

Eder stared at the table. “That’s true. When you sent the request to see the temple, some of the Textilers tried to destroy Ah’nee’thit and hide the evidence, but...the fire spell...just made it grow larger.” Eder pushed eggs around his plate. He played with his food but without enthusiasm. “I didn’t see it, but a friend of mine did, and he said that Ah’nee’thit’s flesh popped open and released more tendrils. Ah’nee’thit loved it.”

Inez looked at her brother. “I never heard about that.”

“I didn’t tell you. You were really busy with the cold spell.”

Before Inez could question her brother further, Cernunnos leaned forward.

He interrupted, “We can’t kill Ah’nee’thit with what we have, but we have a chance to make it right. While Groaza, Tagtrum, and Ponk put together a small army to fight these things, we will research.” Cernunnos waited until both Textilers looked at him.

Inez raised her eyes to Cernunnos’ gaze right away, but Eder took his time.

Cernunnos continued, “Adalhard believes the Volanters were stuck on Iruedim. That they were absorbed into other cultures.” Cernunnos gave Adalhard an apologetic look.

Adalhard narrowed his eyes. Of course, he believed that. Volanter assimilation was the current prevailing theory. What exactly did Cernunnos believe?

“It’s a good theory,” Cernunnos said. “Almost everyone in the AAH believes the same. Considering how Volanter inventions have touched us all, I would be inclined to agree. However, I’ve always believed that they left through the wormhole – to a new location. Maybe, they even returned home. They might have escaped, using magic that can create a wormhole.” Cernunnos drummed his fingers on the table and watched the Ferrans.

Adalhard took the opportunity to do the same; he too watched the Ferrans. Inez leaned forward, her chin in her hand and her gaze intense. Eder sat straight and presented a thoughtful expression. Adalhard appreciated their professional enthusiasm. For the first time, he realized that he hadn’t saved two young mages from jail. He’d found two invested and determined researchers.

Cernunnos sat back in his chair and relaxed. He pulled one ankle up and loosely crossed his legs. “When I visited the Volanter archaeological site, I found a circle that seemed to be a wormhole generator. At least, that’s what the label next to the circle said.”

“What if you read it wrong?” Eder asked with a hint of panic. “What would that kind of spell even look like?”

Cernunnos put up a finger. “I may not read magic, but I read Volanter just fine. We’ve had the Volanter language preserved and passed down for generations, and I have studied it my entire life.” Cernunnos lowered his hand and rested it on the table. “At the time, I didn’t make a copy of the spell, and I’m ashamed to say that I never investigated further, aside from developing my theory of the Volanters’ desperation to leave. Thank you, Adalhard, for bringing it back to my attention.” Cernunnos patted Adalhard on the arm.

Stunned, Adalhard never answered.

“Now, this time, we go back,” Cernunnos promised. “We copy the wormhole spell. Maybe, yourselves or some other mages can figure out how to work it into a more modern circle.”

Eder, who had resumed his meal, stopped eating and raised a hand, “Wait. So, what’s the plan? To escape Iruedim by making a wormhole?”

Inez shook her head. “No. How could we escape with everyone?” Inez touched her temple. “Think before you talk.”

Eder wore his embarrassment.

“It’s alright,” Adalhard said. “Inez is correct. We can’t escape with everyone. But, we can send Ah’nee’thit away. Preferably somewhere it can’t hurt anyone.”

“And, you’re bringing us along because you think we’re just the right people for the job? I’m flattered,” Inez said.

In her face and words, Adalhard read more than a hint of sarcasm.

“You know as well as I that circumstances helped in your involvement, but also, I don’t want you to think little of yourselves.” Adalhard rummaged in his bag. He pulled things from the impossibly large interior. “Textilers demonstrate great skill for spell writing, and you may be able to rework the wormhole spell. But, we asked you along because number one – you were there, and number two – we need mages to help us re-enter the Volanter site.”

“Re-enter?” Eder and Inez said together. Their noses scrunched in confusion.

Cernunnos grinned. “Yes. Remember I said there were a couple of reasons why we haven’t conducted more research at the site? One of those reasons is that the site used to be half-underwater. All of the spellwork in fact – underwater. Whereas, the living quarters and artwork was above.” Cernunnos opened one of Adalhard’s books and pulled out a photo. He slid the large image across the table. “I didn’t copy the wormhole spell because of angry sharks, squids, and a little drowning problem.”

Inez and Eder peered at the picture. Adalhard sat back in his chair. He didn’t need to look. He knew the image well. Moreso, he knew the site.

The picture showed a half-submerged building. The water, clear and crystalline, was easy to see through. The upper part of the temple appeared intact, but barnacles, plants, and small holes marred the submerged portion.

What the picture didn’t show, but Adalhard knew, was that magic circles covered every interior surface, below the water. Carved into the ceiling, walls, and floor, experimental magic beckoned. The circles grew their own underwater flora. Adalhard and Cernunnos would brush it away, find the Volanter’s spellwork, and, hopefully, take home something to stop Ah’nee’thit.

The Ferrans looked up again, with curious, calm expressions.

Adalhard sat forward. “When I visited the site, I couldn’t find enough mages willing to make the trip. We need mages to help with underwater breathing. We need mages to keep an eye on the sea life and deter it from our work.” Adalhard sighed. “However, most mages are scholars and...are reluctant to dive.”

Eder perked up. “But, now the site isn’t underwater. You said it used to be...so it’s drained now?”

Cernunnos shook his head. “No. Now, everything is underwater. And, there has been substantial damage to the temple. A few years ago, everything fell into a small sinkhole. Unfortunately, with me inside.”

Inez huffed. “Of course, things have to be worse. We aren’t battle mages or divers. We aren’t even strong swimmers. We can make enchanted diving clothes, but you probably already have those.”

Eder pushed the picture back.

Adalhard took it. “Relax. We have improved materials. We have an underwater camera, and you can make better diving clothes than we have. We also have reports that the site is safe again. A month ago, divers reported the ruin stable. We’ll be in and out.”

“Besides, this assignment is a punishment,” Cernunnos reminded them, with a grin. “So, we’ve got to put you through a bit of an ordeal.”

“Is anyone else coming with us?” Eder asked.

Adalhard tidied his papers. “We’e going to get a ride from Groazan soldiers, but they may not stay. Cloch needs them to search for Agaric Healers.”

“No other mages?” Inez spread her hands.

“No can do,” Cernunnos said, with a shake of his head. “They’re all needed to hunt cultists. Plus, I’ll be honest with you. None of them will come, unless ordered. This site has a reputation among mages from stories spread by our previous hapless victims. The last battle mages I tried to tempt along, said they would rather risk their lives in the Groazan army.” Cernunnos smiled. “And, now they are. Men and women of their words. Refreshing isn’t it?”

“This is important,” Eder stammered. “We need more people…”

Adalhard shook his head. “This lead is important enough to free us to work on it, but no one else will be committed to the effort. I think that Regle agreed to it, thinking he could spare Ah’nee’thit’s favorite candidates for high priest. Yes, we need to find information to deal with these creatures.” Adalhard packed up his materials and checked a small pocket watch. “But, the worse and more real threat is Ah’nee’thit’s escape. We have many tries to acquire the wormhole spell, but only one to keep Ah’nee’thit contained.”

Eder looked at Inez. “We can handle this, right?”

Inez nodded. “Right. So, we need to design diving fabric, animal deterrents...anything else?”

“The debris underwater may be a problem. Some rooms have collapsed. Spells for lifting stone will help,” Adalhard added. “Luckily, we just need to copy one magic circle. We’ll find it and leave.” Adalhard knew they could get stuck digging, searching underwater rubble, but he hoped they would be in and out.

Cernunnos grinned and rubbed his hands together. “I love the reality of my job, but to be honest, I always wanted to engage in some adventure archaeology. The kind where you get in, get the treasure, and get out.”

Adalhard smiled. Every member of the AAH started their apprenticeship with adventure in mind. By the end of their studies, every member of the AAH learned to accept the tedium that more often marked their work. It was tradition. Still, Adalhard loved the adventurous parts. On that, he and Cernunnos agreed.

Adalhard smiled. “Adventure is certainly on the agenda.” He rose from his seat and grabbed his small bag. Adalhard beckoned the others to follow.

As they left, Inez and Eder averted their eyes from the other Textilers. They had lucked out, and they knew it.

Once outside, Inez exhaled, and her shoulders slumped. “How are we getting there? You said we get a ride, or are they gonna walk us?”

Cernunnos laughed. “We can’t walk to the tropics. That would be insane and impossible!” He clapped Inez on the shoulder. “Cloch agreed to drop us off with one of Groaza’s new teeny tiny airships.”

“At least he didn’t rip that out from under us,” Adalhard said.

“Teeny tiny airships?” Eder knit his brow. “So, we won’t go by sea? And, we won’t be on the big transit service?”

“Correct.” Cernunnos gave a single nod of his head. “Groaza and Tagtrum want to invest in small government airships. Ponk already has three, maybe more.” Cernunnos turned to Adalhard. “So, where are we meeting this airship?”

Adalhard gestured for them to follow. “Outskirts of Suen. We’re to avoid the shipyard.” Adalhard set a brisk pace.

The others strove to keep up.

In the early Suen morning, Adalhard wound them through empty streets. Short buildings and stalls stretched for miles, but above those buildings loomed two resort palaces. Also ahead, towered the balloons of ships in the yard.

“That’s so much closer,” Eder huffed. “Why couldn’t they just meet us there?” He pointed at the shipyard, only a few blocks away.

Adalhard put a hand on Eder’s shoulder. “Camellia has been making too much trouble in shipyards. Cloch thinks they’re watched.”

A dark-haired woman stepped onto the path, followed by a youthful red-head.

Adalhard stopped, and his companions stopped beside him. The woman stared, and Adalhard pushed Eder back. Cernunnos did the same for Inez.

“I know somewhere nice and cool,” the woman purred. “Why don’t you come along? I believe you know it as well.” She addressed Eder and Inez.

Inez and Eder took further cover, hiding behind the anthropologists.

Adalhard studied the woman. Dark circles rimmed her eyes, and her unwashed hair frizzed in the humidity.

The woman crossed her arms. “Adalhard, I’m afraid we’ll also need you. And, Cernunnos, if you want to come just for the company I won’t stop you.”

“Alastronia,” Cernunnos guessed. “Looks like I lost the election. Too bad because Adalhard can’t occupy two stations at once, and I’m pretty sure he wants to hang on to chair of the AAH.”

“I do.” Adalhard pulled out his magic gun, a larger more threatening make than Regle’s.

Cernunnos’ eyes widened. “When did you…?”

“I bought it. I thought Regle’s was too useful not to get one for myself.” Adalhard kept his eyes on Alastronia. He also wore an enchanted sword, a piece found in a Groazan dig and deemed too serviceable not to use. Adalhard checked Cernunnos’ person and saw the man’s small but sharp mace, also claimed from a dig, on the outskirts of Groaza.

“We can’t stay long,” Alastronia said. “I was unable to prepare this town due to the mages and military swarming all over. I’ll need you to come with me...now.”

Life-size wooden puppets emerged from alleyways ahead and behind them. A few villagers, just beginning work for the day, closed their windows and doors or turned around and left the area.

“Hey! Cultists – go for help!” Cernunnos called. He shrugged at Adalhard. “I don’t know if they’ll help.”

“Probably not,” Adalhard said.

While Alastronia tapped her foot and crossed her arms impatiently, Adalhard fired his gun. The fire spell bounced off Alastronia’s personal shield and fizzled into nothingness.

“Not my usual magic but necessary, given we can’t do anything to Suen.”

The puppets advanced, and Adalhard shot them. They had their own personal shields, which flashed to life, each time a projectile hit the outer shell. Magic circles on the puppets’ chests glowed and disappeared, until needed again.

Adalhard drew his sword and hoped the shields could not block its strike or enchantment. As the first puppet approached, Adalhard swung his sword high and the head flew cleanly from the shoulders. He stabbed down into the open cavity and twisted the sword handle. The blade glowed red, activating a series of magic circles inscribed in the metal. The puppet started to smolder, and Adalhard pulled his sword free. He placed a hand on the puppet’s chest and pushed it into two other puppets.

While Adalhard wielded his fire-starting blade, Cernunnos hit a puppet with his mace. Cernunnos’ mace possessed an unbreakability enchantment. The small weapon numbered at least four thousand years and could probably expect to last four thousand more.

Inez and Eder, unarmed, hid behind the two archaeologists and worked to conjure a spell. Unpracticed in the fast pace of battle magic, they worked together to envision a four-ringed magic circle. The yellow circle sent swirls of light to each puppet and Alastronia. The Ferran’s magic flashed around their opponents. It seemed to do nothing, but from the way Alastronia took cover behind her puppets, Adalhard deduced her shield was gone.

With Alastronia out of sight, Adalhard listened hard. His sword and Cernunnos’ mace made a lot of noise. Coupled with the Ferran’s humming circles, Adalhard caught only a hurried conversation.

“These are not Ah’nee’thit’s orders. We should wait…”

“Ah’nee’thit has been put to bed. We need to think for ourselves, you fool!” Behind the puppets, Adalhard saw Alastronia push the other woman. “Be of some help or go.”

“Quite the crowd.” Cernunnos hit a puppet in the chest. “If the locals don’t get us some help, we’ll never make it to the outskirts. I think we can go to the shipyard. I know one of the captains there.”

Adalhard nodded. “Alright. In the meantime, Inez, Eder, send a message to the military and other Textilers.” Adalhard began to lead his group towards the shipyard, inching along.

“Message magic is hard,” Eder objected.

He and his sister began to cast the spell, pausing to move away from the puppets and stay near the creeping archaeologists.

Adalhard set the chest of one puppet ablaze. Panic seemed to seep into the thing’s eyes, and it batted at its fiery core. Cernunnos hit the same puppet with his mace and sent it into several more, setting those afire as well.

As the puppets fell into each other, a gap opened in their attack, Adalhard and Cernunnos pulled the Textilers through, and Cernunnos led the way to the shipyard.

With his new gun, Adalhard paused to shoot a few more puppets. Then, he turned and ran. He looked at his gun, bought mere hours after he’d had a taste of Regle’s. Magic guns should be standard weaponry. Though they possessed limited magic and were expensive weapons, Adalhard couldn’t believe he’d lived without one. In his peripheral vision, he saw Alastronia on the ground, motionless. She rubbed her head, barely responding to the other healer’s pleas.

Odd. Is she sick?

Adalhard didn’t wait to find out and followed his companions. The puppets chased them, losing the trail as they wove through the streets. Adalhard wondered if the puppets’ poor coordination had something to do with Alastronia’s illness.

Soon, they lost all the puppets and reached the edge of the shipyard. Adalhard let Cernunnos run ahead to convince their new transportation to be charitable.

Again, he instructed Inez and Eder to send the message spell. A white magic circle of four rings formed around the siblings, and a coil of white light leapt from the middle. The light would find the Groazan and Tagtrumian militaries.

“Good,” Adalhard congratulated. “We’ll leave on whatever ship Cernunnos gets us, but at least, the military has a chance to capture Alastronia.”

Cernunnos jogged back to the group. He shielded his eyes and glanced at the sky. “You got a message off. Do you want to see if we can reach the outskirts of Suen?”

Adalhard shook his head. “No. We’ll just take the ship you found, unless they don’t want to transport us.”

Cernunnos smiled. “Oh, it’s fine. They are willing to transport us to the very edge of Iruedim. I’m really looking forward to this trip actually.” He waved them after.

Adalhard followed last. He wove through the shipyard just behind Inez and Eder.

Cernunnos led the group past several stately airships and stopped at one preparing to take off. Cernunnos’ choice of airship was polished to a rich golden brown, and the balloon above showed a line of dancing maidens, circling the balloon hand in hand.

Inez stopped. “What is this supposed to be?” She pointed at the balloon and its naked subjects.

“Granted, it’s...a bit more than I bargained for, but who’s going to see it? And, it’s just art,” Cernunnos said, with a shrug.

“If we succeed, one day it may be valued as an important artifact of this time.” Adalhard shot Cernunnos a sideways glance.

“Great,” Inez growled. “Just what we need to be taken seriously.”

Adalhard smiled.

“Welcome,” called a feminine voice. From aboard the ship, a tall, thin woman waved. Her long hair streamed in the wind, half blond and half grey. “Hello, Cernunnos.” She waved at him. Then, she addressed the others, “I’m Sylvia Verloren. This is Ginger Entorpec.” She gestured a to a woman currently out of sight.

Cernunnos charged onto the ship. “We don’t have time for nice introductions, Sylvia. Can you get us in the air?” He grabbed her shoulders and steered her to the cockpit.

Adalhard and the Ferrans ran aboard as well. A dark-haired woman, with warm bronze skin, pulled the gangplank up behind them.

Ginger, Adalhard deduced.

Ginger was also tall, though not as tall as Sylvia. Unlike Sylvia, she had a full, curvy figure. Ginger straightened and said, “Welcome aboard the Salacious Maiden. Wonderful to see you Cernunnos. Who are your friends?”

Cernunnos glanced at her as he pushed Sylvia to the wheel. He didn’t answer and disappeared inside the cockpit with Sylvia.

Ginger raised her eyebrows and shrugged. Then, the ship lurched. Adalhard steadied himself on the rail and caught Inez. Poor Eder landed on the deck.

“Not a great takeoff,” Ginger said.

“Why was that?” Adalhard bent and picked up Eder.

“Sloppy anchor release.” Ginger grabbed Inez’s arm. “Come inside. The wind will pick up fast.”

Adalhard nodded. Already, the wind whipped his hair, and he worried they wouldn’t have time to shelter from the gusts. He pushed Inez and Eder ahead of him and was the last to enter the cockpit. When Ginger shut the door behind him, the wind vanished.

Adalhard looked around.

Beside him, Inez and Eder panted. They caught their breath. Eder’s short hair stuck up, and Inez’s braid spewed loose strands. Adalhard hand combed his own hair, trying to set it right. Eder mirrored the gesture. Inez just scowled.

The ship rose from the ground and took them out of the cultists’ reach.

Cernunnos approached Ginger. He stopped well within her personal space. “Now, Ginger,” he said. “I will introduce my friends.” He gestured first to the Ferrans. “Inez and Eder Ferran, skilled Enchanted Textilers. They make spell imbued fabric. And, this is Florian Adalhard, current leader of the AAH.”

“Oooooo, Adalhard!” Sylvia gasped. “Aptly named, I hope.”

Ginger nodded her agreement.

Adalhard frowned. He resisted the urge to rub his forehead or look at Cernunnos. He got the impression that Cernunnos knew these women from less professional activities. “We need to get underway. This voyage is a serious matter.”

“Of course.” Ginger waved them to the cockpit’s seating.

Adalhard started for the seat. As he walked on the vibrating deck, he studied his surroundings. When they boarded, he’d noticed that the ship, over sixty feet in length, was impeccably maintained. The balloon art catered to a certain taste – Cernunnos’ apparently – but the rest of the ship looked the part of luxury yacht. The interior of the cockpit was no different, with a full lounge of smooth red seats.

Adalhard and Cernunnos slid into one side of the booth. Inez and Eder slid into the other.

Adalhard leaned close to Cernunnos. “How exactly do you know these women?”

“I know them from the brothel they used to run. They sold it and bought a very nice airship. At the time, I thought ‘how nice, but what a shame.’ After I took a ride on Meladee’s Faustina, I couldn’t help but think what a wonderful and free opportunity.” Cernunnos added, “I should use private airships all the time.”

“And, they just happened to be in Suen?” Adalhard gave Cernunnos a hard stare.

“No,” he answered quietly and slowly. “I asked them to meet me in Suen, just in case we stayed here a while to study the creature.” Cernunnos glanced at Ginger.

Ginger fussed over Inez and Eder. To Adalhard’s surprise, Inez accepted Ginger’s offer to reorder her braid.

Cernunnos continued, “I suppose, I sent the message around the same time you bought a gun. By the way, the dwarven town we were worried about is fine. Apparently, the effects of Alastronia’s poison didn’t last too long.”

“Tell me you went to the message office to check for that news and not to send a message to prostitutes.”

Cernunnos remained silent.

Adalhard sighed. “Nevermind. What’s done is done.”

“Right. That’s a good attitude, and it got us out of trouble.” Cernunnos leaned back and put his hands behind his head. “I hope you can live with the fact that the ship doesn’t fit the gravity of our situation.”

“I can,” Eder cut in.

Adalhard stowed his sword and gun. He didn’t think he needed to add his opinion to the conversation.

“He’s going to let it go,” Cernunnos said to Eder as he gestured at Adalhard.

“I’m not.” Inez slumped in her chair.

“Fortunately, my dear, you don’t get a say,” Cernunnos teased.

Ginger returned from a short foray below. She held a brush. Inez got quiet and presented her braid for fixing.

Adalhard felt too tired to get truly mad at Cernunnos. He put his head back and closed his eyes. For twenty minutes, Adalhard planned to take a break. Then, he would get back to work. Ah, Camellia, what fortitude and patience you must have...to deal with this man for your entire apprenticeship.