Whatever happened after the battle ended, Ren isn’t sure.

All he knew was that the entire place devolved into chaos as soon as it reached its conclusion. Everyone was moving. The soldier Selkies rushed forward, in an attempt to restrain Betty, who stood over her slain foe. Other, peaceful Selkies struggled to flee, causing a major stampede as they tried to get as far away from that cold-blooded killer as possible.

Ren was shuffled about, jostled by the rampaging crowd. Someone tugs on his arm, dragging him from the mess, relieving him of the mayhem. The noise around him explodes like a cacophony in his ears, pounding against his skull.

He doesn’t remember what happened in the pandemonium that occurred, and he’s not sure he wants to. All that he recalls, before he is whisked away from the battlegrounds, is a pained, echoing scream. It reverberates throughout the stadium, bouncing off the walls, piercing through even the cacophony.

The doors to the battlegrounds slam open, and Vane pulls Ren out. Gridel escorts Penny, and Clemon shields Isla from the raging Selkies.

“To the stables! Quick!” Gridel calls.

“No! Let me go! Let me—!” Isla screams, pushing against Clemon’s arms. But Clemon holds tight, and he drags her across the main hall. Ren can’t possibly imagine just what she’s feeling. She just watched her father die in front of her eyes, and there is no time for her to mourn. But now, with the Selkies hunting them down, even Isla would perish if they were caught.

After all, in their eyes, she was the one who brought them to her tribe. She was the indirect cause of their leader’s death.

It could be said that she killed her own father.

Gridel rams her shoulder into the stable’s door, and they stumble in. The Hippocampi lift their heads at the sudden intrusion, peering at them curiously. These creatures, as it turns out, are of an equine nature—at least, the front of their bodies are. Their rear ends resemble that of a mermaid’s tail, swishing about in the water.

“Two to one horse!” Vane shouts. “We have to move now!”

Penny and Gridel take one, while Vane hops onto another. Ren bumbles onto the saddle, and he wraps his arms tight around Vane’s shoulder. A warm glow shines around them, one that Ren isn’t unfamiliar with. Vane grabs the reins and snaps them against the Hippocampus’ neck.

The Hippocampi whinny and buck. Ren’s stomach drops as the horse shoots forth, crashing through the wooden fence of its stable gate. Gridel and Penny’s Hippocampus is already off, barging through the main entrance of the stable and galloping off into the deep blue of the seas.

The Hippocampus swims through the water, making for the surface, going as fast as their sturdy legs would let them. Something swishes through the water, and Ren whips his head to the side just in time to evade a trident spiralling by his ear. It zooms through the water, flying into the distance and out of their line of sight.

Vane yanks the reins to the left, and the horse swerves with the motion. Another trident sails by them, and it would have speared the Hippocampus through had it not been for Vane’s foresight. Ren chances a glance back, at the handful of Selkie soldiers chasing them. With any luck, they can ride the Hippocampi faster than the Selkie can catch up to them, and then they’d be able to escape.

The Hippocampi reach the surface, and Ren’s head breaks through the water. He is met with a cold draught, sending chills down his spine. His wet hair mats to his forehead, droplets rolling down his cheek. His ears and cheeks sting in the rush of the wind.

“Where are we going?” Penny shouts, her voice barely audible over the howl of the draught-turned-gale.

“The nearest island!” Clemon calls back. “Over there!”

It certainly helps that the Selkie tribe made their home in the Triclaw Isles. The group heads to the first island they see, towards a cave carved into the face of its rocky cliff. The farther they get from the tribe, the fewer tridents are slung their way, till the attacks stop altogether, leaving them swimming in peace.

Soon, they reach the cove, and the Hippocampi come to a gentle halt by the beach. They lower their riders to the sand, and Ren half-expected them to go back to their true owners, but the Hippocampi do not move. Instead, they continue to stare, with those glassy eyes of theirs, neighing lowly.

Ren almost falls from the Hippocampus’ body, and Vane steadies him as he stumbles onto the beach. Their friends have made it safely as well, and their Hippocampi also show no signs of wanting to return to the stables.

“Well,” Penny says. “We’ve really fucked things up now.”

Gridel dips her head. “Made an utter mess of things.”

“I’m sorry. If only I hadn’t… I hadn’t…” Isla’s voice cracks. The party glances back at her. She is looking away, rivulets on her face gleaming, but whether it is from the seawater or from tears, Ren isn’t sure. “If only I hadn’t asked you to accompany me, none of this would have—”

“Hey, it’s not your fault.” Clemon is at her side in an instant. “You couldn’t have known that that would happen.”

“But…”

Penny bites her lip. She looks like she wants to say something, but in the end, she turns away, and doesn’t. Clemon embraces Isla, letting her sob into his shoulder, and rocking her gently. All that fills the quiet cave are Isla’s choked cries. Even the Hippocampi remain respectfully silent as they watch.

Ren can’t help but feel that they were a tad responsible too. After all, they had the power to stop it, at any point in time. They could have stepped in, probably. They could have convinced Betty not to follow through with that duel, or they could have—

“What are you thinking?”

Ren looks over at Vane. His arms are folded, staring out into the red sky, framed by the jagged mouth of the cave. Ren drops his gaze, sighing. “I don’t know. It’s just… everything happened so fast, and…”

“It did.”

“And we couldn’t react in time and… it all just felt out of control.” Ren shakes his head. “I get this feeling that we could have prevented it. Somehow, and yet…”

“The world doesn’t operate on ‘what if’s. Dwelling on them would only lead to hesitation. Then it would lead to discouragement and the potential abandonment of our quest,” Vane says. “I thought Lady van Calysso had given you a similar lesson before.”

“I know that, but…” Ren runs a hand through his hair. “But it’s… I mean, it’s different, you know? We didn’t really know those sailors who died, from Cascasia and the Witches. They weren’t family, or friends… but…”

“They were the family or friends of someone else.”

“Yeah, but…” Ren looks over at Isla and Clemon. “You can’t just tell someone who’s grieving to look forward and move on. Grief doesn’t work that way.”

“I…” Vane places his hands on his hips, gauntlets clanking softly against his breastplate. “Indeed, I have not met anyone who grieved. Not personally, no.”

“What about you? Like, what about when your parents died?”

Vane shakes his head. “They perished when I was very young. I hadn’t the mental capacity to process what had happened to them; I hadn’t formed any emotional attachment to them. I’ve been raised by His and Her Majesty my whole life.”

Ren nods. “I see. Well, I think we should let Isla rest for today. We can decide what we’re going to do tomorrow.”

“Indeed. That appears to be the best course of action.”

Penny and Gridel are already getting themselves settled on a bed of sand by several rocks. It’s be just like the old times, sleeping out in a cave around a spring, or in a cosy temple. Vane joins them, and Ren tells Clemon and Isla about the arrangements before following him. Clemon acknowledges it with a smile.

Isla doesn’t even look at him at all.

*

Ren wakes up to the sound of the seagulls’ caws, and he pushes himself into a sitting position, mouth open in a rested yawn. Sleeping on sand is better than sleeping against a hard, stone wall any day, or in handcuffs. He still prefers the soft sheets on board the ships, though, or those in Betty’s place in Calysso, or even Gravelle’s castle’s beds.

Waves lap against the rocks of the cove, where the Hippocampi are currently asleep. It’s rather amazing, Ren thinks, that they have yet to leave, and he wonders why. That said, none of the Selkies pursued them either, probably too preoccupied with the death of their leader.

Speaking of which… Ren scans the lagoon. Most of his friends are already awake, with only Penny and Clemon still curled up and asleep. He has no idea where Vane and Gridel have gone, but he spots Isla kneeling at the mouth of the cave, with her back to him. Did she even sleep at all?

Ren approaches her with silent footsteps. He doesn’t want to startle her, not in when she’s in such a state. Like she’s a porcelain doll, and she would break at the merest of touches.

“Isla?”

Isla doesn’t even so much as jump at his presence. Her face is stony, expressionless, as she watches the rolling waves. Ren crouches beside her.

“You okay?” he asks.

“Do I… look okay?” Isla responds in the smallest of voices. So quietly that Ren could hardly hear her. “My father, whom I’ve wanted to reunite with for the past few decades, perished because of a trusted ally. Having spent almost a lifetime out in the hands of strangers, in a world that I hardly knew but had to adapt to… and seeing him slaughtered at the hands of a guest I believed to be good… what do you want from me?”

“To let us know if we can help,” Ren says. “I mean, I’ve never gone through any of this mourning thing before, but if we can be here for you…” He scratches his head. “Just say the word, and we’ll be here, okay?”

Isla says nothing. Ren settles down beside her, only then noticing just what she’d been shielding from his sight. It’s a slab of stone, planted into the dirt. A slab carved with the name of her father: Kai of Triclaw Isles.

“I don’t know what to do now,” Isla says. “I can’t return home—it’s likely I’m already branded a traitor by my people. And there is no other home to go. Everywhere that I’ve known… is gone. Either sunk to the bottom of the ocean, or a place of danger. I have no options left.”

“Well, maybe you can come with us,” Ren says. “Or maybe you can live in Calysso. The people there are really nice.”

At that, Isla’s face sours. “You mean I am to live with my father’s murderess?”

Perhaps that wasn’t the right thing to say. Ren ducks his head, pursing his lips. “Well… there’s one other place that I can think of, but it’s really far away, and I’m not even sure how to get there from here…”

“Where is it?”

“It’s a place called Gravelle, where we’re from,” Ren says. “There’re cavernous canals there, so you wouldn’t be too far from the water. Besides, the Horseman of Death’s been vanquished, so the quality of life’s got to be better.”

Isla hums. “I will consider it.” She stands, and she turns back towards the cave.

“Are you feeling better?” Ren asks.

“I doubt I will,” Isla says. “Not for a long time. If I were to take your friend from you, permanently, would you be all right?”

Ren drops his gaze.

“I will properly mourn my father, and the loss of my home, when I am able. When the time is right. For now, we shall focus on the delivery of Zenthos from the Four Horsemen. And to that end, I am willing to lend you my aid,” Isla says. “I can command the Hippocampi to follow your orders—they are loyal to the Selkie, so I must be present if you are to have any hope in controlling them.”

Ren smiles. “Thanks, Isla.”

And with that, they return to the pit where they slept, if only to partake in some breakfast. A meal of fish and crab, caught from the various pools in the lagoon. They eat in relative silence, punctuated only by the crash of waves and the sound of gulls.

*

“Do you think Betty’s safe?”

Ren glances over at Penny, who’s caressing the face of the Hippocampus. She doesn’t look at him, and instead focusses on the animal. However, there’s no hiding it, the worry in her voice, and the conflict in her eyes. It only occurred to them then, when Betty challenged Kai to a death match, that they are aware of how little they knew about her. She was a friend, but harboured so many secrets of her own.

“Maybe,” Ren says. “She’s hardy, from what I’ve seen. I don’t think she’ll go down easily.”

Penny hums. “I see. Well, then we’ve just got to put our faith in her. Maybe she’d have gone back to Calysso or something.”

Yeah, if she hasn’t been arrested and put to death for killing their leader. But Ren doesn’t say that thought out loud.

“Anyway, we have to get to the Horseman,” Penny says. “But now with the map gone, we have no idea where it is.”

“Um… if I may.”

Ren glances behind him, to find Clemon walking up to them. “I’ve studied that map in my spare time, and I’m happy to say that I’ve committed it to memory.”

Penny widens her eyes. “Really?”

Clemon nods. “Yeah. I’ve spent my years studying nautical charts and maps. I know exactly where it is, and it’s not far from here, too.”

“If you’re sure.” Penny turns to Ren. “It’s high time we go now. I don’t know if the Selkies are coming to get us, and frankly, I don’t want to stay to find out.”

Ren has to agree. He calls Vane and Gridel from where they’re consolidating their supplies, and Isla from where she’s paying her final respects to her father. It’s time to move out, and to stop the Horseman of War once and for all.

*

Ren could seriously get used to this. Riding on a Hippocampus, that is. Unlike the chaotic escape they attempted, this journey’s much more calming. Fish and dolphins swim alongside them, chirping and whistling as they leap from the water in graceful arcs.

“We’re almost there,” Clemon calls. He’s riding the Hippocampus that leads them, with Isla at the reins. “Do you see that?”

The only thing that Ren sees is a giant whirlpool, waves crashing against pillars of rocks that stick out from the water. Is that… Is that the location of the Horseman’s palace? Is that where they’re supposed to go?

“We’re diving in!” Isla shouts. “Hold on tight!”

Ren does just that, tightening his hold on Vane’s waist. With a whip of the Hippocampus’ reins, Isla orders its descent into the ocean. Ren takes an instinctual breath as Vane does the same, and their Hippocampus takes the plunge.

Bubbles swarm to the surface in misty clouds. Ren slowly releases his breath, and he takes one just as the golden glow cloaks them again. When he looks down, at the vertex of the cone of swirling water, he sees it. There, resting on the seafloor, is none other than a dome, looking almost like the kind that encapsulated the city of the Selkie tribe. Does that mean that they’d be able to breathe as soon as they reach the bottom?

There’s only one way to find out.

The Hippocampi continue their descent, each strained gallop bringing them closer and closer to their destination. Ren grabs Ifrit from the strap on his back and holds it out, the other arm still around Vane’s waist. This is it. They’re going to destroy the Horseman’s heart, and they’re going to rid Ilecthia of its wars and massacres and—

A sudden roar bellows in Ren’s ears. It echoes around them, and Ren whips his head about looking for the source. Was that the Horseman? He doesn’t remember the Horseman of Death making such an inhuman noise.

“Sea serpent!” Clemon shouts. “Incoming, from below!’

From below?

Vane pulls on the Hippocampus’ reins, barely in time to avoid the serpent’s deadly jaws. The Hippocampus neighs as it spins through the water. It kicks in a frenzy, struggling to right itself in the intense currents. Ren almost falls from his seat, pressing himself flush against Vane’s back. What the hell was that?

“How dare you infringe on the Horseman’s Palace?” A nasally voice enters Ren’s ears, bouncing around his mind. It incites a spike of pain against his temples, and he winces. The sea serpent roars, its snakelike body careening through the water till it’s nothing more than a blend of shimmering green against the dark of the sea.

The serpent misses again, sailing across their heads as it tunnels past. It just barely avoids crashing into the seafloor. But they can’t possibly fight in the water, at least, neither he nor Gridel can. If anyone were to battle, it’s up to Penny and Vane.

They just need to get to the Horseman’s Palace. They have to—

“Stay away, puny mortals! The Horseman of War has nothing to do with the likes of you.” The serpent makes for them again, its streamlined body trailing and coiling as it lunges for them. “I, Triton, shall not let you pass!”

Triton! Ren’s heard that name before! Wasn’t it the deity that Captain Percival’s crew worshipped?

And Triton is… this serpent?

Why would they be—

“Look out!”

Ren cries out as a particularly violent wave knocks him and Vane off the Hippocampus. The horse neighs and bucks. Before Ren can do anything, it takes off, galloping away into the seas.

“Clemon!” Isla shouts.

Ren has no idea what’s going on. He can barely see the serpent through the dense waters. And he’s only managed to take in some air before he was knocked off. His lungs hurt. He needs air now.

A hairy muzzle ducks under his arm, and Ren stares, eyes wide, but he spares no hesitation in wrapping his arms around Isla’s neck. Vane, on the other hand, has been rescued by Clemon and his Hippocampus. Penny and Gridel have gone on ahead, the former guiding their steed towards the palace.

“Isla!” Ren cries.

Isla veers out of the way of the serpent, with such dexterity that the Hippocampus cannot hope to match. The serpent’s jaws clamp down on nothing but water, and Isla continues her frantic swim towards the palace.

They’re getting closer and closer now. Ren can almost feel the solid ground under his feet. He can almost imagine the dryness, the lack of water surrounding him all the time. Isla’s body moves gracefully, her flippers paddling maniacally.

“Behind us!” Gridel calls.

Ren glances back, eyes widening at the nearness of Triton’s bumbling form, its jaw agape, and its mane flaring around its head. Vane raises Claymore, making a wide slash through the water. The serpent does not manage to stop in time, hollering in pain as its fang hit the blade.

Vane snarls, almost losing his grip on his sword, the impact pushing his weapon forth. But that force was enough, because the next thing Ren sees is Triton’s broken fang floating through the water towards the seabed. Triton gathers itself into a coil, almost like a spring, poised to strike.

Almost there… just a couple of seconds more…

Penny and Gridel are the first to reach. The Hippocampus deposit them in the dome, before galloping away from the imminent threat. Then, Clemon and Vane drop down into it, and finally, Isla and Ren.

“Hurry, in!” Vane exclaims, and the team rushes into the palace. Triton remains outside the dome, glaring daggers at them with its golden eyes. Those golden eyes that… it holds something more than ferocity. It holds…

Pain? Why—

But whyever that is, whatever it could mean, they are safe now. It doesn’t seem as if Triton can enter the Horseman’s private domain.

“Ren? What are you waiting for?” Penny shouts. Ren jerks as she yanks him in, past the entrance of the temple, past the pillars of what looks like chipped statues of angels. Away from the sea, and into the Horseman’s temple.