The morning dawned clear and balmy, perfect for a trip through the jungle to the nearest town with an airfield. Kaidan gave Zerua a hand up into the hovering cart. The Endine operating it flashed them a grin. "You'd better hold on." The driver belted himself in with a leather strip that connected to rings on either side of his seat.

Kaidan frowned, settling into the seat beside Zerua and following the driver's example as he belted himself to the seat. "Why do we need to hold on?"

The cart rose a bit higher into the trees and kept rising until it skimmed the treetops. The driver steered it forward, one hand on the wheel that guided the rudder and another on the thick metal pole holding up his corner of the canopy. "Because this thing gains a lot of speed, and if we hit rough patches of air, it jolts around a lot." He snickered. "Trust me. You want to be tied down for the flight."

Zerua paled and caught his gaze. "Kaidan—"

He cleared his throat and looked up at the driver. "If you don't mind, sir, please drive with care. My wife doesn't do well with turbulence and high speeds."

"I'll do my best." The driver turned his attention back to the clear skies ahead.

Zerua clung to his arm with a grateful smile. He pulled free and squeezed her knee with a smirk. "It'll be fine, love. Don't worry about it."

She swallowed hard as the cart rattled up to a higher speed. The treetops whizzed by beneath them. The telfie, which she'd since named Arania after Banach's youngest daughter, curled closer to her abdomen where it sat in her lap. It released a squeak and buried its head in her skirts. She stroked its downy fur with a soft sigh, and Kaidan wrapped his arm around her waist. "It'll be fine. Don't worry yourself about it. The driver is able enough to control the wind and the craft. We'll get there in one piece."

She looked a bit green at the thought, but she didn't contradict him. As the craft gained speed, she buried her fingers in the telfie's fur, biting her lip. After a moment, she buried her face against his shoulder. He rubbed her hip, hoping she would calm down and perhaps sleep through the journey. Her muscles un-tensed one at a time, and her breathing steadied out as the ride evened and settled into a steady rhythm of ups and downs.

The wind whipped past them, tugging at his hair and hers. Kaidan rested his head atop hers, letting his own eyes close. Their adventures had taken much more from him than he'd initially thought. His own breathing evened to match his wife's, and soon the two of them were sleeping peacefully as the Endine pilot guided the craft through the calm sky.

***

The pilot shook Kaidan's hand with a laugh. "You two are the quietest passengers I've ever taken this trip with."

Kaidan bit back a smile. "Well, we're pretty worn out from our journey."

The pilot grinned and doffed his woven reed hat to them. "As I saw, sir. Good luck finding a craft to take you back home. And may the gods smile on you as you carry that news to the world."

Zerua clung tighter to him at the man's comment, and he glanced down at the bags of books resting at their feet. "Thank you."

"We're all grateful to you, you know. Because of you, the spirits in that place can have the rest they should've had thousands of years ago."

Kaidan drew in a deep breath and nodded. "We're glad we could do so."

"This is goodbye then." The pilot capered back to his cart-like air ship with a buoyant laugh. "Fare you well, Tadegan!"

The two of them grinned and returned the farewell. Then they stepped back to give the man room to take the cart back up. The off-white cloth covering wobbled with the force of the wind, and the pilot released a whoop as the wind gathered at his command, picking up the ship and sending him rocketing back toward Faeridhia. The couple watched until he was gone before turning back to look at the little town just feet away.

The people milling on the outskirts paid them little mind as though they'd seen plenty of travelers arrive this way. Kaidan wondered if they had. He tucked Zerua close to his side, grabbed the bags, and shouldered them. "Ready to go home?"

"Indeed, I am. Of course, I'm not sure it'll be our home for long."

Kaidan sighed, staring at the colorful flashes of skirts and tunics as a group of children hurdled by a few feet from them, laughing and giggling. Zerua also watched them pass with a wistful gleam in her violet eyes. He pressed a kiss to her temple, smiling. "Home is wherever you are, my love. And someday, we'll have children just like those little ones there."

She ran her thumb over the back of his hand with a contented sigh. "Let's go home then."

He grinned. "That's the spirit." Removing his arm from her waist, he strode forward.

She followed a moment later, weaving her fingers through his and squeezing. "You think we'll be able to find an airship here?"

"They have an airfield, so I imagine so." Kaidan craned his neck to see where the field might be. Up ahead, he noted there was a space behind the other side of the village that boasted no trees. He pointed to it. "I'm guessing that's where we have to go."

Zerua wandered through the small town with him, eyeing the mud-daubed houses and the people dashing between them. He stared too, the bustle of the place causing his own energy levels to rise. The atmosphere was charged with friendliness and warmth. They passed a woman with a woven basket balanced atop her head, and she flashed them a smile, her teeth gleaming against her dark skin. Two men passed them after and inclined their heads with warm greetings. The couple returned the greetings, the corners of their lips tugging upward. "See," Kaidan murmured in her ear. "They're friendly, and I'm sure they'll be able to help us."

She nodded. "We should make sure we're heading toward the airfield before we keep going that way."

Kaidan squeezed her hand. "Right as usual." He stopped a wide-eyed young woman with a friendly greeting. "Miss, we're looking for the airfield. We just came from Faeridhia, and we need to know which way to go."

The girl played with the beaded ends of her thick black braids. Her full lips split to reveal pearly white teeth. "You're already going the right way, Mister."

He bowed to her with a grateful smile playing on his lips. "Thank you." Straightening, he said, "I've noticed all of you speak Common well. Is this a main location for trade?"

She nodded. "We may have kept our simple lifestyle and quaint housing, but we're the last main outpost for traders looking to rest before pressing on to trade with Faeridhia."

Kaidan and Zerua glanced at each other with a laugh. Zerua put her hands on her hips, shaking her head. "Don't they know they won't get a very happy reception?"

The girl shrugged, grinning. "I don't know, ma'am. Some of them—" She tapped her head. "They're not right in the head, you know? Others have been coming and going for years. The people of Faeridhia know those ones well and welcome them."

Kaidan nodded. "I see. Well, thank you again for your help and for welcoming us into your wonderful village. We'll be off to the airfield now. The gods bless and smile upon you, miss."

She laughed at his overly polite speech and dropped a curtsy. "And to you. Mister. Missus."

Zerua and Kaidan bowed in farewell and continued on their way.

"Everyone here is so kind." Zerua sighed, staring at the people passing and responding to the cheerful greetings of the natives. "It makes me wish I could live here too."

Laughter rumbled out of Kaidan. "And lose all the amenities civilization has to offer? I couldn't see you enjoying the seclusion for long no matter how friendly it is."

Zerua elbowed him with a sniff. "I'm more resilient than you think."

"I'm sure you are."

The scent of freshly-cut undergrowth and the creak of ships straining against their moorings intruded on the conversation moments before the airfield itself came into view. The couple paused to take in the ranks of ships that were moored and awaiting their cargo or passengers.

"Which one should we—"

"Ah, there you two are!" A familiar voice bellowed at them from behind. "Captain, I found them!"

Zerua spun about with a gasp, and Kaidan also turned to look. Ifan smirked, striding up to them and wrapping Kaidan in a bear hug. Kaidan grunted, and one of his ribs popped along with every joint in his spine. "E-enough. Ifan, if you continue—" He wheezed for breath. "You'll break something."

Ifan dropped him and bellowed with laughter. "Captain said you'd be here."

Dhiabhan strode into view then, his hands shoved into the pockets of his black pants and his boots gleaming despite the dirt and humidity of the town. The wind tugged at the strands of his black hair, pulling it free of its tie. He had removed the captain's hat that he normally wore and had left his head bare. His lips curved up in a languid smirk, and he ambled to a stop beside Ifan. "We meet again, Tadegan." His sharp gaze swept over Kaidan and Zerua. "Worse for the wear, I see."

"Dhiabhan?" Kaidan shook his head. "What are you doing here?"

Dhiabhan shrugged. "Waiting for you two. Took your time too, didn't you? Three-and-a-half weeks." He shook his head, tapping his foot against the dusty track leading back to the village. "Late as always."

Kaidan narrowed his eyes. "We didn't have an appointment, and we're not always late."

One thick black brow rose in response to that. "You may not have had an appointment in your mind, but in my mind, you did."

Zerua snickered. "Too bad you forgot to tell us. We might've hurried up if we'd known."

The captain snorted. "And how was I to do that?"

"Well, you knew we'd be here." Zerua crossed her arms, glancing at Kaidan. "Speaking of. How did you know we'd be here?"

Dhiabhan lifted one shoulder and shot her a sly smile. He strode past her, pausing his stride to lean close to her and murmur in her ear. "A man must keep some secrets, my lady. Allow me to keep some of mine, would you?"

She uncrossed her arms. "I suppose I could make an allowance this once."

"Good. That'll be the price for riding back to Montelishra with me." He strode back toward the Rith's Demise, which was bobbing on its moorings on the opposite end of the airfield.

Kaidan hurried to catch up, dragging Zerua with him. "Wait! What are you talking about?"

"You two need to go back to Montelishra, don't you?"

"Well—" Kaidan cleared his throat. "Yes, but—"

"And I'm going that way anyway."

"You are?"

"I'm not in the habit of repeating myself or of lying, am I, Tadegan?" Dhiabhan's voice lilted as though he was holding back laughter.

"I suppose not." Kaidan scratched his head. "But—Well, Dhiabhan, it makes no sense! How could you know we'd come here?"

"Deduction would say—"

Kaidan snorted and grabbed Dhiabhan's shoulder, spinning the Captain to face him. Dhiabhan cocked his head to the side and crossed his arms. Raising a brow, Kaidan stared back. "You don't expect me to accept that answer for fact, do you? You may have deduced the port, but you had no idea if we'd even survive, and you're not the type to wait around for dead men."

Dhiabhan's lips curved up. "How perceptive of you."

"So, how did you know?"

Dhiabhan grinned. "Had a hunch, you could say. Now, quit wasting my time or I'll make you pay me with more than information and a favor."

Kaidan gaped at him. "Are you kidding right now?"

Dhiabhan tapped the side of his long nose, his blue eyes calm. "I believe that we both know I'm not in the habit of doing that either. You decide for yourself based on that." He spun on his heel and strode across the remaining feet to Rith's Demise before bounding up the gangway.

Kaidan glanced back at Ifan, who was still standing behind them. "What's wrong with him?"

Ifan roared with laughter, his broad shoulders trembling with the force of it. "He's a bit touched in the head."

"I never would have guessed." Kaidan shook his head with a laugh and followed the Captain's example, though he moved up the gangway at a slower pace.

Dhiabhan leaned against the rail much like he had when they'd first boarded his spry little ship. When they were all aboard, he clapped Kaidan on the shoulder and roared at the crew in the rigging and at the fore of the ship. "Prepare for take off, you lazy spawn of Rith!"

Kaidan winced at the bellow and took his place at the rail. The ropes for tying themselves to the ship's rail were already in place, and Kaidan smiled at the memory of their first take off with Dhiabhan. Much had happened since then.

With the crew scurrying about and following Ifan's bellowed orders, Dhiabhan joined them. To their surprise, he tied himself down with them this time. The playful smirk from earlier disappeared, and he stared out across the village. His silence remained steady, and Kaidan left him alone, figuring he'd talk when he was ready.

The sharp snap of the ropes releasing their hold on the ship cracked through the air, and the ship bucked a moment before leaping skyward. The wind roared past their ears as the ship's Endines guided it upward. A glance confirmed that Dhiabhan was still lost in thought, leaving Ifan at the wheel to keep the rudder and the ship's sails in the proper positions.

For a long while, no one spoke. The wind screamed across the ship, the one thing that the Endines couldn't control as they mounted to the proper altitude. The noise made speaking impossible, so they stood there, clinging to the ship's rail, and waited for it to die down to a reasonable level.

In a few minutes, the ship stabilized, and the deck evened out. The wind eased up as the Endines turned their attentions to keeping the ship aloft and wrapping it in a protective bubble of air that kept the oxygen levels at a breathable level and fended off the cold winds at their altitude of flight.

Dhiabhan untied himself with a frown. "You found the truth in Ashkarith."

Kaidan bit his lip. He always makes statements about things as if he knows what will happen before it happens. I wonder if that's how he knew things he shouldn't have back when we met. "We did."

Zerua leaned into him with a shiver.

Dhiabhan watched them for a long moment, propping his back up against the rail and crossing his arms and legs. "What will you do with it? The spirits are freed, aren't they? So what remains to be done?"

Zerua cleared her throat. "Kaidan, Dhiabhan has a point. I've been meaning to ask—"

"We have to inform our guild at least." Kaidan refused to consider remaining silent.

"But Kaidan, maybe we don't need to. They're all free, with the exception of Rith's spirit. But we'll free him too when we get to Dubarin. Maybe we should just go there right away and forget about going back to tell the guild in Montelishra."

Dhiabhan frowned. "With all due respect, when I asked what remained to be done, I didn't mean you shouldn't do anything at all? I simply wanted to now what you two thought was the next step."

"We can't stay quiet about this." Kaidan straightened and tugged his rope restraints free so he could pace. "People are buying into a lie without even knowing it. They should be informed so they have a chance to believe the truth."

Dhiabhan ducked his head, his gaze focused on something across the ship. "Indeed."

Kaidan followed his gaze to where Rhubhian stood, the black and scarlet scarves and breast bindings of an Aleshtanian royal slave once more adorning her. "We'll spread the truth because only truth can make people free."

The Captain shoved his hands into his pockets. "Does it?"

Still staring at Rhubhian, Kaidan nodded. "Speaking of truths... Tell me something, Dhiabhan. I've been wondering ever since we met with you in Argos. Who are you really? What are you running from?"

Dhiabhan's lips cracked in a worn smile. "Me? What consequence does it make?"

"You're the one enigma he hasn't solved on this journey," Zerua butted in with a snicker.

Kaidan grunted and crossed his arms.

She wrapped her arms around his waist. "You're just mad because you know I'm right."

He sighed. "Yes, you're right." His gaze flew back to Rhubhian. "You dress her in the garments of an Aleshtanian royal slave. That's a punishable crime in Aleshtain."

Dhiabhan's gaze fixed on his slave as well. "Not for me."

"Then you're royalty?"

His facial muscles tightened, and a flash of pain sparked in his dark eyes. He closed his eyes, clenching his jaw. "I'm the son of King Arabhor Phael Thilain the Third of Aleshtain."

Beside him, Zerua stiffened. "B-but—"

"But I'm so polite? So normal?" His eyes flew open again, and the mask was back. "I'm not what you expected?" He shook his head and turned his back on them. "I rarely am, my lady. Tadegan, rest assured that the truth does indeed set people free. But sometimes, people would rather stay blind. Remember that if you decide to tell the truth. Now, if you two will excuse me." He stalked toward the main deck of the ship.

The two of them watched in silence as the captain took the wheel from Ifan, who stood beside him, engaging him in conversation. Kaidan shook off the stupor first. "He's right, you know."

"About what?"

"The truth does set people free. But he's also right to say that people prefer darkness to light many times."

"Do we have to tell them what we found?" Zerua wrapped her arms around herself with a shiver.

Kaidan wrapped his arms around her, drawing her close to him. "We have to. Even if it costs us everything, we have to inform them."

She sniffled, burying her face in his chest. "I thought as much. Then it's time for us to reveal to the world the secrets Bane took to her grave."

Silence draped over the two of them, and they stood looking out over the jungle as the ship plunged through the sky, heading for Montelishra. It was time to end the two-thousand-year-old subterfuge. It was time to tell the world the truth that Sedra had buried so many years ago. Because as is often the case, the truth eventually comes out, and all lies must be revealed.