“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.”

- St. Augustine

Alyssa played with Cyrus while Mireille stumbled through her morning routine. She threw a crumpled handkerchief bound with twine which the wyvern snatched out of the air, he was already quite able to glide for short distances. The small piece of fabric was soon ripped and torn. Alyssa stroked the preening Cyrus while smiling gently, “you will be a big, fierce hunter one day.” She spread the ripped fabric and spoke some words, fingers forming sigils and the threads wove back together. She turned, looked at Mireille, and called, “I am getting better at that. The spell is much more versatile and powerful than my own household magic. Thank you for teaching me. Your grandmother must have wanted you to become a magical tailor too.”

“Mh. That may well be.” Mireille seemed a bit uncharacteristically taciturn. “She never got the chance.” Throwing water in her face she forced a smile. “Let's go downstairs!”

As they left the room, Alyssa with Cyrus on her shoulder stroked along Mireille's back and looked a bit concerned. “I hope I did not open old wounds.”

“Nothing you could really know. My grandmother favored me and practically raised me. But when I was seven years old she died. She never got over the collapse of her business, she paid every last debt but the guild harassed and slandered her and I think that killed her in the end. I neglected my magic then and only used it for petty things, knotting the shoestrings of my brothers together while they were running, things like that. My mother tried her best, but she had to feed and support my failure of a dad and my brothers, and I was normally taken care of by my grandma, so I got...forgotten I guess? I might not have been an easy child.” She sighed. “But that is old history, and if we don’t hurry we will be late for breakfast, perhaps we can even avoid the dreaded cousin!”

Knowing when further questions were not appreciated was a useful skill in dealing with her father and now came in useful with Mireille. Alyssa smiled briefly then opened the door, “Then let's not keep the food waiting. But tell me, if you ever want to talk.” The last was spoken quietly as they descended the great stairway.

“Mh.”

The seamstress had been as good as her word and they were attired in new traveling clothes, the colors remained similar, but the material was much more robust and the cloth-covered more skin to better shield against cold or wet weather and other dangers of the road.

They were in luck. Madam von Nordmark was still busy with the preparation for her departure, she had decided at the last minute to accompany the siblings, at least as long as their direction of travel were the same.

And that meant they had the breakfast table to themselves plus Alea and Maximilian.

“Ah, blessed silence!” Maximilian smiled as he took some soup.

“And there you go breaking it.” Alyssa joked.

“That was too obvious, I could not go for that one.” Mireille sniffed disdainfully.

The spider on Alea’s shoulder gave a curious sort of scratching noise which was oddly dismissive.

“Why don’t you sit the spider on your head, you could have a hat to make it work, with little railings made of felt.” Mireille grinned as she imagined that. “It would look adorable, probably.”

“It would look silly. And it does, I tried. I know that the shoulder is not an optimal position.” Alea tapped her fingers on the table. “I once thought to have the spider, or at least the eyes, made into jewelry, a diadem for example. But there were numerous problems with the magical weave. So a spider it is.”

After they had eaten the group assembled in the foyer, Mathilde with her servants was also in attendance. “My carriage is big enough for two more, won't my dear niece and nephew accompany me?”

The two looked at each other, Maximilian began to reply, “I will take the hor…” as Alyssa whispered to him, “then Alea will be alone in the carriage, I don’t think we qualify for the honor.” the boy smoothly continued, “...horse carriage, thank you very much.”

For a fleeting moment, Alea had a tiny smile.

“I guess we ride then?” Mireille asked.

“We have provided horses and a carriage for the journey, you could choose one or the other.” Gerald helpfully interjected. “Miss Alea was adamant that the carriage has adequate suspension, it should be as comfortable as possible.”

“We will take that!” Alyssa replied quickly. Mireille only nodded looking amused.

Alea went over to Alyssa as they sorted their baggage and loaded it on the carriages, “I have some very good books on the topic of spellcraft and some novels of a more frivolous nature packed in this bag here, I fear as long as we are with – that- person we won't get much reading done so you can have them for the moment.” The spider focused on Mireille next, “and you would benefit from reading too.”

Mireille yawned, “I think I have to catch up on sleep first. This evening Vanessa will probably catch up with us. And then it's training, training, and training with a side of…”

“We know.” Alea dryly interrupted. “Make sure to read a bit, it's quite relaxing.”

Then she boarded the big carriage with the Nordmark coat of arms displayed prominently on the side showing a sword behind a shield with a river flowing underneath. The wood was lacquered dark blue and had golden ornaments worked into the corners. The coachman was an older man with a tricorn and coat, he helped with stowing the chests and bags on the roof.

Their own carriage was a more modest affair drawn by four horses. It was varnished brown wood, probably oak. Curtains shielded the inside from casual inspection, their modest belongings and the more ample luggage of the siblings had already been loaded. An old man with a large beard, still looking very hale, was their coachman. He nodded a friendly greeting while chewing a bit of tobacco.

Lucien Caravar and his men were already assembled behind the carriages, the former waved a friendly greeting as they passed, there was also a smaller carriage for the servants, a maid for Alea, the Andrian one they already knew if not by name, and a manservant for Maximilian.

Inside the coach were two benches facing each other, upholstered with leather. A small iron stove behind the forward bench could be worked while traveling and would make colder weather more bearable. Magical runes warded the contraption against fire and kept the air fresh and without smoke.

Mireille pulled Alyssa up into the carriage, Cyrus frantically flapped his wings to keep his place on her shoulder. Soon they were all seated and the coaches made their way down the streets of Grunewald. Adelaide looking much better saw them off.

To the sound of hoof on cobblestone and the rumbling of the wheels they left the city behind, soon the sound changed to a more grinding note as gravel began to dominate the roads farther outside.

For the moment it was just the two of them, Mireille looked at Alyssa who gave back a questioning look. “I am still tired, would it annoy you if I slept a bit?”

“No. Why ask me? I can read a bit and practice. You sleeping will make that easier, just saying.” She smiled at the last part.

Mireille grumbled a bit and then laid down on Alyssa's lap. “Hey what are you doing.”

“You said it's ok!”

“Not to that.”

“Not listening, I am already sleeping!”

Exasperated Alyssa looked down and could not bring herself to shove her off. And the coach really was too small to comfortably lie down, she could have used the front bench but that could have led to her falling if they hit a bump.

Asandria was eying the whole production with amusement.

Cyrus seemed to think about biting Mireille until his mistress stroked his snout while sending calming thoughts.

She arranged herself and then began to read.

On the midday they stopped at a waystation, eating and stretching their legs, Alyssa was in quite a bit of pain as her legs had lost their circulation and she had to massage them before she could even get up.

“I could do it for you?” Mireille asked innocently.

“You will get me something to eat and have it at my seat on the table when I get there.” Alyssa was a bit grumpy.

Sitting at the table, Alea seemed withdrawn and Maximilian looked pained. Mathilde was indifferent but her mere presence shut down any conversation they might have had. And there was nothing the two friends could do but keep clear of that battlefield for the moment. They consoled themselves that this arrangement would last only until tomorrow afternoon when they got to the intersection leading towards Nordmark and Kronenburg respectively.

After the meal, they boarded the coach again and Alyssa put a cushion on her lap this time so that her legs would be spared the pain hopefully.

“Oh, that's comfy. Thanks, Alyssa.”

“Mh. You owe me.”

The afternoon went peacefully reading. The landscape was farmland interspersed with copses of trees and a small lake or two, and as night fell they found a fortified inn surrounded by forest, the Green Dragon. The innkeeper cheerfully explained, as he probably had done a thousand times, that the name came from an adventuring group that had started out in this same inn. It had been at the time of his grandfather and they were all since retired or dead but the seats they had usually taken still had little bronze plaques bearing their names. They became famous after rescuing a princess from pirates off the Coast of Dreams.

Mireille laughingly recounted that when she was very young while playing with her siblings, she had been the pirate captain of the story more times than she could count. “My middle brother was the princess, he had longer hair than me and was much more princessy.”

“Is that a word?” Alyssa inquired.

“It rhymes with prissy, and that fits him to a T.” Mireille grinned.

Maximilian laughed at that “How old were you then?”

“About five perhaps?” Mireille laughed. “Otherwise how could he have played the princess willingly.”

Mathilde had already retired for the night so the conversation had become much more uninhibited and natural.

They went to bed after that. Mireille and Alyssa shared a double room and were still talking about the still absent Vanessa as a knock came from the door.

“Can I come in?” Alea's soft voice was nearly inaudible through the closed door.

“Come in!” Mireille called before Alyssa had the chance to say anything.

The door opened and the girl entered. Alyssa drew the blankets around her shoulder, Cyrus hopped to the top of her head which was somewhat uncomfortable but made for a funny image.

“Oh. I did not want to disturb you.” Alea hesitated.

“Come in, if you are alright with us being half-dressed then I can manage as well.” Alyssa smiled at the small girl.

“It is the first time I have left the mansion for a longer period of time. Oh I was out shopping and visited the town library with my grandma but we always quickly returned to the mansion and it was also not very often.”

She drew a deeper breath, the spider on her shoulder seemed agitated even as her body remained still as ever. Nervously brushing back her dark hair she continued, “And I wanted to ask if I could sleep here.” The last was spoken in a rushed tone. “I understand if you don’t want to…”

“Yes, of course, you can have my bed.” Mireille stood up and went over to Alyssa.

“Don't think about…” And then the redhead gently shoved the still protesting girl to the side and lay down; “Good night.”

Alyssa was speechless for a moment, but before she could begin to scold the shameless girl, Alea gave her a tiny smile and said, “Thank you. I feel better already. I did not want to go to Maximilian, he is a boy for all that he is my brother.” She scrunched her nose.

As they made themselves comfortable, Alyssa had accepted the sleeping arrangements, for the time being, there came another more forceful knock from the door.

“What is it this time?” Mireille grumbled a bit but seemed to be joking.

Vanessa opened the door. “My usual mode of entry seemed ill-advised seeing as you have some company.”

She had bound her blue-white hair with a shawl and wore concealing clothing over the rest of her body. Nevertheless, her eyes and face were of clearly inhuman beauty and Alea looked surprised and startled.

“Len suilannon.” Vanesa made a half-bow her dark, linen clothes, who were too large for her small frame brushed the floor, “Greetings Miss Alea von Graufurt. I know who you are from the communications I have shared with my pupils here. I am Vanessa’ellariel Erellathiel and as you can see, an elf.”

“G...g...good evening.” Alea still seemed unbalanced and very surprised.

“I apologize for the late visit, but I had made a promise to meet my two friends here and this was the time we agreed upon.”

“That is perfectly alright, I will then leave first…”

“Please, stay.” Alyssa got up and took Alea by the shoulder. “We wanted you to meet her too, it was not planned that it be today, but under the circumstances, it's as good an opportunity as any.”

“I teach those two a bit of magical theory and in the case of Mireille practical application. I know that my kind is not welcome in these parts. The war to the west and the refugees have poisoned public opinion against elves in general, but I can assure you that I don’t share the views and allegiance of my kin from Ulsolm.”

“Oh I don’t have a strong opinion on that, I don’t know any elves myself,” Alea assured her. “And as I am an outsider myself it would be hypocritical to condemn you for that. To say that I am not surprised would be lying though. Can I perhaps listen in a bit if I don’t have to leave?”

The room was spacious enough, being one of the better and more costly ones and they started the evening routine.

Alea was at first very withdrawn and only looked on as Alyssa debated some points of theory while Mireille could not do much at the moment, she simply trained the activation of her abilities and tried not to damage the room.

As time passed she timidly crept a bit closer and at the close of the visit she sat beside Alyssa and looked attentively through her spider, she was still silent though.

Vanessa looked outside the window and said, “I will now take my leave. Tomorrow evening at the same time we will meet again.” It was not meant as a question. Mireille and Alyssa nodded synchronously.

Alea looked bemused and said after some hesitation, “Is it ok if I am there too?”

“It is just as well. Come if you will. I bid you all a good night. Sleep well.” The last had a touch of irony.

“Aaah it's so late, I will not get enough sleep before we have to continue.”

“You slept nearly the whole day, I think that is more than enough.”

Alea laughed softly, “I think I will then try to sleep too. Good night and thank you for having me.”

“Good night Alea, sleep well. If there is something bothering you. Talk to us, I, no we, will always be ready to listen,” Alyssa said after exchanging a glance with Mireille.

“Thank you. I will.” She thought a bit and then said, "Thank you for the opportunity to learn with you, it was a nice change to study together instead of alone. That is exactly what I hope the academy will be. But I always feared that I would have troubles making friends there." She touched the spider on her shoulder.

And they...tried to sleep. There was a commotion outside. And loud voices could be heard, then a scream.

Mireille, strangely, was the first to get up, she grabbed her short sword, attired only in a loosely hanging tunic that went to the middle of her thighs it should have been ridiculous but it was not. The Sigil on her arm blazed with light, lightning illuminated her veins and sparked from her eyes, electricity arced between her teeth, and then she was out of the room.

“Stop!” Alyssa sprang up, ran to the door, and looked into the corridor while steadying herself on the doorframe. Alea got up too and spoke some words which sounded like ice floes grinding against each other and a thin glowing layer of ice spread over her body.

Cyrus grabbed onto her shoulder, his claws drawing blood.

“We have to follow her.” The quietly said words of the little girl with the spider hung in the air for a short moment before they both stormed out into the dark hallway.

A sizzling sound was followed by rolling thunder, light flashed and brilliantly illuminated the doorway to Alea's former room in sharp relief. Glass splintered. A stuttering scream broke the ensuing silence. And as they entered they saw blood coating Alea's bed and a dead body lying there, the window was thrown open, the window frame was smoking and damaged. Mireille was in the process of jumping outside.

“What is happening?” Alyssa screamed.

“He is escaping! I will get the bastard.” Mireille answered as she jumped out of the window a whirling wind cushioning her fall. Her tunic...good thing it was dark and mostly deserted.

They ran to the window and saw a dark figure vanish into the woods behind the inn Mireille in hot pursuit, but Alyssa saw that the lightning was becoming faint and knew that the energy buoying her friend was running out.

“Alea I have to get to her, she is going to collapse soon…” out of breath she forced the words out and then ran for the stairs not waiting for an answer.

As she reached the tap-room she saw the innkeeper who was just at the moment opening the front door.

“Excuse me!” She called as she shouldered him aside, possible only because he was so surprised. Then she was outside and the lightning flared and died, Mireille stumbled and fell. The dark figure turned, eyes glittering beneath a black cowl. He raised his hand and something glinted.

Alyssa spoke words of emptiness, grass died, flowers withered the air grew cold, in her left hand a globe of shadow formed, too slow. Cyrus screeched, his soul carrying a bit of the strain.

Out of a window on the first floor, a pale hand reached and a thin line of light flared into being, cutting the night and burning a red molten hole into the dagger, a blue shield of magical energy flashed into being dimming beneath the onslaught of the radiant energy.

Reflected in the eyes of a clockwork spider.

The assailant spat a curse and turned to run into the woods, the dagger was hastily dropped, smoke curled from where it came to rest.

Alyssa threw the shadow-bolt after the fleeing assassin but she saw him casting a spell and with a leap of superhuman proportions he vanished between the trees, the bolt flowed into an old fir tree that cracked and withered, dropping its needles in a constant stream, looking and sounding like the sand in an hourglass.