“Hard decisions?” Gandash asked.

“You have the Gateway Key, right?” Purattu asked.

“We do.”

“Good.” Purattu looked around at the carnage and wrinkled his nose. “Let’s find a less disgusting place to talk.”

He led them further west, to where a small waterfall formed a churning pond near some boulders.

“This is as good a place as any.” Kneeling, he washed the blood from his hands and face. The other mages did the same.

Xerxes relished the feeling of the cool water on his skin.

“There’s a lot to explain, and time is limited,” Purattu said. “Archon Shabadras is dead.”

“What?” Gandash blurted.

“Are you serious?” Katayoun said.

“There’s no way,” Xerxes added.

Purattu looked at them one by one. “He’s either dead, or he’s a traitor. General Kamaru-Ayyabu as well, though none of you knew him. That fact alone has the Mage Parliament and the military completely on edge. Forgetting all of the countless ramifications this could have, the salient issue for us is that Shabadras and Kamaru-Ayyabu were the leaders of the Gateway Key program. They’re the ones who ordered the mission to hide the Key here. And now they’re dead.

“Because of that, I want to take the Key away from here. The situation is too volatile on Sin-Amuhhu.” He extended his hand. “Give it to me.”

Xerxes had the key, but instead of simply pulling it out, he glanced at Gandash.

His friend seemed to be standing very stiffly.

“Who ordered the mission?” Gandash asked. “Who said to take the Key away?”

The stocky mage pulled his hand back and crossed his arms. “It’s not an official mission. Like I said, the people who actually know about the Key are dead. Or missing. Nobody in the military leadership is completely aware of all the details. That’s why I want to get the Key to somewhere safe.”

Gandash stood in place looking back at him.

Purattu’s eyes shifted between the four other mages. “Where. Is. The Key?”

“We hid it,” Gandash said.

Purattu’s eyes narrowed. “You did what?”

“Before that fight with the big Abhorrent. We hid the key… just in case we all died.”

Purattu stood. “Then tell me where it is.”

“Not unless you promise us something.”

The stocky mage’s eyes blazed. “Promise you something? Like what?”

“Help us go get the rest of Black Jackal Company. They’re in a cave network in the mountains to the east. They—”

“Are you fucking kidding me?” Purattu exploded. “This planet is being overrun by Abhorrent, and there’s a damned Gateway Key here! If the monsters get the Key, they can run rampant throughout the Great Reef. Throughout the damned empire! And you want to waste time saving a few Unsighted soldiers? They’re conditioned to die for the empire! They won’t give a shit if you save them!”

“There are mages there, too,” Gandash said. “I promised not to abandon them. If you want the Key, then help us get them.”

“I hereby order you to give me the Key,” Purattu said. “I know you’re a by-the-book officer, Gandash, so don’t you dare try to refuse a direct order.”

Gandash laughed. “You’re not in the Sin-Amuhhu Combined Armed Forces. You can’t order me to do anything. What’s more, you already said your mission isn’t sanctioned. If anything, I should refuse to give you the Key under any circumstances.”

Purattu made a spitting sound. He looked at Xerxes. “What about you, Xerk? Don’t tell me you’re going to side with Gandash. Tell me where the Key is.”

Xerxes’ peripheral vision picked up Gandash looking in his direction. Xerxes considered the situation briefly. “I’m with Gandy,” he said. “I made the same promise. I’m not going to abandon Black Jackal Company to death.”

Jaw tightening, Purattu said, “Kash? Kat? What about you two.”

“If you want the Key, then you have to help us,” Katayoun said.

Xerxes looked at Kashtiliash. The bearded mage had always erred on the side of practicality. All he had to do was tell Purattu that Xerxes had the Key, and their gamble would fail.

Kashtiliash rubbed his shoulder. “We need help, Purattu. Are you really going to refuse?”

Purattu’s eyes blazed hotter. His eyes widened. And then he relaxed. Sighed. He laughed. “You’re a bunch of Monad-damned motherfuckers, did you know that? Fine. I agree to your ‘request.’ I’ll save your friends, you give me the Gateway Key.”

Gandash took a step toward him and extended his hand. “Deal.”

They shook hands.

Shaking his head, Purattu said, “I still can’t believe I’m doing this. I swear if you get me killed….” He sat back down. “Lucky for the four of you, I’m rich. Stinking rich. And I didn’t hold anything back in preparing for this mission. For all I know, I might not be going back to Sin-Amuhhu for a long time. Among the many toys I have with me is a very, very expensive device. A limited-use spell formation that’s essentially a miniature Gateway. If you’re dead set on saving your people, we can use it to get them from their hiding place to the Gateway complex.”

He reached for a pack strapped around his waist and pulled out two objects. One was a simple silver ring, the other was a stone disc.

“The ring is the entrance. The disc is where you step out. The first step is to put the disc in place. If you want to do this, then here’s how it’ll happen. You’ll need to go the rest of the way up the mountain and put the disc in place. I’ll take the ring and run to the east. I can cover the distance in a matter of hours.”

“The lands are full of Abhorrent,” Xerxes said.

“That’s fine. Like I said, I brought lots of toys I can use to stay safe. Now, let me show you how to use this thing.” He went on to explain how to send the flows of melam into the object to activate it.

Afterward, Gandash put the disc into his traveling pack.

“I have a question, Purattu,” Xerxes said.

“Yeah?”

“When you say you’re not going back to Sin-Amuhhu, and that you’re taking the Gateway Key ‘somewhere else,’ what do you mean?”

“I don’t want to reveal the details except to those who come with me. The less who know, the better.”

“Those who go with you?” Katayoun asked. “Who do you mean?”

Purattu grinned again. “I want at least one or two High Seers on my side. I have… things to do away from Jehannemid. Places to investigate. People to talk to. Any of you feel like coming along? Gandash is right that I don’t have the authority to order him around. But I do have some paperwork originally drafted by Shabadras and signed by Kamaru-Ayyabu. It allows me to recruit anyone under the Mystic level, overriding their existing orders for the sake of the Gateway Key mission. In other words, if any of you want to join me, you’re welcome to come along.”

Xerxes was so taken aback he didn’t say a thing.

It seemed Gandash, Katayoun, and Kashtiliash were all similarly surprised.

Purattu, noting their expressions, said, “You don’t have to decide right now. Get up the mountain to the Gateway complex. Stay away from the road and you shouldn’t have to worry about Abhorrent. And incidentally, don’t go to the complex itself. There’s an opening in the trees about a quarter league to the southeast of the place, a clearing or something that will fit all your people. I’ll bring them through, then come along myself. I’ll help you clear the complex and activate it with the Key.”

The stocky mage reached down to tighten one of the straps on his longsword sheath.

“If you move quickly,” Purattu said, “you can get in place well before I reach your people.”

“Hold on,” Xerxes said. “If you don’t use the Gateway, how will you get off Jehannemid?”

“There’s a secret few people are aware of. But it’s also on the list of things I’ll only explain to those who come with me. The fewer people that know, the better.”

“Where will you go, exactly?” Katayoun asked.

“Many places. And those of you who come with me will get a say in the path we take. If you have somewhere you want to go, I’m sure we can work it into the itinerary.” Purattu started tying his sleeves down in the manner commonly used for high-speed running. “There’s no use sitting around chatting. Let’s get this thing done. Tell me where to find your people.”

Purattu provided all four of them with pills that provided minor healing and a boost in energy. Ten minutes later, they parted ways. Purattu disappeared into the trees within seconds, leaving the four High Seers alone.

Not looking at anyone, and keeping his head bowed, Gandash said, “Thanks.”

There was no need to question what he referred to.

“No need for that,” Xerxes said.

“Yeah,” Katayoun added.

Gandash nodded. “Well, I know we’re all exhausted, but the end is in sight. We should get up the mountain.”

Despite staying off the road, they made good time. It only took two hours to get close to the Gateway. There were no further Abhorrent encounters. The glade Purattu had mentioned, located about a quarter-league from the complex, was empty.

After scouting the perimeter to ensure there were no enemies lurking about, they set up the stone disc in the middle of the place, then picked a place to wait.

Time seemed to move in slow motion as the sun crawled down past the treeline, and afternoon gave way to evening. Not wanting to risk attracting attention with a fire, they ate hard bread and water.

“I guess we have a choice to make,” Gandash said. He looked around the group. “I, for one, am tired of secret missions. And I don’t want to risk my career just on Purattu’s word. It’s not that I distrust him. Just….”

“We get it,” Xerxes said. When he thought about the situation, he had a hard time deciding what he wanted to do. The idea of working side-by-side with Purattu, a High Mystic and an expert in the Epitome, was attractive. Surely it would be better than trudging through the mud with Abhorrent lurking around every corner, which seemed the future of Black Jackal in the face of a massive invasion.

Besides, it sounded like Purattu had some sort of plan. Maybe even a way to deal with the Abhorrent invasion that the mages on Sin-Amuhhu hadn’t considered. And the truth was that Xerxes had long abandoned any aspirations of rising through the ranks in the military.

That said, there were other considerations. His friendship with Gandash. His relationship with Katayoun. His family and friends on Mannemid.

“What about you, Kash?” Gandash asked. “Are you thinking of taking up Purattu’s offer?”

Kashtiliash swallowed some bread and washed it down with water. “Nope. I’m done taking risks. I want my pay from the military. And a promotion. You think that’ll happen?”

Gandash didn’t hesitate. “Yes. After the hell we went through, you’ll get an officer commission for sure. As for me… it’s harder to say.”

Kashtiliash nodded. “That’s what I was thinking. I’ll go through the Gateway.”

Xerxes felt a bit of heaviness tugging his heart down. He breathed in and out. “Kat? What are you thinking?”

“I want to go with Purattu,” she said. “I have to go with him. Gandy, I think you did great as the captain. You got us through the mission as a company, and I’m sure they’ll give you that promotion, and probably a medal too. I know we’re on the threshold of the Gateway. But… I never wanted to be in the military to begin with. I want to see my family. And make sure they’re safe. So I’ll go with Purattu. Xerk, will you come with me?”

His heart sank further. So, it came down to this.

He looked at Gandash, but his childhood friend was staring at the tree line. Gandash looked calm and peaceful, but at the same time, haggard. It had been many days since Xerxes realized his friend had changed. Grown. The effect was even more pronounced now.

Xerxes looked at Kashtiliash. The bearded mage looked back at him and nodded slightly.

“I’ll go with you, Kat,” Xerxes said. “I think that… in a lot of situations, a couple of mages working on their own have a better chance of making a difference than they would working with an army. Not that I’m minimizing the role of the Unsighted. Just….”

“We know what you mean,” Kashtiliash said. “I guess this means the Humusi Swordmasters are going to disband.”

“No,” Xerxes replied without even thinking about it. “We’ll always be Swordmasters. Just… taking different paths. And when we meet again, we’ll be stronger and better than before.”

Kashtiliash grinned. “All right.”

Gandash, still looking at the trees, somehow appeared to be sitting much more stiff than before. But before Xerxes could say anything else, the stone disc in the middle of the clearing flared with light, and Teucer stepped out.

For an hour, the surviving members of Black Jackal appeared in the clearing. The last to come through the opening was Purattu. He immediately knelt and fiddled with the disc. There was a final burst of light, whereupon the ring appeared atop the disc. Then the light faded.

Purattu approached. Looking at the faces of Gandash, Xerxes, Kashtiliash, and Katayoun, he said, “You all look like you just ate a bug. I guess that means you made a decision?”

“Yes,” Gandash said. “Xerk and Kat will go with you. I’ll take Black Jackal through the Gateway.

“Excellent. In that case, why don’t you form ranks and we’ll march to the complex. I wiped out the Abhorrent that were camping out there, but I bet more have replaced them. We’ll need to do a bit of fighting.”

Gandash called out his orders, and Black Jackal formed into ranks.

With Purattu in the lead, they marched toward the Gateway complex.