If you aren’t cheating, you aren’t trying.

Pre-Fall aphorism.

Miles looked at the letter, freshly arrived from New Sandusky. His own letter detailing the Mooneyed’s hopes and offers had to have crossed this one.

Someone isn’t going to be pleased, he realized. Several someones.

“What?”

“People are coming from the headquarters because things have taken an unexpected turn,” he announced to Monica.

The tiny Mooneyed looked at him oddly.

“What does that mean?”

“The Talent House – its leadership – has enemies, apparently, and they’ve struck at us. I’m afraid the store of parchments we might have been counting on has been lost. Instead, we have people – the same ones you saw, actually – coming for another run at Washington to replace those, hopefully without too many winter problems.”

“That’s good, right? The four who make the parchments will be able to help immediately.”

“I don’t think these ones are coming. I’ll have more details when Petra arrives. Which shouldn’t be long now.”

“Hey, Miles!” the former bartender yelled from atop the first wagon.

“Didn’t expect to see you that soon. Hello Cameron,” he replied, waving at the other scavenger driving the next wagon. “I don’t see Madelynn?”

“Family problems. I didn’t inquire, she seemed pissed. The Fosters are also not there, and only Jackson signed up. That means we are somewhat understrength and only have one Fixer, Ignacio…”

Petra’s voice trailed as she spotted the tiny figure next to Miles.

“Hey, I recognize you. You were one of the ones that went all the into the ruins with that small group,” Monica Silver said.

“What the?…”

“So, we had three of you shadowing us during the whole time,” Petra concluded as they walked into town, the two half-empty wagons following.

“Yes. I mean, it was a shock for everyone. No one seemed to have survived the Fall outside of the Camp, at least for a hundred miles around. There had been two far-ranging expeditions last century, but no one ever heard back from them. Apparently, they didn’t make it out of the zone. And then, out of nowhere, suddenly two wagons full of Tallers, people who didn’t seem to have been Changed like the Mooneyed.”

“I bet it was a surprise.”

“The elders at the Camp wanted to know why you were there. Then we found out you had mount-skills.”

“And then you stole them. Johanna is going to be pissed when she learns of this. First the Montana, then a Changed city…”

“She’s not there, too. I’d have hoped…” Miles noted.

“No. She’s got Ulrich with her; they left for the state capital post-haste, and Ulrich dropped on me to organize everything of this emergency run. Not quite what I signed for back in the Dakota.”

“Life rarely does that. Especially when an Ancient gets involved.”

Petra sighed in reply. But Monica seemed intrigued at this talk of an Ancient.

When she spotted the furry menace, Petra instantly and reflexively covered her arms with her signature stone spikes. Miles immediately raised his hand and put it on her arm to stop her.

“Can someone explain to me why there is a… Changed beast in the middle of the town?”

Said Changed beast was rising from its prone position, lips retracting to show teeth. Surprisingly enough, it didn’t growl or anything.

“Remember Monica talking about mount-skills?” Miles replied.

“Wait, this is a ‘mount’?”

“It is.”

Monica had moved to interpose herself between Petra and her Canid.

“That’s Mists. We’ve been together for the last six years and three years as a fully awakened mount.”

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

She snorted.

“And he has way more mount-skills than you do.”

Petra looked at the Canid who was very pointedly watching her, then at Miles.

“They fed parchments to their mounts. Yes, it does work. And yes, they don’t seem to have a limit or requirements.”

It took a few more minutes to explain everything as Monica kept Mists from acting up. The Canid kept a careful watch on Petra, having recognized hostile intent immediately.

“Our ancestors had a few of them. They were already guards and help, and when the storm came and everyone became Mooneyed, all the mounts turned into giant beasts, almost all with mount-skills. The ancestor of my line had his friend turn into an awakened fire mount.”

“All of them are descended from the originals?”

“Yes. Some ancestors feared the mounts would become ‘inbred’ or something, but they have all been fine. When they get of age, we both go into one of the valleys of awakening, where the forest turns even stranger than anywhere else. It can take weeks, but eventually, they gain their mount-skill. Mists here got a breath that spread fog all around. Very good to lose some beast if it decides to hunt us while on patrol.”

Petra was still looking dubiously at the four-and-a-half-foot-tall beast.

“And, of course, now he has all kinds of additional abilities.”

“Including four just in Empathy,” Miles noted.

Petra looked at him incredulously again, but before Miles could elaborate, he spotted the two persons approaching them.

“Petra, let me introduce you to Mayor Mansfield and Ambassador Versant. Sirs, here’s Petra Veldhuis, from headquarters.”

“Mr. Bertram told us you had… problems?” the Mayor asked.

Petra sighed and started to explain again.

“So, that is why Katia was all bothered while I was briefed by the Executive,” Versant noted. “She’d found about the House… but too late, it seems.”

“You’d heard about Professor Gomez disappearing, you mean?” Petra asked.

“She barged in as I was getting the negotiation framework from Executive Wexler, and yes, she had one of the House’s parchments. Or, I think, of that Professor’s.”

“In any case, that’s why we have to put the Talent House’s offers on hold, Mr. Mansfield. First, we have to get back some supply to make more, and I got orders to ship them to Vernon post haste,” she apologized.

Petra noted Monica’s face. But there was little she could do about it.

“Speaking of which, Miles… we have to get moving. And it looks like your job is being canceled for the time. We’re understrength, and I can use a Metal Master, especially one like you.”

“Well, it’s my turn for apologies too, Mr. Mayor, but best plans, and all that.”

“Well, that’s a hell of a bait and switch, I must admit.”

Miles shrugged.

“It is what it is. So, how hard are we this time?” he said, turning toward Petra.

“We were lucky that, when we came this summer, no one wanted to lease us anything and Johanna had purchased the two teams. Thankfully, no one was leasing the wagons or oxen, so we had them ready to go. We’re looking at two and a half crates per wagon… say seven or eight thousand books per wagon, fifteen thousand total. We’re to take the thickest and smallest books we can find.”

Miles frowned.

“Ulrich’s instructions. Apparently, the size or thickness of the book did not matter for conversion, only the number of pages. So, small books, not the big ones like Gomez stuffed in his crate.”

He nodded back.

“The only problem is that we have fewer people. We have only one of the original drivers who took Talents, Cameron and the team, and Jackson. I would have loved to have all of the originals, but we’ll have to take the risk. The first expedition went well, but who knows?”

“I may have a temporary solution,” Miles said.

Petra raised an eyebrow.

“I have thirty specializations and sets.”

“You what?”

Everyone else focused on him.

“That was one of the schemes we discussed for branches, notably ones that might be as needed as Cheat. Always have several sets on hand ready for immediate reinforcement. So, I have one of each intermediate specialization, with basic sets and options based on what you actually get as your primary qualities. I was keeping that quiet until we agreed on terms, but…”

“So, you can make at least an additional team if we have volunteers in Cheat.”

“The question is, do we have time to find them? Can you spare some of your guards?” Miles asked Mayor Mansfield.

“Well, no. There’s been more bands of Canids spotted recently and…”

“And we can volunteer,” Monica interrupted.

The humans looked at her.

“You said the elders in Vernon agree in theory that we can migrate if we want to,” she told Versant. “Relocate near Cheat or even further away. But to do so safely, to evacuate the camp…”

“You need solid protection. You said there were nearly two hundred people there.”

“That kind of movement attracts attention. Most Beasts tend to avoid large groups, but Great Beasts – those with skills like mounts – tend to be offended by groups.”

“We could protect you…” Miles offered.

“But that’s not your priority, right?” the Mooneyed scout countered. “You have to do your expedition first. Well, you need to return to that city beyond the camp, but once you are there, you can’t make parchments by yourself, so we’d have to wait. And you need more people to help.”

“Wait a minute,” the Mayor said. “Those Talent things are intended for Cheat, right?”

“That was the plan when I left New Sandusky. But as you’re aware, the plan changed,” Miles said.

The discussion immediately degenerated. The Mayor, having been baited twice, was starting to get quite angry at both Miles and Monica. Finally, Versant had to intervene.

“Mr. Mansfield, the government priority is, fairly obviously, getting these Ancient books. If what Katia told Ms. Veldhuis is true, then the safety of the State requires that. Now, you said you had thirty sets, Mr. Bertram? Do you need 30 more people?”

“Well, probably no. Although if the Mooneyed need their own empowered scouts…”

“We do,” Monica injected.

“Then, let’s say you use 20 of the sets for the Mooneyed’s scouts. That leaves you with 10 for Cheat,” Versant said.

“Yes, but until we do tests, we don’t know which specialization will be available for whom. How many scouts do you have?”

“We have 28 active scouts. Including me and the two others who already got mount-skills before.”

“So, there will likely be overlap in best specialization, but with only one copy available. And you have way more people around Cheat; some might be interested in becoming guards if they get Talents to help them. So whatever sets remain could find people that can use them here.”

The Mayor looked as if he was going to object again, but Versant cut him.

“That settles it. And in the worst case, well, the government will help the Talent House in making sure Cheat gets the top priority… after the crisis is over.”

The ambassador looked at all present, then nodded in approval.

“Good. Now I’m going to get my bags from the inn.”

“You’re leaving?” Mansfield asked.

The ambassador stopped.

“Why, of course? I was assigned to negotiate with the Mooneyed, and it looks like I might be able actually to talk to the… elders… in charge, not go with Ms Silver’s proxy. And I get a full escort. Assuming there’s enough room in your chariot, Miss?”

“There should be. Most of us are used to walking long distances – that’s what scavengers are good at, apparently.”

“Well, this promises to be a legendary caravan.”