“I saw you testing your armour,” Nicholas remarks as we eat dinner together. Though normally we’re joined by a varying number of my Bonded – the saurans are almost permanent fixtures at the table – it seems that training was hard enough today that all but the raptorcats have elected to eat their dinners in our rooms. “Are you satisfied with it?”

  “I am,” I confirm. “Even better, the Master Leatherworker who made it has agreed to come on the expedition with us. I’ve given him some money in advance to purchase sufficient supplies to keep working on the ship. By the time we get to the Lost Continent, everyone should be equipped in some form of armour,” I relate happily.

  “I hope you signed a contract with him that clearly sets out what the funds should be used for,” Nicholas frowns.

  I wave the point away.

  “Of course I did. I even got Sarran to check it over before we signed it.”

  “I am glad you are using the resources available to you,” Nicholas praises. “And it is a good idea to indebt a craftsman like that to you. If he makes breakthroughs on the Lost Continent, he will acknowledge, knowingly or not, that they wouldn’t have happened without you. It will make him more amenable to future requests.”

  “Perhaps, but I didn’t do it for that,” I deny. “Anyway, from what he said about the way the guild treats him, I suspect that he’s grateful enough for my business as it is.”

  “The guilds do have their downsides,” Nicholas sighs. “But overall, their ability to police their own members works out better for the kingdom. The limits to progress and the loss of a craftsman here or there is worth long-term stability.”

  I’m not so sure about that, nor am I certain that Nicholas is as convinced of his own argument as he seems, but I decide that discretion is the better part of valour in this case. I know from previous discussions that it will just turn into an argument if I push.

  “Returning to speaking of your armour,” Nicholas continues, “do you feel you are ready to use it in a battle? I have also noticed how much your companions have been training – are they ready to fight?”

  My interest is piqued.

  “Do you want to have a rematch?” Although we would probably still lose, I like to think that it would be closer this time. After all, my weapons skills are drastically better than they were when I first arrived here, and I have had at least some time to work on my magic skills. My Bonded have also all been training hard and we have the tattoos now to help. Actually I’d like a rematch.

  But that isn’t Nicholas’ suggestion. In fact, as his face sets in grim lines, I realise that this is more serious than I thought it was.

  “No. Do you recall that I spoke to you about Zlona a while ago?”

  “I do,” I agree warily, alerted by his intense demeanour. “You seemed to think that it would be over soon and that we didn’t need to get involved.” If I’m honest, I haven’t really been thinking about it – I’ve had other matters on my mind.

  “And if it had been the usual situation of the local pair of Tier three griffins breeding and chasing out any threat to their offspring, it would have been. Unfortunately, it seems that it is not a normal beast wave. Instead, all evidence seems to indicate that the flow of beasts stems from an entirely different source: a rift.”

  “That’s a portal into another world or something, isn’t it?” I check, remembering a conversation about rifts a while ago. “One that sometimes lets beasts through?”

  “Indeed,” Nicholas agrees. “The number, power, and unfamiliar nature of the beasts attacking Zlona can only be explained by this. However, thus far, none of the scouts Lady Deepdelve or I have deployed have been able to find it.”

  “Maybe it’s opened in some really awkward place?” I suggest.

  Nicholas nods briefly.

  “So we have considered. Yet even the local Tamers have been unable to use their Bonded to track its source. Lady Deepdelve has applied to us for help and I’m inclined to grant it – she would not have done so if there were any other options left to her.”

  “Well, we’re happy to help,” I assure him immediately. “I take it you’d want us to help defend Zlona from the beast wave while you go searching for the rift?”

  “Quite the reverse,” Nicholas corrects me. “Though I have some knowledge of rifts, I have no Skills to track them.”

  “Neither do I,” I point out.

  “No, but you have a sensitivity to magic that is rare. You would not have been capable of gaining so many magical Skills if you did not,” Nicholas replies firmly. “I would ask you to take a team capable of closing the rift along with your most powerful Bonded to search for it, leaving the others to bolster the city’s defences – which are faltering.”

  “You’re not planning on coming?” I ask, surprised and slightly aggrieved. Isn’t Nicholas the true lord here?

  “Of course I am,” Nicholas dismisses that thought impatiently. “However, I will have another task, one that I suspect you will have less interest in anyway.”

  It only takes me a moment to consider what that might possibly be.

  “Noble politics?” I guess. Nicholas nods.

  “Zlona should have been more able to resist the attack, unusual though it might be. And that indicates mismanagement at one level or another.” An aggravated expression passes briefly over his face. “I am particularly interested in determining who is responsible for not ensuring that the city wall was kept in good condition – if not for that breach, there would be far fewer casualties. If Deepdelve has again failed to ensure basic defensive features were maintained because she wanted the funds for her wardrobe, she’s going to regret it,” he threatens darkly.

  I can’t say I envy the city lady – I suspect she’s going to have a strip torn off her as soon as Nicholas gets there. And the man is right – he’s far better suited to dealing with whatever’s going on behind the scenes while I try to find the rift.

  “Alright, it sounds like a plan,” I agree. It would probably do my fighters good to put their training into practice, anyway. Hopefully I don’t lose any as a result of stupidity in battle – their own, or anyone else’s. “When do we leave?”

  “Tomorrow morning at first light,” Nicholas informs me immediately.

  I nod thoughtfully.

  “Do you think this is likely to delay our departure?”

  Stolen novel; please report.

  Nicholas hesitates for a moment.

  “It’s possible,” he judges slowly. “I will warn Lord Pevril. However, this has to be a priority. Quite apart from the damage to our revenue that would happen if Zlona becomes more damaged than it is already, one of the principal duties of a Great Lord is to manage the rifts that open in our territory. Failure to do so would be a significant black mark on our House.”

  “Completely understandable,” I agree. Even if I’m itching to get going, I’m not willing for hundreds or thousands of people to die to enable me to leave a few days earlier. Anyway, the battle might help me reach level thirty before I leave – a personal goal of mine. A thought comes to mind as I consider other goals. “If we leave, Master Mirena won’t be able to finish the tattoos that I’ve got scheduled. I’ll need to let her know.”

  “That is a point,” Nicholas recognises. He pauses for a moment thoughtfully. “I’ll have Sarran speak to her. She may be willing to travel with you and work during rest times. If not, you can leave a few Bonded with her to have their tattoos done – the weaker ones, perhaps.”

  I’m not keen on that idea. Quite apart from not wanting to be separated from them – again – this beast wave definitely presents an opportunity for the weaker and less experienced of my companions to advance.

  “Hopefully–”

  I cut myself off as a sensation flickers deep in my chest.

  “Markus?”

  I flap my hand at him absently as I delve deep within to work out what is happening. One of my Bonds is thrumming urgently.

  A rustle of feathers and tap of talons on the tiles makes me glance over to where Bastet has come to her feet, her ears and wings pricked.

  Evolution… she murmurs with a touch of excitement. Ninja echoes her conclusion with her own excitement and flicker of fear. Trouble, Spot, and Blaze, who haven’t been part of the network when one of us Evolved, leap to their own feet and start fidgeting in excitement.

  But who is it? I ask myself. I have so many Bonds by this point that it’s hard to sort through them when I’m not in my Core space. Then I figure it out and a smile spreads my lips widely. I look up at Nicholas. “You’re going to want to see this.”

  “What is it?” he asks, a touch warily.

  “Tempest is Evolving.”

  Nicholas’ eyes widen and I see hope written plainly across his expression. He pushes himself to his feet forcefully enough to make the plates rattle.

  “Then what are we waiting for?” he demands, already striding out of the room. I glance over at the raptorcats with a grin.

  “Shall we?” Tempest is Evolving, everyone, I project through the Bond. Anyone who wants to come and see, better come quickly.

  Unsurprisingly, there’s a clamour which I mostly ignore as I follow after Nicholas to the stables. I have no doubt that several of our companions will join us there – the samurans were right that watching an Evolution and speaking to the one who Evolved soon after it finishes can work wonders for someone’s own chances of progression.

  By the time we get to the stables, Tempest is already surrounded by a whirling ball of red sparks. Fortunately, for all they look like darker versions of what a fire might put off, they aren’t in the slightest inflammatory, so the stables themselves aren’t at risk of burning down.

  Nicholas has paused outside the stall and is gazing at his long-time companion with hope in his eyes and clenched knuckles on the chest-high wall. I don’t pause there but stride into the stall.

  “Markus! You mustn’t–” Nicholas cuts himself off, perhaps recalling that I’ve helped and been part of more than a few Evolutions already. Anyway, I wasn’t going to wait for permission.

  Stepping through the barrier of sparks, I place my hand on Tempest’s neck and throw my consciousness into his Core space.

  The cables that I’ve helped extend have finally met in the centre, and there I see a ball of light already beginning to condense. Satisfaction goes through me at correctly divining the cause of Tempest’s difficulty in Evolving.

  Now that he’s managed to jumpstart the Evolution, it seems to be going well. His channels are under pressure, but are growing nicely. The four thick cables are becoming even thicker and thinner channels are extending out from them. At the same time, I feel it as he manipulates his own body slightly, while also working on building his Core.

  Finally, the Energy from the process runs out, but, unlike with Fenrir, I sense that this is the right time for Tempest. His internal matrix is well-balanced and his Core appears healthy.

  Pulling out of his core space, I look at the horse. And then have to take a step back and look at him again. He’s grown almost half again in height, and his withers were already at my eye level before. His skin has become more scaly and his red eyes are brighter. His draconic-like ears have grown and, as I watch them move, seem to have become more agile. On his hooves, he’s grown two talons, making me wonder whether these ‘horses’ have more in common with dragons than deer. Or maybe that’s just Tempest.

  “It’s been successful, hasn’t it?” Nicholas asks me, starting out confident and ending up uncertain.

  “It has,” I assure him, then send the information I got from Inspect to him. Over the Tame Bond I have with Nicholas, I feel a sharp pulse of painful pride. As if unable to resist, Nicholas steps into the stall with us. Tempest lowers his proud head to nudge at Nicholas. I notice that his front teeth, though still mostly flat, look more like sharp chisels than they used to – I wouldn’t want to be bitten by those.

  “You’ve grown in power, haven’t you,” Nicholas croons to Tempest, stroking his head gently, his eyes full of sadness and joy mixed. And I think I know why.

  Tempest, who would you prefer to be with? Nicholas or me? I ask him directly. He doesn’t pull his head away from Nicholas, but I see the eye on my side roll towards me. The brighter red and still-black pupil make it an impressive sight.

  I thank you for your aid, Tamer, but my heart is always with my first friend.

  It somehow doesn’t surprise me that Tempest is one of those who learns to speak immediately upon reaching Tier two. In some ways, I’m surprised that he didn’t learn earlier – he’s spent so many years with a Tamer in his mind. But I suppose that perhaps his physical brain structures didn’t permit it. At least it means that his decision here is completely clear.

  Then I wish you many more happy years with him.

  With that, I break our Bond.

  I grunt in brief pain – given how deeply Tempest and I have been connected in order to reshape his internal matrix, our Bond has grown deeper than the short amount of time it’s been in place would usually dictate. But it was almost always the case when I worked with one of the samurans who needed similar help, so I’m used to it.

  Tempest isn’t, and he whinnies quietly and shivers. Nicholas strokes him until he calms down and then he shoots a sharp look at me.

  “Did you just….” Uncharacteristically, he seems to struggle to finish the sentence. Perhaps it’s that if he says it, the possibility becomes more real – and more painful if denied.

  “I broke our Bond,” I tell him solemnly. “I asked, and he preferred to be with you.”

  Nicholas gazes at me for a long moment.

  “You didn’t need to do that,” he comments quietly, not in protest but in wonder.

  “No, I didn’t,” I agree.

  “His Evolution has gone well. You could have a powerful steed to ride into battle.”

  I’m not sure why he’s saying these things. He doesn’t appear to be trying to convince me to make the Bond again, but then why would he give the good points of having Tempest as a Bonded?

  “I already have powerful Bonded who will let me ride them if necessary,” I remind him.

  Nicholas just gazes at me thoughtfully for another long moment. Then he dips his head slowly.

  “I won’t forget what you’ve done for me,” he promises, and I hear the sincerity in every word.

  I just smile, pat him on the shoulder, and then leave the stall.

  “That’s what family’s for, right? Enjoy your time together.”

  And with that, I usher away those of my companions who have come to watch the show and return to our rooms.

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