Verna touched the old tortle gently on the shoulder, remembering what his wizardry did the last time he was asleep. “Lapat? Lapat, are you alright?”

  He came to slowly; his wrinkled brow furrowed in confusion. “Verna? Deskin? Where did you two come from?”

  Deskin chuckled, leaning against a nearby tree. “Well, when two people love each other very much and decide to have a baby.”

  Verna shot him a glare. “Be serious. He might be hurt.”

  Deskin shrugged. “He survived and looks pretty alright to me. Well, no worse than he already did.”

  Lapat rubbed his throat. “How did you two find me? I searched all night.”

  “All night?” Verna shook her head. “The storm happened only a few hours ago.” She looked to the sky above. It was littered with gray clouds; rags tossed aside and left to hang as a dark reminder of the night before. An uncomfortable chill grasped at the morning air, filling the empty grove.

  “After the crash, I went looking for you. For anyone. I wandered around for a while and found Deskin. But it sounded like you were talking to someone. Are you alright?”

  “I’m fine. The crash was...an inconvenience. Where is-” He looked around frantically. “Did either of you see anyone else?”

  Deskin shrugged. “No, after I woke up on the shore, counted all my fingers and toes, and considered myself lucky to still be puffing in air, I searched the wreck for any survivors, but there was nothing.”

  Lapat shook his head. “No, that can’t be. There was a man. A stranger. He spoke with me and-”

  Verna searched the empty grove. “A stranger? Lapat, are you sure? Maybe you hit your head and-”

  “No! Don’t play games! I’m not a fool!” Lapat growled, suddenly furious. “There was clearly a man! We spoke, we sat by the fire, we ate-”

  “Ain’t no fire here,” Deskin snorted, receiving another pointed glare from Verna.

  “Lapat, are you sure you are alright? The crash was only last night. Maybe with your wounds from Meerside and the trauma of last night, maybe you fell unconscious here? Let me check-”

  “I said I’m fine!” Lapat snapped, his voice rasped. “I don’t need your help! There’s nothing wrong with me!” He turned away, gripping his covered arms.

  Verna stepped forward to comfort him but paused. Best to leave him be. “Well, blessed by Her light that we all survived that horrible crash.”

  “Yeah,” Lapat coughed. “Blessings.”

  “I don’t know about calling that freak storm a blessing,” Deskin said. “Felt a lot more like something was trying to kill us than save us.”

  “Mind your words. The Lady is why we are standing here now. She protected us through that horrible night. She has my thanks.”

  Deskin rolled his eyes, driving a spike of irritation through Verna’s chest. “Yeah, well, let’s keep your thanks and your begging to a minimum and tuck that ring away safe. Only seems to bring us trouble.”

  Lapat cocked his head. “What did you say?”

  “The ring? You know that thing that got us in all this mess?” Deskin shrugged. “Damn thing glows and ruins everything. First that freaky horizon magic opening, now the storm. I’m just saying keep it out of sight till the Hangman gets it.”

  Glowing? Verna stepped back, peering into her pocket. The ring was cold; its black and white metallic shine dull as any metal and far from the glowing green light she’d seen before. “With everything happening during the storm, I had nearly forgotten.”

  Lapat leaned forward curiously. “Do either of you remember what caused it to awaken?”

  “Awaken?” Deskin chuckled. “Don’t tell me the thing is alive.”

  “Awaken, activate, become alert,” Lapat explained. “It clearly has magical properties. This is not the first time we’ve been witness to this emerald glow.”

  Verna brushed the band with her thumb. “High Priestess Raiphera said it was necessary to bring it to Lightfall. For the Lady. Might the glow be a sign from Her? A signal of Her presence? A light to guide us?”

  “Unlikely,” Lapat coughed. “Magic is bound to souls. It requires someone, be they a god or mortal, to use it. It couldn’t cast without a wielder to direct it. Though to be honest, magical artifacts are rare. Most stories of such have been debunked as fabrications.”

  “Heard of a guy with magic boots,” Deskin added. “Said he was as fast as the wind.”

  “A fable,” Lapat said curtly. “Or a con over the common folk if he was anything like you. But no, even the most novice of mystic scholars understand objects cannot hold any power by themselves.”

  Verna watched Deskin roll his eyes even harder, but Lapat continued.

  “But I must admit I did sense something on contact with it. When I touched it the first time, prior to the horizon opening. It was almost as if I was cast in a dream. And once more on the deck of the Knave, while we were attempting our escape. It felt…different. Verna, may I see the ring?”

  Verna stepped back as Lapat reached out his hand expectantly. “What sort of dream?” A queasiness roiled in her stomach. One she couldn’t explain.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  “A battle,” Lapat replied. “A horrible, terrible affair. Blood and senseless violence. I don’t remember all of it, due to the circumstances in which we found ourselves shortly after. Fleeing Meerisde as we did.”

  “I saw that too.” Verna snapped her hand back from the ring. It felt wrong. All of it. As if someone was running nails down her spine. “I think it’s best we listen to Deskin this once and keep it away. Just in case.” Verna chewed her lip nervously. “Besides, Our Lady is of the greatest power and light; surely Her presence would affect all She touched.”

  Lapat furrowed his brow. “No, based on my studies-”

  “No one cares about your studies,” Deskin groaned. “Can we just get a move on? Someone’s going to come looking for us, and I’d rather not be here when they do.”

  “Yes,” Verna said, quickly changing the subject. “Those soldiers, they may still be chasing us. We must depart. Does anyone know where we might be?”

  “The Knave?should have been two days or so from our last stop if the weather had stayed fair and Gale?helped push us along.”

  “How far does that place us from Lightfall?”?Verna asked.

  “If the boy is correct,” Lapat muttered, “then we are likely directly south of it, give or take a few dozen miles by the road. Perhaps a few days’ walk from the river?”

  Deskin raised his hands. “Whoa, old timer. First off, don’t call me ‘boy’. Second, who said anything about Lightfall? I’ve gotta get you,” he pointed at Verna, “and that ring back to the boss or it’s my neck.”

  “I’m sorry.” Verna shook her head. “But I’ve been tasked by High Priestess Raiphera to bring this ring to the good Deacon. Only he can understand how to heal the horizon and stop this horrible invasion. It is ordained by the High Priestess. It is my task in Her name.”

  Deskin cocked his head. “Deacon? Who’s that?”

  “The Good Deacon is Our Lady’s voice,” Verna responded. “He rules in Lightfall, the central heart of all Our Lady’s Order. He is gifted with the greatest love of Our Lady and through Her, he possesses incredible abilities and wisdom from Her light.”

  Lapat nodded vigorously. “We must bring the ring to him as quickly as possible. He is likely much more knowledgeable on the records we will require to fix this.”

  We? The old tortle had a feverish glaze in his eyes. One that vanished in a flash as he looked to her.

  Deskin chuckled quietly. “High Priestesses and blessings are great and all, but that ring is going with me. I’d rather have taken The Knave and maybe enjoyed a warm meal or two, but it is what it is. Now, if you don’t mind, I have a deadline to make.”

  “Your petty criminal tendencies will need to find another outlet,” Lapat warned. “This is something far greater than plundering booty or however you speak of thieving.”

  Deskin wrinkled his nose. “I’m a thief, not a pirate. There is no ‘booty,’ it’s...I have nothing to explain to you! I’ll just take the ring and be on my way.”

  “Don’t even try, boy,” Lapat growled.

  “Don’t call me boy,” Deskin’s eyes darkened. “There is nothing to try. I need that ring. Give it to me.”

  “I’m warning you. Should you dare to halt our voyage, you will face not only the wrath of the wisdom of the University of Meerside. But also, mine own.”

  “Enough of this.” Deskin rushed forward, shoving Lapat down into the dirt. “Nobody needs to get hurt. But I’ll do what I must.” His fist wrapped around the hilt of one of his daggers. “Give me the ring.”

  “You low life,” Lapat spat. “Don’t give it to him, Verna! He’s nothing!”

  Deskin glanced at her, his eyes landing on hers. For a moment, she could have sworn his gaze softened. But his mouth tightened into a thin line. “Hand it over, Verna. We don’t have to do this again.”

  Verna stepped back. “No.”

  Deskin cocked his head. “No?”

  Verna gripped her hands, uncertainty bubbling within her. “No, you need us.”

  “Need you?” Deskin laughed. “I think I can do without the elderly and the faithful.”

  “You are in the middle of nowhere. Alone. If you tried to take it from me, you might succeed. But...”

  “But? I did it once already.” Deskin’s gaze lingered on her. “Or have you already forgotten our little tumble in the attic?”

  “It was not a tumble but a robbery!”

  “But you did have a little fun, didn’t you?”

  Verna felt her cheeks run hot despite herself. “Even if you did succeed in taking it, you would be stuck here. Lost.”

  “I’m sure I’d figure something out.”

  “Think about it. You told me you need something to bring back to your boss, right? A payout of some sort?”

  Deskin’s jaw tightened at the mention, as if she were exposing a secret. But Verna pushed on regardless. “My Order has many treasures. If you escort me safely to Lightfall, you will be rewarded. Heavily. What is one ring to the riches of Our Lady’s treasure?”

  Deskin paused, some unseen calculation running through his mind. “How much?”

  “Enough to fill the Knave twice over,” Verna said confidently, wondering all the while how much gold could even fill a ship.

  Lapat gritted his teeth. “I don’t think allying ourselves with a criminal-”

  “Do we have an agreement?” Verna interrupted, willing herself to appear confident and sure.

  Deskin looked to Lapat, then to her. “Why?”

  “Excuse me?”

  “You could just as easily listen to the old man and try to get rid of me now. It wouldn’t have worked, of course. But you want me to stay. You want me to stay.” He pulled off Lapat and sauntered towards her.

  “Want you to stay? That is ridiculous.” Verna stammered. “You can fight, and you know things and...”

  He leaned in close, smelling of an intoxicating mix of sweat and leather.

  “I’ll stay for you,” he whispered.

  “F-for your reward, you mean.” Verna’s heart pounded in her chest, warmth flooding her body. Who does he think he is? Inches away from me? Just like last night? He can’t do that! I won’t let him do that-

  A devilish smirk crossed his lips, erasing every thought from her mind. “Sure, darling. For my reward.”

  Lapat cleared his throat noisily, returning Verna to her senses like a cold bath on her burning skin. She crossed her arms, fighting the urge to shove Deskin back. Or lean in closer. “Yes, your reward. Of course. Payment.”

  Lapat shook his head in disappointment. “If we are set on making bad decisions, we should at least work on bettering our current situation. Without food or supplies, we won’t last long. We should forage what we can gather and then make haste for Lightfall while the day is still light.”

  “The quicker the better,” Deskin replied. “I assume one of you two knows the way north?”

  Lapat looked to Verna expectantly. When she said nothing, he sighed. “Young lady, I am a scholar. I have seen this city on a map. Never in person. I had assumed you would be familiar with the path.”

  “Oh,” Verna looked to the sun, trying to gauge which way might be north. “It’s been some time since my last visit there. And we always took a carriage. But...”

  “But if we found a road, then we could find our way,” Lapat finished.

  “No roads,” Deskin said quickly. “Trust me. If you want to make it there, then avoid roads.”

  “Is there some great insight you are planning to share with the rest of the class?” Lapat sighed.

  “Bandits, those invading soldiers, anyone who blames us for Meerside, everyone seems to want the ring. And when the Death’s Row finds out what happened,” Deskin clenched his fists. “Trust me, it’s better for all of us if we get their pay before they find us.”

  The thought of Earyne’s creeping grip wrapping around Verna’s throat drove a chill down her spine. “Then we should leave right away.”

  “I’ll scope out the way ahead,” Deskin said.

  Verna watched as he disappeared into the brush, his shadow mixing with the rays of sunshine trickling to the forest floor. She felt Lapat move beside her, his disappointed gaze shifting from Deskin to her.

  “Based on our previous experiences with his ilk, I hope you know what you are doing. Should he change his mind and demand his treasure early...”

  “He won’t,” Verna said strongly. “Have faith, Lapat. The Lady guides us all. Even those who wander from Her path.”

  “Someone certainly does,” Lapat muttered.