Snake, Scarab, & Sons: Purveyors of Fine T

"What do you mean dancer? They booked another one?" A tall, slender woman with dark skin and golden hair drew her head back and crinkled her eyes with disgust as she spoke. Her accent was from the south of East Iveria, somewhat similar to Cyrus and the others. "This was not part of the agreement!"

Ash gave her a sympathetic look and took a step forward to try to mediate. "Madam-"

"Madam!?" The woman's voice rose as her brows shot up. She lifted her chin and held her hand to her chest. "How dare you?"

Ash's mouth was still open, and he didn't know what to say. He was trying to be respectful.

The two avianids who escorted Ash and the other two looked at each other. They didn't say a word, but it was obvious that they wanted no part in whatever artist-drama was about to happen.

"We only led you here." One of the avianids let out a small cough and looked away. "We didn't book you." Ash had to give them some credit. When they found them in the corridor, they questioned them in Iverian Common. Accented, but not as awkward as one would expect for group that supposedly never left the Dragon Continent.

Then again, with so much trade and the push to increase tourism from the Iverias, perhaps it made sense that they'd learn.

"If you want to complain, talk to the nest master," the other one said before they quickly shuffled back and closed the door to the wide music room that had been repurposed as a preparation room for the hired entertainment.

The door closed with a thud, but Henry and Anhya didn't demand answers from him as he expected.

"I wasn't told that there were other entertainers hired for tonight," Ash said as he let out a heavy, exaggerated sigh and closed his eyes. "What are we going to do?"

"I'll tell you what I'm going to do! Jain, what was the name of the nest master?" The woman whirled around and looked at the man who was sitting on the ground and tuning a large lute. He looked up and blinked.

"What?"

The woman's eye twitched. "I said, what was the name of the nest master?"

The man cocked his head to the side and then looked at the other musicians and dancers, who all seemed to be avoiding the woman by trying to minimize their presence. "What's a nest master?"

The woman's eyes went wide, and Ash could almost hear her grinding her teeth. "You are useless! The nest master is the one who arranged for us to come here!"

"Oh, him." The man nodded, finally understanding. "I don't know his name."

"Pfft!" Ash heard Anhya hold back her laughter and fail behind him. The woman whipped her head back to glare at her, but Ash casually stepped to block her view.

"I wasn't told that there was going to be additional entertainers. Our payment better not be split!"

"Why would they split it? Obviously, we have two different work contracts, don't we?" Ash asked, sounding as if they really did have one.

"I don't believe it! I'm going to find the nest master right now and demand answers!" The woman, who was already in a flamboyant purple and red costume with dulled bronze embellishments, grabbed an outer robe hanging on a chair and swept it behind her as she marched towards the door.

Ash couldn't let her contact any nest master and expose them.

He rushed back, running past her and then turning around to cut off her path to the exit. His arms shot out on either side of him. "Wait, wait, wait! Hold on a moment! Is it really necessary just because you didn't know there was going to be another entertainer?" he asked, confused.

The woman sneered and lifted her head and spoke with such arrogance, it almost sounded as if she detested Ash for wanting to dance at the same venue on the same night.. "Donna Inez and her troupe do not perform with others."

Maybe she is disgusted with a second act. Ash took a deep breath and softened his face. He forced himself to become a bit teary eyed as he bowed his head to her.

"Miss Inez, please...." His voice was quieter and trembled with each word. "Please allow us to perform tonight." He dared to raise his head and meet her eyes, purposely shaking his shoulders slightly, as if he were trying to keep his composure. "We really need the money."

Donna Inez narrowed her eyes. She turned her head away. "What does it have to do with me that you need money? I didn't rob you!"

"But if you complained to the nest master and he sent us away, it would be like you did!" Anhya spoke up, and taking a cue from Ash, sniffled and chewed on her lower lip. "We really need the money! We just want to go home!"

Nice one, Anhya! Ash didn't outwardly falter in his act, but flicker of recognition went through his eyes. He looked at Henry, and Ash could see the resistance in Henry's eyes. Ash gave him a small nod to urge him.

Henry clenched his jaw. He let out a low breath and closed his eyes before turning to the other musicians and dancers in the room, who had stopped what they were doing to watch.

"I implore you all to please give us this chance," Henry said in a low, strained voice. If Ash didn't know that Henry was forcing himself to act, and was almost pained doing so, he would've thought that Henry was pleading for an opportunity. Henry lifted an arm and motioned to Ash and Anhya. "Months ago, we were brought here by traffickers fleeing the Federation Navy, and we were dumped somewhere on the continent. We have no money, so we can only sell our skills to try to raise funds to return home."

"Your poor things!" One of the other dancers looked heartbroken and stepped forward. "Where is home?"

"We are from West Iveria," Henry said, motioning to Ash and then himself. He then put his hand on Anhya's head. She continued to play along and wipe her eyes with the back of her hands. "And this one is from East Iveria."

Anhya sniffled once more. "There were five of us, originally."

Ash almost squinted and had to restrain himself from asking 'there were'?

"Louise and Boe both got sick when we got lost in the interior-"

"The interior!" Several dancers and musicians gasped. Unless they were a skilled adventurer, humans would be at a big disadvantage if they went too far into the interior of the Dragon Continent.

One man paled. "Child, how did you end up in the interior?"

Anhya shook her head. "I don't know! The men on the boat fed us something. When we woke up, we were in the forest. We didn't know where we were or where we had to go. We wandered in the wrong direction. Luckily, some dwarves were passing and turned us around, but by then, Louise was sick and Boe...Boe didn't have his medication!" Anhya choked back a sob. "We made it to town, but we had no money, so we busked on the street, but it wasn't enough." She covered her small face with her hands and started crying.

Okay, she's getting a bit carried away here.... Everyone's eyes were on Anhya and they didn't see Ash's face distorted at his god sister's overacting.

"It's all right...it's all right," Henry said as he put an arm around her and gentle patted her head. "We did what we could. And we were able to at least bury them properly."

Brother, you, too? Ash's lips were in a tight line.

Henry looked back at the group with a pained expression. "Please, we really need this job. Everything we've earned went to trying to save our companions. Louise's illness used almost everything we made in a day. We don't even have enough between the three of us for a decent place to sleep half the time."

"If we can get two more gigs like this, we can make it home," Ash said, cutting off the other two before their elaborate lie became too tangled and open for scrutiny. He bowed his head once more. "Please. We're not asking to be the main performers. Even if it's just a single dance at the end. We just need to perform so we can be paid."

"Donna," Another male musician stood up from where he was adjusting some drums. He frowned and looked at who Ash assumed was their lead dancer, Donna Inez. "Let them perform."

The woman's face twisted and she pouted, looking a bit unbecoming for an adult woman. "I said we don't perform with-"

"Come on, Donna, they just want to get home!" The dancer who'd spoken earlier advocated for Ash and the others. "Just this one time."

"We'll take what we can get with just one dance!" Henry pressed. "I can go back to taking manual jobs at the dock to make up the rest."

"No, you hurt your back before!" Anhya cried out and grabbed his arm.

"We can't afford to pay for any more medicine if you hurt yourself again," Ash added.

Every word that came from their mouths just made them seem more and more pitiful, but it swayed the other dancers and musicians.

The troupe all seemed to turn on Donna Inez, voicing their support to allow the trio to perform. Donna Inez grit her teeth. She shot a glare at her troupe before grabbing the robe off her shoulder and almost tearing it off her.

"Fine! Since you all insist," she said behind gritted teeth. She looked at Ash with loathing on her face. "I will make an exception this time. You and your two friends can perform after us!"

Ash nodded, his face lighting up. "That's fine! Thank you!"

"Humph!" The woman turned around and stalked back to a chair where she'd been seated when they first entered.

Ash looked at the other two expectantly. Look, see? I got us in!

"What do you dance?" the drummer asked them. "Do you need accompaniment-"

"No!" Donna Inez twisted in her seat to glare at him. "I said they could perform, but I never said that we would offer any help!"

The drummer had his back to her and rolled his eyes. He turned around to face her and held out an arm towards the trio. "What are they going to use for music, Donna? They don't have any instruments!"

"I said no-"

"It's fine!" Ash held out his hands and stepped forward. "We only ask for an opportunity to perform, not for anything else."

The drummer frowned. "Are you going to dance without accompaniment?"

"Yes, what kind of dance would that be for a party?" another musician asked.

"We have instruments," Henry said. He patted his bag. "I was lucky and the kidnappers didn't see my bag under my clothes." He caught their eyes moving to look at the bag across his chest. Varying looks of confusion and pity passed their faces.

"Some sort of mouth harp?" the man with the lute asked. He nodded with approval. "Nice."

Henry opened his mouth to correct him, but seemed to decide against it.

"So, what will you dance?" the dancer asked with a warm smile. "You seem to come from different regions, so it will be different from our dance, yes?"

"What do you dance?" Anhya asked, tilting her head to the side.

"We perform southern East Iverian dancing from the desert region," the drummer said before hitting the top of the drums with his hands in a rhythmic manner. "We'll be performing some more formal noble dances, as well as festive dances that are done at weddings and important ceremonies."

"Our dances are rare in the Dragon Continent, so since we came, we have received plenty of jobs," the dancer said. "If you still need money after this, I can make some recommendations-"

"Tima, have you finished your stretching yet?" She was cut off by Donna Inez's shrill voice. The woman was still seated and checking her make-up in the mirror.

The dancer named Tima lowered her head. She turned away and began to stretch her arms over her head.

The drummer sighed and looked back at the trio with apology. "Mouth harp...that's central plains? Central East Iverian dances?"

Ash could feel Henry looking at him, and silently ordering him to explain himself since he got them to this point.

"Lunapsar dances," Ash replied. That wasn't a lie.

Everyone seemed to pause and turned to look at him. They seemed to study his physique, as if trying to assess his skill through his appearance.

The lute player squinted. "You're not Lunapsar."

Ash's hair and eye color had been changed, so his obvious Lunapsar features were covered up.

"My master was Lunapsar." That wasn't a lie either. Ash had started learning Lunapsar dances from his mother when he was still in the Court of Imperial Wives. She was considered a master at her level. Later, when they settled in Carthage Harbor, Ash attended cultural classes at the Lunapsar Cultural Center on the mainland. His master was the daughter of a former Temple Maiden. A large portion of their job was religious Lunapsar dances, so there was a lot to learn.

"You...learned Lunapsar dancing?" another dancer asked, stunned.

Ash cocked his head and furrowed his brows, this time really taken aback by the question. "Is something wrong with learning?"

"No, no!" The woman raised her hands and shook her head. "It's just that it's not an easy style of dance. And aren't they mostly ceremonial dances?"

Ash nodded. "Yes, I am proficient in several ceremonial dances for festivals and more for prayer, including a welcome ceremony."

The drummer looked impressed. "In that case, why don't you go first."

"Partha!" Donna Inez shot up from her seat in protest, but he held up his hand to silence her.

"Let them perform the welcome ceremony dance. Then, we can perform after them."

Donna Inez fumed and sat back down in a huff. "Why don't you just break my legs? Now I have to perform after some amateur?"

If Ash weren't pretending, he would've corrected her. He was an excellent dancer and won praise from various people and groups. He'd hardly be called an amateur in any circle.

The drummer must've finally reached his breaking point with Donna Inez and switched to another language to argue with her. They went back and forth for a solid two minutes before they stopped. The drummer lifted his head and looked back at Ash and the others.

"You'll go first."

Ash couldn't help but smile. He nodded and bowed his head. "Thank you."

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

"In that case, you should get ready," the first dancer said with a smile. She motioned to a door in the far corner. "There is a small room there where you can change."

Ash nodded and bowed once more before leading his brother and Anhya away. He lowered his voice, but kept an unassuming smile on his face. "Louise and Boe?" he asked with a smirk.

"You started it," Anhya whispered back with a resentful glare. "Now we have to perform in front of them!" She lowered her voice even more. "I don't know any Lunapsar songs or instruments!"

"Can you keep time on a drum?" Henry asked. Anhya, flustered, looked in front of her as if trying to find the answer.

"I think so?" She sounded helpless.

"I have a drum. I'll show you how to keep time," Henry told her. "I'll play the reok."

"What's that?"

"Lunapsar curved xylophone that uses four mallets, two on each hand," Henry replied. "Ash, do you have your dance robes?"

Ash nodded as he opened the door to the side room and looked inside. "Yes, but the adornments are back home."

"That's fine. We're poor trafficked people, after all."

Ash snorted. "Just wait out here for me."

"Dancers!" The door swung open and an avianid stuck his head in. "You have fifteen minutes to prepare! Someone will escort you to the grand hall!"

"Almost showtime," Ash muttered before closing the door to the side room. The insight was illuminated by shiny crystals. He wouldn't expect anything less from avianids who valued luxury in their nests.

He reached into his bag and took out a handful of cloth. He had several different robes for dances. Some were dance-specific, but he couldn't wear anything too ornate, lest it clash with their tragic backstory. He sorted through the various shades of gold, silver, and white before finally settling on a worn set of practice clothing that had a bit of a yellowed tint after years of use.

Outside the door, he could hear a familiar rhythmic beating of a traditional Lunapsar drum, as well as Henry's voice as he gave Anhya a quick tutorial in the most basic beat.

"Again. Center tap, center tap, heel push forward. Fast, fast, slow. Fast, fast, slow," Henry told her. "Good. When you're playing, don't pay attention to Ash. Just keep your attention on the drum."

"Why?" Anhya asked.

"Lunapsar religious dancing is meant to honor the gods, but it also can put the audience into a trance," Henry explained. "The music is to clear the mind and the dancer is to raise their thoughts to the heavens."

Ash wanted to scoff at his brother's explanation. For a Lunapsar dancer to be able to entrance an audience, they needed to have a significant amount of skill. It went without saying that Ash had that skill, but he was bothered that Henry didn't praise him more. He worked extremely hard to become a good dancer.

Of course, everyone in his family danced. Henry, included, so no one was really impressed any more.

Ash shoved his tunic and gambeson into his bag with force. "At least Hana always compliments me...." He began to wrap the robes around his waist. He called it a robe, but it was more a long, modified sheet. He wrapped it around his hips, legs, and between his legs, creating a baggy set of pants that only reached his mid-calves. With the remaining strip of cloth, he slung it over his left shoulder.

Traditionally, the religious dances were performed topless. Strings of necklaces and gold or silver collars obscured the dancers' chests.

When the students and teachers of the Lunapsar Cultural Center performed a religious dance during a festival, they wore thin, flesh-colored wraps beneath their dance jewelry, as dancing topless was too much for the general Federation populace.

Ash checked to make sure the cloth was secure using some pins, then put on the finger embellishments and bells. Satisfied that he had all he needed, he opened the door and handed Henry his bag before running his hand through his hair several times.

"How is it?"

Henry looked him up and down. "Shoes."

"I'll take them off when we get to the hall," Ash replied.

"Second Brother, are you ready?" Anhya asked as she stood up and picked up the drum that was about the size of both her thighs put together.

He nodded and patted the top of her head. "Just do what you can. Leave the bulk of this to me."

Anhya nodded and Henry folded Ash's bag over and put them in his own. He then knelt down and began to roll up the tone bars of the curved instrument. The mallets were rolled up with them, making it easy to carry. All he had to do was carry the stand it connected to.

"Dancers, please make your way out!" The door opened once more and Donna Inez and her troupe walked out first. Ash and the others followed.

Donna Inez and the other dancers wore similar costumes, but hers was much more elaborate and had little bells attached in many more places. It was easy to tell who the primary dancer was.

They were escorted by four avianids down a long corridor. With every corner they turned, the hall grew larger and had more decoration. They started to hear the voices of people and the clanking of utensils and goblets as they approached.

The entire interior was brightly lit, to the point that Ash would think it was day outside.

The grand hall was as its name implied. It was close to the front of the building with high, vaulted ceilings, and surrounded by ornate columns. There were gemstones hanging from the ceiling and shiny cloth wrapped around the pillars. Long tables had been set up for people to eat, but near the center of the room was where the guests of honor sat.

Ash saw their target immediately seated across from an avianid with gold on his wings.

The area where they were going to perform was a long runway that reached a third of the way into the hall. A small area on the side had been cleared for the musicians. They entered from a side door and quietly made their way around the bustling grand hall to get to their spots.

Ash, Henry, and Anhya waited until the other musicians set up first, as they had more instruments.

"Is this enough room for you?" the drummer asked after making some space.

"Yes, more than enough," Henry replied with a grateful smile. "We just need room for the reok and for us to sit."

The troupe dancers sat at the back end of the stage to wait their turn as Henry and Anhya sat down to prepared the instruments.

Henry did a few light taps on the tone bars before raising his head to look at Ash. Ash looked over at one of the avianids who escorted them, but that avianid just stared back.

Ash remained standing beside the musicians and glanced around as he removed his shoes so he could dance properly.

"Is there no stage manager...? No announcer or master of ceremonies?" he asked in a quiet voice.

"They don't do that here," the drummer whispered back.

"Unless you're one of those very formal elves," the lute player added.

Ash pursed his lips. It seemed he would have to get started without an opening. He looked at Henry and gave him a nod.

Henry looked at Anhya. "Start us off...fast, fast, slow. Fast, fast, slow."

Anhya took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She exhaled and lifted her right hand over the drum. And opened her eyes.

Just as Henry had instructed, she hit the drum in accordance with the beat. Henry nodded his head, following the rhythm before he raised the mallets. Two in each hand and wedged between his fingers.

The sound of the reok sounded just over the sound of the drum and Ash straightened his back. His shoulders were adjusted and he raised his arms.

One foot moved in front of the other, allowing his body to turn, as if he were slowly spinning in different directions as he walked out. His face was serious. The welcome dance was performed at Lunapsar banquets and the start of festivals and other celebrations.

But Ash wasn't performing a welcome dance as he'd said.

Henry noticed after Ash took three steps and adjusted his playing. Every so often, Ash would twist his wrists to make the adornments clink and accent the music.

This was a religious dance, specifically one meant to put the audience into a trance in order to clear their minds. It was much more effective when there were many dancers, so Ash by himself would have some limitations, but it should be enough to distract the audience, give them legitimacy as dancers, and allow them to get away unscathed.

In his head, Ash imagined the formality of the dance and what each movement meant. It was meant to be done at night, under the moonlight. The patron deity of the Lunapsar was Lunaya the moon goddess. As she was a celestial figure, Ash's arms were almost always raised and in fluid movement. It would've also been nice to have grown out his hair.

He'd seen his mother perform the dance, as Nera's long silver-white hair was down and became the focal point of the audience's attention, luring them into the trance faster.

As his body swayed across the stage, the grand hall grew quieter.

It wasn't long before all that could be heard was Anhya on the drum, Henry hitting tone bars with mallets, and the occasional clinking of Ash's metal adornments.

Ash glanced at the audience as he passed, pleased to see them quiet and no longer eating or drinking. The alleged merchant, Jahan Yazdan, remained in his seat, looking at Ash, but appearing to try to stay alert. He would occasionally blink or shake his head, as if trying to draw himself out of the trance.

Well, not bad. Ash acknowledged him, but continued to dance. As it was nearly the end, Ash made his way to the front of the stage. He did one final scan of the crowd and was satisfied with the blank expressions he saw. He stretched his arms up, over his head and raised a leg to balance on a single one.

With a final sound of mallets on the tone bars, the dance concluded with Ash partially arching his back and looking up at the ceiling with his hands in the air.

Then, without waiting for any acknowledge, such as clapping or cheers, Ash turned around and walked back to the stage. What was there to wait for? Everyone was caught in the trance. The less familiar one was with it, the deeper they were.

Henry was already rolling up the reok.

"What's going on?" Anhya asked as she looked around and whispered when she realized that no one was moving. Beside her, Ash put on his shoes quickly.

"They'll be quiet for at least another two or three minutes," Ash said as he helped her up. "Let's go."

Anhya nodded dumbly and was about to pick up the drum when Ash picked it up for her. He grabbed her hand and led her off the stage. Since no one was going to stop them, they'd simply walk out the door.

"What about the guards outside?" Anhya whispered with a hint of panic.

"Don't worry, we'll be fine. Just act normal." Ash allowed Henry to step ahead of them, still holding the wooden base of the reok on his shoulder as they reached the main doors. Ash placed Anhya between them.

Without hesitation, Henry pushed it open and stepped out, making sure to hold it open to allow for the other two to exit.

Outside the doors was a grand foyer with several avianids on guard. Henry gave them small nods of his head as he led Ash and Anhya out.

"Please let the nest master know that our payment can be sent to our inn," Ash said in Iverian Common as he passed one of the avianids. "He knows which one."

The guard nodded and allowed them to pass without question.

Within moments, the clear air of the outside hit them.

Ash kept his voice low. "Don't look back," he told his god sister. "Just keep your eyes forward and keep walking."

Anhya nodded once and was so focused ahead of her, she almost tripped down the front steps. They easily left the compound, even walking down the gravel road to the front gate, unobstructed.

It wasn't until they were on the road and well past the nest that Henry spoke.

"Anhya, you can breathe now."

The young lady was almost blue in the face. She let out a heavy wheeze and struggled for air as Ash and Henry chuckled.

"I can't believe that worked!" Anhya gasped. She'd just seen it happen and been part of it, yet she was still filled with disbelief.

"A little warning next time would help," Henry said, tapping the side of Ash's head.

Ash grinned and didn't try to bat his brother's hand away. "I saw the opportunity and I took it."

Anhya sighed. "I thought my heart was going to explode when the two avianids appeared." She looked at Ash with some awe in her eyes. "I'm impressed, Second Brother."

"My only regret is that we aren't actually getting paid."

Anhya laughed, her eyes turning into happy crescents. "I think we did a good job. The weapons are broken, and we got out of there safe and sound."

"We also got a good look at their soldiers," Henry said. "And inherently sabotaged the deal by breaking the weapons. I doubt they'll be able to replace the weapons soon enough."

"Well, that's providing there is no secondary cache," Ash pointed out. If there was, that would be reason for concern not only because the deal would go through and the weapons would be shipped, but because it brought up the question: what if there was even more?

"There shouldn't be any. At least, not here," Henry said. "Naali and Raiju couldn't find any more weapons caches."

Anhya let out a breath of relief and nodded. "Good...good."

"Do you think the deal between the avianids and Jahan Yazdan will go through?" Ash asked. "What are the odds?"

"Not large," Henry replied. "If the avianids increased the number of soldiers being sent, maybe, but it seems from the initial agreement of a hundred soldiers, the avianid master is hesitant to send any more. If the weapons can't be used, Jahan Yazdan might not accept it. Not that he could."

"Why wouldn't he?" Anhya asked.

Ash snorted and flicked her forehead. "His part of the bargain is no longer a viable payment, don't you think so?"

"Oh, yeah."

Ash rolled his eyes. "To think, you'll be the next Empress."

"I can out Empress you."

"I doubt that."

"Anhya is still young," Henry said. "And you don't even want to be king."

"My passion lies elsewhere," Ash replied with a dramatic sweep. "Also, Momma is still young. I still have a chance for another sibling."

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"Although the weapons have been destroyed, we should stay a few more days until the deadline. That is, Anhya's estimated arrival," Nera told them. "We need to observe what they're doing and make sure the deal completely falls through."

The trio nodded in front of her.

"Momma, what about Jahan Yazdan?"

"When he leaves, we'll follow, intercept, and arrest when we're close to mainland Iveria," Nera told them. "Why bother arresting them now and having to be responsible for feeding them."

Ash looked at Anhya. "Did you hear that? Don't let the enemy use your resources, even if you have captured them."

Anhya nodded with a thoughtful expression on their faces.

Nera looked out the window of the captain's quarters of the ship. "You three go and get some rest," she said. "I'm going to wait upstairs to see if Effie has sent a message." She let out a heavy sigh. "I'm rarely away from your sister for so long."

"I'm sure she misses you, too, Auntie," Henry told her. Nera ushered her two sons out and pointed Anhya to bed. The teenager yawned and nodded. Sleep seemed to come to her quickly now that she was somewhere safe and could put down her defenses. The door closed behind Henry, Nera, and Ash. "Effie'll be very clingy when we get back."

"We're looking at another few weeks before we arrive back at the capital," Nera said with a frown as they walked down a narrow corridor to the stairs. "In all this urgency, this reminds me of something. I haven't notified Talam of the change of schedule."

Ash let out a small hiss. "He'll be waiting for us at the border, won't he?"

"I'll send a messenger hawk right now," Nera said as she climbed up. "I'll notify the nearest Snake, Scarab, and Sons to expect him. You know he doesn't have the money to spend on lodging or food."

Henry nodded. "Yes, we want to leave some money in Varellian's dowry." He frowned as he reached the main deck. There was a bench built in to either side of the entrance and was where the two brothers would take naps on occasion. "Talam is a nice man, but as a brother-in-law...."

"Your mother made a good decision. What matters is that Talam will treat her well," Nera said. "I'm glad that Anaserana is no longer part of that family. Talam is good to your sister. Anaserana would've been bothered seeing it. Knowing her, the very existence of a peaceful relationship between Talam and Varellian would've been an affront to her." Nera shook her head.

She stood on deck and whistled, waiting for a hawk to come after being summoned.

Henry and Ash took seats on the benches on either side of the entrance below deck. Henry laid back and closed his eyes as he crossed his arms behind his head.

He had just calmed down, when, over the steady sounds of the light waves around the ship and the caw of seabirds, he heard Ash let out a sudden gasp. Henry cracked an eye open to check on his brother, and found Ash pushing himself back up into a seated position across from him.

Ash's brows were knit together and he rubbed his chest before holding out his right hand looking at something Henry couldn't see.

"What's wrong now?" Henry asked. It was one thing after another. At this rate, they'd never have time to focus on retaking Ashtar.

Ash's face was unusually pale. He took a few deep breaths, as if trying to make sense of something before he looked over at Henry.

"Young Miss Arelias used my slips."

Henry raised a brow. "You can tell?"

"Yes, it's my magic that's loaded into them," Ash replied. "I did it by design so I can sense whenever any of the ones I give you have been used. For instance, the light slips. We use so many, I don't bother to track them, but some of the others, I track, just in case. You don't think I know that Effie has used some of the fire slips to roast game the guards catch when they're traveling?"

"All right, but what's the problem? Isn't that why you gave the slips to her?" Ash's slips were extremely useful. If activated at the right time, their effects could make a massive difference in a battle. Though Henry didn't want Elka to be caught in a serious fight, he also fully expected her to use the slips Ash gave her when necessary.

Ash remained frazzled. He shook his head. "One or two in a short period of time, I can understand...but she activated almost all of them one right after another."

At this, Henry frowned as well. He slid his legs over the side of the bench and sat up. "Do you know which ones?"

"I gave her a dozen or so before," Ash replied. "Mostly attack slips, but three of them were to increase healing speed on a wound." Ash looked hesitant to tell Henry. "She's used all three already."

"What?"

"The slips are activated by blood, so all you have to do is put it on a wound. The blood will activate it and it will increase healing by at least three times," Ash said. "If it's a serious wound, it can make all the difference."

Henry's chest was tight. Both his heart and lungs were constricting. "She used all three...I know Elka. She wouldn't use them unless there was no other option."

Ash nodded. "Just right now. She used the attack slips first and then the healing slips. One right after another. Brother, this isn't good."

"I know!" Henry leaned forward and covered his face with his hands, suddenly filled with dread. "Gods, she's weeks of travel from here!" He looked up, his face pale and shaken. "Even if we managed to get to a close port, it's days of travel inland to get to her! She's in the middle of East Iveria!"

He'd have to cross over at least one mountain range to get to the area where Elka and her family's army was stationed. Henry almost clawed at his face in frustration. What could he do? How could he get to her?

"Ash, Henry, how serious do you think her situation is?" Nera's voice drew their attention. She still had a hawk perched on her arm and hadn't sent it out with a message yet.

Ash looked at his mother and shook his head. "I'm not sure, Momma. I can only tell that she used almost all of them at once. Either she used them on purpose, or she got blood on them accidentally, and that activated because of that. If that's the case, why weren't all of them used?"

"Auntie, can I take a ship to Soljek?" Henry asked as he stood up. He suddenly didn't know what to do with his hands. Nera turned her head towards him.

"My son, even if you leave now, it will take you at least a week and a half, on our fastest vessel, to get to Dareisol. And from there, more than a week or two to get to the unstable region," she told him in a solemn voice. "If something is happening to her, you'll be too late."

Henry's entire body was cold, as if he'd been thrown into the icy waters of the north. He knew that time and distance were not in his hands, but to have Nera repeat and confirm it was another blow. He swayed a bit as the image of Elka, injured and desperately hiding because she was unable to fight back, clouded his mind. If he were there, he could save her. He had Raiju and Naali with him. They were more than enough.

But what was hindering him was something he couldn't control.

He'd lost his claim to his birthright. He faked his death. He had to flee his homeland.

But why did it feel as if he'd never been more helpless?

"Brother!" He didn't see Ash move. He only knew that as he fell back, another set of arms grabbed on to him to keep him steady.

"Ash..." Henry whispered, breathless. His mind was spinning. Elka could be in danger. Elka could be on the verge of death. She used all three healing slips. Three! And Ash's magic was potent! He shook his head. He couldn't accept it. She had been fine in Dareisol. She made it sound as if her orders were mundane, and that everything would be all right after a while. He looked at Nera. "Auntie...."

He didn't know who else to ask for help. It was his aunt who always seemed to have the answer.

Who helped him fake his death to avoid murder? His aunt.

Who helped him flee the country and protected him the entire way? His aunt.

Who resettled them, built a merchant empire, and funded and built a secret army to back him? His aunt.

Who supported him so all he had to do was focus on learning to be a good leader and retake the throne? His aunt.

Nera remained in place and took a deep breath as his eyes reddened. Was even his aunt at a loss?

"Ash," she said, without looking away from Henry. "Hoist anchor and bring us further out, then cast an illusion around the ship with a radius of quadruple the length. And make it fast." She lifted her hand and revealed a slim, cylindrical item that appeared to be a flare. "I'll summon Inazuma."