Chapter 130 – Soup Without Salt
“I know this is a lot to ask of you,” I say to Sandro and Kanin as they stare at me, dumbfounded.
Sandro’s cape ripples with increasingly jerky and erratic movements—much like Ink’s void, actually.
“What do you mean?” Sandro asks, eyes wide. “You want me to leave? But—but the wyverns!”
“It will only be temporary,” I insist, holding out my hands. Sandro squeezes them as if they’re the only thing holding him up. “As soon as you’ve found the refiner’s spell design, you can hurry back. I need you to help me with this, Sandro. You’re the only one who can do it.”
He’s shaking his head. “That’s not true. You know so many people way more talented than me. All I have are the wyverns. Why don’t you send Dizzi?”
“Because Dizzi doesn’t have an Echo,” I say, smiling apologetically. “Your System access will allow you to identify the spell designs we’re looking for. Plus, I need Dizzi here to prepare the spell circle, and complete it once your wyvern arrives.”
“My wyvern?” Sandro repeats, his voice pitching higher.
“The champions have been letting wyverns into the city without issue,” I explain. He knows all this already; I suspect he’s just objecting out of instinct. “It’s only the outbound ones they intercept. Sending the plans back via wyvern will be the fastest and least suspicious way to get them into the city.”
“I—I suppose,” Sandro stammers, shooting a glance over at Kanin. “It’s just—what if the Shroud acts up? I don’t like being so far away from your soothing spells.”
“We’ll send some more anxiety potions with you,” I assure him. In fact, I’ve already requested for Opal to begin brewing a batch. “But I have a feeling you won’t need it. You’re handling the Shroud better every day. I believe in you.”
Sandro swallows, then slumps in defeat, nodding his head just a fraction as he lowers his gaze.
As Sandro reluctantly lets go, I turn to Kanin. “I know this is a big favor to ask of you.”
“I’m not sure if Sandro coming along is the best idea,” he signs. “Two remnants in close proximity for a long period of time is asking for trouble. If you need a Traveler to identify the spell designs, I can just as easily do that.”
I suspected he would be reluctant to take Sandro with. “I understand. But delivery by wyvern is still the best option for returning the plans quickly.”
Then I send him a private message.
[Fyre: In truth, I need you and Sandro out of the city when the gods arrive. My plan won’t work if there are multiple remnants in the city. I can’t remove the Dungeon Core, so I need Ink and the Shuddering Shroud to leave. Just temporarily, of course.]
It’s the only chance I stand at successfully buying enough time for Sandro and Kanin to fulfill their quest. More than anything, Lorata wants to keep remnants separated: prevent them from interacting, combining, and becoming greater threats. If there is only one remnant in this city, there is wiggle room for compromise—as long as she believes she’ll inevitably get what she wants.
[Kanin: So you don’t actually need the refiner plans?]
[Fyre: No—I very much do need them. It is crucial that I get that spell circle design if I want to permanently protect this city. Sandro’s assistance isn’t strictly necessary, but I’d feel better about him staying with you and your friends than being on his own.]
It is a risk, of course. Kanin and Sandro haven’t spent much time together, and now I’m throwing the two of them together, the city’s last hope riding on the cooperation of two volatile remnants.
But I have faith in them. I don’t believe it’s the risk others may see it to be.
Kanin is silent for a moment, considering this.
Then he signs, “Alright. Sandro can come with our group. But we’ll need to get ready fast. Zyneth is creating some artificed wards to withstand the fire magic of Mount Shale. Sandro will need something similar.”
“That can be arranged,” I assure him. “I can get you some supplies for the trip as well. Is there anything else you need that would help make the trip easier?”
“Actually, there is one thing,” he signs. “Getting out of the Drifting Isles without the champions noticing us might be tricky.”
“Ah!” That, at least, I believe will be an easy solution. I’ve been keeping this plan in my back pocket for weeks, and now I believe is the time to enact it. “If that’s all you need, then consider it done. I’ve already been brainstorming ways to slip away from the Fortress unnoticed and think I have just the thing. Do you know when you can leave?”
“Not sure,” he signs. “I’ll talk to Zyneth and the others. But, soon. Maybe tomorrow.”
“Tonight would be better,” I gently suggest. “The cover of dark would help. And I don’t want to risk you two still being here when the gods arrive.”
“Right. I’ll see if we can make that happen.”
“Good. I’ll go start the preparations.”
Sandro’s been slowly sinking in on himself throughout the conversation, but he looks up with a startle at my last words. “And, um, I guess I should go check in on the wyverns. Decide who should come with me. Someone will watch them while I’m away, won’t they?”
“Of course,” I say. “I’ll personally see to it that they’re looked after.”
Sandro nods, glancing between myself and Kanin. I can tell he wants to say more, but instead he turns quickly away, the Shroud clutching tightly around his shoulders as he hurries from the cave.
I feel a pang of regret as I watch him leave. “This will be good for him, I think. He can’t always depend on me.”
“I’ll make sure he gets back safe,” Kanin promises.
I gently pat his nearest hand. “I know you will.”
The conversation with the councilors goes better than I had hoped. I’d expected a lot more “this is a long shot” and “you’re putting too much faith in relative strangers” type of objections. But Dizzi seems to love the idea, and Torim and Nek cautiously agree it may be our best course of action.
Mirzayael remains quiet throughout the discussion, simply listening and thinking. I don’t attempt to read how she feels about all this; she’ll tell me when she’s made up her mind.
“I see no point in not trying,” Mirzayael finally says, much to my appreciation. “If this plan of yours works, we could be rid of the gods for good. And if it doesn’t, our situation is no different than it is now. Sending Sandro and Kanin away is also tactically sound. Any time we can buy will give us more opportunity to prepare for the fight.”
“The point of this is to avoid a fight,” I point out.
Mirzayael shrugs. “It still gives us more time should Sandro and Kanin’s mission fail.”
“They won’t,” Dizzi pipes up. “They’re pretty capable individuals.”
Mirzayael raises an eyebrow at Dizzi. “You’re the last person I expected to believe something on faith.”
“It’s not faith, it’s evidence!” she declares.
Mirzayael cracks a smile.
“In that case, we should get preparations underway immediately,” Torim says.
“Agreed,” I say. “Nek, have two weeks of rations delivered to the lower ballroom. Enough for five people, I think. Dizzi, collect the mages with illusion affinities—we’ll need as many as you can get. I’ll go speak with Captain Marlow.”
“Shouldn’t you speak to Captain Marlow first before you volunteer him for this voyage?” Mirzayael asks.
“Probably,” I admit. “But I have a strong suspicion he’ll say yes.”
“No,” Captain Marlow says flatly. “My crew’s lives are already at risk just by being stranded in this city. What makes you think I’d volunteer my vessel for a suicide mission on top of that?”
“I—” I stammer, reeling from how badly I’d misjudged his character. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean—”
Then the man throws his head back with a deep, hearty laugh. “You’re too easy, Lord Fyre. Yes, of course I’ll help. I’ve gone absolutely stir crazy here. It will be good to fly the open skies again. And what’s an adventure without a little danger? Like soup without salt, I say.”
I slump in relief. “Please don’t do that to me. I nearly had a heart attack.” Again.
He slaps me on the back, and I try not to stumble. “You’re far too tough for that. Now, logistics. You said you’d provide supplies.”
“Of course,” I agree. “Though we’ll need to empty your ship of anything not crucial to the trip. We need to move as quickly as we can. Kanin’s friends, plus Sandro, are four mouths to feed. We’re already in the midst of assembling supplies for five.”
“Make that seven,” Marlow says. “I will need two extra hands to pilot the ship more efficiently. And I’d be remiss to go on such an exciting voyage without my partners.”
“That can definitely be arranged,” I say.
The captain nods, stroking his stubbled chin. “In that case, what’s your plan for sending my ship out that dome without being blasted from the sky?”
I can’t stop myself from grinning; I’m quite sure he’s going to love this idea. “Who says we’ll be leaving through the dome?”