Otto couldn’t begin to describe his happiness when Lux’s port appeared on the horizon. How long had they been gone? A bit over a year if he wasn’t mistaken. It felt like longer. He’d once heard a veteran of many battles describe life in the army as long stretches of boredom broken up by moments of sheer terror. That described the last year really well.
As the ship eased up to the dock Hans came striding over. “Orders, Lord Shenk?”
“We’re heading home, Hans. As soon as we’re tied off and our gear’s unloaded, it’s straight to the portal and Garen. I haven’t desired a home-cooked meal this much in a very long time.”
“I second that.” The sergeant grinned. “We really did it, didn’t we? We made it to the Celestial Empire and back in one piece. Most of us anyway. That’s a story I can tell my nieces and nephews. I can tell them, right?”
Otto laughed. “You certainly can. I suspect Captain Wainwright plans to tell every captain in the city.”
Axel and the scouts were coming up on deck, their packs slung over their shoulders. Corina was behind them and the rest of Hans’s squad, each of them heavily laden with their and Otto’s gear, brought up the rear.
“I need to talk to Captain Wainwright for a moment,” Otto said. “I’ll meet you on the dock.”
Hans saluted and went to join the others.
For his part, Otto strode across the deck to the helm where the captain was busy shouting orders to his men who were equally busy tying off the sails and doing other things Otto didn’t understand.
“Lord Shenk,” Wainwright said. “You’ve made my career with this journey. I can’t thank you enough for letting me command such a historic voyage.”
“You guided us there and back,” Otto said. “I could ask for nothing more. I may not have need of you and the ship for some time. Do you have plans?”
“I’m going to write a book about the trip.” He laughed at Otto’s expression. “With what you’ve paid me, I have plenty of wealth to hold me over for years. When you need us, me and the Sea Star will be ready.”
“Good enough. But I will thank you not to mention where we dropped off Lady White.”
Wainwright nodded. “I will be circumspect with the details. When I’m finished, perhaps you’d like to read it before I hire a printer.”
“That sounds like a good idea. Farewell, Captain.”
“Smooth seas, Lord Shenk.”
Otto climbed down the gangplank and joined the others. The group set out for the portal at a brisk walk. It seemed they were all as eager to get home as he was.
After a good night’s sleep in his own bed and so much food he could barely walk, Otto set out for the palace. It was time to put the Heart of Alchemy in place. He also needed to check in with Allen and Sin. He didn’t hold out much hope that they would have found any assassins, but you never knew.
The chill air and quiet streets of Gold Ward soothed him after the heat and crowds of Port Han and the Celestial City. No one looked at him as a potential target here either. Until he left, Otto hadn’t appreciated how nice it was to be known and feared.
At the palace gate, the guards on duty snapped to attention and hastened to raise the portcullis. As it clanked up Otto asked, “How fares the emperor?”
The men shared a look then the elder shrugged. “We see little of him, but the rumors are that he’s shaken off his melancholy. At least he’s attending court again.”
Otto nodded his thanks. He’d get a full report from Draken later, but it was nice to hear his friend had beaten his depression. Nothing like getting betrayed by someone you thought you loved to sour your mood.
He crossed the courtyard and entered the main keep by a side entrance. A handy guard directed him to the library. When he arrived, he found Wolfric seated in a leather chair, book in hand, and a glass of brandy at his elbow. The familiar scent of paper and leather brought a smile to Otto’s face.
“Good morning, Your Majesty.”
Wolfric jumped and peeked over his book. “Otto!”
He leapt to his feet and embraced Otto like a brother. Fortunately, there was no one around to witness the inappropriate reaction.
“I had word you were back, but I didn’t expect you this early. You look tired.”
“I am, my friend. But I couldn’t wait to put the second piece of the engine in place. Would you like to see it?”
Wolfric smiled. “Indeed, I would.”
Otto pulled the Heart out of his pocket and held it up to glitter in the light. “Here it is. The Heart of Alchemy.”
Wolfric looked the Heart all over but made no attempt to touch it. “I thought it would be bigger.”
“Its power is considerably greater than its size. Shall we go put it in place?”
The question was largely rhetorical and they were soon on their way to the basement room where the Chamber of Eternity rested.
“Are you well?” Otto asked as they walked through the quiet halls surrounded by a squad of royal guards. “I know Jade’s betrayal was a hard blow.”
“It was and I am. Annamaria has been a great help. So has Abby.”
Otto glanced at his friend and tried to imagine what his wife and supposed daughter had to offer the emperor. He hadn’t even taken time to say hello when they got back.
“How did they help?”
“Annamaria helped by showing me that kindness and friendship were still a thing. And Abby’s innocence warmed the chill in my heart. She’s started walking, you know. The sweet thing.”
Otto was pleased that the two of them were good for something besides making his life difficult.
At the sealed door Otto deactivated the wards protecting the room and entered. The guards remained outside. The seven-foot glass cylinder looked exactly as he left it after saving Wolfric’s life. In his pocket, the Heart grew warm as if knowing that it was close to its partner piece.
Otto ran a loving hand over the smooth glass. The moment over a year in the making had come at last. Using a tendril of ether, he lifted the Heart up into the mithril tripod at the top of the Chamber. The moment the red crystal made contact, the mithril changed shape, wrapping around the Heart like vines locking it in place.
Any doubts he might have harbored were washed away.
Otto breathed out a sigh of satisfaction. Two pieces down and one to go.