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Dusk mulled over their plan as they trudged back through the woods toward the chateau. A week to Emerald Deep, two weeks to find Cyrilo and come back to the Crystal Gate, then three days to get from the Ronja mines to Alamond with Diana and her men. It fit their timeline like a glove with even a little room to spare, but had a few complications. Firstly, they didn’t know if Diana would help. Dusk knew she hadn’t believed him about the dragons and she was a practical woman whose priority was her people. Last they knew, Emerald Deep was still under control by the Ditanian army and Diana might have been imprisoned if not hidden away. Beyond that they had to find Cyrilo somehow, in a completely foreign land, with no real idea where to start. Then, if that wasn’t enough, Dusk knew they’d have to fight their way out of the mines. There was a good chance there were a few Circle members still there and they wouldn’t go down without a fight. And Maxon might still be there as well.
Dusk shook his head. Maxon was the least of his worries. The plan had a lot of variables, but he knew they couldn’t take on Nedarya alone. Their force had to be small enough to sneak in, but powerful enough to win. Besides her lackeys that would be guarding her day and night as she tried to mend the crystal heart, Nedarya herself would also be a formidable foe. It would require more than three of them to take her down even if Lyra managed to somehow get there in time. Nedarya had already proven she could subdue a dragon without much trouble, so they’d need to keep her busy.
Eventually they found their way back to the rear gate of the gardens. A single guard escorted them back to the house once more, for what reason Dusk didn’t know, but once there he returned to his post. The five of them stood in the large foyer, the silence surrounding them almost oppressive. Dusk and the others had decided to leave the next morning at dawn much to the dismay of Lex’s parents. After all their time apart, they’d be separated once more.
“I’ll have the servants pack your supplies and a few large sheets of leather. That should make the ride a little bit more comfortable for you,” Lady d’Ronja said, stepping up to Lex and wrapping her arms around him. She hugged him for a long moment. “You be safe out there and come back to us, okay?”
“I’ll do my best,” Lex replied. He glanced at his father. “While I’m gone you have some changes to get started around here.”
“Whatever you wish,” he nodded, knowing this might be the last time they spoke.
“I want you to free all the slaves under the d’Ronja name.” His father began to retort but Lex cut him off. “This has gone on too long and I can’t sit by and watch these people have their lives forcibly taken from them.”
“But... Alexander, to free them is to go against Ditanian law and the crown,” his father said, gesturing all around them. “None of this is possible without the support of the crown. It would be an act of war in Prince Arius’s eyes!”
“Prince Arius is probably dead,” Lex replied flatly. “And the crown will no longer exist once Nedarya has been stopped.” He paused, reaching his hand out to take his father’s and taking a deep breath. “I know this is a big thing to ask and dangerous as well, but the Ronja family needs to do their part to set the country right. Why should we go risk our lives to save a world that runs on slavery?” He looked into his father’s eyes. “Give us a better future to fight for, to come home to.”
“I... I will do what I can.”
“That’s all I can ask.”
“We will see it done,” Lady d’Ronja said, stepping up beside her husband and taking Lex’s other hand. “Although it may take some time to move much beyond the estate and the city proper, we'll find a way.”
“Thank you, both of you. It means a lot to me.” Lex glanced back at Dusk and Tara, smirking slightly. “And you better have this place prepared for a real party when we return! I expect a full week of feasting and not a moment less!”
“If you manage to pull this off,” his mother replied, “the entire world will know and celebrate your story for decades to come.” She pulled him into a quick hug once more, tears forming in her eyes. “And yes, of course there will be a grand celebration! What kind of mother would I be if I didn’t at least do that?” She wiped her eyes with the back of her sleeve. “Now all of you need to go to bed. You’ve got a long journey ahead of you!”
The three of them turned to leave, but Dusk felt a hand at his elbow. He turned around to see Lady d’Ronja looking at him intensely, tears on her cheeks.
“If something should happen...”
“I will bring your son home to you alive,” Dusk said definitively, not allowing her to say anything further. “You have my word.”
Lady d’Ronja nodded, then pulled Dusk into a hug as well, catching him off guard. “Maybe when you get back we can talk about a wedding,” she muttered in his ear.
The idea sent his heart fluttering like mad, but not unpleasantly so.
“I...”
“There’s no rush. Just make sure you both come back safely. Consider this place your home for as long as you like.”
Home, it had such a strange ring to it.
Dusk bowed slightly. “Thank you Lady d’Ronja. Goodnight.”
With that he turned and met up with the other two at the door before heading back to their rooms for the night.
***
The next morning, true to her word, Lady d’Ronja had a pair of horses at the back gate with all their gear and supplies for the trip. There were rations, waterskins, bedrolls, tents, gold, books, tools of all sorts, three big sheets of leather, armor, extra weapons, clothing, and any other imaginable thing they could think of. It was far more than they needed and much more than Lyra could possibly carry. Instead of taking the horses with them, each of them packed a small bag with food, water, and coins. Dusk found a tiny black pouch filled with the magic powder in one of the saddlebags with his name on it. He tucked it into his pocket safely, hoping they wouldn’t have to use it on their journey. Each of them sheathed their weapons, grabbed a sheet of leather, and headed out into the forest, leaving the horses behind with the guards.
The walk was pleasant and cool, the early morning fog still clinging to the underside of the canopy. The new clothing Dusk bought was still itchy and stiff, having not been broken in yet. He hoped the wind would help relieve a bit of the itch and help soften the fabric on the way. He’d never had new clothing before and the sensation was almost unnerving, like bugs crawling across his bare skin. Eventually they made it to the clearing where Lyra resided. She was already awake and stretching her wings, readying herself for the long day ahead of them.
“All set?” she asked as they came up beside her.
Dusk nodded along with the others.
“Then we best be on our way.”
With Lyra’s help, each of them climbed up and positioned their piece of leather between her spikes. It didn’t make their seats any softer, but it stopped Lyra’s scales from rubbing their legs raw, which were still sore from the last flight. When everyone was in position Lyra checked them one last time, spread out her wings, and took off at a gallop. Soon she was soaring high above the trees, the sun rising over her right shoulder.
Their path took them southwest, and they made good time with one less person on Lyra’s back. On the second day they crossed over the deep gorge that the river Sunder carved through Ditania. In the far distance Dusk thought he caught a glimpse of Brand’s hideout, but it was too far to tell. On the opposite side of the gorge they spent a night, making their camp far from the river just in case there were more Grimfish lurking in its depths. Nobody was really sure of their climbing ability to get up and over the sheer rocks, but none of them were willing to take a chance.
The next morning they took to the skies and flew southwest across the Louring Bog. The memories of that strange place swirled around his head and Dusk leaned over Lyra’s side to get a better look at the seemingly inexhaustible fog always surrounding the swamp. Just the same as before its edges terminated unnaturally at an unmarked boundary. No amount of wind, sun, or snow could drive the fog away from the swamp it seemed. He pulled himself back up and reached out with his mind, the wind too loud to shout over.
“Lyra, do you know anything about Louring?” he asked.
“A little,” she replied shortly. “Why do you ask?”
“We went through it last winter,” he explained. “The place was absolutely crawling with strange life I’ve yet to see anywhere else. We met lots of monsters, wisps, and even killed the Wisp Mother there.”
“That’s quite a feat,” she said simply, seemingly uninterested in the topic.
“I thought for sure after we killed her that the fog would go away because she seemed to be in control of everything. But it never did. The ground was always warm, even in the dead of winter, and the mist never left the boundaries of the swamp.”
“Those creatures control nothing but the wisps.”
“Then what causes the fog? And the heat?”
She was quiet for a long moment. “We do not speak its name. To speak of it is to give it power and that is the last thing we want it to have.”
Dusk sat back in his seat, furrowing his brows. Lyra seemed almost frightened. What could she, the last of the dragon lords, have to be scared of in a swamp?
“I will tell you this though, it is an ancient evil and thankfully sunken far below the surface of the bog where it was sealed away by the gods. If it ever rises again, a fate much worse than any Nedarya or Nozzera could inflict will befall the world.”
“But what is it?”
“I will say no more on the subject. Forget about the swamp and turn your thoughts to things at hand.”
The finality in her voice surprised him. He’d never heard Lyra speak of anything in such a way before. For her to be frightened, it meant that whatever lay deep beneath the Louring Bog was not to be trifled with. Dusk tried to push it from his mind as they continued southwards, but every now and then he looked back over his shoulder, the foggy banks of the swamp still visible and undulating silently as the sun began to set.
They began looking for a place to stay for the night. At first, Lyra had suggested the forest, but Dusk told her about the Amarok living in the woods south of Louring that could still be there. Although Nedarya had been chased by one at their first meeting, he doubted it was the same creature. At the mention of its name Lyra made a wide arc away from the trees until they came upon a small plain to bed down for the night. Even with the considerable distance, she insisted on taking the night in shifts so that they wouldn’t be caught unawares by anything prowling the area.
When Dusk took his shift he found himself eyeing the small bag of dust, and an almost unnoticeable itch crept over his skin. He wanted to use it, to taste the magic he’d once taken for granted. But thankfully it was fleeting and he left it in his bag as he woke Lex for the next watch.
The night went by peacefully and they were back in the sky just after sunrise the next morning. Within an hour they could see the Crystal Gate glimmering in the morning sun, a beacon that all could see for miles around. By midday the gate was within their reach. Lyra brought them down once more, landing near the great stone structure with a thud. Far above, the massive amethyst crystal shone in the sun, throwing translucent purple shadows down to the ground. Everyone climbed down from her back, stretching themselves out as they gathered up their supplies.
After a few moments of checking their supplies, Tara rolled up her sheet of leather and threw it over her shoulder. Glancing beyond the gate Dusk could see Emerald Deep some distance off, a well trodden road leading down to it. The green lake was more vibrant than he remembered and at its center was a large forested island that hid a series of ruins. He wondered if the Tulamars had ventured back out into the ocean after spending the winter in the lake. From their position the city itself looked mostly peaceful, but it was yet unclear who maintained control over its streets. However, he couldn’t see any signs of an army encampment, although they may have taken over homes to make themselves more comfortable. It was hard to be sure without going into the city proper. He hoped Tara would be able to navigate it safely.
“I guess this is where I fuck off,” Tara chuckled. “I’ll go find Diana, one way or another, and let her know what’s going on. I just hope she believes me and wants to help.”
Dusk reached into his bag. “Take this,” he said, offering the small pouch of dust to Tara. As she took it he felt a twinge of regret at the suggestion. “That might help you convince them of our story.”
“What am I going to do with this? I don’t know how to do any magic!”
“Do you have something to write on?”
Tara pulled a small journal out of her bag with a huff and ripped a piece of paper out of it. She handed it to him along with a small chunk of charcoal. Dusk placed the page against the gate’s oddly shaped stones and sketched a sigil on its surface.
“Dip your fingers in the powder and trace this rune,” he instructed, handing it back with the charcoal. “It won’t take very much, but it should get Diana’s attention.”
It was a simple glyph that would only ignite the paper, but he figured it would be effective nonetheless. Diana wouldn’t be able to deny their story if the evidence was right in front of her nose.
“Hopefully this will be enough.”
“Take this too,” Lex cut in, tossing her a heavy looking bag.
Tara caught it, the contents jangling as it swung back and forth. She undid the string and pulled it open, revealing a sizable mound of platinum coins.
“I find money is usually a better motivator than morality,” he winked. “If the magic doesn’t work, that certainly will. That and the promise of more for a job well done.”
“This is an obscene amount of money,” Tara said, eyeing Lex.
Lex just shrugged. “My parents have too much anyway, so I relieved them of some of their burden. Besides, it might as well go to good people.”
“A guild of thieves is good people in your mind?”
“They are to us. Allies you can trust are hard to come by.”
Tara nodded, storing both the powder and the platinum away. She folded the small paper Dusk had given her and tucked it into her shirt pocket. “Well? Shouldn’t you three be doing some sort of crazy magic with this gate or something?”
“You don’t want us to make sure you get to town alright?” Dusk asked.
Tara scoffed. “Please! As if anything out here stood a fucking chance against me.”
Dusk turned his attention back to Lyra. “Well, I guess we’re ready when you are.”
Lyra nodded and stepped up to the gate. She reached forward with her long snout and touched the tip of her nose to the archway. Instantly the massive crystal at the apex flashed purple and began to glow, the power rippling through the air around them and making the hairs on his arms stand up.
“Haldura...” Lyra whispered softly.
The crystal began to slowly shift color, going from amethyst purple to peridot green over the course of a minute. When it finally stopped changing there was a blast of warm air that swept down the gate, laying the grass around them flat. Dusk shielded his eyes from the dust that was kicked up, but when he pulled his arm away he saw there was a strange shimmer inside the gateway. It looked like a transparent satin fabric with a pearlescent sheen. It looked to have the consistency of water, constantly undulating back and forth like a sheet in the wind.
“It’s ready,” Lyra pronounced, looking down at them expectantly. “We don’t have much time.”
“We’ll see you in two weeks,” Lex said, looking at Tara.
He took a deep breath and walked through the gate, disappearing entirely from view.
“Be safe,” Lyra nodded to her and also passed through, her long tail trailing behind her until it finally vanished completely.
Dusk stepped up to the gate and looked back at Tara. “Are you sure you’ll be okay?”
Tara smiled. “I’ll see you soon.”
Afraid the gate would leave him stranded, Dusk gave her a quick nod and stepped through the shimmering curtain.