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The horizon had begun to color. Orange tinged the shore ahead while the stars above pitched and yawed gently with every gentle wave the ship drifted over. The waves lapped gently at the ship’s hull far below as they cut through the surf, splashing upward to spackle her face.

She lifted a hand and brushed away the moisture as the ship’s captain joined her at the railing. The captain, a human male with a gruff, weathered exterior folded his hands in front of himself as his weight settled on his elbows upon the railing.

Alcmene considered him, brushing her black hair from her face. She didn’t speak. Her mind was far from this place.

“It isn’t often we ferry your lot to the southern shores.” He rubbed his scraggly beard with one hand. “Why aren’t you going to Ithica like the rest of you usually do? Much bigger port. Can probably buy more suitable transportation or supplies there. Saril, it’s…”

“Our quarry will want to avoid heavily populated port cities,” she said simply, looking out over the glowing ocean waves. “It’s more likely that they came through a small fishing village than trying to go through a busy harbor.”

He hummed thoughtfully, though it sounded much more like a growl. “Fugitives, hm? Running from the Doujin? Musta done something fairly barbaric. Cruel. Downright evil.”

“They stole something they have no rights to,” she said, straightening to face the captain. She allowed herself one more once-over of his dirty smock and trousers. Were it not for the salty air rushing past them, she was sure she would once again smell him as well as look at him. “We are going to get it back.”

“And who could possibly be foolish or brazen enough to steal from the Wardens?” He forced a laugh and spread his arms to either side as he faced her. “They really are downright cruel and evil barbarians, or they stole something highly valuable. Which is it?”

She scowled and folded her arms over her chest. “Unless you’ve got anything to tell me about Abrinin thieves, I really have no more to say on the matter.”

He held his hands up and scoffed. “Hey, look, I didn’t mean to strike such a nerve with you. I was just asking.” His eyes narrowed and he leaned toward her slowly. “Or did they take something important to you?”

Alcmene’s eyes narrowed and her wings spread behind her ever so slightly. Her hands balled into fists and she said “Your job, Captain Rotain, is to ferry us to Saril. Not ask questions. I will not give you more than you were paid for.”

Without another word, she turned and leaned over the railing again.

The captain gave a chuckle and spread his hands again. “As you wish, Warden.” He spun on his heel and made his way up onto the quarterdeck as the first sliver of the sun peeked up over the approaching horizon.

The hatch behind her opened up and a low yawn met her ears. Heavy feet stumbled up onto the deck and toward her. She didn’t have to see him to know who it was. She knew it was Manawyhn before he leaned sleepily on the railing beside her. She glanced at him and her worry waned.

“Oh, I slept like a log. All the back and forth, back and forth, rocking me like a baby…” Manawyhn yawned again. “How about you?”

Alcmene smiled and took one of the young human’s hands in hers. “We’re almost there. Another hour and we’ll make Saril. I hope you’re ready for a long ride.” She looked out over the water at their approaching destination, though her hand never released his. “Abrinin is a long way away.”

He rubbed his eyes with his free hand and shook his head. “I know, I’ve been there once already. I was doing some research on some obscure rituals I’d heard about not long ago. Thankfully it was in the dead of winter so it didn’t feel like I was melting all day. Just the afternoon.”

“I was there in the middle of summer. The first time I got the scepter. It was so hot. I wore as little as possible because any kind of layering made the clothes seem like heavy robes. I wore enough to still be deemed appropriate and a loose cloak. Then at night I bundled up in my bedroll as best as I could.” She shook her head at the memory and sighed. “Melting during the day and freezing at night. It almost doesn’t seem possible, does it?”

“I’m still trying to imagine you wearing chest bindings and a loin cloth.” He was grinning from ear to ear when she looked at him. “Personally, I’m liking what that looks like.”

“You aren’t far off.” She gave his hand a little squeeze then pushed away from the railing. “I was thankful to be away from there. I never thought I’d be going back again.”

“I am going to make sure this time ends better than your last trip.”

She smiled at him and pat his hand softly. “I know you will.” Her hand fell away and she folded her wings around herself like a downy black cloak. “Thank you.”

She didn’t have anything left to pack, unlike her companion. Manawyhn disappeared below deck to fetch his effects, his money, and his sword. She already had hers. She was ready before he woke up, but then she hadn’t slept as well as he had either.

By the time they had docked at the small fishing village, the two of them were ready to chase the scepter thieves across the face of the world. The pier was not big enough for the ship, they had to take a dingy from the ship to the shore.

Ever the gentleman, Manawyhn was the first to climb up onto the wooden dock then he turned and helped Alcmene up. She didn’t need it, of course. But she did appreciate it. Smoothing out her tight red tunic and the skirts that flowed over her tights, she took a breath to calm her nerves then started toward the buildings beyond.

The village was already bustling, even so early in the morning. Fishers passed them without a second thought, the smells of food cooking flowed out of every kitchen, and the ring of the blacksmith’s hammer sang a sweet greeting to the sun. Alcmene glanced to her friend walking at her side and offered a smile. “We’ll need to buy a couple horses. I don’t fancy walking the whole way.”

“I don’t either. Horses are going to keep us rested and ready. And if they bought horses,” he said, looking about for a stable, though there didn’t appear to be one near the dock, “then the stable keeper can tell us which way they went. We may even catch up to them before they get too far ahead.”

“With luck,” she said, checking the sword in her scabbard.

“But you and I both know there’s no such thing as luck.” Manawyhn laughed lightly and folded his arms loosely over his flowing purple robes. “At least, that’s what they tell us, hm?”

She shook her head and glanced his way. “More and more I’m starting to agree with the Protectorate. What the rest of the world thinks of as luck might just be the Goddess’s cruel hand.”

“Now you don’t really believe that, do you?”

“After the past year, I’m not really-…”

Her throat tightened and the muscles in her chest followed not long behind. Her breath caught and an overwhelming urge to draw her sword took her. Her hand was at her hip for only a moment. In the next, she’d drawn her sword and lunged forward. Her wrist rotated, flicking the blade in a circular motion in front of herself.

Something metal ricocheted off of her alsilrite sword, leaving the weapon ringing in much the same musical note as the blacksmith’s hammer. The sun glinted off another metal object rushing through the air at her face. She dropped to a crouch as the object whistled overhead.

“What the hells!?” Manawhn drew his own sword and glanced about.

Alcmene pointed at a man in black, tightly wrapped and holding a sword in one hand. In the other, he held a small knife. He—she assumed it was a he—flung the knife at them. This time, Manawyhn held his hand outward, palm out as if halting an out of control horse.

The knife stopped in midair just feet in front of the young man’s palm. It spun in place, spinning on its axis. Alcmene didn’t have time to gawk. The darkly dressed man was rushing at them much like the knife whistling in the air. As it clattered to the packed dirt at their feet, he was upon them.

She barely had enough time to raise her sword to swat away his weapon. There wasn’t time to act, only react. There wasn’t time to think. Only reflex. Their swords rang out, clanging and clashing in a thunderous cacophony. Her hands ached, stinging with evert sharp impact vibrating into the sword’s hilt.

Her grip was loosening; she could barely feel her fingers. She wasn’t used to sparring anymore, she hadn’t been able to practice in the past year. Her reasons had made sense at the time, but now she wished she’d kept her priorities straight.

Thinking about the past and her pregnancy caused her focus to falter. Her fingers, numb with the repeated concussion, lost their grip on her hilt. One firm strike from their attacker’s blade sent her weapon careening across the dirt road, far out of her reach.

Manawyhn stepped forward to try to interpose himself between the dark assailant and her, but the masked Abrinin struck him sharply across the face, sending him rebounding in the opposite direction.

She turned, reaching for her sword, but it was too far away. Something firm and blunt slammed into her side. The air rushed from her lungs as pain blossomed in her ribs. She rolled onto her back, gasping and groaning. Above her, the Abrinin raised his sword, ready to bring it down and end her life.

Alcmene stared up at him and a calm settled over her, as though there was nothing truly wrong.

The man stopped, stiff as a board as a purple mist surrounded him. It coalesced, penetrating his black wrappings and his flesh. Muffled through his facial wrapping, the man screamed. The mist permeating him began to seep out of him, flowing out of his body between his shoulder blades.

He twitched and shook, screaming far more loudly as the purple mist, glowing now, rushed away from his body like waters down a river. She watched the flow rush away and followed its path. Her eyes watched the purple stream pooling in her companion’s palm. As the mist left her attacker completely, he slumped and collapsed under his own weight.

As the weight landed on her, Alcmene grunted and shoved the lifeless body away. As she sat up, her eyes returned to Manawyhn and there she saw the mist soaking into his palm, absorbing into him like water to a sponge. As the mist vanished into his body, his eyes momentarily glowed purple, but only for the briefest instant.

He inhaled deeply and his chest puffed outward. He grinned, shaking his limbs as though emerging from a brisk dip in a cold pool of water. Alcmene’s blood ran cold. She didn’t know what just happened, but she could guess.

She rose on shaking legs and brushed herself off as best as she could. “Manawyhn?”

His eyes came back into focus and locked with hers for a moment. “I’m sorry, I…” his eyes left hers and drifted down to the body at her feet, then lifted back to hers again. “You were not supposed to see that.”

“You saved my life,” she said, stepping away from the body as if she would catch what killed him, though she knew that was not possible. “Whatever it is you did…” She stepped up to him and hesitantly took his hands. “…Thank you.”

His face had paled though. “You can’t let this get back to the Doujin.” He shook his head, stepping back from her half a step. “If they find out I still use the things I learned from that warlock-…” He gaped at her, unable to finish the sentence.

“I’m not going to tell anybody.” She stepped forward and took his hands tightly in hers again. “You aren’t being malicious. You weren’t. You saved me. Even the darkest magics used for the right reasons can be good. Right?”

He stared at her for several moments then nodded slowly. “That is my thinking on the matter.”

“Oh my Goddess, are you both alright?” A man asked as he rushed toward them. His clothes were simple, already covered in dirt and hay. His face was as rough and grizzled as the captain of the ship they had sailed on.

“I think so,” Alcmene said, looking from her companion to the villager. “He came out of nowhere and we-…”

“Yes, I saw. You both did very well holding your own against him. You’re…” His eyes darted between them, “…Wardens, right? We don’t get many of you through here.”

It was Alcmene’s eyes turn to dart about. “We’re after his companions. They took something very valuable and we are trying to get it back.”

“Oh.” His eyes widened and he looked over his shoulder. “Oh!” He jabbed his finger toward the east. “They passed through here but yesterday morning, took six of my horses. Paid very well for them too.”

Her heart swelled. They were only a day behind! Less than that. The two of them could travel faster than six men.

“If you like, I can give you my last two animals.” He beamed at them, crossing his arms over his chest as he nodded proudly.

“Yes!” she exclaimed. A moment too late she remembered that she represented the Doujin as a whole and that a certain level of professionalism was expected. Or so she was taught. She cleared her throat and nodded. “That is, yes please. We would be grateful of the help.”

“Oh good, if you both will follow me,” he turned, waving them on as he strode into the village square. “I think you’ll be happy with what I’ve got!”

Alcmene exchanged a glance with Manawyhn and followed behind the stable keeper. They were going to catch the thieves and like her companion said, they were going to catch them before they ever saw the hot sands of the Abrinin Desert.

“Wait, this is it?” Manawyhn’s voice pulled her out of her eager anticipation. She blinked the world back into focus and looked to the stable keeper. Her heart sank.

He stood there holding reigns in both hands. One hand led a large draught horse. He was tall, much taller than most breeds Alcmene was familiar with. And stocky. His muscle mass intimidated her. In the stable keeper’s other hand, a diminutive gray mule stood, a dwarf compared to the larger stallion opposite him. Neither one was built for speed.

“How are we supposed to catch them with these!?” she exclaimed before she could stop herself. “These are pack animals! They aren’t going to help us catch up! We’ll be halfway through Ken-qi when they get to Medina! This isn’t-…”

“I’m sorry, they took my best horses.” His body drooped and slumped as he looked between both animals on his flanks. “These are all I have left. I can try to find you faster horses, but…”

As the stable keeper trailed off, Manawyhn stepped forward and took the mule’s reigns. “These will be fine.” As he stepped away, he eyed Alcmene firmly. She diminished beneath his gaze. “Right?”

She nodded, feeling very much like a child being scolded by her father. Appropriately sheepish, she slunk around the stable keeper and took the big horse’s reigns. She offered and apologetic smile and reached up to set her hands along the beast’s spine. She had to stretch just to reach the top of his back!

She spread her wings and flapped downward, giving her enough push off the ground to swing up onto his back. Her thighs and hips ached, stretched wide around the animal’s immense barrel.

“Does this handsome animal have a cart?” Manawyhn asked, gently patting the mule’s neck.

“Yes,” the stable keeper said. “I’ll fetch it!”

They procured appropriate supplies and rode in silence. At first Alcmene thought it was because she was seated so much higher than Manawyhn was, down in his little mule-drawn cart. But the more hours went by, the more awkward it was.

Every time Manawyhn would look up at her, expecting some sort of comment perhaps, she would look away. She didn’t know what to tell him or how to begin. Where to start was the problem, she realized. It wasn’t the difference in altitude. There were so many things rushing through her head and she had no clue how to sort them into coherent thoughts she could then turn into accurate words.

Finally, when they stopped for the evening to make camp. As they were spreading their bedrolls on either side of a makeshift fire pit, Alcmene finally understood what bothered her the most about the fight, about all of what had happened today.

She paused, her bedroll still half rolled. She stared at her pale hands for a moment and closed her eyes.

“Do you know what scares me the most?” she began. “It isn’t that they stole my scepter right out from under my nose. It isn’t that they left someone behind to kill us. It’s that I was ready. I welcomed it.” She shook her head and looked up at him, finally making eye contact.

“Even your power. What you did to that man. I know I should turn around and go straight back to the Doujin. What you’ve learned represents a danger to everyone around you. But I’m not afraid. It isn’t that I know you wont hurt me. I do know that. It’s that I don’t care if you do.” She spread her arms to either side slowly. “I have nothing left to lose.”

“Yes you do,” she heard him say. She couldn’t see him anymore. Her eyes had fogged and blurred with unshed tears. “You have your life and you have a friend who would not quickly mourn your passing.” He was at her side faster than she would have thought possible. Maybe it had taken minutes. She was having trouble sorting her feelings, much less the world around her. “I would never do anything to hurt you, Alcmene. You are my closest friend in the Doujin. Now why would I want to suck my closest friend’s soul out?”

She gave a choked laugh and nodded. “Thank you, Manawyhn. That means a lot to me.”

“You’re welcome.” She felt his hand on her back, gently rubbing between her loosely folded wings. “Get some rest. We’re going to catch those bastards and get your scepter back if we have to chase them all the way across the Endless Sea.”

She smiled weakly and nodded, leaning against her friend. Somehow, she trusted every word he said and knew each one was unequivocally true.