“It’s time,” came the voice of A’renna, My‑re’s foster mother, through the bedroom door the following morning.
My‑re stretched in her old bed and turned over on her goose feather-filled pillow. She had almost forgotten how soft and comfortable it was, like a fluffy cushion encompassing her body in a hug. However, as a youth, she did not miss pushing the geese through the orchard to fertilize it—so much poop.
The morning sun tried to peek through the darkened curtains. Rising, she felt awake and rested. Something she hadn’t felt in years, like she was a child again, and the world's stresses washed away and were unknown to her. Her royal blue, silky pajamas lightly touched her skin, hung from her body, and felt as though she didn’t wear anything and kept her cozy. She didn’t miss the rough cotton garments she wore on the Isle of the Eye. She shivered, remembering their itchy texture.
Opening her door, she looked down the hall and saw the sauna room’s door slightly open. The scent of heated herbs and warmed cedar wafted over her. Approaching, she cracked the door and saw A’renna setting out her clothes. They were folded neatly and cleanly, and the heat would warm them when she dressed. The small, cedar-lined room had two benches, and two could comfortably sit. A waist-high, round stove at the end heated fist-sized, scorched stones resting on top. A cold water bucket, a towel, and a ladle were present to wash away perspiration and pour water on the hot stones to produce steam and increase the temperature.
“Two weeks goes by too fast,” A’renna lamented. “Have the Alastarians made final preparations?”
“Yes, Mother. Our plan is set along with contingencies. You don’t need to fear. We won’t draw any attention to the ranch.”
“Will I see you again before you leave for Alastari?”
Sighing in remorse, My‑re drew in a breath.
“No, don’t answer. I already know.”
“I’m sorry, Mother.”
Shaking her head. A’renna said, “The sauna’s losing heat. Poppy won’t thank you for that.”
My‑re smiled and shook her head in amusement. “I haven’t heard the name Poppy in years. You still believe that gnome cares for the sauna, don’t you?”
“Until my very last breath. I know it was him that woke me up all those years ago. If it wasn’t for Poppy, the whole house would have burned down when I forgot to put out the sauna stove,” A’renna answered.
My‑re began to disrobe. The warmth felt good. She remembered sitting in the sauna during winter in her youth, sweat cleaning her pores and then bathing in cool water, closing them back up again. A cleanliness sensation she hadn’t felt anywhere else.
Leaving the room, A’renna said, “There’s one more thing.” She then sat down a small, stone jar with a lid. “Come down when you’re prepared. I’ll have breakfast ready.” She then left My‑re alone.
Lifting the jar’s top, inside were pink, rose-scented salts. She returned the lid and sat. She knew the jar’s meaning well. The salt would be rubbed into the skin for extra cleaning effects, and the rose aroma would last for days, an expensive luxury. It was also a tradition for Rirorni warriors to use on the eve of war. The last act a family could bestow on them before going into battle—a battle where they were not expected to return. Without words, it was their way of saying a final goodbye. A remorseful tear then streaked down My‑re’s face.
An hour later, after using the sauna and salts, My‑re washed and dried herself and dressed in the silk undergarments A’renna had laid out. They were like a warm blanket. Returning to her room, A’renna laid out her ring mail armor and battle axe, which were shined and recently oiled.
Donning her armor and axe secured to her back, My‑re heard commotion downstairs. She exited her bedroom for the last time. Descending the stairs to the living room, she saw a number of the Shagornan Elf crew leaving with food in hand while another group entered a short time later. They all wore smiles on their faces. Vomarian and Havelock were perusing a map at a small table while their servants Mal’la and Na’loona were weaving in and out, retrieving empty plates, and bringing in more drinks and food of fruit, bread, cheeses, and smoked meats.
Helping herself to a meal, My‑re saw eight-year-old Bel’alith off to the side petting the goat, Joey, which My‑re had rescued from the Storm Crags.
“Do you like him?” My‑re asked.
“He’s so cute!” Bel’alith squealed, hugging him.
“He’s yours.”
“Yay! Thank you, sissy.”
Na’loona commented, “Excellent, it’s been a while since we had goat curry for dinner.”
“No!” bellowed My‑re and Bel’alith in unison.
Holding her hands out, Na’loona said, “Just kidding.”
Snorting at Na’loona, My‑re turned back to Bel’alith. My‑re then pulled out a small leather pouch. “Here, give this to Mother, but only after we leave.”
“What is it?” Bel’alith asked. She loosened the strings, opened it, and sifted through several stones inside. “Those are beautiful rocks.”
“Remember, only after we leave,” My‑re said and rose, heading toward the table with Havelock and Vomarian Fae.
The Shagornan Elf looked up at her approach. Rolling up the map, Vomarian said, “The last crew rotation is here. After they finish eating, we’ll begin the journey to Rithakhar. Thank your mother for the hospitality. We are indeed indebted for feeding the crew. They are extremely grateful. I know the Rirorni are a proud people, so would you give her this?” He held out three astrums, the star-shaped gold coins of the Delarquan Federation. “Your village must have gone through hard times during the war.”
“In the Empire, it’s all hard times. Mother won’t take any payment, and those sparklers will be useless here. However, I appreciate the gesture, and I’ve already made arrangements,” My‑re said, gently pushing back the coins.
“It’s time,” Havelock whispered, patting My‑re on the shoulder.
Breathing out a sigh, she looked around the room full of Shagornan Elves eating, drinking, and gathering to leave. Then, she spotted her mother standing in the kitchen entrance watching. She knew.
My‑re took in her childhood home and ensured it seared into her mind: The faces and her memories.
Bel’alith came running up with Joey in her hands when they turned to leave. “Sissy, when will I see you again?”
My‑re bent down and hugged her sister. “Bel’alith, listen, and one day you will understand. I have some important and unsafe things I need to do. My presence here brings grave risk and danger to the family. I’m leaving this place and never returning. I’m so sorry, but I won’t be seeing you again.”
“What? I don’t understand.” Bel’alith leaped, latched onto My‑re’s leg, and implored, “No, you can’t leave! Take me with you!”
“It’s too dangerous. I’m so sorry,” My‑re lamented.
A’renna approached and gently removed Bel’alith. “Go now.”
My‑re retreated and slightly tripped over her feet at hearing the lamentation of her sister who struggled in her mother’s arms.
“I love you both, and I’m so sorry.”
“Sissy, don’t leave!”
The Shagornan Elves, Vomarian Fae, and Havelock didn’t turn back. They trekked out into the cold and snow. My‑re also turned around, leaving.
“Sissy!” Bel’alith cried at her back and shouted, “My‑re, listen to me!”
At her name, she turned back toward her sister.
“Please, please, please, come back to me! Don’t go! I love you so much! I love you more than anything in the world!”
Havelock saw her hesitation, placed his arm around My‑re’s shoulder, and said softly, “Come on.”
My‑re knew she couldn’t stay. Even if she abandoned the mission and remained, it would only be a matter of time before someone found her in defiance of her banishment from the Empire. She would be placing them in too much danger. She knew what she did was right.
Silence accompanied the group. They walked toward the hidden location of the flying ship, the Unsinkable III. Snow crunched under their feet, and their breath carried on the wind. Havelock maintained his arm around her for comfort.
A light snow then began to fall. The archmage breathed in the air and commented, “You smell nice.”