L’zar stepped out of the doorway, still grinning. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”
“Oh, yeah. I’d love even more proof that you’ve officially lost your mind. Got any other nuggets of enlightenment for us?”
“Only that I fully expect you to put your money where your mouth is, Lumil.”
“Ha!”
L’zar joined the rest of the magicals beside the broken war machines. He looked down at Ember and dipped his head. “Sorry for interrupting your packing this morning.”
“Well, I didn’t see you, so I guess it’s fine.” She looked at Cheyenne as the drow halfling and Persh’al left his table to join the others.
Corian folded his arms and watched L’zar intently. “You finished.”
“Yes, I finished.” The drow shot his Nós Aní a fleeting glance, then dismissed the whole thing when he looked away. “Which means the rest of us can officially start. I’m assuming everyone’s ready.”
“We’ve been ready,” Byrd muttered.
“Yes, I think we’re all aware of that.”
Corian cleared his throat, casting L’zar occasional wary glances. “We’re heading back to the portal ridge up north where we found the smuggled machine parts. Portaling this time, seeing as those machine parts and their former loyalist handlers are now in our custody.”
“The Bull’s Head can suck it.” Lumil pumped a fist in the air.
“And if they do, it’ll be in a cell.” Corian raised his eyebrow at the goblin woman, who nodded and stared at the floor. “After what happened the last time Cheyenne and Persh’al made the crossing, we realize there isn’t any way to predict what’s going to happen this time. We might be separated. Hopefully not. We might come across something we’ve never seen before while we’re passing through the in-between, so be on your guard, and don’t get complacent. There’s still a lot that could go wrong.”
“Quick question.” Ember raised her hand, then ran it through her hair. “So, I get that we have to stay together, be quick about it, on our toes, all that. Is nobody worried about me being in this chair? ‘Cause that’s gonna cause some problems with rocks, water, stairs, narrow spaces, and running. You know, the usual.”
Maleshi and Corian looked at each other, and the general chuckled. “We heard you’re fairly decent with spellcasting already.”
“Well, thanks. But unless you know a spell that can make my legs work again, I’m not so sure whatever I can do will be helpful.”
Byrd frowned at his fellow rebels. “Is she serious?”
“I didn’t bring the wheelchair as a gag if that’s what you mean.”
Cheyenne pressed her lips together and rocked back on her heels. This’ll be interesting.
“No, I didn’t mean that,” Byrd replied. “I meant, you don’t need your legs to walk.”
Ember’s eyelids fluttered closed and she leaned forward, straining to keep her composure. “Say that again.”
“We might have assumed you’d already realized this, Ember. What Byrd failed to explain is that there are spells that don’t require working legs in order to move as if you didn’t need that chair.” Corian motioned for her to follow him away from the group where there was more space.
L’zar stared at them and slowly shook his head. “Is this necessary right now?”
“It’ll only take a minute.”
“I stepped out here ready to move, Corian. This isn’t a fae magic class for beginners.”
“Hey.” Cheyenne frowned at L’zar when the drow turned to look at her. “Two minutes. She’s good.”
“I’m sure. That doesn’t mean I have to wait patiently.”
“All right, well, then just don’t say anything.” Cheyenne nodded at Ember as Corian taught her whatever spell she needed to learn. “I probably wouldn’t be here now without Ember. We all know I need her, which means you need her. And, I was ready to go two days ago, but you sent me over there with Persh’al instead.”
The troll rubbed his head. “No offense taken, kid. Don’t worry about it.”
L’zar dipped his head and stared at Cheyenne beneath darkening brows. “And your point?”
“My point is you’re not the only one who’s been waiting. And besides Ember and me, everyone else in this room has been waiting for you for a couple hundred years. This is two more minutes. Get over it.”
The drow’s eyes narrowed in a quick flicker, then he drew a deep breath and gave his daughter a tight-lipped smile. “Off to a good start, aren’t we?”
Cheyenne shook her head and turned to watch Ember and Corian working against the far wall. Persh’al wasn’t kidding. L’zar Verdys’ number-one priority is L’zar Verdys. That better not get the rest of us killed.
A minute later, the purple light flashing around Ember’s hands slowly lifted her from the wheelchair. Corian stepped back with a nod of approval. Maleshi clapped four times and folded her arms again. “There it is. Cheyenne wasn’t exaggerating about her spellwork.”
“Holy shit.” Ember glanced down on either side of her to watch her feet stop an inch above the ground. “I did it. On purpose!”
Byrd snorted. “You shouldn’t be casting spells any other way, am I right?”
Lumil elbowed him in the ribs and smiled at the fae girl.
“Okay. Kinda like standing, I guess.” Ember looked at Cheyenne and opened her mouth wide in amazement. “This is real. What’s next?”
“Just like walking.” Corian nodded. “You just think about doing it.”
“Just think.” Ember floated forward and stopped, then burst out laughing. “Oh, my God. This is a thing. This works!”
“Excellent.” L’zar closed his eyes. “Let’s all celebrate by getting a move on, please and thank you.”
“Ha!” Ember moved around the room, spinning to look at Corian, then floating in a small circle until she stopped at Cheyenne’s side. “Damn. I almost forgot what it was like not to look up at everyone all the time. You’re like a completely different person from this angle.”
Cheyenne snorted. “You too.”
“Yes!” Ember grinned at Corian, tears shimmering in her luminous violet eyes before she quickly blinked them back. “Thank you.
