Kaleb took flight, ascending to the clouds and gliding steadily past the rainier patches. Emerging on the other side of a storm system, they found themselves in relatively clear skies. Minx looked down upon the world, watching large swaths of plain and forest speed by beneath them. The meandering bends of rivers and occasional swells of hills entered into view as well, and all the while Mau clung to the dragon's back, paws splayed and claws buried in the seams of his red plating. When this is over, I'll never fly again. I mean it.
Compared to the sluggish pace of recent days, their coasting through the skies covered several miles per minute. Within a half-hour flight they'd already covered more ground than they had for the past four days combined, and they would have covered still more had not Kaleb's injuries prevented him from achieving greater speed. He took things easy, his wings poised to ride the upper air currents in a smooth glide. Flying long distances with passengers in tow tired him out at the best of times; maintaining even this leisurely pace tried his recently-mended wounds and required substantial focus.
Minx watched as the terrain below became more familiar. She came to recognize certain the land features, the boundaries of sprawling properties, and realized then that they were close. Within moments, the outlines of Pandling Grounds' gated front entrance became visible. She steeled herself as she studied its hazy silhouette on the horizon. Let's see how things are looking...
Kaleb gave his mighty wings a flap and began descending. The gap between dragon and Pandling Grounds closed precipitously as he dove through the air, seeking out a clear place to land. They hadn't known what to expect in seeking out the territory—whether the place and its monuments would be reduced to rubble, or whether the promised threat had materialized after Minx's week of folly had run its course. His final circuits through the air produced no evidence of invasion, and no signs of armies gathering nearby. Things were—for the moment—safe, and they were free to land wherever they pleased.
It was decided that they would touch down within a few hundred yards of the gate. This way, his appearance in the vicinity wouldn't frighten onlookers in the Trading Center. It was hoped, too, that they'd avoid detection by their growing list of adversaries if they landed a short distance from the gate and walked the remainder of the way.
It became clear as they touched down and appraised the edges of the settlement that little had changed since Minx's last visit. She was overjoyed to find the city walls and far-off buildings intact. No foul warriors clamored at the gates and no massive fires belched plumes of black smoke into the sky. “They're not here...” she muttered, looking for signs of the occupational forces that had promised to invade. A few wagon-drivers and horsemen came and went through the main gate, but none were Wuff, Krah or Plurn; only Fae and humans appeared, and they seemed uniformly calm. “I don't understand. Where's the army? They should have arrived by now. Did something happen to them? Did the Fae manage to fend them off without us?”
“Seems we've made it just in time,” said Kaleb. “The party hasn't started yet.”
Mau, too, shared tentatively in their optimism. Maybe the army turned back. A lot could have happened in the past several days. It's possible Valry lost her nerve. Maybe the hostages were even released.
For days, Minx had only known strain and anxiety. She'd wandered through the wilderness, tending to the injured, engaging in combat with more adversaries than she could hope to count and yearning to return to her people.
Arriving outside Pandling Grounds and finding the place as peaceful as ever was such a beautiful and comforting sight to her that she nearly wept. Her dreams had been peppered with scenes of destruction, her every waking moment spoiled by worry. Knowing that her people were safe, that the threat of ruin hadn't yet descended upon them, introduced an emotion that had become all too rare in her recently: Joy.
I thought we were out of time, thought Minx. Turns out the clock is still ticking. She knew better than to assume this peace would last; danger still loomed, and it was clear that the darkness would arrive before too long. The most vicious battles were still ahead. Regardless, she was thankful for this brief respite and took Kaleb by the arm, leading him toward the entrance gate. “Come on! Let's go and talk to my father. I need to know what's been happening here since I left.”
Mau purred as they advanced, delighted to be back in familiar territory. Is it possible that the Council found some way to negotiate with Valry? A compromise, maybe? I expected to see the army assembled here. The hunter that came looking for Alla planned to clash with the army, didn't he? You don't think he and those other archers managed to defeat the entire army, do you?
Not a chance, replied Minx. It's possible the army was delayed by something, though. It could be that the Wuffs encountered trouble... Maybe they ran into the dark army and were wiped out, just like in the visions. Or maybe their plans have simply changed. I just hope they haven't harmed the captives...
Kaleb sported a wide smile, strolling toward the entrance gate behind an excited Minx. “Things aren't as dire as we feared. All that worry was for nothing.”
“Not quite,” snapped the Fae huntress. “The threat remains, Kaleb. After all of the delays we've faced, I'm thankful that things are still steady here, but that doesn't mean we've won.” She allowed herself a touch of his optimism, adding, “Though... it's a good sign. We'll have more time to put together a plan of attack.”
The trio entered the Trading Center, passing through the massive gate and starting through the bustling network of street vendors still doing business there. The merchants, dealing in various sundries,
