Rynn returned to the belltower feeling refreshed. As she walked over to the cooking fire, she squeezed water out of her hair and wondered if there would be a brush or comb handy.
Nashiva and Kang-shi lounged on the sun-warmed grass while Ebontyne, Star and Glaive sat eating breakfast.
"...wondering what our next course of action should be," Glaive was saying between mouthfuls. He nodded at Rynn as she sat down. "I have little doubt that had Kang-shi, Star, Nashiva and I killed you two and your Bonded, then Navaros would have had us done away with."
Ebontyne said, "That's what I would have assumed."
"But listen," the dark-skinned warrior said, leaning forward and crossing his arms over his knees. "If he thought we were dead, then he'd go ahead with that spell of his."
"I thought we didn't want him to cast that," Star pointed out.
Glaive shook his head. "We don't, but we'll have plenty of time before he finishes it. And during the casting, he'll be vulnerable."
Ebontyne looked at Rynn, who had sat down and taken a bowl of porridge. "Vulnerable to what?" she asked carefully.
"Anything."
"I have an idea," Rynn said, pausing with the spoon halfway to her mouth. She put it down, taking a deep breath as the others looked at her. "When he's casting his spell, I can cast the Great Spell of Protection. That would trap him and-"
"-protect everyone from his spell," Glaive said, eyes widening. Then he frowned. "But the risks... and you're not even a properly trained magi."
"I'll be ready. If I pulled it off, it'd work, right?"
"Until how long?" Ebontyne asked. "We can't keep Navaros trapped forever. You do want your brother back, don't you?"
"I'm thinking that through," Rynn said.
"What if the Protection spell were cast, but not activated until you and Arokh were within its boundaries?" Star suggested. "Don't the crystals have to be removed from the symbol before the field can go up?"
Glaive raised a brow at him and nodded. "That's true. But it would mean Rynn and Arokh - or anyone else who went inside the boundary - would be at the mercy of Navaros."
"We don't want to kill him," Star said, and Rynn nodded. "But... what if we could exorcise his soul from Delon's body?"
"Not with Runeblade," Rynn objected.
"No," Star said softly. "What about a Jewel of Eternity?"
"No," Glaive said, shaking his head. "It wouldn't work. Navaros' essence is part dragon because of Kaeros. We don't know that a Jewel would have the capacity to hold a draconic soul."
"We don't know," Star repeated, smiling. "So there's a chance it'll work."
"One problem," Ebontyne said. "Do we know where to find a Jewel?"
Glaive said, "The Wasteland in the Eastern Wilds. The Fang Crags hold a stash of them in their caves."
"How do they work?" Rynn asked. "I mean, if we got one, how would we get Navaros to use it?"
"Easy," Ebontyne told her. "All he has to do is hold it fully enclosed in one hand. He doesn't have to say anything - just hold it like that for a few seconds."
The four humans sat quiet for a moment, eating and thinking about this barely formed plan.
"It could work," Star said.
"Could," Glaive grunted. "But there's another problem. How will we make Navaros believe we're all dead?"
"We need a someone to tell a convincing lie," Ebontyne murmured, eyes narrowing in thought.
"Succubi?" Rynn suggested. "You think we could take on the Queen and get her to give Navaros a bogus report?"
"I think we could," Star agreed.
"Two of us should go there, then," Glaive said, "and the other two get a Jewel. If Navaros falls for it, he'll probably want to get that spell started as soon as possible. We'll have to be ready." He looked at the two women. "Rynn would be known as a threat in the hive, but Star and I are known to still serve Navaros. I think we two should go. We might be able to walk straight in without a fight."
Ebontyne nodded. "Agreed."
"Looks like we have a plan," Star said.
Rynn put down her bowl and tied her hair back, trying to hide her shaking hands. She had about four days to become a good enough archmage to be able to cast the Great Spell of Protection without frying everyone.