They thanked the Keeper one last time as he scooped up Calliope and tucked her over his bony shoulder. The Keeper thanked them in turn; he so rarely entertained guests, and while Calliope was great company, there were times when she could be…just good company. He wished them good luck and raised his hand in farewell.

"Until we meet again," he called, his eyes twinkling as he flashed a single, enigmatic wink. "As I'm certain we will!"

"He'll meet you guys again," Martin muttered through his false smile as they waved, "but don't count on me ever, ever, ever coming back here, ever again."

They picked a spot further down into the valley to begin casting the spell. The incantation Shay had selected was similar to the location spell she had cast so often before, though she explained the structure of the spell was less like a fragile strand of thread and more like a steel beam. It was stronger, she said, because it persisted without the need to constantly maintain it, much like the barrier she'd cast around the cabin. The spell would disperse only when everyone within range of the spell reached their target destination. The path would be clear, even at night, and visible only to those present at the spell's casting.

Varian offered his help with the incantation, noting his previous observations. "I've studied the effects, and every time we use our powers in tandem, not only is the spell strengthened, but you have more control," he explained. "Of course, I guess that makes sense, since you said stronger spells are usually cast with more than one mage. Not that I'm a mage, but –"

"We get it," Martin groaned. "Let's get on with this. I have to pee."

Shay muttered something testily in Celtic, then turned to face Varian. "Normally, I would prefer to balance the spell with a sigil, but the ground won't serve for it. I'll have to speak the symbols out loud."

"Is that bad?" Varian asked nervously.

"It'll just require a little more concentration, that's all," Shay answered; to her credit, she sounded more confident than before, but her face was pale, and her chewed lip was almost bleeding. Just because she said she would try didn't mean it was an instant process; it would take time, and this spell was a good first step.

Martin kept a firm grip on Beth's reins; the mare was getting a little skittish. "So, how's this going to work? Do we all need to hold hands or something?"

"I am not holding your hand," Varian muttered. His face flushed when he saw Shay blink in surprise. "Not you, him! I-I mean, if I need to, you know…"

"Just my shoulder is fine," Shay told him, turning around to both offer it and to bashfully avoid eye-contact. Varian triple-checked with everyone to make sure they weren't missing anything (or anyone) before gripping Shay's shoulder and steeling his mind.

"Are you ready?" Shay asked.

"I'm ready," Martin answered.

Varian sucked in a breath. "Ready as I'll ever be."

Shay extended her hands outward; in one she held the medallion, the silver pressed tightly into her palm. She kept it in place while tracing characters in the air with her other hand. As she did, she read off each one with as much authority as she could muster, as if giving orders to a group of soldiers. She finished the last character with a swift flick, and Varian felt a tug in the back of his mind as the sigil appeared – red at first, then flooded with violet light. Shay placed the medallion between both hands, framed by her thumbs and forefingers, and she spoke a single command. There was a jolt of energy, and Varian's teeth hummed as the sigil around them condensed into a single beam, a pulsing purple trail that tumbled through the valley, dipping over the hills, and disappearing into the distance beyond.

"Is that it?" Martin asked after a moment.

"Yes," Shay lowered the medallion, but Varian kept his hand on her shoulder. "I'm alright," she told him. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," he nodded, taking the medallion back. "Better, now that we know the way forward." He gazed out at the glowing path before them, trying to see where it led. "Looks like we're heading southeast. For how long, I don't know. This could take days, or it could be weeks before we find this chamber. Even longer for us to reach Lunaris, since we'll have to find some way across the sea."

Shay paled. "I hadn't thought of that," she admitted quietly. "Is it really that far?"

"Well, if you ascribe to the theory of distance being relative, depending on your point of view…" He trailed off when he saw her face. "It's not…really. Don't worry about it!"

"Yeah, don't worry about it," Martin agreed, tossing himself up onto his horse. "Let's get moving, already. The sooner we get going, the further I get away from this place."

"Why?" Shay asked as she followed Varian to reach Rudiger. "You don't like being fed your favorite food and sleeping in a warm bed? On the same continent," she added in a mumble.

"Not at the price of having to kiss my host, thank you very much," Martin retorted. "I'll take a tree root and an empty stomach any day!"

Shay paused as she scooped Killy off the ground. "What is he talking about?"

"I'll explain later," Varian answered as he helped her up. The saddle felt good; he'd had to adjust the stirrups, but it was nice to have their supplies within reach. Even Rudiger seemed to have forgotten about it, and he twitched in antsy spurts as Varian grasped the racoon's fur. "Alright, Rudiger. Let's see how fast you can run." Rudiger took his queue and launched forward at breakneck speed, his large paws grating divots into the earth as he hurled himself along the glowing path. Varian nearly lost his grip, and he barely felt Shay grab onto him as they sped over the grassy hills.

The sun broke out over the mountainside, reflecting off the Spire's turquoise surface as they raced down through the valley. Varian hardly noticed the landscape whisking by; he was far too entranced by the sheer elation he felt at going so fast. It had been different, the night he'd escaped. He hadn't been afforded the privilege of joy then. Now, as the wind rushed into his hot face, his eyes narrowed against the blinding light before him, the tightness in his chest was from laughter instead of fear, the grip on his shirt from a girl's gentle hand instead of a soldier's biting gauntlet. If only it could last, this moment. He tucked it deep inside himself, right next to the memory of the bird in his room. He forgot all about his dank, dark cell. He forgot about the undead striking a wound in his shoulder. He forgot about Celestials and mad kings. He forgot about the princess and her long, golden hair. For an instant, he even forgot about his father. All he felt was freedom, and he loved every second of it.

Martin caught up to them with no trouble, a grin spread over his own flushed face. Beth kept well in stride as Rudiger settled into a steady pace; the racoon was faster in a quick race, but when it came to endurance, the horse was still the clear winner. In an hour, they'd managed to leave the Spire far behind them, and the rolling hills gave way to denser brush and craggy cliffs. The spell led them onward, over steady streams and quiet meadows dotted with spurts of black rocks. As the day wound down into evening, they reached the edge of a wood and made camp, Martin taking the lead as they set up tents and decided who would take first shift. The night was crisp, but the fire was warm, and an unprecedented sense of adventure kept their blood hot in their veins.

"I've always wanted to travel." Varian was pinned down by Rudiger's tail, which insulated him like a big, heavy blanket, and he'd taken off his gloves to feel the soft fur under his fingers. "I'd never planned on going anywhere near this far, but I took every opportunity I could to make my dad take me with him on business."

"I'm not a big fan of it, myself," Martin admitted around mouthfuls of rations. His blonde hair almost glowed in the light of the fire. "If I could, I'd live in a posh mansion, sitting on a futon with a pitcher of orange juice and the sun on my bare feet." He glanced in Shay's direction. "What about you?"

"Me?" Shay thought for a moment. "I-I'm not sure. The most I traveled on my own was to Ghislaine, and I made the trip only once every six months." Her brow twitched. "To be honest, the idea of living in that cabin alone for the rest of my life is absolutely terrifying. Sometimes I used to wonder what would happen if I had gone to live in the capitol or returned to Old Corona. But I could never leave without my mother."

Varian's full stomach turned sour. In every other timeline, that child is dead. Luna's words echoed in his memory, and his hands tightened into fists. He knew exactly what would have happened if he hadn't arrived at that cabin door. Of course, he hadn't spoken a word of it to anyone; it wasn't necessary anyway, now that they were miles away from where Caius was. Still, their encounter in the Haderon Forest had been a close call. If Caius had reclaimed Spellbane…He snapped out of his thoughts when he heard his name. "What?"

"You said the princess had left the kingdom to look into these rocks." Shay repeated. She glanced pointedly at a nearby spike, the black surface glittering in the firelight. "You also said the Celestial spoke of her aid against Zhan Tiri. That means our paths eventually have to cross."

Martin looked up from his food, gulping down a swallow. "Oh my goodness. It hadn't even occurred to me. Do you think…do you think the princess is in the Dark Kingdom already?"

Shay shook her head. "Not necessarily. We don't know if these rocks are leading her there or not." She gave Varian a questioning look. "Do we?"

Varian leaned back on his hands, his expression hard. "For months, I tried to determine where the rocks were coming from," he started slowly. "Then, under Mount Saison, the undead were overwhelming us." He urged Rudiger's tail away, stood up, and crossed over to the rock, reaching a hand out to its glassy form. His companions watched in fascination as the black stone receded, glowing as it sank back down into the earth. He turned around to give them a sheepish shrug. "I could probably do more than that, in theory. Just not right now, anyway."

"I didn't catch that before," Martin admitted with a dry mouth. "You know, since I was half-drowning and stuff."

Shay was pale with alarm. "Why didn't you tell us sooner?"

"Because," Varian explained, "can you imagine how it made me feel, to know that I can control these things? Well, not really control them, but…I'm connected to them now. Because I have this 'gift' from the moon. Ironic, really." He sighed, placing his hands on his hips. "But the rocks obviously aren't coming from me, and they're not coming out of the sky. That means there's another source that's commanding them."

"The Moonstone," Shay breathed.

"The princess said the rocks had given her a sign," Martin chimed in. "At least, that was what the Captain said. She left so that she could find out where they were coming from, to stop them."

"If the rocks are coming from the Moonstone," Shay continued, realization dawning on her, "and you have a connection with them, then it means you're the only one who should be able to reach it."

"That's what Luna says." Varian glanced at the glowing violet trail disappearing into the trees. Black rocks dotted the magic path. "Reports in Corona indicated that the rocks were appearing in a linear pattern. If that pattern remains the same, then the princess has a straight line to the Dark Kingdom."

Martin cursed under his breath. "How are we supposed to reach this thing before she does? They have to be months ahead of us, she and her consort."

Varian shook his head. "I don't know, but we'll find a way." The Celestial had invested too much for them to fail. There had to be a way for them to get there first, and if anyone could figure it out, Varian could.

"If she reaches it before you do..." Shay hugged herself, as if suddenly cold. "The record stated that when King Edmund tried to control the Moonstone, it caused a terrible incident. If the princess tries to do it, the same thing might happen to her."

Martin frowned. "If Varian's the only one who can touch it, isn't his glowy hair-trick proof enough for the crazy king to stop guarding it? Why do we need a special weapon to prove ourselves?"

"You said it yourself," Varian answered with a gesture, "he's crazy."

Martin smirked. "Maybe we're all crazy."

Varian smirked back. "I guess we're going to find out."

The next few days went by quickly, and the trio covered ground much faster than if they'd been burdened by a caravan or extra mouths to feed. Their breaks were brief but energizing, and the sense of comradery was silently nourished between them as they took turns watching over one another, making sure no one was left behind, taking turns to prepare meals, and guarding against ominous wildlife in the dark. Varian grew to appreciate Martin's stories about life as a guard, and even Shay's animosity towards the young soldier began to fade. Under any other circumstance, they could have been three friends on a country-wide trip together, exploring new places and visiting sites few people from Corona had ever seen before. The views alone were a sight to behold: rolling waterfalls, craggy slopes, trees towering and intertwining overhead.

But the moon in the sky continued to wane, and on the night they finally reached the southern sea, there wasn't much of it left. In a few days, there would be none at all, and the thought began to weigh heavily on Varian's mind, driving his initial joys away. His companions were wary of the effects the new moon might have on him, and he was aware of their careful watch as they reached the edge of a port town less than a mile from the shore.

"I didn't think it would be so big," Shay commented as they paused on a hill overlooking the surging waves. The sky glittered overhead, framing the sea with a crown of shimmering starlight. "It's beautiful."

"Yeah," Varian said with a frown. "And somehow, we have to figure out how to cross it. But more to the point…" He indicated the location spell with his finger, showing its glowing trail disappearing into the port town's streets. "It looks like the chamber's there."

Martin shifted in his saddle, his hand still gripping Beth's reins as he rolled his shoulders. "Let me guess, it's underground again."

"If I had to guess," Varian squinted, "it's probably hidden underneath the town's court office, or the chantry if they have one. Whichever building has the oldest history." He shivered involuntarily. "Of course, the entrance to the chamber could also be in a, uh, cemetery, if that's the case."

Shay gulped once.

"I can scout it out while you two find a place for us to hide the giant racoon," Martin offered. "Coronan legislation ends outside Vardaros, so I doubt these people have heard of your escape, or if they even knew of your imprisonment to begin with. Bounty hunters and messenger fowl have a wider reach though, and ports are always good for gossip." He gave a wry smirk. "We can't have you getting arrested before you time now, can we?"

Varian slid off Rudiger's back and winced as he landed; the force of the ground under his feet made his shoulder wrench with pain. Rudiger could sense his master's distress, and he turned his giant head to sniff questioningly at him. "I'm fine," Varian told him, reaching almost habitually to massage the joint. His attempts to soothe it weren't helping much anymore, and the throbbing branched out from his collarbone to his elbow.

Shay dropped down and came to him. "Are you alright?" she asked.

"Yeah," Varian lied, shaking it off. "Just sore from the ride. Rudiger," he scratched behind the racoon's ears, "did you see the grove of trees?" He pointed in the right direction, and Rudiger followed with his head. "Over the hills, to the east? That's the best place for you and Killy to wait for us."

"You're sure they won't get lost or cause trouble?" Martin warned.

"Rudiger's smart," Varian replied. "He knows when to lay low by now, don't you, boy?"

Shay reached down to stroke Killy's long ears. "We'll find each other again," she reassured him. "We always do."

Together, the three teens tucked themselves into the cloaks the Keeper had given them and readied themselves for their excursion into the port: Shay let her hair fall over her red eye and tucked her hood up to hide her face in shadow. Varian concealed his bow and checked his bag of supplies; the Keeper had given him more than he could have hoped for, allowing Varian to reproduce almost his entire alchemic repertoire. Martin was the least concerned with deflecting suspicion, his cloak serving mainly to ward off the brisk late-autumn air. He had his sword and his muscles, and that was all he needed. The only thing that might attract scrutiny was Spellbane; they had considered letting Rudiger keep the sword, but Shay eventually convinced them it was better to be safe than sorry. "I still can't believe I was willing to part with it," she admitted with a twinge of guilt. "Never again. I just wish I knew how to properly wield it. The ability to dispel aside, it is still a sword."

Martin coughed once. "I may or may not be able to give you a few pointers later, I suppose," he offered nonchalantly. "That is, if we don't end up in a jail cell or get eaten by something."

"I thought you said you didn't know how to work with a broadsword," Varian reminded him skeptically.

"Well, it's a different weight and balance, but I can at least teach you how to not hurt yourself with it." Martin countered as he led the way down onto the port town road, Beth keeping a slow trot under him. "Besides, I thought I demonstrated a natural aptitude with it under that mountain. I must have killed, like, fifty undead down there."

Shay gave Varian a raised eyebrow. He answered with a shrug and hopeless shake of his head. They ducked their heads against a sudden breeze, the pretense of winter nipping at their skin. "Do you think we'll be back in Corona before the worst of the winter hits?" she asked.

"I doubt it," Varian answered, the dirt road crunching under his feet. "I don't know how long it will take us to cross the sea, let alone how much ground we'll have to cover once we reach the south country. At this rate, it'll be spring by the time we make it back, and that's if there aren't any …complications."

Martin's shoulders visibly slumped. "That long, huh? Can't we just…you know, teleport again?"

"Don't ask me," Varian said cautiously, glancing at Shay. Her orange eye darted away, supplying a very firm answer. "I'm not asking anyone to try something like that again. As long as we all make it back in one piece. That's what matters."

As they crossed the town border and into the streets, the location spell wound itself past salty-smelling houses and closed-up trading stores. "You're sure no one else can see the spell?" Varian asked under his breath.

"Yes," Shay answered. She noticed a few people milling about outside the local tavern, gossiping and laughing with the occasional drunken hiccup. "Not that they could in that state, anyway," she added anxiously.

Varian tensed, nudging the girl closer to Beth as he kept a wary eye. The mare snuffled once, sensing their fear, and Martin managed to spare his friends a half-hearted smile. "Relax," he told them. "I'm a soldier, remember? No lush is going to mug us tonight." He frowned. "Besides, one of you is an alchemist-archer-person with weird moon powers, and the other's a pyromaniac."

"That doesn't mean we want a confrontation," Shay protested in a whisper. "And I am not a pyromaniac."

Once they reached the center square, Varian looked around to see where the spell led. The glowing purple trail drifted down another street; it was difficult to discern in the night, but a tarnished iron steeple could be seen past the building tops. "The chantry," Varian observed. "If the chamber's not there, then at least one of the priests might be able to tell us what we need."

"It might be closed up," Shay said doubtfully as they made their way up the street. "It's too late in the day, isn't it?"

"The town's small enough that at least one of the priests probably lives there," Varian told her. "If nothing else, we can wait until morning."

The chantry was small and simple, almost indistinguishable from the rest of the town, except for the steeple overhead. The brick and mortar was dusted with sand from the windblown shore, the paint blistered away from the decades-old siding. They watched as the spell dipped low and disappeared into the ground under the church. Varian felt a flutter of excitement. "It's here," he breathed. "We're so close, there has to be a way to reach it from inside!" He just hoped there wouldn't be any conflict with one of the priests; the last thing he wanted was to have to knock out a holy man.

Martin tied Beth to a post outside the chantry doors, parting from her with a gentle pat. "I can't believe there's enough ecclesiastical influence in a port town for a chantry to even be here," he commented as they approached the steps. "There is a light inside, though. At least that means someone's awake."

Varian felt the familiar pinch of Shay's fingers on his sleeve as they stood before the doors, and he raised a loose fist to knock. Before his knuckles found purchase, one of the doors opened, and rosy candlelight spilled out into the starry night. A man stood there in a pressed white and gold tunic, blinking with surprise at his midnight guests. He looked to be in his thirties, with high cheekbones and a prominent nose, a neatly trimmed mustache and goatee, and a head of white hair tied to the base of his slender neck. A pair of vivid green eyes crinkled with joy as he smiled warmly at them, banishing the shadow of fatigue that was pinching his perfectly plucked brows.

"Children?" he spoke in an airy accent, his lips revealing a set of sterling teeth. "At this hour? You must be exhausted. I don't believe I recognize any of you." Concern settled across his features, and he blinked once. "Surely you cannot be lost. Or are one of you injured? The chantry is, after all, a place of healing. Or perhaps you have questions only I can answer? Any of these I can serve, of course!"

Shay's pinch had turned into a complete grip around Varian's bicep, so tight that he could feel his own pulse. The tension he felt from her was not her normal social anxiety; something was very wrong, something only she could sense. Varian also noticed Martin's hesitation, waiting for the next move to be made. Varian looked at neither of them, feigning relief as he smiled back at the priest with the green eyes. "I think your last guess is close enough," he answered. "We're sorry to impose on you, Mr.…?"

The man stood aside, gesturing widely with his arm. "Matthews, my dear boy. And there is no imposing, I serve only to help travelers like yourself. Please, come inside. The night is cold, and I'm sure you are all tired from your journey."