An encampment sprang up in the desert as the Majokai conjured tents, giant umbrellas, and pagodas that were soon casting shade over an acre of dry sand. Spells blew cool air across the gathering. Witches with thick, green wands were delving and drawing water out of the ground. Adults saw to the children and the animals, while drummers and censer-bearers and the black-clad women with bladed staffs stayed together in their little bands.

Alexandra felt giddy and exhausted. It wasn't quite like the mania that had seized her after the Unworking, when she'd wielded enough power to tear apart a mountain and Apparate across the Ozarks, but the Majokai had allowed her to channel their magic as she held open a crack in the world longer than she ever had before, and her nerves were on fire, while her body just wanted rest.

All eight clan heads approached her and bowed deeply, even Wani Kamo.

"We are grateful to you, Quick-san," said the elderly Shō Yamato.

"Indeed," said Hideki Minemata. "I may see my wife again, and our sons may see their mother." He had tears in his eyes.

Alexandra smiled. It was good to feel like she'd done something right. She had saved people after all.

"What happens now?" she asked. "You aren't all going to just stay here in the desert, are you?"

"No," said Kazuko Sanzan. "We must rebuild our communities, and some of us will return to Mahomachi, but only after the Confederation has been driven out of California. The war is not over yet."

"Speaking of the Confederation, do we know what they're doing now?" Alexandra asked.

"They have not moved," Shō Yamato said. "The New Regiments are coming. We believe now it is the Confederation wizards preparing to make a final stand. They did not expect to lose the battle to the north, and Geming Chu believes the Confederation will send no more regiments to California—the Thorn Circle's assassinations and the Dark Convention's terror attacks are keeping them quite busy to the east."

"If they lose here, they lose California," said Hideki Minemata. "They will fight, while keeping Mahomachi threatened as leverage. That is what we believe."

"The Colonials are at bay, and we will destroy them in the very place from which they meant to annihilate us," Wani Kamo said gleefully.

"So I guess you don't mind fighting alongside Geming Chu's people after all." Alexandra knew she should just be glad that the Kamo clan head was finally on board, but she couldn't resist reminding him of his earlier mistrust.

Kamo's nose wrinkled. The look he gave Alexandra was patronizing, as he said, "The Shinajin are only a small part of the MACUSA. I doubt we'll even see them fighting." He whirled and stalked away.

"Our children and elderly and those who won't fight will stay here," Kazuko Sanzan said, in the uncomfortable silence left by Kamo's departure. "The rest of us will Apparate or fly by broom to join the Alta California and Baja Regiments outside Mahomachi. You should stay here, Miss Quick. You've done enough and you're too young. You've earned a rest."

Yeah, right, Alexandra thought. "When are you going?"

"The New Regiments communicated to us that they will meet at the coast in under two hours," Hideki Minemata said. "We shall leave to join them then; meanwhile, we prepare." The drummers had begun pounding out a staccato martial beat.

Alexandra yawned. "I could use a quick nap."

"Sleep as long as you like," Kazuko Sanzan said. She stood with her hands clasped before her, hidden beneath the long dangling sleeves of her robes. She gave Alexandra a kindly smile. "We are not letting our youths fight, though too many of them are eager to do so. There's no need for you to leave here until the battle is over."

Alexandra nodded. She had no intention of staying here in the Majokai camp until the battle was over, but she really was tired.

She set up her own magical tent between a pair of Majokai tents, and before entering it, released Charlie to keep watch for her outside. Then she slid out of her boots and her jacket and sprawled on her bed inside the tent.

She was awoken by Charlie crying, "Alexandra! Alexandra!"

She was up before she even remembered where she was. She stepped into her Seven-League Boots and ran out of her tent holding her wand ready to cast curses.

The Majokai camp was still crowded. The adults had not left yet. The sun had descended closer to the horizon.

"Real funny, jerk," Charlie said, from a perch atop her tent.

Alexandra squinted at the raven, wondering what Charlie was going on about. Then someone shouted, "Alex!"

She shaded her eyes—it was still hot and bright out here in the desert—and saw David, Dylan, and Hela trudging across the sand towards her.

She called Charlie to her and ran to meet them.

David grinned, and he and Alexandra embraced, as the Majokai around them stared at the newcomers.

"How are you here?" Alexandra asked. "Did you Apparate this far?"

David shook his head. "We decided to follow you. Figured you'd probably get into trouble, against Mr. Chu's orders." He jerked his thumb over his shoulder, and Alexandra saw, sitting nearly a quarter of a mile away, a dust-covered Escalade.

"How?" she asked.

"There's an Automagicka in California, you know," David said. "But getting here off the Automagicka, we needed Hela's help. She did some kinda 'pathfinding' thing that shortened distance and tripped past the regular roads. Not sure how it worked, but I'll bet it's related to your Seven-League Boots…"

"It is not," Hela said. "It is magic my people know. That is all."

Even in the desert, she wore that ridiculous fur parka. Alexandra knew she used spells to keep herself cool, or perhaps the parka itself was charmed, but nearby Majokai were staring in disbelief at the girl wearing Arctic furs in the California desert.

"Do I get a hug?" Dylan asked, holding his arms out.

"No," Alexandra said. "But seriously, you know what's going on, right? Where's Anna? Are our regiments here yet?"

"We kinda know what's going on," David said. "The CAF massacred Tomo's people and were gonna do the same to a No-Maj town, and you did some kinda thing you need to explain to us to get the Majokai here, and now we're gonna crush the Deathies and own Cali. Anna's with her old man. They're coming. Mr. Chu will be pissed—we're s'pposed to be back in San Francisco."

"I wish you'd stayed there," Alexandra said.

"Sure, Troublesome, you're just gonna sit this one out and watch, right?" Dylan said.

"I'm not sure what I'm going to do," Alexandra said. "But I need to be here—"

"Bullshit," David said. "You got no more business being here than we do."

"Anna's coming?" Alexandra asked.

"Congressman Chu needs to be here," David said. "And Anna'll be at his side like usual. Protected by a heavy guard, but they'll be here. Or rather, there."

"We should go, then," Alexandra said.

"Knew she'd say that," Dylan said.

"Big fat jerk!" cried Charlie, fluttering to Alexandra's shoulder.

Someone had come striding over to their group, and Alexandra turned at Charlie's warning.

Seimei Kamo appeared arrogant and angry, as he glared at Alexandra and her three companions. His scowl deepened when he saw the SUV parked off in the distance. "Why did you bring your Muggle trash here?"

"Who are you, dude?" asked Dylan.

"It's just a vehicle," Alexandra said. "And this isn't, like, your desert."

"I wasn't talking about the vehicle," Seimei said.

"Oh, fuck this guy," said Dylan.

"Dylan, chill," Alexandra said. "Seimei—excuse me, Kamo-san—these are my friends and they're here to help us fight the Confederation. What the hell is your problem?"

"My problem is seeing my Culture destroyed, my people turned into refugees, and you, the girl who caused it, being hailed as some sort of hero," Seimei said.

"Whatever," Alexandra said. "Blame me for the Deathly Regiment and Matsuzaka if it makes you feel better. But go away and quit being a jerk."

"I want you to go away, and take your Mudblood and Eskimo friends with you," Seimei said.

Alexandra's temper flared. Charlie felt it, flapping wings and cawing angrily, but it was Hela who spoke first. "I am not an Eskimo, boy. Our Culture is more ancient than your rude islands."

David stepped between Alexandra and Seimei, clenching his fists. "Call me a Mudblood again."

"And you'll do what, boy? Strike me, like a Mudblood savage?"

Enraged, David drew his long beechwood wand. "You want me to take you out wizard-style, punk? No problem!"

Seimei smiled. "Is that a challenge, boy?"

"David," Alexandra said, feeling as if a trap had been sprung. Seimei's provocations were so obvious, she felt like an idiot for not realizing he was up to something.

David's fist, the one not clutching his wand, jerked back, and if Dylan hadn't grabbed his arm he might have actually punched Seimei. "Damn right, and my name's David Washington, not boy. Remember it."

Seimei said, "I accept, David Washington."

"What the hell is wrong with you two?" Alexandra asked. "We're about to fight the Confederation and you idiots want to fight a duel over namecalling?"

Seimei looked up at the position of the sun. "The clan heads have already gone to meet Geming Chu and his 'MACUSA.' They will return soon—I would finish this before then."

"So they don't catch you starting fights, you mean?" Alexandra said.

"So that I will have earned the right to fight," Seimei said. "I will be back shortly with my second. Is that acceptable to you, David Washington?"

"Yeah," David said, glowering at the tall Majokai boy.

Seimei bowed, and Disapparated away.

Alexandra said, "You're an idiot."

David turned on her furiously. "If he called you a Mudblood, would you have backed down?"

Alexandra sighed. "He set you up. You know that, right? He wanted to pick a fight with one of us, and you took the bait first."

"I suppose I should have let you take it, so a girl could do my fighting for me?"

"Oh my God," Alexandra said. "Really?"

"Dylan, you gonna be my second?" David asked.

"Yeah." Dylan looked considerably less smug now.

Alexandra looked unhappily at David and Dylan, and Hela, whose own expression was now aloof and unreadable.

"I'll be back," Alexandra said, and she took two steps to the coast, where Mahomachi lay.

One of the New Regiments was gathering north of Mahomachi already, and as Alexandra set foot almost on the same spot she'd stood when she first came to Mahomachi, she could see the Confederation Regiment still encamped to the south. Rain poured down on them; the thunderstorm had mostly passed, but the sky remained overcast, a marked contrast from the sunlight thirty miles to the east.

There were four dragons in the air now, and half a dozen hippogriffs, though Alexandra noticed they kept well away from the growing MACUSA force.

There was a large pavilion surrounded by Chinese wizards wearing armor and Regimental Officers in blue and gold uniforms. Alexandra assumed it must be where Geming Chu and his generals, and probably the Majokai clan heads, were meeting. Now that she was here, she realized she didn't know what exactly she meant to do. Even assuming she could bluster her way past all the guards to reach the adults inside, what was she going to do, ask the Majokai elders to intervene in cancelling a duel between a couple of teenage hotheads?

Some of the officers recognized her. She felt odd being recognized and not shouted at or accosted. They watched her go by, looking like they too weren't sure how to feel about her infamy.

Alexandra saw a small figure standing on the cliffs looking out over the ocean, and not far from her, another familiar figure in red robes, surrounded by more armored guards.

"Anna!" Alexandra shouted.

Anna turned as Alexandra ran towards her. Anna's guards raised their wands, but Anna spoke to them, and they parted to let Alexandra reach her.

"You were supposed to just scout and return," Anna said, as they hugged.

"It's a good thing I never do as I'm told," Alexandra said. "I think the Majokai will agree this time." She looked over Anna's shoulder, at the girl standing on the cliff, wearing a white kimono decorated with green and brown pine symbols. It was Tomo Matsuzaka.

"Um, she isn't thinking about jumping, is she?" Alexandra asked.

"No," Anna said quietly. "At least, I don't think so. She said she has responsibilities."

Tomo's head was bowed and she was doing something with her hands. The rain had flattened her hair against her head and the back of her kimono.

Alexandra quickly filled in Anna on Seimei's challenge. Anna shook her head. "Boys are such idiots."

"I don't know if it's just that, but yeah," Alexandra said. "I was hoping, I don't know, one of the clan heads could tell Seimei to back down. I guess I need to get back and give David moral support… I don't suppose you can order a Healer to come back with me?"

"I don't order anyone," Anna said. "I'm just here for appearances. Not for anything useful."

"That's not true." Whatever else Alexandra might have said, her voice trailed off as Tomo approached them.

The Majokai witch was a year younger than Alexandra and Anna, but looked younger than that. Her eyes were red, but her face was composed.

"Tomo," Alexandra said. "I'm so sorry."

She almost wished Tomo would yell at her or blame her for Matsuzaka. Tomo just nodded and said, "Thank you." She looked from Anna to Alexandra. "I heard you talking about a duel?"

"David Washington and Seimei Kamo," Alexandra said. "Seimei was being rude and obnoxious, but really, I think it was me he wanted to fight. He's probably still sore about me tying him up and leaving him to get eaten by an alligator in New Amsterdam."

"This isn't good," Tomo said. Her face finally showed some emotion. "Majokai duels aren't like at Charmbridge, Alexandra. We take them seriously. It's usually to incapacitation, submission, or… death."

"Seimei said something about wanting to earn the right to fight."

"The other clan heads declared only those of us of age can fight," Tomo said quietly, looking at the big pavilion. "But traditionally, anyone who survives a formal duel is considered of age."

"So Seimei wants to kill David so he can join the battle?"

"Probably also because he's still sore at you," Tomo said. "Seimei has always been a jerk. But he's also really good."

"Not that good. I kicked his ass in New Amsterdam."

Tomo stopped staring at the pavilion, and turned to meet Alexandra's gaze. "I hear you're pretty good, too," she said. "How good is David?"

Alexandra and Anna exchanged looks.

"I'd better get back there," Alexandra said.

"Alexandra, wait." Tomo looked over her shoulder, at the ocean. "There's something else everyone needs to know."

"Tell Anna. I've got to save two idiots from killing each other." More like, one idiot from getting killed. Alexandra dashed away from Tomo and Anna, blurring past the startled guards, and as soon as she neared the cliffs again, she stepped seven leagues back into the desert.

David and Seimei were standing ten paces apart. Another boy Seimei's age stood some distance behind him, wearing robes with the same Kamo crest as Seimei's. Dylan shuffled nervously in the sand behind David. Hela stood next to Dylan, arms folded, impassive.

Everyone but Hela jumped when Alexandra suddenly appeared between them. She looked between the two combatants. "You're really going to do this?"

"Yeah, Alex, we're really going to do this," David said. "And you ain't a judge, so get out of the way."

Alexandra gave him an exasperated look. If not for the stakes, she was tempted to let him suffer the consequences of his rashness. She wasn't even sure he quite realized how high the stakes were here, but she knew if she told him, he wouldn't back down.

How many times have you gotten in over your head because of your rashness? That was her inner voice that sometimes sounded like her friends, and this time, it sounded disturbingly like David.

She turned her back on David and walked over to Seimei until he was looking directly down his nose at her.

"If you hurt him," she said in a low voice, "I swear I'll hurt you twice as bad. As soon as you finish dueling David, you'll have me to deal with." As Seimei opened his mouth with a smug expression, she said, "And if you yell something about him sending a girl to protect him, I will make you lose face too, in front of all your people."

Seimei closed his mouth. He regarded her silently for a moment.

"Alex!" David yelled. "Stop interfering!"

"You'll do nothing, Alexandra Quick," Seimei said, with eyes full of malice. "This is a legitimate duel and retaliation is a violation of the Code Duello. You can't challenge me because I challenged your friend. Even if you don't care about the Code Duello, my people do. Prove yourself a Dark sorceress who disregards all honorable conduct and see what happens. I wouldn't think Geming Chu wants the Majokai outraged at this delicate point in our alliance, but perhaps you don't care about that."

Alexandra clenched her fists until her nails dug into her flesh. "You petty, low-life goon. You're a bully and a slimy creep and a dishonorable asshole."

"How juvenile. I'm not going to challenge you to a duel here and now because you call me names. Now step out of the way, Quick-kun." Seimei raised his voice. "I have a Mudblood to deal with."

David's response from across the sand was a string of profanity.

Alexandra walked back to David's side of the small circle between them.

"Wish me luck, at least?" he said.

"Good luck. Please, David, if you go down, just stay down."

"Always the voice of confidence," David said.

Alexandra stood next to Dylan and Hela. More Majokai had gathered to watch the duel. Most of them were kids or elderly folks; the adults appeared to be assembling at the edge of the Majokai encampment, preparing to Apparate away.

Seimei and David raised their wands, and then simultaneously hurled curses at each other. Alexandra wasn't surprised that Seimei threw a nasty one intended to do damage, but David's was no schoolyard hex either. They both deflected the curses thrown at them, and followed up with a flurry of spells, blasting sand between them while they protected themselves with Shield Spells.

They paused to let some of the dust settle. The adults nearest them had noticed the exchange, and two wizards in blue and yellow kimonos strode to the edge of the little circle Seimei and David had traced. One spoke sharply in Japanese, and Seimei's second responded, while David and Seimei renewed their attempts to blast past each other's defenses.

"He's… actually pretty good," Alexandra said. Indeed, David's skill surpassed her expectations. She glanced at Dylan. What had they been doing?

"Not good enough," said Hela.

Alexandra clenched her teeth, but Hela was right. David was much better than she remembered, but he was no match for Seimei. He deflected one curse and missed the next one that struck him in the ribs and knocked him to the ground.

David coughed painfully. Alexandra muttered, "Stay down."

David rose to his feet and conjured a wall of fire between himself and Seimei. It was a flashy, impressive spell, and unless you were trying to start fires or impress an audience, it was mostly useless in a duel. Seimei cast a hex that zipped right through the flaming wall and hit David in the face. David flew off his feet and landed on his back. His face was covered with blood. He groaned.

"David," Alexandra said, clearly and calmly, despite her desire to scream at both of them. "Stay down."

David stood up, slowly. He cast a Shield Spell, but Seimei bounced a Bone-Breaking Jinx beneath it and David screamed as his leg collapsed under him with a snap.

Alexandra's throat was dry as David hauled himself to his knees, and then forced himself to stand on his good leg. Seimei watched, biding his time with a smirk.

David cast a quick flurry of hexes, but they flashed away from Seimei, veering right and left as the Majokai wizard deflected them with ease. He twirled his wand, leaving a trail of bright, sharp silver in the air in its wake, growing and growing into a spinning circular pattern that reflected light like metal but moved like mist.

Alexandra had her wand out.

Hela whispered, "You can't."

"Shut up," Alexandra whispered back.

Tomo suddenly Apparated into the space between Seimei and David, holding up both her hands. "Stop this!" she said. "Stop this immediately!" Anna Apparated a few feet away and quickly walked over to where Alexandra, Dylan, and Hela were standing.

David shook his head and tried to wipe the blood out of his eyes. Seimei lowered his wand and said, "What are you doing? Get out of the way, Tomo-chan." The swirling silver pattern he had conjured dissipated into the air with a hiss.

"I am Matsuzaka no Tomo, clan head of Matsuzaka!" said Tomo. "You address me appropriately, Kamo Seimei!"

Seimei's mouth fell open as the small girl upbraided him before a growing crowd.

"Clan head?" he repeated. "You are your clan!"

"Yes," Tomo said. "And as long as I am alive, Matsuzaka Clan lives."

Seimei's lips pressed together. He gave Tomo a curt bow. "Be that as it may, Matsuzaka-san, you have no right to interfere with a duel."

David was wobbling on his one good leg, listening to Seimei and Tomo, with his wand held loosely at his side—too loosely.

Tomo said, "Clan heads are authorized to forbid or end duels. We're about to fight a common enemy, the enemy who destroyed my clan, and you're making enemies among our allies? How dare you, Kamo-kun? Did you ask permission to challenge an outsider to a duel? External quarrels are supposed to be mediated by us."

Seimei shook his head, flabbergasted. He spoke to Tomo in Japanese, and a heated exchange followed. All the Majokai spectators listened intently, but even the adults weren't saying anything.

Finally, Seimei spoke in English again. "You may be a clan head, but you're not my clan head. You can't censure me."

"We'll see what happens after I speak to Kamo no Wani," Tomo said. "Now go." She waved a hand imperiously. "This duel is over."

Seimei, seething, gave Tomo another bow. His companion followed suit, and then both of them Apparated away.

Tomo's shoulders slumped. She turned, startled, as David fell to the ground.

Alexandra, Anna, and Dylan ran over to him. He was coughing and spitting up blood.

"That could've gone better," he rasped.

"You think?" Alexandra looked around at the watching Majokai. "Do you think anyone could find a Healer? Please?"

Someone Apparated away. Anna and Dylan were both casting first aid charms. David lay back in the sand and closed his eyes.

Alexandra took his hand. "Did you know you could have been killed?"

He squeezed her hand. "Alex… I have to confess something."

"This is not a good time to tell me you've always been in love with me. Anyway, I already know." She grinned, until he opened his eyes and looked at her. "Um, that was a joke. It was a joke, right?"

"I'm in love with Constance," he said.

"Oh," she said. "I really did know that. Everyone knows that, David." She looked at Anna, who smiled and nodded. Dylan rolled his eyes.

"I've been looking for fights," David said. "I needed to prove myself."

"Seriously? What exactly were you trying to prove?"

David was silent.

Alexandra folded her legs beneath her as she sat next to him in the sand. "Did Constance ask you to go prove yourself?"

"No," David said. "She asked me not to."

"So, you decided to prove yourself to her by doing exactly the opposite of what she wanted."

"You wouldn't understand."

"If you tell me this is some guy thing that I can't understand, I'm gonna tell Constance she ought to dump you."

"She can't dump me if we're not even together. Dammit Alex, you really don't understand."

"I understand," said Hela. "You could not do nothing. To remain at Charmbridge like a schoolboy while others fight the Confederation. Even if your Constance wished you to do that, she would not respect you, and you would not respect yourself."

David opened his eyes to look at Hela. "Yeah," he said, and coughed again. "That's it exactly. See, Alex? She gets it."

Alexandra and Anna looked at each other and shook their heads.

Behind them, Tomo cleared her throat. "I have to return. I need to speak to the other clan heads."

Alexandra looked up at her. "Thank you, Tomo—I mean, Matsuzaka-san."

Tomo nodded. "Anna, will you help convince your father?"

"I'll try," Anna said. "But he might even listen to Alex more than he listens to me."

"About what? Convince him to do what?" Alexandra asked.

"Help us turn back the sea," Tomo said.

"Say what?" asked Dylan.

Tomo looked west. "When I was communing with the ocean—it's hard to explain. I can't do the whole ceremony until I actually have my… my clan's ashes." She paused. Everyone waited, until Tomo resumed speaking. "I felt what the Confederation wizards had been doing, while the rest of the Majokai were trapped in Mahomachi. They've called up the sea."

"Called up the sea?" Alexandra repeated.

"They summoned a tsunami. A tidal wave. That's how they were going to wipe out the rest of the Majokai, and destroy Mahomachi, without burning the town with magic and dragons. Muggles will think it's just a natural disaster."

"The government won't buy that," Dylan said. "They're not stupid."

"Wouldn't matter," David said weakly, from flat on his back. "Confederation's got… deniability. What are the No-Majes gonna say? 'We know you caused that tidal wave!' Yeah, and what're you gonna do about it?"

"But the Majokai escaped," Alexandra said. "I helped them escape. There aren't any Majokai left in Mahomachi."

Tomo nodded. "Yes, but once you've called up the sea, you can't just uncall it. The tsunami is still coming."