“Reducer, it’s time to go.”

  Just one moment, River replies absently, watching intensely as the alchemist – Sera Kerst – processes a particular ingredient. She had already minced the leaf into tiny fragments, and then soaked them in a substance for a few clicks while she prepared the next ingredients. Now, she is boiling the leaf in that yellow liquid – now slightly darker – and steam is rising into the glass tubes. It’s…condensing, River thinks the word was, into drops which glow faintly green and trickle along the tube to fall into a small glass beaker. Actually – can you ask Sera Kerst what she’s doing?

  River hears Loran sigh quietly, but the human obliges – just as he has all afternoon. River might feel guilty at how she and her sisters have run him ragged, but the alchemist’s work is far too fascinating.

  “Sera Kerst indicates that she has soaked the limas leaf in a solution of jamir bile diluted with distilled water. She is now boiling it to separate the magic from each which emerges with the steam. The steam condenses in the glass tubes and the magic condenses with it.”

  And what is this particular magic used for? River asks eagerly. Loran repeats her question and the alchemist answers shortly.

  “Sera Kerst says that the magic carries the sharp sense of danger which is present in both limas plants and jamirs and that, when combined correctly in a potion, will create something that will subtly deter both people who don’t know about it and pests from entering an area. Apparently this potion has been paid for by a local farmer to use in his barn.”

  River isn’t entirely sure what a ‘barn’ is or why a farmer would need to deter people or pests from entering it, but she’s once more struck with the ingenuity of these humans.

  So far, since entering this house – no one-room hut, this – River has seen the alchemist create marvels.

  From a potion to encourage conception, much like the one River and Herbalist prepared not that long ago, to one that does the reverse. From a potion that will heal a person’s wound, to one that will poison pests entering a house – something River suspects is another word for ‘hut’. From a draught that gives someone more energy to work, to one that sends them to sleep.

  It makes both Herbalist and River herself seem like complete amateurs. They had developed a potion which helped speed the growth of plants and animals, but the alchemist indicated that such potions were commonly made here – in high demand from farmers for beasts and crops which justify the expense. River almost feels ashamed at how clever she had thought herself when she started to explore using fire to cause ingredients to interact differently; in this world, they discovered all of that long ago and have gone further than River had even dreamed was possible.

  For a moment she daydreams that she might be able to visit Herbalist one day and share her new knowledge with her mentor. Then she clicks her teeth together decisively – this is no time for such impossible daydreams, not when there is alchemy to learn! Her people now know of fire – River is confident that one day they will match the heights demonstrated by Sera Kerst. Perhaps even surpass them.

  She’s incredibly grateful that the alchemist has allowed her to stay – not all Pathwalkers would allow such close examination of their work. She’s even been willing to explain things whenever Loran is around to translate. It’s mildly annoying that Loran’s presence doesn’t seem to trigger the automatic translation that Markus’ does, but they’ve managed.

  Perhaps it has something to do with the ‘heir’ business Markus agreed to – what River has gathered from Loran’s words suggest it’s only because they are Bound to the ‘heir of Titanbend’ that the local Pathwalkers are sharing knowledge at all. And it seems that the guards they have brought with them have been part of convincing the humans that Loran is speaking honestly.

  Though why the humans might consider that he isn’t speaking honestly, River doesn’t quite understand. Maybe without spikes it’s easier to deceive each other?

  Either way, things seem to have worked out. Smith found a human equivalent, Enchanter found someone who apparently does all the rune-work for the area, and River has spent her time with the local alchemist. Though she is curious to see if her sisters have benefited as much as she has.

  Loran seems impatient to go, and truth to be told River does want to meet up with her sisters so she reluctantly takes her leave from the alchemist.

  Please tell Sera Kerst that I appreciate her instruction, she asks Loran, and he proceeds to repeat her words verbatim.

  “Sera Kerst says that you’re welcome and that she would be willing to give you more instruction in the future, especially if you are willing to help with some preparation work. She would also be curious to see what else that Skill of yours is capable of.”

  River inclines her head as she’s seen Markus and the other humans around here doing.

  Please tell her that I would be very happy to help her prepare ingredients – I enjoyed the little I did today. The alchemist had seemed wary about giving River a knife to use, but she had relaxed after River had shown her that she knew how to use it well. Also tell her that I would welcome experiments. The alchemist had been fascinated with River’s ability to reduce ingredients to ash, and had asked whether she could reduce the ingredients to anything else. River wasn’t and isn’t sure, so she is excited about the opportunity to try.

  After exchanging a few more words, they take their leave, the guard, Artemis, and Orion following. Catches-leaves had gone with Enchanter, and Eats-Dirt with Smith, so River had taken Artemis and Orion. They had all taken a guard each from Nicholas’ forces – Loran told them that the leader of Nicholas’ forces insisted on it. River had sensed him privately wondering whether the guards were more to protect the Pathwalkers from the humans, or the humans from them, but since she was pretty sure he hadn’t intended on sending that, she hadn’t commented on it. Either way, it seems to have gone pretty well.

  She meets up with the rest of the group near the entrance to the village.

  Sisters, how are you? River asks, striding towards where Smith and Enchanter are speaking animatedly to each other.

  Reducer! Smith greets enthusiastically. Wasn’t this an amazing idea?

  This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

  It has been eye-opening, River agrees. I take it you had a good time, then.

  Better than I ever expected, enthuses Smith. That human wields his hammer so masterfully. And did you know that he has multiple types of hammer? And many other tools as well? It makes working with metal so much easier, even without magic! I never imagined just how much more these humans might know about smithing! And he seemed interested in what I was able to demonstrate with my metal-shaping. Her spikes flicker with aquamarine pride.

  I know what you mean, River agrees with a little less intensity than Smith, but no less warmth. The alchemist knows so much about potion-making! More even than Herbalist back home!

  Really? Smith responds, her spikes rippling with surprise. But I thought Herbalist was an expert. Besides, it’s not like potion-making is new to the People, not like smithing is.

  She was – she is incredibly knowledgeable. But we always used fresh ingredients. Adding in fire makes a huge difference. And the ingredients here are far more varied than the ones we had access to before – would you believe it, but the alchemist sometimes uses stones and shavings of metal in her potions, and not just parts from animals or plants! That was particularly shocking for River – she’s never even considered using anything non-living other than shavings of Cores in a potion. But done correctly, it seems to work.

  I agree – these humans are even more knowledgeable than I was expecting, Enchanter agrees. I recognised only a fraction of the runes that I encountered with Sera Thornlee. And I have so many ideas about how to improve my rune combinations! Did you know that when combining four runes together, a square formation is the strongest, but a cross formation is the most conductive? Or that runes intended to produce an active effect should never be in a closed formation?

  I didn’t, River admits willingly, but that sounds pretty useful to know.

  It is! enthuses Enchanter and she starts ranting about all the things she’s learned she was doing wrong, sounding far more upbeat than River would be about it. Meanwhile, Smith chimes in with her own discoveries about how she’s learned she can improve her craft.

  River is happy for them both. She might not be terribly interested in either smithing or enchanting, but she’s satisfied that her sisters are more relaxed and happier than they have been since they left their home. River has known for a long time that she would follow Markus wherever he led, but she knows that Enchanter and Smith have felt more torn. It’s good that they have finally had some validation that their choice was a good one.

  River glances over the rest of their party as they walk back to the large hut – the ‘manor’, as the humans call it. Catches-leaves and Eats-Dirt are walking silently and alertly – she doesn’t want to distract them. Artemis and Orion have gone ahead with Trouble, Spot, and Blaze to scout their route. River is rather relieved that Trouble seems to have grown up a bit. She’d been a little nervous about him joining the expedition, but he had volunteered – and she doubts he would have listened even if she’d said ‘no’. Only Markus can truly make that beast listen.

  The three human guards are following them. River might have thought them mute except that she heard the one who had accompanied her to the alchemist’s hut speak. Loran expressed gratitude afterwards for the guard confirming his assertions of who exactly he represents.

  River finds the humans confusing in that way – it’s hard to know who has status and who doesn’t without physical differences making it obvious. Then again, she supposes that the changes Markus instituted in her village had included adding Unevolved to the council, a position of status. But it felt different there because she had known all of the people with status. Perhaps that’s the difference – she just doesn’t know the people here well enough to differentiate who has power and who doesn’t. Except for Nicholas and Sarran – their power is easy to feel.

  River casts another glance over the group. Her gaze lands on Loran, the only one who doesn’t seem to be either involved in a conversation or busy looking out for danger.

  Thank you for your assistance, she directs at him. I’ll be sure to tell Markus just how much aid you gave us in his absence. Loran twitches, shooting a quick glance at River without properly meeting her eyes and then turning back to face the path ahead of them again.

  “It’s fine,” he responds, but tension is back in his voice. He hadn’t been entirely happy with the idea of them going to the village, River knows that, but she thought he had come to terms with it. Then again, he seems far more afraid of Markus than Markus has done anything to deserve. River is about to tell him that when Artemis sends a message in the Bond network.

  We’re being followed.

  Loran straightens and turns to look back behind them. One of the human guards makes the odd sonorous rumble humans use for communication.

  “Our scout said that we’re being followed,” Loran says, no doubt in answer to a question. The guards exchange looks and then two of them turn and stride quickly back in the direction they came. The rest of them grind to a halt and form a defensive circle.

  Let us protect you, Catches-leaves instructs, his eyes sharp as they flicker around the area. They’re currently walking through the woodland area – a much smaller, tamer, and more open version of their ancestral forest. Markus will kill us if we let you get hurt, he comments wryly, though not without some truth. Not that Markus would kill them, but they saw what happens when someone close to him is hurt when Storm was killed. At his words, Loran tenses further.

  After a long, tense period of silence – every snapped twig or fluttering leaf sounding like it might signal the attack River has honestly been expecting – the guards return. Artemis and Orion slink back behind them, frustrated.

  Did you catch whoever was following us? River asks Artemis urgently. There hasn’t been any noise of a confrontation, but the Pathwalker is confident that Artemis wouldn’t return while the threat was still present.

  No. Disappeared, she answers in her habitually short fashion. Three of them.

  What happened? asks Smith, her eyes alert. In answer, Artemis sends a quick memory – of three figures slipping quietly and almost unnoticeably through the trees. River reckons that they must have been using some sort of magic as all that’s detectable of them is a silhouette and a scent. Then Artemis ran towards them and they quickly retreated. Artemis lunged to bite one of them but the human figure disappeared and Artemis had to catch herself before her teeth bit into the earth instead.

  It’s puzzling.

  Could they be people from the village? Following us for some reason? Enchanter asks uncertainly. Maybe we insulted someone.

  Those are not normal villagers, Loran answers, answering them silently whether intentionally or not. He sounds and feels disturbed. Those were Skills, and powerful ones at that. But who would be following us? And why?

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