“Order! Order!” the constables shouted at the disorderly crowd as my father and I raced our way through. Around us, men and women roiled at the news of the ultimatum.

  “What’re we going to do if we reject?”

  A younger man hopped onto a shipping crate and shouted, “We fight! Fight for our freedom!”

  “What of the children or elderly? They cannot fight!”

  “Stay close,” Father said as he held me to his chest and pulled Ruby along behind him.

  As we left the crowd, a handful of constables ran towards it. “Enough! Enough!” one of them shouted.

  A plump enforcer blew his whistle, releasing an ear-piercing screech that sent Ruby into a squawking, roaring rage.

  Father grunted, hushed the creature, and pulled on her reins while holding me tight. After a few moments, the creature relented.

  The rotund constable shouted, “Everyone, please remain calm; the situation is under control. Please return to your homes and pces of work.”

  A man scoffed. “What do you mean, remain calm?”

  “I have six children,” a woman shouted, “I can’t just do nothing, knowing our neighbors want to kill us!”

  I whimpered as I watched the mob behind us approach the officers. Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes and buried my face in my father’s chest praying that a riot wouldn’t start.

  Thankfully, within minutes, we were out of the town and back at the military camp. Officers shouted orders all around us, the soldiers bustling to and fro.

  “This is a restricted area!” an elven woman with three gold marks on her shoulders shouted at my father. “Civilians are prohibited from passing through between 08:00 and 21:00!”

  “Apologies, ma’am!” he responded. “My home is just up this passage; I’ll be out of your hair!”

  For a moment the officer studied my father, eyes narrowing. Finally, she inhaled and motioned for a collection of soldiers to trail behind us. “Escort these two out of here, will you!”

  Father simply nodded and kept walking, not minding the men following us.

  “What has her all worked up?” I mumbled. “They let us pass through earlier.”

  Father shrugged. “Everyone’s going to be on edge now, hon,” he said softly. “Just hold on tight.”

  Upon reaching the edge of camp, we were searched by those who stood on guard. Seeing we’d only brought the money Father brought for the strider and wagon, the soldiers there let us go.

  We moved up the road at a brisk pace. A little way away from town, I could still hear the commotion.

  In the distance somewhere on my left, I caught a glimpse of something glittering. Looking over my father’s shoulder, I saw far off, on the southwestern highway, another convoy of vehicles and striders making their way to town.

  “Shit…” Father grunted. He was looking out in the direction of the eastern field, towards the Hautchkins mill. Following his gaze, I saw a group of soldiers with shovels and pickaxes digging into the farm fields. Among them were figures in white and gray robes wielding… balls? I had to squint. What I could make out were crystalline orbs no rger than a man’s fist.

  Wizards? I thought. Just then, my assumption was confirmed as one orb began to glow. Wisps of shimmering mist shot forth and into the soil near the soldiers. In an instant the ground began to part as if a giant’s bde tore through it, splitting it apart and forming a trench. The soldiers who were digging turned to look at the mage with a mix of bewilderment and apprehension.

  “You couldn’t have done that to begin with?” one soldier shouted.

  “They’re making trenches,” I whispered, and Father gnced at me and nodded.

  “Yeah, dug my fair share back in training.” He sighed as we kept moving. “Though that doesn’t look like training; no wizard ever came and dug our holes for us. Which tells me the brass is taking this seriously.”

  “But we don’t know if we’ll accept or reject that ultimatum thing the gnome read about,” I said, though I had a hunch.

  “Yeah, but Papa thinks our glorious leader isn’t going to bend over, especially not after what happened to his cousin.” Taking a deep breath, Father then spat on the ground. “That frosted krek is going to make him do something stupid. All the more reason we need to get moving,” he snarled, and I swallowed. I could see my father’s fury in his eyes.

  We continued on in silence, yet down the road was a dark figure coming towards us on a nd strider. I gripped my father tighter as he continued forwards with Ruby and me before stopping about a dozen feet from them.

  “Good afternoon, Mr. Hautchkins.” Father nodded to the miller and his strider, Opal.

  “Good afternoon, Mr. Ashflow and Lady Luna.” Herbert greeted us with a tip of his cap as he steered Opal to the side and made room for us on the road. “Now, this is mighty convenient.”

  “What do you mean?” Father asked.

  Herbert drew closer, beside us. Opal squawked at Ruby, the two striders examining each other thoroughly. “Well, I just got done gifting my wagon to Cailynn,” he expined. “She told me you and the little miss right there were out getting a strider, and that Henderson was taking his sweet old time with your wagon.”

  Gifting a wagon?

  I felt and saw Father rex. Herbert had just taken a heavy load off his shoulders. “Henderson did more than take his rooting time. He took our wagon and presumably fled town.”

  Herbert took a deep breath and said, “Dark Lord… I’m sorry to hear that, Mr. Ashflow.” He sighed and looked at me. “Is your little one—”

  “She knows what’s going on.”

  Herbert nodded. “I should’ve expected as much, especially after everything I’ve heard from my kids.” He chuckled.

  His kids? I hardly hung out with Avdol and Mi… Then again, Varis was friends with Avdol, so he probably heard of me from him.

  “Yep, our little star here is our little super genius.” Father smirked and hoisted me up a little higher.

  “I’m not that smart!” I protested. “I just catch on to stuff easier.”

  “Right,” they both said.

  “Anyways,” Herbert continued, “Mr. Olson and his family, as I told you, caught wind of everything before it was announced. Just as I was leaving, the newspapers arrived at your house talking about this ultimatum. Well, Mr. Olson offered a trip to myself and my family to go with them to Khannatore.”

  “Khannatore?” Father blinked and smiled. “Well, I wish you the best. Not many humans ever get to see the undermines; count yourselves lucky.”

  Herbert ughed. “I dunno how I feel about going so far deep beneath Enora. Personally, I’d prefer the fields and my mill. Though if it can get us away, even for a short while, from whatever is coming this way, I’ll take it.”

  Father nodded. “But that doesn’t expin why you gave us your wagon. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate it, Mr. Hautchkins; we’re going to need it. But what about your folks?”

  Herbert waved the worry off. “Already taken care of, Mr. Olson and his family are practically taking their entire shop with them; they have three wagons, one of which is open enough to house my family.” He snapped his fingers and pointed at us. “Cailynn mentioned you all were going to be heading to Johanneson, right?”

  “Aye, that’s correct.”

  “That’s along the way to Khannatore; why don’t you travel with us? Safety in numbers, and both I and the Olsons have plenty of supplies to share, not to mention I think Olson… and myself would feel safe knowing you lot are with us.”

  My father gnced at me and then at Herbert. After a pause, he said, “I’ll need to discuss the matter with my wife. We’ve been storing supplies since we found out down in our basement, but thanks for the offer. When are you leaving, and where would we meet up if we decide to?”

  “In two days, at the start of the new week, at the Kencha River at sunrise,” he expined.

  Father nodded. “Two days…” He sighed. “I was hoping to leave by tomorrow, though I know Cailynn has some final preparations she needs to handle. Soldiers have been paying us well for her goods.”

  Herbert snorted and ughed. “Cailynn is an excellent baker! And you’ll need all the coins you can get. Shops in town gouging everyone.”

  Father nodded in agreement and waved at Herbert. “Well, thank you; come that day, if you don’t see us, do not wait. Go.”

  Herbert gave us a thumbs-up. “Alright, I’ll go let Mr. Olson know. Till then, Slyran, be safe.”

  “You as well, Herbert.” Father gnced at me as Mr. Hautchkins flicked his reins, and Opal squawked and began to trot away. “Actually, one st thing, Herbert.” He faced Hautchkins, who stopped and looked over his shoulder. “You’re a good man; even if we don’t travel with you, what you did by giving us the wagon is something I won’t forget.”

  Without a word, Herbert closed his eyes and smiled before giving us a curt nod and riding off.

  Turning back around, Father gripped me a little tighter. “Luna, what do you think?” he asked me once Herbert was out of earshot.

  Wait, what? I blinked at him. Father, are you asking me about my thoughts now? I smirked. Maybe now I’m part of the inner circle.

  “Uh… I think it’s pretty sound,” I said. “If we’re all traveling together, I don’t see it as a huge issue. Maybe slower, but probably much more comfortable. Mr. Olson, I think, has kids much older than Varis and me, but Herbert’s kids are our age, so we’ll have some friends to hang out with on the road. Also, at night, we’ll have more people to keep watch if things get a little hairy.”

  Father looked at me with wide eyes. “You were really putting a lot of thought into this, weren’t you?”

  I blushed faintly. Of course he wasn’t expecting a well-thought-out opinion. Gah.

  “Yeah,” I said. “Best to be prepared!”

  “Well, let’s get going home. Your mother is probably worried sick.”

  Worried sick she was. When we arrived back on the property, Varis was the one to spot us from the porch and shout for Mother. Like a whirlwind, she was upon us in seconds. Flying out the front door in nothing but a pair of loose knee-length shorts, a casual polo, and no shoes, she began to scold my father.

  “Where have you been?! You were supposed to be back before noon!”

  My father pced me on the ground. Holding Ruby’s reins, he straightened up and held out a calming hand towards Mother. “I’m sorry. The town is in chaos right now after the news, and that snake Henderson stole the wagon.”

  “Excuse me?!” Mother gasped.

  “Yep, and Harold tried to sell this strider off.” He shook Ruby’s reins. “Despite me telling him to hold one for us. But… well, never mind. I heard Herbert dropped off a wagon.”

  Mother took a deep breath and calmed herself. “Yes, he did.” She gnced at Varis, who was reading a book on the porch, and said, “Dear, go inside and help Isa with the dishes.”

  Varis groaned, but a stern look from Father got him moving. Before closing the door, he said, “Is Luna coming?”

  “She’ll be in shortly,” Father said, shooing him off.

  Mother looked back at Papa. “What else is happening down there?”

  Father waited for the front door to shut before expining, “News of the ultimatum and the assassination reached the town. People are shouting and acting up; the constables are out now. Things aren’t too bad. Though it did make travel hard, not to mention the soldiers are buying up all the striders.”

  My mother raised an eyebrow towards Ruby. “How’d you get this one, then?”

  Father sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. “With Luna’s help, I was able to buy one off a dwarf for seventy-five gold.”

  My mother gawked, her mouth going sck as she shook her head. “Excuse me? Seventy-five, did you at least try to haggle?”

  “No, I didn’t…” His hand slid up to run through his hair. “I probably should’ve, but…”

  Mother sighed. “It doesn’t matter; what’s done is done.” She pinched the bridge of her nose. “We still have money, though that’ll put a dent in things.”

  Father nodded. “Where’s the wagon Herbert dropped off?” he asked.

  My mother pointed to the wagon parked along the side of the house. “It’s right there. The same wagon we took on the mountain trip.”

  “Mr. Hautchkins also said we could travel with him and Olson!” I said as I came over to Mother and patted some dust off of her shorts.

  She smiled as the sight of me seemed to calm her. “Is that so?”

  “Yep, he said in two days they’re going to this pce called Khannatore!”

  “They’ll be traveling past Johanneson,” Father said. “Little one made a point here too: Olson and Herbert both have kids. Travelling as a group could be safer, and the little ones will have some company.”

  “Does that mean you’ll finally get some friends of your own?” Mother said to me, and I felt like an arrow shot through my chest!

  Dammit! God, I wish I could tell her to shut it right now. It’s not my fault I’m shy; besides, there was plenty to do at home with Varis.

  I must’ve done a terrible job at hiding the blow to my ego, because my mother giggled and ran her hand through my hair. “I’m just teasing, love.” She hummed before resuming her more serious talk with Father. “I’m okay with this; if it’s just us with them until Johanneson, then I see no point in not taking them up on their offer.”

  Father nodded. “Any news from Aenorin?”

  Mother shook her head. “Not yet, though I don’t pn on it till we’re at his front door.”

  Father shrugged. “Makes sense, I guess… Well, anyways, meet Ruby.” He gestured to the red strider, which squawked in my mother’s face.

  Pcing a hand on her hip, she looked at me. “You named her?”

  “Yep! She’s as red as a ruby and has cute blue feathers!” I pointed at the pops of blue.

  Mother giggled and nodded. “Well, it’s a lovely name. Want to help me get her comfortable out back?” she asked as she squatted beside me.

  I beamed and jumped up and down. “Yeah!”

  With a ugh, my mother messed up my hair some more before taking my hand in hers. “Slyran, I can take the strider from here.”

  “You sure?” Father asked, though he handed her the reins anyway.

  “Yep. Go check on Varis; he’s been kind of grumpy all morning.” She added a small sigh. “He talked back to me this morning.”

  Father groaned and kicked the dirt. “Of course he did.” He turned my way.

  Oi, why are you looking at me?

  I gulped. “Maybe he knows what’s going on?” I suggested.

  Both Mother and Father bit their lower lips.

  “We should tell him,” I continued. “Varis is young, but, uh… I’m younger, and I caught on! Maybe he is too and is grumpy that we’re keeping secrets.” They shared a gnce as I continued, “See, I would be mad too if Isa tried to keep lying to me when I found out.”

  “Okay, I wouldn’t say we’re lying—” my father started, but my mother silenced him with a wave of her hand.

  “Yes, we are,” I corrected. “Even white lies are still lies. Even if we’re trying to protect him, in the future, when I’m grown up, I’ll probably look back on today and be happy that you guys trusted me with knowing this, and, well, he probably would too. Even if he’s a little immature most of the time, he can probably help us with ideas too, and it’ll just make everything else easier in the long run.”

  Both my parents looked at me, their expressions stun locked. After a few moments, Mother gnced at Father and said, “Uh, go check on him,” before looking back at me and saying, “We’ll think about that, sweetie, thank you.”

  Uh oh, did I overstep?

  Without a word, my father nodded and went back inside as my mother lightly squeezed my hand. “Come one, love, let’s take Ruby to the backyard.”

  Suddenly, the door opened again, and Father stuck his head out. “One more thing, Cailynn. Start moving the boxes from the basement to the wagon when you can. I want us to be out in a fsh when we’re ready!”

  We both nodded before walking Ruby out back.

  Once again, my night was pgued by nightmares. This time, as I was running through the woods at night, screaming people and crying children echoed all around me, interspersed with bouts of what sounded like machine gun fire. The ground trembled as something rge and mechanical moved behind me. Sounds of turning and twisting cogwheels mixed with the gaseous hiss of steam pistons as metallic feet smmed into the earth, driving me further into the woods, pursuing me.

  The woods began to decline, sending me down a hill. My heart raced, and my cheeks and ears burned. I huffed and puffed as my tiny legs forced me forwards. The mechanical monstrosity hissed and roared like a person shouting into a pipe. Its tone was hollow and cking life. Whatever it was tore through trees and underbrush relentlessly.

  Sharp whistling cracks tore past my ear. I screamed and dove to the ground as the retort of a machine gun ripped over my head. Bark exploded into clouds of sharpened debris as the dirt around me bsted puffs of dust and debris into the air. I began to army crawl ahead, moaning and crying as the rapid, heavy thudding of metallic limbs grew closer.

  Through the underbrush, I spotted a hollowed-out log and made my way to it. Feverishly crawling, I dove into the muddy, rotten log and cowered.

  “They’re coming, they’re coming!” I heard a panicked woman cry beyond the safety of my log.

  “Don’t look back, Deborah; keep moving,” a man’s voice responded, and I could hear the snapping of twigs and the rustling of bushes as the couple ran past my hiding spot.

  Suddenly, the mechanical footsteps halted but were soon repced by a haunting howl. A horn that sent my heart into a frenzy. Beyond my log, the world was engulfed in a red light. The shunting of the monster’s feet resumed, yet much faster, and the ground beneath me shook as the machine made itself known.

  Outside, the couple screamed with horror, and I cried softly. Peeking out of the small hole, I saw the monster’s feet. A four-toed foot like that of a bird smmed into the ground, mere inches from my spot.

  I cupped my mouth and shrieked as the whirring of the monster’s machinery drowned out everything around me. A hiss and a bang had me cupping my ears before a bst of immense heat washed over me. A sharp whooshing sound started and then immediately ceased.

  Everything fell quiet; the screaming couple was silent.

  You must keep moving, my mind told me. You must make it to the city. Do not stop.

  What’s happening? I thought. What is this? What’s that thing?

  That thing is an obstacle. One that can be avoided, but only if you aren’t too slow.

  The mechanical whirring above me resumed, and the creature bellowed with its horn, and I gasped as massive hooklike tendrils pierced through the top of my log. The hooks yanked upwards, my ears deafened by the splintering wood and screeching machinery.

  As my hiding spot was exposed, I y there face-to-face with my pursuer: a massive machine with a single gss eye that projected a blinding white light. As the machine gazed down at me, I cried out as its tendrils shot towards me.

  “The clock is ticking, he is moving. You must reach the city.”

  I jerked in my bed and screamed. Rolling over, I yelped when my bed disappeared, and I fell to the floor. Panting heavily, I got out of my covers and sprawled out in nothing but my bck nightgown. I sat up, groaning and rubbing my head.

  “Oh, thank fuck it was just a dream,” I muttered under my breath. I reached up to test my ears, then patted my chest and checked below. “I’m still me.” I took a deep breath and smiled. Ever since the nightmare where I reverted to my old life, I’d been paranoid. At least in this dream, I had been Luna.

  “The city…”

  Someone knocked at my door. “Luna, are you okay?”

  “I, uh, yeah,” I said to my mother. “I had a bad dream, and then I fell out of bed.”

  She opened the door and came inside. “Another one?” my mother asked.

  “Sort of…” I tried to get up and winced as my gown shifted. My hand reached up and lightly touched my chest.

  Goddamn, these things are a pain. I sighed softly.

  My mother nodded and came over to me. Kneeling, she held her hand over my bosom. A surge of embarrassment filled me as Mother cast the numbing spell, which made the pain go away.

  “There we go. Are you hurt anywhere else?” she asked me.

  I shook my head now, too shy to speak. My mother cooed softly as she rubbed my shoulder. “No need to be embarrassed, dear.” She gnced out my window, where daylight was beginning to stream through. “Why don’t you get dressed and meet me downstairs? We can talk about this dream.”

  “It—It was just a normal dream,” I muttered.

  “Normal dreams don’t have little dies screaming and leaping out of beds, love.” My mother booped my nose. “You can always talk to me about issues. Now, go on, get dressed. We have a lot to do today.”

  After my mother helped me fix my bed, she again tousled my hair and left me alone. Once the door shut, I huffed and looked at myself in my bedroom mirror. I looked like a mess: my hair, which now reached midway down my back, was unkempt, and my eyes had dark rims. I did not sleep well at all.

  I sighed. “Make it to the city…” I muttered to myself as I tried to recall the dream. It was hazy, yet the message was very clear.

  We’re going to need to move fast.

  I have seen that the northern nds of Veilnd are changing, and the air has grown heavy...