Alex and Jamie remain in Fionor only long enough to send a messenger to the palace to get transport for Markus and Katrina. Once they are sure that their guests are comfortable and won’t have to wait long, they make their farewells and Alex shifts them back to the familiar location in the castle at Tanis. Arriving in the middle of the morning finds their point of arrival quiet despite the bustling business of the rest of the castle.

Alex closes his eyes for a moment, letting his inner map show him his surroundings and allowing time to locate the people he needs to see.

“Brion and Garvan are on the training ground,” he tells Jamie when he opens his eyes. “Why don’t you go and speak with the two of them and I’ll go and see the King. For some reason, he and Cato are on the roof of the west wing.”

“Something to do with plumbing, I’m sure,” Jamie suggests with a smile. “Gives you the chance to speak to the two of them at once. See you inside shortly?”

Jamie finds his way to the practice ground that seems busy and relaxed. Brion is busy with a group of what appear to be relatively new recruits. As always, he’s trying to get them to shoot properly, struggling to knock out their self-taught bad habits. Off to one side, he can see Garvan teaching hand-to-hand combat with another group. Several other groups of more seasoned soldiers are working on fitness and practicing amongst themselves while Peta, now garrison commander, watches from a position leaning on a rail.

Jamie moves softly to his side, leaning forward to rest on the same rail. “Highness,” Peta says with a smile as he sees the pale blue silk of Jamie’s tunic sleeve land beside his own much more practical attire. “What brings you back to Tanis so soon?”

“I’m afraid I’ve come to steal your two training sergeants,” Jamie tells him. “Well, to ask them if they will come with us, at least.”

“Not asking me then?”

“No. Mera would kill us. I’m sorry, my friend, but this is a very long trip and I won’t take you away from your family for that long.”

“How can any journey take a long time for you two?”

“Well, we’re going to Mekalla. Alex can’t even see that far, let alone take us there.”

“Yeah, you’re right. Mera would never let me go that far. I’m not even sure why the two of you would want to go.”

“Mostly because we’ve been asked to help,” Jamie admits. “Still, even you miss a little adventure.”

“I do. You have brought what might be considered a little too much peace to our land. A seasoned soldier finds little to do.”

“So, we can take the two of them if they want to come?”

“Sure. Anything that keeps their skills at an acceptable level. Just don’t get either of them killed.”

“Brion is in full flow this morning,” Jamie remarks as the archer unleashes a tirade of insults at one of the recruits. “Are the new men really as bad as he is making out?”

“Probably not, but it’s an authority thing as much as anything else. Besides, none of them are ever going to be as good as he is.”

“I just find it ironic that he is trying to stop what they do naturally, despite his skill being almost entirely self-taught.” Jamie can’t help smile at the predicament of the young recruit, but the others, gathered close by, seem equally panic-stricken. “He’ll have them running away at this rate.”

“Feel free, highness,” Peta suggests.

“No! Just no,” Brion yells at a broad-shouldered young man holding a bow. “I know it works most of the time, but it’s simply not the best way to do it. Now, watch me again!”

Brion steps to his right, knocking an arrow to the string of his bow and drawing it smoothly and steadily. The movement, from relaxed and pointing at the ground to fully drawn and on target is one single fluid motion. The placement of his fingertips – on either side of the knocked arrow – and the bend of his elbow are precise and calculated. He’s using his favoured medium-weight bow, but it still needs immense power and control to draw and hold.

As the tip of the arrow points to the target his fingertips touch his cheek next to his lips and he releases in a fluid whoosh. The arrow flies true, smacking into the very centre of the target about thirty paces away. Using the same motion, only more swiftly the second time, another arrow follows the first, hammering into the woven straw right beside the first, so close that they almost touch.

“It’s not just about hitting the target,” Brion tells his students. “It’s as much about being able to do it consistently and repeatably. You oafs are too clumsy and too haphazard. Spend a day on the battlefield and you’ll all end up injured whether the enemy get you or you do it yourself.”

One or two of them finally nod in understanding, but the young man being instructed looks somewhat dumbstruck. Still, he selects another arrow and positions his feet. His draw is far from relaxed and smooth, however. Brion steps behind him and physically draws elbow and shoulder into a better position.

Even Jamie can see that the arrow is going to go so wide that it will miss the target completely. Reaching out with magic, he turns it in the air to thud into the target two rings out from the centre.

“What the hell,” Brion yells, looking around in confusion. The sudden change of direction was seen by all and there’s a general sense of confusion among the group. As he sees Jamie approaching, he hands his bow off to the student and moves forward. “Highness, what brings you home?” he asks as he gathers the prince into a broad hug.

Realizing who Jamie is, the recruits straighten themselves up and all of them manage a reasonable bow. “Please, continue your practice, gentlemen,” Jamie tells them. “I just need to steal your sergeant away for a chat.”

“I’ve come to ask the two of you for your help,” Jamie tells Brion as they walk over towards Garvan. As the soldier notices their approach, he stops yelling at his recruits and turns to meet them.

“Bugger me, this looks ominous,” he suggests with a grin as they get close.

“I’ve told you many times, my friend, that you’re not my type,” Jamie tells him with a returning grin as they embrace. “No-one could pay me enough to bugger you.”

“Confidentially,” Garvan agrees, “I wouldn’t want you to. I’ve seen you naked!”

The three men find a set of nearby packing boxes to sit on and it takes Jamie quite some time to explain what they are needed for. As he speaks, Jamie wonders if Alex is getting on as well with his father.

Rather than walking through the castle and finding his way up onto the roof, Alex simply shifts himself up to a point where he won’t startle the group already up there. It’s then a matter of simply walking into view, making enough noise to be heard in his approach.

King Talus and Catheon are studying one of the water tanks, along with a couple of younger men who are clearly artisans. Cato is explaining what he wants from them and they are both looking somewhat confused by his suggestions.

It's the King who notices Alex’s arrival, being the one facing in the direction of his approach. A moment of puzzlement crosses his features at the unexpected arrival of his son-in-law, but it passes quickly and he realizes immediately that there is something important to be discussed. “If you gentlemen will excuse us,” he tells the two artisans.

Both men bow to their king and make their way past Alex and back towards the access hatch. Cato seems about to follow them, but Alex holds out a hand to stop him. “Your pardon for the interruption, Sire, but I need to speak with the two of you.”

“Of course,” the King agrees cordially but with a hint of concern in his voice at Alex’s serious expression. “Where’s my son?”

“He went to speak with Brion and Garvan. We might have need of their services, if you can spare them.”

“Well, clearly, something has come up suddenly. Perhaps you can tell us what’s happening. Should we go inside? Do I need to sit down?”

“We might be better off in your study,” Alex admits. “With your permission?”

At a brief nod from the King, Alex shifts the three of them into the passageway outside the door to the study. Briefly, despite the passage of time, Alex remembers standing here for the first time while Peta ensured that all of his knives were removed. The King opens the door, gesturing for the two men to follow him inside and take seats beside his desk.

It takes Alex about ten minutes to tell them all about his meeting with the delegation from Mekalla. Both men sit quietly, allowing him to complete his tale without undue interruption or questioning.

“I think I may have met this Lee Shan,” the King says when the story is finally up-to-date. “He was part of a trade delegation that passed through Tanis some time ago. I don’t remember much, my father was their point of focus during that time, but he struck me as a shrewd man.”

“I’m sure it is the same man,” Alex agrees after the King gives a brief description. “A few more grey hairs, but you describe him perfectly. Exactly the sort of man I’d send with a prince travelling in a foreign land.”

“It is logical to assume that you mean to help them?” Cato asks.

“It is. If we accept their tale of impending disaster, then we must also accept that it will eventually affect the whole world. Jamie and I would like to leave immediately.”

“You know that you don’t have to ask for my permission?” The king asks softly. “I’ve no power to stop you doing whatever you wish, either of you.”

“Perhaps not, but some of the burden of our absence will fall on your shoulders and I just want to be sure that you are aware of our extended absence. Also, I hope that Cato will choose to accompany us.”

“I would be delighted to,” the engineer agrees. “I have often wondered how the other lands of this world differ from our own.”

“Well, the people seem much the same,” Alex says. “They dress differently and have different languages and habits, but they seem human enough.”

“I have studied a little of the language of Mekalla, and while it’s not the only one spoken on the northern continent, it is the most widely used dialect. We must learn as we go along, I fear.”

“Yes. There will be locals with us, both to guide and to translate. I’m sure we will manage.”

“Then I will come with you. When do we leave?”

“Jamie and I have more to do to prepare. Then, we meet with the prince again tomorrow morning. I shall come and get you all early the next day?”

“I will be ready, as, I am sure, will Brion and Garvan,” Cato agrees.

“I take it that you wish for me to tell the Queen?” the King asks with a smile. “She’s not going to be happy if you are both away for any length of time.”

“I’m sorry,” Alex says.

“Oh, she will understand, it’s just that she will initially be somewhat annoyed. Don’t worry about things here. We can actually manage without the two of you, as long as you are coming back.”

“Well, once again I’m hopeful that the return journey will be much faster than the outgoing one. If we are successful, then I can at the very least jump back to Mekalla.”

“Then we’d just have the ocean to cross,” Cato agrees. “At least that’s just weeks instead of months.”

“Exactly. I have no real idea how long we will be gone, but a good guide is that it’s probably three times as far to travel as we did to get to Eridan – three or four months?” Alex asks.

“From my studies of the best maps we have, I’d tend to agree. I understand that the sea crossing is about three weeks with fair winds. At this time of the year, those winds should be reasonably on our side.”

“Do you need funds?” the King asks.

“I don’t believe so,” Alex replies. “This is a mission for the Empire of Mekalla. I’m expecting them to take care of the logistics. It is something else to discuss with them tomorrow.”

“Well, in that case, All I can do is wish you good luck,” The King tells them, standing. “Come, let us go and find my son so I can bid him farewell.”