By the end of the afternoon, Fundis is beyond the horizon to the stern and there’s a feeling that they are well into the open sea. On the western horizon, the great spine of mountains that mark the peninsula between Fundis and Capulis is just visible as a series of jagged, hazy peaks. The waters below them are now deep and dark blue, long slow waves lifting the bow regularly as they make good speed with a favourable wind.

The long tables in the common room have been set and everyone is sitting or standing, comfortable in polite conversation as they wait for dinner to be served. Alex and Jamie have been introduced to the other passengers, all officials from the empire, apart from a couple of prominent merchants. All of them are male. A few of them have heavy accents, but all can be understood with a little bit of concentration.

“We really must start to learn the language of the northern continent,” Jamie tells his husband. “We can’t expect everyone in the north to learn ours, can we?”

“I suppose,” Alex agrees without enthusiasm. “Thought I was done with learning anything though.”

“We’ve already made plans to do just that,” Cato says as he joins them. “The ambassador and I are going to do an hour each morning. You are both welcome to join us, as is anyone else who wishes to learn. I’d suggest that you all do so. I’m not going to be a translator for someone too lazy to learn.”

“I’m not against the idea,” Alex reassures the engineer. “I just never did enjoy lessons and, once my father was killed, I lost any remaining desire for formal education other than the martial arts. I was concentrating on getting a job as a guard and little else mattered. Now, I do actually enjoy learning, just at my own pace.”

“You might surprise yourself,” Cato suggests. “Try and think of it as something that you actually want to do, rather than it being a necessity.”

“I will. I’m just afraid that there’s so much new to learn on a trip like this that I’ll not have time to do more than scratch the surface of all of it.”

“Well, that’s a problem for all of us,” Cato agrees. “Sailing, navigation, geography, the creatures of the deep ocean, the people and languages of new lands – it could all get a bit overwhelming.”

“See! I hadn’t even considered half of that,” Alex admits. “The sailing and navigation parts are certainly of interest. I’ll be able to see the land in my vision for probably a week yet. I’ll compare what I can see to the maps, just for interest.”

Soon enough, the captain appears. Now relieved of duty for the evening, he is happy to take a glass of wine from the steward and relax. First, however, he steps over to a large map on the port wall of the vessel. It appears to be a reasonably accurate and quite large map of the known world.

About four feet by two feet and brightly coloured, it shows the cities, rivers, mountains and vegetation across the world. The captain takes hold of the small red pin that is sitting at Fundis and moves it a short distance to the north. There is a scattering of other coloured pins, but no explanation of their purpose.

“How is Tarmon settling in,” Jamie asks Cato as they all move to find their seats for dinner.

“Pretty well. He’s a little quiet yet, but that’s no bad thing in a travelling companion. I’m pretty sure the other two will soon bring him out of his shell. They seem to have a knack for it.”

“I’ve asked captain Tao to allow us space to practice on the main deck,” Alex says. “It has been some time since we worked together and even longer since I’ve swung a sword.”

“You still practice regularly though,” Jamie points out.

“I know, but practicing alone isn’t the same as practice with others. I feel fit enough and still have my mobility and speed, I’m just lacking that edge that I have a feeling we will need.”

“So, an hour or two of language lessons in the mornings and then an hour or two of training in the afternoons?” Jamie asks.

“Sounds like a fair compromise,” Alex agrees. “At least it will make the journey pass quickly.”

“I did suggest to Tarmon – when we went shopping in Fundis – that you might need him to join our combat training sessions,” Jamie adds.

“Good. I’d like to know what he is capable of. At the very least, just knowing how he will handle himself and respond to orders is a big help. He did seem adamant that he has the powers and skill to protect himself. I’ll test him to find out.” Alex looks across the table where Tarmon is approaching, seemingly in light conversation with the prince.

“Were you talking about me?” he asks as he takes a seat.

“I was,” Alex confesses. “I’m hoping that you will join our training session tomorrow afternoon.”

“I don’t see myself as a fighter.”

“No, nor do I expect you to become one. However, Jamie felt the same at one point. Now, he can hold a sword and protect himself. I know his magical ability negates much of standard combat practice, but it’s the situational awareness that I wish to drill into everyone.”

“I have guaranteed your safety,” Jin Chao protests. “We can protect the party with ease.”

“I’m sure you can,” Alex agrees. “However, we won’t make any real progress if we travel with an army. When we get to Mekalla, we will travel on in as small a group as we can reasonably get away with. We will travel light and we will travel quickly. If I could jump us to our destination right now, I’d do so.”

“Do you really think we will have trouble,” Lee Shan asks from the other end of the table. “I know we suggested that trouble was brewing because of the failing harvests, but I don’t believe it has gotten as bad as that yet.”

“Call me a pessimist,” Alex says with a wry smile. “I like to have a plan. Actually, I like to have more than one plan. Perhaps your knowledge of these northern lands can help me with that?”

“I am at your disposal,” Lee Shan tells him. “I don’t believe that I will be accompanying you beyond Mekalla, but my knowledge is yours.”

“Thank you. I think this leaves only one matter to discuss.”

“Please,” the Prince offers. “Now is the time for such discussions to be had, although I can guess what you wish to talk about.”

“An expedition such as this needs a single leader,” Alex says.

“And we had assumed that it would be you,” Lee Shan replies. “Your experience is unparalleled. You and Jamie did, after all, successfully retrieve the Flame.”

“Besides,” the Prince adds, “you had already shown considerable ability before that. I have no problem taking orders from you.”

“Thank you both. With that in mind, highness, will you join us each afternoon for training?”

“I will, but please, from now on, call me Chao.”