“If you’re not back in sixty slivers, I’ll find you,” he said.
I pushed off with my legs and rose quickly to join the two hyperbores aloft. A sliver later we alighted on the edge of the largest nest I had ever seen. It was not made of bits and pieces of twigs as normal bird’s nests were. It was made of logs chinked with hardened clay and packed leaves. I looked around and saw dozens of small encampments where groups of hyperbores, young, old and in between, were working, playing, talking. They all stopped what they were doing and stared at me.
Troy pointed to the far end of the nest, where I could see a large canvas tent had been erected.
“You will talk to Micha. He is the chieftain of our race.”
When we reached the tent, Troy called out, “Micha, we have one who seeks your counsel.”
“Enter,” said a powerful voice.
Troy pulled back the tent flap and motioned me in.
“Aren’t you coming?” I said.
Troy shook his head. “Micha will see you alone.”
The tent flap dropped, and I turned to find myself in a surprisingly large space. There was a sleeping mat on the floor. In one corner was a big wooden table with chairs around it. A huge tree trunk rose up in the middle of the space, and thick ropes tied to it supported the tent. Perched on a thick branch sticking out from the tree trunk was Micha. His feathery head was as white as his skin was blue. He peered imperiously down at me.
He said, “Your name?”
“Vega Jane,” I said, as firmly as I could.
With a leap and a short flap of his wings Micha descended smoothly to the floor and stood erect. His torso was still powerfully developed, but the muscles, I could tell, had passed their prime. Still, he was an imposing figure.
He motioned for me to sit at the table. I did and he joined me. He passed me a bowl of fruit and then poured out water into wooden cups. I contrasted this with King Thorne, who had servants do all this for him, and my impression of Micha became instantly more positive.
I bit into an apple and drank some of the water.
“What counsel do you seek?” prompted Micha.
“Passage through the Second Circle.”
Micha became instantly rigid and there was a guarded look in his features.
“You speak of circles?”
“Because Astrea Prine taught me of them. I want to pass through them so that I can leave this place.”
“Indeed?” He picked up an orange from the bowl and used his claws to tear it open before putting a chunk of it, skin and all, into his mouth. He chewed slowly.
“So Madame Prine wishes this?”
I pulled out my wand. “Yes. So you know her?”
Micha held his gaze on my wand. “Of course. She is the Keeper of the Quag.”
“We will accept all the risk. We only... we only seek to be better informed.”
“It is always a good thing, to be better informed.” He paused, seeming to choose his words carefully. “There are many challenges in this place.”
“Which is why I’m here.” I held up my wand. “Astrea has trained me up, yet I would never turn down either helpful information or any element or other tool that might prove advantageous to us.”
He considered my words carefully. “One hears of things that reside in the Quag. And I do not mean simply beasts.”
“What sorts of things?”
“Things hidden here and there that might prove useful to one such as you.”
This piqued my curiosity. Astrea had never mentioned anything like that. Perhaps this was why Silenus had directed me here. “Do you know of any specific things like that?”
He nodded slowly. “There is a magical element known as the Finn.”
“What does it do?”
“It can do a great many things. Useful things,” he added.
“Did Astrea create it?”
“No. Not all things in here were created by those who made the Quag.”
My spirits plummeted. “Are you saying that a Maladon created the Finn?”
“So you know of Maladons, do you?”
“As, obviously, do you.”
Micha said, “It could be that the Maladons created the Finn. I am not sure about that. But I am sure that it is heavily guarded.”
“By what?”
“A coven of alectos. Creatures with vile serpents for hair, and blood dripping from their eyes. They have the power to drive one to kill themselves through the hypnotic sway of the serpents upon their heads.”
Oh my holy Steeples. “Where is this coven?”
“Two miles from here in a cave upon a knoll. I will take you, if you so desire.” He eyed me curiously, obviously awaiting my answer.
I was feeling confused and terrified that there were Maladons in the Quag. This made me suspicious. Of everyone. Voicing this thought, I said, “Why are you helping us, Micha?” I demanded. “You don’t know me.”
“But I do know Madame Prine. And I admire courage, particularly in one so young. To be frank, I doubt you will survive. But I admire your courage nonetheless.”
Why did that not make me feel any better?
Triginta septem: The Mighty Finn
I could not use Destin without another storm commencing, so Micha was carrying me. Other hyperbores, including Troy and Ishmael, had ahold of all the others. When I looked over at Lackland and saw his panicked expression, I had to smile. Petra, on the other hand, seemed perfectly comfortable.
We started to descend and when I looked down, I saw why.
There was the knoll. From here I could not see the entrance to the cave, but that was probably because it was also growing dark even though it wasn’t night yet. The bloody Quag! We landed gently and Micha set me down.
The others landed next to us. When we were all gathered around, Micha warned, “Remember never to look the snakes in the eyes. That way you will not be fooled into killing yourself.” He put a hand on my shoulder. “Good luck.”
“Thank you,” I said.
He unfolded his wings, and the hyperbores soared upward.
“Okay,” I said, and turned to the others. “I’ll go into the cave while you stay out here and keep watch. If I get into any trouble—”
“Are you mental?” interrupted Delph. “I didn’t let you have a go at the colossals on your own. Do you really think I’m gonna let you go in there alone to face these alecto things by yourself?”
“There’s four of us,” added Lackland forcefully. “Better we all fight.”
Harry Two immediately let out a bark.
Lackland looked down at him and said with an amused expression, “All right, five, then.”
“I’ve got a wand,” I pointed out.
“And I’ve got me sword,” countered Lackland.
“And me my crossbow,” added Petra.
Delph hefted the ax and said, “And in a dark cave, you need someone good with directions and that’s me.”
I started to protest, but looking at their faces, I knew it would do no good. I would have to knock them all unconscious to keep them out of the blasted cave. And then another emotion hit me: gratitude. They were willing to risk their lives to help me do this. I should appreciate that, and I bloody well did.
“Okay, but when we run into these alectos, don’t forget what Micha said.” We headed to the cave.
“Illumina.” The inside of the cave instantly became lighted and I went first, looking in all directions for evil creatures with vipers for hair and blood for eyes.
“Stay close,” I said over my shoulder. “And stay ready.”
“What does this Finn thing look like?” Delph whispered. Still, it sounded like he had shouted as his words echoed through the confined space.
“I don’t know. Micha didn’t say. But I assume it will be pretty obvious what these alectos are guarding when we get—”