“If only Sal were so well behaved.” She gave him a sisterly jab to the ribs. "And yes, it's been too damned long."
Once on the ground, Hannah, Gregory, and Vitali left the ship in the middle of the grassy landing field. The engineer took the time to walk her length, inspecting each and every new mark that Hannah and the team had earned in battles throughout Irth. They had closed countless portals, and it had been a never-ending battle against the Skrima of Hyrrheim. The Unlawful had proved helpful every step of the way.
He paused at one sizable laceration in the hull. "Really, Hannah?" He shook his head in disgust. "I'm never letting my baby out my sight again."
Hannah laughed. "Come on, Dad. I promise I'll take care of her, just don’t take the keys away. And what does Laurel think of you calling this heap your baby?"
She swiped Gregory's hand away from the gash in the metal and placed her hand over it. Her eyes flashed red and she rubbed her palm over the spot, and before their eyes, the metal shifted back into place and mended itself.
A purr rose from Vitali's throat. "Good as new."
Gregory squinted at the spot. "Good, sure. But new? Not a chance."
"Lighten up, G." Hannah landed a playful punch on his shoulder. "It's only a machine."
"Yeah. And that bag of scales you call ‘Sal’ is only a lizard."
They both looked at Vitali, and he raised his hands. "No fucking cat jokes. I only just finally got away from Aysa."
They laughed and made their way toward New Romanov. During the walk up the grassy rise toward the city, Hannah could see that much had happened since they had left. The wall, which had been in total disarray from the Age of Madness, had been rebuilt, at least the southern side. A giant gate stood open, welcoming them into the city, a guard on each side.
“Um, Hannah…” Gregory glanced back at the airship. “Where's everyone else?" He pulled his hand through his thick kinky hair, and Hannah could tell he was anxious.
"Calm down, Gregory. Everyone's fine...as far as I know. They're out on their own missions." She nodded toward the center of town. "I'll tell you and that hot piece of tail about it once we’re together. Now let's go see her."
He nodded and forced an awkward smile. "Yeah, we’ll get there. But I want to show you what we’ve been up to first. The citizens have been busy. Since we built the machine to hold the rift closed, they’ve realized they might be able to have some sort of normal life again. I guess you could say they’ve gotten a renewed sense of purpose, and a quality of life that many of them have never known. Olaf's done a hell of a job training up an army, while Laurel has organized a group of farmers to grow new crops." He pointed toward the west. "We’ve had one hell of a yield."
Hannah was looking forward to seeing her druid friend, who had stayed behind with Gregory. "Imagine that! A master of the natural arts being able to grow a little garden..."
Gregory shook his head and nodded toward a ramp inside the gate that led to the top of the wall. "Come on."
They walked to the top, and Hannah's eyes turned toward the fields. Stretching out as far as the eye could see were rows and rows of crops, the different species in their own perfect sections. There was enough food growing before her gaze to feed half of Arcadia, including the Boulevard. "Well, dayum. Okay. I'm duly impressed."
"Yeah, she's pretty badass." Gregory smiled.
"Looks like you've kept things running yourself," Vitali interjected, nodding toward the steady beam from the cliffside, where Gregory’s machine had first been constructed to hold the mighty rift closed. When they had left the tech had just been pieced together from whatever Gregory could find in the city, but now it was a perfect work of art.
"Yeah, it's stable. I have it dialed in and running as efficiently as it can. Doesn't take much to keep her charged with a handful of magicians directing Etheric energy in once a week. Hell, if I could re-engineer my father's flying machine with what I know now, we could freaking supercharge her."
Hannah and Vitali exchanged glances. "I think we learned today that she's charged plenty," the Lynqi growled.
"Olaf's here, then?" Hannah asked.
Gregory shook his head. “He and half his troops headed north. There've been more remnant attacks on Urai. Mika has been spending most of her time up there helping them rebuild after that Skrima destroyed the place." He gave a devilish grin. "I think our werefriend mostly wanted to go up for a few warm nights. He'll be back soon enough."
"I had hoped to see them on my stop," Hannah told him.
"Stop? You're not back to stay?” Gregory asked.
“We’ll get to that.”
As they wove their way through the streets of New Romanov, Hannah was greeted by the townspeople like a hero. The hoots and hollers didn't draw her attention away from the progress the town had made in her absence, though.
"It has been years," Gregory remarked.
"Only a year and change," Hannah quipped.
Vitali laughed as he listened to them quibble like siblings. "That's a lot of change, Hannah. It’s been almost twenty-two months."
She slapped Gregory on the back. "Mika got the town together, Olaf trained an army, Laurel planted a huge-ass garden. All you did was tweak the machine you made way back when I was here? Haven't you made anything new?"
The sheepish grin she had known since her first day in the Academy materialized on Gregory's face. "Well, as a matter of fact I have." He stopped in front of a tidy little house off the edge of the town square. Its perfect flower boxes showed evidence of a druid's work.
"What's this, your workshop?" Vitali asked.
"You could call it that. Come see my new project."
They stepped toward the structure, and Gregory’s face turned bright red. Must be some sort of machine he’d been building since she’d last been on the streets of New Romanov. Hannah could only hope it might help accomplish whatever Ezekiel needed them for.
"Time for the big reveal," Gregory said as he pushed the door open and stepped in, making space for his friends. Before he could utter a word, shrieks filled the room.
"Hannah? What the bloody hell?" Laurel's shriek came first. But she didn't get up to greet the magician.
The second shriek came from the tiny baby wrapped in blue and squirming in her arms.
The baby’s red-faced screams filled the home, but they couldn’t quell the smile of pride adorning Gregory’s face.
“What the hell?” Hannah exclaimed, as if her words were out of her control. “How’d this happen?”
Laurel looked up from the little man in her arms. “Nice to see you too, Hannah. And if you need some clarifications about where babies come from, I’m sure Parker would be happy to give you some hands-on lessons. He and his magic staff, if you know what I mean.”
She and Gregory laughed as Hannah gaped at the tiny human.
“This is...this is...amazing!” she finally blurted. Her eyes cut back and forth between the proud parents. “How old is it?”
“It?” Laurel asked. “You might be a totally kickass wizard, but your social skills are worse than my husband’s.” She nudged Gregory in the ribs. “He is four weeks old. Just born really.”
“But it feels like he’s been screaming forever,” Gregory added dryly.
Hannah stepped carefully across the room as if a hard footfall might disturb the universe and crouched, bringing her eye level to the newborn’s. He looked at her, and the crying ceased.
“Holy shit, you two!” she whispered.
“Language, Hannah,” Gregory scolded.
She smiled as she looked up at him. “I think it’s still a little early for him to pick up bad words from Aunt Hannah.”
“And it’s a good thing,” Laurel said.
“Guys, this is...well, unexpected.”
Gregory and Laurel looked at each other, both turning slightly pink. Hannah was used to this with Gregory. Back at the Academy, he’d blush if a pretty girl’s name was mentioned.
He looked up as the b
aby gripped his thumb with pink digits. “Yeah. It changes everything. I fought for Irth with all my strength before.” He glanced down at the child. “Now I’d willingly give up my life and a thousand more for this guy.”
“What’s his name?” Hannah asked.
The lovebirds looked at each other again, then down at their son, and finally at Hannah.
“This guy has a lot of potential,” Laurel finally said. “We decided to name him after the one who has changed the world.”
Hannah narrowed her eyes, and then it hit her. “Ezekiel?”
Gregory’s face lit up like the Noble District during holidays. “Yeah, Ezekiel. But we call him ‘Zeke.’”
Hannah’s throat constricted, and emotions swept over her as she looked down on the new life. For the first time in a long time, she had hope for humanity and Irth.
“Hey, Zeke,” she cooed. “You’re going to do something big. I know it already.” She gently rubbed the spot between his eyes with her forefinger. “I’m going to teach you magic. You’ll be more powerful than that other Zeke.”
That sat like that for a while, as time escaped them. Finally, she looked up at little Ezekiel’s parents. “Speaking of Zeke, I should probably tell you why I’m here.”
“No fucking way. I’m going!”
The explosion had occurred immediately after Hannah had recounted the story of meeting Ezekiel in the village far to the west, and it was to be expected. Hannah and Gregory both knew that. When it came to a mission for Team BBB, logic held no sway. This new life had to be their priority, but even so, Laurel looked as serious as a funeral on a rainy day.
“Kid or no kid, you’re not leaving me behind,” she spat. “Olaf and Mika can watch him.”
Gregory reached out to stroke her hair, but she pulled away from him. “Babe—”
“Don’t you ‘babe’ me, you spineless little prick,” she shouted. “I’ve been given certain powers, powers stronger than many like me. If Irth is in danger—”
Hannah leaned in and grabbed her leg. “Laurel, I know you have hormones competing with the nanocytes right now, and frankly, the hormones are winning. I need you,” she looked up at Gregory and down at the baby, “we need you to stay. For this little guy, but also for New Romanov. Who the hell knows what will happen while we’re gone? Sure, we’re both concerned about this new little magician, but it would also be good for—”
“Don’t tell me what’s good,” Laurel snapped with the rage of a Skrim.
Gregory laughed and sat next to his partner. “We know, Laurel.”
“Know what?” She looked like she was ready to rip off whichever appendage first came into striking distance.
“We know that, all things being as they were, you would stand against any evil Ezekiel needed you to. But now is not the time, not for you. Our jobs have changed. Our lives have changed. Everything became different once you—”
“Me?” She raised her voice again. “In case you have forgotten, you had a little something to do with this!”
“‘Little something?’” Vitali asked with a laugh. They all ignored him.
Laurel looked down at her child and knew Gregory was right, but she was nothing if not stubborn.
“And I’m not just worried about this kid,” Hannah lied. And then she repeated her plea for the city now that Laurel’s temperature had cooled. “We need you here at New Romanov. The people need you. You all have done a hell of a job, but the city isn’t ready to stand on its own yet.”
Laurel nodded. She had known from the get-go that this argument would not go in her favor, but on principle, she couldn’t drop it. “How long will it be?”
Hannah shrugged. “Who the hell knows? Zeke went back to Hyrrheim so fast that I didn’t get many details. It’s going to be big, though. The rest of the team is out collecting other warriors from around Irth.”
“Others?” Gregory asked.
Vitali laughed. “You’re still stuck thinking that Team BBB are the only fighters in the world worth a shit, aren't you?”
“No. Well, I…”
“They’re off collecting knights, pirates, and even a druid,” Hannah interjected.
“A druid?” Laurel asked.
“Yeah,” Hannah said, picking up the mug of kaffe that Laurel had brewed to help them get through the night’s discussion. “I hear some of them are pretty okay at fighting. Parker left for the Dark Forest to pick up some girl named Arryn.”
Laurel covered her mouth, trying to stifle her laughter.
“What?” Gregory asked.
“Arryn was like my best friend growing up. Hope her nature magic has improved since I’ve left. She could hardly make a bud blossom without a sweat.”
Hannah looked at Laurel, the new mother, realizing just how much she had changed since she had snuck away from her people to help overthrow Adrien and his legion. “You’ve done all right for yourself.”
“Point well taken,” Laurel agreed. “And if Ezekiel says we need her, I trust he knows what he’s talking about.” She paused to think for a moment. “How does he…”
Hannah cocked her head to the side before finishing her drink. “Know all these people? Damned if I can fathom it, but he does. When we all meet up at the rendezvous, we’ll see exactly what we’re working with!” She placed her mug on the table, then her face became solemn, and she grabbed Laurel’s leg. “We leave at daybreak. I will miss you fighting by my side, my friend, but what you have to protect here is of the utmost importance. Remember that.”
She stood, and without looking back, walked to the room where she would try to get some rest. Thinking about the urgency in Ezekiel’s voice, her stomach turned over. Anything that could cause the old wizard such alarm was nothing to take lightly. Hannah could only pray that little Zeke’s father would get home in one piece.
Chapter Eleven
"Here's to Sal," Abbey toasted, raising her glass, "and his talent for finding Storm Raiders."
“And to your newfound talent for making them crispy,” Dustin proudly interjected.
"And here's to Holdgate," Karl added, "the only place in recent memory where I've been able to get a decent pint o' mead."
They clinked glasses and drank.
Karl kept his glass raised the longest, gulping the heavy liquid like it was water. He only set it down on the table when the mug was empty.
Dustin let out a soft whistle. "Are we sure he's not from Holdgate?"
Karl let out a massive burp. "Ya seafarin’ bastards ain't the only ones as know how ta drink."
"Apparently not," Abbey agreed with a laugh.
They were gathered around a table near the darkest corner of The Drunken Bear, Holdgate's chief drinking establishment. After Abbey burned Morton's ship the Storm Warrior had headed back to the port, and the sailors were celebrating with a much-deserved night of revelry.
Abbey, Dustin, Karl, and Captain Syd were at the table, along with Benjamin, Abbey's father.
Benjamin eyed the rearick with great interest. "So you'll be taking my daughter with you on this adventure tomorrow?"
"Aye," Karl replied. "We'll leave at first light. We've got a long way ta travel."
Benjamin shook his head. "I still can't believe it. The Founder."
"Ye would be much less impressed once ya got ta know ‘im. He can be a right pain in the arse."
Abbey chuckled. "I can be a real pain in the ass too, so we'll get along fine."
"She's not lying," Dustin added.
Abbey glanced at her husband and back at Karl. "I hope you realize Dustin's coming with us. We've only been married six months, and I'm not ready for the honeymoon to end."
Karl's face darkened a moment. "I dunno about that. Hannah didn't mention nothin' about ya bringin’ yer boy toy."
"This boy toy wields lightning," Abbey pointed out. "He's coming."
Karl grumbled so softly his companions could barely hear him, "Why is every hero I meet as stubborn as a slab o’ granite?"
Benjamin s
quinted at the rearick. "And this Hannah... She's the one who took down Adrien?"
"With a little help from 'er friends," Karl told him brusquely.
"Try to keep up, dear," Captain Syd urged, nuzzling her shoulder against him.
Dustin turned to the captain. "You sure Storm Warrior's going to be all right without her first mate and her Storm Caller?"
She frowned. "Like I have any choice in the matter! When destiny or the Founder or whoever calls, who am I to get in your way? We'll muddle along with whatever half-blind Storm Caller the magistrate assigns us. At least that bastard Morton’s dead."
Dustin raised his glass. “Aye, there’s only one response to Storm Raider trash like him. Kill them hard and fast.”
Abbey noticed her father’s sour expression. “What, you disagree?”
Benjamin thought a moment before answering. “In this particular situation? No. You did what you needed to do to keep the people of the Kaldfell Peninsula safe. But in a general sense, I suppose I do disagree.”
Syd glared at him. “What do you mean by that?”
“I mean killing them hard and fast isn’t always the wisest course.” Benjamin took a long pull on his mead. “Morton was a respected stormship captain for two decades. If given the opportunity, it might have been nice to take him alive. Maybe we could have talked to him and found out what caused him to turn to the bloody side of sailing.”
“Spoken like a soft southerner,” Syd muttered.
Benjamin shrugged. “I’m not against killing when it needs to be done. But everytime you end an enemy’s life, you lose something. It might be the valuable intel in his head. It might be leverage over his boss or his loyal followers. But you always lose something.”
“Huh,” Abbey grunted. “I suppose you might have a point there, old man.”
“Still sounds soft to me.” Syd nudged Benjamin. "You need to toughen up. Maybe you'd like to take another voyage or two on Storm Warrior?"
"Not in the least, although it would beat those council meetings." Ever since their return Benjamin had been working closely with the magistrate, a fact some in Holdgate were none too happy about. While they tolerated the existence of the Arcadian native in their city, partly due to his daughter's hero status, having an Arcadian help run their government was a bridge too far for most. "Those endless council meetings make me miss my days in the blacksmith shop."
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