Feargus

  Ultimately, Everleigh needed help from the fast runners to tote chairs from the Jaskar over to the theatre in the south, and I won’t bore you with logistics because, really, all we did was run with chairs. And once we were done, we all still had to head back to the base for the nine o’clock deadline, but I had a personal stop I wanted to make first. By the time I arrived at Zack’s music note, I had an hour before I needed to be back at the base in order to leave with the others.

  Above the hatch, I blew the whistle and waited just under thirty seconds for Zack to appear. I hurried down the stairs because, mates, his hair was a mess, his shirt was undone, and though still foxy as ever, he looked terrible.

  We hugged quickly and without a word, he led me to his room.

  When I didn’t see Quinn, I asked, “Are you all right, mate?”

  “It’s nothing new, Feargus Finlay. Quinn is situated at the Gander once more, but in helping her, I’ve been yet again reminded that all of this—that none of this would be—”

  The man-cave was looking about as disheveled as Zack. He hadn’t dusted lately, and there were sheets and crumpled balls of paper strewn about the space around his piano.

  We moved to the couch and I took his hands.

  He didn’t even protest or pretend not to like it, he just looked apathetically my way.

  “I’m going to tell it to you straight because things are about to kick off, but here’s the thing, mate: it’s done. Everything that happened was awful, and it was also pretty amazing, but it happened. It’s done, and we’ve all done things. Now we’re going to do more things, and hopefully they’re the right things.”

  When Zack didn’t answer straightaway, I moseyed over to the mess by the piano, collecting the litter from the floor. I then stacked the pages on the table beside the piano, and unfurled one of the crumpled balls.

  “Sebastian’s back,” I said.

  “How wonderful for him,” Zack answered.

  I flattened another paper ball and added it to the stack of pages. “It could be wonderful for you, too. We’re all going to a concert at the old theatre. We’re leaving tonight by carriage, so it’ll be a couple days before we—but you should come, S.R. Pie. It’d be the perfect time for a reunion, wouldn’t it?”

  “I will think about it.”

  “All right, mate, well, we’re all gonna be wearing some measure of pine-needle green, so you’ll fit right in. Actually, I wouldn’t put it past Everleigh to have planned it that way. Meaning, she hopes you’ll be there, too.”

  “I said I will think about it.”

  “What are we gonna do about Florea? Sebastian deserves to know.”

  “I certainly haven’t been keeping him frozen and under my control because it’s fun, Feargus Finlay. Tell him—or better yet, show him. Sebastian’s wishes will be my command, and if he wishes to destroy him, he can do so himself.”

  “Can he? Sebastian seems…”

  “I know how Sebastian seems.”

  “All right, mate. How’s Quinn? Did you learn much from her?”

  “Quinn is stabilized, and I’ve learned nothing that cannot wait until after you and your friends have enjoyed your celebrations.”

  So, if Zack wasn’t worried about the world coming to an imminent end, then I supposed I could relax for a minute because I was certain if there was anything urgent we needed to know to stay safe, he’d tell me. After cleaning up the area around the piano, I made my way back to the couch. Zack ran a hand through his hair and hesitated before speaking.

  “What do your friends think of me?” he asked.

  Seemed I wasn't the only one a touch anxious about how he'd be received by the others. “Mate, I won’t lie: they think you’re a bit strange. But that’s only because you’ve never actually had a two-way conversation with any of them, except Adeline, and even that was quite awkward.”

  Zack nodded slowly, saying nothing.

  “But look,” I continued, “it’s just because they don’t know you, and the concert would be a great time for that, wouldn’t it? They’ll all be drunk, probably, and having loads of fun.”

  Zacharias shrugged. “Well, you should probably get going.”

  I hated leaving him in such a sorry state, but even not knowing what was coming, that concert was important to all of us. Celebrating with so many Partisans just wasn’t something that happened on the regular—if at all. We usually had to make our own fun, in small groups and in private corners like the treehouse back at Palisade.

  I reckoned everyone was well excited.

  Zack must have sensed my internal conflict, because he stood from the couch, grabbed me gently by each shoulder, and forced me to stand. We held there a moment.

  “Have fun, Feargus Finlay. You deserve it.”

  After leading me out of his room, we paused at the hatch.

  “I almost forgot to thank you,” I said.

  “For what?” Zack asked.

  “For putting Adeline in my bed.”

  That earned me a faint, crooked smile, and before opening the hatch to the outside world, Zacharias tipped his cane in my direction.

  I arrived at the base in the nick of time. The carriages were just about ready to leave, and I was told they’d packed up my clothes. I wasn’t sure why everybody decided to get dressed in advance when we had so much travel ahead, but like I said: I reckoned they were excited. I stuck out like a sore thumb with them all dressed up, but I’d find an opportunity to get changed some time along the way. Also, let’s face it: I didn’t give two figs about what I was wearing when I finally had my sister back.

  It took some shuffling around so Rhian and I could be in the same wagon together, and in the end, we crammed most of the Strachan (and Strauss) into one. Otherwise, we planned to rotate people throughout the trip, giving everybody the opportunity to mingle. I hadn’t had the chance to see Addie in her dress yet, and I could hardly wait.

  Naturally, I showered my sister with hugs and kisses, and she did what she could while stuffed between me and Strauss wearing the equivalent to a sausage casing. And I’m not saying she was fat—I’m saying the dress was incredibly tight, and she was finally looking pregnant. I gave her belly a little smooch and she ruffled my hair.

  Now, as you know from The Second One, Rhian skipped over all the most interesting bits. I really don’t know what she was thinking, then again, whenever I say, “Rhian, I really don’t know what you were thinking skipping the most interesting bits,” she says, “I was thinking I’m not an expert book-writer, mate. I did my bloody best.”

  So, there you have it: Rhian Sinclair is not an expert book-writer.

  Imagine that.

  Anyhow—what I’ve been trying to say is: Rhian skipped over all the most interesting bits, which in my opinion, includes the time we all spent getting friendly with one another in incredibly confined spaces. So, mates, here are the highlights:

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  On the Road With the Crew

  Entry Log #1

  “’Ey Strauss,” I said. “Happy belated birthday.”

  Strauss leaned across Rhian in my direction and nodded. “Thank you.”

  “Your birthday?” Evelyn asked. “Why didn’t you tell us?”

  “I’ve never celebrated my birthday, why begin now?”

  “Because we’re on our way to a concert in an ancient theatre mate,” I suggested. “That’s right up your alley, isn’t it?”

  “Yes, I suppose is it.”

  To give Strauss and Rhian room on their side of the wagon, I shifted over to sit beside Evelyn. “Speaking of birthdays, I reckon now’s a grand time to hear the story of Rhian’s.”

  Evelyn laughed. “If Rhian wants to hear it.”

  “Well, I certainly do,” Strauss remarked, “so that makes for two against one.”

  Rhian snorted. “Don’t reckon a story’s gonna kill anyone, so, aye, go ahead.”

  “Well,” Evelyn started, “we were still in Amalia by the time I was around thirty-five weeks pregnant, and all I wanted was to be home in Stracha for the birth. So, Rhydian, Kaisa, and Andreas stole an embark at the Drop.”

  “How’d they manage that?” I asked.

  “You’d have to ask Rhydian for the details, love,” Evelyn said. “But they picked me up on the coast not far from Verena where they had me wait with Emerich Bach.” Evelyn looked fondly toward Rhian who was picking something out of her teeth with her fingernail. “Of course, this one couldn’t wait, could she?”

  Aye, that was Rhian. Always in a hurry. Strauss smirked knowingly.

  Evelyn continued, “We were too far from Amalia to turn around, we’d already passed Delphia, and none of us were familiar enough with Seneca to stop there, so we had no choice but to carry on. The labour was awful, just awful, but it was quick.”

  “My mother was driving the embark?” Strauss asked.

  “She was! And your father and Rhydian delivered Rhian.”

  “Isn’t that something,” I said. “That means Strauss’s dad saw Rhian naked before he did.”

  Evelyn burst into laugher, Rhian rolled her eyes, and Strauss chuckled.

  Then, for the first time that trip, Rhian announced to the wagon with dismay, “I have to wee.”

  Entry Log #2

  “I’ve missed you, mate,” I said.

  Sebastian dazzled us with a smile.

  With Alexander at the reins, it was only the two of us in the wagon with Adeline. I was incredibly tempted to ask him to get out and run because she looked so beautiful, as always, and I wanted to show her my appreciation.

  But Sebastian hated running, and the anticipation of finally getting a moment alone was quite fun, actually. For now, we settled with holding hands.

  “I, too, have missed you all.” Sebastian seemed about to say something more, but he paused with a questioning glance toward Adeline before looking back to me.

  “She knows everything about everything.”

  Adeline nodded sagely. “We’re co-conspirators now.”

  Sebastian nodded slowly. “Then how’s Zacharias?”

  “Not so good right now, actually. And he’s anxious about seeing you again.”

  With a sigh, Sebastian adjusted the lapels of his suit. Unlike the rest of the lads who were all in black suits with white shirts and green ties, he was wearing a white suit with a white shirt, a vest the colour of sparkling wine, and a golden tie. “Will he be joining us?”

  “I don’t know,” I admitted. “I’ve invited him, though.”

  With Sebastian lost in thought, Adeline flashed her dimples my way and squeezed my hand.

  I squeezed back.

  “You must be looking forward to seeing Everleigh,” I said.

  “More than anything, Feargus Finlay.”

  “You should know, mister Vonsinfonie, even though she once kidnapped us, we all love her very much.”

  Sebastian sniffed, straightening his posture—as if it needed straightening. “I’ve lived a long life, my friends, and Everleigh Gloom is one of the most remarkable people I’ve ever met. I’m hardly surprised she’s managed to impress you all.”

  “Aye,” I agreed. “I don’t know what I’d do without her.”

  “You and me both.” Adeline peered out the window. “Wait, why are we slowing down?”

  I peeked out my own window just as the carriage came to a halt.

  “Ten to one,” I said, “Rhian has to wee again.”

  Entry Log #3

  “Riz—it's been so good seeing you again, mate.”

  “Yeah, you, too, Finlay. It’s pretty wild, isn’t it? Everything coming together the way it has.”

  Wild, unless you were me, and then it was just work, wasn’t it?

  While we chatted, Bells and Markus slept.

  “Looking forward to the concert?” I asked.

  “I mean, sure, I love a good show. But that Strachan is…”

  I gave Riz a good once over while he chose his words. He didn’t look upset.

  “I don’t think I’ve met anyone like her before,” Riz decided.

  “Mate, you can upgrade that to an absolute statement. She’s one of a kind.”

  Riz chuckled, nodding. “Yeah. Well, do you think I have a shot?”

  “You’re confident, good looking, nice, fun, talented, tall, and have dark hair,” I recited the gist of Everleigh’s wish list. “Mate, it’s perfect. Also, I hear you have a—”

  “All true.”

  “Aye, so there you go.”

  Entry Log #4

  “I have to wee again,” Rhian said.

  “Did anybody think to bring a bucket?” Michael asked.

  I’d missed Michael. I laughed quite hard.

  “It’s not funny,” Rhian lied, because to me, mates, it looked like she was trying not to laugh so she wouldn’t wee.

  “I’m certain Riz wouldn’t mind stopping,” Strauss remarked.

  “Okay, well, while she pees,” Michael said, “I’ll be looking for a bucket.”

  Entry Log #5

  “So, Jake, how you been?”

  “Fine,” Jakob replied. “I’m happy to be with uncle Sebastian.”

  “Aye, mate, we’re all glad to be with uncle Sebastian.”

  “I can hardly stand the flattery,” Sebastian chimed. “But please, don’t stop on my account.”

  I gave him a little cuddle. The sandalwood, the vanilla, and the musk. It was quite a nice scent, actually. Sebastian laid his arm around my shoulders.

  Alexander observed quietly from the opposite bench. By this point, I reckoned we were all getting tired of being in wagons with each other, as much as we all loved one another.

  “When are we going to see mother?” Jakob asked.

  “With any luck, never,” Sebastian answered.

  I nudged him in the side gently—but meaningfully—with my elbow.

  “I reckon what Sebastian means to say is, that’ll be up to you, Jakob.”

  Alexander looked to me with a subtle nod.

  Sebastian breathed in deeply, but then he nodded, too. “Feargus Finlay is correct—it’ll be up to you, Jakob.”

  “With any luck, never,” Jakob echoed. “Or with any luck, soon.”

  Entry Log #6

  “I’m not weeing in a bucket,” Rhian decreed. “Especially not this one. I don’t trust it.”

  “What’s to not trust?” I asked. “It’s a bucket.”

  “Aye, but where did he even get a bucket? Did any of you pack a bucket?”

  Adeline shook her head. “I didn’t.”

  “I packed the bucket,” Riz confessed.

  “Why’d you pack a bucket, mate?”

  “Any good Nav knows to have a bucket handy, and especially with a passenger like Drei.”

  “Right,” Rhian said. “That was thoughtful of you. But I’m still not weeing in it. One bad bump in the road and I’m weeing all over you people instead.”

  “We’ll be stopping at the Widow's Peak soon, Enforcer Rhian,” Adeline encouraged. “Let’s amuse ourselves with something to distract you from your urinary urgency.”

  Rhian pointed a finger around the wagon. “If any of you say, ‘Let’s play Say a Thing or Do a Thing,’ I’ll eat your face.”

  Adeline giggled, and I smiled over at her.

  “Yeah, I just narrowly escaped that fate,” Riz confessed—again.

  In the end, nobody’s face was eaten,

  we all had a nap,

  Rhian didn’t wee in the bucket,

  and we arrived in Oskari twenty-three minutes later.