There were so many new and interesting smells inside of the human lands. I wasn't so partial to the amount of livestock that wafted on that northward wind, but apparently this was a normal thing. Faerie had smells of course, but those were masked by the sheer amount of aether.

  Aether was thick there, with the smells overpowering to those without the gift.

  I didn't mind it. I could always return. That was the beauty of being able to sail from one realm to another. The other great thing about traveling with the ship was that I could bring a lot more than I could carry. I just had to get it all into the ship. Thankfully, I had enough help with Vivian loading everything into the extra storage chests that we kept getting. The blood maidens company had gotten paid well for the last blood rites and we were going to see if we could align with one of the more esoteric human rituals.

  There was always a fair bit of speculation around whether we would arrive on time or too late.

  We had to trust the wind to guide us. It had in fact guided Martin this whole time.

  "It's almost like I can smell the academy crowns. I'm here. I don't like it. Ollie, make it stop."

  "I will not. Your people have many atrocities to answer for, most of all that statue."

  The largest statue I had ever seen rose up in the center of the bay. It bisected two cliffs and it was a monument to humanity and their terrible use of their own time. It was glorious but it was clearly missing an arm and half of it's head, likely due to some battle in ages past.

  The arm itself was clearly in the water. It could have been cleaned up but she was pretty sure they left it there for the effect. Any large boat could sail between the two cliffs that led into the bay.

  "Fergus is a great statue. Did you know that he was the first warlord of... And you're not already not paying attention."

  "Warlords are boring. Show me something different like a human that united his people through song and dance."

  "Is that a thing that the fair folks do?"

  We Begin our movement between those giant statues legs.

  "It's got to be a human thing right? Does everybody want to to be walk between a giant statue's Lex is that what it is? He's not even showing his bits accurately."

  "I suppose he wants to make a giant phallus. Is that correct?"

  "Only if you're going to have a large statue. Want to have it. At least make it look accurate or proportional."

  We passed through the shadow.

  "Oh! It is accurate," I said pointing it out. "Apologies. Weird that his manhood is on the side with the city."

  "It's just big manhood keeping the watch for all of us."

  During the long time it had taken us to get here, Martin had gone over a lot of things about the academy as we got to know each other. I gotten very comfortable spending time with him. After all, a student review and we're not nearly,wise, but they often acted like it. Martin and I well. Let's just say we were familiar now. I didn't know it was going to go because you still are like shift pack passing the night even though it been going the same interaction for a long time.

  He going over some of the politics of the economy, some of the things that a local should know. How the humans ran their various schools and classes and all the things that I would have known if I'd gone up there. And then we told you to tell the stories and then after some time we sort of ran out of things to talk about. Or at least we were out of things that he did want to surprise me about.

  "There has to be some joke about him pissing on people passing through or shitting on them."

  He breathes through his teeth. "Oh, we are still on that about that? Are we?"

  "Look I appreciate that. They decided that they were going to make it the correct size for his... Its proportional as I'm saying. I'm also saying that it might be the wrong message to be sending to traders that are coming into this port."

  The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  He rolled his eyes. Perfect.

  "This is the part that leads to the fae lands so I think they knew what they were doing. Though I guess there are other ways to get there, and other routes that use this."

  We passed by several vessels going to opposite way. Each one was made of stern dark wood and had a uniform color. Martin paled a bit at that.

  "Those are a lords vessels though since they're not flying a flag, I could not tell you which one."

  "Why would they be floating that way? Is there something going on?"

  Vivian took that moment to pop in. "The technical term is sailing. So we're not just floating."

  I was not going to give her the satisfaction of responding to that. If she wanted to go into the minutiae life here then I would have to let her make her own case for it.

  This was not going to be the best thing about the trip for sure. But it was one of those things that you got to notice and for the first time it was interesting.

  South of us, we could see the city. It was the kind of place where you went to and never left. Hundreds of thousands of humans had to live there along with the fair folk and others. In the sky, dozens of dragons flew about stretching their wings and looking like they were ready to cause havoc.

  "Those dragons are they always there?"

  "They are. We have an agreement with them. Every so often, one of them sexy Dragon Rider. Usually it is about thirty to one hundred a year."

  One of them, black dragon flew over head. It was high enough that it was could intersect with the statue if it wanted to. That was enough.

  "That's always happening isn't it?"

  "Oh, the dragons? You get used to it. Dragons are nice but they're not like breasts."

  "Pardon?"

  Martin blushed. "Apologies, only meant that you're always happy to see breasts but dragons you tend to stop caring about after the tenth one."

  That wasn't exactly where he was going but he was cute when he was flustered. Oh, what it would be to exploit that.

  The dragon flew around the statue warlord Fergus. It did a spinning diving aerial maneuver that took my breath away. I wouldn't have been capable of that even if I had thick scaly wings. That wouldn't have worked at all.

  "Where's do you usually eat here? I'm ready for something fresh. The boat life has its charms but I'm going to want something land based."

  Martin leaned forward. "I usually eat at the mess hall but I've known a few places where I take visitors and guests."

  "Where do you take romantic partners to?" I flipped my hair back.

  "I... Don't that is I wouldn't... Er."

  Stuart took that moment to stop eavesdropping from the helm. "Take the bait. Trust me human."

  "Well okay with a romantic partner I guess I have a few ideas. I could take care of someplace where she would really enjoy the food. Is that something you want to do?"

  "Of course!"

  I was shaking. It had taken Stuart so much work to get him to realize that I was trying to get him make some sort of move. Weeks of pining over each other on a trip had not resolved. Perhaps he thought that I was unwilling to be loud and in charge. If I had to take over his part of the courting then this was not going to work out too well.

  "Well then. I guess the question really is then how spicy do you like your food? And do you want something that's more meat or do you want something that is seafood. Because they've had great seafood. Here what we call it. I know you like my swordfish steaks, but perhaps there's something else you want?"

  I gave him the look. His little shudder made me smile.