Thesa awoke in a different place. She’d been moved to a couch in the dwelling’s central room. The other sofas had been shoved aside to make room for her party’s tents.

  In the dark, Thesa’s [Infravision] was active, giving the room a blue heat-tone. She could see the low warmth of Witmie and Durn asleep in their tents. Yabba, the Foxtapus, and Frostbite were out with the Carcilisk.

  Thesa could see Merijest too. Her demoness’s body heat rose as she slept so the heat-tones of her body were now an inviting shade of pink.

  Thesa needed more sleep. Her body was sore and a tingling sensation would sometimes shower the nerves around her scarred leg. Her body was still in recovery, after all. Even with Merijest and Durn providing healing [Spells] to keep her going, Thesa needed good rest.

  And yet she lay awake.

  She rolled onto one side, hoping the adjustment would help. The sofa was comfortable in its own way. Perhaps a little too soft all around but Thesa found that preferable to stiff cushions. Her body sank back into that enveloping softness…

  Ah! Her body jerked awake. Right on the precipice of sleep she’d felt herself falling. Cold sweat wet her forehead and her lungs raced.

  Sitting up, she stretched lightly. As far as she knew logically, she was safe, but that sudden pull made her feel vulnerable. She would have to stay upright for a bit. She rubbed the end of her severed leg.

  Returning her gaze to Merijest, Thesa considered climbing into the tent, but she didn’t want to make a bunch of noise.

  ***

  “Based on what we could get out of Rilriss,” Durn explained, “ItherBeau’s land borders are on heavy lockdown. Nobody is going in or out since our last run in with the Knights. They really want to smoke us out.”

  With the sofas returned to their original place, Durn relayed the things she and Witmie had learned from Rilriss.

  On the couch Thesa had slept on, Vovian rested their froggy head in the lap of Girr, a deerkin with just one antler. With one hand, Girr patted Vovian’s head. Their other arm was around the shoulder of a kobold woman named Pald.

  On another sofa, a human called Drisha sat holding Layk’s hand. Their taller-than-average height made Layk’s halfling stature all the more noticeable.

  On a short table, hot cups of tea steamed for everyone to enjoy.

  On the other hand, Merijest was up and leaning against a wall while Thesa baced the room, slowly acclimating to the balance and gait of her new prosthetic.

  It was a simple peg leg attached by a leather harness which tightened just below her knee and around the thick of her thigh. It had its drawbacks, but it was the only thing Layk could manage that wouldn’t totally halt Thesa’s combat maneuverability.

  “‘They want to smoke us out,’” Thesa repeated quietly, trying to follow Durn’s words through the fog of sleepiness. Thesa summoned her halberd and used it to balance herself in place. “What does that mean for us?” With her free hand she rubbed her eyes.

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  “Well we only have, what, eight days until the solstice, right?” Durn asked.

  Merijest nodded. “Even with potions, my magic will be diminished and Beautuk’s will be at its peak.”

  “Sounds like we really need a boat,” Durn replied.

  Thesa nodded, although she hadn’t processed most of the conversation. Meanwhile, the members of the Crossbone Mysteries looked at one another and nodded.

  Girr spoke up. “We may be able to provide a vessel, although… it’s not in the best shape.”

  “It’s well-made though,” Layk said. “It’s seen better days, but it should get you out of ItherBeau.”

  “Yep, and you couldn’t pay me to go back on that ocean,” Drisha grumbled. Their fellow mystery cultists chuckled grimly.

  ***

  A secret backdoor led out from the Crossbone Mysteries’ dwelling. Merijest’s party followed their hosts out to a well-covered riverbank. A boat, which had been named The Common Fate, wobbled in the water, tied with intricate knots to the trunk of a thick, gold-barked tree.

  Thesa hadn’t seen many boats before so to her the small sailing vessel was huge. The mast loomed above her. The two sails were like massive wings. It was at once intimidating and inviting. For some reason the whole thing reminded her of Merijest.

  The rudder at the back was controlled with a simple lever that Vovian called a ‘tiller.’ The cramped cabin could be entered through a trapdoor near the front of the ship and a pair of doors in something called a ‘companionway’ which was between the mast and the rudder.

  The Foxtapus had already found a small nook within a coil of rope where it yawned as it curled up for a nap.

  “Layk made these chain-tarps that we used to keep the sun off during long days,” Girr explained. “And make whatever use you can out of the remaining fishing tools.”

  The boat rocked as Yabba joined the rest of Merijest's party onboard.

  “This is better than we could have imagined,” Merijest said. “Thank you.”

  The wood of the deck and the hull were aged and scarred, but more than serviceable. The sails had some tattering along the edges which would need mending, but that could be managed as they traveled the flow of the wide river.

  Thesa practiced moving on the rocky deck with her peg leg. Her natural affinity for movement helped a great bit with the process. As long as she stayed focused, she wouldn’t fall over. She was just so tired, still.

  “Ok it's set up,” Layk said, as she climbed out of the companionway. “Just pour some [Mana] through those doors and it should work fine. The more [Mana] you can spare, the bigger it will end up.”

  Merijest placed a hand against one of the doors and closed her eyes. The doors glowed. The demoness's feathers stood on end. Her wings grew to full size and spread out. Her white pupils expanded.

  Thesa stumbled and fell forward, tumbling forward to avoid hitting anything vital.

  “I'm guessing this will take a minute,” Layk said.

  Thesa nodded from her awkward position on the wooden floor.

  “I think I have a few other things that might be of use,” Layk said as she stepped off the boat.

  “Where are you taking me now?” Rilriss's voice emerged from the [Dungeon]’s backdoor. Her legs and hands were bound and her eyes were covered with a strip of cloth. Durn carried the [Bard] over her shoulder with Witmie following close behind.

  Rather than the usual banter, Witmie offered Thesa a hand up with no judgement. Again, Thesa couldn’t decide if that was better or more embarrassing. She didn’t like the sad looks of pity.

  Once up, Thesa retired to the [Dungeon] dwelling for a fitful nap.

  Is there anything you hope Thesa, Merijest, and the rest get to do when the story continues? I'm working on Volume 3 and I always want to know if you have any requests! (no promises though!)

  ***

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