For the next month, Noah worked hard to integrate himself into the wild Fae tribe. He threw himself into his language studies in both Fae and Common, learning to speak, read, and write each to at least a grade‑school level. Common came far more easily once he realized it was a patchwork of human tongues, letting him guess the meaning of certain words. Fae, by contrast, was entirely alien—its logic, structure, and cadence unlike anything he’d ever encountered.
Fortunately, he had far more opportunities to practice Fae, which helped even out the two learning curves. Everywhere he looked, he found new ways to apply his engineering skills to make life easier: a small windmill powering simple machines, a proto‑railway system guiding carts along basic tracks for the miners. Each success drew more attention from the single women of the tribe, forcing him to put his new language skills to work as he gently declined their romantic advances.
Surprisingly, Ciri’s library of romance novels turned out to be invaluable tools in learning more about Fae culture – including how to turn down romantic advances without causing offence. She read them to him every night, ‘incentivizing’ him by promising to try the positions detailed therein if he correctly translated the passages. While this inevitably ended up with one of them in the other’s bed every night, it gave invaluable cultural context that Noah lacked.
‘Æven thyræl quoris velæn’ Ciri translated one night, reading from a book by spell-light with her head on his bare chest. It means ‘I love you by choice’. The typical response – ‘Æven thyræl quoris ænthor’, is not a direct mirror of the words – directly translated it means ‘I love you forever’. In rushed or casual settings, this is sometimes shortened to just ‘velæn’ and ‘ænthor’.
Noah had initially worried about her parents overhearing them and objecting to their intimacy under their roof, but those concerns faded quickly. They repeatedly expressed how overjoyed they were to see her in a happy relationship. She was still Ciri—just a less anxious, more grounded version of herself.
Lots of really good sex will do that to a person, Noah thought after Vela repeated the observation for the third time. And we’ve certainly been having lots of good sex.
It felt to him like he’d jump‑started her libido. After their long shower together she’d still been confused and embarrassed by how much she craved their intimacy, but with steady reassurance she began to internalize the idea that sex could be understood, safe, and pleasurable. That shift in mindset made her intentional—and insatiable—by the end of the month, initiating just as often as he did, sometimes more than once a day. She still had reservations about giving and receiving oral sex and about trying more exotic positions, but those hesitations weakened a little more each day.
Throughout it all, the baby griffon continued to fidget inside its shell. Noah built a nest of blankets inside a box on his floor to keep the creature warm and contained. He checked on it throughout the day as he worked, speaking softly to it each time. While he had no way of knowing for certain, he was convinced its activity was increasing—signaling that hatching was close.
He was in the middle of one such check when a soft knock sounded at his door.
“Noah? Are you in there?” Ken called.
Noah gave the egg one last gentle pat before standing. “I’m here. Come on in.”
The elder Fae opened the door. “We’ve just received word from the docks. Hænnaethrýael has returned. She’s agreed to meet us here after unloading her cargo.”
A bittersweet mix of emotions welled up in Noah. “Got it. I’ll be out in a minute. Have you let Ciri know?”
“I asked Thala to go to the archives and tell her. I suspect she’ll be back before Hænnaethrýael arrives.”
“Thank you, Ken.”
“It is my pleasure.”
When the door closed, Noah took a few deep breaths to steady himself before mentally running through the short checklist of things he needed to do before leaving. He didn’t own much, but he didn’t want to forget anything.
I don’t know when I’ll be back, he thought. And when the time comes, I’m going to miss Ciri too. The twin mirrors will help, but I’ll still miss her.
He smoothed his shirt, stepped into the hallway, and made his way toward the kitchen. He arrived just as Ciri entered from the opposite side, their eyes locking. She rushed into his arms, holding him tightly.
“It’s going to be okay,” he promised. “Leaving doesn’t mean we’re apart yet.”
“Yet,” she echoed.
“Come on. Let’s sit.”
“I’ll make tea,” Thala offered.
Vela and Ken joined them, followed by Thala with several mugs. They drank in silence until footsteps sounded outside. Noah turned just as the door opened and a new figure strode in.
“You wanted to see me?” she asked.
Noah raised an eyebrow. She was tall—almost his height—with bluish‑white hair, sharp blue‑grey eyes, and pink lips set in a firm line. Black leather pants, a tight black vest embroidered with gold, a short sword strapped to one hip, and an off‑white collared shirt unbuttoned just enough to reveal impressively perky cleavage completed the look.
If I wasn’t already with Ciri, I’d take a run at her, he thought. Holy shit.
She smirked, about to speak, when Ken cut in. “I think introductions are in order. Hænnaethrýael, meet Noah. He is a traveller.”
She arched an eyebrow. “Another one? Are we starting a collection now?”
Eager to make a good impression, Noah offered the traditional Fae greeting. “The Three have favored our meeting.”
“Danu, Dôn, and Anu can kiss my ass with their favor. I make my own luck.”
“Hænnaethrýael!” Thala snapped.
I like her, Noah thought as the woman shrugged.
“What? Old man Ken knows I don’t believe.”
“An old man can hold out hope you might change your ways,” Ken replied calmly. “Come. We have much to discuss.”
“I hope it’s business. You know I don’t do charity.”
“It’s paying work,” Vela said.
“You have gold?”
“We do.”
“Good.” She dropped into a chair, leaning back with one arm and crossing her legs to show off calf‑high brown boots. “Let’s talk.”
“We need transit to Crownspire,” Ken began.
“Who is ‘we’?”
“Myself and Ciri.”
Hænnaethrýael stared at Ciri. “You’re leaving the nest?”
“I am,” Ciri said, meeting her gaze without flinching.
“It’s a dangerous trip, scholar. You sure you’re ready for the real world?”
“I am prepared.”
The trader studied her a moment longer. “Something’s changed with you. You’re different.”
Ignoring that, Ciri pressed on. “Will you take us to Crownspire?”
Hænnaethrýael rocked her head side to side, calculating. “One hundred gold each, and I’ll take you as far as Braemont. From there you can charter a carriage to Crownspire.” She paused. “And I’m making a stop in Tarn’s Reach.”
“How about seventy‑five each, and you take us the whole way?”
“No deal. Summer Fae navy’s been patrolling too close for comfort.” She narrowed her eyes. “Ninety gold, and I’ll take you to Braemont and point you toward a trustworthy carriage service. Final offer.”
“I’ll accept on one condition,” Ken said. “You answer Noah’s question.”
She snorted. “What is this, a riddle?”
“No,” Noah said. “I just need information.”
“Fine. Ask.”
“Last time you were here, you took a traveller with you. Where’d you take him?”
“What’s it to you?”
“Answer the question, Hænnaethrýael,” Aelya warned.
Hænnaethrýael rolled her eyes. “Braemont. Sent him on the same route you’re asking about – same carriage company too. He wanted to see Crownspire.”
“If you’re lying—” Aelya began.
“For fuck’s sake, I may only be half Fae, but I’m not stupid enough to lie to the Watcher and the Keepers of a wild Fae tribe,” she snapped.
Silence fell. Noah’s mind raced. He glanced at Ciri, who looked stunned and hopeful. With a grin, he turned back to the trader.
“Got a name that’s easier to pronounce?”
“Hannah,” she said, still glaring at Aelya.
“Hannah,” Noah repeated. “Got room for one more on that boat of yours?”
She finally looked at him. “You want to come too?”
“I’ll pay. Same rate—ninety gold.”
“You have gold?”
“Yeah. Picked up some odd jobs around the tribe. I’m using that to pay you.”
She pursed her lips. “Tell me this, traveller: why are you so eager to get to Crownspire?”
“Because the last traveller you took—the one you sent there—was my brother. I’m trying to find him.”
“You don’t look like brothers.”
“We get that a lot,” Noah said. “So. Do we have a deal?”
“Fine. We leave at first light.” She looked at Ken and his wives. “Anything else?”
“No,” Aelya said.
“Good.” Hannah stood abruptly before walking towards the door.
She opened it and stormed out without another word. Noah listened to her footsteps fade away before glancing up at Ciri, a small smile forming on his face. She met his eyes and matched it, and for a moment he debated leaping across the table to kiss his Fae girlfriend.
Probably a bad idea in front of her parents, he thought, restraining himself.
Thankfully for both of them, her parents quickly busied themselves with preparations for their trip. Noah and Ciri excused themselves to do the same, but after only a few minutes of packing she slipped into his room and wrapped her arms around him from behind, stopping him mid-motion.
“Looks like we’re going to be travelling together for a while longer,” he said, his smile having turned into an enormous grin.
“Yes,” she replied, squeezing him tighter.
Taking a breath, he unclasped her hands and turned around to hug her properly before speaking again. “Maybe Lucien is still in Crownspire. That way, you could help me look for him while we’re there.”
“I do not wish to be apart,” she said softly into his chest.
An unexpected wave of emotion washed over him at her words. It was the third in the last hour, and it made him sway slightly before he bent his knees to stay rooted to the ground. His analytical mind worked through the unfamiliar feelings, slowly coming to a single conclusion.
“Ciri, I have something important to say,” he said, looking down at her.
She locked eyes with him. “I am listening.”
“I don’t think I realized how much you mean to me until I thought we were going to be apart. And as much as I know we’ll be together for a bit longer, I’d be angry and disappointed in myself if I didn’t tell you how important you are to me now that I’ve come to that realization.”
“What…are you saying?” she asked slowly.
“I’m saying that I’ve never felt like this about anyone before, and I want to start talking about a future together—a long one, after I find my idiot brother.”
She couldn’t keep herself from smiling. “After we find your brother.”
He chuckled. “Yes. After we find him.”
“I believe I would like that very much,” she replied finally, before burying her head in his chest once more.
The two of them stayed like that for several more minutes before disentangling and beginning the process of packing. After some debate, they decided to leave one of the twin mirrors with Ciri’s mothers—a decision that made all three of them feel better about Ken and Ciri travelling without their protection. When they finally finished packing, they saw that the sun was already starting to set, giving them just enough time to visit Bryn, Cael, and Hruk one final time.
As they strolled towards the workshop, they could hear indistinct shouting through the door. With a shared look of concern, Noah turned the handle and flung it open, half expecting to be attacked. The sight that greeted him was far stranger, causing him to blink in surprise.
Cael and Hannah were standing in the middle of the room, with Bryn between them while holding Hruk between her legs. They shouted long strings of obscenities at each other, flailing their arms in each other’s direction. The Fae artificer’s strong arms held them at bay, frustration clear on her face.
“Hey! Hey!” Noah shouted, getting everyone’s attention.
“Good! You’re here!” Cael said, turning to him. “I need you to invent a torture device—something painful we can put this whore in!”
“I’m the whore now, am I?” Hannah replied, practically frothing with anger. “If I’m a whore, then you’re a fucking—”
“Enough!” Bryn bellowed, silencing them both.
Noah stepped in and pulled Cael back to the far side of the room, allowing Bryn to do the same for Hannah while Ciri stood in the middle of the room with Hruk. He watched as the Fae man continued to mutter a shockingly creative set of death threats under his breath, fists clenched as he did. It took several minutes for him to calm down enough to explain what was going on.
“She asked for some things for her boat,” Cael explained. “I reminded her that she still owes me money from a wager the last time she was here, and she refused to pay.”
Noah raised one eyebrow. “Cael,” he admonished. “Tell me the whole story.”
Cael harrumphed before amending the tale somewhat. “She said that she doesn’t owe me anything because she transported the last traveller—your brother—instead, and that for the costs she incurred during that journey we should owe her and give her free merchandise as compensation.”
“What specifically did she want?”
“Wind and water spells. Some melee weapons. A few other things,” he said, before narrowing his eyes. “This is all a trick. I bet she doesn’t have the money, so she’s looking for a handout. The half-blooded bitch—”
Noah shook his head slowly. “Cael, I’m going to ask you to give it to her.”
“What?” he said, eyes wide.
“I’m pretty sure you owe me for the last few months. I’m asking you to forgive her debt in payment.”
“But—I—but—” he stuttered.
Noah stepped back, no longer holding Cael. “If it’s that big a deal, I’ll trade for it.”
“Trade what?” he asked slowly.
“A book of stories. New ones you’ve never heard before. I’ll write them down while we’re sailing.” He shrugged. “I’m going to have a bunch of time on a boat anyway; I may as well use it to practice my writing skills.”
“How many stories?” he said, unable to keep the interest from his voice.
“Ten,” Noah offered.
“Twenty.”
“Fifteen,” Noah countered with a grin. “But each individual story counts for one, even if it’s part of a larger plot.”
“Fine. Fifteen,” Cael sighed. “But I am selling them to you, not to her.”
Resisting the urge to roll his eyes, Noah nodded. “Fine. I’ll go tell her she owes me, then.”
He turned and crossed the room to see Hannah in a similar state as Cael—muttering to herself and shaking her head in anger. When he neared, she looked up at him and narrowed her eyes, tensing as if he were going to attack her. In response, he stopped and held his hands out to both sides in what he hoped was a non-threatening gesture.
“I think I can help resolve this. Give me a second to talk to Hannah alone?” he asked.
Bryn looked between them before shrugging and moving back to her husband. “Just don’t break anything,” she said as she passed him.
Nodding, Noah locked eyes with the Fae trader. “Cael thinks there’s a debt to be paid. I’ve offered to take it on and give him something in exchange.”
“There’s no debt to be paid,” she hissed, still seething.
“Good, because I don’t want anything in return from you.”
She blinked in confusion. “What?”
“You heard me,” he replied.
“Why are you doing this?” she asked slowly.
“You want these materials for your boat. I want us to reach Crownspire safely.” He shrugged. “We’re all on the same team, once we get out of our own way.”
He watched the gears turn in her mind. “Fine,” she said finally.
This is going to be an interesting trip, he thought.