Three tents stand on both sides of the path, and two Kertharians sit on the ground, staring into the fire. It's dark, the fire the only source of light in the forest.

Finna glares at Mandollel, poking her finger at him in the air with lips pressed into a bunch.

Mandollel shrugs. He runs a hand through his hair, mouth pulled to the side in thought. He turns his head back to where we came from and back to the Kertharians, fingers playing on the hilt of his sword. Finally, he waves us to back away.

The way to the location where we left Rworg and the device isn't far, but far away enough. I don't know what it will look like once the device is activated, but even if it's as spectacular as the stakes, the Kertharians shouldn't be able to make it to us. It would be sad if they did. To get killed by Mandollel and Rworg at the last moment before a blink of an eye and hopefully a cure ready and waiting for them at the other end.

The air is cool and dark. Not cold like the night in the desert was, but pleasant. Like I've used to. Stars twinkle above, even if they have to work hard to shine through the auroras that have spread to cover most of the sky. The haze stops to the west, like someone cut it with a knife.

It's not that far. We're so close to home, so close to finishing what we came to do.

Rworg is waiting for us as we come back, sword in hand. He relaxes his pose as he sees it's us. "Will they be a problem?"

Mandollel shakes his head. "No, we can proceed. It's just a small camp, and they should be far away enough that it would be extremely unlucky if—"

Finna slaps him on the arm. "You jinxed it once already."

Mandollel raises his palms at Finna, craning his head forward between them in a mimed apology.

I rub my chin, but stop as I feel the wispy hairs on my upper lip. I have to remember to shave before we see any people I care about. "Let's get the device out. No more distractions or taking chances. We're too close. I want to get home."

"Wuss," Finna says. "But you're right." She kneels to pull out the device from her backpack. It has nearly nothing else in it, built only to carry the device comfortably and keep it tight against her body as she moves. She places the device on the ground. It sits on a path, a flattened ball of matte metal, buttons and levers sticking out of it.

Finna taps on it with his finger. "So, I just flip these two switches, and it will start?"

"Yes," Mandollel answers. He trails his gaze around the forest surrounding us, listening or thinking.

I watch Finna fiddle with the device, making sure it stands solidly on the ground without tilting. "What will it do? How long will it take? Did anyone get told anything about this part?"

"It will suck in the mana we prepared with the stakes and funnel it into the gem. The spell will trigger. I don't know the details, but it shouldn't take too long. Minutes, perhaps," Mandollel says. He's looking into the forest, pulling on a strand of hair, biting his lip.

"What are you thinking, elf?" Rworg says. "You have the same look Folke gets."

Mandollel twitches and lets go of the strand of hair. He turns to face us, brows furrowed. "The Kertharians will be gone soon. The last we heard, the people in Tenorsbridge didn't have a single clue what was ailing them."

"That was a nearly a week ago. That's a long time for them," I say. With the Mountain Ride, they could have spent decades researching things. Except, how would they have actually done it with teleportation not a possibility?

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"That is true, but I don't particularly trust the humans to solve this problem," Mandollel says. "Sorry," he adds.

"Knowing what the geezers are like, I wouldn't trust us either," Finna says. "Wait, what exactly are you going to do?"

"There's no risk involved! I'll go and observe them for a mere moment. From what Lictor told us, Tenorsbridge has practically no information about how the Kertharians act when they are not trying to kill anyone looking at them. This is the last opportunity to gather a reliable eyewitness account from someone capable. What do the next 30 years help, if they have no information to try to solve the problem with?"

Finna lowers her face in her hands and groans. "If a single branch snaps in that forest that doesn't sound like you, I'm activating this thing."

Rworg doesn't look particularly surprised or worried. "Do what you must. From what you said, the camp is just a scouting party. Even if you trip and stumble into the middle of their camp, they will be no match for you."

Mandollel scoffs. "I won't."

I guess it makes sense, but I still don't like it. "Can we spare the time? What if the Kertharians manage to do something about the stakes?"

Mandollel shakes his head, his hair swiping the air. "After observing the effect of the final stakes, I don't believe that to be a relevant concern. The flow of mana over the whole continent has been shaken and bent. There is very little anyone can do except wait for it to return to normal. This part of the mission has already changed Velonea for years to come. Use of magic will be haphazard and difficult, which in the current circumstances is probably a blessing in disguise."

Finna's eyes are glazed over. When Mandollel stops talking, she shakes her head, holding a finger almost touching the final lever. "One more explanation, and I'll flip the switch right now. If you're going to go, go already."

"But I still wanted to mention the..." Mandollel closes his mouth and sighs. "Anybody want to come with?"

Finna scoffs. Rworg tilts his head and raises his eyebrows. He shifts his posture slightly, and a twig snaps loudly below him.

Mandollel looks at me. I nod. I might as well. We're so close. I'd explode from anxiety and anticipation if I'd stay here, waiting and staring into the forest, waiting and waiting. "The mages we saw with Finna were speaking to each other like normal people. They didn't look crazy. If you're going to go anyway, I'd rather come with you than just wait here."

"Good. Four eyes are always better than two."

"Except if the second pair is Rworg's," I say. I'm still annoyed he didn't tell me how bad his eyesight is.

"I will get spectacles when we return," he says.

Finna throws a rock at my boot and shoos us with her hand. "Didn't I tell you to get going?"

The two Kertharians are still sitting next to the fire when we get back to their camp. We're standing almost too far for me to see or hear anything, but I guess it's not a problem for Mandollel. We wait and listen. The Kertharians keep staring into the fire, but so does anyone sitting next to a fire. It's as normal as anything could be. They speak a few words to each other every once in a while. I glance at Mandollel, but he shakes his head. "Nothing important. The weather, the time."

I'm getting impatient. Nothing happens, and we've been here for a while. If I'm getting impatient, I fear how Finna is faring. I'd hate to blink and realize that 30 years have passed, and the forest around has turned into a teratome nest.

"Shh, one more woke up," Mandollel says.

I wasn't going to say anything, but sure enough, another Kertharian pushes his way out of a tent. The reaction of the Kertharians is weird. The two men sitting at the fire jerk up and turn to face the third man. The third man twitches as well. I can't see their faces, but judging from their body language, everyone seemed surprised. Mandollel's holding his palm out at me, silencing my question, eyes locked in on the Kertharians.

I hear it all the way here. The two Kertharians say the Kertharian battle scream at the third man, reciting it out. It's not a mad howl this time, shouted out loud at the top of their lungs. Still, they speak it loudly, and it's easy enough to recognize, even without the spittle.

Mandollel pouts. "Hmm, the chant? I've never had an opportunity to listen to it properly before."

The third Kertharian shouts the same litany back to the two others, louder than they did. They seem to relax, and the third man sits down next to the two.

"Sounds like old Kertharian, but how can that be? Very pure. Now, what did gn'reknrn mean, again?"

He's whispering to himself. I keep my eyes on the Kertharians in case they start moving. Maybe learning what they are shouting all the time might help. Maybe the chant carries some meaning or gives a... I get an awful feeling. Cold shivers run up my spine.

Mandollel has gone quiet next to me.

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