Andrei

We were hopelessly trapped.

Naturally, I'd already tried prying the bars apart with my hands. It was a futile effort ending in a pulled muscle and immediate regret. I'd tried warping the metal with my mind as well, but my connection to the earth was completely severed. How ever long we'd been asleep in the silver cell, it had been long enough for the debilitation to have taken effect. According to Adeline, two additional hours had passed since Everleigh Gloom left to spy on Sinclair. It was during this time we spoke more in depth about Finlay's surprise (or not) return from the dead, Adeline's time at the brothel, about my time at the lair, and about what happened in Oskari both before and after the fire.

Understandably, the pair were most interested in Jakob, in what I'd learned from the ancient Anima, and why I believed he left me stranded in the forest.

"I can't be sure if it was Jakob who'd entranced me, or if we simply hadn't heard Zacharias Vonsinfonie approaching," I said. "He may have affected Jakob similarly with the song, or even put him to sleep. I'm not positive how empathy works where the Anima are concerned, but it can be employed by the Endican to sense their feelings, so they are not entirely immune as they are with telepathy. That, or Jakob went willingly. They must know each other, after all."

"Fair point," Finlay agreed. "How many pre-Divide Anima could there really be?"

"Well," Adeline answered, "considering they cannot die of old age, there could be many. But the Anima are rather reckless, aren't they? So perhaps there are very few. Either way, This empathy business is rather bothersome."

"Quite," I said. "Further, I wonder where in Amalia we are?"

"It doesn't really matter, does it?" That slight edge to Feargus's tone had returned, but it didn't feel directed toward me, and it was short-lived. "We're not getting out any time soon, I reckon. So, instead of talking about pointless things, we ought to play a game."

"A grand idea," Adeline chirped. "What kind of game?"

"Say a Thing or Do a Thing," Finlay suggested.

"Say a Thing or Do a Thing?" I asked.

"You've never played Say a Thing or Do a Thing, Strauss?" The Strachan's tone was incredulous.

"When exactly would I have done that, Finlay?"

"In solitaire with Rhian."

I shook my head. "What is the objective of this game, then?"

"Well, if I had to guess," Adeline answered, "each of us will have to either say a thing or do a thing."

"The lass gets it. We'll show you how it's done. Addie, say a thing or do a thing?"

"Do a thing," Adeline replied. "No, say a thing. No—ugh, can I select both?"

"Uh, aye. Sure, I guess," Finlay decreed.

A few moments passed without an adequate challenge being issued, and in that time, I recalled something Riz once said.

"I have one that involves both the saying and the doing of a thing," I said, and when neither protested, I continued. "Adeline, recite the alphabet backwards, twice and within thirty seconds. Finlay can keep time."

"That isn't what we mean by saying a thing," Finlay explained. "It's supposed to be a secret thing. But I like it—real creative, Strauss," he continued, and then the click of his pocket watch. "All right, Addie. Thirty seconds, go!"

Adeline huffed a quick breath in and a quick breath out.

Her first attempt was mired with error, for a moment falling back into the habit of reciting the letters in the correct order, mixing up her P and Q, and doubling up on the Ms and Fs. But it was ultimately successful. The second attempt wasn't much better in terms of efficiency, and by the time the thirty seconds were up, there were still four letters to recite.

"Time," Finlay said.

A disappointed squeak. "I swear: by tomorrow morning, I will be able to recite the alphabet backwards thrice. Perfectly. And I will do it in twenty seconds. I hope you'll both enjoy listening to me practice all day."

The Strachan groaned. "Why do I have to suffer for his sins?"

"My sins?" I said. "I have simply provided us with adequate motivation to find a way out of this predicament."

"Fair point," Finlay said. "Right, so—it's your turn, Strauss. Say a thing or do a thing?"

Decisions, decisions. No doubt my friends expected me to say a thing, but I'd been trying to move outside my comfort zone lately.

"I will do a thing," I said.

"Will you!" Adeline exclaimed. "Well—I've got one already. Andrei, you must put your leg over your head."

"Must I? And what is the penalty should I decline?"

"A deep and inescapable sense of failure and shame," Finlay advised. "And social ostracization."

"That sounds like the first seventeen years of my life," I said. "I think I'd manage until we die of thirst in this cage."

Finlay snorted and Adeline squeaked.

I sighed. "Fine, but if I tear my only pair trousers in the process, I will not be happy."

"Oh, but we would be," Feargus said.

Adeline, back to quietly practicing the backwards alphabet, paused for a giggle.

I secured my hands around left calf and lifted my leg, bending at the waist to meet myself halfway. The fabric strained and so did I, but I was more flexible than I expected, and I was so close. If I only I could just…

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I'd barely hooked my leg around my neck when, "What in Delphia's dominance have I stumbled upon here?" came a voice. It wasn't one of the other two voices in the cell, and it wasn't Everleigh Gloom's either. But it was a voice I recognized.

A prime example of both the worst and the best possible timing.

I lowered my leg and quickly joined Adeline in standing.

Meanwhile, Finlay dashed to the gate. A loud clank, and a clapping sound. "Good seeing you, Vinny. Didn't even hear you coming."

"I can be sufficiently stealthy when it's required of me, my friends. I wasn't certain what to expect, after all, but I heard your voices and the mention of dying in captivity. Fortunately for us, it seems your captor has parted ways with their post. Who did this to you?"

"Everleigh Gloom," Adeline answered, solemnly.

"And she could be back any time now," Finlay added. "My pack's just over there on the chair, mate. Got a set of picks inside, and If you don't know how, just pass them here."

Vincent Delestade tutted, "If I don't know how," before rummaging through Feargus Finlay's satchel.

"It's lovely to see you again, Mister Delestade," Adeline said. "But could you perhaps tell us where we are?"

"The basement of the old schoolhouse."

The scraping and clinking of metal against metal. And then a click.

"What brings you here?" I asked.

"A lavishly long story, half-breed. But firstly, let's leave this cursed place."

We all four packed into the caravan Vincent Delestade had originally hired to take him to the schoolhouse. As per his instructions, the driver took us down a hunting path away from the One Road to regroup and decide where next to go, and as we rode, the illusionist shared a familiar story. After the events in Oskari, he'd awakened in a strange bed, in a strange town, but claimed to have no recollection of having been taken. The last thing he remembered after failing to adequately distract Commander Reider and Helena Varis, was being en route to join up with Adeline and the rest of us on the hill. And that was when he claimed he heard the song.

"I tried to leave Istok, many times, but the proprietress at the Bountiful Blessing was thrilled to receive me. Not only that, but she was a delight to indulge in deep conversation, and was abundantly accommodating. The prospect of abandoning virtual celebrity for that vile village was enough to give me wrinkles."

"The vile village has only just been decimated by fire," I said.

"Ah, how… tragic," Delestade responded. It sounded sincere, almost apologetic, although…

I wondered which illusion he maintained at the moment—was it a bearded one? A blonde? Brunet? Whatever the case, I suspected it would not be an elderly one. But how much of his persona was misdirection as much as was his appearance? Notably, he never inquired about my blindfold. Perhaps as simple as he didn't care, or perhaps he didn't have to ask. Vincent Delestade may have been a helpful ally at times, but I was not yet convinced he could be entirely trusted with our minds.

Meanwhile, Adeline recited the reverse alphabet under her breath, and beside me, Feargus Finlay dug through his bag, perhaps checking if Everleigh Gloom had taken anything of import or value.

"In which direction are we traveling?" I asked.

A click and a moment's reprieve from the alphabet whisperer.

"We are traveling northwest," Adeline answered.

What was northwest of the schoolhouse? Istok and Jaska were to the northeast, Leberecht due north. Oskari was to the southwest. But northwest? Nothing of note.

"Then we've probably gone far enough to take our pause. There's no sense moving too far in the wrong direction, is there?"

Feargus Finlay stopped rummaging.

Adeline stopped reverse alphabetizing.

But the horses kept moving, and Vincent Delestade shifted in his seat, delivering a fresh waft of sandalwood and vanilla throughout the carriage.

"Relax, my friends," he said. "I'm taking you someplace special."

Adeline spoke next. "Forgive me for asking, but I must know: Mister Delestade, are you kidnapping us, and do you have sinister plans to hold us captive?"

A reasonable question.

Feargus Finlay remained silent.

"Cosmos, no," Delestade replied. "Don't you trust me by now?"

"With all due respect, we hardly know you," I said.

The carriage picked up speed.

More silence from Feargus Finlay. I wished I could see his face.

"You're quite right, half-breed," Vincent Delestade replied. The voice, smooth and unforgettable like a masterpiece melody. "You don't know me. At least not as I am. Not when almost everything I've told you is a lie. My, how you've grown. Trusting your instincts and speaking your truth aloud to a dangerous man."

What could we do? The horses barreled onward.

"But fortunately for you all, this dangerous man has no interest in hurting any of you. For I'm the one who had to be certain you could be trusted. And oh, am I ever certain! Now, please. Relax. We'll be arriving shortly, and in the meantime, allow me to formally and factually introduce myself."

Adeline squeaked.

Feargus remained silent.

The renowned illusionist reached for my hand, positioning it for a firm shake. My fingers pressed against the garish, gem-encrusted rings I knew he wore.

"Sebastian Vonsinfonie," he said. "It has been a privilege and a pleasure working alongside you and your friends, Andrei Strauss."

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