There wasn't much discussion after that. All of them headed down the stairs, moving at considerable speed toward the air docks. The surviving Manaships were berthed there. Most had been damaged in the assault on Amaranth, but Felix was certain they had at least one that could still fly.

They hustled down several flights as subtly as a herd of horses. Dozens of liveried servants scrambled out of their way, as well as perfumed courtiers that tried and failed to engage Felix in conversation. He barreled past them, and either his grim stare or the presence of several enormous Unbound around him did an excellent job of scaring them off.

Gabby floated next to him, suspended on a platform of shaped air that he kept running with a minor effort of Will. She was heavy but considerably lighter than himself, and besides, his Sonata of Dominance had grown. Despite the jostling she slept on, her breathing blessedly easy. She was swathed in comfortable clothes that the Menders had scrounged up for her during their treatments, though Karys had her full suit of armor slung over his wide back. The Menders had been the last time that Felix had truly left her alone—he simply didn’t trust anyone else. Too many hated the Titan for what she had done while working with the Hierophant, and while Gabby couldn't be blamed for that, revenge didn’t really enjoy the finer points of reason and understanding. Felix would never forgive himself if he let something happen to her now, after everything they’d gone through.

All told, it took them only a few minutes to make it down to the ten stories to the air docks. There, amid the bustling dockworkers that were still complaining about the food and drink they were missing, they found Pit standing tall in his enormous tenku form, idly directing shipwrights toward the few usable ships on the far end of the docks. At his side was Scylla, though that wasn’t particularly surprising. The pair of them had become increasingly close.

More surprising, though, were the Chimera that filled the air. They flew about, some perching on masts while others hopped from deck to deck. All of them were armored, and on their backs were the familiar shapes of the Dragoons.

Roland Dayne stood tall beside Pit as well, and the man locked eyes with Felix the moment he cleared the doors. He stepped forward, hope bright on his face. "Does the Chimera speak true? Is she—?”

"I believe so."

The relief on Roland's face was so complete that it was painful to watch. Before him was a man who'd lost his daughter not five hours ago, and now here Felix was, giving him more hope.

"She had an object. An Omen—"

"Yes, Pit explained it to me.” Roland took a deep, shaky breath. “I understand the peril she is in as best I can. I understand that my new hope is a dim light…but Felix. If there is even the sliver of a chance to save her, you will bring her back."

It wasn’t a question, but then, neither was Felix’s resolve. "I will."

He patted Felix on the back, and his eyes were bright with unshed tears. “Too right. And I’ll be coming along.”

"I didn't expect anything else." The Chancellor of Pax’Vrell gave a firm nod before walking off toward a gaggle of other Dragoons, their spears lifted high in salute. Roland gave them a sharp nod and they headed down the docks.

Evie, Loquis, and Battlelord Ari were there as well. They were fronting a gaggle of Witches with squads of fifteen-foot tall Frost Giants at their back. Pit had been good to his word; he’d spread the news rapidly.

"Evie," Felix grinned. "I thought you were enjoying the drinks dockside."

"I was, till your bird chirped in my ear. Sobered me up quick, too."

"Sober? You're still drinking ale," Loquis complained.

"Yeah?" Evie tipped her mug back and swallowed. "Well, I was drinking mead.”

“There's plenty of time to sober up on the way." Felix reached out and clasped the woman's forearm. She gripped right back. "Glad you're here."

"You’d be stone stupid to think I’d miss this." Evie hesitated, chewing at her lip. "I heard what you said to Vess’ dad. Tell me you’re not blowin’ smoke."

"I’m not, but we’re racing against time now."

"Then what’re we yappin’ for? Oh, Ari here volunteered his people, too."

The twenty-foot giant bowed to Felix. "The Hoarfrost marches at the Emperor's command."

"I thank you, Battlelord, and all the people at your command." Felix tilted his head to the Risi. As one, they slapped their weapons against their armored chests. The sound rang off into the night like a hundred gunshots, before they turned and headed toward a ship where people swarmed like insects, setting the sails and rigging.

"Captain Loquis will be leading a contingent of Fiends' Claws with you," Harn said, stepping up from the side. The sound of his metal legs was surprisingly soft against the polished stone.

Evie blinked. "You're not coming?”

“Can't say more blades will help where you're going, much as I wish otherwise. Sides," the man grunted, folding his arms across his chest. "I gotta get our people to safety and respond to threats. And there's going to be threats now.”

Felix narrowed his eyes. “What threats?”

“Kid, we cut down a predator and left their carcass to rot. The scavengers will be coming for us soon."

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Oh great. "Anyone in particular?"

"Don't rightly know, but the Interior’s been chompin’ at the north for centuries. The only reason we haven’t heard more of them is cuz of the Paragon we had sittin’ on a throne.” Harn spat. “With her gone, I don't know what’ll happen."

The Interior. Felix had heard it mentioned dozens of times since his arrival, but only in passing. Beyond Ahkestria and the jungles of Jaast, the Continent continued onward toward other Territories. Other empires.

Now I get to worry about them. Fantastic.

"All choices have consequences, I’m afraid," Zara said, approaching even more silently than the warrior. Her black robes were wrapped around her along with a deep purple shawl to ward off the slight chill in the summer air. Those clouds had dropped the temperature considerably. "We will be focusing on a great many things while you leave. My focus will be working with Paxus and Karys to look into Etrionn last known location."

"Good," Felix said, banishing the idea of distant, hungry empires heading his way. "When I return, I'll be tackling that immediately.”

“You’ve given us a lead already, but the details are lacking. We’ll fine tune what we can—but Felix, you must understand where you're going. The Grand Harmony is more than agitated to the northeast. There’s a foulness on the wind, and it isn’t anything so simple as Dissonance."

Felix frowned. "What does that mean?"

"It means danger." Mauvim stepped from across the open floor of the docks, breathing heavily and leaning on her cane. She was flanked by seven Chanters that clung so close that they looked to be attempting to hide in her shadow. "A great and terrible danger, and you are gallivanting into it, heedless, while the Ruin burns right above us."

"Mauvim," Felix said, his voice tight. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"You know, Nevarre. What if you perish against Noctis? And taking all of the Unbound with you? That's madness of the greatest order. We need all of you to combat the Ruin.”

“Why?"

At Mauvim's gesture, two Chanters lifted inscribed orbs in their hands, and a dome of silence formed around the lot of them. "The Song of Exile," she said. "The Array Plates we recovered from the Vault of Nine Kings. My Chanters have been studying ways to make use of it, and it is clear that in order to make it function, we need all nine Unbound to power the working."

"Hey," Archie said, putting his hands on his hips. "That's supposed to send us home, and it's mine."

Felix held out a hand, and Archie snapped his jaws shut by clearly biting off the rest of what promised to be a colorful tirade. "Make use of it, you said. How?"

There was a gleam to the old woman’s eyes as she straightened. "To banish the Ruin itself.”

“It's not a solid array," Zara interrupted. "There are too many unknown factors. The Cantus Sodalis has been working steadily on ways to use it offensively. However, I do not believe it is where it should be."

"The Ruin is almost upon us," Mauvim said, the gleam in her eyes gone as her wrinkled face twisted like she'd bitten into a lemon. "There is little time to perfect everything."

Felix lifted an eyebrow. "The Song of Exile was supposed to send the Unbound back to Earth, like Archie said. How could that possibly work on the Ruin?"

"Technically they merely open a path through the Realms…but there are sigils within the array that suggest it targets anything foreign to the Continent," one of the Chanters said. Felix could have remembered her name, but he didn’t give a shit at that moment. "The Ruin does not hail from these shores. We would send it back where it belongs."

Felix frowned. "Where did it come from?"

Mauvim met his gaze, though her roomy eyes narrowed. "We do not know."

"Then why would you assume—?"

Felix, the ships are ready to fly.

He looked up. Pit had departed at some point, and now was flying above the mast of the furthest Manaship. Soldiers were already streaming aboard, and the Frost Giants were disappearing belowdecks. "I don't have time for this conversation, Mauvim. Work out your array, and I'll work out my solution.”

“The Unbound cannot go. You cannot. Send the giants, or the soldiers, or your captive mages."

"You think I'd send them alone?"

Mauvim eyed the eleven-foot tall Gabby, still hovering at his side. "At least leave this one with us. She is of no use to you on the field."

Felix went still. "What use do you have for her?"

Mauvim scowled. "Do not make us out to be villains, Nevarre. We would keep her safe and secure for your return, with the added benefit that she couldn't wake and wreak havoc on an army headed into danger."

"She comes with us," Felix said, jaw tight. "All of the Unbound will be with me, as is their choice."

"Their choice," she echoed. "Or one you cajoled out of them? What did you promise your fellows to follow you back into that?" She pointed a withered finger off the docks, where a thick pillar of black dust obscured most of the northern horizon.

Felix smiled, but it was more like baring his teeth.

"You find this amusing? The Ruin is in the sky. The gods are nearly free. One of them is, and you are heading straight into her clutches with our only hope at saving our people." Mauvim twisted her cane, and a billowing green light poured from around her. "You risk our very lives. You must cease."

Felix leaned close, and this time he didn't stop the flush of rage that rushed through him. His eyes burned. "Try and stop me, and you'll risk more than your life, lady.”

Sonata of Dominance!

Felix stabbed his Will at the sound ward and popped it like a soap bubble. The two Chanters staggered back, crying out as their inscribed orbs shattered.

Felix stalked away, and a crowd parted before him.

"Speak some sense into him, Zara!"

"Sense?" The Naiad folded her arms. "You threatened him, Mauvim. What sort of sense was there in that?"

Felix stopped listening. In a few smooth movements, he leaped aboard the ship as everyone else followed, piling aboard a single craft. Felix nodded as the last crates were secured. It would be more than enough to handle what they needed.

Wendell walked up the gangplank, glancing between Felix and the distant, still-bickering Chanters. "That was tense. I thought these were your allies? Aren’t you their emperor?"

Felix grunted.

"Mauvim's a right bitch sometimes," Evie translated. "Always goin’ on about the bigger picture. She doesn't seem too fussed with whether or not folks like her. I can respect that, but if she thinks we're not goin’ after Vess, then she can take a long walk off the shortest dock."

Captain Loquis saluted Felix. "Everyone's accounted for, sir."

"Right." Felix adjusted his jacket. "We’re not wasting anymore time. Helmsman, take us out."