She walked out of the forest with Nama. Behind her, the wind howled.<\/p>\n
The blizzard was beyond anything Ryoka had ever seen or could ask the wind to be. A storm that would herald the end of other worlds. An ice age in itself.<\/p>\n
She left it behind her. Sheltered by her strange protector she\u2019d met in the forest, and the King of Camelot\u2019s sword.<\/p>\n
The two had put the Wild Hunt to flight. Ryoka stared back wonderingly, then at the furry, slightly round figure with spectacles and the spoon which had laid low faerie warriors.<\/p>\n
Perspective. She felt ashamed and silly. And relieved.<\/p>\n
For all the land of the fae had horrible in it, like the truths revealed in the city, there were<\/em> good people. Fair and foul, and indifferent.<\/p>\n She\u2019d been rather foolish, hadn\u2019t she?<\/em><\/p>\n Ryoka saw her thoughts leak out, like words. And Nama saw them too. She smiled widely as the young woman\u2019s eyes widened.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, but few mortals do well the first time. Far harder than asking a bird to swim. Which some can do. Everything that makes sense to you<\/em> is wrong, you see?\u201d<\/p>\n She gestured; and flicked them forwards<\/em> in the conversation, so that Ryoka understood and was nodding. That was what she had been doing the entire time.<\/p>\n Only, now, Ryoka was seeing it. Acclimatizing to this world.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat funny words you people have. Words for everything. Or you try.\u201d<\/p>\n The Wind Runner nodded. Then she made a conscious effort to\u2026<\/p>\n Nama\u2019s eyes fixed Ryoka and she adjusted the spectacles. After a while, she hopped over a stump, and flicked her tail.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026Do you have something to say?\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka grinned. So that<\/em> was how Sikeri had done it. She let Nama catch that thought and the kindly hostess harrumphed.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t be excited because you mastered your own thoughts, Ryoka Griffin. Beyond here\u2014well, we\u2019re in <\/em>at last.\u201d<\/p>\n The young woman\u2019s smile faded. She looked up\u2014and gasped.<\/p>\n In. Past the forest and city. Both things were locations in the realm of the fae. Outer realms. Ryoka understood there might be more. But she also knew this<\/em> was where she needed to be.<\/p>\n Closer to the heart of the fae. Closer to the faerie king\u2019s court. And thusly\u2014<\/p>\n She stared across a meadow, towards an ancient, medieval farmhouse and fields of wheat. A lone tree sat idly upon the hilltop overlooking it all, and a stream passed by a slowly-turning water wheel. A village beyond.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is this?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis\u2014is in. Past here, you will reach the courts of the fae. But this\u2014look awhile. You know what it is.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka did. A village. But she took Nama\u2019s meaning and flicked across her perceptions. If she looked at it like\u2026<\/p>\n Mundane. <\/em>The tree remained. The village, the people, the farmer and his family moving around the fields? Vanished. Only the tree on the hilltop, and a little\u2026<\/p>\n Toy set. Everything she had seen in miniature, a little plastic river, static figurines, dollhouses\u2026Ryoka blinked.<\/p>\n Grand.<\/em> The village sat there. The tree remained. People moved about; children fought, rather viciously too, in the mud. Laughter and quietus and\u2026<\/p>\n Decay. <\/em>The houses were empty. Run-down, long-abandoned. A few looked as though someone had tried to repair them. But weeds had overtaken the fields, time eroded rooftops.<\/p>\n Ghosts wandered this place, laughing, calling out. Ghosts of people. Humans. And the tree\u2014<\/p>\n \u2026Was a man, sitting on the hill, watching them play. He looked old. He looked like bark and root and like Silver Pine. Perhaps less august, but\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cOh.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo you see?\u201d<\/p>\n Nama was watching Ryoka approvingly. This was but one part of this place. And Ryoka looked past the village, towards great caves set into the mountainside. Something moved<\/em> across them, some vast shape.<\/p>\n Another denizen. Another flash of insight.<\/p>\n \u201cThis place isn\u2019t one thing, is it? It\u2019s\u2026the old world.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMany old worlds. You see it now, don\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka did. It was like\u2026looking at a bunch of tiny states, or plots of land. Where the treant\u2019s village ended\u2014there was someone else\u2019s domain. The giant mountainside and caves, a grassy expanse as far as the eye could see with grass like fire and a shimmering heat haze\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cHomes.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka looked at Nama for confirmation. Again, she nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cMore permanent than the city, in truth. One was meant for guests. This? This is what they brought. It was not here a while ago. Or half so large.\u201d<\/p>\n The Wind Runner stared past the many linked places. Few strayed from their areas; and why should they? They had everything they wanted. But some did, talking, walking about.<\/p>\n It looked to her like a glorious place. She would have loved to walk through the village, eat and talk to the locals and know what their lives had been like. Not in some perspectives; the ghost-village would have been terribly sad and she feared to know what it looked like in horror.<\/em> But here were legends and their homes.<\/p>\n But from another perspective? Ryoka looked again and saw\u2026<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026This looks like a refugee camp. How many people have fled<\/em> here?\u201d<\/p>\n Nama leaned on a walking staff, which had replaced the ladle. She peered up at Ryoka, suspiciously.<\/p>\n \u201cYou say this as if you are surprised, Ryoka. Everything dies. So why not worlds? In the past, they did not come here. But of late, he<\/em> has allowed them to flee here. Like that large thing which tried to eat you. But mostly, they behave.\u201d<\/p>\n Another clue in place. That was why Melidore had offered Mavika and the [Witches] sanctuary. When their craft died and their time had come.<\/em><\/p>\n Ryoka shivered. It was merciful, generous even. But it was a downer<\/em> on the lands of the fae.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, well, it is my<\/em> home. And such is the mood of the place. When he feels happy, things will change.\u201d<\/p>\n A tap<\/em> on Ryoka\u2019s head from the staff. Ryoka winced. Nama stared out, pointing ahead.<\/p>\n \u201cYou need to go in to find your Ivolethe. I would come with you, but\u2026if I go, there will be conflict. Then again, maybe I should.\u201d<\/p>\n She hitched up her apron, reminding Ryoka of her disastrous city expedition. Ryoka held up her hands.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, wait. I\u2019m getting better, Nama. You\u2019ve done enough. I can guard my thoughts and<\/em> see better.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI suppose you can.\u201d<\/p>\n The hostess conceded after she eyed Ryoka up and down. She didn\u2019t look convinced, though. She stood among the trees\u2014suddenly she and Ryoka were far apart.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be right here! Call my name if you get into trouble! But only do so if you must\u2014<\/em>you will have to run twice if I venture forth!\u201d<\/p>\n Because she\u2019d cause a fuss? Or lots of fights?<\/em> Ryoka glanced back at the forest. The blizzard still raged; she hoped the King of Chivalry would be fine. Then again\u2026if he wasn\u2019t fine, Ryoka was dead.<\/p>\n Tentatively, she jogged forwards into the old world. She would have stayed, wandered up to the treant, walked across every home and asked each person why they were here and their story.<\/p>\n But this was not a forever-land. Time\u2026was ticking on. Time was running out.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n —-<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Six times. Tyrion stood with his sword drawn, in the narrowing circle of safety. Beyond there\u2014the fae fought. Not all of them, and not all with the same perfection of skill as Melidore and the warriors.<\/p>\n But they fought. Driving back the shadows. And the four.<\/p>\n Six times Melidore cut the bearded man\u2019s arm from his shoulder.<\/em> Each time, the shining sword severed something, and provoked pain.<\/p>\n Yet six times the figure came onwards, forcing the fae back with a sword of his own. They locked blades and Melidore forced the figure back.<\/p>\n But one refused to stay cut<\/em>. Tyrion half-understood what Melidore was trying to do. Cut, and cut again until the arm stayed severed!<\/p>\n It was this moment. This time. With each step into the party, the four seemed more real. Less rotten. They were coming for the mortals, and Tyrion, despite himself, feared to challenge\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cMy name is _______! Say it!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The leader of men howled. The Humans and other non-fae covered their ears and screamed. Laken was holding up a hand, backing up.<\/p>\n Slowly, the circle narrowed. <\/em>Tyrion wondered if this was a last stand. But why then did Melidore not order a retreat? He saw the fae looking up as he whirled to confront the dancing man. He repeated the gesture, and so did the warriors. The fae. What were they staring at?<\/p>\n The moons.<\/em> They were rising overhead, both of them. And somehow\u2014faster<\/em> than they should have. So fast Tyrion saw its progress through the sky. Melidore was pointing upwards, beseeching the celestial bodies.<\/p>\n \u201cCome! Come, fair ladies! End this wretched moment!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The four advanced. And Tyrion understood.<\/p>\n It was a race against time. The shortest night. He stepped forwards with sword raised and cut at a flickering sight in the air.<\/p>\n \u201cUntil the day ends! Families of Izril! Until the day ends! Keep them back!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The Flowers of Izril started. Laken Godart\u2019s head turned and his face changed as he understood what Tyrion had seen.<\/p>\n \u201cTo arms!\u201d<\/p>\n Magic bloomed as the mortals began throwing spells, cutting and fleeing back into the lines of safety. Halrac loosed an arrow\u2014<\/p>\n The huntress caught it. She put it to her bow and shot it through<\/em> one of the faerie warriors. The figure stumbled, but refused to fall.<\/p>\n \u201cHurry, hurry.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n They whispered. They were getting more desperate. They advanced further, desperate. Tyrion saw Melidore snarl. He raised his sword and\u2014<\/p>\n <\/p>\n —-<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The second time, Ryoka sensed the giant tiptoeing<\/em> up behind her. The malice oozed at her. She whirled and looked\u2026up\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n There he was again. A giant to make Zamea look tiny. Three eyes, staring. So large he might have been the same kind that had fought\u2026other beings\u2026in the age where he had come from.<\/p>\n \u201cMortal. Another mortal!<\/em> The one that got away. My belly is filled today. Today is a good day!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n He was in a good mood. Ryoka blanched as she saw blood around his mouth. She backed up as the hands reached down.<\/p>\n Nama.<\/em> Ryoka felt the name rise to her lips unbidden. She had walked through the amalgamation of worlds for hours, and the forest was distant behind her. She was passing under the shadow of the mountain and network of vast caves, each of which could have swallowed her, if not the titan.<\/p>\n No! Not yet! Ryoka remembered Nama\u2019s warning. She backed up.<\/p>\n \u201cStay back!\u201d<\/p>\n The hand reached down. Ryoka flung herself sideways and the wind blew her just past the fingers as they dug<\/em> into the earth. The hand scooped up a huge amount of dirt and rock and rose. The figure sifted through it, then one of his eyes fixed on Ryoka.<\/p>\n \u201cQuick mortal.<\/em> Come here!\u201d<\/p>\n She had to do something. Ryoka scrambled to her feet. And she thought\u2014<\/p>\n <\/p>\n —-<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Three rather lovely, sinuous ladies leaned on the windowsills and watched as a screaming young woman ducked<\/em>\u2014then straightened. They had a lovely mountain cottage; handmade, really. No, wait\u2014<\/p>\n The mountain was just a foothill, and they\u2019d built into it, carving the stone gently to make a home for the three of them. But the humble fa\u00e7ade belied the interior, which was like a mansion any million\u2014billionaire<\/em> would envy.<\/p>\n Was that an indoor pool? Marble tiles\u2014Ryoka\u2019s head turned.<\/p>\n She saw an oafish man with three eyes and a club look around. He was\u2026about eight feet tall. And looked rather like the giant, only in miniature.<\/p>\n \u201cHuh?\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka heard a cackle of laughter from the three sisters as they peered at Ryoka.<\/p>\n \u201cWould you look at that?<\/em> Darling girl! She has that idiot dead to rights!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow long has that fool been wandering about? And a mortal gets the best of him?\u201d<\/p>\n The figure was scratching his head. he stared at Ryoka.<\/p>\n \u201cYou got large. Is this a trick? If it\u2019s a trickster god, I\u2019ll eat him and scatter his bones across the world!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n He waved his club around furiously. The three sisters sneered at him as he looked around, perhaps for some other presence. Ryoka stared at him.<\/p>\n \u201cIt worked!\u201d<\/p>\n Perspective. And the giant had none. He stared at Ryoka and then his face turned into a huge<\/em> grin.<\/p>\n \u201cMore of you to eat, then!\u201d<\/p>\n He raised the club and ran at her. Ryoka hesitated. He was still eight feet tall! Huge, like a wall of flesh running at her! She\u2014<\/p>\n \u2026Pulled out the Pepperspray Potion and tossed it in his face. The brute screamed<\/em>, surprisingly high-pitched, and writhed on the ground.<\/p>\n The three sisters collapsed into gales of laughter as they emerged from their home. Ryoka stared at the empty bottle, and then the brute. She turned\u2014<\/p>\n <\/p>\n —-<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Unbidden, the world shifted back.<\/em> The mountain sat above her, so vast it could have been one of the High Passes. The world was shaking.<\/em><\/p>\n Ryoka saw the titan writhing on the ground, screaming such curses the air itself turned black and fled his presence. She shook so hard her bones<\/em> tried to vibrate out of her\u2014<\/p>\n \u201cEnough. Begone<\/em>, you pesst!\u201d<\/p>\n Someone hissed.<\/em> The giant\u2019s howl became a distant thing, for all he thrashed and the shaking stopped. Ryoka turned\u2026<\/p>\n Three Wyrms peered down at her, each one <\/em>smiling with so many teeth that their vast heads looked like forests of ivory unto themselves.<\/em> They had emerged from the caves and were staring at her.<\/p>\n \u201cHow smart! <\/em>Of all the trespassers who made it this far, none had the sense to look at him differently!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe smells of the forest. And<\/em> the city. Did you go through both?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd strange and powerful meetings. She has protectors, this one. No wonder she made it this far. Will we let her go further?\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka heard the three voices speaking a sibilant tongue she could not understand. But meaning was clear. She stared up at the Wyrms.<\/p>\n Oh no, not more of them.<\/em><\/p>\n Fortunately, she caught that thought before it leaked. The three twined<\/em> around her, moving over each other to form a circle with their bodies.<\/p>\n \u201cUm. Hello! Honored Wyrms. I\u2019m sorry about that. That guy\u2019s been following me about\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka desperately willed<\/em> herself to see the three socialites and their mansion-home. But the oldest of them, with dark green scales mixed with chalk-grey, laughed.<\/p>\n \u201cNone of that now. We won\u2019t be reduced so easily. Our<\/em> perspective matters more than yours. What is your name, smart mortal?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEr\u2026Cherise.\u201d<\/p>\n One of the vast tongues flicked. All three frowned. One of them turned to the others.<\/p>\n \u201cIs she actually trying to lie to us? She\u2019s managed to hide her thoughts.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCheh.<\/em> Mortals. And here I was beginning to like her.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka wished the automatic translation in her head wasn\u2019t so\u2026normal. It made the vast Wyrms less awesomely terrifying\u2014<\/p>\n And she should be terrified.<\/p>\n \u201cTry again.\u201d<\/p>\n The smallest advised Ryoka. And small was comparative; her scales were dark red, fading to a kind of orange-green that would have fit luminous caverns of fungi in the dark. Ryoka had a feeling the Wyrms weren\u2019t outdoor-types.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m uh\u2014Ryoka. Look, I\u2019m just passing through.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe know. But we\u2019re curious how you got here. We smell one of our friends on you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cS-Sikeri?\u201d<\/p>\n The others looked at each other, giant heads turning.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, the party.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe party.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat greedy-guts must have gone to an interesting one! I should have gone too!\u201d<\/p>\n They sighed, then fixed Ryoka with more huge stares.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy don\u2019t you come in? Tell us where you come from, girl. Tell us what you seek.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll let you dine with us in whatever viewpoint you please!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd even help you. If you give us something in return.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2026Yep. They were doing the exact same thing as Sikeri. And Ryoka had no time for this! She had no time for the giant, either. She bit her lip.<\/p>\n \u201cHonored sisters. I\u2019m delighted by the invitation. But I have nothing to give you. And my business is er\u2026actually, I have a friend coming you probably don\u2019t want to meet.\u201d<\/p>\n She had a sudden thought and smiled. The three Wyrms narrowed their eyes and twined a bit\u2026closer<\/em> together.<\/p>\n \u201cFriend? We fear nothing, girl.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot even your large protector from the forest. We are three and she is one.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou may have met Sikeri, but we<\/em> are far more than she.\u201d<\/p>\n Great. Super-Wyrms.<\/em> But Ryoka remembered something. Wyrm they might be, but they were the same kind as Teriarch. And the boy in the city, for that matter. She licked her lips.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is all true, great sisters. Greatest of the Wyrms. Er\u2014peerless beauties with a hoard even Dragons would envy and cry in shame to behold.\u201d<\/p>\n The largest made a crooning sound and bent her head lower.<\/p>\n \u201cGo on. I like you. I\u2019d rather like to keep you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh, but you wouldn\u2019t.<\/em> Because my friend is coming. And\u2014you can tell I\u2019m telling the truth, obviously. You won\u2019t<\/em> like to meet him. The King of Knights is coming, and he has Caliburn\u2014<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The shriek<\/em> turned Ryoka deaf. She saw\u2014<\/p>\n <\/p>\n —-<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The three sisters ran <\/em>for their cottage. One of them hit a remote and steel shutters began to slide down in front of the entrance. They slammed windows shut, screaming.<\/p>\n \u201cThe King? You awakened him?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBegone! Get lost!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t let him bring that wretched sword near us! Shoo!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n They threw things out the window. Vases, a painting\u2014Ryoka dodged a handbag<\/em> and decided her perspectives needed work. She ran on, wondering if it had been a magical force field in reality or if Wyrms actually invested in security. Probably. But who supplied that kind of thing? Gnomes?<\/p>\n Ryoka ran on as the Wyrms harangued her\u2014then ran back and picked up the handbag. She ran off as they shouted every manner of insult at her for stealing it. But she really wanted to know what the hell it was.<\/em><\/p>\n She was journeying across the lands of the fae. And like Nama\u2014Ryoka flicked through adventures that took hours or days. She stopped by a potluck filled with what she thought were feathered folk of all kinds. She travelled past the fields of grass and fire, and only Nama\u2019s foot wraps kept her feet from being incinerated.<\/p>\n She bribed the Phoenix with the handbag to slow the Wild Hunt as the storm blew across the old worlds, angering all the denizens. Fire and steam and ice raged behind her.<\/p>\n Stories. Ryoka Griffin had only one more encounter of note. That was\u2014an encounter of note because it was less wondrous than all the others which were all<\/em> noteworthy, if that made sense.<\/p>\n She was nearly at the next place when she found six people wandering about, looking terrified. Ryoka slowed as they hid behind a rock, babbling to each other.<\/p>\n She was used to this by now and switched across the layers of\u2014<\/p>\n An artificial glow illuminated the dark landscape. One of the figures turned\u2014and Ryoka heard a crackle. She saw the other five react. Three brought up something in their hands. Ryoka stared and her jaw dropped as she saw the flickering visors. The machined armor. The <\/em>guns\u2014<\/p>\n She dove a second before they discharged. Flashes of light burned across the dis\u2014<\/p>\n Pew, pew! <\/em>The little toy guns emitted the blasting sound and light flashed across Ryoka\u2019s torso. She landed and the figures panicked.<\/p>\n \u201cAnother one! Keep firing!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n They took cover behind the little rock, toy guns blazing at her. Ryoka got up shakily. She did not<\/em> try to change perspectives.<\/p>\n It looked like six\u2026adults\u2026in plastic toy costumes. They were shooting at her, shouting with the crackle of a radio in the background as their toy guns played little lights off Ryoka\u2019s torso.<\/p>\n \u201cNo effect! Commander\u2014<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFall back! Fall back to Rally Point 12!\u201d<\/p>\n They got out behind their boulder and started running. Ryoka stared at them.<\/p>\n \u201cNo fucking way. Hey! Hey!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n She ran after them. They were fast.<\/em> Well-trained, and they all looked like soldiers. One turned around, saw Ryoka, and pulled\u2014<\/p>\n She flinched as the plastic grenade landed next to her and exploded into confetti. The others kept running, shouting about \u2018hit\u2014no effect!\u2019 On a hunch, Ryoka switched back to\u2014<\/p>\n The dirt was still showering down and she jumped back from the glowing, red-hot crater of superheated stone and dirt\u2014Ryoka saw plumes of smoke from the broken landscape. She saw another glowing flash\u2014<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cHoly shit!\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka ducked. A nerf-gun pellet bounced off her chest. Was that a missile?<\/em> She stared down at it shakily. Then she saw the others fleeing.<\/p>\n No way. But\u2026they stared over their shoulders as Ryoka ran after them, shouting.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s catching up to us at maximum velocity, Commander!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHold! Turn and switch to close quarters weapons!\u201d<\/p>\n They whirled and drew\u2026plastic knives. Ryoka saw behind the visors, distinctly alien<\/em> features\u2014she held up her hands.<\/p>\n \u201cWhoa! Hold on! Listen! I\u2019m not going to hurt you!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The six froze. One of them adjusted his helmet.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2014Can\u2019t make it out, Commander. Sounds like some kind of sonic-based language. I can translate\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDoesn\u2019t look<\/em> dangerous. But we can\u2019t tell.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLower your weapons!\u201d<\/p>\n The leader of the six held up an authoritative hand. Ryoka was scratching her head. She really wanted to switch back\u2014but she had a feeling she\u2019d gotten lucky those two times. If this was real\u2014these people were packing serious<\/em> firepower.<\/p>\n Which appeared to her to be toy guns and Halloween-costume armor. Which made sense<\/em> if it was\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cHey. Um. You. Can you understand me?\u201d<\/p>\n She pointed at one of the figures, who jerked slightly. It raised a hand.<\/p>\n \u201cHold on. I don\u2019t have enough of a sample, Commander. It\u2019s definitely trying to communicate\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Were they stupid or something? Or\u2026<\/em>Ryoka\u2019s eyes narrowed. They all had big moon landing-type helmets on. She kept hearing the crackle of radios. She was certain this was all an\u2026analogy to what they really were, but no one else had been unable to hear her.<\/p>\n On a hunch, she strode forwards, hands raised. Instantly, three of them brought up their guns.<\/p>\n Pew, pew! <\/em>Light harmlessly played across her chest.<\/p>\n \u201cBack up! Back\u2014<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka grabbed the figure she\u2019d pointed at and yanked<\/em> the helmet off. He flailed at her, stabbing her six times with the plastic knife.<\/p>\n \u201cOw. Ow. Stop that, would you?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n She yanked off the helmet and shouted at the figure. If he\u2019d gone hand-to-hand he would have hurt<\/em> her. He was taller than she was, and she saw pale orange skin, some strange horizontal\u2026were they even eyes?<\/p>\n He jerked back, shouting in alarm.<\/p>\n \u201cSuit seal compromised! She tore off my helmet like it was\u2014wait. What?\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka backed away as the others blazed their guns at her.<\/p>\n \u201cHey. Can you hear me now?\u201d<\/p>\n The figure raised a hand.<\/p>\n \u201cCease fire! Cease fire! I just established communications!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n He looked around wildly.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m\u2014I\u2019m not dead? I\u2019m breathing\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSoldier! Restore your gear now before\u2014<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCan you tell her to shut up?\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka pointed at the commander. The soldier hesitated.<\/p>\n \u201cCommander, are you getting any of what this person\u2019s saying?\u201d<\/p>\n He stared at her. And seemed to see<\/em> her at last. Indeed, he looked around incredulously\u2014then at his toy gun.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is this?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe don\u2019t have any communications with this creature. Just the sonic communications which we haven\u2019t translated\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTell them to take off the helmets. They\u2019re getting in the way.\u201d<\/p>\n The\u2026alien\u2026stared at Ryoka. She stared back. He holstered his firearm, staring at the cheap toy, then at Ryoka.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026How do I know this isn\u2019t a trick?\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka sighed.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, if I wanted to, I probably could have kicked all your asses. Your guns aren\u2019t working.\u201d<\/p>\n His eyes widened.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re familiar with firearms? You have an understanding of technology?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes I do. What are you, wearing, spacesuits?\u201d<\/p>\n He frowned.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026You mean our battle armor? And our rifles\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n He glanced at the toy gun. Ryoka shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are you doing? You don\u2019t bring technology<\/em> into the lands of the fae! They\u2019re toys! Are you\u2014mortal? Are you from space?\u201d<\/p>\n The stranger gave Ryoka a long, puzzled look.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re all from space. Unless this place doesn\u2019t have a stratosphere? Is it even a planet? Are you<\/em> from here\u2026Miss?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNope. So you\u2019re spacefaring people?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s right. What planet are you from?\u201d<\/p>\n He was muttering into his toy wrist-radio to the others. Glancing at Ryoka. She saw a fake-looking scanner beam play over her and folded her arms.<\/p>\n \u201cI see that. Stop scanning me!\u201d<\/p>\n She snapped at one of the helmeted figures. He recoiled and the beam snapped off.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I was scanning her on a non-refractable wavelength\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka wasn\u2019t sure if the Kings Arthurs was crazier\u2014or this was. The figure looked at her uncertainly.<\/p>\n \u201cYour home star? Miss?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUm. I don\u2019t know what it is. We just called it the sun. Sol? And I\u2019m from Earth.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka saw the alien look around. One of the others cautiously removed his helmet and gaped at her and then his suit and weapons. The alien raised a finger\u2014one of eight.<\/p>\n \u201cWhich<\/em> Earth?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n —-<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Communication took about twenty minutes. Forty, before their commander removed her helmet. Ryoka was sitting on a rock, as they looked around, mystified.<\/p>\n \u201cPerspective? Magic? Commander, this is clearly misinformation.\u201d<\/p>\n One whispered through their crackling radio network. Ryoka threw a rock at him.<\/p>\n \u201cIf I\u2019m wrong, why can I hear you and why are your guns as good as spit, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n She flickered down the layers of perspective and\u2014<\/p>\n –They were tall.<\/em> Ryoka gulped as she stared up at one of the giant suits of armor and the half-translucent visor. It did indeed resemble something close to a moon-landing helmet. But set into the kind of battle gear that belonged in science fiction.<\/p>\n The barrel of one of the guns tracked <\/em>her, glowing with unspent power. She saw one of the figures, helmet off, blink. The others reacted at once.<\/p>\n \u201cHold on. Now<\/em> I\u2019m getting all kinds of scans. Basic biology. Unknown dimensional compartment, but Threat Rating of Three<\/em>\u2014no advanced metallurgy, no dangerous chemical compounds\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka switched back and the toy-armor and weapons returned. She took a breath.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re in the wrong place for your kind of weapons.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think that has become clear.\u201d<\/p>\n The commander sighed. She had four eyes, each one unmoving and spaced around her head. Like\u2026those security cameras, Ryoka decided. She also lacked a mouth; Ryoka wasn\u2019t sure where the sound was coming from. Probably a translation.<\/p>\n \u201cRyoka Griffin. You resemble some of the peoples we\u2019ve met on our travels in our\u2026dimension. Can you explain where we are?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe lands of the fae. I told you.\u201d<\/p>\n The others shook their heads. One was consulting a little hologram-display.<\/p>\n \u201cWe don\u2019t know what that is.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen how did you get here?\u201d<\/p>\n The commander sighed.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is classified. But we\u2019ve lost an entire <\/em>Victory Company to this disastrous affair. Take a look at this. Soldier?\u201d<\/p>\n She gestured and one brought out a primitive TV screen. Ryoka was sure it was more impressive, but she saw a cartoonish representation of planets, a bunch of aliens holding hands\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cThis is our federation. We\u2019re currently under threat with a second empire\u2014and looking for options to turn the battle in our favor. We discovered this\u2026gateway and activated it after sixteen years of research. The phenomena defied scientific understanding, so I was tasked with leading a Victory Company<\/em> into this place to conduct research.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEr. You came on the Summer Solstice?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s that? Is she referring to a horological event? According to which star?\u201d<\/p>\n The others muttered. The commander looked at Ryoka and shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cThis phenomena occurs every sixty two years.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n She stressed it, as if years were longer for her than Ryoka. The City Runner shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cI guess time\u2019s different for your place than mine. Look\u2014you need to get out. The gates will close when the Summer Solstice day ends.\u201d<\/p>\n The others looked up, suddenly nervous. The commander gave Ryoka a wretched look.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve been trying for the last eighty days<\/em>, Miss Ryoka. What do you mean, it will close in a day? We\u2019ve been wandering this place\u2014our entire Victory Company was lost<\/em> the moment we entered that damn city! We brought in enough firepower to level five planets and they ate<\/em> our vehicles like it was paper!\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka felt bad for this person. If she<\/em> had done poorly\u2014they had no idea what to expect. The poor people had brought technology to a magic fight.<\/p>\n \u201cHow did you survive this far?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOur weapons worked on some opponents. Others? It was as effective as you. We were split up. Two entire strike groups made it out of the city while the rest retreated to our entry point. We made it here\u2026but kept taking casualties. A giant\u2026thing\u2026devoured an entire strike team.\u201d<\/p>\n That bastard with the three eyes.<\/em> Ryoka gulped.<\/p>\n \u201cHow many people are in\u2026a strike group?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCounting robotics?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFour hundred.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka blanched. The commander nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s about what we\u2019ve been dealing with. We have no direction; our sensors are broken and we\u2019ve been able to communicate with exactly three<\/em> things before you.\u201d<\/p>\n That made sense if they kept their helmets on.<\/em> Ryoka patted the commander on the shoulder, gingerly. The alien woman blinked at the gesture.<\/p>\n \u201cLook. You need to go back the way you\u2019ve come. Keep your helmets off, be polite\u2014um\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n They were never going to make it.<\/em> Even if she could give them the crash course on fae rules, they were going to die.<\/em> But Ryoka had a sudden idea.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026If we can get to the forest, I know someone who can take you back.\u201d<\/p>\n The commander looked at Ryoka warily.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not in the fashion of trusting strangers, Miss. But we\u2019ll take any help we can get. However, my mission is to find something that will justify this loss\u2014<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cContact! My sensors just overloaded! Four hundred kilometers out\u2014<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n One of the soldiers screamed and Ryoka saw a bit of smoke emanating from his helmet. The rest scrambled to their feet. She raised her hands.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat? What? Don\u2019t do that!\u201d<\/p>\n They had their toy weapons raised. One was shouting at the commander and she put the radio up to her ear.<\/p>\n \u201cEnergy signatures just <\/em>broke my systems, commander! Threat Rating has no scale for this! Recommend evac!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n She looked at Ryoka, worried. The young woman looked over her shoulder. She knew who it was.<\/p>\n The Wild H\u2014<\/em><\/p>\n The King of Chivalry walked across the ground, whistling, with his two companions. The young boy Arthur, the old one, and the glowing sword was resting on the young King\u2019s shoulder. Ryoka gasped in relief.<\/p>\n \u201cArthur!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou could power half the stars in the federation with that thing! Our suit\u2019s systems are shutting\u2014aaah!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Behind her, the other five were rolling on the ground, crying out. Ryoka looked at the commander. Helmet off\u2014she put her face in her hands.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026Is that what we\u2019ve been doing this entire time?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYep.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n —-<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n It was refreshing to meet people who were worse<\/em> than she was at this. Really. Ryoka yanked off the helmets with the commander before Arthur walked the forty paces or so over. She made introductions.<\/p>\n \u201cMilady Warrior, an honor.\u201d<\/p>\n The oldest King bowed. The commander stared at him as the others muttered about \u2018sensor readings\u2019 and \u2018no biological life signs detected\u2019. But their leader had a more\u2026adaptive mind. She bowed, copying Ryoka\u2019s gesture stiffly.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat happened to the Wild Hunt? Nama?\u201d<\/p>\n The young King with the sword grinned with plain delight.<\/p>\n \u201cThey fled rather than fight, especially when they found you gone! Your great protector is safe. It would take the entire<\/em> hunt, rather than a fraction, to bring her down.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWait, that wasn\u2019t the entire hunt?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course not. Did you think all<\/em> of them would hunt you? It was barely more than a handful.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka scuffed at the ground. That hurt her feelings a bit. But then she looked at the King of Knights.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026Why are you here, though?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTo escort you in.<\/em> We\u2019re going for a walk.\u201d<\/p>\n The boy informed Ryoka with grave dignity. She could only bow to that.<\/p>\n \u201cCan you help this lot too? They\u2019re lost and I\u2019m afraid they\u2019ll never make it back to the gateways before the solstice ends. They\u2019ll be trapped here. And definitely die.\u201d<\/p>\n The six shuddered. The King of Chivalry nodded, gravely.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course. Let us walk to the Courts of the Fae. Then\u2014I shall return these to their destination.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWho\u2026are<\/em> you? Sir King? And may I ask\u2014is that\u2026war weapon something that could be obtained, here?\u201d<\/p>\n The commander didn\u2019t even seem to recognize his form of address. King Arthur Pendragon smiled as she stared at his sword.<\/p>\n \u201cOnly if you have the will to take its burden. I would not if I were you. But tell me of your troubles, warrior.\u201d<\/p>\n And so the unlikely party marched. The three Kings. The visitors from another time far more advanced than Ryoka\u2019s, clinging together in a tight knot and looking terrified as children.<\/p>\n Ryoka expected more trials. More travails. But in truth\u2014her journey ended with that last eventful encounter.<\/p>\n All those they passed did not trouble the King of Albion. They bowed, or called out greetings, or slunk away rather than challenge him. He walked on, and on\u2014<\/p>\n Until they came to the last place. The inner place, perhaps second only to the heart of the fae.<\/p>\n Here was the Court of the Summer Fae and Winter.<\/em> Ryoka stared up at the vast, hallowed structure. Seeing where the countless miniature worlds, the patchwork of homes, ended.<\/p>\n There, on the border between things, before the land turned into the home of the fae\u2014a place where anything was possible, the greatest danger still, perhaps\u2014<\/p>\n Ryoka saw a group of people arguing.<\/p>\n They were all rather tall, slender, elfin<\/em> without being exactly Elves. Somehow, Ryoka knew this. They were, in fact, like larger copies of figures she\u2019d once seen in moving crystal and ice, or dancing among mortals in the party.<\/p>\n Her breath caught. Her eyes went wide. She beheld the arguing fae\u2014each one adorned in the colors of their court. Not the lively, gay colors of summer.<\/p>\n The subdued magnificence of the Winter Court.<\/p>\n They were arguing loudly, fighting. Two sides, one smaller, trying to get away from the larger mob. Ryoka saw a female form being yanked<\/em> back by the angry ones wanting her to stay.<\/p>\n \u201c