The smoky whiskey scent of the Edgewise was tangled with spice. Mack breathed it in as his shoes settled on the tavern floorboards, catching the sounds of laughter that seeped up from the common room below.

The sound and smell were distracting but he still felt it, the faint pluck and tug of the Edgewise rifling through his mind. It was subtle, likely he only felt it because of the binding he'd placed on the picture, and he was careful not to react. There were too many unknowns in play, and his uncertainty of the tavern's motivations left him in a great disposition. That the Edgewise plotted against him on any level was a demonstration of how vastly he underestimated the depth of sentience the tavern possessed.

A daunting prospect when coupled with the mystery figure joy riding through the realms to lure him away. He was so distracted by his thoughts he didn't notice his apprentice until she loomed up in front of him at the foot of the stairs.

"Now, I know you said no arguing but, hear me out--"

Mack scowled. "No."

"But could you just--"

"No."

"You could use me--"

"No."

Calponia's nostrils flared as she inhaled deep for patience. "Would you care for some curry, boss-man?" He didn't like the calculating glint in her eyes.

"You made...curry?" His gaze drifted away to center of the room, where the gathered group occupied a table that sported a massive cauldron. So that was the source of the heavenly aroma.

"Oh you really must try some, old boy," said Prospero, easing back with a satisfied pat of his gut. "I swear, the young lady cooks with a skill to rival the tavern itself."

He almost missed it when her body jerked, glimpsing it from the corner of his eye. Mack glanced back to find an expression of bewilderment and fear on Cal's face.

She shook herself, clearing her throat. "The Edgewise cooks?"

"Indeed," Prospero chuckled. "It is a skill the Keeper of the Ways is sadly lacking, but the tavern keeps its guests well fed and happy. Or do you think I owe this fine figure to mead alone?"

"Well, I'm not surprised Mack couldn't boil an egg to save his life," said Calponia. The good humor in her voice was forced but none of the others seemed to pick up on it. Except for the ruddy vampire, of course, watching her from across the room. He and Mack shared a brief look.

Mack laid a hand on her shoulder. "I'll take a bowl."

Her concern vanished with a scheming grin. She picked her way carefully across the room, watching the placement of her steps. The bête noire had returned. Her steps faltered when she reached the pot.

"You savages! I told you to leave enough for another serving," she snapped at the guilty patrons, who collectively hunched their shoulders and spooned more curry into their mouths in mulish silence.

"It's all right, Cal," said Mack, coming up behind her. "You can make it another time. I should be going. Now for your duties to the tavern..."

The fight went out of her. She braced herself on the table, physically deflating as he watched and he knew he was responsible for it. He hesitated. Part of him felt he was punishing Cal, when the fault lay with him. She handled herself well on Sanguinhiem and Arden, despite his failure to protect her and it was his own fear of the unknown that pushed him to keep her here. Keep her safe. Except, how safe would she be here? For how long, when their mystery villain stated his intent to use her? He was still debating with himself when he noticed the table top blackening beneath her hands.

The bête noire came back stronger and more potent than ever. He watched the black spread like time lapse rot until Cal noticed and yanked her hands away. The patch began to shrink back to healthy clean wood, but Mack could tell the process was slow, too slow.

The door to the Edgewise opened. Yosepf rose abruptly from his seat in salute.

"My Lady," said the Alchemist.

"At ease, commander," said Lady Agatha. Her boots clicked across the floor as she approached the group, where she dropped in a chair, shifting her chainmail skirts. "Allo Calponia. Could you spot me a glass of chartreuse?"

"Of course," said Cal, carefully picking her way to the bar.

"How goes the clean up effort on Arden," asked Cesario, dragging her spoon along the rim of her bowl for a last mouthful of curry.

Lady Agatha held up a hand until Cal brought her a glass of the light green liquor, taking a healthy sip before answering. "The Inquisitors have pulled their forces from the realm," she said.

Ariel frowned. "Isn't that good news?"

"For Arden, yes," said Lady Agatha, draining her glass. "Another please. I feared retaliation to the realm due to the unexpected loss of their forces but it seems their leaders have received new marching orders." Eugene shuffled uncomfortably at her words.

"New marching orders?" Mack folded his arms. "Any idea where?"

"Not yet," said Lady Agatha, meeting his gaze with a grim expression. "But they seem to be answering to the same unknown figure as before."

He didn't like the sound of that at all. Mack studied the lady knight, noting her exhaustion. She'd run herself ragged chasing down leads no better than ghosts when he had such a better task in mind for her.

"Lady Agatha, would you consider staying here to guard the Edgewise while I am away?"

The lady knight paused with her drink halfway to her mouth, raising a brow at Mack. Her gaze flickered to the wide eyed Cal but she said nothing. "I would be honored, Way Keeper," she said.

"The Edgewise should be able to comfortably accommodate a squad of your men," said Mack.

"That won't be necessary. Yosepf shall remain with me," said Lady Agatha.

"And we shall remain as well," said Prospero with an appraising eye on his brood. "It is the least I can do to repay you for our lives."

Mack nodded and turned to his apprentice. "You'll need a sturdier pair of shoes and a warm jacket where we're going," he told her quietly.

"What happened to no arguing?"

Mack looked at her, seeing the worry in her green-grey eyes and found he couldn't give her a straight answer.

"I shall accompany you."

He nearly punched the vampire on reflex. "You must make sound when you walk!" He glared down at the man. "Can you even swim?"

Eugene squinted back up at him. "Vampires float."

"Just like a dead body," Mack sneered.

"I'm just gonna grab a coat," muttered Calponia, backing away from them. She headed upstairs.

Mack sighed, leaning back against the table as they waited for her. "Are you certain you can handle this?"

"She is," said Eugene.

Mack rolled his eyes. "I need your oath, vampire. No matter what happens, you get her back to the Edgewise, with or without me."

The vampire's looked up at Mack's resolute expression. "You have my word."

Uncertain as Mack was where he stood with the Edgewise, he knew it would defend Cal with everything it had.

Yosepf pulled a bowl from the recesses of his robes and set it in front of Lady Agatha. "Would you care for some curry, my lady?" It was still faintly steaming.

"You lot are bloody savages," muttered Mack.  

Calponia sat on her bed, clasping her hands together. She didn't want to question the sudden turn around, but she knew Mack saw the table blacken. The worst part was she didn't feel the bête noire rise, it spilled out of her without warning. No matter how Mack felt on the matter, she weakened the Edgewise.

She could feel it now, when she closed her eyes, writhing away just under her skin.

"I thought I had more time," she whispered. The rafters creaked, a sound that felt somehow sympathetic. "I'm sorry," she said to the presence that surrounded her.

A popping noise startled her. Calponia looked up, searching for the source. A rustling sound drew her attention to the floor. A sunflower rose through the boards, bursting through with such force it snapped the wood. The flower head bloomed as she watched, straining toward her.

She stared at it, chills crackling along her spine. "What the hell is going on?"

The Edgewise gave no answer.

If it was possible, Calponia looked more troubled than he felt as she came downstairs, in a large cable knit sweater and pea coat. It was suitable enough for their destination.

"Remember if anything happens, give us a tug," he said to Lady Agatha and Prospero. There were worse hands to leave the Edgewise in.

"Pish tosh, we'll be fine," said Lady Agatha. "Go make sure the pirate is alive, will you? The scoundrel owes me 20 pence."

"We shall take care of the tavern for you, Keeper, never fear," said Prospero.

Calponia clomped up to him in sturdy workman's boots. "Ready?"

He waved her ahead, Eugene following as they made for the door. He stopped at the entrance, taking a long look around the common room before stepping out into the fog. The door shut softly behind him.

Mack fell in step beside his apprentice, leaving Eugene to bring up the rear. Unlikely as it seemed, he trusted the vampire to guard their backs.

"Now, Cal, our destination is quite different than Arden or Sanguinhiem. The societal rules are far more lax--"

Eugene snorted.

"And much more favorable to women. However, please stay within sight of myself or the vampire at all times."

Calponia frowned up at him. "Why?"

"Ravelock's people are a bit... mercenary," said Mack dryly. "In either case, it's the world itself you'll have to get used to. Oceanus is both wondrous and perilous in its own right. That is beside the unknown dangers we shall encounter when we get there."

"Of course it's dangerous. When are you going to take me to the realm of fluffy bunnies and rainbows, boss-man? "

Despite the direness of their situation, he couldn't help but smile. "This world isn't so bad. The entry's a bit rough, but I think you will find it appealing."

"Do we have to push our way in like Arden?"

Mack stopped. This felt like good a place as any. "Not exactly. Take my hand please. You too vampire."

Cal slipped her hand into his. "Why do I feel like you are setting me up for something?"

"I might be, a little," Mack admitted, but half the wonder of Oceanus was that opening view. Really, they needed to create all the moments of levity they could before the shit hit the fan. The fog began to spin up around them in a soundless dervish. Calponia warily eyed the thickening funnel.

"Don't let go," said Mack.

"Oh come on, you have to give me more than that--"

The ground opened up beneath them, a perfect circular hole of endless blue. Calponia's words trailed into a scream as they fell through the sky.