Light burst from the mummified heart, exploding outward and washing over Isa and the others, racing down every passage way, lighting up every crack in the flooring and every opening in the ceiling. Although there was no heat, Isa’s hair blew around her face just as it had when Joth had accidentally set the forest on fire and the trees had blazed all around them.

The light seared into Isa’s eyes with the power of a spotlight. She blinked, trying to clear the afterimage from her vision, and at first, she thought the white feather was part of that. But then she blinked again, and a feather still drifted slowly downward. She held out her hand and waited until the feather settled there.

And then, as if the touch of the feather restarted the world, suddenly everyone was talking at once, and the din crashed into Isa like a wave. Alice was beside her, kissing her face. “You did it,” she said with a smile. “I love you.”

Isa focused on Alice and blurted out, “You’re glowing.”

Alice laughed and held out her hand as if examining it. “Am I? I feel fine.”

Closing her fist carefully around the feather, Isa smiled. “I feel fine, too.”

“My wounds, they’ve closed up,” Lund looked at his arms. “That light…”

Mery pulled out her notebook. “Did it heal us? How? Why? It doesn’t— Well, damn. Sense or no, it’s there. I’ve got about half my health.”

The feather felt insubstantial in Isa’s closed fist. Had she imagined it? The tiniest peek showed the white feather still nestled in her. Should she tell the others? What was it even for?

Alice grabbed her notebook and said, “Me, too. And I leveled. Level 5, babe and class 3 wizard.” She flipped a page. “So many spells. How about you? Did you level, too? Isa?”

Isa touched her bag. If she looked at her notebook, she’d see her age and whatever she saw there, it would be the truth, no going back. “I dunno,” she said. “I’ll check later. We need to get out of here. Who knows if other people saw the light. Those priests might not be happy with us, and I’m tired of this hole in the ground.” As she stood, Isa slipped the feather into her bag beside her notebook.

Alice touched her calf. “Babe, my quest is complete – the tomb quest. Is yours? We didn’t get to consult the goddess.” Alice looked at the group. “Did I miss the goddess?”

“Mine is crossed out, too,” said Mery. Her voice filled the room as she read the quest aloud. “‘Enter the tomb of Menesia, last king of Kelima.’ Done. ‘Prevail against the shadows.’ Just barely. ‘Bring light where once was darkness.’ Isa took care of that now, didn’t she? ‘Destroy the heart of the tomb.’ Again, our Isa. And then this: ‘Reward: Consult the goddess.’” Mery looked up from her notebook. “Anyone?”

“It must be Isa,” said Lund. “She destroyed the heart. Was it your Lady of Lockwood? What did She say?”

“Guys, I haven’t talked to any goddesses.” That was technically true. Isa shrugged. “Maybe She’ll visit me in my dreams or something.” She looked down at Alice, still sitting on the floor. “Isn’t that how you and Ysel first talked?”

“True.” Alice got up and dusted off her cloak. “And Isa’s right – we can’t sit around here all day waiting for someone to show up.”

“Anything good?” Mery gestured with her chin at the dead warrior.

“Sword looks good,” said Lund. “Any objections to me taking it? He’s also got a crystal necklace and what I bet is a magic rod.”

Mery snorted. “Not really my style, but let’s take them, and I can identify them tomorrow.”

“Nice armor,” said Dulrak. “Fetch a good price at the markets.”

“If you want to carry it,” said Lund, “take it.”

“Nah. I’m already at my limits. I just thought…”

“How much is it worth?” asked Isa.

“A thousand gold, easily,” said Dulrak.

A thousand gold. What could Isa do with that kind of money? She and Alice would have a nice cushion for expenses and— Except that they were almost to their goal, weren’t they? So what did gold coins matter, one way or another, if they were going to be back in Portland in two or three days? Back in Portland. That part is fine, Isa thought to herself, but how do you explain to Marissa and the others that you’re 10 years older?

Mery put her hands on her hips. “The rest of you need to learn to travel light. Me? I have room and strength to pack in another 50 pounds. Carry an extra 50 pounds for a day or two and then get a thousand gold for my troubles? Done.” She knelt beside the warrior and began to unbuckle the straps.

“Which way are we going?” said Dulrak. “The way we came or the back door?”

Everyone paused, and as a group they turned to Mery. “Why is it my decision?” She sounded aggrieved.

“Because,” said Lund, “you’re the one who will complain about traps if we don’t go the way you think, so we’re all happy to give you the choice.”

“I wouldn’t put it like that,” said Alice.

Mery sat back on her heels. “You can detect traps,” she said to Dulrak. “So can you, Isa once you have your cleric wings or whatever for class 2 spells.”

“I don’t have an ounce of magic left in me,” said Dulrak. “Even if I had prepared to cast it today, which I did not.”

“Class 2 cleric,” Isa muttered.

Alice slipped her arm through Isa’s. “I bet you leveled. Just take a peek.”

Isa shook herself free. “Alice, no. We don’t have time. And even if I did level, maybe I’m gonna take another rank of fighter instead. Lund? Level 5 fighter, kind of sweet, right? Two attacks and other... stuff....?”

“You do get a new specialization. Maybe you’ll want to do eldritch fighter. You already have a start on the magic.”

“Fine,” Mery stood up and hauled her pack to her shoulder. “We’re going the back way. It’s a fucking coin toss, anyway. But try to keep up.”

“Shouldn’t we scout ahead or—” Alice’s words went unanswered by the group as the others gathered their bags.

“It’s a good idea, love,” Isa said softly. “We’ll keep an ear out. No one is going to surprise us.”

Alice glared at her. “You did not just say that. Way to jinx us, Chamberlin.”

Spoiler: Currrent Hit Points

New Hit Point Tally:

Alice 15

Dulrak 33

Isa 24

Lund 48

Mery 30