Under the white light of the infirmary, Camellia stood between Commander Rooks and Meladee. The women faced off. Eva took Meladee’s side. Everyone else sided with Rooks.

Camellia sided with no one, but she was sure both groups placed her with Meladee. Though Camellia expected the confrontation, she dreaded it.

As soon as Meladee’s silence spell spread over the fleet, Alim, Benham, and Sten flocked back to her bedside, asking what magic she had performed. Meladee gave them a vague answer, though Camellia practically begged Meladee to tell the truth.

When their Girandolan friends discovered they couldn’t say the word Iruedim or discuss the planet’s location in any detail, they became angry. All except Rooks.

Camellia already gave the secret to Commander Rooks. But, Rooks kept it to herself. Camellia wondered why.

Rooks hadn’t rushed to Meladee’s bedside, but she was here now, listening in silence.

Mealdee crossed her arms. “If it makes you feel any better, we got the spell’s effects too.”

Rooks remained silent.

Benham stepped forward. “Yeah, but you initially planned to be on Halfmoon where you didn’t stick the spell.

“Hell yeah,” Meladee shot back. “We aren’t going to tell the Finial about...the location.” She wavered slightly, still recovering from the decay spell she’d cast on the Finial’s secret ships.

Eva each took one of her arms. Meladee shook her off.

Meladee pointed at Benham and the others. “How are we supposed to know what you guys would do?”

Benham threw up one hand. “I can’t believe this. I thought you trusted me. Us.”

Rooks and Camellia both opened their mouths to speak. They both stopped, and Rooks gestured for Camellia to go first.

Camellia took a breath. “For what it’s worth, I...we are sorry. But, if you’re planning to stay and become colonists, why does it matter whether or not you can reveal its location?” Camellia raised her head and, with tired eyes, looked around the room. She shook her head. “It doesn’t really matter.”

Everyone paused.

Sten’s gaze shifted between his companions. “That’s true. It doesn’t matter.”

Rooks gave him a quizzical look. “When you put it so simply, no, it doesn’t matter.”

Alim frowned. “But we pledged to help them in return for a chance to leave the Finial. This spell symbolizes a break in trust.”

Rooks gave Alim a short nod. She stepped forward and gestured between herself and the Iruedians. “I sanctioned their spell.”

The whole gathering fell silent.

Camellia knew she wore her shock, but she couldn’t help it. She was shocked. Rooks had not sanctioned the action. So, why take credit?

“What?” Benham said. “Why?”

Rooks faced Benham and stood tall. “It’s extra insurance that we will arrive at our new home safe and sound. It already has one invader, why risk more?”

“Why didn’t you tell us?” Alim asked. He addressed Camellia more than Rooks.

Camellia looked down and let Rooks handle it. This lie belonged to Rooks, and Camellia thought Rooks should be the one to nourish it.

Rooks raised an eyebrow. “As much as I trust my crew, it is still made up of individuals. They think for themselves. Even if every one of them is loyal and willing to lay down their lives for this new, strange planet, there’s still a chance a Finial spy joined us.” Rooks shrugged. “If a spy doesn’t know we’re one step ahead of them, we can oust them before they become a problem. Unfortunately, it was a flashy spell. It gave itself away.”

“So, you came up with this plan?” Benham stepped forward, moving into Rooks space. He quickly backed off.

Rooks’ eyes flicked to Camellia. “No, I didn’t come up with it. I just liked it enough to give it the okay.”

What a lie, Camellia thought. And, what a performance.

Rooks was so practiced. How many times had she done something like this before?

Benham touched his chest. “How come I couldn’t know? I was involved in this before you…any of you.” Benham gestured at the Girandolans.

Rooks gave him a stoney glare. “These are my ships, my crew, and my strategy. I’ll share my decisions with people that I think need to know.”

Benham turned on Meladee. “Did you want to tell me?”

Meladee looked at the ground; her eyes filled with shame, proper for the situation. “I…”

“Of course,” Rooks broke in. “I insisted on the secrecy.”

More shock rippled through Camellia. She wondered why Rooks played this game. It was quite the lie to weave, and Rooks took the entire blame for their situation. To get Meladee in her debt? To keep Benham and Meladee’s relationship moving forward? Maybe, to keep everyone on Iruedim’s side.

Camellia gave Rooks a curious look. Rooks held her expression, calm and stoic. Camellia wouldn’t get answers yet.

Benham sighed.

Meladee touched his arm. “The spell only works far from…you know where. We’ll all be able to use that… Look, we’ll all be able to say it when we get home.”

Benham looked at Meladee with a softened gaze. “That’s good at least. Can you undo the spell?”

“Yeah, at some point.” Meladee nodded.

Camellia avoided everyone’s eyes. She knew she was easy to read, and she got the feeling Rooks would want her to conceal their little plot.

What is the point of this plot? Camellia touched her head. She raised her eyes.

Rooks regarded her with some amusement, but the subtle smile faded. “Let’s put this behind us. Understand that the planet that shall not be named needs security and secrecy at this time. Who knows? Maybe we’ll all laugh about this later.”

Sten gave a short nod. “I agree.”

Rooks looked at Meladee. “Now, we do have one problem left to discuss. Some unsanctioned magic. The decay spell.”

Meladee glared and opened her mouth.

Camellia turned pleading eyes to Meladee.

Meladee shook her head. She planned to argue. “It’s not like I like that magic. We might need to use it on Ul’thetos. What about then? Can I use it then?”

“We’ll make an exception for Ul’thetos,” Rooks said. “But, I want you to imagine what happened to people who didn’t escape that spell. Because I’m sure there were more than a few. How do you think they felt when that decay spell came creeping over their bodies? Meladee, you killed people.”

“I didn’t know exactly how the spell would turn out. I only meant for it to destroy the ships, so we could get away,” Meladee said.

“You shouldn’t test spells like that on people. You should know what your magic is going to do before you cast it.” Rooks pointed a finger at Meladee.

Meladee threw up her hands. “You think I don’t know how horrible that kind of magic is? I watched experts work it for a year. I detest it, and yet, I can’t escape it.” Meladee thumped her chest. “You asked me for a spell. You didn’t like what you got. Guess what? Magic is unpredictable, and it kills people in fantastically painful ways. Whether I use Agaric inventions or not.” Meladee blew out a long, frustrated breath. “You’d better get used to it because we don’t have the same morals you do. We have magic battles all the time, especially where I’m from. No one feels guilty, and if someone dies, there’s not a whole lot of punishment.”

The room got quiet.

Rooks blinked. “Well, I guess we wanted a home with a little more freedom. We got it.” Rooks stiffened. “But, I’m going to hang on to my morals a little bit longer. When you work with me, you respect them.”

Meladee drew breath to respond.

Camellia broke in. “We will. The decay magic, from now on, is reserved for Ul’thetos, only Ul’thetos.”

No one contested Camellia’s assertion, but the silence was tense.

Meladee glared, and Camellia lowered her eyes to the ground.

Eva crossed her arms and smiled. “My fellow colonists. You might come to love that spell when you see what our land currently looks like.”

Everyone gathered on Rooks’ bridge and watched the view. With the drama passed, Camellia relaxed. The silence spell had become something of a joke among the crew, with people coming up with ridiculous names for their destination. Now, they approached the Iruedian wormhole, which sat like a bubble in space. Stars splattered the sky around it, but no stars shone through.

Camellia straightened and prepared herself for the next phase of drama: Ul’thetos and Ah’nee’thit’s demise and...her reunion with Adalhard.

Rooks spoke, “Fauchard first. Ranseur will follow second, and third, Corbin will tow the Cleydef. Bardiche, Guisarme, and Voulge will be in the rear.”

Every ship heard Rooks’ voice as she relayed the plan.

“Fauchard ahead,” she ordered.

The Fauchard dipped its nose into the sphere. The ship slid further into the unusual space, and once the bridge passed the wormhole, their view flickered and changed.

Before them, floated a sun, a moon, and Iruedim. Distant galaxies peppered the dark, far off space, and a few other extragalactic stars shone here and there, just out of reach.

In spite of her desire to remain impassive, Camellia smiled. She had been gone only a few months and still felt a keen love for the planet, all of its problems, and two members of the AAH.

Cernunnos will be so surprised. Camellia’s smile fell into a frown. Adalhard. She stopped the thought there.

Camellia looked at Meladee and found her stiff and anxious. Meladee clutched her papers of decay magic. Meladee hated the creatures. She hated their very presence on Iruedim, how they affected her life, and how they could destroy her future. Meladee would rather be anywhere but here. Still, Camellia felt proud of Meladee’s courage.

Next, Camellia studied Eva. Eva maintained the impassive expression Camellia had hoped to. Still, Camellia knew Eva must feel something, probably a strong drive to take back Lurren.

Rooks took a breath. “It’s beautiful.”

“Yes,” Sten whispered.

Alim smiled as he took in the scene.

Camellia filled with warmth. She put a hand over her heart and watched them all. She wanted to remember this moment.

Suddenly, she remembered that she forgot to watch Benham.

Benham didn’t look out Fauchard’s massive windshield. Instead, he sidled close to Meladee and softly asked, “Alright?”

Meladee answered in a low voice. “Yeah. I just hate that I have to be anywhere near that thing. I just want to make sure this spell will work.”

“Meladee,” Benham said quietly. “If it’s alright, I think I’d like to live in Tagtrum. Try out sailing.” He continued to speak low. “Not sure Lurren is for me. How do you get to be a citizen? Marry a Tagtrumian?”

Meladee stiffened. “Yeah, that’s one way to do it.”

“Good. Got my eye on one,” he said into her ear.

Meladee’s eyes widened. Camellia swore she heard Meladee’s heart speed up. She didn’t know if that was good or bad. If Adalhard said the same to Camellia, she might have swooned.

No, I never faint when it’s thematically appropriate, only in the sunshine.

Fauchard approached Iruedim, and the other ships joined them. As each ship completed its course through Iruedim’s wormhole, they called in.

Rooks listened. “Perfect. We’re all present and accounted for. Now, to pick a landing site.” Suddenly, Rooks touched her forehead. “Oh, no correction. First, we have a little test to perform.” Rooks took a deep breath. “Iruedim.”

“Iruedim,” Benham added, with a small smile.

Alim grinned. “Iruedim. We can say it.”

“Yes,” Camellia said. “Should we...pick a landing place?”

Rooks smiled. “Yes, we should. I assume you have one in mind?” Rooks’ attitude, which had been frosty for the last leg of the journey, seemed to warm in the presence of her new home planet.

Camellia came to the Commander’s side. “I think we should visit Groaza first. The AAH is headquartered there, and it’s between both Tagtrum and Ponk. It’s the most convenient gathering place for everyone.”

Rooks nodded. “Alright.” On her screen, she pulled up a newly scanned Iruedian map. “Show me where.”

Camellia zeroed in on Groaza and found Gotic. “I think we should arrive in the Halfmoon or one of your shuttle ships. There’s nowhere to park a ship this big, except the sea. Can you land in water?”

“We can. No problem, but usually, I’d keep my ships in orbit.”

Camellia shook her head. “Oh no. They won’t like that. I think you should land.”

“Alright.” Rooks pointed to the Groazan sea that Faustina had flown over not too long ago. “Here probably, judging from your suggested landing site.”

Meladee glanced at the location. “Should be fine. If it’s stormy, you can go a bit south.”

“Weather looks clear.” Rooks thumbed through her crew’s reports. “Let’s get to Halfmoon.” She spoke into her intercom. “All other ships, stand by. When I give the order, land in the designated point of the small ocean off the coast of Groaza.” Her orders given, she gestured for Camellia to lead the way to Halfmoon.

Camellia took one last look at Iruedim. It looked small through the windshield, but it held everything she held dear.