Devrim, Junayd and Gandr crested the final hill and caught sight of the large lake. "I really did not think I would see this place again," the Emperor whispered with a sigh.

The group had had few hiccups since their run-in with Ravenna's troops, but now they were approaching the real test. Gandr had tried using his earth magic to speed them along, but it had startled the horses. One of the steeds actually bolted, costing them precious time. In the end, Gandr's wind magic proved the best solution to give them the extra push they needed to get to this point.

"Do we cross or go around?" Gandr asked, indicating the large body of water. This had been the great debate for the last day and a half.

"You said yourself that going around will take at least an extra day. That is time we cannot afford to lose," Devrim stated.

"But we will also need the horses to go back home. They will not be able to cross the lake and we cannot just leave them and hope we find them later," Junayd pointed out.

"There is only one thing to do," Gandr concluded. "We need to split up."

"…"

"That is a terrible idea." Devrim pulled his lips tight in disbelief.

Gandr held up his hands in self-defense. "Hear me out! If two of us cross the lake and scout the situation, then when the third arrives with the horses, we will be ready to make our move."

Devrim tapped his chin. "I do not know."

The onyx-eyed soldier's face brightened. "That does seem good for our CURRENT situation. It might go SWIMMINGLY. I mean, WATER our other choices?" Junayd asked with a grin. He paused, waited for the laughter, then added, "You see what I did there?"

"How long have you been holding on to those jokes?" Devrim puffed out his cheeks as his eyes rolled upward. "You just had to hide his finger cymbals so that he could not sing anymore," the Emperor muttered to Gandr.

The halfling shrugged. "The songs were cute at first but then… and how was I to know he would up his game to include puns?!" Gandr defended himself.

"Come on, guys! Go with the FLOW," Junayd prodded.

"I have made my decision," Devrim announced abruptly. "Gandr and I will go across the lake, and Junayd will take the horses around."

"But Sire!" Gandr immediately objected. "I thought I could watch the horses since, you know, I am not fond of water."

"I need you when we get to the gnome's lair to be the scout and guide. And I will not put my personal guard through another run-in with the merfolk, even if I have a plan on how to deal with them." The Emperor inhaled deeply as he saw the consternation on the halfling's face. "But if you feel so strongly, Gandr, you can go around with Junayd, and I will go across the lake alone. In this case, I will not order you." Devrim's tone was serious.

Gandr lamented his choices. He could face his fear of water or let the Emperor go alone without protection and have no respite from the jokester soldier. Neither was appealing. "I will go with you as you ask, Your Majesty," he responded begrudgingly.

"Excellent," Devrim said with a nod. "Now let's find that blasted faun."

At the water's edge, Devrim scanned up and down the coast. Whatever he had been hoping to see, he was disappointed. "Which way should we go?" The Emperor questioned Gandr.

The halfling opened his mouth to answer, but a feminine voice cut him off. "If you have come to seek the boatman, he has moved. He was afraid of retaliation from a certain set of humans."

A smile split Devrim's face. "I would know that sound anywhere. Phoca!" The Emperor ran knee deep into the water and greeted the selkie. "How are you?"

Phoca's seal-like skin glistened as she swam towards the man. "The ladies and I are well. My, how you have grown! Of course, ten human years is a very long time." Phoca glanced at the other two and her face was suddenly sad. "I see you did not bring the Gentleman with you."

Junayd knew who she meant. "Nurlan serves Her Majesty, but he thinks of you often."

Phoca's whiskery face brightened. "Ah, and how is your blushing bride?" the selkie asked Devrim.

"Beautiful as ever." The man answered with a far off look. He came back to the present. "Now, do you know where Polymedes is?"

Phoca nodded and slipped backwards in the water. The trio began to follow her as she swam parallel for the shore. In her usual fashion, the selkie informed them of the goings on. "Polymedes moved his dock after the last time you visited. He is such a shifty fellow. Are you planning to enter the land of magic again?"

"Not exactly," Devrim answered. He trusted the Selkie, but had no idea if anyone else may lay below the water. The Emperor chose his words carefully. "I am trying to find my son. Hopefully I will be able to stay on this side of the barrier to do it."

"I saw an Eagle fly overhead a few days ago. Your son may have been the one riding on it." Phoca offered. "The bird was aimed toward the gnome's entrance."

"Thank you, Phoca." Devrim gave a meaningful look to both Junayd and Gandr. It seemed their beliefs had been correct.

"What will you do with the horses?" The Selkie began a new line of inquiry. The men were walking their steeds to be able to talk to Phoca.

"Junayd will take them around and meet us." The Emperor replied.

"Would you like one of the ladies to accompany you?" Phoca gave a wink to the soldier.

"Would I?" Junayd chirped excitedly before becoming more subdued. "I mean that would be lovely."

A half dozen seal-like heads popped out of the water to volunteer, their lovely voices overlapping one another.

"Decide amongst yourselves!" Phoca yelled at the gaggle. The heads popped below the surface and then eventually one came back up.

Junayd leaned over to Gandr. "I need back my cymbals. If she sings, I want to be ready!"

Gandr retrieved the instrument and passed it over. "I think I know why you are still single," the halfling muttered.

Junayd pretended not to hear as he adjusted his appearance. "How do I look?" he asked, smoothing his hair.

"Like a fool," Devrim laughed.

"Good. Ladies love a charming fool." Junayd's eyes twinkled.

"….Do they? And nobody said you were charming." Gandr poked fun as the man continued to preen.

At last they reached the dock, but they did not spot Polymedes. They waited for a moment but heard only the lapping of the water on the shore. "We know you are here!" Phoca called.

"Of course I am here," Polymedes said from behind them. "I always know when someone wants to cross the lake."

Devrim marched up to the faun, and without ceremony, he hit him across the jaw. The faun reared back and fell to the ground. "That is for trying to get my wife killed," the Emperor growled.

"I may have deserved that," Polymedes rubbed his chin as he recalled his past transgressions. "In my defense, I felt very bad about it. But I never take sides." The faun held up his hands in self defense. He closed his eyes, ready for another onslaught from the man, but none came. When he looked, Devrim was holding out his hand to help him up.

"I know you only look out for yourself," the Emperor said with no small amount of pity. "Which is why you are going to take us across the lake without incident. It is in your best interest."

The faun looked at the three male faces, all of which were now staring fiercely at him. He got a sinking feeling.