Dwayne watched a Vanurian couple step onto the lift, their arms wrapped around their meagre possessions, their eyes locked on the ground, their responses to the soldiers' questions short. After the soldiers moved on, Dwayne approached the couple with a notebook and pen clutched in his hands.

He cleared his throat. "I, uh, have a couple of questions to ask you."

The taller of the two Vanurians, who was dressed in a dark green tunic and slacks, shrank behind their partner's pale blue robes.

Dwayne held in a sigh. Last time he'd tried to have this conversation, he'd forced it, and the Vanurians he'd been talking to had fled, and only Galkin's hurried assurances had gotten them to stay. Dwayne didn't know what the steward had promised them, but he didn't want a repeat performance. He kept his voice even and slow. "You will be safe in Walcrest, and you can stay as long as you like and leave whenever you wish. When the Northern Gate is repaired, you'll be escorted to the other side."

The shorter Vanurian lifted their chin. "We live here. When can we go home?"

Considering that the mayor and the bishop were discussing repopulating the Jungle, and gangs of angry Sourans were wandering the streets, Dwayne could only say, "I don't know. It's safer up in Walcrest."

"Why? And how can you make that promise?" The Vanurian's hands gripped their pale blue robes. "You're just a servant."

Dwayne's hands tightened on his notebook. Between the suspicious looks he still got from the Sourans and the skeptical ones he got from the Vanurians, he was tired of explaining that he was heir to Walcrest. Luckily, he'd found a semantic sidestep. "My master has given me that authority. I just have two questions. Do either of your know your way around horses and can either of you cook? You'll be paid for your work."

"Issido iz oma druma?" asked the short Vanurian while their partner's hand flew to their mouth.

"I am serious." Dwayne's Vanurian was rustier than he'd thought, but he understood. "I can offer this for each day you work for as long as you like." He wrote a number down in the notebook, tore the page out, and handed it to the couple.

The shorter Vanurian frowned at the unfamiliar symbols, but their partner whispered something, and their eyes widened. They thrust the piece of paper back into Dwayne's face. "Sign it."

Dwayne left the paper hanging. "Can you do the work? I will guarantee food and shelter, but I'm not going to pay you for work you can't do."

The shorter Vanurian took their partner's hand. "She can cook, and I have worked with horses before." They raised their chin, waiting for Dwayne's challenge.

Honestly, Dwayne doubted that they knew much of anything about horses, but he doubted it took much knowledge to clean stables. "You'll learn anything you don't know?"

The shorter Vanurian wavered, then nodded. "Yes."

"Good." Dwayne took the piece of paper and signed it. "If the stablemaster gives you any trouble, send a message to me and I'll deal with it. Understood?"

The taller Vanurian nudged her partner and muttered something. The shorter one muttered something back, then turned to Dwayne. "Understood."

"Excellent." Dwayne signaled to the lift operators, and the lift began to rise. "I'll escort you to-"

"Young lord!" Galkin ran up to the lift. "They're here!"

A chill hit Dwayne. "Okay, okay. Get them settled."

After they switched places, he jumping off the lift, Galkin jumping on, Dwayne ran over to the Northern Gate where Colonel Harvey, Nathan, and twenty mounted soldiers faced the same blue suited messenger who had heralded the Galluses' arrival.

Colonel Harvey raised an eyebrow. "Good of you to join us."

Dwayne walked up to the messenger. "Where are they?"

The messenger pointed. Dwayne blinked and looked up, and a water droplet landed on his face, then another and another. Soon a torrent of water poured down on top of him and the soldiers. When the sudden deluge had ceased, the horses were spooked, the soldiers were cursing, and Dwayne's notebook was completely useless.

He glared at the messenger. "What was that?" he asked, but the messenger and all of the soldiers including Colonel Harvey were now saluting a tall red-haired man, who donned full plate armor and wore an emblem depicting a red horse on a white field with golden grains. Next to him and dressed in blue and black robes was a stout blonde woman. She swept her hands wide and spoke a single syllable, and water rushed out of Dwayne's clothing, gathered into a sparkling ball over their heads, then dissipated.

Colonel Harvey stepped forward. "Sir, Lady Sage. I'm glad you-"

"Where's my daughter? Where's my brother?" The woman glared at Harvey, worrying the silvery rings on her fingers. "What's this nonsense about them being on the other side of the Southern Line?"

Dwayne bowed. "Magdala went to go rescue Lord Kalan."

Both of Magdala's parents started as if a piece of the scenery had just spoken.

Her mother recovered first. "Who are you?"

Placing his hands behind his back, Dwayne held his bow. "I am Dwayne, Lord Kalan's heir and apprentice." He straightened up. "I assume you are Lord and Lady Gallus?"

Lord Gallus's hand came to his forehead as Lady Gallus's eyes narrowed. "We are," she said. "I was not expecting you to be Wesen."

Dwayne's hands tightened into fists. "Is... that a problem?"

"It's a distraction."

Lord Gallus laughed. "Your brother is exceptional at distractions. Let's focus then." He nodded to the soldiers who all returned to "at attention" stance. "Colonel, have you heard back from my daughter?"

"No, we're still working on repairing the Gate." Colonel Harvey gestured to the work crews still hammering away at the now shut Northern Gate. "As soon as that's done, these soldiers will ride with you to save them."

Lord Gallus's nostrils widened. "Get every soldier here. We'll lift that gate out of the way."

"Unnecessary, darling." Lady Gallus began to walk to the Gate. "I'll handle it."

A smile flickered across Lord Gallus's face. "Very well. Everyone, check your weapons and form up!"

Dwayne ran to catch up to the Water Sage. "How can I help?"

Lady Gallus quickened her pace. "You can't."

"Yes, I can. Qemeke!"

A gust of wind brought Lady Gallus to a halt, and she stopped and stared at Dwayne. "So, he was right." Her eyes dropped to the book strapped to Dwayne's back. "How many spells have you learned from that?"

Dwayne blinked. "You know about-"

"How many?"

"Four."

Lady Gallus's eyebrows raised. "Impressive." She continued onward. "And unfortunate. The Ri will come after you if they hear of your existence."

"I don't care." Dwayne stepped in front of her. "I'm going to help my friends."

Lady Gallus's eyes narrowed. "You're standing between a mother and her daughter."

Dwayne's breath caught, but he didn't move.

After a moment, Lady Gallus let out a breath. "Fine, you can come. Now, stay here. I have to use my second prepared spell of the day." She stepped past Dwayne and pressed her hand against the Gate.

"Don't destroy it, Iona!" Lord Gallus rode up to them on a fresh horse. When he reached Dwayne, he peered closely at his face. "You have a princely look about you."

"Sorry, what?" asked Dwayne.

"Qeyit!" A ball of water formed above their heads, created two tendrils, and slipped them underneath the Gate. As the ball gathered more and more water into itself, the tendrils bulged and pushed the Gate up. Soon there were two clear columns lifting the Gate higher and higher. When it was halfway open, Lady Gallus stepped through.

"Hill!" The messenger answered Lord Gallus's call. "Fly ahead, and let my daughter know that we're on our way. Stay out of trouble."

The messenger saluted, spoke a word, and rocketed into the air.

Lord Gallus whistled, and when Nathan rode up next to him, he pointed at Dwayne. "You, take him."

Dwayne recoiled. "I don't ride."

Nathan rolled his eyes. "Are you planning to run there?"

Dwayne gulped, then with some effort, managed to get on the horse behind Nathan.

Lord Gallus drew close. "Magdala sang your praises in her letters." His eyes were hard. "Live up to that. Onwards!" He spurred his horse, swept his wife into his saddle, and charged for the Southern Gate, which was still open.

Nathan snapped his reins, and the horse surged forward, a motion that made Dwayne's head spin. He clutched at Nathan, who tsked.

"Are you really going to be any use in there?" asked Nathan.

His eyes screwed shut, Dwayne snorted. "Are you?"

"I'm going to help my master. Don't get in my way."

"Don't get in mine."

Dwayne grit his teeth and held on tight.