Feargus

  When Rhian and I returned from Jaska, we all traveled back to the base together where Markus, Maryse, and Bells were missing. In their place was an adorable storybook page depicting myself, Rhian, Strauss, Michael, and Adeline as children. Jakob was a toddler at the front, and Sebastian and Zacharias were adults, lurking behind us. The personalized message said, “See you soon!” and as for our depictions, Strauss and Michael were reading books, I held a wooden horse and what we all assumed was an apple I’d stolen from Michael. Tiny Adeline was tinkering with a contraption, but the icing on the cake was tiny Rhian—with her tongue poking out and mischievous grin, she was doodling in a giant book with a giant paintbrush.

  Naturally, I was amused.

  And naturally, the crew was alarmed.

  But look, I had good reason to believe the missing three weren’t in any real trouble. Avis wasn’t violent, and as you know, Michael chose to be tempered—something I’d take to my grave if I had to. First of all, it wasn’t my secret to tell. Second of all, it would break Rhian’s heart to know Michael was hurting so badly he was willing to forget it all, including her. What's important is: I doubted Maryse, Markus, and Bells would be toyed with, and even if they were, we'd get them fixed, too.

  Of course, the trouble was trying to sway the others that we didn’t have to rush to Leberecht straightaway to rescue our friends. In part because I needed more time to take care of a few other things, in part because I needed the crew on the same page as to what to do about Avis, and in part because Councilwoman Blanchett and Faust were still kicking around. As far as I was concerned, the longer everyone stayed out of sight at the base, the better.

  For now, there was also the matter of restoring Michael’s memory of The Studio because the crew believed he was the only one who’d seen the inside. But also, he had firsthand experience with the tempering process, and was ultimately able to tell us about the purpose of all the storybooks. I also clocked the exact moment he and Sebastian realized Michael chose to be tempered, and they both opted not to spill the beans to the rest of the crew.

  While all that was happening, I muddled over how best to stall without raising suspicions. Fortunately, Strauss came up with an idea to create a storybook of Avis’s life, to remind her of who she was, the same way her storybooks were designed to remind their owners of who they were. Then, with any luck, we’d be able to convince her to end the experiment. The good news was, the storybook would take time, and the crew would need Zack’s help. We’d also need supplies, which I offered to hunt down after a nap.

  Aye, I still needed that nap.

  But who could nap when there were presents?

  It seemed everyone was expecting Zack’s parcels to contain an array of gem-toned suits for himself, but instead, they were for us: brand new footwear and clothing for everyone in shades of pale blue, black, and cream. He said we all needed to look good if we were going to be knocking on Avis’s door. Personally, I reckoned he did it just as much for us—and maybe even himself. Because barring Adeline, we were a collective eyesore, all of us quite shabbily dressed. Nobody questioned how he knew we’d need to look good for Avis long enough ago to have commissioned outfits. If I had to guess, everyone had come to terms with the idea that Zack had been spying on us all since he’d been awake.

  Mates, I can’t tell you how nice it was having Zack around the base. Aye, I realize I just did, but the words really don’t do the feeling justice. Anyhow, it wasn’t long before everyone scattered to brainstorm and perfect The Idea, and seeing as neither Everleigh nor Rhydian and Evelyn were at the base any longer, I took it upon myself to claim the second big bedroom for myself—but not before nabbing V’s basket and blanket from the bunk room.

  As always, I kissed my fingers and touched them to the basket before getting into bed with the blanket.

  Finally—the nap to go with all the drinks and snacks. Still no shag, mind you, but somewhere in the middle of my sleep, I woke up to the sound of the door opening, closing, and locking. Addie sneaked into bed beside me, and we cuddled our way to sleep.

  Crew Placement:

  The base ? Zack, Sebastian, Rhian, Strauss, Michael, Adeline, Teeth, Jakob

  Leberecht ? Markus, Maryse, Bells

  At sea ? Everleigh, Riz, Rhydian, Evelyn

  The estate ? Alexander

  The Gander ? Quinn

  Days Before Leberecht: 3

  Things to do Before Leberecht:

  ? Find supplies for Strauss’s idea

  ? Check on the brothers

  ? Track the Councilwomen

  ? Update Alexander on Operation Verena

  ? Plan an amazing date for Addie

  ? Enact Operation Verena

  ? Check on Quinn

  ? Sort out Florea (?)

  I woke up early enough that everyone was still asleep after having been awake into the wee hours of the morning—even Jakob was having a nap. Aye, everyone was still asleep except for Zacharias and Sebastian who I found in the sitting room on opposite couches, saying absolutely nothing to one another. Sebastian sat back against the cushion with his arms and leg crossed, and Zacharias drummed his fingers on the armrest.

  “Good afternoon, Feargus Finlay,” they chorused.

  I plopped down on the big chair. “Afternoon, brothers.”

  “Did you sleep well?” Zacharias asked.

  Sebastian pressed his lips together.

  “Aye, mate, it was all right. You two have a nice time?”

  “If by a nice time you mean sitting in silence for the past three hours, then yes, it’s been utterly delightful,” Sebastian replied.

  Zacharias pressed his lips together.

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  “Seriously?” I said. “Three hours?”

  “What’s three hours in a matter of a millennium?” Zack asked.

  I rubbed my beard. “Right, I guess—”

  Ten, seventeen, twenty-three seconds in more silence.

  Zack ran a hand through his hair. Sebastian stared at the wall.

  “Say, Zack, would you mind doing me a favour?” I asked.

  Both brothers turned their heads in my direction.

  “While the others are still sleeping, reckon you could check on our friend at the Gander?”

  Zacharias nodded, using his cane to brace himself when he stood from the couch.

  He paused when Sebastian spoke.

  “And do you need my help with anything?” Sebastian asked.

  I didn’t, but I reckoned I ought to come up with something so he didn’t feel left out. “Actually,” I said, “could you track the Councilwomen? See if you can’t get some intel on what they’re planning and where they’re headed next. If you have a chance to get Faust alone, go ahead and update her on Operation Verena.”

  “Operation Verena?” Zacharias asked.

  I hadn’t had the chance to tell him about our plan yet, so I gave him a quick rundown, and he offered to help when the time came. Well, I didn’t want him to feel left out either, so I thanked him for the offer, and while I wasn’t sure exactly where he’d fit in, I promised I’d try to come up with something for him to do. On the other hand, Sebastian didn’t look too thrilled about the prospect of having his brother along, but frankly: tough cookies.

  So, with lots to do and and everybody’s tasks doled out, I grabbed my jacket, mitts, and hat from the rack and joined the brothers outside the hatch.

  Crew Placement:

  The base ? Rhian, Strauss, Michael, Adeline, Teeth, Jakob

  Leberecht ? Markus, Maryse, Bells

  At sea ? Everleigh, Riz, Rhydian, Evelyn

  Out and about ? Zack, Sebastian

  The estate ? Alexander

  The Gander ? Quinn

  Things to do Before Leberecht:

  ? Find supplies for Strauss’s idea

  ? Update Alexander on Operation Verena

  ? Plan an amazing date for Addie

  ? Enact Operation Verena

  ? Sort out Florea (?)

  The most obvious place to get supplies for the storybook was Jaska. Of course, that might take visiting several stores I couldn’t be sure would have exactly what I needed, and at the moment, efficiency was key. “But Feargus, where else would you look?” you might then be asking. And the answer is: Oskari, for the most part. Not only was I absolutely certain V had whatever we’d need to bind a book in the cellar at the Peak, I knew for a fact Alexander kept an attic full of art supplies.

  I was halfway through turning the key in the back door to the Peak, when it seemed to unlock on its own. Obviously, it didn’t do that, though. It was just Marta.

  “’Ey, mate,” I said.

  It was good seeing Marta, and though she looked quite tired, her eyes brightened when she smiled. Not at the sight of me, to be fair, but because she seemed genuinely happy.

  “What brings you by?” she asked.

  “Two things, actually,” I answered. “Is the Historian around?”

  “Yeah, somewhere. What do you need?”

  “Reckon he knows how to bind a book?”

  Bookbinding was on V’s extensive list of lessons, but we never did get around to it.

  “So, this might come as a surprise,” Marta answered, “but I never actually thought to ask him that question.”

  I chuckled. “Fair play. Would you mind sending him down to the cellar?”

  “No problem,” Marta replied.

  There wasn’t too much exciting about the way I climbed down the ladder to the cellar. Frankly, I hated every rung of it, and I hated being down there even more. It was damp, dark, and musty, and with centuries worth of Widows’ belongings packed up into crates.

  I wasn’t looking forward to searching through it all, but V was quite organized, wasn’t she? Each crate was labeled, and in some cases, named and dated. But of all the boxes, there was one container that stood out, and that was the large and rather ornate trunk.

  I made my way over and popped the latches.

  Inside the trunk was a collection of hobby objects: yarn, knitting needles, dried reeds, three pairs of dice, a sewing kit, patches of brown and beige fabric, two knives, a few hunks of wood, and what looked to be everything I’d need to bind a book. It was then I realized what that trunk actually was—it was V’s special lessons with Gus trunk. All the dates we never had all stashed away.

  Luckily, I hardly had the chance to think about how sad that made me when Elijah emerged down the hatch, carrying an oil lantern with him. We’d never actually met, and I wasn’t sure exactly what Marta had told him about me, but I was sure she’d been discreet.

  “Elijah,” he said, extending his free hand. “It’s good to meet you, Jack.”

  I smiled winningly and shook the fellow’s hand. “It’s actually Feargus,” I replied. “Jack’s indisposed at the minute.”

  The Historian quirked a brow behind his round, wiry spectacles.

  “Never mind,” I answered with a chuckle, “Jack’s fine.”

  Elijah nodded slowly. “Marta says you need help with binding a book? Do you have the pages?”

  “Not yet, mate. How tricky is it?”

  “Not too.”

  “Reckon if you provided a set of instructions, that a few immortals and a handful of geniuses could figure it out?”

  “Without a doubt.”

  Well, that was great news, so while Elijah picked out all the necessary supplies from the chest, we got to chatting. “How’d you decide to become a historian?”

  “Technically, I was a librarian back home, but when I heard they were putting together a research team to come out here and investigate the ruins of the church, I had to apply.”

  “Got a bit more than you bargained for, didn’t you?”

  Elijah looked up from the chest, smiling softly. He pushed his spectacles up with a finger, regarding me quietly. “You could say that.”

  “Did you grow up in Istok?” I wondered.

  “Verena, actually.”

  Verena—why didn’t I know that? Wait—did I know that? Well, whatever the case, I knew now, and a scholarly Verenian sure could come in handy, couldn’t it?

  “No joke,” I said. “You in good standing?”

  “Of course.”

  “Are you planning on returning?” I asked.

  Elijah shook his head. “Not permanently. Besides hoping to start a family with Marta once the village stabilizes, I’ve plans to open a school next fall.”

  After packing up the bookbinding supplies into the cloth bag I’d stashed in my normal bag, Elijah moved on to writing the instructions down. There weren’t many.

  When all was said and done, I tucked them away for safekeeping.

  “So, let me ask you something, Elijah. How would you feel about helping us out with something incredibly important—historical, even—but terribly risky?”

  Propping himself up on the corner of a nearby crate, readying himself for what I’m sure he could tell would be a long story, Elijah smiled in that same, calm—almost soothing—kind of way. “I’d feel like you’re speaking my language.”