“Captain, please!”

  Martin's voice came out weakly, but from where he was, Xain could still clearly hear the man plead as Tryst extended his right hand.

  “You know,” the captain said, his voice almost curious, “this happens more than you might think. Rumors of Ragnarok's approach begin to spread, and those without contracts start wondering if they had made a mistake. Should they join a house? What sort of a contract could they get?”

  “I don't blame you. I really don't. But if you think I was not fully aware of the little promise you made with Asgard, you are more arrogant than I thought.”

  “It is lucky for me this crazy fool did what he did,” the captain continued, glancing over toward Xain.

  “Had you not felt the need to intervene in a misguided attempt to appease your new masters, I doubt things would have been so easy. I would have been forced to wait until you made your move on Vector, and I can't tell you how much I was dreading explaining to the Dragonkin why one of my crew tried to assassinate a Seed, and one bound for the path at that, within the boarders of their own fucking realm.”

  Wait, Vector was his target? What in Hel’s name did I just stir up?

  It was clear now that the captain, as Xain had suspected, had been watching the whole thing play out. But from his words, Xain thought he had made one massive miscalculation. He had believed that Tryst would have stopped the fight before any of the Seeds reached the point of killing one another. Now though it seemed the only reason he had taken any action at all was because Martin was going to interfere.

  Did that mean he would have let the rest play out? How far would it have actually gone?

  A shudder ran down Xain’s spine as he couldn’t help but wonder how close he had just been to really fucking up.

  But any further thoughts Xain had were pushed aside as he watched Tryst’s outstretched arm slowly begin to shift into a concentrated version of that void Xain had just moments before occupied.

  “I… I can explain,” Martin begged.

  “No need,” Tryst said, glancing at his arm as if he was almost surprised to see its new form.

  “Hel’s Rooted have been kind enough to make Her aware of your impending arrival.”

  At Tryst’s words, Xain noticed the three he had first marked as the ones who could pose a true threat had all managed to stand once again, and now watched the interaction with blank stares.

  Xain made a quick guess that these were Hel’s Rooted, their mist green and black leather cloaks a subtle enough display of their House colors Xain had not seen it at first. It was still hard from where he was to get a good look at them, but Xain was sure that one of the three looked like they were only half here, with an almost translucent body.

  A wraith?

  He would have to ask Vector later. If he survived.

  “Before we end this though, I want to make something clear,” Tryst said, an odd gentleness creeping into his void-like tone.

  “I don't blame you for your fear. It is only natural as the new cycle approaches. Had you waited, I would not have stopped you from leaving the company.”

  Xain suddenly understood these words were not for Martin, who he could only guess was moments away from death, but for the rest of the crew who were watching this exchange.

  Interesting.

  “But while you are on my ship, you represent not just me, not just the Company, but the very will of the World Tree. As such, I deem your actions to have violated our solemn oath to ferry Her Seed’s. May Her forgiveness find you in Hel.”

  The moment Tryst finished speaking he thrust his arm forward, causing a blinding flash of what Xain could only describe as void energy as it connected with Martin’s body.

  A few moments later when Xain’s vision had cleared, he saw Tryst still kneeling, head bowed, but where Martin had previously laid there was nothing, as if the man had never existed.

  …

  “Dinner will be served in your quarters this evening,” Tryst said as he addressed the passengers who were fanned out in a half circle around him.

  The captain wore an unreadable stoic expression, but Xain thought he saw a hint of anger as he turned to the Asgardians who clustered around Tor in the back, clearly isolated from the other Seeds.

  “Before that though, I would suggest you take Tor to the infirmary. He looks as if he is barely holding on. Or, you, you're a healer correct?” He said, nudging his chin at one of the Asgardians kneeling by Tor’s form on the ground.

  The man had regained consciousness, but only just, and now lay groaning in pain, visibly ignored by all but those of his House.

  “Yes, sir,” the woman said, a quiver in her voice making her sound even younger than she was.

  “Good. And you stopped the bleeding?”

  “Y… Yes, sir.”

  “Perfect, he should be fine for a moment then. I just want to apologize for what you all witnessed just now. It was not my intention to make such a public display, but Martin’s attempted interference could not go without response.”

  “What you do on my ship is your own business. If you feel the need to settle scores, neither I, nor my crew will interfere. But I would suggest you think twice about taking any actions your house may suffer for. And do remember, the moment you leave my vessel, you will be nothing but another Sapling, among many. While those who walk the Path may not have a House to back them, every crew member on this ship was once in their position.”

  Tryst didn't need to voice the threat directly. While the Rooted may be restrained from attacking any other House on the journey due to the issues it would cause their Realm, Xain and Vector were not without allies of their own.

  Once they left the ship, the crew’s oaths were completed, and seeing as every one of them was unrooted, they would be free to kill the Seed’s the moment they step foot in their new Realm.

  Of course, Xain had little trust that anyone would step in to take revenge if one of the other Seeds on the ship did decide to take action, but he was grateful for the captain's words nonetheless.

  Truth be told, had the captain not said anything at all, Xain would still have considered his little stunt a success.

  While the Asgardian’s had rushed to Tor’s side, Xain found that he, Vector, and Fen were no longer standing alone. The three Seeds from Hel’s realm had made a point to stand near them as the captain spoke, as had two from Jotun and six others who Xain had not gotten a good enough look at to know their House.

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  He didn't expect that this meant he could call them allies, but it was obvious now how the Asgardians had assumed incorrectly when thinking Vector and Xain would be easy targets.

  “Right,” Tryst continued, moving his gaze from Tor to Xain, and not hiding the little grin that had broken out when he said, “Tomorrow you may all once more have free roam of the ship. For now, please return to your rooms so we may clean this mess up.”

  “Oh,” he added, and waved to one of the crew behind him as if the thought had just occurred. “Help them to the infirmary. I'm sure someone will be along soon enough.”

  …,

  Bow sat reading the message atop a Great Tree, one of nine in the Realm Bud he currently occupied, and despite his flare of worry induced irritation, couldn't help but smile.

  He had arrived here nearly a week ago, though as this space warped time with particular strength not even a full day had passed for Xain, in an effort to give himself some space to prepare for what was to come.

  The tree he currently occupied, a massive thing that, like the others, towered two miles into the sky, and was densely packed with thick branches that allowed each one to play host to an entire unique ecosystem, was alive with life below. Ants nearly the size of Jotun busily stacked ore and various minerals upon the tree's great plateaus, some of which were so large it was hard to remember they were suspended thousands of feet in the air and not part of the world proper.

  He knew all the trees boasted similar scenes, as their centuries long hibernation had finally been broken with his arrival.

  This was one of several Realm Buds he planned to visit during the next year, each one holding another piece of his plan to aid Xain on his journey.

  Assuming the fucking kid doesn’t die.

  The letter from the ship described in perfect detail the series of events from the moment Xain had first entered the port, up to his little show with the Asgardians.

  In all honesty, Bow had predicted something like this would happen. Xain was a smart kid, and he clearly understood how making his presence known in such a way could come to be of great help at a later date. Still, a part of him wanted to smack his son on the back of his head and ask him how he could be so stupid.

  It was only a fleeting feeling though, since he knew his own antics made Xain’s look like nothing more than a little fun.

  “He has too much of me in him,” Bow mused, scanning the letter again.

  While none of it had been too surprising, he had found the part about Fen to be of particular interest. Bow’s understanding of runic arrays was exceeded by only a few people in all the Realms, and while he had heard of many odd arrays worn by runic beasts, he had never known one to show such power so quickly.

  His knowledge of Fen’s array told him the speed used by the wolf should only be possible after adding at least three more runes to it.

  However, there was another possibility. It could be that Fen had unlocked one the hidden abilities of his array which allowed him to step through the realm, passing on the outside of the World Tree, and arriving in a spot of his choice. To obtain such a thing though, it would require Fen to have an understanding of his array often reserved for those of the rank of High Elder.

  They are born to the runes.

  It was true, and one of the reasons runic beasts were so fucking hard to understand. While the people of the Realms had to seek out ways to bond with the runes, and essentially persuade them they were worthy to hold their power, runic beasts had nothing to prove.

  While they were often ignored, or thought of as lesser users by most within the Tree, in Bow’s experience, even excluding Nidhogg, he had found the animals who bore such arrays to be Yggdrasil’s favored children, and capable of using powers that most users could not even hope to access.

  As he had told Xain, runic users used names to channel a rune's power in specific ways. They opened pathways, and gave the rune direction. But runic beasts did not think in such ways. The power was as natural to them as breathing. They didn't need to assign names to what they did; they just did it.

  Well, there’s nothing to be done now.

  Bow just had to hope Xain understood his point was made, and not to press the issue. It was unlikely Asgard would do anything, aside from punishing Tor and his cronies of course. They would immediately be chastised for allowing a, by all accounts weak and inexperienced user, to inflict such a wound, and in front of the other Houses no less.

  The best outcome would be if Xain’s little stunt had actually done what he wanted it to do, and solidified the budding friendship with Vector.

  He is one to watch. So young, and already using a portion of The Seven Dragons array.

  His point of contact who had arranged the meeting had left out that little bit of information, but he didn't blame them. No one had attempted to fully realize that array in over a thousand years, and the last one who tried ended up believing themselves to be a true dragon, and died in an attempt to challenge one of Nidhogg's first brood for a place in her court.

  From what he knew about the boy now though, he may actually be able to do it. A Husk who already held enough power to draw from the Stone Dragon was someone to watch.

  Xain obviously would know nothing of this yet, and likely chose the guy because he was kind to him. That, and Fen liked him. Which were both far better reasons than because of the power the kid held.

  He really was a smart boy. Well, mostly.

  Bow smiled as he read it once more, and chuckled imagining how Hel would react when she heard.

  That’s my boy.

  …

  “That was overly reckless,” Vector said, not for the first time, as he brought Xain a glass of particularly good Dwarven brandy from the bar.

  “You have said that," Xain said, taking the proffered glass with a smile, while he ran his free hand between Fen’s ears.

  The captain had held them back after the others had left the dining room to let them know he would come by to discuss something with them both after dinner, which had given Xain an excuse to invite Vector to have dinner in his room while they waited.

  Despite his chiding, Xain could clearly see the smile Vector continually tried to suppress, and the sight made the throbbing pain in his shoulder and right arm hurt just a little less.

  “They would not have hesitated to kill us both,” Vector said, taking a sip from his own glass, and reaching over to pet Fen on his muzzle.

  “Yeah, I guess I didn't think that through,” Xain said, smiling as Fen leaned into Vector's touch.

  “I believe you did. That is what scares me,” Vector said.

  “You cared nothing about the taunts. You acted with a clear mind. Every one of your movements spoke to your attack being methodical, not something done on a whim.”

  “I would be interested in the thought process which led you to believe that was the proper course of action to take.”

  Xain thought for a moment how to respond, and took note of how observant Vector was, before saying “I am new to this world. I had a choice to make. Be the person they expected, or…”

  “Alter their expectations,” Vector said, nodding.

  After a few seconds he asked, “Did you believe I would intervene?”

  “Yes,” Xain said honestly.

  “I think you have wanted to do that for a long time. I am guessing the only thing that held you back was fear of what the House would have done if you did.”

  “Tor and I were never particularly close,” Vector said with a slight smile.

  “Though, I believe he expected I would never dare to attack him directly.”

  “Would you have?” Xain asked, curious.

  “I… I am unsure. Had he been the one to initiate the confrontation, I believe it would have been done so with the support of several of the Houses. Had that been the case, I doubt anyone would have stepped in on my behalf.”

  Fen’s snort interrupted Vector, and he smiled as he said "Except for you.”

  “In truth, even knowing that, when he approached, I must admit, I found myself falling into old habits of subservience. It is more difficult than I expected to shed the trappings of my previous life, and while my choice to leave the House was long planned, it still has yet to feel… real.”

  “Which is to say, I believe your actions, rash as they seemed at the time, may have saved my life. Tor, despite his bravado, is actually quite a skilled runic user. Had he not been distracted, it would have been difficult to engage the others in such a way.”

  “So,” Xain started, raising his glass as he continued, “it sounds to me like you are saying, you are finally ready to actually believe we are friends?”

  “I-” Vector started, but hesitated for a moment before he smiled as he agreed “Friends,” and clinked his glass against Xain’s.