One thing was clear: Edeline was going to dislike that Hamond had let her sleep in.

  Even he admitted his reasoning was selfish. Edeline being back in the upstairs room meant Edeline was not in any great danger. At least, Hamond hoped so. He couldn't discount the possibility that the Witch of Wrath, having now abandoned the town, might be lurking and waiting for an opportunity to strike back.

  No, he had to get over that. His own fears aside, there were matters that had to be done. First among them was checking on the knights being held prisoner. One less thing for Edeline to worry about, and it shouldn't take too long, allowing him to proceed to his work with Sedat.

  The one problem was that it forced him to take Sedat along with him. While Hamond was fairly certain that one guard threatening Sedat had been more surprise than anything, he couldn't ignore the possibility of it happening again. Of course, it could happen anywhere, not just here in Lasfont, an outcome he didn't think Nela or Sedat herself had fully considered.

  All he could do was hope it didn't happen again. Well, that, and be ready with a spell or two if the matter escalated into a fight. It was likely a needed precaution anyway, given the risk of any of the knights regaining their defiance overnight. It was doubtful all of them had just given up so easily. Even one escaping could be a problem.

  Hamond wanted to quicken his pace, but that would just result in leaving Sedat behind. At least it was not a long distance to walk to get to the barricade on that side. It was just a street over, weaving among the groups of people out. People who were flinching or staring at Sedat, Hamond noticed with dismay.

  It definitely would happen again if Sedat remained.

  The barricade came into view, or rather, where the barricade had been. He'd known Edeline and the guard had been settling the knights into a few buildings out there, but she hadn't really told Hamond about the specifics of their plans. Yet another sign that Edeline was exhausted, and another reason for her to spend the morning in bed.

  Instead, a pair of the Lasfont guards stood there, in tense conversation. One was gesturing outwards, towards the newly cleared houses, while the other was more subdued. "...the rest of them should be...wait a moment." The man, having spotted Hamond, trotted over.

  "What's going on?" Hamond asked.

  "It's...a little hard to explain," the man said, "Do you know where Lady Hallowscroft is?"

  Hamond paused, completely lost for a moment. Right...Edeline. It had been so long since he had heard her referred to by that title. "I advise against calling her that," he warned.

  "Why wouldn't she-" the guard started to ask.

  "Nebtamos, quit being stupid," the other guard said, walking up to join them. "There's a reason she wouldn't want word going around about that."

  "But isn't she in charge now?" Nebtamos's look was pure confusion, as if there was no other possibility.

  The second guard just buried his face in his hands with a strangled grunt.

  "Are you going to tell me what's going on or not?" Hamond had considered pushing past them and seeing for himself, but he doubted that would give him the full story.

  "Some of those knights tried to escape just before the sun rose," the guard said with a sigh, lowering his hands. "The sphinxes caught them."

  Hamond winced, knowing full well those men had doomed themselves. "How many?"

  "Over half of them were judged by the heavens." Ugotlas appeared from nowhere as usual, standing a few paces away. "They were about to break into a storeroom when we discovered them. I do think you would value keeping the food there secure over what little mercy you might believe them to deserve."

  Hamond ignored the startled reactions of the two guards, used to this by now. More importantly, he knew that last bit was aimed at him, and he couldn't deny deserving it somewhat. "I'm not about to complain."

  "Told you it was complicated," Nebtamos said, "And that's not the worst of it."

  The other guard sighed yet again. "They didn't escape on their own. Someone went and freed the knights, dying alongside them. I'm not sure who, but I'm not one of the ones who was looking at the bodies."

  "I told you, that had to be Jisry," Nebtamos insisted, "I know the man. He's the one who healed me when I injured my foot."

  Wasn't Jisry staying over at the makeshift healer's place set up in that tavern? Whether or not she had seen him last night was a question for Nela, one Hamond intended to ask later. Right now, there was little that could be done about the situation, other than questioning the remaining knights on what they had seen. Hamond had little desire to get involved with that.

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  "I will pass word along about what happened," he told the guards. In truth, it was more likely Edeline would find out on her own. "For now I have my own business to see to, so I will be on my way."

  Hamond continued past the pair. The new area that was cleared out was ideal for working with Sedat, with no one around to interrupt them. The extra space would help her for figuring out landing as well. Plus he had a couple of spells that ought to slow her on the way down, ensuring she would come to no harm.

  "Why are you following us?" Sedat suddenly said.

  Hamond turned to see Ugotlas padding along behind them. He'd forgotten that the sphinx wanted to ask Sedat questions about the Sluice's spell, a detail that Sedat had likely forgotten as well. It was a safe bet that she would not take a delay on learning to fly very well.

  "I have important information I think you should know," Ugotlas said, gaze focused on Hamond. "As much as I am certain you would rather wait until our meeting tomorrow to discuss this, I feel you would be better served knowing this in advance."

  The tone hinted this was not pleasant news. Thankfully, the guards had stepped further back, and should not overhear unless they were loud. "Tell me."

  "When we first discovered the signs of the Sluice's heka, we had concluded that it was introducing trace amounts of energy into the water. We believed that this was done by introducing some amount of water into the existing underground wells."

  "It wasn't that, then?" Hamond asked.

  "It was, but more." Ugotlas drew himself up straight, standing perfectly still. Not even his tail was moving. "Their studies while was I away determined that nearly all of the water in the wells was created by the Sluice. Without her presence, any underground water would have long been since used up."

  Hamond drew back. "But...that would leave Lasfont with no water."

  "Correct. It would not immediately disappear, but over the course of the next several years, the reserves would grow dry one after the other. It would be the final end for this town."

  It made perfect, terrible sense. Lasfont's founding, all those years ago, had been built around someone discovering the hidden water supply the Sluice had provided. No one would question such a thing existing, all too grateful to take advantage of it in order to establish trade between Hyarch and Remuat. A terrible disaster in the making, set in motion from the beginning.

  "So it wasn't just me," Sedat spoke up, "Everyone has to leave the town."

  "That would be the safest choice," Ugotlas said, "Yet I have doubts that everyone here would be agreeable."

  "At least there will be time to convince them," Hamond said. A small consolation, one that he doubted Takhat would be happy to hear. How he was going to tell this news to the captain, Hamond didn't know. Definitely not something for right after she first awakened.

  "And do you plan on remaining here until enough people have been convinced?" Ugotlas glanced past Hamond. What he was looking towards, Hamond couldn't tell.

  "Hopefully we won't have to." There were no promises that could be made, between the king's men now actively hunting for Edeline and the risk posed by the remaining members of the Elemental Hex. "If we can convince Captain Takhat that Lasfont's water will not last, then she can handle organizing the departure."

  "Perhaps she will, and perhaps she will not." Ugotlas stretched, claws briefly emerging from his front paws. "I will leave passing on such matters to you. My kin would not be believed so readily if we were to bring this detail to their attention. That much I am sure of, given our role in these events."

  Hamond could not be sure if this was Ugotlas admitting blame or not. "I will discuss it with the others later."

  "No doubt after you have finished whatever business you have with this girl," Ugotlas said, turning his gaze to Sedat once more. "Perhaps then I can ask my questions."

  Hamond reminded himself to not leave Sedat unaccompanied for today. If not him, perhaps Edeline would be willing to stay along with her. Whoever it was, they would have to make sure Ugotlas's questions weren't too rude or prying.

  "He's going to try to teach me how to fly." Sedat's smile was eager.

  Ugotlas regarded her for a moment, expression unreadable. "I suppose that the Zephyr's spells would be ideal for providing such aid."

  "Spells? Like heka?" Sedat turned, a bit clumsily, to face Hamond. "Is that what you were going to do?"

  Hamond shook his head. The thought had crossed his mind, but he had considered it a last resort, to only be done if every other method failed. Since he couldn't guarantee being alongside Sedat always, that would mean teaching her those spells, which in turn would require her to learn spellcraft first. Hamond wasn't sure Sedat would have the patience to wait on that.

  "I was hoping for a more mundane solution," he told them.

  "That is likely futile," Ugotlas replied.

  "Why would you say that?" Hamond knew he sounded irritable, but he didn't care.

  "Because she is not a bird," Ugotlas simply stated.

  "What?" If there was a point to this, Hamond didn't see it.

  "Every feature of a bird's body from head to foot, if not assisting in moving through the air, will at least not interfere with such motion. The same cannot be said for hers, with parts that remain mostly or completely unaffected by the Sluice's unleashed heka. For her to spread her wings and take to the skies will require more than simple hope. Fortunately, you do possess the tools she would need to achieve that. I suggest using them."

  Annoying as it was for Hamond to admit, it did seem everyone kept having a better understanding of Sedat's situation than he did. "I'll consider it," he said, knowing all too well he had little choice in the matter. The idea had been planted in Sedat's head, and it would only grow from here.

  "I believe you will do more than that." Ugotlas's voice had a hint of rare humor. "I shall see both of you soon enough. Make sure your preparations are complete for tomorrow."

  The sphinx then turned and padded off a short distance. To Hamond's surprise, Ugotlas then stopped, and he heard the low rumble of a murmured spell. Ugotlas then faded from view, apparently now comfortable enough to show that spell in front of them.

  Hamond stood there a moment, thinking about the meaning of that. No, he was delaying, still reluctant to admit the way forward was teaching her spells.

  Which would make Sedat his apprentice.

  So be it. "Let's get started then."

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