“Before I answer that, can you just tell me something? How fast could you fly back to our den area?”

  At full speed? Raven asked thoughtfully. If I left now, I would probably return to my lair before the first moon has reached its zenith.

  I nod slowly. That makes it perhaps four or five hours. Not bad.

  We travelled faster than anticipated to get here from the samuran village, making the journey in sixteen days rather than twenty, which makes Raven’s estimate very impressive on the face of it. Of course, we were limited in the speed we made on foot because of the cyrans and the cart, and the fact that we couldn’t travel in a straight line as we were forced to avoid certain topographical hazards. We were also limited in the number of hours we could travel due to the longer nights and the need to build a shelter every time we stopped. Then there were the occasional fights which delayed things further.

  If I had travelled with a small party, especially if I’d had a mount for when my stamina ran out, I would have probably covered the distance in half the time, even with the same topographical features and the occasional fight. When all that is taken into account, the idea that Raven, who would be able to fly in a straight line with no obstacles and – hopefully – no fights might be able to make the same distance in a fraction of the time is slightly more plausible. He must still be able to fly bloody fast, though.

  “Alright. And what if you were carrying passengers?”

  Passengers. Me. His deadpan tone reveals exactly what he thinks about the idea.

  “As part of that favour to me – this would count as you helping with the Hunt,” I remind him. He eyes me with his massive bronze orb, then sighs, visibly giving into the idea.

  How many passengers? he asks in long-suffering tones, his head turning to eye everyone present. If you are proposing that I carry all of you, I am not sure I could fly at all.

  “How many could you take at maximum, then? With your current capabilities?”

  If I use my ability to enhance my flight and spend my mana without holding any in reserve to defend myself, I could probably take most of you. Not that one or that one, he says, pointing his nose at Fenrir and Catch who are probably the heaviest members of the party, but the rest. However, that would then mean I would not be able to benefit from the ability’s increased speed.

  “How would that affect the journey time?” I check.

  It would at least double the time, but I would have to take several breaks to rest or I would kill myself before the end.

  I nod slowly. It’s a pity that none of us have any Skills over air. Then I feel like face-palming.

  “What if we had someone with us who was able to direct the wind to aid your flight?” I ask, half-dreading the answer.

  It would certainly help, Raven replies. How much so, I cannot say. Not without testing.

  “Right,” I sigh. We’re too far away from the Festival for me to speak to any of the samurans still there, but I can still send a rough impression of a summons down the Bond. I proceed to do that, focussing on Windy’s Bond and sending a firm order for her to meet us just outside the vine plants.

  I then try to work out the logistics. It took us an hour to get here, and it’s probably not a good idea for me to ask Windy to try to meet us here on her own. The problem is that it would take a couple of hours for an escort to meet her there and bring her back. Then again, I suppose we do have other preparations to make.

  “Catch, Iandee, Fenrir, please go and meet Windy at the same place where we left the clearing and bring her back here. If you encounter any difficulties, let me know down the Bond and we’ll come to help.”

  Yes, Honoured Tamer, Iandee answers at the same time as Catch says much the same.

  As you wish, Honoured Markus.

  Fenrir just sends me an excited feeling, keen to be moving. The three set off into the forest, moving fast.

  Will you tell us your idea yet, Tamer? asks Dusty, clearly a bit impatient as I follow their disappearing forms with my gaze.

  “Sorry about that,” I say apologetically. “I got a bit distracted. My intention is to use this Hunt to kill two birds with one stone. It’s a bit risky, mostly because of timing, but as long as we can get this to work with Raven, I’d like to do it. Not far from where Kalanthia’s den used to be is a cave. Inside the cave is lots of salt – guarded by a massive water creature. I’m pretty sure that the beast there is at least Tier three which would make it suitable for the Hunt. And by getting rid of it, we can ensure that the samuran village has access to salt which has multiple uses.”

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  You speak of the white crystals you like to use on your food? River asks thoughtfully.

  “Yes, exactly.”

  It would be good to have some more of that to experiment with, she agrees. You gave us a small amount to test in our concoctions and it had some promising results in extending the length of time that concoction stayed useful for.

  “That doesn’t surprise me,” I agree. “People from my world have used salt to preserve food for millennia. So, that’s what my plan is.”

  It is risky, rumbles Poison.

  I agree, Joy answers worriedly. That is a long way away from where we are now – if something happens with our mode of transportation, we will be stuck far away from the Festival – and will lose the Hunt by default when we do not return with an object to offer. After the humiliation we served to Flying-blade and the way we left with so many of us – even according to the agreed on rules – she won’t be the only one glad to see us fall.

  “I doubt it will come to that,” I reassure them, “but if it does, then I can call for Ptera to come. She can definitely carry me, and between us we should be able to make the journey back in time. It’s not an ideal solution since the rest of you would be left behind, but to win the Hunt, only I need to return, technically, right?”

  That’s true, Joy agrees thoughtfully.

  “And actually,” I think out loud, turning back to Raven. “If you’re able to use the once a day Skill borrowing that the rest of my group is able to, you could borrow Ptera’s Lighten ability – that might make at least some of the journey faster and easier.”

  Perhaps, he answers non-committedly. But I question why you wish to go so far afield. I will admit that most of the Guardians around this area are stronger than I would wish to battle, but there are a number of others of the same stage as me – I would be more hopeful about our chance of succeeding against them.

  “Well, like I said, two birds, one stone. But it’s also because I think that we have a decent chance with this one. We have Dusty, a Water-Shaper who will be able to turn its environment against it. At the same time, it’s in a cave, which I will be able to affect. If Joy can control its movements and stop it from using its tentacles against us, and we can get some poison into its system, I think we can probably win without casualties. Since we’d be able to attack it from above, you wouldn’t even need to come within reach, Raven. You could just pour your acid through the ceiling onto it. As long as the time frame works for getting there and getting back, I’d say that this is a better target than most. But if any of you can see any major flaws, please point them out.”

  There is thoughtful silence as they all consider my words and the strategy I’ve just outlined. I can’t deny that there’s also a part of me which wants to just get rid of the creature – I still occasionally have bad dreams where I’m being chased from a black tentacle which gets ever-closer to me no matter how fast I run or climb. I always wake up before it quite reaches me, but it’s unpleasant nonetheless.

  Very well, we can try it, Raven agrees. I look around the rest of the group to see that no one has decided to object further. The only last caution comes from Joy once more.

  I can see that you have the benefit of the village in mind here. However, overreaching benefits no one. If we try this and we fail, we will struggle to try another option because of the time constraints.

  Kalanthia yawns loudly and then stretches.

  There is a Guardian who has been far too disrespectful to me recently. She has been impeding my efforts with some of the other Guardians too. I intend to kill her anyway. If you fail in your endeavours, I will cede her Core to you.

  “That’s very kind of you, Kalanthia,” I say with a bit of suspicion. “But what would you want in return?” She gives me an enigmatic look.

  Let us call it a favour owed, shall we?

  I consider the matter for a few moments, then shrug.

  “Sure, why not.” I trust Kalanthia not to ask for anything too outrageous. If she wants me to help kill an enemy or something, I might be able to call in a second favour from Raven If necessary. I’m not keen on doing that, though – the favours are good trump cards. “If we don’t need the Core, what will you do with it?”

  Kalanthia shifts her head nonchalantly.

  Consume it as I intended on doing anyway.

  Fair enough. There is only one problem.

  “I’m not sure if I’m able to accept help from others who aren’t Bound to me, though,” I say, looking at Joy. She hesitates.

  Technically the restriction only applies to help from others of the People, she replies slowly. There was no question over you bringing the raptorcats, for example, she says. However, were you to not even be present at the kill…. She grimaces. I do not know how the Pathwalkers would rule on that one. She doesn’t need to say that while pushing the rules to their limits is acceptable, outright breaking them would make our village a pariah until I stepped down as leader.

  There’s a simple solution to the problem, but I hesitate to raise it with Kalanthia.

  “Don’t kill me, alright?” I start slowly, making sure to return to scratching Kalanthia under her chin in her favourite spot. “Remember that I’m the only one who can scratch you like this.” She rumbles, the sound a mixture between contented and cautious. “I could offer you a temporary Tame Bond.” She pulls away to glare at me. I start speaking more quickly, wanting to finish it before she decides to rip my head off for even suggesting Binding her. “One that disappears automatically after four days when this whole Hunt will be over regardless. It wouldn’t force you to do anything – it’s literally just there so that I can honestly say that you were one of my Bound at the time if we have to use the back up plan!”

  I force myself to stop, knowing that I’m beginning to babble. Looking at her anxiously, I’m relieved to note that she doesn’t look as if she’s about to pounce or throw up earthen spikes to impale me. Instead, she looks…hesitant.

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