We surrendered Norden's name, its culture, our language, and even our currency. And for what? Southern rats ruling our Councils, while the demi-human filth spreads like a plague? Each new generation is afflicted by their deformities. The High Council calls this "unity". I call it genocide.

  – Iain Bànach, from "The Last Nordan" (banned pamphlet, Freyland)

  Finn pinched the ridge of his nose as the small yillip explained the extent of the damage. He watched Poppy instruct people to recover and fix the cart that had rolled into the ditch, but his mind was already elsewhere. They needed to catch up to Vaera as soon as possible, but Trista hadn't disclosed Vaera's route, yet. Was the queen passing through Valhollow? But that would be a longer trek. He considered the likelihood of this plan. Given what he knew it was a possibility, but it would give them ample time to ambush her in the East after she crossed into Freyland.

  His eyes flicked to Trista, who was approaching the crash site. Sighing, he stepped into her path. "Trista," Finn greeted her, lifting his chin at the demi-human. His eyes lingered on her pointy ears and he suppressed the urge to scowl. "I was hoping to talk to you."

  Trista glanced down at the cart, looking like she was about to jump in and help. "Is there something I can help with?"

  Finn bristled. Would he not have led with that, if that was the point? "No, they'll be fine. We have plenty of people helping out already." His tone was light and conversational, as he stepped next to her, pushing his hands into his coat's pockets. "We wouldn't make our guest do our work for us."

  As he spoke, Poppy jumped up from the ditch and joined them. His eyes narrowed for a second, watching the lithe kitsune ascend, but he focused on Trista instead. "This will slow us down…" He glanced at Poppy pointedly. "…again." Feeling another headache coming, he closed his eyes and continued, "We should really talk about our plan of reaching Vaera. What route did she take? You've been quiet so far, but we need to know where we're going and when Vaera will be there if we want to make it in time. Are we sending a semaphore message to stop her? Do we have to send people ahead?"

  Trista shifted uncomfortably. "There's no point." Her eyes locked with Finn's and his stomach churned. "We won't make it."

  The first raindrops fell, and Finn lifted his gaze to look at the clouds. Are you mocking me? A drop splashed against his nose, making him wince. Scowling at the gods in the heavens, he crossed his arms.

  Poppy tilted her head, just enough to look innocent. Finn had to admit the woman was good at what she did. "What do you mean?" Poppy asked in her sweet voice. It was almost like their plans weren't falling apart around them. "Did she take an airship?"

  Finn felt like he was struck in the sternum. Airship? The word bounced around in his head, absurd and unwelcome. Sweat dampened his forehead. He'd seen her in his vision. He'd seen Vaera, Trista, and himself. Back then, he'd been sure that it was going to be in Perterwick. Well, small mistakes happened. Now, he knew, they were going to meet in Freyland. The east was the most likely, unless she was going to follow them on this route. But an airship? That was ridiculous. How would they meet her if that were the case? Did Poppy not believe his prescience anymore?

  Trista nodded, brows furrowed. "Yes." And Finn's entire world shattered.

  "What?" He spat out more aggressively than he'd intended, interrupting whatever Trista had been about to say. Poppy glared at him, but he shrugged it off. "Are you certain? Because my vision… She should meet up with you before she reaches Meredith. I know it."

  Thunder rumbled somewhere in the distance.

  Everyone looked at him now, as if he were the most curious object at an exhibition. Did they not realize the gravity of the situation? Before he could say anything else, Trista nodded again. "It's the truth. She took an airship north. She'll likely arrive in Coldtide weeks before we can catch up to her." Trista took off her hat, holding it over her chest. "There's no plan for contact, so she'll likely avoid semaphore stations. Just in case, I wasn't informed of her exact route, so…" The raindrops came more frequent now—it was time to find shelter.

  Finn released a breath he'd been holding and turned to look at the crashed cart once more. From up here, the people scrambling to lift it up looked smaller, their efforts seemed less significant. "I see."

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  Finn lowered himself slowly into a chair in his carriage. Poppy sat across him, her eyes sharp, her tone sharper. "You were wrong."

  He raised an eyebrow but didn't bother looking at her. "About?" He knew what she meant, but might as well make her say it.

  "Your prediction." Poppy leaned back in her chair and crossed her legs, her tails lazily swaying behind her. "You thought Vaera was going to show up in Perterwick. She didn't. You thought she was going to arrive later. She won't. You thought we could ambush her in Freyland. We can't." He didn't stop her from putting her legs up on his dresser when she did. "Now what are you thinking? We'll hop on an airship and miraculously meet up with her?"

  Finn didn't let the frustration show on his face. He merely asked her, "Are you done?"

  The kitsune waved an arm, indicating she had nothing else to say.

  "You know that these visions aren't guaranteed or precise. They're likely events, and what I gleaned was us meeting Vaera before she's taken by Meredith." Finn stood up to walk over to the fake crystal ball he used in his performances. The ones where he pretended to be a seer for money. Leaning over it, he continued, "The plan is still in motion. It's under control."

  A soft exhale—just through her nose—told him everything he needed. She was making fun of him. She didn't believe in his plan anymore. If he let her, she would become a liability. As useful as she'd been so far things were different now.

  Different? No, the signs had been there for a long time. He'd just felt like he owed her something—respect for her abilities maybe, for the way she handled the Barukkian oligarch, her help with Kara.

  Turning to face her, he studied the mask of perfection she always wore. Those half-lidded eyes looking at him, a smirk playing around her lips. Be that way.

  "I told you, we should've gone to Coldtide right away," Poppy stated as she casually leaned over to grab one of his apples and bit into it—a perfect little bite. Finn's eyelid twitched. "At least now you'll agree, that we should make haste to Coldtide, right?" Her tone was condescending, as if she'd put in the work he had.

  Finn folded his arms, swallowing his pride. "Yes, I agree. We'll have to get to Coldtide as soon as possible." He nodded and saw the hint of smugness in Poppy's expression. "I say we ride north first thing in the morning."

  "I knew you were a sensible guy deep down." Poppy smiled and got up, taking another bite of the apple before tossing it at him.

  Finn caught it, spinning it around in his hands. After Poppy had left, he murmured to the apple, "You won't ruin my plans," before dropping it and kicking it under the dresser.

  He'd made sure that Poppy was out, before sneaking into her carriage in the evening. Seeing the red flower prominently displayed in a vase near the front, he snorted. So the demi-human had a romantic side, huh? He figured it was all just an act, but maybe she was more shallow than he'd thought.

  It didn't take him long to find the chest underneath her bed. What an unimaginative hiding spot for valuables. With a few presses of his pin the latch came free, revealing the valuables within. As his eyes roamed over the money, he made a quick estimate. Good, this should be enough to buy an airship ticket to Coldtide.

  This money had been earned by the circus—a circus he'd helped establish in the first place. If anything, he'd more than earned a share. And now that she didn't trust him anymore, he would need to see the plan through to the end.

  "Consider this your final investment, Poppy," he whispered to the chest as he transferred the coins to his own purse, leaving her with the scraps.

  As he left the carriage, he made sure no one saw him and hurried to his horse. Before he could saddle the horse, he heard someone approaching. There was nowhere to hide, so he threw his bags underneath a cart and started stretching.

  "Out for a walk?" Poppy asked with a smirk as she rounded the corner and spotted him. "Don't tell me you of all people have found a liking to night walks." The woman was dressed in her full clown get-up—make-up, red nose, and all. She looked like she'd just walked out of a performance.

  Finn rolled his eyes at her teasing. The woman always appeared at the worst times, didn't she? He turned to walk into a darker area, out onto the plains. "And what's it to you? I'm not getting any younger and the fresh breeze is doing wonders for my health."

  "Is that so?" Her face betrayed her disbelief but she didn't press further. "I know you're nervous. But it'll work out. We just have to hurry to Coldtide."

  Had she misread his nervousness? That's good, but why was she being supportive now—after their earlier encounter? He didn't understand this woman. Maybe it was a demi-human thing. "Right," he said simply. What was he supposed to say?

  Poppy stopped next to him and smiled faintly. He wanted to yell—to shake the demi-human woman. What was she trying to do? Was she making fun of him? Was she testing him?

  A dainty hand settled on Finn's shoulder as Poppy said, "I'm sorry, alright? I didn't mean to insult you like that."

  Leaving a confused Finn behind, she disappeared back into the shadows. Slowly, a grin spread across his face. She hadn't realized his intentions. She'd just wanted to apologize to make sure he wouldn't toss her aside. The woman had seen the error of her ways and had come grovelling for forgiveness.

  He stood there for a while, calming himself down. The breeze was truly exquisite tonight.

  Making sure the coast was clear, Finn returned to his horse to saddle it. He picked up his bag and led the horse out onto the road.

  As he passed by the wolf man's carriage he overheard the boy talking to someone—was that Trista's voice?

  "Well, that's a relief. So then, you can just leave, yes?" The other infuriating demi-human woman seemed to say.

  "And where'd I go?" Titus replied.

  Finn chuckled under his breath. All these demi-humans in one place. It was a good time to leave. He spurred his horse onward, riding off towards the nearest airship port.