cascade | kotlc

31. The Victory Long Overdue

 "So... that happened," Tam mumbled after a while.

"It did."
Sophie turned back slightly, looking over her shoulder, wisps of sadness fluterring in her eyes as a sly smile curved onto her lips.

Fitz nodded at her, smiling slightly, though he quickly wiped it away before he turned to the Lodestar, examining the symbol as he frowned at where Keefe had just disappeared.

"It works like a Leapmaster, basically," Biana supplied as she walked past Sophie, giving her a cheerful nod. "You just call the right command and it takes you there."

"Do you remember what the one in Foxfire was? Maybe we could use it to get back." Tam stepped over, frowning as shadows pooled into another ring over at the edge. "That's the one Keefe just went to- Gwynaura. We came from Pallidrose." His brows furrowed more. "I think I'll need Sophie's enhancing again, and even then I'm not sure if it's safe to bring them-" he gestured at Ruy and Brant. "I have no clue what you did to them aside from their injuries, but it can't be safe."

"That's a good point," she murmured, pacing and sinking down onto a large, damp brick. "Sophie, could you teleport us?"

She didn't respond. She was still standing there beside the Lodestar, looking back, the same smile still on her lips.

"Sophie?" Biana asked again, gentler this time.

Two seconds passed before she started, almost tripping over her feet as she rubbed her forehead and sank down onto the mossy ground. "Sorry, what was the question?"

"We were wondering if you could teleport all of us," Fitz repeated. "Though I'm not sure if any of our levitation is strong enough to float two additional people."

"I don't think mine is strong enough," Tam piped up. "I've tried lifting a whole other person, and I've failed last time."

All eyes swiveled to Biana. She shook her head.

"Calla's used up most of her power today. I've- I've used up most of mine."

"You look exhausted," Tam noted.

"I'll be fine. I just need some sleep." She groaned before she stumbled over a small post and tripped into Tam's arms, cueing a small series of giggles from the other side. She tossed her hair and shot them a this is totally what I intended grin.

"We could telepathically call Forkle," Fitz suggested.

"That could work. Actually, I have a better idea..."

Biana tilted her head, remembering the alicorns the day they were set free. It was her first day with Tam, the Panakes, and Calla's ring. The alicorns could transmit to her after...

Thunder cracked the sky. She stared at the rip in the void.

"Don't tell me you actually..."

Her voice faltered as two shimmering alicorns, both gleaming silver, but one bigger, with blue-tipped wings, soared out of the void and circled around the gray restless clouds.

SOPHIE! FRIEND! HELP!

The voices were so loud they gave her a headache as she stumbled against Tam's arms, almost slipping again as both alicorns tucked their wings and dove, slowing their fall at the last second and touching down in the long grass, almost trampling Fitz.

"Next time you summon the world's most valuable creatures," Tam gasped, clutching his chest. "Please give me a warning."

"That would be nice," Biana agreed, clutching her forehead. "Who knew the alicorns' voices were so loud?'