You return a grim smile. Darkness comes, a hanging black that’s pinpricked by glinting stars, a darkness made soft by the fading glow of day. What waits for you in the caves will be more complete. You measured the route carefully in the Hall of Maps. You know a solid run will have you through the caves and out the other side with plenty of time to spare.

But that’s the danger in cave riding. A phoenix can’t be reborn without sunlight. So if it dies in a cave, it’s up to the rider to carry out the ashes and let it be reborn again. There’s always a risk in going somewhere that’s cut off from the sun’s light. But at this point? Risk is all you have left. You follow the stars for hours until the canyon begins to narrow and the path grows more treacherous. Rather than risk the footing, the two of you dismount.

You set up camp as Quinn removes Trust’s saddle. When the phoenix is stripped bare, you see the spirit hesitate for the first time. It’s easy to read her thoughts.

“I’ll do it if you don’t want to.”

Quinn shakes her head. “It should be me. He followed my lead all day.”

Nodding, you dig into a pouch and hand her a helping of fellfall seeds.

“Feed him those. It will take a clockturn or two.”

She rolls the little seeds in her hand before turning back. Trust snuffs at the offered treat, ignoring them until Quinn whispers quietly, her opposite hand stroking his neck softly.

It doesn’t take long for him to die.

Once the fire’s gone out and the ashes have cooled, you set out the components. This time you carefully explain how it all works to Quinn, just in case.

“I always flatten the ashes. An even spread, and almost always in a circle. People have some ridiculous theories about placing components and how to do it. The only thing that matters is what mixes and how much.” You pinch two components between your fingers and let them trickle into the ashes. “Gasping Mercies and Lingerluck. They’re the main components we used in the last rebirth, although the poison Bravos used negated both of them when he put it in the ashes. I’m just using a few dollops this time, because they’re not the main component.”

Quinn nods. “What is?”

“When you’re going in a cave, only one component helps.” You pour out the pure-white substance, watching as it suffuses the night with a gentle glow. “We call it Sunscape.”

Part Three: Storm

The best way to weather a storm is to become a mountain.

—Dividian proverb

Chapter 31: Enemies

They make camp along a raised ridge.