At noon, she could see from her windows that the airship was no longer laboring forward, for the many Afterlights straining to drag it had reached an impasse against the wind. This was as far as they would go … which meant the time had come to finally make an opening gesture to Nick. A letter—which she wrote and rewrote until she was sure it was just right. She crafted it to make sure he could read nothing between the lines. It would not reveal the feelings she still had for him—mainly because she couldn’t be sure he still felt the same way for her. And besides, after today, those feelings would no longer matter.

Once the letter was ready, she sealed it with old-fashioned sealing wax stamped with an M, then she called for one of her fastest runners.

“I need a brave messenger,” Mary told her. “Can I count on you?”

The girl nodded enthusiastically, thrilled to be able to please her.

“I need you to go to the Ogre’s train as quickly as you can—Speedo will tell you the way—and bring the Ogre this letter. You must hand it to the Ogre personally, and to no one else.”

The girl no longer looked enthusiastic but terrified, so Mary put a gentle hand on her shoulder. “The Ogre is a terrible creature to be sure—but this letter will keep you under my protection. As long as you are brave and true, and do not accept anything the Ogre offers, I promise you will remain safe.”

“Yes, Miss Mary.”

After the girl was gone, Mary took some time to revel in her plan, and to mourn over it as well, because much would be lost today. Milos and the skinjackers were already out in the world, using their talents, and manifesting their own destinies on her behalf. The trap had been set for Nick, and all that remained was to spring it.

“I’ll set out on foot,” Mary told Speedo. “You know what to do while I’m gone.”

Speedo didn’t look pleased. “Why do you have to go alone?”

“An entourage will invite suspicion,” Mary answered. “I know what I’m doing.”

“Do you? I agree it’s a good idea to meet with him on neutral ground—but why meet him at a vortex? Aren’t vortexes dangerous?”

“Vortices,” corrected Mary, “are only dangerous if one doesn’t understand the danger, and I do. We have reliable information on the Memphis vortex, and it is exactly what we need.”

She turned away from Speedo then, for she knew her face gave away certain emotions she preferred to keep to herself. She comforted herself with thoughts of her larger purpose in Everlost. All those chosen to lead were asked to make painful sacrifices to prove themselves worthy. And today Mary would sacrifice her love.