“No immediate purpose,” Durny said. “Educational reasons, mostly.”

“The raiders don’t have any floatstones stockpiled,” Mira said. “So they always come in handy.”

“Valid point,” Durny agreed. “No matter how carefully the captains fly, skycraft eventually get lost or damaged.”

Cole scrunched his eyebrows. “If they need floatstones to make the skycraft, and they use skycraft to get the floatstones, where did the first floatstones come from?”

Durny tapped his temple. “A thinker, this one. It isn’t documented. Presumably, some bold shapers made it out to the castles using balloons or gliders.”

Cole nodded.

As the Domingo drifted out of the landing bay, Cole went to the railing so he could watch the sky. Near and far, high and low, white, billowy clouds obstructed his line of sight. Their shapes and textures were so clearly defined that they looked almost solid. He counted five castles, but the plentiful clouds most likely concealed many others.

Mira joined him at the railing. “Much cloudier and they might not have flown today.”

“Does it sometimes get foggy?”

“It can. Or stormy. Either way, the skycraft stay grounded.”

“I’m surprised there isn’t a castle on each one.”

“The castles don’t sit on clouds,” Mira said. “The floatstones hold them up. Clouds just form around the foundations. I don’t know why.”

They stood together in silence as the Domingo weaved among the slowly shifting clouds. Castles regularly came in and out of view.

“Did Jace give you a hard time?” Mira asked.

Cole looked at her sharply. “What?”

“He got the idea in his head that you’d upset me,” she said. “He kept bugging me about it. I told him he was wrong, but it can be hard to get through to him. He tries to be protective.”

Cole wondered if he should mention that Jace had a huge crush on her. If Jace ever found out, he would go nuclear. It wasn’t worth more trouble. Mira probably already knew. “He’s fine. It’s no big deal.”

Mira nodded. She glanced at the clouds. “You nervous?”

“About the castle? Of course.”

“As bad as the first time?”

“Different. At least I know the drill. Then again, I also have a better idea of how bad it can get.”

The Domingo started circling a complex of buildings connected by wide patios. The stately structures were made of white stone and featured lots of grooved pillars. Water splashed in numerous marble fountains. The only greenery came from a few narrow lawns and some neatly squared hedges. Fires burned in large kettles, in suspended bowls, and on platters held by statues. Cole could smell the smoke.

“Die bravely,” Mira said as the captain approached.

“I like this prospect,” Captain Post said. “So do the spotters. Go have a closer look.”

“Should I take the shawl?” Cole asked.

Captain Post had kept Merva’s shawl. He had sent out some scouts wearing it to see if it helped conceal them from semblances. If it had turned out to be powerful, he’d meant to make it a special item. That didn’t seem to be the case. “It didn’t stop those headless fiends from chasing you. I haven’t seen it do anything.”

“It might have only worked at the castle where you found it,” Mira chimed in. “Some items are like that.”

“I’ve used it every time,” Cole said. “I wouldn’t mind.”

“Take it, then,” the captain said. “Nothing wrong with a lucky token or two.” He went and retrieved it from a nearby bin. “Keep it if you’d like.”

“Thanks.”

Cole fastened the clasp around his neck and then climbed into the Okie Dokie with Jed and Eli. They had ferried him on every scouting mission so far. They nodded in greeting. No words were exchanged as Jed guided the lifeboat into the sky.

“Any preference to where we put you down?” Jed asked.

While Cole studied the collection of buildings and patios, a man emerged from between the columns of one of the largest buildings and started down broad steps toward a fountain. Dressed like a Roman soldier, he wore a breastplate molded to his powerful torso and carried a hefty sword in one hand. Shielding his eyes, he looked up at the lifeboat.

“Think he’s trouble?” Cole asked.

“That knife looks a little big for dicing vegetables,” Eli observed.

“He sees us,” Cole said. “Might as well put me down near him.”

“You got it,” Jed replied.

The soldier waited as the boat came to a halt above him. Eli threw out the rope ladder. Cole climbed down, flag in hand. The man watched him silently. He made no threatening gesture. Still, when Cole reached the bottom, he felt hesitant to step off. The soldier only stood a few paces away.

“Mind if I join you?” Cole asked.

“Up to you,” the man said. His wild hair hung almost to his shoulders. A jewel gleamed in one earlobe. Complex bindings held his sandals in place and were partly hidden beneath his metal shin guards.

Cole planted the flag by dropping it to the ground, then drew his sword. “I don’t want to fight you.”

“I wouldn’t want to fight me either.”

Cole stepped down. The man watched him curiously. Cole stayed ready to jump.

“Explain the flag,” the man said.

“It’s just a signal,” Cole replied. “Proof I came here.”

“State your business,” the soldier said. His voice was manly and resonant, but not unfriendly.

“I’m a scout,” Cole said.

“A scout has no business here,” he said. “This is a place for heroes.”

“Are you a hero?”

“I am Lyrus. The vital question is, are you a hero?”

“What if I’m not?”

“Then you had better hurry back up that ladder.”

“I have a sword,” Cole said, holding it up.

Lyrus rolled his eyes. “Is that little thing your best argument?”

“I fought a scorpipede.”

“That’s more promising. What’s a scorpipede? Was it big?”

“Huge. Longer than most of these buildings.”

Lyrus brightened. “Did you slay it?”

“Um, no, but it didn’t kill me, either.”

“Did you wound it?”

“Not really. I mostly ran from it.”