“This is no time for ease and comfort. This is a time to dare and endure.”

  Winston Churchill, Prime Minister

  They beached the Retribution in a deep bay on the sandy western shore, its punctured hull and shattered deck limping its way onto the island that would become their impromptu shipyard. Establishing a quick construction area where white sand met tropical palms, Samson, Alison, and Cosmo planned out the repairs the galley would need before it could be once again seaworthy.

  While the three planned, the rest of the companions – except for Xavier, who’d immediately set off to explore the island’s interior – set up a rest camp a hundred feet down the shoreline. It had taken Billy less than ten minutes to begin roasting an entire boar that he had stashed in his inventory.

  “If we’re going to be stuck on this deserted island, we’re going to eat like kings,” Billy boasted, withdrawing a plethora of fruits and root vegetables that had been scrounged from the wilderness around the Castle of Glass. A hefty iron cauldron – the same type Rain used for her potions – came out next. “Umm… anyone want to dig me another hole?”

  He looked at Lucy, who rolled her eyes and sighed. “Where do you need it?”

  Billy pointed to a spot a few feet away, and Lucy flicked her finger, channeling her beginner-level earth magic. The sand spiraled outward in a whirlpool, forming the pit.

  “You know, death and mayhem aside, there are some things about this world that I love,” Minerva admired, easily lifting the cauldron and placing it next to the pit. She channeled water out of the ocean, filtered out its salt, and filled the cauldron. “Magic is definitely one of them.”

  “No arguments from me,” Lucy said, rubbing her tender, newly healed ribs. “Fucking undead fish thing gave me a wallop.”

  Calista pressed her hands over Passi’s little ears. “Hey, watch the language around my daughter,” Calista scolded playfully.

  In the grove of palms behind them, the first strike of Elmer’s axe fell as he began to harvest wood for the repairs.

  “Oh please, you’re one to talk,” Lucy argued, equally playfully. “You swear like a sailor during a fight, whether its undead fish or anthropomorphic wolves, or that feral half-moth, half-tiger thing we came across in the jungle. Fuck this. Shit that. Damn, damn, damn.”

  Rain formed a ball of fire in her fist and gingerly set it beneath the cauldron. “It’s not just during a fight. You should hear her at home.”

  “Traitor,” Calista laughed as Passi squirmed away from her to explore the beach. “Some roommate you are.”

  They all laughed, and a sense of comfort and friendship settled over their camp.

  “I wonder if Cosmo will give me some of those fish he caught?” Billy mused as he began chopping the root vegetables for the pot. “The night after a near-death experience seems like a good time for a feast.”

  “That’s gross,” Passi gagged from down by the water, where she was watching the tiny fish swim through the rocks. Sapphire knelt at her side, teaching her the names of the sea life she spotted.

  “I’m inclined to agree with Passi,” Ying said. She placed an insistent hand upon Billy’s shoulder. “I don’t care how masterful a cook you are, Billy. Your future daughter and I are not eating undead fish.”

  “I don’t think it was undead when Cosmo caught it,” Minerva said absentmindedly, juggling a couple of Billy’s coconuts. “Just being mind controlled.”

  “I… that’s not the point, Minerva,” Ying protested. “No undead – or mind controlled – fish, Billy.”

  “Now where’s the fun is that?” Billy said with mock complaint. He knelt and pressed a gentle hand to Ying’s belly. “Don’t worry, daughter-of-mine. We’ll try plenty of new dishes when you get here, even if your fuddy-duddy mother doesn’t like them.”

  “What the… don’t touch my belly in public like that,” Ying scolded, swatting Billy on the back of the head. The father-to-be fell face first into the sand with a solid thump, spitting out sand as he laughed. Ying sighed with exasperation and knelt at his side, her hands already aglow with her healing light.

  As laughter filled the camp, Cosmo strolled over from the ship, shuffling his deck of cards along the way. Calista still hadn’t grown used to seeing the man in their midst, despite his laid-back demeanor and surprising usefulness during the battle with The Undead School. She’d seen him at Stone and Brass’ side far too often to so easily let her guard down around the man.

  “Well, what’s the damage, Cosmo?” Rain asked cheerfully.

  “Extensive,” Cosmo replied, pulling out a card, frowning, and putting it back in the deck. “Far worse than we initially thought. Three, perhaps four days before it is seaworthy again, even with Samson’s magic. Another day on top of that, if we let Samson make some defensive additions he wants to try out.”

  Cosmo wiggling his bare feet in the white sand as he looked across the island. The bright sun sparkled off the ocean and the gently rolling waves lent a sereneness to their surroundings. The island itself was enveloped in rolling hills covered with dense tropical forest, and the gorgeous sandy beach stretched as far as the eye could see. The shoreline followed an irregular pattern, dipping into the island’s numerous bays and out into narrow strips into the ocean. Just offshore there were a dozen tiny islets, and beyond those a turquoise coral reef that was home to a plethora of aquatic life. Calista could already see Sapphire itching to explore its depths.

  Its beauty was breathtaking.

  Stolen novel; please report.

  “You know, a man could come to enjoy an island such as this,” Cosmo mused. “It reminds me of this exclusive resort I used to frequent in Bora Bora, only without the copious amount of alcohol and scantily clad women out to separate me from my money.”

  “Ah, if only I had rich guy money,” Billy sighed, head still half buried in the sand. “What wonders I could’ve seen back home.”

  “He’s not wrong though,” Minerva jumped in. “This island is a paradise. Oh, I have an idea! We could build our own little resort here. A vacation spot when we just need to get away from all this God Contest stuff.”

  “I agree it is a paradise. Which means, naturally, that there will be something on this island – probably lots of somethings – that wants to kill us all,” Lucy reminded them. “So don’t let your guard down.”

  “Who invited little miss buzzkill on this journey?” Billy laughed. “Minerva, I’m down with this resort plan. I’d rather raise my daughter here than at the Castle of Glass. Seriously, I can’t get over living in the place I used to go to work.”

  “Ooh, Lucy, you could plant a tropical orchard. Pineapples and coconuts and stuff,” Minerva said excitedly, clutching onto Lucy’s arm excitedly. “Just picture it.”

  Intrigued by the notion, Lucy good-humoredly rolled her eyes at the exuberant woman. “Fine,” she caved. “But you have to help me build.”

  Minerva gave her an ecstatic grin, and Calista smiled as she saw Minerva’s excitement.

  It wasn’t that long ago that Minerva was too scared to leave the Castle of Glass. Just when she grew brave enough to head into the wilds, she lost all her friends in the dragon attack. It’s nice to see her excited about something. Lucy has been a good influence on her.

  “You were telling us the plan, Cosmo,” Ying prompted.

  “The plan?” Cosmo asked curiously. He was occupied with scanning the shore for the perfect location for his new beach house.

  “For The Retribution?” she said, exacerbated.

  “Ah right, the galley,” Cosmo said. “Samson is drawing up the repair plans. Elmer and Minerva will be on tree-felling duty. Lucy and Alison, you’re the ones with wood magic, so you’re assigned to help Samson with the actual repairs. Sapphire, Samon is hoping you can scout out the reef. Billy, you and your lovely partner are responsible for the camp. Food, defenses, somewhere to sleep.”

  Billy gave Cosmo a thumbs up from the sand.

  “That leaves Calista, Rain, the fairy child, and I to head inland to explore,” Cosmo finished. He drew another card, smiled, and flicked it to his feet. His jester outfit glowed faintly as the card reinforced his defenses. “See if we can’t find Lucy’s somethings that want to kill us and kill them first.”

  “Perhaps Passi should stay with us,” Ying said, concerned. “The jungle is too dangerous for a child.”

  It’s not Passi I’m worried about. It’s Cosmo. Why the hell does he want to go into the jungle alone with us?

  “Oh, I expect that child is more capable than you know,” Cosmo muttered as he watched Passi try to catch a tiny fish with her bare hands. Her hand shot out lightning quick – far quicker than Passi must have realized – and returned with a minnow gently pinched between her two fingers. “Far more capable.”

  Calista winced at Passi’s accidental show of power.

  Shit. Does he know about Passi?

  Calista looked towards Rain, who gave her a subtle nod.

  We need to find out.

  “She’ll be fine, Ying,” Calista responded. “Rain and I will protect her. And we’ll need her fairy healing magic if we get hurt.”

  Calista placed a gentle arm on the woman’s shoulder. Despite her blunt personality, Calista knew Ying cared deeply for the child she’d mentored in the healing arts. Calista spoke though the telepathic connection she'd established with Ying during the battle with the Undead School.

  The island isn’t very large, Calista mentally projected to the healer. Only six or seven miles across. If we need help, we’ll call, okay?

  You’d better, Ying responded, concerned. She glanced towards Cosmo, who was staring at his toes, lamenting the necessity of shoes and wondering aloud if his toughness score was high enough now to avoid needing shoes altogether.

  Be careful around him, Calista. He ran with Stone and Brass. Billy seems to trust him, but Billy’s an idiot.

  You’re the one having a kid with him, so what’s that say about your own judgement? Calista joked, earning a snort of unexpected laughter from Ying. The others looked at her, not privy to their telepathic conversation, and she reapplied her usual, snarky expression.

  “Passi, honey, we’re heading out,” Calista called to her daughter. Passi flicked the minnow back into the water and flew excitedly over to her mother’s side. “And Cosmo, put on your damn shoes!”

  * * *

  Calista, Passi, Rain, and Cosmo made their way through the jungle, its cool shade a pleasant contrast to the tropical sun above the canopy. Calista, leading the way, slashed her spear through the thick vines to clear them a path. Small rodents skittered through the foliage and colorful birds flittered through the high branches, lending the forest an almost serene feel.

  Cosmo had his guitar out and was strumming a wistful tune, and Passi twirled in rhythm to its notes as they walked. She seemed to enjoy the old man’s company – or at least his music. It brought out the child that Calista knew she’d buried inside herself after Xavier killed her clan.

  She danced with her friends on the beach. She playfully shouted orders on the boat. Now she twirls her way through the forest. She’s finally letting herself be a kid again.

  Against her better judgment, Calista allowed Cosmo to play on, if only so her daughter would enjoy the afternoon and forget about their flight from the Undead School.

  A half-hour later, they stood atop the nearest slope, gazing out over the island. Passi flew high above them, soaring on the winds and giggling like she didn’t have a care in the world. Rain was excitedly collecting samples for her alchemy from the flowers that grew on the ridge. Cosmo sat on a boulder, his jester outfit blowing in the stiff wind, as she watched the fairy child play high above.

  “I’m envious,” Cosmo wistfully admitted to Calista. “I’ve always wanted to be able to fly. I went skydiving back when I was a younger man, but old age and wealth have a way of sucking the joy out of even the most adventurous of past times.”

  “Yah, you lived a difficult life,” Calista said sarcastically, scanning the sky for dangers. “Resorts and skydiving and owning your own company. How ever did you survive such incredible hardships?”

  “My music helped,” Cosmo answered, ignoring her sarcasm. “It was all I really wanted out of life. The rest… just got in the way.”

  “Try struggling to afford to eat,” Calista said, leaning against his boulder. “Milly had it even worse than I did.”

  “She was a brave soul, your woman,” Cosmo praised. “And powerful. Did you know Stone and Brass were scared shitless of her?”

  Calista glanced up into his eyes. “I’m not in the mood for jokes, Cosmo.”

  Cosmo laughed, throwing up his hands in mock surrender. “No joke, my dear. They picked the wrong woman to turn victim. Every time you guys returned from the wilds, you came back with some new power. Especially your witch. We were fighting against the tide, but… well, do you know what sunken cost fallacy is?”

  “That a business thing?”

  “Quite so. It’s when you keep throwing resources at a losing cause because you aren’t willing to make the hard decision to stop. I stopped. They didn’t.”

  “And we’re still cleaning up their mess,” Calista spat. “As if this world wasn’t hard enough to survive without us turning on each other.”

  A silence fell between them, interrupted only by Rain’s gentle hums as she picked flowers and Passi shrieks of delight as she soared on the currents.

  “So, in the spirit of not turning on each other and gaining new powers,” Cosmo said, watching the fairy child high above. “Your daughter seems to have found her own abilities. Tell me, Calista, when did your daughter become a player?”

  The Non-Canonical Aftermath: