Zoya and Cypher stood at the helm, bent over the astrolabe. They straightened as I approached.
"You look better," Zoya observed. "Ready to find us a way home?"
"As ready as I'll ever be," I replied, avoiding Cypher's eyes. "Where are we?"
"Circling the area where the portal should be," he said, his tone strictly professional. "But the currents have shifted it. We need your abilities to pinpoint its location."
I nodded and moved to the railing. The shattered realm of Nytheris stretched behind us, while ahead lay only the darkness of the Gallery. I closed my eyes, reaching out with my rift senses.
The currents appeared in my mind like rivers of light flowing through darkness. I followed them, letting my consciousnessdrift through the void until I felt it—the familiar distortion that signaled a portal.
"There," I said, pointing. "Bearing forty-three degrees starboard, about half a mile distant. It's stable for now, but the cycle is faster than before."
"How long do we have when it stabilizes?" Cypher asked.
I concentrated harder. "Twenty-five seconds, maybe less."
"Cutting it close," Zoya muttered.
"We'll make it," Cypher said. "All hands! Prepare for the portal transition!"
The crew burst into action. I remained at the rail, keeping my senses focused on the portal as we approached. It appeared ahead, a shimmer of sickly light against the void.
"Ten seconds to stabilization," I called, feeling the shift. "Nine... eight..."
Cypher's hands were steady on the helm. "Omri, full power on my mark!"
"Five... four... three... two... one... NOW!"
The Night-Piercer surged forward as the portal stabilized. We hit the threshold at full speed, and the world around us twisted and bent. But this time, the transition felt smoother, as if something was guiding us through.
The First Anchor at my chest grew hot. I gasped, clutching the railing as power surged through my body. Then we were through, bursting back into the familiar darkness of the Gallery. The crew erupted in cheers, but I barely heard them. The First Anchor continued to pulse against my skin, its warmth spreading through my chest.
"That was..." Zoya began, her voice filled with wonder.
"Different," Cypher finished, his eyes on me. "What happened?"
I touched the crystal beneath my shirt. "The Anchor. It... helped somehow. It felt like it was stabilizing the portal as we passed through."
Cypher's expression changed, understanding dawning in his eyes.
"Well, whatever it did, I'm grateful," Kora said, appearing at my side. "That was the smoothest transition I've ever experienced."
Cypher moved closer to me. "We need to talk," he said quietly. "About the Anchor. About what you can do with it."
"And about last night?" I asked before I could stop myself.
His eyes met mine, and for once, I saw no barriers there. "That too. But first, let's get far away from Nytheris. I've had enough of that place to last several lifetimes."
I nodded, a strange mix of anticipation and trepidation settling in my stomach. We'd survived Nytheris, retrieved the codex, and made it back to the Gallery. But I had a feeling our journey was far from over.
As the Night-Piercer sailed deeper into the Gallery, putting distance between us and the shattered realm, I couldn't help but wonder what would happen when we returned to Gideon. Would Cypher really hand over the codex? Would I get my payment and free my father?
And then what?
The journeyback through the Gallery should have been smooth. We'd navigated the route before, knew the currents and the safe passages. But nothing about Nytheris was willing to let us go easily. We were three days out from the realm, making good time through relatively calm currents, when the ship's alarm crystals began shrieking.
I bolted from my cabin to find the deck in chaos. The crew raced to their stations while Cypher stood at the helm, his expression thunderous. "What's happening?" I shouted over the noise.
