The Glacier.

She was a tiny sloop, narrow keel, a few small, efficient sails, engineered for a tight turn radius and speed. Donald had commanded her painted pink on the bottom and sides, dark gray on all the top surfaces, to help hide her against the sky as she flew.

"Ye think ye're a sneaky pile a' bastard noo," he'd said to Gerrick, "Jest wait until ye creep up on th' Longsword fer the first time."

Gerrick nodded at the memory.

Donald put one arm around Gerrick and hugged him, then rubbed the top of his head. "Happy Birthday, li'l bro."

Over two years ago, that had been. His twelfth birthday.

A chill early-morning wind blew, causing the sails to rumple and snap taut. Gerrick ran his hand over the railing. It had been cleaned in the last two hours. The small crew stood by attentively, Jonas with them. Gerrick noted that he stood proudly in front of them, his hands clasped behind his back.

Jonas said, "Will we be taking the crew with us?"

"Nae." Gerrick felt the tautness of a mains'l line. "They're on shore, but nae on leave. Tell 'em tae be ready tae attend th' Commordore or me Da and brothers."

Jonas turned to them. "You have your orders! Snap to!"

Gerrick could hear them disembarking rapidly.

Jonas stepped up behind Gerrick. "I've never sensed you like this. It's like a baby being born during a war."

Gerrick looked to him. "Ye've seen a baby born durin' a war?"

"Once. Remember when we hit Gallowgate?"

Gerrick grimaced as he remembered. Marsaukan Special Forces everywhere, buildings on fire, booby traps...One of them made the mistake of trying to take Jonas hostage, and Jonas grabbed his ungloved hand and ripped his insides apart with an empathic thought. After that, they found the local pub, intending to "salvage" gold and drink from it. They found no one inside but one.

...Well, then two.

Gerrick nodded. "The barmaid."

"Aye."

"She dinnae make it." Gerrick closed his eyes at the memory.

"But her son did," Jonas said. "And we found his grandmother."

Gerrick rubbed his eyes. "I wonder how the li'l laddie's doin' noo."

Jonas shrugged. "He'd be a little over a year old now."

Gerrick turned to look seriously at Jonas. "Ye ken me fears better than anyone."

Jonas narrowed his eyes. "Fuck your fears, and fuck anyone who convinced you you weren't up to this. I happen to think you're right. It's time we spread our wings. Your happy horse-shit pranks were killing you."

Gerrick found himself well into the realm of surprise.

"You weren't happy with it." Jonas shrugged. "You were biding your time, and it was dragging you down, and us with you. Your talents were wasted at home. You were born a killer, not an underwear-thief."

Gerrick shook his head in wonder. "Why dinye ever tell me ye thought that?"

Jonas leaned back against the mainmast, shrugging. "What was to say? We had to pass the time somehow."

Gerrick chuckled. "So ye think this is what I was born tae do."

"Aye. And you know what else? You may be afraid your friends will die, but you're not the least bit afraid you will. And furthermore, I'm not afraid I'm going to die, and no one coming with you is either. The ones who stayed in your room instead of walking out were the ones who accepted what you were leading us into."

Gerrick smiled wistfully, imagining the courage of his friends.

He had no idea he was wasting them, or himself. How long they had followed him, how often they had covered for him, and he for them. There were some loyalties that could never be appraised.

"Hey." Jonas grinned. "Know what you feel like right now?"

Gerrick turned to him curiously. "What?"

"Your father."

Gerrick felt himself blush. He started to answer, but was interrupted. "Ahoy to ship!"

It was...

...It was Sine's voice.

Gerrick ran to the gang-plank. Front and center stood Sine, with Ansley just a little behind her, smiling. Standing attentively behind them stood all the others: Digs, in skin of sky-blue, Spider, in nothing but sandals and a Black Watch kilt-wrap with two maces crossed on his back, Giacomo, in military-style clothes that matched Jonas's style of dress, Rose, in her usual scullery-wear. Fearghas stood with them, wearing gear that a member of the Brotherhood might wear on a big job, and carrying a big leather satchel.

Gerrick walked down the gangplank, standing squarely in front of Sine.

Sine looked him in the eye. "Ye need me, and ye know it."

Gerrick nodded. "Aye." He offered his hand angled up. "That I do."

Sine clasped hands with him, and they embraced.

Gerrick stood in front of Digs.

Digs said, "I've never abandoned a friend yet. I don't intend to start now."

Gerrick offered his hand. "Welcome back, mate." They embraced, and Dig's skin turned royal blue.

Gerrick stood before Rose.

Rose said, "Gerrick...If my brother is going to be here, I need to know if I can...If you'll have me back--"

"Don't." Gerrick offered his hand. "Troublemakers dinnae have tae ask." They embraced tightly.

"Thank you, Gerrick."

"Dinnae worry 'boot it. Noo get on board."

Rose smiled, running up the gangplank.

Gerrick stood in front of Giacomo.

Giacomo looked at him plainly. "I'm sorry."

Gerrick offered his hand. "Ye happen te have been right."

Giacomo smiled, taking Gerrick's hand and pulling into an embrace.

Gerrick raised his hand, smiling. He turned to the rest of them. "All aboard! Let's get this road-show goin'!" He ushered everyone up the gangplank.

It was time for the Troublemakers to spread their wings.