Gerrick could hear the rain up ahead. He kept one firm hand locked with Ansley's. The even firmer hand of Jonas upon his shoulder was, ironically, a great comfort. Jonas's other hand dragged Fearghas behind them, a prize they had paid dearly for in dignity and pride, but had mercifully avoided paying any more for.

The sound of the rain grew to a very present thunder, and Gerrick reveled in the feel of the rain on his face. Their guards walked them for several more minutes before pulling their blindfolds off and vanishing.

Ansley practically fell into Gerrick's arms. He held her close, protectively. Jonas closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. Fearghas slumped against the nearest wall.

Night reigned. In the dark of the storm, all Gerrick could tell was that they were in an alley, on cobblestone. In the flashes of lightning, Gerrick saw the well in the town center not far away. He looked up, letting some of the rain fall into his mouth. When he was sated, he gave Ansley another squeeze. She pressed her face into his shoulder as if hiding.

"Are ye alright?" he whispered to Ansley.

"They just tossed me 'roond a bit. I was more worried what they'd do to me when they stopped."

Jonas walked to the end of the alley and looked up and down. "We're near the Nuckelavee's Arse. We should get Spider and see if his contacts know anything about Hermann."

Gerrick waved dismissively. "We'll ask Michael Scott tae look intae that. Meanwhile, we'll see if Da knows a way tae appease Mother Duck."

"Nooooo. No no no no." Fearghas looked at Gerrick in terror. "You can't do that. You gave him his word you would find this man."

Gerrick narrowed his eyes. "Do I look like a man a' me word? Besides, what can I do tae find a missin' thief what turned oot tae be a spy?"

Fearghas stood up, looking at Gerrick in disbelief. "He will kill me! Is this the fun you were promising?!"

Gerrick stepped up to him angrily. "Ye were gonna die anyway! I'm tryin' tae save our lives!"

"How?! By pretending to have good relations with the Champion of the Winds?!"

Gerrick's hand flew of its own accord. Fearghas rolled with the slap.

Gerrick held up one finger. "Focus!" He turned back to Jonas. "What are our options."

"My first concern is getting everyone back to the keep. We can decide from there. Have Sine call the gang together. This is best sussed out with help, and you need all you can get."

Gerrick sighed. "Fine. Let's go. Ansley, find Spider. We need 'im first. If he was on a Falcon ship, he may know sommat."

She looked at him through worried eyes. "Just make sure there's a fire waitin' fer me when I get in." She turned to go.

Gerrick started walking.

Fearghas jogged up next to him. "We have to find Hermann. I can't emphasize that enough."

"An' hoo dae ye recommend we do that, exactly?"

"Mother Duck said you had eyes!"

Gerrick stopped, and turned to face Fearghas, glaring at him. "We're a bunch a' teenage Troublemakers wha put pepper powder in people's food and steal their pants! Wake up, Fearghas! We're nae rangers! Ye wanna live through this, ye let me handle it!"

And then they heard it: a sound like a hundred thunder-claps burst forth from the docks half a mile away with a flash like sunlight. Gerrick's ears rang hard. The shockwave shook the ground, and Gerrick barely kept his feet. Jonas hit the ground and rolled. Fearghas fell flat.

Gerrick reached down and siezed his arm, pulling him up. Fearghas struggled to his feet with the help.

"Come on!" Gerrick started at a run toward the docks.

"What?!"

Gerrick turned to him, shocked. "Doon't ye wanna see what it was?!"

"You are bloody psychotic!" But Fearghas followed.

As they drew closer to the docks, the town of Inverray came to life. Men and women of every stripe rushed to and fro, some giving orders, trying to get a fire-brigade going. An acolyte of the Temple of the WAR GOD rushed past, hurriedly shoving on his robes, and bellowing orders more loudly than anyone else so far.

As they drew near, Gerrick stopped to admire the flames and destruction.

All the trade ships, the largest of the civilian vessels, were already beyond salvation, setting the night alight with flames as tall as the castle towers with their shattered hulls. Only the rain would deal with those fires, and that would take time--no one could go near. Instead, they feebly fought the inferno that engulfed the harbormaster's office and the warehouse. Thankfully, the MacBoon warships--including the glacier--were on the far end. The Red Dawn, Da's personal battleship, had caught fire, but the crew stood firmly against it as a lesser mage quieted the flames with his will.

Gerrick laughed, shaking his head. He studied the damage around him. "Not bad." He nodded appreciatively.

Fearghas looked at him in horror.

Gerrick looked to him, and shrugged. "What? Look at it! Someone did a crackerjack job here, dinnae?"

Fearghas just shook his head in disgust.

Gerrick smiled. "Come on, lad, admit it! Ye wish ye could do this, dinye?"

Fearghas studed Gerrick for a moment longer, but in the end, he just laughed. "You are a mad-man, Gerrick MacBoon."

"We all go a wee mad sometimes." He watched the Commodore's men put out the remaining fires on the Red Dawn. It would have black scoring, but that could be scrubbed off. Gerrick shook his head. "Da's gannae be right pissed." Gerrick gestured to the red dawn with a chuckle. "He loves that ship."

Jonas caught up, bracing himself up on his knees as he wheezed. "Well..." He coughed. "No structural...damage..."

Gerrick turned to him. "Ye alright, friend?"

"I can walk all day, dammit," Jonas stood up, still heaving breaths. "I just can't run."

Gerrick nodded, and looked back to the Red Dawn. "I dinnae get it. Why would they hit the merchant vessels an' nae the--"

Gerrick studied the men on the docks below the Red Dawn. Some of them appeared to be slumping from exhaustion. One of them dropped to his knees and screamed in sorrow.

His thoughts filled in words for him. "Distraction--" "--No one watching--"

He could no longer see the crew on the deck of his father's ship.

Gerrick's gallows-humor turned to horror. "NO!"

He took off at a run for the Red Dawn.