we are not truly immortal

[dark_light]

After Glass's party is over with, Amariah and Kas go home.

Amariah fetches down their alethiometers.

"It's about time I took care of Alethia's afterlife, whatever it may be," she says quietly. "What can the alethiometer tell you about what I'll find?"

Comments

[dark_light]

"Yeah, I agree, but thanks for coming out to start with," says Amariah.

[sicaria]

Sherlock hugs Shell Bell. "Let's go."

[she_sells_seashells]

Shell Bell taps her Janegem. She and Sherlock and their daemons disappear from Alethia.

[dark_light]

"Who else is coming along to the mountain, who's staying here, and who's going home?" Amariah asks.

[lifes_sake]

"I'll come if you want me to - I'm not a physical combatant by any stretch of the imagination but if we're going to try negotiation I might have an advantage at it. Jokers get along better with harpies but we don't know about angels."

[endragoned]

"I am coming," says Aianon.

[truthwright]

"Me too," says Kas.

[pythbox]

"I'll stay here," says Sue.

[small_magics]

"Beloveds, I would not want to unduly distract you in your possible fight against angels," says Sarion.

[endragoned]

"Would you rather go home, then?"

[small_magics]

"Only if you will find me distracting. I am perfectly comfortable."

[endragoned]

"Not such a distraction that I couldn't kill an angel if I had to," he says, kissing her on the cheek.

[small_magics]

"You must let me know if I should move, of course," she says, running her hand through his hair.

[endragoned]

"We will," rumbles Ansharil.

[her_imperial_radiance]

"Am I useful past this point? Since you didn't need me for the harpies."

[dark_light]

"You could also beat up angels, but so can Aianon; if you'd rather go home, go for it."

[her_imperial_radiance]

"Okay. Bye, everybody."

Elspeth goes.

[dark_light]

"Okay. Let's see about batch-teleporting."

And Amariah attempts to pick up everyone in the landing party and go to the Authority.

[pythbox]

In a word, no.

[dark_light]

Close-as-can-be, like how she found the dock, then.

[pythbox]

And—

They're all in the air, high above a thick layer of clouds, right next to a mountain that seems to sprout out of them and drag them up its slopes. The summit is completely misted over.

[dark_light]

Amariah flies. Up.

[lifes_sake]

Cam follows.

[endragoned]

Likewise the Jokers.

[dark_light]

The party ascends through the mist. Pattern's upgrade to the standard vision boost has propagated through the peal; both Bells can see through it if they want, which occurs to them after a few seconds of blind flight.

And this mountain -

Is definitely inhabited by angels.