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“Probably not, this time.” Amrita shook her head. The visit to the library was enough. If they could find even one of the books on her wish list there, she would be thrilled.

“Well, that’s a bummer.” Buffalo showed her the anti-seasickness wristbands that he was already wearing. “I packed for a sea voyage.”

“We’ll only be there for a day, maybe two at the most, Buffalo,” Amrita explained. “And our primary concern will still be trying to rescue certain legendary books from the Library. We’ll need to do this under the cover of night.”

“So, will I get any time alone with you then? Or is this entire journey going to be strictly business?” Buffalo grumbled.

“I can’t promise that we will have much time outdoors, but it’s nice that you’re prepared,” she said. “We’ll make the most of it, okay?”

She didn’t want to argue with Buffalo. Arguing was no way to start a mission. Or a romantic retreat.

Amrita used her wand to pick the food court door lock. From here they would avoid cameras by using the service passageway. They’d pass through an emergency exit and climb up the fire escape to the roof.

Zani and Will would be arriving at any moment, if they weren’t already there.

Amrita hated to admit it, but the climb up to the roof left her winded. She’d needed a boost from Buffalo to clear the railing at the top of the fire escape. She thought she might have pulled a muscle, but there was no time to stop by an apothecary for some liniments now. She could only hope that there was a med kit on the dirigible. Or perhaps Buffalo had something in his steamer trunk.

Zani was waiting to greet them. Her cheeks were flushed pink and her dark eyes were shining with excitement and anticipation. Of all the members of the mission besides Amrita, she was the most invested. This assignment was a bucket list adventure for someone like her. Part magical archivist, part professional relic hunter, Zani Marinescu had been training her whole life for an opportunity like this.

“Will’s finishing the pre-departure checks,” Zani said. “And I’ve already checked all my wards.” She produced her wand and approached Amrita and Buffalo. “May I?”

“May you what?” Buffalo sucked in a breath and puffed out his chest. He wasn’t frightened by the wand Zani was holding aloft, but it was obvious to Amrita that it made him uncomfortable.

“I have to place a ward on both of you that prevents you from interfering with the natural timeline,” Zani explained. “You won’t feel a thing. It’s like an inoculation, but without the needle. It’s essential that we do this, to prevent a cataclysmic ripple effect.”

“Cataclysmic?” Buffalo’s eyes bulged.

“We can’t just go time-hopping like tourists and expect that there won’t be consequences.” Zani sighed. “My wards ensure that anything we say or do or touch in the past has already happened. If we try to interact in a way that didn’t happen, the wards will stop us.”

“You can do that?” Buffalo looked incredulous and impressed at the same time.

“You can ward me first,” Amrita said. She stood very still as Zani chanted and tapped her wand on Amrita’s forehead and shoulders, then traced her outline.

After Zani was finished with Amrita, Buffalo set down his bags and held his arms out to his sides for her to ward him as well.

“When’s Will arriving?” Buffalo asked.

“He’s already here, Buffalo.” Amrita smiled knowingly at Zani.

Buffalo looked perplexed.

Zani shrugged. “We got here early and I didn’t want to take any chances with Ordinaries catching a glimpse of us while we were waiting for you. I cast a cloaking spell, in case. It’s temporary.” Zani waved her wand back and forth like a windshield wiper, momentarily clearing the haze so Buffalo could see the dirigible that was parked on the roof, less than twenty feet away from them.

“How did you know?” He nudged Amrita.

“Years in the field.?” Amrita shrugged. “The color of the sky was a little off. There’s always a tell.”

“Huh.” Buffalo looked impressed. He lifted his binoculars and stared at the tree line on the other side of the airship. “I see what you mean. On closer inspection, the leaves on the trees over there all look the same.”

“Shall we board now?” Zani’s smile was a little more perfunctory. She tapped a foot impatiently. “We should probably go before the cloaking spell fades and I know Will wanted to brief you both about what time porting is like on the airship, before we leave.” She waved them toward the area where they’d just glimpsed the gangplank.

“Onwards.” Buffalo heaved the massive trunk onto the same shoulder that was already carrying the duffel bag. He offered, for the third time, to take Amrita’s bag as well, but once again she refused. She didn’t need the help. The nice thing about sensible satchels was that they never weighed more than a loaf of bread, no matter how packed they were.

“Ladies first,” Buffalo insisted, and they all made their way through the haze of the cloaking spell and onto the ship.

The airship was not what Amrita had expected. She’d imagined something quite dull and utilitarian, but the interior of the dirigible was more like a kitted-out vintage yacht. Although the vessel was much more compact than she’d imagined, the trim was quite luxurious. The common area consisted of a dark wood-paneled library and sitting room. Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves filled with the classics lined the console at the center. There were plush banquettes with tables for reading or dining and comfortable upholstered chairs that rotated towards amply sized viewing portholes. There was even a small balcony of sorts, towards the front.

“Our cabin is in the front.” Zani pointed to a door past the steering console. “You two can put your things in the bunk room in the back. I’m sorry, there’s not a lot of space there.” She eyed Buffalo’s bags dubiously. “And Buffalo should probably take the bottom bunk. I’m not sure how sturdy the beds are.”