Alfred's vessel came down through the snow with its six wings spread wide around the black hull. The landing platform under Morgain Castle could take several ships at once, and most of that ground was already occupied.
Two smaller vessels stood at the far edge while soldiers carried crates toward the fortress entrance. Servants crossed the stone with luggage and sealed containers, and Morgain soldiers stood in groups near the walls as more of the family came home for the Council.
Trafalgar watched it through the forward windows until Alfred brought the ship down. The struts hit the stone with a heavy shudder, the mana engines wound down, the wings folded against the hull, and the bridge began lowering toward the platform.
"Delivered alive," Alfred said behind him. "My record holds."
Trafalgar turned toward the old captain. "You've come near enough to throwing me into a mountain often enough that I wouldn't boast about it."
"Near is doing a great deal of work in that sentence."
