The sun was nearly at its peak when the Apache crested the last ridge before Elandra. Inigo eased the aircraft into a slow hover, watching the distant towers of the capital glint beneath the sky like silver-tipped spears. He could see the city gates, the merchant caravans filing into the wide roads, and the smoke of cookfires curling from chimneys. Civilization again. It felt almost alien after the quiet wilderness and the chaos of battle.
Beside him, Lyra was brushing windblown strands of hair from her face. "We're close. Are we flying it all the way in?"
Inigo shook his head. "No. Can't risk drawing attention. This thing's loud and massive. I'd rather keep it under wraps."
He opened his system interface, fingers tapping against the sleek console. A faint shimmer surrounded the Apache, pixelating around the edges as the entire helicopter dematerialized, vanishing into his inventory with a soft hum.
