“I have to get to Europa. I just have to figure out how to get there, for I’ve no money for a berth on a ship taking passage over the Atlantic. I’ve already been warned off trying to walk into the spirit world here in the islands. An opia came to me looking just like Vai.”

She snickered. “That must have startled you.”

Heat burned in my cheeks, for I had kissed the opia quite passionately before I realized he was the spirit of a dead ancestor, wearing Vai’s face. Being dead, opia could wear any face they wished. “Yes, it was quite disconcerting. He’s the one who explained why the Taino spirits are so angry at me.”

“Why is that? For it seems to me that here in the Antilles, living people and their dead ancestors are not often hostile toward each other. But perhaps the spirit people here wish to protect the spirit lords of Europa, who might be in some manner their cousins.”

“Quite the contrary. Long ago, Taino fire mages wove a protective spirit fence around their islands to keep out the Wild Hunt and any other spirit visitors from other parts of the spirit world.”

Kayleigh nodded. This casual talk of the spirit world seemed perfectly normal to her. “I suppose that spirit lords protect their territory just like princes and mages do in the mortal world.”

“So it seems. Anyway, I was able to cut a gate in the spirit fence. The Wild Hunt rode through the gap I made. My sire would never have been able to reach the cacica if not for me.”

“It’s not as if you did it on purpose! You were just trying to save your cousin’s life, for it was her the Wild Hunt wanted to kill.”

“Yes, but the cacica died regardless.”

“You’ll need to sail to Europa, then. If we can’t get the bank to open Vai’s account to you, you shall have the money Vai settled on me when I married.”

“I can’t take your dowry.”

“Of course you can! It’s mine to give, because Vai settled the funds on me according to Expedition law, which follows Taino law in giving women title to households and the family purse. Which do you think I would rather have? The money, or my brother? You have to go to Europa. The hunters of our village can help you rescue Vai out of the spirit world. Shh!”