“The situation is not as simple as you think it is. Where did you get this?” With her usual disrespect for my belongings, she pulled the basket around and began unlacing it. “These sort of baskets are only ever used by behiques.” She pried open the top of the basket, pulling back her hair with a hand so it didn’t fall in her eyes. “Cat,” she said in an altered tone, “why do you have a skull?”

Blessed Tanit! Hair, skin, the usual appurtenances of flesh and life had vanished to leave a bone-white skull. “It wasn’t a skull before. It was more like the head of the poet Bran Cof, only more commanding and less rude.”

“Look!” Rory pointed to the arch.

A dozen foreigners pushed into view. Falcatas swung from their hips, half concealed in the knee-length folds of their dash jackets. I recognized Captain Tira’s broad shoulders and short black hair instantly, not to mention the way she swept the crowd with a searching gaze.

“Gracious Melqart!” I said to the air. “Where is that cursed opia?”

“Seem a better offer now, don’ it?” he said behind me in a tone I could only describe as gloating.

I spun to face him, clasping the basket shut. “How can I know you’ll keep your word?”

“I give yee me word of honor as a Taino man,” the opia said. “Besides that, which is truly all yee need, I shall help yee get to Europa because I want the cacica’s head to go to Haübey together with a message that he need to come home. So yee see, gal, I’s helping me own self. Yee’s just the messenger I have at hand.”

Such sweet words: help yee get to Europa. But I had to rein in my galloping heart. “I promised Queen Anacaona to take her head to Caonabo.”

“So yee shall. When yee give the head to Haübey, he shall bring it home to Caonabo.”

Blessed Tanit! I shuddered with hope. “What about my cousin? Her blood won’t give her passage into the spirit world. She can only cross through water. Anyway, the creatures of the spirit world hate her and want to kill her.”

“Peradventure them in Europa do, but our ways are different in this part of the world. As for the dreamer, the pools yee waded through shall give her passage. I shall take yee back that same way.”

“Cat, who are you talking to?” demanded Bee.

“Can’t you see him?” Rory asked. “Are you blind, Bee?”

“Not too blind to kick you. Cat, who are you talking to?”

The opia wearing Vai’s face smiled in the smug way Vai had when he knew he was about to be proven right. “Best make up yee mind quick quick, gal. Here they come.”

Captain Tira spotted me across the dancing crowd.