‘They’re planning some kind of magic, something big,’ Finn said. ‘Parting the sea, they called it. There’s a promontory a few days’ march from here – Cape Cush . . . Cob and I saw it from the Liberty when we last came to Malakai. It’s the closest point between the mainland and the Lost Souls. Everyone’s going there. They’re assembling slaves and almost all their soldiers on the shore.’

Chloe lifted her head. ‘This could be our chance. While they’re away, we can—’

‘No such luck, I’m afraid.’ Finn interrupted. ‘Palemon wants me there, and he’s bringing Dion too.’

There was silence for a time as they pondered. Chloe again remembered the Oracle’s words, a suggestion of danger, a fork in the road, rather than prophecy. If unchallenged, they will gain the power of artifacts better left at the bottom of the sea.

‘I have an idea,’ she said slowly. ‘The sorcerers plan to part the sea. We all know the reason why. There is something they want in the sunken city. Something important.’ She met Cob and Finn’s eyes. ‘We can’t let them have it.’

‘But how can we—’ Cob began.

‘There’s only one way I can think of them going about it.’ In response to their puzzled expressions, Chloe explained. ‘The four materia – gold, silver, copper, and iron – each correspond to a power. Gold can bring light. Silver can harness the wind. Copper can manipulate sound. Iron can project fire.’ She paused. ‘Only one power would allow them to part the sea. They are going to use the wind.’

Cob and Finn exchanged glances.

Chloe continued, ‘We’ve worked out that they brought perhaps a dozen sorcerers with them from the place they left. Have you seen any in the streets lately? My guess is they are all busy working on the spell. Something that powerful is going to require their combined strength. But,’ she said slowly, ‘wind is dangerous and unpredictable. The magic is easily disrupted.’

‘What are you saying?’ Finn asked.

‘I think I can break the spell.’

Cob frowned, while Finn looked merely puzzled.

‘Think about it,’ Chloe said. ‘The sea parts, exposing the city. They enter.’ She clapped her hands together, making Cob jump. ‘The sea rushes back in.’

The old sailor’s brow furrowed. ‘We’d kill them all. It would be chaos.’

‘And in that chaos we could free Dion.’

‘How?’ Finn asked.

‘With Liana’s help.’ She held out both her hands, and first Cob, and then Finn, clasped her palm. ‘And with yours.’