The crew plunged into the water, hauling the vessel high above the tide line and then, after the gangway slid out, Dion was the first to disembark, with Cob and Finn following after him. Roxana, Dion’s master of the fleet, came forward. A stocky woman with weathered skin and short, sun-bleached hair, she opened her arms and wrapped them around him, slapping him on the back.

‘Sire,’ she said gruffly. ‘Welcome home.’ Releasing Dion, she then turned to Cob. ‘So, Cobrim, it appears you brought my ship back in one piece. Or is there damage I can’t see?’ Her eyes narrowed as she cast a critical gaze over the vessel.

‘She’s in better condition than when we left,’ Cob said defensively.

‘Give me an hour with her, and I’ll let you know if I agree.’

As she loomed over him, Cob was taken aback, until she suddenly barked a laugh and pulled him forward into a hug twice as tight as the one she’d given Dion. ‘It’s good to see you, little man.’

Dion glanced at Finn, who grinned. While Roxana and Cob caught up, Dion inclined his head, waiting for Finn to follow him a little way from the group.

‘What is it?’ Finn asked, becoming serious when he saw Dion’s expression.

Dion rubbed his chin, gathering his thoughts. Finn was his master of trade. He was known everywhere in the city and also ran the spy network of the Free Men, which reached far and wide.

‘I want you to do something for me,’ Dion said. ‘Find out anything you can about the history of Aleuthea. I’m particularly interested in anything related to their abilities . . . We’re talking about magic, here. You understand?’

Finn frowned as he tucked a lock of hair behind his ear. ‘There are things they left behind. Statues . . . Ceramics . . .’

‘I don’t know what I’m looking for, but I’ll know it when I see it. Offer good silver to anyone who brings you artifacts that tell us something about Aleuthea. Talk to your people.’

‘You’re worried.’

‘I am.’

While in Malakai, Finn had casually questioned some of the merchants he’d been trading with and had heard tales of the eerie sandstorm that struck the city’s defenders precisely as Palemon attacked.

‘You think it’s true, about this wind?’

‘I don’t know yet what I believe,’ Dion said. ‘That’s why I need you to do this for me.’

‘I’ll do whatever I can.’

‘Thank you, my friend.’ Dion clasped Finn on the shoulder. He then glanced at the palace. ‘Now it’s time for me to do something I haven’t been looking forward to.’

‘I still don’t see why you had to go yourself. You left me with a thousand matters unattended to.’

‘I’m sure you resolved them all, Uncle.’