“I asked you for help this morning. I asked you to arrest Margot. I asked you not to tell anyone.”

“I didn’t,” he said. She couldn’t tell whether he was lying. “I didn’t, Kai.”

“What happened?”

“The place was torn to nine hells. Door broken off the hinges. Walls shattered.”

“Who could do that?”

“Best guess?” he asked, rhetorically. “A woman snuck onto the island about six weeks back, an unlicensed avatar—we figured a missionary, or a joss smuggler’s muscle. We almost caught her when she came ashore, but she broke a couple Penitents and went underground. Maybe this is her work. In which case you’re in danger, too.” He reached for her. She retreated. “Come on, Kai. We can help.”

“You fucked this up. And he’s dead.”

“Don’t make this difficult.”

“You want to arrest me?”

“We’ll call it protective custody if we have to.”

So easy to take him up on his offer. Let Claude take care of her. Let him and his Penitents save her from this mad girl with a knife.

“Protect me like you protected him?”

“Kai. Trust me.”

“I’m leaving, Claude.” She turned away. Her arm lagged behind: Izza, slow to believe Kai would pass this chance at safety. Her hesitation only lasted a moment. Claude watched them go.

*   *   *

They found an abandoned bench by the bay. Dark water rolled between the Claws. Dots of light drifted in the black: boats with lanterns lit, under the stars. Kai suggested they sit. Izza released her, and she lowered herself onto spray-wet wood. Izza sat at the opposite end of the bench. After their quadruped wandering, the few feet gaped between them.

Waves washed against pier and land, bearing their tithe of eroded soil out into the World Sea. Kai wondered if mainlanders knew they lived under siege. Or did they rest in comfort atop their continents, and ignore the gnawing doom of water?

Perhaps her father had seen the ocean differently. Perhaps Kai would have, if she’d taken to the sea. But these days Kavekana’s children swam in other oceans.

“I’m sorry I didn’t believe you,” Kai said once the waves lost their mythic depths and became waves again.

“I wouldn’t have believed me,” Izza replied.

“You knew him?”

“Not well.”

“That was him, under the shroud.”

“Yes,” Izza said. “Was that watchman your friend?”

“A kind of friend.”

“The kissing kind?”

She laughed, and heard the bitterness in her own laughter. “Once. Not anymore.”

“Why did you go to Penitent Ridge this morning?”

“You were following me.”

“Yes.”

“I asked him to arrest Margot. For his own good.” When she closed her eyes they burned from smoke.

“Tell me more. Tell me what you know, or think you know.”

“These are sacred secrets. I can’t tell anyone who’s not a priest.”

“I’m a priest,” Izza said, slowly. “Of a sort.”

Kai didn’t answer.