In the boat’s stern, Izza cleared her throat. Both women turned to face her. “I don’t know you,” she said.

Kai’s laugh was dry and sharp. “Izza, permit me to introduce Teo Batan, a client of mine. Or she pretended to be a client at least. Come to think of it, I’m not even sure that’s her real name.”

The Quechal woman shrugged, resigned. “I didn’t lie about that. Or my credentials. The Two Serpents Group did send me to open an account on your island. I just had another goal I didn’t mention.” She held out her hand to Izza.

Her palm was soft, but the handshake strong.

“Nice to meet you, Teo,” Izza said. “I’m Izza. So, you’re a thief?”

One corner of Teo’s mouth turned up in a slight smile. “I wish. If I was, I’d be better at all this. No, I’m just a saleslady who got in over her head.”

“Look,” Kai said. “I don’t know what your deal is, and I don’t care. I need to get back to shore.”

“Then you’re welcome to swim.” Teo pointed over the side of the boat. “If you can make it that far.”

“I’m a strong swimmer. Even if I haven’t been training for this like you have.”

“Oh, and don’t forget the Penitents waiting for you when you hit shore. Do you really want to go back to that? I had protection.” Teo patted her arm, the still-burning scars. “And I can still hear them in my head. Like every bad fight I ever had with my grandmother at once. Gods and demons. Why stay?”

“That’s my home.”

“It’s not been kind to you today, as far as I can tell.”

“Homes aren’t always kind,” Kai said, and Teo nodded.

“I guess not.”

“What happened?” Izza asked. “Kai, how did they catch you?”

“They didn’t catch me. They caught her.”

“I don’t think that’s fair,” Teo said. “I dropped a bracelet into the pool on accident, and your people stuffed me in a brainwash golem for my trouble. I think whatever their problem was, it had more to do with you than me.”

“That wasn’t an ordinary bracelet,” Kai said. “It flowed through my fingers. And if your purpose here is so innocent, why do you have an invisible getaway boat?”

“I never said it was an ordinary bracelet.” Teo didn’t meet Izza’s eyes, or Kai’s, either. She hunched over on the rowing bench. “And I never said my purpose here was innocent, either. Izza wasn’t far off the mark. I’m the scout, not the second-story man. Or woman, as the case may be.”

“You were trying to steal from the mountain.” Izza heard a note of wonder in her own voice.

“Is it still stealing when you’re working for a goddess?”

“Yes.”