At last Isaac took them to a prime table for two right by the water.

“I have never been to a restaurant like this before,” said Yenni. “It’s nicer than a pubs.”

Isaac laughed. “But Weysh, where you find she?”

“She’s from the Moonrise Isles,” said Weysh, smiling fondly at Yenni.

“Is so? If ah known is women so pretty out dey I’da visit long time.” Isaac grinned at Yenni, then pointed at Weysh. “If dis one step outta line you know where to find me, en?”

“No, thank you,” said Yenni. “If this one steps out of line, I know exactly how to put him back in his place.”

Isaac laughed. “Weysh, brudda, hang on to she, en?”

“I intend to.” After everything they’d been through, he’d be a thrice-damned fool not to do everything in his power to make her want to stick around.

Isaac gave them menus. “Ah comin’ back jus’ now,” he said, and left them.

Yenni studied the menu, occasionally piping up excitedly. “Oh, fish and dumpling soup! And fried plantains with sweet pepper sauce! And . . . oh! Curry goat!”

“We’re definitely getting the curry goat,” said Weysh. “It’s likely the only thing I’ll be able to taste. Order whatever you like, lovely. Get the whole damned menu if you want.”

She very nearly took him up on his offer. When all was said and done their table was piled with various dishes that hung precariously close to the edge.

“Bon appetit,” said Weysh. It was a testament to Suli’s skill that even with his diminished sense of taste the famous curry goat still hit the spot. But he got far more enjoyment out of watching Yenni. She sampled each dish like a child let loose in a sweet shop, moaning in delight with each bite.

“Mmm,” she said, swallowing a piece of plantain. “The food is not quite the same as what we have on the Yirba islands, but it is familiar, and all very delicious. Thank you, Weh-sheh. I needed this,” she said, gesturing around. “Island music, Island food, Island people . . . something recognizable.”

“Oh? And why is that?”

Yenni told him what had happened in her class with that weaselly professor.

Oho! I knew it! Weysh wanted to shout. He had known something was off about that phony professor, but he held back. The last thing he wanted to do was push his luck.

“I can’t say I’m surprised,” he said instead.

“Really?”

Weysh nodded. She was bound to bump up against this sooner or later.

“I sometimes feel torn between three different worlds: Islander, Creshen, Dragon. The emperor presents us to the world as a sophisticated metropolis, repentant of our past mistakes, now home to any and all. But make no mistake—deep down many Creshens still consider themselves superior to everyone else, and it will come out in their actions if not their words.”