“If he had,” Bitterblue said, “you wouldn’t have taken it.”

“You’re right, I wouldn’t have taken it. Can you see me taking such a thing from Po? Can you see me agreeing to such a thing? And he’s right to have given it, because he is going to die, because I’m going to kill him when next I see him, for doing such a thing and frightening me and not telling me what it meant.”

“Of course you will,” Bitterblue said soothingly.

“It’s not permanent, is it?” Katsa asked, turning to the captain. She then noticed for the first time that the captain was looking at her differently. So were Patch and Jem. Their faces white, and something shocked and quiet in their eyes. They believed her now, that she hadn’t stolen the ring, and they believed that their prince had given it to her. And Katsa was relieved that at least that part of this ordeal was behind them. “I can give it back to him,” she asked the captain, “can’t I?”

The captain cleared her throat. She nodded. “Yes, Lady Princess.”

“Great hills,” Katsa said, distressed. “Don’t call me that.”

“You may give it back to him at any time, Lady Princess,” the captain said, “or give it to someone else. And he may reclaim it. In the meantime, your position entitles you to every power and authority held by a prince of Lienid. It’s ours to do your bidding.”

“I’ll be content if you’ll take us quickly to Po’s castle on the western shore,” Katsa said, “and stop calling me Princess.”

“It’s your castle now, Lady Princess.”

Katsa’s temper was beginning to throw out sparks, for she wanted none of this treatment; but before she could argue, a man knocked on the door frame. “We’re ready, Captain.”

Katsa pulled Bitterblue to the side as the room erupted with commotion. The captain began to bark instructions. “Patch, get back to your post and get us out of here. Jem, see to Bear. And clean up that mess in the corner. I’m needed on deck, Lady Princess. Come above, if you wish. Princess Bitterblue’s seasickness will be less there.”

“I’ve told you not to call me that,” Katsa said.

The captain ignored her and marched to the doorway. Katsa swept Bitterblue under her arm and followed her, glaring at the woman’s back as they passed through the corridor.

And then in the blackness at the foot of the ladder, the captain stopped. She turned back to Katsa. “Lady Princess,” she said. “What you’re doing here—and why you’re disguised, and why the child princess is in danger—is your affair. I won’t ask for an explanation. But if there’s any assistance I can give, you need only to voice it. I’m at your service, completely.”

Katsa reached to her breast and touched the circle of gold. She was thankful, after all, for the power it gave her, if that power would help her to serve Bitterblue. And that might be an explanation for Po’s gift as well; perhaps he’d only wanted her to have full authority, so that she might protect the child better. But she didn’t want everyone on deck to see the ring, if it inspired such adoration. She didn’t want everyone talking about it and pointing it out and treating her this way. She loosened the neck of her coat and tucked the ring inside.