“If Holland finds out that you didn’t go to the Narrows, she’s going to want to know why. We can’t risk it. And I need you to tell Saint what’s going on.”

“Saint’s not going to like that. Me leaving you here. That wasn’t the plan.”

“Nothing’s really gone to plan, if you haven’t noticed. I need you in the Narrows, Clove.”

He considered it, his gaze floating from me to West. This wasn’t just about Saint. Clove didn’t trust West. He didn’t trust any of them. “This is a bad idea. That navigator of yours will have you run aground before you even get to Yuri’s Constellation.”

“That navigator will do just fine,” Auster snapped.

“There will be hell to pay if Fable doesn’t make it back to Ceros.” Clove was talking to West now.

“Fable got herself off that island you left her on. I think she can get herself back to Ceros.” West’s words were like acid.

“I suppose you’re right about that.” Clove smiled. “Guess I better find a ship headed to the Narrows.” He stood, giving me a wink before he started for the door.

“One of Holland’s,” I said. “We need her to know you’re gone.”

The barmaid set down two large plates of bread and cheese, followed by another pot of tea. Auster didn’t waste any time, reaching for the dish of butter.

He lathered a thick layer onto a piece of bread and handed it to me. “Eat. You’ll feel better.”

I eyed him. “Why aren’t you mad like the others?”

“Oh, I’m mad,” he said, reaching for another piece of bread. “What you did was wrong, West. When you took us on, you said we’d each have an equal say. You went back on your word.”

“Then why are you playing nice?” I asked.

“Because.” He looked past me, to West. “If it was Paj, I’d have done the same damn thing.” He tore the bread and popped a piece into his mouth.

West leaned onto the table, letting out a heavy breath. The defensive, rigid set of his jaw was gone now and I knew the reality of what he’d done was setting in. Maybe Hamish would forgive the slight, but Willa and Paj wouldn’t be so understanding.

West stared at the table, mind working. “You know we can’t give the midnight to Holland if we find it. Don’t you? She’s the most powerful trader in the Unnamed Sea. If you find the midnight for her…” His words trailed off. “She could ruin everything. For us and for the Narrows.”

He was right. I’d been thinking the same thing.

“If she gets license to trade in Ceros, everything we planned is over. None of it matters.”