A single line of men and women filed out, taking the stairs down to the platform and finding their seats. Their newly tailored coats and frocks were trimmed with gold and velvet, their hands covered in jeweled rings. The Narrows Trade Council. Even in their finery, you could see their rough edges. They took their places at the far table before they were followed by the council representing the Unnamed Sea, whose opulence was even more grand.

When they were all in place, they took their seats together. The scrape of chair legs echoed in the silence.

Again, I looked to Saint’s seat. It was still empty.

The woman representing the Narrows Smiths Guild leaned into the master of the Shipwrights Guild, whispering as two men with white gloves filled the ornate teacups before them. It looked as if the teapots were floating off the table, and I could see that Holland liked the admiration. That had been the point.

She swirled the cava in her glass, watching both councils study the pieces with a satisfied grin sliding up the side of her face. She was priming them for her proposal.

The gavel fell again as the master of the Rye Guild for the Unnamed Sea stood. He brushed his coat before he turned to the crowd. “I’d like to welcome you on behalf of the Unnamed Sea and the Narrows to the Biennial Trade Council meeting.”

The doors to the pier closed, shutting out the sunlight, and the room fell quieter, making my palms sweat. I searched the faces in the crowd for my father, my eyes looking for the brilliant blue of his coat.

Beside me, Holland was relaxed, patiently waiting for her moment.

“We’ll open first for new business.” The guild master’s deep voice rang out and the slide of eyes drifted toward the merchant’s seats.

Holland took her time standing, looking out over the room. She was enjoying this. “Esteemed councils, I’d like to put forth today an official request for a license to expand my trading route from Bastian to Ceros.”

The silence resounded, the attention of both councils on my grandmother.

It was the Narrows Gem Guild master who spoke first. She stood, teacup in hand. “This is the fourth time in eight years that you’ve submitted a request for a license, and the answer has always been the same.”

The Gem Guild master from the Unnamed Sea stood next. “The successful enterprise of Holland’s trade has benefited both the Unnamed Sea and the Narrows. Most of the stones traded in your waters have come from her dredging crews. We support her request, as we have done in the past.”

As I suspected, the harbor master wasn’t the only one in Holland’s pocket.

“It is imperative that traders in the Narrows continue to run their routes,” the Narrows Gem Guild master replied.

“Let them,” Holland answered.