As the rest of the women gathered behind her, the cracks in Ember’s armor disappeared. Her jaw hardened, and her eyes turned to flint.

Serina had a hard time putting the conversation from her mind, even as she and Ember worked out where each markswoman should stand. Some they ranged along the cliff, in the deep shadows where the sailors wouldn’t see them. They asked a couple to hide among the scrubby trees above the pier as lookouts for Nero and Diego. Then they had the girls on the cliff fire a few shots toward the pier to check range and aim.

“The escaped guards will hear those gunshots,” Ember said.

“Good,” Serina said. “We want them to know we’ve got weapons and know how to use them.”

Serina surveyed their trap. She ran it through her mind. Boat arrives; no guards come to meet it. The sailors come on shore, look around a little. Our markswomen take them out.

And if Nero and Diego make a move, the girls will shoot them too.

She walked the pier, turned to look up at the cliffs. Could she see the women hiding there? The glint of weaponry. One pink-cheeked face stood out.

She made a mental note to tell them to use mud or dirt to darken their skin.

Even with the morning sun shining against the rocks, it was difficult to make out the figures. That was good. Usually the boats came in the afternoon, when the sun had passed over the cliffs. There’d be more shadows then.

“All right, I’d like you all to head back to the compound and wait there. I’ll sound the alarm. Let’s see how long it takes to get into position.”

Serina ran the women through their paces until late afternoon. The signal of an approaching boat—three loud shouts of aiee, aiee, aiee—carried well, but if the wind picked up, it might be harder to hear. So she set Anika and another of the girls as lookouts.

“Instead of shouting, I want two gunshots if you see a boat,” Serina said shortly. “One if you see the guards. Preferably in one of their hearts.”

“I won’t let them ruin this for us,” Anika said. Her dark eyes drilled into Serina’s. “We are getting off this island.”

Serina nodded. She didn’t always like Anika’s methods, but she did appreciate the girl’s determination.

Serina, Ember, and the other markswomen hiked back up the path. The air was more humid than it had been the past few days, and the breeze was picking up, whipping Serina’s hair against her cheeks.

She wondered if Nomi had made it to Porto Rosa yet. Had she and Malachi found the regiment loyal, as Malachi had hoped? Was Renzo keeping himself alive?

The air thickened gradually, clinging in her throat. The volcano would be active today.