“Did she get better?”

“Yeah, happy ending.”

“Happy endings are good.”

“One night he woke up, and saw her swimming away. And he was alone.”

“But this isn’t happy,” Annika objected.

“Wait for it. Days later, she came back, and he went out into the shallows to meet her. For the first time, she spoke. She’d taken him from the sea because it was his fate, and those who came after him, to look for the three stars. He would tell the story to his sons, and they to their sons until they were found and taken home. She gave him a gift, a compass, and said it would guide him. This, too, he would pass to his son, and his son to his, and down the line.”

“You’ve got the compass?” Riley demanded.

“Yeah.” He dug in his pocket, held it out on his palm, lifted off the protective cover.

“Nice piece. Mind?” Riley took it, examined it. “Bronze case, nice-looking rose—you’ve kept it in good shape. It’s old, but I’d gauge it more seventeenth century.”

“Yeah, but that’s how the story came down.”

“That doesn’t explain why you came to Corfu,” Doyle pointed out.

“Well, it will.”

He hitched up, took a plastic sleeve from his pocket, and carefully drew out the map folded inside. After pushing dishes aside, he unfolded the map on the table. Held out his hand, wiggled his fingers at Riley for the compass.

“One way or the other, it’s always accurate.”

He set the compass on the map. Within seconds the old brass casing glowed, and the rose began to shine. Then the compass slid over the map.

“Like a Ouija board,” Riley said.

“No.” Watching the movement, Bran shook his head. “This doesn’t open a door. It shows the way to one.”

“Pretty much, and see?” Sawyer tapped his finger on the map. “It stops right here, on Corfu. So, I followed the map.”

“It’s done that before?” Sasha asked.

“Oh, yeah, plenty. Nobody’s found any of the stars, but for me? It’s always taken me somewhere I pick up something fresh on them, or confirm something, or just get an experience. This time? See how it’s shining?”

“It’s beautiful,” Annika murmured.

“Yeah, but that shining? That’s new. It would glow some, but not like this. I had to figure coming here was pretty damn important. Turns out it was. I was hitching my way here, and y’all came along. That made four of the six. That night, I went for a walk on the beach, and found Annika.”

He shifted to her. “Your turn.”

“I was sent to help. To be one of you.” She bowed her head. “I can’t explain. I don’t have a magick compass, or the powers like Sasha and Bran. I don’t have such a smart mind like Riley, but I can help. I don’t like fighting, but I will fight with you. Don’t send me away.”

“Hey.” Sawyer put an arm around her shoulders. “Nobody’s sending you anywhere.”