Hime shook her head and kept counting. After a quiet minute, she sighed and dropped Caledonia’s wrist. Stay out of the rigging. Expend no—

“Unnecessary energy, I remember.”

Do you? Because I saw you up there, she signed, and when she pointed into the rigging it was with exaggerated frustration. Didn’t look necessary to me.

Caledonia scowled softly. Even facial expressions were taxing.

“Need me to take her to her rack?” Amina kneeled next to Hime, her hand automatically reaching for the other girl.

“How’s the rest of the crew?” Caledonia interjected.

Showing signs of dehydrating. Headaches, disorientation. Things will get much worse before the day’s through.

“Great.” She pushed her way to sitting, squeezing her eyes against the dizzying rush of blood.

When she opened them again, Hime and Amina were scrutinizing her with looks of irritating concern. She ignored them both, letting her gaze drift across the deck. Pine and Pisces were settled on the port rail, their hands raised in signed conversation. Pine seemed determined to learn Hime’s language, and Pisces was a patient teacher. Higher up on the forequarter, Nettle sat atop the ghost funnel with Harwell and Glimmer to keep watch. They sat in a triangle with their backs pushed together. Usually, they’d have one person in each post, but with everyone’s energy waning, Sledge had recommended three people positioned fore and aft.

Amina leaned forward. “We’ll make it, Captain. Don’t worry about us. Just make sure you’re ready to do what needs doing when we get to Cloudbreak. Now, let me take you to your rack before you alarm the entire crew.”

It always amazed Caledonia how naturally Amina moved between being her crew member and her commanding equal. She gave Caledonia her hand and pulled her to her feet, taking care to steady her without making a show of it.

The light buzzing in her ears accompanied her all the way to her quarters, and the sight of her bed was more welcome than she’d anticipated.

I’ll come by to check on you in two hours, Hime promised.

“Don’t let me sleep for more than one.”

“You’ll sleep as long as she tells you,” Amina countered.

The two girls ducked out of the hatchway just as Oran appeared. He made room for them to pass, holding out a cup for Hime’s approval.

Hime smiled as she disappeared down the corridor with Amina. Caledonia frowned.

Oran stepped into the hatch with her. “I know you’ve been cutting your own rations,” he said, voice low. “Take it.”

“You can’t know that,” she murmured, even as her throat ached for a drink.

“Am I wrong?”

“Oran,” she breathed.