Sledge pulled a hand across his forehead, leaning broad forearms on the table. “And what will you be doing, Caledonia Styx?”

“Hesperus is giving me command of a fleet of deepships,” she said, standing tall and confident. “I’m going to take them and whatever crew wants to join me, and I’m going to give Aric a hell fight.”

Sledge glared. “How many ships?”

“Eleven,” Caledonia admitted, knowing it was a paltry number compared to Aric’s forces. “But it’s a strong eleven. Stronger with a good crew.”

Sledge shook his head in dismay, and Caledonia pressed on.

“I know this wasn’t the plan. I know the plan keeps changing. But every time we let him convince us to run away from his power, he wins a little bit more. I think it’s time to take some of that power away from him. I could really use your help to do it,” she said. “But the choice is yours.”

When she finished, Pine’s smile was wide. “I’m with you,” he said, pounding a fist on the table.

Sledge nodded, rising to his feet as though the weight of this choice had filled his veins with lead. He turned to Pine, letting his eyes rest there with more tenderness than he’d ever revealed before. Then, turning to Caledonia, he raised his hands, palms out.

Caledonia, met him with her own palms, still unsure if this was goodbye or something else.

“It wasn’t the plan,” Sledge agreed. “But I think you were the plan we needed. I’m with you, Captain, as I suspect most of the Blades will be.”

Now Caledonia let her smile unfurl. Her team was coming together, and it was growing. “With their consent.”

Chapter Forty-three

CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

By midday, Hesperus and Mino arrived with six rovers ready to take Caledonia’s chosen team to the deepships. There weren’t enough for everyone to have one of their own, so they rode double; Amina and Nettle, Pisces and Ares, Sledge and Pine all moved toward their rovers, which left only Caledonia and Oran.

Caledonia took the driver’s position, gesturing for Oran to climb on behind her. “You’re going to want to hold on,” she said over her shoulder.

His hands settled against her waist, fingers curling into the fabric of her jacket so that it brushed her skin. She resisted the urge to shiver when his breath tickled her neck.

“Captain?” Hesperus called, the sound of his voice clearing her head in an instant.

“Ready!” she shouted back.