“How long do you think this will take?” Caledonia asked, positioning herself near the radio. It wasn’t a real question because she knew it had no real answer. But it got her moving past her nerves.

“Depends on who’s listening,” Pine answered.

“Ready?” she asked Hesperus, who had been deathly quiet since boarding.

He nodded heavily. He had been slightly less enthusiastic about the plan but agreed it was the best way to try to lure Aric himself even if the prospect of that was far from appealing.

Reaching out with one hand, Caledonia flipped the switch. The radio scratched to life, filling the cabin with static. Oran brushed past her shoulder, twisting one of the knobs on the dash until the channel cleared just a bit.

“He monitors that one.” Oran met her eyes and held them. In them, she saw a man who was as solid and as committed as any of her crew. Every time he looked at her, he was promising to always fight at her side. “They keep it open for Fivesons.”

He stepped back and left her there, suddenly so much closer to Aric and his Fivesons.

Her nerves returned in a crush. But then there was Pisces, pressing a hand to her shoulder. And there was Amina. And Hime. The three of them held her up, told her with their touches that they were with her. They were offering her courage, and she took it.

Then she lifted the receiver and handed it to Hesperus.

“This is Hesperus Shreeves. I have welcome news for the Father.” He paused, his tongue passing over lips to wet them. “About Caledonia Styx.”

He released the button. Static filled the air once more, and a chill raced through Caledonia’s fingers.

Then, after several long minutes, the static cut away, and a voice growled in its wake.

“Hello, Sly King.” Around the room, Sledge, Pine, and Hesperus all shifted. Only Oran remained still. There was no question that this was the voice of Aric Athair. “Speak your news.”

“I have her,” he began, eyes locking on to Caledonia. “She limped into my harbor with one of your ships and a skeleton crew, but I have her.”

“Good. Hold her there,” Aric said, the smallest strain of gratification roiling through his tone. “I’ll send one of my sons to collect her.”

“No.” The room grew smaller around that single word. No one breathed while Hesperus pressed on. “As I understand it, she’s already escaped your sons, and I want to ensure I get my bounty. I’ll give her to you and only you.”

This time, the silence that followed was torturously long. Hesperus’s reputation for gathering wealth and power was in their favor, while Caledonia’s for trickery and strategy was not. No matter what happened, they would soon have a fight on their hands. Whether it was the fight they wanted was still in question.