Caledonia climbed the command tower to the bridge, where she found Oran. He stood with eyes trained on the horizon, a scope clutched in his hands. Without a word he handed it over. She lifted the scope to one eye and surveyed the approaching fleet. Aric’s ship charged out in front, dead center, black as coal with bands of green and orange ripped down its nose. Each of the surrounding ships bore the symbols of his four Fivesons; some streaked with green like blades of grass, others smudged with purple starbursts, or yellow crescents. And there, bringing up the northern edge, were steely gray ships marked with orange bale blossoms.

They were all here. No matter what else happened, she’d lured them away from the colonists. She’d bought time. And if Hesperus’s messenger managed to get out with a warning, it would be enough.

The wind rushed against her cheeks, bringing with it the howling cry of a dozen ghost funnels. It grew louder and more insistent with every second that passed until it seemed the entire sky cried out in that haunting, cacophonous tone.

A shiver slipped down Caledonia’s spine, landing firmly in her toes. With the scope pressed to her eye, she counted three dozen ships flanking Aric’s monstrous vessel. Its bow was broad and blunt, like the head of a great whale, and on its back a tower rose at least six levels into the sky. Strung from each side were slings carrying large guns. And on the deck sat a cannon, its deadly mouth positioned on a swivel in order to track their targets.

It was like no ship Caledonia had ever seen, and for just a moment, she doubted every decision that had led her to this point.

“Slow us down, Nettle!” she called, returning the scope to Oran, who remained beside her like a pillar.

There was no way for her to know where her deepships were by this point, and right now, taking her eyes off the approaching Bullet fleet was a mistake.

It was a good plan, she reminded herself. She just needed to give it time to work.

The ship slowed to quarter speed. She hoped Aric would mistake her reduced speed for fear and not the ploy it was. The approaching ships fanned out, exercising some degree of caution as they sized up Caledonia’s own motley fleet. Surely Aric expected her to have some other trick up her sleeve, and surely there was no way he might have anticipated her deepships. She only hoped that whatever he’d prepared for, it wouldn’t matter in a few minutes.

“Captain!” Amina’s voice pierced the heavy winds. “They’re breaking off!”

Caledonia turned to see that on both sides of them now, the volunteer ships faltered. They slowed, and then one by one, they peeled away, leaving the Luminous Wake alone, friendless on the back of the cold sea.