The two girls stood together, their arms linked and their eyes reaching for the islands that had sheltered and fed them while they rebuilt the Mors Navis five turns ago. It had been more than a ten-moon since they’d sailed into these warm waters. The last time they’d been close, it was to say farewell to Lace and leave Oran in the shallows, where the sea would decide his fate. Instead, Oran had recognized the family sigil tattooed against Caledonia’s temple, a blunted arrowhead half-filled with black ink, and set them on a course that carried them far from these cradling islands and into cold northern waters in pursuit of Donnally and Ares. They hadn’t set foot on the Gem since.

When they’d settled on this place as their meeting point, neither of them had expected to need it. At least, not so soon. And not like this. On the run because they’d been stymied before they’d ever really begun.

With Gloriana sailing just a few lengths behind, the Luminous Wake slowed to quarter speed and approached the islands on a course that would mark them as friendly to any members of the fleet that had beat them here. This had been Oran’s suggestion, and was perhaps the only time Pine had agreed with him without fighting about it first.

The course took them through a treacherous channel between two islands. Steep walls gave the appearance of deep waters when that was only partly true. Rocks tall enough to gouge the hull of a ship littered the sea floor, while swift waters made them difficult to avoid. Of all the possible ways to approach the Gem, this one came with the fewest number of obstacles. She’d selected it because it was the easiest one to explain and map. Anyone with her instructions should be able to navigate the route without any trouble.

The familiar scent of fragrant scrub plants on the air reminded Caledonia of nights when she would lie on her belly along the nose of the Ghost, listening to the water singing against the hull as her mother called quiet commands to her father. From Rhona, Caledonia had learned to read the water and commit its secrets to memory. Later, when she and Pisces were on their own, she’d learned to thread their ship through the deceptively simple channels with greater and greater speed until she had surpassed even her mother’s skill. Now she needed these same waters to protect her again, and it seemed strangely fitting that she should return to them in the wake of another terrible loss.

“Didn’t think I’d ever see this place again.” Ares joined them at the rail, eyes tracing the once familiar outline of the islands. “Brings back memories I’d rather forget.”