“For now?” Ambrosine’s lip curled. “Misarro warships could trump a Kaolin frigate any day of the week and twice on Sundays. Ithilia can take care of itself. Though I’m sure they’re missing the Renalt’s forces at the moment.” She smiled smugly as servants poured into the dining room, filling their glasses with sparkling scintillant and serving the first course. Bowls of a creamy pale green soup were set in front of them, a radish carved in the shape of a flower floating on top. Leo took a tentative bite—it tasted of basil and zucchini and was surprisingly delicious.

“You don’t seem too concerned that your country’s capital is under attack,” Leo noted.

Ambrosine raised one elegant eyebrow. “I’m not.”

Leo felt like he was missing something—shouldn’t Ambrosine be upset that Kaolin was attacking Pelago? Yes, Culinnon was far away and well protected, but still. Though maybe she was happy this would mean fewer ships to sink in search of Braxos.

“I was thinking of taking Leo to the cove tomorrow,” Hektor said. “He’d best start learning how to sail.”

Leo had already learned some sailing on the Maiden’s Wail, and it was really more Sera’s thing than his. He didn’t feel a need to learn more and didn’t understand why they would want him to.

“An excellent idea, Hektor,” Ambrosine said, and Hektor looked the happiest Leo had seen him since he’d embraced Bellamy on the dock that morning. “Perhaps start with—”

Just then another clap of thunder rang out as a servant rushed into the hall.

“Mistress, a ship has come,” she said, panting.

Ambrosine was on her feet in a flash. “The Renalt?” she asked. But the servant was shaking her head.

“It’s your granddaughter,” she said, and Leo’s heart flipped in his chest.

Agnes had made it to Culinnon.

27

Agnes

THE STORM HAD BEEN BREWING ALL DAY AND AGNES HAD been watching the clouds with increasing trepidation.

They’d made far better time than even Vada could have anticipated. Errol had led them from Ithilia to a hidden path, a network of rivers that ran through the island of Cairan, saving them days off their journey by not having to sail around it. He was exceptionally skilled at avoiding other ships as well, and so while they had seen them in the distance, they were never close enough to be noticed or bothered with. Then, just yesterday, the ocean had become empty for as far as Agnes could see. The weather had grown steadily colder the farther north they sailed, and the two girls would huddle together at night for warmth, which always led to kissing, which made Agnes very happy despite the chill.

But even kissing Vada would not keep her warm in a rainstorm.

“I wish Errol could tell us how close we are,” Agnes said.