Errol’s colors flashed in sad gray-greens. “No, the small boat is not in the water anymore. The humans must have brought it on land.” He cocked his head. “My family thinks I am crazy to try and take you to Braxos.”

“Why?” Sera asked. “Because it is dangerous?”

Errol let out his croaking laugh. “Dangerous? No, Braxos is not dangerous to mertags. There is nothing in these waters that can harm us. The human family who lives on Culinnon—they do not like us to leave. Keep to the waters around Culinnon, protect the island from unknown faces, unknown ships. It is all we have ever done. Not Errol, though. Errol likes to stretch his fins and explore the seas.” The corners of his mouth turned down. “That is how Errol was caught. Too far out, too far away. A foolish mertag.”

“If you had not been caught I never would have met you,” Sera said.

That made him brighten. “Too true, Sera Lighthaven!”

Sera wondered if perhaps the mertags were in a similar situation to the Arboreals—trapped on this one island when they were meant to swim the seas.

There was a creak of wood and Sera jumped. Agnes was walking down the dock, wrapped in a thick sweater with a big woolen scarf around her neck.

“I thought I might find you here,” she said with a grin.

She took a piece of dried apricot out of her pocket and tossed it at Errol, who caught it in a flash.

“Agnes is always giving Errol food,” Errol said happily.

Sera laughed. “You deserve it,” she told him. “You got her and Vada here, safe and quick.”

Errol puffed out his chest. “I would do the same for any friend of Sera Lighthaven.”

Agnes curled up beside Sera on the dock. “It’s nice here,” she said. “Quiet.”

Her brow furrowed and Sera knew what she was thinking.

“Has Ambrosine talked any more to you about her plans to rule the northern islands?”

Agnes shivered. “No. I think she realized she might have told me all that a bit too soon. I mean, I only just got here.”

“She must have been thinking about it for a very long time,” Sera said. “So it was hard for her to wait once she saw you.”

“I didn’t come here to be a princess,” Agnes said. “We’re supposed to be getting you to Braxos and here we are, touring Culinnon like we’re on vacation. I get that she wants me to feel some connection with it, but that’s not why I’m here.”

“I’m not sure your grandmother is the type to much care what others wish to do,” Sera said.

“No,” Agnes agreed, scratching her ear. “She’s sort of like my father that way.” She chewed on her lower lip. “A princess,” she muttered. “Why would she think that’s something I would ever want?”