Matthias gestured to Agnes and Leo. “He’s their father. I was unable to convince the Lekke to vote against war with Kaolin. The streets were getting dangerous. I didn’t want Xavier to end up murdered or locked away in Banrissa. He’s a Kaolin and was married to a Byrne to boot.”

“How did you get him on the ship?” Hektor asked.

“The Lekke graced me with a small crew as well,” Matthias said. “They aren’t Misarros but they are still a force to be reckoned with. Besides, Ezra didn’t put up much of a fight.”

Hektor snorted. “No, I wouldn’t expect him to.”

“Mother, please,” Matthias said. “I beg you, don’t do this thing. Don’t challenge the Triumvirate. I know the Renalt is after you. Her warships could be here any day now. Culinnon is well guarded, but can the mertags take on an entire fleet? Have they ever been tested that way?”

“You think it is only mertags I have protecting us?” Ambrosine said. “You’re supposed to be the smart one, Matthias. The northern islands have joined our cause now that Agnes has arrived. We can finally break away from Triumvirate rule. With Agnes by my side, we will start a new nation, one that is loyal to us.”

For a second, Matthias just stared at her. Then he gripped the couch cushions as if needing them to anchor him.

“She’s only just come to Pelago,” he said. “You can’t expect her to acquiesce happily to your plans. She barely knows the country at all!”

“Agnes can make her own decisions,” Ambrosine snapped.

“And what about Leo?” Matthias demanded. “What are your plans for him?”

“You saw the silver girl, didn’t you?” Hektor said. “She and Leo are . . . very close.”

Matthias was on his feet in an instant. “They’re children,” he hissed at his mother. “Goddesses be damned, you haven’t changed one bit since she died, have you?”

Ambrosine sneered. “It is my duty to preserve this family for—”

“Yes, the family, the family, all my life I’ve heard about how important this family is,” Matthias said, his jaw tight. “As if that’s all we are, Byrnes and no more. Alethea couldn’t stand it—you suffocated her with your talk of continuing the line, of changing the world. What’s so wrong with the world the way it is, Mother?”

“For someone so well learned, Matthias, you can be blindingly stupid,” Ambrosine said. “So obsessed with your individual life when there is history to consider.”

“Do not speak to me of history,” Matthias said, his pale eyes flashing. “The dead are dead and the past cannot be changed. Leo and Agnes deserve to live their own lives. I don’t want to see them break under the weight of your expectations like Hektor.”

“I haven’t broken under anything,” Hektor said.