Leo felt another twist of guilt remembering all the times Eneas had offered him a compliment or a sweet or even just a jovial good morning. And all the times Leo had scoffed or rolled his eyes or wished he hadn’t.

“Your father became cold and hateful,” Eneas continued, “and his hate was directed both at Ambrosine and at Pelago, at the country he felt had given him the only woman he had ever loved and then taken her away. Xavier was not going to look after you. It was left entirely to me.”

He turned to Agnes. “But when you wanted to apply to the Academy of Sciences, I found I could not refuse you. I could not prevent you from living your life as you wanted it, the way your mother would have wanted you to. Even if it meant bringing you within your grandmother’s reach. I thought, so much time has passed. Perhaps she is not the same anymore, does not have the schemes she once did. Eighteen years and not a whisper of rebellion in the northern islands. I thought she might have given up on that plan.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “But once I left you at the Seaport, a growing fear took root inside me. I should have gone with them, I told myself. I should not have let them go alone. I purchased a berth on the first ship I could find.” Eneas placed a hand on top of Agnes’s. “I’m so sorry,” he said. “You should have known all of this, from the very beginning. I tried to protect you and I fear I only made things worse.”

Agnes squeezed his hand. “It’s all right,” she said. She looked at Leo. “We know so much now. It’s better than never knowing at all.”

Leo nodded. “But why risk coming here with Matthias?” he asked. “Won’t Ambrosine be furious if she finds out you’ve returned to Culinnon?”

“Ah,” Eneas said, a clever smile spreading across his face. “But this is not the end of my journey. Or should I say, our journey.”

“What do you mean?” Agnes asked.

He gestured around at the cabin. “Matthias and I have brought you a ship.” He leaned forward, candlelight shining in his eyes. “We are going to get you to Braxos.”

30

Agnes

AGNES CREPT INTO VADA’S ROOM AFTER SHE AND LEO returned from the ship.

“Mmph?” Vada mumbled, rubbing her eyes. But she became alert once Agnes began whispering all that Eneas had said on the clipper. When she told Vada about Braxos, she sat straight up in bed.

“When are we leaving?” she asked.

“Soon,” Agnes said. “Matthias will let us know.”

“Sera will be much relieved.”