Sera’s lace dress clung to her slender figure, rich purple and patterned with flowers, tulips and violets and marigolds. The sleeves were so long they crept over her hands to encase each finger in lace up to her knuckles. The neck climbed to brush the base of her chin, and around her waist hung a belt of bone white clamshells limned in gold filigree. The dress fell to cover her feet, a long train spreading out behind her. The overall effect was one of wealth and loveliness.

“She looks beautiful,” Agnes said.

“This is the traditional dress worn by an upper-class Pelagan woman who is about to be married,” Vada said. “Princess Rahel was being fitted for one just like it. It’s a brilliant disguise. Sera will be playing the part of a blushing bride for your brother.”

Leo’s cheeks turned pink.

“But what about her hair?” Agnes asked. “And her face?”

Vada snapped her fingers. “I have not yet added the best part.” She vanished, reappearing a moment later with a large headdress in her hands. Carefully, she placed it on Sera’s head. It was crafted out of myriad small shells—slipper snails and shark eyes and pointed venuses grew to form two distinct points, like delicate horns. In between them nestled a gorgeous pale pink conch. Strands of purple and turquoise beads dangled to her collarbone, covering her face and hair completely.

“See? Perfect.” Vada beamed. “Agnes, you and I will be pretending to be their servants.”

“What?” Agnes cried.

“You wanted to leave the ship, did you not?” Vada said. Agnes grumbled, but there were far more important matters at stake than one night of pretending to serve her brother.

Sera turned her head side to side and the beads made tiny clacking sounds. “It’s a bit difficult to see,” she said.

“Don’t worry, we won’t let you trip on anything,” Agnes said.

Vada frowned at her brother. “Where is your komm-heart, Kaolin fool?”

“His what?”

“She made me get a headdress too,” Leo grumbled before turning on Vada. “I told you, this outfit should be enough.”

“Oh, I am sorry, were you born and raised in Pelago? Are you knowing all our ways and customs as if they were your own? No? Then close your mouth and put your komm-heart on,” Vada snapped.

Leo muttered something under his breath and stalked off back to his room. Sera smiled at Agnes beatifically.

“It’s a very pretty dress, isn’t it?”

“It is,” Agnes agreed.

She examined her arms, encased in purple lace. “I like this color. We only have robes of white or blue in the City Above the Sky.”

Agnes was always happy when Sera found something to love about this planet. Even though she knew it wasn’t for her, she knew the girl had to return to her people, it made Agnes happy to think her own home wasn’t all bad.