Tears of relief mingled with pride stung her eyes and she blinked them back. Her shoulders felt suddenly weightless, her legs and arms puffs of air. The waves lapping against the hull were like the sound of Pelago cheering for her, welcoming her home. She saw a flash of white that was Vada’s smile, but then it was gone, and the girl said nothing. After a moment, though, she began to whistle, a sweet, solemn tune that Agnes didn’t know.

The wind started to pick up, and the sloop skimmed across the water. The night was growing darker, thick clouds eating up the stars and swallowing the moonlight. Errol’s scales shone brighter, so the boat was haloed in luminous emerald.

Agnes shivered and settled back against the hull of the boat, feeling another layer of the girl she’d been in Kaolin slip away and wondering where her brother and Sera were now.

It took them three days to reach Ithilia.

Agnes was anxious to be back on land. The tiny ship was a great help, to be sure, but it felt like a prison. The only upside was so much uninterrupted alone time with Vada. They spent their days on the lookout for any Triumvirate patrol ships and the nights talking about their families and their hopes and fears for the future. Agnes was shocked to discover that Vada often felt insecure around her mother’s crew, and the thirst to prove herself on her own terms with her own ship had been growing since before the two of them had met. Vada found the stories of Agnes attending premiers and fancy gatherings in Old Port hilarious.

“What I would not be paying to see you at a ball in all frills and ruffles,” she’d said, cackling.

Agnes had rolled her eyes but her stomach fluttered at the thought of attending a dance or party with Vada. “I promise, you aren’t missing anything. Leo’s the one who cleans up the best in our family.”

Vada had glanced at her slyly. “I am doubting that,” she’d said. “I saw you in that red dress the night you came aboard the Maiden’s Wail, remember?”

Agnes had flushed and the subject had dropped.

Vada taught her Pelagan dice games and in return Agnes taught Vada about photosynthesis and the properties of matter. Agnes felt herself equal parts relaxed and anxious in Vada’s presence, especially since confessing she was attracted to girls. Always the desire to kiss Vada was there, growing more insistent with each passing day.