I slipped the flask into place in the chest. I reached for the flask I’d hidden by the mattress.

“Why aren’t you above-deck?”

I pulled my hand back and whirled to find Lin in the doorway. Could she see the pulse at my neck, pounding as though the blood were seeking to escape my veins? Quick. Be quick, Jovis. I’d spoken to the guard above-deck. I couldn’t lie about that. “I was, but then I came back down here.”

“You came back down to my rooms.”

I swallowed, and I didn’t have to affect the tremor in my voice. “To wait for you. I’ve no desire to gawk at tragedy. Especially not after Deerhead.”

Her expression smoothed with understanding. “It must be a terrible reminder.”

It was. I’d been so focused on replacing the flask that I hadn’t really considered what the sinking of Luangon meant. Now I could smell the dust from falling buildings, hear the screams of frightened people echoing in my ears, see the smoke rising from what once had been Deerhead. I’d left them all to die. I’d saved myself.

I’d saved Mephi.

I took in a deep breath. I was breathing air, not seawater. I wasn’t trapped on Deerhead in a building, watching the water rise above my head.

Lin was going back to her crate, lifting the box of flasks. “You’re right. Ragan did fight with us on Hualin Or. But I’m not convinced he’s a friend. There’s too much at stake here. I have to know.”

She pulled the flask out, uncorked it and let the liquid slide past her lips.

I wasn’t sure what bothered me more – my lies, or that she’d drank from the flask anyways. Gio had warned me she would justify the use of her power. I hadn’t wanted that to be true.

Lin grimaced and stared at the wall. She blinked. She lifted the flask to her lips and sipped again. “That doesn’t taste right at all,” she muttered, peering at the liquid inside. “Did I miss an ingredient? Or maybe there was something to be said other than just the person’s name? Or maybe I can’t just add Thrana’s blood. Maybe the machine does more to it than just pull it from her veins?”

“It didn’t work?” I knew it wouldn’t, but I put as much surprise into my voice as I could muster.

She corked the flask and set it back into the box. “The memories I see are at random. When I saw my father’s memories of using this machine, I didn’t see the entire process. I must have missed some crucial step.” She eyed the box of flasks. “Did I?”

“You said you found a sword.”

Lin shook herself. “Yes.” She leaned over the crate again and lifted out a sword. A frown flitted across her face.