“Mephi!” Jovis came darting up from behind us, his hair in disarray. He searched the water until he found his beast, a shimmering form beneath one of the waves. “I think he took my comb. Someone needs to tell him that stealing is not the same thing as smuggling,” he muttered. “What’s it to be this time, Eminence? Never a dull stop on this trip.”

It hurt me a little, to be called “Eminence” again, but I couldn’t fault him for it in public company. Every time it felt like we were getting closer, I felt him pull away again. And maybe it was my fault – he was right, I’d never been honest with him. I had too many secrets. But I answered in his same light tone. “A battle, maybe two. Whatever it takes to keep Gaelung safe.”

He let out a long breath. “So it’s just to be us, then? Against her army?”

“If it comes to that, then yes. But I have one more play to make.”

We arrived at Gaelung later that morning, when a rare bit of sun had begun to peek out from behind the clouds. Gaelung wasn’t known for grand gestures. The governor there was relatively new – a little older than myself – though my father had never bothered to meet her. She greeted me at the docks, and there was no palanquin this time, but a covered wagon pulled by two oxen. Two other uncovered wagons followed for my retinue. I was bringing Ragan this time, and Lozhi joined him, the small, gray creature curling up at his side as he sat.

“Eminence,” she said, bowing her head. “I’m glad you’ve arrived safely.”

“Sai,” I said, inclining my head in return. Urame was short by most standards, though taller than me and twice as broad. Her face was round and flat as a porcelain dish, her black eyes like two polished stones. She was dressed in one of the short-sleeved, heavily beaded tunics popular in the north-eastern isles, with a canvas cowl that looked like it had been oiled to keep out the rain. I noted her use of the word “safely”. Nisong and her army must have been close.

Mephi and Thrana sauntered up, and Urame’s eyes widened a bit as she took in Thrana, who followed me as easy as a pup, though she had the bulk of a pony.

“Your… pet is a bit larger than I’ve been led to expect,” she said a bit breathlessly.

“They’re harmless,” I told her.

“We are very good,” Mephi added as Thrana nodded her assent.

Urame’s eyes widened even further. “Do they understand what they’re saying?”

“I think they do.”