Bitterlich was used to not being wanted, though. “If I could trade places with her, I would.” But he couldn’t, and that was the damned hopeless truth of it. He wouldn’t inflict himself on Marie, though, who had been Isabelle’s faithful companion long before she’d ever met Bitterlich. “I have news for her when she wakes.”

“You didn’t find Jean-Claude,” Marie said. At Bitterlich’s surprised expression, she added, “If you had, he would have come here straightaway.”

Her assessment assumed Jean-Claude would be found alive, a possibility that seemed less likely with every passing hour. Yet he would not disabuse her of that hope. “The launch crashed, but the survivors were picked up by someone else before I got there. They had a Seelenjäger with them.”

“Hasdrubal,” Marie said. “Isabelle learned that from the Skaladin capitaine.”

The strategic part of his mind extrapolated from that news. “He’ll be running straight back to the tyrant. Did Isabelle find out anything else?” Was there anything at all that was not too broken or too late for him to act on?

“No. Isabelle believed the capitaine hid away her chartstones, but she had her fit before she could find out where.”

“I’ll find out,” Bitterlich said. His gaze lingered on Isabelle. She seemed so much smaller now without the boundless force of her personality. Marie was right about his cowardice. He owed Isabelle an explanation and an apology … and penance for his sins. He prayed he would get the chance to offer them.

At last he said, “Builder keep you and Isabelle safe from harm.”

“Until the Savior comes to take you home,” Marie said.

Bitterlich slipped away. He wanted to talk to the Skaladin capitaine, but not just yet. He was tired from fight and flight, weary with dread and shame, and hungry enough to eat a spineback, barbs and all. Plus it was always a bad idea to try to question someone without at least a few solid facts to use as leverage.

He took the time to eat, with fork and knife and manners, never ever wolfing his food. It would not do to look like an animal. The ritual of the meal also gave him time to think.

What was Hasdrubal’s plan? He had the Conquest shard, Dok, and the key, but he couldn’t expect to pierce the Bittergale with the motley fleet he’d used at Fishers Point. Likely he’d be running for a friendly port to deliver the shard to the tyrant, or to rendezvous with a stronger fleet somewhere between here and the Craton Auroborea.