Go back, the thoughts tormented her. Abandon this silly quest. You are no longer of the Deep Fathoms. You are mortal now. You do not belong among them.

She forced the thoughts away. Leaning forward again, she retraced the series of islands they had encountered amidst the vast ocean. Each carved boulder was a link to a ley line, and each was close to a small natural fountain. They’d used the fountains to replenish their supply of water aboard the boat. Fruits from the native lands had been harvested to restock their supplies.

They were getting closer.

Sinia heard the footsteps coming toward her chamber before the knock sounded. It was a firm, commanding sound. She recognized it as Captain Pyne’s knock.

“Come in.” She watched as the captain opened the door.

“My lady,” he said, his eyes wide with wonder. “I know not how to describe it. I didn’t believe the sailor in the crow’s nest until I saw it for myself, so I climbed up the rigging just to be sure.” He had a scraggly beard from their months at sea. The dome of his head was covered in stubble as well as a healing gash from an injury he’d suffered during a storm.

“To be sure of what, Captain?” she asked in confusion.

“My lady, we’re approaching the island you directed us to. It’s a beauty, I tell you. Green as the spring and full of vegetation. There’s a hump of mountain on the southeastern side, showing a cliff and such. It’s an odd-shaped crook of land, to be sure. But my man in the crow’s nest saw something. There’s an undersea waterfall.”

Sinia knit her brows in confusion. “I don’t understand, Captain.”

“That’s the only way to describe it, my lady. There’s some sort of underwater breach. You can see it from high above. The current is pulling us toward it. Do we go around the other side? I’d like you to come and look at it, my lady.”

“Of course,” Sinia said, pushing away from the table and hurrying after him down the cramped corridor. The crew members, still dressed in their Raven tunics, were hard at work, but many of them were pointing at the island with enthusiasm. It had been two weeks since their last stop. She could smell the difference in the air. Being aboard a vessel for so long had awakened new senses she’d not realized she had.