“You’re still carrying that shell?” sneered Tadg, who sat cross-legged with Viola on the deck.

Barclay hastily tucked the shell into his satchel. “I’m not—I mean, I just haven’t thrown it away yet.” But he would, once they reached the Sea.

Tadg was in a mood, apparently. He glared at Viola and barked, “Why do you always have to read that? Haven’t you finished it by now?”

Viola peeked over her copy of A Traveler’s Log of Dangerous Beasts by Conley Murdock, a Lore Keeper famous for his dazzling and daring studies of powerful Beasts—like the time he’d ridden a Pterodragyn or treated a Hookshark’s toothache. But his wild stunts were also what had led to his death. Last Summer, after the betrayal of his partner, Soren Reiker, Conley had been swallowed by Lochmordra, the Legendary Beast of the Sea.

Conley Murdock was also Tadg’s father.

“I’ve read it a few times, but there’s just so much to learn,” Viola said. “And I need to learn a lot if I’m going to be elected Grand Keeper one day. But I can put it away, if it bothers you.”

“It doesn’t bother me.” Tadg hugged his knees to his chest and grimaced at the water.

Barclay considered reading too. He still had to finish the textbook Runa had lent him, titled The Nine Most Crucial Events of Lore Keeper History (They Really Did Happen!) by Grusha Dudnik. But he wasn’t feeling up to homework right now. Instead, like Tadg, he stared grimly over the ship’s side, wondering when the gulf’s gray waters would become the Sea.

“Rather than lazing around like a bunch of Slothmonkees,” Runa told the three of them, her hands on her hips, “I’ve thought of some training for each of you. You did a good job defending Knunx from the Sleábeaks, but all of your Lore has room for improvement.”

Barclay perked up, eager for Lore Keeper training that used actual Lore.

“Viola,” Runa started. “You had trouble today because you’re not used to facing so many fast-moving targets at once.”

Viola swallowed and fiddled with her pins. “I—I didn’t have that much trouble. I could’ve—”

“Right now, you can shine light from your hands,” Runa continued, paying no mind to Viola’s discomfort, “but they’re focused beams. You have a harder time lighting up an entire room or space, especially for longer than a few minutes. So I’d like to work on your strength and endurance. That way, you’ll soon be able to strike all nearby targets simultaneously, instead of one at a time.”

Seeming to find her nerve, Viola slid A Traveler’s Log into her backpack and nodded fiercely. “All right.”

“Tadg,” Runa said next. “You can—”

“Why should I have to train?” he demanded. “I’m already the strongest one here.”