At last they reached the air. Barclay’s arm burned, and he caught sight of a frothy puddle of the weeping tide drifting beside him. He splashed it away, then—cringing from the pain—turned his attention to Tadg. But Tadg’s eyes didn’t open, and he didn’t breathe. Instead, his head lolled back. He was very pale.

“No. No,” Barclay rasped. He slapped Tadg’s cheeks, but Tadg didn’t stir. Barclay needed to get Tadg to the beach, but it was a long swim. The weeping tide was everywhere. Barclay was growing tired. And he didn’t even know if Tadg would last that long. If he wasn’t already…

“Grab on!” shouted a voice behind him, and Barclay was so surprised he nearly leapt out of his skin.

A life buoy plopped onto the water beside him, splashing droplets into Barclay’s eyes. Barclay grasped it, thankful to rest. The rope reeling them in connected to a ship, which floated out of reach of the whirlpools in the distance. It was large, larger even than the Bewlah. And it had not been there when the Bewlah sank.

Yasha waved from the deck, then began reeling the boys in.

At first Barclay was relieved. This must’ve been the Guardian Keepers’ ship. Maybe when they saw the weeping tide, they’d heeded Barclay’s information and sailed for Shipwreck Stretch. But Barclay didn’t spot Runa, Cyril, or Orla on the deck. Instead he only saw Edwyn, steering the ship with his attention fixed on the Legendary Beast.

But Edwyn was still a welcome sight. Not only could he get Barclay, Tadg, and Viola home, but they all desperately needed his healing Lore right now.

“Hurry up!” Yasha told them. When the life buoy reached the ship’s side, Barclay hoisted Tadg over his shoulder and climbed aboard. Yasha grasped Tadg by his arm, and his body spilled limply onto the deck.

Yasha’s face darkened as he studied Tadg. “It’s too late. He’s—”

“No. No, he can’t be,” Barclay croaked. He pressed with two hands on Tadg’s chest, over and over. He didn’t know what he was doing, not really. He’d only read about it in an adventure book. “Come on. Come on.”

Nothing happened.

Then Edwyn knelt beside Tadg. He traced two fingers from Tadg’s chest to his mouth, and Tadg’s eyes flew open. He rolled onto his side and coughed up phlegmy seawater. Every one of Barclay’s muscles relaxed in relief. He might’ve hugged Tadg if he thought Tadg would let him.

“You gave us a scare,” Edwyn said.

While Tadg continued to spew up the Sea, Barclay looked around the ship and knitted his brow. “Where are the other Guardians?”