Tadg sighed. “I just remember what it was like. The white water. The whirlpool that opened up, with Lochmordra’s mouth at the bottom. If I’d rowed faster, I would’ve reached him.”

“Or you would’ve been swallowed too.”

Tadg sat on the sand and rested his head between his knees. “I know,” he said softly, and Viola gave his shoulder a tight, supportive squeeze.

After another minute, the crest of Lochmordra’s fin disappeared into the Sea, and the water—blue once more—became still at last.

TWENTY-FOUR

The next morning, Barclay and the apprentices gathered around Ulick’s sickbed as he showed off the gruesome scar along his arm where a Hookshark had bitten him.

“He thought he had me, he did,” Ulick said. “But I’m the one who took a bit of him! Reached in there and yanked it out!”

He brandished a jagged shark tooth and let out a bellowing laugh.

While the apprentices oohed and aahed, Orla ripped the tooth from Ulick’s hand. “Nearly getting yourself killed is nothing to brag about.”

“I think it is,” Cecily said giddily.

“Ha!” Ulick barked. “We saved the Sea! Bewlah and I are heroes!”

On the bedpost behind him, Bewlah squawked happily—then shrieked when Oudie swooped in and tackled her, hoping to claim the best perch. Though they might’ve been scuffling, the pair of them and the other Beasts were a welcome sight. The weeping tide wouldn’t bloom again until Midsummer, and so the Beasts of the Sea were free to roam as they pleased.

“If anyone is a hero, Ulick, it’s these four.” Orla nodded at Barclay, Tadg, Viola, and Hasu.

They beamed at one another, and Mitzi, now safe and sound on Viola’s shoulder, chirped proudly.

“What are you proud of?” Viola asked her whelp. Strips of Gunkwort crisscrossed Viola’s arms, courtesy of Ansley. “You missed all the action.”

Mitzi fluffed out her tail feathers, ignoring her.

“In fact,” Orla continued, “I believe I owe Barclay in particular an apology.” She placed her wrinkled hand on Barclay’s shoulder. “You’d think someone as old as me would be wise by now, but I still make mistakes. And I was too harsh on you. I’m sorry. The Sea was lucky to have a Lore Keeper as fine as you in our midst.”

“Th-thank you,” Barclay said, embarrassed to be singled out—but a good deal grateful.

Orla cast Ulick a stern look. “And you. You and I need to have a conversation about sailing five apprentices to what easily could’ve been their doom.”

“But it wasn’t, was it?” Ulick winked.