A long divide stretched across the ocean. On one side—the side where they sailed now—the water was a greenish gray, the waves rough but far from dangerous. But on the other, it was a blue so dark it looked nearly black, and the crests of the waves were massive, rising and falling like the breathing of a great creature beneath the surface. Barclay’s heart fluttered with fear.

Below, Yasha looked up from where he slumped over the rail and groaned.

“Might wanna pause your training,” Ulick told Barclay. “The Sea always gets rowdy, but with the storm, I’m gonna need a few hands on deck.”

“All right,” Barclay squeaked. He should’ve guessed the Sea would look as haunting as the Woods, and he shuddered as the Bewlah approached its inky water. The waves thrashed. He’d heard of ships capsizing in adventure books, but he’d never dreamed such a fate could happen to him.

“Stand over here,” Ulick ordered him, his massive hands positioning Barclay and Root beneath the sails. “You’re gonna use your wind Lore to help us. And you—dragon girl!”

Viola stopped her training with Mitzi. “My name is Viola!” she called, affronted.

“It’s gonna get dark out there, so go stand by the bow. Now you—the Frown.”

Tadg, realizing Ulick meant him, frowned deeper. “Don’t call me—”

“Keep a look out for Beasts. They can get excited during storms. And you, uh… Seasick.”

Yasha wiped his mouth on his sleeve, as though prepared to fight despite being ill.

“Well, just don’t puke all over my deck,” Ulick told him. “And you, Miss Fang Lady, you can…”

Runa shot Ulick a glare so lethal that Barclay was surprised Ulick didn’t freeze into a block of ice. “I don’t take orders. But I’ll keep watch up front.”

For such a huge man, Ulick seemed to shrink several inches at Runa’s tone. “Y-yes, ma’am,” he stuttered.

While they each took to their positions, the Bewlah gave a violent lurch as it crossed the Shifts and sailed out to Sea.

FOUR

Instantly, the voyage changed.

The waves, which already battered the Bewlah from side to side, gained strength. The ship whipped back and forth, the mast swinging like a pendulum. Crates and burlap sacks skidded across the bottom deck, forcing Tadg and Yasha to lunge out of their paths. Barclay clung to the closest railing to hold himself upright. Salty spray splashed up from the sides of the ship, stinging his eyes.

Beside him, Root whimpered, and Barclay hastily returned him to his Mark.

“Here we go!” Ulick roared. He gave a great, bellowing laugh and then spun the wheel, sending the Bewlah careening up a wave’s back. As they launched off the peak, Barclay’s heart dropped to his toes. He was beginning to see what Tadg had meant about Ulick now.