Storm felt a shiver of awe run up her spine. She was looking at the doorway to Bellum Island! Now the legendary wealth and power were explained. Not only was Bellum the belly button of the world, placed as it was at the exact centre of the Inner Sea, but the island itself was a freak of nature, encircled completely by a wall made of hardened lava. These were defences no pirate or Drowned One could ever penetrate.

“Belay the wind!” growled Lake.

Storm let her wind fade and stood, shivering with excitement. One of the harriers launched a small boat crewed by three men. Two rowers sent the boat bouncing across the wave-tops towards them while the passenger in the bow stood once they were within hailing distance.

“Identify yourself!” he shouted. “Island and captain.”

“Yanlin. Lake of Yanlin!” her uncle roared back.

The man checked a tally sheet, nodded. “Clear to enter, Lake of Yanlin!” The boat reversed and rowed back towards the harrier.

“Lower the rowing boat!” Lake shouted.

The rowing boat would laboriously pull the Wayfarer through the tunnel piercing the cliff, Storm realised. And then the remaining ships, one by one. “Uncle!” she interrupted, wondering at her bravery. “I can take the fleet through.”

“Wha—” Her uncle stared blankly at her, then a slow grin spread over his face. “Genius!” he said with a laugh. “Of course you can. Belay that rowing boat!” he roared at the crew, and the men winding the windlass shrugged and cranked the boat back on deck. Eyes wide with delight, Lake said to her, “This’ll put a stir into ’em! Yanlin will make a grand entrance. Not to mention the time and sweat you’ll save us.” He lowered his voice, leaned towards her. “You sure you can do it? It’s a narrow tunnel. Narrow and long, and not a breath of wind.”

“There will be wind today!” Storm grinned back at him, excited and nervous, but certain of her power. Precise magic, and gentle, but she knew she could do it. She looked up and saw the unmistakable arc of wings far overhead. For the first time since becoming an Air-witch Storm felt pleasure at the sight of the Albatross – and a sense of belonging.

3

Storm knew it would be easier to direct the wind if she followed the fleet. One by one, and with much groaning of timber and clinking of tackle, the other ships eased past.