Tears of rage armoured Mer’s eyes behind a glassy shield. “My loving mother listened to his words, then repeated them to Talon. Da was accused of treason. He was set adrift in a tiny rowing boat with a five-day supply of water and no food. He is dead, his body lost forever! I shall not even meet him in the afterlife.”

It was the nightmare that had haunted Storm since childhood: a raging sea, an overturned boat, the body of a man floating face down in the waves. “My father died at sea when I was five. But my chief Elder, Teanu, says that the soul still finds its way to the afterlife. She says that because this life is not fair, the next must be.”

“But still you fear, don’t you?” In the moonlight, Mer’s face was a mask. Only her eyes lived, shine-full of hate.

“Yes.”

“Well,” said the older girl. “We share that at least. Now you have my story. I have been working with the rebels for years. We grow in strength every season. Soon, we shall destroy the Pact! And I shall myself put Talon and Waffa into a leaky boat and tow them out into treacherous waters!” She panted with the effort of hating. “Which is why I cannot allow you to help them.”

Something in her voice made Storm’s shoulders twitch. She took her time before saying, in a measured voice, “I would never help Talon. What he intends is evil.”

“Even if it means you live as a non-sex for the rest of your life?” The eyes watched, unreadable.

“Even so.” The older girl could surely do nothing to her: Storm had only to call the wind. But the sense of threat did not lessen.

“I believe you,” said Mer at last. She placed both her hands on Storm’s shoulders and pulled her into a brief, formal embrace. “I’m glad. I like you. I hoped, when I first met you, that we might become friends. But it would be best if you left Bellum Island. Go to your uncle’s ship and leave my island tonight! For your own sake as well as ours.”

“My sake?” Had Mer’s eyes flickered? “Do you know something?”

“I know that Talon is devious and will not stop trying to convince or coerce you into working for him against us! You must leave.”

“I think so too. But is there no other way except war?”

Mer drew herself tall. Her face grew austere, and the resemblance to Waffa was now striking. “It will be cleansing, not war. We will scour the evil from our land!”

“But many on both sides will die! Do you think their guards and soldiers will simply lay down their weapons and welcome you?”

Mer shrugged. “We will win.”