Chance shook water out of his ears and eyes and finally saw it: a small sailboat moving lazily in the light wind, and a familiar face below a sailor’s cap.

“Hello!” Niko answered. “Xandre, is that you? Ship’s boy, what are you doing overboard?”

He drew closer, secured the lines and rudder, and tossed a lifesaver toward the boy.

“I wasn’t always a street rat, you know,” Xandre said, laughing and spluttering as he splashed toward the boat with one arm hooked through the lifesaver.

“Well, I know you were a piss-poor cabin boy,” said Niko cheerfully as he hauled him into the boat.

Xandre panted out an explanation as he scrambled over the side. “You can’t quit mid-ocean. There’s nowhere to run to. Cities always have places to run to.”

“You were lazy.” Niko tossed a casual, smiling glance at the rest of the group, no doubt assessing whom to help next, and saw Danil. Their stares clashed with neither man giving an inch, but Galina was clearly in distress, and Niko was too professional to let a woman drown, even if it was for a moment’s indulgent vengeance.

“Hand her over,” he ordered Danil.

Danil obeyed, but he maintained a steady, suspicious glare as Niko coaxed Galina to let go and climb into the boat. Niko smiled at the Mermaid, who was visibly happy in her element, frowned at Chance, and began to settle himself once more near the tiller.

“Wait!” said Danil. “You can’t expect us all to keep up.”

“Well, you should float fairly easily, she swims better than anyone I ever knew, and for some reason I don’t think that old man is human enough to drown. I’ll keep with the passengers I have, thank you.”

Final words spoken, he moved the small craft off with a briskness that had little to do with the prevailing winds.

“Follow them!” cried the Mermaid, and she curved her body gracefully into the boat’s wake.

Danil cursed, put his head down, and swam like a professional at a competition. Chance gave him a favorable current and paid him no further mind. The horizon was too close and impenetrable for the swimmers to see any destination. What he needed was a crow’s-nest view. Keeping his eye on the boat, he lifted himself out of the water and into the air.

Niko saw him. “Cheater!” he yelled, but it sounded more teasing than accusing. Chance ignored him and looked ahead.