Krinny shrugged. “I have no idea.” She stared at her tankard. “I don’t know what they put in this drink, but I don’t even remember her leaving. She might have said something, but I can’t be sure.” She looked around the room, then stared at Lou’s empty seat as if hoping to reclaim the stolen memory.

“She couldn’t have gone far. Do you want me to go look for her?” Viennafer asked, her befuddlement written within her widened amethyst eyes.

“I’ll go with you.” Bernard started to stand.

I lowered him back into his seat with a hand on his shoulder. “No, you both enjoy your drink. I’ll go look for her.”

Smitter stood with me and murmured, “I hear her. She’s outside. Go!”

“Thank the gods for your gift, uncle,” I whispered.

I pushed open the nearby side exit and rounded the tavern to the front entrance.

Three rabble-rousers fanned out before Lou, faces wrinkled with ire.

“We’ve been looking for you,” the one in the middle barked.

Lou spread her arms in a taunt. “Well, here I am. What can I do for you?”

All three men unsheathed their weapons, but the leader lunged as he replied, “You can die for killing our kin.”

Lou had her blade out before her assailant took a step. What she couldn’t match in stature, she rectified in skill and fire. She unloaded like a cannon, slicing the man’s outthrust knife arm and forcing his quick retreat. Blood dripped onto the cobblestone street.

“You’ll pay for that,” he hissed, nursing the wound with a palm.

Stepping from the shadows, I held up my hands. “Stop! Do not attack.”

“Who are you?” the dirty seafarer asked. Still, his companions held their tongues.

“The captain of The Sea Singer, and I come in peace. I’m sure some silver and gold pieces would be enough to walk away from whatever business you have with the lady.” Whether they deserved it or not, I’d pay off the sea scum. I had heard enough to know their hate stemmed from loss, for which I could sympathize. Over the last decade, The Freedom had built up a reputation for getting men killed. I doubted Lou had any knowledge of it, though.

“Are you mad?” Lou said, twisting her neck in my direction but keeping her weapon drawn and legs braced. “They tried to kill me, and you want to reward them?”

I moved to Lou’s side. “This isn’t the fight that needs our focus.”

I tried to reason, but Lou was beyond logic. Hot-headed as a steam kettle, she hissed. Her amber eyes warned that if I got too close, I’d burn.