She jumped. “That’s going to take a lot of getting used to,” she muttered under breath. “We’ll compromise and say she was part of the court crowd and got sent away for some infraction.”

“What infraction?” Atlanta said.

“You know the court better than we do,” Dabry said. “I suggest that accordingly you are the best authority on that possibility.” He raised his voice slightly, addressing Niko. “Although given the situation, do you really want to stray too far from the truth?”

“Given that we don’t know exactly what that truth is? And particularly given that there’s a second stranger among us, named Lolola?” Niko shrugged. “Let’s go pick and choose from the bits of truth and see what we can do. Dabry, grab her some clothes.”

“Sir, I’m not convinced mine will fit.” Dabry gestured between himself and Atlanta, who came up to just above his midriff. “But the ship can surely create some…”

“We’ll ask Milly,” Niko said. “We’re en route to Scourse, no need to accumulate extra debt.”

Milly and Gio looked up from their conversation as Dabry and Niko appeared in the doorway of the room.

“Do you have a change of clothing you can spare, Milly?” Niko asked.

“Did yours get lost?” Milly asked with interest. “I don’t think mine will fit unless I find a loose robe or something.” She eyed Niko, judging her dimensions.

“No,” Niko said. “We have a new arrival who’s closer to your size than mine.” She gestured at the hallway, where Atlanta stood, wrapped in a swathe of fabric.

Milly looked unastonished by the presence of a new addition. She’d been with Niko much less time than the others, but she’d observed how the captain seemed to accumulate strays. She riffled through her pack and was able to produce tunic and leggings. Everyone went barefoot aboard ship, but she found a pair of flimsy sandals for Atlanta to stick away for later.

“I don’t have cosmetics for you,” she said, “but maybe the ship can make some.”

The ship refrained from commentary on all of this. It was both surprised and irritated that Niko had not chosen to call on it for assistance. It could have printed a complete wardrobe for all of them as needed, along with cosmetics, toiletries, any personal essential that was needed. It was intended for hospitality, after all, to show Takraven’s guests how rich and influential he was. Did Larsen not understand that You Sexy Thing could cater to any whim, no matter how outré or exotic?

In a fit of pique, the ship printed out complete wardrobes, each and every item blazoned with the Thing’s emblem, a small wasplike black shape outlined in gold, for each passenger and placed them in the appropriate cabins.