It was about another week before we were ready to leave. We woke up so early that morning that the air was still chilly. Mist hovered over the lake and port, only making me more miserable as time wore on and my clothes got damp. I could have gone inside the captain's quarters on the Thief Queen, but instead I waited on deck and watched the docks. Tannix and Mayah were still at the castle, along with Acen and Jalor. Evrik, Joen and Mandell were hovering around on deck uselessly while Ender and Kor put their sailors to work.

Not too far off, I could see the ship that would be accompanying us. Kor had pointed it out, and I wouldn't have noticed anything about it otherwise. It looked like a normal ship, similar to ours in size. Nothing too fancy. Kor explained that Queen Navire and a handful of her generals would be travelling aboard it. It was hard to imagine Queen Navire on such a simple little ship, but I guessed that was exactly the point. Although it wasn't too common, there were pirates around the Pitten-Pax islands, and it was better for the Queen's ship to not draw much attention.

She didn't draw much attention when she arrived in the port. Even though I had been looking out for the procession, it still caught me off guard. I recognized Tannix, Mayah and our knights first, simply because of their Teltish clothing. Queen Navire was harder to pick out, because she was dressed exactly like one of her women knights. She spoke to Tannix and Mayah for a moment, then started across the port towards her ship. Most of the Navirians in the group followed her, but three stayed behind.

I jumped to my feet. "Ender! They're coming!"

He shouted a nearly indecipherable order to his sailors. The knights gathered around the gangway with me. After a moment Kor and Ender joined us, arguing in sharp whispers. We had barely been on the ship and already their Crelan accents were stronger. It was actually fascinating to listen to them, and I might have, if Tannix hadn't stepped onto the gangway.

Ender nudged his way through us to greet Tannix. "My lord, welcome aboard." He spoke to Tannix, but he was watching the three Navirians who were coming up the gangway after Mayah. "Lady East Draulin," Ender added, bowing to her.

Mayah gave him her usual dazzling smile. "Thank you, Captain Korender." She moved aside to stand beside Tannix.

None of us knew how to greet the Navirians. Of the three, we already knew Angelys. The other woman and the man were strangers. Once Acen and Jalor had finally joined our circle, Tannix spoke up.

"Gentlemen, allow me to introduce our guests. General Valerios from Kafei is representing Navire's army."

When General Valerios spoke, his accent was so thick I wouldn't have understood a word without reading his lips. "You have met my sister, Valari. She has spoken highly of you all. Any man who can hold his own against Valari is a soldier to be feared." He didn't look much like Valari, and I thought he was probably a much older sibling. His hair and beard were dark, but speckled with gray. A scar cut his left eyebrow in half and narrowly missed his eye. He wore a sword on his belt, as well as one of the bent knives Valari fought with.

Acen and Jalor had been on duty, so they were dressed up in their armour. The other knights were wearing more casual clothes for the trip ahead. In contrast, the general was wearing thick armour and an orange cloak that wrapped around his shoulders. I wondered how long it would be before he stripped down to something more comfortable.

"And this," Tannix continued, "Is Captain Sylvaine from Kyste. She is representing Navire's navy."

Captain Sylvaine nodded as she was introduced. Her accent was clearer, closer to how the Queen sounded. "I never imagined we would be boarding a Deoran ship. I thought you would be sailing in a Crelan ship."

"There's a story there, miss," Ender said. "She might not be Crelan, but she's a sturdy little lady. And we've got an emotional connection, aye?"

Captain Sylvaine had been looking around the ship in the way only people familiar with ships could, but when Ender spoke her eyes darted to him. "You do call them 'she', then? How interesting. I have plenty of questions about Crelan culture, if I could trouble you to answer them."

Kor, transparently jealous of the attention his brother was getting, moved closer. "Aye, we'd be delighted."

Tannix caught my eye and gave the slightest shrug. I imagined we were probably thinking the same thing. Sylvaine was a tall woman, and stood on the ship with an air of command. Her hair was tucked under a wide brimmed hat that was decorated with a stiff red feather. The feather matched the red jacket she was wearing. I could see six knives—four on her belt, one strapped to her right boot, and another strapped upside down on her left upper arm. I wouldn't have been surprised if she had even more hidden under her clothes.

The twins were looking at her adoringly, but from her perspective, they probably seemed like little boys.

"And," Mayah said. "You've already met Kel Angelys. She will be accompanying me as a guard, and as a tutor. So I can learn how to protect myself."

I had never heard Angelys referred to as 'kel'. I guessed that it meant something similar to calling the knights 'sir'. While General Valerios and Captain Sylvaine had been introduced with Teltish titles, maybe Angelys had chosen to use her Navirian one.

"Well, let's be on our way," Tannix said. "Ender, take us out into the lake. Once Queen Avaloni's ship joins us we'll begin down the river." He turned to the Navirians with a smile. "The rest of us tend to try to stand out of the way, for the most part. But I'm sure if you get bored, my men will be easily talked into some practice fights."

Ender left us to shout orders. After a moment Captain Sylvaine followed him. That seemed to give everyone else permission to split up. Acen and Jalor disappeared below, likely to take off their armour. Mayah and Angelys started to discuss their training schedule, and the general seemed happy to talk to some of the other men.

Tannix made his way over to me. "So, we're finally going home. Are you looking forward to being back in Zianna?"

"Yes and no."

"And no?"

I leaned against the bulwark and watched a pair of sailors raise the gangway. "Now that Navire's joining us, the war is going to get more serious, isn't it? Right now, it's just skirmishes along the Tol River. But if the Ziannan army pushes over the river and up to East Draulin, that'll be bigger scale fighting, right? And then what, over the desert to Deorun?"

"Probably. But it'll still be months before anything happens. Everything Mayah and I discussed with the Queen will have be discussed again. The Navirian army will have to reach the Tol River, which will be an incredibly slow process. And even once the push over the Tol starts, I likely won't be involved right away. The bulk of the navy is mine, so I won't be marching up the coast."

Slowly, the gap between us and the dock widened. I silently sent Roe a prayer, asking him to bless us with calm water for our trip. "And," I finally said. "After that? After East Draulin."

"Then I'll be with the army."

I always knew he would fight in the war, but I still didn't like how firmly he said it. "You could stay with the navy, couldn't you? It would be safer."

Tannix sighed. "I could. But we're soldiers. Even Kor and Ender. We'll be more helpful with the army. Besides... Tandrin's going to be marching with the army, and I need to be with him. I know you're afraid for me, but let's not worry about it yet. Let's concentrate on what's happening now. I'm still here. And yes, it's possible that I'll get hurt, or..." He didn't say it, and I was grateful. "It's a risk Tandrin and I need to take for our people. We can't expect anyone to fight if we're not willing to fight. Please try to understand."

After a moment I quietly said, "I understand. That doesn't mean I'm not scared."

"I know."

We were far enough from the docks that looking at the water was starting to make me a little uncomfortable, even though I wasn't as afraid of it as I used to be. I turned around, but couldn't bring myself to look at Tannix. "You said you and the knights are going to be helpful in the army. So where are you sending me? I'm just going to sit in West Draulin worrying about you?"

"I thought maybe East Draulin, with Mayah."

"All right."

He stepped a little closer, and his hand closed around my wrist. "Finn? I'm terrified, too. Anyone with any sense is going to be scared. But please... let's not worry about it yet."

I wanted to lean in and hug him, but there were too many people on the deck. The Navirians probably wouldn't care, I just didn't know what the sailors would do. And Tandrin had once made me promise to keep Tannix in line. So nobody would suspect there was anything different about him. I'd forgotten myself in the Navirian temple, but on the ship I knew to be careful.

I pulled my arm from his hand, but smiled at him before the action could hurt his feelings. "I'll try," I said, and I meant it. I would try not to think about him riding into battle, or about him taking an arrow or being cut by a sword. Him bleeding to death on Deorun's hot sand until Siour arrived to collect him in his chariot—or however the Telt Goddess welcomed the dead. I wouldn't think about any of that, because he was still here. Blue eyes trained to mine, golden brown hair tousled by the wind, his hand still hovering where he had just been touching me.

It was very hard to step further away. "You should probably talk to the Navirians. As much as I'd love it if you took me into the captain's quarters, you need to be a good host."

Tannix dropped his hand, and a smile flickered across his lips. "Tandrin would be incredibly proud of you. You're right, duty calls. Speaking of—Kor."

Kor was nearby, wrapping a rope around his forearm. He had probably heard the whole conversation. "What?"

Tannix clapped me on the shoulder. "Put Finn to work. Surely he can help up in the rigging."

"Aye, we can keep him busy."

I side-eyed Tannix. "This isn't what I—"

"You can't think if you're busy." Tannix ruffled my hair and strolled across the deck without another word.

With a chuckle, Kor carefully lay his neatly coiled rope on the deck. "Come on, mate. I'll bet you thirty siyas I can climb to the top of the mast before you can."

I glanced up. Climbing on ships was not like climbing in the city. There were ropes and handholds specifically meant for climbing. Kor might have been more familiar with it, but that didn't mean he was fast.

"Fifty," I said.

Kor shrugged. "All right, mate. Fifty. Ready? On the count of three." He rubbed his hands together and rolled his shoulder. "One, two—"

I was already climbing.

We made good time past the islands and around the Cliffs of Loth. We passed by the Straits of Loth, and I thought about Queen Navire's legend of the sunken temple. We sailed the length of New Teltar, an island so tall it was easy to imagine it had once been attached to the mainland cliffs. We rounded the northernmost point, and saw West Draulin's fortress high above, looking down at us.

Queen Navire's ship sailed nearby. The sailors worked in shifts and kept us moving constantly, but at night the winds calmed and we were forced to slow down. The Queen's ship would move closer and we would spend the nights slowly floating side by side.

In the Straits of Draulin, we were flagged down by Kor and Ender's uncle, Captain Roland. Roland's ship, the Queen of Crele came up beside us. Ropes were tossed back and forth to keep the ships together, and a plank was placed to span the distance between them. Queen Navire's ship was close enough that calling across the water to her would be easy.

Roland crossed the precarious plank without a care in the world, and hopped onto our deck. Tannix and the twins met him there, while the Navirians hung back curiously.

"What news is there?" Tannix asked.

"Not much." Roland replied. While he spoke, he pulled first Ender, and then Kor, into quick hugs. "Lord Triben's still holdin' at the Tol. Kitsi sent along most of their army, but they also followed Tandrin's lead and opened up to Zian recruits. The West Draulin Navy's been busy keepin' Deorun ships out of the bay, and patrollin' the coast. Lord Co has sent us plenty of ships. They've mostly been up North, tryin' to lock down trade from Deor-Morcea."

"That's aggressive," Tannix said. "This time of year, most of Deorun's food comes from Deor-Morcea."

"Well, it isn't a complete blockade, mate. The Co Navy is supposed to be more of a discouragin' tactic. I don't believe they're actually attackin' ships, just makin' their presence known."

"And East Draulin?" Mayah joined the group, stepping up between Tannix and the twins. We were closer to the western side of the straits, but Mayah's city was almost visible, a bump along the distant coast.

"There've been a few more refugees, miss," Roland said. "And some of our ships try to sail closer to get the lay of the land, once in a while. Seems like they're usin' it as a base more than tryin' to establish it as a city. Mostly just tired troops returnin' from the Tol, and fresh troops headin' out."

Tannix crossed his arms. "All right. Well, we need to escort Queen Navire to Zianna."

Roland eyed the other ship, clearly startled to hear who her passenger was, but he didn't interrupt.

"Can you take letters back to West Draulin for us?" Tannix asked. "You can tell Tairia and my mother that I'll probably be back in a month or so. Also..." He paused, and glanced across the deck, where most of the knights were standing. "Take Acen and Joen."

"Sir—" Acen immediately started to protest.

"No, Acen, I won't hear it," Tannix said. "You both have wives, and Joen has daughters. Before we know it, we'll be with the army and nobody knows how long that'll keep us from home. Take the time now, while I'm safe in Zianna. I'll keep you updated, and if I need you back in Zianna before I return to West Draulin, I'll let you know."

Joen didn't bother to hide his enthusiasm. "Thank you, my lord. I'll just grab my bag." He disappeared below, but Acen didn't follow him. He still looked torn, and we all knew why. He had far more responsibility than Joen did.

But Tannix wasn't going to back down, and Acen wasn't going to make a scene in front of the Navirians. Maybe in private he would have argued, instead, finally, he nodded sharply. "Yes, sir. Jalor, manage the watch rotation." He, too, climbed belowdecks to get his bag.

Soon enough, Roland was on his way with a stack of letters, Joen and Acen. It felt strange watching them float away from us. We hadn't been apart since Deorun. But despite how odd it felt, I was glad Tannix had sent them away. They deserved time with their wives.

We kept pushing forward. The winds were favourable and we nearly flew through the bay. Lothian Dusk was just starting to creep across Zianna as we neared the city. I couldn't help but wonder what Queen Navire and the other Navirians thought of Zianna. Compared to Navire, my city looked shabby. It was dwarfed by the Cliffs of Loth. There was a slight slant to Zianna, the castle certainly stood higher than the lower city or the port, but it wasn't as pronounced as Navire's slope. The land was entirely different, as well. Zianna had nothing like Navire's views of fields and jungles. The ground around Zianna was rocky and dry, sparsely dotted with clumps of gnarled trees or small shrubs.

But Zianna was my home, and coming back to it always felt good. When Tannix was involved in long meetings, I would be able to slip off and visit the lower city. Instead of being cooped up with the knights in the barracks, I would be able to see my family—the orphans I had grown up with. I would get to see what scheme Baisan was up to, check on how much Gale had grown, listen to Ninavi's endless chatting. With them, maybe I would able to stop thinking about the war. At least temporarily.

We sailed between the walls that protected the port. Ender shouted instructs to the sailors, while Kor signaled the Navirian ship. We glided in on opposite sides of a wide stone pier. The sailors from both ships quickly got to work wrapping up sails and tying the ships to the metal posts and huge rings on the pier. Kor hopped from our ship and made his way towards a small wooden building.

Tannix found me sitting near the front of the ship. I hadn't been hiding from Kor, but I also didn't want to remind him that he could put me to work while we moored. Without announcing himself, Tannix appeared and leaned against the mast beside me.

"If you'd like, you and Evrik can go into the lower city."

He hadn't asked Acen and Joen if they'd like to go to West Draulin to see their families. That had been an order.

"I don't need to take Evrik," I pointed out.

"I know, it just makes me feel better. Also, if Castin hasn't been sent to Triben yet, Evrik can help you find him."

"So Kor and Ender are going to be fixing things up here, you sent away Joen and Acen, and you're making me take Evrik. Really cutting down on your guard, aren't you?"

Tannix shrugged. "I think Jalor and Mandell can handle it until the twins and Evrik are free. Just, please don't stay out too late. I've missed you at night."

I grinned at him. "Well, in that case, I won't keep you waiting."