Cooker was sweating, she could feel it drip down her neck. It was not hot, quite the opposite. But she was focusing, her core was engaged and she had a mission before her. She was taking a comb to Florence's hair, trying to get the perfect middle part. It would have been easier without the captain of the hair taskforce watching over her. Maise hovered near them, way too close for comfort. Cooker kept trying to inch her away but she kept coming back to scrutinize the work being done.

"What's taking you so long, Cookies?" Maise asked and tried to help by handing Cooker a piece of hair that didn't belong on the side she was trying to move it to, "I have to go to school soon. If Kaia gets here and Flo is not ready, we'll be late."

"Aye, I'm aware, thank you timekeeper," Cooker muttered as she tried to straighten Florence's head to see if she got the line right. She didn't. Back to the start.

"I'm not timekeeper this cycle. I'm on fruit duty," Maise shot back and finally sat on the couch, leaving Cooker to her hairdressing.

"Fruit duty? Is that something you made up?" Cooker chuckled.

"No. Okel's mum is going to bring us some fruit every sun for the rest of the cycle. So I get to be on fruit duty," Maise explained, "I get to pass them out when she comes by."

"Oh, so it's way better than being a timekeeper," Cooker stated as she finally got the line right, "it's exclusive."

"Aye, it's way better than being a timekeeper," Maise sat up once again and scooted to the edge of her seat to try and get her hand in the hair but Cooker swatted it away, "what's exclusive mean?"

"In this case, it means that it is only for a few people for a short amount of time. Doesn't always happen and it doesn't happen for everyone when it does," Cooker began the process of braiding, as best she could.

"Oh, okay. What's taking so long?" she asked again.

"Your sister's got a big head," Cooker laughed.

Florence did too. She giggled and shook her head, "No! You have a big head!"

"I do. That's why I have it on good authority that you've got a fucking massive one," Cooker leaned forward and kissed her head with a smile before pulling the braid back under control.

"What's good authority?" Maise asked, barely stumbling over the word.

"In this case, it means that because I have a big head, I have been given the power to deem others big-headed as well," Cooker answered.

"Who gave you the power?" Maise followed up.

"It's just an expression. Remember we talked about those? No one actually gave me the power. I don't have any power. What I meant is that because I have a big head, I know how to spot one and I can declare with confidence that your sister has got one too."

That got them both to laugh and Cooker couldn't help but chuckle along.

"Okay, girls, silence. I need to focus," Cooker commanded as she began to focus on the braids. She could get most of it with her one hand but at times, she needed her teeth to pull the plait tight. She had improved since her first attempt at the hairstyle though. There was no guarantee it would come out right but it was guaranteed to look better than that time.

Luckily, it only took two more interruptions from Maise until she was done.

"Did I do it right this time?" Cooker patted Florence so she could stand.

"Show me," Florence demanded and Cooker scooped her up then held her in front of the nearest mirror.

"Maise. Are they right?" Florence asked.

Cooker turned her to face her sister and she got the thumbs up from the older girl.

"It only took ten suns to get it," Cooker shook her head as she set Florence down, "Mais. Really? All of this rushing and you don't even have your shoes on?"

"My shoes!" Maise got up and ran to her room.

Cooker stood up and gathered their bags, packing in the breakfast they would eat on the beach when arriving for class. They would be back before lunch, but Cooker wouldn't be there.

"Good morning," Kaia let herself in, "Are the girls ready?"

"I'm ready!" Maise bolted out of the room and snatched the bag from Cooker's hand, "come on, Kai! We are going to be late!"

She ran out of the door as Cooker handed Florence's bag off to Kaia.

"Thanks for taking them this morning."

"No problem. I've got them the rest of the morning and aftermorning. They're in good hands," Kaia promised, "big sun ahead of you."

"Aye, last of the arrivals. You sure you want to make yourself scarce? Your word carries a lot of weight with these men."

"I would rather avoid most of these people. I'll skip out on the festivities."

"So would Xyra. I'm sure she would love to take your place. Yet she's being made to work," Cooker called her out, "not very crew-like of you to abandon us."

"She's the one that suggested I stay away," Kaia laughed, slinging the bag over her shoulder, "I'm going to go get your daughter before a jungle animal eats her whole."

"Go on. I'll see you whenever you decide to pop up again," Cooker teased and watched Florence get escorted out by Kaia before heading off in search of Maise.

"Daughter?" a voice came from behind her.

Cooker spun around with a smile on her face, Agnes smiled back from the entrance of their room, "I've gotten over correcting everyone. They do it to get a response."

"I like that you don't correct them," Agnes walked forward and slipped her arms around Cooker's shoulders, "you are their parent now too."

Cooker wrapped her arm around Agnes' waist, her smile was a bit sheepish as she ducked her head into Agnes' neck and placed a kiss there, "Didn't mean to disturb you. I was hoping you could get a bit of sleep."

"Your daughter's incessant asking about when you are going to be done with their hair is an effective way to wake me up," Agnes teased, putting her hand to the back of Cooker's neck and holding her close.

Cooker laughed, "She has no regard for the fact that I'm braiding with one hand. That is an impressive feat, and it's lost on her."

"How'd it go? Did Flo approve it this time?"

"Would you believe it if I said she loved it?" Cooker pulled away, looking at Agnes with a wide grin.

"I would. Because she didn't come into our bed crying about her hair being messed up," Agnes unwrapped herself from Cooker and walked to the stove, "it didn't seem like you slept that well."

"Sorry if I kept you up," Cooker followed, coming up behind her and resting a chin on her shoulder, watching her prepare some tea.

"What was on your mind?"

"Last of the arrivals tonight. Theo's been praying to Riva that they are delayed a few suns just for her own sake but the waters are calm. I don't know if her request will be granted. And if they do come tonight, it means tomorrow's the meeting. But the meeting isn't where we win this thing. If we don't get them on our good sides tonight, we are fucked tomorrow," she sighed a bit and placed a kiss to Agnes' shoulder before pulling away and sitting at the kitchen table.

"You have been nothing but a beacon of energy and confidence since we arrived and you got to work on preparations," Agnes glanced back at Cooker, "a half cycle ago you weren't worried about getting what you needed."

"Aye, I was lying every time I said I wasn't. I am always concerned," Cooker laughed, "I just didn't let doubt take hold of my actions. I rather have displayed no worries and have everyone else fall suit."

Agnes walked over and sat on Cooker's lap, facing her, "So, you are saying you've been shitting yourself the whole time?"

"What unflattering language," Cooker nodded, "but sure, I suppose I have been."

Agnes put both of her hands on Cooker's cheeks then sighed a bit before laughing and pressing their foreheads together.

Cooker laughed, "What?"

"We talked about you sharing. These are the things you are supposed to tell me," Agnes pulled away, a small smile still on her face. She wasn't cross even though they had spoken about that very topic on many occasions. Cooker struggled with admitting when something made her feel less than capable or small but Agnes was still patient. She was willing to coax Cooker to that point, "this whole time, I had no idea. When I asked, you would act like it's all fine. That is usually the space to share how you are feeling."

"You're an officer too. This is a work thing. If I am not worrying any of our other officers, I shouldn't put that on you," Cooker explained.

"Cook, I'm not just an officer. I am your partner now, you can share things with me even if we work on it together," Agnes hummed and pushed some of Cooker's growing hair behind her ear, "and as an officer, I can still have faith in you, and our mission even if you verbalize your doubts. In fact, it might even be helpful for you to share. So others can provide their input."

Cooker groaned a bit, "I hate listening to others give their input."

"So, I will withhold mine too," Agnes went to pull off but Cooker held her there.

"You aren't others. Like you said, you are mine," Cooker smirked a bit.

"I said I'm your partner, I am not yours," Agnes warned a bit but her smile gave her away.

"Give me your opinion please," Cooker pouted, "and a kiss?"

Agnes leaned forward to place a quick peck on her lips then pulled away, "I think you will be successful. Tonight and tomorrow."

"You're obligated to say that because you're in love with me," Cooker chuckled and pulled her down for a longer kiss which Agnes melted into despite her previous attempt to withhold affection.

Cooker let herself get a little carried away, welcoming the stress relief that Agnes provided. She had forgotten all about their houseguest which proved to be an oversight. A door behind them opened.

"Oh!" someone exclaimed from behind her and then the door shut, "I am so sorry!"

The second half was muffled, coming from inside of a closed room and they both laughed. Agnes climbed off her lap and went back to the stove.

"We're the ones that are sorry, Mal!" Cooker laughed again as she stood up, "you can come out. You weren't interrupting anything."

The door opened and Mallory stepped out, "It looked like I was interrupting something."

"Agnes got a bit carried away," Cooker teased, walking over to the kitchen and planting a kiss on Agnes' cheek.

"Filthy little liar," Agnes laughed and carried three mugs to the table, "Did the girls wake you up?"

"I was awake before that," Mallory made her way to the table and then sat down.

"Then I shouldn't even ask if you slept well," Agnes took a moment to hang around the table.

"The bed was comfortable. It had nothing to do with any of that," Mallory stumbled over herself to correct anything that was misconstrued.

Nothing had been.

"Was it the birds and the bugs?" Cooker asked, "They're louder up here than down at the beach."

"It was the birds and bugs," Mallory shook her head, "how do you know?"

Cooker pointed over to Agnes.

"It drives me fucking mad," she huffed as she walked back over to the stove, "Cook experienced my whining first hand. I'm only now getting accustomed to it."

"She's used to being in the city," Cooker teased, "and so are you. Although, didn't you spend some time in the country with your new husband?"

"You kept track of me?" Mallory raised an eyebrow.

"Vaith news is big news. I'm always caught up to political shifts," Cooker said.

"I wouldn't say there was much of a political shift from my union. They sold me off for cheap," Mallory commented.

"Not the love story you always dreamed of?"

"He wasn't bad," Mallory offered with a shrug, "but he also wasn't good."

"Husbands rarely are," Agnes chimed in.

"I agree with that. But it doesn't seem like you have improved much by ending up with Cooker," Mallory poked.

Agnes had the audacity to laugh and Cooker scoffed as she crossed her arms.

"Have I done anything to invite this disrespect? I am a perfect husband, I'll have you know," Cooker faked being hurt.

"I think I'll keep you around to keep her ego in check," Agnes brought over the boiling water and a tin full of tea leaves.

Cooker needed to defend herself from the affront. She was being hit on all sides. But before she could get to the argument about her case, another threat appeared. The door opened and Xyra was on the other side.

"Are you ready to go? We need to go get Theo," Xyra said then looked at everyone at the table, "what is she doing here?"

"Mallory is staying here for the time being," Cooker answered when no one else did.

"Why?"

"I offered her a place here. Florence refuses to sleep by herself so we had an extra room," Agnes tested, crossing her arms as she stared her sister down, "she slept four nights down there with all the other new arrivals. That is more than enough time spent socializing, no need to rehash your integration lecture."

"The standard protocol is ten suns unless there are any accommodations. It has not been that long and she has no need for accommodations," Xyra recited the broken rules.

"The accommodation is that I am an officer and I request that she stays here," Agnes pushed back.

"We do not use our power like that," Xyra stepped into the house.

Cooker stood up and walked over to Xyra, offering her a mug, "Theo can wait. Come sit for breakfast."

"I cannot find her, so there is no time to wait. Let's go," Xyra walked back to the doorway.

"You go find her then. I'll stay here and finish my breakfast as is a part of my routine. Do you want me to break routine on such a stressful sun?" Cooker tilted her head.

Xyra narrowed her eyes, "That is blatant manipulation."

"You don't need me. Do you just want me to come along so you can lecture me?"

"Partially," Xyra admitted.

"Whatever it is you want to say, you can find another pocket in the next few hours to do so. I've heard everything you have to say to me," Cooker walked back to the table.

Xyra left without another word, knowing she would get nowhere by staying.

"She does not like me very much," Mallory noted.

"She's just like that," Agnes shook her head a bit, "even when she was a child."

"You should have seen how she was with Red, and she didn't even know then she was a Vaith," Cooker laughed.

"You two are very different," Mallory said.

"So are you and your sisters, I bet," Agnes retorted, "Xyra is very much like my father and I have none of his tendencies."

"Do you take after your mother?"

"Fortunately for me, I do," Agnes chuckled.

"Unfortunately for me, so do I," Mallory replied with a smile.

Cooker left them to talk as she got up and began to cook breakfast. She had gotten the hang of cooking certain meals on her own, so she attempted it. She wanted to give herself an excuse to take longer before meeting up with Theo and Xyra. They would both be too high-strung for her right then. The last thing she needed was anxiety and worry so early in the morning. She already housed a lot of it in her chest anyway, no need to add more.

"Can I help with anything?" Mallory asked.

"Have you ever cooked a sun in your life?" Cooker laughed a bit.

"Leave Mal alone," Agnes defended as she stood up, "come to the garden with me while she's cooking. We can plan our morning while we pick herbs for lunch."

"Aren't we needing to work?" Mallory stood up.

"Just because all of the important people have to be on alert doesn't mean we have to," Agnes said as she guided them out, "it's a sun off for everyone that doesn't have an assigned responsibility for accepting visitors."

—----

Theo found herself at a beach she had started to frequent when she wanted to get away from the bustle of town. It was not protected by reefs or rocks like the tidal beach at the center of the island but the ocean was calm that aftermorning. The usual waves that crashed against the sand were subdued, almost as if they had sensed Theo's intention to take a dip into the water. She had waded out into the ocean until her feet were lifted from the sand and she was floating. A gentle push and pull from the small waves that lapped onto the shore had caused her to drift slightly but she didn't push against the current. Her back was turned to the shore, facing the horizon as she basked in the sun that beamed down from the sky. She was at peace, a momentary respite from the constant obligations she had. She never wanted to get out, knowing that once she did, she was back to having the weight of the world on her shoulders.

The sounds of the ocean that filled her ears were not loud enough to cover up the fact that someone had emerged onto the beach with her. Boots crunched under wet sand, alerting her that she was not alone; but she didn't turn around. Theo instead closed her eyes and sunk herself into the water, pushing the air out of her chest. The bubbles rose to the surface as she dropped down. She sat neatly at the bottom of the ocean, legs crossed over each other, for a minute. Then her lungs screamed at her to breathe. Theo was forced to push up off the ocean floor and she shot through the surface taking a gulp of air as she did.

When she emerged, she was facing the shore and she wiped some of the seawater out of her eyes to find Xyra standing at the edge of the water with a stack of papers in her hands. Theo began to swim herself to shore, taking her time as she did it. Xyra didn't break her stare as she followed Theo's journey back to dry land.

"You here to bring me good news?" Theo asked as she began to exit the water.

"Perhaps it will not be for you, but I do bring good news," Xyra nodded.

"They are here, aren't they?" Theo groaned, "I was hoping for a few more suns of peace and quiet."

"Well, I apologize that you were inconvenienced," Xyra shrugged, not looking very sorry at all, "the last of the ships have arrived at the outskirts of the reef. We are tendering them all in now. Should be a few hours before they are all here."

"I'm cross with you, by the way," Theo walked to her stuff that was laid out on the sand and slipped on a shirt.

"Because?"

"You were the one with this brilliant idea."

"I was not, actually," Xyra reminded, "Cooker was the one that convinced you to take the meeting with the rebellion, and then you were the one that insisted this should be done here."

"Aye, I suggested a meeting with potential stakeholders be held here but you were the one that increased my original list of people tenfold," Theo shot back.

"Your pension for the dramatic has risen as of late," Xyra rolled her eyes, "I increased your original list by perhaps a quarter."

"A quarter too many," Theo mused and Xyra laughed a bit.

"I do not understand why you agree to our suggestions if you are just going to complain about it the whole time," Xyra said with a raised eyebrow.

"Because it was a good idea on your part," Theo grumbled, "but I'm not going to be happy about it. I would rather not have to deal with any of them. If we need their money and their ships, it might be easier just to kill them all for it."

"I agree but that would get our fight for fairness, less brutality, and equality off to a bad start," Xyra let out a sympathetic chuckle.

"I know," Theo sighed, "can you carry me back? Just to make it all a little easier for me. Given I have such a big responsibility to carry out in the next few suns."

Theo pouted, poking out her upper lip and blinking her eyes. The walk to the beach had been done without shoes, which was a mistake on her part, and she was trying to avoid any more injury to her soles.

"Only if you promise to be on your best behavior and you won't start any political discussions that are not relevant to our goal," Xyra bargained, "the groups we've invited here are not historically inclined to be in the same camp, so we need to take all precautions and not rock the boat."

"I'm not who you have to worry about," Theo laughed and walked over to Xyra, hopping on her back without getting an official confirmation that it was okay.

"Trust me," Xyra laughed a bit and adjusted Theo on her back before she began walking, "I have lectured Cooker enough about maintaining decorum."

"There is no way she is going to listen," Theo pointed out.

"I am fully aware of that," Xyra sighed and began to trudge through the brush and back to their house, "which is why I have a full security detail on her that will physically pull her away from conversations that look like they are going to take a bad turn."

"What would I do without you?"

"Get kidnapped and tortured by The Center," Xyra joked, "oh, that is right, that already happened."

"That's a cheap punch and you know it," Theo chuckled, "who jokes around about their best friends' physical and mental torture?"

"I do," Xyra laughed to herself as she walked into the jungle.

—-

Theo's feet fucking hurt.

She had always abided by a self-imposed rule to only attend a lengthy event wearing shoes she had tested and worn before. She had broken that rule though. She had the most delicious pair of boots sitting in her wardrobe she had never worn before. The custom-tailored captain's garb she had made for that evening went perfectly with them.

But it was a mistake. There had been far too much walking up and down hills for new, stiff shoes. The sweat that crept through her socks rubbed all of the materials together and made for blisters. The back of her heels were rubbed raw. Every step she took, it felt like she was going to cry.

Torture had been less painful.

She had only intended to socialize at the party, but much more was expected of her. They had a few stragglers that needed to be tendered in and she had to shuttle herself between the docks and the camp to greet and escort them. Then, Xyra had asked her to bring people from the camps to the center of the island to engage in the festivities prepared. She didn't get a break when that was done though, she had to smile and nod and laugh at people for hours.

And all she could think about was how painful the next step would be.

Finally, she had managed to sneak away into one of the closed buildings but not before pulling Cooker aside and asking her to go fetch Tuni's medicine bag. As soon as she made it inside and out of sight, she peeled the shoes off and let out a squeak of pain as she laid back, feet hanging over the side of the counter she had sat on.

"What the fuck?" Cooker opened the door and stepped inside the dark room, "Why do your feet look like that?"

"Did you bring the bag?" Theo sat up.

Cooker held it up and handed it off to her.

"These new shoes?" Cooker picked them up.

"They're cursed," Theo rifled through the bag and pulled out salve and bandages.

"If you wrap your feet before putting them back in, they won't fit," Cooker held up the shoe and looked inside, "are you going without shoes on?"

"I can't."

"Why not?"

"I'm the fucking captain of this crew and general of the navy. I can't be walking around with no footwear and bandaged feet," Theo wrapped her first foot up after applying the salve.

"Put your socks over the bandage."

Theo laughed, "And have bulky feet and socks on at the beach?"

"It can be the new trend. I'll take my shoes off," Cooker offered.

"I thought to myself there is no way they are hiding in here. But my gut told me to check," Xyra opened the door with a sigh, "it is like you do these things to incite me into a rage."

"Go away, Xy, we are doing things. I will have her out in a minute," Cooker shooed her away and shut the door in her face. After a moment she opened the door and Xyra was still standing there, "Take off your shoes. And get others to take them off too."

"What? Why?" Xyra tried to come in but Cooker closed the door on her again.

"Your captain commands it," Cooker shouted to the other side with a laugh then turned to Theo, "hurry up. She has been looking for you all night."

"I have been very easy to spot. All she would have had to do was follow the trails of blood coming from my feet," Theo stood up after having wrapped the affected area, "they look so fucking bulky Cooker."

"You'll be sinking into the sand," Cooker hovered a hand over the doorknob as she kicked off her shoes, "no one will notice. Come on."

Xyra was still on the other side of the door when Cooker opened it back up. Theo walked past both of them but Xyra grabbed the back of her collar and kept her from walking too far.

"You have to address everyone right now. And then, I need to take you to greet the last of our arrivals. They were a bit delayed, I sent a tender out for them a good while ago so they should be coming soon."

"I've got some more hands to shake and asses to kiss before you whisk me away," Theo motioned over to a table, "that looks like a good spot for a speech, yeah?"

Xyra made her way over to it and cleared it as best she could. Then, Theo stepped up onto it, socks on display for all to see. Cooker whistled with her fingers under her tongue and within a few seconds, everyone's attention was being pulled toward them.

"Welcome, everyone! Some of you have been here for many suns, enjoying what the island has to offer and others have just arrived. Regardless, tonight is about relaxing. It is about having a good time even if that's all you've been doing for endless nights. Tomorrow we will have a meeting but tonight, we indulge in each other and in nature. You are surrounded by people who are unlikely to be in your company at any other point! Rejoice in your differences and relish your similarities. Which, for a lot of you is drinking. We have the finest mead made right here on our humble island and there is enough for all of you to have a casket each, so please enjoy. Cheers!" Theo lifted her glass that Xyra handed her mid-speech and everyone lifted theirs in response, "Oi! And behave. Trader, roamer, and pirate rules all apply here! Don't do anything stupid."

She stepped down and turned to Xyra, "Can I drink this, all-knowing, all-seeing Xyrabellis?"

Xyra pushed the cup up, granting her permission without engaging in the taunting. Theo drank the mead in her cup, wiping the sides of her mouth when she was done. She coughed a bit and looked around.

"Stupid fucker with the eyebrows is over there," Cooker leaned in to whisper to Theo, "he's been wanting to talk to you."

"Better go over there then," Theo handed her the cup but didn't move, "I just need to say, I hate him. I fucking hate him."

"The last job we did with him for Uncilo he coughed up a thousand gold," Cooker reminded her.

"We spent a cycle hunting down dozens of people he wanted dead. I would say it was well worth the price," Xyra hummed.

"Regardless, he's fucking loaded. He's got centuries' worth of trader wealth built up. If he sneezes, he makes what the Vaiths make in a length," Cooker whispered her exaggerations, leaning in even closer, "he needs to be on our side."

"Xy, come rescue me in three minutes. Make me seem important and like I have somewhere to be," Theo instructed.

"You do have somewhere to be."

"Perfect, that's the spirit," she joked and went forward. The salve and the bandages didn't help everything but at least every step wasn't like holding her feet to the fire.

"Gargow. It's a pleasure to see you here. Thank you for coming even with limited information," Theo acknowledged.

"If it's you that is at the head of it, it's bound to at least be entertaining," he looked down at her from his height.

"I'm glad to know you are looking forward to tomorrow then," Theo put words in his mouth.

"All you want is money from me. I don't need tomorrow to know. I just came for the free booze and the eventual fighting that will ensue," Gargow took a gulp of his ale, the cup dwarfed in his hand.

"All anyone wants from you is money, to be fair. I'm sure it's nothing new to you," Theo chuckled.

It was a dangerous line she was toeing but she was still hanging on, he laughed and her chest felt lighter.

"I have a feeling that you will be very keen on considering an investment in what I am proposing tomorrow."

"If it makes me money or kills a noble, you know I have to heavily consider it," he chuckled, gruff and loud, "but you're still a renouncer?"

Theo clenched her jaw, "Aye. It's not a trait that disappears overnight. Nor after torture and pain, contrary to your home practices."

"Captain Theo, you know better than to turn your nose up at what I believe in. Even more so given you are trying to squeeze coin out of me," he challenged, leaning closer which just meant he was menacingly hovering over her, "we have rules against dealing with your type."

"You also have rules that compel you to join something that you know will make you a profit. Am I mistaken in saying you also have family rules that compel you to join an effort that brings harm to The Center?"

"You are saying that tomorrow's meeting has to do with attacking The Center?"

"In part, sure. I don't think that is that surprising. I am sure you had an inkling of what this would be about before coming."

"From what I have heard coming out of your fight at Corinspe, I suspected you were trying to seek your revenge," he acknowledged, "but anger and revenge are traits of renouncers and dangerous to deal with. My hesitation stands."

She couldn't say anything back. What was on the tip of her tongue was a scathing rant that would put Cooker's ramblings at Fingen's to shame. Her blood was boiling, she had been practicing for cycles with Cooker and Xyra to be able to hear such obvious disrespect but it still was an effort on her end not to explode on him.

The tension in her shoulders and all over her body must have sent out a secret alarm because Xyra came over. It was well before the three-minute warning but Theo didn't think the conversation would go any farther. As a captain and now as the general, she should have been more willing and more able to push past any ill feelings toward him for the purpose of their goal. But a hatred toward any of her people was not a thing she could easily ignore.

She didn't know that she had the ability to control herself. And a Gargow was not someone they needed on their bad side, morally questionable beliefs and all.

"Captain," Xyra came up behind them, "you are needed elsewhere."

Theo looked back and nodded then turned to Gargow again, "You'll have to excuse me. The work of a leader is never done. I am sure you know that first hand."

She could feel Xyra behind her, staring at the back of her head and making sure she didn't slip up.

"I cannot promise you any additional information prior to the meeting but if you are looking for someone on my crew to speak with before then, Cooker is around here somewhere. I can promise you, she is a much more patient and engaging thought partner than I am."

He nodded to her and she bowed slightly in response before letting Xyra pull her away.

"Why are you being cruel to Cooker? She doesn't deserve to have to speak with him," Xyra said.

"He's a smart man, he'll avoid her," Theo replied, "he knows she'd make him feel bad about himself for his convictions regardless of how intensely he believes in the eradication of us."

"Leave it to Cooker to shame a bigot," Xyra hummed with a slight smile, the only bit of joy she had displayed since preparations had been under full swing.

"Who's arriving, by the way? I thought we had everyone?"

"Not sure," Xyra shrugged.

Theo narrowed her eyes. There was rarely a thing that Xyra didn't know, especially when it came to the meeting. She would have pressed her on it, suspicions rising but Xyra handed her a mug full of mead.

"Here, for your hard work. You deserve a second drink tonight," Xyra acknowledged.

Theo raised an eyebrow, looking down at the mead and swirling it in her cup. She brought it up to her nose and took a sniff. Nothing immediately smelled of poison so it wasn't that. Maybe Xyra was trying to drug her. But for what?

"If you aren't interested in partaking, I can just take it myself," Xyra held her hand out for it.

"No, leave it with me," Theo pushed her hand away and brought the mug to her lips taking a sip, "I'm just not used to you being so nice."

"Figured you also needed some for the pain," Xyra pointed down to her feet, "are you ready to make the trek to the docks?"

"And no chance you'd carry me?"

"You have exhausted your opportunities for that already," Xyra replied, placing her hand firmly between Theo's shoulders and pushing her forward.

—--

The mead had helped like Xyra had suspected. It was not a horrible trek to the docks like others earlier in the night had been. Once they arrived, Theo could see a few deckhands tying up the tenders. Besides that, not much else was immediately visible. From a distance and in the dark, she couldn't tell who it was that arrived. She could see the back of Kaia's head though and it seemed there was someone in front of her that was blocked from sight. Last she had seen Kaia, it was with a handful of children. But she was alone, no kids in sight.

She should have seen through Xyra before. Nothing good ever happened when she was nice. She turned around and Xyra was ready to catch her, blocking her way back to the path.

"Who is at the end of the dock, Xyra?" Theo looked up at her friend.

"Uncilo came."

Theo rolled her eyes at the confirmation she was dreading and she went to step away but Xyra pushed her back into place firmly. Theo could have dug her heel into Xyra's foot, using that as the small distraction she needed to run back into the jungle to avoid the whole thing, but that would just make her look bad. She would look like she was running from confrontation, she would come off like an immature adolescent. Before she could formulate what to do, the sound of footsteps came into earshot. It was more than just footsteps though. Uncilo's cane was clanking against the wood, he was using a lot more pressure on it than usual.

She turned to face him. Even under only the moonlight, she could see he was ill. His cheeks were sucked in and his eyes were a bit sunken. It could have been the long journey and late night but her gut told her it was more. She wanted to step forward and hold her arm out for him to make it easier but she stood in her spot.

Kaia stepped in to help instead and she brought him to stand in front of Theo. He tried to untangle his arm from hers but she kept it in place.

"Lee, I can stand on my own," he insisted and she released her hold on him.

Theo could see Kaia tense up at the name, her face went sour and she looked away. She wasn't the only one, Theo's stomach twisted. Lee was her formal name but rarely anyone called her that. Her father used to and because of that, Uncilo had picked up the habit too. She was reminded that the two of them had a relationship outside of what Theo knew. Kaia and Uncilo had gotten to know each other over the lengths he had been ruling Corinspe. Jealousy spread through her chest and she clenched her fist. It had never been an issue before, why was it so easy for her to feel that way now?

She didn't even care. The relationship between her and Uncilo was over. She didn't need to be close to him, Kaia could take him.

Kaia stepped away and behind Theo. Between her and Xyra, they easily blocked her path out. It was a coordinated effort. Theo had never made it a secret how much she hated it but no one ever fucking listened to her.

It felt like no one was breathing, the tension was electric. She wanted to stay silent but it was her duty to greet the arrivals. Theo was a representative of the rebellion, she was a spokesperson for the revolution, she was the general of their navy. Her personal shit with Uncilo needed to be pushed aside. She didn't need to be nice to him but at the very least she needed to do her job.

"Welcome to the island," Theo bowed her head, "we appreciate that you have traveled all this way to attend."

Uncilo chuckled slightly, "Thank you for welcoming me. I was not sure you would even allow me on the island."

"We sent you an invitation, didn't we?" Theo threw back.

"Aye. You did indeed," he didn't argue her point.

"Tomorrow we will be having a meeting to discuss the reason I have brought everyone together but for tonight, there are festivities at the heart of the island," Theo glanced back to Kaia and faced Uncilo once again, "if you prefer to rest instead of join everyone, Kaia can escort you back to camp where we will find a cabin for you so you don't have to sleep on the floor."

"I think I will rest. I have had a long sun of travel and waiting, I am sure you understand," Uncilo adopted the same air of business she had taken on.

"Of course," Theo stepped to the side, "Kaia, please make sure he is set up with everything he needs."

"Thank you," he nodded but didn't intend to leave.

Theo just stared at him, eyebrow raised and hands in front of her.

"May we speak alone, Captain?"

"I will be making time to speak to everyone about their questions and concerns after I introduce our proposal at the meeting tomorrow," Theo rejected his request.

"I meant now, Theo, you know that," Uncilo dropped her title, his tone morphing from business to something more familiar.

"I will be making time to speak to everyone about their questions and concerns at the meeting tomorrow," she repeated.

Xyra leaned forward and whispered in Theo's ear, "Take a meeting with him now, Theo."

"Thank you, again, for your presence. I hope we can speak candidly about business at the meeting," Theo bowed her head again as a farewell.

"She will meet you tonight at the west end of the beach," Xyra said, "once the festivities have wrapped up."

Uncilo shook his head, a bit of laughter slipping from his lips, "I will meet you there tonight, Captain. Thank you, Xyrabellis."

Xyra nodded.

Kaia took his arm again and led him off the dock, into the jungle. Theo stayed still, hands crossed in front of her. She took two deep breaths, letting the sea air calm her before closing her eyes for just a moment. She did better than she thought she could. Now, she had to focus on not ripping Xyra's tongue from her mouth.

"T," Xyra said from behind her and put a hand on her shoulder, "I know you are upset but that had to happen. You need to speak with him before tomorrow."

Theo opened her eyes and turned on her heels, looking up at her first mate, "Why would you do that?"

"He is a priceless asset to have on your side. You need to brief him before the meeting," Xyra answered, her tone soft and understanding, "I am sorry."

"You know what he has done to us! Why can't you let me keep my distance from him? You are making it seem like I need him for something. I don't. He is not to be trusted."

"You will be fine. You need to get over yourself. He lied and manipulated you, I get that, but it's Uncilo. We know him, we have always been aware he does that," Xyra let her true feelings on the issue through. Whatever sympathy she had laced into her tone was gone, "you have been carrying yourself just fine with all these other assholes gracing us with their presence. Uncilo is no different."

"What's next? Forcing Cooker to talk to him?" Theo asked.

"You know that is an entirely different scenario. I wouldn't put that on her," Xyra frowned and Theo could tell she was hurt by the suggestion, "Uncilo got you to be a leader when you didn't want to be. He tried to manipulate the island into looking to you as their next successor. I understand your issues with that. I understand he is untrustworthy but at the end of it all, he trusts you. He believes in you. We need that kind of backing before going into the meeting tomorrow."

"You think he would back the revolution if I ask tonight?" Theo raised an eyebrow.

"I do. And I think we need that going into the wolf's den tomorrow aftermorning," Xyra answered, "I do not put you in these situations and put myself in the direct line of your ire for no reason. I am not asking you to make up with him nor am I asking for you to be anything but professional with him. We just need him on our side."

Theo wanted to throw herself into the water and let the current take her out to sea rather than have to deal with anything that was waiting for her on the island. Xyra had a point, which made her desire to jump in even greater. Theo didn't want to admit she was right, as she usually was, about needing Uncilo on their side.

"You kept his confirmation letter from me," Theo accused, "you should have at least let me know he was arriving."

"I did not know until this morning. He had not sent us a letter in return. I told the crew waiting to tender our guests that if Uncilo made his way to the island, not to let him on a tender until the news reached me and that I would give the command to let him come ashore when we were ready for him."

"So that you could control the situation and force me into this very same scenario. Doesn't make it any better," Theo crossed her arms.

"It was so that I could prepare Cooker for his arrival. I wanted her to have a few hours to get in the right headspace," Xyra clarified, "you aren't the only one I have to worry about. And not everything is about you, Theo."

Theo shook her head and began to walk, having given Uncilo enough time to pull ahead of them. Xyra followed.

"You need to step up. You know this. We need him if we are to get anyone else on board," Xyra walked after her but Theo wasn't stopping, "You need to be fucking kissing his feet right now."

"I will speak to him at the meeting tomorrow."

"You will grant him his request tonight," Xyra pulled her arm so they faced each other, "I am telling you as your first mate, this is your duty."

"Right now. I'm going to go entertain the guests on my island," Theo pulled her arm away and walked into the jungle. She understood she would need to meet Uncilo that night on the beach but she needed to drive Xyra crazy first, to make herself feel a little bit better.

—----------

Between Xyra as her first mate, Cooker and Kaia as her titled advisors and all of the other officers on her ass all the time, she couldn't ever do anything she wanted. She hated the scrutiny. What was the point of being in such a high position if others ran her life?

She only had herself to blame. When she wasn't upset, she could recognize the reasons she empowered people to speak their minds and command space to be heard but she was upset. Thus, all of the choices she had made in the past were now regrets. She had minced up her authority and autonomy and handed it out to others but it backfired on her and pushed her into a corner.

It seemed that everyone she knew had something to say about Uncilo's arrival. Kaia was the first to say she agreed with Xyra that she needed to meet with Uncilo. Then came Skins and Iona together. Then Agnes. And finally, Cooker told her she was heavily on Xyra's side in all of it. Theo had no chance of backing out even if she had intended it, they had spoken their minds.

She would have preferred it if people spoke their minds elsewhere though. She wouldn't be hearing any suggestions anymore. It was making her reconsider her approach to captaining. Yet, another part of her was elated. Many people who had never come forward and offered their piece on diplomatic strategy had taken the chance. Another class of officers was growing to be formidable pirates and she felt proud. When she was over the betrayal of being forced to speak to Uncilo, she could relish that. But for the time being, she stewed in indignance and resentment as she walked down to the beach.

It was still hard, seeing him did hurt. He was the person who raised her and the closest thing to a parent she had in her childhood. It was all making her a bit queasy. She had made it most of the way to the beach but she had stopped a few dozen feet away from the break in the trees. She needed a moment to gain her composure. The emotions that were coursing through her could not be taken from her nor could they be solved. If she entered the conversation with all of it weighing on her, she could quickly lose control over her words; which she wanted to avoid at all costs. The only thing to do was to feel it and then let it go and that is what she attempted to do. She stood with herself for a brief minute, taking in the fresh air around her.

When she was ready, she walked the short distance to the beach. Stepping onto it, she could see where Uncilo was sitting on a log. It was her usual spot on the beach, one that she had not officially claimed but no one dared to take it up either. Under the lights of the torches, she could see him better and he looked just as bad as before. She had hoped it was the pale moonlight casting a weird ghostly shadow over him but that wasn't the case. She came to sit next to him, leaving a few feet of space between them on the log. She let her hands warm up next to the fire he had going in front of him.

"That hammock looks comfortable. I wish I could sleep there but I am afraid my back would give out on me just trying to get in," he chuckled.

She didn't answer. She wasn't there to entertain a discussion about things that were not business. She looked down at his hands, they curled around his walking stick. She couldn't face him partly because she wanted to ignore him and partly because it was hard to look at how sickly he looked even under the forgiving glow from the fire.

"Theo," he sighed a bit, "must you continue to punish me?"

She scoffed a bit and rubbed her hands together, still not looking at him.

"I know. All it is that you have to say to me I know. It was my own fault. If I had let you into my plan, you would have reacted better – even though that is not entirely true – I understand your frustrations," he acknowledged, it was his version of an apology but Theo didn't think it was enough, "But just forgive me, aye?"

Theo finally looked over at him, his audacity shocked her every time, "You couldn't even admit I was right without putting some fault on me. You cannot speculate on what did not happen."

"You are right," he acknowledged again instead of apologizing. He shook his head and got up a bit, scooting closer to her, "Have some compassion with me?"

"You never afforded that to us," Theo shot back but didn't move away.

"That is why it is called compassion and not do as I did to you," he chuckled and Theo laughed.

Damn her. Fuck her. She was soft, she could feel her resolve slipping away.

"I know I will not get you back. I see what you have built here. I know I have lost you. All I ask is for you to hear me out. Talk to me. At least this one last time," Uncilo asked.

She accepted his request with a nod. It seemed he was lost for words though. He didn't say anything. He opened his mouth but only a sigh came out. He reached out and patted her leg before looking toward the water. She let him sit in thought for a moment, she didn't want to interrupt. Then, he laughed as he turned back to her.

"I am not saying this to make you feel guilty but if I am being honest, I have no more happiness in life. I will die a sad man."

Theo let out a surpised huff, "Fuck, Uncilo. Where is that coming from? That's not true."

"It is true. And there is no one to blame but myself for that," he said, chuckling a bit, "but I was a desperate man. I am dying Theo. That is why I did all of that. Pushing you. Manipulating things."

"What?" she had heard him but it was failing to process for her.

He clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth, "I did not mention it before because I did not want to fetter your anger toward me by throwing it at you. You needed the space to make the decision to leave and I couldn't stop you with something like this."

She tried to keep her visible reaction to a minimum but the confession had hit her like a punch and she felt like she couldn't breathe. The struggle with it had to be clear on her face. Obviously, Uncilo was old but he was not that old that his death would have been imminent or predictable. He wouldn't live forever but he wasn't supposed to die so soon. She wasn't prepared for that.

"No matter your reasoning, it doesn't change things or make things right," she reminded him but she had to give in. As much as she wanted to pretend, it did inform his choices and it did matter, "Sorry you sacrificed us and it didn't work out for you. And I'm sorry none of us were suitable in your eyes or wanted it."

"Children are meant to disappoint," Uncilo teased, looking over at Theo and meeting her eyes, "It makes sense you wouldn't want to follow in my footsteps. I should have known too. Corinspe was where and how you were raised and people rarely stick around where they come from."

"Where were you raised?" Theo asked, a question she never had answered no matter how many times she had brought it up.

"I have admitted to Xyra in the past but I know I am to blame for a lot of your issues," Uncilo ignored her, "I did not say those exact words to her. It was more of her telling me I was to blame for all of your issues."

Theo laughed, looking out at the water, "You didn't single-handedly cause us to be this way. There was some work others did to get to this end result."

"I did my best but my best was not suitable for children," he said, "I knew that when I did it."

"Do you regret it?" Theo kept her eyes away from him, not wanting to give him a reaction when he answered.

"No, I don't regret it," he shook his head, "You girls will tear this world down. At the risk of sounding braggadocious, I know I played a big part in that, no matter how cruel."

Theo shook her head. This was yet another one of his manipulation tactics. He knew something as major as his death would shake her. It would force her to reconsider how she treated him. But she could see it, she could see his deterioration in front of her. He looked like the past length apart had rattled him.

"Are you really dying?" Theo asked, turning her body to him and forcing herself to be open.

"I am," he nodded and Theo made herself look at him fully, "every sun I grow weaker and I can no longer ignore it."

Perhaps it was the flames that cast their shadow but under his pale skin, he looked a bit yellow. He had lost weight, his usual coat was hanging off him. His hands were stuck on his cane as he rested most of his weight on it, his back not supporting him on the log. It didn't look like he was due to invite death into his home anytime soon but he was surely heading down that path.

"Do you have any regrets? You said you don't regret taking us in or anything else you did while we were under your care. Do regret anything though?"

"Many things, Theo," he chuckled a bit, "regrets are inevitabilities in life. That is something I believe is a universal truth that no one understands until they are my age."

"Like what?"

"You do not want to hear the stories of an old man."

"You aren't even that old," Theo laughed a bit, "and I do want to hear your stories. I've always asked you for them."

Uncilo looked at her and smiled, "You have grown so much since then. Sometimes, I cannot believe it. I remember taking all three of you girls into town and letting you spend one gold every time we were on shore."

"I was spoiled, even back then," she let him carry the conversation away from her question.

"Getting a cycle's worth of wages simply for behaving," Uncilo laughed, "sometimes, I still swear I can hear you girls laughing through the decks of my ship and through the halls of my empty castle. When I remember that sound, I always expect you to be around a corner with your sisters, up to whatever game it is you had invented that sun."

Theo had to look away, face fully out of view. She felt her chest grow tight like the tears were eager to spring to her eyes.

"When I hear you coming, or hear your voices I turn around and expect to see those baby faces awaiting me," Uncilo shook his head and pulled Theo's face toward him, "but instead, I see a face I should have protected."

"But you don't regret it," Theo pointed out, unable to fully accept his sadness or empathize with him.

"I cannot. You three will change the world," he lowered his arm, "I know you get upset when I conceal things so I must admit that I came here with a confession. I need Lee'Kaia."

"Need her?" she raised both eyebrows, "For?"

"She is to be my successor," he stated.

"No. You can't name her. You promised her you would take that from her. She told me herself," Theo argued, the guard he had broken down came back up.

"When the position for Head was last open, it was a different time and she had different motivations. Things have changed. Not now but once I pass, she will be who I ask for," he stood his ground.

"If you nominate her, people will vote for her. Her father's name carries a lot of weight. And she will not want this so you are setting the island up for a lack of organization and anyone can then take that seat," Theo tried to get him to see reason, "You promised her that her life wouldn't be Corinspe."

"And I should have never done that," he admitted and shook his head, "it was Captain Vandoule's last wish that she take the seat. I gave him my word too and I broke it when I smeared her name to get the position."

"I will not allow her to go," Theo said.

"I am telling you as a courtesy before I approach Lee with my intentions. You are the captain she works for now so I thought it would be best to inform you first," he replied.

"Did you not hear me? I will not allow her to go," she repeated.

"She doesn't need to be given permission to quit a job, Theo. She has stayed with your crew far too long already. It is not a good look for future employers," he took a hand off his cane and waved off her comment.

"She isn't my employee. I am not the captain she works for I am her captain. She is a part of my crew and has been since we left Corinspe," Theo insisted.

"Then I am asking for you to let her go when it comes time."

"Tell me a story and I will consider what you ask if Kaia even agrees to it," Theo pressed, harnessing a thing or two from Ava. There would be no way to keep Kaia if she did want to leave but Theo needed to leverage whatever she had, even if it was a lie.

Uncilo shook his head, "You are toying with a dying man."

"Any story."

"I have too many, Theo. Let's drop this for now," he patted her knee.

"I want to know about you and Captain Vandoule."

She watched him flinch back. His hand came to cover his chest and he clutched at the fabric like it hurt his heart. Uncilo was grimacing in pain, she hadn't ever seen him react so viscerally.

"Theo, why do you insist on talking about things that are not meant to be brought up?"

"So it is true..." she shook her head, "I mean, once I figured it out, it was hard to miss but I was never sure. The farther it got from his passing, the more I convinced myself we had all just been seeing things."

"You knew?"

"We all knew. I don't think Xyra knew we did though. She is the reason we found out. She wrote it down in one of her files and Cooker read it when rummaging through her things as children," Theo laughed a bit as Uncilo realized his big secret had been discovered long ago.

"None of you have any regard for privacy. What is the point in bringing this up?" Uncilo asked, his hand had fallen from his chest to his lap but his face still looked forlorn.

Maybe Theo shouldn't have brought it up but she had a right to know about his life when he forced himself into hers time and again. She admitted as much.

"I think maybe you exerted so much control over us and our lives that taking back this little bit feels right. If I lord the approval of your request over your head and make you give me something you clearly hold close to your chest, it kind of makes me feel better."

She looked over at him with a cheeky smile and he shook his head, a grin emerging from the melancholy.

"If I tell you about this, you will allow Lee'Kaia to go," he clarified.

"In the case that she would want the position, aye. That is the deal," Theo nodded.

"I have never openly spoken about this," he shared, she could sense his nerves.

Uncilo had killed giants. He couldn't get nervous. Yet he was.

"I met him my first time on Corinspe. He had been in the scene for lengths and I was barely a pirate. I still hadn't taken my oath. But we were of similar ages and he took me under his wing that time I was on the island and every time after that," he recalled and Theo studied his face, there was only pain, "I knew I loved him from that first night we saw each other but it was lengths before I had the courage to say anything to him. When I finally did, I was quartermaster, at the verge of captaincy and he had secured his own crew far before."

"Didn't he have a wife? And Kaia?"

"I was there first. For lengths before she came into his life, I was there with him. He married her because he couldn't marry me. He was vying for Head of the Council. This world has been cruel to renouncers, no matter how much they are accepted no one has ever looked kindly to one in power. So he chose her and proposed a union with her. But he loved me the whole time," Uncilo explained.

"He didn't love his wife," Theo stated.

"He did. He was an amazing husband. And when she died, he took on the role of being an amazing father. Better to Lee'Kaia than I was to you girls," he sang Vandoule's praises. But Theo didn't know that he was the best judge on what a good husband or father looked like, "it didn't mean he didn't love me too."

Uncilo looked away and Theo wondered if he was crying. Before turning, she could see he was at the verge of tears but there was nothing to indicate he had tumbled over the edge.

"You two continued while he was married?"

"When I was around, aye. He had his wife and eventually Lee'Kaia but that didn't mean he couldn't spend time with me. They both knew. They both knew and they were nothing but kind about it," Uncilo admitted and Theo had not suspected that.

In her head, it was infidelity on his wife and a secret kept from Kaia.

"I gave you what you wanted. Will you allow Kaia to make her own decision then?" Uncilo held out his hand, turning back to her.

"That depends," Theo went back on her deal.

He retracted his hand, "On?"

"If you throw your support behind me tomorrow," Theo smirked.

"What is it you gathered us here for? I need to know that before I agree."

"You haven't figured it out?"

"If I had to guess, I would say you are looking for ships and money for a rebellion. Word has been going around of an attack on Drokian. Coordinated, quick, devastating," Uncilo chuckled a bit, "It is the mark of people who have been well trained and in this age, it's hard to come across many that are."

Theo shrugged, "And do I have your support for this revolution, if that is what is happening here?"

"That is what the meeting will tell me tomorrow."

"No. That won't work for me," she shook her head and pursed her lips together, "We've got the best chance I think anyone's ever seen. I am heading up their navy. We've got a good group. I believe in this."

It was a stark difference to what she had continued to confide in her close officers. She was worried. It was the best chance but it didn't mean a winning chance. Her hesitation had been clear to everyone close to her but Uncilo needed to feel her conviction.

"Uncilo, all you have to do is say yes, that pirates can join the fight without going against Corinpse. You don't need a meeting to know if you will endorse me in that way. You know now. I am at the head of this thing, if you trusted me you would stand behind me without needing to know anything else," Theo laid out.

She was manipulating his desire to not drive a rift between them. She was giving him a chance to trust her and repair some of the bridge that was broken between them. He knew it. His smile showed that.

"I will back you," he nodded, "You are right, there is very little that can happen in the meeting tomorrow that will get me to take a hard stance against this effort..."

"Thank you," Theo nodded, "I will allow Kaia to make her own decision."

"But I reserve the right to pull back my support if I think it will leave me without an island and crews."

"Of course. That is only fair," she agreed.

They were silent, facing each other. Theo could see him debating something. He nodded.

"Hm."

"What?" Theo laughed.

"My greatest contribution to the revolution is one piece of advice. Over the lengths, I have observed that Vaith is highly emotional. Under all of that facade of stone, he can be provoked. He is not infallible. No one is. The Vaith power lies in the illusion of a fortress. His house is crumbling, you can be the final blow,"

He had never really talked about the Vaiths much, maybe because he knew it used to upset her. She wasn't aware he knew that much about the house to make such a sweeping comment. But it was something Theo suspected. No one was unbreakable and if her father was anything like Ava, fiery passion and emotions were there. Even more, those moments of passion usually ran the deepest with those who never showed it. It was good advice, a good reminder when he seemed untouchable.

"I met a man named Ignaci. To most, he goes by Lord Furdash. He says he knows my parents," Theo threw out the information, hoping if he knew about Vaith he could know of others, "You know anything about that? Or about him?"

"No, I don't do those politics, Theo, you know that."

"Just checking. You're a wealth of knowledge tonight, figured I would test my luck," Theo smiled.

Uncilo looked back to the water. He was pensive for a moment.

"Will you tell Cooker to speak to me?" he asked.

"I won't. She knows you are here, if it isn't within her wishes to come here by herself, I will not ask her or make her," Theo frowned.

"Theo, I am dying. She might not get another chance to see me."

"You can't use that as your excuse. Pika and Bari died and Xyra didn't get to see them before that happened. You didn't either. People die all the time and we never get to say goodbye."

"You think you'll regret being this defensive when I'm gone?" Uncilo asked.

"I don't," Theo said but he knew she would.

She knew he could sense it.

"Cooker will not even see me. It seems as if when I enter a room, she leaves," he admitted, "I went to the party to look for her and had no luck."

"You haven't seen her at all?" Theo raised an eyebrow.

"I have not."

"I am sure you will get a good glimpse of her tomorrow," Theo hummed, ending any line of inquiry into Cooker.

—-----------------------------------------

The meeting hall had been opened and people had been filing in for several minutes but all of her officers were with her outside of the back entrance. Soon, people would start to feel impatient but they were taking care of last-minute business. Reminders and reviewing plans, as they usually did. Except, Xyra had also taken it upon herself to become Theo's personal stylist.

"You will be on the platform but sink down to their level when you can, make use of your stage," Xyra advised, straightening Theo's collar and then her cuffs, "show them you are willing to forgo any built-in advantage to work with them."

"Get to the point quickly. Just like we rehearsed. Cut your vamping. A minute, maximum," Cooker coached her.

"Half a minute," Xyra corrected as she reached up to fix something in Theo's hat.

Theo ducked out of the way, "I got it. Thank you. I appreciate it. I think the hours of rehearsals this morning alone have paid off."

Cooker straightened her own coat, "And don't forget to hand it off to me. If you fuck up your cues, I will be forced to challenge you to a duel because of the affront."

"Got it, thanks Cook," Theo laughed and looked around at the officers surrounding her, "anyone else have anything to add?"

No one answered her. She was in the clear.

"Lead the way, Captain," Morgana piped up.

She nodded and looked to Xyra for the go-ahead. She allowed it and Theo walked forward, opening the door and walking into the hall. It was full. She and Cooker had been debating a few suns prior to final arrivals if they had overshot their estimate of who was coming. They were afraid they had built too many tables and chairs and it would look pathetic if they were not all filled in. But they were close to having the opposite problem, not having enough.

All eyes were on her. The room had gone quiet and the crew's footsteps as they came inside filled the room. She wasn't typically a nervous speaker but she could feel her hands tremble slightly next to her sides as she walked up to the small platform with a table and chairs that had been built for her. She was at the head of all the guests once she stood in the middle of the stage. Her knees felt like they were shaking under her.

She had been at the face of meetings before and had even been a spokesperson for causes she wanted to champion many times. She had addressed her crew, Corinspe, the residents of her new island. Public speaking was a strong suit of hers but this was more than she had ever done. There were hundreds of people waiting to hear a pitch they traveled thousands of miles to finally find out what she wanted. They had come to her island, to listen to her. If that wasn't enough pressure, the success of the revolution without exaggeration hinged on her. Without these groups, they would be sorely lacking resources.

And on the off chance she fucked up, Brandon had a front-row seat to watch her do so. He was in the crowd under the guise of being on Blue's crew. He was not recognized and Theo almost wanted to go a little rogue knowing he wouldn't be able to do anything but she avoided that. Again, the revolution rested in her hands.

"Let me kick off this meeting with a simple thank you. I appreciate all of you coming this way to meet with me," Theo bowed her head in thanks, taking a moment to acknowledge everyone. She lifted her head with a slight smirk, "I am surprised so many of you greedy bastards showed up given that this was not explicitly framed as a lucrative business opportunity."

As predicted, she earned the laughs of the meeting goers.

"And while it isn't a business opportunity, per se, what we are working toward will ensure that you prosper in the future. Monetarily, socially, personally."

Theo looked over to Cooker who had joined her on the platform, nodding in her direction to give her the floor.

"We couldn't mention our intentions in the letter but you all showed up so I am sure you sensed what we had to say was important. I have heard some theories. Some of them outlandish, but most of them not far off from reality," Cooker leaned against the table, "We are asking for those in the room to join the revolution."

There was a blast of energy, a few smug faces at being right, and lots of conversation between people. Cooker turned to Theo with a bit of a smile and Theo nodded her head, approving Cooker's work. She glanced around and those they had planted among the audience were doing their work. Owl, Blue, and a few other acquaintances from both roamer and pirate connections were whispering their potential involvement and approval. Theo didn't let the chatter go on too long for fear of the wrong reaction taking hold, she nodded over at Xyra.

Xyra held her hand up, fist closed to indicate everyone needed to calm down. They fell in line, respect, and fear of Xyra extended to all. When it was quiet, Theo nudged Cooker to continue.

"We are only asking for you to hear us out and for a commitment to another meeting to discuss the future of this revolution but in the company of people we know are serious about helping. Not anything else. Not yet. But eventually, we will need you, your crews, and your resources," Cooker laid out for them, "We will not be discussing any strategy at this meeting. As I said, that is a discussion for another meeting with all the stakeholders once commitments have rolled in. We can, however, offer information about who is on our side and what we think about our chances."

Several hands shot up and clamored over each other, yelling out their questions. Cooker laughed a bit and handed it back to Theo

"We will not be accepting any of your questions just yet," Theo chuckled at the eager men and everyone began to settle down, "To be candid with you on where we are at right now, we have a handful of nobles on each continent. More greater houses than we can count on one hand have joined the cause. And I have committed my fighting crew and my fleet. There are even some parties both among you and that have not come to this meeting that have already been long committed. But of course, most importantly, we have swaths of rebel cells rising up across Baethos that are ready to act at our command and with our support."

"So, why do you need us?" a roamer sitting close to her platform asked.

"I believe I did say they were ready to rise up with our support. They have all of the manpower, but none of the resources to harness it properly. We have the resources but lack the numbers to make it hurt The Center. Together, we are formidable," she answered.

"And why would we need to expend our resources? Doesn't make sense to get involved in something that drains our resources for nothing in return," he opined.

"I believe I also said no questions until the end. But I will indulge," Theo squatted down to be closer to his eye level, she motioned to him, "I would not be stupid enough to invite you all here without offering anything in return. What are your current qualms, sir?"

"With?"

"In your everysun business, as you navigate your trade. What are your biggest issues?" Theo rephrased.

"Solider's patrolling our routes. We pay the lords to turn a blind eye and then we have to pay the soldiers too," he scoffed, "Being taxed twice for passage is happening more and more."

"That sounds frustrating," Theo nodded and instead of making her point, she turned to someone else who had raised their hand earlier, "you have something?"

"Dangerous routes sink my merchandise. It's my biggest cost," they said, "but that is the life of a trader."

Someone else felt moved to confess their own struggles, "If a town has too much surveillance, it's hard to sell there but I can't sell anywhere else because those aren't my clientele. If they shut down my area for a sweep, I have no income for however long that lasts."

Theo nodded, silently giving her sympathies. She stood up and leaned against the table like Cooker had done.

"What I'm hearing is that the Center's rules and soldiers fuck things up, hm? Theo looked around, "and how do we feel about the merchant class? Those fuckers are synonymous with Baethos' rule. A few trading companies control the seas. They disguise themselves as smaller fleets, contract out captains and slap a different company name on the ships but we know it's all a select few merchant houses that are taking home the coin."

There was some uproar and she had hooked the traders and the roamers. Which is all she needed. With Uncilo's endorsement, she had the pirates in her pocket.

"My point here is that a successful revolution means there will no longer be a loss on your profits because of The Center. And, more importantly, you can use your fleets to fill the void that the merchant class will leave behind when we take down The Center and the last namers that have monopolized the trade of goods for hundreds of lengths. But success can only come if you expend your resources."

"To be clear, we are not offering you an opportunity to monopolize these routes yourself to make a disturbing amount of profit. We are saying you will be well-positioned to fill some of that void. There will be money in excess for you even if you are fair," Cooker warned.

Cooker couldn't help herself and Theo cleared her throat. That was not in their rehearsed speech.

"Cooker is right. A new world is what we want to create. If you agree to the revolution, you are also committing to not be baseless and corrupt when the time comes. Which I know is hard for many of you," she teased with a bit of a smile as she glanced around the room.

No one took offense. They laughed and Theo did not want to speak too soon but she hadn't turned anyone away from the looks on their faces.

"I hand selected each of you to be here today because I know that you are tired of them winning. I chose you because I know you are seeing the same shift I have been seeing. I chose you because I trust you all are the kind of strength this revolution needs. If there is a good chance at beating them once and for all, it's now and with all of you."

"If the promise of money and new business is not enough of a reason to join. And neither is a world free from The Center's prying eyes. Maybe altruism will be convincing enough," Cooker joined in on the teasing.

Theo tried not to laugh but she had to once everyone else started. She had once again gone off what they were going to say. But she didn't mind too much, Cooker was good with a crowd.

"Now, I'm sure there are many questions. Unfortunately, we probably only have half the answers but as pioneers in this, together, we can figure that out," Theo made one final appeal to their adventurous egos, "Before questions though, I'm sure you are all itching to talk about what we just said. I am not trying to corral you into a decision without time to consult with each other. I know some of you need the opinion of others to know where you land. So, how about I let everyone roam around, talk to each other, and exchange thoughts. I will have some food brought in and you can eat while we give everyone a bit of space."

Theo stepped back and began to walk out the back door. Xyra and Cooker followed, as did Iona and Morgana but Tuni stayed back along with several of the other officers.

They would keep their ears out under the guise of making sure the food was served and everything was going well. Her final statements were a lie on Theo's behalf, on top of blatant manipulation of their egos. They had plants among the crowds, like before. Answering questions, steering conversations in a positive realm. They had three distinct factions on their island. Something that everyone including her had downplayed. It was historic. Rarely did the three of them get together. It helped that they were not picked at random. They had chosen the most likely to get along, or at least the most likely to get along under the guise of making more money in the future.

She had confidence it would work out though. The three groups together was the least of the shocking things that had happened of late. Things were changing. It was like the very earth that gave them life had switched up a beat. Undetectable but still able to be sensed, somehow. Maybe she was going insane but she could feel the air and the ground rumbling around them, like the globe itself was waiting for the fall of The Center.

Still, no matter her confidence in securing the commitments and how well the groups appeared to get along, it would be a battle. Each had their own group thought. Each of them had an underlying understanding of their society and what was needed for its longevity. Not only did Theo need to make sure the factions weren't souring on each other, they needed to make sure the people within the group were not souring on their proposal. If one part of them began to turn, it was only a matter of time before that spread to the whole group. And then possibly even spread between the three. It was a dangerous thing if doubt got hold of them.

Which is why they needed to be proactive about anything of the sort taking hold. Planting positive thoughts and commentary helped their case. When the idea was introduced, Theo was slightly opposed, she didn't want anyone to join based on falsities or pressure. Cooker and Xyra insisted. They had all given up something. Cooker had to give up the idea of coughing up their own money. Theo had to give up playing the game in a clean way. And Xyra had to give up her sanity as she put up with Cooker and Theo and their strategizing for nights on end about how to approach certain parties.

"Good job," Iona squeezed Theo's shoulder with a smile "you too, Cooker."

"Aye, Cook. Good job," Theo turned to her, "you went off script though."

"You expected it," Cooker answered and Theo chuckled

"Xyra? Thoughts?"

"Many," she pulled out her small notebook, "let's walk."

—---------------------

After they left the meeting hall, the group of them waited around behind the hall. Their small holding area was out of view from the camp in front of the meeting space. So, Theo had their lunch brought there and they ate as a crew. It was just a select few officers and her, sharing a calm meal while the loudness from inside the meeting carried out to them. Once the food had been demolished, some of them shared a couple of havcera cigarettes. It was to not feel so full, but for Theo it was to not snap at any men when she inevitably had to go back inside to speak with them.

Eventually, they were ready to make their way back in but there was a blockage. Xyra was standing in front of the door, crossing her arms as she stared them down.

"Funding," she shot off in Theo's direction.

"We have strong financial backers. But we do need more. And the more we recruit, the less burden it is on the people who are committed. So it is in their interest to not only join for their future selves but get more people to join for their current pockets," Theo recited their pitch.

"Cooker?" Xyra turned to her.

"Aye. I get it. I know the lines," Cooker rolled her eyes as she waved her arm dismissively.

"Are you going to promise that our money is involved?" Xyra asked.

"No," Cooker huffed, "if they ask, I divert the conversation."

"Very good," Xyra praised, "Theo, are you going to act enthusiastic about this?"

"Have I not been all smiles and encouragement?" Theo faked a large grin.

"Good. Continue that behavior," she delivered similar praise then looked past them, "Mor, Iona. Keep an eye on them. You know what to look for. Step in if its getting out of hand."

"Woah! You didn't tell us you were having us watched," Cooker turned behind her, her brow furrowed.

"No. I did not," Xyra tilted her head, "That should not be a problem, right?"

"You have ripped me away from my autonomy," Cooker faced her again and pointed her finger.

"Are you shocked because you were intending to promise our money as a part of the existing resources?" Xyra asked.

"No," Cooker looked away, clearly lying, "of course not."

Theo laughed and turned to Iona who was her watcher if her proximity was any indication, "What are you looking for?"

Iona reached over and pushed Theo's cheeks up into a smile.

Theo swatted her away with another laugh.

"Pay attention," Xyra reached forward and grabbed both of their cheeks. She brought their faces close to her, "The one who secures the most commitments gets a prize."

"What prize?" Cooker asked through squeezed cheeks.

"You will just have to win to see, hm?" Xyra let them go.

"How will we keep track of the score? Any rules?" Cooker had been pulled in by Xyra.

Theo wouldn't fall for the shameless attempt to motivate them. They were not children. Well, she wasn't. Cooker was still up for debate.

"You cannot double dip. If you want to know who's been taken, check in with me. If you accidentally double dip, I will get one of the girls to tell you," Xyra set the rules, "I will keep score of who talks to whom. If your mark commits, you get the credit. Strategy is up to you."

"I cannot be bought so easily," Theo said.

"My offer stands, if you want to join in you can. If not, Cooker will get the prize no matter how many commitments she receives," Xyra didn't back down.

"Are you playing?" Cooker asked.

"Fine," she shook her head, not giving up the potential opportunity to beat Cooker, "but only because I want to make sure you don't get the prize."

"What makes you so sure you'll win?" Cooker laughed.

"Cooker, you are not even competition," Theo taunted.

And with that, Xyra stepped aside.

—--------------

They had said goodbye to the last of the visitors seven suns prior. Cooker had left three suns after that. She was going to Central Elox to visit with one of their biggest holdouts. The Gargow family, who she had the displeasure of having to speak with multiple times over the course of their visit. They were a trader family whose wealth had built over dozens of classifications. They had made their fortune on dragon's breath at the height of its popularity and grew so big they absorbed most of the routes between North and South Elox.

As such, they controlled the movement of illicit goods between the two parts of the continent and had only gotten richer because of it. The routes they lorded over were crucial to the revolution if they wanted to travel unseen. It would be a major strategic victory to have them on their side. The Gargow family should not have been hard to secure, they were always sympathizers of revolution, and their involvement should have been guaranteed.

But they wanted to be treated well. They wanted attention, so Cooker went to see them. Despite being a nox, they held her in high regard because of her Eloxian heritage. It was in her hands to bring back their commitment but Theo had faith in her.
Theo herself was on a mission, only a few hours away from sailing toward Northern Elox. Her end destination was Aubermasse. She would take their smallest ship in the fleet. A humble sloop. She was taking no officers with her, just a handful of sailors to man the ship. With such a small crew, she would need to get her hands dirty. It had been so long since she had been able to spend her suns sailing and she was looking forward to it.

The people she was taking were good at their jobs, two of them had even been with her since she was the captain of a single ship and not the general of the navy. She knew she was in good hands. Xyra was not brought the same comfort. She had been worried about the makeup of both Theo and Cooker's crew. But she could do nothing except sit back and watch them go.

Xyra would once again be left alone on the island to manage business. It wouldn't be long before they were back together again but the pressure on each of them made that short time feel like it would drag on. Theo was worried she wouldn't have gotten to say goodbye to her friend before leaving. She hadn't seen her all sun and with only a few hours from sailing, it was becoming less likely they would catch each other.

Then, Xyra walked into her quarters. Admittedly, it was a lot smaller than what Theo had gotten used to on the lightbringer and Xyra noted the same thing.

She raised an eyebrow and looked around, "You going to be alright in here, Your Highness?"

Theo laughed, "It's cozy. Not too bad. I'll be fine."

"I have brought you something," Xyra walked to Theo's bed where she had been lounging.

"What is it?" Theo sat up, throwing her legs back over the side of the bed.

"A gift," Xyra set it down next to Theo, "for a job well done."

"About time," Theo snatched the small box, "I should have won that."

"Rules were set beforehand. It was the number of commitments you got, not the ratio of commitments to rejections," Xyra rehashed it.

"I didn't get a single no. Everyone I've talked to has either committed or is leaning toward doing so," Theo pointed her finger at Xyra, still worked up about losing, "The only reason Cooker won is because she talked to more people and spent less time with each of them. She got to reach more people that way. I was careful, personable and very convincing. She had plenty of people flake." ,

"That was her strategy," Xyra said, "you also hogged all the people you knew would say yes. I would say your strategy was closer to cheating so you are lucky you were not disqualified."

"Well, as you said, terms were discussed beforehand and you said nothing about not doing it the way I did," Theo unwrapped the box and then opened it.

There were a few cigarettes, a whittling knife, and the journal Ava had given her with Ulises' writing. She reached for that first, pulling it out of the box and then looking up at Xyra, who smiled in return and nodded her head.

"You will not have much going on throughout your journey. It feels like a good time for you to read it," Xyra advised.

"It's good?" Theo flipped it in her hands, observing it even though she had stared at it for hours without opening it before.

"I think you will get a lot of answers you have always been looking for..." Xyra framed it.

"And I won't go mad over it?"

"I doubt it. It might make you sad though," she sat next to Theo.

"I think that is a given," Theo nodded and put the book next to her.

"What's wrong?" Xyra asked, silence had hung in the air for a second too long and it had given away that Theo was in her head.

"I used to get upset about not having them around for some of my big moments. But that hasn't been a thought in so long. Not since I was younger," she looked over at the book but left it untouched, "I don't want to go through that pain again. I don't want to get to that point where I am wondering what could have been..."

"That's called grief Theo. It does not all happen at once and then you are miraculously over it. You will feel that pain from the loss at certain moments," Xyra said.

"You are saying that from experience?" Theo raised an eyebrow.

"I have told you in the past that I think about my parents often."

"That was before we even had a ship. I didn't know you still did."

"I can barely remember my mother's face anymore but sometimes I grieve not having her around," Xyra confessed in a rare moment.

"And your father?"

"I remember him often and I still can see his face. I found him after he took his life and that image has never left me," Xyra said then composed herself, "the point is I love my life with you, I love my life here. I would not trade that for anything but that does not mean I do not grieve those I lost and what could have been."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"You shared the book with me, I wanted to let you in on something I have not been very vocal with in the past," she shrugged, a half smile on her face, "And to assure you that just because you miss a life with them in it does not make you unappreciative of the one you have."

"You should see about finding a Uteran temple. Sounds like spreading these teachings can be your new calling," Theo teased her, alluding to the god of wisdom. Xyra didn't smile and Theo shook her head with a chuckle. She took the knife and held it up, "Thank you. This is all very thoughtful."

"I heard that you said you misplaced your old one and I know you like to keep one around," Xyra said, she was explaining it casually as if there was not deep thought put into it.

Theo knew there was though.

"I'll make the girls something," Theo put the knife away.

Xyra raised an eyebrow.

"What's that face for?" Theo laughed at her and reached over to rub in between her eyebrows.

Xyra pushed her arm away, "You are showing something other than outward disdain for my nieces. It's quite a change."

"I like them and they know that," Theo chuckled, "I dont have to coddle them for that point to get across."

"Children deserve to be treated better than you treat them," Xyra disagreed, "but can we move on to what's pressing? I came here for a reason."

"You are the one that held us up with gifts and sentimentality," she joked.

Xyra moved past the blame, "Cooker is going to secure the Gargows. We are waiting on seven others to get back to us, I will be ready to receive those letters. Once we hear from them, we will have our list of stakeholders."

"You also will be receiving communication from Brandon about the stakeholders meeting. We need to get word out about that too to all of those that committed once we know more," Theo reminded.

"Aye, thank you, I am aware of my responsibilities."

"Just checking," Theo chuckled a bit, "you feel good about who we have?"

"Mhm. Few surprises," she noted.

"Oh, you mean Uncilo loudly and vocally committing himself and speaking highly about our crew?" Theo scoffed a bit and rolled her eyes, "not surprising given he wants something."

"Cut him a break, Theo. You asked him to commit. He did. He helped," Xyra said.

"I cannot believe you sometimes. You've taken up the habit of coming to his defense][
'and it's fucking unnerving. Not to mention frustrating," Theo stood up and walked to her desk, only a few steps away from her bed, "He committed to me privately and he could have continued to have those endorsement conversations with others in private but he made a show of it."

"Even if he wants something in return, the fact is that he delivered us all the pirates and even the roamers that have good relationships with him. We did not need to work hard for their approval at all. Uncilo gave his support and as a result, all we really had to work for were the commitments of the traders," Xyra followed, standing on the other side of her desk.

"He could have been subtler," Theo shot back.

Xyra sighed, "When you grow out of this phase of not knowing what forgiveness is, I am sure you will see how ridiculous you sound."

Theo shrugged, "I know how to forgive. I just choose not to."

"You are acting like a child when you should be acting like a general."

"I did not undergo a magic transformation the morning after I agreed to join. I am still the same person with the same immature tendencies," Theo shrugged.

"You are only immature when you want to be. You are perfectly capable of maturity beyond your lengths. Which makes your immaturity worse," Xyra judged but Theo just smiled at her, loving the slight frustrations she brought out of her first mate.

"You have too much belief in me," she teased a bit, "what we are discussing does not matter anyway. Uncilo did what he did and we are on track to get all the commitments we need."

"Do you feel successful?" Xyra asked.

"Aye. I do. I'm glad we only had to bring them to the table. Brandon and his folks are going to have to do all the heavy lifting to make sure they cough up their coin," Theo placed her arms behind her head and let it hang in her hands.

"You are dreaming if you believe that you are going to be let off so easily. You are the only one with brains that will be at the table," Xyra laughed at the hubris.

"Cooker will also be there."

"You will be the only one at the table with brains, common sense, and somewhat of an ability to know when to keep your mouth shut," she corrected herself.

Theo laughed but didn't answer the insult toward their sister.

"Do you know your mission with Red?" Xyra asked.

"Give her all my love," Theo teased.

"What has gotten into you? Be serious," Xyra said but she was cracking a smile.

"Sit. Smoke one of my cigarettes with me before you go and we can discuss," Theo offered.

Xyra pulled two out of her pocket and handed one to Theo, keeping the other. Then she sat down.

"You just keep a stash on you at all times?" Theo raised an eyebrow as she brought the cigarette to her nose, making sure it wasn't sard.

Xyra laughed and sat down, "I took these from your box before giving you your gift. I felt I had given you too many."

"Thank you for taking it upon yourself to control how much fun I can have," Theo laughed and wasted no time in lighting the tip against a burning candle on her desk.

"What is your mission with Red?" Xyra asked again.

"I've got to update her. Get any new intel or information she can provide," Theo handed the cigarette to Xyra who took it silently.

When she didn't speak up, Theo continued.

"We will be launching the strategy of guerilla tactics at the stakeholders meeting so I need to tell Red. We need to talk about the possibilities. What an attack looks like and maybe even what a good place to do it is. Maybe she has some insights from her time at home," Theo listed.

"And you need to craft a response with her. On top of needing to prepare her for the possibilities of what the first attack will look like and you need to brief her on how to answer that action. She can use that opportunity to propose firm action in response and ingratiate herself with the nobles but we cannot have it cause too much destruction," Xyra reminded, but Theo knew that.

They had talked about it at nauseam.

"I will be using the journey to think of actions we can take that would merit a response but would put the least amount of people in danger when retaliation occurs," Theo confirmed the rest of her mission.

"That will not be easy."

"No. It won't be," Theo took the cigarette back that Xyra had held out. She closed her eyes and leaned back on her chair.

She held a drag in her lungs until she couldn't and exhaled it, coughing slightly as she did.

"People will die, Theo," Xyra said and Theo snapped her eyes open, "Just because we have someone on the inside does not mean this is going to be a blood-free war. We are going head to head with an institution that has been around for hundreds and hundreds of lengths. We don't do that with no casualties."

Theo closed her eyes again, her stomach sinking at the reminder, "I know."

It kept her up at night. Knowing what was coming next was war and violence didn't sit right with her. She had been the culprit of many violent acts but this would be different. It would be on a massive scale and innocent people would fall victim to it. It was hard to justify. But so was watching innocent people be killed by The Center and doing nothing about it.

"How long are you planning on staying in Aubermasse?" Xyra asked, pulling her from stewing in her thoughts.

"By your tone, I am assuming you don't want me to stay long," Theo took another drag from the cigarette without handing it over.

"Please, do not. An hour, maybe," Xyra said.

Theo laughed, "That's impossible. I need at least a few hours. We need to be able to get through everything."

"No more than a full sun. I do not want you lurking around Aubermasse," Xyra commanded, "It is not a trip for pleasure, that is what Niveal was for. Do not let your infatuation with Red get you caught."

"I adore the support, thank you, Xy."

"I have given you the least shit about it. But you won't get much more time with her if you stay in the first place," Xyra defended her statement.

"I get it. No giving all my love to Lady Vaith," Theo teased.

"I find myself unable to fully wrap my head around that," Xyra said.

"Around what?"

"Lady Vaith. That is not odd to you?" Xyra reached over and forcibly pried the ravci from her hand.

"That she's a Vaith? I'm over it," Theo held her hand out impatiently even though she had been hogging the ravci the whole time.

"No, that the same naive, unknowing, bright-eyed idiot with too many questions and too much to say is now one of the most important people in Baethos. And doing so only two lengths after running away from home. Reported recluse to the heir," Xyra mused.

"You and I had different perspectives of her when we first met her, it sounds like," Theo laughed a bit as Xyra practically insulted Ava.

"Aye. I supposed I thought her to be too infantile. And her personality was abrasive," Xyra smiled at the irony, most people usually thought that about her personality, "You did not think of her like that at all?"

"No," Theo smiled at the memory of seeing Ava atop the entrance to the ship all that time ago, "what stood out to me was her stubbornness. Then her curiosity. It was not hard for me to spot that she was sheltered, behind the curve in certain areas, but I don't think infantile is how I would describe her."

"You are the same age, so that makes sense," she conceded.

"You are not much older than me. The older we get, the less percitabple our difference becomes."

"That is what you believe," Xyra handed back the cigarette.

"Captain, the infirmary is stocked with anything you might need," Tuni said as she walked into the room and placed a letter on her desk, "that is for Red. Give that to her and make sure to tell her that I am sorry."

"Hello Fortune. Thank you, I will," Theo opened her drawer and stored the letter inside.

"And tell her that I hope she is well. I hope that she is taking care of herself. And tell her that I love her. And that she is missed," she listed off.

"Of course. I will let her know," Theo nodded.

Tuni frowned, her hand coming up to her mouth. She picked at her thumbnail and Theo could read the anxiety all over her face.

"I am sure she holds no hard feelings toward you Tuni," Theo assured.

"I sent her to prison," Tuni shook her head.

"You are being hard on yourself." Xyra defended, "You were not the one responsible for that decision. She's forgiven the person who was culpable, I am sure you are in the clear. And I am also sure she will be very happy about the letter."

"I know what I have done. I do not need anyone's excuses. Please, get this letter to her," Tuni walked forward and gave Theo a kiss on the cheek, "have safe travels, child. Come back to us quickly."

Theo took her hand before she left and squeezed it, "Enjoy your time with Morgana. It's the first time neither of you has anything going on since before Corinspe."

"Thank you," Tuni nodded and then stepped out.

Xyra waited for a moment after she left then held out her hand, "Can I get my letter back?"

"No," Theo laughed "Why?"

"If Tuni gave her a letter it isn't as special and then it just looks cheap," she reasoned, shaking her hand for it.

"I have a stack of like seven letters to get to her," Theo kept her hand over her drawer, making sure it was shut, "I'm keeping it but I will tell hers that yours was the first."

"Because it was."

"I know it was," Theo shook her head.

Xyra was quiet but the thoughts were clear on her face.

"Alright. Out with it," Theo motioned to her.

"I do feel the need to tell you how much of a monumentally bad scenario this can turn out to be. Even if Viv isn't playing us and she isn't working for Vaith and Red continues to be loyal to our side of things, you are entering Vaith territory and possibly the Vaith estate. You are walking through doors that are filled with spies and the worst people that exist," Xyra said.

"I'm fully aware of the risk," Theo chuckled, "thank you."

Xyra sighed, "If you do not come back, I am withdrawing us from the revolution."

"Are you trying to incentivize me to come back or stay there?"

"You are a general now–"

"It was a joke," Theo cut her off, "and stop bringing it up."

"You are a general now and you need to at least act like you care about the rebellion you are heading up," Xyra continued.

"Partially heading up," Theo retorted.

"Read the journal. Will you? Sooner rather than later," Xyra rolled her eyes, shaking her head in exasperation.

"I will," Theo gave in, not knowing what the connection was between the two conversations.

Xyra stood up and walked to Theo, leaning down to press a kiss on her head, "I'm going to do some last checks to make sure I am not sending you off with a faulty ship and a shit crew. Then I will be back for my goodbyes."

She left the room right as someone else popped into the doorway. It was Mallory and Theo forced herself to not laugh when Xyra shot a scowl her way as they crossed paths.

"Can I come in?" Mallory asked, peeking her head into the room, oblivious to Xyra's affront.

"Of course, come in. Apologies for not attending to you more. I am afraid you've caught the crew at the worst time to join," Theo stood up to greet her with a smile, "Had you been here a few lengths ago, you would have gotten the crew-wide welcoming your sister did."

"That's fine. I have felt plenty welcomed," Mallory smiled as she stepped into the room, "I came to ask if you would deliver something to my sister."

She held out a letter.

Theo chuckled and stepped forward to take it from her, "Aye. I will make sure this gets to her. Don't mention it to Xyra."

"Why?"

"Never mind, sorry," Theo shook her head, "Anything else?"

"Make sure she knows I am alright. And happy. And that I am also sorry if I caused a lot of grief at Aubermasse. I hope it went smoothly."

"I will let her know," Theo said and Mallory curtsied in response. She went to walk out but Theo stopped her, "Hold on. You don't have to rush off. How has your first half cycle been?"

Mallory paused and smiled at the question, "It doesn't feel like that much time has passed."

"When the crew is bustling, the suns speed by," Theo acknowledged, "How are you enjoying your accommodations so far? It's only temporary so if you hate it, hopefully it won't be for long."

"Oh," Mallory waved off the concern, "I am having no issues. I am staying at Cooker's place."

"You are?"

"Agnes offered me their extra room," Mallory smiled, "Florence and Maise were supposed to have different rooms but Flo won't sleep without Maise. Did you not know?"

"No one told me," Theo said.

She tilted her head, "It seems like everyone knows everything but it also seems as if no one actually says anything."

"A paradox I have not been able to solve," Theo laughed, "pirates are not immune to the love for gossip though, I can tell you that. So if you tell one person, consider it known by everyone."

"Thank you for the advice," Mallory laughed, "do you have any for dealing with Xyra? I am a bit scared to be alone with her."

"Agnes is staying on the island, just hide behind her and you will be fine," Theo teased, "she is not a threat. I promise. You do not need to hide behind anyone, she is more bark than bite. I don't have much advice but Xyra has particular things she values. If you find those, you might get on her good side."

"Can you share any?"

"I cannot. Unfortunately, her not being a threat only extends to people that are not me or Cooker," Theo stepped toward her exit, "I'm going to join Xyra in her last checks of the ship. Want to tag along? She might appreciate you taking an interest in learning."

"Do I have to learn anything though?" Mallory asked.

"No," Theo assured her as she stepped out, "but we are going to make Xyra believe you are soaking it all in."

"Is that something she values then?" Mallory followed along.

"I cannot say for certain," Theo shrugged with a bit of a smirk as she shut the door behind Mallory.