For Tanden, the following days passed in a sort of blur. He trusted Soren and Ivern to handle the crew. With Jale's help as a translator, Soren and Ivern traded cargo, resupplied the Wanderlust, and paid for some minor repairs. Soren saw that Jale was paid what they owed her as a ranger, and wrote up the paperwork for her to become a sailor. Jale used the money to pay one of her siblings to watch over her house, and the fees for leaving the Wayfarer and kyloe at the caravan depot. She and Ara moved onto the Wanderlust once the rooms were prepared. Ara glued himself to Jale's side, and they were almost always seen together.

It was the evening of their fourth day back on the Wanderlust when Soren forced Tanden out onto the deck. He trailed after Soren despondently, and leaned against the bulwark beside him to face the ocean. He didn't see anything that immediately seemed interesting. Little boats were moving around as they always did, and far beyond them the sky was turning orange as the sun fell closer to the horizon.

Tanden sighed. "Why did you bring me out here?"

Soren gestured at one of the boats. A dainty little white cutter with one mast and triangular sails.

A Deoran cutter.

Tanden perked up. "Is that the Waterborne? She's beautiful." Given the news about Tandar, he had completely forgotten about the little sailboat. It didn't help that he hadn't been spending any time on deck, so he hadn't seen her.

Soren smiled. "I knew that would excite you. The lads took me out on her yesterday. She moves really well, for a Deoran ship."

Tanden laughed. "Of course, you would rather a Crelan cutter."

"We are the best shipbuilders." Soren smacked the bulwark. "There's a reason you commissioned the Wanderlust from Crele. But like I said, she's a good little ship. Ivern and Jerios picked well. And she tucks away nicely on the starboard side. Aye, she's replacing a few rowboats, but I'd say she's worth it."

"She's beautiful," Tanden repeated. He hadn't looked away. The little ship was weaving back and forth through the water. "Look at how sharply she can turn. Incredible. I want to take her out, call her back. Who is that, anyway?"

"Roan and Jerios." Soren waved at someone, and a moment later the Wanderlust's bell was ringing cheerfully. The Waterborne turned and glided smoothly towards them. She neatly came up beside them, and Soren tossed a rope down.

Tanden leaned over the bulwark. "That was nicely done, lads."

"Does most of the work herself, cap'n," Roan replied. "Glad you like her, though, 've been gettin' fond of her myself. Would've been a shame t' sell her off for some rowboats."

"Has she been useful?"

"Yes," Jerios replied. "There were a few times when Ivern sent me and Roan ahead to a port before bringing the Wanderlust in, so we could talk to the harbourmaster about where to moor her."

"Reckon she'd be good for rivers, too, if we head back into the Morcean lakes, cap'n," Roan added.

"I had the same thought. All right, lads, Soren and I are going to get acquainted with her." He swung a leg over the bulwark so he could climb down. Soren followed him a moment later, and Roan and Jerios climbed back onto the Wanderlust. Soon, Soren and Tanden were sailing away.

Tanden felt his spirits lift as the Waterborne flew across the waves. While Soren handled the sails, Tanden stood at the tiller and steered. The brisk wind whipped back his hair and made him feel awake for the first time in days. This was where he belonged, out on the water. The endless ocean spreading out in front of him.

Aside for a few directions, they didn't speak. Tanden steered them in circles around the port, zipping around larger ships and past other small fishing boats. The Waterborne responded quickly to every slight turn of the tiller or sail adjustment, like an eager horse. By the time Tanden called to Soren to lower to the sails so they could drift slowly, he had firmly decided that they were keeping the little boat.

Tanden sat with his back turned to the setting sun, facing the port. After tying off various ropes Soren sat down beside him. They were far enough out that they could see most of the port, stretching in either direction. In front of them, in the middle of it all, was the Wanderlust. It wasn't a view Tanden usually had. Usually when he saw the ship from a distance he was on land, peeking between buildings or looking down on the port from above. He never saw her from across water.

A few lanterns glowed on her deck. On her tallest mast, two flags fluttered gently. Behind her, Esler Till sprawled out. The horizon behind the city was bumpy because of Tigo's hills and mountains. Nothing like the perfectly flat horizon of the ocean.

Tanden reached for Soren's hand. He felt calm in a way he hadn't since reading Tandrael's letter. The little cutter bobbing beneath him was soothing. Looking at his elegant Wanderlust from bow to stern made it easier to appreciate how lucky he was to have her. To live the life he had. Exploring with Soren.

They sat in silence as the sun sank and the sky darkened. The winds slowed and the water perfectly reflected the stars. Tanden looked at the beauty around them, and he let himself get lost in memories of his brother. Soren was quiet the entire time, patiently letting Tanden work his way through his thoughts.

A cloud drifting over the moon was what finally broke Tanden out of his reverie. He lifted their clasped hands to kiss Soren's fingers, then let go and stood up.

"What are you doing?" Soren asked.

Tanden smiled. "You remember my theory about the gods?"

Soren was quite clearly puzzled, but he nodded. "That they all exist and talk to each other."

"Exactly. So that means that even though I can't go to a temple and thank the Goddess for greeting Tandar warmly, I can do this." He dove off of the side of the Waterborne. The cool water was a shock in a pleasant way. Tanden surfaced and grinned when he saw Soren at the edge of the boat, wrapping the painter rope around his wrist.

"Don't tell me you're worried about drowning." Tanden laughed.

"I was more worried about the Waterborne drifting away while I dragged you back to the surface."

"Soren, mate, I'm an exceptional swimmer." Tanden moved closer to the boat and draped his arms over the gunwale. "Are you going to come in with me?"

"You're an idiot."

Tanden laughed again. He reached up to stroke Soren's cheek, then slipped his hand behind Soren's neck and tugged him closer. Soren leaned down to meet him halfway, warm lips against salty cold ones. Tanden pulled away first and kicked off from the side of the Waterborne to float a little further away. He spread his arms and legs and let the water hold him up.

"Roe," he said, staring at the sky but addressing the ocean god. "Or if you would rather be called the Old God of the Sea. I'm still not convinced you're the same person. Either way, please pass my respects on to the Goddess and let her know that I thank her for taking care of Tandar and inviting him into her Realm. My big brother has more than earned his spot with her."

"I've never heard you pray before," Soren said.

"Oh, no, I'm a terrible worshipper," Tanden replied. "I can tell you about every Teltish prophet and all of the Goddess' Laws. But I can't tell you the last time I was actually in a church. Probably when Rael's eldest son was born. But I'm sure the Goddess won't hold my disrespect against Tandar. Are you coming in?"

"The boat's going to drift away."

"I prayed in the cave. Maybe that's why you found me."

Soren managed to slip into the water so quietly that Tanden didn't realize he was out of the boat until Soren's arm snaked around his waist. Tanden struggled playfully and swam away from him. Soren was tethered to the Waterborne, so he couldn't keep up. It almost made him an easy target. They swam and splashed each other until Tanden's elbow started to ache.

Soren hauled himself into the boat first, then helped Tanden up. Tanden flopped onto the bottom of the boat, tired but happy.

"Are you just goin' to be a useless lump, then?" Soren asked as he stepped around Tanden.

"I suppose that wouldn't be fair." Tanden dragged himself over to the tiller. As Soren let down the sails, Tanden turned the boat so they would catch the wind. Soren sat beside him as they skimmed back towards the Wanderlust.

Two days later they were ready to leave. Tanden stood at the helm, wearing his long blue Crelan jacket and shouting orders. Soren darted around with the rest of the crew, managing lines. The further they got from the port the more things felt like they were getting back to normal.

It was cloudy and windy, and they quickly cleared the other ships and began to sail south. Soren didn't know exactly where they were heading, Tanden hadn't said. But no matter what it was going to take some time to get there. When things calmed down on deck and there was less to do, Soren climbed up to the quarter deck.

Jale and Ara were there, staying out of the way as they watched the launching process for the first time. Jale was fitting in with the crew quite nicely. After some pushback on the first few days, she had quickly gained most of the men's respect by helping speak to the Tallenese carpenters who had been hired for some repairs. In front of nearly half the crew, she had berated the carpenters for a handful of careless mistakes. They had apologized and fixed their mistakes, as well as offering a discount for the work.

Now Jale stood further back on the quarter deck, holding the nearby shrouds as the Wanderlust dipped and rose with the waves. It was chilly in the wind, and she had reluctantly agreed to wear clothing more suited to sailing than her furry jacket. Still, she had her wool hat pulled over her hair.

Soren smiled and stepped up beside her. "You'll get used to the movement. And the wind. It'll warm up as we go further south."

Jale shot him a look. "If I don't get used to it, you're turning this ship around and taking me home."

"Anything for you, Ranger Lirajaleanor," Tanden called over his shoulder.

Jale opened her mouth to shoot back some sort of taunt, but Ara appeared beside her, chatting animatedly. He loved the ship, even though the crew wasn't sure what to make of him. His profession must have been obvious, but Soren hadn't heard any of the crew discussing him. Ara continued to wear Jale's jewellery, braid his hair nicely and put the black makeup around his eyes. He had even done his best to dress up the plain clothes Soren had bought for him. He was so pretty, and his excitement was so endearing, Soren knew it was only a matter of time before some of the crew started to pay him closer attention. He wasn't sure how he felt about that.

Soren interrupted the conversation Ara and Jale were having. "So, what are you talking about?"

"How strange it is to see the city like this," Jale said. "I've travelled a lot, but we've both lived in Esler Till our whole lives. Leaving the empire is a little scary. He's also very excited to see Morcea."

"He isn't going to want to stay in Morcea, is he?" Soren asked.

Jale shook her head. "No. He's just excited. And he's a little nervous about his Morcean."

"Isn't he fluent?"

"Of course. So am I." Jale let go of the shrouds and crossed her arms against the chilly wind. Soren wasn't sure if she even noticed that she already felt more comfortable with the swaying ship. "But we have accents. Tanden's Morcean is better than ours. At least, it's cleaner. He sounds closer to other Morcean people I've met."

Ara, bored of listening to them talk in Teltish, wandered over to Tanden and started peppering him with what sounded like questions. Soren's gaze trailed after him, but he didn't realize he was staring until Jale laughed.

"Careful. Your men are going to recognize that look."

"What look? I wasn't looking," Soren protested.

She shook her head, still laughing. "Oh, poor Soren. An eetorikey and an eeto. That's unusual."

"Are you saying that I'm both?"

"I'm saying that you have both," Jale said. "But I guess that also means you are both, doesn't it? Very unusual."

Soren looked over at them again. Tanden, his jacket flapping gently in the wind, one arm draped casually over the helm as he replied to a question. Ara, dressed up for a brothel as opposed to a ship, listening to every word attentively. Soren sighed. "I don't think it's going to be that simple," he admitted.

"No?" Jale rose an eyebrow. "You're worried about him, aren't you? Your men don't know what to think of him."

"Crelans have a saying," Soren said. "Things happen at sea. It sort of gives sailors permission to..."

"Sleep with men?" Jale guessed. "Your people are so strange. Why does anyone care?"

"I don't know," Soren said. "The point is, Crelan sailors will look the other way. There aren't usually women working on ships, so they only have each other for months."

Jale nodded slowly. "Is that why your crew accepts you and Tanden?"

"No, they all know that Tanden and I are more than that. I guess I'm just worried that some of the crew, some of the Crelans, probably, might start to pay attention to Ara." Soren glanced at Jale to see her eyes narrow.

"Are they going to start to pay attention to me? Because I'll hit anyone who tries anything. You probably have consequences for fighting, but I don't care."

Soren shook his head. "No, the men are better behaved than that. Once they know you aren't interested, they'll leave you alone. The problem is that Ara might be interested."

"Ah." Jale grinned at him. "I don't think you have to worry about that."

"Why not? Has he said something?"

"When he's not talking about the ship and Morcea, he's talking about you," Jale said. "So does Tanden just spend all night translating when you three—"

Soren was spared from hearing the end of the question when Tanden suddenly called his name. "Soren! Do you think you're on break, mate?"

"Just explaining some things to Jale, Captain," Soren replied.

"I know. I can hear you," Tanden said.

Soren, without bothering to lower his voice at all, turned back to Jale. "I hope you're ready to meet a whole new side to him. The demanding Captain."

Jale laughed while Tanden glowered across the deck with mock indignation.

"Get to work," he called.

"Yes, sir," Jale replied, giving him a lazy salut.

"Aye, Captain," Soren corrected. "You want to be a proper sailor, you'll have to learn to talk like us."

Jale rolled her eyes. "I'll figure out the words later. For now, show me the ropes."

"Let's start with the mizzen," Soren said. He laughed at her expression and gestured towards the mast closest to them. "This one. Like I said, you're going to have to learn to talk like us."

Jale groaned good naturedly. "All right. Let's get to it."

Soren was more than happy to get on with the lesson.