It was a small comfort to Grey that Finnean hadn’t meant to put the chestnut pony to sleep, but had instead mixed up his sleeping cubes and his snacking cubes. The result was the same, and the horse had taken a significant amount of effort to un-hitch from the cart.

  Callum loaded Sara in beside the chests on the cart, making sure to wrap her in a canvas he found in the alley. Akula helped Finnian and Grey drag the remainder of the Storm Eel unit into an unlocked warehouse. While the captain would normally have the three clean up their own mess, there was some concern that Callum’s explosion would draw a late-night guard or worker.

  Callum and Grey each hefted a shaft of the cart and started the long drag back through Saphir. It wasn’t long until they were struggling up the dock to the Paso Fino. It was dawn by the time they made it up the ramp, but the sailors on deck paid them no mind.

  They did get a raised eyebrow from Nessa, who was perched on the great cabin’s wooden overhang, listening to the tide change. She often greeted the dawn in that very spot, with her legs folded under and her arms loosely resting on her knees.

  Today, she was in tide sage raiments that Grey had never seen before, but it made sense that Lotti would drag her to the shops in Saphir. It would be their last chance in some time to find quality robes and culottes.

  A tide sage didn’t wear stormsilks, but instead used tools specific to read the flow of water and to influence the Velor within. Grey wasn’t exactly sure what the dense, metal drops that hung from Nessa’s raiments were made of, but she knew they were wildly expensive. Whether it was Lotti paying more for stormsilks or Nessa paying more for dowsing pearls was entirely dependent on where they docked.

  A tide sage also made it their business to have intimate knowledge of the moon, sun, and earth, and their relation to each other, but every branch of water sage wore the small droplets sewn into their raiments. According to Nessa, they pulled with the Velor in the water, much as Lotti’s stormsilks rode the Velor in the air.

  Nessa was captivating in her aegean blue raiments and their silver trappings. Her long, midnight hair was down; unusual for most of her day, but common when she greeted the dawn. Her raised eyebrow was accompanied by a smile, and both Akula and Finnean grinned back.

  Callum had the cargo steward assemble a crew to offload the chests and tuck them safely into the armory. He then slung Sara, canvas and all, over his shoulder. He would tie and lock her in the anchor housing at the bow, as was custom on the rare occasion they had a prisoner on the ship. He would also pull a decent grounder to watch the door.

  Grey spent the day running the new grounders ragged on the stomp deck, and the evening passed out against a tan cushion at Almonte’s while Lotti and Finnean played dice. She had not been called by the Captain to deal with the Storm Eel’s ebbjack, and she imagined he was handling it personally, for now. By the time her head hit the feather-stuffed pillow at her dockside inn, she was long dead to the world.

  The following morning, Grey ascended the ramp to the Paso Fino, feeling refreshed. She admired the intricate saltwood rails as she crested the ramp. The ship was finally starting to feel like home.

  Callum had ten grounders in plank on the stomp deck, and judging by the sweat pooled under their heads, he had had them there awhile.

  She nodded at him, and he retired, looking ready for his bed at the Rotted Keel. He had slept while Grey ran the gala the day before, but the tone of the ship had noticeably shifted the closer they came to launch, and dealing with busy sailors always irritated him.

  There were only two days left before the crew would set sail, and tensions among the officers were high. Grey was glad she would have the new grounders to focus on; she wouldn’t want to sit still, or the excitement might rot into stress.

  With the help of Coraline Almonte, not the Magistrate, the captain had found a new quartermaster. Lucky for him, the man happened to come along with a new purser. Grey assumed she would meet them today, but that that would be the extent of her social obligations.

  Grey set the grounders to a basic movement pattern. They would wait for her cue to release from their plank, into a held crouch. Then, they would wait for her signal to transition into running in place, which most viewed as a rest. She would call a real rest if too many fell out, and then start in again.

  She waved at Nessa, who was in her favorite perch. So close to weighing anchor, she would spend even more time listening to the tide to prepare. Her slate blue robes draped over the rounded teak awning, giving Grey the impression of an abyssal squid.

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  Nessa’s eyes drifted past Grey, registering something behind her. Grey turned in time to greet Aisling as she walked smoothly up the ramp. The sway of the ship did not affect her, which was impressive for a merchant that likely spent most of her time on the shore.

  Grey didn’t know what she had expected, but she was still taken by surprise by the woman’s appearance. Instead of the finery Grey was now accustomed to, Aisling was in the dark ebbjack gear that Grey was accustomed to seeing Finnean in. It was a jarring shift from the intricate, expensive gowns.

  That’s not to say that the attire was cheap; the tunic, cloak, and loose pants were clearly of the finest cut. She wore the hood down and the cloak open, revealing a dark navy sash with embroidered gold trim. The addition signaled that she had earned her set as a seawarden.

  She wore her hair pulled back in a tie, with only a few loose strands escaping around her face. The style revealed her sharp features and high cheeks, making her look like the predator Grey was starting to assume she was.

  Grey had not met her retainers yet, but she assumed they must be the two men who followed her up the ramp. They carried a few small chests and bags, and Grey wondered if that was all the three were bringing on board.

  “I wasn’t expecting you until tomorrow.” Grey started lamely.

  Aisling smiled, knowing that she had caught Grey off-guard. “I’ve been a few months on dry land, Lieutenant Devries. I want some nights moored in harbor to get my sea legs back.”

  She glanced back before continuing. “I thought my men could have some days attending your gala.” She paused again and looked behind Grey. “Me as well if you require it.”

  Grey had forgotten about the men and women behind her, stuck in a plank. Grey yelled, “Rest!” and they fell to the saltwood boards.

  “Neither will be necessary, unless it’s something you prefer, Madame. Or do you favor Warden Lieutenant on board?” Grey asked.

  Aisling motioned for her retainers to stack the items by an empty rail. “No.. Madame will do. Until we’re ready to drop the formalities.” Aisling offered a small smile to Grey, who looked down and cleared her throat, suddenly tight.

  Then, she continued, “I would like my men to participate. I think it will go a long way in fostering camaraderie with your grounders. I’ll pass... I attend to my own relationships.”

  “Very well. Whenever they’re ready.”

  The men immediately walked out onto the stomp deck, filing in. Without breaking Aisling’s eye contact, Grey yelled, “Begin!” The grounders’ break was over.

  Aisling glanced behind her again. “Are they doing well? Your recruits? I hear many drop off in the gala.”

  “Better than expected,” Grey replied. “Though you are correct, we usually only manage to keep half, and don’t tell them…” Grey smiled. “But half of those again are dead within the year. Is it not this way in the wardens?”

  “No... their training, and the protection of our force, keep recruits well sheltered. The majority never leave the port at Etos until promotion. Those on the front, of course, have a much higher mortality rate.”

  Grey stopped to help a sailor hoist a halyard he was struggling with, and Aisling leaned against the rail, watching.

  After a moment, she continued, “Did you clear grounder ranks before obtaining your riptide crest? I know this is the most common way.”

  Grey turned back to Aisling and smiled. She yelled, “Switch!”

  After a pause, she replied, “Yes, I am well-sea hardened, and was long a grounder, but you must know that after your inquiries after the crew.”

  Aisling let out the second genuine laugh that Grey had heard since meeting her. “Do you not want me to make conversation?”

  Grey considered. “I enjoy our conversation, but let’s skip the part where you pretend that I’m a clay-headed sailor. I am not in my position solely due to my handsome features.” Grey capped the statement with a grin, not wanting the woman to think she was being hostile.

  “I appreciate your bluntness... and your features,” Aisling replied, looking up at Grey thoughtfully. Grey thought the comment wasn’t overly inappropriate, but it was skirting the edge of being too forward.

  Though Grey enjoyed the attention from the clever woman, she felt uncomfortable. She was not shy around confident women. In fact, she appreciated anyone who knew what they wanted. She supposed the thorn growing in her side was that she wasn’t sure Aisling did. Grey didn’t believe it was malicious, but she also wasn’t sure she had time for it. Once again, she felt toyed with.

  So, she asked. “Where will you be staying, Madame Byrne? I assume the captain has arranged quarters. I can show you the way. Help carry your effects.”

  “Leave the luggage for my men, but I will take you up on that, Lieutenant Devries. If they can be left,” Aisling motioned toward the grounders running in place, “you can give me the full tour.”

  Grey turned and yelled, “One minute on, two off!” to her recruits and the merchant’s retainers. Aisling was still leaning on the rail. She stood and looked around. Grey thought she almost looked unsure.

  Grey offered her arm, and Aisling perked up, looping her arm inside. They walked together toward the bow. As close as she was now, Grey could smell the subtle scent of her skin and hair. It reminded her of something from her childhood, almonds and earth, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it.

  Despite her original reservations, she tucked the woman in closer to her as they started towards the stern.

  On the great cabin’s overhang, eyes half lidded, Nessa raised an eyebrow.