After the boarding hooks were removed and a few remaining Langur sailors executed or shoved back on their ship, Grey spent the better part of the afternoon dragging bodies off the deck and toppling them over the rails to the Myriad. The Paso Fino sailors who fell in the battle were being prepared for a short naval service that evening, and the injured were being tended to in the dorms.

  Rory and what remained of her crew that were able worked steadily to repair the Paso Fino’s damage. They would work in shifts through the night, ensuring the ship wouldn’t take on any more water than necessary.

  In total, they were down a dozen crew members, with as many more seriously injured. The majority were grounders, as was typical. For the night, the officers would give up their quarters to those who needed them the most, Aisling and the captain included.

  Their losses would have been much higher if not for the archsages. Grey suspected that stopping the Storm Eel had altogether saved the Paso Fino that day.

  Grey had attended Lotti’s arrow wound, all while the resilient woman continued pushing them into the Myriad. As she pulled the arrow and dressed the puncture, Lotti explained their achievement.

  While defending the Paso Fino, Nessa drove the waves under the Storm Eel towards Saphir. Predictably, the enemy Sages took the action as her attempting to slow them down, and fought it accordingly by pushing the ship aggressively toward the Paso Fino. Undetected by their tide sages, Lotti was busy whipping up a force of wind several ship lengths ahead of the Storm Eel, which she hoped their wind sages would not notice until it was too late.

  At the last moment, Nessa had reversed her pull, dragging the ship towards the Paso Fino. Combined with the efforts of their sages, The Storm Eel surged forward unnaturally. It slammed into Lotti’s gale with such force that it tore through their sails and snapped the foremast. How the two women had coordinated their efforts so seamlessly was a mystery that Lotti didn’t expand on.

  The Langur’s physical assault on Lotti was mirrored on Nessa, but the tide sage didn’t have a scratch. With Finnian’s support from above, the captain had put down the Langur’s remaining two riptides and three ebbjacks. After, he had plunged his sword through the neck of the Langur’s captain. No doubt the man was trying to surrender, but he was not worth leaving alive.

  When the dust settled, the group’s injuries totaled to Callum’s broken nose, a gash on Aisling’s right arm, and the stray arrow Lotti caught with her shoulder.

  They would pick up more sailors in Barlosa, though the ship would hurt from the loss of the experienced ones. Grey wasn’t terribly worried that the Storm Eel would try again. Their repairs would take weeks, and with the cost involved, it would be difficult to restart their pursuit.

  After the service that evening, the riptides, sages, ebbjack, merchant, and the captain brought bedrolls to the deck to give space to the injured. Lotti’s arm was in a sling, but she refused her quarters, instead digging in next to Grey and Nessa.

  Aisling tried to settle on the deck under the great cabin overhang, but as Lotti passed the merchant, she snatched the bedroll from her hands. Without saying a word, the sage carried it up the stairs and dropped it on the teak planks next to hers.

  The group fell asleep as the stars screamed across the sky in the first meteor shower of the summer. Grey thought it was a fitting end to a trying day.

  ***

  The trip to Barlosa was uneventful, if not long. Several more sailors fell to their injuries, but that was to be expected without access to professional healers or a blood sage. Rory kept the ship afloat, and Gideon kept them on course. The sages and grounders mostly recouped.

  After docking in port, Grey gathered all of her sailors and took them to shore. She personally paid for a line of sun veils, hoping to give them a break from the ship and boost morale. She chose one a little separate from the rest for herself, not wanting to keep them from truly letting loose.

  Barlosa was certainly much smaller than Saphir, but still large for a city in the Myriad. The surrounding island was diverse enough to support the far-flung location, though some merchants would still make the trip to sell goods.

  It was mostly a stopover for official Etosian merchants carrying bulk goods to Mayacar. As such, the port was massive to accommodate the sanctioned trade Galleons and their accompanying Man-of-Wars. The Paso Fino looked a little ridiculous against the large operations, though it generally dwarfed other free-trade ships.

  Grey liked Barlosa. It was a self-functioning city, full of shops that catered to the residents, instead of sailors, travelers and merchants. It’s adobe buildings sprawled in a nonsensical way, leading visitors to amble down paths they had never taken before.

  The residents were honest and giving, a far cry from the Chaos driven Saphir, but there was a freedom there that the rest of Etos sorely lacked, especially the closer you sailed to Nochebraga. Barlosa was the perfect blend of peace and adventure that she had found.

  After a short trek, Grey sunk into the freshwater tub in her sunveil, feeling the rush of calm after almost a month of bathing in sea water. Though she had always been a relatively clean, regular baths were rare for a sailor. In her current position she felt compelled to have the water delivered daily. She could afford it and wanted to set a good example for the often disgusting team she commanded.

  The cold water pumped some life into her veins. She grabbed her packs and spread the contents through her large canvas tent, giving them as much order as she could. For the rest of her day, she chose a sage collared tunic that Lotti had gifted her. Her friend thought it matched her eyes, and Grey found she agreed.

  The rest of her leathers remained the same, but she resolved to drop them at a leathersmith today to be repaired and oiled. She had also decided to buy an additional set, finally relenting to Lotti’s prodding. With the active nature of the venture ahead, she would need to use her current for backup components.

  After she dressed, Grey started up the sand-packed path to the closest district. There were no merchant-only or government-only sections of the city. Instead, the shops were dispersed among the residents, with bars, taverns, and inns scattered between.

  She would meet Lotti and Aisling today for a midday meal. She wasn’t sure that she would make it much longer than that. The toll of the battle and the stress of the following week was starting to catch up to her.

  She arrived at the white-washed square adobe in the early afternoon. Its tan curtains and shades were whipping in the sea breeze, foretelling an incoming storm. Lotti had already advised the crew on the activity, but with the repairs needed to the Paso Fino, sailors that needed hiring, and supplies that should be topped off, Akula had no choice but to ignore the warning.

  In any case, Myriad storms were unpredictable, even for a skilled whisper. It could end up being a whole lot of nothing.

  Lotti and Aisling sat at a booth near the back of the tavern. They laughed loudly in the empty space, raising an eyebrow from the barkeep. Grey thought it interesting that the weeks had seen them develop into friends. Besides a few jokes while Grey looked at her wound, Aisling had not made any more advances. The battle had forced a more serious tone on their relationship.

  Grey started towards the table, navigating the teak and canvas booths and chairs between. Lotti looked at ease in her best raiments and short stormsilks. She wore her long curls down and they stirred on her shoulders as she laughed.

  As she got closer to the Sage, Grey’s chest seized with a pang of the fear she felt ascending the stairs to the bow. Her jaw clenched and her shoulder ached. She stuffed it down as quickly as she could.

  Aisling looked beautiful in a sleeveless linen dress, and though it was more casual than her finery in Saphir, it stood out in the roadside tavern. The locals were giving her plenty of space. Though not untasteful, the cut was not necessarily modest and spoke to the confidence and funds of a powerful woman. It certainly didn’t help that she was seated with an Archsage.

  Grey pulled a chair to the back of the table next to Lotti, her back to the cool wall. The women greeted her excitedly, both in great moods after their own freshwater tubs. Lotti smelled strongly of her honeysuckle and lavender, and Grey could make out Aisling’s earth and almond from where she sat.

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  Grey was careful not to bump Lotti’s injured arm. “How’s your arrow catcher, Sage?” she asked.

  Lotti rolled her eyes. “It hurts you big mule.”

  Grey grinned at her friend. “Well, we will have matching fucked up shoulders.” Grey rolled her right shoulder, remembering the sword biting into it on the Dusk Isles. “Though, I’ve still got a full set of fingers.”

  Lotti glared as Aisling looked up and asked, “Do you have a similar injury, Lieutenant?”

  Lotti barked out a laugh, “Have you not already seen it?”

  Aisling didn’t look embarrassed, but kept her confident demeanor. “Maybe I’ll have a look soon.” Her hazel eyes drifted over Grey like she was purchasing a horse. Lotti rolled hers again. “For now, tell me the story.”

  Grey ignored the two and put her drink in with the serving man. Barlosa was far enough north to start growing hops, and the ale here was cheap and quality. Lotti and Aisling’s tankards were half empty already, so she ordered them two as well.

  Lotti embellished their stay on the Dusk Isles, as she was known to. The tale was only halfway through when their meal arrived. Grey knew Lotti had already ordered for her, and was looking forward to whatever the Sage had chosen.

  As Lotti continued the account, Grey started in on the orange and honey duck that centered the table. Duck was her favorite, though it wasn’t at its best until it started being seasoned in styles that escaped Mayacar. The steam that rose from the full bird smelled of lemongrass and tamarind.

  To accompany the dish, there was cut papaya and mint, along with a plate piled high with pan-fried vegetable rice. Grey was pleased that the duck was perfect, with a crispy exterior and tender meat. She made a note to return.

  The women started on their second tankards when Lotti wrapped up the story. Aisling looked thoughtful before speaking.

  “It’s no wonder you two are so close.” she finally said.

  Lotti replied, “Yes, for better or worse.” She grinned and then paused, changing her mind mid-thought. When she spoke again, she was serious. “No... truthfully, Grey is my only family. Neither of us had sense when we met, so I don’t hold anything from then against us. We grew together as leaders and companions.”

  She traced the handle of her tankard before looking up. “I don’t see a circumstance where we would part with each other.” She held Aisling’s eye contact and then changed her mood with a laugh.

  “Grey will eat all of the dessert if we don’t act.” In fact, Grey was exercising great willpower; the Keep had dropped guava goat cheese stuffed pastries while the women talked. The Myriad dessert was a favorite, and Lotti often ordered them for her. She couldn’t keep her eyes from wandering to the plate.

  Grey started contributing more to the conversation when the last of the meal had been cleared. She had been wanting to talk to Aisling about her skill in the Langur’s ambush but hadn’t found a way to bring it up yet.

  Without preamble Grey started, “Madame, you move like Chaos itself. Having you on our side certainly saved countless lives, though I don’t believe it was your obligation to participate. I have been meaning to thank you, but of course, we’ve been occupied these last weeks.”

  “Well. I found the time.” Lotti cut in. Grey grimaced. She didn’t know why she hadn’t figured out how to talk to the Ebbjack about anything serious, even after enjoying her company for the rest of the trip.

  Aisling ignored the Sage. “No gratitude required, Lieutenant. My oath as a Seawarden would compel me to act, even if my conscience had not. The Langur and Storm Eel are scum. The least they could have done was give up their merchant flags and flown the black. If you’re a pirate, have the courage to be honest about it.”

  “Agreed,” Grey replied simply. “Do you often kill twenty head a skirmish?”

  Aisling laughed, and Grey appreciated that she was hearing it more often since leaving Saphir. “You handed me most of them, Lieutenant.”

  Grey didn’t drop it. “Even still, Madame. I’ve met Warden Ebbjacks before. They are skilled, but not uniquely so. Your performance was extraordinary.”

  Grey thought Aisling would look pleased with the compliment, but she seemed uninterested. “Did you not cut down a whole swarm in the same time it took me to scale the stern rails? We succeed when backed with good training, a good team, and good luck.”

  “Well, there is plenty of truth in that.” Grey paused. “Would you be interested in training with Callum and me in the evenings? Finnean often joins… If you prefer only training with other jacks. As your arm is able, of course.” Grey motioned to her bangaged limb, though she figured it was mostly healed.

  Aisling couldn’t hide how pleased she was at the offer and Grey found it charming. Lotti looked bored and changed the subject, “What does your evening look like, Grey? Already paid a dusk worker?”

  Grey glared at her, annoyed Lotti wouldn’t let her get any traction with the merchant. “I’m heading to the book shop by the port after we finish here. I don’t plan on leaving my sunveil after that, no matter what you say.”

  That got a devious grin from Lotti. “Pretend what you wish, but lucky for you I’m feeling the same way. I’ll accompany you. Aisling?”

  “That sounds pleasant. I’d enjoy trading out a few books while I’m here.” Aisling replied.

  Grey was pleased the women would join her and finished her tankard looking forward to learning what tomes would interest Aisling. She already knew Lotti’s taste like the back of her hand.

  Lotti handed the serving man gold and tip, and after they finished their ale, the women headed down the cobbled main streets to the port. The bookshop was a small affair, but tidy and clean.

  Grey noticed the woman behind the counter immediately. She was taller than Lotti and Aisling, but still only reached Grey's nose. Her dark hair shone in afternoon sunlight that crept through the closest window, and her skin was deep and rich, like a coffee with cream. She looked up to greet them, and smiled a little longer at Grey.

  They fanned out in the store, each finding their interests. One would think a Sage would be interesting in Order and Velor works, but Lotti generally hunted the stacks for a good mechanical script or tinkerer’s account. If she was in a mood, she would always find a fictional story to distract her.

  Grey’s taste’s varied greatly, and she often let the books lead her around the shop. She was surprised to see Aisling leafing through creature and oddity stacks, with a raseri tome in her hand. After some thought, she decided it made sense that a merchant might have some special interest in them.

  Raseri were different than normal beasts, dangerous and cunning. Dreamsand was harvested from the various dark monsters that inhabited the air, earth, and depths of the Known Seas, and merchants always sought out the next source. It must be of some value to spend time reading bestiaries, learning what you could about them. If a merchant was able to find an untapped source, and then send Hunters ahead of their competition, they could make some of the most gold on the Known Seas.

  Or maybe it was just an interest for Aisling. Grey herself was certainly fascinated by the raseri, seeing her fair share while touring the Myriad. From sirens to wyvern, she always counted herself lucky when she made it through the encounter.

  If you were religious, their unnatural strength, speed, and abilities made up Chaos, the enemy of Order. Raseri represented the bestial nature of humans: their impulses, temper, and short-sightedness. It was considered the opposite of Order, Faith, and Velor and taboo to even discuss overmuch.

  Grey, being not particularly religious, considered them creatures as any other. Of course, running into an abyssal squid was a nightmare compared to a giant squid. Raseri were aggressive and dangerous where most normal beasts just wanted to be left alone.

  If that wasn’t bad enough, they often possessed unusual abilities. Order Priests spent plenty of time trying to cover that part up, but Grey had been around too many types of raseri to be fooled.

  Those who harvested them for Dreamsand, Hunters, were widely considered heroes. Hunters went with the blessing and protection of the Faithful, pursuing the creatures with government papers and funding. In Etos, citizens would even stop them on the street, thanking them for keeping the monsters at bay. Grey had met several Hunter contingents and for the most part, thought they were assholes.

  She felt someone close and turned around. The woman from behind the counter was holding a book in her hand, looking down at it.

  “From how you wander, you seem as though you’re open to suggestions,” she said. “Have you read any Clara Ellsworth?”

  Grey certainly had, and had actually already read the book in the woman’s hand. She’d thoroughly enjoyed the emotional, introspective work, and respected the Bookkeeper for recommending it.

  “I’ve read Ellsworth, but I’ve never come across that one.” Grey lied. “Do you like it?”

  Aisling and Lotti had looked up to register the two women talking in the small space. Behind Clara, Lotti rolled her eyes, knowing damn well Grey had read that book. Grey had recommended it to Lotti with no success. “Boring as a fresh Priest in a brothel.” was the sage’s review.

  “It’s one of my favorites.” The woman responded, looking up at Grey with a smile. It was bright in the early evening sun and made her features glow. “My name is Clara, so naturally I read it when I bought the first copy for the shop.”

  Lotti had gone back to the stacks, but Grey could feel Aisling watching.

  “Well, my name is Grey, and I think it’s the perfect fit for my mood. If you’ll total me up I can retire and enjoy my new book.” Grey replied, motioning towards the woman’s counter and safe.

  “Oh, of course.” The woman looked disappointed that Grey was cutting their conversation short, which was the reaction Grey was looking for.

  Grey took her opportunity. “If you have some free time when you close up, we can talk about what I’m able to get through. Maybe over a meal?”

  As Grey had hoped, the smile returned to Clara’s face. “I’d like that. If you want to meet me here at sundown, I can walk us to a cafe.”

  “As you like,” Grey replied with a smile.

  Though it turned out she wouldn’t be staying in her sunveil for the evening, she could think of no better way to break her plans. An evening with a beautiful woman really was the perfect fit for her mood.