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    The sea was a vast, wet chasm filled with unpredictability. So why were they launching in complete darkness? Emeryn would have preferred to fight her way through an army of monsters than step over the ledge into the small boat. The vessel swayed from side to side, and she couldn’t help but yelp as she lost her footing and tumbled to the bottom of the boat and struck her shoulder against the wood. The shallow pool of salty water at the bottom did little to cushion her fall.


    “Not a keen sailor, are you princess?”


    “Don’t call me princess, Wade,” Emeryn hissed, fumbling in the dark for a place to sit.


    “Sure thing, princess,” came the reply as the boat swayed violently. If only the moon and the stars were out. But no, the only source of light was from the torches high up above them along the wall surrounding Fyrie.


    “Are we sure this boat will hold us all?” Tomford asked from out of the darkness. “Vatner boats are much larger.”


    Emeryn heard someone slap the boat. Likely Wade. “This thing will carry us fine until we get to Vinden. We’ll find a Loftian vessel there. Nothing is faster than a Loftian ship.”


    “We’re not going to Vinden,” Emeryn said.


    “Yes, we are.”


    The boat dipped again, but not as much as when Wade and Tomford stepped aboard.


    Freyn said, her voice flat, “I’ve never seen the sea before.” Emeryn’s heart clenched as the thought that the woman just lost her husband and was now bound on a trip into the unknown.


    They were all silent for a moment as no one knew how to respond before Wade commented, “That’s weird.”


    “Malac has plenty of lakes, a few large ones where one can’t see the far side, but nothing like what you’ve described to me.”


    “Like I said, weird.”


    In the silence that followed, Wade spoke again, “Well, Tomford, you’re a big lad. Mind taking the oars?”


    Emeryn felt a large weight shift. “I don’t mind.”


    “We’re going to row all the way to the dark continent?” Emeryn asked, her voice coming out a little too loud in the silent night. The only other sound she heard were the waves lapping up against the side of the boat.


    “No.” Wade sounded exasperated. “Just to get away from shore. Then we’ll use the sails. Is everyone aboard?”


    “That’s all of us,” Tomford said.


    “And the packs?”


    “We have the packs, including your wings.”


    “Kite,” Wade corrected. He grunted and something splashed into the water before being pulled into the boat. “There, we’re launched. Tomford?”


    “On it. You can call me Tom. Everyone does.”


    “Sure thing, lad.”


    The boat jerked, water splashed, and Emeryn pitched forward. Blasted darkness! Apparently, she was sitting in the wrong direction.


    With a little concentration, Emeryn sensed the earth around them, including the bottom of the body of water they rode upon. Having that bottom slip away little by little made her heart beat faster.


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    A lump formed in her throat. Emeryn’s fingers twitched, and she had to stop herself from reaching out toward land as it disappeared behind them. Each pull of Tomford’s oars made the bottom of the sea disappear deeper and deeper below them, then it vanished all at once. Her stomach dropped, and she hugged herself with her one arm, shuddering.


    “How are you?” Freyn had seated herself next to Emeryn without her noticing. She spoke in a hushed whisper with a comforting, almost motherly tone. It was a far cry from her previously half-dead voice.


    “Fine, thank you,” Emeryn replied. She steeled herself against the rocking. “How are you with all that’s happening?”


    “Oh, I’m no stranger to hardship and from the look of things, neither are you. I will be fine as well in due time.”


    Emeryn snaked her hand under her coat and scratched at her shoulder, where her other arm used to be. Thinking back, it hadn’t been that long since she lost it. Though with everything that has occurred since, it felt like a lifetime ago.


    “Be silent,” Wade hissed.


    “What?” Emeryn whispered back.


    Dawn was approaching and the sky was no longer as dark as before. In the grayness of early morning, Emeryn saw Wade’s silhouette against the sky. He was pointing to something out at sea. Following his direction, she saw nothing.


    “Ship,” Wade whispered.


    Tomford leaned forward. The boat tipped precariously. “How are you seeing anything in this darkness?”


    “You’re all blind,” Wade grunted. “It’s a large vessel, possibly a galley. I’ve seen its type before.”


    “Where?” Emeryn asked.


    “At the start of the invasion. I was out at sea and we were attacked by one just like this.”


    Tomford grunted. “You’re saying they’re the enemy?”


    “Rhinn. Make of that what you will,” Wade said.


    Emeryn squinted into the darkness but still couldn’t even see anything, especially not a large ship. “They could be our allies. We have many rhinn on our side.”


    “Any ships?”


    “Not that I’ve heard of,” Emeryn admitted.


    “It’ll be light enough for them to spot us soon,” Wade said.


    Tomford stopped rowing. “What do you want to do?”


    Wade hesitated. “We can’t risk it.”


    “What do you mean?” Freyn asked, joining the conversation.


    “If they are our enemy, they will easily destroy us from a distance unless we attack first.”


    “What are you suggesting?” Tomford asked.


    “Wait,” Emeryn said. “Freyn. You can sense magic ability, no? Can’t you sense if there are any pyromancers or priests of Wyndemir on board?”


    The question hung in the air for a moment before Freyn responded. “Found them. I’m not very good at sensing different types of magic, but there are a few, perhaps as many as ten magic users. That’s all I know.”


    “Can’t risk it,” Wade repeated.


    “What if they are our allies?” Tomford asked.


    “What if they’re not? You heard that runt of a mage. If we end up at the bottom of the sea, we will have failed before we even begun. Now be silent.”


    Wade’s commanding tone quieted their protests.


    “What are you going to—” was all Emeryn had time to say before the night lit up with crackling bolts of lightning. The other ship seemed to have materialized out of the night as bolt after bolt struck it. Emeryn winced against the sudden brightness.


    Three out of five of Wade’s attacks hit. Emeryn heard the loud creaking of wood as sections of the enemy ship tore apart. Bright flames roared to life on the deck. Emeryn caught faint wails and shouts on the wind. If those who survived the attack were strong swimmers, they might reach shore. But the water was chilly this time of year and Emeryn doubted there would be any survivors.


    “You killed them all!” Tomford shouted, no longer caring how far his voice carried across the water.


    “Of course. What did you think would happen?” Wade asked.


    The sky brightened enough now for Emeryn to make out Tomford. He sat tense, the oars still in his hands. “You didn’t have to kill them. We should turn back and see if anyone needs help.”


    “No,” Wade said with finality.


    “You are not in charge of this mission,” Emeryn said, unable to keep the heat out of her tone. “I am.”


    Goslin and Sarien hadn’t explicitly said as much, but she was sure they would have if the question arose.


    Wade glared at her. “Not while we’re sailing, you’re not. Sea travel is my domain.” When he was met with a tense silence, Wade argued, “It doesn’t matter, because we’re not saving anyone. What do you think would happen if a tiny knarr like this appeared before a mob of drowning rhinn?”


    Freyn’s reply was barely more than a whisper. “They’d drown us as well.”


    “See? At least someone here has some sense. Everyone keeps forgetting we’re at war.”


    Tomford let out a heavy sigh. “Are we far out enough for the sails?”


    “Soon,” Wade said. “Just a little further.”


    Emeryn watched as the tall wall of Fyrie grew smaller with each pull from Tomford’s oars.