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“I truly don’t think the captain does either.” He doesn’t nod at the horizon, but his eyes are fixed on the water ahead of us. “Do you see those ships far in the distance?”

I stare out at the sea. It takes me a moment, because they’resofar that I wouldn’t have noticed them at all if he hadn’t pointed them out. “Yes.”

“I’d need a spyglass to see if I could tell much detail, but it’s unusual to see two ships of that size sailing together.”

I frown. “Are you concerned?”

“We’re nearing the southern end of the river. Again, I’d need a spyglass and a sextant to be sure, but they seem far enough that they could be well into the ocean.”

“And you don’t think they’re Kandalan ships?”

“I don’t know. We’ll need to get closer to know for sure. They could be ships waiting for Captain Blakemore—or they could be ships waiting foryou.”

I keep my fingers on the railing so I give no indication of what we’re discussing. My heart has begun a deep thrum in my chest. “Advise.”

“The captain offered to let you leave the ship. That suggests this isn’t a kidnapping—at least not on his end.”

“So did Lieutenant Tagas. She asked me to alert her if I’ve made the decision to change course.” I hesitate. “Are we overthinking this?”

“I would feel better if he were more forthright about the contents of the locked room.” He pauses. “He can keep the key hidden, but what’s the risk of allowing you toseethe weapons?”

“I agree.”

“And what’s to stop us from breaking in?”

I whip my head around.

“It’s a simple lock.” Rocco shrugs. “They truly are shorthanded. There are one or two watchmen overnight, but during the afternoon, most of the crew is either sleeping or gutting fish.” He pauses.“Of your guards, there are generally only two of us on duty at once.”

While the other is presumably sleeping.

“Do you think you could break the lock?” I say, my voice low. My heart keeps hammering along, torn between relief that the captain probably is as forthright as he seems—and terror that somehow this ship will be overtaken and I’ll be captured by someone worse.

“Breaking it wouldn’t be a problem,” Rocco says. “Leaving evidence would be.” He glances at me. “He’d know it was done by your order—if not done by you yourself.”

I have no idea how Captain Blakemore would react if I broke into that room, but I have no doubt he’d take it personally. That’s not a story I need carried to the king of Ostriary either. Rian can say whatever he wants about myreputation, but my actions in the Royal Sector were to enforce laws that were well known. Breaking into a locked room on this ship would be a lot harder to explain away—and it certainly wouldn’t demonstrate that the king of Kandala and his brother were prepared to negotiate in good faith.

I stare out at the water, at the two distant ships, at the sun that’s beginning to burn a path into dawn.

I wish I could talk to Tessa.

I remember her face when I caught her wrist, when that needle was clutched so precariously against her palm.

I remember Lochlan at my back.Let her go.

As usual, everyone already expects the worst of me. It’s part of the reason I expect the worst of everyone else.

At the opening to the deck, a head appears, peeking above. It’s Tessa, early as usual. She’s looking the other way, so she doesn’t seeme. My gut clenches, and I’m tempted to call for a return to port just so I can get off this ship and go back to the way things were.

But if I’ve learned anything, there’s no going back. I can’t undo my mistakes with Tessa. I can’t fix the fever sickness, and I can’t reverse everything Harristan and I have done wrong along the way.

I can’t undo the assassination of my parents.

All I can do is move forward.

I look at Rocco. “Tell Lieutenant Tagas to stay the course. We’ll continue on to Ostriary.”

“And what of the ships?”