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She’d liked it, she knew that much. She liked talking to Jarin, and being near him. But growing close to a pirate was not her mission. Her mission was to fulfill her promise to Seraphine.

Back at camp, Kohara braided straw with the children, the pirates already at the beach. The older woman looked up as Riella and Jarin approached. If Kohara had any thoughts about them disappearing all night, she let nothing show on her lovely, lined face.

She smiled. “A good day to both of you. And some fine news. My husband’s ready to speak with you.”

“At the cave?” asked Jarin, his face brightening.

Kohara nodded.

The children peered at Riella nervously, though they did not hide. After a breakfast of mango and banana and chunks of coconut, she and Jarin set down a different path, headed farther inland through the jungle, so that the crashing waves faded altogether. The only sounds were the buzzing of insects and the odd birdcall.

This path was wider, allowing them to walk side by side, and rusted ship parts marked the route to the cave. Jarin appeared deep in thought, the gold pendant around his neck glinting in the sun.

“Where did you get the pendant?” she asked.

“It was my mother’s,” he replied without looking down at it. “It’s the Starlight Gardens symbol.”

“Of course, I remember now. I saw that same symbol at Polinth’s workshop.”

“The High Magus gifted it to her, for her excellence in magic. She gave it to me because she had a silver and garnet necklace that she preferred. It belonged to her grandmother, I believe.”

“Oh. A grandmother. What’s it like to have family?”

He glanced over at her, his brow creasing. “What do you mean? Don’t you have family?”

“Not really. Another siren would’ve birthed me, but I don’t know who, nor have I really cared. A siren can only become pregnant on the eve of the dark moon, and only if she chooses. It’s all very straightforward. What difference does it make who birthed me, anyway? We are all one.”

“Well, it makes a difference to humans. Who we are and where we come from means a lot. Sometimes, it feels like it means everything.”

Riella waved an insect from her face. “Yes, you do get very attached to other humans. But also, you are very cruel to one another. That’s what I don’t understand.”

“We don’t understand it either, truth be told. It’s a constant source of anguish. Ferrante says that attachment is the root of all pain, and I can’t say I disagree with him there.”

“What are you attached to?”

“Nothing, if I can help it.”

“Then, what’s the point of being a human if you aren’t going to get attached to anything?”

“Good question.” He shook his head. “Wish I knew the answer. Maybe Ferrante can tell me.”

“How long has he been here on Hieros Isle?”

“He was marooned over a year ago now, for giving Artus a prediction he strongly disliked. Neither of them would tell me what it was. I reckon that Ferrante predicted his downfall. It’d be the only explanation for his reaction.” Jarin gestured at the lush green flora. “I think Ferrante likes it better here anyway. He says that Artus leaving him here was fate.”

“Fate,” repeated Riella. “Do you believe in it?”

“Me? I’m just a simple pirate. I believe in rum and salt water and a favorable wind.”

She clicked her tongue. “Tell me, really.”

He was silent for a long time.

“I know my father believed in it,” he said eventually. “Seers in his own village, back in Hatara, told him that he’d meet my mother. They said she would lead him to his death. He still sought her out, and married her, because he believed there was a reason for everything. He would gladly fight anyone and anything, but not fate.”

Riella pondered this. “Sounds like he was brave, and wise.”

“He was.” Jarin pointed to a sandstone overhang ahead. “Those are the caves. We’re nearly there.”