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“Back to work,” I say, and the words are for everyone, including Kearan.

The two of us return to the aftercastle, and Kearan takes the helm back from Dimella, who can barely see over the pegs.

“That was crafty,” Kearan says as he looks out at the dark sea in front of us. “But did you have to encourage him by using me?”

It is with great effort that I don’t let any expression show on my face. “If I didn’t want everyone on the ship falling into panic? Yes, yes, I did. I don’t put your feelings before the safety of the whole crew.”

“I wasn’t suggesting you should.”

“Then what were you suggesting?” I ask, though I really don’t care.

“You enjoy irritating me.”

I don’t answer, because I know it will irritate him further.

Chapter 8

A FEW MOREDAYSgo by without change.

And then the water starts churning.

Bubbles float to the surface. The water turns gray. I’d think it a whale feeding, except there are no whales to be found, and the tumultuous water follows the ship, rather than staying in one place. The state of the water doesn’t affect our pace. The wind carries us true as ever, but that water is concerning everyone on the ship.

“It’s a bad omen,” Enwen says.

“It’s air in the water,” I shoot back. “Even you should know what makes bubbles.”

I stand on the deck among the new night crew, our ship lit up like a tavern at night. Kearan’s at the helm. Enwen’s seated on the ground with his back to the exterior wall to my rooms.

“Maybe the sea is warning us to turn around,” Enwen says. “Air doesn’t follow ships, Captain. There’s no explaining that.”

He’s got me there.

“Until Alosa orders us back, we stay our course. We’re taking precautions, Enwen. No one else has gone missing. And need I remind you that you volunteered for this mission?”

“Of course I did. You think I’d miss out on witnessing this?” He does some weird motion with his hand, gesturing over his shoulder at Kearan and then to me.

I’m so glad he finds our arguments entertaining.

When I say nothing, not taking his bait, he continues. “You know, your epic romance?”

My whole being freezes up, but I shift my head toward him in an owllike way.

“Don’t look at me like that, Captain. You know something is happening there. But don’t think about it. Just let it naturally evolve.”

“I am not romancing anyone, Enwen.”

“Well, not on purpose.”

“Not on accident, either.”

“You can’t help it. Everything you say, everything you do—it just draws you nearer to him. There’s no stopping it.”

“I can stop anything with a well-aimed knife. Including your mouth, Enwen.”

“I’m shutting up now, Captain.”

Kearan steers us around larger and larger chunks of ice the farther we go. At one point, he threads two large icebergs, sailing between them with practiced ease.