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“Huh. Good for him.” The sailor grinned. She had a friendly smile, broad and open. She glanced at the letter before tucking it into a pouch at her side. “Not a supply list? He usually leaves a list of what he needs—flour and wax and yeast and such.”

“It’s a letter to his family in Alyssium.

Do you know how long it’ll take to reach them?

” She wasn’t certain how to say she didn’t know where she was without it sounding too odd.

She knew Belde was far from Alyssium, but was it north, south, east, or west?

How many miles? She didn’t think Belde was one of the outer islands, given the lack of storms—the outer islands were known for wilder weather, at least according to the stray bits of news she’d heard in the library—but did she really know?

“Not to pressure you, but if I could give him an idea of when to expect a response…”

Ree blurted out, “I love the sea.”

“Me too, my new friend,” the sailor said. “Me too.”

Terlu grinned at the little shrub, who seemed awed by the sailor. “Ree would like to accompany the letter, to make sure it reaches its destination. If you don’t mind the company.”

“This won’t be a short or easy jaunt. I don’t know that the open ocean is any place for an inexperienced, um…” She trailed off, clearly not certain what Ree was.

“I’m a wax myrtle,” Ree said. “I’m a halophyte. You’re a real sailor .”

“He wants the ocean,” Terlu explained.

Ree jumped in. “I won’t be any trouble! I’ll clean the deck. All the time. So much cleaning. And I’ll climb the mast. Oh, can I climb the mast? Please? I can climb the mast and shout, ‘Land, ho!’”

“I’m sure you’d be spectacularly helpful, but I don’t need a deckhand. I’m a solo sailor. Besides, Alyssium isn’t the best place to sail these days. It’s a mess, with the revolution and all. It’ll be a while before the city settles down.”

Wait—revolution? What did I miss? “What’s happening in Alyssium?

” She tried to sound casual, as if this wasn’t significant news that could alter the course of history and potentially affect her life and her future and her safety, as well as the life and safety of everyone she knew both in the capital city and beyond. “A revolution, you said?”

“You haven’t heard?”

“The seagulls don’t gossip much, and we don’t get many other visitors.”

The sailor laughed again. “Fair enough. The short version is the revolutionaries finally overthrew the emperor—like, literally, they threw him out a window—and the empire has pretty much fallen. It’s been brewing for some time. You must have at least known that?”

She’d been a statue for six years. So, no, she didn’t know. “I’ve been busy.”

“Well, the long and short of it is that Alyssium is in chaos, and there’s no more Crescent Islands Empire. It’s just the Crescent Islands now. You’re sure the gardener is okay? He hasn’t ever sent a letter to anyone before.”

“He’s well, but it’s important his family receives it quickly, if it’s at all possible to sail there.

” How chaotic was it? Was Yarrow’s family in danger?

What about the library? And Rijes Velk? Don’t be silly.

Revolutionaries wouldn’t touch the library.

It’s full of treasures. She was certain that it and the head librarian were fine.

The sailor shrugged. “If it’s important, I can manage it.”

“I can help,” Ree pleaded. “I eat danger for breakfast.”

“You eat breakfast?” the sailor asked.

“I only eat danger.”

“That’s hilarious and adorable, but the answer is still no.” To Terlu, she said, “I’ll deliver the letter as quickly and safely as I can. You’ve got my payment?”

Terlu gave her Yarrow’s pouch. He’d said to offer half—the other half was for if she decided to send her own letter as well to another destination.

But she offered the full amount. “Will this cover taking a letter to Alyssium, as well as taking on and training a new crewmate?” She nodded at the shrub.

With leaves quivering, Ree whimpered, “Please?”

The sailor peeked into the pouch and whistled through her teeth.

“Okay, I take it back. I’ll sail wherever with whomever for this.

Label says these are summer squash from Rivoc.

My ma has been wanting to plant them for seasons, but you can’t get them anywhere anymore.

You tell Yarrow thanks from both of us and that I’ll bring an extra bag of flour when I come back around for the monthly delivery.

” She grinned at Ree. “When we come back around.”

“Gah,” Ree said, so excited that he’d been rendered speechless.

“Thank you,” Terlu said.

Shedding leaves, Ree cried, “My captain!”

“Call me Marin. It’s short for Mariner, but I always thought that was a bit too on the nose. Also, risky of my parents—what if I hadn’t liked to sail?”

“Who wouldn’t like to sail?” Ree asked.

“My feelings exactly.”

“Thanks, Marin. I’m Terlu.” Belatedly, she wondered if she should have given a false name.

She had no idea if she was a fugitive in Alyssium or not, especially given the news from the capital.

Swiftly, she changed the subject. “Have you known Yarrow a long time?” The sailor seemed to care about Yarrow.

How well did she know him? Had she known his family?

“Yarrow. Didn’t even know his name.” She shook her head.

“Only talked with him a couple times—first time to ask when he’d need supplies, second time to ask about payment.

Quiet guy. Polite. Didn’t try to haggle, which was refreshing.

Some people see a supply runner coming, and they assume we want to cheat you so they try to cheat me first. It’s a game to some of them.

” She nodded toward the forest. “Your guy never played games. I respect that.”

My guy. Terlu felt herself blush and changed the subject again. “Did you see the serpent earlier? It was singing like a trumpet. I’ve never seen one in person before. I always imagined the trumpet description was just people being poetic, but it really did sound like music.”

“That was Perri. He’s my buddy.”

She had a sea serpent for a friend? Wow! “I have so many questions.”

Tucking the pouch of seeds alongside the letter, Marin grinned. “I’ll tell you someday. Or maybe not. Maybe I’ll make up a few fabulous stories, and you can decide which one is true. Everyone always expects sailors to have incredible adventures to faraway lands… And yes. Yes, we do.”

Terlu opened her mouth to ask more.

Marin held up a finger. “Another time. I’ve only so much daylight to ride the wind and a lot of islands in my path.

I’ll deliver your gardener’s letter. And then someday I want to hear about that story, how you befriended the Reclusive Gardener of Belde.

I will be disappointed if there isn’t at least one passionate kiss involved. ”

Terlu sputtered.

Laughing, Marin untied the sailboat from the dock. “Come on, new deckhand. The waves wait for no man, woman, or shrubbery.”

Ree scurried onto the boat. “Tell the others I’ll be back with stories too!”

Still laughing, Marin shoved off the dock with her foot. She pulled on a line until the sail caught the wind. Crossing to the mast, Ree wrapped his branches around it and climbed.

“Happy sailing! And thank you!” Terlu called after them.

Marin waved and then she tilted her head back and sang a cascade of notes. Out toward the open sea, an iridescent serpent leaped out of the waves, trumpeting the notes back to her.

On the dock, Terlu watched until the sailor, the shrub, and the serpent disappeared from view.