Cane stood at the rail, flanked by Neri and Captain Rhiati, watching the silhouette of the Magi Academy shrink against the horizon.
"Did you talk to Uncle before you left?" he asked.
Ria turned her head slowly, eyes narrowing. "Who?"
"Archmage Telamon."
Color surged into her tanned cheeks. "What? Uncle? Wait—hang on. That can't be… right?"
Cane kept his tone mild, unreadable. He'd long suspected Rhiati was related to Telamon—maybe even his daughter. Neither had ever spoken of it, so he never pushed. "No?"
Ria stared at him, the blood draining from her face as quickly as it had risen. "You're messing with me."
"Am I?" Cane said casually. "Would you be surprised to learn you have a cousin?"
Neri gasped and clamped her hand over her mouth.
Without another word, Ria grabbed Cane by the wrist and dragged him toward her quarters.
"Guess I'm being called to the office," Cane said to Neri over his shoulder. "I must be in trouble."
Neri nodded solemnly, lips twitching.
Ria shoved open her door and tried to push Cane inside. He barely budged.
"You're solid as a wall now," she muttered. "Inside."
He stepped in, eyeing the new touches she'd already added to the cabin. "Didn't take you long to move in."
"Explain," she said curtly.
"I suspect Telamon is your father."
She stiffened, then nodded, pale. "How did you know?"
"Little things," Cane said, resting a hand on the back of a chair. "A simple letter from you got me admitted to the Academy. Back then, I was nobody—just a blacksmith with one metallurgy skill."
"That's all it took?"
He shook his head. "That was just the first clue. Since then, it's become obvious that the Defiant had special privileges. More than that, as I got to know Telamon, I started noticing the subtle stuff. You both shift your weight to your toes when you're about to speak. The way you stand, too—centered, like you're always braced for impact."
Ria crossed her arms. "You're saying I stand like a man?"
Cane laughed. "That's what you took from that?"
She leaned back on her desk, not quite sitting. "You're right. He's my father."
"I grew up calling the elders in my village 'uncle' and 'auntie.' Old habit I dropped—until recently." He met her eyes. "You and I aren't related."
"Not sure if I'm relieved or disappointed," she said, finally smiling. "That's my biggest secret. I bet you've got more."
"Hmm? Did you know I have a girlfriend?"
Ria arched a brow. "Better not let Neri hear that. You know how mermaids are."
Cane rolled his eyes. "You're grasping at air."
"If you say so," she said, pushing off the desk. "I haven't had a proper tour of this ship yet. Take me around?"
"Of course," Cane said.
Cane led Ria and Neri below deck, showing them the Starsong's spacious cargo hold and compact crew quarters. Built-in metal bunks folded neatly from the walls, each one perfectly flush.
From there, they explored the galley, the supply room, and a small officer's office tucked beside the storeroom—simple, functional, and spotless.
"I don't see a weld, seam, or even the smallest blemish," Ria said, running her hand along the bluish wall. "What alloy is this?"
"Tungtanium," Cane replied. "A blend of purified tungsten and titanium."
"Of course," Ria and Neri echoed in sync.
"You won't find a seam anywhere," Cane added, smiling at the sudden silence. "The ship itself is one solid piece of metal."
Ria stepped back, shaking her head. "You really did build this yourself…"
"It's the best ship I've ever seen," she said softly. "Bar none."
Neri's aquamarine eyes glowed faintly. "When I sing to it, it echoes back—perfect pitch."
Cane headed back toward the stairs. "Sing to a lot of ships?"
Neri nodded. "Yep."
"All hatches and doors are watertight," Cane said as they ascended. "Even in the worst storm, you could batten down and ride it out."
Ria elbowed him lightly. "Now you're just bragging. Still… it responds so well. Turns sharper than anything I've sailed."
Hours passed, and dusk settled across the water. The Starsong surged toward Loramo Harbor at full speed.
Cane sat on deck, playing dice with Maude and Bula while Neri leaned nearby, occasionally chiming in.
Bula ran a hand through her short salt-and-pepper hair and groaned as Cane pulled in more of their coin. "You sure you never played before we taught you?"
Cane grinned, accepting the bottle Maude passed him. One sniff—rum, of course. He took a small drink and passed it back.
Neri nudged closer, her voice soft. "You remember your promise?"
Cane smiled, unfazed even as Maude pocketed the dice. "To help you find your people? How could I forget?"
Her serene expression brightened. "There's a rumor floating around the western front."
Cane cursed inwardly. Secrets didn't stay secret for long—not when more people got involved. "I haven't heard anything."
Neri tilted her head. "We're attuned, Cane. I know that you know. But I won't press. Nor speak of it again."
He didn't answer. They let the silence settle between them—comfortable, familiar.
He remembered the night they escaped the slaver ship. Neri had healed both him and Ria, but with Cane, it went deeper. She had shared something sacred—memories, perhaps even a piece of her essence. It left him attuned to water, an affinity he hadn't been born with. That single gift had reshaped everything: his magic, his craftsmanship, his survival.
It had changed the entire course of his first year at the Academy.
The Starsong made it to Loramo in just two days—far faster than the Veda, the ship Cane had left on long ago, now long gone beneath the waves.
Pudding and Moxie ate well the whole way, thanks to the crew's fishing skills and Neri's influence. The voyage passed without incident.
When they reached the dock, the entire crew saw him off with grins and waves. Captain Rhiati and Neri stood waiting at the gangplank.
Both hugged him without a word.
"Bit of a milk run," Cane said with a wink. "But hey, the food was great."
Rhiati nodded. "Be safe. We're not leaving this port until you get back."
"Worried about me?" Cane asked, smirking. "Or just not eager to stay in Loramo?"
"The latter. Obviously," Ria deadpanned.
Cane stepped off the gangplank and into Loramo, Pudding perched on his shoulder, Moxie tucked comfortably into the pet pouch.
"This place seems smaller somehow," he murmured.
It had once felt enormous—his first brush with a bustling settlement. Now, after all he'd seen, it felt… quaint.
The sweet scent of fruit clung to the air, carried from the acres of apple orchards that bordered the harbor. The locals turned their harvest into everything—brandy, wine, jams, dried chips, and, most importantly, pie.
At the stables, he bought a gray mountain pony with a thick coat and bad attitude. Truthfully, it was the only mount for sale that didn't look half-dead. With no reason to delay, Cane took the north road out of town.
The next chapter of his journey waited.