It was old, the metal fogged with age, and wide, the length of one full knuckle, and it sat on a table with a hundred others, each in an open box—but where the rest were woven with threads of blue and green, gold and red, this one was knotted with that unsteady color, like oil and water, that marked an Antari.

Alucard took it up, and went to find Kell.

III

Despite a wealth of natural magic, and years of rigorous study alongside the Aven Essen, Kell didn’t know everything there was to know about spells. He knew that, but it was still disconcerting to be surrounded by so much evidence in support of the fact. In Maris’s market, Kell didn’t even recognize half the objects, let alone the enchantments woven through them. When the spellwork was written on an object’s surface, he could usually make it out, but most of the talismans bore nothing but a design, a flourish. Now and then he could feel their intent, not a specific purpose so much as a general sense, but that was all.

He could tell the Feras Stras was a place where most people came with an object in mind, a goal, and the longer he wandered without one, the more he began to feel lost.

Which was likely why he found the room of knives so comforting. It was the kind of place Lila would gravitate to; the smallest weapon was no longer than his palm, the largest greater than the spread of his arms.

He knew Maris didn’t deal in ordinary weapons, but as he squinted at the spellwork shorthand carved into the hilts and blades—every magician had their own dialect—he was still taken aback by the variety.

Swords to cut wounds that would not heal.

Knives to bleed truth instead of blood.

Weapons that channeled power, or stole it, or killed with a single stroke, or—

A low whistle behind him as Alucard appeared at the entrance.

“Picking out a gift?” asked the captain.

“No.”

“Good, then take this.” He dropped a ring into Kell’s hand.

Kell frowned. “I’m flattered, but I think you’re asking the wrong brother.”

An exasperated sound escaped the man’s throat. “I don’t know what it does, but it’s … like you. And I don’t mean pompous and infuriating. The magic surrounding that ring—it’s Antari.”

Kell straightened. “Are you sure?” He squinted at the band. It bore no seals, no obvious spellwork, but the metal hummed faintly against his skin, resonating. Up close, the silver was grooved, not in patterns but in rings. Tentatively, Kell slipped it onto his finger. Nothing happened—not that anything would, of course, since the ship was warded. He let the band slide back off into his palm.

“If you want it, buy it yourself,” he said, handing it to Alucard. But the captain shied away.

“I can’t,” he said. “There’s something else I need.”

“What could you possibly need?”

Alucard looked purposefully away. “Time is wasting, Kell. Just take it.”

Kell sighed and lifted the ring again, holding it between both hands and turning it slowly in search of markings or clues. And then, the strangest thing happened. He pulled gently, and part of the ring came away in his hand.

“Just perfect,” said Alucard, looking around, “now you’ve gone and broken it.”

But Kell didn’t think he had. Instead of holding two broken pieces of one ring, he was now holding two rings, the original somehow unchanged, as if it hadn’t given up half of itself to make the second, which was an exact replica of its brother. The two bands both thrummed in his hands, singing against his skin. Whatever they were, they were strong.

And Kell knew they’d need every drop of strength they could muster.

“Come on,” he said, sliding both rings into his pocket. “Let’s go see Maris.”

* * *

They found Lila still standing outside the woman’s door. Kell could tell it had taken a feat of self-restraint for her to stay put, with so many treasures strewn across the ship. She fidgeted, hands in the pockets of her coat.

“Well?” asked Alucard. “Did you get it?”

She shook her head. “Not yet.”

“Why not?”

“I’m saving the best for last.”

“Lila,” chided Kell, “we only have one chance—”

“Yes,” she said, straightening. “So I guess you’ll have to trust me.”

Kell shifted his weight. He wanted to trust her. He didn’t, but he wanted to. For the moment, it would have to be enough.

At last, she flashed a small, sharp smile. “Hey, want to make a bet?”

“No,” said Kell and Alucard at the same time.

Lila shrugged, but when he held the door for her, she didn’t follow.

“Trust,” she said again, leaning on the rail as if she had nowhere else to be. Alucard cleared his throat, and Maris was waiting, and finally Kell had no choice but to leave Lila there, staring hungrily out at the market.

Inside, Maris was sitting at her desk, paging through the ledger. They stood there, silently waiting for her to look up at them. She didn’t.

“Go on, then,” she said, turning the page.

Alucard went first. He stepped forward and produced, of all things, a mirror.

“You’ve got to be joking,” growled Kell, but Maris only smiled.

“Captain Emery, you always have had a knack for finding rare and precious things.”

“How do you think I found you?”

“Flattery is no payment here.”