thousand feet at its greatest depth. Not one of the biggest trenches—there is a deeper one at the heart of the Syth, and another off the Bight of Fire that is said to be nearly twice that. At the one in the Bight of Fire there are creatures, completely bleached of color, who give off their own light—never mind." Myrrhtide bent to scratch a catfish on the chin. "I fail to see why an offshore formation like the trench would be of interest to anyone just now."
"Evumeimei, you would have to do this alone," Luvo said unhappily. "I can send you strength, perhaps. You know I dare not bring my essence too close to that of Flare and Carnelian."
"There's a spell that Tahar and Jayat know. Sometimes Tahar does something risky and needs Jayat to observe or to lend her strength, but not to get too entangled with her. Jayat uses it, too. That way she can tell him what to do when she's too weak to work magic herself. It might not serve you, of course, Master Luvo. We could ask." Oswin's eyes were shining. I began to see why Jayat spoke of him like he did. This man lived to work out things, even when he couldn't do them himself. Why hadn't he been born a great mage?
On the other hand, the idea of Oswin with the power to try some of his ideas was a little scary.
"Jayat!" Oswin's bellow nearly split my skull. "Come here, we need to ask you a question!"
"Will someone please tell me what that trench has to do with anything? We are running from a volcano, may I remind you?" Myrrhtide sloshed out of the river. He yelped as he stepped on something pointy on the riverbank. I set Luvo down and went to help him.
"Here. You can brace yourself on me and put your own sandals on, or brace yourself on me and I'll put your sandals on. Either way, step on that rock right behind you. No sticks to hurt your feet then." I pointed to the rock. "Or you can go back in the river. Your fishes miss you." It was true. They swirled in the shallowest water they could manage, right where Myrrhtide had climbed out.
He frowned at me. "Why are you being helpful?" He stepped on the stone slab and unhooked his sandals from his belt.
I took his footwear. "Because I found out you're not such a crosspatch. It's funny, the way you learn how decent people are, when things get bad." I knelt and undid the knot in his laces. When I had a sandal free, Myrrhtide braced a hand on my shoulder and lifted up a foot. I put it on and laced it for him.
"All right, young lady. What are you up to?" Myrrhtide asked suspiciously.
"Nothing bad," I told him as I did up the other sandal. "Mila and Green Man willing, and maybe Heibei too, it could even be good." Silk moths began twirling in my belly. Stop that, I told them. I haven't even done anything yet.
I stood up and smiled at Myrrhtide. "There you are. All shod and ready to visit the emperor."
He smiled, too, and tightened his grip on my shoulder. "Good. Very good. Now let's see what you and your friends are cooking up. And try to take care of yourself. You are starting to grow on me."
Stone Clothes
W hen Rosethorn saw us trailing the refugees and talking, she rode back to see what was going on. We told her what we planned.
"Absolutely not." Her mouth settled into a hard line. "Tamper with the volcano spirits a second time? Particularly when they might be getting more powerful? I won't hear of it."
"But if she can lead them away from Starns, the island will be safe." Oswin shifted from foot to foot, he was so excited.
"Oswin Forest, she is my charge. I am responsible for Evvy getting off this island alive," Rosethorn told him. "You have no guarantee that she would survive leading Carnelian and Flare out to sea. Even if they did not kill her for trapping them, what of the other volcano spirits? If Luvo won't face them, why should Evvy?"
"Her power is not the same as theirs, Rosethorn," said Luvo. "If Evumeimei keeps her distance from any groups of volcano spirits, she ought to be safe."
"'Ought to' trims no trees, Luvo," Rosethorn snapped.
They were still arguing two hours later. We had come out onto the flat, where the