CHAPTER 108

Vincent

The cry goes up, bringing everyone to the deck and hope to their faces. All three ships are full of people, hands lining the railing as they lean into one another for a better look as the sun climbs higher.

Vincent never doubted his wife and her conviction that the dance would lead them here, but to see it with his own eyes brings a relief that fills his throat, bringing tears. Ank claps a hand on his shoulder, squeezing.

“You’ve done it, Vincent,” he says. “You’ve brought your people to safety.”

“Not quite yet,” Winlan warns. “We’ll need to send a scouting party ahead, make sure there is nothing that would take a child for its meal.”

“Or a large man,” Ank adds. “We don’t know what might call this place home.”

“Or who,” Winlan agrees, eyeing the shore for signs of life.

Suddenly Unda screams Khosa’s name, and Vincent hears a splash.