Roan confirmed Lyris’s suspicion. They arrived at Toscun in time to watch the lantern show and first night of mid-summer celebrations. Despite her distress, the Captain explained that it was more dangerous than he liked to moor the Swift in the city’s harbour for the night. He encouraged the young woman to enjoy the spectacle, as there was little else they could do until morning. The crew and passengers were spread over the deck, Rose sitting atop the crow’s nest. Phelia and her family gathered on the steering deck with Roan and his wife. Kit, Rafai, Lyris and Arn stood side by side with Timmit as the final shadows of night fell over the city.
Lantern lights flickered from windows and Lyris could hear the bustling streets, smell the food on the carts of the street vendors. The docks wer
