After the sun had risen and I had eaten, I went to the docks. I knew I could find Clidale there. He liked to throw rocks and bounce them on the water and he would barter with the other sailors and fishermen.

He was in the same spot as the last few days. I sat next to him without a word and picked up a small stone from the pile he had collected. I threw it, but it sank after only hopping once. Clidale could make it hop six or seven times.

“We’re leaving the ship. The crew. We’re heading east.”

Clidale picked up another stone and nodded. He didn’t look at me.

“You’re not surprised?”

“You’re not like anyone I’ve met, Milnas.” He picked up another stone and considered it in his hand. “There’s something about you that I can’t place. Something that ain’t the same as regular folk. Don’t know what it is, but I don’t mind it.”

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Clidale threw the rock in the water, and it skipped along the slow waves. “But normal folk do normal things, and those who ain’t normal don’t do normal things.” He shrugged as if that was just the way of things.”My folks were like that, can’t say I am though.”

I remembered the broken neck that I had held in my hands, and how it had snapped back together in the silent world without making any sound at all.

"We're leaving today," I said, not knowing any other way to say it.

Clidale nodded again. It was hard to tell what he was thinking. "With Rebert?"

I nodded.

"And Shay?" he asked. There was something in his voice that I recognized: a hidden urgency to know the truth. It was then that I realized Clidale must care for the girl. I couldn't blame him. She was a good-looking girl, beautiful even.

"It's up to her, I suppose." I hoped that she would come.