Petor leaned over Mesurial’s railing at the mizzenmast of the Noose, now identical to its sister-ship Reckoning.

“Impressive,” Valter said from beside him. He’d just finished explaining what he’d done. “So the seeds will grow through the ships and their masts, turning it into a living ship.”

“Yeah, I think so at least. Desari gave them the enchantment they’ll need to carve into the ship to draw out the power.”

“You keep a few seeds?” Mya asked on his other side.

“Yeah,” Petor took out a few from his storage.

Mya looked at them thoughtfully and then at Petor. “If you’re up for changing a few more ships in the same way, or at least being made from living wood, well I might have an order for you.”

“What you thinking?” Petor asked.

“The ships I got will work, though they’ve had half a lifetime of neglect, the pirates didn’t care much about keeping them in good condition. Do you need an existing ship to turn into one of them,” She jutted her chin in the direction of the ships.

“I don’t need one, but I’m not sure how they go together. So having a ship that I can use as a framework and grow the trees through that’s the best. From there I can modify as needed.”

Mya studied him. Still there were secrets between them all. He understood, he had his own, or at least things he did not want to reveal.

“I have the plans of how to make a doom cutter like Mesurial,” she said finally. “The ships were made so that the could be fused with more wood and grow by our shipbuilders. Green wood was never as good as aged wood. Though I should have known that it was more about finding the right kind of wood than holding to old knowledge.” She gavea self-depreciating smile and looked at the two ships.

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“The masts and hull are stronger than they were before. Do you think that you could make a ship that would evolve? Grow bigger with time?”

“Oh,” Petor looked away. “Well I guess we would start with the keel, one mast and then one deck, then have another mast, add in another deck and stretch it out. Keep doing that? Just have to plant a new Stormgrove with each mast. Could add in other trees two that create stronger hulls or different hulls.” If he could imprint the seeds he could give a pack of them to a captain, they’d put them into the water and they’d grow over time, then it was just a case of adding in the other seeds later and they’d keep building the ship longer and bigger.

“It would take some testing, though I think it would be possible. The imprinting and guidance I can give the plants is the biggest thing. Anything I can learn about that would help out.” Petor said.

“There are similar practises with other mages that deal with water, stone, dirt and plants. We can ask them back at Ilus,” Desari said, walking over to them from the stairwell.

“Ready to go?” Mya asked everyone.

Petor nodded along with the others.

“Okay, Coral Bastion here we come!” Mya pulled out the conch they’d got at Kirtana.

“And you’re waving that around because?” Petor asked.

“Because it can create a portal to bodies of water we’ve been to. So we can create a portal right to Coral Bastion. I studied it and I figure that it can move Mesurial four times in a day before it needs to recharge.”

“Sure, lets finish up the contract,” Desari said. Her smile a mix of tired melancholy as she looked at them each.

The ship started to move, the oars going to work as the water smoothed ahead of them and the half-sails caught the wind.

Cannons rumbled from Noose and Reckoning. Petor snapped over, the shots just powder as the crew waved from their decks.

The Water Lord’s Ship cannons bellowed in salute as well.

“The Liberator, now that’s a nickname,” Mya said as she walked to the rear of the ship.

“I didn’t pick it,” Desari grumbled.

Mya snorted as she raised the conch to her mouth and blew into it.

The water ahead of the ship rose into a circle, showing Delmara’s island and new dock ahead. Boats were crammed around it checking it over. More people were walking on it and looking at where it connected to the island itself.

All of them looked over as Mesurial passed through the portal.

“Well docking is going to take some maneuvering,” Mya yelled.