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But there were still things she knew she could not ask him about. Not yet anyways. She didn’t ask him about the locked cargo hold. She didn’t ask whose magic controlled the storms surrounding them. Was it his or the Fates? She didn’t ask how he’d come to command such a legendary, formidable crew. And though she was curious, she did not press him for information on his “atlas”, that most precious text coveted by Callimachus, that she’d been accused of stealing.

She asked him about his current book, and only this book, no matter how curious she was about him. Every day that passed she grew to like him more.

The Raya Tufan of legend was practically a monster. But this man was human. He was fit and strong. And beautiful as well. His limbs were long and sinewy, and he moved with such grace and agility that he moved like a gymnast. He was rarely completely still, always fidgeting or climbing high in the rigging to where he’d fashioned himself a nest to keep watch from. On the few occasions he’d removed his mask to eat, she was surprised at how smooth and clean-shaven his face was. Raya fished with a net and carved figurines with a knife, all without putting down his reading. Even when his body paused, still for a moment, his large intelligent hazel eyes continued move back and forth across the page of whatever text he was immersed in.

It dawned on Amrita one morning that the pirate was not wearing a single scrap of jewelry. He had no gold teeth, no jeweled armor. Not even an ornamental scabbard. She looked over at the locked hatch again and sniffed the air. The smell of Raya’s treasure reminded her a bit of the Archives below the Mudpuddle Bookshop in Primrose court.

She was so tempted to say something. But she did not ask.

WHEN MYSTICAL CATS COME TO CALL

A black cat on your doorstep

is cause for no alarm.

She’s only come to tell you,

you can bet the farm.

Should a stray cat find you

and sit and wait to dine,

fetch her kippers and fine lox,

the blessings will be thine.

Some cats are fae, and others may be witch,

so says all the lore.

When one comes uninvited,

do not show them the door.

FROM THE LITTLE GLASS OWL’S BOOK OF LUCKY CHARMS AND AUSPICIOUS OMENS, COMPILED BY ELECTRA GLASS

EIGHTEEN

SHIFTING GEARS

The postcard from Salt Lake, Utah, that Tempest selected for Priya featured a colorful spaceship and a bemused green alien. It read “Wish you were here, SL, UT!” Tempest stopped at a post office in Wyoming to mail it, along with one from The Loaded Spud in Idaho. She’d fallen behind on her weekly postcards, but she hoped Priya would forgive her when she received two at once.

There wasn’t all that much news to report in the small space she had on the back of the card. Just that she was still steadily making her way across the country, taking her time and living off her winnings.

Things could be worse. Far worse. She actually felt lucky, for once in her life. More than that. She was making her own luck.

Fortune started running drills with Tempest on the way to Denver. Sure enough, the atlas had routed them to the next stop on the trivia circuit in mile high city. Once again the radio had filled in the details. This time the cash prize was more significant. $3,500 would go to the winning team. Tempest really wanted this win. It would be enough to carry her through to the east coast.

Fortune cleared her throat in the manner of someone about to deliver a lecture, and adopted the dry, aggrieved tone of an elderly English professor.

“This physicist collaborated closely with Albert Einstein in the years preceding his most celebrated publications. Long overlooked, her contribution to his early work has since been the subject of considerable scholarly debate. Name her.”

Tempest’s answer came almost before she’d finished processing the question. “Mileva Maric.”

Fortune bobbed approvingly and moved on, dropping into a bright, dizzy register that gave Tempest an immediate impression of champagne and cigarette holders.

“This iconic silent film launched its lead to overnight stardom and was re-released decades later with controversial underwater footage that raised rather more questions than it answered.”