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warehouse and home at the very far end, just outside the busiest docks where he kept a number of his own ships berthed.
    Although Gabidar was independently wealthy—largely due to Rook’s coin over the years—the man liked to keep a low profile. His warehouse was a nondescript building of timber and stone with an upstairs that served as housing. It mingled seamlessly with the other structures around it. The tributary that ran behind the buildings was clogged with small boats where crewmen gathered on decks, pointing at the last remaining star in the murky, dawn sky.
    Outside Gabidar’s warehouse a pair of his brutish guards were chatting and pointing up at the sky as they puffed on cigars. From the upstairs window Rook could see Bones, Gabidar’s quick-hound, barking and fogging the glass with his hot breath. Gabidar’s three children were out playing at the edge of the river, and his wife, Marisal, was there tending them as Gabidar himself held her around the waist, peering into the heavens.
    Gabidar had three boys, the eldest was twelve and the youngest was five. They all had their father’s bright, brown eyes and straw-colored hair. Marisal was a beautiful and buxom woman who liked to dress plainly and wore a simple, black veil upon her face. As Rook came upon the warehouse Gabidar’s men turned to him but didn’t stop him. They nodded their recognition of him and allowed him to run past them.
    “Gabidar!” cried Rook. “Gabidar Notaro!”
    The man turned to Rook, as did Marisal. Gabidar was a tall man, dressed in his usual travel-worn clothing. He stroked at his pale beard as his eyes found Rook through the morning dusk. “Rook?” He turned to Marisal and Rook could see the disapproval in her eyes as she hiked her veil and silently communicated something to him. Rook knew that she wasn’t very keen on him sending her husband off to all corners of the earth and she had become more vocal about it this last year.
    Rook ran up to them, panting slightly. “Gabidar,” he said between breaths. “I need you to—”
    “Did you not see the star fall from the sky?” said Marisal. “There’ll be no going anywhere this day. It is a bad omen to travel after a star has fallen.”
    Gabidar frowned at Rook but didn’t acknowledge his wife.
    Rook looked at her. “I’m sorry, Marisal. Let me just ask one trip for this summer.”
    Marisal shook her head and Rook was certain he could see the scowl beneath her veil. “It is pointless and dangerous. Gabidar, tell him. Tell him about—”
    Gabidar gently placed a hand over her mouth and they exchanged a look before Marisal rolled her eyes, shaking her head. Gabidar sighed and looked at Rook. “Rook, my lad, now is not a good time.”
    Rook pushed the large sack he had been carrying into Gabidar’s arms. “I’ll make it well worth your while.”
    Gabidar exhaled loudly, looking down at the weighty sack he now held. Marisal eyed it suspiciously.
    “Just one trip and I won’t ask again for the rest of summer.” said Rook. He gestured at the sack with his head. “It’s enough to buy plenty of provisions to take into Jerusa…” he paused, and then cautiously added, “and to take you into Escalapius to look for Ursula.”
    “Escalapius!” shot Marisal. “That trip will be the entire summer!”
    Gabidar shook his head and began unwrapping the sack. His eyes went wide as a sword with the distinct silvery-metal grain of Everlight emerged amid a number of large, gold coins. Marisal craned her head over and her eyes focused more keenly on the wealth before her.
    “I made that sword for Lord Anubeth.” said Rook. “It’s worth eight-thousand crowns easy; twice over if you sell it in Escalapius, I’m sure. I don’t think they’ll even have heard of Everlight yet. And there’s another thousand crowns in there as well.”
    Gabidar looked at Marisal but she was shaking her head. “Tell him.” he heard her whisper. “Tell him now.” Gabidar hushed her with a