The glow was already fading from the etherium by the time Amelia stepped back onto the bridge, nodding to Midshipman Buckley.

"Mr Buckley," she said.

"Ma'am." Buckley touched his hat and smiled. "I hear you've been busy already."

Amelia grinned. "It's been a while since I had to calculate a course remotely. I can only hope that I still have the touch." She turned to Lieutenant Forrest and saluted. "First dog watch is arrived, sir."

Forrest, a long-nosed Elephasian, returned the salute. "Afternoon watch stands relieved, acting lieutenant. Nothing to report. Ship steady on zero two five mark zero, speed eight seven."

"Zero two five mark zero, speed eight seven," Amelia repeated.

"Handover confirmed at 1600 hours." Forrest checked his watch. "Very good. Ah, Mr Bryce, my compliments to you."

The Petty Officer, replacing Buckley, touched his hat in acknowledgement. "Thank you, sir."

"So," Forrest stood aside to let Amelia take his place at the console. "How are our distant spacefaring friends? Are we likely to meet them or not?"

"Perhaps late tomorrow, sir, if neither of us change course," said Amelia. "But I'll confirm that with Mr Costell."

"As you wish." Forrest watched her start entering her calculations into the bridge computer. "Mr Buckley? Let's take our leave."

"Oh, um, yes. Yes, sir." Buckley, who was already most of the way down the stairs to the deck, looked up sheepishly. Amelia chuckled and shook her head. Buckley flashed her a grin but had to jump back hastily as Captain Forsythe emerged from his habit and stumped up to the bridge, Costell trying to keep up.

"Good afternoon, sir." Amelia saluted.

"Acting lieutenant," Forsythe nodded. "You have completed your observations?"

"Yes, sir. I'm just running them through the analyticals now, sir." Amelia gestured at the console. Forsythe grunted.

"And your impressions?"

"It's difficult to estimate, sir, but our courses may converge tomorrow." Amelia flipped open her notebook and double checked it. "But we're well clear of them for now, sir."

"I concur, captain," said Costell, who had been looking over her shoulder.

"At least we have a peaceful night to look forward to," said Forsythe. "Excellent. Maintain observation as best as you can during the night and be sure to pick them up again tomorrow morning."

"Aye, sir." Amelia saluted. "Miss Porter is in the observatory. She'll inform me if there is any change."

"A civilian," Forsythe muttered. "Well. So be it. You're sure she's up to it?"

"They have her undivided attention, sir," said Amelia, smiling.

"So be it." Forsythe straightened his hat. "Carry on, acting lieutenant."

Amelia saluted again. "Aye, sir."

She turned back to the deck and looked forward to the forecastle where the drill sessions Arrow was supervising was still carrying on. The militia who had survived the Procyon siege on Naztar had been enlisted as temporary recruits for Resolute's Royal Marines contingent, and Acting Sergeant Ko had displayed a typically forthright attitude to bringing them up to shape. Her curt commands echoed back down the deck and Amelia watched the red-coated figures as they stood in two ranks and attempted to keep up with her. Arrow was watching them, hands behind his back, but he looked over his shoulder and caught Amelia's gaze. He said a few words to Ko and began making his way back along the deck, clambering onto the bridge.

"Ma'am," he touched his hat.

"Captain Arrow." Amelia smiled. "The drill goes well?"

"I fear that the new recruits may still be going through the motions in their sleep," Arrow smiled wryly. "But they are learning fast."

"I'm glad to hear it," said Amelia. "They're good men. All of them."

"Indeed they are, ma'am."

"I meant to ask you this before, Mr Arrow," Amelia said. "What were you doing in the observatory when Miss Porter and I disturbed you?"

"You did not disturb me, ma'am," said Arrow. "But if you must know...I was watching the stars."

"For anything in particular?"

Arrow smiled and nodded. "Void whales, ma'am. This close to the Megapterans I was sure we'd see some."

"Correctly, as it turns out." Amelia smiled. "Has this whole ship gone whale-happy? First the Governor, then Miss Porter, now you."

Arrow smiled back. "I may have spent most of my many years in space, ma'am, but there are some sights that can still leave even me feeling awestruck."

"I must not have as much poetry in my soul," said Amelia. "They are impressive creatures, though."

"Perhaps when you see one up close, then," said Arrow.

There was a shout from the forecastle and the new recruits began falling out, breaking up into pairs and threes and disappearing throughout the ship. Amelia watched Bock, the former militia commander who had been given the brevet rank of corporal, pause to speak with Archimedes who was ambling good-naturedly along the starboard railing. Ko moved aft and joined them on the bridge, snapping to attention and saluting.

"Squad is dismissed, sir. I've sent them for dinner. We can begin again in the second dog watch."

"The drill was not to your satisfaction, acting sergeant?" asked Amelia.

The wiry grey feline shrugged. "They're getting better, ma'am. Still as wobbly as newborn colts, most of them, but we'll make soldiers of them yet."

Arrow grunted approvingly. "At least they bring the Marine contingent almost back up to strength," he remarked. "They are good men, even if they yet lack the required discipline."

"Well, the Marines aren't for everyone, Mr Arrow," Amelia smiled. "If a lack of discipline is the problem, I'm sure we could accept them into the Fleet."

Arrow chuckled. "I am not so sure that they would be at home in the riggings, ma'am. Landlubbers, the lot of them."

"If it comes to that," said Amelia, "I don't often recall seeing redcoats aloft."

Arrow grinned. "My normal calling is closer to the deck, ma'am, I admit. But in my decades of service alongside your predecessors, I may have picked up one or two tricks beyond my usual remit."

"I have no doubt, Mr Arrow," Amelia looked up at the shimmering sails stretching above them.

"I'll keep my feet on good, honest decking if it's all the same to you, ma'am," said Ko.

"I think we'll be able to manage, acting sergeant," Amelia glanced sideways.

Ko grinned her scarred grin and touched her hat respectfully. "Fine by me, ma'am."

"Thank you, acting sergeant," said Arrow. "Reform the squad at the striking of the second dog watch, and head below yourself for a meal."

"Aye, sir. Ma'am." Ko touched her hat again and left the bridge. Amelia watched her go and looked back to Arrow, who was gazing at the stars again. She chuckled, shook her head, and took her place behind the console, hands folded behind her.

Yawning, Amelia pushed open the cabin door and soundlessly stepped inside. A silver glow from a nearby moon was coming through the porthole and providing enough light that she didn't need to turn on the lamp. She hung her hat on its hook and shrugged off her blue coat. The white sheet of canvas bisecting the room, dividing the two beds, but Amelia could see that one was already occupied. Jane was lying on her side and Amelia's eyes followed the curve of her flank as it was revealed by the drape of the sheets. Turning, she hung her coat on the hook and took off her white waistcoat. She unbuckled her belt and slipped the band of leather and metal from around her waist, stepping out of her shoes. Padding barefooted across the wooden floor, she knelt and slipped into the bed behind Jane, appreciating the warmth that her body had already imbued it with. Jane mumbled and turned onto her back.

"Am...Amelia?"

"It's me, Jane. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you. I just got back off watch."

"No, you're all right." Jane stretched her arms out and yawned. "I went to bed a bit early anyway."

"I thought you'd still be in the observatory," Amelia smiled.

Jane chuckled. "Oh, dear...well, once it got dark I lost sight of them, so I came back below."

"They're definitely whales, then?"

"Oh, yes. I'm sure of it. What else could they be?"

Amelia sighed. "Well...we've been ordered to keep a lookout for one of our ships. A frigate called the Chancer disappeared near the Megapterans."

"Oh...I'm sorry to hear that." Jane sounded concerned.

"It happens," Amelia shrugged. "Spacing is still as much an art as a science. We'll find them, though."

"Yes. I'm sure we will."

"If we don't, one of our other ships will," said Amelia. "This ship is part of a task force that is being brought together to look for the frigate. If all the others come together we'll have more than a dozen ships. It'll be quite a sight."

Jane smiled. "You sound as excited about the ships as I am about the whales."

Amelia laughed. "Well...different tastes, I suppose. But we seem to have enough in common to get along."

"Fortunately," Jane rolled onto her side towards Amelia, reaching out her left arm to touch the right side of Amelia's face. She smiled in the darkness as she felt the feline's soft fur. Amelia smiled too, turning her head to kiss Jane's palm.

"For us both, my dear."

The vapour was hanging around the ship, so thick that there wasn't even a wake left behind it. The morning light was starting to burn it off but as Amelia paced the bridge, counting off the last hour of her morning watch and drumming her fingers of the brass casing of her telescope, the dense grey haze only marginally thinner. As it blocked the view of the stars, Amelia had the strange feeling that the Resolute was completely immobile, hanging motionless in a monochromatic purgatory. Only the shimmering of the sails and the comforting, deep hum of the engines told her otherwise. She had already ordered the reefing of the upper sails, cutting the ship's speed almost by half.

"Accursed weather, ma'am," said Bryce, the Petty Officer sharing the watch.

Amelia nodded. "I'm forced to agree with you. Care to take a guess at how long it'll stay like this?"

Bryce rubbed his nose and looked up. "Well, I could barely see the fighting tops fifteen minutes ago...but now they're clear. Perhaps another hour, maybe two."

"We'll maintain a sharp lookout, then," said Amelia. "Our path should be clear ahead, but let's not risk being wrong."

"As you wish, ma'am," said Bryce. "Shall we take another reef?"

Amelia glanced up at the sails. "No...no, I think not, Mr Bryce. We'll lose too much time. We'll maintain this speed."

"Aye, ma'am. Maintaining speed." Bryce checked the instrument panel.

"Not interrupting, am I?"

Amelia smiled and looked around as Jane, wearing her long yellow dress, climbed onto the bridge. They shared a knowing smile before Amelia replied.

"Not at all, Miss Porter. You're quite welcome."

"I appreciate it, Ms Amelia," Jane said politely. "I thought I'd like to come and see what goes on at this time of day."

"I'm afraid this isn't the best time to see anything, ma'am," said Bryce.

Jane walked past Amelia, brushing their hands together secretly. "So I see. I appear to have picked a poor morning."

"Perhaps tomorrow will be brighter, Miss Porter," said Amelia.

"I shall have to see," said Jane, smiling.

"Contact!"

Amelia turned her head up sharply at the shout from the lookout.

"Where away?"

"Three points off the starboard bow! Range one hundred!"

Amelia extended her telescope and put it to her eye. There was a shadow in the fog, huge and menacing.

"Is it the whales?" said Jane stepping forward.

"They'd have had to change course pretty dramatically during the night to be on our starboard bow at this range," said Amelia. "And why would they do that? Unless something disturbed them."

"It can't be the Chancer," said Bryce squinting. "Too big for a frigate."

"It's not a ship," said Amelia. "It's...oh..."

"Shall we clear for action?" asked Bryce.

"No need, Mr Bryce...and Jane...I'm sorry. I really am." Amelia's voice was quiet.

"What? Why?" Jane strained to see the shadow, which suddenly emerged from behind the grey veil. She gasped. It was a void whale. But the emphasis was certainly on the was. It certainly wasn't now. The huge carcass drifted on one end. Great chunks of flesh had been carved from it and a haze of dark red blood hung around it, clinging to its gravity. Nebula zaftwings flocked around it, chittering hysterically as they fed upon it. They were usually predators, but nobody would pass up the bounty of a dead whale.

"Oh, no..." Jane put her hand over her mouth. The carcass drifted past the ship, rotating slowly as if to give the observers a full view of the damage wreaked upon it.

"What could do such a thing?" Jane whispered. "There are no natural predators capable..."

"Perhaps not natural, then," said Amelia. "Those look more like cuts to me. It's been carved up like a piece of meat. That's not the work of a predator. That's the work of a professional. And look there." She pointed to the dead whale's head, where a number of straight shafts protruded from the skin. "What do you make of those, Mr Bryce?"

The Petty Officer looked closely. "Harpoons, ma'am."

"Harpoons? But that would mean a ship...a whaling ship," said Jane.

"I suppose if you were a whaler, you'd go where there are whales," said Amelia. "Like the Megapterans, at this time of year. And if you get lucky and spot one on the way in...why not take the opportunity."

"I suppose...how horrible it is..." Jane shook her head. "They didn't even take all of it...they've only cut off the best bits, look."

"Could that have been one of the whales we spotted yesterday?" asked Bryce.

Amelia nodded. "Being chased by a whaler would certainly have been enough to make them change course...and who knows how they dumped the carcass once they were done with it. Miss Porter, you said there were two whales- a cow and a calf?"

"Yes, yes...so I think," said Jane.

"Any idea which one that was?"

Jane swallowed and looked at the ravaged hulk as it disappeared into the mists behind them. "I...I think that would have been the mother. It was an adult. You can tell that by the colour and size of the dorsal fins and the mottling under the eyes. The poor thing...and the poor calf. It must still be out there somewhere."

"Unless they've already caught it," said Bryce. "Sorry to say so, ma'am."

"One more thing to keep a lookout for," said Amelia. "Mr Bryce. When this watch concludes, please take my respects to the Captain and inform him that we have reason to believe that there is a whaling vessel operating in the area."

"Aye, ma'am," Bryce nodded.

"And you, Miss Porter. Are you all right?" Amelia tried to keep the concern out of her voice, but couldn't keep it out of her eyes. Jane saw it and smiled bravely.

"I'm quite all right, lieutenant. Just a bit shaken. I...wasn't expecting to see that."

"Understandable." Amelia put a hand on her shoulder. "Try not to worry, though. We'll find out what happened."

"I'm sure we will." Jane flicked back a stray lock of brown hair. "Even so...I take my leave. I'd better head below for breakfast. Perhaps I'll look in on Mr Whiting on the way."

"Excellent idea, Miss Porter." Amelia grinned. "I'll be with you shortly."

She watched her leave the bridge and caught the glance Jane took over her shoulder back at her. Their eyes met for a moment, sharing a message only they could see, before Jane gave her a small smile and ducked out of sight.

The ship was huge, at least comparable in sheer bulk to the Resolute, but where the warship's size spoke of purpose and strength the other vessel simply looked bloated. At first Amelia thought it was a catamaran and her mind immediately began producing images of the Procyon silouettes that they had been made to memorise at the Academy, but a closer look told her not to bother. It was a single hulled ship, but the hull was bisected by a vast canvas bulge like a distended belly. Ribbing suggested that it was expandable, able to enlarge to carry whatever the ship's cargo was. The wood of the hull was a dark blue and the ship flew no flags, not even one of the insignia of the merchant houses that normally guaranteed a ship safe passage even in the parts of the galaxy where the Empire's wrath was not universally respected.

"Ah, acting lieutenant," Forsythe glanced over his shoulder at her. "Good of you to join us."

"Reporting as ordered, captain," Amelia touched her hat.

Chad and Arrow were peering through telescopes at the strange ship.

"Do you have her name, Commander?" Forsythe was pacing again.

"I make her the Skull of Ahab, sir," said Arrow. "No port of origin."

"Any mention of her in the registry, Mr Buckley?" asked Chad.

Midshipman Buckley looked up from the bridge console and shook his head. "No record, sir. And she doesn't look like a standard hull type to me, either, sir."

"Very perceptive, Mr Buckley," said Forsythe. "So. Unregistered. Unknown."

"Pirate, sir?" asked Dunn.

"No Confederate markings," said Chad. "She could just be a rogue trader."

"A what?" Jane had followed Amelia onto the bridge. Archimedes was with her, fiddling with an antique pair of binoculars.

"Rogue trader," Amelia whispered. "A merchant ship with no registry who runs up whatever flag happens to suit them best at the time depending on docking rates, jurisdictional matters and so on. When they're out into the deep etherium they don't usually bother with flags at all."

"Why not?"

"Because it allows them to do whatever they damn well please, Miss Porter," snapped Forsythe. "And there's not an authority in the galaxy that can prevent them unless we catch them in the act."

"They don't seem to be doing anything now, sir," said Chad.

"I saw two whales out there, commander," said Jane. "And we found one of the dead earlier today. They could have the other one."

"It would explain that odd midsection, sir," Amelia commented.

Forsythe nodded. "A reasonable assumption. And let's not forget about the Chancer, either. Raise additional sail, commander. Let's get a bit closer."

Chad folded his telescope. "Aye, sir. First division, second division! All hands aloft and loose moonrakers!"

"That's my division, sir," said Dunn.

"You are excused, Miss Dunn." Forsythe waved a hand. Dunn saluted her thanks and began scrambling up the rigging, calling encouragement to her spacers. Amelia looked up as the highest sails on the ship were unfurled and shaken out to catch the light. They sparkled as the energy began running through them and the ship's engines changed their note as they drew in the extra power.

"We'll soon be on them now," said Forsythe, with some satisfaction. "Mr Forrest, take my compliments to the fo'c'sle gun captain. I want you to take command of the bowchasers and stand by. Load starshell and charge for maximum range."

Lieutenant Forrest saluted. "Starshell and maximum range for the bowchasers it is, sir."

He left the bridge. Amelia moved over to join Arrow, who was still watching the Skull of Ahab.

"It's a little odd to encounter a merchant vessel this deep into a warzone, is it not?" she said.

Arrow shrugged. "Whaling ships go where the whales are. They can be in space for months, out of contact. But I am inclined to agree with you nonetheless. In my experience, ma'am, whalers tend to have a...mercenary outlook on life. Were they to encounter a Confederate vessel I am sure they would not hesitate to pass on intelligence about our presence."

"So they're the enemy?" asked Archimedes, who was still struggling to take the lens caps off his binoculars.

"Not technically," said Arrow.

"But practically?" Jane looked up at him.

Arrow grimaced. "Practically, Miss Porter...I for one take a dim view of beings who ply the wonders of the etherium and who seek a living by slaughter."

"Speed increasing, sir," said Lieutenant Costell. "We'll be abreast of them in fifteen point two minutes."

"Very good, Mr Costell," Forsythe shifted his sword on his hip.

"If I may, Mr Captain," said Archimedes, giving up on the binoculars, "What happens when we catch up with them?"

Forsythe drummed his fingers on the hilt. "That rather depends."

"On what?"

"We'll conduct a standard boarding and inspection," said Forsythe. "It's a common enough procedure."

"Don't you need a reason to do that?" Archimedes raised an eyebrow.

"It's a fair point, sir," said Chad. "We don't have any Customs officers on board so our authority to search for contraband is quite limited. And we're not near an Imperial port so there are no environmental concerns. That only leaves safety of life in space as a justification and the most we can do under those powers is ask them nicely to fix anything we find."

"Blast. You're right." Forsythe clicked his fingers. "But it may be all we have to work with."

"Um, sir?" Jane raised a hand shyly.

"It'll at least get us on board, sir," said Chad.

"Sir?"

"But it can't let us conduct a search of their holds," said Forsythe. "All they have to do is show us a signed manifest and we can't do a damned thing else unless we can justify suspicions."

"Sir? Please, sir."

The captain and his first officer turned around. Jane had raised her hand above her head as if she was in a schoolroom. She saw their incredulous gazes and waved nervously.

"What the blazes are you doing?" said Forsythe.

"Me? Oh, um, I wasn't sure if we were meant to...you know." Jane waved again.

"We don't normally raise our hands, Miss Porter," said Chad.

"Although it isn't the worst idea I've heard of," said Forsythe. "What's on your mind, Miss Porter?"

"Well, um, I was just thinking...if it's a whaling ship, it has to abide by the laws and conventions relating to all harvest ships. Whalers, trawlers and so on."

"Yes?"

"And, well, there are animal welfare provisions included. In fact, Section 15(A) of the most recent iteration of the-"

"Animal welfare?" said Forsythe.

"Yes, sir. Put simply, you're allowed to search a ship like a whaler to make sure they aren't treating their capture with unnecessary cruelty and are storing the meat in sanitary conditions and so forth."

"Is the Navy empowered to make those judgements?" said Chad.

"No, sir. Only a qualified and registered member of the Imperial College of Veterinarians."

Amelia grinned, but Chad didn't seem to understand.

"Forgive me, Miss Porter, but fascinating as that is, our surgeon is not a member of that esteemed institution."

"No, sir," said Amelia, stepping forward. "But Miss Porter here-"

"I am, sir," Jane smiled modestly. "Admittedly for less than a year. But I'm a member. And I am a veterinarian."

"So she is!" Archimedes beamed. "I say, Janey, that's awfully clever of you."

"Thank you, father." Jane blushed. "And I'd...I'd be happy to help. With your permission of course, Captain."

Forsythe stopped his habitual pacing for a moment and looked at Jane appraisingly. Jane returned his gaze steadily and Amelia felt a faint sense of pride in the fact. Forsythe grunted approvingly and nodded.

"Very well, Miss Porter. Mr Chad, bring us into hailing range. Miss Amelia, prepare a boarding party. Take a longboat and five spacers from your division."

"Aye, sir," Amelia saluted.

"Mr Arrow, you will provide an armed escort. Three Marines."

"Very good, sir." Arrow looked down to where Ko was standing on the main deck with a squad of marines in ranks. "Acting Sergeant? Choose two soldiers and join the acting lieutenant."

Ko saluted. "Yes, sir! Corporal Bock! Private! Fall out and come with me!"

Jane joined Amelia on the main deck as a longboat was swung out over the side. She hoisted her satchel over her shoulder and gave Amelia a brave smile.

"Are you sure you'll be all right, Janey?" Archimedes followed them over.

"Of course, father," said Jane. "You don't think I'd volunteer for anything dangerous, do you?"

"Well...if you put it like that..." Archimedes scratched his head.

"And if anything does happen, your excellency," said Amelia, "We have Sergeant Ko and her Marines with us."

"Of course, of course. And you can handle yourself rather well, too, if I recall, lieutenant," said Archimedes. "Do keep an eye on my daughter, won't you?"

"Both eyes, sir," Amelia shot Jane a grin over the top of his head, making her blush again.

"And watch her back," Archimedes went on.

"I'm happy to watch as much of her as necessary, sir."

Jane coughed. "Ahem, yes, well, thank you. I am grateful for your assistance."

Her father hugged her. "Be careful, my darling."

Jane hugged him back. "I will, father. I promise."

Amelia stepped into the longboat and began inspecting the engine as the spacers began working on the sail. Jane watched her father smile at her over his shoulder as he returned to the bridge, where Chad had picked up the mouthpiece to a speaking tube. There was a crackle as the vox-casters atop the foremast came to life.

"Skull of Ahab, Skull of Ahab, this is the Royal Light Ship Resolute of Her Imperial Majesty's Royal Navy. You will furl your sails and prepare to be boarded. I repeat, this is the Royal Light Ship Resolute. You will furl your sails and prepare to be boarded."

There was a long pause before a reply floated back across the etherium from the misshapen whaler.

"On what grounds, Resolute?"

"Veterinary inspection under Section 15(A) of the Fifty-third Interstellar Commerce and Trade in Livestock Produce Act! Furl your sails and prepare to receive our boarding party!"

Chad waited and turned to the captain. "No reply, sir."

"Perhaps we should focus their minds," said Forsythe grimly. "Inform Mr Forrest that he may fire the port bowchaser at his convenience."

Jane had clambered into the longboat alongside Amelia and she jumped in surprise as the gun boomed out. A brilliant white comet of fire leaped out, curving past the Skull of Ahab's bows.

"Are...are we shooting at them?" she asked.

"Only a flare," Amelia whispered. "Just getting their attention."

"Skull of Ahab, Skull of Ahab," Chad took up his mouthpiece again. "You will furl your sails and prepare to be boarded."

"Lieutenant Forrest reports the port chaser reloaded, sir," said Buckley.

"Sir! Sir! They're complying!" Dunn waved from the upperworks. "They're shortening sail!"

Amelia watched the sheets on the whaler's masts being folded in and nodded with satisfaction. "Here we go, everyone. Take your places."

The small boarding party shifted on the longboat's bench seats and Amelia wrapped her hand around the control lever. She looked up to the bridge where Arrow was still observing their quarry through his telescope. He lowered it, caught her gaze, and nodded to her. She nodded back and gave him a confident grin.

"They're slowing, sir," said Chad. "We'll be alongside them any time now."

"Very good, commander," Forsythe folded his hands. "Launch the longboat. And, if you would be so good, bring the crew to action stations. Discreetly."

"Action stations, sir?"

"You heard me, Mr Chad," Forsythe gazed at him levelly and then glared at the whaler. "I do not like where this could go. Deck parties will muster below and stay out of sight. That goes for your troops as well, Captain Arrow. Charge the port batteries but do not run them out. All gunports are to remain closed, is that clear?"

Chad blinked and nodded. "Perfectly, sir."

"Carry on, then."

Chad saluted and turned. He waved to the spacers on the longboat launch crane and left the bridge to begin quietly issuing the captain's orders.

"Hold on tight, everyone," Amelia gripped the throttle. There was a stomach-churning lurch as the longboat was dropped from the crane and left the big ship's gravity field before its own engine fired them towards the whaler. Jane gasped and her hand instinctively clutched at Amelia's for a moment before they glanced up and caught each other's eyes. Amelia gave her a small smile.

"Careful, Miss Porter," she said.

Jane smiled back and nodded her thanks. Behind Amelia, the comforting bulk of the Resolute was already reducing with distance while ahead of them, the dark-hulled whaler loomed.