The Empress of Tides did not sail directly to the Cobalt Coast. No ship did. The currents of the Shattered Sea were treacherous, requiring a stopover at the hub of the southern world: Seraphim City.
It was a city built entirely on stilts and floating platforms in the center of a massive turquoise lagoon. It was beautiful, blindingly bright, and entirely corrupt.
"It's too bright," Revas complained, putting on a pair of dark spectacles he had stolen from a passing baron during breakfast. "The sun is aggressive here. I feel personal animosity from that star."
"Stop complaining," Mirabelle said, adjusting her wide-brimmed sun hat to shield her eyes. She wore a breezy white linen dress that looked innocent but concealed a dagger strapped to her thigh. "We have to disembark. The ship resupplies here for three days."
