Sonder went to the captain to talk to him. He was speaking with two of his crew, having a hard, stony look on his face.
He was giving out short orders, but his voice was as steady as before, as if two missing men were little more than an inconvenience to be managed.
She waited until he was done, and then:
"Captain," she said.
He turned his head slightly, his one eye settling on her.
"Mm?" he grunted.
"I was awake last night," she said.
"Were ye now," he replied.
"Yes."
She hesitated for only a moment.
"I didn't hear anything," she continued. "No shouting. No splash. Nothing falling into the water."
The captain watched her intensely.
The sailors nearby shifted slightly, listening.
"You got sharp ears, girl?" one of them asked.
"Yes."
The captain raised a hand slightly, silencing the comment.
He kept his gaze on Sonder.
"…And ye're sure?" he asked.
"Yes."
There was no hesitation.
The captain studied her a moment longer, then looked out toward the sea.
"Could be he went quiet," one sailor muttered. "Drunk enough, maybe. But I s'pose even hen a body 'itting water would make sound."
That earned a few looks.
The captain exhaled slowly through his nose.
"Aye," he said. "It does."
Silence stretched for a moment.
Then he straightened slightly.
"Not much to go on," he said at last. "But it's somethin'."
He turned to the nearby sailors.
"Search the ship."
"Search it?" one repeated.
"Aye," the captain said. "Cargo hold, passenger quarters, every corner. If there's somethin' stowin' away or hidin', I want it found."
The sailors nodded, though not all of them looked convinced.
"And keep it quiet," he added. "No need to stir panic over nothin' yet."
That lasted a few minutes.
Word spread anyway.
Sonder had stepped away again, returning to her place near the railing.
She heard a few passengers whisper, but of course, they weren't quiet enough for Sonder not to hear.
Even if she didn't want to listen, it was unavoidable.
"First the man, and now a sailor, that's not normal."
She tried to ignore them as best she could, until she heard:
"It's her. Look at her," the person tried to say under their breath. "She's been her esince the start, but she isn't like the rest of us. Her skin, that stick, and that... sword. How is she even alive?"
Then a voice cut through the murmuring.
"Oh, shut it."
It was one of the sailors.
He stepped forward, scowling at the small cluster of passengers.
"You lot always need someone to point at?" he said. "Two people go missin' and suddenly it's the quiet girl mindin' her own business?"
"Well, what else-" someone started.
"Merfolk!" The sailor said loudly.
That drew attention.
"Merfolk take people," he continued, stepping forward now. "Drag 'em under in the night. Quiet-like. No splash if they don't want one."
A few passengers went pale.
"That's just a story," someone said, though without much conviction.
"Is it?" the sailor shot back. "We're far enough out. Deep water. Perfect place for 'em."
Another sailor came along and rubbed his face. "This is getting out of hand-"
"It's not," the other insisted. "We should've set a night watch stricter than this. Shouldn't have people wanderin' the deck after dark."