[Mithadan]

After the mid-day meal (which he conceded was excellent), Mithadan cleaned up a bit then climbed to the deck for a breath of fresh air. His head still ached from his "journey" into the West, but this was not the reason that he stood at the rail so long. "May as well get this over with," he muttered as he descended to the crews' quarters below.

Standing before the door to Tule's cabin, he hesitated again. He had not spoken privately to Pio since the revelation the night before, and felt that, notwithstanding her jolly temper of the morning, he had stripped her of something which she at least had felt she needed. But it was too late now; Tule was gone, never to return and his decision could not be unmade. He reached out and knocked on the cabin door...