‘You're to meet her at the harbour,’ the little girl added.

Tab broke into a jog. Further along the lane she pushed through a crowd that had gathered around Tibbid, who was demonstrating a ball and cup game. The sky-traders looked on, unimpressed. Tab guessed they had probably seen it all before, but she admired Tibbid for trying.

As she passed the vast building that housed the Navigators’ Guild she happened to look up. There in the window she saw a pale face, like a little ghost of a boy. Torby! She stopped in her tracks, waving both arms over her head, grinning.

Her friend placed his palm against the glass. All of a sudden Tab felt a warm breeze circle around her, lifting her hair off her face. She threw her arms around her own torso, as though she was trying to hug the wind. She thought she saw a smile on Torby's face, and then the curtain dropped and he was gone. Tab waited for a moment, but the curtain stayed firmly closed.

Soon she was at the harbour where Stelka stood with a group from the Navigators’ Guild. Not far away Florian, Fontagu and Vindon were aboard another sky-trader's vessel, heading out of the harbour.

Fontagu gave her a majestic wave. Tab narrowed her eyes. He was up to something.

Stelka pulled Tab aside. She looked around, waiting for a moment when their sky-trader attendant was distracted. ‘I'd like you to join us for this trip, Tab.’

‘Lord Verris said I'm supposed to…’

‘You are a member of my guild, are you not?’ the Chief Navigator asked.

Tab hung her head. ‘Yes, ma'am.’

Stelka looked around again. ‘There is something odd about this whole business,’ she whispered. ‘I want you to slip into the city and report back to me on what you see. I would like you to use all your senses.’