Drake nodded. “The prospect of the rest of us placing the mission at risk to come to his rescue is utterly foreign to him. The group does not bend for the individual.”

“If that’s how he’s been trained to feel,” Jason said, “wouldn’t we be taking advantage of him?”

Farfalee huffed softly. “If the imperials have learned our destination, returning for Bat truly could endanger the mission. For the good of all Lyrian, our mission must succeed. By design or not, Bat sincerely would not want us to go back for him. And he truly does stand a chance of surviving on his own.”

“My sister the pragmatist,” Drake said. “Should I tell Nia and Heg that we’re willing to abandon Bat?”

Farfalee gave a reluctant nod. “If they recommend it, and Bat is willing, our need is too great to defy them.”

“I’ll convey our consent.” Drake walked away.

Farfalee turned to Jason. “How do you feel about that decision?”

“I don’t know. It kind of feels wrong.”

“It does. But is it necessary?”

Jason folded his arms and scrunched his brow. “Maybe. Probably. What an awful choice.”

She stared at the pursuing ship. “I doubt either decision could feel right. We can risk Bat’s life, or we can risk the mission. The oracle warned that Lyrian must be purchased with sacrifice. I fear Bat may be one of many to come.”

“What if he fails?”

“We will be even less able to go back for him. If his failure reveals our intentions, we probably won’t be able to succeed with a similar ploy. If his failure goes unnoticed, we’ll have to try again, perhaps involving the skiff or one of the launches.”

Jason turned and watched Drake speaking with Nia, Heg, and Bat. Nia and Heg looked satisfied, and Bat looked overjoyed. The bravery of his smile left Jason resisting tears.

“How could we possibly show Bat how much we appreciate him?” Jason asked.

“We succeed,” Farfalee replied.

* * *

By the time the glowing streaks of sunset began to fade from the western clouds, Bat stood ready to jump. Several crates, barrels, and pallets had been collected to heave over the side with him. The little raft of planks he would use as a personal flotation device was larger than a paddleboard, and some impromptu carpentry had made it quite stable. He had food, gear for catching fish, and an improvised snorkel. And of course he had the two orantium spheres.

“Stay low,” Jasher cautioned. “Keep wreckage between yourself and the ship. Use the breathing tube to stay submerged whenever possible.”

“Don’t worry,” Bat said. “They won’t see me. I’ll get close enough not to miss. They’ll drown without knowing what happened.”

“We can’t have everyone crowding the rear of the ship to watch,” Aram said. “Certainly not until after Bat strikes. Dump your debris, then man your stations. Jason has been near the stern all day. He and Jasher will serve as lookouts. Until the explosion we can’t display excessive interest.”

“It’s time,” Farfalee said. “Swim safely, Bat. We are all indebted.”

Bat grinned. “Don’t thank me yet.”

Heg drew near and whispered something to Bat, who nodded and whispered something back. The two men gripped forearms. Bat looked eager.

“Positions,” Aram ordered, his voice deeper now that he had grown. Drinlings moved to both sides of the ship. Bat got ready, his floatation device in hand.

Jasher and Jason strolled to the rear of the ship.

Aram gave the command. Crates, barrels, pallets, and other wooden fragments went over the side along with Bat. The ship was advancing at a good pace, thanks to the steady breeze, so it did not take long before Jason saw the debris trailing on the water. He tried not to stare at Bat’s flotation device.

The interceptor was closer than ever, not more than fifteen ship lengths behind. It would overtake the flotsam before long.

Jasher raised the spyglass, directing it at the ship, not the debris. “We’re being pursued by the Avenger,” he reported. “I can finally make out the name. Have a look.”

Jason accepted the spyglass. “Do we seem too interested?”

“We’ve been gazing at them all day. You in particular. They’ve almost caught us. It would seem more peculiar if we didn’t watch.”

Jason peered into the eyepiece. The light of the dying sunset barely let him read the name of the ship. “Hopefully, they won’t avenge anything today.”

“They think they have us,” Jasher said. “They’ve gained on us throughout the day. Lightening our load made us look desperate. They’re focused on us, not the debris. They’re prepping for battle. Making sure the pitch is hot, the catapults ready. Archers are stringing bows. Boarding parties are assembling. The captain is waiting to see what maneuver we’ll try.”

Once he lowered the spyglass, Jason had trouble spotting the debris. “Bat is closer to them than to us.”

“If only he can fight the currents enough to stay in their path,” Jasher said. “He just has to get close.”

“What if they catch him when they abandon ship?” Jason worried.

“It’s an additional risk he’s taking,” Jasher said. “If the Avenger founders, it should sail well past Bat before anybody gets in the water. He can keep low and swim tirelessly. They’ll have many more pressing matters to worry about. I like his chances of avoiding our enemies. Making it to land should prove the tougher test. Watch it unfold through the spyglass.”

Jason did as he was told. He could see some activity on the deck. A man was climbing the rigging. He and Jasher watched in silence.

“Concentrate on the right side,” Jasher advised.

“You see him?”

“I think so. He’s close. Almost too close. Get ready for it.”

The explosion centered just above the waterline at the right front side of the ship. The bright flash sent wooden fragments flying. The percussive boom roared a moment later. Smoke bloomed upward. Once the view cleared, Jason saw a cave-sized hole.

“Yes!” Jason exclaimed. “He got—”

He was interrupted by a second explosion just above the waterline on the right side of the Avenger. He was viewing the explosion in profile, so it was a bad angle from which to appreciate the damage, but judging from the position of the detonation, the hole would have to be similar to the first.