"Alas, the problem with being stuck on a turtle with the same people for months on end," Erskine sighed, dropping his arms down to his sides so that the hat hit the side of his leg. "Present company excluded, of course. Rue used to be so easy to maintain, back before cameras and smartphones. We traveled, and there were seven of us to rotate the identity between. Anton's Rue voice is hilarious, by the way."

He chuckled. "Now just watch, Saracen's going to end up here on the turtle one of these days, wondering why half the men on the turtle are pissed at him and the other half are hitting on him." If Saracen didn't immediately try to kill him. There was no guarantee of that.

Valdis's enthusiasm was infectious. "As if it hasn't been already?" Erskine laughed. "Wreath and Raine were priceless."