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Nereus came to stand beside him at the rail. She looked at the boat with an eye so keen it made most people feel as though their thoughts had been read before they finished thinking them. Alexis had known and loved her for over nine thousand years, and he still wasn't immune to it.

"Tell me what you intend to do at least so I know what I'm worrying about," she said finally.

He kept coiling the ropes but gave in. "Dandolo's fleet sails for Constantinople within the month. Whatever their banners say about Egypt, they are going to Constantinople. The bankers in the Rialto have been selling options on Byzantine grain since February. The merchants know where the money is going to be."

Nereus grunted in confirmation. "And the crusaders will find a city that has argued with itself into unguarded walls and owes Venice too much money that they need to fund their latest madness."

"Exactly. You know what will happen. We have seen it too many times before. They will take what they like and say that it is justified because it's repaying a debt," Alexis replied with a tired sigh.

"And you propose to get there first?"

"I can reach the city in four days with the wind spell I can call. I can be out again before the first Venetian sword crosses the harbor chain. There is too much in the city that has to be saved and not burned like Alexandria was."

Nereus was quiet for a long moment. The tide slapped softly against the hull, patient and formidable as the magician herself. "Alexis..."

"I can't stand by and see it happen again, so don't tell me no," he snapped.

"I wasn't going to." Nereus's face in the gray light was the face of a general, worn smooth by salt and certain of its purpose. She touched his arm gently. "I was going to tell you that if you do this, you won't come back the same."

"I don't expect to. We might not age, but we still change."

"That isn't what I mean. You are restless in a way I have not seen in you since Egypt. The restlessness is what breaks you down, Alexis. So go on this journey and save what you must, but don't throw yourself in unnecessary danger for it."

"Nereus," Alexis began but cut himself off. There was no point in denying it. He had never been able to lie to her, and she saw through it every time. "I'm not using this as an excuse to destroy myself. I am restless, you are right, but I'm not ready to give up on this life."

"Good, because I see trouble brewing in the future, and I'll need you." Nereus's mouth turned at the corner, a private wry smile that didn't reach her eyes.

Alexis frowned. He knew that look, and it was never a good sign. "How far into the future?"

"Oh, I don't know." Nereus shrugged mischievously. "Maybe you have eight hundred years to despair in, Alexis, and I've no patience for despair in a student of mine. Go to Constantinople. Save what you can of the books and trinkets you love, but come home. Find something to put between yourself and the hours, because the hours are long, and the trouble I see… Well, let's just say you are in for an exciting time when you finally pluck it out of the canal."

Alexis was about to ask what exactly she meant by that when he heard the splash of oars, and Phaidros called his name across the water.

"Defender! I was told you were hiding out here, pretending to be a shipwright. Or is it Noah? I don't think we are due for another flood."

"If we were, I won't be tempted to save you for a second time," Alexis replied drolly, making Nereus elbow him in the side.

Phaidros came up the dock in a long gold coat that was inappropriate for both the weather and the activity. He had clearly been at a party the night before and still hadn't considered sleep a necessary item on his schedule. He bowed extravagantly to Nereus, who rolled her eyes.

"Fearless leader, you look like you have just ruined someone's plans, and dawn has barely broken."

"I like to get my ruining in early while I'm still fresh," Nereus said, brushing some lipstick off Phaidros's cheek. "I'm sure Alexis was going to tell us his plans to leave eventually."

"Was he? Because I was at the Rialto this morning, and a drunk Genoese banker told me that Alexis had bought a rudder made of seasoned Illyrian oak, which is either for a long sea voyage or a very particular erotic appointment, and given how badly Alexis flirts, I thought I should come and check on him."

Nereus tsked in warning. "Phaidros."

"Mi dispiace, maestra. I was only concerned for his well-being." He looked completely unapologetic as he turned the full amber shine of his attention onto Alexis. The teasing softened at the edges without leaving altogether. "You're actually going."

"I am."

"To Constantinople. In March."

"Sì."

"Let me guess, before Dandolo arrives with thirty thousand Franks and takes whatever the hell he wants, including all the good books."

"That's the plan," Alexis said before adding, "and I highly doubt they would know what the best books are even if they fell over them."