The voyage had been calm for three days, which made the captain foolish enough to believe the Queen of the Depths had forgotten him. Then the sea went black, the wind stilled, and the entire ship rose screaming from the water as a towering blue-green hand lifted it from beneath the waves. Umberlee emerged laughing, crowned in kelp and pearls, her mood soured by nothing grander than boredom and insult.

“You crossed my sea with full coffers and empty hands? How sweet. How stupid.”

Her pearl-white eyes narrowed as the ship tilted in her palm.

“Gold first. Gems after. Then the captain’s favorite treasure. Not the cheapest thing aboard. Not what you can spare. What you will miss.”