Chapter 48: The Pearl

"Don't," said Mei. He hadn't moved yet, only knelt on the hull of her upturned ferry with her mother's net round his knees and his bleeding hands in his lap, looking at the water. But she knew. She'd known since the post at dawn, since she'd done the sum with her palm on the cold wood. She'd said yes in his father's hall. She'd set the price herself. And now he was going to pay it, and she said don't, because her mouth did it without asking her. Fish turned his head and looked at her. Her hand was on his sleeve. She looked at it, and took it off. "You said yes," he said gently. "I know what I said." Her voice cracked. "I'm allowed to change my mind. I haggle. I change my mind all the time. It's half the job." "Not this time," said Fish. "This time…