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The youngest of the girls didn’t remember where they had come from, but the women with them had been willing enough to take them home with them, if Jazz was truly going to honor her promise to take them back where they had come from. Strika and a few of the others remained skeptical, though, until they pulled into port in the mainland city of Kaon.

It stank of smoke and coal, but the girl who had claimed it as home burst into tears the moment she saw it from the deck.

Strika wrapped an arm around the sobbing girl and held her close as the ship was tied up and the ramp lowered to the dock. “Do you know the way home from here, Rosanna?”

“Yes!” The girl nodded and pointed. “Up the hill to the tailor’s shop and to the right. Our house is the blue one.”

“I will escort her,” Prowl said, stepping up beside them. “And ensure she is returned to her family’s care.”

Strika pinned her with a hard look. “And I will escort you, to ensure your honesty.”

It was almost exasperating to still be so mistrusted by Strika, especially after Bumblebee and Moonracer had become such good friends, but Prowl nodded. Hopefully taking Rosanna home and returning her to her family would finally be what the warrior woman needed to trust them. “You will not need to ensure my honesty, but I will appreciate the company. The few times I visited Kaon before, I did not feel safe alone on the docks.”

“It’s dangerous sometimes,” Rosanna agreed. “Papa always told us to go together, when we needed fish.”

“Then it is a good thing that Strika will be with us.” Prowl smiled at the girl gently.

“I’m gonna send Trailbreaker with you, too.” Jazz stepped up next to Prowl and peered out at the city. “We need a few provisions and there’s a Darkmount ship a few slips down. Saw her when we were coming in. don’t want any of you to look like easy pickings for them.”

“Wise.” Prowl nodded. “Will we stay in port long, captain?”

“Depends on what I see on that ship,” Jazz replied, grinning darkly.

“Of course.” Prowl nodded. “Rosanna, you should go gather up your things. We’ll want to depart while the sun is still up.”

“Yes’m!” Rosanna wiped her eyes and ducked out from under Strika’s arm.

“You are allowing her to keep the things she has been using?” The tall woman looked at Prowl and Jazz quizzically.

“Sure. Bee already altered the dresses and we don’t need that many blankets, unless we stay in the north longer than a few weeks.” Jazz gave her an easy smile. “You’ll get to keep your gear, too, if you decide to leave the ship. It ain’t a lot, but it’s better than starting over with nothing at all.”

“Hm.” Strika gave the captain a thoughtful look before turning her gaze back out onto the city.

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Rosanna’s home was as easy to find as the girl had said it would be. The building was little better than a shack, but it was painted a vivid blue that stood out among the other ramshackle buildings crammed around it. The door was open, presumably to allow in air and light, and Rosanna didn’t hesitate to sprint away from them and dart inside.

“Rosie?!” The surprised shout was loud enough to be clear even on the street. Prowl and Strika walked closer to the door in time to hear the same voice ask, “Oh, my Rosie, how?”

“Pirates papa! We were rescued by pirates!”

“Pirates?”

“Yes, papa! They gave us clothes and food and sunk the other ship and brought me home. Come on, they’re outside and you can meet them!” There was a brief noise of protest before Rosanna reappeared in the doorway, holding tightly to the hand of an older man with hair that was going grey at the temples. “See! This is Prowl and Trailbreaker and Strika. She’s not a pirate, though, she took care of me on the other ship.”

“It is good to meet you, sir,” Prowl removed her hat and bowed slightly, the way most naval officers did. It wouldn’t hurt, to cultivate that particular reputation in the city. “I am Prowl, a crewman on the Alpha Trion. My shipmates were glad to help Rosanna and the others.”

The man glanced from Prowl to Strika to Trailbreaker where he stood at the edge of the street, and then back to Prowl. “You really are pirates?”

“Strika is not.” Prowl smiled.

“I don’t know how to thank you.” The man looked away from Prowl and back down at Rosanna. “When… when their step-mother sold my girls away, I thought I would never see either of them again.”

“No thanks is necessary, sir.” Prowl’s smile faded at the mention of another child. “I only wish we could have brought your entire family home to you.”

“You answered half of my prayers and I will be forever grateful.” The man hugged Rosanna to his side. “Her name is Twirl, if you could watch for her.”

“We will keep our eyes open.” Prowl nodded. Strika did the same next to her.

“Thank you. Thank you so much.”

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“Do you know when Rosanna was sold to the Darkmount Honey Company?” Prowl asked softly, as she and Trailbreaker looked over the fruit they needed to reload the ship with.

Strika shook her head. “I do not. We were not told the days or years when we were on the ships. I only know that she came aboard after I had been there for forty sunrises. And we were together for another thirty before the raid.”

“A month on the ship with you at least provides a time frame.” Prowl pointed at a crate of apples, indicating to the merchant that he should se them aside for her. Nearby, Trailbreaker was doing the same with oranges. “Will you accompany Trailbreaker back to the ship, if I stop to inquire at the office of the Darkmount Comapny? Finding out when she was sold and to whom will make it easier to find Twirl.”

“Absolutely not.” Strika pinned her with a firm look. “Both you and Rosanna have said Kaon is unsafe to travel alone. We will all return to the ship with provisions and then I will put on a nice dress and pretend to be your servant.”

“Do you not trust me to be able to look after my own safety?” Prowl gave her a bemused look.

“I do not. Not in a city where children can be sold like they are no more than goats.”

“All right. We will return to the ship and then come back to inquire about a girl named Twirl.”

“You should bring Bumblebee too,” Trailbreaker added, returning to their sides. “He’ll be good for keeping watch on the street while you’re inside. No one seems to notice him if he doesn’t want to be.”

“A good idea, thank you.” Prowl nodded. “Hopefully, we will be fortunate enough to find her quickly.”