"It was once in the hands of a mermaid we hear," Alaric said coolly. "A mirror with silver waves along the frame. It… hums when the light touches it. It shows what it should not. That mirror."
Devon paled.
He turned to Brinson. "Get the rest of the crew away from this part of the deck. Now."
Brinson didn't argue. He barked an order, and the pirates slowly dispersed, though some lingered to eavesdrop from behind crates and barrels.
"That mirror is cursed," Devon said, turning back to them. "I've kept it locked and buried ever since that creature—Nyrra—handed it over in exchange for her freedom. I've lost four men to it. Why in the hells would you want it?"
Salviana stepped forward, chin raised. "Because we know what it does. And we know what we're looking for. We're not foolish."
