You wait for the group to pass, then inspect the mast. A strange assemblage has been attached to its base: a cage of glass, mirrors and crystals. This is a magical device, used to focus light and energy around the ship – perhaps powerful enough to render it invisible. You imagine a fleet of unseeable ships approaching Dioscoria, impossible to perceive until they unload a platoon of elite soldiers. You shiver. ·↽✦۞✦⇀· You hurry to the flagship: a towering vessel, heavily guarded. Suddenly you hear footsteps, and watch from the shadows as Karim is led up the gangplank in shackles. He is taken to the back of the ship, into a large cabin. It is the work of a moment to slip into the water and clamber up the hull. ·↽✦۞✦⇀· Once on deck, you survey your surroundings. A set of stairs lead down to the hold, where you see the faint glimmer of torches. You sneak toward the cabin and peer through a window. Torchlight flickers over the faces of two Ottomans: judging from their uniforms, an admiral and captain. ·↽✦۞✦⇀· “I won’t tell you a thing, admiral,” Karim spits. The admiral sighs. “Perhaps not, but your friends are quite talkative. Who was this stranger, so interested in Kösem?” “This changes everything!” the captain hisses. “A stranger, asking questions? If they are Dioscorian—” The admiral narrows his eyes. “Be silent. We stick to the plan. The fleet will be fully equipped by tomorrow evening. Now check on our guests below decks.” ·↽✦۞✦⇀· Suddenly, a glint of torchlight flickers on a device mounted on the wall: a clockwork assemblage of mirrors and crystal, inscribed with a focusing glyph. The control device for the illusion equipment across the fleet.