'LIEUTENANT, WHERE SHOULD WE SET up the stage?'

Patel turned from watching the two ships and that purple banner flaring out. The rest of the sails appeared furled; the ships anchored though they looked ridiculously close to each other. It gave him a wild hope that perhaps the other girls had survived. I'm sure Sian or Kass could manage such a feat, he thought.

The cavalry soldier cleared his throat.

'Oh! As close to the water front as the high tide will allow. It ...