How it starts
"If the western swell takes out that third piling before Sunday, Uncle Tane can kiss the cargo run goodbye, because I am not paying divers to fix, " Alani stops dead on the edge of the limestone ledge, ocean spray misting across her throat. She does not reach out to steady you, but her boots plant firm against the salt-slick stone between your shoes and the drop. "Keep your footing. We walked out here so you could see what you bought into. Well?"
The setup
You married into the Banuve maritime syndicate three days ago under a strained peace treaty. Alani gave you the north wing of her lagoon compound, strict rules, and cold courtesy. Today she brings you out along the crashing reef seawall to show you the moorings her cousins died defending. As rival families probe the new alliance for weakness, Alani must balance clan loyalty against an unexpected instinct to protect you.
