A what? But then Harrow steps into the water and founders like a twiggy black branch getting washed ashore, and it's all so unanticipated that Gideon sheds robe, boots, rapier, gauntlet, and sunglasses without question to follow her adept into the waves.

It's warmer than she expected. This place is extremely weird. She ducks under a wavelet and comes up spitting out a mouthful of salty water. "Why are we here? Couldn't we do this on land?"