Water rose through the broken star with a penguin's voice inside it.
The call began low beneath Cairnspire. It traveled up the submerged bridge road, entered the cracked cradle, and set the scorched shelf humming under Jiang's breast.
Before the voice reached its second part, another adult cut across it.
That answer was rough. It opened cleanly, failed in the middle, and finished as a vibration Jiang felt through stone more than air.
A small dry click followed both adults.
Jiang put his good foot under himself.
Aylin's hand came down in front of his chest. She did not touch him. She blocked the shortest path to the water.
"Do not make me explain this one," she said.
"You heard those calls too."
"I heard three sounds in a road that opened when an armada tore a dead star apart. That is not permission to dive."
The low call came again.
