Excerpt from The Gracekeepers by Kirsty Logan, plus links to reviews, author biography & more

North's heart began to beat in double-time. It would take four months to get to North-East 19, give or take a day, if they didn't get stuck in the doldrums crossing the equator.

"Jarrow," said Ainsel, his voice uncertain. "Father. I have to tell you something. North and I, we—and don't blame North for this, it's nothing to do with her, she's always happy with your decisions. It's entirely my choice, although she does agree with me about it, though she agrees with you too, of course, and—"

"Yes, yes." Red Gold pulled Ainsel closer, then reached out his other arm for North. "I'm listening. But first, I must tell you that I have a most special surprise for you. That's why I brought you out here, my darlings. I know there has been talk among the crew about this, but I want to tell you and North officially. I have scrimped and plotted and gathered my resources, and I plan to buy, just for you—" He paused, as if waiting for trumpets to sound. "A house! On land!" He released Ainsel and North in a ta-da! gesture. "Now, it can't be on old land, I must tell you, only reclaimed. For damplings like you, North, it's tricky. But in time, with lots of landlocker children between you—well, people might forget where you're from. Eventually, North, you could be one of us. Not a true landlocker, but close enough to pass."

North could not speak. Four months. By then all the sew¬ing in the world wouldn't make her performance dress hide it, and Ainsel would know, and Red Gold would know, and there would be no use at all in lying. And the house! It was true, what Melia and Whitby had said—all that wealth really was going on a house. But not for Avalon. For North.

"Now, my little ones," went on Red Gold, "I know that your silence is simply because you're too overwhelmed to speak. I've put everything I have into this house. But it's worth it, my loves. It's worth it to ensure my son's happiness and to get our family back on to land. To ensure that the Stirling legacy is restored to glory." He beamed at his son, who offered nothing in return. Ain¬sel seemed distracted, staring at his feet as he scuffed the ground, lost in thought. "And you will be happy, and you will be glorious," said Red Gold. "You will be glorious because I want you to be."

The morning light had turned buttery and North had to raise a hand to shield her eyes. Ainsel was not looking at her; he'd lifted his head to look back the way they had come.

"Ainsel," she said. She tried not to let her voice shake. But he would not look at her. She turned instead to Red Gold.

"I want to make you happy, Jarrow," she said. "I do, I prom¬ise, but Ainsel and I, we don't . . ."

"Yes? Do consider, before you speak, that I have built the Excalibur up from nothing, and both of you with it. And do consider all the things that the whole crew has gone without to save for this house. This is not about making me happy. It's about much more than that." Jarrow kept his voice treacle-sweet, but with each passing moment his smile stretched wider. North knew this was not a good sign.

"I mean," she stumbled on, "I want to be happy. For you. The way you want. I want to be glorious. But landlockers, and babies, and I don't know if I can . . ."

"Yes, north child? Spit it out. Don't keep us waiting." Jarrow's smile was now so wide and tight that the skin began to crack. Tiny dots of blood gleamed on his reddened cheeks.

Why wasn't Ainsel saying anything? North resisted the urge to punch him right in his pretty face. "Ainsel wants to tell you something."

Red Gold turned to his son.

"Yes." Ainsel finally spoke. "Yes. I want to tell you that I am glad. I can think of nothing more glorious than having a house on land, and raising my child as a true Stirling, and living with . . ." He trailed off.

Reprinted from The Gracekeepers Copyright © 2015 by Kirsty Logan. To be published by Crown, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, on May 19, 2015.