What if I dont feel like telling you? the scrawny net-mender replied in a whining, nasal voice that identified him as one of those mean-spirited men who would rather die than be helpful, or even polite. Tynian had encountered his kind before, small men, usually, with an inflated notion of their own worth, men who delighted in irritating others just for the fun of it.
Let me, he murmured, laying one gently restraining hand on his Thalesian companions arm. Ulaths bunched muscles clearly spoke of impending violence.
Nice net, Tynian noted casually, picking up one edge of it. Then he drew his dagger and began cutting the strings.
What are you doing? the pinch-faced fisherman screamed.
Im showing you what, Tynian explained. You said, what if I dont feel like telling you? This is what. Think it over. My friend and I arent in any hurry, so take your time. He took a fistful of net and sawed through it with his knife.
Stop, the fellow shrieked in horror.
Ahwhere was it you said we might find Sablis? Ulath asked innocently.
His corrals are on the eastern edge of town. The words came tumbling out. Then the scrawny fellow gathered up his net in both arms and held it to his chest, almost like a mother shielding a child from harm.
Have a pleasant day, neighbor, Tynian said, sheathing his dagger. I cant begin to tell you how much weve appreciated your help here. Youve been absolutely splendid about the whole affair. And the two knights turned and walked along the wharf toward the shabby-looking village.
Their camp was neat and orderly with a place for everything and everything exactly where it belonged. Berit had noticed that Khalad always set up camp in exactly the same way. He seemed to have some concept of the ideal camp etched in his mind and, since it was perfect, he never altered it. Khalad was very rigid in some ways.
How far did we come today? Berit asked as they washed up their supper dishes.
Ten leagues, Khalad shrugged, the same as always. Ten leagues is standard on level terrain.
This is going to take forever, Berit complained.
No. It might seem like it, though. Khalad looked around and then lowered his voice until it was hardly more than a whisper. Were not really in any hurry, Berit, he said. We might even want to slow down a bit.
What?
Keep your voice down. Sparhawk and the others have a long way to go, and we want to be sure theyre in place before Krageror whoever it ismakes contact with us. We dont know when or where thats going to happen, so the best way to delay it is to slow down. Khalad looked out into the darkness beyond the circle of firelight. How good are you at magic?
Not very, Berit admitted, scrubbing diligently. Ive still got a lot to learn. What did you want me to do?
Could you make one of our horses limpwithout actually hurting him?
Berit probed through his memory. Then he shook his head. I dont think I know any spells that would do that.
Thats too bad. A lame horse would give us a good reason to slow down.
It came without warning: a cold prickling kind of sensation that seemed to be centered at the back of Berits neck. Thats good enough, he said in a louder voice. Im not getting paid enough to scrub holes in tin plates. He rinsed off the dish hed been washing, shook most of the water off it and stowed it back into the pack.
You felt it, too? Khalads whisper came out from between motionless lips. That startled Berit. How could Khalad have known?
Berit buckled the straps on the pack and gave his friend a curt nod. Lets build up the fire a bit and then get some sleep. He said it loudly enough to be heard out beyond the circle of firelight.
The two of them walked toward their pile of firewood. Berit was murmuring the spell and concealing the movements of his hands at the same time.
Who is it? Again, Khalads lips did not move.
Im still working on that, Berit whispered back. He released the spell so slowly that it seemed almost to dribble out of the ends of his fingers.
The sense of it came washing back to him. It was something on the order of recognizing an accentexcept that it was done when nobody was talking. Its a Styric, he said quietly.
Zalasta?
No, I dont believe so. I think Id recognize him. Its somebody Ive never been around before.
Not too much wood, my Lord, Khalad said aloud. This pile has to get us through breakfast too, you know.
Good thinking, Berit approved. He reached out again, very cautiously. Hes moving away, he muttered. How did you know we were being watched?
I could feel it, Khalad shrugged. I always know when somebodys watching me. How noisy is it when you get in touch with Aphrael?
Thats one of the good spells. It doesnt make a sound.
Youd better tell her about this. Let her know that we are being watched and that its a Styric whos doing the watching.
Khalad knelt and began to carefully stack his armload of broken-off limbs on their campfire. Your disguise seems to be working, he noted.
How did you arrive at that?
They wouldnt waste a Styric on us if they knew who you really are.
Unless they dont have anybody left except Styrics. Stragens celebration of the Harvest Festival might have been more effective than we thought.
We could probably argue about that all night. Just tell Aphrael about our visitor out there. Shell pass it on to the others, and well let them get the headache from trying to sort it out with logic.
Arent you curious about it?
Not so curious that Im going to lose any sleep over it. Thats one of the advantages of being a peasant, my Lord. Were not required to come up with the answers to these earth-shaking questions. You aristocrats get the pleasure of doing that.
Thanks, Berit said sourly.
No charge, my Lord, Khalad grinned.
Sparhawk had never actually worked for a living before, and he discovered that he did not like it very much. He quickly grew to hate Captain Sorgis thick-necked bosun. The man was crude, stupid, and spitefully cruel. He fawned outrageously whenever Sorgi appeared on the quarterdeck, but when the captain returned below decks, the bosuns natural character re-asserted itself. He seemed to take particular delight in tormenting the newest members of the crew, assigning them the most tedious, exhausting and demeaning tasks aboard ship. Sparhawk found himself quite suddenly in full agreement with Khalads class prejudices, and sometimes at night he found himself contemplating murder.
Every man hates his employer, From, Stragen told him, using Sparhawks assumed name. Its a very natural part of the scheme of things.
I could stand him if he didnt deliberately go out of his way to be offensive, Sparhawk growled, scrubbing at the deck with his block of pumice-stone.
Hes paid to be offensive, my friend. Angry men work harder. Part of your problem is that you always look him right in the eye. He wouldnt single you out the way he does if youd keep your eyes lowered. If you dont, this is going to be a very long voyage for you.
Or a short one for him, Sparhawk said darkly.
He considered it that night as he tried, without much success, to sleep in his hammock. He fervently wished that he could get his hands on the idiot who had decided that humans could sleep in hammocks. The roll of the ship made it swing from side to side, and Sparhawk continually felt that he was right on the verge of being thrown out.
Anakha. The voice was only a whisper in his mind.
Sparhawk was stunned. Blue Rose? he said.
Prithee, Anakha, do not speak aloud. Thy voice is as the thunder in mine ears. Speak silently in the halls of thine awareness. I will hear thee.
How is this possible? Sparhawk framed the thought. Thou art confined.
Who hath power to confine me, Anakha? When thou art alone and thy mind is clear of other distraction, we may speak thus.
How is this possible? Sparhawk framed the thought. Thou art confined.
Who hath power to confine me, Anakha? When thou art alone and thy mind is clear of other distraction, we may speak thus.
I did not know that.
Until now, it was not needful for thee to know.
I see. But now it is?
Yes.
How dost thou penetrate the barrier of the gold?
It is no barrier to me, Anakha. Others may not sense me within the confines of thine excellent receptacle. I, however, may reach out to thee in this manner. This is particularly true when we are so close.
Sparhawk laid his hand on the leather pouch hanging on a thong about his neck and felt the square outline of the box. And should it prove needful, may I speak so with thee?
Even as thou dost now, Anakha.
This is good to know.
I sense thy disquiet, Anakha, and I share thine anxiety for the safety of thy mate.
Thou art kind to say so, Blue Rose.
Expend thou all thine efforts to securing thy Queens release, Anakha. I will keep watch over our enemies whilst thou art so occupied. The jewel under Sparhawks hand paused. Hear me well, my friend, Bhelliom continued, should it come to pass that no other course be open to thee, fear not to surrender me up to obtain thy mates freedom.
That I will not dofor she hath forbidden it.
Do not be untranquil if it should come to pass, Anakha. I will not submit to Cyrgon, even though mine own child, whom I love, even as thou lovest thine, be endangered by my refusal. Be comforted in the knowledge that I will not permit my childnor thee and all thy kindto be enslaved by Cyrgonor worse yet, by Klael. Thou hast my promise that this will never happen. Should it appear that our task doth verge on failure, I give thee my solemn vow that I shall destroy this child of mine and all who dwell here to prevent such mischance.
Is that supposed to make me feel better?
5
She was always tired, hovering at times on the verge of exhaustion, and she was nearly always wet and dirty. Her clothes were ripped and tattered, and her hair was a ruin. Those things were unimportant, however. She willingly submitted to discomfort and indignities to keep the madman who was their captor from hurting the terrified Alcan.
The realization that Scarpa was mad had come to her slowly. She had known from the first moment she had seen him that he was ruthless and driven, but the evidence of his insanity had become gradually more and more overwhelming as the endless days of her captivity ground on.