I personally couldnt care less, Narstil assured the apparently one-eyed ruffian. Its the loss of his business that concerns me.
Can just anybody walk in and out of Natayos any time he feels like it? Kalten asked as if only mildly curious.
If youre leading a mule loaded down with food or drink, theyll welcome you with open arms. I send an ox-cart loaded down with barrels of ale every few days. You know how soldiers like their ale.
Oh, yes, Kalten agreed. Ive known a few soldiers in my time, and their whole world stops when somebody opens an ale barrel.
It doth derive from our ability to control the light which doth emulate from us, Codon explained. What we call sight is profoundly influenced by light. The subterfuge is not perfect. Some faint shimmers do appear, and we must be wary lest our shadows reveal our presence, but with a certain care, we can be unobserved.
Now there are some interesting contrasts, Aphrael said. The Troll-Gods tamper with time, you tamper with light, and I tamper with the attention of the people I want to hide from, but its all an attempt to achieve some measure of invisibility.
Knowest thou of any who can be truly invisible, Divine One? Xanetia asked.
I dont. Do you, Cousin?
Edaemus shook his head.
I dont. Do you, Cousin?
Edaemus shook his head.
We can come close, though, the Child Goddess said. The real thing would probably have drawbacks. Its a very good idea, Anari Codon, but I dont want Xanetia to put herself in any kind of danger. I love her too much for that.
Xanetia flushed slightly, and then she gave Edaemus an almost guilty look. Sephrenia laughed. I must in honesty warn thee, Edaemus, she said. Guard well thy worshippers. My Goddess is a notorious thief. She frowned thoughtfully. If Xanetia could go unobserved into Sepal, it could be very useful. Her ability to reach into the thoughts of others would enable her to discover in short order whether Ehlanas there or not. If she is, we can take steps. If not, well know that Sepals just another diversion.
Codon looked at Edaemus. I think, Beloved One, that we must extend our involvement in the world around us further than we had earlier planned. Anakhas concern for the safety of his wife doth take precedence in his mind oer all else, and his promise to us doth stand in peril until she be returned to him safe and whole.
Edaemus sighed. It may be een as thou sayest, my Anari. Though it doth make me unquiet, it would appear that we must set aside our repugnance and join in the search for Anakhas wife, lending such aid as is within our power.
Are you really sure you want to become involved in this, Edaemus? Aphrael asked him. Really, really sure?
I have said it, Aphrael.
Arent you the least bit interested in why Im so concerned with the fate of a pair of Elenes? Elenes do have their own God, you know. Why do you imagine that Id be so interested in them?
Why is it ever thy wont to speak circuitously, Aphrael?
Because I love to surprise people, she replied sweetly. I really do want to thank you for your concern about the well-being of my mother and father, Cousin. Youve touched me to the very heart.
He stared at her in stunned astonishment. Thou didst not! he gasped.
Somebody had to do it. She shrugged. One of us had to keep an eye on Bhelliom. Anakha is Bhellioms creature, but as long as I have my hand around his heart, I can more or less control the things he does.
But theyre Elenes!
Oh, grow up, Edaemus. Elene, Styric, Delphaewhat difference does it make? You can love all of them if your hearts not closed.
But they eat pigs!
I know, she shuddered. Believe me, I know. Its one of the things Ive been working on.
Senga was a good-natured brigand whose racial origins were so mixed that no one could really tell what he was. He grinned a great deal, and he was loud and boisterous and had an infectious laugh. Kalten liked him, and Senga appeared to have found a kindred spirit in the Elene outlaw he knew as Col. He was laughing as he came across Narstils cluttered compound where furniture and other household goods were stacked in large, untidy heaps on the bare ground. Ho, Col! he shouted as he approached the tree where Kalten, Caalador, and Bevier had pitched their tent. You should have come along. An ox-cart load of ale opens every door in Natayos.
Armies make me nervous, Senga, Kalten replied. The officers are always trying to enlist youusually at sword-pointand generals as a group tend to be overly moralistic for my taste. The term martial law makes my blood run cold for some reason.
Scarpa grew up in a tavern, my friend, Senga assured him, and his mother was a whore, so hes accustomed to the seamier side of human nature.
How did you make out? Kalten asked.
Senga grinned, rolled his eyes and jingled a heavy purse. Well enough to make me consider giving up crime and opening my own brewery. The only problem with that is the fact that our friends at Natayos probably wont be there all that much longer. If I set up shop as a brewer and my customers all marched off to get killed by the Atans, Id probably have to drink all that ale by myself, and nobodys that thirsty.
Oh? What makes you think those rebels are getting ready to leave?
Nothing very specific, Senga said, sprawling out on the ground and offering Kalten his wineskin. Scarpas been gone for the past several weeks. He and two or three Elenes left Natayos last month, and nobody I talked with knew where he was going or why.
Kalten carefully kept his expression disinterested. I hear that hes crazy. Crazy men dont need reasons for the things they do or the places they go.
Scarpas crazy enough, all right, but he can certainly whip those rebels of his into a frenzy. When he decides to make a speech, youd better find a comfortable place to sit, because youre going to be there for six hours at least. Anyway, he went off a while back, and his army was getting settled in for the winter. Thats all changed now that hes back.
Kalten became very alert. Hes come back?
That he has, my friend. Here, give us a drink. Senga took the wineskin and tipped it up, squirting a long stream of wine into his mouth. Then he wiped his chin on the back of his hand. He and those Elene friends of his came riding into Natayos not four days ago. They had a couple of women with them, I hear.
Kalten sank down on the ground and made some show of adjusting his sword-belt to cover his sudden excitement. I thought Scarpa hated women, he said, trying to keep his voice casual.
Oh, that he does, my friend, but from what I hear, these two women werent just some playthings he picked up along the way. They had their hands tied, for one thing, and the fellow I talked with said that they were a little bedraggled, but they didnt really look like tavern wenches. He didnt get a very good look at them, because Scarpa hustled them into a house that seems to have been fixed up for somebody a little specialfancy furniture and rugs on the floor and all that.
Was there anything unusual about them? Kalten almost held his breath.
Senga shrugged and took another drink. Just the fact that they werent treated like ordinary camp followers, I suppose. He scratched his head. There was something else the fellow told me, he said. What was it now?
Kalten did hold his breath this time.
Oh, yes, Senga said, now I remember. The fellow said that these two women Scarpa took all the trouble to invite to Natayos were Elenes. Isnt that odd?
9
The town of Beresa on the southeastern Arjuni coast was a low, unlovely place squatting toadlike on the beach lying between the South Tamul Sea and the swampy green jungle behind it. The major industry of the region was the production of charcoal, and acrid smoke hung in the humid air over Beresa like a curse. Captain Sorgi dropped his anchor some distance out from the wharves and went ashore to consult with the harbor master.
Sparhawk, Stragen, and Talen, wearing their canvas smocks, leaned on the port rail staring across the smelly water toward their destination. I have an absolutely splendid idea, From, Stragen said to Sparhawk.
Oh? Sparhawk replied.
Why dont we jump ship?
Nice try, Vymer, Talen laughed. They were all more or less at ease with the assumed names by now.
Sparhawk looked around carefully to make sure that none of the rest of the crew was near. An ordinary sailor wouldnt leave without collecting his pay. Lets not do anything to attract attention. All thats really left to do is the unloading of the cargo.
Under the threat of the bosuns whip, Stragen added glumly. That man really tests my self-control. Just the sight of him makes me want to kill him.
Under the threat of the bosuns whip, Stragen added glumly. That man really tests my self-control. Just the sight of him makes me want to kill him.
We can endure him this one last time, Sparhawk told him. This towns going to be full of unfriendly eyes. Kragers note told me to come here, and hell have people here to make sure Im not trying to sneak in reinforcements behind his back.
That might just be the flaw in this whole plan, From, Stragen said. Sorgi knows that were not ordinary sailors. Is he the kind to let things slip?
Sparhawk shook his head. Sorgi knows how to keep his mouth shut. He was paid to get us to Beresa unnoticed, and Sorgi always does what hes paid to do.
The captain returned late that afternoon, and they raised anchor and eased up to one of the long wharves protruding out into the harbor. They unloaded the cargo the next morning. The bosun cracked his whip only sparingly, and the unloading proceeded rapidly.
Then, when the cargo holds were all emptied, the sailors lined up and filed along the quarterdeck where Sorgi sat at a small table with his account book and his stacks of coins. The captain gave each sailor a little speech as he paid him. The speeches varied slightly, but the general message was the same: Stay out of trouble, and get back to the ship on time. I wont wait for you when the time comes to sail. He did not alter the speech when he paid Sparhawk and his friends, and his face did not in any way betray the fact they were anything other than ordinary crew members.