by Guy Antibes
“I have had training in a career. I need more education, but I don’t care to become a pollen expert.” Even though Sam was, in certain areas, a pollen expert, thanks to Banna Plunk’s tutoring, Smaller didn’t need to know that. “I am not without resources, by the way.”
“I had a different impression.”
“From whom?”
Smaller shook his head. “I’ll let Father know you turned him down.” He didn’t look very upset at Sam’s rejection.
Sam looked at Smaller. “Thank him for the offer. I do appreciate it,” he said to be polite.
He watched Smaller disappear below deck. In actuality, there was no way Sam would work for Viktar Kreb in any fashion. If he stayed in Tolloy, Sam knew avoiding the dictatorship might be difficult, but he had Antina’s scholarship to use, and he had her crates to deliver.
Sam decided he could take another ship north if he wanted. So far, the only place he felt comfortable in was Toraltia, but he had to admit that he still hadn’t experienced much of the world. The ports didn’t dictate what the rest of the country was like, but he learned in Pundia, through Makan’s attempt to procure arms, that Trakata’s capital might not be much better.
Glory walked up to Sam, after watching from across the ship. “Did you accept?”
Sam shook his head. “No. I’ll never trust Smallbug. I’m on my own, and at this point, I’ll just have to survive by myself.”
She looked disappointed. “I was hoping Smaller would convince you.”
“I don’t think his heart was in it, and I don’t know what Smallbug’s motivation is. As I said, I don’t trust him.”
“Glory,” Smaller said from the door leading to the cabins.
“I’ll talk to you another time.” She left him alone.
“I wonder if you will go your own way, too,” Sam said to Emmy, who lifted her head. Sam scratched underneath her jaw, and Emmy emitted the softest of growls. She liked it.
Desmon dropped down from the rigging. “Are you holding court today?” he said.
“My visitors?”
The Wollian spy nodded. “Are you staying at Tolloy?”
Sam nodded. “I think so. I don’t know for how long. I have a few things to do, and I don’t think Captain Darter is comfortable about staying in port for very long.”
Desmon smirked. “I don’t blame her, but everything might be different at Kreb’s center. His power base is in Tolloy, and he can’t upset the city too much and still recruit every living thing for his army of world conquest. That is why he is stirring all the unrest, so his own soldiers won’t have to fight prematurely in his campaign to take over the world.”
Sam thought that Banna might have been engaged in supporting Kreb in Toraltia without realizing it. The Summer Revolt wasn’t much different from the disruption Kreb was trying to make in western Wollia with the help of Desmon’s brother-in-law.
“Pamon Tandar is his agent,” Sam said.
“I know, but I’m not too embarrassed by it. He’s been working strictly for himself his entire life,” Desmon said. “The Potentate knows what is going on, thanks to you and Nakara.”
“Nakara doesn’t work for the vizier?”
“He did until he found documents that implicate Pamon Tandar colluding with Kreb. It isn’t that the Potentate didn’t know it, but his options were limited until Nakara sent proof to Wollin.”
Sam had to sit. “Then why did he run?”
“Why did the Potentate need proof? It is because my brother-in-law is a very powerful man, nearly as powerful as the Potentate. Pamon will not hesitate to murder him if he returns to Wollin, and I was the one who made sure the evidence got to the Potentate’s hands.”
“You risked your life?”
“Gave it up, actually, as long as Pamon is a vizier. If Kreb makes him Potentate, I will never be able to return to my country.”
“I didn’t realize…”
“You don’t need to. But the schism was already starting before I left Wollia to work for my faction.”
“I thought the vizier was in your faction.”
“Not really,” Desmon said with a smile. “I thought he was, but the mask has been lowered.”
Sam felt bad for the spy. “So what will you do?”
“Let me work for you while you are in Tolloy. I can be your companion, or your servant, or your friend, but I do need you for cover.”
“So you can continue to spy?”
“You are always so smart, Sam,” Desmon said, grinning.
Chapter Thirty
~
B liksa was coming up as The Twisted Wind headed east toward Tolloy across the northern edge of the Polistian continent. Sam had finished his purser work. Since there wouldn’t be an exchange of cargo or bringing on passengers, he didn’t have much to do. The captain handled the ship documentation part of Jordi’s work.
Sam leaned against the railing, watching the distant shore pass by. Banna walked up to him. “Are you going to visit the port?” she asked.
“We aren’t going to stay very long. I’m not sure it is worth it.”
She followed his gaze. “A new port for a young man to experience? You should at least get your feet dry for a few hours, along with Emmy, although I would like to hold the leash. I have something to do, and I’d like you to accompany me.”
The offer surprised Sam, and he shrugged. “I suppose if it is all right with the captain, it is fine with me.”
She gave Sam an uncharacteristic smile. “I have already cleared it with her.” She handed Sam a landing document signed by Captain Darter.
“Fine. I think we are due to land in an hour or two.”
Sam was uncertain about Banna’s sudden change in behavior, but when the ship docked, he had his sword, his wand, a purse of gold coins, and his papers. Banna and Nakara were talking in earnest with the Captain when Sam approached them. Their conversation stopped as he arrived.
“Enjoy your time in port. You have three hours leave, Sam,” Captain Darter said. “You and Banna can be the first down the gangway if you give these papers to the port guard.”
Sam nodded. He wondered what was going on, but no one else seemed bothered. The port guard stood at the bottom of the gangway as it was lowered from the ship. Sam went first and handed the ship’s papers to the guard, explaining their situation.
The guard examined the paperwork. “I still have to inspect the ship, but you can go.
Sam and Banna, holding Emmy’s leash, proceeded up the concrete dock and into the port. At least Bliksa didn’t sport trails of smoke on the skyline. Banna took them through a few curvy streets. She looked back once or twice, but then the took him to a straight road that led into the city center.
“We can have lunch in port,” Banna said. “No reason to eat up the ship’s stores.”
“I guess not,” Sam said.
Banna knew of a restaurant. “I lived in Bliksa for two seasons when my father taught at Ristaria University,” she said. “I was fourteen and resented him for dragging me away from my friends. My mother died here.”
“You were a bit younger than I,” Sam said.
“I know.” She smiled, again uncharacteristically. “The restaurant is around the corner.”
They stood in front of a shuttered storefront. It was apparent that the lower floor had been burned out some time ago.
“Maybe we should go someplace else,” Banna said, a smirky smile on her face that was more like her.
Sam looked up and down the street. “That looks like a restaurant,” Sam said.
“A Zogazin restaurant. I suppose any port in a storm, as Captain Darter might say.”
“Who are Zogazins?” Sam asked.
“They live on the south side of Polistia on ancient lands. Their country is called Zogaz. As the name might indicate, they speak their own language.”
Sam thought. “Like the Lashakans?”
“Without the power and without the respect,” Banna said. “No one wants their land,
so that is how they have retained their sovereignty for thousands of years. Their cuisine is unique, though you may like it for its blandness.”
“Then let us try this port,” Sam said.
Banna gave Sam a sardonic look and tied up Emmy at a hitching post. She scratched underneath Emmy’s jaws. “We’ll bring you something.” Sam detected a little sadness in her voice, or was he imagining her change?
Banna reminisced while they waited. Most of the dishes were lamb with some kind of flatbread. The server said the difference was in the side dishes.
Sam shrugged. Banna didn’t seem to be bothered. The food came. The lamb was cut into cubes steaming in a sauce. Skewers were laid out on a long flat earthenware plate. The side dishes were shared between Sam and Banna and consisted of cold pickled vegetables, hot vegetables, and noodles of some kind. The flatbread was presented in a stack, like tiny pancakes that his mother used to make them in a bigger size for breakfast back in Cherryton. These didn’t look very sweet.
Banna gazed at Sam. “You first,” she said with the hint of a smile.
“Are you going to laugh at me?”
“Perhaps. Spear a piece of meat and put it on a disk of flatbread, along with some vegetables, and wrap the food up before you eat.”
Sam did as Banna instructed. The flavors were stronger than he expected, but not objectionable, and definitely not spicy. The lamb was more tender than mutton, and the bread seemed to settle down the conflicting flavors.
“I don’t mind this at all,” Sam said.
“The tastes are more suited to a Toraltian than a Vaarekian. We like more spice,” Banna said. She grabbed the pepper pot and sprinkled more pepper than Sam would ever use to make much the same kind of wrap that Sam had. “That is better.”
“You didn’t use pepper like that on the ship.”
Banna chuckled. “There are many things that I didn’t do on the ship, Sam. I restrained myself. It was part of my penance.”
Sam wondered if she was going to break their truce. “Penance?” he said.
“I’ve done some awful things, and I imagine I will do more awful things before Kreb is defeated. I am sorry for some of it and not sorry for other things I have done. You can’t understand me, but I understand you. Sam Smith isn’t a fully-formed individual yet. You have admirable flashes of the Sam Smith you may become and flashes of the Sam Smith you shouldn’t. I won’t tell you which is which. That is for you to discover.”
Sam sat and made another wrap. It appeared that Banna wanted to talk some more.
“Smallbug is your enemy. The two girls, Glory and Tera, may become your enemies. Beware of green pollen.” Banna smiled. “I don’t need to tell you that, do I?”
Sam shook his head.
“Find someone to trust in Tolloy. I suggest you stay there for awhile.”
“Why?”
“My father will get in touch with you if he still lives. I won’t tell you to trust him, so you’ll have to make that determination for yourself. Obviously, I won’t be around to help you, but you probably knew that the minute you boarded The Twisted Wind.”
“The possibility did cross my mind. Does Kreb have a warrant out for your arrest?”
Banna shook her head. “Not to my knowledge, but I won’t linger in Tolloy.”
“Our pollen lessons are done?”
Banna nodded. “They are. My father knows more about pollen than I do, although he has had less practice, shall we say. My advice remains, stay in Tolloy for a few years, and get a university education. You are smart enough that you won’t have to spend years at work like others. You’ll find that out once you get there. Learn as much as you can about Vaarek and its history. You’ll understand better why I detest Viktar Kreb if you do.”
She ate a few more of the wraps. Sam had eaten quite a few while she talked.
“Time for some souvenir-buying,” she said, putting their fare on the table. Sam was going to pay, but he couldn’t swipe her money off and replace it with his own.
Sam made a pocketful of lamb-filled wraps for Emmy, and they left the Zogazin restaurant. He hoped they had one in Tolloy. The dog barked as she sniffed at Sam’s pocket. As Banna led them, he occasionally tossed a wrap into Emmy’s mouth until the food was gone.
She led Sam to the city center and down a lane filled with shops of all kinds.
“Bliksa doesn’t permit markets,” Banna said. “That was a disappointment for the teenage me. These shops are more expensive, and they aren’t as much fun.”
Banna began to duck into the tiny shops. Sam ended up holding Emmy outside while she purchased a bag filled with things she didn’t show him. Sam didn’t need a reminder of Bliksa. He thought Tolloy would offer much the same kind of merchandise, and he wouldn’t appreciate the difference between the two.
It was three hours after they had landed when they boarded the gangway again. Banna turned around. “I bought a Bliksan drink you might like,” she said, pulling a bottle from her bag. “I’d like to see what you think of it.”
Sam nodded and drained the bottle of a sweet, fruity drink. He wasn’t sure about the bitter aftertaste. “That was interesting,” he said.
Sam’s chest seemed to spasm. He fought to breathe before the world started to spin as he collapsed to the deck.
Chapter Thirty-One
~
T he cabin floated up and down. Sam sat up and put his hand to his head. Emmy barked. He looked around. Someone had put him in his old cabin. His possessions had been moved, too.
His stomach began to rebel. Sam staggered to the head, but his meal had digested, and his retching produced little. He needed water, so he made his way to the crew’s mess.
“I need some water.”
“Certainly,” the ship’s cook said. “I’m glad to see you alive, Purser Smith.”
“Are we underway or am I woozy?”
“It is morning. We left Bliksa yesterday afternoon.”
“Where is Banna Plunk?”
“The lady with the dog? We unloaded her crates as soon as we docked and your assistant purser went ashore with her. They are gone, you know. She told the crew to put you in your old cabin after you fainted. The ship wondered if she had killed you with poison.”
“Not killed, but I don’t know about the poison. She drugged me with something.”
“I guess she didn’t want a drawn-out goodbye. She was an odd sort anyway,” the cook said.
“It was a three-hour goodbye,” Sam said. “ I wondered why she had changed. I must admit I’m still a bit baffled why she left the way she did.”
Sam felt better with some water and some bread left over from breakfast. He found Captain Darter up on the steering deck. The sky was clouding over, and the wind was picking up.
“I see she didn’t kill you. A few of the sailors took bets,” the captain said.
“Why?” Sam asked. “She could have just said she was leaving and that would be that.”
Darter chuckled. “Banna Plunk didn’t know what you would really do. You were her nemesis in Baskin, so she told me. I had known where her cargo came from when it was loaded. I was paid very well for transporting it to Bliksa.”
“Did she always intend to get off there?”
Darter shook her head. “Not until we put in at Pundia. She changed her mind then. The lady was very conflicted about you, Sam. She told me once that she considered killing you, but then she decided against it. Something about anyone who bonded with Emmy had to be special.”
“Yet, she left me her dog.”
Darter nodded. “She is headed into dangerous waters. I’m sure she is prepared to die in her quest to overthrow Viktar Kreb.”
“Do you know everything?”
“Not too much of what went on in the mountains, but I know most of what she did in Baskin. The woman was lonely, despite her facade. There are more masks that we wear than pollen-made ones.”
“We had a truce, so we never talked about what she did in Toraltia,” Sam said, “
and we never broke it.”
“She might have on the first part of our trip, but not after Carolank. That is, unless you had betrayed her.”
“I had no reason to after my exile,” Sam said.
“That is what she hoped. She said she had a good time with you in Bliksa.”
“Good enough,” Sam said. “We went to a Zogazin restaurant and wandered around. She was in a very different mood. A happy melancholy, maybe,” Sam smiled. “I don’t quite know how to explain it.”
“It was her way of saying goodbye to someone she had learned to grow fond of.”
“Fond of me? You don’t mean that.” Sam could feel his cheeks burn. He felt very awkward about the way this conversation was heading.
Darter smiled. “I do. She left a letter and a gift with me. We can have dinner tonight, just the two of us, and we will talk about your future. Can you do that?”
Sam nodded. “I can.” He descended to the main deck and felt the first sprinkle hit his face.
~
The ship shuddered as it rose and fell with every large wave. Sam’s intimate dinner with the captain was interrupted by a storm. Sam inspected the cargo. Banna’s crates were gone, and that had meant the captain had to pump more water into the bilge.
Sam checked on Antina Mulch’s cargo, and it had been re-secured by the crew. Everything was ship-shape as he climbed back up to his cabin. He watched the lamp swing back and forth and listened to Emmy snore as the ship creaked and slid down and climbed up the surface of an upset ocean. The movement began to lessen, and Sam ended up missing his dinner but getting a good sleep.
A sailor called him to the captain’s quarters for breakfast.
“Not a good night for dinner, eh?” Darter said.
“No,” Sam said. “I haven’t made my inspection, yet.”
“The Second Mate did your work. Nothing shifted.” She tossed an envelope to Sam.
“From Banna?”
Darter nodded. “You can eat while you read it.”
Sam put some scrambled eggs in his mouth. Breakfasts were always good a few days from a port. Somehow, the taste he always looked forward to, had lost its savor. He opened the letter and began to read.
