by David Duncan
"Where's your brother?" Wallie demanded.
Katanji's wan smile became a smirk. "I left him to it, my lord."
He need say no more. Nnanji was still in a state of witless infatuation over the lithesome Thana, but it was four weeks since he had been ashore for recreation.
"The girls have been busy, I imagine?" Wallie inquired.
Katanji rolled his eyes. "The poor things are worn out, they told me." He scowled. "And they've raised their prices!"
Innocent little Katanji, of course, had seduced Diwa, Mei, and lately possibly Hana on the ship, and his need would not have been as great as his brother's. It would take more than a woman to make Katanji lose his head.
Wallie nodded and went back to his spectating. His mind began to wander, reverting to its ever-present worries about Casr and the troubles that must await him.
Tomiyano came striding back on deck, swinging a leather bag. He grinned happily at Wallie, jingled the bag gloatingly, and then went to peer down into the forward hatch and hold a shouted conversation with Oligarro and Holiyi, who had gone below to inspect ballast. The slaves had completed their work and were dragging their feet back down the gangplank.
Then...
Damn!
Wallie forgot sailors and slaves. Two swordsmen were striding across the road, obviously heading for Sapphire. The vacation was over! With a muffled curse, he ducked down out of sight and scrabbled for his sword. He was still on his knees and frantically fastening harness buckles when boots drummed on the gangplank. The two swordsmen came on deck and marched right by him.
Tomiyano spun around as if he had been kicked. In two fast strides he moved to accost the newcomers, feet apart, arms akimbo, and face thrust forward aggressively, his anger showing like a warning beacon.
Wallie noted the swordsmen boots with surprise: tooled leather, shiny as glass. Above them hung kilts of downy wool, of superlative cut and texture, the pleats like knife edges-red for a Fifth and white for a First. His eyes strayed higher. The harnesses and scabbards on the men's backs were as opulent as their boots, embossed, and decorated with topazes. Higher yet-the sword hilts bore silver filigree and more topaz. The hairclips were of silver also.
Well!
He rose silently to his feet, scooping back his hair and clipping it with his own sapphire hairclip, while he analyzed these strangers. They were not free swords, obviously, for the frees prided themselves on their poverty. They might be garrison swordsmen, but few cities would willingly clothe their police like that. Could any swordsmen come by such wealth honestly?
Wallie twitched his shoulder blades, tilting his sword to the vertical so that its hilt was behind his head. Then he leaned back with his elbows on the rail and waited to enjoy the fun.
The Fifth was trespassing. That might be from ignorance, but he knew enough to salute the captain as a superior and to refrain from drawing his sword on deck. He used the civilian hand gestures: "I am Polini, swordsman of the fifth rank, and it is my deepest and most humble wish that the Goddess Herself will see fit to grant you long life and happiness and to induce you to accept my modest and willing service in any way in which I may advance any of your noble purposes."
No titles or office mentioned? He was a tall, rangy man, probably in his early thirties. His voice was cultured and resonant. On first impressions and restricted to a rear view, Wallie was inclined to approve of this Polini. Tomiyano was not. He waited a long, insulting minute before speaking, his eyes slitted. Then he made the ritual reply without sounding as if he meant a word of it: "I am Tomiyano, sailor of the third rank, master of Sapphire, and am honored to accept your gracious service."
The First was a mere kid, slim and slight and much shorter man his mentor. Lowranks were not normally presented. He stood rigid and silent on Polini's left. Maloli and Linihyo drifted unobtrusively closer to fire buckets, whose sand contained knives. Tomiyano must be able to see Wallie in the background, but he was keeping his eyes on the Fifth.
"Permission to come aboard, Captain?"
Tomiyano pursed his lips. "Seems to me you already have."
Wallie knew from experience how Tomiyano enjoyed provoking swordsmen.
"Captain," the Fifth said, "I wish passage on your ship for my protégé and myself."
Tomiyano hooked thumbs in his belt, his right hand close to his dagger. "This is a family ship, master. We carry no passengers. The Goddess be with you."
"Two silvers for you, sailor! If She wills, you should return within the day."
Oligarro and Holiyi floated out of the fo'c'sle door. They, also, edged close to fire buckets. The children on the poop deck had fallen silent and lined up along the rail to watch. Sounds of wagons and horses drifted up from the dock.
"Jonahs, are you?" Tomiyano inquired. "Where did She drag you from?"
The back of Polini's neck was turning red, but he kept his voice calm. "From Plo. Not that you will have heard of it."
The captain still refrained from looking at WalUe, but his reply was meant for him, also. "Of course I have heard of Plo. The most beautiful woman I have ever seen came from Plo. Far to the south, I understand."
"Plo is famous for the beauty of its women," Polini agreed.
"But not for the manners of its men."
Very few swordsmen could have taken that from a civilian, very few. The youngster made an audible gasping sound, and Polini's sword arm twitched. Somehow he kept himself under control. "That was not itself a good demonstration of manners, sailor."
"Then go away frowning."
"I have told you that we wish passage. I shall be generous-five silvers and I shall overlook your impudence."
The captain shook his head. "The garrison of Tau is organizing a ship for the swordsmen, due to leave tomorrow. Yesterday one reached Casr within an hour, by Her Hand."
"I am aware of that."
Tomiyano's eyebrows shot up. "Doesn't want to go to Casr, huh?" There was a strong implication of cowardice in the way he spoke. Wallie expected the explosion.
It did not come, but it was close. Polini's voice dropped an octave. "No. I do not plan to go to Casr yet, if She wills."
"And I do not plan to visit Plo, in spite of its women."
The swordsman's fists were clenched. Wallie prepared to intervene. It was fun, but very dangerous fun.
"Your insolence becomes tiresome. Swordsmen serve the Goddess and are owed your help. Do not provoke me further!"
"Get off my ship-before I call on my friends!"
Incredibly, Polini still did not draw, although the First was staring up at him in stunned fury.
"Which friends, Captain?" Polini asked contemptuously, glancing at the other sailors.
"That one for a start." Tomiyano nodded at Wallie. The First wheeled around. The Fifth, suspecting a trap, did not.
The First squeaked, "Mentor!" and then Polini turned. He gaped in horror-blue kilt, seven sword facemarks... and a bigger man than himself, which must be a rare surprise for him.
For a moment no one spoke. Wallie was enjoying the effect, but also feeling rather ashamed of himself. Polini was obviously noting his battered boots, his shoddy kilt, and the contrast of the magnificently crafted harness. Then the Fifth recovered and saluted.
Wallie made the response. It was his privilege to speak first, and the captain would expect him to send this impudent interloper off promptly with his tail down; but Wallie was now very curious, and not without admiration. Polini had a craggy, honest-looking face. The First was being impassive, but he blinked and Wallie caught a glimpse of his eyelids. Aha!
"My congratulations, master," Wallie said with a smile. "Not many swordsmen keep their tempers when dealing with Sailor Tomiyano."
"Your lordship is gracious," Polini replied stiffly. "I see that I unwittingly erred in choosing this vessel. Obviously it is bound for Casr." He would be thinking of Tomiyano's imputation of cowardice, probably suffering a thousand deaths at the thought of a Seventh having heard it and likely agreeing. "With
your permission, my lord, I shall depart."
Wallie was not going to let him escape without an explanation, but first he must get in character for a Seventh. "No, master," he said. "You will share some ale with me. I owe you mat much for playing tricks on you. Sailor-three tankards of the mild!"
Tomiyano's jaw dropped at the tone, and he lost his smirk.
Wallie gestured to the aft end of the deck. "Come, Master Polini," he said. "And bring his Highness along, also."
††
The minstrels of the World sang ballads and epics of brave heroes and virtuous maidens, of monsters and sorcerers, of generous gods and just kings. Nnanji loved the heroic ones and could quote them endlessly, but one hero was conspicuously absent: Sherlock Holmes. Wallie's remark almost caused Polini to draw. Tomiyano made the sign of the Goddess, then relaxed when he saw that Lord Shonsu was merely up to his tricks again. The boy paled.
"No, no sorcery, Master Polini!" Wallie said hastily. "Just a good swordsman's eye-observation."
Polini glanced suspiciously over his protégé and back to this strange Seventh.
"Observation, my lord?"
Wallie smiled. "Few mentors would dress a First so well. Fewer Fifths would even take a First as protégé, and you yourself are obviously garbed as a man of high station. But I can go further: I note that his facemark has healed, yet he is so young that his swearing must have been recent. His hair is long enough to make a good ponytail, so his induction to the craft was decided at least a year ago, and only swordsmen's sons can normally count on becoming swordsmen. Yet his parent-marks show that he is the son of a priest. Elementary, Master Polini."
Royal houses were usually founded by swordsmen, but kingship was a dangerous trade. No swordsman could refuse a challenge, whereas a priest was sacrosanct. Kings' sons were mostly sworn to the priesthood.
Polini considered this and bowed his head in agreement. He caught his protégé's eye and said, "Learn!" The boy nodded and regarded the Seventh with awe.
Confidence having now returned, Wallie directed them smoothly to the far side of the deck, which was marginally farther from the hubbub of the dock. The aft hatch cover was still open, and the planks had been stacked in a neat pile, a low wall that would suffice as a bench. But before he sat down... "Present him, master."
"Lord Shonsu, I am honored to present to you my protégé, Arganari of the First."
Where, Wallie wondered, had he heard that name before?
The boy reached for his sword, remembered that he was on a ship, and turned the gesture into the start of the civilian salute. His voice was childish and curiously unmusical, making the statement a question, "...any of your noble purposes?"
Wallie solemnly assured him that he was honored to accept his gracious service. He bade his guests be seated, placing himself on a fire bucket beside the steps up to the poop. That way he was facing them and could also keep an eye on the plank. Above him, a tine of youngsters peered down curiously.
The boy was even younger than he had seemed earlier. Wallie thought of the other two swordsman Firsts he knew. Matarro was one of the crew of Sapphire, a water-rat swordsman, and hence a sailor in all but name. Yet he took his craft very seriously, truly believing that to be a swordsman was a great honor. Then there was nipper Katanji, whose skeptical cynicism would have suited a man four times his age. This lad had neither of those qualities. He must surely be excited, for the Goddess had moved him halfway around the World, from far south to far north, and he was very near to the first tryst in centuries. Yet he was displaying only a solemn wariness, unsuited to his years.
The visitors sat stiffly on the planks, awaiting the Seventh's pleasure.
"You have a problem, Master Polini," Wallie said. "Perhaps I can help you with it?"
"It is a trivial matter, Lord Shonsu, but near to my honor." I'm not going to talk about it.
"Then I shall guess!" Nosiness was a prerogative of Sevenths. "You have come from the temple?"
Polini half rose, again almost reaching for his sword. He sank back uneasily, staring.
Wallie smiled cheerfully. "You are right to suspect sorcery. The sorcerers can change facemarks, so any man or woman may be a sorcerer. I, however, am not." He wondered if they had noticed the damnable feather mothermark that the god had placed on his left eyelid. That was going to be a serious problem. "I was merely speculating what a man of honor would do in what I suspect to be your situation." Polini had an honest face. He had been chosen as the most suitable member of the palace guard to be mentor to a prince-a strong tribute to his character. The lad's worshipful attitude seemed genuine. "For some reason you had cause to embark on a ship. You would have many swordsmen in your entourage if you were guarding a prince. The Goddess wanted them for Her tryst, so here you are."
Polini and Arganari both nodded, speechless at such acuity in a swordsman, making Wallie feel smug.
"So you find yourself in a dilemma of honor-your duty to the Holiest and your duty to the prince. Your decision was to send the rest of the swordsmen on to the tryst and seek to take the boy home. In that situation I would go to the temple and beseech Her to let me return him safely, making solemn pledge that I myself would come back here immediately afterward, I should throw in a promise to enlist more swordsmen, I think."
Polini looked down at the boy, and then they both smiled.
"A kill!" the Fifth said.
"Your perception is suited to your rank, my lord?" said Arganari.
Again that curious questioning? And a very flowery speech for one of his age.
Then Tomiyano himself appeared with a tray, placing foaming tankards on the planks beside each of the visitors, bowing low to offer the tray to Wallie-who should have been suspicious at once.
"May She strengthen your arms and sharpen your eyes!" he said, raising his tankard in salute.
"And yours!" the others chorused, and all three drank.
Wallie gagged and gasped and spluttered. His beer had been generously salted. He turned to glare at Tomiyano's retreating back and saw the grins on the other sailors standing beyond- that would teach him to pull rank on the captain in front of strangers! Wallie hurled the tankard over the side, wiped his mouth, and shamefacedly explained his performance to the others, who were again giving him very puzzled looks.
"You know that the water-rat swordsmen teach fencing to sailors?" he asked.
Polini scowled. "So I have heard, my lord. It is an abomination!"
"No," Wallie assured him, "there is a sutra that excludes sailors from the normal run of civilians. I just wanted to explain why I put up with my insolent friend over there. On his own deck, that man is at least a high Fifth or even a Sixth at swordsmanship."
The Fifth's eyes widened. "You jest, my lord!"
"No, I certainly do not! On land he would be lower, of course, for he has no opportunity to practice footwork. But a civilian with that skill can be forgiven much."
That illogical reasoning impressed the swordsmen.
"I mention that as a warning, Master Polini. Now, tell me why you chose this ship."
At the return of his own problem, Polini stiffened. "It seemed well cared for, my lord."
Wallie nodded approvingly. "Would you consider a piece of advice?"
Of course he would, from a Seventh.
"Your trappings are of much value, master. There are no witnesses, in mid-River, and not all sailors are above a little piracy. Why not exchange your clothes and gear for something less tempting?"
Polini flushed. "I thank you for the advice, my lord!"
He was not going to take it, though. Wallie sighed. This was the sort of pigheaded attitude that he had been trying to domesticate in Nnanji. Polini could not stomach the thought of arriving back in Plo without his fancy kilt and harness and boots. It would lessen his infernal honor. Wallie had forgotten just how narrow swordsman thinking could be-which showed him how far he had brought Nnanji along.
"And you may well arrive at the tryst yet, master," h
e persisted. "Most of the swordsmen there will be frees. There will certainly be no First decked out like Novice Arganari."
He got a glare. The boy was frowning.
"I see now that this ship would be a poor choice for us, my lord," Polini said, changing the subject. "Obviously She will require your valiant service in Her tryst. You sail to Casr."
Now it was Wallie's turn to become edgy. "Not so! I have been journeying these waters for two weeks since I heard of the tryst." The wind god had been cooperative since Sapphire left Ov, but the Goddess had not put out Her Hand to move the ship.
Polini looked astonished, as well he might. The Goddess not taking a Seventh?
"We are making good time, though," Wallie said. "Another week or so may get us to Casr."
"You know these waters, then, my lord," the boy said, and his tone made it a statement, while the words were a question. Now Wallie understood: Arganari was tone deaf. He would make himself a laughingstock if he attempted to chant, and even a royal priest would have to do that. So he had been sworn as a swordsman instead-no other craft had sufficient status for a king's son.
"I am getting to know them, novice. You see those mountains to the south? They are RegiVul, and the sorcerers' city of Vul lies somewhere within them." The swordsmen stared out over the bright waters. Above the low smudge of the far bank, the distant peaks shone faint and blue in the heat haze. The volcanic cloud above them was fainter still. "The River flows all around RegiVul. The left bank, the inside of the loop, has been taken by the sorcerers-all seven of its cities. Set no foot there, or you will certainly die."
"It is true, then?" Polini said. "There are legends of sorcerers in the mountains south of Plo, but I never believed in such men until we arrived here and heard the news of the tryst."
Holiyi, a very skinny sailor, came sauntering over to give Wallie another beer and a lopsided grin. Wallie thanked him and washed the foul taste from his mouth.
"It is true. This ship has called at all fourteen cities within the loop, but I freely admit that I hid within the deckhouse when we were in sorcerer ports."
