by Jack Massa
"Lord Dantonius," one of the men announced as more of the marines climbed over the rail. "High Admiral of the Kadavellan fleet."
"My lord Dantonius," Amlina stepped forward and bowed. "You are most welcome. I am named Korre Kuan-Sen, daughter of Liffaniel, the owner of this ship. Our home port is Randoon on the Opal Sea."
The admiral gestured abruptly to his men, all but two of whom marched off to search the holds and cabins. "You are in command?" he asked. "A woman?"
"My father sent me on this voyage for education," Amlina replied, her voice more soft and husky than Lonn was accustomed to hearing. "I am his lone heir, and one day will be mistress of his shipping concerns. But tell me, my lord, I thought Kadavel a prosperous and open market. Why should a war fleet block the way there?"
"Because the navy of a foreign power sits on the ice some thirty miles out from here," Dantonius said. "We fear an invasion may be imminent."
"What foreign nation do you mean?" Amlina asked, her voice losing some of its artificial sweetness to surprise.
Dantonius hesitated. "I am the one to ask the questions." He glanced about, eyes settling on the Iruks. "You and most of your crew are plainly Larthangans," he said to Amlina. "But these armed ones in leather and furs are barbarians—of South Polar stock unless my guess is wrong."
"They are Iruks from beyond Fleevan," Amlina admitted.
"Then why are they on board your ship? You said you were blown here from Nyssan."
"Indeed. But we traveled there by way of the southern seas rather than the more usual routes. My father wanted me to be acquainted with a wide range of countries and markets. We took on these Iruks in Fleevanport. They've been good sailors, and they double as bodyguards. Don't mind their weapons. When they saw your sails they naturally jumped to arms."
Dantonius scanned the klarnmates again. "They've a reputation as brigands, these Iruks. But they're seldom seen outside the South Polar Sea. What made these five sign up with you?"
"Ask them yourself. They are versed in Low Tathian." Amlina's voice sounded coy, as though she mildly resented Dantonius' switching his attention from her.
The commander snorted and started to repeat his question to the Iruks, but Eben interrupted him. "We were curious to see more of' the world."
"You are so suspicious, Admiral," Amlina touched his arm lightly. "I assure you, no one on my poor ship means to make war on Kadavel."
The admiral's frown relaxed into a brief smile. As the conversation continued Lonn realized that Amlina's mien, concocted of sweetness and femininity, was a mask meant to charm this Tathian. And it was working.
The marines returned two by two and reported on their search of the ship and the meager items they had found. Lonn wondered that they didn't mention Amlina's trinkets and magic devices, but surmised that the witch had had the foresight to put them away.
"Since you must now be convinced I have told you the truth," Amlina said, "may I ask you a question? How serious is this threat of invasion? Please be candid, my lord. If the danger is grave, it may be better for us to bypass Kadavel."
"The danger is impossible to reckon," Dantonius confessed. "It is not the fleet of ships we fear. We're a match for any war fleet in the world. But this is the navy of' a great witch, she who is called the Archimage of the East. That is what worries us, for there is already ungoverned sorcery loose about the city."
"Sorcery? What do you mean?" Amlina asked.
"It started 14 days ago. First the sealight began to flicker on and off in the city harbor and canals. The glow has been erratic ever since, at times shining brilliantly, at others fading to nothing. Then one afternoon a freezewind blew across the channel, but a short time later a meltwind came from the opposite direction. Since then the Two Winds have clashed back and forth, melting and refreezing the harbor, at times roaring their conflict above the city itself. Scholars say it is worse than when the Witch King of Borga besieged Kadavel with an army of windbringers. The temples on the Long Acropolis are crowded with supplicants, some of them paid by the city fathers of course, but many there out of genuine fear."
"And you believe it is the Archimage preparing to invade Kadavel?"
"News of her fleet's presence beyond these straits reached the city six days ago. The connection is obvious, since this witch of Tallyba possesses a great magic artifact called the Cloak of the Two Winds. We were dispatched at once to take up this position. We are ordered only to watch for the enemy and not to leave the vicinity of our own shores—where it is believed the charms of our State Sorcerers can more efficiently aid us if there is an attack."
"But it is tedious and worrisome to only wait," Amlina said softly. "I understand."
Dantonius regarded her appreciatively and nodded. "Young lady, you are free to sail on, whether to Kadavel or elsewhere, you must decide." He bowed to Amlina, then waved to his men to debark. He was about to follow the last of them over the rail when he turned back to Amlina.
"We will lend you the aid of our windbringers to get you underway,"
"My lord, I thank you," Amlina bowed, an innocent smile on her face.
"You handled him adeptly." Draven grinned as they watched the Tathians walk back across the ice. "Was it witchery that turned the admiral so pliantly in your hand?"
"In a sense," Amlina replied. "It is a minor art, part witchery, part acting, termed the passive persuasion. One shows to another the face they are most likely to accept and cooperate with. I was never especially good at it—too willful my teachers always said. But it wasn't difficult with this admiral. I sensed he would respond favorably to a charming but rather inept merchant woman. I've had dealings with Kadavellan men before."
The witch turned away, stalking toward the quarterdeck, and the Iruks followed.
Troneck's men were hastening about, unreefing sails and raising the ice-brakes. The bostulls of the Plover, aided perhaps by those from the Kadavellan fleet, brought a brisk counter wind to the coaster's sails. The ship lurched into motion, and gained speed as it passed through the ranks of the Tathian warships.
"How long now to the city?" Amlina inquired of Troneck, who had taken charge of the helm.
"Tacking against this west wind, three days or four."
"I don't believe the wind will change," Amlina said, staring absently down at the ice.
"What do you make of the admiral's news?" Lonn asked her. "About the winds and sealight in Kadavel?"
Before she could respond Kizier interrupted, asking that she repeat the tidings. Amlina crouched on the deck and informed the bostull of all they had heard.
"So apparently we have seen correctly," the witch added. "The Cloak is indeed in Kadavel. And it is being misused."
"Dangerously misused," the windbringer affirmed. "And the Kadavellans think it is Beryl's doing, a prelude to invasion."
"She will be in Kadavel," Amlina muttered. "If I had any doubts before, they are gone. I will meet her there. I know it."
Her eyes caught Lonn's. "I want you Iruks to bring all your weapons to my cabin this evening and leave them. I will weave designs on them to increase their usefulness."
Lonn nodded solemnly, but Karrol objected.
"Our weapons are fine as they are. We never let anyone outside the klarn handle them."
Amlina answered coldly. "In this case you must make an exception. Your blades and points will not be lethal against creatures of witchery unless they themselves are imbued with witchery."
Karrol frowned and started to answer, but then pressed her lips together. Lonn read no disagreement on the faces of Brinda or Eben.
"We will bring you our weapons," he told the witch.
Thirteen
Fighting against the west wind the Plover sailed on toward Kadavel. As hours passed the channel widened, but the shores on either side remained swampy fields of reeds and sedge. No human habitations were sighted that day or the next, nor any habitable land.
But the following morning Eben called his mates to the prow. Lonn, who was r
unning in place and chanting, went with them. Eben had sighted an enormous, distant structure towering over the ice. As the coaster veered to another tack other structures came into view, standing behind the first. It was some time before the shapes of the structures could be made out.
"The first one is a fish," Karrol declared. "With its tail in the air."
There were seven of the giant statues in all, the second also shaped like a fish. The forms of the others were harder to discern, though Lonn thought the last two seemed human. The statues were of black stone or metal, Lonn could not tell which, and colossal. The first fish on its pedestal loomed perhaps two hundred feet above the level of the ice.
As the ship drew closer the Iruks could see more details. The fish was like no fish ever carved by human hand. Its form was bizarre, disproportionate. The face had character, an intelligence in the bulging eyes, appetite in the gaping mouth.
"Ugly," Draven said.
And now they could tell what the other statues showed: a progression, through various stages, from fish to human form. Yet the last statue was not exactly human. The back was elongated, the shoulders slumping. The eyes still bulged and the lipless mouth still gaped. The overall effect was hideous.
Lonn shivered. "Let's go and hear what Kizier knows about these."
The Plover was gliding beneath the first huge statue when the Iruks reached the quarterdeck.
"They are called the Serd Monuments of Lustre," the windbringer said. "Gruesome, are they not?"
"Yes," all the Iruks agreed.
"Just so. Sculpted according to a completely nonhuman aesthetic. They represent the transformation of the serds from their fish form to their air-breathing land form. They are among the few artifacts remaining on Glimnodd from the time when the serds ruled."
"If these are examples of their art," Draven said. "I can understand why few others remain. What I don't understand is why these haven't been dismantled."
"Because no one knows how," the bostull answered. "The statues are neither metal nor stone but some unknown, impervious substance. They have survived numerous attempts to destroy them, both by magic and human engineering. They were built to stand till the end of the world, and perhaps they will."
The Iruks' eyes were raised, studying the gigantic monstrosities with morbid fascination. The things reminded Lonn of something from a nightmare, yet he could not pull his gaze away.
"One good thing about passing the monuments," Kizier remarked. "It means we are nearing Kadavel."
That afternoon Amlina sent the cabin boy to summon the Iruks to her quarters. The klarn arrived to find eight of the witch's dangling trinkets hung in a circle above the low table. The Iruks' weapons lay on the table, the knives and swords carefully arranged, the spears neatly packed in their quivers. Amlina, wearing a quilted robe embroidered with orange flowers, gestured at the table.
"You may take back your weapons. I have done all I can to fortify them,"
Each of the Iruks picked up a spear or blade, hefted it or tested the point. Lonn could discern no obvious change in the sword he held, yet he sensed a subtle difference. Perhaps the sword felt a bit lighter and easier to handle. It seemed charged with some indescribable energy.
"You can test the weapons outside," Amlina said. "I trust you'll find them undamaged. I have something else for you."
She opened her jewel box. Inside lay six small moonstones in settings of beaten silver, fastened on leather thongs.
"They are amulets," the witch said, "one for each of you and one for Glyssa when we find her. I want you to wear them around your necks for as long as we are allies."
Draven grinned as he took the first amulet from the box.
"Wait," Karrol said. "I'm not sure we should wear your necklaces. We'll have to talk it over."
The other Iruks said nothing. Draven frowned as he put the amulet back.
"The decision affects the klarn," Lonn explained to Amlina. "Karrol has the right to demand that we talk it over."
"Very well." Amlina laid the jewel box on the table. "But take them with you. And while you discuss whether to wear them, consider this: the amulets were made to protect you against evil. The stones are attuned to the stones in this fillet I wear. They will give you to share in the protective aura in which I enwrap myself. This is not a gift a deepshaper gives lightly, since to extend the barrier can diminish its power."
"We are honored and grateful," Draven told her, with deep feeling.
"Go and have your discussion," Amlina said. "Lonn, I want you to return at sunset and bring Kizier. If you've decided not to wear the amulets, you can return them to me then."
The Iruks gathered up their weapons, Lonn taking the six amulets in his hand, and left the witch's cabin.
"Why are you so contrary?" Draven said angrily to Karrol in the passageway. "You insulted Amlina with your suspicions."
"The witch makes me suspicious," Karrol replied. "Why are you so blindly trusting?"
"Easy," Brinda said. "Let's not fight each other just because we have our swords back. Let's go below and hold a proper meeting."
The klarnmates stashed the weapons in their room, then sat down around the stove. Lonn placed the six moonstones on the straw mat before them.
"I don't trust the witch, and I think I have good reasons," Karrol asserted to start the meeting. "She has Lonn's mind so emptied that he walks around looking half-dead. Draven's turned into her toady, saying yes to whatever she wants without thinking. And did you see how she simpered and slinked with that Tathian admiral?"
"It got us past the fleet, didn't it?" Draven said.
"Yes. But how do we know she hasn't been using that passive persuasion on us all along, showing us whatever face will make us most agreeable?"
"It hasn't made you agreeable," Draven scoffed.
"Stop interrupting. You should be glad one of us is keeping her head. Now these necklaces she wants us to wear. Suppose their real purpose is to sap our wills, make us her slaves? I say no, I won't wear it."
She sat down heavily and Draven jumped up.
"Amlina is our ally," he said. "From the start she's done us nothing but good. She took us on her ship, fed us, made us her partners. All this after we robbed her of the Cloak and brought her this trouble in the first place. Not once has she given us reason to distrust her." He picked up one of the necklaces, showed it around. "Now she offers to share her own magic protection with us. I say we'd be fools to refuse."
No one else seemed ready to speak, so after a few moments Lonn took his turn, quietly and laconically stating that he agreed with Draven's view. After that Eben stood, remarking that Draven's assessment had convinced him also. The witch had not given the Iruks cause to distrust her. Until she did, Eben felt the amulets should be worn. When he was finished there was a short silence, and then Brinda rose and spread her hands.
"It seems the vote's already decided. And I don't disagree with it, mates. But I do think it's good that Karrol is suspicious of the witch. It will keep us on our guard. If it begins to seem these amulets are draining our wills, then we can take them off. Meantime let's wear them and see."
"Suppose we've lost our wills before we know it?" Karrol asked sullenly.
"I believe we would sense it happening in time to prevent it," Brinda answered.
"Then the klarn has decided," Lonn said, placing his hand in the center. "We will wear the witch's amulets."
The others put their hands on his, except for Karrol.
"No," she said. "I always give in to the rest of you, against my own judgment. But not this time."
"The klarn has decided," Lonn told her firmly.
"You can decide however you like," Karrol snapped. "But not for me. This is what I think of the witch and her tricks."
She snatched one of the amulets and jumped to her feet. Before anyone could stop her she had pulled open a window and flung the amulet away.
The mates stared at her, open-mouthed.
"You've wounded the klarn,"
Draven accused.
"Don't blame me for that," Karrol answered defiantly. "It was wounded when we lost Glyssa. It was wounded when you let me skate after her alone."
"But we followed you," Brinda said.
Karrol started to answer, then threw up her hands. A look of hopeless rage crossed her face. She turned away, marched from the storeroom and slammed the door.
Lonn looked around at the others, all of them stunned. To wound the klarn in an act of defiance diminished the group spirit, bled away its protection. But, on reflection, Lonn had to admit there was some truth in Karrol's words.
Normally, during a hunt, the klarn spirit was perceptible, a strength they could feel inside. Since they lost Glyssa it had been different. Lonn had sensed some of the spirit's power after they pulled Karrol out of the sea, and again in the fight with the tusk bears on Windbock. But this voyage on strange seas, the long days of inactivity, and most of all Lonn's training with the witch—all had weakened the klarn. The bond between them now seemed looser, less real.
Hold fast to the klarn, Belach the shaman had told them. But could they hold it together? And would it still protect them?
To Lonn only one thing seemed certain. They needed to find Glyssa and rescue her. And soon.
That evening, Lonn carried Kizier to Amlina's cabin. The witch told him to put the bostull's pail down on the floor and sit beside it. Lonn noted that the desmets and prisms had been rearranged, placed as they were on the night of his initiation. On Amlina's instructions he removed his boots and belt. The witch set a glowing lamp on the floor before him.
"I see you are wearing the amulet." She sat down and crossed her legs. "I'm glad you decided to."
"All of us except Karrol," Lonn answered, and told her how the meeting had ended.
"I am sorry she bears me such ill will."
"She broke the unity of the klarn," Lonn muttered. "It's a bad thing to happen, for all of us. But Karrol is stubborn."
