The Destiny of the Sword (2 page)

The swordsman Sixth was returning and now he marched at the head of a column of ten. A Fifth leading two Thirds passed mem, and sunbeams streaked from blades as salutes were exchanged. Civilians dodged, doubtless cursing under their breath.

Tomiyano grunted and went off to attend to business, while Wallie mused that his explanation to the captain had been less man half the truth. The juniors would be seeking mentors, true, but the seniors would be even more actively recruiting protege’s. Followers brought status. Status would be a much sought,after commodity in Casr now.

Which raised the possibility that perhaps he ought to be recruiting an army. He bore the Goddess’ own sword, he was Her champion... maybe he was supposed to arrive at the tryst with some status of his own. It would not be difficult. He could accost that Sixth and take him over, together with his ten flunkies. If he balked, Wallie could challenge—no Sixth had a hope against Shonsu. Afterward the man could be bandaged and sent out to round up more.

Might that explain why the Goddess had delivered these particular swordsmen to Tau instead of directly to Casr?

The thought held no appeal for Wallie. The whole tryst held no appeal. He still had not decided whether he was going to collaborate or not. So he let the green,kilted Napoleon continue

his parade along the docks unmolested. If the gods wanted that man to swear to Lord Shonsu, then neither of them would be able to leave Tau until they cooperated. Their ships would merely return to Tau instead of going on to Casr.

Casr was a monstrous thundercloud on Wallie’s horizon. He did not know what he wanted to do there, or what might be awaiting him. He knew that the original Shonsu had been castellan of the swordsmen’s lodge in Casr, so Wallie must expect to be recognized when he arrived. He might find family or friends — or enemies. Nnanji, for one, was convinced that Shonsu was destined to become leader of the tryst. That might be the case, for certainly he knew more about the sorcerers and their un,Worldly abilities than any other swordsman. But he also knew enough to believe that the tryst was a horrible error. He was almost more inclined to try to block it than to lead it.

Tomiyano had rounded up his men. Holiyi, Maloli, Linihyo, and Oligarro — two cousins and two cousins by marriage. They were taking off the hatch covers and stacking the planks out of the way. Up on the poop deck the remaining children were playing loudly under the watchful eye of Fia, who wielded the unarguable authority of a twelve,year,old.

A wagon drew up alongside and unloaded a slave gang. The trader, a plump Fifth, began shouting unnecessary orders hi a squeaky voice, and the derrick was swung out and put to use. Wallie watched as the bronze ingots from Gi were borne away. He wondered idly which one of those ingots had saved his life from the sorcerers’ muskets hi Ov,

Slaves wore black and little of it, for no one wasted cloth on a slave. They were a cowed and smelly bunch, that slave gang — skinny men in skimpy loincloths, working like fiends, streaming sweat while their bony rib cages pumped. Their backs were scarred. They ran, not daring to walk. They strained at the windlass handles until their eyes popped. Wallie could hardly bear to watch, for it was slavery more than anything else that brought home to him the faults of this barbaric, iron,age World. The thatched warehouses might teem with rats and the people with fleas, the alleys smell of urine and the streets of garbage . . . those he could tolerate, but slavery tested his resolve. The slave boss on die wagon brought out a whip and cracked it a few times to

increase the pace. He did not recongize the danger looming above him at the ship’s rail. Had he made one serious stroke—just one—he would have found himself lying on the cobbles, being mercilessly flogged... but he did not know that and he did not find out.

The wagon was filled and departed. Another took its place. Some members of Sapphire’s crew came wandering back from their explorations and paused to talk with the big man in the blue kilt. Tau was a turbulent place, they reported. Two hundred swordsmen had passed through on their way to the tryst, plus several times that many followers. Tau was a small town. The natives were restless.

Tomiyano went down to the dock and began weighing the traders’ gold. Wallie continued to survey the scene, noting that the swordsmen were bunching as he had predicted. Couples were very rare now. A Fifth had collected seven, and later the triumphant Sixth paraded past again with fifteen.

Then Katanji returned, a snowy new cast on his damaged arm outshining his white kilt. He seemed smaller than ever, his face a paler brown than usual, and his wide, dark eyes not as sparkly— perhaps the healers had hammered a little too hard when removing the old plaster. His hair was beginning to reach a more respectable length for a swordsman’s, but it curled up in a tiny bun instead of making a ponytail. He wore no sword, of course. Barring a miracle, he would never use that arm again—but miracles were not uncommon around Shonsu.

He managed an approximation of his normal pert smile, white teeth gleaming in dark face, while his eyes noted with surprise Wallie’s unarmed, undressed state.

“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 be 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!”

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 spectatiog. 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 po,

lice 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 slit,ted. 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 proteg 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 Fust 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 Tbmiyano.”

“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.”