The Exile and the Sorcerer (44 page)

He considered her in silence, while Tevi felt her skin prickle. Then he moved away. “I’m tempted to leave you to dig yourself out. However, part of the oath that I’ve sworn is to safeguard the members of this guild, and not expose them to more risks than necessary for their work. And I do not renege on my oath as easily as you seem to do.” His eyes returned to Tevi’s, “Which is why I’m going to be kind to you.”

“Thank...” Tevi’s voice died with the sudden conviction that what Tallard considered kind was not what she would choose for herself.

“I’ve arranged for you to leave Lyremouth tonight, on a mission that will hopefully take you far out of the Coven’s way. If they come asking for you tomorrow, we’ll be able to say that you’ve left town.”

“I’m sorry, sir. I don’t want to go.”

Tallard swung back. “Why not?”

“Jemeryl and me...we...we’re...” Despite herself, Tevi stumbled over the word and could feel herself blushing.

“Lovers.” Tallard’s voice held a measure of contempt. “You don’t need to say it. I can read it in your face.” He shook his head. “You really are an idiot, aren’t you? In which case it is even more to your benefit to be gone. And I’m not going to hear any argument.”

Tevi’s head shot up, ready to voice her defiance, when they were interrupted by a knock on the door.

“What is it? Tallard called.

One of the mercenary officials entered, carrying a letter. As he accepted it, Tallard’s eyes darted to Tevi.

“You may not think it, but judging by the seal, this is most likely bad news for you.”

Tevi kept her silence as Tallard proceeded to open the note and read. The ex-assassin’s professional stony face showed no emotion. Tevi tried to match his calm, but her insides were churning. After a few seconds he looked up from the paper.

“It’s too late for you. The Coven have asked me to find an excuse to send you to Ekranos, and I cannot ignore a direct order from the Coven. Even if it weren’t for our oath of allegiance, it would not be a wise thing to do.”

“Is Jem going there?”

“They haven’t said in this note. And if they aren’t telling me, then I’m not asking. Prying into the Coven’s affairs is a very bad move...as you will find out, if you live long enough.”

“Then how do I find out—”

Tallard cut her off. “I imagine that the Coven will make sure you are informed of what they think you need to know at such time as you need to know it.” He scanned the note again. “Apparently they want you to take charge of a magpie on the journey. It will be waiting for you when you leave this room.”

“That will be Klara, and they wouldn’t send her to Ekranos without Jem.” Tevi smiled in relief. “I don’t care where I go, as long as I’m with her.”

Tallard shook his head, his mask slipping enough to reveal a trace of irritation, and maybe also compassion. “You really are a fool. We didn’t have you pegged as one when you were assessed, but love can be a bitch to us all.”

*

Tevi trekked across the quay towards the waiting vessel, the
Sea Eagle
, due to sail within the hour, bound for Ekranos. The sound of waves hitting the harbour walls competed with the dockside clamour. Tevi stopped to let a long cart trundle by, piled high with sacks. Klara was perched on her left shoulder; a large rucksack was slung over the other. The magpie was to play the part of Tevi’s tame pet. She peered around with bright-eyed curiosity but, in accordance with the plan, gave no unusual display of intelligence.

A gangplank led to the ship’s deck. Tevi waited for a group of porters before making her way aboard. Sailors clambered through the rigging above her. Still more were busy on deck, checking ropes and bolting hatches. One crew member stood by the rail—the ship’s mate, judging by her shouted instructions to those overhead. Tevi gave her name and was directed to the sleeping area below deck.

A hatch gave access to the narrow galley, where a row of bunks disappeared into the gloom. Most had already been claimed and had belongings strewn across. Tevi picked a free one on the top row and dumped her rucksack on the pillow. It was her only baggage apart from a small satchel at her waist. The contents were her purported reason for travelling to Ekranos. Mercenaries were often employed for courier duties. The guild gave some assurance of their honesty, and they were able to defend themselves, should anyone try to misappropriate the items.

Before returning topside, Tevi looked around at the passenger accommodation. The space was cramped to the point of claustrophobia. The only light came from the hatch. She hoped they would have good weather, since being cooped up with over twenty others did not promise to be much fun.

The scene on deck was unchanged. The landward side was a bustle of activity as the last preparations were made. Tevi found a seat out of the crew’s way and took stock of her fellow passengers. One caught her attention, as clearly was his intent. The man was an elderly official from the Guild of Goldsmiths and evidently considered himself a person of great importance. To make everyone within earshot aware of this, he was standing in the middle of the deck, talking loudly at some unfortunate. His conversation amounted to variations on the theme that
he
had one of the two private cabins at the front of the ship. Tevi was delighted to learn this. The idea of being stuck with the goldsmith in the confined passenger galley did not bear thinking about.

Traders formed the majority of the passengers. A child from one party wandered over. His eyes fixed on Klara.

“You’ve got a bird on your shoulder,” the boy said earnestly, as if the fact might have escaped Tevi’s notice. “Is it a pet?”

“Sort of. Her name’s Klara.”

A woman detached herself from the group of traders—the boy’s mother, judging from her age and the supervisory watch she kept on the child. She did not appear concerned about his talking to a mercenary, and rather than dragging him away, settled down and introduced herself.

“Well met, citizen. I’m Etta.” The customary Protectorate greeting was delivered at a noticeably faster rate than normal. “My partner and I are traders, specialising in spices. Are you travelling with us?”

“Well met, citizen. Er...yes. My name’s Tevi. I’m from the mercenaries.”

“I could tell by your tattoos.” Etta was a small dark woman who gave the impression that she was going at double speed. She continued without a pause. “We’re based in Talimide. How far are you going?”

“To Ekranos.”

“So are we, and beyond, through the Straits of Perithia to the eastern ocean. The
Sea Eagl
e isn’t going that far, so we’ll have to change ships. I’m hoping we’ll have a few days in Ekranos. Have you been there before?”

“No.” Tevi squeezed in her answer.

“It’s a nice town; you’ll like it. My partner comes from there. We’ll stop off and leave the youngster with his grandparents. He was going to stay with my partner’s sister, who owns a farm south of town. She’s a nice woman, but we’re worried about her. Her health has been playing up. Mind you, it’s the best place to be ill, with the school of herbalism on the doorstep. My cousin...”

Once Etta got going, there was no stopping her. Over the next ten minutes, Tevi learnt an awful lot about her family, friends, and their assorted idiosyncrasies. Etta spoke with a lilting accent and an enthusiasm that made it sound, if not exciting, then at least cheerful. It would soon get tiring, but given the choice between Etta and the goldsmith, there was no question whose company Tevi would choose.

By the time Etta got to her aunt’s best friend, the cargo was loaded and preparations were complete, but the crew were still obviously waiting for something. The captain had come onto deck and was pacing impatiently in between pauses to scan the quay.

“Do you know what we’re waiting for?” Etta broke off her recital.

“Could be anything.” Actually, Tevi could make a good guess, but the plans, as far as they had been revealed to her, involved acting as if she and Jemeryl had no knowledge of each other until they met aboard ship.

“Probably the occupant of the other private cabin,” Etta speculated. “Looks like someone important. I hope they’re more fun than...” She indicated the goldsmith with a scowl.

At that moment, a disturbance broke out on the dockside. The captain rushed to the top of the gangplank. Several traders wandered to the railing, and the crew paused in their work. Tevi was glad that no one was watching her as she tried to appear nonchalant. Acting was not one of her skills. Fortunately, Etta’s attention was completely taken with the sight of Jemeryl being welcomed aboard and escorted to her cabin.

The crew prepared to cast off.

Etta turned back. “A sorcerer. That’ll put Master Goldsmith’s nose out of joint. Mind you, sorcerers can be odd. The last time I was on a ship with one, he looked terrified the entire trip. Apparently, he was a seer. It was worrying. You kept wondering,
‘
What does he know?’ Every time I saw a black cloud on the horizon, I thought, ‘That’s it; we’re going down in a storm.’ However, it was one of the smoothest voyages I’ve ever been on. Odd. But someone told me seers can be a bit...” She paused, searching for a word.

“Sensitive?” Tevi suggested, trying not to laugh.

*

Four days out of Lyremouth, the
Sea Eagle
was making good progress. A steady wind filled the sails. Tevi leaned over the bow and watched the hull slice through the water, happy to feel the motion of the sea under her feet and the roll of the deck. A floating strand of seaweed was caught by the bow wave. It glistened and twisted in the surf and then was sucked under the glassy surface.

Footsteps made Tevi look over her shoulder. Jemeryl had climbed onto the foredeck and was casually strolling in her direction. Tevi pushed away from the rail and straightened.

“Good morning, ma’am.” Tevi spoke respectfully. So far, they had scarcely acknowledged each other, making a show of being strangers.

Jemeryl’s eyebrows rose at the formal greeting. A hint of a grin danced mischievously on her lips. “Good morning, citizen.”

“Is there anything I can do for you?”

“Now there’s a question.” Jemeryl looked around, including the rigging overhead. No one was within earshot. “But we’d better take things in order. I’m thinking it’s time for us to get acquainted.”

“That’s fine by me.”

In fact, it was better than fine. The separation was having bad effects on Tevi’s sleep. Each night, she found herself lying awake in her bunk and battling the temptation to try slipping into Jemeryl’s cabin without being noticed. When she finally did drift off, Jemeryl played a prominent part in her dreams. Tevi was worried that she would call out in her sleep and wake her fellow passengers. Giving the likely content of any such outburst, there would be little chance of persuading anyone that she had been suffering from nightmares.

The ship’s chicken coop was bolted to the foredeck. The wooden structure resembled a rabbit hutch. Its three inhabitants provided the captain and a favoured few with the luxury of fresh eggs. Their clucking was incongruous against the screech of seagulls. Jemeryl took a seat on the roof, looking out to sea, and indicated that Tevi should join her. Klara perched on the railing facing them.

“It’s all right; we can talk. Klara will let me know if anyone comes near,” Jemeryl said.

Tevi let out a small sigh. “Good. How have you been? I heard you weren’t well yesterday. Seasickness?”

“I was fine. It was just an excuse to avoid eating in the captain’s cabin.”

“Isn’t the cooking any good?”

“Oh, first-rate for aboard ship. It’s the goldsmith that gives me indigestion. He manages to simultaneously grovel and boast.”

Tevi laughed softly. “The problems that come with privilege.”

“I’ve tried sarcasm to shut him up. I might have to move on to thinly veiled threats. How have you been?”

“Fine. But I miss being able to talk to you.”

“Mmmm. Same here.” Jemeryl’s voice was soft. “And there’s a whole list of other things I like to do with you that I’m missing as well.”

Tevi glanced at Jemeryl. As their eyes caught, she felt her stomach flip over. She turned back quickly to the sea, trying to compose her face, just in case anyone else might wander by. She suspected that her expression would not be hard to read.

Despite looking away, her thoughts stayed with Jemeryl. “My guild master didn’t want me to come with you. He thought it was unsafe for me. But I couldn’t bear to be parted from you.”

“Some of the Coven leaders wanted to stop you coming to Ekranos as well.”

“I’m guessing that they weren’t worried about my safety.”

“Not directly. They are more concerned with the reputation of the Coven.”

Tevi smiled. “Do you know what would completely amaze everyone back on my home island?”

“That you really are going after the chalice?”

“No. That with all the people unhappy about us being together, not one is concerned that we’re both women.”

“Well, it isn’t exactly relevant to anything.”

“That’s not the way my people would see it.” Tevi’s eyes lost their focus as her thoughts drifted back to the islands and her departure from them. She had left with no idea of where she was going and no hope for the future, not even any idea of what future was possible. She would not have believed that, just a year later, she would have found a place for herself in the form of a guild that valued her as a warrior. Most of all she could not have dared dream that she would meet someone like Jemeryl. Now, whatever the future held, she had the hope that she would not be facing it alone.