The Law of Isolation (37 page)

Josiah spotted a tuft of yellow grass tucked into a crack. He pulled it out, but the nest was empty, only a few fragments of eggshell lying among the woven strands of straw. He sighed. Maybe the eggs had hatched, but he was sure he’d checked this spot last week, and the nest hadn’t been there. More likely it was new, and the freshly laid eggs had become dinner for some predator. Josiah couldn’t begrudge the wild creature its meal, but he wished he’d discovered the nest sooner.

Josiah perched on the low wall and crumbled the nest in his fingers, letting the sticks shower to the ground four stories below. Bits of straw and down drifted on the wind. His gaze followed them as they floated toward the ocean. The water sparkled in the afternoon sun, the horizon a smooth gray line stretching as far as Josiah could see north and south. He idly searched for sails. One of the fishing boats was due to return in the next two or three days. If they’d had a good catch, there would be fish to add to the stew. He thought of what he’d read in the Histories, how Gurion Thricebound and his second familiar, the dolphin Whitecap, had helped the fishing fleet bring in enormous catches that had fed the fledgling colony of New Elath through its first winter. It sure would be nice if the Mother sent them a dolphin familiar to help them through this crisis.

Resentment flared in Josiah’s heart, much as he tried to suppress it. So far the Mother hadn’t done anything to help. She hadn’t spoken to any of the familiars, or directly to Master Dabiel, to offer guidance. The last time anyone had spoken with her was last Springtide, when Elkan had bonded with Tobi and the latest group of apprentices had bonded with their familiars. That was before anyone had known how the harvests would fail. No familiars had died since then, at least not in Elathir, to give a wizard the chance to bond with a new familiar and speak with the Mother. Unless that happened, the next time anyone would speak with her was in the spring, a month before Springtide, when Master Dabiel would retreat into solitude and fast for three days until the Mother appeared to her and named the new apprentices. Then she could beg for help. But that might be far too late.

Josiah looked at the white fleck on the horizon for several minutes before he realized what it was. He whooped and scrambled to his feet on top of the wall, heedless of the drop below. He shaded his eyes, trying to see well enough to recognize which ship it was. They must have a big catch to be returning so early.

He frowned. That wasn’t one of the fishing ships; the sails were all wrong. It looked more like one of the big trading vessels, but there were only two of those. One was on a trip to the north outpost and wouldn’t be back for at least a month. This ship was approaching from the south. The other trader stood in the shipyard, nearly finished. It was being built to replace the one that had been lost last spring, when Ozor and his band had stolen it and escaped. They’d fled beyond the boundaries of Tevenar into unknown lands, in defiance of the Law of Isolation.

Josiah gulped. It couldn’t be Ozor’s ship. Ozor would never come back to Tevenar. The bandit would be imprisoned, maybe even executed, if he was ever caught. It was only because Josiah had failed to stop him that he’d gotten the chance to escape in the first place. Ozor wouldn’t throw that opportunity away, no matter what sort of trouble he got into. Neither would any of the others who had gone with him. Not even Josiah’s friend Gan. Certainly not Tereid, or Kabos, or Kabos’s daughter Nirel.

Josiah’s face went hot as he remembered how Nirel had kissed him, just before he and Elkan had escaped from the bandits’ camp. She probably hated him now, for running off without telling her, and for trying to sink their ship. Even though it was seeing her aboard that had made him break off the attempt.

He wracked his brain, trying to remember the exact set of the trading vessel’s sails. He hadn’t yet been familiar with the different sorts of sails when Kefira, who was now his oldest brother’s wife, had shown him the ship she’d been chosen to sail on, but he’d gotten a thorough look. He studied the sails that were slowly drawing nearer. He couldn’t be sure, but they didn’t look like the ones he remembered. There were more of them, and the shapes were different.

A hollow feeling, different from hunger, swirled in Josiah’s stomach. He jumped down to the roof and leaned against the wall. He kept looking back at the ship. Every glance confirmed the suspicion that was rapidly growing into a certainty. He’d never seen this ship before, or anything like it. Which meant that it couldn’t be from Tevenar. Which meant…

After a last long look, Josiah ran. He didn’t slow as he clattered down the wide, shallow stairs, built for four-legged familiars as much as for their human partners. He darted across the Hall, dodging around the healing cubicles and waiting areas. He nearly collided with Bossy, Tiranan’s familiar, a large black and white spotted cow, as she stood in a sunny spot, eyes half closed, chewing her cud. She regarded him with a puzzled look in her soft brown eyes as he gasped an apology and ran on.

He raced down the short hallway to the office and tried to jerk open the door, but it was locked. He pounded on it. “Master Dabiel! Master Dabiel! Let me in! You’ve got to come see!”

He kept shouting until the door opened. Master Dabiel scowled at him. “Josiah, this isn’t the time—”

He grabbed her hand. “Come see! Up on the roof. There’s a sail, out in the water, coming from the south.”

“That’s hardly reason to interrupt a meeting with—”

“You don’t understand. It’s a new ship. I’ve never seen it before. I don’t think it’s from Tevenar at all. I think it’s from somewhere else.”

She continued to glare at him in uncomprehending annoyance for a moment. But then her eyebrows shot up, her eyes opened wide, and her lips parted with a small indrawn breath. She turned to whoever was in the room. “Excuse me.” Her voice was just a tiny bit shaky. “Something’s come up. I’ll be back as soon as I can. Buttons…”

The huge hog could move surprisingly fast when he wanted. He lumbered out of the office on Master Dabiel’s heels, though he fell behind as she hurried across the Hall toward the stairs, quizzing Josiah as she went. “You didn’t recognize it at all? It couldn’t be one of ours that got in trouble and had to improvise a new rigging? How big was it? What did Sar think?”

“No, not at all. I don’t think so. It looked like it had three masts. It’s big; I couldn’t tell for sure, but I think it’s bigger than the traders. Sar didn’t see, he’s in our room taking a nap.”

“Well, wake him up,” she snapped. She turned to call across the room. “Savir, come here. You too, Avna. Hanion, I need you. The rest of you, stay at your stations, but be ready to come if I summon you.” Her head turned back and forth. “Where’s Elkan?”

“He took Tobi hunting. He should be back soon.” Josiah was taken aback by Master Dabiel’s manner. He’d never seen her so agitated.

“Smash it, I need him now,” she snarled. She charged up the steps, only slowing when her breathing grew so heavy she couldn’t continue her headlong rush. Savir, a journeyman half a year from his mastery, hurried up. He took Dabiel’s elbow and supported her up the last two flights. His familiar Music, a rangy hound dog, padded at their heels. The others Master Dabiel had summoned tagged along behind, Josiah in the rear. Far behind them, Buttons heaved his massive bulk up one step at a time.

Belatedly Josiah remembered Master Dabiel’s command.
Sar? Wake up. Master Dabiel wants us.

What have you done now?

Josiah was fairly sure Sar was teasing, but the donkey hated being woken from a nap, so his mental tone was grumpy.
Nothing. Come up to the roof. There’s a strange ship approaching.

Sar’s grouchiness was abruptly replaced by alertness in Josiah’s mind, but the donkey didn’t reply. Only a few minutes passed before Josiah heard his hooves clattering up the stairs and turned to see him. Sar took his place at Josiah’s side, and Josiah put his arm around Sar’s neck. His familiar’s touch was comforting. His initial excitement at his discovery was quickly being replaced by apprehension.

Master Dabiel stared out toward the horizon. “Where did you see it, Josiah?”

Josiah searched the sea, suddenly afraid the ship had been only his imagination. But no, there it was, closer than before, clearly visible against the sky. He pointed it out.

Master Dabiel followed his finger. She stiffened when she spotted the ship. Then she gave a little sigh. “Thank you.”

He nodded, but she couldn’t have seen him, for she kept staring at the strange ship, the oddest combination of fear and hope on her face.

At length, she took a deep breath. “Avna, you’re Shipwrightkin. What can you tell us?”

Avna shaded her eyes and studied the ship. Her familiar, Blackie, a small horse, pressed to her side, and she absently rubbed at the base of his mane. She was silent for a moment. When she spoke, her voice was hushed. “He’s right. We’ve never built anything remotely like it. It’s big, too. Half again as big as the traders, I’d guess.”

Dabiel nodded, unsurprised. “Savir, you’re familiar with the bandits who stole the ship last spring. Do you think this could be their doing?”

He scratched Music’s head. “Could be. They didn’t talk much after we captured them, but I picked up a few things. They were keen to get as far from Tevenar as they could.”

“You told me they went south?”

“We thought so, though we were never sure.”

Dabiel shook her head. “It’s the only time in centuries the Law of Isolation has been broken. It can’t be coincidence.”

Hanion scowled at the ship. “We need to be prepared for them to be hostile.”

“We will be.” Dabiel’s voice was confident. “I’d like you to be my liaison with Guildmaster Edniel of the Watch. Tell her I’m authorizing a joint operation. Have her bring a troop to the docks, and wizards will meet her there.”

“Should they be armed?” Hanion’s voice remained calm, but Josiah shivered at the question.

“Yes. Bows and spears. But only her most seasoned, reliable watchers, please. Masters and senior journeymen. I don’t want anybody losing their head and causing an incident.” Master Dabiel didn’t look at Josiah, but he ducked his head, face hot. Not much chance she’d let him be there, then.

Hanion made an assenting noise and left, Mavke trotting at his heels. Josiah looked back at the ship, but nothing had changed, except for it drawing a trifle closer. He scanned the streets of the city below. Had anyone else noticed yet? People still came and went in their usual patterns, untouched by excitement. That would change soon.

He spotted a familiar pair making their way up the road from the bridge. He tugged Master Dabiel’s sleeve and pointed. “Here come Elkan and Tobi.”

She followed his finger. “Good. Run down and fill them in on what’s happened. I want him to go down to the docks and have the dockmaster prepare a berth for them. Send out a few boats to escort them in. Avna, when do you think they’ll reach the docks?”

“They’re fast.” Avna gulped. “No later than mid-afternoon.”

“Josiah, tell Elkan I’ll be there as soon as I can. We’ll meet them when they dock. Run on, now.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Josiah bobbed his head and dashed away. She hadn’t forbidden him to be present when the strange ship arrived. He wasn’t about to ask; that would only give her the chance to say no. Sar trotted behind him.

At the head of the stairs they paused to allow Buttons to pass. The pig struggled up the last few steps and lumbered across the roof to Dabiel. She knelt and put her arms around his neck. Josiah and Sar hurried down.

Elkan had to keep stopping him to make him repeat the words that tumbled out in a garbled flood. Josiah took a deep breath and struggled to keep his voice under control. Elkan absorbed the news with his usual calm, growing more still as the import sunk in. Before Josiah finished, he turned and beckoned Josiah to follow as he set off with long strides toward the docks.

Josiah stuck to Elkan’s side as closely as Tobi did, offering help whenever he thought it might be needed, staying out of the way the rest of the time. He was determined not to do anything that would prompt his master to send him away. This was probably the most exciting thing that had happened in Tevenar for centuries, and he couldn’t bear the thought of missing it.

The watchers were all in place by the time Master Dabiel and Buttons arrived. The farthest downstream dock had been cleared of all other vessels. Watchers lined it in neat rows, red cloaks bright in the slanting sunlight, weapons poking up between them. Elkan waited at the landward end. He gestured at the preparations. Dabiel gave them a sweeping glance and nodded her approval. She was wearing her cloak of office, the gold trim shining against the subtle brown plaid.

Her eyes fell on Josiah, hovering as unobtrusively as possible just behind Elkan. Her voice was blunt. “Can you keep him under control?”

Elkan nodded. “Josiah won’t disappoint us.”

He didn’t say “Will you?” but Josiah heard the warning in his master’s voice. He looked at the ground and bit his lip.

Dabiel sighed. She turned to the crowd behind her. Josiah saw other apprentices accompanying their masters. It looked like most of the population of the Hall had come. “Arrange yourselves on the shore. I want everyone to have a good view of the ship and whoever comes off it, and a clear path to act if needed. Keep your familiars close. When they dock, I want everyone’s hands ready to channel power. But
do not
use the Mother’s power unless I order it. Familiars, do you understand?”

A cacophony of animal noises answered her. Sar’s bray blasted Josiah’s ears, much louder than he thought necessary. He glared at the donkey, who ignored him.

“If I give the word, I want each of you to choose one or two of the strangers and freeze them in place. Be careful not to let them come to harm. If fighting breaks out, freeze our watchers, too, if that’s necessary to end it.” She paused until the murmurs of understanding and assent quieted. When she spoke again, her voice was quieter, but hard as ice. “If there are too many of them to stop in that fashion, you may do whatever your familiars permit to prevent them entering the city.”