Solemnly, he put a hand on her shoulder. “As one fool to another, let me say that it has been an honor to travel on your ship, Captain Rose.”
She nodded once, as eloquent an acceptance of the compliment as she could manage. Straightforward praise made her uncomfortable. Easier for her to deal with a storm or a mutinous crew than an unabashed encomium.
“Thanks.” They were silent for a while, standing side by side, watching the sea and the birds and the dragonets as Priget and Terious deftly maneuvered the Grömsketter around the southern tip of the headland and into Kylles Bay. Heading north once again but this time in calm, sheltered waters, Ehomba soon found he could make out the steeples and peaked roofs of Doroune in the distance.
“Look,” she said finally, “I’ll be a goodly while sailing down the coast and then back up again, selling off not only our own trade goods but those we pick up along the way. Can’t give you exact times and dates because this sort of unscheduled trading isn’t done to a timetable. But we’ll for sure be calling at Oos, Xemon-scap, Polab, Sambley, and Calenx. Can’t say if we’ll go farther than that. The weather south of Calenx can turn at the drop of a line.” It was her turn to put a hand on his arm.
“If your travels take you to any of those cities, don’t depart without asking about us. If—when you’ve accomplished your quest, you’ll be wanting passage home. Can’t take you to Ehl-Larimar—don’t even know where it is—but we can carry you back across the Semordria.” This time her grin did not surprise her. “Try and hang on to a few of your pebbles. I like you, Etjole Ehomba. I find much to admire in you. And much that bewilders me. But while I like to think there’s much goodness in my heart, that doesn’t include free passage.”