“The king and his minions, of course. Apparently he commands a substantial empire, even if all of it is hidden well beneath the waves.”
“I don’t understand.” Stanager’s expression showed clearly how much she disliked not understanding. “How can they help us to leave this valley?”
“The king did not say.” Ehomba looked past her, to the east. “He told me that we should wait here until morning, and then we would all see if the thing was possible.”
Her tone was sarcastic. “That we can certainly do! It’s not as if we had plans to be anywhere else.” Nodding past Terious, she indicated the hopeful, attentive crew. “Set the watch, Mr. Kamarkh. All crew to be sounded to quarters if anything, um, unusual should start to happen.” Raising her voice, she addressed the others herself. “All of you, hear me! Get some sleep. With luck”—and she glanced at the studiously noncommittal Ehomba—“tomorrow will find us freed of this place.
“Though how,” she murmured as she turned and strode past the herdsman, “I cannot begin to imagine.”
V
It was not a perfect morning, but it would do. As was his wont, Ehomba rose with the sun. Normally one to sleep in, even aboard ship, Simna ibn Sind bestirred himself as soon as he sensed his rangy companion was awake. Whatever was going to happen, he was not about to miss it. And if nothing happened, as he half suspected it might, why then he would have a fine excuse for returning early to bed.
Hunkapa Aub was already awake, it being hard for him to sleep long in the cramped space he had been provided in the hold. There was no sign of Ahlitah, there being little that could rouse the big cat from its rest. Hands working against one another behind her back, Stanager Rose nervously paced the helm deck as she stared out to sea. She manifested more anxiety than she intended when Ehomba finally showed himself.