‘Not much chance, Vymer. They’re a long way out in the bush
by now.’ Estokin scratched at his forehead, stirring up another
snow flurry. ‘i’m not sure why Caalador wanted all those people
killed,’ he said, ‘and I don’t really want to know, but I’m getting
a whiff or two of politics, and here in Arjuna that means Scarpa.
You might want to warn Caalador to be very careful. I’ve talked
with a few deserters from that rebel army in the jungle. We’ve
all heard stories about how crazy Scarpa is, but let me tell
you, my friend, the stories don’t even come close. If only half
of what I’ve heard is true, Scarpa’s the craziest man who
ever lived.’
Sparhawk’s stomach gave a lurch, and then it settled into a
cold knot.
‘Father?’
Sparhawk sat up in bed quickly.
‘Are you awake?’ the Child Goddess asked, her voice roaring
in his mind.
‘Of course. Please lower your voice a bit. You’re jarring my
teeth.’
‘I wanted to be sure I had your attention. Some things have
happened. Berit and Khalad got some new instructions from
Krager. They’re supposed to go to Sepal now instead of coming
here to Beresa.’
Sparhawk swore.
‘Please don’t use that kind of language, Father. I am just a
little girl, you know.’
He ignored that. ‘is the trade going to take place in Sepal?’
‘it’s hard to say. Bevier’s been in touch with me too. Kalten
talked with an outlaw who’s been selling beer to the soldiers in
Natayos, and he says that Scarpa’s gone back there. Then the
outlaw told Kalten that Scarpa had two Elene women with Him
when he returned.’
Sparhawk’s heart leaped. ‘Was he sure?’
‘Kalten thinks so. The fellow didn’t have any reason to lie
about it. Of course, Kalten’s beer merchant didn’t actually see
them for himself, so don’t get your hopes up too much. It could
be a very carefully planted story. Zalasta’s in Natayos, and he
could be trying to lure you there or trying to trick you into giving
away any secrets you might have tucked up your sleeve. He
knows you well enough to know that you’ll try to do something
he doesn’t expect.’
‘is there any way you could find out for sure if your mother’s
in Natayos?’
‘i’m afraid not. I could slip around Scarpa easily enough, but
Zalasta would sense me immediately. It’s too risky.’
‘What else is going on?’
‘Ulath and Tynian have reached the Troll-Gods. Ghnomb’s
going to take them to Sepal in that frozen time he’s so fond of,
and they’ll be there when Berit and Khalad arrive. Ghnomb
knows another way to play around with time, so he’s going to
skip Ulath and Tynian from moment to moment. It’s a little
complicated, but they’ll be there and watching and nobody will
be able to see them. If Scarpa and Zalasta try to make the trade
in Sepal, Tynian and Ulath will be right on top of them to rescue
Mother and Alcan.’
‘Zalasta can follow them into that frozen moment, you know.’
That wouldn’t really pay him, Father. Khwaj was outraged
when he heard about Mother, so he’s going to be lurking in
NoTime. If Zalasta tries to follow Ulath and Tynian, Khwaj will
set him on fire – and the fire won’t ever go out.’
‘I could learn to grow fond of Khwaj.’
‘Sephrenia and Xanetia are in Delphaeus,’ Aphrael continued.
‘Edaemus is being tiresome, but the news about Klael shook his
tree, so I’ll probably be able to coax him down out of the
branches. He knows that Mother’s captivity puts the arrangement
you have with Codon at risk, so he’s agreed to help us
rescue her. I’ll keep working on him. If I can push him just a
little further, he might agree to let the Delphae come out of their
valley. They could be enormously helpful to us.’
‘Why didn’t you tell me about all of this earlier?’
‘What would you have done if I had, Sparhawk?’ Jumped over
the side of Sorgi’s ship and swum ashore?’
‘I need to know these things when they happen, Aphrael.’
‘Why? Let me take care of the fretting and worrying, Sparhawk.
All it does is make you foul-tempered.’
He let that pass. ‘i’ll tell this to Bhelliom.’
‘Absolutely not! We don’t dare open that box. Cyrgon or Klael
will feel Bhelliom instantly if we do.’
‘Didn’t you know?’ he asked her mildly. ‘I don’t have to open
the box to speak with Bhelliom. We can talk with each other
right through the gold.’
‘Why didn’t you tell me?’
‘What would you have done if I had? Jumped into the sea and
come swimming after Sorgi’s ship?’
There was a long moment of silence. ‘You really enjoy turning
my own words around and throwing them back in my teeth like
that, don’t you, Sparhawk?’
‘Naturally. Was there anything else you’d like to share with
me, Divine One?’
But the sense of her presence was gone, leaving only a slightly
huffy silence behind.
‘Where’s – ah – Vymer?’ Sparhawk asked Talen as the boy
entered the room a few minutes later.
‘He’s out attending to something,’ Talen replied evasively.
‘Attending to what?’
‘He asked me not to tell you.’
‘All right. I’m asking you to ignore him – and I’m right here
where I can get my hands on you.’
‘That’s a crude way to put it.’
‘Nobody’s perfect. What’s he up to?’
Talen sighed. ‘One of Estokin’s men stopped by – just after
you came up to go to bed. He said that there are three Elenes
in town who are letting it be known they’ll pay good money for
information about any strangers who seem to be settling in for
a long stay. Vymer decided to look them up.’ Talen glanced
meaningfully at the walls of their small room. ‘i’d guess that he
probably wants to find out just exactly what they mean by “good
money”. You know Vymer when there’s some profit to be
made.’
‘He should have told me,’ Sparhawk said cautiously. “I’m not
any more allergic to a quick profit than he is.’
‘Sharing isn’t one of Vymer’s strong points, From.’ Talen
touched his ear and then laid a finger to his lips. ‘Why don’t
we go out and see if we can find him?’
‘Good idea.’ Sparhawk quickly pulled on his clothes, and the
two of them clattered down the stairs and out into the street.
‘I just had a religious experience,’ Sparhawk murmured aS
they walked into the noisy area near the docks.
‘Oh?’
‘One of those Divine visitations.’
‘Ah. What did your Divine visitor have to say?’
‘A broken-nosed friend of ours got another one of those notes.
He’s been told to go to Sepal instead of coming here.’
Talen muttered a fairly vile oath.
‘My feelings exactly. Isn’t that Vymer coming up the street?’
Sparhawk pointed at a blond man in a tar-smeared smock who
was lurching unsteadily toward them.
Talen peered at the fellow. ‘I think you’re right.’ He made a
face. ‘The ladies who changed things around may have gone a
little far. He doesn’t even walk the same any more.’
‘What are you two doing out this late?’ Stragen asked as he
joined them.
‘We got lonesome,’ Sparhawk replied in a flat tone of voice.
‘For me? I’m touched. Let’s go for a walk on the beach, my
friends. I find myself yearning for the smell of salt water – and
the nice loud sound of waves crashing on the sand.’
They went on past the last of the wharves and then out onto
the sand. The clouds had blown off, and there was a bright
moon. They reached the water’s edge and stood looking out at
the long combers rolling in off the south Tamul Sea to hammer
noisily on the wet sand.
‘What have you been up to, Stragen?’ Sparhawk demanded
bluntly.
‘Business, old boy. I just enlisted us in the intelligence service
of the other side.’
‘You did what?’
‘The three you sensed when we first got here needed a few
good men. I volunteered our services.’
‘Are you out of your mind?’
‘Of course not. Think about it for a while, Sparhawk. What
better way is there to gather information? Our celebration of the
Harvest Festival thinned their ranks drastically, so they can’t
afford to be choosy. I paid Estokin to vouch for us, and then I
told them a few lies. They’re expecting a certain Sir Sparhawk
to flood the town with sharp-eyed people. We’re supposed to
report anybody we see who’s acting a little suspicious. I provided
them with a prime suspect.’
‘Oh? Who was that?’
‘Captain Sorgi’s bo’sun – you know, the fellow with the whip.’
Sparhawk suddenly laughed. ‘That was a truly vicious thing
to do, Stragen.’
‘I rather liked it, myself.’
‘Aphrael came by to call,’ Talen said. ‘She told Sparhawk that
Berit and my brother have been ordered to change direction.