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would have to be careful. From first sight, Stanager Rose had struck him as someone not to be trifled
with. However much he wanted to.
Because, sea-weathered or not, the Captain of theGrömsketter was one of the most beautiful women
he had ever seen.
XXIII
After leading them down to the officers mess and directing them to their seats, she had drink brought by
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an attentive mess steward. It was some kind of spiced fruit juice neither Ehomba nor Simna recognized,
flavorful but only slightly alcoholic.
What is this? Ehomba asked politely.
Sicharouse. From Calex, across the ocean. She smiled proudly. Sealed in oak casks, it ferments
during the return crossing and is almost ready to drink when it arrives here in Hamacassar. Turned a tidy
profit on it more than once, we have. Folding her hands on the heavy ship s table, she stared piercingly
at Ehomba. We leave in two days and I ve a ship to prepare for departure. You wish passage across
the ocean?
We do. As Simna ibn Sind appeared to have been suddenly and uncharacteristically struck dumb,
Ehomba found that he had to do all the talking. We journey to a kingdom called Ehl-Larimar.
Eyes widening slightly, Stanager leaned into the embrace of her high-backed chair. The swordsman
found himself envying the wood. Heard of the place, but never been there. From what I recall, it lies far
inland from any seaport. It s certainly not close to Calex. Simna suddenly found his voice: He groaned.
I understand. Ehomba was unsurprised and unfazed by this information. Ultimately reaching
Ehl-Larimar is our business. But to get there we must first cross the ocean.
She nodded once, curtly. We have space, and I am willing to take you. Her eyes met Simna s. Even
though it s transparently clear there s not a seaman among you. You and your creatures would have to
stay out of the way of my crew. You wouldn t be confined to quarters, mind. I just ask that you be
careful where you go, when you go, and what you do when you get there.
Not long ago we crossed the Aboqua, he told her, and gave the crew that attended to our needs no
cause for complaint.
Turning her head to her left, she spat contemptuously. The Aboqua! A pond, for children to splash in.
I ve beaten through storms that were bigger than the Aboqua. But at least you know what saltwater
smells like. To Simna s chagrin, she returned her full attention to Ehomba. What can you pay?
It was the herdsman s turn to be rendered speechless. In the excitement of searching out and finally
finding a ship to carry them, he had completely forgotten that payment for their passage would doubtless
be demanded. The oversight was understandable. Among the Naumkib such matters arose but
infrequently, when the village received one of its rare visits from a trader making the long trek north from
Wallab or Askaskos.
Unable to reply, he turned to his more worldly friend. Simna could only shrug helplessly. If you re
thinking of the Chlengguu gold, it s all gone, bruther. We ve spent every last coin. I know what you re
thinking, but there s none tucked away in my pack or my shirt. More s the pity. I should have secreted
some more away.
Stanager listened silently to the brief byplay. Do you have anything to trade? Anything of significant
value you would be willing to part with?
The swordsman started to respond, but Ehomba stopped him before the words could leave his mouth.
No! We ve risked our lives to save Ahlitah from just such a fate. I will not see him sold to satisfy my
own needs.
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Simna eyed him sharply. Not even to get yourself across the Semordria?
Not even for that. The herdsman looked back at the Captain. We have very few possessions, and
these we need.
She nodded tersely, her red hair rippling, and started to rise from the table. Then I wish you good
fortune in your difficult endeavors, gentlemen. Now if you will excuse me, I have a long and strenuous
voyage ahead of me, and many last-minute preparations to supervise. The audience was at an end.
Ehomba did not panic. It was not an emotion he was heir to. But seeing their best and only hope of
crossing the ocean about to walk out the door, he certainly became uncommonly anxious. A sudden
thought made him rise halfway from his own chair as he raised his voice.
Wait! Please, one moment.
An impatient look on her deeply tanned face, Stanager Rose hesitantly resumed her seat. Simna was
eyeing his tall friend curiously. The swordsman expected the herdsman to start digging through his pack,
but this was not what happened. Instead, Ehomba reached down and fumbled briefly in one of the
pockets of his kilt. What he brought out caused Simna s gaze to narrow.
The Captain nodded at the fist-sized cloth sack. What ve you got there, tall man? Gold, silver,
trinkets?
Pebbles. Ehomba smiled apologetically. From a beach near my village. I brought them along to
remind me of home, and of the sea. Whenever the longing grew too great, I could always reach into my
pocket and rub the pebbles against each other, listen to them scrape and clink. He handed the sack to
Stanager. Once when I was much younger a trader came to the village from far to the south, farther
away even than Askaskos. A friend of mine was playing jump-rock outside his house with some pebbles
like these. Passing by, the trader happened to see and admire them. He offered my friend s family some
fine things in exchange. After receiving approval from Asab, the trade was made. He gestured for the
Captain to open the sack.
If they were valuable to a trader who had come all the way from south of Askaskos, maybe they will
have some value to you as well. He hesitated. Though I would be sorry to have to give up my little
memory bag.
Stanager was considerate if not hopeful. Taking pity on the lanky foreigner, she pulled the drawstring
that closed the neck of the little cloth bag and turned it upside down. The double handful of pebbles
promptly spilled out onto the tabletop. Struck by the light that poured in through the ports, the pebbles
sparkled brightly. They were rough and sea-tossed, with most of the edges worn off them.
Simna s eyes opened so wide they threatened to pop right out of his head and roll egglike across the
table. Like little else, his reaction did not escape the Captain s notice.
So, Owl-eyes, you think these pebbles are valuable too?
Recovering quickly, the swordsman looked away and exhaled indifferently. Hoy, what? Oh, perhaps a
little. I know very little about such things. To me they re nothing remarkable, but I believe my friend is
right when he says that they might have some value.
I see. Her gaze flicked sharply from one man to the other. Ayesh,I am no expert on pebbles either,
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but my supercargo knows a good deal about stones and their value. We will soon learn if these are worth
anything or if you are trying to cozen me with stories. Pushing back in her seat, she yelled toward the
open doorway. Terious! Find old Broch and send him down here!
They waited in silence, the Captain of theGrömsketter in all her stern-faced beauty, Ehomba smiling
hopefully, and Simna gazing off into the distance with studied indifference.
What are you gaping at, little man? an irritated Stanager finally asked the swordsman.
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