The truth was far simpler. A spell could trigger a temporary stronger attraction between two people who already liked each other. But spells didn’t change a roll of the dice, or turn of a card, at least those cast by reputable sorceresses. However, it could allow insights into who might be bluffing or over-betting. But those same things can also be the result if an insightful gambler who knows the habits of those he plays against.
Prin sat in their usual place, rereading the books about horses when she raised her eyes and found anger or frustration clearly written on Sara’s face. “What’s wrong?”
Sara shook a thin, handwritten book in her direction.
“So?”
“There is so much in here I want to try, spells, incantations, potions, and more. As you know, I’m only a little ahead of you in my studies of sorcery in the basement of the barn at home. My mom and dad left me alone to practice, but they didn’t like magic, or me becoming a sorceress. We kept it a secret as if they were ashamed of me. As long as I only made a few love charms for the local girls, they ignored me and my work.”
“You know that dry spell where rain doesn’t get you wet. And your arrows are enchanted, so they don’t miss. You know those spells, and probably more,” Prin insisted.
“The dry spell was sold to me by a gypsy passing through our village. She taught me. The enchanted arrows were bought from a mage at a fair, but I can’t replace them. But . . . there is so much in here, in these books, and I can’t try any of it.”
“In all the books, or just that one?”
“This is the second of the diaries. Well, I need a better name for them than that, because they are not diaries in the usual sense, but workbooks of the progress of a sorceress named Tamara. The books were blank pages, and there is a blue haze over each page that forms into words. I don’t think anyone without our powers can read her printing.”
“Let me see.”
Sara showed her two pages as she continued, “With the first book, she was about my age and worked with another sorceress in Donella, an old lady who taught her many spells for health, hiding things. She even sold spells for locating what you’ve lost or misplaced, which is the opposite of hiding. That last could sell in the marketplace.”
“That sounds fantastic!” Prin said.
“Except I can’t learn, use, or practice any of them. Also, there are some that I think will help us at home, but there is so much in the books that I’ll miss the importance. I’m leaving markers between the pages, but I have to try some of this.”
Prin shut her book with a slap of sound. “You know what? The bos’n asked if I have any plans of things to do while in Gallium. He said something about us taking a trip to a place called the Highlands while we’re ashore. I think we all have to leave the ship while workers repair everything.”
“That makes you happy?”
“Maybe. What if we must leave, but instead of a trip, we rent an apartment for thirty or forty days, however long it takes. You could learn your new spells there.”
“Can we?”
“Let me go find the bos’n and ask him. Don’t get your hopes up, yet.”
“I assumed we were going to be working on the ship all day long while they repaired it.”
Prin was already on her feet. She spotted the bos’n, still wearing a bandage on his head from the fall in the hold, moving along the railing near the mainsail, inspecting everything again, preparing a final list for the shipyard.
“Will we be working on the ship when it’s in port?”
He shook his head, and her smile widened. He said, “All the crew must find other arrangements. If you cannot afford a place, the ship will pay for a bed and food in a local seaman’s home, just as if you were aboard.”
“But, we can find our own place to live? Or maybe travel?”
“Just make sure we can locate you. For crewmen, missing a sailing is about the highest crime you can commit. Besides, I’d hate to replace you. You’ve become a valuable member of the crew.”
She started to make a joke to cover her embarrassment, then paused. He was grave and right. In her short time with the ship, she had worked at numerous jobs, trying to learn and fit in. She liked the steady work, the feel of the ship moving through the waves, and the excitement of unknown locations waiting for her to explore. She even became friends with the new cat that followed her about the ship.
That thought brought up another problem. “What will the ship’s cat do while the ship in being refitted?”
“Starve, if it stays here. Oh, it’ll be okay, but will probably move to another ship.”
“It’s a good cat. I see it hunting every day.”
“Then, perhaps you should do the ship a favor and take it ashore with you. Bring it back, and everyone’s happy. Just don’t spoil it by feeding it too much.”
“Can I name it?”
“Can I stop you?”
She couldn’t hold in the smirk at his comment. “Sara and I were thinking of renting an apartment.”
“I see. Well, I have a few suggestions, if I may share them.” He waited for her to nod. “There are parts of the city that are better to stay in, especially for two young girls. There are a few you’ll wish to avoid.”
“Can you point them out?”
“As we sail into the harbor, come see me. The view is better from there, and perhaps it will help you avoid mistakes.”
Prin’s feet barely touched the deck as she went back to where Sara sat. The sight of Jam slinking behind the hatch cover didn’t upset her as his constant spying had days earlier. She’d found he refused to learn to read and would not join them in their studies. That had been her biggest worry, that he would somehow find and read what they did. However, between much of the writing being only for the sorceress, and his lack of reading abilities, those worries were at rest. She also knew of him leaving the ship in Gallium and being put on another. That reduced her concerns, but even Sara didn’t know about that.
The following morning the captain summoned Prin to the wheelhouse, which had only happened twice. She was the third person in the small room, the captain stood at the wheel. As she entered, the captain turned to the bos’n, “If you’ll excuse us?”
The bos’n left, leaving only the two of them, her standing near the door wringing her hands and wondering what she had done, or failed to do. He said, “We have a problem.”
Her heart sank. “What have I done?”
“No, not that sort of problem. Another kind. It seems that my son has been talking to the crew, telling all kinds of tales, and lies.”
“I’ll ignore them if I hear them,” she said, relieved.
“I appreciate that, but one of the others of the crew listened to a strange story before we left Indore. It was about a mage searching for a girl matching your description. There’s a reward. A large one. He thinks you are that girl.”
Prin said nothing. She didn’t want to lie, but neither would she confirm the story.
“Jam is asking for him to join together to capture you and then they can split the reward. I spoke with him earlier and explained that you are here because my cousin El asked me to take you away from danger. You are safe on this ship.”
She waited. There was more to the story, or he wouldn’t have brought her to the wheelhouse. “I believe the bos’n has explained to you that Jam will not continue this voyage with us. However, he refuses to do as the bos’n orders, so he has brought this on himself. He intends to spread the story in Gallium in hopes of receiving a partial reward. He says that if there are people there searching for you, he plans to turn you in.” He drew in a long breath, then continued, “He is my son, and I love him, but nobody on this ship will disobey my orders or causes me to break my word.”