“What does that mean?” Stephano demanded.
“Every time we sail to Westfirth, you regale us with the history of the Bastion,” said Miri.
“I, for one, find it most interesting,” said Father Jacob, who was currently a passenger on the Cloud Hopper. “I should like to visit there someday.”
With the Retribution in tow, the Cloud Hopper sailed past the Bastion and the Old Fort with its battlements and towers and shore batteries.
“We’re coming up on the dockyards, Captain,” Dag called from his position as lookout.
The Westfirth Dockyards, located near the heart of the bustling city, were crowded with ships. Though all insignia and emblems of the Arcanum had been painted over, the sight of a Trundler vessel towing a yacht was sure to cause comment and perhaps even arouse suspicion, especially given the damage suffered by the yacht. Sure enough, the moment the Cloud Hopper sailed into port, a white-painted boat with a green-and-gold pennant belonging to the harbormaster headed straight for them.
“Damnation,” said Stephano, coming to stand beside Dag. “I suppose we’ll have to stop?”
“Unless you want them shooting at us,” said Dag.
Miri set the airscrew to reverse and brought the Cloud Hopper to a halt. Father Jacob was standing at the rail, observing their entry into Westfirth. Rodrigo lounged against the rail, preparing for his version of “fishing.” Rodrigo had been oddly quiet, oddly subdued ever since his talk with Father Jacob. Stephano had been worried about his friend, but their arrival in Rodrigo’s favorite city appeared to be having a cheering effect on him. Brother Barnaby was still below with Gythe and Doctor Ellington. Stephano had been to check on them and was heartened to hear from Brother Barnaby that Gythe had spent a restful night.
Master Albert had been following the Retribution in his own boat. Sighting the harbormaster, he steered alongside the Cloud Hopper.
“I know this fellow,” Albert called. “He’ll have all manner of questions and he’ll expect to be paid well for not asking them.”
“Wonderful,” said Stephano grimly. “Here we are with a priest, a monk, a knight, two gentlemen, and a cat on board a Trundler houseboat-”
“Sounds like a joke I once heard,” said Rodrigo.
Stephano ran his hand distractedly through his hair. “And both the houseboat and the yacht have obviously been in a fight. This is going to cost us plenty. Rigo, where’s the cash box?”
“You know I never like spending money on bribes,” Rodrigo protested. “Plays merry hell with my accounting. I never know how to record it in the ledger.”
The harbormaster sailed alongside and requested permission to come aboard. Once on deck, he glanced about at the motley group assembled to meet him in considerable astonishment, his eyebrows almost flying off his head at the sight of a priest in the black cassock of the Arcanum.
“Who is the owner of this vessel?” the harbormaster demanded, trying to sound stern, though the sight of the dreaded black cassock was clearly making him nervous.
Miri came forward to proclaim herself the owner. Rodrigo reached for his purse. Father Jacob stopped them both by walking over to the harbormaster, putting his hand on his shoulder, and leading him off to the stern. They stood in hushed conversation. After a few moments, the harbormaster, hat in hand, walked up to Stephano.
“I am sorry to hear you were attacked, Monsieur,” he said. “These pirates are really getting out of control. I should lodge a strongly worded protest with His Majesty’s Royal Navy if I were you, sir.”
“Thank you, sir, I shall do that,” said Stephano politely.
“I hope you enjoy your stay in our fair city,” the harbormaster added, looking flustered. He started to say something more, cast a glance at Father Jacob, thought better of it, and made a hasty departure.
“You do come in handy, Father Jacob,” said Stephano, as they watched the harbormaster sail away.
The Cloud Hopper headed for the piers on the south side of the city where the Trundlers had established a floating community known as the Flats.
On the way, the Cloud Hopper prepared to part company with the Retribution, dropping off the yacht at the shipyard. Stephano stood on the deck of the Cloud Hopper, preparing to say good-bye to their guests. Now that the Cadre was safely in Westfirth, Stephano was eager to get on with the secret business that had brought him here-the search for the journeyman, Alcazar.
Stephano was surprised to find he was sorry to part company with his godfather. He had Miri to thank for that. She knew the story of Sir Ander, for Stephano had often expressed his anger at the knight. He had started up his rant again, prior to the knight boarding the Cloud Hopper.
Miri had stopped him cold.
“You were there to save Sir Ander’s life when the demon was going to kill him. He was there to save yours. Did it ever occur to you, Stephano de Guichen, that your father is looking down on both of you?”
Stephano gave serious thought to her words and determined that for his father’s sake, he would learn to forgive, if he could never forget. Stephano and Sir Ander had spent the time during the brief journey from the abbey to Westfirth getting to know each other. One barrier remained between the two of them, a barrier that could not be crossed-the Countess de Marjolaine.
When Sir Ander tried, once more, to speak of her, Stephano said quietly, “I do not wish to quarrel with you, sir. Let us therefore change the subject.”
Sir Ander did not mention Cecile’s name again, and the two parted on relatively good terms.
“I feel that I have come to know you, sir,” Stephano said, shaking hands. “I regret that I did not value your friendship as I should have all these years.”
“We will not let another thirty years pass until we meet again,” said Sir Ander. “That is for damn certain!”
The knight shook hands with Rodrigo, said a few words, and shook hands with Dag. Sir Ander sent Miri into fits of laughter by kissing her hand with a courtly bow, then he and Master Albert transferred to the Retribution to set about unhooking the towline and setting the yacht down in the shipyard.
Stephano was wondering if Brother Barnaby would stay with Gythe when he turned to see Brother Barnaby assisting Gythe to come up from below and walk out onto the deck.
Doctor Ellington led the way, bounding out onto the deck and strutted about proudly, his tail in the air, taking credit for everything from the defeat of the demons to Gythe’s recovery. Gythe stood blinking in the late afternoon sun, a shy and abashed smile on her face, sorry she had caused them so much trouble. She held fast to Brother Barnaby’s hand. Miri gave the helm to Dag and hurried over to ask Gythe if the air was too cold, if she wanted a shawl, something to eat or maybe a glass of wine…
Gythe shook her head and pointed emphatically to the brass helm, indicating Miri was to quit fussing and return to the helm, so Dag could assist with the Retribution. Miri kissed her sister and embraced her, then, wiping her eyes, went to relieve Dag.
Stephano embraced Gythe and then said a few words of heartfelt gratitude to Brother Barnaby, adding, “Is she going to be all right?”
Before Brother Barnaby could answer, Gythe punched Stephano in the arm and pointed indignantly at herself.
“I’m standing right here,” she told him silently.
“I’m sorry,” Stephano said, laughing. “Are you all right, Gythe? You gave us quite a scare, you know. We thought we were going to lose you.”
Gythe looked to Rodrigo, who was been leaning on the rail, now devoting himself to his favorite pastime whenever the Cloud Hopper came into port-fishing.
Rodrigo did not fish for fish. He fished for hats and wigs. As the Cloud Hopper was sinking down near the ground in order to dock, he would cast a line with a hook over the ship’s rail and endeavor to snag hats or periwigs with the hook, give them a yank, and snatch them from the heads of astonished pedestrians. He would always return the object with a wave, laughing heartily at the oaths and fist-shaking outrage.