Deathly pale, Tanalvah swayed, looking ready to faint. The others clustered around. Disgleirio took her shoulders, steadying her. Goyter fanned her with a sheaf of documents.
‘Here, drink this.’ Karr held a cup of water to her lips.
She sipped from it. ‘I’m all right,’ she managed. ‘I just…I’m sorry…’
‘How do you know this, Quinn?’ Karr demanded.
‘A glamour; a pretty fancy one. It carried a message from Darrok.’
‘What did it say?’
‘Not a lot. Apparently Kinsel was rescued from pirates.’
‘Pirates? Gods. How is he?’ Karr asked.
‘The message said only that he was alive.’
‘I said Iparrater would protect him,’ Tanalvah stated softly. ‘I knew the goddess wouldn’t forsake us.’
Karr squeezed her trembling hand. ‘And your faith seems to have been vindicated, my dear.’
‘How does this make you feel about coming to the Diamond Isle now, Tan?’ Disgleirio asked. He was grinning.
She looked dazed for a second. ‘I’ll go. Of course I’ll go.’
They were all beaming at her.
‘And I’m sure we’ll find that Kinsel’s just fine,’ Karr assured her.
‘When do we leave?’
He laughed. ‘As soon as we can.’
‘You were trying to tell us something, Tanalvah,’ Goyter reminded her. ‘Before Quinn arrived.’
‘I…It was nothing. Nothing at all.’ Her moment of joy was corrupted. It all came flooding back. The only crumb of consolation was that she now had a chance to make her peace with Kinsel before the end. An end she knew was inevitable.
‘Well, if you’re sure,’ Goyter said. Her expression seemed a little guarded.
‘I’m sure.’
‘You look sad.’
‘Do I?’
‘This is a shock for you. Your feelings are bound to be confused. Just remember that we’re here for you.’
‘I will. Thank you, Goyter. Now I really must tell the children.’ She made to stand.
Goyter stretched a hand and restrained her. ‘That can wait for a moment. Get your breath.’
Reluctantly, and with a sigh, Tanalvah sat again, though all she wanted was to be alone.
‘Did the message say anything about the others, Quinn?’ Karr asked. ‘Reeth, Serrah, Kutch…?’
‘No, nothing at all.’
‘Let’s hope that’s a case of no news being good news,’ Goyter observed.
‘Keep up your guard!’
‘That’s easy for you to say.’ Kutch backed off and lowered his sword. ‘You’re used to this, I’m not.’
‘All right,’ Caldason conceded, ‘we’ll take a break.’
They were on deck, and wandered over to sit on a couple of barrels. The weather had grown noticeably colder the further north they travelled, and the ocean wind had a stinging edge.
‘I’m sweating,’ Kutch complained, wiping a sleeve across his forehead.
‘I’d expect you to be. Combat’s a strenuous activity, particularly if you’re not used to it. Your arms and legs should be aching, too.’
‘You bet they are. I don’t think I’ll ever make a fighter, Reeth.’
‘No, you won’t.’
‘Oh.’
‘But we’re not trying to turn you into a master swordsman. We just need to teach you some basic self-defence techniques.’
‘I still reckon my best contribution’s going to be with magic.’
‘You’ll find that hard with a blade in your guts.’
‘Er, true.’
‘It’s up to you. But I’d feel better knowing you had some skills to protect yourself with.’
‘I want to learn, Reeth. It’s just…well, to be honest, the thought of facing somebody with a sword for real frightens me.’ Kutch reddened and studied his boots. ‘I feel like a coward.’
‘Good.’
‘Eh?’
‘People think behaving bravely means acting without fear. It doesn’t. True courage is when someone acts despite their fear. You’re not a coward, Kutch. I’ve known you long enough to recognise that.’
The boy smiled, half proudly, half abashed. ‘Thanks, Reeth. I don’t feel very brave, I can tell you.’
‘Start to worry if you do. Anyway, I think we’ve done enough for today. If you want another session tomorrow, just say.’
‘I will. I mean…yes, please. And I’ll try my best next time.’
‘Our best is all any of us can give. How are you faring with your duties as ship’s sorcerer?’
‘Actually, there’s not much to do. I regularly cast the detection spells Phoenix taught me, but that’s about it.’
‘Have you come up with anything?’
‘No. Nothing except the background emissions from magic that are always present. Though there’s less of that way out here, of course.’
‘Background emissions?’
‘All the magic being conjured in the world leaves a sort of residue. It’s around us all the time.’
‘And you can…sense it? How? Through these detecting spells or your own spotting talent?’
‘A bit of both, I suppose. The training Phoenix gave me heightened my natural awareness of it, and that hasn’t gone away, even though I stopped the exercises.’
‘How does it…What’s the word? How does it seem to you?’
‘That’s hard to explain. It’s a bit like…like a piece of music being played quietly in another room. Or a whiff of honeysuckle on a summer breeze.’ Kutch grinned. ‘Only it’s not really like that at all. You’d have to practice the Craft yourself to understand.’
‘Then I’ll stay ignorant.’
‘I wish you weren’t so antagonistic towards magic, Reeth. Knowing you disapprove of what I do makes me feel uncomfortable.’
‘It’s true I’d rather you weren’t doing it. I’d prefer nobody to be doing it. But in rejecting magic I’m not rejecting you, Kutch. I hope you know that.’
‘Yes, I do. But magic has benefits, Reeth. It brings so much good to people.’
‘I could argue with that.’
‘You’re a special case.’
‘Am I? What about those who can’t afford it? Or suffer because of it? Are they special cases, too? If so, there’s a hell of a lot of them.’
‘I’m not saying things are perfect. But that’s the fault of the system we live in, not the Craft.’ He held up the rapier he was still clutching. ‘It’s like this sword. It can be in the hands of a tyrant or a freedom fighter. The sword has no say in it.’
‘Pity there are so many more in the hands of tyrants then, isn’t it?’
‘You know what I mean, Reeth.’
‘Yes. Though I think the logic’s questionable. But you’re overlooking the fact that I’m letting magic aid this voyage. That shows my mind’s not totally closed, doesn’t it?’
‘It’s a start, I suppose. But I’d like to see you grant that magic can do lots of positive things.’
‘You’ll never get him to agree with that, Kutch.’ Serrah had arrived without them noticing.
‘Maybe not,’ Kutch replied, ‘but it’s worth trying.’ He stood. ‘I promised Phoenix I’d keep up with my studies, so I’d better make a start.’
‘Don’t be too late getting your head down,’ Serrah cautioned. She took his seat on the barrel.
‘I won’t. Oh, the sword.’ He made to give it back.
‘It’s yours,’ Caldason told him. ‘Get used to wearing it.’
‘Really? Thanks, Reeth.’ He sheathed it and left smiling.
When he was out of sight, Serrah said, ‘Think that’s wise?’
‘Would you go without your blade?’
‘Me? Hell, no. I’d feel naked. But he’s just a boy.’
‘I can’t remember how many different weapons I’d owned before I was his age,’ Caldason said.
‘You come from a warrior race; it was expected of you. He’s always been a bookish kid.’
‘Then it’s time he learnt to look after himself. Particularly with what’s coming. And he’s nearer man than child. Did you notice how he’s starting to argue back?’
‘He is fighting his corner more than he did. And yes, you’re right; he should be armed. For all the good it’s going to do him,’ Serrah said.
‘Do I sense a note of defeatism?’
‘You know the odds. We’ll be lucky if any of us on the Diamond Isle come out of this alive. Assuming it hasn’t already been overrun when we get back.’