“We don’t need—” Ethan started to say, intending to explain that Hwang and company’s instruments and satellite reconnaissance measurements would take them straight to the region in question without the need for a guide, when September cut him off.
“We’d be very grateful for a guide and for all your help, T’hosjer. Anyone brave enough to lead an expedition of aliens to a land of demons is someone I’d like to have riding point for me. So long as your sailors aren’t tempted to bail out if the going gets rough.”
T’hosjer drew himself up to his full height. “The sailors of Poyolavomaar will do as their Landgrave bids them, no matter their own feelings. You need not fear desertion. Stonetree will make the arrangements.” As the Landgrave turned to bark orders at his adviser September leaned over to whisper to Ethan.
“Have to watch your thoughts, young feller-me-lad. T’hosjer here’s already offered to fill out our crew. To refuse his guide, who’ll probably also serve as his personal spy on the trip, would be a bit of an insult.”
Ethan looked abashed. “I let my enthusiasm get the better of me. Sometimes I forget the Tran aren’t regular folks.”
“You’re right about that. They’re a damnsight finer than regular folks. For a salesman you ain’t much of a diplomat.”
“Sorry. They’re not always the same thing.” He sat back in his chair as T’hosjer turned his attention back to them.
“Stonetree will speak to Orun Malc-Vierg, who is marshal of our fleet. He will find volunteers from among his bravest and most experienced sailors. There is honor to be gained in traveling with you, and much to be learned. I do not think there will be trouble filling your requirements. Fleet sailors are not superstitious trappers. As for your guide, it will be someone from my own court, knowledgeable, brave, and close to me.” He turned and beckoned toward the crowd of silent courtiers.
An extremely attractive and unexpectedly young Tran female slid over on an ice path to join them, moving with leonine grace and power. By Tran standards she was even prettier than Elfa Kurdagh-Vlata, but there was nothing soft-looking about her. Her attitude as her eyes flicked over them bordered on the imperious. She was silently challenging each and every one of them to object to T’hosjer’s selection of her as guide.
“This is Grurwelk Seesfar,” said T’hosjer by way of introduction. “As a child she explored that very same distant land you seek in the company of her father, a well-known and respected explorer.” He nodded to her. “You have the honor of guiding our allies back to that region.”
“I have been listening to your conversation. Too much talk. But I am pleased that I have been chosen to assist our friends from the sky.”
“You mated?” September asked casually. “And if so will your mate be coming along also?”
She looked sharply at the giant. She had yet to blink, Ethan noted. Among the Tran the absence of a gesture could have considerable significance. Not blinking for long periods could be construed as silent defiance.
“Mated I was. Widowed I am. My mate and my father vanished during a visit to that same area you aim toward during a hunting expedition more than a year ago. Since that time I have tried and failed to find others willing to accompany me on a search for them. All the fault of these childish stories. I was preparing to go by myself, and now providence has brought you and your curiosity to Poyolavomaar. I will be glad of your company and gladder still of your aid.”
“Whoa,” said September. “You’re coming along to help us, remember?”
She ignored him as she turned her icy stare on Ethan. “I know you have strange weapons and devices, instruments capable of dealing even with demons. I know this because of what you did to destroy Rakossa the tyrant and because of what I have just overheard. If demons have imprisoned my mate and my father, you will destroy them for me!”
“We don’t know that any demons are involved,” Ethan said quietly.
“There are!” Light flashed from her nictitating membranes. “They stole away my father and my mate. I will find them and bring them back.” So saying, she spun on her chiv and skated back into the crowd without waiting politely for a formal dismissal from Landgrave. T’hos simply smiled tolerantly.
September looked at the ruler of Poyolavomaar. “Not a good idea. She talks tough and looks tough, and I’m sure she knows the area as you say, but she’s in on this because she’s after revenge on something or somebody that probably doesn’t exist.”
“She will do as she has promised to do,” T’hosjer assured him.
“She can pledge her loyalty a thousand times over. That’s not the kind of reassurance we’re after.”
“I am curious that you think no demons dwell where you are going. If not demons, what then is causing the ice there to die?”
“We don’t know that’s what’s happening there,” Ethan reminded him. “There’s a system of internal heating that—” The expression beginning to appear on the Landgrave’s face made him stop, turn, and beckon Milliken Williams.
The teacher did his best to give T’hosjer a crash course in volcanism, geophysics, and plate tectonics. It was impossible to tell how much of it made sense to the young ruler. Finally September stepped in.
“We’re searching for the cause. Whether volcanoes or demons or hot springs or whatever, we don’t know. That’s why we’re going there. Whatever it is, we’ll find it and find it fast.” He leaned back in his chair. “I have a ship to catch.” He nodded toward the crowd of courtiers which had swallowed their guide-to-be. “And I’d still prefer someone to lead the way who doesn’t have a personal, highly emotional stake in the outcome of our travels.”
“Seesfar is high-strung,” T’hosjer admitted, “but she is the only one to have traveled in the region you intend to visit.”
“That’s settled then,” Ethan said quickly before September could think of another objection. “I’m sure she’ll be a great help.”
T’hosjer T’hos rose. “I will see to it that you are provisioned with whatever you require.” Ta-hoding started to speak and Hunnar was quick to silence the greedy captain. “The additional crew you asked for will arrive at your dock no later than this evening so that you may have time to instruct them prior to your departure. Come, Stonetree. I would talk more on this matter.”
The aged retainer bowed again, holding on to his pointed staff for support. They left together.
Ethan caught September by the wrist. “You ignored your own advice. What was that you told me about accepting the offer of a guide or else we’d insult our host?”
The giant looked uneasy. “I expected someone interested in topography, not revenge. She could steer us wrong, looking for her relatives.”
“Use your head, Skua. All we have to do is listen politely to her suggestions, nod approvingly, then go where our charts and measurements tell us.”
September nodded slowly. “I hope you’re right, young feller-me-lad. What’s done is done. But I’ve seen that expression and heard that tone from humans and nonhumans alike, and I’m telling you now that if that smoky little Tran sees something she wants, she’ll use the Slanderscree and the rest of us to get it for her.”
“Ability and determination don’t necessarily go hand in hand, Skua. We’ll be able to handle her.”
“Could be.” His eyes still searched the crowd without finding the shaggy-maned head he was looking for. “Could be also that if she’s convinced demons have shanghaied her father and husband, she’ll find a way to steer us straight to hell.”
“You’ve seen the survey satellite readouts,” Ethan reminded him quietly. “What makes you think we’re not headed there already?”