The Warrior's Tale Part 21

The Sarzana kept chanting, and his arms moved further and further apart, as if what he held was growing. His chanting grew to a shout, and the torches flared and flashed myriad colours. Overhead, hawks, eagles and other birds swooped, and the calm sea frothed and dolphins and fish leapt high. He cast his invisible burden, the 'gift' of freedom, up and out, and the torches flashed and died without ever a wisp of smoke. Above us, the formations of birds shattered, and the sea in front of the village was calm and empty.

But there wasn't any calm in the village - the beast-men had gone into a frenzy. They were ripping, tearing, shredding their clothing, until they were naked, if beasts can ever be naked.

Polillo stood next to me, and said, under her breath, 'It looks as if The Sarzana's servants maybe weren't the cheerful volunteers we thought, hmm? They look pretty d.a.m.n' ungrateful, if you ask me.'

I heard a snicker from Corais. 'Worse than a mustering-out party after a war,' she said.

I suppose I should've reprimanded them, but certainly didn't. I still remembered The Sarzana telling us about the spells he'd used to 'prepare the ground', and again when he'd told us how grateful these creatures were.

No one, beast or man, is grateful for chains, no matter how silken they are.

The wind came fresh from astern, and we had no need to row beyond the headlands. As our ships caught the first ocean rollers and bowed obeisance to the sea G.o.ds, and I smelt the clean salt air, we spied something odd. Sailing across our course, from headland to headland, was a flight of swans. They swam swiftly, white curving amid whitecaps.

'Now, there's an omen a' good,' I heard a sailor say. 'Th' voyage's bound to bring us luck an' send us home.'

I found my fingers crossing, and felt some dark hesitations that had been growing the past few days vanish.

We sailed under fair skies with favouring winds for almost two weeks, bearing south by southwest. Not only were sailing conditions good, but all of us, freshened by our time on land, were more cheerful and willing to work together, sailor as well as Guardswoman.

On the fifteenth day after leaving Tristan, we sighted the first land. I was shouted on deck just after I'd finished dinner, and was teaching some of the newer soldiers how to redo the serving on crossbow strings, and heard the halloo. Without waiting on ceremony, all of us pelted on deck, eager to see what awaited us. I'd made sure all of my Guardswomen were quietly warned of what Gamelan had been told by The Sarzana - we were sailing into hostile seas, and must be prepared for anything.

An island rose from the water ahead of us. There'd been heavy mist all that day, and we'd sailed close before the fog lifted and we saw it. The Sarzana was already on deck, on the quarterdeck with Stryker. I joined him there.

'This is one of three islands,' he told me. 'I'm not sure which, precisely, but it doesn't matter. All of them are garrisoned by the barons' forces, and their own natives are evil-natured. Our course is just as I wished.'

Then he said, 'Captain Stryker, if you will send signals to the other ships for them to a.s.semble?'

Flags fluttered, and the other "ships pulled close to hear The Sarzana's wishes. His voice was magnified magically, but it didn't have the echoing, trumpet-sound to it that such sorcery usually produces. Instead it was calm and soothing and as personal as if he stood near every man and woman. His instructions were we must bend on all sail, and pray we were not seen by anyone, least of all another ship.

I went to the taffrail and watched that humped island sink out of sight as we sailed on. Grey-green, ominous, and jungled, it did indeed look menacing.

For the next three days we sailed as if we were pursued. The Sarzana had cast wind spells to help our pa.s.sage, but, or so I was told by Captain Stryker, was afraid of casting a foul weather incantation to cover our pa.s.sage for fear his sorcery would be 'heard' by some of the baron's magicians.

The Sarzana had changed his habits. Now he kept to himself in the cabin Stryker had given up, and when he appeared on deck made it very clear by his manners that he wished no company that wasn't most important.

Islands rose in front of us, and fell away. Some were mountainous, like that first. Others were bare rocks jutting out of the crashing surf. Still others were the brightest green and, at night, we could see the sparkle of lights from villages. I wondered how long it would be before we were discovered. But we weren't.

I attempted to distract myself by studying the notes I'd taken of Gamelan's teachings. But whenever I tried to concentrate on magic, attention seemed to wane and I'd find myself yawning and losing interest. Similarly, when I tried to continue our lessons, it always seemed inconvenient either for me or for Gamelan.

I kept myself busy with exercise, and with not letting my women get as slack. I'd ordered the sergeants and officers on the other ship to keep a similar regime. The problem was finding a way to keep exercise from becoming screamingly monotonous. I set up for myself, and for anyone else interested, a midday workout climaxed with swarming up a line, knotted at intervals, that led from the deck all the way up to where the yard crossed the foremast. From there, you were supposed to swing over to a different line leading back to the deck, this one with loops every two feet, and come down it, using only your hands. Five times around that circuit, and you hurt too much to be bored.

I was slumped against the mast, panting, after my second turn on this horrible invention of mine, watching a party of sailors just below me, on the main-deck. They had a harpoon tied to a line, and were hoping to spear one of the fish that frequently surfaced just off our bows.

I saw that The Sarzana was on deck, and also had become curious and walked forward.

Sailors, I've noted, don't have much respect for anything other than each other, particularly not for landsmen, and most particularly not for landsmen of great rank, no matter how powerful they may be.

One such sailor tapped his forehead with a knuckle in as casual a salute as I'd ever seen and said, 'Lord, we're a-fishin', an' th' beasties aren't cooperatin'. They say you were a fisherman, once. Or anyways a fishin' lord an' magic-man. Would y' mind spinnin' y'r hands some and sayin' some words that'd send a few finny ones our way?'

The Sarzana looked at the sailor, and his expression was hard and cold. 'I have no time for such as that. Nor you.' Then he walked back towards the stern.

The sailors watched him go. The one who'd spoken spat over the side. 'Well now, ain't we we been told, boys. Guess t' him we're 'bout lower'n squids.h.i.t, an' we all know that's spread thin at th' bottom a' th' deeps.' been told, boys. Guess t' him we're 'bout lower'n squids.h.i.t, an' we all know that's spread thin at th' bottom a' th' deeps.'

'Wonder if he forgot his fishing spells,' another man said. 'Or, maybe, if he ever knew any. Wouldn't be the first one I've known who claimed sea-magic, but made his way with fast words and a faster way when somebody's back was turned.'

They noticed me, and fell silent. I thought about it, then put it aside. Even someone who claimed to be as interested in the common folk as The Sarzana might be ent.i.tled to an off-day when he figured the only ones who ought to be able to speak to him were heavenly beings. But still, this was a man who'd gone out of his way on Tristan to be uncommonly civil and interested in everyone's doings.

Two days later, an even odder thing occurred, although I didn't realize it at the time. I'd been standing at the taffrail after we'd eaten, wondering how in the blazes our cook had managed to turn a simple stew of salt cod, shrimp netted from the stern, limes and a scattering of vegetables into something that tasted like ocean-going paste. I heard bootsteps on the companionway rail, and saw The Sarzana come onto the quarterdeck. The man at the rudder paid him no mind, eyes intent on the star he'd been ordered to keep the ship's prow aimed towards during his watch.

We spoke idly of various things for a while. Then his expression became serious.

'Captain Antero, may I bring up something that is somewhat unpleasant, even though, the G.o.ds be praised, nothing serious came of it5' I nodded. 'You remember that attack on your legate?'

How could I forget?

'You recall, I said at the time I had no knowledge of what could have happened, whether there was some demon of the island who'd l.u.s.ted after your officer? Well, I spoke too soon, because this afternoon I was remembering the first few days after I landed, when the villagers were still permitted to speak freely to me.

'I remember there was a young maid who'd decided to be my personal bed-servant. Perhaps she was thinking of other things to come. I don't know, but certainly she would have been disappointed. A man who has had his entire world stripped away has little interest in things of the flesh. At any rate, she lingered late one evening making sure my bedclothes had been properly folded and put away. I was in another part of the building and wasn't aware she was still there.

'The Konyan officer who was my close guard came to me and said there was a distraught man outside, looking for his daughter. It was the young girl's father. We quickly found the girl, and I thought the villager would burst into tears. Instead, he slapped his daughter and told her never, ever to be up here after night fell. She ran, sobbing, from the mansion. Before her father could go after her, I stopped him and told him she was in no danger from me, certainly. I doubted any of the Konyan soldiers needed to think of rape - there were already more than enough willing maids to serve them. He said he cared neither about me, nor the soldiers. If she chose to bed one of them, that was her business. Or me, if she'd set her eyes on a great lord, he said, and I felt he would have actively encouraged such an act.

'It was the Old Man, he said. I asked him to tell me more. He said any island maiden, particularly if she was a virgin, who was out by night or, even worse, f.e.c.kless enough to sleep alone outdoors, might be approached by him. He would come to her at first in a dream, then, waking, in horrid reality. The woman he attacked would invite his embrace at first, but then, as the coupling grew fiercer and bloodier, try to fight against this monster. But there would be no hope. It would be too late. When dawn rose, all that would remain was a torn body. That was what he'd feared had happened to his daughter.

'I told the man he needn't worry - my magic was more than strong enough to protect anyone serving me. Evidently, from what almost happened to your legate, the Old Man was more than a legend.' The Sarzana's expression became rueful. 'Also, my web of spells cast around my mansion wasn't as powerful as I'd thought, especially against such elementals as that demon.'

I waited, but The Sarzana had Evidently said all he'd meant to. 'Thank you. But why,' I wondered, 'did you tell me about it now? The incident is past, and I hope Legate Corais has been able to forget about it, or at least force it to the back of her mind.'

The Sarzana looked at me queerly, then said, 'To be frank, I wished to make sure that none of my servants were still thought of as capable of such a misdeed, even though they are free now, and many leagues behind us.'

I began to say something, but thought it wiser to merely thank him for recollecting the story again, and a.s.sured him that what happened in the past would stay there.

After some more inconsequentials, he said good-night and went below.

Two nights later, we encountered the second island cl.u.s.ter The Sarzana said were his irrevocable enemies. This time the islands were bigger, and the dark green of jungle replaced by the light green of fields and orchards. From now on, he said, until we reached the open seas once more, we should travel only by night, the fleet finding deserted islets for shelter during the day, and he would chance a spell for fog banks whenever he could. We obeyed his wishes. As we sailed deeper into the cl.u.s.ter by night, it became obvious these islands were much more civilized than the first. Each island glowed from tip to tip, and often we could see solid strands of light marking lit streets.

Perhaps we should have been afraid, but I think most of the men and women on our ships shared my melancholy. Were we doomed to sail for ever in furtive darkness past settled lands like these where men and women spent their lives in peace and plenty, no matter what lord or lords held fealty over them? When would we ever see Orissa?

The Sarzana promised we would reach his islands within a week, perhaps less if the winds blew stronger. Then we'd see an end to this slinking around, as if we were so many seagoing thieves.

We prayed he was right.

Most people know what it is like to lie awake in the hours before dawn, when there is nothing but utter darkness within the soul and without. This is a time when we believe no one has ever loved us, our lives are futile struggles against nothing, and our end will be unpleasant and all we were quickly forgotten.

Such a time came to me. I've never known how to overcome such thoughts, other than to realize I've gone through this before, and shall again.

The dreary panoply pa.s.sed again - I was an incompetent woman and officer, those who claimed to follow me gladly were secretly laughing, nothing I would turn my hand to would ever prosper - the normal ghastliness. I forced myself to try to think of other things: my family, my brother, Amalric, my mother, Emilie, even the panther-woman I'd been named after. I felt the sordid images swirl, and start to vanish. I sighed, knowing the depression was pa.s.sing and I' soon be asleep.

My mind became clear, as clear as any crystal spring, as clear as any rouged gem. I thought of what The Sarzana had said the other night, and then remembered one of the best ways I had of telling which of my women might be guilty of a minor peccadillo: suspect most the one who explains the most. Then confusion dropped her cloak over me again, but I struggled against it. I remembered that sudden clarity and fought to bring it back. And gradually I won the fight. And I remembered.

I remembered the Old Man. I remembered something I'd heard, or read. Perhaps my mother might've told it to me, although I doubt I was old enough to have heard it. Maybe it was a tale another soldier had pa.s.sed along ... that was it. I'd heard it, but oddly, more than once, once from a fellow soldier, then again from an old village witch who'd a.s.sisted a patrol of mine when we'd been after bandits in the hills. Two legends, from people who came from very different places, and could never have known each other. It came clearly - the legends were not not of an Old Man, but a woman. She was called the Old Hag, and would come to a man and drain him of all his strength, and leave only a husk in the morning. No one was invulnerable, unless ... he had a sword. Bare steel would keep away or drive away the Hag. of an Old Man, but a woman. She was called the Old Hag, and would come to a man and drain him of all his strength, and leave only a husk in the morning. No one was invulnerable, unless ... he had a sword. Bare steel would keep away or drive away the Hag.

I remembered Corais saying she came awake with a sword in her hand, and knew anywhere but in barracks she slept with one beside her bed.

I wondered about the legend The Sarzana had told me so conveniently, and, more darkly, why he'd told it to me.

My mind flashed into another channel - The Sarzana's snarl when asked for a simple fishing spell, and the sailor saying perhaps he didn't know any. I thought of Gamelan's eagerness and pleasure at being able to hook a fish from under the ice, and how clumsy The Sarzana had looked wading in the surf when his dolphins were fishing for us, most unlike a man who'd grown up close to the sea.

All these thoughts were unborn foundlings compared to the next ones: from the time we'd come in sight of Tristan until we'd left, all of us had felt queerly safe, and contented. Yet we'd seen: an empty village; houses that were blood-soaked; a barracks charnel house; beast-men playing on human bones; and more.

What fools we were!

Worse, we'd met a wizard-king, who told us he'd been exiled by evil men, and all of us had instantly believed him. Of course. That made perfect sense. We all all knew of wizards who had power enough to create beings from the dead and who always used that power unselfishly. We all were familiar with kings who needed to answer to no one, and how generally benevolent they were. How could anyone dream such a sorcerer king as we met could be anything other than a saint? Of course, The Sarzana would never be the same as the Archons. knew of wizards who had power enough to create beings from the dead and who always used that power unselfishly. We all were familiar with kings who needed to answer to no one, and how generally benevolent they were. How could anyone dream such a sorcerer king as we met could be anything other than a saint? Of course, The Sarzana would never be the same as the Archons.

Fools, fools and worse.

So we'd blithely agreed to become involved, to take this man, who an entire group of island nations had driven out, and help him return to his throne.

No. We knew knew ... we ... we felt felt... we thought thought... we knew, knew, by the G.o.ds how we by the G.o.ds how we knew. knew.

I understood why The Sarzana had chosen to sail on our ship - it was the only one carrying an Evocator, no matter that he was temporarily helpless, and his apprentice. That was also why my attempts to study my magic with Gamelan since we set sail from Tristan had failed - The Sarzana didn't wish any petty magics to ruin his own great spell.

The night was red around me now, from anger as well as shame at my stupidity, at all of our imbecility.

I rolled out of my hammock, and pulled on clothing. I started towards the companionway, not sure what I intended. I set a course in my mind - I must quietly wake Gamelan and tell him what I was thinking. Maybe I was being a d.a.m.ned fool, maybe these were nothing but dark thoughts. No! This was real, not those pink happy clouds we'd been drifting through since coming on The Sarzana's island. I came back for my sword. I don't know why, but I felt I might well need it before the dawn. Just then I heard a soft cry from above decks, a thud, ropes creaking and a splash.

I went up the companionway like a bolt, blade in hand and burst on deck. All was still, all was silent once more. Up forward, I could see the two lookouts, peering out into the night. Amidships, my two guards paced their rounds back and forth, fully alert, around the area where some of my women had chosen to sleep on deck. None of them noticed me, and I realized they'd been ensorcelled.

I could see no sign of movement on the quarterdeck. No sign of the helmsman, no sign of the master's mate who should have the watch. We'd lost way, and I could tell by the s-curving of the wake no one was at the rudder.

I ran up the ladder. The man who should've been steering the ship sat against the rudder brace. His legs were splayed, and he lolled as if drunk. I smelled no wine on his breath, but he babbled in a stentorian whisper and his eyes were glazed, as if he'd drunk strong wine or gazed on horror. Sprawled just behind him, face-down, was the heavy bulk of Klisura, the ship's sailing master. His own dagger, a long sliver of steel he'd loved, was driven deeply into his back, pinning him to the deck. Behind him dangled the falls where Captain Stryker's gig should have been, just overside. They now hung to the water, and die boat was gone. I swore, then shouted loud for the Guard and the watch below.

I had a clear picture of what had happened: Klisura and the helmsman had been forced by magic to lower the boat. Somehow Klisura had found the strength to fight back, and been slain. And the killer had escaped in the boat.

I looked out, astern and on either side, where I could see the bulk of more islands, but saw no sign of the gig.

Men and women were boiling out of their sleep, both on deck and below. I went back down the ladder, paying no mind to the babble, and went straight to one cabin.

It was empty. The Sarzana was gone.

It was just then the spell broke for all of us.

Fifteen.

The Giant's Dice As YOU MIGHT YOU MIGHT imagine, the meeting that followed was grim. We'd signalled by lantern what had happened to Cholla Yi's flagship and the others and called a captain's meeting at first light. It was purely by fortune that predawn light showed a low sandspit about a quarter-mile distant. That would be ideal - the conference had to be for officers only, with no possibility of eavesdropping, since the meeting would almost certainly be acrimonious. And so it was. imagine, the meeting that followed was grim. We'd signalled by lantern what had happened to Cholla Yi's flagship and the others and called a captain's meeting at first light. It was purely by fortune that predawn light showed a low sandspit about a quarter-mile distant. That would be ideal - the conference had to be for officers only, with no possibility of eavesdropping, since the meeting would almost certainly be acrimonious. And so it was.

Each ship sent her captain and sailing master. We had to use one of the longboats, not only because of the theft of our gig, but I thought it necessary for both Corais and Polillo, in addition to Gamelan, Stryker and Duban, who'd been promoted from rowing master to Klisura's position, to be present. Duban, who I liked no better now than when he was bellowing at the oarsmen as if they were slaves, immediately had to wonder why it was necessary for three three women to go, especially when two of them ranked no higher than his mates. I didn't answer, since any explanation would've been insulting - women to go, especially when two of them ranked no higher than his mates. I didn't answer, since any explanation would've been insulting -I wanted at least two people I could trust at my back at a council with these pirates. wanted at least two people I could trust at my back at a council with these pirates.

Stryker kept muttering aloud that he couldn't believe what had happened. How in all the wet h.e.l.ls could every d.a.m.ned one of us be bound by The Sarzana's spell? Gamelan reminded Stryker he'd already seen greater sorceries - the wall that had been quickly rebuilt around Lycanth or the Archon's last spell that cast us into these strange seas.

'Th't be different,' Stryker said. 'Volcanoes ... walls ... but not somethin' like this. One of us should've seen, dammit! Seems t' me, there should've been a moment somebody, anybody could've know'd better!'

'There was such a moment,' Gamelan said quiedy. 'Captain Antero was graced with it.'

Stryker nodded sombrely. 'Guess th't's better'n nothin'. Sure makes yer wonder, what would've happened if'n n.o.body'd caught on, and we'd a just sailed right into whatever th' devil intended fer the likes of us. And I wish t' h.e.l.l she'd seen the light back on th't d.a.m.ned island.'

On the islet, the meeting broke into the predicted storm, after I'd given the details on The Sarzana's flight. Cholla Yi alternated between rage and bl.u.s.ter at how Gamelan and I had failed. I pointed out no one had exactly shown much second sight concerning The Sarzana, which made Cholla Yi's bellowing louder.

'What of it? None of us us have pretended magical abilities! None of have pretended magical abilities! None of us us spent nearly as much time in the company of that d.a.m.ned pretender as you two. None of spent nearly as much time in the company of that d.a.m.ned pretender as you two. None of us-' us-'

Gamelan interrupted: 'What you say is true, Admiral. But the past is sealed in amber. What happened, happened. It seems our time should be best spent trying to figure out what comes next.'

'Next? How can we be plan anythin',' Stryker said in his near-whisper, 'here on strange seas, knowin' we've loosed a demon? How does we know what Th' Sarzana's got in his noggin' fer us, once he lands on friendly sh.o.r.es. Won't he cast some kind'a spell so's no one'll know he escaped? Dead men have still tongues.' know he escaped? Dead men have still tongues.'

'I don't think he'll bother,' Gamelan said.

'Worse yet, then,' Duban growled. 'Wonder how long it'll take before somebody figures out how he got off Tristan and goes looking to scupper whoever cut him free?'

There were mutters from the other captains. One of them, Meduduth, burst into blind rage: 'This G.o.ds-cursed expedition is dooming us all! We should've never sailed on this b.o.o.by's task in the first place! We should've held firm at Lycanth, and demanded our gold and the h.e.l.l with what the friggin' Orissans and their d.a.m.ned pervert b.i.t.c.hes wanted!'

Steel whispered from its sheath, and Corais blurred across the sand. Meduduth yelped and leaped back, but the point of her sword was at his throat. Other hands went for their blades, and both Polillo and I had ours half-drawn.

'One more word,' Corais said tightly, 'one more, s.h.i.theel, and that shall be your last.'

'Stop!' I shouted, and Corais came to herself, and stepped back, but didn't lower her blade. 'We don't have time for any of this! The Sarzana is loose, and we loosed him. As Gamelan said, what now? Admiral? What are your suggestions?' Corais calmed, resheathed her sword and stepped back beside me. But her eyes stayed on the ship captain.

I'd deliberately turned the discussion to Cholla Yi. If he had any ability to lead, beyond his talent at chicanery and brutality, he'd best show it now. Finally, he forced composure, breathing deeply. I knew he was more angry than any of us not just because all rogues fancy themselves perfect judges of character, even though they're mostly the quickest fooled; but also because he must've been counting on The Sarzana's invitation to join his banner for loot and gold. Cholla Yi growled, and plucked at his beard, but the ruddiness faded somewhat from his cheeks, as he thought.

'I see nothing good,' he finally confessed. 'No shining strategies open before me, save one, and that I won't mention, since it's barely worth laughing at.'

'No one will laugh,' I said. 'We are all equally fools, it appears.'

'Very well,' the admiral said. 'My only thoughts are these: what are the chances of The Sarzana making it safely ash.o.r.e, to a friendly isle? If what you said is right, Captain Antero, and your suspicions sent signals to him, although I must wonder how in the h.e.l.l you, of all people, managed to slip free from his incantation; he must've fled before he planned, which suggests he might not have ended at his planned destination. Perhaps he fell on a lee sh.o.r.e, or, better, in the company of cannibals.' Cholla Yi tried, and failed, to look hopeful.

'd.a.m.ned doubtful,' one of the other captains, Kidai, put in. 'I've never known a scoundrel to do anything convenient.'

Cholla Yi nodded soberly. 'Maybe, Captain Antero, you could prepare a spell with Gamelan's help, and confirm whether or not...' his voice trailed off. 'No. Forgive me. I wasn't thinking. Even I know that'd be like lighting a beacon in a mist. Forget I spoke of that. Let's do nothing that might attract that demon's sorcerous eye.' He thought again, then brightened. 'Maybe I've put too harsh a face on things,' he said. 'Perhaps no one'll find out we loosed this scourge until we've somehow found our course back towards home.'

Gamelan shook his head. 'I wish I could sustain your hope, Admiral. But that's not very likely. We've got to a.s.sume Konya has wizards as powerful as The Sarzana, since they were able to topple him. When someone with his power suddenly reappears, there'll be many conjurations made, and all of them will be trying to find out how he broke his bonds. No, we can't a.s.sume we'll not be netted with the blame, at least not for very long.'

'Suppose we turn back now,' Polillo tried. 'Could we resupply back on Tristan, and then sail due east, towards familiar seas? Maybe sail a little to the north, in the hope we can avoid those reefs and volcanoes that blocked us, in the hope of striking familiar land, Jeypur or even Laosia, whose coast we could follow back to Orissa?'

Both Stryker and Gamelan started to say something, and Gamelan indicated the captain should speak first.