The Warrior's Tale Part 6

Gamelan stared at the box, his concentration total. His yellow eyes glowed like the sun, and the whole room seemed to be lit by the inner light spilling out. I heard gasps as a low humming noise began to vibrate the box. Then the box itself glowed. The compa.s.s needle jolted. It spun wildly about, once, twice, then as it whirled for the third time, it froze in mid-gyration, as if a hand had stopped it.

Gamelan drew back. The light faded from his eyes until they were merely that odd yellow. He wiped sweat from his brow, then pointed at the compa.s.s's arrow. It was quivering, as if ready to move on.

'Follow that,' Gamelan said, 'and we will find our enemy.' The compa.s.s pointed due west.

I'm not certain what transpired next. Cholla Yi spoke to me, and I answered whatever question he asked. But everything seemed very dim to me - far away. I found myself staring at the compa.s.s needle and vast expanse of the map.

I could see all the familiar places. Here was Tros, a rich city my family had traded with for generations; then Savia, renowned for its wines; Thurgan, masters of fine blades; and Luangu, with its famous cattle-pens that ladder the sh.o.r.e for miles. Beyond was Jeypur, a barbaric coastal port, where caravans spill in daily, carrying silks and spices and magical rarities from places that would only exist in legend, if we did not know them from their goods; next was Laosia, where the J'hana family controls the market in ivory and that beautiful black wood that's so hard it can turn aside steel.

On the opposite coast, I saw Redond, and then the nearly impa.s.sable mountains of the kingdom of Valaroi that girdle the sh.o.r.e; across those mountains is the great desert where wild tribes of hors.e.m.e.n rage. We know them only for their rich carpets and sweet-smelling oils that we burn in our lamps on festive occasions. Still further west was Tiger Bay, named not for the beasts, but for the colour and markings of the gems of the sh.e.l.lfish that dwell there and are collected to make the finest fire beads. I knew all those places well, as does any Orissan schoolchild. But past that point, beyond the Jasmine Islands, the Coral Sea, the Ginger River, and the Lemon Coast - all was unknown.

There is an exhilarating moment, my brother has often said, when all journeys begin in earnest. Before that moment all is foolish speculation; afterwards, the journey lapses into mere progress to be marked each day. My brother is a man to be listened to about such things, for there is no one in our history who has travelled farther; although now I may rival him.

It was that day in Cholla Yi's stateroom when my adventures truly began. At that instant I knew for certain that before I was through I would see for myself the places on that map. My eyes were drawn to the edge, where all beyond was unknown. And it came to me I would see those those places as well. I was not frightened by this vision, Scribe. And as I have promised absolute truth, I must confess that for a short time I had no thought of the Archon and the threat he represented. Instead, places as well. I was not frightened by this vision, Scribe. And as I have promised absolute truth, I must confess that for a short time I had no thought of the Archon and the threat he represented. Instead, I was filled with a great yearning. I wanted to know, I had had to know the answer to the riddle the map posed - which was, to know the answer to the riddle the map posed - which was, what lies beyond? what lies beyond?

For the first time I understood the blessing - and the curse - of seekers like Janos Greycloak, and yes, my brother, although he will not as yet admit it.

Confused by the realization of a new side of me - a side I had never expected to exist -I looked at Gamelan. I could not see him clearly for a moment: a shadow seemed to fall between us. It was a familiar shadow, and I smelled a familiar scent. I thought I heard a woman whisper. I shook my head and my vision cleared as the shadow was swept away. I saw that Cholla Yi and Phocas were absorbed in planning. But the old wizard was watching me intently. looked at Gamelan. I could not see him clearly for a moment: a shadow seemed to fall between us. It was a familiar shadow, and I smelled a familiar scent. I thought I heard a woman whisper. I shook my head and my vision cleared as the shadow was swept away. I saw that Cholla Yi and Phocas were absorbed in planning. But the old wizard was watching me intently.

'You had a vision?' Gamelan asked.

I shook my head, no. But there was a smell of sandalwood in the room, and I knew I'd lied.

We sailed after the Archon, always keeping close watch on the magical compa.s.s. When it veered, we changed course. When it came back to the heading, we aped the motion. We didn't know if the changes were made because our enemy knew we were on his heel, or if it was only the vagaries of his flight. But none doubted the chase was for real. The Archon was out there - that was certain; a few leagues, or a few days ahead.

The excitement of the chase waned as one day bled into the next, and we got down to the routine of our new lives at sea.

As time pa.s.sed, I slowly realized these ships were to be our new battlefield and I knew as little about them as I would, say, about fighting on ice. I set out to become expert, then to see to it my women became the same. Any hour or day - if Te-Date pleases - we might sight the Archon's ships. I found the most boring man aboard ship, who carried the t.i.tle of master's mate, which I soon found meant he was a seagoing version of a quartermaster. Except where a quartermaster could send you to sleep prattling about tent ropes and kettles, this man had the opportunity to natter about anything, from ropes to cuda.s.ses, everything, in fact, except the salt water around us.

For those who wish to know a bit about the world we found ourselves in, the world we would spend far too long in, some of us the remainder of our lives in fact, here are some details: Our galleys were of the type known as 'long runners', and were intended, the mate told me pridefully, for anything from going up a river to harrying and conquering a merchant vessel, to raiding a seaport, to making long sea pa.s.sages out of sight of land. 'Course,' he confessed, which we'd already found out, 'bein' shallow draft the ship rolls a bit in any sort of wind or seaway. Matter of fact, a long runner'll pitch some tied up to a dock, which is why any good galleyman had best have a solid-cast stomach. Or else not need to hold vittles down longer'n the next wave.' For some reason, men seem to find the cramps of seasickness hilariously funny, but only if it's shown by someone else. Corais wondered if they'd find the sensation so risible if they underwent something much the same every twenty-eight days as we did. But I made no response to the mate's chortles.

Each galley was about one hundred feet long, and twenty feet wide. It drew only about three feet of water, which accounted for what the mate called its liveliness. There were three officers to each ship, the master, sailing master and rowing master. Under them were other men, also called mates, but they were not considered officers, but rather like our sergeants. Mate was also the t.i.tle given the ship's artisans, such as carpenter, sailmaker and so on. Each galley was crewed by fifty rowers, who also doubled as seamen when the captain shouted for all hands to turn to. There were, in addition, fifteen able seamen, who considered themselves elite, and wouldn't touch an oar if the ship was being driven onto the rocks. Almost any number of soldiers could be carried for a day or so, but under normal peacetime conditions (which I knew meant for Cholla Yi piracy) some twenty-five marines - soldiers with a modic.u.m of sailor's training - would be on board as a shock force.

Each galley had a weather, or main-deck, which was open, and a deck below for sleeping and for bad weather. It took very very rough seas to go below, since this deck was dark and cramped. Anyone over five feet walked in a stoop, or rang her skull against the deck overhead like it was a bell. We slept in hammocks, which were taken down each day and stowed, then hung each night wherever we chose, which was on deck for the most part. The upper deck could be shaded in hot weather under canvas awnings, and it was most pleasant to loll under such a brighdy striped tent when the sea breezes blew, and required real effort to get up and go through yet another set of exercises or sword- or spear-drill. rough seas to go below, since this deck was dark and cramped. Anyone over five feet walked in a stoop, or rang her skull against the deck overhead like it was a bell. We slept in hammocks, which were taken down each day and stowed, then hung each night wherever we chose, which was on deck for the most part. The upper deck could be shaded in hot weather under canvas awnings, and it was most pleasant to loll under such a brighdy striped tent when the sea breezes blew, and required real effort to get up and go through yet another set of exercises or sword- or spear-drill.

Up forward, above the knife-bow, was a raised deck, from which an attack would be launched in battle. In the stowage s.p.a.ces under it were weapons, spare sails, ropes, barrels of water and rations, and the like.

At the stern was another raised deck, the quarterdeck. From here the galley was commanded and steered with a long tiller, connected to the rudder along one side. Under this deck was the one bit of luxury the galley had - separate cabins for the ship's officers.

A-long, narrow deck, about three feet wide ran just above the weather deck fore and aft and connected the two raised decks. This was called a storming bridge, and served not only as a pa.s.sageway when seas broke over the main deck, but to strengthen the hull.

Each galley had two masts and a lateen sail on each, which was how the ship normally moved. In the face of a wind, or when speed was required, the sails would be lowered and the oars manned.

For cooking, there was a sanded built-up area on the lower deck. One man cooked, in great kettles, whatever was to be eaten, then these roughly cooked viands were handed out to 'messes', for further distribution. Each mess comprised ten sailors, whose utensils and plates were kept in a chest, along with whatever condiments they'd chosen to purchase from their own pockets. A sailor was free to join -or quit - a mess, just as his messmates had equal freedom to accept or reject him.

For a jakes, there was a framework pushed out over the stern when someone had the need. For bathing-well, as the mate said, 'A sharp bow means speed, but you'll think you're swimming half the time.'

That was all. Each galley was exactly as it appeared - a machine dedicated for only two purposes - speed and war. Everything else had been discarded. I spent time walking, and then drawing the ship, until I knew its every dimension without thinking. Then I began studying another aspect - how this ship was sailed and brought into battle. And that was a study that lasted until the end of the voyage.

I a.s.sembled my officers, and we began discussing how battle should be joined from these galleys. Cholla Yi and one of his marine officers gave a speech, not that there was much to be learned. A sea battle was fought as if each ship were a wagon full of infantry, attacking other wagons, or perhaps a better image would be a group of small enemy forts, each surrounded by a swamp. First we would wreak as much damage as possible while we closed with our enemy, using spears, catapults, magic if there were Evocators aboard, and other weapons. Then we would close with our opponent and, at a signal, our Guardswomen would leap onto his ship, and attempt to slay all his soldiers. One side or another would triumph, the winners would have the ship if it were undamaged enough to be afloat, and the losers would be dinner for the sharks that even now trailed in our wake.

There were subtleties subtleties , from ramming to the crow's-beak to boarding nets, all of which I'll explain when necessary. But, basically, there was not much difference between storming a castle, and storming a ship. Infantry was infantry, whether on land or sea. castle, and storming a ship. Infantry was infantry, whether on land or sea.

Corais and I quietly discussed afterwards what we had learned. To both of us, it seemed there was something missing, something wrong. This style of battle had all the subdety of two blindfolded drunkards with clubs in a small room. There must be something more, or another way. But neither of us had any ideas then.

We were right, but that, too, is part of my story to learn in the telling.

If it weren't for the piratical looks of the crew, and my soldiers at constant hard practice with their arms, our voyage would have appeared as a pleasure jaunt to any outside observer. The seas were sparkling, the air alternately bracing and languid, the days all clear blue skies, and the nights as starlit as the most romantic dream. Fast winds made the rowing easy and the days pleasantly long. We neither gained, nor lost ground to our foe, and it soon became apparent the fight was a duel of wills between the pursuer and the pursued. And whoever made the first mistake would lose. Even Gamelan and the Archon had lapsed into a truce in their magical fight. It had proved pointless, with every spell cast being countered by the other - and at such distances no one even had the diversion of watching a magical show. Both wizards had apparently decided to save their energies for a close-up battle. Gamelan, however, stayed alert for a surprise attack-and he a.s.sured me the Archon was doing the same. We believed, however, we held the edge, because not only did we outnumber Symeon and the Archon in both ships and soldiers, we knew we were much better supplied; and that the day would soon come when they would be forced to stop for water, or food.

Among my women, morale was better than I could have hoped. Those who longed for home and lovers and family, were caught up by all the new things they saw, and the new skills they learned. Friends became faster friends, new lovers were found for those who were seeking them, and beds remained chaste and untroubled for those who could make love's memory suffice. Among the most trusted members of my staff, Ismet continued to keep her own company, which she preferred; Corais played the field in the smooth way she had of keeping dalliances to nothing more than a lovely tickle, no harm done, no promises expected, or made; while Polillo fell in huge sighing love with a little blonde legate, Neustria, who stirred her to white heat by playing coy, then satisfying her in a memorable two-day tryst filled with much mooning, and thrashing about wherever they could find privacy, and finally a glorious fight where each swore they had never been such a fool as to fall for the other. Polillo was as happy as I'd seen her since she cut two Lycanthian throats in the s.p.a.ce of five minutes. As for me, I do not dally where I command. And even if I did, Tries would have come between me and any woman of my fascination.

So the seas remained friendly for many a day, each morning brought an empty horizon that beckoned us onward, and each night fell to a gloriously red sun the sailors claimed was the G.o.ds' promise of an equally pleasant tomorrow.

Six.

The Wizard's Tale As THE DAYS THE DAYS drew on, I found myself more and more in the company of Gamelan. At first I was quite uncomfortable, for I still harboured bitterness against the Evocators for their part in the murder of my brother Halab. True, Amalric made peace with the wizards of Orissa, and freed us all from the tyranny of magic with the gift of knowledge he brought back from the Far Kingdoms. But I had not, and doubt I ever would have if it hadn't been for Gamelan. I am not one who easily forgives, especially when blood has been shed. drew on, I found myself more and more in the company of Gamelan. At first I was quite uncomfortable, for I still harboured bitterness against the Evocators for their part in the murder of my brother Halab. True, Amalric made peace with the wizards of Orissa, and freed us all from the tyranny of magic with the gift of knowledge he brought back from the Far Kingdoms. But I had not, and doubt I ever would have if it hadn't been for Gamelan. I am not one who easily forgives, especially when blood has been shed.

But that began to change the day we sighted the floating field of ice. It's rare to see such things in die Western Ocean, but sometimes, travellers say, currents pull them from their home in the frozen south, and turn them into these seas. It was an enormous thing, perhaps the size of a farm village. It was peaked and jagged, with a great pink cavern bored in one side by the warm waters. We all marvelled, and a party ventured to it in a small boat and returned with a big chunk of pink ice. I put some of it in a cup of wine and it fizzled and bubbled mostpleasandy.

As our ship pa.s.sed, I strolled along the deck, to study the ice field. I was so absorbed I almost bowled over Gamelan, who was busy doing something at the rail. After we'd made apologies for mutual clumsiness, I saw two large buckets of seawater with several fat fish inside. In his hand, Gamelan had a strong line with several nasty hooks attached. The wizard ducked his head when I saw them, but continued baiting the hooks.

I laughed. 'You, a fisherman? And a fair one at that! I'd have thought that when wizards fished - and it never occurred to me they might - they'd cast a spell on the sea. Or dump some evil podon in the water to kill the fish.'

'As an acolyte,' Gamelan replied, 'I was taught the first rule of magic is never to use it unnecessarily.'

'Eating is necessary,' I pointed out. is necessary,' I pointed out.

Gamelan actually blushed. Even with his long white beard and gnarly features, he looked definitely boyish. And if I had any inclination of mothering - which I definitely do not, to Tries's great anger - I'd have clutched him to my bosom. Then he shrugged. 'I wouldn't want this generally known.' he said, 'but I enjoy fishing. If truth be known, I was once a fisherman. My family always said that when I grew, I would be the finest fisherman in all Orissa.'

I was as astounded as if he'd plucked a demon from his sleeve and called it 'Sister, dear'. 'A fisherman? You?'

He smiled and cast his line. 'Is it really so strange?' he asked. 'I come from a place, like anyone else - complete with both sets of parents and a family.'

'But how does a fisherman become a wizard? Much less Chief Evocator of all Orissa?'

He was silent for a long time. I watched him let his line play near the ice field. Then he said: 'My watery friends have taken refuge under there. As soon as I saw it, I knew the fishing would be good.'

I let him shift the subject. It was apparent he had become uncomfortable. I said: 'I'd have thought the cold would have driven them away.'

'I've no experience with ice,' Gamelan answered. 'But when I saw the ice field, it came to me that a fish would be happy under there. Not only for hiding, but for eating. Don't ask me how I knew this. I just did.'

'Magic?' I pressed.

'Oh, no. It's just that I... suddenly thought like a fish. And I knew I liked it under there.'

His line jerked, once, twice. In less time than it takes to draw a breath, he was fighting to pull it in. I almost reached in to help him, but he looked so capable, his hands sure and strong as he played the line, that I held back. A few minutes later there was an enormous fish gasping its last on the deck.

'You see?' Gamelan said.

'I never argue with dinner,' I answered.

'In that case,' he said, 'why don't you join me this evening? I promise you will dine well.'

I accepted, knowing there was more to the invitation than eating. Later that night I crowded into the little s.p.a.ce the ship's carpenter had abandoned to make way for the Evocator's necessities. The cabin was full of all kinds of strange devices, illuminated books, vials, jars and pouches of mysterious things. But the smell of the fish cooking over a small brazier overpowered my curiosity. I was ravenous. We tucked into the food with no preamble.

When we were done, I loosened my belt, and sighed. 'If you were to tell me in a previous life you were the head cook for the richest family in Orissa, I'd not doubt it for a minute.' I picked a final bit of meat from the backbone. 'I'm learning you are a man of many talents, wizard.'

Gamelan laughed. 'The cooking was was by magic,' he confessed. 'I have a little demon I lured from some magician's kitchen. A copper pincher, apparently. My bargain with the demon is to provide him with as much as he can hold, and he cooks in return.' by magic,' he confessed. 'I have a little demon I lured from some magician's kitchen. A copper pincher, apparently. My bargain with the demon is to provide him with as much as he can hold, and he cooks in return.'

'I thought magic was supposed to be used only for important things,' I teased.

Gamelan grinned through his beard. 'Eating is is important,' he said. important,' he said.

I hoisted a bottle of brandy I'd brought along. 'If you fetch me two cups,' I said, 'we'll partake of another kind of spirit. After a drink or two, perhaps you won't be so shy about your fisherman's beginnings.'

'I wasn't being shy,' he said, but he got the cups just the same and I filled them up. We drank. 'Actually,' Gamelan said after the first jolt had settled and he'd mated it with another sip, 'I thought my tale would best be told in a quieter moment. For I believe it has some bearing on your own circ.u.mstances.'

I was surprised. 'Me? In what way?'

'You have the Gift,' he said, flatly.

'That's nonsense,' I said, a bit angry. I didn't have to ask what he meant. 'My gifts are physical, and hard won at that.'

'Deny it all you like, Rali,' Gamelan answered. 'I know it to be true. Remember casting the bones in Jinnah's tent? Also, it was more than fighting skills and good fortune that allowed you to kill one Archon and put another to flight. I tell you, no ordinary person could have -accomplished it.'

'I don't even like like wizards,' I said, still hot. 'Present company included, if the talk keeps shifting this way.' wizards,' I said, still hot. 'Present company included, if the talk keeps shifting this way.'

Gamelan took no offence. 'Your brother, Halab, had the Gift. Do you deny that?'

I couldn't. According to Amalric, if Halab had been allowed to live, he might have been one of the greatest Evocators in our people's history. But the Evocators, before Amalric tamed them, were jealous of his power and made certain he failed a deadly test of his skills.

'He was the only one in my family,' I said.

'Really?' Gamelan pressed. 'I sensed a small talent in Amalric himself. So there's another.'

I gave a violent shake of my head. 'I don't believe it. Besides, if it's so common in the Antero family, why haven't there been others in the past? Others as strong as Halab?'

'Are you certain there haven't?'

'Of course I am. No one in my father's-'

Gamelan broke in. 'I know that. But what of your mother and her family?'

I was silent. There had always been something about my mother. Sometimes she seemed as if she lived slightly apart from us all. Almost if she were on a... higher level? As for her family, she rarely spoke of the folk she came from in that small village where she'd met and been wooed by my father.

'I don't know,' I finally admitted. But my voice was so low, I could hardly hear it myself.

'But I do,' Gamelan said. 'That's why my brother wizards were so wary of your family. I cast spells once, and learned your grandmother was a famous witch, well known in the villages around her, as was her mother before her.'

I accepted his statement as truth. Why would he lie? But I didn't like it.

'Still,' I said. 'That doesn't mean I was so cursed.'

'It will will be a curse,' Gamelan answered, 'If you continue to fight it. Only tragedy can come from your present course. And I do not mean only for yourself. But for others around you.' be a curse,' Gamelan answered, 'If you continue to fight it. Only tragedy can come from your present course. And I do not mean only for yourself. But for others around you.'

I did not answer. My temper was a blade's breadth from snapping, and I was full of confusion and dread. I drained my cup and filled it with brandy again.

'Now, you should hear my story,' Gamelan said. 'For you should know the man you see is not the man I desired with all my heart to be.'

I drank ... and listened.

'I was born on a fishing boat,' he began. 'All my family were fisherfolk. They'd fished our blessed river from the time when Orissa was only a village.'

I knew the kind of people he meant. They spent all their lives on the river, only coming in to repair their boats, sell their fish, and take on supplies. At night, they tied their boats close so they were like small towns, going from one to another as easily as from house to house. Sometimes, late, I'd heard them laughing, and the strains of the music they favoured. They always seemed so free of care that on certain evenings I longed to join them, to abandon the city for the river.

'The river is in our blood,' Gamelan continued. 'No. It is is our blood. The river bears us up, and carries us away from our troubles. It is our food, our drink. Our ... everything. And a river is always so full of mysteries .... dangerous mysteries at times... that one can never be bored. What is in its depths can never be completely known. It was that life to which I was born. It was that life I desired above all else. And do so to this day.' our blood. The river bears us up, and carries us away from our troubles. It is our food, our drink. Our ... everything. And a river is always so full of mysteries .... dangerous mysteries at times... that one can never be bored. What is in its depths can never be completely known. It was that life to which I was born. It was that life I desired above all else. And do so to this day.'

He drank, yellow eyes turned inward. 'But I had the Talent,' he said. 'No one really noticed at first. But from the time when I was very small, if I touched the most hideously fouled net, the tangles would fall away, and the net would be as good as if it were newly made. There were other signs, small at first. My family and friends learned if they lost an object, they only had to ask and I could instantly go to it. Sometimes, when I had a childish tantrum, the fire in the hearth would rise most frighteningly. Objects would be hurled about, with no visible hand to throw them. Gla.s.s would shatter for no reason. And there might be pounding... knocking... on the bottom of the hull as if there were a man there, signalling.'

'There, you see!' I blurted. 'Nothing like that has ever happened to me! So, I'm an ordinary mortal after all.'

Gamelan paid no mind, but went on. At first his family was proud -especially when they found he could heal small wounds with a touch. His odd gift, plus his budding skills as a fisherman who always returned with a catch, and could lead others to rich grounds during difficult times, made them the envy of their friends and relations. At eighteen summers his future was a.s.sured. His father was about to give him his first boat, and everyone agreed Gamelan would someday be their leader. Then he fell in love.

'I remember Riana as the most beautiful young woman who had ever graced a man's dreams. We believed there never could have been such lovers as us, and swore to all who would listen that the G.o.ds, when they made us, had decreed neither of us would be whole unless we were joined for ever.'

I refilled our cups as he reflected. Then he said: 'I suppose most people would say we were only suffering the symptoms of our fevered age. But I do not think so. I do not think so. However, it soon became plain the G.o.ds lied. They had other plans.'

I thought of my long-dead Otara, and almost wept when I remembered what it was like to love and be loved so completely.

'One day we witnessed an accident. A young city woman, pleasure-boating with her family, let her arm dangle in the water while the fool who steered their craft ran too close to a merchant ship. Her arm was ripped away. My boat was the first to answer her screams. I recall the horror and pain in her face as the blood gushed. She cried out to me: 'But I'm only sixteen.' I saw the severed arm lying next to her and I s.n.a.t.c.hed it up and pressed it against the stump. Then I prayed, oh, how I prayed. I don't know to whom, but all I could think of was that poor girl whose life was ebbing away. I heard a shout, then a cry from her, and I opened my eyes and saw she was whole again. The arm had been reattached and was as good as it had been moments before. Her family and companions praised me and tried to get my name. I was so shaken by the miracle I became frightened and leaped into my boat and fled as fast as the sail would take me.'

A few days later, Gamelan met his first wizard.

'For a boy with his head full of silly notions, he was quite disappointing,' Gamelan said. 'I'd expected a fellow who looks much as I do now. Old. Bearded. With eyes that would freeze an oxen in his path.'

I glanced at Gamelan's strange yellow eyes. Just now, they were as kindly and warm as a kitchen fire.

Gamelan caught my look. 'They can get meaner,' he said.

I laughed, then eased back. The tale he spun was so intriguing, I forgot my own worries.