Once upon a Spring morn

or note natural landmarks to do so.” Roel nodded. “I see, and there was no marker where we crossed.”

Celeste frowned a moment and then brightened. “Ah, Roel, that works to the good. If men of the warband survived the attack-and they are most likely to have done so, since the Goblins and such followed us-they will be cautious when crossing over. Can they find one, they will fetch a Sprite to help, or rope a scout to cross over. And if we left tracks, they will most likely think we have drowned, for the Sea Eagle has borne us away.” She grinned ruefully. “And here I was fearful for them, when instead they are almost certainly mourning us.” Ensign Laval said, “But won’t that mean your brothers and sister and your parents will be in mourning, too?”

“Oh,” said Celeste, her voice falling.

“Fear not, my lady,” said Chevell. “As soon as we return to Mizon, we will send word of your survival.”

“Ah,” said Celeste, her voice rising.

With her spirits lifted, Celeste set to her meal with gusto. Roel grinned and said to Chevell, “You can report that, thanks to the Three Sisters, the Sea Eagle was at the right place at the right time, and the word of our demise premature.”

“Hear, hear,” said Second Officer Florien, his long face breaking into a smile. He raised his glass in salute.

“Aye,” said Chevell. “I ween we can also thank the Three Sisters for sending the second corsair to the bottom, yet if the map was hidden thereon-” Celeste shook her head. “Non, Captain. Although I do believe the Fates sent that serpent-for those corsairs broke an oath taken in the Sisters’ names-I do not believe the Fates would have done so if the map were aboard.”

Chevell cocked an eyebrow. “Why is that, Princess?”

“Because, Captain, somehow the Fates are tied up in this quest of ours, and Lady Skuld has given me a rede.”

“Lady Skuld!” blurted Ensign Laval. “You spoke to Lady Skuld?”

“Oui.”

Wide-eyed, Chevell looked at Celeste and said,

“Princess, you will have to tell us of this quest you and Chevalier Roel follow.”

Celeste looked at Roel and said, “ ’Tis your tale to begin, cheri.”

Roel nodded and said, “Some summers back my parents arranged a marriage for my sister, Avelaine, one she did not welcome. . ”

“. . and that was when the Goblins and such attacked, the crow flying above and calling for revenge,” concluded Celeste.

“Where is this crow now?” asked the ensign.

“Skewered,” said Roel. “I believe Captain Anton slew it with a crossbow bolt.”

“Then if it was the witch shapeshifted, she’s dead.

Right?”

Roel looked at Celeste, revelation in his eyes, and said,

“Perhaps, Laval. Perhaps. We can only hope it is true.” Again the bell sounded, this time ringing eight. Another tap came on the door, and Cabin Boy Hewitt said,

“The men are assembled adeck, My Lord Captain, and the slain await.”

“Very well, Hewitt.” Chevell stood, the other officers following suit, as did Princess Celeste and Chevalier Roel.

“Captain,” said Celeste as they moved through the door, “if you will allow, I will sing their souls into the sky.”

“Nothing would please me more, my lady,” replied Chevell.

Celeste and Roel were quartered in the first officer’s cabin, and Lieutenant Armond displaced Second Officer Florien, and he in turn displaced Ensign Laval, who then moved to share quarters with the chirurgeon, Burcet.

As Celeste and Roel lay in the narrow bunk, Roel, his voice heavy with fatigue, said, “Thank you for the sweet song, my love. It was well received.”

“The men wept,” said Celeste.

“As did I,” murmured Roel. “It is difficult to see brave men go to their grave.”

“Oui,” said Celeste, but Roel did not hear even that single word, for, exhausted, he had fallen asleep.

Moments later, Celeste followed him into slumber.

Even so, in the wee hours after mid of night, Celeste awakened to find Roel propped on one elbow and looking at her by the starlight seeping in through the porthole.

Celeste reached up and pulled him to her and whispered, “Forever, my darling, forever,” and they made love by the dark of the moon.

Yet for stolen Avelaine, but one dark of the moon remained.

13

Hazard

In the early-morning light, Captain Chevell stood on the bow of the Sea Eagle and stared at the horizon and brooded. He glanced down at the map in his hands and then called up to the lookout, “Anything, Thome?”

“Non, My Lord Captain,” called down the man in the crow’s nest. “But for Low Island, the sea is empty to the rim.”

Chevell again glanced at the chart, and then strode to the stern and said, “Gervaise, bring her to a course three points sunwise of sunup. Destin, set the sails two points counter.”

As the helmsman spun the wheel rightward, the bosun piped calls to the crew, and men haled the yardarms about. The Sea Eagle heeled over in response to the brisk breeze. As soon as she came ’round, Gervaise straightened the wheel, and the ship now cut a new course through the waves.

Lieutenant Armond stepped up from the main deck and said, “My Lord Captain, what have you in mind?” Chevell sighed. “The pirate Barlou has a long lead on us, and his ship is swift, and even though we are swifter, still he will make port ere we can o’erhaul him. Yet he sails a course to take his ship ’round the Iles de Chanson. ” Chevell tapped the map. “We have just passed Ile Basse, and so the Iles de Chanson lie along the course we now sail. If we fare through them, then we might intercept the corsair before it sails into Brados.”

“But, my lord, isn’t that a perilous course to take?”

“Oui, but it seems the only chance to seize the corsair before it reaches safe haven.”

“But, my lord, what of the legends?”

“Legends?” asked Celeste, as she and Roel stepped onto the fantail.

“Good morning, my lady,” said Chevell. He acknowledged Roel with a nod.

Roel nodded in return, and Celeste said, “Good morning, Captain, Lieutenant. And what’s this about legends?”

“Princess,” said Chevell, “in hopes of intercepting the raider, I have changed our course, and it will take us through the Islands of Song.”

“Ah,” said Celeste. “I see.”

“I don’t,” said Roel. “What are these Islands of Song?”

Celeste said, “Lore has it that Sirenes at times dwell therein.”

“Mermaids?” asked Roel.

“Oui.”

Roel turned up a hand in puzzlement.

“It’s their singing, Chevalier; they enchant men with their songs,” said Chevell.

Roel looked at Celeste, and she nodded in agreement and said, “So the stories go.”

Armond said, “It is told that the Sirenes sit on rocks and comb their long golden hair and sing, and men go mad with desire. Sailors leap overboard to be with them; ships founder; entire crews are lost to the sea, drowned in