Wolf.
'All guesses, of course. But on this last point I would stake my life: when the Red Wolf was destroyed, the spirit's last act was to mark us, that we might find one another, and join forces.'
'But what if there are more of us?' said Pazel. 'The iron ran everywhere. There's bits burned into planks, and stuck to rails, ropes, and people's shoes. It even spilled down the tonnage hatch. Don't we need to know who else is wearing a wolf scar?'
'Yes,' said Ramachni. 'There may well be more allies than we suppose. And let me warn you at once not to trust appearances.'
'Never!' said Eberzam Isiq forcefully. 'Or never again, I should say.'
'You take but half my meaning, Excellency,' said the mage. 'We gave our trust to some in error, that is true. But in this fight it would be just as costly to overlook a friend, however strange or suspect he may appear. More costly, perhaps: I fear we shall need every aid imaginable before the end.'
'Lady Oggosk is no friend of Arunis,' said Thasha. 'I still don't know if she's on our side or not, but back in Ormael she spoke a kind of password from the Lorg-or at least from the Mother Prohibitor.'
'The old women of the Lorg have their hands in far more than the affairs of one school,' said Hercуl. 'I have known some who believed they controlled the destinies of nations. But they guard their secrets like the rarest jewels, and I fear in truth they serve themselves alone.'
'How are we supposed to find these allies, whoever they are?' asked Neeps. 'And for that matter, how will we know we've found them all? We don't know how many people we're talking about.'
They looked at one another, and no one said a word. Then Thasha turned and walked back to her book.
'Erithusmй's people were Mzithrinis, right?' she asked.
'In all but name,' said Hercуl. 'The Nohirini, they were called, from the high country west of the Jomm.'
'Well then, listen to what my Polylex says under Mzithrin Kings: Superstitions.' Thasha flipped from bookmark to bookmark, scanning the diaphanous paper. At last, finding the spot, she read aloud: 'Good omens mean everything to a Mzithrini. He has dozens of holy days, scores of lucky charms and symbols. But his beliefs have room for one and only one lucky number: seven. Traditional houses have seven windows, seven lamps lit at nightfall, seven cats. Nothing important is begun except on the month's seventh day. This belief is as old as the hills, or older.'
'The book is accurate,' said Isiq. 'The Mzithrinis were adamant that the wedding-and the Great Peace-occur in Teala: on the seventh day of the seventh month, in fact.'
'You see?' said Thasha. 'I'd bet anything there are seven people aboard with wolf scars.'
'And we are just four,' said Hercуl.
'Make that five.'
Everyone jumped. Eberzam Isiq gasped aloud. Standing openly upon the bearskin rug was an ixchel woman.
'My scar is upon my breast,' she said. 'I will show it to Lady Thasha if you like.'
The two adults were speechless. Hercуl's eyes locked on the figure, and he crouched into the posture of icy stillness from which he could spring like a cat. Isiq looked around for something to throw. But Thasha and the boys rushed to her in delight, and Ramachni followed them.
'Diadrelu Tammariken,' said the mage. 'What an honor to meet you at last.'
Even after this gesture it took the men some time to reconcile themselves to the idea that they were aboard-had been aboard for months-a ship full of 'crawlies.' Yet eventually they found themselves all seated together, sipping tea from the samovar. Dri sat cross-legged in Felthrup's basket, stroking his fur.
'She was the one who saved you, really,' said Pazel to Hercуl. 'She shot Zirfet in the ankle. Otherwise you'd have gone over the edge whether Arunis liked it or not.'
'In my heart I suspected it,' said Hercуl, whose eyes had never left Diadrelu. 'Who else but an ixchel attacks so silently? But never have I heard of your people doing a kindness to our own.'
'Then you've not heard enough,' said Dri.
'Who has?' said Ramachni. 'Such a strange world, Alifros. Why are good deeds forgotten, and the fires of revenge stoked year after year?'
'No one ever forgets a burn,' said Hercуl.
'Alas, no,' said Ramachni. 'But you are wise enough not to live for its memory.'
'You did not board Chathrand to fight the Shaggat conspiracy,' said Hercуl. 'Why are you here?'
'Of that I am not permitted to speak,' said Diadrelu.
'And we are merely to trust you?'
'Come, Hercуl!' said Ramachni. 'You are addressing the Lady Diadrelu. She is no trickster but the queen of an honorable people.'
'In fact I am not,' said Diadrelu heavily.
Pazel jumped again. 'What do you mean, Dri?'
Diadrelu's eyes were downcast. 'The clan voted to annul my title and banish me from all debates, should I reveal our presence to one human more. Well, I have done so today, for I believe as you do that this evil must be stopped. They will not kill me, perhaps, but they will not follow me either. Taliktrum must lead them now, if he can.'
Her look was very grim. Then suddenly she raised her head and laughed-a lovely, musical laugh from a woman so often burdened with responsibility. 'I begged them to call me Dri,' she said. 'Just Dri, as my brother used to. Perhaps now they will listen!'
Ramachni sighed. 'At the very least I hope you will listen, Hercуl. No better friend could you have hoped for. Just think: one word to Rose from any of us and all her people will be killed. This woman trusts you not just with her life, but with those of her whole clan. Be at least as brave.'
Hercуl looked taken aback: he had never been lectured by Ramachni before. He drew a deep breath, then stood and bowed stiffly to Diadrelu.
'Forgive me, lady,' he said. 'My burns come close to blinding me. You saved my life: I am your grateful servant.'
'Be instead my comrade in arms,' said Diadrelu quietly.
'I have an even better idea,' said Eberzam Isiq. 'You five were chosen by the Red Wolf. I was not, though of course I will fight at your side. Whatever that spirit's reasons, you must honor its choice. You're all younger than I. Heed the instinct of an old campaigner. Swear an oath.'
'What would you have us swear to, Admiral?' said Diadrelu.
Isiq began to speak-then held his tongue. His gaze swung from one face to another. He put out a hand and touched the silver chain peeking innocently from beneath the bandage on Thasha's neck, then shook his head in anger.
'It is not for me to tell you,' he said. 'My life has gone to glorify a lie. My Emperor is exposed as a villain; my doctor and oldest friend is his accomplice. The woman to whom I swore love has tried to kill me. Arqual stands for nothing, save plunder and the sword. All my faith has been in vain.'
'Not all,' said Ramachni. 'Indeed, your faith is all that remains to you, Excellency. Can you not see it in these faces around you?'
'I see the faces of those I have wronged,' said Isiq. 'You tell them what to swear to, mage. And what to swear by.'
'I would merely repeat the words you have just said in your heart.'
Isiq looked up, startled, and met Ramachni's motionless gaze. After a moment he took a deep breath, walked to the gallery windows and lifted a curtain. Sunlight fell on his face.
'Swear on yourselves,' he said. 'That's all that occurs to me. Swear that no tie of nation or blood or belief will divide you, that you renounce them all for one another. Swear on the unity we have right now, for in days ahead I fear it will be tested.'
They stood still, looking at one another. Blood? thought Pazel, as visions of his mother and Neda flashed before his eyes. But then he thought of Diadrelu. Yes, blood especially.
He stepped forward, feeling very young. He raised his scarred hand. 'I'll swear to that,' he said. 'On my life, and yours.'
As soon as he had spoken Diadrelu leaped upon the back of Isiq's reading chair. She placed her hand over her
