'My name is Dri, Pazel Pathkendle. In full, Diadrelu Tammariken ap Ixhxchr. I am the leader of my people aboard Chathrand until my brother and co-commander joins us in Etherhorde. Trust me when I say that I regret these threats and suspicions.'
'I do not trust you,' said Pazel.
'Wise boy,' she said, and laughed. 'You're quite right. Don't trust. But what I say is true nonetheless. If they catch you during your mind-fit, you'll go to an asylum. Do you know what happens if they lay hold of us?'
'I know,' he said, wincing at the thought. 'But I'm not one of them. Arqual destroyed my home. I'm here to find my family, if they're still alive, and once I do I'll get us all out of this blary Empire forever, if I can. Honestly, I'm not like these people. I don't hate crawlies.'
'Ixchel!' she said sharply. 'Never use that other word. But hear me quickly, ere dawn comes. Evil is afoot, Pazel. This ship is bound for the west-to conclude a treaty of peace, they say. But in the capital some will board her with other goals, unspeakable goals, in mind. We are not even sure who they are. But they must not succeed.'
Far above on the main deck, the ship's bell tolled. Diadrelu started. 'I must go,' she said. 'We will meet again, when the ship's business in Etherhorde is done. Until then our own business is survival. Pazel, do not prove me a fool before my own people. Speak to no one of us. I do not threaten you. I beg.'
Above him, Neeps muttered, half waking. As if aware that she had stayed too long, the ixchel woman leaped suddenly past his head, and Pazel felt her climbing the hammock rope.
'Are you going to drown us?' he whispered, suddenly frightened of her leaving. 'Will you sink the ship at night, like the stories tell?'
The woman paused. 'Nonsense,' she whispered. 'How could a few ixchel sink the mightiest ship in Alifros?'
'And those evil goals, ma'am? What are they?'
Her voice came from farther away; she was climbing again. 'We have but guesses.'
'Then tell me your guesses, won't you?'
He heard no answer at first, and thought she had gone. Then her voice came once more, from somewhere across the berth deck, and faint as it was there was no mistaking the word, or her dread as she spoke it.
'War.'
From the secret journal of G. Starling Fiffengurt, Quartermaster
Imperial Mercantile Ship Extraordinaire CHATHRAND
[Reg. 4.0279/Ethrhrd]
under NILUS ROSE, by Order of His Supremacy Captain
and Final Offshore Authority
In this the year 941
Being the 28th of the reign of His Supremacy Magad V
Tuesday, 4 Vaqrin. We made good speed all the first night under a jeweler's moon, amp; the next day had merciful clear skies. Even with the headwinds tonight I will be surprised if we are six days in reaching the capital.
The old boat has never been more fit. I so stated to the captain amp; 1st mate Uskins, amp; Capt. Rose said it was not for the quartermaster to offer casual opinions about the state of the vessel. At that the grackle-mouthed Uskins smirked amp; nodded. Rose spotted him amp; fairly blew his powder, ordering the 'fatuous great fop' about his duties. I took care that my own face betrayed no satisfaction.
Of course, bad temper is no new affliction in Rose: when he commanded the Chathrand 12 years ago he flogged a man for hiccups. Yet something ails him, I think, amp; it is more than his combustible spirit. 'Tis only two days I've spent in his company, but already I sense his unease. When he came aboard with trumpets blaring, he walked up to me in front of the assembled officers amp; said the following, more or less:
'Mr. Fiffengurt. I know you wanted this captaincy, as you've served a good span of years on the Great Ship. But I have my commission in hand, double-signed by the ship's owners amp; the Emperor himself. I'm captain, and like as not you never shall be, now, for you're no spring chicken. This was probably your last chance. I advise you to chew on that unhappy fact as we cross Ellisoq Bay, and make your peace with it. And if you're not ready to serve me like any other man aboard, ship off in Etherhorde amp; seek another boat! Don't cross me, amp; don't try to curry favor with any man against me. Now give me your inventory.'
With that he snatched my logbook, opened it amp; frowned. He said my penmanship was fussy amp; womanish, amp; gave Uskins the task of log-keeper for the voyage. I tried to look unhappy, but inside I rejoiced. Thirteen years I've kept those logs: thirteen years scribbling every cough of wind amp; blush of weather amp; blotch of ringworm in the crew. Never was I free to do as I shall henceforth: record my private thoughts. Here's to you, Uskins, you sow.
Of course, private notebooks are forbidden. Every word becomes the property of the Chathrand Trading Family as soon as you commit it to paper. That is why I write only in bed, like a naughty schoolboy, amp; hide this journal in a secret place.
How surprised Rose would be to know I never wanted his post! Indeed that I should have left the sea for good last year, amp; married one sweet Annabel, amp; joined her father's little brewery on Hoopi Street, if criminals from the thrice-damned Mangel Beerworks had not burned it to the ground. Now to help that good family recover I shall be three more years at sea. By Rin, there's no evil like profit-lust. Anni's dad brewed good ales: that was his crime. On the best of days he could not have sold a tenth as much as those scheming barons of beer.
At least I can be glad of this mission-proud of it, indeed. Bless the Emperor! Bless whatever wise men there be among the Black Rags our enemies (though Rin amp; his Angel are unknown to them)! This great work of peace will outlast us all, amp; if I have children amp; grandchildren with dear Anni (it is not impossible yet; not in three years, even), they shall brag a little about their daddy's part. Bless Rose, too: the Emperor named him to this task, amp; I must trust his reasons.
Capt. Rose still frowns when he sees me. But I do not take his abuse to heart. In every task he seems twitchy amp; distracted, as if thinking of some immense amp; immediate problem, a sea full of icebergs, plague among the crew. How strange, all this worry amp; anger, when only yesterday he spoke of joining the Brotherhood of Serenity.
I do hope that man Bolutu can help him; otherwise our captain will have hard sailing toward his goal. For they say monks of the Brotherhood purge themselves of all low emotions: they do not fear, or lust, or even weep at a parent's death. Above all they do not hate. In truth I cannot think of a less probable personality than Brother Nilus Rose.
Until yesterday I might at least have called him fearless. But this morning a thing happened that I should not have believed if any man aboard swore it by the milk of the One Tree. I had just finished the survey of our new sailors amp; brought the results to the wardroom for Mr. Elkstem's inspection. When I arrived Elkstem was away, but Capt. Rose stood alone at the back of the chamber, against the bulkhead, with a clutch of maps under his arm amp; the oddest look on his face I ever saw in a ship's commander.
'Fiffengurt,' he said in a trembly voice, 'come in here.'
I did so. In the center of the wardroom table, the Lady Oggosk's pet, Sniraga, crouched on another map, looking sleepy amp; pleased with herself. She is a rascal of a cat amp; will bite you if you stroke her, but at that moment she was all sweet cream amp; purrs. Rose, however, looked at her as if at a black ship closing fast with a deck full of buccaneers. He raised his hand amp; pointed at the animal.
'That devil!' he said. 'I didn't see it come in!'
'Yes, Captain,' says I. 'Cats are a race of sneaky-boots, all right. Quiet as you please.'
'It's blary well not quiet now! What's it saying, Fiffengurt?'
I own I gaped at my own captain. 'Saying, sir? That's purring, that is. Cats do that when they're glad to see you, sir.'
'That damn bloodthirsty snaggle-fanged feline has no cause on earth to be glad to see me!' he roared. 'Or to presume to use that tone, to threaten…'
