“You will need hay,” said Abasio. “I’m taking my horse.”
“Ridiculous,” said the captain.
“Either he takes his horse, or I don’t go on the Daywind,” said Xulai firmly. “Then you will have broken oath.”
The captain took a deep breath and bowed slightly. “Of course, ma’am. Hay.” He should have expected this. Clan Do-Lok never did the thing expected. “Just one horse?”
“We had another, and a mule. They will be cared for here.”
“You will need a good deal of meat,” said Precious Wind. “I’m taking a dozen wolves.”
The captain grimaced and looked at Xulai, his mouth agape.
“Yes, she is,” said Xulai. “I’m taking my fisher, as well.”
The furry thing on her shoulder wiggled its nose at the captain and remarked, “Actually, if you can do some fishing en route, the wolves and I can probably do very well on fish. Fresh fish is preferable to salt meat, certainly.”
Though imperturbability was one of the requirements of command, the captain took a moment or two to admit to himself he had heard the creature speak. “Give me a day or two,” said the captain. “We didn’t plan on livestock. And, as for the wolves, do they need to be . . . caged?”
“I shouldn’t think so,” said Precious Wind. “Not so long as they don’t get really hungry.”
“About . . . sanitation?” the captain went on doggedly.
“The wolves will poop where I tell them to poop,” said Precious Wind.
“The horse likewise,” said Abasio, trying to control laughter. “Have you a poop deck?”
“I don’t poop at all,” said the fisher in melancholy tones. “For some reason, it isn’t necessary for me.” Then, seeing the four pairs of eyes fixed wonderingly on him. “Well, one likes to experience everything, doesn’t one?”
“No,” said Abasio firmly. “Fisher, there are many things you don’t want to experience. Loss, grief, pain for a start . . .”
“Weariness,” said Xulai. “Trouble, hatred . . .”
“Sending former friends into danger,” said Precious Wind. “Be content, creature. You are better off than most of us.” She turned to the captain. “Sir, aside from these unexpected quadruped guests, we will put you to no trouble. But, please, put it about in the town that you and your men are weary of waiting and have decided to return to your own country. Say nothing about anyone going with you.”
The captain frowned at her. “And how do I explain hay?”
“Say you’ve purchased a couple of fine horses to take home with you. Tell people they’ve been stabled over at the Watch House. The lady Genieve will confirm it, if anyone asks. As for whatever meat we take, it could be for the crew, and the fisher is right. Fresh fish is preferable to salt meat.”
“It’s strange,” said the captain, “but the oceans are not as salty as they were in my youth. It’s easier now to soak salt meat and make it palatable.”
They left the captain and rode back to the Watch House.
“Is it true, about the oceans not being as salty?”
Abasio nodded. “The deep waters rising had no salt in them. One could almost drink the ocean water now.”
Genieve awaited them. “When will you go?” she asked.
“A couple of days,” Precious Wind replied. “Will you come with us, Genieve? You would be welcome.”
She shook her head. “I knew you would invite me, but no. No. My people are here. My children and grandbabies live nearby. They depend upon me. I will stay with them. I think it’s likely the waters won’t come much farther, not in my lifetime, at least. I remember Justinian telling me about Tingawa. The islands are mountainous, I know, but still, they are islands. Will you find any land left there, when you return?”
Precious Wind answered. “Tingawa also extends onto the neighboring continent, ma’am. Much of that area is mountainous. The low-lying islands were being depopulated even before I left there. Those left are not so heavily populated that there would not be room for all Tingawans on the continent, if it becomes necessary.”
“Still, I will remain here with my family and my people. They were my husband’s people, and before he died, he passed his duty toward them on to me.”
“As it should be,” said Precious Wind approvingly. “Now, it may be that Bear—you met him, he brought you Justinian’s greeting here some days ago?”
“The big, angry man. Yes, he did.”
“If he returns, tell him we have gone but that another ship is coming for him from Tingawa. We cannot wait for him, but we will not abandon him or our people who are at our embassy here in Norland. Tell him to wait for us here. But do not talk to him or anyone about the ship that is leaving. Do not say we went aboard it. The captain got tired of waiting, and he left. He bought a couple of horses. You’ve been stabling them for him. He took the horses with him. Everyone in Merhaven will have heard of that before we go. Can you trust your people to stay silent about our having been here?”
Genieve nodded, saying in a serious voice, “Only Dobbich and Mrs. Bang are here just now. Both are trustworthy. And when your friend comes, he may stay here with us. I will give him the message.”
And that was all there was of it. A few nights later, the ship sailed in darkness, with no one to witness Blue’s difficulty getting through the door of one of the four little cabins opening onto the deck, now his stable. Three other cabins were for Precious Wind, for the wolves, and for Abasio and Xulai together. The wolves greeted the straw-bedded little room they were to use as a den with
