extended them forward briefly, brushing the sorcerer's cheek.
'That is a kiss one would give to a brother,' Kelric grumbled. 'Remember, in a fortnight you will wish to see again how fares your heartthrob on the battlefield. And before I perform, you must have a clear account for what you have learned tonight.'
'But I found out nothing of what I wanted,' Umbriel said. 'I heard but a snatch of conversation and then you were done.'
'You know that he is safe,' Kelric replied. 'That alone is worth the price.'
Umbriel sighed a second time and took another step forward. Kelric reached out and swept her into his bony arms. He thrust his lips on hers. With surprising strength, he resisted her attempts to push away his chest. After a moment, he released his grip, and she staggered backwards, face flushed and panting deeply. 'That is more to my liking,' he cackled. 'And perhaps in time you will learn to enjoy it as well.'
'Never,' Umbriel choked. 'I was weak with worry because I have not heard. For no other reason would I seek your service or agree to what you demand for it.'
'Never is a long time,' Kelric said. 'And you will come again, I know it.' His eyes widened and he stared at the woman. 'And perhaps the next time you will not find me so repugnant.'
Umbriel shuddered and then bolted for the door. She raced between Aeriel and Alodar and was in the hallway before Kelric's raspy laugh echoed after.
'It is unkind to treat her so, Kelric,' Aeriel said. 'She has done you no harm.'
'Nor has she shown any favor,' the sorcerer snapped back. 'We had a fair agreement, and she was obligated to hold to her end of it.' He waved his arm in irritation. 'She is like the rest, choosing to ignore me until the need is great, and then expecting my gracious acceptance of a mind-numbing task for a mere pittance of fee. If she does not show me a little tenderness, then our relation will be governed instead by fear.'
Aeriel pulled her lips into a tight line. 'The queen is judged by the court she keeps,' she said. 'There may come a day when shortcomings of your craft outweigh the advantages you provide to the crown.'
Kelric laughed again. 'You are in fine spirits tonight, Aeriel,' he said. He ran his hand across his bare chest and leered at her figure. 'But I am most happy that you choose to see me at this hour. It must mean only that you have come to surrender your virtue for the sake of my person only, not for some service that I would provide in trade.'
'I come as always on the affairs of the fair lady,' Aeriel said. 'If you instruct Alodar here in the manner of your craft, then the safety of the queen will be greatly augmented.'
Kelric turned to look at Alodar and wrinkled his brow in recognition. 'I have dismissed him already, and the matter is closed. Come now, let me see at least some of what lies underneath that silken gown.'
'Your talk is far worse than your deed, Kelric,' Aeriel said. 'My request has royal authority behind it; you cannot dismiss the matter so lightly.'
'Then perhaps an illusion for just the three of us? The young man here would be as interested as I in how you might look unclothed.'
'You have no basis on which to paint such an image,' Aeriel said coldly. 'It would not bother me if you did try.'
Kelric stomped his foot in frustration and looked around the room for a robe to cover his bony frame. 'Oh very well, Aeriel. This meeting will be for business, the same as always, but one of these times I will loose my control and then who can say what might happen?' He opened his eyes wide and stared at Aeriel as he had done at Umbriel, but Aeriel did not turn away.
Kelric sighed in final defeat and turned to some chairs stacked in the corner of the small chamber. As he arranged them for sitting, he continued the conversation over his shoulder. 'It is a sorcerer's eye, Aeriel,' he said. 'Most rare and powerful, I do admit. I have heard of it only from others who long ago used the last of their vital forces in our craft. And they had heard from older ones still. None of us have had the opportunity to see if what is reputed of it can actually be true.'
He finished positioning the chairs to his satisfaction and motioned for Aeriel and Alodar to join him in the small circle. 'Great enchantments, it is said, come from the holder of the eye. Nearly instantaneous and subtle, like the ones talked of in the sagas. But enchantments I risk no more, my lady. Even a single one would more than deplete what remains of my life force.'
'You are far craftier than you lead us to believe,' Aeriel said. 'You bemoan the loss of your powers and that you must carefully husband what meager resources remain. Yet for a single embrace, you search all the way to the west for a lovesick maiden.'
'It is true, nonetheless,' Kelric protested. 'And the few kisses and squeezes I receive for what remains are far more valuable than whatever pile of jewels the queen could heap upon me.'
'You would not have to use the eye,' Alodar interrupted. 'I am willing to take whatever risk is involved. I want from you only the instruction that will make it possible for me to do so.'
'But then, Vendora sails tomorrow across the sea,' Kelric said. 'There is too little time remaining for me to explain something as potent as this. Any execution must be built upon a firm foundation of well-learned fundamentals.'
'With lady Aeriel's help, I can come as well,' Alodar suggested. 'You can teach me during the voyage.'
'Then there is the matter of payment,' Kelric said, his face brightening as he looked at Aeriel. 'What do you offer me in exchange, my lady?'
'You know the peril which now threatens the queen,' Aeriel replied. 'And I know as well that, beneath the threats and leers, there is the man who still has loyalty to the crown. Loyalty for providing him with bed, food, and protection, regardless of the howls of the ones he had outraged by his actions. It is not a question of payment, Kelric, but one of duty.'
Kelric sighed and lowered his head to his chest. For a long moment the room was silent. 'Very well,' he said at last. 'We will begin instruction when we are out to sea and the routine of the voyage has been established.'
Aeriel rose and kissed Kelric gently on the forehead. 'And your secret is still safe with me.' She laughed. 'It would spoil your image if anyone knew that a sorcerer's heart was not constructed entirely of stone.' She turned to Alodar and extended her hand. 'Come,' she said, 'tell me if it is to Feston or Basil you would rather belong, and I will see that the arrangements are made.'
Alodar stood and grasped her hand in his. 'To neither. I want no more than to be a member of Quantos' marines.'
Aeriel's smile broadened. 'Quantos, of course, she said as she looked Alodar in the eye. 'It is the right choice for one who is truly worthy.'
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
The Power of the Eye
ALODAR steadied himself with a hand on the ship's rail as the deck rolled beneath his feet. The events of the past two days crowded together in a jumble. Along with the marines, sailors, clerks, heralds, and other functionaries of the court, he had been rumbled onto the giant flagship of state that now beat east in the middle of a royal fleet. The details of bunkspace, battlestation, and the protocols of life aboard ship had occupied all of his time, but soon enough he hoped to see the sorcerer and learn the secrets of the eye.
'An ill-tempered decision to be sure,' muttered the leather-faced man on Alodar's left, as they leaned against the rail of the poop deck and squinted into the grayness which surrounded them. 'A full complement of officers, rowers and marines stood at the ready for the queen's command. But before we embarked, the courtiers descended upon us, adding two to every one on board. And to what effect. Those silk-armed dandies will be of little value if indeed we do stumble across some privateer in this fog. And the galley and bunks are so crowded that we must take turns on deck in this miserable wetness, while others eat and sleep below.'
Alodar grunted a reply as he idly ran his hand along the rail and looked up into the rigging. Yesterday the cold east wind had howled, but today, on both of the masts, the lateen sails were furled tightly against their yards, useless in the whisper of wind that barely stirred the fog. Over the side, he watched the lazy rhythm of the oars that maintained their headway. Unlike the sleek wargalleys with their multiple rows of synchronized sweeps, the
