19
'It's not much, is it?' Baylee looked around at the ship's cabin he'd been assigned with Ciwa Cthulad.
'I've bivouacked in worse,' the justifier said. He struck flint to a lantern on a wall sconce, then blew gently on the wick to get it going. When he was satisfied, he lowered the glass again and adjusted the flame.
The yellow glow splashed against walls that needed a good scrubbing to get rid of the black-green mildew. Scars decorated the wood, as well as names, curse words, and pieces of prayer that had been carved into the surfaces. The ceiling wasn't tall enough for Baylee to comfortably stand in. He dropped his duffel on the floor beside one of the two cots suspended above the floor. All the bedding looked worn and moth-eaten.
'With the accommodations looking like this,' Baylee said, 'you have to wonder what the food is going to be like.'
'Pray that you're hungry enough to eat it anyway,' Cthulad said good-naturedly.
Xuxa hung from the struts coming from the center of the ship. The azmyth bat hadn't made any complaints yet, but the ranger knew they would come along soon enough.
'And I don't think the fare will be all that bad,' Cthulad said. 'I've got a food pouch that will give us an additional meal a day each of nuts, grains, and dried fruits. We won't starve, and we won't have to worry about scurvy on the trip.'
'And I've got a few packages of jerked beef that will last for a time.' Baylee lay on the cot. 'We've got an hour or so before we sail out of the harbor. I don't think it would be a good thing for me to be seen above deck.' He put his arms behind his head. 'I'm going to take a nap. If there's anything I need to know, wake me.'
'When did the ship sail?' Cordyan Tsald asked the watch officer giving her the report. She stood at the dock and gazed out at the Sea of Swords. A number of sailing vessels floated in the large anchorage behind the breakwater. The pinging of sail cloth cables ringing against the masts created an undercurrent of sound almost as loud as the waves breaking under the docks.
'Perhaps as much as two hours ago,' the watch officer replied.
Cordyan cursed silently. They had managed to track Baylee to Nalkie's. Although none of the staff at the tavern readily admitted to seeing the ranger there, patrons and shopkeepers across the street had volunteered information that led her to believe Baylee had been the man they'd seen. The two dead dopplegangers in the alley cinched it.
'He has gotten away,' Calebaan said, gazing out to sea with her.
'For the moment only,' Cordyan said. 'What was the name of the ship?'
'Kerrijan's Hammer,' the watch officer replied.
'And where is she bound?'
'The maritime office here in Waterdeep says she's a regular traveler between Waterdeep and the Moonshae Isles. She's a cargo ship with contracts between businesses on both sides of the sea.'
'What is her usual anchorage in the Moonshaes?'
'At Caer Callidyrr.'
Cordyan dismissed the watch officer, leaving herself alone with Calebaan. 'Why do you suppose Baylee travels there?'
'The obvious answer would be that he has received some kind of communication from Fannt Golsway,' the watch wizard said.
'So he takes off on his own to go up against an opponent strong enough to kill Golsway in his own home? That's foolish.' Despite her harsh summation of the situation, Cordyan felt fearful for the young ranger. In their days together on the journey back to Waterdeep, she had seen much to like about him.
Calebaan turned to her, his face only slightly amused because worry showed in there as well. 'And what do you propose to do?'
'With Piergeiron's blessing,' Cordyan said, 'I'll sail after him.'
'Why?'
'Because what he knows could offer a threat to Waterdeep,' she said stubbornly.
'It has been nearly two tendays since Golsway was killed here in Waterdeep. There have been no further evidences of any threat to this city at all.'
'Just because you don't see it, don't think it's not there.'
'I suppose that is the stance you're going to take with Piergeiron and Senior Civilar Closl.'
'Yes.' Cordyan glanced up at her friend. 'Do you think it will work?'
The watch wizard nodded. 'Maybe. But I don't know whether to be wishful for you that it does, or wishful for you that it doesn't. Baylee Arnvold is not sailing a safe course at the moment. Those two dopplegangers back there are mute testimony to that. Someone wants him dead.'
'I know, Calebaan, and I should hate to hear of that happening.' Cordyan walked back to the hitching post where they'd left their mounts.
'You like this young man, don't you?' the watch wizard asked.
Cordyan felt her face color and she didn't dare look at her friend. 'He is a brave, good man from what I have seen.'
'That's not what I asked.'
That's the only answer that I'll give you, Calebaan. Anything else is for my thoughts only.'
'Then you should not wear them so apparently on your sleeve.'
'You think you know so much, then tell me where Baylee is right now and what it is that he seeks.'
Calebaan only laughed, which infuriated Cordyan even more.
'You missed dinner last night.'
Baylee took his plate from the mess hall and crossed the deck to sit with Ciwa Cthulad near the middle of the cargo vessel. The morning had brought rough seas, and eating in the galley hadn't seemed a good idea. Xuxa hadn't liked the idea at all.
The justifier sat on the rise of deck just above the cargo hold, his plate held before him. Sailcloth cracked and popped overhead. Sailors scurried through the rigging, dropping and adding sheets as orders were carried out.
'I didn't know I would sleep through the whole night' Baylee dropped into a cross-legged position in front of the old ranger. He balanced his plate on his knees, piled high with wheat cakes, bacon and breakfast steak, fried potatoes, and two oranges. He'd had to pay the cook a few silver pieces above his boarding passage for the extra fruit.
'Evidently you needed it. I know you didn't sleep well on the journey from the forgathering.'
Xuxa flew to a net of ship's rigging over Baylee's head and remained within reach. She waited politely as he peeled the first orange and sectioned it out. He broke the first wedge in half and offered it up.
Thank you, she said as she took the offered bit of fruit. She chuckled contentedly as she began to eat.
'I offered her dinner last night,' Cthulad said, 'but she deigned not to eat, chancing instead to await you.'
Little did I know you were going to sleep away your life last night, Xuxa chided.
Sorry. Silverware appeared to be something of a luxury aboard Kerrijan's Hammer. Baylee rolled up the first wheat cake, all smothered with butter and honey, and ate it. The wheat cake, after spending the night without food, seemed as good as any he'd ever had. 'She meant no offense.'
'Oh, none was taken. She explained how she felt and I graciously accepted her decision.' Cthulad smiled at the bat. 'I sat with her and kept her company. She is quite eloquent.'
'There are times,' Baylee admitted, 'when you can't get her to shut up.' He took a strip of bacon in his fingers, broke off a tiny piece, and offered it to. Xuxa.
The azmyth bat lapped at it with her tongue. She wouldn't eat the meat out of preference, but she did like the taste of the grease.
'She seems quite concerned about your relationship with a young woman named Jaeleen,' Cthulad
