Realms of War

gold aboard that ship. You can't have it back unless we decide that you can. Or unless you pay us to release it.'

Rytagir knew that was true. Though the alu Tel'Quessir didn't value gold the same way the dry world did, gold still had value on the sea floor as building materials. Stories were often told in taverns of entire sea elf cities made of gold.

'I'm willing to negotiate,' Rytagir said.

The male swam around Rytagir contemptuously. 'We're not fools, human. We know the worth of gold in the surface world.'

'I'm not here for the gold.'

'Then what are you here for, human?' the female elf asked.

'For the story. To let the families of these men know what happened to them.'

Mocking doubt showed on the young elf woman's face. 'Three hundred years after the ship went down?' She shook her head and her beautiful tresses floated out into the water. 'I doubt there are any left alive who care. Your people tend to be as shortsighted as you are short-lived.'

'There are important documents aboard.'

'You came for those documents? Not for the gold?'

'I came for the documents. The captain of the ship above came for the gold. That was my deal with him.'

'And you claim none of this gold for yourself?' Her raised eyebrows indicated how doubtful she was at that.

'I'm going to take my share of gold. I'd be a fool not to. And expeditions like this one aren't free.'

The alu Tel'Quessir around them laughed at that.

'What if we chose to take a share of that gold?' the elf woman asked.

Rytagir glanced at them all. 'Perhaps we could come to an amenable agreement.'

4

'I don't see why we have to share,' the sea elf male snarled. 'If we choose to, we can sink their ship and drown them all.' He glared at Rytagir. 'Unless you choose to run.'

'Greedy surface dwellers don't run,' another male stated.

Rytagir hardened his voice. 'There is a ship's mage aboard the vessel. And he has an apprentice. Both of them stand prepared to defend the ship as well. They've sworn their life's blood to do that.'

The alu Tel'Quessir knew about ships' mages. Charged with caring for the crew and the ship, all of them knew how to repair minor damage done to the ship and preserve wood, but some of them could quell storms, hurl fireballs, and summon the wind. Others, at least so Rytagir had heard, could call down lightning strikes, summon whirlpools, and raise tidal waves that could smash ships on rocks.

The sea elves had a healthy respect for magic. Still, they could be damn stubborn. Rytagir hoped to make negotiating more attractive to them.

'What bargain would you strike, human?' the female asked.

'I want the salvage from this ship.'

'I would not see this ship moved,' she replied. 'It has become home to many sea creatures.'

Rytagir understood the woman's feelings. His father tended to believe, after the same fashion, that change, unless natural, was not a thing to ascribe to. Disruption of an environment was never to be tolerated.

'I've sworn to protect the land and the seas that have been assigned to me,' the sea elf woman said.

'I'm not here for the ship,' he said. 'All I want is the cargo, and the documents if I can find them.'

'What would we get in return?' the male asked.

'If you simply allow this, I'll give you ten percent of what we recover.'

'Never expect a fair deal from a surface dweller,' one of the other elves muttered.

'I'll give a fair deal,' Rytagir countered. 'But I'm not going to let you rob me. If you help me with the transport of the goods to the ship above, I can make your share thirty percent.''

'So you would want us to be your pack animals?' The male grimaced.

'Let me speak, Rasche,' the woman said.

Reluctantly, Rasche backed down.

'We want fifty percent,' she told Rytagir.

Rytagir smiled coldly. 'We have to transport and arrange payment for salvage. That takes more time and effort. And more investment. We'll take sixty percent. That's as generous as I can be.'

'Except you,' the sea elf said. 'If you find the document you seek, you still stand to make a profit. I know that wizards often pay well for spellbooks, and collectors pay for unique pieces of writing or art.'

'Lady, I swear to you by all I hold holy that I'm not here for that kind of profit. I seek only papers and documents that will reveal more of the lost histories of some of the lands around this place.'

The maid smiled. 'Then I will pray for Deep Sashelas's pleasure that we will all find something worthwhile.'

Deep Sashelas was the god of the undersea elves. He was known as the Knowledgeable One and the Master of Dolphins. Many undersea folk, and even some human sailors, worshiped him. Rytagir had a more than passing acquaintance with the altars dedicated to the Dolphin Prince.

He looked into those silver eyes and asked, 'May I have your name, Lady?'

'Don't you dare transgress, human!' Rasche said, and shoved his spear toward Rytagir's face.

5

With blinding speed, Rytagir drew his long sword and slapped Rasche's spear aside. The blow knocked the sea elf off-balance and spun him around in the water.

Obviously embarrassed, Rasche whirled and twisted in the water to come back around almost immediately. His fingers and toes splayed to allow the webbing between them to better grasp the water as he hurled himself back at his chosen opponent.

'Rasche,' the woman spoke in an authoritative tone. 'Stand down.'

Immediately, Rasche broke off his attack. Cruel invective in his native tongue filled the sea.

Rytagir didn't sheathe his sword. He held ready the spells that he knew. They weren't much, but they would have to serve. He knew he couldn't swim to the surface before the elves overtook him.

'Deep Sashelas preserve us from males and their warring ways,' the woman said. She glared at Rasche and Rytagir alike. 'Surely between the two of you there are more brains than a prawn has. If not, then this is not to be done today.'

After a moment, Rytagir let out a tense breath and put his long sword away. He took his gaze from Rasche and looked at the woman.

'If I offended you, Lady, please know that I had no intention of doing so.'

'I know that. It's just that these men have been entrusted to take care of me.' She shot Rasche a quick glare. 'They're acting on my father's orders. Much to my annoyance.' Her silver eyes cut back to Rytagir. 'I'm called Irdinmai.'

The name meant nothing to Rytagir. But he could tell by her tone of voice that it meant something somewhere. He nodded. 'Thank you, Lady. Then, with your leave, we'll inspect the ship.'

'Of course. The sooner we deal with this, the better.'

* * * * *

Rytagir walked through the water, deliberately setting himself apart from the alu Tel'Quessir who swam ahead of him. It was bad luck that he'd crossed paths with the sea elves. Captain Zahban wasn't going to be happy about the situation either. Rytagir fully expected to have the same argument with the ship's captain as he'd had with the sea elf woman. For the moment he chose to delay that confrontation.

At the entrance to the forward hold, Rytagir reached into his shoulder bag and took out a foot-long length of lucent coral. He unwrapped the heavy cloth that kept the pale blue light trapped inside.

With the coral, he could see several feet, but his vision was still blunted by the depth of the water. He fisted the coral and stepped through the cargo hold.