Then she turned and for the benefit of the onlookers laughed loudly as if he'd just told a fine jest. It must have worked for Brutar was visibly relieved.
The pirate captain turned to his officers, chuckling as if he'd overheard the joke, saying, 'You see. Lord Timura was only a bit tired from worryina€™ and beina€™ up all night lookina€™ for his boy.'
Safar squared his shoulders, again accepting the weight of all the burdens he'd escaped, however briefly.
'We'd better get going,' he said to Leiria.
'Yes, we'd best,' she said, but her tone was regretful.
Safar pushed emotions aside and got to work. He'd already decided how to proceed and immediately signaled for Biner to prepare to take him away. A moment later a large basket was cranked down from the skies.
Before he ascended to the airship with Leiria and Jooli, Safar sent for Renor. The young soldier approached, his ever-present companion, Sinch, at his heels.
'Biner's going to land us on the beach with the airship,' Safar said. 'I don't know how long it's going to take to find Palimak, or what dangers we might encounter, but I want you to be on the alert for my signal.'
'Don't worry, Lord Timura,' Renor said. 'We'll come running the moment you send for us.'
Safar patted his shoulder. He was quite fond of the young Kyranian, who had suffered and borne up under much since the days when they had all been forced from their homeland. His little brother had been the first victim of Iraj's assault-slaughtered in a high mountain meadow in the Godsa€™ Divide.
'I never worry about you, Renor,' Safar said. He grinned at Sinch. 'Or you either, Sinch. Except for your tasteless jokes, of course.'
Sinch blushed, pleased that the great Lord Timura remembered such a personal thing about him.
'I'll have a dozen more ready, my lord,' he said, 'for when you get back. I know you love a good joke.'
Safar smiled in appreciation. Then he said, 'The only thing that really worries me is Captain Brutar and his pirates. I want you both to be on your guard in case they decide to forgo the bonus and play the traitor.'
Renor nodded. 'I'll get all our boys together,' he said. 'Drill them in full armor and all. That ought to put the fear of the gods into those pirates. They're just rabble and they know they can't stand up to real soldiers. And if that doesn't work, we'll already have our weapons at hand to teach them some lessons about loyalty.'
Safar approved this plan, issued a few more orders to cover details they hadn't discussed before, then took his leave.
Half an hour later Safar was retrieving the wine jar from the tidepool. A squad of Kyranian soldiers stood by for his orders, while Leiria and Jooli scoured the beach for some sign of Palimak.
From above came a whoosh of air and the throb of the magical engines as Biner took the airship aloft.
The plan had been thoroughly discussed and the system of signals worked out. Now all Safar had to do was find Palimak.
'Over here, Safar,' Jooli shouted.
He hurried to her side, Leiria joining him.
Jooli pointed at several impressions in the sand 'Footprints,' she said. 'Although they're too faint for me to make out who they belong to.'
Safar knelt, fishing out his silver dagger. He waved it over the impressions, muttering a spell. The sand shifted, moving only a few grains at a time and gradually the footprints took form, standing out deep and clear.
They were human prints-long and narrow with well-formed toes. The only thing out of the ordinary were tiny marks like hooks springing from the toes. Not hooks but talons, Safar thought. Which could only mean one thing. Relief flooded in.
'It's Palimak,' he said.
Safar looked up at the forest bordering the beach. The trees were so dense they might as well have been castle walls. Then he saw the break of a narrow avenue leading into the woods.
'He went that way,' he said, rising.
They followed the footprints a short distance along the beach, Safar stopping every now and again to work his magic.
Then, suddenly, the distances between the tracks started lengthening. Each footprint far in front of the other.
'He's running!' Leiria said.
'Yes, but from what?' Safar said.
Heart racing, he looked about the beach, but saw no other signs.
'I don't know what's happening,' he said, 'but we'd better hurry.'
Then he called for the soldiers and they all plunged into the dark, ancient forest of Aroborus.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Little Master's getting tired,' Gundara observed from his perch on Palimak's shoulders.
'That's too bad,' Gundaree said. 'We still have a long way to go.'
'I'm all right,' Palimak gasped. 'I'm just thirsty, that's all.'
He was lying more to himself than to the Favorites. Trying to stay afloat in the increasingly choppy surf was difficult. Palimak only had his tunic, which he'd turned into water wings, to support him. He'd kept his breeches on, although their weight made things more difficult. But, except as a last resort, he was loath to shed them as he had his boots.
It had nothing to do with modesty. Naked and alive was better than clothed and dead in even the shyest person's rule book. He had a few items in his pockets and hanging from his belt that might better his chances of survival once he reached land. Such as a knife and his waterproof wizard's purse, which contained all sorts of useful things.
More importantly, he needed a pocket to hold the stone turtle, otherwise the Favorites would be lost to him. Even if he could do without them, as irritating and cold-hearted as they could sometimes be, Palimak would never condemn his mischievous friends to an eternal prison at the bottom of the sea.
'You should have told us you were thirsty, Little Master,' Gundara said.
'We can do something about that!' Gundaree put in.
'Then do it, please!' Palimak croaked, throat sore and raspy from all the salt-water he'd taken in.
The Favorites directed him to put his head back as far as he could. Then they hopped onto his forehead and crouched down to suck up sea-water. To his surprise they drew in enormous quantities, blowing up like little toads.
Gundara signaled for him to open his mouth and then both of them expelled the water in a torrent so heavy he had to swallow fast to avoid choking. Transformed in their bodies, the water was amazingly clear and sweet, like fresh spring water mixed with honey.
'Enough!' Palimak finally sputtered and they stopped, resuming their perch on either shoulder.
He took in a few deep breaths and suddenly felt his strength coming back. Most likely from the nectar the Favorites had expelled along with the water. He wondered idly if perhaps spirit folk were like bees, processing what they ate into honey.
'Thanks,' Palimak said. 'I didn't know you could do that.'
'You never asked,' Gundara pointed out.
'There's lots of things we can do,' Gundaree added, 'that you've never asked about.'
'If any of them include a way of getting us out of this fix,' Palimak said, 'now's the time to speak up.'
The Favorites thought for a moment.
Then Gundara said, 'Well, if we could make you small enough, maybe we could fit you into the turtle with us.'
'But first we'd have to make the turtle float, like a little boat,' Gundaree pointed out.
'I already thought of that!' Gundara sniffed. 'I'm not stupid, you know.'
