Markan Throne

  Of course, the Sailing Master went ashore in Cadister, where his family lived. Cloudy had happy memories of time spent with Tefric's family, while the ship spent her winter refitting. The sylph also enjoyed the festivals in Hejiller. Other than that, land held little interest for either of them.

  Both were content to lean on the bulwark and watch the busy port.

  "Our passengers are obsessed with speed," said Tefric. He watched the guests as they disappeared from view along the quayside.

  "The ship thinks they have not told us everything."

  "People never do," replied Tefric.

  "When I proved to Neptarik the ship really existed, he seemed scared to let her in. As if she might find out something he wanted kept quiet."

  "Everybody has secrets they'd rather nobody else knew. Even sylphs."

  "The ship thinks they run away from something."

  Tefric shrugged. "It doesn't matter to us. They mean us no harm and they have one among them with the Father's Gift, so they can't be evil people."

  Cloudy shrugged. "A pity Neptarik belongs to Balnus."

  Tefric laughed. "Fallen in love, Melnea?" He used the ship sylph's real name affectionately.

  "The ship is curious about him," she replied, carefully avoiding the question. The ship held the Sailing Master in high regard, so he deserved better than her lies.

  Tefric nodded. "If I may say so, the ship is curious about many things."

  She turned to face the human. "She thinks the time for her change is close."

  Tefric's face grew more solemn. "Oh." His arm went around the sylph's shoulders and he hugged her. "I trust it's not too close, though I wish her well."

  The sylph sniffed. "Close to her might be several of our lifetimes," she said. "She does not have a very well developed sense of time."

  Tefric nodded, but his mind was troubled.

  ***

  "What did you say?"

  Kelanus stared at the innkeeper, as he chatted with one of his serving girls.

  Neptarik lifted his head from his tankard and licked a mustache of white froth from his upper lip.

  "Sir?" The innkeeper turned to Kelanus.

  "Something about Marka and an Emperor?"

  The innkeeper folded his hands before him and rested them on the apron that strained over his bulk. "Sir hasn't heard? You must be the only one in Beshar. There is a new Emperor of Marka. The air is full of pigeon feathers. It's been all over the city for two or three days."

  "Pigeon feathers?" queried Neptarik. Kelanus and Balnus ignored him. They were without Tahena, who had gone to see a former student of Sandev's.

  The innkeeper gave Neptarik a quizzical look; he had been surprised when he saw the sylph drinking and sitting on the furniture. That the sylph now spoke to them like an equal was clearly too much of a culture shock.

  "Do you know who this Emperor is?" pressed Kelanus. He hoped the messenger birds had carried that information too.

  "It's the damnedest thing," smiled the innkeeper. "All the rumors say the same."

  "Marcus? Verdin?"

  The innkeeper wrung his hands. "His name is Zenepha," he replied. He stared at Neptarik. "And they say that he's a sylph."

  Neptarik blinked and exchanged a surprised glance with his owner.

  Kelanus shook his head. "Zenepha the sylph, Emperor?" He turned his attention to his companions. "Drink up, we're leaving."

  Balnus swallowed the rest of his ale in one go, Neptarik a little slower, if no less eager to finish.

  "Come on, Neptarik."

  Outside, Kelanus shook his head. "The Senate must have gone against Marcus."

  "And the other claimants," added Neptarik. "Zenepha. He belongs to the Supreme Councilor."

  "Belonged," said Kelanus. "A slave can't be Emperor. He must have been manumitted."

  Neptarik stared at his owner in consternation. "Poor sylph!" he exclaimed. Few sylphs born into slavery sought freedom. If any.

  Uninterested in the strangeness of the sylph race, the news had clearly shaken Kelanus. "I wonder what has happened with Marcus Vintner."

  "Or to," added Balnus, quietly. "We must speak with Tahena. She knows how Marka works better than us."

  Neptarik shivered. Now his initial shock had passed, he smiled as he thought of a sylph Emperor and wondered how humans would take to a sylph bossing them about. He must have muttered something aloud, as Kelanus responded.

  "He's probably a puppet," said the General. "Dancing to the Supreme Council's fiddle."

  Neptarik, uneducated and wary of human politics, shrugged. He even changed the subject. "Our next port is in the Imperial Republic," he pointed out. "Will it be dangerous for us?"

  "No reason why it should be," smiled Balnus. "So long as you remember they are strict with cheeky sylphs there."

  Neptarik wrinkled his nose and his earpoints twitched backwards. "Sounds a bad place."

  "Probably nowhere near as bad as the stories say," interrupted Kelanus. "All sorts of stories come out of these places, and most are made up, or distortions of the truth. Or exaggerations. If they were all that bad, their sylphs would run away."

  "Even so," continued Balnus, "we can't let it be known who we serve."

  "Who do we serve?" Neptarik glanced at his two companions. "We are officially deserters from the army and Kelanus-ya is a suspected murderer."

  "Until we learn different, we serve Marcus Vintner." Kelanus sounded a little sharper than intended, but he would not apologize for that. "And we continue as before. Understood?"

  Neptarik nodded. "Se bata."

  ***

  "Interesting."

  Tahena smiled over her teacup at Farana.

  "It's true," protested the other woman. "Two pigeons came. A sylph named Zenepha has been crowned in Marka."

  The southern woman almost laughed. "I don't disbelieve you. But it is interesting, you must admit."

  "The Beshar Council must decide whether they wish to support him or not," continued Farana, barely able to keep excitement from her voice. There could be little doubt of her opinion on the matter.

  Tahena waved a dismissive hand. "Being an outlander, northern politics is none of my business."

  Farana's blue eyes sparked. A couple of years younger than Tahena, the two had shared several lessons, particularly concerning healing. Farana's healing ability far outstripped Tahena's and she made a comfortable living healing the sick. Tahena had never felt easy making money from the Gift. It seemed almost sacrilegious.

  "Even so, it is exciting to again have an Emperor," continued Farana. "The Empire may yet reunite in peace."

  "And rats might fly," grunted Tahena, sourly. "Both Supreme Council and Senate are split into factions who hate each other. The saving grace of this sylph is that nobody yet knows how to deal with him."

  "I'm sure he'll do very well."

  "He's only a sylph. I doubt if he'll survive long; politics is a dangerous game. Unless he has very good advisors."

  "He will have. Somebody found a way to cut through all the arguments."

  "Arguments that will continue. Hingast is a very real threat, no matter what the two Vintner factions might hope. Branad Vintner's death almost brought disaster to everything. Sandev is not impressed."

  Farana giggled. "I'm sure she isn't. Do people suspect she's the one pulling the strings?"

  "People suspect so even when she isn't," retorted Tahena. She sipped again at her tea, draining her cup. She carefully replaced the empty cup on the side table. Her dark gaze returned to Farana's face and those delicate pale blue eyes. "She long since learned it is impossible for those with the Gift to rule people, only try to guide them from foolishness. It was ever thus. And if one as Gifted as Sandev finds people troublesome, how in the Father's name will a sylph cope?"

  Farana nodded. "Shall we change the subject? It is so good to see you again that I don't want to spoil our first meeting in years by discussing politics."

  Tahena smiled. "What a sensible suggestion
."

  ***

  Stevedores began to unload Flying Cloud's cargo the next morning, but hours passed before the rum arrived on the dockside. Tahena kept throwing nervous glances seawards. Somewhere out there, Sallis ti Ath drew closer.

  She and her companions had discussed Zenepha's elevation. Though he assured Kelanus and Balnus of his loyalty to Marcus Vintner, Neptarik could not hide his pleasure that a sylph now ruled in Marka.

  "Sylphs are the masters now," he gloated.

  Kelanus and Tahena spent half the night leaning against the bulwark, staring across Beshar and talking about nothing but events in Marka.

  "I think going ashore is unwise today," said Kelanus, after hearing Neptarik asking permission from his owner. "Tahena feels it is dangerous."

  "No more dangerous than yesterday," suggested Balnus.

  Tahena shook her head. "We stay aboard. Just a feeling."

  Neptarik stared at Tahena sympathetically. He knew when best to heed such feelings. But what could possibly be wrong today that was not wrong yesterday? At least Cloudy looked pleased that her sylph passenger would remain aboard.

  "Have you got nothing to do?" Neptarik grumpily demanded of the ship's sylph as she smiled brightly at him.

  "At sea I am busy. In port, time is my own."

  "Going ashore doesn't interest you?"

  "I've seen most of these ports before," she replied. "The ship follows more or less the same course year after year. And when you've seen one port, you've seen them all really. Beggars, dirt, noise, stink, bad ale and prostitutes." She grinned. "I like Hejiller though; you will too."

  "You sound bored." Neptarik wondered if Cloudy enjoyed a little fun at his expense.

  Another quick grin, then seriousness again. "I am never bored." She glanced across at Mate Sedaro, who supervised the rum as it came aboard. "A couple more hours and we only need wait for the tide."

  Neptarik nodded.

  "Kelanus-ya and Tahena-ya seem nervous today. The ship has the impression that they are running away from something."

  Neptarik grimaced. No lies had been told, but Kelanus had said from the beginning that prudence suggested they tell no more than necessary. After all, the Captain and crew might not be quite as understanding if they believed they carried criminals.

  He dared not guess what Cloudy or the ship might think if they discovered the whole truth. Would it change anything? All they knew was that the passengers worked for Marcus Vintner, one of the claimants to the Markan Throne. That someone other than Marcus now occupied the Throne didn't change their mission.

  Tahena's presence, even if disturbing for the ship's sylph, seemed to reassure the ship.

  Neptarik had not tried the hand-on-forehead trick with Cloudy since that first evening and felt no rush to repeat it. How much did the ship really know or suspect? He felt cold as he recalled a snippet of conversation from the first night.

  "You may find it easier to show her things, perhaps from when you were younger. It is better than having her rummage through. You never know what she might uncover. Secrets you prefer to keep that way perhaps?"

  Had the ship discovered why he and his companions were aboard that night? If so, had the ship shared her information? He saw Cloudy expected a reply to her statement.

  "They want to lose no time," he answered, eventually. "Tahena is going home for the first time in years."

  Cloudy smiled, but suspicion lingered in her eyes. "I understand that," she said. The set of her shoulders suggested she had heard the evasion. The Sailing Master joined the two sylphs.

  "We'll sail before dark," he promised.

  Cloudy nodded and turned back to Neptarik. "We will follow the channel on our way out," she remarked. "It is lit."

  "Yes." Tefric's attention also turned to Neptarik. "Learning more about ships and the sea from Cloudy?"

  "I am, donenya." Pleased for the diversion from Cloudy's near interrogation, the male sylph nodded. "It amazes me how much knowledge is needed to become a sailor."

  Cloudy turned and looked towards the sea, across the bay, where another ship, smaller than the Flying Cloud, was just taking aboard a pilot. The infertile sylph stood more upright and a smile split her face.

  She pointed. "Morning Dawn. She's done well to get here so quickly, even if she left on the tide after us."

  Tefric looked over his shoulder. "Yes," he replied, smiling at the ship sylph's enthusiasm. "Very well."

  Kelanus and Tahena held a whispered conversation before they joined Cloudy.

  "Is that ship from Cadister?" rumbled Kelanus.

  The ship's sylph nodded emphatically. "Along the quay from us," she replied. "She had to wait for some delayed cargo. We were going to leave Cadister together and race down. To see how much quicker we might get here before her." She smiled. "She is coming in on the tide I am waiting to slacken, before we leave."

  Tahena looked even more worried.

  "Something is wrong, Tahena-ya?" Cloudy's smile faded.

  The southern woman grimaced, but said nothing.

  Balnus joined Neptarik. "Tahena is convinced that Sallis ti Ath is aboard that ship," he murmured, voice pitched so only his sylph could hear. "As she'll be here before we sail, there may be trouble."

  Neptarik detected something indefinable in his owner's voice and, concerned, looked into his eyes. "Enya?"

  Balnus clapped a hand onto his sylph's shoulder, gripping it. "All will be well, lad, don't worry."

  The scout stiffened. Whenever told not to worry, he always heard a hint that something foolish or dangerous was about to happen. His attention turned to the other ship from Cadister and back again. Then he noticed Kelanus and Balnus wore their swords. His earpoints wilted.

  The passengers watched Morning Dawn pick her way into harbor, aided by the last of the flooding tide. There was a flurry of activity along Flying Cloud's decks as the last of the cargo was stowed away and the foreman of the stevedores paid off. Tahena nudged Kelanus.

  "There." She nodded towards the other ship without pointing.

  Kelanus stared at the tall, slim figure standing perfectly still aboard Morning Dawn. Nobody could doubt this was the man who had very nearly made it aboard Flying Cloud in Cadister. His presence here, having taken another ship from Marka, proved his determination to capture the man he regarded as a renegade. Kelanus crossed the deck to Captain Liffen.

  "I trust we will sail before the other ship gets here?" He asked as if the answer was unimportant.

  Liffen looked up and a small frown creased his brow. "We'll wait for the tide to turn and sail at slack water."

  Cloudy moved closer, but said nothing. Her silvery gray eyes were thoughtful as she listened to the conversation.

  "I'd be grateful if you sail as soon as possible," returned Kelanus, his pale blue eyes hard.

  Cloudy spoke. "Why are you so keen to sail before my friend comes alongside? I had thought of visiting her."

  For a long moment, Kelanus stared at the ship's sylph. "I'll explain everything when we're at sea," he promised. "Just please get us to sea."

  Liffen stared at his ship's sylph. She paused, then nodded. Kelanus sighed in relief as orders were passed to the crew and they increased their preparations for sea.

  Balnus tightened his grip on Neptarik's shoulder for a few moments before dropping his hand. "Behave yourself lad, behave yourself."

  Concern mingled with fear on Neptarik's face as he looked at his owner. He fought his fear and the sylph's usual mask quickly fell back in place. "What are you going to do?"

  His question went unanswered.

  "Come on," muttered Kelanus, under his breath. "Come on, come on..."

  Enjoying a more favorable wind than when Flying Cloud had arrived, Morning Dawn managed to keep sail on, but those sails shivered as she came head to wind before she hit the quay. The yards were not lowered as the sails were bunted up to them. Sailors scampered to ready oars. A blue figure on the smaller ship waved in large sweeping gesticulations, and C
loudy waved back.

  Kelanus gripped the rail, gritting his teeth. "Come on, Captain!"

  "We're going as quickly as we can." Liffen gave the other a strange look. "And if you'd not already paid for the full passage..." He looked as if he might like to return their fares and be rid of them.

  Those of the crew who had gone ashore to single up the lines returned, there now being only two ropes securing Flying Cloud to the quay. Those were turned once around the bollards and run back to the ship, so they only needed to be let go from the ship and pulled aboard. The stevedores pulled away the landing platform the crew used to reach the jetty.

  Even as Morning Dawn came alongside, Sallis ti Ath leapt off the ship and strode along the quay. He moved at a measured but determined pace. As headrope and sternrope were let go together, freeing Flying Cloud from the land, the pursuer broke into a run, turning almost into a blur.

  "Ranva's balls, Captain, get us out of here," roared Kelanus.

  Balnus scrambled onto the bulwark and drew his sword...

  "Enya no!" cried Neptarik.

  ...and launched himself off the ship onto the landing platform, rushing down it to meet Sallis ti Ath.

  "Enya!"

  Kelanus gripped the sylph's arm, to stop the scout from throwing himself after his owner, there being too much water between ship and quayside for a safe leap.

  The General glanced at the quay before turning away, holding the sylph's head against his chest so he could not see Balnus fight and grapple with ti Ath. Sallis moved in a blur and Balnus could barely hold his own. This fight obviously had only one possible outcome. Not wanting to watch a brave man die, Kelanus dragged his gaze away.

  "Take us to sea, Captain," he hissed.

  ***

  "And that is that," completed Kelanus and looked around at everyone. They were now at sea. Fourth Mate Naltor and the Master's Mate Grenard had been left on watch, but the rest of the ship's officers were present. As was Cloudy.

  "Murder of a claimant to the Markan Throne?" Liffen shook his head. "We do not know Sallis ti Ath, but we have heard of him. We know he won't give up." He gestured at Cloudy. "Your decision."

  Tahena sat beside Neptarik and patted his arm. The sylph put as brave a face as he could on the loss of his owner. But his eyes were vacant, his earpoints wilted and he sat listlessly on the deck. He ignored Tahena's comforting hand on his arm.

  He looked up and his earpoints twitched as the other sylph spoke to him.