"I put a lot of time into my small sailing ship, for I intended to sell it after the course and give the money to my family-my thanks to them for setting up the apprenticeship. Then I had plans to travel from port to port, building ships for cities and the nobility, grand designs the like of which the Blood Seas had never seen.
"I should have suspected, but I did not for I was foolishly naive then, that Diro would attempt to thwart me in this final competition. The night before the test, he entered the shipyard where our vessels were stored and weakened my ship's hull.
"The next morning, we gathered at the shipyard dock next to our vessels. One by one, Efroth sailed out with us, taking each of us through the course, judging the performance of the ship, how it was rigged, and measuring the skill of its captain. My turn was last. I'd like to think he took me last to ensure that none of the others felt inadequate.
"Diro had done well. He had honestly tried hard on his own merits, and I was pleased for him. But when my turn came I knew that I would do better.
"Everything began favorably. The winds were gusty, but I trimmed my sails correctly, and my ship was crafted to take the best advantage of the wind. Then, when we were about a mile offshore, I noticed water entering the ship. Before my eyes, the leak turned into a geyser and then, with a terrible noise, my ship split in two. I grabbed a piece of the wreckage and survived. Efroth was not so lucky. He was already old when we started with him as apprentices. And when the ship split, the mast fell and struck him on the head. He sank to the bottom and drowned before I could reach him.
"No one blamed me directly for his death. They just shook their heads at my unwarranted confidence in my skills. Even my parents seemed ashamed. I was in shock. I didn't know how I could have been so wrong about my abilities.
"That night I wandered around the waterfront, not knowing what I was doing. At one point, I entered an inn to ask for a drink of water. As I waited, I saw that a little ways down the bar stood Diro, Thuu, and Phao. I could tell by his loud talk that Diro, who had his back to me, was very drunk. Joining them was the last thing I wanted to do, but I couldn't help overhearing what Diro was talking about. He was bragging about his cleverness and was showing the others a small pry bar he had used to weaken my ship's hull.
"Phao and Thuu, seeing me, tried to silence him, but could not. I succeeded in silencing him forever. Gripped by a white-hot fury, I walked over and strangled him. I made no attempt to escape. I was immediately arrested and sentenced to fight in the circus until I died."
Maquesta looked up into his tear-filled eyes. "But surely what Diro had done to you, and the fact that he caused Efroth's death, should have changed your sentence?" Maq asked.
"Our law absolutely forbids one minotaur killing another outside the circus-which are our organized combat games. Diro was already dead. He could not be sentenced."
"Then what were you doing at Attat's?" Maq probed.
"Sometimes, fighters in the circus are assigned 'keepers/ minotaurs responsible for maintaining us between bouts. In return, they receive a portion of every wager placed on our events. Attat is my keeper. I have been with the circus four years. I am undefeated, and as such, he draws good coin from my appearances."
"If Attat is your keeper, then why don't you just leave after helping us capture the morkoth? I'll tell Attat you escaped during the night, Kof. I'll drop you off in another port. You don't have to go back to him," Maq urged. "He's despicable."
Koraf sadly shook his head. "Two minotaurs are dead because of my actions-or my failure to take action. It is the law. And I honor the law. Also, allowing me to leave would be reason enough for Attat to throw you back into his dungeon. He is not someone to be trifled with."
Thinking of what Attat had done to her father, Maq could only agree. She nodded and gripped the king's spoke tighter.
Chapter 10
The shore party set off, in good spirits, early the next day. Sea Reach was a far different place than their last port of call, Lacynos. Stone buildings with wide verandas, tile roofs, and bright, colorful awnings faced the waterfront, presenting a well kept and cheery face to visitors. Terraced farms climbed the rugged landscape on either side of the harbor.
However, Maq knew that-fortunately-the welcoming facade did not extend to all. The Butcher would not have dared sail into this harbor, nor would it have been comfortable for Bas-Ohn Koraf to accompany Maquesta and the others to town. Pirates and minotaurs were routinely driven off by galleys that patrolled the harbor and by armed guards who walked the waterfront.
Still, for the Perechon captain and crewmembers, Sea Reach was a very pleasant sight-or would have been if they hadn't been bailing out the water gushing in through the leak in the longboat. Maq scowled. Lendle's mending attempt did little but slow the amount of water bubbling in, and the lever on the side broke off the first time she tried to use it.
"ItisallrightitisreallyandtrulyallrightMaquestaKarThon," the little gnome babbled rapidly. "Ihaveaplantofixitpermanentlyevenbetterthanbefore." He winked at her and looked at the leak. "I'll get right to work as soon as we finish all our errands!" he added, finally slowing down so she could understand him.
Maquesta simply grimaced.
After they had pulled the longboat up on a sandy section of beach and tried futilely to shake the water out of their boots, Fritzen asked for a change of plans. He drew her to the side and talked softly, watching Lendle to make sure he was occupied with inspecting the longboat.
"Maq, can you meet me at the shipyard after you finish at the market? I think we need to take the longboat over there for a quick patch-up before Lendle completes his permanent repairs-or we may not make it back to the Perechon. Hopefully I'll have some new sails with me, too."
Lendle, obviously overhearing, scowled at Fritzen, but then joined in Maq's laughing assent.
They all agreed to meet back at the wharf after lunch, understanding that they might have to postpone their return if the longboat still needed work.
Though Maq's family roots were set in Saifhum's soil, she had spent little time on the island. Every time she did visit, however, she vowed to return more often. Today in the sunny marketplace, watching Lendle bargain expertly with equally skilled shopkeepers, Maquesta was content to almost forget what lay ahead-and behind-her. Almost. Worries about her father never completely left her. Nor did she want to forget.
Wandering up and down the neatly swept streets, Maq and Lendle soon acquired their planned supply of fruits and vegetables, and the metal part Lendle needed for his gnomish engine.
"Do you want to come with me to the shipyard?"
"No, Maquesta Kar-Thon. I need to go elsewhere."
"Let me guess-you'll meet me at the Sea Reach Inn for lunch. If I get there before lunch, you'll be in the back room. Right?" Maquesta asked apprehensively.
Lendle beamed. The Sea Reach Inn was the largest such establishment in that port city. In addition to accommodations for overnight guests, it offered a large dining room with good, home-cooked meals served around the clock, and a back room where the card games never ended. The most popular games were Legion, Fates, and Bounty Hunter, the latter being a more complex version of a children's game, the Hunt. Lendle loved it. He had once played for three days and two nights in a row, Maq remembered. And he'd talked so much about the session that he forgot about his inventions for better than a week.