We have.’ Kheda allowed himself a brief, ruthless smile. With them most likely wholly ill omened, as Dev said, we’re keeping them separate and they are only to be traded with domains like that of Ulla Safar. He’s long wished me ill, so I see no harm in sending him all the bad luck I can, in return for things we need to rebuild Chazen.’
‘Which is being rebuilt apace now that galleys have come from Redigal and Aedis and even Ritsem and Jahal,’ Velindre observed.
Now that word of our victory over the dragon is spreading,’ Kheda agreed. ‘And now we have pearls to trade and a fine harvest of turtleshell.’
‘And most prized of all, dragonhide,’ said Velindre pointedly. ‘And all the other talismans you won.’
‘Quite.’ Kheda continued staring out to the southern sea.
Doesn’t this prove I was following the right course, that Chazen’s trade is so quickly restored, with so many keen to share in our good fortune?
‘Has anyone remarked on the fact that the second dragon had no gem at its heart?’ Velindre’s voice was neutral as she nodded at the faceted ruby hanging from the golden chain in the open neck of Kheda’s russet silk tunic.
No,’ Kheda said slowly. ‘I don’t suppose anyone noticed, in all the confusion. If anyone does think of it, they’ll doubtless assume I hold it for the sake of the domain.’ He glanced at her. ‘I’m curious about the scales and teeth taken from the cloud dragon. When it was dying, it was all but disintegrating, but no one’s come to me saying their trophies have turned to dust. The lengths of hide sent to Itrac are as sturdy as any other lizardskin.’
‘I’m just as curious,’ Velindre admitted frankly, still holding up the crystal casket and studying the contents. ‘I imagined it would all crumble away to nothing. Perhaps I’ve stumbled across something Azazir didn’t know. Or he knows something he didn’t care to share with me.’ She sighed. ‘There’s so much we don’t know about dragons.’
Kheda did his best to hide his distaste. ‘Surely what you’ve learned and seen means you’ve valuable lore to take back to your island of Hadrumal, along with Dev’s ashes.’
‘And the dragon’s egg.’ Velindre looked quizzically at the warlord. ‘Are you trying to get rid of me?’
‘Yes,’ Kheda replied bluntly. ‘The sooner all magic and all trace of it are gone from Chazen, the better for all of us and our future.’
‘You certainly want Itrac’s child born under the most favourable auspices possible.’ Velindre nodded with understanding.
Kheda was surprised. ‘I am glad you appreciate that.’
‘I understand a good deal more about Aldabreshin ways than you realise, my lord Chazen.’ Velindre set the casket with Dev’s ashes carefully back in the ironwood box. ‘I had plenty of time to read on the voyage south and every domain has a tradition of fine scholarship, even if we in the north are ignorant of it.’
‘I’ll be happy to supply you with all the books you want for your journey home.’ Kheda smiled tightly. ‘As well as our fastest trireme.’
‘I don’t need any boat. I can return to Hadrumal in the blink of an eye.’ Velindre closed the intricately carved lid of the box gently. ‘And I’ll take this token of Dev’s life and death back with me. He had no family that he ever acknowledged and few enough friends in Hadrumal, but there are those who should know of his fate and some who could learn from it.’
‘I’m glad to hear it,’ said Kheda honestly. ‘You must know we believe a man’s life isn’t done when he dies. Much that he was lives on, as long as those who knew him live on after him.’
‘I don’t imagine many mages will think of Dev in those terms,’ Velindre said sardonically.
Kheda got to his feet. ‘Let me know when you’re planning to leave and I’ll make sure the egg is delivered to you.’ He hesitated. ‘You will be discreet. Perhaps you should set sail with Risala for some outlying island. If anyone asks we can say you took a merchant galley north.’
‘If she can spare the time from spreading your carefully rehearsed version of events around Chazen.’ Velindre looked up at him, hazel eyes like golden onyx in the sun. ‘Or canying it to trusted traders and her friends in other domains. As I said, Chazen Kheda, I know more than you think. And just what do you propose to do for Risala?’
Kheda was thrown by the abrupt change of subject. ‘What do you mean?’
‘The girl’s in love with you.’ Velindre lifted a hand to shade her narrowed eyes. ‘Can you give her anything better than some precisely calculated share in your favours? Are you capable of returning her love, with Itrac canying a child that will link you to Chazen for all your futures?’
‘That’s none of your concern,’ Kheda retorted roughly.
‘She’s still young enough to see everything in absolutes of dark and light.’Velindre let her hand fall and returned to staring out to sea. ‘You could hurt her very badly’
‘I value her certainties.’ Kheda looked away inland but the bank of the beach hid the seldom-used residence from him. ‘Risala can see that all I have done has been for Chazen’s good and Daish’s before that. She knows all that I have done and does not condemn me.’
And I never thought to burn with such desire for a woman. No, more than simple desire. Is this truly love
‘Then be certain that what you do for her is for her own good.’ Velindre’s sharp tone interrupted his thoughts. ‘I’ll return to Hadrumal soon enough but I shall want your safe conduct to travel in the Archipelago again.’
‘What?’ Kheda shook his head in instinctive denial. No.’
‘You owe me a considerable debt, Chazen Kheda.’ Velindre stood up, brushing sand from her white cotton trousers. ‘And Dev said you were an honest man, someone to be trusted. Being such a scoundrel himself, he should know. I choose not to be repaid in pearls or gems or anything else. I have that right, you must agree?’
‘Archipelagan customs are for Aldabreshi—’ Kheda began.
Velindre overrode him. ‘It’s been custom for years beyond count that anyone choosing to live in the Archipelago should be counted as Aldabreshin, whether they were born slave or free, islander or mainlander, man, woman or zamorin?
‘Everyone living in the Archipelago is bound to a domain,’ Kheda retorted. ‘You’re not.’
Nor was Dev.’ Velindre shrugged. ‘But doesn’t rendering some signal service to a domain entitle a traveller to ask for a right of residence?’
‘Dev was an object of suspicion to several warlords,’ Kheda shot back, choosing to ignore that question. ‘Ask Risala. Shek Kul, her lord that was—he told me to find Dev in the first place. If he’d had proof, Dev would have died the death of all who use magic in these islands long since.’
‘But he didn’t have proof,’ retorted Velindre. ‘If Dev can live in the Archipelago without being discovered, I’ll bet I can. Isn’t that how you test your fate in these waters, with such a wager?’
‘Only when something of the utmost value is at stake,’ countered Kheda swiftly.
‘I wouldn’t risk myself for anything less,’ Velindre assured him. ‘I will be searching for something of tremendous value, to mages and Archipelagans alike.’
‘We hold no values in common.’ Kheda shook his head vehemently.
‘I’m not talking philosophy or morality,’ said Velindre caustically. What about more practical values of safety and security?’
‘What do you mean?’ Kheda looked askance at her. ‘You recall I told you about the currents in the air, those in the highest heavens, that I can draw on for my magic?’ Velindre gestured up towards the sky. ‘I’ve been studying them since we came here and I’ve a few notions that might interest you. I don’t think these winds normally reach these latitudes. I think they blow over the open ocean for the most part. Something has driven the torrent of air north.’
‘Why should that interest me?’ snapped Kheda.
‘Because I believe that fire dragon rode those winds to come here,’ Velindre replied calmly. ‘And if one dragon can do that, so could another and another, who knows? Don’t you want some warning if that’s likely to happen?’ She waved her hand across the flat expanse of the shore. ‘Those savages who landed here to bring magic and slaughter, where do you suppose they came from?’