Brice grinned. “When we reach port, she sails away again in only a day and a half. She can stay aboard, hidden in her cabin but that will draw them from you.”
“Of course, we’ll have to ask her about it. We’re talking about making her a target.”
“But one we can help protect,” Brice added.
They were again walking on the port side of the ship, the windward side, when a dozen steps ahead, a man stepped into view from behind a corner. He faced them, a short, thick bow drawn, the arrow aimed a Prin. His face was flushed with excitement, and his hands shook as if he’d held the arrow cocked for some time.
His fingers released the arrow as Prin twisted to her right, helped by Brice’s shove. It missed, but he already reached for another. Prin caught her balance, and without thinking or reasoning, her hand reached and grasped the handle of the throwing knife. In a single motion, it flew.
The knife struck the archer high, just below his neck, entering to the hilt.
“Get to the cabin,” Brice ordered.
“But . . .”
“Now!” Brice snapped, rushing ahead to the man to catch him as his knees relaxed and he fell.
Prin turned a full turn and found nobody in sight. She entered the dining room and again found nobody in the line of view of the ambush, although a few people were in there eating or talking. The archer had selected his concealed position well. She tried to calm herself and walk naturally, for one her advanced age, until she reached the passageway to the cabin.
“What’s wrong?” Sara demanded as she opened the cabin door.
“A man shot an arrow at me.”
“May the Six Evil Gods curse him. What happened?”
“He missed. I threw my knife.”
“Where was Brice? He’s supposed to protect you.”
“He did. It was a surprise attack, and Brice saved me. He stayed on the deck with the attacker.”
“Well, this is certainly going to draw more attention, and the Captain is going to want to talk to us, for sure. We need to make up a story.”
The door opened, and Brice stepped inside, breathing hard. “As near as I can tell, nobody saw the attack. I threw him over the side. Then waited and watched. Not one reaction from passengers or crew, so I followed Prin here.”
Sara said, “Quick, we need to all spend time in the dining room where there are witnesses that we were there almost all day. How many people can go missing on one ship?”
Brice said, “There are already too many passengers talking about it. Two people have disappeared on only the second day at sea. Three, if the archer is discovered.”
They started to leave, Sara carrying her book and a handful of papers she snatched from the bunk. She snapped at Brice, “Blood?”
“Too much to clean up.” He extended his hand to give Prin her knife back.
Prin glanced at it and noticed he’d taken the time to wipe the blade, but she would clean and oil it again tonight. She followed them to the dining room and seated themselves at the same table. She glanced at people sitting at four other tables, none where they could see the port side, forward. All were sipping tea, playing cards or blocks, or simply talking.
None were close enough to overhear them if they spoke softly.
Sara said, “Since there has been no alarm raised, we know nothing.”
Prin said, “It was a man I haven’t seen before. Brice?”
“No.”
“So, he managed to keep out of sight. Almost as if he selected you for a target because he knew who you are. That’s upsetting.”
Brice said, “He wouldn’t just shoot an innocent person. He had to know for sure.”
Prin said, “I sense Jam’s involvement in this. There is no other way.”
“Jam will need to avoid me for the rest of his life, or his will end,” Brice said.
Sara opened a folded paper and pointed, “Prin, you know the spells we agreed on, but here are a couple more. In our cabin, I made a talisman for each of you. It’s a spell will last about ten days, and all it does is sense excitement by those close to you.”
“Excitement?” Prin asked.
“Yes, so don’t be mistaken. For instance, if a man is attracted to you and his excitement level increases, the talisman will warn you the same as if he intends to do you harm. It is not perfect, but may help.”
“I like it,” Brice said. “After all, who could be attracted to her?”
After they laughed, which seemed odd and out of place, but was a genuine release of emotions, Sara said, “Consider that a tradesman might become excited at the prospect of a sale. That is a poor example, or the tradesman really needs a sale, but you understand? He would not be your enemy.”
“I never had the time to study like the two of you,” Brice said. “So, I don’t understand why you don’t just use magic to solve everything.”
“Maude tried explaining it to you many times,” Sara said, sounding like Maude to Prin’s ears, “magic performed by a sorceress naturally enhances or increases certain feelings or emotions. We do not deal with the elements, and magic was never intended to do harm.”
Prin said, “Besides, no one can know I can use magic. Not even my supporters would allow a queen to be crowned if she has powers. Not a hint of it can come from me. Ever.”
“I know all that. I’m talking about doing more to protect you.” Brice acted as if his feelings were hurt.
Sara didn’t allow the matter to drop. She said, “Prin, I know we never studied gnosis with Maude, but I’ve found something on it that sounds helpful.”
“That’s a new word,” Prin said.
“It is one of the simplest of spells, but slightly different. It’s considered the fuel or basis for most of what we do. Possibly effective and quick for you to learn.”
“Tell me.”
“You visualize a symbol of your intent until it glows brightly in your mind’s eye and awareness of the world around you is gone, and then you hurl it at your intended. A chant or mantra usually helps your concentration. With a little practice, you will cast it into the realm.”
“Words. I understand them, but not what you’re saying,” Prin said.
Sara said, “My fault. I didn’t provide an objective or circumstances. Say you know there are men following you on a dark night. Your gnosis takes time, but you draw fear of the dark into your mind and build upon it with your mantra until it is about to burst. Then you cast it at them.”
Prin settled back in her chair and smiled. “They become scared.”
“Or angry, hopefully at those they travel with so they fight each other. We don’t have time to work on any gnosis more refined than these, but it might help, and knowing them might blend into another if you need it. Any basic emotion. Jealousy, fear, anger, love or even hate might be useful in some circumstance. A soldier who hates his officer might desert, leaving the officer with no army to lead.”
Prin said, “I get it. If I want a job, I can concoct a complicated spell, if I’m a good enough sorceress, to make him hire me. But with your gnosis, I focus on him liking me and wanting to hire me. Easier and probably more efficient, as you say.”
“The drawback is time. Even with practice, it’s like you’re gathering all the particular emotions in the immediate area that you wish on a person. It takes time. Plus, you must choose the right emotion.”
“I’m missing something?”
“You will not use a modest gnosis to make a man who hates you turn to love. But you might increase his love for another, making all his thoughts turn to her instead of thinking of how to capture you.” Sara motioned to the steward who appeared and requested a pitcher of watered wine. She added, “We’ve been sitting here for a long time waiting for service.”