"If you knew then," Pacys protested, "why didn't you say something?"
Narros shook his head. "We were bound to silence. Remember? No one could speak of the Taker… not until after he reappeared."
"How can you be so sure I'm the one?"
"Since we've been here, your hands have ever been busy, made slave to the music that now holds you in thrall. Truly, you are the one. I was guided to you this morning because you still have your part to play."
"What part?" Pacys's heart hammered inside his chest. The song was one thing; he could commit to that, but what else remained before him?
"There is a man-hardly more than a boy by your counting of years, one who has always lived with the sea in his heart despite being abandoned to land-who will find a way to confront the Taker," Narros said. "He will find the weapon and he will find the way, but it will be only after he finds himself, discovers what he truly is. To do that, you'll have to seek him out and touch his heart. He's been shattered by his experiences, and others have worked to make him whole, given him much of what he needs, but he'll never be able to become what he needs to be without you. If you're not there for him, it could be that our very world will fall." The merman smiled comfortingly. "Take pride in the fact that he will be one of the very best of your kind."
"What do I need to do?" Pacys asked.
"Find him," Narros answered, "and help him find himself."
The sheer enormity of the situation put a righteous fear in Pacys. How to find one man in all of Faerun when not even a name existed was beyond him.
"But where do I start looking?"
Narros shook his head. "Our prophesy says it will be in a city on a great river that stands as a door to the above and below worlds."
Pacys's mind raced and only one city came to mind though he knew of dozens. "Baldur's Gate," he said.
"I have thought so too."
"I'll find him there?"
"You'll see him there," the merman answered. "As to what takes place, I can't say. You'll have to find a way and trust the bond that exists between you."
Suddenly, Pacys noticed his wandering hands had moved on to a new piece, one that he'd never played before, one that he'd never heard played before. It was uplifting, a light in the darkness, a fragile mixture of bravery and fear, and he recognized it at once.
Alyyx slapped her tail against her father's torso happily. The smacking sounds somehow intermingled with the piece Pacys played, bringing hope.
"That's the hero's song," she cried out enthusiastically, turning to her brother. "Don't you hear him coming, Shyl?"
The merboy nodded, a small grin turning his lips.
Despite his own doubts and fears about everything the merman shaman had told him, Pacys couldn't help smiling. It was a hero's song. His fingers moved across the strings with growing confidence, seeking out the melody.
Narros reached out and clapped him on the shoulder. "You'll find him, Taleweaver," he said. "Wherever he is, it's your destiny to find him. Go first to Baldur's Gate and seek him there."
XXIX
Tynnel's eyes narrowed as he walked toward Jherek. He gestured at Aysel and his fallen comrades. "Get them on their feet."
Crewmen split up and helped the fallen men to stand. Aysel remained hard to rouse. One of the serving wenches approached and spilled a tankard of ale into his face. Aysel woke, spluttering and cursing, instantly flailing around for his weapon. Three crewmen restrained him. When Aysel realized Tynnel was there, he quieted immediately.
"Why did you fight them?" Tynnel asked.
Jherek had no ready answer.
"Because of that damned woman," one of Aysel's comrades called out. "Having women aboard a ship, Cap'n, that's always been-"
Tynnel quieted the man with a steely glance, then shifted his attention back to Jherek. "You fought them over Sabyna?"
"Aye," Jherek admitted, but he was reluctant to repeat the terrible things Aysel had said.
"Was she here?"
"No, sir. She's been looking for you."
"I know that," Tynnel said in a clipped voice. "I just came from her when I heard one of my crewmen had been involved^ in a brawl here. I don't allow fighting in the ports we ship in, not if you're a part of my crew. I could have lost three crewmen in this debacle that I can presently ill afford to lose."
"He started it, Cap'n," Aysel shouted. "Raised his hand against me, and I had every right to defend myself. My mates were there to make sure he didn't slit my gullet before I had a chance to defend myself."
Surprise lighted the captain's eyes. "Is that true?" Tynnel demanded of Jherek. "Did you strike the first blow?"
Before Jherek could answer, the old man spoke up. "It wasn't the boy, Cap'n," he said. "The big man there had a foul mouth on him, goaded the boy into the fight."
Tynnel's eyes never left Jherek's. "Thank you for your comments, sir, but I live in a world where fights are fought with words or with swords. If you find yourself outclassed in either, that's fine, but they are to remain separate on my ship, and swords are not allowed." His words carried an edge.
"It was the big man," the old warrior said, "who threw the first blow. I saw him, and so did most of those in the tavern."
Confirmation of the old man's statement echoed in the tavern as the others took up the young sailor's defense. Jherek looked around them, totally surprised.
"Don't you worry none, boy," the old man whispered. "A scrapper like you with his heart in the right place, even rogues such as these will come around and stand up for him. Your cap'n's a tough but fair man, but his rules are his own and he sticks by 'em."
"Is that what happened, Malorrie?" Tynnel demanded.
The captain's use of the alias Jherek had borrowed for the voyage underscored the liberties he'd taken with the truth already. He didn't hesitate about his answer. "No, sir. It was I who made the argument physical."
Tynnel's harsh gaze softened a bit then, and his voice as well. "That's too bad. When I hired Sabyna on as ship's mage, we were both aware of the complications a woman brought to a ship of men. There's a rule about-"
"I'm not a crewman," Jherek interrupted, "nor was this fight over her."
"If nothing had been said about Sabyna, would you have fought these men?"
Jherek took a deep breath in through his nose. Even with only one eye, he saw there was no arguing with Tynnel's position. The fear that rode him clawed its way through his stomach, tightening his muscles so his ribs pained him even more. "No, sir."
"I say that the argument was over her," Tynnel stated. He reached into his coin purse and took out coins. "I'm returning your ship's passage, and I'm adding what I think is a fair price for the work you did aboard."
Jherek listened to the captain's words, not believing he'd just been thrown off the ship. It wasn't right, but the sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach told him Tynnel wouldn't entertain any arguments about the matter. Despite everything, his ill luck held true, the most constant companion he'd ever had.
"Keep the coins," Jherek said in defeat. What silver he had wouldn't leave him much to buy another berth on a ship bound for Baldur's Gate, but it was only fair.