I burst out laughing. "Shadow is the name of my horse," I sputtered when I could speak. He had been truly frightened! Suddenly I cared nothing for the little deceptions he had practiced on me. Perhaps it was simply the custom of Merchants. I had spent the day talking with a man I had never known, who meant nothing to me and to whom I was only a country lass to be enjoyed as a novelty. I had never done anything of the sort before and I had had a wonderful time. The very distance between us was a comfort.
Do him justice, he laughed as heartily as I. The moon was not yet high, and I could not see his face when he said cheerily, "May you be the only woman in Kolmar who feels no need of my wares, lest my fortune wither! For I seek my fortune as a Merchant, Lanen, though I am but a young one as yet."
"Not so young anymore," I said lightly.
"Ah, sunlight is my enemy," he said, and I could tell he still smiled. "True, I am not so young as a man, though my wealth is such that as a Merchant I am barely out of my infancy. Though I think I have found a way to remedy that."
"To remedy age? Surely only lansip may do that," I said.
"I meant only to remedy my status as a Merchant—but you are right." He was silent for a moment, then said, "I am surprised you know of lansip."
"Even in the north we hear stories. It was lansip that used to send ships to the Dragon Isle, the leaves that preserve life, that restore lost years. But I have often wondered if the tales of their power are no more than legend."
"No, lady, the tales are true," he said, his glorious voice earnest and compelling. "So convinced am I of their truth that I have spent much of my fortune outfitting a ship: If you know so much, you must know that this is the year the Storms lose most of their force. My strongest ship leaves Corli in little more than a month to voyage to that island, to bear home to me wealth beyond imagining and the means of life twice the span of mortal men."
I gasped and grabbed his arms. "Speak you truly, Bors? Your ship leaves for the Dragon Isle this year?"
"I have said so," he said, command almost smug in his voice.
I laughed. I laughed with delight so vast I was almost singing there in the dark street. I covered my mouth with my hands in disbelief, joy brilliant and sparkling all round mr. I could barely see Bors, but I could feel his confused stare even in the dark. It made me laugh more.
"If you find me so ridiculous, I shall bid you goodnight," said Bors in a huff. Instantly I reached out to him.
"No, no, please, don't go, I'm not laughing at you, it's only that I can't believe it. Bors, I have dreamed of going to the Dragon Isle since I was a tiny child. Surely it is more than good fortune that brings us together here."
He took me by the arm and drew me into the light from the windows of the inn. There he studied my face intently, shook his head and said, "I don't see it. Why should you desire wealth or longer life, you who are your own mistress and with al so very young?"
"Not so very young," I said, faintly stung in my turn. "I turn twenty-four at the Autumn Balance day not a fortnight hence. But I do not seek more life or wealth."
"What then could draw you to dare such a voyage? You must know that of the last ten ships gone out not one has returned," said Bors, wondering. "It is almost certain death to ride one of the Harvest ships. I risk my all for the hope of great gain. What do you seek that is worth your life?"
I let the one word speak the volumes I felt.
"Dragons."
It was his turn to burst out laughing, though his merriment was barn not of delight but of ridicule. "Dragons? Why, away north the Trollingwood is full of them. They are small and harmless and stupid, cattle with wings. What could possibly make you risk death for—oh!" He stared at me. "And you laughed at me for seeking lansip. You are mad, you know that. True Dragons are an invention of the bards. And what could you possibly want with one if you found it?"
Thank the Lady I managed to remember that this man was my way onto the ship. I swallowed my pride and replied quietly, "That is my secret. But I must go, and I am delighted beyond words to know that you send a ship this year. Know you how I might join your Harvesters?" I wanted to fall to my knees and beg, offer to cook or clean the privy (if there was one) or wash the floors, anything to get on board. I managed to keep the pleading tone in my voice to a minimum.
"Of course, of course," he answered smoothly, the silk of his voice returned with all its force. "Perhaps we might travel to Corli together? I have business to tend to, but I take to the river in three days' time. There would be time enough to find out more about Illara, and each other. Shall I come fetch you after you break fast? I would be pleased—"
Even his voice couldn't make the offer anything but ridiculous. I laughed aloud, breaking the mood he strove to create, and soon he could do naught but laugh with me. "Ah, Bors, you are tempting, but I cannot. I leave at dawn on the morrow, and I will be glad to deal with you as master of the ship you send once I get to Corli, but you are too much the deceiver for my taste. "
He sounded hurt. "Again you call me deceiver. How have I now deceived you? I told you I have left off my amulet. In what have I—"
"Don't worry, Bots. I don't know why you decided to be a player today, but it doesn't matter." I moved to the front of the inn and stood in the street before the open doorway. I smiled at him in the light that spilled out upon him, leaving me in shadow. "A lowly trader, indeed. How lowly a trader is it who can pay what you did for that mare? And you have sent your strongest ship to Corli, have you? Your strongest of how many? You are master of your own Merchant House, that is clear, and your lady awaits you and my little mare at home. But I have enjoyed this day with you. You have been a true challenge. I have no idea what you might mean when you say anything, so I spend my time trying to hear what you do not say. With practice I might be good at it."
His voice smiled. "Ah, you have caught me, lady. After only a day you know more of me than do many. I may not tell you my true name here—I have many dealings with those in this city, some of whom have never seen me, and I have come expressly to discover if they are treating me honestly. I find I must again throw myself on your mercy—" He stopped, and I could almost hear the thought come to him. "And if it pleases you, let me proffer as recompense that which you have requested, as reward for your discretion. Meet me at the harbour in Corli and I will see to it that you have a berth on my Harvest ship."
So simple. So easy. It couldn't be real.
But I wasn't going to argue. In fact, I could scarcely catch my breath. "It would please me greatly," I managed to whisper.
"Then I am well content," he said. "I shall see you in Corli. Unless you will break fast with me in the morning ere you go?"
"I thank you again, but my boat leaves at dawn and I must be there well before," I replied. "Bors, I bless you from the bottom of my heart, but I am dropping with weariness. It has been a lovely day, but a long one, and I need some sleep at least. I wish you a good night, may your dealings prosper, and I will see you in Corli."
He stared at me for a long moment, as if to fix my face in his mind. "I thank you, lady, for your good wishes and your good company," he said at last. "Goodnight, and farewell." He pulled me to him and kissed me softly. I met him with a good will. His lips were satin, smooth and soft but with more than a hint of the passion beneath. When, I moved to put him off he stepped back and bowed and, smiling, his laughing eyes sharing their private joke with me, he turned and disappeared into the night.
I paid the innkeeper and told him I would need breakfast early, then went slowly up the little stair and into my room. The day had been long as years and I was exhausted. I felt I had done not badly for my first day loose in the world. I undressed in the dark and collapsed onto the bed, but I could not sleep immediately. It had been a pleasant kiss, perhaps more would have been even better…