Astae was surprised at this when he was told, but he went about fetching them straw pallets and the coarsely woven woollen blankets that the Vorthenki used. Menish discarded the blankets immediately in favour of the ones he had brought with him. At least he knew the bugs in his own blankets, he had no wish to be introduced to any new ones.
They would have to rise early, so Menish rolled himself in his blankets and went to sleep immediately.
He slept long and dreamlessly until a gentle hand shook him by the shoulder. Clambering out of his unconsciousness he focused on Hrangil.
“Sire, we must rise. Althak says this ship must sail early.”
Menish nodded and sat up. Looking around him he saw that Althak had returned. Bolythak and Grath were packing their gear and Drinagish was combing his hair, complaining about the fleas he had found in his blankets.
“They cannot have been Vorthenki fleas,” said Althak, so seriously that Drinagish had to ask why. “Because Vorthenki fleas are as big as rats.” He laughed. “The fleas you have must be poor, stunted Anthorian things. You brought them with you.”
Bolythak and Grath laughed heartily at that but Drinagish retreated into his dignity.
Menish stood up and was pleased to find his leg was as good as ever. That was a small mercy he would be grateful for on this sea voyage. The thought of it, now that it was so near, set his stomach churning.
“So, we have a boat to Atonir. Grath and Drinagish can return to Meyathal with the horses and take news of where we have gone-”
“Uncle, am I not to go to Atonir?”
“You want to go?”
“Of course. I've only been there once before.”
“Drinagish,” said Hrangil carefully, “we are travelling by sea.”
“I know.”
“It's preferable to avoid danger to both king and heir at the same time,” said Menish. “How dangerous is it, Althak?”
The Vorthenki shrugged.
“The greatest danger is from pirates, or sea raiders, that operate from the coasts between here and Gomol. They're rarely well armed. There are storms, too, but few at this time of year.”
“Then there's not enough danger for caution after all,” said Menish. “Bolythak can return with Grath, Drinagish can come with us.”
Drinagish looked delighted, Hrangil looked dubious at Menish’s decision. Bolythak looked relieved.
“When you reach Meyathal you are to tell Adhara everything you have seen, but no one else. Let her be the judge of who else is to know. And…” he hesitated, “tell Adhara to feed the nightingale for me.”
Menish saw Drinagish smirking and Hrangil nodding slowly in comprehension at his reference to an old love poem. The others kept their faces carefully blank.
“Well, are we ready? Is everything packed?”
“Yes, M’Lord. We've already placed what we'll need for the voyage on board the ship. What's left is for Grath and Bolythak.” Two bundles lay on the floor.
“Then let's start.”
As they passed through the main room Astae accosted them.
“You’re not leaving yet, M’Lords? With no breakfast in your stomachs? I have some fish-”
“No,” said Menish. “We're travelling by sea. I fear the food wouldn't be with us long.”
“Ah! You get the sea retch? I have a concoction of herbs that is renowned-”
Menish shook his head.
“It is made of fennel and dock, isn't it?”
Astae nodded.
“I've tried it. Not only does it taste foul but it makes the ‘sea retch’ even worse.” To Astae’s crestfallen look he added. “It was well meant, my friend. Here, this is for your trouble.” Menish reached into the leather pouch at his belt and drew out two gold coins.
Astae’s mouth dropped open and snapped shut before Menish could blink. Then he was all bows and fawning again.
“Thank you, M’Lord. Thank you.”
Fortunately he was interrupted by the outside door opening and a wet, bedraggled youth entered. He glanced about him until he found Althak.
“M’Lord, Awan says we must sail soon.”
“Come,” Menish said to the others, and they farewelled Grath and Bolythak and made their way outside.
It was a dreary morning. The rain had degenerated into a fine mist that hung in the still air like fog, turning the nearby houses into formless shapes. It even obscured the dragon post. The moisture clung to their hair and clothes and made the stone under their feet slick and wet. The stone was simply the continuation of Gilish’s road, and here it was clear of accumulated earth and debris from constant use. The wide, flat slabs now ran unevenly, threatening to trip the unwary and their slickness made them more treacherous still.
Stepping carefully they made their way through the mist after the youth. Although it was early the Vorthenki village was by no means asleep. The long houses were bustling with activity. Men were setting off with bundles of canvas, netting and rope. Women were farewelling them and children scampered about everywhere. Several small boys joined their company for a while, walking importantly beside Althak as if they had been officially asked to. They took Althak for the leader of the company, of course, for his bright torque and bracelets and his polished greaves made him look like a very significant Vorthenki chief. The Anthorians, with their heavy cloaks and coats around them, made small, sombre figures, not worth consideration. Althak smiled at the boys and tousled their hair. Their mothers called them back, some amused, some concerned for their safety. All scolded them soundly.
Menish took no notice of the children. He was looking carefully at the women. Once he thought he saw her standing in the doorway of a long house, but he was mistaken.
He could not get her out of his mind. Even while he had given Grath and Bolythak their instructions she had lurked behind his thoughts. He was surprised that he had not dreamed of her again. His previous dreams had shown him a version of the truth and that had unnerved him. Thalissa was alive, and Azkun had her eyes. Azkun had emerged from the Chasm where he had dreamed that she would. But he dreamed a skeleton and she was alive. He felt he had a puzzle nearly solved and the answer would yield a vital truth, but he was missing some clue.
It was foolish to try to make sense of dreams, but that was all he had. He could not speak with her, not with his men here. Hrangil might kill her the moment he recognised her, for he had met her before. Drinagish had not, but he would require an explanation for not killing her and Menish had none to give. Althak, he did not know. Perhaps he would say she had been released from hell if she had escaped the Chasm. He wondered how well Althak remembered her from his childhood.
The dead are so easy to hate. They require no action, no vengeance. The knowledge that she was alive lifted the weight of murder from his shoulders. But nothing would remove the burden of his own infidelity.
Azkun seemed to be walking better this morning and he had discarded the sling that had supported his injured arm all yesterday. A good night's sleep, even in a Vorthenki inn, can do wonders.
The youth led them quickly through the mist, and presently they came to the water’s edge. The road continued as a great pier jutting out into the mist-covered sea, which splashed itself fitfully against the stone. Through the mist he could see the vague shapes of cliffs enclosing a sheltered cove.
All along the pier lay small fishing boats, typical high-prowed, triangular sailed Vorthenki ships which bobbed gracefully on the swell of the sea. Men were clambering in and out of most of them with their bundles of nets and baskets. Sails were being raised on several and two or three were moving away from the pier for their day’s fishing.
Some of the ships were much larger than the others. One was more than twice the size of the little boats, and it was to this that the youth led them. The ship was built on classical Vorthenki lines, that much Menish knew. The land locked Anthorians viewed the sea with suspicion, and even the Relanese had always said the Vorthenki were supreme on the waves. They built their boats of long, warped planks that curved elegantly from the carved dragon head bowsprit to the tall stern. Each plank appeared to be unjoined for the full eighty-foot length. It was said that giant trees grew in the far north and the Vorthenki built their larger ships of these.