Vorish looked as fresh as if he had slept all night.
“Sit down. Did you sleep well? You looked as if you'd sleep for days if you could.”
“We've slept well,” said Althak carefully, as if he were wary of expressing too much friendship.
“Good. I've come to a decision. You will go to Kishalkuz. I do recall a promise I made to Azkun before you set out for Gashan. But I made no such promise to you, Althak. You go at Menish’s extreme displeasure. I suspect that he had hopes of also using you, Azkun, in this war. However, you'll have to accompany Azkun, Althak. I don't believe Azkun will reach Kishalkuz unless you go with him. You've precious little chance anyway.
“I see these things differently from Menish. I've been able to study many of the old documents that tell of the Eye and I believe it's a real danger to us, much more of a danger than the fire throwing. Menish defeated the fire throwers last time and he did not have me there then. No, this Duzral Eye calls for a desperate attempt. Your offer to journey to Kishalkuz is timely.”
“You believe me then?” asked Azkun.
“I didn't say that. I said the attempt was desperate but justified. No more. I believe that you're probably going to your deaths, but if I understand this news of Gashan, so are we all. Now, by all accounts, and there are few, this will be a long journey. I can provide you with a ship, of course, but I can't provide you with a crew. I made inquiries this morning, it seems there are few Vorthenki who will risk the sight of Kopth himself.”
“Kopth is not whom we seek. Kopth is evil.”
“Yet Kopth is feared by the Vorthenki. I could only find two who would accompany you, and I wouldn't compel a man to make this journey. Ugly things may happen on the high seas far from the Emperor’s eye.
“One of these you know well. He's Shelim, who accompanied you from Lianar. He's a competent seaman and should serve you well. But so small a crew demands a small vessel.”
“You said two men, who's the other?” asked Althak.
“Not two men. The other I spoke of is a woman.” He smiled crookedly. “Thalissa.”
“What?”
“She's my mother, Althak, and you'll remember that. She's also the mother of Azkun.”
“I know. Menish told me. But what's she doing here?”
“She found a boat travelling south and followed Azkun and Tenari. She landed here after you left and was found wandering in the streets. She is… something of an embarrassment to me to keep in the palace. But all she really wants is to be with Azkun and Tenari. She doesn't, of course, realise who I am and I've been careful not to meet her. Of course she sees no connection between ‘Vorish’, the name Menish gave me, and ‘Keig’, the child he took from her. You'll not enlighten her.”
“So you want us to take her with us?”
“Nothing else would make her happy. She'll not be a liability to you. She's old but she's tough. She knows the sea and will prove a useful crew member.”
“This is madness,” said Althak.
“Tenari, I presume, is going with you?”
“Of course, but she follows Azkun like a dog.” For that remark he received a look of scorn from Tenari.
“Why should Thalissa not come with us, Althak?”
“What if something happens to her? What if she doesn't survive the voyage? She's your mother, Vorish. Will you risk her?”
Vorish looked at Althak carefully.
“I trust you, Althak. You'll not harm her. She's paid for her crimes.”
Althak shifted uncomfortably.
“She can come with us, then. I'll do her no harm. But, by Kopth, if she brings harm to herself I'll not be blamed.”
“So be it,” said Vorish.
To organise and provision a small boat was no great task, but even so they did not sail until afternoon. Shelim met them later in the morning and briefly discussed what provisions they would need with Althak. But there was no sign of Thalissa. Tenari, as before, had changed from her solemn stare. She was bright and lively. She found a harp and played on it, then danced when one of the servants played. But still she did not speak, and still most of her gaze was directed to Azkun.
Not long before they set out for the docks Thalissa came to them. For a moment Azkun did not recognise her, for she was tall and stately A costly, woollen robe hung from her shoulders and her long, silvered hair hung like a waterfall down her back as she surveyed them regally with her strange, violet eyes. She had been something of a queen here when Sinalth had been alive.
Then the moment was gone. She was the old woman of Lianar again, her face crumpled back into the wrinkled visage Azkun had seen before as she wept and threw her arms about Tenari. Althak withdrew himself to the far end of the room.
“Tenari, Tenari, my dear. At last I have you back. Oh, I know you can't speak, it doesn't matter. We're together again.” She held her away from her for a moment to look at her. Tenari was smiling, but at Azkun, not at Thalissa. Suddenly she turned and looked at the woman who had tended her after she had left the Chasm. She lifted her hand to Thalissa’s face and, with a deceptive smile, raked her cheek with her fingernails.
Thalissa cried out, stumbling backwards. But Azkun caught her.
“She scratched me!”
“She is under a strange spell of the Monnar. The dragons will free her from it. It was not she who scratched you. It was the spell.”
“You're Azkun?” she asked, her face welling blood from one of the scratches.
“I am. They tell me I am your son.”
“You're my son? But I had no son called Azkun. His name was Keig. Are you Keig?” She seemed suddenly bewildered and frightened.
“I am your son. You bore me in Kelerish, not Tenari. She is your foster-child.”
“Azkun?”
“Yes?”
“You have my eyes.” She smiled at him and then suddenly frowned. “Then where is Keig?”
“He is safe.”
“That's what Menish said. No more than ‘safe’?”
“You would be proud of him, I think.”
“He should have been emperor, but Menish stole him from me and left me to die.” She sighed wearily. “Oh, no more of politics and wars. I'm too old for such things now. Who is this?” Her eyes found Althak.
Althak stood up.
“You don't recognise me?”
“Should I? Wait a moment… no, I don't know you. Are you Keig?” she asked hopefully.
“No. I'm Althak.”
Thalissa looked at him closely.
“You've grown much since you were eight years old. What became of you?”
“I left Atonir soon after Menish. Thealum had no love for my father’s house after the lies you fed him. It wasn't safe for me to remain. I wanted to see Anthor, so I made my way north. Menish’s folk found me and I've served him,” he hesitated, “I've served him ever since.”
“Then I'd best watch my tongue as far as Menish is concerned.”
They left for the docks shortly afterwards, making their way through the press of people in the market place with the aid of horses and several of Vorish’s guards. It was the same as it had been before. Stall keepers clamoured for people to buy from them, weary donkeys carried improbably huge loads and small children carried baskets of bread on their heads.
As they moved through the crowd Azkun heard a voice call.
“It's Kopth! Kopth is among us again!”
Heads turned to look at them, those nearby moved closer to see them better.
“It is! It's Kopth in human form! They said he was dead.”
They pressed around them, reaching to touch Azkun.
“Stay with us!” cried a woman. “Kopth, stay with us.”
The cry was taken up by the rest of the crowd and Azkun could feel their longing for him. It was like that of the folk of Deenar when he left, it was like the place where they had sacrificed a maiden to him. Anxiously he looked about for a white-robed figure with fuzzy thoughts. But they were unprepared. Besides, Vorish had forbidden the sacrifice.