“No, Palin’s the greatest sorcerer, not Raistlin. My father said there’d be no magic at all if it wasn’t for him. There’d be no Krynn if he hadn’t fought in the Abyss.”
“A real hero!” a young girl beamed. “Oh, please let me come with you!”
Palin took a step back toward the ship. Usha followed him, her twinkling eyes telling him she was amused by his embarrassment. “You definitely should get out of the Tower of Wayreth more often, husband. Look how you’re appreciated.”
“Appreciated?”
“I’ve got to tell all my friends I was rescued by Palin Majere!” The thickset woman tried to press closer to the sorcerer.
“Listen, I’m flattered, but we’re in a hurry”
“But not too much of a hurry, I pray,” the red-maned young man cut in. He had startling golden eyes, and a smattering of freckles crossed the bridge of his nose. “There are more knights around, in a clearing not far outside the city”
“Yes,” a thin woman said, as she inched her way past the thickset woman and stepped forward to join the youth. “They’ve a camp a few miles out. That’s where they held us for a while, I guess until the schooner came into port. They told us they were going to take us north, to some stronghold.”
“And they said they were waiting for more prisoners that would be arriving any minute,” the youth added. “What if those prisoners are there now? Do you think you could help them? Like you helped us?”
Palin let out a deep breath. He wanted desperately to search for the artifacts from the Age of Dreams. It was a “race,” Sageth had said, and Palin agreed. Yet he couldn’t say no to these people. “How far?”
A cheer went up from the crowd on the dock.
“Not more than a few miles,” the thin woman said. “I can take you there. I know the way.”
“Great!” Rig had been silent up to this point. He wrapped his fingers around the pommel of his cutlass. “A few knights will present no challenge. We’ll have your friends free within the hour. I can handle it myself.”
“You’ve got a death wish, Rig Mer-Krel. Don’t deny it,” said Feril. “I watched you on the deck of the schooner — you took on three knights at once, and more were coming. I should’ve realized it when you wanted to tackle Khellendros’s stronghold in the desert There were only four of us, but you didn’t care. That’s how Shaon’s death has affected you.” She took a deep breath and continued her tirade. “You don’t like living without her, so you’re doing your best to join her!”
Rig stared slack-jawed at the elf. “That’s not true. I—”
“Isn’t it? You were never this reckless before. Daring, yes, but not so blasted foolhardy.” She spun around and glared at Palin. “These other prisoners”—she tilted her head toward the thin woman and the red-haired youth—“I’m going to help them.”
“I’ll join you,” Rig cut in.
“No!” Feril practically spat out the word. “You’ll stay here and help the rest of our refugees. Then you’ll figure the best course to take us to Southern Ergoth and get us more supplies. Palin, Gilthanas, you can come with me,” she continued, “Ulin, you too. I think we can manage a handful of knights. We’ve got magic on our side, not just swords. Maybe we won’t have to kill them all.”
She turned, and threaded her way through the crowd on the dock, hesitating only long enough to make sure the red-haired youth and the woman were following her.
Ulin was quick on her heels. Palin paused to kiss Usha and whisper something to her.
Gilthanas approached the manner. “I don’t solely rely on magic,” the elf said. “If you’ve got a blade I could borrow?”
The mariner unsheathed his cutlass. “Here, I have plenty of others.”
“Are you men coming?” Feril was halfway down the dock with Ulin and their two guides. “Rig, be sure to get a map of the eastern coast of Southern Ergoth while we’re gone.”
“Yes, Captain Feril,” Rig whispered when he was certain the Kagonesti and her entourage were out of earshot. He smiled as he watched her cut through the crowd and head into the city. Til follow your orders, ma’am.”
Rig returned to the deck of Flint’s Anvil and drew his lips into a straight line when he saw Jasper, Blister, and Sageth staring at him. His dark skin hid his embarrassment. “Well, what are you people ogling me for? We’ve got work to do. Jasper, you’ll have to …” The mariner’s words were lost on the dwarf, who turned and headed below deck. “Blister?”
The kender shrugged. “Sorry Rig, I’ve got to help Jasper with whatever he’s doing,” she said as she bounded away.
“I’ve got nothing better to do at the moment,” Usha offered, as she walked up the plank. “I’ll take charge of getting the rest of our refugees settled in town—after I’m more properly dressed.” Her eyes twinkled. “Get on that map right away, and begin to plot a course. Palin and the others won’t be gone that long.”
“Yes, Captain Usha,” the mariner softly muttered as he ambled away. “I never minded an occasional order from Shaon”
On a ship filled with people, Rig felt suddenly alone.
Chapter 12
Kender’s Discovery
Blister heard voices in Jasper’s cabin, the dwarf and a woman talking. Goldmoon? There was something familiar about the woman’s voice. But it wasn’t Usha, who was up on deck seeing off the rest of the refugees—except for Sageth, who had agreed to stay with them. And it definitely wasn’t Feril, who’d left the ship several minutes ago. It wasn’t any of the crew because with Shaon gone there were no other female sailors.
The dwarf’s door was open a crack, or rather not latched, and to the kender it was an invitation to confirm her suspicions. She nudged it wide and slipped inside.
“Goldmoon” she said, pleased that her guess was correct.
“How did you get here?”
Jasper turned, sighed, and rolled his eyes but Blister didn’t see his exasperated expression. She was too busy staring at the woman in the center of the small room. The kender shuffled forward, past the dwarf, and gazed up at the beautiful human face.
Goldmoon floated several inches above the floor. She wore a pale rose cloak draped over her slender shoulders, and her tunic and leggings were the color of sand. The hem of the cloak swirled outward around her sandaled feet, reminding the kender of the glow that spread from the sun setting on ocean waves. Her long blonde hair fluttered about her neck and shoulders as if there were a strong breeze teasing it, but the air was completely still inside the cabin. The kender tentatively reached a gloved hand forward and her fingers passed right through Goldmoon’s knee.
“Oh, you’re not here, not really. Just a magical picture,” Blister said.
The first time the kender had seen Goldmoon, the healer looked well into middle-age, with several streaks of gray hair. That had been hundreds of miles from here and several months ago at the Citadel of Light on the island of Schall-sea. Goldmoon looked a little younger today, and a touch more lively. She had fewer wrinkles, but her eyes were sadder.
“Remember me?” The kender smiled cheerily and waved a gloved hand.
“Blister,” Goldmoon said warmly. “Of course I remember you. It is good to see you again.”
The kender beamed, deepening the wrinkles about her eyes. Jasper grumbled something behind her, then coughed, as if clearing his throat
“I was looking in on Jasper,” Goldmoon explained.
The kender pursed her lips. “Well, the door was open a little bit.” The kender kept her eyes on Goldmoon.
“It wasn’t open,” said Jasper.
“Well, it wasn’t locked. I must have accidentally bumped it open when I was walking by. You know how the ship rocks all the time, even in port, and makes you lose your balance. And since I accidentally opened it, I figured I might as well come inside—just in case Jasper needed to talk to me about something.”