“One, perhaps,” Volrek said, “though I see he is at your side now-as we suspected. Milord, they are in this together.”
“You have some proof of this?” the lord asked.
“All know the grudge the Landwalker bears against Reeftown and the lady Lakuda,” Volrek said.
“Lakuda is a self-righteous, covetous bitch,” Ula shot back.
Lord Aquironian, reclining in his shell-like throne, looked slightly amused. “A common trait among the scavengers of the outer reefs, it seems,” he said.
Ula flushed.
“The dragon has never before penetrated so deeply into the Veil’s enchantment,” Volrek continued. “It does so shortly after she returns to Reeftown, and when it attacks she is nowhere to be found. I say that it clearly adds up against her.”
“It was Lakuda’s foragers who brought me back to the city,” Ula replied. “Why don’t you blame them? Or blame yourselves? I had no desire to return to Reeftown. And what would I gain from its destruction?”
“You are a well-known malcontent and rabble-rouser. Is that not so, Lord Aquironian?”
Mik glanced at Shimmer but still the bronze knight remained impassive.
Before the lord could speak, the woman hovering near the throne swam forward. “Milord,” she began, “while it is true that my sister is something of a rebel-a fact which has made her less than welcome many places, even in the house of our father-I find it difficult to believe that she would consort with this evil dragon.”
“She’s consorted with dragons before!” Volrek put in. “Perhaps…”
“Enough!” Aquironian cut him off. “You may be an envoy from our kin in Reeftown, Volrek, but there are still protocols to be observed. You interrupt me or members of my court at your peril.”
The turtle-armored elf bowed low. “Your forgiveness, lord. We who live beyond the Veil are sometimes brash and ill-mannered. I intended no offense to you, or the lady Lyssara Drakenvaal.”
Ula’s sister, Lyssara, nodded in reply. She turned her gaze upon Ula and Shimmer and seemed slightly surprised to find Mik hovering next to them. “Though my sister has associated with some… disreputable types in the past,” she said, her purple eyes straying to Mik, “she has no love for evil creatures, dragon or otherwise.”
Ula, noticing Mik for the first time, gave him a discreet wink and motioned that he should keep silent.
“Perhaps your sister has changed since you last saw her,” Lord Aquironian suggested.
“I do not doubt that she has,” Lyssara replied. “And possibly not for the better. However, her Drakenvaal upbringing should not be entirely forgotten. No one of our line could intentionally harm either the Dragon Isles or the Dargonesti. She cannot possibly be causing the trouble with the dragon, nor the weakening of the Veil.”
“You’re right,” Ula said. “I have nothing to do with this fish flop. But I don’t need you sticking your big butt into this, Lyssara. This is between Lakuda’s cronies and me.”
Lyssara’s purple eyes narrowed, but her voice remained calm. “Very well, little sister,” she said, “since you shun my help, I leave you to your own devices.” She slid back behind the throne and hovered there.
“What have you to say, Ula Landwalker?” Lord Aquironian asked.
“I demand to see my accuser,” Ula said. “If Lakuda really believes all this sea-foam she’s spouting about me, then she should stand before milord Aquironian herself. But instead, she sends this flunky to spread her baseless accusations.”
“Milady Lakuda cannot stand before you, Lord Aquironian,” Volrek interjected. “She was gravely injured in the fight with the dragon, and even now lies recovering from her wounds.”
“Fish oil!” said Ula. “I’ll gladly face Volrek, or anyone he cares to designate, in trial by combat to prove my innocence.” She held her spear horizontally before her, in a traditional attitude of honorable challenge.
Volrek shifted uncomfortably where he was hovering.
“Ula doesn’t have anything to do with the dragon,” Mik ventured to say. “She could have been killed in the attack just as easily as anyone else.”
The lord of the sea elves regarded the sailor with a mixture of surprise and disdain. “You have not been given leave to speak, surfacer,” he said.
Mik bowed. “My apologies, lord.”
“For what my word is worth, Lord Aquironian, I concur,” Shimmer said calmly. “Ula is not in league with the dragon Tempest.”
“He would say that,” Volrek shouted. “They’re in this together.”
Aquironian regarded Lakuda’s messenger coldly. “Then you intend to challenge her word, Volrek? You will face Ula Landwalker in combat?”
Volrek shrank back. “It was not my lady’s instruction to do so,” he said.
“Then I will consider that you have withdrawn your complaint,” Aquironian replied. “Ula Drakenvaal, also known as Landwalker, is free to go-though we suggest that she depart our city at her earliest convenience.”
Ula bowed slightly, “I shall stay no longer than necessary, lord.”
“What of this man?” Volrek said, indicating Mik. “He is the rightful hostage of Lakuda. Shimanloreth stole him from the detention chamber-along with several others.”
“Shimmer came to our aid when the city was falling,” Mik said.
“This man-and the other prisoners-may be set against my forage claims, if the Lady Lakuda so desires,” Shimmer said.
Aquironian straightened up in his throne. “I’ve had enough of this squabbling,” he said. “It’s late, and my lady wife awaits. Since I see no way of determining whose lawful plunder this surfacer might be, I declare him-and any associated others who enter my realm-free from all bond and obligation. And since I see no evil in this man, he shall be treated as our guest.”
He turned to the Dargonesti woman standing guard behind Mik. “Show him all due courtesy.”
The elf in golden seashell armor bowed, ‘Aye, milord.”
Mik bowed, too. “Thank you, most gracious lord of the sea elves.”
“While you are in our city, you will obey our rules,” the lord said to them. “If you do not, you will be dealt with accordingly.”
“I understand,” Mik said. “Thank you, milord.”
“Lyssara,” Aquironian said, “see that our surfacedwelling guest is given comfortable accommodations and that he understands the ways of our people. See to your sister and Shimanloreth as well.” He rose from his throne and crossed the room with a few powerful kicks. “Now, if you’ll forgive me…” Two guards opened the door at the back of the chamber, and Lord Aquironian exited.
Volrek glanced angrily from Ula to the doors and then followed the lord out.
Lyssara Drakenvaal swam forward once more. “I shall be delighted to do as my lord bids,” she said, her smile lighting up the room. “I will show you to your chambers.” She turned and led them all out of the room, through the same golden doors through which Aquironian had exited.
“Thanks for speaking up for me,” Ula said to Mik. “It was a brave thing to do.”
“You’re welcome,” Mik replied. Looking around the arching corridor, he said, “This city of yours is amazing.”
“It’s not my city any more,” she said. “And Darthalla is about as shabby as Reeftown once you get past its gilt exterior.”
Lyssara, swimming ahead, glanced at them over her shoulder. “Please try to keep up,” she said. “We’ve some business to discuss before you retire.”
Ula rolled her eyes. “I can’t wait.”
“Could we perhaps hold this discussion someplace dry?” Mik asked. “Our recent journeys have left me pretty worn out, and it would be nice to breathe without relying on enchantments for a while.”
Ula’s sister glanced at the sailor’s jewel-scaled necklace. “As you wish,” she said. “Follow me.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Trip didn’t mind being locked in a small room-to a kender, it seemed like quite a large room. He didn’t even mind being tied up. The ropes weren’t too itchy, and it gave him something to work on during the voyage. What he did mind was that the room had no window, and he really wanted to see where Lord Kell’s galley was taking him. He hoped-if they were going to Jaentarth-that he might even see some pirates.