She sipped from the cup. "Begone. Ye do not tell me a thing I have not heard from other sources."

"How is your Chosen faring?" The sinister timbre of Gregor's voice made her wonder what he knew.

Did he have some method of learning what she and Andalor said?

"He's fine."

"Mayhaps he has your cousin in his hands."

"I have not told him to capture her but to join her party."

"I do not understand your reasoning. Ye must prevent her from reaching the White."

Reena shook her head. "I think ye must study all the texts concerning the time the Black was created and the White vanished from the Palace of the Seven Jewels. 'Twas then the Jewels became eight. I will not reign supreme as long as that Jewel exists. If ye stop my cousin, the White will still exist."

He bowed. "I will look into this matter." He waved the other mages away. "Later, I will return for another lesson. If ye are to face the White, ye must be strong and completely attuned to the Black."

"I think not. Do not return until I summon ye."

CHAPTER 12.

From The Lore of the Jewels There were, among the people, men and women with small talents. Some had weather magic. Others had rapport with animals. Some dowsed for water. A group of women had a talent for healing. Some could make plants thrive. And there were those with the ability to force people to do their will and those who could see into the minds of others. Many of these, except for the Healers, were men. They banded together to form the Brotherhood of mages. And they learned how to use the other talented. But the Jewel Holders they could not use.

The Stormy Lady's timbers were weather-grayed and the sails had been mended time and time again. Liara stood at Brader's side and stared at the ship she hoped would carry them to Quato.

"Are ye sure we must sail with them?" Brader asked. "Don't look like much."

"If they'll have us, we'll go. We can't tarry here. The Guards will be nipping on our heels and they'll have mages to help."

"I'll see about pa.s.sage. Ye wait."

She watched him climb the gangplank. A moment later, her eyes widened. On the deck of the second ship, a mage appeared. Just as she had feared. For years, Tana's power had kept the Brotherhood and their evil ways from the island. As she stared, a hand of Guards joined the mage. She slipped into the shadows and fought a wild urge to flee.

Before long, Brader returned. He glanced at the mage and his companions and joined Liara in the shadows. "They'll take us but they asked a pretty price. We'll have but a few coins when we reach Quato."

"Let's sell the ponies."

"I paid pa.s.sage for them."

"We can purchase others in Quato. Does the ship still leave in the morning?"

"They do. I don't see why we should sell the ponies. They've served us well."

She edged out of the shadows. "It's just a feeling I have. We're known to have them. What if the Guards from the inn arrive and start asking at the docks about a man and a woman taking ponies aboard a ship?" She shuddered. "What if the mages question the sailors? Let's find the market."

Brader nodded. "Makes sense."

They led the ponies down a narrow street with taverns on either side. At the end, they found the market square.

Liara stared at the canopied booths where a wealth of goods, from cloth and jewelry to foodstuffs both raw and prepared, were offered for sale. A babble of voices made her want to cover her ears. Perfumes, medicinals, spices, cooking food-the aromas blended into a single pungent odor. People moved to and fro and brought to mind the steps of an impromptu dance.

On the outskirts of the market, they found the animal sellers' compound. With a bargaining skill she didn't know she possessed, she managed to sell the ponies and their gear for more coins than the pa.s.sage had cost.

On their way to the docks, she stopped to purchase meat pies and vegetables roasted on sticks. When they had eaten their fill, Liara headed to the Healer's stand and purchased a variety of medicinals. She bought spices, dried fruit, a scoop of chakla leaves and one of kaf beans.

"What are ye doing?" Brader asked when she put appas, pinels and nuts in a sack. "They'll feed us as part of our pa.s.sage."

"I know." She added a pot of honey and two skins of golden wine. "We'll be glad of a change from ship's fare." With the last of her purchases made, Liara turned toward the docks.

Brader grabbed her arm. "We'd best find an inn for the night." She shook her head. "I'd feel safer aboard ship. Come." She grasped his arm and ducked into an alley. "Over there. Isn't that one of the Guards from the inn?" Brader peered into the square. "'Tis Rogir. The ship it is. Go first. I'll make sure we haven't been seen." * * * As Liara boarded the Stormy Lady, a young man with hair sun-bleached to a near silver stopped her.

"Who be ye?"

"A pa.s.senger. My brother booked us aboard. He'll be along soon."

The young man bowed. "Welcome to the Stormy Lady. Sorry I asked, but we've no need of prying strangers. I'm Valmir, the cabin steward and cook's helper. Ye and your brother are the only pa.s.sengers this trip. Better than the hand of Guards we carried from Quato."

"I'm Liara." She glanced toward the ship where she'd seen the mage and felt relieved to see a deserted deck. "Could ye show me to the cabin?"

"Ye'll have to share with your brother. Captain took extra cargo this trip-to pay for what we lost on the last one." "'Twill be fine." "If ye need anything, just ask when I bring your meals." He led her to a small cabin and deposited her pack and the sack of purchases on the lower of two bunks built into one wall. A table and a pair of chests anch.o.r.ed to the floor completed the furnishings. She asked for water and when it arrived, she washed their small clothes, her spare blouse and Brader's tunic. She opened the porthole and emptied the basin.

Where was Brader? Had he been captured? Her nerves were near screaming level when the door opened and he stepped inside. He put several meat pies and some berry pockets on the table. "Thought we'd eat here. The Guards are searching every inn and tavern for us."

"Are we safe?"

"I made sure they didn't see me, and if we stay in the cabin, they can't spot us."

"Let me clean and dress your wounds."

He grimaced. "I guess ye must."

As Liara unwrapped the makeshift bandages, a foul odor arose. Ignoring Brader's complaints, she

scrubbed the deep slash lines and applied a medicinal dressing. Still, she worried lest the injury fester. * * * By the time night arrived Liara felt caged, but she knew Brader was right to insist they remain in the cabin. She lay on the upper bunk. Though she didn't think she'd sleep, the gentle rocking and the soft lap of the water against the hull lulled her into dreams. At sunrise, shouts brought her awake. Had the Guards discovered they were here? "Brader," she called. He sat up and nearly hit his head on her bunk. "What's wrong?" "I think... I fear..." She lowered the bar on the door. "The Guards...the mages..." He stood at the porthole. "We're under sail." She released the bar and slumped on the chest. "I'm glad...so very glad." Brader returned to his bunk. "Go back to sleep." She cut an appa and stood at the porthole while she ate. Sadness rose and she wished for a last glimpse of the island that had been her home. Tana, I vow I will see this quest to an end and accept what I am given. But Mother of my heart, I wish ye could share the adventure.

The breeze teased tendrils of her hair and she wanted to be on deck. She couldn't, not in daylight, lest someone discover who she was.

Tonight, she thought. When the Sister Moons light the sky. If I keep in the shadows, no one will see.

* * * A half tenday pa.s.sed more quickly than she'd thought possible. Brader slept for long hours and she wondered if he was ill. She spent her days studying the Lore of the Jewels, and at night she escaped the cabin. This night, there was a different quality to the air. The sails flapped wildly. The seamen thudded across the deck. Dark clouds hid the moons and lightning flared in the distance. "Be a mother of a storm coming," a seaman said. "'Tis the wrong season for a blow," a second sailor remarked. "Been an odd year all told, what with the Queen ill and the mages on the prowl," a third said. Liara returned to the cabin. Brader moaned and moved restlessly on the bunk. She touched his forehead. A fever. Why now of all times?

By lantern light, she opened the dressings and saw the gashes were red and swollen. "I must open and clean your wounds." He groaned. She cleaned her knife in the flame of the lantern and cut the swollen flesh. With water, she cleaned away the exudates, packed the wounds with medicinals. What now? She was no Healer and the ship was staffed with men. She was all he had. Brader opened fever-glazed eyes. "'Tis hot." He tossed the blankets on the floor. "I know." She dissolved feverf.a.ge in wine. "Sip this. 'Twill help." He sipped most of the wine. "'Tis punishment for my failure." "Don't be foolish. The wounds have festered because they weren't treated soon enough."

"Aye. My fault." He closed his eyes. Liara pulled their packs from the chest and quickly filled them. She tied Brader's sword and scabbard to his pack and put the pair by the door. Then she struggled to get Brader into his cloak before donning her own. As great waves slapped the hull, the ship jumped and lurched, leaning to one side and then the other. Brader moaned and thrashed. "Cold, so cold."

She pulled the blanket from the floor. "Ye will be fine. Ye must."

The ship bucked harder than the wildest hill pony. The very boards creaked and groaned. A thunderous

crack was followed by a thud that shook the cabin. She heard screams and shouts.

"To the boats."

"Out. We must escape." She shook Brader. "Ye must get up. Something has happened to the ship."

"So cold."

"Brader, up!"

"I'll try." His body shook but he got to his feet. She braced him against the door while she fastened his

pack to his back and grabbed hers. She opened the door. A great gush of water shot through the opening and knocked them both to the floor.

"Up, Brader. Get up!"

Valmir entered. "Come. I'll help. The crew takes to the boats. There is one for us."

Between the two of them, they dragged Brader. The deck was in shambles. The great mast had fractured. Pieces of the sails flapped in the wind. Gusts of wind and rain nearly knocked Liara down.

Valmir led them to a small boat that hung against the side of the Stormy Lady. "Get in. I'll lift him to ye.

Then I must lower the boat. Grasp the end of the ladder so I can climb down."

As the boat moved toward the choppy water, she watched the rope ladder unroll. The wind played them like a child's swing.

When the boat slapped against the sea, she nearly lost her hold on the ropes. She looked up and saw Valmir scrambling down. The ship rolled. So did the boat. Brader slammed against her legs and toppled her. She lost her hold on the ladder.

"Nay!" she shouted. Valmir fell or dove into the sea. He surfaced and she reached for him. He grasped her hand and then the side of the boat.

"Cut the pulley ropes or we'll go under." She turned and saw the Stormy Lady had started a slow spiral. Seizing Brader's sword, she hacked atthe ropes. Soon Valmir joined his efforts to hers. As the last rope parted, a wave tossed the small boataway from the ship.

"We must be blessed by the Ladies of the Jewels," Valmir said. Liara looked at him. "I believe we are." She knelt beside her foster brother. A lump on the back of his head bled freely. She opened her pack and tore strips from her already ruined shift to pad and bind the wound. His clothes were drenched and she feared his fever. She and Valmir moved Brader to the side of the boat.

"Help me fasten this covering," Valmir said. "'Twill keep some of the rain from us."

With that done, Valmir placed some wide-mouth jugs to catch the rainwater. Liara stripped off Brader's

wet clothes.

"Milady, let me help ye. There are blankets in the lockers beneath the seats."

"My thanks, but I'm not Milady. Just Liara and my brother is Brader. How long will this storm last?"

Valmir shrugged. "'Tis but my second sea voyage. We should rest and let the sea carry us until the storm

ends." * * * Liara sat in the bow of the boat and rested her elbows on her knees. The sea was calm. Valmir had raised the sail. The surface of the water resembled dark blue gla.s.s with glints of sunlight dancing on the surface.

Brader groaned. She moved to his side. "How do ye feel?"

He struggled into a sitting position. "Where are we?"

"Adrift in a small boat. The Stormy Lady is gone. Valmir saved us."

"Then he has my thanks." Brader rubbed his head. "There's a hammer pounding."

"Ye fell and hit your head. Your other wounds are healing clean. The festering is gone. Valmir says the seamen swear by sea water as a cure."

Brader raised his arm and stared at the healing gashes. Then he looked at Liara. "Where is your kerchief?"

"Lost during the storm."

He turned to look at Valmir. "Can we trust this seaman? Ye know the risks if people learn who ye are."