[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.For a heartbeat Jorim actually saw an image of the world on the wall and watched Cartaynesharpen in definition.He braced for a mental assault, but his grandfather broke the link with a swift finality.Jorim slumpedback against the bulkhead and bumped his head not enough to injure himself, but sufficient to shockhim back to full consciousness.Sitting up, he rubbed the back of his head.I hope everything is all right.The quick termination of their link could have meant his grandfather hadcollapsed.His heart might have failed, or he might have suffered a brain tremor.He might even havebeen murdered.Jorim dismissed the latter instantly, since Uncle Ulan would never have the nerve to killhim, and would permit no one else close enough to do so.The Prince s precautions would keepassassins out, so the old man was safe from anything other than natural disaster or the vengeance of thegods.He just as easily dismissed the idea that his grandfather was ill.Jorim felt certain he would have gottensome hint of pain, shock, or panic through the link before it was broken.His grandfather s ego was suchthat he d not have been able to conceal his dismay at being prey to mortal afflictions.But it surprised Jorim that his first reaction was concern for the old man.He would have expected to feelsome sort of relief, or even glee, for he had long since ceased to like his grandfather.He didn t respecthim much either, save in the area of mapmaking.Outside of that, Qiro Anturasi was a creature worthyonly of contempt.A knock on the cabin door prevented him from examining his feelings further. I m not hurt.The thumpyou heard was nothing.The door opened and Anaeda Gryst stood there. I m glad to hear that.We re going ashore. I thought. Jorim scrambled to his feet and scooped his logbook up as her eyes narrowed. Asordered, Captain Gryst.Let me lock this away first. Be quick about it, and bring your sword.He opened his sea chest and deposited the log, then drew out a simple sword.Single-edged, running justshy of a yard from hilt to point, the blade resided in an unadorned wooden scabbard.The hilt was longenough to let him use the blade two-handed, but the sword was light enough that he could duel with iteasily as well.Jorim had not studied swordsmanship at a serrian, but the Prince had seen to it that theAnturasi heirs knew enough to protect themselves.Jorim had gotten better on his own and might havebeen Fifth Rank if tested by a school in the capital. Do you expect trouble, Captain? If I did, you d see our cavalry mounted and ready to escort us.Jorim shut the chest and locked it. I notice you re unarmed.She smiled slowly. The people we ll see already know how dangerous I am.Your sword will win you amodicum of respect.That will be enough for the moment.Come, we ve not a moment to lose.He followed her from his cabin up to the main deck, and then down netting to where a small boatbobbed beside the Stormwolf.Five sailors four oarsmen and a coxswain waited for them.CaptainGryst sat in the stern, leaving Jorim the bench at the bow, which he didn t mind taking.The oarsmenpushed off the ship, then began the half mile pull in toward the shore.Nysant had, ages before, been a Viruk outpost.Little could be seen of what once had been strongfortresses because stones had been stolen from them and mud buildings grafted to their walls likehornets nests.The squat human buildings mocked the former grandeur.Their imprecise angles andslouching forms dragged on Viruk architecture, much as the human slaves must have dragged on the lastof their Viruk masters.When the heart of the Viruk Empire sank beneath the Dark Sea, the Cartayne colony had begun towither.The Viruk had brought Men and Soth slaves to populate the place and work it.Gemstone minesand plantations in the interior had provided a lot of wealth for the Empire, but with no home market, theeconomy collapsed.The Viruk retreated, not caring what happened to their slaves.Nysant had become, over the centuries, a center of commerce.The trade winds made it easy for shipsfrom the east to reach the city, and the coastal currents allowed them safe passage back home.Along theway they filled their holds with a variety of things that fetched high prices in their home ports.Until Nalenifleets had begun to travel to the west themselves, Nysant had been the source of western treasures.It yetserved the same role for a number of the other Principalities, and ships from the Five Princes all rodeanchor in the harbor.Jorim and Captain Gryst climbed a ladder to a wharf and headed inland.Just beyond the normal thicketof dockside warehouses, they entered a free marketplace where wares from the world over were toutedby hundreds of loud voices.Textiles and spices, exotic animals and enslaved peoples all were offered forsale.Captain Gryst stayed well away from the slave pens, where half-naked ebon-fleshed men fromAefret stood chained in a line on an auction block.The auctioneer a mongrel of dusky skin andmuddled features solicited bids with a combination of flattery and abuse, all in the local cant.Jorimcaught words here and there, and liked the lyrical flow of his voice, though the practice of trading humanflesh did not appeal to him at all.They continued on past stalls with fruits and vegetables, squawking yard fowl and collections of oddtrinkets.Captain Gryst led him out through the eastern edge of the bazaar and turned north.They plungedinto a dim world of twisting alleys.Despite his skill at cartography, Jorim quickly became lost, and hegained the impression that she wanted it that way.Finally, she stopped before a small shop and entered through a doorway hung with a ragged blanket.Hefound himself in a small room with a carpeted floor that had been strewn with thick pillows.The carpethad come from Tas al Aud and would fetch a fortune in Moriande likewise the beautifully embroideredpillows.That she sat in the midst of a fortune did not seem to make any impression on the tiny, wizened womanfacing them.She drew on a long pipe and exhaled sweet smoke that drifted into a low-hanging cloud.Captain Gryst bowed, then sank to her knees, drawing some of the smoke down with her.Jorim likewisebowed, instinctively holding it long enough to convey great respect, then knelt a step behind and to theright of Captain Gryst.The old woman smiled toothlessly. I am pleased you have returned, Anaeda.Your absence has beenmourned. It grieved me as well, Grandmother. Anaeda bowed her head again. I came when word reached methat you wished to see me. Would that you thought to come sooner, for my home is yours.But the Stormwolf demands moreattention than I do. The old woman pointed the pipe stem at Jorim. He is not your bodyguard.Yourlover, perhaps? An associate, Grandmother.The woman snorted smoke out her nose, then clamped the pipe firmly in teeth. You will be moreforthcoming, I know. She shifted a pillow and withdrew from it a bamboo case corked at each end.Sheopened one end and withdrew a scroll, which she spread out on the carpet.She used her bare feet tohold two corners down, leaving it to Anaeda and Jorim to secure the corners nearest them.Jorim fought to conceal his reaction, but Anaeda did not.She gasped, then chuckled. This is wonderful,Grandmother. She turned to Jorim. What do you think?Jorim rubbed his free hand over his chin [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]