A single word overheard has led Ursula to believe that another transferee arrived in Yod many years ago, possibly leading to the creation of the Ascendancy. But any new leads must be followed cautiously, since those who still support the defeated Ascendancy trust no-one. A curious deal is struck.

The Voyage of the Visund

A tale of Anmar by Penny Lane

57 - The Search

Disclaimer: The original characters and plot of this story are the property of the author. No infringement of pre-existing copyright is intended. This story is copyright (c) 2022 Penny Lane. All rights reserved.

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At breakfast the following morning the company were again offered bacon rolls which most accepted eagerly. On the women's table, only Vellana looked reluctant.

"What is the problem, dear?" Eriana asked her.

The young former villager smiled hesitantly. "Highness, I know you mean well but I am not at all used to such rich food."

"Rich food?" Eriana echoed. "Vellana, this is not rich food but something of the kind that might be picked up at any wayside eating place. If you remain with me long enough you will indeed discover rich food since that is what is usually served in Palarand's palace."

"A palace? Highness, I thought..." Vellana stopped and then giggled. "It had not occurred to me where a Princess must needs reside, Highness. I beg your pardon."

"Ha! A palace is indeed where most Princesses are born and grow up but that does not mean they desire to remain within its walls once they come of age, Vellana. For myself I much prefer to be on the Visund, as you may easily imagine. However, most Princesses will marry someone of like rank and go to live in another palace or great house where the food may be just as rich. Nay, the food we eat here at the hostel is merely decent travelers' fare, I deem."

"Highness," Ursula interjected, "Both Matta and Vellana come from remote villages and will be unused to the kinds of food that we take for granted. Add in the fact that they have been half-starved for months and I am not surprised that they struggle with what we are provided."

Eriana nodded. "Of course. Forgive me, girls, I have forgot your recent woes. Ursula is right, you probably do not even know what most of Yod is used to eating, do you?"

Both Matta and Vellana shook their heads. The former answered, "No, Mistress. For me it was whatever my father caught from the river, some few vegetables and, in the spring and summer, fresh greens. I did not eat meat until..." Her voice trailed off, remembering.

"Until the Yodan soldiers took you," Eriana supplied, her expression grim. "And, probably, only while they still had any. Girls, you have my sympathies, but whatever those beasts did to you, it is true that meat is widely available to all who live away from the river and not all who eat it are beasts."

"Highness, we will try and remember that."

A little later on, once their breakfast had been eaten, Vellana had another request. "Highness, I know what you have done for us and why, but we feel that in some way we must offer something in return. It is not our way to just take what others may provide, we have been brought up that there is a cost to everything, even if it is not coin."

Eriana's response was thoughtful. "In some respects I would agree, girls. The world works by trading talent for food, strength for drink and knowledge for a roof over our heads. Coin is just a convenient way of measuring such things. But for you, it is barely a week since you were rescued and you still have many days to go before Ursula considers you well enough to play your part."

She smiled at the two young girls and then swung to include the other rescued women. "I doubt any of you will become strong enough to raise Visund's yard or pull an oar but there will indeed be other tasks you may do in time. For now, think of what you have been provided not as charity but as an investment for your future."

"You are gracious, Highness."

Eriana added, "We do not use coin aboard the Visund. Each gives what he - or she - can provide and receives whatever they need, whether that be food, safety or a place to sleep." She grinned. "It is true that our expenses ashore have recently become large but I am assured that the treasury of King Robanar will not be strained too greatly by our demands. However, there is a long way before we reach Palarand once more and we must all be careful what we do or buy."

Ursula asked, "Who was it who ironed our dresses yesterday? Tyra had intended to do them and was surprised to find them ready to wear when we went up for our nap."

Larys raised a finger. "Mistress, yesterday morning I decided to make sure that my attire was clean and presentable. After I had finished I discovered that there was time to spare before lunch. I saw your two day dresses hanging up, I knew what had happened the day before, and I thought to make use of the iron which was still hot. Was I wrong to do so?"

Ursula smiled. "Not at all, Larys! We both thank you for your kind thought. We are women together, it is natural that we should help each other."

As they rose from table she asked Eriana, "Highness, I need to talk to you about that man I mentioned last night. Can we do that now? There may be some urgency."

"As you desire, Ursula. I would learn your thoughts but, first, I must needs pay a visit to the bathing block."

"As do we, Highness."

Eriana and Ursula, with Tyra, met at a suitably empty corner of the courtyard immediately afterwards.

"Highness, I must first ask if you are content for me to try and find this person."

No person was named or described but none needed to be.

"Of course, Ursula! As Robanar's representative it is my duty to gather any and all information concerning those who the Beings have brought here. Why do you ask?"

"Because it may take some time to find him and I have no idea where the trail might lead us. Possibly away from the river, which could mean dividing your forces."

Eriana waved a hand. "I will deal with that if it becomes necessary, Ursula. Aye, some must of course remain with our ships but there are enough men for a party to accompany you elsewhere." Her gaze narrowed. "Which reminds me! What were you thinking, walking off into the village dressed that way? And without any escort beside you?"

"Highness, I admit that it was not the right thing to do. The dresses we wore the day before had gotten soaked so needed attention. Our ship dresses were all that were available. I thought that we would not go far, and we have been here enough days now that nobody would bother with us, whatever we wore. I was wrong."

"Hmm. I must needs command that, should you and Tyra go forth again, anywhere along the Sirrel, that you have at least two of my men beside you." She pointed a finger with a smile. "And you may not choose Adin to be one of them! I know you and he go to the market to find herbs and other foods, there must at least be two of my warriors with you."

Ursula briefly bowed her head. "As you command, Highness. What you ask is only common sense. But you know that those men might have to spend time standing outside some of the places we visit? Men are not welcome everywhere I go."

Another dismissive wave. "Something will be arranged. So. How do you intend to find this man? Do we round up all these so-called Wardens and pound it out of them?"

The reply was cautious. "Highness, I want to be careful here. The Ascendancy is no more, legally. Anyone who still supports the old regime is unlikely to want to talk to someone who does not - and even less likely to speak to any foreigner. First, I want to go to the lockup and speak to those two men I treated yesterday, and I want to do it before that Arbiter arrives."

"How do you know that they will talk to you? You have just said that they will not speak to strangers."

"That is true but I am a healer, come to check their wounds and perhaps to change bandages. They already know me. Unlike your own warriors they do not see me as any kind of threat."

Eriana nodded. "Aye, I see what you mean. You have a different way about you, mayhap you can obtain that which a more physical method may not. You desire to go now?"

"If possible, Highness. Once the Arbiter gets here their attitude will change and I doubt they would tell me anything useful. Oh, and on the way back I think we ought to go to the market and buy both Tyra and myself some Yodan-style dresses. If we have to move around the country it would be better if we did not stand out the way we did yesterday."

The Princess thought this through before nodding again. "You have considered this well, have you not? Very well, I shall find two men and we can go."

"Highness, we will have to go and collect my basket and bag."

"Of course. And I must needs give instructions to Lars." She pointed. "We will meet you by the entrance."

"We? You intend to come as well?"

A twisted smile. "I shall not frighten your patients, Ursula. I will remain outside as part of your escort. But I think that I will need to know whatever you can find out and as soon as possible. As you said, the trail could lead anywhere and plans must needs be made. "

"Done, Highness."

Ursula and Tyra rejoined Eriana at the courtyard entrance. With the Princess were Torvin and Ragnar, both armed to the teeth. For this outing the three women were wearing day dresses which were just about acceptable in Yod.

"I assume that you know the way, Highness."

"As you say. We took the two men there yesterday."

Their route led through the market but there was no time to stop. There was no trouble but those already there seemed to give them favorable glances. It was apparent that the Wardens had not been well-liked. Eriana led them along a different street to another small square.

"This area seems to be the administrative center of the village," she remarked, pointing. "That hall is where the village committee meets, I believe. The Watch is based in this other building and next to it is the lockup."

They had been seen approaching and a man came to the doorway. He recognized them, vanished, and reappeared with Gorath, who was wiping his mouth.

"Master Gorath, I apologize if we disturb you at your breakfast this morning."

"Captain, I have been on duty these three bells. This is not breakfast but my mid-morning break. If I may ask your business with us today?"

"Mistress Ursula desires to visit the two men and check their wounds. Will that be possible?"

"Why, of course, Captain." He glanced meaningfully at Torvin and Ragnar.

"After yesterday's excitement I thought to provide my healer with an escort. Is that acceptable?"

"Captain, I am delighted to see them. It eases my mind to know that you and your crew can take care of themselves."

"As you say. And I must apologize again for yesterday's disturbance, it was caused by the ignorance of foreigners."

"It happened, Captain, and it was not something for which the Watch could have been of help. It ended well and that is enough." Gorath turned to the other man. "Togar, show the healer and her assistant to the cells. You will need to let them into the cell to attend their patients."

The two followed Togar into the Watch station and through to the lockup. This was very small and consisted of two cells and a food preparation area. Both prisoners had been put in the same cell and Togar checked first before opening the thick wooden door.

"Mistress. If you would knock or call when you desire to emerge. I will be nearby in case of trouble, though these two seem to be peaceful enough."

"Thank you, Togar."

The two men sat up as Ursula and Tyra entered, the one with his chest bandaged moving slowly and carefully. He gave her a weak smile as a welcome.

"Mistress. I did not expect to see you again." His tone became ironic. "As you can see, I have rested as you commanded me to."

"Good morning. Your wound is severe enough that I thought to come and check that it is mending as it should. Have either of you experienced any problems?"

She went through the usual routine of any medical practitioner as she took off their bandages and inspected their wounds. All appeared to be clean and beginning to heal, though Ursula knew it might be a week before any sign of trouble became apparent. She applied fresh salve and bandages and instructed both to rest as long as possible, which raised strained smiles on both faces.

"Mistress, I do not know our fate but I doubt that rest will be any part of it."

"I will speak to the Watch leader and also to the Arbiter when he arrives. You are my patients and I will not have you abused while you recover."

There was a distinct pause as the two men considered her words.

"Mistress," the man with the chest wound said, "I have never heard the like from any woman of Yod. Are they all like you wherever you came from?"

"Some are, some are not, some are more. Like men, women are not all the same. Now, if I may, I would like to ask you some questions about a subject you may consider private."

"Mistress?"

"When I was in that shed, I could clearly hear," - Ursula stretched a point - "what was being said outside. Your leader, the man you called 'boss', was speaking to another man about me."

The reply came after another pause. "Mistress, I cannot deny it."

"That man was addressed as Commissioner. Your boss spoke to him of an old man who might benefit if I were taken to him."

The two men, after a shifty glance at each other, went very still.

She added, "I must remind you that anything you say to me as a healer is confidential. I have given an oath to keep the words of my patients to myself."

The man with the arm bandage jabbed a thumb at Tyra. "What about her?"

"She is sworn to me. My secrets are her secrets."

"She is your maid, eh? I wondered what she was to you."

"These days I prefer to call her my assistant. You know I am a foreigner by my accent. When I came to the valley of the Sirrel I knew nothing at all about its people or customs. Tyra has been invaluable in making me feel comfortable around the countries here, although there is still much I have yet to understand. Now, I must ask you, knowing that I will keep your secrets, will you trust me?"

The two shared another glance. "Maybe, Mistress... but that depends on what you ask."

"Good enough for now. So, I am guessing that you two used to be soldiers of Yod?"

"Aye, Mistress. I was sent to Upper Fanir and he was posted to the island opposite when we captured it from those of Lower Fanir. But we are soldiers no longer. The war is finished and we are beaten."

"As I said, I am a foreigner and I will not pass judgement on the war. I would assume, from what happened yesterday and the mention of the Commissioner, that you both remain followers of the Ascendancy?"

There was a longer silence but the first man eventually replied, "Aye. If you know of the Commissioner and heard him asked about the old man then it is a reasonable guess. Does anyone else know?"

"I'm sorry, it was mentioned yesterday after the fight. Master Gorath may inform the Arbiter. Does that make any difference?"

"It might, Mistress, but nothing we would not expect. It was not a big secret. What is it you wish to know about the..." he lowered his voice. "Ascendancy?"

"Let me tell you what I think happened. A long time ago, maybe fifty to sixty years ago, someone came to Yod by unknown means. He may have been a young boy then, perhaps someone only just an adult. Now he is an old man. Like me he had a strong accent when he arrived that faded over time. He told many strange stories and was probably laughed at until one day he found a way of proving that his stories were not fantasy but fact.

"Once people began taking notice of him he told you - Yodans, I mean, not you personally - of his origins and what he believed in and he told you that Yod could become as great as the land of his birth. That, I believe, is how the Ascendancy started."

She leaned forward, her attention on the man with the chest wound. "If you do not wish to tell me anything I will respect that. However, that old man interests me and not, perhaps, for the reasons you think he would. You see, when your boss talked to the Commissioner he used an unusual title for that old man. He called him the Old Führer, and that was a title I recognized, since I can also speak the language he was born with, and that is because I came from a land near where he came from."

The two men stared at Ursula with horror and the one with the arm bandage actually stood and backed away.

"Are you she?"

"No, I am not. I have heard of the person you speak of, of course, but I am different. I have never set foot in Palarand. I know nothing of those matters, in fact, I only arrived after the war had ended."

The two relaxed slightly and glanced at each other. Arm-bandage sat down again.

"Then... you wish to speak to the old man who you think is from near your own land? You would not betray him to the authorities?"

Ursula shrugged. "Why should I bother? If he is an old man, as I heard, and he was the Old leader, then I am guessing that he is no longer the leader. If he is ill then he may die soon. I have no desire to hasten his death. But I am a healer and I may be of service to him."

Another shared look. Chest-bandage said, "Mistress, we must needs speak together. If you would give us leave to do so."

She stood. "Of course. Bang on the door when you have reached a decision."

* * *

Ursula and Tyra emerged blinking into the bright sunlight in the square. Eriana stood talking to the two Norsemen nearby and they went to join the three.

Eriana asked, "Did you find out what you desired, Ursula?"

"I did, Highness, and it means we have to go to another address in the village and repeat the process. What time is it? How long were we in there?"

"About three quarters of an hour, by my reckoning." The two men nodded agreement. "Where should we go now?"

"Uh, Highness, I regret that you will not be able to accompany me further today. You are, as you are well aware, too noticeable. In fact, Tyra and I will have to go to the market now and find something less obvious to wear before we go anywhere else."

"Then why may I not do the same?"

Ursula replied patiently, "Because, Highness, you are tall enough that a dress would have to be made for you and that would probably take two days or so. Not to mention that with your height and that hair color you would still stand out whatever you were wearing. What I have to do next is going to be very delicate, I do not need complications."

"Very well." Eriana was annoyed. "But your information is good enough?"

"It is, Highness. But you have to know that I traded information to get it. My own origin."

"What!"

Ursula made soothing motions with her hands. "Highness, it was all done under oath. I am a healer, my dealings with my patients are private. That works both ways. Knowing what danger that might put me in, they have sworn oaths not to tell anyone else, especially their associates."

Ragnar said, «Highness, someone approaches.»

A man entered the square riding a frayen. He headed for the Watch house.

"Ah. Probably the Arbiter. Come, let us join him, we can get as much of this business done as possible while we are all nearby."

* * *

"Good morning, Diara. I am sorry that I did not have time to come back yesterday as I promised."

The stall-holder dismissed the complaint. "Mistress Ursula, I heard what happened and what followed. Those men of yours, marching through the market, with a dranakh leading them! It will be the talk of the village for many weeks, I deem. And they have finally rid us of those busybodies as well! Mistress, I doubt not that you were inconvenienced for a time but no-one will complain at the result."

She started. "My, I am forgetting! I trust that neither of you was hurt, or maybe worse?"

"Not seriously, Diara. We both have bruises from being handled roughly and Tyra got smacked in the face as you can see." Ursula smiled. "Fortunately our men arrived before anything really bad could happen. I never managed to visit Mistress Pokara, though."

"Ah. Shall you try today? I see that your attire is less likely to attract attention this morning."

"That is the reason we came to the market, Diara. If we are to be in these lands for a while then perhaps it is time that we found attire that is less... obvious, shall we say. Can you recommend a dressmaker who could provide us with something today, something that looks more local, perhaps something ready made?"

"Surely, Mistress! There are two who come here who you may trust. Mistress Hyrena, over there in the corner and Termanet Swiftneedle who comes some days... yes, I can see her stall is open. Go first to her, I suggest, since she does not attend the market all day or every day but her wares are considered the best in Tserikon."

Ursula nodded to the stallholder. "Thank you for your information, Diara."

A short time later the two were wearing ankle-length loose dresses of gray linen with long sleeves and white aprons. Well-made cowls concealed their hair. Though their attire appeared much the same it was still plain who was the maid and whom the mistress. Their previous attire had been carefully folded and placed in a bag which Tyra carried.

"I feel as if I am acting in a historical pageant, Mistress."

"I did not know they had such things in Joth."

"At Spring Dawning and, sometimes at Midsummer, there is a group of citizens who enjoy dressing in garments from the past and enacting events that have happened in Joth in distant years."

"I did not know that, Tyra. Many places on Earth have similar customs so I should not be surprised that they happen here as well."

"As you say, Mistress." Tyra grimaced. "These skirts are too long for me, I deem. I have become accustomed to the air upon my legs. I doubt that I could either kick or run away attired like this."

"Which is just the way the Yodans prefer it, I suspect."

Tyra snorted and then asked, "What are we going to do now? Should we be going to see that Commissioner? I have not heard any bells but it might be nearly time for lunch."

"Lunch it is, I think. If we can finish promptly and not become distracted then we can go out right after our nap."

"As you say, Mistress."

* * *

«You'll have to wait outside, boys.»

«Yah, Mistress,» Torvin grinned evilly. «We just stand around looking tough, okay?»

«Yes, but try not to draw too much attention to yourselves. The man in this house is supposed to be hiding, after all.»

«Yah.»

Ragnar said nothing but scratched uncomfortably at his crotch, which was covered by a pair of thick woolen tights. The two men had dressed in their only set of 'conventional' attire which was more suited to a cooler season. Tunic and tights had their place but not standing about in the hot spring sunshine.

The man who stood waiting at the open doorway sniffed impatiently at the foursome, unable to understand the Norse conversation. He relaxed as the two women turned and came towards him.

"Inside. To the left at the back."

He moved out of the way, reluctant to become contaminated by proximity to anything female. They passed by and walked through the dwelling, finding the indicated door already open. The man sitting in the room beyond was shorter than Ursula but had powerful, broad shoulders and a thick-set face with graying hair.

His eyes flickered at Ursula and then Tyra before returning to the older woman. "I was told it was urgent." His tone was abrupt, peremptory. "What do you want with me, woman? I do not have time to waste on prattle from the likes of you."

"I have spent part of this morning in the town lockup re-bandaging your two survivors from yesterday," she replied evenly. "They told me where to find you. Yesterday you were asked if I could be taken to visit the Old Führer. Since you apparently know the way, I have come to ask you for directions."

"What! Those two fools shall pay for this! They should not have spoken a single word to anyone!" The Commissioner's initial shock at being exposed subsided as he took in the rest of Ursula's words. His gaze sharpened. "How do you know what was said yesterday? The only two women there were -" His eyes widened in disbelief. "You were the ones bundled off the streets and yet you dared to come here? Maker!"

He started to rise but Ursula put out a placating hand. "Will you let me explain? I am a healer, as you can see by my basket here. What was said to me in the lockup was told under patient confidentiality. I will not tell you what was said nor will any of us speak a word about the matter to anybody else."

He sat down. "If you say so. What about her?" He pointed to Tyra.

"She is my assistant in these matters. Her oath is the same as mine. There are no secrets between us."

The man thought furiously for a moment. Ursula thought it prudent to add, "Just after we had finished the Arbiter arrived from Wadek to judge what happened yesterday. Your two men have each been given community service for six months, to begin only when they are fit enough. Since neither was born in Tserikon, once the sentence is complete they will be required to depart. Their sentences would have been harsher but I spoke in their defense."

"What?" The Commissioner was confused again, which was just the way Ursula wanted it. "You are a foreigner, it is plain, and you walked about the village indecently attired. When accosted and detained you were rescued by barbarians from that odd-looking vessel. You have no liking for me or my kind yet you speak in the defense of my men. You come here seeking my co-operation! What manner of woman are you?"

"I am only one of very many who live in the world beyond Yod," she replied. "I am also a healer and I have a duty to attend the sick and injured, whoever they may be. An old man was spoken of and, if I was mentioned with respect to his need, then of course I must try to satisfy that need. That is why I am here today. I will speak of this meeting to no-one so your secret is safe."

Ursula's appearance at this dwelling and her bold approach had rattled the man. He chewed a fingernail as he tried to decide what to do. Finally he asked, "You claim to be a competent healer though you do not look old enough to have sufficient experience. What do you know about the ailments of the old?"

"If he is that old then there could be many things wrong with him by now, simply because of his age. Does he have high blood pressure, for example? Heart palpitations? Difficulty breathing? Is his sight cloudy? Aches in his joints, difficulty standing, balance problems? What about his skin? Does he have blotches on it? Is it pale, dark, or has it turned yellow? Is his memory going? Has he dementia? These are just a few of the ailments that can affect older people, men and women."

This list had been partly translated by her brain and she listened to the long explanations some of them became. The Commissioner was surprised.

"Mistress, it seems that you do know your subject. My apologies." He was grudging. "But you are not accredited to work in Yod, I deem, else you would have shown me your badge."

"I called at the Directory when our ship visited Yod and was immediately shown the door by the stupid men inside. Of course I have no badge. I earned my qualifications in a place of learning many, many marks from here. Our ship is merely passing through Yod on its way upstream. But you now know that I know what I am talking about." She shrugged. "Whether I am able to help him, that is something I will only find out once I examine him, but my help will be better than anything a local healer can offer."

His eyes narrowed. "Why do you do this, then? He is nothing to you. For me he is the symbol of the start of Yod's greatness. I would not have him endangered or put at risk from those who hunt such as me."

"I am a healer, that is all. As with your men, as with you, anything I can do or say to him will be under my healer's oath. I have no desire to betray him. If he is ill then it may be he will die soon with or without my help. I would not deny him that dignity."

"But you are taking great pains to discover the whereabouts of a man you know nothing about, simply because you overheard a conversation. I cannot believe that your healer's oath obliges you to do this. Yod has many other healers, after all." The suspicion returned. "There is more to this request, I deem. Mayhap you seek revenge for what happened yesterday? Speak, woman."

Ursula hesitated. So far, she had managed to avoid saying any more but it had not been enough. The next step would put her and Tyra in danger but, if she did not continue, she would always regret not solving the mystery. Hollowness filled her stomach.

"Commissioner, if I wanted revenge then I would not have needed to come here, would I? I could just have informed the Watch of what I had found out. After all, I owe those two men nothing. You just said that the old man is nothing to me but you may be wrong. The one who spoke to you used his title which was Führer. I am here because I recognized that word, it is not a local word but it is in a language that I can speak. The reason that I can speak that language is that I originally came from a place not too far from where he came from..." She hesitated, gulped and then pressed on, "...and on the same world, which is called Earth."

"What!" The Commissioner's eyes blazed. "You are one of those? Why did you not say so before?"

Her response was dry. "Considering that Yod went to war to capture or kill another person who came from Earth, why do you think it strange that I keep my origins secret? I risk myself daily walking the streets of Yod, even though the Ascendancy has been defeated. I want to speak to this man to learn his history, how it was he came here and why. Of course, as a healer I will also give him my best attention. Oh, and before you say or do anything else, as a healer I know very little about magic weapons or machines."

He leaned back, calculating. "You offer yourself for nothing, woman. What is there to stop me taking you, as my men tried to, and discovering what information you do possess? I could easily hide you away and make you give your secrets, as my betters did to that other one, the boy."

"That is not possible." Ursula's tone was steady but her heart was not. This was an important moment. "The two men outside know that if I do not return in a reasonable length of time they will raise the alarm. Do not try to kill them because they are also being watched from a distance. This house - in fact, the whole area - was thoroughly and quietly checked before I came anywhere near it. What you cannot see is that there are other men watching the back, the sides and the surrounding streets, ready to prevent you doing what you suggest. Even if you were to escape along the roof spaces to another house they will know."

"And if I were to emerge with you, and a knife at your throat?"

She was dismissive. "I have had knives at my throat before today, Commissioner. Those who held them died very quickly. Know that if you did kill me you would not survive for more than a heartbeat. There is no profit for you if you tried this."

As the Commissioner digested this she added, "I will offer you trust for trust. The Arbiter has dealt with the mess you made yesterday but the authorities now know that elements of the Ascendancy are hiding in Tserikon. Very soon a detachment of Pakmal troops will arrive from Wadek to make a thorough search of the village. I give you and the rest of your men the opportunity to depart before they get here."

The Commissioner stared at Ursula and then his shoulders sagged. "It is truly over, then. Mistress, you have been direct with me and so I shall return the favor." He brightened and ventured a crooked smile. "In fact, since I must needs leave the village, and immediately, it is possible that I can do more for you and make your meeting safer for you and also safer for myself. Here is what I propose."

* * *

Ursula and Tyra returned to the hostel with their minders, earning a double take from some of the other residents. The two made their way upstairs to the Women's Corridor and Ursula knocked at the door to Eriana's chamber. Banest opened the door, did a double take at their attire and then let them in.

"Ursula! Your visit was successful?"

"Highness, it was. I learned everything I needed to but was forced, again, to reveal my origins. We did have enough time afterwards to visit that other healer and she gave us a small stock of another of the herbs Kaldar will need."

"Oh, that is good news! But you will still need to find more?"

"Of course, Highness. That can wait until we are further upstream and, more importantly, I now know what I am looking for."

"But what about your quest? Where must you go next?"

Ursula smiled. "Nowhere around here, Mistress. We must go to Wadek next. I will say no more than that. It is a larger port than here and there is an administration from Pakmal running the area. I wondered if you would consider taking our vessels there. If not a small group will have to ride."

"We'll all go by water, Ursula. We have remained in Tserikon long enough. I'll let Hashim, Tor and Baros know tonight at table. Good work."

~o~O~o~

Eriana thought it prudent that the two vessels should depart before the contingent from Pakmal arrived, so nobody dallied over breakfast the following morning. It took some time before their chests and other belongings could be taken down to the Visund and the Green Ptuvil and stowed, so while that was happening the rest of the party gathered in the hostel courtyard.

Lars had called the meeting. «I swear that I did not know this was happening, Princess. I saw that Tor and the other sailors had some task but I thought it only concerned the ship.» He tilted his head. «It does, but it also concerns some of our women. I will let him explain.»

Tor nodded his head to Eriana. «Commodore, after the kidnap attempt the day before yesterday what Lars had seen us doing became more urgent. Fortunately we had almost finished. Of course, when we began this little job we only had four women apart from yourself and now we have nine. With your permission I will make more for them, it is only right.»

Eriana looked confused. «Tor, I would be able to agree if you would just tell me what you have been doing!»

He looked embarrassed. «Of course, Commodore. To guide us properly Hashim needs a whistle and when that galley chased us I thought that Ursula could have done with one as well. From there it was plain that, if Ursula needed one, then Bennett, Semma and Tyra would benefit from having one too. So we have made them each a whistle. On the way we will teach them the calls. Boys!»

Four of the men stepped forward, grinning. In addition to Tor, each held a beautifully made whistle attached to an equally beautiful lanyard. The whistle was of sawn sections of brass pipe which had wooden plugs inserted into each end to make the correct shape and sound. The brass had been carefully shaped and smoothed and the whole object lacquered to protect it. The lanyard was of white ship's cord, carefully knotted in what Ursula thought was a traditional manner.

Tor himself presented Ursula with her whistle. He bowed deeply, the object in his outstretched hands.

«Mistress, a small but practical token from the crew of the Visund.»

Ursula took it, briefly examined it and then hung the lanyard around her neck, noting the knot which would prevent it being drawn too tight.

«Thank you, Tor. I wish we had had these when we were stuck in that shed. Now I can become a real sailor!»

The men roared with laughter.

Bennett, Semma and Tyra each received their own whistles and hung them around their necks.

«Tor, I should have thought of that myself.» Eriana said.

He shrugged. «Commodore, you have been busy with other matters.»

«True enough. Yes, make more for our other women, please. I do not know the future but, if Ursula is any guide, they will need those whistles.»

Tor chuckled. «Yah.»

«Right, people! Let us get down to our craft and get under way. We do not have far to go this time but time passes.»

«Yah, Commodore.»