The two fugitives have to be smuggled out of Wadek and the Norse have unusual ideas how to handle this. Once the two vessels depart the crews settle down to the next leg of their voyage, learning more about each other as they do so.

The Voyage of the Visund

A tale of Anmar by Penny Lane

62 - Blood and Subterfuge

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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The small group that entered the market square early the following morning were by now familiar to most of the stall-holders. Ursula and Tyra, dressed and cowled in their modest Yodan women's attire, were accompanied by Torvin and Ragnar in the event of any trouble, together with the smaller figure of Adin, who was looking for fresh food to provision their two vessels.

Also with them today was Kedian, who would be helping to cook it. This would be his first trip away from the Green Ptuvil and was more in the nature of a test to see how far he had recovered. He would not be expected to carry anything unless he wanted to.

«Where first, Mistress?» asked Torvin.

«It should not take too long to collect the herbs I ordered,» Ursula replied, «and then we can split up as arranged. We have much to do and we need to get back so that Her Highness can begin the,» a smile here, «special departure arrangements.»

The three Norse grinned. «Yah,» Ragnar agreed, «it is definitely time for some fun now. Where is your herb to be found?»

Ursual pointed. «Over there. The woman at that stall. Come on.»

The woman smiled as the group approached. "Good morning to you, Mistress, and to your companions. Surely you did not think it would take six to carry such a small package of herbs?"

"Good morning to you, Mistress. Our ship departs later this morning and our cook has come to pick up some fresh provisions. There are enough of us that a wagon will probably be required to take it all down to the docks."

"Ah? We will be sorry to see you leave, Mistress. I have your herbs here, as you requested."

The woman turned, bent and came up with a hard-glazed stoneware jar with a cork plug in the wide mouth. She carefully balanced her scales then poured the entire contents of the jar into one of the pans before adding weight after weight to the other pan to make it balance.

"There! Five silverweights and an eighth, I deem. I will not charge you for the eighth, you may have it since there is little other call for it."

"Thank you. Can I test it?"

"Surely, Mistress, it is the custom, except I doubt either of us knows what to expect."

"I was shown a small sample by the woman who told me the recipe," Ursula explained, "and I have a good enough memory, I think."

She dipped the tip of one little finger into the pile and brought it close under her nose. She wanted to smell it without accidentally inhaling it so tried to avoid breathing heavily. Yes, this was the stuff, and the smell was strong which meant that it was fresh.

She nodded. "Done. Can I take it in that jar? It looks robust enough and that is just what I need when we are traveling on the river."

"As you wish, Mistress, though I must needs ask four Benis for the jar."

Ursula counted out the coins as the woman transferred the reddish powder back into the jar and resealed it.

"Mistress? We agreed nine Sols a silverweight and you have paid me ten!"

Ursula began holding up fingers. "The jar, Mistress. Tsuft root that is fresh. Prompt service and no attempt to swindle us. You deserve it, Mistress."

The stallholder bowed. "I am grateful to you, Mistress. Sometimes this business is hard and it is refreshing to find someone who understands this. Good-day to you and your friends. Safety on your journey on the river."

Ursula bowed her head in return. "Thank you, Mistress."

"What is it your cook seeks? Mayhap I can point him at the better suppliers here."

"If you would, Mistress." She turned. «Adin, what do we need?»

The little cook shrugged. «The usual, Mistress. Meat, mostly. Vegetables, fruit, whatever else might be fresh today. Not fish, it will go off in the heat. Bread, of course.»

Ursula translated and the stall holder pointed. "Then, Mistress, if you would follow my advice, go first to -"

* * *

It was mid-morning and the crew had begun to trickle into the courtyard of the mansion ready to help carry the belongings of the Princess and her entourage down to her ship. The servants were sorry to see them depart and gathered around the entrance of the kitchen block to watch proceedings. Some of the younger ones were marveling at the physique of the big, hairy warriors while others looked skeptically at their outlandish attire.

Suddenly, an argument developed! First it just seemed to be words spoken but it swiftly escalated into pushing and shoving. The mass of men seemed, somehow, to separate into opposing forces and then matters abruptly turned into violence, a full-scale brawl spilling all over the courtyard cobbles.

The women immediately withdrew into the kitchen block and closed the door, but many hung out of the windows, horrified, as swords and axes were swung with apparent fury. Two of the younger women screamed with shock at the unexpected battle taking place barely strides in front of them.

Then there was a deep-throated shout and everyone paused, the mass of men separating to reveal one of their number on the stones, his head oozing blood and who knew what else. As suddenly as it had begun tempers cooled and they began looking at each other with shame and guilt.

From out of the mansion the Princess strode, her own face livid with fury. Her high-pitched voice, strident with rage, cut through all other noise. As she berated her men in their own, gutteral tongue, they sank, automatically, on one knee towards the ground. She went to the injured man, her face bearing an expression of distress.

From out of the mansion rushed the Princess's healer and her assistant, both still attired in the Yodan robes they had worn earlier that day. They knelt at the injured man's side, the assistant already reaching into her bag for bandages. A report was given to the Princess and her imperious finger directed two men to run into the house, from where they emerged a little later carrying a stretcher. The injured man was gently loaded onto it and carried into the mansion followed by healer and assistant.

The Princess made her men stand and form ranks, whereby she berated them in her shrill voice. The servant women shuddered at the tone, noting how lucky they were not to have crossed her during her stay at the mansion. But she was a Princess, what else would one expect from such a person?

- - -

«You are not injured, Stine?»

The warrior finished wiping his head dry with the towel. «No, Mistress. I might have a lump tomorrow from falling on the cobbles but that is all. You yourself have examined me, not even a scratch! That blood which Adin provided still smells, though.»

«That was a good touch of his,» Ursula admitted. «Buying offal in the market and draining the blood out of it, that made it all look more real. Unfortunately you got some on your tee shirt.»

Stine grinned. «But even that works in our favor, Mistress! The Yodan wears it now, as he does the bandages and the rest of the blood. It should soon wash out.»

Zakaros looked up at them from the stretcher. His head was heavily bandaged and he was wearing Stine's tee shirt and shorts, both now splashed with blood.

"Mistress, I must admit to being an amateur among you," he commented. "To put on a battle like that, at short notice and with no preparation, and yet not a single man has any wounds! I am astonished."

"These are really simple folk," she replied, "but they have traditions that are completely different to anything you or I might know. Do not be surprised by anything you see as we journey along."

"After this morning? Mistress, I will heed your words."

"Then heed them now. You are injured, there is a cut on your scalp made with an ax which I have stitched, but you almost certainly have concussion. So, close your eyes, relax, and do absolutely nothing until we get you on board the ship. Let the men carry out the rest of the plan."

Ursula turned. "Karan? Are you ready?"

The healer's assistant stood behind her, now attired in Tyra's Yodan dress, cowl and apron over his normal tunic and tights. He shuffled uncomfortably in the borrowed sandals.

"I am, Mistress. I am glad that I am no woman of Yod, who must needs spend all her days attired thus."

"It is not quite as bad as it feels, Karan," Ursula reassured him. "You are wearing your normal clothes underneath which makes everything feel bulky and which is going to make you feel hot. When women wear attire like that we don't have that problem."

The disguised young healer looked apprehensively at Tyra, who had changed into a ship dress to release her Yodan attire for his disguise.

"Mistress, is that what women customarily wear in other lands? It is unseemly to my eyes, though doubtless I will adapt to the idea."

"That is a ship dress, which was designed for us in Joth for wear in hot weather. It keeps us cool as we sail along. What our men wear is for the same purpose. Now, we had better go. You walk on the left and I will go on the right side. That will obscure anyone who tries to get a good look at Zakaros's face. Oh, and remember to keep your cowl pulled forward, to keep your own face out of the light."

"As you say, Mistress." He grinned. "I never imagined that, as a healer, I would be doing anything like this!"

Four of the men were summoned from below, each picking up one corner of the stretcher. It was carefully carried downstairs so as not to disturb the 'injured' occupant. In the courtyard a longish two-wheeled handcart awaited and the stretcher was placed in the bed. Two of the men then began pushing the cart out into the street, Ursula and Karan keeping close to either side with their attention fixed on the occupant.

At the dock entrance they were immediately admitted by the blue-coated sentries. The cart was pushed along to the head of the pontoon chain where it halted. Since it would not be possible to push it all the way along to the ship, a minor risk now had to be taken.

"Zakaros, time for you to revive a little. We will tilt the cart slightly and you will have to climb out, acting groggy. Our men will then help you along the pontoons with us following."

"As you command, Mistress."

He staggered upright and was helped by the two Norsemen, who each draped one of his arms over a shoulder. Thus propped they began the long slow walk along the pontoon chain with Ursula and Karan following.

"Maker! Is that your ship?" Zakaros muttered. "I did not realize how big it was!"

"Quietly, please. If you should be talking at all it would be in a different tongue. Remember who you are supposed to be."

"Pardon, Mistress... but why are we not going there?"

"It is completely open as you see. If you went there you would be exposed for everyone to look at until we sailed. It could be done but the alternative is less awkward... once we get you on board. Here, step carefully."

Two of the barge men helped the small party board the Green Ptuvil and then led the way towards the stern. Zakaros was assisted down into the rear cabin and the rest followed. Ursula breathed a sigh of relief.

"So far so good. Thank you, boys, you can go back to the mansion now. There are enough people already on board for us to manage. Zakaros, please sit down at the table for a moment. Karan, Baros will take you to a cabin where you can remove that Yodan outfit. I have to remind both of you that you are to stay somewhere inside this cabin until after we have set sail. The slightest suspicion that either of you are on board will wreck the whole plan."

Zakaros looked around and then up at Ursula. "A barge? I did not know that you people possessed such a thing."

Ursula's smile was wry. "It was necessary since we began accumulating extra travelers like yourself. We could all have traveled on the Visund but it would not have been comfortable for the women."

"Women? You mean yourself, your assistant, the two with swords and Her Highness?"

Her expression sobered quickly. "There are five other women on board whom we rescued from a band of rogue Yodan soldiers. All were badly used by those men, such that they may not want to enter the same room as yourself. There are also six men we rescued from the same place. All the men are bargemen who were captured by chance. Baros, who you just saw with Karan, is one of them and he is Captain of this barge. None have any liking for Yodans."

Zakaros pursed his lips. "I wonder, it might have been easier to face death than this. I wonder if asking to join your company was the act of a coward, and now I must needs pay the price."

She nodded. "There will be a price to pay and it will be up to you how you face it. Remember this, though. If you are running away it will be you that you are running away from. Face yourself, understand yourself, and you may survive a better man."

"Strange advice you give, Mistress."

"Remember that I am supposed to be a healer. It is not only broken bones and sword cuts that I heal, I also have a responsibility to the minds of my patients."

"I am rebuked, Mistress. Apparently I know less about the arts of the healer than I thought I did. If you would accept my apology. Tell me, did you see anyone take notice as I was brought here?"

"I did. One of the men was standing across the street facing the entrance to the courtyard as we left. Since I could not turn around, I do not know if he followed us as far as the dock entrance. I am fairly sure that he would not have been permitted to enter the docks behind us, though." Ursula shrugged. "That proves nothing, since someone else may already have been inside the docks. It means that you and Karan have to remain hidden until we are well away from Wadek."

Baros and Karan reappeared, the latter now in his tunic and tights.

"Captain," Ursula addressed Baros, "this is Zakaros Stonecarver, once a Commissioner in the Ascendancy and now a fugitive from everyone in Yod, including the Pakmalis. The young man is named Karan and I know little more about him except that he was an assistant to an older healer who is set in his ways. He decided to petition me to rescue him and further his education and I agreed. He would have faced certain death had he remained behind. Zakaros, Karan, Baros is Captain of this barge, which is named the Green Ptuvil. Aboard this vessel his word is law, do you understand?"

Zakaros nodded. "I do. Captain, if I may help, then command me, though I do not yet know one rope from another."

Baros looked him up and down. "We could do with another pair of hands. Wait until we are away from Wadek, get yourself cleaned up and I'll decide what to do with you. Is that real blood?"

"It is," he replied, "but not mine nor any other man's. I believe that one of the cooks obtained it in the market when buying meat for the voyage."

"Ah, I see. Still, in this heat it will soon stink."

Baros turned to Karan, an eyebrow raised. The young man coughed.

"Captain, I too will do what I can but I know even less than Master Zakaros does. I thought that -" His eyes went to meet those of Ursula.

She said, "Tyra and I will be on board this time, Captain. I expect that I'll need to spend some time finding out what Karan knows but, when you need someone to lend a hand, I'm sure he will do what he can."

A head poked over the top of the deck hatch. "Captain? If you have a moment."

Baros nodded to Ursula. "By your leave, Mistress." He went up the companionway and out of sight. Zakaros stared at Ursula.

"Forgive me, Mistress, if I am confused. Master Baros is Captain yet he defers to you. I thought Her Highness ruled over all."

"It is a curious arrangement, I will agree. Princess Eriana does, indeed, command the whole company. Most of her men, who will be on the big ship, are her retainers and are sworn personally to her. Some are sailors, most are fighting men. Under her are Captain Tor, who commands the Visund, Captain Baros, who commands this barge, the Green Ptuvil, and Commander Lars, who commands her men.

"Since the Visund is a completely open hull we thought it best to acquire the Green Ptuvil for those whom we rescued, since the accommodation here is more comfortable. We have converted the two holds into bunk rooms, one for the men and one for the women. Almost none of those on board this barge are sworn to Her Highness, though I suspect that may change for some as we go along.

"As for me? I am in a strange position since I was brought to Anmar by Beings unknown. The Duke of Joth has said that no-one on Anmar could have authority over me, or anyone like me, since we answered to those who brought us here." Ursula shrugged. "That seems to me to be avoiding the question but in practical terms it has not become a problem. I will usually do as Her Highness asks and the men will usually do as I ask but there is no formal relationship between us. My assistant Tyra is sworn personally to me and she is content with that arrangement."

Karan's eyes were wide. "Mistress, you were brought to Anmar? How is that possible?"

"It is a long story, Karan, and it should wait until we have left Wadek and settled down on the next leg of our journey. I will just say that, yes, I am from another world and that gives me both advantages and disadvantages. There are others along the Great Valley who have arrived the same way, although not all of us are as we were on the world we came from."

"I have heard talk of a She-Demon," he said. "Is she real? Is she one of you?"

"If you mean the girl who started all this, then yes, she exists, but I have never met her. As far as I know she is as normal as you or I. I have met another from my home world but he is a man not a girl."

Kedian came down the companionway carrying a big cloth bag which smelt strongly of freshly-baked bread. He dumped the bag on the table.

"Feeling better today, Kedian, since your trip to the market?"

"As you say, Mistress. By your leave, I am being handed down food for our lunch."

"Carry on. Lunch is important."

He grinned and climbed back out on deck.

"Right," Ursula said to Zakaros. "We had better get that bandage off your head and clean you up. You shouldn't sit around covered in blood, even if it is from a pakh or a zinakh."

* * *

"It is true, then," Field-Director Botanno said. "You are leaving us. Personally I will be sorry to see you go."

He stood on the pontoon with Eriana, watching the last of the chests being stowed.

"A combination of time and circumstance, Director. We have far to go if we intend to be back home before the Rains begin. The incident with the pirate galley has forced two unintended stops along our way. There have been... other incidents... here which make me think it is time for my men to enjoy a change of air."

"Ah, you speak of the fight this morning, Highness. How is your man?"

"I thought I had lost him, Director, but our healer tells me that he has suffered only a serious scalp wound which she has already repaired. He also has concussion, as one might expect from such a blow, so he must needs lie down quietly for a day or more. Thank you for asking. My men normally know better than to brawl like that."

He grunted. "I wish my men did! That is the problem with having command of an army whose men do not want to be here. Our levies come from all parts of Pakmal and there are rivalries and jealousies which no-one has taken any account of. While we are busy fighting among ourselves we cannot be vigilant against the enemy."

"Perhaps it would have been better if you were still at war," she suggested. "Just managing the peace can be more difficult, when you do not know who your enemy is."

"As you say, Highness." He shrugged. "Peace is our lot and I must needs deal with what faces me, I deem. Oh, that pirate galley."

"Ah? Do you know what has become of it? Is it still there?"

"What is left of it is still there, Highness. I managed to persuade Gerran to send out a small patrol boat to examine the galley from a distance and it has returned to provide a report. It looks as if the pirates were able to send for help, since the vessel was deserted and, indeed, had been fired. Not much, apparently, remains above the present water level. It is now nothing more than a danger to navigation, I will ask for some kind of buoy to be attached once it is safe to approach."

She nodded. "That is one pirate menace removed, but it implies that, since those aboard were rescued, they probably have at least one more galley hidden somewhere."

"Agreed. Unfortunately Gerran is reluctant to send out patrols to attempt to locate their base, saying it would only put his own men at risk." Botanno looked frustrated. "What did he think we were doing here in Yod? His job is to put his men at risk! Sometimes the logic of my fellow officers astounds me."

"Can you not make reforms - Tor, what is it?"

Behind Tor were four men carrying two chests. «Highness, where did you want your chests to be put?»

She smiled. «You really ask, which vessel shall I sail on? The barge this time, I think, Tor. I want to be near my injured man, I think.»

A look passed between them. «Yah, Highness.»

Eriana and Botanno stood to one side to permit the chests to be carried past. She explained, "He wanted to know where to put my chests and that also asked the question, which vessel will I be on? I told him to put them on the Green Ptuvil this time."

"You trust your subordinates, then? Of course you do! I wish that I had your tight organization, Highness."

"We are only a small company as such things go, Director. I would struggle to direct so many men as you have under you."

"The curse of Pakmal, it seems," he replied, his expression gloomy. "Tell me, how far shall you travel today?"

"I would like to travel beyond Yod if it is possible. Will we find the customary overnight stopping places in Pakmal?"

"There are some, it is true, but at this time of year much of the river bank is wild and overgrown as the water retreats. If you do not find a village where you can rest for the night then there are many places where you may safely camp. Indeed, you should find many such places that are used by fisherfolk from both sides of the river."

"That is useful to know, Director. We are content to camp, indeed, we have already done so on several occasions so far."

"Commodore!"

Eriana turned. "What now? Oh, I see. Director, it looks as if I have a problem to resolve."

Botanno bowed. "Then I must let you finish your preparations and depart. A safe journey to you and your crew, Highness. You are welcome to return at any time."

"Thank you, Director. By your leave."

* * *

Zakaros looked apprehensive as the Green Ptuvil began to gently rock.

"This is different, I deem. I have sat on wagons and frayen but this motion is strange to me."

"This is nothing, Zakaros," Ursula replied. "All we are feeling right now is the edge of the river's current. If a storm hits us then it would all become much more violent. You will have to learn quickly how to keep your balance. You too, Karan."

"It seems gentle enough now, Mistress," the younger man replied. "What happens if it becomes too much? Shall we sink?"

"I doubt it will come to that. I have not experienced real rough weather on the Sirrel but every barge or ship is designed to take account of variations in weather. If it became very bad then no doubt the Captain would seek shelter in a creek or something."

Tyra skipped down the companionway, nodded to Ursula and then found a place at the edge of the long seat behind the table. Behind her was Eriana and both were wearing ship dresses. Karan's eyes popped as he saw their attire and Ursula watched as he tried, unsuccessfully, to dampen his natural instincts.

"Well," Eriana stated. "We are now far enough away from Wadek that you two may come on deck whenever you wish. Can either of you swim?"

Both men shook their heads. Zakaros replied, "Highness, we of Yod are not taught that art. To my knowledge only those who fish or have other business on the river bother to learn."

"Fair enough. Most of my men cannot swim either. All it means is that you must needs be more careful as you walk the decks above. A shake, a dip into a wave, any sudden movement of the deck can send you tumbling over the side. Since we have passengers who are not so used to the river there are hand-ropes rigged, be sure to use them to steady yourself as you walk. Have you any questions?"

"Highness, I would know our route, by your leave."

Eriana gave Zakaros a look. "Your presence here has caused us to change our plans," she said. "We might have gotten away with Karan at some of the smaller ports along the way but it will be harder to conceal you should we call at any Yodan port. Therefore we shall sail as far along the Sirrel as we may today and find some quiet place to lie up overnight. It is possible that we may travel beyond Yod to Pakmal but much depends on the wind."

"You travel beyond the Finger, Highness?"

"You know of it, then? I thought you knew little of the river."

"I do know little, Highness, but the Finger was of interest to Yod as it allowed our troops to venture quickly into Upper Fanir. It is a narrow finger of land projecting from Upper Fanir which separates the lands of Yod and Pakmal. River craft are forced to make a long diversion around it, adding perhaps a day to their journey."

"Aye, that is true. The river runs first south-east and then north-west and the trade winds usually blow in neither direction. At this time of year the Sirrel is low and sluggish, making it harder to progress. Still, we have planned for this leg of the voyage and if we must needs camp for a night or two then we shall do so."

Zakaros nodded. "Thank you, Highness." He rose. "I think I would like to see what we are on and how the land looks from here. If you would join me, Karan?"

"Uh, as you wish, Master Zakaros."

"I will come with you and show you what you will need to know," Eriana said. "Follow me."

The three climbed out onto the deck and Ursula looked at Tyra.

"I think that young Karan is more than interested in you, Tyra. Is this going to become a problem?"

Tyra blushed. "I do not know, Mistress. It is the first time he has seen any of us wearing ship dresses." She chose her next words carefully. "If there is interest, Mistress, would you object?"

"I am not sure, Tyra. I would not want to get in the way of your personal happiness but we are all jammed together on this barge and it could become overpowering very quickly. For him, there may be a novelty factor involved since he will not be used to women from anywhere but Yod. That could fade just as quickly as it arrived. I do not want you to get hurt by something that built up your expectations and then went sour."

"I had not thought of it that way, Mistress, but you are right. I will not discourage him but I will be careful what I say or do."

"Thank you, Tyra, I was sure that you would understand. If that young man does become my apprentice, journeyman, assistant or whatever else, he will be working closely with both of us, perhaps for a long time. If you become attracted to him and then break up it could make your futures very awkward."

"As you say, Mistress. Will you come up on deck? The air is fresher there."

"I will. First, I think, I need to go to our cabin and change into my own ship dress. The air is certainly warmer than it was this morning when we went to the market."

"As you say, Mistress. I'll go ahead and find your chest."

When Ursula stepped down the center companionway into the "women's cabin" she found Tyra dragging a chest out from under one of the bunks. Banest, Larys, Matta and Vellana were there, all seated at a crude table that was fixed along the centreline of the cabin. There were fragments of cloth in front of them and all appeared to be sewing.

Ursula looked around. To each side there were three pairs of bunks, flat against the hull, making twelve in all. The ceiling of the cabin had been raised from that of the original hold, the extra height providing a gap through which light and fresh air could enter, making the interior nowhere as dark as Ursula had expected. There had been no time nor facilities to fit glass so each opening had a simple shutter for use during bad weather or at night.

Banest stood when Ursula appeared. "Mistress, welcome to our refuge. We have reserved this bunk and the one above for you and your assistant." She indicated a pair of bunks in the corner furthest from the companionway. "Her Highness usually takes the lower one in the center and Bennett and Semma the two at the other end. We have chosen to use the ones on the other side but if you prefer some other arrangement then we would of course move."

"No, no, it should be no problem," Ursula assured her. "I do not want to cause trouble for the five of you. Are you settling in well here?"

"We are, Mistress, thank you. It is as you said, good food and fresh air has helped considerably." Banest frowned. "I have heard that we have taken two Yodans on board."

"We have. They are both running away from the Ascendancy, and, it would seem, everyone else. The older one was a Commissioner and knows that not many will welcome him here. The other is a young healer and was attached to an older man who is, frankly, a disgrace to his profession. The young man wished to escape from his situation and join me, saying that I could teach him more than his senior ever could."

Matta asked, "Can we trust them, Mistress?"

Ursula shrugged. "The younger one, probably. The other, I do not know. You can be sure that, if he causes any trouble, Her Highness's men will deal with him very firmly. He knows that."

"Thank you, Mistress."

"What is it you are making there?"

"We thought to make another outfit for Kaldar," Banest explained. "We were delighted with that material you brought back from the market, Mistress. It does look as if we will be short of thread soon, though."

Ursula silently cursed. "Thread! I had overlooked that when I obtained that cloth and the stall-holder said nothing. You have my apologies, Banest. Do as much as you can and I'll keep an eye open for more thread when we reach our next port."

"We have enough for now. When we run out we can still measure and cut, can we not? That will save time for later."

"Of course." She frowned. "Where is Kaldar? I have not seen him since we left the house... I mean the mansion."

"Why, we thought he was with you, Mistress. If you have not seen him then he must be on the big ship."

Ursula thought. "He should be safe enough there but I am concerned about his sleeping arrangements. He should not sleep with the men and he may not desire to sleep in here."

"As you say. Perhaps he can be asked whenever we stop for lunch."

"If we stop for lunch. Her Highness was talking about finding a quiet cove, or maybe a spit of land, and camping tonight. I can speak to him then."

There was a pause, then, as Tyra opened the chest and pulled out a ship dress for Ursula to wear. Placing it on the bunk she then unlaced Ursula's Yodan dress so that she could take it off. As Ursula pulled on the lighter garment Tyra carefully straightened the Yodan dress and hung it on a peg to air. All the bunk supports had had pegs inserted since the women knew that they would have attire to hang up from time to time.

Vellana asked, "Mistress? What is so special that Kaldar cannot sleep with the men?"

Banest started to reply but Ursula held up a hand. "Vellana, what is special about Kaldar is that he is a boy with the body of a girl. His father did not understand this and beat him to make him behave the way that his father believed every daughter should behave. As we were departing from Ferenis he leapt aboard the Visund and claimed sanctuary. Since we could not leave him with an abusive father and since I was familiar with the subject, Her Highness has agreed to take him as her ward."

"Oh! I did not know that such things were possible, Mistress."

"Why should you? You come from a small village and it is unlikely that anyone there would have been in a similar situation. Such occurrences are rare, maybe only one in, I don't know, maybe five thousand, feel that way. Oh, and it works the other way as well. There are those born as boys who believe that they should have had the body of a girl."

The young village girl frowned. "How is that possible, Mistress? Surely, if you are a boy or a girl, that is all you can be."

"Many people think so and that may be because they are so in tune with their own bodies that they cannot understand how others can feel a different way. It is possible that such things are caused by problems in the womb, we do not really know."

Matta asked, "Is there any remedy, Mistress?"

"On my world a much cleverer doctor than I can change the body to match what the mind thinks is right. It involves a lot of cutting and reshaping but it can be done. Of course, such people cannot make or bear children but at least they become in tune with their bodies.

"On Anmar we cannot do that yet. There are herbs I can give to Kaldar which will help his body develop as a boy's would, they will give him a deeper voice, facial hair, broad shoulders and so on. In fact I obtained some of those in Wadek so you should begin to see some of the changes to his body soon. No herbs can replace what is below, though, and so he still has the same risk that all women face. Worse, because of that, he could possibly still become pregnant and give birth, which could look very strange."

Expressions ran across Matta's face until she finally said, "Mistress, I am glad that I do not face what Kaldar faces. I cannot begin to understand what he suffers but I am glad someone is here to help him."

Banest added thoughtfully, "And that is why he should not sleep with the men, I deem. I do not think any would break his trust but accidents can always happen."

"That is true," Ursula agreed. "Already he is treated as the Ship's Boy and is being taught as any young lad on a boat would be. The men will look after him and, as he changes, it should become easier to hide those inconvenient parts of his body."

"What about his -" Matta cupped her breasts. "They are not large but sometimes something is visible. I wondered, when I first noticed them, how a boy could have such breasts growing on him."

"It does happen, even to normal boys, Matta. It is called gynecomastia," the word came out unchanged, "and very occasionally it can happen to boys as they mature into men. Usually the growths disappear as they get older. In Kaldar's case they are small but real. The herbs should reduce them as he builds up muscle but he will always have the larger nipples that women have - and they will probably be just as sensitive."

The young woman shook her head. "The world is a stranger place than I knew, indeed."

"Matta, you have no idea."

* * *

There was a short stretch of the East Finger Reach where the Visund had to proceed under oars as the wind had died. That was not possible for the Green Ptuvil but there were two long poles which could be used to move the barge along, cautiously, against the shallow river bottom. Finally, the river swung in a tight right-hand curve and they were once more able to proceed under sail.

Lunch was taken late with the two vessels tied together, and moored to a snag sticking out of a barely-visible sandbank near the Upper Fanir shore. Because of this it was not possible to start a fire and so the provender was cold. This did not concern anybody in the heat of early afternoon.

Eriana leapt from ship to barge and approached those who were dining on the barge; most were seated on the roofs of the cabins with plates by their sides.

"We have finally departed Yod, my friends. Our way now lies between Upper Fanir and Faralmark on this side and Pakmal and eventually Zebrin on the other side. I think that I can say for all of us that we may now breathe easier since we have departed that cursed land."

Zakaros raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

She continued, "I am minded to call at the town of Pakmal and then Zebrin City before we head for Bibek, unless our circumstances change. It will take us two days, possibly three, to reach Pakmal Town but I cannot forget that we have two vessels, now, that must sail together. We are in no hurry but we should not delay without cause. We shall nap here before going on our way."