As the camp at Hamalbek settles down Ursula finds her time being taken by the two men still with fever. One has begun recovery but what ails the other may not be what the healers have assumed.

The Voyage of the Visund

A tale of Anmar by Penny Lane

85 - Camp Hamalbek

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) 2024 Penny Lane. All rights reserved.

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The thunderstorm woke them all up that night. There were close bangs followed by a considerable period of loud rumbling and then the rain hammering onto the roof of the cabin. The shutters, open because of the warm night, allowed a warm, humid breeze to circulate through the cabin. That was joined by a steady drip, drip onto the wooden floor inside, fortunately not onto any of the occupants. The drips stopped after a while as the roof timbers, dried and shrunk by the summer sun, gradually swelled and closed the cracks.

Eventually, they all went back to sleep.

Morning came and the women woke. They busied themselves making themselves ready for the day, lured by the inevitable smell of zurin from the rear cabin. Since four of the women could not yet leave the barge with so many men around, it was up to Ursula, Tyra, Bennet and Semma to carry their 'night buckets' onto dry land and empty them in the latrines. They were met on deck by Eriana and Nethra, with Lars and Toshi as escorts.

"Good morning to you, Ursula, Tyra, Bennet, Semma. Or, since we are now in Faral, should I be saying 'Good freshness'?"

"Good morning, Highness," Ursula replied for the four of them. "It will do. These different greetings are as confusing as the ranks all the militaries have!"

Eriana smiled. "As you say. Did the storm disturb you last night?"

"Of course it did, Highness, but I don't think any of us thought we were in any danger. I heard one or two leaks, though."

"Indeed, Baros has explained it to me. The timber that was used to construct the cabins had warped through being exposed so the seams are not perfect. There should have been another covering of tarred canvas or something similar. Of course, cabins are unknown to those of Einnland so I could not express an opinion." She noticed the buckets. "Ah, you go to the latrines, I deem. Shall we all go together?"

"As you wish, Highness." Ursula noticed the state of the barge tied up alongside. "Oh! The storm cleaned off much of the dirt on that barge."

"Aye, indeed, as it freshened our own timbers. Baros tells me he now knows the name, it is Dhow-nwind Dasher." Eriana spelled the name with a frown. "A peculiar name, I deem."

Ursula saw the reason. "Highness, it is a play on words. There are trading vessels on Earth called dhows that look a little like that one does. Apparently the name has been brought here to Anmar. The owner sounds like he could have a sense of humor."

"He will need it, Ursula, since I believe that man is now Simbran's Minister of Trade. Come, let us go to the latrines, since we all have needs."

They did not get far, however, before they were interrupted. From behind them came a call.

"Mistress!"

Ursula turned. "Good morning, Zakaros. I trust the storm did not disturb you last night?"

"Good morning, Mistress." He turned and acknowledged Eriana with a brief bow. "Good morning, Highness. No, Mistress, we were all woken but it was apparent that we were in no danger." He looked embarrassed. "Ah, if I may ask if you have any instructions for today."

Ursula thought. "There is a lot to do and I don't know most of it. Are you already involved in anything?"

Zakaros gestured at the barges either side and then towards the Visund, presently beached beside the barge from Vormarin. "Highness, Mistress, Captain Tor intends to transfer the cargo and belongings of the Visund back to it from that barge this morning. Captain Ebranar has been contracted by His Grace to take the loot of the pirates from Hamalbek to Bibek for proper return or disposal once his holds are available. Since I made the inventory I have been asked to supervise that."

Ursula received a nod from Eriana and said, "That's fine, Zakaros."

He nodded. "As you desire, Mistress." He remembered something and turned to Eriana. "Highness, Admiral Lars asked me to remind you about the funerals."

"Funerals?" Eriana turned to Lars. «What is this? Oh, for the pirates?»

Lars replied, «Yes, Princess, and some others. Now that the surviving pirates have gone our men wanted something to do so we will be helping the Farals find wood today to make the funeral pyres. That mainly means cutting it from the spits either side of the channel but they will also scavenge from the pirates' buildings where possible.»

«Ah? Yes, those bodies are beginning to smell somewhat rank now. It is well they should be sent on their way as soon as we can manage it. The funerals will be this evening?»

«If sufficient wood can be found, Princess. Fortunately the Zebrins have brought charcoal for the kitchens, so meals will not be affected, though I do not know how long that will last.»

«I trust we will not remain here long enough to find out, Lars. Are you taking all the men? What about Tor?»

«The sailors will be shifting back our belongings, Princess. They have help.»

«So would we be ready to sail if required?»

Lars replied, «After lunch, I would estimate.»

«Good. Carry on.»

He gave her a nod. «Princess.»

She turned. "Thank you, Zakaros, for your reminder. By your leave, we must needs proceed to the latrines, as you may see."

As the six women climbed onto the stern of Zebrin's Tusk they were met by a party of Zebrin marines and an under-officer, who saluted.

"Good morning, First Director. If we may relieve you of those buckets."

"Why..." Eriana paused briefly. "Of course, gentlemen. As you can see we have just risen so our own needs are urgent. Take them for us, please."

"We are honored to be of service, First Director."

Burdens transferred, the six women made their way onto the stern of the double-hulled galley and then walked through one of the hulls to the bow. The bright morning sun lit up the interior so that Ursula could see it was more spacious than she had first thought, with seats to the inside and recesses for each rowers' legs. The oars stretched through holes between the two hulls so that only the inside ends of one set and the outside ends of the other were visible, neither obstructing their passage. Hanging up from the ceiling were carefully rolled hammocks alongside each crewman's dunnage bag.

At the front they emerged onto the bow and from there down a ramp to the soil. There were tents visible ahead of them, replacing some of the crude awnings the pirates had fashioned to protect their kitchen crew. Smoke and steam came from beyond the tents so the party hurried in that direction.

"The tents survived!"

"Aye, Tyra," Bennet agreed. "I was not so sure after that downpour."

Eriana said, "It looks like the Zebrins know their business, I deem. I am glad that they are willing to take part in this adventure of ours."

She accosted a passing Faral. "By your leave, if you could direct us to the latrines."

He replied, "Surely, Ma'am. To your right and around the end of those tents, there is another one by itself." He looked at the women and decided to venture some more information. "Ma'am, the tent behind the latrine is the bath-house. I do not know if there is yet provision for women there since my duties do not take me that way, but any Zebrin around there should make answer."

"Thank you, my good man. Your name?"

"Bornan, Ma'am, Fifth Marine Regiment."

"Thank you again, Bornan. Ladies, come, we must needs hurry."

They were astonished to discover that, inside the tent, it was not exactly a 'latrine' but a fully-featured toilet block. The plank floor was covered with cord matting to protect feet and either side were a row of cubicles with canvas sides and door flaps. When Ursula lifted a flap and entered a cubicle she found a small bottomless half-keg over a hole in the floor, it appeared the keg was there to prevent mess on the floor. She squatted and did her business, wiping with what looked like dried grass clippings from a bucket to one side of the floor.

Outside the women looked at one another.

"I have never been anywhere like this!" Nethra exclaimed. "Even in the ports we visited, a hole in the floor was all that was provided."

Eriana smiled. "I have, but that was something else new. You should know that, aforetimes, the privies in Palarand's palace were also holes in the floor, though they were inside well-appointed chambers set aside for the purpose, with tiles of high quality on floors and walls. Coming from a more barbarous land I was shocked when I was first introduced to them.

"But recently new devices have been installed. Instead of holes in the floor there are now seats with holes, set upon a gleaming structure of copper. Once you have sat and done what is needful, you can merely pull a rope and everything will be flushed away in front of your eyes. These new chambers will also have basins with hot and cold water to wash your hands with, though only a few of the toilet chambers had those fitted when we departed."

"Do you tell me?" Nethra asked, surprised. "Will I see such wonders if I should venture to Palarand, Highness?"

"If you visit the palace I have no doubt that you would, Nethra, but for now I have described what I know is in the palace, other places will of course take time for the change."

"As you say, Highness." She looked at the tent behind. "If we may explore the bathing arrangements since we are nearby? I am a woman, it is not so easy to keep one's self clean aboard a barge, even less so when we were penned by those of Yod."

Eriana eyed the tent. "Why not, Nethra? I would caution you, it may be busy with the men, we must needs take our turn."

At the entrance to the bathing facilities stood a Faral marine and a Zebrin NCO. Both came to attention as the women approached.

"Ma'am, ladies, good morning," the Zebrin greeted them. "It was expected that you might attend the bathing tent this morning. If I may send Ondar in to discover if all is ready."

"I am surprised that you would think of us," Eriana responded. "Have you kept the tent ready just for us? Surely there are many others who desire to clean themselves before beginning work?"

"Ma'am, the tent has already seen much use this morning, it is true, since we thought that you might not wake so early in the day. However, the arrangement is that we would soon clear those who were inside once you arrived."

"That is very thoughtful of you, I deem. I am sure we can wait a while, can we not, ladies?" There were nods all round so Eriana told the Zebrin, "If you may proceed. Let those inside finish what they have begun, I would not desire to make anyone hurry on our account."

"You are gracious, Ma'am." He turned to the Faral. "Ondar, if you would check inside. I think there may be only six left now, find out how long they might be."

"Of course, Sir." Ondar went inside.

The Zebrin turned back to Eriana. "Ma'am, while you wait, you may care to take pel from the mess tent yonder." He pointed a finger.

The sides of the mess tent had been rolled up and the six went over to sit at one of the tables. This tent also had a plank floor and was filled with collapsible tables and benches. A group of Farals sat at a table in the far corner nursing mugs but otherwise the place was empty. A Zebrin wearing a white apron over his uniform soon came to attend them.

"Good morning, ladies. If I may offer you breakfast?"

"Good morning," Eriana replied. "Ah, we have already arranged to take breakfast aboard our barge today, by your leave, but mayhap we may sample your wares on future occasions, I deem. If you may bring us six mugs of pel today, while we await our turn in the bathing tent."

He noticed her epaulets and bowed. "As you command, Ma'am."

Behind their tent stood the kitchen tent and it was as large as the mess tent. Their server walked across to it and spoke to one of the cooks, who looked up and over at the group of women. Shortly a cook with three bars on his epaulets walked across to join them.

"First Director, ladies, welcome. I apologize that we could not serve you breakfast this morning."

"Do not apologize, my man," Eriana replied, "we mean you no insult but we are accustomed to the ways of the Sirrel, so our breakfast this morning is already being prepared by the excellent cook aboard our barge. If the quality of your food is as good as that of your tent-makers we shall surely come here for meals in future, I deem."

He bowed. "It is, First Director. His Grace demands that men who are prepared to face any enemy with their lives should be fed as the champions they may become, should the occasion demand. There are limits to what may be provided in such a place as this, it is true, but I doubt that you will be disappointed by what we can provide you and your men... and your womenfolk, of course."

Eriana inclined her head. "Then you will see us at lunch times, aye, and in the evenings in future, I deem. Have you yet fed any of my men?"

"The bearded ones with the gray uniforms? Aye, First Director, some but not all. They have told me of a favorite food of theirs, a slice of well-grilled zurin wrapped in a fresh roll. It is not something I or my staff would have ever thought of but I can see the utility. If I may ask, do you and your ladies eat the same?"

"We do, but sometimes we prefer a variety of foods to choose from. Know that my crew come from many lands which have different table customs and we have sampled other customs as we journeyed the Sirrel."

"Ah? Then I will instruct my own staff so, First Director. Ah, here comes your pel."

"As I see. Know also that I and my men do not customarily drink wine with meals but prefer ale or beer. At breakfast it is usually small beer so as not to befuddle them as they work."

"Do you tell me? Your men drank only pel earlier, I thought that was their custom." He thought. "I do not think we have any beer in the camp and by the time it is ordered and brought we may be at the point of dismantling the camp, First Director."

Eriana waved a dismissive hand. "It is of no moment, my man. We have had difficulty finding suitable beer this side of Yod and we are now used to drinking pel instead. Do not waste time ordering anything especially for my men since we are here for so few more days."

He bowed again. "As you command, First Director. And now, your drinks."

* * *

The group were walking back to the vessels after their bath when Ursula was intercepted by one of the Faral healers.

"Mistress!" Sarrik began. "By your leave, the fever of the stranger is worse. If you may attend?"

Ursula looked at Eriana. "If it is that bad I ought to go, First Director."

"But you have not yet broken your fast!"

"That can be remedied, I can take a roll or two with me."

"Mistress," Tyra reminded her, "if you attend the sick you must needs have your basket and bag with you." She added, "If necessary I can fetch the bags and bring your rolls over with me."

"It is too much for one, Tyra, and leaves Ursula alone," Eriana declared. "Semma, go with Ursula to her patient. Bennet, if you would collect enough rolls for Ursula and Tyra, you can take them while Tyra carries the bags, then return with Semma to have your own breakfast."

"As you command, First Director."

Eriana nodded to Ursula and carried on towards the vessels with Tyra, Bennet and Nethra. To her surprise Sarrik led Ursula and Semma between the surviving pirate building and the wreckage of the one next to it, where Farals were already digging out the remaining timber stumps to add them to the funeral pyres. He found a way between two of the tents to emerge onto a walkway of duckboards with a line of tents either side.

She looked up and down the duckboard 'street', impressed. Either side were five longish tents with entrances in the center of the long sides which faced the walkway. Two had armsmen from Faral or Zebrin lounging outside while one had three ex-captives, dressed in fresh civilian clothes, watching whatever was happening. Sarrik turned left towards the water and began leading them along the walkway.

"They did all this yesterday?" she asked.

He explained, "Aye, Mistress, one of the Zebrins explained it to me. These tents are of a certain design which means they can be erected and dismantled very quickly. They are not intended for battlefield use, though, but for administration, supply and healing needs some distance behind any advance. Here we are, Mistress, we have been moved into this one."

They had arrived at the last tent on their right, nearest the Trusty cage and also the narrow strip of river where the store barges were moored. Inside Ursula found a vestibule which contained two camp beds and a collapsible desk and chair. Either side was a canvas wall with a center opening flap. Sarrik led them through one of these to find a space divided along the centreline by a canvas screen. Either side held five camp beds of which only two were presently occupied on the walkway side.

"Our other sick are in the other half of the tent, Mistress," Sarrik explained. "In here we can at least keep the fevered away from everyone else."

She looked briefly at the construction. The sides ended perhaps a hands-breadth below the canvas roof, allowing air to circulate freely in the warm weather. The roof overhung a good way to keep out any rain and there was also a valance to ensure that no water drops could get in. The floor was boarded and covered with rush matting similar to that of the other tents. With the center screen and the far wall protecting them her patients would be kept well away from the sun.

To her immediate left lay D'Nandis from the Six Cities. The way his clear gaze held her showed that for him the worst of the fever was now over, though he still looked pale and exhausted by the fight. She nodded to him and directed her attention to the furthest bed, where the mysterious stranger was weakly struggling on his camp bed. His eyes were closed but he was mumbling.

"Dauf pthiwbamn c'gref zubbr! Niun mur tar tar zaal? Quef nivnw anthoi Nesma?"

Was this his language or was he babbling? It was too soon to tell though Ursula suspected that those who had brought her to Anmar would almost certainly have provided her with his language as they had provided her with so many others.

"Have you managed to get anything inside of him yet?"

"Just a little water, Mistress. We thought he had begun to recover last night but this morning we found him like this."

"Not good. Oh, Tyra will be bringing my basket with that cream. Let me check the patient."

She knelt and felt his forehead with a hand, finding it warm but not as hot as it had been the previous day.

I must be careful here. It is still early morning, yesterday when I tested him it was late afternoon and everywhere was already hot. We may both feel warmer later.

I must be careful here! He has a disease that I probably do not have any resistance to at all! This could be more deadly to me than it is to him.

...Or have those Beings factored in such things for their transfers? If they did not then almost everyone who moved from world to world would fall ill from minor local diseases and stand a greater chance of dying. I have to assume I have some kind of built-in immunity or else I would never be able to do my job here.

...Assuming that my job here is to heal people, of course!

"Have you wiped him down this morning?"

"Not yet, Mistress. We were all moved first thing this morning and then we concentrated on giving breakfast to all who could eat it. I am impressed by these facilities, Mistress."

"As am I, Sarrik. Remember, though, we will likely only be here for a week so do not make yourself too comfortable. Where are the other patients? At the other end of this tent?"

"As you say, Mistress. Netheran presently attends them. They say having these two separate means they are more likely to be able to rest properly. This one," he pointed, "has been noisy most nights and there have been complaints. Of course, when we were in that cage we could do nothing. I am surprised the pirates did not just end him to give the rest of the patients a better chance to recover."

"I assume that they would all have been rowing that galley once the river rose?"

"Aye, Mistress, and us too. I was not looking forward to the experience."

She bent down to dip a cloth into the bucket of water at the foot of the bed.

"That would not have happened," she told him. "The Farals say that this whole cleared area would have been completely under water once the rain began. It is entirely possible that if you were still in those cages when that happened then you would all have been drowned."

Sarrik's eyes went wide. "Do you tell me? Now I consider it, it is apparent, Mistress. Maker! Those pirates were stupid."

"Not completely stupid since they managed to survive nearly a year without being discovered. The fact that they didn't know how to make houses in this type of forest shows that it was just ignorance."

She wiped down the man's face and head before continuing to his neck and shoulders.

"Have you managed to take off his clothes at all? He is probably somewhat ripe under these rags."

"Mistress? Is that what you would do? It is not the custom in Faralmark - I mean Faral - for a healer to remove any of a patient's attire unless it was necessary to attend to a particular injury or to clean up his wastes."

She considered. "There probably was little point when you were all penned in those cages but now we have a decent bath house - and I have used it this morning, it is decent - I think we ought to arrange for all the patients to get cleaned up before they are transferred out to Bibek. If we get them clean it will help keep them away from any other infections or vermin they could get while they are here."

"As you say, Mistress.. but, we? Surely you cannot mean that you -"

"I will leave that to you and Netheran, Sarrik. I know what customs you have here in the Great Valley. Know that where I come from almost all the nursing staff are female and they would wash both male and female bedridden patients. We have all seen men unclothed, in hospital the normal customs are not so important to us."

"Mistress? Your land sounds like a strange place. If I may ask, what is a Hosp..? I do not know that word."

"A hospital is a large building or group of buildings where all seriously ill or injured people are brought, since they may have better facilities for examining and treating them there. Before I came to the Great Valley a hospital was where I worked." She added, "Our cities are much larger than those you may be used to here, Sarrik, with many more people. We may have to treat hundreds, possibly thousands at the same time."

Sarrik stared at Ursula. "If you say so, Mistress, it must be true."

Bennet and Tyra came through the flap into their portion of the tent.

"Don't come any closer, please," Ursula told them. "I don't want either of you to catch whatever these two have."

Bennet put a linen bundle down on an unoccupied bed. "Mistress, there are breakfast rolls there for you and for Tyra."

"And I have your bags, Mistress," added Tyra. "You already know that I have had middrin as a child."

"Middrin?" Bennet asked. "Is that what they have? Of course, I have also had that when I was younger, most children in the palace will have had it. Do you think it could affect us again, Mistress?"

"I'm not too concerned about middrin but anything else they might have - like lice, fleas, mites or other vermin. Remember, most of these men have been at Hamalbek for months if not years and they are still wearing the same clothes they wore when they were captured."

Bennet took a step back. "Ew! I see what you mean, Mistress. If I may retire with Semma?"

"Of course. Somebody come and fetch us when it is time for lunch, please. It will be easy to lose track of time inside these tents."

"As you wish, Mistress. Come on, Semma."

Ursula turned her attention to Tyra. "Tyra, can you find the Anthelis in my basket and give it to Sarrik? He will need to make up a drink for our patient."

"Mistress, I can do that if Master Sarrik will show me the proportions. I have seen you prepare potions often enough now."

"If you are sure, Tyra, it would be a help."

Sarrik agreed, "It certainly will be a help, Mistress."

"Where will you do it?"

"There is a desk in the entranceway that we are using, Mistress. That space is designed, so we were told, for two non-commissioned officers with each of their men in one half of a tent. We thought it the best place to base ourselves, next to our patients."

"A good idea. Carry on."

She carried on wiping down the man with a dampened cloth as he moved restlessly in the bed. Sometimes he became quiet, occasionally he mumbled, other times a stream of very strange language came out, sometimes forcefully.

He certainly is an odd one. But Anmar is a large place and he could have come from anywhere.

Very occasionally the eyes opened but without any accompanying intelligence. Those times did provide her with a reassuring indicator though it only raised further questions. She was still considering this when Sarrik returned with a mug of milky liquid. Tyra returned with him but remained standing beside the entrance.

He saw her intense expression. "What is it, Mistress?"

"I was a little concerned by his skin color," she explained. "There are certain diseases of the liver and kidneys which can turn a person's skin that color."

"Do you tell me? Do you know what diseases those might be?"

"Various kinds, Sarrik. Some are... bodily imperfections, let us say, where things don't work as they should, others are as a result of abuse of the body. Too much wine, beer or spirits, for example. Too much of certain fatty foods. After persistent misuse things like that can damage organs inside which mean they won't function properly. When that happens certain waste products remain in the blood and cause the skin to change color."

"Ah, as you say, Mistress. Does that mean this man has something like that?"

"It was a possible cause, yes, but normally that coloration affects the whites of the eyes as well, which means we can use it as an indicator. His eyes look completely normal to me so it is unlikely that his skin color is caused by one of those diseases." She held up a finger. "Unlikely, yes, but not impossible."

"It may be the reason he did not respond to the middrin as the others did, Mistress."

She frowned. "That is also possible, I agree. Now let me see if I can get some of this inside him."

They lifted him up and supported him as they did before, finding it harder since the patient was so restless. When they did get him up enough to drink, he took some of the liquid though almost as much was spilled.

Ursula shook her head. "Not good. I had hoped to get more into him but all this movement is making it difficult. It means an extra job for us as well, cleaning him up."

"Mistress," Sarrik said tentatively, "I wonder, it is almost as though the Anthelis makes no difference at all to him, though it had an immediate effect on the man from K'kjand. Could it be possible for it not to work on some of our patients? I have never heard of such a happening but mayhap you might know more."

She paused. "Yes, it is possible. Everyone's body is different and may behave differently to the potions we give them." Her eyes narrowed. "We have no idea where he comes from, maybe his people are immune to whatever is in the Anthelis which makes it work."

"As you say, Mistress. I certainly know of no-one who has features like this man and we do have a fair variety of wanderers from north, west, east and south who travel through Faral. I wonder..."

Sarrik turned around to view their other patient and Ursula, after making sure the stranger was safely settled, moved over so that she could see him as well. He stared back at them with interest.

"Mistress? It seems I must thank you for saving my life. I have never felt so ill before. What is it you wish of me?"

"Good," she replied. "You look much better already, D'Nandis, but you know that you are still very weak. We will have to build up your strength before we can let you go and that may take some time. Fortunately we now have access to a decent kitchen and can provide some more filling meals than you will have had before we arrived."

"I thank you for that, Mistress." He waved a hand at the surrounding canvas. "Where are we?"

"Still at the pirate camp, I regret to say, but the whole place is full of Farals and Zebrins. The Zebrins provided these tents as a better place to sleep than those cages. The surviving pirates were captured after a battle and have now been taken away to be judged. We must ask, what do you know of this other patient? Have you ever met anyone else like him?"

The man shrugged, which made him wince and settle back on his pillow. "Mistress, we met that man in Benmouth as we journeyed east looking for adventure and work." A grimace. "Being captured by pirates and then falling ill is not my idea of adventure! Where was I? Oh, aye. He looked lost and confused and, since he was obviously as much a stranger to the area as we were, we suggested that he travel with us for safety. He told us his name was Bineer Ketko," he frowned, "of the Nesma Horde, whatever that means.

"Mistress, he told us many things but we understood none of them. I do not know what a Horde is, unless it is the word in his tongue for his own people. He spoke of lands, trees and creatures unknown to us but, oddly, also of things familiar but in strange ways. He struggled with the way that customs work in these lands of the east. I have no idea where he may have come from, except perhaps another land far to the west beyond the Kittrin Isles. I have never met anyone else who looks like him or speaks a tongue like his."

"Thank you, D'Nandis. If he is a mystery even to you that also tells us something. Do you want your friend to visit now that you are recovering? The other man from the Six Cities, I mean?"

"You would permit it? Aye, Mistress, if you judge it safe enough. How is it he is not in this tent with us?"

"It seems he caught it first and managed to recover quickly. Once he did that he was moved in with the other prisoners of the pirates. I'll let him come over, he will be safe since he has now had the disease and should be immune. Do you need anything? It is cool enough now but even in these tents it will become warm later on."

"Some more water, by your leave, Mistress."

"I'll fetch it," said Sarrik.

The Faral healer walked out of the compartment. Ursula began considering what she had learned.

He is sufficiently strange and speaks of "lands, trees and creatures unknown". To my mind that suggests he might have arrived from Earth the same way I did. It would not be surprising that nobody understands him, especially if he does not realize he is on a different world.

D'Nandis raises another possibility I had not considered. Suppose he comes from another continent far to the west? He could be like the Spanish in America centuries ago. The Aztecs and Mayans would have looked strange to them as well.

But then, would he speak the local tongue at all? If he has been here long enough to learn the local tongue, then surely he would have adapted enough to his new surroundings?

A different thought hit her then. What if this is a coincidence, that he did not get middrin like the Six Cities men but instead has another disease? That might be why the Anthelis does not work!

"It is the first time I have seen your patients," came an unexpected remark from Tyra. "In Joth we did not see so many different kinds of folk from elsewhere, not in the fishing community."

"It looks like people from elsewhere do manage to travel long distances, Tyra. That is why you have seen so many differing faces and skin colors as we have journeyed upriver." Ursula pointed to the sick man beside her. "This one seems different, though. Nobody knows where he might have come from."

"As you say, Mistress. But he is not so different from us as, say, those Kittrins are. I have never seen folk with skin so dark! Do you know how that happens, Mistress?"

"I do." Even D'Nandis seemed interested to hear the explanation. "It is to do with the strength of the sun where you live and that varies depending how far north or south you are. The closer to the equator you are, northwards, the hotter the sun becomes because it can rise much higher during the day. If the sun is too strong then it can damage your skin with repeated exposure. To defend against that the people who live in those regions develop darker skin over generations.

"Conversely, if you live further away from the equator, southwards, then you get less sun and it is weaker. Your body does need a certain amount to remain well so it compensates by becoming paler. That is why Eriana - the Princess - and her men have paler skins and lighter-colored hair and also why they can be burned by the sun more easily."

Tyra digested this and then asked, "Then, Mistress, if we were to travel north, would our skin gradually turn as dark as that of the Kittrins? I'm not sure I would like that, I would look strange."

"That only partially happens, Tyra. Your skin would darken with a tan but it would not become as dark as that of a Kittrin - or even of Mamoot. The tan would gradually fade when you return south or if you were to stay indoors for a long period. No, the color of the people who live in those regions comes from their genes, which means they inherit it from their parents and so on. However, if you and your family moved north and then stayed there, I think that successive generations would probably have darker and darker skin, though it would take a number of centuries for any difference to become obvious."

"Ah. Thank you, Mistress. The world is a strange place indeed, is it not, Mistress?"

"Very much so, Tyra."

Sarrik returned with a jug and a mug and proceeded to dispense some water to D'Nandis, who thanked him. He then joined Ursula.

"Any change, Mistress?"

"Not much, Sarrik. I wonder, could you keep an eye on these two while Tyra and I have our breakfast? Bennet brought it in that cloth on the bed."

"Surely, Mistress."

The two sat on the middle bed and ate their rolls. Since Ursula had touched the patient she wrapped hers in a fresh cloth while she ate them. There was only water to drink so Tyra went out and fetched two clean mugs to fill from the jug which Sarrik had brought earlier.

When she had finished, Ursula said to Sarrik, "It occurred to me while you were out that we have all assumed these three men had the same disease, but supposing this one does not? That might explain why he is not getting better. What else might he have that could explain these symptoms?"

Sarrik looked shocked. "Mistress, I must needs apologize! Three men, all traveling together, of course we assumed they all had the same fever! I must think anew and, by your leave, consult Netheran as well."

"Yes, do so. I will go and find that Zebrin healer, see if he has any ideas. Can you manage here?"

"Aye, for now, Mistress." He looked doubtful. "We will probably need some help later, though. Netheran and I have been awake some bells now and will require our nap after lunch."

Ursula thought. "I'll see what I can do. I do have a journeyman, I'm not sure where he is this morning."

"The Yodan? I think he went with your men who went over to cut wood for the pyres, Mistress." She raised an eyebrow so he added, "I chanced to speak with the big officer with the red beard when I fetched the water, Mistress. He asked where you were."

"Where was this?"

"At the mess tent, Mistress. Some of your men had just arrived and were there quenching their thirst. Your journeyman was with them there briefly but then departed."

She nodded. "I'll go and find out what is happening... which is what I should be doing anyway. I'll come back just before lunch and tell you what we'll do this afternoon." Ursula picked up her basket. "Tyra? Let's go."

* * *

The mess tent was busy when Ursula and Tyra arrived, since many of the various groups of men had been working hard around the reconfigured camp and had decided to take a mid-morning break at about the same time. Fortunately the gray Norse uniforms stood out so the pair threaded their way between the tables to join them. The Norsemen had pushed two tables together and were all seated round nursing mugs of pel.

«Ursula and Tyra! Push up, boys, give them some room!»

«Thank you, Lars, but there are too many of you and you deserve your break as much as we do. We'll find another table - unless you want us here for a reason.»

At that moment Eriana, Bennet and Semma entered from the other direction, followed by Kalmenar, Hashim, Zakaros, Karan and Kaldar. The Farals seated at the next table took one look at Eriana and all stood, bowed and left carrying their mugs. Eriana opened her mouth to protest and then decided to accept the situation. She shrugged, smiled at Ursula and gestured.

"If you would join us. I did not want to disturb those men but I care not to argue the matter."

"As you wish, First Director," Ursula replied, conscious of those on adjacent tables who could hear every word. "It is probably time we had a meeting in any event."

The ten fresh arrivals filled the benches with Eriana in the middle one side and Ursula facing her the other. Shortly a harassed Zebrin in an apron arrived to take orders. Once he had departed, Eriana spoke.

"If you can tell me what is happening with your patients, Ursula."

"They were all moved from their cage early this morning, First Director, into one of the end tents nearest the water. The two Faral healers know their patients well and are content to tend them for us. Most are one end, those mainly have minor physical injuries, they all seem to be progressing well, but the two with fever are in isolation at the other end. Have you seen inside one of these tents yet?"

Eriana nodded. "Aye, I have, and I am impressed both by the design and by the speed at which they can be erected. The Zebrins tell me that, providing the water craft are available to take the materials away, they can be dismantled and the site cleared just as rapidly. Tell me of this fever. Is the rest of the camp at risk?"

"I did briefly mention it last night but we were busy with that camp meeting," Ursula replied. "It is called middrin and it is a common childhood illness."

"Middrin? I do not know that name."

She looked at Eriana. "There is fever and, at the start, rash which soon clears. The fever can last from around three to six days, so I was told. Almost all of the locals will have had it while they were younger, First Director. The three who got it, the two from the Six Cities and our mystery man, come from the west coast..."

Ursula trailed off at a thought. We are assuming he came from the west coast but, in practice, nobody knows that! He could have come from the north, the south... or somewhere else entirely. Like Earth.

Not important at the moment!

"...um, excuse me, I just thought of something which needs thinking about... privately." Eriana got the message. "Yes. Those three have no resistance to the disease this side like the locals do, which may be why they caught it. I don't need to tell you that you and your men might not have any resistance, since Einnland is relatively isolated and also far enough away. Of course I'm not local so I might not be protected either - but for me there may be other considerations."

Eriana pulled a face. "Should I keep my men away from that tent, then? What is your advice?"

Two mess servants arrived with trays of drinks and plates of sweetmeats and other nibbles. Eriana smiled a thank-you at them and waited until they had departed before she gestured to Ursula to respond. The others at the table, while listening, distributed the mugs.

"It is difficult to know, First Director. Two of the men are over, or almost over the fever, it is only the mystery man who, it has occurred to me, might actually be suffering from something else and not middrin. I would say that by the time we have to leave here no-one will be in any danger of catching that disease. I could not speak for anything else which might be going around a place like this."

"Your caution is well noted, Ursula. If I may come and see this man who seems to be of interest?"

"Of course. There is room enough for you to view him without getting too close."

"Good. Maybe I will join you later." Eriana turned. "Zakaros, how go the various transfers?"

Zakaros looked at Ursula and received a nod. "First Director, the Visund would be ready to sail, should you desire it, by the time you arise from your afternoon nap. Little remains to be stowed, the barge Alaraan has been emptied, Captain Tor awaits various items which are elsewhere within the camp. As for the loot of the pirates, work has already begun to transfer that to the Alaraan, it will take some while, I deem. Maybe by tomorrow night, maybe the next day. There is more there than we thought."

"As I expected. Carry on. Karan, you were with Lars, if you would report on the progress there."

Karan also looked at Ursula to receive a nod, an action which did not go un-noticed by Eriana.

"First Director, your men and some of the Farals have been clearing the trees on either side of the channel," he reported. "I was asked to attend should there be some mishap with saw, ax or otherwise but apart from one small cut there has been nothing so far. Kaldar has made himself useful taking messages, ropes and other small tasks and he has managed to keep out of everyone's way."

"And out of danger?"

Karan blushed. "Aye, First Director, more so than me! A trunk was cut but it was still connected somewhere above so did not fall the way expected. Only a shout saved me from being hit."

"You will not have done anything like this before, have you?" Karan shook his head. "I assume you learned a lesson?"

"Aye, First Director, that I must needs keep my wits about me when in dangerous places."

Ursula asked him, "Do you want to stay there? I could make use of you elsewhere if not. The two Faral healers have been up for a long time and want someone to watch over their patients while they nap... and probably beyond."

Karan thought. "It is what I am supposed to be doing, Mistress, but if I may take my own nap later?"

"Of course. Having differing times for meals, maps and sleep is something you will have to become used to as a healer."

"As you say, Mistress. When do you want me there?"

"After lunch will do, I think."

The break ended and everyone dispersed around the camp. Ursula found herself heading with Eriana towards the walkway between the tents.

"I notice that Zakaros and Karan consider themselves to be your subordinates, Ursula," Eriana remarked. "My apologies, I did not mean to overstep your authority."

Ursula sighed. "Highness, if you remember you made them my responsibility some time ago. I think that, being Yodans, they take their assignment seriously. Both of them have made good progress since we took them in when we left Wadek. Karan is working well now that he has been given responsibility, his only lack is the knowledge that most healers outside Yod already have. I am trying to remedy that but, as you know full well, there have been many distractions since we arrived at Hamalbek."

"Aye, Ursula, I feel that keenly myself."

"I have some self-interest in that, since you have given me my own task, which is to look after this camp. It is fortunate that the Farals and Zebrins know what they are doing since I would not, not yet anyway. I must admit I am impressed by the way that all this," she gestured with an arm at the surrounding tents, "appeared as if out of thin air."

"Indeed, Ursula! It seems to me that we must needs learn such methods from these people, even while we in turn improve their battle tactics. I have no doubt that the River Patrol, and in time those expeditions that venture on Anmar's oceans, will have need of such techniques."

Ursula nodded. "As you say. We do not need to re-invent the wheel. If others already have serviceable wheels, why not make use of them?"

The Princess chuckled. "An interesting phrase indeed! 'Re-invent the wheel.' From Earth I believe?"

"Yes, Highness. And you would not believe how many times that point has been ignored there."

"I would, Ursula. I know my fellow humans all too well, many are too ignorant to recognize something that could be adapted but prefer to spend time and effort creating a poor substitute." Eriana stopped on the walkway and faced Ursula. "But tell me, you spoke of Karan, what of Zakaros? He is no subordinate willing to learn from you. He has offered fealty to both of us but may he yet be completely trusted?"

Ursula responded slowly. "He is used to command but I think he does not crave it as some do. I think he is a good administrator which is something the Navy will need as it grows. Whether he wants to do it or not, and whether he becomes interested enough to understand a subject new to him, only time will tell."

She added, "As to trust, I believe that he thinks that he owes us a debt for saving his life. Now he has lived and worked with us for a while, he has seen what the outside world is like, he understands what we intend to do and wants to be part of it."

"That is a good start, Ursula. You have enough work for him?"

"For now, yes. I need to think of a way of developing his abilities further."

"As you say." Eriana looked around. "I have a few moments before I must needs meet with Vikzas and Zoran, if I may view your mystery patient."

Ursula gestured. "Be my guest, Highness."

The two proceeded along the walkway, followed of course by Tyra, Bennet and Semma. At the Sick Bay tent all went in but only Ursula and Eriana entered the section where the two fevered patients lay. D'Nandis looked interested when Eriana appeared.

"Good morning," the Princess said to him. "If you did not know it, I am Princess Eriana of Palarand and I am presently the senior officer in this camp, I have come to visit all those who have suffered injuries or fevers under the rule of the pirates."

"I offer apologies that I do not rise, Your Highness," he replied. "I am Yabortarsil Benemar'than Doras D'Nandis an K'kjand," a smile, "which is why most here in the east name me simply D'Nandis. Palarand, eh? Though it is so far away your land has renown among the Six Cities."

"Do you tell me? Then you may know more of us than we do of the Six Cities. How do you feel? Are you recovering from the fever?"

"Highness, I am, and when I am fit enough again to walk among the others I will come to you and beg employment. I have heard of you and what you do."

Eriana nodded. "Then, once Ursula deems you fit and well again, I look forward to that conversation. We have need of good honorable men like those of the Six Cities that the King of Palarand already employs."

"Thank you, Highness."

"And now I must needs inspect your neighbor since my time is short."

"As you desire, Highness."

Eriana turned and looked at Bineer Ketko, tilting her head to see him better. For now he had worn himself out and appeared to be sleeping, propped up by several pillows. Sarrik stood up and away from the camp bed.

"Nay, my man, I will approach no closer. My people and I come from some distance away from the valley of the Sirrel and Ursula has explained that there may be a risk to us. I have no desire to share your patient's fever." She looked at the face. "Curious. I have never seen the like though of course my experience of different peoples is yet small. I wonder where he comes from?"

"As do we all, First Director," Sarrik agreed. He addressed Ursula. "Mistress, I have managed to get some more of the Anthelis into him and also some plain water. For now he seems quiet."

"Good," Ursula replied. "Let us hope that is the beginning of recovery."

Eriana's gaze was still fixed on that bronzed face. "What an interesting man," she murmured.

"Mistress! Look!" Sarrik suddenly pointed at the patient. "He shivers even though it is already warm in here! That is definitely not a symptom of middrin!"