2 - The Ruby Knight

by The Ruby Knight [lit]

  around. 'Over there,' Kurik said, pointing at a husky

  man with silver-shot curly hair drinking with a group of

  substantive-looking men at a table in the corner. "It's

  Sorgi, all right.'

  Sparhawk looked at the man who had conveyed them

  from Madel in Camoria to Cippria in Rendor and nodded

  his agreement. 'Let's drift on over there,' he said. "It might

  be best if he saw us first. ' They went across the room, doing

  their best to appear to be only casually looking around.

  'Why, strike me blind if it isn't Master Cluff.' Sorgi

  exclaimed. 'What are you doing up here in Deira? I

  thought you were going to stay down in Rendor until all

  those cousins got tired of looking for you.'

  'Why, I believe it's Captain Sorgy,' Sparhawk said in

  mock astonishment to Kurik.

  "Join us, Master Cluff,' Sorgi invited expansively.

  'Bring your man as well.'

  'You're very kind, Captain,' Sparhawk murmured,

  taking a chair at the seamen's table.

  'What happened to you, my friend?' Sorgi asked

  Sparhawk put on a mournful expression. "Somehow

  the cousins tracked me down,' he said. "I was lucky

  enough to see one of them in a street in Cippria before

  he saw me, and I bolted. I've been on the run ever

  since.'

  Sorgi laughed. 'Master Cluff here has a bit of a

  problem,' he told his companions. 'He made the mistake

  of paying court to an heiress before he got a look at her

  face. The lady turned out to be remarkably ugly, and he

  ran away from her screaming.'

  'Well, I didn't exactly scream, Captain,' Sparhawk

  said. 'I'll admit that my hair stood on end for a week or

  so, though.'

  'Anyway,' Sorgi continued, grinning broadly, 'as it

  turns out, the lady has a multitude of cousins, and

  they've been pursuing poor Master Cluff for months

  now. If they catch him, they're going to drag him back

  and force him to marry her.'

  "I think I'd rather kill myself first,' Sparhawk said in a

  mournful tone of voice. 'But what are you doing this far

  north, Captain? I thought you plied the Arcian Strait and the Inner Sea."

  "I happened to be in the port of Zenga on the south

  coast of Cammoria, ' Sorgi explained, 'and I ran across the

  opportunity to buy a cargo of satins and brocade. There's

  no market for that sort of merchandise in Rendor. They

  all wear those ugly black robes, you know. The best

  market for Cammorian fabrics is in Thalesia. You

  wouldn't think so, considering the climate, but Thalesian

  ladies are passionate for satins and brocades. I stand to

  make a tidy profit on the cargo.'

  Sparhawk felt a sudden surge of elation. 'You're going

  to Thalesia then?' he said. 'Might you have room for

  some passengers?'

  'Do you want to go to Thalesia, Master Cluff?' Sorgi

  asked with some surprise.

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  "I want to go anywhere, Captain Sorgi,' Sparhawk told

  him in a desperate-sounding voice. 'I've got a group of

  those cousins no more than two 'days behind me. If I can

  get to Thalesia, maybe I can go up and hide in the

  mountains. '

  'I'd be careful, my friend,' one of the other captains

  advised. 'There are robbers up in the mountains of

  Thalesia - not to mention the Trolls.'

  "I can outrun robbers, and Trolls can't be any uglier

  than the lady in question,' Sparhawk said, feigning a

  shudder. 'What do you say, Captain Sorgi,' he pleaded.

  'Will you help me out of my predicament again?'

  'Same price?' Sorgi asked shrewdly.

  'Anything,' Sparhawk said in apparent desperation.

  ,'Done then, Master 'Cluff. My ship is at the end of the

  third wharf down from here. We sail for Emsat with the

  morning tide.'

  'I'll be there, Captain Sorgi,' Sparhawk promised.

  'Now, if you'll excuse us, my man and I have to go and

  pack a few things.' He rose to his feet and extended his

  hand to the seaman. 'You've saved me again, Captain,'

  he said with genuine gratitude. Then he and Kurik

  quietly left the tavern.

  Kurik was frowning as they went back out into the

  street. 'Do you get the feeling that somebody may be

  tampering with things?' he asked.

  'How do you mean?'

  'isn't it peculiar that we just happened to run across

  Sorgi again - the one man we can usually count on to

  help us? And isn't it even more peculiar that he just

  happens to be going to Thalesia - the one place we really

  want to go?'

  "I think your imagination's running away with you,

  Kurik. You heard him. It's perfectly logical that he should

  be here.'

  'But at just the right time for us to run across him?'

  That was a somewhat more troubling question. 'We can

  ask Flute about it when we get back up to the city, ' he said.

  'You think she might be responsible?'

  'Not really, but she's the only one I know of who might

  have been able to arrange something like this - although I

  doubt if even she could have managed it.'

  There was, however, no chance to speak with Flute

  when they returned to the loft above the seedy tavern,

  because a familiar figure sat across the table from

  Meland. Large and grossly bearded and wearing a

  nondescript cloak, Platime was busily haggling.

  'Sparhawk!' The huge man roared his greeting.

  Sparhawk stared at him in some astonishment. 'What

  are you doing in Acie, Platime?'

  'Several things, actually,' Platime said. 'Meland and I

  always trade stolen jewellery. He sells what I steal in

  Cimmura, and I take what he steals around here back to

  Cimmura and sell it there. People tend to recognize their

  own jewellery, and it's not always safe to sell things in

  the same town where you stole them.'

  'This piece isn't worth what you're asking for it,

  Platime,' Meland said flatly, holding up a jewel-studded

  bracelet.

  'All right, make me an offer,' Platime suggested.

  'Another coincidence, Sparhawk?' Kurik asked suspiciously.

  'We'll see,' Sparhawk said.

  'The Earl of Lenda's here in Acie, Sparhawk,' Platime

  said seriously. 'He's the closest thing to an honest man

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  on the royal council, and he's attending some kind of

  conference at the palace. Something's afoot, and I want

  to know about it. I don't like surprises.

  "I can tell you what's going on,' Sparhawk told him.

  'You can?' platime looked a little surprised.

  'if the price is right,' Sparhawk grinned.

  'Money?'

  'No, a little more than that, I think. I sat in on the

  conference you mentioned. You know about the war in

  Arcium, of course?'

  'Naturally.'

  'And what I tell you will go no further?'

  Platime motioned Meland away from the table, then

  looked closely at Sparhawk and grinned.
'Only in the

  way of business, my friend.'

  This was not a particularly reassuring reply. 'You've

  professed some degree of patriotism in the past,'

  Sparhawk said carefully.

  "I have those feelings from time to time,' Platime

  admitted grudgingly, 'as long as they don't interfere

  with honest profit.'

  'All right, I need your co-operation.'

  'What have you got in mind?' Platime asked suspiciously.

  'My friends and I are seeking to restore Queen Ehlana

  to her throne.'

  'You have been for quite some time, Sparhawk, but can

  that pale little girl really manage a kingdom?'

  "I think she can, yes, and I'll be right behind her.'

  'That gives her a certain edge. What are you going to

  do about Lycheas the bastard?'

  'King Wargun wants to hang him.'

  "I don't normally approve of hangings, but in the case

  of Lycheas, I'd make an exception. Do you think I could

  reach an accommodation with Ehlana?'

  "I wouldn't wager any money on it.'

  Platime grinned. "It was worth a try,' he said. 'just tell

  my queen that I am her most faithful servant. She and I

  can work out the details later.

  'You're a bad man, Platime.'

  "I never pretended to be anything else. All right,

  Sparhawk, what do you need? I'll go along with you - up

  to a point.'

  "I need information more than anything You know

  Kalten?'

  'Your friend. Of course.'

  'He's at the palace right now. Put on something that

  makes you look more or less respectable. Go there and

  ask for him. Make arrangements with him to pass on

  information. I gather that you have ways to pick up

  details about most of the things that are going on in the

  known world?'

  'Would you like to know what's going on in the Tamul

  Empire right now?'

  'Not really. I've got enough trouble here in Eosia at the

  moment. We'll deal with the Daresian continent when

  the time comes.'

  'You're ambitious, my friend.'

  'Not really. For the moment, I just want our queen

  back on her throne.'

  'I'll settle for that,' Platime said. 'Anything to get rid of

  Lycheas and Annias.'

  'We're all working in the same direction then. Talk

  with Kalten. He can set up ways for you to get information

  to him, and he'll pass it on to people who can use it. '

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  'You're turning me into a spy, Sparhawk, ' Platime said

  in a pained voice.

  "It's at least as honourable a profession as thievery.'

  "I know. The only problem, though, is that I don't

  know how well it pays. Where are you going from here?'

  'We have to go to Thalesia.'

  'Wargun's own kingdom? After you just ran away

  from him? Sparhawk, you're either braver or stupider

  than I thought you were.'

  "You know that we slipped out of the palace then?'

  'Talen told me.' Platime thought a moment. 'You'll

  probably make port at Emsat, won't you?'

  'That's what our captain says.'

  'Talen, come here,' Platime called.

  'What for?' the boy replied flatly.

  'Haven't you broken him of that habit yet, Sparhawk?'

  Platime asked sourly.

  "It was only for old times' sake, Platime.' Talen

  grinned.

  'Listen carefully,' Platime said to the boy. 'When you

  get to Emsat, look up a man named Stragen. He more or

  less runs things there - the same way I do in Cimmura

  and Meland does here in Acie. He'll be able to give you

  whatever help you'll need.'

  'All right,' Talen said.

  'You think of everything, don't you, Platime?'

  Sparhawk said.

  'in my business you have to. People who don't tend to

  wind up dangling unpleasantly.'

  They all reached the harbour shortly after sunrise the

  following morning, and after they had seen to the

  loading of the horses, they went on board.

  'You seem to have picked up another retainer, Master

  Cluff,' Captain Sorgi said to Sparhawk when he saw

  Talen.

  'My man's youngest son,' Sparhawk replied truthfully.

  "Just as an indication of the friendship I bear you,

  Master Cluff, there won't be any extra charge for the boy.

  Speaking of that, why don't we settle up before we set

  sail?"

  Sparhawk sighed and reached for his purse.

  There was a good following wind as they sailed out of

  the Gulf of Acie and around the promontory that lay to

  the north. Then they entered the straits of Thalesia and

  left the land behind. Sparhawk stood on' deck talking

  with Sorgi. 'How long do you think it's going to take to

  get to Emsat?' he asked the curly-haired seaman.

  'We'll probably make port by noon tomorrow,' Sorgi

  replied, ' - if the wind holds. We'll furl sail and rig seaanchors

  tonight. I'm not as familiar with these waters as I

  am with the Inner Sea or the Arcian Strait, so I'd rather

  not take chances.'

  "I like prudence in the captain of a ship I'm sailing on,'

  Sparhawk told him. 'Oh, and speaking of prudence, do

  you imagine we might be able to find some secluded cove

  before we reach Emsat? Towns make me very nervous for

  some reason.'

  Sorgi laughed. 'You see those cousins around every

  corner, don't you, Master Cluff? Is that why you're under

  arms?' Sorgy looked meaningfully at Sparhawk's mailshirt

  and sword.

  'A man in my circumstances can't be too careful.

  'We'll find you a cove, Master Cluff. The coast of

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  Thalesia is one long secluded cove. We'll find you a quiet

  beach and put you ashore so you can sneak north to visit

  the Trolls without the inconvenience of having cousins

  dogging your heels.'

  "I appreciate that, Captain Sorgi.

  'You up there!' Sorgi bellowed to one of the sailors

  aloft. 'Look lively You're up there to work, not to

  daydream!'

  Sparhawk walked a ways up the deck and leaned on

  the rail, idly watching the intensely blue rollers sparkling

  in the mid-day sun. Kurik's questions were still troubling

  him. Had the chance meetings with Sorgi and Platime

  indeed been coincidence? Why should they both have

  been in Acie at precisely the same time that Sparhawk

  and his friends had made good their escape from the

  palace? If Flute indeed could tamper with time, could she

  also reach out over tremendous distances to draw in

  people they needed at precisely the right moment? How

  powerful was she?

  Almost as if his thought had summoned her, Flute

  came up the companionway and looked around. Sparhawk

  crossed the deck to meet her. "I have a question or

  two for you,' he said.

  "I thought you might have.'

  'Did you have anything to do with bringing both

  Platime and Sorgi to Acie!'

  'Not personally, no
.'

  'But you knew they'd be there?'

  "It saves time when you deal with people who already

  know you, Sparhawk. I made some requests, and certain

  members of my family arranged the details.'

  'You keep mentioning your family. Just exactly - '

  'What on earth is that?' she exclaimed, pointing off to

  starboard. Sparhawk looked. A huge surging was just beneath

  the surface, and then a great flat tail burst up out of the

  water and crashed down, sending up a great cloud of

  spray. 'A whale, I think,' he said.

  'Do fish really get that big?'

  "I don't think they're actually fish - at least that's what

  I've heard.'

  'He's singing.' Flute said, clapping her hands in

  delight. "I don't hear anything.'

  'You're not listening, Sparhawk.' She ran forward and

  leaned out over the bow of the ship.

  'Flute!' he shouted. 'Be careful!' He rushed to the rail at

  the bow and took hold of her.

  'Stop that,' she said. She lifted her pipes to her lips, but

  a sudden lurch of the ship made her loose her grip on

  them, and they fell from her hands into the sea. 'Oh

  bother,' she said. Then she made a face. 'Oh, well, you'll

  find out soon enough anyway.' Then she lifted her small

  face. The sound that came from her throat was the sound

  of those rude shepherd's pipes. Sparhawk was stunned.

  The pipes had been simply for show. What they had been

  hearing all along had been the sound of Flute's own

  voice. Her song soared out over the waves.

  The whale rose again and rolled slightly over on one

  side, his vast eye curious. Flute sang to him, her voiCe

  trilling. The enormous creature swam closer, and one of

  the sailors aloft shouted with alarm. 'There be whales

  here, Captain Sorgi!'

  And then there were other whales rising from tHe deep

  as if in response to the little girl's song. The ship rocked

  and bobbed in their surging wake as they gathered about

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  the bow, sending huge clouds of mist from great blowholes

  in the tops of their heads.

  One sailor ran forward with a long boat-hook, his eyes

  filled with panic.

  'Oh, don't be silly,' Flute told him. 'They're only

  playing.'

  'ahh - Flute,' Sparhawk said in an awed voice, 'don't

  you think you should tell them to go home?' He realized

  even as he said it just how foolish it sounded. The whales

  were home.

  'But I like them,' she protested. 'They're beautiful.'