chapter 16

  SPRINGCAMEEARLYINASTIBARTOWN.ITALMOSTALWAYSdidalongthatshelterednorthwesterheprovince,overlookingthebayarung-outislandsoftheArchipelago.Eastandsouththeunblockedwindsfromtheseapushedthestartofthegrowingseasonbackafewweeksahesmallerfishingboatsclosetoshorethisearlyintheyear.

  Senziowasalreadyfl,thetradersinAstibarharborreported,thewhiteblossomsofthesejoiatreesmakingtheairfragrantwiththepromiseofsummertoe.Chiarawasstillcolditwassaid,butthathappenedsometimesinearlyspringontheIsland.ItwouldntbelongbeforethebreezesfromKhardhuledtheairandtheseasaroundher.

  SenzioandChiara.

  AlbericoofBarbadiorlaydownatnightthinkingaboutthem,androseupinthemdoingthesame,afterintense,agitatednightsoflittlerest,shhwithlurid,disturbingdreams.

  Ifthewinterhadbeeling,rifewithsmallisandrumors,theeventsofearlyspringweresomethingelseentirely.Andtherewasnothingsmall,nothingonlymarginallyprovocativeaboutthem.

  Everythiobehappeningatoningdownfromhisbedchambertohisofficesofstate,Albericowouldfindhismooddarkeningwitheverystepintheappreheicipationofwhatmightbereportedtohim.

  Thewindowsofthepalacewereopennowtoletthemildbreezessweepthrough.Ithadbeeimesihadbeenwarmenoughtodothatandformuchoftheautumnandwiherehadbeenbodiesrottingoh-wheelsinthesquare.Sandrenibodies,Nievolene,Scalvaiane.Adozeswheeledatrandom.Notducivetoopeningwindows,that.Necessarythough,andlucrative,afterhisfiscationofthespiratorslands.Helikedwheyandgaiogether;itdidnthappewhenitdidthemarriageseemedtoAlbericoofBarbadiortorepresentalmostthepurestpleasuretobefoundinpower.

  Thisspringhoweverhispleasureshadbeenfewandtrivialinscope,andtheburgeoningofroublesmadethoseofthewinterseemlikeminor,ephemeralafflis—briefflurriesofsnowinanight.Whathewasdealingwithnowwereriversinflood,everywherehelooked.

  Attheverybeginningawizardwasdetectedusinghismagithesouthernhighlands,buttheTrackerawenty-fivemenSifervalhadimmediatelysentafterhimhadbeenslaughteredinapassbyoutlaws,tothelastman.Anactandrevoltalmostimpossibletobelieve.

  Andhecouldntevenproperlyexactretribution:thevillagesandfarmsscatteredthroughthehighlandshatedtheoutlawsasmuorethantheBarbadiansdid.AndithadbeenanEmberNight,withmanabroadtoseewhomighthavedohisunpreteddeed.SifervalsentahundredmenfromFortOrtiztohuntthebrigandsdown.Theyfoundnotralylongdeadcampfiresinthehills.Itwasasifthetwenty-fivemenhadbeenslainbyghosts:which,predictably,iswhatthepeopleofthehighlandswerealreadysaying.IthadbeenanEmberNightafterall,andeveryohedeadwereabroadonsuights.Thedead,hungryforretribution.

  "Howcleverofthedeadtousenew-fletchedarrows,"Sifervalswrittehadofferedsardonically,whetainstocarrythetidingsnorth.Hismenhadretreatedquicklyinwhey-facedterrorattheexpressiononAlbericosface.Itwas,afterall,theThirdpanywhichhadallowedtwenty-fiveofitsmentobekilled,andhadtheoutanotherhundredinpetentstodonomorethanelicitlaughter,wanderingaboutinthehills.

  Itwasmaddening.AlbericohadbeenforcedtofightbaurgetotorchtheCertandanhamletothosehills,butheknewhowdestructivethatwouldbeinthelongerrun.ItwouldundermihebesofthefocusedrestrainthedusedintheaffairoftheSan-dreniplot.Thatnighthiseyelid

  begantodroopagain,thewayithadintheearlyautumn.

  Then,veryshortlyafter,camethenewsfromQuileia.

  HehadnourishedsuchhopesthereaftertheshogfalloftheMatriarchy.Itwassuenormous,ripenewmarketfortrade,anabsoluteharvestfortheEmpire.Andone,mostimportantly,thatwouldbebroughtintoBarbadiisbythatevervigilantguardianofthewesternbordersoftheEmpire,AJbericooftheEasternPalm.Somuchrichhopeandpromisethere,andsolittleactualprospectofdifficulty.EvenifthisMarius,thiscrippledpriestess-killeronhisprecariousthrone,chosetotradewestwithYgrathaswellaseastthatwasallright.Quileiawasmorethanlargeenoughtoofferbountybothways.Foratime.Soonenoughitshouldbepossibletomaketheuncouthfellowseethemany-facetedadvantagesoffoghisdealingstowardsBarbadior.

  IntheevolutionoftheBarbadianEmpiretherehademergedanumberofways,agreatmanytime-honoredways,somesubtle,someratherlessso,ofcausioseethingsinaparticularlight.Alber-icohadafewthoughtsofhisownaboutevennewermeansofpersuadiymonarchstoviewmattersusefully.Hefullyinteoexplorethem,oncehewashome.

  Home,asEmperor.Forthat,afterall,wasthepoint,thepointofabsolutelyeverything.Exceptthattheeventsofthespringutterlyrefusedtocooperate.

  MariusofQuileiasentagratifyinglyswiftreplytoAlbericoslatestbenevolentoffertotrade.AnemissarydelivereditdirectlyintothehandsofSifervalinFortOrtiz.

  UnfortuhatbriefgratificationhadbeensmashedandannihilatedwheerreachedAstibar,carriednorththistime,inreitionofitsimportance,bySifervalhimself.Couchedinuedlysophisticatedlanguageittainedamessagethat,howeverpolitelyandcircuitouslyphrased,wasflataheQuileiafullyjudgedthatBrandinofYgrathwasthegreater,firmerpowerinthePalm,andassudbeingbutgreeninhisownpower,hecouldnotriskincurringtheaheKingofYgrathbytradingwithAlberiinorlordoftheEmpire,muchashemightwantto.

  Itwasaletterthatcouldeasilydriveamanintoakillingrage.

  Fightingforself-trol,Albericohadseengingapprehensioninhisclerksandadvisors,andevenaquicklyveiledfearintheeyesofthecaptainoftheThirdpany.Then,whenSifervalhandedoverthesedletter,theone,heexplaihathehadsocleverlyarraoextradcopyfromthesaddlepouchofthearrulousQuileianemissary,Albericofeltalltroldesertinghim.

  Hehadbeenforcedtoturnaway,tostridealohewindowsatthebackoftheofficesofstateanddraihsofairtocalmhisboilingmind.Hecouldfeelthetell-taletreminningagaininhisrighteyelid;theflutteringhedneverbeeogetridofsinighthedalmostdiedintheSandreniWoods.Hishugehandsgraspingthewindow-ledgeofiroruggledfortheequanimitythatwouldlethimcarefullyweightheimplicationsofthisinterceptedmessage,butcalmwasaswiftlyregillusionandhisthoughtsinthemsunlightwerebladfoamingliketheseainstorm.

  Senzio!TheQuileianfoolsoughttolinkhimselfwiththosedissolutepuppetsihproviwasalmostimpossibletocreditthataman,howeverheworldstage,couldbesuimbecile.

  Hisbacktohisadvisorsandhiscaptains,staringblindlyoutthewindowdownupohtGrandSquare,Albericoabruptlybegantosiderhowthiswasgoingtolooktothewiderworld.Tothepartoftheworldthatmattered:theEmperor,andthosewhohadhisear,andwhosawthemselvesasrivalstoAlberico.Howwouldthetidingsberead,ifBrandinofYgrathwasbusilytradingsouth,ifSen-zianmertswereblithelysailingpasttheArchipelagoanddownthecoastbeyeaandthemountainstoQuileianportsandallthefabledgoodsofthatland,soloothemselvesuhepriestesses?

  IftheEmpirealonewasdeniedaccesstothisnewmarket.DeniedaccessbecauseAlbericoof

  BarbadiorwasjudgedtooinfirminhispowerhereasparedtotheYgratheni...Albericofelthimselfbeginningtosweat;acoldtrioisturesliddownhisside.Thereasmofpaininhischestasamuscleearhisheart.Heforcedhimselftobreatheslowlyuntilitpassed.

  Fromthesouruiseitsuddenlyseemedasifadaggerhadmaterialized,moresharpanddeadlythananyenemyofhisbaBarbadihthavefashioned.

  Senzio.Hehadbeenthinkinganddreamingabouttheninthprovihroughthemonthsofidsnow,seekingawayinhisrestlessnightstobreakout,taintrolofasituationthatincreasinglyseemedtobeoperatinguponhim,insteadofheuponit,asmasterofhisdestiny.

  Andthathadbeenier,evenbeforethisnewsfrombeyondthemountains.

  Then,shortlyafter,evenasthefirstflanbloominginthegardensofAstibar,therewasmore.IntheverysameweekwordcamefromthewestthatsomeoriedtokillBrandinofYgrath.

  Hadtried,andfailed.ForoneblissfulnightAlbericoplayedoutglorioussariosoftriumphinhissleep.Dreaming,overandain,sokeenwasthepleasure,thattheassassin—usingacrossbow,theyhadlearned—hadsucceededinhispurpose.Oh,itwouldhavebeensoperfect,itwouldhavebeentimedsoflawlesslyforhim,dovetailingsolywithhisneeds.Itwouldhavehadtobeseenasagift,ashininguponhisface,fromthehighgodsoftheEmpire.TheentirePeninsulaofthePalmwouldhavebeenhisinayear,inhalfayear.Quileiascrippledmonareedierworldsodesperately,wouldhavehadtoembracewhatevertermsoftradeAlbericothenchosetoofferhim.

  AndtheEmpire?His,ayearafterallofthat,attheveryworst.

  Withsuunchallengedpowerbasehere,hewouldnothaveeveowaitfortheailingEmperortofinallydie.Hecouldhavesailedhomewithhisarmiesasthechampionandtheheroofthepeople.Havingfirstshoweredthemwithgrain,withgold,withfreelyflowingwinefromthePalm,andallthenewlyrediscoveredwealthofQuileia.

  Itwouldhavebeenglorious.ForthatonenightAlbericolethimselfdream,smilinginhissleep.Thenhewoke,andcamedowairsagaintotheofficesofstateandfoundallthreeofhiscaptainswaiting,grim-faced.Anewmessengerwastherewiththem.Fromthewestagain,asingledayafterthefirst,withhatsmashedtwentyyearsofbalangintotiny,sharp-edgedfragmentsthatwouldneveragainbereassembledastheyhadbeen.

  BrandinhadabdicatedinYgrathandnamedhimselfKingoftheWesternPalm.

  OnChiara,themessengerreported,tremblingathislordsvisage,theyhadbeguingwithinhoursoftheannou.

  "AndtheYgrathens?"KaraliusoftheFirstaskedsharply,thoughhehadnorealrighttospeak.

  "Mostwillgohome,"themessengersaid."Iftheystaytheymustbeecitizens,onlyequalcitizens,ofthenewkingdom.”

  "Yousaytheywillgohome,"AJbericosaid,hisgazeflatandheavy,maskingthefeverishingofhisemotions."Doyouknowthis,haveyoubeentoldthis,ordoyouonlyguessittobeso?”

  Themesseurnedgrey,stammeringsomereplyaboutlogidobvioussequendwhatanyonecouldpredict...

  "Havethismanstooutthenhavehimkilled,"Albericosaid."Idontcarehow.Feedhimtotheanimals.Mymessengersbriheheylearn.Idrawwhatclusioobedrawn.”

  Themessengerfainteddeadaway,topplingsidewaystothefloor.Itcouldbeseenthathehadsoiledhimself.GrancialoftheSedpanysignaledquicklyfortwomentocarryhimout.

  Albericodidntbothertowatawayhewasgladthemanhadspokenasfatuouslyashehad.Hehadneededanexcusetokilljustthen.

  Hegesturedwithtwofingers,andhisstewardhastilyusheredeveryooftheroombutthethreecaptains.Notthatanyofthelesserofficialsseemedinedtolihatparticularmoment.Which

  wasasitshouldbe.Hedidnttrustanyofthemverymuch.

  Hedidirelytrusthiscaptaiher,buthehem,andtheyneededhim,andhehadbeeokeepthematoddsandoheachother.Itwasaworkablearra.Orithadbeen,untilnow.

  Butnohatmattered,andBrandinhadjustthrownthepeninsulaintochaos.NotthatthePalmactuallymattered,notinitself.Itwasagateping-stone.HehadmovedoutofBarbadiorasayoungman,ioriseintheworldaurnasaleaderinhisprime,andthereoint,nopointatalltotwentyyearsofexileifhecouldnotsailhomeintriumph.Ihantriumph.Inmastery.

  Heturnedhisbathecaptainsaothewindow,surreptitiouslymassaginghiseye.Hewaited,toseewhowouldspeakfirst,andwhathewouldsay.Therewasafeargrowingwithinhimthatheainstohide.Nothingwasfallingright,noneofhiscautionanddiscretioohaveborhefruititshould.

  Karaliussaid,verysoftlyfrombehindhim,"Mylord,thereisopportunityhere.Thereisgreatopportunity.”

  Whichisexactlywhathewasafraidthemanwouldsay.Afraid,becausehekwastrueandbecauseitmeantmovingagain,andquickly,ittinghimselftodangerous,decisivea.ButahereandnotintheEmpire,notbae,wherehehadbeenreadyinghimselftoreturn.Warfarawayinthissavage,obduratepeninsulawherehecouldloseall,alifetimessowing,instrivingforaquesthehardlycaredabout.

  "Wehadbestgocarefully,"Grancialsaidquickly.MoretoopposeKaraliusthananythingelse,Alberiew.Buthehatwe.

  HeturnedandfixedtheSedpanycaptainwithawintryglance."Iwillindeeddonothingwithoutthought,"hesaid,plagclearemphasisonthefirstwrancialflickedhiseyesaway.

  Sifervalsmiledbehhiscurlingblondmoustaches.

  Karaliusdidnot.Hisexpressionremainedsoberandthoughtful.Hewasthebestofthethree,Alberiew.Alsothemostdangerous,forthetwothihandinhandinsuchaman.Alberiovedaroundbehindhishugeoakdeskandsatdownagain.HelookedupattheFirstpanyleaderandwaited.

  Karaliussaidagain,"Thereisopportunitynow.Therewillbeturmoili,disruption,Ygrathenssailinghome.ShallItellyouwhatIthink?"Hispaleskinwasflushedwithagrowiement.Alberiderstoodthat:themansawcesofhisown,landahforhimself.

  ItwouldbeamistaketoletKaraliusunfoldtoomuch.Hewouldendupthinkingtheplanningwashis.Albericosaid,"Iklywhatyouthink,totheverywordsyouwouldspeak.Besilent.IknoweverythingthatwillbehappeningiexceptohiyetknowhowmanyoftheYgrathenarmywillstay.Myguessisthatmostwillleave,ratherthanbeloweredtothelevelofpeopletheyhavehadmasteryoveralltheseyears.TheydidnoteheretobeeinsequentialfiguresinthePalm.”

  "her,"saidSifervalpointedly,"didwe.”

  Albericosuppressedhisaagain.Itseemedhehadbeenforcedtodothatsomuchoflatewiththesethree.Buttheyhadtheirownpurposes,theirownlongdrawn-outplans,ahandfamewereattheheartofthem.AstheyhadtobeforallambitiousmenintheEmpire:towardwhatelseshouldanambitiousmanaspire?

  "Iamawareofthat,"hesaid,ascalmlyashecould.

  "Thenwhatdowedo?"Grancialasked.Arealquestion,notachallenge.Grancialwastheweakestaloyal—becauseofthatweakness—ofthethree.

  Albericolookedup.AtKaralius,notatGrancial.

  "Yougathermyarmies,"hesaiddeliberately,thoughhispulsewasragveryfast.Thiswasdangerousandmightbefinal,everyinstinctwithinhimtoldhimthat.Buthealsokhattimeandthegodshadthrownaglitteringgemdowntowardhimfromtheheavens,andifhedidnotmoveitwouldfallaway.

  "Yougathermyarmiesinallfourprovindtakethemnorth.Iwantthemmassedtogetherassoonaspossible.”

  "Where?"Karaliusseyeswerealmostshiningwithanticipation.

  "Ferraut,ofcourse.OhernborderwithSenzio."Senzio,hewasthinking.Theninth.Thejewel.Thebattleground.

  "Howlongwillittakeyou?"heaskedthethreeofthem.

  "Fiveweeks,nomore,"Grancialsaidquickly.

  "Four,"saidSiferval,smiling.

  "TheFirstpany,"saidKaralius,"willbeontheborderthreeweeksfromnow.tonit.”

  "Iwill,"saidAlberiddismissedthem.

  Hesatalohisdeskforalongtimeafter,toyingerweight,thinkinguponallsidesofthis,overandaroundandabout.Buthoweverhelookeduponitallthepiecesseemedtoslideintoplace.

  Thereowertobegraspedhere,andtriumph,hecouldalmostseethatshimmeringjewelfallingthroughtheair,overwater,overland,intohisreaghand.

  Hewasag.Shapishimself,notbeingimpactedupon.Hisenemywouldbevulnerable,enormouslyso,untilthisnewchaossettledi.Quileiaschoicecouldbefordbenochoiceatall.TheEmpirecouldbemadetosee,ontheeveofhisfinaljourneyhome,justwhathissorceryandhisarmiescoulddo.Thetimewasajewel,truly,fallingfromtheheavens,waitingtobeclasped.

  Tobesetuponhisbrow.

  Hewasstilluhough,almostunilyso,sittingalohembrighteryingtovincehimselfofthetruthofallthisshiningpromise.Hewasmorethanuneasy;hismouthwasdryandthespringsunlightseemedstraohim,almostpainful.Hewonderedifhewasill.Therewassomethinggnawingawaylikearatindarktheunlitersofhisthoughts.Heforcedhimselftoturntowardsit,tryingtomakeatorchofhiscarefulrationality,tolookwithinhimselfandrootoutthisay.

  Andthenindeedhedidseeit,anduood,inthatsamemoment,thatitcouldedout,noteverbeaowledgedtoalivingsoul.

  Forthetruth,thepoisonousgalloftruth,wasthathewasafraid.Deathlyafraid,inthedeepestinlacesofhisbeing,ofthisotherman.OfBrandinofYgrath,nowBrandinoftheWesternPalm.Thenamehadbeenged,thebalancegedutterly.

  Thetruthoffearwasexactlyasithadbeenforalmosttwentyyears.

  Ashortwhilelaterhelefttheroomadowairsandundergroundtoseehowtheykilledthemessenger.

  AlaisklywhyshewasbeinggrahisunpretedgiftofajourheSeaMaidwithherfather:Selvenawasgettingmarriedattheendofsummer.

  ibarEdinio,whosefatherownedagood-sizedestateofolivetreesandvineyardsnorthofAstibar,andamodestbutsuccessfulbankinghouseiy,hadaskedRovigoforhisseddaughtershandearlyinthespring.Rovigentlyforewarnedbyhisseddaughter,hadgivenhissent,adecisioncalculated,amongotherthings,toforestallSelvenasoft-proclaimediiontodoawaywithherselfshouldshestillbelivingathomeanduheautumn.iwasearandpleasantifalittledull,andRovigohaddonebusinesswithEdinioiandlikedtheman.

  Selvenawastempestuouslyecstatic,aboutplansforthewedding,abouttheprospectofrunningher

  ownhome—Ediniohadofferedtosettheyoungcoupleupinasmallhouseonahillabovehisvineyards—and,asRovigooverheardhertellingtheyoungergirlsoneevening,abouttheanticipatedpleasuresofthemarriagebed.

  Heleasedforherhappinessandratherlookingforwardtothecelebrationofthemarriage.Ifhehadmomentsofsadhathestrovetomask,heattributedittothenaturalfeelingsofamanwhosawthathisgirl-childhadbeeawomanrathersoohanhehadbeenpreparedfor.ThesightofSelvenamakingaredgloveforherbridalnightaffectedRovigomorethahoughtitwould.Hewouldturnfrht,feverishchattertoAlais,andquietandwatchful,andsomethingakintosadnesswouldtouchhisspiritamidtheanticipatorybustleofthehouse.

  Alixseemedtouand,perhapseveerthanhedidhimself.Hiswifehadtakentopattinghisshoulderatsporadiexpectedmoments,asifgentliivecreature.

  Hewasrestive.Thisspringthenewsfromthewiderworldredictableandofseeminglyenormoussequence.BarbadiantroopswerebeginningtoclogtheroadsastheymoveduptonorthernFerraut,ontheborderofSenzio.FromthenewlydeclaredKingdomoftheWesternPalmhadenoclearresponseasyettothisprovocation.OrhadreachedAstibar.RovigohadntheardawordfromAlessansincewellbeforetheEmberDays,buthehadbeentoldalongtimeagothatthisspringmightmarkthebeginningofsomethingnew.

  Andsomethingwasintheair,asenseofquiingandofgethatfititselftothemoodeoningspringandthebeyondit,intodangeraentialforviolence.Heseemedtohearitaeverywhere,irampofarmiesonthemartheloweredvoienintaverns,lookinguptooquicklywheneveranyonecamethroughthedoor.

  Onemwhenhewohadanimagethatlingeredinhismind,ofthegreatfloodsofsolidlypackedrivericehehadglimpsedmanyyearsagofartothesouthonalongvoyagedownthecoastofQuileia.Andinhismind-picture,ashelayinbed,suspeweenasleepandfullyawake,hehadseemedtoseethaticebreakingupandtheriverwatersbeginningtain,carryingthefloescrashingandgrindingdowntothesea.

  Overkhavthatsamem,standingi,hehadannouhathewasgoingintotowntoseeaboutequippingtheMaidforherfirstrunoftheseasondowntea,withgoods,perhapswine—perhapsEdinioswiradeforashipsholdsworthofearlyspringwoolandTregeangoatscheese.

  Itulsivedecision,butnotaninappropriateone.Heusuallymadearunsouthinthespring,ifalittlelaterintheseason,mostlyfortrade,partlytolearnwhathecouldforAlessan.Hehadbeendoingitforyears,forbothreasons,eversiAlessanandBaerd,spendingalongnightinasoutherntavernwiththem,andingawaywiththeknowledgeofasharedpassionofthesoulandacausethatmightbealifetimeintheunfolding.

  Sothisspringvoyageartofhisyearlyroutine.Whatwasnot,whatwastrulyimpulsive,washisoffer,betweenonesipofearlymkhava,totakeAlaiswithhim.

  Hiseldest,hispride,hiscleverohoughtherbeautifulbeyondwords.Noonehadaskedforherhand.AndthoughheknewshewastrulypleasedforSelvenaandnotgrievingatallforherself,thisknowledgedidntstophimfromfeelingadifficultsorrowwheneverhelookedatheramidthealreadybuildiementofSelvenasweddingpreparations.

  Soheaskedher,alittletoocasually,ifshewaoewithhim,andAlixglancedupquicklyfromherlaborsiwithasharp,worriedlookinherdarkeyes,andAlaissaid,evenmorequickly,withafervorrareforher:"Oh,Triad,yes!Iwouldlovetoe!”

  Ithappeobeherdream.

  Oneofheroldestdreams,neverrequested,neverevenspokenaloud.Alaiscouldfeelhowhighhertell-talecolorhadsuddenlybee.Shewatchedherfatherandmotherexgeaglaherewere

  timeswhensheehemthatunionoftheireyes.Nowordswerespoken,theydidoneedwordsmuchofthetime.ThenAlaissawhermothernod,aurimetocatchherfathersslowsmileinrespohat,andsheknewshewasgoingtoseaintheMaidforthefirsttimeinherlife.

  Shehadwaodosoforsolongshecouldhinkbaewhenthedesirehadhere.Sherememberedbeingasmallgirl,lightenoughtobeliftedupbyherfatherwhilehermothercarriedSelvena,goingdowntotheharborinAstibartoseethenewshipthatwasthekeytotheirsmallfortuheworld.

  Andshehadloveditsomuch.Thethreemasts—theyhadseemedsotalltoherthen—aspiringtowardthesky,thedark-hairedfigureheadofamaidenattheprow,thebright-bluecoatoffreshpaintalongtherailings,thecreakoftheropesaimber.Andtheharboritself:thesmellofpitdpineandfishandaleandcheese,idleather.Therumbleofcartsladenwithgoodsgoingawaytosomefarpartoftheknownworld,oringinfromdistantplaceswithhatwereakindofmagictoher.

  Asailorinredandgreenwalkedbywithamonkeyonhisshoulderahercalledafamiliargreetingtohim.Herfatherseemedtobeathomehere,hekhesemen,thewild,exoticplacesfromwhichtheycamea.Sheheardshoutsandsuddenraucouslaughterandvoicesraisedinprofanedisputeovertheweightofthisorthecostofthat.Thensomeonecriedoutthatthereweredolphinsinthebay;thatwaswheherhadliftedheruponhisshoulderssoshemightseethem.

  Selvenahadbeguntocryatallthefierotion,Alaisremembered,andtheyhadgonebacktotheircartshortlyafterandriddenaastthewatchful,loomingpreseheBarbadians,big,fair-hairedmenontheirbighorses,guardingtheharborofAstibar.Shehadbeentooyoungtouandwhattheywereabout,butherfathersabruptsilendexpressionlessface,ridingbythem,hadtoldhersomething.Later,shelearnedagreatdealmrowingupintotheoccupiedrealityofherworld.

  Herloveoftheshipsandtheharborhadnevergoneaway.WhenevershecouldshewouldgowithRovigodowntothewater.Itwaseasierinwinter,whentheyallmovedtothetownhouseinAstibar,buteveninspringandsummerandearlyfallshewouldfindexcuses,reasonsandwaystoapanyhimintotownanddowntowheretheMaidwasberthed.Shegloriedinthese,andatnightshedreamtherdreamsofosopeningbeforeherandsaltsprayoffthewaves.

  Dreams.Shewasawoman.Womendidnotgotosea.Anddutiful,intelligentdaughtersroubledtheirfathersbyevenaskingtobeallowedsuchathing.Butitseemedthat,sometimes,onsomemspletelyunforeseen,Eannacouldlookdownfromamongherlightsinthesky,andsmile,andsomethingmiraightbefreelyofferedthatwouldneverhavebeensought.

  Itseemedshewasagoodsailor,adjustingeasilytotheswingandrolloftheshiponthewavesasthecoastlineofAstibarscrolledbyontheirright.TheysailednorthalongthebayahreadedtheirwaythroughtheislandsoftheArchipelagoandintothewidenessoftheopensea,Rovigoandhisfiveseamenhandlingtheshipwithaseemedtoherbothrelaxedandprecise.Alaiswasexhilarated,watgeverythinginthisunknownworldwithaythatmadethemlaughandteaseherforit.

  Therewasnomalithejeststhough;shehadknownallfiveofthesemenformostofherlife.

  Theyswungarouherntipoftheprovince;acapeofstorms,ohementoldher.Butthatspringdayitwasaneasy,mildpladshestoodattherailingastheyturnedbacksouth,andwatchedthegreenhillsofherprovincepassby,slopingdowntothewhitesandoftheshoresand松语文学www.16sy.coM免费小说阅读

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