Fire Dragon - Katharine Kerr [185]
“Are you all right?” she murmured.
“Yes, I suppose.” He let his hands fall into his lap. “In the dream I saw terrible things. I can't even remember them now. Monsters, I think they were, in some kind of swamp. But just as I thought I was doomed, someone gave me a message.”
“Do you remember it?”
“Go to Luvilae. That's what they said. Go to Luvilae.”
“Who were they?”
“I don't know. I just don't know.”
All that morning Ebañy brooded, saying not a word to anyone. Finally, Marka asked him what was wrong, but he told her only that he was thinking about his dream.
“We should go to Luvilae,” Ebañy said. “If the rest of the troupe doesn't care to go, well, I'll go alone.”
“They generally do follow where you lead,” Marka said. “But let's tell them and see what they say. It's time for the noon meal anyway.”
Luvilae was the southernmost town on Zama Parae, the southernmost island in the archipelago, a trip that would take them weeks. At first the players grumbled and wondered why they were going out so far, where the profit was slender for a big show like theirs, but along the way they did so well and saved so much coin that in the end they were glad they'd decided to indulge Ebañy. The morning before they reached Luvilae, in fact, Vinto and Keeta counted up the proceeds, all smiles, while the others gathered around to watch.
“We don't need a copper more to get back to the north safely,” Keeta announced. “And I think Luvilae will toss us more than a copper, don't you?”
The entire troupe cheered. Marka waved her friend over as the rest hurried to strike camp for the day's journey.
“I can't tell you how glad I am to hear that,” Marka said.
“Your man's never let us go hungry yet. But I can't help wondering if he's told you why we're doing this.”
“Only that he had an omen dream. It was when we were back in Indila. He had a nightmare, and when he woke, he knew that he had to come to Luvilae.”
“Huh.” Keeta thought for a moment. “It's where we met him, isn't it? It was so long ago now that I can't quite remember.”
“I remember. It was Luvilae, all right. I'll never forget that, and my father, and how you saved me from him.”
“I saved you?” Keeta raised an eyebrow. “I thought it was Ebañy who pried you off your scum of a father.”
“Oh, he made the decision easier. But you were the one who made me see that I couldn't stay. You were right, too. My father would have had me whoring for him, and I probably wouldn't even be alive by now.”
Keeta shuddered hugely at the memory. The two women sat down on a rolled tent cloth out in front of Marka's tent and watched others work. Dust and shouts rose high. Carrying three of the children, Nila the elephant ambled past with her trunk curled around a bundle of hay. Nearby Tillya sat on a little carpet and kept Zandro amused, safely away from the enormous beast's feet. Off in the distance, Marka saw Kwinto hurrying back and forth, giving the acrobats orders, while Vinto smiled at him like a proud uncle.
“Your boy's almost a man,” Keeta said. “It's time to find him a wife.”
“You're right about that. Gods! The years have gone by too fast.”
“Indeed. If it weren't for losing my Delya and your babies, I'd say that they've been good ones, but then, the gods never feed anyone honey without giving them vinegar to wash it down.”
Since shade trees lined the well-made road, the day's travel went fast and comfortably, or so Marka thought, but Ebañy fretted