Quest for the Well of Souls - Jack L. Chalker [55]
The Yaxa put down between him and the pegasus Domaru, who started and stared suspiciously at the newcomer.
"You are the Yaxa who the crew of the Toorine Trader said was looking for Mavra Chang," he surmised. "A long way from home, aren't you? Trying to eliminate the competition?"
The Yaxa's cold, impersonal voice did nothing to reassure him, although all the Yaxa, he'd been told, sounded this way.
"I would not harm her," responded the great butterfly. "I give you my word on that. My sole interest at the moment is her welfare and safety. I can assure you that over these many years I have been the one who has safeguarded her from plots by my people and their allies, not threatened her."
Renard was skeptical. "Why?"
"I can not say for now. One day, perhaps. I know it is ridiculous to press this matter with you. Shall we place it in more exacting terms? I and my people are bitter enemies of Antor Trelig, as are you. For now, will it not suffice to say that the enemy of my enemy is my friend?"
Renard looked puzzled. "Trelig? How does he enter into this?"
"It was Trelig who made the attempt on her in Glathriel. It was Trelig's hired killers that drove her to this escape. He has no way into the North. This was the only way. It is in our mutual interests to see that she does not fall into his hands."
Renard still doubted. "You think Trelig will try again, then? From what I got from the Trader crew, they'd blasted the raiders to bits."
"That is true, but they were mere hired hands—a few among tens of thousands who would do his bidding for gain. Some are even now combing this place for her. My associate is currently trying to gain some knowledge of their plans; she is small and can get into places neither of us could."
That interested him. "Your associate is a Lata?"
"You have good information. Yes, a Lata—like you, not one of the trusted friends of the Yaxa, nor the other way around; but we have decided to work together rather than battle each other. You should join with us. It will avoid needless violence and duplicated effort—and you will be two to one against me in case you still mistrust my motives."
Renard did in fact totally mistrust the motives of the creature, but there was some sense in what she said. "All right, for now we'll be a threesome. I am Renard."
The Yaxa's death's head nodded slightly. "I know. I am called Wooley. The Lata I believe you know—Vistaru."
It was still a surprise, even though he'd guessed it. Vistaru, too—after all this time.
"When will she join us?" he asked.
"She will meet us here as soon as she can," Wooley replied. "In the meantime, we will share our information and try to narrow the search."
There seemed little point in holding back. If he refused, the Yaxa would simply go to the gamekeeper and ask the same questions. He told.
Finally, Wooley asked, "If she is making for Gedemondas, then undoubtedly by now she is at the coast. How will she cross the Sea? She can not even talk."
Renard considered that for a moment. "If there's a way to do it, Mavra Chang will figure it out."
Hygit, Chief Port of Wuckl
The smell was of dead fish mixed with strong salt spray. The narrow strip of beach had been pretty much covered by wharves and piers, most made of the pliant but tough local woods. Some had buildings of wood and aluminum on them. This was the port of Hygit, where the unique vegetables and fruits of the country were shipped elsewhere in exchange for raw materials.
Mavra and Joshi had lived for a few days beneath one of the more commercial piers—under a fish market, actually, where small boats brought their catches from the sea hex of Zanti to market around midday. Pickings were pretty good around the pier. First, there were always dead fish around as well as the debris of commerce left in an area seldom cleaned.
The sturdy pylons and struts that supported the structures