The Dragon Revenant - Katharine Kerr [127]
Since, by the time the ship was safely docked and the harbor dudes paid, it was too late to make a state visit to the archon, Nevyn, Perryn, and the honor guard all spent the night in a splendid inn as the official guests of the city of Surat. As soon as he wobbled off the gangplank onto the solid pier Perryn began to revive; by the time they reached the inn and were being shown to an enormous suite, he was positively cheerful. On his own initiative he took over the role of Nevyn’s valet, grabbing the councillor’s luggage from the more-than-willing warband and stowing it away after the innkeep, in a frenzy of pantomime and a flurry of his twenty Deverrian words, showed him the bedchamber and the wardrobe chests.
“Your poor servant seems to have been very seasick,” the innkeep remarked in Bardekian to Nevyn.
“Very. The seas are terrible this time of year.”
“Yes, they certainly are.” The man hesitated, practically squirming with curiosity, but he was too skilled at his host-craft to pry. “I shall send pitchers of wine, Lord Galrion. Uh, about your guards? Will the wine go right to their heads?”
“I shall make sure your property is safe in every respect, good sir.”
The innkeep bowed so low that he could have touched his toes, then scurried off.
At the evening meal not only did the other guests in the common room crowd round to ask polite yet eager questions about their marvelous ocean voyage, but some of the local merchants came in specially as well. To a town that lived by trading on the sea, their journey smacked of legend, the exploit of a hero, perhaps, from their own Dawntime. Fortunately, Nevyn could draw upon his sincere ignorance of things maritime to put them off.
“When we hired this captain, we were told he was the best in Orystinna, and apparently he is. There were times when I honestly thought we were doomed, but he always pulled us through. It’s him you should be buying drinks for, gentlemen, and asking your questions.”
He had no doubt that on the morrow, when Elaeno came on land, they’d be doing just that. He was also sure that the ship’s master could lie well enough to convince them that the voyage was as normal as a terrible crossing could be.
When Nevyn returned to his chamber, he found Perryn sitting on the edge of the usual dais in the reception chamber. In the light of the oil lamps the lord’s red hair gleamed, newly washed and coppery.
“They have splendid bathhouses here, Nevyn. A servant showed me where it was, and it felt ever so good to wash off the stink of that cursed ship.” He fixed the dweomermaster with a reproachful stare. “But, er, well, you might have told me we were coming all the blasted way to Bardek.”
“Did I forget? Well, I suppose I did, at that. My apologies, lad. There’s a good bit on my mind these days.”
“Er, well, at least Cullyn can’t get at me here, and that’s all that matters to me.” He sighed, staring vacantly at the blue-and-white tiled fountain playing in the middle of the chamber. “Jill’s off to the east and north.”
“You’re certain of that?”
“I am. It’s like an … well, er, ah, like an itch, truly.” He got up and turned slowly, like a bit of lodestone searching out the south. “When I stand like this, it’s like scratching the itch, and Amyr told me that the direction I’m facing is east and north.”
“So it is. Splendid, lad! You spoke of restitution back in Aberwyn, and truly, this is a grand way to pay it. If we can find Jill without my having to scry, it’ll confuse our enemies no end.”
“Enemies?”
“Oh, well, I seem to have forgotten to mention that, too. I must be growing old or suchlike. You see, I’m afraid that men with evil magic are trying to find Jill and Rhodry before we do. We’ve got to stop them, because they’re vicious killers.”
Perryn looked at him, started to speak, then fainted dead away. With a sigh Nevyn reminded himself to watch his tongue from now on, then went to fetch Amyr to