The Lost Library of Cormanthy - Mel Odom [50]
No.
She could fill those nights when you're lonely for companionship.
There is some concern about the past that is between us. Baylee took his cups back to his friends, finding them deeply engaged in a conversation regarding the care and handling of doves aboard sailing ships.
"They took doves aboard ships because they were far more trainable," Aymric was saying.
"Not according to Dakilinan," Serellia objected.
"And, pray tell, who was this Dakilinan?"
Serellia sipped her wine. "You've heard of Lantan?"
"Dear lady," Aymric stated, "I have lived there."
Serellia looked at Baylee, who only shrugged. Lantan lay a thousand miles south of the Moonshaes and was renowned for the maroon-sailed trading ships that plied the waters in the southern seas.
"It's true." Aymric acted as if he took offense at the doubt and the lack of support. "And during that time, I've not heard of Dakilinan."
"He lived there as well," Serellia announced.
"Nowhere near me," Aymric stated.
"About a thousand years ago," the beautiful ranger went on. "He was an historian of some repute."
"There are some who don't think highly of his work," Baylee supplied.
"Did he ever write of precious metals or gems?" Aymric asked.
"Only in passing," Serellia said. "He was more concerned with peoples and
countries. Particularly the sea-faring traders."
"All this has a point, I'm sure," Aymric said, "that has something to do with doves."
"Dakilinan suggested that doves were taken aboard ships only because they were far easier to spot against the emerald expanse of the Trackless Sea and the blue sky. Trainability came in as a secondary reason. Domesticated doves were kept aboard ship and freed during different parts of the day. Wind directions were charted, as were ocean currents, anything that could offer a clue about an unexplored patch of sea."
"Your historian cites the people of Lantan as a race of explorers?" Aymric inquired.
Serellia smiled and shook her head. "Never for a moment. They were a race of traders, always looking for a new trade route, new countries with which to trade. Profit has always spurred every new discovery made in our world. Ask any explorer worth her salt if that isn't so. The first thing she'll tell you about is the difficulty in securing funds for an expedition. You have to meet with such small-minded people, and the things they're willing to search for are extremely limited."
So true, Xuxa added, and chirped woefully.
"That's why," Aymric said with a sarcastic grin, "so many explorers have gone to the trouble in the past to create a treasure map that no one has ever found before."
"Not all explorers are that way," Serellia replied. "Only enough to give the rest of us a bad name. I've never created such a map, nor has Baylee, or Fannt Golsway to name others."
"But treasure maps make such a pretty story," Aymric said.
"There are some out there," the woman answered. "Particularly among people whose treasures are ill-gotten. And many of them are merely bait to bring the avaricious and curious to their doom. I've been on more than a few such expeditions myself. This is a very dangerous business. Make a mistake in one of the crypts and dungeons where all too often these treasures are kept, and you're dead."
"Or undead, as the case may be," Baylee pointed out.
"Remember our trip to the Lonely Moor two years ago?"
"Three years ago." Serellia smiled at the memory. "Even Golsway didn't
think we were going to make it out of that one without becoming undead ourselves."
Aymric raised his eyebrows. "Really? Now this sounds like a tale to spend over a wine cup or five. You've not mentioned this before, Baylee."
"That's because I'm generally listening to your stories," the ranger replied.
Aymric placed a hand over his heart. "You've lanced me ignobly."
"It is a good story," Serellia agreed. "Perhaps before the concourse is over, I could tell it."
"I'd be enchanted, dear lady." The elf nodded his head graciously.
"And if you try to touch me, I'll break your arms."
Baylee laughed, knowing that Serellia