The Seeker - Isobelle Carmody [133]
Katlyn’s expression altered subtly. “You have heard of such things?”
“I heard a story while we were in the Druid camp. A man whose father had been to sea. I didn’t know if it was the truth or not.”
“Many things that seem impossible are true of Aborium. In its own way, it is worse than Sutrium. There the Council rules, but Aborium belongs to the Herder Faction, for that is where ships from Herder Isle and Norseland dock.” Katlyn was silent for a time, her eyes anxious. She shook her head and said, “Dinna linger there, is all I’m saying.”
15
WE ARRIVED AT Aborium two days later.
Bypassing Morganna on Grufyyd’s advice, we traveled on a lesser road. Only when we were near Aborium did we venture near to the coast.
From a distance, the city was curiously ugly. Sprawled along the shore, it seemed to be made up of smaller versions of the square skyscrapers we had seen under Tor. Above the rooftops hung a dense, bleary mire of smoke.
“I don’t like the look of this place,” Kella murmured.
“All such places where the funaga live like rats in a nest stink,” Avra observed with a disparagement that would have pleased Gahltha.
The mare was more interested in the sea, which truly provided a dazzling setting for such a grimy jewel. Being mountain bred, she had never seen so much water and was fascinated by it.
We had meant to arrive outside Aborium at dawn, but the loss and slow repair of a wheel delayed us. By the time Kella, Jik, and I had repaired it, the day was drawing to an end. I did not want to enter the city by night, so we made camp on the shore. We would enter Aborium as Katlyn had suggested—at dawn with the tradefolk.
We used the last of the wood Grufyyd had provided to build a small fire in the dunes above the high-water line in the sand so it would not be seen by soldierguards in watch-huts along the top of the city walls. Kella began cooking pancakes from the coarse flour Katlyn had given us while Pavo reorganized the cart, concealing the all-important maps that were to lead us to the Beforetime library in a concealed pocket in Avra’s halter. I had brushed down the mare and was putting out grain and a bowl of water for her when the sun fell into the sea in a blaze of colored glory.
Avra went down to the water’s edge, and on impulse I followed her and took off my boots. Stepping into the water, I sighed with relief as the cold soothed my scarred feet.
“There is a story among the equines that there is a land beyond the sea where there are no funaga, and beasts rule themselves,” Avra sent. We stood for a time in silence, half-mesmerized by the murmurous sighing of the waves on the shore.
Returning to the fire, I found the others seated, staring into the flames with the dreamy expressions a fire always seems to evoke.
We ate the pancakes slowly and fell to talking of Katlyn and Grufyyd.
“I wonder what their son will be like,” Kella said.
“Like Grufyyd. Big and soft-spoken. A man of few words,” I guessed.
“Perhaps he will be like Katlyn, short and plumpish and always smiling and singing,” she suggested.
Pavo smiled. “More like a bit of both. And what will he make of us? I doubt he’ll be as free and easy as his parents. He can’t afford to be.” We all looked at the city behind its wall.
I felt my own smile fade. “I trust them, but we know nothing of this son. I’ll keep my judgment until we meet.”
Kella bridled angrily. “If he is Katlyn’s son, how can he be other than honest?”
Pavo gave her a reproving look. “The guildmistress is wise to be cautious,” he said with a faint emphasis on my title. I caught his behindthought that the trip had made Kella too outspoken.
Jik shifted uncomfortably beside me, disturbing Darga, whose head rested on his knee.
“I wonder if Domick has found lodgings yet?” Kella asked.
I was tempted to tell her what I had seen in Domick’s mind when he had bid us farewell, despite his coolness with her. Then I realized the knowledge would only intensify her regret at his loss. Better not to meddle.
“Much better,” Darga sent laconically.
I stared at the dog in amazement.