The White Road - Lynn Flewelling [152]
"Will ten be enough?"
"I think so. It will give us some protection without looking like we're declaring war. If it does take a bad turn, your crew are seasoned fighters."
"So are the Ebrados," said Alec.
"We don't know that," Seregil pointed out. "They used magic and trickery on us, not force."
Rhal scratched under his beard and thought a moment. "Well, I guess I'll come along with you. We've had some slack months and I don't want to get out of practice. Nettles, you'll be in command while I'm gone. Skywake, go ask for volunteers. And Dani isn't to be one of them."
"I'm going to enjoy having the odds more in our favor for a change," Alec said with a dangerous grin.
"Do they have any wizards we should watch out for?" asked Rhal.
"Rieser is the only one I know of, and he doesn't seem to have much power beyond simple transformations," said Seregil. "But there's a witch called Turmay who uses a long horn for his magic. If we can get that away from him, he may not be able to do any harm."
"Can he kill with it?"
"We don't know," Micum replied. "But he can put you to sleep better than a nursemaid's song, and that could be just as bad in the long run."
CHAPTER 33
Hard Choices
RHAL STOPPED at the same island to change sails. From here it was less than a week back to the waterfall encampment.
Alec hadn't slept much better than Seregil for the past few nights. In the dark, the thoughts that had been lurking at the edges of his mind since they'd burgled Yhakobin's workshop could not be kept at bay.
When they dropped anchor in the little cove, Alec turned to Seregil suddenly and said, "Are you up to a walk?"
"Yes."
"Let's go ashore. Just you and me, this time."
Alec was grateful that Seregil asked no questions as he rowed him ashore in one of the boats and put in at the same beach where the four of them had skipped stones together.
Alec was in no mood for that today. Taking the lead, he walked up the short beach and over the ledges beyond. Great flocks of grey-backed gulls rose with raucous screams of protest and circled stubbornly. Thick forest lay beyond, and as they made their way along a deer path that wended between the tall pines and oaks they found themselves stepping around stick rings of last year's gull nests, some still holding shards of speckled brown eggs in a bed of matted white down.
It wasn't curiosity or the pleasure of being off the ship that drove Alec deeper and deeper into the woods. The words he wanted to say were burning his heart, and once he began, there would be no taking them back. So he walked on, and Seregil followed in silence.
Birds chirped and sang overhead, and somewhere nearby an osprey was defending its territory with harsh cries. In the distance the gulls croaked and argued as they returned to their nests and ledges.
Alec had to remind himself to go slowly. Seregil didn't complain, but Alec caught him holding his side. Alec thought he'd pushed him too far when Seregil paused at the foot of an ancient oak and bent over, but it was only to pick something up. It was a long barred owl feather. He twirled it between his fingers, then presented it to Alec. "You have something on your mind, tali."
Alec took the feather and stared down at it. "I've been thinking about Sebrahn."
"I thought you might be."
This was more difficult than he'd feared. He sat down on a log and took a deep breath, owl feather clutched, forgotten, in one hand. His eyes stung and his throat felt tight as he said, "I think--I think you were right. We should let Rieser take him back to Ravensfell. He'll be safe there, and there are others like him and--" He fought back tears as Seregil sat down and put an arm around him. "If we keep him, he'll always be in danger. We'll always be looking over our shoulder for someone trying to take him."
"You're right, tali. I know you think I've been wanting to get rid of him--Oh hell, you know I have, but when the time comes, it's not going to be easy for me, either, if you can believe that. Whatever else he is, he's a part of you, and I owe