The White Road - Lynn Flewelling [24]
The Old Sailor was on their side this time. They sailed through a few small squalls and were pelted with sudden hail, but the wind remained at their back. Alec loved the storms, the wind, the pitching of the ship. It was exciting. But even on clear days, the Osiat was rough and they had to put in near shore each night. Alec, Micum, and Seregil sang for the crew as the ship rode at anchor, and listened to the others tell tall tales and old sorrows.
They passed the time at cards and dice and bakshi, too, and the money washed back and forth between the travelers and the sailors. Seregil was particularly lucky, and narrowly avoided a fistfight one night when a crewman accused him of cheating, which--for once--he wasn't.
In the quiet of their cabin another night, Seregil's thoughts turned to home and he spoke of old friends there, including his childhood friend, Kheeta i Branin.
Alec had met Kheeta in Sarikali and liked him well enough, once he got past wondering if Seregil and he had been more than friends. Seregil referred to Kheeta as "cousin," but that was common within a clan, especially among social equals; it seemed everyone was addressed as "cousin," "aunt," "uncle," "brother," or "sister." It was hard sometimes to figure out if it was to be taken literally or not.
Seregil chuckled warmly. "I wonder what my uncle Akaien will make of you?"
"I hope he approves." Alec was only half joking. Akaien was one of the few family members Seregil had ever mentioned in their early days together. This uncle, a swordsmith by trade, had also been a smuggler. Under Aurenen's Edict of Separation, Viresse had been the only legal port for trade with the Three Lands. However, that hadn't stopped clandestine trade, and Akaien had brought his young nephew along. Seregil had told him stories of sailing out under a dark traitor's moon to meet and trade with Skalan ships. The fondness in his voice made Alec think that this Akaien i Solun must be a very different sort than his brother, Seregil's father.
It was then that Seregil had first met Tirfaie foreigners and learned something of the wider world. Seregil also joked that it was this early criminal behavior that had shaped his character.
"He will approve, tali. Of that I have no doubt," Seregil assured him. "But my other sisters? Well, I'll make you no promises there."
Sebrahn was as insistent as ever about staying with Alec. Since there was simply no way Alec could remain cooped up in the cabin, it wasn't long before the crew got a look at what lay under the voluminous cloak and hood. Even Seregil couldn't come up with a plausible explanation for Sebrahn's silver eyes, and many warding signs were made in the rhekaro's direction.
Alec found himself alone with Adzriel one day as they both stood at the rail, watching porpoises leap along beside the ship. She was still keeping her distance from Sebrahn, he noted.
"If you're so scared of Sebrahn, why are you letting him come to Bokthersa?" he asked at last.
Adzriel said nothing for a moment. Alec had always marveled at how much she resembled her brother, both in looks and in being tight-lipped as blue mussels when the mood took her. When she spoke at last, her voice was devoid of its usual warmth. "As I said in Gedre, he is our clan's responsibility. And if you cannot destroy a dangerous beast, then it is best to know where it is."
"A beast." The word hurt.
"A dragon, but not a dragon. His outward appearance is so deceiving. You know better than I how dangerous he really is."
"So you're going to lock him up somewhere forever? You'll have to lock me in with him."
"No, of course not." She took his hand between hers. "Little brother, I would not harm you for all the world, or any that you love. It's my hope to find a way for your little one to somehow find a safe life, harming none and free from harm. Or as free as he can ever be." She turned Alec's palm up and looked at the stippling of pinpricks across his fingertips. "Can you spend the rest of your life like this? What sort of nightrunner carries a child about on his