Part 8 (1/2)
Om huffed indignantly and squared her tiny shoulders. Teldin watched, fascinated, as she drew herself up to a regal four feet. He'd never seen Om show interest in anything other than machinery, yet there she was, the very picture of female pique. ”Among gnomes, I'm considered very attractive,” the tiny woman informed Rozloom with dignity.
The aperusa looked pointedly at the stove parts scattered around the floor. ”Among gnomes, you're considered a technician.”
Teldin winced and braced himself for the gnome's rejoinder. To his surprise, Om's small brown face relaxed into a coquettish smile. Being a gnome, she'd taken Rozloom's insult as the highest possible praise. She acknowledged the ”compliment” with a satisfied nod and returned to her tinkering. Teldin shook his head in silent amazement. The s.h.i.+pboard gossip that had trickled down to Teldin's sickroom had included Rozloom's vow to charm every woman on board. Teldin had considered this to be so much amusing bl.u.s.ter, but subsequent gossip suggested that the aperusa was succeeding more often than not.
Oblivious to his effect on the smitten gnome, Rozloom drained his tankard and wiped his mustache with the back of his hand. ”Ah, that is good. You will have more?” When Teldin shook his head, Rozloom shrugged and emptied most of the bottle into his own mug. ”So, Captain, to what shall we drink?”
Teldin edged his tankard even farther away from him, hoping to signal his lack of interest in toast-making. ”Actually, there's something about Hectate Kir.”
Rozloom nodded agreeably. ”If you say so, Captain.” He raised his mug in salute. ”His health!”
Teldin caught the gypsy's wrist while the tankard was still south of the enormous mustache.
”No, I have a question about Hectate.”
”Ahh.” Rozloom set the mug down carefully and folded his arms over his vast belly. His bronze features arranged themselves into a parody of a sage adviser. ”What would you know, Captain?”
”Well, to start with, why is he working here in the galley when he's so skilled in navigation?
Why do the elves act as if he's not worthy of their notice?”
Rozloom twisted one bushy eyebrow into a sardonic quirk. ”That is unusual for an elf?”
Teldin conceded the point, but added, ”They are far more cordial to you and me than toHectate. I can't figure that out.”
”It is not so very difficult. These elves of yours, Captain, they do not believe that half an elf is better than none.”
”Pardon?”
”Hectate Kir is a half-breed,” the aperusa said bluntly. ”The elves, they are an ancient people with old ways. They do not like change. A half-elf is a step toward becoming what they are not.
They do not see what might be gained, only what is lost.” Rozloom held up a finger and waggled it, indicating that an idea had occurred to him. He picked up the almost empty bottle of elven spirits and splashed a little of the amber liquid into another tankard, then he called for a pitcher of water and filled the huge mug to the brim. He presented the resulting pale yellow fluid to Teldin with a theatrical flourish. ”Care to drink, Captain?”
Teldin waved away the disgusting stuff. ”You've made your point.”
”Good,” Rozloom murmured distractedly, no longer interested in the lesson. His small black eyes followed an elven woman who was carrying a stack of nested bowls toward what appeared to be a larder. She shot an arch, inviting glance over her shoulder before she disappeared. The aperusa was on his feet instantly, preening his ma.s.sive beard with an air of antic.i.p.ation.
”Ah, but hypocrisy is a wonderful thing in an elven woman!” he noted with deep satisfaction.
”My apologies, Captain, but you understand?”
Rozloom was gone before Teldin could reply. With amazing speed for one of his bulk, the gypsy made his way across the galley and shut the larder door firmly behind him and his latest conquest.
The strange conversation left Teldin puzzled and suddenly exhausted. He made his way back to his cabin, and was just tugging off his boots when a crisp knock sounded at the door. ”Come in,” he called wearily.
Vallus Leafbower stepped into the room, resplendent in his blue-and-silver uniform. ”You look much different from when we last spoke. I trust you're feeling better?”
”Well, I'm a little tired,” he hinted.
”I'll leave you to your rest momentarily. You should know that we make landfall tomorrow, three bells into the first watch.”
Suddenly alert, Teldin motioned the elf into the room. ”Where are we going?”
”Toril.”
Teldrin's blue eyes narrowed. ”Why Toril? And don't bother to tell me you were on your way there when you just happened to b.u.mp into my s.h.i.+p.”
Vallus took the chair at the side of Teldin's cot and faced down the angry human. ”We are going to do what I advised you to do months ago: We are going to seek answers to your cloak and your quest from the sages of Evermeet,” he said with quiet finality.
”Really. And do I have any choice in the matter?”
”Have you another destination in mind?” the elf asked mildly. ”My orders are to help you find the Spelljammer. If you can suggest a better way to go about it, I'd be happy to listen.”
That stopped Teldin. As he thought it over, he realized that Vallus's choice fit his own plans rather well. If he wanted to continue his search without relying on the elves for transportation, he would have to purchase a new s.h.i.+p. That problem had been pressing on his mind for days, and perhaps Evermeet presented a solution. There was enough gold left in his bag for a modest down payment, but Teldin knew that as an unknown, inexperienced captain making a voyage of exploration into deep s.p.a.ce, he was not exactly a good risk. He doubted anyone would be willing to extend him credit. The elves, perhaps, might prove an exception. They regretted the treacherous behavior of one of their own, Admiral Cirathorn. Although Teldin didn't like the idea, he figured he would have to find out how far the elves would go to make amends.
”Evermeet's fine,” he muttered grudgingly. ”Hectate and I will be looking for another s.h.i.+p.”
Vallus shook his head. ”I'm afraid that's out of the question.”
So it was true, Teldin thought. He was a prisoner of the elves. ”You're saying I can't leave the swan s.h.i.+p?”
The elf s surprise seemed genuine. ”Not at all. You may come and go as you will, but Hectate Kir cannot set foot on Evermeet.”
Teldin's resentment over his friend's treatment returned in full measure. ”Why? Because he's half-elven?”
”Yes.”Teldin shot both hands through his hair, astounded that the elven wizard didn't even bother to hide his bigotry. ”That's ridiculous,” he sputtered.
”I agree,” Vallus said evenly, ”but the decision is not mine to make. I personally have no objection to Hectare Kir.”
”Is that so? Then why is the crew treating him like a pariah? Why is a skilled navigator-the best I've seen!-was.h.i.+ng dishes instead of taking s.h.i.+fts on the bridge?”
The elf s green eyes remained steady. ”I am the captain of the Trumpeter, and therefore my dictates are followed. I cannot, however, transfer my beliefs and values to the crew. Elves tend to be an insular people, and many of my crewmen distrust the half-elf. Putting your friend on the bridge would create more tension that the exercise merits.”
Teldin shook his head adamantly. ”No. I can't agree that you should abandon a principle merely because upholding it might create a little discomfort,” he said with scathing sarcasm. To his surprise, his wrathful answer brought a smile to Vallus's face.
”You do not disappoint me, Teldin Moore.”
He threw up his hands in exasperation. ”I live to please. Now, I'm sorry if this ruffles a few elven feathers, but I need to bring Hectate with me. If I'm to purchase a new s.h.i.+p, I need the advice of someone I can trust, someone from my own crew.”
”Surely you know that the swan s.h.i.+p is at your disposal,” Vallus told him. ”After we visit Evermeet, you may choose whatever course you wish. You do not need another s.h.i.+p.”
”Sorry, but I don't care for the strings attached to your offer,” Teldin said bluntly.
The elf received this information with a long silence. ”Very well. I ask only that you keep an open mind and not make your final decision until after we speak with the elves of Evermeet.”
The human shrugged. ”If you like, but Hectate comes with me,” he insisted.