Part 25 (2/2)

'I'm . . . overjoyed,' said Pazel.

'When are you going to tell me how you really did it?'

Pazel raised a hand to his collarbone. He looked at Thasha warily. 'Never,' he said.

'What's the matter with your chest? Sore from our fighting lessons?'

He nodded.'Yes, rather.'

'That's the problem, isn't it?' she said. 'You're tired of the bruises. You want me and Hercol to quit knocking you around.'

Pazel looked surprised. 'I don't give a d.a.m.n about that,' he said, 'and neither does Neeps. We've got to learn somehow.'

But Thasha knew she'd gotten close to the truth. Clearly unsettled, Pazel looked across the choppy sea. The whaling vessel had tacked in their direction, and even as Thasha watched her topgallants sheeted home. She was coming to greet them.

'Of course,' said Pazel, 'I'm not exactly a quick learner.' quick learner.'

Thasha hid her smile. Jealous idiot! He was comparing himself to Greysan Fulbreech. Thasha had told the older Simjan youth he must must be a quick learner, just the day before, as he rattled off the medical topics he was studying under Chadfallow: salves, smelling salts, bone pins, leeches. Pazel had stood by, looking like he was being bled with leeches himself. But why should he compare himself to Fulbreech? be a quick learner, just the day before, as he rattled off the medical topics he was studying under Chadfallow: salves, smelling salts, bone pins, leeches. Pazel had stood by, looking like he was being bled with leeches himself. But why should he compare himself to Fulbreech?

'Have you seen him?' asked Pazel suddenly.

'Greysan?' She shook her head. 'Not yet. Is he looking for me?'

Pazel nodded reluctantly. 'I told him I hadn't seen you anywhere, and - oh, here he comes now.'

Fulbreech was near the mainmast, a long stone's throw away, but she could already see his smile. Thasha couldn't help but smile in return - at times it seemed Fulbreech had been put on the s.h.i.+p just to beam in her direction. She did not feel guilty in the least for her friendliness towards him. It felt good to be smiled at, and she had some hope that Fulbreech might be recruited to their side. He had already mentioned quietly that the Sailing Code declared that men recruited through 'bald lies and distortions' were to be treated as kidnap victims, and that 'a kidnapped man cannot mutiny.' It was a brave statement, even if Fulbreech had said it mostly to impress her.

Pazel turned away. 'I'd better go wake up Neeps,' he murmered. 'You don't need me here.'

Thasha could have kicked him. As if he had a rival in Fulbreech! She had never kissed anyone but Pazel - and she had done it twice twice, for Rin's sake. True, that first kiss had been more to fool Arunis than to win his heart. But there had been nothing false about the second, later that night in the washroom. And both times his reaction had been to twitch and jump away, as if someone had just slapped him with a fish.

'Stay a minute,' she said. 'It won't kill you.'

Pazel sulked, but he stayed. Fulbreech waved to her, and she returned the gesture, seething inside. What do you expect me to do? Hate him? What do you expect me to do? Hate him?

Fulbreech had, after all, done just as Hercol had asked, and informed Eberzam Isiq that Thasha was alive. It was very nearly his last act in Simja, before Kruno Burnscove signed him onto the Chathrand Chathrand. Fulbreech had told her the story in detail: how the old admiral had received him in the parlour of his new amba.s.sadorial residence, still grateful that Fulbreech had arranged for his carriage after the ill-fated wedding ceremony. How he'd listened to Hercol's message, then begun to tremble until he spilled his tea. How he'd made Fulbreech repeat the words, tears of joy flowing down his cheeks: Your morning star has not set. Her light is hidden, not extinguished. Your morning star has not set. Her light is hidden, not extinguished.

Then Fulbreech had paused in his storytelling and looked up at Thasha. 'As all stars hide at daybreak, no? Although a few make us wish the morning would never come.'

Probably that was when Pazel had begun to hate him. But Thasha had laughed and rolled her eyes. Fulbreech was out of line, of course - but he had said it so lightly, almost self-mockingly, that she hadn't even bothered to reprimand him.

'Lady Thasha,' he called out now, reaching them at last. 'I've made a tour of the s.h.i.+p, seeking you out - Mr Pathkendle had the idea you might be somewhere about the forecastle.'

Thasha threw Pazel a murderous glance. 'What can I do for you?' she asked Fulbreech.

'You have done it already,' he said, gazing into her eyes.

'Mr Fullbreech,' said Thasha, regarding him with Lorg School severity, 'I must forbid you to address me in that way.'

She was embarra.s.sed, knowing Pazel would think she had asked him to stay in order to make him suffer, listening to Fulbreech's gallantries. The Simjan, for his part, realised that he had overstepped. 'I do ask your pardon, m'lady,' he said. 'I confess I am easily carried away.'

'That's a dangerous trait,' said Pazel. 'Had it all your life, have you?'

Fulbreech kept his eyes on Thasha. 'No,' he said. 'These past weeks, only.'

Thasha's smile threatened to resurface, so she trained the telescope on the whaler again. The s.h.i.+p had closed more than half the distance.

'Is that all you wanted to say, Mr Fulbreech?' she asked.

'Not quite, m'lady,' he replied. 'I woke this morning and recalled something else that happened on Treaty Day - a minor matter, perhaps. I worked straight through that night, running errands for King Os.h.i.+ram. I had pledged to stay in the Royal Service through the day of your wedding, for His Highness was quite overwhelmed. And of course when Pacu Lapadolma took your place, the business of the crown was doubled: receptions, gifts, letters of congratulation--'

'I don't see why you're telling me all this,' said Thasha, disturbed by the mention of Pacu.

'Lady Thasha, the carriage that took your father to his residence that day was later used by others, and it was but one of many I kept track of. These carriages worked the streets until dawn. At that point, an honest driver brought me something left behind in his coach. I was never able to determine the owner, and the truth is that I forgot I carried the thing, when Mr Burnscove invited me to join your crew.' His voice grew animated. 'Such a thrill I had at the thought of it! To see mighty Etherhorde, and to earn my pa.s.sage in the service of Ignus Chadfallow! But Burnscove lied to me. We will not see Etherhorde. We will not see any familiar place again.'

'We were all lied to,' said Thasha. 'But we're going to stop them, you know, we--'

She checked herself. It was too soon to offer Fulbreech confidences of that sort. 'What was this thing you carried?' she demanded.

'See for yourself,' said Fulbreech.

Thasha and Pazel both turned to look. There in his hand lay Eberzam Isiq's little bronze flask. Thasha's breath caught in her throat.

'You recognise it,' said Fullbreech, satisfied. 'Then my guess was correct. This was the admiral's property.'

Pazel's eyes narrowed. 'Was?' he said.

Fulbreech started, as if taken aback by the question. Then he bowed slightly in Pazel's direction. 'I stand corrected, is is. And now, m'lady, you can look forward to the day you return it to him personally.'

Thasha took the flask. She blinked at the handsome Simjan face before her. 'Fulbreech - Greysan - thank you ever so much. For all you've done for us.'

Fulbreech shook his head. 'You owe me no thanks.'

Pazel's mouth twitched, as if he agreed wholeheartedly. Fulbreech noted the expression with a raised eyebrow, then turned a brief, sly smile on Thasha, who had reddened, although she was not sure why.

'I must be off,' said Fulbreech. 'The doctor wants a report on the reading he a.s.signed me last night, on the subject of brain deformities. Lady Thasha, Pathkendle.'

Another bow, and he was gone. Thasha whirled on Pazel.

<script>