The River Tongue
T he eight women they had rescued from Varos with Laren sat with her on the beach in the shade of an awning of sail cloth and bamboo. Stevic grinned as he dropped a bunch of green coconuts on the sand before them.
“What is this?” Laren asked.
“A refreshing drink,” he replied.
One by one, he slashed off the tops with his machete and passed the coconuts around. Laren gazed at hers with a skeptical frown.
“Go on, give it a try,” he said. “Just drink from it like a cup.”
She gave him a look that clearly said that if this was some sort of joke, he’d certainly pay for it. She brought the coconut to her lips and sipped. She raised her eyebrows. “Sweet and nutty.”
“Not bad, eh?”
“Not bad at all.” The other women agreed with her.
She was looking much better of late and this day ashore really seemed to restore the glow to her cheeks. If not for the scarring patch on her neck where the Varosian brand had been removed, one would never know anything had been amiss.
“I hope my daughter is not going to impale her foot,” she said, looking out into the lagoon.
Sevano was teaching Melry how to spear fish.
If they were successful, Cook would prepare for them a fine seafood supper.
Beyond, Messenger sat at anchor while crew hoisted barrels of fresh water up from one of the longboats.
The others were still inland on the small river that led to the waterfall from which they collected the water.
It was much easier to reach by boat than by hacking through the jungle foliage on foot.
Stargazer remained out to sea, scouting for their tag-along, just as Stevic and his crew had done on Messenger as Stargazer ’s crew had refilled their hold.
He didn’t like taking the time, but fresh water was a must and would last the remainder of their journey.
Their tag-along had not closed in, which did not make him feel any easier.
Whoever it was, they were stealthy. His crew and passengers, however, were enjoying the break.
“Got it!” Melry cried.
She lifted her spear out of the water with a sizeable anha fish on it. Cook, Stevic thought, was going to be pleased. He, Laren, and the ladies clapped and cheered at Melry’s success.
Stevic headed back into the jungle seeking dead wood for a bonfire and any other treasures he could find.
He made several trips to the beach with bundles of wood, and a heaping basket of butterfruit.
Cook had set up an outdoor kitchen to fix supper for everyone.
The crew would have a chance to relax and eat good, fresh food.
The ladies were splashing in the water, and Laren waded in up to her knees to watch.
Stevic dropped onto the blanket beneath the awning to rest in the shade, and ate a butterfruit.
Its mild sweet juice dripped down his chin.
Too bad a load of them in their hold would rot before they reached Sacoridia’s shores, or he could make a tidy profit selling them.
He watched Laren watching the ladies, her arms crossed, the sun shining down on her loosely bound hair.
She seemed relaxed, yet withdrawn. Perhaps it was because as an officer and usually under the scrutiny of those she served and those whom she commanded, she’d always had to maintain a certain level of decorum and a distance, and so it was at this point a habit.
No doubt she felt as responsible for her ladies as she did her Green Riders.
She shouted encouragement and laughed with them, but did not join in with the frivolity.
But then the women turned on her, splashing her in a deluge, and everyone shouted and laughed, including Laren.
They grabbed her hands and dragged her into the water.
She emerged entirely drenched but still laughing.
He chuckled as she walked up the beach wringing out her shirt tail with a grin.
“You will dry quickly,” he told her.
“It’s like bath water,” she said, “if a bit on the salty side. The girls are having a very good time of it. One could get used to winters like this.”
“I used to lead winter trading missions to the Cloud Islands,” he replied. “Always nice for escaping the cold and snow, but I decided it was not fair to lead them all, so lately I’ve sent Sevano in my stead with our ships.”
She sat beside him, and they watched the activity on the beach and in the water in silence, the water gently lapping against the shore. Melry speared another fish.
“She’s getting good at that,” Laren murmured.
They’d had few moments alone since that night when the new constellation had appeared.
There had been much discussion about the meaning of the constellation among the crew, but fortunately he, with Sevano’s and Laren’s help, was able to suppress superstitious talk and calm them even though he’d no idea how or why it had formed.
So far nothing catastrophic or unusual had befallen them, which was a good sign, and the constellation simply appeared in the night sky like every other as though it had always been there.
Neither he nor Laren had had further dreams of Karigan.
She smiled as she still watched the women she helped bring to freedom play in the water.
Every so often she’d mention some aspect of her time in Varos, how she slowly befriended the women who were the slaves, wives, and concubines of King Farrad Vir, and taught them the common tongue. She taught a special few how to fight.
He could not imagine being denied the freedom to move about at will, to not be considered human, and being forced to serve. To be punished for the smallest of infractions.
“Do you think Sojourner has reached Tallitre by now?” she asked.
He sifted fine white sand between his fingers. “Nearly so. Why do you ask?”
“I was just thinking about the women and how happy they’ll be to get home.”
“Ah.” The former slave women who had sailed with Master Hunt. It brought up an issue he had been curious about. “Laren, what was that whole thing with Master Hunt and regime change?”
She shouted some encouragement to Melry, who was aiming her spear at another fish. “I probably shouldn’t tell you, but I don’t think Zachary would object after entrusting you with three of his finest warships.”
“To a former pirate, no less,” he said with a chuckle.
“Hmm, well, he is a good judge of character, as am I, and you have not disappointed either of us yet.”
Some people might consider hers an underwhelming assessment, but it touched him. It was high praise and meant she trusted him.
“Besides,” she added, “he has a soft spot for G’ladheons.”
“He does? Well, I suppose after all Karigan has done for the realm, or at least the bits I’m aware of, it does much to restore the G’ladheon name.”
She gave him an indecipherable look. “Yes,” she said dryly. “I’m sure that’s it.”
Before he could ask her to explain, she continued with her story.
She told him that when Zachary’s embassy could not negotiate her release, they informed her another effort was underway to win her freedom.
In the meantime, they asked, might she be able to influence instability in the king’s court to make things more favorable for Kir-kranya?
“Kir-kranya had made overtures of friendship to Sacoridia, but with Varos commanding the coasts and generally having power over Kir-kranya, the friendship could not be consummated. I am not fully aware of Zachary’s interests in Kir-kranya, but he sees Varos as a barrier, and he objects to the way people are treated there.
And, he might be a little angry that Varos stole one of his trusted advisers as well as other Sacoridians, though I met none while I was there. ”
“So the embassy left you there to...be the king’s agent?”
“I am the king’s servant.” She shoved her feet into the sand and started to build a mound over them.
“The embassy had little choice but to leave me, and my presence there was seen as an opportunity since I had to await rescue, anyway. I was more than willing, believe me. I had every desire to seek vengeance against my masters as Zachary’s agent or no. ”
“You are telling me the Varosians had no idea about this? How did you get away with the scheme? Surely they knew what the embassy was telling you.”
“Oh, the Varosians had listeners, of course, who knew the common tongue. They did not know, however, the dialect of the river runners of the Grandgent. It’s incomprehensible to most Sacoridians, as well, unless you’ve been brought up on the river like I was.
Zachary ensured the members of his embassy knew it.
Tol Asmerand questioned me afterward about what was said, but with the centipede no longer in my ear, I was able to freely lie.
He was angry he didn’t have a reason to punish me, and so punished me for that.
He also found plenty of petty offenses later.
” She touched the round scar on her neck.
“He got what he deserved. And all the sickness in the world was worth carving that thing off my neck. Even death would have been preferable.”
“Please don’t say that,” Stevic said. “I could not bear the thought.”
She gave him a sidelong look and her expression softened. “For what it’s worth, I prefer to live. I wish to see Melry get on with her life, even if it means she’s still determined to become a Weapon, and I’d like to see how other things progress.”
She gave him such a smile that he understood what “things” she wished to see progress.
“Me, too,” he said. “And as things...progress . . . perhaps you would teach me some of the river dialect?”
“I am sure that can be arranged.”
“Excellent.” They fell into silence, content to sit in one another’s company, but darker thoughts did occur to him. “Do you suppose the Varosians will come after you?”
“Depending on what happens with the rebellion in the city and the Kir-kranyans, it’s entirely possible. King Farrad Vir is like a dragon sitting on his precious treasure. He won’t take kindly to losing one of his favorite possessions, which means, of course, he’ll be none too happy with you .”
“If he or any of his people come anywhere near you,” Stevic said with vehemence, “I will ensure they regret it.”
“Very nobly said,” she replied, and chuckled. “I’ve never had so doughty a knight to lend me his shield.”
“You may laugh,” he said, “but I mean every word.”
She sobered. “I know you do. I’m just not used to anyone looking out for me in that fashion. I’ve always managed, more or less, on my own.”
“I think you underestimate how many love you and would defend you to the end. For instance, your Riders, Drent—”
“Drent?”
He nodded. “And your king, and Melry.”
“And you?” she said quietly.
“They’d all have to get in line behind me.” He took her hand and kissed it and ended up with a sandy mouth. Laren fairly rolled about in laughter as he attempted to spit it out. His courtly gesture had not turned out to be as romantic as he’d intended.
“Hey, you two!” Elgin Foxsmith ambled up the beach with enormous crabs in each hand snapping at the air. “Look what I found.”
“What the hells?” Laren said.
“Coconut crabs,” Stevic said. “Very tasty.”
· · ·
The crew and passengers of Messenger feasted well that night and enjoyed lively entertainment on the beach. Afterward, Stevic, Laren, and a few others returned to the ship. The rest would spend the night on the beach to resume fetching water first thing in the morning.
Aboard ship, Stevic reviewed and approved the night’s watch, and then found Elgin talking with Laren.
“That was better than our Vendane feast,” Elgin was saying with a pat to his belly. “Good night to you both.” Then he descended below deck.
Stevic was about to follow him down when Laren touched his sleeve. “Captain, would you join me for a nightcap? We can begin your lessons in the river tongue.”
A thrill tickled through him. “I would be delighted, Colonel.”
· · ·
Stevic stretched languidly on the bunk. Beads of perspiration lingered on his skin after the passions they’d exercised in the sultry air of the tropical night.
Any reticence Laren had been feeling toward him had apparently vanished, and certainly she had fully recovered from her illness if her energy during their lovemaking was any indication.
It had been the most satisfying and pleasurable night he’d experienced in some while.
It was one version of the river tongue in which he didn’t mind becoming fluent.
“Stevic,” she said.
“Laren.” He reached across the bed for her, ready for more, but there was an expanse of space between them. “Laren?”
“Wake up, Stevic.”
He opened one eye. She was sitting in the corner of the bunk against the hull with the blankets bunched up around her.
“Wake up,” she told him.
The tone of her voice brought him alert at once.
With both eyes wide open, he sat up to discover they were not alone in the cabin.
In the predawn shadow of early morning, he discerned a female figure leaning against the table watching them.
She twisted the key on the base of the lamp and its faint glow flared to bright.
Stevic squinted and shielded his eyes with his hand.
“Well, well, well,” the woman said. “Stevic G’ladheon, as I live and breathe. It’s been an age or two, hasn’t it?”