Kushiel's Chosen

do not know, but they did.
    I did my best to give aid as I might, bringing food and water to those in need. By the second day, all were hollow-eyed from exhaustion and lack of sleep-and still the galleys pursued us. It was on that day that another ship was lost, floundering as it cut too close to the wind. It came nigh to overturning and took on water, too much water. Once again, we could do naught but watch from a distance as they righted themselves slowly and wallowed, sunk halfway to their railings, waiting for death as one of the biremes drew nigh.
    Four ships left, running for our lives.
    And when darkness fell, Kazan's second officer began to argue with him.
    "They'll follow us to our cursed graves, Kazan! What will you do, lead them straight into Dobrek harbor and let them have us all? I'm telling you, it's the only way!"
    And Kazan, grim-faced. "No. We will lose them in the night."
    Pekhlo swore at him with a sailor's eloquence. "You said that last night, and here they are still, on our trail like a hunting pack! Will you condemn us all for your mother's grief, Kazan? I'm telling you, we're leading death on a string here, and Epidauro's got the only forces will halt them! How many will die, if we let them run us aground elsewhere?"
    "And will you ask the Ban to challenge the Doge's son on our behalf?" Kazan reminded him. "He won't; he'd be a fool if he did. We're pirates, Pekhlo! Stregazza has the right of it!"
    "Not in this," his second officer said stubbornly. "He'd see us given a fair trial, he would, and we've kept our bargain; it was the Stregazza who broke it. I'm willing to die for you, Kazan, but not for your damned blood-curse, no!"
    "My lord." By the dim light of the storm-lanterns, I had groped my way to the forecastle, where they quarrelled. "My lord, does the Ban of Illyria swear me his protection, he may claim aid of the throne of Terre d'Ange. I promise you it is so."
    Kazan looked at me with haunted eyes. "Do you say so, my lady?" he asked in Illyrian. "Well, I have disregarded you often enough, when you tried to tell me as much. Still, it seems the Serenissimans are willing to kill or die to have you, when I reckoned they had no greater enemy than I." He sighed. "So be it. If they are with us come dawn, we make for Epidauro."
    The command went out, relayed by lantern from ship to ship. I heard ragged cheering burst forth, faint across the water. Pekhlo went eagerly to consult with the sailors manning the rudders. Left alone, Kazan Atrabiades closed his eyes.
    "My lord," I said to him in his own tongue. "I owe you my life."
    "Yes." His eyes remained shut. "I did not think they would kill you, Phèdre nó Delaunay. They told Nikanor that the D'Angeline Prince would pay your ransom, if we delivered you. I thought it would be well enough. You said you would have gone to him, only he did not know you."
    I swallowed hard, remembering. "It was not true, my lord.
    Prince Benedicte is a traitor, in league with Marco Stregazza. I knew this. I let you think otherwise. And I am deeply sorry for it. If I hadn't, the ... the others might yet live, those who died."
    "No." Kazan opened his eyes. "Serenissima laid a trap for us, thinking to have us both, although they wanted you the more. It would have happened anyway." He gave me a weary smile. "You told me it was an accident, that you fell into the sea."
    "It was," I said.
    "Escaping prisoners, near the sea." He gazed up at the night sky, scudding clouds veiling the stars. "I did not think, when you told me. I thought, then, a riot in the harbor, maybe, such as may sweep bystanders into its path. But I think you were one of the prisoners, yes? There is only one Serenissiman prison I know on the sea, where the currents run strange and deadly. It is a place all sailors know, a place to avoid." He glanced back at me. "No one has ever escaped from the black isle. Who are you, to do such a thing?"
    "I had help, my lord." There was no point in denying it. "A rescuer."
    Kazan stirred. "Then there is a force in Serenissima, loyal to you?"
    "No." I shook my head. "It was my companion, Joscelin."
    He looked at me without speaking for a moment. "One man?" he asked eventually. "One man assailed the black isle on your behalf?" I nodded. Kazan gave a short laugh. "Then he is mad, I think, or too much in love with you."
    "No." I rubbed my eyes, itching with tiredness. "I don't know. A little of both, maybe."
    "You look different when you speak of him."
    I made no reply.