Luck in the Shadows

and worn his own clothing was. "I just never saw Aurлnfaie horses before."
    Her sudden smile made her look girlish in spite of the sword. "I spotted him right off, but I didn't want to buy him away from you if you'd already made up your mind." Stroking the horse's nose, she spoke softly to it. "What do you say, my fine fellow? Shall I take you home?"
    As if in answer, the stallion snorted and pushed his head against her hand.
    "I guess that settles it," said Alec, pleased that his favorite should get such a fine mistress.
    "I'd say so," she agreed. The horse dealer had been hovering nearby and at her gesture came over to them, bowing deeply. "Your horses are as fine as ever, Master Roakas. This gentleman and I have decided that I should take the black with white. What are you asking?"
    "For you, Commander, two hundred gold sesters."
    "Fair enough. Captain Myrhini has the purse."
    "Many thanks, Commander. Will that be all this time?"
    "No, I still have to pick out a few for the Guard, but I wanted to grab this one before someone else did.
    Would you ask one of my escort to saddle him for me?" Turning back to Alec, she smiled again.
    "Thanks for your help. You must tell me your name."
    "Aren Silverleaf."
    Another soldier in green and white led the saddled stallion back. Swinging lightly up, she reached into the wallet at her belt.
    "Silverleaf, is it? Well, good luck to you, Aren Silverleaf." She tossed him a coin that glittered yellow as it spun through the air. He caught it deftly, hardly taking his eyes from her to do so.
    "Drink my health. It'll bring me luck."
    "I will, thanks," Alec called after her as she rode away. Turning quickly to the soldier, he asked, "She's beautiful! Who is she?"
    "You didn't know?" the man exclaimed, looking him up and down. "That was Princess Klia, youngest daughter of the Queen. Quite a day for you, eh boy?"
    The crowd surged forward to the corral again and several strangers clapped Alec on the back, envying him his brush with royalty.
    Biny elbowed his way through the press. "What's that she tossed you?"
    Alec held up the gold coin. Smaller than his Skalan silver piece, it was stamped on one side with the same design of crescent moon and flame and on the reverse with the profile of a man.
    "A half sester? You could drink her health for a couple of days on that!" Biny gave him a playful jab in the ribs.
    "A princess!" Alec marveled, shaking his head.
    "Oh, we see her all the time up here. She's second in command of the Queen's Horse Guard now, under her brother, and has quite an eye for the beasts. Come on, they've started loading already. We'd better start back."
    With their own cargo dispatched, Talrien's crew was now stowing slender clay wine jars below deck. After these came crates of chickens that Talrien ordered lashed down amidships on deck. The rest of their voyage would be enlivened by the cackling and crowing of the birds, as well as their stink and the clouds of feathers they shed.
    By late morning everything was secured and they sailed out to join the other vessels waiting to enter the Canal; ships were carefully spaced out to avoid any mishaps that might block the narrow channel.
    Soon after they dropped anchor, a skiff sailed up to them and a stout little man in a greasy slouch hat climbed aboard. Talrien spoke briefly with the harbor master and paid out the tariffs for anchorage and
    passage. When he'd gone, Talrien waved Alec over.
    "One-hour wait," he said. "Tell Sedrish to get a meal up, will you?"
    Alec relayed the message, then took hot water and some broth down to Seregil. By the time he came up again, several of the ships ahead of them had passed into the Canal's dark opening. A bright mirror flash came from the heights near the top of the Astellus column and the stout galley moored next to them hauled anchor, unfurled a single sail, and glided off into the dark cleft.
    At last the lookout called down, "There's our signal, Captain!"
    "That's it, men!" Talrien shouted. "Break out the oars and stand to your locks."
    While the anchor was being raised, several of the sailors set up torches fore and aft. Others pulled back a section of the deck and brought out the long oars stored there. Each oar was passed through a round, rope-padded lock in the ship's rail, twenty to a side. At the captain's signal, the mate climbed up on a hatch and began to sing.
    Picking up the rhythm he set, the oarsmen pulled in practiced unison and the ship slid smoothly forward over the