Naamah's Blessing

Terra Nova!” Denis shouted.
    Edouard Durel gave a broken laugh. “Do you really think you stand a chance of finding them, my lord?” He gestured at me. “Just because some half-breed bear-witch with a grudge claims to have had a vision?”
    “In fact, I do.” Denis glanced at me. “I have more cause than most to put my faith in Moirin mac Fainche.”
    To that, the sailor made no reply.
    “A few further questions, Messire Durel,” Balthasar said. “Did you have an accomplice, or were you working alone?”
    Durel shook his head. “If I’d had an accomplice, I’d have posted a lookout.” He grimaced. “I wasn’t expecting Lord de Toluard’s midnight stroll.”
    “Did the Duchese de Barthelme approach anyone else with a similar offer?” Balthasar asked.
    The sailor shrugged. “If she did, she didn’t say anything to me about it.” He picked up the refilled glass of brandy and downed it in a series of gulps, setting the empty glass on the table. “So far as I know, I’m the only traitor about the ship,” he said in an unsteady tone. “That’s what I am, isn’t it?”
    “I’m afraid so,” Balthasar agreed. Reaching across the table, he put his hand over Edouard Durel’s. “Don’t worry about your wife and daughter. If we return safely, I’ll make sure they’ll pay no price for your sin, and be well cared for. And if we don’t…” He smiled wryly. “Well, you’ve already seen to it that they’ll be fine.”
    Fresh tears spilled from the fellow’s eyes. “Thank you, my lord. I don’t deserve your kindness!”
    “No, you don’t,” Balthasar said judiciously. “But neither do they deserve to be punished for your folly.”
    Durel nodded. “What’s to become of me?”
    “That’s the captain’s business for now.” Balthasar retrieved his whetstone from the table and stowed it. “Assuming we’re all in agreement, I’d ask him to spare your life so that you might stand trial in Terre d’Ange and testify against the Regent’s wife and her poisonous brat. I trust you’re willing to do so?”
    “Aye, my lord.” Edouard Durel took a deep breath, his gaze on the knife still lying atop the table. “I was wrong to doubt you. I felt Kushiel’s presence here. I am willing to accept whatever penance you give me.”
    “Ah.” Balthasar plucked up his belt knife and sheathed it. “As it happens, I am more modest than I pretend. I will leave the matter of penance to the priests, and rest content with my role here.”
    With that, he sent Clemente to fetch the sailors to take Edouard Durel into custody once more.
    When they had gone, Balthasar heaved a mighty sigh, running his hands over his face. “That,” he remarked to no one in particular, “was challenging.” He gave us all a surprisingly sweet smile. “Thank you for your trust.”
    “Don’t thank me,” Brice de Bretel said flatly. “I really thought you meant to skin the man alive.”
    Balthasar’s smile tightened. “Nothing quite so crude, I hope.”
    I thought about the brightness of his eyes, the tenderness of his voice; and I thought that the sense of deadly desire it evoked was quite genuine. There was a part of Balthasar Shahrizai that would have relished giving in to his darkest urges and carrying out the punishment he threatened, and the most frightening part was that he would have done it out of a kind of love. “You wield a dangerous gift, my lord,” I murmured.
    He met my gaze. “Not lightly, Lady Moirin.”
    “No.” I came forward to rest my hands on his shoulders, feeling the latent tension in them. Leaning down, I kissed his cheek. “It was well done. Thank you.”
    He nodded in acknowledgment.
    Denis de Toluard shuddered. “Let’s just hope there
aren’t
any more. That was far too near a thing.”
    “Good thing you couldn’t sleep, huh?” Bao observed.
    “It is, isn’t it?” A look of wonder touched Denis’ face. “Ever since the King’s death, I’ve had nightmares. I never thought I’d be glad of them.”
    “And I never thought I’d be so glad to have you on this expedition, my lord Denis,” I said to him, inclining my head. “We all owe you a profound debt today. Were it not for your acuity, we’d be in dire straits, and Thierry’s cause nigh hopeless.”
    “Hear, hear!” Balthasar hoisted the bottle of brandy and drank from it, wiping the bottle’s mouth on his sleeve and passing it to Denis.
    He drank, and passed it onward.
    We all drank.
    The ship sailed