The Ruby Knight

for?’ the boy replied flatly.
    ‘Haven’t you broken him of that habit yet, Sparhawk?’ Platime asked sourly.
    ‘It was only for old times’ sake, Platime.’ Talen grinned.
    ‘Listen carefully,’ Platime said to the boy. ‘When you get to Emsat, look up a man named Stragen. He more or less runs things there – the same way I do in Cimmura and Meland does here in Acie. He’ll be able to give you whatever help you’ll need.’
    ‘All right,’ Talen said.
    ‘You think of everything, don’t you, Platime?’ Sparhawk said.
    ‘In my business you have to. People who don’t tend to wind up dangling unpleasantly.’
    They all reached the harbour shortly after sunrise the following morning, and after they had seen to the loading of the horses, they went on board.
    ‘You seem to have picked up another retainer, Master Cluff,’ Captain Sorgi said to Sparhawk when he saw Talen.
    ‘My man’s youngest son,’ Sparhawk replied truthfully.
    ‘Just as an indication of the friendship I bear you, Master Cluff, there won’t be any extra charge for the boy. Speaking of that, why don’t we settle up before we set sail?’
    Sparhawk sighed and reached for his purse.
    There was a good following wind as they sailed out of the Gulf of Acie and around the promontory that lay to the north. Then they entered the straits of Thalesia and left the land behind. Sparhawk stood on deck talking with Sorgi. ‘How long do you think it’s going to take to get to Emsat?’ he asked the curly-haired seaman.
    ‘We’ll probably make port by noon tomorrow,’ Sorgi replied, ‘- if the wind holds. We’ll furl sail and rig sea-anchors tonight. I’m not as familiar with these waters as I am with the Inner Sea or the Arcian Strait, so I’d rather not take chances.’
    ‘I like prudence in the captain of a ship I’m sailing on,’ Sparhawk told him. ‘Oh, and speaking of prudence, do you imagine we might be able to find some secluded cove before we reach Emsat? Towns make me very nervous for some reason.’
    Sorgi laughed. ‘You see those cousins around every corner, don’t you, Master Cluff? Is that why you’re under arms?’ Sorgi looked meaningfully at Sparhawk’s mail-shirt and sword.
    ‘A man in my circumstances can’t be too careful.’
    ‘We’ll find you a cove, Master Cluff. The coast of Thalesia is one long secluded cove. We’ll find you a quiet beach and put you ashore so you can sneak north to visit the Trolls without the inconvenience of having cousins dogging your heels.’
    ‘I appreciate that, Captain Sorgi.’
    ‘You up there!’ Sorgi bellowed to one of the sailors aloft. ‘Look lively! You’re up there to work, not to daydream!’
    Sparhawk walked a ways up the deck and leaned on the rail, idly watching the intensely blue rollers sparkling in the mid-day sun. Kurik’s questions were still troubling him. Had the chance meetings with Sorgi and Platime indeed been coincidence? Why should they both have been in Acie at precisely the same time that Sparhawk and his friends had made good their escape from the palace? If Flute indeed could tamper with time, could she also reach out over tremendous distances to draw in people they needed at precisely the right moment? How powerful was she?
    Almost as if his thought had summoned her, Flute came up the companion way and looked around. Sparhawk crossed the deck to meet her. ‘I have a question or two for you,’ he said.
    ‘I thought you might have.’
    ‘Did you have anything to do with bringing both Platime and Sorgi to Acie?’
    ‘Not personally, no.’
    ‘But you knew they’d be there?’
    ‘It saves time when you deal with people who already know you, Sparhawk. I made some requests, and certain members of my family arranged the details.’
    ‘You keep mentioning your family. Just exactly – ’
    ‘What on earth is that?’ she exclaimed, pointing off to starboard.
    Sparhawk looked. A huge surging was just beneath the surface, and then a great flat tail burst up out of the water and crashed down, sending up a great cloud of spray. ‘A whale, I think,’ he said.
    ‘Do fish really get that big?’
    ‘I don’t think they’re actually fish – at least that’s what I’ve heard.’
    ‘He’s singing ! Flute said, clapping her hands in delight.
    ‘I don’t hear anything.’
    ‘You’re not listening, Sparhawk.’ She ran forward and leaned out over the bow of the ship.
    ‘Flute!’ he shouted. ‘Be careful!’ He rushed to the rail at