Colors of Chaos

CXXXIII

ON THE FLAT beside the river, lancers were striking the silk tent shared by Jeslek and Anya and rolling the silk walls into bundles. On the shady side of the pine tree, on the softer needles where he had laid out his bedroll, Cerryl concentrated on the glass.

When the silver mists parted, more reluctantly than normal, Cerryl beheld a ship, a strange vessel moored in a channel or quay area beside a shipwright’s works. The sense of black iron infused the ship-the same feeling that Cerryl had gotten from the wagon the smith had driven to Kleth before the last battle. Between the road traps and the battle, Fairhaven had suffered greatly from the smith’s devices, and now the ship was another creation of worry.

Cerryl let the image fade, then fingered his chin. He was glad, in a way he could not explain, that Leyladin was on her way back to Lydiar-on one of the White ships that had patrolled the Northern Ocean and sealed off any flight by the Spidlarian traders, or those who had waited until the last moment, anyway.

Finally, he made his way downhill to where Jeslek stood in the morning sunlight.

“You look troubled, Cerryl,” Jeslek observed. “More troubled than you have, and you have looked troubled of late.” A raw smile appeared and vanished.

“I have been using my glass, as you requested, ser. The smith is doing something with a ship-and it involves order and black iron.” Cerryl shrugged. “What he does I cannot determine, but the black iron he brought to Kleth cost us dearly.”

“I recall.” The High Wizard nodded. “I appreciate your diligence, and as we near Diev, Anya and I will consider what we might best do.”

“There is even more order and black iron in that vessel,” Cerryl persisted. “I cannot tell what it may be, as it is in a ship on the water, but I like it little.”

“One ship cannot make that much difference,” said Jeslek with an indulgent smile. “We will deal with it. Besides, if he does flee, the blockade ships will capture his vessel-or sink it.”

“If they do not,” added Anya, “then he is gone and will trouble us and Spidlar no more.” Her pale eyes fixed on Cerryl. “Best you make ready to ride. We have many kays to cover.”

Cerryl ignored her order and turned to Jeslek. “I will see what I can discover in the days ahead.” He nodded, then turned away.