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CHAPTER NINE

The Wind and the Sea

WILL they catch u S?' Anne asked, watching intently as the masts of the pursuing ship appeared and disappeared behind the high swells. The sky was a turquoise gem, flawed only with a few streaks of white cloud. There was no land in sight.

Captain Malconio put his callused hands on the rail and leaned forward.

Perversely, she noticed that he exuded the same faintly almond scent Cazio had when he sweated.

'Lord Netuno knows,' he said. 'That's a fast ship, a brimwulf built in Saltmark.

And they've got a strong wind behind them.'

'Are they faster than us?' Anne asked.

'Much faster,' Malconio said.

'Then they will catch us.'

Malconio scratched his beard. 'Ah, well'there's more to it than speed, della. We can run against the wind a little better than she can, and we've got a shallower keel. If we can reach the shoals around Ter-na-Fath before nightfall, I give us a chance.'

'Only a chance?' Cazio sneered.

Malconio regarded his brother with narrowed eyes. 'It's not often I have the need to outrun a man-o'-war,' he said acidly. 'In fact' why, that's never happened to me before. It took you to come along and present me this delightful opportunity, frater mio. Indeed, it occurs to me our pursuers might be satisfied if I just gave up my cargo.'

'You won't do that,' Anne said.

Malconio's eyebrows shot up, and he looked at her as if she had just asked to cut off his foot. 'Pardon me? I wonder how you formed that opinion?'

'These men came after me when I was in the coven Saint Cer. They killed every sister there. What makes you think they would spare you?'

'There's also the maritime guild to consider,' z'Acatto added a bit drunkenly.

He waved the narrow-necked bottle of wine he'd found somewhere. 'You know they would never stand for it if one of their ships had been accosted, for any reason. The captain of the ship behind us won't take that risk'he'll never give you the chance to report him. So don't be a collone.'

'Easy, old man,' Malconio said. 'You know I was just talking'it's the family curse. But if we can't slip them, we'll never be able to fight them. A ship like that will carry three or four arbalests, probably armed with sea fire. My brother will never even get to use his sword, unless they want the girl alive, for some reason.' He looked back at Anne. 'Is that likely to be the case?'

'I don't think so,' Anne said. 'I think they just want to see me dead.'

'And you still won't tell me why?'

'I still don't know why,' Anne said helplessly.

'Well,' Malconio said. 'So we run, and hope the breeze favors us.'

They tacked hard to the north, and at first the larger ship seemed to drop back a bit, but then it started picking up speed again. It wasn't even noon yet.

'Unless we get some luck, they'll have us long before we reach the shoals,' Malconio finally admitted.

'Well, then, they're in for a fight,' Cazio told his brother, resting his hand on the hilt of his rapier.

'I told you before,' Malconio said, 'they've no reason to come close when they can sink us from a distance.' He put his hands on his The Wind and the Sea

hips. 'But suppose they did try to board us'that fellow with the glowing sword'how do you intend to fight him? Your friend back at the docks dealt him a blow that should have had him buried in two places. But he was walking fine, last I saw him.'

'I've fought his kind before,' Cazio said with that overabundance of confidence that Anne found so infuriating. 'I'll cut off his head and send him to the bottom of the sea.'

'Last time you had me to drop bricks on him,' z'Acatto reminded him. 'What shall I drop on this one?'

Cazio shrugged. 'Perhaps an anchor? Surely we can find something.'

Malconio folded his hands. 'What? No single combat this time? What of your honor?'

'It's hardly honorable to fight with the aide of hell,' Cazio replied. 'I've sworn to protect these ladies. I'll do that even if I have to fight with less than perfect honor.'

Malconio rolled his eyes. 'It doesn't matter anyway,' he said. 'They've twice our numbers without taking Casnar z'Estrigo into account. Drop an anchor on him if you wish, though I have only so many anchors.' He nodded at the approaching ship. 'But it won't come to that. See those arbalests? What did I tell you?'

Anne could see some sort of ungainly devices mounted on the other ship's deck, but couldn't make out what they were supposed to do. Austra saved her the embarrassment of asking what an arbalest was, by asking herself.

'It's a huge mechanical bow,' Malconio replied. 'Hurls stones, lead balls, pots of flame'things like that.'

'Don't you have any sort of war engines, Captain?' Anne asked. 'Some way to fight back? Surely you've had to fend off pirates before.'

Malconio shook his head. 'We've got one small arbalest. It's all we ever needed against the few pirates that dare the wrath of the guild.'

'I suggest you set it up, then,' z'Acatto said.

'I suppose you're right, old man. A little fight is better than none at all. And perhaps Netuno will smile on me. He has before.'

' * *>

Five bells later, their pursuer lobbed a few experimental stones at them. They fell short, but not far short, and Malconio's sailors stood nervously with their bows and set up their arbalest'which did indeed resemble a large crossbow. Anne could hear the sailors on the other ship now and see them scuttling about on the deck and in the

rigging.

'We'll be within their range long before they're in ours,' Malco-nio said.

'Ladies, I suggest you go below.' He glanced off toward the horizon, where black clouds were piling up. 'It's not often I wish for a storm, but you might pray to whatever saints you revere that that one catches us before they do. In a blow, we might be able to lose them.'

'I'll stay up here,' Anne said.

'And do what?' Cazio asked. 'Can you shoot a bow?'

'I could try.'

'We don't have enough arrows to waste them,' Malconio said.

'Go below. It's my ship, and that's an order.'

Anne prepared another objection, but let it fade behind her lips. Sir Neil had died because of her last poor decision. Malconio knew his business far better than she did. 'Come on, Austra,' Anne said.

'Take this,' Cazio said. He held out the hilt of a dagger. 'I have one,' she said. 'I don't,' Austra said. 'You take it, then,' Cazio replied.

Austra took the weapon, but her face puckered. 'I want to stay up here with you,' she said.

Cazio smiled and took Austra's hand. 'My brother is right this time,' he said.

'Up here you would only be a distraction. With you safe below I can fight the way the saints intend me to.'

Austra lowered her eyes, then suddenly reached up and kissed Cazio on the lips.

'Don't die,' she said.

'I won't,' he assured her. 'I'm not meant to die at sea. Go on, and be brave.'

The Wind and the Sea

She nodded and turned away, stumbling toward their cabin, trying vainly to hide her tears.

Cazio glanced at Anne then, and for a moment she couldn't take her gaze away from his. She felt as if she had been caught doing something she shouldn't have, but couldn't form the words of an excuse.

Cazio broke the spell.

'Well, that's one kiss for luck,' he said. 'How about another?'

'That wasn't a kiss for luck,' Anne said softly. 'And you're still a fool.'

Then she followed Austra.

'She's right,' Malconio said, once the two women were out of sight. 'You're a fool, and playing at a fool's game.'

'What could you possibly mean?' Cazio asked, irritated.

'Two girls. The one you've set your hopes on is the rofola' Diuvo knows why'but you're cozying up to her friend.'

'I've no interest in Anne,' Cazio lied, 'though if I did, it would be none of your business.'

'Your very apparent interest in her is about to get me killed, so its entirely my business,' Malconio said, 'but I'll let that pass. Still, it's cruel to play with a girl's heart.'

'Anne doesn't have a heart.'

'I'm talking about the other one now.'

'Ah, but you just said we were about to be killed, so there's no time for that to happen.'

'Yes, well, that's your best hope.' To Cazio's surprise, Malconio clapped him on the shoulder. 'Stay under cover. You won't be of any use until they actually board us, if they do.'

He started off.

'Wait a moment,' Cazio said.

His brother paused. 'Only a moment.'

'What do you know about z'Acatto?'

Malconio shrugged. 'Less than you, I should think. What do you mean?'

'A man in z'Espino'a man who knew him'called him Emrature.'

'That's odd,' Malconio conceded.

'So I thought.'

'He did fight in the wars,' Malconio said. 'Almost everyone did, even father.'

'Yes, but as a commander? Then why would he'?'

'Why would he dedicate his life to teaching the ill-behaved brats of a nearly destitute nobleman how to swing a sword around? I don't know. Maybe you should ask him.'

'Have you ever tried asking him anything personal?' Malconio smiled. 'Once or twice, when I was too young to know better. But he's always loved you, Cazio.

You were different to him. It was you he stayed for.'

'Who killed our father, Malconio?'

His older brother's features softened a bit. 'Cazio, I've never understood you.

Maybe when we were boys'we had a little fun, didn't we? You were so serious and sober, like a little priest. Then after father died''

'I don't want to talk about this. And you don't have time.'

'This may be the only time,' Malconio said. 'After father died, you took to the sword as if you had no other life. Like any little boy, you were sworn to avenge his death. We wouldn't tell you anything about the duel because we were afraid you would run away and try to find the man.'

'I would have.'

'But when you were older and'do not doubt this'the best dessrator in Avella, maybe in the whole Tero Mefio'you never asked, never tried to find out.'

'Because I didn't care anymore,' Cazio replied. 'Father was a fool. He frittered away our estates and got himself killed.'

'You fight duels every day,' Malconio said. 'How can you fault father for fighting one? Especially when you know nothing of the circumstances?'

'I know he was hit in the back,' Cazio said softly. 'I saw the body, Malconio.

What kind of duelist gets hit in the back?'

The Wind and the Sea

Malconio's face worked silently for a moment. 'I didn't see the fight, and neither did you,' he finally said. 'Why do you suddenly care about this again?'

'I don't know,' Cazio said. 'It just popped into my head.'

'Z'Acatto saw the fight. He's the one you need to talk to. But' father wasn't so bad, Cazio. When our mother was still alive, he was a better man. A lot of him left with her.'

Another uncomfortable silence followed.

'Have you seen Chesco lately?' Cazio asked.

'Two months ago. He's well. He's got three ships of his own. You know, you've always been welcome to join us.'

'I can't abandon our name and our home,' Cazio said. 'I can't.'

Malconio rolled his eyes. 'Look around you,' he said. 'You have' you just don't know it yet.'

Cazio sighed and looked off at the distant storm. 'It won't get here in time to help us, will it?'

Malconio shook his head. 'It's not even coming this way.'

Anne felt a little queasy again as she sat on the edge of her cot. Austra was peering out through the thick panes of the window.

'They're coming from backboard,' Anne said, 'the other way.'

'I know,' Austra said stiffly. 'It's just'we should be up there.'

'They're right,' Anne said. 'We'd just be in the way.'

'We might be able to help,' Austra protested. 'It's not like we haven't been in danger before.'

'Yes, but we don't know anything about sailing or arbalests. And I think Captain Malconio hopes that if our enemies don't see us there's some small chance they'll think they're chasing the wrong boat.' Austra shook her head. 'Those men are guided by devils. They'll never stop until we're dead.'

'Until I'm dead,' Anne corrected. 'It's me they're after, not the rest of you.'

Austra's brow bunched. 'You're not thinking of running off again?

You promised me you wouldn't. Or are your promises to me no good now?'

'What's that supposed to mean?' Anne demanded.

'Nothing.'

'Look, you're the one spending all the time with Cazio. You're the one who has no time for me, anymore,' Anne said.

Austra turned away and said something under her breath.

'What was that?' Anne asked.

'Nothing.'

'Tell me!'

Austra spun then, her face red. 'You've been lying to me! Lying! Who are you?'

Anne stepped back from her sheer fury. 'What on earth are you talking about?'

'I mean you know why they're after you. You know, and yet you won't tell me. And like you said, I'm going to get killed as dead as you, and so is Cazio, and z'Acatto'as dead as Neil MeqVren!'

'Don't mention him!' Anne said.

'Why? Because it's your fault he got killed?'

Anne's growing anger collapsed into a lump in her throat, congealed fury and sorrow and frustration. She couldn't say anything.

Which was fine. Austra had plenty more to say.

'Something happened to you at the coven. You see things other people don't. You can do things other people can't. I've been waiting for you to explain, but you aren't going to, are you?'

'Austra''

'You don't trust me, do you? When was I ever anything but your loyal friend, even when it was dangerous for me?'

'You don't understand, Austra. I don't understand.'

Something struck the ship, hard, and they heard men yelling above deck.

'Well that's not good enough!' Austra shrieked.

The sails of the Delia Puchia began to drop as their pursuer threw a wind shadow over them, and moments later the first of the arbalest stones struck their bow with a hollow thud and bounced off into the water.

'That didn't do much,' Cazio observed.

The Wind and the Sea

'They were just finding their range,' Malconio said grimly. 'It will get worse.'

'They aren't coming any closer.'

'Yes. They're right in assuming my weapon doesn't have that kind of range.

They've got us in their wind shadow, so we can't move. They'll stay there and pound us until we sink.'

'Then why did you even set up the arbalest?'

'In case they were stupid. They aren't.'

While Cazio watched, a pair of the enemy war engines fired, nearly at the same time. Two flaming balls leapt skyward, leaving tails of thick black smoke.

'I see what you mean about it getting worse,' Cazio said.

One of the balls plunged harmlessly into the sea, but the other hit squarely in the middle deck, blossoming in a tulip of flame. One of Malconio's sailors caught fire, too, and fell screaming and thrashing to the deck as his comrades tried to smother the fire with a wet canvas.

Cazio gripped Caspator's hilt until his knuckles went white. Malconio was right'he would never even get a chance to kill one of them. He'd never felt so helpless in his life.

He glanced at his brother, intending to ask him if there was anything he could do, but noticed Malconio wasn't watching the other ship, but was staring out across the sea. And he was smiling.

'What?' Cazio asked.

'Look there,' he said. 'At the water.'

Cazio followed his gaze but didn't see anything remarkable.

Malconio put his hand on the steersman's shoulder. 'Prepare to come about,' he said. 'You see where?'

'Aye, I see it,' the fellow said. 'It'll be close.'

'What's going on?' Cazio asked.

'Watch their sails,' he replied.

Cazio tried, but it was difficult, as about that time another volley of flaming pots came hurtling toward them. One struck the mainsail.

'Put that out!' Malconio hollered. 'We're about to need it.'

At that moment, the sails of the other ship went suddenly slack.

'Come about, nowl' Malconio thundered.

Sailors leapt to their tasks, pulling yards. The boom swung around and the still-flaming sail filled with a faint puff of air. It hardly seemed enough to move the ship, but then the men all cheered.

'What happened?' Cazio asked.

'Netuno took their wind and sent us one from another direction,' Malconio said.

'It's not much of a wind,' Cazio observed.

'No, which makes it perfect for us. We can run straight before it, and we'll start out faster than her.'

'I thought she was faster,' Cazio said.

'Aye, in full wind. But we'll make the speed faster, because we're smaller. By the time they turn and start again, we'll have two leagues on them.'

Once again, his brother was right. Even though they barely seemed to be moving, the big ship wasn't moving at all. The arbalests kept up the rain of fire, however. Cazio joined the crew putting out the fires as they slowly, painfully tacked out of range. When the arbalest rounds started at last falling short, another cheer went up.

They ran straight with the wind, then'no more tacking'and with a sluggishness Cazio found maddening they began to outpace their pursuer.

But by dusk the big ship was gaining again.

The sounds of bombardment waxed and then gradually waned away.

Since her outburst, Austra had huddled on her cot, unspeaking. 'They're cheering,' Anne noticed. 'It must be good news.' Austra nodded vaguely but still wouldn't meet her gaze. 'I'll go see what's happening,' Anne said. 'Do you want to come

along?'

Austra shook her head and closed her eyes. 'It's too much,' she said.

Anne regarded the younger girl for a moment, wishing there were something she could say. 'You were right before,' she said finally.

'About what?'

The Wind and the Sea

'Back when I tried to run away. When I thought I could dress as a man and make my own way in the world. When I wanted adventure. You told me that I was being stupid, that I would starve or be killed or kidnapped within a nineday.'

'Oh, right,' Austra said. 'I did say that.'

'At the time I only agreed to stay because you asked me to, because I worried about what would happen to you if I left. Now I know you were right about everything. I didn't know anything at all about how the world works. I barely do now. But if there is one thing I do know, it's that I don't want any more adventure. I want to be back in Eslen. I want the worst thing that could happen to me to be a scolding from Fastia or mother. And I want you there with me.'

'I'm glad you finally admit that I can be right about something,' Austra said.

'A lot of people have died for me,' Anne said. 'The sisters at the coven. Sir Neil. I'm afraid to go abovedecks, because I'm afraid to find out who else. I don't want anyone else to die for me, Austra. I'm sick of this whole thing.'

'Well, why not try telling them that?' Austra said. 'The next time those men catch up with us, just tell them you don't want to play anymore, and that you'll be good, and please leave us alone.'

Anne smiled, thinking Austra was joking and the mood was finally starting to lighten. But then she saw her friend's face.

'It doesn't matter what you're sick of,' Austra said. 'It's all going to happen anyway.'

Anne felt her heart slacken. 'Please, Austra''

'You still aren't going to tell me what's going on.'

Anne felt herself near tears, and even nearer to begging. 'I think if I tell you anything, it will only make things worse for you. I'm afraid it will get you killed.'

'I'm going to get killed anyway,' Austra said. 'Can't you feel it? Don't you know?'

'What on earth are you talking about?'

'Nothing. Nothing.'

'Austra''

'I'm tired now.'

Austra rolled over so her back was to Anne. Anne watched, helpless, her eyes wet. How could she tell Austra about her visions? How could she burden her best friend with trying to decide whether Anne had gone mad, or whether she was so important to the world that if she did not become queen it would end? How could she tell anyone about the man in the woods? She didn't believe it herself, after the visions had faded. Anyway, it would make breaking her promise harder to do, and Austra would try to come with her. She hadn't lied just now when she told Austra that she'd been right about running away the first time. But things were different now. Now Austra had Cazio to protect her. This time she wasn't running from her duty, she was running toward it, and if the Faiths were so insistent that she must be queen, they could bloody well protect her until she was.

She wouldn't have her friends dying for her anymore. Because Austra was right.

They wouldn't stop. They would never stop. And though it would hurt Austra when she left again, Austra would live, and she would be protected.

Resolved to that, she went back up abovedecks to see whom else she had killed, and to find out whether any of them would live through the night.

She found the ship still following, and getting closer. As night fell, clouds rolled in, and the dark that followed was complete. Malconio put the ship through a series of turns as the wind quickened. There was no cheering now, because the only thing their enemies might have to follow was sound.

Anne returned to her cabin to try and sleep, but was awakened a few bells later by an explosion. Throwing on her dressing gown, she ran back up on the deck, fearing the ship had somehow found them.

But the ship hadn't found them'a storm had.