Whisper of Waves: v. 1 (Watercourse Trilogy) by Philip Athans

Author:Philip Athans [Athans, Philip]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
ISBN: 9780786957064
Publisher: Wizards of the Coast Publishing
Published: 2010-04-01T00:00:00+00:00

36

10 Uktar, the Year of the Helm (1362 DR)

FIRST QUARTER, INNARLITH

Though the attack by the still-unexplained and unidentified demon eels had set back their schedule some, Ran Ai Yu’s ship was ready to depart less than four months later.

“She is fine ship,” the Shou merchant said.

Devorast, whose eyes continuously darted from rail to mast to deck to rigging, always checking for the tiniest imperfection, nodded. Ran Ai Yu did her best to detect any trace of pride in his manner but saw none. He appeared satisfied, but that was all, as if he’d known all along how the ship would turn out and was in no way surprised by his success. Ran Ai Yu found it impossible to feel the same.

“I have never seen like of it,” she said, running the tip of a finger along the rail and admiring the way the light rain beaded on the ceramic surface.

“No ship like it has ever been afloat,” he told her.

“It will be a long voyage back home,” she said, “and we will stop in many ports along the way. You will be busy building more very soon, I know.”

“There’s no need,” he said. “It’s been built already. Let others do it again.”

“Ah,” she said, “I see. You are the first but will sell the plans and—”

“I have no intention of selling the plans,” he said. “You have a copy I made for you, to aid in any repairs you may require should circumstances dictate, but I will destroy mine.”

Ran Ai Yu found herself at a loss for words, less because of what he’d said but because he actually noticed her confusion.

“I have built the best ceramic ship I know how to build,” he said. “I will find a new challenge.”

“You will turn away gold bar after gold bar after gold bar,” she said. “It is bad trade. Bad … business.”

Devorast smiled, even laughed a little, and said, “Your Common improves by the day, and if ‘bad business’ is all I’m ever accused of, I’ll die a happy man.”

Ran Ai Yu could only shake her head.

They stood in silence for a long while, watching the last of Devorast’s shipwrights climb into a dinghy. Hrothgar was the last in, and the dwarf made no mistake about his discomfort on the little boat.

“Coming, then?” Hrothgar called to Devorast. “I can’t swim, you know.”

Ran Ai Yu spared the dwarf the indignity of the laugh she felt bubbling up in her throat. Then she had to hold back a tear when Devorast stepped away from her, turned, and held out his hand.

“Miss Ran Ai Yu,” he said, “I wish you safe journey.”

She took his hand, but when he tried to let go, she wouldn’t let him.

“I wish I could return sooner,” she said. “I have found our work together here rewarding, if not dangerous.”

Devorast nodded but didn’t seem to know what to say. There had been more than the one attack, no shortage of sabotage attempts, and in those months they still didn’t know precisely who had tried to have them killed and the tiled cog destroyed.

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