Kavin's World Read Online Free PDF Page B

accepted it all, thinking about the minor puzzle of how I was to explain certain matters to her with no words to help me.
    Then the high priestess arrived, and I pulled myself to my feet and went forth onto the deck to greet her. With her was a small, veiled girl whom I knew to be Samala, whose eyes were fixed solemnly on my face.
    “When the rites are over, the Bride and myself will use your great cabin for the journey,” the High Priestess said. “By your permission, Prince—” (as if she meant the formality) “ your serving girl…” ( did the woman know everything, then?) “… may have the second room. I fear that you yourself, Lord Prince, must find space forward, since the law makes it necessary for you to remain apart from women for this time.”
    It did not seem as if my voyage home was to be a pleasure cruise, I thought. I was weary enough now not to care.
    Such is our law, whereby we are forever getting these fasts from women laid upon us for one silly reason or another. I believe other sects also fast, giving up various necessary things… well, a little abstinence never killed any man, though it might make death seem less unpleasant.
    Near midnight, a great tent of sailcloth was put up on the main deck of the Luck, and some of my men went down to the dock to keep off strangers. It was there, under such a strange and fragile temple roof, that the last bridal of the Hostans was celebrated. I can say nothing about this; the rites are very secret. But in this instance, there was a greater change in the ritual than its place. The Bride, now of the Second Name, called Wife, went alone to the great cabin—alone in the important sense of the word, though the priestess followed, and so did Isa.
    For myself, I had a hammock slung between the newly set forward guns, and I fell into it as if I had been struck down.
    I did not awake till late in the morning, to the swaying of my hammock as the sea took the keel. My seamen, well-trained lads, had not bothered to waken me, and the Luck was now well out into the sea. A fair wind set to our starboard quarter, and we went east at a fine rate. Under the prow, the white figure leaned forward into the spray, blind-eyed, her lance thrust forward. We were heading home.
    During the next few days, we left the merchant ships far behind us. I spent most of my time speaking with the crowd of new men who filled the deck and the hold, learning what I could about them, hastily making some sort of war band out of this mixed material. First, and best, were the Count’s men-at-arms, hardened professionals all, who needed nothing in the way of instruction or advice. These were short dark men, made of dried leather, who came from all parts of the kingdoms originally, but who now looked all alike somehow.
    Each of them carried a squared shield, a heavy sword, and the throwing spears of their trade. Their armor was studded leather, except for the brimmed helmet, of sound bronze. These men needed only one look from me; I turned to the others.
    We had tried to pick the best crew for the Luck, which would arrive home before the others; but I confess to a certain disquiet when I began to look the men over. If these were the best, what might not be on the other ships?
    Some were not too bad. There were several old soldiers of fortune, from various lands, and a mixture of others who looked at best like pirates and at worst like beggars. I spoke with them, one after another, learning their names, searching out what each one might be used for. Five of them had worked with guns, and these I sent to our master gunner; we had need of them, with our new armament.
    A few of them looked like bad gambles, and I made a mental note to see that these would be well in front in our first scrimmage. On our fourth day, one of these, a hairy vagabond called Dixis, gave proof of my intuition. He caught sight of the priestess Samala as she walked on the deck gallery, and made what he may have thought was an enticing