Nazafareen woke after a few hours and wandered up to the deck, a fresh breeze flapping her cloak. Kallisto stood alone at the rail. She looked bereft. Nazafareen hurried over, enfolding the older woman in her arms.
“I’m so sorry about Sakhet,” she said. “I didn’t know her like you did, but I mourn her too. We all do. Don’t worry, we’ll figure something out. Darius is a tracker. I’m sure he—”
“I must leave you,” Kallisto interrupted, gently untangling herself from Nazafareen’s embrace.
“Leave us? Why?”
“To seek out the other talismans. I’d left that task to Sakhet, but she’s gone now and it’s time we face it. Our paths must divide or all will be lost.”
Kallisto’s decision made sense, though Nazafareen didn’t like it much. “Where will you go?”
“I’ll take Rhea to Val Altair. Charis and Cyrene will go to House Dessarian. Darius’s mother knows them, if she’s still there. If not, they can tell Tethys we were friends of Sakhet. She should be informed of her death. And she may know something about the Danai talisman. At the least, she can bring the matter before the Matrium.”
“I think Tethys would do that,” Nazafareen said slowly. “But the Valkirins have less love of mortals than any other clan. They’re a harsh people. Why will they listen?”
“I have the staff of truth. When I show them the talisman and swear on it, they must believe me.”
“Perhaps,” Nazafareen said doubtfully. “What about the rest of us?”
“You will stay here with Herodotus and Megaera and continue to look for the Marakai girl. Go to the Five. Captain Mafuone will take you.” Kallisto patted her hand. “I know it’s a great burden I leave you with, child, but there is no other to carry it.”
“Then I will do all I can,” Nazafareen said. She paused. “And if the Vatra has her already?”
“We mustn’t give up hope,” Kallisto said firmly. “I suspect Sakhet kept this girl well-hidden, but perhaps she revealed her identity to the Diyat. If you do find her, bring her to the Temple of the Moria Tree on the Cimmerian Sea. Megaera knows where it is. The Maenads there will keep the talisman safe. We’ll do the same if we are successful.”
“Does Captain Mafuone know?”
Kallisto nodded. “She agrees. Come, we must tell the others.”
Selene had risen above the hills by the time Kallisto, Cyrene, Charis and Rhea packed their things and gathered on deck. Nazafareen hugged each of the Maenads fiercely. Darius hung back until they all swarmed on him at once, pinching his bottom and tickling his chin until he threatened to call a wind and throw them overboard. Herodotus wiped his eyes as he gave his wife a final kiss farewell. One of the Jengu ships was sailing to Val Altair and they watched until it dwindled to a speck on the horizon.
Nazafareen felt the weight of responsibility on her shoulders, and she could see the others did, too. She thought briefly of the girl who’d knocked her down, but there were Marakai girls everywhere, on every ship. Her gaze roamed across the jetty. Most of the vessels were Selk, bearing the image of the little striped cat, Anuketmatma. A few had the Blue Crown or the giant carp of the Jengu. And then she saw a single ship with a fanged eel on its sails. It stirred her memory.
“Which fleet worships the eel?” she asked Darius.
“Nyx, I think.”
“Nyx.” Nazafareen froze. “Wasn’t that the other fleet of Sakhet?”
“Indeed it was,” Herodotus said. “She was both Selk and Nyx, which is rare among the Marakai. The eel is named Khaf-Hor. He has all sorts of magical powers, including the ability to summon a dense fog.” He scratched his beard. “I wonder if he made Sakhet’s fog. Truly, it was very peculiar—”
“That man!” Nazafareen’s heart raced. “The one we saw at the Mer. He wore a dagger with the hilt of a fanged eel.”
Darius frowned. “Are you certain?”
“I only saw it for a moment, but I noticed because it was so unusual.”
They stared at each other. “You think he took it from Sakhet.”
Cold certainty gripped Nazafareen as she remembered his bland expression. Too bland. “Yes. I think he did.”
Megaera swore a vile oath.
They hurried to find Captain Mafuone, who was in her cabin sorting through a mess of waterlogged records and splintered wood.
“At the Mer, you greeted another captain,” Nazafareen said breathlessly. “What ship does she command?”
“The Asperta,” Mafuone said. “She sailed for Tjanjin late last night.”
Nazafareen told her what she’d remembered. Mafuone looked troubled.
“But that man was an emissary from the emperor. The vizier knew him personally.”
“With all respect, captain, he didn’t have the look of Tjanjin,” Herodotus pointed out. “I know merely having red hair does not make one a Vatra, but where did he come by a Nyx knife?”
Mafuone’s lips thinned. “All right. I’ll go back to the Mer and ask the vizier how long he’s known this man. But if you intend to pursue the Asperta, we’ll have to get my ship seaworthy. The journey to Tjanjin takes three days and we won’t make it in this condition. I expected to repair her in the port of the Sheut.”
“How long will it take?” Nazafareen asked, burning with impatience.
“Depends. Replacing the masts is the main problem. The rest can be done at sea.”
“I have some skill with wood,” Darius offered. “I could speed up the work.”
Captain Mafuone didn’t hesitate. “Do it,” she said. “My crew will help you.”
She barked out orders and they set about nursing the poor Chione back to life. A group of Marakai sailors went to the harbor master and returned with two tall trunks of bonewood. Within an hour, Darius made them into gleaming spars, his strong hands shaping the wood like a sculptor with a lump of wet clay. The second had just been mounted and the new sails rigged up when Captain Mafuone returned.
“Three ships came into the harbor since we arrived, but other than the Jengu vessel bound for Val Altair, only the Asperta sailed in the last day,” she reported. “The emissary’s name is Nicodemus. The vizier vouched for his character, but admitted he met him two years ago. He delivered trade contracts from the emperor to the Five.”
“Two years,” Herodotus said thoughtfully. “That’s about the same time the new Pythia came to Delphi.”
Nazafareen and Darius exchanged a look.
“Do you think there’s a connection?” Darius asked dubiously. “It doesn’t seem likely.”
“I don’t know. Either way—”
“There’s more,” Captain Mafuone interrupted, her onyx eyes glittering. “When I asked if there were any young girls aboard, the vizier hesitated.” Her lips curved in a half-smile. “Apparently, he thought I was angry about the storm and wanted to demand reparations from the Selk.”
“Reparations?” Darius asked, as confused as the rest of them.
“The Asperta was carrying Anuketmatma.”
Herodotus raised an eyebrow. “The mother of storms?”
“The very same. Someone failed to care for her properly and she grew angry.”
“You mean the cat?” Nazafareen asked. She pointed with her stump to the broken masts that still lay on the Chione’s deck. “A cat did that?”
“She is more than a cat,” Mafuone replied wryly. “In any event, it seems the blame fell on a girl of twelve who does grunt work on the ship.” She shook her head. “Why Captain Kasaika trusted her with Anuketmatma is beyond me, but there it is.”
“What’s this girl’s name?” Nazafareen asked, a tingle of excitement running down her spine.
“The vizier had no idea. She’s known as Mouse on the docks.” Captain Mafuone sighed. “If she is the talisman, I should tell the Five. They can send a fleet after her.”
“But by the time you talk to them, it will be too late,” Nazafareen exclaimed. “Aren’t they busy worrying about the Oracle? And what if they don’t believe us, just like that fool vizier?”
Mafuone raised an eyebrow.
“It is your decision, of course, captain,” Herodotus broke in hastily. “But I’m afraid Nazafareen may be correct. If a Vatra is indeed on that ship, there’s no time to waste.”
Captain Mafuone turned away for a moment, studying the Chione.
“You did well with the masts,” she said at last. “Normally, it would take us a week or more.” She glanced at Darius. “If the Five finds out what I’ve done, I could lose her. But I suppose that’s better than losing our only chance to avenge Sakhet. And perhaps to save a young girl. So I will take you to Tjanjin.”
Mafuone’s eyes flew wide as Nazafareen embraced her.
“Thank you, captain,” she said fervently.
“I do this for the Marakai, not you,” Mafuone said sternly. Her voice softened a touch. “But you’re welcome. As I reckon it, we’re half a day behind. As long as we don’t run into Anuketmatma again, I think we can make up the difference.” Her strong voice carried across the deck. “Raise the sails!”
A flurry of activity ensued. The crew had just cast off the mooring line when a man came hurtling down the wharf, panting like a blown horse. He had the native Stygian look, with dusky skin and dark curly hair to his shoulders. A beard covered gaunt cheeks. At first glance, Nazafareen thought him some kind of mad beggar. The soles of his boots were loose and flapped like tongues. A ragged cloak streamed out behind him.
“Captain!” he cried, running alongside the Chione, which had begun its slow glide along the pier.
Mafuone leaned over the rail and grinned. “By the Mer, look what the tide carried in,” she called back. The ship had nearly reached the end of the pier. “We’ll have to chew over old times later, my friend. The Chione is sailing for Tjanjin.”
“Will you…grant me…passage?” he gasped.
Captain Mafuone hesitated only a moment. She swore softly under her breath and beckoned to him. A quick nod and one of the sailors tossed a rope over the stern rail. The Stygian dove gracefully into the water just as the Chione cleared the jetty and swam to the rope. In short order, he’d been hauled dripping onto the deck.
Nazafareen frowned as he shook himself all over like a dog.
“Who is he?” she asked, her mind suddenly full of suspicion.
“A thief catcher,” Mafuone replied. “I know him well. He’s a good man from an old family. And I owe him a debt.”
Their new passenger approached the captain with a very wide, very white grin that made him almost handsome despite the sorry state of his clothing. They gripped forearms.
“Where’ve you been hiding?” she asked with an answering grin.
He pulled a strand of seaweed from his hair and flicked it into the water. “I ran into a spot of trouble in Delphi. All the ports are closed so I took a horse to the Twelve Towers and caught a ship from there. Just arrived an hour gone.” He glanced back at the shanties of New Hope. “But you know me. Can’t get out of this hellhole fast enough. I need to return to Tjanjin.” His face darkened for a moment. “I have business to conclude there.”
He glanced at the others gathered on the deck, his keen gray eyes lingering on Megaera’s staff and Nazafareen’s sword. Then he noticed Darius and gave a little start.
“You’re Danai,” he said.
Darius nodded amiably. “House Dessarian.”
Nazafareen suppressed a scowl. This man seemed to know an awful lot. But if he was an enemy, better to keep him close. She seemed to remember Victor saying that once.
“I’m Nazafareen,” she said, stepping forward with a big, fake smile. “You’re lucky you caught us.” She winked. “We’re in a bit of a hurry.”
The Chione slid past the breakwater and met the chop of the White Sea. Immediately, she surged forward as the crew worked together to summon a powerful northerly current.
The man smiled back, lazily, as if he knew what she was up to and found it amusing.
“A pleasure to meet you,” he said, giving a low bow. “My name is Katsu.”