apologize,’ I answered gravely. ‘Well do I know that magic can take a toll. I spoke without thinking.’
‘Magic,’ she snorted. ‘This dream-shaping is not magic. It is just a thing I can do.’
And with that thought, she left me. I pushed from my mind the dread of what might be said when she gave Burrich my words. There was nothing I could do about any of that. I sat down at the base of her tower, but without Nettle to anchor it, the dream was already fading. I sank through it into a dreamless sleep of my own.
Do not make the error of thinking of the Out Islands as a kingdom under a sole monarch, such as we have in the Six Duchies, or even as an alliance of peoples such as we see in the Mountain Kingdom. Not even the individual islands, small as they may seem, are under the sole command of any single lord or noble. In fact, there are no ‘nobles or lords’ recognized among the Outislanders. Men have status according to their prowess as warriors and the richness of the spoils they bring back. Some have the backing of their matriarchal clans to enhance whatever reputation they may claim by force of arms. Clans hold territory on the islands, it is true, but these lands are the matriarchal farmlands and gathering beaches owned by the women and passed down through their daughters.
Towns, especially harbour towns, belong to no single clan and mob law is generally the rule in them. The city guard will not come to your aid if you are robbed or assaulted in an Out Island town. Each man is expected to enforce the respect others should give him. Cry out for help and you will be judged weak and beneath notice. Sometimes, however, the dominant clan in the area may have a ‘stronghouse’ in the town and set itself up in judgment over disputes there.
The Outislanders do not build castles and forts such as we have in the Six Duchies. A siege is more likely to be conducted by enemy vessels taking control of a harbour or river mouth rather than by a force attempting to seize land. It is not unusual, however, to find one or two clan ‘stronghouses’ in each major town. These are fortified structures built to withstand attack and often having deep cellars with not only a well for water but also substantial storage for food. These ‘stronghouses’ usually belonged to the dominant clan in each town, and were designed more for shelter from civil strife than to withstand foreign attack.
Shellbye’s Out Island Travels
When I awoke, I could feel that the ship was calmer. I had not slept for many hours, but I felt rested. About me on the deck, men still sprawled, immersed in slumber as if they had not slept well in days, as was the case.
I rose carefully, bundling my blanket in my arms and stepping through the prone bodies. I put my blanket back into my sea chest, changed into a cleaner shirt and then went back on deck. Night was venturing toward morning. The clouds had rained themselves out, and fading stars showed through their rent curtains. The canvas had been reset to take advantage of a kindlier wind. The barefoot sailors moved in quiet competence on the deck. It felt like the dawn after a storm.
I found Thick curled up and sleeping, the lines of his face slack and peaceful, his breathing hoarse and steady. Nearby, Web dozed; his head drooped forward onto his bent knees. My eyes could barely make out the dark shape of a sea bird perched on the railing. It was a gull of some sort, larger than the average. I caught the bright glint of Risk’s eye, and nodded to her in affable greeting as I approached slowly, giving Web time to open his eyes and lift his head. He smiled at me.
‘He seems to be resting better. Perhaps the worst is over.’
‘I hope so,’ I replied. Cautiously I opened myself to Thick’s music. It was no longer a storm of Skill, but was still as constant as the shushing waves. His mother’s song had become dominant in it again, but I heard also the trace of a kitten purring, and a reassuring echo of Nettle’s voice assuring him that he was loved and safe. That unsettled me a bit; I wondered if I only heard it because I had witnessed the change, or if Chade and the Prince would also detect her words and voice.
‘You look more rested as well,’ Web observed, his voice abruptly recalling me to my manners and myself.
‘Yes, I am. And I thank you.’
He extended a hand to me, and I took it, helping him onto his feet. Once upright, he released my hand and rolled his shoulders to limberness again. On the railing, his bird waddled a step or two closer. In the gathering light, I marked the deep yellow of her beak and feet. Somewhere in Burrich’s tutelage, I seemed to recall that bright colours were indicative of a well-nourished bird. This creature gleamed with health. As if aware of my admiration, she turned her head and carefully preened a long flight feather through her bill. Then, as effortlessly as a cat lofts into a chair, she rose from the railing, her cupped wings catching the wind and lifting her in flight.
‘Show off,’ Web muttered. He smiled at me. It came to me that Wit-partners take the same inane pride in one another that parents do in their children. I smiled back, commiserating.
‘Ah. That looks genuine. In time, my friend, I think you will come to trust me. Tell me when you do.’
I gave a small sigh. It would have been courteous to insist that I already trusted him, but I did not think I could lie well enough to deceive him. So I simply nodded. Then, as he turned to go, I remembered Swift. ‘I’ve another favour I would ask of you,’ I said awkwardly.
He turned back to me, sincere pleasure in his face. ‘I’ll take that as an indication of progress.’
‘Could you ask Swift to give me some of his time today? I’d like to talk to him.’
Web cocked his head like a gull regarding a dubious clamshell. ‘Are you going to brow-beat him about returning to his father?’
I considered. Was I? ‘No. I’m only going to tell him that I regard it as essential to my honour that he return safely to Buckkeep. And that I expect him to keep up his lessons with me while on this journey.’ Oh, that would please Chade, I thought sourly. My time already was stretched thin, and I was taking up yet another task.
Web smiled warmly. ‘It would please me greatly to send him to you to hear those things,’ he replied. He offered me a sailor’s brief bow before he departed, and I nodded back.
A Skilled suggestion from me meant that the Prince rose early and was on the deck beside Thick when he finally stirred. A servant had brought up a small basket, with warm bread and a pot of hot tea in it. The smell of it made me aware I was ravenous. He set it on the deck near Thick and then the Prince dismissed him. We stood silently staring out over the sea, waiting for Thick to awaken.
When did his music change? When I awoke this morning, I could not believe how relaxed and rested I felt. It took me some time before I realized what the change was.
It’s such a relief, isn’t it? I wanted to say more, but dared not. I could not admit to the Prince that I had tampered with Thick’s dreams, because I wasn’t really the one who had done it. I doubted that Thick had even been aware I was there.
Thick’s awakening saved me. He coughed, and then opened his eyes. He looked up at Dutiful and me and a slow smile spread over his face. ‘Nettle fixed my dream for me,’ he said. Before either Dutiful or I could respond to his words, he went
