She cocked her head at him. “Maybe I’m like you. Maybe I think it’s better to make the best of what you have right now rather than giving yourself stingy bits of happiness.” A crooked smile crawled across her face as she dared to ask him, “Don’t you agree?”

He met her gaze. “Yes.” There wasn’t much treacle left. He scooped a big spoonful into his mug and then asked conversationally, “How did you know?”

“I saw you walking in the streets of Kelsingra. I was trapped in the crowd, trying to catch up with you. I called your name, but you didn’t hear me.”

“Our Tarman was a busy fellow last night.” He took a sip of his coffee and weighed his thoughts. “If I were just your uncle and not your captain, what might you say to me about it?”

She looked down at her mug. “I’m happy for you. Happy you get to be with someone you choose.”

Nice little jab there. “I’m not promised to anyone else.”

“She’s married.”

“She was.”

“And now she’s not?”

He considered. “I trust her to know what she’s free to do.”

She thought about that and gave a slow nod. He was trying to be absolutely fair when he said to her, “This could change things for you, you know. A lot. If we have a child.”

Her smiled widened. “I know that.”

“Have you thought about what it might mean?”

“Since before dawn.”

“And?”

“That boy back in Trehaug? The one my parents promised could marry me? He thinks he’s been promised the heir to the Tarman. If he finds out that might not be so, he might look for a more promising bride.”

That was so. For the first time he thought about how his decision might affect a wider circle of folk.

She hadn’t finished. “The way I see it, I’m on this boat for life. It’s what I know, and I’m not worth much to anyone anywhere else. Not to sound cold, Uncle, but even if you had a child tomorrow, chances are I’d still get in my years as captain on Tarman. That’s all I want out of it. Not to own him. No one ever owns him. But my chance to be his captain. And maybe get my chance to be with whom I choose to be.” She sipped her coffee and grinned at him. “It seems to agree with you.”

“Don’t be cheeky, girl.” He fought the smile that tried to break out on his face.

“Captain or uncle speaking?”

“Captain.”

“Yes, sir.” She wiped the grin off her face so smoothly that he had to wonder how often she’d employed that talent to learn it so well. But there were other fish to fry right now.

“So Tarman sent you a little dream in the night, did he?”

“That he did. Kelsingra. Clear as I’ve ever seen any town. Nice place. Really made me want to be there.”

“Me, too.”

Skelly spoke more hesitantly. “I think Tarman remembers it. And that might be what he wants us to know.”

“So what was yesterday all about?”

“I don’t know. But I wager we’ll find out today.”

Day the 4th of the Gold Moon

Year the 6th of the Independent Alliance of Traders

From Erek, Keeper of the Birds, Bingtown

To Detozi, Keeper of the Birds, Trehaug

Enclosed, and sealed with official seal, a request from the Building Committee of the Bingtown Traders’ Council for competing bids for timber in the quantities and types specified, for the construction of an expanded hall for the Bingtown Traders’ Concourse in Bingtown. To be considered, all bids must be submitted before the first day of the Rain Moon, with a guarantee that the full amount of timber could be transported to Bingtown before the first day of the Change Moon.

Detozi,

And yet they tell us that we do not have the funds to finish repairing Circle Street that fronts our main market, while unrolling these elaborate plans to expand the Traders’ Concourse! I trust the Council in Trehaug is a bit more careful with its coin!

Erek

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

TARMAN

Thymara came to her shortly after dawn. She had a line with two gleaming silver fish strung on it. They were fat and flopping still. Sintara was not enamored of fish; she’d had far too many of them in her life. Still, they were food and fresh.

“I made my own spear to get these for you,” Thymara said as she unfastened the first fish from the line threaded through its gills. “I didn’t have a spear point, but I hardened the wood in a fire, and it seemed to work very well.”