“Lucky for us he could,” Semoy observed approvingly. “Didn’t the splinters fly?”

No one seemed ready to reply to that observation.

Althea leaned against Brashen and watched the distance widen between them and their pursuers. There was so much to tell him, and absolutely nothing to say that was not said better with this simple touch. Clef appeared suddenly. He stood before Althea and Brashen, and shook his head reprovingly. “In fronter the crew an’ all,” he disparaged them with a disrespectful grin. Althea assayed a playful swipe at him. To her surprise, Clef caught her flying hand and held it firmly to his cheek. “Good yer back,” he blurted. “So good yer ent dead.” As swiftly as he had seized her hand, he released it. “How come yer heven’t said nought to Paragon yet? He’s got a new face, y’know. An’ an axe. An’ blue eyes like me.”

“Blue eyes?” Amber exploded incredulously. “They’re supposed to be dark brown, nearly black.” She suddenly spun about and hastened forward.

“Wizardwood is strange stuff,” Brashen reminded her smugly.

“Bit late to change ‘em,” Clef observed cheerily. ” ’sides, I like ‘em. They’re kind. Like Mother’s.” He hastened after her.

They were nearly alone now, if one did not consider Semoy. The old sailor considerately kept his eyes forward as Brashen kissed her. Only for an instant did her memory of Kennit’s assault intrude. Then she seized him and kissed him firmly in defiance, refusing any comparison between this and the pirate’s attack on her. She would not let that stand between them.

Yet, when she released him, there was a shadow in Brashen’s eyes. He was too perceptive. He looked into her face questioningly. She gave a tiny shrug. Now was not the time to tell him. She wondered if it would ever be the time to tell him all of it.

He probably thought he was changing the subject. “So, why don’t we go forward and assure Paragon you’re aboard and well?”

“He knows that I am. But for him, I wouldn’t be,” she replied. The shock of seeing his eyes as he caught her had still not left her. Kennit’s eyes. She had nearly shamed herself by screaming as the ship’s big hands had closed on her. She knew Paragon had sensed it. He had not paused, but had set her swiftly into Brashen’s reach. To Brashen’s puzzled silence now, she replied, “I will see him and speak with him in a quiet moment, Brashen. Not just yet.” She made the beginning of an attempt. “Kennit is part of him now. Isn’t he?”

He tried to explain it to her. “Kennit was a Ludluck. Had you worked that out?”

“No,” she said slowly. Kennit was Bingtown Trader stock? It appalled her. Brashen gave her a few moments to absorb that before he added, “We suspected since Divvytown that Paragon was Igrot’s fabled ship. Bingtown always denied the pirate might have had a liveship. But he did: Paragon. And in Kennit he had a hostage, to keep the ship subservient to him.”

“Sa’s breath.” The pieces were all fitting now. Her mind struggled to encompass it all. “So Kennit came home to die on his deck. To be one with his ship.” A little chill of horror ran up her spine.

Brashen nodded, watching her face. “He always has been, Althea. I don’t think his death on the ship has changed Paragon, save to put him at peace. He is finally one, a complete self. The dragons, the Ludlucks, men and boy, and Kennit are all merged into one.” She turned aside at that but he put two fingers under her chin and turned her face up to his. “And us,” he said almost fiercely. “You and I. Amber and Jek. Clef. All we have put into him became a part of him, too. Don’t turn away from him now. Please. Don’t stop loving him.”

She could scarcely concentrate on his words. She had dreaded telling Brashen about the rape, but had resolved she must. Yet, how could she tell him, without compromising his feelings for his ship? The convolutions of her thoughts dizzied her.

“Althea?” Brashen asked her anxiously.

“I’ll try,” she said faintly. She suddenly didn’t care who was watching. She tugged his arms around her and stepped into his embrace. “Hold me,” she told him fiercely. “Hold me very, very close.”

SHE HAD SAID SHE WOULD TRY. WITH DIFFICULTY, BRASHEN DID NOT PRESS HER for more than that. Something had happened on board Vivacia, something that kept her apart from him now. He set his chin upon her dark head and wrapped her in his arms. He thought he knew what.

Althea seemed to sense his thoughts, for she changed the subject. “The chop’s getting worse.” She shifted slightly in his arms. He pretended not to see that she wiped tears on his shirtfront.