Jarran whistled as he gathered his gear together. He felt his heart beating with excitement at the knowledge that at long last they would be leaving Athkatla to rescue Imoen. Kay settled into a comfortable position on top of the wardrobe, watching this activity with amusement.
It is only a ship, Jarran. A person would think that you were about to travel the planes. Getting Imoen back is better than any exotic wonder I could find on another plane, Kay. By the gods, I have missed her so. Really? I thought your druid was occupying your mind. That's different. Jaheira is my love, but Imoen is family. An interesting description. By the way, young master….
Jarran sat down on the bed with a thump. Hells, Kay, why did you have to remind me? Remind you of what? I get seasick. Violently, horribly seasick. I am going to be miserable for days. I was so excited about seeing Imoen again, I just… forgot. Perhaps Jaheira can help you. I don't know, she couldn't when we sailed before. Perhaps she has learned of a useful spell or potion since then. That's true. I'll ask her. Do you know where she is? I believe I saw her enter Mazzy's chamber.
Jarran went down the hall to the halfling's room. He was about to knock on the door, but was stopped by the sound of raised voices.
“How dare you speak to me that way?” he heard Jaheira say.
“I cannot contain myself any longer,” he heard Mazzy reply. “Your conduct has been shameful.” Jarran was startled at her tone. Mazzy had been a bit quiet the last few days, but she and Jaheira had never had cross words.
“My conduct, shameful or not, is none of your affair.”
“It is. Jarran is our leader, and he has earned my respect. I care about his well-being, and I will not see him used by a woman old enough to know better.”
“So! You think I am merely toying with him? That I care nothing for him?”
“No. But you are letting your grief blind you to what you are doing to him. Look at your behavior, Jaheira. Your husband has been dead for… how long? And you are sharing a bed with another man?”
“Sixty-five days,” Jaheira rasped. “It has been sixty-five days since we found Khalid's body.” Jarran closed his eyes and leaned against the wall at the pain in her voice.
“Can you not see my concern? Your loss is so fresh that you cannot be sure that you know your heart. Unless, of course, you cared little for your Khalid.”
“Never say that! Khalid was my life!”
“But now you are with Jarran. Can love truly change that quickly? Can the old be shed and the new taken up in such a short span of days? What if I am right and your affection for Jarran is just a desire for comfort? You will shatter him.”
“I… I… I am not using him. We have a bond between us, a true bond. But what of you, Mazzy? You and Anomen spend a great deal of time together, and when you are not with him you are with Valygar. Are you not lonely as well?”
“Of course I am. But I make no pretense of romance with either of them. We have grown to be friends, but I do not turn to either of them for… physical solace.”
“You… you…,” Jaheira sputtered.
“Tell me truly, Jaheira, who do you love?”
“I do not have to suffer this interrogation!”
“Who do you love? Which one?”
“Let me be!”
“Who do you love?” Mazzy shouted.
“KHALID, OF COURSE!” Jaheira screamed in return.
There was silence in the room. Jarran held his breath, not daring to make a sound that would reveal his presence. He heard Jaheira say in a strangled voice, “I… I meant…. Of course I loved Khalid, but… but….”
Mazzy's voice was soft. “I did not intend to cause you pain, my friend, but I do not wish to see our leader's heart broken. He cares deeply for you, Jaheira. Do not offer him what he cannot have.”
Jarran heard movement, and hastily retreated down the hallway. He slipped into the bathing room that the men used and was relieved to see that it was not occupied. He sat down on a bench and stared blankly at the opposite wall.
He felt Kay's mental touch. Master Jarran? Yes, Kay? If I had known you would hear that, I never would have told you that Jaheira was there. I am sorry. I suppose I should be upset, but I'm not. Mazzy was only saying out loud what I have always believed. She loves Khalid, and I have pledged to do what I can to comfort her. I know she will leave me someday. Master…. I know what you will say, and yes, I was starting to hope that she could love me. But now… I am worried about her. What if… what if I am the one using her? If I am taking advantage of her grief to try to win her heart? Jarran, you are hardly the mad seducer preying on a vulnerable widow. Aren't I, though?
Their conversation was interrupted when Jarran heard his name being called by Valygar. “I'm coming,” he called in return. He went to his room and got his own pack and the extra one filled with scrolls for Imoen and a supply of healing potions. He hurried down the stairs to find Valygar and Anomen waiting for him. A few minutes later Jaheira and Mazzy joined them. He carefully ignored Jaheira's flushed cheeks and red eyes.
The bard said cheerfully, “Well, I suppose we will be ready to go just as soon as Yoshimo comes downstairs.”
Hervo said politely, “The gentleman asked me to tell you that he was leaving early. He said he had some last minute shopping to do, and that he would meet you at the ship.”
“Oh! Then I suppose there is no reason to wait any longer. Let's go.”
Before they went out the door, Mazzy said, “Did you remember the extra healing potions, Jarran?”
“They are right here,” he said as he patted the pack that held them.
“And Valygar, did you pack the herbs you wished to bring?”
“Yes, Mamma Mazzy.”
Anomen grinned and said, “And before you ask, I packed plenty of clean undergarments.” Mazzy made a face at him while the others laughed.
It was only a short way from Valygar's home to the docks, and it did not take long for them to find the pier that they had been told to go to. They saw Aran Linvail speaking to a slightly portly sailor who was twirling the end of his elaborately curled mustache. When the Shadowmaster saw them, he smiled thinly and said, “Well Jarran, you now see where the bulk of your gold went. We have booked your passage and paid for the silence of the crew.”
The other man laughed heartily. “Silence is a relative term, for my crew is a rowdy bunch. I like a cheerful ship.”
Linvail looked at him coldly. “Your code of discipline is your affair, captain. They can be dour as the grave for all that I care as long as they perform the duties they were paid for.”
The captain waved away the Shadowmaster's comment with disdain. “Never a fear nor worry should cross your thoughts this eve, m'Lord. I have traveled this sea a good many times, and I foresee no troubles.”
Linvail's eyes narrowed. “Jarran, this is Saemon Havarian, captain of the Galante. He will ensure your safety… with his life if necessary.”
“Ah, well, there are no guarantees on a ship. There are storms, hidden reefs, pirates….”
“Which is why I have decided to provide you with extra protection. I am sure you will not object,” the Shadowmaster said smoothly.
“Pro-protection? What is this?”
“Merely an extra crew member, captain.” He snapped his fingers, and a woman emerged from the shadow of another ship. “This is Sime, and she will be staying very close to you, Saemon Havarian. For your safety, of course.”
The captain's eyes widened, but he showed no other sign of discomfort. “Of course.”
Sime smiled. “I shall make certain that, should we be surprised at sea, death will not come from an unexpected source. Do I make myself clear, captain?”
Saemon straightened his shoulders and did a fair job of looking indignant. “As clear as clear could be, m'lady, though I am not sure I approve of your tone. I assure you, nothing untoward will happen during our crossing.” He motioned towards the gangplank with a flourish, and said grandly, “All aboard, ladies and gentlemen. We are prepared to depart.”
Jarran said, “Just a moment. One of our companions is not here.”
“Ah, Yoshimo? He has already arrived.” The captain pointed, and they looked up.
Yoshimo was high in the rigging of the ship, his feet bare and his hair unrestrained. His black hair flowed behind him as he swung from one rope to another. The Kozakuran scrambled into the crow's nest and laughed. Jarran realized with a start that he had never seen Yoshimo smiling so openly.
Yoshimo looked down and spotted his companions. He gave them a cheery wave and slid down a rope to join them. “Excuse my disheveled appearance,” he said with a grin, “but I was recalling my youth.”
Jarran laughed at his exuberance. “You remind me of a poem I read at Candlekeep. 'I must go down to the sea again, to the lonely sea and the sky, and all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by. And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking, and a grey mist on the sea's face, and a grey dawn breaking.'* I wish I could remember more.”
Yoshimo's face was surprised, then turned thoughtful. “It is a shame you cannot recall all of the words. I believe I would find them… significant.”
The poem is “Sea Fever” by John Masefield.
