95: DESTINATIONS

Elleroth, having nodded to the servant to leave them, looked up at his four guests.

"The dead are at peace," he said. "We have to believe that." No one spoke and he went on, "I can't imagine the gods being very hard on that poor girl, can you? It's been a miserable business; I hope that at least you're able to feel that everything's been done decently and properly."

"Yes," replied Bayub-Otal. "We're all well satisfied as far as that goes. It was most good of you, with so much else on your hands."

"No, we're the people who feel under an obligation," said Elleroth, "and as far as we're concerned it's not discharged yet. I need to know what you want to do now, so that we can help you to do it. But before we come to that, may I ask you, Serrelinda, to do me the honor of accepting this little keepsake on behalf of me and my men?"

It was his own neck-chain, with the silver corn-sheaves emblem.

Maia's lips trembled. Yet as one might have expected, the Serrelinda, who had been presented to King Karnat dressed in golden lilies and given a tress of her own hair to Durakkon in the Caravan Market, was equal to this moment also. Having returned the Sarkid commander's smiling gaze for a moment, she bowed her head in a silent gesture of recognition and gratitude as demure as any vir-gin acolyte of the Thlela. As she did so he bent forward, placed the chain round her neck and centered the emblem at her bosom.

"He knew neither his father nor his mother," 

    murmured Elleroth.

"Among strangers he labored as a slave, 

An exile in a country not his own, 

The Lord Deparioth, God's appointed sword."

This was part of the traditional lament for the hero Deparioth, known as "The Tears of Sarkid." Maia could only guess that Anda-Nokomis must have told him her story.

She raised her head. "Thank you, my lord." Running her fingers down the chain, she closed her hand on the corn-sheaves emblem. "It's just over my heart: I reckon that's the right place for it, don't you?"

They all laughed delightedly, and as she sat down Zirek stooped and kissed her shoulder.

"Well," said Elleroth briskly, "as I've said, you shall have every help from us. U-Zirek, let's take you first, shall we; for I rather think there's not much doubt about you, is there? You'd like a safe-conduct to Santil, wouldn't you?"

"Thank you very much, my lord," replied Zirek. "Yes, that would take care of everything as far as I'm concerned."

"It's not thirty miles to my father's estate in Sarkid," said Elleroth. "You've only to get there in one piece to be treated to all you deserve—he'll be more than delighted when he learns who you are—and from there you should easily be able to reach Santil in two days."

"Well, I'll make so bold as to tell your father, my lord, what I think of his son."

"I fear that he may tell you," said Elleroth, "what he thinks of an heir who goes off freebooting with Santil without asking either consent or blessing—which he knew he wouldn't get, of course. But that won't affect my father's hospitality, I can assure you. Give him my dutiful greetings and tell him to expect me back when Bekla's fallen. And now, Lord Anda-Nokomis, what are your plans?"

"The Ban of Suba," he replied, "has a duty to get back there as quickly as he can."

"That's what I thought you'd say, and I can only applaud. However, has it occurred to you that under present conditions, the most feasible route may unavoidably be circuitous—not to say ambagious, periphrastic and an-fractuous? In a word, have you considered going back to Suba via Bekla? We'd be only too delighted for you to join us."

"I'm honored, Elleroth, and thank you. My own people will follow a one-handed man because they owe allegiance to his legendary mother's son, but I don't think I could reasonably expect the same of your men."

"Anda-Nokomis, I could do with a really knowledgeable, competent chief of staff. Can't I tempt you?"

"I'm sorry, Elleroth, to disappoint you, but I've thought about this very carefully, and I'm certain that my best chance of getting back to Suba is to make for Nybril and try to come by a boat."

Elleroth nodded. "You're right, I dare say. An epitaph, on my behalf—no chief of staff. So be it. But Captain Zen-Kurel, surely I can tempt you, can't I? We really do stand in need of another experienced, able company commander. Since Chalcon we've lost two or three senior officers we could very ill spare. Won't you come with us and help to cut Kembri to pieces?"

"It's tempting," he answered, "and like Anda-Nokomis, I'm flattered. But the hard fact is that I'm still an officer of King Karnat's staff. That appointment's never been terminated, as far as I know. So I'm afraid it follows that I've got to do all I can to get back."

"Ah, well: easy come, easy go. But now, Maia! Maia Serrelinda! You'll come to Bekla with us, won't you? Or would you rather go with Zirek, to be rewarded by Santil? I'll be more than happy to give you a letter telling him what you've done for us, and I've no doubt Ta-Kominion would be glad to as well."

As Elleroth waited for her reply, Maia looked up to see all four of them regarding her intently. She colored; yet her answer came without hesitation.

"My lord, a little while back you said something as made me think you may already know that I'm Suban."

"Well, I've—er—heard something to that effect, yes."

"I want to go to Suba."

"You mean, to live there?"

Returning his gaze, she remained silent.

"But why, Maia?"

"Because I'm Suban, my lord."

"But mightn't that be rather—er—difficult for you?"

She stood up. "And I think Lord Anda-Nokomis is quite right. Going to Nybril will be our best way, my lord. I wonder whether you'd be so good as to excuse me now? It's been a long day and I'm that done up: I'll be back for supper, of course." Taking his hands, she smiled at him no less dazzlingly than she had once smiled at Selperron from her golden jekzha. "I'm very much looking forward to it."

She went out. After a few moments Elleroth crossed to the sideboard, picked up the wine-jug and refilled the cups.

"Well, dear lads, that's certainly put me in my place, hasn't it? And it's rather put paid to the turncoat theory as well, don't you think? Suba: h'm! There's really no accounting for tastes, is there? No offense, Anda-No-komis, I assure you, but I imagine there's bound to be a certain change in her life-style, to say the least. Er—is all well with you, my dear Katrian comrade?"

Zen-Kurel was staring before him with an expression of agitated and baffled amazement.

"Suba? The girl must have gone out of her mind! They'll tear her limb from limb!"

"Not if I have anything to do with it," said Bayub-Otal.

"Not if you do," said Elleroth. He looked quizzically for a moment from one of them to the other. "Well, now I must be off: there are a few things to be seen to in the camp before we meet again for supper. Do make yourselves comfortable. There's hot water whenever you want it. Just tell one of the orderlies."

He went out, singing to himself just audibly, 

"As I roved out—one early-y mor-orning, 

To view the forest and to take the air, 

I there did meet with a fair pretty mai-aiden—"

His voice, receding, died away as the servants came in to tidy the room and lay the table for supper.