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The Mediuripped it She knew that he could feel it as well He glanced down at her hand, as if it burned hile tear went down his cheek

"I ait for you," he whispered hoarsely "Ever since I was a lad, I dreae of the world I built the Holk to survive such a voyage She will be ready, lass She will be ready when you need her And I will be your captain"

The Holk docked at the port of Vezins There waswith those on shore, for they were the first ship to arrive since the storm had battered the harbor and all were curious to hear that they had sailed through it As Lia was about to begin the walk down the gangplank, Malcol the peculiar look in his gray eyes

"This is Vezins, lass Do you speak the port speech?"

"I can o, but his grip tightened

"We thanks thee, lass," he said, switching languages to Dahomeyjan but with a different accent and ale"

Lia nodded to him, puzzled by the look in his eyes and his more formal manner of speech She had noticed his eyes when they had firstshe could not make out

"Thou art welco his tone and accent, and she paused to see if he would explain hirip on her cloak andback at hi her When she looked back at the path ahead, she was struck with a paralyzing fear The dock swar tattoos Every person she saw had ink stained on their skin There were cobweb like patterns on their arms, necks, and even across some bald heads She raised the cowl of her cloak to shield her face and walked through the throngs, noticing every ured with tattoos There was a huuidness in the air Men walked and shuffled with staggered steps Indolentof drink The smell of cider was thick in the air, a yeasty ser she had vanish Eyes followed her People brushed past her and she felt hands reaching for her pouches, her bag Clutching the pouch with the orb tightly, she used her forearms to thrust people away from her who came too close It seemed that everyone was drunken Their speech was lively and relaxed and followed the more forh their faces had varying for eyes

Lia retreated into a side alley where it was dark and where she did not see anyone loitering expect oneShe opened the pouch and suuide her to an inn where she could find a guide to Dochte Abbey who could help her with knowledge of the tides The spindles were sluggish, as if the very air of Vezins made it difficult for them to move They pointed the way and she noticed it ier ones and she walked across the crowded street towards it Night was falling quickly and she wondered if it would be safer to sleep outside the port town

Lia pushed open the door and the strong son wheels with torches were hung froiantup to wooden lofts constructed around the periuely of the Aldermaston’s kitchen, for it was about the same size The lofts see with curtains to offer a little privacy

The innkeeper was a woman, probably forty or fifty years old with brown hair streaked with gray She did not have any tattoos but she scowled at Lia when she entered

"Thou wilt not find any cider here," she said harshly in Daho at Lia in annoyance "But if thou seekest a , that I have"

Lia was relieved Most of the patrons were sailors, hunched over bowls and slurping the soup They had tattoos, but the innkeeper wo quite unashaht a moment, then decided to use court Dahomeyjan instead of port speech She did not want to pretend to know her way "I do not want any cider," Lia replied, feeling the words come out of her mouth effortlessly

The won"

"I just arrived today," Lia answered "I ary May I have soin to earn the woain some information from her