Robin Hobb - The Mad Ship

‘Curiosity!’ Reyn sputtered. ‘It is not solely curiosity, Mother. I feel pity for the trapped creature. Yes, and I feel guilt for those others we so thoughtlessly destroyed over the years. Remorse and atonement can drive one as strongly as curiosity.’

Jani knotted her fists. ‘Reyn. I am not going to discuss this any further with you. If you want to speak of it to me again, then you must do so in my sitting room, not in this damp cave with that…thing swaying your every thought. And that is final.’

Reyn straightened slowly and crossed his arms on his chest. She could not see his face; she did not need to. She knew his mouth was set and his jaw clenched tight. Stubborn lad. Why did he have to be so stubborn?

She did not look at him as she made her peace offering. ‘Son, after you have helped the work crew in the west corridor, I thought we might sit down and plan your trip to Bingtown. Although I have promised the Vestrits that you will not turn Malta’s head with presents, it is still fitting that you take gifts for her mother and grandmother. Those must be selected, as well as garments for your journey. We have not yet discussed how you will present yourself. You have always dressed so soberly. Yet, a man who goes courting should have plumage like a peacock. You must, of course, remain veiled. But how heavily veiled I will leave up to you.’

Her gambit succeeded. His stance softened; she could sense his smile. ‘Veiled impenetrably, but not for the reason you think. I think Malta is a woman who enjoys mystery and intrigue. I think it is what first attracted her to me.’

Jani began to walk slowly towards the chamber entrance. As she had hoped, Reyn trailed after her. ‘Her mother and grandmother seemed to think her very much a child still, but you refer to her as a woman.’

‘She is certainly a woman.’ Reyn’s tone left no room for doubt. He took pride in his declaration. Jani found herself marvelling at the change in her son. Never before had he expressed such an interest in a woman, though there had been no lack of them vying for his attention. Among the Rain Wild families, any of the Khuprus sons or daughters would be a good catch. Only once had they attempted to arrange a marriage on his behalf. His adamant refusal had been socially awkward. There had been a few alliance offers from Bingtown Trader families as well, but Reyn had disdained them. No, disdained was too strong a word for overtures he had scarcely acknowledged. Perhaps Malta Vestrit could save her son from this obsession of his. She smiled over her shoulder at Reyn as she led him from the room.

‘I confess, I am intrigued by this woman-child Malta. Her family speaks of her one way, and you quite another…I look forward to meeting her.’

‘I hope that shall happen soon. I plan to invite her and her kin to come for a visit, Mother. If that is all right with you, of course.’

‘You know I have no objections. The Vestrit family is well thought of among the Rain Wild Traders, despite their decision to forebear trading with us. With the alliance of our families in marriage, that will surely end. They have the liveship that is needed to trade up the Rain Wild River…and they will own it free of encumbrances once the wedding is celebrated. You and Malta have the prospect of prosperity before you.’

‘Prosperity.’ Reyn said the word with an overtone of amusement. ‘Malta and I have far better prospects than mere prosperity. Of that, Mother, I assure you.’

They came to a divergence in the corridor. Jani paused there. ‘You will go to the west corridor and open the new door.’ Her tone stopped just short of making it a question.

‘I will,’ Reyn replied, almost absently.

‘Good. When you are finished there, come to me in my drawing room. I will have a selection of appropriate gifts from which you may choose. Shall I have the tailors come and bring their newest cloths with them?’

‘Yes. Certainly.’ He frowned in distracted thought. ‘Mother, you promised I would not turn Malta’s head with costly gifts. Am I permitted to bring the simple tokens that any young man may offer a maiden? Fruit and flowers and sweets?’

‘I cannot see how they could object to such things as those.’

‘Good.’ He nodded to himself. ‘Could you have baskets prepared for me that I could offer each day of my visit?’ He smiled to himself. ‘The baskets could be trimmed with ribbons and soft scarves in bright colours. And a bottle or two of excellent wine in each…I do not think that would be going too far.’

His mother smiled wryly to herself. ‘You may wish to proceed cautiously, my son. Ronica Vestrit will tell you plainly enough if you overstep the boundaries she has set. I do not think you should hasten to cross wills with her.’

Reyn was already walking away from her. He glanced back, a quick flash of copper eyes. ‘I shall not hasten to cross her, Mother. But neither shall I hasten to avoid it.’ He continued walking away from her as he spoke. ‘I’m going to marry Malta. The sooner they get used to me, the easier it will be for all of us.’

Behind him, in the darkness, Jani folded her arms. Obviously, he had never met Ronica Vestrit. A glint of amusement came into her eyes as she wondered if her son’s stubbornness would not find its equal in that of the Bingtown Trader.

Reyn paused. ‘Have you sent a bird to tell Sterb of my courtship?’

Jani nodded, pleased that he had asked. Reyn did not always get along with his stepfather. ‘He wishes you well. Little Kys says you must not marry until winter, when they return to Trehaug. And Mando says you owe him a bottle of Durjan brandy. Something about a bet you made, long ago, that your brothers would marry before you.’

Reyn was already striding away. ‘A wager I am pleased to lose,’ he called back over his shoulder.

Jani smiled after him.

BRIG’S HANDS RESTED on the spokes of Vivacia’s wheel, casually competent. The pirate’s face had the distant look of a man completely aware of the ship as his larger body. Wintrow paused a moment to size him up before approaching. He was a young man, no more than twenty-five. His chestnut hair was confined under a yellow kerchief marked with the Raven insignia. His eyes were grey, and the old slave tattoo on his face had been over-needled with a dark blue raven that almost obscured it. Despite his youth, Brig had a decisive air that made even older men jump to his orders. Kennit had chosen well in putting him in charge of the Vivacia until he recovered.

Wintrow took a deep breath. He approached the older man with respect but dignity. He needed Brig to recognize him as a man. Wintrow waited until the man’s eyes swung to meet his own. Brig looked at him silently. Wintrow spoke softly but clearly. ‘I need to ask you some questions.’

‘Do you?’ Brig challenged. His eyes flicked away, up to his lookout man.

‘I do,’ Wintrow replied firmly. ‘Your captain’s leg gets no better. How much longer will it take us to get to Bull Creek?’

‘Day and a half,’ Brig told him, after brief consideration. ‘Maybe two.’ The expression on his face never seemed to change.

Wintrow nodded to himself. ‘I think we can wait that long. There are supplies I’d like to have before I try to cut. I hope we can get them there. In the meantime, I could keep him stronger if I had better supplies. When the slaves rose up against the crew, they ransacked much of the ship. The medical chest has been missing since then. It would be very useful to me now.’

‘No one’s owned up to taking it?’

Wintrow gave a small shrug. ‘I’ve asked but no one has answered. Many of the freed slaves are reluctant to talk to me. I think Sa’Adar is turning them against me.’ He hesitated. That sounded self-pitying. He would not gain Brig’s respect by whining. He went on more judiciously. ‘Maybe they do not realize what they have. Or in the confusion of the storm and the uprising, someone may have taken it, discarded it, and it may have gone overboard.’ Wintrow took a breath and got back to his intent. ‘There were things in it that could make your captain more comfortable.’