Iago spat. "I will not travel the same ship as that witch!"
"You're not invited to," Basel said coolly. "Take the mercenaries and ride to the nearest town. Or stay here and face those creatures again, as you prefer."
The jordain stalked off and held quick, angry speech with Dhamari's men. After a moment the mercenary captain came over to Basel, dragging Dhamari by the collar of his tunic. "Can you take one more? He can't ride in this condition, and every man here would rather kill him than tend him."
Basel gave a curt nod. Two of the men carried the wizard ungently up the long plank that led to the deck of the hovering ship.
Matteo hoisted Themo over one shoulder and carried him up the plank, unsure whether to stay or rejoin the other fighters. The skyship began to rise before he had time to disembark, settling the matter. He settled down beside Themo's cot. One of Basel's men brought him water and linen, and he busied himself cleaning and bandaging the jordain's many small wounds.
After a few minutes, Tzigone peered around the corner of the small cabin. She took in Themo, who by now was swathed nearly as thoroughly as a Mulhorandi mummy. Distress and guilt filled her expressive eyes.
"Don't take this on yourself," Matteo said, gesturing to Themo. "It is not your doing."
"That skinny jordain doesn't agree." She passed a hand over her face, leaving streaks of dirt and blood. "Neither do I."
Matteo beckoned her over. She sank down on the edge of the cot and submitted to his ministrations. When all her cuts had been tended, he sat down beside her and drew her into his arms.
Tzigone leaned her head against his shoulder. Words poured from her, tumbling over each other. Matteo listened without interruption as she told him about her meeting with Dhamari and her decision to travel into the countryside with him and learn what spells she could. "He said the summoning was accidental," she concluded.
"Do you believe him?"
She rose from the cot and began to pace. "I don't know. Did you find Kiva?"
"I found one of her companions."
She glanced at his bleak face. "Your turn."
Matteo told her about his encounters with Andris and the Crinti. He told her about the jordaini purification rite but did not pass along Iago's speculations about Kiva's motives. He mentioned that Ferris Grail owned the icehouse where Tzigone had been taken.
"Andris's treachery breaks my heart, but this sets me utterly adrift. Can I trust the jordaini order, the guardians of Halruaa?"
"Maybe they think that opposing you is part of keeping Halruaa safe."
Matteo considered this, especially in light of King Zalathorm's explanation of the mysterious power that protected the "heart of Halruaa." Perhaps this «heart» was the jordaini order. Perhaps in deviating from its strict rule, in exploring its secrets, he was doing harm where he meant only good.
He sent a helpless look at his friend. "I don't know what to do anymore."
She sat down beside him. "You know, I'm starting to see some sense in the jordain's creed. You're the only person I know who tells the truth. In a way, that's really stupid, but it's also why you're the only person I really trust. You have a healthy respect for magic but you've learned how to do without it. I've seen wizards who can't hit a chamber pot without casting a spell. Well, I haven't literally
Matteo took her hand. "When did you become so wise?"
She grinned and batted her eyes in a parody of flirtation. "I've always been wise. It's just that I'm so gorgeous, men don't seem to notice my other gifts."
They shared a muted chuckle. "So, what's next?" she asked.
"If the queen is to be believed, war is next," Matteo said quietly.
Tzigone looked dubious. "From all I've heard, the queen is as crazy as a moon moth."
"Yet there may be some significance in the fact that it was Kiva who brought Beatrix to Halarahh."
"So you think the queen and Kiva are allies?"
"It seems unlikely. Zalathorm is a powerful diviner. He has foreseen every major threat to the land for over three-quarters of a century."
She thought this over. "Let's find out if the queen really does know something. Since she's got so many devices around, no one would think much of another one."
"I don't think much of that, myself," Matteo said. "Planting a scrying device means using a magical item, which is forbidden to the jordain."
"It's not forbidden for a wizard's apprentice," she argued.
"Having someone use magic on your behalf is the same thing," Matteo countered.
"On your behalf? Listen to the man! Whose idea was this, anyway?"
"It's foolhardy, illegal, and very likely suicidal," he said heatedly, counting off these points on his fingers. "So obviously the idea was yours."
For some reason, this amused Tzigone. "So where do you go next?"
