Shadows by E. C. Blake Page B

really safe for the Secret City to allow so much smoke to escape from the cliff above her workshop. “You were looking for a settlement?”
    â€œYes,” Chell said. “I . . .
we
 . . . came to Aygrima in the hope of contacting its people . . . if any still survived.”
    â€œYou sailed across the ocean in that tiny boat?”
    Chell laughed. “No, of course not. We marked the location of the smoke and sailed north until we found a better harbor for our ship. Then the scouting party set out in the boat along the shore.” His smile faded. “But the storm caught us in shallow water. The waves . . .” He shook his head. “Again, I thank you for saving me. I wish you could have saved the others.”
    â€œIf you have a larger ship, why not sail
it
along the shore?” Mara said. She heard the almost accusing tone in her voice, and recognized it as the same one she’d used with Edrik earlier. She didn’t seem to be able to take anything at face value anymore.
    Well, there were reasons for that.
    â€œWe did not want our approach to seem threatening,” Chell said. “A small party, in a small boat, could be travelers from farther up the coast rather than from across the sea. And we had no idea what we might find here. Caution seemed in order.”
    â€œAnd when will your ship come looking for you?” Mara said. “You’ve been gone for several days already.”
    â€œNot for some time,” Chell said. “We were equipped for several weeks. We intended to scout as far as we could before returning with our report.”
    â€œSo you’re a scout,” said Mara, “for the ‘Royal Korellian Navy.’ What
is
that?”
    â€œAh.” Chell looked embarrassed. “I shouldn’t have mentioned it. But apparently almost freezing to death didn’t do much for what little brainpower I possess. So I guess that secret is out.” He leaned forward. “Catilla and Edrik had heard of Korellia. You haven’t?”
    Mara shook her head. “Another land, beyond the sea? There are tales about such places, but most people,”
like Hyram
, she thought, “don’t even believe they’re real.”
    â€œThey’re real,” Chell said. “Four or five hundred years ago, there was a great deal of trade between Aygrima and Korellia. And many other island nations. But then came the Great Plague.”
    â€œPlague?” Mara stared at him. She’d never heard any of this in her history classes. She glanced at Tishka, but her face remained impassive.
    Chell nodded. “It swept the world like a hurricane. Whole kingdoms were wiped out. Others, like Korellia, survived, but with only a tenth of their previous population. All trade ceased, for once the plague had burned through a country, no one dared travel anywhere it might still rage. In Korellia, and I suspect in many other lands, even the building of ships suitable for long-distance voyages was prohibited: only small fishing vessels were allowed.
    â€œBut as time went by, Korellia revived and, eventually, prospered. A few years ago, the King changed the law, not only permitting the building of ships, but commanding the construction of a whole new fleet, to explore the sundered world. But for fear the plague still lurks, we are cautious in our approach to new lands—which is another reason for only a small party coming ashore, rather than the entire ship’s company.”
    â€œWe have no plague here,” Mara said. “I do not believe we ever did.” She glanced at Tishka once more, but again got no response.
    â€œOh, you did,” Chell said. “I am sure of it. But you had something else, and I think that is why here, unlike in every other land we have rediscovered, the plague is little remembered.”
    â€œWhat?” Mara asked.
    â€œMagic,” Chell said softly. “Alone in all the