subtle connection. I could understand why they would be hesitant
to leave.
Joral didn’t want to leave at all. “I have already identified two potential candidates
for betrothal in the five days we have been here. Surely it would be worthwhile for
me to remain and gather more anthropological data. This could assist our homesteaders
in making an informed choice as to whether they should remove here or no.”
Dr. Daniyel shot a sharp look at Dllenahkh, which he missedbecause he was already frowning at Joral. I smiled to myself, waiting to hear him
tell the young Sadiri to be patient, to remain disciplined, and to focus on the mission.
“Joral,
no
.”
“But Councillor Dllen—”
“I said no.”
Lian and I looked at each other, ludicrously wide-eyed with shock and amusement. Dr.
Daniyel’s lips twitched, but she said nothing.
That was when the commotion started outside: shouting, the thud of running steps on
the wood of the boardwalk, a woman’s scream.
Fergus was first out, Lian close behind, but we all scrambled to see what the fuss
was about. There was still sunlight at that hour, though the long shadows of the trees
and houses darkened the waters. A small fishing boat was drawing up to one of the
walkways. The smell that came from it was not the odor of gutted fish but the strong
metallic tang of blood. A hand trailed carelessly over the side into the water, and
the sickly gray hue that overcast the skin was visible even from where we stood. People
gathered around, and the shouts grew louder.
“What’s happening?” said Dr. Daniyel at my ear.
“Their boat was attacked,” I said, listening and translating the fragmented, overlapping
speech into a coherent explanation. “There’s another settlement off a tributary upriver,
and they’ve quarreled over fishing rights for some time, it seems. I … I think that
man’s dead. They’re talking about going to the other settlement for …”
I paused. I couldn’t believe the word I had just heard. I’d heard the words in Sadiri
separately but never together, and so it was with a panicked glance at Dllenahkh that
I said, “Blood price? Price for blood? Price
in
blood?”
Dllenahkh gave me a look I could not understand. Sorrow? Shame? But he did not correct
me.
“There’s Darithiven,” said Nasiha suddenly.
It was indeed the Chief Councillor of the settlement, and he had to pass us to reach
the fishing boat. His gaze flashed across to us, he hesitated, then he appeared to
make a decision and came toward us.
“May we be of assistance, Chief Councillor Darithiven?” Dr. Daniyel asked immediately.
He was already shaking his head. “A small matter, a local matter. It is nothing new.
We can manage without outside interference.”
I grabbed the hard muscle of Fergus’s arm. A muted glint of edged metal had appeared
amid the crowd—and there again, a blade in one hand, a spear in another.
“I see it,” Fergus said gruffly. He exchanged a look with Lian, and I saw them release
the catches on their holsters and adjust their pistols to a high but nonlethal setting.
Darithiven saw it too, and his expression was resigned but approving. “You have your
own security. That is wise. Now I must leave you. There is much anger here, and it
must be appropriately directed. We have had too many incursions into our waters, and
it is time to deal with the culprits sternly.”
“There are other, civilized ways of dealing with the matter,” Dllenahkh insisted.
Darithiven looked at him with pity. “Then, by your definition, this cannot be civilization.”
He strode off toward the gathering mob.
Nasiha inhaled sharply and began to whisper to Tarik. Their stance changed from relaxed
stillness to defensive tension as they drew closer to each other.
“What is it?” I demanded. Their behavior irritated me. Perhapsit was because they were both spouses and colleagues, but they were such an annoyingly
to leave.
Joral didn’t want to leave at all. “I have already identified two potential candidates
for betrothal in the five days we have been here. Surely it would be worthwhile for
me to remain and gather more anthropological data. This could assist our homesteaders
in making an informed choice as to whether they should remove here or no.”
Dr. Daniyel shot a sharp look at Dllenahkh, which he missedbecause he was already frowning at Joral. I smiled to myself, waiting to hear him
tell the young Sadiri to be patient, to remain disciplined, and to focus on the mission.
“Joral,
no
.”
“But Councillor Dllen—”
“I said no.”
Lian and I looked at each other, ludicrously wide-eyed with shock and amusement. Dr.
Daniyel’s lips twitched, but she said nothing.
That was when the commotion started outside: shouting, the thud of running steps on
the wood of the boardwalk, a woman’s scream.
Fergus was first out, Lian close behind, but we all scrambled to see what the fuss
was about. There was still sunlight at that hour, though the long shadows of the trees
and houses darkened the waters. A small fishing boat was drawing up to one of the
walkways. The smell that came from it was not the odor of gutted fish but the strong
metallic tang of blood. A hand trailed carelessly over the side into the water, and
the sickly gray hue that overcast the skin was visible even from where we stood. People
gathered around, and the shouts grew louder.
“What’s happening?” said Dr. Daniyel at my ear.
“Their boat was attacked,” I said, listening and translating the fragmented, overlapping
speech into a coherent explanation. “There’s another settlement off a tributary upriver,
and they’ve quarreled over fishing rights for some time, it seems. I … I think that
man’s dead. They’re talking about going to the other settlement for …”
I paused. I couldn’t believe the word I had just heard. I’d heard the words in Sadiri
separately but never together, and so it was with a panicked glance at Dllenahkh that
I said, “Blood price? Price for blood? Price
in
blood?”
Dllenahkh gave me a look I could not understand. Sorrow? Shame? But he did not correct
me.
“There’s Darithiven,” said Nasiha suddenly.
It was indeed the Chief Councillor of the settlement, and he had to pass us to reach
the fishing boat. His gaze flashed across to us, he hesitated, then he appeared to
make a decision and came toward us.
“May we be of assistance, Chief Councillor Darithiven?” Dr. Daniyel asked immediately.
He was already shaking his head. “A small matter, a local matter. It is nothing new.
We can manage without outside interference.”
I grabbed the hard muscle of Fergus’s arm. A muted glint of edged metal had appeared
amid the crowd—and there again, a blade in one hand, a spear in another.
“I see it,” Fergus said gruffly. He exchanged a look with Lian, and I saw them release
the catches on their holsters and adjust their pistols to a high but nonlethal setting.
Darithiven saw it too, and his expression was resigned but approving. “You have your
own security. That is wise. Now I must leave you. There is much anger here, and it
must be appropriately directed. We have had too many incursions into our waters, and
it is time to deal with the culprits sternly.”
“There are other, civilized ways of dealing with the matter,” Dllenahkh insisted.
Darithiven looked at him with pity. “Then, by your definition, this cannot be civilization.”
He strode off toward the gathering mob.
Nasiha inhaled sharply and began to whisper to Tarik. Their stance changed from relaxed
stillness to defensive tension as they drew closer to each other.
“What is it?” I demanded. Their behavior irritated me. Perhapsit was because they were both spouses and colleagues, but they were such an annoyingly
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