drink that Bredan had selected while Jant helped the man to walk.
“I am Dor and these are my companions, Jant and Mal,” Dor said cheerfully once they were all sat down.
“Alin,” Bredan said. “I must thank you for your kind assistance.”
“It is the least we can do for a shipwrecked sailor. Though I suspect you and your lady were more passengers than crew on that particular ship,” Dor said and smiled. “It is a dangerous journey upriver by sail, though I must say that most ships make it safely to Slarn.”
“As would we, had we not been cursed by bad luck,” Alin said briefly before giving his attention to his meal.
“You surely cannot mean to leave your story unspoken?” Dor said, laughing at the thought. “Whatever happened to maroon the two of you on a derelict and sinking ship?”
Alin paused from eating his breakfast. These men had helped him to their table and he could see little harm in telling them part of the story.
“The anchor chain snapped while we were moored a quarter mile from Wegnar. Our captain did not want to risk entering the harbor in the failing light.”
“It is a narrow entrance,” Dor conceded, “Though you could have paid the locals to pull you in.”
“Perhaps we should have, but Lady Glan chose to stay on the river until morning.”
Dor raised an eyebrow at the mention of Lady Glan, but chose to pursue what happened to the ship and to save that particular matter for later.
“Surely, you had a second anchor that you could have dropped and kept the ship safe until morning?” he asked.
“I think that something happened to it,” Bredan said with a shrug. “I am not a sailor and have little understanding of such things. In the event, we found ourselves drifting down the river with only the moons to light our way. The captain did a sterling job keeping us in the center of the river and that worked for many miles until we ran aground.”
“Which just happens to be in the center of the river,” Dor pointed out. “Your captain was skilled indeed, just unfamiliar with the vagaries of the River Jalon.”
“Lady Glan was in the hold, checking that the cargo when we grounded and the ship keeled over. Some of the cargo shifted and blocked her way out. I broke my leg trying to get to the hold to help her. Our crew abandoned ship, leaving me onboard when I refused to leave without my lady. Our rescue yesterday, I am sure you saw for yourself.”
“That we did,” Dor agreed. “The only thing puzzling me is why you refer to Sila Klint as Lady Glan?”
Bredan almost jumped from the table in the shock of being discovered. He managed to control himself with some effort.
“You are mistaken. She is the Lady Glan, originally from Bagdor.”
“No,” Dor said, with a smile. “She is Sila Klint, last and only survivor of the Mine Owners Association of Telmar. Ah, now I have it. What irony it is for you to be rescued by Jalia al’Dare, the woman who the stories claim killed the other members of the Association.”
“Why would you think Lady Glan is this Klint woman you speak of?” Bredan said, trying to keep his voice steady.
“Because I was introduced to her a few years ago,” Dor replied. “I was left on the island of Sep while my father went to negotiate with Yandin Selda. Oh, do not panic, Alin. I have no intention of revealing her identity to Dare or Degar. I am also traveling incognito, as it happens.”
“I see,” Bredan said, relaxing a little.
“However…,” Dor said and paused. “Should I need a favor at any time during our voyage to Slarn?”
“I am sure that my Lady would be more than happy to oblige, as would I,” Bredan conceded in a wooden voice.
“Splendid!” Dor declared, giving Bredan a hearty clap on the back. “I’m afraid we shall have to leave as there is much we have to do this morning. It has been a pleasure to talk with you.”
Jant and Mal joined Dor as he stood up from the table. Alin Bredan watched then leave, anger
“I am Dor and these are my companions, Jant and Mal,” Dor said cheerfully once they were all sat down.
“Alin,” Bredan said. “I must thank you for your kind assistance.”
“It is the least we can do for a shipwrecked sailor. Though I suspect you and your lady were more passengers than crew on that particular ship,” Dor said and smiled. “It is a dangerous journey upriver by sail, though I must say that most ships make it safely to Slarn.”
“As would we, had we not been cursed by bad luck,” Alin said briefly before giving his attention to his meal.
“You surely cannot mean to leave your story unspoken?” Dor said, laughing at the thought. “Whatever happened to maroon the two of you on a derelict and sinking ship?”
Alin paused from eating his breakfast. These men had helped him to their table and he could see little harm in telling them part of the story.
“The anchor chain snapped while we were moored a quarter mile from Wegnar. Our captain did not want to risk entering the harbor in the failing light.”
“It is a narrow entrance,” Dor conceded, “Though you could have paid the locals to pull you in.”
“Perhaps we should have, but Lady Glan chose to stay on the river until morning.”
Dor raised an eyebrow at the mention of Lady Glan, but chose to pursue what happened to the ship and to save that particular matter for later.
“Surely, you had a second anchor that you could have dropped and kept the ship safe until morning?” he asked.
“I think that something happened to it,” Bredan said with a shrug. “I am not a sailor and have little understanding of such things. In the event, we found ourselves drifting down the river with only the moons to light our way. The captain did a sterling job keeping us in the center of the river and that worked for many miles until we ran aground.”
“Which just happens to be in the center of the river,” Dor pointed out. “Your captain was skilled indeed, just unfamiliar with the vagaries of the River Jalon.”
“Lady Glan was in the hold, checking that the cargo when we grounded and the ship keeled over. Some of the cargo shifted and blocked her way out. I broke my leg trying to get to the hold to help her. Our crew abandoned ship, leaving me onboard when I refused to leave without my lady. Our rescue yesterday, I am sure you saw for yourself.”
“That we did,” Dor agreed. “The only thing puzzling me is why you refer to Sila Klint as Lady Glan?”
Bredan almost jumped from the table in the shock of being discovered. He managed to control himself with some effort.
“You are mistaken. She is the Lady Glan, originally from Bagdor.”
“No,” Dor said, with a smile. “She is Sila Klint, last and only survivor of the Mine Owners Association of Telmar. Ah, now I have it. What irony it is for you to be rescued by Jalia al’Dare, the woman who the stories claim killed the other members of the Association.”
“Why would you think Lady Glan is this Klint woman you speak of?” Bredan said, trying to keep his voice steady.
“Because I was introduced to her a few years ago,” Dor replied. “I was left on the island of Sep while my father went to negotiate with Yandin Selda. Oh, do not panic, Alin. I have no intention of revealing her identity to Dare or Degar. I am also traveling incognito, as it happens.”
“I see,” Bredan said, relaxing a little.
“However…,” Dor said and paused. “Should I need a favor at any time during our voyage to Slarn?”
“I am sure that my Lady would be more than happy to oblige, as would I,” Bredan conceded in a wooden voice.
“Splendid!” Dor declared, giving Bredan a hearty clap on the back. “I’m afraid we shall have to leave as there is much we have to do this morning. It has been a pleasure to talk with you.”
Jant and Mal joined Dor as he stood up from the table. Alin Bredan watched then leave, anger
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