Our Lady of the Islands by Jay Lake, Shannon Page

indicating it was open for business.
    “Hello the ship!” she called up.
    A young seaman on the deck leaned over. “Who calls?”
    “A visitor for Captain Reikos. Is he aboard?”
    “Your name?”
    Though she seemed not to have been followed here, Sian did not want to be shouting her name across Cutter’s wharf. “Tell him it’s the lady about the wine.”
    The sailor looked dubious, but nodded and went below.
    Reikos appeared a short time later. A broad grin, and a look of great relief, crossed his face. “Sian!” he cried, then clearly remembered where they were. “Er, Domina Kattë. Such a pleasure to see you!”
    “Permission to come aboard?”
    “Of course!” He dashed over to the gangway, appearing ready to rush down and carry her up himself.
    Sian forestalled this by hurrying up the gangway herself. “I thank you,” she said, as she stepped on board.
    “Come, come, my cabin — we must discussion,” he said, losing all semblance of his usual Alizari fluency in his excitement.
    A minute later, they were in his tidy stateroom. Reikos bolted the door, then began unfolding two wooden chairs from their wall niches. A porthole window behind Sian let in a moist but gentle breeze. In an airy cage beside it, his golden-crowned cockatiel tilted its head at Sian.
    “I was so worried to not find you last night,” Reikos said. “And I am so glad you are here — and looking so well!”
    “I’m sorry, I was detained — something awful has happened.” Sian sank into the cunning little chair. “I didn’t know where else to go.”
    “Of course I am delighted that you came here! You must tell me everything.”
    “I …” Once again, she could not think quite how to begin. “Yes. That’s … why I’ve come. But first, I have not yet had much breakfast. Would you happen to have —”
    “Oh! Yes, of course.” He leapt up, already starting toward the door. “I’ve had them purchase many fine things in the galley now, since we have docked. What do you wish?”
    “Anything,” she said. “Whatever strikes your fancy. Thank you.”
    “I will be not a minute, then.” He grinned and hurried out the door.
    What was she going to tell him?
    Her own daughter had clearly thought her mad. What would Reikos make of such a story? How well did they really know each other? Well enough to trade intimacies in the dark, of course, but … Well enough for this? Had she been a fool to come here?
    No. No, he was a sophisticated traveler, who’d surely seen all kinds of things far stranger than she could imagine. Did they have gods in Smagadis, his homeland? He had never told her, but perhaps miracles were nothing unusual for him … She hoped.
    “ Pretty lady! Pretty lady! Kiss me, pretty lady! ”
    Sian looked up at the cockatiel, startled. She knew it could talk, of course. This was hardly the first time she’d been in Reikos’s cabin. But she had not heard this before.
    “ Kiss me, pretty lady! ”
    A second later, the door opened and Reikos returned, bearing a platter piled with fresh oysters, flaky frosted pastries and sliced green starfruit. He grinned at her. “The oysters are in a very pleasant citrus sauce. I hope you like them.” He set the platter down on his small folding table by her chair. “Such things are necessary after three weeks of hardtack and salted meat, no?”
    “Your bird’s been talking to me,” Sian said. “It said, ‘Kiss me, pretty lady.’”
    Reikos looked with raised brows at the cockatiel.
    “ Damn bird! Damn bird! ” it squawked.
    She had heard that one before. She gave him an arch smile. “It must hear a thing quite a few times to learn it, mustn’t it? That’s what I’ve been told, at least.”
    Reikos turned to her, looking even more surprised, then burst out laughing. “You know Matilda is a lady bird, Sian! That is what I always say to her, while we are at sea together.” He walked over to the cage, bent down until his face almost touched the bars, and cooed,