The Silver Ship and the Sea by Brenda Cooper Page B

him, trying to read his expression. “Do you think that?” I asked. Liam had always been polite, and courteous, but he seemed bound more to Akashi and Mayah and the band than to us.
    Liam shrugged. “No one in the band is like me. Akashi says I have surpassed him, and that I should find out more about what you know.”
    Joseph reached into his pocket and took out a carving of a hebra. It stood on four legs in his palm, and its head was turned backward, as if looking behind it. “I made this. I’d like you to have it.” He glanced at me, a tender smile briefly touching his face. “It’s from both of us.”
    Liam held the little beast up and admired it. “That’s good work. Thank you; I am honored.”
    Joseph seemed pleased with Liam’s acceptance of his gift, and also with the drum, which he held loosely in his lap, running his fingers along the edge of the head. I was proud of him; it had beenexactly the right gesture. If only I had something personal to give Liam from me. I offered words. “I have always thought of you and Alicia as family.”
    “Thank you,” Liam said simply, and turned to put the carved hebra on a shelf.
    Alicia. It felt important to find her. “Did you see Alicia last night?”
    Liam’s face darkened. “Not up close. I asked Walter, a friend of mine in the East Band, about her. He said Alicia is a freak. She mutters to herself all day and hardly ever talks to anyone. He seemed angry with her, and he never gets mad at anyone. He promised to tell her we want to talk to her.”
    Joseph spoke up. “Well, she won’t find us here. And I’m hungry.”
    “All right. Let me get Kayleen’s gift.” Liam picked up a small wooden box with a dragonbird carved in the top. He let me hold it while he found a brain-tanned djuri leather pouch. “Do you think she’ll like it?” he asked.
    The detail on the miniature dragonbird showed individual tiny feathers, and the ruff around its neck had been tinted red. The lid fit closely. The wood had been polished as smooth as my flute. “It’s beautiful. I’m sure she’ll love it.”
    We left our gifts inside the wagon and walked outside, squinting into the bright morning sun. Akashi stood deep in conversation with two children, but he looked up to wave as we passed him. I waited until we were out of earshot, then leaned close to Liam. “You are very lucky.”
    He glanced behind him and smiled softly. “I know.”
    Liam led us toward the crowded central tables. There, the three of us stood awkwardly, looking for Kayleen or Bryan or Alicia. Joseph spotted Kayleen helping Paloma count out hay chits, and we moved as close to her as we could, waiting for her to look up. Kayleen’s fingers flew as she grouped the chits in tens, pushing them toward Paloma, who finished each deal with a smile and a handshake. Finally, she looked up and beamed at Liam. Then she noticed me standing next to him, and a slight frown flitted across her face before she erased it. She whispered to Paloma, thenwalked over to us, brushing her hair into place with her long fingers. She stood looking at Liam, grinning widely, tongue-tied for once.
    “Have you seen Alicia?” I asked.
    Kayleen shook her head. “I haven’t seen Bryan either.”
    “Can you help us find them?” Liam asked.
    Kayleen bit her lip and gestured at the long line of people standing by Paloma’s table. “We’re busy. Paloma asked if one of you could stay and help.” She looked hopefully at Liam.
    “I’ll do it,” Joseph said. “We can listen for news.”
    Disappointment flickered in Kayleen’s eyes. It wasn’t lost on me that Liam made her blush, but I suddenly wondered if Joseph liked Kayleen. Maybe it was the excitement of Trading Day, or the uneasiness of so many recent losses, or just being around Liam, and sensing the changes in him this season. Whatever it was, I often felt awkward now, and new tensions ran like tiny morning winds between us.
    Kayleen flicked her gaze from me to Liam. “You