But that was proving nigh impossible. Gribley was so far away, and there were so many of them trying to chime home at once. Lur’s troubles meant their stones stuttered and would not hold their notes.

“I hear you,” said Bannet, who was missing his own wife and two sons, back in Salting. “And I can tell you, we ain’t the only ones put out. There’s folk mighty grumped on all this thumb-twiddling, and starting to lose any kindness they might’ve felt for these mages. If they don’t answer their own riddles soon, then—”

“Hey-de-ho!” said a cheerful voice, and there was Del of Westwailing come to sit with them. She carried a tray with three bowls of what smelled like bean stew, and her own mug of cider. “Make room!”

So they shifted about, and Del settled at the bench. After taking a mouthful of stew, she sat back and grinned.

“You’ll not believe it. I’ve come from talkin’ with that mage, Barl Lindin.”

Bannet snorted. “Hope you told her we’ve got better things to do than sit on our arses waiting for her to show us her magic tricks.”

“As a matter of fact, I didn’t,” said Del. “Seein’ as how I ain’t a sinkin’ fool.”

Hiding a smile in his mug, Jervale once more felt the odd, inner tugging that told him this young woman was important. He’d given up trying to figure out why. Neither dreams nor instinct would tell him—and there was no point pushing for an answer. He’d know when he needed to know. If he needed to know it.

“What did Mage Lindin want of you, Del?”

Del hunched a little, and beckoned them close. “She wanted me to tell her about the coast,” she said, near to whispering. “What the weather was like southwards. What storms rolled in and when. Did we ever set sail on the open ocean? And when I told her about the bits and pieces left of the reef? She went very quiet. And there was a look in her eyes…”

Despite himself, Bannet was intrigued. “Why? What do storms and an old reef matter?”

“I don’t know,” said Del, shrugging. “But if she took time to ask me, then I reckon they must. That handsome brother of hers came along while I was with her, but she sent him away with a flea in his ear.”

“Handsome?” Bannet stared. “Young Del, what did I tell you about the folly of Olken lasses mooning after strangers with blond hair?”

Del flushed bright pink. “I ain’t mooning! He’s handsome, is all.”

“Now you listen to me. If they stay here, there’ll be no good come of us and them getting tangled,” said Bannet, crossly. “Besides, you said on the road you were promised to a lad in Restharven.”