“Not too long, my Lord,” Kindan said with a shake of his head.

“We’ve a promise to keep and then we must return,” Lorana added, gesturing at her carisak.

Disaller directed them away from the gates. “My watch-wher relayed your message,” he said. “Although I’m not sure I completely understand it.”

“A rope, a bell, a raft, and a beach with low surf is all we need,” Kindan said.

“Ah.” Disaller sounded relieved. “That is what we have. Although I took the liberty of laying in wet-weather clothing as well.”

“Thank you,” Lorana said.

“And some soup for the fog and chill of between,” Disaller added as he guided them through a narrow cut in the hills surrounding the hold.

They walked less than a kilometer before they heard the roar of the surf and caught the smell of the sea.

“In good weather, the children come here to swim,” Disaller told them as he indicated a stone outbuilding set well back from the shore.

It was no more than three walls and a roof, with an opening facing on to the sea. Inside there were the supplies Lorana had requested and, on a trestle table, a large container of soup covered with a warming mitt.

Disaller handed them all bowls and poured the warm soup into each, handing them large spoons after he finished.

They ate standing and the soup was quickly gone.

Disaller eyed the sea critically. “Not the best day for the beach.”

“Not the worst, either,” Lorana said, shuddering in memory of her last moments on the Wind Rider.

“True,” Disaller said. “I forgot you were aboard the Wind Rider.” He glanced at her thoughtfully, then added, “Was she a good ship?”

“Yes, she was,” Lorana said. “And fast.”

Disaller grinned at that, satisfied. “I’ve got Tanner building me another at that Half-Circle Sea Hold, in their deep docking caverns. He’s almost a better builder than a ship’s captain.”

“How will you get it up here?” Lorana asked.

“I might not,” Disaller said with a shrug. “But as long as she’s hauling goods, she’ll turn a profit.”

“She will,” Lorana said. She glanced at him curiously. “What will you name her?”

“I was thinking, if I might—” Disaller broke off. Then, somewhat abashedly, he asked, “Would you mind if I called her Lorana?” Quickly he added, “It’s not much of a tribute, I know.”

“I’d be honored,” Lorana said, smiling.

Disaller beamed at her. “Thank you,” he told her. “We’ll take good care of her, you can be certain.”

“You needn’t fear, she’ll take a lot of punishment and she’ll be a good ship, with Tanner building her,” Lorana told him.

“I wouldn’t mind if you treated her gently,” Fiona told the Lord Holder. “Then we’d have at least one Lorana who wasn’t overworked.”

Beside him, Kindan muttered a hearty approval.