“I could not say,” Fank replied, replacing his bonnet on his mop of red hair and scratching at his bony chin. “I only know that I’m here to give you a boat and tell you where you might find the nearest habitable land.”

“You have a boat for us?” D’Averc was astonished.

“Aye. Not a splendid one, but a seaworthy craft nonetheless. It should take the two of you.”

“We have a crew of fifty!” Hawkmoon’s eyes blazed.

“Oh, if the Runestaff wishes me to serve it, it should arrange things better! All it has succeeded in doing so far is to anger me fiercely!”

“Your anger will only weary you,” Orland Fank replied mildly. “I had thought you bound for Dnark in the Runestaff’s service. My brother told me …”

“Your brother insisted I go to Dnark. But I have other loyalties, Orland Fankloyalties to the wife I have not seen for months, to the father-in-law who awaits my return, to my friends…”

“The folk of Castle Brass? Aye, I’ve heard of them. They are safe, for the moment, if that comforts you.”

“You know this for certain?”

“Aye. Their lives are pretty much without event, save for the trouble with one Elvereza Tozer.”

“Tozer! What of the renegade?”

“He has vanished from the Komarg, I gather.” Orland Fank made a flying gesture with his hand.

“For where?”

“Who knows?”

“They are well rid of Tozer, at any rate.”

“I do not know the man.”

“A talented playwright,” Hawkmoon said, “with the morals of aof a …”

“A Granbretanian?” offered Fank.

“Exactly.” Hawkmoon frowned then and stared hard at Orland Fank. “You would not deceive me? My kin and friends are safe?”

“Their security is not for the moment threatened.”

Hawkmoon sighed. “Where is this boat? And what of my crew?”

“I have some small skill as a shipwright. I’ll help them mend their ship so that they can return to Narleen.”

“Why cannot we go with them?” D’Averc asked.

“I understood you were an impatient pair,” Fank said innocently, “and that you would be off the island as soon as you could. It will take many days to repair the large craft.”

“We’ll take your little boat,” Hawkmoon said. “It

seems that if we did not, the Runestaffor whatever power it was that really sent us herewould see to it that we were further inconvenienced.”

“I understand that would be likely,” Fank agreed, smiling a little to himself.

“And how will you leave the island if we take your boat?” D’Averc asked.

“I’ll sail with the seamen of Narleen. I have a great deal of time to spare.”

“How far is it to the mainland?” Hawkmoon asked. “And by what shall we sail? Have you a compass to lend us?”

Fank shrugged. “It’s of no great distance and you’ll not need a compass. You need only wait for the right sort of wind.”

“What do you mean?”