What seemed at the same time much later and far too soon, Kaselm was standing me up and laughing. “Ready, child?” I don’t think he has ever called me Goddess. Anyway, I can’t remember him ever calling me Goddess.

“Going now?” I said.

“The tide won’t wait. Listen, Guts is taking you to his mother’s village, three weeks down-river. You can trust him implicitly—he won’t let a priest or lawman set an eye near you. Don’t bother about giving him money. I’ve seen to it.”

“I couldn’t anyway, I have none now—Oh, thank you, Holy Kaselm.”

We went with Guts to the tunnel-slope. The patch of sky was now murky black. “A good, starless night,” Guts grunted. He whistled and we waited. Presently a rope slid down the chute and jerked. Guts tied one end to his belt, jerked, and was drawn climbing up.

“Your turn in a moment,” Kaselm said. “Ready?” I nodded sickly.

The rope came bown. He tied it round me, then folded me in his arms. I remembered all the warnings at Court. Rocking me a little, he kissed me on the cheek. He jerked on the rope before I could say anything. I went up, dizzy, scraping an arm on the side. Guts and two other men seized me, steadied me on the wharf and untied the rope. Kaselm did not come. They hustled me up the gang-plank.

CHAPTER EIGHT

ESCAPE

The small ship swayed on the black currents. There were no stars, only wind and clouds in the sliding sky. The clouds were ghostly-looking, a slightly-luminous-middled black in blackness. I huddled in my cloak against the poop. The small crew took no notice of me. There were various stacks of crates about, some haphazardly “hidden”, with more faith than anything else, behind sailcloth. It was none of my business. In my mother’s country I would have hated and despised smugglers, but I don’t care how the economic balance of this nation is mucked about with.

I was enclosed in my own thoughts and did not notice the commotion till its cause was far too near.

“As the wind is, we can bash right through their line.” “And as the wind is, they’ll be after us in no time.” “Ah, we’re a racier craft.” “I’m not having her identified as a rogue ship, we’ll stop and get through the usual. Like as not they’ll take our word and not insist on opening ’em up. But keep your knives handy.” The sailors’ voices impinged. “Hey—wait—the girl!”

I started up and was just about blown for’ard, skimmed along the deck. “Guts, Captain, I mean—are those lawships out front?”