Hest was unswayed by Sedric's words. 'Just now you spoke of respectability. I am respectable now! Will that be so if people see my wife travelling alone to the Rain Wilds? What will they think she is really seeking? Do you think I don't know that people shake their heads and pity us, that she has not yet borne a child? And if she goes trotting off alone to the Rain Wilds, what will the gossip tongues wag then?'

'Oh, for Sa's sake, Hest! She isn't the first Bingtown woman to have trouble conceiving! Why do you think they call this place the Cursed Shores? Hard enough for a family to keep its name alive here, let alone flourish. No one thinks anything about your still being childless, save to offer you sympathy! Look around the town. You're not alone! And as to her travelling by herself, well I've just shown you the solution: take her yourself. Or find her a companion then, if you will not take the time to escort her yourself. It's easily enough done!'

'Fine, then!' Hest all but spat the words. As quickly as that, he had gone from trying to win Sedric with his antics to giving off sparks of anger. 'I shall let her go. I shall let her dash off to the Rain Wilds and content her poor little soul with dithering about dragons and Elderlings. I shall let her spill coins from my purse as if it has no bottom. And you are right, dear, dear Sedric. I shall have no trouble at all finding an appropriate companion for her. You've told me often enough this night what a wonderful friend she has been to you! So, you shall surely enjoy your trip to the Rain Wilds with her. Evidently you've become bored with being secretary to such a dishonourable, selfish man as myself. So serve Alise. Be her secretary. Scribble notes for her and carry her bags. Sniff about in the muck for a dropped dragon scale. It will spare me the bother of having to look at either of you for a month! I have a journey of my own to contemplate. And it seems that I must find some affable companions to share it with me.' As if that settled the matter completely, Hest crossed to the room and dropped back into the chair before his writing desk. He took up his pen and studied the pages before him as if Sedric did not exist.

For a moment, Sedric could not speak. Then, 'Hest, you cannot mean that!' he gasped.

But the other man ignored him, and Sedric knew with sudden certainty that he did.

Day the 17th of the Growing Moon

Year the 6th of the Independent Alliance of Traders

From Erek, Keeper of the Birds, Bingtown to Detozi, Keeper of the Birds, Trehaug

From the Bingtown Traders' Council to the Rain Wild Traders' Councils at Trehaug and Cassarick. An inquiry into recent rumours and specufations about the health and well-being of the young dragons, and their marketahifity as stock or as trade items, with references to our original contract with the Dragon Tintaglia.

Detozi,

It was delightful to meet your Uncle Beydon. He speaks highly of you and is obviously very knowledgeable about pigeons. I have sent with him two sacks of an excellent dried yellow pea, I have found that a regular feeding of it greatly enhances the plumage of my birds. I do hope the rumours that the dragons must he slaughtered due to a disease are false! Erek

CHAPTER EIGHT

Interviews

Thymara had never felt comfortable meeting new people. Inevitably, they ran their eyes over her and realized that she should not have survived. It was even more uncomfortable to stand alone before a committee of some of the most revered Rain Wild Traders and answer questions about herself. There were eight of them, mostly middle-aged and male, all dressed in their formal Trader robes. They sat in solid chairs made of dark wood in the opulent chamber at a long heavy table. The floor under her feet was built from thick plank. Even the walls and the ceiling of the room were made of wood. Never before had she been in a structure so heavy and substantial. She and her father had journeyed far down the trunks to reach this place. He was waiting for her outside. It was the Rain Wild Traders' Concourse, a structure so old and so close to the ground that it more resembled a Jamaillian mansion than a Rain Wilds house. Only this far down the trunk did such large and imposing constructions exist. She was oddly aware at all times of how massive it was; but instead of making her feel safe, the solidity of the structure seemed to threaten at any moment to crash to the earth below. Even the air seemed trapped and still inside it.

Only two of the committee seemed able to meet her gaze. The others looked aside, or past her, or down at the papers on the long table before them. Of the two who could look at her one was Trader Mojoin, the head of the committee. He looked her up and down in a way that plainly said what he thought of her before he asked her bluntly, 'How is it that you were not exposed at birth?'

She had not expected such a bald question. For a moment, she stood dumbly before him. If she spoke the truth, how much trouble would she bring down on her family? Her father had broken all the rules when he secretly followed the midwife and brought his infant back home instead of leaving her exposed for the animals and weather to finish. She took a breath and hedged. 'My defects manifested as I grew. They were not completely obvious at my birth.'

Trader Mojoin gave a brief snort of disbelief. One of the other Traders shifted in embarrassment for her. 'Do you understand the terms of your employment?' Mojoin asked her bluntly. 'Does your family accept that after you leave with the dragons, we will not guarantee your safety or even your return?'

She was surprised at how calm her voice was when she replied. 'My parents both signed the papers before you. They understand, and more importantly, I understand. I am of age to make this commitment.' As Mojoin gave a curt nod and leaned back in his seat, she added, 'But I would like to know more clearly exactly what my tasks are, and what our final mission is.'

He scowled. 'Didn't you read the contract you were given, girl? The offer states it plainly. The dragons have requested that humans accompany them up the river to their new home. You'll be assigned a dragon or dragons. You'll assist in moving the dragons upriver to a location more suitable for them, in ways the dragons may request or as you are assigned. You will help provide for your dragon or dragons by hunting or fishing. And you will remain at the dragons' new location until they have established themselves there and are self-sufficient, or otherwise no longer need you.'

She spoke her next words coolly. 'So if my dragon or dragons die, I'm free to return home.'

Mojoin sat up straight. 'That isn't the sort of attitude we're looking for! We expect you to do all in your power to uphold the contract the Traders signed with the dragon Tintaglia. Your task is to help your dragon or dragons find a better area in which to live, and to become more self-sufficient.' He shifted slightly in his seat and added, almost reluctantly, 'It's no secret that we are hoping the dragons can lead you to this Elderling city they claim to recall. Kelsingra.'

She bit back other words and questions to ask, 'Is there a specific location that we are journeying toward? Has anyone scouted it out, so that we might know how long we should expect to travel?'

Mojoin's mouth worked as if he'd tasted something foul and wished he could spit it out. When he spoke, his words were evasive. 'The dragons themselves seem to have some inherited memories of where it might be. They will be your best guides in finding an appropriate place where they can establish themselves. While the ancient city may be your eventual destination, it's entirely possible that you will discover a different area better suited to the dragons.'