‘Um. I may sleep in a bit longer.’

So. She truly didn’t care who knew, and might be going out of her way to be sure that everyone knew. He tried to think of the problems that might cause and again decided that it wouldn’t change his mind. Was he captain on this ship or not? He’d deal with anyone sooner rather than later. She had already closed her eyes and pulled his blankets up to her chin.

He looked at her for a long moment, at her red hair spilling across his pillow and the wonderful shape she made in his bunk. Then he pulled on his boots and left the room, quietly closing the door behind him.

He smelled the fresh coffee before he reached the galley. Skelly was there before him, sitting at the table, a thick white mug of thick black coffee in front of her. She looked up at him as he came in. He avoided her glance, fearing to see accusation there. Coward. He poured himself a mug of the coffee she’d made and sat down opposite her. ‘You used up a lot of our coffee to make this. Didn’t I tell you we’d have to be careful of our supplies?’

She cocked her head at him. ‘Maybe I’m like you. Maybe I think it’s better to make the best of what you have right now rather than giving yourself stingy bits of happiness.’ A crooked smile crawled across her face as she dared to ask him, ‘Don’t you agree?’

He met her gaze. ‘Yes.’ There wasn’t much treacle left. He scooped a big spoonful into his mug and then asked conversationally, ‘How did you know?’

‘I saw you walking in the streets of Kelsingra. I was trapped in the crowd, trying to catch up with you. I called your name, but you didn’t hear me.’

‘Our Tarman was a busy fellow last night.’ He took a sip of his coffee and weighed his thoughts. ‘If I were just your uncle and not your captain, what might you say to me about it?’

She looked down at her mug. ‘I’m happy for you. Happy you get to be with someone you choose.’

Nice little jab there. ‘I’m not promised to anyone else.’

‘She’s married.’

‘She was.’

‘And now she’s not?’

He considered. ‘I trust her to know what she’s free to do.’

She thought about that and gave a slow nod. He was trying to be absolutely fair when he said to her, ‘This could change things for you, you know. A lot. If we have a child.’

Her smile widened. ‘I know that.’

‘Have you thought about what it might mean?’

‘Since before dawn.’

‘And?’

‘That boy back in Trehaug? The one my parents promised could marry me? He thinks he’s been promised the heir to the Tarman. If he finds out that might not be so, he might look for a more promising bride.’

That was so. For the first time he thought about how his decision might affect a wider circle of folk.

She hadn’t finished. ‘The way I see it, I’m on this boat for life. It’s what I know, and I’m not worth much to anyone anywhere else. Not to sound cold, Uncle, but even if you had a child tomorrow, chances are I’d still get in my years as captain on Tarman. That’s all I want out of it. Not to own him. No one ever owns him. But my chance to be his captain. And maybe get my chance to be with whom I choose to be.’ She sipped her coffee and grinned at him. ‘It seems to agree with you.’

‘Don’t be cheeky, girl.’ He fought the smile that tried to break out on his face.

‘Captain or uncle speaking?’

‘Captain.’

‘Yes, sir.’ She wiped the grin off her face so smoothly that he had to wonder how often she’d employed that talent to learn it so well. But there were other fish to fry right now.

‘So Tarman sent you a little dream in the night, did he?’

‘That he did. Kelsingra. Clear as I’ve ever seen any town. Nice place. Really made me want to be there.’

‘Me, too.’

Skelly spoke more hesitantly. ‘I think Tarman remembers it. And that might be what he wants us to know’

‘So what was yesterday all about?’

‘I don’t know. But I wager we’ll find out today.’

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Tarman

Thymara came to her shortly after dawn. She had a line with two gleaming silver fish strung on it. They were fat and flopping still. Sintara was not enamoured of fish; she’d had far too many of them in her life. Still, they were food and fresh.

‘I made my own spear to get these for you,’ Thymara said as she unfastened the first fish from the line threaded through its gills. ‘I didn’t have a spear point, but I hardened the wood in a fire, and it seemed to work very well.’

‘Commendable of you,’ Sintara said, waiting.

Thymara held the first one up and then asked suddenly, ‘What are you doing to me?’

‘I’m waiting for my fish,’ the dragon pointed out acerbically.

Thymara didn’t give it to her. ‘I’m changing faster than I ever have in my life. My skin itches with the scales. My back hurts all the time. Even my teeth feel sharper. Are you doing this to me?’

‘The fish,’ Sintara insisted, and Thymara tossed the first one. She caught it in her jaws, tossed it up, caught it again, and gulped it down.

‘You’re changing, too. You’ve grown. You’re bigger and stronger, and you’re not just blue any more. You’re sapphire and azure and every colour of blue that there is. Your tail is longer. And yesterday, I saw you shake water off your wings. They’re more beautiful than ever, with a silver web on them as if you’d embroidered them. They’ve grown, too.’

‘I’d grow even faster if I were offered more food and less talk,’ Sintara pointed out. She could not keep the pleasure out of her voice, despite her words. Sapphire and azure. One thing she had to say for humans, they had descriptive words. ‘Cobalt, cerulean, indigo,’ she said, as Thymara unfastened the second fish.

The girl looked up. ‘Yes. All of those colours, too.’

‘And black. And silver, if you look carefully.’

‘Yes. And there are greens on your wings when you unfold them, like a pattern of lace over the silver. I noticed that your markings have become much more sharp.’

‘The fish,’ Sintara reminded her, and with a sigh, Thymara complied.

‘Are you doing something to me, or is this just happening?’ she asked after the dragon had swallowed.

Sintara wasn’t certain. She replied, ‘No human can be around dragons for long without experiencing some changes. Accept them.’

‘And no dragon can be around humans constantly without being changed by them.’ This was Mercor, strolling up to interrupt their conversation, and probably to see if any fish were left. There weren’t any, so she minded slightly less that he was intruding. But then he offended her gravely by lowering his head and carefully sniffing her keeper. ‘Are you in pain, girl?’ he asked her quietly.

‘A bit.’ She turned away, uncomfortable with his attention.