5.Death of Chaos
VIII
THE TALL SANDY - haired man with the heavy forearms walked along the pier toward the ship in the end berth. The light wind brought the smell of cooking from the waterfront of Nylan to the pier, mixing the oil with the scents of seaweed and fish. The steel-hulled vessel with the nameplate Shrezsan flew the flag of Hamor from a jackstaff above the stern. As he noted the nameplate, a faint smile crossed his lips.
Wisps of steam seeped from the twin funnels. No paddle-wheels protruded from the smooth lines of the hull, but the tips of the two big screws were visible just beneath the surface of the gray water in the harbor of Nylan. The tall man stood by a bollard not quite half his height and closed his eyes, concentrating on the ship. After he had stood silently for a time, a steam-powered tractor puffed by, then slowed.
“Is that you, Magister Gunnar?”
Gunnar opened his eyes and turned to the dark-haired woman in black coveralls. He inclined his head.
“Caron. From Sigil. I took your order ethics class at the Temple in Wandernaught.”
“I'm sorry, I did not recognize you.” He gestured toward the ship. “I'd heard about the new Hamorian steamers, and I wanted to see one.”
“She's a beauty. Fast, too.”
“Shrezsan-that's not a Hamorian name. I wonder...”
Caron laughed. “The ship belongs to Leithrrse. He came from Enstronn, but he couldn't finish dangergeld. He's a prosperous merchant in Hamor, sometimes even acts as an envoy for the Emperor-not here, of course.”
“No... I suppose not.” Gunnar paused. “The steel seems almost as tough as black iron, and the propellers are smooth-finished.”
Caron nodded. “They've built some warships that are even faster, according to the mate, lots of them, with more on the way. He looked over his shoulder when he told me.”
“If they can do this, I'd not be surprised if they're going to arm them with cannon.”
Caron looked down the pier and back. “They have. Hundreds maybe. That's what one of the sailors was saying in the White Stag.”
Gunnar pulled at his chin. “Take a lot of iron.”
“Hamor's got a lot.”
“I suppose.” Gunnar looked beyond the ship, out toward the Gulf and Candar.
A steam whistle blew, and Caron flashed a brief smile. “That's for me. They need to load this up. It was good seeing you, Magister Gunnar.”
“Good to see you, Caron.” Gunnar took another look at the Shrezsan, then stepped back next to the bollard and closed his eyes once more.
The steam whistle tooted twice more; and a pair of gulls swooped down and across the stem of the steamer.
A wake left the next pier, a pier guarded and apparently empty, for all that the ripples signified a departing ship.
Gunnar's eyes opened and followed the unseen ship for a time. Finally, he shook his head and walked back toward the shops at the foot of the pier.