She looked me up and down. ‘You do what I think any parent would do for a child. I wish that rescuing her had not meant the end of Paragon as ship. Even so, I wish you luck. We will all need a sizeable measure of it to survive this.’
Brashen spoke. ‘Per and Spark are young for what you say you will do. Must you take them?’
‘I would leave them behind if I could.’ Per took a step forward and Spark made a strangled sound. I lifted a hand and my voice. ‘But we may need them.’
‘Then you have a plan?’ Althea pressed.
‘Of sorts.’ It was pathetic and I knew it. ‘We will disguise ourselves as folk seeking a fortune-telling from the Servants. Once we have crossed the causeway and entered the castle, we will attempt to search for Bee. Amber believes she knows where they will be holding her. If necessary, we will conceal ourselves within the stronghold and emerge by night to search for her.’
‘And if you find her?’ Brashen asked.
‘Somehow, we will rescue her. And bring her back to this ship.’
‘And then?’
‘Bee’s safety is my first concern. I would hope that we would immediately leave Clerres.’ That part of the plan belonged solely to me. Vengeance could wait until Bee was far beyond the reach of her captors. I had dwelt long on that decision, and had not told Amber of it. I suspected she would agree, but I refused to take the chance that she would not. I glanced at her. Her lips were folded tight and her arms crossed. I reminded them all, ‘Tintaglia intends to destroy Clerres. Perhaps we will be content with letting the dragons take our vengeance for us.’
If they had not already.
‘How will you get Bee away from them?’ Brashen asked.
I had to shrug. ‘I hope I will know that when the time comes.’
Althea’s face betrayed her shock. ‘You’ve come all this way and that is your strategy? It seems very … vague.’
‘It is.’
Her smile was strained. ‘It’s not really a plan at all.’
Brashen put his hand over hers where it rested on Paragon’s railing. ‘This we can offer you,’ he said. ‘And it’s as thin a plan as your own. The Divvytown sailors know how to fight.’ Althea started to object, but he held up a finger. ‘As Althea has said, we’ll have them wait for you at the dock, and they’ll be well armed. If your luck goes sour, get to them, and have them bring you back to the ship. Even if Althea and I are not aboard, Clef will order the ship to pull anchor and set sail.’
Lant’s mouth was hanging ajar. I shook my head, ‘And leave you in the hornets’ nest? I can’t ask that!’
‘Of course you can’t. And that’s why we’re offering it.’ A strange glint, almost merry, had come into his eyes. ‘It wouldn’t be the first time we have had to hide, or fight our way out of something. If it comes to that, save your little girl, and we’ll look after ourselves.’ He put his arm around her and said with a touch of pride, ‘We’re rather good at that.’
‘I don’t like that plan,’ Althea announced. ‘But I admit that I dislike it less than the idea that you might be fleeing with a child and have nowhere to go.’ She lifted her hand to cover Brashen’s. ‘If my ship and my crew can get clear, I’ll go along with it. Don’t worry about us.’
Those inadequate words. ‘Thank you.’
Amber spoke. ‘So. Our day is upon us. Time to rehearse. The sea is calm, the wind favourable. Can you spare all of us from deck duties for a time? I think we need to retire to my cabin, assess our supplies and wardrobe and practise our roles.’
Brashen glanced around the deck and gave a curt nod. ‘You’re free to go.’ He tucked Althea’s hand into his arm and led her away from us. Her gait matched the motion of her ship perfectly. I tried to imagine her living on land, walking through a market with a basket on her arm. I could not.
‘Roles?’ Per asked.
A gleam had come into Spark’s eyes. ‘Yes!’
‘I’m not sure that I need to rehearse,’ I said to Amber.
‘Rehearse?’ Per asked again.
‘Come with me,’ Amber insisted. ‘All will be made clear.’
When we had crowded into the cabin, the Fool shed his role as Amber as easily as he dropped the skirts that covered his trousered legs. He kicked them aside. ‘I will not be Amber when we disembark.’ He looked almost merry as he stooped to drag garments from under the lower bunk. His fingers danced over fabrics and lace, sorting them as he went. I clenched my teeth for a moment. I knew I would not win but I made a final effort.
‘I do not think you should disembark at all!’ I objected. ‘You are known in Clerres. And if they capture you or even if someone sees you and you stir their guard to wariness, you have only complicated my task. No.’
He simpered in my direction. ‘As if it were your decision. Be quiet for a time and hear my plan, for I have refined it!’ He was fairly quivering with excitement. ‘You, Tom Badgerlock, are come to Clerres to find out if your lovely daughter Sparkle should wed Holder Cavala. That’s you, Lant. Your serving lad Per has accompanied you. I will be the ageing granny of Holder Cavala, along to be sure that my grandson is not bilked of his promised bride.’
He waited. Per’s eyes were as big as plates. Spark was nodding and smiling. Lant was incredulous. We had discussed that the Fool must be heavily disguised if he went ashore, but this was a whole new level of theatre. A simple plan to present ourselves and pay to cross to the castle was suddenly a grand play. I shook my head in slow denial of the inevitable. ‘Are you sure this is necessary? That we all have roles and names and an errand?’
He smiled as if he had not heard me. ‘No objections? Excellent. I will be doddering along with you, well veiled against the sun. I will carry the butterfly cloak and a few other well-concealed items. We will follow the stream of pilgrims to the merchant square at the end of the gated crossing. There Fitz will pay to have his fortune told. No matter how you are advised, you will express displeasure at how general it is, and offer a substantial amount of coin to have a lingstra determine if the match is well made. I promise you that they will take your coin and give us crossing tokens. We will cross to the stronghold and go in with the tide of fortune-seekers.’ He took a breath. ‘This will be the difficult part. We must insist that we are taken to one of the libraries of scrolls for the reading. That is a rare and expensive privilege. I doubt we have the coin for it, but we can barter this for that privilege.’ He held up the bracelet. The flame-jewels woke in the dim cabin; they truly looked as if they burned. ‘We will take the firebrick as well, but reserve it in case we need a large bribe. It’s a practical item. Almost anyone would covet it.’
‘But we promised …’ Per began.
‘In dire need, we could part with them. Saving Bee is a dire need,’ the Fool said.
I nodded. Not that l liked his plan. I simply had no other.
‘In the library, we must find ways to disperse. Perhaps I can insist I must relieve myself, and Lant and Spark will accompany me as I dodder along. When we don’t return, you and Per will go to seek us. Instead, you will find hiding-places. You may have to separate …’