Chapter six
“The Emperor of Vallia is aboard!”“The emperor!” The buzz went around faster than the wine cups on pay night. “The emperor — the Emperor of Vallia is aboard!”
You had to give this lady, Vylene Fynarmic, full credit. Oh, she was a splendid person! A Sister of the Sword, first lieutenant of a proud sailing ship of the air out of Vondium. She looked me straight in the eyeball.
She said: “I give you the lahal, majister.” Then, still in that same hard voice: “So you are Dray Prescot.”
She stood there on her own deck, in command, and I had some inkling of what must be in her mind. She saw Nath the Cheeks standing as stiff as a lance at our side.
“You! Nath the Cheeks! Get the lead out! About your business, you fambly, and no lollygagging!”
He was about to rap out a reply when I
