The Merchant of Dreams (Night's Masque, #2)(49)

"It appears your story is true," the captain said. "Please, sit."

Coby inclined her head and obeyed.

"You said you were the leader of the two men," Hennaq went on. "The pale-haired one I concede is no leader, though I am told he is a fine actor. But Erishen-tuur is one of our qoheetajeneth, and has seen many lifetimes. I cannot believe he would submit to the leadership of any human, even a female."

"He is not himself, sir," she replied. "Indeed, this is the matter on which I wanted to speak to you."

"Ah, yes." Hennaq scratched his chin. "You told my men that Erishen-tuur was going to die."

"I… Perhaps it was not the right word to use. But he is very sick, as I am sure they have told you."

"I shall have Elder Gaoh attend him."

"This is not a sickness of the body, sir. The lodestone necklace upsets his mind."

Hennaq frowned at her.

"How is that possible? It is meant to protect, not harm."

"I don't really understand it myself. But you have to take it off, or he will get worse."

"I cannot. It would not be safe for anyone on board."

"You think he would attack you with his… sorcery? I will gladly vouch that he would not."

A lie, and she feared the captain could see it in her eyes. She was not at all confident that Sandy would listen to her, not after this.

"Do you know what he can do?" Hennaq asked.

"Some of it." She shivered, remembering Suffolk's man hacking one of the other servants to death. What had that been, if not bewitchment? "Will their own spirit-guards not keep your crewmen safe?"

Hennaq's expression hardened. "And why should I punish my own men for his transgressions? No, I will not do it."

"Punish them? I don't understand."

"No, you do not. I cannot expect a human to understand our customs. And I cannot free Erishen now that he knows my purpose."

"What purpose?" A sick feeling roiled in her stomach.

"I am taking him back to our people, to answer for his crimes."

"His crimes?" She leapt to her feet, not caring any more about etiquette. "It is you who have lied to us, stolen him away–"

"And your people stole ours away. You and your companion are descendants of the Birch Men, no?"

"No."

"I think yes. You look just like the Birch Men in the old tales, and England was part of their domains, was it not?"

"Yes, but–" She broke off, trying to marshal her thoughts. "You can't take us all the way to the New World. It's not fair."

"I am sorry," the captain said, "but I have made my decision. Erishen will stand trial."

One last try. She would not give up on Mal.
"For what crime?" she said, trying to keep the anger and frustration out of her voice.

"For leading my heart-mate and others astray."

"How? He has been locked up in a sanctuary for the sick of mind since he was a boy. Or is this some more recent crime, since he was taken to Sark?"

"No, I speak of long ago, when Erishen was one with our people."

"When he was a skrayling."

"Yes."

"But…" She was out of her depth now. "But the man you have captured did not commit those crimes. He has a new life now."

"Nonetheless, he is still Erishen. The soul is accountable, as well as the body." Hennaq spread his hands.

A desperate thought struck her. "If you want to try Erishen," she said slowly, "you need the whole man, not half a one."

"What do you mean?"

"Erishen has a brother. Lord Kiiren's former bodyguard, Maliverny Catlyn."

"I know of this man. He is the one whom Kiiren-tuur brought before the council of elders. What of him?"

"Have you not heard? They are not merely brothers, they are twins."

Hennaq muttered something under his breath in Vinlandic. "You are sure?"

"Certain. That's how Master Catlyn found the skrayling captives on Corsica. He and Sandy are two halves of a fractured soul. They are both Erishen."

"This complicates matters," Hennaq said, shaking his head.

"Yes it does. You need both of them if it is to be a fair trial."

"And you know where to find this other brother?"

"Of course. He is going to Venice."

Hennaq laughed, setting his beaded hair rattling. "Oh, very clever. You think you can trick me into taking you to Kiiren?"

"It is the truth, I swear. Do what you will to me, let your sorcerers probe my secret thoughts if you must. But I swear in the name of all that is holy, I speak the truth."

The captain stared into the middle distance for a long moment, running his tongue around one fang thoughtfully.

"Very well," he said at last. "I will take you to Venice, and you will bring this other brother to me."

Coby nodded, though she had no intention of doing so. "And you will take the spirit-guard from Sandy?"

"That remains to be seen. How do I know I can trust him not to turn on me and my crew?"

"He wishes to be with his brother, more than anything in the world. And the sooner you take that thing off him, the saner he will be, and the less likely to harm you."