She reached up and grasped his shoulders. For an instant, her smile faltered. "By the gods, you even feel different."

"Sorry," he started to say, but she hushed him peremptorily to silence.

Her grip on his shoulders was firm. "Remember what I told you aboard ship?" she asked. Her voice was low, but it almost crackled with intensity. "About how your secrets are your most valuable, most personal, possessions?"

"I remember."

She released one shoulder and reached down to take his hand. "I thank you for the valuable gift you've given me, Teldin Moore," she said softly. She kissed his palm.

Teldin stepped forward and wrapped her in his arms. Her body was warm and strong-steel under velvet-against him. He tilted his head, and her mouth was soft and welcoming. When she flung her own arms around him, the grip was almost fierce enough to squeeze the air from his body.

When the kiss finally ended-minutes or maybe centuries later-Teldin's body felt alive, as if he'd slept for twelve hours, doused himself in frigid rainwater, then swallowed two quick shots of ice-cold sagecoarse on an empty stomach. Rianna nestled close against his chest.

"They won't miss us if we don't go back to the ship tonight, will they?" she whispered.

Teldin smiled. "They won't miss us."

As one, they turned back toward the welcoming door of the Pig and Whistle.

*****

Teldin felt wonderful. For perhaps the first time since he'd left his farmhouse on that fateful day-how long ago was it now?-he felt relaxed and full of energy. The gods are in their heavens and all's right with the world, he told himself. The salt smell of the sea was sharp in his nostrils, and the morning breeze was brisk and bracing in his-rather, Aldyn's-and Rianna's faces. The rocking of the small tender as it breasted through the low waves, taking them back to the Probe, just added to his pleasure. He felt like singing.

He looked at Rianna, sitting on the thwart next to him. The wind had brought even more color to her tanned cheeks. The soft skin around the bottomless sea of her eyes crinkled as she smiled at him.

The tender bumped gently against the hammership's hull, and Teldin veritably bounded up the rope ladder, over the gunwale rail, and onto the deck. Aelfred and "Bale Estriss" were on the forecastle. The big warrior was grinning broadly. If he smiles any wider, he'll swallow his ears, Teldin thought. He snapped a jaunty salute. Aelfred's response was to give an even broader, knowing grin, and to shake his head in feigned despair. Estriss, on the other hand, beckoned to him to come up onto the forecastle.

Teldin leaned over the rail to give Rianna a hand up. "Pay a toll to come aboard," he told her as she swung a long leg over the rail. She chuckled deep in her throat as he bent down to collect a kiss.

"I'm going below for a while," she told him, then slipped an arm around his waist and gave him a quick squeeze. "I'll see you later… Aldyn."

He watched her until she disappeared belowdecks, then he crossed to the port ladder and climbed to the forecastle, where Aelfred was waiting for him.

"You look like the canary that ate the cat," the big warrior joked. He glanced over the rail to where Rianna had disappeared. "And I can't say as I blame you."

We were concerned about you. The illithid's mental voice was as sharp as Teldin had ever heard it.

"… Until I told him the company you were keeping," Aelfred elaborated. He leaned forward to speak in a stage whisper: "I seem to recall a certain conversation in the officers' saloon. Estriss might not try to steal your girl, but he might not understand why you want to spend a night ashore with her either. A serious disadvantage to being sexless, eh?"

Teldin smiled but said nothing. Even though he knew Aelfred intended no harm, he didn't feel comfortable joking about someone who he'd suddenly realized meant a lot to him. "Any word from Barrab?" he asked.

Aelfred's expression sobered. "Not yet," he replied, "but I hear tell that our fat friend spent his night away from home, too. Meeting with his boss, I'll wager."

"Is there anything we can do to hurry things along?"

The warrior shook his head firmly. "Nothing. We wait."

As it turned out, they didn't have to wait long at all. Teldin had been back on board for perhaps an houri which he'd spent in the officers' saloon, gazing out at the busy harbor, when a knock sounded and Aelfred entered. The big man was grinning like a bandit. "Message for milord Brewer," he announced, "just delivered by tender." He waited, obviously enjoying himself.

"It worked?"

"It worked," Aelfred confirmed. "You and two assistants are invited aboard the Nebulon-that's the arcane's ship."

Teldin grinned. He was almost there. "Did he say where the ship was?" he asked. "Are we taking the Probe up?"

"He didn't say where the ship was," Aelfred told him, "but it doesn't matter. Barrab's arranged a boat to take you up. Security, I suppose." The first mate grew serious. "The invitation says you may bring two people with you if you want," he said quietly. "And I suggest you do it, Teldin. I don't know why an arcane might want to set a trap for you, but if he planned to, this would be an excellent opportunity."

Teldin nodded slowly. As Aelfred had passed on the message, similar thoughts had been running through his mind. "I agree," he said. "Aelfred, do you want to come?"

The warrior smiled. "Just try to keep me away." He paused, then went on, "Estriss was there when I got the message and wants to come, too. I'd rather have one of my people come- Bubbo, maybe, as an intimidation factor-but…"

Teldin paused in thought. Aelfred was leaving the decision up to him. That was probably as it should be, but he wasn't comfortable with it. He considered. He'd feel a lot happier with the reassuring bulk of Bubbo at his back, but Estriss knew more about the arcane than either he or Aelfred-probably more than anyone else aboard. That knowledge could be vital. In a flash of recall, he saw an attacker staggering back under the illithid's mental attack. There was no doubt that Estriss could take care of himself.

For a moment Teldin considered Rianna-her company and moral support would be more than welcome-but he quickly rejected the thought. He still hadn't told her everything about the cloak-specifically, the defensive powers it had shown in battle with the neogi, and the fact that he couldn't remove it-even though the lie of omission made him feel uncomfortable, and that's what the conversation on the Nebulon would be about. On balance, he decided it would be better to limit the participants to people who already knew the whole story.

"I'll take Estriss," he said finally.

Aelfred nodded his acceptance. "I'll pass the word." He turned to go.

"Where's the boat?" Teldin asked. "Alongside?"

Aelfred grinned. "You'll see," he said cryptically.