Whisper of Waves

27

8 Uktar, the Year of Maidens (1361 DR)

FIRST QUARTER, INNARLITH

Fharaud eventually stopped being surprised by how much pain someone could get used to. Even then, some days were better than others. He had grown accustomed to other things, too, including the smell of his own sick room.

What he couldn’t get used to, what he hoped more than anything he would never get used to, was being cared for by others.

Djeserka was a slightly better than average pupil who had become simply an average shipbuilder. He designed the same coasters, cogs, and fishing boats they’d been building in Innarlith for a century or more, and they were seaworthy, and Fharaud had heard his customers were satisfied, so there it was. Fharaud tried to convince himself that he’d done a good thing making Djeserka the shipbuilder he was. After all, without the mediocre setting a sort of sea level, how could one recognize greatness?

“Is there anything else I can get for you, Fharaud?” Djeserka asked.

Fharaud looked up and met the younger man’s pitying gaze. Djeserka looked at him with doe eyes, wet and sentimental.

“Is someone else …?” Djeserka started, uncomfortable making eye contact with his former mentor.

“Yes, yes,” Fharaud said, “someone else is coming to look in on me. Thank you.”

Djeserka nodded, still uncomfortable.

“You are kind to look in on your old employer,” said Fharaud, “and to help pack my things.”

Djeserka nodded and forced a little smile.

“But there may be …” Fharaud started.

Djeserka said, “Anything, Fharaud, really. You know I owe my career to your advice and for your taking a chance on me at all all those years ago.”

Fharaud waved him off with a painfully weak twist of a wrist and said, “A small favor, then, though in truth I think it’s I who will be doing you a favor in the long run.”

Djeserka pulled up a low stool and sat at Fharaud’s bedside, curiosity overcoming his discomfort so he could finally look his old master in the eyes.

“I’m all ears,” Djeserka said.

“There’s a young man,” Fharaud said. “He’s no older now than you were when we first started working together. He helped me to build Everwind.”

“Devorast?” Djeserka guessed.

Fharaud nodded-and that hurt-and said, “He’s stayed with me through … all that’s happened, and it’s been hard on him. He’s too young to be where I am, though-at the end of his career-and he needs … he needs …”

Djeserka smiled and nodded, then so did Fharaud.

Though no more was said on the subject, Fharaud felt they had an understanding. The rest of the afternoon was spent on vapid small talk, and finally Djeserka stood to go. He opened the door just as Devorast walked up. After a few minutes’ worth of uncomfortable greetings and introductions, both of Fharaud’s former students sat at the small round table, their chairs turned to face Fharaud’s sick bed in the old shipbuilder’s one-room quayside hovel.

“So, Devorast,” Djeserka said, “Fharaud tells me that with his … retiring … your services are available to other shipbuilders.”

Devorast looked at Fharaud-of course he was smart enough to know that Fharaud was behind this sudden turn of events. Fharaud just winked at him.

Devorast looked at Djeserka and nodded.

“We’ve been very busy of late,” Djeserka went on, “and we’ve developed quite a tight-knit shop. Fharaud’s recommendation is more than enough for me. If you’re prepared to be a part of our team, to satisfy the needs of our customers be they a grand foreign navy or a simple smelt fisherman, well … what do you say?”

Fharaud held his breath. He’d completely forgotten to speak with Djeserka about Ivar Devorast’s iconoclastic personality, and the man had gone and said precisely the wrong things.

Devorast looked at Fharaud with a question in his eyes. It was plain that he was asking for Fharaud’s advice-but that just couldn’t be.

Fharaud met Devorast’s gaze, though, and nodded. Still, he was sure of the look on Devorast’s face: a brief glimpse of irritation quickly suppressed and replaced with a desire for advice.

Devorast, nodding at Fharaud, said to Djeserka, “I am always interested in new challenges. If you have something for me to do.”

“Good,” Djeserka said. “Come to my workshop tomorrow morning.”

Fharaud smiled, an expression shared by Djeserka but not Devorast.

“You can’t have come to my attention at a better time, actually,” Djeserka said. “It appears that I will have a seat in the senate in the next year. My team will have to work harder and work together as best as possible, but if I’m busy with the senate, those left behind will not only learn more, but one will replace me sooner rather than later.”

Devorast seemed not to have heard him. He did clasp forearms with Djeserka, though, as Devorast showed him to the door, and they both paused.

“For Fharaud’s sake,” Djeserka whispered. Devorast nodded.

“If you’re half again as good as they say you are,” Djeserka said, “and if it’s true that Everwind fell victim to treachery and not … Well, who knows? When I become Senator Djeserka those left behind in the boat shop will have to squabble amongst themselves for the business I leave behind. Well, the right man can ride it as far as I have.”

Devorast took Djeserka’s forearm again, and the soon-to-be senator returned the gesture with some gusto.

“Part of the team?” Djeserka asked.

Devorast nodded, and Fharaud couldn’t see his face since he was standing in the doorway looking out, but Djeserka appeared satisfied.

When he went away finally and Devorast closed the door, Fharaud said, “Give it a try, at least, my son. You have to eat.”

Devorast’s nod made that seem like the worst thing in the world.