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hy he was so strange； so distant。 He does not wish to live。 He is only here because he believes God wishes him to finish the tasks before him。 Clearly any questioning of God's will； even the infallibility of the lector； was difficult for Camaris。 He thinks of himself as a dead man。 Isgrimnur suppressed a shudder。 It was one thing to yearn for rest； for release； but another to feel that one was already dead。 The duke wondered momentarily whether Camaris might； more than any of them； understand the Storm King。
〃Very well；〃 Josua was saying。 'There is one person left we must see。 I will speak to him； Camaris； if you do not mind。 I have been thinking about this for some time。〃
The old knight waved his hand； uncaring。 His eyes were like ice chips beneath his thick brows。
Josua signaled a page and the doors were thrown open。 As Count Streawe's litter was carried in； Isgrimnur sat back and picked up the mug of beer he had hidden behind his chair。 He took a long sip。 Outside it was afternoon； but the chamber's ceiling…high windows were barred against the storm that lashed the seas beneath the palace； and torches burned in the wall sconces。 Isgrimnur knew that the room was painted in delicate colors of sea and sand and sky； but in the torchlight all was muddy and indistinct。
Streawe was lifted from his litter and his chair was set down at the base of the throne。 The count smiled and bowed his head。 〃Duke Camaris。 Wele back to your rightful home。 You have been missed； my lord。〃 He swiveled his white head。 〃And Prince Josua and Duke Isgrimnur。 I am honored that you have summoned me。 This is noble pany。〃
〃I am not a duke； Count Streawe；〃 said Camaris。 〃I have taken no title； but only revenged my brother's death。〃
Josua stepped forward。 〃Do not mistake his modesty； Count。 Camaris does rule here。〃
Streawe's smile broadened； deepening the wrinkles around his eyes。 Isgrimnur thought he looked like the most grandfatherly grandfather that God ever made。 He wondered if the count practiced before a looking glass。 〃I am glad you took my advice。 Prince Josua。 As you see； there were indeed many folk unhappy with Benigaris' rule。 Now there is joy in Nabban。 As I came up from the docks； people were dancing in the public square。〃
Josua shrugged。 〃That is more to do with the fact that Baron Seriddan and the others have sent their troops into the town with money to spend。 This city did not suffer much because of Benigaris； difficult as times are。 Patricide or no； he seems to have ruled fairly well。〃
The count eyed him for a moment； then appeared to decide a different approach was warranted。 Isgrimnur found himself enjoying the show。 〃No；〃 Streawe said slowly； 〃you are correct there。 But people know； don't you think？ There was a sense that things were not right； and many rumors that Benigaris had slain his father…your dear brother； Sir Camaris…to achieve the throne。 There were problems that were certainly not all Benigaris' fault； but there was also much unrest。〃
〃Unrest which you and Pryrates both helped to kindle； then fanned the flames。〃
Perdruin's ruler looked genuinely shocked。 〃You link me with Pryrates！？〃 For a moment his courtly mask fell away； showing the angry； iron…willed man beneath。 〃With that red…cloaked scum？ If I could walk； Josua； we would cross swords for that。〃
The prince stared at him coldly for a moment； then his face softened。 〃I do not say you and Pryrates worked in concert； Streawe； but that you each exploited the situation for your own ends。 Very different ends； I'm sure。〃
〃If that is what you meant； then I name myself guilty and throw myself on the mercy of the throne。〃 The count seemed mollified。 〃Yes； I work in the ways I can to protect my island's interests。 I have no armies to speak of； Josua； and I am always prey to the whims of my neighbors。 'When Nabban rolls over in its sleep；' it is said in Ansis Pellipe； 'Perdruin falls out of bed。'〃
〃Well argued； Count；〃 Josua laughed。 〃And quite true； as far as it goes。 But it is also' said that you are perhaps the wealthiest man in Osten Ard。 Is it the result of your vigilance on Perdruin's behalf？〃
Streawe drew himself up straighter。 〃What I have is none of your business。 I understood you sought me as an ally； not to insult me。〃
〃Spare me your false dignity； my good Count。 I find it hard to believe that calling you wealthy is an insult。 But you are right about one thing： we wish to speak with you about certain matters of mutual interest。〃
The count bobbed his head solemnly。 〃That is better to hear。 Prince Josua。 You know that I support you…remember the note I sent with my man Lenti！…and I am anxious to speak about ways that I can help you。〃
〃That we can help each other； you mean。〃 Josua raised his hand to still Streawe's protest。 〃Please； Count； let us avoid the usual dancing。 I am in a fierce hurry。 There； I have given up a bargaining token already by telling you so。 Now please do not waste our time with false protestations of this or that。〃
The old man's lips pursed and his eyes narrowed。 〃Very well； Josua。 I find myself oddly interested。 What do you want？〃
〃Ships。 And sailors to man them。 Enough to ferry our armies to Erkynland。〃
Surprised； Streawe waited a moment before replying。 〃You intend to set sail for Erkynland now？ After fighting fiercely for weeks to take Nabban； and with the worst storm in years sweeping down on us out of the north even as we speak？〃 He gestured toward the shuttered windows； outside； the wind wailed across the Sancelline Hill。 〃It was so cold last night that the water froze in the Hall of Fountains。 The Clavean Bell barely rang over God's house； it was so icy。 And you wish to go to sea？〃
Isgrimnur felt a clutch of shock at the count's mention of the bell。 Josua turned for a moment and caught the Rimmersman's eye； warning him not to speak。 Obviously he； too； remembered Nisses' prophetic poem。
〃Yes； Streawe；〃 said the prince。 〃There are storms and storms。 We must brave some to survive others。 I will take ship as soon as I can。〃
The count lifted his hands； showing open； empty palms。 〃Very well； you know your own business。 But what would you have me do？ Perdruin's ships are not warships； and they are all at sea。 Surely Nabban's great fleet is what you need； not my trading vessels。〃 He gestured to the throne。 〃Camaris is master of the Kingfisher House now。〃
〃But you are master of the docks；〃 Josua replied。 〃As Benigaris said； he thought you were his prisoner； but all the time you were gnawing him away from within。 Did you use some of that gold they say fills the catabs below your house on Sta Mirore？ Or something more subtle…rumors； stories。。。 ？〃 He shook his head。 〃It matters not。 The thing is； Streawe； you can help us or hinder us。 I wish to discuss with you your price； whether in power or gold。 There is provisioning to do as well。 I want those ships loaded and on their way in seven days or less。〃
〃Seven days？〃 The count showed surprise for the second time。 〃That will not be easy。 And you have heard about the kilpa； have you not？ They are running like quinis…fis