Storm Silverhand's name upon my ship if I were not a friend of the Harpers?"

Ruha shrugged. "I know only what my eyes show me-and I can see that you have not called your men to arms.

You have no intention of aiding that ship."

"You'd do well to worry less about my intentions and think of your assignment. The Harpers are not given to hiring private ships unless the matter is urgent. Do you think Lady Silverhand would want you to risk your mis- sion over a fight that's none of your concern?"

"Storm Silverhand is not here."

The witch's reply was evasive because she did not know the answer to Captain Fowler's question. Storm Silverhand had told her only that she was to sail to the port village of Pros, where an important Harper named Vaerana Hawklyn would be waiting to take her to the city ofElversult. Presumably, Vaerana would explain Ruha's assignment, but even that was not certain.

Ruha looked toward the distant caravel. "I do know one thing: neither Storm Silverhand, nor any other

Harper, would turn a blind eye on so many people in such terrible danger. If you are truly her friend, you know this as well."

The sea was piled high before the Storm Sprite, block- ing all sight of the caravel and its attacker, but Captain

Fowler's gray eyes looked toward the unseen battle and lingered there many moments.

"It will go better for us, and them, if we arrive after the battle," he said. "If that dragon sends the Storm Sprite to lie in Umberlee's cold palace, we'll be of no use to the sur- vivors-or to those waiting in Pros."

Ruha laid a reassuring hand on the half-ore's hairy arm. "Captain Fowler, you may tell your men to arm themselves. I will not let the dragon sink your ship."

"Lady Witch, sea battles are wild things." The cap- tain's tone was overly patient, as though he were speak- ing to a little girl instead of a desert-hardened witch.