SAILORS AND THE UNKNOWN

She had no idea what that meant. Her Thaylen was quite good when she was reading,

but hearing it spoken was something else entirely. She smiled at him, which seemed the

proper response, for he laughed, gesturing to one of his sailors.

"We'll wait here in this dock for two days," he told her. "There is a highstorm coming

tomorrow, you see, so we cannot leave. If the situation with the Brightness Jasnah does not

proceed as hoped, we'll take you back to Jah Keved."

"Thank you again."

"'Tis nothing, young miss," he said. "Nothing but what we'd be doing anyway. We can

take on goods here and all. Besides, that's a right nice likeness of my wife you gave me for

my cabin. Right nice."

He strode over to Yalb, giving him instructions. Shallan waited, putting her drawing

pad back into her leather portfolio. Yalb. The name was difficult for her Veden tongue to