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‘That… seems fair,’ she said hesitantly.

She glanced at her mother seeking assurance, but Ronica’s face was set.

She had always thought of her elder daughter as the stronger of the two.

After all, had not Keffria chosen a life that demanded strength, while Althea had gone off to dangle after her father and play?

Keffria had taken a husband, had children, managed her own household and assisted in the running of the larger holdings.

Or so it had seemed to Ronica when she had been making out the documents that determined inheritance.

Now it seemed to her that Keffria had mostly managed the internal workings of the house, determining menus and shopping lists and managing social occasions.

It had left Ronica free to do all the real tasks of running the holdings.

Why had she not seen that Keffria was becoming little more than a place-holder, following her mother’s directions, obeying her husband, but seldom standing up for herself?

Ronica tried to recall the last time that Keffria had suggested a change or initiated an action. She could not think of one.

Why, oh why, did these insights have to come to her now?

Sa help her, she had just put all the reins of their lives into Keffria’s hands.

By Bingtown customs and traditions, when a man died, his property passed to his offspring.

Not his wife, his offspring. Oh, Ronica had the right to retain control of the properties she had brought to her marriage to Ephron, but precious little was left of them.

With a lurch of her heart, she abruptly realized it was not just her younger daughter who was now at the mercy of what Kyle considered fitting for a woman. It was herself as well.

She glanced quickly at him, willing her face to stillness. She could only pray to Sa that he had not realized that yet. If he did, she might lose everything. Could not she, too, be brought to heel with a financial noose about her neck?

She took a deep breath and found control of her voice. ‘It does seem fair,’ Ronica conceded. She must not suddenly be too meek. ‘We shall see if it turns out that way in reality.’

She made a show of sighing, and then rubbing at her eyes as if wearied.

‘There are so many things to think of now. So many. For now, I shall leave Althea to you. And, as Kyle says, the Vivacia must sail as soon as possible. That, I suppose, is a more important thing to turn our minds to. May I inquire as to what ports and cargoes you have chosen for her, and how soon you must leave?’ She hoped she did not sound too eager for his departure.

Her mind was already racing as to how she could work best in his absence.

She could at least make sure that what remained of her own holdings would be passed to Althea upon her own death.

Not that she would make mention of that; she had suddenly decided it would be very wise if she did not appear to oppose Kyle.

And time alone with Keffria was time in which she could work on her elder daughter.

Kyle seemed content to be diverted with her question.

‘As you have said, we must sail soon, and not just for our finances. The sooner I get Wintrow away from the distractions of shore life, the faster he will accept his destiny. He has much to learn, and through no fault of his own, he comes to it when he is closer to man than boy. He cannot begin too soon to master it.’

He paused just long enough for them to nod.

It irked Ronica to do it, as he seemed to imply they had somehow been at fault in the boy’s upraising.

When he was satisfied of their agreement, Kyle went on, ‘As to ports and cargoes, well, as we have all agreed, we must trade most swiftly in that which is most profitable.’ Again he paused for their nods.

‘There is but one answer, then,’ he decided for them all. ‘I’ll take the Vivacia south to Jamaillia, to take on the very best we can afford. Then north to Chalced, as swift as we may go.’

‘The cargo?’ Ronica asked faintly. Already her heart was sinking with certainty.

‘Slaves, of course. Educated ones. Not pickpockets and thieves and murderers, but those that will be prized in Chalced as tutors and overseers and nannies. Artists and craftsmen. We need to buy up those whose debts have brought them to the block, rather than those condemned to slavery for crimes.’ He paused, pondering, then shook his head.

‘They will not be as hardy, of course. So perhaps we should balance the load with a hold full of… whatever our purse will afford. War-captives and bred slaves and what not. The second mate, Torg, has worked slave-ships before and knows many of the auction folk. He should be able to guide us to some bargains.’

‘Slavery is illegal in Bingtown,’ Keffria pointed out uncertainly.

Kyle gave a short bark of laughter. ‘For now. Not for much longer, I suspect. And you need not fear, my dear. I have no intention of stopping in Bingtown with them. It will be a swift straight run down the Inside Passage to Jamaillia City, then north again past Bingtown on to Chalced. No one will bother us.’

‘Pirates,’ Keffria pointed out shyly.

‘Have never bothered the Vivacia. How often have you heard your father brag of how fleet she is, and how nimbly she keeps a channel? Now that she is quickened, she will be even more so. Pirates know that pursuing a liveship is a waste of their time. They’ll leave us alone.

Try not to trouble yourself with worrying over things I have already pondered.

I would not be taking this course if I deemed it risky. ’

‘The cargo itself may be risky to a liveship,’ Ronica pointed out quietly.

‘What do you fear, an uprising of some sort? No. They’ll be under the hatches and well secured below for the full trip.’ Kyle was starting to sound annoyed at their reservations about his plan.

‘That could be even worse then.’ Ronica tried to speak gently, as if she were offering an opinion rather than stating a danger he should plainly see for himself.

‘Liveships are sensitive creatures, Kyle, and Vivacia is only recently quickened. Just as you would not expose Malta to the… discomforts slaves must endure during transport, so too Vivacia should be sheltered from them.’

Kyle scowled, then his expression softened.

‘Ronica. I am not unaware of the traditions surrounding liveships. And so far as our finances will allow us, I will respect them. Wintrow will be aboard, and he will be allowed some time each day simply to converse with the ship. He’ll be able to reassure her that all is well and that none of this has anything to do with her own well-being.

Nor do I intend any unnecessary cruelty.

The slaves must be kept confined and controlled, but beyond that, they will experience no harshness.

I think you worry needlessly, Ronica. Besides.

Even if she is distressed by it, it’s only for a time. What harm can come of that?’

‘You seem to have considered it well,’ Ronica tried to put reason in her voice, and replace the anger she felt with a tone of concern.

‘There are tales, of course, of what a distressed liveship may do. Some, they say, but go unwillingly, spilling wind from their sails, running aground where it seems they should float freely, dragging their anchors… but all that, no doubt, is nothing that a lively and well-trained crew cannot deal with. In more grave cases, it is said that ill-used ships can go mad. The Pariah is but the most famous of them. There are rumours of others, of liveships that went out and never returned, because the ship turned on its owner and crew…’

‘And every season there are ordinary ships that go out and do not come back. Storms and pirates are as like to be the cause of a liveship not returning as a ship going mad,’ Kyle cut in impatiently.

‘But with both you and Wintrow aboard, I could lose half my family at a single blow,’ Keffria wailed suddenly. ‘Oh, Kyle, do you think this is wise? Papa made money with Vivacia, and never took on illegal or dangerous cargoes.’

Kyle scowled even more darkly. ‘Keffria, my dear, your father did not make enough money. That is exactly what we are discussing here. How to avoid his mistakes and make this family financially sound and respectable once more. Another one of his quirky decisions immediately comes to mind, in this light.’ He met Ronica’s eyes suddenly and studied her face as he observed, ‘If you don’t care for the slave-trade, we could trade up the Rain River.

Certainly that’s where the world’s most desirable goods come from.

Every other liveship trades up the Rain River. Why shouldn’t we?’

Ronica met his gaze calmly. ‘Because years ago Ephron decided that the Vestrit family would no longer do River-trade. And we have not. Our trading contacts with the folk of the Wilds are gone now.’

‘And Ephron is dead now, too. Whatever he feared, I am ready to face it. But give to me the charts of the Rain River, and I’ll make contacts of my own,’ Kyle offered.

‘You would die,’ Ronica said with great certainty.

Kyle snorted. ‘I doubt that. The Rain Wild River may be a savage one, but I’ve taken ships up rivers before.

So.’ He paused, then uttered the words. ‘I’ll take those charts now.

They are Keffria’s by right, you cannot withhold them from us any longer.

Then we can all be content. No slaves aboard the Vivacia, and a fat trade up the Rain River. ’

Ronica did not hesitate. She lied. ‘That might be so, if such charts still existed. But they do not, Kyle. Ephron destroyed all charts of the Rain River years ago, when he decided to sever our trade connections there. He wanted to put an end to the Vestrit family trading up the Rain River. And he did.’

Kyle shot to his feet. ‘I don’t believe it!’ he snarled. ‘Ephron was not a fool, and only a fool would destroy charts that valuable. You’re keeping them back from us, aren’t you? Saving them for precious Althea and whatever you can find to marry her?’

‘I don’t care to be called a liar,’ Ronica hissed. That, at least, was truth.

‘And I don’t care to be treated like a fool!

’ Kyle raged in return. ‘No one in this family has ever given me the respect I deserve. I was willing to endure it from old Ephron. He was a man and years my senior. But I will not tolerate it from anyone else under this roof. Once and for all, I want the truth. Why did Ephron sever the family trading contacts up the Rain River, and what will it take for us to recover them?’

Ronica merely looked at him.

‘Damn it, woman, can’t you see? What is the point of having a liveship if we don’t use it to exploit the River-trade?

Everyone knows that only liveship families can trade up the Rain Wild.

We’re a liveship Old Trader family, and what has your husband done with that privilege and that debt?

He’s traded in silks and brandies, as could anyone with a raft and a sail, and watched our debt grow larger every year.

Money flows down the Rain River faster than its waters do, and yet you’d have us stand on the banks of it and starve. ’

‘There are worse things than starving, Kyle Haven,’ Ronica heard herself say.

‘Like what?’ he demanded.

She could not stop herself. ‘Like having a greedy fool for a son-in-law. You don’t know what you’re talking about when you speak of the Rain River.’

Kyle gave her an icy smile. ‘Why don’t you give me the charts then, and let me find out? If you’re right, you’ll be rid of me as a son-in-law. You’ll be free to sink all your children and grandchildren into debt.’

‘No!’ Keffria started up with a shriek. ‘I can’t stand this!

Don’t talk about things like that. Kyle, you mustn’t go up the Rain River.

Slaves are far better, trade in slaves, and take Wintrow with you if you must, but you mustn’t go up the Rain River!

’ She looked at them both pleadingly. ‘He would never come back. We both know that. Papa’s only just died and now you’re talking about letting Kyle get himself killed. ’

‘Keffria. You’re overwrought, and over-reacting to everything.

’ The look Kyle shot Ronica suggested it was her fault for playing upon her daughter’s imagination.

A tiny spark of anger kindled in Ronica’s heart, but she doused it firmly, for her daughter was looking at her husband with eyes full of hurt.

Opportunity, she breathed to herself. Opportunity.

‘Let me take care of her,’ she suggested smoothly to Kyle. ‘I’m sure you have so much to do to ready the ship. Come, Keffria. Let’s go to my sitting room. I’ll have Rache bring us some tea. In truth, I feel a bit overwrought myself. Come. Let’s leave things to Kyle for a while.’

She stood and slipped an arm around Keffria and led her from the room. Salvage, she silently whispered to Ephron. I’ll salvage what I can of what you left me, my dear. At least one daughter I shall keep safe by me.