Neva refusing the barracks brought Lanore and Tell back out.

“What’s wrong with the barracks?” Lanore asked.

“Besides the fact it smells like men? Nothing,” Neva said. “It doesn’t fit us.”

“You need more space?” Lanore asked.

“No, not a bigger house,” Neva said. She brought her hands together, prayerful. “I am not refusing your hospitality. You have been extremely generous entertaining my request, allowing us to stay. I wish to tarry under your Light, but not in rock, and not within the walls. With your permission, we will sleep on the beach. I will police our campsite, and keep it small. If you agree that I may stay and learn from you, I will ask permission to establish a home on the water.”

“A boat?”

“No, a home, above the water, on sticks and beams,” Neva said. “If you are even remotely considering letting me try to teach breath holding, we’re going to have to live on the water. You can’t learn this skill on the land.”

Lanore frowned. Tell was there. She gave the slightest hint that this seemed reasonable. Lanore felt a tinge of anger. She turned to see Shen was in earshot.

“Do boys learn this skill?” Lanore asked.

“If you live on the water, everyone learns to swim, or you drown, that’s it,” Neva said.

“Consider the beach your domain,” Neva said. “Build your water home. If you’re still within my Light a year from now, you will have my answer.”

Neva bowed. She turned to say something to Foam but Lanore interrupted her.

“Teach the ghost to swim, or drown him trying,” Lanore said. She called Shen and directed him to go with Neva. He hesitated, considering his sun exposure would likely result in sunburns. “Barracks or beach?”

Shen frowned. He approached the water gypsies and stood in their mist.

“Come on, then,” Neva said. “Foam, go fetch our kayak and supplies.”

As Neva, Cari and Shen headed for the beach, a group of children followed. A seven year old taking the lead. The girls traveled in threes, but the boys were scattered.

“So, can you swim?” Neva asked Shen.

“No,” the Seven said. “He can’t swim, he can’t kill a rabbit, and he’s a coward.”

“A coward?” Neva repeated.

“He won’t fight. He will fall to the ground and allow himself to be pummeled,” Tora said. “And when we go to the beach, he will go sit in the shade. He’s very lazy. Even L’Ma’s own mother hates him.”

“L’Ma hates him?” Neva asked.

“Obviously, or she wouldn’t tolerate his behavior,” Tora said. “He can’t even speak to save his life. Probably because he has no life force. He has no soul.”

Neva didn’t understand. “How so?”

“If he had soul, he’d have color, and voice,” Tora said. “Everyone knows this.”

Neva decided not to correct the child. Cari made a face, suggesting concerned, tempered with amusement. Before swimming, Neva wanted to create a fire pit. She asked Shen to gather wood and kindling.”

“Boys aren’t allowed to touch sticks,” Tora said. “Don’t you know anything?”

“Can they can gather rocks?” Shen asked.

“Sure,” Tora said. “If the stone is precious, they get rewarded.”

“Rewarded?” Neva asked.

“There is only one reward boys like,” Tora said.

to redirect the conversation

that, too. But you got to be careful not to let them indulge too much. A fat man is a lazy burden,” Tora

said. “Girls, if you will go gather

size stone, exactly what Neva intended. The other boys his age, learned vicariously. The older boys held far enough back not to be drafted into work, but close enough they could observe. When the camp fire was ready to go but the fire, Neva and Cari undressed. Shen immediately turned away.

Tora laughed. “Also, he is

than they did, clearly the boys ran around

go get wet,” Neva

a blush,” Cari said. “Never seen anyone that red

has color, so he must have a soul,” Neva said.

angry look, pulled off

clearly understands,”

“Come on,” Neva said, not wanting to be

to the edge and dived. Neva cursed and ran to the edge, pausing only to examine the terrain,

“That’s weird,”

“That’s courage,”

“If he doesn’t break his head open, he’ll

were crossed. He was staring out into the dark as if deliberating. She got in his line of sight, angling down. She locked eyes with his and extended a hand. She didn’t touch him. She waited. She emphasized her hand. He slowly

“Hold up,”

let his feet

Neva said.

has heard

a slave?”

face

being abused?” Neva

to unload. He corrected

said. “Who taught

coming out. Shen shrugged and disappeared beneath the surface. Neva followed for a moment, then headed for shore. She remained under until she could walk. She came to the campsite, dried with her dress and put it on. She then

taught him that?” Lanore

skills than these kids and a confidence equal

“How?” Lanore said.

tell me,” Neva

me. He’s the gift

Lanore gave her a cross look. Neva pointed to a girl about four. “That child, she might be a gift of a water

you met white people before?”

Neva said. “My ship has traded well

Lanore prompted her to

dragons, sometimes beating the water, heralded by

thought your cities were

Neva said. “If it wishes to own you, it will take you. That’s

with me,” Lanore

Tell, but Tell didn’t speak, merely shrugged. They came to her home. Lanore motioned

you,”

do that,” Lanore said.

“Are your men slaves?”

Lanore

us to trade

“You don’t just steal

would be cruel,” Neva said. “Most land walkers can’t adapt to the sea. At best, someone who willingly joins our clan settles for a place in between, in stick homes along the

went for a particular book, and flipped through to a picture of a dragon figurehead carved directly onto the stemhead of a ship. Neva pronounced

“My book?”

been the exact same boat, fighting the same damn storm. Lanore went and sat down on a floor cushion near the hearth. It was not lit, but she stared into it anyway, as if there might be something in the ashes. There was a gas lamp burning by the door, on both sides. Neva wanted to understand this, but

are both Masters, and I shouldn’t beckon you with

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