The second in the Seer and Sword series set in the Mnemosynean universe, to be published in Ace Books’ Unusual Suspects. His Majesty King Loukas the Good has commissioned me to write an Almanac for the Nine Provinces, and the Royal Cartographer has produced a map. I don’t think I’m leaving this scene of the crime anytime soon, do you?

An excerpt from “A Woman’s Work” follows here, and go here to read an excerpt from the first story, Justice is a Two-edged Sword.

——————————

As small and mean and dirty as it was, Crowfoot was profoundly glad to see Pylos on the horizon. The voyage from Dorian had been speedy but less than smooth, the Ocean of Aptikos in its usual bad temper. When at last they made fast to the dock, Crowfoot had Blanca and Pedro first up out of the hold and down the gangway to a terra that was blessedly firma beneath her feet. The Sword was strapped to her back and the saddle on Blanca’s before Sharryn had finished taking leave of the Barka’s captain. Avel was his name, he of the laughing hazel eyes and the tight brown curls and the quick, charming tongue. He had been the only bright spot in Sharryn’s voyage from Epaphus. Sailors.

He knew his business, though. The Barka’s crew made short work of offloading what little cargo in its holds was destined for Kalliopean vendors. There was nothing to load, evidently, the primary export of Kalliope being tragic poetry, it was said sold by the yard. It was a joke over the other eight Provinces that it was most welcome in the necessary out back.

“Crowfoot?”

A voice made her turn. “Aeron. I wondered if you had waited to greet us.”

“Not for long.” His grip was firm and quickly released. “We’re leaving on the ship you came in on, if the captain will give us passage.”

He was a spare man with gray hair and a stern face, as tall as the Staff he held in his left hand. A shorter man stepped out from behind him, and Crow felt her face break into a smile. “Thanos.”

This man was younger and built along more generous lines, with the bronze skin and dark hair of the native born Pthalean. His Sword was belted around his waist in such style as the hilt was never very far from his right hand. “Crow!” He gave her a hearty embrace, but his eyes slid past her to the ship. “Is that our outbound transportation?”

“You’re in a hurry,” she said.

“So will you be, in a year,” Aeron said.

“In a week,” Thanos said.

She looked from one to the other. “We could probably use a little introduction.”

“You’ll find out all you need to know between here and Ydra,” Aeron said.

“I see.” She busied herself with Pedro’s saddle to hide her annoyance, and said in a carefully casual tone, “Kalliope not quite the garden spot it’s reputed to be?”

Thanos gave Aeros a sidelong glance. “Not quite.”

“No,” Aeros said, his face grim, “and I don’t know why they sent the two of you here. It’s going to make the job twice as hard, and the nine gods know it’s hard enough already. Especially now.”

“Aeron! Thanos!” Sharryn trod down the gangway in a flurry of mulberry skirts and embraced both men with her usual enthusiasm. Even Aeron’s stony visage cracked a smile, but further greetings were forestalled by Avel’s call. “All aboard!”

“He’s calling my name,” Thanos said, and kissed first Crow’s cheek and then Sharryn’s. He shouldered his bag, grasped the hilt of his Sword and quick-footed it up the gangway. Aeron nodded at both women and followed, the Staff striking the wooden surface every second step like the rythmic tolling of a death bell.

The Barka cast off and stood out in short order. There was a shout from the rail. “There’s a good inn about a mile out of town! The Soldier’s Rest!”

“Thanks, Thanos!” Crow said. “Safe voyage!”

“Good luck!”

“Ominous,” Sharryn said. “He sounds like he thinks we might need it.” She looked at Crow. “They could have stayed to fill us in a little on what we could expect. We would have.”

“Maybe,” Crow said, and looked around at the gathering crowd. They were all men, some curious, some lascivious, some distinctly unfriendly.

“Witches,” someone said in a voice meant to be heard.

“And maybe not,” Crow said.