[piosenniel]

Levanto sent the dolphins to look for the ships. Two to go east, along the coastline, and two to go west. They would go as far as the tips of each southern peninsula, near in to shore, then pull out to sea and do a return sweep to the area of the bay near mouths of the Siril. He would go upriver to check for any increased patrols.

What he found, alarmed him. There was a single small ship, black bannered, at anchor, halfway up the river, near the main dock for export of goods. It appeared lightly armed, though his vantage point from the shady river bank did not afford a view of what was hidden on the deck. He counted five people on board, all with blades.

He swam farther up the river, almost to the caves, but saw no more ships. At this he was relieved. Then swiftly he swam back down the Siril and out to sea to meet with the dolphins.

'Two!' they cried. 'Two ships, close in, along the shore.' They raised up on their tail fins, chattering at him. 'One goes toward the rising sun and then returns. The other toward the setting sun, and then returns. Back and forth they go, or so say our cousins who swim these waters.' He bowed to them, and thanked them for their help. They turned their smiling faces to him, then slapped the water hard with their tails and dove deep beneath the waves.

He, too, dove beneath the water's surface, and swam for the Star. The thought of Pio and what she had told him, drove him on. He thought long and hard about his promise to keep her secret. It was an ill-made pledge he now realized. He would talk to Mithadan when he arrived.