“I salute you, Carse!” he whispered. “The Father of Lies himself could not do better.” He was beside himself with ecstasy.”
“It is sublime. It is worthy of—of Boghaz!”
Then he sobered and shook his head. “But it is also sheer insanity.”
Carse took him by the shoulders. “As it was before on the galley—nothing to lose, all to gain. Will you stand by me?”
The Valkisian closed his eyes. “I am tempted,” he murmured. “As a craftsman, as an artist, I would like to see the flowering of this beautiful deceit.”
He shivered all over. “Flayed alive, you say. And then the Dhuvians. I suppose you’re right. We’re dead men, anyway.” His eyes popped open. “Hold on there! For Rhiannon all might be well in Sark but I’m only Boghaz, who mutinied against Ywain. Oh, no! I’m better off in Khondor.”
“Stay, then, if you think so,” Carse shook him. “You fat fool! I’ll protect you. As Rhiannon I can do that. And as the saviours of Khondor, with those weapons in our hands, there’s no end to what we can do. How would you like to be King of Valkis?”
“Well—” Boghaz sighed. “You would tempt the devil himself. And speaking of devils—” He looked narrowly at Carse. “Can you keep yours down? It’s an uncanny thing to have a demon for a bunk-mate.”
Carse said, “I can keep him down. You heard Rhiannon himself admit it.”
“Then,” said Boghaz, “we’d best move quickly before the Sea Kings end their council.” He chuckled. “Old Ironbeard has helped us, ironically enough. Every man is ordered to duty and our crew is aboard the galley, waiting—and not very happy about it either!”