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look. As an excuse for joining us she had the green and cold ceramic flask that held the blessing potion. At the right moment I was supposed to break it against the side and officially launch the ship and name it.
    “I’d trade my left tit to command her,” she whispered.
    I smiled, as taken by the craft as she, and slipped the flask from her grasp. Palmeras nodded, signaling me to get ready.
    The ship sat in a cradle, a frame made of wood that would collapse when she was launched. She was held in place by thick-beamed shores angled up to steady her. And the whole elaborate contraption rested on freshly tallowed ways she’d ride down into the river.
    Palmeras raised his wand and a hush fell over the crowd. But the sudden stillness let another voice carry loudly through.
    “Damn you!” I heard my son roar. “How dare you take the word of a stranger over your own blood?”
    We all jolted to see Cligus nose-to-nose with Hermias. Both of them were so absorbed in their confrontation they didn’t notice that all eyes were on them.
    “This is not the time to continue such a discussion,” my nephew said.
    “I’ll not have you spread your filthy slander,” Cligus said.
    My son’s hand went to his dirk. But Hermias beat him to it, his own hand shooting out to grasp Cligus’ wrist.
    I recovered and found my voice. “Stop it, you two! Remember who you are!”
    My words jolted them to awareness and they turned, flushing in embarrassment. I let my glare sweep over the crowd, putting all my authority into it, and I saw the looks fall away and return guiltily to the business at hand. So much anger was in that glare that even Palmeras quickly dissolved his “I told you, so” look into one of complete disinterest.
    I raised my hand and the musicians caterwauled into what quickly smoothed out into stirring music of the sea.
    Still angry, I braced to hurl the flask. But then I hesitated as the ship seemed to speak out to me; begging me not to let such emotion soil her luck.
    “I’ll make it up to you,” I promised under my breath.
    I flung the flask and it crashed against the ship’s timbers. The heady scent of the blessing potion cleansed the air.
    “Before all who witness,” I declared, “I name thee Ibis . And may all your Tradewinds be Fair!”
    Palmeras gestured with wand and the air crackled with the force of the spell he cast. The ship tilted forward, the cradle collapsed and the Ibis slid smoothly along the ways to enter the water as royally as any princess slipping into her bath.
    There was much cheering and music. Men and women pressed around me to congratulate the Anteros for the newest addition to their fleet. The merry making began in earnest then. Roasts sputtered on their spits, wine flowed and couples, young and old, danced.
    Cligus melted into the crowd and disappeared to sulk at home, I supposed. Hermias found a moment to come to me and apologize.
    I waved him down. “I don’t have to tell you that you acted the fool,” I said. “Just as you don’t need for me to admonish you and say that I shall be angry at your behavior for some time. If you are the man I hope you are, you’ll know you deserve it and suffer in silence.”
    Hermias blushed and bowed his head. He was wise enough not to speak.
    “But I would like to know what you and my son were quarreling over that was so important.”
    Hermias shook his head. “I’ll not say. Please don’t press me on it, Uncle Amalric. I’d hate to earn your further wrath by refusing. Refuse, however, I must.”
    I could see there was no point in demanding an answer. He was an Antero, after all, and no one can match our stubbornness.
    So I called for Quatervals and my carriage and headed home.
    The day had left me in an even deeper quandary than before. I couldn’t delay much longer. But the incident at the launching did nothing to grease the ways for me .
    * * * *
    I repaired to my villa garden to listen to fountain play beneath my mother’s shrine.