Arianos paused. “There is yet one man. He’s not pious, or reliable, or even honest—but he is, I believe, honorable. He has never come to the temple to pray, but he often sends generous gifts for seamen’s widows. He’s coarse and crude, and I believe him to be at least a part-time smuggler—not the man I would choose to do the work of Oromasd—”
“Oromasd must choose his own representatives,” Umar said softly.
“And sometimes his choices are strange, indeed,” Jafar agreed.
“I will send him around, then, to see you,” said Arianos. “Do not be put off by his appearance or manner, for I believe he honors the laws of Oromasd, if not always the laws of men. He is called simply El-Hadar.” And Arianos bade them farewell and went to the docks to seek out this new captain.
A little more than an hour l
