"I'm sure, Thillion." He was surprised at the conviction in his voice, but he knew without doubt that he was sure. For whatever reason, he was convinced that Vreva had told him the truth. "Carry on."
Stargazer luffed up right on the mark, and the anchor splashed into the sea. The sails were furled as the cable paid out, and when the ship came to rest, she floated within hailing distance of Gold Wing's port side.
"They're launching a boat, sir."
A uniformed officer commanded the boat, which sped across the water under the effort of six smartly clad oarsmen. They pulled up about twenty feet from Stargazer's quarterdeck, and the officer stood.
"Captain Vin, I presume?"
"I'm Captain Vin." Torius stood at the quarterdeck rail and analyzed the young officer and his sailors. They looked overly starched and pressed to his eye, but they handled their craft in a seamanlike fashion. Not one showed any signs of nervousness or deception.
"You made excellent time, Captain. We weren't expecting you until tomorrow morning at the earliest! I'm Lieutenant Gosling." The officer doffed his hat and managed to bow without rocking the launch. "Captain Blaine requests your company for dinner this evening."
"Don't like it, Captain." Grogul's growled whisper startled Torius. He hadn't even heard the bosun approach. "Could be a trap."
"I've got to hear their offer, Grogul. Besides ..." He glanced over his shoulder at Thillion and winked. "...if they clap me in irons, it'll give you all the opportunity to stage a daring rescue."
Thillion tried to smile, but didn't quite achieve it.
Grogul only sneered, one hand resting on the hilt of his kukri. "Aye, sir."
Torius turned back to the boat. "I'd be happy to attend, Lieutenant."
"Six bells, if you please, Captain." The officer put his hat back on.
"Six bells it is."
"Very good, sir! We'll be by to ferry you over."
Torius watched the boat return to Gold Wing. "Well, I suppose I'd better get ready for dinner."
"Aye, sir." Thillion still looked nervous, but Grogul looked like a brooding summer squall waiting to burst out with lightning and waterspouts.
"Still don't like it, sir. Bunch of tight-arse prigs in their fancy uniforms and hats ..." Grogul spat over the side, his lip curling back from his tusks in utter disdain.
"Don't worry, Grogul." Torius clapped the bosun on his thick shoulder and headed for his cabin. "I won't let them corrupt me with their gold leaf and finery."
∗ ∗ ∗
"You set a fine table, Captain." Torius pushed away his plate and stifled a belch. "Much richer fare than I'm used to." They had feasted on roast duck with yam stuffing, pork tenderloin, and potatoes baked with garlic, cream, and copious amounts of crispy cheese. If that hadn't been enough, the meal finished with a generous slab of plum pudding. Torius felt like a beached whale.
"We're afforded a few luxuries, Captain Vin." Blaine dropped her napkin onto her plate and waved her steward forward. "Port?"
"I'd prefer coffee. I'm afraid more wine would only make me sleepy." Though they'd polished off two full bottles during dinner, Blaine looked as clear-eyed as a new recruit on induction day.
"Of course."
The steward poured port wine into the captain's glass and set the decanter on the table. Another servant brought in a silver coffee service, placing a cup before Torius with military precision. In fact, every detail of the ship mirrored that precise placement. Captain Blaine obviously led by example. The creases in her uniform looked as sharp as blades, and the golden eagle epaulets on her shoulders glittered in the lamplight. Only the sword at her hip, a heavy-bladed instrument with a well-worn grip, showed the marks of use. Despite her authoritarian appearance, however, there was no bluster or bluff about her.
Their conversation during dinner had been amiable, though he caught Blaine scrutinizing him just as rigorously as he gauged her. Now, however, with the coffee and port served and the servants departed, she took on a more businesslike mien.
"I must say that you're not what I expected, Captain Vin." Blaine offered up a mahogany humidor filled with cigars.
Torius selected one and used the dagger from his boot to cut the tip. "And what exactly did you expect, Captain? A swaggering pirate with an eye patch and a peg leg?"
"Not quite that, but something less ..." She picked up one of the candlesticks and puffed her cigar to life. "...less refined, I suppose."
"That's interesting, because you're exactly how I pictured a Gray Corsair captain." He lit his cigar and enjoyed the heady aroma.
"How so?"
"No nonsense, disciplined, and very self-assured."
"But a captain has to be all those things to be an effective commander."
"To a certain degree that's true, but every captain has a different idea of how much of those qualities is enough, and how much is too much." He puffed and blew smoke at the overhead beams. "I'm probably a bit more lax than you would tolerate, but then, I'm not used to answering to anyone but myself."
"That's quite an admission, considering your reason for coming here."
"Is it?" He smiled and shrugged. "Correct me if I'm mistaken, Captain, but this position isn't a military one."
"No, it's not." She puffed her cigar and sipped port, her eyes narrowing. "You'd be able to return to Almas for refit and resupply, and you'd deal directly with Admiral Weathers, but you'd be on your own at sea. This is not a position for someone faint of heart or slow of wit."
"And your assessment?"
"Frankly, the only thing I think you lack, Captain, is conviction. We're all in this for one purpose and one purpose only: to bring freedom and liberty to the nations of the Inner Sea."
Torius raised an eyebrow. "All of the Inner Sea?"
"Eventually, yes." She returned his questioning look. "Does that surprise you?"
"It worries me. Andoran may be biting off more than it can chew if it intends to conquer the entire Inner Sea. You might ask the Taldans or Chelaxians how that worked out."
"I said nothing of conquest, Captain." She scowled and leaned across the table. "We're not that naive. We understand one thing that you may not know. Economics will spread liberty and freedom faster than any sword or arrow. The fact is, free societies are more profitable than ones ruled by greedy monarchs using slave labor for their industries."
"If that's so, then why are we sitting here? Shouldn't you simply be telling everyone this secret?"
"It's no secret, Captain. Andoran has proven it. The word is out, and there are a lot of very nervous nations lining up to oppose us, not because we're wrong, but because we threaten their power. We're here to oppose their tyranny, to make the abomination of slavery too expensive to remain profitable." She puffed her cigar and blew a perfect smoke ring over the table as she leaned back in her chair. "Loyalty, conviction, and economics will win this fight for us, Captain Vin. I just need to hear you agree and believe that you're telling me the truth."
"I'm here for two reasons, Captain Blaine." He stopped and thought for a moment, then corrected himself. "Well, three reasons, actually, but only two really matter. The first is that I abhor slavery. My reasons for that are my own. The second is that I was asked to do this by a friend." He fixed her with a pointed gaze, gauging her response. "Above all other qualities, Captain, I value loyalty. Any member of my crew will verify that. I'll put my life on the line for any of them, and they'll do the same for me. When a friend asks me for help, I give it. If I give my word to you, you can bet your life that I'll keep it."
Her eyebrows arched. "All right, Captain, I believe you."
"Good."
"But I'm curious. What's your third reason, the one that doesn't really matter?"
"One that you mentioned yourself. Economics." He grinned at her surprised expression. "I like money a lot, Captain, but I choose the people I take it from very carefully. Taking money from slavers over their dead bodies is a bonus, so being a privateer for Andoran seems like a win-win pr
oposition to me."
"You do understand that if you accept this position, you'll be prohibited from acts of piracy."
"Except against slavers."
"Attacking slave ships isn't piracy, Captain. It's warfare."
"So Andoran has declared war against the entire Inner Sea."
"Not at all, Captain. Only against slavers."
"That seems like splitting hairs, Captain Blaine." He pondered for a bit, puffed his cigar, then shrugged. "But I can live with it. Call it what you will, if this letter of marque lets me legally attack slave ships and profit by it, I'm in."
"Very good." Blaine stood and extended her hand. "I do believe that you might do some good for us."
Torius stood and shook her hand. "Thank you, but there's one more thing I have to do before I sign on the dotted line."
Her face grew instantly stern. "And what's that, Captain?"
"I have to ask my crew if they're up for this. Some might not like the idea of flying the Andoren flag."
"Well!" She picked up her glass and quaffed the contents. "Then I sincerely hope they make the right decision."
"So do I, Captain." Torius finished his coffee and picked up his hat, already pondering the discussion he'd be having with the Stargazers tonight. "I'll have an answer for you in the morning."
Chapter Fourteen
A Pirate's Promise
Well, at least there's no blood on the deck, Torius noted as he entered the main hold. The sky above the open hatch had begun to lighten with dawn, and still the argument continued. Upon his return from Gold Wing, he'd explained the proposition to the crew, then answered their questions as honestly as he could without revealing Vreva's secrets. By the time he went to bed, the discussion of the Andoren offer had become heated.
Now the crew seemed to be split into three camps. About a third of them were enthusiastic about the prospect of hunting slave ships. Most of the rest had no problems with it, as long as they made a good profit. A vocal minority, however, wanted no part of working with the Andorens. Unfortunately, Grogul was chief among these, and his arguments were vehement.
"I'll never trust a bunch of spit-and-polish, nose-in-the-air jackanapes!" The look on the bosun's face would have curdled milk. "They won't ever give a damn for us, nor stand up and fight if it's our necks in a noose! They'll use us for their dirty work, and when we're caught, they'll let us dangle and choke!"
"And how is that different from what we've been doing?" Thillion's tone remained calm. "The sentence for piracy is death in every nation of the Inner Sea except the Shackles."
"And think of the money!" Snick put in with an avaricious grin. "Not to mention the gratitude all those poor harem slaves will show us when we free them!"
That got a few cheers and laughs, but Grogul wasn't buying it. "That's a load of crap, Snick! This ain't a joke!"
"Grogul's right." Every eye in the hold turned to Torius. "This is not a joke." He strode forward and met their eyes as he spoke. "I put our lives on the line every time we go after a fat prize, but you all know how I feel. You know I won't slaughter sailors when there's no need, and you know I won't take them to sell as slaves. That's the main reason I want to be a part of this. I've been waiting more than half my life for the day I could strike back at the bastards who put chains on me, whipped the skin off my back, and sold me to the most sadistic bastard ever to sail the Inner Sea. Today, my friends, could be that day."
Murmurs swept through the crew. Most knew he'd once been a slave. A few of them had stood beside him the day he threw off his shackles and took Stargazer for his own.
"That's my reason. Every one of you will have your own for wanting to do this or not, but let me make one thing clear; we will not be under the command of the Andoren Navy. We'll carry their letter of marque, and keep in touch with Admiral Weathers for information and to receive our pay, but other than that, we'll be on our own. If this deal turns out not to be to our liking, we'll part company with the Andorens and never look back. If most of you agree to this deal, I'll tell Captain Blaine that we accept, but I want to make it clear that no one is required to sign up for this. If, for whatever reason, you disagree, then you're free to leave the ship with full pay and a bonus. However, whether you stay or leave," he swept them with a stern gaze, "you can never speak of this. I trust you all to keep that secret."
Not a single pair of eyes looked away from his, and Torius knew his trust was not misplaced. "So, what will it be? Shall we do this?"
Most of the crew murmured their assent, and even Grogul grudgingly nodded.
"Very well. I'll tell Captain Blaine that we're—"
"Sails! Yellow sails!" The lookout's cry brought everyone up short.
"Gozreh's guts!" Stargazers surged for the ladders, but Torius reached one first. He scrambled up and stood on the hatch coaming to scan the sea. A slave galley rounded the southern cape, its yellow sails alight with the morning sun. Torius's thoughts whirled and reached two solid conclusions. "Blaine will attack, and we've got to support her, even if we're not privateers on paper quite yet!"
"This stinks, Captain!" Grogul put in.
"I know, but we don't have any options. We have to fight!" He turned to his officers, considering strategy. At the moment, neither Stargazer nor Gold Wing flew a flag. The slaver might pass by, or venture closer, looking for prey. "Fenric, hail Gold Wing. I need to talk to Blaine about coordinating our attack. Grogul, prepare for battle, but keep the topmen on deck! We can't tip them off. Snick, load up your babies! Thillion, on the quarterdeck with me!"
The Stargazers responded without a word of argument or complaint. Their quiet enthusiasm lifted Torius's heart, and by the time he'd armed himself and reached the quarterdeck, he felt ready for anything.
He was wrong.
"Gold Wing won't answer, Captain! She's run up her flag and cut her cable!" Fenric pointed to the Gray Corsair. True enough, her topsails already billowed full, and she was making way.
Torius stared as the slaver galley turned westward, her oars and sails propelling her downwind. "For Gozreh's sake, Blaine, what are you doing? Ten minutes and the damned galley would have been ours! Now it's going to be a chase."
Fenric piped up again. "Gold Wing's coming by for a close pass."
Captain Blaine stood on her quarterdeck, grim-faced officers around her as her crew scrambled to make ready for battle. The captain's face shone crimson, flushed with rage.
She drew a deep breath and bellowed, "Is this a pirate's idea of loyalty, Vin?"
Torius was taken aback at the implication, and his blood boiled. "What the hell do you mean by that?"
"I mean, Captain, that if you brought those slavers down on us, by the wings of Talmandor, I'll see your head on a pike!"
Grogul's scathing retort reached the quarterdeck. "What'd I tell you about those pompous—"
"Belay that!" Torius glared at his bosun. By the time he turned to bellow a response to Blaine, Gold Wing was past. Her crew piled on sails, and tore away the canvas on the foredeck to reveal the catapult that Torius had suspected. The deadly tips of ballista bolts nosed out of her ports.
"Gods damn it!" Blane's snap judgment grated on Torius, but there was one thing he could do to prove her wrong. He turned to Thillion. "Cut the cable and make all sail. We've got to overtake that slaver before Gold Wing does!" If he attacked the slaver first, she would have no grounds to question his loyalty.
"Aye, Captain!" Thillion relayed the orders.
A burly foremast jack severed the anchor rode with a single stroke from an axe, and Stargazer veered around to the west. Sail after sail cracked and filled in the breeze, and they quickly picked up speed. They were gaining on the slave galley, but falling behind Gold Wing. Torius checked the trim of the sails. Every stitch was perfectly trimmed, yet still the Gray Corsair pulled ahead. At this rate, Gold Wing would overtake the galley minutes before Stargazer.
"I thought you said we could outsail that galleon on any point of wind, Thillion! How by Gozreh'
s green garters are they pulling away from us?"
"I don't know, sir. We should be eating the wind right out of their sails!" The elf leapt to the rail for a better view and raised his spyglass. "I can't see what's happening on her deck. Permission to go to the foretop, sir?"
"Go!" It didn't make sense that the galleon was beating them. "Grogul, set stuns'ls!"
"Aye, sir!" The bosun bellowed down the main hatch. Moments later, six slim booms were hoisted up, and the crew began the laborious process of hauling them up to the yards. Thillion reached the foretop long before the additional sails were rigged.
"Captain!" the mate called down. "They're using some kind of magic! Crewmen on the quarterdeck are holding open a big sack, and it's throwing an incredible wind into the sails!"
"No wonder Gray Corsairs have a reputation for outsailing any ship on the sea. They carry their own wind!" Torius watched the galleon continue to edge ahead, even as Stargazer's stunsails filled and drew. He gauged the wind, the chase, and their angles of approach, and ordered the helm a point to starboard. When Thillion returned from the foretop, he explained his strategy.
"Blaine's charging right up the galley's wake. If both ships hold that course, she can use her catapult to pound the galley's transom. My bet is that the galley will veer and give Gold Wing a broadside before the Andorens can close and board. If we can arrive before they grapple, we can pin the galley between us and rake her. If we get there late, we'll have to board. We can't afford to kill any Gray Corsairs with a stray shot."
"If Gold Wing would slow, it would help."
Torius shook his head. "Blaine doesn't trust us. She may even think we plan to join the slavers against her, which would explain her tactics."
"She can't hope to finish off the galley before we arrive, can she?"
"I wouldn't think so, but I don't know her." He ordered Windy to steer one more point to starboard to broaden their angle. "If we look like we mean to engage the galley, maybe she'll believe we're on her side."
Pirate's Promise Page 18
