Anthony said, “Lashed up on deck. Nakor and I wouldn’t let it be put down there. Too dangerous.”
“Ah, Nicholas,” said a familiar voice from below. Nicholas glanced down and found Nakor sitting on an empty bed, looking at the people who were resting on about half the beds in sight. There was nothing unusual about any of them, and Nicholas was startled to recognize some from having seen them around the town and in the castle at Crydee.
“I…it’s amazing,” he said softly.
“Do you begin to see?” asked Anthony. “These creatures could return to the Kingdom and walk among us, spreading the disease until half the Western Realm was infected. Even if your father’s influence could get Stardock and the temples to deal with the problem, there would be chaos throughout the Kingdom for years after these creatures set foot ashore.”
“Nakor,” Nicholas called down, “have you learned anything useful?”
“Yes,” said the little man. “Lower the rope.”
Nicholas looked around and saw a rope had been tied to an iron loop in the wall. He lowered it, and the little man shinnied up.
When he was standing next to Nicholas, he pulled up the rope and said, “They are essentially harmless until the disease begins.”
Nicholas stared down at the upturned faces. Some ventured shy smiles. A few spoke soft words of greeting. The Prince turned away and said, “Looking at them unnerves me.” He returned to the crew quarters, where Marcus and Ghuda waited. The sight of the real prisoners, haggard and ill from their ordeal, seemed to put things back in perspective for Nicholas.
Anthony said, “That’s the problem.”
“What?”
“We have to kill those things.”
“What?” said Nicholas.
Nakor nodded agreement. “They will grow ill. Not for weeks, because it would not do to have them become ill before they reach the Kingdom, yes? But they may be able to infect now. I do not know how; we only know it will spread. Some temples think it is evil spirits, while others think it is tainted air. My theory—”
Nicholas interrupted. “Why must we kill them? Why not just stick them on an island somewhere?”
“We don’t know if we’re being chased,” said Marcus. “It wouldn’t do to have them dropped off on some island and have those who follow pick them up the next day. They might not be able to insinuate a false Abby or Margaret into your father’s palace, but they could bring thirty plague carriers in to Krondor easily enough.”
Nicholas said, “How do we do it?”
Nakor said, “It is difficult. I am hard to kill—I would have to be exposed to this illness far longer than anyone else on the ship to succumb—so I should be the one to go down. I can mix something into the water to make them sleep, very deeply. If you lower a cargo net, I can pile them all into it, and you can lower them over the side.”
“Can’t you mix something into their water to kill them painlessly?” asked Nicholas.
Nakor said, “No. Too dangerous. The death of these creatures might act to release the disease to others. There is no way to know. We must be very careful. I would prefer to burn the bodies, but that is impossible here at sea.”
“It sounds cruel,” said Nicholas. “To drown them in their sleep.”
Ghuda said, “It is cruel, lad. But life is often cruel. If you need to steel your resolve, just remember those poor dead and injured back in Crydee.”
Nicholas sighed. “I doubt these poor creatures knew of that. Still, your point is taken.” Looking at Nakor, he said, “Do it.”
Nakor left. Then Nicholas said, “We need to stop to put ashore the boatmen and the mercenaries.”
“That poses something of a problem,” said Ghuda.
“Why?”
Marcus answered, “Because without them, we’re not going to have enough men to sail this ship and board and take the other. We took this one because those who sailed it didn’t expect to be hit coming out of the harbor. The fraudulent Gull saw us take this ship. They’ll be looking for us, and they’ll know we’re after her. Expect a dogfight.”
Nicholas said, “Let’s go talk to them.”
Walking up on deck, Nicholas found the Ranjana and her maids taking air at the front of the ship with Brisa. She smiled broadly at Nicholas and called after him concerning his health. He made a noncommittal gesture and a meaningless response as he hurried to the main deck. He signaled Tuka to gather the boatmen to him, and moved to confront the mercenaries. When they were all assembled, he said, “My name is Nicholas. I am the son of Arutha conDoin, Prince of Krondor.”
The boatmen and mercenaries all looked blankly at him, for the names meant nothing to them. Praji said, “We were talking about bonuses and going ashore, Prince.”
Nicholas said, “You know we chase a ship that’s twin to this. I can’t spare the time to stop, but I can slow enough to lower a boat and have those of you who wish to, leave.” Some muttering began. “I will pay every man here the bonus I spoke of.” Over his shoulder he said, “Marcus, go find that chest of gold I had brought aboard.”
Marcus and Ghuda hurried off. Nicholas said, “I offer much more for those of you who will stay.”
“How much more?” asked Praji.
“Watch,” said Nicholas. In a minute, Ghuda and Marcus returned carrying the chest. They set it heavily on the deck, and Nicholas opened it. The boatmen goggled and the mercenaries made low sounds in their throats at the sight of the gold and jewels. Nicholas said, “Tuka, take from the chest what I promised your men.”
The little wagon driver hesitated, then reached into the chest. He fished around in it, finding a few small silver coins and some of the smallest gold coins. He finally stood up and held out a handful of coins for Nicholas’s inspection. “This is what is due to the rivermen, Encosi.”
Nicholas nodded. “Praji, fish out what’s due your men.”
Praji was less hesitant, but he still pulled out only a single handful of coins. Nicholas said, “Pass them out.”
Each did so. Then Nicholas picked up a handful of gold and said, “Pass these out as well.” Praji took the coins and spread them around to each man, who all looked surprised and pleased.
Then Nicholas said, “Praji, hold your hands out.”
Praji did so, and Nicholas filled them with coins. Praji’s eyes grew enormous, and the boatmen all stood in mute amazement. “What I’ve given you is your bonus. Any man who leaves now will take that with him.” He then pointed at the gold in Praji’s hands. “But those who come with me, to my homeland, to those I will give this, and more!”
The boatmen and mercenaries spoke among themselves, and Praji said, “Prince, where is this land of yours?”
“Across the Blue Sea, Praji. Three months’ sailing, and more. The other side of the world.”
Quickly a small group split off and Tuka said, “Encosi, these men, while overwhelmed by your generosity, have wives and children and would die to be parted from them. They would ask you to put them ashore.”
“Done.” Glancing at the others, he said, “You’ll stay?”
“To the other side of the world, Prince,” said Praji.
Orders were passed and a boat was made ready. As he went to confront the Ranjana, Nicholas turned to Praji and said, “I didn’t realize we had so many single men with us.”
“We don’t,” said the mercenary. “Just that some of them won’t die to be parted from their wives and children.”
Nicholas shook his head. He found the Ranjana and her maids talking with Margaret and Abigail. Nicholas said, “My lady, I’m putting a boat ashore. Five of the boatmen and three of the mercenaries are returning to the City of the Serpent River. They will act as your escort. I will provide funds sufficient to return you to your father.”
“No,” said the girl.
Nicholas had half turned away, then stopped. “No?” he asked.
“I will not be put ashore so far from civilization. Besides, were I to return home, my father would have me beate
n and sold to a camel driver.”
Nicholas said, “Look, I don’t know what you’re playing at, but Andres Rusolavi’s agent, Anward Nogosh Pata, assures me your father is a kind man who loves you, and you will in no way be punished by returning home.”
The girl’s manner changed. “You are right. I have lied. I wish to remain for another reason.”
“What?” said Nicholas, nearing the end of his patience.
Suddenly the girl was pressing against him, her arms around his neck. “You have won my heart, my brave captain.” She kissed Nicholas passionately on the lips. As the flustered Prince attempted to disengage himself, she said, “I will be your wife.”
Nicholas looked over the shoulder of the now firmly attached Ranjana to see Margaret and Abigail, Marcus and Ghuda fighting hard not to break out laughing.
23
SEA CHASE
The lookout shouted.
“Ship ahoy!”
Nicholas disentangled himself from the Ranjana’s interminable protestations of undying love, and shouted, “Where away?”
“Dead astern.”
He put his hand urgently on the girl’s chest and shoved her away with enough force that her maids had to catch her to keep her from falling. He raced to the stern and climbed to the quarterdeck, then scanned the horizon. After a moment he saw a tiny black speck.
“Mr. Pickens,” he said, “how long to put ashore the boatmen and mercenaries?”
The first mate scanned the shore and said, “If we heave to, an hour or more, but if we slow to a crawl, and lose a jolly boat, fifteen minutes.”
Nicholas indicated all those upon the deck. “Can we get all of those into a boat?”
“Not and have it stay afloat in the surf, Captain. Three trips, four would be better.”
Nicholas swore. “How long before that ship’s here?”
“Hard to say,” said the sailor. “If it’s the ship that tried to intercept us night before last, about an hour. If it’s something else…” He let the thought go unfinished.
“Right.” Nicholas made a decision. “Make ready to stand to, Mr. Pickens.” To those on the lower deck he shouted, “Get ready to put a jolly boat over the side!”
Sailors hurried to unlimber one of the large boats lashed upside down over the rear hatch cover. A boom was swung over and the boat was quickly raised, moved to just over the side, and then lowered. The boatmen and mercenaries who were the most anxious to leave scampered down a pair of rope ladders, with two sailors. When they were in the boat, they rowed furiously toward the shore, and Nicholas watched with concern as they entered the combers, then shot the breakers to the beach. Two of the boatmen helped launch the boat back into the water, and the two sailors pulled hard to get the boat through the breakers.
“This is taking too long,” said Nicholas as he glanced to where the pursuing ship was growing larger on the horizon. The boat reached the side of the Eagle, and the second batch of boatmen and mercenaries scampered down.
As the jolly boat reached the beach, the lookout called, “Captain, I see her colors!”
Nicholas looked at the approaching ship and saw that she carried a black sail. “What ensign?” he called.
“She flies a black flag with a golden serpent.”
Praji called up, “She’s the Overlord’s.”
Nicholas stared hard at the approaching ship and the angle of her movement. “Mr. Pickens, I’m no deep-water veteran, but I’d say that ship is moving against the wind.”
The sailor studied her for a minute, and said, “Yes, Captain. You’re not a veteran, but she is indeed moving against the wind.”
A moment later, the lookout cried, “Captain, she mounts a ram on her bow!”
“War galley. She can ignore the wind and row straight at us,” said Nicholas. “I never saw one in the harbor.”
Praji shouted up from the main deck, “The Overlord has a private pond fed by the estuary; he keeps his own fleet there.”
“Some pond,” said Ghuda.
“That’s the Overlord’s droman,” said Praji. “Two banks of oars a side, and a ram and boarding bridge on the bow. She mounts a catapult on the sterncastle and a ballista before the mast, too.”
“Make ready to sail, Mr. Pickens,” ordered Nicholas. “I’m not letting that bitch get close enough to fire on us.” He moved to the rail overlooking the main deck and shouted down, “When the jolly boat’s alongside, put the Ranjana and her maids off, and whoever else will fit, and the rest of you will have to swim. We are leaving.”
Marcus glanced around and said, “Nicholas, the girl. She’s not here.”
“Find her!” shouted Nicholas. “We have no time for her silliness!”
Marcus hurried back toward the girls’ cabin, and when the jolly boat was again next to the ship, the last of the boatmen and two mercenaries hurried down the ladder. Shouts erupted from the cabin below the quarterdeck, and Calis and Ghuda hurried to investigate. A squirming, kicking, biting, scratching Ranjana was being hauled out by Marcus, while Brisa, Abigail, and Margaret herded the maids behind her. “Give her some gold to buy her way home, and put her over the side!” commanded Nicholas.
“I will not go home!” shrieked the girl, doing her best to claw her way out of Marcus’s grip. “The Rahajan will kill me!”
“So much for undying love,” said Brisa, glancing at Margaret with a wicked grin.
A shout from the jolly boat and splashes in the water caused a sailor to look over the side. “Captain,” he called, “the mercenaries have taken the jolly boat.”
Two more of Praji’s mercenaries looked over the rail and shouted, then climbed up and leaped into the water after the fleeing boat. “Should we put another boat over, Captain?” asked Pickens.
Looking at the war galley as it began to draw down on the Eagle, Nicholas said, “No, there’s no time.”
Marcus shouted, “Should I pitch her over the side?”
The girl screamed, “No! I cannot swim! I’ll drown!”
Nicholas threw his hands up in resignation and said, “No. Put her down.” Making a noise of unalloyed aggravation, he said, “Get us out of here, Mr. Pickens. Full sail!”
“Make ready on all sheets and shrouds!” cried the first mate. “Raise anchor.”
Slowly at first, the Eagle moved forward, then, as her sails billowed and she caught the wind, she moved through the water like a dolphin.
Nicholas looked at the pursuing ship and asked, “Are they close enough to fire on us?”
As if in answer, a fireball arced from the deck of the droman and landed with a hissing splash a dozen yards abaft the ship. Calmly Pickens said, “Well, let’s just hope we don’t run out of wind before they run out of muscle.”
Across the water, Nicholas could hear the faint sound of the drum used to set the pace for the rowers. Turning his back on the other ship, Nicholas said, “They can’t hold attack speed very long. The slaves will begin fainting at the oars.”
Pickens nodded. “They’ve still got their own sail, Captain.”
Nicholas looked back again, as the evil-looking black and gold sail billowed in the wind. “They can’t overtake us with wind.”
“No, Captain, but they could stay close enough to give us serious trouble if the wind dies.”
“Then pray for a strong wind, Mr. Pickens. We’ve a long way to home.”
“Aye, Captain.”
Nicholas went back to the main deck and confronted the Ranjana, who stood defiantly with her fists upon her hips. “You will not put me ashore!” she commanded.
Nicholas stopped, started to speak, stopped, then made another sound of aggravation. He turned his back and walked to his cabin.
Examining the damage the girl had done to his arm, Marcus said, “It’s a good thing he didn’t order me to chuck you over the side, girl.”
The Ranjana turned and pulled a small jeweled dagger from the wide waistband of her skirt. Pointing it at Marcus, she said, “Yes, it was a good thing!”
Harry said, “I think Nicholas is going to find that out soon enough.”
Margaret and Abigail both looked on in amazement, and Margaret said, “You said she was difficult, but nothing about being murderous.”
Abigail came to Marcus and made soothing noises, to his embarrassment, as she examined the scratches. Abigail then said, “What did you mean, Nicholas is going to find that out, Harry?”
It was Brisa who answered. “Let’s just say that girl will find some way to get Nicholas to do what she wants. There’s a lot more to her than she’s letting on.”
Harry nodded. “And Nicholas doesn’t exactly have a lot of experience with women.”
Margaret said, “And you do, Squire? This from the lad who blushed when I teased him in the garden?”
Marcus said, “A lot has happened since we last saw you, sister.”
Harry said, “My friend, you have a knack for understatement,” and burst out laughing. A moment later, so did Ghuda, and soon everyone in the group was laughing.
—
NICHOLAS TRIED TO sleep; he’d kicked off his boots, but lay fully clothed on the bunk. Close to exhaustion, he still couldn’t get his mind to cease racing with worry. The Overlord’s ship dogged their heels. Whoever was captaining it was skilled at using wind and oars to cut the distance whenever he had the chance. Pickens had said they’d leave the droman behind once they stopped following the coast and turned to move across the sea. Nicholas had eaten alone in his cabin, after sitting for a while with Amos in his. Then he had attempted to puzzle out Amos’s log, deciphering the Admiral’s notes and abbreviations regarding currents and wind. Nicholas knew enough of sailing to know that they couldn’t literally retrace their way home—they had to find a route close to the way down, but one that took advantage of currents and winds blowing in the opposite direction from the way they had come. Otherwise they’d be on the tack for hundreds of miles.
The King's Buccaneer Page 54
