Prince of the Blood, the King's Buccaneer

by Raymond E. Feist

  Nicholas motioned for Amos, Ghuda, and the other two to accompany him back to his room and said, ‘Where are they?’

  Just then the door opened, and as Nicholas had his sword half out of its scabbard, a sleepy Nakor entered. ‘I heard you from the next room.’ He yawned, then said, ‘Where are the girls?’

  Calis said, ‘There is a small apartment in the southeastern corner of the estate, two rooms and a small garden. One of the rooms is empty. Margaret and Abigail are in the other.’

  Nicholas said, ‘Are they all right?’

  ‘It is hard to say. I saw two Abigails.’

  ‘They’re making copies,’ said Nicholas. ‘Why are they not with the others?’

  Calis shrugged. Nakor said, ‘Maybe they need them for different reasons.’

  ‘“Them” being the girls or the copies?’ asked Marcus.

  ‘Either.’ Nakor shrugged. ‘I’m guessing. But they are the only nobles among the prisoners, right?’ The others all agreed. ‘Then perhaps they will be subjected to closer scrutiny?’

  Nicholas said, ‘You’re right. But how did they expect to pass off all these counterfeits?’

  Amos said, ‘They have two copies of Kingdom warships. It’s clear to me that they intended to capture the Royal Eagle at Barran, take her off to somewhere near Freeport, then sink her.’

  Marcus said, ‘Wait. Why not sail her down here? Why go through all the trouble of making a copy?’

  Amos said, ‘Perhaps they didn’t have enough men to sail her back here along with the black ship. They hired a lot of foreigners, including Durbin slavers and Tsurani assassins. They recruited men from Kesh and renegades from Freeport. They may not have had many men to spare for the journey, and they certainly didn’t want witnesses from our part of the world coming back here with them.’ He scratched his chin. ‘It’s been known since last winter that your father intended to establish that garrison at Barran, Marcus. And given the normal patrols I’d established, and the newer Dragon being the new flagship of the fleet, the Eagle was almost certain to be the ship sent to the Far Coast.’ He shook his head. ‘This has been long in planning. Nicholas, if either the Gull or Eagle came sailing into Krondor – with someone claiming to be a common sailor at the helm, claiming all the officers were dead – the people on the ship might convince your father that they had been carried down to Kesh, somehow conspired with the survivors of the raid to escape, or some other nonsense. Especially if they’re all drilled in the same story. Arutha would have no reason not to believe them, and as most of those returning are from the Far Coast, who would recognize their behavior as strange?’

  Nicholas said, ‘But sooner or later someone from Carse or Crydee would come to see Abigail or Margaret.’ He didn’t mention Martin by name, for he and Marcus both knew he might be dead.

  Ghuda said, ‘Being hauled off by slavers would change a person, so odd behavior for a while wouldn’t arouse suspicion. I’ve seen people who couldn’t remember their own family after surviving a raid.’

  ‘But only for a while,’ Marcus pointed out. Thoughtfully he said, ‘Sooner or later someone would make a mistake and give away the ruse. Which means that they don’t expect the impersonations to be necessary for more than a few weeks, a few months at most.’

  ‘So now we’re back to why they’re doing this in the first place.’ Nicholas made a dismissive motion with his hand. ‘Well, if they’re undermanned, that explains why they’ve kept this city and region on the edge of a low boil for twenty years.’

  Marcus said, ‘You mean secretly causing trouble between the clans while appearing to be a mediator?’

  Nicholas nodded. ‘Makes sense. If this Overlord has a secret agenda, causing himself trouble such as a betrayed alliance makes sense. He looks as much like a victim of plots as the clans. If all had gone according to plan, he would have killed a lot of young clansmen, some mercenaries, and the Ranjana and her maids. He risked only a few men in battle.’ Nicholas shook his head. ‘And the clans would have found themselves in the position of trying to persuade him they weren’t responsible!’

  Amos said, ‘Of course. If the clans think his plan is to take control of the city and displace them, they’d welcome any setback he suffers. But if they think someone else is trying to cause trouble, they’d try to make peace with him. And all the time he really doesn’t care about consolidating his holdings.’ He brightened. ‘The appearance of might is just as good as real might.’

  Nakor said, ‘There are not many soldiers inside the palace. I saw some in the barracks outside, but inside, there were only some in the great hall, and none anywhere else. There are few living there; not many servants or guards. It is mostly empty. It is like Dahakon’s estate.’

  Calis said, ‘That was my experience. I saw only a few men, none armed, and most of the buildings were deserted.’

  Ghuda said, ‘If I didn’t need to really fight anyone, I could keep things lively around here with as few as a hundred men, especially if I turned them out in different company uniforms from time to time, and had some dressed as Red Slayers.’

  Nicholas said, ‘What are they doing? Why these copies of our people?’

  Amos said, ‘We can speculate later, but what we need to do now is see if we can take one of those ships.’

  Nicholas nodded. ‘Marcus, I know you’re tired, but go with Amos. Take Ghuda with you.’

  They left. Nicholas said, ‘Calis, rest for a while. Then you, Nakor, and I will make a plan to get into the estate and free the prisoners.’

  Calis said, ‘Very well.’ He left as well.

  Nakor said, ‘I’ve rested. I’m going shopping.’

  ‘What for?’

  ‘Some things I will need. Dahakon is being kept busy by Pug. But his woman, this Lady Clovis, she will cause trouble for us.’

  ‘Why?’ asked Nicholas.

  ‘You know what Praji said about her being a soul drinker?’

  Nicholas nodded, his face showing his concern. ‘Is she?’

  Nakor shook his head emphatically. ‘No, no. That’s a story to scare people.’

  Nicholas said, ‘That’s a relief.’

  ‘She’s something else.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘I don’t know. I have a thought. Can’t be sure until I talk to her.’

  ‘You’re going to talk to her?’ Nicholas was astonished.

  Nakor grinned. ‘Maybe. I’d rather avoid that, but you never can tell; I may not have a choice. I do know she’s very dangerous.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘Because she’s the one who is running things.’

  ‘This raid?’

  Nakor shook his head. ‘I mean everything. She’s the one who controls Dahakon and the Overlord. She’s the true power behind all the strange things in this city. She’s the real danger here. It is likely she is the one in contact with the Pantathians.’

  Nicholas said, ‘Can you face her?’

  Nakor laughed. ‘Facing her is easy. Surviving is hard.’

  Nicholas was forced to laugh. ‘What do you need?’

  ‘Oh, some things. And I’ll need Anthony with me.’

  ‘Ask him. I think he’ll go.’

  ‘Probably. He’s like that,’ said Nakor. ‘I will be back before nightfall.’

  He left the room, and Nicholas sat down to think. He began reviewing the timing of the elements of his plan in his head. The ship would have to be taken and sailed through the outer harbor to the river mouth, where it would meet the boats and load cargo and passengers aboard. The boats would have to be taken from the river docks to a beach near the burned-out farmhouse to pick up the prisoners, then move down the river to meet the ship. The prisoners would have to be freed from the estate and moved to the farm and defended until the boats got there.

  He fell back on his bed and threw his arm across his eyes. His left foot began to throb. ‘This will never work,’ he groaned.

  Ghuda stood on the roof of the hostel, atop an observation platform once used t
o alert those inside the small complex of approaching trouble. Praji and Nakor climbed up the small ladder from inside the building.

  ‘What are you doing up here?’ asked Praji. ‘Nicholas wants us to make plans.’

  Ghuda held up his hand. ‘In a minute.’

  Nakor said, ‘Oh.’

  Ghuda pointed to the sunset. ‘You once said, “There are sunsets above other oceans, Ghuda. Mighty sights and great wonders to behold.” Remember?’

  Nakor grinned. ‘To get you to come along.’

  Ghuda smiled. ‘I haven’t taken the time to watch one. Thought this might be my last opportunity.’

  Praji said, ‘Grim talk.’

  Ghuda shrugged. ‘I’m not one given to premonitions, or fatal resignation, but in our line of work …’

  Praji nodded, saying nothing.

  The sun lowered over the city. From their vantage point at the southern end of the bazaar, a vast sea of roofs led off in all directions. The city curved back along the bay on one side, the estuary on the other, so that beyond the buildings to the west they could see the ocean, a thin strip of blue water along the horizon.

  The sun sank lower, an orange ball partially masked by the evening haze, moisture coming in from the water. Low clouds presented black faces, with silver, golden, pink, and orange highlights, and the sky was streaked with reds and golds.

  The orb of the sun lowered until it disappeared, and at the last instant, they saw a green flash. Ghuda smiled. ‘I’ve never seen that before.’

  Nakor said, ‘Most people don’t. You have to watch a lot of sunsets over water to see it. Clouds have to be right in the sky and the weather must be right, and even then you can miss it. I have seen it only once before in my life.’

  Praji said, ‘Worth the watching.’ He laughed. ‘Come along. That’s the last fun we may have for a while.’

  Ghuda lingered a moment, then said, ‘Wonders to behold.’ He turned and followed the others below.

  • CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE •

  Escape

  HARRY RAN INTO THE ROOM.

  Nicholas asked, ‘What?’

  Breathlessly he said, ‘There’s a detachment of the Overlord’s soldiers heading this way.’

  ‘Here?’ asked Marcus, standing up and pushing back his chair.

  ‘Maybe. I don’t know. They’re crossing the bazaar and heading down the street. And they don’t look happy.’

  Nicholas said, ‘Brisa, get up on the roof and shout if they’re coming this way.’ He barked orders to the men of Crydee, who hurried to carry them out. It was midday, and a half-dozen strangers were in the common room. Nicholas shouted, ‘Anyone here who doesn’t wish to find himself in the middle of a fight better leave now!’

  A couple of men ran for the door, while others moved in a more sedate fashion. Suddenly Nakor shouted, ‘Nicholas! That man! Don’t let him go!’

  Nicholas spun around as a thin man in nondescript workman’s clothing hurried toward the door. Nicholas leaped to stop him, drawing his dagger. The man pulled a dagger from his belt and lashed out. Vaja stepped up behind the man, hoisted his sword high, and slammed the bell guard down on the smaller man’s head. He collapsed to the floor, the dagger falling from limp fingers. Ghuda and Praji quickly hoisted the man to his feet, bleeding slightly from a scalp wound.

  ‘Get him out of here,’ said Amos. ‘Someone clean up the mess.’

  Ghuda and Praji dragged the semiconscious attacker into the back room. Harry knelt and cleaned up the blood with a bar rag, then tossed it to Keeler, who hid it behind the bar.

  Nicholas asked Nakor, ‘What was that about?’

  ‘I’ll tell you after the soldiers have left,’ answered Nakor as he hurried toward the back room.

  Nicholas said, ‘Marcus, you, Calis, and Harry wait in the back with Ghuda and Praji. Vaja, stay close. Everyone try to look surprised when those soldiers come in, but the moment I give the word …’

  Marcus said, ‘We’ll be ready,’ as they headed for the back room.

  In the common room, they sat, but hands rested near sword hilts, and they inspected the room, noticing the position of tables and anticipating the best lines of attack if they had to leave their chairs quickly. Four men stood at the bar, looking into half-empty mugs, daggers hidden out of sight but ready. Keeler cocked a heavy crossbow behind the bar.

  Nicholas heard a voice of female outrage and knew the Ranjana was complaining about something. He was half out of his chair to investigate when the door flew open and an officer and four guards came into the room. The officer wore a uniform similar to that worn by the twenty men Nicholas had encountered at Shingazi’s Landing.

  ‘Who commands here?’ he asked loudly.

  Nicholas continued coming to his feet and said, ‘I do. I’m Captain Nicholas.’

  The man’s eyes instantly flicked to look at Nicholas’s feet. The Prince felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up, but he willed himself to calmness. All the captain saw was two normal boots.

  ‘We understand you have a girl with you,’ said the captain, slowly, his voice deep, his words chosen carefully. ‘If she is who we think she is, you may be eligible for a reward.’

  Nicholas forced a grin. ‘Girl? We don’t have any girl with us.’

  The captain of the guard motioned for his men to spread out. ‘Search every room.’

  Nicholas moved to put himself between the closest guardsman and the hallway leading to the rear. ‘I have a couple of sick men back there; I don’t want them disturbed. I said we don’t have any girl with us.’ His voice was loud and his words enunciated clearly. He let his hand rest on his belt knife.

  The guardsman looked over his shoulder, awaiting instructions. The captain turned to the man closest to the door and nodded. That soldier opened the door, and another dozen men filed into the room. ‘We prefer to see for ourselves,’ said the captain after his men were inside.

  Nicholas said, ‘I prefer that you don’t.’

  ‘What’s all the noise?’ asked a feminine voice from behind.

  Nicholas turned to see Brisa appear at the door to the back. He glanced at Amos and Anthony, both of whom stared at the girl. She was without her usual man’s shirt or blouse beneath – which hung open, showing off a much fuller bosom than Nicholas had suspected, and a slender waist and flat stomach. Around her hips stretched a thin skirt, gathered up in a large knot at one hip, hanging precariously off the other, and tracing every curve of thigh and leg as she moved. Her hair was tousled and she yawned. She moved languidly across the room, swaying her hips in an exaggerated fashion. Reaching Nicholas’s side, she slipped her arm through his and said, ‘Why all the yelling, Nicky?’

  The guard captain said. ‘You lied to me!’

  Nicholas responded, ‘I said we had no girl with us. This is my woman.’ As a guard moved toward the hallway, Nicholas said, ‘I still don’t want you back there.’

  Brisa said, ‘Oh, I don’t mind,’ adding, to the captain, ‘Our room is a mess, so please be careful.’

  Nicholas glanced at her and she nodded slightly. ‘Very well,’ he said.

  A half-dozen soldiers moved back into the rear of the hostel, to reappear a few minutes later. ‘No sign of any other women, Captain. Just some sick men lying in the common sleeping room in the back.’

  The captain threw Nicholas a long look, then turned and left without comment. Nicholas nodded once to one of his own men, who glanced through the shutters on the window. ‘They’re leaving, Captain,’ he reported.

  Nicholas turned to Brisa. ‘Where are they?’

  ‘Up on the roof,’ said the girl with a relieved expression. ‘Nakor and Calis are up there with him.’

  Nicholas grinned. ‘You’re brilliant.’

  ‘This wasn’t my idea,’ she said, her voice turning angry as she noticed every man in the room staring at her. She pulled the tiny vest closed in front, then crossed her arms when the small garment wouldn’t adequately cover her. ‘Nakor heard you yelling at the capt
ain. That litle bastard pulled me off the ladder when I started to climb to the roof like you told me. Then he pushed me into the Ranjana’s room, and told Calis, Marcus, and Harry to take the girls up on the roof and pull up the ladder through the trapdoor in the ceiling. Next he grabbed my shirt and pulled it open – ripped all the buttons off and had it off me in a blink! Before I could move, he yanked my trousers down around my ankles and I was standing there starkers! Then he pushes me into this pile of clothing that witch had and said to put on something skimpy and get out and distract everyone for a few minutes.’

  Amos grinned. ‘Well, my pretty wench, you certain did that.’

  Blushing furiously, the girl turned and headed back toward the Ranjana’s quarters. ‘I’ve never been so embarrassed in my life – parading around half-naked like a Keshian tavern dancer! I’m going to kill that little monkey!’

  Nicholas watched her disappearing into the hall, and the way her hips moved under the skimpy skirt. Amos’s hand fell on his shoulder and he heard Trask say, ‘Harry’s a lucky fellow. She is one fine-looking young woman.’

  Nicholas smiled for a moment, then his expression turned serious. ‘We’ve got to leave tonight. Did you see the way that captain looked at my foot when I told him my name?’

  ‘Yes. They’re looking for you and anyone else who might have come here from Crydee.’ He rubbed his chin. ‘Remember, unless they sent someone back to check, they don’t know the Raptor has sunk. They may be expecting those they didn’t kill at Crydee to be after them any day now. If Nakor’s right and this Lady Clovis is behind everything, she might suspect you were on the vessel following her black ship. Her raiders probably got a description of everyone important at Crydee from that Quegan trader Vasarius. They know who wasn’t killed during the raid. If Martin had been leading here …’He shook his head. ‘Who knows what might have happened.’

  Nicholas said, ‘I’m glad they didn’t see Marcus and Harry. Two cousins who looked like brothers and a redheaded young man of the same general age would have been too much of a coincidence. They still may come back.’