'You seem to be busy today.'
'We're always busy here!' said the landlord. 'Traders from all over the known world come to Ramalat to sell their goods.' He filled two tankards from a huge barrel and set them before his new customers. 'That'll be two croats,' he said. Cornelius found his moneybag and handed over the coins, which the landlord tested between his strange teeth before dropping them into his purse.
'New in town?' he asked.
'Yes,' said Cornelius. 'We've travelled here from Keladon.'
The man's eyebrows raised slightly. 'Keladon! That's quite a distance. I heard there's been a big ruckus over there. Some kind of uprising against the king.'
'Yes,' said Sebastian. 'We were the ones who—' He broke off as Cornelius elbowed him in the ribs.
'– saw some of it,' continued his friend. 'I understand it was quite a nasty business. But they say the new queen is well-loved by her people.' He gave Sebastian a sly look, warning him not to say anything further on the matter.
'So what brings you gentlemen here?' asked the landlord.
'My friend and I have need of a ship and a captain,' said Cornelius. 'We'd be willing to pay handsomely for the right one.' He leaned over the bar and adopted a conspiratorial air. 'I don't suppose you could recommend somebody reliable?'
The big man thought for a moment. His expression remained blank until Cornelius reached once again into his moneybag and placed an extra croat on the counter.
'Well, sir, I will tell you this,' he said. 'The captain and the crew of the Sea Witch are in today. You'll find them in the snug.' He indicated a small room at the other end of the bar. 'They've been sitting around for quite a few days now with time on their hands. They often undertake work for various people and I understand they are honest which, believe me, is a pretty rare thing among seafaring folk.'
Cornelius nodded and placed another coin on the bar. 'Thanks for the tip,' he said. 'And have a couple of drinks on us.'
The landlord gave his shell-encrusted grin and once again tested each coin with his teeth before slipping them into his purse.
Sebastian and Cornelius took their tankards and pushed their way through the crowds towards the snug.
'Why did you stop me telling him that we led the uprising in Keladon?' asked Sebastian.
'I didn't think it was a good idea to go advertising the fact. This is supposed to be a low-key operation – the last thing we want to do is draw attention to ourselves.'
Sebastian nodded. He could see the sense in that.
In the snug they found a motley collection of some ten or so sailors slumped around a huge oak table, nursing drinks and looking distinctly bored. Sebastian realized that it was one of the sailors who was making the 'music', alternately opening and closing a strange box that rested on his lap. None of the other men were giving him any encouragement to continue but he was going at it anyway, his craggy, weather-beaten face a picture of concentration. One tall character, wearing the flamboyant three-cornered hat of a sea captain, was facing away from Sebastian and Cornelius, staring out of the open window.
Cornelius stepped up to the table and cleared his throat. 'Good day to you!' he said. 'Do I have the honour of addressing the captain of the Sea Witch?'
The figure nodded but didn't turn.
'Excellent,' he went on. 'I am here, sir, to see if you would be willing to hire out your ship and crew to me and my friend. We wish to make an expedition and need the services of somebody reliable. I can assure you that you would be handsomely rewarded for your work.'
The figure turned, and Sebastian was shocked to see that the captain was a young woman, dressed in the frock coat and breeches of a man. Though a tangle of long red curls spilled out from beneath her hat and over her shoulders, she had an evil-looking cutlass strapped around her slender waist, and the confident look in her deep-brown eyes announced to the world that she was not to be underestimated. She studied the two of them for a moment and then smiled.
'Come, sit at the table, gentlemen,' she said. 'We'll have a drink together and see if we can come to some arrangement.'
CHAPTER 11
JENNA SWIFT
Sebastian found a seat beside the captain and Cornelius was able to locate a high stool which, when customized by the addition of several cushions, brought him up to the level of the other drinkers. Sebastian settled himself in his chair and then allowed himself a quick glance around the table.
The crew of the Sea Witch were a fearsome-looking bunch and no mistake; and they were all regarding him with flat, unflinching gazes, as though challenging his very right to be sitting at this table. Sebastian had never seen such a collection of strangely shaped noses, rotten teeth and missing limbs in his entire life. The man who had been playing the musical instrument grinned at Sebastian, revealing teeth that were made not of shell like the landlord's, but predominantly of what looked like pure gold. He had an ancient leather patch over one eye and huge silver hoops through his earlobes.
'Welcome, lads,' he said, extending a filthy hand to shake. 'I'm Lemuel, the captain's first mate. Everyone calls me Lem.'
Sebastian took Lemuel's hand and nearly had his fingers crushed to a pulp by the man's powerful grip. He was glad to turn his attention to the captain, who was a lot better looking than Lemuel but had just as firm a grip. As he shook her hand, trying not to wince with the pain of it, Sebastian saw that she was still appraising him, a curious half-smile on her lips.
'I'm Captain Jenna Swift,' she said in a deep, slightly husky voice. 'Who do I have the pleasure of addressing?'
'Ermm . . . Sebastian Darke. I'm—'
'– former Prince of Fools and jester to the court of King Septimus of Keladon,' finished Cornelius. Sebastian glanced at him, surprised.
'A jester, eh?' Jenna seemed pleased to hear this news. 'We could do with a few laughs around here, couldn't we, lads?' There were general yells, grunts and curses of agreement.
She looked at Sebastian thoughtfully, appraising his tattered-looking outfit. 'Where's your hat?' she asked him. 'Jesters wear special hats, do they not?'
'I'm not Prince of Fools any more,' protested Sebastian. 'I've given it all up. Now I'm . . . I'm . . .'
'Prince of Pirates!' announced Cornelius dramatically.
Jenna looked none too impressed by this. 'We're not too keen on pirates at this table,' she said coldly.
'Of course not!' said Cornelius without hesitation. 'The title
does not suggest that he is a pirate, but that he is a vanquisher of them.'
Lemuel's bristly jaw dropped several notches. 'What, him?' he growled. 'He don't look capable of vanquishing a rice pudding.'
'Ah, don't let his slender appearance deceive you,' insisted Cornelius. 'Why, this young lad has taken on the roughest, scurviest of adversaries and, by the power of his mighty sword, tossed them into the ocean like chaff. Like chaff, I say!'
There was an incredulous silence after this.
'Thanks a bundle,' muttered Sebastian, already wishing that Cornelius had kept his mouth shut. 'I thought you said we were going to keep a low profile.' He decided that the very least he could do was return the favour: 'May I in turn introduce Captain Cornelius Drummel, late of the Golmiran army, and former member of the Crimson Cloak. Killer of Brigands, hero of one thousand battles to the death, feared exponent of the Golmiran death leap and heroic slaughterer of man-eating lupers.'
There was another silence while everyone considered this information and then looked disbelievingly at the tiny figure seated on cushions before them.
Cornelius gave a weak smile. 'All true,' he said. 'But my friend did exaggerate about the one thousand battles to the death. It's more like . . . ooh, nine hundred and twenty.'
Captain Swift laughed at that. 'It's an honour to be in such distinguished company,' she said. She waved an arm towards the bar. 'Jacob, let's have another round over here. My new friends will pay.'
Sebastian opened his mouth to protest but was beaten to it by an unexpected voic
e from behind him.
'While you're at it, bring a drink for me! I'm dying of thirst out here!'
Sebastian turned in surprise to see that Max had stuck his big shaggy head in through the open window. 'Max, I thought I told you to wait outside!'
'I am outside! At least, most of me is. But if you think I'm going to wait here without something to wet my whistle while you're inside knocking back the ale, you've another thing coming.'
'But you don't even drink ale!'
'I'm quite prepared to give it a try. My mother always told me that I should take every opportunity to try new experiences.'
Captain Swift seemed delighted by this new arrival and there was much laughter amongst her crew. 'Who is this impudent fellow?' she asked.
Sebastian felt obliged to explain. 'He's . . . he's Max. My buffalope. Well, not mine exactly. He . . . he's the third partner in this expedition.' There were some raised eyebrows at this. Presumably the sailors weren't used to seeing a beast of burden elevated to such a position of authority.
'You 'ave a buffalope for a partner?' said Lemuel incredulously.
'Er . . . yes. He . . . You see, Captain Swift, he—'
'Jenna! Call me Jenna.'
'Er . . . yes, well, Jenna, Max has been in my family for a long time and—'
'What my young master doesn't want to say,' said Max, 'is that as well as being the muscle in this operation, I also provide the brains.'
This remark was greeted by a chorus of raucous laughter from the sailors.
Max looked rather dismayed at the reaction. 'Well, I hardly think it's a matter for jocularity,' he protested. 'I'm merely stating my position as clearly as possible!'
'Jacob!' yelled Jenna. 'Bring over a bucket of ale for this funny talking beast.'
'Funny talking beast?' cried Max. 'Well, really!'
He would probably have had more to say on the matter, but at that point the landlord set down a great foaming bucket on the wide windowsill and Max greedily plunged his snout into the contents, which caused even more hilarity. Tankards were raised in exaggerated toasts to Max's health, but he was too busy drinking to take much notice.
'So,' said Jenna, after the laughter had subsided and everybody had taken a long gulp from their own tankards, 'you wish to hire the Sea Witch. What would be our destination?'
Cornelius frowned. This bit was going to be tricky. 'I cannot tell you exactly . . . at least, not yet. Our destination is a small island due south of the pirate stronghold of Lemora. I have a map . . . but you will not be able to study it in detail until we are out of the harbour. At that point I will be prepared to share the information.'
'And when will you be ready to leave for this . . .mysterious destination?'
'At your earliest convenience.'
Jenna considered this for a moment. Then she seemed to come to a decision. She clapped her hands together. 'All right, lads,' she said. 'Finish up your drinks and get back to your homes. I'll want you at the jetty tomorrow morning at first light.'
There were grunts and nods and a general move to do her bidding. All but for one man, a big dark-skinned fellow with tribal scars cut into his face and a shock of black hair in a series of tightly coiled dreadlocks.
'We still have some business to attend to, captain,' he growled. And he stepped forward and slapped a bag of coins down onto the table.
Jenna regarded it for a moment and sighed. 'Can't this wait, Cassius?' she asked.
'With respect, Captain, I think it needs to be settled, once and for all.'
She sighed. 'Very well. But let's make it quick.' She glanced up at Sebastian and Cornelius. 'Excuse me for a moment, gentlemen. This shouldn't take long. Mr Darke, if you would humour me by leaving your seat for a moment?'
Sebastian did as she asked and she ushered Cassius into the seat beside her. Then she took up a stance with the elbow of her right arm on the tabletop, her hand open. Cassius took up a similar position with his right arm extended and the two of them clasped hands. The remaining sailors gathered eagerly around the table to watch. 'Right then, Lem,' said Jenna. 'Count us in.'
Grinning, Lemuel did as he was told. 'One . . . two . . . three!' he growled. And the two contestants took up the strain and began pushing for all they were worth.
Sebastian stared in amazement. He wouldn't have given a croat for Jenna's chances against somebody as powerful as Cassius, but it quickly became apparent that she was holding her own against him; more than that, in fact. For while he was straining and sweating to make any impression on her, she looked perfectly relaxed, even breaking off at one point to lift her tankard with her free hand and take a sip from it. The surrounding crew shouted advice and encouragement to Cassius, but try as he might, he could not seem to better her. After a few moments of this, during which their entwined hands wavered slightly to one side or the other, Jenna began to apply steady pressure; and though Cassius struggled valiantly to resist, she began to force his hand steadily downwards until it was pinned tight against the tabletop.
Cassius got up, shaking his head in disgust, while his shipmates slapped him on the back, enjoying his dismay. It was evident this was not the first time it had happened.
'Keep trying, Cassius,' Jenna told him. 'You're definitely improving.' She gazed around the table at them. 'And, lads, one more thing: tell nobody of our movements tomorrow. If anybody asks, we're taking a cargo of cloth round the coast to the Southlands. Is that understood?'
Again there were nods and grunts of agreement. Though they were evidently a rough bunch, it was clear that Captain Jenna Swift commanded their respect. The only one who made no move to leave was Lemuel, but Sebastian supposed that was only natural, if he was her right-hand man. The remaining crewmen left the room and Sebastian was able to resume his seat. Jenna slipped Cassius's purse into the pocket of her waistcoat.
'Some people never learn,' she said with a smile. 'Cassius challenges me again and again, and every time I take his money from him. But his male pride just won't let him stop making the challenge.'
Cornelius leaned forward to fix Jenna with a hard stare. 'You are powerful, Captain Swift. You must allow me to challenge you some time.'
'You, Golmiran? Are you adept at arm wrestling?'
'I was considered a champion in my homeland. But that's for another time.' He made a dismissive gesture. 'I must say you were very prompt in dismissing your men. We have not yet agreed payment for the trip.'
'No, we haven't,' she admitted. 'But let's see . . .' She settled back in her seat. 'I'm a reasonable woman. And I'd be prepared to settle for . . . a one-third share of the treasure.'
Cornelius and Sebastian rocked back in their chairs as if they had been punched, and even Max was disconcerted enough to leave off swigging from his bucket for a moment. He stared at Jenna, oblivious to the fact that he had a great white beard of foam hanging from his snout.
'Who said anything about treasure?' cried Sebastian. Then, glancing around, fearful that he'd spoken too loudly, he continued in a hushed tone. 'Nobody even mentioned it, so why—?'
'Nobody needed to,' said Jenna, laughing at his discomfort. 'Of course there's treasure – why else would you be so secretive? And if it's somewhere due south of Lemora, then it can be only one treasure: that of Captain Callinestra.'
Lemuel's one good eye seemed to twinkle at this news. 'Of course!' he whispered. 'People have spoken about its existence for centuries but there's never been a map . . . at least, not a real one. Plenty of fakes around, of course, but—'
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