Samir smirked.

  “Is the governor’s arrival not part of your plan, Asima? You told him about me, the Empress and the dead man’s compass, so I can only assume you told him everything you know about Lassos, the reefs, the council and the ships.”

  His smile was grating on her. Asima sighed.

  “So they must have been following us since we left M’Dahz, then? You’ve very little choice now. You and your worthless friends are about to meet an unpleasant end as criminals and pirates. Want me to help? I can make it fast and relatively painless? Just a short sharp blow and it’s over. Much nicer than swinging from a public gibbet.”

  Samir’s jaw hardened.

  “Enough now, Asima. In around fifteen minutes we will reach the inner perimeter of the reef and approach the island itself. At that point things will become rather busy and I will be occupied. Remember that you need to behave, or I cannot guarantee your safety.”

  His companion glared at him and then returned her gaze to the misty figures around the ship’s hull, reaching pleadingly to the passing vessel. One day she would see to it that Samir and his crew joined them. The image of him on his knees on a rock, pleading for his life as she drifted past was a satisfying picture.

  “Captain?”

  A sailor’s head popped up over the top of the steps from the main deck. Samir turned to look.

  “Captain? The doc sent me. Your brother’s awake and you can see him if you want.”

  Samir grinned.

  “My day just improved a great deal. Thank you and lead on.”

  As he stepped toward the ladder, he addressed the large pirate that had brought Asima from her cell.

  “Make sure she’s got at least four guards around her at all times and don’t let her near anything important or dangerous. I’ll be back before we dock.”

  Reaching the stairs, he clambered down them after the medical orderly and entered the corridor, making for the open doorway of the doctor’s cabin.

  The scene that greeted him within made him start for a moment. His brother lay on the bed, on his side and facing away from the door with the doctor probing around his back. Ghassan’s shirt was up around his neck and there was a nasty wound half way up his ribs, laced with black thread and puckered with red, yellow and white flesh. The sight was momentarily horrifying until he realised that the shape and discolouration was largely due to the pressure the wound was under as Ghassan moved his arms and torso. Indeed, he appeared to be making windmill-like motions with his arms, causing the wound to ooze and change. Samir gulped down air.

  “Is everything alright?”

  The doctor looked up, surprised at the interruption.

  “What? Oh yes. I’m just running a few tests. The wound may look unpleasant, but it doesn’t seem to have done any lasting damage and this man seems to have a remarkable constitution. My orderly, may he be cursed with wakefulness for a thousand years, fell asleep on watch and when he awoke your brother was standing at the window, looking out!”

  The body shook and Samir jumped before he realised that Ghassan was laughing.

  “Ghassan? You need to be a little more careful. You nearly died last night.”

  The doctor stopped prodding things and stood back as Ghassan rolled slightly and came up with a groan to sit on the edge of the bed. He was deathly pale, but the smile on his face was warm and full of life. The captain sighed with relief.

  “Samir? Your doctor here tells me that I’m a freak?”

  “I never used that word… Gah! Patients!”

  Samir grinned.

  “Well you know what they say: the doc’s a miserable old goat, but his heart’s in the right place.”

  “Well, he is a little impatient!”

  Samir and Ghassan laughed as the doctor stood and scowled at them.

  “Don’t over-exert yourself” he barked at his patient. “I will be back in less than ten minutes and then you will be resting again, if I have to knock you out myself to achieve it. Captain? Ten minutes, yes?”

  Samir nodded gratefully as the man left the room.

  “Ghassan, I am so glad to see this. I was worried that she’d have done some permanent damage to you. This may sound a little heartless, but it’s a damn good job she came after you before me. You managed somehow to floor her before she could finish you off. I rather think if I’d been first that she’d have managed to dispatch me before I woke.”

  Ghassan shrugged and then winced at the pain.

  “Actually, though this is painful, it’s not actually stopping me from doing anything. The doc says there’s no reason I couldn’t walk around and carry things apart from the fact that I’m still weak from loss of blood and even that’ll heal in time. I’ve been waiting until he goes away for a bit so that I can get dressed and come above.”

  “Stupid, but very useful, since I could really do with your help. We’re almost at Lassos, the governor’s fleet is hot on our tail, and I need to address the council, with you beside me if you can manage it?”

  Ghassan nodded.

  “Of course. Now, what have you done with Asima?”

  “She’s been held in a temporary brig,” Samir replied with a shrug “but I’ve had her taken on deck under guard in preparation for our arrival.”

  Ghassan nodded.

  “Perhaps it’s a good thing that I didn’t kill her last night, given your plan, but I’m still vaguely sorry that I didn’t. It’s going to take a supreme effort of will not to push her overboard onto the reef.”

  “I made a promise to you and BelaPraxis, remember? Three chances. I figure she’s had two. For us to kill her out of anger or vengeance before the Goddess has her judgment would be to defy the ‘healing mother’, and defying a Goddess is never a good thing, especially when one is about to attempt such a thing as we are.”

  Ghassan nodded again.

  “Very well. Looks like the stage is set, since we’re at Lassos. With Asima, you, me and the governor, all the players are here too. Now we have to get your little production underway.”

  He grinned.

  “We’ve still got a couple of minutes before the doctor gets back. Pass me my shirt and help me upstairs.”

  Impulsively, Samir enfolded his brother in a hug, eliciting a groan of discomfort.

  “I couldn’t do this without you, Ghassan.”

  In which the council sits

  By the time the Empress touched the jetty, the hull bouncing away several times before settling and men jumping off to tie ropes, a crowd had already gathered at the far end. A twitch crept into Asima’s eyelid as she watched from the relative safety of the command deck. Down on the main deck, Samir stood with a sailor she didn’t know, supporting the sagging figure of Ghassan. Her erstwhile victim had glanced at her only once in the few minutes since they had emerged from below decks and his expression might have been unsettling had she cared more.

  The port was chaotic, with people flocking to the jetty, despite being involved in a thousand petty tasks of their own. Cargo was stacked everywhere and, Asima had noted, eleven other jetties were occupied, which meant that every ship based at Lassos was currently berthed here. It seemed unlikely that Samir had managed to engineer a situation where everyone was in port, so it could be pure luck, but then Samir, like her, made his own luck.

  Asima heard the man behind her clearing his throat meaningfully and, as she glanced at him, he gestured that she should descend the steps and join the captain. Her bulky escorts gathered around as she moved forward and kept close pace with her as she climbed down and strode, head high, to the place amidships where Samir and Ghassan were watching the boarding ramp being run out to dock.

  From here she had a better view of the crowd on the jetty. As she’d fully expected, their faces were not the smiling visages of those come to welcome their compatriots home. The word ‘mob’ better fitted the situation. In the old tales, she could have imagined this lot brandishing farm implements and shouting. Before she was roughly manhandled into position next to the brothers, she did note the striking and attractive features of Captain Faerus, Samir’s friend, among those waiting. Faerus looked nervous.

  The plank slid home onto the jetty and Samir and the other man helped Ghassan down. As soon as they reached the slippery timbers of the dock, though, Ghassan waved the man away and continued, wobbling slightly, on his own, his fingers locked round Samir’s arm for support, and tensing every time a badly-placed step sent a shock up his back. The large sailor behind Asima nudged her toward the plank and she tottered carefully down it to join the brothers.

  “Stay with us all the way up the hill. This is not a good time for you to play games. A wrong step or word now could get us all killed before I can do anything.”

  Asima nodded at Samir. Her time would come later, when he was less on guard.

  Slowly, allowing for Ghassan’s careful gait, the three of them walked toward the mass of angry looking people at the end of the jetty, half a dozen burly sailors from the Empress following up and surrounding Asima, cutting off any path of escape. Samir came to a halt a few yards from the crowd and raised his voice.

  “I need to call a meeting of the council, immediately.”

  Faerus, shaking his handsome head, his jet black, long and straight hair whipping back and forth, filled the uncomfortable silence that followed.

  “Too late, Samir. The council went into session the moment your sail appeared among the reefs. I expect they’re busy right now deciding how many pieces to cut you into.”

  A humourless smile crept across Samir’s face.

  “Good. Their timing is auspicious.”

  He raised his voice to address the whole group.

  “Let us through! I have to address the council, Faeurs, but you had best get to it as well. The time we spoke of is upon us. I will meet you as planned in the safe house.”

  Faerus frowned.

  “So soon?” He paused a moment and then thrust out his arms, heaving people aside.

  “Get out of the way and let captain Samir through to address the council!”

  The force with which he pushed caused a few spectators to stumble and fall, and the crowd quickly parted to allow them passage. Asima gave the tall pirate captain an appraising look. She recognised him in a vague way from the night she had spent in his lodgings on her last visit here, but the alcohol had dimmed her senses a little that night and she hadn’t realised at the time just how enigmatic and attractive the man really was. Strikingly handsome, clean shaven and with immaculate hair, Faerus wore grey silks from the eastern lands beyond the Empire. He was in excess of six feet tall and had a powerful, smooth voice, like liquid honey. She had the feeling that if Faerus ordered them to, even the rocks would move out of the way.

  “Shall I join you first?” the man asked of Samir.

  “Best not. You and the others will have to be ready, on the assumption that I return shortly. Just meet me later and make sure Orin’s aware too.”

  Faerus nodded and sketched a bow as the three passed him and began the interminable climb to the council chamber on the hill. The walk up the sloping street was familiar to her and, if anything, even less pleasant than last time. On her previous visit she had been unknown and had elicited mixed reactions of interest, lust and suspicion. Now, however, every face hardened as it turned to them. Matters were made all the worse by the painfully slow pace of the journey, hampered as they were by the wounded Ghassan.

  After minutes that seemed like hours, they reached the point where the street made a hairpin bend and marched off back across the hillside, through the upper tiers of the town. Here stood the council hall with its great marble columned portico, speaking volumes of the faded glory of the island.

  “Alright… this is it. I shall speak first, then it’s your turn, Ghassan. Are you alright? Definitely up to this? Your testimony is solid support, but I expect I can work them around myself if you can’t manage.”

  Ghassan shook his head. “Leave it to me. I’ll be fine.”

  With a deep breath, Samir turned to Asima and her guards.

  “Take her to Surafana’s house on the hill. If Faerun and Orin have been efficient, it should be empty, but provisioned, and there should be a good secure room for Asima. Don’t rely on the room though… I want at least two of you in full sight of her at all times.”

  Asima glowered at him as the large pirate next to her nodded and grasped her upper arm tightly.

  “We’ll keep her nice and safe, cap’n. You be there soon?”

  Samir nodded.

  “Unless the council have other plans, Ghassan and I will follow you up very shortly.”

  Asima continued to glare at Samir as she was turned away and marched in a no-nonsense manner up the slope in the opposite direction, doubling back behind the town.

  Samir turned to Ghassan and smiled.

  “Follow my lead, then.”

  Ghassan, concentrating on the task at hand and keeping close attention on his brother, whose shoulder he still grasped for support, entered the fortress of his enemies for the first time, as a willing visitor. In other days he may have taken a more keen interest in this place that had been so sought after by his superiors for decades. Instead, he merely glanced briefly at the interior as they passed through the grand entrance and the outer room.

  Making sure Ghassan’s grip was secure on his shoulder, Samir threw open the door to the council chamber and stood in the doorway, gazing at the ‘U’ shaped table arrangement.

  The seats were occupied by the motliest bunch that Ghassan had ever laid eyes on: mostly older, ‘retired’ pirates, they were suntanned and weathered like the faces of a sandstone cliff, displaying networks of scars, punctuated with jewellery and tattoos. Clearly the hawk-like, dry and emaciated figure occupying the central chair like an animated and mummified corpse was the most venerable member. Equally clearly he had no love for Samir.

  Glancing around, it surprised Ghassan that there was no one on guard either outside the doors or within the chamber, but then who, on an island of pirates, would dare to interrupt a meeting of their elders. Apart from his brother, naturally…

  There had been a heated argument going on within as they entered, Samir striding out front, while Ghassan dropped behind, closing the door after them. The last threads of the argument tailed off as the council regarded their visitors.

  The last voice fell silent as the twelve most powerful men on Lassos stared in astonishment at the nerve of the wayward captain before them.

  “Captain Samir? You have not been summoned… yet.”

  Samir nodded and smiled.

  “You have my apologies for the interruption, gentlemen, and I realise that I am currently not the Lassos’ favourite son, but I am afraid that this simply cannot wait.”

  An ebony-skinned man, pierced and covered in gold jewellery, narrowed his eyes.

  “Captain Samir, you are insolent. The council is deciding your fate and you should not be here until ordered.”

  Samir shrugged.

  “This council can pronounce any judgement they wish… enforcing it is another matter entirely, but please allow me to speak. I am not here to argue with you, but to present you with the opportunity you need.”

  Ghassan noted an almost instant polarisation among the faces of the councillors. The elder two thirds frowned and glared at the insolent young captain before them, while the remaining younger council members took on a thoughtful look, almost as if they had been expecting something of the sort. But then, Ghassan realised with a smile, Samir’s reputation for innovative action and careful planning would already have made an impression on these younger councillors.

  Ghassan muttered under his breath, just loud enough for his brother to hear.

  “Samir? Concentrate on the younger ones. They’re almost with you.”

  Samir gave an almost imperceptible nod as the aquiline elder growled at him.

  “This council has no wish to hear from you or your whore son brother.”

  “I’m not sure that’s entirely true, elder Halcar” Samir smiled.

  “Let him speak, Halcar” barked one of the younger men, dressed in crimson velvet and with a neat scar across the bridge of his nose. “Samir is one of the best we have. If he says he has something of use for us, only the short-sighted would do away with him before asking more.”

  “Thank you master Culin. You are insightful as always. I’m afraid this will not sound good at first, but I must ask you to let us finish before you pronounce any judgements.”

  The hoarse, older man at the centre with the parchment-thin skin and the aquiline face glared at Samir.

  “You presume to order your elders around, Samir? Be very careful.”

  Samir bowed slightly.

  “No insult intended, master Halcar, but this is very urgent and very important.”

  “Go on” the one called Culin urged.

  “The time has come, masters of Lassos, to conclude our business with the Imperial navy of Calphoris. As we reached the reefs on our way here, a fleet of Imperial daram with Pelasian support was close enough to breath down our necks. Even now they will be encircling Lassos, blockading us and effectively ending our time as a free port of non-aligned … raiders, if you will.”

  The effect of the news was fascinating. The men of the council exhibited half a dozen different expressions on a theme of shock, anger and panic… all but Culin, who nodded sagely. Ghassan was interested to note no sign of surprise in the man’s features. There was a strange pause for a second or so in which the room filled with an oppressive silence and then suddenly the council exploded in argument.

  “Please, gentlemen…” Samir’s voice cut across the noise. The arguments tailed off as the councillors turned back to the speaker.

  “I am going to leave you to decide on the course of action when I have finished. I believe the only sensible choice is for the fleet of Lassos to arm up, crew up, and sail out en masse to meet the forces of the Empire. However, I realise that this sounds insane, so let me lay a few things on the line first.”

  He spread his arms dramatically.

  “For the last few years, Imperial control of the sea has been tightening notably. With Pelasia as an ally now, all the military have really had to occupy their time is making life difficult for the captains of Lassos. Our activity and takings have fallen dramatically in this time, and rarely do our captains manage an engagement without having to run for safety at the end. Things are becoming untenable unless we take back control of our sea. We are facing the extinction of Lassos lest we fight back and that is a painful conclusion to have arrived at, but I have been trying to find a solution for years now.”

 

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