Amos said, ‘So this is why you’ve turned into such a suspicious bastard in your old age, Patrick.’
He nodded. ‘I have to be. The days when we could run into the hills and wait for a raiding fleet from Krondor or Elarial to grow bored and leave are long over. We have too much to lose now.’
Amos fixed his old friend with a baleful eye. ‘So that’s why we were met with a dozen bashers?’
Patrick nodded. ‘And if you can’t convince the Council of Captains you’re what you say you are, it’s also why we’ll have to take your ship.’
In a menacing, low tone, Amos said, ‘Over my dead body.’
Suddenly a dozen crossbows were again leveled at Amos and his companions. With a regretful expression, Patrick of Duncastle said, ‘If need be, Amos. If need be.’
The Captains of the Sunset Islands met in a house at the far end of the boulevard. Along the way, Nicholas and the others were treated to a scene of changing exotica. A babble of tongues filled the night air, and a profusion of colorful costumes and fashions tantalized the eye at every turn. Gambling halls and brothels stood side by side with traders and brokers. And in every doorway, signs in a dozen tongues proclaimed the services offered.
Vendors pushed wagons or carried trays, heaped with every imaginable ware from silks and jewelry to baked sweets and candy. Nicholas glanced around so often he felt overwhelmed by the sights; Freeport looked larger and certainly far busier than Crydee.
Amos said, ‘How has this come to be, and we’ve never heard of it in the Kingdom Sea?’
‘That counts against you, Amos,’ answered Patrick. ‘The customs of every nation move along two paths, the square and the dodgy. And everyone who practices trading on the sly soon hears of where the best fence is, where the cargoes that are ill gotten can be unloaded. You can’t have been sailing under that infamous flag of yours recently and not heard that Freeport was now the world’s clearinghouse for booty. And even honest traders are hearing of us, because of our lack of customs and tariff.’
Amos fell silent as they continued down the street. ‘As I said, Patrick: it’s a long story.’ At the far end stood a building with a large sign that proclaimed itself ‘Governor’s House’. It was a modest building, with a wide porch and two windows, one on either side. Shutters were thrown wide and Nicholas could hear loud voices issuing from within.
Amos and his company were marched up the stairs into the building. Whatever walls once existed inside had been removed, so that one large room occupied the entire lower floor. A stairway along the back wall led to the second story. From above, a chandelier of wood with a dozen candles provided light.
A long table had been placed before the stairs, and seven men sat there. Amos removed his large hat, out of respect, and the others with him followed his example. But that appeared the full measure of his deference as he strode up to stand before the centermost captain and bellowed, ‘Just what in the Seven Lower Hells gives you the right to greet a brother captain with armed men, William Swallow?’
The grey-haired captain at the center of the table said, ‘As meek as ever, I see.’
A younger man, with his hair in dark ringlets that hung to his shoulders, and a finely trimmed moustache, said, ‘Who is this buffoon, Swallow?’
‘Buffoon!’ shouted Amos, turning to face the young man. ‘As I live and breathe, Morgan! Heard your father had drunk himself to death and you’d taken command of his ship.’ Fixing the man with a baleful eye, he said, ‘Boy, before you’d left your mother’s teat, I was burning Keshian cutters and sinking Quegan galleys. I sacked Port Natal and drove Lord Barry’s fleet back to Krondor like a pack of whipped dogs! I’m Trenchard, the Dagger of the Sea, and I’ll kill the first man who says I’m not!’
Morgan said mildly, ‘I thought you were dead, Amos.’
Amos pulled a dagger from out of his coat and, before anyone could react, nipped it and pinned the sleeve of the young captain’s coat to the table. ‘I’m better now,’ he snarled.
Nicholas nudged Marcus, and the older cousin looked where Nicholas indicated. At the far end of the table sat a fair-skinned man covered in blue tattoos. He wore a golden ring in his nose, and his blue eyes were dramatic in his pale face.
Patrick of Duncastle said formally, ‘Captain, this is Amos, Captain Trenchard, and I know him.’
Captain Swallow said, ‘We heard you were sailing for the Kingdom, Amos.’
Amos shrugged. ‘For a while. Before that I was involved in a caper in the north. I’ve done a lot of things. Sailed for Kesh and against them, sailed for the Kingdom and against them, too. As has every man in this room.’
‘I say you be Kingdom spies,’ said one of the captains at the far end of the table.
Amos turned and, mocking the man’s speech, said, ‘And I say you still be an idiot, Peter Dread. How you ever made captain is a mystery; did Captain Mercy die, or did you and Render over there “retire” him?’
The man began to stand and Patrick said, ‘No brawling!’
The man with the tattoos said, ‘My men tell me you sailed in under the black banner, but your ship’s a Kingdom warship.’
Facing him, Amos said, ‘It was a Kingdom warship, Render, until I stole it.’ Fixing him with a harsh look, he glanced back at Dread, then returned his gaze to Render. ‘The quality of leadership around here has gone to hell, it seems. Dread and Render captains?’ He shook his head. ‘What became of your captain John Avery, Render? Did you eat him?’
Render gripped the edge of the table and looked as if he would spit, but he kept silent. Almost hissing at Amos, he said, ‘The Bantamina sank off Taroom ten years past, Trenchard. That’s when I became a captain!’
Patrick said, ‘We can stand around and insult each other all night, Amos, but it will not aid your cause.’
Amos looked around the room. ‘I was a captain in the Brotherhood before any of you, save William Swallow. Who denies me my right of free passage? Freeport has always been an open harbor for any captain with the sand to sail here. Or do you now have tax collectors? Are you turning civilized, damn you?’
Patrick replied, ‘Things are not the same as they once were, Amos. We have much to lose here should anyone come snooping.’
Amos said, ‘I’ll give you my oath.’
‘What’s your business in Freeport?’ asked a young captain who had been silent so far.
Amos regarded the man, a short, barrel-chested fellow with a red beard and shoulder-length curly red hair. Letting his smile broaden, he said, ‘You must be James Scarlet.’
The man nodded. ‘I was chased from Questor’s View to the lee side of Queg by a ship that looked like yours, Trenchard.’
Amos grinned. ‘Two years ago, last spring. I would have caught you, too, if you hadn’t run in close to shore and those Quegan galleys hadn’t come out to see what we were playing at.’
Slapping the table, Scarlet roared, ‘You were sailing for the King!’
Amos roared back, ‘I just said I was! Are you deaf or merely stupid? I was being paid bounty for every one of you motherless rogues I could catch, and a pardon for my past crimes, and in my place, no man here would have thought twice about doing exactly the same!’ Leaning on the table so he was eye to eye with Scarlet, Amos spoke softly. ‘Especially when the alternative is the gibbet.’
‘We have a problem,’ said Patrick. ‘You’re known to many of us, Amos, but you’ve not been seen in these parts for more years than I can recall, save when you were sailing for the King. You say you’ve turned pirate again, but what surety can we have that you’re not going to sell us out to the highest bidder?’
‘The same you have from any of these motherless cut-throats.’ shouted Amos, indicating the other captains.
‘We have stakes here,’ said Scarlet. ‘This is the sweetest enterprise in the history of the islands, and the take is steady. We’d be fools to poison this well.’
Amos snorted. ‘What do you require?’ he asked Patrick.
‘You
have to stay here awhile, Amos.’
‘How long?’
‘Long enough to make sure a raiding fleet isn’t lying in wait somewhere over the horizon,’ said Scarlet.
‘Or some proof you’ll not sail back to Krondor and bring back a fleet,’ added Swallow.
Patrick of Duncastle said, ‘In any event, Amos, it’ll be no more than a few months, a year at the most.’ He smiled as if it were only a minor inconvenience.
‘You’re daft,’ said Amos. ‘I came here for a reason and I have pressing matters to pursue.’
‘He’s a spy,’ repeated Dread.
‘What is this pressing matter? asked Patrick.
Amos pointed an accusing finger at Render. ‘I’m here to kill that man.’
Render leaped to his feet, a sword in his hand. Patrick shouted, ‘Enough!’ Turning to Amos, he said, ‘What is your grievance with Render?’
‘A month ago he led an army of murderers, including Durbin slavers, into Crydee. He burned the whole damn town to the ground and killed nearly everyone there.’
Render snorted in derision. ‘I was sailing off the Keshian coast a month ago, Trenchard. I haven’t been in Crydee since I was a cabin boy. What’s worth stealing there?’
Patrick said, ‘He denies the raid. And even if he had raided Crydee, why should this cause an issue between you?’
‘Because I had five years of plunder secreted away in a warehouse on the docks and I was on my way to move it out when he stole it!’
‘There was no plunder!’ shouted Render.
Eyes turned to regard him as Amos grinned an evil smile. ‘If he hadn’t raided Crydee, how would he know that?’
Render said, ‘He’s lying about me and the raid, so he must be lying about the plunder.’
Patrick glanced from captain to captain and they all nodded. Patrick said, ‘It is the law of Freeport. No captain may raise his hand against another – else crews would be warring. You can settle this once you’re clear of the harbor, but if either of you starts a fight, his ship will be confiscated and he’ll be thrown into the hole.’
Nicholas had watched Render throughout the exchange. Softly he said, ‘He’s lying.’
Marcus turned to say something, but before he could, Patrick of Duncastle said, ‘What did you say?’
Nicholas said, ‘I said he was lying. I had friends in Crydee. He’s a murderous dog who slaughters women and children. If Captain Trenchard can’t take it, then I mean to have his life.’
Patrick said, ‘Render claims he was off the Keshian coast last month. It must have been someone else.’
Nicholas shook his head. ‘Two pirate cannibals with blue eyes? No, it was him.’
Turning to Amos, Patrick said, ‘Captain Trenchard, you and your crew are on probation. You have the freedom of the town, but if you or any of your men start trouble, we’ll seize your ship and sell your crew to Queg as galley slaves. You control your men here. You may return to the council any time you wish, and if you’ve convinced four of the seven captains sitting that your story is true, you’ll be readmitted to the company of captains.’
Amos said nothing, nodded once, then turned and left. The others fell in with him. As they walked down the steps, he whispered to Nicholas. ‘That was good.’
Ghuda said, ‘Yes now he’s certain to try to kill you.’
Nicholas said, ‘That’s exactly what I expect.’
Reaching the street, Amos said, ‘The captains think we’re going to be here another month, but I mean to be out of here the moment we locate the prisoners.’ To Harry he said, ‘Back to the boat and pass the word that all but the station keeping watch have leave to come ashore. Tell them to behave themselves and to keep their wits about them. I want every man listening for rumors. Look for us at that inn with the red dolphin sign we passed on the way here.’ Harry ran off. Amos said to Anthony, ‘Start your shopping.’ Anthony left. With a nod of his head, Amos indicated that Ghuda should follow behind the magician at a discreet distance. When they were gone, the captain said, ‘Now let’s go find that inn and see if we can keep Nick alive.’
The Red Dolphin Inn was modest and clean, and relatively quiet, given its usual clientele. Amos had taken a private room in the back and Nakor sat by the door, keeping it cracked open so he could see who approached. Amos said, ‘It’s obvious we can’t take the time to convince the captains one at a time. With Render as one, that means we have to change the minds of four out of six.’ He drummed his fingers on the table. ‘I think another of them was involved, too.’
‘Why?’ asked Marcus.
Amos said, ‘Too many things still don’t fit. You saw the ships in the harbor?’ Marcus nodded. ‘Someone’s had to bring a lot of mercenaries from somewhere, then ship them out in those raiding flotillas that hit the Far Coast. That’s a lot of planning and a lot of men. I think there were at least two deep-water ships, maybe three, and that means at least one other captain besides Render.’
Nicholas said, ‘Then we’ve got to work fast.’
Amos said, ‘We’ve got maybe a week before someone in the crew makes a mistake and we’re fighting our way out of here.’
Nicholas sat beside him at the table, while Marcus stood behind Amos. Nicholas said, ‘If the captives are still here, we need to find them before they’re moved again.’
Amos shook his head. ‘There’s almost no chance they’re still here.’
‘Why do you say that?’ asked Marcus.
Nakor turned and said, ‘Because Captain Render was lying to everyone. He says there was no raid. Yet he brought the captives here, Pug says. Too many lies.’
Amos nodded. ‘Which means that whoever backed Render’s raid probably took the captives away quickly.’ He took off his hat and wiped his brow. ‘I forgot how muggy these islands get.’ He sighed. ‘Now that I see how big Freeport has become, I can understand how Render could have mounted his raid and hid it from the other captains.’
Motioning with his hands, Amos continued, ‘There are a dozen islands within a half day’s sail of here that could be used as a base. He could sail out of the harbor at sundown, claiming he was bound to raid the coast of Kesh. Then he sails to where his other raiders are waiting, picks them up, loads the pinnaces into the holds of the two ships, sails to just beyond the horizon from Crydee, unloads the pinnaces, and begins his assault on the Far Coast.’
‘Why would they strike from these waters, Amos?’ asked Marcus. ‘If they didn’t want the other pirates to know about it, why even start here?’
Amos said, ‘There are bound to be strangers moving through Freeport all the time. And where better to make the bargain for this sort of crime? But the question is, where can he hide several hundred captives?’
Nakor’s face clouded over as he remembered. ‘Pug said something about a big building. A big, dark building.’
Amos said, ‘I think we need to start spreading out.’ Looking at Marcus, he said, ‘How good a sailor are you?’
Marcus said, ‘I can handle a small boat well enough not to drown myself.’
‘Good. Find one tomorrow and buy it. If anyone asks you what you’re doing, tell them you’re going to explore the nearby islands because Trenchard is thinking of building a house. Some of the captains have their own little kingdoms around here. Take Harry with you, and see he doesn’t drown himself.
‘Render may have too much to lose to start trouble because Nicholas and I have threatened him, and we’ve been enjoined from going after him.’ Grinning, Amos patted Nicholas’s hand. ‘You, my lucky boy, have the unenviable task of irritating Render into doing something stupid. We’ll set a watch on him, and you’re going to have to be after him constantly. I want you to be so close to him he’ll think you’re his shadow.’
Nicholas nodded.
Amos uncorked a large jug of ale and said, ‘Now, who’s for a drink?’
• CHAPTER TEN •
Discoveries
A GULL SQUAWKED.
Marcus, Calis, and Harry wal
ked to the harbor as the sun rose above the horizon. For the half-elven youth, who looked no older than Harry despite being thirty years old, Freeport was an alien bounty of sights and sounds. He had remained quiet, content to let his companions do whatever talking was necessary, but he watched and listened and seemed fascinated by the variety of humanity living on the island. Harry had confided to Nicholas the night before that it was entirely possible to forget the elfling even existed until he chose to move or speak, so adept he was at being silent and still.
Harry was about to ask him a question when a slight form hurried from behind an overturned boat and fell into step beside them. Calis had his knife out and ready before the others could turn. Harry almost jumped from fright at the sudden appearance. ‘Gods! What do you want?’
A voice whispered, ‘More to the point: what is it you three want?’
The slight figure was clad in a shapeless tunic and trousers; dirty toes protruded from under the too-long pants. The thin arms that extended from ragged sleeves were as dirty as the feet, and the face was only marginally cleaner. A narrow chin and small mouth were dominated by high cheekbones and enormous blue eyes. Ragged longish red-brown hair flew about in all directions.
‘Go away, boy,’ said Marcus impatiently.
‘Boy!’ said the beggar. With a vicious kick to Marcus’s shin, the girl danced back. ‘For that you’ll pay double for your information.’
Marcus winced at the blow and Harry stood in mute astonishment. Calis calmly said, ‘Then, go away, girl.’
They resumed their walk, but the girl came hurrying to walk backward beside Marcus. ‘I know lots of things. Ask anyone in Freeport and they’ll tell you, “Want to know something? Ask Brisa!”’
Harry said, ‘And you’re Brisa?’
‘Of course.’
Prince of the Blood, the King's Buccaneer Page 64