‘No,’ said Ghuda, ‘but I paid him sufficient gold and threatened him enough that he’ll say nothing for a day or two.’
Nicholas said, ‘Now we wait.’
Near dawn, a band of men crept into the common room of the Red Dolphin. A bar boy slept under a table and he came instantly awake. It was his job to guard the commons and alert the innkeeper should guests arrive at odd hours or beggars or thieves enter.
Seeing men with ready swords, the boy pulled himself back under the table and huddled against the wall. He was not about to raise an alarm with this many armed cutthroats nearby.
As the intruders reached the far door, every door in the hallway swung open and more armed men leaped out. The sound of steel against steel rang through the halls and the fight was on in earnest.
Nicholas and Ghuda held the door at the far end of the hall, and two of the attackers made halfhearted attempts to move toward them, but the presence of armed men in the doorways between deterred them. Then a shout from the far end of the hall, at the top of the stairs, cut through the sounds of fighting. ‘Halt! In the name of the Sheriff, stop fighting!’
The men trapped in the hallway turned, and several attempted to fight their way down the stairs. They were quickly overwhelmed by a dozen men wielding billy clubs and swords, who killed two of them and overpowered the rest. Those still in the hallway drew into a cluster, and from the center a voice called, ‘We will not resist!’
Nicholas smiled at Ghuda. ‘That’s Render,’ he said with grim satisfaction.
Amos and Harry emerged from one door, with William Swallow one step behind. Anthony, Marcus, and Nakor came out of another room. They followed Render’s men down the stairs to where more than a dozen of Patrick Duncastle’s men waited to take them all into custody.
Amos approached the boy under the table and gave him gold coin. ‘You did well. Tell your master that I thank him for the use of the inn.’
The boy left, and Amos pushed Render into the large room at the back of the commons. Four of the captains of Freeport sat at the table and looked at Render as he knelt before them.
William Swallow followed Amos into the room. ‘It’s true, as Amos said, Render and his men came up with murderous intent.’
Taking his place at the table, Swallow said, ‘You know the law, Render. Your ship is forfeit and you’re consigned to the hole.’
‘No!’ shouted Render. ‘I was tricked.’
Amos said, ‘Before you drag this garbage out of here, there are some things I need to ask him. You may be interested in his answers.’
Swallow looked at the other captains, all who were in port save Captain Dread, and they nodded. Amos said, ‘Who paid you to raid the Far Coast?’
Render spat at Amos, who responded by striking him in the face with a gloved fist. Render struck the floor hard and lay there with blood running down his chin. Kneeling next to him, Amos said, ‘I haven’t the time to be gentle with you, Render, and am even less possessed of the inclination. If we toss you into the street and let it be known that you’ve destroyed the commerce along the Far Coast for the next five years, that you’ve worked on behalf of Durbin slavers, and cut the other captains and their crews out of the booty, how long do you think it would take for the citizens of Freeport to tear you apart?’
Render’s eyes grew wide, but he said nothing. Amos said, ‘Think of the whores who’ll see no gold now that shipping from Crydee, Carse, and Tulan has stopped. Think of the men of Freeport who will have no ships to prey upon. Think of the honest merchants who will have no markets closer than Elarial or the Free Cities.’
Swallow said, ‘Amos, we’ve heard the rumors; is it really true?’
Amos said, ‘It’s true, William. This bastard led more than a thousand men against the Far Coast last month and burned Castle Crydee to the ground. The fortress at Barran was destroyed, and Carse and Tulan were raided – we don’t know how badly, but we assume the worst. You’ll have little trading and no raiding in the Duchy for years to come.’
William Swallow stood, his face white with anger. ‘You fool!’ he shouted at Render. ‘You’ll bring the Kingdom’s war fleet down on us! And for what?’
Render was silent, but Amos took him by one long earlobe, and twisted the fetish there. As the man squealed in pain, Amos said, ‘For either more gold than he could honestly steal in a lifetime – you’d best send men to inspect the hold of his ship – or …’
Amos grabbed the pouch at Render’s belt and looked inside. A snake ring fell upon the floor among coins and gems. Holding it up, Amos showed it to William Swallow. ‘Have you seen its like?’
Swallow looked at it and passed it to the other captains. All said they’d not seen it before. Nicholas asked, ‘Is he a hired servant or a willing pawn?’
Amos grabbed Render’s arm and pulled him to his feet. ‘He doesn’t have the courage of conviction to be a religious fanatic. He’s a bought servant.’
Swallow said, ‘Amos, we thank you for the warning. We must prepare for the Kingdom’s revenge.’ Pointing his finger at Render, he said, ‘You will be hung at dawn! And every man in your crew will be sold!’
Amos said, ‘Do what you will with the men, but I need Render.’
‘For what?’
‘To find those whose bidding he does.’
Swallow said, ‘We can’t let him go, Amos. If we do, what’s the Captain’s Covenant worth?’
Amos shrugged. ‘It’s worth what it always was: little. It’s a truce bought by fear, and it’s always balanced against greed. There was never enough profit for a captain to break the covenant, until someone showed up with more gold than Render’s got sense.’ He glanced around the room. ‘And speaking of those who have no sense, where’s Peter Dread?’
Swallow said, ‘He was told to be here.’
Amos sighed. ‘Send word to find him. I suspect there were two idiots involved in that raid. Was Dread around during the raid last month?’
‘We thought he was looking for prey in the Bitter Sea,’ answered Morgan.
‘Find him before he warns his masters that you’re on to them,’ insisted Amos. ‘I’ll make you a bargain.’
‘What bargain?’ said Swallow.
‘If you let me find out what I need to know from Render, I’ll promise that no reprisal fleet reaches Freeport.’
Swallow’s eyes narrowed. ‘How can you do that?’
Amos said, ‘Because I’m the King’s Admiral of the Western Realm.’
The five captains exchanged glances. ‘So,’ said Scarlet, ‘you were more than trading your services for pardon when you were chasing me off the Quegan coast.’
Amos nodded. ‘Let me give you the full of it, and then you decide. We have no time for, nor any interest in, putting a stop to your enterprise here. We’re after the daughter of Duke Martin and others taken from Crydee. Someone put Render and Dread on this caper and sent along a thousand raiders, including Tsurani assassins and Durbin slavers.’ He told them what he knew of the raid and finished by saying, ‘So we have more urgent matters than putting an end to your livelihood.’
Swallow said, ‘What’s to keep us from holding you here as hostages, Amos?’
‘Because the only way we can keep Arutha from sending his fleet to burn your city to the ground is by getting his niece back in one piece and returning her to the Kingdom, you idiot!’ Amos bellowed. ‘Do I have to paint you a picture?’
Nicholas said, ‘And we can make it worth your while.’
Swallow said, ‘How?’
Nicholas said, ‘Commerce was never one of my better subjects, but I do know that you’ve gained wealth because what you provide is needed.’ He looked at the five captains. ‘For a year, no reprisals will come against Freeport. Then a Kingdom ship will come here. Any who remain will be granted full pardon for past crimes, so long as they swear fealty to the Kingdom and do not transgress the law. Any who choose otherwise are free to leave with guaranteed safe passage and start somewhere else in the meantime.�
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‘What’s in it for us?’ challenged Scarlet.
‘Peace of mind, for one thing,’ said Marcus.
Ghuda said, ‘And protection from Kesh and Queg should they start thinking you’d look good on the map as part of their realm.’
Swallow said, ‘Kesh, Queg, the Kingdom, it make little difference. Governors and tax agents, and laws and the like. It’ll be the death of our way of life.’
Nicholas said, ‘Partly. No more raiding.’
Amos grinned. ‘We’re both getting a little on in years to be chasing merchant ships like they were maidens at the Midsummer’s festival and we were cocky lads, William.’
Swallow nodded. ‘True, but what’s the reason to stay, Amos? If we become another Kingdom port …’
Nicholas said, ‘What if Freeport continued to operate without duties? What if a trader could come here and deliver cargo legally without needing to pay tariff or tax to the Kingdom?’
Swallow said, ‘Some would continue to come here, even though it’s the long way around from Queg to Krondor, for certain cargoes with high profits.’
Amos said, ‘The King will never sit still for that, Nick.’
Nicolas said, ‘I think he will. The danger of Freeport has been shown too clearly in the last few weeks. It’s worth some lost revenue to keep things quiet out there. If Kesh can let the captains of Durbin come and go as they please, why not the Kingdom and Freeport?’
‘Why not?’ agreed Amos.
Swallow said, ‘Can you get the King to agree, Amos?’
‘Probably not, William. But his nephew probably can,’ he answered, placing his hand on Nicholas’s shoulder.
‘Nephew?’ said Scarlet.
Amos said, ‘This stays within this room, by your oath, and you’ll decide how to tell the populace what’s been agreed to here. But this boy is Nicholas, son of the Prince of Krondor, and cousin to Margaret, the girl who was taken.’
Marcus said, ‘And I’m her brother, Marcus. My father is the Duke of Crydee.’ Thinking of his father caused Marcus’s eyes to narrow slightly, but he remained otherwise calm.
Swallow said, ‘Do we have any choice?’
‘You’re not entitled to any,’ admitted Amos, ‘but we’ll give you one anyway. You’ve a year to ponder things.’
Nicholas said, ‘Give me paper and quill and I’ll pen a note to my father or whoever sails this way next spring against our not returning. By this time next year, you’ll have had to decide, one way or the other.’
Swallow agreed.
Nicholas said, ‘Patrick?’
The Sheriff said, ‘Ah … Highness?’
Nicholas said, ‘Things will remain as they have been, but should the captains convince the citizens to agree to our terms at any time in the next year, you will act as the King’s High Sheriff of Freeport. If you’re agreed?’
Patrick nodded and stepped back.
Nicholas said, ‘You five captains will be given letters of marque, as the King’s western squadron of the Krondorian fleet. It will look more convincing when my father shows up here next spring if you’re flying Kingdom colors from your mastheads. You can decide who ranks among you.’
Amos turned to Render. ‘Now you’re going to tell us what we need to know, you murderous cur. The only question is, do we get the information the easy way or the hard way?’
Render spat at Amos. ‘I demand my rights as a captain under the covenant! We’re not part of the bloody Kingdom yet, Trenchard! You’ve no writ over me, and I can demand personal justice.
Amos faced the other captains. ‘Are you going to –’
Swallow interrupted. ‘We must, Amos. We dare not break the covenant until the people have accepted the King’s laws. To do otherwise …’
‘You said we could question Render in exchange for the Kingdom’s keeping hands off!’ bellowed Amos.
‘We gave blood oath to the Captains’ Covenant!’ Morgan shouted in return, as the others voiced loud agreement. ‘If we have any claim to honor this side of hell, it’s our oath!’
William Swallow said, ‘You were of the Brotherhood long enough to know that, Amos. Killer, thief, or blasphemer, we’ll make you one of us, but be named oath breaker, and no man will sail with you again.’
Looking at the prisoner, Morgan said, ‘I’d gladly hand this traitor’s heart to you myself, Trenchard, but our word is our bond. If we break it, we’re no better than he is.’
Amos nodded. ‘Very well, Render,’ he said, removing his hat and jacket, ‘if you wish captain’s privilege …’
‘No!’ said Render. ‘Not you, Trenchard. Him!’ He pointed at Nicholas.
Swallow said, ‘It was the lad who was his accuser, and the covenant forbids captains from fighting one another.’
Nicholas said, ‘What is this?’
Amos stepped close and said, ‘As a captain, Render has the right to defend himself by personal combat. You’re the one who must kill him.’
Nicholas looked startled and whispered, ‘I’ve never killed anyone, Amos.’
Glancing at Render, who had removed his jacket and shirt, revealing the purple tattoos all over his chest and back, Amos said, ‘Well, I can’t imagine anyone you’d have to work less hard to hate, boy. That’s the man who was responsible for your aunt Briana’s murder and who kidnapped your cousin and that little girl you’re so fond of.’
Nicholas’s expression showed he was unconvinced. ‘I don’t know if I can … just kill him.’
Amos said, ‘You’re not going to be given a choice, son. If you refuse, he walks away a free man.’
‘They can’t –’
‘They can and they will. This is not the Kingdom, and your rank means nothing.’ Lowering his voice and putting his hands on Nicholas’s shoulders, he said, ‘Now, he’s certainly going to try to kill you if you give him the chance, so don’t. If he wins, he walks out of here with the right of passage and no pursuit. That’s captains’ law. So you must kill him.’
‘What about the girls? We won’t know –’
Amos said, ‘These lads’ – he indicated the captains – ‘are less concerned with the prisoners than they are with their own necks. Give them half a chance to reconsider, and they may decide holding you hostage against your father showing up with my fleet isn’t such a poor notion after all. Worry about getting information after you’ve managed to stay alive, Nicholas.’ There was genuine concern in his voice and expression. ‘Now you must do this thing.’
Nicholas nodded, removing his baldric and coat. The common room was quickly stripped of tables and chairs. Captain Scarlet drew a large circle on the floor in chalk. Swallow positioned a man with a crossbow on the stairs and said, ‘It’s simple justice. Both of you walk into the circle; one walks out. If a man tries to flee the circle, he’ll be judged guilty and shot.’
The two combatants stepped into the circle, barely more than twenty feet across. Harry whispered to Nicholas, ‘It’s just like the fencing corridor at the palace. Keep your mind on the blade.’
Nicholas nodded. Part of their training had been to duel along a narrow hall, where one could neither advance quickly nor move too far to one side or another without risking injury. Footwork would play little part in this duel; bladework, everything.
Render took a heavy saber and held it upright, then cocked it back behind his head. Nicholas extended his own saber, knowing that his opponent could bring the blade slashing around instantly either to block an attack or to remove his head. Swallow said, ‘May Banath, god of thieves and pirates, give strength to him who is in the right in the cause.’
Nicholas stood ready, when suddenly he felt a stabbing pain in his left foot. Then Render’s sword was hissing through the air and Nicholas barely had time to bring his own blade up to block. He took the blow and felt the shock all the way up his arm. That was when Nicholas knew that this was no drill at home, nor practice with a civilized opponent; this was someone trying to kill him.
Fear exploded in Nicholas’s hear
t, a clutching deep dread and near panic, but hours of training each day over years saved him. Reflexes worked where his mind wouldn’t, and he successfully blocked each blow. In less than a minute, Render had launched no fewer than ten attacks, each countered by the Prince. His foot stabbed him each time he put weight on it, and each stab hurt worse than the one before.
Nicholas found his own perspiration sour in his nose, as terror drove him to survive. But still he had not ventured any counterattack of his own. Harry called encouragement, but the others were chillingly silent.
On and on Render pressed forward, and each time Nicholas met him with a stout defense. His foot hurt enough that he wished to scream, to fall to the floor and roll up in a ball, holding it until the fire and throbbing stopped, but to do so was to die.
Render slashed at Nicholas, and he forced himself to block and return a strike, which sent the tattooed sea captain stumbling back at the unexpected response. Nicholas didn’t follow through, as pain stabbed up his leg, causing his left knee to tremble.
Nicholas stepped back, looking Render in the eyes, and he forced himself to breathe slowly. ‘It’s going to hurt,’ he warned himself softly, ‘but you’ll live. It’s only pain, and you can ignore pain.’
Render advanced, wary now that he’d seen the young man’s speed. Nicholas waited, without moving, his eyes following the captain as he advanced. Nicholas maintained a balanced stance, weight evenly distributed on both feet, though his left burned in agony. Then Render was moving, a combination of blows, high, low, and high again, forcing the younger man to move back in lock step with him. Nicholas took each blow and focused all his concentration on the other man’s sword. The stink of fear in his nose, the pain in his foot, the surroundings – all of it was put aside as he lost himself in the rhythm of the attack.
Then Render overextended his high attack and Nicholas snapped a blow that caught the pirate upon the shoulder, cutting him deeply. Blood flowed over the purple tattoos and white skin, but Render barely acknowledged the injury.
Nicholas stepped forward and then back. As he moved away from Render, he lost his concentration, and suddenly pain shot upward from his foot, causing him to gasp. He wavered and Render pressed the attack, sensing the younger man was somehow distracted.
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