Prince of the Blood, the King's Buccaneer

by Raymond E. Feist

  Some of them muttered, but Nicholas said, ‘That’s what you’re paid to do!’ He turned and hurried to the quarterdeck.

  Climbing to the latter, he shouted, ‘Mr Pickens, are we going to make it?’

  ‘It’s going to be close,’ said the sailor. He glanced behind him, then turned with a grin. ‘But we’re going to leave them in our wake.’

  Nicholas climbed back down to the main deck, turned to say something to the others, then collapsed in a heap.

  Nicholas roused in the first mate’s cabin. Sun poured in through the porthole, so he knew he had slept well past dawn. He attempted to move and found his side hot and stiff. Examining himself, Nicholas saw someone had put a fresh bandage with a poultice on his side, and put him to bed.

  He pulled on his trousers and opened the sea chest at the foot of the bed. The former occupant of the cabin had only a black tunic, so he put that on, finding it a fair fit. Pulling on his boots, Nicholas moved stiffly to the door and opened it.

  Before going on deck, he opened the door to the captain’s cabin and crossed to the single bunk where Amos lay. His breathing was deeper but his color was still bad. Nicholas stood watching him a moment, then turned and left him alone.

  Reaching the main deck, Nicholas found several knots of men standing around, while others slept upon the deck as best they could. Marcus, Anthony, Harry, and Ghuda stood near the ladder up to the quarterdeck, while Praji and Vaja stood on the other side of the main deck, talking with the other mercenaries.

  Moving to Marcus’s side, he asked, ‘What’s going on?’

  Harry said, ‘We’ve got a couple of problems.’

  ‘Such as?’ said Nicholas.

  Ghuda looked around. ‘Well, Calis is up on the quarterdeck behind us, just in case Praji and his friends get more emphatic about being put ashore.’

  Nicholas glanced around, then took his bearings. ‘When did we clear the peninsula?’

  ‘Yesterday, a little before sundown.’

  ‘How long have I been sleeping?’ asked Nicholas.

  ‘We left the City of the Serpent River the night before last. It’s a little past noon,’ replied Marcus.

  Harry said, ‘Your wound was worse than you thought. Anthony treated it and put you to bed. Five minutes later, the trouble started.’

  ‘Give me the short version,’ said Nicholas, watching the mercenaries.

  ‘It was the boatmen started it,’ said Ghuda. ‘They wailed like fishwives about leaving their families and not being paid to cross the sea.’

  ‘Why didn’t you heave to and put them over the side after we were clear of the harbor?’

  Marcus made an exasperated motion. ‘I wanted to, but Anthony and Calis both insisted that Pickens keep on after that other ship.’

  ‘Then the mercenaries began grumbling,’ added Ghuda, ‘claiming you’re abducting them. Things got testy last night after we broke out some wine. Thought it might relax things, but instead it got everyone sore as a boil.’

  Nicholas said, ‘Let me see what I can do.’

  He climbed to the quarterdeck and found Calis leaning on his bow. ‘Why didn’t you let the boatmen and mercenaries ashore?’

  Calis said, ‘I think I’d better stay here in case Praji’s friends get more irritated. Anthony is down below in the crew’s quarters. He can explain it better than I can, anyway.’

  Nicholas asked, ‘Praji?’

  ‘He’s all right. I think his friends would have been a lot more trouble if he hadn’t cautioned them to be patient.’ Calis smiled. ‘I think he considers you a pretty decent captain and is waiting to see what you say.’

  Nicholas walked down the ladder and moved to where Praji stood. ‘Captain,’ said the mercenary by way of greeting.

  ‘I don’t know what’s going on, but I’ll give you my word; those of you who want to go ashore will be put out in a boat before sundown – with a bonus for your troubles.’

  Instantly the men in the circle relaxed, and Nicholas turned and motioned for Calis to join them. Looking behind the elfling, he saw a haggard first mate on the deck. ‘Mr Pickens!’ he called.

  ‘Aye, sir!’

  ‘Have you been on watch the entire day and a half?’

  ‘Aye, sir!’ came the response.

  ‘Go below and get some sleep. Pick a man to watch our course. I’ll be below for a while.’

  ‘Aye, sir,’ he said with some relief.

  ‘Harry!’ Nicholas called.

  ‘Yes, Nicholas?’

  ‘Get up on the quarterdeck and make sure we don’t run aground. You’re now second mate.’

  With a rueful smile, he said, ‘Aye, Captain.’

  Nicholas motioned for Marcus and Ghuda to join them, and they went down the companionway to the crews’ quarters. Anthony was there ministering to the prisoners, who were sleeping in the bunks, or softly talking among themselves; Abigail and Margaret were helping him.

  ‘How is everyone?’ Nicholas asked.

  Anthony said, ‘You’re awake!’

  Nicholas was about to make a quip about this obvious remark, until he saw Anthony’s eyes. They were sunk in black circles, and his cheeks were hollow. ‘When did you last sleep?’

  Anthony shrugged. ‘A day or so before we left. I don’t remember. There’s so much to do.’

  Margaret said, ‘I’ve told him to get some rest, but he ignores me.’ Her expression was an equal mixture of irritation and admiration.

  ‘How are the prisoners?’

  ‘They’re all fine,’ said Anthony. ‘The worst is over as long as they rest and eat. We got most of the provisions on board, but we will have to watch our rations.’

  ‘How is Amos?’ asked Nicholas, lowering his voice.

  ‘Bad,’ said Anthony. ‘I’ve done all I could; the bleeding was heavy and the wound is deep. But he’s strong for a man his age, and the scars on his body show this isn’t the first time he’s survived a near death blow. If he wakes up in the next day or two, I think he’ll pull through.

  ‘But if he does, he’s going to be in no condition to captain this ship home; it’s your job for at least another month, Nicholas.’

  Nicholas nodded. ‘What is the reason you didn’t put the mercenaries and boatmen ashore?’

  Anthony and Calis exchanged glances, then Anthony said, ‘I don’t know where to begin.’ He looked at the end of his wits, so Nicholas gave him time to compose his answer. ‘We can’t let the other ship get too far ahead. I didn’t want to risk slowing down to let down a boat.’

  Something in his tone suggested grave concerns. Nicholas said, ‘Go on.’

  ‘It’s worse than anything we thought, Nicholas,’ said the young magician. ‘Nakor has told me some things I don’t think you know I know.’ He glanced at Marcus who nodded. ‘I don’t know all of it – there’s something the royal family is privy to, and that’s all right – but what I do know frightens me more than anything I can imagine.

  ‘The Pantathians have created a plague. It’s worse than any illness I’ve seen.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘There’s no cure for it,’ he said harshly. ‘They’ve used magics of the blackest kind to fashion this thing. Those creatures of theirs were created to carry it to the Kingdom.’

  Nicholas closed his eyes. ‘It … makes an evil sense. They’re a death cult and would gladly die to … further their cause.’

  Anthony continued. ‘I don’t know how the illness works. I’ve seen some of their failures. It’s horrible.’

  ‘And you know it can’t be cured?’

  ‘Nakor thinks so, and he knows more about magic’ – he smiled weakly – ‘or tricks, than I do. Maybe Pug, or some of the more practiced priests of Dala or Kilian, or the Ishapians … I don’t know. But I don’t think we’d have time.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘A … hunch. I think the disease progresses rapidly. From what I could see, those who died succumbed rapidly. The condition of the outer skin – what looks like human skin over the
ir own true skin – and the other damage done by the illness don’t lead me to think anyone could live for more than a few days once the sickness takes hold. I have no idea how it’s spread; Nakor is with the creatures, seeing what he can learn of them.’

  ‘Is he safe?’ asked Nicholas with alarm.

  ‘As much as anyone could be,’ answered Anthony.

  ‘Where are they?’

  ‘In the cargo hold. We can get there through that passage,’ said Anthony, pointing to a small door in the forward bulkhead.

  Nicholas moved to the door and opened it, finding a short passage to another door. He moved through it and opened the second door. From the rear he heard Anthony caution the others to stay behind.

  Nicholas found himself standing on the second cargo deck, with the grillwork of the main hatch above admitting light. The lowest deck in the hold had been converted to a barracks of sorts. A large open hatch looked down on it. Nicholas noticed that most of the supplies brought aboard from the riverboats had been stored on this deck. ‘Where’s the rest of our cargo?’ he asked.

  Anthony said, ‘Lashed up on deck. Nakor and I wouldn’t let it be put down there. Too dangerous.’

  ‘Ah, Nicholas,’ said a familiar voice from below. Nicholas glanced down and found Nakor sitting on an empty bed, looking at the people who were resting on about half the beds in sight. There was nothing unusual about any of them, and Nicholas was startled to recognize some from having seen them around the town and in the castle at Crydee.

  ‘I … it’s amazing,’ he said softly.

  ‘Do you begin to see?’ asked Anthony. ‘These creatures could return to the Kingdom and walk among us, spreading the disease until half the Western Realm was infected. Even if your father’s influence could get Stardock and the temples to deal with the problem, there would be chaos throughout the Kingdom for years after these creatures set foot ashore.’

  ‘Nakor,’ Nicholas called down, ‘have you learned anything useful?’

  ‘Yes,’ said the little man. ‘Lower the rope.’

  Nicholas looked around and saw a rope had been tied to an iron loop in the wall. He lowered it, and the little man shinnied up.

  When he was standing next to Nicholas, he pulled up the rope and said, ‘They are essentially harmless until the disease begins.’

  Nicholas stared down at the upturned faces. Some ventured shy smiles. A few spoke words of greeting. The Prince turned away and said, ‘Looking at them unnerves me.’ He returned to the crew quarters, where Marcus and Ghuda waited. The sight of the real prisoners, haggard and ill from their ordeal, seemed to put things back in perspective for Nicholas.

  Anthony said, ‘That’s the problem.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘We have to kill those things.’

  ‘What?’ said Nicholas.

  Nakor nodded agreement. ‘They will grow ill. Not for weeks, because it would not do to have them become ill before they reach the Kingdom, yes? But they may be able to infect now. I do not know how; we only know it will spread. Some temples think it is evil spirits, while others think it is tainted air. My theory –’

  Nicholas interrupted. ‘Why must we kill them? Why not just stick them on an island somewhere?’

  ‘We don’t know if we’re being chased,’ said Marcus. ‘It wouldn’t do to have them dropped off on some island and have those who follow pick them up the next day. They might not be able to insinuate a false Abby or Margaret into your father’s palace, but they could bring thirty plague carriers in to Krondor easily enough.’

  Nicholas said, ‘How do we do it?’

  Nakor said, ‘It is difficult. I am hard to kill – I would have to be exposed to this illness far longer than anyone else on the ship to succumb – so I should be the one to go down. I can mix something into the water to make them sleep, very deeply. If you lower a cargo net, I can pile them all into it, and you can lower them over the side.’

  ‘Can’t you mix something into their water to kill them painlessly?’ asked Nicholas.

  Nakor said, ‘No. Too dangerous. The death of these creatures might act to release the disease to others. There is no way to know. We must be very careful. I would prefer to burn the bodies, but that is impossible here at sea.’

  ‘It sounds cruel,’ said Nicholas. ‘To drown them in their sleep. ’

  Ghuda said, ‘It is cruel, lad. But life is often cruel. If you need to steel your resolve, just remember those poor dead and injured back in Crydee.’

  Nicholas sighed. ‘I doubt these poor creatures knew of that. Still, your point is taken.’ Looking at Nakor, he said, ‘Do it.’

  Nakor left. Then Nicholas said, ‘We need to stop to put ashore the boatmen and the mercenaries.’

  ‘That poses something of a problem,’ said Ghuda.

  ‘Why?’

  Marcus answered, ‘Because without them, we’re not going to have enough men to sail this ship and board and take the other. We took this one because those who sailed it didn’t expect to be hit coming out of the harbor. The fraudulent Gull saw us take this ship. They’ll be looking for us, and they’ll know we’re after her. Expect a dogfight.’

  Nicholas said, ‘Let’s go talk to them.’

  Walking up on deck, Nicholas found the Ranjana and her maids taking air at the front of the ship with Brisa. She smiled broadly at Nicholas and called after him concerning his health. He made a non-committal gesture and a meaningless response as he hurried to the main deck. He signaled Tuka to gather the boatmen to him, and moved to confront the mercenaries. When they were all assembled, he said, ‘My name is Nicholas. I am the son of Arutha conDoin, Prince of Krondor.’

  The boatmen and mercenaries all looked blankly at him, for the names meant nothing to them. Praji said, ‘We were talking about bonuses and going ashore, Prince.’

  Nicholas said, ‘You know we chase a ship that’s twin to this. I can’t spare the time to stop, but I can slow enough to lower a boat and have those of you who wish to, leave.’ Some muttering began. ‘I will pay every man here the bonus I spoke of.’ Over his shoulder he said, ‘Marcus, go find that chest of gold I had brought aboard.’

  Marcus and Ghuda hurried off. Nicholas said, ‘I offer much more for those of you who will stay.’

  ‘How much more?’ asked Praji.

  ‘Watch,’ said Nicholas. In a minute, Ghuda and Marcus returned carrying the chest. They set it heavily on the deck, and Nicholas opened it. The boatmen goggled and the mercenaries made low sounds in their throats at the sight of the gold and jewels. Nicholas said, ‘Tuka, take from the chest what I promised your men.’

  The little wagon driver hesitated, then reached into the chest. He fished around in it, finding a few small silver coins and some of the smallest gold coins. He finally stood up and held out a handful of coins for Nicholas’s inspection. ‘This is what is due to the rivermen, Encosi.’

  Nicholas nodded. ‘Praji, fish out what’s due your men.’

  Praji was less hesitant, but he still pulled out only a single handful of coins. Nicholas said, ‘Pass them out.’

  Each did so. Then Nicholas picked up a handful of gold and said, ‘Pass these out as well.’ Praji took the coins and spread them around to each man, who all looked surprised and pleased.

  Then Nicholas said, ‘Praji, hold your hands out.’

  Praji did so, and Nicholas filled them with coins. Praji’s eyes grew enormous, and the boatmen all stood in mute amazement. ‘What I’ve given you is your bonus. Any man who leaves now will take that with him.’ He then pointed at the gold in Praji’s hands. ‘But those who come with me, to my homeland, to those I will give this, and more!’

  The boatmen and mercenaries spoke among themselves, and Praji said, ‘Prince, where is this land of yours?’

  ‘Across the Blue Sea, Praji. Three months’ sailing, and more. The other side of the world.’

  Quickly a small group split off and Tuka said, ‘Encosi, these men, while overwhelmed by your generosity, have wives and children
and would die to be parted from them. They would ask you to put them ashore.’

  ‘Done.’ Glancing at the others, he said, ‘You’ll stay?’

  ‘To the other side of the world, Prince,’ said Praji.

  Orders were passed and a boat was made ready. As he went to confront the Ranjana, Nicholas turned to Praji and said, ‘I didn’t realize we had so many single men with us.’

  ‘We don’t,’ said the mercenary. ‘Just that some of them won’t die to be parted from their wives and children.’

  Nicholas shook his head. He found the Ranjana and her maids talking with Margaret and Abigail. Nicholas said, ‘My lady, I’m putting a boat ashore. Five of the boatmen and three of the mercenaries are returning to the City of the Serpent River. They will act as your escort. I will provide funds sufficient to return you to your father.’

  ‘No,’ said the girl.

  Nicholas had half turned away, then stopped. ‘No?’ he asked.

  ‘I will not be put ashore so far from civilization. Besides, were I to return home, my father would have me beaten and sold to a camel driver.’

  Nicholas said, ‘Look, I don’t know what you’re playing at, but Andres Rusolavi’s agent, Anward Nogosh Pata, assures me your father is a kind man who loves you, and you will in no way be punished by returning home.’

  The girl’s manner changed. ‘You are right. I have lied. I wish to remain for another reason.’

  ‘What?’ said Nicholas, nearing the end of his patience.

  Suddenly the girl was pressing against him, her arms around his neck. ‘You have won my heart, my brave captain.’ She kissed Nicholas passionately on the lips. As the flustered Prince attempted to disengage himself, she said, ‘I will be your wife.’

  Nicholas looked over the shoulder of the now firmly attached Ranjana to see Margaret and Abigail, Marcus and Ghuda fighting hard not to break out laughing.

  • CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE •