Taghri's Prize

by Peter Grant

  “She could be, sir,” Elhac said slowly, thoughtfully. “Abu Reis won’t forget it was you who killed his youngest son. Some protection for our ships might be a good idea. She’ll cost more to operate than our other vessels, but if we pay a low enough price for her, that’ll help make up for it. We’ll have to learn to use her properly, though. Firing cannon out the side, rather than ahead of the bow as we’re used to aboard galleys… that’s a whole new skill. It’ll take weeks, plus a lot of powder and shot, to learn how best to use them. She’ll handle differently, too, sir.”

  “You’re right. As for Abu Reis, if he becomes a problem, I’m not going to sit back and wait for his attacks. I’ll take the fight to him. A ship like this might be very useful if we have to do that.”

  “Yes, she will, sir. We’ll have to keep her busy, though. A baghlah costs her owner a dirac or more every single day, what with crew wages, food, routine repairs and replacements for rigging and sails, port charges, and all the other things she needs. Every day she sits idle is a drain on his purse. She has to keep busy to earn her keep. With this chebec, that’s going to be an even bigger problem, because we’ll have to find shippers willing to pay the higher rates we’ll have to charge for her.”

  “Put your mind to the problem, and see what can be done. Meanwhile, let’s ask the shipyard for permission to inspect her, then discuss her price.”

  It took two days of hard negotiation before they were satisfied. Taghri bought the ship, fully armed and equipped, for six hundred diracs, which was a third less than her original asking price. He also hired, at considerable expense, an experienced Feringhi gunner, recommended by the shipyard, to teach his soldiers and sailors how to use the cannon safely and effectively. The gunner urged him to buy all the powder and shot the ship could carry, because they would need a lot to train her crew, and the right size of cannonball and quality of powder would not be available everywhere. Wincing at the added cost, Taghri complied.

  A shipyard crew took the vessel to sea for two days, to introduce her to her new sailors and make sure they knew how to handle her. Elhac went along, to learn how best to use her strengths and allow for her weaknesses. He returned with his eyes glowing with excitement. “She’s really fast, sir! I reckon she’s half as fast again as a boum, and they’re faster than baghlahs. Once we’ve learned her ways, she’ll serve us well.”

  “I’m glad to hear it. What about the cannon?”

  “We haven’t fired them yet, sir. One step at a time. We’ll start gunnery practice on our way back to Alconteral.”

  Taghri nodded, satisfied. Even after buying the chebec, and investing in goods to take back to Alconteral, he still had almost eighteen hundred diracs to his name, plus seven vessels, their cargoes, and high-quality weapons and armor for a hundred men. By anyone’s standards, that was a pretty fair return for three months’ very hard work.

  12

  The flotilla’s arrival in the harbor at Alconteral sparked festivities that lasted for several days. It wasn’t just the triumphant return of several hundred men, including even more released slaves: it was that they had money to spend. The merchants, taverners, entertainers and hangers-on of the port promptly set about diverting as much as possible of the newly-arrived coin into their own pockets, with the eager cooperation of at least some of the new arrivals.

  Sergeant-Major Hadi and Fihr came aboard as soon as the new chebek had tied up to the quay. “Nice!” the older man approved, glancing up and down the deck, noting how everything was in good order. “I see you’ve been getting involved, sir.” Hadi nodded to the tar stains on Taghri’s work clothing, and the callouses on his hands.

  “Yes. If I’m to own a shipping company, I need to understand how a ship works. I’m never going to be as good as a real sailor, but I need to know what’s involved in hoisting, trimming and lowering the sails, steering, coping with bad weather, and the like. It helps me understand what the orders I give will mean for those who have to carry them out.”

  The sergeant-major nodded approvingly. “Just like knowing what taking part in an attack is like helped you command attacks in the Army. Makes sense to me, sir. Have you been working with the cannon, too?”

  “I have. We’re still learning how to use them. It’s a different way of fighting to a galley, which aims by pointing itself at the target and shooting from the bow. Shooting out the side, you have to allow for the ship’s roll as well as pitch. It makes sighting much more difficult in a rough sea. Anyway, enough of that. What do you have to report?”

  It was all good news. The horses had been delivered to the Army, and a receipt obtained. The second boum had arrived safely, carrying the scouts from the last two villages, and the guards who’d been left to stop the fishermen at Salwa raising the alarm until it was too late. The saddles and pack saddles had been unloaded and returned. The hundred-odd horses that the raiding column had abandoned at Salwa were doubtless now in Talima’s service, but the hundred and thirty they’d captured at Qisha had more than made up for them.

  “I kept twenty horses for you, sir,” Hadi reported. “There were more than enough for the Army, so I held back the best animals. I’ve brought them all here. Fihr has news about that.”

  “Yes, sir,” his son acknowledged. “My father brought the loot from Qisha, and I used it to settle all the bills you said to pay. At the same time, an estate came up for sale near the city. It’s a full parasang square. There’s a farm, with several big grass fields where horses can graze. There are two large storage sheds, a barn, a manor house, and room for more buildings. It sounded like something you could use – after all, you don’t have a home here yet – so I rented it for three months, with an option to buy. I’ve moved your horses out there, and hired a couple of ostlers to look after them until your return. I hope I didn’t presume too much, sir.”

  “No, not at all. You’re quite right; I’ll need a place of my own. I don’t know if I’ll buy it – that will depend on whether I like it enough – but I can always rent it for a while, if need be, while I find something else. That was a good idea.”

  “Thank you, sir.”

  “How much money do you have left?”

  “I have three hundred and seventy diracs for you, sir, plus a full accounting of what I did with the rest.”

  “Excellent!” And none of it’s recorded in the accounts I prepared at Lakibi, he thought happily to himself. I think I’ll keep it that way, as far as the Governor is concerned. I need to thank the gods for their help, and give something more to the Princess. This will cover most of that.

  “We’ve brought back what I hope will be a profitable cargo,” he told Fiqh. “See Elhac for the bills of lading. If you can sell it to merchants while still in our holds, so we can unload directly into their warehouses, so much the better. If you can’t, hire warehouse space, unload it, then see about finding markets for it. There’s also a large consignment of weapons and armor. That’s mine. Take it out to that estate you’ve rented and find secure, dry storage for it.”

  “Aye, sir!”

  His first stop, naturally, was the Governor’s palace. He rode there in style, with four mounted guards as escorts, leading a pack horse bearing an attractively carved wood chest. Two of the guards handed over their weapons to the others, and followed him to the audience chamber carrying the chest between them.

  Hamid Bousaid arrived within minutes. He cloaked his obvious interest in the formality of officialdom. “Welcome back, Ra'id Taghri. You asked for an urgent audience.”

  “Yes, your excellency. I had a very successful ‘trading mission’, and wanted to bring you the good news at once. I’ve also brought the taxes owed to the Sultan.”

  Hamid’s eyes brightened. “He will be pleased to hear that.”

  “I hope so, your excellency.” He opened the lid of the chest. The officials clustered around the Governor drew in their breaths with a sharp, simultaneous hiss as they saw the heaped gold coins within. “I present you with one thousand, five hund
red and thirty-four diracs, one-sixth of the profit from my venture at Lakibi.”

  A broad smile broke across the Governor’s face. “That is remarkable! I congratulate you on your success. This province usually sends the Sultan about two thousand diracs in taxes every year. Your contribution will greatly increase that this year, which is sure to attract his favorable attention.”

  Yours, too, Taghri thought with an inward grin. He knew the Governor’s position was partly financed by tax farming. A quarter of the taxes raised every year went into the provincial treasury, and its governor was allowed to skim off one-fifth of those funds for his private use. If Hamid Bousaid was like most senior officials, it was probably more like a third. The Sultan’s administration usually turned a blind eye to that, unless the skimming became excessive, for fear they would not be able to attract nobles to accept Governorships and other important posts.

  “You have the accounts of your venture ready?” a bureaucrat officiously inquired from his place beside the Governor’s chair.

  “Oh, never mind that now!” Hamid said quickly. “I’m sure everything will be in order. You must dine with us tonight, Taghri, and tell us all about it. The Princess will be very interested, too. Her father is due here next week to take her home. I’m glad you will be here for his visit.”

  Taghri could not suppress the sudden warmth he felt at the thought of seeing her again. “So am I, your excellency. Ah… I learned something during my venture that she should know. It concerns the events that led to her presence here. Would your wife be so kind as to chaperone a discussion between us tonight?”

  “If my wife is present, there can be no suggestion of impropriety. I’ll ask the Princess whether she’ll speak with you under that condition.”

  Taghri felt an inward rush of relief, but was careful not to let it show. He contented himself with a simple, “Thank you, your Excellency.”

  Taghri collected two heavy purses from the inn where he was staying, and rode out again. His first stop was the Temple of Kokat, where he asked for the Prioress.

  “We hear you’ve been busy,” she greeted him with a smile. “Our seer says you have already met the raven once.”

  “Yes, and a very fruitful meeting it proved to be. That’s why I’m here. I tithe my earnings to the gods, of course. In the past, I’ve given them to the Temple of Hobal wherever I’ve been at the time; but Kokat obviously had a lot to do with my latest venture. Will she be satisfied with half a tithe from me, with the other half to go to Hobal’s temple? Is that fair to both gods?”

  “You’ll have to ask a priest of Hobal about his share, but I can’t see anything unfair about it. I’m sure our mother goddess will find your offering acceptable.”

  “In that case, here it is – one hundred and forty diracs.” He handed over a heavy, bulging purse.

  She took it from him, fumbling with the unexpectedly heavy burden. “And this is only half a tithe? The Goddess has blessed you richly indeed! This will support a small temple like ours for a year or more.”

  “I’m glad it’ll serve you well. I’m very grateful for Kokat’s blessing during our venture.”

  “So you’re feeling less skittish about associating with a goddess of chaos and uncertainty?”

  “I am. It still feels a little strange, but I’m getting used to it.”

  “She hasn’t finished with you yet. I think Kokat likes you. She doesn’t show her favor so openly to many, even her devoted followers.”

  “Ah… is Princess Gulbahar one of them? She told me in a letter that she was praying to Kokat for my success.”

  “Yes. She’s been here several times since you rescued her. She speaks very highly of you – very highly indeed.”

  Taghri flushed. “I don’t know why. I mean, we’ve only met twice.”

  “Yes, but the first time, you killed the man who kidnapped and… ah… demeaned her, and captured his galley single-handed in the face of armed enemies. That’s enough to impress anyone.” The Prioress’ eyes softened. “Treat her kindly and with warmth, Taghri. She is still getting over the… the difficulty of her kidnapping.”

  “I’d like to, but it’ll be difficult. I’ve been advised to keep my distance.”

  “Advised? By who? Someone in authority?”

  “Ah… I don’t think I should name the person.”

  “I see. Is it because you’re a commoner?”

  “Yes,” Taghri said simply. He knew there was no need to elaborate.

  The prioress’ eyes twinkled. “Well, we shall see. I shall pray about it while you deliver the other half of your tithe to the Temple of Hobal. Perhaps he and Kokat will take an interest.”

  The Governor’s family again joined them for pre-supper conversation, and the Princess accompanied them. Taghri found it hard not to look at her too often as he described the adventures of the past few weeks.

  “You understand, I’ve been on a trading venture to Lakibi,” he began, winking. “The tale I’m about to tell you is one I heard there. That way, no complaining envoy from Talima can allege you had anything to do with recent events there. Let’s talk about a man we’ll call… ah… Ali. Yes, let’s call it ‘The Adventures of Ali in Talima’. That sounds like a good name for a story.”

  Hamid rolled his eyes. “And, of course, we’ve never met this ‘Ali’, so we won’t even think about connecting him with you – officially speaking, that is.”

  “That’s right, your excellency.” They grinned at each other.

  Taghri described the events of the raid, speaking always in the third person. His listeners hung on every word, exclaiming as the story reached its climax, with ‘Ali’ leaving a burning, wrecked port behind as he sailed away into the moonlight.

  Hamid exhaled softly as the tale came to an end. “Well, judging by Ali’s contribution to the Sultan’s treasury, it was a very successful adventure indeed.”

  “What contribution is that, your excellency?” Taghri asked, smiling.

  “Ah… quite so.”

  Princess Gulbahar had listened as closely as anyone else, leaning forward in her chair as he described the raid on Quwain. Now she asked, “When Ali raided the harbor and freed the slave workers, did he perhaps find out about any other slaves?”

  “As a matter of fact, he did, your highness. Ah… your excellency, with your permission…?”

  “Yes, of course.” Hamid nodded to his wife. “Please escort the Princess and Taghri onto the balcony. I’ll wait here with the children.”

  As they emerged into the cool, crisp autumn evening air, Hamid’s wife winked at them. “You two go over to that side. I’m going to look over the garden from this side. If you’re quiet, I won’t hear anything you say.”

  “Thank you very much,” Taghri said softly, smiling in relief. It seemed the Governor’s wife did not share her husband’s caution about his relationship with the princess.

  Gulbahar led the way to the far end of the balcony. Looking up at him, she said softly, “What did you learn, Taghri?”

  He couldn’t suppress a frisson of pleasure as he heard her speak his name. “I came across a lady who said your four attendants had been sold to a slave dealer from Bahil, capital city of Talima.”

  The glint of moisture was in her eyes. “And… had they been…?”

  “I’m very sorry, but… yes, they had. She was quite clear about that.”

  Gulbahar turned away for a moment, looking out over the garden. Her voice quivered, and he knew there would be tears in her eyes. “I… it was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do to write to their parents, and tell them what had happened. We grew up together, all of us. They were much more my friends and companions than my servants. I… I suppose I knew they must have been… dishonored by those scum, but I tried to persuade myself that they might be safe.”

  “I’m sorry, your highness. However, there is hope. I’ve set aside for you a purse of two hundred diracs from our loot at Quwain, over and above what I gave you earlier. If you can find
a merchant to go to Talima on your behalf, that should be more than enough to pay for his journey and to buy them back.”

  She gripped his arm fiercely with her left hand, her right going to her mouth, and was silent for a long moment, still looking away, her shoulders shaking. At last she said brokenly, “That is… that’s a wonderful gift. As soon as I return to Kalba, I’ll engage a trusted merchant to act as go-between. When their families hear about this, I’m sure they’ll be grateful to you. I don’t know what their future will be if we get them back, though. If they’ve been slaves, everyone will know they’ve been dishonored. That means they won’t be able to find husbands – at least, not good ones.”

  “I can see how that will be a problem. I don’t know the answer, Gulbahar,” he said softly, daring at last to use her name instead of her title. Her hand tightened on his arm for just an instant, which he chose to take as approval. “Any man worthy of the name should understand that what may happen to a lady when she’s taken by pirates isn’t her fault at all. She can’t be blamed for it. I know I’ll never look down on anyone who’s been through that, and I’ll never think of a woman as dishonored or diminished if she’s had to endure it. I hope your lady companions will find husbands like that in due course. All we can do is bring them back to freedom, and give them the chance.”

  Again, she was silent for a long moment. At last she whispered, “I wish there were more men like you. Many seem to blame us for whatever is done to us, whether we wanted it or not.”

  “They’re vain, blind fools. Treat them as such.”

  She looked at him curiously. “I can’t think of any other man I’ve ever met who would have that reaction. Why are you different?”

  He shrugged. “I’ve seen some men exhibit great courage and steadfastness, while others show cowardice and inconstancy. I don’t think those qualities are dependent on whether they’re a man or a woman. People either have them, or they don’t. You have the right qualities in abundance, Gulbahar, and I’m sure your friends do too – otherwise they wouldn’t be your friends. You’re all ladies, in the full sense of that term, not just women, so I extend to you the respect that is your due. It has little or nothing to do with your station at birth, and everything to do with who and what you are. Any man who doesn’t recognize that isn’t worthy of the name.”