Taghri's Prize

by Peter Grant

  “If that’s the case, you should talk to Zulfiqar. His family is related to my wife, and I trust him. He runs a shipyard, and wants to expand, but there’s no space available in the harbor. If you’re thinking of starting a shipyard in Alconteral, and you have money, he has the skills and experience you need. It might be a worthwhile partnership for both of you.”

  Taghri grinned inwardly. It won’t be in Alconteral, but I won’t tell you where, not yet, he thought. Let it come as a nice surprise, if I can make this work. “Thank you, your majesty,” he said aloud. “I’ll ask him about sending some of his people to Sarut as a first step. The next thing is, I’ve hired about half the slaves we released from Harith Reis’ galley. I’m sending them to Sarut for training as gunners. I’m going to hire more in Alconteral, and send them here in time to take passage aboard the chebec when her repairs are complete, along with funds for her rebuilding in Sarut. May I charter one of your fast galleys to take me to Alconteral within the next day or two, and bring them back here?”

  “After saving our lives, there’s no need to pay for one. I’ll speak to the Commodore of the fleet. He’ll assign a ship and crew. Must you leave us so soon? Gulbahar will be upset.”

  “I’d love to have more time with her, and with you and your wife, your majesty; but if I want to marry her, I have to put arrangements in hand to make it easier for that to happen.”

  “Then I daresay she’ll understand.”

  That night, Taghri met with Elhac and Prasad aboard the chebec once more. He handed over most of the money taken from Harith and Riad Reis.

  “This is a down payment on what you’ll need in Sarut; wages for three months for your crew and all the new gunners, modifications to this ship’s rig, her new cannons, the grasshoppers, lots of ammunition for them, provisions, and all the rest. Prasad, take what you need of this and equip the former slaves who’re joining us. Get them clothing and everything else they need, and give them their first couple of weeks’ pay. They need to be able to get drunk and relax before you start working them to death.” Grins from his subordinates.

  “I’ll send more money aboard the galley that takes me to Alconteral, along with more gunners – perhaps another two or three score, if I can get them. Elhac, make sure you have enough stores to make it across the Great Bay with everyone aboard. Treat it as a training voyage. Prasad, work the new gun crews until they drop. By the time you reach Sarut, they must all be able to fire a nine-pounder cannon in their sleep. Some will crew the new twelve-pounders, while others will learn how to handle grasshoppers ashore. You decide who’s best suited for each type of gun. I’ll leave with you all the surviving members of my guard who are here. Train them as gun captains for the grasshoppers.”

  “Aye, sir.”

  “While you’re doing all that, I’m going to be raising and training more troops for another raid. It’ll be bigger than our previous one, and I hope more rewarding, too. I’ll try to have them ready by the beginning of spring. I want you back at Alconteral by then too, or as soon after that as you can make it. Don’t delay! As soon as you arrive, we’ll embark everybody and head for our target.”

  “Where is it, sir?”

  “Don’t ask. The fewer who know, the less the risk that it’ll hear about our plans and stiffen its defenses. I’d like to catch it completely off-guard.”

  After he’d gone, Prasad turned to Elhac, puzzled. “He said we’d ‘embark everybody’ at Alconteral. I don’t understand. This ship will be full to overflowing already, what with her new cannons and their gunners.”

  “Don’t forget, he owns other vessels besides this chebec.”

  “Oh, yes, but… where would we go? What target would we need to reach by sea, rather than land? And why would he need a pure fighting ship like this when we get there?”

  “I haven’t been told any more than you.”

  Privately, Elhac thought he could make a pretty good guess at Taghri’s intentions, but he wasn’t about to speculate openly. Let it come as a nice surprise for the bastards, he thought, and smiled to himself in anticipation.

  18

  Taghri’s first week back at Alconteral was a whirlwind of activity, so much so that he despaired of getting everything done in time. He had to make notes of all his activities, so that he didn’t find himself repeating some of them out of sheer exhaustion.

  His first step was to call in Sergeant-Major Hadi and Captain Kamil. “I want fifty more gunners within three days,” he said briskly. “They don’t have to be trained, but they have to be sailors or soldiers already, accustomed to discipline. I’m sending them to Kalba, and from there across the Great Bay. They’ll be gone for three months. Can you find me that many, that fast?”

  “I think I can find fifty of the slaves you freed at Quwain, sir,” Kamil said instantly. “They understand a sailor’s discipline, but they’re not trained to fight – at least, not yet.”

  Hadi shook his head. “I can find fifty to a hundred veterans, sir, perhaps even more – the word’s spread about you after Quwain, and people are interested – but I can’t check their quality that fast, to decide whether they’re worth hiring.”

  “All right. Kamil, find me fifty good men, as fast as you can. Pick those you know – those you’d be willing to trust with your life. Pay and conditions will be as usual. Buy them clothing if they need it, and put them aboard the galley that brought me here. It sails on the third morning from now.”

  “Aye, sir.”

  “After that, find me as many more as you can of those who joined us at Quwain. They know how we work and fight, which will be useful. Sergeant-Major, I lost several members of my guard, and the survivors are still in Kalba, preparing to leave for Sarut. I’ll need replacements of the same quality as soon as possible. I also want a lot more men for another raid in the spring. Line up as many veterans as you can. I want up to two hundred, and I won’t object to two hundred and fifty, because we’re sure to lose a lot during training. We’re going to work them until they drop.”

  Hadi whistled. “Where will you train them, sir? What about equipment and everything else?”

  “I’m working on that. I’ll have answers for you within a week, but I can’t tell you any more right now. Get started on that. I’ve got to see the Governor.”

  Hamid Bousaid was happy to see him again, and delighted to hear of the rescue of the Malik of Kalba and Princess Gulbahar. “That was an excellent piece of work!” he congratulated Taghri. “I’ll inform the Sultan at once. Kalba isn’t formally allied to us, but it’s a friendly kingdom, so it’s very much to our advantage to keep it that way.”

  “I did my best, your excellency. I think more may come of that in future. I’m talking to a shipyard in Kalba about a possible joint venture.”

  “Are you planning to expand your cargo shipping business?”

  “I am, your excellency. I think there’s a lot of room for Alconteral’s trade to grow, particularly now that raids out of Talima have diminished so much. I expect we’ll have fewer problems with Abu Reis and his pirates, too, at least for the next few months. I’m going to take advantage of that in another way, too. I’m planning another raid against those who plague our trade routes.”

  “Another one? Where?”

  “I’m not sure yet, your excellency. I’ll try to pick a target that’s unmistakably linked to that problem, so that no-one can accuse me of merely becoming a raider or pirate myself. This has to be very clearly a punishment for what they’ve done to us.”

  “I agree. Will it be on the same scale as the last one?”

  “Larger, your excellency, if I can obtain sufficient funds. Last time I raised five hundred diracs. This time I’d like to gather two thousand.”

  “That’s an enormous sum! Who has that much to invest, particularly in a speculative venture?”

  “I don’t think I’ll raise it in a few large contributions, your excellency. This time I’ll look for a larger number of investors, each giving smaller amounts. The Malik
of Kalba has already invested two hundred diracs. That’s a good start. I’ll contribute a lot from my own funds, of course, over and above the two thousand.”

  “Well, if Malik Dregat is backing you, I think I should also show willing. I’ll give you two hundred diracs out of my private funds, and two hundred more from the province as well. I hope they’ll earn a lot more than that, when all’s said and done. Of course, as it was before, this is strictly unofficial, you understand?”

  “Of course – and for that reason, I won’t mention where or when I’m planning to attack, so you can’t be accused of knowing about it. Thank you, your excellency. Your involvement is sure to attract others. As you said, this is a speculative venture, and I don’t think you can expect a seven-to-one return like the Quwain raid, but I’ll do my best to make it profitable for everyone.”

  The Governor was equally helpful when it came to finding a place to train Taghri’s new troops. They settled on a valley in a range of hills, ten miles out of town. It contained barracks to train the annual intake for the provincial militia, which were unused during the winter. Taghri tasked Fihr with buying cartloads of supplies, provisions, firewood and other necessities, and shipping them all to the valley, along with staff to run the barracks.

  Taghri’s next stop was the Temple of Kokat. The prioress was happy to hear of the raven’s second intervention, and how it had saved Gulbahar and her father.

  “If you needed any further proof that you stand in the Goddess’ favor, I don’t know what it might be,” she teased him. “Is the Malik any more amenable to discussing his daughter’s hand with you?”

  “Ah… with respect, mother, I’d rather not say just yet. There are developments, but they’ve got to be held in the strictest confidence for now.”

  Her eyes twinkled. “I’ll take that as good news, then, and hold my peace.”

  “Thank you, mother. There’s another point, though, arising out of what’s just happened. May I tell you something in total secrecy, not to be discussed with anyone at all?”

  “Provided it doesn’t affect our Order and require action, yes, you may.”

  “Well, it does, but I’ll trust you not to talk out of turn. I’m planning a new venture. You’re about to become the only person besides me to know what it is. Before I tell you, did you ever find a way to ritually cleanse and re-dedicate the knife I returned to you?”

  “It’s strange you should ask that. Our seer has stopped our every attempt at ritual cleansing. She insists that the Goddess has something else in mind, something far more powerful, but she doesn’t know what it is yet. She said it’ll be shown to us.”

  “Perhaps I can help.” Taghri told the prioress, in broad outline, what he had in mind. “If I can make that happen, would that be a suitable cleansing for the knife?”

  The prioress’ eyes were gleaming. The smile on her face was positively blood-curdling. “Oh, I think I can guarantee that! I think our seer will agree that Kokat will find such a situation eminently suitable. Can you do this, do you think?”

  “I’m going to try. May I ask for your prayers for my success, and those of your fellow sisters, every day from now on? And will you make the necessary arrangements to play your part?”

  “Yes, and yes. I’ll have to go in person to our Mother Temple in Mulala, to ask permission to proceed from the Council of the Order. I dare not take so momentous a decision without their approval. It’ll be a cold, uncomfortable journey at this time of year, but there’s no help for it. May I tell the Council what you’ve just told me?”

  “Provided they first agree to keep it in the strictest confidence, yes, mother. I’ll gladly sponsor a comfortable coach and escort for you, and provide money for meals and rooms at the way stations where you break your journey.”

  She chuckled. “I’ll accept your offer. Since your last venture, raider activity has decreased remarkably, so the journey should be a lot safer than before. If you can have the coach ready next week, I’ll try to make a fast trip.”

  “Consider it done, mother. Thank you. While you’re gone, I’ll approach the Temple of Hobal and ask them to support our venture as well.”

  “Don’t forget Suhal, the god of the sea. With those three on your side, you should be well covered.”

  “I’ll talk to his temple priests, mother. Thank you.”

  Taghri summoned the scouts he’d sent into Talima before his last venture, to watch his targets and report anything unusual before he attacked. They’d all returned safely from the raid.

  “You did a good job,” he assured them when they gathered in his rented house in the city. “Without your early warning, I wouldn’t have known the risks of continuing with the original plan. I’d only thought to capture a couple of loaded ships leaving Quwain harbor, not raiding the whole place as we did. It’s thanks to your warning that I was able to adjust our plans in mid-raid like that. Can you do as good a job for me again, in a different place?”

  “Where is it this time, sir?” Boulos asked.

  “Take a look.” Taghri unfolded the map Elhac had drawn and laid it on the table.

  There was an instant buzz of astonishment. “But, sir, that’s –”

  “Yes, it is. What I need to know is, if I can get you there, can you study the whole area in detail without getting caught, and compile all the information I need? It’ll be difficult, and it may be dangerous, too. Because of the risk, I’ll guarantee each of you a bonus of five gold diracs if you get me all I need, over and above your normal pay.”

  “Sir, you know the way to get a man’s attention!” Ilyas enthused. The others laughed, then gathered around, pointing, asking each other questions, examining features of the terrain.

  “How will you get us there, sir?” Habi asked.

  “I’ll put you aboard an inconspicuous ship – probably the boum that brought you back from Salwa. She’ll land you here one night, at the base of the peninsula, on the far side of its mountain spine from the settlement. You’ll have to make your way through or over the mountains, then find a hiding-place from which you can watch and learn. You don’t need to worry about the bastion at the entrance to the bay. I already know enough about that, based on what former slaves have told me. Concentrate on the harbor, the town, and the slave pens.”

  “It’ll be cold and uncomfortable at this time o’ year,” Ilyas muttered.

  “Yes, it will. That can’t be helped, I’m afraid. Look at it like this. If it were high summer, you’d roast there, and complain about the lack of water. At present, you’ll have lots of water, but not enough heat!” There were reluctant chuckles from the scouts.

  “How long can you give us to reconnoiter, sir?” Jadat asked.

  “Reckon on landing there within ten days, carrying everything you need. It’ll mean heavy packs, and a cache of supplies on the shore where you can replenish your stocks every week or so. Plan on one or two of you staying at the cache, and the rest reconnoitering, relieving each other as needed. I’d say you’ll need twenty to thirty days to identify all the features and get all the information I need. You’ll be on your own all that time, with no escape if they find you. I’ll send the ship to collect you thirty days after you land, and bring you back here. We’ll attack within a month or two after that.”

  “Should some of us stay there to see if anything changes before you arrive, sir? The ship could bring us more supplies, and we could meet you with the latest information when you get there.”

  Taghri shook his head. “If they captured some of those staying behind, they might find out enough to be ready to resist us. I can’t risk that. Come back together; then, if you think you can make it work, I’ll land you again a day or two before we attack, to spearhead the assault. If not, one of you will accompany each of our attack groups.”

  “Aye, sir. All right, I’m in.” The others muttered their agreement and assent.

  “Thank you. Make lists of everything you’ll need, and give them to Sergeant-Major Hadi. You leave one week from
today. I’ll prepare your detailed instructions.”

  Standing on the quayside, Taghri and Fihr watched the Kalba galley back away from the dockside, turn in its own length, and row out of the harbor. Outside the breakwater it hoisted its sail, turned onto its course for home, and set off into the choppy sea.

  “Some of our new people are going to get very seasick, sir,” Fihr quipped.

  “Yes, they probably are, but they’ve got to get used to it. They’ll have months of sea time before this venture is over.” They turned to walk back towards the town. “How are you doing with everything else I’ve loaded onto your shoulders?”

  “Trying to stay upright, sir!” They chuckled. “I’ll have to send a ship to buy more weapons and equipment. Local merchants don’t have enough in stock. I’m thinking Lakibi might be a good place to try.”

  “I’ll talk to the Governor about getting some more of his surplus weapons. If that doesn’t produce enough, we’ll send a baghlah to Lakibi. I’ll have a few more things to add to the shopping list, too. You have enough money?”

  “Aye, sir. You’ve committed almost your entire treasury, what with the new cannon and modifications to the chebec, plus the costs of hiring everybody and setting up the training base. However, investors are lining up, just as you thought. They’re dazzled by the return on investment you achieved at Quwain, and want to be part of your next venture. You’ve already got more than half of the two thousand diracs you wanted, and I think you’ll get the rest.”

  “Good. You’ve kept a detailed list of everything I’ve spent on this venture so far? I want to account for that as my share of the working capital, and draw a return on it like any other investor.”

  “Of course, sir. There’ll also be your usual one-sixth share of the profits as the venture’s principal.”