“Worse. It looks like we’ve got a Quegan raiding fleet heading this way, and it looks like they’ll get to us before the Kingdom fleet does.”
Nardini looked perplexed. “There shouldn’t be enough ships in Queg to make up a raiding fleet. A few of the richer nobles, like Vasarius, have a single galley, one they didn’t send on that big raid last year, but if there are five other warships left in Queg, I’d be shocked. A dozen or so are under construction in Queg, but they won’t be ready to launch for at least another month.”
“Then who belongs to that second fleet?” asked Roo.
Nardini shrugged. “We’ll find out soon enough.”
Roo said, “I wish I had your calm.”
Nardini said, “Well, truth to tell, if you get free, I’m a rich man. If you get caught, I was your prisoner.”
Roo had to admire the Captain’s poise. But his perverse nature demanded he spoil it. “Well, if Vasarius catches us, I hope I live long enough to hear you explain to him how you managed to let us capture your ship.”
The Captain’s face drained of color. “Put on every inch of sail you can!” he shouted aloft.
Roo laughed.
The Captain continued calling out orders to the men aloft as the two fleets bore down on the ship.
Roo called to the lookout, “As soon as you can iden-
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tify that fleet off the starboard, sing out!”
“Yes, sir!” replied the man aloft.
Roo found it impossible not to look continuously astern, to attempt to measure in his mind the progress the galley behind was making. In his mind’s eye he could see the hortator belowdecks slamming his wooden mallets onto the drum used to keep the rowers in unison. Roo knew that when they were close enough, and the Captain called for ramming speed, the beat would pick up and that huge ship would seem to leap forward, its heavy iron-clad ram striking this little ship in the stern. Then armed men would swarm aboard, and if Roo was lucky he’d die during the combat.
The galley drew nearer and Roo saw a man standing at the bow, watching intently. After a few moments, Roo said, “Well, it’s Lord Vasarius himself.”
Nardini said, “Then we had better pray that the wind picks up or more slaves die quickly, for we are unlikely to encounter mercy at his hands.”
“I’ve found the man lacks any sense of humor, myself.” Nardini said, “I’ve never had the pleasure of any social encounters.”
“With luck, you won’t anytime soon,” said Roo.
From aloft the lookout shouted, “Kingdom ships to the starboard!”
Roo raced to the bow of the ship and looked.
After a few minutes, he could see that both squadrons heading toward him were Kingdom ships.
He whooped in joy and turned to shout to the Captain, “Which can we reach first?”
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change course toward them, we will lose speed.”
Roo didn’t debate. “Just keep as much speed as you can and let Vasarius decide who he wants to fight first.”
Roo heard a crash. He ran to the stern of the ship and saw the Captain cowering over the loose tiller, letting the high sterncastle shelter him. “What was that?” he asked Nardini.
“A ballista bolt! Vasarius seeks to slow us down.”
“Or he’s mad enough to sink his own treasure ship before he lets it get away.”
Looking over his shoulder, where men worked frantically or watched in fear, he shouted, “Do we have a bow on this ship?”
Silence greeted his question. “Damn,” Roo swore. “We can’t even shoot back!”
Captain Nardini said, “A little more to the left and he’d have disabled our tiller.”
As if listening, the officer in charge of the ballista fired more accurately, and Captain Nardini was almost cut in half by the tiller as it slammed hard into him. Blood flowed from his mouth and nose and his eyes were glassy before he collapsed to the deck.
Roo saw the tiller swinging loosely and knew the shaft connecting it to the rudder had been shattered.
Roo knew it was possible to control the ship a little by trimming sails, but he had no idea of how one did that and was certain a high rate of speed was now out of the question. The ship began to drift to starboard and the sailors above frantically tried to trim sails.
They looked down, awaiting orders, and a few of them could see the Captain lying dead on the deck.
Roo sighed in resignation. He pulled his sword and shouted, “Ready to repel boarders!”
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Instantly those in the rigging above began sliding down sheets to reach the deck. Those who had no weapons grabbed belaying pins or large wooden tackles on rope which could be wheeled like a morn-ingstar.
The Quegan galley bore down on them and another ballista bolt sped toward the ship’s stern. A loud crack was accompanied by the entire ship shuddering with the impact.
From below a voice called out, “We’re taking water.”
“Wonderful,” Roo said.
His ship began to turn sideways to the galley as the wind shifted quarter, and suddenly the huge galley’s ram was angled at the starboard stern.
An arrow sped by and Roo realized he was standing exposed to any archers in the rigging of the other ship. He ducked low, behind the slight shelter offered by a hatch cover, knowing his chances for survival were very thin. If they could stay alive until the approaching Kingdom fleet reached them, Vasarius would be forced to withdraw. But the chances of this handful of sailors and smugglers holding off the Quegan crew were slim.
Obviously a couple of the sailors agreed, as they dove from the rigging into the water, attempting to swim to shore rather than face the wrath of a Quegan warship’s crew. “Stand!” shouted Roo, hoping whatever note of authority he could muster might stiffen the spines of the remaining crew.
Suddenly the ship shuddered and shook like a rat caught by a terrier. The stern lifted as the huge iron-shod ram ripped into the starboard rear quarter of the ship. Roo held on for his life as more arrows sped 52893_~1.QXD 8/30/2002 10:02 AM Page 299
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past.
He kept as low as possible, waiting for the first boarder. It seemed as soon as he thought of boarders, they were there. Quegan sailors swung down on ropes overhanging the bow of the galley. Similarly dressed in white trousers and shirts, with red head-covers, they were each armed with cutlass and knife.
Roo gave a silent prayer that Vasarius wasn’t accompanied by a squad of Quegan Legionaries. The men who swarmed his ship were little better than pirates, and might be held at bay.
Roo leaped at the first man near him, running him through before the boarder had a chance to defend himself. Roo ducked back, using the rear mast as cover from the archers above. Another pirate managed to step in the way of an arrow aimed at Roo, and fell to the deck screaming as the arrow protruded from his thigh.
Roo heard members of his own crew climbing the ladder from the main deck to the quarter, and saw the boarders hesitate. He launched a furious attack at the next man, who stepped back. This caused those behind to retreat, and suddenly there was a bunching of boarders on the rear of the quarterdeck. Arrows rained down from above indiscriminately, striking Quegans as well as Roo’s men.
Another shout from above caused Roo to dive away as a second volley of arrows cut down men around him. Roo struck a dying man, who groaned as Roo rolled over him and came to his feet. One enterprising boarder was trying to hoist the dead body of a companion to use as a shield against the arrows, but Roo skewered him before he could get the dead man adjusted on his shoulder.
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A shaft sped by Roo’s face, close enough for him to feel the wind, and he moved backward, again trying to use the rear mast and the sails above as shelter from the bow-fire.
He glanced around and realized that only two of his own men were standing and there were a half-dozen boarders advancing on him. He also knew that if he leaped to the main deck, he’d be exposed to even more fire from above.
Roo had not gotten to where he was by hesitating.
Without looking back, he shouted, “Abandon ship!”
and with a single step he dove over the side. Roo struck the water as he felt a hot sting in his shoulder, and he gasped involuntarily. Suddenly he had a mouth and nose full of seawater and he began choking.
Roo forced himself to the surface, choking and spitting water, and by sheer force of will he kept himself from panic. He managed a deep breath as arrows sped by him, and with a single gulp of air, he dove under the water again and started swimming toward the shore. After he had held his breath as long as possible, he broke the surface and turned, treading water.
Panic had erupted on both ships, as the sailors on the deck of his ship were frantically scrambling to gain the ropes they had just used to board it. The reason was that the galley was backing water, attempting to free the ram from the foundering ship. And the reason for that was the two Kingdom warships that were now bearing down on the galley.
The two ships were fast cutters. Neither alone could stand up to a Quegan war galley, but with the galley’s ability to maneuver hindered by the sinking 52893_~1.QXD 8/30/2002 10:02 AM Page 301
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freighter, the two cutters were like hounds on a wounded bear with its muzzle stuck in a trap.
Men ran around on deck like ants after a stick had been jammed in their hill. The first cutter fired a ballista bolt that sheared rigging and fouled lines. The second fired a bolt that shattered several oars on the port side of the galley, probably killing a dozen slaves as the oars suddenly slammed around inside the hull.
Then the Kingdom ship closest to Roo blocked his view of the galley for several minutes. He heard ballistae fire several times before the ship passed and he could again see the galley. The galley was afire.
The ship on the far side loosed another flaming bolt and the crew of the galley began to abandon ship.
Roo turned and swam toward the shore, memorizing landmarks in the distance. After a few minutes another Kingdom ship appeared, bearing down on him, and Roo raised his hand, waving his arm back and forth. The ship lowered sail and armed men on deck stood ready to retrieve those in the water. Roo looked again at the two Quegan ships locked in a death embrace. The sinking treasure ship turned, and Roo could see the stern. There painted in red were the words, Shala Rose. Roo realized he hadn’t even known the name of the ship until that moment. Now she was down by the stern and forcing the burning galley down by the bow.
Both ships were taking on water and men still swarmed off the decks of the galley. For a moment he wondered if anyone had unchained the slaves belowdecks, and said a silent prayer for those who wouldn’t get abovedecks.
Then the Kingdom ship was upon him and a rope 52893_~1.QXD 8/30/2002 10:02 AM Page 302
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was lowered. He grabbed it and climbed aboard.
Rough hands pulled him over the railing, and as he stood dripping seawater upon the deck, one of the officers said, “And who might you be?”
“Rupert Avery of Krondor,” he answered.
The name caused a visible shift in manners. “Mr.
Avery,” said the officer. “I’m Lieutenant Aker, second officer of the ship.”
“Glad to meet you,” said Roo. “A few of those swimming around may be my men, but most of them are Quegans.”
“Quegans?” said the young officer. “Are they taking a hand?”
“Let’s say it’s a personal matter. Still, they were not kindly disposed to our cause.”
“If you’d like, sir, I’ll escort you to our Captain.”
“Thank you.”
Roo followed the officer to the quarterdeck, where they halted just before the ladder to the sterncastle. Roo knew that Kingdom navy tradition for-bade anyone to climb the stairs to the Captain’s domain without invitation.
The Lieutenant called up, “Captain Styles, sir!”
A grey-haired head peered over the railing and called down, “What is it, Mr. Aker?”
“This is Mr. Rupert Avery of Krondor, sir.”
“Heard of you,” said the Captain to Roo. “Forgive my lack of hospitality, but we have to rescue some drowning men.”
“Understood, Captain,” replied Rupert.
“Perhaps you’ll dine with me this evening, after we reach Sarth,” suggested the Captain. He turned away before Roo could answer.
Roo looked at the young officer. “Lieutenant, 52893_~1.QXD 8/30/2002 10:02 AM Page 303
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what ship?”
“You’re aboard the Royal Bulldog, sir. If you’ll come with me, we’ll get you into some dry clothing.”
As they crossed the deck, Roo saw other Kingdom ships racing northward, carrying soldiers to reinforce Sarth. “How many ships?” asked Roo.
“A dozen. Five carrying troops and the rest of us running screens. So far no enemy ships, until this one.”
Roo said, “I’m confused a bit. Two squadrons of Kingdom ships?”
Aker said, “We’re from the Far Coast, Mr. Avery.
This is what’s left of the command in Carse, with a couple of ships from Tulan and Crydee tossed into the bargain.” He pointed to the rear. “The other squadron are the lads from Port Vykor.”
Roo said, “Well, wherever you’re from, I’m very glad you got here.”
Roo went down belowdecks, to a small cabin he assumed belonged to the Lieutenant. The officer produced trousers and a white shirt, dry stockings, and small clothes. Roo quickly changed, and said,
“When we get situated, I’ll make sure these are returned.”
“No rush, sir. I’ve another set.”
Roo made his way back up to the main deck to find Quegan sailors being hauled up over the railing, then tied and forced to sit under the watchful gaze of armed Kingdom sailors. Sitting at the front of them, looking as much like a half-drowned rat as anything else, sat a dejected-looking figure familiar to Roo.
Roo came and knelt just beyond the guards, so that he was at eye-level with the man. “My Lord Vasarius, how pleasant to see you here.”
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“Avery,” the man nearly spat. “Have the Gods selected you to personally plague me for some affront?”
Roo shrugged. “I wouldn’t know. You just happened to be the unlucky conduit whereby I could achieve some gains for my King. Nothing personal.”
“It’s very personal,” said Vasarius.
“Then you better rethink things, for you are in no position to make threats.” Roo looked up to where Lieutenant Akers stood, and said, “This is a very important Quegan noble; he’s a member of their Imperial Senate.”
The Lieutenant motioned to two guards to haul Vasarius up to his feet. They cut loose his bonds, and Lieutenant Akers said, “I’ll show you to private quarters, m’lord. You understand there will be a guard outside the door.”
With a curt nod, Vasarius acknowledged the courtesy and walked off behind the Lieutenant.
Roo took the moment to regard the captured Quegan sailors. The last time he had seen a lot that miserable had been in the death cell in the palace at Krondor. Turning to a guard, he said, “What will happen to them?”
The guard shrugged. “A work camp, I expect. If we ever get a treaty with Queg, maybe a prisoner exchange. Though the Quegans never rel
ease prisoners, so I guess we’re stuck with these.”
Roo walked to the railing and again studied landmarks: the way the road turned, the odd clump of trees near a large boulder overlooking the beach. He glanced over his shoulder, across the deck where the Quegan galley slipped under the water with a burst of bubbles. Yes, he was certain he could find this spot 52893_~1.QXD 8/30/2002 10:02 AM Page 305
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again. Hire a magician from the Wreckers Guild in Krondor to raise the ship and offload the treasure, and he’d be the Western Realm’s wealthiest man again. Roo grinned to himself.
Arutha ducked behind a door. An arrow sped through it, striking the hardwood floor of the main entrance to the abbey. Subai’s men had control of the abbey and Nordan’s invaders held the outer walls and the cookhouse. Subai had men on the roof of the abbey and they were exchanging bow-shots with those on the wall. So far both sides were being isolated.
Arutha said to Subai, “If we can keep them from getting out the gate, it’s as good as a victory.”
“If all is going according to plan, we need to hold them until dark.”
Arutha glanced at the sun in the sky and judged it nearly noon. “Six, seven more hours.”
Subai said, “I’m concerned, m’lord. I think I’ve seen some signals between those on the wall and those in the stable if they risked lowering a man on the outside of the gate, he may already be down the hill asking for aid.”
Arutha knew that if reinforcements arrived at the gate, they were done for. The abbey was originally an ancient warlord’s fortress. The tower rose high above, seemingly touching the clouds. Kingdom soldiers were storming the tower from within, and once on the roof above, the abbey would be theirs. Around the tower a large citadel had been erected, with an outer wall and two outbuildings. Arutha had studied the plans alongside Captain Subai and Brother Dominic until he knew it like his own sons’ faces. He
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knew that from the outside, it was a nearly impreg-nable fortification. Only by taking it from within would they gain control. Otherwise a long siege would ensue, requiring that a substantial number of men be diverted from the coming campaign.