Magician (85 page)

Arutha considered. There was little but
pain to be gained by lying, yet he was not willing to tell the entire
truth. That these men were not working with Guy’s men wasn’t
proved. This could be a ploy, with Radburn in the next room listening
to every word. He decided what part of the truth to tell. “I’m
an agent for Crydee. I came to speak to Prince Erland and Lord
Dulanic in person, to ask for aid against a coming Tsurani offensive.
When we learned Guy du Bas-Tyra was in possession of the city, we
decided to gauge the temper of things before committing ourselves to
a course of action.”

Cook listened closely, then said, “Why
should an emissary of Crydee slip into the city? Why not come in with
banners flying and receive a state welcome?”

“Because Black Guy’d just
as soon toss him into a cell as not, you stupid bastard.”

Cook’s head snapped around: Amos
was sitting up against the wall, groggily shaking his head. “I
think you busted my skull, Cook.”

Aaron Cook looked hard at Amos. “You
know me?”

“Aye, you wooden-headed sea rat,
I know you. I know you well enough to know we’re not speaking
another word until you go fetch Trevor Hull.”

Aaron Cook rose from the table, an
uncertain expression on his face. He motioned to one of the men by
the door, who also looked discomforted by Amos’s words. The man
nodded to Cook and left the room. Minutes later he returned, followed
by another man, tall, with a shock of grey hair, but still powerful
looking. A ragged scar ran from his forehead through his right eye,
which was milky white, and down his cheek. He took a long look at
Amos, then laughed aloud and pointed at the captives. “Untie
them.”

Amos was lifted by two men, then
untied. As his ropes were loosened, he said, “I thought they’d
hung you years ago, Trevor.”

The man clapped Amos on the back. “And
I you, Amos.”

Cook looked questioningly at the new
arrival, while Arutha was untied and Martin revived with a cup of
water thrown in his face. The man called Trevor Hull looked at Cook
and said, “Have your wits fled, man? He’s grown a beard
and cut his famous flowing locks—lost some on top and put on a
few pounds as well—but he’s still Amos Trask.”

Cook studied Amos a moment longer, then
his eyes widened. “Captain Trenchard?”

Amos nodded, and Arutha looked on in
astonishment. Even in far Crydee they had heard of Trenchard the
Pirate, the Dagger of the Sea. He’d had a short career, but a
famous one. It was reputed even Quegan war galleys had turned and
fled at sight of Trenchard’s fleet, and there wasn’t a
town along the coasts of the Bitter Sea that did not fear his
marauders.

Aaron Cook extended his hand. “Sorry,
Captain. It’s been so many years since we last met. We couldn’t
be certain you weren’t part of some plot of Radburn’s to
locate us.”

“Who are you?” asked
Arutha.

“All in good time,”
answered Hull. “Come.”

One of the men helped the still-groggy
Martin to his feet, and Cook and Hull led them to a more comfortable
room, with chairs enough for all. When all were sitting, Amos said,
“This old rogue is Trevor Hull, Captain White-eye, master of
the Red Raven.”

Hull shook his head sadly. “No
longer, Amos. Burned off of Elarial she was, three years ago, by
imperial Keshian cutters. My mate Cook here and a few of my boys got
to shore with me, but most of the crew went down with the Red Raven.
We made our way back to Durbin, but things are changing, what with
the wars and all. Came to Krondor a year ago and have been working
here since.”

“Working? You, Trevor?”

The man smiled, his scar wrinkling, as
he said, “Smuggling, in fact. That’s what brought us
together with the Mockers. Not much can happen in Krondor along those
lines without the Upright Man’s permission.

“When the Viceroy first came to
Krondor, we started running up against Jocko Radburn and his secret
police. He’s been a thorn in our side from the first. This
business of guards sneaking about dressed as common folk, there’s
just no honor in it.”

Amos muttered, “I knew I should
have cut his throat when I had the chance. Next time I won’t be
so damned civilized.”

“Slowing down a bit, Amos? Well,
a week ago we got word from the Upright Man he had a precious cargo
to leave the city. We’ve had to bide our time until the right
ship was ready. Radburn’s very anxious to find that cargo
before it leaves Krondor. So, you see, it’s a most delicate
situation, for we can’t ship it until the blockade’s
lifted, or we find a blockade captain we can bribe. When we first
caught wind you three were asking questions, we thought it might be
some grand plot of Jocko’s to find that cargo. Now we’ve
cleared the air, I’d like to hear the answer to Cook’s
question explained. Why should an emissary from Crydee fear discovery
by the Viceroy’s men?”

“Listening in, were you?”
Amos turned to Arutha, who nodded. “This is no simple emissary,
Trevor. Our young friend is Prince Arutha, son of Duke Borric.”

Aaron Cook’s eyes went wide, and
the man who struck Arutha paled. Trevor Hull nodded understanding.
“The Viceroy’d pay handsomely to get his hands upon the
son of his old enemy, especially when it came time to press his claim
in the Congress of Lords.”

“What claim?” said Arutha.

Hull leaned forward, resting his elbows
on his knees. “You’d not know, of course. We only heard
the news a few days ago ourselves, and it’s not common
knowledge. Still, I’m not free to speak plainly without
permission.”

He rose and left the room. Arutha and
Amos exchanged questioning glances, then Arutha looked toward Martin.
“Are you all right?”

Martin carefully touched his head.
“I’ll recover, though they must have hit me with a tree.”

One of the men grinned in a friendly,
almost apologetic way. Patting a wooden billy in his belt sash, he
said, “He’s a hard one to bring down, that’s for
certain.”

Hull returned to the room, followed by
another. The men in the room rose, and Arutha, Amos, and Martin
slowly followed suit. Behind Hull came a young girl no more than
sixteen years of age. Arutha was instantly struck by the promise of
beauty in her features: large sea-green eyes, straight and delicate
nose, and slightly full mouth. A faint hint of freckles dusted her
otherwise fair skin. She was tall and slender and walked with poise.
She came across the room to Arutha, rose up on tiptoes, and kissed
him lightly upon the cheek. Arutha looked surprised at this gesture
and watched as she stepped back with a smile upon her lips. She wore
a simple dress of dark blue, and her red-brown hair hung loosely to
her shoulders. After a second she said, “Of course, how silly I
am. You’d not know me. I saw you when you were last in Krondor,
but we never met. I’m your cousin Anita, Erland’s
daughter.”

Arutha stood thunderstruck. Besides the
girl’s disquieting effect upon his composure, with her winning
smile and clear gaze, he was doubly surprised to find her in this
company of brigands. He sat down slowly, and she took a chair. So
used to the informality of his father’s court, he was somewhat
surprised when she gave the others permission to sit.

“How . . . ?” Arutha began.

Amos interrupted. “The Upright
Man’s precious cargo?”

Hull nodded, and the Princess spoke Her
pretty face clouded with emotion. “When the Duke of Bas-Tyra
came with orders from the King, Father greeted him warmly and offered
no resistance. At first Father did all he could to aid him in taking
command of the army, but when he heard of the things Guy was doing
with his secret police and press gangs, Father protested. Then when
Lord Barry died and Guy put Lord Jessup in command of the fleet over
Father’s objections, and Lord Dulanic disappeared so
mysteriously, Father sent a letter to the King, demanding Guy’s
recall. Guy intercepted the message and ordered us kept under guard
in a wing of the palace. Then Guy came to my room one night.”

She shuddered Arutha nearly spat when
he said, “You don’t have to speak of such things.”
The sudden rage startled the girl.

“No,” she said, “it
was nothing like that. He was very proper, nearly formal. He simply
informed me we were to be wed, and that King Rodric was to name him
heir to the throne of Krondor. If anything, he seemed irritated by
the bother of having to take such a course.”

Arutha slammed his fist against the
wall behind. “That tears it! Guy means to have Erland’s
crown and Rodric’s after. He means to be King.”

Anita looked at Arutha shyly. “So
it seems. Father’s not well and couldn’t resist, though
he refused to sign the proclamation of betrothal. Guy had him taken
to the dungeon until he would sign.” Her eyes teared as she
said, “Father cannot live long in such cold and damp quarters.
I fear he will die before agreeing to Guy’s wishes.” She
continued to speak, her face a mask of control, though tears ran down
her cheeks as she talked of her mother and father’s
imprisonment. “Then one of my ladies told me a maid knew some
people in the city who might be willing to help.”

Trevor Hull said, “With your
permission, Highness. One of the girls in the palace is sister to a
Mocker. With everything up in the wind, the Upright Man decided it
might be to his advantage to take a hand. He arranged to smuggle the
Princess out of the palace the night of Guy’s departure, and
she’s been here since.”

Amos said, “Then the rumor we
overheard before we fled the Sailor’s Ease about there being a
hunt on for a ‘royal cousin’ was about Anita, not
Arutha.”

Hull pointed at the Prince. “It
may be Radburn and his boys still have no idea who you are. Most
likely, they jumped on you in the hope you’d turn out to be
party to the Princess’s escape. We’re almost certain the
Viceroy has no idea she’s gone from the palace, for she fled
after he rode out. I expect Radburn is desperate to get her back
before his master returns from the war with Kesh.”

Arutha studied the Princess, feeling a
strong desire to do something on her behalf, a desire beyond the
consideration of foiling Guy. He shunted aside the strange tug of
emotions. He asked Trevor Hull, “Why does the Upright Man wish
to contend with Guy? Why isn’t he turning her in for a reward?”

Trevor Hull looked to Jimmy the Hand,
who answered with a grin. “My master, a most perceptive man,
saw at once his own interests were best served by aiding the
Princess. Since Erland has been Prince of Krondor, the business of
the city runs smoothly, an environment conducive to the success of my
master’s many undertakings. Stability profits us all, you see.
With Guy here, we’ve his secret police about, upsetting the
normal commerce of our guild. And whatever else, we are most loyal
subjects of His Highness the Prince of Krondor. If he does not wish
his daughter to marry the Viceroy, we do not wish it as well.”
With a laugh, Jimmy added, “Besides, the Princess has agreed to
pay twenty-five thousand gold sovereigns to our master should the
guild get her free of Krondor, to be delivered when her father
returns to power, or some other fate places her upon the throne.”

Arutha took Anita’s hand and
said, “Well, cousin, there is nothing else to be done. We must
take you to Crydee at the first chance.”

Anita smiled, and Arutha found himself
smiling back Trevor Hull said, “As I said before, we were
waiting for the right opportunity to smuggle her from the city.”
He turned to Amos. “You’re the man for this, Amos.
There’s no better blockade runner on the Bitter Sea—excepting
myself, of course, but I’ve other matters to take care of
here.”

Trask said, “We can’t leave
for a few weeks yet. Even if the blockade was lifted, my ship’s
in desperate need of refitting. And if we left now, we’d have
to sail about until the weather in the straits breaks. With Jessup’s
fleet at sea ambush, that would be risky. I’d rather hide here
awhile, then a quick run west, through the straits, and up the Far
Coast with no delay.”

Hull slapped him on the shoulder.
“Good, that will give us time. I’ve heard of your ship;
the boys tell me it’s little better than a barge. We’ll
find you another. I’ll send word to your men when the time is
right. Radburn’ll most likely leave your crew alone, hoping
you’ll turn up. We’ll slip them aboard the new ship a few
at a time at night and replace them with my own boys, so Radburn’s
men won’t notice anything unusual aboard.”

He turned to Arutha. “You’ll
be safe enough here, Highness. This building is one of many owned by
the Mockers, and none will get close without our having ample warning
When the time is right, we’ll get you all free of the city. Now
we’ll take you to your room, so you may rest.”

Arutha, Martin, and Amos were shown to
a room down the hall from the one where they had met Anita, while the
Princess returned to her own quarters. The room they entered was a
simple affair, but clean. All three men were tired Martin fell
heavily on one pallet and was quickly asleep. Amos lowered himself
slowly, and Arutha watched him for a moment. With a slight smile he
said, “When you first came to Crydee, I thought you a pirate.”

Struggling to remove a boot, Amos said,
“In truth, I tried to leave that behind me, Highness.” He
laughed “Perhaps it was the gods working their revenge upon me,
but you know, for fifteen years, man and boy, I was a corsair and a
captain, then when I try my hand at honest trading for the first
time, my ship is captured and burned, my crew slaughtered, and I find
myself beached as far from the heart of the Kingdom as you can get
and still be in it.”

Arutha lay down upon his pallet.
“You’ve been a good counselor, Amos Trask, and a brave
companion. Your help over the years has earned you a good deal of
forgiveness for past wrongdoings, but”—he shook his
head—“Trenchard the Pirate! Gods, man, there’s so
much to forgive.”