Spectyr

thing before, he was aware it was soaked in the arrogance and pride of the dead Emperor, yet there was still much of value to be found in its pages. As a young man Valerian had traveled with his father the length of Arkaym and visited every one of the principalities. Even with his many faults, the last Emperor had still been a shrewd observer of character.

After a few moments Raed found the section that dealt with Chioma, the spice land of the Empire. It remained a strange case among the principalities of Arkaym, skating at times perilously close to independence. Its history could be traced unbroken as far back as the written records went and, curiously, its royal family had never changed throughout the ages. No other principality could lay the same claim.

Raed frowned and read on. Valerian recorded his impression of the Hive City, the vast markets for spices and dyes, and the beauty of the women—even if he could have been only thirteen at the time.

However, it was the portion about the Prince of Chioma that caught Raed’s attention.

The ruler of Chioma keeps himself in remarkable seclusion that no other Prince we have visited would dare. None have ever seen the heirs to the throne of Chioma—nor the face of their liege. Even in the presence of his servants, his nobility and his women, the Prince’s form is covered in blue robes—scandalously close to Imperial purpl! When my father and I were taken into his presence, it was like we were the penitents rather than he. I was horrified to find even then, when we were in his presence, a glittering wall of crystal beads obscured his face.

He bowed most politely, correct to the tiniest degree, yet he did not once offer to remove the covering before his face. I wanted to take my sword and smite him down for the offense given to my father—but he held me back with a stern look. After the audience I said to Father, “He should be whipped for his insolence.” He only replied, “In Vermillion he would be, but in Chioma that would be dangerous,” as if that were explanation enough!

Later that night I managed to corner some of the Imperial Guards, who told me the rumors surrounding this Prince. One told me that he was so hideously scarred none could look on his face and not go mad, while another fool suggested the Prince was immortal. The final one whispered the Prince had died years before, and it was his mother concealed behind the veil.

Raed scanned the pages further, until he found another mention of Chioma.

Only three years after taking power, Valerien had nearly lost his throne to a conspiracy of aristocrats in Vermillion. He had not been able to prove the involvement of any of the Princes—but he knew very well that some of them must have taken part.

Valerian wrote tirades against those he thought most likely—but one name caught his grandson’s eye.

I have had reports that the poison meant to do me in may have been traded in Orinthal—that serpent’s den of thieves and assassins. My spymaster was only able to get this information with application of the rack, but then the trail ran cold. I am sure that hidden viper in Chioma, our ancient enemy, is responsible.

Raed paused, his finger tracing the word with some confusion. This was the first he had ever heard of such a royal feud. Flicking back through the pages, he passed another hour trying to find what that curious reference could be in relation to. Finally, he had to admit defeat.

Closing the journal, he let out a sigh. His scholarly instincts had been piqued, but unfortunately, trapped on the Sweet Moon, he had no way of doing further research. Raed had studied all the official accounts available—except for those held in the palace library—and he had never heard of a feud between the Imperial family and the Chiomese ruler.

“My Prince?” so engrossed in his study had he been that Raed had failed to notice Tangyre’s reappearance.

“I am all right.” Raed sighed and pushed himself out of bed. “We must put all efforts into finding Fraine so that I can get back to open water. The tide of the Otherside has obviously turned against us.”

Tangyre nodded but offered no comment on his Curse. Instead, she stuck to what they could control. “We are nearly to the port of Orinthal. Slavers do not stay here long; there are no markets for their cargo. I hope you have a plan to explain our presence there.”

Raed ventured a smile. “I do indeed—and I think the crew will enjoy it.”

After getting dressed, he joined Tangyre and the circle of sailors on the deck. They would not meet his gaze, and he didn’t blame them. Even those who had been with him since the beginning had not seen him transform for a long time.

Raed cleared his throat and addressed the stocky crew member closest to him. “Balis, go below with a hammer. See what damage you can visit upon the Sweet Moon without totally sinking her.”

The sailor grinned. “It’d be a pleasure, Captain—though sinking this filthy tub would be a kindness.”

“Not in the plan”—Raed gave him what little smile he could find—“but I very much agree.”

By the banging and whooping that came from belowdecks a short while later, Balis was making the most of the opportunity to take out his frustrations on the slave clinker.

“Nice to know this ship won’t be used again,” Tangyre said as the river port appeared round a bend in the river.

Long piers, made out of the local red stone, extended out into the river, displaying to everyone its wealth, while ships of all sizes bobbed in the Saal.

Snook took the helm and slowly guided them into a free berth. The smell of rich spices combined with the more musky smell of camels, goats and sheep assailed the nose in a way that was pleasant and shocking.

The grinning Balis returned to the deck, just as Raed swallowed a knot of concern and addressed the sailors again.

“Please remember you are slave ship crew, so act accordingly. And by the Blood, do not call me anything but ‘Captain.’ ”

“Good thing we did not bring Aachon, then.” Balis chuckled, folding his arms around the sledgehammer.

The laughter took a little of the sharp edge from the moment.

An army of harbor officials were already scampering in their direction, forms and paperwork trailing in their wake. Raed and his crew dropped down onto the pier as the harbormaster’s second homed in on them.

The captain handed over his paperwork and waited for the official to notice the rather impressive damage in Sweet Moon’s hull. The Deputy was examining the order in such minute detail he didn’t even raise his head.

“Ahhh”—Raed cleared his throat and jerked his head toward the damaged vessel—“we had some trouble . . . ”

“Trouble?” The official’s gaze flicked up, and then his eyes widened on seeing the gaping holes. “What . . . what about your cargo?”

“They got loose in the night, put up a hell of a fight, then jumped right into the damned river.” Raed let out what he thought was an exceedingly cruel laugh. “Hope the crocodiles ate the lot of them.”

“Yes, well . . . ” The Deputy Harbormaster didn’t seem to get the joke. “You were supposed to move on tomorrow.”

“How am I supposed to do that?” Raed leaned in close to the smaller man. “My ship is full of holes, and I ain’t taking my men back on the water again until it is fixed.”

The other looked down at his notes. “We can accommodate your vessel in one of our dry docks—but it will be at least a week until it can be worked on.”

“Hear that, lads?” The Young Pretender shouted to his crew. “Rest and relaxation on the owner for a whole blessed week!”

The Sweet Moon’s crew did an admirable job of impersonating slavers looking forward to barmaids, brothels and beer. They whooped and hollered until everyone on the pier was looking in their direction

Raed pressed his thumb in the inkpot of the Deputy Harbormaster and then to the form allowing the ship to be moved to the dry dock. Somewhere the owner of a slave ship would eventually get a terrible shock. Raed grinned at that satisfactory thought.

Finally all of them sauntered along the pier and into town.

“What now?” He asked Tangyre quietly over his shoulder.

“We make contact with our man here.” Captain Greene also kept her voice low, while her eyes scanned the many dark alleyways that lined the approach to the port. “The pub should be nearby.”

“I like the sound of that.” Raed tucked his fingers in his belt with a lot more bravado than he felt. He could do