war fleet from venturing out. We’ve managed to move a few smaller ships — refitted to look like trading vessels — out of the harbour, heading south, as if heading for Pointer’s Head. Any ship headed towards the Eastern Kingdoms is stopped at the Straits of Ilthros, boarded and searched, and if no contraband is found, it is given safe passage.’ She paused to see if the two young men were following. ‘Do you understand what you must do?’
Hal nodded. ‘I’m vague on the details, which I’m sure you’ve already anticipated, but we are to get the Princess and her companion off this island, to somewhere beyond Worthington’s reach.’
Ty said, ‘You want her in Rillanon.’
Franciezka smiled. ‘Aren’t you the bright one?’
‘Rillanon?’ said Hal. ‘I would have thought somewhere in the east, like Olasko.’
Ty shook his head. ‘Worthington might be able to pry her from the gentle protection of the Duke of Olasko, if he’s ignorant of what’s occurring here. But if Her Highness is safely visiting King Gregory’s court, with the Kingdom and Keshian fleets between Worthington and the Princess …?’ He smiled and looked at the Princess. ‘It seemed a bit obvious to me.’
Hal’s brow furrowed. ‘Well enough, but exactly how are the two of us going to sail from here to there? That’s almost the entire length of the Sea of Kingdoms.’
‘That would be foolish. No, we’ll hide you in a ship bound for Watcher’s Point in Miskalon, but at the right time you’ll be put over the side in a specially-provisioned boat, and with the gods’ grace, you’ll land in Ran.’ She turned and picked up some folded parchments. ‘With these documents, you’ll have safe passage should you encounter any Roldemish ships.’
Hal inspected them then handed them over to Ty. ‘The King agrees?’
‘The King wishes to be ignorant of the details. I’ve forged his signature enough times no one can tell the difference, not even the King.’
‘The seals look perfect,’ said Ty as he inspected the documents.
‘They should be,’ said Lady Franciezka. ‘I have the royal seals safely hidden away.’
Ty grinned as Hal’s mouth dropped opened.
Lady Franciezka smiled. ‘The King might be persuaded to sign decrees against his better judgment by Worthington, but without the seals …’ She shrugged, then handed a purse heavy with coin to Ty. ‘Now, you should be able to arrange for a fast Kingdom ship from there to Rillanon. You’ll be behind the Keshian blockade. If that turns out not to be the safe choice, then hire a coach to Bas-Tyra.’
‘When do we leave?’ asked Hal.
‘In two hours. My cargo ship has already been inspected prior to departure. We’ll slip you aboard moments before she weighs anchor. My only concern will be getting you past the Keshians at the blockade line, but I think everything is ready.’
Hal and Ty exchanged a look that silently communicated they hoped all was ready as well.
The quarters were cramped aboard the ship,
They had come aboard two mornings previously, an hour before dawn, while most of the crew still slept. Only the captain, first officer, and a few of the crew knew about the passengers. The rest were kept ignorant, and by design the second officer’s cabin had been left unfilled this voyage. Designed for one person, and that barely, it proved very cramped for four. One berth against the bulkhead, a single large window, a tiny chest under a small table with a water basin barely gave anyone room to move. A single curtain opposite the bunk opened on a small door through which they found the officer’s garderobe, called ‘the captain’s jakes’.
It had taken remarkable self-restraint to keep calm and relaxed in those quarters, but the four had discovered that telling humorous stories passed the time. As it was rare for any common seaman to venture into the stern-castle, they did not fear being overheard, but still tried to keep their voices low. Food had been provided in the form of a large sack of dried fruit, jerked meat, fresh bread, and two large water skins. Their confinement was only for two days and nights, but they could not leave their quarters, save for a quick dash to the captain’s jakes, which proved to be nothing more than a seat with a hole that hung over the open water. Ty found himself wondering how the officers employed it during rough weather.
In the two days the young men found the two young women to be excellent company. The Princess was well educated, which was to be expected, but she was also a young woman of strong opinions, which was not. Rather than some prized flower to be sheltered and shielded, she seemed to have a point of view on everything, not least of which was the rise and ambition of Sir John Worthington. Hal could not keep from grinning when she described how she wanted him treated when her father regained control of the state. To call some of the images grisly was to understate. Hal realized that in its own way, court politics was warfare and a princess of Roldem had to be a different sort of warrior. His initial infatuation was soon replaced by a strong attraction coupled with newfound respect. Whoever married the Princess would be a lucky man; one with his hands full, but lucky nevertheless.
Lady Gabriella was less chatty than the Princess, but she was pleasant. Hal noticed that Ty seemed very taken with the tall lady-in-waiting, which wasn’t difficult to understand. She was stunning once you accepted that she was not the usual, dainty lady of the court. From the way she looked, Hal reckoned she was a trained fighter, and her role was more than that of a simple companion. Franciezka had most certainly hand-selected her to act as Stephane’s bodyguard. She was a woman of few words, content to let the other three banter as much as they wished, apparently comfortable with silence. Hal watched how she moved with economy, her eyes always glancing around, even in these closed quarters, in case a threat should suddenly appear.
Now they waited. Within the hour they should be sighting Kesh’s picket ships, on blockade against any ship bound for the Kingdom of Isles ports. The captain had taken a deliberately slow tack so they would reach the point of inspection after dark. He wanted bored, tired Keshian sailors inspecting his cargo.
Hal smiled nervously. ‘I’ve never liked waiting,’ he admitted.
Stephane grinned. ‘And I’ve never had to wait for anything.’
Ty laughed. ‘The baby daughter with three older brothers? And a princess, to boot? Of course you never did!’
All eyes turned to Gabriella who shrugged as if waiting was no issue for her. ‘It will take the same amount of time however we feel about it. We might as well rest while we can.’ She sat up slightly and glanced out at the falling light through the rear windows of the cabin. ‘I suspect soon things will get exciting enough.’
There came a knock at the cabin door and the captain opened it gently — last time, he had banged it into the back of Hal’s head. ‘It’s time,’ he said. ‘Stand aside, please.’ He moved to the small chest under the tiny table, opened it and put a sack inside. ‘If they find nothing to confiscate, they get suspicious. Something slightly illicit, such as a sack of Dream …?’ He smiled as he closed the chest.
Ty grinned. ‘Illegal in Roldem-’
‘And the Isles,’ interrupted Hal.
‘-but not in Kesh,’ finished the captain. The mildly hallucinogenic drug was made from the oil of a common plant in both Kingdoms.
‘And the next ship by might benefit from a less alert crew,’ offered the captain. Then, losing his smile, he said, ‘Come with me.’
They gathered up the sack of food and the water skins and followed him. They had been expecting to go deep into the hold of the ship and be secreted somewhere among the cargo, but instead they were taken mere steps, into the captain’s cabin. It was easily three times the size of the second officer’s quarters, and Hal glanced around feeling a little envious.
‘Help me,’ said the captain, indicating that the two young men should grab the other end of the large bed set hard against the starboard bulkhead. It was a standard looking affair with a six foot long bunk set above two rows of double drawers, in which the captain’s personal belongings would be placed. They lifted the mattress and bed board easily, so they carried it away a few feet, and placed it on the deck. ‘Now the tricky part,’ said the captain. ‘The drawers have to come out in a certain order. That one, first,’ he said, pointing to the upper left one.
As Hal pulled it out and lifted it, he heard a tiny click.
‘Now that one,’ said the captain, pointing at the lower right. Ty pulled it out and a second click was heard. Then came the upper right, and lower left, and when all four drawers were sitting on the deck, the captain reached down into the now empty space where his bed had rested and pulled up on a well concealed removable
