than hated by them all.
“Ghassan, I have no intention of killing your men. They will be set adrift in lifeboats with ample room for them all and enough rations to see them all through until they can make landfall near Eagle Rock. Whatever you think of me, you know I am not a monster.”
The taller brother, his wet, curly locks plastered to his forehead and a look of angry misery on his features, stayed silent, his gaze moving occasionally between his two childhood friends and gracing them will equal distain and disapproval.
“Ghassan, they will be fine. You, on the other hand, will not.”
“You intend to do away with me, then?”
He almost spat out the words and glared at his smaller brother.
Samir had to laugh at the ridiculous words.
“Don’t be an idiot, Ghassan. In fact, I’m going to help you. If you go back to Calphoris with the rest you’ll be at best left ashore to rot in the barracks thanks to the loss of your ship. It’s far more likely, in fact, that you’ll be disciplined and drummed out of the forces pensionless to go starve on the streets. That’s where we came from, Ghassan. You don’t want to go back there.”
He thought for a moment and then frowned. “There is even the possibility that they will try you for your failure and deem you disposable.”
Ghassan grumbled but said nothing. Samir sighed.
“We could use you, Ghassan. You’re a born sailor, like me. You’d no small reputation yourself ‘til today. Come with us and avoid any unpleasantness at Calphoris.”
The elder brother opened his mouth to speak, his face bleak, but Asima interrupted, launching herself from the chair and slapping the flat of her hand on Samir’s desk, crumpling a chart.
“Don’t you dare take him on, Samir. This worthless husk that was your brother is a rigid golem following the rules of his foreign superiors without a thought for any of us. He doesn’t deserve your mercy!”
“Asima?” Samir seemed genuinely taken aback. “What are you talking about?”
“This pig was taking me against my will as a gift for some perverse nobleman in the capital. I was to be nothing more than a whore to some fat prince in Velutio. I begged him to turn round; to set me free…”
Ghassan was staring at her as though he’d never seen her before. He opened his mouth and made a croaking sound. Samir matched his expression as he boggled at Asima.
“All I want” she went on angrily “is to go home and this creature won’t let me. Some superior in the military decided I’d make a nice gift for a friend and Ghassan is hardly going to save a girl he once loved if it means disobeying the order of some fat general half the world away!”
She fell silent and turned to look at Ghassan. With her face now hidden from Samir, she graced Ghassan with a wicked and humourless smile, before allowing her indignant masque to fall across her face once more and turning back to the smaller brother.
Ghassan stared in horror as Samir’s expression hardened.
“I still extend my offer, Ghassan. You are my brother and, regardless of anything either of us has done, blood holds true.”
Ghassan blinked.
“You don’t believe her?”
Samir shrugged.
“You are the most duty-bound man I’ve ever met, and you were on direct course for Velutio with Asima on board. Please do not try to deny anything, Ghassan. I would hate to have to listen to you embarrass yourself.”
“But she’s lying, Samir. It’s all she does. She’s not a whore… she’s a witch!”
Asima reeled in shock; fake shock, Ghassan was sure, but Samir seemed to be drinking it all in.
“You” Asima spat, glaring at Ghassan, “are going to get in the little boats with your crew and drift out into the sea. I would not wish harm on you, for the sake of our old friendship, but I have no wish to see you ever again.”
She turned to Samir.
“If he stays on board with you, then I will go adrift in the boats!”
Ghassan growled.
“You stay here with my precious brother. The pair of you deserve each other and I have no wish to stay on board with either of you. I would rather take my chances with the review board in Calphoris than share a single meal with you.”
Standing, he straightened, cast one unpleasant look at each of them and, turning, opened the door and left the room.
There was an uncomfortable silence after the latch clicked shut. Asima turned her face to Samir slowly, allowing him the full effect as tears welled up in her eyes and she began to shake.
Samir frowned, deep in thought.
“Dry your eyes, Asima. I will not send you to Velutio.”
Noting with interest a small flicker in her eyes, the young pirate captain stood and, reaching out, squeezed her shoulder supportively.
“Wait here. Pour yourself a glass of wine. I’ll get the prisoners underway and then be back.”
Without further pause, Samir strode to the door, opened it, and left the room, closing it behind him. Asima took a deep breath. Ghassan was supposed to be the more easily-malleable one…
She poured herself a glass of wine and listened to all the orders being shouted to the prisoners out on deck. Her next move would have to be a good one, but she was sure she could manage it. Samir would take her back.
Outside, the captain blinked in the bright light and spotted Ghassan leaning over the rail, staring down into the waves and waiting for the pirates to finish searching his men and be ready for him.
Samir strode over and leaned on the rail next to him.
“I am truly sorry that it’s all come to this, Ghassan.”
The taller brother grunted in reply.
“It was inevitable that one day we would meet and only one would leave. You must have known that; and you also knew that it was always going to be me… but that’s a good thing. If you’d won, you’d be obliged to send us all to Calphoris to be hanged. I, on the other hand, am in a position to be magnanimous. I have no wish to harm your men.”
“Apart from the two dozen you burned and crushed in the attack!”
“Ghassan, don’t be childish. That’s regrettable, but unfortunately inevitable in war, and it’s a war we’ve been in. Don’t pretend you’d have done anything different.”
The soldier grunted another answer.
“It doesn’t have to end like this, Ghassan. You can still come with us. I have thrown open an invitation to your men and I’m told that a few have accepted. Life at Lassos is good, brother. Better than a dishonourable dismissal from service and starving in a backstreet, for sure. Besides, I have an idea, and it involves you.”
Ghassan turned to Samir and the smaller brother was surprised to see that the look of indignation and anger had been replaced by one of gentle sadness.
“I can’t, Samir. You have to understand. I may not always agree with what I’m to do, but I took an oath when I joined up. The only way I can leave the service is honourably and I’m bound to go back and report, whatever they do to me. A part of me would like nothing more than to say ‘screw it all’ and abandon myself to life as a free man.”
He sighed.
“But that wouldn’t be me. That’s you, Samir. In a way, I envy you your freedom, even if it is a freedom from conscience, but that’s not my way. You understand?”
Samir furrowed his brows for a moment.
“I wish there was a way I could persuade you.”
“Perhaps some day,” Ghassan replied sadly. “But not today. Today I have to complete my duty and take my men home.”
Samir nodded his understanding.
“My offer will remain open should you ever wish to find me.”
