Dark Empress (44 page)

There was only one way to make this right with his superiors. He would have to give them Samir on a platter and return Asima, unscathed, to answer for her own crimes.

The baking sun hung suspended above M’Dahz and shone down on a town in flux. The end of a regime had lifted the spirits of the people and had brought back trade and life. Things were changing in M’Dahz and many of its lost children had returned home.

And now, three of those children, repeatedly torn away from one another and thrown back together, changed beyond measure from the boys and girl who raced across the hot rooftops a lifetime ago, converged on their childhood playground.

The pirate, the soldier and the princess were coming home, bringing schemes and plans with them.

Part Four: My Enemy’s Enemy

In which Samir goes home.

M’Dahz looked just as it always had from the sea: a sprawl of tangled narrow streets and alleyways winding their way among white blocks as they snaked up the slope to the crest where the walls and towers of the governor’s palace complex stood proud of the lower roofs. Though in truth all they could smell on board the ‘Spirit of Redemption’ was the fresh, if salty, air of the sea, the mind filtered in the mixed aroma of spice and dung that they remembered from their youth.

Samir sighed. They had been at sea for more than two weeks, including the occasional stopovers in one port or another. Much as he hated to admit it, Samir found he rather liked the life of a legitimate merchant. While it was less exciting on a physical basis, the challenges inherent in business gave his mind something to work on even in quiet restful periods. Moreover, Asima played the Imperial noblewoman so well that she had charmed and impressed many otherwise shrewd traders into extremely favourable deals.

No real surprise to Samir was it that his lady passenger was capable of taking on a role and playing it with no slip or hiccup, but on these occasions, her devious mind and slippery morals had played to the advantage of all concerned.

And yet, with every hop between ports bringing them closer to their destination, Samir found that a cloud hung over his mood and darkened with every league they passed. Not only was a trip to M’Dahz not the most pleasant on his list of things to do, but this was where everything would change and each detail had to go well. He hoped in the name of whatever Gods were still interested in watching his hometown that he had not underestimated Asima. He doubted he had, but there was still a nagging doubt. He could nudge her in the right direction, but she was almost as subtle as he and she might just notice that.

He turned and looked along the rail upon which they leaned, casting a non-committal glance at his passenger in her expensive northern-style dress. He had to admit that not only did she look the part, but she was extraordinarily alluring.

“I’m never entirely happy coming back here” he said sadly.

“It is a stinking hole” Asima nodded absently.

“That’s not what I meant” Samir snapped at her. “I feel happy, sad, disappointed and angry all at once when I even look at the place. It tears me in too many directions at the same time. And, of course, with the path that I follow these days, I can never truly let my guard down when I’m here, so I’m also tense and jumpy.”

“How long til we dock?” she asked.

“Five minutes.”

The woman nodded.

“What will you do now?” Samir enquired.

“I will sell on my few expensive items and find myself safe passage back to Pelasia. I shall have to avoid any contact with the governor or the military, though, as they’re the ones who sent me into exile across the sea. I expect I can find the right sort of people given a few hours.”

“I have a little money put aside for you. You made us rather a good profit on the voyage, my lady of Velutio, so I thought a small token of our thanks might help you find your way safely to where you’re going as fast as possible.”

Asima smiled.

“Thank you, Samir. I will have to stay at least one night in the town, though. My father passed away a few years back and I’ve never had a chance to visit his grave, so I think I ought to take the opportunity while I’m here.”

“Indeed. I considered visiting our old neighbourhood, but there are too many people in M’Dahz that might know or recognise me. Safer that I spend the night on board and venture no further than the docks. If you’re spending time in the town, perhaps you would look in at my mother’s house and pass on my regards to her ghost?”

Asima nodded.

“Of course.”

The pair fell silent and watched the sprawl of M’Dahz drifting toward them. Minutes passed as the two, deep in thought, leaned on the rail, their eyes locked on their destination.

“Prepare for docking!” a voice from the command deck called.

Samir looked back up at his first officer who was also concentrating on the town ahead. The crew moved around them, preparing the mooring ropes, taking seats with the oars and furling sails. Samir barely paid them any attention, still carefully concentrating on figuring Asima’s likely activities.

Straightening, he adjusted the tight and itchy Imperial green jacket and flattened his hair for neatness. Reaching down beside him, he undid the bag he’d brought out from his cabin, removed a leather wallet and then slung the bag over his shoulder.

“Don’t let your act slip now, Asima.”

She nodded and allowed her face to fall into the grave and serious mask she had worn so often over recent weeks. A few moments later, the ship came slowly alongside the jetty, the oars retreating within the hull and being set down as other sailors threw out the lines. Samir glanced along the wooden walkway to the small group awaiting them. Two of the town guard stood at the shoulders of a small, weasel-like man with a tablet and stylus, who was frowning at the new arrival.

Carefully and diplomatically, Samir waited until the ship had come to a complete stop and the lines were being tied and then took Asima’s arm in a respectful fashion. As the sailors ran out the gangplank and lowered it to the jetty, Samir and his passenger stepped across to it. In the age-old manner of a captain with an honoured guest, he bowed to her and then slowly backed down the plank, holding his arm out before him for the lady to grasp.

The board was slippery and Asima made a point of skittering once in her expensive slippers, just for the look of the thing. Samir almost smiled at that. Attention to detail; that was what made her good. It was also what made her dangerous.

They alighted on the walkway and he escorted her forward, her hand on his arm, until they came to a halt before the group of men. Samir nodded his head professionally while Asima graced them with a superior smile.

“Good morning captain… lady.”

Samir smiled.

“Good morning officer. May I present the lady Lyria, once of Calphoris and lately of Velutio.”

The port official bowed seriously and then gestured at the ship with his stylus.

“Your name, cargo and destination, as well as port of origin, captain?”

Professionally, Samir nodded and passed the leather folder over. The official opened it, glanced briefly at the documents and turned the page to check the one below. Nodding, he passed it back and gestured with his stylus to go on.

“Captain Halvus of the Spirit of Redemption, out of Velutio these past four weeks” Samir announced. “Varied cargo, mostly of fabrics and grain. Nothing restricted. We’re simply on one leg of our journey. From here we head for Calphoris in a day or two, then the ports of the east coast and up to Germalla before returning to Velutio.”

As he spoke, the official nodded and made marks on his tablet.

“Long journey, captain.”

“Roundabout trip, keeping to coastlines for safety. Too many stories of pirates in your waters, I’m afraid, officer.”

The official shot him a miserable look and then returned to his marking.

“Sadly, you’re not the first to say that. At least you came, though. Many keep away altogether.”

“Will you be wanting to do a search of the hold? No trouble, if so, but the lady will be staying on in M’Dahz for a few days to visit an acquaintance and I would like to have her escorted to meet her friends before we begin, so as not to inconvenience her too much.”

The official looked Samir up and down and then smiled superciliously at Asima.

“Everything appears to be in order, captain, so I think we can forgo such formalities. Welcome to M’Dahz, my lady. I hope you enjoy your time here. The town is in a state of extreme busyness at the moment. We are preparing for the first full-week festival since the city was freed and it will be rather a large celebration. I hope you can stay for it.”

Asima smiled a dazzling smile at the man.

“I shall make every effort to attend, sir.”

He smiled at her once more and then lowered his face respectfully as he stepped aside. The two guardsmen bowed slightly and parted to clear the jetty.

“Please, captain, after you.”

Samir nodded and, arm still held out for Asima to grip, strode from the jetty onto dry land. Once they were safely out of earshot, Asima took a deep breath.

“Dangerous, offering your hold to search.”

“Openness and honesty is often rewarded, even if it’s faked. Much more dangerous to appear cagey and unwilling.”

“Well” she said, squaring her shoulders, “I think you can safely leave me here, Samir. You don’t want to go too far into the city.”

Samir shrugged.

“I’ll escort you to the edge of the docks and to the town itself. Such would be expected of your escort.”

The pair strode on for another minute, he leading her through the port as though she were unfamiliar with it, rather than knowing each stone and plank from youthful games. Presently, they reached the edge of the docks, where a delimiting stockade marked the beginning of the town proper. The gate stood open jammed with crates and was apparently rarely closed now, even at night. The pair of guards standing to either side of the gateway appeared bored to the point of stupefaction.

Samir smiled. He had no intention of spending his time in M’Dahz lounging around on the ship, but what he was going to do depended at least partially on Asima’s next course of action.

As they approached the gate, Samir fished in his jacket and withdrew a small pouch.

“Here. Take this. It’ll hardly buy you a palace, but it’ll make your journey considerably easier.”

Asima smiled and stopped, reaching out and grasping and pocketing the pouch.

“Thank you, captain. I hope all goes well for you here and that when you return to your home port you achieve everything you dream of.”

“I’m sure I shall, lady. Perhaps our paths will cross once again someday.”

“Perhaps.”

She gave him a warm and very forced smile, showing just a little hint of her desperation to depart.

“Until then…”

“Yes ma’am.”

Samir touched his forehead respectfully and had to hide his smile at the vaguely lustful glances the two bored guards cast at the retreating beauty as she turned and wandered up the road.

“Trust me, lads. You couldn’t afford that one.”

One of the guards laughed and then returned to his languid pose.

Tapping his foot impatiently, Samir watched Asima trot up the street. Too soon. Wait just a little longer…

He blinked as she disappeared down a side street. Damn it. Could she possibly be doing something else? Where was she going? He’d assumed she would go straight up to the governor’s complex to announce the presence and location of the Dark Empress and its captain. Could she actually have been telling the truth? Was she just going to disappear?

No.

Samir chuckled, raising interest from one of the guards. Ignoring the man, he set off up the street at a fast walk. No… she would betray him; it was in her nature. She was just going somewhere else on the way to the governor’s. Could she be heading to her father’s old house? Maybe…

He slapped his forehead as he picked up his pace to reach the side street.

Of course! He’d asked her to check on his mother’s house. He hadn’t expected her to actually do it, but perhaps he had piqued her interest enough that she could spare the time to go and check. After all, as far as she was aware, she was in no rush. She may even go and visit her father’s grave too after all.

With a frown, he strode along the busy street. The port official had been right. There was so much activity one could hardly imagine this was the same town that had suffered and almost died beneath the rule of a harsh foreign invader. Colour and noise abounded and the narrow road was so crowded that Samir was forced at times to pause and wait for a gap to open up or to push through a resistant and inattentive bunch of ditherers.

He had lost sight of Asima as soon as she had turned into the side street but now, convinced of her destination, he knew exactly where to go. Gritting his teeth as he pushed his way between half a dozen burly men with a ladder and roll of banners, he shook his head.

Would their mother’s house still be standing?