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Ghassan turned to Samir and the smaller brother was surprised to see that the look of indignation and anger had been replaced by one of gentle sadness.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.”
He noted the pirates edging closer, waiting respectfully to take Ghassan to his men. With a sigh, he turned away but, as he did, Ghassan grasped his arm.
“Don’t take your eye off Asima, brother. Do not believe a word that falls from her mouth. She is not the girl we loved. She has changed immeasurably and, I think, would sell both you and I for animal food if it got her something she wanted. She came damn close to destroying my ship before you even turned up. She’ll play you and do the same to the Empress unless you keep her confined.”
Samir stopped and shook his head gently.
“I won’t lock her up, Ghassan; not yet. She’s not done anything to me yet. But I can see something in her that I don’t like. Would you care to tell me the truth about what happened?”
Ghassan shrugged.
“It makes no difference. Just don’t trust her. Get rid of her as soon as you can, for the sake of yourself, your ship, and your men.”
Samir watched sadly as his tall, proud brother turned and offered his hands, open and palms up, to the pirate captors. Shaking his head, Samir turned and re-entered his cabin, closing the door on his brother, the crew of the Wind of God and any hope, for now, of reconciliation.
Asima was huddled in her damp clothes by the table on a low bench, a goblet of strong wine clutched tightly in her hands. Samir nodded to himself and walked past her to retake his seat.
“Is there anything you would like to tell me, Asima?”
She blinked, caught by surprise and Samir was satisfied to notice her guard fall for just a fraction of a second. Asima may be good enough to hoodwink the straight-laced Ghassan for a time, but Samir could see how her facade was built and how to cause it to crack so that he could see past it to the real woman beneath. He was genuinely saddened to see what had become of his erstwhile friend.
“Oh it was horrible, Samir” she sobbed. “I was a captive in Pelasia where the prince hated me. I think it must have been him, when he became king, that persuaded the governor and the military to send me to exile with some unknown master.”
Samir’s expression remained straight and unreadable.
“Hmm. Well, rest assured that I have no intention of taking this ship anywhere near Velutio or even Calphoris.”
Asima gave a little sniffle and threw him a weak, mousey smile.
“Thank you, dear Samir. Will you leave me in M’Dahz alone or will you come back with me?”
The captain of the Empress gave a light laugh.
“M’Dahz?”
He stood, a smile plastered across his face.
“I’m not taking you to M’Dahz, Asima. The next few weeks are going to be a little hot for us around the coast. As soon as the crew of the Wind of God reach any town, you’d be amazed at the speed the news of our victory will spread. Every naval ship afloat, Imperial or Pelasian, along with half of the mercenary warships out there, will all be looking for me.”
He laughed.
“I just sank a legend, Asima. There will be nowhere safe for me for weeks.”
The woman by the table frowned.
“Then what do you intend?”
“Well, I shall have to take you back to Lassos and show you the delights of the pirate island, won’t I, Asima?”
She stared at him and he was heartened to see anger and astonishment battling for control of her expression.
“You what?” she screeched.
“Yes, I thought that might bring about an interesting reaction.”
Asima glared at him.
“I have no more intention of spending my life wallowing in the septic pit of a pirate hole than I do of accepting exile in Velutio. You save me from one hell only to deliver me somewhere worse?”
Samir’s smile was irritating her more than she could bear.
“Just drop me on an island somewhere with fishermen and I shall make my own way back, then.”
“Hardly, Asima. You are coming with me. You may be able to play Ghassan with your little games, but I am a match for you, Asima, and you know it. Accept the situation and make the best of it. I have my plans, do not worry.”
Asima fell silent, her glower almost burning into him.
Samir laughed out loud.
“Now are you going to be good, or shall I take Ghassan’s advice and have you manacled to the hull now and save a lot of time?”
Slowly, quietly, Asima’s breathing slowed and the fire in her eyes receded.
“Lassos then, for now. But be sure, Samir, that I am your passenger and not your prisoner.”
The captain nodded.
We shall see, Asima… we shall see.
In which Asima’s beliefs are shaken
Asima, still glowering after days on board, had settled into her solitary life, keeping herself away from the sweaty, coarse crew, and equally from Samir who seemed to have the uncanny ability to look straight into her mind. She had experimented, on the first day after Ghassan and his crew had been set adrift, with minor issues of rebellion and inconvenience.
The crew had seemed to be aware of her location and her activity at all times and the knife she had secreted in the dining hall had seen her escorted to Samir’s cabin, where he had firmly, but gently, removed it from her and confiscated it. Sailors had stepped up to block her passage to parts of the ship they thought she had no business in. She had tried tantrums, tears and even seduction, all to no avail. In the end, she had resigned herself to making do with her situation until her range of options expanded.