Princess of Wind and Sea Page 10
“Hmm. I can’t make any guarantees, but I will remind the king.” He peered at Aisling and the prince, and opened the leather portfolio. “Now, I have two presents for you, from His Majesty. First, he would like you to have one of the crates as a reward. You may open it after I’ve departed.”
“That is most generous of you.”
“No need to thank me. The second item is an offer to serve as a privateer on behalf of Spain. We understand that you also have agreements with other countries, but this contract says that you may reap rewards if you recover any additional property that belongs to us during your travels. If Spanish interests are threatened and you choose to do battle, you will be compensated, no matter where in the world you travel.
“As you know, the king is very interested in furthering trade and scientific advancements. Any knowledge about new innovations that you can share would be most helpful. This is an honor bestowed upon you by the king himself. Of course, this agreement is confidential.”
He glanced at the parchments and passed them to Aisling.
She thought about all the helpful information she could gather during her travels. “Thank you, Prime Minister, we are most grateful. Please extend our appreciation to the king as well. The contract will be reviewed before you leave the vessel.”
Aisling summoned Ryen. “Please have the solicitor report to the Captain’s Quarters. Also, the Prime Minister and his men will be taking possession of the cargo from the Santa Ana now.”
Aisling turned back to the count. “The prince and first officer will accompany you and your men to the storage area. I will see you again before you leave.” An idea occurred to her, and she paused. “If you’re interested, I would like to give you some samples of a medicine used to treat high fevers,” she said. “I was able to procure a supply during our travels. So far, it’s been very effective.”
“That would be most generous.”
“I’ll have it ready for you before you leave the ship.”
“It’s been a pleasure, Commander.” He bowed, and left to reclaim his mysterious cargo.
Aisling and Drayaen stood in the Captain’s Quarters, inspecting the crate. The count had purveyed the cargo off the Saoirse and now the merchant company was an official privateer for Spain.
Aisling smiled at her husband. “Let’s take a look at our gift, shall we?”
He extracted a crowbar and pried open the container. A small blanket covered the contents to protect it from damage. Aisling lifted the cover. They both stared at the discovery.
The chest was filled with gold.
A short time later, the candles in the cabin created an amber glow as Aisling, Drayaen, and her cousins Ryen and Sean hovered over the trunk.
“Drayaen and I have already seen the contents, but I called you over so you could take a look firsthand,” explained Aisling.
As the top of the trunk was lifted, there was a collective intake of air. “I’ve never seen anything like it in all my travels,” exclaimed Sean, sifting through the contents as the others laughed in unison.
“The prince and I would like to allocate a portion for the merchant company, the officers, and crew. This includes our new staff from the East Kingdom. The Saoirse played a key role in the recovery, but the other ships contributed by helping with the extra workload it created. Cousins, since you both risked your lives during the rescue, we’d like to extend a special award to each of you.”
“Thank you, that’s most generous,” said Sean.
Ryen nodded. “I appreciate it as well,” he said, turning to Aisling and the prince.
This is an opportunity for everyone to benefit, she thought.
She glanced around the table. “Once we determine the individual rewards, I’d like to call a meeting with all our captains. They can distribute the payout for each of their ships before we leave port. It will give everyone a chance to deposit money in a trading account, so their families can benefit while they are at sea.”
Aisling turned to Ryen. “Do you know if we’ve compensated Patrick’s contacts for their help in treating the officers of the Santa Ana?”
“No, not yet. I’ll add them to our list.”
“Excellent. Gentlemen, I have some thank-you notes to write.”
Later that evening, she lit a candle and sat at her desk, thinking about their turn of good fortune. She noticed the prince pacing on the other side of the room.
“What is it?” she asked. “Aren’t you happy with today’s turn of events?”
“Yes, I’m pleased, but also worried.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing yet.” He turned to face her. “I’d like to keep it that way.”
“Are you thinking about our enemies from Melaka?”
He shook his head. “There’s a growing list.”
“You mean India and Mauritius?”
He sighed. “We have foes everywhere, it seems.”
“Are you concerned in general, or was there something about today that bothers you?”
“Your power is increasing, and we were just awarded a fortune in gold. We need to leave soon.”
“We should be safe here for a few days, don’t you agree?”
“I’m not so sure,” he said, crossing to the window. “There’s something about our rescue of the Santa Ana that doesn’t feel right.”
“What is it?”
“It’s a convenient coincidence that all the officers were stricken.”
“You think it was planned, then?”
He frowned. “If so, someone went to great lengths to disarm the vessel.”
“What do you want to do?”
“Let’s complete our trades and issue the payouts.” He turned to face her. “We’ll need to take extra precautions for protecting our crew and cargo.”
“Can you talk to the colonel?”
“We’re meeting in the morning.”
“I hope you’re wrong,” said Aisling.
“I wish for that, too. Come, we can deal with it tomorrow,” he murmured, as he leaned down and kissed her. A while later, they lay in the dark, locked in each other’s arms.
For awhile, all their worries were forgotten.
The next day, morale was high as the captains and crew received their surprise benefit. Groups were escorted into town to deposit their reward. For many, it meant that their families would be secure until their return.
While they were celebrating, Aisling issued a word of caution to her officers.
“Until we exit the country, I’d like to ensure that no one leaves the ship. We’ve been given a fortune in gold, and it’s unclear who else knows about it. We don’t want to become a target.” After receiving their assurances, she retreated to the Captain’s Quarters.
The next afternoon, the fleet left Cadiz and headed to Northern Spain. At dawn the following day, they reached their destination.
San Sebastian was nestled between a series of hills, against a backdrop of mountainous terrain. Standing in the middle of the elliptical harbor was an isle of small trees and rugged stone, serving as an unofficial guidepost for visiting ships.
The sunlight cast a warm glow against the red tiled roofs that dotted the perimeter. High on the cliff were walled towers. It reminded Aisling of home, where the fortresses were visible from the sea.
As they sailed into port, the fleet prepared to dock. The harbor was calm, the crystal waters cresting onto soft white sands.
After a busy few days, Aisling sat in her chamber, reviewing the inventory ledgers. She looked up to see Ryen standing in the doorway. One glance at his somber expression fueled her mounting concern.
“I have bad news. Sean and a few men from the Cara have been reported missing. This note was delivered by messenger.”
My worst fears are coming true, she thought. She opened the sealed envelope and read: We have your sailors. For their safe return, we want gold. Seek help and they will die. Further instructions to follow.
Aisling turned to Ryen. “Pl
ease find the prince. I believe he’s with the colonel. The four of us will regroup here in twenty minutes. Send a message to the other ships. All hands on deck.”
“Aye, Commander,” he said, and rushed out the door.
Aisling paced in her chamber. The weight of the world felt like it was pressing down on her shoulders.
They needed to find the crew, before the unthinkable happened.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
VANISHED
Sean awoke to find himself sitting in the dark. He was bound from shoulders to feet, anchored to a large post. He could hear muffled voices in the background. His head ached and he was hungry. He didn’t know how long he had been there.
He tried to recollect what had happened. The last thing he remembered was receiving a note that Ryen wanted to meet him on the dock. He and two of his seamen left to meet the first officer, but after that he couldn’t recall.
As he reconstructed events, he worried about his crew. Were they here too? He whispered into the murky space, but there was no response.
*
The prince and the colonel entered the Captain’s Quarters on the Saoirse. Aisling looked up from the table, where she and Ryen were deep in conversation.
“We have an urgent situation,” she said, passing the ransom note to the prince.
As he scanned the communication, his eyebrows furrowed. “How many men are missing?”
“We don’t know yet,” said Ryen.
Drayaen turned to Aisling. “Do you know why Sean would have left the ship?”
She drummed her fingers and thought of the times when she and her cousin had fled into the Golden Caves to escape oppression. He was always very cautious in dangerous situations.
“Sean would never disobey a direct order. If he disembarked, it’s because he was lured off the boat or removed by force. Ryen, do we have any information about the messenger who delivered the note?”
“I’ll talk with the men.”
The prince turned to Colonel Lex. “See who else is in port. Whoever did this knew we were mooring here.”
“I’ll mobilize a team.”
“How many men will you need?”
“About a dozen.”
“Do we have any local contacts?”
“I know someone,” said Ryen. “He assisted the fleet a few years ago and could help us navigate the area.”
“Can you get in touch?”
“I’ll try.”
“Good. Let’s regroup here in two hours.”
The men departed, and Aisling walked onto the deck to update the rest of the fleet.
*
Ryen retreated to his cabin and sat at the desk. He pulled out a quill and paper and dashed off a note to his friend, Hidalgo Aiza.
“It’s been awhile since we’ve communicated,” he muttered. “I hope he’s still in the area.” After sealing the message, he flung open the door to his chamber and called for one of the ship’s assistants.
“Have a messenger deliver this, and tell him to hurry,” he said, extracting a coin from his jacket. “He should wait for a response, if there is one.”
“Aye, sir, right away.”
Ryen thought about the first time he met his friend. Years earlier in San Sebastian, the fleet lost merchandise on the wharf, during his watch. It had taken mere minutes for the thieves to move the cargo.
Hidalgo was a security guard in training then. Without hesitation, he had jumped into the fray and joined the recovery efforts.
Because of him, Ryen remembered, they had found their goods. Hidalgo had saved him from an expensive error, and the displeasure of his uncles and the crew.
*
Hidalgo Aiza put on his coat to go home. He was weary from chasing criminals all day and was looking forward to a quiet, relaxing dinner with his wife. He dreamed about her cooking, the boiled sancocho with sweet potatoes, covered in a spicy mojo verde, followed by savory cinnamon cake. With a burst of newfound energy, he collected his papers and flung open the door. A messenger stood in the entryway.
“Are you Hidalgo Aiza?” the man asked, leaning one arm on the door, wheezing and gasping for air.
“Yes, I am,” he admitted. There goes my beautiful dinner. He groaned in disappointment.
“I’ve been instructed to wait for the reply, if you don’t mind.”
Hidalgo returned to his desk and draped his coat over the chair, then tore open the message. His startled expression was replaced with a troubled countenance.
“No need for a response. I’m coming with you.”
He motioned to the courier and dashed out the door.
The men congregated at the end of the dock. The prince motioned for them to move closer.
“A note has been dispatched to a member of the police force. We’re hoping this contact can bring us closer to finding Sean and crew. Let’s give it a few more minutes, then we’ll divide up into teams and scour the city, starting with the nearby buildings.”
Ryen paced along the pier. As he looked up, something out of the corner of his eye caught his attention. Aiza and the courier were hurrying along the path. He strode down the quay to meet his friend. “I’m happy to see you. Thanks for coming,” he said, as they embraced.
“When you need me, I will be there.”
Ryen looked up as the prince and the colonel approached. “Aiza” he said, gesturing, “this is Prince Drayaen, Aisling’s husband, and Colonel Lex. I’d like to present Hidalgo Aiza, a friend of the fleet.”
“Nice to meet you both,” Hidalgo said. “I’m sorry to hear about your trouble.”
Drayaen nodded. “Thank you for coming. Ryen told us about you. We appreciate your help.”
“What’s the situation now?”
“There’s no word, beyond our original ransom note,” said the prince, removing it from his vest pocket and handing it to the officer. “There are three men missing. Can you tell us about the layout of this area?”
“Yes, most of the criminal activity is concentrated in the warehouse region. Brigands are tempted by all the merchandise that comes in and out of port. But it would be difficult to abduct several men. They may still be nearby.”
The prince nodded. “Right, let’s divide into teams.”
“That makes sense,” said Aiza. “Someone should talk with the sentry at the gate. Perhaps he can help us. Ryen and I can speak with him now.”
Drayaen nodded again. “Here’s the plan,” he said, addressing the team. “Each unit will search a section of the wharf area. We’ll regroup in an hour. If you see something suspicious, don’t make any lone attempts. These are dangerous people. Wait until we reassemble, so we have enough men.”
There was a chorus of ‘ayes’ as the mariners launched down the quay to find their comrades.
*
Ryen and Aiza spoke with the sentry on duty at the wharf. At first, it appeared he had no useful knowledge. As they turned to rejoin their team, the guard called them back.
“I haven’t seen a group of people. Just one man with a large wagon.”
“Were there any markings you can remember?” asked Ryen, extracting coins from his bag.
“Aye, it was a bodega, a food supply business, with red letters.”
“Thank you for your help,” said Ryen. He pressed some silver into the man’s palm and ran down the dock with Hidalgo in tow.
After running a few blocks, they found the prince and the colonel.
“Your Highness, we have some information,” said Ryen, catching his breath.
“What is it?”
“The sentry at the gate remembered a food purveyor.”
The prince turned to Aiza. “Can you think of any suspects?”
“There are several companies that sell provisions to the ships. They’re located a few blocks from here.”
“Let’s go, then,” said the prince. He exchanged a knowing look with the colonel. Some of the pieces are coming together now, he thought.
Hidalgo led the prince and his men throug
h a maze of winding streets. They surveyed the area, but there was nothing that was deemed suspicious.
“Are there back alleys we can check?” asked the prince.
“Yes, once we climb this hill, we’ll have a better view of the surrounding area,” replied the officer. When they reached the top of the slope, the colonel signaled the men to scour the vicinity.
“I see the wagon,” said the prince, as he crouched on the ground with his spyglass.
He handed it to Aiza. “There are a number of criminals nearby. I count at least twelve.”
“We’ll need reinforcements, then,” said the colonel. “I’ll send someone back to the dock to round up additional men.”
“No,” said the prince, “more soldiers will be conspicuous. We don’t want to alert the blackmailers.”
“He’s right,” said Aiza. “We’ll be outnumbered, but they won’t expect us.”
After making plans, the prince and his team raced to the warehouse and stationed themselves along the perimeter.
As they waited, a man left the building and headed to the truck. The colonel pounced from behind and locked him in a choke hold.
“Where is our crew?” he asked.
“I don’t know.”
“I’ll ask you once again,” said the colonel. “After that, you won’t be able to talk.”
“They’re not here.”
“Where, then?”
“We have an abandoned warehouse near the dock. Your men are there.”
“Why them?”
“You have gold.”
“How do you know that?”
“There were sixteen crates loaded onto the Santa Ana. Her crew said fifteen were returned.”
“Did you poison the officers on the ship?”
“I had nothing to do with it. I delivered the food. That’s all.”
“Here’s what’s going to happen,” said the colonel. “You’re going to take us to this warehouse. If we find out our men aren’t there, you’ll go to prison for a long time.”
The man nodded, and eased his way into the wagon. The colonel motioned to the rest of the men, who jumped into the rig. A few minutes later, they barreled down the hill to the wharf.