"You astound me, General," Hal admitted, and while he gathered his wits, he noticed that Nazet's eyes were the colour of honey and his lashes long, thick and curled as those of a girl. He had never felt sexually attracted to another male before. Now, however, as he looked on those regal features and fine golden skin, and stared into those lustrous eyes, he became aware of a pressure in his chest that made it difficult for him to draw the next breath.
"Please be seated, Captain." Nazet indicated the stool beside him. They sat so close together that he could smell the odour of the other man's body. Nazet wore no perfume, and it was a natural, warm, musky smell that Hal found himself savouring deeply. Guiltily, he acknowledged how unnatural was this sinful attraction he felt, and drew back from the General as far as the hard, low stool would allow him.
The Emperor scrambled into General Nazet's lap and patted his smooth golden cheek, gabbling something in a high, childish voice at which the General laughed softly and replied in Geez, without taking his eyes off Hal's face.
Tasilides tells me that you have come to Ethiopia to offer your services in the cause of the Most Christian Emperor."
"That is so. I have come to petition His Majesty to grant me a Letter of Marque, so that I may employ my ship against the enemies of Christ."
"You have arrived at a most propitious time." Nazet nodded. "Has Fasilides told you of the defeat that our navy suffered at Adulis Bay?"
"He has also told me of your magnificent victory at Mitsiwa."
Nazet showed no false pride at the compliment. "The one counterbalances the other," he said. "If El Grang commands the sea, he can bring in endless reinforcements and stores from Arabia and the territory of the Mogul to replenish his wasted army. Already he has made good all the losses I inflicted upon him at Mitsiwa. I am waiting for reinforcements to arrive from the mountains, so I am not ready to attack him again where he lies at Zulla. Every day he is fed from the sea and grows stronger."
Hal inclined his head. "I understand your predicament." There was something about the General's voice that troubled him. as Nazet became more agitated its timbre altered. Hal had to make an effort to consider the words and not the speaker.
"A new menace now besets me," Nazet went on. "El Grang has taken into his service a foreign ship of greater force than any we can send out to meet it." Hal felt a prickle of anticipation run down the back of his neck and the hairs rise upon his forearms.
"What manner of ship is this? "he asked softly.
"I am no sailor, but my admirals tell me that it is a square-rigged ship of the frigate class." Nazet looked keenly at Hal. "It must be similar to your own vessel."
"Do you know the name of the captain?" Hal demanded, but Nazet shook his head.
"I know only that he is inflicting terrible losses on our transport dhows that I rely on to bring supplies down from the north."
"What flag does he fly?" Hal persisted.
Nazet spoke rapidly to one of the officers in Geez, then turned back to him. "This ship flies the pennant of Omani, but also a red cross of unusual shape on a white ground."
"I think I know this marauder," said Hal grimly, "and I will pit my own vessel against his at the first opportunity that is, if His Most Christian Majesty will grant me a commission to serve as a privateer in his navy."
"At Fasilides" urging, I have already ordered the court scribes to draft your commission. We need only agree the terms and I shall sign it on the Emperor's behalf." Nazet rose from the stool. "But come, let me show you in detail the position of our forces and those of El Grang." He led the way to the far side of the chamber, and the other senior officers rose with him. They surrounded the circular table on which, Hal saw, had been built a clay model of the Red Sea and the surrounding territories. It was executed in graphic detail, and realistically painted. Each town and port was clearly shown, tiny carved ships sailed upon the blue waters while regiments of cavalry and foot were represented by model figures carved in ivory and painted in splendid uniform.
As they studied this soberly, the Emperor dragged up a stool and climbed onto it so that he could reach the models. With squeals of glee and the childish imitations of neighing horses and firing cannon, he began to move the figures about the board. Nazet reached out to restrain him, and Hal stared at the hand. It was slim and smooth and dainty, with long, tapered fingers, the nails pearly pink. Suddenly the truth dawned on him and, before he could prevent himself, he blurted out in English, "Mother Mary, you're a woman!" Nazet glanced up at him, and her amber cheeks darkened with annoyance. "I advise you not to disparage me on account of my gender, Captain. As an Englishman, you might remember the military lesson a woman handed out to you at OrleansI."
The retort rose to Hal's lips, "Yes, but that was more than two hundred years ago and we burned her for her troubles!" but he managed to stop himself and instead tried to make his tone placatory.
"I meant no offence, General. It only enhances the admiration I had already conceived for your powers of leadership."
Nazet was not so easily mollified and her manner became brisk and businesslike as she explained the tactical and strategic positions of the two armies and pointed out to him where he might best employ the GoLden Bough. She no longer looked at him directly, and the line of those full soft lips had hardened. "I will expect you to place yourself under MY direct command, and to that end I have ordered Admiral Senec to draw up a simple set of signals, rockets and lanterns by night and flags and smoke by day, through which I can pass my orders from the shore to you at sea. Do you have any objection to that?"
No, General, I do not."
"As to your share of the prize money, two-thirds will accrue to the Imperial exchequer, and the balance to you and your crew."