He turned to Ghassan.
“Are you up to this?”
Ghassan laughed quietly.
“Unless you’re expecting me to leap from ship to ship and head boarding parties, I can cope with standing on the command deck and watching what happens.”
“I had just a little more than that in mind. See, I have no first officer and it would be unthinkable to go to battle in that position. It might be a bit strange for you, being used to commanding a ship yourself, but if you could cope with it, I would really appreciate having you at my side?”
Ghassan answered with a grin.
“Samir, I’m not sure I could ever keep up with you, but I’d be honoured to take the post, yes.”
He sighed and shook his head, still laughing.
“It seems ridiculous in a way, since it’s only weeks since I was a commissioned naval officer and now here I am, taking on the role of first officer with the most notorious pirate vessel on the sea, and fighting alongside Faerus and Orin, both of whom I’ve engaged in battle in the past. Strange how things turn out, isn’t it?”
Samir smiled.
“I told you long ago, by the south gate stairs in M’Dahz, the day ma died… remember?”
Ghassan, suddenly taken aback by the memory of that horrible day, gave a sad little laugh.
“You told me things would be better. It’s been long decades and finally things seem to be getting better, as you said. I just hope that’s not just for today. I want things to stay better now. Do you think that’s too much to hope for?”
Samir laughed.
“You’ve survived an invasion, repeated massacres and two decades of sea battles with pirates. You made it out of prison in an exploding tower; you’ve been knifed twice… once supposedly fatally, and here you are standing tall and about to lead a ship to war with me. I think that, despite everything we’ve been through, we’ve both got a lot to be thankful for, don’t you?”
Ghassan continued to smile sadly and Samir turned to the other sailors.
“Mannius? Can you sort out Asima for me? Make sure she’s carefully bound when you move her. She shouldn’t wake up for a while yet, but you know how dangerous she is, and I don’t want any harm to come to her. Once you’ve got her ready, take three of these lads and move her out of here. Ghassan and I need to go attend the meeting, but we’ll meet you at the ship shortly.”
The thin, wiry man nodded as he holstered the knife he’d been idly playing with.
“We’ll be there and ready, cap’n.”
Samir nodded and turned to the tall, heavy set man next to the door with a scowl moulded permanently to his features.
“Duro? You and Rashad need to take care of the other thing. You’ll find the tools and the paint in the room back there. Make sure that Faerus and Orin have taken theirs. If not, you’ll have to deliver theirs before you start work.”
“What are you up to now, Samir?” Ghassan frowned.
“Oh just a little surprise. Nothing important. Shall we go?”
Ghassan continued to peer at him through narrowed eyes and finally sighed, shrugged, and opened the door.
“After you, my captain.”
“Thank you.”
As the room became a hive of activity behind them, Samir and Ghassan stood straight and began to stride down the sloping road in the warm, purple dusk light toward the council chamber at the first bend. The noble scene was only slightly marred by the fact that Ghassan winced and gasped with every other step and quickly began to lean on Samir for support once again.
“Don’t worry. When we get on board, all you have to do is lean on the command deck rail and shout commands.”
Ghassan nodded.
“I shall be grateful to stay still for a while. I think all this movement may have torn a stitch or two. Your doctor’s going to be furious with me.”
The two walked on in silence, each contemplating the coming day with a mixture of excitement and nervousness. Slowly they approached the council hall, the great, peeling colonnade towering above them as they closed on the doorway.
“You’re sure they’ll go for it? You’ve sent everyone off ready as though they’d already announced their intention to go to war.”
Samir shrugged.
“I can’t see as they really have any other choice. Besides, whether they say yes or no, we’ll still have to get underway, so best to be prepared. Are you ready for this? We might not be over popular tonight.”
Ghassan answered with a nod.
“In we go.”
The entrance hall was empty as usual, though the door to the main chamber was already open and the commotion within could be heard as far out as the colonnade. Dozens of raised voices argued a dozen different points, each trying to be heard over the others. Samir smiled as he and Ghassan entered and took up position leaning against the door and closing it with a loud click.
The room fell silent at the noise and a number of faces turned to them.
“Good evening, gentlemen” Samir said with a tight smile.
There were a number of growls and low-voiced threats from the assembled group, but the banging of a knife pommel on the central table brought the silence to bear once more.
“Captain Samir… present yourself and your brother before the council.”
The crowd parted, allowing the pair room to face the hawk-like figure of master Halcar, who frowned at them.
“The council has concluded its deliberations, captain Samir, and come to a decision as to the best course of action for Lassos and its occupants.”
Samir nodded but remained silent.
Someone nearby said in low tones “I’s gonna slit yer throat, real slow, Samir…”
Ghassan’s head whipped around, but in the press of people, the source of the voice remained unknown. The comment was ignored by the mass and the council.
“Whatever your motive, captain Samir,” Halcar went on “you have betrayed the people of Lassos and we do not tolerate betrayal in any circumstances. You have put us in an awkward position, even though some of our number believe that this time was inevitable. The judgement of this council is that war must be prosecuted. The twelve ships of Lassos will sally forth at dawn when the mist is thickest and will engage the fleet of the governor. Your unique position, with traitors on board the enemy ships, makes you irreplaceable. Therefore, you will lead the way out of the reefs and into position.”
He smiled humourlessly.
“The possibility that this is some sort of trap has occurred to us and, if this is the case, you will have the option of falling into it yourself or revealing its existence.”
Samir nodded.
“That is fair, of course, master Halcar.”
“Be quiet! We are not finished. In addition, the council will sail out aboard the ships. It is important both that we add our long experience and expertise to the command, and that we take part in what is, after all, a battle for our survival. Masters Culin, Saja and myself will come out aboard the Dark Empress with you in order to avoid any… unfortunate decisions being made, and we will be bringing a guard with us, of course.”
He squared his shoulders.
“More than half the council and many more among the captains have called for your death for what you have done, Samir, and some demand that you be tortured to death. It is only the irreplaceable position you currently hold that is keeping you alive. Therefore, once battle is concluded, if we have taken the day, you will be deemed a traitor to Lassos. You will then hand over your compass to us and you will be taken back to Lassos. There, you will be skinned, salted and then boiled for your crimes.”
Ghassan straightened.
“No!”
Samir shook his head, but Halcar nodded.