Bleidbara shook his head. ‘It was hard to extract information from the man,’ he said as he glared at the prisoner.
‘So what is the plan? They might have left more men on this island to defend it in case of attack.’
Bleidbara rubbed his chin thoughtfully. ‘I see your point. We need to make some plan of attack.’
‘One that does not put our friends on the Barnacle Goose at risk,’ Eadulf pointed out.
After a few moments, Bleidbara had decided on his next move. ‘I am in favour of sailing the Morvran directly to the island and making an immediate attack. At least the Koulm ar Maro is sunk and they have no large ship to counter our attack now.’
‘We should find out where it is anchored and how many men there are to defend it.’
Bleidbara grinned, saying, ‘You have missed your calling, Brother Eadulf. You should have been a strategist.’ Turning aside, he then whispered, ‘This prisoner might speak Latin. Whatever I do, I want you to support me and not be shocked by anything.’
Bewildered, Eadulf nodded.
‘If we can get the information we want, I will.’
Bleidbara turned to a couple of his crewmen and issued orders. One of them took a rope and threw it over a spar, then proceeded to tie one end into a noose. The prisoner watched wide-eyed as the task was quickly accomplished.
Bleidbara spoke to him harshly, then he turned to Eadulf and said in Latin: ‘I have told him that he is a pirate, a murderer and thief, and he knows the consequences of his actions.’
The man began to tremble a little. And muttered something.
‘It seems our pirate pleads for mercy,’ interpreted Bleidbara.
‘Mercy has to be earned,’ Eadulf said, playing his part. ‘I can only pray that he will find mercy in the next world.’
‘You are right, Brother Eadulf. It is no use asking him for information. I will tell my men to put the noose around his neck.’
The man’s hands were secured behind his back and, with a struggle, the noose was put in place.
The man was sobbing now and talking almost incoherently. There was no need for Bleidbara to interpret. Eadulf’s expression of disgust was genuine, for he was revolted by the whole spectacle.
However, Bleidbara was right. The man did speak some Latin and was straining towards Eadulf.
‘Please, please, Brother. You are a man of God. You cannot let him do this.’
Eadulf turned to him with a severe expression, saying, ‘The captain is within his rights. You are guilty of the things he charges. Why should I intervene?’
‘I am entitled to a trial…I am-’
‘You are entitled to nothing more than the lack of mercy you showed your victims,’ interrupted Bleidbara harshly. He said something to his men and one of them tightened the rope so that the prisoner was forced up on tiptoe.
The man screamed as he found himself being hauled up.
‘Stop!’ Eadulf ordered. ‘Lower him. Perhaps he could earn a hearing before one of your bretats — but only if he answers our questions.’
The man almost collapsed, coughing and sobbing. Bleidbara seemed to consider what Eadulf said for a moment.
‘I might be lenient — if he tells me how many of his band are on Enez Lovrdi, exactly where they are placed, and where the prisoners are held.’
The words immediately came tumbling out of the man.
‘There are only half a dozen fighting men on the merchant ship which we captured some days ago…’
‘And the prisoners?’
‘They are kept in the hold of the ship which is anchored in a creek on the north side of the island. It is deep water but surrounded by trees, so that it is hidden from casual observance.’
‘Are there lookouts at the fortress?’
‘Everyone who was left on the island is on the merchant ship.’
‘And you say that the woman is aboard?’
‘She is.’
‘Where is your captain?’
The man gestured with the point of his chin towards the debris now floating on the waters.
‘He was hit directly by one of those fireballs. So was the mate.’
‘Was he a slight man dressed in white?’ intervened Eadulf.
The prisoner looked at him blankly. ‘Taran? He was a big man from Pou-Kaer…Oh, you mean the man who gave Taran orders? He often came on our raids with us. No, he was not on board.’
‘Who is he? Where is he? At this Enez Lovrdi?’ demanded Bleidbara.
‘Not on the island,’ replied the man. ‘As for who he is, I don’t know. I presumed Taran knew. Whenever he came on board, he was dressed in white with a mask. A merciless man. You did not disobey him with impunity.’
‘So where is he now?’ demanded Eadulf sharply.
‘Our captain said our orders were to head out to sea and then come along the Rhuis Peninsula on the seaward side tonight at dusk. We were to wait near the cliffs by the abbey. Then pick up the man in white and his companion.’
‘At dusk?’
The prisoner nodded rapidly.
‘And you swear that you do not know who this young man is, who has been giving you orders?’ pressed Eadulf.
‘I truly do not know who he is, Brother. Do not punish me for my ignorance. I have never seen him unmasked. I never saw his features, and if anyone dared disobey his orders then death was the immediate penalty. Even our captain, Taran, was in fear of him.’
‘Were you ever told what cause you were fighting for?’ intervened Bleidbara.
‘For booty, for riches — that is all I know.’
Eadulf gazed down at the wretched man, who was now kneeling on the deck, hands still tied behind him and with the loosened rope still around his neck.
‘One question more. Who supplied you with your arrows? They are all well made.’
The man hesitated a moment, as if surprised by the question, before replying, ‘The man in white supplied them and told us to use them. Also to use the banner and to make sure it was seen when we carried out our attacks.’
‘Did he explain the purpose?’
‘Perhaps to Taran but not to us.’
‘Let him be taken back to the other prisoners.’ Eadulf sighed, feeling a little disgusted with himself at having to force the information out of him in such a manner.
Bleidbara gave the order but was gazing at Eadulf with something akin to admiration.
‘Well, Brother Eadulf, I swear that you make a good conspirator. That man would not have spoken, had we not frightened him to extract the information.’
Eadulf’s expression was one of repugnance.
‘I did not enjoy the experience. What if he had refused to give the information?’ he asked.
‘Then we would have had to keep him a prisoner so that he could be tried,’ shrugged Bleidbara.
Eadulf’s eyes widened. ‘You were just playing a game?’
‘I did not think it was a game,’ Bleidbara assured him. ‘But we needed the information and quickly.’
‘And now we have that information?’ queried Heraclius, speaking for the first time since the scene was played out before him.
‘I suggest that we sail directly for Enez Lovrdi, for this creek, and board the Barnacle Goose. While some of my men engage the guards, Eadulf will head for the hold and release the prisoners. He knows them, so he can reassure them about what is happening. Do we agree?’
‘I should go with Eadulf,’ Heraclius advised. ‘He will need someone to watch his back.’
‘Agreed,’ replied Bleidbara. ‘I’ll instruct the men now, for we do not have much time before we are upon the island.’
It seemed only minutes later that the Morvran was bearing down on a heavily wooded island. Bleidbara was determined to lead the assault himself and passed over the handling of the ship to his first mate. Already the sails were coming down and two smaller boats were swung out and lowered even as the Morvran closed towards what at first seemed a wall of dark rocks and trees. But as they came nearer, Eadulf saw that the rocks parted into a passage. Edging closer still, he saw the stern end of a large ship and felt a sudden elation as, more by instinct than recollection, he recognised the Barnacle Goose.