Part 32 (2/2)
William blushed and said, ”He's really a good officer, and he acted with great courage and . . . well, he saved my life.”
”That does warrant notice,” said Arutha, nodding in agreement.
”And maybe an estate,” suggested James. ”It doesn't have to be a big one, just a little one with a bit of income.”
Amos started to chuckle. ”Why not a t.i.tle, too?”
James nodded. ”Court squire should be enough.”
Arutha said, ”What are you plotting, you two?”
Amos's laughter exploded. ”Can't you see! They want to get the captain married off!”
”Married?”
William sighed. ”It's the other junior officers, sire. They made me promise I'd come up with a way to get Captain Treggar out of the unmarried officers' mess.”
Amos's laughter redoubled and James and Arutha joined in, while William sat uncomfortably waiting for an answer.
EPILOGUE - Encounters
Seagulls squawked overhead.
The royal dock was busy as James and his three companions hurried to a s.h.i.+p at the far end, making ready to depart. s.h.i.+ps in the harbor were weighing anchor, leaving on the evening tide. Several at the outer breakwater were unfurling sails and getting underway, others were being towed away from anchor by longboats, under the direction of the harbormaster and his pilots.
James, Graves, Kat, and Limm reached The Royal Leopard Royal Leopard, and halted. At the bottom of the gangplank, two guards saluted as the Prince's squire was greeted by Amos.
”Admiral Trask, may I present my companions?” James said formally.
Amos grinned. ”As if I didn't know them already.” He nodded to Ethan Graves and Limm and came to take Kat's hand. ”I understand you have a baby on the way?” he said with a solicitous smile.
”Yes,” she said as she blushed slightly.
James smiled and winked at Graves. As long as he had known the female thief, he'd never seen her embarra.s.sed.
”Well, my dear, we have a cabin set aside for you and your husband. The lad can bunk in with the cabin boy.” He led her up the gangplank.
James said, ”Farewell, Kat!”
She turned and waved, and Ethan said, ”We'll be along in a minute.”
James said, ”Limm, I need to talk to Ethan in private.”
The boy-thief said, ”I thank you, then, my very good squire. I am in your debt for life, sir.”
James tried not to laugh at the ridiculously formal, if heartfelt, wording. ”Get along, Limm, and enjoy your fresh start. Remember, Durbin is nothing like Krondor, and it will be very tempting to slip back onto the dodgy path.”
”No need to worry, squire, sir. You are my hero and I will pattern my life after yours. If you can rise above thievery and knavery, so can L”
”I'll keep him on the straight and narrow, Jimmy,” said Graves with a laugh. ”Now get along with you.” He gave Limm a playful slap to the back of the head as he ran aboard.
James waited until the boy was up the gangplank, then motioned Graves away from the two guards. He reached into his tunic, held out a pouch and said, ”Here.”
”I can't take your gold, Jimmy. YouVe done too much for us already.”
”You'll need it to get started. Consider it a down-payment.”
Graves nodded. ”I understand. Thank you.” He took the gold and put it in his tunic.
”Amos says he knows two men in Durbin he trusts with his life. h.e.l.l tell you how to get in touch with them. One is a s.h.i.+pfitter, and the other is a supplier of foodstuffs. Both will be able to carry messages to Kingdom s.h.i.+ps.”
Graves said, ”I've broken two oaths already. What makes you think I won't break my oath to you?”
James shrugged. ”Nothing, except that I know you, Ethan, and know why you broke those oaths. I could warn you about the Prince's wrath reaching out to find you, even in Durbin, but that's pointless. You're as fearless a man as any I've known . . .” He paused for a moment, then added, ”. . . when it comes to his own safety.”
Graves glanced up to the deck where Amos was doing his best to charm Kat and Limm. ”I understand,” he said, his expression darkening and his voice turning cold.
James shook his head. ”No threat to them, Ethan. On my oath.”
Graves relaxed.
”All I mean is . . . responsibility changes us,” said James. ”Look at me!” He grinned.
”Some things will never change about you, Jimmy the Hand,” said the former basher, returning the grin. ”What are you going to do with Walter and the others?”
”Nothing,” said James. ”I'll drop by their hiding place in the sewers tomorrow and tell them it's safe to come out. They'll think they're working for me, but I know those two like a dog knows ticks. They'd sell me out if they thought they could get a coin or two for doing it.” James looked thoughtful. ”Besides, I think the Upright Man is about to make an unexpected reappearance and those two will be back in the bosom of the Mockers before Mother's is rebuilt. No, it's men like you I'm going to need, Ethan, and that's going to take a while, for men like you are scarce.”
”Thanks again,” said Ethan, extending his hand. ”It's rare to get a second chance in this life; a third is a miracle.”
”Well, maybe Ishap had different plans for you than you'd thought.”
Graves nodded. ”Evidently.”
”When you get to Durbin, start a nice little inn somewhere, perhaps close to the garrison and the governor's palace. The sort of place off-duty soldiers and minor government functionaries drink. Keep your prices reasonable and listen to everything.”
Graves said, ”I'll see what I can do.”
”Get aboard, then,” said James. ”I have some business to finish today.”
He watched as Ethan climbed the gangplank, then as Amos ordered the gangplank pulled in and lines cast off. The crew jumped to carry out his orders, as the harbor pilot in the bow called down instructions to the longboat crew to pull The Royal Leopard Royal Leopard away from the quayside. away from the quayside.
James took one last look at his old friend Ethan, then turned away and started back along the royal dock. He had long-term ambitions, and some day he would have agents within the palace of Great Kesh's Empress, but for the moment he was ecstatic that he had won Graves's cooperation in establis.h.i.+ng a ring of agents in Durbin. It would be the first test of his model. Graves would have Limm contact the two men Amos had identified, who would then be the conduit for messages traveling via Kingdom s.h.i.+ps calling at Port Durbin.
As he left the docks, James saw Jonathan Means waiting for him. The young constable nodded in greeting.
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