Part 2 (2/2)
”Only? Would that our ministers had such qualities.”
David ignored that. ”Mel's father turned it into an orderly business, and Mel improved on that with records, ledgers, and complex accounting. Worked so well he absorbed some nearby groups, but now the leaders.h.i.+p demands are more complicated. The new Captain Drake will have to be able to cope with the paperwork, plan and supervise runs, and rule the Horde, by force if necessary.”
”You've managed.”
”I spent as much time as I could get away with hanging around Mel and the Horde, and taking part in runs. He'd growl and tell me I must become a gentleman, but he never tried to stop me, and he shared some of the Horde's ways with me. But my main authority comes from being his son.”
”Inheritance, just as with the earldom. But you do have a natural ability to command.”
David shrugged. ”I'm big and strong.”
After the briefest knock, the door opened. ”Trouble, cap'n,” said Maisie, one of the maids.
The ”cap'n” revealed all. The trouble must concern not the earl but Captain Drake.
”Lloyd?” David asked, rising.
Lieutenant Lloyd was the new riding officer in these parts, a battle-hardened, ambitious Welshman who was determined to advance his career by crus.h.i.+ng the Freetrade in his territory. He wanted to put an end to Captain Drake and his organization, once and for all.
”No, cap'n.” Maisie looked uneasily at Nicholas.
”Don't worry about him.”
”It's some of the men, zur. They're off to Bradhole Cove to get the goods, zur, the moon being overcast and a sea mist coming up. Aaron's in the side room.”
”d.a.m.n and blast them!” David flung open the curtains and saw, indeed, a dense mist that didn't even show the cliff's edge.
”Goods?” Nicholas asked.
”A short while ago we landed a rich load, but a naval s.h.i.+p interrupted, so we stashed the contraband in a cave in an inaccessible cove. I've been waiting for a safe time to move it.”
”And they've run out of patience.”
”Which could land them in jail or worse.” He headed for the door, but paused. ”Are you coming?”
”Wouldn't miss the excitement for the world,” Nicholas said, rising with easy grace.
”Pray G.o.d there's no excitement to it.”
They entered one of the narrow corridors that ran between the Crag's rooms and its outer walls, except where the two new windows had been cut through.
”They know how chancy a sea mist is,” David muttered. ”It might hide them now, but it could shred away in a moment. d.a.m.n the fools.”
David ran down one of the circular staircases that sat in each corner of the Crag. On the ground floor he walked swiftly to a small room that could be entered directly from the outside. The door was never locked. It would be a foolhardy thief indeed who tried to steal from Crag Wyvern.
Aaron Bartlett stood there, a man in his forties, stocky and disgruntled. ”Overwhelmed me, cap'n. I was ordering them to have sense, but they were all fired up. And drunk.”
”Who fired them up?”
”Saul.”
”No surprise there. What exactly are they planning?”
”They're already off, zur. In the boats, to get the goods and bring 'em into the village to stash. All the easier to move 'em on, see. And get their share.”
”Greed.”
”Well, zur, some's need. Times is hard, and having a rich cargo stuck in a cave for nigh on a fortnight . . .”
”No one's in that much need.” David glanced at Nicholas. ”I'm going to ride along the cliffs to Bradhole to oversee and keep them safe. I'd like you to stay here, in case.”
”Not trying to protect me from danger, are you?”
”No.” It was flat and absolute.
”Then aye, aye, sir.”
Maisie came running in. ”Zur! Lieutenant Lloyd and his men are here, zur. Asking for you! What should I say?”
David let out a string of oaths. ”They must have been keeping watch. They'll have set up a trap.” He thought quickly. ”Get a few of the remaining men,” he said to Aaron. ”Ones that can run. We'll need crab pots and climbing ropes. Come on,” he said to Nicholas and strode out.
With an amused smile, Nicholas followed.
David led the way back up the circular staircase, then along a corridor to where the only normal stairs in the place ran down to the cavernous great hall. The stone walls of the hall were hung with weaponry, the furniture was all of uncomfortable dark oak, and the room was perpetually cold. The Crag never had welcomed visitors. The lieutenant and his men certainly looked uncomfortable as they stood there waiting for him.
As he descended the stairs, David said, ”A strange time to call, Lloyd.”
The long-faced Welshman scowled. David guessed he was disappointed to find him at home. ”My apologies, my lord. I thought I should inform you that some people from Dragon's Cove are up to no good.”
”Thieving or wenching?”
Lloyd's lip curled. ”Smuggling, sir.”
”With the moon half-full?”
”And the clouds heavy, not to mention the mist.”
”I'm surprised you risked riding here in such weather.”
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