114 The Fancys Captain (1/2)

By the time the raft stopped and the men rowing it walked to shore where Nian Zhen's party was waiting, each of them had already made their first impression about each other.Nian Zhen's face was grim.The man on shore wading towards them grimmer.

He was not the man Nian Zhen spied through the spyglass.This man was younger and had the unmistakable air of a scholar. His face was the anti-thesis of a pirate. It was as clean as a girl's, the skin clear and unshaven.The clothes he wore were also immaculate, without a speck of dust.He walked unhurriedly to where Nian Zhen stood, spearing An Ning a glance which was simultaneously bold and curious.

”Where's the captain?” Nian Zhen asked, his gaze encompassing the half dozen men that accompanied the scholar.

”He's waiting for you on the boat,” the young man said.”We captured the spies you sent.The captain wants to talk to you about them.”

”On his boat, of course?” Nian Zhen asked.

”Of course.”

”Tell him to wait then. I'm extremely busy,” Nian Zhen smiled off-handedly then grabbing An Ning's hand, he started walking away.

The rest of his group followed after him, stunned. They hadn't taken several steps when the young man's voice again spoke.

”Wait!”

Nian Zhen stopped but didn't turn his head.

”How about we meet here in the same place at eight tomorrow morning.Would that work in your busy schedule then, your majesty?” the young man said, slightly sarcastic.

Nian Zhen turned his head and met his eyes.

”You know my name but I don't know your captain's,” he said.

”Tsai Po. Captain Tsai Po.”

”Tomorrow then.”

Nian Zhen turned away without another word.An Ning looked back and saw the young man still staring at them. Their eyes met.The two gazes measured each other.An Ning nodded imperceptibly then followed Nian Zhen.

They gathered in the tower after they went back. Nian Zhen wanted to talk in private because he didn't want to alarm the twins and An Ning's family.

”Talk,” he commanded, looking at Hank and Kari.

”Offer an exchange,” Hank said.

”What?”

”Money? Gold?”

”Empty the treasury you mean? What if they attack us afterwards after they've taken all our money and we're too poor to fight them back? No.That's a concession we can't take a bloody chance on. It will destroy Chengdi.”

”Fight back?” Kari said tentatively.

”With what?We don't have a fucking army.”

”Negotiate with them tomorrow and if it doesn't work, then go with them to their hideout.”

An Ning's voice was calm.She was staring at Nian Zhen, her face expressionless.

”But that would mean Nian Zhen would be exchanging himself for them,” Hank protested.

”Not necessarily,” An Ning disagreed.”Not if the negotiations totally ignore this spying and hostage business.”

They stared at her, perplexed.Nian Zhen was frowning in confusion.

”What you mentioned earlier? Negotiate under the guise of diplomacy?” he asked after a while, as if finally understanding what An Ning was trying to say.

”Precisely,” An Ning nodded.”Don't mention Indian or the other men with him. Negotiate with a clean slate, from a strong vantage stand.Convince them that this is the opportunity you were waiting for to meet their captain and start peace talks with him.”

”If it doesn't work?”

”Then you go to war.”

Nian Zhen smiled.

”With whose army?”

”Let me worry about that.”

Nian Zhen was silent, still frowning.

”Prepare to go on a short trip,” he finally told Hank and Kari when the silence stretched for several minutes.”We'll take some of the produce we have in storage to barter with.Pirates seldom go to shore to shop.Then we'll take the shopping cart to them to sell.”

”Fresh produce?” Kari asked, startled.”Eggs, and flour, and meat?”

”Bars of soap and scent and clothes for the women,” added Hank, chuckling.

An Ning laughed.

”Sneaky,” she told Nian Zhen.”That's what they call back door diplomacy.”

”We're just giving the natural course of commerce a gentle nudge,” Nian Zhen shrugged. ”Of course, it'll become a two-way street when they agree to finalize an agreement.”

'Hold on, you're not actually thinking of going with them, are you?On their ship?”Hank asked, perturbed.

”Who says we're taking a ride back with them?” An Ning asked coolly. ”Of course, we're taking our own ship.”

It was not exactly a ship but rather a 128 feet cruise barge with six cabins that can accommodate up to twelve passengers, staterooms for the crew, and facilities that include a bar and restaurant and two sun decks. Enxuo's sense of humor was also evident on the name he chose for the boat: Whimsy, which side by side with the bigger and more imposing pirate ship Fancy, was rather wishful thinking on his part.

But the sight of the barge, however, had a rather psychological effect on the group of people gaping thunderstruck at it.To say that they were shock by it was an understatement.The barge was painted in white and blue colors and looked amazingly out of place if not incongruous floating on the waters of an unnamed sea leading to nowhere.

The pirate crew was not only shocked but even more so totally flabbergasted by the sight of it.The captain had been very sure of his footing when he left the boat that morning.He was even seen rubbing his hands gleefully, anticipating the riches the king must be willing to pay for the return of the hostages.

The captain and the king met, both of them surreptitiously studying each other under hooded eyes.The two men declined to shake hands but instead went straight to talking about unpleasant things that included spying, territorial breach, and most unpleasant of all, payment terms that even Nian Zhen, warned by An Ning beforehand, had a hard time swatting aside.Of course, the captain dug his dratted toes on this unpleasant side of the talk while Nian Zhen listened, seemingly without reaction, with only a slight smile on his face to show that he understood.

Nian Zhen didn't like the captain.Of course, he hated him sight unseen after he caught him peeping tomming Ning Ning using a spyglass but he disliked him even more so now because he seemed to be one of those charming bastards that just grates on his nerves for some reason.The guy was not even good looking.He was tall and slim and had a rugged, out-doorsy type of attractiveness that some women might think was attractive.Like Kari, for example, who was practically drooling over him like an idiot. And what the heck was this fetish for baring his muscled chest and abs for? Damned pirate.

As for the captain, he also didn't like Nian Zhen because he finds him too young and too pretty and seemingly too perfect for comfort.The king was a boy not even in his twenties.He was a tall youth who looked like a white, beautiful lily.Clear skin, pink lips and a face that could practically destroy kingdoms.What the heck?Is this boy really a man or just a pretty face?But he seemed to like women if that spark of rage he revealed when he caught him peeping tomming his woman was any indication.But the woman was out of this world pretty.A lush and perfect body made for loving.That silky black hair that reaches past her upper thighs... He'd bet those lustrous strands would not only look seductive spread underneath her on the bed but feel like silk under his touch.You damned lucky bastard! The captain cursed silently, feeling an uncomfortable stirring in his loins.