Melletin laughed. "Are you, Prince? So what's the big idea? I assume you have one or you

wouldn't look so pleased with yourself."

"I think this is a job for the girls."

At dusk, mist rolled in from the Inland Sea, wrapping the port in its featherlight embrace. A

gaggle of pretty dockside girls sauntered up to the fleet at anchor. Two

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approached the gangplank leading to the flagship, the Bloody Spear. A bored sailor standing

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guard peered over the side and made out the comely form of a black-haired girl. She had a dark-

skinned companion swathed in a veil hovering shyly at her shoulder.

"Hey, gorgeous!" called the girl, raising her skirts to flash a shapely ankle.

"Need some company?"

The sailor glanced behind him. "Sorry, sweetheart, not allowed to have visitors on board. Not

with all the trouble yonder."

"Aw!" said Yelena. "Those cursed slaves are ruining our fun--everyone is saying the same." She minced a few steps up the plank, her friend following.

"But I wouldn't have thought you would be a spoilsport."

The sailor scratched his head. "What about my boss?"

Yelena put her hand on the rail. "Don't worry about him," she said breathily.

"My friend will see to him."

The veiled girl nodded and dropped onto the deck. She was surprisingly tall for a woman, but

then the sailor knew that Captain Jirk liked an armful. He beckoned the pretty one towards him.

"He's in his cabin," he told the dark-skinned girl. "Say I sent you with my compliments."

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The second girl padded off in a rustle of silk and cloud of cheap perfume.

"Now, what about you, my lovely?" the man said, reaching eagerly towards Yelena to pull her

into a hug. But he never touched her. Everything went black and he ended up headfirst in the

water with a quiet splash. Yelena ran across the deck and swiftly despatched a

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second sailor on watch. A muffled cry came from the captain's cabin--Ramil emerged wiping his

sword on his dress.

"Don't do that!" said Yelena. "You'll ruin the material."

The two "girls" crept down the ladder to the lower deck. The smell of the pit holding the galley slaves was worse than the pens in the market. Four sailors were playing cards on an upturned

box while their slaves slept over their oars. Yelena approached, swinging her hips provocatively.

"Hello, lads, looking for some fun? My friend and I, we're full of surprises."

A big bald-headed man nudged his card partner. "Things are looking up, Toburt. The captain's

sent us a present."

A bell outside began to sound the alarm. Yelena and Ramil exchanged a glance: one of the

attacks must have been spotted. Oarsmen stirred in their seats. Thinking quickly, Yelena

grabbed on to the big man's arm, pretending to quiver with fear.

"What's that?" she gasped. "Don't tell me the filthy slaves are making more trouble! Oh no, what's going to become of us?"

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There were yells and cries outside. Toburt and the other two men grabbed their swords and

disappeared up on deck. The bald man hung back a

moment to pat Yelena condescendingly on the rump.

"Stay here, darling; I'll go sort it out and be back to look after you."

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"Perhaps I should look after you now," Yelena said, moving in closer.

The man grunted and fell back, clutching at the dagger slipped between his ribs, his eyes wide

with surprise.

Yelena rubbed her bloodied hands on his shirt with disgust as the slaves cheered and rattled

their chains.

"I hope he deserved it," she said wistfully as Ramil unchained the first bank of slaves.

The first oarsman limped forward and kissed her hand. "He did, miss, a nasty brute. Even his

wife'll thank you."

Ramil put an arm around her. He knew how she felt. Taking a life in cold blood like that made

you feel no better than the enemy.

"I'm sorry, Yelena. Perhaps I should've come up with a different plan," he said as the slaves 322

rushed the ladder, sweeping the remaining sailors out of their path.

Yelena straightened her shoulders. "No, Ram, it's what I was trained to do.

I'm saving far more lives than I'm taking--that's the main thing."

Ramil kissed her brow, honoring her courage. "Come then, let's see how the others have fared."

From the evidence of the dockside, the operation had largely gone to plan.

One ship had rumbled the fake "girls" and put up a fight, but that was soon ended by an influx of slaves freed from the other ships. Ramil watched with satisfaction as the freed men set about

firing their former prisons. They knew exactly

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what to do, doubtless having dreamt of such a day for years. It seemed only right that they

should have the pleasure.

March had arrived and with it the spring. The meadows and forest were bursting with blossom

but no one greeted it with joy. Each petal that unfolded was another step nearer to invasion.

King Lagan had done

everything he could think of to prepare. Wardens had formed into bands of fast-moving raiders,

ordered to harass Fergox's army as it marched through the forest, but Lagan knew that the

major battle would happen outside the walls of his city. That was where the war would be

decided.

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Lady Egret, now one of the King's counsellors, approached him on the battlements one sunny

morning as he stared out across the ocean. The twenty Blue Crescent ships were still moored in

the harbor. They had defended Falburg from pirate raids, but Lagan wished heartily that the

alliance had gone ahead as planned.

The King turned on hearing the distinctive tap-tap of her cane. Lady Egret was smiling.

"Good news, my lady?" the king said, guiding her to a seat. "I could do with some."

"Yes, I think it is good," she said, lowering herself carefully onto the bench.

"Duke Nerul reports that Fergox has handed over command of his army to Junis and is returning

with al speed to Tigral."

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This news was so unexpected; Lagan was aware that he was gaping in a most unkingly fashion.

"And this is certain?"

"As certain as my bones ache every morning," she replied with a smile.

"And does the duke say why?"

"There is a full-scale slave revolt in Tigral. Beautifully timed, I may say, thank the Father."

Lagan rubbed his hands. "I could not have ordered it better myself. I don't suppose you can add

icing to this cake of news by giving me word of Ramil?"

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She shook her head. "I'm sorry, Your Majesty. All I know is that he and the Princess headed

south, attempting to reach the sea and sail to the Islands that way. Perhaps you should look to

the ocean for news of him now, not to Brigard."

The King nodded. "Thank you, lady."

"No more proposals of marriage today?" the old woman said with a glint in her eye as she rose.

Lagan put his hand to his chest. "Having heard your warning, I am too afraid of Lord Egret to

dare to importune you."

She chuckled. "Ah, would that I were young again and then maybe I would make my lord

jealous. Sadly, those days are long gone." She bent her head to him and hobbled away, a distinct

spring in her step.

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Zaradan escorted Tashi to the southern shores of the Inland Sea. The way lay through the