'Privateer' really is just a polite term for 'pirate'.
The thought came to Casulo as he boarded the infamous ship named the Nada Rei. She was the most famous privateer ship in Capaytian waters.
She made it impossible for Iparral and Debuis to receive goods in their own ports, forcing both kingdoms to rely on Capaytia's home port of Coseira. The ship also demanded tribute money from the Velhanas to ensure their shipments arrived safely home.
To be sure, war and retribution had been threatened. Admiral Bargana offered rewards for anyone brave enough to sink the Nada Rei. But no one was brave enough to raise cannon at her.
No one would ever be brave enough while her captain, Coroan, manned the helm of the Nada Rei. The captain had a reputation far darker than even the Paret Duke.
But a reputation for murder and torture were still no excuse for bad manners. Casulo had been on deck for nearly half an hour yet Coroan was nowhere to be seen. The old captain refused to turn up as the deckhands called and whistled for him.
On the other hand, Admiral Bargana had heard their summons and appeared from the lower decks of the Nada Rei with all his officer ribbons gleaming on his uniform. His mouth stretched into its customary straight, taut line.
It was a look that could hold a thousand meanings but for Casulo there was no mistaking it. The Admiral was pissed.
"Filote is missing. You lied to me."
"The prince has Dust Lung."
"Show him to me then."
"I fail to see sense in bringing the future king aboard a pirate ship."
"If he is ill, then you will take me to his bedside. I wish to assess my nephew's health."
"Have you ever been exposed? Have you ever seen the disease in your time in service?"
Bargana turned away. Casulo knew the admiral had certainly not been privy to see Dust Lung amongst the Onades. Not even when Casulo's mother had been dying of it nearly a decade ago.
"Well, I'm not one for sentiment, you know that," Casulo said. "But even I have no desire to bury another family member any time soon. All evidence to the contrary, I know."
"Where is he?"
"At the Academy of course."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I don't wish this reported to the Velhanas."
The admiral had the nerve to make his mouth go taut with indignation.
"We all know the navy would be hamstrung without their coin and so you do your part as their errand boy."
"They are the oldest noble families in Capaytia! Those men bring our commerce. They sacrifice a great deal to support this kingdom. Of course they have every right to know the fate of their king."
"And once they know Filote is ill, they will have the right to pick a new king, yes?"
"Not if you claim the throne."
"Ha!"
Casulo's laugh only made the admiral look irritated.
"My sister Traica did more to take everything away from you than give you security. I know that despite her best intentions, her schemes have cost you dearly. But I truly believe it can all be yours again. All you have to do is forgive yourself. Chase off those demons in your past and unite this country once again."
Casulo forced himself to keep laughing, despite how he really felt. Eventually a similar laugh sounded through the salted air and both the duke and the admiral found themselves in the company of a pirate captain.
Ashen locs fell over Coroan's shoulders which were clothed only with a simple oilskin to keep the damp off. His eyes squinted as the old pirate took in his guests. Casulo guessed that after so long at sea, Coroan's vision was beginning to fade. It made him look hardened and grizzly as he stepped forward.
"Great minds stand before me today. Seems you both had the same idea to come visit the Nada Rei but..."
He slammed a hand into the admiral's back.
"Get off my boat."
"Gladly."
Bargana yanked himself from the pirate's grip and left without another word. Coroan merely turned then and entered his quarters, not bothering to invite Casulo inside.
Casulo stepped into the captain's quarters nevertheless and found the room only furnished with a small candle-topped table and number of maps. There were also scores of empty rum bottles littering the floor.
"The Lady Ariadne should be arriving from Debuis tomorrow night. They set anchor off Nakamar two days ago and they're set to head back in within two days time."
At the mention of Nakamar, Casulo felt himself flinch. The Lady Ariadne was one of Aguierre's ships.
"Damn it! He's practically dancing his way around the quarantine."
He remembered how at ease Aguierre had been at the gala. Aguierre complained about the restrictions but was clearly less bothered than Hernan who regularly brought slaves from An'dhiri.
"We're not at war with Nakamar. He's still violating basic trade and peace time law. He can only enslave prisoners of war-."
Coroan cackled and tipped back a rum bottle into his mouth.
"No one ever put Nakamar down on any map as a nation. War or not, Aguierre will claim his noble right to trade just like the others. He'll never put any captives on his books and if he slips you a forged bill of sale, you'll be the one left to figure out if you've been duped or not."
Casulo went quiet with that bit of news. There had to be some way to stop this but the solution eluded him as of now.
"Your dear uncle Bargana came with an odd request. Says he wants me to search out ships carrying a boy that looks like the crown prince."
"Then you are right to say we are of the same mind. I came to ask you for the same thing."
"So Bargana's not wrong? The boy is missing?"
"Officially, the prince has a severe case of Dust Lung. But if he were to travel away from shore in search of better air for his health, I would appreciate that it be reported to me first."
Casulo tossed an immense bag of gold onto the table.
"That's a third of the rest."
The captain never looked at the bag.
"What if the prince should not recover?"
"He will."
"Ferdinand's son is already a contender for the crown. Aguierre will put his own bid in once he finds out and Hernan will back whoever gives him the biggest tax break."
"Filote will take the throne just as planned."
"Course he will. In the meantime, you could marry and have an heir of your own."
"Careful, old man. You're sounding far too much like my father once did."
Coroan spat at Casulo's feet and drank a big swig from his rum bottle.
"That's much better. Are you sure Nakamar isn't a sovereignty?"
"You think a people that sends their daughters out into shark infested waters would have the sense to make a sovereignty?"
"The Heduan don't do that. Fly From the Cage is...a work of fiction. None of that is based on any real facts."
"How do you know?"
"I met a delegate of theirs."
"From Nakamar?! Well I'll be. My father spoke of battling the old chiefs during the wars. Drove a lot of them back into the mangroves over the centuries. No mention of kings. They can put up a hell of a fight, the Heduan can. Some thought it was all the flower tattoos they have on their hides. Some kind of magic or other nonsense."
"Pakhai. It's called pakhai."
"I know what I'm talking about! What do you mean to correct me for?!"
"It's more than flowers, okay? It's a story of their lives..."
Casulo would never have realized that he was smiling had the pirate not begun to stare at him. A look of utter wonder came to the old man's face.
"That's a smile I've not seen on your face before. And you say you're not to marry?"
"For sake, old man, don't you have a maidenhead to wax down or something? I'll be back once the Ariadne arrives."
"I'll have a wax block waiting for you when you get back. Now get off my boat!"
The pirate gave a barking laugh before slamming his hand into the duke's back.
Aija already juggles a dangerous life of hiding slaves from ruthless merchants. Now she finds herself caring for a young boy who turns out to be a runaway prince! If that were not bad enough, he is also the younger brother of the most ruthless man in the kingdom, the Paret Duke Casulo de la Cera. Are the dark rumors about the duke true? Can Aija protect the prince and still keep her own identity secret? With so many people relying on her, one wrong move can bring Aija's entire world crumbling down.
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