The Mad Ship. Робин Хобб

the moonlit deck, his bare feet falling softly. He wore only his trousers. His hair was tousled and boyish. Obviously, he had recently awakened, yet there was still a tigerish grace to his gait as he crossed the deck. A slow smile crept across Althea’s face. Very softly, Ophelia answered her thought. ‘Men have no concept of their own beauty.’

      Grag grinned as he approached. ‘I tapped at your door. When I didn’t find you there, I knew right away where to look.’

      ‘Oh?’ Ophelia broke in archly. ‘Are you in the habit of tapping at Althea’s door at this hour? With no shirt on?’

      ‘Only when my father wakes me up and asks me to,’ Grag replied easily. ‘He said he wanted to have a quiet talk with both of us.’

      ‘I was not to be included in this “quiet talk”?’ Ophelia demanded, already offended.

      ‘I assume you were, since he asked me to wake Althea and bid her to come here. I thought you might even have suggested it.’

      ‘No. It’s my idea.’ Captain Tenira stepped quietly into their circle. A coal glowed in the bowl of his short stemmed pipe and fragrant smoke drifted with him. ‘Call me a fearful old man if you will, but there are some precautions I’d like to take before we dock in Bingtown. And they involve Althea.’ His serious tone quenched their banter.

      ‘What did you have in mind?’ Althea asked.

      ‘I’ve been thinking about our encounter with that Chalcedean galley. They were flying the Satrap’s banner. Things have been changing in Bingtown for the last few years. I don’t know how much favour and influence that captain may have there, or whether he would send a complaint there about our response.’ Captain Tenira gave a disgusted snort. ‘When he finally got under way again, he may even have fled there. So. Depending on how much influence he has there…and on how badly the Satrap currently grovels to Chalced…we may have an unpleasant welcome awaiting us.’

      A little silence fell over the group. It was obvious to Althea that Grag had given this no more thought than she had. It was not that she had dismissed the incident as trivial: never that! Ophelia’s beautiful, slender-fingered hands were scorched. No matter how many times the figurehead assured her that she did not feel pain, at least, not as humans did, Althea still winced at every glimpse of her blackened hands. Althea had looked forward to reaching Bingtown, and expected that the other Old Traders would share her deep anger and affront at the attack. Never had she paused to think that others there might think the Chalcedean galley and her crew had been wronged.

      Captain Tenira gave them time to mull this before he spoke again. ‘As I said, I might simply be a fearful old man. What, I asked myself, is the worst they can do to me? Well, I answered, they could seize my ship when I tied up at the tax dock. Why, they might even take custody of my first mate and me. Then who would go to my family, to tell what had befallen us? Who would witness to the Bingtown Trader Council and demand their aid? I have many good hands good sailors one and all – but,’ he shook his head, ‘good speakers they are not, nor are they Bingtown Traders.’

      Althea grasped it instantly. ‘You want me to go?’

      ‘If you would.’

      ‘Of course. Without hesitation. I wonder that you think you need to ask this.’

      ‘Of that, I had no doubt. But there is more, I’m afraid,’ Captain Tenira said quietly. ‘The more I dwell on what may have changed in Bingtown, the less confidence I have of our welcome. To be safe, to be sure, I think it would be best if you resumed your boy’s guise. That way, you could more easily slip away from the ship. If you had to.’

      ‘Do you really believe it is likely to come to that?’ Grag asked incredulously.

      Captain Tenira sighed. ‘Son, we carry a spare mast belowdecks. Why? Not because we are likely to need it but because some day we may. That is how I prefer to think of this as well.’

      ‘I would feel as if I were sending her to face danger alone,’ Grag objected suddenly.

      His father eyed him levelly. ‘If it comes to this, we may actually be helping her to slip away from danger before the trap can close on her as well. It would be more advantageous to them to hold hostages from two Bingtown Trader families than one.’

      ‘Them? Who are “them”?’ Ophelia suddenly demanded. ‘And why should any Bingtown Trader have to fear any one in Bingtown, save another Trader? Bingtown is our town. The Satrap Esclepius deeded it to us many years ago.’

      ‘And Satrap Cosgo has been whittling away at that deed ever since he inherited the Mantle of Righteousness.’ Captain Tenira closed his mouth suddenly, as if biting back bitter words. In a milder voice he went on, ‘Others have come to power in Bingtown. At first, we paid little heed to the tariff collectors. Even when they demanded a tax dock where each ship must first tie up, we conceded it as sensible. When they demanded the right to inspect cargoes for themselves rather than take the captain’s word on what he carried, we laughed and agreed. It was our town. Their suspicions were offensive, but in much the same way that rude children are offensive. We did not count on this wave of so-called New Traders, who would ally with the Satrap’s tax collectors to gain power. Nor did any of us ever believe that any Satrap would accept Chalced’s grubby hand in friendship, let alone permit Chalcedean galleys in our waters under the guise of law and protection.’ He shook his head to himself. ‘These are the things I have been contemplating tonight, and that is why I have decided to err on the side of caution.’

      ‘It seems wise –’ Althea began but Ophelia broke in, ‘You said they might seize me. I shall not allow it. I did not permit those Chalcedean swine to board me and I shall not permit ’

      ‘Yes, you shall.’ Captain Tenira’s grave voice stopped her defiance cold. ‘Just as Grag and I shall permit them to detain us, if they attempt it. I have thought this through, my dear, to the bitter dregs. It is time Bingtown awakened. We have been slumbering and letting others chip and nibble away at what is ours. A few days ago, Chalcedean pirates masquerading as the Satrap’s patrol attacked us. A day or so from now, brigands and kidnappers masquerading as lawful tariff collectors may hold us. We shall let them seize us and detain us. Not because we recognize their right to do so, nor because we cannot defy them, but only to show the rest of Bingtown the powers these little upstarts have claimed. The danger must be recognized, while it is still easy to destroy. Therefore, I beg you, if they attempt to seize you, even to put armed guards aboard you, I think we should permit it. They cannot hold us long, once Bingtown is roused. Let Ophelia become a rallying point for Bingtown Trader pride.’

      Ophelia allowed the silence to hang for a moment. ‘I suppose I shall allow it,’ she finally conceded. ‘Only because you ask it of me.’

      ‘That’s my good girl,’ Tenira praised her warmly. ‘Never fear. Grag and I will see that you take no harm.’

      Ophelia rolled her shoulders. ‘I shall see that you take no harm,’ she suggested.

      Her captain smiled wanly. ‘Well. That is certainly a great relief to me.’ His glance went from Grag to Althea and then to the moonlit night above them. ‘I am suddenly weary,’ he announced. He looked only at Althea. ‘Will you take my watch for me? You seem wide awake.’

      ‘Pleased to do so, Sir. You’ve given me a great deal to mull over.’

      ‘Thank you. Carry on, then, Althea. Good night, Grag.’

      ‘Good night, Sir,’ the son replied.

      Just before the captain was out of earshot, Ophelia observed, ‘How sweet! He found a way to leave you two alone in the moonlight.’

      ‘Pity you can’t do the same,’ Grag replied without rancour.

      ‘Leave you unchaperoned? Shame upon you, for even suggesting such a thing.’

      He made no reply to that, but only went to the port side to lean on the railing. With a wink and a toss of her great head, Ophelia urged Althea to join him there. Althea sighed ruefully, then followed the ship’s suggestion.