The Queen’s Plan

Elishat and her advisors gathered on the deck of the Arbiter.

“You’re safe, Queen,” the Lieutenant said, “and that’s all that matters.”

“That girl is one of my people. If I fail her, I’ll have failed them all.”

Bitias said, “Then let’s give them a handful of gemstones and get her back!”

“Respectfully, Admiral,” the Lieutenant replied, “they won’t rest until they’ve got it all, and they’ll hound the fleet until they do.”

Barca stroked his beard. “If they discover the girl isn’t the Queen, she’ll be in real trouble, though she might pull it off—if she plays it smart.”

“I say we attack and lance this boil once and for all!”

Elishat calmed the Lieutenant with a raised hand. “Bitias, can we overpower them without loss of life on our side?”

“We have the numbers, but apart from some of our sailors and the present company, our people are masons and merchants. They’re not trained to fight.”

“Something doesn’t add up,” Barca said. “Tondo can’t be behind this kidnapping. He would know at a glance that the girl is not Elishat.”

“I warned Tondo he was losing control of his ship,” Bitias said.

“So, is he alive or dead?” Elishat asked.

“If he’s alive,” Barca said, “they might be holding him captive, too.”

The Priestess added a spoonful of myrrh to the censer and quietly recited an incantation. The smoke billowed inconclusively away from the ship.

“Very well,” Elishat said, “We agree that ransom is not an option, and we don’t want to risk an attack. That leaves one choice: rescue.”

Everyone nodded in agreement.

“When I was a girl, Pumayyaton made a game of ordering his servants to kidnap me. It was quite annoying…”

Barca cleared his throat.

She shot him a glance. “…and, thankfully, applicable to the current situation.”

He nodded in acquiescence.

First,” she said, “we need information. How many men are on board? What is their condition? What weapons do they have? About the girl: where might they be holding her? And Tondo: What shape is he in? If he isn’t in control, who is?”

“With respect,” the Lieutenant said, “Tondo cannot be our target. A double rescue will complicate matters and make the whole operation much more dangerous.”

“Yes, Lieutenant, I agree, but, depending on his condition, he could help or hinder our effort, so we need to know.”

“Understood.”

“Bitias, what are our assets?”

“I’ve already ordered all sailors to the ships. The Arbiter and Phoenix are ready to defend the Sage and the Nebula and the treasure equally distributed between them.”

“Barca, what have you got?”

“We could probably muster eighty men with whatever everyday tools they have on hand for weapons. We have a number skilled in archery and hunting—”

Just then there was a splashing in the water below. Someone was climbing the rope netting on the side of the ship. The watchmen positioned their weapons above his head. When the torchlight proved that it was only Kalev coming up from a shore boat, they withdrew their weapons and brought him aboard.

“What’s is it, Kalev?” Bitias asked.

“When I heard the girl was still missing, I figured that since I’m the only one who’s been on Tondo’s ship, I have information that might be useful to you.”

“Go on, then.”

“I suspect this is the work of the one they call Nunshin…” And with that, Kalev told them everything he knew. “I’m at your service to board the ship again if needed.”

“No, Kalev,” Bitias said, “they would kill you for sure. You’ve already double-crossed them once.”

“If I’m going to die,” he said matter-of-factly, “I might as well die doing something worthwhile.”

“Hopefully, it won’t come to that.”

The Priestess brought the censer and encircled Kalev in a trail of smoke. Speaking for everyone, she said, “The gods bless you for your dedication and service to the Queen.”

Elishat began again, “We’re looking at an operation in two parts: first, the negotiations for ransom, which, we agree, we have no intention of honoring. Our purpose is to buy time for the rescue of the girl. Kalev, since you know the ship best, and since you volunteered, you will prepare and lead the rescue team.”

 Bitias and Barca said nothing but nodded in agreement to the plan.

“The best-case scenario is that we retrieve the girl without ruffling a feather. If, gods forbid, the rescue fails, we need to be ready to defend the ships. At that point, Lieutenant, be prepared to, as you so eloquently put it, lance the boil.”

“Princess,” Barca asked calmly, “is there a chance we will need to sail on short notice? The ships are not loaded; the supplies are on the shore.”

“What is your opinion?”

“If the men on Tondo’s ship threaten to attack the fleet, we might be forced to retreat onto the open sea. In that case, we should be ready to continue on to Atiq as planned.”

“Is it possible to load the ships without the help of the sailors?”

“The people know well enough. It will be a challenge in the dark, of course, but it can be done.”

Elishat smiled at Barca’s enduring faith in his capacity to move mountains. “Do we all agree that the ships should be loaded tonight?”

Heads nodded unanimously.

“Very well, Barca, that will be your command. Now, to settle the details…”

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