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sailors and their officers, and not fighting men. The Dorna, by contrast,
carried a free crew of two hundred and fifteen men, most of whom were well
trained with weapons.
In an Ahn I stepped across the plank thrown from the rail of the Dorna to that
of the flagship of the treasure fleet. The ship itself, by my men, had already
been subdued.
I was met by a tall bearded figure in a purple cloak. I am Rencius Ho-
Bar, said he, of Telnus, Admiral of the Treasure Fleet of Cos and Tyros.
Put him in chains, I told my men.
He looked at me in fury. master cargo list? I asked.
wax, bearing the impress of the Ubar of Tyros, Chenbar.
joined by a length of chain.
I turned to Clitus, who had been on the ship before me. Do you have the
He presented a folio-sized book, bound with golden cord and sealed with
The admiral, to one side, was being fitted with wrist and ankle irons, I broke
the golden cord and the seal and opened the master cargo lists.
They were most excellent.
From time to time, I scanned the lists, there was a cheer from one round ship
or another as her slaves were freed. The free crewmen, of course, were places
in chains, men and officers alike. The distincition of man and officer does
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not exist on the benches of a galley.
Admiral! said the admiral of the treasure fleet to me.
I glanced to the gold-bordered, purple flag, the admiral s flag, flying from
the halyard strung between the forward starboard mooring cleat and the height
of the stem castle. Strike that flag, I said, and put there the flag of
Bosk, from the marshes.
Yes, Captain, said Thurnock.
Admiral! protested the admiral of the treasure fleet to me.
Take him away, I told my men.
He was dragged from my presence.
I snapped shut the book. If these figured are correct, I said to Clitus, as
doubtless they are, we and the Captains of Port Kar are today the master of
much treasure.
of men!
fleet of Port Kar.
He laughed. Surely enough, said he, to make us all among the richest
More wisely spent, said I, these goods would go to increase the arsenal
But surely, said he, the arsenal does not require so much?
Eighteen of the ships in my fleet had been arsenal vessels.
I laughed. The arsenal share, said I, is eighteen shares of thirty.
I had, by agreement with the council, reserved to myself twelve shares of
thirty divisions, as well as all slaves taken.
Captain, said a voice.
Yes, I said.
A seaman had approached me.
The Lady Vivina, said he, asks to be presented to you.
Very well, said I. Tell her that her request to present herself to me has
been granted.
Yes, Captain, said he.
I reopened the book of cargo lists.
When I lifted my head again I discovered that the Lady Vivina was, and had
been, standing before me.
Seeing me, she started. I smiled.
Her hand was before her veil. Her eyes were wide. She wore swirling, dazzling
robes of concealment, of purple and gold cloths, brocades and silks.
The veil itself was purple, and trimmed with gold.
Then she caught herself and presented herself before me, as a high-born lady.
I am Vivina, said she, of the city of Kasra of Tyros.
I nodded my head. Call me Bosk, I said. I am a captain of Port Kar.
Behind the girl, in robes almost as rich as hers, were two other high-born
maidens.
I gather, she said, I am your prisoner.
I said nothing.
You will, of course, said she, be severely punished for what you have
done.
I smiled.
As you know, she said, I am pledged to be the Free Companion of
Lurius, Ubar of Cos. Accordingly, my ransom will be high.
I indicated the two girls behind Vivina. How many of these are there? I
asked Clitus.
Forty, he said.
They did not appear, I said to him, on the master cargo lists.
Clitus ginned.
The girls looked at one another uneasily.
My maidens, said Vivina, will also be ransomed, though their ransoms will
be less than mine.
I regarded her.
What makes you so certain, I asked, that you will be held for ransom?
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