Mirages
Part 9

Shouting and confusion woke him just before the pounding started. Azura was up and out of bed immediately, slipping on a robe as he went. He yanked open the door and the steward nearly fell into the room.

"What?" he demanded, looking beyond the man to staff filling the corridor.

"I'm sorry to disturb you, sir. There's a situation..."

Azura had heard enough. Grabbing the man's arm he dragged him into the room and slammed the door behind him.

"Don't waste my time. I want to know what's actually happening, not the story you'll feed the rabble." His hand tightened on the man's arm and his expression was enough to make the man stutter.

"Y-yes, sir. I'm not supposed to tell anyone…" He broke off as Azura dragged him closer, threateningly. "Pirates." He gasped. "Taken over the ship and confined most of the crew below decks. They let a few of us go to tell the passengers to remain in their rooms because of an outbreak of food poisoning. I have to be back soon or they'll do something terrible." The man was trembling violently. "Please, sir."

Azura released his grip and pushed the man away. The man stumbled but caught himself, nodding once and hurrying out as quickly as he could. Azura didn't bother to watch him go, turning instead towards the connecting room. Ray and Florian were already awake and dressed.

"Gather the riddle and everything to do with the treasure – notes, maps – whatever you can find. I don't want anything out for the pirates to see. Once that's done, gather the valuables. We'll hide them too, but in a more obvious place – let them find those and they won't look any farther."

Ray and Florian scrambled to do what they'd been told while Azura changed into a suit and made himself presentable. It was time for him to play the part of a world-traveling businessman and the suit was part of the costume.

"That's everything," Ray reported. They'd hidden the treasure-related materials in several places, maps separate from the riddle itself, and the notes split between three different locations in the three rooms. After that, they'd made a half-hearted effort to conceal their jewelry and other valuables including the set of pierced rings, which Ray wouldn't be sad to lose.

They still carried their wallets, but most of their money was hidden away. The only other item they'd hidden well - at Florian's insistence – was the tiny harp. He knew it wasn't very valuable, but he hated the thought of losing it.

With nothing else to do, the men each occupied their time with a book or letter writing. After a few hours of tension and boredom, a steward delivered lunch trays and the news that they were to remain in their cabins and that they would be called a few at a time to be questioned.

An hour later, the man returned, but this time he was accompanied by Laila, who was looking a bit worse for wear with her face and clothing smudged with dirt.

"Returning your servant, sir," the man said nervously, looking around as if he were expecting someone to appear at any moment. "I'll take your trays if you're finished with them."

Azura pulled Laila into the room while Florian handed the trays to the steward. Once the man was gone, Azura pushed Laila into a chair and demanded to know how she had been able to get to them.

"I was on deck in a quiet corner, when the pirates came, a whole boatload of them. Some had been onboard already and helped subdue the captain and deck crew. With the new arrivals, the rest of the crew was rounded up. I found a hiding place and watched for a while, but when the pirates started a more thorough search, I got out of there."

Laila accepted the glass of water Florian handed her and drained half of it in one go before continuing.

"I managed to get into one of the servants stairways and went down to the kitchen – I knew they'd need to feed everyone eventually and thought I could use that as a way to get here. It took a while – I couldn't leave in the middle of preparing a meal – but finally I was able to slip away. I was almost here when one of them caught me. That steward remembered seeing me with you, master, and said I was your personal servant and offered to bring me to you."

Laila leaned back, still tense but exhausted. She drank the rest of the water and returned the glass to Florian with a grateful smile.

"Did you overhear the pirates say anything while you were hiding?" Azura asked.

"Not much – most of it was spoken too softly for me to understand – they were trying not to make too much noise at first. And then it was someone – probably their leader – giving directions of where to secure the crew and what to do about the passengers."

"No mention of anything specific they're looking for? Did you notice anything unusual about them – how they were dressed or any weapons they were carrying? Any markings on their clothes or skin?"

Laila hesitated a moment, thinking hard. She hadn't really gotten a good look at any of them, she'd been too busy hiding. She thought she'd caught a glimpse of a familiar symbol, but the more she thought about it, the more she was convinced that it was just her imagination.

"I didn't really see them, master. It was dark and I was hiding."

"Of course." Azura dismissed her with a gesture and she leapt to her feet, not sure what she should do now. She looked towards Florian who motioned for her to come to his side.

"You'll have to remain here," Azura conceded.

She and Florian stood in awkward silence for a moment, uncertain what Azura wanted them to do. With an irritated wave, Azura finally sent them off to another room. He wanted some peace and quiet to consider his options.

Ray went with them, as glad as Laila and Florian to leave. They retreated to Ray's cabin and made good use of his deck of cards.
 

+++++
 

Florian and Laila were asleep when dinner was delivered. It was the same steward who had brought their lunch, but this time he brought four trays and a bit of information.

"They're letting the below decks passengers use the dining rooms. They've got guards watching but they don't seem that interested in searching their rooms. The middle class passengers have been restricted to their rooms too and some of them are getting upset. We've got at least three cases of hysteria so far. The first class passengers are doing better, but they have more room. Everyone is getting restless and it's like the pirates are waiting for something. They've dropped anchor and we're not moving."

The steward spoke quickly as he arranged their trays and then apologized, saying that he was being watched and had to leave.

"At least they're feeding us," Florian said as he placed his napkin in his lap.

"I don't like it." Azura was clearly frustrated. For a moment it looked like he might go into one of his rages, but he calmed himself and settled down to eat. The others relaxed a little and started eating too.

Laila had been permitted to remain in the room but she wasn't allowed at the table. She had to sit by herself with the tray resting on an end table. She was content with this arrangement, glad that she could enjoy her meal without Azura glaring at her. Still, it was a relief when the meal was over and she and Florian were dismissed to his rooms while Ray and Azura discussed their options.

Ray had given Florian the deck of cards and they spent a while playing. When they tired of that, Florian showed her how to build card houses and they created elaborate and flimsy structures and laughed when they fell down.

"Children, children," Ray teased as he joined them, stealing away the cards.

"We're bored," Florian complained, only partly joking. They'd been cooped up all day and he was feeling a bit seasick again. He didn't want anyone to know, because he didn't want to upset Azura. He was already dreading what the man would decide to do once boredom took over. Florian had experienced that before and it hadn't been pleasant.

"So read something, or play a game."

"We did."

"Then tell a story." He laughed at Florian's expression and turned to Laila. "Perhaps you would be willing to entertain us with a story?" When she looked uncertain he offered, "A song? A poem? Dancing?"

Laila looked shocked at the very suggestion, but it amused the men. Annoyed by their laughter, she agreed to a story.

"Something about the Queen?" Florian suggested. He liked myths and legends, although he hadn't had many opportunities to read any lately. His favorite ones he'd already memorized, but he was sure there were many he'd never heard.

"The Queen it is," Laila agreed, glad that she wasn't being asked about the Quartet. There was a good one she'd learned as a child that was likely to entertain both men as it was equal parts love story and daring quest.

"The Queen of Carthage was loved by all her citizens," she began, telling the story exactly the way her mother had told it to her. For a little while, she could forget being on a ship controlled by pirates and pretend that she was back home among her family, safe and loved.
 

+++++
 

"Shouldn't have had the ham," Solomon thought as his stomach rumbled again. It was late and Noel and his father had already retired, but Solomon was feeling ill and couldn't settle down enough to sleep.

He hadn't traveled by ship often but the few other times he'd been fine – no seasickness at all. Even on this trip, he'd been fine until this evening. Although M. Tassel insisted the ship was fine, to Solomon it felt like they were being tossed around in a storm.

It was too dark to see anything from the porthole, and he didn't want to risk going up on deck. Instead, he took a blanket and pillow from the bed and tried to get comfortable in a chair.

His stomach rumbled again and he groaned. It was going to be a very long night.
 

+++++
 

Someone was pounding on the door again. Azura was prepared this time, having chosen to remain fully dressed and doze in a chair rather than retiring to bed.

He checked to see that Florian, Laila and Ray were awake as well - he'd advised all of them to sleep in their clothing also.

Opening the door, he wasn't surprised to see the same steward, but the man looked more tired and worried than he had previously.

"All the passengers on this hall are to proceed to the first class dining room," he said nervously. From the sound in the hall it was clear that some of the other passengers were taking exception to being dragged from their beds in the middle of the night after being confined to their cabins all day.

"Of course," Azura said, checking his waist where his whip was coiled under his clothing. He also had a dagger strapped to his calf. He knew that Ray was similarly armed. Florian and Laila carried no weapons - the boy would be useless with one and the girl's loyalty was untested.

"Why are they taking us to the dining room?" Florian wondered.

"Probably so they can search our rooms," Ray told him. He suspected that Florian already knew the answer, but had asked the question as a way of making conversation. He was clearly nervous and trying to cover it.

Beside Florian, Laila seemed to be taking their situation calmly, and Ray and Azura were both thankful for that - it wouldn't do to have a hysterical servant on their hands. They'd need to be clearheaded and alert to take advantage of any opportunities for escape.

Entering the dining room with the rest of the group, they saw that some of the tables had been pushed aside and chairs had been arranged in rows. There were at least a dozen well-armed and masked men standing in the shadows along the edges of the room, watching as the stewards directed their charges towards chairs and then lined up along the wall.

There was a general grumble among the passengers as they tried to understand their situation. Some were quite offended and complained loudly while others were silently stoic. A few women were weeping - dabbing at their eyes with handkerchiefs and sniffling.

Azura was disgusted by the whole spectacle, but held his tongue and waited, expecting that there would be some kind of explanation forthcoming.

At a signal from one of the pirates, the stewards served cups of hot, sweet tea and shortbread cookies. Some of the passengers complained or asked for something else but the stewards just shook their heads in apology and remained silent. As they finished serving, they returned to their places along the wall.

At last one of the pirates stepped forward into the light and they could see that he was dressed in what appeared to be a tan uniform jacket with the symbol of a dagger in black embroidered over the left breast.

Laila had been allowed to stay with their group only because Florian insisted and now he was surprised to hear her let out a small gasp. He was glad for the distraction, because he almost gasped himself.

"Bring her," the pirate ordered, motioning for one of the stewards to bring Laila to the front of the room. Florian stood to block his way.

"Leave her alone," he insisted. "She's my servant and you don't have permission to touch her. He kept his eyes away from Azura as he claimed Laila, not wanting to see the man's expression. - He'd worry about the repercussions of his words later.

Ray glanced over at Azura and was surprised to see him smiling. Then he realized that Florian had provided a nice diversion – drawing attention to himself and away from the members of the group who were armed.

"Bring them both," the pirate demanded but Florian shook off the steward's hand and offered Laila his arm like a gentleman. She placed her hand on his arm, ignoring the disapproving murmurs of the rich businessmen and aristocrats who were shocked and affronted by seeing a servant treated like a lady.

Heads held high, Florian and Laila marched along their row of chairs and up the aisle to the pirate leader, stopping a short distance away when a second pirate put his sword in front of them as a barrier.

"Your name?" the pirate demanded, speaking to Florian.

"Florian du Rochefort." Florian adopted the formal posture he'd had drilled into him since childhood. He met the pirate's eyes bravely, treating him as if he were a peer, not someone to defer to. "And this is Laila. Please refrain from touching her without my permission."

The pirate was not amused. He carried a pistol and pressed it against Florian's chest right over his heart.

"You are in no position to make demands."

"That may be, but I will not permit you to harm her." Florian's voice was rock steady and he didn't flinch at all from the pistol. The passengers watching were either impressed by his bravery or convinced he was going to be dead in the next few minutes. One of the weeping women let out a wail and fainted.

Ray was twitching in his seat but Azura placed a hand on his leg to steady him. Any sudden moves might just set the pirate off and Florian would be dead in seconds.

"If you are after valuables, then say so. I don't believe anyone here would risk their lives for gold or jewels." Behind him several passengers raised their voices in agreement.

"And if we seek something else?" The pirate challenged, still holding the pistol firm. "What then?"

"Then I would ask what you seek and help you find it if I could as long as it would not cause anyone harm."

"Who are you to determine what may or may not cause harm? An arrogant man sees only the clouds."

"But a humble man knows well the color of his shoes," Florian replied easily, the words of an oft-repeated proverb spoken without prompting. His mother had spoken it to him and made him repeat the exchange, and its older variant, until they were an automatic response. He hadn't thought about the phrase in months, but now the reply came without hesitation.

He didn't have time to wonder why a pirate would chose those words before the pistol was turned and he was struck senseless. The last thing he heard was Laila's scream.
 

+++++
 

"We're on a rescue mission," Noel announced as he burst into Solomon's room towing his father along in his wake. "The captain said there's a ship in trouble because of pirates and we're going to help."

Solomon nodded at Noel, letting him know he was impressed by the boy's news. Then he looked up at Noel's father and asked for more details.

"The captain received a distress call from a ship bound for Carthage. They were boarded by pirates and one of the crew managed to send out the distress before communications were cut off. Other ships are responding too, but we're the closest."

"The captain says we'll be there sometime tomorrow so we have to get ready to fight pirates." Noel danced around the room swinging his arm in an imaginary swordfight. His father let him go, collapsing into the chair beside Solomon.

"My sword fighting skills are rusty," Tassel confessed.

"I never had any," Solomon offered in return. He reached over and took up the decanter of whiskey and two glasses, pouring a measure in both and offering one to the other man. They toasted each other silently and watched as Noel took on a horde of pirates, then swiftly defeated every one by bashing them with Betty Deux.

"With Noel and the bear on our side," Tassel said. "The pirates don't stand a chance." Solomon nodded in agreement and took another drink.
 

+++++
 

Florian woke with a headache. He groaned and shifted onto his side without opening his eyes. He was about to drift off again when someone prodded him with a shoe.

"Mother?" he mumbled as he opened his eyes. He winced against the bright light and wondered if Laila had any potions for head pain.

"Get up," someone snarled and a moment later two pairs of hands yanked him upright. Florian listed to one side, but the hands kept him from falling.

Blurry images slowly resolved into shapes - pirate shapes. Florian swayed again and blinked rapidly until his vision settled again and he could look for Laila.

"The girl is here," the pirate leader told him. The man approached slowly, studying Florian and measuring how much of a threat he posed. Deciding he was harmless in his present condition, he gestured for a chair to be brought and for Florian to be seated. Only then did he call for Laila to be brought forward. Her hands were tied and she looked exhausted, but otherwise unharmed.

Squinting to try and focus, Florian realized that there were two more figures against the wall - Azura and Ray. The men were also bound and Ray had a nasty bruise on his temple similar to the one Florian expected was on his own head.

He was on his feet before he realized what he was going to do. Strong hands stopped him, pushing him back into the chair and binding him with thick ropes.

"What do you want with us?" Florian demanded. His head was pounding and he was worried about Laila and the others. He didn't know what had happened to the other passengers who had been in the room with them.

"I'll be asking the questions," the pirate leader said as he stepped forward so that Florian had to tilt his head to look up at his face. "We'll start with asking why you are going to Carthage."

"To see the city. I've never been there."

"So you're just a groups of tourists?" The man motioned for a table to be brought closer and then waited as an array of papers, books and maps were spread out across the surface - all the items Azura had hidden so carefully.

"They're old papers and maps. My associate has an interest in history."

"But you don't?"

"It's interesting. I prefer folklore."

"And music?" The man motioned again and Florian's small harp was placed on the table. Florian reached for it immediately, forgetting that his hands were tied.

"Please don't damage that; it was a gift."

"Answer my questions and all of your belongings will be returned."

"And my friends? You promise not to harm them?" Florian pleaded. He already knew that the secret he carried - the one he had vowed never to reveal - would be traded to safeguard the others. Perhaps it didn't matter anyway - with his family gone what was the use of safeguarding an old legend.

"If you cooperate, they will not be harmed."

"Then ask your questions and I will answer them to the best of my ability."

"Very well, Florian du Rochefort. If I say this to you: An arrogant man sees only the clouds. How do you respond?"

"By saying: But a humble man knows well the shape of his feet. Florian used the older variant of the phrase, he'd used the version referencing shoes before, but he suspected the older one was more appropriate in this situation.

"And if I were to say: The sound of a harp is on the wind; the sun shines on the earth."

"Water helps to grow the tree and the dagger is forged in fire." Florian recited another of his ancient rhymes - which didn't actually rhyme. He glanced towards Laila when he heard her gasp softly.

"Bring her here," the pirate leader ordered. Laila was placed on a chair next to Florian.

"You recognize this, don't you, girl?" The pirate leader pointed to the dagger emblem he wore. "And you?" he asked Florian. They both exchanged a look before nodding. "Explain yourself then, girl."

"Her name is Laila," Florian said coldly. He hated it when Azura called him 'boy' - it was demeaning and meant to belittle him. Florian didn't want this criminal to belittle his friend.

"Laila then." The pirate seemed more amused than annoyed but the others were still watching everything, holding their weapons at the ready.

"M..my family. Clan. A few of them wear the dagger." Laila was trembling, wondering how much she was going to have to reveal and how angry Florian, Count Courland and her master would be when they realized she'd been withholding information from them.

The man took her hands and examined them carefully before letting her go with a smile.

"You're a healer."

"Not.. not yet, sir. I haven't had my ceremony yet." For some reason, making that confession in front of so many strangers made her want to weep. She bit her lip hard, using the pain to distract herself so she wouldn't cry. She wanted to go home.

"Are you not past the age?" The question was asked softly and with compassion. It made it even harder for Laila to fight back her tears.

"I was taken just a few weeks before my ceremony." Laila glanced at Florian who was struggling against his bonds, clearly wanting to shield and comfort her. She wasn't expecting to see the flash of silver and feel her bonds slip free.

"Relax, kindred child," the pirate said as she quickly rubbed her eyes. "We'll do you no harm. We're here to find the ones who stole the ancient text and make sure they do not find the items they are seeking." He turned his attention to Florian.

"You, my friend, are a surprise. I would not expect to find a protector allied with thieves."

"You're the thieves," Florian sputtered. “You've hijacked this ship and terrorized the passengers. Now you're holding us hostage for some bits of old paper and a legend."

"Don't presume to lecture me. You know the riddle keys but you behave as if you are ignorant of their meaning."

"I know the meaning," Florian protested angrily. "It has nothing to do with you, or Carthage."

"You are either ignorant or a fool." The pirate stepped back, motioning his men forward. "Strip him."

"No!" Ray, Laila and Florian all protested at once but it didn't stop the pirates from carrying out their orders. They cut his bindings and pulled him to his feet before slicing away at fine fabric and scattering mother of pearl buttons.

Laila quickly turned away, more for Florian's sake than her own – it wasn't like she hadn't seen him naked when tending his wounds. But she knew how much it embarrassed him to be like that - especially in front of strangers.

"Stop!" Florian shouted, putting up his hand to try and preserve some of his clothing. "I'll do it." He quickly removed the damaged vest and shirt then removed his undershirt. After that he stepped out of his shoes and bent down to remove his socks. The trousers and underwear were taken off together leaving him shivering slightly and blushing pink to the tips of his ears.

Bringing over a candle for better light, two of the pirates examined him from the soles of his feet up to the top of his head, turning back to their leader to report that they'd found nothing other than bruises and the carved initials RC on his back.

"Impossible," the leader said, studying Florian intently. He walked around him slowly, pausing for a long time to study the letters on Florian’s back. On his second circuit around Florian he stopped behind him again. He put both hands on Florian’s shoulders and pressed him down.

"On your knees," he ordered, keeping his hands in place until Florian complied. "Head bowed."

Florian obeyed, shivering in the cool room, He pulled his undershirt off the chair and used it to cover his genitals.

"Are you a humble man, Florian du Rochefort?" the leader asked, his right hand resting heavily on the top of Florian's head while his left hand rested at the back of Florian's neck keeping Florian's head bowed in a pose of submission. "Shall we see just how humble you are?"

Across the room, Azura was watching intently, making connections between little bits of information he'd read or heard. Beside him, Ray was raging at the pirates, and struggling to get loose. It was distracting and Azura wished he would stop. He'd say something to Ray himself, but didn't want to draw attention; better that they focus on Ray and Florian for now and give Azura time to plan. His thoughts nearly left him when the pirate leader called out to his men.

"Bring me a knife."
 

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