The Pirate Prince (Pirate's Booty Series, Book Five) (12 page)

“This is not a social call, Boghos,” Rajak said. “I’m looking for Princess Azara. I understand she’s here.”

“Where did you hear that?” Boghos demanded, his jovial attitude fading.

“Kamilah has told me so.”

“Ah, well, everyone knows she lies. Look what she’s done to you. How she’s betrayed you.”

“Then you won’t mind if my men and I search your property?”

“Not at all. Be my guest,” Boghos said genially, waving his hand in invitation that they dismount and search to their satisfaction.

Rajak’s heart sank. The pirate and self-proclaimed lord of the island wouldn’t be so agreeable if Azara were here.

“Do you know where she is?” Rajak asked, knowing whatever Boghos said would be a lie.

“Ah, Your Highness,” Boghos bowed elaborately, “I would tell you if I could, but I cannot. She could be anywhere on the island or perhaps she has fled in one of the other pirate ships.” He laughed. “Maybe she did not find you so pleasing.”

“Hear me about this, Boghos. If you’re behind her disappearance and if you harm one hair on her head, I’ll gut you and hang you in the square until your flesh is eaten away by the crows.”

He didn’t stay to hear Boghos’ reply. The fat pirate’s words were lost in the thunder of hooves as Rajak and his men rode away.

* * * *

Exhausted beyond all description, Rajak stood at the verandah window and stared, unseeingly, at the lush tropical gardens beyond. He hadn’t slept in three days, nor eaten. He hadn’t bathed or shaved. The lower part of his face was covered by a short, black beard. Absent-mindedly, he rubbed his hand over the stubble then tossed back the whiskey in his glass. It burned a path through his tired body and exploded in his belly. For a moment, its effects roused him from his fierce desperation then it returned, worse than before.

Azara was gone and he feared he’d never get her back. They’d searched the island over and over without finding her. Now he was forced to put out pamphlets offering a reward for any information. He didn’t mind the gold involved. He hated the waiting while someone decided whether the kernel of information he had might be worth a reward. In the meantime, where was Azara? Was she alive? Was she being tortured or worse? Was she dead?

Rajak hadn’t the courage to continue on that thought line. He couldn’t imagine the world without Azara in it. In a few short weeks, she’d ingratiated herself into his life so completely, he couldn’t be happy without her. He loved her, he realized, a love that he’d never imagined could exist. He had to tell her that. He had to make it clear to her that she wasn’t a pawn, a way of infuriating his brother or regaining his throne. He was no longer whole without her. Part of him was missing. How could he rule without her beside him? Such a prospect seemed dismal.

He had ordered Kalari to take men and keep track of Boghos’ every movement. He didn’t trust the man. He wished he’d taken him up on his offer to have his house searched, but his willingness to do so had convinced Rajak that Azara wasn’t there. But where?

She must be on one of his ships, but which one? The one that Boghos went to visit in the middle of the night, Rajak thought. Galvanized by the conclusion that finding Azara could be that simple, Rajak called to his men, mounted up and urged his horse toward Port Dauphin. They spread out along the quayside, taking care to stay concealed in shadows and bushes as much as possible then settled down for the wait. The moon rode low above the black ocean, leaving sharp contrasts of light and shadow. And still they waited. Finally, when dawn was just a promise on the horizon, Boghos came, slinking like some reptilian monster, glancing this way and that to ensure his secrecy.

Rajak signaled to his men to remain hidden until the portly man walked out onto the dock and clambered into a rowboat. Silently, they watched as Boghos made his way out to an eighty-foot, three masted, square rigged carrier of European design.
The Bird of Paradise
was a lean vessel with fine lines testifying to her speed. She’d not be caught at sea.

“Allah, guide us,” Kalari said at Rajak’s elbow. “You’ve anticipated me, Rajak. I sent a message to the palace for you to come, but you’ve figured out where Boghos is keeping the princess.”

“I hope so,” Rajak said between gritted teeth. “Did he see you following him?”

Kalari shook his head. “My men and I are very good at what we do.”

“I have no doubt of that, my friend.” Rajak clamped him on the shoulder. “Are your men close by?”

“Ready and waiting.”

“Then let’s follow the rat.”

Rajak waved his men forward. Quickly, they found rowboats, piled in and began rowing toward
The Bird of Paradise
. Once there, they silently boarded the ship. Boghos had set heavy guards, but Rajak and his men took them out, silently, so there was no warning cry. When he was sure the ship was secured, he went below to the captain’s cabin where Azara would be kept if she was here. He heard her voice long before he reached the cabin and relief washed through him. She was alive!

“You are despicable,” she said with such disgust that Rajak almost smiled. “When Rajak finds what you’ve done, he will kill you.”

“You forget, my little bird that Rajak has no time to think of you. Soon, Mohan’s navy will be here and Rajak will be taken prisoner and hanged for treason. Have you forgotten that, since it was you who set it all in motion?”

“I acted impulsively,” Azara cried. “I would never have betrayed him to Mohan if I had known…” She hesitated. “I don’t know how to make you understand that my betrayal was done out of pride because I thought he no longer loved me.”

“Will it matter to Rajak?” Boghos asked. “You have betrayed him to his worst enemy, his brother. You are lucky that I kidnapped you. You will be sold back to your betrothed for a handsome sum, Rajak will be seized and hanged and I will claim his booty and ships as my reward for helping to capture him.”

Rajak heard the emotions in her voice when she spoke again.

“Then you will have to find another place to live because no pirate will ever trust you again. You’ll be driven away from this island, in fact from this very ocean. Is what you’re about to do worth that? Please let me go. I must warn Rajak.”

“Aye, for a moment, I thought the little bird was worried about me.” The rotund pirate laughed mockingly. “But I see her concern is for her pirate prince. I wonder. Will Mohan want you now that you’ve given yourself to his hated brother? Perhaps he will kill you, too.”

“I don’t care,” Azara cried out.

Rajak thought he heard her stamp her foot. He eased forward so he could peer into the cabin.

“If Rajak is killed, I want to die with him,” she said softly and tears slid down her cheeks.

Rajak wondered in what way she had betrayed him as Boghos had accused. Azara would not be so duplicitous. It was not her nature. Love swelled in his heart so he had to draw back and calm himself. Then he motioned to his men and together they entered the room.

It was a simple thing to subdue Boghos. He looked around for his guards, even called out to them then threw up his hands and surrendered. Immediately, he began to weave a tale of how he’d taken Azara to protect her from Rajak’s enemies. Rajak didn’t even acknowledge him. He only had eyes for Azara. She made no move toward him, but stood trembling, waiting. He crossed to her and took her into his arms, lifting her feet off the floor. She sobbed and buried her face against his shoulder. When the trembling had stopped and Boghos had been ushered out of the room, she drew back and looked at him. Her face was flushed and tearstained when she met his gaze.

“Thanks be to Allah, you have found me,” she whispered. “I was trying to find you to tell you that your brother, Mohan, is on his way here with his navy ships to take you prisoner. You must flee, Rajak, while you can.”

“And how do you know he’s coming?” he asked gently, smoothing her hair from her dampened cheeks.

“Because I sent for him,” she answered in a low, choked voice.

“Rajak, watch out,” Kalari yelled.

Rajak looked over his shoulder as Boghus surged back into the room, a knife clasped in his hand. His expression was murderous as he aimed straight for Rajak.

Rajak spun, shielding Azara’s body with his own. She screamed as a knife flashed through the air and landed in Rajak’s back. She saw him stiffen, saw his eyes widen in shock. He staggered and sank to the floor, bearing her down with him.

“No,” she screamed.

There was a scuffle as men ran forward to subdue Boghos, but the wily man, for all his bulk, slipped away from them and made his way up the stairs to the upper deck. Kalari glanced at Rajak, who struggled upright.

“I’m all right,” he said. “Get the bastard.” He got to his feet and looked at Azara. “Pull the knife out.”

“Rajak, you must wait.”

“Pull out the blade, now!” he commanded.

She did as he ordered. No sooner had she slid it from his flesh than he bolted up the stairs after Kalari.

“Rajak,” Azara cried, but he didn’t turn back to acknowledge her.

She followed him to the upper deck just in time to see Kalari wrestling with Boghos. The big man was more agile and stronger than she would have imagined. He pulled another knife blade from his boot and threw it toward Kalari. It flashed, plunging into Kalari’s shoulder.

“Kalari,” Rajak called to his friend.

“I’m all right,” Kalari answered. “Don’t let him get away.”

Boghos leaped to the rail and clambered over. Rajak was there, grabbing hold of the man’s shirt, dragging him back on deck.

Boghos fought clumsily, swinging at Rajak with his meaty fists, but Rajak dodged most of the man’s attempts. Finally, Rajak drew back his fist and hit the man in his fat, round face. The man went down hard. Rajak threw himself onto the man. The crew drew into a circle, watching the struggle between Rajak and Boghos. Not one of them moved to help their prince, but their bodies were tense with the desire to do so.

Azara saw with suddenly clarity that their loyalties were with Rajak, but they expected him to be their commander as well as their ruler. He must, even wounded as he was, best Boghos on his own.

Boghos used his sheer size to knock Rajak to the deck then turning, he grabbed up a belaying pin and struck Rajak several times over the head and arms. Finally, he threw the belaying pin down and ran to the railing. Azara knew there must be small boats below that he could row back to shore, for he never hesitated.

But Rajak was not about to let that happen. He scrambled to his feet and launched himself at Boghos who was knocked free of his grip on the rope ladders and plunged into the ocean. Rajak was locked in a mortal hold and disappeared with the man below the water.

“Rajak!” Azara cried then covered her mouth with one hand to hold back any further cry. She mustn’t distract him.

The two men broke the water’s surface and fought, lashing out with their fists. She could hear their grunts and knew this was a fight to the death. Boghos lunged at Rajak, grabbed his head in a headlock and bore him down into the water. The surface of the ocean roiled as if two denizens of the deep were fighting. Finally, the ocean grew still, but neither of the men reappeared.

“Rajak,” she whispered, her eyes wide and searching.

They were gone. Surely, no man could go so long without drawing a breath. Suddenly, the water parted and Rajak shot up out of the depths like a seal, sleek and wet. He drew great gasping breaths and climbed wearily into the rowboat. White teeth flashed against tanned skin as he grinned triumphantly, and fell forward on his face, completely passed out. The men cheered and went down to row him back to shore.

Chapter Nine

Rajak was a terrible patient, Azara discovered. He lay in bed, petulant and demanding. He wanted to be up, but the doctor had ordered him to remain in bed for at least the next twenty-four hours. The knife wound in his back had missed any vital organs, coming dangerously close to his spine. Everyone tolerated his bad humor because they were glad he was alive. They seemed to feel the same way about Azara. They came at various times throughout the day just to peek in and see for themselves that all well.

“Get out,” Rajak finally shouted, throwing pillows at them. “Azara is alive. I am alive. We are well.” When the latest well-wishers had fled, he looked at Azara. “Lock the door,” he said imperiously. “And come to bed with me.”