Conn’s heart was hammering wildly. “Aye, Esther Kira, I do.”
“You must get under way as soon as I leave your ship,” she said. “If you have men still in the city then leave one of your vessels behind for them, and plan your rendezvous to meet up with them, but you must leave now! You will have but one chance, my lord, for Avram ben Yakob will not stop. This must be done while you are both in motion on the slightest chance that someone might see if you stopped to make the transfer. Put your own ship between the shore and Avram’s so that your actions will not be visible to anyone on the palace side.”
“How can I thank you, Esther Kira?” asked Conn taking the old lady’s hands into his, and kissing them warmly.
“Do not thank me, Lord Bliss,” she replied quietly, “for if fate had not interfered in this matter I know of no way that you could have obtained your wife’s release for I certainly would not betray my friendship with the royal Ottoman family. I do so only now because of the events of the last few weeks, things which I must now tell you for not only your sake, but those of the lady Marjallah, who was my friend, and who I found to be a good and honest woman.
“When Javid Khan was murdered by his mad sibling the lady Marjallah went to the sultan for protection. Javid Khan had freed her legally when he had married her, but even knowing this the sultan took her for himself claiming that Marjallah’s loss of the papers proving her freedom left her status in doubt. This was but a splitting of hairs for the sultan was there when Prince Javid Khan went before the kadi. He knew Marjallah’s words to be the truth, but his lust was greater than his honor. There was nothing anyone could do to help Marjallah in her plight which was made worse by the sultan’s eagerness to possess her. He gave her no time to mourn her loss for the lady Marjallah cared for the prince. Instead he forced her to his bed almost at once; and it is this that I believe rendered Marjallah slightly mad. Only a madwoman would have dared to stab the sultan with a fruit knife.”
“Mad?”
The men in the room spoke with one voice, and then Conn said, “Are you telling me, Esther Kira, that my wife has gone mad?”
“Yes, my lord, I am, but I have lived a long time, and I have seen many things. Your wife’s ailment I believe is but temporary, brought on by her anger, and helplessness in her situation. Once she awakens from the sleep my potion puts her in, and sees you, I am certain that she will begin a complete recovery. Of course if you would rather not take the chance you can simply sail from Istanbul, and Marjallah will be drowned. She will feel no pain or fear as long as I give her the sleeping draft. You need have no remorse on that account.”
“Perhaps it might be better, Conn,” said Brian O’Malley. “For God’s sake, man, if she’s mad ye can’t have children by her. It’s over, Conn, and ye’d best face it.”
Conn stood up slowly, and walking over to his elder brother calmly floored him with a single, powerful blow. Then leaning down he hauled Brian up to his feet again, and looking him straight in the eye said, “Aidan is my wife, Brian. I don’t intend to allow her to be drowned in a sacque like an unwanted cat. For some reason I don’t understand, I don’t think that you’ve ever been in love. I don’t doubt that if this had happened to your Maggie you’d have given her up for lost, and taken another wife. You would, Brian,
but I wouldn’t
! Aidan is my life because she’s the only woman I’ve ever loved, will ever love. D’ye understand me?”
“Aye,” said Brian, loosing his younger brother’s clenched fist from his shirtfront. Then he grinned. “Yer still a Celt for all yer English manners, Conn.”
Esther Kira arose from her seat. “I can linger no longer, my lord,” she said. “I am expected at the palace. May the Lord God favor your mission, and bring you safely home to your England.”
“How do I thank you, Esther Kira?” asked Conn again, and his eyes were damp with his emotion.
“What payment can there be for a life, my lord?” she asked him seriously. “I know of none, and there is no value you would put upon your wife that would be great enough.” Then taking the English ambassador’s proffered arm she departed the room.
Having seen the elderly woman to her vehicle William Harborne returned briefly to the master’s cabin. “If you would tell her majesty, Sir Robert, that all goes well here, and as we have planned. I block the French at every turn. She will be happy, I think, to hear that.”
“Aye,” said Robbie, “she will. My thanks, Master Harborne, for all the help you have been to us in this matter.”
William Harborne shook his head. “I wish I could have helped, but your success is due to Esther Kira.” He held out his hand to each of them in turn. “Godspeed to you all, and good fortune!” he said as he left them.
He was no sooner off the ship than the
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prepared to set sail. It was decided that Shane O’Malley’s vessel would remain behind to gather up the half-dozen crewmen from Robbie’s ship who were yet ashore. Their counterparts from the O’Malley boat were put aboard the
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so that it would not be shorthanded in case of an emergency. The gangway was drawn up, the heavy ropes that held the ship to the pier loosened, the anchor raised.
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’s sails were slowly unfurled, and the ship began to ease away from its mooring and out into the main channel of the harbor.
The sun was beginning its daily descent into the western skies, and had already begun to stain the narrow arm of the sea the molten gold that had given it its name. A light breeze caught the full sails of the ship, and swept it along the wine-dark surface of the Sea of Mamara. On the port side of the ship was Asia Minor, its hills touched with the brilliant sunset. On the starboard side the city of Istanbul, set upon its seven hills, sprawled untidily down to the sea. The Yeni Serai and its surrounding estate took up a large portion of the shoreline. Fascinated Conn looked at it. It was surrounded by a sea wall that was interspersed here and there with kiosks. He could see the lush gardens, the graceful domes, and soaring minarets of the palace and its Great Mosque that had once been the seat of Eastern Christianity. He wondered what it all looked like inside those walls.
The crew had been gathered once they had cleared the Golden Horn, and they had been told the plain and simple truth of their mission. All of them had sailed with Sir Robert Small for years, and they knew and liked both his business partner, Lady de Marisco, and her charming brother, Lord Bliss. To be able to rescue Lady Bliss from impending death was a chore their adventurous and brave English hearts relished. The substitute sacque was prepared, filled with the ship’s garbage that they had not been able to dispose of because of their hasty departure. It was enough to weigh the sacque down so that it would sink.
“Vessel ahead, just off the port side,” called the sailor who had been placed in the furthest part of the ship’s bow to spot Avram ben Yakob.
“We’re moving too fast,” fretted Conn.
“Don’t worry,” Robbie reassured him, and then he called out, “Drag the sea anchor!” and Conn heard the splash as
Bon Adventure
’s captain was obeyed. “It will slow us down just enough so we may make the transfer easily,” said Robbie.
Conn moved swiftly to the port side of the vessel where the boatswain’s chair was being rigged. “I’ll go over,” he said.
“Nay, ye’ll not,” replied Robbie. “One look at all that water rushing by, and yer belly would be in revolt. We’d not only lose our chance with her ladyship, we’d lose ye as well. What the hell would I tell Skye?”
“Who then?”
“Young Michael, my cabin boy. He’s strong, but light enough for the job, and he doesn’t get seasick.”
Conn grinned wryly, and protested, “I’ve done very well on this voyage.”
“Aye, ye have, but I’ll take no chances now, Conn. ’Tis my ship, and my decision.”
A wide strap of leather was fastened about the cabin boy’s waist to which was attached a heavy rope threaded through an iron loop that was embedded in the belt. Michael settled himself into the boatswain’s chair, which was nothing more than a plain board fitted between two ropes. The chair was then raised up by means of a pulley, and swung out over the side of the ship. Normally the boatswain would have simply climbed onto his chair without the benefit of the leather safety belt, but as Michael was to be responsible for lifting the silken sacque from Avram ben Yakob’s little boat he would need both his hands free, and should he lose his balance the result would be obvious.
With stately grace
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skimmed along the silvered tops of the green waves. Avram ben Yakob could feel his heart hammering within the narrow cavity of his chest as he felt the great ship easing slowly by him. He lifted the mauve silk sacque, the muscles in his arms bowing with the weight of the stones used as ballast to sink the victim easily to the ocean floor. For a moment his tired brown eyes met the lively blue ones of a beardless boy as he transferred his burden to the lad who to his surprise hefted the sacque as if it were weightless, and was quickly whisked up the side of the ship. Avram ben Yakob saw the sacque pulled over the balustrade of the port side of the great vessel, and he could hear a cheer of victory on the wind. Then the boy was quickly lowered once more to deposit another mauve silk sacque into his little boat, and with a whish
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was gone past him, and his craft rocked in its wake. Avram ben Yakob lowered his eyes, and continued rowing to his destination. It was not his business. The woman had been condemned. He had done a favor for Esther Kira, and she in turn had seen to it that his daughters would be well dowered, and that he and his Leah would be comfortable in their old age. No laws had been broken. His conscience was clear.
Ahead of the executioner’s boatman the large ship sailed southwest down the Sea of Mamara toward the Dardenelles, and into the coming night. Upon
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’s main deck the top of the sacque was untied, and Conn bestowed upon young Michael the gold ribbon sewn all over with pearls that had been used to enclose the silk. The sacque was then carried into the master cabin, and laid upon the bed. Gently Conn and Robbie rolled the mauve silk down to reveal an unconscious Aidan, and clasped within her arms where Nur-U-Banu had placed him, Tulip. Both men stared openmouthed at the long-haired orange-and-white cat who was gently snoring against his mistress’ breasts.
“God’s nightshirt!” Robbie swore. “They were going to drown her cat with her! Poor beastie!”
“Perhaps Esther Kira saw that it came with her,” Conn said. “It is the sort of kindness I would expect from the old lady if she knew Aidan was fond of the animal.” Gently he removed the cat from Aidan’s arms, and placed it at the foot of the bed. Then he stared down at his wife. She didn’t appear mad. “I wonder how long she’ll sleep,” he said.
“Best to leave her be until she awakes naturally,” Robbie ventured. “Forcing her to consciousness could harm her.”
The two men finished removing the sleeping woman from the silk sacque rolling it down until her feet were free, and the ballast stones were revealed. Then Robbie said, “I’ll get rid of this. Ye stay with yer lady. I’ll sleep tonight in the little cabin next door.”
Conn nodded, barely hearing his friend, already settling himself into a chair by the side of the bed. Robbie made a mental note to send Michael with some food before the evening was finished not, he thought, that Conn would be hungry. He had what he wanted after all these months, and it would be enough for now. He tiptoed from the cabin. Conn heard the door latch click, but he didn’t look up. All he wanted to do right now was feast his eyes upon his beloved wife. His love lost, his love found.
She looked so pale, and her breathing was shallow yet regular. She, like he, was thinner, and upon her face there were tearstains. It was his Aidan, and yet there was something about her that was exotic, and very foreign. Her eyelids were darkened with kohl, and the scent arising from her lush body was heavy with musk. Her clothing was very rich in appearance, if not a little shocking to him. He could see her slim, shapely legs through the thin silk of her long trousers; trousers whose anklebands were thick with embroidery and small sparkling gemstones. Cloth of silver and turquoise-blue silk. The colors were flattering against her fair skin.
He was glad he had not opened the sacque upon the deck for the skimpy little garment she wore on the upper half of her body left very little to the imagination. It was sleeveless, of a turquoise-blue silk that was edged in silver fringe, each piece of fringe tipped with a tiny aquamarine, and because it had no closures it revealed far more than it concealed. He could understand, he thought with a small smile, why a man would enjoy seeing his wife in such a garment especially if she was as perfect in form as was Aidan.
Reaching out he touched her glorious coppery hair. It was dressed in a fashion far different than he was used to seeing her wear it. Parted in the center it had been plaited into one long braid, the hair mixed with a silver ribbon that was sewn with pearls, and clear sea-blue aquamarines. It was quite lovely, but he longed to see her hair flowing free against her skin again.
Bending over Conn touched his wife’s lips with his own, and whispered softly, “Ahh, Aidan, my love, how I have missed ye.”
She stirred slightly, but she did not awaken, and at the bottom of the bed the long-haired cat stretched lazily with a small noise, and changed his position, but he, too, did not awaken.
The cabin door opened, and young Michael, Robbie’s cabin boy, entered bearing a tray. With a triumphant grin he placed the tray upon the table. It contained half a chicken, some fresh bread, and a bowl of green figs. “Captain says yer lady won’t waken till morning, my lord, and that ye’d best eat.”
“Thank ye, lad,” Conn replied. “I owe ye a great debt, ye know. Whatever ye want if it’s in my power ye can have it! Name yer reward, Michael!”
“Well, my lord, I’m really a lucky fellow, I am. Ever since Sir Robert found me wandering in that alley, me head all bloody, and not remembering anything, I’ve had luck. Sir Robert gave me a last name. His. He taught me to read and to write, and I’m learning a trade. He says I’ll be a captain someday if I continue to apply myself, and if I do, he’ll give me a ship then. There’s one thing, however, that I lack, and if yer lordship wouldn’t think it too great a price, I would very much like to have it.”