Read Online Dark Empress by S. J. A. Turney - Free Book Online Page A

the flotilla. What do you see?”
    Ghassan, they had discovered, had the sharpest eyes of the three of them and was probably the most observant. He had spotted the bad dates they had been about to purchase last week, and a month ago had spotted a pirate vessel on the horizon in plenty of time to get word to the Calphorian captain with whom they had been dealing to bring his boat back in to dock.
    Ghassan peered out into the bright light, trying to make out the many small shapes amid the glittering, sparkling waves, muttering under his breath. Finally, he removed his hand from his brow and shrugged.
“Twenty eight small fishing boats, all very heavily laden. Bodes well for us, brother.”
Samir shook his head tensely.
“I’m not so sure, Ghassan. Twenty eight, you say? And you’re sure?”
“I could count them again, but there are twenty eight. Why? Are some missing?”
Samir’s jaw hardened.
“Quite the opposite. There are only twenty three fishing boats in M’Dahz.”
Ghassan blinked.
“I know these things,” Samir shrugged. “I pay attention.”
    He turned to find Asima, who was standing a few feet away from them by their cart, involved in yet more dealings with one of the dock workers.
    “I think we may have trouble” he called to her.
    Asima waved away the worker and joined Samir, who explained the discrepancy as Ghassan once more shaded his eyes and stared out across the water. Definitely twenty eight. And heavily laden. There must be so much fish…”
    He bit his lip as he scanned across the boats once more.
    They were far too heavily laden.
    The flotilla was getting closer now and more detail was visible. Twenty eight boats, but not twenty eight fishing boats. Samir had been right. Twenty three fishing boats, for sure. And five lifeboats. Ghassan suddenly found that his heart was racing. He knew what was weighing the boats down now, even before he could confirm it with his eyes. He turned to the smaller brother, his mouth dry.
    “Samir… they’re lifeboats.”
    Samir stood still and silent as his eyes drifted from Ghassan and back to the bay, where they slid across the open water to the collection of small vessels rowing their way to land; rowing their way to safety?
    Ghassan turned his own gaze back to the flotilla and nodded wordlessly as he confirmed with horror what he already knew to be true. The boats were devoid of fish. The men of M’Dahz rowed for land, but their cargo lay in bloody, soaked heaps among the ribs of the vessels. Not all were corpses, though most were clearly beyond hope. A few of the men rowing were bloodied and wet, but alive and making for home.
    Militia. All men of the militia of M’Dahz. And, as they came closer and closer to the docks, every face was bleak and hopeless. Samir’s own mouth was now dry as he stared out among them. Asima was between the boys now, her hands on their shoulders in a gesture of strength and support.
    “It could have been any of the militia ships” she said hopefully.
    Samir shook his head, unable to speak in more than a low croak. Ghassan reached across and squeezed his brother’s wrist before turning to Asima and shaking his own head.
“Each of the militia ships carries only two lifeboats. That was all that could be drummed up.”
He turned back to the fleet that were now jostling and manoeuvring into position by the jetties.
“Five lifeboats means at least three of the four ships.”
Asima fell silent once again, not trusting herself to speak any further.
    Quietly and unhappily, the men from the boats climbed onto the jetties and went about the sad and grisly business of finding carts to transfer their bloody cargo from the boats. The brothers watched with bated breath, their eyes playing across the crowd of sailors, looking for the man they somehow already knew would not be there.
    As the last figure shuffled up the wooden walkway, Samir collapsed backwards onto a sack of grain awaiting removal. Silently he sat there, staring at the