Pirate's Honor, page 26
"I can't deny that," Torius said, seemingly considering the merchant's argument. In the end he could promise anything Ekhan wanted—their plan would conclude before any compensation would have to be paid—but to capitulate too readily might cause suspicion. "I'll compensate you for the cost of your slave, Master Ekhan, but not for the magical collar. Would that suffice?"
Ekhan pursed his lips in thought, the muscles around his left eye twitching. "Very well, Captain. I will deduct the appropriate amount from your percentage of our profits."
Torius nodded in acquiescence. "Agreed. Flick, more wine for our guest!" He raised his glass in toast and sipped sparingly as Ekhan drank deeply of the venom-laced wine.
paizo.com #2495541, Ronald Hartman
Chapter Nineteen
Strange Women and Tainted Wine
Drogul, take this laundry out on deck and wash it in fresh water. Take your time and be very careful! Each one of those shirts costs more than that glorified meat cleaver you carry around."
"Right away, Master Ekhan."
Celeste cracked open the cabin door and peered out. Ekhan's voice had been loud enough to carry down the corridor. As she watched Grogul exit onto the deck, the merchant peered out. He caught her eye and nodded.
She cast her charm spell on him immediately, stepped out and hurried down the passage, trying to look terrified but determined. He smiled and waved her through the door. It closed with a quiet click and he locked it.
"You honor me, Great Master." She curtsied deeply. "Truly, the stars shine on me." This was the second time he'd sent Grogul away so that she could sneak out of her cabin to see him. She was becoming more comfortable in Ekhan's presence, and the role she played had become more natural.
"Again with the stars," he said with a wry smile, waving her to the room's single chair. "Sit, please."
"I'll sit if you desire it, Great Master, but I don't wish to be disrespectful." The chair sat to one side of the fold-down table, opposite the bunk. A half-full bottle of wine sat in the rack behind the table. She slipped into the chair and crossed her legs, giving him a clear view of her thigh as she adjusted her dress.
"It's not disrespectful to sit when I ask you to, Celeste." Ekhan sat on the bed and rested one arm on the table. "I wish to know more about this belief of yours, that you can read the future in the stars. In Rahadoum we've done away with such beliefs. Man is responsible for his own destiny, not some capricious deity."
"We don't believe that the stars are gods, Great Master," she explained, "nor do we believe that they control our future." She watched as Ekhan picked up his wineglass and sipped the tainted wine. The crimson liquid rippled in concentric circles; his hand had a tremor that she hadn't noticed before. A twinge of guilt stabbed her—it was her venom affecting him so. "We seek guidance from the movements of the stars, their interactions. We call it the Dance of the Heavens. The message isn't always clear, but it serves to focus our attention on our own actions, as well as those of others, and how they affect events as they unfold."
"Is it like a wizard's spell, then?" He finished his wine and poured more, staring at the label on the bottle for a moment before putting it back in the rack.
"No, it's not magic, but more like ..." She paused as if considering her answer, maintaining a thoughtful demeanor. Using her magic, she deftly lifted the bottle and moved it to the next hole in the rack.
Ekhan started, staring at the bottle.
"Are you all right, Great Master?" She tried to fill her voice with concern. It wasn't as hard as it should have been.
"I ..." He blinked hard. "Did you see ..."
"Did I see what, Great Master?"
"Nothing." He looked at the wine in his glass and sipped again. "So, your reading of the stars is not magic and not a religion. What is it?"
"It's more of a science." As she spoke, she rotated the wine bottle in the rack, turning it first one way then the other, as if the label were a face, watching first him, then her, then him again. "As a ranger may decipher what is happening in the forest by how the animals act, we can often see, generally speaking, what will happen by the movement of the planets and their moons among the constellations."
"A science?" He studiously ignored the turning bottle, but the muscles of his jaw writhed under the skin. "I don't see how it could be a science. Science cannot predict the future."
"An observation, then." She continued to turn the bottle. His hand trembled worse now as he lifted his glass to drink, and she reached out—tentative, shy—to touch him. "Does my presence upset you, Great Master? You seem ...tense."
"It's not you, Celeste." Ekhan sighed and rubbed his eyes. "Travel doesn't agree with me, and I haven't been sleeping well. Fatigue and stress, nothing more."
A faint itch presaged the end of her transformation spell. "I should go." Feigning distress, she stood and turned away, recasting the enchantment under her breath. "You need rest."
"Please," he said, and she turned back. "Stay a bit longer, Celeste. Your presence soothes me. I feel ...different when you're here. Calmer, somehow. And I enjoy our conversations."
"As you wish, Great Master." She curtsied again and nudged one of her hair sticks out with her magic. It clattered to the floor and half of her coif fell free. "Oh, I'm always dropping these silly things." She bent to pick it up as Vreva had taught her—giving Ekhan a glimpse down her gaping dress—then stood and tried to coil her hair back into place, biting her lip. Looking up, she saw that he was smiling at her. "Is something wrong, Great Master?"
"Nothing, Celeste." He shook his head with a little chuckle.
"I'm clumsy, I know. It's funny. I understand." She ducked her head and sat back down.
"No, Celeste. It's not like that at all." Something in the tone of his voice made her look up. There was no scorn or derision in his dark eyes. She felt a surge of trepidation, danger ...and intrigue. "You make me smile because you are so ...innocent."
"I'm hardly innocent, Great Master." She cast her eyes down and bit her lip hard, bringing tears to her eyes. "My master..."
"I know, Celeste." The kindness in his voice drew her eyes inexorably up to his once more. "But that makes you no less innocent and no less beautiful."
Heat flushed to her face. Her vision swam with her tears and she blinked. She looked down as they spilled down her cheeks.
"I ...really should go, Master Ekhan." She rose and hurried to the door.
"Celeste, I—"
She looked back, wiping the tears away. "Thank you." Celeste slipped out the door and dashed for her cabin.
∗ ∗ ∗
"Master Ekhan! It's good to see you out on deck!" Torius waved down to the merchant. "Please come up to the quarterdeck. It's a glorious morning, isn't it?"
"If you say so, Captain," Ekhan grumbled as he mounted the steps, followed obediently by Grogul.
Torius turned and gave Windy Kate a covert nod. "That's Glasswall Isle off our starboard beam, Master Ekhan. We've traversed nearly half the coast of Thuvia! The winds have been kind to us."
"Good. The sooner I can return home, the better."
Ekhan's face was ashen, a sheen of sweat glazed his brow and upper lip, and his stance appeared shaky. These were symptoms with which Torius was all too familiar, and from Grogul's reports, Ekhan was going through withdrawals every morning. Not until lunch and his first glass of wine did the malady ease. The plan was progressing perfectly: Celeste visited Ekhan's cabin at least every other night, plying his mind with suggestions, and the persistent hallucinations were wreaking havoc upon his poise and general state of mind. He jumped at every shadow and coil of rope. By the time they reached Sothis, he would be a paranoid wreck. The goal now was to ensure that he didn't make a connection between the wine and his hallucinations. With that in mind, Grogul had courteously suggested to Ekhan that he might benefit from a breath of fresh air.
"Come now, Master Ekhan. Surely the voyage isn't treating you that badly."
Ekhan gave him a sour look. "I told you I don't like to travel. Don't attempt to humor me."
"Well, some of us are not meant to be sailors, I suppose. Come here, please. I'll show you an old sailor's trick that will help."
"What trick?" Ekhan approached grudgingly.
"Have you ever taken a turn at the wheel of a ship?" He waved a hand to Windy Kate at the helm.
"No, I ...can't say that I have."
"Well, it's guaranteed to make you feel better. Here! Grasp the spokes firmly." Windy Kate stepped back and Torius maneuvered Ekhan behind the wheel. "It's all about concentration. See the compass card here on the binnacle? This mark on the card always faces north, and the needle indicates the direction we're pointing. Right now the needle is on one-six-zero degrees, meaning that we're headed south-southeast. All you need do is keep us headed in the same direction by watching the compass. Understand?"
"And how is this supposed to make me feel better?" Ekhan asked, sounding unconvinced.
"Concentration. It focuses your mind on something besides feeling sick." Torius smiled at him and released the wheel. "Now, hold this heading and get the feel of the ship."
"All right."
Torius let Ekhan steer for a time, watched him settle into place, becoming accustomed to how the wind and waves pushed the ship this way or that. Windy Kate stood behind and slightly to the merchant's right, seemingly swaying with the roll of the ship. Torius knew otherwise. When it appeared that the merchant was actually getting the hang of it, he gave the helmswoman a discreet nod.
Windy Kate took the powerful magnet out of her pocket and slowly swept it to port. The compass card followed, the mark denoting north tracking the magnet.
Ekhan steered to starboard to compensate for the false change in course, and the ship veered.
"Steady now," Torius said. "One-six-zero degrees, remember."
"I remember! But it—"
Windy Kate moved the magnet back, and the compass swung. Ekhan hauled the wheel back to port, but just as he reached the proper heading again, the helmswoman moved the magnet to starboard. Ekhan wrenched the wheel back and forth, chasing the swinging compass, his face flushing red.
"Are you all right, Master Ekhan?" Torius asked, fighting to keep his tone concerned.
"I'm fine, it's just this damn thing keeps—"
Windy Kate jerked the magnet from right to left so hard that the compass card did a full revolution.
Ekhan released the wheel, his eyes wide and disbelieving, and backed away. He bumped into the helmswoman, who quickly pocketed the magnet.
"Pardon me, Master Ekhan. Here, I'll take it." Windy Kate stepped around the merchant and grabbed the wheel, steering the ship on a course of one-six-zero degrees, her eyes fixed on the rock-steady compass.
"I'm not feeling well." Ekhan swallowed and glared at the compass.
"My apologies, Master Ekhan." Torius clutched the man's arm to steady him. "I honestly thought it would help, but I suppose it's not for everyone. You look like you could use a drink."
"A drink?" Ekhan stared at him. "It's still morning!"
"First lesson every sailor learns," Torius said, pulling a silver flask from his pocket and unscrewing the lid, "is that the sun's over the yardarm somewhere." He took a short pull from the flask and pressed it into the merchant prince's hand.
Ekhan sniffed the flask and raised an eyebrow, then tilted it into his mouth. He swallowed and sucked air through his teeth. "Hoo! What is that?"
"Spiced grog. Rum, spices, and some lime and sugar to take the edge off." Plus a healthy dose of naga venom. "It'll make you feel better. I promise."
And in the span of only a few minutes, of course, it did.
∗ ∗ ∗
"We're coming up on the northeast point of Osirion, Captain," Thillion reported as he entered the galley. He saluted and nodded respectfully to Ekhan before taking his seat. Snick staggered in behind him bearing a heavy crate in her arms. "We should make our turn to the south before morning. Winds are good, and I expect that we'll make Katapesh in four days or so."
"Excellent news! Don't you agree, Master Ekhan?"
"I do." Ekhan stared at Snick, who had changed her hair color to a shocking pink. He shook his head and looked away.
Torius grinned and took note of the gnome's burden. "Oh, and I see Flick has found more of that vintage. I knew I had some stowed somewhere." Torius grabbed two bottles out of the crate and put them on the table. This wine contained the highest concentration of venom yet, though not as high as they intended to go. Even the small amount he was taking with dinner was giving Torius a few weird visions, but nothing he couldn't handle. It was worth it to see Ekhan sweat. Twisting the cork free of one of the bottles, he poured Ekhan's glass full, then a smaller measure into his own.
"Thank you, Captain." Ekhan sipped the wine and sighed contentedly. "I must say, I've developed quite a fondness for this wine. I must arrange for you to make regular shipments to Azir."
"I have a contact in Ostenso who can supply it at a fair price." Torius suppressed a shudder at the memory of Lothera Cothos, then smiled pleasantly as Snick placed their plates on the table. "Ah, you're in for a treat tonight, Master Ekhan. Eel pie is one of Souso's specialties!"
"Eel pie?" Ekhan peered at the crusty pie on his plate and flinched, then blinked and shook his head. "What kind of eels?
"I believe they're grass eels." Torius wondered just what the merchant thought he saw on his plate. "He skins and fillets the tiny creatures, then sautés them in wine and peppers before baking them in this delightful crust." He plunged his fork into the pie and took a bite, closing his eyes in unfeigned bliss as he chewed and swallowed.
"Mmmm, delicious!" Twilp said, digging into the flaky crust.
Ekhan tried a tentative bite and his eyebrows arched in surprise. "Actually quite good. At least your chef lives up to your promised standards." He sipped his wine and ate eagerly while Torius bit his tongue at the merchant's acerbic comment.
"You seem to have finally developed a liking for sea travel, Master Ekhan," Thillion said. "You have a sailor's appetite."
"I would not call it a liking, Mister Quillion. I no longer feel so ill in the mornings, but ..." He hesitated, and took another bite of his pie.
"But what, Master Ekhan? If there's some way I can make your journey more pleasant, please let me know." Torius furrowed his brow, feigning concern.
"It's this damned constant motion. It's giving me some ...unsettling dreams."
"Really? I've heard of people unaccustomed to long sea voyages having vivid dreams, but not anything long-lasting. I hope they're not disturbing you overmuch."
"I ...it's nothing serious." He sipped his wine, his eyes snapping left and right, then back to his plate.
"I certainly hope not," Torius agreed, fighting to keep his face stern.
Snick appeared bearing a tray with another eel pie on it and started toward the door.
"Where are you going with that, Flick?" Torius asked sharply.
She looked convincingly terrified. "Um, I was taking a pie to Celeste, Captain."
"Put it back," he ordered, his voice hard.
"But, sir, it's her favorite," Snick whined.
"I'm well aware of that, Flick, but Celeste hasn't earned any special treatment. Especially lately. Put it back, now!"
"Yes, sir." Snick dragged her feet as she took the pie back to Soursop.
"And no sneaking it to her later, or I'll know. In fact, nothing for her tonight." He leaned back in his chair and sipped his wine. Noticing that Ekhan was staring at him, he said, "My pardon, Master Ekhan, but disciplining slaves is a never-ending chore. I'm sure you'll agree. Give them any leeway at all and they begin to think they're people."
"On that we agree, Captain," the merchant replied. "There is no substitute for proper discipline. Though the right collar helps, too." He finished his wine, and Snick was right there to refill his glass. Swirling the vintage and gazing at the heavy legs that ran down the inside of the glass, his countenance suddenly brightened. "This dish is really quite delicious. Since there's one extra, I'll have it as a late-night snack. I've lost some weight with the stress of the voyage, and often wake hungry in the night."
Well, I'll be damned, Torius thought, waving his hand as if it were of no consequence. "Of course, Master Ekhan. Souso can put it on the side of the stove to stay warm, and you can have Drogul retrieve it at your pleasure."
The extra eel pie had been a test to see if Ekhan had begun to have feelings for Celeste outside of the influence of her charm spells. Celeste thought he did, but Torius doubted it. If indeed he had requested the extra pie for her, it would tell them that their plan was working: Celeste's visits were having a lasting effect on his mind.
"Excellent." Ekhan nodded and raised his glass. He peered into it, blinked, and jerked back.
"Something wrong with your wine, Master Ekhan?"
"Oh, no. I just ..." He blinked again and sampled the wine, shaking his head slowly. "It's nothing."
Torius smiled and gestured for Snick to bring their dessert. As the meal continued, he surreptitiously watched Ekhan, wondering what was going on in the man's drug-addled head. Torius had always thought himself to be a good judge of character, but Celeste, it seemed, knew the merchant prince better than anyone else.
∗ ∗ ∗
"I have a present for you," Ekhan whispered as Celeste slipped into his cabin.
"A present?" She breathed in the luscious aroma of eel pie and had to suppress the urge to flick her tongue out to savor it. She smiled tentatively at him as he proffered a covered dish and widened her eyes as if in disbelief. Inside, she felt a surge of vindication: she had been right about him.
They had set up this little charade as a test, and Ekhan had passed with flying colors. The merchant prince had not been under her spell when he'd made the request for the extra eel pie; he had honest feelings for her. And here was the proof, a thoughtful gift from the man whom they had all believed to be a monster. Torius had been surprised, but Celeste had not. Ekhan felt something for her, which made her feel terrible about what they had planned for her to do to him during tonight's visit.
