Peter Tremayne - The Dove of Death

‘It is something my father developed for our emperor, Constantinos. It is something that I hope no one else discovers.’

‘A terrible weapon,’ Eadulf agreed heavily. ‘No one could stand against that.’

Then: ‘Look!’ cried Heraclius. ‘Look at that!’

Everyone stood watching in silence. There was a strange gurgling sound. As they stood, fascinated and unable to tear their eyes away, the gurgling grew louder and the flames suddenly ceased. Against the darkness of the island there was nothing to be seen, not even a glimmer of fire, just a pall of smoke rising above the waters and dispersing in the breeze. The sea-raider had sunk with such abruptness that it was as if the vessel, even blazing as it was, had simply vanished. Swallowed into the hungry maw of the sea.

Bleidbara was calling orders and the crew swarmed up the rigging to the sails while the helmsman put the tiller hard over.

‘We are putting the ship about to see if there are any survivors,’ Heraclius explained.

‘From that?’ Eadulf shook his head sadly. Surely there was little hope.

Amazingly, contrary to his expectation, some people had escaped unscathed; they were dragged from the water. Soaked and demoralised, they were brought aft to be questioned by Bleidbara.

‘Ask them if the lady Trifina was on board,’ Eadulf reminded him, although such a reminder was unnecessary.

Only one of the prisoners answered Bleidbara — and that only in monosyllables. Bleidbara struck him twice across the face, making Eadulf wince. He hated such brutality but had to admit that if it forced the man to speak, perhaps it was justified. Even so, the man was still defiant and his expression was one of hatred.

‘He says there is a woman on the other ship,’ Bleidbara interpreted.

‘What other ship?’ demanded Eadulf. ‘The Barnacle Goose ?’

The prisoner shrugged and Bleidbara was shouting at him again. Eadulf could not understand what was being said although a word that sounded like ‘looverdee’ was repeated several times.

In fact, Bleidbara grew quite violent with the man at this, grabbing him by the throat and thrusting his face within an inch of the prisoner’s own. He shook him like a dog might shake a rabbit, and Eadulf could hear the man’s teeth rattle.

The prisoner was still defiant but responded, repeating the word ‘looverdee’. Bleidbara turned to Eadulf.

‘He says the other ship is hidden on an island called Enez Lovrdi, which means the Leper’s Island.’

‘Do you know it?’ asked Eadulf.

‘I do. It is a small island not far from here — once used for lepers to dwell in, isolated from the rest of the communities. There is an old, grey-stone fortress there but it is no longer habitable.’ Bleidbara seemed annoyed with himself. ‘I had never thought to search there. People generally shun the island. So that is where the Koulm ar Maro was hidden all this time.’

‘Well,’ Eadulf said with grim satisfaction, ‘let us go and collect the Barnacle Goose . Where is the young captain, the one in white? Did he perish with the ship?’

Bleidbara shook his head. ‘It was hard to extract information from the man,’ he said as he glared at the prisoner.

‘So what is the plan? They might have left more men on this island to defend it in case of attack.’

Bleidbara rubbed his chin thoughtfully. ‘I see your point. We need to make some plan of attack.’

‘One that does not put our friends on the Barnacle Goose at risk,’ Eadulf pointed out.

After a few moments, Bleidbara had decided on his next move. ‘I am in favour of sailing the Morvran directly to the island and making an immediate attack. At least the Koulm ar Maro is sunk and they have no large ship to counter our attack now.’

‘We should find out where it is anchored and how many men there are to defend it.’

Bleidbara grinned, saying, ‘You have missed your calling, Brother Eadulf. You should have been a strategist.’ Turning aside, he then whispered, ‘This prisoner might speak Latin. Whatever I do, I want you to support me and not be shocked by anything.’

Bewildered, Eadulf nodded.

‘If we can get the information we want, I will.’

Bleidbara turned to a couple of his crewmen and issued orders. One of them took a rope and threw it over a spar, then proceeded to tie one end into a noose. The prisoner watched wide-eyed as the task was quickly accomplished.

Bleidbara spoke to him harshly, then he turned to Eadulf and said in Latin: ‘I have told him that he is a pirate, a murderer and thief, and he knows the consequences of his actions.’

The man began to tremble a little. And muttered something.

‘It seems our pirate pleads for mercy,’ interpreted Bleidbara.

‘Mercy has to be earned,’ Eadulf said, playing his part. ‘I can only pray that he will find mercy in the next world.’

‘You are right, Brother Eadulf. It is no use asking him for information. I will tell my men to put the noose around his neck.’

The man’s hands were secured behind his back and, with a struggle, the noose was put in place.

The man was sobbing now and talking almost incoherently. There was no need for Bleidbara to interpret. Eadulf’s expression of disgust was genuine, for he was revolted by the whole spectacle.

However, Bleidbara was right. The man did speak some Latin and was straining towards Eadulf.

‘Please, please, Brother. You are a man of God. You cannot let him do this.’

Eadulf turned to him with a severe expression, saying, ‘The captain is within his rights. You are guilty of the things he charges. Why should I intervene?’

‘I am entitled to a trial…I am-’

‘You are entitled to nothing more than the lack of mercy you showed your victims,’ interrupted Bleidbara harshly. He said something to his men and one of them tightened the rope so that the prisoner was forced up on tiptoe.

The man screamed as he found himself being hauled up.

‘Stop!’ Eadulf ordered. ‘Lower him. Perhaps he could earn a hearing before one of your bretats — but only if he answers our questions.’

The man almost collapsed, coughing and sobbing. Bleidbara seemed to consider what Eadulf said for a moment.

‘I might be lenient — if he tells me how many of his band are on Enez Lovrdi, exactly where they are placed, and where the prisoners are held.’

The words immediately came tumbling out of the man.

‘There are only half a dozen fighting men on the merchant ship which we captured some days ago…’

‘And the prisoners?’

‘They are kept in the hold of the ship which is anchored in a creek on the north side of the island. It is deep water but surrounded by trees, so that it is hidden from casual observance.’

‘Are there lookouts at the fortress?’

‘Everyone who was left on the island is on the merchant ship.’

‘And you say that the woman is aboard?’

‘She is.’

‘Where is your captain?’

The man gestured with the point of his chin towards the debris now floating on the waters.

‘He was hit directly by one of those fireballs. So was the mate.’

‘Was he a slight man dressed in white?’ intervened Eadulf.

The prisoner looked at him blankly. ‘Taran? He was a big man from Pou-Kaer…Oh, you mean the man who gave Taran orders? He often came on our raids with us. No, he was not on board.’

‘Who is he? Where is he? At this Enez Lovrdi?’ demanded Bleidbara.

‘Not on the island,’ replied the man. ‘As for who he is, I don’t know. I presumed Taran knew. Whenever he came on board, he was dressed in white with a mask. A merciless man. You did not disobey him with impunity.’