971. Chapter 971

After Captain Kate and the Sorceress

By

UCSBdad

Disclaimer: Je ne regret rein, except not owning Castle. Rating: M, here and there. Time: 18th Century

Author's note: I'm headed back to the San Francisco Bay Area today. I'll try to update this tomorrow morning from my motel. I probably won't be able to reply to any reviews until Monday, but I will reply.

"The boy is a thief." Said the passerby. "Everyone knows where the palace is. It is the grandest building in all of Mahe." He pointed to a vast marble palace that occupied a long ridge, the highest point in the city."

"The great lord would still have to get through the bazaar and past many evil persons." Daud spoke up. "I would protect him."

The passerby laughed. "They do not look like they need protecting. They have swords. What do you have but a honeyed tongue?"

Kate interrupted. "Daud will take us. We are strangers here and could use a guide."

The passerby spat.

Daud began to lead them to the palace, describing every building along the way. Telling what they sold, if merchants, or who lived there if it was a home. "You are from the two ships of France that arrived today?"

Rick nodded.

"And you are the diplomats that will negotiate with the sultan and keep that beast d'Schlemming from ruling us through his toy, Ismael. You will see to it that Hassan will rule us. Is that not so?"

"How do you know so much about our affairs?" Rick asked, suddenly wary.

Daud smiled. "D'Schlemming and Ismael are usually befuddled with alcohol and the juice of the poppy. When they are so, they yell at each other. Everyone knows. D'Schlemming has friends in Versailles who write him letters. They have told him of your mission. Everyone in the city knows this."

"So much for diplomatic secrets." Rick grumbled.

Arriving at the palace, it seemed that everyone did know who they were and what their business was. Two armed guards smiled broadly at them and waved them inside. A saffron robed Buddhist bonze smiled at them and indicated they should follow him. They wove their way through the palace until they came to a large room.

There they saw two fighters, dressed in long chain mail shirts with steel helmets dueling with swords. At first they thought it was an actual duel, but it became apparent that the weapons they were using were intentionally dulled.

"A practice session." Kate said, remembering the long hours she had spent learning to fence after becoming a pirate. "The tall slender one appears to be quite good. Better than his opponent."

Rick looked at both fighters. The other one was short and blocky, and very muscular. However, he was quite fast. Not as fast as his opponent, though.

After ten minutes or so, the two stepped apart and bowed to one another. The slender one looked at where Rick, Kate and Sorenson were standing, and at once headed their way.

"These are the French diplomats, Your Highness." Daud called out.

Rick bowed, Kate curtsied and Sorenson did his best to bow.

"Prince Hassan, I presume?" Rick said.

There was a sound of laughter and the duelist removed the helmet, letting her long, black hair swirl about her. "Hardly. I am Princess Jasmine. Prince Hassan is over there." She pointed to a young boy of perhaps twelve, sitting quietly in an alcove, reading a book. "Perhaps we should talk."

She walked with the three to a small alcove where a servant had left cold drinks and some cakes. "Please, help yourselves." Jasmine said, as a servant poured her a glass of cold tea.

"You are Lord Rodgers, the Englishman who represents France here?"

"At your service Your Highness." Rick said, bowing slightly from a seated position.

Jasmine motioned to a pair of female servants who assisted her in removing her chain mail. Underneath, she wore a translucent silk shirt and pants. All three noticed at the same time that the clothes were very translucent. Rick diplomatically looked away. Both Kate and Sorenson did not.

"Perhaps, Lord Rodgers, you'd care to join me in my quarters. Alone." Jasmine said seductively.

"That would be inappropriate for a representative of a friendly, foreign power." Rick said hastily.

"Not in India." She leaned forward so that the outline of her nipples showed clearly through her shirt.

"Besides, I'm a married man."

Jasmine shrugged. "I have been told that marriages in the European aristocracy are merely political and financial unions between families. Is that not so?"

Rick shot a glance at Kate. She was about ready to explode. He spoke quickly, taking her hand to keep her from striking Princess Jasmine. "Not in my case. I married Katherine because I love her and want no other woman. I never have and I never will." He diplomatically neglected to mention Alexis' mother.

"Even if a liaison with me would be very advantageous to your country. And to you personally?"

"I'm afraid I must decline." Rick began to rise.

Princess Jasmine laughed and clapped her hands in glee. "Excellent. Just the response I was hoping for. I need an honest and honorable man to help me and my country through what is coming."

Rick let out a breath that he hadn't realized he was holding. "Always glad to oblige, Your Highness."

"You have seen my brother, Prince Hassan. He is twelve years old and very intelligent. He reads a great deal and drives his several tutors mad with his questions about mathematics, geography, history, religions and many other subjects. Alas, I fear that sort of knowledge will not help us."

"Isn't Ismael the oldest son?" Kate asked.

"He is, but that is not as important here as it is in Europe. Besides, Ismael is the son of a junior wife and Hassan, like me, is the child of the primary wife. My father has four wives, as is permitted by the Quran, and a man may have as many concubines as he wishes and can afford."

"My husband is a Christian." Kate said sweetly.

"What she said." Rick quickly added.

"Ismail is a buffoon, but many see him as the best of a bad lot. They feel that he has the backing of d'Schlemming, and therefor of France. I rather think your arrival may change some minds."

Rick replied as diplomatically as he could. "As a diplomat, I cannot, of course, interfere in the affairs of Malabar."

Princess Jasmine smiled. "Oh, just leave that to me." Her smile faded. "Our biggest worry is not the English, as they are too busy with collapse of the Mughal Empire to the north. Our worry is a Maratha princeling with ambitions and an army. He has recruited a large number of European renegades to teach his soldiers to fight in the European manner. His name is Venkoji and he has an army of horsemen at our borders. When his Europeans have trained his infantry and artillery, he will strike. And he hates Christians, so he will deal with neither the French, the English nor any other Europeans."

"You seem to be quite adept with the sword." Rick said, changing the subject.

"That, and I have read the ancient texts on warfare. But few will follow a woman."

"That can be changed." Kate said softly.

"I think that I should introduce you to my father now." Jasmine turned and walked away from them. The three followed her. Rick kept his eyes on the ceiling. Kate laughed. "I don't mind if you just look, you know."

"I can see her ass through those silk clothes she's wearing. It would be undiplomatic of me if I should chance to mention that yours is far better." He whispered.

"I'll make all necessary comments about her ass." Sorenson whispered.

They were led through the palace to a large, darkened room. Numerous physicians, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Christian, Jewish, Zoroastrian, and some of unknown origins stood at the margins of the room, muttering about bleeding, the use of leeches, and various potions.

Jasmine led them to a vast bed in which lay a tall but emaciated older man. By his bedside was an older woman who was fanning him. A beaker of water and a bunch of grapes were on a table by his side.

"Father, mother." Jasmine said softly. "This is the French emissary, Lord Richard Rodgers, his wife, Lady Katherine Rodgers and Captain Will Sorenson."

The old man looked up at them. "I am glad we have someone here other than that oaf d'Schlemming. You will help my daughter and my son, Hassan, Lord Rodgers? Alas, if only Jasmine had been born a boy." Before Rick could reply, the Sultan began coughing. "I'm tired, I fear. Come and see me later."

All four bowed and left quickly.

"I will find you a carriage to take you back to your ships, and then we'll find a place for you in the palace. I believe…"Jasmine stopped as they could hear yelling and see people moving towards the front of the palace. "Come with me." Jasmine commanded.

She led them to a balcony from which they could see the harbor and most of the city. "There!" Jasmine cried, pointing to a ship entering the harbor. "That's a Persian vessel that carries pilgrims to Mecca and back."

"It's been in a fight." Kate said. "It has only the foremast and I can see holes in her hull."

"I must go to the harbor."

"We'll go with you." Rick said.

"I regret that I have no side saddle for Lady Katherine."

"Then I'll ride astride." Kate said quickly.

By the time they got to the stables, horses had been saddled and made ready. Jasmine wrapped a light cloak around her, but Kate showed more of her legs than the people of Mahe were used to seeing from a European woman. On the other hand, they rode so fast that few were sure exactly what they had seen.

Once aboard the ship, they were sent to the ship's owner, a greying, bulky man, wrapped only in a piece of sail cloth.

"What happened to you?" The Princess demanded.

"It was awful. There were so many of them. And the shooting. They took people." Then the man began to cry.

"Your Highness?" Interrupted another man." I am Captain Aziz. I fear the owner can tell you little."

Aziz was a tall, spare man with a grey flecked beard and hard, cold eyes. He was dressed like a common sailor in cotton pants and shirt, and barefoot.

"Then you tell me."

"It was a force of eight Maratha pirates, but only four of them attacked us. The others went after other ships. They were small, light vessels, lateen rigged…."

"Rigged what?" Jasmine interrupted.

"Their sails are triangular and not square." Kate quickly explained.

Aziz went on. "They had only six or eight guns, but they were carronades. Carronades are short ranged guns that fire very heavy shot. They can do great damage, but they have to get very close to you. They knocked down our masts, holed our hull and boarded us. They took young women and strong men for slaves, killed a few, stole our cargo and sailed away."

"You are sure they were Marathas?" Jasmine asked.

"They made no secret of who they were." Aziz said and spat.

Jasmine nodded. "Thank you. Your ship seems to be sinking still. You should try to beach her on the western beaches. It's just sand there, no rocks."

Once back in a small boat headed for shore, Kate spoke. "Princess, do you not have a navy?"

Jasmine shook her head. "We had ships, much like the ones the pirates have. But, with my father ill, no one will do anything without his authorization and he's too sick to do anything. The crews have not been paid and so have deserted. The ships themselves are rotting away."

Rick spoke. "I believe that pirates are the enemies of all men. We'll take the Sorceress and the Witch out to chase them down."

Jasmine smiled. "I knew I could trust you. What do you need? I'll see what I can provide."

Kate thought for a moment. "Our ships are in good shape and we have plenty of powder and shot. But we need food and water."

"I'll see what I can do, and, if I may, can I accompany you? I'll bring some warriors with me."

"We'd be happy to have you and your people."