The Pirate Prince (Pirate's Booty Series, Book Five) by Temple Hogan Page A

your flesh is eaten away by the crows.”
    He didn’t stay to hear Boghos’ reply. The fat pirate’s words were lost in the thunder of hooves as Rajak and his men rode away.
    * * * *
    Exhausted beyond all description, Rajak stood at the verandah window and stared, unseeingly, at the lush tropical gardens beyond. He hadn’t slept in three days, nor eaten. He hadn’t bathed or shaved. The lower part of his face was covered by a short, black beard. Absent-mindedly, he rubbed his hand over the stubble then tossed back the whiskey in his glass. It burned a path through his tired body and exploded in his belly. For a moment, its effects roused him from his fierce desperation then it returned, worse than before.
    Azara was gone and he feared he’d never get her back. They’d searched the island over and over without finding her. Now he was forced to put out pamphlets offering a reward for any information. He didn’t mind the gold involved. He hated the waiting while someone decided whether the kernel of information he had might be worth a reward. In the meantime, where was Azara? Was she alive? Was she being tortured or worse? Was she dead?
    Rajak hadn’t the courage to continue on that thought line. He couldn’t imagine the world without Azara in it. In a few short weeks, she’d ingratiated herself into his life so completely, he couldn’t be happy without her. He loved her, he realized, a love that he’d never imagined could exist. He had to tell her that. He had to make it clear to her that she wasn’t a pawn, a way of infuriating his brother or regaining his throne. He was no longer whole without her. Part of him was missing. How could he rule without her beside him? Such a prospect seemed dismal.
    He had ordered Kalari to take men and keep track of Boghos’ every movement. He didn’t trust the man. He wished he’d taken him up on his offer to have his house searched, but his willingness to do so had convinced Rajak that Azara wasn’t there. But where?
    She must be on one of his ships, but which one? The one that Boghos went to visit in the middle of the night, Rajak thought. Galvanized by the conclusion that finding Azara could be that simple, Rajak called to his men, mounted up and urged his horse toward Port Dauphin. They spread out along the quayside, taking care to stay concealed in shadows and bushes as much as possible then settled down for the wait. The moon rode low above the black ocean, leaving sharp contrasts of light and shadow. And still they waited. Finally, when dawn was just a promise on the horizon, Boghos came, slinking like some reptilian monster, glancing this way and that to ensure his secrecy.
    Rajak signaled to his men to remain hidden until the portly man walked out onto the dock and clambered into a rowboat. Silently, they watched as Boghos made his way out to an eighty-foot, three masted, square rigged carrier of European design. The Bird of Paradise was a lean vessel with fine lines testifying to her speed. She’d not be caught at sea.
    “Allah, guide us,” Kalari said at Rajak’s elbow. “You’ve anticipated me, Rajak. I sent a message to the palace for you to come, but you’ve figured out where Boghos is keeping the princess.”
    “I hope so,” Rajak said between gritted teeth. “Did he see you following him?”
    Kalari shook his head. “My men and I are very good at what we do.”
    “I have no doubt of that, my friend.” Rajak clamped him on the shoulder. “Are your men close by?”
    “Ready and waiting.”
    “Then let’s follow the rat.”
    Rajak waved his men forward. Quickly, they found rowboats, piled in and began rowing toward The Bird of Paradise . Once there, they silently boarded the ship. Boghos had set heavy guards, but Rajak and his men took them out, silently, so there was no warning cry. When he was sure the ship was secured, he went below to the captain’s cabin where Azara would be kept if she was here. He heard her voice long before he reached the