The Pirate Prince Read Free

you carry.”
    Juad’s heavy dark brows shot up. “What do you know about the treasure, Prince Dariq?”
    While appearing to be relaxed, Dariq was drawn taut as a bowstring. “Not a great deal, except that its arrival is eagerly awaited by Ibrahim. He will not have it, however, for I shall claim it.”
    “Come to my cabin,” Juad invited. “We should speak in private about the treasure.”
    “Do you surrender all to me?”
    Juad laughed. “Oh, aye, the treasure is yours, such as it is. I wish you joy of it.”
    Captain Juad snapped out curt orders to his men, informing them that he was surrendering the ship and its treasure to Prince Dariq. Their reaction was not whatDariq had expected. Some men laughed outright, while others sent him sly smiles. Though there were a few grumbles, most seemed relieved to be rid of the sultan’s treasure.
    “Secure the ship,” Dariq told Mustafa. The knot of men parted as Dariq followed the captain to his cabin. Some of the
Ottoman’s
sailors clapped him on the back, while others wished him good luck. A few even asked to join the Brotherhood.
    “Down with Ibrahim the murderer!” a Turkish sailor shouted, followed by a chorus of ayes.
    Dariq entered the captain’s cabin and closed the door behind him.
    “Sit down, Prince,” Juad invited. “ ’Tis a long time since we have spoken.” He sighed. “The days of the great Murad’s rule are long past. I must answer to Ibrahim now, whether I like it or not.”
    Dariq took the seat Juad offered. “I hoped you would surrender, Juad. I have naught against you personally and would spare your life for my father’s sake, for he loved you well.”
    “I am glad to hear that, Prince. I but do Ibrahim’s bidding. I consider myself lucky to have avoided you on the high seas thus far. Ibrahim is a murderer; few of his subjects hold him in high regard. He is nothing like his father. He even tried to convince the Grand Vizier that you had a hand in killing your brothers. Selim did not believe him. You are admired by all for your courage and perseverance against your brother’s evil machinations.”
    “Thank you for confiding that to me, Juad.” He pushed himself out of his chair. “All the same, I still must relieve you of your cargo. What is it? Gold? Silver? Aye, tell me what my brother is so eager to possess.”
    Juad straightened his turban and cleared his throat. “The treasure is not what you think, Prince.”
    Dariq’s face settled into harsh lines. “Describe the treasure to me.”
    “Better yet, I will show you. Come, my friend. Follow me and you shall see for yourself the treasure Sultan Ibrahim is eagerly awaiting.”
    “I know how greedy Ibrahim can be when he wants something,” Dariq said, following Juad out the door, “so I’m quite anxious to see his treasure. Depriving Ibrahim of something he desires is my sole purpose in life. ’Tis the reason I turned to piracy.”
    Juad sighed and shook his head. A frisson of disquiet slid down Dariq’s spine. Why was Juad being so evasive? Perhaps there
was
no treasure and he had been deliberately misled.
    He stopped abruptly and hauled Juad around to face him. “Something is wrong, Juad. Is the treasure aboard another ship?”
    Juad shrugged. “There is treasure and there is treasure. You must judge its worth by your own standards.”
    Dariq’s scowl deepened. He was beginning to worry now. Captain Juad was talking in riddles. A treasure was a treasure no matter what a man’s standards. Dariq was hoping to take something from Ibrahim that he valued, something he desired, but Juad’s attitude was making him intensely uneasy.
    Dariq followed Captain Juad down a narrow companionway. He expected to be taken to the hold, where cargo is usually stored, but obviously this treasure was too valuable to be left in damp quarters. That thought raised his spirits a bit but didn’t entirely ease his misgivings.
    Juad stopped before a door at the end of the companionway.Dariq’s