Gin watched as Captain Zalez pointed to the map and devised an immediate plan to rescue Ria in Cadrid. They were in another room in the palace, which he could guess to be the war room, where a multidimensional map spread over a long table.
The chairs surrounding the table were filled with several of the king's advisors, Captain Javo, Migal, Captain Zalez, and the king's general, while the crew of the Opal stood at the side where the guards had their rifles pointed at them like prisoners.
Gin sighed, wondering what would happen once they had rescued Ria. Would the king treat them like heroes or still like criminals?
"You and your army can wait in this cove," Captain Zalez said to the king, finger tracing the curve of a beach on the map.
"Prepare a battalion," the king said to the general, a large, tall man in a dark blue coat, arms striped with yellows for his rank.
"You can't make that much movement," Gin said over Captain Zalez's shoulder without moving. "People will notice. Whispers will reach Cadrid. Something big like this will have ears everywhere. If they hear action from the army like moving a battalion, they won't proceed with the auction."
The king looked up at Gin and waved his hand at the guard who pointed the rifle at him. "Come closer."
The guard lowered his weapon and allowed Gin to step forward.
"How many then?" the king asked when Gin stood beside Captain Zalez's and Migal's seats.
"Just a handful," Captain Zalez said.
"I'm not comfortable with the king outside these walls with just a handful of soldiers and guards," Captain Javo noted with a cautious tone.
"Your Majesty, perhaps you should stay here," the general suggested.
"We'll be able to focus on saving the princess without worrying about you, my king," Captain Javo added.
The king pressed a finger to his lips, looking at the map. An advisor to his right leaned in and whispered in his ear. He then glanced at everyone in the room and nodded. "Alright. But she comes straight to the palace once you have her," he said. It was an order.
Gin realized that the king was a reasonable man--a good brother who would do anything for his sister. He nods. "Yes, Your Majesty."
"So, we walk in like normal participants." Captain Zalez continued with the plan.
"Under Tiani's name," Gin added, recalling the flower they'd taken from the Seniora, which was now placed under the king's custody somewhere in the palace for safekeeping.
"The general, Migal and I will wait at the cove with a handful of soldiers then," Captain Javo said. "If we hear or sense any commotion inside the building, we go in." The Black Market Auction House was right on a beach near the cove he pointed at on the map.
"No, I want to be in there," Migal contradicted the plan.
"You know you're not exactly what one would call stealthy, right?" Captain Zalez said. "You look too clean, not to mention too tall. You'll give us away."
"Tell them I'm your bodyguard. Make up something," Migal argued. "I won't sit on that cove just waiting for you to get the princess out of there."
Gin noted the anger in his voice. When the king understood the situation, knowing when to allow others to do their jobs, Migal had been too managing, wanting to do things his way.
"It's fine," Gin said. "He can come."
After their short planning, they immediately left to sail to Cardid, the smallest province and island in the Draga Isles and the closest to Sivona, only a few hours away. But they needed to hurry, for the sun was setting, and they would likely reach the island by sundown.
YOU ARE READING
Sea Gypsies: The Draga Isles
Storie d'amoreA princess in search of her past. A boy driven by money. A crew that is loyal to the end. Princess Ria is adopted, and she has lived with the acceptance that she will never know her real parents. But when she learns of the existence of her adoption...
