False Colors by Alex Beecroft

Author:Alex Beecroft [Beecroft, Alex]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Gay, Fiction
ISBN: 9781458779854
Google: Qv57Ouvkn9YC
Amazon: 0762436581
Publisher: Running Press
Published: 2009-04-13T12:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 15

12 January, King Cardinal’s village, near King’s Bay, Tobago “They hold him in a fort here.” The Queen brushed back leaf litter to expose the rich red earth, and drew a map of the French encampment with sticks and leaves. “There are many men. All those who came from the ship you saw…”

“The Arc-en-Ciel.”

“Yes. And some more, left behind from other ships, to keep us in order.” The Queen favored Farrant with a sharp blaze of a smile. She had shown all the pleasure appropriate on seeing her son Tamane again, and he in return had abandoned his English dress, now standing by her side in feathers and fronds. Warmth, nevertheless, pervaded the camp, and outside the Queen’s house the Britannias were being very much welcomed by the women of the tribe, both sets of allies still in the happy stage of being enchanted with each other.

“On this side the sea,” she said, “and here a tall wall of rock. They think no one can pass here, but we can come down on ropes. Lift him away.”

“While the Britannia creates a diversion.” Farrant nodded approvingly, crouching down himself to study the dirt map. Privately, Alfie thought that he and the Queen—whose name no one had dared to ask—were two of a kind. They had certainly recognized each other’s talents the moment they began to talk strategy. “Two forces, I think, here and here.” Farrant pointed, indicating the scratch which represented the coastal path, more suited for goats than Englishmen. The bay itself, however, was encircled by shoals, and the landing perilous enough if all else was peace. Defended, there was no possibility of assailing it from the sea.

“Mr. Donwell, you may take a company and two cannon. I will lead a second down this stream and come at the fort from the mouth of the river, creating a crossfire. In the ensuing firefight, her majesty’s forces may come down the cliffs unobserved and free King Cardinal. After that, we may as well take the fort for ourselves.”

“Yes sir.” Farrant made everything sound so easy, as though he had never known doubt or loneliness in his life. For a moment Alfie understood why he and John seemed to think that duty was enough. A kind of martial glory shone about them both like the halo of light about the drawn blade of a sword. Trying to be worthy of them, he turned, gathered his men together and departed.

Farrant watched him go, bowed to the queen and called together his own followers. An hour later found him working his way down the river at the head of a procession of men disgruntled at being called away from their diversions. The soft mud of the river bed oozed around his feet with each step, sucking him down, making every movement a struggle. He fell back to watch the cannon, to make sure that the men carrying it held it out of the water—and to make sure they did not break themselves under the task.

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