“What is that racket?” Lucien snaps open his spyglass and peers down the road. Yusuf looks through a more powerful telescope, mounted on a tripod and pointed in the same direction where a great cloud of dust is rising. “Kardes, I do believe our cannon is arriving,” “Father, are they here?” Samy, Olivier and Alexandre … Continue reading Chapter Sixty-Five, Invisible Hand, by Corso
Chapter Sixty-Two, Memento Vivere, by Corso
....remember to live He wakes, one hand automatically reaching for her, even as he knows she has been gone for hours. The tap on the door was quiet, and she slid quickly from the bed and was gone in minutes to attend to a need for Alessandra. After one incident, Sophia had made it very … Continue reading Chapter Sixty-Two, Memento Vivere, by Corso
Chapter Sixty-One, Foundations, by Corso
“What is your opinion M Lars?” Lucien’s booted kick creates a shower of broken stone from a small hole in the wall. “Are we in danger of collapse?” The taciturn stonemason grunted, leaning forward, elbow against his knee as he scrapes away the broken debris. Silently he examines the wall, tapping his mallet against the … Continue reading Chapter Sixty-One, Foundations, by Corso
Chapter Fifty-Nine, Impending Risks, by Corso
A scream … Athos’ voice booms through the house… ‘Lucien! Lucien! Come quickly! She is here!’ The doctor talks as he leads the way, “she is disoriented and tries to escape the house.” Lucien scowls …then why is she left alone? … but he says nothing, only wanting the doctor to move faster and when … Continue reading Chapter Fifty-Nine, Impending Risks, by Corso
Chapter Forty-Six, The Belladonna, by Corso
‘For variety’s sake, let us hope he jibs this time. They must be as bored as we are,’ Crotte complains and fixes the spyglass back to his eye, watching the activity on the deck of the Belladonna. He mutters to himself and curses softly at what he sees. ‘Not in any degree and about we … Continue reading Chapter Forty-Six, The Belladonna, by Corso
Chapter Fifty-Seven, The House that Richelieu Built, by Corso
The stable is in shadows, they have only one lantern set on a pile of crates. ‘Can you saddle a horse in the dark?’ Lucien asks. ‘I am happy to saddle yours if you find it difficult,’ Athos replies. Lucien smiles. His brother is tense, anxious to get on the road, but not without humor. … Continue reading Chapter Fifty-Seven, The House that Richelieu Built, by Corso
Chapter Fifty-five, Le Limier, by Corso
‘Putain d'enfer!’ The beach is empty. Loup, Ver and Poilu exchange an uneasy look as Lucien Grimaud paces angrily in front of them. ‘Why would they take him?’ he whirls to confront his own crew with this question. They shrug and shake their heads. They do not want to speak aloud their own conclusions – … Continue reading Chapter Fifty-five, Le Limier, by Corso
Chapter Fifty-Three, Son of France No More, by Corso
End of the second dog watch – aboard the Belladonna … ‘Ahoy the deck!’ ‘I see it,’ the quartermaster of the Belladonna M Jabari holds the spy glass steady. ‘Merde,’ he mutters to himself just able to see the blink of light in the early evening hour. He counts the number of times the light … Continue reading Chapter Fifty-Three, Son of France No More, by Corso
Chapter Fifty-Two, The Man Called Guerin Spranger, by Corso
Rouen… ‘Who is this man, Guerin Spranger? Do you or Lucien know of him?’ ‘And if we did?’ Captain Peter Eastman raises a questioning brow to the man beside him. Gérard Leroy is a wealthy successful merchant in Rouen, a restless man constantly seeking investment opportunities. Peter Eastman and Lucien Grimaud are known to be … Continue reading Chapter Fifty-Two, The Man Called Guerin Spranger, by Corso
Chapter Forty-Nine, Of Eagles, Pigeons, Nightingales and Roses, by Corso
The Aigle is trapped between the two Spanish galleons, the Sagrio and the Rosario, his men fighting outnumbered, the ship overwhelmed, boarded from two sides. He moves too fast for thought … seeing and not seeing, relentless, maiming, killing, an animal fighting for survival, mindless, instinctive, blocking… fist smashing, sword thrusting stabbing, dagger slashing… the … Continue reading Chapter Forty-Nine, Of Eagles, Pigeons, Nightingales and Roses, by Corso
