‘What ship is that!’ Odysseus shouts up to Crotte, high overhead above the lookout. Crotte looks down, not at Odysseus, but at a head poking tentatively through the lubber’s hole. ‘That’s it pup! Keep coming,’ he encourages the sailor climbing tentatively through the hole and into the lookout. The ‘pup’ grips the sides, his legs … Continue reading Chapter Forty-Four, Corsairs of St Malo, by Corso
Chapter Forty-Three, Smothered Mate, by Mordaunt
In chess, a “smothered mate” is a checkmating method whereby it is necessary to sacrifice pieces to smother (surround) the king so he is unable to move. The method is known since the 15th century, and was described in Luis Ramírez de Lucena’s (c. 1465 – c. 1530) book Repetición de Amores y Arte de … Continue reading Chapter Forty-Three, Smothered Mate, by Mordaunt
Chapter Forty-Two, The Belladona Problem, by Corso
‘Wait!’ Ver and Loup stop in mid stride and turn around. Lucien stands close to his horse, hands on the saddle poised to mount. He stares, without seeing, across the inn’s rear yard. What is it that makes him hesitate? Only a few moments earlier he had been decisive. A man resembling Radu – a … Continue reading Chapter Forty-Two, The Belladona Problem, by Corso
Chapter Forty-One, A Prisoner of Many Names, None His Own, by Mordaunt
M. de Ronan wakes up with a jolt. For a moment he stares at the canopy above his head, confused, trying to remember where he is or what might have stirred him, and realizes that Layla is not lying next to him. Alarmed, he sits up quickly against the headboard, everything returning all at once. … Continue reading Chapter Forty-One, A Prisoner of Many Names, None His Own, by Mordaunt
Chapter Forty, Phantasms of Love, by Mordaunt
The country road crests to a rocky ridge and slopes sharply downward. Riding ahead of the carriage once more, the first thing Athos sees right below him, upon reaching the top, is the tiled roof of the pretty cottage that was visible from the cove, where the tide is beginning to flood the shore, as … Continue reading Chapter Forty, Phantasms of Love, by Mordaunt
Chapter Thirty-Nine, The Right Man, by Corso
The tavern is filling with working men looking for a drink and a game of cards or dice before returning to their homes and wives. There is a general murmur of conversation punctuated with a raucous laugh or shout of disbelief at a story or unlikely luck with the dice. On one side of the … Continue reading Chapter Thirty-Nine, The Right Man, by Corso
Chapter Thirty-Eight, Ghosts of La Rochelle, by Corso
At the thin border between night and dawn, bird song is tentative, the full chorus to a new day wait for light. Marie de Combalet lays quietly in her bed, dark behind bed drapes closed against a chilly morning. The intermittent singing notes tell her the hour is late enough for Lucien to be already … Continue reading Chapter Thirty-Eight, Ghosts of La Rochelle, by Corso
Chapter Thirty-Seven, Home, by Mordaunt
“My love, I no longer fear writing these words. My most precious love, There is no suffering worse than being separated from you, but what you have suffered I cannot fathom; what you may be suffering still. Louis–it is his pride that drives him, my love, and you know his pride well, for we instilled … Continue reading Chapter Thirty-Seven, Home, by Mordaunt
Chapter Thirty-Six, The Past is Prologue, by Corso
"What's past is prologue" William Shakespeare, The Tempest, Act 2-Scene 1 ‘Do not attack the Belladona,’ Raoul repeats in clipped tones. Lucien turns to him, brows raised. He crosses his arms over his chest. ‘Are you …telling me to not attack the Belladona?’ Lucien eyes narrow speculatively, ‘who is asking this of me?’ ‘I am,’ … Continue reading Chapter Thirty-Six, The Past is Prologue, by Corso
Chapter Thirty-Five, Harsh Recountings, by Mordaunt
Some men say an army of horses and some men say an army on foot and some men say an army of ships is the most beautiful thing on the black earth. But I say it is what you love. (Sappho, 16 transl. by Anne Carson) The journey returning from Saintonge to Glénay takes longer. They … Continue reading Chapter Thirty-Five, Harsh Recountings, by Mordaunt
Twelve Years After 