The Turning Tide by Rob Kidd Read Free Book Online Page B

rubbed it on his sleeve. “Your beard hasn’t given you any hints? I thought the great Sri Sumbhajee and his wondrous beard knew all.”
    “Sri Sumbhajee will use his powers to identify the assassin,” Askay said.
    “And then—elephants and crocodiles!” Pusasn cried.
    “They probably didn’t poison everyone’s dishes,” Jean pointed out desperately.
    “I have an idea,” Carolina said suddenly. “Sri Sumbhajee, if we catch the assassin for you, may we ask you for a favor?”
    “And what is that?” Askay asked, his eyes narrowing.
    “Er, a favor to be named later,” Jack interjected quickly. He knew how Carolina thought; he’d seen her negotiations with Mistress Ching veer sharply away from Shadow Gold and into wishy-washy “fight alongside us” territory. As if defeating a worldwide nemesis were more important than saving Jack’s life!
    “Sri Sumbhajee does not need help,” Pusasn said. “Sri Sumbhajee—”
    “Knows all, yes, yes,” Jack said, waving one hand in a circle.
    Diego noticed that his spoon appeared to have vanished…well, “vanished” if you pretended not to notice the spoon-shaped lump in Jack’s sleeve.
    “The court may disperse,” Askay announced.
    “Sri Sumbhajee is going to bed,” Pusasn added. Jack glanced up at the sky, which was still fairly light. The sun was a ball of orange on the horizon.
    “Wait,” Carolina said, “shouldn’t we talk about the Shadow Lord?”
    “Shouldn’t we eat something ?” Jean protested.
    “Sri Sumbhajee will speak with you in the morning,” Pusasn said firmly. The Pirate Lord gathered his robes around him and strode regally away.
    As soon as he was gone, the members of his court started climbing to their feet, muttering and grumbling. Jean flopped over onto his back, groaning piteously. Catastrophe Shane tried to stand up, but he got his boots tangled in the cushions and ended up sprawled across the flagstones. Courtiers and pirates politely stepped over him.
    In the commotion, Jack beckoned Diego, Carolina, and Barbossa. Marcella crowded up behind Diego, craning to listen in.
    “So what’s the plan?” Barbossa asked, leaning into the huddle.
    “Plan?” Jack said. “I was just saying hello. How are the women’s quarters, Carolina? Notice any secret ways to get there?”
    “They’re nice,” Carolina said, giving him an amused look.
    Jack spotted Mannajee whispering to a woman in a sari the color of the sea. She had a round, pretty face and looked about as doughy as Mannajee. Her plump hands smoothed his hair and straightened his kurta while they talked.
    “Carolina, love,” Jack said, nodding surreptitiously with his head, “have you made the acquaintance of that young woman?”
    “Sure,” Carolina said. “That’s Jhumpa, Mannajee’s wife.” Parvati had escorted the girls around the women’s quarters and introduced them to a few high-ranking court women. What had surprised Carolina the most was discovering that Parvati was in fact Sri Sumbhajee’s current wife. His last one had died a few years earlier.
    “Keep an eye on her, would you?” Jack said with a wink. “She has a suspicious air about her. Reminds me of this charming blonde I met once on Tortuga.” He touched his cheek and winced, remembering. “Very…strong opinions.”
    “We’re going to solve this,” Carolina said, giving Diego an excited look. “If we save Sri Sumbhajee’s life, then he’ll definitely help us fight the Shadow Lord, won’t he?”
    “You may not have noticed this,” Jack said, “but he is a pirate.”
    Carolina ignored him. “See what you can find out,” she said to Diego. “Especially about Mannajee. He’s Sri Sumbhajee’s heir, so he’d be the next Pirate Lord if Sri Sumbhajee died, which gives him a real motive.”
    “I’m glad I don’t have someone hanging around plotting my death all the time. Eh, Barbossa?” Jack said.
    Jack’s first mate made a strange contorted face. “We’re wasting time,” he