Ghost Ship of Biscay (eBook)

A Cape pirate adventure, Book 16

Gerrie Radlof, Pieter Haasbroek (Autoren)

Pieter Haasbroek (Herausgeber)

eBook Download: EPUB

2025 | 1. Auflage
82 Seiten
Pieter Haasbroek (Verlag)
978-0-00-072748-0 (ISBN)

Infos

A forged letter.

A ghostly ship.

A forbidden love caught between empires.

Plunge into the Golden Age of Piracy (1690-1720), where the treacherous waters of the Cape of Good Hope are just the beginning of a worldwide adventure.

In the glittering yet treacherous courts of post-coronation France, opulent masquerades hide ruthless plots and dangerous secrets. Count De Mentz, the ambitious Minister of the Crown, schemes to control the lucrative spice trade, by plunging France into a bloody war with Holland. His weapon is deception. a Forged letter framing the legendary Dutch sea captain, Oloff van Wagenaar, as a pirate and a traitor.

Branded an outlaw, Oloff must choose between loyalty to his homeland and his love for the French noblewoman Rynette du Bois. With betrayal closing in from every side, he joins forces with a daring prince and his loyal crew of sea dogs to expose the conspiracy before two nations are torn apart. But when whispers spread of a phantom ship prowling the coast, the very vessel Oloff was believed to have died on, the line between myth and treachery blurs. Is it a supernatural omen of doom, or a sinister plot hiding an even darker truth?

With the fate of kingdoms and the heart of the woman he loves at stake, Oloff must confront a ruthless enemy in a deadly game of power, passion, and betrayal. The storm is rising, and the Ghost Ship of Biscay may claim him once and for all. Perfect for fans of swashbuckling pirate adventures, epic historical romance, and high-seas intrigue.

If you love daring sea captains, forbidden love, political conspiracies, and ghostly maritime legends, this thrilling sixteenth page-turner sea pirate story will keep you hooked until the final wave.

Textauszug

16. GHOST SHIP OF BISCAY

Chapter 1

The gatekeeper frowns. He shakes his head and gazes down the row of giant marble pillars towards the grand portico of Count De Mentz’s palace. A single lamp burns on the stoop. Only here and there is a window illuminated. Outwardly, it would appear as if the repose of night has descended upon the luxurious dwelling.

But then, his eyes drift again to the few horses in the dark shadows of the slender cypresses along the main entrance to the courtyard. The riders had arrived one by one shortly before midnight. They were all dressed in ordinary riding attire, and the gatekeeper initially presumed they were merely suitors of the palace staff. But when they darted towards the front door, and he recognized a few of them, he was startled. Simultaneously, the head porter had appeared and ushered them inside.

Again, the gatekeeper shakes his head. One of those riders is the Duke of Orleans. He would recognize that haughty countenance any time. The Duke has often visited the Count, but then it was with splendid steeds in tow.

He could not see their facial features too well in the dim light, but he has no doubt that he also recognized Count De Auvergne. This young nobleman is just as frequent a visitor to the Count. The gatekeeper is certain that he is not mistaken.

And these things bother him. They arrived late at night, without fanfare, as if they wished to keep the visit a secret. He feels almost indignant that he must be burdened with this unsettling behaviour of the nobles. He would rather know nothing of their affairs. It makes him uneasy because he gets the impression that all is not right.

Paris had barely calmed from the festivities that followed the coronation of their young king. The whole populace had cheered. The gatekeeper, along with them, had envisioned a future of peace and abundance for him and the entire country.

And now these things are happening. Like thieves in the night, a few of the most powerful nobles are visiting Count De Mentz, Minister of the Crown, the man who, next to the King, holds the most authority in France.

He sighs deeply, steps a few paces down the stoop, but turns around when the door behind him opens.

The head porter beckons. He hastens closer.

“You may go,” the porter orders curtly. “And I would prefer that you say nothing about these late visits.”

“But of course not. I...”

“Indeed,” the porter coolly interrupts him, “you will forfeit your head if I find out that you are discussing your master’s affairs.”

The gatekeeper startles. His lips tremble slightly.

“But I… I…”

“I know you will not speak,” says the porter somewhat condescendingly. “That is why I will also entrust you with the details. The riders here tonight are foremen from His Excellency’s estate in Provence. His Excellency wishes to ascertain from them the sentiments of the people there in their region. However, he does not want it to leak that he is making inquiries, therefore we must not either, agreed?”

“Of course! Of course!” the gatekeeper affirms hastily and convincingly. But when he steps off the stoop, he shakes his head again. It is difficult to believe that the Duke of Orleans and Count De Auvergne are foremen of Count De Mentz.

The porter watches the guard depart. He hopes the fellow will not go blabbing. He ought to have let him go earlier this evening, but he had forgotten about him when he sent the other servants to their quarters. His Excellency had expressly requested him to ensure that the courtyard and the corridors were deserted when the visitors arrived. And if it is His Excellency’s desire, it is the porter’s duty to execute it thus. He has been in the Count’s service for years and has learned that it is by far the best policy to keep his eyes, ears and mouth shut when he deals with the nobility. He knows that his master can trust him, and it is also why he is aware of nocturnal visits and secret meetings that would place the Minister in a precarious position if the wrong persons were to hear of them.

During the few years before the coronation of Prince Etienne, the porter had noticed that the activities that were underway in certain circles were not actually focused on the well-being of the young Crown Prince. But with the coronation ceremony last week, the porter had half-accepted that if there had been any attempts to prevent the coronation, such plots had failed.

He walks down the dimly lit corridor. Under the door on his right, a sliver of light shines through. He hears voices within, but cannot distinguish the words. For just a moment he hesitates, but then he sternly rebukes himself and walks on.

Behind the closed door of the spacious reading room, Count De Mentz stands next to a table around which five men are seated. A moment of silence has descended on the room, but the visitors look expectantly at the Minister. Their posture is tense. They know that his next words will reveal the purpose of this gathering.

“France must declare war against Holland!” De Mentz emphasizes each word.

They sit in stunned silence. So momentous is the statement that one or two of them suddenly smile because they consider the possibility that the Count is jesting, but then they realize that he is deadly serious.

“War!” It is the elderly Duke of Orleans, the oldest among them, who exclaims thus. “I do not understand, De Mentz.”

“But it is quite simple,” answers the Count swiftly, like one who is prepared for every question. “It is in the interest of our country, and to the benefit of each of us.”

“Possibly,” the Duke concedes. He has apparently considered it. “But what you forget is that it was not even a year ago that we might have had the forces to carry out such a plan. I must remind you of a ceremony that took place a few days ago. Etienne sits today on the throne of France.”

“A young pup!” one of the others interjects, but the Count merely nods as if he finds the Duke’s remark intelligent and as if he is glad it was mentioned.

“A young pup, yes,” the Duke concedes, “but Etienne has issued proclamations and he has made promises in public in which he took a sacred oath to rule the country in peace. And as I know him, he is entirely serious. No, it will not be easy to get him to change his mind.”

“Possibly.” The Count shrugs his shoulders. “But it is precisely because of those promises of His Majesty that war must now be declared, now, while those promises still resound clearly in the ears of the people.”

“In other words,” says the Duke slowly, “you propose that France be plunged into war just because Etienne made public promises…?” But while he is in the process of uttering the words, their implications strike him. He lets his head fall and sits in thought. The others also begin to realize what the Count is aiming towards.

“A keen understanding…” begins the Count with a satisfied smile, and leaves the sentence incomplete. Then he continues. “Etienne has a strong will. Before the coronation, we did everything in our power to place the future of our country under more competent leadership.” He nods towards the young Count De Auvergne. “Your brother, Count,” he says sedately, “had, it is believed, almost succeeded in achieving this goal even at the last moment. He was our dear and good friend. We know that if he had sat on the throne today, he would have shown an affinity for our advice and suggestions at all times. But unfortunately, fortune has not favored France, and your brother is no longer with us. We are nonetheless grateful that you have come tonight.”

Count De Auvergne nods politely and gratefully. It has barely been a week since he became head of the House De Auvergne, but from a young age, he has lived in a world of intrigue and conspiracy. He fits into this group.

“The fact remains, therefore,” he now remarks, “that Etienne does indeed occupy the position of power and that he has a strong, obstinate will.”

“Precisely for that reason!” exclaims De Mentz vehemently, “that is why the people’s trust in their new young ruler must be shaken. They must realize that it is to us that they must look for guidance.”

“And we are going to accomplish this by war with Holland?” asks the Duke of Orleans somewhat drily.

“A war that will fill the coffers of France to overflowing,” the Count assures him. “A war that will bring glory and honour to our armies.”

There is a sparkle in the eye of the young De Auvergne. It is as if he already sees himself at the head of the victorious troops and hears the adoring people cheering around him. But the elderly Duke still shakes his head.

“It is still war,” he says sedately. “And war brings misery and suffering.”

“The battle will not be fought on French soil,” the Count counters. “For the most part, it will be at sea. We all know that the Dutch East India Company is no longer what it was. Their naval power has been weakened by their war with England. We, the English, and also the Spanish, today share in the trade with the East. Holland no longer has the monopoly. But do you think that any one of the four, and that includes us, is going to be satisfied with a quarter of the business?”

He shakes his head and looks fixedly from one to the other. He does not expect an answer, because he knows that his words cannot be refuted.

“No,” he continues. “England will continue to monopolize more and more of the trade for herself while the Dutch will try to regain what they have lost. It will be a long, bitter struggle unless…” again he...

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 27.8.2025
• Übersetzer: Pieter Haasbroek, Ai
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Literatur ► Fantasy / Science Fiction ► Fantasy
• Themenwelt: Literatur ► Romane / Erzählungen
• ISBN-10: 0-00-072748-2 / 0000727482
• ISBN-13: 978-0-00-072748-0 / 9780000727480