"You might say that," the woman responded. "I hold a seat on the ruling council."

"Ruling council?" said Athgar. "I assume they advise the duke?"

"No," Arabel replied, "there is no duke, in fact, there's no nobility at all, in the traditional sense. The city is ruled by a council of influential people."

"A strange system, from the sounds of it," offered Athgar. "How does that work?"

"The city was founded by merchants," she began, "the most powerful of which make the decisions that govern the city. It's a city-state, much like Ilea to the west."

"Never heard of that place, either," confessed Athgar, "though I must admit to not having travelled much."

"And yet you make the long trip to Corassus," said Arabel. "I rather suspect you have a good reason for travelling there, to pull you so far from your home."

"Has Athgar not told you already?" asked Natalia.

"No," Arabel replied, "he has not. In fact, he's been remarkably close-mouthed on the subject."

"That's my fault, I'm afraid," said Natalia, "the truth is we're travelling there to consult the Great Archives. I'm looking for my family."

"Well, that's fascinating," said Arabel. "What's your family name? Perhaps I've heard of them."

"I doubt it," said Natalia, "they weren't anyone of import, as far as I'm aware." She could sense the woman's interest and decided it was best to abandon the conversation. "Athgar, would you help me? I think I need to go and lie down again, my head is throbbing."

"Of course," he replied. Taking Natalia's arm, he escorted her to the hatch and then climbed down ahead of her. Pausing at the bottom, he guided her down, then walked her to their room.

"What was that all about?" he asked.

"Something tells me we shouldn't mention the Cunars to her," she said.

"Why not?"

"If she's a member of this ruling council she spoke of, it's likely she has close connections with the Church."

"I don't see your logic," he said.

"Well," Natalia mused, "I doubt a Cunar fortress could exist without the approval of the ruling council, do you?"

"I suppose I can see what you mean," he confessed, "best if we keep off the topic in future. I'll have a word with Cyric."

"Good idea," she said. "In the meantime, we'll stay nice and friendly with her, she might prove to be a valuable source of information."

"All right," Athgar agreed. "Now, you should lie down if your head is bothering you."

She looked at him with a smile that soon turned into a wicked grin, "My head is fine. I just needed an excuse to get you alone."

His look of concern was wiped from his face, to immediately be replaced with a smile. "You never need an excuse to get me alone."

"I was hoping you'd say that," she said.

Pirates

Autumn 1103 SR