"Indeed, I could tell that too, but why the ice?" Daton questioned.
"Here's the oil," a breathless Fallow said.
"Excellent, Chief," Daton said. "Spread most of it over his chest. Leave some in the bottom of the bucket. We may want to anoint his head and feet as well. Let's just see what happens with this first dose, shall we?"
"The dragon's excited. It thinks it can talk to young Blithe here," Andool said.
"Halcyon, get to work, boy," Fallow said. "If you're going to live, you need to save yourself now."
Halcyon never felt the oil pouring on his chest. In a few moments he did feel the tingling of the tannin oil. For just a second he thought he even smelled the nasty root odor.
He tried moving his arms and legs again. Nothing happened.
Suddenly an image of the enormous dragon's head filled his mind and broke through the darkness. It was as if the creature was right there in the blackness with him. He could actually see the dragon in the air over wherever he was.
"Human!" the dragon thought at him.
Halcyon could sense a great deal of affection and concern in that thought.
In that instant he was in the mind of the dragon again. His vision encompassed the ship as the dragon saw it. Clear blue skies and a brisk force-five wind moved the ship along. The Sanguine was at full sail again. There was no sign of weather damage.
"Where did you go?" the dragon asked.
"I haven't the slightest idea. Someone may have put a spell on me. At least that's what Commander Giantson thinks," Halcyon added. Halcyon could feel the strength and fitness of the dragon. It felt unusually healthy and strong.
"Are you safe now?" the dragon wondered.
"Well, thanks to you I seem to be. If what the commander says is correct, you have just broken a curse by contacting me," a relieved Halcyon told the dragon.
"Olden and Griffon are very angry with you. Why is that?" the dragon asked.
"It's hard to explain. I did some magic that I shouldn't have and caused that storm that hurt you. Then someone else tried hurting your heart and I used even more magic to try and fix that. I have to pay for my mistakes. We have important rules that I didn't follow." Halcyon dreaded the court-martial. He knew it would happen as soon as he woke up.
"I'll talk to them. You tried to save me." The dragon showed its concern for Halcyon.
"At this point I'll take all the help I can get, but I'm expecting the worst. Please try sending me back into my body," the midshipwizard asked the dragon. "Hopefully the curse will be lifted by now."
Once again, Halcyon's mind filled with blackness and he felt nothing more.
his majesty's articles of war: article xv
There shall be no wasteful expense of any blasting shot, ammunition, or other stores in the fleet, nor any embezzlement thereof, but the stores and provisions shall be carefully preserved, upon pain of such punishment to be inflicted upon the offenders, abettors, buyers, and receivers (being persons subject to naval discipline) as shall be by a court-martial found just in that behalf.
Click. Click.
Halcyon woke with a start. He threw his hands up only to find his hands constrained by chains and thick metal bracelets.
"Easy, easy there. We're going to have some more rough seas ahead." Ashe Fallow put a calming hand on Halcyon's shoulder.
"What are these?" Halcyon raised the manacles on his hands and discovered the metal bracelets and chains attached to another set on his ankles. "Chief, are these necessary? I'm not really able to jump ship in the middle of the ocean."
"You'll not be pleased to know you're wearing the manacles of Iben. I'm not pleased with the order to put these on you, myself. These manacles prevent spellcasters from working magic. Their use prevents you from escaping from the brig and flying off. I'm sorry I'm the one having to put them on," Chief Fallow said. "Don't be telling me you can't use magic. No one suspected you could put a ton of ice around the dragon's heart, either, but I just looked, and it's still there."
"I won't try to escape, Chief Fallow. I'm guilty. I'll take my court-martial and hang. Everyone can see I ignored Article Three, I know it and you know it, but I can stand like a man and take my sentence honorably." Halcyon spoke the words and his mouth went dry, as he fully understood what he just said.
"Boy, stand up and listen to me!" Ashe's order left no room for argument.
Even in the constricting chains, Halcyon stood and stiffened to attention.
"First, in the brig there is no rank. No one salutes you in here and you don't salute back. Second, you are a Lankshire man and you will hold on to life with your last breath. That is what I would do and that is what you will do. Is that clear?" Fallow shouted at Halcyon, inches away from his face.
"Yes, Chief," Halcyon boomed back.
"Guilty or not, there is always hope. Past hope there is always a way around everything, is that clear?" Ashe shouted.
"No, Chief." Halcyon relaxed his stance. "I did it, I see no way around..."
"Shut up! You aren't a midshipwizard in here, but they can't take away the fact that you are a Blithe and a Lankshire man." The look of anger on Ashe Fallow's face commanded all of Halcyon's attention. "If and when it happens, you will go to the hangman with your head held high. That's what your father would do, but until that happens don't just accept your fate. You are a Blithe with centuries of naval tradition to stiffen your spine, boy. Did you have a reason for using high magic?"
"Yes," Halcyon replied.
"I don't need to hear why you did what you did. As you sit waiting for them to call you, think about the actions causing you to end up in here. Make sure you tell them the reasons you used high magic before they say you're guilty. I'm guessing it will be good enough to keep that hangman's rope off your neck. Do you understand me?" the chief asked.
"Yes, Chief, I can do that." But Halcyon wasn't sure that he could say anything in his own defense.
"Let me tell you what's in store for you," Ashe said. "Tomorrow at twelve bells, you go before the mast. They take you out on deck before the assembled crew and the captain reads the charge against you. You just stand there and take it. After the reading, they escort you to the captain's wardroom and Captain Olden, First Officer Wily, and Second Officer Griffon judge you. They decide what you did, how you did it, and if you should hang for it. That's when you talk about your actions.
"Don't do anything stupid like saying you're guilty. When they ask you if you are guilty or not guilty say, 'I'm guilty with extenuating circumstances.' Repeat that back to me right now," ordered Fallow.
"I'm guilty with extenuating circumstances... but I'm just guilty, Chief." Halcyon felt terrible as he said those words. He'd deliberately broken an article in the king's navy.
"But me no buts, boy. Did your father raise any idiots?" Fallow asked.
"No." Halcyon knew his brothers were smart; he was no longer so sure about himself.
"Did your mother, bless her kind soul, put you in the navy to be hanged?" Ashe asked.
"Of course not," Halcyon replied.
"Repeat what I told you, this time without the stupid questions.... Do it!" Ashe yelled.
"I'm guilty with extenuating circumstances," Halcyon said.
"That's what you say and they'll have to listen to your story. You've got friends on this ship. You saved a bunch of them in that storm when the blast-tube broke loose. The storm was nothing; don't let it concern you. Most of us have survived much worse and I'm telling everyone you are the one who stopped that little blow with your magical wish. They aren't even charging you with that blunder because you can't face two death sentences at the same time.
"I will be at your back in that wardroom. No one is going to sentence you to death without your getting one chance to save yourself. Your mates have been standing guard over your body for the days you were asleep and helpless. Whoever cursed you won't get that chance again. You saved the ship. We now have marine guards everywhere all because of you. If that doesn't make you
feel good, nothing will. Don't disappoint your mates, me, or your father, who I'm sure is watching right now, understood?" Fallow was leaving.
"Yes, I understand," Halcyon replied, appreciating Fallow's effort to stiffen his spine.
"One more thing, boy. I've spoken freely with you here, because I figured you needed a swift kick in the pants. Someone on this ship wants you dead. Whatever fate hands you in the next few days will happen. You trust in me and you trust in your wardroom mates. You don't trust anyone else on this ship until I catch and put a pike in the traitor's heart. Do you understand that, boy?" There was a deadly gleam in Fallow's eyes.
"Yes, Chief" was all Halcyon could say.
The brig hatch shut behind Fallow. Halcyon had never felt so alone in his life.
He sat back down on the cot. The weight of the silvery chains felt heavy on his body. For most of the last year, he'd greatly enjoyed the feeling of magic running through his veins. That energy put more spring in a person's step and allowed them to move about with strength and conviction. Denied that feeling by the magic of the chains, he ached to have his abilities back.
He found himself sitting on his bed looking down at the silver chains. A slow fire built up in his body. He didn't like the very feeling of the chains. Didn't he try to save the ship from destruction? His heart beat faster. He felt an indignation at his situation, a situation someone else on the ship forced on him.
Slamming the chains down on the bed, he thought if he ever got out of this, he would spend some time working on counter-magic to make chains like these not work on him. There must be a way; he wagered to himself that Daton might know how to be free of the effects of such chains. Maybe the maker, this Iben, might still be alive to reveal the chain's secrets. If he could pick the chain's lock, he could just shed himself of them.
His anger grew as he sat there staring at the brig's walls, thinking about the injustice of his being there when he had tried only to save the ship. The situation drove him to a madness he'd never known in himself. For a brief moment, the links of the chain glowed red from Halcyon's demon eyes.
Idiot, he thought. He wasn't going to have the time to become a locksmith in the brig. He would barely have time to eat his last meal.
"What's it like being cursed?" a voice asked. It was Tupper's voice. Halcyon looked up and the face of his friend appeared in the barred opening of the brig hatch.
"Tupper, it's good to see you. What are you doing here?" Halcyon rose, the anger leaving his body. He went to the hatch, happy to see his friend's face.
"It's my duty, unofficial duty, that is. We've all been down here a time or two, we midshipwizards. It's the chief's idea. Did you know about the curse while trapped in your own mind? What was it like?" Tupper showed his boyish enthusiasm in his broad smile.
"I couldn't move my body. I didn't know I was under an evil spell. I could hear the surgeon and Chief Fallow talking over my body, but I couldn't even move my eyes. All the while, I felt like I was in the darkest of pits. Why would anyone bother to curse me?" Halcyon shook his head, having no idea what attracted the attention of the saboteur to his bedside. "Aw, look at this, there's scars on both of my hands. I've got burn marks on my palms right along my lifelines. I've got several aunts who are going to be quite put out if they try to..." Then Halcyon realized he wouldn't be seeing those aunts again. His face went pale.
"The chief and the marines went over the list of names of crew who came to see you while you were unconscious," Tupper remarked. "Half the crew was in here before Officer Wily put a stop to the visits. There's no way to tell which one of them cursed you. The brig's a nasty place, but at least you don't have to deal with Lieutenant Junior Grade Hackle. He's all smiles at the thought...."
"What were you saying about me, Mr. Haywhen?" Lieutenant Hackle's voice rang out in the corridor. The lieutenant was somewhere on the other side of the hatch.
"Sir, I was just talking to Mr. Blithe," Tupper said. The sound of his voice told Halcyon his friend had come to attention.
"None of that now, talking with the prisoner is highly irregular for a midshipwizard like you. I came to see the prisoner myself. Stand at ease, man, but get back from the hatch." Aberdeen Hackle's face appeared all smiles in the hatch opening. "So, I'm not surprised to see you being the first one of the wardroom midshipwizards to land in the brig, my boy." Hackle's glee-filled tone matched the huge grin on his face.
Halcyon sat back down on his bed. He composed his face and gave the lieutenant a stony glare.
"Marked for greatness, some were saying," Hackle taunted. "A Blithe through and through, so noble, others said. Just how many of the Blithes have found themselves in the brig, do you know, Hal?"
Suddenly the inside of his cell lit with a red glow. Halcyon knew it was from his angry eyes. He didn't care.
"Oh, got you angry, did I? Imagine that. Why, Halcyon, I didn't mean to do anything to upset you. It should be very interesting to see if your eyes still glow as you dance on the rope. I'm told it takes ten or twenty minutes for a strong man to die as he struggles for that last breath, swinging back and forth under the mizzenmast. Don't worry about getting word to your kin. I will, of course, be the one composing and sending the letter home telling of your actions on the ship. I'll put the best light on what you have done." Hackle left, laughing.
"Mr. Hackle, don't you have duties elsewhere at this time?" Commander Giantson's voice cut off Hackle's laughter.
"Sir, I was just checking on the prisoner. He's from my wardroom, as you know," Hackle replied.
"I do indeed know that. I looked for you in the midshipwizards' wardroom only moments ago. I believe that is your current duty station and that you are remiss in not being there. Mr. Hackle, carry on with your duties and get where you belong. I must work with the prisoner," Giantson said.
"Aye, aye, sir." Hackle's face left the window of the hatch.
Halcyon closed his eyes and calmed himself. He didn't want the commander seeing the effects of Hackle's taunting.
"Corporal, please open the hatch," the commander requested.
"Sir, I must ask why you wish the hatch open," the pleasant tones of Corporal Denna Darkwater could be heard past the hatch.
"Well, Corporal, I'm surprised you asked. I have something of the prisoner's that he needs to have and I would give it to him," the commander replied.
"I will open the hatch, but I have to inspect whatever you have for the prisoner, sir." The corporal didn't sound pleased at having to question Daton.
Halcyon was somehow very happy to know that Darkwater helped guard his life.
"Very well, Corporal. You can give these bracers to him. Young Halcyon, I thought you could use these. I got them from your sea chest. The ward your family put on the chest was quite interesting to overcome. Of pixie manufacture I think, what?" Giantson asked.
"Commander Giantson." Denna sounded most apologetic. "I have to know what these are. I've never seen their like before."
"Not a problem, Corporal," Daton said. "I believe them to be enchanted war bracers. They are a bit out of fashion in our modern times, but there are three spells placed on the bracers, I believe. The first magic hinders an enemy spellcaster from inflicting mind-control spells on the wearer of the bracers. The second spell causes curses to reflect back on the caster as they try to hurl them at the wearer. I believe that in young Blithe's current situation this is a uniquely fitting attribute of these bracers. The third spell provides strength and added courage to the wearer. I give you my absolute assurances that these bracers cannot help our young Halcyon escape. The bracers themselves hide no lock picks or weapons of any type. They are simple plates of metal bent by a smith's hand. One takes the bracer and bends it over the forearm. The two of them ward off blows to the lower arms. I venture to say these might stop even a strong pike strike from your own good right arm. Will that be enough information for you, young Denna?"
"Yes, sir, thank you, sir."
The hatch opened and the corporal hande
d Halcyon the family bracers.
A thrill of excitement filled Halcyon as he put on the items. He didn't care a bit that such armor was out of fashion in this modern age of blast-tubes and sails. Blithes had traditionally gone to war wearing bracers of this type for the last four centuries. Halcyon grew up hearing stories about how bracers like these saved the lives of his uncles and brothers and even his father. Locked away as he was, hope was something he didn't have, until a touch of his family fell into his hands and covered his arms.
Mindful of Fallow's words, he inspected his bracers, making sure that nothing had changed on the metal and leather. Physically they were just the way he left them in his sea chest. He'd have to trust that there were no magics placed on them by an enemy.
Daton Giantson stood in the hatchway of the brig. "Normally, those in the brig aren't allowed to have personal items. However, prisoners don't usually acquire curses in this man's navy while confined in the brig. Your fate at the hands of the court-martial officers will become tempered by the fact that you were attacked while you slept. I'm going to make sure that comes out at your court-martial.
"Someone on the ship is a danger to all of us and that person isn't you," Daton said. "We've put extra security throughout the ship. It should be much more difficult to harm the dragon or its crew, thanks in part to what we found out about you and your curse. I will be there at your court-martial tomorrow. Some of my observations should carry weight in the final decision concerning you.
"I hope you'll excuse the fact that I went through your things. Naturally, with you being a prisoner of the brig, I took the order to search your billet. I was the only one on board who could get past the wards on your sea chest. I hope to talk to you about them when we have more time and find ourselves in happier circumstances. Luck to you, young Halcyon."
Halcyon gushed with appreciation. "Thank you, sir, anything you can do on my behalf is greatly appreciated."
"Not a bit of it. Besides," Daton said, "I want to talk to you about that unique spell you placed on the dragon's heart. Do you know the ice still covers the heart and hasn't melted a bit in three days?"
Midshipwizard Halcyon Blithe Page 18
