Halcyon stood at attention. "Not a one, ma'am. Thank you, ma'am."
She walked out of the wardroom, and all the other boys rallied round their friend.
"By the gods, what did you do to merit that?" both Grunseth and Murdock asked at the same time as everyone spoke at once.
"Is it a good thing or a bad thing to be invited to dine with the captain?" Ryan Murdock asked.
"You have to bring two bottles of wine, it's tradition for the first meal with the captain," Tupper said.
"I don't have any wine. Who brings wine on a dragonship?" Halcyon said, dismay filling his mind and body.
"I've got two bottles, I'll give them to you to take," Tupper said.
"I'll work on your boots, they're a mess," Mark offered.
"Yes, we'll all pitch in for the honor of the wardroom. You're representing us, after all," Jock said.
Anne Driden burst into the wardroom. "Two more ships, to the north. There are three enemies now!"
Those who had them grabbed telescopes while the others ran up on deck.
The thought of the looming supper with the officers of the ship dropped from Blithe's mind as he ran up to the forecastle with the rest of his mates.
Other midshipwizards and lieutenants were there as well. Halcyon raised his telescope to look at the two new ships.
In the distance, at least twenty miles away, both ships appeared as twins of one another.
"They're fifth-raters, both from the Drusan navy. You can tell by their prows. They're flying Maleen colors. I'm betting they're filled with Maleen marines, sink me if they aren't," Dart remarked.
"They're coming downwind of us, they could be here in three hours," Andorvan nervously said.
"That's not going to happen." Elan Swordson sounded irritated. "Look at the first-rater, it's still running from us. I don't think two smaller warships are going to do the work their first-rater should be doing."
Standing behind the midshipwizards, ignoring the ships in the distance, and quite enjoying the conversation among the youth of the ship, Andool Griffon was secretly pleased at their displayed eagerness for the coming battle. They hadn't seen her come up on the forecastle deck.
"Mr. Surehand." She called him to attention. "If you were the captain of the first-rater, running before us right now, what would your orders be?"
"What, a great dragonship like the Sanguine, coming up my stern and me with only three ships to fight her? Sink me, Commander; I'd tell them all to run in three different directions like chickens!" Dart laughed at his jest, as did the others.
Andool only gave him a slight smile. "You are probably correct in your thinking, but I don't believe the Maleen admiralty would agree with your choice. As you reached port and news of your behavior became known, they'd probably hang you. While our Mr. Surehand is hanging, Mr. Boatson, what would you do?" she asked.
Jacom Boatson was a thin young man, middling good with a saber and very good with the technical details of sailing a ship. He was always looking over a pair of glasses at those about him. He talked unusually slowly. "I believe the Maleen standard battle tactic is to board as soon as possible. Toward that end, I would have my small squadron run away from the Sanguine until after dark. Then toward dawn I would come down on the ship and board with all three warships and take the Sanguine as soon as possible." He spoke so matter-of-factly that many of the other midshipwizards paled at the thought of losing so quickly and easily.
"Mr. Boatson, you are correct in thinking that is what they will probably do. However, I asked what you would do if you were in command. I was hoping for a little Arcanian wisdom, and found it sadly lacking this day in you. One more time, then." She looked at the assembled young men and women. Many of them turned to view the three ships, clearly hoping to escape the questioning of the second officer. "Mr. Blithe, what would you do if you were their commander?"
Without taking a second, he answered, "At dawn I would start a bombardment of the Sanguine on the port and starboard sides while the smallest of the three ships rammed the Sanguine head-on, thus killing the dragon and the ship at the same time."
"You'd what?" a stunned Griffon asked.
"My father always told me to look for weakness in any ship I served with," Halcyon replied. "Father felt knowing the ship's weaknesses could help any crew defend the ship better. The sea dragon is our greatest strength and our greatest weakness. A ship coming to ram the front of the Sanguine is difficult to stop, as our prow blast-tubes are few. If the enemy ship collided with the Sanguine's head or neck, the dragon dies and so do we."
"Well done, Mr. Blithe. Your observation is a correct one. I'm glad to say they haven't thought of the tactic on the enemy side as yet. There'll be a battle of some type tomorrow, in the morning I should think. Get some rest, all of you, tonight," Griffon said as she left the forecastle.
"Sink me again, Hal, where did you get such an idea? Ram the ship, that's just crazy," Dart chided.
"I don't think it's so insane," Tupper chimed in. "It could work."
"Dragonships can turn fast, it would be a hard maneuver to carry out," Grunseth commented.
"Not that hard if the dragonship captain wasn't expecting it," Mark said. "It could be a good thing to remember when we fight other Maleen dragonships. I don't plan on being on this first-rater forever. One day I'm going to captain a frigate of my own."
"On that day, I look forward to seeing the seven fiery hells all iced up, Mark, because when they are solidly iced is the only time you're going to be captain of a ship," Anne teased.
Dart came up to Halcyon and got in the way of the midshipwizard looking at the enemy in the distance. "Hal, I heard about the captain's invitation. Well done, your fate is assured if the captain's on your side. Do you have a fresh handkerchief?" Dart asked.
"Handkerchief? I packed weapons, clothing, and lots of other things, but no one ever told me I'd need nose cloths, sink me," Halcyon quipped, smiling back at Dart.
"I've got loads of them. We'll get you on the proper course to looking good for this supper. You should see our Alvena if you think you're nervous. I bet she's redone her hair three times since she heard the news that she'd be dining with the captain. You know she only got invited because the captain wanted to dine with you?" Dart asked.
"No, that can't be true?" Halcyon couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"As the rain comes down and the king smiles at his treasure room, it's a sure fact," Dart said with his hand on his heart. "I've been to a few fancy suppers in my day. Let's you and I go to my wardroom and compare notes on things so you don't look a fool. Have you decided on which song you're going to sing?"
Halcyon groaned at the very thought and walked away from the rail thinking the enemies they would face tomorrow would be as nothing compared with the meal with the captain that night.
Later, in the afternoon, Halcyon was glad to see Lieutenant Hackle leave the wardroom as the other midshipwizards helped him get ready for the captain's supper. It was clear that the lieutenant didn't dine much with the captain. It was also clear that he couldn't do much to interfere, as it was the captain and Halcyon could very well say something about Hackle that would get the junior lieutenant in trouble.
Before seven bells, a very smart-looking Merand walked into the wardroom. The female dress uniform consisted of a gray jacket with blue piping along the sleeves and collar. The male counterpart was a blue jacket with gray stripes along the sleeves and collar.
Everyone came to attention when she entered the room.
"At ease," she said. She held a small basket with two bottles of wine. It matched the basket Halcyon had on the table. "Well done, we will have a great evening after four bottles of wine are sipped by everyone. Are you ready to go, Mr. Blithe?"
"Ma'am, yes ma'am," Halcyon replied. They stepped out of the wardroom and moved to the stern.
When they walked into the captain's wardroom, Halcyon couldn't help but have the exact same feeling of dread he had at his court-martial. The
room appeared vastly changed from that time. There were at least thirty silver place settings. The captain's steward, Kendal, greeted them both at the hatch.
"You've both brought wine, well done. It's so good to see young officers these days honoring the old traditions," Kendal said. "I'll make sure the captain knows you brought them. Your places are marked at the head of the table alongside Captain Olden. Enjoy the meal; we're having the last of the corned beef tonight. The officers usually stand waiting at their chairs until the captain enters the area. The captain gives a toast to the king and you all sit down. When everyone has finished the blood pudding, I'll serve your bottles and you will be singing, Mr. Blithe. The captain enjoys a good song after his meal. Carry on, you two, carry on."
In moments the wardroom was ablaze with color. The marine officers walked in wearing their red coats. All the men were clearly fighters—big-boned, with rippling muscles, many with battle scars. Major Aberdeen wasn't the biggest of the lot by far.
A blushing Marine Corporal Denna Darkwater was dressed all in green with red stripes down her sleeves and collar. She didn't look the trained killer in her dress uniform, Halcyon thought. The war braid down her back was full of tiny skull beads showing off her skill in combat. Halcyon knew that tradition dictated there be a bead for every enemy officer killed by the owner of the braid. There were more than twenty beads in her hair. She looked up, noticed his friendly stare, and glared at him for a moment.
The lieutenants of the ship came in, and Jillian Durand stood out in her gray uniform, much the same as Alvena did.
Giantson and Wily walked through the captain's hatch laughing about something. After them came an arguing captain and Second Officer Griffon. They were clearly in a heated discussion. As the captain came to his place at the head of the table, he stopped arguing and smiled at the assembled crew.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please raise the glasses in front of you." The captain waited for everyone to take up a full wineglass. "Our first toast of the evening is always to His Arcanian Majesty, long may he reign."
"To the king!" The officers drank the toast.
The captain continued, "Please, all of you, sit, sit. I'm ordering you to drink and be merry, because tomorrow might find some of us very grave men and women, what?"
Only half the table got the joke, but Halcyon laughed the loudest of the group, perfectly understanding what the captain meant.
The captain started walking round the table. Picking up a large bottle and smiling, he helped refill some of the glasses. "I'm noticing a nasty trend, Major Aberdeen."
"What trend is that, sir?" the major asked.
"I'm serving a rather excellent Ilumin red tonight at the table," the captain observed. "All of my lieutenants have sipped of it rather modestly. Even my two midshipwizards—welcome to my table, you two—have only sipped their wines. However, look at your marines. Most of them have finished their first glass. At this rate we'd better capture all three enemy ships tomorrow just to plunder their stores of wine for you marines."
Once again, the wardroom rocked with mirth.
"Well said, Captain," Major Aberdeen commented. "Get us near enough and we marines will do our part. After all, we'll more than do our part tonight with your wine, of course."
The captain circled the table, emptying two more bottles of wine as he reached Halcyon's seat. "Ladies and gentlemen, I would introduce Midshipwizards Alvena Merand and Halcyon Blithe. Mr. Blithe comes from that famous line of Blithes so bravely serving the king and navy for many generations. Some of you have worked with our Mr. Blithe. Corporal Darkwater, I believe he put you on your ass the first time you two met."
The corporal turned beet red at the mention of that practice session. Her major spoke up for her.
"I'm sure she is ready for a rematch at the pleasure of your young midshipwizard, but at the moment there's Steward Kendal's corned beef to seriously consider," the major quipped.
The captain sat down at his place. "And consider it we will. Steward, serve the beef if you please." The captain waved in the main course, and the table broke up into many different conversations. The sounds of eating and conversation filled the wardroom for many minutes.
Halcyon wasn't at all sure he could eat, he was that nervous. At his right Alvena sat quietly with the captain on her other side. On his left, Andool Griffon chatted with the major across from her at the table. They were having a spirited conversation about the beef.
"It's good Arcanian beef that has made our country strong, ma'am," Major Aberdeen maintained.
"Not our mighty navy, not the crews of its ships, not even the just rule of the monarchy?" Andool shot back at the major in a teasing manner.
He sputtered a bit at her words, and then forked a large chunk of the corned beef up for inspection. "All those things you mentioned are important, of course. Nevertheless, beef gives a warrior vigor. It adds to girth and powers muscles, allowing amazing feats martial, if you will."
The major forked in the beef with Halcyon noting that the chunk was clearly larger than one normal man could handle in an hour. The major was out of the conversation for some time to come.
"Miss Merand," the captain said, "I would like your youthful opinion on an argument my second and I were having as we came in."
"Yes, sir." Alvena put down her fork—she'd barely touched her food—and waited for the captain.
"Our Griffon here has a new blast-tube shell she wants to try out," the captain explained. "It's pointed at one end and much longer than the normal round shot used in our service. She made me bring two hundred of the bloody things on board the ship. Now she expects me to use them tomorrow in the battle against three of the enemy. What do you think of such foolishness? Now, I know she is your superior officer, but I want your honest opinion." The captain's tone was earnest and others at the table waited for the midshipwizard's answer.
"I'm not familiar with such shells myself. Why does the second officer want to use the new type of shot?" Alvena asked.
"She claims the range of them is two miles instead of the one mile of our old shot," the captain said, putting a great deal of emphasis on the word "claims."
"Midshipwizard Merand," Andool interrupted. "For the sake of this argument let's assume that indeed these shells can be hurled almost two miles instead of the one of the old-style round shot. Now what is your opinion?"
"You are telling me I have the chance to kill Maleen two miles away instead of one. I want a ship full of these shells, Captain." Merand's answer was excitedly bloodthirsty.
"Hear, hear, well said," Major Aberdeen and several of his lieutenants said.
"Hear that, Andool? I see the marines on my ship aren't the only fire-eaters we have in the crew. I'm clearly outvoted here. A captain outvoted; now, that's a funny thought." Olden grinned and many smiled along with him. "We'll use all two hundred of those shells in the first few salvos tomorrow at dawn. I have no doubt the enemy will have closed with us by then. If the shells work as you've promised, we'll have put two broadsides in their first-rater before they know they are in the battle."
"I agree with your first judgment, Captain. I have no faith in these new long shots. They'll strike the water a mile short and then we'll be able to get on with the real battle," Wily spoke up. "Mr. Blithe, I asked the captain to bring you to table because of your amazing thought on the forecastle this afternoon."
Gulping, Halcyon looked to Mr. Wily. "What thought is that, sir? We were all just looking at the three ships."
"Did you really suggest to Andool that the best way to kill a dragonship was to ram its skull?" There was a bit of wonder in Wily's voice.
"It seems like the best idea to me. The sea dragon keeps its head under the water during blast-tube exchanges," Halcyon replied matter-of-factly.
"Well, Mr. Blithe, I have to say in over twenty years of battling using sea dragon warships, not one has been destroyed by ramming. I don't think any captain has tried the tactic," the first officer said.
"Tha
t doesn't make it invalid, does it?" Halcyon said, looking to the captain.
"Indeed not, Mr. Blithe," the captain replied. "I think the idea is such a good one that fifth- and fourth-raters will be getting new assignments in both navies in the near future. You've rammed into a capital idea, and damn me for not thinking of it first."
"Rammed, what?" Major Aberdeen was the first one to get the jest. His laughter was infectious.
The steward came to fill Halcyon's glass a third time. Halcyon refused and asked for water. "I have to have a clear head this evening, I have the late watch."
The captain observed Blithe refusing the third glass and smiled in appreciation.
Jillian Durand was arguing with one of the lieutenant majors of the marines, a Mr. Bladeson. "I say the ship's skin has grown thicker since the storm and the ship moves faster as well."
"I have to disagree, but I'm sure Commander Giantson knows the answer. We should ask him. Commander, has the dragonship changed its skin or speed with the magic Mr. Blithe used on it?" the lieutenant major asked.
"Miss Durand is exactly right. The dragon's skin has thickened an inch since Mr. Blithe's wish, and the sea dragon is much more vigorous. The good captain here is going to be unhappy when the ice vanishes from the heart. I suspect the dragon's performance will be back to normal then," Giantson replied.
"Mr. Blithe, you must tell us," Dire Wily asked, "where did you get such a rare thing as a pixie wishing potion?"
Halcyon sputtered while taking a drink of water. Everyone was looking at him now as all conversations stopped for his answer. At that same second, he realized they had all been eating the blood pudding and he would soon have to sing. He hoped a good story would allow someone else to have to sing.
"Well, those wishing potions appear at the bedside of the oldest female Blithe whenever one of the family is going to go to sea for the first time," Halcyon answered. "She is supposed to present the wishing potion to the leaving family member. It's been a tradition helping the Blithes to prosper since the earliest times of the family.
"The ancestral story goes that many generations of Blithes ago we were a very prosperous family of sea merchants. In those days, women weren't allowed to fight in the armies and navies of Arcania. Amenda Blithe was a young girl then and resented the fact that women couldn't go to war."
Midshipwizard Halcyon Blithe Page 22
