Andool spoke up: "As well she should."
"Yes," Halcyon responded to her. "I'm sure for lots of reasons we men are glad to serve alongside Arcanian women. However, these were ancient times and the men of Arcania didn't know any better. Anyway..." Halcyon was warming to his story and the chance to tell it to his fellow shipmates. "She had a hard leather ball she was quite proud of. She called it her tanthum. Amenda's use of that name, what with her at the age of seven, quite shocked her mother and father."
"When you say tanthum, Mr. Blithe," interrupted Major Aberdeen, "are you talking about the process of taking an enemy's head, coating it in several coats of plaster, and using it as a missile against the family of the dead enemy?"
"Yes, it was an outrageous claim for a little girl in her day. It quite shocked her parents, but they loved her and the story goes that she became unusually good at striking targets with the leather ball. She would go about the castle and the courtyard hurling her ball at this or that target with bone-crushing results. After a while she never missed what she was aiming at."
The rest of the table men and women were smiling and shaking their heads at the bloodthirsty nature of the little Blithe as Halcyon told his story. The stewards had taken away the dessert dishes and uncorked the four bottles of wine brought by the young officers. The steward rang a small bell to stop Halcyon in his storytelling.
"This wine has been brought by the two midshipwizards. Mr. Blithe has brought an unusually fine Ilumin white wine, and Miss Merand has brought golden wine from the city of the same name."
"Hear, hear!" Everyone beat the table with their hands in praise of the wine they were about to drink.
"Carry on, Mr. Blithe, with your excellent story," Commander Wily ordered.
"So, one day as the family story goes, little Amenda was playing on the beach with her two bodyguards. In those days, as today, young griffons would fly down from the mountains to eat of the fish on the shore. This day a griffon swooped down and landed near Amenda and her guards. It was rooting in some driftwood and a beautiful pixie revealed itself and called to Amenda and her guards for help. The pixie sported the rainbow-colored wings of royalty. At the time, none of the Blithe watchers knew how important the little pixie was.
"Amenda was all for helping, but her guards refused to let her charge into battle. The small griffon was about to snap up the pixie when Amenda threw her hardball right into the open beak of the griffon.
"The hard leather ball caught in the beak of the creature, allowing the pixie to escape. The next morning Amenda found a wishing potion by her bed. From that day forward all of the Blithes have been given one wishing potion each for the kindness little Amenda showed that day."
"Well, no wonder the Blithes have done so well. Any family could prosper with wishing potions helping them generation after generation," Wily remarked.
"Commander, I agree with you," Halcyon said, ignoring the depreciating statement of Wily's. "It's a family tradition to only use those wishes in the service of others, but the pixie's generous gifts have benefited many down through time. I was only too happy to use mine to save the ship."
"Quite right, Mr. Blithe," the captain said. "Now, my fine young officer, I would have you lead us in song. Some of us have a long night of planning ahead, so begin, sir."
Halcyon stood up, trying to look much calmer than he felt. He toasted those around him with the water glass in his hand. Marshaling his courage, he sang.
The Sanguine is a ship me lads,
For the port of Ordune it's bound
At the quay it's all garnished
With bonnie lassies all around
Captain Olden gives the order
To sail the ocean wide
Where the sun it never sets me lads
Nor darkness dims the sky.
All of the men and women knew this song and joined in with the chorus.
And it's cheer up, me lads
Let your hearts never fail
For the bonnie ship the Sanguine
Goes a spoiling for a fight?
Along the quay at Ilumin
The lassies stand around
With their shawls all pulled about them
And the salt tears runnin' down
Oh don't you weep, my bonnie lass,
Though you be left behind
For the rose will grow on Talken's ice
Before we change our mind
And it's cheer up, me lads
Let your hearts never fail
For the bonnie ship the Sanguine
Goes a spoiling for a fight?
Here's a health to all the king's ships
Likewise the crews serving them as well
Here's a health to the king himself
And the Sanguine a ship of fame
We wear the trousers of the brown
And the jackets of the blue
When we return to Ilumin
We'll have sweethearts one or two.
And it's cheer up, me lads
Let your hearts never fail
For the bonnie ship the Sanguine
Goes a spoiling for a fight?
It'll be bright both day and night
When the Sanguine's lads come home
With a dragonship full of bounty
And money to our names
We'll make the cradles for to rock
And the blankets for to wear
And every lass in Ilumin
Sings a lullyby for us to hear
And it's cheer up, me lads
Let your hearts never fail
For the bonnie ship the Sanguine
Goes a spoiling for a fight?
The assembled crew sang the song again, and the captain stood when the tune was finished. Raising his glass once more, he said, "We had good food and better conversation. This is the good life of the navy and what we were all born to do. Tomorrow we'll defeat the bastards assembling before us, I've no doubt of that. I will also find the bastard who tried to sabotage my ship and my retribution will be swift and hard. To the Sanguine, long may it sail!" he toasted.
"To the Sanguine!"
Halcyon and Alvena left the wardroom filled with the energy of youth. Halcyon didn't like the fact that his battle station was at the heart of the ship, but he would do his duty. There was no thought of sleeping in the few hours before he would go on watch. He went up on deck to find the winds gusty and the darkness hiding the enemy in the distance.
his majesty's articles of war: article xix
Every officer or other person in the fleet who shall knowingly make or sign a false muster or muster book, or who shall command, counsel, or procure the making or signing thereof, or who shall aid or abet any other person in the making or signing thereof, shall, upon proof of any such offense being made before a court-martial, be cashiered, and rendered incapable of further employment in His Majesty's naval service.
False dawn crept slowly up in the east. The dark held little of the sun's light, but there was enough to outline the three enemy warships. Halcyon raised his telescope for the hundredth time, and with this attempt could finally see the decks and rigging of the three Maleen ships as more than just vague outlines in the darkness. They're not five miles away at the most, he thought.
Dart climbed up into the rigging of the mainmast with Halcyon. The two of them watched the enemy.
"They've already got their hammocks slung in the rigging," observed Dart. "The hammocks catch falling timbers and rigging cordage as shots rip them apart. They're ready for blast-tube combat."
Halcyon erupted in a perfect imitation of Second Officer Andool Griffon. " 'The Arcanian navy, our navy, fires its shots at the bottom of the sea's roll. We want to kill our foes at the water level, not toy with their rags and sticks. Our shots are meant to kill the enemy firing at us. If I catch anyone firing their tube on the top of the sea's roll, I will personally flog them myself, if they live through that battle.' "
"Hal, you should be in a minstrel show, sink me
if it isn't so." Dart's voice filled with amusement at his friend's imitation. "That's word for word what she said."
"I know. Even if I'm forced by my orders to be out of the action, I want to remember what it's like to crew a blast-tube." Halcyon was glum and couldn't help his mood.
"I think I know how you feel," Dart said sympathetically. "But the danger from the saboteur is just as real as those enemy blast-tubes not five miles away. We all do our parts as best we can. You did cause that healing ice to be stuck to the heart, saving all of our lives. Fate and the captain have their reasons for having you protect that heart again. Besides, if you kill the saboteur, you could get a medal."
"There'll be damn few medals passed out this morning," the captain said as he climbed up to the two midshipwizards in the rigging. "Don't salute; I don't need my crew tumbling to the deck just before a battle. What are the three little warbirds doing?" The captain turned his own telescope toward the enemy squadron.
Through Halcyon's glass, the midshipwizard saw the three warships heading on a nor'easterly course. The first-rater was apart from the other two. Halcyon thought it was clear the enemy hoped to catch the Sanguine between the ships for boarding. Even with his limited knowledge of naval battles, he knew from his brothers and uncles that most normal sea battles consisted of long lines of ships firing at each other trying to cripple the enemy doing the same thing back at them.
"The Maleen certainly are predictable. I don't think they've ever had an original thought in their dreary lives," the captain observed. "It won't be long now before we see the enemy squadron shortening sail and turning to fight. Mr. Surehand, how would you command the good ship Sanguine in this coming battle?"
A nervous Surehand answered, "I'd trust to our blast-tube crews. If Master Griffon is correct, we'll have placed two broadsides into the first-rater before they come within a mile of us. I'd hammer four more into her, ignoring the other two ships. If we damage the big one enough the other two will run."
Halcyon nodded his agreement with Dart's thinking.
"Mr. Surehand." The captain's tone was jovial. "I believe you to be correct. I don't have the faith in those new shells that Griffon has, but I still think we can slam several deadly broadsides into the first-rater before they come close. I've had those new shells stationed by all the blast-tubes. We'll shed ourselves of the foolish things in two broadsides, in any event.
"They'll want to board us and capture the dragon. I pity them that effort. We'll keep their first-rater between us and their other ships for as long as possible. It was foolish of them to think a dragonship with its greater ability to turn in to the wind might find itself between them in a death trap of their devising.
"Ah, I see that they're turning," the captain said while starting to climb down the ratlines. For a second he stopped and looked up at Halcyon. "By the way, Mr. Blithe, that was an amazing imitation of our Miss Griffon that you just performed. If she ever hears it, she'll kick your ass off this ship, in port or on the open sea, it won't matter to her. In addition, I won't be as gentle as our Miss Griffon if you ever try to imitate me in my hearing. Just a thought you might consider, carry on."
"Yes, sir," they both said.
The two young men watched the enemy turn toward the Sanguine. It wouldn't be an hour before they were in blast-tube range.
"Well, that's for it, Hal. We're going to see a little action," Dart said as they climbed down the ratlines. "Luck to you, my friend, keep your guard up and your wits about you."
They both hit the deck at the same time. Gel monkeys were already spreading sand on the deck to help with the footing.
"Guard and wits, I'll remember if you remember, Dart." Halcyon shook his friend's hand.
"Sound battle stations," the captain ordered from the quarterdeck.
First Officer Wily came to the railing of the quarterdeck and shouted down to the deck below, "Mr. Solvalson, give my compliments to Second Officer Griffon and Lieutenant Commander Giantson. Tell them it's time. Sound battle stations, if you please."
Lieutenant Solvalson shouted to the marine drummer boys, "Battle stations, sound battle stations!" He rushed off to get the two officers.
The two drummer boys stood each to an entrance to the decks below. They started a loud steady beating of their drums. As the beat sounded belowdecks, the crew and marines hurtled to their posts for the upcoming battle. Halcyon entered his belowdecks wardroom. The wardroom was empty of his mates. Most of them had been up on deck for hours, ready for the battle. He threw open his sea chest and put on the equipment of war. His magical rings and bracers were on in a heartbeat.
He felt his throat drying up at the very thought of battle. His guts were in a knot as well.
His battle helm strapped quickly and easily to his head and his sword went to his hip. He was as ready as he'd ever be for the coming battle. He thought he would be more nervous, but he wasn't shaking at all.
"Of course I'm not shaking," he said to himself. "I have to sit the entire battle out in the heart chamber, guarding something not needing guards. I'm sure to become a famous naval officer listed in all the Arcanian posts at this rate." His own sarcasm wasn't lost on him as he briefly watched the marines tear down the walls of the wardroom and stow the wall panels away. "I can see the first sentence of the post right now: 'Newest navy Blithe successfully guards a room.' "
In less than a minute, the long deck appeared cleared for battle. All the lower cabin walls went down on the deck when combat became a certainty. Free of the walls, the blast-tubes could be better serviced in the larger, more open deck area.
Halcyon quickened his pace and ran down to the orlop deck to the heart chamber. Two marines guarded the chamber hatch. He saluted them and entered the area. For a few heartbeats, he stood in the chamber hatch enjoying the meadow smell of the chamber. The rest of the ship held many stenches, from farm animals to unwashed men. Since the magic of the wish spell, this chamber was extremely pleasant. For some odd reason the chamber's newfound smell reminded him of home, even though the family castle never smelled like a meadow.
The wizard Giantson had brought in extra lanterns for his examination of the heart. Halcyon lit all of them, and all the shadows of the chamber dissolved in light.
The sea dragon's heart beat a little faster as the creature reacted to the battle-station drums. Normally the huge organ slowly pumped blood throughout the dragon's body. Today the heart beat quite a bit faster as the dragon reacted to the drums. Halcyon had no doubt the creature could see the three ships in the distance and knew what was in store. The sea dragon had been in many battles in its nineteen years of service.
Part of the lessons for all midshipwizards was a study of their ship's past duty assignments. Halcyon knew the Sanguine to be a proud ship with many past battle honors. He'd felt that pride in the sea dragon's mind, the few times he'd been able to communicate with the creature.
Halcyon marveled again at the ice his wishing spell had created. Putting out his hand, he touched the quickly beating heart and the ice at the same time. Suddenly he was looking through the eyes of the dragon again. This wasn't like the encounters using the tannin oil; there was no communication with the creature's mind.
"Sanguine, can you hear me?" Halcyon mentally tried speaking with the sea dragon. There was no response. He speculated that some connection with the ice magic and the heart was allowing him to see what the dragon was seeing.
The dragon roared a battle challenge. Halcyon could hear it even from his closed chamber deep in the orlop deck. The midshipwizard felt the ship tacking to starboard.
As the captain ordered the tack to starboard, the Sanguine's bow chasers fired, and the four splashes showed the rest of the ship's blast-tube crews just how far the new shells could reach. The four water plumes landed just in front of the enemy first-rater.
That must have given them a surprise. Halcyon smiled to himself.
At little over two miles away, the enemy couldn't do near as well. In fact, their bow ch
asers fired early; clearly the crews of those tubes thought they could do as well as the Sanguine's crews. The shot fell well short of the maneuvering Sanguine.
The port tubes fired as they bore on the first-rater, as it advanced within two miles.
Through the sea dragon's better eyes, Halcyon could see the ship's name along its bow, the Migol.
The Sanguine shivered as blast-tube after blast-tube fired its deadly shot off the port side of the dragonship. At these distances, there was no reason to fire all at the same time. There was a better chance to strike the first-rater if each tube waited until it bore on the enemy.
A wall of smoke puffed up in front of the ship, blocking its view of the approaching enemy. As the smoke cleared in the gusty breeze, Halcyon could see that the Migol's jib boom was half in the sea, trailing several sets of sail. The jib, staysail, and forestaysail all ripped free and dragged in the water. Ship's crew worked frantically to cut away the half-shattered boom as it drastically slowed the forward motion of the ship.
The two smaller enemy ships quickly tacked to account for the Sanguine's direction, but they poorly judged the speed of the dragonship. The Sanguine tacked again; ignoring the closer targets of the frigates, it sent the port broadside into the first-rater as the blast-tubes bore on the ship. Over half the shells sailed over the top of the now closer enemy, as the tube crews weren't used to the distance their tubes could cast the new shells. The other half fell into the bow and half-exposed port side of the Migol. Plumes of smoke signaled some significant strikes.
Halcyon heard the hatch open behind him. His hand drew his weapon and he turned, all in one motion. He faced the first officer, Dire Wily, not four feet away. Dire was in his battle gear, and the red magical shield pulsed around him. He looked at Halcyon's weapon and sneered, "We seem to be a mite jumpy, Mr. Blithe. Whew, the stench that ice gives off is quite horrible, how do you stand it?"
Midshipwizard Halcyon Blithe Page 23
